Hong Kong: Repairs, relief for Shek O residents In September, when the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal was in effect, two stretches of Shek O Road near Lan Nai Wan were hit by landslides. One of the landslides completely covered both traffic lanes, damaging a 10-metre-long wall at the roadside, while at the other location a 20-metre-long section along one lane collapsed. The landslides and road collapse led to the complete closure of Shek O Road, the only route for vehicles in and out of Shek O, resulting in residents being cut off. Speedy repairs The Civil Engineering & Development Departments Geotechnical Engineering Office and the Highways Department swiftly carried out emergency repair works to restore access. They cleared debris, reinforced slopes with shotcrete, and placed rockfill into the collapsed section to form a supporting embankment. Highways Department Senior Maintenance Engineer Benny Hui explained that the huge amount of rockfill material required for the repairs exceeded the stock held by the departments contractors. As such, the Civil Engineering & Development Department specially operated their fill bank round the clock to supply rockfills to us, he said. We also mobilised other contractors to provide us with construction plants and vehicles so that we could keep our works going continuously overnight and speed up the repairs. It was estimated that the works would take two weeks, but with the co-operation of various Government departments, as well as contractors, single-lane traffic was restored in about two days. As for the resumption of two-lane traffic, Mr Hui said a draft plan has been formulated and a consultant deployed to work on a detailed design. The Geotechnical Engineering Office suggested the installation of mini-piles and making the temporary slope less deep so as to enhance the slopes stability, he outlined. The design is expected to be completed this month, and the works will commence afterwards. Mr Hui added that the department will begin long-term protection works on the slopes in 2025. Smooth evacuation Following the heavy rain, the Transport & Logistics Bureau co-ordinated road repairs, while the Security Bureau was in charge of delivering supplies and evacuating over 100 Shek O residents. Since there are no pier or berthing facilities in Shek O, it was impossible for fireboats and police launches to approach the shore to carry out the evacuations. For the first time, the Fire Services Department deployed a pontoon, a piece of equipment typically used by firefighters to board small boats, as a solution. The most feasible way was to make use of the pontoon at the North Point Fireboat Station, explained Fire Services Department Senior Station Officer Ng Chung-yin. It allowed residents to board speedboats and then transfer to fireboats for evacuation. Fire Services Department Station Officer Luk Chun-yin added that the pontoon did not require a lot of assembly. After selecting a suitable seabed location where speedboats could get close to the beach, the firefighters checked to make sure the boats were not at risk from reefs, and secured the pontoon in about half an hour. The pontoon should not be affected by tide changes, said Mr Luk. The divers used ropes and lead weights weighing over 25kg to secure the pontoon on the seabed, and anchors were set on each side of the pontoon to enhance the stability of the pontoon. The multi-departmental task force consisted of members from the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau, the Transport & Logistics Bureau, the Labour & Welfare Bureau, the Security Bureau, and the Development Bureau, all of whom assisted Shek O residents in various ways to address their immediate needs. This story has been published on: 2023-10-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Massive rockets fired from Gaza into Israel, 1 killed Xinhua) 09:30, October 08, 2023 GAZA/JERUSALEM, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Massive rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel, while a number of Palestinian militants have infiltrated into Israel from Gaza, the Israeli military said Saturday. The surprise attack started a few minutes before 7 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) on the morning of Israeli holiday Simchat Torah. The Israeli emergency service Megan David Adom said one civilian was killed and over a dozen injured. Two hours after the attack began, the Israeli air force launched airstrikes on targets in the Gaza Strip, declaring that it was "on alert for war." Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant approved the drafting of reserve soldiers to the military. Footage on social media showed masked gunmen driving around the Israeli city of Sderot and shooting in the streets. There are no reports of casualties in these incidents. Israeli news channels quoted residents of several cities on the border with Gaza as saying there were masked gunmen in the streets and near homes. Footage on news channels showed damage from rocket fire in several scenes. Saying Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, is behind this attack, the Israeli military said in a statement that the Palestinian movement "will bear the results and responsibility for the events." Mohammed al-Deif, a leader from Hamas, announced on Saturday the beginning of a new military operation, the "Al-Aqsa Flood," against Israel. He made the declaration through a brief recorded statement. In recent weeks, there have been protests at the border, with demonstrators burning tires and throwing explosive devices at Israeli troops. Hamas said the protests were in reaction to recent Jewish visits to the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. In response, Israel barred the entry of Gaza residents who had permits to work in the country. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) A local family gave out tractor rides in Vanderbilt to help remember a little girl who died and to raise money for UPMC Childrens Hospital. The ninth annual Ride for Devi was held at Flatwoods Community Park on Saturday. The Matthews family was inspired to start the event after their daughter, Devi, died not long after she was born. The Mathews say the tractor ride has turned into a community affair with people from all over the area bringing their tractors in to help out. Were thankful for all of the support that we have from the community, family and friends. We just continue to grow this and it has been awesome to give back, said Lexie Mills, Devis aunt. When the event first started 18 tractors gave rides. Now, more than 50 join in on average. Trailers are added to the tractors for kids and families to ride in. Chinese auctions were held to help raise money at the event. The family went from raising about $2,500 to over $10,000. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: We are at war: Hamas kills at least 200 in attack on Israel Man accused of stabbing passenger on PRT bus after altercation arrested Keanu Reeves stops by Pittsburgh coffee shop VIDEO: EPA grants petition against U.S. Steels Clairton Coke Works plant DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts A hostage crisis punctuated by graphic and bloody videos appearing to show militants abducting Israelis continued to unfold Sunday as Hamas attack on Israel entered a second day. Israel has not yet said exactly how many people had been taken hostage in the unprecedented attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Embassy to the U.S. said early Sunday that dozens had been kidnapped. Israel resident Yoni Asher said he watched on social media as a disturbing video emerged appearing to show his wife, two young daughters and mother-in-law being taken by Hamas and crammed onto the back of a vehicle. He had last spoken with his wife earlier Saturday when she called to say terrorists had descended on a home where she and her relatives were hiding, Asher told NBC News. The last thing he remembers her saying is that the militants were armed and that she feared talking too loudly on the phone. "It was a very terrifying moment," Asher said, adding that he believed his father-in-law had also been abducted. "The worst has happened they discovered them and took them." Asher said he had not received new information from officials since Saturday. His wife and mother-in-law both have German citizenship, and he has been in touch with the embassy, but he remains frustrated by the lack of updates. "I just want my little baby girls back home with my wife," he said. Reuters reported that hundreds of people descended on a police station in central Israel on Sunday in hope of getting some word about missing loved ones. The Jerusalem Post reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed a former military commander to lead coordination efforts around hostages and missing people. Women, children, the elderly and military service members are believed to be among those taken, with some lists of missing people circulating online. NBC News has not verified those lists. Sometimes these are mothers with their children; sometimes these are people over 70 years old. They are taken into the Gaza Strip and are basically held now underground by terrorists, Israeli author and senior newspaper columnist Nadav Eyal said by phone. Yifat Zailer, who spoke to NBC News from a home in Herzliya late Sunday, said she feels she cannot rest until her relatives are returned home. Six members of Zailers family were kidnapped from their kibbutz in southern Israel: 30-year-old cousin, Shiri Bibas; Shiris 37-year-old husband, Yarden Bibas; their 9-month-old and 3-year-old boys; and Shiris parents, Yosi and Margit Silberman, who are in their late 60s. Zailer learned the news after a friend messaged her a video showing Hamas militants capturing Shiri Bibas as she clutched her two small children in her arms. Zailer assumes the other family members were also taken because their bodies were not among the hundreds found in the area. I miss my family. I need them close, Zailer said, breaking down in sobs. I need to know theyre OK. A few Israelis luckily escaped kidnapping from their homes by hiding in basements. Israeli journalist Amir Tibon posted that his children had to keep silent while his family hunkered down for hours in the dark underground. Noa Argamani is carried away on the back of a motorcycle. (via Telegram) In one widely circulated video, a young woman named Noa Argamani screams as she is being driven away on the back of a motorcycle while her boyfriend is overtaken by another group of men. In another video that appeared to have be recorded in Gaza, a man wields a handgun as he holds a woman by her hair and shoves her into a vehicle. Both videos have been analyzed by NBC News and appear to be authentic. Argamani's father, Yaacov, could barely breathe when he was asked what he would tell his only child's captors. "Please, please I beg you, don't hurt her," he told NBC News' Raf Sanchez. Israeli media reported that a number of young women were kidnapped from a music festival on the Gaza border, with a list of photos and names circulating on social media as the attacks unfolded. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on NBC News Meet the Press that he was working to verify reports that Americans are among the hostages. We have reports that several Americans may be among the dead. We are very actively working to verify those reports, he said. Similarly, weve seen reports about hostages, and there, again, were very actively trying to verify them and nail that down. The Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, said by phone Sunday that he and his team are checking the numbers and that they include a few Americans. In an emailed statement, the German foreign ministry said officials are working closely with their Israeli counterparts to determine whether German citizens were taken or killed. At this point in time, we must assume that German nationals are among those kidnapped by Hamas yesterday, the statement read in part. We ask for your understanding that, in order to protect the people affected, we do not comment publicly on the number or individual cases. The hostages immediately become a particularly sensitive part of what could be a drawn-out conflict. Any Israeli military strikes on Gaza will be much more complicated if hostages are being held there. A video appears to show Palestinian militants taking Israeli hostages in Beeri, which is near the border with Gaza. (via X) The fact that there have been, certainly, Israelis and maybe others brought from Israel proper back into Gaza is going to make things more complicated from an operational perspective, Jon Finer, a deputy national security adviser for the Biden administration, told NBC News. We will be closely coordinating and working with our Israeli partners on making every effort to bring those people back safely. Hostages have been a long-running part of the tensions between Israel and Hamas. In 2011, Israel freed more than 1,000 Palestinians in return for Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier who spent more than five years in captivity in the Gaza Strip. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws during the first inning in Game 1 of an American League Division Series baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) HOUSTON (AP) Justin Verlander was wearing a New York Mets uniform when the season began. But on Saturday night, he was right back where he's been so many times before, on the mound for the Houston Astros helping them to another playoff win. Verlander pitched six shutout innings, Yordan Alvarez homered twice and the Astros held on for a 6-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins in their AL Division Series opener. Jose Altuve hit a leadoff home run and Alvarez had three RBIs as the defending World Series champions won their 2023 playoff debut to earn their 10th straight victory in Game 1 of a Division Series. Verlander first joined the Astros in August 2017 and won his second World Series title with the team last year. He signed with the Mets in the offseason, then returned to Houston in a July trade after a very brief stint in the Big Apple. Its been a whirlwind of a year, season for me, Verlander said. To find myself back here in Houston and pitching in the playoffs is not something I foresaw, but happy to be here, happy to help contribute, and happy to be in the playoffs. The 40-year-old Verlander allowed four hits and walked three with six strikeouts to get his 17th win in 35 postseason starts. It was his 10th playoff win with the Astros, the most in franchise history. He gave us all he had like he usually does, and he gave us quality, manager Dusty Baker said. Even when he doesnt have his great stuff, he still manages to get people out. Especially against the Twins. Since 2018, Verlander is 6-1 in seven starts versus Minnesota and has a 23-inning scoreless streak. Former Astros star Carlos Correa had two hits for the Twins, who continued to struggle at the plate with runners in scoring position. They went 1 for 12 after going 1 for 10 in the Wild Card Series against Toronto. We had a lot of traffic out there, manager Rocco Baldelli said. Were one good swing or even one well-placed swing away from getting some real action going, putting some runs up, and we just didnt get that. Verlander settled in after a shaky start and the Astros built a 5-0 lead through six innings with big swings from Altuve and Alvarez. Hector Neris took over for Verlander to start the seventh. With two outs, Jorge Polanco hit a soaring three-run homer to right field. Two pitches later, rookie Royce Lewis launched his third homer in three playoff games to make it 5-4. In the bottom half, lefty Caleb Thielbar entered to face Alvarez with one out. The slugger became the first left-handed hitter to homer off Thielbar this season when he smacked an off-speed pitch off the foul pole in right to give Houston an insurance run. When I go up there, try not to think about the situation, try not to think about the noise, Alvarez said in Spanish through a translator. Just say to myself, Im the only one that can get the job done at this moment. Thielbar called Alvarez a great hitter. He doesnt really have a weakness to either hand," he said. "You want to be the guy who comes in and faces him in a big spot. It just wasnt meant to be today. Bryan Abreu got four outs for the Astros, striking out three, and Ryan Pressly fanned two in a scoreless ninth for the save. He struck out Lewis to end it. The best-of-five series continues Sunday night in Houston, with Framber Valdez on the mound for the AL West champion Astros against Pablo Lopez. Altuve pounced on Bailey Ober s first pitch for his first career leadoff homer in the playoffs. It was really important, Altuve said. When we score first we are a better team. Alvarez connected off Ober on a two-run shot in the third to make it 3-0. Altuve, who was 0 for 23 to open the playoffs last season, has 24 career postseason homers, which ranks second in major league history to Manny Ramirez (29). Saturday was Altuve's eighth home run in the first inning of a playoff game, the most in MLB history. Ober allowed four hits and three runs over three innings in his playoff debut for the AL Central champion Twins, who completed a two-game sweep of Toronto in the wild-card round to win a playoff series for the first time in 21 years. The Twins had excellent chances early but were unable to push across any runs against Verlander. Hes a Hall of Fame pitcher for a reason, Correa said. "Even though he doesnt have his good stuff, he knows how to get people out. He got out of some key spots in the first three innings and they came out with the win because he figured it out and then he cruised through the last two or three. Jose Abreus RBI single made it 4-0 in the fifth. Chas McCormick singled with two outs to send another run home. TRAINERS ROOM Twins: Baldelli said Lewis wasnt quite ready to play the field, as the DH continues to recover from a hamstring injury. Baldelli added that Lewis could return to the field at some point during this series. Astros: Relief pitcher Kendall Graveman was left off the ALDS roster because of discomfort in his right shoulder. He said hes feeling better and hopes to be available if the Astros advance. HOME RUN LEWIS Lewis, the first overall pick in the 2017 draft, became the second player and first rookie in MLB history with at least three home runs in his first three career playoff games. His three home runs are tied for the second-most in a single postseason in franchise history, trailing only Kirby Puckett, who had four in 1991. Whether its postseason or not, to me its the same game, Lewis said. Obviously, the stage is brighter and the lights are a little brighter but I tell you what, its a lot more fun, too. UP NEXT Lopez (11-8, 3.66 ERA) won Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, allowing one run in 5 2/3 innings. Valdez (12-11, 3.45), who threw a no-hitter against Cleveland in August, was 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA in his last five regular-season starts. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Israeli security forces in Sderot, southern Israel, following a massive infiltration by Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip. October 8, 2023 Retired Major Oleksiy Hetman, a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war, discussed the impact of the war in Israel on Ukraines international support in its fight against Russia in an interview with Radio NV on Oct. 8. "There are American ammunition depots there [in Israel], he said. Read also: Israeli PM Netanyahu announces war against Hamas terror group And from these warehouses, not Israeli, but American weapons have been transferred to us. Most likely, this can be, if not stopped, then certainly suspended. Of course, as long as there are hostilities, no one will load or transport shells, that's obvious. However, he believes that this will not have a significant impact on aid to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. "Yes, it will distract [attention] from the war in Ukraine, he admitted. Read also: Top Israeli spy warns Iran plots to arm Russia with extensive missile arsenal in addition to drones But it does not mean that everyone will switch to the war in Israel and forget about the war in Ukraine. No one will forget anything. Whats happening in Israel? Read also: At least 22 persons killed as Hamas launches surprise massive attack on Israel Hamas launched a massive rocket barrage at Israel from the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, firing approximately 5,000 rockets. Additionally, hundreds of armed militants from the Iranian-backed armed Palestinian group Hamas breached the southern border of Israel. Hamas has officially announced the start of a new large-scale operation against Israel. During the attack, Hamas managed to seize control of seven communities in southern Israel and took dozens of Israeli soldiers and civilians as hostages. Tragically, at least 300 people in Israel were killed in the attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country is at war and added, we will prevail. Read also: Hamas kidnaps over 100 Israelis Israeli Embassy in the US The Israeli government has initiated Operation Iron Swords as their military response to the incursion, regaining control of seized settlements by the evening of Oct. 7. Israel has also conducted airstrikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu proclaimed that Israel has embarked on a long and difficult war and pledged to utilize the full strength of the Israeli Defense Forces to eliminate the capabilities of Hamas. 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 By Sarah Marsh and Thomas Escritt BERLIN (Reuters) -Voters dealt the parties of Chancellor Olaf Scholz 's fractious centre-left coalition a sharp rebuke in the key states of Bavaria and Hesse on Sunday, with economic woes and migration fears boosting the opposition conservatives and the far right. The elections saw the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party burst out of its post-industrial eastern strongholds to score its best-ever result in a western state, in Hesse, and come in second place in both states. All three parties in Scholz's federal coalition - his Social Democrats, the Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) - did worse than five years ago in the states that together account for around a quarter of the German population. The FDP looked on track to fail to reach the 5% threshold to enter parliament in Bavaria, and possibly Hesse too. Analysts said this would further stoke tensions in a coalition that has struggled to find common ground, with Scholz accused of failing to show the leadership needed to impose order and tackle crises, from the war in Ukraine to the green transition. "If necessary the FDP needs to be ready to leave" the coalition, Thomas Kemmerich, head of the FDP in the eastern state of Thueringen that is to hold its own election next year, was quoted as saying by German media outlet The Pioneer. "This cannot be a taboo." Jens Spahn , a senior legislator for the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), said that rarely had a government been given such a comprehensive slapdown. "And rarely has it been so clear: whether on migration, the economy or climate policy, people want a different politics," Spahn said. In Hesse, home to the glittering towers of financial capital Frankfurt, the CDU were forecast to get 34.6% of the vote for the state legislature, likely allowing them to govern for another term, projections for ARD state broadcaster at around 2200 CET showed. The SPD's 15.1% - down 4.7% on its 2018 results - was a personal blow to Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, whose campaign to head the state was dogged by criticism of her handling of a surge in irregular migration. The failure of the far-left Left party to reach the 5% threshold necessary to remain in the state parliament in Hesse added to the broader shift to the right. Meanwhile the CDU's sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU), which has run Bavaria since 1957, was projected to win 36.4% of the vote in that state - its worst result since 1950, although only a fraction below 2018's. This would likely weaken the potential claim of CSU leader Markus Soeder to the chancellor candidacy for the conservatives ahead of the 2025 federal elections, analysts said. COALITION DRUBBING The CSU is expected to continue its coalition with the populist Free Voters on 15.3%. They and the AfD were the only parties to make gains in the Bavaria election. The AfD was on track for 18.6% in Hesse and 16% in Bavaria, compared with 13.1% and 11.6% respectively in 2018, confirming the political ascendancy of a party created just 10 years ago. The nationalist, anti-migrant AfD is currently polling in second place nationwide, up from fifth in the 2021 election, in a shift that could make it harder for Germany to form stable majorities given that other parties refuse to work with it. Approval of Scholz's government remains at its lowest level since it took office in December 2021, according to the ARD-Deutschland Trend survey, with four out of five Germans dissatisfied with its work. "We are right in the middle of the federal legislative term, where it is not unusual for the government to have low approval ratings and lose state elections," said Philipp Koeker, political scientist at the University of Hanover. Still, coalition parties were likely to continue to follow increasingly separate paths to focus on issues relevant to their core electorate in response to the bad results, he said, while all taking a tougher stance on migration. "We must in the future better communicate SPD projects and be more visible," SPD lawmaker Sebastian Roloff told German outlet Handelsblatt. (Reporting by Sarah Marsh; Editing by Nick Macfie, Ros Russell and Mark Porter) Walgreens employees are planning walkouts to protest working conditions, according to news reports. An organizer told CNN that pharmacists are stressed out over unrealistic performance requirements. The walkouts could take place next week. Hundreds of pharmacists and other employees at one of the country's largest drug store chains could walk out of the job on Monday to protest what they say are increasingly miserable working conditions, according to multiple news reports. "We don't believe that Walgreens is allowing us to give our patients safe care on a daily basis," an organizer of the labor action told CNN. At issue is working conditions for those in the pharmacy section of Walgreens in particular, pharmacists complain they are being asked to juggle too many responsibilities, asked not just to fill prescriptions but to provide flu shots and other vaccines. "I spend almost all of my day in the shot room, and if I'm not in the shot room, I'm filling prescriptions because we're so behind," one worker told CNN. The planned walkouts, also reported by Fox News, are set to take place October 9-11. It comes after similar actions last month at CVS stores, where pharmacists likewise complain that staffing cuts have left them overburdened. Walgreens operates nearly 9,000 stores across the United States. Earlier this month, 85,000 Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers including hundreds of pharmacists went on strike for three days after failing to reach a contract agreement with the private healthcare company. One of their top concerns was short-staffing, which several workers previously told Insider left employees overwhelmed and caused long wait times for patients. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents thousands of Walgreens employees, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Walgreens, however, said in a statement to Insider that it hears its workers' concerns, acknowledging that they are feeling "immense pressure" right now. "We are engaged and listening to the concerns raised by some of our team members," the company said, adding that it is "making significant investments in pharmacist wages and hiring bonuses to attract/retain talent in harder to staff locations." Read the original article on Business Insider The food industry is apparently in a tizzy over Ozempic and its appetite-suppressing qualities and even the megastore Walmart is feeling the burn. As Bloomberg reports, a Walmart executive admitted that the company has been looking at anonymized customer data and finding that shoppers taking the diabetes drug and its weight loss management counterpart, Wegovy, are buying less food. "We definitely do see a slight change compared to the total population, we do see a slight pullback in overall basket," John Furner, the CEO for the massive superstore chain's US operations, told Bloomberg. "Just less units, slightly less calories." Walmart is the latest company in recent days to sound the industrial alarm about the medications, which use the drug semaglutide as their active ingredient. Semaglutide works by mimicking the natural intestinal hormone known as glucagon-like peptide 1, or GLP-1 for short, which alerts the brain to stomach fullness and, essentially, sends signals that stop you from being hungry. Along with helping diabetics control their blood sugar, semaglutide was approved by the FDA as a weight loss drug in 2021, though reports of side effects ranging from a general loss of interest in food to intestinal blockage and worse have dampened its hype. This week, we've been seeing a grim irony play out in the markets: for those who do choose to take the semaglutide and are able to get it amid an ongoing national shortage a lower urge to snack is apparently among its positive benefits, but that could impact the bottom lines for the companies that sell us processed foods and empty calories. Case in point, a spate of industry interviews revealed just how anxious food retailer CEOs and their investors are about the rise of semaglutide. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that the investors behind Campbell's Soup and the makers of Slim Jim meat sticks are already asking tough questions of the companies they own stake in about how they plan to deal with semaglutide. And last week, Bloomberg reported that the CEO of Kellanova, a Kellogg subsidiary that makes Cheez-Its and Pringles, is "by no means complacent" as the drug's potential to cut into the company's profit margins grows. "Like everything that potentially impacts our business, well look at it, study it and, if necessary, mitigate," Steve Cahillane, the Kellanova CEO, told Bloomberg. With new data suggesting that a whopping 1.7 percent of Americans, or roughly 5.68 million people, have already been prescribed semaglutide drugs, it's not exactly surprising that the food industry is concerned though in the case of the pharmacy and grocery giant Walmart, the company's ability to play both sides of the field is to its benefit. In an August analyst call, Bloomberg reported, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said that because the retailer sells Ozempic and Wegovy through its pharmacies, it actually has seen a boost in revenue as the expensive drug continues to be massively prescribed. "We still expect food, consumables, and health and wellness primarily due to the popularity of some GLP-1 drugs to grow as a percent of total in the back half," Macmillan said on the call. Translation: Walmart is cashing in on the drug's popularity even as its snack profits suffer. Apparently, that's the cost of doing business in the age of Ozempic. More on semaglutide: Google Seems to Be Running a Lot of Ads for Black Market Semaglutide US President Joe Biden addresses the Hamas attacks against Israel from the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 7, 2023 (Jim WATSON) The surprise Hamas assault on Israel has opened up a new front in the US election campaign as Republicans accuse President Joe Biden of being soft in his defense of Israel and in his handling of Iran. "I think this is a great opportunity for our candidates to contrast where Republicans have stood with Israel -- time and time again - and Joe Biden has been weak," Ronna McDaniel, chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, said Saturday on Fox News. Americans will choose a new president and control of Congress in November 2024, with Biden, 80, seeking another term in a race that looks likely to pit him against former president Donald Trump as the Republican candidate. Trump used the stunning Hamas attack by land, sea and air at dawn Saturday to target Biden. The Israeli attack was made because we are perceived as weak and ineffective and with a very weak leader, he said. Other Republican presidential hopefuls, like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former vice president Mike Pence, also dimissed Biden as weak. - US 'stands with Israel' - A stern-faced Biden gave a short speech from the White House on Saturday to stress firm US support for Israel. "Today, the people of Israel are under attack, orchestrated by a terrorist organization, Hamas," Biden said. "In this moment of tragedy, I want to say to them and to the world and to terrorists everywhere that the United States stands with Israel. We will not ever fail to have their back." Republicans zeroed in on a recent decision by the Biden administration to release $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue frozen in South Korea in exchange for the release of five Americans who were being held prisoner in Iran. Tehran is the main sponsor of Hamas, which the United States and other countries classify as a terrorist group. Senator Rick Scott, for instance, said that in unfreezing that money -- it was transferred to a bank account in Qatar for use only for humanitarian purposes -- the United States had in effect financed the Hamas attack, which won praise from Iran. That charge angered the White House, which called it a "shameful lie" and insisting that the money was tightly controlled in how it could be used and none of it has been spent. A senior administration official speaking to reporters on Saturday accused Republicans of spreading disinformation. - Help from Congress - The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stressed it was too early to say whether Iran was directly involved in Hamas' large-scale attack, but that there was "no doubt Hamas is funded, equipped and armed by Iran and others." Aside from the 2024 election, the Republican attacks pose political problems for Biden. The United States already provides billions of dollars a year for Israel but Biden will need Congress if he wants to send more now that Israel has declared itself at war with Hamas. That means Biden has to work with the Republicans, who are blocking passage of a yearly budget. Making matters worse, the House of Representatives is in chaos and limbo now because of the ouster of its speaker, Kevin McCarthy, last week in a revolt by a handful of far right Republicans. The White House would also like the Senate to approve Jack Lew soon to be the new American ambassador to Israel. His nomination was announced more than a month ago. This will require goodwill from the Republican minority in that chamber. aue/dw/bgs Is the U.S. Supreme Court posed to slam the door shut on efforts by some to impose wealth taxes across the country? We may soon find out. Multiple states, Idaho and Montana included, along with over 25 organizations have filed amicus briefs in favor of a Washington state couple, Charles and Kathleen Moore against the United States, for what is anticipated to be the biggest tax case to reach the Supreme Court of the United States in several decades. This upcoming term, the highest court will hear Moore v. United States, which is on appeal from the 9th Circuit. This litigation poses the Court with the ultimate question: Is a realization event necessary for the federal government to impose a tax? (A realization event occurs when a taxpayer has money in their hands.) Here is what we know about the case: The Moores hold an 11% ownership interest in KisanKraft, a farming manufacturing company operating out of India. Since the Moores bought in, the company has done exceptionally well, with profits increasing each passing year. The Moores are seeing gains on paper from their overseas investment, but they havent cashed in here in the United States. They were taxed on this increase in investment value, which only existed on paper. The Moores position is that the tax imposed is unconstitutional under the Sixteenth Amendment and numerous prior court rulings. The Moores argue that the Ninth Circuit essentially took away the constitutional limit of the federal government to only tax what is deemed as income, and that, This case is the cleanest vehicle the Court will ever see to address realization under the Sixteenth Amendment. The governments position is that while it is true that the government has not historically implemented a tax without realization, the Supreme Court has made clear that realization of income is not a constitutional requirement. Essentially, the government seeks to overturn the definition put forth in the 1955 Glenshaw Glass case, that undeniable accessions to wealth are taxable. The government seeks to broaden what constitutes a taxable event. If the Court decides in favor of the Moores, it is likely the Court will attempt to sever the statutory language that caused them to be taxed. This would be the easiest solution, as it would allow for the single clause of the repatriation tax to discontinue while maintaining the other portions of the Trump tax legislation, and there is a strong presumption of severability. If the Court sides with the government, this decision would have great implications for Americans both financially, and administratively. Not only would the government create greater amounts of paperwork for the taxpayer and the government, but it would also tax money that individuals dont actually have in their hands. The greater concern this case presents is the impact on the legality of wealth taxes. The National Taxpayers Union Foundation amicus brief offers what several Mountain State policy analysts believe the Court will do; This Court could uphold the MRT (Mandatory Repatriation Tax) for C corporations but excuse individuals such as the Moores. This Court could determine that the MRT does not violate the realization requirement because the business realized them even if the individuals did not receive a distribution. Under this likely approach, the purpose of the MRT is maintained while upholding the constitutionality of a realization requirement. The Moore name might be on the documents, but there are many Americans whose interests could be significantly hindered if the government prevails. This is not a Court that has shown a desire to increase tax liability. It is unlikely the majority will be receptive to accepting the Solicitor Generals arguments on behalf of the government during oral arguments. But, as lawyers say daily, it depends. Olivia Johnston is a Contributor to Mountain States Policy Center , an independent research organization based in Idaho, Montana, Eastern Washington and Wyoming. She is currently a second-year law student at the University of Idaho College of Law. A crowd of people looking to celebrate fall went out to the Apple N Arts Festival in Westmoreland County on Saturday. The festival was made up of over 100 craft and art vendors. Anyone looking for a treat was able to choose from any sort of apple they could imagine. Apple cider was also for sale. If you missed the event and are hoping to visit you can head to Shields Farm in Delmont on Sunday between 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to enjoy the second day. The proceeds from the event go to different charities located in Westmoreland County. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: We are at war: Hamas kills at least 200 in attack on Israel Man accused of stabbing passenger on PRT bus after altercation arrested Keanu Reeves stops by Pittsburgh coffee shop VIDEO: EPA grants petition against U.S. Steels Clairton Coke Works plant DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts With over 850 locations around the world, Costco has amassed a diverse fanbase of shoppers. Authors who spent 7 years researching Costco say the store is particularly beloved by the Amish. "The Amish love Costco," David Schwartz told Insider, adding that they are fans of bulk-buying. With over 850 locations worldwide, it's fair to say that Costco has amassed a diverse range of shoppers. Among the different communities it caters to are the Amish, according to David and Susan Schwartz, a couple who spent seven years visiting over 200 Costco's around the globe. The Schwartz', who recently published a book on the findings of their Costco adventures called "The Joy of Costco: A Treasure Hunt from A to Z," told Insider that during the seven years they spent researching their book, they visited the wholesaler's location in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and witnessed firsthand how beloved Costco is among Amish people, a distinctive Christian subculture known for rejecting the use of modern technology such as cars, television, and electricity. "We went to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which is the center of Amish country in the United States, and the Amish love Costco," David said. It's safe to say David and Susan Schwartz are two of Costco's biggest fans. From "The Joy of Costco," Susan Schwartz One reason the couple says Amish people love Costco is because the stores where a large Amish community resides, like the one in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, cater to their preferred mode of transport: horse and buggy. "There is a shed in the parking lot for them to park their horses and buggies, and it's just fantastic," David said. Their book contains illustrations of the shed, Susan added. Videos of it have also been shared on TikTok over the years, seemingly fascinated with the unique parking accommodation. Besides catering to their parking needs, the couple says Amish people love Costco because they can buy in bulk. "They have large families and they're looking for ways to save money and they're looking for quality goods," he said of the Amish. "Costco provides a very convenient way for buying large quantities for large Amish families." From the years they spent researching Costco, the Schwartz' say it's not just Amish people who have a particular fondness for Costco. "They're responsive to the needs of their neighborhoods," David said of Costco, citing the company's efforts to accommodate Orthodox Jewish and Muslim communities in the US with halal and kosher products. However, a sticking point among Jewish and Muslim communities in the US may very well be the wholesaler's signature beef hot dogs, which have been sold in Costco food halls for $1.50 with a soda since 1985, as they are neither halal nor kosher. According to Mashed, the hot dogs were originally kosher. When the item was first sold in stores, Costco partnered with Hebrew National. That changed in 2009 when Costco switched to selling non-kosher hot dogs manufactured by Kirkland, sparking backlash from fans of Hebrew National's staple kosher hot dogs. Read the original article on Insider The little girl is ripping out pages from the Bible and devouring them whole. She is a growling, contorting, entity. "Don't be scared," she says. Of course, it's not the child herself who's issuing taunts and chewing on Psalms. It's the devil, back on his possession game in the latest installment of "The Exorcist" franchise. And scaring us is the whole point here. Forget zombies, vampires or earth-invading aliens. There are few human terrors greater or more universal than our dread of embodied evil in ourselves or someone we love. Likewise, there are few mysteries more enigmatic or fascinating than the rituals we've designed for sending that evil back where it came from. And in a world afflicted with so much wickedness, is it any surprise that exorcisms seem to be on the rise? Stories of possession and exorcism rituals exist in nearly every culture of the world, from Judaism to Buddhism to Voudou. But thanks in large part to a memorable head-swiveling cinematic character, Roman collars and crucifixes have long cornered a unique place in the American image of exorcism. Religiosity in the U.S. is at an all-time low, yet nearly 60% of Americans still believe in Hell and the devil. And in Christian belief, possession is an elemental if often misunderstood aspect of the narrative. Jesus was an exorcist, as were the apostles. Yet exorcism in the New Testament is treated as an almost offhand affair. Jesus efficiently orders the demon possessing a man (or two men, if you're reading Matthew) to go inside of some pigs. The casting out of seven demons from Mary Magdalene is not presented as a dramatic scene, but rather a simple case of being "healed." Exorcism has long been a part of Catholic tradition, but for most of modern history it's been a similarly subdued and less commonplace affair, free of moody clerics lurking under streetlights, entirely devoid of Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells." While not denying any potential theatrics from the dark side, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops even now calls exorcism merely a "a specific form of prayer that the Church uses against the power of the devil." Exorcisms can be minor, "to break the influence of evil and sin in a person's life," like the low-key the preliminary rites before baptism. Or they can be major, performed by a priest specifically appointed to the office of exorcist and upon someone determined to be suffering "genuine demonic possession." That's the other thing for Catholics, you can't just Google your local exorcist and say you think you've come down with a touch of Pazuzu. There is a recommended series of "medical, psychological, and psychiatric testing" before referral to an exorcist, and even then the individual needs to exhibit certain telltale symptoms of possession. Speaking with Catholic Answers in 2020, Father Vincent Lambert, exorcist of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and author of "Exorcism: The Battle Against Satan and His Demons," outlined the signs: "The ability to speak and understand languages otherwise unknown to the individual, superhuman strength, elevated perception, knowledge about things the person shouldnt otherwise know, and then an aversion to anything of a sacred nature." In recent years, the Church has taken pains to distinguish the hallmarks of mental illness from what it deems possession. In most quarters (though unfortunately not all) today, you can't just start acting unusually and get labeled a diagnosis of demonic inhabitation. Assuming the individual meets the criteria, the ritual which may have to be repeated multiple times before it sticks generally doesn't feature a lot of razzamatazz. Writing in Catholic Exchange three years ago, famed exorcist Father Gabriele Amorth recalled that "While there can be extremely violent situations or truly remarkable displays" within an exorcism, the process itself is pretty straightforward. "The exorcist does not establish a particular formation during the rite... It is only necessary that he begin with the words 'Ecce crucem Domini,'" he wrote. In a typical major exorcism, he demands the demon to state his name, and commands him "to return to the eternal inferno or to go under the Cross of Jesus." While the American Catholic church says authentic demonic possession is "rare," what's still ubiquitous is the idea of being in the grip of the evil. And even nonbelievers find the subject matter the stuff of classic horror. When the "Exorcist" franchise arrived first via William Peter Blatty's loosely inspired-by-true-events 1971 novel and then by William Friedkin's iconic film it represented both an indelible pop culture phenomenon and a shift in American Christianity, the mainstreaming of a primal terror that resonates just as deeply today. But the groundwork had already been laid before Linda Blair ever spit out that pea soup and not via the Vatican. "The primary motor driving this exorcism boom is the Pentecostal boom," explains R. Andrew Chesnut, Ph.D., a professor and religious studies coordinator at Virginia Commonwealth University. As Elizabeth Yuko wrote for the History Channel last year, it was the rise of Charismatic Christianity and televangelists like Billy Graham who helped bring the fiery and literal-minded approach to contemporary demon-busting. It's still that side of the Christian aisle that's keeping the flame alive in our consciousness. "The great majority of exorcisms that happen on any given day across the globe are not Catholic," Professor Chesnut explains. "They are Pentecostal." It's in many ways just a numbers game. "Catholic exorcisms require an episcopal or bishop approval, and the priests need to be trained in that," he says. "There's a whole bureaucratic process to having an exorcism approved. In great contrast, in the Pentecostal churches, anybody who believes they're gifted by the Holy Spirit, with a gift of exercising demons can perform them." But Catholic exorcisms are on the rise, too. A 2018 Atlantic feature noted that while official numbers are hard to pin down, there are roughly one hundred active Catholic exorcists in the U.S. up from just 15 a few years earlier. The Catholic training organization the Pope Leo XII Institute acknowledges that it is "aware of the many reports of an increased number of exorcisms in recent years," though it only coyly admits that "This is true." But writing in Religion and Theology in 2022, authors Nicole M. Bauer and J. Andrew Doole marveled, "Exorcism is flourishing once again in the Roman Catholic Church today." That spike leads us back to exorcism's evangelical ties."The boom in Catholic exorcism is basically a response to the Pentecostal competition," posits Chesnut, "and the real engine driving Catholic exorcism is the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. A disproportionate number of priests trained as exorcists are part of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement." The uptick may also be influenced by the presence of a Latin American in the chair of St. Peter, and a phenomenon known as "the Pope Francis effect." Chestnut recalls, "In the first year of his papacy, Pope Francis actually performed a quick impromptu exorcism on a Mexican parishioner and the square of St. Peter at the Vatican." The growing demand for exorcism seems also to correlate neatly with our modern, western longing for alternative healing and for quick fixes. What if emotional distress could be expelled as decisively as a demon thrown back into the lake of fire? But exorcism, it should be noted, is not some spiritual form of Ozempic. Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes. As Father Vincent Lambert told Catholic Answers, "Its not just about casting evil out. One has to want to invite God in. Im encountering so many people today that believe theyre dealing with the demonic, but they want nothing to do with God." He said, "They just want me to fix their problem, but they dont really want to make a commitment to God and to grow in faith, holiness, and virtue. The danger, I think, is that exorcists today are being viewed as magicians." Our endless curiosity around possession no doubt stems in part of the ancient fear of the loss of self. But our current fascination may represent something else our increasingly tenuous grasp on our confidence in our own future and well-being. Pessimism is a scary, howling void. "What do you think evil is?" asks Ann Dowd in the trailer for "The Exorcist: Believer." "We're born in this world with hope and dreams and a desire to be happy. The devil has one wish, to make us lose faith, to kill it in us. And the devil never gives up." Exactly 50 years ago, two authors of this commentary raced out of Yom Kippur prayer services to cover the last surprise attack on Israel for news radio. Now we see Israel taken by surprise once again. The radical Palestinians of Hamas, governing the Gaza Strip since Israels withdrawal in 2005, managed to carry out an unprecedented and unprovoked attack by land, sea, and airand the results that prompted Israel to declare all-out war included massacres of hundreds of innocent civilians of all ages in their homes, at childrens parties, and at concerts. Scores more were taken hostage. President Biden and leading U.S. Republican voices alike are vowing to stand strongly behind Israel. History again echoes, as the predicate for Hamas attack had less to do with anything that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may have donenow is not the moment to blame the victim. Rather, the trigger to the attack was likely that the prospect of a wider Mideast peace was almost at hand through an impending deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Hamas sabotage parallels the disruption of the prospective Israeli-Palestinian peace plan in 2000 on the heels of a Camp David Summit when the devastation of the Second Intifada ruined any dreams of normalization and resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians. This time, by all accounts, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United States were inching closer towards a transformative three-way deal, which would have seen Israel and Saudi formally recognize each other within a security, defense, and economic partnership with the U.S. Just a week ago, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman said that every day we get closer to a deal, while Netanyahu similarly stated that he was confident of forging a historic peace between his country and Saudi Arabia, with Israeli cabinet ministers already landing in Riyadh to nurture blossoming ties. Saturdays invasion of Israel by Hamas seems to derail that in the near term, just as Hamas intended. But by sabotaging imminent peace, Hamas sadly derails the transformation of the region which had started with the Abraham Accords shepherded by Jared Kushner, which the first author helped advise and participated in, and the worst loser in all this is the Palestinian people, who will lose out on the promise of economic and security revitalization that just days ago seemed so possible. Below, are ten questions drawing out the strategic context of how history has been repeated, and what it means moving forward. 1. Do the statements put out by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, blaming Israel for the Hamas invasion, jeopardize normalization of diplomatic relations between Saudi and Israel? Clearly that was the intent by Hamas; and indeed it now appears very unlikely there will be any near-term normalization of diplomatic relations as was expected. When there is a major Palestinian crisis, it becomes impossible for the leadership of Saudi Arabia to publicly break ranks from the Islamic and Arabic camp, and it is even more unlikely to think Qatar might break ranks. During moments like this, across the entire region, voices of hardline Islamic clerics gain preeminence over more progressive voices such as that of Mohamed Allabar, founder of Emmar Properties and one of the worlds largest commercial builders, who told the first author of this article, during private talks leading up to the Abraham Accords, that the younger generation will not let us continue to be trapped by our past. Palestinian people are our people. We get up every morning positive, and we want to do more.by generating jobs, income opportunities and filling gaps in delivering basic services, the private sector can help build momentum behind a fragile economy and instill hope in the people of the region. But now that opportunity seems lost for the time being. However, privately, Saudi leaders are likely celebrating the reality that Iran will face increased global rejection for funding Hamas, and that the U.S. especially, and Israel, will be even more motivated and mobilized to engage Iran as their single largest regional threat. It is possible that the prospects for diplomatic normalization in the longer term remain promising, as Iran remains the single largest common security threat in the region and Israel and Saudi are clearly stronger standing together against Iran than individually. 2. What is the role of Iran and how will the country respond moving forward? Irans biggest rival in the region is Saudi Arabia with military, diplomatic, cultural, and religious hostilities dividing them. The prospect of Saudi recognition of Israeli sovereignty after 75 years of statehood would have undercut Irans voice in the Islamic world while uniting two of Irans foes. Iran has always been Hamas single largest sponsor, providing 70% of the financing for Hamas including upwards of $100 million in military aid every year in addition to military training and humanitarian assistance. It is highly unlikely that Hamas invasion of Israel could have happened without at least tacit support from Iran, whose regime was celebrating the attacks on Israel openly on Saturday with impromptu fireworks and festivals. As Iranian-American author-journalist Roya Hakakian noted to us, Iran needed this conflict very badly, as the hardline regime has been facing its fair share of domestic challenges, especially since the killing of Mahsa Amini last year. It has lost legitimacy in the eyes of many of its own people amidst domestic discontent, economic woes, and international isolation, and its survival depends to a large degree on symbiotic relationships with other extremists who will do Irans bidding. As Israel focuses on neutralizing Hamas ability to carry out terrorist attacks, there will be elevated scrutiny on Iran from the international community in the days ahead; and Iran will likely come under increasing pressure, especially through the potential withholding of the sanctions relief that Iran so desperately needs. 3. How will Egypt, Jordan, the West Bank/Palestinian Authority, Hezbollah, and other Arab nations respond? So far, thanks in large part to President Bidens strong deterrence, it appears other Arabic nations, especially Egypt and Jordan, are not rushing to support Hamas in any substantive ways, rhetorical flourishes aside. These nations along with the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco have increased peaceful trade and economic cooperation with Israel over the last few years. So, it appears a repeat of the Yom Kippur War scenario fifty years ago today, in which the Arab nations joined into a unified military coalition against Israel, is unlikely. Surely Islamic hardliners and extremist clerics across the region who believe Israel has been an unjust occupier are celebrating that Hamas has been able to hit mighty Israel so hard. But the leadership of these countries are practicing restraint, and it appears Hezbollah in Lebanon did not exploit Saturdays chaos to launch a much-feared simultaneous attack of Israel from the north even as the Iran-backed Shiite militia continues to have thousands of rockets aimed towards Israel. 4. How will the U.S. respond? President Biden and GOP leaders are expressing total, bipartisan support for Israel and endorsing Israels right to respondwhat Israel calls restoring deterrence," which requires Israelis to prove they are much stronger than Hamas and any Palestinian factions. There will likely be domestic pressure from some Democratic Party progressives as well as possibly Republican isolationists to limit Israels response in the weeks ahead, with some already calling for de-escalation. It appears that for now, those voices are confined to the fringe. An immediate bipartisan consensus appeared, supporting Israel in whatever response it chooses, with some voices calling for the full-scale destruction of Hamas. The U.S. provides over $3 billion in defense assistance to Israel annually, with Israel the single largest recipient, and that number could conceivably increasebecause otherwise, any regional vacuum left by the U.S. will clearly be filled by a stronger Iran, and potentially by China and Russia, both of whom have remained relatively quiet so far in response to Hamas attack. But the bipartisan consensus appears to agree that the U.S. cannot afford to draw back its support for Israel now; if Hamas and Iran are not sufficiently punished for this round of violence, there are likely only larger provocations ahead. Even isolationist Republican voices such as Vivek Ramaswamy and Marjorie Taylor Greene have come out in strong support of Israel, suggesting that at least for now the U.S. stands united behind restoring Israeli deterrence through a strong response. However, another key lesson of the Yom Kippur War bears remembering moving forward. The last surprise invasion of Israel fifty years ago made an accidental winner out of Saudi Arabia through U.S. mistakes, even though Israel recovered from the initial setbacks in that war and triumphed over Egypt and Syria. The U.S. was so worried that Israel would be too quick to win in 1973 that it essentially took steps to hamper Israel while simultaneously surrendering far more than it needed to the losing Arab side. The Saudis led an oil embargo, banning sales to the U.S. and key Western allies, yet America capitulated soon afterward to the Saudi nationalization of the worlds largest oil supplier, Aramco, which until then was a U.S. entity owned by Texaco, Exxon, Mobil, and Chevron, when the U.S. could have merely sliced them a piece of the enterprise as Occidental Petroleums Armand Hammer did with Libyas Mummar Gaddafi. Let us hope the U.S. does not make the same mistake of panicky hesitation in supporting Israels securityand that agenda begins now with neutralizing the brutal terrorist dangers of Hamas. 5. What is the Israeli end game? As the Israelis say, Hamas started this war, and now Israel has to win it, which is already engendering strong support from across fractious political divides with Netanyahu adding leading opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz to an emergency cabinet. Many in Israel are calling for the destruction of Hamas and the full neutralization of its ability to engage in terrorist attacks against Israelalthough this is complicated by the fact there are now Israelis being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, including dozens seized Saturday, according to reports. To restore deterrence, and to prove Israels overwhelming force would require a lot of destruction within the Gaza Strip, where Hamas has thoroughly embedded its operations within civilian infrastructure. That is why Prime Minister Netanyahu is already declaring that Israel is prepared for a long and challenging conflict. Hamas is not and has never been interested in compromise, unlike their rival, the Palestinian Authority run by Mahmound Abbas which governs much of the West Bank but not in Gaza. Many in the Palestinian Authority were said to welcome a Saudi peace plan as well the offer of financial assistance to improve the lives of Palestinians before Hamas sabotaged those plans Saturday. 6. In terms of Israel's access to weaponry, will the U.S. be torn about allowing access to caches of weapons, reminiscent of the U.S. domestic debates 50 years ago amidst the Yom Kippur War? Compared with the Yom Kippur War in 1973, when Israel was taken by surprise and was running low on ammunition and airplanes, Israels arms industry and storehouses are more advanced today and much larger. It is doubtful Israel will run out of munitions, with one major exceptionthe Tamir missiles with their brilliant compact radar, which chases incoming rockets across the skies. Raytheon makes a version of that Iron Dome interceptor, and the Israelis may need more supply soon. But regardless, it appears that munitions supply or capabilities limitations will not constrain Israels response today the way they did fifty years ago. 7. Was Russia involved in seeking to distract from its conflict in Ukraine? Russia has a long history of being involved in Middle East conflicts, such as when Putin essentially single-handedly propped up Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in 2014. Russia has also nurtured extremely close ties to Iran in addition to Hamasincluding with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hosting top Hamas political leadership in Moscow just a few weeks ago. There is still much about the coordination of Saturdays surprise attack that is not known, including to what degree Russia was involved or knew about the attack in advance. It seems plausible that Russia, at a minimum, did not disapprove of Hamas fostering chaos in the Middle East, perhaps to divert U.S. and international attention away from Putins struggles in Ukraine. 8. Did the attack catch Netanyahus government off guard due to an Israeli intelligence failure or does it speak to a lack of Israeli preparation? Israel invests huge resources in monitoring Gaza, and for years seemed to know what Hamas and other militant groups were planningand where they were located. But in this case, Israel was taken by surprise. The key intelligence agency within Israel is Amanthe Military Intelligence Directorate, of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)with tons of technology and Arabic-speaking experts. Hamas appears to have plainly fooled them by relying on old-fashioned human-to-human planning sans technology, making use of its hundreds of miles of extensive underground tunnels including those as deep as 230 feet, and leaving no traceable footprint detectable to technology. But it may be too simple to call it an intelligence failure, as the scale and scope of Hamas boldness were truly unprecedented. The IDF evidently did not believe this kind of attack was even possible. The Gaza border has a long security fence, but Palestinian fighters were able to poke holes in it and find areas that Israel does not monitor thoroughly with sufficient manpower to deter a sudden large-scale attack. Israelis living in civilian towns nearby, such as Sderot, close to the Gaza Strip, thought that they were OKliving with the ever-present danger of Palestinian rockets and mortar-shells fired from Gaza, but they were relying on the Iron Dome missile-defense system to protect them. The Iron Dome was plainly overwhelmed with thousands of incoming rockets, and that was just cover for the Hamas special forces who swarmed into Israeli towns, murdering hundreds of civilians in the streets in broad daylight, reportedly massacring 20 cops during a siege of a police station and stuffing hostages into vans. Israel has never had to cope with this multi-level assault. 9. Did the Biden Administrations decision to release $6 billion in frozen funds to Iran play any role in the Hamas invasion? Already, the Biden Administration is coming under attack for its decision to release $6 billion in oil revenues frozen in overseas escrow accounts to Iran in exchange for the release of American hostages, with some Republican voices arguing that this money is being used to fund Hamas invasion of Israel. It appears that the $6 billion specifically in question has not even been released from the Qatari and Korean escrow accounts yet. Furthermore, the Biden Administration argues that there will be guardrails limiting the use of these funds to humanitarian purposes only. At the same time, there is no doubt Iran provides significant financial support to Hamas. It is hard for some to see how this does not encourage Irans radical aspirations and could well trigger the seizing of more hostages. Perhaps the greater tragedy is that had the Saudi-Israel normalization been better managed and more expedited, it is possible that the regional power balance within the Middle East would have already been sufficiently different to deter Iranian and Hamas aggression of the scale we have tragically just witnessed. 10. Was it a misstep to allow hardline Israeli supporters of Netanyahu into crucial security decision-making? Israel was clearly dangerously distracted by internal judicial changes threatening its governments balance of power, coupled with Netanyahus effort to undermine bribery and corruption charges against him, while placating settlers focused on expanding their hold on the West Bankall this taking Israels attention away from the dangers posed by Hamas in Gaza. Israels own defense minister warned of the distraction risk of Netanyahus own antics, but few are likely discussing that now in Israel. The tough aura of Netanyahus leadership coalition is as the most right-wing ever in the history of Israel, with key ministers who want to keep the West Bank forever and want to block any hopes of an independent State of Palestine, yet their bravado did little to protect Israel with greater vigilance and preparation along the Gaza border. While those right-wing ministers may have aggravated peace-seeking parties among Israelis and Palestinians, Hamas is a group dedicated to wiping out the Jewish State of Israel and refuses to recognize Israels legitimacy. Blaming the victim does not work here since the predicate for Hamas attack had less to do with anything Netanyahu did or did not do, and everything to do with Hamas and Iran intending to sabotage the potential normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. This is a bloody, murderous way of saying, Dont forget us, we are Hamas. Were still here, and were still angry. Contact us at letters@time.com. The chaos in the House resulting from the demise of Rep. Kevin McCarthys (R-Calif.) Speakership poses very real political opportunities for President Biden, even as it also represents a threat to his agenda that endangers aid to Ukraine. The White House has sought to take political advantage, contrasting Bidens leadership with the disarray in the House and blaming the near shutdown on the GOP. Instead of threatening our national security with a shutdown that would force our troops and border patrol to work without pay, they should work with President Biden against the shared threats our country faces and protect our own security by standing up for Ukraine as they fight for freedom and democracy against tyranny and Russian brutality, White House spokesman Andrew Bates said in a memo released Thursday. But the uncertainty also threatens to disrupt the U.S. war effort while making allies uncertain about the nations direction. Its a situation that Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely happy to see, and a worry for other pro-Ukraine figures in Washington such as Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.). Putin wants U.S. domestic political chaos and domestic political chaos in the West to divide the unity that we have been able to achieve to date. And I think most Republicans understand that dynamic, said Emily Horne, a former spokesperson for the National Security Council under the Biden administration. The question that now they have to deal with is are they going to make the same commitments publicly that they say privately they believe in? Opposition to providing aid to Ukraine has been growing in the House among Republicans. McCarthy did not include aid to Ukraine in the stopgap funding bill he brought to the House floor last week to avoid a shutdown, despite the fact a bipartisan Senate bill with the aid was advancing and would have had enough support in the House to make it to Bidens desk. The former Speaker didnt want to bring that bill to the floor because the issue of Ukraine is so divisive in the House GOP conference. In the end, McCarthy lost the Speakership anyway, and his chief Republican antagonist, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), accused him of having a secret side deal with Biden on Ukraine. All of this will make it harder, though not impossible, for a new Speaker to advance Ukraine aid through the House. The House dysfunction could threaten other Biden priorities, too. Biden warned Friday that a government shutdown would hurt the progress over the past year to improve the U.S. economy, a major issue that the president and congressional Democrats are running on in 2024. The next Speaker, even more than McCarthy, may need to toe a conservative line on spending. One leading candidate is Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who has signaled he would end support to Ukraine. The other leading candidate, Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), is seen as more of a dealmaker but would be under enormous pressure. The White House has asked for Congress to approve $24 billion more in funding for Ukraine. Biden this week said he will give a major speech on the need for aid to Ukraine amid polls showing eroding support. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll this week showed only 41 percent of Americans agreed Washington should provide weapons to Ukraine, compared to the 46 percent support for weapon shipments in May. Horne argued that those opposed to Ukraine aid on Capitol Hill still represent a minority. There is still strong bipartisan support for Ukraine economic and security assistance on the Hill. And I think youll find most Republicans understand both whats at stake from a geopolitical and national security standpoint, but also from a moral standpoint, she said. Bidens campaign is likely to link the House GOP dysfunction to former President Trump, Bidens likely opponent in 2024. In this way, even if the chaos is a problem for parts of Bidens agenda, it could help him win reelection. It may threaten Bidens policy priorities but it doesnt threaten his re-elect chances, said Jim Kessler, a co-founder of the centrist thinktank Third Way. From Jan. 6 to today, congressional Republicans have been weaving a tapestry of chaos and insanity. Should Trump be at the top of the ticket, they will complete the project. In the end, I expect there will be a deal that funds Ukraine and more border security. But along the way, Republicans are shattering the china. It gets noticed at election time, Kessler added. Democratic strategist Jamaal Simmons also said Democrats can use the split screen of House chaos while Biden forgives $9 billion in student loans to its advantage and Democrats swear in a new senator from California to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). The disarray in the House clarifies the argument for Democrats, he said. The split screen was stark. On one side, Democrats were participating in calm and focused governing orderly transitions of power in the Senate, orderly policymaking in the White House. Then in the House, the Republican majority was at war with itself. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. CHICAGO - A woman was killed and a man was wounded in a shooting Saturday in the South Shore neighborhood. They were outside about 10:45 a.m. in the 1500 block of East 74th Street when a group of people opened gunfire on them, Chicago police said. The woman, 23, and the 24-year-old man took themselves to Jackson Park Hospital, where the woman was pronounced dead, police said. The man suffered a graze wound and declined medical attention, police said. No arrests were reported. Catherine King and Wayne Adams hand-built a floating home together in Canada 31 years ago. The home is known as Freedom Cove and is made up of several buildings floating on Styrofoam. As idyllic as it looks, the upkeep is tough work, which King is now doing solo after Adams' death. For 31 years, Catherine King and her husband, Wayne Adams, lived side by side on a floating island in Canada they built with their own hands. Living off-grid was a dream the couple discovered they shared when they first crossed paths at a friend's place in the summer of 1987. Back then, King a healer, artist, and dancer was working as a massage therapist in Toronto, where she grew up, and Adams a sculptor artist was working in Victoria. "In those first conversations, we talked about having the mutual dream of living out in nature," King, 64, said, adding that the desire stemmed from their childhoods. Catherine King and Wayne Adams built their floating home 31 years ago. Courtesy of Catherine King "We were unique kids we were both small, we were both thin, and we got made fun of a lot and bullied a lot," she said. "So we found that nature was healing. We had that in common." Following their first meeting, which King described as "cosmic," the pair quickly moved in together and began searching for a place to build a life together. Finding Freedom Cove King and Adams eventually settled on building their forever home on a small inlet nestled off the coast of Tofino, British Colombia, known locally as Freedom Cove. As a spiritual person, King said she was drawn to the cove not only because it was secluded and only accessible via a 10-mile boat ride but because there was a "magic" to it. "You can't hide from yourself here. You have to be truthful to yourself," she said. The couple initially built the home using discarded pieces of wood. Courtesy of Catherine King King said that upon discovering the cove, she and Adams quickly decided they wanted to build a floating home close to the shore so they could be part of nature "without interfering with it." Call it fate, but the very same summer they found Freedom Cove, a storm blew through the coast, leaving discarded planks of wood on the shore. "We thought that was a pretty good sign that the universe was in favor of what we were going to do," King said. By February 1992, the pair completed work on the float house and moved it out into the cove. The floating home changed drastically over the decades In the beginning, their home which floats using Styrofoam and is tied together using rope in a spiderweb formation was simply made up of a house. But the couple quickly expanded it with new buildings to accommodate their hobbies and needs. Adams gathered the materials by putting the word out in local communities. "He would get a pile and then look at the pile and say, 'Okay, so what can we create from that?'" As a dancer, King said having a space to move was important to her, so the next part of the island to be built was her first dance floor. Catherine King is a dancer, an artist, and a healer. Courtesy of Catherine King Bit by bit, as they came across more wood and later discarded metal fish-farm equipment, the island evolved to include several greenhouses, a chicken coop, and a large kitchen, as well as a water-purification system. At one point, they also had a candle-making factory, which burned down in 2011 after Adams accidentally left a wooden stove on. After that, King said Adams decided to build a gallery in its place. She said he then rebuilt the candle factory outside rather than inside a building, telling King, "If I ever made the same mistake again, we can just cut the ropes and push it off." Living on the island has come with its challenges The fire was far from the only challenge King said they dealt with in the three decades they called Freedom Cove home. Living so close to nature meant they were often subject to it. "We have winter storms every year, which create destruction," King said. Each year, storms would destroy whole aspects of their homes, and they would have to rebuild them. They also had to replace parts of the home built on old pieces of wood, which had rotted away over time. "I've had four rebuilds of the dance floor due to simply nature rotting things," she said. It became a maintenance lifestyle, King said. "We always just took that destruction as, 'Okay, so that broke down. So what can we build from those materials, and what do we need to build?'" The island requires constant maintenance. Courtesy of Catherine King Another challenge they faced was the modern-world problem of making enough money to afford the upkeep of their home. Things such as buying solar panels and replacing them from time to time required making payments. Seven years after they built the island, they were also discovered by the municipal government and had to start paying yearly taxes. In 2013, they decided to join the rest of the world online by installing internet on the island, which King said cost more out on the island than it did in the city. She said as artists, they pulled together to work on a "shoestring" budget but added that they "went for many years where all we made was $6,000 a year." "Now that I'm a senior and I have a pension, I feel like I've got tons of money, which I don't," she added. "But it's money that comes in regularly, which I've never had before in my life." Adams died earlier this year, but King has no plans to leave This year has been a difficult one for King, as she told Insider. Not only did she experience the death of her mother, but also Adams, who died in March following an eight-year rectal-cancer diagnosis. "He stayed as vital as possible, as active as possible. Even right up until his last couple of weeks, he was still working on a major big carving, which I will finish for him," she said. Becoming the sole owner of the island had been an adjustment, she said. She's had to take on the "chores" that once fell to Adams, such as running the generators, fueling and changing the propane systems, doing boat runs to the nearby town (which can be perilous depending on the weather), on top of carrying out constant home repairs. The couple and their pet Chihuahuas. Courtesy of Catherine King "It's been a steep learning curve," she said. Thankfully, she's had help from friends and family, who've been taking turns staying with King, so she's never alone. Asked if she ever sees herself leaving, King said: "As I'm going through my grieving process, of course, there's been moments where everything has just felt too hard, too challenging, but ultimately it always comes back to, no. This is where I want to be." Read the original article on Insider Nine Georgians have pleaded guilty for their involvement in a fentanyl and meth trafficking ring. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The investigation began in Oct. 2021 and June 2022. The Middle District of Georgia U.S. Attorneys Office stated that Heather Breland, 39, of Atlanta, who was identified as the supplier of the drug trafficking organization was distributing kilogram quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl, to Raiford Reeves aka RH, 43, of Warner Robins, Georgia, out of her high-rise condominium located in Buckhead. Court documents revealed that phone calls and text messages between Breland and Reeves showed controlled purchases of meth from Reeves. Reeves would then reportedly supply other co-defendants with the drugs to sell. Officials said agents watched Breland travel to Macon to provide drugs to Reeves. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents said she also had a self-storage unit in Macon on Riverside Drive to store drugs. Agents learned Breland was planning to provide Heath with drugs. TRENDING STORIES: According to the attorneys office, on May 21, 2022, Heath took an airport shuttle service to Atlanta. Breland ordered Heath a ride-hailing service from the shuttle station to her apartment. Heath returned to Macon on the same shuttle service on May 25 and was seen leaving the shuttle station with a suitcase and getting into his car. Agents then conducted a traffic stop and reportedly found a kilogram of methamphetamine inside his suitcase. On May 26, agents conducted a search warrant at a motel Reeves and Kendall Howard, 31, of Centerville, Georgia stayed at in Warner Robins. Officials said Reeves was in the process of flushing methamphetamine down a toilet when agents went inside the room. Agents seized methamphetamine, fentanyl, oxycodone, alprazolam, clonazepam, codeine, and a 9mm semi-automatic pistol. That same day, agents executed a search warrant at Brelands apartment. Breland immediately ran and hopped in her Range Rover as agents arrived. Agents seized 3.266 kilograms of pure methamphetamine, 14.72 grams of fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana, a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a .22 magnum caliber revolver, two cellphones and $78,353 cash. On the same day, agents conducted a search warrant at her storage unit in Macon and seized eight pounds of marijuana in a Louis Vuitton duffle bag. Following the execution of the search warrant, Breland drove to North Carolina, created a fake license plate, and changed her hair length and color. She was arrested by U.S. Marshals on Oct. 20, 2022, at a hotel and casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. When she was arrested, she had methamphetamine and ID cards with a similar appearance but false identifying information. Officials said Breland has seven prior felony convictions for forgery, possession of methamphetamine, burglary and identity fraud. Reeves has prior convictions for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] On Thursday, Breland pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting Heaths possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. She faces a mandatory minimum of ten years up to a maximum of life in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and a maximum $10,000,000 fine. Heath pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a maximum $1,000,000 fine. The remaining seven co-defendants indicted in this case have all previously entered guilty pleas: Reeves pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and faces a mandatory minimum of ten years imprisonment up to a maximum of life in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release; Travis Warthen aka Trap, 39, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and faces a mandatory minimum of ten years up to a maximum of life in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release; Jeremiah Kaleta, 46, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison to be followed by at least three years of supervised release; Lucretia Snellgrove, 51, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison to be followed by at least three years of supervised release; Kendall Howard, 31, of Centerville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to use of a communication facility to unlawfully conspire to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release; Kenneth Maddox, 31, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to use of a communication facility to unlawfully conspire to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release; and Luis Acosta, 35, of Centerville, pleaded guilty to use of a communication facility to unlawfully conspire to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release. Sentencing will occur for all defendants on dates determined by the court. The defendants are not eligible for parole. IN OTHER NEWS: Frontier Airlines charges extra for carry-on bags, so one woman invented a workaround. TikToker Shewana McGee used her luggage to create a DIY Brazilian butt lift to avoid paying. McGee posted a video of the "BBL," which she made by putting her belongings in the seat of her pants. One woman found a thrifty way to skirt Frontier Airlines' carry-on luggage fees by giving herself a DIY Brazilian butt lift. In a video posted to TikTok on Wednesday, Shewana McGee showed off the travel hack, which kept her from paying for a carry-on bag. According to text on the video, McGee's one personal item was too big, meaning she would have had to splurge for a carry-on. This embedded content is not available in your region. Frontier Airlines allows one personal item per person, but carry-ons and checked bags come with an extra fee. If passengers wait to pay for their carry-on until they get to the gate, that fee can be up to $99, according to the airline's website. Instead of forking over money at the gate, McGee put her belongings in the seat of her pants creating the illusion of having a BBL. "Keep it FREE sis," her video's caption read. In a follow-up video posted the same day, McGee wrote that she got the bag flat enough to fit in Frontier's bag-sizer, then went ahead with the BBL hack. She wrapped a jean jacket around her waist to conceal any suspicious lumps or bumps that could give her away. A closer photo, taken without the jacket, shows a bumpy and pointy bag in the back of McGee's pants. This embedded content is not available in your region. McGee and representatives from Frontier did not respond to a request for comment made outside regular working hours. The video, viewed over one million times as of Sunday, received over a thousand comments supporting the improvised butt lift. One person wondered whether anyone from Frontier questioned McGee's new booty, to which McGee responded, "Nope." Commenters shared their frustrations with Frontier's baggage policy, saying they wished they thought of the hack when charged for a carry-on at the gate. "They charged me 99 at the gate and you're telling me I could've just did this," one person wrote. It's not the first wild clothing hack travelers have used to avoid paying exorbitant fees. Earlier this year, TikTokers began posting videos about wearing fishing vests to the airport, stuffing them full of little items they couldn't fit in their carry-on bag. Insider reporter Hannah Towey tried the hack for herself and made it through the airport without an issue. Read the original article on Insider Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the Hamas-led attack that rattled Israel over the weekend, calling it the worst attack on the country in 50 years. This is the worst attack on Israel since the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Blinken said Sunday during an interview on CNNs State of the Union. But there is a big difference. That was a conventional war between countries, between armies. This, a massive terrorist attack on Israeli civilians. "Indiscriminate firing of rockets against civilians. Thousands of rockets. Men and women and children dragged across the border into Gaza, including a Holocaust survivor in a wheelchair. People gunned down in the streets, civilians, he said. The Yom Kippur War of 1973 began with a simultaneous surprise October attack by Egypt and Syria that overran Israeli front-line units. Israel ultimately gained the upper hand, but the war was costly, with more than 2,500 Israelis killed, as well as thousands of Egyptians and Syrians. One of the heroes in combat for Israel was Yonatan Yoni Netanyahu, the older brother of current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (He was subsequently killed rescuing Israeli hostages in Uganda in July 1976.) The massive assault by Hamas came a day after Israel marked the 50th anniversary of the surprise invasion on Yom Kippur. The Saturday morning incursion caught Israel and its allies completely by surprise, as Hamas fired a barrage of rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel and dozens of heavily armed gunmen mowed down a barrier along Israels southern border. Israel began launching retaliatory air strikes on targets in Gaza shortly after. On Sunday, the death toll from the initial attack reached 600, according to reports from Israeli media. Americans were likely among those killed and kidnapped, Blinken said Sunday. We have reports that several Americans were killed, we're working overtime to verify that. At the same time, there are reports of missing Americans and, there again, we're working to verify those reports, Blinken told CNNs Dana Bash. David Cohen contributed to this report. New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) is blasting President Biden on immigration as his city struggles to handle an influx of asylum seekers, escalating tensions that could prove to be a hassle for both of them heading into reelection years. Adams, up for reelection in 2025, has been sounding the alarm since last spring over what his office reports is a surge of more than 110,000 asylum seekers into the nations most populous city and hes repeatedly criticized the Biden administration and Republicans, while calling on the federal government for help. Its never good for either party when prominent leaders of the same party are in such broad disagreement. And the problem is that, so far, its just relationship toxicity and pointing fingers, Democratic strategist Jon Reinish said. Nobody looks good here. Adams kicked off a four-day trip across the border to Mexico, Ecuador and Colombia on Friday, with plans to give an honest assessment of the situation in New York and stress that the city is at capacity. We cant sit back and just, you know, continue to expect that [we are] going to get the relief that we deserve. We want help from the federal government. Were going to need help from the state, Adams said Tuesday. The mayor has said that the migrant crisis will destroy New York City. A state of emergency over the unprecedented humanitarian crisis has been declared in New York City since last year. I think the president has done a great job. Weve stood side by side around crime, we stood side by his side around environmental issues, but on this issue, I believe the White House is wrong, Adams told Semafor on Wednesday, adding that cities shouldnt be left to carry the weight of a national problem. The mayors ongoing criticism comes as Biden fends off Republican attacks on the administrations border policies amid his reelection run. In May, Adams was dropped as a Biden campaign surrogate. He recently praised Biden for a move extending temporary protected status to Venezuelan migrants in the country, but the critiques quickly resumed. Still, strategists say Adamss public critiques while potentially irksome to deal with dont endanger Bidens reelection bid in the Democratic stronghold state. New York-based Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf argued that Biden and his reelection bid cant be hurt nationally by the migrant crisis any more than theyve been and his approval among New York voters is solid enough that Adamss blasts wont bring him down. A Siena College poll last month found Bidens favorability was on the uptick in New York, at 50 percent among the states voters. He also led Trump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination, in a hypothetical 2024 match-up. No matter the disagreement we may appear to have amongst each other as Democrats, they do not compare in any way, shape or form to the magnitude of the disagreement or the disconnect we have with Republicans, said Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright. Adams and Biden ultimately have common goals on the issue of immigration, Seawright noted, more than Democrats and Republicans do. He pushed back against any perception that Biden is ignoring Adamss alarm. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stressed at a briefing this week that Biden has provided record amount of support and funding to deal with the situation at the border, and argued Republicans do the opposite. At the same time, Adams has also faced criticism over his tough rhetoric on immigration, as his administration grapples with the influx and looks to deter new arrivals. Instead of repeating failed do not come messaging, he could work with other mayors and Biden to ensure people seeking asylum are received with safety and dignity, Ari Sawyer, Mexico-based border researcher for Human Rights Watch, said in response to Adamss international trip this week. As he publicly knocks the White House and travels abroad on the issue, Adams likely wants the world to know hes fighting for NYC, Seawright said. Strategists say Adams is likely spurred to vocally break with his partys leader on this issue to advocate for his New York City constituents, who are feeling the strain of the influx of asylum-seekers on the city. The mayor has no choice. If he doesnt do what hes doing, his constituency will look at him as if he has three heads, Sheinkopf said. Adams has to champion his constituents, Sheinkopf said, or risk empowering possible challengers when hes up for reelection in 2025. So, will it create problems with him and the administration, and Democrats nationally? The answer is yes. Does it matter to Adams? It might, but the more important thing is getting reelected, Sheinkopf said. Adams isnt the only Democrat whos been putting pressure on the White House over incoming migrants. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Biden campaign surrogate, said in a letter to the administration this week that the federal governments lack of intervention and coordination [on] the border has created an untenable situation in his state. Dealing with both Republican and some Democratic criticism could be vexing for Biden and his team during his campaign. It should be recognized that no matter what President Biden does, Republicans will not recognize any productive developments, and they certainly wont recognize any solutions. They have seen blood in the water on this issue, and theyre just going to continue to hammer him, Reinish said. Democrats are looking to win back control of the House in 2024, and theyre eyeing a number of Republican seats in the Empire State after notable losses in last years midterms. Republican New York Reps. George Santos, Mike Lawler and Anthony DEsposito are among the members of Congress seen as endangered in next years elections. Democrats should keep a close eye, Reinish said, on how the migrant crisis in New York City spills over into the suburbs. New York City is one of several Democratic-led cities that have been targeted over the last year by Republican governors of southern-border states protesting the Biden administrations immigration policies by sending migrants north. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said at the end of September that the Lone Star State alone had bused more than 15,800 migrants north to New York City, bashing Biden as to blame for this crisis. The president last year torched the GOP governors for using the migrants as props for political stunts amid contention over the border. Immigrations increasingly direct impact on Democrat-led areas such as New York City could make the topic more important for voters in those places when it comes time to cast their ballots. Previously, I would say that voters in Democratic-rich areas like New York and Chicago were not voting on this issue. It was considered an issue that took place far away from them, or something that one could take a more values-based or philosophical issue on, Reinish said. But if its affecting you if your mayor and your council are very stressed all of a sudden about budgets and taxpayer dollars, the issue then comes home to roost for you. Meanwhile, Republicans could use critiques from Adams and other Democrats dealing with immigration to try and drive a wedge within the party, Seawright suggested. Thats why you see Republican governors sending migrants to Democratic states and cities in order to create conflict among the Democratic ecosystem, Seawright said. They know that a united Democratic front presents long-term danger politically. As Democrats head into 2024, theres merit, Seawright said, to living by the philosophy of yelling in the places we agree, and whispering in the places we disagree. And whispering doesnt have to be in public. Sometimes that can be in private. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. [Photo/VCG] After China and the United States conducted high-level consultations on Asia-Pacific affairs in Washington, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer revealed that a bipartisan congressional delegation will visit China. The trip aims to contribute to a sustained rise in diplomatic engagements between two of the world's largest economies, a move welcomed by Beijing. "We hope this visit will contribute to a more objective understanding of China in the U.S. Congress, increase dialogue and communication between the legislatures of our two countries, and add positive factors to the growth of China-U.S. relations," said China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson recently. The successful, high-level exchange between Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink offers key lessons for Washington to build on strategic communication with China and support an objective understanding of China in Asia-Pacific affairs. Looking back on the Sun-Kritenbrink exchange, an important takeaway was China's assessment of the U.S.-led "Indo-Pacific" strategy and matters central to the South China Sea. For example, consultative diplomacy among neighboring states and a departure from third-party provocations remain chief to maintaining maritime stability in the South China Sea. Thus, it is in the interests of the visiting delegation to deliver new growth points for the relationship, as well as provide support for existing risk reduction mechanisms and dispute resolutions in the region. Common understandings about strategic goals in the Asia Pacific can also lend clarity to a truly inclusive "rules-based" order and help avoid zero-sum containment that targets a country's legitimate development. Sun's emphasis on sound U.S.-China interactions for regional stability presented a tangible opportunity for U.S. senators to work towards limiting the risk of conflict and misunderstandings through collective engagement. Moreover, continuity of high-level engagement promotes the broader objective of a sound, stable, and dependable U.S.-China relationship and one that is responsive to Asia Pacific's stated expectations on maritime security and development. Interestingly, the Sun-Kritenbrink exchange also drew attention to core Chinese national interests and the fundamentals of U.S.-China diplomatic relations. China reiterated its stance on the ironclad "One China" principle, which also serves as the linchpin of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. This is important because both Washington and Beijing have expressed a desire to dial down the risk of undue escalation across the Strait. However, there remains ample space for the U.S. to demonstrate its credible adherence to the One China principle and honor its historic commitment against "Taiwan independence." China's policy towards the U.S. has been marked by noninterference and consistency on matters of internal significance. This makes it imperative for Washington to reciprocate that consistency to the benefit of bilateral ties during Schumer's high-profile visit. The delegation's legislative significance makes it an ideal chance to navigate outstanding differences and improve dialogue and engagement between U.S. and Chinese legislatures. For the Asia-Pacific region specifically, open lines of U.S.-China communication can also ease regional fears about camp-based confrontation and major power rivalry. The ASEAN-centered regional cooperation architecture itself supports inclusive pathways to managing maritime affairs and stands to strengthen in the absence of zero-sum containment approaches. It is here that the recent U.S.-China consultations on Asia-Pacific affairs prioritized intersecting regional interests in the security, economics, and maritime space. Schumer's own visit can build on several of those mutual interests with China, given his visit's stated focus to discuss "economic and national security interests" across the region. In light of these realities, Schumer's visit should be seen as a productive opportunity to build on a streak of fruitful engagements between senior Chinese and U.S. diplomats. In many ways, it supports the implementation of a high-level consensus between the two countries' heads of state while generating valuable opportunities to shore up mutual strategic trust. Hannan R. Hussain is a foreign affairs commentator, author and recipient of the Fulbright Award. Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. New York senators Chuck Schumer and Kirstin Gillibrand, joined by Mayor Eric Adams and Jewish New Yorkers, condemned the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas for its shocking and lethal Saturday surprise attack on Israel. The terrorist attacks by Hamas on the people of Israel are absolutely horrific, said Schumer in a statement. The U.S. stands with Israel in its unwavering right to defend itself. I stand ready to ensure Israel has the support to do so. My prayers are with the dead, reported hostages, and hundreds injured. Hamas unleashed its largest-scale attack on Israel in years, with gunmen crossing into Israel as a rocket barrage was unleashed from the Gaza Strip and the Associated Press reporting more than 100 Israeli deaths and hundreds of wounded victims. The news agency said the Israelis retaliated with their own air strikes two years after the 10-day war of 2021. Im horrified by the scenes weve seen in Israel today, said Gillibrand. I strongly condemn these terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens, and my heart goes out to the families of those who have been killed or injured. The United States support for Israel is unwavering. Mayor Adams, noting his visit to Israel two months ago, denounced the killings on the Jewish high holy day of Simchat Torah. New York City has the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel, and we stand side by side with Israel every day, said Adams. But we do so with extra resolve today in light of Hamas unprovoked terrorist attacks directed at the country and its people. The New York Police Department issued a statement saying there was no known threat or connection to the city, adding they would continue to monitor the situation for further developments. Rabbi Rachel Timoner of Brooklyns Congregation Beth Elohim offered her support for Israel and a Saturday prayer for peace in the region. Now our hearts are with all of the Israeli people as they struggle to defend themselves and to end this war, she said. In this specific moment, the United States should unequivocally support Israels right to defend itself. Gov. Kathy Hochul said she had spoken with Israels acting consul general in New York to discuss ways of getting state residents home safely in the aftermath of the attacks in Israel. In the face of abhorrent attacks from Hamas terrorists, New York stands steadfast in support of our neighbors in the state of Israel, she said. New York is proud to be home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel and as the community grieves today, we stand in solidarity with them. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, in a statement, called for the U.S. to support Israel in the aftermath of what she called Iranian-backed terror. Praying for our friends in Israel as we learn heartbreaking news that Hamas terrorists are launching thousands of rockets in a horrifying, massive attack killing innocent civilians, said Malliotakis, whose constituency includes Staten Island and south Brooklyn, Rep. Grace Ming of Queens said New Yorkers with friends and loved ones in Israel were reeling from this attack where militants fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip The unprovoked attack on Israel is outrageous and unacceptable and I condemn this heinous assault on our friend and ally, she said. This underscores how U.S. security assistance to Israel is more important than ever, and I stand with Israel at this very difficult time. Musician Avran Fefer, who performed this past February at the Red Sea Jazz Festival, recalled he was in Israel right after the Yom Kippur War of October 1973. This is basically 50 years later to the day, he said. Its just horrible that its happening again. Im against war in any situation, I promote non-violence like most musicians. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul condemned a rally in support of Palestinians set to take place Sunday in the wake of the Hamas-led attack in Israel over the weekend, calling the event abhorrent and morally repugnant, in a statement Saturday night. The people of Israel are facing violent terrorist attacks and civilian kidnappings. I condemn plans to rally in Times Square tomorrow in support of the perpetrators of these horrific actions. The planned rally is abhorrent and morally repugnant, Hochul wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, late Saturday night. The rally, which was planned for 1 p.m. in Times Square Sunday, was backed by the New York City chapter of Democratic Socialists. In solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to resist 75 years of occupation and apartheid, the group wrote in a post on X promoting the event. The event comes as the death toll in Israel from the initial Hamas attack continues to rise. As of Sunday morning, Israeli media was reporting that 600 Israelis had been killed during Hamas wide-ranging incursion, according to the Associated Press; hundreds of Palestinians were reported to be killed as well. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has condemned a pro-Palestinian march being held in Times Square on Sunday as the Israeli death toll from Hamas attacks reached 600. The people of Israel are facing violent terrorist attacks and civilian kidnappings, Gov Hochul wrote on X/Twitter on Saturday. I condemn plans to rally in Times Square tomorrow in support of the perpetrators of these horrific actions. The planned rally is abhorrent and morally repugnant. The All Out for Palestine rally is due to be held near 42nd Street and Broadway starting at 1pm est, and a heavy NYPD presence is expected. The event is being backed by the the New York chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. In solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to resist 75 years of occupation and apartheid, the group posted on X. The Democratic Socialists said in a later post that it unequivocally condemn(s) the killing of all civilians. But we cannot forget that the Israeli state has systematically denied Palestinians the right to self-determination for decades. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has condemned a pro-Palestinian march being held in Times Square (AP) Fierce gun battles continued to rage between Palestinian militants and Israelis on Sunday. Gaza health authorities said 370 residents had died in Israeli retaliatory attacks. The United Nations Security Council is holding an emergency session a few blocks away from the planned demonstration on Sunday afternoon. New York City has the largest Jewish population in the United States, with an estimated 1.6 million residents. Mayor Eric Adams issued a statement expressing his solidarity with Jewish residents after the unprovoked and cowardly attack. Todays attack, coming at the end of what is supposed to be a celebratory time at the end of the Jewish High Holy days, is nothing more than a cowardly action by a terrorist organization seeking to undo that peace and divide us into factions. That wont happen, he said. (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday that two Ukrainian nationals had died in unrest in Israel and that more than 100 citizens had contacted the country's embassy. "Unfortunately, the deaths of two Ukrainian citizens have been confirmed," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. Zelenskiy said he spoke on Sunday to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and expressed "solidarity with Israel, which is enduring a brazen, large-scale attack". (Reporting by Ron Popeski; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) President Volodymyr Zelensky noted "the cooperation between the Israeli police and Ukrainian diplomats with regard to the safety and protection of Ukrainian citizens in Israel" after a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Oct. 8. Two Ukrainian citizens have been killed in Israel after the extremist organization Hamas launched rocket and ground attacks from the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, the Ukrainian embassy in Israel told news agency Interfax-Ukraine on Oct. 8. Measures are being taken to organize the repatriation of the two people's bodies, the embassy told Interfax. The embassy didn't elaborate on the circumstances of their deaths or their identity, though Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko did say that they were women. There is still no other information about Ukrainian citizens among the wounded or missing. Netanyahu held phone conversations with Zelensky, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, he wrote on Twitter on Oct. 8. The leaders reportedly expressed "unqualified support for Israel's right to defend itself as necessary," Netanyahu wrote. Zelensky expressed Ukraines solidarity with Israel on Twitter, while addressing condolences to the victims of the attacks of Palestinian armed group Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7. Hamas launched an attack of unprecedented scale on Israel on Oct. 7, infiltrating Israeli territory on the ground and with ultralight aircraft while subjecting Israeli settlements to intense rocket bombardment. Military vehicles are seen after Palestinian militants launched more rockets at Israeli border towns on the second day of the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, Oct. 8, 2023. Photo by Ilia Yefimovich/picture alliance via Getty Images) At the time of this publication, fighting in Israel and in Gaza was still underway. The number of dead due to the Hamas' attack on Israeli communities near Gaza exceeded 600 people, according to the Times of Israel newspaper. The Ministry of Health also confirms that the number of wounded in hospitals has reached 2,048, including 20 in critical condition and 330 seriously injured. At least 100 Israeli soldiers and civilians are also being held hostage. Palestinian authorities in Gaza said that 198 were dead amid the fighting. Politically, Israel has largely refrained from explicitly backing a side in Russia's war on Ukraine and has thus far not provided any significant military aid to Ukraine. Israel has complex relations with Russia but has long been enemies with Iran, a shared adversary of Ukraine. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued his first public statement after the attack, saying, "Citizens of Israel, we are at war. And we will win." Zelensky denounced Hamas' offensive, writing on Telegram, "Whoever uses terror is a criminal against the whole world. Whoever sponsors terrorism is a criminal against the whole world." Read also: Zelensky, world leaders condemn Hamas attack on Israel Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Over 100 Ukrainian citizens in Israel had turned to the Ukrainian embassy for assistance following Hamas' attack on the country, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 8. "The whereabouts of five of our people in southern Israel have been established," Zelensky said in his address on the social platform X, formerly known as Twitter. The president reminded that two Ukrainian citizens have been confirmed as killed in the hostilities. Ukraine's embassy is working closely with the Israeli police to learn all details regarding Ukrainian citizens who found themselves in the areas of fighting and shelling, he added. Zelensky noted that Ukrainian diplomatic and intelligence services are working around the clock to help all citizens in need. He appealed to Ukrainians in Israel to follow instructions of the local security services. "Terror has opened far too many fronts against humanity. The war against Ukraine. The war in the Middle East. Terrible destabilizations throughout Africa. Constant attempts to cause a crisis on the global food market," the president wrote on X. "Being strong means helping to protect people and life against any form of terror. Helping. That is the way." Read also: Zelensky, foreign leaders call Netanyahu over war, back Israels right of self-defense Hamas launched an attack of unprecedented scale on Israel on Oct. 7, infiltrating Israeli territory on the ground and with ultralight aircraft while bombing Israeli settlements. Lebanon's armed group Hezbollah also reportedly involved itself in the hostilities on Oct. 8 by exchanging rocket and artillery fire with the Israeli military. At the time of this publication, fighting in Israel and in Gaza was still underway. The number of dead due to the Hamas' attack on Israeli communities near Gaza exceeded 600 people, according to Israel's Government Press Office. The Ministry of Health also confirms that the number of wounded in hospitals has reached 2,048, including 20 in critical condition and 330 seriously injured. At least 100 Israeli soldiers and civilians are also being held hostage. Palestinian authorities in Gaza said that 198 were dead amid the fighting. Read also: UN Security Council holds emergency meeting following attack on Israel Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a conversation with Benjamin Netanyahu Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had an emergency phone call on Oct. 8 with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , who briefed him on the actions of the military and law enforcement in the country, Zelenskyy said on Telegram. Ukrainian diplomats and Israeli police are cooperating on the protection of Ukrainian citizens, he said. Read also: Israel declares war, calls up reserves, after Hamas pummels state with rockets The politicians also discussed the impact of the situation in Israel on security both within the region and beyond. We stand in solidarity with Israel, which is suffering from a bold and large-scale attack, and we extend our condolences for the numerous casualties, said Zelenskyy. Read also: At least 22 persons killed as Hamas launches surprise massive attack on Israel In addition to Zelenskyy, Netanyahu held discussions with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who they all expressed unreserved support for Israels right to defend itself as necessary, Netanyahu said. Militants from the Iranian-backed Palestinian group Hamas launched a massive rocket attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, firing approximately 5,000 rockets. Hundreds of armed Hamas militants also infiltrated Israeli territory from the southern border. Israeli authorities declared Operation Iron Sword. By evening, Israeli forces had regained control of cities in the south that had been infiltrated by Hamas fighters. Israel also conducted airstrikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. As of midday on Oct. 8, it was reported that over 600 people had died because of the extensive Hamas rocket attack and subsequent shelling of Israel. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry confirmed the deaths of two Ukrainians. Read also: Hamas kidnaps over 100 Israelis Israeli Embassy in the US Israels Security Cabinet voted in favor of implementing Article 40 Aleph, which signifies an official declaration of war. The last time it was invoked was in 1973. 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 Campbell County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution Tuesday night, authorizing the Brookneal Campbell County Airport Authority (BCCAA) to apply for a loan for its hangar construction project. County Administrator Frank Rogers said the resolution allows the authority to go out and apply for funding, describing the process as the board co-signing the potential loan for the group. Based on their revenue, year over year and anticipated expenses, were optimistic theyll be able to make the payments; but thats functionally what youre doing when you add the moral obligation of the county to the process, he said. Nina Rezai, director of economic development for the county, said the agreement is the airport authoritys opportunity to seek self-financing toward the construction of 10 T-hangars at the airport property. The availability of these T-hangars are an effort to secure 10 based aircrafts that will enable the airport to get back into Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding that will aid in capital improvements and regular maintenance of the property, she said. The expenses the airport has, related to maintenance, utilities and proposed loan payments, puts its operating budget at $66,400 which basically breaks even with the revenue the group expects to bring in from the local contributions of the town and the county, rent from the hangar and anticipated fuel sales, according to Rezai. Rezai said the airport has the structure in place to be able to pay back the loan on its own but as with any public authority, it needs the backing of the local government in order to submit the application. The BCCAA, according to documents, is a general aviation facility airport jointly established by the county and the Town of Brookneal in 1978. Since 2012, the airport has been unclassified in the Federal Aviation Administrations system for funding an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation responsible for the regulation and oversight of civil aviation. The new hangers are an effort to attract more planes to the airport. The BCCAA hired Talbert & Bright, an airport consulting firm, to update its layout plan and find the most cost-effective location for the hangars. In January, according to the supervisors agenda packet, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Virginia Department of Aviation approved the master plan revision. The construction of the hangars is estimated to cost $700,000 with consultant administration. The BCCAA plans to apply to the Virginia Airports Revolving Loan Fund for $700,000 to build the 10 hangars and in order to apply for the loan program, the airport must have a letter of moral obligation from the supervisors which the board unanimously decided to do. The BCCAA is expected to submit the moral obligation resolution with the loan application in February. Then, the application will be presented to the Virginia Aviation board for approval in March and upon approval, the project will be put out to bid. Construction is expected to take about 120 days. Thats a big step for the Brookneal airport, Rogers said. These 10 hangars will also kick the airport in eligibility for FAA funding again, to help us with some of those capital expenses. O my prophetic soul! Shakespeares Hamlet exclaims when his fathers ghost reveals that his brother had murdered him to claim the throne and, along with it, his wife, the queen. Actually, it hadnt taken too much prophetic insight for Hamlet to realize just what was rotten in the state of Denmark. Not that I have much in common with Hamlet, but I didnt need a prophetic soul to foresee how Donald Trumps presidency would turn out. Here, updated, is some of what I shared in a column for another newspaper five days after Trumps victory over Hillary Clinton. Trumps reputation preceded him. We knew him as a vain, amoral narcissist whose craving for attention and adulation knew no bounds. Niece Mary Trump nailed it with the title of her book about him: Too Much, and Never Enough (2020). We also knew he had declared bankruptcy five times and had failed to pay contractors for what he conveniently judged to be substandard work. Yet he promised to run America like he runs his businesses. As we now know, that was by fraudulently exaggerating their worth and his wealth. On the campaign trail, Trump had condoned and even encouraged violence against protesters, promising to pay the legal bills for assailants. He repeatedly declared the press to be the enemy of the people, and he even made fun of a disabled reporter. We also knew Trump to be a womanizer and a misogynist. It says something troubling about America that so many voters ignored that 2016 Billy Bush Access Hollywood interview in which Trump bragged about his ability to molest women with impunity. The aggrieved women who have since come forward make it hard to believe Trump was merely indulging in locker-room talk. Trumps more thoughtful supporters believed he would surround himself with, and would listen to, the best and brightest advisers. That was a vain hope Trump dashed early on. He soon declared himself to be his own best adviser. Even more troubling, the ghostwriter for Trumps book The Art of the Deal tried to tell us in 2016 that Trump has a short attention span and that his mind wanders. I can believe that. The trouble with Trump is not just that he lies. The trouble is he seems to believe his contradictory and hyperbolic statements. A case in point: he recently credited himself with writing the best-selling book of all time. And, of course, he boasted of graduating from an Ivy League school and claimed to be a very stable genius. If so, he is an ill-educated one who believes we won the Revolutionary War by securing the airports. Trumps recent gaffes, moreover, bespeak a cognitive decline more troubling than Bidens senior moments. If you doubt that, Google them. And consider the upshot of Trumps presidency: Jan. 6, 2021 a second day that will live in infamy in American history. Trump fomented an insurrection, and to my mind that greatly overshadowed any of the supposed economic good he did. Add to that the example he set with his juvenile rhetoric and habits of mind. He has given Americans the license to be crude, vulgar, uncivil, hateful and small-minded. We used to be better than that. The past is prologue. Since leaving office, Trump has racked up four felony indictments and created a cult of true believers who care not for the rule of law or democracy. Theyre vowing to vote for him even if convicted. Forget Denmark. Something is truly rotten in the state of America the cult of Donald J. Trump. Morocco has, upon King Mohammed VIs instructions, requested an emergency meeting of the Arab Leagues ministerial council to discuss the deterioration of the situation in the Gaza strip. Morocco, which currently chairs the council, said the meeting will look into the outbreak of military actions against civilians and will seek the means to halt this dangerous escalation. Israeli forces killed more than 300 Palestinians within 24 hours following Hamas attack on Israeli settlements where they killed more than 200 and took an unknown number of Israeli settlers as hostages. Following the surprise Hamas assault, Israel declared war and warned others from joining the fight, hinting at Hezbollah. Analysts foresee an Israeli invasion of Gaza, and even a temporary reoccupation of the territory something that successive Israeli governments have tried hard to avoid cannot be ruled out. Moroccos foreign ministry had condemned attacks against civilians and called for appeasement and dialogue. You are here: World Flash China condemns the attack on a military academy on Thursday in Homs, Syria, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Saturday. The spokesperson made the remarks in response to the query on the suicide drone attack which has killed at least 80 people and wounded more than 200 others. The spokesperson said that China firmly opposes all forms of violent terrorist acts. "We condemn the attack, mourn for the victims in the attack and offer our sympathies to the injured and the families who have lost loved ones," said the spokesperson. Vice-chairman of the Libyan High Council of State, Massoud Obeid, hailed Moroccos ongoing efforts to achieve national reconciliation between the Libyan brothers. The Skhirat Agreement was a decisive turning point in the process to end the Libyan conflict, noted Obeid during talks in Rabat with speaker of the House of Advisors, Enaam Mayara. He vowed to strengthen cooperation between the Libyan High Council of State and the Moroccan upper house, to benefit from the latters experience in various fields, notably staff training. For his part, Mayara reaffirmed the Kingdoms permanent readiness to support all the efforts made within the framework of Libyan national reconciliation, with a view to reaching a national consensus between the Libyan brothers and overcoming all the difficulties encountered during the transition period, said the House of Advisors in a statement. Morocco would spare no effort to support the Libyans in this phase, with the aim of rebuilding a nation-state with strong institutions, Mayara said. The meeting provided an opportunity to review all the challenges facing the region, in the light of growing security risks and the spread of cross-border armed groups, which require joint efforts to preserve the unity of states and their territorial integrity, the statement said. Parliamentarian Tesh Sidi of the Spanish Sumar Party, closely associated with the terrorist Polisario group, has justified the bombings and assassinations carried out by Hamas in Israel on Saturday, prompting calls for her resignation. Tesh Sidi, a sympathizer of the pseudo Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and a deputy of Sumar in the Spanish Congress, has justified the brutal attack launched by the terrorist group Hamas Saturday morning, killing over 200 and injuring more than 1000 in Israel, reported the news website Sahel Intelligence. The deputy, born in Tindouf, a region in southwestern Algeria, spent the entire morning of Saturday sharing messages and tweets on social networks, defending the use of violence by the Hamas militia. Tesh Sidi entered the Parliament after the elections of June 23. As she has emphasized in many interviews, her intention was to represent the voice of the Polisario within Spanish institutions, according to the website. The Saturday attack, glorified by this deputy from Yolanda Diazs party, was of an unprecedented scale. 5,000 rockets and more than a hundred fighters infiltrated in Israel have caused chaos and bloodshed. Yoav Gallant, the Defense Minister, described the Hamas offensive as a serious mistake and has already called up Israeli army reservists. Numerous Spanish political, media, and cultural figures have strongly criticized the deputys tweet, which glorifies Hamas attacks against Israel. Some have even demanded her resignation from the Spanish Congress due to her antisemitism. In Another development, a military advisor to the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also praised the offensive. We support this proud Al-Aqsa deluge operation, and we are sure that the resistance front (anti-Israel groups close to Iran) also supports it, General Yahya Rahim-Safavi of the Revolutionary Guards, was quoted by ISNA agency as saying. For the past decade, several experts and analysts have consistently warned about dark alliances between Lebanese Hezbollah, Hamas, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, and the Polisario, an Algeria-backed terrorist and criminal organization. The Polisario acts as a connection between various terrorist groups involved in terrorism in the Sahel, Africa, and certain Middle Eastern regions such as Israel and Syria. Two Auburn business will be competing for a combined $75,000 in statewide funding at the Alabama Launchpad competition. This December, OMNIS Inc. DBA LucidTrade and Autonoma Inc. will compete in the 2023 Cycle Three Alabama Launchpad competition against eight other companies for prizes totaling $75,000. The competition will award $50,000 to one business in the concept stage of development and $25,000 to one company in the early seed stage. The funding will be awarded at the public finale in Hoover on Dec. 7. In August, Croux and Vivosphere earned a total of $75,000 in funding after winning the Cycle Two finals. The two companies beat out nine other finalists, including Auburns own NanoPrintek Inc and Autonoma Inc. Of the 10 Cycle Three finalists, six are based in Birmingham. Since being founded in 2006 as program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, Alabama Launchpad has funded 115 startups by investing over $6.2 million into the businesses. We are eager to see the rapid growth of these ten companies as they work with our Launch Advisors in preparation for the in-person pitch finale, said Miller Girvin, Executive Vice President of Innovation & Talent at EDPA. Alabama Launchpad provides both the necessary financial support and mentorship to turn ideas and early-stage companies into thriving businesses within the state. Past winners of the competition have a combined post-money valuation of over $1 billion dollars and have created over 1,300 jobs across the state. OMNIS Inc. DBA LucidTrade will be competing for $25,000 in the concept stage and Autonoma Inc. is back to compete in the early seed stage for $50,000 in funding. OMNIS Inc. DBA LucidTrade is revolutionizing finance with a product that merges blockchain tech with traditional banking, allowing users to access peer-to-peer loans and seamless transactions. The company is currently partnered with First International Bank and Auburn Credit Union. Autonoma Inc. competed at the Cycle Two finals in August but failed to earn any funding. Autonoma creates simulations to help improve the ability of driverless vehicles. In the simulations, the vehicles are faced with virtual obstacles such as pedestrians and traffic cones while reacting in real time on an empty race track. According to Launchpads press release, this process is cheaper and more efficient than current validation methods used for autonomous vehicles. Autonoma Inc. was founded by AU graduate Will Bryan in 2022, who presented the company at the August competition. The reason I applied was because there was prize money, Bryan said in the leadup to the August competition. Then after early on into the process, it was really clear that thats not the real value behind it. The real value is the mentorship and the help that theyre able to provide. The ten finalists were chosen by Launch Advisors with Alabama Launchpad, which hosts the competition in partnership with Innovate Alabama. Innovate Alabama is the statewide public-private partnership in state history that focuses on entrepreneurs and helping innovators in Alabama. The partnership was established to implement the recommendations from the Alabama Innovation Commission, and Innovate Alabama currently has a board of 11 innovation leaders appointed by Kay Ivey. The Alabama Launchpad Cycle Three competition will be held in Hoover, Ala. on December 7, though an exact location has not been determined yet. The families of two Black men who died in separate interactions with law enforcement gathered at a town hall meeting on Saturday to demand answers, transparency and justice. The Racial Justice Network teamed with the organization Concerned Citizens of Opelika to host the meeting at Auburn AME Zion Church. They discussed gun violence as well as the death of Ricardo Gary, 32, of Auburn and Lucius Benjamin Gibbs, 58, of South Carolina. Both families have called for authorities to publicly release any body or dash cam footage of the incidents, but the Lee County Sheriffs Office and Auburn Police Department have yet to do so. We fight for the rights of all people against any type of civil rights violation, against gun violence. We fight for police accountability, RJN National President Candace Brewer said. Our goal here today is to bring awareness to the organization and bring awareness to at least two different injustices that we know about that have happened in Alabama. The town hall featured a panel with five people: Brewer, Racial Justice Network CEO Elder James Johnson, attorney Josephine Smalls Miller, Garys brother Reggie Hall and Concerned Citizens President Oscar Penn. Also in attendance were members of the Moms Demand Action, a group that fights for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence. There was a rally at Toomers Corner scheduled to follow the meeting. It was canceled, because of lack of participants. _trim> Its been almost a year since Gary died in police custody. On Nov. 27, Auburn police were called to the 700 block of Martin Luther King Drive after someone showed erratic behavior. Police said that upon making contact with Gary on Spencer Avenue, he was combative so police restrained him and shocked him with a Taser. Gary later passed out during an EMS examination and died, authorities said. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the death and the case was presented to a grand jury. The case was closed with no arrests or charges. nt_trim> nt_trim> enforcement to publicly release dash, bodycam footage On June 9, deputies responded to an unrelated call about a possibly intoxicated driver in a white Ford F-150 on Highway 280. They found Gibbs in a ditch less than a mile from Lee Road 250 in the Bleeker community. Officials said Gibbs, who was behind of a white Ford F-150, backed out of the ditch and fired a shot from the truck. Sheriff Jay Jones said thats when the deputies, who he declined to publicly name, returned gunfire and killed Gibbs. At the time, Gibbs was reported missing in Charleston, South Carolina. During Saturdays town hall meeting, Brewer showcased data from the Stolen Lives Project with a banner listing every person killed by U.S. law enforcement since 2016. Brewer also shared that she has lost 13 family members to gun violence, including two to police violence. Were saying that this is an issue that needs to be addressed by all people, because we need to all join together, Brewer said. Im a movement by myself. But Im a force when everyone in here joins together. Family demands justice and transparency The CEO of the Racial Justice Network, which is based in South Carolina, has traveled to Auburn at least three times since June. The first time was to hold a press conference with the Gibbs family at the front door of the Lee County Sheriffs office. On Sept. 13, he visited again with Garys family to press for the body cam footage to be released. The Gibbs family traveled from South Carolina to attend the town hall and they are still looking for answers. We have yet to find out the details of what happened. And its really challenging for us, and its hard for us to heal from this, Deandrea Gibbs, Lucius Gibbs daughter, said. While she believes that everything happens for a reason, Gibbs said she still wonders why it happened and is looking for clarity. Gibbs said that even with the answers, she doesnt know if her heart will ever heal. However, she is now committed to finding the answers and enacting change not just for herself, but also for anyone else that has gone through the same thing. Its not that I wasnt a fighter for justice before, but it makes me want to fight even harder. I myself am an educator, Deandrea Gibbs said. Its sad to know that I can relate to most of my kids because I dont have my dad anymore. Mother asks why her son died without a charge or crime You know what the death certificate said? Undetermined. My son was healthy. So why did a man die? Without a charge? Or a crime?, Carolyn Gary, Ricardo Garys mother, said. During the Sept. 20 press conference, the Garys said that they were shown body cam footage during a meeting Lee County District Attorney Jessica Ventiere and Auburn Police Chief Cedric Anderson. Reggie Hall said that the footage showed the police officers initiating contact with Gary. The family said Gary was carrying a stick in case dogs from the area may attack him, and hall said that the footage showed officers snatching the stick from Gary. According to Hall, when Gary went to take the stick back the Taser was deployed. At the townhall meeting, the Racial Justice Networks CEO announced that Hall has been selected as the interim-president of the Racial Justice Networks first Alabama chapter. They will also be creating an Alabama-based legal team. It almost feels like were back at 1923 Miller, an attorney, already works with the RJN. With over 40 years of experience practicing law, she has seen the landscape of civil rights change and in some ways stay the same. I was thinking as I was coming in this morning that here we are in the year 2023, but it almost feels like were back at 1923. So much of the gains that we thought had been made in the area of civil rights have been rolled back, Miller said. Were back, it seems almost, to square one. There seems to be a resurgence of this, the same kinds of brutality that we have seen in the past. Miller is part of the team that is pursuing ways to get the body camera footage released to the public. With the Alabama chapter, the Racial Justice Network has 28 chapters across the United States. They are also starting an educational program called Thou Shall Not Kill, which is aimed at educating ages 3-18 in order to stop black-on-black and teach black history. Close James Johnson, the CEO of the Racial Justice Network (left) and Reggie Hall, the brother of 32-year-old Ricardo Gary, (right) unveil a banner that shows the names of people law enforcement officers have killed in the U.S. They presented it during a town hall meeting at Auburn AME Zion Church on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Residents gather at Auburn AME Zion Church for a town hall meeting on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The meeting focused on the death of 32-year-old Ricardo Gary and 58-year-old Lucius Benjamin, two Black men who died during separate interactions with law enforcement. Oscar Penn, president of Concerned Citizens of Opelika, speaks at a town hall meeting at Auburn AME Zion Church on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The meeting focused on the death of 32-year-old Ricardo Gary and 58-year-old Lucius Benjamin, two Black men who died during separate interactions with law enforcement. Reggie Hall, Ricardo Garys brother, speaks at Auburn AME Zion Church on Oct. 7. The meeting focused on the death of Halls brother and 58-year-old Lucius Benjamin, two Black men who died during separate interactions with law enforcement. James Johnson, CEO of the Racial Justice Network, speaks at a town hall meeting at Auburn AME Zion Church on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The meeting focused on the death of 32-year-old Ricardo Gary and 58-year-old Lucius Benjamin, two Black men who died during separate interactions with law enforcement. Racial Justice Network attorney Josephine Smalls Miller speaks at a town hall meeting at Auburn AME Zion Church on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The meeting focused on the death of 32-year-old Ricardo Gary and 58-year-old Lucius Benjamin, two Black men who died during separate interactions with law enforcement. DeAndrea Gibbs, the daughter of 58-year-old Lucius Benjamin Gibbs, speaks during a town hall meeting at Auburn AME Zion Church on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The meeting focused on the death Gibbs and 32-year-old Ricardo Gary, two Black men who died during separate interactions with law enforcement. Dr. Candace Brewer, president of the National Racial Justice Network, speaks at a hall meeting at Auburn AME Zion Church on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The meeting focused on the death of 32-year-old Ricardo Gary and 58-year-old Lucius Benjamin, the two Black men who died during separate interactions with law enforcement. Community gathers for meeting about men who died during encounters with law enforcement Residents gather at Auburn AME Zion Church on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, for a town hall meeting hosted by the Racial Justice Network and Concerns Citizens of Opelika. James Johnson, the CEO of the Racial Justice Network (left) and Reggie Hall, the brother of 32-year-old Ricardo Gary, (right) unveil a banner that shows the names of people law enforcement officers have killed in the U.S. They presented it during a town hall meeting at Auburn AME Zion Church on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Residents gather at Auburn AME Zion Church for a town hall meeting on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The meeting focused on the death of 32-year-old Ricardo Gary and 58-year-old Lucius Benjamin, two Black men who died during separate interactions with law enforcement. Oscar Penn, president of Concerned Citizens of Opelika, speaks at a town hall meeting at Auburn AME Zion Church on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The meeting focused on the death of 32-year-old Ricardo Gary and 58-year-old Lucius Benjamin, two Black men who died during separate interactions with law enforcement. Reggie Hall, Ricardo Garys brother, speaks at Auburn AME Zion Church on Oct. 7. The meeting focused on the death of Halls brother and 58-year-old Lucius Benjamin, two Black men who died during separate interactions with law enforcement. James Johnson, CEO of the Racial Justice Network, speaks at a town hall meeting at Auburn AME Zion Church on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The meeting focused on the death of 32-year-old Ricardo Gary and 58-year-old Lucius Benjamin, two Black men who died during separate interactions with law enforcement. Racial Justice Network attorney Josephine Smalls Miller speaks at a town hall meeting at Auburn AME Zion Church on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The meeting focused on the death of 32-year-old Ricardo Gary and 58-year-old Lucius Benjamin, two Black men who died during separate interactions with law enforcement. DeAndrea Gibbs, the daughter of 58-year-old Lucius Benjamin Gibbs, speaks during a town hall meeting at Auburn AME Zion Church on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The meeting focused on the death Gibbs and 32-year-old Ricardo Gary, two Black men who died during separate interactions with law enforcement. Dr. Candace Brewer, president of the National Racial Justice Network, speaks at a hall meeting at Auburn AME Zion Church on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The meeting focused on the death of 32-year-old Ricardo Gary and 58-year-old Lucius Benjamin, the two Black men who died during separate interactions with law enforcement. Tensions over a long-running border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana are flaring once again. The decades-long squabble originates from Venezuelas claim over the Essequibo, a sparely populated but resource-rich predominantly jungle region of western Guyana, which comprises nearly two-thirds of the former British colonys territory. Maduros saber-rattling follows on from Exxon, making a swathe of stunning world-class oil discoveries in Guyanas territorial waters. Venezuelas territorial claim includes the waters off the coast of the Essequibo, which contains many of those petroleum discoveries. The latest flare-up is an attempt by a desperate Maduro regime to gain access to urgently required resources while distracting the Venezuelan population from the countrys dire economic condition. The dispute over the Essequibo dates back to 1830, when Venezuela separated from Gran Colombia to become an independent sovereign state. In 1835, the British Empire sent German-born explorer Robert Herman Schomburgk to map Guyana and demark a border with Venezuela. The border drawn by Schomburgk sparked protests from Venezuela, with Caracas claiming Britain was encroaching on the countrys territory. It is this event that ignited the territorial dispute, which has remained unresolved to the satisfaction of both parties to this day. Various attempts at arbitration, including the 1899 Arbitral Award, 1966 Geneva Agreement, 1970 Port of Spain Protocol and 1990 Good Offices agreement, have all failed to resolve the dispute satisfactorily. Maduros latest round of saber-rattling began after Guyana launched its first-ever oil auction with 14 offshore blocks on offer, with eight bids received, including from energy supermajors Exxon and TotalEnergies. Venezuelas foreign ministry, from Caracas, issued a statement earlier this month (Spanish) saying, Guyana's arrogant and hostile position, denying dialogue and diplomacy, is the biggest obstacle to reaching a solution,". The ministry went on to assert, (Guyana) once again shows itself as a subordinate government, hostage of the transnational ExxonMobil, which prohibits it from resuming sovereign dialogue with Venezuela,". The statement also said: We alert the international community of U.S. intentions to create, in our peace zone of Latin America and the Caribbean, a military base in the Republic of Guyana, to turn that country into the spearhead of an aggression operation against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which would put the peace and stability of the entire region at risk. The people and the government of Venezuela united in defense of the homeland, will not give in [to] or be intimidated by pressure, blackmail, or threats when it comes to defending the sacred homeland Guyanas government in Georgetown refuses to participate in the meetings proposed by Maduro, and rightfully so, having referred the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for resolution. The ICJ has been managing the territorial dispute at Guyanas request since 2018, with the court affirming in a 2020 judgment that it had jurisdiction over the matter. Then, in an April 2023 ruling, the court found the preliminary objections raised by Venezuela in a June 2022 submission, essentially challenging the ICJs jurisdiction over the dispute to be admissible. Since then, there have been no further material statements regarding the matter issued by the court. Guyana has been a recipient of refugees who fleeing Venezuela because of the crisis precipitated by endemic corruption and the autocratic Maduros regimes extreme mismanagement of the economy and financially crucial oil industry. It is estimated that of the more than 7 million Venezuelans who have fled their country since 2015, around 100,000 have settled in Guyana, which is around eight of Guyanas population. This is sparking fears that such a massive influx of Venezuelan refugees into the tiny former British colony of less than 1 million has the potential to trigger civil dissent and other problems, especially if Maduro intensifies his saber rattling. Guyana is also in the unenviable position of potentially being unable to repulse any invasion of Essequibo by Venezuela militarily. In comparison to Venezuelas military, which is ranked third in South America behind Colombia and Brazil, Guyanas defense force is limited in size and equipment. While Venezuela possesses modern tanks, artillery and aircraft as well as a sizable water navy Guyana has very little modern war-fighting equipment and roughly a twentieth of its adversarys personnel. More concerning is that there are Russian and Iranian military advisers deployed in Venezuela who are embedded within various units. U.S. designated terror group Hezbollah also has a significant presence in Venezuela, where it is a key backer of the autocratic Maduro regime. Iran has long used Hezbollah as a proxy for its wars in the Middle East, including, most lately, Syria. The support of those powers provides Caracas with access to further modern military equipment and trained manpower, which could be used to overpower Guyanas defense force. This makes it essential that regional countries such as the U.S. and Brazil act as guarantors of Guyanas territorial integrity in the face of an increasingly belligerent totalitarian Venezuela. ADVERTISEMENT By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: JERUSALEM Backed by a barrage of rockets, dozens of Hamas militants broke out of the blockaded Gaza Strip and into nearby Israeli towns, killing dozens and abducting others in an unprecedented surprise early morning attack during a major Jewish holiday Saturday. A stunned Israel launched airstrikes in Gaza, with its prime minister declaring the country is now at war with Hamas and vowing to inflict an "unprecedented price." In an assault of startling breadth, Hamas gunmen rolled into as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip, including towns and other communities as far as 15 miles from the Gaza border. In some places, they roamed for hours, gunning down civilians and soldiers as Israel's military scrambled to muster a response. Gunbattles continued well after nightfall, and militants held hostages in standoffs in two towns. Militants also occupied a police station in a third town, where Israeli forces struggled until Sunday morning to reclaim the building. Israeli media, citing rescue service officials, said at least 250 people were killed and 1,500 wounded, making it the deadliest attack in Israel in decades. At least 232 people in the Gaza Strip were killed and at least 1,700 wounded in Israeli strikes, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. Hamas fighters took an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive into Gaza, a deeply sensitive issue for Israel, in harrowing scenes posted on social media videos. The conflict threatened to escalate to an even deadlier stage with Israel's vows of greater retaliation. Previous conflicts brought widespread death and destruction in Gaza and days of rocket fire on Israeli towns. The situation is potentially more volatile now, with Israel's far-right government stung by the security breach and with Palestinians in despair over a never-ending occupation in the West Bank and blockade of Gaza. In a televised address Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military will use all of its strength to destroy Hamas' capabilities and "take revenge for this black day. But he warned, "This war will take time. It will be difficult." "All the places that Hamas hides in, operates from, we will turn them into ruins," he added. "Get out of there now," he told Gaza residents, who have no way to leave the tiny, overcrowded Mediterranean territory of 2.3 million people. Netanyahus office said Israel would stop supplying electricity, fuel and goods to Gaza, where much of the population was thrown into darkness. President Joe Biden decried Hamas appalling assault and his administration pledged to ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself. He made clear in a call with Netanyahu that we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support," according to the White House. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken rushed to the White House for meetings and phoned foreign counterparts, while Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Israels defense minister. Israeli airstrikes in Gaza intensified after nightfall, flattening residential buildings in giant explosions, including a 14-story tower that held dozens of apartments as well as Hamas offices in central Gaza City. Israeli forces fired a warning just before. After one Israeli strike, a Hamas rocket barrage hit four cities, including Tel Aviv and a nearby suburb. Throughout the day, Hamas fired more than 3,500 rockets, the Israeli military said. Palestinians demonstrated in towns and cities in the West Bank on Saturday night. Palestinian health officials said Israeli fire killed five there. About 3 a.m. Sunday, a loudspeaker atop a mosque in Gaza City warned nearby residents: Evacuate immediately. Minutes later, an Israeli airstrike reduced a five-story building to ashes. In the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an Israeli airstrike late Saturday flattened a home, killing 12 members of the Abu Qouto family, neighbors said. Ten members of a family in the northern town of Jebalya were killed in another airstrike, relatives said. The strength, sophistication and timing of the Saturday morning attack shocked Israelis. Hamas fighters used explosives to break through the border fence enclosing Gaza, then crossed with motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders and speed boats on the coast without resistance from the military. In some towns, a trail of civilians' bodies lay where they encountered the advancing gunmen. In amateur video, hundreds of terrified young people who had been dancing at a rave fled for their lives after Hamas militants entered the area and began firing at them. Israeli media said dozens of people were killed. Among the dead in Israel was Col. Jonathan Steinberg, a senior officer who commanded the military's Nahal Brigade, a prominent infantry unit. The shadowy leader of Hamas' military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the assault was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, Israeli raids inside West Bank cities over the past year, violence at the disputed Jerusalem holy site Al Aqsa, growth of Israeli settlements and settlers' increasing attacks on Palestinians. "Enough is enough," Deif, who does not appear in public, said in the recorded message. He said the attack was only the start of what he called "Operation Al-Aqsa Storm" and called on Palestinians from east Jerusalem to northern Israel to join the fight. "Today the people are regaining their revolution." The Hamas incursion on Simchat Torah, a normally joyous day when Jews complete the annual cycle of reading the Torah scroll, revived painful memories of the 1973 Mideast war practically 50 years to the day, in which Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, aiming to take back Israeli-occupied territories. Asked by reporters how Hamas managed to catch the army off guard, Israeli army spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht replied, "That's a good question." Hamas' military wing claimed it was holding dozens of Israeli soldiers captive in "safe places" and tunnels in the Gaza Strip. Civilians also were taken. Hecht confirmed a number of Israelis were abducted, saying the number was "substantial." That could set the stage for complicated negotiations on a swap with Israel, which is holding thousands of Palestinians in its prisons. SHARE Omaha invites metro families, organizations and companies to take part in their communitywide holiday collection drive this season. Ten local nonprofits are sharing easy ways to support their organizations. Those who wish to contribute items to SHARE Omahas Holiday Collection Drive should go to shareomaha.org/holiday and select which nonprofit they want to support. The participating organizations include Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands, Educate of Omaha Inc., Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy (HETRA), Immigrant Legal Center + Refugee Empowerment Center, Neighborgood, New Visions Homeless Services, Open Door Mission, Project Harmony, Release Inc. and Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha. Many of the nonprofits have an online shopping wish list, allowing donors to send items directly to the nonprofits doorstep. We know our community is capable of incredible things when we all give together, said Teresa Mardesen, SHARE Omaha executive director. I dream of a holiday season where our local nonprofits can cross every item off their wish list and thousands of families receive the support they need. If youre able to send an item or two today, youre helping our metro get one step closer to making this holiday season so joyous for our neighbors. SHARE Omaha is a website for connecting to ways to give back and volunteer for 700 local nonprofits. Rent, utilities assistance available for Nebraskans Financial assistance for rent and utility payments is available to income-qualified Nebraskans who experienced a financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the Nebraska Emergency Rental Assistance program, qualified households may receive up to $30,000 for past-due and future rent payments and past-due utility and internet payments. No more than $4,000 of assistance can be applied toward past-due utilities. Residents of Douglas and Lancaster counties are not eligible because there are separate assistance programs available for those counties. To qualify, applicants must demonstrate a financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic; must have an income at or below 80% of area median income; must rent their primary home in Nebraska; and must be a legal resident. Payments will be made directly to landlords and utility companies. Funds will be distributed until they run out, or until September 2025, and they do not need to be paid back. To apply and learn more about eligibility requirements, visit NebraskaRentHelp.org or call 1-844-429-6575. The $48 million program is funded by the U.S. Treasury Departments second Emergency Rental Assistance program that was authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The program is being managed by the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority. Bee Club holding annual convention The Omaha Bee Club will host its third annual bee convention on Saturday. Classes are being offered, including overwintering in Nebraska, honeybee behavior, how to establish a honey business, tips on beginning beekeeping, varroa: how to know when there is a problem and how to treat. A honey judging contest is also planned. For information and to register go to the clubs website at omahabeeclub.com and access the convention page. You can also register in-person the day of the convention. Doors will open at 7:30 a.m. for check-in and registration. The convention is being hosted at Journey Church, 20020 Hampton Drive in Gretna from 8 a.m. to 5:30 pm. The club started in June 2010 and has more than 385 members. Its mission is To enable successful beekeeping in the Omaha metro area by providing education, training, fellowship, and mentorship throughout the year and across all levels of beekeeper development. Students can apply for diversity scholarships The application process for one of the most valuable scholarships awarded in Nebraska has opened. The Coyner and Donna Smith Diversity Scholarships were created in 2020 to provide college educations to graduating high school students from low-income, minority families. Each student receives up to $25,000, renewable each year (up to $100,000) assuming the recipient maintains a 3.4 GPA. After tuition is paid, the funds are unrestricted. This year, scholarships are also available for students interested in trade school. Applicants must live in Nebraska and be graduating from a Nebraska high school, but there is no minimum GPA, SAT or ACT requirement. Students must come from a household where annual income is below $65,000/year, and they must belong to an underrecognized community. The application deadline is Jan. 28, 2024. In 2020, Lutheran Family Services received a $3,000,000 gift to establish the Smith Diversity Scholarship Fund. More information about the scholarships and previous winners is available at oneLFS.org/sds. Photographer to share work at CSM gallery A former educator and longtime photographer will show images from the last 20 years of his work with a Nebraska newspaper during a show Oct. 26-Dec. 14 in the Hillmer Art Gallery at College of St. Mary. The opening reception will be at 5 p.m. Oct. 26. For more than 20 years, Joe Burns has served as the primary photographer for the Washington County Pilot-Tribune and Enterprise newspapers. In addition to news photography, Burns shares his travel adventures in a popular series of newspaper columns and photo essays. The exhibit is my capstone to my second career as Washington County photojournalist and travel photographer, said Burns, an Omaha native and Blair resident. Burns is a retired Omaha Public Schools English, photography and journalism teacher, having taught at Omaha Benson High School for 31 years. He also served as an adjunct photography instructor at Metropolitan Community College. VNA is holding flu shot clinics Visiting Nurse Association will once again provide drive-thru flu shot clinics to the Omaha metropolitan community as a part of VNAs commitment to community wellness. Proceeds from the annual clinics are reinvested into VNAs Community Care services, which include shelter nursing, home health aides, parenting support, community events and Safety Net assistance. In 2022, VNA served more than 10,800 flu and immunization clients, meeting the increasing demand for easily accessible flu vaccines. Getting vaccinated against the flu is an important step we all can take to protect the health and wellbeing of ourselves and our community, said Carole Patrick, interim CEO and chief philanthropy officer of VNA. By receiving care at a VNA immunization clinic this fall, youll also help support the many services we offer to support the health of families, children and those in need. Clinic dates at 12565 West Center Road: Oct. 12, 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 14, 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 19, 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 26, 4 to 6 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Before you go, complete a consent form via VNAs website at vnatoday.org. Bring it and an insurance card if applicable. Bridges Out of Poverty adds board members Omaha Bridges Out of Poverty has added new board members Megan Connelly, Marcos Hernandez and Travis Schwartz. Their diverse backgrounds and wealth of experience will help us achieve our goal of defeating poverty in the Omaha/Council Bluffs Metro area. CEO Marcus Bell said. The trios addition comes at a pivotal time for the organization as it continues to expand its reach and impact within the Omaha/Council Bluffs metro area. Visit omabop.org. DeSoto celebrating National refuge week National Wildlife Refuge Week, starting today, is held in celebration of the network of lands and waters that make up the National Wildlife Refuge System with a mission of conserving and protecting wildlife. DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge will be celebrating with the following events: Sunday: Fee Free Day and Visitor Center Special Opening. The Visitor Center will be open from noon to 4:30 p.m. for visitors to explore and observe the Steamboat Bertrand Exhibit. Oct: 14: Family-friendly activities including a 9 a.m. wetland walk, 11 a.m. milkweed seed balls crafting and a 1 p.m. talk about the Steamboat Bertrand. For more information contact 712-388-4800 or email the refuge at desoto@fws.gov. Photos sought for Nebraskaland contest The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is accepting submissions for the 2023 Nebraskaland Magazine photo contest. Submissions should be posted via Instagram using the hashtag #Nebraskland2023. To be eligible for the contest, photos should be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Central time Oct. 28. Make sure your account is public so judges may view your photo. Photographers of all ages and skill levels are invited to submit photos in wildlife, scenic, recreation and macro categories. Photos must be taken in Nebraska. Submissions will be judged by Nebraskaland staff, and winning photos will be published in the January/February 2024 issue of Nebraskaland Magazine. Find contest rules at Magazine.OutdoorNebraska.gov/PhotoContest. State Historical Building in Iowa reopens After more than five years of renovations, the State Historical Building of Iowa, Museum and Research Center in Des Moines will fully reopen Oct. 14 with a day-long schedule of programs and the unveiling of a brand new museum exhibition. The renovated building features a bright new atrium and significant infrastructure improvements to provide a safer and more secure facility to preserve and share Iowas historical exhibits, artifacts, state archives and records for years to come. Iowans share a strong commitment to preserving the history of our state and making sure it is safeguarded for generations of Iowans to come, State Historical Society of Iowa Administrator Susan Kloewer said. As the states flagship facility for preserving Iowa history, we are extremely pleased this renovation project has been completed successfully and we invite all Iowans and visitors to join us in the celebration. On Saturday, visitors will have an opportunity to see the completed renovation, participate in family-friendly programs and activities, view the museums permanent collection and tour the new Civics in Action exhibition, which focuses on significant events, court cases, caucuses and issues that shaped the future of Iowa and the United States. Bob Kerrey likes to tell a story about the bridge that spans the Missouri River between Omaha and Council Bluffs and was named in his honor. The former U.S. senator and Nebraska governor said he was walking alone across the bridge when he passed a man biking in the opposite direction. I heard him hit the brakes, and the tires squealed, Kerrey recalled Saturday. I turned back and he said to me, I never voted for you ever. I didnt like anything you did. I was opposed to everything you did, including this bridge, but I was wrong. This is great. In a homecoming of sorts, the now 80-year-old Kerrey paid a visit to the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge on Saturday morning. A group of former staff members organized a bridge walk with Kerrey as part of a larger reunion this weekend, where hundreds of his former staffers, colleagues and campaign supporters reunited. The idea for the reunion came back when Kerrey and some of his former staffers attended a funeral of a Navy SEAL with whom Kerrey had served. Some of the people on that trip came up with the idea to bring together everyone involved across Kerreys political career, he said. Its a good reunion, it really is, Kerrey said between catching up with familiar faces. Its a happy time. Kerrey, who celebrated his 80th birthday in August, said he is doing well despite a recent health scare. He had been diagnosed with cancer but was able to undergo successful treatment, he said. When you get another lease on life, it feels pretty good, he said. Kerrey grew up in Lincoln and, after graduating in 1965 from the University of Nebraska with a pharmacy degree, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1966. He then volunteered to train with the Navy SEALs. Kerrey went on to serve in Vietnam in 1969 and he lost his right leg below the knee during a mission. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, the nations highest honor for war valor. Kerrey did not enter politics until 1982, when he was elected Nebraska governor in his first run for political office. Kerrey served from 1983 to 1987 and surprised supporters when he decided against seeking a second term. But after the death of Sen. Ed Zorinsky in early 1987, Kerrey ran for the U.S. Senate and won in 1988. He served from 1989 to 2001. Kerrey, a Democrat, also ran unsuccessfully for his partys presidential nomination in 1992. And he also fell short in a 2012 bid to take back his former Senate seat. Other than that race, Kerrey has largely stayed out of politics over the last two decades. Before the walk Saturday morning, Kerrey spoke to the crowd about how the pedestrian bridge started. At first, it was just an idea he had that he wasnt sure was even feasible. As senator, Kerrey had pulled together government officials on both sides of the river to discuss how to get people back to the river, which at that time was dominated by a lead refining plant and other industrial sites, said Bob Holmstedt, who served as Kerreys state director. At one of those planning meetings, the group was looking at the maps of the existing and developing trails in Omaha and Council Bluffs. Kerrey then shared the idea of connecting the trails on both sides of the river, Holmstedt said. We need a bridge, he remembered Kerrey saying. Ill go get the money to build a bridge. Kerrey did end up securing $19 million in federal funding, much of the money needed for the bridge. Once the proposed design that stands today was shown to the public, it changed some of the skeptics minds, said Larry Foster, the current president of Omahas Back to The River Foundation. They saw it and it sold itself, Foster said Saturday. Kerrey was no longer in Nebraska by the time the pedestrian bridge was actually built, but he was responsible for the congressional earmark that accounted for the vast majority of its funding, so a naming committee decided it should be named after him. It was rightfully named after the right guy who got the money for us, former Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey said. Now, 15 years after it opened, the bridge has become a fixture of Omahas landscape and a connector between Omaha and Council Bluffs. In 2022, the bridge was used over 1 million times, Foster said. Its a special place, Foster said. Photos: Bob Kerrey visits the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge ACCESSbank ACCESSbank is pleased to announce the addition of Al Vermeer to its Board of Directors. With a distinguished career in the financial industry spanning over three decades, Vermeer brings a wealth of banking knowledge and leadership experience that will significantly contribute to ACCESSbank's growth and success. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Pat Corrigan said, "We are delighted to welcome Al to our Board of Directors. His impressive track record in banking, along with his deep industry knowledge, will be instrumental in helping us grow as a community banking organization." Vermeer currently holds the position of Chief Executive Officer at Peoples Bank in Rock Valley, IA, where he has demonstrated strong leadership and a commitment to excellence. Throughout his tenure, he has held various pivotal roles within the organization, including Chief Operating Officer, Senior Loan Officer, and Rock Valley President. In addition to his roles within Peoples Bank, Vermeer is actively engaged in the financial community and serves on various professional boards. Notably, he currently holds the position of Chairman of the Iowa Bankers Mortgage Corp. Board of Directors. About ACCESSbank ACCESSbank is a locally owned community bank committed to making things happen in Greater Omaha. Dedicated to serving its clients, shareholders, employees and the community, ACCESSbank is known for exceptional customer service and building long-lasting relationships. There are currently seven locations in the Omaha metro. To learn more about ACCESSbank, visit accessbank.com. Founded in 1950, the College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only and only after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers of diverse backgrounds, who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. Lawyers must have a minimum of fifteen years trial experience before they can be considered for Fellowship. Membership in the College cannot exceed one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province. There are currently approximately 5,800 members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, including active Fellows, Emeritus Fellows, Judicial Fellows (those who ascended to the bench after their induction) and Honorary Fellows. The College maintains and seeks to improve the standards of trial practice, professionalism, ethics, and the administration of justice through education and public statements on independence of the judiciary, trial by jury, respect for the rule of law, access to justice, and fair and just representation of all parties to legal proceedings. The College is thus able to speak with a balanced voice on important issues affecting the legal profession and the administration of justice. Omaha community organizations, police and faith leaders have been stepping up their regular violence prevention efforts, trying to prevent a recent spate of shootings from becoming a wave. Among recent Omaha gun crimes: A mass shooting at a birthday party Oct. 1 killed 16-year-old Burke High junior LaMarintae Swift, and injured five other people, and a drive-by shooting into a gathering of people outside a home took the life of 19-year-old Dontayzhia Swift on Wednesday. The two young people who were killed were cousins. Police have not determined whether the shootings were connected. First, our hearts go out to the families, friends, everybody impacted, said Willie Barney, president of the Empowerment Network. Its been a very, very difficult, challenging last week. Theres a lot of groups, agencies, organizations and ministries mobilized in trying to support the families and definitely trying to prevent additional incidents from occurring. The groups, he said, are out there on the street. Theyre in the schools, neighborhoods, doing everything they can to prevent anything from spreading or additional things happening. That includes street and school outreach workers from the Omaha nonprofit YouTurn, even though the slayings this week hit extra close to home. The two young people who were killed last week had relatives among the violence prevention workers at YouTurn, a North Omaha-based organization focused on reducing conflict and violence through a public health approach. YouTurn and the Empowerment Network-led Omaha 360 are part of a structure that has built up in recent years to reduce gun crime. Routinely, YouTurns trained staff of credible messengers trained mediators who have themselves been victims or involved in violence work with people ages 12 to 25 and their families at high risk of being involved in gun violence. YouTurn helps the young people with its own programming, or connects them via a soft handoff with other agencies. YouTurn also has teams that canvass in neighborhoods and schools in its target area of North Omaha, talking with neighbors and connecting with young people and their parents. They do that on the regular. When violent incidents happen in North Omaha, such as last Sundays mass shooting at an event hall at 24th and Decatur Streets, YouTurns outreach teams respond to affected people and neighborhoods. That morning, when the homicide took place on Sunday, the team was getting into the areas, talking to people, trying to get an understanding of what has happened, whats going on thats driving the incident, and more importantly, to prevent any retaliation, said Teresa Negron, YouTurns executive director. They were doing the same again after Dontayzhia Swift was shot and killed Wednesday. That has included the groups credible messengers talking to young people in YouTurn programming as well as others in the community who might feel compelled to respond violently. Just trying to impact and intervene, be that voice to help prevent any type of retaliation, Negron said. In addition to YouTurns very important work, multiple other organizations and individuals are involved, Barney said. That ranges from gang intervention specialists who work on their own or in groups, to school counselors and mental health professionals, to a group called the North Omaha Community Partnership that works with families who have lost loved ones and is helping the families affected last week, Barney said. We have a very strong group of pastors that are active all year round, but especially in times of spikes like this, Barney said. Theyre doing outreach into communities and neighborhoods, and youth and families that theyve worked with. ... Just about in all the different areas of our community, there are measurable, tangible things that are being done to support families and especially youth during this time. The Omaha Police Department is reallocating resources to put extra patrols on the streets, including overtime for officers. Some other investigators are also hitting the streets, not trying to necessarily saturate any areas specifically, but working on these hot spots where we are seeing this upticks in violent crime, said Lt. Neal Bonacci, an Omaha police spokesman. Police also are working with community organizations, Bonacci said. The North 24th Business Improvement District, which has successfully worked with businesses, residents and police to reduce crime in its area since it started a grassroots safety and security effort in 2020, addressed the issue at its regular meeting Wednesday. Executive Director LaVonya Goodwin said the district focuses on the built environment and communication about such matters as posting closed property notices on vacant lots, having proper lease agreements and making sure that people leasing their spaces keep proper business hours. She said economic and security progress is being made, but theres a lot of work to be done, including on such issues as poorly maintained commercial properties, and deteriorated buildings and an excess of vacant lots tying back to the disinvestment stemming from racial redlining. Theres a lot of work we do, but theres a lot of work to be done, Goodwin said. And its not really in response to the violence. Its just the violence sheds a light and people begin to really inquire whats being done, and the part of the business improvement district is business development through the built environment. Barney said said ongoing cooperation between community groups and law enforcement including weekly Omaha 360 meetings attended by 80 to 100 people have helped reduce gun violence and keep spikes in gun violence like the current one from spiraling. Twenty homicides have been recorded in the City of Omaha this year, as compared to 22 by this time last year. That includes homicides in South Omaha and west Omaha. Homicides also have occurred in the suburbs and rural Douglas County. Five have occurred in the Omaha Police Departments Northeast Precinct area. Omaha police have made arrests or otherwise cleared 15 of the 19 homicides in 2023 so far. Through the end of September, 73 people have suffered nonfatal shootings, compared with 94 at the same time last year, according to Omaha police data. This violence is not a North Omaha problem, said the Rev. Wallace Powell, who leads St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church across the street from where the Oct. 1 mass shooting occurred. Its a Nebraska problem. Its a United States problem. And weve got to come up with better solutions to it. Powell, who also teaches at Monroe Middle School, said his church plans to become more proactive in the community, including starting an after-school tutoring program. The Rev. Bruce Williams, pastor of Hope of Glory Church at 34th and Burt Streets, leads prayer walks at homicide sites across the city to bring comfort and hope to victims families, and to try to prevent further violence. But he postponed a prayer walk scheduled for 24th and Decatur Streets last week because feelings are too strong in the community at the moment. Emotions are running high with people who care about the community who dont want to see these things happening in our streets, Williams said. That includes the interventionist people working on the streets. Organizations like YouTurn, and theres some other advocates that are out there, everybodys all focusing on that we all have to start working together. Not that we havent been, but we have to do more ... to try to curb some of this violence and some of this anger. Photos: New Douglas County Justice Center opens in Omaha If youre a driver in North Omaha these days, you might be seeing red. Or, at least, a lot of orange. As in orange traffic cones, and orange construction signs blocking off critical roads because North O is in the middle of a road-construction boom. The boom is due mostly to two major, and unrelated, projects going on at the same time. The first is the renovation of the bridges over the North Freeway. Since the project began early this summer, engineers have begun reconditioning the seven bridges, one at a time making structural repairs, painting them, and installing new bridge decks. Closures and detours have confounded some drivers. This marks the first time the bridges have been rebuilt since the North Freeway was opened in the 1980s. But the opening of the expressway was a sore spot for many in North Omaha. Its construction forced hundreds of residents out of their homes, and it created a noisy barrier that physically divided a community with many African American residents. The work is expected to continue through the fall of 2024. The other big North Omaha project is the installation of a sanitary sewer system in the area, part of the citys $2.1 billion, 28-year effort to separate stormwater runoff from household sewage. The current focus is on North 16th Street, which is currently closed between Victor and Corby Streets. Thats the latest segment in the Omaha Public Works Departments rolling closures along 16th between Clark and Pinkney Streets. The project began in January 2022 and will continue until August 2024. Austin Rowser, the citys deputy public works director, said crews will pave the section between Sherwood and Ohio Streets next, and may reach as far north as Corby and Maple Streets before breaking for the winter. The sewer separation project also extends to Grace Street, from 16th Street to Florence Boulevard, which has been closed since June. Rowser said the road has been repaved between 16th and 18th Streets, with the rest expected to be completed by mid-November. Finally, Florence Boulevard has been closed between Burdette and Clark Streets since mid-September. Rowser said repaving is expected to reach the intersection of Florence and Clark later this week, with the entire project scheduled for completion by the end of the month. While 24th Street North Omahas Main Street is largely free of closures now, sections of North 30th Street have lane closures this month. North 30th Street is restricted to one lane southbound at Weber Street until Tuesday. is restricted to one lane southbound until Tuesday. North 30th Street between Bondesson and State Streets is restricted to one lane southbound until Oct. 17. is restricted to one lane southbound until Oct. 17. North 30th Street between Patrick and Burdette Streets will have varying lane restrictions until Wednesday. Whats New Cryer Avenue between South 118th and South 120th Streets will be closed to through traffic for street repair until Oct. 21. Traffic will be limited to one lane in each direction on Sorensen Parkway north and south of Ida Street to allow for road construction until Oct. 21. Maple Street between North 80th Street and Keystone Drive will be restricted to one lane westbound for fiber-optic installation in the outside curb lane until Tuesday. Blondo Street between North 72nd and North 75th Streets will be restricted to one lane westbound for fiber-optic installation in the outside curb lane from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday. The northbound curb lane on 72nd Street from Mercy Road to Arbor Street , and the eastbound curb lane on Mercy Road for 300 feet east of 72nd, are closed until Nov. 1 to accommodate building construction. , and the eastbound curb lane on are closed until Nov. 1 to accommodate building construction. North 30th Street between Titus Avenue and Newport Avenue will be restricted to one lane southbound for utility work in the outside curb lane until Oct. 15. will be restricted to one lane southbound for utility work in the outside curb lane until Oct. 15. North Ninth Street between Crown Point Avenue and Arthur C. Storz Expressway will be closed for utility work until Saturday. Miracle Hills Drive will be restricted approximately 250 feet East of Nicholas Street for street repair in the outside curb lane until Oct. 15. Around Omaha Intermittent lane and shoulder closures will take place on I-80 at the Giles Road, 84th Street, 72nd Street, 60th Street and 13th Street exits for a project to create accident investigation sites. Completion is expected in the fall. for a project to create accident investigation sites. Completion is expected in the fall. Intermittent nighttime lane closures can be expected in the following Interstates through the fall due to a median barrier-sealing project: I-480 in both directions between U.S. 75/Kennedy Freeway and North 14th Street; I-680 in both directions between U.S. 6/West Dodge Road and Nebraska Highway 133/Blair High Road. Northwest (north of West Dodge Road and west of I-680) The eastbound lanes of U.S. Highway 64/West Maple Road over the Elkhorn River will be closed through the fall to remove and replace pavement and improve lighting. Traffic will be shifted to one of the westbound lanes. The access to JC Robinson Boulevard, leading to Waterloo, will be closed. will be closed through the fall to remove and replace pavement and improve lighting. Traffic will be shifted to one of the westbound lanes. The access to leading to Waterloo, will be closed. Blondo Street between North 117th Street and Papillion Parkway will have various lane restrictions for bridge repair until Nov. 10. will have various lane restrictions for bridge repair until Nov. 10. State Street is closed from 156th to 147th Streets due to grading and paving of the three-lane roadway until fall. is closed from due to grading and paving of the three-lane roadway until fall. Fort Street is closed from 183rd to 195th Streets due to grading and paving of the three-lane roadway until fall. is closed from due to grading and paving of the three-lane roadway until fall. North 108th Street between Burt Circle and Decatur Street will be closed with local access only for street widening until Nov. 30. Northeast (north of Dodge Street and east of I-680) The right lane on Interstate 680 is closed from the 31st Street interchange east to the Iowa state line until Dec. 29 while workers repair a damaged expansion joint on the west end of the Mormon Bridge. is closed until Dec. 29 while workers repair a damaged expansion joint on the One northbound lane of U.S. Highway 75 between Hamilton and Fort Streets will be closed while workers paint the bridges at Lake and Binney Streets until early November. The entrance ramp from Lake Street to northbound Highway 75 also will be closed during the project. will be closed while workers paint the bridges at Lake and Binney Streets until early November. The also will be closed during the project. Traffic is restricted to one lane in each direction and the westbound lanes are closed on Cass Street between North 74th and North 76th Streets for utility work until Nov. 5. for utility work until Nov. 5. Dodge Street between North 72nd Street and North 76th Street/Rose Blumkin Drive will have varying lane restrictions for street improvements connected to the Crossroads redevelopment through December. will have varying lane restrictions for street improvements connected to the Crossroads redevelopment through December. Traffic will be restricted in the northbound lanes of North 60th Street between Nebraska Avenue and Sorensen Parkway because of street panel replacement until Wednesday. because of street panel replacement until Wednesday. Davenport Street between North 54th and North 53rd Streets will be closed for utility work until Wednesday. will be closed for utility work until Wednesday. Westbound Dodge Street between North 38th Avenue and North 41st Street will be restricted for building construction in the outside curb lane until Nov 7. will be restricted for building construction in the outside curb lane until Nov 7. Martin Avenue between Curtis Avenue and North 36th Street will be closed to through traffic for street repair until Oct. 27. will be closed to through traffic for street repair until Oct. 27. Because of construction at the Kiewit corporate campus, North 15th Street between Mike Fahey and California Streets will be restricted southbound, and Mike Fahey Street between North 16th and North 15th Streets will have eastbound traffic shifted to the center lane until March 15, 2024. North 16th and North 17th Streets between Cuming and Mike Fahey will have restrictions in the curb lanes until Wednesday. will be restricted southbound, and will have eastbound traffic shifted to the center lane until March 15, 2024. will have restrictions in the curb lanes until Wednesday. Southwest (south of West Dodge Road and west of I-680/80) Nighttime lane closures (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.) can be expected on Interstate 80 eastbound at the I-680 interchange through the fall while workers install a high-friction traffic surface to improve traction. Traffic on I-80 eastbound and I-680 northbound will be rerouted to the L-I-Center bypass ramp. through the fall while workers install a high-friction traffic surface to improve traction. Traffic on I-80 eastbound and I-680 northbound will be rerouted to the L-I-Center bypass ramp. South 156th Street between Pacific Street and Wycliffe Drive/Nottingham Drive will have closures for street widening until November. will have closures for street widening until November. Pacific Street between South 155th and South 157th Streets will have lane restrictions for street widening until November. will have lane restrictions for street widening until November. South 168th Street between Q Street and West Center Road will have lane restrictions for street widening until December 2024. will have lane restrictions for street widening until December 2024. South 132nd Street at Atwood Avenue will be restricted to one lane southbound for utility work in the inside lane until Monday. Southeast (south of West Dodge Road and east of I-680/80) Nighttime lane closures from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. are planned on the Kennedy Freeway (U.S. Highway 75) between Q and F Streets, including entrance and exit ramps, to allow for milling and resurfacing of the roadway, through the fall. including entrance and exit ramps, to allow for milling and resurfacing of the roadway, through the fall. Overnight lane restrictions are planned through the fall on I-80 eastbound between L Street and I-680 and on the I-680 interchange for installation of a high-friction surface treatment. for installation of a high-friction surface treatment. The West Dodge Frontage Road South between 84th and 86th Streets is closed for building construction until Thursday. is closed for building construction until Thursday. Lakeview Drive between South 84th Avenue and South 86th Street will be closed for utility work until Oct. 16. will be closed for utility work until Oct. 16. Westbound traffic is shifted to the center lane on Q Street between South 84th and South 87th Streets for water-main replacement until Oct. 19. Varying lane restrictions are planned on Q Street between South 89th and South 90th Streets until Monday due to utility work. for water-main replacement until Oct. 19. Varying lane restrictions are planned on until Monday due to utility work. Mercy Road from Aksarben Drive to 68th Street will have various lane restrictions due to bridge repair until Wednesday. will have various lane restrictions due to bridge repair until Wednesday. Farnam Street between 40th Street and Turner Boulevard will have varying lane closures in the right lane from until Friday while workers drill utility test holes ahead of the planned streetcar construction project. will have varying lane closures in the right lane from until Friday while workers drill utility test holes ahead of the planned streetcar construction project. Leavenworth Street from South 38th Avenue to South 38th Street will be restricted to one lane eastbound for construction work until Thursday. will be restricted to one lane eastbound for construction work until Thursday. Leavenworth Street between South 45th Street and South 46th Avenue will be restricted to one lane westbound for utility work in the inside lane until Thursday. will be restricted to one lane westbound for utility work in the inside lane until Thursday. South 44th Street between Douglas and Farnam Streets will be restricted to head-to-head traffic because of construction until Oct. 18. will be restricted to head-to-head traffic because of construction until Oct. 18. South 42nd Street between the I-80 eastbound exit ramp and D Street will be closed for bridge reconstruction until December. will be closed for bridge reconstruction until December. South 42nd Street between J and D Streets will have various lane restrictions for street repair until Oct. 25. will have various lane restrictions for street repair until Oct. 25. South 37th Street between Farnam and Harney Streets is closed until Wednesday because of building construction. is closed until Wednesday because of building construction. South 27th Street between I and J Streets is closed until Thursday for manhole installation. is closed until Thursday for manhole installation. South 22nd Street between Mason and Pacific Streets will be closed to through traffic for utility work until Friday. will be closed to through traffic for utility work until Friday. 14th Street will be closed between Farnam and Douglas Streets, and curbside lanes will be closed on Farnam, Douglas and 15th Street until early 2026 because of construction of the new Mutual of Omaha tower. will be closed and curbside lanes will be closed on until early 2026 because of construction of the new Mutual of Omaha tower. The eastbound curb lane on Douglas Street will be closed between 44th and Saddle Creek Road for construction until December. will be closed between for construction until December. I Street between South 108th and South 102nd Streets will be closed to through traffic for street widening until November. will be closed to through traffic for street widening until November. Grover Street between South 56th Street and South 59th Avenue will be closed for street reconstruction through December. will be closed for street reconstruction through December. Q Street between South 45th and South 48th Streets is closed for utility work until Oct. 17. is closed for utility work until Oct. 17. Traffic in the east curb lane is restricted on South 24th Street between Landon Court and Howard Street due to building construction until Oct. 16. due to building construction until Oct. 16. Phelps Street between South 13th and South 16th Streets will have various lane restrictions for street repair until Oct. 16. will have various lane restrictions for street repair until Oct. 16. The intersection of South 17th and Harney Streets will have various lane restrictions until Monday because of a streetscaping project. will have various lane restrictions until Monday because of a streetscaping project. South 13th Street between I and J Streets will be restricted to one lane in each direction for utility work in the outside curb lanes until Friday. will be restricted to one lane in each direction for utility work in the outside curb lanes until Friday. The eastbound lane on Farnam Street between 10th and Eighth Streets is restricted because of building construction until Oct. 17. Sarpy/Cass Counties The intersection of 204th Street and Capehart Road, and Capehart Road east of 204th Street are closed as part of the Gretna Crossing Park project until mid-November. 192nd Street from Lincoln Road to the railroad bridge is closed through the fall for paving and bridge replacement as part of the CONNECTSarpy project. Platteview Road from Highway 31 to 210th Street is closed through January to allow for construction of a three-lane road. Pflug Road is suggested as an alternate route. is closed through January to allow for construction of a three-lane road. Pflug Road is suggested as an alternate route. Lane restrictions can be expected on U.S. 34/75 from Plattsmouth to the Bellevue bridges through the fall to allow for bridge deck repairs, and from Nebraska Highway 1 to Oak Hill Road in Plattsmouth through November 2024 to allow for road construction. through the fall to allow for bridge deck repairs, and from through November 2024 to allow for road construction. A lane is closed intermittently, and a 12-foot width limit is in effect through the fall on U.S. Highway 34 between Bay Road and U.S. Highway 75 while bridge and road construction work is in progress through the fall. The right lane is closed in both directions on Nebraska Highway 370/Cornhusker Road from 192nd to 180th Streets east of Gretna due to road construction. due to road construction. A portion of 234th Street north of Schram Road just west of Gretna is closed for replacement of a 550-foot area of culvert until December. Around Nebraska Lane closures also are planned on I-80 between the Utica and Pleasant Dale exits (reference posts 365.14 to 387.27) while contractors install guardrails in the median. Work will be performed from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday through Friday. Completion is expected in November. (reference posts 365.14 to 387.27) while contractors install guardrails in the median. Work will be performed from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday through Friday. Completion is expected in November. Alternating lane closures are planned overnight on I-80 between Exit 382 (Milford) and Exit 395 (Northwest 48th Street) west of Lincoln because of bridge reconstruction and guardrail repair. west of Lincoln because of bridge reconstruction and guardrail repair. Lane closures are planned on U.S. Highway 275 from Nebraska Highway 36 to U.S. 30/East 23rd Street in Fremont while workers repair pavement and bridges. Completion is expected in fall. while workers repair pavement and bridges. Completion is expected in fall. Nebraska Highway 79 is closed in Dodge County at North Bend from U.S. 30 to County Road R , with detours in place through the fall. is closed in Dodge County at , with detours in place through the fall. U.S. Highway 77 between Winnebago and Walthill is closed until November while two box culverts are replaced, with traffic detoured via U.S. Highway 75 and Nebraska Highway 94. Then one lane will reopen, and traffic will be maintained with temporary traffic signals, flaggers, and a pilot car until the project is completed in midsummer 2024. is closed until November while two box culverts are replaced, with traffic detoured via U.S. Highway 75 and Nebraska Highway 94. Then one lane will reopen, and traffic will be maintained with temporary traffic signals, flaggers, and a pilot car until the project is completed in midsummer 2024. Temporary shoulder and lane closures can be expected on U.S. Highway 77 north and south of the I-80 56th Street interchange in Lincoln until March 2024 while workers add left and right turn lanes on Highway 77 and widen westbound shoulders on I-80 entrance and exit ramps. In Iowa The Interstate 29 southbound ramp to Interstate 480/U.S. Highway 6 Omaha in Council Bluffs is closed for construction until Oct. 15. in Council Bluffs is closed for construction until Oct. 15. Occasional nighttime lane and ramp closures may occur on Interstate 80 at the Madison Avenue interchange in Council Bluffs through June 2026 while the interchange is being rebuilt. through June 2026 while the interchange is being rebuilt. The South Expressway from I-80 to 19th Avenue in Council Bluffs will be rebuilt until November, with lane closures expected while one-lane traffic is maintained in each direction. will be rebuilt until November, with lane closures expected while one-lane traffic is maintained in each direction. Ninth Avenue in Council Bluffs is closed from South 36th Street to Harrah's Boulevard on both sides of I-29, until Friday. Photos: Omaha party sends off Terence 'Bud' Crawford ahead of training camp Two people were killed and two others were seriously injured after a car crashed into a tree and caught fire near Neale Woods in far north Douglas County on Sunday morning. According to the Douglas County Sheriffs Office, first responders were called to North River Drive near the Washington County line between Hummel Park and Neale Woods for reports of a crash at 8:52 a.m. Sunday. Sheriffs deputies and members of the Ponca Hills Fire Department found one vehicle in a ditch fully consumed in flames. The vehicle, a Kia sedan, appeared to have been heading northbound toward Washington County on North River Drive when the driver lost control, exited the road on the west side and struck a tree head-on. Ponca Hills firefighters extinguished the fire. Four people were in the vehicle at the time of the crash. One was declared dead at the scene, and another sustained critical injuries and died en route to the hospital. Two others were transported to the Nebraska Medical Center with serious injuries. The victims have not yet been identified pending notification of next of kin. The investigation is still in its early stages, the Sheriffs Office said. In 2020, I was a 25-year-old with big dreams. I was an analyst for the president of Afghanistan and spent my days advocating for democracy. I dreamed of becoming a Fulbright scholar, studying political science at Harvard and making connections that could help build a new Afghanistan for younger generations. But a year later, in August 2021, the Taliban took over my country. Like thousands of others, my family was forced to flee. We were devastated. But I was also lucky to have made it out and to now be resettled in Omaha, Nebraska. At the same time, Afghan refugees in America are terrified. The U.S. government hasnt made our temporary status here permanent. Instead, theyve encouraged us to apply for temporary extensions that provide no long-term security. Or they say we should apply for asylum, which requires documentation, money and legal help we dont have. If we cant do either, well lose our status later this fall and could be deported. Its why Im urging American leaders to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would help Afghans like me get our green cards. Back in Afghanistan, we risked our lives alongside American troops. Weve fought tirelessly for democracy. Now were pleading with the United States: Please do not forget us. Back in Kabul, my father was the vice president for the Olympics Committee. He also ran a private martial arts school that allowed Afghan women to compete internationally. I taught political science at Saber Institute of Higher Education and served as an aideto the president, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani. We all believed in a democratic Afghanistan, free from extremism. But everything changed in August 2021. My journey to America was full of uncertainty. I got separated from my father, mother, brother, and sister in Kabul and frantically boarded a military airplane. I had no idea where we were going or what was going to happen next. I had no money, just my passport and my phone. After a few months of moving between different military camps, I was relocated to Omaha, but my family landed in Toronto, Canada, where they still live today. I applied for a work permit and began to learn English. After four months, I got my permit and found a job unloading trucks at Walmart. I even got my trucking license. It was hard and different from my old life, but my English improved, and I got a new job as a case manager for refugees and immigrants. Over the last two years, Ive been moved by this communitys kindness and the friendships Ive formed. The night I arrived, I got lost walking on my way to the house I was supposed to stay in, and a neighbor offered to help. She invited me into her home, befriended me and has since taught me some English. As a case manager, Ive seen some Omaha families give cars to Afghan refugees and help them get drivers licenses. When I got married in 2022 to my wife, an Afghan American, nearly half of those in my wedding party were American colleagues from Walmart and the refugee center. Like so many new Afghan refugees, Omaha has become home for us. But we may lose our homes again. Our temporary two-year visas expire this fall and we are terrified. Many of us have tried to apply for asylum but have heard nothing. We are overwhelmed and confused by the other temporary status options that exist. Still, every day, we work to build new lives here as Uber drivers, in big box stores and at meatpacking plants. We work alongside Americans in Omaha just like we did back in Afghanistan. We are safe here. But if were forced to return, we will be killed by the Taliban. Congress first introduced the Afghan Adjustment Act in July of this year. Why havent they passed it? Back in Afghanistan, we risked our lives for America. Now we are here, working alongside Americans. We are helping to better this society because it is now our home. Please dont forget us, America. Dont take away our home. Jordan for Speaker Since Rep. Jim Jordan came in second to Kevin McCarthy in the voting, it is logical that Jordon be named Speaker of the House right now. So what's there to debate? Vote him in now. R E Kistner, Omaha Letter to Rep. Bacon Dear Mr. Bacon, I speak for myself and many of my friends when I say it would be absolutely horrifying to allow Donald Trump to become Speaker of the House, let alone president again. We can't allow this insanity to continue. Please speak to your colleagues. Be the voice of reason. Please help our country escape from this continuing insanity in the GOP, now a cult serving a deranged leader. I'm not sure how any current or former members of the military could support this traitor. Help us, Don Bacon. Let your legacy show you had courage to stand up and save American democracy from a fascist, populist movement, a democracy that our forefathers shed blood and gave their lives to protect. You swore an oath to the Constitution to protect America from all enemies, both foreign and domestic. We trust you will honor your oath. Michael Leonard, Omaha Setting a precedent Summit Carbon Solutions, owned partially by a South Korean company, is asking the Antelope County zoning board for a conditional use permit to grant permanent easements for a carbon pipeline. Concentrating CO2 into a pipeline under high pressure is a disaster waiting to happen. Multinational corporations will profit through subsidies, depreciation, and tax credits. Who eventually is paying for it all? We the taxpayers! CO2 is used for fracking, fertilizer, aviation fuel, soda, fire suppression plant growth in greenhouses. If there is such demand for CO2, then why "sequester" it in the ground? There are more than 100 eminent domain cases pending in South Dakota concerning proposed carbon pipelines. A Summit representative stated that they plan to use eminent domain in Nebraska. If a for-profit business is allowed to use eminent domain, this will set a precedent for every landowner in Nebraska. Connie Baker, Neligh, Neb. Letter response In response to my good friend of 40+ years: Kent Heckman's letter (Pulse, Oct. 5) suggested conservatives not go to the polls to vote in 2024 if Donald Trump's name is on the ballot, because of alleged disparaging statements he made about our military. Let me remind you, it was not that long ago, that Joe Biden ordered the catastrophic withdrawal of our troops from Afghanistan in which that country's control was turned back over the Taliban, we left behind billions of dollars worth of military equipment and, worst of all, we left behind thousands of U.S. supporters and eleven U.S. military personnel lost their lives including 23-year-old Marine Corporal Daegan Page of Omaha. I would recommend liberals boycott the polls in 2024 if Joe Biden's name is on the ballot. Paul Salansky, Nebraska City, Neb. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Monday that Israel's fierce offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip has only started. Netanyahu delivered the pronouncement in a nationally televised address as Israel pressed ahead with a third day of heavy airstrikes in Gaza following Hamas' unprecedented and deadly incursion into Israel. We have only started striking Hamas, he said. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations. Israel formally declared war on Sunday. The hostilities so far have killed around 900 people in Israel and more than 680 people in Gaza, according to authorities on each side. AIRSTRIKE IN GAZA CITY KILLS TWO PALESTINIAN JOURNALISTS An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City killed two Palestinian journalists early Tuesday, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. Wafa identified the journalists as editor Saeed Al-Taweel and photographer Mohammed Sobih. The airstrike occurred close to an area housing several media offices. Three Palestinian journalists reportedly were shot and killed while reporting in Gaza on Saturday. The Committee to Protect Journalists, citing Palestinian press freedom groups, identified two of them as photographer Ibrahim Mohammad Lafi and reporter Mohammad Jarghoun. CPJ said it confirmed that freelance reporter Mohammad El-Salhi also was killed. Lafi worked for Ain Media, and Jarghoun reported for Smart Media, CPJ said. ISRAEL SAYS DEPUTY COMMANDER KILLED IN CLASHES ON BORDER WITH LEBANON Israels military said early Tuesday that a deputy Israeli commander was killed in clashes on the northern border with Lebanon. The military identified the deputy commander as Alim Abdallah, but did not specify the exact circumstances of his death. Palestinian militants from the Islamic Jihad group slipped from Lebanon into Israel, sparking Israeli shelling into southern Lebanon. Lebanons Hezbollah militant group said five of its members were killed, and it retaliated with a volley of rockets and mortars at two Israeli army bases across the border. NUMBER OF THOSE DISPLACED IN GAZA SURPASSES 187,000, U.N. OFFICE SAYS As retaliatory Israeli airstrikes continue, more than 187,500 people have been displaced in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict, according to a report from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, is hosting more than 137,000 people in schools across the territory. The report says airstrikes have razed 790 housing units and severely damaged 5,330 in the territory of 2.3 million people. OCHA said damage to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in Gaza has disrupted service for more than 400,000 people. ISRAEL STRIKES TWO TUNNELS USED BY HAMAS MILITANTS, MILITARY SAYS The Israeli military said early Tuesday that it struck two tunnels used by Hamas militants to enter Israeli territory. The news came a day after 70 militants infiltrated the Be'eri kibbutz Monday night. The small farming community has been a flashpoint of the conflict the scene of a hostage standoff during the attack. Authorities did not immediately provide more information on the location of the tunnels. The militant group has used tunnels in the past. It has an established a network running from Gaza to Egypt to smuggle in weapons, as well as attack tunnels burrowing into Israel. AT LEAST 11 US CITIZENS HAVE BEEN KILLED, BIDEN SAYS At least 11 U.S. citizens have been confirmed dead in the surprise Hamas attacks, U.S. President Joe Biden said Monday. Biden also said the U.S. government believes it is likely that Americans are among those currently being held hostage by Hamas militants, while other U.S. citizens are still unaccounted for after the deadly assault. My heart goes out to every family impacted by the horrible events of the past few days, Biden said in a statement. The pain these families have endured, the enormity of their loss, and the agony of those still awaiting information is unfathomable. He stressed that the State Department is offering assistance for U.S. citizens who are currently in Israel, and air and ground options to leave the country are still available for those who choose to do so. He also said federal law enforcement officials are closely monitoring potential domestic threats stemming from the weekend attacks. BRITISH PRIME MINISTER AT SYNAGOGUE TO SUPPORT ISRAEL British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak joined a large crowd gathered for prayer at a London synagogue on Monday to underline his solidarity with Israel. Addressing the congregation at Finchley United Synagogue in north London, Sunak condemned Hamas' bloody incursion into Israel on Saturday as evil. There are not two sides to these events. There is no question of balance. I stand with Israel, he said. The United Kingdom stands with Israel against this terrorism today, tomorrow and always. He also sought to assure Britains Jewish community that he will do everything to protect them amid concerns about the rise of antisemitism. HUNDREDS OF RIVAL PROTESTERS HOLD RALLIES IN US, EUROPE Thousands of pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protesters held vocal but peaceful gatherings Monday, at a historic French plaza and outside Israeli embassies in London and Athens, Greece. Several thousand people rallied in Paris in support of Israel, marching to the Trocadero Plaza overlooking the Eiffel Tower. The monument was lit up in the colors of the Israeli flag, with a white Star of David in the middle, in a gesture of solidarity announced by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. In Athens, an estimated 250 people, mostly Palestinian expatriates and members of Greek left-wing groups, held a peaceful protest outside the Israeli embassy to show solidarity with Palestinians. Protesters waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans, while a strong police contingent blocked off access to the embassy building. In London, hundreds chanted Israel is a terrorist state and Free Palestine and some waved signs calling for Israel to end the occupation. Meanwhile, in the U.S., supporters of Israel and of the Palestinians held competing rallies in several cities, including in New York, where rival protesters shouted at each other near U.N. headquarters amid a massive police presence. EUROPEAN UNION REVERSES SUSPENSION OF AID TO PALESTINIAN AUTHORITIES The European Union late Monday reversed an earlier announcement by an EU commissioner that the bloc was immediately suspending aid for Palestinian authorities and instead said it would urgently review such assistance in the wake of the attacks on Israel by Hamas. There will be no suspension of payments at the moment, a terse European Commission statement said late Monday, five hours after EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi had said that all payments from the development program for Palestinians would be immediately suspended. No immediate explanation for the reversal was given. The reversal on a 691 million-euro ($730 million) program capped an embarrassing day at the EUs executive at a time of extreme geopolitical sensitivities. MORE THAN 680 PEOPLE KILLED IN GAZA, HEALTH MINISTRY SAYS The Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip said Monday that more than 680 people have been killed in Israels retaliatory strikes following an unprecedented Hamas attack. The ministry said more than 3,700 people have been wounded. Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since the Saturday attack, striking hundreds of targets and leaving vast destruction. UN SAYS EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO PREVENT CONFLICT FROM SPREADING The United Nations says intense diplomatic activity is taking place aimed at ensuring that regional and international leaders are on the same page in trying to prevent the conflict between Israel and Hamas from spreading. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters Monday that he and U.N. Mideast envoy Tor Wennesland are engaging with key parties in the region. Guterres has spoken to Israels president and Jordans king and expects to talk to the Palestinian president, Israels prime minister, Egypts president and Lebanons prime minister, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Wennesland has been in touch with his counterparts from the United States, European Union, Qatar, Lebanon and others. MORE THAN 100 BODIES FOUND IN FARMING COMMUNITY, ISRAEL SAYS Israeli rescue service Zaka says more than 100 bodies have been recovered from a small farming community that was the scene of a hostage standoff during Hamas attack against Israel. The figure is part of the total 900 reportedly killed in Hamas multi-pronged attack. Be'eri, a kibbutz, had a population of about 1,000 people before the attack. CHEVRON TO STOP PRODUCTION IN MEDITERRANEAN OFF ISRAEL COAST American oil giant Chevron Corp. said Monday that at Israels instruction it had stopped production at its offshore Tamar natural gas rig in the Mediterranean Sea off Israel. In a statement announcing the action, the company declined to discuss any security issues and didn't say why Israel ordered it. The Tamar field, which went online in 2013, is believed to hold more than 300 billion cubic meters of gas. Chevron and the Israeli-American company Isramco each own around a third of Tamar, with the remainder held by smaller firms. There have been threats previously against Israels offshore oil rigs by militant groups in the region and Lebanon has disputed Israels maritime boundaries. The ongoing fighting in Israel and the Gaza Strip has sparked a jump in crude oil prices, in part over a fear of a wider regional conflict breaking out. Israel and the Palestinian territories dont produce oil. Benchmark Brent crude traded up Monday to over $87 a barrel. HEZBOLLAH SAYS ONLY 3 MEMBERS KILLED IN CONFLICT Lebanons Hezbollah group says only three of its members were killed along the border with Israel during an exchange of fire Monday. Earlier Monday, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group had said that five members were killed during Israeli shelling in southern Lebanon. Also Monday, the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad said in a statement that it sent four gunmen across Lebanons border into Israel as part of the Hamas-led attack that started over the weekend. Israeli Defense Forces reported that its troops shot and killed several gunmen who crossed into the country from Lebanon. The Lebanese military called on residents of border towns to take the utmost precautions. Families in several towns in southern Lebanon started fleeing north as the Israeli shelling continued. HAMAS WING WARNS THAT ISRAELI STRIKES WILL BRING HOSTAGE DEATHS The armed wing of the Palestinian militant group Hamas has warned that it will kill an Israeli hostage every time Israel's military bombs civilian targets in the Gaza Strip without warning. Abu Obeida, the spokesman of the Qassam Brigades, said in an audio released Monday night that the threat was a response to intense air strikes by Israel on civilian areas. We have decided to put an end to this and as of now, we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding, he said. In a video statement Monday, Israels foreign minister warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages who were taken from Israel and being held in Gaza. Eli Cohen said Israel was committed to bringing the hostages home in the spirit of mutual responsibility. We demand Hamas not to harm any of the hostages, Cohen said. This war crime will not be forgiven, he added. TURKEY'S LEADER HOLDS CALLS WITH PALESTINIAN, ISRAELI PRESIDENTS Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held back-to-back telephone calls with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, according to Erdogans press office. Erdogan and Abbas discussed the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas. President Erdogan stated that Turkey is making every effort to end the conflicts in the region and ensure calm as soon as possible a statement from his press office said. ARAB LEAGUE SCHEDULES MEETING AT REQUEST OF PALESTINIANS Arab foreign ministers plan to convene Wednesday in Cairo for a meeting on the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant groups in Gaza. Arab League Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki said the ministers would discuss Arab efforts to stop the Israeli aggression on Gaza. The meeting was called by the Palestinians. The parish would then be free to sell the property or tear it down, depending on the value and interest from other groups that might purchase such a building, Tylka said. One Bloomington native with a history at Holy Trinity is former state Rep. Dan Brady, who said he and his family have long attended and he even went to school there as a child. Brady, last year's Republican nominee for Illinois secretary of state and a former McLean County coroner, said he is not privy to details of the diocese plans beyond what has been published. Acknowledging that the Catholic Church as a whole is facing a number of challenges, he said that he and other members of the Catholic community in Bloomington-Normal would watch for more information and opportunities for input. He likened the deeply personal nature of the church restructuring to the process of merging schools. "It's very emotional," he said. Families develop generations of history and attachment to their parishes, and such strong feelings have to be balanced with perspective of the financial and logistical realities. "Very difficult decisions lie ahead," he said. 'The church is not a building' GIBSON CITY The Gibson City Area Food Pantry was awarded a $10,000 Rise grant as part of the Earthrise Energy Awards to help fight hunger. The grant will provide essential financial support to help the nonprofit continue its mission of alleviating hunger and food insecurity among the most vulnerable in the region. The food pantry serves nearly 300 individuals and families in need each month. They provide food supplies and other items to Ford County residents, the Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley school district and neighboring counties. Earthrise Energy owns and operates five natural gas plants in Illinois, including the Gibson City Energy Center, the Shelby County Energy Center in Neoga and the Tilton Energy power plant. The company launched its RISE Grant program in fall 2022 to help fund local initiatives that promote excellence in education, protect the environment and support the communities in which the organization operates. Earthrise has awarded more than $100,000 to nonprofit and civic organizations in the state. For more information, visit gibsonareafoodpantry.org. Photos: Efforts to combat food insecurity in Bloomington-Normal Midwest Food Bank in Normal Midwest Food Bank in Normal Bread for Life Co-op Bread for Life Co-op Bread for Life Co-op Bread for Life Co-op Western Avenue Community Center Western Avenue Community Center West Bloomington Revitalization Project Sunnyside Community Garden Veggie Oasis The Table Veggie Oasis Midwest Food Bank Midwest Food Bank Midwest Food Bank Midwest Food Bank Midwest Food Bank Midwest Food Bank Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest BLOOMINGTON McLean County officials are proposing a balanced $146.7 million spending plan for the 2024 fiscal year that represents a 15% increase over the fiscal 2023 budget. McLean County Administrator Cassy Taylor said revenue growth will allow the county to invest in software for public safety needs; critical infrastructure; and employee compensation. The county benefits from a growing tax base with a slightly above-average resident income, healthy financial position, modest debt burden and moderate pension burden, Taylor said during the county boards September meeting. Staffing is expected to increase to 821 full-time positions from the previous years 807. The board is expected to vote on the budget during its regularly scheduled meeting in November. Here are some takeaways from the 2024 budget: Impact of ARPA funding Taylor said the spending plan is inflated due to including the countys remaining $8.3 million of a total of $33.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds. The act requires that all ARPA funds be obligated by the end of 2024. We do have until 2026 to get in all the receipts and spend that money if a project would be delayed, but we had to allocate everything in this fiscal year, Taylor said. The county has committed about $9.7 million in ARPA funding for infrastructure improvements, including a $2 million contribution for renovations to the Fairview building next to the county nursing home in north Normal. Community mental health initiatives McLean County is budgeting about $4 million for community mental health initiatives, a roughly $324,000 increase over FY23, and about $1.2 million on justice-related mental health services, a $717,000 increase. Taylor said the county has collaborated with the McLean County Behavioral Health Coordinating Council to provide more funding for the Frequent User System Engagement, or FUSE program, which offers support for homeless individuals. FUSE services include case management, medication assistance, psychiatric services, therapy and crisis intervention. The county also will work with mental health legal consultants to see what can be done about data sharing with community partners at hospitals. Many of these programs are supported through shared sales tax dollars, which also go toward debt service on the McLean County jail, the establishment of a mental health database and other behavioral health services. Taylor said the county had to pause a number of justice-related mental health proposals during the COVID-19 pandemic. But now that more funding has been committed, the county can increase medication-assisted treatment of people in the jail and offer reentry services once those individuals are released. Unknown impact of Pretrial Fairness Act Last year, the county board budgeted for additional staffing within the states attorneys and public defenders offices to better prepare for the rollout of the Pretrial Fairness Act, which eliminated cash bail. The sheriffs department also received additional funding for training and equipment related to the laws implementation. The law was supposed to take effect Jan. 1, but the Illinois Supreme Court issued an order to stay the laws provisions pending an appeal. The law eventually went into effect Sept. 18. Although the funding within the countys justice departments will remain level, Taylor said there was not enough data on the laws impact on local justice systems to make any other budget preparations. Anticipated changes in revenues and costs related to this act will continue to be monitored in 2024 in efforts to create realistic budgetary projections in future years, Taylor said. Because the offices of the states attorney and public defender are funded primarily through the general fund, Taylor added that the financial toll of the Pretrial Fairness Act may not be isolated to criminal justice. In one way or another it will impact every criminal justice department, and then it also impacts the general fund as a whole, Taylor said. If we are relying on general fund dollars to support the criminal justice system, then it also impacts those other departments that utilize those same shared funds. Capital projects and other numbers Roughly $30.9 million in capital improvement projects are budgeted for the 2024 fiscal year. Taylor said the county is excited about the construction of a new animal control building, which should be near completion by the end of 2024. Members of the public also can expect to see new playground equipment at Comlara Park and the expansion of the parks dock in 2024. Increases to property values allowed McLean County to capture an additional $5.7 million in property taxes. State use taxes also increased by about $3.2 million. According to the results of its last audit, McLean County has a general fund reserve of more than $25 million. 16 photos from Breakfast in the Park friendraiser Drake Zimmerman, Jim Simeo, Jim Sikora Hank and Mary Campbell Jim Sikora, Rebecca Mafazy Gwenn Marie, Sherri McElroy Dr. Li, David Underkoffler Rose Lindsey, Tofig and Amy Mammadov Mary Campbell (standing) speaks to Linda Giles, Millie and Jakeem Johnson April Schultz, Abigail Jahiel, Tom Lutze, Bob Schultz Nazma Ali serves homemade samosas. Checking out the breakfast food Dale and Art Killian making their famous cream pancakes Dale Killian, Art Killian Panashye Ruzvidzo and Shani Mafazy playing soccer Lily and Ben Mcbenne Middle Eastern sweets Enjoying breakfast Oh, for a return of the good old days when things got built, everything ran smoothly, no one complained, and influence peddling and corruption were all but unknown. If only! Indeed, any honest examination of the past will tell one that the good old days were never quite so good. Take, for instance, the early years of the Bloomington-Normal streetcar railway and the several individuals and companies that managed its affairs. Rather than a paragon of American ingenuity and economic might capitalism triumphant, if you will the story of the local street railway is also one of financial mischief, bad decisions, broken promises, broken-down equipment, underinvestment and unreliable service. Despite all those failings, streetcars eventually proved indispensable to the economic vitality and growth of Bloomington-Normal. But as with most things, a closer look brings to the fore all the messiness entailed in most any human enterprise. Locally, the streetcar era arrived in 1867. At first, the railway made use of two kinds of cars those propelled by steam and those pulled by flesh-and-blood horsepower (or, in this instance, mule power). The initial two-mile line connected downtown Bloomington with the state university in Normal and the towns commercial district (todays rebranded uptown Normal). Back then, much of the low-lying land between the two communities remained undeveloped, and crossing the Sugar Creek floodplain on foot was often a daunting prospect. For many residents and college students, the street railway proved essential in getting to and from work, classes, home and even the theater for a night out on the town. Yet residents complained loudly about the noise, soot and ash coming from the steam-powered cars which were known as dummies. The Pantagraph dismissed such concerns. Dummies wont hurt anything, declared the newspaper. If it was possible, Bloomington would have been killed long ago. The street railway eventually sold off its steam dummies, and in the companys early decades mules remained the motive power of choice. Several new lines opened in the 1880s, including one down West Washington Street to the Chicago & Alton Railroad depot. By 1889, the railway maintained five miles of track, 19 cars and 90 mules. Later lines spurred residential development on the east side of Bloomington and the north end of Normal, and reached places like Miller Park on Bloomingtons west side. One can explore the fascinating story of the local street railway in the library and archives of the McLean County Museum of History. The story is told through books, newspaper articles, and most interestingly original items from the days when streetcars trundled down Twin City streets. The museums archives include a stock certificate dated 1869 for the Bloomington & Normal Horse Railway Co. (the systems first of several names). The museum also holds holiday promotional material published by the company, circa 1908, a labor flyer from a bitter 1917 strike, a collection of original photographs and more. As a not-for-profit institution, the museum depends on donations of papers and objects from the public to enlarge its collections. It is at the museum that the stories of McLean County and its people are being preserved for generations to come. In late September of this year, DeWayne and Vickie Willhoite of the Twin Cities donated a Bloomington & Normal Railway & Light Co. 100-ride coupon book. Most of the tickets remain unperforated and attached to the book. In 1887-88, an Eastern syndicate headed by Pennsylvanian John J. Patterson purchased the streetcar system. The electric era arrived several years later, in 1890. The transition was anything but smooth, thanks to the decision to go with a system designed and sold by the Leo Daft Co. of New Jersey. It soon became apparent the 220 volts of electricity generated by the Daft system were woefully insufficient to meet the railways demand. Underpowered though they were, the small, four-wheel Daft electrics were loud as heck, to say the least. Fred Beckman, an electrician who worked for the railway, recalled the nerve-wracking racket. In those days the noise of a streetcar was so great that loafers at a saloon on the square could tell the second (a) street car got underway at the union depot, said Beckman (the depot was some dozen blocks west of the courthouse square). From the square, the loafers could hear the screaming friction of her axles as she picked up speed and could trace her passage by her danging, her clanging and squalling brakes. The cars prone to stalling and derailing as they were proved as unreliable as they were loud. There is no telling when one of Mr. Dafts thunder boxes may be overcome by weariness and sit down for a rest, noted The Pantagraph in July 1890. They are as whimsical and cranky as a balky bronco. Their only time of perfect service is when they are standing still. By the early fall of 1890, the electric experiment was put on hold. Electrics returned the following year, but for a while most of the railways cars were pulled by teams of mules. The sorry state of affairs attracted the attention of other communities. Bloomington has the worst (streetcar) system in the world, declared the Lincoln (Ill.) News of May 16, 1892. In fact, it has no system, only symptoms of one. Illinois State Normal University students enjoyed poking fun at the street railway. In the 1892 school yearbook, a page labeled A Trip to Bloomington includes two illustrations. The first one shows a youthful, broad-shouldered male student boarding a streetcar for Bloomington. The second illustration shows a Rip Van Winkle-like character emerging from the car, complete with a stooped profile, long white beard and cane. Nonetheless, service improved, albeit gradually. In the fall of 1892, the street railway installed 500-volt dynamos in its powerhouse and adopted Westinghouse motors for its cars, all of which proved superior to the underpowered and unreliable Daft system. The butt of jokes or not, the following year 1893 the street railway carried nearly 1 million passengers, with the final total coming in at 998,723. This figure is even more striking when one considers Bloomington-Normals combined population at the time was around 24,000 5 times less than what it is today. In 1906, Republican Congressman William B. McKinley of Illinois acquired via a New York brokerage house Bloomington-Normals street railway. McKinley (not to be confused with the U.S. president of the same name) controlled a number of electric utilities and street railway companies in Illinois and the Midwest. Many of these were later combined into Illinois Power & Light Co., which survives today as Ameren. With McKinleys arrival, the street railway enjoyed a period of stability and growth. Few Americans, though, foresaw the coming existential threat the gasoline-powered internal combustion engine posed to street railways in cars and buses. In Bloomington-Normal, the streetcar era came to an end on Dec. 14, 1936. Photos: 2023 Evergreen Cemetery Walk NORMAL The League of Women Voters of McLean County will host a community information program in partnership with FairVote Illinois on ranked choice voting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17. The event will be held at the Illinois State University Alumni Center, 1101 N. Main St., Normal. The program will help people learn what ranked choice voting is, how it works, other communities' experience with it and whether it could be beneficial in Bloomington-Normal. FairVote Illinois is a non-partisan statewide organization with the mission of empowering Illinois voters "to be heard, supported, and represented by improving freedom and fairness in our elections through ranked choice voting," according the organization's website. Presenters will include Rebecca Williams, statewide organizer with FairVote Illinois, and Abigail Drumm, policy and research lead for the organization. A Q&A session will follow the presentation. The program is free and open to the public both in-person and online. Advance registration is required for online attendees only, however in-person participation is recommended. Registration can be completed at lwvmclean.org/rcv. Photos: First day of practice for Illinois State basketball at CEFCU Arena. In a recent interview, Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has praised the economic progress of Ghana and expressed optimism for a possible $600 million disbursement in November. Georgieva acknowledged the substantial improvement in Ghanas economic standing over the last month, citing the countrys successful implementation of the recent $3billion IMF support package. Ghana is currently undergoing its inaugural programme review, with the conclusion scheduled for November. This review aims to assess the countrys adherence to the conditions and targets set by the IMF. Despite facing some challenges, such as debt defaults, Ghana has made significant strides under the IMF program and is now showing positive signs of economic stability. Georgieva also addressed the progress made by other countries, such as Zambia and Tunisia, that have faced similar difficulties. She advised Tunisia to take prompt measures to strengthen its economy while stating that immediate restructuring might not be necessary. In relation to Ghana, Georgieva emphasized the importance of the upcoming $600 million disbursement, which will play a crucial role in fostering confidence in the countrys economic stability. She expressed strong hope that the disbursement will take place in November, as Ghanas improved economic position and performance warrant further financial support. Overall, the positive outlook expressed by the IMF Managing Director indicates Ghanas significant progress in overcoming economic challenges and sets the stage for continued growth and stability. 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 Prudential Bank Limited (PBL), has presented a brand-new Nissan Navara Pick-up Truck worth over GHC500, 000 to the National Teaching Council in Accra. The presentation was in fulfillment of the Banks commitment to the Ghana Teacher Prize (GTP) formerly, the National Best Teacher Award ceremony scheduled for October 5, in the Western Region. Prudential Bank had been sponsoring the first runner-up award category of the GTP for the past four years and last Thursdays presentation was the fifth consecutive time they were honouring their pledge towards the event. Presenting the vehicle to the council, the Managing Director of Prudential Bank, Mr Bernard Appiah Gyebi said the move formed part of their social responsibility obligations as well as support the government to provide quality education through the motivation of teachers. During the launch, we pledged to provide the vehicle for the awards and we are excited to be part of this years event once again, he stated. He said the Bank was honoured to partner with the Ministry of Education, the National Teaching Council, the Ghana Education Service, and the Ghana Teacher Prize brand to motivate teachers. He commended teachers for their resilience and determination in ensuring that the education of future leaders continued to evolve despite the numerous challenges. As a forward-looking indigenous bank, he said, it remained committed to ensuring that teachers gained the recognition they deserved. Receiving the vehicle, the Registrar at the National Teaching Council, Dr Christian Addai-Poku commended the Bank for their support over the years. Prudential Bank over the years has been very supportive and we appreciate their support once again towards the upcoming ceremony, he stated. He added that, the awards served as a platform to appreciate teachers for their hard work and commitment towards impacting knowledge and transforming lives of young people across the country. With this kind of support, our aim of rewarding hardworking teachers in the country would be achieved, he stated. The 2023 edition of the GTP would be held under the theme, The Teachers We Need for the Education We Want: The Global Imperative to Reverse the Teacher Shortage. 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 Flagbearer aspirant of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Agyapong has said Ghana in recent times need a President who will walk the talk. He claimed he is the right person for Ghana now who is capable of changing things around to make Ghana better again. I will do more if given the nod to be President, he said in an interview on NEAT FMs afternoon political show, 'Me Man Nti'. Ghana is not going in the direction we had all wished for. We need a certain approach to change things and generate revenue. I believe in pragmatism not theory. And that is what Ghana need. Enough of the theory governance, we have to be practical, he lamented. Listen to the interview below Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghanaian Dancehall artiste Shatta Wale has emerged as the ultimate winner for the highly-coveted Artiste of the Year award at the Ghana Music Awards UK. The ceremony, which took place at the Royal Regency in London on Saturday, October 7, 2023 was attended by music enthusiasts, fellow artistes, and industry insiders. Shatta Wale triumphed over a formidable lineup of nominees, including Black Sherif, Piesie Esther, Stonebwoy, Sarkodie, and King Promise. The Ghana Music Awards UK Artiste of the Year accolade acknowledges the exceptional contributions of the ultimate winner to the music industry during the reviewed year, and the 'I Know My Level' crooner met the criteria. That wasn't the only feather in Shatta Wale's cap for the night. He also clinched the Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year award and the Reggae Dancehall and Most Popular Song of the Year with his hit song On God. The category featured tough competition from renowned artistes including Epixode and Stonebwoy. He also won Most Dominant Fanbase of the Year. Speaking after receiving his awards, Shatta Wale expressed gratitude to his fans for their unwavering support. He credited his success to their loyalty and promised to continue delivering exceptional music that resonates with the masses. "Thank you Shatta Movement UK, Ghana music awards UK was fun, we made history. " Source: graphic.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 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: Diagram showing groundwater sources on Great Barrier Reef. Credit: Douglas Tait Scientists using natural tracers off Queensland's coast have discovered the source of previously unquantified nitrogen and phosphorous that are having a profound environmental impact on the Great Barrier Reef. The findings, published today in Environmental Science & Technology, indicate current efforts to preserve and restore the health of the Reef may require a new perspective. Southern Cross University's Dr. Douglas Tait leads the study, "Submarine groundwater discharge exceeds river inputs as a source of nutrients to the Great Barrier Reef." Submarine groundwater discharge is any water released to the ocean below the waterline from various sources, including underground aquifers and the seafloor. The research team, which also includes CSIRO, AIMS and Gothenburg University (Sweden), collected data from offshore transects, rivers and coastal bores in an area from south of Rockhampton to north of Cairns. The use of radium isotopes allowed the scientists to track how much nutrient is transported from the land and shelf sediments via invisible groundwater flows. Southern Cross Professor Damien Maher said the team's work showed that groundwater discharge was 1015 times greater than river inputs, something previously unaccounted for. Composite showing pristine coral alongside eutropohied coral on Great Barrier Reef. Credit: Ashly McMahon "Groundwater discharge accounted for approximately one-third of new nitrogen and two-thirds of phosphorous inputs, indicating that nearly twice the amount of nitrogen enters the Reef from groundwater compared to river waters," Professor Maher said. Professor Maher added that the lion's share of efforts to mitigate the impact of nutrients on the Reef were focused on outflow from river systems. Lead author Dr. Douglas Tait said, "Nutrients are essential to support the incredible biodiversity of the Great Barrier Reef. However, an excess of nutrients can lead to detrimental issues such as harmful algal blooms, crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks, and fish diseases, which have been on the rise in the Reef over the past few decades. "Our study underscores the need for a strategic shift in management approaches aimed at safeguarding the Great Barrier Reef from the effects of excess nutrients." Eutropohied coral on Great Barrier Reef. Credit: Ashly McMahon Dr. Tait said unlike river outflow, nutrients in groundwater could be stored for decades underground before being discharged into coastal waters, meaning research and strategies to protect the Reef needed to be long-term. "This study sheds new light on the complex nutrient dynamics within the Great Barrier Reef," Dr. Tait said. "Our understanding and ability to manage the sources of nutrients is pivotal in preserving the Reef for generations to come." More information: Submarine Groundwater Discharge Exceeds River Inputs as a Source 2 of Nutrients to the Great Barrier Reef, Environmental Science & Technology (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03725 Journal information: Environmental Science & Technology 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 seismic imaging instrument trails behind a research vessel during a survey of New Zealands Hikurangi subduction zone. Led by the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, the survey found a vast and ancient water reservoir buried miles beneath the seafloor. Credit: University of Texas Institute for Geophysics/Adrien Arnulf Researchers have discovered a sea's worth of water locked within the sediment and rock of a lost volcanic plateau that's now deep in the Earth's crust. Revealed by a 3D seismic image, the water lies two miles under the ocean floor off the coast of New Zealand, where it may be dampening a major earthquake fault that faces the country's North Island. The fault is known for producing slow-motion earthquakes, called slow slip events. These can release pent-up tectonic pressure harmlessly over days and weeks. Scientists want to know why they happen more often at some faults than others. Many slow slip earthquakes are thought to be linked to buried water. However, until now there was no direct geologic evidence to suggest such a large water reservoir existed at this particular New Zealand fault. "We can't yet see deep enough to know exactly the effect on the fault, but we can see that the amount of water that's going down here is actually much higher than normal," said the study's lead author, Andrew Gase, who did the work as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics (UTIG). The research was published in the journal Science Advances and is based on seismic cruises and scientific ocean drilling led by UTIG researchers. Gase, who is now a postdoctoral fellow at Western Washington University, is calling for deeper drilling to find where the water ends up so that researchers can determine whether it affects pressure around the faultan important piece of information that could lead to more precise understanding of large earthquakes, he said. The Hikurangi plateau is a remnant of a series of epic volcanic eruptions that began 125 million years ago in the Pacific Ocean. A recent seismic survey (red rectangle) led by the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics imaged the plateau as it sinks into New Zealands Hikurangi subduction zone (red line). Credit: Andrew Gase The site where the researchers found the water is part of a vast volcanic province that formed when a plume of lava the size of the United States breached the Earth's surface in the Pacific Ocean 125 million years ago. The event was one of the Earth's largest known volcanic eruptions and rumbled on for several million years. Gase used seismic scans to build a 3D picture of the ancient volcanic plateau in which he saw thick, layered sediments surrounding buried volcanoes. His UTIG collaborators ran lab experiments on drill core samples of the volcanic rock and found that water made up nearly half of its volume. "Normal ocean crust, once it gets to be about 7 or 10 million years old should contain much less water," he said. The ocean crust in the seismic scans was ten times as old, but it had remained much wetter. Gase speculates that the shallow seas where the eruptions took place eroded some of the volcanoes into a porous, broken-up rock that stored water like an aquifer as it was buried. Over time, the rock and rock fragments transformed into clay, locking in even more water. The finding is important because scientists think that underground water pressure may be a key ingredient in creating conditions that release tectonic stress via slow slip earthquakes. This usually happens when water-rich sediments are buried with the fault, trapping the water underground. However, the New Zealand fault contains little of this typical ocean sediment. Instead, the researchers think the ancient volcanoes and the transformed rocksnow claysare carrying large volumes of water down as they're swallowed by the fault. A seismic image of the Hikurangi plateau reveals details about the Earths interior and what its made of. The blue-green layer under the yellow line shows water buried within rocks. Researchers at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics think the water could be dampening earthquakes at the nearby Hikurangi subduction zone. Credit: Andrew Gase UTIG Director Demian Saffer, a study co-author and co-chief scientist on the scientific drilling mission, said the findings suggest that other earthquake faults around the globe could be in similar situations. "It's a really clear illustration of the correlation between fluids and the style of tectonic fault movementincluding earthquake behavior," he said. "This is something that we've hypothesized from lab experiments, and is predicted by some computer simulations, but there are very few clear field experiments to test this at the scale of a tectonic plate." More information: Andrew C. Gase et al, Subducting volcaniclastic-rich upper crust supplies fluids for shallow megathrust and slow slip, Science Advances (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh0150 Journal information: Science Advances 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: Ilse Plauchu-Frayn The ability to have access to the Internet or use a mobile phone anywhere in the world is taken more and more for granted, but the brightness of Internet and telecommunications satellites that enable global communications networks could pose problems for ground-based astronomy. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign aerospace engineer Siegfried Eggl coordinated an international study confirming recently deployed satellites are as bright as stars seen by the unaided eye. "From our observations, we learned that AST Space Mobile's BlueWalker 3a constellation prototype satellite featuring a roughly 700 square-foot phased-array antennareached a peak brightness of magnitude 0.4, making it one of the brightest objects in the night sky," Eggl said. "Although this is record breaking, the satellite itself is not our only concern. The untracked Launch Vehicle Adapter had an apparent visual magnitude of 5.5, which is also brighter than the International Astronomical Union recommendation of magnitude 7." For comparison, the brightness of the stars we can see with an unaided eye is between minus 1 and 6 magnitude, minus 1 being the brightest. Sirius, the brightest star, is minus 1. Planets like Venus can sometimes be a bit brightercloser to minus 4, but the faintest stars we can see are roughly magnitude 6. Watch a video showing a starry sky with three satellites: BlueWalker 3 at 19:52:45, 19:52:56, 19:53:18, 19:53:29; Starlink-4781 is visible at 19:52:54 and 19:53:26, leading BlueWalker 3; Starlink-4016 is parallel and slightly behind BlueWalker 3 at 19:53:34. Video courtesy: Marco Langbroek, Delft Technical University. "One might think if there are bright stars, a few more bright satellites won't make a difference. But several companies plan to launch constellations," Eggl said. "For example, Starlink already has permission to launch thousands of satellites, but they'll probably get their full request of tens of thousands granted eventually. "And that's just one constellation of satellites. Europe and China want their own constellations and so does Russia. Just those in the United States being negotiated with the FCC amount to 400,000 satellites being launched in the near future. There are only 1,000 stars you can see with the unaided eye. Adding 400,000 bright satellites that move could completely change the night sky." Eggl is a member of the International Astronomical Union Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference, IAU. "BlueWalker 3 is so bright that most of the big telescopes such as the Rubin Observatory believe it could obliterate large parts of exposures," Eggl said. "They already have to avoid observing Mars and Venus for the same reason, but we know where the planets are so we can dodge them. We cannot accurately predict where all the satellites will be years in advance. Just accepting recurring data loss in multi-billion-dollar observatories is not an option either." He said although satellites won't necessarily damage the telescope's CCDs, or charge-coupled devices, they will still cause data loss from the streaks. Extremely bright satellites could ruin the entire field of view, like trying to stargaze when someone periodically shines a flashlight into your eyes. Eggl said several solutions to the problem are being explored in collaboration with the Laboratory for Advanced Space Systems at Illinois and satellite operators such as SpaceX. "Starlink is looking at making their satellites' surfaces darker, which absorbs more and reflects less visible sunlight. But the absorption generates heat. The satellites then have to emit infrared light which means observations in optical wavelengths don't have as large of a problem, but infrared observations might. And heat is one of the biggest engineering problems that we have in space. So, painting everything black comes with repercussions," he said. Another idea from SpaceX is to make satellites' solar panels more reflective with dielectric mirrors. The mirrors allow the satellites to change the direction of the reflection so that it's not pointing directly at the Earth. "If SpaceX can make the solar panels point in a different direction to avoid glints, or use these mirror tricks, they might solve a lot of the problems we have with the optical flaring of Starlink satellites," Eggl said. "With other providers, it's not quite as easy. AST has gigantic satellites, with hundreds of square feet of electronic phased arrays, that they need to communicate with cell phones on the ground. If they made satellites smaller more of their radio signals would leak out through so-called 'side lobes' potentially affecting radio astronomy sites. Eggl said AST also prefers to keep the satellite pointed toward the surface of the Earth to achieve maximum efficiency. Starlink solutions may not easily translate to AST satellites and new mitigation strategies are needed. "We are trying to work with the space industry, where possible," he said. "We want to solve this together so it's a collaborative effort that everybody can sign onto because that's the fastest route to get things done." The study, "Optical observations of an ultrabright constellation satellite," was written by Sangeetha Nandakumar, Siegfried Eggl, Jeremy Tregloan-Reed, et al. It is published in the journal Nature. DOI:10.1038/s41586-023-06672-7 Ph.D. student Nandakumar analyzed the data for this first international study to be published from the center. Nandakumar works with Jeremy Tregloan-Reed at the Universidad de Atacama in Chile. More information: Sangeetha Nandakumar et al, The high optical brightness of the BlueWalker 3 satellite, Nature (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06672-7 Journal information: Nature 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: Apollo 16 booster impact. Credit: NASA It's getting crowded up there. An increase in military, commercial and scientific launches, coupled with a lower cost for rideshare cubesat launches, means lots more space junk to deal with in coming years. And we're not just talking about low Earth orbit; the moon and cis-lunar (near lunar space) is about to become busy as well. While we track and understand (for the most part) what's in low Earth orbit (LEO), we often fail to keep tabs on what's in Medium- to High- (Geostationary/Geosynchronous GEO) orbit and beyond. Even less so is true around the moon, which is about to become a busy place in coming years. Now, a recent study out of Purdue University is looking to model and track space debris around the moon, with an eye towards mitigation. Space debris modeled over time by the U.S. Space Force. The red objects are in low Earth orbit, while the green objects traverse Earth orbit out to cis-lunar space. Credit: Purdue University/Carolin Frueh Tracking lunar space debris The study, led by Carolin Frueh, would give tracking assets prime areas and regions in the sky near the moon to perform such a mission. The study also points to using "four-body geometry" to model the evolution of orbits over time. Debris tracking and avoidance is already a frequent problem for the International Space Station in low-Earth orbit. This is an issue that future lunar missions will also have to come to terms with. "Currently, there are not that many missions into that (cis-lunar) space yet," Carolin Frueh (Purdue University) told Universe Today. "From that perspective, we 'know what is going on,' but as we do not have established surveillance in that region (yet), we are lacking a lot of information, especially in terms of deep-space objects coming into that region and in terms of debris objects." Close calls in cis-lunar space Recent events highlight just how busy things are already getting around the moon. A recent lunar rocket booster crash on the far side of the moon in early 2022 was one such example. Originally thought to belong to SpaceX, the booster was later identified as a Long March rocket upper stage belonging to China. And speaking of close calls, NASA's venerable Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) was recently actually seen during a pass by the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter's (KPLO) ShadowCam instrument at range of only 18 kilometers. KLPOs ShadowCam sees a blurred pass of NASAs LRO spacecraft. The four-body problem The gulf of space between the Earth and the moon is vast. About a quarter of a million miles across, this region is also poorly policed by Earth-based radars and telescopes tasked with tracking space junk. Assets in space in orbit around the Earth (or better yet the moon) would do a better job, though none are in place as of yet. "The near Earth environment is dominated by the Earth, for a satellite we speak of two-body geometry," says Frueh. "Significantly above the geosynchronous region, the gravity of the moon is more than a mere small perturbation on a two-body orbit and we speak of three-body geometry. Four-body geometry comes into play when e.g. regarding the Earth, moon, and sun's gravitational effects. As the sun is a large gravitational body it is, of course, a perturbation on the two-body and the three body orbits. The four-body geometry is especially relevant when we want to evaluate if objects, in the near and mid-term, stay in the cis-lunar (Earth-Moon) region, or will leave that region (however, might come back again at a much later time)." Frueh uses light curves to predict imminent break up events for satellites in Earth orbit. This can also be applied to the moon. "In my own work, I leveraged the four-body geometry to evaluate electro-optical (space telescope) surveillance options for the cis-lunar realm," says Frueh. "Here, from the astrodynamics in the three-body approximation is sufficiently good, but I used four-body geometry to get the illumination conditions of the sun within the approximation that I need for the EO (electro-optical) sensors." A busy decade to come Returning space junk from heliocentric orbit often makes its way into lunar or Earth orbit as temporary satellites. One such case was J002E3, which turned out to be a booster from Apollo 12. Another was the asteroid 2010 QW1 which was later identified as a Long March-3C upper stage from China's Chang'e-2 mission. "Yes, heliocentric objects might come back into the cis-lunar realm," says Frueh. "Hence, when evaluating disposal options that 'leave the cis-lunar region,' return at a (much) later time has to be considered." The dispersal of fragments of an exploded spacecraft near the moon over a months time. Credit: Purdue University/Ariel Black/Carolin Frueh Missions headed to the moon in the next decade include crewed Artemis missions. Next up is Artemis II lunar flyby next year, and the Artemis III lunar landing in 2025. NASA's Viper rover heads to the moon in 2024. Astrobotics and Intuitive Machines will land on the moon as early as late this year. Also, the crewed Lunar Gateway orbital outpost is planned for late 2025. Improving tracking and detection, preferably via an in situ lunar tracking network is paramount. "The establishment of a comprehensive surveillance for the cis-lunar region is an area of much active research and development at the moment," says Frueh. Enter the Artemis Accords The Artemis Accords signed by 29 nations in 2020 directly addresses the need to combat the growing issue of space debris. Many international agencies are also betting on the growth of a "lunar economy." This will add to the lunar traffic workload in the coming years. Lots of companies are waiting to exploit the moon for resources, both economic and scientific. To this end, the European Space Agency (ESA) is also looking to establish Moonlight, an independent communications network around the moon. This network of three to four satellites (plus on-orbit spares) should be in place by as early as 2025. We'll have one shot at getting this right and keeping debris around the moon under control, as humans return to the moon over the next decade in a big way. EGG HARBOR CITY The Atlantic County Firefighters Association parade has been hosted in Egg Harbor City since the association was founded in the city. The tradition continued Saturday. We are thrilled to celebrate that we truly have been a relevant, effective Association for all of those 100 years, said Howard Berchtold, the association chairman, who also noted how exciting and rewarding it was to reflect on the moment. Clearly the fire service in Atlantic County is strong. The association has been a major contributor. Many of us represent generations of firefighting and membership in the Association. Since the firefighters associations 1923 inception, the nonprofit organization has provided a variety of services for its 43 fire department and company members, which includes fire organizations from all of the countys career and voluntary municipal departments. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service, the Atlantic City International Airport, the South Jersey Transportation Authority Fire Department and the Air National Guards fire department are also members. The association has acted as an open forum to exchange different techniques and ideas; coordinated county-wide communications and mutual aid; trained all levels of both career and voluntary fire members; and hosted community events. Some of those events include fire safety or prevention demos, the annual 4-H County Fair, memorial services for firefighters who have died, valor award ceremonies and years of service ceremonies for members completing 50 years of service. The association hosted parades for its 25th, 50th and 75th anniversaries, so it only made sense to host another one for the 100th, Berchtold said. And everyone loves a parade, he added, noting the departments were proud to show off the various fire apparatus to other fire members, the general public, and most important, the future firefighters lining the street. Many of us represent generations of firefighting and membership in the Association, Berchtold said. That was important for John Krumaker, a firefighter for the Sweetwater Fire Company who attended Saturdays celebration with his wife, Samantha, and three kids. My son Ryder is only 4, and he wants to be a firefighter, said Krumaker. I want to start that lineage for my family. A lot of grandfathers, fathers and sons in Sweetwaters fire department have done it for a while and pass that tradition on. At noon, about 100 different firetrucks, boats and other fire apparatus from about 45 different departments affiliated with the association made their way from Bremen Avenue south to Route 30, then west to Philadelphia Avenue, and circled back to the lake. Families living along the parade route could be seen hunkered down in lawn chairs, sipping on beverages while kids ran around the front yards laughing, patiently waiting to hear a faraway fire siren, or see emergency lights flickering in the distance, as it signaled to them that the parade was about to pass by. Vern Cruse, chief of the Scullville fire department, said the parade brings awareness to the fire departments, shows the general public the vastness of the fire community and lets people understand the variety of different fire services members do. Tamra Brown also noted it was a positive way to see all the departments get together and celebrate an important milestone. They see so much, too much, so this is a fun way for them to get together, said Brown, whose husband is a first responder and has served in the U.S. Coast Guard for more than 26 years. Life is too short and everyone should take a minute to acknowledge them. We dont see the sacrifices they do to help the community, so its nice for everyone to come together and truly appreciate them. PHOTOS Atlantic County Firefighters Association's 100th anniversary parade Who is running for office in South Jersey during the November general election? The 2023 general election is scheduled for Nov. 7. As part of our coverage, The Press of Atlantic City will preview races that will impact local communities. The list presented was collected from public records. Candidates may provide additional information including links to their social media pages and photographs, to newstips@pressofac.com. Please use the subject line "election preview." Board of Education candidates will also be added over the next week or so. To see specific towns in Atlantic County click here: Absecon, Atlantic City, Buena Borough, Buena Vista Township, Corbin City, Egg Harbor City, Egg Harbor Township, Estell Manor, Folsom, Galloway Township, Hamilton Township, Hammonton, Linwood, Longport, Mullica Township, Northfield, Pleasantville, Port Republic, Somers Point, and Weymouth Township. To see specific towns in Cape May County click here: Avalon, City of Cape May, City of Cape May Point, Dennis Township, Lower Township, Middle Township, North Wildwood, Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Stone Harbor, Upper Township , West Cape May, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, and Woodbine. To see specific towns in Cumberland County click here: Bridgeton, Commercial Township, Deerfield Township, Downe Township, Fairfield Township, Greenwich Township, Hopewell Township, Lawrence Township, Maurice River Township, Millville, Shiloh Township, Stow Creek Township, Upper Deerfield Township, and Vineland. To see specific towns in Ocean County click here: Barnegat Township, Barnegat Light, Beach Haven, Eagleswood Township, Harvey Cedars, Lacey Township, Little Egg Harbor Township, Long Beach Township, Ocean Township, Ship Bottom, Stafford Township, Surf City, and Tuckerton. A campaign to identify and apprehend traffic violators has been started by Regional Transport Offices (RTO) in various cities in Maharashtra, including those on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the Pune-Kolhapur highway. "We started this drive on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway at the start of October 2023. It involves the RTO teams from the cities of Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Panvel, and Pen. For six months prior, we had been doing this. The RTO squads on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway will inspect vehicles for violations like lane cutting, driving while intoxicated, excessive speed, improperly parked automobiles on the motorway, and more. The offenders who are discovered on the expressway will be brought to the Advice Rooms located at the toll booths, where they will be counselled and explained about road safety measures," said Sanjeev Bhor, Deputy Commissioner, RTO, Pune. "We've started the same drive on the Pune-Kolhapur highway, too. It involves the RTO squads from Pune, Satara, Karad, Sangli, and Kolhapur. Offences such as lane cutting, driving while intoxicated, wearing a helmet, etc., that are similar to those on the Mumbai-Pune motorway would be examined. The toll plazas on the Pune-Kolhapur highway will follow the same method as the Pune-Mumbai Expressway in terms of providing advice and explaining things like driving safety, etc.," he further added. Sanjeev Bhor provided more information, according to which just RTO squads are performing the entire campaign. Each RTO squad has a total of 4 RTO officers, where 2 officers would check and apprehend offenders and 2 officers would be counselling and explaining road safety to the offenders. A special meeting of the Buffalo City Council will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at the Buffalo Community Center where residents will have a chance to ask questions regarding a water quality report issued by the Iowa Environmental Protection Agency. The report stated that Well 1, which is undergoing repairs and is not in use, tested for high levels of PFOS and PFOA. According to the EPA, Perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, is one of a group of related chemicals known as perfluorinated alkylated substances, PFAS. These chemicals are used in non-stick and stain-resistant consumer products, food packaging, fire-fighting foam and industrial processes. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, or PFOS, is one of a group of related chemicals known as perfluorinated alkylated substances, PFAS. These also are called perfluorochemicals, or PFCs. These chemicals are used in a wide range of industrial processes and are found in many consumer products. The test results issued Aug. 28 show that the water in Well 1 showed there were 6 parts per trillion, or ppt, for PFOS, and 8.1 parts per trillion for PFOA. The EPA announced new standards March 14, 2023, that proposed maximum contaminant levels of 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water. Before March, the EPA recommended the concentration of PFOA and PFOS, or a combination of both PFOA and PFOS, in drinking water should not be higher than 70 parts per trillion. Buffalo Public Works Director, Josh Ferkel said that under the old EPA standards, Buffalos drinking water would have more than met EPA guidelines. Ferkel said that Well 1 was taken offline on Aug. 24 due to a pump motor failure. Additionally, the well casing is failing, and a new liner is required, he said. In a statement issued on the citys Facebook page, Ferkel said, We are anticipating that the repair that we are making to Well 1 will result in lower levels for the PFOS and PFOA. Ferkel said that as required by the Department of Natural Resources, the City of Buffalo started testing for PFAS in 2023 on Well 1. The citys PFAS laboratory testing by a third party cannot detect PFAS below 2 parts per trillion. The First quarter testing reported on March 14 showed PFOA at 3.1 ppt, and PFOS at below 2 ppt. The Second Quarter testing reported on May 10 showed PFOA at 2.8 ppt, and PFOS at below 2 ppt. The first 2 quarters were below 4 ppt and did not trigger a health advisory. The Third Quarter testing reported on Aug. 29 showed PFOA at 8.1 ppt and PFOS at 6 ppt. Ferkel said that on August 24, tests were performed on Well 2 and on August 25. After results were received, Well 2 went online. Well 2 was drilled on Jan. 1, 1975, to a depth of 480 feet and was grouted. However, Well 2 has very high iron levels resulting in discolored water. Additional testing for PFAS has been requested and additional samples have been submitted. The city will notify the public when those results are available. Ferkel added that the city will soon decide whether to drill a third well or investigate capping off Well 2 below 400 feet to possibly stop the high iron levels, which might be a result of it being drilled deeper. He said similar wells in the area do not have as high of iron levels as Well 2. If PFAS continues to be present in the Buffalo water supply additional improvements and systems can be installed at our water plant to address and remove the PFAS, Ferkel said. Jay Brady, Principal Environmental Engineer of Stanley Consultants will be at Mondays meeting to answer questions. The Buffalo Community Center is located at 426 Clark St. Demari Miller, 5, Marcus Scheper, 8, Cordell Scheper, 6, stood quietly outside of Davenport Fire Station 5 and watched as Davenport Fire Department Capt. Robert Kramer explained the jaws of life, that he pulled from one of the compartments of Engine 12. Kramer even allowed the children to feel the weight of the tool. It could lift the fire engine, Kramer explained as he operated the heavy pneumatic tool, without doing anything that would damage the truck. He also showed them the pneumatic cutting tool used to cut through metal, or anything else. Moving down the drivers side of the engine, Kramer explained the oxygen tanks and how they regulate water pressure leading from the trucks to the hoses firefighters use to battle fires. Demaris eyes were focused on what he was seeing. Hes been obsessed with firefighters ever since he got his first fire truck, Demaris mother, Moni Miller said. When I heard about open house I thought, Hell be so happy when he wakes up. He keeps saying he wants to be a fireman, Miller said. Station 5, located at 2808 Telegraph Road was built in 1994, said firefighter Brian Wood, a 23-year veteran of the department. The stations nickname, The Rat House, followed it from its old location next to the Ralston-Purina, now known as Nestle Purina, plant at Schmidt and Rockingham roads, Wood said. It was located between Howell and Pine and Purina bought the property, Wood said. It was right next door to the plant. Rats from the plant would sometimes invade the firehouse, he said. Hence, its nickname. Alexis Scheper said that her boys, and that includes her husband, Matt, love fire trucks. We actually surprised them, she said of the children. They didnt know we were coming. The oldest, Marcus, seemed to take in almost every word Kramer was saying, as did his father. Marcus takes everything in, Alexis Scheper said. Hes just one of those kids. Matt is smart and loves this stuff. He likes learning." I love this kind of stuff, Matt Scheper said. I just wanted to come check out some of the support the community has and do something with the kids. Marcus had one word for what he was seeing: Cool. Lt. Zach Soliz said that last year the firehouses were individually opened month by month leading into October, which is recognized as Fire Prevention Month. This year, we have a list of things were doing on social media, Soliz said. Were also having every crew thats out there there are 33 crewmembers, 11 people per shift and three shift days so theyre all assigned to a school or a daycare. Theyre doing a presentation throughout October and to kick off Fire Prevention Week which starts next week. Soliz explained that Fire Prevention Week was started by the National Fire Protection Association in 1922 to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Fire Prevention Week is a time to teach children and adults how to stay safe in the event of a fire. Davenport Fire Chief Mike Carlsten wanted to have an open house where on one day all the stations are open and people can visit their local firehouse, Soliz said. It was a way to get the public ready to hear the message the firefighters will be spreading. This years campaign with Fire Prevention Week has to do with cooking and thats the big emphasis, Soliz said. By opening up our firehouses, you get to see where the firefighters live, where we respond from, and then also we can also talk about those aspects of kitchen safety and other considerations as well. While giving a tour of the firehouse, Kramer emphasized that the biggest cause behind kitchen fires is leaving food unattended in the oven or on the stove. Soliz said that crews are assigned to daycare centers and elementary schools. For the crews assigned to the daycares and younger audiences, its a little more interactive like, Hey, if you see this big red fire engine showing up, if you see the guys and gals in gear, were there to help. In the elementary schools, one target group is those students in second grade. Now were getting a little more into our message of fire is a tool and not a toy, Soliz said. We can talk about smoke alarms and about having active smoke alarms that work that are within 10 years. Were talking about exit drills in the home, EDITH, and having two ways out in case there is a fire, and where to go if you have a fire. At the sixth-grade level, he said they teach a program called Pathways. That gives a little more of a career talk, a little more consideration of what you can do if you wanted to become a firefighter down the road. We talk about law enforcement, and we talk about fire investigations. So, this month is a busy month for our entire department, its a busy month nationally for the fire service. We take Fire Prevention Week very seriously, Soliz said. Five Davenport residents will be on the ballot for 3rd Ward, which covers downtown Davenport and neighborhoods to the north and west. Four are challenging incumbent Marion Meginnis, a historical preservation consultant and former local television station manager who was first elected in 2017. Those are Don Hesseltine, the owner of a landscaping company; Todd Allen Pirck, a musician, sunflower farmer and machine set-up operator; DeWayne Simons, owner of Dewey's Deals, a Davenport resale shop; and Paul Vasquez, a retired joint safety representative for CNH and CASE IH. The two top vote-getters will advance to the November election. Hesseltine, a 38-year-old first-time candidate, said he opposes spending on what he calls "ridiculous projects" such as converting 3rd and 4th Streets to two-way traffic, a bike lane from Marquette Street to Telegraph Road and the downtown Skybridge. His priorities are conserving city dollars, public safety, and constituent services, and he wants to continue progress on road repair and sewer system replacements. Meginnis, 73, said she is running for reelection to the 3rd Ward to revitalize the 3rd Ward neighborhoods by supporting DREAM programs, money for neighborhood streets, reducing the costs of alley repair and addressing nuisance properties with stronger ordinances. She said she plans to also encourage development of neighborhood groups and generate discussion among west end businesses about interest in forming a self-supporting municipal improvement district, similar to the Downtown Davenport Partnership. First elected in a 2017 special election, Meginnis also said she wants to continue to support long-term planning efforts such as the city's flood resiliency plan passed in 2021 to address riverfront flooding, implementing silent crossings on the Canadian Pacific line along the riverfront, and continue redevelopment of the city's riverfront, much of which is in the 3rd Ward. Todd Allen Pirck, 59, said he'd prioritize public safety and promoting community events, reducing taxes and fees and hold ward meetings. Pirck pledged to be a "watchdog for tax dollars," create a west end shopping center, and promote family togetherness through community events, such as cook outs. Pirck said he would promote "responsible spending, and stop waste as much as possible." DeWayne L. Simons, the owner of Dewey's Deals, is running to prioritize small businesses in Davenport. He said he feels like the city is spending too many resources declaring as nuisances owner-operated bars in the 3rd Ward that the city perceives as exacerbating a public safety threat. Simons said he's had his own dust-ups with city code enforcement, including large storage containers he said the city asked him to remove, but he pointed to chain stores that had them, too. Simons said he wants Davenport small businesses to "have a voice" in the city and for city officials to communicate more consistently with ward residents. Paul Vasquez, a past candidate for city council, is now 69 years old and wants to improve streets, housing, and sidewalks in western Davenport, where Vasquez lives. Vasquez said he believes the city is focusing too much of its energy on new development when it should be doing more to improve neighborhoods in the central city. He praised the city's DREAM program, a program from the city that assists homeowners in the city's core neighborhoods to make repairs. But, Vasquez noted, there's not enough funding for all applications to be approved. How has Meginnis voted? Meginnis frequently voices support for neighborhood and street projects, and advocates for action on nuisance abatement, including helping craft an ordinance to deal with abandoned, junked or unusable cars on streets and in yards with a three-strike system. Meginnis voted to convert parts of 3rd and 4th Streets from one-ways to two-directions of traffic, voted consistently in favor of the city proceeding with design of Main Street Landing, the riverfront amenity funded in bulk by grants and settlement funds, and has been critical of bars the city believes are exacerbating public safety issues. Earlier this year, for example, she voted against renewing the liquor license for Gilly's Corner Tap following a shooting and urged colleagues to vote that way as well. How to vote Davenport residents can early vote at the Scott County Auditor's Office, 600 W. 4th St., on the first floor of the county administrative building from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday. On Oct. 10, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at polling locations. Find your precinct: www.scottcountyiowa.gov/auditor/precinct-finder For more election information, including sample ballots: https://www.scottcountyiowa.gov/auditor/post/2023/10/10/davenport-city-primary-election-day Find your ward: www.davenportiowa.com/services/maps The primary will winnow the number candidates for mayor and aldermen representing wards 2, 3, 4, and 7. A Rapid City man was arrested Saturday after he fired a handgun at a passing Rapid City Police patrol car. Christopher Dahn, 44, was placed under arrest for multiple offenses after he fired several rounds at a passing police car in the early morning hours, Rapid City Police said on social media. At around 2:25 a.m., police were dispatched to Pendleton Drive for a report of a male suspect who was seen exiting a bar and firing a handgun multiple times at a passing patrol car. The patrol car was responding to an unrelated incident. When police arrived at the address, they located Dahn lying on the ground. After speaking to witnesses, police learned that shortly after Dahn allegedly fired at the passing patrol car, two bystanders allegedly disarmed him, brought him to the ground, and detained him until police arrived. While speaking with Dahn, police allegedly noted his slurred speech and the smell of alcoholic drinks, police said. Dahn was placed under arrest for aggravated assault on law enforcement, discharge of a loaded firearm while intoxicated, reckless discharge, discharge of a firearm at a motor vehicle, commission of a felony with a firearm, and carrying a concealed weapon into a bar. Dahn remains in custody at the Pennington County Jail, and police have received no reports of any damage or injury caused by the gunfire. The RCPD would like to extend its appreciation to the two bystanders who intervened to stop the deadly threat posed by the suspect, police wrote on social media Saturday. Eight-year-old Kamiliah Stewart danced onto The Monument floor Friday night, the heartbeat of the Black Hills echoing through the drum beats. As she did so, she simultaneously made history. Stewart, Oglala Lakota, is the first royalty to represent the two-spirit community at the Black Hills Powwow, one of the Nations largest. Stewart was chosen by the two-spirit powwow committee during their inaugural powwow in June. This is a powerful, powerful breakthrough for this generation, Monique Muffie Mousseau, a two-spirit elder, said. The acceptance and understanding and equality is right here. This years Black Hills Powwow set records with 1,222 dancers registered on Friday night. The Powwow was so large competitions ran until the early hours of the morning. During powwows as large as Black Hills Powwow, people from across the nation send royalty to represent their communities. Our motto is to come dance with us. And that's what we want to encourage, you know? Stephen Yellow Hawk, president of the Black Hills Powwow Committee said. Dance to that drum and get some of that good medicine. We just want to be inviting to everyone. The term two-spirit refers to a person who identifies as possessing both a masculine and feminine spirit and is used by some Indigenous people to describe their sexual, gender, and/or spiritual identity. Two-spirit is an umbrella term for what in Western culture may be referred to as the LGBTQIA community. While Stewart herself does not identify as two-spirit, some of her loved ones do. Her older sibling, Benji Stewart, is a two-spirit individual and activist. Kamiliah ran to be the Uniting Resilience two-spirit royalty after learning about the event from Benji. It makes me feel proud, Kamiliahs father, William Stewart said. Its definitely a growing experience for her and its also enabled me to get out there and experience new things, meet new people. The two-spirit royalty position is non-gendered. Royalty, which are often identified by their elaborate beaded crowns and sashes, are community members who compete to represent either their nation or a specific group. So far, Stewart has represented the Black Hills two-spirit community at several powwows, including the Oglala Lakota Powwow, Manderson, Denver, and Shakopee Wacipi as a fancy shawl dancer. I like it because you actually get to have joy and fun while you dance, Kamiliah said. My favorite part (of being royalty) is shaking the veteran's hands because they serve our country. Mousseau and her wife, Felipa De Leon-Mousseau, Oglala Lakota, lead Uniting Resilience, a nonprofit aimed at uplifting the two-spirit community, as elders. As two-spirit elders, the couple has never seen their Black Hills community openly represented. Were so happy with this journey thats unfolding in front of us, Mousseau said. To have our representation from this beautiful little human, this eight-year-old who had the courage to come and dance and were so thankful to her father for supporting as an ally. Two-spirit people continue to struggle with discrimination and violence, even at community events. Mousseau said the inaugural two-spirit powwow in June 2023 was met with threats of violence from regional extremist groups. This was one of the powwows we wanted her to attend on behalf of Uniting Resilience, Mousseau said. Im overwhelmed with anxiety at opening up a whole new perspective in this generation. Its amazing to see this growth in an area of harsh racial tension and violence towards the LGBTQ community and two-spirit people. In 2015, after waiting decades to be legally married, the Mousseaus found they could not be married on Pine Ridge. This led them to successfully push the Oglala Nation to pass South Dakota's first comprehensive anti-hate bill and allow for same-sex marriage. That legislation has now also been passed among the Crow Creek and Sisseton-Wahpeton tribes. Kamiliah will continue to serve as the two-spirit royalty until June 22, 2024, when shell pass her crown on to the next representative during the second Black Hills two-spirit powwow. Cold case, cold climate, cool collaboration. Thats the gift that author Ragnar Jonasson and Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir bestow on crime-fiction fans in Reykjavik (Minotaur, $28, 384 pages). In 1956, 15-year-old Lara Marteinsdottir took a summer job as a maid on Videy, a small island off the coast of Iceland, for a prominent couple and vanished without a trace. Fast-forward 30 years, and the cop who had been in charge of the case has never put his failure behind him. But journalist Valur Robertsson, in hopes of a major scoop, launches a new investigation and receives a phone call from a woman who says she knows what happened. Valur escalates his efforts, but when he is unable to continue, his sister, literature student Sunna, takes his place and interviews several well-known Icelanders who may have had contact with Lara. At the same time, Icelanders are agog at the summit meeting that is about to take place in Reykjavik between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. What follows chills the bones and freezes the blood as the unusual partnership between a reporter and a prime minister results in an absorbing whodunit. Jonasson and Jakobsdottir dedicate the book to Agatha Christie, who inspired our love of detective stories. Thats perfect homage, given the Christie-like shock that readers are unlikely to divine before the final pages in this stellar example of Nordic noir. From 1929 to 1945, America faced the double trauma of the Great Depression and the Second World War. Enter Amy Chua, who provides a riveting look at the perilous era in her debut novel, The Golden Gate (Minotaur, $28, 384 pages), which centers on the assassination of a former presidential candidate and focuses on the powerful and prominent Bainbridge family of Californias Bay Area. When industrialist Walter Wilkinson, who lost a bid for the presidency in 1940 but is running again in 1944, is slain at the exclusive Claremont Hotel, police Detective Al Sullivan leads the investigation, which also touches on the fate of 7-year-old Iris Stafford, who suffered what was ruled a fatal accident at the hotel in 1930. Matriarch Genevieve Bainbridges three living granddaughters Isabella Stafford (a reporter), and Bainbridge twins Nicole (a communist) and Cassie (a hunter) find themselves in danger. The narrative tapestry is conceived with creativity and sewn with intricacy, as Chua constructs a novel that depicts bigotry against minorities (such as the shameful internment of American citizens of Japanese heritage), labor unrest, familial dysfunction and a vivid depiction of Sullivan, drawn with depth and decency. Chua, best-known for 2011s Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother a work of nonfiction demonstrates her fiction chops in The Golden Gate. Splendidly sordid and harrowingly heartrending, it offers a mirror on the prejudices of the past, a window on the divisions of the present and a spotlight on a potentially fraught future. When discord roils two upper-crust, upper-income families in 1922 India, death follows. Thats what stands at the center of The Mistress of Bhatia House (Soho Crime, $27.95, 432 pages), the fourth novel in Sujata Masseys series featuring Perveen Mistry, the only female lawyer in Bombay (now Mumbai). During a tea-party fundraiser at the home of businessman Sir Dwarkanath Bhatia, his young grandson, Ishan, suffers burns when his clothes catch fire. Servant Sunanda Chavda rushes to him, throws her body across his and saves his life. But its not long until a mysterious persons statement results in Sunanda being charged with aborting what the complainant says was her fetus. Perveen pledges to help Sunanda but faces cautionary words from her father and tension with her sister-in-law, a new mother. And when Sir Dwarkanath dies unexpectedly after withdrawing his support for a proposed maternity hospital, obstetrician Miriam Penkar falls under suspicion. Massey, a former journalist born in England to parents from India and Germany, grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, and now lives in Baltimore. Having won acclaim for the authenticity of her work, in her latest novel she delves into health care issues for women, British colonialism and multiple class, religious and ethnic populations. Like its predecessors, The Mistress of Bhatia House showcases Masseys deep knowledge of Indias history, her stylish prose and, above all, her profound feminism. Devotees of classic and classy suspense will find multiple, if disturbing, pleasures in this paragon of historical fiction. 100 monumental novels from literary history The Epic of Gilgamesh The Iliad The Odyssey The Panchatantra The Aeneid Metamorphoses The Satyricon Daphnis and Chloe The Golden Ass Beowulf The Tale of Genji The Song of the Cid The Arabian Nights The Divine Comedy The Outlaws of the Marsh Sir Gawain and the Green Knight The Canterbury Tales Utopia Romance of the Three Kingdoms The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes and of His Fortunes and Adversities The Faerie Queene Monkey: The Journey to the West Don Quixote Paradise Lost The Pilgrims Progress Robinson Crusoe Gullivers Travels Candide Dream of the Red Chamber Pride and Prejudice Frankenstein The Three Musketeers Jane Eyre Wuthering Heights The Scarlet Letter Moby-Dick Uncle Toms Cabin Madame Bovary A Tale of Two Cities Les Miserables Alices Adventures in Wonderland War and Peace Little Women The Brothers Karamazov The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn The Picture of Dorian Gray Dracula Heart of Darkness The Jungle The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man Swanns Way The Mysterious Affair at Styles Siddhartha Ulysses The Magic Mountain Mrs. Dalloway The Great Gatsby Home to Harlem Orlando All Quiet on the Western Front Passing A Farewell to Arms The Sound and the Fury The Good Earth Brave New World Their Eyes Were Watching God The Grapes of Wrath The Stranger A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Cry, the Beloved Country 1984 Invisible Man The Fellowship of the Ring Giovannis Room Atlas Shrugged Things Fall Apart To Kill a Mockingbird Samskara: A Rite for a Dead Man Season of Migration to the North One Hundred Years of Solitude Slaughterhouse-Five Gravitys Rainbow Petals of Blood Midnights Children The Color Purple The Handmaids Tale Beloved The Alchemist The Remains of the Day Like Water for Chocolate The Things They Carried Jazz Stone Butch Blues The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle Infinite Jest Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone Absent Trains blow their whistles and rumble along the tracks all around Dudley Herndon's life. He doesn't seem to mind the noise and the movement, though. After all, they are in the basement of his Martinsville home, all part of a world he created for himself after he retired. The trains drive through and around a depiction of Martinsville life, with both realistic recreations of buildings and occasional comedic scenes. A farm has a red barn with farm animals, including cows at the hay bale, cows and pigs eating from a trough and a pig rolling cheerfully in the mud. One cowboy is waving his lasso as he rides a cow, two men are working from a wheelbarrow and, outside the fence, is Little Boy Blue who has fallen asleep instead of tending the sheep. Above the farm is Jack's legendary beanstalk, leading from behind the farm up to a shelf on the wall that has a giant at his castle. A long building partly enclosed and partly open is the terminal of Dominion Freight Lines, where Herndon worked for 30 years. Transfer-trailer trucks are parked around it, as well as the vehicles of the workers. Little figures of men walk about and carry loads. Near it are milk trucks, a nod to his earlier career as a milkman. There are a couple of buildings in progress, with construction vehicles and a crane parked behind them. One has a tile floor, white walls with a red horizontal strip and a bright red roof. Inside, you can see a counter and tables. That's going to be "McDudley's," he quipped. There's a construction zone, where a section of a road is being paved. A road work sign and orange cones block the work area as a man spreads asphalt, with an asphalt roller, a dump truck and a cement truck at the edge. More construction vehicles and dump trucks are parked a distance away, backed up to stores of gravel, cement and mulch. Herndon's pride and joy is the rendition of Mount Vernon Baptist Church, the church in Axton where he and his wife, Doris, met and attended faithfully. It has the original old-fashioned brick sanctuary and the new fellowship hall wing built in the 1990s. Cars are parked in the lot, and people are walking in and out of the church and shaking hands. When asked which one he was, he said, "I'm inside." The Herndons raised three sons, John Dudley "Johnny" or "Rooster" Herndon Jr., Allen "Al" Michael Herndon and Bobby Dean Herndon ("Termite" from his wrestling days at Martinsville High School). Dudley Herndon moved to Martinsville at age 17, when he worked at a bakery washing pots and pans. "I soon got a promotion to drive the bread truck," selling to stores, he said. He was drafted into the Army, where he served in France just after the war. His wife joined him there. There, they made lifelong friends, a couple from Pennsylvania. When the Herndons returned from France, Dudley Herndon drove a milk truck, and his wife took care of children. After years as a milkman, he worked at Old Dominion Freight Lines for 33 years. "I started making the trains when I retired," he said. "I worked on them until my wife almost got a divorce, and I quit," he laughed. "She said I had to help her some, and so I agreed with her, and I started helping her more." Do you love the office culture, employee benefits, company vision or values at your job? Now is the time to commend your employer for keeping you motivated and secure through more than just a paycheck. The Richmond Times-Dispatchs annual employer recognition program is accepting nominations for its 2024 award. Top Workplaces could recognize your company for its hard work in keeping you and your co-workers motivated at a time when workers can choose from an abundance of open jobs across several industries. American workers spend at least a third of their lives, on average, at the office, warehouse, dock, retail store, hospital or other places of work. More and more workers are demanding that their employers accommodate their workplace habits and need for a more welcoming environment. Of more than 1,400 companies invited to the 2023 program, 102 were recognized as winners. Almost 30,000 employees responded to surveys about their employers. The past year has been all about employers efforts to retain the workers they already have. The Great Resignation in 2022 has left companies to reimagine the way they keep up a workforce. With workers in the drivers seat with more openings than qualified candidates companies have been focusing more on their people. Markel, a winner in last years Top Workplaces, told The Times-Dispatch that its efforts focused on retaining employees by listening to their requests for flexible work-from-home schedules, matching dollars and time off for volunteering plus internal social groups to connect people. The insurance company also said it was important to explain how their office is a place that would-be workers would be fulfilled. Its an exciting business to be in. We view insurance as keeping that global economy running and allowing people to do their business and take the risks that they need to take, said Sue Davies, chief human resources officer for Markel. CarMax, another winner in 2023 for its 10th year in a row, told The Times-Dispatch that it increased team communication and diversity efforts to help employees have more of a feeling of belonging. I love coming to work every day knowing that my opinions matter and that Im respected, not just in words, but also in actions, said Kerri Jenkins, a senior consultant for CarMax auction services. The fact that I can feel comfortable walking up to anyone, including executives, and know I am listened to, is something that makes me happy to come back every day. This year marks the Richmond Times-Dispatchs 11th annual Top Workplaces awards program, where companies big and small can be nominated for recognition of their organizational health. The paper is again teaming up with Energage as a research partner for the project. Energage conducts Top Workplaces surveys for media in 61 markets and has surveyed more than 2 million employees at over 8,000 organizations since 2021. Companies will be surveyed through January. You can nominate your workplace at topworkplaces.com/nominate/richmond/ or by calling (804) 977-9367. The nomination deadline is Nov. 17. Any organization with 35 or more employees in the greater Richmond area is eligible to participate, whether public, private, nonprofit or government. About this story Do you know an unsung hero? A friend or neighbor whose good deeds benefit the region? Or a colleague doing extraordinary work? He or she may be featured in our upcoming Making a Difference feature that highlights the great community efforts of central Virginians. Send your nominations to david.ng@timesdispatch.com. Entries should include a brief description of the good deeds as well as contact information for you and your nominee. Please label entries with the phrase Making a Difference in the subject line of your email. As a single mother, Brittany Woolridge juggles working, taking college courses and caring for her 7-year-old son, Robert, or R.J. as he prefers. While Woolridge takes steps toward a career in outpatient therapy, she also works to end the cycle of trauma from seeing family members grapple with drug use. I just dont want that for my son, and I dont want that for me either, said Woolridge, 30. I want him to see how important school is, how important it is to care about yourself and work toward something. To ease her workload, a friend and mentor of Woolridges directed her to the United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg, which was taking applications for its third annual WomenRise scholarship program. The program helps single mothers who are working toward a post-secondary degree or credential by covering the cost of direct care services per child. The program definitely has helped alleviate me worrying about the stress of my sons child care, Woolridge said. I know that hes in a safe space; it feels good to have an actual place where he can go be a kid. It took time for Woolridge and her two younger siblings to find a safe space growing up in South Richmond, as their mother struggled with substance abuse. She couldnt shake it, so they took us from her, Woolridge said. The siblings entered the foster care system together, but were soon separated. Woolridge, then 14, was much older than her sister, who was about 5, and her infant brother. The adoption agency was not able to find a home that would take all three, so Woolridge ended up at a group home for two months while her sister and brother were adopted into the same household. The group home was not a good fit for Woolridge, so her social worker set out to find a foster parent willing to take her in. Soon, Woolridge found her forever home, matching with a foster mother who was a Hanover County sheriff at the time. Woolridge described riding down long country roads to meet her soon-to-be foster mother at her Mechanicsville home. I remember just sitting there, talking to her, feeling her energy, Woolridge said. I just remember her saying if you want to stay here, I would love to have you. And we were stuck ever since. Woolridge graduated from Lee-Davis High School, which has since been renamed Mechanicsville High School. Afterward, she began a nursing program at Reynolds Community College, but dropped out after a year. I was not ready. I was not prepared. I was not focused, she said. After dropping out, Woolridge worked at a couple of restaurants before finding a job at Capstone Counseling, which provides mental health services. Woolridges supervisor eventually started her own business, Soaring for Change Counseling Services, and Woolridge followed her to work there as a quality assurance specialist. She also made the choice to return to college. (My supervisor) basically put the little bird in my ear to get back to school, she said. Woolridge went down a different path this time, attending Brightpoint Community College and earning an associates degree in human services with a pre-social work specialization. Everything happened in due time, she said. I felt like I had to find my way so that I knew I was supposed to be in social work. Currently, Woolridge is working on her bachelors in social work at Virginia Union University and anticipates graduating in 2025. Afterward, she plans to get her masters in social work so that she can become an outpatient therapist. Its hard, but its rewarding, she said. At Brightpoint, most of my classes were online, so (Robert) saw the process. He knew when the laptop was out, mommy was doing work, so he knew not to yell and do too much. Hes been able to see how important school is through this process. Woolridge applied to the WomenRise program this year and became one of 19 scholarship recipients throughout the Richmond and Petersburg region. We know that single moms really have the biggest hardship for advancing their careers due to lack of child care, said Barbara Couto Sipe, president and CEO of the United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg. By providing child care scholarships for the moms, theyre able to know hey, this is covered, I can take my classes, I can get my certification, I can take that training program. The program is funded and led by a womens leadership committee within the organization, which offers mentoring and watches the children while the participants stop by the United Way for training. As for the rest of her family, Woolridge has taken in her sister, now 22, while her 16-year-old brother finishes his adolescent years with his adoptive family. From time to time, Woolridge keeps in touch with her biological mother, who is still working through her personal issues. I can love her from afar, she said. I still make sure shes good from a distance, but I just cant allow it to affect my mental health anymore. As Woolridge thrives during her current stage of life, she said she can use her previous struggles to help her future patients. Im grateful for the experience, because I feel like when I eventually start working with clients, I can relate to a lot of them, Woolridge said. Theyll know that its coming from someone whos been where theyve been, kind of walked in their shoes. Vendors sold vegan food and clothing, local bands played and Jack Caldwell defended his hot dog-eating contest title at the 2023 Richmond VegFest at Byrd Park on Saturday. The 20th annual vegan festival included 116 tents, food trucks and information booths, featuring some of the best vegan offerings in and around central Virginia, according to co-organizer Amanda Trenchard, 28, of Alexandria. The yearly event highlights how easy and fun it can be to eat vegan food and find vegan resources, said Trenchard, adding that Richmond VegFest is for everyone: for vegans, for curious people who are trying to eat less meat and for those who are just interested in expanding their food palate. The turnout was excellent, Trenchard said. She estimated that 10,000 attendees would visit throughout the day. By midafternoon, large crowds had gathered to sample vegan food, browse vegan wares and learn about the history of veganism. And, of course, to watch the vegan hot dog-eating contest. At 3 p.m., the 10 contestants lined up in front of the main stage to compete against one another and their own stomachs. Minutes later, Caldwell, 25, of Fairfax who identified himself as The Ketchup Kid emerged victorious. Caldwell, who was last years champion, ate seven hot dogs in about four minutes, for what event organizers said was a new Richmond VegFest record. You gotta look at the greats ... you gotta approach it how Kobayashi, Joey Jaws Chestnut, Geoffery Esper (do) ... real serious, Caldwell said. Its a fun time, but on the day of ... you wake up, get a little oatmeal (to) get that stomach feeling right, and then ... you just gotta chew and swallow. Caldwell is a vegan and said he is grateful for the way events like Richmond VegFest demonstrate that meat alternatives can be delicious and fun. Its great that they have this to rival the competition up there at the corner of Surf and Stillwell, he said, referring to the location of Nathans Famous hot dogs in New York. I think people are gonna know ... Dogwood Dell is a good rival. Caldwell was not the only one excited about the opportunity to showcase veganism. Antonio Owen, 43, of Richmond the founder and owner of Chef Antonyo said his food had almost sold out by around 2:30 p.m. The personal chef and event caterer started the company three years ago after attending culinary school and working for years for other people in the restaurant industry. Business took off, he said, and he never looked back. I never will, he said. Owens menu included jerk-braised mushrooms and oyster mushroom wings in three flavors. It was his first year as a vendor at Richmond VegFest, he said, but it certainly will not be his last. This is so much fun, he said. Vendors sold vegan food and clothing, local bands played and Jack Caldwell defended his hot dog-eating contest title at the 2023 Richmond VegFest at Byrd Park on Saturday. The 20th annual vegan festival included 116 tents, food trucks and information booths, featuring some of the best vegan offerings in and around central Virginia, according to co-organizer Amanda Trenchard, 28, of Alexandria. The yearly event highlights how easy and fun it can be to eat vegan food and find vegan resources, said Trenchard, adding that Richmond VegFest is for everyone: for vegans, for curious people who are trying to eat less meat and for those who are just interested in expanding their food palate. The turnout was excellent, Trenchard said. She estimated that 10,000 attendees would visit throughout the day. By midafternoon, large crowds had gathered to sample vegan food, browse vegan wares and learn about the history of veganism. And, of course, to watch the vegan hot dog-eating contest. At 3 p.m., the 10 contestants lined up in front of the main stage to compete against one another and their own stomachs. Minutes later, Caldwell, 25, of Fairfax who identified himself as The Ketchup Kid emerged victorious. Caldwell, who was last years champion, ate seven hot dogs in about four minutes, for what event organizers said was a new Richmond VegFest record. You gotta look at the greats ... you gotta approach it how Kobayashi, Joey Jaws Chestnut, Geoffery Esper (do) ... real serious, Caldwell said. Its a fun time, but on the day of ... you wake up, get a little oatmeal (to) get that stomach feeling right, and then ... you just gotta chew and swallow. Caldwell is a vegan and said he is grateful for the way events like Richmond VegFest demonstrate that meat alternatives can be delicious and fun. Its great that they have this to rival the competition up there at the corner of Surf and Stillwell, he said, referring to the location of Nathans Famous hot dogs in New York. I think people are gonna know ... Dogwood Dell is a good rival. Caldwell was not the only one excited about the opportunity to showcase veganism. Antonio Owen, 43, of Richmond the founder and owner of Chef Antonyo said his food had almost sold out by around 2:30 p.m. The personal chef and event caterer started the company three years ago after attending culinary school and working for years for other people in the restaurant industry. Business took off, he said, and he never looked back. I never will, he said. Owens menu included jerk-braised mushrooms and oyster mushroom wings in three flavors. It was his first year as a vendor at Richmond VegFest, he said, but it certainly will not be his last. This is so much fun, he said. SAN MIGUEL DE LOS JAGUEYEZ, Mexico In the middle of a military base outside Mexico City, an army colonel runs what he calls a kindergarten for dogs. Puppies that one day will become rescue dogs, or sniffer dogs for drugs or explosives, get their basic training here, at Mexicos Army and Air Force Canine Production Center. The puppies are born and spend their first four months at the facility, before being sent to military units around the country for more specialized training. Founded in 1998, the center has in the past produced breeds such as German Shepherds and Rottweilers. Now, it exclusively breeds Belgian Malinois about 300 of them a year. Its a very intelligent dog, its a dog with a lot of hardiness, very resistant to diseases, said Col. Alejandro Camacho Ibarra, a veterinarian and the centers director. It is the Mexican militarys only such production facility, and Camacho said it may be the largest in Latin America. The mainly green-and-white, one-story buildings look like any others at the military camp in the State of Mexico, near Mexico City. But the difference here is in the sounds that fill the air: high-pitch barking from dozens of puppies scattered through its maternities and training camps. Precautions here are strict because of a recent canine parvovirus outbreak that sickened some of the puppies. Visitors are disinfected with a spray, and must step into a watery solution to clean shoe soles. Only military personnel can touch the puppies. If you want to get close, you need to wear scrubs, shoe protectors and a mask, but you still cannot hold or pet the animals. The training starts early in life, about a month after birth once the weaning process finishes. And everything is taught as a game. We start playing with the dog, Camacho said. The idea is to draw them to items that trainers call attractors like a ball or a rag and puppies are challenged to catch them. Every time it holds his prey, its rewarded, congratulated, and it learns to go after that prey, after that attractor, Camacho added. Unlike in civilian life, where puppies often get food treats, in the military the only prize for a job well done is a caress and some praise. In one section of the camp, theres a trail with obstacles including rocks, a tunnel, a section of empty plastic bottles to clamber over, a ladder and tires. A soldier beckons the little dogs with a rag they must capture. The brown puppies with black snouts begin running through the trail, jumping over the rocks and crossing the obstacles. One takes the lead and the second struggles to cross over the plastic bottles, but also finishes. Both go to bite the rag the soldier holds. Very, very good, sons! Very good, boys, he repeats while dragging the puppies as they maintain their grasp on the rag for several moments. Camacho explains that the puppies are known by a number until they are 3 months old, when they are given a proper name. Each year, the center gives names according to a single letter of the alphabet. In 2023, that letter is F. Febo, Frodo, Fosil, Forraje and Fido are some of this years names. The basic training ends when the puppies are 4 months old. Then, they move to other military units to become specialists in detection of drugs or explosives, in search and rescue or in protection and security. The current government of Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has relied heavily on the armed forces for various initiatives, from public safety to the building of airports and a tourist train line. And K-9 units have been a key element of some of the militarys activities, like the detection of drugs. Col. Camacho said that some dogs born at the center have been trained to detect fentanyl, a synthetic opioid trafficked by Mexican cartels that has been blamed for about 70,000 overdose deaths per year in the United States. That kind of specialized training happens elsewhere, but the colonel says it builds on his centers basic training by using attractor objects but having them impregnated with the scent of what the dogs need to track, such as a drug. Dogs retire from their military service after eight years, Camacho says. Many of the dogs have become unsung heroes of missions in Mexico and abroad. Occasionally they become publicly known, like a German Shepherd named Proteo that was part of a rescue team sent to Turkey in February after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that killed more than 40,000 people. Proteo died during the search for survivors of the quake. A statue of him now stands at the center. Another dog that made headlines in Mexico and abroad was a yellow Labrador retriever rescue dog named Frida. The Navy dog gained fame in the days following Mexicos Sept. 19, 2017, earthquake that left more than 300 dead in the capital. She retired in 2019 and died in 2022. Col. Camacho said that the dogs have a symbiotic relationship with their handlers during their working life in the military. The dog uses us to survive, but we also use the dog to do a job, he said. So its a coordinated work where we both get a benefit. Just when you thought the often dirty, grimy sphere of politics couldnt get any filthier, someone found a way. Democratic candidate Susanna Gibson exhibited a whole other level to the meaning of the phrase dirty politics. Per one report: A Democrat candidate for state office in Virginia appears to have been raising money for a good cause by performing graphic sex acts online, where she told viewers she liked being choked and said they could watch her urinate for the right price, according to material reviewed by The Daily Wire. The Democratic candidate in question performed sex for money, making the point that it was going to a good cause. She livestreamed her performances to a pornographic website more than a dozen times, right up until she began her run for office. If Gibson used porn industry proceeds to fuel her campaign, would it disqualify her from public office? Thankfully, this question hasnt been asked of Virginia voters in the past, but a voter need not evaluate that question to conclude that Gibson is unfit for office. Some liberal pundits and allies have been quick to attempt to swipe away this scandal, saying that the private sex lives of our politicians should be none of our business or that somehow her husband being roped into the perversion pacifies the objection. But here we have someone who livestreamed pornography on a public website for money at least a dozen times and may have even broken the law in one such video. In one instance, she offered to lure a delivery person into her hotel room to flash the unwitting delivery person for the porn she was livestreaming. From The Daily Wire: She said for 500 tokens, she would order room service in a hotel and cause the delivery person to see her naked, saying: Im definitely a slut. In order to leave the door cracked I need 500 tokens. That sounds like sexual harassment and solicitation to me. But lets suppose a potential porn-fueled campaign coffer and potential illegality dont sway a voter. Susanna Gibsons behavior speaks to poor moral character and little integrity. Her actions, which must consider her husbands verbal reticence to share his wife in these videos, show a lack of respect for her own family or the institution of marriage. In most communities, monogamy still matters. Yes, there should be separation between someones private life and their public life. But when someone livestreams what they do in their bedroom for money or not the argument that this was their private sex life is null and void. Gibson carried on this lewd behavior even though she is raising young children at home children who will be followed by this shadow the rest of their lives. They are never going to escape the impact of the saved images and videos of their parents engaging in sex acts for money. If for no other reason, Gibson should be swiftly dismissed as a candidate because of her callous disregard for the lives of her kids. As a mom, I tell my children that anything done with their phones or connected to the internet lives on in perpetuity. My children are taught that they will need to be prepared to answer for pictures and more in future job interviews that could take place a dozen years later. In Virginia, weve seen college yearbook photos come back to haunt candidates such as Gov. Ralph Northam and, more recently, Sen. Monty Mason, D-Williamsburg. The porn industry has destroyed lives, marriages, and abused countless women. Right now, my organization is fighting to prevent young children from being exposed to pornography. I was proud to see Gov. Glenn Youngkin sign into law a bill that did exactly that. What does it say about our society and our commonwealth if we allow that progress to be undone by electing a porn star to office? Gibson has clearly put her political ambitions in front of her children and her family. She continues to seek office despite the intense scrutiny she invited into her life, knowing this was out there. Even now, she refuses to drop out. Susanna Gibson has proven she is unfit for office, and voters in House of Delegates District 57 have an important decision to make. I hope they make the right one. From the Archives: White Tower Hamburgers restaurants of Richmond White Tower White Tower White Tower White Tower By most accounts, Virginia State University is experiencing a resurgence. Last year, the small land-grant institution in southern Chesterfield County admitted more than 1,700 new students first-year students and transfers a 53% increase from the year before. The uptick represented a 30-year high. The historically Black university, just north of Petersburg in the tiny village of Ettrick, is sitting on an $80 million endowment, which has doubled in the past few years, thanks primarily to a $30 million gift in 2020 from MacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Amazons Jeff Bezos. Cash reserves are flush ($43 million), and the campus is also growing, physically, at the fastest pace in VSUs 141-year history a new 30,000-square-foot admissions building, research and cooperative extension facility, improvements at Rogers Stadium and a 174,000-square-foot, $120 million commons building that broke ground last year. But for all the recent growth, VSU, which enrolls roughly 5,000 students, remains one of the smallest four-year public universities in the state, a fact that becomes clear when visiting the sprawling, suburban campus just off a busy commercial stretch of U.S. Route 1. On any given day, the well-manicured, 231-acre campus can feel like a deserted oasis. As the states first public, historically Black college and university (HBCU) it was established in 1882 as a collegiate university for Black students after the Civil War, a rarity at the time Virginia State has always had to scrap for state funding. First, it was fear educating Black people in the South used to be against the law, the concern being that enlightenment could lead to rebellion which morphed into white supremacy disguised as conservative practicality: African Americans were dismissed as intellectually incapable of a proper education, so why bother? So it was hardly shocking when the U.S. secretaries of education and agriculture sent Gov. Glenn Youngkin a letter Sept. 18 outlining funding inequities between the states two land-grant institutions Virginia Tech and Virginia State and seeking redress for a reported $277 million funding shortfall at VSU when reviewing data from the National Center for Education Statistics Integrated Postsecondary Education Survey (IPEDS) from 1987 to 2020. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J. Vilsack, who sent similar letters to 15 other governors, point out that the disparity just in the past three decades has had a debilitating effect. Virginia State University, the 1890 land-grant institution in your state, while producing extraordinary graduates that contribute greatly to the states economy and the fabric of our nation, the secretaries wrote, has not been able to advance in ways that are on par with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, the original Morrill Act of 1862 land-grant institution in your state, in large part due to unbalanced funding. The Youngkin administration shot back Oct. 4, arguing that the federal report used faulty data to arrive at its $277 million figure. In a letter to Cardona and Vilsack, Virginia Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera says the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System used by federal officials does not collect high quality, student-level data. Based on reliable data from state-maintained finance, accounting, and education systems, the Commonwealth has funded VSU well above Virginia Tech on a per student basis in aggregate, since 1994. What both datasets fail to capture, of course, is the real problem: the underfunding that occurred in VSUs first 100 or so years of existence, a task neither is likely interested in tackling. Politically, theres a good reason: In the South, states did everything in their power to financially suffocate HBCUs after the Civil War. The Morrill Act of 1890 banned racial discrimination at the land-grant institutions in each state the schools were established with land donations from the federal government, and specialized in teaching agricultural and mechanical arts to working-class people, primarily farmers. It also gave states the option of creating separate schools for Black people, instead of integrating. But there was a catch: While the government required federal funds be divided between the white and Black institutions in a just manner, it didnt mandate equality. Guess what happened? In states like Virginia, the former capital of the Confederacy, there wasnt anything resembling equal distribution of funds. The white school, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, or Virginia Tech, grew by leaps and bounds; the Black school, Virginia State University, barely got a bite at the apple. It took 77 years for the federal government to even attempt to rectify the situation. In 1967, the U.S. Department of Agriculture began allocating research funds to land-grant HBCUs, but it was a pittance. It took 33 years for the annual allocation to grow from $1.4 million to about $100 million by 2000, according to a 2002 report from the USDAs Economic Research Service. The lack of institutional funding limited growth, hindering the ability of land-grant HBCUs to attract students, who generate the cash flow thats necessary for hiring faculty, building academic programs and adding facilities for things such as research and student activities. Producing fewer graduates, who lagged their white counterparts in skill development and social mobility, also left the schools with smaller endowments. According to a recent study by Goldman Sachs, public HBCUs have 54% less in assets per student than public non-HBCUs, while private HBCUs have 79% less than private non-HBCUs. Of course, HBCUs both public and private excelled with what they did have. HBCUs are almost single-handedly credited with creating the Black middle class in America. Despite every obstacle imaginable, schools like VSU found a way to survive and thrive. HBCUs have been really focused on their mission, which is to nurture talent, says Susan Gooden, dean of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, which recently hosted a symposium on the topic. HBCUs have consistently overperformed relative to financial support because there is that commitment to communal excellence. Rectifying the sins of the past isnt just about reforming the criminal justice system, restoring voting rights or updating whats taught in history classes. Its also about capital appreciation and wealth-building those who have access to it, and those who dont. So argue over whose data for the past 30 years is better, if youd like. But all one has to do is visit both Virginia State and Virginia Tech to see more than a century of systemic, race-based discrepancies. Virginia State: 231-acre campus, 5,000 students, $80 million endowment. Virginia Tech: 2,600-acre campus, more than 37,000 students, $1.7 billion endowment. Ask yourself: How much money and how long would it take for the HBCU to catch up? A ceremonial groundbreaking by Ridge View Bank on Thursday for its new branch and corporate office on Franklin Road Southwest heralded growth and competition in the Roanoke Valley banking scene. Ridge View has lent more than $100 million within about two years since entering this market about two years ago, according to Michael Peduzzi, president and CEO of CNB Bank of Pennsylvania, of which Ridge View is a division. Meanwhile, competitor National Bank of Blacksburg is formalizing its entrance into the Roanoke Valley market. It plans to break ground any day on its first Roanoke branch next door to Ridge View Banks new office. Behind the 50 spectators at the Ridge View event, a sign for Snyder & Associates, National Banks general contractor, stood 300 feet away. Two out-of-town banks intent on garnering revenue in the Roanoke area will spend millions on new Roanoke facilities at the same time in nearly the same place. That section of Franklin Road is a new bankers row in the making. On the next block north is American National Bank & Trust, a branch of a Danville bank that announced it sale to Richmond-based Atlantic Union early next year. It was unclear Thursday how Ridge View and National Bank of Blacksburg ended up moving forward with their Roanoke expansions at about the same time. Leadership of the two companies know each other, have spoken in the past and knew their institutions owned adjacent lots. Bank leaders said they were unaware of each others timetable to break ground. It was National Bank that moved first to branch into Roanoke. Operating a Roanoke loan office since 2016, the Blacksburg financial institution bought part of the parking lot of the former Franklin Road Kmart in February 2020. It received a building permit to build there Sept. 18, according to city records. Ridge View introduced itself to the Roanoke market in November 2021. A division of CNB Bank in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, with its own name and local leadership, it began with a downtown loan office. It opened its first area branch in Salem in February and another a branch at Smith Mountain Lake in July, becoming the 16th bank to serve the Roanoke metropolitan statistical area. Setting up its most significant investment in bricks and mortar, it leased the former Red Lobster property on Franklin Road and, 13 months ago, filed plans with the city to construct a 16,300-square-foot building on Franklin Road to house a branch and regional corporate office. The city is reviewing an application for a building permit, according to Chris Chittum, executive director of community development and placemaking with the city. Ridge View President Carrie McConnell said construction will start soon and the building is scheduled to open in fall 2024. We have big plans here in Roanoke. The reception weve received from you guys, from clients and the community has been nothing short of astounding, she said Thursday. We want to make Ridge View not just another bank, but a better banking option here. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. recognizes CNB Bank as a provider of regulated banking services in the Roanoke metro now that the branches are opened. As of June 30, it ranked 13th in terms of deposit market share with 0.7% of metro deposits. CNB operates 52 branches, counting Salem and Smith Mountain Lake. Truist Bank is the Roanoke Valley market leader, with 31.2% market share. National Bank of Blacksburg is the leading bank in the New River Valley in terms of deposit market share, with nearly 27% as of June 30, the FDIC said. It operates 14 NRV branches and 10 branches elsewhere. Brad Denardo, president and CEO of National Bank of Blacksburg, expects his future Roanoke branch to open in the third quarter of 2024 and employ eight to 10 people. The loan office will then close. NBB wont show up in the FDICs Roanoke metro standings until the new branch opens. After having our loan production down there for seven years now, we think we have enough traction that we can extend our banking model down there. Roanokes a good market. Its a crowded market for banking. We think its a good market for a good community bank, he said. Ridge View Bank in Roanoke opened in 2021 as a division of CNB Bank based in Clearfield, Pennsylvania. Ridge View President Carrie McConnell discussed the bank and regional economy on Tuesday with reporter Jeff Sturgeon. It was two days prior to the ceremonial groundbreaking of the banks planned area headquarters on Franklin Road. Question: Describe how everything is going at Ridge View Bank. Answer: Things are going very well. In a little under two years of being in operation, weve just done our very first two smart centers and are getting ready to break ground this week on our headquarters so thats really exciting. We have 25 employees now. Q: Tell us what a smart center is. A: Theyre different than your traditional bank branch. Theyre very high tech, but centered on the customer. We try to make it seamless for the customer to come in and have all this technology we have our ETMs at these. There are drive-thrus and we also have one in each lobby as well. And they have a live person on the screen that can do pretty much anything a traditional teller can do. They are one of our employees corporatewide. So thats really neat. But if you want the full service, you just come in the branch and talk to one of our employees there. Q: And youre saying E as in Elephant-T-M? A: Theyre just what we call enhanced teller machines. Q: What is Ridge View Banks history? A: We are supported by a bank out of Clearfield, Pennsylvania, thats 158 years old called CNB Bank and, back in the early 2000s, they started doing start-up banks just a very unique model. This is the first one down south theyve done. And I started in June of 2021. I was recruited to lead this charge here. I was able to name the bank. So that was pretty neat. And then Im in charge of, you know, finding this site, hiring people, bringing in business, pretty much normal day-to-day things that the president would be in charge of, without the hassle of having to deal with the regulators. Q: What is your business or employment history? A: I went to Roanoke College, got out of there, began with Salem Bank and Trust. We were then acquired by First National Bank. I went through a two-year management training program with them. And then I got into commercial lending and then I had the opportunity to be one of the first 10 or so employees of Hometown Bank in early 2006. We were acquired in 2018. And then I stayed on there for a couple more years until I was recruited to do this job. Q: Can you disclose the amount of Ridge View Banks loans and deposits? A: Thats not something I can disclose. I will tell you we were accretive [profitable] in a little under five months. So that was very, very substantial. That was the quickest that any of their divisions had done that. Were growing rapidly loans and deposits, I will say that. Q: Four red boxes border the bottom of your website labeled careers; home loans; diversity, equity and inclusion; and online services. Will you say something about diversity, equity and inclusion at Ridge View Bank, please? A: Sure, we take diversity, equity and inclusion very seriously. We do have a D, E and I committee corporatewide. And we have a couple of Ridge View people on that. Its just very important to me to be involved in this community in a number of ways that can serve the most amount of people that we that we are able to. And we take that seriously with our employees as well. As far as hiring, we try to be as diverse and inclusive and as equitable as we can. Q: Lets talk about the Roanoke region economy. What are the most significant strengths of the regional economy in your opinion? A: In my opinion, some of the strengths of Roanoke, weve always been a little bit insulated from, say, the larger markets maybe. We dont tend to maybe grow as fast but we also dont tend to nosedive as quickly either. I would say were much steadier in that regard. So youre not gonna see double-digit growth or double-digit declines in anything going on around here. And I think that to us, you know, since COVID hit, a lot more people seem to want to live here. We have very good outdoor scene, obviously. We have a lot of different manufacturing- type jobs going on here. So its just a really neat time to be in Roanoke, I think. Q: What are the local economys most significant weaknesses? A: I dont really see a lot of weakness in Roanoke to be honest with you. I think we could we could certainly attract a younger population here. And I think that is happening. But weve got to try to retain some of these college grads and in the local area. Q: Banks are key to economic vitality. Why are there so few locally based banks here? A: In my opinion, the larger banks have pulled out of this market here. Theyre more focused on the larger markets. And thats when we really saw an opportunity for Ridge View to be here. Were a community based bank, were the only bank headquartered in Roanoke. And it feels like youre going to see probably some more acquisitions happen maybe and probably shrink before we before we grow here in the banking segment. Q: How likely is this area to see a new bank locally capitalized and formed? A: Its very challenging to raise the money and get the regulatory approval [With] what CNB is doing, with us opening ... in different markets, we already have the capital behind us initially. We had to get regulatory approval here, but it was much easier Thats really the challenge of forming a new bank. We did it with Hometown. We started with $25 million in capital. But you know, Im able to hit the ground running here with a $5.7-billion bank behind me, in which were able to do much larger loans, much larger opportunities, we can look at. Q: What is your lending limit? A: Internally we could we could do, per client ... probably around $60 million. Q: What one thing could local government do or do better to increase economic growth? A: Probably give more loans and maybe not loans more grants and incentives for some growth opportunities. Q: Youre saying to the private sector? A: Yes. Q: What private sectors of the economy look to you most rich in opportunity? A: I do believe Roanoke has a housing shortage. I think we need some additional multifamily housing. We dont have a lot of new multifamily being built. I think there are definitely some projects being looked at. But that is definitely a segment that Roanoke needs to continue to expand on. Q: How is the banking sector and Ridge View in particular helping address the lack of housing and specifically the lack of affordable housing? A: Were doing the Valleydale project in Salem. Thats a substantial multifamily project. Were doing other multifamily as well. Q: Where there is a construction project underway and there is a Ridge View sign posted, it would be then public that Ridge View is lending into that project. Can you can you identify some such construction projects around the area that people might have driven by other than Valleydale? A: Were doing another really substantial self-storage project in Salem on the corner of Electric and Main Street ... that was formerly the Givens bookstore. As far as having signs on the project, were getting ready to do a pretty good multifamily ... in Danville. Were doing some projects at Smith Mountain Lake. Q: How would you describe your service area? A: Our private banking division will lend in all 50 states if we need to. But as far as commercial banking well really travel where our clients are if we know them and theyre local. Ridge View is set up to go into four states eventually. So we do hope to be able to accomplish that at some point. Q: What are the other states? A: They would be Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina. Q: National Bank of Blacksburg is building its first Roanoke Valley branch on the next parcel to the south of the future Ridge View Bank headquarters and branch on Franklin Road and plans to start construction the same week as you. American National Bank & Trust has a branch immediately north of your headquarters. What do you think? A: We wanted to be in that location to be close to the innovation corridor, everything going over there, the proximity to 220. We welcome having other banks as our neighbors. Whatevers good for the community, were behind that. Q: How would you forecast Ridge View Banks future one year, in five years from today? A: We have a very bright future here. You mentioned before there is really a lack of local community based banks. We all live and work here. We have big plans to grow. This is where were planting our, you know, our stake in the ground by being headquartered here. A fire at a home in the city Saturday morning resulted in one person being transported to the hospital and six others displaced, according to the Roanoke Fire-EMS Department. The agency said firefighters were dispatched shortly after 5:30 a.m. on reports of a structure fire on the 1200 block of Rorer Ave. Southwest. Upon their arrival to the scene, flames were showing from a second-story window, according to the department. The fire was contained to the room of origin. In addition to the people affected by the fire, one pet was rescued while several other pets remain missing, according to the department. The department did not specify the type of animals. The Red Cross is assisting the people displaced, and the fires cause is under investigation, according to the department. BOSTON Three years after a Christopher Columbus statue was removed from a square in Providence, Rhode Island, the bronze cast has re-emerged, this time in a park in Johnston, Rhode Island, about 9 miles west of the capital. The statue had been targeted by vandals, at one point being splashed with red paint with a sign reading Stop celebrating genocide leaning against its pedestal. In 2020, the statue was removed. Activists say celebrating Columbus ignores the rape, murder and genocide endured by Indigenous people during the European settlement of North America. Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr. said residents of his heavily Italian-American town are pleased to give the statue a new home. Its important and not just for Italian Americans. Its American history. Its world history, if you look at it from a historical perspective, he said. While not the first European to land in North America thats believed to be Leif Erikson Columbus helped usher in a wave of European exploration and expansion, and ultimately the era of globalization, Polisena said. After the statue was taken down and placed in storage, it was purchased for about $50,000 by former Providence Mayor Joseph Paolino Jr., who then reached out to see if Johnston would take it, Polisena said. The statue which depicts Columbus pointing forward with his right arm while holding a globe in his left will be formally unveiled Monday. I dont want to see it destroyed. I dont want to see it melted down, Polisena said. People should learn about him, the good and the bad. Polisena said he understands the criticism targeted at Columbus, but said its unfair to use the standards of 2023 to measure the actions of someone who lived five centuries ago. Not everyone is thrilled with the relocation of the 15th-century explorers likeness. The statue should never have been resurrected after it was taken down, according to Harrison Tuttle, president of Black Lives Matter Rhode Island PAC. You dont have to be Indigenous to understand the harm that Christopher Columbus inflicted, he said. To see it go back up is really tone deaf to all the progress we made just three years ago. Tuttle said he understands the connection that many of Italian descent feel for Columbus, but said he shouldnt be the vehicle for the pride Italian-Americans feel for their contributions to the country. He also said he wished the mayor had spoken with members of the community who were offended by the decision install the statue. My grandmother who helped raise me was Italian and I grew up in a majority Italian neighborhood, he said. At the same time, there are better ways to celebrate your heritage and culture without celebrating someone who in my opinion is the exact opposite of what Italian culture is. Other cities have grappled with the legacy of Columbus statues. In 2020, Bostons Christopher Columbus statue located in the citys largely Italian North End neighborhood was taken down after its head was knocked off. In 2020, a Columbus statue in Richmond, Virginia, was torn down by protesters, set on fire and thrown into a lake. In 2022, a Columbus statue was removed from the California Capitol rotunda. Also last year, crews removed a plywood box that had been placed over a Philadelphia statue of Christopher Columbus. Camden, New Jersey, also removed their Columbus statue. Darrell Waldron, director of the Rhode Island Indian Council said theres no love lost between Native peoples and the legacy of Columbus. I think Columbus opened a Pandoras box for Indigenous people, he said. People who were the victims of rape and murder and genocide were not writing the history. At the time that the statue was being removed in Providence, Waldron the son of a Narragansett father and Wampanoag mother said he and others hoped that the statue would have been sold off and kept out of public view, with any proceeds going to help fund a Native statue. I would love to see a statue of Native women, he said. It doesnt always have to be a man. The debate over the statue comes amid a larger debate about what to call the federal holiday that falls on Monday this year. In 2021, President Joe Biden issued the first-ever presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples Day, lending a boost to efforts to refocus the federal holiday celebrating Columbus toward an appreciation of Native peoples. Why cities are celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day instead of Columbus Day Christopher Columbus Enslavement and disease Columbus' colony Indigenous Peoples Day instead Canada International day U.S. tribes Millions already were here You have permission to edit this collection. Edit Close FLORENCE, S.C. Pastors are used to blessing people but are probably less experienced in blessing stuffed animals. However, thats exactly what four pastors did on Friday at All Saints Episcopal Day Schools Blessing of the Animals Service. A crowd of students, parents and faculty gathered on the lawn of All Saints Anglican Church with their pets, stuffed animals and pictures of past pets to get a blessing for them and their family in honor of the life and work of Saint Francis of Assisi. The event is held annually on or near St. Francis of Assisi day, which was Thursday. Francis used to call animals his brothers and sisters, said Jason Hamshaw of All Saints Anglican Church. He had a strong connection with all of creation, a great love. He gave up all his wealth so that he could bring peace to the world. Hamshaw was joined by Luke Lucas of Saint Johns Anglican Church, Donald Hayes of Saint Barnabas Anglican Church and Chris Handley of Helping Florence Flourish. Each animal, stuffed or otherwise, received a short prayer and a sprinkling of holy water. Dogs were the primarily live animal, but the service also included some cats, lizards, hamsters, bunnies and even a young bull. Children from the day school met their parents and pets out on the churchs lawn and played with their pets, stuffed animals and each other. Many crowded around the more unusual animals, like the bunnies or the young bull. Stuffed animals were included for a reason, Hamshaw said: not everyone was able to bring a pet. Its a way for the children to enter in, but were really blessing the families and the animals at home that cant be here today, he said. Evan Powell, the head of All Saints Episcopal Day School, said the blessing is one of his favorite annual traditions. We are so appreciative of Father Jason Hamshaw and our local clergy who make this event possible, he said. A White House official has slammed Republican senator JD Vance for spreading shameful lies that US taxpayer dollars had funded a wave of unprecedented attacks by Palestinian militants that have claimed at least 200 Israeli lives. Top Republicans sought to blame the Biden administration for Hamas deadly raids by linking it to the $6bn in frozen oil profits that were released to Iran in August for humanitarian purposes in exchange for the release of five Americans who were detained in the country. Iran has historically provided weapons and funding to Hamas, a militant group that controls Gaza and has claimed responsibility for the deadly wave of rocket attacks, killings and kidnappings that sparked a declaration of war by Israel on Saturday. Mr Vance, a first-term Ohio senator, repeated false claims by Florida governor Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump who claimed without evidence that the US had funded the wave of attacks on Israel. As we watch this horrible situation in Israel unfold, Americans must face a stark truth: our tax dollars funded this, Mr Vance wrote on X/Twitter. Money is fungible, and many of the dollars we sent to Iran are being used to now kill innocent people. White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates responded by accusing the senator of fuelling misinformation. Mr Bates wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that no taxpayer money was involved in the Iran deal, none of the $6bn had been spent yet, and that the funds could only be used by private actors to provably buy food and medicine. Ohio senator JD Vance was accused of spreading shameless lies about US taxpayers funding Hamas (Associated Press) Mr Bates tweeted: Shameful lies when supporting Israel should be the focus. Senator Vance responded to criticism of his comments online by saying it was complete idiocy to believe that the unfrozen funds would be used solely for humanitarian purposes. The deal to release $6bn in Iranian oil profits led to the release of five US citizens in August. Under its terms, the Iranian assets were to be placed into a bank account controlled by the Qatari government that could only be accessed to pay for humanitarian items such as food and medicine. Story continues Addressing the escalating crisis on Saturday afternoon, President Joe Biden warned other countries and terror groups from trying to take advantage of the situation by siding with Hamas. Let me say this is clearly as I can, this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage. The world is watching, Mr Biden said. The United States stands with Israel. We will not ever fail to have their back. A rescuer walks in front of a damaged shop in Tel Aviv, after it was hit by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip (AFP via Getty Images) Earlier, GOP presidential frontrunner Mr Trump claimed that American taxpayer dollars (had) helped fund these attacks in a statement. And Mr DeSantis, who is running a distant second to Mr Trump in the primary, echoed the baseless claims during a campaign stop in Iowa. Today, America stands with Israel against the terrorist attacks that are being perpetrated by Hamas, who is backed by Iran and unfortunately funded by this American president with what hes done to Iran, Mr DeSantis said. Local media report that over 200 Israelis have been killed and 1,100 have been injured in the surprise early morning attack making it the deadliest attack in Israel in years. An unknown number of Israeli soldiers and civilians were also taken captive and brought into Gaza. Israel have now retaliated to the attacks. 232 Palestinians have been killed and at least 1,610 wounded in Israels retaliation, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. WATERLOO, Iowa Former President Donald Trump and other GOP contenders tried to lay blame on the Biden administration after Hamas militants launched the deadliest attack on Israel in decades, citing a $6 billion transfer to Iran that administration officials insisted Saturday had yet to be spent. Hamas' surprise early morning attack during a major Jewish holiday Saturday marks a new foreign policy front in a presidential election that has been unusually dominated by foreign affairs. Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine divided the Republican field, with some like Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis questioning the U.S.'s continued involvement, while others like former Vice President Mike Pence insist that supporting the Ukrainian military is vital to U.S. national security interests. On Saturday, the candidates appeared united, standing with Israel. "The Hamas terrorist invasion of Israeli territory and the murder of Israeli soldiers today and the brutal murder of citizens is an act of savagery that must and will be crushed," Trump said at an appearance in Waterloo, Iowa. "It has to be dealt with very powerfully." He also argued that, under Biden, the U.S. is perceived as being "weak and ineffective" on the global stage, opening the door to hostility. "They didn't have that level of aggression with me. They didn't have it. This would have never happened with me either," Trump claimed. Much of the Republican criticism focused on a complex deal by the Biden administration in September to release five U.S. citizens detained in Iran. As part of the deal, roughly $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets being held in South Korea were transferred to an account in Doha, Qatar. Although Hamas is a Sunni Muslim group, it has a militant wing that has long nurtured close ties with Iran, a source of funding and a Shiite powerhouse. Hamas and Iran are brought together by a shared enmity toward Israel. Administration officials said Saturday that no money in the Doha account so far has been spent. The $6 billion figure is not U.S. taxpayer money, senior Biden administration officials stressed at the time of the deal, but rather payments made by South Korea to Iran to buy oil in recent years. The funds had been stuck in South Korea due to U.S. sanctions. That money is now held in a restricted account in Doha, and is meant to be used solely for humanitarian purposes such as food and medicine for Iranians and handled by what the administration described as vetted non-Iranian vendors. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said his country would spend the money "wherever we need it," though the U.S. said in response that it would exercise rigorous oversight over how the funds are disbursed and could freeze the assets again if needed. DeSantis, in a video statement, accused Biden of "policies that have gone easy on Iran" and "helped to fill their coffers. Israel is now paying the price for those policies. We're going to stand with the State of Israel, they need to root out Hamas and we need to stand up to Iran." South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott alleged the attack was "the Biden $6 billion ransom payment at work." "We didn't just invite this aggression, we paid for it," he said in a statement. Adrienne Watson, a spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, said she could not directly address Republican criticism due to federal restrictions. "But I can clarify the facts: Not a single cent from these funds has been spent, and when it is spent, it can only be spent on things like food and medicine for the Iranian people," she said Saturday in a statement. "These funds have absolutely nothing to do with the horrific attacks today and this is not the time to spread disinformation." Brian Nelson, undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence at Treasury, also stressed that "these restricted funds cannot go to Iran" and "any suggestion to the contrary is false and misleading." Pence also blamed Biden, saying the current administration "projects weakness on the world stage" and "kowtows to the mullahs in Iran." But in an appearance in Iowa, Pence also turned the focus on his GOP rivals who have been advocating more isolationist policies, particularly on Ukraine, calling the attack a "testament to the fact that we need new leadership in the White House, but we also need leadership in the Republican Party that understands the stakes, that understands we achieve peace through strength." "I call on Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Ron DeSantis," he said, "to abandon the language of appeasement to say that we will stand strong with Israel, we will stand strong with Ukraine, we will stand as the leader of the free world." NASHVILLE, Tenn. Cicely Wilsons work doesnt end when she leaves her day job as a lactation consultant, doula and child care expert. Wilson founded a nonprofit called Sunnyside Up Youth Pregnancy Services, which connects girls ages 13 to 19 with resources they need to care for their babies. After-hours, she looks for affordable Nashville apartments, books medical appointments, tries to find strollers and other baby supplies, and hosts conversations with pregnant teens about breastfeeding and preparing mentally for childbirth. Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade just over a year ago, Wilson said, she is confident that more Tennessee teens will carry their pregnancies to term. Because the access isnt there, she said. I do anticipate that were going to get a lot more teens that are wanting to parent their babies rather than going to Illinois or Georgia or Florida. Demand for services like Wilsons could rise in the coming years even though the national teen birth rate has declined dramatically over the past three decades. Its still dropping, but preliminary data released in June by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the descent may be slowing. Doctors, service providers, and advocates say theyre worried full CDC data released later this year which will include state-by-state numbers could show a rise in teen births in many Southern states, where rates remain among the highest in the country. They say several factors including the Supreme Courts decision to strike down federal protections for abortion rights, intensifying political pushback against sex education, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth mental health could start to unravel decades of progress. Its absolutely concerning, said Laura Andreson, an OB-GYN in Franklin, Tennessee. The womens health practice where she works is treating more pregnant teenagers than in recent years, which she thinks could reflect an emerging trend. Its probably going to take a little bit of time, she said. But I would venture to say were going to see it every year: Its going to go up. Nationally, the rate of teen births has dropped by 78% since a modern-day peak in 1991 of 61.8 births per 100,000 people, according to the CDC. Starting in 2007, the rate had consistently dropped by about 8% until 2021, when the rate of decline slowed to about 2%. It certainly does stand in contrast to what weve seen in prior years, said CDC researcher Brady Hamilton. He is working on the updated version of the national data released in June that will break it down by state. Hamilton said that he cant comment on the recent social and political factors at play, but that the phenomenal decline in the teen birth rates over more than 15 years could be reaching a natural plateau as states achieved their goals. There are a lot of states that have very low birth rates, he said. So you kind of potentially run into a situation where theyre already low and you really cant go lower. But advocates say this leveling off could be the writing on the wall, signaling the start of a rise in teen births. We know that young people came back from the pandemic with record levels of mental health struggles, which can be very tied to things like teen pregnancy, said Jen Biundo, senior director of research and policy at Healthy Futures of Texas, a nonprofit that advocates for science-based education to curb teen pregnancy. And the decision to strike down abortion rights unleashed a sea change of legislation across the nation affecting reproductive health and options for women. States like Tennessee enacted so-called trigger laws, overturning the right to most abortions. In August, an all-male South Carolina Supreme Court upheld what abortion opponents sometimes call a fetal heartbeat law, which bans most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. The sudden shift in the reproductive health landscape concerns Hannah Lantos, a researcher who specializes in maternal and adolescent health for Child Trends, a nonprofit research center. She said changes in abortion policy likely wont have major effects on teen birth statistics because most abortion patients arent teenagers. Teenagers account for only 9% of abortions and 6% of all pregnancies reported in the U.S. each year, according to a report by Child Trends. Yet about 1 in 4 teens who do get pregnant in the U.S. will opt for an abortion, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Previous declines in the teen birth rate werent driven by access to abortions alone, Lantos said. Other factors like increased access to and more effective contraceptive methods and sex education contributed. Now, those tools also are under siege in many states. In Texas, some school boards have banned sex education curricula amid backlash from parents. In New Hampshire, Republican state officials blocked more than $600,000 in federal sex ed funding, and officials in Miami-Dade County, Florida, banned new sex ed books. In Idaho, lawmakers told the states health departments the state would no longer fund adolescent pregnancy prevention programs. Here's how over-the-counter birth control could disrupt limited access to contraception Here's how over-the-counter birth control could disrupt limited access to contraception Current access to contraception is uneven across the country Federal actions can have significant impact Conversations about access to contraception will continue for years JOHNSTON Falling enrollment numbers are a top concern for Iowas private university administrators as they look to attract students and make the cost of attendance more accessible. Graceland University President Patricia Draves and Simpson College President Jay Byers said during a taping of this week's episode of "Iowa Press" on Iowa PBS that both schools are making efforts to lower tuition and attract students to their schools even as many Iowa students are opting to skip a four-year postgraduate education altogether. Iowa Wesleyan University, a 181-year-old private college in Mount Pleasant, closed its doors this year after months of financial struggles including rising costs, slowing enrollment and a drop in donations. Byers said the biggest problem facing private Iowa universities is the number of college-age students who choose not to seek a four-year degree, which is higher than surrounding states. Thats the biggest challenge that were all sort of facing in terms of that percentage of students who dont think they need to go to college anymore, Byers said. And how can we show them and their families that that value is still really, really important. Enrollment at both public and nonprofit private universities has been falling since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to national data. Iowas public universities reported small increases in enrollment this year after several years of falling student numbers. Enrollment numbers at both Simpson, based in Indianola, and Graceland, which has a campus in Lamoni, are bucking national trends and are higher this year than they have been in the last few years, Byers and Draves said. Draves said that enrollment increase is a response to the school prioritizing programs like business and digital content creation. The college also added a transformational leadership program last year that each student is required to take in addition to their major. They know they need the career readiness skills in order to move into the workforce, and that major is allowing them to do that, she said. Tuition changes attract students Both universities have made changes to their tuition plans in an effort to attract new students and make the prospect of private higher education more attainable for incoming students. Last month, Graceland announced it would cut its base tuition from $32,500 to $19,950 and simplify its financial aid process in an effort to encourage prospective students to consider the school. The new tuition is closer to the actual price students were paying after financial aid packages, according to the schools website. Draves said the change was, in part, to make the schools education seem more accessible to students. We found that 70% of students werent even looking at us based on that sticker price, Draves said. And then a big part of it is also just simplifying the process, so we committed to simplifying the financial aid process. Since Byers took over as president earlier this year, Simpson College announced it would cover full tuition for a students first year if the student lives in Iowa and their familys income is less than $100,000. It also provides a full-tuition scholarship to at least one student from each of Iowas 99 counties. Affordability and accessibility is really important for us. About a third of our students are first generation college students and about 40% are Pell eligible, Byers said. So were very much a college of social mobility. At the height of the boys think about the Roman Empire daily discourse of mid-September, when everyone on the internet seemed to be saying what their Roman Empire was, @thenoasletter issued a tweet that went viral and quickly got millions of views: my mom just said her roman empire is how the pioneer womans family owns all the land killers of the flower moon is about. Is this really true? Did the family of Ree Drummondthe folksy ranch wife, blogger, and Food Network star, famous for her cans-based approach to cooking and for being married to a guy she calls the Marlboro Mansomehow end up holding the land in Osage County, Oklahoma, where greedy white settlers murdered members of the Osage Nation for their mineral rights during the 1920s, the Reign of Terror that became the subject of a bestselling David Grann book and a forthcoming Martin Scorsese movie? The person to ask about this history is Rachel Adams-Heard, a Bloomberg reporter whose 2022 podcast, In Trust, looked at what happened to the Osage Nations land and mineral rights after the Reign of Terror. Adams-Heard shows how the transfer of wealth from Osage to white hands wasnt just a matter of murder, but also happened within the boundaries of the law. Because many Osages were assigned white guardians by the state, and couldnt make financial transactions without their approval, there was ample room for corruption. Advertisement The Drummond family that the Pioneer Woman married into, some members of which acted as guardians for Osage wards, ends up being a big part of this story. Adams-Heard interviews several present-day Drummonds, including Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, about what she finds out. I spoke with Adams-Heard this week. Our conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Rebecca Onion: Lets look first at the numbers. How much of the former Osage land is actually currently Drummond land, in that area? Rachel Adams-Heard: Osage County is almost 1.5 million acres, which is massive. Its bigger than the state of Delaware. When you add up all of the land that the extended members of the Drummond family own todayor as of last year, when we did our analysisit is nearly 9 percent of the entire county. My colleagues Linly Lin and Devon Pendleton also valued the land. Its valued at $275 million at least, because this land is really prime grazing land. Its covered in bluestem grass, which is one of the best ways to fatten cattle. Advertisement One thing the Drummonds we interviewed would stress to us when we brought them these findings is that they respect each others fence lines. So its not that all of that 9 percent is owned by one immediate family. Were talking about second, third cousins in some cases. Advertisement Advertisement Some of the biggest single ranches in the Drummond family are the one run by Ree Drummonds husband, Ladd, and his brother Tim, as well as the one run by current Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond. If people have read David Granns book, they know that the dispute covered in it is not about land, per seit was about what was called headrights, which was about Osage access to money from the oil that was making that land so valuable. Oil isnt such a big factor in Osage County now, 100 years later. So whats at stake has changed. Advertisement Yeah. It might be helpful to do a little history here. Osage County, we already established, biggest county in Oklahoma. Youll hear Osage County and youll also hear the Osage Reservation, and they have the same boundaries. Former Osage Chief Jim Gray explained it like this to me, which I found helpful: Basically, when Oklahoma became a state, Osage County was established directly on top of the Osage Reservation. Through this policy called allotment, the surface land was divided up into these individual parcels and distributed to individual Osage citizens. But all the mineral rights beneath the surface were put into one big pot and divided into equal shares, between 2,229 Osage tribal members in all, and those are what later became called headrights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So before allotment, all the land had been owned by the Osage Nation. It was for the nation to decide how it would be used. But now it was all divided into sections. Some were too small to profitably farm, so it was these headrights that ended up being far more lucrative in this time period, because oil production took off in the 1910s and 20s. Because of the way that those headrights could, for the most part, be transferred only through inheritance, that was when you saw these horrible schemes like the ones depicted in Killers of the Flower Moon. But yes, the bulk of Killers of the Flower Moon really focuses on the transfer of those headrights, not necessarily the land itself. But land was still a huge part of all this. William K. Hale [played by Robert De Niro in the movie], who was convicted for aiding and abetting the murder of the Osage man Henry Roanhe was a rancher. That was one of his biggest business enterprises. When he was arrested, he sold his land to a partnership between the Drummond family and another prominent Oklahoma ranching family, the Mullendore family. Advertisement So, if youre talking about the surface land in Killers of the Flower Moon, you might be thinking about that land, the land that William K. Hale owned when he was arrested. Advertisement Advertisement If you search for Drummond in the Kindle version of Granns Killers of the Flower Moon, theres only one appearancea citation to a biography of A.A. Jack Drummond, one of the generation alive at the time of the Reign of Terror. So its not like youre going to go to the movie and see, Oh, look, its Pioneer Womans husbands great-grandfather. Advertisement A lot of Killers of the Flower Moon looks at one particular community within the Osage Reservation, the Fairfax/Gray Horse District, and where the early Drummond family members in Osage County primarily had their businesses was around Hominy. Were talking about the same county, but its a slightly different community. Hominy doesnt really come up as much in the book. Advertisement One of the more interesting and probably more relevant-to-the-movie things that we found was about the William K. Hale land that was sold. It was a big contiguous position, which was hard to come by at the time because allotment had divided the land into such small parcels, and there were a lot of rules around how and when Osage families could sell that land. After I found out that the Drummond family was part of this partnership that bought it, I just kept an eye out for anything that indicated how they paid for it, what they ended up doing with that land. Advertisement As part of this collection at the University of Central Oklahoma that one of the Drummond brothers biographers donated, theres this memo between two of the original three Drummond brothers who really started the big ranching enterprise. It seems to indicate that they borrowed $15,000 from their Osage ward to pay for the land that they bought from William K. Hale. Theres no other indication that Ive seen of that borrowing, in any of the other records, so were not sure what actually happened. Advertisement This particular Osage man, Myron Bangs Jr., he was incredibly skeptical of his guardians. He on several occasions wrote U.S. officials and suggested that he thought that his guardiansone was Roy Cecil Drummond, and later it was Fred Gentner Drummondwere improperly using his land, that he didnt trust the way that they were managing his money. But because U.S. policy basically determined that Osage citizens were incompetent, he really had no power to get out from under that guardianship. So to see that he might not have known that his money was used to purchase this land from a man who was convicted of aiding and abetting a murder of another Osage manI mean, that was really striking to see. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was very interesting to hear Gentner Drummonds reactions to the documents you brought him, about the Bangs guardianship. His reaction wasI wouldnt say defensive, but he said, since the federal judiciary found that there was no wrongdoing in the guardianship, thats what he was going to focus on, not on Bangs allegations. These transactions, where the Drummonds ended up with land or the fraction of a headright they do have, were actually legal, so its hard to say where the wrongdoing lies. Related From Slate Killers of the Flower Moon Is a Cathedral of a Movie Read More Its really hard to look at individual land transactions and know the reason why that land was sold by an Osage family, or the reason why it was purchased by the original three Drummond brothers. That was one of the biggest challenges of reporting this. But what we were able to see is really that this family was able to amass so much wealth relatively quickly, in a place that had all been entirely owned by the Osage Nation just a decade or two earlier. Advertisement Its important to go back to their original business in Osage County, when the three brothers father, Frederick Drummond, first came to Oklahoma. This was before statehood, and he got into the trading business. He would sell goods to Osages. When their oil wealth took off, these trading posts run by white settlers were able to take advantage of that. They started charging more and more, and Osage families started shopping more and more, just like youd expect any wealthy person to do. But these places werent really like a store, like we think of today. They sold farming supplies and food and clothes and even caskets. In fact, the undertaking business was probably one of the most lucrative parts. Advertisement Advertisement So you just had a tremendous amount of money coming through the door. Because there were all these restrictions by the U.S. government on how Osages could spend their own money, a lot of them wound up in debt, because they would have to buy things on credit at the store. What we can see from congressional testimony is that some families would be thousands of dollars in debt, which at the time was a tremendous amount of money, to the Drummonds store in Hominy. In some cases, we saw while a family was in $2,000 to $3,000 of debt, their land would be deeded over to a member of the Drummond family for what we can tell was a very low price. But again, its impossible to know for sure whether that land was used to settle that debt. Advertisement Advertisement And the other thing, too, is that its easy to look at the annual guardianship fees that were charged, $1,000 here or there, and think, like, Oh, well, thats not enough to really change things, but it adds up over time. In the case of Myron Bangs Jr.s guardianship alone, there was some $15,000 that ultimately went to his guardians as a fee, which is a quarter of a million dollars, at least, in todays money. Advertisement Advertisement Then the other element to all this is the access to financing from Osage accounts the guardians had, because they were in charge and they and their friends and business associates were overseeing these Osage bank accounts. And so what we also noticed is that Osage money was being used to finance land purchases and land improvements by the Drummonds and their business associates. Another layer of wealth-building. Advertisement So that piece of land that had gone from Osage families, to William K. Hale, to the Drummonds and Mullendores, to the Drummonds, to Ted Turner, is now back with the Osage Nation. With the Hale land, the Drummonds did end up selling most of that to the Mullendore family. And then a lot of that was later sold to other parties. But there was a portion that was passed on through later generations of Drummonds and eventually went to Charles Drummond, who was Ree Drummonds father-in-law. In the early 2000s, he sold that piece, which was around 400 acres, along with many, many other acres, to Ted Turner, who ended up with a portion of what had been the William K. Hale land. But some 15 or so years later, Turner put it up for sale. It was the Osage Nation who ended up winning the bid. So that piece of land that had gone from Osage families, to William K. Hale, to the Drummonds and Mullendores, to the Drummonds, to Ted Turner, is now back with the Osage Nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Have you heard anything from the Drummonds about your series since it went up? Generally speaking, they still stand by the idea that they never heard anything about their ancestors that alarmed them, or that indicated that they were anything other than trustworthy men. They said that they either didnt know that their ancestors were guardians, or if they did, they had always heard it was because they were trusted by their Osage neighbors. We never heard from Ree Drummond. We obviously reached out several times. Have you been to her businesses in Pawhuska? Ive never been there. I think its interesting that she has a store there now. Very full-circle. Yeah. Every time I was in Pawhuska, the store was really busy. Its called the Mercantile, and everyone calls it the Merc. Then she has a kind of high-end hotel or boutique hotel called the Boarding House. She has several other restaurants. Advertisement A lot of Osage citizens have conflicted feelings when we bring up her name in Osage County, because a lot of people will say, Shes done a lot for Pawhuska, but its still a really difficult, challenging, traumatic history. Its important to know that when I first stepped foot in Osage County, I was not the first to ask this question about the land, or to talk to people about it. This has been something that was circulating in Osage circles for a really long time. Advertisement Advertisement The Osage Nation has been very active through all of this. Myron Bangs was active in fighting his guardianship. Osage leaders back in the early 20th century were active in making sure that the mineral estate and their retention of all the mineral rights as a nation wasnt terminated. The Osage Nation government is very active today in trying to buy back as much land as possible, and really use that ranch that they bought to further the interests of the Osage Nation as a whole. They would say to us, We were really fighting for our sovereignty, and our future. This is One Thing, a column with tips on how to live. Im a frequent traveler, making my way around the world for work, fun, and adventure. I didnt really think about the nightmarish possibility of accidentally bringing home pests until a few years ago, when I found a cockroach in a Washington hotel room. I was pretty grossed out and annoyed. (It was supposed to be a nice hotel!) After I caught the roach, trapping it beneath a glass, I spent way too much time researching whether or not a roach could hitch a ride home in my luggage. After I read interviews with and articles by entomologists and exterminators, my fear of bringing a cockroach home was replaced with a new nightmare: accidentally bringing home bedbugs. According to a study done by Orkin, a pest-control company, 8 in 10 hotels had dealt with bedbugs in 2017. I have no idea how reliable that is, but yikes! And at this very moment, Paris is, according to the news, crawling with bedbugs, fueled in part by the uptick in travel. The deputy mayor of the city has warned that no one is safe. Thanks to my local bedbug task force, I have learned that, luckily, there are ways to avoid bringing the blood-eating creeps home from a hotel. You can pull up the sheets and blankets and check the mattress for the little sickos and their poop (aka digested blood)and hope you dont miss any signs of them. After you get home, you can wash your clothes and dry them on high heat to kill any stowaways. Advertisement But the single most effective thing you can do? Keep your luggage in the bathtub. Because bedbugs cant climb smooth surfaces, they cant climb up into bathtubs. Ever. Advertisement So, whenever I get to a new hotel and I want to make sure the little suckers dont get any ideas about hitching a ride, I pick up my luggage the moment I walk into the room and place it straight in the bathtub. I then do a quick check of the mattress and all other furniture in the room. If I dont see anything that looks bedbuggy, I bring the suitcase out of the tub. If I dont see anything but still dont feel 100 percent convinced, the suitcase stays in the tub until I need to use the tub, at which point the suitcase comes out of the tub but stays in the bathroom. (If theres no tub, I cry a little inside and hope that the bathroom floor is too smooth for bedbugs to walk across.) I take my clothes out when I need them, and I put dirty clothes in a folded pile in the bathroom. Im headed to Europe in a few weeks, in the midst of what might become the bedbug infestation of the century. (Theyre feared to be on the move to London!) But Im not worried. I checked: My hotel room has a bathtub. Ill keep my suitcase in there until its time to go home. Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group. Dear Care and Feeding, I was recently out of town on a business trip for a week. This left my wife and my in-laws taking care of our twin preschoolers. As it happened, my wife also had a challenging week at work managing an important out-of-town client. The time I was away was excruciating for my wife, who had to handle a lot of judgment from her mom, who made comments about how the house needed cleaning and about the quality of the food in the fridge (I wont feed your kids that!). While her mothers criticisms were hurtful to both of ushousework and meal prep are shared activitieson the last day, my mother-in-law crossed a line. She likes to hand-feed my preschoolers as if they were infants. My wife asked that she allow the kids to feed themselves; she pointed out that our kids, like all kids their age, are expected to feed themselves. My mother-in-law turned to the kids: You better learn to pour your own milk from this heavy carton because your mom doesnt care about you. When I found out about this, I nearly blew my top. How dare she attempt to manipulate my kids in this way? Although my in-laws were still in the house when I got home, I didnt say anything to them. I wanted to avoid a messy fight in front of the kids. But Im pissed as hell at my mother-in-law. Whats a polite way to establish some rules about verbal abuse and respect? Steamed in San Francisco Dear Steamed, Advertisement Advertisement I dont see any way to establish rules for your mother-in-laws behavior that she will follow. If she were inclined to behave reasonably, she would. But I think it would do your wife a world of good if she took the bull by the horns (and yes, it should be her, not youbut you should be at her side, supporting her, because shes going to need it) and said, firmly, You cannot speak to my children that way. Her mother will protest. Your wife must stand firm. And this exchange will make not a whit of difference in how your MIL speaks to the childrenjust as telling her, however politely, that comments about the cleanliness of the house or the suitability of your groceries are not welcome will not stop her from making those comments in the futurebut it will help your wife. The sooner she learns to stand up to her mother, the better. (See Still Troubled, Years Later, below.) Advertisement Heres the thing about boundaries: You cant actually set them for anyone else. Boundaries are what we set for ourselves. Your wife might begin with the decision not to invite her parents to stay to help out the next time youre out of town. (If there isnt another relative or friend who can do that, hire someone.) If your in-laws are visiting for an afternoon, or your family is visiting them, your MILs unwelcome remarks, and behavior such as hand-feeding the children, should always be addressed in the moment: Please dont tell me that my house is dirty. Please dont criticize what I feed my children. If she tries to feed the children, intervene: Set plates in front of them, give them forks and spoons, and say, Sorry, Mom, theyre capable of feeding themselves. If Mom refuses to stop, its time to ask her to leave. This can be said gently (Im afraid if you cant abide by my request, well have to end this visit now) and can even be followed with, I wish it were otherwise. Youve given me no choice. Its possible that establishing boundaries in this way will result in a change of behavior, but I certainly wouldnt count on it. More important than what your MIL does is what you and your wife do in response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get Halloween Advice From Care and Feeding Running into dress-up trouble? Were here to help with your costume and candy conundrums. Submit your questions about parenting and family life here. Its anonymous! (Questions may be edited for publication.) Dear Care and Feeding, Several years ago, my now adult son went for a weeklong stay with my parents. When they brought him home, his long, thick hair had been shorn. They had taken him to a barber shop against his will and without asking me. He was visibly upset. I was upset for him too, but I didnt say a thing to my parents. They lived a distance from us, our visits were infrequent, and the damage was done and could not be undone, so other than trying to comfort my son, I did nothing. How should I have handled this situation? It still bothers me very much. Still Troubled, Years Later Dear Troubled, Advertisement I can think of a number of reasons this continues to trouble you. You may feelor he may have told you!that this was a pivotal moment in your relationship with your son, that you are not as close as you could be, or expected to be, because you failed to stand up to your parents on his behalf. You may feel that this was a crucial juncture in your relationship with your parents: an opportunity to assert yourself with them on your own behalf that you missed. Given that your son was not a toddler or young child when this occurred, I have the sneaking suspicion that the haircutting was not an isolated incident but perhaps something like the straw that could have broken the camels backbut you made the decision not to let it be that, and you regret it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I could keep on, but I wont. What I will tell you is that its not too lateits never too lateto acknowledge to your son that you feel you wronged him, or let him down. Tell him it still bothers you. Tell him how you felt at the time and apologize to him for not feeling you could address this violation with your parents. He may ask you to explain why. It may be helpful for you to fully explore that, and not only for your sons sake. What you should have done is beside the point. Its what you wish you had done that matters, and letting your now grown son know that. Advertisement Catch Up on Care and Feeding If you missed Fridays column, read it here. Discuss this column in the Slate Parenting Facebook group! Dear Care and Feeding, I recently took my 4-year-old daughter, Evelyn, to meet my brother and his wife. Theyve actually met before, but this was the first time since Evelyns infancy that theyve really had a chance to interact. Desmond and Mia are wonderful people, and they were delighted by their niece. But Evelyn was upset by her interaction with them. Advertisement Advertisement Desmond and Mia tease each other constantly. Its very playful, but a lot of their exchanges sound nasty if theyre transcribed without context and body language (and, I guess if theyre witnessed by a 4-year-old who doesnt understand context/body language). For instance, when they were talking about dinner plans, Desmond said, I have a thought, and Mia responded instantly, Ooh, does it hurt? and then Desmond said, just as quickly, Nah, Im not thinking about you. They were smiling the whole time, sitting very close, but Evelyn didnt seem to grasp that it wasnt a serious conversation. After we left, she kept asking why her uncle and aunt hated each other. I tried telling her that this was just a way they played together, that they did it all the time, that they dont hate each other. But Im not getting through to her. Shes been bringing it up a lot. She seems worried about them and wants to know what we can do to help them. And telling her that things are really fine, and we dont need to do anything, upsets her. What can I do? New Communication Strategy Dear Strategy, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evelyn has my heart. I believe Id feel the same way in Desmond and Mias presence. I dont experience this sort of teasing as an expression of love, no matter how much the people involved are smiling. That doesnt mean Evelyn is right (or that my distaste and discomfort are right either); it just means shes sensitive (me too). The trick here is not to try to desensitize her, to toughen her up, but to acknowledge her distress even as you let her know that what she witnessed, which made her sad and worried, was not what you believe to be a true representation of your brothers relationship with his wife. You might ask her why she thinks some people might tease each other as a way of saying I love you, and if she cant think of a single reason, offer some of your own thoughts on the matter. The reason your assuring her that everything is fine isnt working is that it contradicts what she saw with her own eyes (heard with her own ears) andat 4!had the empathy to imagine how she would feel if these kinds of barbed comments were directed at her. This is a teachable moment. Use it. Both to encourage her empathy and to let her know that people are complicated and express themselves and their feelings in lots of different ways, some of which may not be obvious to us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dear Care and Feeding, I keep my 2-year-old on a pretty firm schedule because she seems to thrive that way. Since shes never been able to nap in the car or on the go, I plan our outings so were home for a crib nap between 1 and 3, I decline social invitations that happen over naptime, and the few times Ive flown with her, Ive paid extra just to make sure were on flights that didnt interfere with her sleep schedule. I dont think it will always be this strict, and as soon as she graduates from naps (in a year or so, Im guessing) I cant wait to have day trips and adventures that take longer than going to the library, local parks, or museums. My daughter is a happy kid who can entertain herself, and I thought we were doing fine. But recently, my mom told me, during an argument, that I was way too rigid with my daughter, that everyone else is more relaxed about things, and other parents just go with the flow. Is this true? Am I doing it wrong? I feel like Im responding to my kids needs, but now Im worried Im creating them. Where is this Flow Everyone is Going With? Dear Where, Advertisement Advertisement I can tell you that Mom is wrong about how everyone else operates. Some do go with the flow. Some impose and stick to a schedule that makes sense to them and seems to work for their kids. And some follow the outline of a basic schedule but are OK with alterations to it when something comes up. The path a parent takes on this particular leg of the Great Parenting Journey is the result of a combination of factors: the limitations/freedom built into their current circumstances; their own personalities (some people are by nature schedulers, some are fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pantsers); and their responses to their kids needs, as they perceive themwhich of course may have been shaped at least in part by their parents. So what? If youre comfortable with the path youre on, and your child is happy (in no small part, Id say, because youre following your instincts, not fighting them), thats what matters. Ive said it before and Ill say it again: There is no one right way to raise a child. Advertisement But steel yourself, will you? Lots of people are going to have opinions about what you should and shouldnt be doing when it comes to your child. Try not to take them to heart. As long as you are a loving presence in your daughters life, keeping her safe, well-fed, secure, and feeling supported, youre doing it right. Michelle More Advice From Slate Recently, I ran into another mother picking up her first-grade son from the after-school program he attends with my 10-year-old daughter, Jane. Her son (lets call him Joe) seems to have some difficulty fitting in with other kids. The boys mom stopped me and thanked me for having such a kind daughter who was nice to her son when very few other kids had been, and always made him feel included. I was really proud of Jane when I heard thatI was a bullied kid and Im glad to know that she has taken my lessons to heart about being kind. However, a few days later Jane asked if she could talk to me in private and confessed that she was having some problems with Joe. Not to be too gross about it, but earlier this week I was sitting down, in my bathroom, on the toilet, if you know what I mean, and when I grabbed a new roll of toilet paper, I was dumbfounded. The toilet paper squaresblocky, functional, familiarwere no longer squares. Each perforated edge was not a straight line but a set of gentle curves, like a sound wave. It gave the toilet paper an elegant, scalloped look, as if an interior designer had been hired to class up my butt-wiping. What on earth was going on? The roll came from a fresh 24-pack of Charmin Ultra Soft, the same brand I always buy, on the grounds that if theres one area of your body where its worth it to spend a little extra, its your undercarriage. When I finished up, I went into the storage room to see if the packaging mentioned this new innovation in TP design. The big blue labelaficionados know that, like Beatles greatest-hits records, Charmin comes in blue and red, and you can tell a lot by a person by whether they prefer blue (Ultra Soft) or red (Ultra Strong)did not, in fact, reveal any difference at all. Indeed, the piece of toilet tissue that the bear on the package was gently pressing to his face, luxuriating in its ultra-softness, was a true square with straight edges, not at all representative of the undulating delights within. Advertisement Advertisement Had some whimsical craftsperson at the Charmin factory hijacked the perforation machine? Was I the subject of a slow-moving psychological experiment, meant to see if humans could become gentler, kinder, less animalistic if our toilet paper is made 7 percent more sophisticated? Googling suggested that others, too, had encountered this TP redesign. Last fall, Katie Arnold-Ratliff at Scary Mommy found a smattering of consumers weighing in on social media platforms and review sites, both pro (I am in love with the scalloped edges Momof2PlustheDog) and con (little pieces get stuck in my cooch laurenm669). While Charmin did reply to some of the postsWere beary sorry to hear about your experience, laurenm669the company had not really explained the design change, and did not respond to Arnold-Ratliffs inquiries. She wondered if, perhaps, this was simply the rare example of a brand injecting a little beauty into their product for fun. Advertisement Advertisement When I emailed Charmins media relations department, though, they replied immediatelybecause I just happened to reach out during the week that the company was finally officially rolling out Smooth Tear, its new, improved, scalloped-edge toilet paper, and they were eager for the press. So that is how I found myself on a Zoom with Gregg Weaver, a senior scientist at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, to talk about toilet paper R&D. He informed me that the scalloped edges were not merely aesthetic, though he did allow that some people thought they looked good. Wavy edges, Weaver said, are designed to solve the No. 1 problem consumers have with toilet paper: the incomplete tear. Advertisement Advertisement You knowinstead of two full squares, you get 1 , with a long strip left dangling from the roll. Most people cant leave that there, Weaver said. They feel frustrated. And they tell us about it. The incomplete tear, Weaver said, is the top complaint Charmin gets on their call-center lines. While I have occasionally been annoyed by an incomplete tear, I admit I have never thought to complain to the toilet paper company. I guess I just thought it was the price you pay for being a human being. Im too cheap to buy a fancy Japanese toilet seat; therefore, poorly torn toilet paper is my cross to bear. Luckily, other Americans refused to take this problem sitting down, as it were. So the companys R&D teams were sent out to solve this problem, and five years and 30 patents later, Charmin believes its new wavy-edged toilet paper does away with the incomplete tear. Wait, I said. Five years? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The process started with identifying the causes of the problem. Toilet paper fibers mostly run vertically through the roll, Weaver said, which means that when you tear across, youre tearing against the grain of the paper. And the motions people use to tear vary widely, depending on where the paper lives in their bathroom, whether theyre left-handed or right-handed, whether they prefer over-the-roll or under-the-roll. But most people tear in more of a downward diagonal than a straight line, which leads to that last straggling strand being left on the roll. We came to the table with a lot of different options, Weaver said. In the R&D labs, Weaver and other scientists hand-punched perforations into blank rolls of paper, looking for the right shape. They tried a diagonal line, matching the angle of force of the average tear, but discovered, well, it works great on one side, but not so great on the other. The group found that the wavy line was best able to withstand the mix of downward and sideways forces in most consumers tearing actions. Once we tried that, the feedback we got was, That tears like a hot knife through butter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What took most of those five years, Weaver said, was retooling the companys six toilet paper factories to accommodate the new era of perforation. Toilet paper as we knew it before Smooth Tear, he said, a little grandiosely, was created back in the Industrial Revolution. Go back 100 years or so, its created to run efficiently on a line. Straight perforationson a nice, simple, 90-degree angle to the toilet paper running through the machines at 60 miles per hourare ideal for manufacturing. So once Weavers team was convinced that wavy edges were better, they had to oversee changing and replacing the companys perforation machines in order to deliver that wavy line at speed. Advertisement Advertisement No wonder theyre rolling out these, uh, rolls, with as much media fanfare as possible. They spent actual money on this innovation, which for now, at least, is only available on Charmin Ultra Soft. (Our Ultra Soft consumers, theyre very experiential. The look, the feel, that bathroom experience, is all important to them, I was told. Take that, red people, who in my opinion are little better than animals.) Charmin does like to encourage focus on its research and development; a delightful 2019 feature in Popular Science took readers inside the Cincinnati lab, with its robot tear-testers, its balloon butts, and its proprietary recipe for synthetic poop. Advertisement How does a person become a toilet paper scientist? Weavers dad also worked for P&G, he said, and told him that a person could basically get a college education from working at the company. The majority of my paper science has been learned inside the company, more so than at a college, he said. Weaver fils has been at Procter for 25 years. As befitting a guy who spends his days thinking about toilet paper, Weaver isnt all that squeamish talking about the down-and-dirty of the bathroom. Its something everybody does, he says, and why not enjoy that experience? And have I enjoyed my experience with Smooth Tear Ultra Soft Charmin? Though I respect science, I cant say Ive seen much of a difference in my tear-completeness rates. I do enjoy the refinement of the curvy edge, which still seems fancier than my gross body deserves. Mostly Im happy that this is a consumer products mystery of which I was finally able to get to the bottom. Apples latest operating system update, macOS Sonoma, is now live. But why should a small business owner care? Beyond the aesthetic changes and cool widgets, the update offers features that could revamp how small businesses operate, communicate, and present. 1. Personalization & Efficiency: macOS Sonoma introduces desktop widgets, enhancing both personalization and productivity. These arent just your standard widgets they are interactive, allowing users to perform tasks right from the desktop. This means quicker access to tools and a customizable user experience for businesses. For those who use both a Mac and an iPhone, the Continuity feature allows iPhone widgets to be incorporated into the Mac desktop, establishing a seamless experience across devices. 2. Video Conferencing Innovations: The post-pandemic era has cemented the role of video conferencing in the world of business. Recognizing this, macOS Sonoma has revamped the video conferencing experience. The Presenter Overlay lets the presenter appear in front of the shared content, making presentations more dynamic and engaging. Reactions, a feature that employs hand gestures to trigger 3D effects, adds a layer of interactivity to meetings. Discover the Zoho Ecosystem Drive Traffic to Your Website Sell Your Business Advertise Your Business Here 3. Enhanced Browsing with Safari: The browser is the gateway to the digital world, and for many businesses, its the primary tool for research, communication, and commerce. Safaris new profiles feature aids in compartmentalizing browsing activities, such as separating work from personal research. The bolstered Private Browsing mode also ensures greater security against sophisticated tracking techniques, an essential feature for businesses that prioritize data privacy. 4. Uplifted Gaming Experience: While not every small business owner is a gamer, those in the gaming industry or related sectors will find the optimized gaming features in macOS Sonoma invaluable. Game Mode promises improved frame rates and reduced latency, which is crucial for game developers or businesses that utilize gaming tech in their operations. 5. Enhanced Utility Features: Notes : Small businesses can now view PDFs, scans, and other important documents directly within the Notes app. Links between notes can also be established, simplifying content interrelation. : Small businesses can now view PDFs, scans, and other important documents directly within the Notes app. Links between notes can also be established, simplifying content interrelation. Passwords : The password sharing feature could be a game-changer for teams, enabling seamless and secure sharing via iCloud Keychain. One-time verification codes in Mail now autofill in Safari, streamlining the login process. : The password sharing feature could be a game-changer for teams, enabling seamless and secure sharing via iCloud Keychain. One-time verification codes in Mail now autofill in Safari, streamlining the login process. Messages : Improved search filters and swipe-to-reply functionalities enhance communication, while Live Stickers introduce a fun element to messaging. : Improved search filters and swipe-to-reply functionalities enhance communication, while Live Stickers introduce a fun element to messaging. Reminders : The Intelligent grocery list feature in Reminders could be repurposed for inventory checks and management for retail businesses. : The Intelligent grocery list feature in Reminders could be repurposed for inventory checks and management for retail businesses. Keyboard : Improved autocorrect and dictation features support efficient communication, which is vital for businesses where time is of the essence. : Improved autocorrect and dictation features support efficient communication, which is vital for businesses where time is of the essence. Screen Sharing: The high-performance mode in Screen Sharing is a boon for creative professionals and businesses that depend on remote collaborations. In conclusion, macOS Sonoma isnt just about widgets and wallpapers. For the discerning small business owner, it offers many features that can potentially revolutionize workflow, collaboration, and security. Its more than just an OS update; it signals businesses to evolve and adapt in a rapidly changing digital landscape. Image: Apple https://sputnikglobe.com/20231007/putin-says-russias-market-has-all-types-of-food-export-potential-growing-1114009085.html Putin Says Russia's Market Has All Types of Food, Export Potential Growing Putin Says Russia's Market Has All Types of Food, Export Potential Growing The president said that agricultural products are already among the key items of Russian exports, and Russian companies are global leaders in a number of positions, such as wheat and fish. 2023-10-07T22:37+0000 2023-10-07T22:37+0000 2023-10-07T22:37+0000 russia vladimir putin russia exports food exports agricultural /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/0f/1113392167_0:0:3162:1779_1920x0_80_0_0_436695e39da2aa2ec655a51eb50f9874.jpg "Today, our agrarians provide the internal market with all major types of food. The export potential of the industry is also growing," Putin said in a congratulatory message on the professional holiday of workers of the agricultural and processing industry, celebrated in Russia annually on the second Sunday of October. The president said that agricultural products are already among the key items of Russian exports, and Russian companies are global leaders in a number of positions, such as wheat and fish. Putin added that the Russian authorities would address issues related to the provision of farmers with machinery, fertilizers, fuels and lubricants, and improve the efficiency of state support tools for the industry, including the introduction of soft loans and subsidies. 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, president vladimir putin, russian exports, russian food exports, russian agricultural exports, russian agricultural products, russian agriculture Historic buildings with modern elements spark new vitality Xinhua) 09:40, October 08, 2023 CHONGQING, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The curtain had fallen on the show, but Zhou Jiamu remained immersed in the storyline. Throughout the whole process, in which she followed the performers in shuttling between different rooms in an old building, Zhou felt as if she were part of the story. The immersive drama "Mists in Jiangzhou" was performed in a building with historic flair built in 1941 in Yuzhong District, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. The building was packed with people during the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day holiday, with tickets for this show often sold out days in advance. "It's a unique experience that allows one to watch the facial expressions and body movements of actors at a very close distance, and sometimes, to even talk to the actors," said Zhou, a high school student from southwest China's Guizhou Province. "If it were not for this drama performance, there would be barely anyone visiting this more than 8-decade-old building," said Liu Mingxi, producer of the drama. "We can usually only see cultural relics through a glass showcase. But now people can better know about the history and stories of this site through the lens of drama," Liu added. Also in Chongqing's Yuzhong District, a former banknote printing factory has now become an innovation center for artists and young entrepreneurs. The old factory site, once abandoned and forgotten, has gone viral on social media platforms as a place integrating business, food, fashion and historical atmosphere. "I would like to spend hours here exploring these shops, as there are diverse business entities such as coffee shops and cultural creative products," said Sun Liting, a tourist from northwest China's Gansu Province. During the holiday, Tian Taiquan, a local artist and drawing teacher for children, brought his students to the center and held an outdoor exhibition of their works. The strong expression and vivid color modulation of their paintings drew much attention. "When I was young, only a remote and neglected industry remained here, but now the inflow of a bevy of young entrepreneurs and artists entails a fusion of multiple cultures. Therefore, this venue can strike a chord with most visitors," said Tian. Over the past decade, Chongqing has stepped up efforts concerning the investigation and protection of its cultural relics and about 26,000 immovable cultural relics were registered. Chongqing will continue to explore the value of cultural relics, promote scientific development of cultural relics protection, and strengthen the integration of technology in the use of cultural relics, said Liu Qi, director of Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/afghan-earthquake-death-toll-soars-to-2445-as-scenes-of-devastation-emerge-1114024105.html Afghan Earthquake Death Toll Soars to 2,445 as Scenes of Devastation Emerge Afghan Earthquake Death Toll Soars to 2,445 as Scenes of Devastation Emerge Scenes of devastation emerged from war torn Afghanistan Sunday as volunteers urged international organizations to provide assistance in rescuing survivors. 2023-10-08T21:48+0000 2023-10-08T21:48+0000 2023-10-08T21:48+0000 world afghanistan tragedy tragedy earthquake /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/08/1114017254_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_959191767ac8ee3fb3d23ec1907b315f.jpg Scenes of devastation emerged from war torn Afghanistan Sunday as volunteers urged international organizations to provide assistance in rescuing survivors.One video shared on social media showed a young girl being pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building, stunned and caked in gray dust. Her mother was found grasping the girls hand, though it wasnt clear if she survived.A Taliban* spokesperson told international media the earthquake measured a magnitude of 6.3 and pleaded for food, medicine and tents to house survivors. It appeared rescuers at the scene lacked professional training; volunteers called on international organizations to send trained rescue teams as Afghans buried under the wreckage tenuously cling to life.Several aftershocks followed the quake, according to the United States Geological Survey, including magnitude 6.3, 5.9 and 5.5 tremors. Earlier estimates in the immediate aftermath of the event on Saturday had placed the death toll at over 100, but that number climbed rapidly as the country struggled to respond to the disaster.The United States occupied the landlocked Central Asian country of Afghanistan for nearly 20 years in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, although al-Qaeda** leader Osama bin Laden was eventually found hiding in neighboring Pakistan. The Taliban quickly returned to power after the US withdrew from the country; President Joe Biden seized $7 billion in assets from the countrys central bank shortly thereafter.*The Taliban is a terrorist organization under UN sanctions.**Al-Qaeda is a terrorist group banned in Russia. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/aftermath-of-powerful-earthquakes-in-afghanistan-1114015967.html afghanistan 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 afghanistan, earthquake, earthquake in afghanistan, natural disaster, tragic event, death toll, death toll increase https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/arab-league-secretary-general-leaves-for-moscow-at-lavrovs-invitation-1114013901.html Arab League Secretary General Leaves for Moscow at Lavrov's Invitation Arab League Secretary General Leaves for Moscow at Lavrov's Invitation Secretary General of the League of Arab States (LAS) Ahmed Aboul Gheit left Sunday for Moscow on a working visit at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the LAS said. 2023-10-08T09:48+0000 2023-10-08T09:48+0000 2023-10-08T09:48+0000 world middle east arab league league of arab states sergey lavrov ahmed aboul gheit gaza strip /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105523/83/1055238356_0:140:2201:1378_1920x0_80_0_0_fab9f381e9d41fba1240ef00657868b7.jpg "Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit left Sunday morning for the Russian capital Moscow on a working visit at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov," the LAS said in a statement. According to the statement, Aboul Gheit's visit will include extensive talks with Lavrov on a number of issues of mutual interest, including the current escalation in the Gaza Strip. gaza strip 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 arab league, league of arab states, lavrov, russia mediation, russia middle east, lavrov arab league https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/arms-sent-to-ukraine-potentially-used-against-israel-dpr-government-adviser-says-1114015733.html Arms Sent to Ukraine Potentially Used Against Israel, DPR Government Adviser Says Arms Sent to Ukraine Potentially Used Against Israel, DPR Government Adviser Says Weapon supplies to Kiev may have come back to bite Ukraines donors as they potentially fall into the hands of groups around the globe. 08.10.2023, Sputnik International 2023-10-08T15:10+0000 2023-10-08T15:10+0000 2023-10-08T15:10+0000 world russia ukraine israel nato hamas palestine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/13/1113501773_0:161:3067:1886_1920x0_80_0_0_268c866a683217a550bd769e47a390a0.jpg Adviser to the head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), Yan Gagin, has suggested that weaponry sent to aid Ukraine could be being used against Israel.While it is unclear where Hamas buy their weapons, other military organizations with members in the EU and US can get their hands on Ukrainian arms, he explained. "For the time being, these are mere sleeper cells, but when they wake up, things will get really heated," mentioned Gagin.On Saturday morning, Israel received an unprecedented missile attack from the Gaza Strip. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported over 3,000 missiles launched. Following the air attacks, Hamas fighters also infiltrated border areas in the south of the country.The military wing of the Hamas group announced that it would launch "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel. In retaliation, Israeli Defense Forces announced the start of the "Swords of Iron" op against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country was at war and called for a mass mobilization of army reserves. Since, the Israeli military has been neutralizing populated areas.Israeli media previously reported some 300 people dead and 1,500 injured as a result of the escalation. According to the latest data published by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the death toll from the Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip rose to 313, with 1,990 people injured.The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades (Hamas military wing) has claimed to have captured dozens of Israeli soldiers and officers.Mikhail Bogdanov, Russias deputy minister of foreign affairs, said that Russia urged both Israel and Palestine to cease fire and resume negotiations.Russia had earlier sent a note to NATO warning against the arms shipments to Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that NATO countries "play with fire" by supplying Kiev with weapons. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/israels-defense-minister-expands-special-security-situation-to-all-israel-1114010886.html russia ukraine israel 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, ukraine, israel, nato, hamas, palestine https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/chinese-media-issues-stark-warning-to-philippines-amid-us-led-south-china-sea-drills-1114020453.html Chinese Media Issues Stark Warning to Philippines Amid US-Led South China Sea Drills Chinese Media Issues Stark Warning to Philippines Amid US-Led South China Sea Drills The drills risk exacerbating tensions simmering between the People's Republic of China and the Philippines, the Chinese English-language media says. 2023-10-08T16:54+0000 2023-10-08T16:54+0000 2023-10-08T16:54+0000 world us rodrigo duterte ferdinand marcos jr. china philippines south china sea people's liberation army (pla) navy pla people's republic of china /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/17/1108730298_0:142:2400:1492_1920x0_80_0_0_ef8981a064704644b47964b3bec5ddff.jpg The US-led Maritime Training Activity Sama Sama 2023 has brought together troops from the Philippines, Australia, Canada, France, Japan, the United Kingdom and Malaysia, featuring more than 1,800 personnel, powerful destroyers and frigates, as well as sophisticated military equipment.The drills, which kicked off on October 2 and will run through October 13, coincided with the escalation of tensions between Beijing and Manila over the disputed South China Sea.The China-Philippine spat over the contested waters is nothing new; however, under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. these clashes become more frequent, in stark contrast with the era of Rodrigo Duterte, when Manila and Beijing usually found ways to settle their differences down. Per the Chinese Foreign Ministry, under Marcos, the Philippine side started to "stir up troubles" and "spread false information."Marcos is largely seen as a pro-Western Filipino president, while Duterte is usually viewed as being more "China-friendly" by the mainstream press. In 1986, Washington helped the Filipino incumbent's father, former president Ferdinand Marcos, to flee Manila and settle in Hawaii amid the popular uprising.Having assumed the presidency, Marcos Jr. started closing ranks with Washington and green-lighted the expansion of US military presence in the Philippines. In particular, Manila granted the US military access to four additional Philippine military bases in addition to the five existing sites. The Pentagon is also said to be in talks to develop a port in the Filipino remote northwestern Batanes islands, which are located less than 200 km (125 miles) from Taiwan. Per international observers, the US military presence in the Batanes will allow Washington to control the Bashi Channel, which is regarded as a choke point for China naval forces moving between the Western Pacific and the South China Sea.The ongoing naval drills are taking place off the Philippine coast and include exercises on anti-submarine, surface and air warfare, and land operations. The Chinese are watching the exercises closely.On Saturday, the Chinese English-language media outlet Global Times issued a veiled warning to the Philippines over saber-rattling in the South China Sea together with the US and allied nations. "If the Philippines and countries outside the region including the US opt to send naval forces and escalate the current tensions in the South China Sea to a higher and more military level, China will have to send the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity," the media wrote, quoting Chinese military experts.The PLA is running a military network of the Navy, the Air Force and the Rocket Force branches in the South China Sea and is always ready to safeguard China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the outlet continued, citing Chinese military observers. So, the Philippines should see what's behind the US' incitements and return to the normal track of dialogue with China instead of provocations, the media concluded. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230926/beijing-warns-philippines-against-provocations-in-disputed-waters-of-south-china-sea-1113678160.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230501/new-us-bases-in-philippines-may-set-asia-pacific-on-fire-1109989761.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230908/why-australia-philippines-deal-is-part-of-broader-us-effort-to-encircle-china-1113214053.html china philippines south china sea indo-asia-pacific region 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 china, philippines, south china sea, us-filippino drills, nato, disputed south china sea, us-china relations, asia-pacific region, biden's indo-pacific strategy, pivot to asia, containment of china https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/death-toll-in-earthquake-in-afghanistan-reaches-120-over-1000-injured-1114009848.html Death Toll in Afghanistan Earthquake Reaches 120, Over 1,000 Injured Death Toll in Afghanistan Earthquake Reaches 120, Over 1,000 Injured At least 120 people are dead and another 1,000 people are injured following a 6.4-magnitude earthquake in the western city of Herat---near the Iranian border---at around 11:00 local time (06:30 GMT). 2023-10-08T01:49+0000 2023-10-08T01:49+0000 2023-10-08T04:19+0000 world afghanistan earthquake natural disaster natural disasters tragedy tragedy /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/08/1114009516_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_935a946b2d5b8f996096089609342b06.jpg At least 120 people are dead and another 1,000 people are injured following a 6.4-magnitude earthquake in the western city of Herat---near the Iranian border---at around 11:00 local time (06:30 GMT). Four villages in the Zenda Jan district encountered the greatest severity of the earthquake, said Mohammad Abdullah Jan, the disaster authority spokesperson. The earthquake also produced three strong aftershocks in magnitudes of 6.3, 5.9, and 5.5, according to the United States Geological Survey. At least 465 houses were destroyed and another 135 were damaged during the earthquake according to an earlier report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, but the new total could be greater. "Partners and local authorities anticipate the number of casualties to increase as search and rescue efforts continue amid reports that some people may be trapped under collapsed buildings," the office added.Victims of the earthquake became trapped underneath the rubble, according to a British news source. One video on social media showed a team of residents pulling a child's lifeless body from the rubble. A deceased man's body appeared to have been shielding her when the earthquake struck. The child was passed to one man, reported to be her father, who held the child's body and cried out. "I am not able to contact my family, network connections are disconnected. I am too worried and scared, it was horrifying," he added. The World Health Organization in Afghanistan reportedly dispatched 12 ambulances to Zenda Jan in hopes of taking victims to hospitals. The Taliban* asked local organizations via X to assist victims in hard-hit regions with shelter, food, and transportation to hospitals. We ask our wealthy compatriots to give any possible cooperation and help to our afflicted brothers, the Taliban* said on X.*The Taliban is a terrorist organization under UN sanctions. afghanistan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.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 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg earthquake, afghanistan, death toll, tragedy, natural disaster, herat earthquake https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/dissatisfaction-to-dominate-german-regional-elections-amid-scholzs-fading-popularity--1114019397.html Dissatisfaction to Dominate German Regional Elections Amid Scholz's Fading Popularity Dissatisfaction to Dominate German Regional Elections Amid Scholz's Fading Popularity Recent polls revealed that about half of the German electorate is dissatisfied with the federal government, something that is expected to affect voters choice in the state of Hesse. 2023-10-08T14:47+0000 2023-10-08T14:47+0000 2023-10-08T14:47+0000 world germany bavaria hesse elections voters ballots polls /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/08/1114018523_0:110:3249:1937_1920x0_80_0_0_1393652993fbbaa5fb4bbef3df33b1d6.jpg Residents of Bavaria and Hesse cast ballots in state elections on Sunday, votes that are seen as "a barometer for the entire country's mood," a German newspaper has reported.Markus Soder, the leader of the conservative Christian Social Union (CSU) party, is expected to maintain his position as Bavarian state premier.Even so, polls indicate that the CSU, which has ruled in the southern state of Bavaria since 1957, will most likely obtain just 37% of the vote, which would be the partys lowest result in decades. In Hesse, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser is running as the lead candidate of the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), with polls suggesting that she will hardly get the better of current premier Boris Rhein of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU).The CDU is currently polling at 32%, followed by the SPD and Greens. In any case, the CDUs performance in Hesse is all but sure to improve, given that the party gained a total of 27% votes in the 2018 state elections.The far right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is projected to increase its numbers in the Sunday elections, even though the party is not expected to enter government in either state. The AfD is currently polling at 14% in Bavaria and 16% in Hesse.Political scientist Karl-Rudolf Korte has, meanwhile, told a German newspaper that the three national governing parties, including the Social Democrats, the Greens and the liberal Free Democrats (FDP), will perform poorly in the Sunday votes because people arent confident in their being able to solve the problems in the country.The FDP and its party chief, Finance Minister Christian Lindner, are expected to be the main outsiders in the vote. In Hesse, the party is polling at about 5%, while in Bavaria, they may only obtain 3% below the required 5% threshold to enter parliament. germany bavaria hesse Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg state elections in bavaria and hesse, government of chancellor olaf scholz, german electrorate, residents of bavaria and hesse https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/ecuador-presidential-candidate-assassination-suspects-die-mysteriously-prompting-mass-firings-1114013457.html Ecuador Presidential Candidate Assassination Suspects Die Mysteriously, Prompting Mass Firings Ecuador Presidential Candidate Assassination Suspects Die Mysteriously, Prompting Mass Firings The firings occurred a week before the run-off presidential elections in Ecuador that has been hit by violence over the past few years, which the government says is the work of drug gangs. 2023-10-08T10:35+0000 2023-10-08T10:35+0000 2023-10-08T10:35+0000 americas ecuador guillermo lasso police prison assassination government crime /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/08/1114013300_0:0:3068:1725_1920x0_80_0_0_1357d4637d87d6f6ce08937eda43d46b.jpg Ecuadors President Guillermo Lasso has fired the police and prison chiefs after seven suspects in the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio died behind bars in mysterious circumstances earlier this week.The six inmates were killed at the Litoral Penitentiary on Friday, while another died in a Quito prison on Saturday. A Spanish newspaper cited a National Service of Integral Attention to Persons Deprived of Liberty (SNAI) report as saying that the victims did not present signs of torture or wounds resulting from a struggle.Also on Saturday, Lasso removed the prisons' director and the head of the police investigations unit, also replacing the head of the national police with Cesar Augusto Zapata Correa, a veteran member of the force.The president also ordered the transfer of six surviving suspects implicated in Villavicencios murder for security reasons. The move came after Lasso canceled his trip to South Korea to chair an emergency government meeting and "address the crisis in Ecuadors penitentiary system, amid reports that at least 400 people have died in riots in Ecuadors prisons since 2020.The security shakeup comes days ahead of the October 15 presidential runoff between businessman Daniel Noboa and socialist candidate Luisa Gonzalez. Their election campaigns were dominated by debates over how to tackle growing drug violence. Incumbent president Lasso, who was impeached by the National Assembly in May, is not running.In a statement on the prison murders, Noboa said, How could we permit the empowering of violence that has the whole country submerged in terror and uncertainty. Gonzalez, for her part, claimed that Those who could have spoken and said who killed Fernando Villavicencio are dead, and they died under the control of the state.Over the past several years, Ecuador has been hit by a drastic rise in crime, which was fuelled by the growing presence of Colombian and Mexican drug cartels which managed to infiltrate local criminal gangs. americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg assassination of ecuador's presidential candidate fernando villavicencio, ouster of ecuador's police and prison chiefs, soaring crime rate in ecuador https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/hezbollah-claims-responsibility-for-shelling-israeli-army-positions-in-lebanon-1114011788.html Hezbollah Claims Responsibility for Shelling Israeli Army Positions in Lebanon Hezbollah Claims Responsibility for Shelling Israeli Army Positions in Lebanon The Lebanese movement Hezbollah claimed responsibility for shelling three Israeli army positions in southern Lebanon, according to a movement's statement seen by Sputnik on Sunday. 2023-10-08T05:52+0000 2023-10-08T05:52+0000 2023-10-08T09:53+0000 world middle east lebanon hezbollah israel israeli defense forces (idf) palestine-israel conflict /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106125/23/1061252374_0:166:3000:1854_1920x0_80_0_0_6b4f2623879f7ff781a4cf850f7d1aca.jpg Earlier in the day, the Israeli Defense Forces said it started striking "the area in Lebanon" in response to fire from that area. The Lebanese broadcaster reported that the village of Kfarchouba in southern Lebanon was hit. "Out of solidarity with the Palestinian resistance forces... a group of our fighters this morning attacked three Zionist army positions near the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms," the statement read. An Israeli army radar was hit during the shelling, the movement specified. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231007/hamas-sneak-attack-on-israel-deemed-major-failure-for-israeli-intelligence-1114006542.html lebanon israel 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 middle east, lebanon, hezbollah, hezbollah israel, hezbollah shelling https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/israeli-government-declares-country-officially-in-state-of-war-1114017557.html Israeli Government Declares Country Officially in State of War Israeli Government Declares Country Officially in State of War The Israeli government announced Sunday that it has invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law, which means the country has officially entered a state of war. 2023-10-08T12:20+0000 2023-10-08T12:20+0000 2023-10-08T12:50+0000 world israel palestine-israel conflict /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/07/1114004504_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_e638f29275a642a4f306fb5b9a7d9848.jpg "Last night, the Security Cabinet approved the war situation and, to this end, the taking of significant military steps, as per Article 40 of Basic Law: The Government. The war that was forced on the State of Israel in a murderous terrorist assault from the Gaza Strip began at 06:00 yesterday (Saturday, 7 October 2023)," the government said in a statement. Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning. The Israeli army said Hamas fired more than 3,000 rockets, adding that dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated border areas in southern Israel. The Israeli military has since sent troops to the southern territories to reconquer them from the Palestinian forces and started conducting strikes at Hamas positions in Gaza. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231007/hamas-sneak-attack-on-israel-deemed-major-failure-for-israeli-intelligence-1114006542.html israel 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 hamas, israel, gaza strip, israel vs hamas, gaza conflct https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/israels-defense-minister-expands-special-security-situation-to-all-israel-1114010886.html Israel's Defense Minister Expands 'Special Security Situation' to All Israel Israel's Defense Minister Expands 'Special Security Situation' to All Israel The measure will enable the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to "provide security instructions to civilians and to close public sites in accordance with security needs." 2023-10-08T04:05+0000 2023-10-08T04:05+0000 2023-10-08T09:54+0000 world yoav gallant israel israel-gaza conflict israel defense forces (idf) israel defence forces (idf) israeli-palestinian conflict palestine-israel conflict /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/1a/1108791464_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_b5bd24b0d1b09c63c62fcd30612c13ca.jpg The measure will enable the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to "provide security instructions to civilians and to close public sites in accordance with security needs." The IDF said Sunday that the Commander of the Nahal Brigade, Col. Jonathan Steinberg, 42, was killed during hostilities. The IDF expressed its "heartfelt condolences to his family" and pledged to support them in "this difficult time." In the meantime, the Haaretz newspaper reported that Israeli civilians held hostage by Palestinian forces in the kibbutz of Be'eri in southern Israel were released after several hours. The newspaper also reported that clashes were continuing in five locations in Israel after the IDF announced that it had regained control of a number of settlements on the outskirts of the Gaza Strip. Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported that Israel was planning to bring 5,000 reservists home from Greece amid the escalation of the conflict, adding that 20 flights to Israel were planned to do so. Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning. The Israeli army said Hamas fired more than 3,000 rockets, adding that dozens of Hamas troops infiltrated border areas in southern Israel. The Israeli military has since sent troops to the southern territories to reconquer them from the Palestinian forces. Israeli media reported earlier in the day that over 300 people were killed and more than 1,500 others were injured in Israel as a result of the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. At the same time, the Palestinian Health Ministry said that more than 195 people have been killed and over 1,600 injured in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. israel 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 israel, palestine, yoav gallant, israel defense forces (idf), israeli-palestinian conflict https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/lavrov-arab-league-chief-to-focus-talks-on-palestinian-israeli-conflict-1114019762.html Lavrov, Arab League Chief to Focus Talks on Palestinian-Israeli Conflict Lavrov, Arab League Chief to Focus Talks on Palestinian-Israeli Conflict Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit will give priority to discussing the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict during their talks on Monday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik on Sunday. 2023-10-08T13:45+0000 2023-10-08T13:45+0000 2023-10-08T13:45+0000 world russia sergey lavrov league of arab states arab league palestine ahmed aboul gheit russian foreign ministry palestine-israel conflict /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/0d/1111852753_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_a28ce9ff7585d66a1463692e64fb245b.jpg Earlier in the day, the Arab League said Aboul Gheit left for Russia at Lavrov's invitation. "We have a busy agenda, but given the dramatic escalation of the Arab-Israeli conflict, this issue will receive the utmost attention," Zakharova said. The meeting between the officials will take place in Moscow on Monday, she added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/israeli-government-declares-country-officially-in-state-of-war-1114017557.html russia palestine 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 israel-hamas conflict, russia middle east, hamas, palestine crisis Over 123,000 Palestinians Flee Their Homes in Gaza Due to Armed Conflict With Israel More than 123,000 Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes in the Gaza Strip as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict escalates, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Sunday. "As of 21:00, 123,538 Palestinians had been displaced in Gaza," the OCHA said in a statement. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/melting-ice-reveals-rare-find-horseshoe-and-bridle-possibly-belonging-to-viking-warriors-1114010723.html Melting Ice Reveals Rare Find: Horseshoe and Bridle Possibly Belonging to Viking Warriors Melting Ice Reveals Rare Find: Horseshoe and Bridle Possibly Belonging to Viking Warriors Researchers still need to conduct radiocarbon dating to be sure, but they believe the artifacts date to the Viking Age which lasted from 793 to 1066 AD. 2023-10-08T04:01+0000 2023-10-08T04:01+0000 2023-10-08T04:01+0000 beyond politics vikings ancient ancient life archaeology archaeology norway norway /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107949/72/1079497267_0:0:2142:1205_1920x0_80_0_0_a5e7919868bc84384ce4c6c7eadef9ed.jpg We just made an incredible discovery on the south side of the Lendbreen pass, read a post on social media from Secrets Of The Ice, an archeology program based in Norway. An iron horse bit, with parts of the leather bridle preserved!The news was posted Saturday by the archeology program based in Innlandet County.Researchers still need to conduct radiocarbon dating to be sure, but they believe the artifacts date to the Viking Age which lasted from 793 to 1066 AD. They say its uncommon to discover leather items because the material typically deteriorates over long periods of time.We have never found anything like it on our ice sites.Warm temperatures in Norway have contributed to the discovery of other Viking artifacts in the area, including a shoe, a mitten, and a knife, as well horse bones and other horseshoes. A particularly warm summer this year led to the discovery for the first time of items in the Lendbreen gully, where archeologists found the bridle and horseshoe.Archeologists in Norway anticipate further discoveries under mountain ice as anthropogenic climate change drives the gradual loss of glaciers in the country. norway norway 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 vikings, ancient vikings, norway, artifacts, viking artifacts, archaeology, history, horseshoe and bridle https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/police-say-no-threat-nexus-to-new-york-jewish-community-amid-gaza-escalation-1114011045.html No Threat to New York Jewish Community Amid Gaza Escalation, Police Say No Threat to New York Jewish Community Amid Gaza Escalation, Police Say Adams said in an earlier statement that NYC had resources on the ground in Israel gathering intelligence, and city officials were continually monitoring multiple channels to identify any potential threats. 2023-10-08T04:14+0000 2023-10-08T04:14+0000 2023-10-08T09:54+0000 americas new york israel israel-gaza conflict palestine israeli-palestinian conflict judaism jewish new york city eric adams /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/05/11/1110425717_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_1e2a622a47dbd41fb8b1e3f13b9051dd.jpg Violent clashes broke out in New York City between hundreds of pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian protesters the last time violence significantly escalated between Israel and Hamas forces in May 2021. According to Mayor Eric Adams, New York City has the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel. Adams said in an earlier statement that New York City had resources on the ground in Israel gathering intelligence, and city officials were continually monitoring multiple channels to identify any potential threats, both in New York City and abroad. Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning. The Israeli army said Hamas fired more than 3,000 rockets, adding that dozens of Hamas troops infiltrated border areas in southern Israel. The Israeli military has since sent troops to the southern territories to reconquer them from the Palestinian forces. Israeli media reported earlier in the day that over 300 people were killed and more than 1,500 others were injured in Israel as a result of the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. At the same time, the Palestinian Health Ministry said that more than 195 people have been killed and over 1,600 injured in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. americas new york israel palestine new york city 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 new york, israel, israel-gaza conflict, palestine, israeli-palestinian conflict, judaism, jewish community, new york city, mayor eric adams https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/polish-president-says-he-offered-israeli-leader-humanitarian-assistance-1114024276.html Polish President Says He Offered Israeli Leader Humanitarian Assistance Polish President Says He Offered Israeli Leader Humanitarian Assistance At the same time, the Polish leader urged not to "overestimate the seriousness" of the situation in Israel, saying that it is not the first military conflict in the Middle East over recent decades. 2023-10-08T21:56+0000 2023-10-08T21:56+0000 2023-10-08T21:56+0000 world palestine-israel conflict israeli-palestinian conflict andrzej duda israel poland poland isaac herzog /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/04/1111649018_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_991caffcdecbe637a12717975ae468a1.jpg At the same time, the Polish leader urged not to "overestimate the seriousness" of the situation in Israel, saying that it is not the first military conflict in the Middle East over recent decades. Earlier in the day, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said that the Polish military was preparing to evacuate Polish citizens from Israel. The Israeli government announced earlier on Sunday that it had invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law, which means the country officially entered a state of war. Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning. The Israeli army said Hamas fired more than 3,000 rockets, adding that dozens of Hamas troops infiltrated border areas in southern Israel. The Israeli military has since sent troops to the southern territories to reconquer them from the Palestinian forces and has started conducting strikes at Hamas' positions in Gaza. israel poland 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 israel-hamas conflict, israeli-palestinian conflict, andrzej duda, israel, poland, isaac herzog https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/teflon-don-will-donald-trump-win-by-waging-war-on-american-institutions-1114009538.html Teflon Don: Will Donald Trump Win by Waging War on American Institutions? Teflon Don: Will Donald Trump Win by Waging War on American Institutions? A longtime critic of the United States media and political establishments, Trump has recently added the American judicial system to his list of targets. 2023-10-08T01:40+0000 2023-10-08T01:40+0000 2023-10-08T01:40+0000 analysis us politics donald trump 2024 us presidential election /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/03/1113872513_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_3d8985df79d671dd2586621bbfa361db.jpg Its a scam, its a sham, said the former president to reporters huddled outside of a Manhattan courtroom. Its a witch hunt and a disgrace. The tenor of his comments was familiar as he opined on the civil fraud case that saw him accused of inflating the value of his businesses by millions of dollars. But the subject of his ire was somewhat new.A longtime critic of the United States media and political establishments, former president Donald Trump has recently added the American judicial system to his list of targets in a campaign season that once again seems poised to position the iconoclastic businessman as an outsider candidate.Its a role Trump is all too eager to play. He briefly waded into US politics in 2000, forming a presidential exploratory committee and promising to challenge the then-bipartisan consensus around free trade, among other issues. He waged his 2016 campaign against perhaps the most well known living representative of the Washington political establishment (former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton). And he spent his turbulent four years as president constantly at odds with detractors from all sides of the political spectrum.Now Trump can add judges and prosecutors to his long list of adversaries.Every time hes in a courtroom, hes campaigning, said Joe Walsh, a former Republican congressman from Illinois who became a fierce critic of Trump from within his own party.Trumps civil case compounds his recent legal woes, which include 91 criminal charges from four separate indictments and another civil trial that saw the former president held liable for sexually abusing and defaming columnist E. Jean Carroll earlier this year. Then, as now, he decried the case as part of a witch hunt to derail his 2024 presidential candidacy.The legal proceedings create an unprecedented dynamic in next years campaign. In any other election, with any other candidate, they might spell certain doom.Yet Trump currently remains the overwhelming favorite to win his partys presidential primary. Most recent polling shows him running even with Biden in the general election, if not leading him.In 2020 Trump ran as an incumbent, forced to defend his political record and handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. But recently, events have conspired to once again give him the aura of an outsider, running against a political figure who was first elected to national office in 1972.In the context of 2024s presidential contest, the judiciary becomes just another aspect of Trumps audacious challenge to Americas political and social system.Polling has long shown sharply declining trust in a broad swath of US institutions. Congress, the presidency, and the Supreme Court remain among some of the least-respected institutions in American public life, but most others fare no better.Such wide skepticism could create the perfect environment for Donald Trump to triumphantly return to the White House. But whatever the outcome of next years contest, the American public may be ready for deep reform in almost every corner of society. Whether our institutions permit such change may dictate their very survival. 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 donald trump, former president donald trump, politics, us politics, 2024 us presidential election https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/ukraine-loses-up-to-165-troops-in-donetsk-direction-in-past-day-1114014385.html Ukraine Loses Up to 165 Troops in Donetsk Direction in Past Day Ukraine Loses Up to 165 Troops in Donetsk Direction in Past Day The Ukrainian military lost up to 165 servicepeople, two armored combat vehicles and a US M777 artillery system in the Donetsk direction over the course of the day, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday. 2023-10-08T10:59+0000 2023-10-08T10:59+0000 2023-10-08T10:59+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukrainian crisis ukrainian counteroffensive attempt /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/08/1114014466_0:135:3162:1914_1920x0_80_0_0_06632bd909bcdf97a1fed85ce22f7d6e.jpg "Total enemy losses for the day in this [Donetsk] direction amounted to up to 165 Ukrainian servicepeople, two armored combat vehicles and three pickup trucks, as well as the US-made M777 artillery system," the ministry said in a statement. Ukraine has also lost up to 170 servicepeople, one tank and two armored combat vehicles in the Kupyansk direction and 40 soldiers in the Kherson direction over the past day, the statement read. Meanwhile, the Russian armed forces repulsed 3 Ukrainian attacks in the Krasny Liman direction, repelled 2 Ukrainian attacks in South Donetsk direction, and more than 185 Ukrainian troops were killed or injured in the area, the ministry said. The Russian army has also destroyed up to 30 Ukrainian servicepeople in Zaporozhye direction, as well as one US-made M119 howitzer, and destroyed Ukrainian ammunition depot in the Kostyrka area, the ministry said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/ukrainians-desert-en-masse-due-to-rising-casualties-mental-fatigue---report-1114011648.html 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 russian special military operation in ukraine, russian special op, ukrainian crisis, ukrainian counteroffensive attempt https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/ukrainian-manpads-vs-us-destroyers-how-israel-hamas-war-may-spiral-into-broader-conflict-1114023266.html Ukrainian MANPADS vs US Destroyers: How Israel-Hamas War May Spiral Into Broader Conflict Ukrainian MANPADS vs US Destroyers: How Israel-Hamas War May Spiral Into Broader Conflict Israel's conflict with Hamas may potentially spiral into a larger confrontation in the region, affecting Tel-Aviv's relations with Arab countries, Middle East experts believe. 2023-10-08T19:35+0000 2023-10-08T19:35+0000 2023-10-09T05:54+0000 world russia middle east joe biden israel ukraine saudi arabia hamas us opinion /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/0b/13/1090853729_0:152:3072:1880_1920x0_80_0_0_0388d731830f1ff979af044ee7e01db7.jpg Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip on Saturday. The militant group fired around 3,000 rockets and infiltrated bordering populated areas, taking hostages and clashing with Israeli's military.International observers believe Hamas militants were provided weapons by external forces. Previously, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly cited concerns about weapon deliveries to the Gaza Strip. Ian Gagin, advisor to the head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), previously suggested that weapons transferred to Ukraine could be used against Israel.While it is unclear where Hamas got its weapons, there is a possibility that other military organizations could also receive Ukrainian arms through black markets, experts say. Per the US-funded 2021 Global Organized Crime Index, Ukraine is believed to have one of the largest arms trafficking markets in Europe.Earlier, the Small Arms Survey, a Geneva-based independent research project, reported in 2017 that of the more than 300,000 small arms that disappeared from Ukraine between 2013 and 2015, only around 13% were ever recovered.How Could Gaza Conflict Evolve?"If we talk about today's conflict, the escalation of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement is quite serious and in many ways larger than the previous escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflicts," Dolgov said.According to the Russian academic, the Israeli-Hamas conflict may lead to the greater consolidation of the Arab-Muslim world.Israeli-Hamas clashes have not yet spiraled into a regional conflict, let alone a geopolitical issue, believes Andrey Vladimirovich Zeltyn, senior lecturer at the School of Oriental Studies, National Research University Higher School of Economics.According to the academic, the Hamas operation that took place was primarily aimed at torpedoing the process of normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.Now it all depends on how Israel's possible large-scale ground military operation in the Gaza Strip will unfold, Zeltyn said. Saudi Arabia and Egypt will have to react to the casualties among Palestinian Arabs and conduct their Israel policy accordingly, per the expert. On the other hand, if Israel refrained from any actions, Hamas may potentially think that it could strike again and no retaliation would follow."If the operation takes place, then there will no longer be any negotiations about peace. Israel has found itself between the devil and the deep blue sea," Zeltyn said.Meanwhile, Avichai Adrai, a representative of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), told Sputnik that the Israel Defense Forces is considering all possibilities and options, including a ground operation in Gaza.What Will the US Do?"In strategic terms and in US strategic policy, Israel is a strategic ally, and the US, of course, has always supported and will support Israel," Dolgov said.On Saturday, US President Joe Biden announced that Washington is ready to provide "all appropriate means of support" to Israel after the Hamas attack. Biden also warned "any party hostile to Israel" not to seek advantage of the unfolding situation.After Tel-Aviv officially declared war on Hamas, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that the US will ensure that Israel has the necessary means to defend itself. On Sunday, Austin told the US press that following the discussions with Biden he directed the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the region. The group includes an aircraft carrier, a guided missile cruiser and guided missile destroyers, according to the US press. In addition, Washington is considering Tel-Aviv's requests for additional military aid.For his part, Secretary of State Antony Blinken referred to a memorandum of understanding inked between US and Israel under Barack Obama to allocate $3.8 billion per year for Israel in US military aid. Per Blinken, the provision of additional assistance to Tel-Aviv wouldn't require congressional voting. Following the ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the lower chamber remains in "chaos", per US observers. Nonetheless, the representatives of the dissenting Freedom Caucus have already signaled their readiness to support Israel. What's more, US policy-makers have signaled that they are going to find "Iran traces" in the Hamas surprise attack. It appears that the local Israeli conflict has good odds of turning into a regional and geopolitical dilemma.*Muslim Brotherhood is a terrorist organization banned in Russia. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/arms-sent-to-ukraine-potentially-used-against-israel-dpr-government-adviser-says-1114015733.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20220514/black-market-bonanza-us-weapons-will-bring-death-and-destruction-to-ukraine--beyond-journo-says-1095514941.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/hamas-could-have-used-us-weapons-from-afghanistan-or-ukraine-house-rep-1114022186.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/us-senator-says-will-move-forward-bill-to-replenish-israels-iron-dome-system-1114010551.html russia israel ukraine saudi arabia iran egypt 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 hamas, israel, gaza, gaza strip, gaza war, tel-aviv, benjamin netanyahu, iron dome, hamas surprise attack, hamas israeli hostages, mossad, palestinians, palestine, israel-palestine conflict, joe biden, us military aid to israel https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/us-senator-says-will-move-forward-bill-to-replenish-israels-iron-dome-system-1114010551.html US Senator Says Will Move Forward Bill to Replenish Israel's Iron Dome System US Senator Says Will Move Forward Bill to Replenish Israel's Iron Dome System US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin said he "intends to move forward legislation at the first opportunity that will focus on providing Israel what it needs to defend itself". 2023-10-08T03:35+0000 2023-10-08T03:35+0000 2023-10-08T09:55+0000 military israel israel defense forces (idf) israel defence forces (idf) israel defense forces palestine palestine israeli-palestinian conflict us biden administration /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/02/12/1093138793_0:53:800:503_1920x0_80_0_0_0d62b6ccde2d61f90cf9acd17391ab6d.jpg Cardin also urges consideration for supplemental funding for Israels defense. According to a senior US administration official, President Joe Biden, during a call on Saturday, did not discuss with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu anything in particular about emergency US funding to restock Israel's air defense systems. Biden, in earlier remarks, mentioned that he spoke to members of Congress about the situation in Israel. A senior US administration official, on the question about whether the lack of a House speaker will affect the United States' ability to provide additional aid to Israel, said it is something US officials have been discussing and a unique situation they will have to work through. House Republicans are expected to narrow down their choice this coming week on who will lead the lower chamber, but a full vote to elect a new speaker is not guaranteed. Republican Congressman Jim Jordan and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise are among the top candidates to be the next speaker. Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning. The Israeli army said Hamas fired more than 3,000 rockets, adding that dozens of Hamas troops infiltrated border areas in southern Israel. The Israeli military has since sent troops to the southern territories to reconquer them from the Palestinian forces. Israeli media reported earlier in the day that over 300 people were killed and more than 1,500 others were injured in Israel as a result of the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. At the same time, the Palestinian Health Ministry said that more than 195 people have been killed and over 1,600 injured in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231007/im-staying-mccarthy-denies-reports-hes-considering-resigning-from-congress-1113994302.html israel palestine 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 israel, israel defense forces (idf), palestine, israeli-palestinian conflict, biden administration, joe biden, us senate foreign relations committee chairman ben cardin, gaza strip, us politics https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/whats-behind-new-gaza-war-and-how-could-it-affect-the-mideast-region-1114020869.html What's Behind New Gaza War and How Could It Affect the Mideast Region? What's Behind New Gaza War and How Could It Affect the Mideast Region? Israel has officially entered a state of war on Sunday, as Hamas militants based in the Gaza Strip launched a sudden offensive against the state. What's behind the latest escalation? 2023-10-08T17:48+0000 2023-10-08T17:48+0000 2023-10-08T17:56+0000 us middle east palestinians israel saudi arabia palestine hamas palestinian authority hezbollah world /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/07/1114004504_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_e638f29275a642a4f306fb5b9a7d9848.jpg Hamas kicked off a surprise attack called Operation Al-Aqsa Flood at about 6:30 am (GMT+3) on October 7, infiltrating Israeli towns, targeting military outposts and firing a barrage of rockets in various parts of the country.The assault by Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist entity by Israel, caught the Israeli military off guard and manifested the failure of the nation's intelligence services to proactively thwart the massive and seemingly preplanned operation. In response, Tel Aviv started Operation Swords of Iron. According to some estimates, the hostilities have already claimed the lives of 300 Israelis and 232 Palestinians.This is a sophisticated operation by Hamas, well-coordinated, and well performed, according Dr. Imad Salamey, associate professor of political science and international affairs at the Lebanese American University.What are the Reasons for New Escalation?"And of that conflict of course, that is the more complex issue behind this reason and behind the timing and behind the sophistication of the operations that Hamas has overtaken. Of course, looking at this operation, it's quite sophisticated. We all know that Hamas alone cannot do this. It doesn't have weapons. Somebody has supplied the weapons to Hamas. Some have supplied information to Hamas (...) the operation was well-coordinated, even orchestrated," the academic continued.The unfolding havoc coincided with the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, also known as the Ramadan War, between the Israelis and a coalition of Arab states.Last time, Hamas launched rocket attacks on Israeli settlements in May 2021 as Tel-Aviv commemorated its 73rd anniversary of independence. On May 10, Hamas targeted areas near Jerusalem, Ashkelon and Tel Aviv. The major escalation was preceded by clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian Arabs at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa mosque compound.Still, the origins of the confrontation between Hamas and Tel Aviv go deep in history. Hamas was founded in 1987. Since then, the group regularly participated in clashes between various Palestinian organizations and the Israeli state as part of broader geopolitical disputes and rivalry between Israel and its Arab neighbors going back to 1948, when Israel was established.By 2005, Israel dismantled Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and completely withdrew from the region, which came under the control of Hamas (that had turned into a political force by the time) in 2007, after the group ousted the Fatah Party (formerly the Palestinian National Liberation Movement) from Gaza.Two years later, Israel imposed the blockade of Gaza. Per Tel Aviv, the 16-year-long blockade is aimed at halting the flow of arms into the region; for their part, Palestinians denounce the move as "collective punishment" which exacerbates the already dire situation.In 2017, Hamas rebranded itself as an Islamic national liberation movement with the aim of liberating Palestine the geographical area covering the State of Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Hamas does not recognize Israel and proclaims that resistance to "the occupation with all means and methods is a legitimate right guaranteed by divine laws and by international norms and laws."Besides strife with Fatah, Hamas was repeatedly at odds with the Palestinian Authority (PA) leadership as the latter appeared not to support Hamas' radical methods as well as the group's unwillingness to recognize Israel's right to exist. This time, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas responded to Hamas' operation by expressing his solidarity with Palestinians and blamed Israel for a stalled peace process."We have repeatedly warned against the consequences of blocking the political horizon and failing to enable the Palestinian people to exercise their legitimate right to self-determination," the Palestinian Authority Foreign Ministry tweeted.World Players Call for Halting HostilitiesIn general, the Palestinian cause has long been supported by the Muslim world. Commenting on Hamas' surprise attack, Iran's Foreign Ministry called it "the spontaneous movement of resistance groups and Palestine's oppressed people in defense of their inalienable rights" and said it stands by Palestinians.For its part, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said it is "deeply concerned about the violence and tension occurred [sic] in Israel and Palestine today," calling for "the restoration of calm in the region as soon as possible" and strongly condemning the loss of civilian lives.Russia called on the warring parties to cease fire and return to the negotiating table. It is currently in contact with Israel, Palestine, Egypt and other Arab countries to de-escalate the situation.Is Hamas Using Ukrainian Weapons?Meanwhile, some have alleged that Hamas is apparently using Soviet-era "Igla" ("Needle") as well as Western MANPADS, triggering concerns that these and other weapons actually originated in Ukraine's infamous black market. Previously, international non-profits warned about Ukraine's long weapons-smuggling record.How Could Hamas' Attack Affect Regional Balance of Power?"I think the events that we are dealing with have led to some extent eroded Israel's deterrence," Inbar said. "And this is one reason why Israel is going to the wall in order to restore its deterrence, in order to make it clear to all its enemies in the region that it's still a very strong country able to exact a high cost from anybody to fix it."For his part, Salamey suggested that the attack could have been aimed at disrupting Israeli-Saudi dialogue."Saudi Arabia will watch and see and assess its steps toward normalization toward Israel. So it's a major setback for normalization efforts and for the US plans for the region. And that is. So instead, now, maybe Saudi Arabia will resort back to its rapprochement with Iran through China, and it really favors it, and it's moving in that direction," the Lebanese academic continued.Inbar does not think Riyadh and other Arab countries would halt dialogue with Israel over the recent escalation:Meanwhile, demonstrations in support of Gaza and Palestinian groups were held in several Muslim countries including Turkiye, Yemen, Kuwait, Iran, Bahrain, and others at the weekend. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/idf-announces-start-of-israelis-evacuation-from-settlements-bordering-gaza-strip-1114015117.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/live-updates-israel-to-urgently-evacuate-residents-from-gaza-strip-vicinity-1114012616.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/lavrov-arab-league-chief-to-focus-talks-on-palestinian-israeli-conflict-1114019762.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/arms-sent-to-ukraine-potentially-used-against-israel-dpr-government-adviser-says-1114015733.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/which-territories-does-hamas-control-1114019252.html israel saudi arabia palestine russia turkiye 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 israel, gaza war, gaza strip, israel, hamas, israel-hamas war, palestinian authority, west bank, israeli state, palestine, two-state solution, israel war, turkiye, iran, middle east https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/white-house-mulls-asking-congress-for-100bln-in-aid-for-ukraine---reports-1114011193.html White House Mulls Asking Congress for $100Bln in Aid for Ukraine - Reports White House Mulls Asking Congress for $100Bln in Aid for Ukraine - Reports US President Joe Biden is considering a "one-and-done" spending bill for Ukraine, and the White House is already drawing up plans to ask Congress to release a total of $100 billion in a single aid package for Kiev, news outlet reported Saturday, citing sources familiar with the matter. 2023-10-08T04:18+0000 2023-10-08T04:18+0000 2023-10-08T04:18+0000 world ukrainian crisis us arms for ukraine joe biden congress white house /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/15/1111357731_0:0:2808:1580_1920x0_80_0_0_c77c627c1c633ed078ff6382ac3201fb.jpg "The big package idea is firmly supported by many throughout the administration. Supporters of Ukraine want this to be a one-and-done big bill, and then not have to deal with it until after the next election," one of the sources told the newspaper. The newspaper cited sources as saying that the single aid package may provide the Biden administration with the best chance of securing funding for Ukraine until after next Novembers election. The report also said that Congress has approved four war packages of around $113 billion for Kiev since the launch of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. Biden has struggled to get new funding for Ukraine through Congress. And in the wake of the ouster of Kevin McCarthy as House speaker, his administration reportedly lacks a strategy going forward. The White House is no longer pursuing the $24 billion for Ukraine aid included as part of a supplemental funding request, another news outlet reported on Thursday. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231006/no-arms-no-cash-how-us-and-europe-getting-bored-and-tired-of-ukraine-conflict-1113989546.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231006/new-poll-shows-even-democrats-are-starting-to-sour-on-ukraine-aid-1113972647.html 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 ukrainian crisis, us arms for ukraine, us sponsors nazis, joe biden ukraine Two houses in Iredell County were damaged by fire early Sunday and both are believed to be intentionally set by a man who later shot himself after a chase with authorities in Florence, South Carolina, said Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell. Campbell said that early Sunday morning a woman in Charlotte said her brother shot into her house and fled before authorities arrived. Believing he might be headed to harm family members in Iredell County, a description of his vehicle a white Hondawas sent out to local authorities, Campbell said. An Iredell sergeant was in the area of one of the homes on Trellis Lane in Troutman and went to the house to find there was a fire. He attempted to extinguish it, Campbell said. Troutman, Shepherds and Mooresville fire departments responded and found heavy smoke coming from the two-story home. Around the same time, the Statesville Fire Department responded to Gatwick Court and found a home on fire, Campbell said. The two homes were about 9 miles apart. Both fires appear to be intentionally set, he said. Around 6 a.m., Campbell said, the sheriffs office learned that in Florence, South Carolina officials there were involved in a chase with the white Honda, which crashed. The driver died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Campbell said no injuries were reported at either house fire and the detectives are still investigating both fires and working with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, the Statesville Police Department and officials in Florence on the case. Music by Wayne Dunford will liven up the porch (or parlor depending on the weather) at the Appalachian Spirit Gallery at 144 W. Main Street in Marion for the Oct. 13 Second Friday ArtWalk. An artist reception will run from 5-8 p.m. with the concert beginning at 6 p.m. Dunford is a longtime friend of the gallery. He plays an acoustic blend of folk, Americana, indie and old-time music. More familiar behind drums accompanying a band, Dunford is stepping out and playing the music he enjoys the most on his guitar. Growing up in Wytheville listening to the music of WYVE, Dunford has had a professional photography business in Blacksburg for 20 plus years. He now calls Wytheville home again with a photography studio there and also enjoys farming at his family cattle farm. Dunfords music concert is sponsored by The Bank of Marion. During the month of October, the gallery will also be featuring two new exhibits by Marion native Willie McFarland and Rural Retreat artist Angeline Lloyd. McFarlands love of crafts started at a young age and has stayed with her all throughout her life. She loves to sew and quilt intricate little books and treasures, and she also makes Appalachian wooden baskets. McFarland has taught basket making at the community college and worked at Southwestern Virginia Mental Health hospital for 25 years as an occupational therapist. She used her love of crafts to teach and help hospital clients with whom she came in contact. McFarland has entered many arts and craft shows over the years to show off her skills. She loves to volunteer her time to the community and these days can be found at Helping Hands Thrift Store downtown Marion. Lloyd enjoys creating unusual and strange subjects in watercolor and wood burnings. Most recently, she began creating spooky 3-D works. She is a fan of history, ghost stories, horror-comedy films, and cryptid tales. She began creating during high school in the 1990s. She paused her art for a time and focused on running sports. Lloyd resurrected her art in recent years, and it has returned like a zombie escaping from a graveyard. Lloyd was once asked to paint a simple landscape. She tried and tried, but each time the mountains looked muddy, the lakes were flat and lifeless, and the trees werent happy at all. She apologized for it and didnt understand how she could create great images like the Chickalope and a portrait of her cat posing with a jar of pickles but not a valley of wildflowers. She could make landscapes with moldering English abbeys and graveyards but could not make a decent landscape even following a tutorial. Later, she was trying to paint flowers but had difficulty with those. Her husband remarked that maybe she should put a pterodactyl or bats into the sky, and then it would work for her. Then, she realized that she has to feel excited about the subject and be inspired to make art she enjoys. Lloyd decided that she wouldnt create anything unless she enjoyed it, was scared by it, or laughed about it. When Lloyd isnt creating art, she spends a lot of time listening to her husband, Jim Lloyd, play banjo. They live in a home originally built by a mortician and share their home with their huge black cat, Sam. New work on display by Appalachian Spirit Gallery members include paintings, executed in oils, watercolors, acrylics, and mixed media. Other work includes photography, jewelry, pottery, turned wood items, quilts and fabric art, weaving, felted works, stained glass and plant hangers. The gallery is run by the Appalachian Spirit Artists Association, a 5013 organization composed of artisans who share jobs to fulfill the groups mission to celebrate the arts, traditions, lore and spirit of the Appalachian Mountains by demonstrating the work of local talent. The monthly Second Friday ArtWalks will be held through December. All events are free and open to the public. Enab Baladi reached out to a group of Syrian refugees who were deported to various camps. The Turkish authorities are actively conducting a security campaign, resulting in the deportation of refugees to Syria from various cities and states, including those holding the temporary protection (Kimlik) card. These deportations occur abruptly, with minimal information provided, and are primarily focused on Istanbul, which houses the largest Syrian refugee population in Turkey. Syrians who fail to provide their identity documents find themselves transferred to detention camps, often without prior notice or knowledge of their destination, as reported by deported refugees interviewed by Enab Baladi. Within these makeshift camps, constructed with flimsy materials that amplify the scorching suns intensity, Syrians trapped in this dire situation seek any glimmer of hope from those overseeing the detention centers. These centers were formerly used as refugee camps for Syrians in Turkey. Enab Baladi reached out to a group of Syrians who were deported to various camps, including the Maras camp in Kahramanmaras, approximately 150 kilometres from the Syrian border, the Albl camp in Kilis, and the Ozli detention center in Gaziantep. These deportees reside in clusters within these camps, housed in cramped caravans. The Uncertainty of Deportation I have been detained in the camp for over eight months. No one has informed us when this ordeal will end, and the camp director keeps threatening to either detain us here indefinitely or send us back to Syria, revealed Ramadan Omar, a 26-year-old Syrian refugee from Jarabulus. He has spent more than eight months in the Kilis Albeli camp, awaiting a resolution to his predicament. According to Ramadans account to Enab Baladi, around 21 individuals are confined in the camp, with most of them facing legal proceedings and travel restrictions. Some have attempted to hire lawyers to facilitate their release, but their efforts have been in vain. Ramadan explained that the camp director frequently appeals to Ankara to request the deportation of detainees to Syria, only to face repeated rejection due to legal impediments that prevent them from leaving Turkey. Despite their repeated signing of papers for voluntary return, the situation remains stagnant. With no apparent avenue for leaving the detention centers, many detainees have adapted to the monotonous routines of camp life. Some document their experiences through video clips shared on the Tik Tok application. Austerity and Hygiene Issues There is a severe shortage of water throughout the day, typically only available for an hour or two. The caravans are far from clean, and insects infest the surroundings, Ramadan lamented, describing the dire conditions in the Kilis Albeli camp, where he was relocated with a group of fellow Syrians. Abdullah Abu Arab, a Syrian refugee from Aleppo, shared a similar account with Enab Baladi. He mentioned that camp staff conduct headcounts at 7 AM and 7 PM daily to ensure everyones presence. Abdullah stated that anyone seeking clarification about their situation, inquiring about their fate, requesting medical attention for health issues, or asking to see a doctor is met with the same phrase from staff, Whoever dislikes the camp should return to Syria. Regarding the meals provided in the camp, Abdullah described them as meagre and barely satisfying hunger due to their small portions. Breakfast, in particular, is considered not worth waking up early for. However, some residents are compelled to do so because they lack resources outside the camp and have no one to lend them money. Abdullah pointed out that the officials treatment of detainees, the absence of adequate medical care, and the denial of access to doctors or hospitals, coupled with the failure to provide necessary funds for their basic needs, demonstrate a lack of concern for their well-being. These conditions have led some individuals to sign voluntary return papers, although such attempts prove futile due to the travel bans imposed as a result of ongoing legal proceedings in Turkey, according to Abdullah. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Your daily brief of the English-speaking press on Syria. Tensions surrounding the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon reached a breaking point on Thursday, resulting in confrontations between Lebanese and Syrian communities in Mount Lebanon and northern regions. Simultaneously, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reported on Sunday that they had killed six Turkish soldiers and wounded seven others. while Turkish forces reportedly conducted overnight attacks on militant targets in northern Syria, resulting in the killing of 58 Kurdish militants, as stated by the Defense Ministry on Saturday. Tensions over Refugee Crisis Boil over into Clash between Lebanese, Syrians The tensions over the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon boiled over on Thursday into a clash between Lebanese and Syrians in Mount Lebanon and northern regions, Asharq al-Awsat reported. Security forces and the army were quick to contain the clashes to prevent the tensions from taking violent turns in the future. Syrians have come under increasing criticism in Lebanon in wake of the new flow of refugees who are escaping the economic crisis in their homeland. Lebanon itself is languishing under its own unprecedented economic crisis that many believe is being compounded by the refugees. Moreover, the growing number of refugees has sparked warnings by Lebanese politicians that they pose an existential threat to Lebanon. The government has since taken action. On Thursday, it shut over a hundred illegal businesses run by Syrians in the eastern Bekaa region. The Lebanese believe that the Syrians are competition against them in the job market and are a burden on state services that are already lacking since the crisis erupted four years ago. Lebanon is hosting over 2 million Syrians, including 1.5 refugees, say authorities. Last week, the tensions developed into clashes between the Lebanese and Syrians. In the Dora area in Mount Lebanon home to 2,000 Syrian refugees and workers a dispute broke out near the Mar Maroun church. Soon after, announcements were made on loudspeakers for the local residents to gather and demand the ouster of the refugees and Syrian workers to leave the area. Sources from the region told Asharq Al-Awsat that the tensions in the area had been simmering since Wednesday in the wake of a traffic accident between a Syrian youth and a Lebanese woman. Security sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the fears will remain since the roots of the problem are still there. The sheer number of Syrians makes it inevitable that they will interact with the Lebanese and cause more problems, noting that some of the Syrians already have criminal records, which only deepen the tensions. SDF announces killing 6 Turkish soldiers in north Syria North Press reported that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Sunday killing six Turkish soldiers and injuring seven others, in addition to killing a militant of the Turkish-backed armed factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA), and injuring others in Tabqa and Ain Issa, north Syria. The SDF said, in a statement, At 9:00 pm on Friday, our forces targeted Turkish bases in the villages of al-Yabisah, Abdouki, Saida, Jamajim, Tina, and Mazraa in the countryside of Tabqa. On Oct. 5th, the Turkish army launched drone strikes on infrastructure facilities in several areas of north and northeast Syria that are run by the AANES. The strikes took place following a statement by Turkeys Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, in which he threatened to strike a broader range of targets in Syria and Iraq in retaliation for the Ankara attack. On Oct. 1st, two individuals carried out a bomb attack in front of the building of the Ministry of Interior in Turkeys Ankara injuring two police officers. On Oct. 4th, Fidan claimed that the two attackers had been trained in Syria. From now on, all infrastructure, large facilities and energy facilities belonging to (armed Kurdish groups) in Iraq and Syria are legitimate targets for our security forces, he threatened. The attacks resulted in the killing of three Turkish soldiers, including an officer, at the al-Yabisah base, in addition to injuring three others, according to the SDF statement. Two Turkish soldiers were also killed at the Abdouki Turkish base, and three others were injured, while one militant of the SNA was killed and five were injured in the targeting of the Mazraa Turkish base, the statement added. of one soldier and the injury of another. Turkey says it killed 58 Kurdish militants in northern Syria Reuters reported that Turkish forces have killed 58 Kurdish militants in northern Syria in overnight attacks on militant targets, according to a Defence Ministry statement on Saturday, as conflict in the region escalated nearly a week after a bomb attack in Ankara. Turkey this week said all targets belonging to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militia and the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia were legitimate targets for its forces after the PKK claimed responsibility for Sundays bombing in Ankara which wounded two police officers and killed the two attackers. Turkey said the attackers came from Syria. The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) a coalition of rebel groups spearheaded by the YPG militia denied this. Since the bomb attack, Ankara has launched a barrage of air strikes and ground-based attacks against militant targets in northern Syria and Iraq, while ramping up security operations at home. Targets belonging to PKK/YPG terrorists in northern Syrias Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch, and Peace Spring operation areas were hit strongly all night long, the ministry said, referring to regions where Turkey has previously mounted incursions. The ministry said the operations, which it says are carried out under self-defence rights, had neutralized 58 militants in the region. Ankara typically uses the term neutralized to mean killed. Late on Friday, the ministry had said Turkeys military had conducted air strikes in northern Syria, destroying 15 militant targets where it said militants were believed to be. Hezbollah bombards Israeli positions in disputed area along border with Syrias Golan Heights AP reported that Lebanons Hezbollah militant group fired dozens of rockets and shells on Sunday at three Israeli positions in a disputed area along the countrys border with Syrias Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Hezbollah said in a statement that the attack using large numbers of rockets and shells was in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance. It said the Israeli positions were directly hit. Israels military fired back at the Lebanese areas, but there was no immediate word on casualties. The Israeli army said it shelled the areas where the fire came from on the Lebanese side of the border. Chebaa Farms was captured by Israel from Syria during the 1967 Mideast war, but Lebanon considers it and the nearby Kfar Chouba hills as Lebanese territories. Assad regime shelling kills seven civilians, including children, in northwest Syria: monitor Shelling by regime forces targeting several locations in rebel-held northwest Syria killed seven civilians including four children on Saturday, a war monitor said. Bashar Al-Assads regime has been bombing opposition-held areas in apparent retaliation for an attack on a military academy graduation ceremony in Homs on Thursday that killed dozens of people. Seven civilians, including four children, were killed in ground bombardment by regime forces on several locations on Saturday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor reported. It said three civilians, among them two children, died when government forces shelled a market and homes in the city of Idleb, and two more children were killed in shelling on the Idleb countryside. Two men were also killed in separate bombardments in Aleppo and Idleb provinces, said the Britain-based monitor which has a wide network of sources inside Syria. Idleb province and parts of the neighbouring Aleppo, Hama and Latakia provinces are controlled by the hardline Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as well as more moderate rebel groups. The Observatory said that more than 30 people, mostly civilians, had been killed in government bombardment of rebel-held areas since the Homs attack on Thursday. State media said the attack on the academy had killed 89, while the Observatory reported a higher toll of 123 dead. No group has claimed responsibility for the Homs attack, but the Syrian regime army accused armed terrorist organisations for the attack that used explosive-laden drones, and vowed to respond with full force Since the attack on the Homs military academy, Syrian regime forces have led a relentless bombardment campaign, according to Enab Baladi. The Syrian regime forces have continued their relentless bombardment and military escalation in northern Syria, in collaboration with their Russian allies, for the fifth consecutive day. This has tragically led to casualties, injuries among civilians, and forced displacement as people seek refuge from the relentless attacks. According to preliminary reports from the White Helmets organization on Sunday, two children lost their lives, and a woman suffered a fatal cardiac arrest during the shelling. Additionally, 28 civilians were injured, including two dedicated volunteers from the White Helmets who were also harmed. The ongoing shelling, which began in the morning, has targeted residential neighbourhoods, main roads, a camp, and an educational facility. Fortunately, two individuals trapped under the debris resulting from the shelling were successfully rescued, and several injured individuals received immediate assistance. Local military observers and observatories have shared video footage depicting fires ignited by falling shells and rocket attacks, including the Idleb National Hospital being affected by this relentless violence. Furthermore, regime forces used heavy artillery to bombard the vicinity of the villages of Musaibin, Sarja, and Deir Sneil in the southern countryside of Idleb. This aggression occurred concurrently with the presence of Russian warplanes in areas of northwestern Syria that are beyond the control of the regime. Russian aircraft carried out air strikes with vacuum missiles on the hills of Kabina in the northern countryside of Lattakia. Starting Sunday morning, the regime forces, stationed at checkpoints surrounding Idleb city center, relentlessly launched rocket attacks. Tragically, civilian homes bore the brunt of these attacks, resulting in casualties and injuries. In the city of Sarmin, east of Idleb, the Womens and Family Health Center, affiliated with the White Helmets, was severely damaged and forced out of service due to missile shelling. This latest escalation follows a violent night during which regime forces targeted Darat Azza in the western countryside of Aleppo, using rockets and artillery shells, adding to the distressing situation faced by the affected population. 45 dead: preliminary statistic According to the White Helmets, the toll resulting from the escalation by regime forces and Russia on Saturday reached a devastating count of 11 fatalities and 26 injuries. These casualties were a direct consequence of heavy artillery shellings, rocket launcher attacks, the detonation of cluster bombardment remnants, and airstrikes by warplanes. The attacks targeted more than 15 cities, towns, and villages in the countryside of Aleppo and Idleb. This grim toll is compounded by another report issued on Saturday, which documented the killing of 32 civilians and the injury of 167 others over the course of four days. As of the preparation of this article (on the fifth day), the total number of casualties during the past four days has tragically risen to 45 fatalities. In response to a drone attack that took place at the Military Academy in Homs last Thursday, the Syrian regime placed blame on opposition factions in the north. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of 89 lives and prompted the regime to intensify its military campaign, targeting Idleb, its surrounding areas, and parts of the Aleppo countryside. However, military analysts and experts have cast doubt on this attribution, citing technical factors such as the considerable distance between the opposition-controlled regions and the regime, the varying levels of military capabilities, and the unlikelihood of opposition factions possessing drones capable of covering the large distance to reach the Military Academy in Homs, which spans over 100 kilometres. Statement by the Arab League appears to echo the narrative of the Assad regime, according to al-Souria Net. The Arab League has condemned the recent attack on the Military Academy in Homs, denouncing it as a disgraceful act of terrorism. However, it has refrained from commenting on the escalating actions of the Assad regime in Idleb, which have resulted in the deaths of numerous civilians in recent hours. In a statement released on Friday, the university stated that the attack on the military academy represents a blatant violation of Syrias stability. The statement also conveyed the sincere condolences and sympathy of the General Secretariat of the Arab League to the families of the victims, along with wishes for a swift recovery for the injured. The Arab League emphasized the importance of continuing all efforts aimed at eradicating terrorism in all its forms. It is important to note that the previous statement appears to echo the narrative of the Assad regime, which seeks to justify its attacks on Idleb as a response to the military academy attack. Since Thursday, Assads forces and their allied militias have intensified their bombardment of villages and towns in Idleb and rural Aleppo, resulting in civilian casualties, including women and children. According to the White Helmets, the shelling by the Assad regime has led to seven deaths, including four children, and ten injuries, including children and women. The affected areas include the city of Idleb, the city of Atarib in the western countryside of Aleppo, and the village of Kafrlata in the southern countryside of Idleb. The White Helmets also reported that Russian warplanes carried out airstrikes near the village of Basnqul in the western countryside of Idleb without causing casualties on Saturday morning. Additionally, rocket and artillery shelling by pro-Assad forces targeted cities, villages, and towns such as Sarmin, Jericho, Dana, and Termanin in rural Idleb. The Arab League reinstated Syrias seat to the Assad regime in May and extended an invitation to President Bashar al-Assad to attend the Arab summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This step was taken as part of a gradual approach to reestablish relations with Assad, with a focus on addressing three main issues: halting drug trafficking, facilitating the return of refugees, and advancing the paths toward a political solution in accordance with UN Resolution 2254. However, since Syrias return to the Arab League, the Assad regime has shown limited progress on these three fronts, and reports from Arab and Saudi media suggest that Assad has not fully adhered to the provisions of the Arab Initiative, which is based on a step-for-step approach. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The Syrian army continued its missile and artillery strikes against the positions of HTS, according to Athr Press. Syrian army units stationed in the western outskirts of Aleppo city successfully intercepted and shot down three drones in the citys airspace on Saturday evening, preventing them from reaching their intended targets. This interception coincided with the armys ongoing missile and artillery strikes aimed at the positions of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)(Jabhat al-Nusra and its allies) in the western countryside of Aleppo. Confidential sources informed Athr Press that the army managed to down the first drone as it approached the vicinity of the military academy southwest of the city. Shortly thereafter, they successfully brought down a second drone equipped with an advanced camera that was flying over the western area of the city. A third drone flying over the neighbourhoods west of the city met the same fate. A field source confirmed to Athr Press that none of the citys sites or points, whether civilian or military, were targeted during this incident. The anti-aircraft defences responded promptly, neutralizing the drones before they could reach their intended destinations. In a related development, the towns of Nubl and Zahra in the northern countryside of Aleppo were subjected to two waves of rocket attacks launched by HTS and other pro-Turkish factions from their positions in the northern and western countryside of Aleppo. The first wave of shelling resulted in the injury of more than twenty civilians, with injuries ranging from minor to severe. One critically injured individual was transferred to a hospital in Aleppo for urgent treatment. Local sources in Nubl reported that the rocket strikes caused extensive damage to several houses in the town. Meanwhile, the Syrian army continued its missile and artillery strikes against the positions of HTS in the western countryside of Aleppo. During the recent operations, the army concentrated its firepower on the main headquarters of HTS near the town of Darat Azza, one of the groups key strongholds in the western Aleppo region. The intense rocket and artillery barrages inflicted significant damage on three major facilities belonging to HTS, resulting in casualties among their personnel. Additionally, multiple ammunition depots and various military vehicles were destroyed in the strikes. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. RAINIER When a Longview man dressed in dark clothing, carry a multiround gun, burst into a Rainier home in the early hours of January 2022, he didnt know the now 70-year-old occupant was also armed. Layne Marie Hoffee Keith said she was lying in bed, waiting for her nature show to start, when the intruder blinded her with a light and demanded she hand over money and jewelry. My thought was I got a 50-50 chance of getting out of this, said Hoffee Keith. But, she did. Hoffee Keith retrieved her .22 Derringer in a gun case under her bed, and once the intruder wasnt directly looking at her, she shot him. It was the first time she ever pulled the trigger on the two-shot pistol. I hesitated a split second, (because) he was still standing there, (then) I shot him again, she said. The intruder was Chris Anthony Baratta, 53, of Longview, who pleaded no contest in September to three charges robbery, burglary and attempted murder and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. In addition to the 14 years, he was also sentenced to post-prison supervision. Baratta is in debt, court records state, and heard rumors circulating in Longview that Hoffee Keith had cash stashed in her C Street home a claim Hoffee Keith denies and found to be funny. With his face covered and carrying a pocketknife and flexicuffs, Baratta broke into Hoffee Keiths home just before 7 a.m., armed with a CMMG 9mm AR pistol that was equipped with a silencer, court records show. As he was rummaging through Hoffee Keiths belongings, she, still on her bed, reached for her gun telling the intruder she was only getting her inhaler. After being shot, Baratta fell to the ground outside her bedroom and retaliated by firing wildly into Hoffee Keiths room, court records show. Bullets ripped through her mattress, damaged her hallway, and struck a mustard bottle on her bed leftover from the corndog she ate before falling asleep, Hoffee Keith said. Overall, he fired 17 rounds toward Hoffee Keiths bedroom, but she was never struck; he only stopped firing after his gun was jammed, according to court records. Eventually Baratta crawled out of the victims house and sat on her porch with the gun resting on his lap. Hoffee Keith could hear him yell It hurts, in which she replied: I hope it hurts as much as you scared me. Hoffee Keith said she called the police multiple times. When officers arrived, the suspects co-defendant and ex-wife Deborah Lynn Baratta, 52, of Longview, was getting ready to load her ex-husband into her car, court records state; police arrested him and she drove off. Deborah Lynn Baratta was later arrested Feb. 2, 2022, when she tried to pick up a firearm she bought in Washington, and admitted to police she drove her ex-husband to the scene and attempted to help him escape, according to the report. Investigators report they also discovered Chris Anthony Baratta had been engaging in recent bizarre behavior including plans to live at a friends well-armed compound when civilization falls apart. While in jail, Chris Anthony Baratta reportedly said he was the real victim in this because he was shot in the back. Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify the age of the victim. 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: Illustration of our attacks against image watermarking methods. Upper panel demonstrates the diffusion purification attack for low perturbation budget (imperceptible) watermarks. It adds Gaussian noise to images, creating an indistinguishable region, which results in a certified lower bound on the error of watermark detectors. Noisy images are then denoised using diffusion models. Lower panel depicts our model substitute adversarial attack against high-perturbation budget watermarks. Our attack involves training a substitute classifier, conducting a PGD attack on the substitute model, and using these manipulated images to deceive the black-box watermark detector. Credit: arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2310.00076 Perhaps the most chilling aspect of AI is its capacity to generate deepfake images. For sure, some provide laughs. Arnold Schwarzenegger's face superimposed on Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry pointing a weapon at a fleeing suspect. Mike Tyson transformed into Oprah. Donald Trump morphed into Bob Odenkirk of "Better Call Saul." Nicholas Cage as Lois Lane in "Superman." But recent developments portend a more unsettling trend as digital fakery turns malicious. Just last week, actor Tom Hanks took to social media to denounce an ad using his AI-generated likeness to promote a dental health plan. Popular YouTuber Mr. Beast, who boasts more than 50 billion views for his videos since 2012, was falsely shown offering iPhone 15 Pros for $2. Ordinary citizens are targeted, too. People's faces are appearing in images on social media without their consent. Most disturbing is the rise in incidents of "revenge porn," in which jilted lovers post fabricated images of their former mates in compromising or obscene positions. And as a politically divided United States warily approaches a highly contentious battle for the presidency in 2024, the prospect of forged imagery and videos promises an election of unprecedented ugliness. In addition, the proliferation of fake images cold upend the legal system as we know it. As the national nonprofit media outlet NPR recently reported, lawyers are capitalizing on a hapless public sometimes bewildered over what is true or false and are increasingly challenging evidence produced in court. Hany Farid, who specializes in the analysis of digital images at the University of California, Berkeley, said "That's exactly what we were concerned about, that when we entered this age of deepfakes, anybody can deny reality." "That is the classic liar's dividend," he said, referring to a term first used in 2018 in a report on deepfake's potential assault on privacy and democracy. Major digital media companiesOpenAI, Alphabet, Amazon, DeepMindhave promised to develop tools to combat disinformation. One key approach is the use of watermarking on AI-generated content. But a paper published Sept. 29 on the preprint server arXiv raises troubling news about the ability to curb such digital abuse. Professors at the University of Maryland ran tests demonstrating easy run-arounds of protective watermarks. "We don't have any reliable watermarking at this point," said Soheil Feizi, one of the authors of the report, "Robustness of Ai-Image Detectors: Fundamental Limits and Practical Attacks." Feizi said his team "broke all of them." "The misapplication of AI introduces potential hazards related to misinformation, fraud, and even national security issues like election manipulation," Feizi cautioned. "Deepfakes can result in personal harm, spanning from character defamation to emotional distress, impacting both individuals and broader society. Consequently, the identification of AI-generated content emerges as a crucial challenge to address." The team used a process called diffusion purification, which applies Gaussian noise to a watermark and then removes it. It leaves a distorted watermark that can bypass detection algorithms. The rest of the image is only minimally altered. They further successfully demonstrated that bad actors with access to black-box watermarking algorithms could foist fake photos with markings that trick detectors into believing they are legitimate. Better algorithms will certainly come along. As has been the case with viral attacks, the bad guys will always be working to break whatever defenses the good guys come up with, and the cat-and-mouse game will continue. But Feizi expressed some optimism. "Based on our results, designing a robust watermark is a challenging, but not necessarily impossible, task," he said. For now, people have to perform due diligence when reviewing images containing content that may be important to them. Vigilance, double-checking sources and a good dose of common sense are requisites. More information: Mehrdad Saberi et al, Robustness of AI-Image Detectors: Fundamental Limits and Practical Attacks, arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2310.00076 Journal information: arXiv 2023 Science X Network Ameritas Advisory Services LLC decreased its position in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 61.4% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,931 shares of the companys stock after selling 9,437 shares during the period. Ameritas Advisory Services LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $579,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Stone House Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Philip Morris International during the first quarter valued at $29,000. BOK Financial Private Wealth Inc. bought a new position in Philip Morris International during the first quarter valued at $32,000. Barrett & Company Inc. bought a new position in Philip Morris International during the first quarter valued at $32,000. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in Philip Morris International by 75.0% during the first quarter. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 350 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewSquare Capital LLC increased its position in Philip Morris International by 127.0% during the first quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 370 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 207 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.70% of the companys stock. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts have recently commented on PM shares. UBS Group cut their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $116.00 to $112.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $118.00 to $113.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 2nd. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Bank of America cut their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $118.00 to $111.00 in a report on Friday, September 29th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus restated a buy rating and issued a $114.00 price target on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Monday, October 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Philip Morris International has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $109.92. Philip Morris International Stock Performance PM stock opened at $92.17 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $143.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.83, a PEG ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 0.71. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $94.93 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $95.61. Philip Morris International Inc. has a one year low of $84.00 and a one year high of $105.62. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The company reported $1.60 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.50 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $8.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.76 billion. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 11.63% and a negative return on equity of 127.84%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 14.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.48 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.04 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Philip Morris International Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 12th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 27th will be given a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.64%. This is a positive change from Philip Morris Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $1.27. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 26th. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio is presently 100.58%. Philip Morris International Profile (Free Report) Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Boston Trust Walden Corp grew its stake in iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM Free Report) by 99.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 8,387 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 4,183 shares during the quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corps holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF were worth $1,571,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Annapolis Financial Services LLC raised its holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 94.7% in the 1st quarter. Annapolis Financial Services LLC now owns 148 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 72 shares during the last quarter. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP raised its holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 450.0% in the 1st quarter. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP now owns 154 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 126 shares during the last quarter. Tandem Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in iShares Russell 2000 ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Cowen Prime Advisors LLC acquired a new position in iShares Russell 2000 ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, 25 LLC acquired a new position in iShares Russell 2000 ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $33,000. Get iShares Russell 2000 ETF alerts: iShares Russell 2000 ETF Price Performance Shares of NYSEARCA:IWM opened at $173.00 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $184.62 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $182.15. iShares Russell 2000 ETF has a 12-month low of $162.50 and a 12-month high of $199.26. iShares Russell 2000 ETF Profile iShares Russell 2000 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 2,000 smallest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 2000 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 2000 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dfpg Investments LLC increased its position in shares of Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV Free Report) by 10.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 19,712 shares of the airlines stock after acquiring an additional 1,926 shares during the quarter. Dfpg Investments LLCs holdings in Southwest Airlines were worth $736,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Forum Financial Management LP boosted its stake in shares of Southwest Airlines by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 7,067 shares of the airlines stock valued at $323,000 after purchasing an additional 270 shares during the last quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Southwest Airlines by 3.6% in the first quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC now owns 8,639 shares of the airlines stock valued at $396,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Utah Retirement Systems grew its holdings in Southwest Airlines by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Utah Retirement Systems now owns 50,213 shares of the airlines stock worth $1,691,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares during the period. WT Wealth Management raised its position in shares of Southwest Airlines by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. WT Wealth Management now owns 32,399 shares of the airlines stock valued at $1,054,000 after acquiring an additional 327 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Xponance Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Southwest Airlines by 0.4% in the 2nd quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 75,325 shares of the airlines stock valued at $2,728,000 after purchasing an additional 333 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 78.22% of the companys stock. Get Southwest Airlines alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts recently weighed in on LUV shares. Bank of America downgraded shares of Southwest Airlines from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the company from $45.00 to $35.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. TD Cowen reduced their price target on shares of Southwest Airlines from $40.00 to $37.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Southwest Airlines to $50.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. 22nd Century Group reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Southwest Airlines in a report on Monday, June 26th. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price target on Southwest Airlines from $32.75 to $28.00 in a report on Wednesday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $35.33. Southwest Airlines Price Performance NYSE:LUV opened at $27.08 on Friday. Southwest Airlines Co. has a 52-week low of $26.46 and a 52-week high of $40.38. The company has a market cap of $16.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.77, a P/E/G ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.25. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $30.47 and its 200 day simple moving average is $31.78. Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The airline reported $1.09 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.08 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $7.04 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.98 billion. Southwest Airlines had a return on equity of 5.81% and a net margin of 2.31%. The businesss revenue was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.30 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Southwest Airlines Co. will post 1.75 EPS for the current fiscal year. Southwest Airlines Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 27th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, September 6th were given a $0.18 dividend. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.66%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 5th. Southwest Airliness dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 81.82%. Southwest Airlines Company Profile (Free Report) Southwest Airlines Co operates as a passenger airline company that provide scheduled air transportation services in the United States and near-international markets. As of December 31, 2022, the company operated a total fleet of 770 Boeing 737 aircrafts; and served 121 destinations in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as ten near-international countries, including Mexico, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Belize, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LUV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Southwest Airlines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southwest Airlines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. E2open Parent (NYSE:ETWO Get Free Report) is scheduled to issue its quarterly earnings data after the market closes on Tuesday, October 10th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.04 per share for the quarter. Parties interested in listening to the companys conference call can do so using this link. E2open Parent (NYSE:ETWO Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, July 10th. The company reported $0.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.04 by $0.01. E2open Parent had a positive return on equity of 2.82% and a negative net margin of 147.67%. The firm had revenue of $160.12 million during the quarter. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.07 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect E2open Parent to post $0 EPS for the current fiscal year and $0 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get E2open Parent alerts: E2open Parent Trading Up 2.2 % Shares of E2open Parent stock opened at $4.27 on Friday. E2open Parent has a 1 year low of $3.92 and a 1 year high of $7.20. The firm has a market cap of $1.29 billion, a PE ratio of -1.34, a P/E/G ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 0.67. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $4.78 and a 200-day moving average price of $5.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.94. Insider Activity Institutional Trading of E2open Parent In related news, CEO Michael Farlekas sold 13,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $4.12, for a total transaction of $53,560.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 201,474 shares in the company, valued at approximately $830,072.88. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . In the last quarter, insiders sold 39,000 shares of company stock valued at $181,220. Insiders own 5.78% of the companys stock. Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in E2open Parent by 6.1% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 24,665,559 shares of the companys stock valued at $217,305,000 after acquiring an additional 1,422,730 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in shares of E2open Parent by 16.0% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 18,283,194 shares of the companys stock valued at $107,322,000 after buying an additional 2,524,670 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of E2open Parent by 3.4% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 14,667,758 shares of the companys stock valued at $82,139,000 after buying an additional 478,869 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of E2open Parent by 83.7% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 8,103,999 shares of the companys stock valued at $71,396,000 after buying an additional 3,692,914 shares during the period. Finally, Nomura Holdings Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of E2open Parent by 153.8% during the 4th quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. now owns 5,768,944 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,783,000 after buying an additional 3,495,838 shares during the period. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on ETWO shares. Bank of America lifted their price objective on E2open Parent from $5.00 to $6.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 11th. Craig Hallum lifted their price objective on E2open Parent from $4.50 to $5.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $5.50. View Our Latest Research Report on ETWO About E2open Parent (Get Free Report) E2open Parent Holdings, Inc provides cloud-based and end-to-end supply chain management and orchestration SaaS platform in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. Its software solutions orchestrate supply chains and realize value and return on investment for its blue-chip customers. The company's software combines networks, data, and applications to provide a platform that allows customers to optimize their channel and supply chain across channel shaping, demand sensing, business planning, global trade management, transportation and logistics, collaborative manufacturing, and supply management. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for E2open Parent Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for E2open Parent and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of America upgraded shares of Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. (NYSE:TV Free Report) from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, Marketbeat.com reports. The firm currently has $4.70 target price on the stock, down from their previous target price of $5.00. Several other research firms have also recently commented on TV. TheStreet cut shares of Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. from a c- rating to a d+ rating in a research note on Thursday, September 28th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. in a report on Tuesday, September 19th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. from $6.10 to $5.20 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 29th. Finally, Benchmark reissued a buy rating and set a $12.00 price objective on shares of Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. in a research note on Monday, July 24th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $7.05. Get Grupo Televisa S.A.B. alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. Stock Performance Shares of NYSE TV opened at $2.87 on Thursday. Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. has a 12-month low of $2.77 and a 12-month high of $6.57. The company has a market cap of $1.62 billion, a PE ratio of -2.39, a P/E/G ratio of 9.26 and a beta of 1.53. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $4.04 and a 200-day simple moving average of $4.67. The company has a current ratio of 1.78, a quick ratio of 1.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. (NYSE:TV Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 31st. The company reported $0.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.05 by ($0.04). The business had revenue of $1.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.05 billion. Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. had a negative return on equity of 9.55% and a negative net margin of 17.11%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. will post 0.06 EPS for the current year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TV. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. by 9.3% in the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 158,379 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,853,000 after purchasing an additional 13,444 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. purchased a new stake in Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. in the 1st quarter worth about $111,000. qPULA Trading Management LP acquired a new stake in Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. during the 1st quarter worth about $119,000. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL grew its stake in Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. by 4.9% during the 1st quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 7,438,203 shares of the companys stock valued at $87,027,000 after acquiring an additional 344,658 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Gabelli Funds LLC increased its holdings in shares of Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC now owns 4,138,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $48,415,000 after purchasing an additional 101,800 shares during the period. 37.47% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. (Get Free Report) Grupo Televisa, SAB. operates as a media company in the Spanish-speaking Mexico and internationally. It operates through three segments: Cable, Sky, and Other Businesses. The Cable segment operates cable multiple system that provides basic and premium television subscription, pay-per-view, installation, Internet subscription, and telephone and mobile services subscription services, as well as sales local and national advertising services; and telecommunication facilities, which offers data and long-distance services solutions to carriers and other telecommunications service providers through its fiber-optic network. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Grupo Televisa S.A.B. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Grupo Televisa S.A.B. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. decreased its holdings in shares of Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP Free Report) by 5.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 159,058 shares of the companys stock after selling 9,865 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. owned about 0.07% of Molson Coors Beverage worth $10,472,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of TAP. ProShare Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 17.8% in the 1st quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 27,160 shares of the companys stock worth $1,404,000 after purchasing an additional 4,113 shares during the last quarter. Symmetry Partners LLC bought a new stake in Molson Coors Beverage in the second quarter valued at $200,000. Alpha Omega Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 3.0% during the first quarter. Alpha Omega Wealth Management LLC now owns 94,755 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,897,000 after acquiring an additional 2,718 shares during the period. Leavell Investment Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 17.3% during the first quarter. Leavell Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,846 shares of the companys stock worth $250,000 after acquiring an additional 713 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AE Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 81.7% in the 1st quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,566 shares of the companys stock worth $443,000 after acquiring an additional 3,852 shares during the period. 73.95% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Molson Coors Beverage alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. 58.com reissued a maintains rating on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a research note on Monday, June 26th. Roth Mkm reiterated a buy rating and set a $77.00 price objective on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a research report on Wednesday. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Molson Coors Beverage in a research report on Thursday. They issued a hold rating on the stock. UBS Group boosted their price target on Molson Coors Beverage from $67.00 to $70.00 in a research report on Monday, June 26th. Finally, 51job reissued a maintains rating on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a report on Monday, June 26th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Molson Coors Beverage has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $64.69. Molson Coors Beverage Trading Up 0.2 % Molson Coors Beverage stock opened at $59.20 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $12.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 370.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.86. Molson Coors Beverage has a 1 year low of $46.69 and a 1 year high of $70.90. The firms 50 day moving average price is $63.52 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $62.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 0.87. Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported $1.78 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.63 by $0.15. Molson Coors Beverage had a return on equity of 8.17% and a net margin of 0.31%. The business had revenue of $3.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.31 billion. On average, research analysts predict that Molson Coors Beverage will post 5.07 EPS for the current fiscal year. Molson Coors Beverage Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 1st were paid a dividend of $0.41 per share. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.77%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 31st. Molson Coors Beverages dividend payout ratio is presently 1,025.00%. Molson Coors Beverage Profile (Free Report) Molson Coors Beverage Company manufactures, markets, and sells beer and other malt beverage products under various brands in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers flavored malt beverages including hard seltzers, craft, and ready to drink beverages. It provides its products under Aspall Cider, Blue Moon, Coors Original, Hop Valley brands, Leinenkugel's, Miller Genuine Draft, Molson Ultra, Sharp's, Staropramen, and Vizzy Hard Seltzer above premier brands; Bergenbier, Borsodi, Carling, Coors Banquet, Coors Light, Jelen, Kamenitza, Miller Lite, Molson Canadian Lager, Molson Dry, Molson Export, and Niksicko, Ozujsko under the premium brands; and Branik, Icehouse, Keystone, Miller High Life, Milwaukee's Best, and Steel Reserve under the economy brands. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TAP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Molson Coors Beverage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Molson Coors Beverage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC reduced its holdings in Newmont Co. (NYSE:NEM Free Report) by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 526,330 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 5,364 shares during the period. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC owned about 0.07% of Newmont worth $22,453,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of NEM. Blair William & Co. IL grew its holdings in Newmont by 14.8% in the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 42,511 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $3,378,000 after purchasing an additional 5,484 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. boosted its stake in shares of Newmont by 19.3% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 66,212 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $5,219,000 after acquiring an additional 10,692 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its stake in shares of Newmont by 46.9% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 27,905 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $2,217,000 after acquiring an additional 8,915 shares during the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Newmont by 7.2% in the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 595,641 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $47,324,000 after acquiring an additional 39,765 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its stake in shares of Newmont by 25.8% in the first quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,354 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $108,000 after acquiring an additional 278 shares during the last quarter. 79.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Newmont alerts: Insider Activity at Newmont In related news, CEO Thomas Ronald Palmer sold 11,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.16, for a total value of $463,760.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 267,039 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,258,364.24. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, COO Robert D. Atkinson sold 5,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.47, for a total transaction of $200,585.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 70,751 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,580,288.97. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Thomas Ronald Palmer sold 11,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.16, for a total value of $463,760.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 267,039 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,258,364.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 44,366 shares of company stock worth $1,738,008. 0.07% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on NEM. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on Newmont from $44.00 to $38.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. UBS Group lowered their price target on Newmont from $53.00 to $42.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, August 29th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and issued a $52.00 price target on shares of Newmont in a research note on Wednesday, September 6th. Canaccord Genuity Group reduced their price objective on Newmont from $63.00 to $57.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Finally, TD Securities reduced their price objective on Newmont from $59.00 to $55.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $56.82. View Our Latest Report on Newmont Newmont Trading Up 4.0 % NYSE:NEM opened at $37.80 on Friday. Newmont Co. has a 52 week low of $34.81 and a 52 week high of $60.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 1.87 and a current ratio of 2.28. The stocks fifty day moving average is $39.11 and its two-hundred day moving average is $43.08. Newmont (NYSE:NEM Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The basic materials company reported $0.33 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.39 by ($0.06). Newmont had a negative net margin of 6.77% and a positive return on equity of 5.74%. The business had revenue of $2.68 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.93 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.46 EPS. Newmonts revenue for the quarter was down 12.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that Newmont Co. will post 2.05 EPS for the current year. Newmont Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 21st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 7th were given a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, September 6th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.23%. Newmonts dividend payout ratio is currently -166.66%. Newmont Profile (Free Report) Newmont Corporation engages in the production and exploration of gold. It also explores for copper, silver, zinc, and lead. The company has operations and/or assets in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Peru, Suriname, Argentina, Chile, Australia, and Ghana. As of December 31, 2022, it had proven and probable gold reserves of 96.1 million ounces and land position of 61,500 square kilometers. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NEM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Newmont Co. (NYSE:NEM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Newmont Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Newmont and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Saratoga Investment (NYSE:SAR Get Free Report) will post its quarterly earnings results after the market closes on Monday, October 9th. Analysts expect Saratoga Investment to post earnings of $1.02 per share for the quarter. Individual interested in participating in the companys earnings conference call can do so using this link. Saratoga Investment (NYSE:SAR Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, July 10th. The financial services provider reported $1.08 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.91 by $0.17. The firm had revenue of $34.63 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $32.18 million. Saratoga Investment had a net margin of 22.55% and a return on equity of 11.94%. On average, analysts expect Saratoga Investment to post $4 EPS for the current fiscal year and $4 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Saratoga Investment alerts: Saratoga Investment Stock Up 0.3 % Saratoga Investment stock opened at $24.24 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $290.40 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.07 and a beta of 1.32. The company has a current ratio of 0.08, a quick ratio of 0.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10. The companys 50-day moving average price is $25.90 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $25.83. Saratoga Investment has a 52 week low of $20.30 and a 52 week high of $28.87. Saratoga Investment Increases Dividend Institutional Investors Weigh In On Saratoga Investment The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, September 14th were paid a $0.71 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, September 13th. This represents a $2.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 11.72%. This is a boost from Saratoga Investments previous quarterly dividend of $0.70. Saratoga Investments payout ratio is currently 129.68%. Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Saratoga Investment during the 1st quarter valued at $239,000. Putnam Investments LLC acquired a new stake in Saratoga Investment during the 4th quarter valued at $204,000. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its stake in Saratoga Investment by 50.0% during the 1st quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 7,203 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $182,000 after purchasing an additional 2,400 shares during the period. UBS Group AG raised its stake in Saratoga Investment by 44.3% during the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 5,810 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $158,000 after purchasing an additional 1,783 shares during the period. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in Saratoga Investment during the 1st quarter valued at $127,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 14.57% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes SAR has been the topic of a number of research reports. Raymond James downgraded shares of Saratoga Investment from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday, July 12th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Saratoga Investment in a research report on Thursday. They set a hold rating for the company. View Our Latest Report on SAR Saratoga Investment Company Profile (Get Free Report) Saratoga Investment Corp. is a business development company specializing in leveraged and management buyouts, acquisition financings, growth financings, recapitalization, debt refinancing, and transitional financing transactions at the lower end of middle market companies. It structures its investments as debt and equity by investing through first and second lien loans, mezzanine debt, co-investments, select high yield bonds, senior secured bonds, unsecured bonds, and preferred and common equity. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Saratoga Investment Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Saratoga Investment and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue lifted its holdings in AMETEK, Inc. (NYSE:AME Free Report) by 3.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 36,415 shares of the technology companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,378 shares during the period. State of Alaska Department of Revenues holdings in AMETEK were worth $5,894,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of AME. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its position in AMETEK by 97,096.7% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 13,834,006 shares of the technology companys stock worth $2,239,449,000 after acquiring an additional 13,819,773 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in AMETEK during the 4th quarter worth $509,944,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its position in AMETEK by 643.7% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 3,953,131 shares of the technology companys stock worth $552,332,000 after acquiring an additional 3,421,558 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC lifted its position in AMETEK by 34.9% during the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 10,042,152 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,459,426,000 after acquiring an additional 2,597,135 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in AMETEK by 39,681.6% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,827,569 shares of the technology companys stock worth $255,348,000 after acquiring an additional 1,822,975 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.70% of the companys stock. Get AMETEK alerts: AMETEK Price Performance Shares of AMETEK stock opened at $150.22 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.16, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. The stock has a market capitalization of $34.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.13, a P/E/G ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 1.22. AMETEK, Inc. has a 1-year low of $110.96 and a 1-year high of $164.75. The firms 50-day moving average price is $154.85 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $150.55. AMETEK Announces Dividend AMETEK ( NYSE:AME Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The technology company reported $1.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.52 by $0.05. AMETEK had a net margin of 19.23% and a return on equity of 18.32%. The company had revenue of $1.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.64 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.38 earnings per share. AMETEKs quarterly revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that AMETEK, Inc. will post 6.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, September 14th were given a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, September 13th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.67%. AMETEKs payout ratio is 18.73%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth AME has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Mizuho upped their price objective on shares of AMETEK from $161.00 to $166.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. KeyCorp upped their price objective on shares of AMETEK from $165.00 to $176.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. BNP Paribas initiated coverage on shares of AMETEK in a research note on Thursday. They issued a neutral rating and a $159.00 target price on the stock. Seaport Res Ptn reissued a buy rating on shares of AMETEK in a research note on Monday, August 7th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $182.00 target price on shares of AMETEK in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, AMETEK currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $173.25. Read Our Latest Analysis on AMETEK Insider Transactions at AMETEK In related news, Director Steven W. Kohlhagen sold 1,645 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.74, for a total value of $251,257.30. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 30,264 shares in the company, valued at $4,622,523.36. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, Director Steven W. Kohlhagen sold 1,645 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.74, for a total value of $251,257.30. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 30,264 shares in the company, valued at $4,622,523.36. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CFO William Joseph Burke sold 33,930 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $160.29, for a total transaction of $5,438,639.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 101,937 shares in the company, valued at $16,339,481.73. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 37,140 shares of company stock worth $5,940,876. Corporate insiders own 0.72% of the companys stock. AMETEK Profile (Free Report) AMETEK, Inc manufactures and sells electronic instruments and electromechanical devices in North America, Europe, Asia, and South America. It operates in two segments, Electronic Instruments (EIG) and Electromechanical (EMG). The company's EIG segment offers advanced instruments for the process, aerospace, power, and industrial markets; process and analytical instruments for the oil and gas, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, automation, and food and beverage industries; and instruments to the laboratory equipment, ultra-precision manufacturing, medical, and test and measurement markets.Its EMG segment offers engineered electrical connectors and electronics packaging to protect sensitive devices and mission-critical electronics; precision motion control products for data storage, medical devices, business equipment, automation, and other applications; high-purity powdered metals, strips and foils, specialty clad metals, and metal matrix composites; motor-blower systems and heat exchangers for use in thermal management, military, commercial aircraft, and military ground vehicles; and motors for use in commercial appliances, fitness equipment, food and beverage machines, hydraulic pumps, and industrial blowers. Read More Receive News & Ratings for AMETEK Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AMETEK and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SVB Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU Free Report) by 27.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 16,057 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 3,502 shares during the period. SVB Wealth LLCs holdings in Prudential Financial were worth $1,417,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in PRU. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC increased its position in shares of Prudential Financial by 148.0% during the first quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 6,801 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $563,000 after purchasing an additional 4,059 shares during the period. Wealthfront Advisers LLC increased its position in shares of Prudential Financial by 7.3% during the first quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC now owns 68,271 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $5,649,000 after purchasing an additional 4,653 shares during the period. Pictet Asset Management SA increased its position in shares of Prudential Financial by 2.4% during the first quarter. Pictet Asset Management SA now owns 197,301 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $16,325,000 after purchasing an additional 4,601 shares during the period. Parallel Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Prudential Financial by 3.0% during the first quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 5,411 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $448,000 after purchasing an additional 156 shares during the period. Finally, Perpetual Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Prudential Financial during the first quarter valued at approximately $215,000. 54.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Prudential Financial alerts: Prudential Financial Price Performance Prudential Financial stock opened at $92.89 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.06 and a current ratio of 0.06. The firm has a market cap of $33.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.96, a P/E/G ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.38. The businesss fifty day moving average is $95.00 and its two-hundred day moving average is $88.68. Prudential Financial, Inc. has a 52 week low of $75.37 and a 52 week high of $110.96. Prudential Financial Announces Dividend Prudential Financial ( NYSE:PRU Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The financial services provider reported $2.94 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.04 by ($0.10). Prudential Financial had a return on equity of 15.73% and a net margin of 1.82%. The business had revenue of $12.64 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.68 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.74 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Prudential Financial, Inc. will post 11.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 14th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 22nd were paid a dividend of $1.25 per share. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.38%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 21st. Prudential Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 166.67%. Analysts Set New Price Targets PRU has been the topic of a number of research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Prudential Financial from $121.00 to $119.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday. Piper Sandler upped their price target on Prudential Financial from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Barclays upped their price target on Prudential Financial from $91.00 to $101.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an equal weight rating and issued a $102.00 price target on shares of Prudential Financial in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Finally, Raymond James upgraded Prudential Financial from a market perform rating to a strong-buy rating and set a $125.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 24th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Prudential Financial has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $102.91. Check Out Our Latest Report on Prudential Financial Prudential Financial Profile (Free Report) Prudential Financial, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through PGIM, Retirement Strategies, Group Insurance, Individual Annuities, Individual Life, Assurance IQ, and International Businesses segments. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PRU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Prudential Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Prudential Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SVB Wealth LLC reduced its stake in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 20.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 12,551 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,275 shares during the quarter. SVB Wealth LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $1,225,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Dfpg Investments LLC increased its holdings in Philip Morris International by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter. Dfpg Investments LLC now owns 62,159 shares of the companys stock worth $6,139,000 after purchasing an additional 497 shares during the last quarter. Aspire Private Capital LLC raised its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 15.6% in the 2nd quarter. Aspire Private Capital LLC now owns 5,390 shares of the companys stock valued at $526,000 after purchasing an additional 727 shares in the last quarter. OmniStar Financial Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 52.5% in the 2nd quarter. OmniStar Financial Group Inc. now owns 16,965 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,656,000 after purchasing an additional 5,839 shares in the last quarter. Sweet Financial Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 45.1% in the 2nd quarter. Sweet Financial Partners LLC now owns 19,246 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,879,000 after purchasing an additional 5,986 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mayfair Advisory Group LLC raised its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 4.2% in the 2nd quarter. Mayfair Advisory Group LLC now owns 4,207 shares of the companys stock valued at $411,000 after purchasing an additional 170 shares in the last quarter. 79.70% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday. They issued a hold rating on the stock. UBS Group cut their target price on Philip Morris International from $116.00 to $112.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on Philip Morris International from $118.00 to $113.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on Philip Morris International from $113.00 to $111.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, August 22nd. Finally, Barclays dropped their price target on Philip Morris International from $115.00 to $110.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, September 21st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $109.92. Philip Morris International Price Performance Shares of NYSE PM opened at $92.17 on Friday. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 1-year low of $84.00 and a 1-year high of $105.62. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $94.93 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $95.61. The firm has a market capitalization of $143.08 billion, a PE ratio of 17.83, a P/E/G ratio of 1.97 and a beta of 0.71. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The company reported $1.60 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.50 by $0.10. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 127.84% and a net margin of 11.63%. The firm had revenue of $8.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.76 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.48 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 14.5% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.04 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Philip Morris International Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 12th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, September 27th will be paid a $1.30 dividend. This is a boost from Philip Morris Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $1.27. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 26th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.64%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio is presently 100.58%. Philip Morris International Profile (Free Report) Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Textron (NYSE:TXT Free Report) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note released on Thursday. A number of other research analysts also recently weighed in on TXT. Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of Textron from $76.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 15th. Citigroup increased their price target on Textron from $90.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Finally, Susquehanna restated a positive rating and issued a $89.00 price objective on shares of Textron in a research report on Monday, September 25th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $86.00. Get Textron alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on Textron Textron Trading Up 1.9 % Shares of NYSE:TXT opened at $76.90 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 1.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. Textron has a 52-week low of $58.80 and a 52-week high of $80.60. The stock has a market cap of $15.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.68, a PEG ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 1.47. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $76.95 and a 200-day moving average price of $70.36. Textron (NYSE:TXT Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The aerospace company reported $1.46 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.21 by $0.25. The company had revenue of $3.42 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.42 billion. Textron had a net margin of 6.88% and a return on equity of 13.83%. The firms revenue was up 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.00 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Textron will post 5.28 EPS for the current year. Textron Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, October 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th were issued a dividend of $0.02 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $0.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.10%. Textrons payout ratio is currently 1.84%. Insider Activity In related news, Director R Kerry Clark sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.33, for a total transaction of $376,650.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 13,870 shares in the company, valued at $1,044,827.10. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.70% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Textron Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Textron by 3.3% during the 2nd quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 4,227 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $286,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares during the last quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in Textron by 2.9% in the 2nd quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 4,930 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $333,000 after buying an additional 139 shares in the last quarter. First City Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Textron by 1.8% in the 1st quarter. First City Capital Management Inc. now owns 8,401 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $562,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Textron by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. now owns 30,482 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $2,153,000 after acquiring an additional 153 shares during the period. Finally, Contravisory Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Textron by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. now owns 8,059 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $545,000 after acquiring an additional 158 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.92% of the companys stock. About Textron (Get Free Report) Textron Inc operates in the aircraft, defense, industrial, and finance businesses worldwide. It operates through six segments: Textron Aviation, Bell, Textron Systems, Industrial, Textron eAviation, and Finance. The Textron Aviation segment manufactures, sells, and services business jets, turboprop and piston engine aircraft, and military trainer and defense aircraft; and offers maintenance, inspection, and repair services, as well as sells commercial parts. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Textron Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Textron and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) in a report issued on Thursday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the financial services providers stock. WFC has been the subject of several other reports. Raymond James lifted their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $48.00 to $51.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, July 3rd. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. Atlantic Securities lifted their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $50.00 to $52.50 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating and issued a $44.00 price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Friday, September 22nd. Finally, VNET Group reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Monday, June 26th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Wells Fargo & Company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $48.02. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on Wells Fargo & Company Wells Fargo & Company Price Performance WFC stock opened at $39.69 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $42.20 and a 200-day moving average of $41.37. Wells Fargo & Company has a 12-month low of $35.25 and a 12-month high of $48.84. The company has a market cap of $145.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.92, a PEG ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.12. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.25 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.16 by $0.09. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 16.18% and a return on equity of 11.15%. The business had revenue of $20.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.11 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.74 EPS. The companys revenue was up 20.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.84 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wells Fargo & Company Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 4th were paid a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.53%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 3rd. This is a positive change from Wells Fargo & Companys previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio is 35.00%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Wells Fargo & Company Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Members Trust Co raised its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 7.7% during the third quarter. Members Trust Co now owns 6,861 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $281,000 after acquiring an additional 488 shares during the period. West Oak Capital LLC increased its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 11.4% in the third quarter. West Oak Capital LLC now owns 6,375 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $260,000 after purchasing an additional 650 shares during the period. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 53.7% in the third quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 54,828 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,240,000 after purchasing an additional 19,164 shares during the period. Allied Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 2.1% in the third quarter. Allied Investment Advisors LLC now owns 200,791 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $8,204,000 after purchasing an additional 4,035 shares during the period. Finally, Fulton Bank N.A. increased its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 12.7% in the third quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. now owns 24,768 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,012,000 after purchasing an additional 2,800 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.47% of the companys stock. About Wells Fargo & Company (Get Free Report) Wells Fargo & Company, a diversified financial services company, provides banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Wells Fargo & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wells Fargo & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Party Central Committees 8th plenum wraps up By VNA/The Investor Sun, October 8, 2023 | 4:03 pm GTM+7 The 13th Party Central Committee concluded its 8th plenum on Sunday morning, with all of its agenda completed after seven working days. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong addresses the closing ceremony of the 8th plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee on October 8, 2023 in Hanoi. Photo courtesy of Vietnam News Agency. Speaking at the closing ceremony, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said that amidst difficulties and challenges of the world and domestic situation, it is necessary to prioritize promoting and improving growth quality, creating jobs and increasing income for workers on the basis of maintaining macro-economic stability, ensuring major balances of the economy, and ensuring social welfare. The Party leader assessed that in the past 10 years, Vietnam has obtained many important results and achievements, increasingly demonstrating the superiority of the political system. Trong noted that Vietnam is a leading country in reducing poverty, implementing the millennium development goals and sustainable development goals of the United Nations, with social welfare policies being continually improved. He requested to keep a close watch on the international and domestic situation to promptly make appropriate and effective decisions, strive to achieve the highest level of major goals and targets for 2023 and the entire 13th term. To successfully achieve the set goals, the Party chief stressed the need to urgently and seriously build and implement guidelines and policies concertedly and effectively; continue to promote the tradition of great national unity in the new period of development; supplement and improve laws and policies in accordance with the new situation to better promote the strength of all classes of people, and inspire the will and aspirations for development of the entire nation; and maintain the building and rectification of the Party and the political system. It is also important to continue improving the validity and efficiency of the State's activities in building and implementing national solidarity policies; promoting socialist democracy, taking the people as the center, the subject, the main resource and driving force, and the goal of national unity; and at the same time innovating the operations of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations, and mass associations to make them truly represent the legitimate rights and interests of the people, and better serve national development, said the Party General Secretary. The 8th plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee wraps up on October 8, 2023 in Hanoi. Photo courtesy of Vietnam News Agency. He also emphasized the necessity to maintain and strengthen the Party's absolute and direct leadership in all aspects, as well as the State's centralized and unified management and administration for the cause of national building and safeguarding; while ensuring national interests at the highest level based on the basic principles of the United Nations Charter, international law, equality, cooperation, and mutual benefit; and firmly pursuing the goal of national independence and socialism; and maintaining a peaceful, stable environment and favourable conditions for the building and development of the country. Attention should also be paid to increasing appropriate investment in building all-people national defence, people's security and people's armed forces so as to meet the requirements of protecting the Fatherland early and from afar, and not being passive or surprised in all situations; intensifying international integration and improving the effectiveness of international cooperation, the Party chief stressed. During the plenum, the 13th Party Central Committee have discussed and gave concluding opinions on the country's socio-economic situation, State budget in 2023 and plan for 2024, State financial and budget plan for the 2024-26 period, and roadmap for implementing the new salary regime. The 8th plenum also discussed and agreed to set up five sub-committees - documents, socio-economic, personnel, Party charter, and Party Congress serving staff - to prepare for the 14th National Party Congress. 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This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. To sign-up for EZ-Pay, call us at (903) 785-6901 or e-mail us at circulation@theparisnews.com. We will use the information you provide to change your current billing to EZ-PAY. Your current subscription delivery schedule will not be changed. No refunds for early cancellations. Remainder of early cancellation funds will be donated to Newspapers in Education. CARBONDALE An interdisciplinary, international conference next week at Southern Illinois University Carbondale will focus on the work of American philosopher and educator John Dewey and highlight the resurgence of the universitys Center for Dewey Studies. John Dewey and His Legacy for Education will feature 85 presentations both virtual and on campus with Dewey scholars from around the world, including Estonia, Canada, Japan, China, India, Germany and The Netherlands. On Oct. 12 through 14, they will examine the impact of Deweys progressive educational philosophy. The Center for Dewey Studies, the School of Education, the School of History and Philosophy, and Morris Library are sponsoring the symposium. More than 110 people have already registered. The Center for Dewey Studies, located in the basement in Morris Library, is the main repository in the world for Dewey material, and his scholarship is just as relevant today as it was during his lifetime (1859 to 1952), said Matthew Brown, a professor of philosophy and Center for Dewey Studies director. This is going to be a great opportunity to show off the resources that we have here at SIU and the community of Dewey scholars connected with SIU in some way or another, Brown said. We have a lot of former students who are coming to present who now are professors all over the world and people who have come here in the past to do research with the archives that we have here. Initially established as the Cooperative Research on Dewey Publications in 1961, the center has published the definitive critical edition of Dewey's writings as The Collected Works of John Dewey, The Correspondence of John Dewey, and The Class Lectures of John Dewey. Through the work of the center, SIU is the home of Deweys archival papers, manuscripts, and correspondence, which are housed in the Morris Librarys Special Collections Research Center, along with Deweys personal and professional library. The center was without a director or staff from 2017 to 2022 as a result of the states budget impasse, although Brown noted work relating to Dewey was able to continue and many researchers used SIUs resources through the Special Collections Research Center. Brown said he came to SIU Carbondale last fall from the University of Texas with the announcement of the centers renewal. I have known about the Dewey Center since I was a graduate student and relied heavily on the items the center produced in my work, said Brown, who earned his masters and doctoral degrees in philosophy in 2006 and 2009, respectively, from the University of California, San Diego. Shifting focus Brown explained that historically the centers focus has been on the publication of Deweys own writings and materials and supporting researchers, but the vein of Deweys own writings has kind of been mined. While the center will still support those short- and long-term research efforts and digitizing material to make it more accessible, Brown sees adding outreach and scholarly activities into the mix. That includes organizing lectures and related events related to Deweys legacy of work in philosophy, democracy and education. We plan to host annually different kinds of events for researchers to exchange ideas and information, he said. We also are running a reading group now in its second semester, where we gather interested students and scholars from around the world and from the local community for a hybrid in-person and online reading group. This semester, we are reading Deweys book Human Nature and Conduct: An Introduction to Social Psychology from 1922, one of his most important works on psychology and ethics. Deweys educational, democracy theories still very relevant Brown noted Dewey wrote on a wide variety of topics during his long career, including psychology, art, religion, logic and naturalism. What holds it all together is a focus on human growth and social nature of human life, he said. Deweys theory on education that emphasized learning by doing and the school as a social center is still relevant, with experiential learning, inquiry-based learning and project-based learning going back to Deweys ideas more than 100 years ago. He was fighting against the model of education where its all about the individual student downloading information from the teacher at the front of the room, to students working together and developing their problem-solving skills by actually doing things teaching chemistry through cooking or teaching archaeology through projects rather than written learning, Brown said. As for democracy, Dewey was particularly interested in how democracy, community life and modes of communication interacted, Brown said. Although he was working on this 100 years ago, a lot of what he says about how we communicate and how to interact with our ability to have a functioning democracy is really relevant in the context of social media and misinformation, Brown said. He was very much worried about analogous problems about what we call the old media, and there are things he wrote about that you would think hes talking about X, or Twitter, rather than newspapers. Going forward Browns goals for the center are that it continues to support and encourage research that that both attempts to understand Dewey and his historical context and gives a wider understanding of Deweys thought and activity, and also continues the intellectual and practical activities that he started. He also wants the center to return to its status as a hub of activity for Dewey studies globally. In addition to conferences, the reading group and workshops, Brown said hes working on developing a robust visiting fellows program to support scholars coming to SIU Carbondale who want to work with the Dewey archives and who are interested in being part of this intellectual community working on Dewey and his ideas and projects for extended periods of time. Brown said the center is grateful for the vital support provided by Jun Zhou and the Maitreya International Community. Their generosity helps us strengthen the legacy of John Dewey. CHICAGO The president of the United Auto Workers and other labor leaders headlined a rally Saturday in Chicago to maintain union members' support for a strike against Detroit automakers that is now in its fourth week. UAW President Shawn Fain, using language that has become familiar over the past month, portrayed the strike a pivotal moment for organized labor and part of a war pitting working people against "the billionaire class and corporate greed." Fain provided no new details on negotiations or whether talks continued on Saturday. A spokeswoman for Stellantis, which owns the Jeep, Ram and Dodge brands, said there was nothing to update Saturday. Representatives of Ford and General Motors did not immediately reply to requests for comment. The union claimed a breakthrough on Friday, when GM agreed to put workers at new electric vehicle battery plants under the UAW's national contract. On Friday night, Ford repeated its previous statement that the plants haven't even been built, and when they are, workers will decide whether to join the union. The strike began Sept. 15 at three assembly plants, one operated by each company, and has since expanded to GM and Stellantis parts centers and another Ford plant and another GM one. The UAW did not announce new targets on Friday, citing progress in talks. The UAW is seeking pay raises of 36% over four years and other benefits. The union says Ford has offered wage hikes of 23% over four years, with GM and Stellantis at about 20%. Fain was joined at Saturday's rally by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and leaders of the Chicago Teachers Union, the Association of Flight Attendants and KMU, the largest trade union in the Philippines. (TBTCO) - Cac quan chuc Cuc Du tru Lien bang My (FED) uoc cho la se giu nguyen lai suat on inh o muc cao nhat trong 22 nam khi ket thuc cuoc hop keo dai hai ngay vao thu tu, 1/11. Tuy nhien, cac nha au tu va nha kinh te se theo doi cac dau hieu e thay lieu lai suat co giu nguyen nhu vay hay khong - hoac lieu ngan hang trung uong co con nghi rang ho co the can phai tang lai suat tro lai trong nhung thang toi hay khong? 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). Before the railway system closed, and reversed the fortunes of vast swathes of Trinidad, there was a thriving village called St Johns, deep in the interior of Trinidad, where people lived with little complaint. No one became rich, but no one went without since there was wildlife cavorting right behind your house, you ate what you planted in forest gardens, and people lived in airy homes constructed strong by the village men using the timber pulled out of the bush by bison power. 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. Sod turned for new Hospital: Prime Minister Keith Rowley, centre, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh and Glenda Jennings-Smith, parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of National Security and MP for Toco/Sangre Grande, turn the sod yesterday for the new Sangre Grande hospital. The new facility will function as a partner with the current Sangre Grande Hospital and the Enhanced Health Centre in providing a comprehensive set of healthcare services to the communities in East Trinidad. I really cant understand what the hype is about with respect to the President calling out t The Sabino High School Hall of Fame has inducted neuroscientist Jeremy Richman, saying he helped to change how the medical and neuroscience communities look at the human brain and emotional wellness. Richman graduated from Sabino High School in 1988. He earned his bachelors degrees in molecular and cellular biology and a doctorate degree in pharmacology and toxicology from the University of Arizona and his post-doctorial education from Vanderbilt University. His 6-year-old daughter, Avielle, was one of the 26 children and educators killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012. Afterward, Richman and his wife, Jennifer Hensel, founded the nonprofit Avielle Foundation, whose goal is to prevent violence through brain health research and fostering of community. Richman, who died in 2019, received numerous awards for his research and the Avielle Foundations efforts. He was a faculty lecturer for the psychiatry department at Yale Universitys School of Medicine and served as an advisor to many national and international organizations that study brain health, human violence patterns and peace. The Hall of Fame induction took place Friday, Oct. 6, at Sabino High, 5000 N. Bowes Road, in Tucson Unified School District. Teacher of Excellence named Randy Cueto is the Arizona English Teachers Associations 2023 Elementary Teacher of Excellence. Cueto teaches at TUSDs Sam Hughes Elementary, 700 N. Wilson Ave. The nonprofit Arizona English Teachers Association is the state affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of English, working to foster communication skills and language arts for students from kindergarten through college or university levels. National teaching prize Jeremy Tarbet, an automotive teacher at Canyon del Oro High School, is one of 25 winners nationwide of the 2023 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. Tarbet and his school received a $50,000 check at a surprise ceremony, including $35,000 for Canyon del Oro and $15,000 for Tarbet. The school at 25 W. Calle Concordia is in Amphitheater Public Schools district. In total, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools is awarding $1.5 million in prizes to 25 skilled trades teachers, to recognize outstanding instruction in U.S. public high schools and teachers who inspire students to learn skills to prepare for life after graduation. Tarbet was a finalist for the prize in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Raytheon education awards announced Leah Rosthenhausler Tucson Values Teachers and Raytheon Missiles & Defense announced the winners of the eighth annual Raytheon Leaders in Education Award. Recipients are: Pre-K, Leah Rosthenhausler (Valley View Early Learning Center, Catalina Foothills School District); grades K-5, Jillian Powers (grade 2, Douglas Elementary School, Flowing Wells Unified School District); grades 6-8, Thomas Edelbrock (band, Cross Middle School, Amphitheater Public Schools); grades 9-12, Bridget Montoya (mathematics and CTE, Flowing Wells High School, Flowing Wells Unified School District). The awards program recognizes outstanding classroom performance, demonstrated leadership in schools and communities, and support of peers. Raytheon will award each of the four winners $2,500, plus an additional $2,500 in matching gifts to each of their schools, for a total of $20,000. Eight other finalists will receive $500 each. They are: Natashia Novak (pre-K, Ocotillo Learning Center, Sunnyside Unified School District); Heather Tretta (pre-K, Innovation Academy, Amphitheater Public Schools); Sarah Hitchings (grade 2, Hendricks Elementary School, Flowing Wells Unified School District), Brianna Mounts (grade 3, Keeling Elementary School, Amphitheater Public Schools). Also, Shauna McGlamery (grades 7-8, art and yearbook, Flowing Wells Junior High School, Flowing Wells Unified School District), Wendy Nogami (grade 8, English, Flowing Wells Junior High School, Flowing Wells Unified School District); Jason Brown (grades 10-12, resource mathematics, Flowing Wells High School, Flowing Wells Unified School District), and Eve McOmber (Air Force Junior Reserve officer training, Desert View High School, Sunnyside Unified School District). The Raytheon Leaders in Education Award winners and finalists will be recognized at Stand Up 4 Teachers, presented by Tucson Electric Power, at the Westin La Paloma on Nov. 16. The event will also honor Garry Brav with the 2023 Spirit of Education Award. The Arizona Commerce Authority could not show it confirmed companies that received nearly $11 million in incentives proved they invested the money or hired workers as promised, a new audit reveals. "ACA's lack of verification documentation increases risk of fraud and waste of public money,'' State Auditor General Lindsey Perry said in her report to the Arizona Legislature. The agency "lacks oversight and accountability mechanisms for ensuring businesses meet job creation and capital investment requirements," she said. Confirming such information is a key goal set for the Commerce Authority. Not doing so or at least being unable to prove it brought a sharp rebuke from former Gov. Jan Brewer, who championed the authority's creation by the Legislature in 2011. "That's wrong,'' Brewer told Capitol Media Services in an interview last week. "We need that data to see what our return is, and if you don't have it, obviously you cant prove anything, right?'' The former governor is a fan, however, of Sandra Watson, president and CEO of the authority. It was Brewer, a Republican, who named Watson to head the agency when it was created as part of a package of laws that eliminated the old Department of Commerce. Brewer and the Legislature replaced that department with the unusually structured Commerce Authority, charging it with luring new business to the state. That package also included a big corporate tax cut. "It was a new public-private partnership that was a big thing for Arizona when I did that,'' Brewer said. "It was huge, and it was the right thing to do. But you have to keep good records.'' The Commerce Authority started out getting $25 million a year in state funds and now receives as much as $100 million a year to hand out to companies through various grant and incentive programs it runs. The new deep-dive audit into the Commerce Authority was part of a so-called "Sunset Review'' done in advance of the Legislature debating next year whether to reauthorize the agency or allow it to "sunset" and be eliminated. It's the third audit the ACA has undergone in the past eight years, and the previous reviews found no similar issues. Normally, agencies have just one audit in that time period. The report found that although Watson's agency met some legal requirements for overseeing $100 million in federal money Arizona received in 2022 to expand broadband internet service in the state, it lacked the required documentation for some companies receiving the money. It also lacked rules for evaluating grant applications and written policies and procedures for overseeing that pool of cash. And nearly two years after receiving the $100 million, it had yet to finalize policies and procedures for the grant program, the audit concluded. The agency could not even show auditors drafts of those items. The Commerce Authority runs the state broadband office. In June, Gov. Katie Hobbs announced the state was getting another $993 million in federal money that would be doled out by the agency. Watson was one of just a handful of agency directors Hobbs retained in their jobs when she took office in January. Not having rules in place, said Perry, means there is an increased risk of the money being misused or of inaccurate reporting. That could come back to bite the Commerce Authority and the taxpayers who fund it. "Ultimately, the ACA could be responsible for repaying any questioned costs to the federal government,'' the audit said. The ACA agreed to a series of recommendations made by the auditors. But Watsons pushback began even before the report was released a week ago. In her written response to the auditor's report, Watson praised Perry for her "service to our state and coordination over the last year,'' as Perrys staff did the audit. Watson then turned that praise inward, touting ACA talking points that her agency "has successfully won 1,180 competitive projects, representing a projected 267,000 new jobs with average wages of $60,000 and over $113.4 billion invested in Arizona communities across the state.'' But the formal response went on to contradict several of Perry's findings, insisting the ACA did indeed have documentation showing that companies that won grants and tax credits created the jobs and made the investments they were required to make. Perry, however, in an unusual "comments to the ACA response,'' wrote that Watson was deflecting from the findings. "The ACA has included certain statements in its response that misrepresent our work, mislead the reader, and deflect attention from the message that the ACA needs to improve its performance in various areas,'' she wrote. Comments by the auditor on an agencys response are sometimes included in a final report that's happened in three of the 30 audits it released in the past two years. But none were so blunt in calling out what the auditor general called misrepresentations. For instance, the ACA included in its response a table showing it collected all necessary information on one big grant program. But Perry said none of the 21 granted tax credits the auditor reviewed showed evidence that was done. Former Arizona House Speaker Kirk Adams questions the audit findings. The Republican was speaker when the law creating the ACA was enacted. He noted in a Friday interview that the auditor general is an office of the Legislature and, as such, can sometimes be influenced by lawmakers. "So just color me skeptical a little bit about the independence of this audit, because I know the sort of back-end politics of how this works at the legislative level,'' Adams said. "This reads to me like they were trying to reach a conclusion for a policy purpose, or a policy debate, rather than sort of a straight-laced independent audit.'' Current House Speaker Ben Toma and Senate President Warren Petersen, both Republicans, declined to comment on the new audit, saying they had not yet reviewed its findings. Adams suggested there might be some politics involved, noting that some conservative groups dislike the ACA because it grants incentives. More importantly, he pointed out, similar audits in both 2015 and 2017 found no similar issues. And this audit, he noted, did not find any money was actually misspent. "They didn't find any misuse of funds or fraud,'' he said. "They said that there is a risk, but they didn't even identify the risk,'' Adams continued. "I'll just say it's not thorough. It's not a thorough finding.'' The conclusions of the audit aside, Adams said the Commerce Authority and the grants and tax incentives it oversees have been a key factor in the states economic revival in the wake of the Great Recession. Major companies have moved to or expanded in the state, and the economy is no longer dependent on new home construction to the degree it was before the 2011 law creating the agency. "If you look at what's happened, you can make an argument its the most successful economic policy that the state has ever done,'' Adams said. "I mean, the state economically has been completely transformed.'' PHOENIX Attorney General Kris Mayes is accusing top Republican legislators of trying to do an end-run around the lawmaking process by asking the state Supreme Court to make a change in how appellate judges are elected. In a new court filing, lawyers for Mayes pointed out that House Speaker Ben Toma pushed a measure through the Legislature earlier this year, on a party-line vote, to allow all Arizonans, regardless of where they live, to vote on all judges for the state Court of Appeals. That ended up being vetoed by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who said she believed the move would unfairly dilute the votes of some Arizonans by having the choice of appellate judges from their area decided by voters from the entire state. Now Toma and Senate President Warren Petersen have joined with the Goldwater Institute, which supported his proposal, to claim that the system they sought unsuccessfully to overturn is unconstitutional. Mayes told the justices they should spurn their effort. (They) now turn to the court to achieve what they could not in the political arena, Mayes said. Policy disagreement with the governor is no basis for a constitutional claim. And if nothing else, the attorney general said there is no reason they should be able to skip having to make their arguments to a trial judge who can hear evidence and witnesses and instead go directly to the states high court. And she derided claims by Goldwater, which lobbies against government regulation, often on behalf of business, that there is a need for immediate Supreme Court action, bypassing the traditional process. Petitioners try to concoct an emergency where none exists, Mayes told the justices through lawyers for her office. The laws and procedures petitioners challenge have been in place for decades. The system being challenged goes back to 1964 when the Legislature set up the Court of Appeals into two divisions. Division One consists of Maricopa, Yuma, Mohave, Coconino, Yavapai, La Paz, Navajo and Apache counties. Division Two has Pima, Pinal, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Greenlee, Graham and Gila counties. Appellate judges are now chosen by the governor, who has to fill vacancies according to formulas on how many come from each area. And the chosen judges stand for reelection every four years on a retain-or-reject basis; if turned out of office, the process of gubernatorial appointment starts over. But the system is even more complex than that. For example, someone who lives in Pima County can vote to retain or reject only appellate judges who were selected from that county by the governor. Residents of the other counties in Division II Pinal, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Greenlee, Graham and Gila counties can cast ballots only for judges who were picked from among those six counties. The same situation exists in Division I, with Maricopa residents entitled to vote on the future of appellate judges only from their county, and residents of Yuma, La Paz, Mohave, Coconino, Yavapai. Navajo or Apache counties entitled to weigh in only on appellate judges from those seven counties. But Arizona law actually allows judges from either division to hear cases that started in the other one. So, someone appealing a case that began in Maricopa County could end up having to argue it in front of a panel of judges, none of whom came from that county. Jonathan Riches, the attorney for the Goldwater Institute, said thats not fair. He said it means that litigants will frequently be subject to appellate decisions where they never voted for a single judge on the panel. It comes down to a really simple principle: Every Arizonan should have the right to vote on judges that affect them, said Riches who is representing four individuals from various counties who cant vote for each and every appellate judge. And the current system doesnt allow that. One problem with all that, said Mayes, is that it was the Legislature that created the dual-division system and set it up that way in 1964. And she said lawmakers have kept it in place despite numerous changes to the whole appellate process. But she said there are specific legal reasons for the Supreme Court to send the challengers packing. It starts, Mayes said, with a requirement that anyone seeking judicial relief has to have standing to sue. And what that requires, she said, is some distinct and palpable injury. Mayes told the justices that does not exist here. The alleged injury being subject to decisions by judges whom petitions did not get to for to retain (or not retain) is not only abstract, but entirely novel, she said. And then theres the idea of having the Supreme Court implement something that Toma and supporters of the change could not achieve politically. This court is not well-suited to craft a remedy like the one urged here, which essentially involves the writing of a new law, Mayes told the justices. She also said that the whole argument about who gets to vote on which judges is fundamentally flawed. Judges do not represent people, they serve people, the attorney general said. When a person comes under the jurisdiction of an Arizona court, her rights are protected by our states robust due process protections and high standards of judicial professionalism, Mayes continued. Concerns about representation are therefore simply not relevant to the makeup of the judiciary. Mayes also said there would be far-reaching implications if the Supreme Court accepted the arguments by Goldwater, Toma and Petersen about people being entitled to have cases heard in a court where they had a chance to vote for a judge. Consider, she said, a state law that says that when someone from any county sues the state, the case can be transferred to Maricopa County. Such cases, by their nature, are likely to have statewide effect, and (the law on change of venue) virtually ensures that a disproportionate number of them will be heard in Maricopa County (Superior Court), even though only Maricopa County residents may vote in Maricopa County retention elections, Mayes said. Following the argument by challengers to the current appellate system, she said would appear to say that only trial judges who are elected on a statewide basis could hear such lawsuits. And what it also ignores, the attorney general said, is that the Arizona Constitution allows any retired judge from any county to hear any case anywhere in the state, a move that helps deal with judicial workload. The bottom line, said Mayes, is there is no evidence that anyones rights have been violated, requiring a judicial remedy. It is, instead, one in which petitioners started by identifying their desired remedy and then went searching for a right that might fit, she said, yet failed to find one. As their lack of authority indicates, no such right is to be found in Arizonas Constitution. In her veto of Tomas measure earlier this year, Hobbs said she is open to some changes. She noted, though, that the bill sent to her would have required a vote of all residents throughout the state, even though it would retain the two divisions, complete with the requirements for judges to be selected according to where they live. That, she said, is not an answer. Anna Codutti Tulsa World Breaking News Editor Follow Anna Codutti 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 answer to the affordable housing crisis is north Tulsa, Casey Robinson says. About 12,000 single-family homes are sitting vacant, according to the latest citywide assessment from Housing Solutions. Robinson and his wife, Maggie Robinson, are buying them up, along with distressed multi-family residences that otherwise might remain vacant and abandoned nothing anyone would want to rent. Outside a 100-year-old building theyre remodeling, the Robinsons point out all the spots that were riddled with black mold. And the building was occupied when they bought it. You could smell it. I couldnt believe people were living there, Maggie says. Casey nods along. The previous landlord was taking advantage, he said, choosing tenants who were fearful of having nowhere else to go or getting into trouble with law enforcement. The property owners know they can get by with whatever with them, Casey says. Luckily, hes out of the picture now. The Robinsons are native Tulsans, raising their four kids here. Several years ago, they bought a 14-unit housing complex in a blighted area of Kendall Whittier. After a full remodel, they kept the rent affordable, allowing them to prioritize tenants on their recovery journey from drug and alcohol addiction. We felt so fulfilled by that; we just kept on doing it, Casey says, adding that its their passion because of how addiction issues affected their family. Really, they just need a second chance. Its hard to pull yourself up by the bootstrap if no one will sell you a pair of boots. Second chance properties, tenants Since that first complex, the Robinsons have given second chances to dozens of other properties in Tulsa, while prioritizing second-chance tenants and affordability. Theyd be even more affordable if not for the pandemic, Casey says. After COVID caused prices to skyrocket for building materials, renovating on a budget took creativity, he says. He once drove all the way to Kansas to buy three years worth of discounted items so they wouldnt have to pass on added costs to renters. As of the first week of October, Casey says they have 40 units worth of housing currently under construction. With just six employees, it can sometimes take months after purchasing a new house or building for Robinson Properties to begin renovations. A tour of the neighborhoods around Archer and Harvard shows vibrant life in the area where Robinson Properties has made extensive improvements. Its even more vibrant, in many cases, because of the exterior paint choices Maggie made. He (Casey) told me to pick bright colors, she says with a laugh, not needing to point out which houses on Archer Court they remodeled. It ended up a little bit more yellow than I intended, but somebody called it Colonel Mustard. So that is the theme Im going with, she says of the Clue board game character colors, gesturing to the teal and purple houses on the block. So thats Mrs. Peacock; thats Professor Plum. Near one of their flamingo-pink properties, several neighbors come outside while Casey and Maggie show off their work. One has lived in her north Tulsa house her entire life and inherited it from her parents. Casey points out the home of another neighbor, beautifully remodeled, who was one of many inspired by the Robinsons efforts to fix up other houses on the block. Youve got a lot of people who own their homes that are reinvesting in the neighborhood, Casey says of the areas where theyre working. People say, Now its OK to invest in our property. Building something solid Robbi Tabbert has lived in three different Robinson Properties apartments in the past three years. Shes forthright about her struggles with addiction, part of why she says shes beyond grateful for Casey. Because of the chance he took on me, I was able to build something solid, Tabbert says. In the early stages of her recovery, Tabbert was working three jobs. She rented a room in a friends house. Then her life changed in several ways after she found work at the sobriety center known at that time as 12 and 12. She overheard a co-worker there talking about the super nice apartment she had gotten into despite a history that might disqualify her from applying at most complexes. After a couple of months, she helped Tabbert get connected to Robinson Properties. Casey, whenever he approved me, I said, Listen, I come from a really rough background. Ive had a couple things in my past Im worried will keep me from getting my apartment, Tabbert says. And Casey said, Lets just go for it. Still working at what is now the Grand Addiction Recovery Center, Tabbert says shes since been able to help a friend apply for a Robinson Properties unit. Hes also one of us, so getting a second chance, she says. Tabbert says she cried when Casey called to ask if shed be willing to tell her story because he told her she was one of my most perfect tenants. She is one that I would just say exemplifies what a person can achieve when they do the right things in life, Casey says. Nowhere else to turn Other second-chance tenants are often referred to Robinson Properties from area nonprofits, Casey says. Hes especially glad they can give the opportunity to mothers completing the Lindsey House program, a transitional living center for women and their children. Maggie Hoey, CEO of Lindsey House, is just as grateful for Robinson Properties. People like Casey and Maggie willing to give people an opportunity, who believe in second chances are sometimes the only options that our graduates have, Hoey says. Noting the critical shortage of housing in the Tulsa area, Hoey says there are a lot of reasons Lindsey House graduates and other Robinson tenants might literally have nowhere else to turn. Criminal justice involvement, any past eviction, even just inconsistent rental history can make landlords say those people are too risky to rent to, Hoey says. Its that kind of situation that can force hard-working Tulsans to give up almost all they earn to live in hotels, Casey says. The alternative might be going back to addiction, even back to the streets. For Lindsey House graduates especially, Hoey says, we dont want them to have to move backwards. We want their progress to continue. Without a safe, stable place to go next, our fear is the progress families make while at Lindsey House could be erased. When people put in the hard work to learn from and overcome their past, its hard to immediately feel judged for those mistakes and feel like you have no options to provide housing for your family. We need a lot more Casey and Maggie Robinsons in Tulsa, Hoey concludes. I hope landlords read this and feel inspired to do something similar. Out of slumlords hands Lindsey House prioritizes its wraparound services, Hoey says, including after graduates complete the program. The Robinsons help keep that partnership active, calling whenever a situation might arise with a Lindsey House graduate. It creates this situation where this next step is just as supportive, Hoey says. The relationship her agency has with the Robinsons, she says, helps minimize the risk of a tenants regressing to the point of endangering their new living situation. But Casey says those tenants rarely give him anything to worry about. Our second-chance residents are the absolute best, he says. When he gives talks to real estate professionals, Casey says he wishes a chart could show how many of those tenants pay on time and also leave the property in great shape. Dont write them off. They could be your best long-term tenants. Casey says that after all the experience theyve gotten, Robinson Properties could be a great subject for a reality television show. They have done all the work themselves, including property management, even trying to deal with shady property owners. These slumlords they are something else. Theyre dodgy; they dont want to let us in for inspections because theyre trying to hide things, Casey says. He points out a Kendall Whittier property they own, previously owned by one of Tulsas most notorious slumlords, where sewage was leaking out into the yard. That was another property that was occupied. But neglect isnt the only contributor leaving properties across the city blighted, Casey says. He worries a lot about the use of Tulsa properties as equity vehicles. Out-of-town companies will buy a property such as a multifamily housing complex, he says, with no intention of holding the investment long-term. Theyll buy, wont put any money into it, squeeze it into the ground, get a line of credit and then use it to buy more properties. Thats where a lot of the blighted properties come in, Casey says. We kill two birds with one stone. Not only are we remodeling an eyesore of the neighborhood that brings in crime, drug dealing we provide affordable housing and improve everything within eyeshot of that property. While also remodeling across the city when there is opportunity, Robinson Properties keeps its focus on north Tulsa and Kendall Whittier. They have so many vacant abandoned properties, Casey says of those areas. If we want to fix the problem, we need to get them out of the hands of these slumlords. And not just slumlords, Maggie says. Older owners that let them sit vacant, like a hoarding mentality. For whatever reason they dont want to let them go, and they dont want to fix them. 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 For decades, the FBIs 3,000-page Osage Indian Murders file has been accessible on its website. Although some of the documents are so faded as to be undecipherable, they provide much of the framework for the events depicted in Killers of the Flower Moon. They also connect players in one drama to another episode of unchecked racial violence that occurred in the same era, the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Among those playing important supporting roles in both are former Tulsa Police Chief John Gustafson and former Oklahoma Attorney General S. Prince Freeling. Gustafson was one of the first private detectives hired to investigate the Osage murders. Freeling, after leaving office, became one of chief plotter W.K. Hales defense attorneys. The most obvious connection, though, is geographical and chronological proximity. Anna Brown, the woman whose death often serves as a sort of starting point for the Osage murders story, was killed on or about May 22, 1921, and her body was found on May 27. The race massacre occurred less than a week later, on May 31-June 1. Gustafson, as Tulsas chief of police, was convicted of dereliction and removed from office because of his performance or lack thereof during the massacre. He was also charged with corruption, including using his position as police chief to funnel cases to his private detective agency. About the same time that Gustafson was forced out of his job as Tulsa police chief, Anna Browns brother-in-law Bill Smith an important figure in Killers of the Flower Moon hired him to investigate Browns murder. Gustafsons primary operatives on the case, according to the FBI files, were former Tulsa Police Officers John Moran and Bill Brackett, both of whom would later cooperate to varying degrees with federal agents. Moran may have been the brother of Rees Moran, Tulsas police chief during the Ku Klux Klans control of city government in 1922-28. The FBI files suggest that Gustafson was suspected of playing both sides of the street in Osage County. He was being paid by Anna Browns family and later the law firm of T.J. John Leahy Gustafsons attorney in his July 1921 ouster trial to investigate the murders while perhaps also serving interests loyal to Hale, the so-called King of the Osage at the center of the scheme depicted in Killers of the Flower Moon. In a report dated Aug. 9, 1924, bureau Agent J.E. Burger wrote, All that Gustafson and his operatives learned was conveyed in some way to the chief suspects, W.K. Hale and the Burkharts (Hales nephews). Another report says Gustafson and his operatives succeeded mainly in scaring off potential witnesses. Gustafson moved to Kansas City in 1923 but remained involved in Osage County, including as one of the many detectives trying to solve the bombing of Bill and Rita Smiths house. Five months after the bombing, at a meeting in Oklahoma City, Gustafson told Attorney General George Short he should arrest Hales nephews, Ernest and Bryan Burkhart. Short, who as an assistant attorney general had been involved in the Tulsa Race Massacre grand jury and the prosecution of Gustafson, declined. The FBI would come to suspect Short or someone in his office of leaking information that wound up in the hands of the suspects. Unquestionably, he frustrated federal authorities by repeatedly postponing grand juries aimed at Hale and the Burkharts. Freeling, Shorts former boss, personally led the states largely fruitless grand jury investigation of the Tulsa massacre and the prosecution of Gustafson. He went into private practice in Oklahoma City in 1923 and wound up being one of the attorneys hired to defend Hale and his associate John Ramsey, who were ultimately convicted of murdering Osage tribal member Henry Roan. Although no charges were brought against Freeling, the FBI wanted some of Hales other attorneys prosecuted for trying to bribe and intimidate witnesses. The most blatant of those, according to the federal agents, was colorful Tulsa criminal attorney J.M. Springer. Springer had no real connection to the Tulsa massacre, but a few weeks before it a witness in a bank robbery case angrily knocked Springer through a courthouse window. According to a Tulsa World story, a witness in one of the 1926 Osage murder trials also decked Springer, this time on the streets of Fairfax. Another name associated with both cases is John Goldesberry. As assistant county attorney in 1921, Goldesberry had helped prosecute Gustafsons ouster. By 1926, he was U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma and played a role in making sure Hale and Ramsey stayed in jail while the U.S. Supreme Court decided whether they could be tried in federal court. Later, when new trials were ordered for Ramsey and Hale on technicalities, Goldesberry led the prosecution that secured convictions in Pawhuska, which Hale had thought impregnable. The FBI files suggest that Goldesberry and U.S. Assistant Attorney General O.R. Luhring sometimes went around FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover to make sure agents were available when needed for testimony and other purposes. In the files, Hoover comes off as a reluctant participant in the Osage investigation, while Luhring, an Indiana native who would later become a federal judge for the District of Columbia, was determined to see it through. Leahy, the Pawhuska attorney who had defended Gustafson in 1921, ultimately became a special prosecutor in the Hale-Ramsey trial that resulted in their conviction. Leahy was a prosecutor in every trial, federal and state, connected to the murders depicted in Killers of the Flower Moon and played a key role in getting Ernest Burkhart to finally testify against his uncle. The 1926 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that Hale and Ramsey could be tried in federal court had important implications for all of Oklahoma. Until then, no clear definition existed of Indian land as it pertained to crimes committed by non-Indians on allotments (and later trust land). A final connection between the Osage murders and the Tulsa Race Massacre is also obvious. Both involved violent acts by whites, or at the behest of whites, against non-white minorities. The Osage murders were unquestionably about money. The reasons behind the razing of Greenwood are more complicated but likely included an element of greed, too. In reading the FBIs Osage Indian Murders file and contemporary reporting and documents, one is struck by the dismissive tone regarding just about anyone who is not white Anglo-Saxon male. Al Spencer, one of many notorious Oklahoma criminals whose names appear in the FBI files, summed up what seems to have been many an attitude when he told federal investigators hed turned down $5,000 to kill Bill and Rita Smith. He had, he said, never fallen so low as to murder a woman for money, even though she is an Indian. Tim Stanley Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Tim Stanley 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 first time I heard Sherman Rays voice it was coming at me from the other end of a phone and he sounded out of breath. But in spite of that and the thick accent he retained from his early life in Poland I quickly understood what he was trying to convey. Ray, whom Id been hoping to interview, was turning me down. My plan at the time, January of 2020, had been to set up an interview with the then-98-year-old ahead of the upcoming 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz during World War II. The largest and most notorious of the Nazis dedicated extermination camps, Ray had survived imprisonment there as a young Polish Jew. My timing, though, couldnt have been worse for him, as he explained apologetically. Still a fulltime tailor with his own shop, he was just too busy at the moment. He was catching up on a backlog of orders and was determined to keep his customers happy. (Thats why he sounded short of breath, in fact: hed been in the middle of his work and had to run and grab the phone.) Ray, who died last month at 102, wouldve gone right on working if it was up to him. But in 2021 the COVID-19 pandemic intervened. While initially he planned to reopen, his family prevailed upon him that it was finally time. So he officially called it a career. And so I, too, finally, would have a chance to catch up with Ray. I met him for an interview at Zarrow Pointe retirement community ahead of his 101st birthday and a planned party. I sat across from Ray at a table outside the main entrance. Always a small man with elfin features in the photos Id seen, age had had a further shrinking effect on Ray. But to shake his hand was your first clue not to underestimate him. He seized mine and with a strong grip, pulled me halfway across the table. Not bad, eh? he smiled, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. It was his other hand, though his left that made the bigger impression. It was impossible to miss: the image of a bird tattooed just inches below the wrist. Like other Auschwitz inmates, Ray had had his prisoner number tattooed on his arm. Hed chosen the bird later to permanently cover it up. But if it was the grim subject of his past that had brought me there, the brief hour I spent with Ray was anything but grim. In fact, jolly is the word I would use to best describe my interviewee. Cleary, here was a man who enjoyed life. To understand why thats important, you do have to know about the past. Weve shared parts of Rays story before, so Ill repeat just enough here for context. After Nazi Germany invaded Poland kicking off the war, Ray, in his late teens then, was initially rounded up with other Jews and put on a train car. It was there, in the moment, that Ray whose parents and three younger siblings were with him made a decision that likely altered his fate. When his family declined to escape with him, he jumped from the train. Years later, he would learn that the train carried his family to Treblinka camp where they were murdered. Ray went on the run, but eventually was recaptured. He was sent to Auschwitz. About 85% of prisoners sent to the camp were murdered there, including 960,000 Jews. But Ray had a skill that gave his life value to his captors. With his basic knowledge of tailoring, he was put to work mending uniforms. He was able to survive to the end of the war. Ray was clear about one thing for the rest of his life, and he reiterated it in our interview: He would never forgive the Nazis for what they did to his family and fellow Jews. Moreover, he had no patience for Holocaust-deniers. But while the shadow of that past was always with Ray, he never let it cloud the present. Choosing to live It was only later, after completing the interview and writing the story, that I decided what my personal takeaway from it was. And it was less about what Ray had said than the fact that he was there to say anything at all. Once upon a time, a systematic effort was undertaken to silence Ray and everyone who shared his heritage. To make them vanish forever from this world, whether beneath the cold ground in a mass grave or reduced to a wisp of smoke to dissipate upon the wind. The fact that Ray had sat there before me beaming, cracking jokes, full of life and laughter at 100 was proof that the engineers of the Holocaust had ultimately failed. I realized, though, that ensuring the Nazis failure beyond just the basic fact of his survival required something more of Ray. Hed had to make a choice. If hed allowed it, they could have still killed him, too only more slowly and from the inside out. But instead, Ray chose to live. And the place where he ultimately lived out that choice was Tulsa. He remained forever grateful to the community and country that gave him that opportunity, and to his customers, whod always been loyal. I still think about the bird on his arm. Ray chose the image to conceal a grim reminder, while at the same time symbolizing his freedom in his new country. Make no mistake, Ray was never completely free of the past. Thats not possible or even desirable. But in finding a way to live with it, he refused to be defined by it. Thats the way I choose to remember him. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. NEW YORK Millions of Americans must start repaying their federal student loans again this month, with monthly payments averaging hundreds of dollars. To get ready, borrowers are cutting expenses, taking on additional work and looking for options to reduce their monthly payments. Megan McClelland, 38, said she started asking for October shifts with a catering company and a winery to help supplement her income. McClellands main job is as a counselor at Petaluma High School in California. During the more than three years payments were suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic, she paid off her car loan and was able to save for the first time. Shell put the $235 she was spending on her car payment toward her student loan, but that still leaves another $270 or so shell have to reallocate or earn. It had been a huge relief the past few years to not have that financial burden, she said. In the next months, Im looking to see where I can scale back in my budget. Probably less going out to eat, and more picking up side gigs. Justin Cole, 35, of Little Rock, Arkansas, said he doesnt know how hes going to come up with the $166 a month hell owe starting in October. Thats the estimated payment on his roughly $19,000 of loans from paying for college more than 10 years ago. Im already in a mountain of debt, and while I just got a raise at work, it doesnt go into effect until were full staffed at my family practice clinic, he said. Cole works the front office at a medical practice, checking in patients, handling records and managing payment collection. Some of his other debt comes from medical expenses after a car accident early in the pandemic. If those loans were forgiven, I could finally work on getting my credit up and actually saving money for once, he said. If they were forgiven out of the blue, Id be ecstatic. The Supreme Court in July rejected a plan by President Joe Bidens administration to wipe away $400 billion in student loan debt. For now, Cole applied for adjustments to his payments based on both the new SAVE plan and prior income-driven repayment options, which are listed as processing and in review on his account. The SAVE, or Saving on a Valuable Education, plan allows borrowers to make lower payments based on a percentage of their discretionary income. His major household expenses are rent, car payments, groceries, and utilities the same as everybody else, he said. Not yet clear is how millions of people suddenly having less discretionary income might affect the economy. On an earnings call last month, the chief financial officer of Target said student loan payments restarting will put additional pressure on the already-strained budgets of tens of millions of households, a sentiment echoed by the financial chiefs of Best Buy and other retailers. In the Federal Reserves latest survey of economic conditions, one restaurant-industry observer in Boston said workers are taking on more hours and, for the first time, credit card debt topped $1 trillion. According to credit bureau TransUnion, more than half of student loan holders added credit card debt during the pandemic. Meanwhile, consumer savings, which peaked in 2021, are on the decline. McClelland qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness as a public school teacher who will have worked in the field for 10 years next March. Shes putting her loans in order to hopefully receive that cancellation next year. The program erases remaining debts for federal student loan holders who work in public service while making 10 years of payments. I only have six payments to go, but its still stressful, she said. I have to find about $500 a month starting next month towards this payment that I havent had in so long. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is one of several avenues for relief still available to many with student debt. After the Supreme Court struck down Bidens original plan for forgiveness in July, the White House said it will use the Higher Education Act to bring cancellation to more borrowers. Its currently undergoing a process known as negotiated rule-making to determine the details of that plan. Other sources for relief for borrowers include: false certification, borrower defense, closed school, total/permanent disability discharges, and alternate repayment programs such as income-driven repayment. McClelland, for her part, said she now spends a lot of time counseling high school students on how to avoid taking on burdensome loans. I had no financial guidance when I was younger, from my own parents or from school, she said. I didnt ever understand the long-term impact. Despite working while in school and since moonlighting at Starbucks, wineries and restaurants as well as counseling McClelland still has a balance of about $38,000 in debt, from original loans of $10,000 toward her undergraduate studies and $40,000 for her masters in counseling at Sonoma State. I knew I wanted to go to college, and my parents didnt have any money, she said. I tell kids all the time, openly, As someone who was once in your shoes, I highly recommend finding a way to avoid taking out loans. When youre 17 or 18 years old, you think, Oh, sure, Ill figure this out. Then its frustrating to still be in this financial situation. Americans have shed more than 10% of total student loan debt since March 2020 Americans have shed more than 10% of total student loan debt since March 2020 Student loan debt has declined since the start of the repayment pause Average student loan balance highest among Generation X borrowers Percent of Gen Z with student loan debt grows; only generation to see increase Majority of borrowers have a total balance above $20,000 Which state has the most student loan borrowers? 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 A state board is set to vote Monday on contracting with Catholic leaders in Oklahoma for the nations first religious charter school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. It has been four months since a divided Statewide Virtual Charter School Board approved an application for state sanctioning and taxpayer funding of the proposed Catholic school. The board voted 3-2, including the deciding yes vote being cast by a brand-new member installed only one business day earlier by state Rep. Charles McCall, R-Atoka, who serves as speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The next step in the process is negotiating a charter school contract, which is a legally-binding, administrative and performance agreement between a charter school and its authorizing agency. It stipulates terms and conditions by which the school will operate including performance expectations and defines the rights and responsibilities of each party, including conditions for future renewal of the contract. A vote on such a contract for St. Isidore is on the agenda for Mondays 1 p.m. meeting of the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board. St. Isidore has been a source of controversy among state leaders and is viewed nationally as a possible test case of separation of church and state laws. Oklahoma statutes currently define charter schools as public schools and specifically prohibit them from affiliation with a nonpublic sectarian school or religious institution. However, St. Isidore has been proposed to provide Catholic school education access to students in areas currently without Catholic schools and to expand online course offerings to students in existing Catholic schools across Oklahoma. Gov. Kevin Sitt and State Superintendent Ryan Walters are all for it and Walters has even had his agencys attorneys seek to have a taxpayer challenge of the matter tossed out of court. But Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond and attorneys employed by his office have repeatedly cautioned against state sponsorship of St. Isidore. OAG attorneys assigned as advisors to the board said its standard sponsorship contract, which has been used without any customization for all of its six currently sponsored schools, would have to be amended for St. Isidore because it includes assurances that charter school operations will be nonsectarian. And the implications of such a move, they warned, could include enforcement of that standard contract on other charter schools being viewed as arbitrary and capricious if they arent also afforded customized contract terms. In July, a group of Oklahoma taxpayers went to court to try to block state sponsorship and state aid for St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Charter School, citing the Oklahoma Constitution, the Oklahoma Charter School Act and the Statewide Virtual Charter School Boards own regulations. Their lawsuit seeks to block St. Isidore from operating as a charter school and to prohibit any state aid or other state funding from going to St. Isidore. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. State board hears Catholic charter school application 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 Oklahomans who plan to vote in next years elections might want to check their registration status now especially those who move often and/or dont vote much. Like all states, Oklahoma conducts whats known as list maintenance to remove registrations deemed no longer valid. Most voters never notice, but occasionally it can lead to confusion and surprises at the polls, so checking registration status, either online at oklahoma.gov/elections or at the county election board, is a good idea. The state of Oklahoma has canceled more than 130,000 voter registrations this year, including more than 20,000 in Tulsa County. The vast majority had been unused since the Obama administration, and notifications from the State Election Board were ignored or returned as undeliverable. In just about every case, the registration is for someone who has died, has duplicate registrations, moved without updating their registration, run afoul of the law, or doesnt care about voting. In every case, a confirmation letter has met with no response. Some see list maintenance as a form of voter suppression, and at times some states have used questionable methods to exclude voters. The frequent tinkering with states election laws in recent years can be confusing and make voting and registration more difficult. Some people think thats no accident. But list maintenance is fundamental to well-run elections. It makes it harder for dead people to vote and, perhaps more importantly, tempers the perception that they might. The non-partisan National Council of State Legislatures describes list maintenance as an important part of holding efficient and secure elections. Accurate voter roles, the organization says, protect against fraud, facilitate election day planning, minimize wait times on election days and reduce the number of provisional ballots cast. The challenge is balancing election security and ballot box access. Each state has its own methods for doing this within the broad framework of federal law, but list maintenance is essentially a continual data mining operation to identify potential duplications, unused registrations and disqualifying events such as deaths and felony convictions. In Oklahoma, most cancellations occur in odd-numbered years. Thats because of a long-standing state law that requires a voter roll purge in January of those years. These are registrations that have had no activity, including updates, through four general election cycles and did not respond to whats called an address confirmation mailing. Following that, but before June 1, the State Election Board sends out hundreds of thousands of these mailings for registrations flagged for one of several reasons. The most common is inactivity, but it can also be for an address discrepancy or, effective this year, having five or more registrations at the same address. This is supposedly to prevent someone from fraudulently obtaining absentee ballots or otherwise attempting to vote multiple times, but it can also affect people registered at addresses with frequent turnover, such as some rental properties. This year the board sent out 326,603 confirmation letters to roughly 15% of the states 2.3 million registrations. Of those, 46,476 (or 14%) replied and 50,549 (15.4%) were returned as undeliverable. Some 26,000 were flagged under the new law. By comparison, only about 245,970 confirmation letters were mailed in 2021, to which 22,803 (9.2%) replied and 34,217 (13.9%) were undeliverable. The status of registrations for confirmation letters returned as undeliverable and the 70-80% for which there was no response are changed to inactive after 60 days. Those that are not used or updated through the next two general election cycles are cancelled. More than 425,000 registrations, or 18.6% of the total, were listed as inactive at the end of September. Voting or updating a registration removes the inactive status. And if a letter from the Oklahoma State Election Board arrives in the mail, make sure to read and respond to it. <&rule> The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. In the next few weeks, A-F report cards for schools and school districts will be issued based on last years test scores and other data. State Superintendent Ryan Walters will pay close attention to the number of F schools in Tulsa and may use the report to amplify his attacks on TPS. But what separates an F school from an A school? What separates the schools at the top from those at the bottom? Affluence. For two decades I taught in Oklahomas best public high school. I taught prestigious classes to students aiming for the best colleges in the country. I also taught standards to kids who had no college ambitions. Im not sure I found one experience more meaningful than the other. We rate our schools by five criteria: academic achievement, academic growth, post-secondary opportunities, English language proficiency and attendance. What we choose to measure has a powerful impact on outcomes. For example, an urban school is likely to have more post-secondary options than a small-town school. And a poor school is going to face much higher levels of chronic absenteeism. These have important impacts on scores. Kids who need to work after-school jobs have less time for study and club activities. Kids who grew up speaking a different language might struggle to pass a third grade reading test. Children with high levels of adverse childhood experiences might have a hard time building trusting relationships with teachers. Poor schools have demonstrably higher rates of teacher turnover. Suburban schools are more likely to accumulate an experienced (and well-supported) staff. Experienced teachers can offer more support to students over longer periods of time. Then there are the critical subgroups of students. The law requires schools to track the academic growth of students who speak another language at home, come from a minority background or have an educational disability. Schools that have such populations have many more opportunities to fail than schools that do not have such populations. And because some of these subgroups are so small, the actions of individual students have a disproportionate effect. One students not showing up for a state test can lower a schools rating, creating an arbitrary gap between one school and another. There is one thing most A schools have in common: affluent populations. Kids who come from middle- and upper-class homes with two parents supporting their children and setting expectations for post-secondary achievement start with inherent advantages. In my days teaching at Booker T. Washington High School I saw this firsthand. I taught students in the International Baccalaureate program, many of whom had attended Tulsas best private schools before coming to our magnet school. Students in this program worked extremely hard and came out prepared to attend Ivy League schools. I also taught standard-level freshmen classes, with much lower academic expectations and different teaching challenges. I valued each class equally. I can recall, with fondness, an angry freshman who challenged my authority daily but learned to apply his energies constructively and authentically. I can also recall with equal fondness the IB kid who worked so hard to realize her dreams of going to Northwestern University. Tolstoy said happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. While we may wish to identify a common cause for education problems, such as leadership, we are reluctant to acknowledge that the real driver might be inequality. In a so-called failing school, my colleagues might be struggling with a different set of challenges. This kid couldnt attend because he lacked clean clothes. That one might be exhausted because they worked the night shift. Still another may be wracked with worry because they moved to a new country without their parents. And this is crucial: The work teachers do with these populations is at least as vital and valuable as the work I did every day in the classroom. The trouble with the A and F labels is that they invite direct comparisons of schools with vastly different contexts. And in some quarters the F rating inspires a visceral reaction rather than compassion. Our state superintendent wants only to blame and punish and bluster his threats rather than acknowledge the real work done every day in every public school to help every child. Teachers in the field know better. Unhappy families are all unhappy in their own ways. We must address that with kindness, patience, love and determination. Some might call that woke. I call it human. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. As many as 29 large enterprises in tourism, cuisine, and food production sectors from Ho Chi Minh City took part in a business matching program with Japanese firms on Saturday evening, part of the ongoing 'Vietnam Pho Festival 2023' in Tokyo, Japan. The business matching program attracted many Japanese firms in the retail and trade sectors, proving their goodwill in seeking cooperation opportunities with Vietnamese enterprises, according to the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade arranged booths to introduce food products of the city, including those of the Miliket, Cholimex, Vissan, Vifon, Thien Nhien Viet, and Meet More brands. Tran Xuan Toan, vice-chairman of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City, deputy editor-in-chief of Tuoi Tre, and head of the organizer of the Vietnam Pho Festival 2023', said pho is a bridge of culture and economy between enterprises of Vietnam and Japan. A representative of Ho Chi Minh City-based Idocean Company said the Japanese market is promising. Young Japanese consumers have a high demand for milk tea products on which the company is focusing. Similarly, Le Thi Giau, chairwoman of Binh Tay Food JSC, said she met with some Japanese partners who wanted to import rice-based products. The business matching program helped Vietnamese enterprises learn about the Japanese consumer market, Giau noted. Nguyen Duc Minh, Deputy Chief of Mission-Minister at the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, said Japanese enterprises attending the business matching program are interested in the retail sector in Vietnam and want to venture into the Southeast Asian market. The event will pave the way for Vietnamese goods to enter the Japanese market as the two countries relations have developed strongly, according to Nguyen Nguyen Phuong, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade. Japanese enterprises also pay much attention to Vietnamese goods and expect to cooperate with Vietnamese producers and processors of farm produce, especially rice-based products. Japans agricultural products, variety production, and rice quality management meet high standards. Therefore, many Vietnamese enterprises want to cooperate with Japanese companies, Phuong added. Aoyagi Yoichiro, member of Japan's House of Representatives, said Vietnams economic growth is a momentum for the enhancement of the two countries cooperation. The two-day 'Vietnam Pho Festival 2023' kicked off at 11:00 am on Saturday at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo, Japan. The event aims to enhance the global recognition of Vietnamese culinary culture, particularly the Southeast Asian countrys popular noodle soup called pho. A bowl of pho consists of broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat usually beef or chicken. It marks a significant milestone in celebrating the seventh edition of the Day of Pho (December 12), initiated and annually held by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. The festival also serves as a tangible commemoration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan. The event is co-organized by Tuoi Tre and Saigontourist Group in coordination with the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association, and several Japanese partners. Among the many chefs scheduled to attend Vietnam Pho Festival 2023 are winners of the Hoa Hoi Vang (Golden Star Anise) award Nguyen Tien Hai, Nguyen Tu Tin, and Pham Quang Duy. 'Hoa Hoi Vang' is awarded each year during the 'Day of Pho' to honor pho chefs from across Vietnam. Enterprises of Vietnam and Japan learn about cooperation potential and opportunities. Participating restaurants in this years event include Pho Dau, Pho Hai Thien, Hotel Majestic Saigon, Pho Phu Gia, PhoS, Sen SASCO, Pho Ta-Binh Tay Food, Pho VGCC, and Pho Thin Bo Ho. The festival is rolled out in association with national carrier Vietnam Airlines, Suntory Beverage & Food, Southern Airports Services Joint Stock Company (SASCO), Dai-ichi Life, Simply Food, PhoS, and some other enterprises. Miss Intercontinental 2022 Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc is the ambassador for the festival. The first day of the festival attracted over 50,000 visitors. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade introduces food and foodstuffs of the Miliket, Cholimex, Vissan, Vifon, Thien Nhien Viet, and Meet More brands. More than 110 guests, including representatives of companies from Vietnam and importers, distributors, and retailers in Japan, attended the business matching program. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The recent upgrade of Vietnam's relationship with the United States has opened the door for Vietnam's semiconductor industry. However, to fully capitalize on the opportunity, Vietnam must build a high-quality workforce capable of meeting the stringent demands of world-leading tech companies. Following the announcement that the U.S.-Vietnam relationship has been upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership since last month, tech businesses across Vietnam are investing in training their technical engineers to satisfy the needs of U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturers. Engineers in high demand At the end of August, Synopsys Vietnam, a subsidiary of U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturer Synopsys, hosted the closing ceremony for the Synopsys Intensive Program 2023 a training program which put 30 students through a series of courses on integrated circuit design. The 30 students who participated in the program were selected from a pool of 500 applicants from local universities, including Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE), and Can Tho University (CTU). Their majors are primarily related to electronics, telecommunications, automation, computer science, and physics. "The training program was provided free of charge, with Synopsys covering all costs for the students to participate. We do the same things for our official trainees [who are not part of the program] at Synopsys Vietnam," explained Nguyen Phuc Vinh, technical director at Synopsys Vietnam. Synopsys Intensive Program 2023 was not the first training course the company has held for students in Vietnam. In 2022, Synopsys, in collaboration with VNU-HCM and Saigon Hi-Tech Park (SHTP), hosted a short-term online training course on integrated circuit design for local students. According to Vinh, there is a growing demand for technical professionals with specialized training in integrated circuit design, and this demand is expected to increase in the coming years. "On average, new companies need to hire 50-100 integrated circuit engineers," Vinh said. "According to data from the Vietnamese Community of Integrated Circuit Administrators, the demand for such engineers increased to 400 in 2022 from 350 in 2021 and is projected to reach 500 in 2023." This heightened demand also extends to related positions in areas such as software programming, server management, and cloud computing, with the most significant climbs taking place in sectors that directly utilize integrated circuit products, including electronics, computers, telecommunications, and automation. Awaiting U.S. investment in training programs According to Kim Huat Ooi, vice-president in charge of manufacturing, supply chains, and operations and general manager at Intel Vietnam, there is a shortage of IT experts with master's and Ph.D. degrees, especially in the research and development (R&D) sector, despite Vietnams high number of bachelor's degree holders Kim believes that with Vietnam's large population, cultivating more homegrown IT experts could lead to significant opportunities for the nations tech companies. "Vietnam harbors ambitious aspirations. We have heard stories of Silicon Valley and the semiconductor industry, and we perceive it as the next logical stride to propel us into a more profound engagement with the higher echelons of the supply chain," said Kim. "In the future, the production of semiconductor devices wont be a far-fetched dream. Undoubtedly, these endeavors involve substantial investments. Yet, with the passage of time, we are determined to transform this vision into reality." In early September, just before U.S. President Joe Biden's visit to Vietnam, FPT University announced the opening of a new faculty dedicated to integrated circuits and semiconductors. This move, it said, was meant to help build a highly skilled workforce capable of meeting present and future industry demands in Vietnam and around the world. The faculty is set to admit its first students in 2024 and will focus on extensive training in integrated circuit design and research in the integrated circuit and semiconductor industry. During President Biden's visit to Vietnam in September, Truong Gia Binh, chairman of FPT Group, proposed that the American government support Vietnam in training 30,000-50,000 semiconductor experts. "On behalf of the Vietnamese business community, FPT hopes that the U.S. government will implement supportive policies to help Vietnam establish a semiconductor ecosystem. We suggest that the American government encourage its companies, especially large enterprises like Boeing, AT&T, Qualcomm, Intel, and Ford, to invest in Vietnam," Binh said. He also called on the Vietnamese government to create policies in support of the development of a semiconductor workforce ranging from 30,000 to 50,000 individuals. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Germany welcomes young Vietnamese people to the country for study and work to foster training cooperation, part of the strategic partnership with Vietnam, Minister-President of the German state of Lower Saxony Stephan Weil said in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday. The Lower Saxony leader was speaking at his meeting with deputy chairman of the municipal administration Vo Van Hoan when he visited the city on Friday, part of his six-day working trip to Vietnam starting on October 1. Weil emphasized that Germany is facing a labor shortage, especially in mechanical engineering and natural sciences. As young workers significantly contribute to Germanys economic development, one of the goals of this visit to Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City in particular was to find young Vietnamese people who like to go to the European country for study and work, the German guest said. This cooperative initiative by Germany has been highly appreciated by the Vietnamese government, he added. To realize this cooperation, Vietnamese schools can send students to Germany for training, and these trainees will become skilled workers for Vietnam when they return home, Weil said. Such human resources will effectively contribute to Vietnams socio-economic development and at the same time serve as a bridge of friendship to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries, the official stated. Minister-President of the German state of Lower Saxony Stephan Weil (M) is seen talking with a student at Cao Thang Technical College in Ho Chi Minh City on October 6, 2023. Photo: Gia Han / Tuoi Tre Weil told his host that the state of Lower Saxony could organize appropriate vocational training programs by German standards in Vietnam to help the young meet the qualification requirements of German enterprises. On Friday afternoon, the Lower Saxony leader visited Cao Thang Technical College, in the citys downtown District 1, where he was showed around the schools workshops and talked with students. The Germany official was surprised to know that the school has a total of about 12,000 students divided into 500 classes that operate smoothly in three shifts. Weil affirmed that no vocational school in Germany has been able to do the same so far. He expressed his hope that he would have more opportunities to learn further about vocational training in Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam in general. Before his visit to the city, the Lower Saxony leader had meetings with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other senior Vietnamese officials, focusing on deepening the ties between the two nations, which were lifted up to a strategic partnership in 2011. Germany is currently Vietnams largest trading partner in the EU with two-way trade amounting to more than US$19 billion last year, according to German data. Currently, some 500 German companies are running their representative offices in Vietnam and over 100,000 Vietnamese people are living, working, and studying in Germany, the data shows. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Vietnamese community in Israel, Vietnamese officials on working trips, and tourists to Israel are still safe amid an escalating conflict between the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and Israel, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Sunday. The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel reported on Saturday that the conflict between Israel and Palestinian territories has been complex over the past two days, causing hundreds of casualties. The embassy has proactively taken various measures to protect Vietnamese citizens. In particular, it posted announcements on its official social media page, describing measures to ensure security and safety for citizens, and providing contact information. The embassy also appointed officials to stay in touch with the Vietnamese community in Israel to continuously update information. The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel has closely cooperated with local authorities and diplomatic missions to implement measures to protect Vietnamese citizens. As directed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the embassy will continue keeping a close watch on the situation, maintaining regular contact with the Vietnamese community, and drawing up appropriate citizen protection plans to ensure the safety of the Vietnamese. The ministry advised Vietnamese citizens against visiting areas of conflict. The Vietnamese people in Israel should closely monitor the situation, take necessary security measures, comply strictly with local authorities requirements, avoid large gatherings, and limit travel. Those Vietnamese citizens in need of assistance can contact the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel via the phone numbers: 972-50-818-6116, +972-52-727-4248, and +972-50-994-0889, or the embassys citizen protection hotline at +84 981 84 84 84. At present, the Vietnamese community in Israel numbers some 700 people. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that Israel was at war after Hamas launched a devastating surprise attack on the country. Reuters reported on Sunday that Hamas gunmen had killed at least 250 Israelis, while more than 230 Gazans had died in Israel's response. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Residents of Yen Bai Province in northern Vietnam discovered an unexploded wartime bomb weighing 340 kilograms in a stream following a torrential rain on Saturday. A local official from the Peoples Committee of Yen Thai Commune under Van Yen District, where the bomb was found, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper the same day that it measures 0.42 meters in diameter and 1.2 meters in length. Locals in Tan Thanh Village detected the bomb at 7:15 am after the explosive device was swept to the bank of the stream by floods and rainwater. The bomb was left in the aftermath of the war during the 1968-70 period, according to the Van Yen District military steering committee. The bomb has rusted. Chairman of the Van Yen District administration Ha Duc Anh tasked officials from Yen Thai Commune with working with the districts military forces and police to cordon off the scene and warn residents against the dangerous site. They were also told to map out a detailed plan to defuse the bomb. A landslide triggered by downpours on Friday night and Saturday morning killed two people in Van Yen District, according to a quick report made by the provincial steering committee for natural disaster prevention, search, and rescue. Besides, floods swept away two houses and inundated hundreds of residences and routes, while landslides destroyed dozens of homes. Six households had to evacuate to safe shelters due to a high risk of land collapse. A section of the Hanoi - Lao Cai railway in Yen Thai Commune faced a landslide, causing a suspension of all trains plying the route on Saturday morning. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Authorities in Ha Tinh Province, north-central Vietnam have removed 46 kiosks that blocked paths leading to a stunning beach destination in Cam Xuyen District, making the place airier and cleaner than before. The clearance of these kiosks, which offered seafood for sale, had been conducted since September 28 at the Thien Cam Beach tourist site. Hoang Xuan Huong, head of the management board of the tourist site, said authorities had made huge efforts to call on the kiosk owners to reach a consensus on the clearance. A birds-eye view of Thien Cam Beach after the clearance of the kiosks. Photo: Le Minh / Tuoi Tre The management board and the administration of Thien Cam Town under the district dispatched vehicles to assist the kiosk owners with the demolition as well as offered aid worth of VND5 million (US$205.21) to each of them. Local households earlier signed contracts with the tourist site management board to rent locations to build the 46 kiosks in the 2014-15 period on a dike facing Thien Cam Beach to sell seafood. These facilities gradually aged over time and thus ruined the beauty of the most beautiful beach in this north-central province, prompting authorities to come up with a removal plan to restore the beach landscape. These kiosk owners will be given support to relocate their seafood businesses. Beach kiosks at Thien Cam Beach are being demolished. Photo: Le Minh / Tuoi Tre Authorities will upgrade the recently-cleared locations into a road section and develop public facilities there to serve the locals and tourists. Thien Cam Beach is considered one of the most beautiful beaches by location in Ha Tinh. The number of visitors to the beach, however, has fallen short of the districts expectations in recent years due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the insufficient investment in tourism facilities. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in Ho Chi Minh City have cracked down on a prostitution ring in District 7 that provided sexual services for South Korean people only, keeping 10 in temporary custody. Police officers said on Saturday that they had arrested Son Tea Heum, 47, the owner of Luxury Business Club, a restaurant, on Pham Thai Buong Street in District 7, and Khong Minh Tri, a Vietnamese man, for allegedly harboring sex services. Meanwhile, eight othersKim Da Jib, Yoon Yong Han, Yi Yo Han, and You Eun Young, of South Korean nationality, and Le Thi Van, Le Thi To Huyen, Nguyen Thi Sinh, and Truong Thai Thanh Hong, all Vietnamese citizenswere detained on charges of prostitution brokerage. A police officer questions Son Tea Heum (L), the owner of Luxury Business Club. Photo: Supplied by Ho Chi Minh City Police On Tuesday night, the municipal criminal police force inspected Luxury Business Club. Police officers found that the restaurant joined hands with Tri to book rooms at T.S.L. Hotel on Phan Khiem Ich Street in District 7 so that four female employees of the restaurant could provide sexual services for South Korean customers. The four employees told police that Luxury Business Club managers Yi Yo Han and You Eun Young, as well as Le Thi Van and Le Thi To Huyen asked them to provide sexual services for the South Korean customers for VND3.8 million (US$156) each time. Kim Da Jib (R), a manager of Luxury Business Club. Photo: Supplied by Ho Chi Minh City Police Son Tea Heum admitted to police that he instructed the staff to offer sexual services to increase the restaurants revenue. Its turnover has recently reached tens of billions of Vietnamese dong per month. (VND10 billion = $410,420). The restaurant, which started its operations in 2020, has 28 rooms, 226 employees, and three cars used to transport customers. It was equipped with an alarm system to announce the presence of police officers. At the entrance of the restaurant were three to five security guards. The venue established contacts with many hotels in District 7 to provide prostitution services. To prevent police investigation, the restaurateurs refused to serve Vietnamese guests and welcomed only South Korean customers. Ho Chi Minh City police raid Luxury Business Club. Photo: Supplied by Ho Chi Minh City Police Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Japanese event-goers and politicians fell in love with pho after savoring bowls of the food in an airy and bustling space filled with the scent of the signature dish of Vietnam at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo on Saturday. The Vietnam Pho Festival 2023, which kicked off at 11:00 am (Japanese time) on Saturday at Yoyogi Park, is aimed at enhancing the global recognition of Vietnamese culinary culture, particularly the Southeast Asian countrys popular beef noodle soup. Over 50,000 visitors joined the fest on its first day in Japan to eat Vietnams most famous dish cooked by chefs from famed Vietnamese pho restaurants. Apart from savoring such tasty bowls of pho, revelers can feel the strong connection between Japanese and Vietnamese culinary cultures during the Vietnam Pho Festival 2023. The fest also brings together various types of pho and Japans renowned noodles, ramen and soba, delighting international tourists and Japanese. Taking long journey to join Vietnam Pho Festival Though it was not until 11:00 am that the festival opened, thousands of foreigners and Japanese crowded Yoyogi Park early in the morning, while pho stalls were preparing the food. They were smitten by the scent of the Vietnamese pho lingering in the air. Many Japanese families and young people were present at the park to try the savory pho. Among them was Odekakechan, who was wearing ao dai, Vietnams traditional costume. The resident of Tokyo said that she came to the festival with her friends to enjoy the beloved dish. Pho is very yummy. It was not until May when I visited Vietnam that I knew and tasted pho bo, with broth cooked from beef bone and topped with beef, as I have just eaten pho ga, consisting of chicken broth and topped with chicken meat, before, said Odekakechan. Pho here [at the festival] has the same flavor as that I ate during my Vietnam visit. The dish is tasty and nutritious." Mariko Takeguchi, a teacher of Japanese, was beguiled by the cuisine world at the Vietnam Pho Festival 2023. Having a great love of the Vietnamese culture and pho, Mariko savors pho each month. The rice noodles of pho here [at the stall run by Pho Dau during the festival] are tastier than those I have ever eaten before, she happily described the taste of pho. Throngs of Japanese and Vietnamese gathered at the Tokyo-based park from near and far. They spent some hours on their weekend traveling to the Vietnamese cuisine fest. Tuan and his wife arriving from Yokohama, nearly 40 kilometers from Tokyo, chose three pho brands to enjoy the food that awakened their nostalgic memories of homeland. On the weekend, we brought back the nostalgic scent. Pho is also popular in Japan. We must queue to get in a pho eatery for dining in the country, Tuan said. Bowls of pho at the festival give us the familiarity of homeland." Festival-goers enjoy 'pho' at Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, Japan, October 7, 2023. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre Vietnamese pho greatly welcomed by Japanese Despite traveling overseas for the first time, Vietnamese pho brands such as Pho Dau, Pho Thin, Pho Hai Thien, Pho Sam Ngoc Linh, Pho Sen SASCO, Pho Majestic Saigon Hotel, Pho Grand Saigon Hotel, and Pho VGCC are recognizable in Japan. There were long queues in front of the stalls run by these brands for pho. The Vietnam Pho Festival 2023 saw more fest-goers explore the cuisine space at the park in the afternoon, while chefs were busy serving the food to guests. Hoa Hoi Vang (Golden Star Anise) award winner Nguyen Tien Hai from PhoS said that 80 percent of customers at the booth are Japanese, with some of them eating two or three bowls of pho. Seeing the way they tasted pho, he felt that they do love the iconic Vietnamese dish. The 'Hoa Hoi Vang' award is granted each year at the annual 'Day of Pho' event to honor pho chefs from across Vietnam. Ung Bich Hoang from the Pho Dau booth was glad to meet the brands pho fans. Phung, a Vietnamese who has lived in Japan for over 50 years, expressed his pleasure to see the famous Pho Dau brand to arrive in Japan. My Ha and her family members decided to divert their weekend trip to the festival. After hearing about the entry of Pho Dau into Japan, my two children were eager to join the festival. We often visit Pho Dau restaurant to eat the dish every time we return to Vietnam, she shared. My Ha, who lives in Tokyo, and her family members take a look at a booth run by Pho Hai Thien at Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, Japan, October 7, 2023. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre Odekakechan wearing 'ao dai' savors 'pho' at the Vietnam Pho Festival 2023, held in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Truc Phuong / Tuoi Tre Event-goers taste 'pho' at Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, Japan, October 7, 2023. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre Japanese policians love Vietnamese pho On the opening day of the Vietnam Pho Festival 2023, Chief Representative of Japan's Komeito Party Yamaguchi Natsuo ate three bowls of pho cooked by three different brands. He also remained in the festival for long to talk to pho lovers. He was impressed by pho at his first taste 32 years ago during his visit to Vietnam, said Natsuo. He believes that any Japanese falls in love with pho after savoring the dish. The flavor of pho is good and suitable for Japanese. Any pho taste makes the food a special and unique dish, the Japanese politician told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. Via pho, we can see the similarity and familiarity between Vietnamese and Japanese cultures, he said. He also underlined the festival contributes to deepening the Vietnam - Japan friendship. Aoyagi Yoichiro, a member of Japan's House of Representatives, said that many Japanese asked him on the opening day of the fest whether the Vietnam Pho Festival would be held in Japan next year. Today, I savored three bowls of pho. The flavor at the festival is similar to that I earlier tasted in Vietnam, Aoyagi said. Chief Representative of Japan's Komeito Party Yamaguchi Natsuo attends the opening ceremony of the Vietnam Pho Festival 2023 at Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, October 7, 2023. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre Vietnam Pho Festival expected to travel to many countries Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu said that any cuisine festival acts as an ideal cultural exchange point. Among them, the Vietnam Pho Festival 2023 highlights its role in connecting people to people and the two nations cultures. Nguyen Trung Khanh, head of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, affirmed that pho is not only a popular dish in Vietnam but it also acts as a spreader of Vietnamese culture and history. Making the Vietnam Pho Festival global will be taken into account to attract international tourists to Vietnam. The Vietnam Pho Festival 2023 is co-hosted on Saturday and Sunday by Tuoi Tre and Saigontourist Group, with backing from the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association, Japans Mainichi newspaper, and Japanese partners. The festival serves as a tangible commemoration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan. It features many chefs and winners of the Hoa Hoi Vang award Nguyen Tien Hai, Nguyen Tu Tin, and Pham Quang Duy. Participating restaurants include Pho Dau, Pho Hai Thien, Hotel Majestic Saigon, Pho Phu Gia, PhoS, Sen SASCO, Pho Ta, Binh Tay Food, Pho VGCC, and Pho Thin Bo Ho, among others. The festival was launched in association with national carrier Vietnam Airlines, Suntory Beverage & Food, Southern Airports Services Joint Stock Company (SASCO), Dai-ichi Life, and PhoS. Miss Intercontinental 2022 Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc is this years ambassador for the festival. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LONGi showcased its high-efficiency Hi-MO series modules at the International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Malaysia (IGEM 2023) in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from October 4 to 6, 2023. Focused on the applications of green technology, environmental protection, and renewable energy, IGEM is an ideal platform for solution providers and green energy companies to enter the rapidly expanding ASEAN market. At the exhibition, LONGi unveiled its new flagship product, the Hi-MO 7 series, featuring HPDC cell technology, under the theme "Leading the Best to LIGHT Green Future". Of particular note is the module with the new standard size of 2382*1134mm, which adheres to the 72-cell format to ensure product quality and electrical compatibility. Delivering N-type modules with 600W+ power output, the new series boasts a conversion efficiency of up to 22.5% and a maximum power output of 610W. It offers superior performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness, garnering significant attention and favor from customers in Southeast Asia. Another exhibition highlight was the first appearance of the upgraded Hi-MO X6 module, which features advanced HPBC cell technology. These modules boast higher conversion efficiencies and lower LCOE compared to traditional modules. With an efficiency of up to 23.3% in mass production, the Hi-MO X6 modules represent a significant milestone for the globally distributed market. On the first day of the exhibition, LONGi won the "Best Sustainable Booth" award from the organizer of IGEM 2023. The award highlights the organizer's recognition of LONGi's sustainable development performance, as well as the affirmation of LONGi's brand and global influence. Malaysia, known for its abundant solar resources and government initiatives towards a green economy, has become one of the world's most vibrant photovoltaic markets. LONGi aims to deepen its presence in Malaysia and contribute to the growth of the photovoltaic industry and renewable energy development. Through continuous technological innovation and commitment to quality, LONGi seeks to lead the industry and facilitate greater breakthroughs in energy transformation in Southeast Asia. Story continues About LONGi Founded in 2000, LONGi is committed to being the world's leading solar technology company, focusing on customer-driven value creation for full scenario energy transformation. Under its mission of 'making the best of solar energy to build a green world', LONGi has dedicated itself to technology innovation and established five business sectors, covering mono silicon wafers cells and modules, commercial & industrial distributed solar solutions, green energy solutions and hydrogen equipment. The company has honed its capabilities to provide green energy and has more recently, also embraced green hydrogen products and solutions to support global zero carbon development. www.longi.com/en Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/longi-displays-its-hi-mo-series-modules-at-the-igem-exhibition-in-malaysia-301950180.html SOURCE LONGi Terence McKeag (left) cracking a joke with Princess Anne. Mr McKeag, who hailed from Helen's Bay in county Down, was widely known in agriculture and equestrian circles across Northern Ireland and passed away on Friday evening (October 6). Known as 'Mr Entertainer' due to his appearances as master of ceremonies alongside dear friend Hugo Duncan, Mr McKeag was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the New Year's Honours List in 2022 for services to agriculture and equestrian sport in Northern Ireland. Throughout his life, Terence played a significant role in events at the Balmoral Show and had significant involvement in local point-to-point races. He was also a member of King George VI Memorial LOL 1973. North Down DUP MLA Stephen Dunne paid tribute to Mr McKeag, who he labelled as a dear friend. He said: Terence was an incredible character with an amazing personality and was loved and highly respected by so many. "I have many great memories with Terence who was Mr Entertainer across the Country for so long, including locally within the Craigantlet area which he called home. Terence was a man of many talents and was equally at home speaking with Royals, or on stage telling yarns at Charity Country Music Concerts. "During his life he was an entertainer, musician, compere, farmer, RUAS Official, businessman, involved in the equestrian world, a proud Orangeman and fervent unionist and so much more. Alister Jack was visiting Vietnam (PA) DETAILS of funding for the A75 road upgrade have yet to be fleshed out, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has said. The project to improve the road, which links the ferry port at Cairnryan to the north of England, was mentioned in the Prime Ministers Conservative party conference speech. As one of a number of road projects to be funded by the cancellation of the HS2 Manchester link, Rishi Sunak said it would connect our Union with the A75 boosting links between Scotland and Northern Ireland. Speaking to the PA news agency during a trade visit to Vietnam, Jack said the A75 went through his Dumfries and Galloway constituency. He said: Im delighted there will be money for that. Weve already agreed with the Scottish Government a feasibility project, the UK Government is funding 7 million on the upgrade of the road. READ MORE: The background to Braverman's 'luxury beliefs' language And then theres the 36 billion thats been freed up from the HS2 project and some of that 36bn will be apportioned to the A75. Asked how much this would be, he said: No, weve got to thrash out the details. These are discussions Ill be having in the very near future but we havent fleshed out the detail yet. He added: Obviously I want to see it starting in the next few years, but it will take a number of years to complete Following the Prime Ministers statement, First Minister Humza Yousaf told reporters that he doubted the money would be forthcoming. Jack was in Hanoi to promote Scotch whisky exports and meet members of the Vietnamese government. As well as whisky, the UK delegation discussed cooperation around Vietnams offshore wind power ambitions and a new partnership between the British University in Vietnam and Stirling University. Exports of whisky have grown more than threefold since 2019 when a new trade deal was signed. Jack, who is the first Scottish Secretary to visit the southeast Asian country, said the spirit was very, very popular in Vietnam. Duncan Hilling (third left) and Tony Bird (fourth right) were among Second World War veterans at a special event this week. (Image: Age Cymru Dyfed) THE largest celebration of veterans of the Second World War in Wales in recent years celebrated two Pembrokeshire war veterans. On October 4, 2023, 120 people who served in the Second World War or experienced the war and went on to serve during National Service, gathered at Myddfai Community Hall near Llandovery for an Our Greatest Generation event. Among the guests were nine Second World War veterans including D-Day veterans and Betty Webb MBE. Ms Webb worked as an ATS and was involved in Bletchley Park. Some of the attendees included those who were children and witnessed the bombing of Pembroke Dock, Swansea, Cardiff and Newport, with some going on to serve in the Armed Forces in later life. The event was opened by the Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed, Sara Edwards, and Colonel James Phillips, the Veterans Commissioner for Wales, introduced the veterans including the Pembrokeshire natives. Tony Bird was born in Cowbridge in 1924 and was evacuated along with his school to Lampeter during the early part of the war. He joined the Royal Navy in 1942 and served aboard HMS Escapade, a destroyer performing convoy escort duties in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. He was posted to the USA to train as a cadet pilot but after 50 hours of flight time, he was called back to the UK to join HMS Clematis in preparation for the Normandy invasion. On D-Day, he was on the ship which provided covering fire for the landing craft. Mr Bird was also involved in the protection of the Mulberry Harbour and shot down a passing V1 Flying Bomb with the Oerlikon guns on the deck of the Clematis. He was later posted to the Far East on a Landing Ship, Tank LSCT as part of the war against Japan, repatriating and taking home prisoners of war from the Far East. Tony now lives in Freshwater East. Duncan Hilling was born in Saundersfoot in 1926 and remembered a number of incidents in Pembrokeshire in the Second World War, including watching the bombs dropping on the oil depot in Pembroke Dock in 1940, which left a thick black pall of smoke over Saundersfoot and the surrounding area and burned for several weeks. Story continues He also remembered watching a Hawker Henley trainer flying low overhead, stalling and crashing, killing the two-man crew who were buried in the churchyard. In 1944, he was called up to the RAF and was posted to RAF Cosford where he was told that he would need to leave the RAF and transfer to the Army due to a lack of demand for aircrew. After his training, he was posted to India with the Royal Welch Fusiliers in January 1945 where he was due to take part in the invasion of Burma but remained in India until the bombs were dropped in Japan. He was a member of the 25th Independent Brigade to go to Hiroshima as an Army of Occupation just weeks after the bomb had been dropped on the city. He remembers a few days after arriving, he was part of a group of seven who went into Hiroshima to see the damage and found one bridge was completely melted, every building had been damaged with some totally destroyed, railings on the ground had been melted. On visiting the hospital, they found women, men and children with skin peeled off their faces and arms and many were blinded by the blast from the bomb. He remembered the kindness of the Japanese civilian population during his stay in Japan, but as the British troops were not made aware of the danger from radiation, a number of his colleagues later died from cancer. He was later posted to Malaysia but contracted yellow jaundice and spent three months in a Kuala Lumpur hospital before being posted home. There was music provided by Kirsten Orsborn, the Royal Marines ambassador and Forces Sweetheart and Greg Lewis, a producer of ITV Wales Greatest Generation and Lest We Forget documentaries presented Lest We Forget: Filming the Stories of the Veterans. Speaking before the event, Simon Wright, CEO of Age Cymru Dyfed, said: Age Cymru Dyfed supports older veterans across west Wales. As such, we are looking forward to welcoming a number of WWII veterans Our Greatest Generation and their families to Myddfai Community Hall to celebrate their contribution to this country in its hour of need. It may be nearly 80 years since WWII raged around the world, but their part in ensuring a free world is not forgotten through events such as this and, through the West Wales Veterans Archive held as part of the Peoples Collection Wales at the National Library of Wales. Hezbollah faithful demonstrate in support of Hamas in Beirut (-) The conflict between Israel and Hamas militants is making a global impact with Britain, Canada, France and Germany among nations stepping up security around potential Jewish targets and pro-Palestinian demonstrations erupting in cities across the world. - Britain - Police in London said Sunday they had boosted patrols following the Hamas attack. "We are aware of a number of incidents... in relation to the ongoing conflict in Israel and the border with Gaza," the Metropolitan Police said on social media. Interior minister Suella Braverman warned of "zero tolerance for anti-Semitism or glorification of terrorism on the streets of Britain". "I expect the police to use the full force of the law against displays of support for Hamas, other proscribed terrorist groups or attempts to intimidate British Jews," Braverman wrote on X, formerly Twitter. - United States - Several cities across the country, including New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Houston, stepped up security around synagogues. Around a thousand demonstrators gathered in New York's Manhattan on Sunday in solidarity with Palestinians as a couple of hundred pro-Israel marchers counter-protested. New York's Governor Kathy Hochul called the Palestinian solidarity rally "abhorrent and morally repugnant", and ordered landmarks in the state -- including the World Trade Center and Niagara Falls -- to be illuminated in blue and white. - Canada - Rallies in support of the Palestinian people were held in Montreal, where demonstrators held "free Palestine" posters, waved Palestinian flags and called for boycotting Israel, images on TV showed. Police in the capital Ottawa announced an increased presence at sensitive religious areas, including synagogues and mosques. "We are also reaching out to community partners to ensure they know we are here to support them," a statement said. "Hate Crimes will not be tolerated and will be fully investigated." Story continues - France - The French government focused on synagogues and Jewish schools in cities across the country. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin sent an urgent message to regional officials to reinforce surveillance and called for the use of soldiers from France's Operation Sentinelle, a force deployed across the country since the 2015 terror attacks. "At a time when terrorist attacks from Gaza are hitting Israel, I ask you to immediately step up vigilance, security and protection of Jewish community sites in France," he wrote in the message seen by AFP. France's Jewish population, estimated at over 500,000, is the largest in Europe and the third-biggest in the world, after Israel and the United States. A government spokesperson said a pro-Palestinian rally scheduled for Monday evening in Lyon would be banned due to the "risk of disturbing public order". - Germany - Berlin boosted police protection of Jewish and Israeli institutions, while some Palestinian supporters took to the streets of the capital to celebrate the attack. "In Berlin, police protection has been immediately stepped up," Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told Bild newspaper. "The federal government and the regions are closely coordinating their actions." Authorities were also closely watching "potential supporters of Hamas in the Islamist sphere", she added. Berlin police posted photos on social media showing "people celebrating the attacks on Israel by passing out pastries". - Iran - Hundreds of people gathered on Saturday in major cities including on Tehran's Palestine Square, carrying Palestinian flags. Billboards celebrating the offensive Hamas has dubbed "Al-Aqsa Flood" were put up in the capital, including one declaring: "The great liberation operation has begun." Crowds in some cities set off fireworks and torched Israeli flags. Others marched in Palestinian colours while motorists honked their horns in jubilation. - Lebanon - The Iran-backed Shiite movement Hezbollah staged a rally Sunday in Beirut amid chants of "Death to Israel". Hezbollah said it had fired on Israeli positions in the contested Shebaa Farms border area, "in solidarity" with Hamas. Senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine said the strikes were a message to Israel that "it's our right and duty to target the enemy so long as it occupies our land". - Turkey - Thousands of Turks joined a march in Istanbul to back the Palestinians. "The Palestinian people are only defending their homeland, it has nothing to do with terrorism," said 54-year-old Sahin Ocal, a member of one of the associations that organised the protest. - Yemen - Demonstrators burned Israeli and US flags during a protest in the capital Sanaa, which is controlled by the Huthi militia, backed by Iran. Militia members on the streets shouted "Death to America, Death to Israel". - Iraq - A pro-Palestinian demonstration was called in the holy Shiite city of Kerbala Sunday. About 100 people had gathered in the heart of the capital Baghdad on Saturday to celebrate the Hamas assault. They stamped on and set fire to Israeli flags chanting "No to America, No to Israel". - South Africa - Several hundred members of the Muslim community in Cape Town gathered at the Al Quds mosque in solidarity with Palestinians. "South Africa's liberation movement "was also forced... to take up arms to have an impact" said Shaykh Shahid Esau, a former member of the South African parliament. During the apartheid era, "the world community was called on to have sanctions against South Africa and we find the very same Western countries that supported South Africa during the apartheid regime...they are the very same people that are now supporting Israel against the Palestinian people," he added. bur-de/pvh/jj/lb/aha John McDonnell (Photo: /) The long-serving Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington in west London will be joined by Mary Doolin (PCS union officer), Geoff Bell (author of The Twilight of Unionism), John Finucane (Sinn Fein MP for Belfast North), and Nadine Finch (chairwoman of Labour For Irish Unity LFIU). The gathering will take place at at 6.30-8pm in a Liverpool Quaker Meeting House tomorrow, preceded that morning by another one addressed by Mr McDonnell, titled: Troops Out Movement: Anniversary and Lessons. Mr McDonnell, shadow chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn from 2015 to 2020, had famously said in 2003: It's about time we started honouring those people involved in the armed struggle. It was the bombs and bullets and sacrifice made by the likes of Bobby Sands that brought Britain to the negotiating table. The peace we have now is due to the action of the IRA. He later apologised. On Saturday, LFIU issued a statement rebuking party leader Keir Starmer for saying a border poll is not on the horizon. We are very disappointed at Sir Keir Starmers reported comments, the group said. This unilateral assertion is not in keeping with the Good Friday Agreement that states that it will be for the people of Ireland alone to exercise their right of self-determination by consent. Meanwhile, on Sunday Sinn Feins John ODowd also reacted to Sir Keirs remarks, telling BBC NIs Sunday Politics show: Quite clearly sailing towards him is an Irish unity referendum, and he needs to prepare for that. I believe its coming towards us. Is it going to happen tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, or next year? I dont think it will. But I do think theres a responsibility on leaders across these islands to prepare for it Weve had 10 or 11 years of Tory rule, weve had Tory prime ministers and secretaries of state who see their role as representing unionism. But their real role is this: to represent the people who have points of view here and represent the Good Friday Agreement. Genres : Animation, Action, Adventure Starring : Joel McHale, Jennifer Grey, Kelly Hu Director : Ethan Spaulding Plot Synopsis Neon lights Suits with shoulder pads Jumping from explosions in slow motion In 1980s Hollywood, action star Johnny Cage (Joel McHale) is looking to become an A-list actor. But when his costar, Jennifer (Jennifer Grey), goes missing from set, Johnny finds himself thrust into a world filled with shadows, danger and deceit. As he embarks on a bloody journey, Johnny quickly discovers the City of Angels has more than a few devils in its midst. He faces off against a sinister secret society plotting a nefarious scheme, but the brutal fight against the bloodthirsty warriors of the Netherrealm is just beginning. Can Johnny, alongside other Mortal Kombat legends, save humanityand, more importantly, his career? Special Features: HA NOI Finance Minister Ho uc Phoc recently delivered a comprehensive report to the National Assembly, detailing the oversea investment landscape of state-owned enterprises during 2022. Ending December, 2022, a total of 30 Vietnamese state-owned enterprises, including companies with state capital, invested more than US$6.6 billion in foreign ventures. Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) led the pack, contributing $4 billion (60.8 per cent of total). On the repatriation front, 72 foreign projects from 16 enterprises brought in over $4 billion. Petrovietnam spearheaded the recoveries, reclaiming $2.9 billion (71.1 per cent of total). This includes profits of $1.1 billion, with the remainder from principal, interest and other sources. Assessing the operational results of foreign investment projects, the Government's report acknowledged while several projects experienced positive revenue shifts, overall profits suffered due to inefficient cost utilisation. Among profitable projects is Petrovietnam's oil exploration project in Block 04, Nhenhexky (Russia), which demonstrated high efficiency, robust revenue, and a substantial capital recovery surpassing the initial investment. The joint venture Rusvietpetro, formed by Petrovietnam and Zarubezhneft, actively explored 13 oil fields in Block 04, Nhenhexky with estimated reserves stand at 244 million tonnes (geological) and 96 million tonnes (recoverable). Since its inception in 2008, Rusvietpetro has been hailed as one of Petrovietnam's most effective international ventures. VNS A delegation from Italy's Lombardy region paid a working visit to Viet Nam to seek cooperation opportunities in a number of areas including green economy. Viet Nam News reporter Nguyen Khanh Chi spoke to President of the region Attilio Fontana First of all, could you please tell us more about the Lombardy region and purposes of the delegations visit to Viet Nam? The Lombardy region is the most important region in Italy, and the second in Europe. Lombardys gross domestic product (GDP) is about 375 billion euros, equal to 22 per cent of Italys GDP. The region is ahead in innovation, technology and life science, but also in the system of universities and of the researchers. In Lombardy, the people are never afraid, they are optimistic. Whenever there is a problem, they never stop, they try to [find a solution] to overcome it. We look to the future with optimism, we believe that we can go into the future with our human capital, because I think that the real richness of Lombardy is the people, our human capital. And we are concrete. We want to be concrete in our relationship with Viet Nam. During our meetings with the Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs o Hung Viet, Chairman of Ha Noi Peoples Committee Tran Sy Thanh, and leaders of Binh Duong Provinces People Committees and some universities in the south, I found they are also very concrete and specific. Our visit, first of all, is about being institutional. Our visit is a response to Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuongs visit to Italy in July in terms of showing interest and coming to see the situation here in Viet Nam. It takes place with two main focuses: economic, and educational and cultural. You cannot expect to have immediate results because this is much more a fact finding mission and a kind of mission to build contacts. It is not the result of a process, it is the beginning of a process. Is there any specific areas you look forward to seeking cooperation with in Viet Nam and Viet Nams localities in particular? The mechanic industry, technology, life science, but also everything about sustainability, research and new energy. We can export machines. We can export technology, we can export the new agriculture - the agriculture that uses technology. We can help you prepare big infrastructures, like roads and trains which are run on hydrogen. Since Lombardy is the main Italian exporting region, our talks focused on increasing trade and promoting Made in Italy without neglecting the possible cooperation in cultural, university, tourism and urban development fields. In our Governments programme, sustainability is like a mantra, it's a word that can be considered in everything that politicians choose for us to do. And I think that we can work with Viet Nam in this regard. In Italy, we have not ruined our place. We are studying biofuel, bioenergy, and biogas. We are using waste from agricultural products. In Lombardy, some industries, for example in the cattle-breeding industry, they use everything to generate energy. And those things are important possibilities. We want to know from Viet Nams side, what you need and what you are interested in. I have asked the Secretary General Director of Confindustria Lombardia, the most important entrepreneurial organisation in Lombardy, to try to do something, and look for wherever the possibilities are. In Lombardy, we have around 800,000 businesses and they organise themselves in clusters, sort of cooperatives. Everyone, particularly those in specialised areas, get together to make bigger results. Its a strange model, not seen in the rest of Italy. We have already had some important investments in Viet Nam, Piagio for example, and maybe more. We also have the Hung Yen Knitting & Dyeing Co. Ltd, a historic Italian investment in Viet Nam belonging to the Lombard Carvico Group. The Italian people that have invested in Viet Nam said they are very happy of what they found here. You know, it is a country where they found a good possibility, good people with organisation and a good platform for ASEAN. I am sure we will find good conditions, and we see that Viet Nam has much potential. The two-way trade between the Lombardy region and Viet Nam makes up 40 per cent of the total trade between Viet Nam and Italy. What are your expectations for the bilateral trade 2025 or 2030? It's impossible to say now, but I believe that we will have a lot of possibilities. Lombardy alone represents 40 per cent of the bilateral trade between Italy and Viet Nam. However, we want to improve this relationship because there are a lot of possibilities in everything I mentioned above, but much more in the collaboration in, for example, green economy and circular economy. I believe that Viet Nam, in this regard, is one of the most important possibilities for our entrepreneurs, for our work and our investments. There are good prospects for many reasons. One reason is that the Association of Machine Producers from the Lombardy region is going to open an office next week in Viet Nam, which for sure, will help increase business. And the second reason is that Viet Nam is increasingly part of an international supply chain. So, by creating these opportunities, opportunities for business and trade will increase. Already much of the trade between Viet Nam and Italy is a back and forth trade in the productive chain. So I think there is room for improvement. And the Lombardy region is so strong in some new technologies, including green technology, so we will offer opportunities for increasing cooperation in these businesses. Viet Nam is attractive, not only because of its quality of the workforce and political conditions but also because of its commitment to cutting emissions. And in this sense, Viet Nam is very similar to us, energy transition, green economy, circular economy, all these things we're struggling with in Europe. But we see that Viet Nam is following. Maybe not the same pace, but its the same way. And this is something that is very reassuring, and makes Viet Nam different in the region. I'm sure we will increase our relationship very much. VNS HA NOI The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel reported on October 7 (local time) that the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian territories in recent days has been complex, and the violence has caused hundreds of casualties, according to the information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel has proactively implemented various measures to protect its citizens, including posting announcements on the official social media page of the Embassy, advising and instructing on security measures to ensure the safety of citizens, providing contact information in case of need. The Embassy has deployed officers to maintain regular contact with the Vietnamese community in Israel to continuously update information and closely coordinate with relevant local authorities and diplomatic missions in the area to implement measures to protect Vietnamese citizens. So far, Vietnamese citizens, including the Vietnamese community in Israel, officials on business trips, and tourists, have remained safe. Per the foreign ministry's instructions, the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel will continue to closely monitor the situation, maintain regular contact with the Vietnamese community, and develop a suitable plan for citizen protection in response to the evolving conflict and ensure the safety of Vietnamese citizens. The foreign ministry advises Vietnamese citizens to temporarily avoid areas of conflict. Vietnamese citizens in the region should closely monitor the situation, take necessary security measures, comply strictly with local government regulations, avoid large gatherings, and limit travel. They should immediately contact the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel for assistance when needed. Vietnamese citizens in need of assistance can contact the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel at the following phone numbers: 972-50-818-6116 and +972-52-727-4248, +972-50-994-0889, or the Citizen Protection Hotline of the Consular Department at +84 981 84 84 84. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam is "profoundly concerned" over the escalating violence between Hamas and Israel that has led to massive civilian casualties, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said in a statement on Sunday. Viet Nam is closely following the situation, she noted, as the Gaza strip saw the deadliest day in over 50 years. "We call on relevant parties to exercise restraint, refrain from taking actions that complicate the situation, and soon resume negotiations to resolve disagreements through peaceful means, on the basis of international law and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, and ensuring the safety and legitimate interests of civilians," the spokesperson remarked. So far, Vietnamese citizens, including the Vietnamese community in Israel, officials on business trips, and tourists, have remained safe, according to the Vietnamese embassy in Israel. The foreign ministry advises Vietnamese citizens to temporarily avoid areas of conflict. Vietnamese citizens in the region should closely monitor the situation, take necessary security measures, comply strictly with local government regulations, avoid large gatherings, and limit travel. They are also told to immediately contact the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel for assistance when needed. The embassy said it has deployed officers to maintain regular contact with the Vietnamese community in Israel to continuously update information and closely coordinate with relevant local authorities and diplomatic missions in the area to implement measures to protect Vietnamese citizens. Over the weekend, Hamas forces launched a surprise military operation against Israel, shooting thousands of rockets at Israeli cities while other militants opened fires at Israeli settlers, killing hundreds and capturing numerous others. The Israeli army has retaliated with attacks on many Hamas sites and residential buildings in the Gaza strip, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians. VNS HA NOI The 13th Party Central Committee concluded its 8th plenum on Sunday morning, with all of its agenda completed after seven working days. Speaking at the closing ceremony, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said that amidst difficulties and challenges of the world and domestic situation, it is necessary to prioritise promoting and improving growth quality, creating jobs and increasing income for workers on the basis of maintaining macro-economic stability, ensuring major balances of the economy, and ensuring social welfare. The Party leader assessed that in the past ten years, Viet Nam has obtained many important results and achievements, increasingly demonstrating the superiority of the political system. Trong noted that Viet Nam is a leading country in reducing poverty, implementing the millennium development goals and sustainable development goals of the United Nations, with social welfare policies being continually improved. He requested to keep a close watch on the international and domestic situation to promptly make appropriate and effective decisions, strive to achieve the highest level of major goals and targets for 2023 and the entire 13th term. To successfully achieve the set goals, the Party chief stressed the need to urgently and seriously build and implement guidelines and policies concertedly and effectively; continue to promote the tradition of great national unity in the new period of development; supplement and improve laws and policies in accordance with the new situation to better promote the strength of all classes of people, and inspire the will and aspirations for development of the entire nation; and maintain the building and rectification of the Party and the political system. It is also important to continue improving the validity and efficiency of the State's activities in building and implementing national solidarity policies; promoting socialist democracy, taking the people as the centre, the subject, the main resource and driving force, and the goal of national unity; and at the same time innovating the operations of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, socio-political organisations, and mass associations to make them truly represent the legitimate rights and interests of the people, and better serve national development, said the Party General Secretary. He also emphasised the necessity to maintain and strengthen the Party's absolute and direct leadership in all aspects, as well as the State's centralised and unified management and administration for the cause of national building and safeguarding; while ensuring national interests at the highest level based on the basic principles of the United Nations Charter, international law, equality, cooperation, and mutual benefit; and firmly pursuing the goal of national independence and socialism; and maintaining a peaceful, stable environment and favourable conditions for the building and development of the country. Attention should also be paid to increasing appropriate investment in building all-people national defence, people's security and people's armed forces so as to meet the requirements of protecting the Fatherland early and from afar, and not being passive or surprised in all situations; intensifying international integration and improving the effectiveness of international cooperation, the Party chief stressed. During the plenum, the 13th Party Central Committee have discussed and gave concluding opinions on the country's socio-economic situation, State budget in 2023 and plan for 2024, State financial and budget plan for the 2024-26 period, and roadmap for implementing the new salary regime. The 8th plenum also discussed and agreed to set up five sub-committees - documents, socio-economic, personnel, Party charter, and Party Congress serving staff - to prepare for the 14th National Party Congress. VNS HA NOI Top leaders of Viet Nam on Saturday extended condolences to their Syrian counterparts over the death of more than 100 people and injury of many others after a drone attack on a Syrian military academy in the western city of Homs two days earlier. President Vo Van Thuong sent a message of condolences to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh extended condolences to his Syrian counterpart Hussein Arnous and National Assembly Chairman Vuong inh Hue cabled a message of condolences to Speaker of the Syrian Peoples Council Hammouda Youssef Sabbagh. The same day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son extended condolences to Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Al-Meqdad. VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has requested the heads of ministries, sectors, and localities to take drastic action against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and tackle existing shortcomings facing the work. The Government leader made his request at a Saturday teleconference that delved into such solutions and the preparations for the upcoming fourth inspection of Viet Nams related efforts by the European Commission (EC) team. In his opening remarks at the event that gathered leaders of 28 centrally run coastal localities, Chinh underscored the Partys and States significant attention to addressing the issue as well as all-level agencies and localities drastic implementation of anti-IUU fishing measures. These efforts include strengthening inspections, monitoring, education and communications; improving mechanisms; creating livelihoods for people involved; cooperating with relevant countries for checking, controlling, and addressing violations; promoting aquaculture and seafood processing; and limiting fishing. As a result, notable progress has been made and the number of violations has gradually dropped, he went on. However, the issue has yet to be completely solved, with limitations and challenges remaining, the leader noted. Stressing the Partys and States policy of staying consistent and persistent with IUU fishing combat, ocean and seafood resources protection, and sustainable development, he affirmed a need to closely link maritime economic development with safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity and respecting international laws. Saying that combating IUU fishing is primarily for the benefit of the nation and its people, the PM called for an improvement of public awareness regarding law enforcement and environmental protection serving sustainable development. In addition, it is also necessary to create livelihoods and employment opportunities for the people with a focus on increasing aquaculture and processing and reducing fishing. Recommendations made by other countries and organisations regarding fisheries exploitation must be seriously observed, while new IUU fishing violations and incidents must be prevented, Chinh said. He requested the heads of relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to address existing issues and limitations, calling for their effective implementation of tasks and measures to combat IUU fishing. Furthermore, the PM suggested that municipal and provincial people's committees closely collaborate with the Ministry of National Defence and relevant departments and ministries to crack down on the occurrence of local vessels engaging in illegal fishing activities in foreign waters. Local authorities, especially at grassroots levels, are in direct contact with and responsible for managing fishermen, therefore, they must manage, understand, and seriously carry out all matters related to combating IUU fishing, Chinh said. He held that whether the EC removes the yellow card warning for Viet Nam's seafood or not, the nation must continue its efforts to ensure peoples livelihoods and protect the marine ecological environment, serving its sustainable development and upholding its international responsibilities and obligations. VNS HCM CITY The role of the youth in digital transformation was highlighted at the 7th International Students Science Forum, which was held in HCM City from October 6-8. The event drew the participation of 100 students from 37 universities in 10 countries, namely Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam, who came for high-quality academic exchanges, and to promote their role in the digital transformation process in their nations. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of HCM City and Chairwoman of the municipal Students Association Tran Thu Ha said that the forum, among the outstanding activities of the students association, aimed to create a venue for students to share experience in scientific research as well as academic issues. Vice Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Duong uc Anh said digital transformation, which creates substantial changes in production, management and consumption, poses both opportunities and challenges to all sectors, adding HCM City is making unceasing efforts to shape up a business climate and digital infrastructure system, and devise incentives to encourage investments in IT and AI, creating favourable conditions for startups. The youth has played an important role in the digitalisation process as their creativity, devotion and knowledge will help countries overcome challenges to realise their digital transformation targets, he said, stressing that the forum was expected to encourage students to better engage in the process, helping their countries develop prosperously in the digitalisation era. In the framework of the forum, an array of research works on digital transformation were delivered by researchers and lecturers from Vietnamese and foreign universities. According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chandra Setiawan, former Rector of President University in Indonesia, digital transformation is the application of advanced technologies to carry out business activities in a faster and more effective fashion, thus it is necessary for education establishments to give digitalisation training to their students. The 1st International Students Science Forum was organised in 2016 to welcome the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community. The annual forum spotlights an array of issues, including sustainable development, the fourth industrial revolution, and digital economy. VNS Hamas releases video of capturing Israelis Xinhua) 09:47, October 08, 2023 RAMALLAH, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), released on Saturday a short video showing some militants capturing a number of Israelis from the Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip. In the 37-second short video, members of the Al-Qassam Brigades were shown kidnapping a number of Israelis in civilian clothes inside an army military base, without providing further details. Abu Obaida, the spokesman of al-Qassam, said that "the sudden operations were taken place on the ground as planned in all axes." (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Bo Xuan Hiep HCM CITY An 87-year-old man came to the Binh Thanh District Police in HCM City last Monday morning to report a fraud related to bonds allegedly committed by one of Viet Nams largest property developers. He has been patiently waiting for the return of his money since the arrest of Truong My Lan, the chairwoman of Van Thinh Phat Group, last October. He and other bondholders have not received the interest or principal they were supposed to get through their accounts at Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB), where most had bought the bonds. The chairwoman is believed to be a significant shareholder in the bank. SCB has said all accounts associated with Van Thinh Phat and its associate companies have been frozen by the police, which is why the bondholders have not received their payments. It said it is only an intermediary involved in selling the bonds to investors and does not guarantee bond repayment. Determined not to lose his lifetime savings, the man, who asked not to be identified, accompanied by his son went to the police after hearing they had urged victims of the VN30 trillion (US$1.24 billion) default to step forward. He said he had lost more than VN54 billion ($2.2 million). He is just one of over 40,000 victims all over Viet Nam of what was one of the biggest bond fraud cases in the countrys history. Tran Buu Nuu, a Binh Thanh District police officer, said things have been busy in recent times due to the overwhelming number of victims coming to complain. The Binh Thanh police receive around 100-200 cases daily now, but last month, even before they exhorted victims to complain, they had received over 1,000 complaints, he said. It is important to provide careful guidance and support to the victims, especially elderly people, who may not be familiar with bonds, he told Viet Nam News. The police are forwarding the complaints to the Investigation Police Department for Corruption, Smuggling, and Economic Crimes (CO3) in Ha Noi. Lan, chairwoman of Van Thinh Phat, and several accomplices allegedly deceived numerous people between 2018 and 2020 to misappropriate trillions of ong. They made multiple bond issuances totalling at least VN30.08 trillion. Based on their ongoing investigation, the police said merely that Van Thinh Phat Group's companies misused the funds obtained from the bond issuances without providing details. But they have determined that the holders of the bonds have been defrauded. A number of organisations, including An ong Investment Group Joint Stock Company, Quang Thuan Investment Joint Stock Company, HCM City Commercial Services Joint Stock Company, Sunny World Investment and Development Joint Stock Company, are believed to have involvement in Van Thinh Phat Groups fraudulent activities. The police are urging people who bought bonds through SCB to come forward with information, documents and related contracts to protect themselves. Failure to do so may result in [losses]. Last October, Lan and several others were arrested for alleged fraud related to the issuance and trading of bonds worth trillions of ong. Following Lans arrest, depositors rushed to SCB to withdraw their money since they believed she was a significant shareholder of SCB, one of Viet Nams largest private banks, leading to the lender being placed under the special control of the State Bank of Viet Nam. Lan is well known as a wealthy Chinese-Vietnamese businesswoman. Van Thinh Phat Group has interests in commerce, hospitality and real estate, and owns major projects and buildings in prime locations in HCM City. Other individuals who were arrested include Truong Hue Van, CEO of Windsor Property Management, Nguyen Phuong Hong, an assistant at Van Thinh Phat, and Ho Buu Phuong, a former chairwoman of Tan Viet Securities and Van Thinh Phat's former deputy financial director. In a related development, the Investigation Police Department for Corruption, Smuggling, and Economic Crimes (C03) has uncovered another major fraud involving Tan Hoang Minh Group, which is accused of misappropriating over VN8.6 trillion ($353.84 million) from 6,000 investors. Major General Nguyen Van Thanh, the departments deputy head, assured victims that the money retrieved from the company would be used as evidence in the case and returned to the rightful owners on court orders. Victims are encouraged to actively participate in the prosecution and trial to safeguard their rights, he said. Experts have called for strong measures to protect retail investors from falling victim to fraudulent schemes. They must exercise caution and do due diligence before engaging in financial transactions, they said. I might die before I can get my money back, but I believe in justice and the fairness of the law, the 87-year-old man told Viet Nam News. VNS By Thanh Nga Hai Phong tourism has captivated visitors with its myriad interesting destinations and rich cuisine. The Long Chau archipelago is an ideal spot for those who are looking for a new place to travel and experience when visiting the northern port city. The archipelago is located in Cat Hai District, approximately 50km from the coast of Hai Phong port city. It is very well known because it is home to a lighthouse built more than 100 years ago. The archipelago is composed of more than 30 limestone islets and reefs. It features sharp, pointed rocks amid the deep blue skies and seas. The almost bare islands are uninhabited; there are only a team of men guarding the lighthouse, which allows this rocky outpost to retain its inherent wildness and majestic beauty bestowed by nature. It is necessary to obtain permission from the Long Chau Border Guard Station to visit the islands. From central Hai Phong City, one can travel to Beo Wharf, Cat Hai District, to rent a boat to the islands. Each boat can carry about 10 people, and the average rental price is from VN400,000 - VN600,000 per boat. Sitting on the boat, inhaling the sea breeze, and gazing at the towering rocky mountains in the vast ocean, one can truly relax and experience a sense of peace. During the journey, we passed through an intriguing area called Lan Ha Bay, a calm, arc-shaped bay with a shimmering strip of water divided by large and small limestone islands, creating a breathtaking natural scene. The islands finally come into view after about 30 minutes. In the middle of the vast ocean, a tall mountain stands proudly with a lighthouse, as if challenging the test of time. Upon arrival, we headed to a clear blue beach right at the foot of the lighthouse. This quiet space belonged solely to our group, the vast skies and cool blue seas. It exceeded our expectations and provided a rich experience. The beach is located deep in the bay, resulting in calm and gentle waves. It is not very deep, making it perfect for swimming. There were only a few people on the large, white beach with clear blue water. We could freely lie on the sandy shore, gaze at the skies and relax without being bothered by anyone. After enjoying our swim, we took a leisurely walk around the islands and visited the stone lighthouse, built in 1894 during the French colonial era. Long Chau Lighthouse stands at an impressive height of 110m above sea level. It is one of the three oldest lighthouses in Viet Nam, along with Hon Dau also in Hai Phong, and Ke Ga in the central province of Phan Thiet. From a distance, we immediately spot the lighthouse tower with a distinctive dome rising skywards. Its strong light reaching up to 27 nautical miles away warns and guides ships and boats arriving and departing from Hai Phong Port. The lighthouse is also known as the "Long Chau pearl eye" by seafarers. Standing on the windy lighthouse and gazing into the distance, we could see the sharp and jagged rock formations. Further off, Lan Ha Bay unfolded before us, showcasing the majestic beauty of the seas, skies, and limestone isles amid the emerald green waters. We had a cheery chat with some border guards stationed on Long Chau, who were happy to tell us about the history of the place. The soldiers spend most of their time on the island, only visiting home once a year. Long Chau is their home. Mai Tien Manh, a native of Hai Phong's outlying district of Tien Lang, has been assigned to work at Long Chau Lighthouse since January last year. He is in charge of maintaining equipment, lights, machines, and observing the sea for any incidents during the day. At night, they turn on the lights to warn and guide sea craft. The most enduring challenge for those on the islands is the lack of fresh water. There is no underground water source, so they rely mainly on rainwater kept in tanks and water transported from the mainland. The soldiers' efforts and dedication to protecting the lighthouse are supported by fishermen in surrounding areas. Pham Van Dung from Cat Ba Town, who has been working as a fisherman since 2012, said that seeing the lighthouse during the day and its lights at night brought a sense of comfort to those at work at sea. When the staff at Long Chau Lighthouse have urgent duties on the mainland, Dung and other fishermen are willing to temporarily leave their own work to provide support. After our visit to the lighthouse, we returned to a raft house moored around the islands, where we had arranged to stay overnight. This particular raft house specialises in catching and selling seafood such as shrimp, crabs, squid, snails, and oysters. Whatever we wanted to eat, we could get directly from the raft house, and the owner cooked them into delicious dishes. In just a few minutes, we found ourselves enjoying a hearty party, full of sea food, iced beer, and more important, laughter. VNS By Thanh Nga (Additional reporting by Kieu Trinh and Lyly Cao) We had the opportunity to visit Trach Xa Village on a delightful autumn day, where the sun shone golden rays onto the landscape. The path leading into the village was adorned with lotus ponds and rows of lush trees. Situated in Hoa Lam Commune, Ung Hoa District, about 60km from central Ha Noi, Trach Xa is known for its tailor-made ao dai - Vietnamese traditional long dress. For centuries, the village's skilled dressmakers have played a vital role in preserving the iconic Vietnamese costume. According to village elders, the art of making ao dai in Trach Xa dates back to over a thousand years. It is said that Nguyen Thi Sen, the fourth wife of King inh Tien Hoang, acquired dressmaking skills from palace seamstresses. Upon her return to her native village Trach Xa, she taught the craft to the villagers. Over time, it was passed down and is now the primary occupation of the majority of Trach Xa's residents. Despite modern ao dai creations being prevalent, Trach Xa boasts several family businesses still preserving the centuries-old designs of the national costume, such as the ao dai ngu than - the traditional five-panel long dress. One such artisan is o Minh Tam, who has revived the art of crafting the five-panel long dress. In a modest workshop adorned with vibrant silk fabrics, Tam meticulously sews each layer of fabric with great care. His current project involves making five-panel long dresses for a number of female teachers in the area. Tam explains that the five-panel dress differs from the modern ao dai creations. "A five-panel dress consists of two pieces of cloth for the front, two for the back, and an inner piece for right chest. In the past, when fabric widths were narrow at around 40cm, two cloth pieces had to be sewn together to make a dress body," Tam told Viet Nam News. The five-panel ao dai originated in the mid-18th century in the Hue court of Lord Nguyen Phuc Khoat. It transcended social boundaries and was worn by people from all walks of life. As time passed, a more convenient version of the outfit gained popularity and eventually replaced it. For those who cherish the five-panel ao dai, this ensemble fulfils all the requirements of a costume, bestowing a distinctive poise and figure upon men and an elegant allure on women. The long dress also carries profound symbolism: the four panels in the front and back represent the father, mother, father-in-law, and mother-in-law, while the inner one represents the wearer. The intricate sewing techniques of the dress are prominently displayed in the meticulous stitching of patterns at the hem, ensuring perfect alignment and straight, small, even, and concealed thread lines. Tam says that despite his deep passion for the traditional long dress, the rise of the market economy led to the dominance of the modern ao dai trend. During the long time of wars and economic depression, the traditional five-panel long dress gradually faded away. It became rare and unpopular, resulting in a significant decline in customers. Most dressmakers in Trach Xa were compelled to modify their designs. "As innovative ao dai could be mass-produced in various styles and colours, each year it underwent changes catering to individual tastes, making it challenging to preserve its original cultural value. Traditional ao dai, on the other hand, remained faithful to a single style. Its cultural significance endured," Tam says. Despite challenges, Tam has adapted to the pace of modern life while striving to preserve traditional design. His return to crafting the five-panel long dress was inspired by his desire to maintain national heritage, as well as the support of the inh Lang Viet (Vietnamese Village Communal House) Club. "In 2017, members of the inh Lang Viet Club, who share a deep love for Vietnamese traditions, approached me with a request to revive the five-panel long dress to preserve this national costume. So when I decided to resume making the dress with traditional designs, I faced numerous challenges," Tam says. Thanks to the ingenuity and creativity of artisans like Tam, the five-panel long dress has woven itself back into the fabric of everyday life. In recent years, the five-panel long dress has drawn attention from young people eager to preserve traditional culture. The growing popularity of the dress is evident through the emergence of associations, groups, and fan pages such as the inh Lang Viet, ai Viet Co Phong (ai Viet Traditional Customs), and Viet Nam Co Phuc Hoi (The Vietnamese Traditional Costumes Association). Through the dedication of artisans like Tam, the timeless beauty of the five-flap long dress continues to thrive, bridging the gap between tradition and modernity. This resurgence has renewed the allure of the fashion. Secrets of craft village Trach Xa craft village continues to develop thanks to the delicate skill of horizontal hand-stitching. This technique, known only to the local artisans, is an integral part of creating the traditional dress. Despite the availability of sewing machines, many dressmakers in Trach Xa still prefer hand sewing, particularly when working on a traditional ao dai. It often took us about two years to master this method. The way we hold the needle often leads to pricked fingers. After two years of learning hand-stitching, we moved on to machine stitching, Tam said. Observing Tam at work, it is difficult to see his needle as it moves swiftly through the fabric. Once the outfit is completed, the inside edge appears seamless, with no visible stitches, while the outside of the fabric exhibits straight and even stitches. In addition to the horizontal stitching technique, Trach Xa dressmakers traditionally use the yarn taken from the same piece of cloth to sew the dress. In the past, we did not have sewing machines, and hand-sewing a dress took one or two weeks. Our ancestors used the yarn pulled from the same piece of cloth as thread to sew, ensuring that the stitches were concealed in the dress. We still do it that way today, Tam said. Both traditional and modern According to Nguyen Thi Dung, deputy village chief, Trach Xa comprises over 500 households, with about 90 per cent engaged in making ao dai. The tailoring art is passed down from generation to generation, with children as young as 8 to 10 years old being introduced to the trade and becoming proficient in sewing by the time they reach 15 to 16. Many families have multiple generations working together. Artisan Nghiem Van at has dedicated decades to making ao dai, and is one of the most successful dressmakers in Ha Noi. His shop Ao Dai Tien at Trach Xa in Chua Boc Street is well-known for making long dresses, both traditional and modern, for men and women. at, 60, remains actively involved in the industry as chairman of the Trach Xa Craft Village Association. Young dressmaker Vu Thi Hang emphasises the importance of blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary fashion. She has studied dressmaking that aligns with market demands. Traditional ao dai emphasises softness and grace, while modern creations incorporate current fashion elements. Despite the changing social landscape, the younger generation in Trach Xa maintains a commitment to the craft. The village artisans have spread their expertise throughout the country, opening shops in major cities. They draw in customers due to the uniqueness of the hand-sewn ao dai, which features even and straight stitches and a graceful shape, while showcasing the beauty of Vietnamese women. Trach Xa's long dresses have been showcased in numerous craft fairs across the country. The village has also become a cultural landmark for tourists at home and from abroad. Trach Xa was recognised as a traditional dressmaking village by the culture ministry in 2004, and is currently seeking recognition of the craft as an intangible cultural heritage of the nation. VNS The MoU stipulates that JERA and EVN will share information and promote discussions towards the decarbonisation of the country's power sector. The two sides will work together to establish a roadmap for the decarbonisation of EVN's entire business, including the thermal power sector, and to explore the introduction of ammonia and hydrogen to EVN's thermal power plants. Vietnam's electricity demand is expected to continue to increase in line with its economic growth, which both securing a stable energy supply and decarbonisation are nationwide challenges. Along with expanding the development of renewable energy, the government has announced a policy to promote conversion to ammonia and hydrogen in thermal power generation. As Vietnam is one of the important countries in the business strategy for JERA, the company is developing a business base in Vietnam and exploring solutions to achieve both a stable energy supply and decarbonisation to support Vietnams economic development. EVN is the largest power producer in Vietnam, owning approximately 40 per cent of the whole country's power generation capacity, which includes its subsidiaries facilities. JERA expects that collaboration with EVN will contribute to the decarbonisation of the country's power sector in Vietnam. Under the JERA Zero Emissions 2050 initiative, the company is taking on the challenge of achieving zero CO 2 emissions from its domestic and overseas operations as of 2050. The company aims to achieve zero emissions through the formulation of roadmaps that are optimal for each country and region. By formulating the company's decarbonisation roadmap while taking into full consideration the unique circumstances of Vietnam, JERA will contribute to the strong growth and development of Vietnam and the world. Sovico Group ties up with JERA Co., Inc. to explore opportunities to supply LNG Sovico Corporation has signed a cooperation agreement with JERA to evaluate the potential of supplying liquefied natural gas (LNG) for power projects in Vietnam. Japan's biggest power generator Jera acquires 35 per cent of TTC Group's subsidiary In order to enhance Vietnam's renewable energy capacity by 2025, Vietnam's conglomerate Thanh Thanh Cong Group (TTC Group) partnered up with Japan's Jera Co., the largest power generation company in Japan, producing one-third of Japan's electricity Phuc Khang Corporation (PKC) and its CEO Luu Thi Thanh Mau are typical examples of a business that is aware of the role of green buildings in modern society and have strategies to promote them. The Vietnam Green Building Week 2023 (VGBW) event was held on September 28 in Ho Chi Minh City by the Ministry of Construction. This year's VGBW attracted more than 1,000 delegates from design consulting, architecture, real estate, construction materials, equipment, technology, electromechanical products, green and smart, energy-saving, and low-emission interior products. This was an opportunity for policymakers, experts, businesses, consulting units, banks, agencies, international organisations and people working in the construction field to sit together and discuss solutions to promote green transformation in the construction industry. In Vietnam, the guidelines and policies are consistent with the view that economic development must be associated with environmental protection, economical and effective use of energy, resources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and ensuring human health. Along with the world's green transformation trend after COP 26, many businesses and investors in the construction sector in Vietnam have developed and implemented specific plans and solutions to develop their businesses in a green direction, with low emissions and moving towards carbon neutrality as the target by 2050 that the Government has committed to. PKC is a green building developer who quickly grasped this general trend and it has long chosen the journey of greening businesses with methodical strategies and practical actions. With more than 14 years of steadfast commitment to the mission of pioneering sustainability, PKC is bringing green living spaces to the Vietnamese community. PKC's journey to create green buildings is a long-term strategy from building, developing, operating and improving every day. From the early days of developing green buildings, PKC used to find itself alone on this path, but now that is no longer the case. In the upcoming greening strategy, PKC continues its journey to develop green buildings and continuously improve implemented projects to maintain the best quality of life for the community. The company understands that a green community needs more than a green building but other important factors such as green utilities and green activities. Therefore, PKC has been implementing research on green urban areas and will apply them in the project development process in the near future in its projects. One of the strategies that PKC continuously implements is to build up green human resources. This is critical and is one of the prerequisites for developing green buildings in Vietnam. PKC has early invested in improving knowledge for its staff through internal training courses, annual study and experience tours in Singapore; focusing on young human resources in architecture and urban fields; and a range of Green Study Tour programmes, Green Urban scholarships, Green Summer Design Studio programme. All of those will be sound investments for the sustainable development journey in the construction sector. After COP 26, activities promoting sustainability and aiming for net-zero are increasingly being promoted. PKC has also developed specific actions to promote the government's net-zero commitment through its key product of green buildings. Green buildings, energy-efficient buildings, especially projects aiming at neutral carbon or net-zero are also products being researched by PKC for deployment in the near future. In addition, digital transformation in the built environment is a strategy PKC has been implementing. With the current rate of development of IT, digital transformation will be a significant support for promoting the development of green buildings in particular and the economy in general. Luu Thi Thanh Mau, CEO, PKC Phuc Khang Corporation again in top 10 sustainable businesses in Vietnam The green building developer Phuc Khang Corporation was once again honoured as a Top 10 Sustainable Business in the Production, Trading and Services category, ranked by the Corporate Sustainability Index 2022. Phuc Khang Corporation's CEO attains new green building accolades Continuing its mission to create green buildings and urban areas for a high-quality living environment for residents, Phuc Khang Corporation and its CEO Luu Thi Thanh Mau have been bestowed with further awards. The Ecowin plant is an onshore wind farm project comprising nine wind turbines with 3.3MW capacity each. The project is operated by Ecowin Energy Corporation, a joint venture company owned by Ratch Group. The project has completed its trial run and reliability tests. The Ecowin plant is the companys third Vietnamese renewable power project in operation, along with the Song Giang 2 and Coc San hydroelectric power plants, with a total equity capacity of 49.63MW. The company has two further projects under development, namely Song Giang 1 hydroelectric plant and Ben Tre wind farm with a combined equity installed capacity of 65.15MW. Both projects are scheduled to commence commercial operation in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Choosri Kietkajornkul, CEO of Ratch Group said, "Vietnam is regarded as a target country due to its continued economic growth and power development plan which is clearly defined on renewable energy sources including hydroelectric power, onshore and offshore wind power, as well as solar power." "The company foresees a sound investment opportunity in renewable energy expansion in the Vietnam market that it could be run through Ratch Group itself or through a joint venture company, NEXIF Ratch Energy Investment. Moreover, the company aims to expand renewable capacity to 4,000MW by 2035," he said. At present, the company has invested in renewable energy projects with the 2,933MW total equity capacity, accounting for 27 per cent of its 10,807MW total installed capacity, of which the 1,566MW capacity is commercial generation and another 1,367MW is under development and construction. In addition, Australia is considered the companys main operational base on renewable energy with a 1,379.69MW total equity capacity, followed by Laos of 669.10MW, the Philippines of 549.83MW, Indonesia of 123.05MW, Vietnam of 114.78MW, Thailand of 94.76MW, and Japan of 2.02MW. Thai RATCH shakes hands with Geleximco to invest in An Binh energy fund RATCH Group Pcl., through wholly-owned subsidiary RH International (Singapore), will acquire a 49 per cent stake in An Binh Energy and Infrastructure Fund (ABEIF), with the rest taken up by Geleximco to cooperate on joint developments in Vietnam. Energy China eyes expansion in Vietnam with increased investment in renewable projects Energy China, a Fortune 500 energy conglomerate, has unveiled plans to expand its investments in Vietnam. The Mekong Delta region has an important strategic role and position in the development of the economy, culture, society, defense and security of the whole country. In recent times, the region's socioeconomic achievements have achieved comprehensive results, becoming a key agricultural region of the country with many key products, especially rice, shrimp, fish and fruits. However, the country's "agricultural product basket" has not developed according to its potential. Transportation infrastructure is limited and lacking in uniformity and lacking linkages between different modes of transport. In particular, the scale and capacity of waterway transport remain low with no major ports or large logistics centres. Tran De Seaport is planned and invested as a gateway port to quickly transfer goods from the Mekong Delta to the world More than 70 per cent of the Mekong Delta's import and export goods must be transported by road to the Ho Chi Minh City port cluster. This has increased transportation costs and affected the quality of goods, and created pressure on road traffic. For a long time, shipments have been focused on being transported from Soc Trang to Cat Lai and Cai Mep ports, for export. This route is long and has very high traffic density, taking time and creating high costs for businesses. Therefore, investing in the construction of Tran De Seaport urgent to quickly remove bottlenecks and support operations for businesses, including reducing costs and risks, and increasing reliability with partners in goods delivery and further promoting the socioeconomic development of the entire region. According to Le Tan Dat, deputy general director of Maritime Construction Consulting JSC, the development of Tran De Seaport will affect the movement of direct import and export goods volume of 8 out of 13 Mekong Delta cities and provinces. In addition, it will attract goods from other ports in the Mekong Delta region as well. Focusing on key projects Speaking at the Tran De Seaport Investment workshop held recently in Soc Trang, Chairman of Soc Trang People's Committee Tran Van Lau said that the central government has many policies and guidelines to focus investment resources on developing the Mekong Delta region, especially transport infrastructure. Tran De Seaport will be developed into a special port and regional gateway as per a government resolution in April 2022. On July 24, a decision was made, approving plans, policies, solutions and resources to implement the Master Plan for the development of Vietnam's seaport system. One of the tasks of developing maritime infrastructure was investment for the startup phase of Tran De Seaport area, with capital needs of up to VND50 trillion ($2.08 billion). According to Lau, such policies are an important political and legal basis for making Tran De as a gateway port in the Mekong Delta region. This will help synchronise transport infrastructure, directly promoting the region's socioeconomic development. Soc Trang Peoples Committee is coordinating with the Ministry of Transport to urgently complete and submit plans for approval detail plans to call for investment in Tran De Seaport. Special mechanisms to attract investment Tran De Seaport is planned by Soc Trang People's Committee with a total expected investment until 2030 of more than $2.37 billion, the overall period until 2050 is nearly $6 billion. This investment will be mainly invested for infrastrcuture facilities of bridges connecting onshore and offshore terminals and equipment, and constructions outside the port, including breakwaters, navigational channel systems, signaling, and connection routes from the end of Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang Expressway to Soc Trang to the sea. The offshore port area is capable of receiving the largest container ships of up to 100,000 dead-weight tonnes and bulk cargo ships of up to 160,000 tonnes. When put into operation, Tran De Seaport is forecast to be able to receive a total volume of goods of up to 41 million tonnes per year. At the same time, it helps reduce transportation costs by up to 50 per cent for exported agricultural products of the Mekong Delta. Tran De Seaport and its transport system Nguyen Anh Tuan, deputy general director of T&T Group, said that Tran De Seaport was the fastest gateway to bring Mekong Delta goods to the world, contributing to promoting the region's economy. In Soc Trang, T&T Group is researching and investing in an urban industrial service zone with a total area of more than 1,300 hectares. To promote the investment in Tran De Seaport, Tuan proposed that the government consider and apply a special investment mechanism. Investing Tran De Seaport requires large investment capital, therefore, we propose the project lifespan should be 70 years so that investors can ensure stable revenue and long-term investment, Tuan added. When put into operation, Tran De Seaport is forecast to be able to receive a total volume of goods of up to 41 million tonnes per year Soc Trang lures over $8.7 billion in committed investment capital Soc Trang has recently granted investment certificates for four projects and signed 18 MoUs on investment study and surveys with the total registered capital of more than $8.7 billion. Soc Trang seeks feasibility report on Tran De Seaport Soc Trang Peoples Committee is proposing developing Tran De Seaport under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and, to promote the venture as an investment opportunity, is seeking the Ministry of Transports approval to use local budgetary funds to draft a feasibility report for its construction. Soc Trang takes on gateway mantle Soc Trang is making efforts to become a well-developed province in the Mekong Delta, with the modern and sustainable development of manufacturing, commerce, and services this decade. The event attracted the participants of stakeholders in the transport sector, officials from the MoT, and those from provincial and municipal Departments of Transport. The handbook on traffic safety in school zones Nguyen Cong Bang, deputy director of the Department of Transport under the MoT said that currently, on average in Vietnam, more than 17 million children have to travel two to four times a day from home to school and vice versa. There are many children walking to school on roads without sidewalks, many of which have mixed lanes. What alarming is that traffic speeds around schools frequently exceed internationally recommended speed limits for school zones, Bang said. Nguyen Cong Bang, deputy director of the Department of Transport under the MoT At the event, participants discussed solutions to ensure traffic safety for students, and shared lessons about how to upgrade transport infrastructure around school zones, Nguyen Xuan Tung, a specialist from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the University of Transport, a contributor to the handbook, stated that its primary objective was to tackle road traffic safety concerns, ranging from the planning and infrastructure development phases to the design and assessment of traffic safety in school zones. The handbook outlines the concept of a "safe school zone". This serves as a foundational reference for planners, designers, builders, and policymakers to implement strategies that reduce risks for students commuting to schools in Vietnam. Nguyen Xuan Tung, a specialist from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the University of Transport, introduced the handbook Tung added, We urge professionals, including designers, engineers, and experts in road infrastructure and traffic, to utilise the handbook as a guide when executing projects associated with school zones. According to the National Traffic Safety Committee, in 2016-2021, the number of traffic accidents involving people under 18 years old nationwide accounted for 6.75 per cent of the total number of road accidents, but in 2021, the threshold was 10.63 per cent. Road traffic accidents are the second leading cause of deaths and serious injuries among children and young people aged 0-19, just behind drowning accidents. Road traffic accidents also cause half of deaths among adolescents aged 15-19. Participants discussed solutions to ensure traffic safety for students In an effort to ease traffic accidents among children, the Party and the government have issued many related mechanisms and policies. They include the prime ministerial direction in Decision No. 2060/QD-TTg dated December 2020 on approving the national strategy to ensure road traffic safety, targetting 100 per cent of school gate areas located on national highways, provincial roads, and urban main roads will have completed traffic organisation to ensure safety and prevent traffic jams by 2030. To join hands in protecting the lives of Vietnamese student generations on their journey to school, in 2021, AIP with support from the MoT and the University of Transport started work on the handbook. After two years of research and pilot application, the handbook has been completed. In August 2023, the handbook was sent by the Ministry of Transport to localities as a reference to ensure traffic safety for roads passing through school zones nationwide. AIP Foundation advocates government enforcement on helmet quality in Vietnam AIP Foundation and the National Traffic Safety Committee co-hosted a mid-term review forum on accelerating the application of solutions to improve the effectiveness of regulations on mandatory helmet wearing for motorbike drivers, motorcyclists, and electric bicyclists. HEINEKEN Vietnam renews traffic safety partnership HEINEKEN Vietnam has renewed its 15-year partnership with the National Traffic Safety Committee with a new approach to promoting road safety. BALTIMORE (AP) Two people were shot and wounded on the Bowie State University campus in Maryland, authorities said. Campus police received a report of shots fired at 11:45 p.m. Saturday near the university's Center for Business and Graduate Studies, the school said in a statement. The two wounded people were taken to a hospital for treatment. State troopers responded to the shooting report, State Police Superintendent Col. Roland Butler said at a news conference Sunday. They were assisting the university with security during homecoming weekend. Two 19-year-old men were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, police said. No other injuries were reported. Investigators recovered one weapon. Police described the shooting as isolated and said that investigators believe there is no threat to others. Upon the shooting, campus police halted vehicle traffic and ordered a shelter-in-place that was lifted around 3 a.m., university Police Chief Mark Cummings said. The shootings on the campus east of Washington, D.C., come days after at least two people opened fire during a dispute at Morgan State University in Baltimore, wounding five people, including four students at that school. Far more people are in harm's way as they move into high flood zones across the globe, adding to an increase in watery disasters from climate change, according to a new study. Since 1985, the number of the worlds settlements in the riskiest flood zones has increased 122%, compared to 80% for the safest areas, according to a study in the journal Nature by researchers at The World Bank. The authors looked at settlement extent and expansion using satellites instead of population, with the worlds built-up regions growing 85% overall from 1985 to 2015. People are on a search for better lives and better jobs and then sort of get stuck in bad lands because thats what they can afford, said study co-author Stephane Hallegatte, a World Bank senior climate adviser and expert on disaster economics. He said they know its dangerous when they arrive. The problem is driven by middle- and low-income countries, the study found. Richer countries like the United States and parts of Europe are seeing more growth in safer areas than flood-prone ones and the poorest nations havent quite developed as heavily in flood-prone areas, it said. China and Vietnam both saw their settlement extent more than tripling in the past 30 years, increasing far more than their dry land areas. Most countries, especially in East Asia, saw more settlements in regular flood zones and ultra high flood zones than in dry areas. Libya, which suffered from devastating flooding last month, had an 83% increase in settlement extent in the worst flood zones. Pakistan, also the victim of catastrophic flooding both last year and this year, had an 89% increase. Whats happening is that as a nation grows a bit wealthier theres a change from rural to urban and people leave the country to go to cities, which are often near waterways that flood in places, said study lead author Jun Rentschler, a World Bank economist. What were trying to do with the study is to track the process of urban development over time, Rentschler said. What you would expect is that initially you settle in a safe space, but as the city expands, its more likely to grow into areas that it previously avoided, flood zones for instance. Then comes the issue of is it cheaper to fortify these dangerous areas or better to move people out, the study authors said. Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, is a poster city for this problem, they said. It boomed from a fishing village of about 83,000 people in 1950 to more than 7 million people now, according to World Population Review. On the other hand, the United States saw dry settlements increase 76% and the highest flood settlements go up only 46%. Other countries with more dry settlements than ultra-wet include France, Sweden, Austria, Finland, Japan, Canada and India. It is an important paper that compiles data on both developed areas and assets exposed to flooding as never has been done before, said Columbia University climate scientist Klaus Jacob, who wasnt part of the research. Especially the data on differentiating the countries by income levels is of importance and provides interesting socioeconomic insights. Populations growing into flood zones doesnt mean that climate change isnt a major problem, the study authors said. In fact, they are intertwined, Rentschler said. And in both cases, poorer countries could keep from falling into a trap middle-income countries are doing now, Hallegatte said. With urban development, smart planning can prevent some of the moving into the riskiest places, he said. Its way cheaper to fix it now than it is to fix it later, Hallegatte said. Were making the same argument on carbon emissions. Photos: The aftermath of deadly flooding in Libya CEDAR FALLS The Board of Education will vote Monday on whether to increase spending authority for its limited English proficient programs. The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall, 220 Clay St. Cedar Falls Community Schools will ask for $61,851 as part of its supplemental allowable growth request, according to meeting documents. There are $232,071 in estimated costs to consider. The other $170,220 comes from resources already available to the district. Meeting documents show three teachers educate 97 students, or 1.76% of enrollment, who represent 32 different languages. Board members are being asked to approve the application, to be submitted to the states School Budget Review Committee. If approved by the state committee, the districts spending authority will be increased. In other business, the board will consider approving a notice to bidders for furniture at its new high school being constructed on West 27th Street. Members also will hear about the districts career academic plan prior to considering it for approval. Photos: Cedar Falls girls swimming dual against Iowa City High, Oct. 3 WATERLOO More new, controversial policies about educational instruction will be discussed Monday by the Board of Education. The board meets at 5 p.m. in the Education Service Center, 1516 Washington St. An entirely new policy would allow for objections to materials used in Waterloo Community Schools. Parents and guardians could also request that their child not be able to access certain materials. Parents could decide what books they do not want their children to have access to by looking at Waterloo Schools website, which would publish a comprehensive list of all books available to students in media centers operated by the district. Under this policy, parents could not object to teachers lesson plans. In another policy, however, one certain lesson plan will have new rules to follow. Students taking health education classes, which includes students in grades one through 12, will now no longer learn about sexually transmitted diseases or acquired immune deficiency syndrome also known as AIDS. The policy states that students will still learn about things like personal health, family life, human growth and development, human sexuality and interpersonal relationships, among other things. Parents and guardians have the ability to object to instruction about human growth and development through a written request. This has been previously implemented. Another policy that will be read for the first time is about the school calendar. That policy states it is for a minimum of 1,080 hours. Now, the policy would limit virtual instruction to five days or 30 hours, due to a law passed earlier this year. This would not affect courses or schools that operate primarily through online instruction. The board will also consider selling a parcel of land in Elk Run Heights to the city of Elk Run Heights for $1. This is not the Elk Run Early Childhood Center, located at 316 McCoy Road. A public hearing is set to happen on Oct. 23 for selling that building to the Boys and Girls Club of the Cedar Valley for $5,000. The organization currently uses the facility for its programs. The board will also consider approving: New Waterloo Career Center classes outlined in a previous meeting . The purchase of 36 Boxlight MimioPro Series 4 75-inch interactive displays for a total cost of $71,776. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form A24 Movie Lead star Cailee Spaeny explains the new movie about Elvis Presley's ex-wife was shot in just 30 days while ignoring chronological order because of the tight deadline. Oct 8, 2023 AceShowbiz - Cailee Spaeny was forced to shoot "Priscilla" "out of order." The 26-year-old actress plays the title role in Sofia Coppola's new biopic about Priscilla Presley and explained how chronology was an afterthought as the movie was filmed on a tight deadline of just 30 days. "We shot it in 30 days and also out of order, so I'd be pregnant in the morning, and then after lunch I'd be 14 years old," Cailee said at the film's New York Film Festival premiere on Friday, October 6. The movie is based on Priscilla's 1985 memoir "Elvis and Me", which details her relationship with the King of Rock and Roll - from their first meeting in 1959 when Priscilla was just 14 to their eventual divorce - and Cailee was grateful to have the chance to pick the brains of the woman herself. The "Vice" star explained, "I got really lucky to actually sit down with Priscilla herself and ask her all the questions I wanted to. (It helped me) know where I was trying to go and what I wanted to say throughout those years playing her." Jacob Elordi stars as Elvis in the movie and detailed how he attempted to remove the "mythology" associated with the music icon. The Australian actor said, "I think the first thing was disabling the mythology and intending to play (Elvis) as a human being and a person who was given a certain set of circumstances." "So the whole thing the whole time was just trying to walk the tightrope between being one of the most famous people in the world and a human being at the same time, and being honest with the love." You can share this post! Cover Images/Roger Wong/INSTARimages Celebrity The 'Uncut Gems' actress admits she left hospital in order to do a perfect maternity shoot after doctors wanted to induce labor weeks before the due date. Oct 8, 2023 AceShowbiz - Julia Fox dashed home from the hospital for a maternity photo shoot after doctors decided to induce labour. The 33-year-old actress and model has son Valentino, two, with former husband Peter Artemiev and revealed she was so concerned with getting the perfect maternity photographs that she left the hospital despite doctors warning that her "blood pressure is approaching the danger zone." "During a routine checkup on January 16, three weeks before the due date, my doctor delivers the news no mother wants to hear, My blood pressure is approaching the danger zone and they want to induce labour today," Julia wrote in an excerpt of her new memoir "Down the Drain", obtained by PEOPLE. "I begin to panic. I don't have diapers or a crib. I don't even have a car seat or a stroller! I tell the doctor I feel fine and beg for a few hours to gather my things - and, more importantly, to have my maternity photos taken." "Once I get home, my best friends rush over with makeup and clothes, and within an hour I have my maternity photos and am on my way to the hospital to give birth." "Valentino has come a few weeks early, but he's absolutely perfect. He is the most beautiful little boy I have ever laid my eyes on. When I see him using every bit of strength to inch his body close to mine, I am filled with a love so visceral, it could shatter the earth." "I am his. And he is mine. It's the kind of love that claws its way out of your gut, rips you apart, and puts you back together again. He is worth all the blood and pain, all the tears, and all the sleepless nights." Meanwhile, Julia dated 46-year-old rapper Kanye West early in 2022 and reflected on their romance in her memoir but she doesn't go into as much intimate detail about their time together as does with other previous relationships. Asked why Kanye is the "one boyfriend [she doesn't] describe sex with," she told the New York Times, "Because there, like, wasn't any. It wasn't really about that." Julia recently explained she is "not trying to have bad blood" with Kanye, and she only covers her time with him "briefly" in her book. She told E! News, "It's like six pages. I feel like I went very lightly on it. I'm not trying to have bad blood or anything, it's all in the past." "I'm so excited for the book. I feel like it was just so cathartic to like let go of all that because, in life, things happen and you just kind of pretend that they didn't happen and put them away in a shelf in your mind and that's it. And when you're writing a book, you're really forced to confront those things." You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity The 'Frozen' actor has taken a break from Broadway to dash to hospital after being told by his doctors to address his 'medical emergency' as soon as possible. Oct 8, 2023 AceShowbiz - Josh Gad has revealed a "medical emergency." The "Frozen" actor had to pull out of his matinee performance of Broadway show "Gutenberg! The Musical!" on Saturday, October 7 because doctors insisted he couldn't wait to address some health issues he has been experiencing. "Hey guys, I just wanted to give you a quick message. Unfortunately, I am going to not be able to do this afternoon's show. I have a bit of a medical emergency that I have to go deal with right now," he said in a video shared to Instagram. "I would rather be spending my afternoon with all of you than at a hospital, but I hope that this gets resolved pretty quickly and I'll be back on stage with my buddy [Andrew] Rannells as soon as possible. I love you guys, and again, I'm sorry to all of you who looked forward to seeing me today, but I can promise you that you are going to get an exceptional show with my incredible stand-by Russell [Daniels]. Love you guys, see you soon." He captioned the post, "Not the news I'd like to share, but life happens. Unfortunately, I will not be at this afternoon's performance of Gutenberg. I'm dealing with a medical emergency that despite telling my doctors I wanted to wait till Monday to address, they thought needed to be addressed immediately." "So, off to hospital for (hopefully) quick treatment and then with any luck will be back by this evening [prayer emojis] In the meantime, please help me wish @russelljdaniels the best of luck as he makes his Broadway debut as Bud! I know he is going to give you all the show of your lives! (sic)" Fortunately, the 42-year-old star's break was only temporary as he was treated "in record time." A few hours later, he announced, "GOOD NEWS. Thanks to the phenomenal team at Lenox Hill, I was able to be diagnosed and treated in record time for some lower abdominal issues I've been having." "With their blessing, I will be back in the show this evening. Thank you all for your incredible messages and good vibes. Felt them and got the best possible results! Now, let's get back to eating dreams!" You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity The former 'Food Fighters' host learns from his father to respect all culture's cuisine and credits his upbringing with helping to expose him to a huge range of foods. Oct 9, 2023 AceShowbiz - Adam Richman was taught by his dad to respect all cultures' cuisine. The 49-year-old television host, known for his extreme eating challenges on shows like "Man v Food", says his late father Jeffrey Mark Richman "immediately shut down" his moaning about choices such as chicken feet on a Chinese menu when his dad took him for dim sum at a restaurant near his law office in New York. "My father had a law office near Chinatown, and I'll never forget the day he took me for dim sum. This place had things like chicken feet, and I remember going, 'Ick!' My dad immediately shut that down. He said, 'How many things do we eat that these people might not like? It's disrespectful,' " Adam told InTouch magazine. The former "Food Fighters" host added how growing up in a diverse neighbourhood in Brooklyn meant he was exposed to a huge range of foods - from classic Italian dishes to Syrian staples and Irish baked goods. He said, "My dad's philosophy was, 'You don't have to like it, but at least you have to try it.' We were exposed to all these flavours in my Brooklyn neighbourhood. The Agostino family would be pressing eggplant and making caponata; the Sultan family would have kibbeh and tabbouleh; and then the Irish immigrant family had colcannon and potato bread." As a result of his culinary education, Adam has always been happy to sample anything - almost. He said he draws the line at "those bright atomic red maraschino cherries" and hates a Japanese fermented bean product named natto. Adam added, "I am 'natto' going to eat that! It looks like someone else ate it, didn't want it, and went, 'Enjoy.' I'm not trying to yuck someone else's yum or malign Japanese cuisine, but it's not for me." He also said the most surprising thing he has learned from his eating experiments is "eating bananas before spicy food will help you later." You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity The rapper who was born in London has been cleared to travel abroad after following 'all applicable Immigration laws' since his detention by the U.S. Immigration. Oct 9, 2023 AceShowbiz - 21 Savage has gained the "freedom to travel internationally." The 30-year-old rap star - whose real name is Sheyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph - has turned into a "lawful permanent resident" of the US, meaning he's now able to freely travel outside of the country. "Sheyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph followed all applicable Immigration laws since his initial detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His immigration court proceedings have now been terminated and he is a lawful permanent resident of the United States with the freedom to travel internationally," Charles Kuck, his lawyer, told PEOPLE. Four years ago, the rapper - who was born in London, England - was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement over his visa, which expired in 2006. Savage was taken to the US as a child by his mother, and he never returned to the UK following the expiration of his visa. Savage has already confirmed via social media that he intends to perform in London although he hasn't provided any specific details about the gig. Meanwhile, the rapper previously revealed that Jay-Z and Meek Mill both helped him after he was arrested and detained by ICE in 2019. During an appearance on the "My Expert Opinion" podcast, he shared, "I called Meek while I was in jail and told Meek, 'Bro, I just got locked up.' " "He called Jay Z, and Jay Z put a lawyer on my case. He played a role in getting me out. He ain't just doing that s*** for anybody just because of your rap. You gotta be from a certain cloth I don't feel like he's just doing that for anybody. I ain't Roc Nation or none of that s***." You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity Insisting that she 'ain't that weak,' the 'Family Reunion' actress pleads with fans to stop speculating about her love life after she split from her husband. Oct 9, 2023 AceShowbiz - Tia Mowry finds dating life "complicated." The 45-year-old star - who settled her divorce from Cory Hardrict earlier this year - has taken to social media to address her love life, urging people to stop speculating about her relationship status. "Just because the dating life is complicated. Doesn't mean I'm going to go back to something that no longer served me. That's like implementing if I don't book an audition or a part as an actor RIGHT AWAY I'm going to give up on my dreams. Please just stop. I ain't that weak. Please move on because I have. Thank you NEXT (sic)," Tia - who was married to Cory between 2008 and 2023 - wrote on Instagram. In 2022, Tia took to social media to announce her split from Cory. At the time, the actress promised that they would "maintain a friendship." Alongside a black-and-white photograph of them together, she wrote, "I have always been honest with my fans, and today is no different." "I wanted to share that Cory and I have decided to go our separate ways. These decisions are never easy, and not without sadness. We will maintain a friendship as we co-parent our beautiful children. I am grateful for all the happy times we had together and want to thank my friends, family and fans for your love and support as we start this new chapter moving forward in our lives." Tia subsequently admitted that she had been "learning about [herself]" after their break-up. She told E! News, "I've always been next to someone. I've always had my sister, side-by-side next to me and this is kind of the first time that I've ever been by myself. And so, I'm just really learning about myself, loving on myself and being optimistic and positive. Life is short, so just focus on the positive." You can share this post! A Mississippi organization will take control of five Jefferson County Head Start sites that have struggled to meet local demand for childcare after a leadership change and a previous operators shutdown. Jackson-based Mississippi Action for Progress, Inc. is expanding to the Birmingham metro, thanks to more than $7.2 million in federal funding through a five-year grant, the nonprofit announced. The organization will start local services on Dec. 1, according to its statement. Ashley Nichols, director of community development for Mississippi Action for Progress, told AL.com that the Birmingham centers have had a waitlist to enroll more children and families. Mississippi Action for Progress will work to double enrollment to reach 357 Head Start students and 138 Early Head Start students. The programs, which are free for families that qualify based on income as well as for children in foster care no matter family income, provide preschool for children between the ages of six weeks and five years old. Programs also support new and expecting parents. They will serve children at the following sites: Dr. Craig Pouncey in Center Point, Elyton near the Legion Field Stadium, Festival in Crestwood, Cooper Green in southwest Birmingham, and Kingston at Kingston Elementary School. Head Start and Early Head Start programs are federally funded and overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families. At the start of 2023, the federal Office of Head Start launched a grant competition for new operators of Jefferson Countys Head Start and Early Head Start services. Mississippi Action for Progress was founded in 1966 and currently serves nearly 5,300 children and their families through its Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Mississippi. The new provider is taking over nearly two years after the previous service provider, the Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity, dissolved amid a financial misuse scandal. When JCCEO shut down, two of its seven sites didnt reopen. In the meantime, temporary operator Community Development Institute has been running five Head Start and Early Head Start sites. A public notice filed in early August signaled CDIs time as a temporary provider for the countys childcare programs was coming to a close. A WARN notice, which major employers are legally required to file with the state before cutting jobs or closing, announced CDI was laying off 126 employees at the end of September. But Nichols said that its just protocol for staff to have to reapply for their roles during a transition like this. She said that the organization plans to prioritize hiring current staff, and there wont be a gap in services during the transition. The children and families should not notice any changes, Nichols said. The nonprofit will hold a job fair at the Westin Hotel in Birmingham on Oct. 12, with about 130 open positions across the five centers, including teachers, teachers assistants, custodians, cooks and bus drivers. Nichols declined to provide salary information, but said benefits include employer-paid health, vision, dental, long and short term disability, life and cancer coverage. Last month, Fairfield City Schools announced a new $15 million, five-year grant to also operate Head Start and Early Head Start programs for western Jefferson County, starting in mid-October. At the time, Regina Thompson, the school districts superintendent, said that those sites will include Forest Hills Community Development Center in Fairfield and another undetermined site. Two church groups from Alabama are trying to get out of Israel, where war broke out after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched unexpected missiles and gunfire. Leaders from St. Pauls Episcopal Church in Daphne and Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Vestavia Hills have asked for prayers for their members who remain in Israel amid the fighting. A pastor and group of church members from Daphne had just started on their tour in Tel Aviv on Friday. The Rev. Thack Dyson, who leads St. Pauls Episcopal, said in a Facebook live video that he and a group of church members heard the air raid sirens. Soon after, Israeli tour company Immanuel Tours moved the group north to the Sea of Galilee, further from Gaza, he said. Good morning and welcome to morning prayer this Sunday morning in beautiful Galilee. Were here in the middle of a war, he said at the start of the live prayer service on Facebook. This is not what we planned, but this is what we got. The group flew to Israel from Alabama on Friday morning and planned to return on Oct. 18, per another video posted to the churchs Facebook page earlier this week. Dyson has led tours with the group since 2010, according to the tour group. More than 1,000 Israelis and Palestinians have been killed since Hamas first launched rockets and sent gunmen to attack army bases and towns in southern Israel early Saturday morning local time, and started taking hostages. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war, and Israel has since launched air strikes on the Gaza strip, including on Hamas sites, as well as houses and mosques. Disputes over who has rights to the land have long preceded this latest conflict between Israel and Palestine. [Read more: Israel declares war; death toll surpasses 1,000 since surprise attack by Hamas] All our current groups are safe, the tour company posted on Facebook on Saturday. We are closely monitoring the situation in coordination with the Israeli authorities and we will keep you informed as we move forward. Its unclear exactly how many St. Pauls church members are in Israel. Representatives for the church did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Eleven members of Shades Mountain Baptist traveled to Israel for a mission trip and remain in the country today. During the Sunday morning service, senior pastor George Wright asked the congregation to pray for peace in Jerusalem and for the church members. Theyre there right now in the midst of all that has been swirling there, Wright said. They are safe, they are secure, theyre in a very good spot, but we are praying that they can quickly and safely return home to us. He added that they are currently trying to get out of Israel so they can find flights back to the United States soon. Its unclear how long theyve been there or where exactly theyre located in Israel. Representatives for the church didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. During the prayer service posted to the St. Pauls Episcopal Facebook page around 11 p.m. Central Standard Time on Saturday night, Dyson said that the group was safe, and thanked people for their prayers and outreach. Were beyond the range of any missiles that would be coming out of Gaza, he said. Were going to stay here until we can get flights and fly back to the States. Dyson said that some people had booked flights but that there had already been cancellations. He said he hopes everyone will get home by Thursday. He led several prayers from a prayer book, echoed by the members in the room. We all trust in the Lords providence. We all trust in the Lords care, and we know that were in Gods good hands, Dyson said. I just pray that the people of Israel will also experience that same sense of Gods grace and providence, and that theres peace soon in this land. Editors note: This story was updated to show that members of a second Alabama church are in Israel amid the war. Get John Archibalds newsletter: Enter your email to subscribe to Johns weekly newsletter: This is an opinion column. Things to think about. In the 60 year period from 1960 to 2020, Alabama averaged 418 homicides a year. About one killing every 21 hours. There have been a few dips and spikes, but overall the numbers have remained between 250 and 577 since Ike was president. Even as the population of the state grew by 50 percent in that time. 1960: 406 killings 1970: 404 killings 1980: 509 killings 1990: 467 killings 2000: 329 killings 2010: 275 killings 2020: 471 killings Its too many, of course. But its not the crime wave some would have you believe. The homicide rate the number of killings per 100,000 people fell by a third in those years. Yet the number of Alabamians locked in state and federal prisons not even counting the 14,000 in local jails has risen 429 percent since 1960. Our state, our country, is defined internationally by the way we lock people up. The Prison Policy Initiative argues that if you include prisons, jails, juvenile detention and immigration facilities, the state of Alabama holds 938 out of every 100,000 Alabamians. It has a higher rate of incarceration than Rwanda or Cuba, according to the World Population Review. Its higher than Thailand or Panama or the country with the highest incarceration rates in the world: The U.S. There are different ways of measuring these things. But in all of them America comes off as the land of the free and the home of the cage. If you add up the number of people imprisoned in India, Russia, Thailand, Turkey, Mexico and Iran, you still wouldnt reach the 2,068,800 people locked up in the U.S. in 2021, according to World Prison Brief. We are an incarceration nation. And Alabama is just fine with that. In terms of actual inmate numbers, Alabamas state prison population alone 20,904 in custody this summer was higher than Honduras or Libya or Paraguay or Israel or Ghana or on and on and on. You get the picture. Alabama is not the worst state (thank God for Louisiana and a few others), but if it were a country unto itself, as the Prison Policy Initiative put it, Alabama would lock up a higher percentage of its people than any democracy on earth. Which is a helluva statement. Alabama has more people in prison than it has cops or lawyers or farmers. More than it has minority- or women-owned business with employees -- combined. Almost as many people are incarcerated in the state than have died of COVID. RELATED: More columns by John Archibald Alabama probably even has more people in prison than it has politicians willing to sell their souls for votes and power and money. And thats saying something. It all carries a hefty price tag. Last month the Alabama Corrections Institution Finance Authority gave the green light to spend $1.08 billion with a B for a single new prison in Elmore County. Lawmakers had planned to build two behemoth prisons for just a little more than that. But they are going to need more of your money to get it done. RELATED: Trump Justice Department says Alabama prisons are unconstitutional As for treatment within those buildings, Alabama has agreed to spend yet another billion dollars on a prison healthcare contract with a company called YesCare, despite complaints about the bid process and the fact that the company previously known as Corizon faced more than 1,000 lawsuits that resulted in millions of dollars in payouts. RELATED: Business Insider details prison health giants Texas two-step Were talking multiple billions of dollars here. Not because the world is more dangerous than it used to be, because its arguably not. Were paying fortunes multiple millions to a lawyer named Bill Lunsford who has made an empire out of defending prisons in Alabama and elsewhere from indefensible behavior because the $80 billion-a-year incarceration business is just too big to fail. As Alabama crowds people into prisons that are already overcrowded (even the Trump Justice Department called them unconstitutional), the Alabama Parole Board, led by former prosecutor Leigh Gwathney, denies nine out of every ten eligible parolees a chance at new life, regardless of health or condition or circumstance or staff recommendation. The ACLU monitored all parole hearings through June and July, and found that Gwathney opposed parole in more than 97 percent of all the cases that came before her. In Alabama and America we too often talk of putting people in prison, in often terrible circumstances, as a matter of law and order and justice. But it looks an awful lot like a business decision, or a political one. Please dont mistake that for justice. John Archibald is a two-time Pulitzer winner for AL.com. See more of his work here. Facing protests and calls for new leadership, the Archdiocese of Mobile defended its handling of misconduct complaints, including the recent news of a priest fleeing the country with an 18-year-old graduate of McGill-Toolen Catholic High School. Under the leadership of Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi since 2008, school and parish officials have responded to every complaint of misconduct with the full force of the office within and with respect for canon and civil laws, the archdiocese said in a statement on Friday. After Alex Crow, a priest in Mobile, fled the country with the young woman in July, a group of concerned Catholics formed the Catholic Warriors Initiative to advocate for accountability in the Archdiocese of Mobile. One member, Bud Hadley, started an online petition on Sept. 24 calling for the replacement of the archdioceses leaders and alleging deeply troubling cover-ups in the Archdiocese and McGill-Toolen School. As of today, the petition had reached more than 15,000 signatures. [Read more coverage here] Our goal is not to tarnish the reputation of any individual but to ensure the safety, transparency, and integrity of our Catholic institutions and schools, the petition reads. We firmly believe that for the community to heal and move forward, there is a pressing need for a change in leadership. The petition calls for the removal of Rodi, the archbishop, Bry Shields, the president of McGill-Toolen, and Michelle Haas, the schools principal. In the statement on Friday, the archdiocese said that it immediately reported Crows departure to the authorities, adding that its fully cooperating with the investigation. The archdiocese stripped Crow of his duties after he left the country. Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch has since accused Crow of grooming the young woman as well as others who were students at McGill-Toolen. Burch also suggested in late August that the archdiocese had not fully cooperated in the Crow investigation, an allegation the archdiocese denied. Fr. Alex Crow has been relieved of his duties as a priest in the Archdiocese of Mobile, the Archdiocese announced Wednesday. Crow, who served in the Archdiocese of Mobile from the time he was ordained in June 2021 until he fled with the young woman. Her family reported locating them in Italy in late July but said she chose to leave with Crow and would not return home. However, by the end of August, the family said they hadnt had recent contact. The Archdiocese joins with those who have concerns about the case involving Alex Crow and are frustrated by unanswered questions, the Friday statement reads. We all express frustration differently, and as the investigation by civil authorities, with the cooperation of the Archdiocese and others, continues in its quest to provide more answers, some of that frustration has taken the form of protest, petition, and blame. This is our human nature and our right in a democracy, and the Archdiocese respects that. The archdioceses statement added that when he first took on his role in Mobile the archbishop said that he couldnt promise there would be no sexual misconduct cases. But he did guarantee that it would not be tolerated, the statement reads. He has kept that promise and continues to honor it. Backed by a barrage of rockets, dozens of Hamas militants broke out of the blockaded Gaza Strip and into nearby Israeli towns, killing dozens and abducting others in an unprecedented surprise early morning attack during a major Jewish holiday Saturday. A stunned Israel launched airstrikes in Gaza, with its prime minister saying the country is now at war with Hamas and vowing to inflict an unprecedented price. In an assault of startling breadth, Hamas gunmen rolled into as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip, including towns and other communities as far as 15 miles from the Gaza border. In some places, they roamed for hours, gunning down civilians and soldiers as Israels military scrambled to muster a response. Gunbattles continued well after nightfall, and militants held hostages in standoffs in two towns. Israels national rescue service said at least 200 people were killed and 1,100 wounded, making it the deadliest attack in Israel in decades. At least 198 people in the Gaza Strip have been killed and at least 1,610 wounded in Israeli strikes, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. Hamas fighters took an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive into Gaza, a deeply sensitive issue for Israel. A car destroyed in an attack by Palestinian militants is seen in Sderot, Israel, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip infiltrated Saturday into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country while Israel began striking targets in Gaza in response. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)AP The conflict threatened to escalate to an even deadlier stage with Israels vows of greater retaliation. Previous conflicts between Israel and Gazas Hamas rulers brought widespread death and destruction in Gaza and days of rocket fire on Israeli towns. The situation is potentially more volatile now, with Israels far-right government stung by the security breach and with Palestinians in despair over a never-ending occupation in the West Bank and suffocating blockade of Gaza. In a televised address Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military will use all of its strength to destroy Hamas capabilities but the war will take time. We will defeat them ... and take revenge for this black day, he said. Related: Israel has every right to defend itself: Alabama leaders condemn Hamas attack After nightfall, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza intensified, flattening several residential buildings in giant explosions, including a 14-story tower that held dozens of apartments as well as Hamas offices in central Gaza City. Israeli forces fired a warning just before, and there were no reports of casualties. Soon after, a Hamas rocket barrage into central Israel hit four cities, including Tel Aviv and a nearby suburb, where two people were seriously injured. Throughout the day, Hamas fired more than 3,500 rockets, the Israeli military said. A ball of fire and smoke rise from an explosion on a Palestinian apartment tower following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)AP The strength, sophistication and timing of the Saturday morning attack shocked Israelis. Hamas fighters used explosives to break through the border fence enclosing the Mediterranean territory, then crossed with motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders and speed boats on the coast. In some towns, a trail of civilians bodies lay where they had encountered the advancing gunmen. The shadowy leader of Hamas military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the assault was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, Israeli raids inside West Bank cities over the past year, violence at Al Aqsa the disputed Jerusalem holy site sacred to Jews as the Temple Mount increasing attacks by settlers on Palestinians and growth of settlements. Enough is enough, Deif, who does not appear in public, said in the recorded message. He said the attack was only the start of what he called Operation Al-Aqsa Storm and called on Palestinians from east Jerusalem to northern Israel to join the fight. Today the people are regaining their revolution. The Hamas incursion on Simchat Torah, a normally joyous day when Jews complete the annual cycle of reading the Torah scroll, revived painful memories of the 1973 Mideast war practically 50 years to the day, in which Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, aiming to take back Israeli-occupied territories. Israel has maintained a blockade over Gaza since Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007. The bitter enemies have fought four wars since then. Mobile City Council will consider new district lines after the annexation vote in July that made Mobile the second largest city in Alabama. Redistricting is necessary to evenly distribute the City of Mobiles population among the seven council districts following the annexation of additional citizens in West Mobile over the summer, a Friday news release from the city states. The annexation vote resulted in 19,789 new residents, pushing Mobiles population to over 206,000 residents, according to the city. [Read more: Mobile now second largest city in Alabama after annexation vote] The city council will introduce the ordinance containing the new map at the Oct. 10 meeting at 10:30 a.m. in Government Plaza Auditorium on the first floor. Changing the current district lines would require a supermajority vote of five council members to be adopted and would be in effect during the 2025 citywide elections, the release states. According to the city, the map with the new district lines was put together by Mayor Sandy Stimpsons administration with input from the seven council members. The new map maintains Black voting-age majorities in four of seven city council districts. I greatly appreciate the council continuing to work with us to ensure we get this right, Stimpson said. Throughout the recent redistricting process and our successful annexation effort, we have worked to be as transparent as possible and bring community members into the process. The Democrats are making no effort to hide their totalitarian impulses. Certainly, Hillary Clinton isnt. In an interview this week with CNNs Christiane Amanpour, she suggested that Trump supporters were part of a cult and needed formal deprogramming. Whatever the reason, you know, make America great again was a bid for nostalgia to return to a place where people could be in charge of their lives, feel empowered, say what they want, insult whoever came in their way. And that was really attractive to a significant portion of the Republican base. So, it is like a cult. And somebody has to break that momentum. Amanpour was visibly taken aback at this candor, but didnt press her as to how and for whom this deprogramming was to occur. In the past, whenever a Republican candidate for any office made an outrageous comment -- and this was supremely outrageous -- every candidate of his party would be asked if he agreed with it. Id suggest the RNC encourage its candidates to take the same tack. Babylon Bee, my favorite satire site, made hay of this interview, Viewers are perplexed by a CNN interview featuring a deranged old lady who recently escaped from an elder care facility, angrily ranting about wanting to deprogram half of the nations population. But theres nothing new and nothing funny about the totalitarian impulse on the Left. Last January a Rasmussen survey indicated that one-third of Democrats thought children should be removed from the homes of unvaccinated parents (despite the very low rate of COVID infections and mortality in children) and a whopping 50% of them wanted to imprison the unvaccinated. Nor do we lack evidence that the Democrats have captured the intelligence and federal law enforcement agencies and used them to harass, muzzle, imprison and unperson those who dare to disagree with them. Indeed, the same week Hillary advocated deprogramming, Newsweek (which just a few years ago claimed we are all socialists now) reported that the FBI seeks to track and counter Trump supporters. The FBI and DHS report concludes: "Sociopolitical developments -- such as narratives of fraud in the recent general election, the emboldening impact of the violent breach of the U.S. Capitol, conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and conspiracy theories promoting violence -- will almost certainly spur some domestic terrorists to try to engage in violence." The threats listed in that paragraph are all clearly associated with America's right and in particular with Trump's MAGA supporters. Right after January 6, the FBI co-authored a restricted report ("Domestic Violent Extremists Emboldened in Aftermath of Capitol Breach, Elevated Domestic Terrorism Threat of Violence Likely Amid Political Transitions and Beyond") in which it shifted the definition of AGAAVE ("anti-government, anti-authority violent extremism") from "furtherance of ideological agendas" to "furtherance of political and/or social agendas." For the first time, such groups could be so labeled because of their politics. It was a subtle change, little noticed, but a gigantic departure for the Bureau. Trump and his army of supporters were acknowledged as a distinct category of domestic violent extremists, even as the FBI was saying publicly that political views were never part of its criteria to investigate or prevent domestic terrorism "We cannot and do not investigate ideology," a senior FBI official reassured the press after January 6. "We focus on individuals who commit or intend to commit violence or criminal activity that constitutes a federal crime or poses a threat to national security." But the FBI went further in October 2022 when it created a new subcategory -- "AGAAVE-Other" -- of those who were a threat but do not fit into its anarchist, militia or Sovereign Citizen groups. Introduced without any announcement, and reported here for the first time, the new classification is officially defined as "domestic violent extremists who cite anti-government or anti-authority motivations for violence or criminal activity not otherwise defined, such as individuals motivated by a desire to commit violence against those with a real or perceived association with a specific political party or faction of a specific political party." Youll excuse me if I question the ability of the FBI to deal with the issue in a nonpartisan matter. We know how they violated the law when lying to the FISA court to snoop on the Trump campaign. This week we learned that it had the flash drive that authenticated Hunter Bidens laptop weeks before the election and never disclosed that when 50 former intelligence officials publicly asserted that the laptop story had all the hallmarks of Russian disinformation. That the Bureau has already been fully weaponized against MAGA supporters is beyond debate. The Bureau weaponized Jan. 6, 2021, against MAGA supporters. It is important to know that the majority of protesters on Jan. 6 were peaceful and that many of the individuals sentenced to years in jail did not do anything violent, and, in some cases, didnt even enter the Capitol. Yet there were no consequences for violent pro-abortion activists who attacked and burned pro-life centers and churches, Antifa and BLM got off largely scot-free for burning and looting cities, and the government and media were strangely silent about violent transurrections at multiple state Capitols. The FBI has been found untrustworthy and politically biased, and it isnt likely to reform any time soon. In a statement to Newsweek, the agency asserted that it would never open an investigation based solely on First Amendment protected activity. But its sincerity on that score seems highly suspect, based both on the revelation that Trump supporters are targeted more than other political groups and that the FBI was part of the Censorship Industrial Complex, according to The Twitter Files, not to mention that the FBI was planting spies in Catholic churches and pretending parents concerned about their kids schooling were domestic terrorists. Looking at the treatment of dissenters from the democrat agenda, like Trump and Elon Musk, Robby Stark makes a persuasive case that the totalitarian impulse of the Left is already in force: @robbystarbuck Understand what time it is in America: Trump is being prosecuted by Bidens regime + multiple state level Democrats Every agency in government has been weaponized to investigate @elonmusk because hes trying to level the playing field online to empower citizens Newsweek just broke the story that the FBI is both investigating Trump voters and treating them like terrorists by using the same types of tools they used against ISIS DHS and CISA used proxies to censor influencers like me and @charliekirk11 for opposing Democrats too effectively Grandmas [sic] (including one with cancer) who thought they were allowed in the Capitol after police waved them in were thrown in prison over January 6th despite zero violence [snip] The DOJ and Democrat DAs are deploying lawfare to bankrupt prominent Trump officials and supporters "the process is the punishment" College kids wont get into schools if they express any conservative views and many will be failed in classes if professors find out theyre conservative Parents were treated like terrorists by Merrick Garland and the DOJ for protesting school boards over COVID and the sexualization of children Professional programs to become doctors and nurses are adding steps to screen for ideology to eliminate conservatives: Many do it in sneaky ways (doctors do this with requirements to get the COVID vax in order to get a residency) Some states passed laws to take custody from parents who dont affirm the new gender identity of their kids and even legalized kids running away to their state to get an abortion or sex change BLM and Antifa members received multi million dollar settlements after burning down cities with riots and looting for a year because theyre modern day brown shirts that the Democrats had to reward to ensure they do it again in the future Our future is closer to Russia under Stalin, Cuba under Castro, China under Mao or Venezuela under Maduro than we are to the ideals of our constitution. Were living through the intentional destruction of the country we know and love. Daily I get the impression we are living in the takeover of the country Sinclair Lewis described in It Cant happen Here. Perhaps no greater delusion stubbornly persists from one generation to the next than the idea that governments can be trusted. Sure, they conduct their affairs in secret, spy on their own people, and arm themselves to the teeth but, by all means, trust them as you would a dear relative. Sure, they steal from productive citizens, manipulate markets, and swell their bureaucratic armies with ever-growing taxes but, by all means, trust them as you would a close business associate. Sure, they impose their beliefs on our culture, ban the public expression of unfavored religions, and interpose their agents between parents and children but, by all means, trust them as you might a pastor, rabbi, or priest. Even after the global wars, genocides, engineered famines, and kill squads that made the last century the most barbaric in human history, it is exceedingly common to hear Justin Trudeau, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and others from the Church of Big Government mock ordinary citizens for not putting absolute faith in government institutions. Distancing themselves from the State-sanctioned atrocities of Hitler, Stalin, and Mao while nonetheless pursuing policies that similarly elevate the organs of government and intimidate citizens into compliance, today's ruling-class cult leaders pretend that the twentieth century's mass slaughters could never be repeated here and now as if the predisposition toward mass murder were a peculiarly German, Russian, or Chinese prerogative and not a tragic ailment endemic to the whole human race. Oh, sure, Justin Trudeau confiscated the bank accounts of Canadians who resisted his tyrannical COVID lockdowns, but such rank authoritarianism was necessary to protect the public's health. Sure, Barack Obama with assists from a complicit Congress and Supreme Court effectively nationalized a fifth of the economy under a broad system of health care mandates, but that, too, was necessary to protect the public's health. Sure, Hillary Clinton recently suggested that "there needs to be a formal deprogramming of MAGA cult members," but her proposal might be justified as merely a mental health initiative intended to...protect the public from itself. Hmmm. "Protecting the public's health" sure sounds like a convenient euphemism for justifying government tyranny, does it not? In order to protect public health, we must treat as "sick" any individual who doubts that the government's primary concern is the public's health! Just by sheer coincidence, of course, Hitler, Stalin, and Mao used this exact same tactic to lock up their political opponents as "mentally disturbed" psychiatric patients before finally concluding that they should just be executed as enemies of the State instead. Well, at least our government would never act so outrageously as to define us as "domestic enemies." Wait, what? The FBI has officially designated President Trump's supporters as "domestic terrorists"? Warning: If anybody shows up at your door and says, "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help," run far, far away! Quickly! Obamacare Stage One: Everyone gets "free" healthcare. Obamacare Stage Two: Those diagnosed as "deplorable" get complimentary "deprogramming." Obamacare Stage Three: "Uncurable" MAGA holdouts are placed against the wall to be late-late-term "aborted." Planned Parenthood should have America cleansed of "wrongthink" in no time. Yep, sounds like government "health care" to me! Never forget how close we came during COVID-1984's period of mass hysteria to the imposition of "quarantine camps" that could be used to intern Western citizens who had the misfortune of testing positive for the common cold or the audacity to resist police-State edicts. In Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, government officials were eager to adopt identical measures as had already been deployed in communist China to isolate citizens for months at a time. With the full-throated support of nefarious institutions such as the World Economic Forum and the World Health Organization, Chinese totalitarianism was heralded as an ideal system to be emulated rather than as a contemptible vehicle for committing crimes against humanity that should have been universally scorned. Traditional Western deference to individual self-determination and respect for personal freedoms, on the other hand, were cast aside and demonized as a "dangerous" philosophy that must be purged. With house arrests, school closures, the cancelation of religious services, the forced shuttering of small businesses, the warrantless tracking of cell phones, mass censorship, coerced injections of experimental cocktails, and the criminalization of all dissent, Western governments galloped quickly toward martial law without batting an eye or breaking a sweat. At some point, a rational and moral person must take a sober look around and confront reality as it is and not through the prism of comforting delusions. History can be either a wise teacher saving us from future danger or a prophet spelling out in detail what miseries lie ahead. Either way, ignoring her lessons will not forestall the hard choices to come. Whenever and wherever individual freedoms are subordinated to the whims of an all-powerful State, death and destruction are certain to follow. No disease or natural disaster has ever posed more of a threat to a people than that posed by their own government. It is a bitter pill to swallow, but when governments are not pointing their weapons at foreign enemies, they are almost always pointing them at domestic ones. And unless a nation's people or the legal chains of a constitution keep the State bound, gagged, and subdued, it will inevitably grow to be a monster inflicting harm on those it claims to protect. Who is hands-down the worst mass murderer in human history? In a single word: government. When it is not finding ways to kill people beyond its borders, it is crafting justifications for killing citizens within. Those who nonetheless persist in holding any government up as a model of virtue and decency are either too naive to understand that they champion a cutthroat or so depraved that they gladly serve as its accomplice. The reason no government lasts forever is because its homicidal tendencies eventually force ordinary people to act, whether they want to or not. Sometimes, as with Nazi-controlled Germany, outsiders end a murdering State's reign of terror before that terror spreads even farther. Sometimes, as with the collapse of the Soviet Union, insiders must bring down the Leviathan from within the bowels of the beast. Either as common soldiers or revolutionaries, though, it is always normal people who must do the heavy lifting. No government will prosecute and sentence itself. The question for ordinary people invariably remains the same: when should a government be properly understood as such a threat to the lives and liberties of its citizens that good and decent people must act in concert to prevent greater harm? Is it when government propaganda is presented as "truth" and provable truths are regularly misrepresented as "conspiracy theories" and "lies"? Is it when government prosecutors apply two standards of "justice" one that perennially benefits the regime's friends and another that torments and imprisons its perceived enemies? Is it when private corporations posing as political parties successfully deprive the people of faithful representation by controlling who may successfully run for office? Is it when the legislature effectively transfers its powers to a collection of corporate boards, lobbying groups, and bureaucrats? Is it when the courts so distort the plain meaning of the nation's Constitution as to rewrite it without the public's affirmation? Is it when rights and liberties considered so inalienable that they are listed within a Bill of Rights are instead cast aside or watered-down as to provide no guarantees? Is it when a private central bank is empowered to devalue the public's savings by endlessly printing new currency? Is it when war is declared without a vote, the people are taxed without their approval, and the imposition of communism is simply rebranded as "fighting global warming"? Yes. Image: Pashi via Pixabay, Pixabay License. On Saturday morning at dawn, Hamas, supposedly representing all Palestinian people, invaded Israel, causing widespread panic, mayhem, death, and destruction. No precursor event launched this attack, one of five over the last 25 years. The attack was punctuated by firing thousands of rockets all over Israel, overwhelming Israels vaunted Iron Dome and Davids Sling air defense system. With no chance of militarily defeating Israel, what precipitated the attack, and what is the deeper meaning for America and Israel, who have been joined at the hip almost since Israels inception? The answers might surprise you as we uncover deeper meaning to what at first is simply naked aggression masked as a desire to see a Palestinian state. Forget for a moment the origins of how Sunni Hamas wound up controlling Gaza City and how Shia Hezballah came to dominate the West Bank of Israel along with the Palestinian Authority, which is the nominal government for the Palestinian territories and is closely aligned with the Fatah political party. The bit players on the ground are the pawns in whats going on. The real players are Iran and other Arab countries that use the Palestinian situation to settle scores at times and at other times feign concern for the Palestinians, who represent a destabilizing force in the Middle East that threatens the stability of several host nations like Jordan (where they tried to topple the country), Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Saudia Arabia, where more than five million live, mostly in camps and mainly in poverty. Iran and its proxies state that Israel is a pariah nation with no legal standing to exist, and that Allah has promised them that they will be returned to their rightful lands. This is the basis for all the terrorism that has been the hallmark of the Palestinian experience since 1948. Missing from the debate is that there has never been a Palestinian country...ever. Upon the creation of Israel in 1948, the grand mufti in Egypt ordered all Arabs living in the new State of Israel to leave or be killed. Khaled el-Azm, Syrian prime minister after the 1948 War, in his 1972 memoirs stated: Since 1948, it is we who have demanded the return of the refugees, while it is we who made them leave. We brought disaster upon a million Arab refugees by inviting them and bringing pressure on them to leave. We have accustomed them to begging[.] ... [W]e have participated in lowering their morale and social level[.] ... Then we exploited them in executing crimes of murder, arson, and throwing stones upon men, women, and children ... all this in the service of political purposes[.] Enter the Blood Deal. For my hyper-conservative friends, yes, oil is at the root of the Middle Easts almost magnetic power and pull. Without oil, the Middle East would be much like Africa, at least as far as the world and particularly America are concerned. Oil is our demi-god. We deal with the Middle East out of necessity, for oil is the fuel for the engine of the world and, therefore, gives outsized power and influence to an otherwise dreary part of the world. The Palestinians have been made into the fulcrum of this area of the world. President Trump made peace between Israel and several Arab countries through the groundbreaking Abraham Accords, which ignored the Palestinian question for the first time and also led to the moving of our embassy to Jerusalem after decades of hand-wringing. Iran and its proxies hated that peace and swore to destroy the deal and prevent the main country that matters, Saudia Arabia, from coming to peace with Israel. This is the proximate reason for the events of October 7. An existential crisis for a free people is our desire to do the right thing, the moral thing, versus the reality of evil facing us head-on. The main objective of the invasion of Israel was twofold: Show that Israel is vulnerable and divided, especially since Israel is in the midst of a deep conversation on the powers of its Supreme Court and the Knesset. Capture as many hostages as possible. Use the emotional power of that horrible and calculated action to gain leverage. Information is still coming in fast and furious. Hamas thinks it has gained considerable leverage to disarm Israel and broaden the conflict. We must make sure that it can do neither. Those hostages are no longer kidnapped individuals. They are, profoundly and regrettably, prisoners of war. No one should negotiate with hostage-takers; you cannot wage war by putting those same prisoners above your objectives. Always deal from strength, with this horrible thought in mind: the correct response for Israel and America is to do whatever is possible to destroy the enemy, no matter what the cost. They are already calling this Israels Pearl Harbor. And it is. Israel must act like it and do whatever it can to destroy the immediate enemy, show Iran the metaphorical door by eliminating its ability to create a nuclear bomb, and temper any other group or countries (I heard the Taliban is seeking to join in) in their ardor to have some good fun and kill some more Jews at the same time. This is the conservative response; this is the moral response; and this is the only response that, in the long term, will ensure peace and stability in an area of the world that has not known any in a millennium. We can never forget that what happens in one part of the world is only a few hours away from us and that evil will find us here just as quickly. God Bless America. Allan J. Feifer patriot, author, businessman, strategist, and thinker. Read more about Allan, his background, and his ideas to create a better tomorrow at www.1plus1equals2.com. Image: Kevin Payravi via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped). Why are there people in the Gaza Strip? Here is some context for the question. Canada is 16% larger than the U.S. but has only 11% of our population. Australia is almost the size of the U.S. but has only two thirds the population of Canada. Why don't people flood all that empty space? They can't make a living there. Canada is too frozen and Australia is too dry to support large populations. How do the estimated two million residents of Gaza support themselves? They don't. They subsist on welfare from rich Arab states and Iran. As with most pure welfare recipients, they have little incentive to improve their lot. Their per capita income is $5,600. They could join much of the Middle East and migrate to Europe or Turkey. They could travel to Jordan (income $9,200) or neighboring Egypt (income $11,600). On the other hand, getting chump change to do little or nothing is a good gig for people acclimated to welfare. They're also fed the propaganda that their poverty serves the greater purpose of inconveniencing Israel and killing Israelis. For those who think I'm being too harsh on Gazans, here are two interesting points that encompass manufacturing and agriculture. Since the beginning of this century, there is only one new manufacturing enterprise in Gaza. The people of Gaza now make most of the rockets they fire at Israel. Agriculture is even more interesting. The Israeli army was in northern Gaza, protecting some large and prosperous citrus farms. In 2005, Israel decided to pull the army and evacuate all of Gaza. The families that owned these farms protested to no avail. On the other hand, Israelis and Jews from around the world contributed the money needed to leave 300 fully equipped greenhouses. Optimists predicted that the greenhouses would produce for two years. Pessimists suggested two months. The greenhouses lasted roughly two hours. Everything of value was stripped. Selling copper tubing and water pumps had an immediate return. Actually growing oranges would require sustained work. That's not something Gazans do. I fully expect apologists to argue that Gazans work hard. My questions are at what, and to what end? An income of $5,600 that includes generous subsidies is a waste of economic resources. Gazans should go elsewhere and contribute to the world economy. Their role as bloody nuisance doesn't get the respect it once did. With the current attacks, they earn contempt. (All the statistics cited come from the CIA World Factbook.) Image via Pxfuel. Sociopaths are attracted to politics because the see it as a sphere in which you can be ruthless and step all over people. That fact that some politicians can tell such awful lies is another example of sociopathy. Sociopaths liethey see nothing wrong with it. Alexander McCall Smith, The Revolving Door of Life An evil person is someone who engages in malevolent behaviors. They are frequently immoral, depraved, wicked and/or mentally ill. Each of those words can easily be attributed to Hillary Clinton. The many crimes she committed while the First Lady of Arkansas are well-known old news; Whitewater, Rose Law Firm, an impossible windfall on cattle futures, her unceremonious firing from the Watergate Committee for lying (before her marriage to Bill), etc. She was, it would seem, a born criminal, and a very greedy one. The Clinton Foundation was nothing but a massive grift that made the Clintons very rich, a pay-to-play operation; it did little or no charitable work. Before it was about power, it was all about money. She felt that, with her Wellesley and Yale education, she was entitled to wealth, no matter how she came by it. Then, once she had a taste of power, her desire for power superseded her lust for money. But she craved both and as we all know, she would go to any lengths to get both. She was certain she would win the presidency in 2016 but she took no chances. She enlisted far-left lawyer Mark Elias to quietly get election laws changed to benefit the Democrats. She commissioned the Steele dossier and the Russian hoax was off and running. It would take up the next two-plus years and $35 million spent on the Mueller phony investigation. The fabricated-out-of-whole-cloth fairy tale was our mainstream medias drug of choice. They were consumed by it and fell for every made-up morsel that was leaked to them. Molly Ball bragged about how they stole the election in Newsweek. The Pulitizers gave awards to reporters at both the WaPo and NYT for perpetrating the biggest lie ever told. Hillary refused to acknowledge her 2016 loss for a day, she was so certain that her win was in the bag. By 2020, she knew about all the cheating and likely underwrote most of it, the ballot-harvesting, the corrupt machines, the drop-box stuffing mules, the illegally changed election laws with COVID as a ruse. It was rumored that she threw a bottle of champagne at a $100,000 television screen that election night. She is a disturbed woman. Her Trumps supporters are a basket of deplorables line will define her forever as will her assertion to Christiane Amanpour that Trumps supporters need to be de-programmed as if she is Mao re-incarnated (or Lenin, or Stalin). She is an evil woman; every word she uses to condemn Trump is true about herself. That she is so self-unaware is hardly news. Is there no one in her life that can rein in her viciousness? Seems notBill and Chelsea suffer from a similar personality disorder. Her comments to Amanpour curiously coincide with Newsweeks expose on the FBIs new task force created to target Trump supporters. What is so enraging is that the Republicans in Congress do nothing about these obvious breaches of the Constitution. Does no one in Congress notice how tyrannical the Biden regime has become? The DOJ, the FBI, the IRS, the ATF, the military have all been re-invented as institutions modeled on those that prevailed in the former Soviet Union and Maos China. The DOJs countless legal attacks on President Trump reek of Stalins show trials and Maos struggle sessions. Hillary clearly imagines her opponents suffering in concentration camps where they will be deprogramed. The media pundits, most of them quite ignorant of the Constitution, are loving the lawfare. The more absurd and unconstitutional the charges against Trump are, the more gleeful they are. A few Democrats must surely be aware of how egregious their partys abuse of the law is but do not dare speak up about it. The Democrat party is run like the mafia, like a cartel. In the swamp, everyone has something on everyone else; it is corrupt because it is based on leverage over others. Its how they control all members of the Congress except Matt Gaetz and his seven brave colleagues. Under the circumstances, it is hardly surprising that Hillary oozes out of the woodwork on Amanpours show that no one outside of D.C. watches to so casually vent her inner Stalin. These people, the Clintons, the Obamas, the Bidens, the Bushes, etc. live in a bubble of their own making due to their massive wealth. They actually do believe that that wealth entitles them to rule over the rest of us, to tax us, to spend our money in Ukraine but not our own southern border, on ridiculous programs like DEI, CRT, ESG, LGBT. transgenderism and the mutilation of children, each of them too young to smoke, drink, vote, or join the military; but they are old enough to consent to the destruction of their genitals? We are living in a world gone mad, a world where the left denies the existence of objective truth, gender is no longer a social construct but imaginatively non-binary (an affront to any legitimate biologist) and elections must be stolen by the left to ensure their permanent power over the rest of us. Institutions like the WEF, the UN and the WHO seek to exert their power over the planet, to depopulate it by any means necessary, some of them recent and obvious, and to turn the surviving population into serfs who will own nothing and like it. This is the agenda the American Democrat party hopes to implement. It apparently does not occur to them that their own children and grandchildren will be among those serfs. They assume their wealth will protect them and their families for generations to come. It will not. No one survives a failed nation. Hillary Clinton is the personification of the globalists authoritarian dream. She is onboard with every tyrannical strategy of the radical left. Starve us of energy, make us drive EVs so they can tell us if and when we can charge them, and dictate how far we will be allowed to travel. Their dream of 15-miute smart cities is particularly frightening. That was the plan for Lahaina, Maui. It was to be Americas first smart city. So weird that it burned. London now has surveillance cameras everywhere in order to penalize those not driving EVs. Given the rise of fuel costs, is it any wonder those cameras are being vandalized? The whole climate crises is as big a hoax as Hillarys Russia hoax. Its all about controlling the populations of Western nations. Humans are a blip on this four-billion-year-old planet; to think we can affect the climate is the height of misplaced pomposity. Its just a ploy, a psyop. Much has been written about Hillarys sit-down with Amanpour. No one can possibly defend what she said without revealing their own inner support of Maoism. All commenters tell the truth; she is certifiably mentally disordered and has a demonic streak. To say what she did as casually as she did certainly proves that the country dodged a bullet when she lost in 2016. The woman is a menace but we are fortunate to hear her speak her truth, her subjective truth. Shes very likely a sociopath. We do not have to be mental health professionals to identify the traits of the possible sociopaths among us. P.A. Speers, Type 1 Sociopath - When Difficult People Are More Than Just Difficult People Image: Gage Skidmore, via Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0 Mayor Eric Adams is down in Mexico reminding everyone that there is no room in New York City. Yes, the message is to stay home, or at least don't come to New York, because there is no room in The Big Apple. This is the story: The Democrat's message: The no-vacancy sign is burning bright in New York City. "My trip here is to speak directly to the people of all the countries that are migrating: There is no more room in New York," Adams said Thursday to a tangle of local and international reporters packed into a state congress building in Puebla, Mexico. "Our hearts are endless, but our resources are not. New York is struggling to manage an influx of more than 110,000 migrants who have arrived since spring 2022, a surge that has overwhelmed shelters, swallowed up resources and contributed to proposed cuts in the municipal budget. More than 60,000 are still in the city's care. The situation has consumed nearly all of Adams' energy and created a political crisis for the mayor his once-close relationship with Biden has been sullied; the two haven't spoken in months. Not speaking to Biden? Who is, other than Mrs. Biden? The mayor's visit comes in the context of President Biden's border reversal and a lot of screaming in Chicago and New York about resources going to migrants rather than citizens. We don't know if the mayor met with President Lopez-Obrador. We do know that the Mexican president called the reversal "pure publicity" and does not believe that it will happen. Why? He apparently met with a U.S. delegation and was told so. So maybe there is confusion in the administration, or he is right about the publicity stunt. In the meantime, the mayor is telling people to stay home, and don't take that bus to New York City. PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos. Image: Eric Adams, mayor of New York. Credit: Krystalb97 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped). As Israelis were observing Simchat Torah Sabbath, mega-terrorist outfit Hamas launched sudden and devastating attack by firing thousands of rockets killing hundreds of innocent Israeli nationals on Oct. 7, 2023. International media as usual were competing in hiding notoriety of Palestinian jihadists. Instead of telling the truth, they once again resorted to old tactics of twisting fact. This is how Israel and Jews are facing notorious media bias where international media are shy in exposing the terrorist faces of the Palestinians and their continuous act of terrorism targeting Jews and the Jewish State. While majority of the observers see Iran's hand behind yesterday's attack, which resulted in the murder of over 300 Israelis, the wounding of nearly 1,600, and the kidnapping of dozens of hostages, according to Arutz Sheva, Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad told the BBC that Iran gave its backing to the massive assault on Israel the terrorist organization carried out. Gazi Hamad stated that the Iranian regime pledged to "stand by the Palestinian fighters until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem." Saturdays sudden invasion of Israeli territory by land, air, and sea was well-planned and coordinated. Iran provides funding and weapons to Hamas, as well as the Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah terrorist organizations. The leaders of the regime openly declare their intention to annihilate the Jewish state and their opposition to the signing of peace agreements by any country in the Arab and Islamic worlds with Israel. Following this sudden Jihadist attack, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and Republican presidential primary candidate Nikki Haley said, This should be personal for every woman and man in America, why? Because when they did this surprise attack, when they took these hostages when they murdered these families, they were celebrating, and what were they celebrating? They were saying death to Israel, death to America. This is not just an attack on Israel, this is an attack on America because they hate us just as much. Commenting on this gruesome attack, Jewish News Syndicate in an editorial said, The responses to Hamas barbarism must include Jewish unity, an end to biased media coverage of Palestinian terrorism and a refusal to let these murderers profit from their crimes. About biased media coverage and importance of Jewish unity, a JNS editorial said: It may be difficult to imagine the current politically fractured, more heavily assimilated Jewish community of the United States that is far more alienated from Israel than it once was coming together as it did during those days. But nevertheless, that is the model that the Jewish world and sympathetic non-Jews must follow. It must be clear to the world that when Israel is under attack and Jews are being murdered, the solidarity of the Jewish people and decent people everywhere with Israel must be unquestioned. Second, there must be no tolerance or acceptance of the usual narratives and biased media coverage of the conflict that focus more on Israels responses than on Palestinian terrorism itself, and which often seek to demonize the Jewish states justified measures of self-defense. Those who seek to wipe Israel off the map - whether by terrorism or political means - are engaging in a global attack on the Jewish people. The rising tide of antisemitism that is sweeping across the world in recent years is driven in large part by anti-Zionist propaganda. Anything that seeks to legitimize the goals of the terrorists to destroy Israel must be rightly labeled not just as hateful but as a form of antisemitism that must not be normalized or allowed to be represented as part of mainstream opinion in the West. This time, Iran's mullah regime attempted this gruesome terrorist attack on Israel as they felt fat and secure knowing they had a friend in Washington. Joe Bidens decision to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian assets as part of a prisoner exchange should come under intense scrutiny as this huge cash flow has significantly strengthened Iranian regimes terrorist capabilities. In my opinion, this fund from Joe Biden to his Iranian mullah darlings is a direct support of terrorist activities, given Iran's known sponsorship of groups like Hamas. Former President Donald Trump labeled Biden an "incompetent fool" for the decision, and other lawmakers have expressed concern that the move could have far-reaching geopolitical consequences. It may be mentioned here that the Biden administration has been openly extending support to Islamist and jihadist forces in a number of countries in the world, including Bangladesh. His actions are pushing this third-largest Muslim country towards a neo-Taliban state. In other words, Joe Bidens actions are empowering Islamists, jihadists and anti-Semite forces worldwide. While many political figures have spoken out about the latest Hamas attack on Israel, Democratic Partys Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib have remained totally silent. As members of the Congress, their lack of public comment on the situation has drawn attention, especially given their previous proven track record of anti-Israel bias. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib must be very happy and joyous today - people who pray five times a day for the destruction of Israel and Jews. The devastating attack by Hamas on Israel has cast a long, sorrowful shadow over the already fraught landscape of Middle Eastern politics, leaving many to question the very foundation of the two-state solution. This concept, once heralded as the beacon of hope for lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, now proven to be a deception. The scale of the violence unleashed by Hamas not only shattered lives but also shattered the illusion that coexistence could be achieved through diplomatic means alone. The attack serves as a painful reminder that the path to peace is fraught with obstacles that can't be easily overcome, leaving us to wonder if the dream of two states living side by side in harmony is just that - a dream. The recent Hamas attack on Israel has elicited a range of responses from world leaders, but one that has caught particular attention is the demeanor of President Joe Biden. During his public address following the Hamas attack, Biden's face appeared notably composed, even radiant, depicting his emotional stance toward the unfolding crisis. His reaction claims as if he knew it already and he has no remorse. Biden tried to pretend as if he was very sad - not even a good actor. In a situation fraught with loss and geopolitical implications, the presence of fake sorrow or concern on the president's face has been unsettling for some, raising questions about the Biden administration's commitment to Israel and its role in the peace process. During his tenure, former President Donald Trump took a markedly different approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict compared to his predecessors. His administration recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved the U.S. embassy there, a move that was met with criticism by Palestine supporters but lauded by the world. Trump also brokered the Abraham Accords, a series of normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states, sidestepping the Palestinian issue altogether. While these actions were praised as bold steps toward regional stability, Hamas supporters argued that they marginalized Palestinians and made the prospect of a two-state solution even more remote. Trump's policies toward the conflict had a lasting impact, reshaping the geopolitical landscape in a way that continues to influence the region today. Since stepping into the Oval Office, President Joe Biden's approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict has been a stark departure from the assertive policies of his predecessor and more popular president, Donald Trump. While Biden has paid lip service to the idea of a two-state solution, his actions - lack thereof - have raised eyebrows and drawn criticism. His administration's decision to resume financial aid to the Palestinian Authority," which had been cut by Trump, has been particularly contentious, especially in light of recent attacks by Hamas. Biden's tepid public statements and his administration's cautious diplomacy have been seen by some as a failure to take a strong stance, leading to him effectively sidelining Israel while emboldening its terror adversaries. Critics argue that Biden's approach not only lacks decisiveness but also undermines the US' longstanding commitment to Israel, casting doubt on the administration's ability to navigate the complexities of this volatile conflict. In light of the recent attacks and the ongoing volatility in the region, the time has come for Israel to rally international support for a definitive solution: the establishment of a single state, Israel, in the region. At the same time, Israel needs to completely destroy each and every jihadist base and hideouts in Gaza and beyond. Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury is an internationally acclaimed multi-award-winning anti-militancy journalist, writer, research-scholar, and Editor, Blitz, a newspaper publishing from Bangladesh since 2003. He regularly writes for local and international newspapers. Follow him on X @Salah_Shoaib Image: Screen shot from Channel 4 News video, via YouTube The Palestinians are beasts on two legs. Former Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin In 2015, under thenDemocrat president Obama, the United States danced around Irans overt hostility toward Israel and the United States and encouraged Iran to temper its work toward creating a nuclear bomb. As a result, two months later, Iran entered into a soft agreement with the five members on the U.N. Security Council plus Germany. This agreement was called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA. In return, against Republican opposition and even some Democrat misgivings, Obama dropped U.S. sanctions on Iran in return for Irans purported slow-walking its quest for a nuclear bomb. Wink, wink. Additionally, Obama displayed overt antagonism toward Israel. He refused to acknowledge an American Embassy in Jerusalem and declared, obnoxiously and illegally, that Jewish children born in Jerusalem were not considered Israeli and could not be issued Israeli passports, as they had not been born on Israeli ground. When Republican past president Trump was elected, and followed Obama into the White House, in 2018, he yanked the United States out of the JCPOA. Trump opined that the deal actually facilitated Irans nuclear program, concomitantly accelerating Irans ability to create chaos against Israel. Moreover, Trump moved the American Embassy to Jerusalem and declared Jerusalem Israeli territory. As what was hoped to be a lasting victory toward widening peaceful relations in the region, Trumps team negotiated and was able to effectuate a series of bilateral treaties between Israel and some Arab countries, collectively known as the Abraham Accords, signed first on September 15, 2020 among Israel, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. Some months later, the countries of Morocco and Sudan also signed agreements with Israel. Enter President Biden, Obamas vice president who, for eight torturous years, worked alongside Obamas aforementioned spite-filled relations with Israel. Perhaps not as overt in his Israeli animus, but quietly duplicitous, Biden has now transferred six billion dollars to Iran, which has funded its proxies to heap the horror that has now unfurled on Israel and its innocent citizenry. Death is final. But doctors believe there are good deaths deaths that are swift and accompanied by scant pain. Good deaths are contrasted with bad deaths by a pain-filled long bout with cancer or lung ailments. And then there are the horror-filled deaths, such as those the world witnessed when jihadists televised beheadings. Then there are the horror-filled deaths that have not been televised or even much discussed: the deaths Palestinian terrorists heap on their Israeli and Jewish victims. Israel takes great lengths to obtain the corpses of Israelis slain by Arabs. Usually the corpses come back mutilated; besides signs of torture, bodies are returned with eyes gouged and penises in mouths. Today, the beasts have outdone themselves. Live and dead female bodies are being paraded through Gaza, pelted and spit on, while the insane and frenzied crowds scream Allah akbar. Hostages as young as four and the elderly, especially disabled elderly, are similarly treated. Up in smoke is also any near-term hope of peace with Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries. What should be Israels response? As harsh as possible without breaking civilized norms. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. Like anyone who's all in with the World Economic Forum establishment, President Obama extended his congratulations to this year's winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Narges Mohammadi, who stood up to Iran's mullahs in the name of equal rights for women and democracy for Iran. For decades, Narges Mohammadi has been a vocal advocate for women and girls in Iran. This @NobelPrize is a well-deserved recognition of her courage, and the hope that she representsnot only for the women in Iran, but for women fighting repression and violence around the world. https://t.co/8m7vXncloK Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 7, 2023 He didn't say so in his message, but she's in jail for that, of course, imprisoned by Iran's evil mullah regime as so many who challenge their corrupt, abusive, oppressive rule are. As the Associated Press reported: Imprisoned Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday in recognition of her tireless campaigning for womens rights and democracy, and against the death penalty. Mohammadi, 51, has kept up her activism despite numerous arrests by Iranian authorities and spending years behind bars. She has remained a leading light for nationwide, women-led protests sparked by the death last year of a 22-year-old woman in police custody that have grown into one of the most intense challenges to Irans theocratic government. Berit Reiss-Andersen, the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, began Friday's announcement with the words Woman, Life, Freedom in Farsi the slogan of the demonstrations in Iran. Now here Obama is, playing Mr. Magnanimous, Nobel peace laureate-to-Nobel peace laureate, offering his congratulations as if there were some kind of equivalence in what they had each done to get their peace prizes in the first place. What's sour and hollow about this greeting, though, is not just that Obama can't hold a candle to the kind of courage Mohammadi has shown, but that no one did more to undermine Iran's freedom fighters and their "Persian spring" green revolution than Obama did during his sorry presidency. Back in 2009, when Mohammadi was marching in the streets, protesting election fraud, and demanding freedom for Iran, Obama abandoned them and their struggle, all because of his ambition to forge a deal with Iran over its nuclear weapons. Eli Lake, writing for Bloomberg in 2016, noted this sorry picture: One of the great hypotheticals of Barack Obama's presidency involves the Iranian uprising that began on June 12, 2009, after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was announced the winner of contested presidential elections. What if the president had done more to help the protesters when the regime appeared to be teetering? It's well known he was slow to react. Obama publicly downplayed the prospect of real change at first, saying the candidates whom hundreds of thousands of Iranians were risking their lives to support did not represent fundamental change. When he finally did speak out, he couldn't bring himself to say the election was stolen: "The world is watching and inspired by their participation, regardless of what the ultimate outcome of the election was." But Obama wasn't just reluctant to show solidarity in 2009, he feared the demonstrations would sabotage his secret outreach to Iran. In his new book, "The Iran Wars," Wall Street Journal reporter Jay Solomon uncovers new details on how far Obama went to avoid helping Iran's green movement. Behind the scenes, Obama overruled advisers who wanted to do what America had done at similar transitions from dictatorship to democracy, and signal America's support. Worse still, Obama released massive pallets of cash to the mullahs, on secret flights undertaken in the dead of night so that people in the free world wouldn't notice all that money he was putting in the pockets of the mullahs to promote their nefarious deals. Obama did what the mullahs wanted and got his crummy "Iran deal" which true to form, the mullahs have already broken. Mohammadi is one of the Iran democracy campaigners who got the short end of the stick in that, going to the mullah prison by 2010. Now Obama is offering the new Nobel laureate praise, joining the crowd, showing us all what a nice guy he is. Pay no attention to how he abandoned these Iranians to their fate 13 years ago. He has hollow pretty words for the democracy fighters -- and cold hard cash for their oppressors. Image: Twitter screen shot Bangladesh is currently facing the risk of falling under the influence of various extremist groups, including ultra-Islamists, jihadists, anti-Semites, and religious bigots. This could ultimately lead to the country transforming into a neo-Taliban state. The United States and its Western allies need to be cautious about interfering in Bangladesh's internal affairs. In recent years, political parties like the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and their ideological allies, such as Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), Hefazat-e-Islam (HeI), Ansar Al Islam, Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (HuJI), and Jamaatul Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB), have been pushing to turn Bangladesh into a sharia nation or a caliphate. These parties have also engaged in lobbying activities in the U.S., the U.K., and other European Union nations. During the 20012006 rule of the BNP-Jamaat coalition government, they even named a bridge "Hezb'allah," after the United Statesdesignated terrorist organization. The BNP-Jamaat coalition government's junior communications minister, Salahuddin Ahmed, told French news agency AFP "I named the bridge Hezb'allah because of our love for the Lebanese resistance group. Hezb'allah is the only group which is fighting Israel, and the bridge is named after the group as a mark of honor." Thenforeign minister Morshed Khan went as far as to label Israel's actions as "state terrorism" and "religious terrorism" while accusing the United States of sponsoring it. The BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami consider Jews and Israel the "enemy" and support "elimination of the Jewish State from the world map," while they recognize Lebanese Hezb'allah and Palestinian Hamas as "ideological allies." What's concerning is the active support for these Islamist groups by U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken and officials at the State Department. The U.S. ambassador in Dhaka, Peter D. Haas, has been seen associating with individuals who burn American flags and threaten Bangladeshi media outlets with visa-related consequences to push their Islamist agenda. Supporting BNP, inadvertently or otherwise, could empower an organization with an agenda that contradicts American values and foreign policy objectives. The BNP aims to establish sharia law in Bangladesh with the help of Islamist allies, potentially turning the nation into an anti-Semitic caliphate similar to Afghanistan. Such a development could undermine U.S. interests in the region. During the BNP-Jamaat government's rule from 2001 to 2006, Bangladesh witnessed a rise in militancy and terrorism. These parties even participated in cross-border terrorism inside northeastern states in India. Islamist groups openly burned American flags and chanted slogans like "Death to America" and "We shall become Taliban, Bangla [Bangladesh] will be Afghan." There was a brief period of relative calm, which ended with an Islamist backlash against secularists in 2013. The BNP and Jamaat launched countrywide arson and bomb attacks, followed by the murder of Awami League leaders, creating a fearsome atmosphere. During this time, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Bangladesh's elite police force, played a key role in saving the country from becoming another Afghanistan or Pakistan. In 2013, pro-caliphate Hefazat-e-Islam (HeI) gathered thousands of madrassa teachers and students, including individuals who had fought in Afghanistan against the Soviet Union and among the Palestinians against Israel, as "mujahideen." They demanded the enforcement of a caliphate in Bangladesh, with HeI's leader as the "Amir" of the caliphate. The BNP, Jamaat, and other Islamist forces secretly planned to establish sharia rule through an Islamic revolution similar to Ayatollah Khomeini's in Iran. After the 2014 general election, boycotted by the BNP and Jamaat, these Islamist groups carried out systematic bombings and arson attacks on religious minorities, particularly Hindus. Violence continued unabated, with dozens of Hindu homes and temples coming under arson and bombing attacks. Hindu girls and women were raped by Islamist extremists, creating a reign of terror on Hindus in Bangladesh. Conspirators sought to turn secular Bangladesh into a sharia nation in 2013, but their plans were thwarted thanks to the intervention of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). Afterward, they spread false accusations of human rights violations and mass murders by RAB, which were used to garner sympathy from Western countries. Today, Islamist extremists and anti-Semites feel emboldened, believing they have successfully influenced the Biden administration and several Western countries to support their agenda of turning Bangladesh into a neo-Taliban state. It is crucial for policymakers in the West to take note and refrain from granting favor and patronage to these forces. Interfering in Bangladesh's internal affairs is unwelcome, as the country values friendship with all nations but rejects hostile interference. Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury is an internationally acclaimed multi-award-winning anti-militancy journalist, writer, and research scholar and the editor of Blitz, a newspaper publishing from Bangladesh since 2003. He regularly writes for local and international newspapers. Follow him on X at @Salah_Shoaib. Image: Mostaque Chowdhury via Flickr, CC BY 2.0 (cropped). (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 7 - Leader of Italy's leading trade union confederation CGIL Maurizio Landini on Saturday urged Italians to continue to fight for their rights and for the Constitution at a demonstration organised by a network of associations, opposition parties and unions in Piazza San Giovanni in central Rome. "We represent the majority of this country. We need to fight," Landini said from the stage, addressing the crowd on an estimated 200,000. "We will not stop and we will go on until we get results," he added, renewing calls for the introduction of a minimum hourly wage. "5-6 euros per hour are starvation wages, unacceptable," said Landini, also criticising the government's decision to put on hold examination by parliament of a joint opposition bill on the minimum wage in order to give the National Council for Economics and Labour (CNEL) time to come up with a comprehensive proposal in time for the 2024 budget. "Instead of taking the responsibility to convene social partners and say what it wants to do on contracts, on the law on representation, on the minimum wage, the government has subcontracted its role to the CNEL. It is an attack on the free action of workers," the CGIL leader said. (ANSA). 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 (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 8 - A recent surge in the government's borrowing costs is a reflection of concerns about the growth of the economy in the long term, Bank of Italy Governor Ignazio Visco told the Financial Times in an interview published on Sunday. "I don't think it is speculation against the country. I think it is basically a concern about . . . the long-term potential growth rate of the economy," said Visco, who ends his mandate as the head of Italy's central bank at the end of October. Last week the yield on Italy's benchmark 10-year BTP bond yield rose to almost 5% for the first time since Europe's sovereign debt crisis from 2009 to 2012. The paper also recalled how markets reacted badly when Rome in its NADEF update to its DEF economic and financial blueprint last month raised the country's planned fiscal deficit for this year from 4.5% of GDP to 5.3% and for 2024 from 3.7% to 4.3%, as well as revising downwards the growth forecast for both years. Visco said these trends shows that investors "are insuring themselves" against weak long-term growth prospects and high debt. There are a number of things Italy can do to bolster growth, Visco told the Financial Times, such as supporting female employment by allowing children to be in school for the whole day, better integrating immigrants into the workforce and improving training in digital skills. He also said the Bank of Italy was "not consulted" by the government before it introduced the controversial windfall tax on banks' extra profits, adding that the changes made to the decree during its conversion into law by parliament "go in the right direction". (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 8 - Firefighters intervened to secure an overpass in Mestre during the night between Saturday and Sunday after passers-by reported seeing falling plaster. The structure in question is the 'Della Giustizia' railway overpass, one of the city's oldest infrastructure works dating to the earth 20th century and crossing the Trieste-Treviso railway line. It is located not far from the overpass that saw last Tuesday's bus crash in which 21 mostly young and foreign people died. The condition of local infrastructure has come under the spotlight since the accident amid suggestions that the state of the guardrail may have been to blame. Meanwhile, on Saturday a 28-year-old German named only as Nico V. was the first person injured in the crash to be discharged from hospital. "I am getting better, I feel I had a guardian angel that saved my life. I have a head wound, many blows, my right arm hurts. But I'm here...," he told Corriere. He lost his 17-month-old daughter in the crash, while his wife, 27, is in intensive care. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 8 - Civil protection Minister Nello Musumeci on Sunday ruled out introducing a naval blockade to prevent irregular migration to Italy for the time being. "The naval blockade is an extreme remedy that is defined by international agreement, so this is not the time and it is not opportune," said Musumeci in answer to a question on the proposal, much-trumpeted by the Brothers of Italy (FdI) party of Premier Giorgia Meloni during last year's election campaign and recently relaunched by party bigwig and senate Speaker Ignazio La Russa. "Departures must be stopped through bilateral agreements with the countries of departure," he continued. "Confindustria claims Italy needs 400,000 workers. We need manpower, so why not let migrants, who are fleeing their countries because of war, persecution or famine, arrive in Italy via regular pathways and avoid the mafia of the smugglers?" said Musumeci. "Why should they have to pay 6-8-10 thousand euro to those criminals instead of entering Italy regularly and contributing to the workforce? It is a simple and clear objective," he added. "We are convinced that the agreements with Tunisia and Libya, if the political framework in that country were to stabilise, could allow Europe to turn this desperation into an opportunity, provided, of course, that our rules and laws are respected," concluded the minister. Italy has seen an 87% increase in the number of migrants and refugees arriving by sea so far in 2023 with respect to the same period last year. Of the arrivals, around 70% have landed on the tiny Sicilian island of Lampedusa, putting local reception and logistical capacity under strain. Meloni has made the 'external dimension' of migration - namely, relations with countries of origin and transit, including Libya and particularly Tunisia, which is currently the main country of departure for people attempting the desperate journey across the central Mediterranean - a cornerstone of efforts to address the issue, while also insisting on a greater European response. (ANSA). Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar will say his party can beat the SNP in seats across Scotland at the next general election. He will address Labours conference in Liverpool on Monday, where he will hail his partys win in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election. Michael Shanks exceeded expectations and took 58% of the vote at the by-election count in South Lanarkshire on Thursday night. (PA Graphics) While turnout was low, Labour achieved a swing of 20.4% from the SNP. It led polling experts to believe that Labour could return to being the largest party north of the border, potentially opening the door to Downing Street if there is a similar swing at the next general election. Mr Sarwar will say his SNP opponents have chosen to blame the voters for their loss. He will tell delegates: Now no SNP MP can sit safely, taking their communities for granted as so many have. So I say to Humza Yousaf: This isnt about swings or the polls this is about putting the people of Scotland first. And because you wont do that we can beat you across Scotland. Every community in Scotland now has the chance to choose change with Scottish Labour. SNP deputy leader Keith Brown said: Labours Scottish branch office cant be trusted to stand up for the people of Scotland and will only answer to Sir Keir Starmer, who is abandoning all principles to get his hands on the keys to Downing Street. The people of Scotland deserve better than Sir Keir Starmers pro-austerity, pro-Brexit offering of the Tory status quo. At the general election, the SNP offers an opportunity to escape the chaos of Westminster. Independent European countries similar to Scotland are both wealthier and fairer than the UK. With the abundance of resources and talents that we have, why not Scotland? Home Secretary Suella Braverman has said she expects the police to use the full force of the law against displays of support for Hamas after videos emerged of people appearing to celebrate the attack on Israel. Metropolitan Police patrols have been increased in London after the force was urged to intervene by immigration minister Robert Jenrick, who shared a video posted on social media by Countdown presenter Rachel Riley after Hamas launched its biggest attack in years on Israel. Riley posted on X on Saturday saying she passed two cars in west London driving with Palestinian flags flying from each window, bouncing up and down in their cars and seemingly celebrating like they were having a party. She later posted a video which showed people waving Palestinian flags, beeping car horns and clapping in Acton. Whenever Israel is attacked, Islamists and other racists use Israeli defensive measures as a pretext to stir up hatred against British Jews. Yesterday I spoke with @CST_UK to ensure the government is doing everything necessary for the protection of our Jewish communities. 1/2 Suella Braverman MP (@SuellaBraverman) October 8, 2023 Home Secretary Suella Braverman posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday morning, saying: Whenever Israel is attacked, Islamists and other racists use Israeli defensive measures as a pretext to stir up hatred against British Jews. Yesterday I spoke with @CST_UK (Community Security Trust) to ensure the Government is doing everything necessary for the protection of our Jewish communities. There must be zero tolerance for antisemitism or glorification of terrorism on the streets of Britain. I expect the police to use the full force of the law against displays of support for Hamas, other proscribed terrorist groups or attempts to intimidate British Jews. The Met Police said on Sunday afternoon no arrests had been made but officers attended a small number of low-level public order incidents in different parts of London. The force added that a number of protests have been planned, including a Stop The War protest due to be held on Monday evening at the Israeli Embassy, and officers will be there primarily to ensure protests pass off peacefully but will make arrests if they suspect a criminal offence has been committed. Rileys post on the social media site said: Acton, half an hour ago. Popped into a cafe for some baklava with the kids and our Ukrainian friends. People have been brutally murdered, kidnapped and there are people in London dancing. I just passed two cars in West London driving with Palestinian flags flying from each window, bouncing up and down in their cars, seemingly celebrating like they were having a party. Make no mistake, this is a dangerous and terrifying time for all Jews around the world. Rachel Riley MBE (@RachelRileyRR) October 7, 2023 Just had a reassuring call with the police, if anyone is scared, please call them. She added on the social media site: Most people understand this is an abomination. No-one should cheer war and death. Speaking at an event at the Labour Party Conference, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan condemned the Hamas attacks and said it was important they did not spill over into increased hate crime in London. He said: Hamas is a proscribed organisation. What they have done in the last 24 hours in Israel, causing the death and injury of hundreds, is unacceptable and its got to be condemned and I do condemn that. Weve also got to recognise the history of disturbances in the Middle East, it often spills over into an increase in hate crime in our city. Ive been in regular contact with the police over the last 24 hours, and communities in London who are feeling scared and vulnerable and frightened, and there are increased officers present across London to reassure communities. Asked whether he condemned Londoners waving flags in support of Hamas, he added: Waving the flag of Hamas is against the law. Hamas is proscribed and the police are making sure that they enforce the law. Theres obviously a distinction with the right to freedom of protest and so forth, but nobody likes to see people scared as a consequence of the actions of others. Prominent barrister Charlotte Proudman also posted a video of a car with Palestinian flags sounding its horn. She wrote: Celebrating the murders and kidnapping of Israelis is quite possibly the most heinous act of public hate I have seen on the streets of London. Mr Jenrick shared Rileys post on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, and said: These disgusting people are glorifying the terrorist activities of Hamas, a proscribed organisation. There is no place for this in the UK. These disgusting people are glorifying the terrorist activities of Hamas, a proscribed organisation. There is no place for this in the UK. I trust @metpoliceuk will be taking this seriously. https://t.co/6iogKhg9sv Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenrick) October 7, 2023 I trust @metpoliceuk will be taking this seriously. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine, in charge of policing London on Sunday, said: We are aware that this conflict has a far-reaching impact on communities around the world, and we extend our full support to those affected in London. We are listening and working with communities and partners to ensure people feel safe and protected. We ask that members of the public report anything concerning, such as threatening behaviour. We are aware that a number of demonstrations and protests are planned. We have spoken to the organisers and we expect these will pass off peacefully. However, we will take a zero tolerance approach to any activity which crosses the lines into criminality. The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that protects British Jews from antisemitism and related threats, said it has been in discussion with the Met Police and Government since Saturday morning to ensure the appropriate levels of security and policing are in place in Jewish community areas. Dave Rich, director of policy at CST, said: Experience tells us that as conflicts in Israel and Gaza escalate, we will see a spike in antisemitic hate crimes in Britain. Our advice to the Jewish community is to report any examples of antisemitism or suspicious behaviour around Jewish buildings to the police immediately and then to CST. He added: During the last big conflict between Israel and Gaza in May 2021, one of the things that caused the most anger and fear in Jewish communities was car convoys waving flags. We hope what happened on Saturday night isnt an indication that were going to see the same thing again as that would be extremely damaging to community relations. We kind of accept it as normal that when theres conflict, we see a rise in antisemitism in Britain we shouldnt accept it as normal, it should never be acceptable. A group called the Palestine Solidarity Campaign has called for people to attend an emergency demonstration on Monday outside the Israeli embassy. A 20-year-old British man serving in the Israeli army has been killed in an attack by Hamas militants, his family have said. Nathanel Young was serving with the Israeli Defence Services when he was killed on the Gaza border on Saturday. His death comes after 26-year-old Jake Marlow, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, was reported missing while providing security at a music festival near Kibbutz Reim, close to the Gaza border. A second Briton, photographer Dan Darlington, who was visiting from his home in Berlin, Germany, is also missing, according to his father David, as reported by the BBC. Gaby Shalev, from London, posted on Facebook: Were heartbroken to share that our little brother Nathanel Young was tragically killed on the Gaza Border yesterday. Mr Youngs brother, Eliot Young, said in a statement released to the BBC: Nathanel was full of life and the life of the party. He loved his family and friends and was loved by everyone. He loved music and was a talented DJ, DJing both on base and at Benjis House, the lone-soldier house where he was living. The former pupil at JFS Jewish school in Kenton, north London, had been living in the Bayit Shel Benji lone-soldier house in Raanana, according to the Jewish News. The Israeli Embassy in London has confirmed his death to the PA news agency and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has been approached for comment. The FCDO has advised against all but essential travel to Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories due to the conflict. The Israeli Embassy in London confirmed that London-born Mr Marlowe, who is reported to have moved to Israel two years ago was missing but it had not been confirmed that he had been kidnapped. Israeli media have reported that at least 600 people were killed, including 26 soldiers, during the attacks, prompting PM Benjamin Netanyahu to say they were at war as the country launched a military response. Smoke rises after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a house in Ashkelon, southern Israel (Tsafrir Abayov/AP) A spokesperson told the PA news agency: He is missing, we dont know for sure that he is taken hostage or dead or in a hospital. Mr Marlowe has not been seen since the invasion early on Saturday morning when he was providing security for a music event in the desert near Kibbutz Reim, close to the Gaza border. Mr Marlowes mother Lisa, told the Jewish News: He was doing security at this rave yesterday and called me at 4.30am to say all these rockets were flying over. Then, at about 5.30am, he texted to say signal very bad, everything OK, will keep you updated I promise you, and that he loves me. Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom Tzipi Hotovely confirmed that a British citizen is in Gaza following kidnappings by Hamas, but did not clarify if they were being held hostage. She told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News: I know there is one British citizen who is in Gaza at the moment. The Israeli government is doing everything we can to help those who are held hostage and every citizen who is taken is returned. Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns said the Governments priority would be ensuring the safety of the missing Briton and as well as other British nationals in Israel. She told Sky News: What we did see yesterday was British families having to hide in safe rooms some with, I believe, a baby as young as 10 days old, and so many international victims being taken hostage. Obviously, that will be a priority for the British Government, I would expect the ministers will be in today working on precisely how we can get that individual to safety working with our allies. Its crucial we do not give the terrorists what they want but, at the same time, first and foremost the duty of the British Government is to keep British nationals safe. Ms Kearns placed the blame for the attack on Iran for supporting Hamas and called for the proscription of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) which she described as the countrys international terror tool. Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the UK would support Israel in whatever it decides is necessary to defend itself against Hamas attacks. He told the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: We support their right of self-defence and will support them in whatever they decide to do to defend their country against terrorist attacks. A Foreign Office spokeswoman said they would not comment on individual cases but added: However, we can confirm we are in contact with, and assisting, the families of several individuals in Israel and the OPTs (Occupied Palestinian Territories). The safety of all British nationals continues to be our utmost priority and we urge everyone to continue to follow our travel advice which is updated regularly. A clean-up has begun after flooding devastated much of Scotland, with some regions experiencing one months rain in 24 hours. A rescue helicopter evacuated drivers trapped on the A83 on Saturday, after the road was hit by seven landslides with 2,000 tonnes of debris descending on the road. Aviemore in the Highlands remains at severe risk of flooding, while red alerts were issued by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) for Findhorn, Nairn, Moray and Speyside, meaning buildings were at risk of collapse and there was a danger to life. Amber alerts issued by Sepa remained for Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City, Argyll and Bute, Central, Dundee and Angus, Easter Ross and Great Glen, Skye and Lochaber, and Tayside. The Met Office downgraded its warning to yellow, until 7pm on Sunday, but 54 flood warnings issued by Sepa remain. The River Spey overflowed at Kingussie near Aviemore (Jane Barlow/PA) Tyndrum, west Perthshire, was hit by 112.6mm of rain, according to the Met Office. The area around the A83 Rest and Be Thankful saw a months worth of rainfall, around 160mm, falling over 36 hours, according to BEAR Scotland, which manages the road. Some roads remained closed but Bowling Railway Station, West Dunbartonshire, which was swamped with flowing water on Saturday, appeared to have drained away in photos shared by Network Rail. More good news this time at Bowling. Flooding has cleared, and weve cleaned the tracks and a nearby level crossing of debris. Weve also replaced a fence at the station which had washed away. Next step? Run an empty @ScotRail train through before we reopen the railway. https://t.co/Yxaltxvohv pic.twitter.com/N3Ca7xz15U Network Rail Scotland (@NetworkRailSCOT) October 8, 2023 A Tesco car park at Oban, Argyll and Bute, was overwhelmed by floodwater, and bus passengers were said to have taken refuge overnight at Lochgilphead High School, also in Oban. Sand bags and road closures were in place in Kingussie near Aviemore, the Highlands, amid a severe warning. UPDATE The #A83 remains CLOSED between Ardgartan east of Rest and Be Thankful and Inveraray due to multiple landslips. Our Teams are working hard with Clean up operations underway where safe to do so photo of the A83/A815 Junction pic.twitter.com/9uQWxRAuMK BEAR NW Trunk Roads (@NWTrunkRoads) October 8, 2023 Meanwhile, unseasonable warmth was expected to peak at around 25C in southern and central England on Sunday or Monday. Met Office chief meteorologist Neil Armstrong said: Prolonged heavy rain is causing widespread disruption for much of Scotland. The heaviest and most disruptive rain has been affecting western and central Scotland so far, but as our recent warnings indicate this heavy rain will also affect areas to the north and east. Within the Amber warning areas 60-80mm of rain is likely, with 180mm or more in total for some of the wettest spots across Argyll. Rain is expected to slowly clear to the north during Sunday. Ian Stewart, BEAR Scotlands north-west representative, said, This extreme weather has caused widespread disruption, with Argyll significantly affected. Our teams are beginning clear-up operations to return full access to residents of Argyll, but conditions are still difficult, and we need to ensure that those on site are safe. As such, it is unlikely the A83 will reopen today. We are also continuing to work as part of the Argyll and Bute Resilience Partnership to assess road closures and incidents in the area. The flooded Dell sports field in Kingussie near Aviemore (Jane Barlow/PA) Flood duty manager for Sepa, Vincent Fitzsimons, said: Its been a rough weekend across Scotland, with severe weather causing widespread travel disruption to road and rail networks and impacts in communities from Greenock to Aviemore. Our teams have been working around the clock with Scottish Government and the Met Office in the lead into and across this major weather event. The focus continues to turn to communities across the North, with a particular concern for severe flood impacts to communities along the Spey and Tay rivers. Its a day to stay alert, not stand down. The risk to life remains. Labours time has come again, the Liverpool metro mayor has said as he urged Sir Keir Starmer to set out a positive vision at the partys conference. As Labour prepares to stage what could be its final conference before the next general election, Steve Rotheram said he could feel a buzz similar to 1996 when Tony Blair prepared to lead the party to its landslide 1997 victory. In an interview with the PA news agency, former Liverpool Walton MP Mr Rotheram said: Its a sense that our time has come again. In 1996 there was just this sense that everyone had had enough of that lot (Conservatives) and all that sort of stuff, but there was something exciting happening. Im getting that sort of buzz that something exciting is about to happen, that we can actually change this country for good. Labour begins its conference in Liverpool on Sunday with a double-digit lead over the Conservatives and on the back of a victory in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election that has been taken in some quarters as a sign that the partys road back to power could be eased by surging support in Scotland. (PA Graphics) Like other Labour politicians, Mr Rotheram was adamant that he was not taking anything for granted, but he looked forward to a unified display from Labour after a Conservative conference he described as a wake. He said: Hopefully what you are going to see is a party thats champing at the bit to get rid of this lot now, 13 years of just incompetence, so Im looking at the conference and I think you will see that united party saying lets get rid of this lot. Thats always a really good thing for us because we rely on volunteers. Its the Labour Party members that make this party great, so we need them to be enthused, to go out there and think theres a prize for us to actually win. But he also urged party leader Sir Keir to use the conference to set out a positive vision of why people should vote for Labour, rather than just against the Conservatives. Steve Rotheram urged Sir Keir Starmer to set out some of the vision behind Labour values (Stefan Rousseau/PA) He said: Im hopeful that what you are going to see is some of the vision behind Labour values. Weve all got the same values and principles, so how do you articulate what that is in a national context and start to give people hope that things can change. He added: I think a lot of whats been happening has been the Tories are terrible, and thats quite right. Why shouldnt we explain to people how bad this Government are? But alongside that its great if we can say, have a look at what were doing. Weve got some great policies in certain areas, but we will hopefully start to see some of that teased out here as a package. Mr Rotheram has big plans for the Liverpool City Region, including turning the Mersey into Britains renewable energy coast, leveraging a 30 million fibreoptic cable network to make the region a centre of digital industries, and rolling back more than 30 years of Thatcherism by taking back control of the regions bus network. Steve Rotheram said he wanted to transform the Mersey into Britains renewable energy coast (Peter Byrne/PA) But he also wants more flexibility and more control, and is frustrated at still having to bid for pots of money from Whitehall, in contrast to Greater Manchester and the West Midlands an appeal that fits in with Sir Keirs previous commitments to greater regional devolution. He said: For ourselves, weve got decentralisation not devolution and we need genuine opportunities and powers and levers, with those flexibilities, to do things that we believe are our priorities here. A monolith like central government shouldnt decide what they believe is in our best interests. We are directly elected and people can quite quickly get rid of us if they dont believe were doing the best for the area that they live in. One particular area Mr Rotheram would like greater control over is skills. The former bricklayer is passionate about apprenticeships and has called for more control over how the apprenticeship levy is spent, allowing regions to match training to skills shortages. Labour mayors including Steve Rotheram (second right) opposed the decision to scrap the HS2 link to Manchester, and have called for the full Northern Powerhouse Rail to be built. (Danny Lawson/PA) He said: I want kids to have hope again. I want to raise aspirations. I want to see, for instance, kids choosing apprenticeships because theres good jobs at the end of it and not necessarily if its not right for them feeling that they have to go to university and accumulate that huge debt because they believe thats the only way they can get into the labour market. On the first day of the conference, Labour announced that it would set up specialist technical excellence colleges that would see local government and businesses working together to address local skills needs. While Mr Rotheram sees devolution as a positive and has hailed his friend and fellow northern mayor Andy Burnham for showing what a local focus can do, the announcements surrounding the end of HS2 left him frustrated. The announcement means a major problem for the proposed high-speed link between Liverpool and Manchester, which would have used some HS2 track. Mr Rotheram is not convinced that the 12 billion promised by Rishi Sunak will be enough to make up for this, especially if new stations need to be built. Steve Rotheram said his Greater Manchester counterpart Andy Burnham showed what could be done by regional politicians who werent focused on Westminster. (Danny Lawson/PA) He said: Im going to have to now go back to the drawing board and Greater Manchester and ourselves are going to have to start talking about what that might look like. But were back to the drawing board and that means further delays built in. He was also scathing about the division of the savings made by cancelling HS2 under the new Network North plan, that has seen some money offered to projects in the south of the country. He told PA: I think there are more deserving areas in the North Oxford and Cambridge and potholes in London, theyre really northern priorities for the Tories. Its not a surprise but its no less galling. Its disappointing, but its creative. The cancelling of HS2, and the apparent lack of consultation ahead of the decision, has damaged regional leaders trust in central government something Mr Rotheram said would change completely with a Labour government. He told PA: Just imagine that means we can cut through all the Mickey Mouse party political stuff and just get on with things and deliver. Police patrols have been increased in London after videos emerged of people appearing to celebrate the attack on Israel, which a Government minister said was glorifying the terrorist activities of Hamas. The Metropolitan Police was urged to intervene by immigration minister Robert Jenrick as he shared a video posted on social media by Countdown presenter Rachel Riley after Hamas launched its biggest attack in years on Israel. On Saturday evening, Riley posted on social media: I just passed two cars in West London driving with Palestinian flags flying from each window, bouncing up and down in their cars, seemingly celebrating like they were having a party. Make no mistake, this is a dangerous and terrifying time for all Jews around the world. I just passed two cars in West London driving with Palestinian flags flying from each window, bouncing up and down in their cars, seemingly celebrating like they were having a party. Make no mistake, this is a dangerous and terrifying time for all Jews around the world. Rachel Riley MBE (@RachelRileyRR) October 7, 2023 She later posted a video which showed people waving Palestinian flags, beeping car horns and clapping and said: Acton, half an hour ago. Popped into a cafe for some baklava with the kids and our Ukrainian friends. People have been brutally murdered, kidnapped and there are people in London dancing. Just had a reassuring call with the police, if anyone is scared, please call them. She added on the social media site: Most people understand this is an abomination. No-one should cheer war and death. Prominent barrister Charlotte Proudman also posted a video of a car with Palestinian flags sounding its horn. She wrote: Celebrating the murders and kidnapping of Israelis is quite possibly the most heinous act of public hate I have seen on the streets of London. Mr Jenrick shared Rileys post on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, and said: These disgusting people are glorifying the terrorist activities of Hamas, a proscribed organisation. There is no place for this in the UK. I trust @metpoliceuk will be taking this seriously. These disgusting people are glorifying the terrorist activities of Hamas, a proscribed organisation. There is no place for this in the UK. I trust @metpoliceuk will be taking this seriously. https://t.co/6iogKhg9sv Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenrick) October 7, 2023 In a statement, Scotland Yard said: We are aware of a number of incidents, including those that have been shared on social media, in relation to the ongoing conflict in Israel and the border with Gaza. The Met has increased policing patrols across parts of London in order to provide a visible presence and reassurance to our communities. We remain in contact with partners and community leaders to listen to any concerns. Anyone who experiences threatening behaviour or is worried about their safety is urged to contact police. We are aware that the ongoing conflict may lead to protests over the coming days. We will ensure that an appropriate policing plan is in place in order to balance the right to protest against any disruption to Londoners. A group called the Palestine Solidarity Campaign has called for people to attend an emergency demonstration on Monday outside the Israeli Embassy. Rishi Sunak has said the UK Government stands in full solidarity with Israel against a cowardly and depraved attack after more than 200 people were killed during an incursion by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip. Britain will co-ordinate support for the Middle Eastern country with international partners over the next 24 hours as it reels from a surprise onslaught by Hamas on Saturday, the Prime Minister said. Israels premier Benjamin Netanyahu said we are at war following the attack, and that the group would pay a price that it hasnt known until now as he called up reservists. Mr Sunak wrote on social media: As the barbarity of todays atrocities becomes clearer, we stand unequivocally with Israel. This attack by Hamas is cowardly and depraved. We have expressed our full solidarity to @netanyahu and will work with international partners in the next 24 hours to co-ordinate support. At least 250 people have been killed and 1,500 have been wounded in the violence, according to the countrys national rescue service making it the deadliest attack in Israel in years. And at least 232 people have been killed and 1,700 wounded in Gaza in Israeli retaliation, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Hamas caught Israel off-guard on Simchat Torah, a major holiday, with a show of force including the deployment of dozens of soldiers to the countrys heavily fortified border on Saturday. The attack revived memories of the 1973 war almost 50 years to the day, in which Israels enemies launched a surprise attack on Yom Kippur. Videos released by Hamas suggested at least three Israelis had been captured alive. And footage has been posted on social media of fighters from the group parading what appeared to be stolen Israeli military vehicles through the streets. People look at the damage from a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip into Tel Aviv (Moti Milrod/AP) US President Joe Biden said he spoke to Mr Netanyahu about the horrific and ongoing attacks in Israel. He said: The United States unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza, and I made clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu that we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the government and people of Israel. Terrorism is never justified. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people. The United States warns against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation. My administrations support for Israels security is rock solid and unwavering. Jill and I are keeping in our prayers all of the families who have been hurt by this violence. We are heartbroken by the lives that have been tragically cut short and hope for a swift recovery for all those who have been wounded. My team and I are tracking this situation closely, and I will remain in close touch with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly wrote on social media: Hamas are not fighters. Hamas are not militants. Hamas are terrorists. There is no other word to describe the brutality of firing rockets or terrorist attacks targeting civilians. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: I utterly condemn the ongoing attacks on Israel and her citizens. There is no justification for this act of terror which is being perpetrated by those who seek to undermine any chance for future peace in the region. Israel has a right to defend herself. Israel has blockaded Gaza since Islamic militant group Hamas gained control of the territory in 2007, and the two have fought wars ever since. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City (Fatima Shbair/AP) In a televised address, Mr Netanyahu made his first remarks since the Gaza Strips Hamas rulers launched a major, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak on Saturday. We are at war, Mr Netanyahu said. Not an operation, not a round, but at war. The prime minister also ordered the military to clear the infiltrated towns of Hamas militants that remained locked in gunfights with Israeli soldiers. Hezbollah congratulated Hamas, describing the attack as a response to Israeli crimes and saying the militants had divine backing. The group said its command in Lebanon was in contact with Hamas about the operation. ABUJA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian authorities have issued flood alerts to several states across the country following the recent release of water from Cameroon's Lagdo Dam. At least nine states in Nigeria, which have communities along the banks of the Benue River, may be affected by the water release, which is expected to last until the end of October, Mustapha Ahmed, head of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), told reporters in the national capital of Abuja on Saturday. The release of water from Lagdo Dam has long been a cause for concern in Nigeria, as it results in the swelling of the Benue River, which traverses multiple Nigerian states, including Adamawa and Taraba in the northeast region, as well as Benue and Kogi in the central region. Ahmed said the recent release had already led to the displacement of local communities and could lead to further destruction of crops and other infrastructure. "The NEMA has been alerted to the sudden increased inundation of riverine communities and farmlands along the banks of the Niger River in the past 48 hours," the emergency relief agency official said, citing a situation report that confirmed the upsurge of water along the flood plains of the Benue River. He said that crops, lands and valuable infrastructure are at risk of being washed away by the floodwaters, adding that the situation is expected to be witnessed in downstream southern states, including Anambra, Edo, Delta and Bayelsa, as the Benue and Niger rivers flow to the Atlantic Ocean through Nigeria's delta region. So far, a total of 28 people have been confirmed killed due to flooding in Africa's most populous country this year, with 159,157 others seriously affected, according to data from the NEMA. A total of 48,168 people are displaced in 13 states across the country. Due to the recurring disaster, the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency earlier warned citizens living in flood-prone areas to take precautionary measures to protect lives and property. A trio of debut authors feature on the six-strong shortlist for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction 2023. The annual literary prize will see the winner take home a 50,000 award during a ceremony on November 16 at the Science Museum in London, while the shortlisted writers receive an increased prize fund of 5,000 each. British writer Hannah Barnes is among the debut authors featured for her profile of the NHSs flagship gender service for children, titled Time To Think: The Inside Story Of The Collapse Of The Tavistocks Gender Service For Children. Time to Think The Inside Story of the Collapse of the Tavistocks Gender Service for Children by Hannah Barnes (Baillie Gifford/PA) Chairman of the judging panel Frederick Studemann described the book as courageous during a press conference. Its a topic that is quick to invite some pretty charged (comments), people feel very passionately about it so you have to tread respectfully and carefully and I think the author managed (that). US author Jeremy Eichler also features on the shortlist for his extraordinarily ambitious debut book Times Echo: The Second World War, The Holocaust, and The Music Of Remembrance, exploring the role of music in a post-Holocaust world. Mr Studemann described first-time British writer Tania Branigans book titled Red Memory: Living, Remembering And Forgetting Chinas Cultural Revolution as one of the big topics of our age which she approaches from a different angle. Red Memory Living, Remembering And Forgetting Chinas Cultural Revolution by Tania Branigan (Baillie Gifford/PA) He said: Theres lots of books about how the authoritarian regime in China is doing X and how China is going to dominate these parts of global political or economic situation. She flips it and actually goes into China and says this legacy of the Cultural Revolution that is everywhere and yet its so little discussed, and it affects everyone It really helps you understand China today. Meanwhile Mr Studemann described American-Canadian John Vaillants shortlisted book Fire Weather: A True Story From A Hotter World as a really remarkable climate change book that is not straightforward but extremely pertinent. Revolutionary Spring Fighting For A New World 1848-1849 by Christopher Clark (Nina Lubbren/PA) Australian author Christopher Clark also featured on the bill for Revolutionary Spring: Fighting For A New World 1848-1849, alongside US writer Jennifer Homans for her remarkable book Mr B: George Balanchines Twentieth Century, about the US ballet choreographer. To write about dance is one of the most difficult things to do in writing, Mr Studemann said. As part of the celebrations marking the prizes 25th anniversary, the shortlisted authors will receive an increased prize fund of 5,000 up from 1,000. Last year, Katherine Rundell won the award for her modern biography documenting the many sides of poet, scholar and priest John Donne, titled Super-Infinite: The Transformations Of John Donne. The winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction 2023 will be announced on November 16 at Londons Science Museum. Sir Keir Starmer clearly labelled Hamass deadly assault on Israel a terrorist attack, in contrast to Jeremy Corbyn who resisted directly condemning the militant group. The Labour leader said on Sunday that there can be no justification for the operation that has left at least 600 dead, including a British man serving in the Israeli army, and provoked a furious response from Israel that killed more than 300 in Gaza. His predecessor said he does not support any attacks, but sought to avoid directly criticising Hamas while being questioned in Liverpool, where Mr Corbyn is attending a left-wing political festival instead of the Labour conference. In a tetchy exchange with journalists on the way to one event, Mr Corbyn said he wants peace, a ceasefire and a process that ends the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (Lucy North/PA) I dont support any attacks, therefore I criticise them all, he said, after being repeatedly asked whether he would condemn Hamas, having not been clear about his position on the group. Mr Corbyn is sitting as an independent MP after being removed from Labours parliamentary party over his response to antisemitism under his leadership, but remains a party member. At an event at The World Transformed festival, which coincides with the Labour conference, Mr Corbyn said he was working with people around the world to bring about peace. He added: You dont just condemn as I do any acts of violence, anywhere around the world. You look at the causes as well. On the current terrible situation in Israel and Palestine, he said: The way to end that, I think, is to end the occupation of Palestine by Israel. Sir Keir was quick to criticise the thousands of rockets launched towards Israel in a surprise attack by Hamas on land, sea and air as a terrorist attack. Labour stands firmly in support of Israels right to defend itself, rescue hostages and protect its citizens, he said in a statement. The indiscriminate attacks from Hamas are unjustifiable and have set back the cause of peace. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City (Hatem Moussa/AP) He said in an interview with the BBC that he spoke to the leader of the Israeli Labour Party, Merav Michaeli, on Saturday night. As we were on the phone the siren went off and she had to go down into her shelter taking her papers with her, he said. So its an appalling act of terrorism, it needs to be called out across the world. Sir Keirs shadow foreign secretary, David Lammy, said he would not mince my words in describing Hamas as a terrorist organisation. He told a conference fringe event that Labour remains committed to a two-state solution to the conflict in the Middle East. Hamas are seeking to undermine that. They are seeking to break that, they are approaching this with rockets and with terrorism. Hamas is an Islamist military group which has since 2007 ruled over the Gaza Strip, which has been blockaded by Israel. Backed by Iran, Hamas is designated as a terrorist organisation by the UK, US and the EU. A Labour spokesman said: Keir Starmer leads a changed Labour Party, unrecognisable from the one that lost in 2019, and were never going back. Meanwhile, Tory party chair Greg Hands urged Labour to suspend MP Apsana Begum for posing for a photo with activists from the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, which is demanding the end to what it calls an apartheid. The Government is working to establish the status of UK citizens in Israel, Rishi Sunak said, as deadly attacks by Hamas saw one British man serving in the countrys army killed. The Prime Minister declared terrorism will not prevail and pledged steadfast support for his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu as the death toll from the incursion climbed to at least 600 on Sunday. It comes as the family of 20-year-old Nathanel Young, a Briton serving with the Israeli Defence Services, said he had been killed on the Gaza border on Saturday. Two other UK nationals 26-year-old Jake Marlowe, who went to the same London school as Mr Young and photographer Dan Darlington are also thought to be missing. Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City (Hatem Moussa/AP) In a statement delivered from Chequers, the Prime Minister said: The scenes that weve seen in Israel over the past 36 hours are truly horrifying. I want to express my absolute solidarity for the people of Israel now is not a time for equivocation, and Im unequivocal. Hamas, and the people who support Hamas, are fully responsible for this appalling act of terror, for the murder of civilians and for the kidnapping of innocent people, including children. Mr Sunak said he had spoken with the Israeli PM earlier on Sunday to offer the UKs ongoing support, adding: Terrorism will not prevail. Asked what assistance is being provided to British citizens caught up in the conflict, he told reporters: This is a dangerous and fast-moving situation on the ground. And I know that there will be families who are anxious about their loved ones. I want to reassure them that the Foreign Office and the Government here is in close contact with our Israeli counterpart to establish the status of any British nationals on the ground. Mr Young, who was a former pupil at JFS Jewish School in north London, is among hundreds to have died following a surprise attack by Palestinian militants which caught Israel off-guard on a major holiday. Gaby Shalev, from London, posted on Facebook: Were heartbroken to share that our little brother Nathanel Young was tragically killed on the Gaza Border yesterday. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said his thoughts were with Mr Youngs family, condemning the terrible violence which he labelled a terrorist attack. This is a grave and significant moment, he said. The indiscriminate attacks from Hamas are unjustifiable and have set back the cause of peace. The Board of Deputies of British Jews warned that previous conflicts in the Middle East have seen an increase in antisemitism in the UK and said it was in touch with Government to ensure the Jewish community is supported. The organisation is also holding a vigil near Downing Street in central London on Monday for those killed or injured in the violence. On Sunday evening, the Israeli flag was projected on to the outside of No 10 in a show of support for the country. We stand with pic.twitter.com/dFtOngg4ju Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 8, 2023 Mr Marlowe was reported missing while providing security at a music festival near Kibbutz Reim, close to the Gaza border. Mr Darlington, who was visiting from his home in Berlin, Germany, is also missing, according to his father David, as reported by the BBC. Mr Youngs brother, Eliot Young, said in a statement released to the BBC: Nathanel was full of life and the life of the party. He loved his family and friends and was loved by everyone. He loved music and was a talented DJ, DJing both on base and at Benjis House, the lone-soldier house where he was living. Mr Young had been living in the Bayit Shel Benji lone-soldier house in Raanana, according to the Jewish News. The Israeli Embassy in London has confirmed his death to the PA news agency and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has been approached for comment. The FCDO has advised against all but essential travel to Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories due to the conflict. The Israeli Embassy in London confirmed that London-born Mr Marlowe, who is reported to have moved to Israel two years ago was missing, but it had not been confirmed that he had been kidnapped. Smoke rises after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a house in Ashkelon, southern Israel (Tsafrir Abayov/AP) A spokesperson told PA: He is missing, we dont know for sure that he is taken hostage or dead or in a hospital. Mr Marlowes mother Lisa, told the Jewish News: He was doing security at this rave yesterday and called me at 4.30am to say all these rockets were flying over. Then, at about 5.30am, he texted to say signal very bad, everything OK, will keep you updated I promise you, and that he loves me. Israeli media have reported that at least 600 people were killed, including 26 soldiers, during the attacks, prompting Mr Netanyahu to say they were at war as the country launched a military response. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said he had spoken with his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen on Sunday and made clear the UK is resolute in its support for Israel in the face of terrorism. Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom Tzipi Hotovely confirmed that a British citizen is in Gaza following kidnappings by Hamas, but did not clarify if they were being held hostage. She told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News: I know there is one British citizen who is in Gaza at the moment. The Israeli government is doing everything we can to help those who are held hostage and every citizen who is taken is returned. Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns said the Governments priority would be ensuring the safety of the missing Briton and as well as other British nationals in Israel. She told Sky News: What we did see yesterday was British families having to hide in safe rooms some with, I believe, a baby as young as 10 days old, and so many international victims being taken hostage. Obviously, that will be a priority for the British Government, I would expect the ministers will be in today working on precisely how we can get that individual to safety working with our allies. Ms Kearns placed the blame for the attack on Iran for supporting Hamas and called for the proscription of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) which she described as the countrys international terror tool. A Foreign Office spokeswoman said they would not comment on individual cases but added: However, we can confirm we are in contact with, and assisting, the families of several individuals in Israel and the OPTs (Occupied Palestinian Territories). The safety of all British nationals continues to be our utmost priority and we urge everyone to continue to follow our travel advice which is updated regularly. The UKs new ambassador for Ukraine wore a kilt for his first meeting with President Vlodymyr Zelensky. Father-of-three Martin Harris, 54, previously served from 2003 to 2008 in Kyiv as deputy head of mission and consul general, and raised his children in Ukraine. Mr Harris, who grew up in Scotland, wore his familys Ferguson tartan for his initiation into the role, which was admired by President Zelensky. After the war broke out in February 2022, Mr Harris got a tie made from a tartan named Ukraine Forever as a gesture of solidarity. Earlier this year, Mr Harris spent a month in Lviv to refresh his fluent Ukrainian. He went on holiday to Scotland recently and was moved to see the Ukrainian flag flying in rural Shetland. British Ambassador to Ukraine Martin Harris presenting his Letters of Credence to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv (Office of the President of Ukraine/PA) Mr Harris said: The Ukrainians express their national identity strongly through traditional clothing, so I wanted to wear my national dress as the UKs new ambassador. President Zelensky noted my kilt and many Ukrainians have complimented me. My kilt was in my family tartan Ferguson and I also have a tie in a tartan called Ukraine Forever, which was created in solidarity with the country after it came under the full-scale attack. Im honoured to lead the UKs Embassy as we support Ukraine in its fight for freedom and democracy. Ukraine is defending the international principles underpinning the UKs security, as well as its own. The courage and resolve of the Ukrainian armed forces and people are a constant inspiration. It is a privilege to be here in Ukraine standing alongside them. Our relationship has never been closer or more important. Together we are stronger. Mr Harris will lead the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) at the British Embassy in Kyiv, after taking over from Dame Melinda Simmons. Previous postings included Moscow, where he was involved in a hostage situation in 2002, and Afghanistan, and Mr Harris also served as the UKs Ambassador to Romania. During his last stint in Kyiv, Mr Harris was caught up in the Orange Revolution, when pro-democracy campaigners demonstrated against the rigged election result in 2004. Mr Harris said: This is my second posting to Ukraine. When I left in 2008, I thought Id really like to come back as Ambassador, so this is a dream come true. My family has a great affinity with Ukraine because its where my children grew up. What has unfolded has been truly heart-breaking for us. There was never a doubt I should take on this role and their excitement was tinged with disappointment they couldnt come with me to live in Kyiv. Im under no illusion that this is a dangerous posting, but this is as much about protecting the UKs security as about Ukraines security. The conditions Ukrainian soldiers are facing on the front line are much more severe. The people who deserve all the credit are the Ukrainian warriors on the front line. The UKs total military, humanitarian and economic support for Ukraine now amounts to 9.3 billion more than any country other than the United States. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that the U.S. is "actively working" to verify reports that several Americans may be among the dead in the Israel-Hamas conflict, as well as reports that there could be some U.S. hostages. Hamas fighters on Saturday launched an attack on Israel through the countrys south. The ongoing attack has killed hundreds, and Hamas fighters have taken a number of civilians and soldiers hostage. Does the administration know at this point if U.S. citizens were among the dead or those taken hostage? NBC News' Kristen Welker asked Blinken. Blinken said: So we have reports that several Americans may be among the dead. We are very actively working to verify those reports. Similarly, weve seen reports about hostages, and there, again, were very actively trying to verify them and nail that down. Pressed again about whether some U.S. citizens could have been taken hostage, as well, Blinken replied: Thats correct. Meanwhile, in an interview on CBS' "Face the Nation," the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Michael Herzog, indicated that Americans are among Hamas hostages. I understand there are, but I dont have details, he said, adding, however, that he couldnt provide numbers. Israeli soldiers take position in the southern Israeli town of Ofakim on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. Hamas militants stormed over the border fence Saturday, killing hundreds of Israelis in surrounding communities. The burning car was used by the gunmen and set on fire by the residents. (Ilan Assayag / AP) Asked whether Iran played a role in the attack, Blinken noted its long relationship with Hamas but said the Biden administration doesnt have any evidence it is involved. We dont have anything that shows us that Iran was directly involved in this attack, in planning it or carrying out, but thats something were looking at very carefully, he said. And weve got to see where the facts lead. Welker noted that Hamas attacked amid talks among the U.S., Saudi Arabia and Israel about a potential deal to normalize relations a move Washington may see as a way to counter Iranian aggression in the region. What, if any, role do you think those talks may have played in these attacks, and does this is effectively mean that those talks are now dead? she asked. Blinken didnt rule out the possibility: Its no surprise that those who are opposed to the talks, those who are opposed to Israel normalizing its relations with its neighbors and with countries beyond the region are: Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. And so its entirely possible that one of the motivations for this attack was to try to derail these efforts to advance normalization, something that is very hard, he said. There are a lot of really challenging issues to work through. Were in the process of trying to do that. Republican presidential candidates have blamed the Biden administration for the attacks, with several arguing, without evidence, that the U.S. funded them as a result of a prisoner exchange with Iran, which has a history of funding Hamas. The deal resulted in a waiver that gave Tehran access to $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue that had been blocked by U.S. sanctions, according to a State Department document sent to Congress and obtained by NBC News. Asked to respond to GOP critics who say the deal the Biden administration recently made with Iran funded the attacks, Blinken said he found it very unfortunate that some are playing politics at a time when so many lives have been lost and Israel remains under attack. The facts are that these were these were not U.S. taxpayer dollars; these were Iranian resources that it had accumulated from the sale of its oil that were stuck in a bank in South Korea from day one, he said. Under our law, under our sanctions going back many years, its always had the right to use those funds for humanitarian purposes, for food, for medicine, for medical equipment. Funds were moved from one bank to another where it could more easily do that. Not a single cent has been spent from that account," he added. "When any money is spent from that account, it can only be used for medical supplies, for food, for medicine, and those who are saying otherwise are either misinformed or misinforming, and its wrong either way. Welker asked: What do you say about the argument that money is fungible so Iran may have known this money is coming and use other funds to help fund this attack? Blinken said: Iran has unfortunately always used and focused its funds on supporting terrorism, on supporting groups like Hamas. And its done that when there have been sanctions, its done that when there havent been sanctions, and its always prioritized that. Blinken reiterated that the money the administration released was made available to Iran for humanitarian purposes: The Trump administration set up a very similar mechanism to enable Iran to use these kinds of assets for humanitarian purposes. Weve done the same thing. He also called on both chambers of Congress to clearly show and express their support for Israel on a bipartisan basis in the conflict. And so thats something we want to see, and we hope that that happens quickly, he said. Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie said on Sunday that the U.S. should provide Israel with "everything that it needs to be able to take whatever actions it needs to take" in the wake of a large-scale attack by the militant group Hamas that shook the country and the region. Christie, a former New Jersey governor, told ABC "This Week" anchor George Stephanopoulos that his top priorities if he were president would be engaging allies in the region, such as Jordan and Saudi Arabia, to keep the conflict from spreading and to serve as a "sounding board" to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to help him "think through the ramifications of every step they're going to take to defend themselves and to try to do the best they can to eliminate the leadership of Hamas." Christie, a former ABC News contributor, also called out the dysfunction in the U.S. House of Representatives, where a small group of Republican lawmakers last week voted along with the Democratic minority to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy, leaving it without a way to pass legislation, including foreign aid. "What I would be doing is making sure, one, that Israel has everything that it needs to be able to take whatever actions it needs to take. And this is the problem with not having a speaker right now," he said. "The actions taken by some members of my party were wholly irresponsible without this going on," Christie said. "They're now even putting a brighter light on the irresponsibility of not having someone in place." Christie also dismissed as "sophistry" some GOP members of Congress floating Trump's name as the next House speaker -- despite Republican conference rules that would prohibit that, given the criminal charges Trump faces. (He denies wrongdoing.) "This is them doing what they know Donald Trump likes, which is kissing his rear end in public," Christie said. He declined to endorse either of the two candidates to succeed McCarthy as speaker -- House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. But he called Scalise a "responsible, good guy." PHOTO: Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie speaks during the second Republican candidates' debate of the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., Sept. 27, 2023. (Mike Blake/Reuters) Separately, asked by Stephanopoulos about Trump's "stranglehold" over the conservative base, Christie -- a vocal Trump critic who continues to trail him in the polls -- slammed the Republican National Committee, which he accused of "carrying Donald Trump's water" after stopping a Fox News debate between Christie and fellow candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The party had said candidates aren't allowed to participate in non-sanctioned debates. "More information is better than less, and by trying to restrict how much we can interact with each other, just only on those debate stages, I think it's a mistake for the party, near-term and long-term, to do that," Christie said. But he noted that despite the widespread support from the party Trump has seen, he believes progress is being made against the former president in some early primary states. Trump, for his part, has dismissed Christie as a "failed" candidate and governor. "This is going to take some time. It's patience and persistence to put forward the message that he cannot win a general election," Christie said, echoing what has been his case against Trump. "He doesn't deserve to be the nominee of this party based upon his conduct in office and his conduct after office." "I'm making that argument all over the country, but particularly in New Hampshire and South Carolina, and I'm hearing people respond to it," Christie added. "But we're not going to see it show up in polls until much later, I suspect, if not as late as election night." Attack on Israel underscores 'irresponsibility' of Republicans paralyzing House with speaker fight: Christie originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), a 2024 presidential candidate, on Sunday criticized Republicans who publicly endorsed former President Trump to be the next Speaker of the House a position for which Trump arguably would not be eligible. This is them doing what they know Donald Trump likes, which is kiss his rear end in public, Christie said in an interview on ABC Newss This Week. And if you do that, then he says nice things about you, even if what youre saying is not is demonstrably untrue, Christie continued. So, thats part of the problem with all this. Following Tuesday evenings historic vote to remove the Speaker for the first time in American history, Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) announced that he intended to formally endorse Trump to take the reins as Speaker. Others, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), also supported the effort. The only candidate for Speaker I am currently supporting is President Donald J. Trump, Greene wrote last week on X, the platform previously known as Twitter. He has a proven 4 year record as President of the United States of America. While the Speaker of the House does not need to be a member of the legislative body, House Republicans have their own conference rules that prohibit anyone indicted for a felony that could result in a two-year prison sentence, at minimum, from serving in a leadership position. Trump ultimately announced his endorsement for Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) for the position. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), former Speaker Kevin McCarthys (R-Calif.) longtime No. 2, is also vying for the position. The conference will hold a candidate forum Tuesday to determine which candidate to support ahead of a House vote, which is expected the next day. Christie would not say in the interview whom he would support, between Jordan and Scalise, but said he has known Scalise a long time and trusts that hes a responsible lawmaker. I dont have a favorite, Christie said when asked about his preference between the candidates for Speaker. I dont know Jim Jordan well at all, so I cant really speak to him except for what I see publicly. I know Steve Scalise and I like Steve Scalise, and I respect him, Christie said. But Im not going to weigh into a Speaker fight and endorse somebody, but my point is, I know Steve. I think Steves a responsible, good guy. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Defense attorneys for two police officers in Aurora, Colorado, facing charges in the death of Elijah McClain during a 2019 arrest opted to rest their case in court Friday without calling any witnesses. Randy Roedema and Jason Rosenblatt have pleaded not guilty to charges of reckless manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and assault causing serious bodily injury in connection with the 23-year-olds death. Rosenblatt was fired by the Aurora Police Department in 2020 and Roedema remains suspended. The case stems back to August 24, 2019, when officers responded to a call about a suspicious person wearing a ski mask, according to an indictment. The officers confronted McClain, a massage therapist, musician and animal lover, who was walking home from a convenience store carrying a plastic bag with iced tea. In a disturbing interaction captured on body-camera footage, police wrestled McClain to the ground and placed him in a carotid hold, and paramedics later injected him with the powerful sedative ketamine. He suffered a heart attack on the way to the hospital and was pronounced dead three days later. In 2021, a grand jury indicted three police officers and two paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec involved in the McClain case. They face 32 counts in total, including reckless manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and assault. All five have pleaded not guilty. They will be tried in three separate cases, with the trial of the third officer, Nathan Woodyard, scheduled to begin on Monday. Closing arguments in the trial for Roedema and Rosenblatt are scheduled for Tuesday morning. The paramedics will face a joint trial over their involvement in November. Prosecutors in the wrongful death trial rested their case Friday morning after more than two weeks of testimony, setting the stage for the defense to begin its case, which was expected to continue for up to a week. Roedemas attorney had previously indicated he planned to call a police use of force expert as his witness, but both defense teams decided to close their cases Friday afternoon after Judge Mark Warner denied their motion to acquit both men. Roedema and Rosenblatt declined to testify on their own behalf, and neither defense team called a witness. He was just walking home, prosecution says The trial for the two former officers began on September 20. Prosecutor Jonathan Bunge said in his opening statements, You will hear no evidence in this case, none, that Elijah McClain did something criminal that night (or) that he was about to engage in criminal activity. He was just walking home. Bunge took jurors through the night of McClains interaction with police, narrating video footage from that night. He said three officers were dispatched after a 911 call from a 17-year-old boy who saw McClain walking home from a convenience store and thought it was strange he was wearing a coat and a nylon runners mask something McClain did often because he was frequently cold and liked running, according to Bunge. The prosecution alleged that during their interaction, Roedema, Rosenblatt and the third officer used excessive force without any proof McClain committed any criminal acts despite his repeated attempts to tell them who he was and administered two carotid control holds to subdue him. When the two paramedics arrived, the officers failed to tell them McClains vital signs had not been checked and he had complained multiple times he couldnt breathe. Instead, they told paramedics he continued to resist and had crazy strength, Bunge said. The paramedics diagnosed McClain with excited delirium, a controversial diagnosis that describes violent agitation, and administered ketamine, CNN has reported. They injected McClain with a dose based on an estimate that he was 200 pounds; he in fact weighed 143 pounds, according to the indictment. McClains death caused by complications from ketamine, coroner said Defense attorneys for both officers offered a different narrative of the encounter in their opening statements, focusing on the physical resistance the officers said they experienced from McClain. Roedemas attorney, Reid Elkus, alleged McClain resisted the officers and Roedema saw McClain attempt to grab one of the officers guns, prompting them to put him on the ground. The prosecution has disputed that McClain reached for a gun, and has said there is no evidence he did so. The carotid hold, Elkus said, was the only time the officers were able to get McClain to stop resisting. After he was handcuffed, McClain remained responsive, the attorney said. Defense attorney Harvey Steinberg, who represents Rosenblatt, told jurors Rosenblatt briefly attempted a carotid hold after he heard his colleague say McClain was reaching for a gun as they struggled with him. McClains autopsy report was updated in September 2022 in response to new evidence from a grand jury investigation. His cause of death was changed from undetermined to complications of ketamine administration following forcible restraint, Adams County Chief Coroner Monica Broncucia-Jordan wrote in the amended report. Pathologist Dr. Stephen Cina, who was assisted in the autopsy, said they could not determine whether the carotid hold contributed to McClains death. In 2021, the city settled a civil rights lawsuit with the McClain family for $15 million, and both Aurora police and fire departments agreed to a consent decree to address a pattern of racial bias found by a state investigation. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The rockets began around 6:30 a.m., Tal Gibly told CNN. Thirty minutes later, she and hundreds of others attending an Israeli music festival were running as Gaza militants fired at them. The Nova Festival in a rural farmland area near the Gaza-Israel border was just one of multiple locations hit on Saturday morning by the most sustained and coordinated assault inside Israel ever carried out by Hamas militants. At least 260 bodies would later be found at the festival site, according to Israeli rescue service Zaka. Some attendees were taken hostage, seen in social media videos being seized by their armed captors. The outdoor festival was supposed to be an all-night dance party, celebrating the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. But as dawn broke, Gibly said they began hearing sirens and rockets. We didnt even have any place to hide because we were at [an] open space, she told CNN. Everyone got so panicked and started to take their stuff. Explosions can be heard in video taken by Gibly of her and friends walking through the quickly emptying concert grounds, roughly two miles from the border. Imale, someone is heard saying, a common Israeli expression of fear or feeling startled. Gibly and the others didnt know it, but less than two miles away, Gaza militants had also begun attacking Israeli tanks and soldiers. When attendees fled in their cars, Gibly said the roadways became clogged and no one could move. Thats when the gunshots began, she says. In videos Gibly took, an Israeli military vehicle is seen driving against the flow of traffic as people try to make way for it. Someone outside the car be heard screaming: Go! Go forward! Go forward! Thats when Gibly said she and her friends panicked, abandoned the car, and began running. Like a shooting range A video circulating on social media showed hundreds of attendees fleeing their cars, running across an empty field with gunshots echoing in the background. CNN is not airing the video in its entirety because as the gunfire draws near, a number of people are seen falling to the ground. Its not clear from the video whether the people falling are taking cover, or if they are being hit by gunfire. People run across an empty field away from gunshots at a music festival near the Gaza-Israel border on October 7, 2023. - From Instagram Gibly told CNN she ran to the forest, and eventually got into another car driving past. She saw a number of dead and injured people on the sides of the road, but one scene in particular stuck with her: one concertgoer shot dead outside a van, and another dead in the vehicles passenger seat. Gibly confirmed video obtained by CNN of the scene showed the two victims that she saw. It was so terrifying and we didnt know where to drive to not meet those evil people, she said. I have a lot of friends that got lost at the forest for a lot of hours and got shot like it was a range. Gibly is still trying to get in touch with her friends who were also at the concert. She says she doesnt know if others survived, were taken prisoner, or worse. The festivals organizers are helping Israeli security forces locate missing attendees. Hostage taken to Gaza Details of hostages from the attack are beginning to emerge as family members recognize relatives in videos circulating from Gaza. In one video that went viral, an Israeli woman and her boyfriend identified as Noa Argamani and Avinatan Or, who had attended the festival were shown being kidnapped. In it, Argamani was seen on the back of a motorcycle being driven away as she pleaded for help. Or was seen nearby as the motorcycle carrying Argamani rode past, and was eventually apprehended by several men and made to walk with his hands held behind his back. A dark plume of smoke was also seen in the background. CNN cannot independently verify the video. Family members and friends of the couple have expressed that they want the video to be widely shared in hopes of locating them and securing their safe release. Its very difficult when you see someone that is so close to you and you know so much being treated like this, Amir Moadi, a roommate of Noa Argamani, told CNN, adding that he knew about five or six people who had been at the festival that have since gone missing. But still, we have people missing. We have friends and families, young and old, everyone that got to Gaza Strip, and we need to do everything and now to get them back, he said. Moshe Or, the brother of Argamanis boyfriend Avinatan Or, told CNN affiliate Channel 12 that it did not take him long to find the video. I saw his girlfriend Noa in the video, scared and frightened, I cant imagine whats going through her at all - screaming in panic on a motorcycle, when some scumbags are holding her and they dont let her go, he said. My brother, who is a big guy, two meters tall, trains four times a week, a really strong guy. They held him maybe four or five people and just led them towards the strip, I guess. In another video authenticated by CNN, an unconscious woman who was at the festival could be seen being displayed by armed militants in Gaza. CNN has confirmed the identity of the woman as Shani Louk, a German-Israeli dual national. CNN has reached out to her family for comment but has not yet received a response. Her cousin confirmed to the Washington Post that Louk attended the music festival. In the video, Louk is seen motionless. One gunman, carrying a rocket propelled grenade, has his leg draped over her waist; the other holds a clump of her dreadlocks. Allahu Akbar, they cheer meaning God is great in Arabic. Some of the crowd gathered around the truck join in the cheers. One man spits on Louks head as the car drives off. CNN does not know Louks whereabouts or condition at this time. CNN is not airing the video because it is graphic and disturbing. We recognized her by the tattoos, and she has long dreadlocks, Louks cousin told the Washington Post. We have some kind of hope Hamas is responsible for her and the others. A German foreign ministry source told CNN: The Federal Foreign Office and the German embassy in Tel Aviv are in close contact with the Israeli authorities in order to clarify whether and to what extent German citizens are affected. In a video obtained by German news outlet Bild, Louks mother Ricarda said: This morning my daughter, Shani Nicole Louk, a German citizen, was kidnapped with a group of tourists in southern Israel by Palestinian Hamas. We were sent a video in which I could clearly see our daughter unconscious in the car with the Palestinians and them driving around the Gaza Strip, she said. I ask you to send us any help or any news. Thank you very much. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com NEW YORK Its been another soggy Sunday for portions of the Northeast and New England after a powerful cold front combined with moisture from what was once Tropical Storm Philippe over the weekend. Philippe was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone on Friday before it merged with the potent cold front that swept across the U.S. last week, which made a mess across the region. On Sunday, places like upstate New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine were expected to remain wet. "All of this was a part of that moisture factor that we had pumping into the region (Saturday) and is now starting to exit off towards the north into Canada," FOX Weather meteorologist Kiyana Lewis said. WHAT TO EXPECT IN TROPICS AS HURRICANE SEASON ENTERS OCTOBER Its not expected to be a complete washout on Sunday, but heavy rain is expected in some locations, which could bring an additional inch or so through the rest of the day. A Flood Watch is in effect through Monday morning for portions of western New York state, including Watertown and Hastings. During fall in New England, the peak of foliage can increase the risk of flash flooding in certain areas, the FOX Forecast Center said. This is because the gusty winds can cause leaves to fall faster, potentially blocking storm drains and culverts. However, it's worth noting that the soil conditions in the region have been drier than usual, which can help reduce the risk of flash flooding in some areas. In addition to the heavy rains, strong wind gusts are expected throughout the region. Wind gusts of 30-40 mph are expected through Sunday as the low passes through. As a result, some power outages may occur. Any wind gust over 57 mph is considered damaging, but a brisk day can lead to smaller limbs being dislodged and falling into power lines. The rains will continue to push north and eastward Sunday and eventually move out of Maine into southeastern Canada, allowing drier weather to move in from south to north. The region should be relatively dry on Monday. Showers return for midweek, and long-range forecast models suggest stormier weather may return to the Northeast next weekend. Many river levels, especially in interior New York and Maine, are expected to remain elevated through the workweek. Original article source: Flood threat remains in the Northeast on Sunday, but clearing is expected at the start of the new workweek ABUJA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- A total of 31 gunmen were killed by Nigerian troops in various operations in the country's northern region in the past week, an official said Sunday. Edward Buba, the spokesman for the military, said in a statement that 81 others were also arrested by the troops. The troops freed at least 10 people held hostage by the terrorist group, Boko Haram, and the Islamic State's West Africa Province in the northeastern part of Nigeria, Buba said. "The military, through its operations, continues to prevail against the effects of insurgency and terrorism with an ultimate goal of securing the country against perpetrators of insecurity for national progress," the official added. Armed attacks have been a primary security threat in Nigeria's northern and central regions, leading to deaths and kidnappings in recent months. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) assessed Sunday that it would be absolutely worth it for him to lose his seat in Congress for spearheading the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from the top leadership post last week. Absolutely, Gaetz said when NBCs Kristen Welker asked him on Meet the Press on Sunday about whether the effort to oust McCarthy was worth it. Look, I am here to fight for my constituents. And Im here to ensure that America is not on a path to financial ruin. Gaetz spearheaded booting McCarthy from the Speakers office last week after months of threatening to do so following McCarthys deal with Democrats to avoid a government shutdown. Eight Republicans joined with all of the Democrats to remove McCarthy, making him the first Speaker to ever be ousted in U.S. history. Now, the House GOP is slated to meet this week to choose a new Speaker. Gaetz predicted that it would not take a week to choose a new Speaker, despite the Speakership election in January taking 15 rounds of voting over five days to elect McCarthy. He also said some Republicans suggestion to remove him from Congress was crazy, noting that he was sent to Congress with about 70 percent of his districts vote. Welker asked Gaetz if it was irresponsible for him to pursue a motion to vacate when there was no clear replacement for Speaker. Not only do we have a clear replacement, we have two. We have two men who are incredibly respected, he responded. McCarthy has said that he will not seek the Speakership again, while two lawmakers Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) announced they will pursue the job. Gaetz also declined to voice support for either contender Sunday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Shani Louk, 23, is a dual German-Israeli citizen, according to reports - Instagram A young tattoo artist has been identified as the woman whose naked body was paraded through the streets of Gaza by Hamas terrorists after their attack on Israel on Saturday. Shani Louk, 23, was among the hundreds of victims caught in the crossfire as terrorists stormed an outdoor dance party near Kibbutz Urim, close to the border with Gaza. More than 300 Israelis were killed, with 2,000 injured and 100 kidnapped during the surprise assault by the Islamist group. As footage of the early stages of the raid circulated online, family members recognised the 23-year-old girl as one of the victims. A video clip, too disturbing to publish, showed Ms Louks motionless body in the back of a pick-up truck as Hamas fighters sat on her. Jubilant crowds surrounded the armed men in combat fatigues, who shouted Allah Akbar from the open back of the vehicle. Some in the crowd appeared to spit on the womans body before the truck sped off into the distance. Tom Weintraub Louk confirmed her cousin was missing after the terrorists overran the dance party on Saturday morning. We knew she was in the party. She didnt answer, she told The Washington Post. While she refused to watch the purported video of her cousin in the hands of terrorists, other family members recognised Ms Louks distinctive tattoos and dreadlocks. The video appears to show the 23-year-olds black, patterned chevron tattooed on her lower leg, just below her knee, which is prominent in many of her posts on social media. Family members recognised Ms Louks distinctive tattoos and dreadlocks - Instagram After more than 24 hours, it is unknown whether Ms Louk is dead or where she is. We have some kind of hope, her cousin said. Hamas is responsible for her and the others. The 23-year-old is a dual German-Israeli citizen, according to reports. Pictures published on her social media accounts show her in Germany and describing Israel as home. A video published by Bild, Germanys largest newspaper, appeared to show Ms Louks mother, Ricarda, confirming her daughters kidnap. This morning my daughter, Shani Nicole Louk, a German citizen, was kidnapped with a group of tourists in southern Israel by Palestinian Hamas. We were sent a video in which I could clearly see our daughter unconscious in the car with the Palestinians and them driving around the Gaza Strip. I ask you to send us any help or any news. Thank you very much. The Telegraph has contacted the family. The German foreign ministry said: The Federal Foreign Office and the German embassy in Tel Aviv are in close contact with the Israeli authorities in order to clarify whether and to what extent German citizens are affected. 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. Palestinians kidnap an Israeli citizen on Saturday - Hatem Ali/AP A wheelchair-bound Holocaust survivor was among the hostages dragged across the border into Gaza by Hamas terrorists, US secretary of state Antony Blinken said. Mr Blinken described in graphic detail the horror which unfolded in Israel on Saturday in what he said was the worst attack on the country since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Indiscriminate firing of rockets against civilians. Thousands of rockets. Men, women and children dragged across the border into Gaza, including a Holocaust survivor in a wheelchair. People gunned down in the streets, civilians, he said. It should be something that revolts the entire world. According to some estimates as many as 100 hostages including soldiers and civilians have been dragged across the border to be held hostage by Hamas. No country should live in fear of terrorists coming into peoples homes, gunning them down in the street, dragging them across the border and making hostages of them, Mr Blinken said on Sunday. That is intolerable for any democracy. The Holocaust survivor kidnapped by Hamas is not the first to have fallen victim to the terrorist group, it is understood. In February last year, Naomi Perlman, 91, died after succumbing to shrapnel wounds she sustained in her leg after a Hamas rocket hit her home in Ashkelon. Her caretaker, Soumya Soutash, was killed in the same strike. Meanwhile, Mr Blinken added, the US was trying to confirm whether American citizens were among those who had been killed and captured by Hamas. Were working overtime to verify that. At the same time, there are reports of missing Americans, and there again, were working to verify those reports, he said. 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. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war against Palestinian militants after they launched a surprise attack on his country Saturday. The Palestinian militant group Hamas, the group that rules Gaza, led the deadly, multifront attack that left at least 200 people dead. Israel has touted the success of its Iron Dome air defense system, but its not yet clear how effective the system was in todays attack given the number of rockets launched into Israel. What is the Iron Dome? The Iron Dome is Israels air missile defense system that can defend against short-range rockets, intercepting them in the air above the state. According to Israels Ministry of Defense, its capable of successfully handling multiple rockets at a time. Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, the system became operational in March 2011 and performed its first interception of a rocket from Gaza in April 2011. Since then, its intercepted thousands of rockets. The system was designed to respond to threats from Gaza and southern Lebanon. The system has successfully prevented countless rockets from hitting Israeli communities, the ministry wrote online. The Iron Dome is part of Israels Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), which has several other systems. Davids Sling intercepts short-to-medium and medium-to-long-range missiles, the Arrow-2 intercepts medium to long-range missiles and the Arrow-3 intercepts long-range missiles. The United States partnered with Israels Iron Dome Department to develop the system. Former U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper visited Tel Aviv in 2020 and saw the Iron Dome when the U.S. purchased two of its own. The IMDO receives joint funding with the United States Missile Defense Agency to carry out joint initiatives. The great relationship between these two organizations also translates into the cooperation between Israeli and American defense industries, which serve as key contributors to the development and production processes of the defense array, the ministry said online. How does it work? The Iron Domes uses multi-mission radar to detect what a rockets route is. The systems command and control center analyzes the trajectory of the rocket and its estimated landing area, Israels Ministry of Defense said. The launcher receives the order to operate from the command and control unit to fire a rocket and intercept the incoming one. The artificial intelligence component of the system determines if people would be in danger of the incoming missile. If a missile is not determined to be a threat, the system will let the rocket land. Since its a short-range system, the Iron Dome is designed to shoot down missiles with a range of about 40 miles or less. It also has the ability to be moved, either onto ships or across land, to better suit defense needs. The Iron Dome must be reloaded to continuously intercept incoming missiles. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Israel has formally declared war on Hamas, setting the stage for a major military operation in Gaza as fighting continues to rage on Israeli soil. Tanks and personnel carriers could be seen on the move near the Israel-Gaza border on Sunday, after Hamas an Islamist militant group launched an unprecedented and highly coordinated surprise assault this weekend that has so far killed over 700 Israelis. Saturday was the deadliest day in decades for Israel and came after months of surging violence between Palestinians and Israelis, with the long-running conflict now heading into uncharted and dangerous new territory. Questions remain over how the Israeli military and intelligence apparatus appeared to be caught off guard in one of the countrys worst security failures. Hamas claims to be holding over 100 Israeli hostages, including high-ranking officers, and continued to fire rockets into Israel throughout Sunday. Another Palestinian armed group, called Islamic Jihad, said on Sunday it is holding at least 30 hostages in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed retaliation, warning his country would take mighty vengeance and was readying for a long and difficult war. He urged Palestinians living in Gaza to leave now. Over 400 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza as Israel responds with airstrikes in the densely-inhabited enclave. Throughout the bloody weekend, Hamas launched thousands of rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel making direct hits on multiple locations inside the country including Tel Aviv while armed terror groups entered Israel and infiltrated military bases, towns and farms, shooting at civilians and taking hostages. Photos released by the Israeli foreign ministry showed dozens of bodies in the aftermath of a Hamas attack on a music festival near the Israel-Gaza border, which emergency responders said left at least 260 dead. As Israeli forces clashed on the ground with Hamas fighters, Israeli airstrikes blasted what it said were Hamas-associated locations. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had struck over 400 targets in the small enclave, including 10 towers that it said were used by Hamas and a number of terrorist squads in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip. Palestinian authorities say 78 children are among the dead, and 2,300 others wounded. According to Netanyahu, Israels first phase of retaliation has ended with the destruction of the majority of the enemy forces that penetrated our territory. It will be followed by an offensive formation, he said. His government has decided to stop the supply of electricity, fuel and goods to Gaza. Fire and smoke rises above buildings during an Israeli air strike in Gaza City on October 8, 2023. - Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images Flames rise in Burc Vatan shopping mall in Gaza following bombing of Israeli forces with warplanes. - Ali Jadallah/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Hamas has warned against measures in Gaza, alluding to hostages held in the area. In a recorded audio message Saturday, Abu Obaida spokesman for the Al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said: What happens to the people of the Gaza Strip will happen to them and beware of miscalculation. Civilians taken hostage include not only soldiers but civilians, children, grandmothers, Israeli Defense Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht told a briefing on Sunday. We have lost soldiers, we have lost commanders, we have lost a lot of civilians. It has been more than 17 years since an Israeli soldier was taken as a prisoner of war in an assault on Israeli territory. And Israel has not seen this kind of infiltration of military bases, towns and kibbutzim since town-by-town fighting in the 1948 war of independence. Israelis inspect the rubble of a building a day after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Sunday. - Oded Balilty/AP On Sunday, Hecht, the IDF spokesman, said Israeli forces had neutralized most of the significant battles that took place in the settlement of Otef, but there are still ongoing operations in numerous other parts of the country. The IDFs goal for the next 12 hours is to end the Gaza enclave and kill all the terrorists in our territory, he said. The IDF is evacuating more than 20 communities adjacent to the Gaza security fence, and searching the area for any Hamas militants left. It is also seeking to control breaches in the fence. Asked by a journalist about the intelligence failure that had allowed such a large scale attack to occur, Hecht said: This is not a question for now I am sure that will be a big discussion down the road. No warning of any kind The highly coordinated assault, which began Saturday morning, was unprecedented in its scale and scope and came on the 50th anniversary of the 1973 War in which Arab states blitzed Israel on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. We had no warning of any kind, and it was a total surprise that the war broke out this morning, Efraim Halevy, the former head of Mossad, Israels Intelligence Service, told CNN. The number of rockets fired by Palestinian militants was at a scale never seen before, Halevy said, and this was the first time that Gaza has been able to penetrate deep into Israel and to take control of villages. Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from Ashkelon in southern Israel October 7, 2023 - Amir Cohen/Reuters It is rare for Palestinian militants to be able to make it into Israel from Gaza which is sealed off and heavily watched by Israels military. Gaza is one of the most densely packed places in the world, an isolated coastal enclave of almost 2 million people crammed into 140 square miles. Governed by Hamas, the territory is largely cut off from the rest of the world by an Israeli blockade of Gazas land, air and sea dating back to 2007. Egypt controls Gazas southern border crossing, Rafah. Israel has placed heavy restrictions on the freedom of civilian movement and controls the importation of basic goods into the narrow coastal strip. Fighting between the two sides has surged in the last two years. The violence has been driven by frequent Israeli military raids in Palestinian towns and cities, which Israel has said are a necessary response to a rising number of attacks by Palestinian militants on Israelis. They also come at a moment of deep division in Israel, months after the countrys right-wing government pushed through a contentious plan to reduce the power of the countrys courts, sparking a social, political and military crisis. Western states condemned the Hamas attack on Saturday and pledged support for Israel while Arab states, including those that have recognized Israel, called for calm. United States President Joe Biden spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday and said that Washington unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza. Saudi Arabia, which is holding talks with the US to potentially normalize relations with Israel, said it is following closely the unprecedented situation and called on both sides to immediately stop the escalation, according to a statement by the Saudi foreign ministry on X. Palestinians search for casualties under the rubble of a house destroyed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip. - Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters Pleas for release of hostages Israelis are sharing photos of friends and family who they say have been kidnapped by Hamas militants, many of them women and children. One Israeli mother told CNN she had been on the phone with her children, aged 16 and 12, who were home alone when they heard gunshots outside and people trying to enter. They were scared to death. I cant even imagine what they felt. And I wasnt there to help, said the mother, who was away from the home at the time. CNN is not identifying the mother and her children for safety reasons. Then, over the phone, she heard the door break down. I heard terrorists speaking in Arabic to my teenagers. And the youngest saying to them Im too young to go, the mother said. And the phone went off, the line went off. That was the last time I heard from them. Another Israeli resident Yoni Asher told CNN his wife, who was visiting near the Gaza border with their young daughters, was among those abducted. On Saturday he tracked her phone and saw it was located in Gaza; later that day he said he recognized her in a viral clip of people loaded into the back of a truck flanked by Hamas militants. Several people were taken hostage during an attack by Hamas militants on an Israeli music festival near the Israel-Gaza border. One video on social media showed an Israeli woman being kidnapped, hoisted onto the back of a motorcycle and driven away as her boyfriend was apprehended. Another clip pictured a German-Israeli woman who was taken from the festival being paraded around Gaza, unconscious and motionless. An Israel Police spokesperson has told CNN that family members who wish to report their loved ones as missing to come to the nearest police station when its safe to leave their homes. The police suggested relatives bring photos and personal items from which DNA samples can be extracted to help with identification. CNNs Mohammad Tawfeeq, Jonny Hallam, Kareem Khadder, Paul P. Murphy, Lauren Iszo, Ibrahim Dahman, Amir Tal, Abeer Salman, Richard Allen Greene, Hande Atay Alam, Clarissa Ward and Brent Swails contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Getty Images (2) Julia Fox is getting candid about her relationship with Kanye West in her upcoming memoir, Down the Drain. The actress, 33, revealed in a new excerpt published by The Guardian on Saturday, October 7, that West offered to get her a boob job during their two month-long romance in 2022. We spend the day playing Uno and a game that involves highlighting positive words in the dictionary, she wrote about the pair hanging out in a hotel room. He then told her: Ill get you a boob job if you want. (Fox, for her part, did not take him up on his offer.) Forming a bond in an unexpected place. Nearly one year after Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from Kanye West, the musician publicly moved on with Julia Fox. West, who married Kardashian in 2014, was linked to Irina Shayk and model Vinetria before he celebrated New Years Eve with Fox. The Gotham Awards nominee, for her [] The pair met on New Years Eve in Miami in 2021 and made an appearance at Paris Fashion Week together that January. Us Weekly confirmed that Fox and West, 46, split in February 2022 after the Jesus Walks rapper publicly pleaded to get back together with his ex wife, Kim Kardashian. Julia and Kanye remain good friends and collaborators but they are no longer together, a representative for Fox told Us at the time. Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images For Kenzo The Uncut Gems star recently made headlines for confessing that there, like, wasnt any sex during their relationship. It wasnt really about that, Fox told The New York Times in an interview published on September 25. While promoting her upcoming memoir, which will debut on Tuesday, October 10, the No Sudden Move star also made it known that readers will not be finding a lot of pages about West. She told E! News on September 7 that hes mentioned in about six pages. I feel like I went very lightly on it, she said at the time. Im not trying to have bad blood or anything, its all in the past. Kanye West Dating History Through the Years Blast from the past! Kanye West had more than one high-profile relationship before he married Kim Kardashian in 2014 and hes ready for another. The Jesus Walks rapper scored mainstream success after the release of his debut record, The College Dropout, in 2004. Two years before the album dropped, West sparked a romance with [] After the pair called it quits, Fox openly explained what went wrong between her and West. She said she tapped out at the first sign of a red flag, during an interview with ES Magazine in September 2022. It just seems like he had a lot to work on, and I just dont have time for it, or energy, she said. I dont have the bandwidth or emotional capacity for it. Im proud of myself for that. The next month, she explained in a TikTok video that the pair only talked about clothes and weird ideas and plans for the future and our hopes and dreams for childhood and education. But she was out once he made a return to social media. I was delusional and thought I could help him, but it didnt work and now were here but that being said, I really deeply respect the man as an artist, she continued. I dont want to st on that. I dont want to reduce his whole career to his really bad moments. The Federal Aviation Administration urged U.S. airlines and pilots to use "extreme caution" when flying at any altitude in Israeli airspace, in an updated Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) statement issued early Sunday, following Hamas' large-scale surprise attack on Israel one day earlier. The NOTAM mirrors a similar alert issued by the Israeli government. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared "we are at war" after Saturday's attack, which left hundreds dead and thousands more injured. More than 300 Palestinians have been killed in retaliatory Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, Palestinian health officials said Sunday. "Due to the ongoing conflict situation in the region, between Israel and Gaza based extremist militants, operators are advised to review current security, threat information and NOTAMS," read the alert issued Saturday by the Israeli Civil Aviation Authority. It advised pilots to "exercise caution" and said delays were expected. United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines all announced that they have temporarily suspended flights to and from the international airport near Tel Aviv. "Future operations at TLV will be suspended until conditions allow them to resume," United said in a statement to CBS News. Passengers look at a departure board at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 7, 2023, as flights are canceled because of the Hamas surprise attacks. / Credit: GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images Both Delta and AA said in statements that operations to Israel had been suspended through at least Sunday. "We will continue to monitor the situation with safety and security top of mind and will adjust our operation as needed," American Airlines said. Delta added that it was "working to safely transport Delta people back to the U.S. and will work with the U.S. government as needed to assist with the repatriation of U.S. citizens who want to return home." Also canceling flights were Air France, Lufthansa, Emirates, Ryanair and Aegean Airlines. However, airport authorities did not stop commercial air links with Eilat, Israel's second international airport and tourist destination on the Red Sea. "Given the current security situation in Tel Aviv, Lufthansa is canceling all flights to and from Tel Aviv up until and including Monday, a spokesman for the German carrier told AFP. The airline was "monitoring the security situation in Israel," he added. Brussels Airline, part of the Lufthansa group, also canceled its Tel Aviv flights. Air France said it had halted Tel Aviv flights "until further notice". "Commercial measures are in place, allowing customers to postpone or cancel their trip free of charge", an Air France spokesman said. Air France-KLM group's low-cost carrier Transavia announced it was canceling all flights from Paris and Lyon to Tel Aviv up to and including Monday. Spanish airline Iberia announced that its budget subsidiary Iberia Express was canceling its Tel Aviv flights. Italy's flag-carrier ITA airways canceled its flight until Sunday morning at the earliest "to protect the safety of passengers and crew." Spanish airline Iberia announced that its budget subsidiary Iberia Express was canceling its Tel Aviv flights. In Warsaw, Polish carrier LOT said it had canceled its flights from the Polish capital on Saturday. Rich Paul: The 60 Minutes Interview AI might take over one day if it isnt developed responsibly, Geoffrey Hinton warns 3D printing a 100-home community in Texas, and someday on the moon | 60 Minutes Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is standing by his efforts to keep government, even though his actions contributed to eight members of his caucus voting booting him from the job, in light of unprecedented attacks on Israel by Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists. "There is nothing the House can do until they elect a speaker, and I don't know if that happens quickly. The speaker is part of the Gang of 8 that takes action to be able to have briefing," McCarthy said during a Saturday appearance on "Fox News Live." "But think about this: Why would you ever remove a speaker during a term to raise doubt around the world? The other thing that happens here, too, is that it's driven by only four percent within the Republican Party, driven by one person that's afraid of an ethics complaint," he continued, referencing Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz who introduced a motion to vacate the speakership. "I don't know what's in it, but it must be very serious that Matt Gaetz is so afraid that he would put himself and his fear of what he has done over the protection of the nation." "And for Democrats to join those eight individuals after I just moved to keep government open could you imagine had I not done that? That our military [would] not being paid right now, that our border would be wide open. This could shift to our country," he added. ABSENCE OF HOUSE SPEAKER COULD HAVE SERIOUS IMPACT ON US HANDLING OF TERROR ATTACKS IN ISRAEL READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP 'There is nothing the House can do until they elect a speaker, and I don't know if that happens quickly,' McCarthy said during a Saturday appearance on 'Fox News Live' Describing his assessment of the situation, McCarthy, who was ousted from his role as House speaker on Tuesday, said he had spoken with Israeli Knesset speaker Amir Ohana following the attacks on Israel by Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists. "This is different. They are telling me this is their Pearl Harbor," McCarthy said. "You've got to understand 5,000 missiles are what are overwhelming the Iron Dome. The Iron Dome can only take so many." McCarthy also noted the street fighting inside Israel where Hamas militants battle for control of individual neighborhoods. "The atrocities that have happened here, the killing of children, the kidnapping of children and grandparents, and others this is all well-planned months in advance, and this could not, Hamas could not, go forward without the approval of Iran," McCarthy said of the conflict. "They would not have the resources for the missiles, for the weaponry, without Iran applying them." "Israel has to take care of this situation, and it won't be one or two days," he added. "This is different than anything we've seen in 50 years what is going on in Israel, and there's a reason for it." AT LEAST 100 DEAD AS HAMAS LAUNCHES UNPRECEDENTED ATTACK ON ISRAEL, NETANYAHU SAYS NATION IS 'AT WAR' IDF and local police survey the damage following the Hamas rocket attacks. The reason, McCarthy said, is due to a "shift in our administration to Iran," paired with the recent move by the Biden administration to release $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds as part of a prisoner swap deal. Iranian backed Hamas terrorists invaded areas of southern Israel as rocket barrages launched from the Gaza Strip struck the area on Saturday, killing at least 100 Israelis in an attack the Islamist movement Hamas is taking responsibility for. A senior Hamas military commander, Mohammad Deif, announced the start of the operation in which he called on Palestinians everywhere to attack the Israelis, saying in a broadcast on Hamas media that the group launched 5,000 rockets and calling the attack "the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on earth." Local Israeli media reported that at least 100 people have been killed in the wide-ranging assault, while Gaza health officials say that 198 Palestinians have died in Israeli air strikes made in response to the Hamas attack. Hospitals are treating at least 985 wounded people, including 77 who were in critical condition, the Associated Press reported based on public statements and calls to hospitals. Smoke rises over Gaza City on October 7, 2023, during Israeli air strikes. The IDF announced it would mobilize its forces in response to the attacks, confirming that Hamas has taken hostages and held prisoners of war in Gaza. Israeli military forces have moved troops to the Gaza border, where gunfire has already started as the forces move towards each other, Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst reported from Israel. Fox News' Landon Mion and Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report. Original article source:McCarthy stands by averting shutdown in light of Israel attacks: 'Think if we were shut down right now' By Kanishka Singh (Reuters) -California Governor Gavin Newsom's veto of a bill that would have banned caste discrimination was seen as "heartbreaking" by the legislation's advocates while being welcomed by those who felt such a law would have stigmatized a minority in the state. The bill itself, as well as the buildup to its passage by state lawmakers and its veto, saw intense debate on the issue in California and beyond. Opponents of caste discrimination say it is no different from other forms of discrimination like racism and hence should be outlawed. Activists hoped that if it were passed into law in California, the legislation would have led to similar steps in other U.S. states. Opponents of the bill said it would have stigmatized an entire minority group - the South Asian and Hindu communities - as being discriminatory and painted the whole community with a broad brush. Angana Chatterji, a scholar at the University of California, Berkeley, said that caste discrimination has a "pernicious hold" that impacts South Asian communities in the United States and that the California bill "recognized the basic and fundamental right to equality for all who are targets of casteism." Activists who supported the bill had launched a hunger strike in early September in a push for it to be signed into law. In vetoing the bill, officially called Senate Bill 403 or SB 403, Newsom cited existing laws that already prohibit ancestry discrimination, which he said made the bill "unnecessary." Advocacy group Hindu American Foundation, which opposed the bill, agreed with Newsom and hailed the veto as a major win. "Any discrimination on the basis of 'caste' violates not only Hindu teachings, but also existing state and federal law. The fight over SB-403 has always been about the best solution for any intra-community discrimination, not whether such protections are needed," said Hindu American Foundation Executive Director Suhag Shukla. U.S. discrimination laws ban ancestry discrimination but do not explicitly mention a ban on casteism. California's bill targeted the caste system in South Asian and Hindu immigrant communities by adding caste as a protected class to the state's existing anti-discrimination laws. The caste system is among the world's oldest forms of rigid social stratification. It dates back thousands of years and allows many privileges to upper castes but represses lower castes. The Dalit community is on the lowest rung of the Hindu caste system and members have been treated as "untouchables." India outlawed caste discrimination over 70 years ago. "I grew up in Orange County, where I was bullied for my caste throughout my education," said Thenmozhi Soundararajan, executive director of California-based Dalit civil rights organization Equality Labs. "Caste-oppressed Californians are here, and we deserve workplaces and schools free from discrimination and violence," Soundararajan said in her testimony in April in support of the bill. Equality Labs said "it is heartbreaking to receive the governor's veto." The Indian diaspora is comprised of about 4.9 million U.S. residents who were either born in India or reported Indian ancestry or origin, the Migration Policy Institute said late last year. About a million of those reside in California. The bill was backed by multiple human rights groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Amnesty International and MeToo International. Opponents of the bill said that since U.S. laws already ban ancestry discrimination, this legislation becomes meaningless and paints the Hindu and South Asian communities with a discriminatory broad brush. The bill's original version was revised after some opposition. The revised version listed caste under "ancestry" and not as a separate category. It was passed by California's state Assembly in late August and by the state Senate in early September with a near unanimous vote. "Creating an entire separate category and law that only applies to minority communities is inconsistent with our constitutional norms," said Samir Kalra, managing director at Hindu American Foundation. The bill defined caste as "an individual's perceived position in a system of social stratification on the basis of inherited status." (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Mary Milliken, Grant McCool and Mark Porter) Editors Note: Follow the latest coverage of US citizens killed in the Israel conflict here. At least four Americans have been killed in the attacks in Israel, and US officials expect the death toll to rise, Sen. Chuck Schumer said Sunday. The Senate majority leader said in a statement that he was briefed Sunday evening by senior national security and State Department officials. Unfortunately, we know there are Americans who were killed. The Administration told us that they know of four thus far, but, sadly, we know the toll will rise, Schumer, a Democrat, said in a statement. Earlier Sunday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US was working overtime to verify reports of missing and dead Americans after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack against Israel. We have reports that several Americans were killed. Were working overtime to verify that. At the same time, there are reports of missing Americans and there again, were working to verify those reports, Blinken told CNNs Dana Bash on State of the Union. CNN reported earlier Sunday that at least three Americans were killed, according to an internal US government memo. The memo said the State Department was aware of additional Americans who have not been accounted for. CNN has reached out to the State Department for comment. Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer told Bash Sunday that Americans are among the scores of hostages being held in Gaza. The US Embassy in Jerusalem, meanwhile, updated its contingency planning for any potential evacuation by land or air, according to the memo. On Saturday, the embassy issued a shelter in place order for its personnel. The large-scale surprise attack by Gaza militants Saturday has left hundreds of Israelis dead, prompting vows of retribution from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a lethal volley of retaliatory Israeli airstrikes. Its unclear what Israels full response will look like. An Israeli military spokesperson hinted that Israel may try to take full control of Gaza for the first time since 2005, and more than 20 communities near Gaza are being evacuated. The top US diplomat added that President Joe Bidens direction was to make sure that were providing Israel everything it needs in this moment to deal with the attacks from Hamas. Speaking from the White House on Saturday, Biden said his administrations support of Israels security is rock solid and unwavering. In a Sunday conversation with Netanyahu, Biden said that assistance was on its way, with additional help forthcoming. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Sunday that a US carrier strike group was headed to the eastern Mediterranean Sea as a deterrence posture. In his statement, Austin also said the US will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources. Still, the president and his top aides are contending with a complicated diplomatic situation unlike any previous conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Republican presidential candidates have slammed the Biden administration, with former President Donald Trump the front-runner for the GOP nomination pointing to the administrations unfreezing of Iranian funds to claim that Biden betrayed Israel. Blinken, however, reiterated Sunday that no money has been spent from the unfrozen funds intended for humanitarian purposes. So people are either misinformed or theyre misinforming, he said. And either way, its wrong. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Kevin Liptak, MJ Lee and Jeremy Herb contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Chinese car brands are increasingly popular among consumers in Spain, according to Eric Iglesias, president of the National Association of Vehicle Dealers (Ancove). Produced by Xinhua Global Service By Camilo Cohecha TIBU, Colombia (Reuters) -Colombia's government and the country's largest group of dissident former FARC rebels on Sunday suspended offensive actions and celebrated the start of a peace process meant to end the group's role in almost six decades of internal conflict, the rebel group announced. The negotiations with the Estado Mayor Central (EMC) - a dissident group of the now-demobilized Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas - form part of President Gustavo Petro's efforts to reach "total peace." The EMC rejected a 2016 peace deal with the state that ended the FARC's role in the conflict, which has killed at least 450,000 people and displaced millions. The government will issue a formal ceasefire decree on Oct. 16, the day when the exploratory process concludes and peace talks formally begin, the Colombian government and EMC rebels said in a joint statement Sunday. The two sides have said the ceasefire will initially last 10 months, but they did not mention its length in the statement. The event took place in Tibu, in Norte de Santander province, the scene of frequent clashes between Colombia's military and a plethora of illegally armed groups and where vast swathes of land are covered in crops of coca, the chief ingredient in cocaine. The EMC currently has some 3,530 members - 2,180 combatants and 1,350 others - in regions across Colombia where illicit trades like drug trafficking and illegal gold mining occur, according to security sources. Colombia's government in May partially suspended a bilateral ceasefire it had entered with the EMC in January following the murder of four indigenous minors and ordered the reactivation of military operations against the group in the southeast of the country. The government is also pushing peace efforts with the Segunda Marquetalia, another FARC dissident group with over 1,600 members. Experts have warned that negotiations with the Segunda Marquetalia would face legal issues because the group's leaders accepted and then abandoned the 2016 deal. The National Liberation Army (ELN), another rebel group, is currently in peace talks with the government and holding a six-month bilateral ceasefire that began in August. (Reporting by Camilo Cohecha; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Mark Porter and Lisa Shumaker) WASHINGTON (AP) The deadly Hamas militant attack on Israel and the massive retaliation it provoked from Jerusalem have thrust President Joe Biden into a Middle East crisis that risks expanding into a broader conflict and has left him fending off criticism from GOP presidential rivals that his administration's policies led to this moment. The potential for prolonged and expanding violence could test Biden's leadership on both the world stage and at home as he tries to navigate between demonstrating unflinching support for Israel and fostering a broader peace in the combustible Mideast, where sympathetic militants were quick to loudly praise the action by Hamas. Hundreds have been killed on both sides. Lebanons Hezbollah group welcomed the attack as a response to Israeli crimes. The Iran-backed group, which holds similar goals as Hamas for the destruction of the Israeli state, fired rockets and shells on Sunday at three Israeli positions, drawing a response from Israels military with armed drones. A senior adviser to Irans supreme leader lauded the operation by Hamas, which said it was ready for a potentially long fight. Several 2024 Republican presidential contenders immediately tried to pin a portion of the blame on Biden. They sought to tie his recent decision to release $6 billion in blocked Iranian funds in exchange for freeing five Americans who had been detained in Iran to Saturday's complex attack by air, land and sea. The White House pushed back fiercely against the GOP criticism, noting that the money unfrozen last month in the prisoner swap has yet to be spent by Iran and can only be used for humanitarian needs. Iran has historically maintained strong ties with both Palestinian Hamas and Hezbollah. A senior Biden administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity said it was too early to say whether the state of Iran was directly involved in planning or supporting the complex attack but noted Iran's deep ties to Hamas. Biden and top aides spent Saturday consulting with European and Middle East leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In remarks before reporters at the White House, Biden called the attacks unconscionable and pledged his administration would ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself. Let me say this as clearly as I can: This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage, Biden said. The attack only adds new complications as the Biden administration and Iran are locked in disputes over Tehrans nuclear program. Iran says the program is peaceful, but it now enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels. Still, the administration hasn't given up hope on reviving a deal brokered during the Obama administration and scrapped during the Trump White House that eased sanctions on Iran in return for curbs to its nuclear program. Biden administration officials have also been working on brokering a normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the most powerful and wealthy Arab state. Such a deal has the potential to reshape the region and boost Israels standing in historic ways. But brokering such a deal was already seen as a heavy lift as the kingdom has said it wont officially recognize Israel before a resolution to the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The new conflict adds an enormous new roadblock to Bidens ambitions, although the administration official said the White House did not see the Hamas attack derailing the effort. Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry in a statement did not condemn the Hamas attack, but noted the kingdoms repeated warnings of the dangers of the situation as a result of the continued occupation, the deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights, and the repetition of systematic provocations against its sanctities. Netanyahu vowed in his own national address to avenge the startling attacks, pledging to bring the fight to them with a might and scale that the enemy has not yet known. Hamas fighters have taken an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive into Gaza, in harrowing scenes posted on social media. Those images and the mounting death toll come 50 years and a day after invading forces from Egypt and Syria caught Israel by surprise with the launch of an attack on Israel that set off the 19-day conflict that became known as the Yom Kippur War. Jonathan Schanzer, an analyst at the Washington think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said Biden did a good job at keeping Israel's critics, particularly his fellow Democrats, at bay while Netanyahu sought to achieve his military objectives against Hamas during their last major conflict, an 11-day war in 2021. It will likely be tougher this time around. There will be mistakes that often happen on the battlefield, no military is perfect. Thats when I think the president will come under fire from his left flank," Schanzer said. Some in the 2024 Republican field were quick to place blame squarely on Biden for the Hamas assault. Former President Donald Trump charged that the U.S. is perceived as being weak and ineffective on the global stage under Biden, opening the door to hostility against Israel. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis accused Biden of policies that have gone easy on Iran and have helped to fill their coffers." And South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott alleged the attack was the Biden $6 billion ransom payment at work, a reference to the prisoner deal. Biden administration officials pushed back against the argument. Lets be clear: the deal to bring U.S. citizens home from Iran has nothing to do with the horrific attack on Israel, said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. Not a penny has been spent, and when it is, it can only go for humanitarian needs like food and medicine." Biden administration officials did not address whether Iran, in anticipation of using the money now held in Qatari banks for food, medicine, medical supplies and agricultural products, may have diverted other funds to Hamas or other proxies. In a briefing with Senate Foreign Relations Committee staff on Saturday, administration officials said the U.S. had warned Iran through interlocutors that direct involvement in the Gaza situation would imperil any future initiatives the U.S. might consider with the Islamic Republic, according to a congressional aide familiar with the session. The officials did not elaborate on who the interlocutors were or what future initiatives would be in jeopardy, although acting deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and the top U.S. diplomat for the Mideast, Barbara Leaf, both spoke to officials in Lebanon about the situation. Some Lebanese officials maintain contact with Iran, which supports the militant group Hezbollah in the country. Another point of criticism leveled at the administration by Republicans is that its decision shortly after taking office to reverse a Trump-era ban on assistance to the Palestinians, including civilians in Gaza, may have helped fund the operation. Administration officials roundly rejected this, saying their efforts to help Palestinian civilians in Gaza and elsewhere do not involve money that Hamas can use or divert. ___ Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim, Jill Colvin in New York and Thomas Beaumont in Waterloo, Iowa contributed to this report. (Reuters) -Israel and Lebanon's powerful armed group Hezbollah exchanged artillery and rocket fire on Sunday following the deadliest attack in years by Palestinian gunmen on Israel. There were no immediate reports of casualties in either Lebanon or Israel from Sunday's exchanges of fire. On Saturday, a multi-pronged attack by Palestinian gunmen on Israeli towns left at least 250 Israelis dead, with more than 300 Palestinians killed in Israel's retaliatory bombardment. Hezbollah, an armed party backed by Iran, said on Sunday it had launched guided rockets and artillery onto three posts in the Shebaa Farms "in solidarity" with the Palestinian people. The Israeli military said on Sunday it fired artillery into an area of Lebanon where cross-border fire was launched. "IDF (Israel Defense Forces) artillery is currently striking the area in Lebanon from where a shooting was carried out," it said. Israel's military said one its drones struck a Hezbollah post in the area of Har Dov, an area in Shebaa. "At this point, there is no further threat in Har Dov or the northern arena," IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in televised remarks, adding that the military remained on high alert. The IDF later said that it fired a warning shot toward a number of "suspects" in the same area in Har Dov. A Lebanese security source told Reuters that a tent set up by Hezbollah in the Shebaa Farms had been hit and that Hezbollah fighters had erected a new one. FEARS OF 'CONFLAGRATION' A second exchange of fire took place hours later, with two Lebanese security sources saying rockets fired from Lebanon again hit Israeli positions in the Shebaa Farms and that Israel responded with artillery fire on the village of Kfar Shouba. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on a second exchange or from from the Lebanese army. A separate Lebanese security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the army had intensified its patrols in the south. Israel has held the Shebaa Farms, a 15-square-mile (39-square-km) patch of land, since 1967. Both Syria and Lebanon claim the Shebaa Farms are Lebanese. The United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, said it had "detected several rockets fired from southeast Lebanon toward Israeli-occupied territory" as well as artillery fire from Israel into Lebanon in response. "We are in contact with authorities on both sides of the Blue Line, at all levels, to contain the situation and avoid a more serious escalation," spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said. The Blue Line is the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, marking the point to which Israeli forces withdrew when they left south Lebanon in 2000. On Saturday, UNIFIL said it had enhanced its presence in southern Lebanon following developments in Israel and Gaza, including its operations to counter rocket launches. The U.N.'s special coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka said on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that she was "deeply concerned" by the exchange of fire and urged parties to "shield Lebanon and its people from further conflagration". Hezbollah, which effectively controls southern Lebanon, said on Saturday it was in "direct contact" with leaders of Palestinian "resistance" groups and that it saw Palestinian attacks on Israel as a "decisive response to Israel's continued occupation and a message to those seeking normalisation with Israel". (Reporting by Beirut newsroom and Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem; Editing by William Mallard and Barbara Lewis) By Joey Roulette and David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives face new pressure to select a speaker after Israel declared war on Sunday, following a rare attack by Hamas militants that has prompted calls for more U.S. military aid. Some Republicans, including Representative Jim Jordan, a top candidate for the job, also want lawmakers to agree on how to move forward on the thorniest issue the House faces federal spending for the current year when they choose a new speaker. The U.S. in 2016 pledged $3.8 billion in annual aid to Israel under former President Barack Obama, part of a record 10-year $38 billion aid deal that guarantees weapons, ammo and other military support. House Republicans are expected to hear from speaker candidates behind closed doors on Tuesday and vote to choose their nominee on Wednesday. A House floor vote to elect a replacement for Republican former Speaker Kevin McCarthy could come later in the week. Until then, the chamber cannot approve new aid. "It's not ideal," Republican Representative Michael McCaul told CNN on Sunday. "What kind of message are we sending to our adversaries when we can't govern, when we're dysfunctional, when we don't even have a speaker of the House?" Jordan and others also want a spending agreement, which could avert a government shutdown next month. "When we walk out of that room we've got to have 218 votes for a Republican speaker and we've got to have 218 votes for how we deal with Nov. 17, when the funding bill for the government comes due," Jordan, who is battling the House's No.2 Republican Steve Scalise of Louisiana for speakership, told Fox News on Sunday. Hardliners pushing for cuts that would reduce government funding to fiscal 2022 levels have divided House Republicans for months and brought Congress to the brink of a government shutdown just over a week ago. Any House bill that includes severe spending cuts is unlikely to pass the Democrat-controlled Senate. "I am not going to support anybody until the conference figures out spending," Republican Representative Ken Buck told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday. Securing the 218 votes to elect a new speaker behind closed doors would avoid a recurrence of the 15 floor votes that preceded McCarthy's election to the speakership in January. Matt Gaetz, the Florida congressman who led McCarthys ouster, downplayed the speaker election's impact on Israel's security needs, suggesting on NBCs "Meet the Press" that the U.S. could fulfill the country's requests. U.S. President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday that "additional assistance for the Israeli Defense Forces is now on its way to Israel," and that more would follow in the coming days, the White House said. "The actions taken by some members of my party were wholly irresponsible without this going on," Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie told ABC's "This Week". "They're now even putting a brighter light on the irresponsibility of not having someone in place." (Reporting by Joey Roulette and David Morgan; Editing by Heather Timmons and Lisa Shumaker) By Maayan Lubell and Nidal al-Mughrabi JERUSALEM/GAZA (Reuters) -Israel pounded the Palestinian enclave of Gaza on Sunday, killing hundreds of people in retaliation for one of the bloodiest attacks in its history when Islamist group Hamas killed 700 Israelis and abducted dozens more. Hamas fighters' rampage through Israeli towns on Saturday was the deadliest such incursion since Egypt and Syria's attacks in the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago and has threatened to ignite another conflagration in the long-running conflict. In response, Israeli air strikes hit housing blocks, tunnels, a mosque and homes of Hamas officials in Gaza, killing more than 400 people, including 20 children, in keeping with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's vow of "mighty vengeance". "The price the Gaza Strip will pay will be a very heavy one that will change reality for generations," said Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in the town of Ofakim, which suffered casualties and had hostages taken. Beyond blockaded Gaza, Israeli forces and Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militia exchanged artillery and rocket fire, while in Egypt, two Israeli tourists were shot dead along with a guide. Appeals for restraint came from around the world, though Western nations largely stood by Israel while Iran, Hezbollah and protesters in various Middle Eastern nations lauded Hamas. In southern Israel on Sunday, Hamas gunmen were still fighting Israeli security forces more than 24 hours after their surprise, multi-pronged assault of rocket barrages and bands of gunmen who overran army bases and invaded border towns. "My two little girls, they're only babies. They're not even five years old and three years old," said Yoni Asher who recounted seeing video of Palestinian gunmen seizing his wife and two small daughters after she took them to visit her mother. Uri David told a news conference he spent 30 minutes on the phone with his two daughters, Tair and Odaya, during an attack until they no longer responded to him and that he did not know their fate. "I heard shooting, shouting in Arabic, I told them to lie on the ground and hold hands," he said, breaking down in tears. CAPTIVES Israel's military, which faces awkward questions for not thwarting the attack, said it had regained control of most infiltration points along security barriers, killed hundreds of attackers and taken dozens more prisoner. The military said it had deployed tens of thousands of soldiers around Gaza, a narrow strip of land that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, and was starting to evacuate Israelis around the frontier. "This is my fifth war. The war should stop. I don't want to keep feeling this," said Qassab al-Attar, a Palestinian wheelchair user in Gaza whose brothers carried him to shelter. Israel has not released an official toll but its media said at least 700 people were killed, children among them. Military spokesperson Daniel Hagari called it "the worst massacre of innocent civilians in Israel's history." Several Americans were killed by Hamas attackers, a White House National Security Council spokesperson confirmed, saying the U.S. would continue to monitor the situation closely. The shocking flare-up may undermine U.S.-backed moves towards normalising relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia - a security realignment that could threaten Palestinian hopes of self determination and hem in Hamas' main backer, Iran. Tehran's other main regional ally, Lebanon's Hezbollah, fought a war with Israel in 2006 and said its "guns and rockets" stand with Hamas. With debris from the attacks still strewn around southern towns and border communities on Sunday, Israelis were reeling from the sight of bloodied bodies in streets, cars and even their homes. About 30 missing Israelis attending a dance party that was attacked by gunmen emerged from hiding on Sunday, Israeli media reported, putting the death toll at the outdoor gathering at 260. Palestinian fighters took dozens of hostages to Gaza, including soldiers and civilians, children and the elderly. A second Palestinian militant group, Islamic Jihad, said it was holding more than 30 of the captives. The capture of so many Israelis, some pulled through security checkpoints or driven bleeding into Gaza, is another conundrum for Netanyahu after past episodes when hostages were exchanged for many Palestinian prisoners. Among the hostages were believed to be a Mexican man and woman. "The cruel reality is Hamas took hostages as an insurance policy against Israeli retaliatory action, particularly a massive ground attack and to trade for Palestinian prisoners," said Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. UNABATED VIOLENCE U.S. President Joe Biden spoke to Netanyahu for the second straight day, saying in a post on the social media platform X that he expressed "my full support for the people of Israel in the face of an unprecedented and appalling assault by Hamas terrorists." U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he had ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the eastern Mediterranean as a show of support to Israel and would also begin providing fresh munitions to Washington's closest Middle Easy ally. In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem condemned the U.S. announcement as an actual participation in the aggression against our people" and said the group would not be intimidated. Several international air carriers - United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Air France - said they had suspended flights serving Tel Aviv and were waiting for conditions to improve before resuming service. Hamas fired more rocket salvoes into Israel on Sunday. Israeli air strikes on Gaza destroyed Hamas' offices and training camps, but also houses and other buildings. The Palestinian health ministry said 413 Palestinians, including 78 children, were killed and 2,300 people wounded since Saturday. "As an occupying power, Israel has no right or justification to target the defenceless civilian population in Gaza or elsewhere in Palestine," the Palestinian foreign ministry said, denouncing a "barbarous campaign of death and destruction". The U.N. said at least 70,000 Palestinians in Gaza are seeking shelter in schools it runs. It appealed for the creation of humanitarian corridors to bring food into Gaza. In Khan Younis in southern Gaza, people searched through the remains of a mosque early on Sunday. "We ended the night prayers and suddenly the mosque was bombed. They terrorised the children, the elderly and women," said resident Ramez Hneideq. The escalation follows surging violence between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where a Palestinian authority exercises limited self-rule, opposed by Hamas that wants Israel destroyed. Conditions in the West Bank have worsened under Netanyahu's hard-right government, with more Israeli raids and assaults by Jewish settlers on Palestinian villages, and the Palestinian Authority called for an emergency Arab League meeting. Peacemaking has been stalled for years, with Israeli politics distracted this year by internal wrangling over Netanyahu's plans to overhaul the judiciary. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said the assault would spread to the West Bank and Jerusalem. Gazans have lived under an Israeli-led blockade for 16 years, since Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007. "How many times have we warned you that the Palestinian people have been living in refugee camps for 75 years, and you refuse to recognise the rights of our people?" said Haniyeh. The United States led Western denunciations of Hamas' attack, with Biden issuing a blunt warning to Iran and others on : "This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks." Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi telephoned the Hamas chief to congratulate him for the "victory". For a nation with a vaunted secret service that boasts of infiltration and monitoring of militants, the attacks appeared to be a shocking intelligence failure for Israel. The main Tel Aviv Stock Exchange indexes fell 6% on Sunday and investors expected the violence to prompt a move into gold and other safe-haven assets. (Reporting by Maayan Lubell and Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza and Ammar Anwar in Sderot; Additional reporting by Henriette Chacar, Emily Rose and Dan Williams in Jerusalem, Ali Sawafta in Ramallah and Steven Scheer in Modiin, and Washington bureau; Writing by James Mackenzie, Angus McDowall, Andrew Cawthorne and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Alex Richardson, Ros Russell, Bernadette Baum , Diane Craft and Andrea Ricci) WASHINGTON A Donald Trump supporter who smashed a window at the Capitol with a tomahawk ax and threw projectiles at officers during the most brutal battle of the Capitol riot was sentenced to seven years in federal prison Friday. Shane Jenkins who refers to himself as "Skullet" because of his shaved head and mullet was found guilty of nine criminal counts in March, including felony civil disorder; obstruction of an official proceeding; assaulting, resisting or impeding an officer using a dangerous weapon; and destruction of government property. The federal government had requested more than 19 years in federal prison, which would have been one of the longest sentences given in any Jan. 6 case. The longest sentence so far has gone to Enrique Tarrio, the former head of the Proud Boys, who was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison last month after he was convicted of seditious conspiracy in May. Jenkins' attorney called the riot on Jan. 6, 2021, "one of the saddest episodes in American history" and said there "remain many grifters out there who remain free to continue propagating the 'great lie' that Trump won the election, Donald Trump being among the most prominent." The government called Jenkins' conduct "egregious" and said he "planned for violent insurrection long before his arrival" in Washington. His "lack of remorse is extraordinary," and he "thinks that political violence is acceptable," Assistant U.S. Attorney David Perri argued at the sentencing hearing Friday. January 6 rioter (U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia) "What happens if his preferred candidate gets convicted of something?" Perri asked, referring to the four criminal cases against former President Donald Trump, including one unfolding in the federal courthouse in Washington where Jenkins was sentenced. "How would he react?" Perri encouraged the judge not to "roll the dice with this country's democratic future." Attorney Dennis Boyle said at the hearing that Trump promoted "a legal fiction" that Vice President Mike Pence could overturn the election results and that people like Jenkins were "particularly susceptible" to his lies and propaganda. Before his sentencing, Jenkins talked about his troubled childhood and said his life began to come apart when he learned he was adopted. He said he tried to destroy himself with drugs and alcohol after he killed his stepfather in a gunfight when he was 20 years old. (Jenkins said he shot his stepfather in self-defense, and he was not charged.) The Justice Department also said Jenkins took part in a jail attack on Jan. 6 defendant Taylor Taranto who was arrested outside former President Barack Obama's home on July 10, when a dozen inmates allegedly entered the television room of their pod and assaulted Taranto "because Taranto had been saying derogatory things about Ashli Babitt and her mother." Babbitt, whose last name the Justice Department misspelled in its filing, was shot and killed by a police officer at the Capitol riot. Taranto was ordered held in pretrial detention. In the 33 months since the Capitol attack, more than 1,100 participants have been arrested, and about 660 have been sentenced, including nearly 400 who have received sentences of incarceration. Israeli strikes battered Gaza on Sunday after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his country is at war following the unprecedented surprise attack by Hamas. Thousands of rockets were fired from Gaza into southern Israeli towns on Saturday morning while Hamas militants opened fire as they stormed borders into Israel. The Israeli embassy said around 100 hostages had been taken by Hamas and the Israeli death toll has risen to at least 600. Overnight, Israeli air strikes hit housing blocks, tunnels, a mosque and homes of Hamas officials in Gaza, killing more than 300 people, including 20 children, in retaliatory attacks described as mighty vengeance by Mr Netanyahu. Israeli strikes battered Gaza on Sunday (AFP via Getty Images) Israels military, which faces questions over its failure to prevent the attack, said it had regained control of most infiltration points, killed hundreds of attackers and taken dozens more prisoner but was still fighting in some places. It said it had deployed tens of thousands of soldiers in the area surrounding Gaza, a narrow strip that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, and planned to evacuate all Israelis living around the frontier of the territory. Were going to be attacking Hamas severely and this is going to be a long, long haul, a military spokesman told a briefing with reporters. In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua said the attack had been in defence of our people, adding the groups fighters continued rocket strikes and were still conducting operations behind the lines. Relatives mourn after Israeli air strikes had hit housing blocks, tunnels, a mosque and homes of Hamas officials in Gaza (REUTERS) Hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians have been killed since the strikes and street fighting erupted on Saturday (Getty Images) Where is the fighting now? Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said its fighters are still engaged in fierce clashes in several sites inside Israel, with fighting continuing in several areas bordering the Gaza strip, including Ofakim, Sderot, Yad Mordechai, Kfar Azza, Beeri, Yatid and Kissufim. Israeli media reported that hostages were released in Beeri and Ofakim, but when asked by AFP the army refused to offer details. In Gaza, a densely populated strip where Hamas is headquartered, Israeli strikes have been targeting old Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Rafah, killing hundreds and injuring thousands. The fighting has also spilled over to Lebanon where an exchange of strikes with the Hezbollah militant group has raised fears of a broader conflict. What is the current travel advice? The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has advised British citizens to consult Israeli Home Front Command for more information: www.oref.org.il/en or call 104 if you are in Israel. Follow the instructions of local authorities if you are in these areas. The FCDO advises against all travel to: Gaza the Shebaa Farms and Ghajjar within 500m of the border with Lebanon (the Blue Line) east of Metula, including the northern edge of the town and and within 500m of the border with Syria (the Alpha Line). The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to: GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) -The Organization of American States (OAS) on Saturday named the representatives that will lead its mission to mediate between Guatemalan officials and street protesters seeking an orderly transfer to power to President-elect Bernardo Arevalo, according to a statement published on social media site X. OAS head Luis Almagro previously said late on Friday that he accepted the invitation from Guatemala's government that asked to achieve "consensus among different sectors" of the country. Former Minister of Defense of Uruguay Luis Rosadilla, and the OAS Secretary of Access to Rights and Equity Maricarmen Plata will lead the mission. "The aforementioned mission will seek to meet with the main actors of the social and political situation that occupies the country and will present specific recommendations," said the document published Saturday. These suggestions would have the purpose of allowing the Guatemalan Government "to adopt urgent political decisions that lead to the effective solution of the issues that are the subject of the social protest that is currently developing," it added. Tens of thousands took to Guatemala's streets this week, demanding the resignation of powerful senior prosecutors accused of working to undermine Arevalo's ability to take office. Rosadilla and Plata will travel to Guatemala City "at the earliest possible date," and they will be joined by the representative of the OAS office in Guatemala, Diego Paz, the organization specified. Arevalo was elected in a landslide in August, but since then Attorney General Consuelo Porras has intensified efforts to disqualify Arevalo's anti-graft Movimiento Semilla party and ordered raids on the electoral authority's offices, seizing ballots. Porras' office alleges the party's registration was tainted by illegalities six years ago, but her investigation was only launched after Arevalo's unexpectedly strong second-place finish in June's first-round vote. The attorney general has been accused of corruption by the U.S. government. During the weekend, the protests had spread to more than 60 locations across Central America's most-populous country, led by indigenous groups, students, teachers and medical workers. As part of the steps taken for the transition process, the Guatemalan government said on Saturday that it set up offices for the teams of the elected authorities to "get to know the different institutions and facilitate the communication process between the teams." (Reporting by Sofia Menchu in Guatemala City; Writing by David Alire Garcia and Anna-Catherine Brigida; editing by William Mallard) The House speakership drama enters a new week under increased urgency as Israel declared war Sunday following unprecedented surprise attacks by Hamas. Kevin McCarthys historic ouster as speaker leaves the House in uncharted legal territory regarding what it can do under acting Speaker Patrick McHenry. When lawmakers return to Washington, they will be under pressure to elect a new speaker swiftly amid the crisis in Israel, which has prompted some calls from within the Republican Party to speed up their timeline given the national security implications of keeping the role vacant. In a briefing with House leadership Sunday night, Biden administration briefers from the State and Defense Departments told lawmakers they are moving as quickly as they can to deliver weapons and resources to Israel that were part of already existing contracts by accelerating them, three people familiar with the call told CNN. That could help ensure that the US can provide some items as soon as possible even as there are larger questions about how quickly Congress could act on a larger aid package. Administration officials said they will look to the current $100 million in Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows the rapid dispatch of weapons from existing stocks, to send more aid immediately, according to a person familiar with the discussion. The drawdown will likely need additional funds from Congress, the officials told lawmakers. As the Biden administration looks to provide additional assistance to Israel, officials were unsure Saturday about what could be accomplished without a sitting speaker. While McHenry is serving as speaker pro tempore, he has little power outside of recessing, adjourning or recognizing speaker nominations, and its unclear whether he can participate in intelligence briefings on the crisis in Israel. Multiple lawmakers on national security and appropriations committees have asked for classified briefings, with indications that may happen soon after the Monday national holiday. Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Sunday that he had conversations with the White House and the National Security Council on Saturday, but he has not yet met with the so-called Gang of Eight which typically includes the top leaders and heads of the intelligence committees in both parties and both chambers. I do anticipate that well have the opportunity to have a secure briefing at some point next week, Jeffries told CNNs Dana Bash on State of the Union. Jeffries said it is his understanding that the Biden administration can make some decisions regarding aid to Israel without waiting for Congress and urged the administration to do so, adding that he expects it will provide whatever assistance it can. House Foreign Affairs Chairman Mike McCaul told Bash on Sunday that the president can use $3.3 billion in foreign military financing that is already appropriated. The Texas Republican also called McCarthys ouster dangerous. I look at the world and all of the threats that are out there and what kind of message are we sending to adversaries when we cant govern, when we are dysfunctional, when we dont even have a speaker of the House? McCaul said on State of the Union. McCarthy on Saturday slammed his Republican colleagues for removing him from office last week, and stressed the impact of a speakerless House on national security. Why would you ever remove a speaker during a term to raise doubt around the world? McCarthy asked in a Fox News interview. McCarthy announced shortly after his ouster that he would not seek the speakership again, making room for House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan to launch their bids for the seat. Former President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Jordan. Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern announced Saturday that he had decided not to run, saying, I believe a three-man race for speaker will create even more division and make it harder to elect a speaker. House Republicans are scheduled to hold a candidate forum on Tuesday and an internal election on Wednesday. As Jordan and Scalise vie for their colleagues support, Jordan said Sunday that he would lay out his plan to address the government funding deadline to his caucus Tuesday. Weve got to have 218 votes for a Republican speaker, and weve got to have 218 votes for how we deal with November 17 when the funding bill for the government comes due. I will outline that in front of my colleagues on Tuesday when we get together, he said on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures. Jordan said his first order of business, however, would be to bring a resolution to the floor in support of Israel. Its unclear when the speaker floor vote will happen, and the timeline is contingent on whether moderate GOP lawmakers can rally around Scalise or Jordan, who are both from more conservative districts. We have to get a speaker elected this week so we can get things on the floor like replenishing the Iron Dome, McCaul told Bash on Sunday referring to Israels rocket defense system, which was developed with help from the US. He added that the House should look to pass a resolution condemning Hamas by unanimous consent whether or not we have a speaker in place because I think we cannot wait. We have to get that message out as soon as possible. This story has been updated with additional reporting. CORRECTION: This story has been updated to clarify when Congress returns. CNNs Alex Marquardt, Jeremy Herb, Lauren Fox, Zachary Cohen, Casey Gannon, Annie Grayer, Melanie Zanona, Manu Raju, Kevin Liptak, Lauren Koenig, Lauren Fox, Haley Talbot and Pamela Brown contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkish authorities have captured 2,554 fugitives as part of a nationwide counter-terrorism operation launched after Kurdish militants detonated a bomb near government buildings in Ankara a week ago, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Sunday. Turkey said this week all targets belonging to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militia and the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia were "legitimate targets" for its forces, after the PKK claimed responsibility for last Sunday's bombing, which wounded two police officers and killed the two attackers. Ankara said the attackers came from Syria. The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), spearheaded by the YPG militia which Turkey regards as a terrorist organisation affiliated with the PKK, denied this. The United States and European Union deem the PKK a terrorist organisation, but not the YPG. Since the attack, Ankara has launched a barrage of air strikes and ground-based attacks against militant targets in the north of Syria and Iraq, while ramping up security operations at home. Yerlikaya said on social media platform X the fugitives were caught as part of a nationwide initiative dubbed "Operation Heroes". "We will not allow fugitive criminals to roam our streets. We are determined to catch and hand them over to justice," he said, without saying which groups those captured belonged to. Authorities had been searching for 12 of the fugitives for over 10 years, Yerlikaya said, while 91 have been sought for 5-10 years, and 2,451 for fewer than five years. Later on Sunday, Turkey's defence ministry said the military had carried out fresh air strikes against Kurdish militants in northern Syria and destroyed six targets, including shelters and storage facilities where militants were believed to be, and an oil facility used by the militants. In a statement, the ministry also said many militants had been "neutralised" in the strikes, carried out at 1900 GMT, but did not say which regions of Syria they had struck. Ankara typically uses the term "neutralised" to mean killed. Turkey, which has mounted several incursions into northern Syria against the YPG, has said a ground operation into Syria is an option it could consider. The YPG is also at the heart of the SDF forces in the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State militants. U.S. support for them has long caused tension with Ankara. (Reporting by Tuvan GumrukcuEditing by Bernadette Baum and Lisa Shumaker) (CNN) Bruno Mars show scheduled to take place in Tel Aviv, Israel on Saturday night has been canceled, according to concert organizer Live Nation Israel. On the companys verified Instagram earlier on Saturday, a text post to customers read, Bruno Mars concert scheduled to take place tonight is cancelled. (sic) Mars played in Israel for the first time on Wednesday to a crowd of 60,000, with a second show planned for Saturday, according to his tour schedule. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his country at war, after Palestinian militants from Gaza fired a deadly barrage of rockets and sent gunmen into Israeli territory Saturday morning. In response, Israel launched air strikes on Gaza, and fighting has continued throughout the day. The surprise attack and subsequent fighting marks a major escalation of the long-running conflict between the two sides. Israeli authorities say at least 200 people are dead and more than 1,400 wounded in Israel. Meanwhile, Palestinian authorities say at least 232 Palestinians have died, and more than 1,600 are wounded. A new round of rockets fired by Gaza militants on Saturday evening made direct hits on multiple locations inside Israel, including in Tel Aviv, according to Israeli authorities. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Bruno Mars Tel Aviv concert canceled" By Kanishka Singh and Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will send multiple military ships and aircraft closer to Israel as a show of support, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said, with Washington believing Hamas' deadly attacks may have been motivated to disrupt a potential normalizing of Israel-Saudi Arabia ties. Hamas fighters rampaged through Israeli towns as the country suffered its bloodiest day in decades on Saturday. Israel battered Palestinians with air strikes in Gaza on Sunday, with hundreds reportedly killed on both sides. The spiraling violence threatens to start a major new war in the Middle East. At least three Americans were among those killed, CNN reported on Sunday, citing a U.S. memo. Austin in a statement said he ordered the moving of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Eastern Mediterranean closer to Israel. The force includes the carrier, a guided missile cruiser and four guided missile destroyers. Austin also said the United States had also taken steps to augment U.S. Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. He said the United States would also provide munitions to Israel. U.S. President Joe Biden told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday that additional assistance for the Israeli Defense Forces was on its way to Israel and more would follow in the coming days, the White House said after their call. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris also held a call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The Pentagon in a later statement said Austin spoke to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to update him on U.S. responses and "to express support for the people of Israel and to receive updates on Israels operation to restore security and safety from Hamas terrorist attack." "The Secretary reaffirmed the unwavering support of the United States for Israel's right to defend itself," the statement said. It said Austin underscored that the U.S. steps "were taken to strengthen the U.S. military posture in the region to bolster regional deterrence efforts." A few dozen pro-Palestinian protesters gathered at Times Square in New York City and near the White House in Washington on Sunday, expressing opposition to the U.S.' support of Israel. Some protesters carried banners saying "End U.S. aid" and "resistance is not terrorism." New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Saturday had condemned plans for such demonstrations, saying they were "morally repugnant." The attack by Hamas launched at dawn on Saturday represented the biggest and deadliest incursion into Israel since Egypt and Syria launched a sudden assault in an effort to reclaim lost territory in the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago. DISRUPTING SAUDI-ISRAEL RELATIONS "It wouldn't be a surprise that part of the motivation may have been to disrupt efforts to bring Saudi Arabia and Israel together, along with other countries that may be interested in normalizing relations with Israel," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN on Sunday, in regard to the attacks. Hamas on Saturday said the strikes were driven by what it called escalated Israeli attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem as well as against Palestinians in Israeli prisons. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh had highlighted threats to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, the continuation of an Israeli blockade on Gaza and Israeli normalization with countries in the region. Netanyahu last month said he believed his country was on the cusp of peace with Saudi Arabia, predicting that the move could reshape the Middle East. Saudi Arabia, the home of Islam's two holiest shrines, has long insisted on the Palestinians' right to statehood as a condition of recognizing Israel - something many members of Netanyahu's nationalist religious coalition have long resisted. The United States on Sunday said that Saudi-Israel normalization efforts should continue despite the latest attack. "We think it would be in both countries' interests to continue to pursue this possibility," U.S. Deputy National Security adviser Jon Finer told Fox News Sunday. FIGHTING CONTINUES IN GAZA Blinken labeled the attack on Israel as a "terrorist attack by a terrorist organization." Blinken added that there was relative calm on Sunday in most of Israel but intense fighting in Gaza, an Israeli-blockaded Palestinian enclave that has witnessed weeks of protests by youth groups due to long-time grievances related to the Israeli military occupation, the Palestinian national cause and prolonged economic strife. He added that there was not yet any evidence seen by the United States of Iran being behind the latest attack in Israel but he noted the long-standing ties between Iran and Hamas, which governs Gaza. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh, Idrees Ali, Steve Holland, Susan Heavey, Joey Roulette, Daphne Psaledakis and David Brunnstrom in Washington; Editing by Heather Timmons, Lisa Shumaker, Mark Porter and Diane Craft) A sign greets visitors arriving at a sun-filled two-story house in El Salvadors capital. You must enter smiling, it says. Before you come in, you will find an invisible bag where you can leave your sorrows. When you leave, you can decide whether to take them with you. Teodora Vasquez knows the women seeking shelter, support or a fresh start here often have decades of sorrows weighing on them. And shes propped up this sign beside a green plastic turtle near the front door as a first step toward the healing she hopes theyll start to find within these walls. Its been 25 years since El Salvador made abortion illegal in all circumstances, eliminating any exceptions. And its been nearly as long since lawmakers passed a constitutional amendment declaring that life begins at conception. Vasquez was among more than 180 women who advocates say were unjustly convicted of crimes after suffering obstetric emergencies, including miscarriages and stillbirths, in the years since the revised penal code and constitutional amendment went into effect. Activists warn that these womens experiences show how dangerously far criminalizing abortion can go. Vasquez was convicted of aggravated homicide and imprisoned for more than 10 years before El Salvadors Supreme Court commuted her 30-year sentence in 2018. The overcrowded Ilopango womens prison where she lived for over a decade seems like a world away from the airy garden courtyard Vasquez points out as she gives a tour of her home via Zoom. But she says the experiences she endured behind bars and how important it is to help others whove gone through the same thing are never far from her mind. This house isnt just where Vasquez lives. Its also the headquarters of Mujeres Libres El Salvador, an organization she founded. The groups name means free women in Spanish. And legally speaking, thats exactly what Vasquez and the four other people who live here are. So, too, are the dozens of other women whove traveled hours to spend their weekends attending workshops here. Like Vasquez, in the last few years, courts have ordered their release from prison. But since then, theres another kind of freedom thats been harder to come by. Weve been living through a double conviction. First, the one the judge gave us, Vasquez says, then the one society gave us. And we call that a life sentence. Because from the moment you entered prison, for your entire life, you are going to have this. You are going to die and they are going to remember you because you were a prisoner. Supporters stood outside the courthouse while a judge reviewed Vasquez's case in 2017, holding signs that said, "Teodora deserves to be back home." - Oscar Rivera/AFP/Getty Images In recent years, the cases of Vasquez and other women have spurred global protests, appeals from the UNs top human rights official and attention from Hollywood stars. But as recently as 2021, Salvadoran lawmakers voted to uphold the countrys abortion prohibitions. And within the socially conservative country, the ban is popular among many Catholic and evangelical Salvadorans. That, Vasquez says, is one reason why she and other women keep retelling the stories they wish they could forget. Now, as part of Mujeres Libres, Vasquez says they arent just trying to heal themselves. They have a much larger goal, too. We want to make sure our history doesnt repeat itself in future generations, she says. The extreme injustice jumps off the page The sharp pain hit Vasquez suddenly at the school cafe where she worked in July 2007. She was nine months pregnant at the time. She already had a young son, and Vasquez says she was looking forward to giving birth to a baby girl. I wanted my daughter. I had bought clothes for her, Vasquez says. As the pain intensified, she called 911 multiple times asking for help. Vasquez says the help she needed never came. She says she fainted in a bathroom and was unconscious when she gave birth. When she regained consciousness, she was bleeding profusely and the baby was dead, Amnesty International said in a 2016 summary of her case. When police finally arrived, they took her into custody. Vasquez says that initially she, like others, was accused of having an abortion. Vasquez arrives in court in December 2017. Her push to appeal her sentence drew international attention. - Salvador Melendez/AP Then they changed the classification to aggravated homicide, she says. That means that, to the Salvadoran state, our children were born alive and we killed them. In January 2008, she was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Vasquezs case and others like it caught the attention of Jocelyn Viterna, a professor of sociology and chair of Studies of Women, Gender and Sexuality at Harvard University who has spent decades studying the impact of abortion restrictions in El Salvador. Once you start looking into these cases, the extreme injustice jumps off the page, Viterna says. These women had not done anything to break the law, and yet at every step the legal system was set up to prosecute them. Many cases, Viterna says, involve impoverished women who were alone when they went into labor, and whose babies were either stillborn or died shortly after birth due to circumstances beyond their control. Subsequent autopsies, Viterna says, often relied on the so-called lung float test, a controversial method for investigating allegations of infanticide that dates back to the 17th century and has been discredited by many medical experts. Advocates in the United States warn that the Salvadoran womens cases are a telling example of the kinds of prosecutions they fear will intensify in the wake of last years Supreme Court ruling overturning the federal constitutional right to an abortion. That is just so dangerous, says Dana Sussman, deputy executive director of Pregnancy Justice, a New York-based organization that defends people in the US facing criminal charges for pregnancy outcomes. The idea that you could use forensics that are pseudoscience to convict women in these tragic cases is really, really concerning. Some of them met behind bars It took time for the women to find each other inside the prison where many of them were held. The crime they were convicted of killing their babies carried such a stigma that they dared not mention it aloud. Those who did were beaten by fellow inmates. The crime Vasquez and other women were convicted of killing their babies carried such a stigma that at first they did not speak of it inside the Ilopango women's prison where many of them were held. - Benedicte Desrus/Sipa We were already friends, but nobody was talking about our cases, Vasquez says in Fly So Far, a 2021 documentary that follows her story. It was only after a group of human rights lawyers met with them together that they realized the connections their cases shared. As advocacy groups mounted protests calling for their freedom, the documentary details how the group of detained women nominated Vasquez to be their spokesperson. And as she fought for own conviction to be overturned, she also spoke out about the others plight. I have rarely been as moved as I was by their stories and the cruelty they have endured, then-UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein said after meeting Vasquez and several other women in 2017. It only seems to be women from poor and humble backgrounds who are jailed, a telling feature of the injustice suffered. The UN official called for authorities to review the cases. But within El Salvador, a largely Catholic and evangelical Christian country, some viewed the womens accounts with skepticism and hostility. As international pressure mounted, the then-head of El Salvadors Institute of Legal Medicine told reporters that the women, who became widely known as The 17, were in prison because they were accused of infanticide, not obstetric emergencies or abortions a point he reiterated in a recent interview with CNN. Dr. Jose Miguel Fortin Magana, a psychiatrist who resigned from his post directing the institute in 2015, says he stands by the scientific analysis in autopsies his staff conducted. Critiques of the testing used, he says, fail to take into account that additional analysis was done. These cases became emblematic because it got political. And when something becomes political the truth is no longer sought after, he told CNN. Religious activists pray after an April 2018 demonstration in El Salvadors capital against a proposal to decriminalize abortion. Some in the socially conservative country, which is largely Catholic and evangelical Christian, viewed the accounts of Vasquez and other women with skepticism and hostility. - Jose Cabezas/Reuters A month after Vasquez met with the UNs top human rights official in 2017, an appeals court in El Salvador upheld her conviction. Again, the UNs human rights office weighed in, calling El Salvadors laws draconian. Two months later, 11 justices from El Salvadors Supreme Court commuted Vasquezs sentence, saying evidence in the case did not prove that she had taken any action to end her babys life. She was released in February 2018 after more than 10 years behind bars. A crowd of cheering supporters awaited her outside the prison gates. Her parents and her then-teenage son stood among them, waiting to embrace her. But even after winning her hard-fought release, finding true freedom was harder than she expected. A search for support led to a surprising realization Vasquez only had a third-grade education when she entered prison. During her years behind bars, she devoted herself to education, earning her high school diploma. But she says she quickly realized the years of classes shed taken in prison werent enough to help her find her footing once she was released. I didnt even know how to use a computer, she says. Vasquez signed up for a computer course and enrolled in college soon afterward. But she says she still found it hard to reenter society. I started to think, if Im dealing with this, how are the women who were released before me? Vasquez says. What have they done to make it? Vasquez started searching for them to find out. Months after her release from prison, she brought together 16 women and began interviewing them about their experiences. She was surprised to learn that many were struggling even years after their release. Some were shunned by their families. Many couldnt find jobs because of their criminal records. They started to tell me about very difficult situations, and some of these women had already been out of prison for eight years. And I said to myself, Lets do something. Lets change this reality, not just for us, but for all the other women who are going to come out of prison, Vasquez recalls. And from there, she says, the idea of Mujeres Libres was born. Vasquez sits with friends and fellow members of her organization, Mujeres Libres, in May 2022. The group aims to help other women who've been released from prison after convictions related to obstetric emergencies, and to educate Salvadoran youth so that "history does not repeat itself." - Jessie Wardarski/AP As she walks the halls of the groups headquarters in San Salvador and shows the space to CNN during a Zoom interview, Vasquez points proudly to rooms with bright blue bunk beds. For some who are originally from more rural parts of the country, the house is a temporary stopping point when theyre in town for appointments. For others, its a place to live so they can work in the city, where jobs are more plentiful. During the week, the house is quiet and calm, but on weekends Vasquez says its a hive of activity. Women travel hours from different parts of the country for counseling sessions and workshops on topics like playwriting and womens rights. With each passing year, the number of potential members seems to grow. Since 2009, more than 60 women who were prosecuted after suffering obstetric emergencies have been released, according to the Citizen Group for the Decriminalization of Abortion in El Salvador. Ive been learning to open up, says 35-year-old Jacqueline Castillo, who says she was wrongfully convicted of attempted homicide after her baby was born in a latrine during an obstetric emergency. Its helped me be able to let go of some things. Castillo, who was released from prison last year after serving more than 10 years of her 15-year sentence, says shes been taking computer classes at the Mujeres Libres house, and also gaining confidence to start making plans for her future. Shes a domestic worker now but hopes one day to start her own restaurant. Its very beautiful, because you can let go of things and concentrate, and then you now have something else in your mind, something positive, she says. You can learn something, and then you can share it with someone else. The women are students. They also see themselves as teachers Jocelyn Viterna points at an anatomy chart on her computer screen as Vasquez and other members of Mujeres Libres look on. The Harvard professor has been studying these womens cases and the impact of El Salvadors abortion restrictions for years. But on Wednesday evenings this fall, shes serving in another role: their teacher. At the request of Vasquez and other members of Mujeres Libres, Viterna is leading a weekly Zoom course about gender, sexuality and reproductive health. Todays lessons: the anatomy of the female sexual and reproductive system, followed by explanations of how this anatomy connects with sexual pleasure. What do you think? Viterna asks the class as she concludes her presentation. Why do you think so many people see it as shameful to talk about this? Vasquez is the first to raise her hand with an answer. I think it has a lot to do with our culture, and what our parents teach us, she says. Today Vasquez and the other women are students. But soon they hope to be teaching these kinds of lessons, too, as they travel around the country and speak with Salvadoran youth in a series of presentations scheduled to begin next month. The group plans to screen the documentary about their experiences, perform a play and lead discussion sessions. Vasquez says shes already seen signs of a shift in El Salvador. Fewer women who have obstetric emergencies are being prosecuted, she says, after a 2021 Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruling ordered the government to grant professional secrecy protections to doctors. That change means doctors are no longer required to report possible abortion attempts. Human rights groups had argued that medical personnel previously felt pressured to report patients fearing that they would be charged or sanctioned themselves. Advocates also hope another case pending before the court could clear the way for legalizing abortion in some instances in El Salvador and other Latin American countries that criminalize it. But even if El Salvadors laws change tomorrow, Vasquez says theres still more work to do. She sees a clear connection between the rarity of lessons like the ones Viterna is teaching them and the decisions that sent her and so many others to prison. We have to start educating the population, because that is how people are sensitized and how they take action and we get rid of ignorance, she says. And that is how things will change. From prisoners to women of steel After her release from prison, Vasquez continued visiting other women held at the Ilapongo prison and fighting for their freedom. This shows her after a visit in August 2018, six months after El Salvador's Supreme Court commuted her sentence. - Marvin Recinos/AFP/Getty Images Vasquez knows not everyone will welcome their message. Last year, she says, anti-abortion protesters tried to block screenings of the documentary about the group. The protest campaign spurred a flood of threats after her contact information was leaked online, she says. They kept saying they were going to report me so that I would shut up, Vasquez says. But Vasquez says shes determined to keep speaking out. Why spend so much time talking about a painful part of her past? And why take the risks more public exposure could bring? We arent doing this for ourselves, Vasquez says. What more can happen to us? We already went to prison. We already paid for crimes that we didnt commit. We are here, but sincerely we are doing this because we want at least the youth of future generations to have better lives. As part of this years upcoming speaking tour, the group will be performing a play theyve written dispelling myths around menstruation. Vasquez is excited to see how audiences respond. Shes already seen first-hand how transformative taking the stage can be. Last year they put on another play, Mujeres de Acero, Spanish for Women of Steel. Vasquez tears up whenever she watches a video of the performance, which ends with the women waving scarves to mimic butterflies wings fluttering as they circle the stage. She and the other women, she says, have found strength in each other and made a space for themselves. That, Vasquez says, is true freedom the kind that no one can take away. CNN en Espanols Merlin Delcid and CNNs Tierney Sneed contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com NECOCLI, Colombia (AP) New York City Mayor Eric Adams capped off a four-day trip to Latin America on Saturday by calling for a right to work for migrants in the United States. He spoke during a visit to Necocli, the northern Colombia town where thousands of migrants start the perilous trek across the roadless Darien jungle into Panama, as they head for the U.S. Speaking from a dock where migrants take boats toward the jungle, Adams said countries in the region need to come together to find solutions to the immigration crisis being felt across the Americas as well as in cities in the United States, including New York. He called on the U.S goverment to find pathways for migrants and asylum seekers to work legally in the United States. When you look at Colombia they have really shown how to absorb individuals into their societies, and one of the most important ways to do it is to allow people to work, Adams told reporters in Necocli. Nothing is more humane and, nothing is more American than your right to work, and we believe that is a right we should extend. New York City has struggled to provide emergency accommodation to tens of thousands of migrants who have arrived in the city this year, with Adams and other city leaders calling on the federal government to speed up work authorizations for those who are already in the city. A unique rule dating from the 1980s requires New York to provide shelter to anyone in need. Adams has said the cost of supporting migrants could climb to $12 billion in the following three years, and this week challenged the statute that obliges the city to provide migrants with shelter. The mayor also went to Ecuador and Mexico during his whistlestop tour, where he visited shelters for migrants and spoke to local legislators. After stopping in Mexicos Puebla state, Adams said his city is at capacity. Our hearts are endless, but our resources are not, Adams told reporters. We dont want to put people in congregate shelters. We dont want people to think they will be employed. In Colombia, Adams said his goal is not to tell migrants what they should do, but to learn about their motives and find solutions to the immigration crisis. The South American country has received 2.8 million migrants from Venezuela over the past seven years, and enabled them to apply for 10-year residency permits that also give them access to health and education services. But despite the effort to regularize Venezuelan migrants, many are heading to the United States after struggling to rebuild their lives in Colombia and other South American countries, where economies are still reeling from the pandemic. According to Panama's National Immigration Service, more than 200,000 Venezuelans crossed the Darien Gap this year on their way to the United States. Many are moving for the second or third time, after living in South American countries like Colombia, Chile and Peru. This week the Biden administration struck a deal with Venezuela's socialist government to resume direct deportations flights to Venezuela and said that Venezuelans who do not qualify for ayslum will be returned to their homeland. In Necocli, some Venezuelan migrants headed north said they would persist in their trek to reach the U.S. border despite the new policy. Getting in (the U.S.) is also a matter of luck," said Miguel Ruben Camacaro, a Venezuelan migrant travelling with his two children and sleeping on a tent at Necocli's beach. We will chase the dream, until there are no other options. At a news conference later in Bogota, Adams said countries like Colombia need more support with programs that incorporate migrants so people don't make the dangeous trek north. The mayor described the visit as an eye opener, saying he was saddened to see dozens of families with children sleeping on the beach at Necocli in tents while they gather enough money to take boats toward the Darien jungle. What I don't want is what I saw on the beach area of Colombia to play out in the streets of New York City, Adams said. We all want to help as many people as possible, we want to uphold our values as a city of immigrants. But to do that we need to stabilize the situation. ___ Rueda reported from Bogota, Colombia. Authorities in South Florida say they arrested a 19-year-old this week after they say they found written threats for a shooting spree and other attacks in his vehicle during a routine traffic stop. A Jupiter, Florida, police officer pulled over Henry Horton IV on September 18 for a headlight that was out on the white pickup truck he was driving, according to a probable cause affidavit from the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office. During a search of Hortons vehicle, the officer found multiple handwritten notes with a plan to purchase firearms and kill everyone at OHS (Okeechobee High School) with my guns, the probable cause affidavit says. Horton graduated from the high school, located in Okeechobee County, in May 2022. Horton told the officer he had previous mental health issues and had been having multiple thoughts about mass homicide and want(ing) to execute them once he turned 22 years old, according to the affidavit. He had plans to kill 15 people from the high school on January 2, 2026, his 22nd birthday, according to the affidavit. Horton said while living in Virginia, he voluntarily admitted himself to a medical facility for a mental health evaluation due to having similar thoughts, the affidavit stated. Authorities asked him where he was heading before getting stopped. Horton said he was traveling to Miami to look at a church, where he told investigators he planned to kill around 10 people following his planned 2026 attack at his former school, according to the affidavit. Horton was transported to a hospital to receive a mental health evaluation under the Florida Mental Health Act, commonly known as the Baker Act, which allows people to be involuntarily detained and subject to an examination for up to 72 hours during a mental health crisis. The Okeechobee County School District is working with the sheriffs office and state attorneys office on this case, superintendent Ken Kenworthy told CNN in a written statement. The district will pursue every recourse within its power to protect all school campuses and property where staff and students reside, Kenworthy said. Horton told investigators he had also visited and studied Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the affidavit says. A mass shooter killed 17 people and injured 17 others at the Broward County school on Valentines Day 2018. On September 29, authorities say Horton admitted to investigators he wrote a manifesto and had written threats to kill his stepmother. Investigators issued an arrest warrant for Horton, who was arrested on Thursday. Horton has been charged with intimidation with written threats to kill or harm another individual, according to jail records. He remains booked in the Palm Beach County Jail on a $1 million bond. Horton is scheduled to appear in court on November 6, according to court records. CNN has been unable to determine if Horton has legal representation at this time. CNN has reached out to Okeechobee High School and to the public defender assigned to Horton. CNNs Ashley R. Williams contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The last place Madeline Robson expected to meet her future husband was her friends bachelorette party. Im here for the bride, Madeline remembers thinking. I shouldnt be having my own love story. This is so strange. But when Madeline flew from her home in Ontario, Canada to New Orleans to celebrate her friends upcoming wedding, she found herself almost without realizing right in the middle of her own love story. Madeline, then 26, arrived in New Orleans in June 2017 as part of a gang of 12 excited women. Their main goal? Partying. At first, Madeline and her friends barely took in the citys beautiful architecture and skipped its famous music scene in favor of late-night clubs. I dont think anybody did any research before. We were just there for a good time and we had a really good time, Madeline tells CNN Travel today. The first few nights, the group were out all night on bustling Bourbon Street, dipping in and out of bars, drinking shots and dancing. By the time the last night rolled around, most of the women were feeling the effects of the long nights. They werent just hungover many of them seemed to have come down with something. Staying in for a low key night became the general consensus. But Madeline, whod managed to avoid whatever had struck down most of her friends, thought staying in seemed like a waste of time: they were only in New Orleans for a few days, surely they should make the most of it? Two of her friends felt similarly, so while the majority of the group geared up for a movie marathon, Madeline and her two allies dipped out into the night. The three friends decided to head to Frenchmen Street to sample the live music scene theyd so far avoided. They found themselves in a busy jazz bar and, by coincidence, recognized the guy on stage theyd met him the night before. When he finished performing, they got chatting with him. This guy, a local, said he wanted to show Madeline and her friends his favorite hole-in-the-wall bar a couple of doors down. It was about two in the morning by the time Madeline and her friends squeezed into the tiny venue. Everyone inside was crowding around the stage to watch musicians. As the rest of her group, including the guy, pushed to the front, Madeline hung back a bit she didnt feel like fighting her way through. Its definitely easier when youre super tall though, she thought to herself absentmindedly as her eyes landed on the guy next to her. He towered over the crowd and, Madeline assumed, must have had a great view of the stage. This guy noticed Madelines eyes on him and gave her a small smile. I dont know who said hi to who, but we started talking to each other somehow, recalls Madeline. And then just ended up talking for hours in this bar, all night long. The tall stranger in the bar was Sebastian Mamet, a twentysomething recent college graduate from Sweden who, by his own admission, didnt have much of a life outside of work. Sebastian was on a solo trip to the US a trip his company had pretty much forced him to take. He never took any vacation, and the days were starting to stack up. Hed been initially reluctant, but the idea of seeing New Orleans was a big draw. Sebastian loves music and hed always dreamed of frequenting the citys blues bars. Now, Sebastian found himself ignoring what was happening on stage and focusing on Madeline. It just felt like wed known each other for a while, Sebastian tells CNN Travel. Sebastian suggested Madeline and her friends come with him to another bar. Even though it was the early hours of the morning, it was warm out, so the group sat outside on a terrace, drinking and talking. He had a really good energy about him, recalls Madeline. When 5 a.m. rolled around, Sebastian walked Madeline and her friends back to her hotel. Do you want to get breakfast with me tomorrow? he asked Madeline. Madeline hesitated. I was feeling guilty, she says today. I was there with a bunch of girls. I shouldnt ditch my friends, Madeline told Sebastian, declining his invite. Well, heres my number, Sebastian said, keying the details into her phone. Just in case you change your mind. After a few hours of sleep, Madeline woke up feeling differently. Her friends were still sleeping. They had no set plans for their final day. And the women who were awake encouraged Madeline to embark on this New Orleans adventure. They were all like, Go get breakfast, have fun! Madeline recalls. So Madeline and Sebastian found themselves at a quintessential New Orleans cafe, infused with French influences, sitting outside. Then, theres a huge torrential downpour and the whole cafe flooded, recalls Sebastian. Somehow this unexpected rainfall only added to the experience. Madeline and Sebastian left the cafe and started wandering around the city. Their conversation was just as engaging as the night before. Everything was very natural and easy, says Sebastian. Obviously we had a really good connection, agrees Madeline. But he lived across the ocean. And it was so far. When they hugged goodbye, Sebastian thought, Shes such a great person. Its so unlucky that she lives in Canada. Similar thoughts ran through Madelines mind: Were never going to see each other again, she thought. This was just a crazy vacation story. But we did, she says today. Flying across the world for a second date Madeline and Sebastian hit it off in New Orleans and stayed in contact. - Madeline Robson Waiting at the airport for her flight, Madelines phone pinged with a message from Sebastian. Have a good flight, it read. Let me know when you get home. So began a texting back and forth that just literally never stopped from that point, as Madeline puts it. A couple days later, with Madeline back in Canada and Sebastian back in Sweden, Sebastian suggested they could speak on the phone. We ended up FaceTiming, recalls Madeline. And then we started FaceTiming multiple days, maybe not every day, but many days. Less than a month passed before Sebastian proposed that they meet again. He had more vacation to take. Maybe he could come and visit Madeline in Ontario in August? Madeline agreed. Looking back, she admits this was really crazy. The fact that I let him come visit me after knowing him for less than 24 hours must have meant that I felt really comfortable, or I was really irresponsible, she says, laughing. But she had no hesitations in saying yes. And Sebastian had no hesitations in flying across the world for a second date. Sebastian spent a week in Canada. He and Madeline spent time in her hometown in Ontario and also traveled to the regions wine country, as well as visiting Toronto and Niagara Falls. Sebastian had pictured Niagara Falls as a secluded nature reserve. Madeline tried to warn him the waterfall was a tourist hotspot, but he didnt quite believe her. Even if Sebastian found the touristy side of the Falls pretty cheesy, he and Madeline still had a great time there. It was cool because its such an iconic Canadian landmark, says Madeline. Of course Sebastian had met some of Madelines friends in New Orleans, but she also introduced him to a few more pals over that trip. She didnt tell her family about him though that felt a bit too intense, especially when she didnt know what would happen between them. Madelines friends were supportive and liked Sebastian, but people were kind of like, Theres no way this is going to go anywhere, recalls Madeline. Towards the end of Sebastians time in Canada, he and Madeline started talking about whether it was going to go anywhere. Could they see each other again soon? They decided Madeline would visit Sebastian in Helsingborg in Sweden three months later, for Christmas. A Scandinavian Christmas Here's Madeline and Sebastian visiting Copenhagen at Christmas 2017. - Madeline Robson On the flight from Canada to Sweden, Madeline oscillated between excitement and anxiety. We thought he knew each other. But looking back, we really didnt know each other that well, she says. I was going for three weeks. It was a long time. She was also set to meet Sebastians entire family. Again, this was exciting, but undeniably nerve wracking. Its a strange thing having only spent a short amount of time with somebody to be going to spend three weeks during the holidays with them and their family, who youve never met before, Madeline says today. Sebastian doesnt recall being obviously nervous, but his anxieties just manifested themselves differently he spent hours trying to plan the perfect visit for Madeline. I was trying to fit way too much into the trip, he says today. Over the three weeks, he took Madeline to Copenhagen, Gothenburg and Prague. We did too many things, says Madeline, laughing. But it was really fun. Madeline particularly enjoyed her first introduction to Scandinavian culture. Shed never been to a Nordic country before, but felt instantly at home. It was really cool to see the culture here and life, she recalls. Over the next year, Madeline and Sebastian alternated visiting one another in Sweden and Canada. We were very lucky. We got to see each other a lot that year, and traveled a lot as well, recalls Madeline. We traveled together to quite a lot of places. A move to Sweden Here's Madeline and Sebastian on vacation in Copenhagen, Denmark. - Madeline Robson That year, in between jet setting, Madeline was finishing off her MBA. She was set to graduate in December 2018 and knew she couldnt make any big life decisions before then. But afterwards, shed be more flexible, and as the December date approached, Madeline started considering what she might do next. Maybe moving to Sweden was on the cards. I had already for quite a long time been like, Once I finish my MBA, Im ready for a change. I want to either move somewhere else, do something else, take a gap year In February 2018, Madeline took a year of absence from her Ontario communications job and moved to Sweden, taking advantage of a visa scheme that allows people under 30 to live and work in certain other countries for 12 months. It wasnt a long-term decision, but it was a big one all the same. Madeline imagined shed spend all her time traveling, just working here and there, but she ended up getting a corporate marketing job almost right away. The job gave her some stability, but life in Sweden was still a lot of change all at once. It felt like a big step, says Madeline. I felt like I was leaving something that was really safe and really taking a chance on something that I had no idea how it was going to turn out. At first, life in Sweden simply felt surreal. But it was exciting, says Madeline. Sebastian and Madeline decided they would live together in the Swedish city of Malmo. It was more international than Sebastians previous home in Helsingborg. Plus, Sebastian moving meant they were both starting afresh, to some extent. Madeline also moved with her beloved cat in tow. She worried about her settling in, but the cat soon seemed at home. Slowly, things felt less surreal, but for that first year, Madelines life in Sweden felt somewhere between a dream and an extended vacation. She and Sebastian loved living together and getting to experience every day activities together. Everything with us together felt new and exciting, because we had spent a year and a half never getting to just do normal things like cook dinner together or go grocery shopping, says Madeline. All those things that so many people take for granted in relationships for us, I think, were so stimulating because we never got to do them before together everything was just always an adventure. While the two savored their time together in their Malmo apartment, they were also rarely there. At every opportunity, Madeline and Sebastian would travel to different European cities together. Madeline loved traveling, but this lifestyle had its downsides. I think a product of that is that I never really felt super settled in Malmo in the first year, she says. Settling into Swedish life Madeline and Sebastian enjoyed life together in Sweden. - Madeline Robson In 2020, while traveling internationally was out of the question, Swedens Covid restrictions were more lax than in other countries, so Madeline and Sebastian were still able to travel domestically. It was during this time that Madeline fell in love with Sweden. All of sudden, our weekends were spent outside in the forest, or going for hikes along the coastline, says Madeline. In Malmo, the couple would walk around exploring, stopping to sample coffee and pastries on outdoor terraces. All these little things even though were in this really horrible, difficult time started to feel quite special and romantic, says Madeline. I started to find all these things about the city that I really loved so much. That was definitely during Covid when we started talking about seriously staying here. Madeline extended her visa, and she and Sebastian bought an apartment. Okay, this is real, Madeline recalls thinking. Were staying. Due to Canadian border restrictions, Madeline didnt return to her home country until midway through 2022. By then, she was fully settled into Swedish life, and Canada was the vacation destination. I didnt see my family or friends back home for two and a half years, she reflects. It really forced me to find a community here and I dont know if I would have found that if it wasnt for the pandemic. So that was, I guess, a really nice thing to come from a really difficult and hard situation. It was also during the pandemic that Madeline started sharing snippets of her life in Sweden online, via her TikTok and Instagram accounts. Madeline realized there was an appetite for her short videos about the cultural differences shed noticed since moving to Sweden. Her videos also provided a slice of escapism for everyone who felt like their life was on hold. The views and comments came flooding in. Madelines still big on social media, three years later. I still share a lot of the cultural stuff. But its really developed into a travel and tourism and life in Scandinavia type of account, she says. Its been really, really fun. A Swedish wedding Here's Madeline and Sebastian on their wedding day in the Swedish countryside. - Fotograf Johanna Ellen/@fotografjohannaellen/www.fotografjohannaellen.com Madeline and Sebastian got engaged a few years ago, and originally planned to marry in 2021. The couple planned a big international wedding, but canceled the nuptials when pandemic travel restrictions proved too complicated. When we had to go around and plan it for the second time, we kind of realized that we just wanted it to be a very small thing, that felt more us, says Madeline. So, the couple got married in summer 2023 in a small ceremony attended only by their respective parents and siblings. We went out into the countryside and got married in a little tiny countryside church and had a tiny little ceremony there, says Madeline. Afterwards, Madeline and Sebastian went to a local chocolate factory and enjoyed a Swedish fika a coffee and pastry break. Later, the wedding party traveled to another countryside spot, a beautiful bed and breakfast that Madeline and Sebastian had been to before and loved. We decided, Oh, its a place thats really special to us. Lets just book some rooms there, Madeline recalls. It was a day both beautiful and low key. It felt very authentic to us, says Madeline. Madeline recently shared some of her wedding photographs on her Instagram feed. Sebastian only pops up on her social media from time to time, but whenever Madeline shares glimpses into their life together, shell get inundated with messages from other people in international relationships. Is it worth it? Moving abroad for love? they ask. Madeline always says yes. I always just say to people, have no expectations. If youre going to go for it, I really recommend you take the chance, because you never know how its going to end up, she says. Put everything you have into it and see how it ends up. I have no regrets on how this has gone. And I always like to encourage people to take the chance. Today, when Madeline and Sebastian look back on their New Orleans meeting, Sebastian says hes struck by how unusual their meeting was, but how normal their life is today. As for Madeline, shes got over the guilt of meeting her husband-to-be at her friends bachelorette party. Now it seems meant to be. Its really interesting to think that we were there celebrating somebody elses love, and then this is what was born of it, she says. Its really, really cool. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Scammers have long capitalized on the burden of student loans to prey on unsuspecting borrowers, and experts worry more could get caught up as debt payments restart this month. Since last year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has received more than 4,000 complaints related to student loan debt relief scams. The number of complaints spiked last October when the loan forgiveness application went live and in June after the Supreme Court struck down Biden's loan forgiveness plan. The FTC has also gone after numerous entities operating scams promising forgiveness or other relief. The restart in loan payments this month could make it harder for borrowers to distinguish between a legitimate company and scammers because so many borrowers are making payments for the first time or have been assigned a new loan servicer. For student loan borrowers, this means they should double check who they are working with on their loans before making any moves, especially if someone is promising relief that seems too good to be true. Read more: Student loan issues? Here's how to file a complaint with the Department of Education "Unfortunately, potential scammers will also be using this time as an opportunity to take advantage of unsuspecting borrowers looking for relief or assistance," New York Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez said this month in a statement. "Im reminding all student loan borrowers to be extra vigilant during this time and to read our tips to protect yourself from falling victim to a student loan scam." The FTC has received over 4,000 complaints related to student loan debt relief scams since last year. (Photo: Getty Creative) (valentinrussanov via Getty Images) Borrowers scammed by Ameritech Financial get relief In August, the FTC and the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that over 22,000 borrowers will receive refunds from a $9 million settlement for the Ameritech Financial student loan debt relief scheme operated by Brandon Frere through 2018. Frere targeted public servants who would be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, pretending to be affiliated with the Department of Education. Frere charged up to $800 in illegal upfront fees, required $100 to $1,200 in advance fees for enrollment in a "financial education" program, and monthly payments of up to $99 that were supposedly going toward student loan balances. Overall, his entities bilked borrowers out of $28 million. Also in August, the FTC shut down additional scams operations that falsely promised to reduce or eliminate student loan payments under "Biden Loan Forgiveness," even though the presidents up to $20,000 debt cancellation plan was struck down by the Supreme Court in June. These scammers also falsely claimed to be affiliated with the Department of Education and persuaded borrowers to halt communications with their federal loan servicers. "During a period of uncertainty for borrowers saddled with student loan debt, these defendants bilked consumers out of millions of dollars with junk fees and phony promises of loan forgiveness and lower monthly payments," said Samuel Levine, director of FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection. "We are pleased that the court shut down this operation and froze its assets, and we will continue the agencys ongoing efforts to pursue scammers that target the tens of millions of Americans with student loan debt." White House Avoid Student Loan Scams (White House) New loan servicers complicate confusion for borrowers Many borrowers may find it difficult to spot potential scammers because they may not know who they should be dealing with when it comes to their loans. Around 44% of federal student loan borrowers who began repayment this month have a new loan service provider, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, after three loan service providers didnt renew their contracts in 2021. That means the loan service provider a borrower had before the pandemic may have changed, making it easier for scammers to step in if borrowers havent verified who their loan servicer is. Read more: Can you change your student loan repayment plan? At the same time, some servicers have struggled to help confused borrowers. For instance, the call center line for the loan service provider Nelnet shut down in August when borrowers tried to access the platform. The best way for borrowers to protect themselves is to be a step ahead. "Go to StudentAid.gov to find out who your lender is, verify and learn options [because] you dont have to pay any upfront fees or pressure to sign up. Pause, do research go to StudentAid.gov," an FTC official told Yahoo Finance. Borrowers should also be wary of anyone stating that they are "federally affiliated" or related to the Department of Education. Other red flags include upfront fees, prequalification notices, or checks. Some even used the Better Business Bureau logo in mailers. There is never a fee for any federal student loan discharge or forgiveness program. Borrowers who spot a scam can submit a complaint at the Federal Student Aid website or with the Federal Trade Commission. Ronda is a personal finance senior reporter for Yahoo Finance and attorney with experience in law, insurance, education, and government. Follow her on Twitter @writesronda. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Republicans in Washington need to elect a new speaker this week and end the partys civil war in the House that is sending a message to the world of dysfunction, especially amid the conflict unfolding in Israel, a senior GOP figure said on Sunday. The Texas Republican congressman Mike McCaul, chairman of the House foreign affairs committee, urged his own party in the House to unify because we have got to move quickly, we cannot paralyze democracy, especially when we have hotspots all over the world and Im just worried about the messaging this sends. A small group of hard-right House Republicans last week managed to force out speaker and California Republican Kevin McCarthy, against the wishes of moderate colleagues, in an unprecedented move to punish him for allying with Democrats to prevent a government shutdown. McCarthy had only served in the post since January when he scraped through an unparalleled 15 rounds of voting. In an interview with CNNs State of the Union show on Sunday morning, McCaul said it was important for the House, which cannot pass legislation without a speaker, to reboot so that we can get things to the floor, such as a bipartisan resolution condemning the attack by Hamas militants on Israel and action to help with Israel replenishing its Iron Dome anti-missile system. Its too dangerous a time right now to be playing games with national security, he said, also expressing hope that the fighting in Israel does not escalate and spread. McCaul said of there were worries about an expansion of the crisis unfolding in southern Israel. If this lights up into a larger jihadist war against the zionist, if you will, thats always what keeps everyone up at night, he said. #ICYMI Chairman @RepMcCaul joined @CNNSotu today to discuss the Hamas terrorists' heinous attacks on Israel. WATCH pic.twitter.com/Orh2OZl2iH House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority (@HouseForeignGOP) October 8, 2023 Meanwhile, McCaul thought the House Republican conference was ready to unify around one speaker and not have this civil war. The rightwing congressmen Jim Jordan of Ohio, who has been backed by former president Donald Trump, and Steve Scalise of Louisiana are the current leading contenders to succeed McCarthy and votes are expected on Wednesday. It was not my idea to oust the speaker, I thought it was dangerous[considering] all the threats that are out there, McCaul said in the CNN interview. What kind of message are we sending to our adversaries when we cannot govern, when we are dysfunctional, when we dont even have a speaker of the House? I mean how does Chairman Xi of China look at that when he says democracy doesnt work, how does the Ayatollah [of Iran] look at this, knowing that we cannot function properly? McCaul said, referring to Chinese president Xi Jinping. He said he thought either Jordan or Scalise can provide solidarity. The House minority leader and New York Democratic congressman, Hakeem Jeffries, also told CNNs State of the Union that its time for the GOP to end the Republican civil war[because] we need to get things done on Capitol Hill. Matt Gaetz, the Florida congressman, who instigated the ousting of McCarthy last week, said on NBCs Meet the Press that there would be a new speaker this week and House Republicans would be back on track and invigorated. He called the crisis in Israel horrifying but said the situation in the House would not stop the US coming to Israels aid. The Republican presidential candidate for 2024 and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie said on ABCs This Week that even without the events in Israel the ousting of the speaker of the House by a small GOP faction was wholly irresponsible. Greece is at war with climate change. Wildfires and record rainfall devastated the country this summer, first scorching entire forests then flooding complete towns. Heres a look at two months of disasters that will leave the country changed for years. The fires The blaze began near the city of Alexandroupolis in the eastern Evros region on Aug. 19, spreading rapidly, merging with smaller fires and forming an inferno that reduced hundreds of square miles of forest to dust and ash. Overnight, walls of flames raged through forests, prompting authorities to evacuate complete villages and hospitals as first responders battled to tame the fire for days. Hundreds of firefighters from Greece and across the European Union were deployed along with dozens of aircraft. The hot, tinder-dry conditions, which scientists said were made worse by climate change, created one of Greeces hottest summers on record and the perfect conditions for blazes that killed at least 18 people. While the total number of fires recorded through Wednesday this year, 51, is lower than last years total of 66, the blazes have burned almost nine times more land. The fires were the largest ever faced by the European Union, Janez Lenarcic, the European commissioner for crisis management, said in August. Scientists say extreme weather phenomena are only going to be more common as the effects of climate change worsen. When all was over in early September, residents had begun to return to what remained of their villages only to be battered by record rainfall. The floods Storm Daniel, the deadly cyclone that flooded areas of the Mediterranean from Greece to Libya in early September, became one of the most fierce storms Greece had ever seen, sweeping houses off their foundations with rainfall that lasted three days and claimed at least 17 lives. Homes and roads were destroyed, bridges collapsed, and fertile crops in the Thessaly plains in western Greece known as the countrys breadbasket were wiped out. Many farmers lost their lifes work. In rural towns like Koskinas and Palamas, which were among some of the worst-hit areas, walls were ripped off of homes and cars were covered in thick sludge as people searched for their belongings for days. Georgia Bloufa, a 60-year-old widow in Palamas, worked at a local restaurant that was destroyed by the floods. She escaped her familys house around 5 a.m., her youngest grandson carried on his fathers shoulders. Her cousin called the police, but it was no use. They said they dont know anything, she previously told NBC News. People were not warned. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said last month the country has faced an unprecedented weather event, a catastrophe of immense proportions. We need an unprecedented response, he told European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. Just a few days later, Storm Elias wreaked havoc on the port city of Volos, again flooding streets that had barely dried up from the previous disaster. More than 3,000 people had been relocated due to the crippling rain, the countrys fire service said last week. Mohammad Khursheed/Reuters Walgreens employees are planning walkouts to protest working conditions, according to news reports. An organizer told CNN that pharmacists are stressed out over unrealistic performance requirements. The walkouts could take place next week. Hundreds of pharmacists and other employees at one of the country's largest drug store chains could walk out of the job on Monday to protest what they say are increasingly miserable working conditions, according to multiple news reports. "We don't believe that Walgreens is allowing us to give our patients safe care on a daily basis," an organizer of the labor action told CNN. At issue is working conditions for those in the pharmacy section of Walgreens in particular, pharmacists complain they are being asked to juggle too many responsibilities, asked not just to fill prescriptions but to provide flu shots and other vaccines. "I spend almost all of my day in the shot room, and if I'm not in the shot room, I'm filling prescriptions because we're so behind," one worker told CNN. The planned walkouts, also reported by Fox News, are set to take place October 9-11. It comes after similar actions last month at CVS stores, where pharmacists likewise complain that staffing cuts have left them overburdened. Walgreens operates nearly 9,000 stores across the United States. Earlier this month, 85,000 Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers including hundreds of pharmacists went on strike for three days after failing to reach a contract agreement with the private healthcare company. One of their top concerns was short-staffing, which several workers previously told Insider left employees overwhelmed and caused long wait times for patients. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents thousands of Walgreens employees, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Walgreens, however, said in a statement to Insider that it hears its workers' concerns, acknowledging that they are feeling "immense pressure" right now. "We are engaged and listening to the concerns raised by some of our team members," the company said, adding that it is "making significant investments in pharmacist wages and hiring bonuses to attract/retain talent in harder to staff locations." Read the original article on Business Insider 2 terrorists of banned outfit killed in SW Pakistan Xinhua) 10:17, October 08, 2023 ISLAMABAD, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani police killed two terrorists during a recent operation in the country's southwestern city of Quetta, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) police said. According to the CTD officials, personnel of the CTD conducted an intelligence-based operation on Friday in the Hazar Ganji area of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan province. The CTD received information that two armed militants of the banned outfit Balochistan Liberation Army were tasked with carrying out terrorist activity against sensitive installations in Quetta, said officials, adding that the terrorists fled their hideout on a motorcycle as the police team reached the area to seize them. "During the course of action, the two motorcyclists were signaled to stop, but they opened indiscriminate fire on the CTD team, forcing officials to return the fire and killing them on the spot," the officials said. A huge cache of arms and explosive material was also recovered from their compound. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 8) Lawmakers are calling for swift assistance and repatriation for Filipinos in Israel who are caught in the ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. In separate statements, members of Congress stressed the importance of Filipinos safety in the conflict-torn Middle Eastern country. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri condemned the violence against innocent civilians as he sought the immediate release of hostages. We deplore the taking of hostages and seek their immediate release, he said. Neither freedom nor justice can truly be won through this kind of violence. Senators urged the Department of Migrant Workers, Department of Foreign Affairs, and other government agencies to ensure the security of overseas Filipino workers and provide their safe passage if necessary. They also appealed for the full utilization of the Assistance to Nationals Fund to respond to urgent requests for assistance from distressed Filipinos. Senator Grace Poe said Filipinos in Israel who wish to return home while the borders are still open must be repatriated. As we hope for a peaceful resolution of the conflict, we have to act with dispatch so that no Filipinos will be included in the count of casualties, Poe said. Meanwhile, Senator Raffy Tulfo said Philippine authorities are still finding out if there are Filipinos among 300 people reported killed and over 1,500 injured. Senator Win Gatchalian said it is "imperative" for authorities to work together and assist the estimated 30,000 overseas Filipino workers in Israel. House Speaker Martin Romualdez advised all Filipinos in Israel to remain vigilant and prioritize their safety amid the turbulent times. "To our Filipino brothers and sisters living or working in Israel, my thoughts are with you. The Departments of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Migrant Workers (DMW), and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) are now working overtime to ensure your safety and well-being," he said. Romualdez urged all parties, especially the leaders of Hamas, to pave the way toward a peaceful resolution. "The history of this region has seen enough bloodshed; sustainable peace is the only way forward, he said. Hamas fired rockets from Gaza and sent gunmen into Israeli territory, prompting Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare that the country is "at war." The Saturday attack which took place during Simchat Torah, a peaceful celebration of the Jewish people, has left hundreds dead on both sides. The writer is a senior foreign correspondent and the author of Sri Lanka: The New Country Michelle Obama would be the first woman President and the first fully African-American person to be elected to that position. Shes on vacation aboard film director Steven Spielbergs yacht, somewhere in European waters. But when she returns home, the stage seems set for Michelle Obama to have a close encounter with power of the highest kind: as presidential candidate of the US Democratic Party in election year 2024. Incumbent President Joe Biden is bent on contesting again. But the nearly 81-year-olds cognitive skills are deteriorating fast. He has fallen off bicycles, tripped on aircraft steps, stumbled on wires, staggered into flagpoles and wandered aimlessly on stages after appearances. He mumbles and forgets names, he nods off during meetings, he drops brick after embarrassing brick. Little wonder that voices have been growing louder for former First Lady Michelle Obama to enter the arena. For it is she, not any current Democratic hopeful and certainly not President Biden, who is likeliest to defeat the current Republican forerunner, former President Donald Trump. Since the beginning of this year, poll after opinion poll has confirmed Mr Bidens declining ratings, Mr Trumps lead over all the other Republican hopefuls, and Michelle Obamas popularity across the political spectrum. In a recent Washington Post survey, Mr Biden won the approval of only 37 per cent -- 10 points lower than Donald Trump. In a poll conducted by AP/NORC, 88 per cent of Americans (69 per cent of Democrats) think Mr Biden is too old for a second term. Another fear looms large. Even if Mr Biden wins, he is expected to retire mid-term -- and bring his even more unpopular deputy, vice-president Kamala Harris, to power. Ms Harris' approval ratings have remained low throughout her vice-presidency. A recent NBC News survey found that she had the lowest rating (32 per cent) for any vice-president since the 1990s. But since ditching Kamala Harris alone wont guarantee a victory for the Democrats, it is Mr Biden who is being urged by analysts on all sides of the political divide to bow out of the race. Earlier this year, the Centre Square Voters Voice Poll found that Mr Biden may coast to victory over other Democratic potentials like Robert F. Kennedy Jr, former New York City mayor Bill de Blasio or even popular California governor Gavin Newsom. But if pitched against Michelle Obama, he would get only 36 per cent, whereas Ms Obama would win 48 per cent of the vote. It is early days yet to test Michelle Obamas strength against that of Donald Trump himself. However, the reactions of Republican leaders to the very thought of her candidature show that she is expected to rock the boat. If they (Democrats) were to run Michelle Obama, that would put us in a very difficult position because theyd reach for a candidate who is completely plausible, very popular, and immune to criticism, former Trump aide Monica Crowley had warned at a Republican gathering in Florida way back in 2022 itself. More recently, Republican Senator Ted Cruz described what he called the most likely and dangerous scenario in August 2024. He said that the Democrats will jettison Biden and parachute in Michelle Obama. Former GOP vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin, too, says that the Democrats will go with Michelle Obama. Dont be surprised. Itll be Michelle Os #2024Election. Bidens out, she posted on X (formerly Twitter). Ms Obamas support base consists primarily of Americans below 55, womens groups, childless voters, the LGBT community and young parents. She may have only been the spouse of a former President, but Michelle Obama qualifies eminently. She is an attorney with degrees from Princeton University and Harvard Law School. She is the author of four books. She has campaigned against Donald Trump in 2020, advocated several causes, worked in non-profit groups, in community service and for poverty awareness. She has faced vile abuse and criticism with grace. Barack and I have been in the public eye for many years now, and we've developed a thick skin along the way. When youre out campaigning, there will always be criticism it comes with the territory, she once said. Michelle Obama has emerged a winner in surveys since the beginning of her husbands presidency. In 2009, she was named popular show host Barbara Walters Most Fascinating Person of the Year. In April 2012, she received the NCHV Award from homeless veterans along with her husband. In 2015, she received it again. In three Gallup polls from 2018 to 2020, Ms Obama remained the most admired woman in the United States. She has been Time magazines Woman of the Year and was inducted into the National Womens Hall of Fame. Further and due to eight years in the White House, Michelle Obama is well-versed with the duties and challenges of the worlds most powerful office. She is much younger than both Mr Trump and Mr Biden. She would be the first woman President and the first fully African-American person to be elected to that position. And unlike Republican contender Donald Trump, who has not only been indicted but is now being accused of sharing nuclear secrets with a foreigner, Ms Obama has an unblemished track record, unmarred by scandals and rumours. And finally, her children are now old enough for her to focus entirely on the presidency. The Democratic National Committee has ruled out primary debates ahead of 2024. Still, both voters and senior Democratic leaders have been pushing for candidates to prove themselves ahead of 2024. Interestingly, even African-American Democrats are now demanding in public that current V-P Kamala Harris prove herself ahead of the election, and that her being Mr Bidens running mate against is not a given. Their remarks are being interpreted as a door being opened to let Michelle Obama in. Conservative website The Hill writes that a Michelle victory would revive the charisma of Barack Obamas presidency, one that persists till date. Giving Michelle Obama the ticket would give Democrats their best chance of winning in 2024, commented the site. There are three things certain in life: death, taxes and Michelle is not running for President, Barack Obama had said way back in 2016, when asked whether his wife would ever enter the contest. Last week, the former President dodged the same question, when leaving a restaurant in Los Angeles. His wife, too, has said that she never had the passion for politics and has ruled out her candidature several times. But to audiences old and young, Michelle Obama has also been an inspirational motivator. Just try new things. Dont be afraid. Step out of your comfort zones and soar, all right? she once urged students of Harvard University. Will she walk that talk now? I'm fine, as I'm very fortunate to own my home I own, but I'm feeling the pinch on my mortgage with other inflation costs I rent and it's expensive, but it could be worse I'm seriously considering leaving the valley if something doesn't give Vote View Results Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Finding a Hot Wheels Super Treasure Hunt collectible in the wild can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most people. That's why most hardcore enthusiasts buy them from other people or Mattel online. These items are less accessible in some markets than in the United States, further driving prices up. Tucker Torpedo 57 Chevy Photo: eBay/User rocketronnie 58 Impala Photo: eBay/User jitterbug5948 Custom 62 Chevy Photo: eBay/User uamadboi Studebaker Avanti 63 T-Bird 64 Pontiac GTO Photo: eBay/User pinkme2 It's no surprise that some Hot Wheels cars sometimes sell for $1,000 or more, but that's what you get with limited-edition models. For regular collectibles, prices will rarely soar past the $150 mark. And that's not exactly cheap for a vehicle that is just three inches long. As we've pointed out before, the deeper you dive into this hobby, the more expensive it becomes.And some collections can be worth as much as $100,000 or more, although they still need to be completed. We've looked at several Super Treasure Hunt series in past stories, so what's so special about the 2011 one? This was the last year that the starting point for the Regular TH and the STH was the same casting. That must have been quite confusing in the day, especially for rookies. Of course, if you were aware that the STH came with premium paint and wheels, identifying them was a lot easier.Let's start by looking at the Tucker Torpedo, something kids these days might have never even heard about before. More than 70 years have passed since Preston Tucker built the Tucker 48 automobile, and you'll probably want to watch Francis Ford Coppola's movie Tucker: The Man and His Dream once you become aware of this car's existence. But we'll delve more into that topic some other time; let's focus on the Hot Wheels replica of it for now. Larry Wood designed the casting, and it was only around between 2009 and 2012.The first year alone gave the world seven variations as part of the Classic Series 5. All these had a metal base Spectraflame paint jobs, but only some featured Real Riders wheels. 2011 was a big moment in this casting's history, as it graduated to both Treasure Hunts and Trea$ure Hunt$ levels. Seeing them next to each other is your best bet at telling them apart, and I must admit that even the regular version is nicely done, too! You can get them both for around $50 if you are lucky enough. And that sounds like a bargain, considering today's market situation.Euro and JDM cars were not a big part of the Super Treasure Hunt series more than ten years ago. Most Hot Wheels collectibles were replicas of cars built in the USA. And this '57 Chevy was part of the 2011 STH and TH line-up. Whereas the Tucker Torpedo is a more modern casting, the '57 Chevy existed before most young collectors were born. Larry Wood designed this one, and Mattel released it in 1977 as part of the Flying Colors series.Several variations came out until 1983, before a nearly ten-year-long hiatus. But the '57 Chevy had been upgraded with Real Riders wheels when it returned. There are almost 60 different iterations of this casting, but you also need to know that a few dozen more are available with the engine protruding through its hood. In 2020, collectors could chase after a Super Treasure Hunt version of the '57 Chevy that featured a Spectraflame Pink finish and yellow Real Riders Steelies.But some of you might not be aware that this is the second STH version of the casting, as the first one came out in 2011. As with the Tucker Torpedo, it's not easy to distinguish the STH from the RTH. If you've ever seen Real Riders wheels, you'll be okay, but an untrained eye won't know the difference. Pricewise, expect to pay between $45 to $125 for the 2011 STH, which sometimes seems more expensive than the 2020 model.If you pay attention to this list, it's almost as if Mattel chose the castings for the STH line-up by following a precise timeline. First, we had the 1948 Tucker Torpedo, then the 1957 Chevy, and now we're on to 1958 with a Chevrolet Impala. This trend appears valid throughout the entire first part of our 2011 Hot Wheels Super Treasure Hunt story. Larry Wood was also in charge of designing this model, and it's about the same age as the Tucker Torpedo. It first came out in 2007, and all of the five variations that year featured a Spectraflame-type paint job.Despite being around for 15 years, there are only 12 variations of this casting on the market. The most recent one came out in 2022 as part of the Treasure Hunt series. But today, we're more interested in the two special releases of 2011. These featured different shades of Magenta, but the Real Riders Steelies made the STH stand out. With any luck, you could get your hands on the '58 Impala STH for $30. That's not to say you won't see pricier listings on the market.The third Chevrolet on our list today is a scaled-down replica of a 1962 pickup truck. In true Hot Wheels fashion, this vehicle is slammed to the ground, and most of the 33 different variations feature a surfboard in the back. Rob Matthes designed the casting for its 2008 release, and some changes occurred in 2016 as the pickup truck gained a sunroof and received a broken surfboard instead of the original design. Still, the 2023 Pop Culture: Vintage Oil iteration used the original tooling similarly to the 2022 Classic Pickups Collector set version.By browsing online listings, you'll notice that the two most expensive variations of the castings are the 2019 Collectors Convention one in Dark Blue and the 2010 Slick Rides release in Blue and Silver. Either can fetch as much as $300 per item, almost three times more expensive than the two TH collectibles of 20111. But modern collectors might not appreciate the tribal patterns on the sides despite the theme this vehicle has going on for it.The Studebaker Avanti is a vehicle from a bygone era, and it had a very short life by any standard. The Studebaker Corporation built less than 6,000 of these between 1962 and 1963 at its Indiana factory. The standard Avanti used a 289 ci V8, good enough for 240 hp. And a modified version of the American luxury coupe crushed multiple world records at the Bonneville Salt Flats, reaching a top speed of over 170 mph (270 kph).That's alright, even by today's standards! Mattel's 1/64th-scale replica lasted only briefly, entering the scene in 2009 and ending in 2011. That's right, the last two iterations of the tiny Avanti were TH and STH collectibles! With no complicated graphics, the Spectraflame Gold body looked great rolling on White Line Chrome Turbine Real Riders wheels. But the Avanti's failure to penetrate the market is still felt today, as most Hot Wheels versions cost between $20 to $40. Sure, if a Short Card is what you're looking for, those values can increase to as much as $75.Mark Jones designed the '63 T-Bird for its 1998 First Editions release, which featured a Metalflake Teal finish and a white interior. A Limited Edition emerged in 1999, and several more special items appeared in 2003. Mattel produced over 30 variations of the '63 T-Bird before seemingly retiring it in 2013 when it was last seen in the Mystery Models series.But it had its moment of glory in 2011, as the Spectraflame Green T-Bird looked like it came straight from a '90s rap video. Most of these T-Birds aren't expensive, unlike some of the Hot Wheels Ferraris we discussed recently. $20 to $50 will get you the STH version; buying a complete collection should take at most $500.The last collectible in Part One of our 2011 Hot Wheels Super Treasure Hunt story is the '64 Pontiac GTO. The casting came out in 2006 with five different Ultra Hots versions. If you want the whole collection, there are 11 other variations to get, which means it's rare compared to other more commercial castings. The 2016 Red Line Club release is the most expensive, priced at over $100. But there are more exciting ones to look at.The 2011 Spectraflame Teal STH feels inferior to some early Ultra Hots models with a more powerful vibe. But you might feel differently. $30 to $80 will buy you both the TH and STH GTOs, and then you can start playing a game of "Spot the difference between them." This Super Treasure Hunt could've topped the charts in part one of our story with a different livery. But alas, I'd fancy having a Tucker Torpedo on display instead. Last year, the Bavarian automaker made its digital shop public. It wanted to offer customers more options in exchange for more money after they bought the car. But after the heated seats subscription made rounds on the internet, BMW had to come forward with an official explanation. It didn't convince anyone. Recently, they dropped it for good. Here's why it's not that great of a deal. EV Photo: BMW A new path forward Photo: BMW kWh Securing the bag (of cash) Photo: BMW Clearing the air Photo: BMW on YouTube SUV Photo: BMW UK If we're anything alike, then you might also dislike microtransactions. I don't like paying monthly for everything I use. It's annoying to include all kinds of subscriptions in the monthly budget. But it'll get even more irritating as time passes because the practice seems to become mainstream. Even printing is being put behind a monthly paywall, which, honestly, is just bewildering.However, it's understandable that companies want more money from us. Businesses are looking for ways in which to improve their revenue and make the shareholders happy. If that means asking customers $5 per month for a specific feature, they'll do it. Designers know it all too well.For automakers, it's even worse. The much-needed transition to zero-emission vehicles is costing legacy brands billions, but they aren't seeing any meaningful returns yet. Tesla, which was built from the ground up as an all-electric auto manufacturer, became cashflow positive after 17 years since its inception and 12 years after Elon Musk took over.Rivian, anothermaker, expects to become profitable next year 15 years after it was founded.Now, imagine your business was based on making gas- or diesel-powered cars and having tens of suppliers helping you with the parts needed. You must move all that successful operation to the second echelon and focus on making much simpler vehicles with the help of new suppliers and be ready to face new challenges.Securing the raw materials needed in batteries, for example, isn't something easy to do. Moreover, there are a lot of chemistries available and dependable energy storage units are still not that common. Replacing one is pricey, and you don't want to pay $15,000 or more for a new high-voltage battery as an automaker.On average, mainstream EVs require 10 to 100 times fewer parts than an auto with an exhaust system. That cuts into the profits of automakers like BMW, who cannot rely on selling as many OEM-certified parts as for its fossil fuel-powered units.When the car you're making has a much simpler build, the customer's after-sale expenditure will likely be very low. All they have to do is make sure the car runs, ensure the wiper blades do their job, verify that the tires are correctly inflated, and maybe check that the lighting system works fine.We're not kidding. That's basically it. There are no mandatory oil changes or engine decarbonization processes needed.Even the braking system doesn't need too much attention because the motors make use of an energy recovery mechanism known as regenerative braking. When you slow down, the motor spins in reverse and creates energy that's added to the battery. Going downhill for a couple of miles could add around 10 to 15% of theconsumed to go uphill. When decelerating, a gas-powered car will never be able to add more fuel to the tank.If all that seems unbelievable, look at Ford. One of America's most important automakers and an integral part of the "Detroit Three" group expects to lose over $4 billion this year because of its all-electric division known as "Model e." That figure becomes even more worrying when you realize that the Blue Oval sells two mainstream EVs (the Mustang Mach-E and the F-150 Lightning) and the E-Transit van.Now, you get the picture. Even though automakers sometimes create cars that foster the creation of communities and inspire people to dream about owning some specific models, they remain for-profit entities at the end of the day. If they can't be profitable Progress can't happen, and they stand to lose to the competition.So, BMW figured out a way to earn more money as it moved forward with completely electrifying its fleet. It introduced a digital shop known as the ConnectedDrive store. A heated seats subscription was also introduced among the many possible upgrades available to interested buyers.Mind you, that didn't mean BMW would lock such a basic feature behind a monthly paywall. You could have avoided it when speccing your new 5 Series, for example, and get it at a later date through that shop. But it was still available as an option or as part of a pack when ordering a new vehicle. You would have paid only once for the feature and have it for the lifetime of the car or until it broke and needed fixing.Sadly, when the first reports surfaced, content creators quickly pointed out that the Bavarians were asking customers for more money to get heated seats on their posh Bimmers. That didn't sit well with many disappointed fans. It got so bad at one point that BMW even had to come forward with an official statement The whole thing took an even more frustrating turn for the Bavarians when Dacia, an European brand that makes affordable cars, poked fun at BMW by offering its customers a hot water bottle for free.But it was all a big misunderstanding that nobody got right.BMW's idea was brilliant. Suppose you live in Arizona and finance a plug-in hybrid X5. A good part of the Grand Canyon State is known for rarely experiencing freezing temperatures. As such, you decide that heated seats are not needed.The automaker takes care of your order but adds that functionality to youranyway and locks it via software. This simplifies the production process, allows BMW to negotiate better contracts with suppliers, and can even lead to a lower carbon footprint because there's no need to store extra parts or have them shipped rapidly when the backlog of models with heated seats increases.But such a move doesn't help just BMW and potentially the environment. It also offers you the owner a chance to make your vehicle more valuable to the secondary market.Let's say someone from North Dakota would like to buy your X5. That person might want heated seats. You can activate the option beforehand by paying for it yourself and raising the price of your SUV. Or, you could tell that person they can do it themselves. There's no need to turn around a potential buyer.But probably the most important thing about this whole heated seats saga is that BMW didn't force anyone to subscribe. The option to pay once and activate it for the vehicle's lifetime was also there. It really didn't make any sense to have so many people begrudged by this decision.It originally cost $18 per month, $180 per year, $300 for three years, or $415 for unlimited access.BMW didn't do it like Mercedes-Benz. The three-pointed star brand drew inspiration from Tesla's "Acceleration Boost" option and implemented a similar feature for its all-wheel-drive EV models. But instead of making a one-time payment or at least allowing that option to exist, the German marque transformed it into a yearly subscription . Fortunately, now the possibility to pay only once exists.When writing, BMW still has the ConnectedDrive store and offers after-sales acquisitions for eligible models that are either subscriptions or one-time payments.Too bad they have to give up on keeping the heated seats in their digital store because of a misunderstanding that no PR stunt could have corrected.Finally, can you believe that barely anyone mentioned the heated steering wheel option that was also available as a subscription? It's still available, by the way. The Brits can buy it. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 8) Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Sunday approved the release of 1 billion to cover compensation for at least 300 Marawi siege victims. In a statement, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Pangandaman approved the issuance of a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) to cover the compensation listed under the Fiscal Year 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA). "The rehabilitation and recovery of Marawi has always been a project that is close to my heart," she said. "Indeed, there is still a lot more to do. But let this milestone serve as a reminder to all of us to shape a future moving forward, steered by our united commitment to achieve lasting peace and long-term prosperity," she added. The Marawi Compensation Board (MCB) said 362 victims will receive monetary compensation under the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF). Special Provision No. 3 of the NDRRMF in the 2023 GAA states that the initial appropriation shall be used for the compensation to: 1. Owners of residential, cultural, commercial structures, and other properties in Marawi's main affected areas or other affected areas destroyed or damaged, either totally or partially, during the Marawi siege. 2. Owners of private properties demolished pursuant to the implementation of the Marawi Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Program. 3. The heirs of those who died and legally presumed dead, in accordance with RA No. 11696 and guidelines to be promulgated by the board. According to the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2022, or RA No. 116964, the board will facilitate the tax-free payment of compensation or reparations to qualified individuals whose properties and possessions were lost or destroyed due to the siege. Some 47 civilians were killed during the 2017 conflict, with the total damage estimated at 18.23 billion. READ: Timeline: The Marawi crisis The board will also determine the monetary compensation and award of the lawful owner based on the fair market value or replacement cost of the total or repair cost of partially damaged structures of the residential, cultural, and commercial properties. kW SUV Speaking about its rivals, these include the Lamborghini Urus, Bentley Bentayga Speed, and Aston Martin DBX 707. The first two are based on the same platform as the Volkswagen Touareg , whereas the latter builds on the bones of the Vantage. As for the Purosangue, it has many things in common with the Roma grand tourer.Production kicked off earlier this year, and Ferrari's most practical model yet stays true to the Italian brand's legacy by featuring a V12. The naturally aspirated engine has a 6.5-liter displacement and produces 715 hp (725 ps/533) and 528 lb-ft (716 Nm) of torque. It's faster than the mighty Enzo to 62 mph (100 kph), taking 3.3 seconds, and it can do over 193 mph (310 kph) flat-out.The Ferrari Purosangue is a very expensive proposal. It starts at just under $400,000 in the United States, not counting the destination charge, gas-guzzler tax, and dealer fees. As a result, it is pricier than Lamborghini's Urus Performante, which is a $260,000+ affair in our market.Unless Ferrari decides to go down the V8 route when it comes to the Purosangue, there's no possible way this model will become more affordable. And if you were perhaps hoping to see a baby crossover decorated by the Prancing Horse's logos, then you should delete that thought from your mind. There is nothing to suggest the Maranello auto marque has something like this in the pipeline.Nonetheless, that hasnt stopped the internet from dreaming about it. Not only that but it was also rendered out recently by kdesignag, who took to social media to release these digital illustrations. Do you know what model the supposed Ferrari Babywas based on? That would be the modern-day Fiat 600 , which is a Jeep Avenger-sized and related vehicle.Both the 600 and the Avenger, as well as other subcompact crossovers made by Stellantis, including the Peugeot 2008, Opel/Vauxhall Mokka, and DS 3 Crossback use the same underpinnings. The 600 is offered with hybrid and pure electric powertrains, and there is absolutely nothing exotic about this vehicle. Therefore, it would not be a proper candidate for an alleged smaller sibling to the Purosangue.Now, it's clear that Ferrari isn't interested in launching a smaller crossover/SUV, but if it did, would it be something you'd consider buying? It's worth noting that this move might force its competition to introduce other similarly-sized models, and they wouldn't exactly be dream rides of subcompact proportions, would they? Some time ago, we took a trip to the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum in Central New York, where museum staff had managed to piece together the remains of two Curtiss P-40 Warhawks that'd collided mid-air decades ago into something resembling an intact airframe. That in itself is a commendable feat any day of the week. But what if you want a crack at doing something similar? Except, maybe playing things on hard mode instead of nightmare mode as the museum did. If you're the kind of nut job who can read an entire Second World War fighter plane's technical manual and piece together this 1942 P-40N Kitty Hawk, then consider this our gift to you. This particular Kitty Hawk was built at Curtiss's long-time production facility based in Buffalo, New York. It left the factory late in 1942, and by its end, it was shipped to the war-torn South Pacific to serve with the 7th Fighter Squadron of the U.S. Army Air Corp's 49th Fighter Group. With pilot Lt H W Harris and Lt J J O'Neil splitting flight duty behind the stick of this bird, the two managed to shoot down at least three Japanese warbirds by the end of spring 1944.The P-40N, the final variant manufactured before the model was discontinued, proved to be an incredibly potent and dependable piston fighter in spite of its age. Alongside Navy Corsairs and Hellcats and Army Air Corps P-51 Mustangs and P-38 Lightnings, Kitty Hawks did a serviceable job backing up more modern, power-packing Allied fighters until late 1944, when what became known as White 17, or "Spooky" and "Dolores," was stricken from USAAC reserves and moved to surplus storage in favor of P-38 Lightnings.From then on, this bird would spend the next 50 years broken up and placed in storage crates before work began attempting to piece it back together in 1999. Of course, you can't just slap together an airplane like this in eight to 12 months and expect it to hold together very well. It's taken the better part of 25 years for White 17 to be re-assembled to something even resembling a working warbird. Its Allison V-1710 V12 engine looks pretty worse for wear as well. But hey, where there's a will, there's always a way. That's especially true if you have moolah to blow.With Platinum Fighter Sales out of Redondo Beach, California, handling the North American listing for this Kitty Hawk, the challenge of putting all the pieces together can be yours for the "low-low" price of $695,000. If you're curious, you're liable to spend as much on a fully restored, airworthy P-40 example as you would a Bugatti Chiron or a Pagani Utopia. Or in the ballpark of $2 million. Is it worth the extra labor to someone out there? One can only assume so. There's a lot going on in the Android Auto world, and unfortunately, the most buzz revolves around the bugs that users come across occasionally. A problem that appeared earlier this month took many by surprise, as it removes the taskbar in Android Auto, making the app almost useless.If you've been using Android Auto for more than a couple of days, you probably know that the taskbar is integral to the experience with the app. It allows users to toggle between apps, launch the Coolwalk view, activate the microphone, and see essential information like the clock.Due to this bug, the taskbar went dark , making all these features unavailable. Nobody knew precisely what was happening, but many users blamed the latest Android Auto versions. The issue affected Android Auto 10.4, with users running version 10.5 also confirming the same behavior. Android Auto 10.6, which was released earlier this week, does not bring back the taskbar.Android Auto users are stuck with Google Maps without the app taskbar, as the navigation app launches automatically after connecting the smartphone to the head unit. Closing Google Maps and switching to another app is difficult, though some turned to Google Assistant to configure Waze or play music in Spotify.Fortunately, someone on Google's forums discovered a workaround. The issue happens due to the Google app. On Android Auto, the Google app is responsible for powering Google Assistant (the same thing is valid on Android, too).Many users who encountered the glitch causing the taskbar to go missing were running a beta build of the Google app, either because they were enrolled in the testing program or previously installed a pre-release version.To fix the issue, users can just leave the beta program and return to a stable Google app version. To do this, you can exit the testing program, delete updates, and clear the app cache and data. You can also manually sideload the latest APK version for the stable Google app channel. Users on Google's forums claim version 14.39.39.29 brings things back to normal, with the taskbar restored on Android Auto.Google did not comment on the bug, but if the problem is caused by a beta version of the Google app, the expected behavior should return once a new release goes live to all channels. In theory, users who weren't running a beta build of the Google app should not experience the glitch, but manually sideloading the version above should bring everything back to normal even if this happens. Android Auto 10.6 is the latest version in the stable channel, but the update doesn't seem to bring significant changes. The focus has most likely been on addressing performance problems and other general bugs, but you can try it today by sideloading the APK. A new leak that surfaced this week reveals that Xiaomi plans to launch two versions of the Xiaomi Car, including an extended-range configuration.We've known for a while that Apple's tech rival wanted to release a fully electric vehicle, and the new report claims Xiaomi's car strategy has since evolved past this ambition to include a powertrain specifically focused on offering extended ranges.An extended-range powertrain includes a conventional gasoline-powered engine that plays the role of a generator for the electric motor. It helps charge the battery and help increase the battery. According to the latest reports, Xiaomi wants to use a 1.5-liter engine on its extended-range vehicle.The company has discussed battery supply deals with several parties, and the entry-level Xiaomi Car will use batteries produced by BYD Blade Battery. They will offer 40V voltage. The upgraded version will be fitted with 800V batteries from CATL Qilin Battery.The information is still unconfirmed, so take everything with a pinch of salt for now.Xiaomi Car should see the daylight next year, with the Chinese tech giant planning to gradually accelerate production. Xiaomi wants to produce 100,000 units next year before doubling the output in 2025.The company wants the Xiaomi Car to be specifically focused on technology, and recent documents indicated that the company will also be equipped with CarPlay support . The adoption of CarPlay is not surprising, especially as Xiaomi doesn't want its vehicle to be aimed specifically at Xiaomi phone owners. With CarPlay, drivers will be allowed to connect an iPhone to the Xiaomi Car and project apps, such as Google Maps, Waze, and Spotify, on the larger screen inside the cabin.Xiaomi is also expected to develop its phone projection system that will offer additional capabilities when the vehicle is paired with a Xiaomi smartphone.Meanwhile, Apple has a hard time making progress with its electric vehicle. People familiar with the matter said the project has lost traction, with the iPhone maker now likely to take the wraps off the vehicle in 2026 . Apple initially wanted to launch the Apple Car in 2025, but the unveiling date could be pushed back even more if the development doesn't make the desired progress.The Apple Car is expected to land as a fully electric vehicle, with no extended-range configuration planned. It'll also focus heavily on smartphone integration, running the new-generation CarPlay that Apple will bring to the first vehicles later this year. Apple has so far remained tight-lipped about its automotive strategy, but an announcement is still expected by 2025. Tesla was the one who started the price war. But Ford is not going to just sit and watch them win. Not even after they brought back the Model Y RWD as the cheapest version of the lineup. kWh Time after time, when Tesla made a move slashing the price, Ford followed shortly. Or Ford did it first, and Tesla followed suit in the Blue Ovals footsteps. Both companies read between the lines from the start and understood that, if they want to stay competitive in the segment of electric crossovers , or any sector for that matter, price is a significant factor in winning the sales war battle by battle.It is a segment that has been getting overpopulated these past few years, especially now that the Chinese brands export cars to the United States and Europe, with prices that can lure customers so far accustomed to European and American products.The latest move that Tesla made was to bring back the rear-wheel drive version with standard range in the Model Y lineup, making it the most affordable of the versions. The entry-level Model Y starts at $43,990, while the all-wheel drive was discontinued, a decision that is probably just temporary. For the money, customers are getting 260 miles (418 kilometers) of range, provided by the 60-battery pack.The electric motor mounted on the rear axle delivers 295 horsepower (299 PS) and 310 lb-ft (420 Nm) of torque. Those are enough for an acceleration from 0 to 100 kph (0-62 mph) in 6.9 seconds.The Ford Mustang Mach-E received its latest price cut back in May. The most affordable variant is the Select RWD Standard Range (does that sound familiar?), which starts at $42,995. For the money, customers are getting the car powered by a single motor, mounted on the rear axle, generating 266 horsepower (270 PS) and 317 lb-ft (430 Nm) of torque for an acceleration from 0 to 60 mph (0-97 kph) in 5.8 seconds.A battery pack with a capacity of 68 kWh stores enough energy for an EPA-rated range of 250 miles, which is 10 miles lower than what the Model Y offers.The range-topping versions of the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model Y are also comparable following price cuts, but the Ford is again, more affordable. The Ford Mustang Mach-E GT starts at $59,995. It comes with 480 horsepower and 634 lb-ft of torque, a 0-60 mph time in 3.5 seconds, and an EPA-rated range of up to 270 miles.Meanwhile, the Tesla Model Y Performance starts at $52,490. That is how much customers will pay for the car that does the 0 to 60 mph run in 3.5 seconds, just like the Mustang Mach-E, but comes with 303 miles of range. 8 October 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more After losing its reputation in Africa, France chose a new direction to continue its policy of quasi-imperialism and colonialism. The direction was the Caucasus. As the threat of separatism in the South Caucasus is averted, a new pressure mechanism is being created by France. This pressure mechanism is being applied to the region over Armenia. It is about France taking all the intelligence and security agencies of Armenia completely under its supervision. This step taken by France also indicates a new threat that may come to the South Caucasus. This decision behind the French ideology of exerting influence on the African continent is purely economic, which in turn is part of the plans of the ruling clique, which includes the majority of the French ruling classes. Having lost an important strategic pressure zone, the French authorities are facing huge problems both inside and outside the country on the eve of the winter season. Energy resources, which Europe needs very much, as well as the countries of the European Union, because of the long military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, where the West is involved with all hands and feet. They are shifting their gaze towards the Caucasus, where the main and significant player is Azerbaijan. Staunch vassal Armenia adheres to the policy of the West and France, where it is important for the latter to keep the pressure on the Caucasus, as opposed to building up the forces of Turkiye and the Turkic World. The existing system of the European Union has long lost faith in itself, and since long ago, has been building its policy only for the personal benefit of superiority in the world. After Azerbaijan's successful local anti-terrorist operation, the majority of Western players, as well as the European Union countries, reacted sharply to the late conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, namely, with a reaction of a purely jealous nature towards Azerbaijan. The Crusader Order appeared on the Caucasian horizon. Azerbaijan's credibility with France is currently zero, where the latter has not contributed to the normalization of relations between Baku and Yerevan, but on the contrary, undermines and pushes the Armenian side to revanchist inclinations. The latest evidence of Paris' action in defense of Armenian interests is the announcement by the French Foreign Minister, Catherine Colonna, of the decision to bring the military-industrial complex in cooperation with Yerevan to a new level by starting to supply its de facto ally with arms and military equipment. This is along with the donation of certain sums by European countries to "provide security" to the Armenians who left Garabagh. Adhering to a policy of double standards, the French authorities are thereby leading the region to possible future conflicts that the Crusader Order wants to unleash, as the Turkic world is gradually growing in power and the influence of some Western forces in the Caucasus is gradually losing strength. Armenians have always looked for patrons to serve and do deeds to please the warmongers. This patron for Armenians was France in the person of Macron and the order of "crusaders". The Armenian President, after the French Foreign Ministry's statement on increasing military cooperation between Yerevan and Paris, joyfully confirmed "France has expressed a strong desire to help us, to support us in increasing our defense potential" The wave of hatred, which led to the pogroms of Jewish synagogues by Armenians, due to the sale of military equipment by Israel to Azerbaijan, again confirms the anti-Semitic tendencies of Armenians and their authorities, where the latter took the blame for the heinous deeds committed, in the person of the terrorist organization ASALA, owned by Armenians. France supports chaos along with other adherents of this ideology who for 33 years have not expressed their desire to stop the massacre committed by Armenians and their barbarism against the people of Azerbaijan. But they have expressed their desire to help the aggressor in opposing Azerbaijan in its restoration of territories and the return of millions of forced refugees to their native lands. On 5 October, the European Commission, followed by the European Parliament, called on the European Union to impose sanctions against Azerbaijan because of its restoration of 100% jurisdiction over its territories. European officials propose to impose sanctions against Azerbaijan, for which they encourage and support Ukraine in every possible way. Double standards are on the face of it and are not new for corrupt EU officials. Having been impressed by the EU, where a five-sided meeting on Garabagh in the format of Azerbaijan-Armenia-EU-Germany-France was to be held in Spanish Granada on 5 October, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev refused to participate because of France's biased pro-Armenian policy. Not inviting Turkiye, Azerbaijan refused, the EU lost, and in the end, the meeting of the quartet was silent and without comments, but they signed a joint declaration recognizing the territory of Azerbaijan. A brilliant move by the grandmaster. Armenians were once again used as statisticians and pushed aside until they were needed again for someone else's chess game. An Azerbaijani correspondent in Granada was able to catch and question the head of Euro diplomacy, Josep Borrell, while he was posing for photos, where he could not clearly answer the question "Why is Europe fighting separatism in Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, but not in Azerbaijan?". Borrel only squeezed out "we are doing it" without explaining what exactly Europe is doing. Charles Michel was picked up next, where he dashingly evaded a direct answer to the question of why the EU has been silent all these years about the millions of Azerbaijani IDPs and refugees subjected to bloody ethnic cleansing as a result of the Armenian invasion over 30 years. Europe is now struggling with a huge influx of non-legal migrants and the question is, do they want to solve this problem or do they want to support the influx? In addition to replacing the white population with black, taking land from farmers to build accommodation centers, creating general chaos and increasing crime. And for the most part, this is happening in the EU and Western countries. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 October 2023 19:30 (UTC+04:00) By Akbar Hasanov, Day.az The time has come to establish peace in the South Caucasus, said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in a joint press statement with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in Tbilisi. These were very important words from the head of our state, which should not only be heard in Yerevan, Moscow, Washington, Paris, and Brussels, but also taken into account for planning their future policy in our region. We see what is happening now in different parts of the planet. The Russian-Ukrainian war is still ongoing, which daily claims the lives of hundreds of military personnel on both sides. At the same time, missile attacks and drone raids have become regular not only against peaceful Ukrainian cities but also against populated areas of the Russian Federation. And there is no end in sight to this war. Moreover, all of Eastern and Western Europe are living in a new reality, when the risk of the war spreading to these countries, from the point of view of politicians and the expert community, is quite high. Actually, this is why many European countries are sharply increasing their defense budgets, buying more and more new types of weapons, and talking about the Third World War wherever the opportunity arises. And we also see how the war came to Israel. Hamas militants fired rockets at many Israeli cities, and they invaded the territory of the Jewish state, shooting and capturing hundreds of citizens of this country. There is a real risk of this war spreading wider and involving other states in it. In a word, the situation in the Middle East is also depressing and blood is being shed. Against this background, you especially begin to appreciate the peace that has been established in the South Caucasus region. Azerbaijan, having brilliantly carried out anti-terrorist measures in the Garabagh economic region, liquidated the Armenian illegal formations, forced the Garabagh junta to dissolve itself, detaining and bringing to Baku its former leaders and the spiritual and financial instigator of the new war, billionaire Ruben Vardanyan. Now Azerbaijan is forced to fend off attacks from the patrons of the RA occupation policy, proving its right to restore constitutional order on its territory. Our country has restored its sovereignty and territorial integrity and is actively promoting the peace agenda, while German revanchists and the countries that patronize them still cherish hopes of a new plunge of the South Caucasus into a state of controlled chaos. Three years ago, as a result of the Second Garabagh War, Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity, last month it restored its sovereignty over the entire country. And now we must actively work on a peace treaty that will be signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan. If we achieve this, - I hope so, then a completely new political situation will arise in the South Caucasus, President Ilham Aliyev rightly noted. These were the words of a global politician who has proven the ability to build and implement brilliant strategy and tactics for great victories on the battlefield and at the negotiating table. These were the words of one who managed to achieve the implementation of the most ambitious projects, from which both Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Georgia, and other countries of the world receive enormous profits. These were the words of someone who is focused on new, positive changes in the South Caucasus. And this despite the fact that Armenia still holds 8 Azerbaijani villages under occupation, having officially signed up to recognize the territorial integrity of our country, including the Garabagh economic region and enclaves. It is precisely this, forcing official Yerevan to fulfill its obligations, that those who want to position themselves as the main center for bringing together the positions of Armenia and Azerbaijan should devote time to. And today a clear message was sent to all of them - official Baku is ready to sign a peace treaty with Yerevan, proposing a new format for this. If this is not one-sided and not biased, then, of course, we accept any mediation and assistance. But, in my opinion, the most correct choice in this area, taking into account both historical ties and the geographical factor, of course, could be Georgia, - the Azerbaijani President said. This creates an alternative to peace negotiations between Baku and Yerevan in Brussels, under the auspices of the EU. Azerbaijan does not abandon them but shows that there cannot be a monopoly on such an issue as the formation of a peaceful future of the South Caucasus. This is exactly the same fair, justified, and firm position as Frances refusal to mediate in the negotiation process. It has tarnished itself too much by demonstrating a one-sided, unfair approach, and even flaunting its provocative, anti-Azerbaijani, anti-Turkish foreign policy. Peace in the South Caucasus, first of all, must be forged by the countries of the region. This is such an obvious truth that it is even inconvenient to repeat it over and over again. All countries and organizations trying to play their role in our region cannot be more interested in the peace and prosperity of the South Caucasus than the Azerbaijanis, Georgians, Armenians, Turks, and Iranians. And therefore, the proposal of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is not only justified, logical, and correct, but also indisputable. The main thing is not to miss that unique, historical chance to establish lasting peace in our region. Mira, the price of which is well known in Azerbaijan. A world that has gained even greater value in light of the tragic events in different parts of our planet. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 October 2023 20:22 (UTC+04:00) Starting from October 10, Azerbaijan Airlines resumes flights from Baku to Tel Aviv and back, Azernews reports, citing Azertag. In case of any changes or updates regarding flights, passengers will be notified accordingly. The airline expresses its gratitude for understanding during the temporary suspension of flights due to the unstable situation in Israel. For more information, passengers are advised to contact the call center of Azerbaijan Airlines at [email protected], AZAL added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 October 2023 22:36 (UTC+04:00) By Teymur Atayev, Day.az There are still some amazing moments we come across in life. Although, perhaps, upon closer examination, what is happening is not surprising, but is a consequence of the painful psychology of the people. Or certain character traits. Well, the question is: why wont our geographical neighbors, represented by Armenia, understand that instead of following in the footsteps of one state or another, it is better to move along the path of taking truly independent steps that can contribute to the country becoming not an object, but a subject of world politics? And if Armenia does not agree with us in assessing their actions, then let them loudly announce the reason why they blame Russia for the lack of assistance to official Yerevan, while simultaneously expressing dissatisfaction with the UN missions assessment of the situation in Garabagh. Well, a plus - let them explain why Yerevan suddenly began to register grievances against Paris and other European capitals, that they are not so active in protecting the interests of Armenia. Aren't you tired? Aren't you tired of knocking on every door? Is it really not clear that none of the external forces will be harnessed to concrete actions in favor of Armenia? And not because, say, the most important thing for France now is to cope with the invasion of bedbugs. The question is different - it is unlikely that Germany, France, Canada and others like them will directly compromise international law for the sake of indulging Armenian desires. Fortunately, Azerbaijan has proven that historical justice is achievable precisely on the basis of compliance with international law. Although, maybe the point here is that the Armenians simply cannot figure out what real national independence is for them. Or they don't need it at all. The subtlety here is that history has clearly proven: on the battlefield - one-on-one - Armenia always concedes. Thus, according to the testimony of the commander of the British Expeditionary Force in Iran, General Lionel Charles Densterville, who arrived in Baku in the summer of 1918 with a combined detachment led by him in order to confront the Ottoman forces, local troops, in most cases Armenians, lay in a chain behind the ridges of rocks and they fired into the air from there" more often when the Turks "did not think of going on the offensive" and "the nearest Turkish soldier was 3 thousand yards away from us." Here, by the way, it is advisable to cite the confessions of the nationalist and terrorist Stepan Shaumyan in light of the fact that on July 30, 1918, Turkish troops came close to Baku. As he wrote, Armenian units numbering more than 3,000 bayonets and before this refused to occupy pre-planned positions in the vicinity of the city. And then the commander of the Bolshevik troops, Colonel Avetisov, declaring that the fate of the city was decided, demanded to be allowed to immediately throw out the white flag; Amazasp and Kazarov expressed their solidarity with him. If we draw a thread from 1918 to today, then without much strain on memory we can remember how Armenian soldiers deserted from the battlefield in the fall of 2020 during the Second Garabagh War. Well, okay, let the Armenian forces not show strength and courage on the battlefield. So why not use the opportunities that Azerbaijan provides them today to become a truly independent country? Why not sign a peace agreement and stop depending on certain external forces? Why not stop being in the role of geopolitical supplicants, knocking on doorsteps and keeping the telephone lines of Moscow, Paris, Brussels, etc. busy all the time? Although, it is probably appropriate to turn to Armenian sources again. As the Armenian Soviet writer and academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Armenian SSR Derenik Demirchyan testified, where any other tribe knows how to deserve only love, the Armenian will find a way to cause hatred", because he "didn't understand". So, maybe, after all, Armenia will reconsider its mythological and psychological collisions in its consciousness and hear the peace-loving calls of Baku and Ankara. And then there will be no need to make various kinds of incomprehensible requests to those who are only using them as instruments for pursuing their policies in the region. Unless, of course, Armenia really wants to become an independent state, not demonstratively, but in reality. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 October 2023 09:37 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijan Airlines cancels all flights to and from Tel Aviv Ben-Gurion Airport scheduled for Sunday, October 8, in connection with the recent events in Israel. This was reported by Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC, Azernews reports. Additional information will be provided regarding the implementation of flights on the Baku-Tel Aviv-Baku route. Passengers purchasing a ticket to Tel Aviv are entitled to a full refund or free ticket replacement. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 8) The Philippines on Sunday condemned the surprise attack by Palestinian Islamist militant movement Hamas on Israel which has left hundreds dead on both sides. The Philippines conveys its deepest sympathies and condolences to those who have lost family members and loved ones in recent attacks. The Philippines condemns the attacks, especially against civilian populations, the Office of the President said. The Philippines understands the right of states to self-defense in the light of external aggression as recognized in the United Nations Charter, it added. The Saturday attack which took place during Simchat Torah, a peaceful celebration of the Jewish people, has left 300 dead and thousands wounded in Israel, CNNs live coverage said, citing the countrys officials. LIVE UPDATES: Israel says it is 'at war' after Hamas surprise attack In retaliation for Hamas' attack, Israel launched air strikes on the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory bordering the eastern and northern parts of Israel. According to the Palestines Health Ministry, 232 have been reported dead while over 1,600 were wounded in the exclave. No Filipinos have been reported dead or hurt in the fighting, but the government is trying to verify unconfirmed reports from news aggregators claiming that Pinoys were among those killed or kidnapped by the Islamist militants. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo on Sunday said his department was monitoring the situation and welfare of Filipinos in the region. The Presidential Communications Office said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. instructed the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to locate and account for the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families in Israel. On Sunday, OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio said there were around 24,807 OFWs in Israel. The DMW said in a statement from August last year that these workers are mostly employed as caregivers or as service sector and hotel employees. There are around 200 OFWs residing in the Gaza Strip, Ignacio added. The Israel Embassy in Manila denounced the attack, branding Hamas as a terrorist organization. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) will have to respond to these attacks, initiating a large-scale operation after Hamas has practically announced war against Israel. Israel has the full right to respond and protect itself, the embassy said. In this moment of anguish, we call on our friends and allies to express strong support for Israel and to condemn these terror attacks by Hamas. We expect the international community and our close allies to condemn terror and express support for Israel's right to defend itself and its citizens. Meanwhile, the DMW and the OWWA has set up a 24/7 Task Force for OFWs and their families in Israel, which can be reached through these numbers: Hotline: +63 2 1348 WhatsApp and Viber: +63 9083268344 | +63 9271478186 | +63 9205171059. 8 October 2023 13:06 (UTC+04:00) According to the joint action plan signed between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan, "Khazri-2023" Joint Tactical Exercises with the participation of warships and military personnel of the Naval Forces of both countries has ended, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry. On October 8, a ceremonial closing ceremony was held with the participation of Commander of the Azerbaijan Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Subhan Bakirov, Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Rear Admiral Bekzhanov Saken, exercise participants from both countries, and media representatives. Ceremony speakers noted that all the assigned tasks were successfully accomplished and wished the participants success in their future service. It was noted that the joint tactical exercises is of special importance in the exchange of mutual experience, as well as in increasing the professionalism of the military personnel of both countries. It should be noted that the Iranian Naval Forces delegation also participated as an observer in the "Khazri-2023" Joint Tactical Exercises which started on October 2 and was conducted in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 October 2023 14:39 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili have viewed the photo exhibition entitled "The Architect of Prosperity" dedicated to the 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in Tbilisi, Azernews reports. The President of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Georgia were informed about the exhibition. It was noted that this exhibition, which is an expression of respect for the National Leader who turned Azerbaijan into a modern and economically prosperous country, tells about how the Great Leader dedicated his whole life to the statehood and people of Azerbaijan and how wisely he laid the foundation for the future development of the country. The exhibition showcases photos highlighting Great Leader Heydar Aliyev`s attention to Azerbaijani culture and his meetings with young people. The exposition`s corner dedicated to Azerbaijan-Georgia relations features photos of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev's meetings with former Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze, as well as President Ilham Aliyev`s meetings with Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 October 2023 10:00 (UTC+04:00) Now is the time for spiritual clarity. I call on every government to do the right thing - to condemn Hamas and support Israel." Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan George Dick wrote in his "X" account, Azernews reports. As Israelis were celebrating Sukkot holiday with their families, Hamas invaded our towns and attacked our cities with rockets. They killed families in their beds, and kidnapped many. Its still not over. Not even close. Israel is at war. Hamas didnt do anything unexpected: pic.twitter.com/qOQ6X5LiAL George Deek (@GeorgeDeek) October 7, 2023 "As Israelis were celebrating Sukkot holiday with their families, Hamas invaded our towns and attacked our cities with rockets. They killed families in their beds, and kidnapped many. Its still not over. Not even close. Israel is at war. Hamas didnt do anything unexpected: theyve been calling for genocide against Jews for years. Its in their charter. Its enshrined in the ideology of their sponsors, Iran. Now is the time for moral clarity. I call on every government to do the right thing: condemn Hamas and stand with Israel" the ambassador stressed. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 October 2023 08:00 (UTC+04:00) "I am closely monitoring developments in Israel. Our commitment to Israel's right to defend itself remains unwavering, and I extend my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this abhorrent attack on civilians. Over the coming days the Department of Defense will work to ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself and protect civilians from indiscriminate violence and terrorism." says US Defense Chief To recall, in the morning of 7 October radicals from the Gaza Strip fired rockets at Israel. In response to the massive rocket fire on the Palestinian side, the Israeli army announced the start of Operation Iron Swords. As a result of the Hamas attack on Israel, 545 people were hospitalised, at least 22 people were killed in the incident. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 October 2023 16:55 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijanis from Poland and other European countries are holding a rally in the center of Warsaw. According to Azernews, the protest is against the mine terror unleashed by Armenia against Azerbaijan. During the rally, the participants called for peace. Your browser doesn't support video. Please download the file: video/mp4 Your browser doesn't support video. Please download the file: video/mp4 --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 October 2023 17:23 (UTC+04:00) A patriot missile was launched in northern Israel. This is a preliminary report and further information will follow. According to the report, Patriot missiles will try and intercept drone attacks from Lebanon on Safad in the North of the occupied territories. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 October 2023 18:28 (UTC+04:00) The purpose of the attack on Israel on October 7 may be to disrupt the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this in an interview with ABC TV. "Everyone knows that Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran are against the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. If we say that what happened is aimed at disrupting these efforts, then we can talk about it for a long time," Blinken said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 October 2023 19:55 (UTC+04:00) Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani will undertake an official visit to Azerbaijan to attend the 27th Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) to be held from 9- 10 October 2023 in Susha, Azerbaijan, Azernews reports, citing the report from Pakistan's Foreign Ministry. Foreign Minister Jilani will address the Council of Ministers (COM) and hold bilateral meetings with participating ministers of member states and other dignitaries on the sidelines of the event. As the policy-making forum of the ECO, the Council of Ministers approves the decisions and annual work plan of the Organization. At the 27th COM, the member states will discuss the promotion of sustainable economic development of the ECO region through trade and economic cooperation and mutual assistance in social, cultural, technical and scientific fields. The Theme of this years event is Green Transition and Interconnectivity. As a founding member, Pakistan remains strongly committed to ECOs aims and objectives and has remained at the forefront of all major ECO initiatives/agreements such as the ECO Trade Agreement (ECOTA) and the ECO Transit Transport Framework Agreement (ECOTTFA). --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Executive Editor Christine L. Peterson answers your questions and takes your complaints about The Californians news coverage in this feedback forum. Questions may be edited for space and clarity. To offer your input by phone, call 661-395-7649 and leave your comments in a voicemail message or email us at soundoff@bakersfield.com. Please include your name and phone number; your phone number wont be published. Robert Price is a three-time Emmy-winning reporter for KGET-TV. Reach him at rprice661@gmail.com or via X, formerly Twitter: @stubblebuzz. The opinions expressed here are his own. Jerusalem and Gaza (CNN) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country is embarking on a long and difficult war as it deals with an unprecedented hostage crisis after Palestinian militants launched a surprise land, sea and air attack from Gaza Saturday, killing hundreds and infiltrating into Israeli territory. The shock attacks by Hamas led to the deadliest day in decades for Israel and come after months of surging violence between Palestinians and Israelis with the decades-long conflict now heading into uncharted and dangerous new territory. Israels political-security cabinet convened late Saturday and made a series of operational decisions aimed at bringing about the destruction of the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, in a way that would negate their ability and desire to threaten and harm the citizens of Israel for many years to come, according to a statement from the office of Israels Prime Minister. Netanyahu vowed mighty vengeance on the Palestinian militant group Hamas following its unprecedented assault on Israel that appeared to catch the entire Israeli military and intelligence apparatus off guard in one of the countrys worst security failures. Throughout Saturday and into Sunday, Hamas launched thousands of rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel making direct hits on multiple locations inside the country including Tel Aviv while armed terror groups entered Israel and infiltrated military bases, towns and farms, shooting at civilians and taking hostages. At least 300 Israelis have been killed, an Israeli official told CNN and more than 1,500 have been injured, Israeli media reported. Israel responded by launching air strikes on what it said were Hamas targets in Gaza, while its forces clashed on the ground with Hamas fighters in villages, army bases and border crossings. Israeli warplanes continued to pound Gaza on Sunday morning with the Israel Defense Forces saying it had struck 426 targets in Gaza, including 10 towers used by Hamas. In Gaza, at least 232 Palestinians have died and more than 1,600 are wounded, the Palestinian health ministry said. The Israeli leader said the first phase of the operation had ended with the destruction of the majority of the enemy forces that penetrated our territory. Netanyahu announced Israeli forces have started an offensive formation which will continue without reservation and without respite until the objectives are achieved. Among the decisions made by the cabinet is to stop the supply of electricity, fuel and goods to Gaza. Complicating Israels response is that a significant number of Israeli nationals were taken by Hamas as hostages and are being held at locations across Gaza. It is unprecedented in our history that we have so many Israeli nationals in the hands of a terrorist organization, Israeli Defense Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus (Res) told CNN, without giving an exact number. I can assure you that the IDF will be focused on getting each and every Israeli back. These are numbers that we have never, ever seen before, he added. It has been more than 17 years since an Israeli soldier was taken as a prisoner of war in an assault on Israeli territory. And Israel has not seen this kind of infiltration of military bases, towns and kibbutzim since town-by-town fighting in the 1948 war of independence. In a statement Saturday, Palestinian militant group Hamas said the captured Israeli hostages are being held across Gaza and warned against attacks in the area. Threatening Gaza and its people is a losing game and a broken record, said Abu Obaida spokesman for the Al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas in a recorded audio message late Saturday. What happens to the people of the Gaza Strip will happen to them and beware of miscalculation. Earlier, the group claimed to have captured dozens of Israelis, including soldiers, and were holding them in safe places and resistance tunnels. The IDF said Sunday that many hundreds, possibly as many as 1,000 Hamas fighters were involved in the attack, according to Conricus, who said fighting inside Israel was still ongoing as of 4.15 a.m. local time Sunday morning (9:15 a.m., Philippine time). The priority for the Israeli military Sunday was to make sure that we clear all Israel communities of terrorists that are still inside Israel, he said, adding that the IDF was still clearing the last houses and locations and communities and bases. Hopefully, at the break of dawn we will be able to declare that we have finally restored sovereignty and order in Israel. But that has not yet been achieved. And that will be our number one priority, he said. No warning of any kind Saturdays attack prompted strong reactions from around the world. US President Joe Biden said his administrations support of Israels security is rock solid and unwavering and many European leaders denounced the violence, while Brazil said it will call an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council. Air France said it is suspending its flights to Tel Aviv and US aviation officials issued a special bulletin to pilots and airlines urging extreme caution. The highly coordinated assault, which began Saturday morning, was unprecedented in its scale and scope and came on the 50th anniversary of the 1973 War in which Arab states blitzed Israel on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. We had no warning of any kind, and it was a total surprise that the war broke out this morning, Efraim Halevy, the former head of Mossad, Israels Intelligence Service, told CNN. The number of rockets fired by Palestinian militants was at a scale never seen before, Halevy said, and this was the first time that Gaza has been able to penetrate deep into Israel and to take control of villages. This is beyond imagination from our point of view, and we didnt know they had this quantity of [rockets], and we certainly didnt expect that they would be as effective as they were today, he said. Fighting carried on throughout the day and into the night, and a fresh round of rocket attacks hit Tecl Aviv and other areas on Saturday evening. The IDF urged civilians in Gaza to leave their residential areas as Israeli military operations continued. Air raid sirens and rockets could be heard in Israel throughout the night into Sunday. You can hear the intercept missiles banging in the air, said CNNs International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson as he arrived at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. It is rare for Palestinian militants to be able to make it into Israel from Gaza which is sealed off and heavily watched by Israels military. Gaza is one of the most densely packed places in the world, an isolated coastal enclave of almost 2 million people crammed into 140 square miles. Governed by Hamas, the territory is largely cut off from the rest of the world by an Israeli blockade of Gazas land, air and sea dating back to 2007. Egypt controls Gazas southern border crossing, Rafah. Israel has placed heavy restrictions on the freedom of civilian movement and controls the importation of basic goods into the narrow coastal strip. Fighting between the two sides has surged in the last two years. The violence has been driven by frequent Israeli military raids in Palestinian towns and cities, which Israel has said are a necessary response to a rising number of attacks by Palestinian militants on Israelis. They also come at a moment of deep division in Israel, months after the countrys right-wing government pushed through a contentious plan to reduce the power of the countrys courts, sparking a social and political crisis. Pleas for release of hostages Israelis are sharing photos of friends and family who they say have been kidnapped by Hamas militants and are urging the public to help spread the word in hopes of getting them back safely. Yoni Asher, a resident of Sharon region, told CNN he recognized his wife from a viral video that shows a group of people loaded into the back of a truck flanked by Hamas militants. Asher said his wife and young daughters were visiting his mother-in-law in Nir Oz, a kibbutz near the Gaza border. He said he contacted them on Saturday morning and suspected they may have been abducted. He tracked his wifes phone and learned that it was located in Gaza, he said. Later that day, he saw the viral clip. In the video, a woman is seen in the truck as a militant puts a scarf on her head. Asher told CNN that the woman is his wife though CNN has not been able to independently verify the video. The situation is not looking good, Asher said, adding that his wife and mother-in-law have German citizenship and pleaded with the German government for help. A German foreign ministry source told CNN that, the Federal Foreign Office and the German embassy in Tel Aviv are in close contact with the Israeli authorities in order to clarify whether and to what extent German citizens are affected. An Israel Police spokesperson has told CNN that family members who wish to report their loved ones as missing to come to the nearest police station when its safe to leave their homes. The police suggested relatives bring photos and personal items from which DNA samples can be extracted to help with identification. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Israeli leader warns of long war as it faces unprecedented hostage crisis following Hamas attack" Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Diana Lambert of EdSource is based in Sacramento. Among other topics, she writes about teachers and teaching in California. Archived Results for Sunday, October 8th, 2023 Newer Older Entries Page 1 Page 2 This post appears here courtesy of the Carolina Journal . The author of this post is Theresa Opeka Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast continues to produce a mixed bag of news.The company submitted an application for a commercial zoning compliance permit to the Chatham County Planning Board on July 11 for its proposed $4 billion EV production plant in Moncure.Plans include a 2.85 million square foot complex comprising eight buildings, including a press shop, the tallest building, at 75.2 feet; and a general assembly building, the largest at 995,900 square feet. Other buildings include a body shop, central energy plant, paint shop, guard house, pump house, and waste building.According to the planning board's website, the next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 1 at 6:30. No word if VinFast's plans will be discussed.While that appears promising, word came a few days later, on July 13, that shareholders of Black Spade Acquisition Company, the special-purpose-acquisition company (SPAC) that VinFast was supposed to merge with on July 20, decided to extend the company's lifespan by another year. The vote now gives the SPAC until July 20, 2024, to merge with the company.The merger would allow VinFast to go public through a stock offering in the U.S. It would value the company at approximately $27 billion with an equity value of $23 billion. After the transaction, existing shareholders of VinFast would hold about 99% shares of the combined company.In connection with the extension, shareholders redeemed approximately $147 million, or over 80% of their shares, leaving $28.56 million in the trust account.Some think the merger should besaid Reuters Antony Currie.SPACS were seen as being popular in the last few years, but recent studies, including one from Harvard University, paint a different picture.There are risks associated with SPACS, including subpar returns.Investopedia.com quoted a Renaissance Capital strategist saying that as many as 70% of SPACs that had their initial public offering (IPO) in 2021 were trading below their $10 offer price by the end of that year. He said this downward trend could signal that the SPAC bubble some market experts had predicted may be bursting.Unfulfilled deals are also another pitfall. The website said that more than 55 supposed SPAC deals, worth tens of billions of dollars, ended up being terminated in 2022, with an additional 65 SPAC sponsors shutting down entirely.In addition, VinFast has only had 128 new vehicle registrations from January to May for its VF8 crossover.Although the vehicle is only currently being sold in California, Insideevs.com said the sales are abysmal considering that California is America's largest EV market, with approximately 40% of all zero-emission vehicle sales in the country.The company has been struggling with a series of issues with the vehicle, including a recall in May for all 999 VF8 2023 vehicles sent to the U.S. due to safety concerns.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued the recall due to a multifunction head-unit display problem caused by a software error that may cause it to go blank while driving, increasing the chances of a crash. The error was talked about in-depth in many critical reviews in the past few months.Reviews of the vehicle sparked words like abysmal,andincluding from the highly respected MotorTrend, which said VinFast had the right idea, but the VF8 is nowhere near ready for customer deliveries that are already taking place.The Moncure plant, which was scheduled to open at Triangle Innovation Point in 2024, was pushed back to 2025.To attract the newly formed company, the state and Chatham County committed to spending nearly $1.2 billion in incentives over the next 32 years.Using the state's Transformative Job Development and Investment Grant program (JDIG), VinFast could get up to $316.1 million in reimbursement from the state over three decades if the company meets hiring goals.The total state appropriation is estimated at $766 million, with Chatham County giving VinFast another $400 million incentive package.New roads are being built for the project through eminent domain, leading to the loss of many homes, businesses, and a church that has been around since 1888. As School Choice is beginning to take shape in North Carolina: What is your position on what it should evolve into? 6.25% School Choice is only a distraction from the promise of real public education.90.63% School Choice, as it evolves into its best model to serve the public' s education needs, this benefit will provide choices outside of the historic construct supporting the public school monopoly.3.13% School Choice - I cannot see how it serves the Education Industry. This post appears here courtesy of The James G. Martin Center . The author of this post is Jack Salmon Earlier this year, in a landmark action, the Kansas legislature passed the Donor Intent Protection Act, which helps ensure that donors' wishes are respected when they make a charitable gift as an endowment. This is a significant step forward for philanthropy, as it will help to build trust between donors and beneficiaries, on campus and elsewhere.Donor-intent protections are intended to uphold the details of an explicit written agreement between a donor and a charitable organization. Such agreements typically specify how the endowed funds will be used, such as for a specific program or purpose. When a donor makes a gift to an endowment with specific intentions, it is important that those intentions be respected.There are a number of reasons why this is so. First, donor-intent protections help ensure that donors' wishes are carried out. When donors make a gift, they are entrusting their money to a charitable organization with the expectation that it will be used for the purpose they intended. Donor-intent protections help to guarantee that this trust is not betrayed.Second, donor-intent protections help build trust between donors and beneficiaries. When donors know their wishes will be respected, they are more likely to give. This is good for both donors and beneficiaries, as it helps to ensure that charitable organizations have the resources they need to carry out their missions.Third, donor-intent protections help promote transparency and accountability. When charitable organizations are required to adhere to donors' intent, it helps to guarantee that they are using donors' money in a responsible and ethical way. This is important for both donors and the public, as it helps to hold charitable organizations accountable for their actions.One example of disregarded donor intent concerns the Moritz family and Ohio State University (OSU). In 2001, Michael Moritz, an alumnus of the Ohio State law school, generously donated $30.3 million to the university. The purpose of Moritz's donation was to establish a permanent endowment that would be utilized for specific objectives, including the support of four chaired professorships and the provision of 30 annual law-school scholarships, along with stipends.After a span of 15 years, Jeff Moritz, Michael's son, examined a financial report concerning his father's endowment fund, provided by OSU. To his astonishment, Jeff discovered that OSU had awarded only 12-16 scholarships per year, falling far short of the agreed-upon number of 30. Furthermore, the endowment fund presently held a total of $21.9 million, and approximately $3 million had been withdrawn to support OSU's development operations.Regrettably, the Moritz family found themselves unable to legally enforce Michael Moritz's instructions concerning the disbursement of his endowment gift. As a result of OSU's disregard for its donor's intentions, more than 300 law students were burdened with significant debt for a legal education that should have been financed through the privately-endowed funds of the Moritz Merit Scholarship.Carol Bratton's story serves as another unfortunate example of a donor whose wishes were disregarded. Having worked as an administrative assistant to the dean of the Logsdon School of Theology at Hardin-Simmons University, Bratton had a strong connection to the institution, as did her late husband, who served as the associate vice president of information technology there. In memory of her husband, Bratton decided to make a donation to their longtime employer.In 2008, she contributed $5,000, and over the next five years she saved enough to make an additional gift of $10,000, which met the minimum requirement to establish an endowment at Hardin-Simmons. Bratton's agreement specified that if the doctor of ministry program were to be discontinued, the dean of Logsdon would have the discretion to allocate the funds to benefit seminary students in some other way.However, in 2020, Bratton received an email notifying her that the Logsdon seminary was being closed altogether and, consequently, that her scholarship would be terminated. Regrettably, Hardin-Simmons University was now unable to honor the original intention behind Bratton's gift. When she requested that the donation be returned to her, Bratton states, the university's vice president for advancement responded by laughing and dismissively stating that it would never happen.A final example is the case of the Robertson Family and Princeton University. In 1961, Charles and Marie Robertson donated $35 million to Princeton to establish a graduate school for international and public affairs. The gift included specific instructions for preparing graduates for careers in government, specifically in the area of international relations.By 2002, the Robertsons' endowment fund had ballooned to $900 million. However, the descendants of the Robertsons discovered that fewer than one in five graduates were entering government careers as the Robertsons had intended. Worse yet, a forensic audit revealed that over $100 million of earmarked funds had been misused by Princeton.After a six-year legal battle, the case was settled in 2008. Under the terms of the settlement, Princeton agreed to return $100 million to the Robertson family, but the university was allowed to keep the remaining $800 million in endowment funds.The Robertson case is a clear example of how donor intent can be disregarded by universities. It is also a reminder that donors have a right to expect that their gifts will be used in accordance with their wishes.The Kansas legislature's decision to pass the Donor Intent Protection Act is a positive step for philanthropy. The law will help build trust between donors and beneficiaries, promote transparency and accountability, and ensure that donors' wishes are carried out. Other states should follow Kansas's lead and introduce similar legislation to protect donor intent.As a previously hyperlinked study makes clear, donors who believe their wishes will be respected are more likely to give to the charity of their choice. The study also found that donors who are satisfied with the way their gift is used are more likely to give again in the future.These findings suggest that donor-intent protections can play a significant role in increasing charitable giving. By helping build trust between donors and beneficiaries, donor-intent protections can encourage more people to give to charity. This is good for both donors and beneficiaries. North Carolina's new science standards add beneficial introductory material about the scientific method and its importance Unfortunately, in some areas the standards seem to promote one-sided discussions of important topics, such as climate change Forthcoming supplementary documents, plus teachers' individual lesson plans, will determine how the standards are implemented During its monthly meeting on July 6, the North Carolina State Board of Education (NCSBE) approved the third and final version of new content standards for teaching K-12 science. The new standards will be implemented in the state's public schools starting in the 2024-2025 school year.While the standards writing team deserves kudos for adding material about the scientific method to North Carolina's K-12 science standards, a cursory review shows that writers missed other chances to improve the standards, which continue to facilitate one-sided coverage of important topics, such as climate change.According to a presentation given during the meeting, writers made two changes to the previous draft: first, theyto; second, they added a short paragraph about the scientific method to the introduction for each grade level or course.After examining the writing team's first attempt, Bob Luebke, Director of the Center for Effective Education at the John Locke Foundation, warned that the draft was ain whichLuebke pointed out that the first draft didn't contain the safeguards necessary to ensure that the teaching of certain topics remainedUnfortunately, the new version that will be implemented in schools a year from now didn't resolve these concerns and instead will continue to facilitate one-sided perspectives on certain topics.For example, students taking the Earth and Environmental Science course will be expected toShouldn't these students also be able to explain how forest management practices like prescribed burns can effectively reduce the risk of wildfires?In a similar vein, one objective to help seventh gradersis toStudents taking the Earth and Environmental Science course will be asked toThe term greenhouse effect is commonly associated with progressive ideas about global warming. According to an article from National Geographic, for example,The article goes on to explain,As Bob Luebke noted previously, the issue is not over whether human activities impact the environment, but whether classroom discussions remain fair and objective and encourage students to evaluate and engage with diverging, multifaceted viewpoints, including the role that human activity has played in improving and protecting the environment.The unpacking documents - supplementary materials prepared by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction - will likely contain material on climate change, too. A Data Review Committee (DRC) report indicated that stakeholders (educators and other members of the public) had recommended additional content on the topic of climate change. Consequently, the DRC suggested thatIt remains to be seen what guidance will be provided.Furthermore, the final version of the standards failed to clarify vague language that was included in previous iterations. For example, one objective in the approved standards that is meant to help eighth gradersis toThis language, which remained unchanged from the first draft, seems to imply that the only relationship between human activities and global temperatures is a negative one. Such language could compromise the standards' clarity, one of the requirements for state content standards.One positive change that made its way into the final version of the standards was a paragraph about the process and importance of the scientific method, which was added to the introductory remarks that precede the standards for each grade level or course. The paragraph states that the scientific method involvesIt explains that this process is important because itThe inclusion of the scientific method in the standards is a welcome development. Teaching students to approach science through the lens of the scientific method is good because the process helps ensure reproducible research and statistically significant results, as well as a standardized approach to answering scientific questions. The standards could have emphasized the importance of the scientific method even more, however, by including it in the body of the standards themselves, rather than relegating it to the introduction.While the final version of the standards is now set, staff at the Department of Public Instruction will continue their work by creatingthat explain in greater detail what the standards mean in terms of what students should know and be able to do after completing each grade or course.Districts and teachers will be free to choose the curricula and materials they use to implement the standards. It remains to be seen how they will choose to do so. Considering what real news is available for all to witness, and in great specificity, should one pursue what is true outside of the channeled realm of the corrupt corporate /legacy media, and: Is Institutionalized Corruption real, and is it a hindrance to sustaining our Constitutional Republic now, and for future generations of American citizens? Yes No Not sure 258 total vote(s) What's your Opinion? poll#164 It has been far too many years since the Woke theology interlaced its canons within the fabric of the Indoctrination Realm, so it is nigh time to ask: Does this Representative Republic continue, as a functioning society of a self-governed people, by contending with the unusual, self absorbed dictates of the Woke, and their vast array of Victimhood scenarios? Yes, the Religion of Woke must continue; there are so many groups of underprivileged, underserved, a direct result of unrelenting Inequity; they deserve everything. No; the Woke fools must be toppled from their self-anointed pedestal; a functioning society of a good Constitutional people cannot withstand this level of "existential" favoritism as it exists now. I just observe; with this thoughtful observation: What will happen "when the Vikings are breeching our walls;" how do the Woke react? 808 total vote(s) What's your Opinion? As the first day of school fast approaches, parents may once more find themselves taking a backseat in their children's educational journey, at least for the time being.Earlier this year, legislation including parental rights (Senate Bill 49) was introduced and passed by both the North Carolina House and Senate but was ultimately vetoed by Governor Cooper.The North Carolina House is waiting to reschedule a vote to override Governor Cooper's veto on Senate Bill 49.A few thoughts:Here at Locke, we believe that it is the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children. We firmly believe that one of the best ways for parents to reassert this authority and influence would be through a Parents' Bill of Rights. You can learn more about our work with parents and other stakeholders in crafting aEarlier this spring, we conducted a poll that found that 62% of respondents supported a Parents Bill of Rights, and only 27% opposed it.Digits that clearly show a 2 to 1 ratio in support of legislation.Looking at the numbers more closely, you can see that a Parent's Bill of Rights has strong support on both sides of the political spectrum, with 69% percent of Democrats supporting the idea and 63% of Republicans. Independents' support was slightly lower at 45%.The support is there. So, why the holdup?It appears the governor is more concerned about thethat would occur in the classroom than he is about student enrichment.In his statement regarding his veto of SB 49, Governor Cooper commented:If the governor says that parents should be thefor their children, you'd think he would listen to the voters rather than make statements trying to please his party's leadership.Friend, the overwhelming support for a Parent's Bill of Rights could not be more clear.My biggest hope is that parents will finally be given the right to decide the best course of action to ensure that their child succeeds and thrives- something that every young person deserves.It's far time that we put children over politics. Tom Campbell The old aphorism was never truer,The big news this week has been the state budget and why, almost three months late, it hasn't passed.Casino gambling is the stumbling block. House Speaker Tim Moore announced there weren't enough votes in his chamber to pass the gambling bill, a proposal that would establish four casinos in our state. Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger strongly favors casino passage. One of them would be in his home county.Lawmakers took off most of the month of August for a summer vacation. In the interim the Freedom Caucus had time to organize and strategize how they would prevent the passage of gambling. A late August poll taken by the John Locke Foundation found that 54.6 percent strongly or somewhat support casinos, however 46 percent worried that casinos would have unfavorable social consequences. More importantly, almost 76 percent think gambling should be put to a vote of the people, allowing the pros and cons to be aired.Special interest groups are putting on a full court press. Democracy North Carolina reported that more than $530,650 had been contributed to lawmakers in the first six months of 2023 in support of gambling or marijuana businesses. We don't know how much more has been expended since July. Has North Carolina become astate?But Phil Berger was not to be denied and knows how to play hardball. He determined to put the casino legislation inside the state budget, daring those opposing it to either pass the budget with casinos in it or vote against the entire budget. The Freedom caucus revolted, calling his hand.Speaker Moore repeated he only had 41 sure votes for passage and would not put anything on the floor that he didn't have the votes to pass. In a move seldom seen in legislative politics, Berger went public in criticizing Moore and the House, saying they had had a secret agreement that casinos would be in the budget and now Moore was reneging. Not so, said the obviously peeved Speaker. He made the agreement with the contingency that he could get enough votes for passage. And he didn't have them.Midweek the mood was contentious and gloomy for budget passage. Moore instructed House members to return to their homes, saying a budget wasn't likely anytime soon.Why is gambling holding up passage of the budget? Is it just a power play by Berger and casino advocates? Why not just remove the casinos from the budget and get on with it? And no less than Donald Trump, Jr has called national attention to this donnybrook in our state, saying this isn't the MAGA way.But the legislators aren't the only players in this scenario. Governor Cooper will have to either approve or veto any budget passed, and he has no idea about all the special provisions, pork projects, controversial and partisan items Republicans have inserted thus far. He desperately wants to have Medicaid expansion funded but will there be so much poison Cooper will veto a budget?Here is what we have learned: Berger's home is located near Danville, Virginia, where a new casino opened recently. It is attracting large crowds and a count of car license plates reveals a large number of them come from North Carolina. Phil Berger understands the math. Virginia is gaining large revenues from gambling proceeds. But there's more.We were told legislative fiscal research reveals that North Carolina might suffer budget shortfalls as soon as the 25-26 fiscal year, due to increased government spending and tax cuts. Casino tax revenues could help prevent those shortfalls without having to raise taxes.There's also the matter of Berger's authority being challenged. He is flexing his muscles to show who really has the power in our state and tells lawmakers that their pet projects might get scrapped from the budget if they don't vote right. Berger is playing hardball.The bottom line is that the impasse seems unsolvable and while the folks elected to doare playing political games there are real world consequences to their folly.Teachers and state employees have no idea what or how much in pay increases to expect. Maybe this is a reason why North Carolina schools are 3,500 teachers short of what is needed. Important state projects are put on hold or cancelled because of the delays. And you have to know the rest of the country is watching. People wishing to locate plants in our state have to be wondering if they can rely on a state to provide the infrastructure, schools, economy and support they need.This is embarrassing and unnecessary. We deserve better and would remind lawmakers that, even though they have gerrymandered our state mercilessly, elections are coming soon. NC Department of Health and Human Services 2001 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-2001 Ph : (919) 855-4840 : (919) 855-4840 news@dhhs.nc.gov The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are recognizing SepticSmart Week Sept. 18-22, 2023. This annual event focuses on educating homeowners and communities on the proper care and maintenance of their septic systems. Proper care and maintenance protects the health and well-being of all North Carolinians by ensuring safe drinking water, preventing waterborne diseases, preserving the environment, maintaining property values and reducing repair costs.Approximately 50% of all occupied homes in North Carolina use septic systems - also known as on-site systems, decentralized wastewater treatment, cluster and private sewage - to collect, treat and disperse their wastewater. This dependence on septic systems within the state has remained relatively constant for more than 20 years and spans all 100 counties.said Larry Michael, Director of Environmental Health at NCDHHS.The On-Site Water Protection Branch, under the NCDHHS Division of Public Health, raises awareness of SepticSmart Week every September alongside the EPA. Together NCDHHS partners with other state entities to promote best management practices, including the following:Perform Regular Inspections: Have your septic system inspected every three years by a qualified professional or as recommended by your state or local health department.Conduct Pumping Maintenance: Pump your septic tank when necessary, typically every three to five years, to prevent buildup and ensure proper functioning.Dispose Responsibly: Avoid pouring harsh products like oils, grease, chemicals, paint and medications down the drain as these can clog your septic system. Discard non-degradable products such as floss, disposable wipes and cat litter in the trash instead of flushing them.Protect Your Drain Field: Keep cars and heavy vehicles away from the drain field and septic tank to prevent damage.Follow Manufacturer's Guidelines: When using septic tank cleaners and additives, always follow the manufacturer's directions.Fix Leaks: Repair any plumbing leaks promptly and use water-efficient fixtures to avoid overloading your septic system.Manage Vegetation: Maintain plants and vegetation near the system to ensure roots do not block drainpipes.Use Eco-Friendly Products: Use soaps and detergents that are low-suds, biodegradable and low-phosphate or phosphate-free.Take Winter Precautions: Prevent system freezing during cold weather by inspecting and insulating vulnerable system parts, such as the inspection pipe and soil treatment area.Governor Roy Cooper has also recognized SepticSmart Week annually in North Carolina.Additional resources are available online for homeowners:Interested in joining our team? See here East Carolina University Air Force ROTC cadets look at photos in a case in the library exhibition 75 Years of Detachment 600: East Carolinas Air Force ROTC. (ECU photos by Rhett Butler) From the vision and support of then-East Carolina Teachers College president John Messick in the 1940s to current cadets and commander Lt. Col. William Dye, who is East Carolina University Air Force ROTC's 28th commander, ECU is celebrating 75 years of its Air Force ROTC unit.Stemming from a 1947 application initiated by Messick, Air Force ROTC Detachment 600 opened in 1948.The detachment has racked up accolades and achieved notable milestones since its inception, including in 2017 when it received the Right of Line award as the best medium-sized detachment in the United States. Currently, it is the second-largest detachment in the state of North Carolina.A 75th anniversary ball was held at the Greenville Convention Center last Friday, weaving together decades of Pirates to network and reminisce. A main campus library exhibition,will be displayed on the library's first floor through the fall semester. The detachment also is working with university advancement for an ongoing crowdfunding campaign.said retired Gen. Gary North, '76, before a panel discussion at the library's exhibition.North, who attained the rank of four-star general during his military service, was keynote speaker at the 75th anniversary ball, 14 years after he served as keynote speaker for ECU's 2009 spring commencement ceremony. He is a Virginia native who currently lives in Fort Worth, Texas.ECU's Air Force and Army ROTC units are both part of the College of Health and Human Performance.Dye moderated the recent panel discussion. North was a panelist, joined by retired Maj. Michael McShane, '66, retired Col. Derrick Floyd, '97, Lt. Col. Elenah Kelly, 2000, and Joan Phillips, former longtime Detachment 600 administrative secretary.They were candid in stressing to current cadets in attendance about the importance of the ECU prestige.Floyd said.Alston Cobourn, head of university history and records for Academic Library Services, curated the exhibit.Cobourn said.In 1969, the U.S. Air Force chose ECU as one of five detachments to accept women. Martha Van Hoy was the first woman to join East Carolina's program, and in 1974, Mary Kathleen Langan was the detachment's first female commissioned line officer.Langan's breakthrough came two years after William T. Mitchell was ECU's first Black cadet to be commissioned, earning second lieutenant status in the U.S. Air Force.cadet Coriel Grannis-Ezell said.Pride and support are main factors to help cadets as they face various challenges while progressing through the ROTC program.Grannis-Ezell said.ECU's tradition of producing distinguished cadets, commanders, officers and military leaders is not lost on former and current cadets, especially this year amid 75th anniversary celebrations.cadet Colin McClelland said. LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. A criminal trial for former Loudoun County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Ziegler will head into its fourth day Thursday as he faces charges that he retaliated against a teacher for blowing the whistle on sexual abuse, and for cooperating with a special grand jury empaneled to investigate the school system following its coverup of a bathroom rape.Former teacher Erin Brooks testified that a 10-year-old autistic student would grab her genitals dozens of times a day while making sexual motions with his tongue, and that when she said her workplace was becoming unsafe, administrators gave her a piece of cardboard to hold in front of her groin and offered to buy her an apron to, as Brooks said,Ziegler's attorney Erin Harrigan and Diane Mackey, the principal of Rosa Lee Carter Elementary, both appeared to blame Brooks and her teaching aide Laurie Vandermeulen for the abuse the educators described in testimony. As far as they knew, they argued in court, the student didn't do the same to his new teacher, and the teachers failed to implement their suggestions such as the apron.The trial, in which the school district's disgraced former top official faces three misdemeanor charges, could be the best chance at criminal culpability for Loudoun officials after its spokesman was acquitted of felony perjury charges. Outrage over the school system's coverup of a rape by a skirt-wearing boy, coupled with the fact that the county's prosecutor is a leftist activist who tried to jail the rape victim's father, led Gov. Glenn Youngkin to empower a special grand jury to investigate the school system.The charges Ziegler is facing this week stem from allegations that the administrator punished a teacher for cooperating with that grand jury, and for talking about another incident of sexual abuse which she feared LCPS wanted to cover up.Brooks said she was a dedicated special education teacher who withstood hitting, spitting, and biting without complaint, but that this was something much worse, and she was concerned for the student as well as herself, but that the school district's response wasBrooks said.Prosecutors asked Mackey to show the jury what she wanted Brooks to use the piece of cardboard for, and Mackey stood up and held it in front of her groin.she said.Ziegler's attorney repeatedly suggested that Brooks was responsible for her own sexual assault because she refused to give the autistic student an iPad, leading to his frustration. The jury heard little evidence from witnesses that this occurred, and none to explain why Brooks - a second-generation special ed teacher - would have a motive to do that.Brooks and Vandermeulen documented how many times a day they were assaulted at work. They shared the chart by email with Principal Mackey, but she never even opened it. Vandermuelen eventually began forwarding some emails on the topic to her personal Gmail, fearing that they were headed towards another LCPS sex-abuse coverup.Vandermeulen broke down in tears on the witness stand recounting how she suffered the same abuse - first at the hands of a special needs student, and then at the hands of the school administration when she advocated for it to stop.She worked to get the attention of the school board but didn't know how, so a friend introduced her to Ian Prior, a frequent speaker before the school board. Vandermeulen gave Prior only a bare accounting of the difficulty she was facing - a teacher facing sexual abuse who filed a Title IX complaint in March 2022 - and he relayed the same at a school board meeting.After learning that Vandermeulen had the conversation, Brooks googled Prior's contact information and messaged him warning him not to disclose any personal information about the child - which it turned out was unnecessary because he didn't know any.After the school board meeting - which Mackey watched - the student was immediately removed from Brooks' and Vendermeulen's classroom, and Brooks was summoned to the office, believing something was finally being done to help her. Instead, she learned she was being investigated by the school system, and began facing retaliation, she said.Mackey read her performance evaluation of Brooks in court, which repeatedly seemed to blame her for her own sexual assault, and said her failure to control her classroom led to a student being moved to a different class, which the evaluation said was the major black mark against her.it said.Prosecutors asked Mackey to show the jury what she wanted Brooks to use the piece of cardboard for, and Mackey stood up and held it in front of her groin.she said.The prosecutor askedto which Mackey responded,Evidence at trial showed that Brooks was Special Education Teacher of the Year in 2021, and got glowing reviews in early 2022 - only to have Ziegler recommend that the school board fire her, the only teacher he did that to.The school district began claiming that Brooks violated the student's privacy after an education activist made a vague mention of the educators' workplace safety issue at a school board meeting - there was no mention of the student's name or age, or even the name of the school.In court, Ziegler's lawyer claimed he asked the board to fire Brooks because LCPS thought it might get sued by the parents of the assailant, despite evidence suggesting that the parents were barely responsive and that the student might even be suffering abuse at home.Principal Mackey testified that she recommended that Brooks be fired without pressure from Ziegler - but also admitted that her testimony to the grand jury a year ago, in which she denied ever discussing it with him, was false. She remembered on the first day of the trial that she did have a phone call with him about it, she said.Human resources had not recommended that Brooks be fired, but Ziegler aggressively pushed for her firing anyway in retaliation for filing a Title IX complaint and testifying to the grand jury, the prosecution said.School board member John Beatty testified that Ziegler told the board that Brooks improperly disclosed private information about a child to a conservative activist (which, testimony at trial showed, was untrue) and to the special grand jury initiated by Gov. Youngkin in response to therape coverup (to which she was subpoenaed and legally required to disclose all details). Beatty testified that Ziegler seemed happy to fire Brooks, and that he acted suspiciously when questioned about it.Principal Mackey acknowledged that when Brooks asked for the day off to testify, she demanded to see the subpoena. Just prior to Ziegler's indictment, the grand jury issued a report saying that a member of Ziegler's cabinet had told school employees and board members not to speak openly with the grand jury, and that it would have indicted Mackey for witness tampering if Virginia had such a law. Mackey said she communicated closely with the cabinet member who issued the warning.The special grand jury was convened by Gov. Youngkin to investigate LCPS, spurred by The Daily Wire's October 2021 report. Loudoun's local prosecutor is a far-Left activist who tried to jail the father of the rape victim. Ziegler is facing three misdemeanors - two involving Brooks, and one which will be tried separately in February for falsely stating that there had been no sexual assaults in the school bathrooms when he knew astudent had done so just weeks prior. Update, Death toll and hostage taking, including Americans, increase Just The News is reporting: Palestinian terrorists in Gaza launched a stunning attack against Israel on Saturday with rockets and ground forces, inflicting significant casualties and prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare we are at war. At least 40 people were reported killed in the initial volley as Hamas forces focused on southern and central Israel, and infiltrated the town of Sderot, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. We are at war, Netanyahu declared in a televised address. Not an operation, not a round, but at war. The enemy will pay an unprecedented price, he added, promising that Israel would return fire of a magnitude that the enemy has not known. The major attack early Saturday morning around 6:30 local time consisted of rocket barrages, according to The Times of Israel CNN is reporting that Hamas, which controls Gaza, claimed 5,000 rockets have been fired in the first hours of the attack in what Hamas is calling an Al-Aqsa Storm," and that sirens have gone off in Jerusalem, where theyve heard rocket-warning sirens and booms, indicating the interception of incoming rockets. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was headed to Tel Aviv to meet with other security chiefs and with Netanyahu. The Israel Defense Forces said it was moving to a state of war readiness. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi was assessing the situation and approving plans of action. Hamas which is behind this attack, will bear the results and responsibility for the events, the IDF said. By: Hood Richardson Government employees and elected officials seem to be distancing themselves further and further from the public. Many local government offices are no longer accessible without an appointment or one has to be buzzed in through electronically locked doors. Covid is the excuse that started this snowball rolling. My experience with government has taught me that government agencies are not necessarily run for the benefit of the public. Most are predominately managed and run for the comfort of the employees. For example, there will be a lot less work required if all those deeds and documents are filed electronically. Not respecting the public or the public need is how Carolyn Garris, with no experience in what registers of deeds do, can within five days of filling the appointed (not elected) office, by herself, make a decision that impacts the property rights of every citizen and conflicts with several hundred years of tradition. I am talking about Beaufort County no longer recording hard copies of deeds. Included in the word deeds in this article are all the other documents filed in the same books as deeds such as powers of attorney, deeds of trust, loan releases, etc. Let me clear the air. I am not opposed to the electronic filing of documents. I am not opposed to having documents on the internet. I use web sites of many courthouses in my work. That saves me and my customers money, and makes me more productive and accurate. The issue is the protection of the public and their property rights. This can only be accomplished with an instantly accessible filing system or systems. Historically, with the support of several laws, the ownership of real property has been recorded with the Register of Deeds. at county courthouses. North Carolina law generally prescribes that if not recorded in the public registry there is no proof of ownership. The law on real property ownership is all over the place in other states. It is very clear and prescribed. in North Carolina. In general, North Carolina law provides for the electronic recording of deeds, powers of attorney and other instruments electronically provided, any citizen may go the register of deeds and use an alternate or back up system to obtain copies. The Secretary of State provides a system to back up or store deeds should we have a disaster such as our court house be burned or even hit by a meteor. We should be able to have our deeds replaced from the Secretary of States archives. When the power goes off the electronic filing system ceases to exist until the power comes back on.. Hard copy books in the court house are the best and most logical back up for Beaufort County citizens. Consider powers of attorney. Powers of attorney are usually not very important until an event occurs that triggers the need for the document. If decisions need to be made by an executor, it is more than likely the executors authority can easily be confirmed from courthouse records. If the power goes off, it could be confirmed from deed book filings. Say the backup system for deed filing requires electricity to operate. Then the power of attorney cannot be verified, and harm is done. Not many people walk around with a satchel of deeds and powers of attorney. The reason for a free-standing system of records is for the time that no person thinks will ever happen but sooner or later does. This appointed (not elected) Register of Deeds, Carolyn Garris, misused her authority and office within 5 days of her taking office. Carolyn Garris obtained the vacant register of deeds office by unethically using her position as Chairman of the Beaufort County Republican Party. She deliberately did not inform the Beaufort County Republican Executive Committee of the register of deeds vacancy while she lined up votes on the Executive Committee to get the job. She dissuaded applicants who tried to apply for the job. Is it any wonder she would further abuse her authority by violating the Beaufort County Budget Ordinance. . Carolyn Garris has violated the law and has failed to provide a public notice that there is an acceptable back-up system for recording documents in Beaufort County (if there is one in existence). County budgets are enacted as ordinances (laws) primarily to keep public officials, both elected and hired, from failing to use public funds for the uses for which they have been appropriated. Beaufort County Commissioners appropriated the money, provided the personnel and other facilities to maintain the books in the register of deeds office in the same manner as during the past several hundred years. No notice was given to the County Commissioners that the method of filing documents would be changed. Various excuses have been given for not continuing to use the hard-copy books. All are bogus. There will be more on this in a later article. I am dismayed by the arrogance of Carolyn Garris and her disregard and ignorance of the public interest as it relates to the register of deeds. Five of our commissioners have rallied around Carolyn Garris saying that elected officials can do as they please. This is simply not true. One reason is that Carolyn Garris does not have taxing authority. This is a part of our system of checks and balances. The five commissioners who are willing to allow her to run wild have that taxing authority. It is that taxing authority and the budget ordinance (law) that are intended to control officials who want to change the world. Only Stan Deatherage and I have been willing to protect property rights and documents. I placed Carolyn Garris on the October Beaufort County Commissioners agenda for a discussion about the filing of documents. Carolyn Garris refused to attend. This is a mark of immaturity and defiance. At the end of the day the Beaufort County Commissioners are responsible for seeing that deeds are properly recorded. A Beaufort County Register of Deeds was removed from office for cause during the 1990s. He, too, got the appointment (not elections) because of political influence. County Commissioners are ultimately responsible because we make the appointment to the office, and provide the money to run the office. Moreover, it is the County Commission that is ultimately responsible to oversee and ensure that the legally mandated services are provided to the People. The Register of Deeds must follow State rules, laws and standards for recording documents. When they do not do their job it is up to the County Commissioners to remove them from the office. The party-politics being played by Commissioners, Frankie Waters. John Rebholz, and Randy Walker have no place in evaluating the performance of any county employee. The Register of Deeds is a county employee. The three RINOs are being played for suckers by Democrats Langley and Booth. By Peyton Majors Christian Action League October 6, 2023 A new study on marijuana use out of Canada could impact the debate over its legalization in the United States. The study, published in the medical journal Addiction, found that marijuana users who have a so-called cannabis use disorder have a 60 percent increased risk of developing cardiovascular complications, which includes a heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular event. The CDC in the U.S. estimates that three in 10 people who use marijuana have a cannabis use disorder. Signs of a cannabis use disorder include: trying but failing to quit using marijuana; using marijuana even though it causes problems at home, school or work; using more marijuana than intended; and giving up important activities with friends and family in favor of using marijuana, according to the CDC. The risk of developing marijuana use disorder is greater in people who start using marijuana during youth or adolescence and who use marijuana more frequently, the CDC says. People who have marijuana use disorder may also be at a higher risk of other negative consequences, such as problems with attention, memory, and learning. The Canadian study analyzed data from five Canadian health databases, according to Medical News Today. Dr. Anees Bahji, a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Calgary in Canada, told Medical News Today that the 60 percent increase was higher than expected. Its important to be aware of the potential impact on cardiovascular health and to consider moderation and regular health check-ups, Bahji said. Additionally, people should be cautious about mixing cannabis with other substances, such as alcohol, as this may amplify the risks. A bill that would legalize medicinal marijuana in North Carolina passed the state Senate this year but failed to gain a vote in the House. Opponents of the bill say it is a stepping stone to recreational legalization statewide. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians legalized recreational marijuana in September after previously legalizing medicinal use of it. Throughout North Carolina, some doctors are not signing medicinal marijuana forms for patients due to the substance still being illegal on the federal level. Many doctors are part of networks that receive federal funding. Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, said the new study should impact North Carolina legislators. Billions have been spent in an attempt to convince the public that high-potency THC drugs, including edibles and concentrates, pose no harm, Creech said. However, the medical science continually refutes these claims, shedding light on the intentional misinformation disseminated by the industry. It is imperative to acknowledge that around one in three users grapple with marijuana use disorder, with more than 16 million Americans affected in 2021. Creech, in a statement, listed other recent data: Research in JAMA Psychiatry (2019) suggested that marijuana use during adolescence may be associated with an increased risk of developing psychosis and schizophrenia. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) emphasizes that marijuana impairs driving ability and increases the risk of accidents. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that marijuana use can lead to the development of substance use disorders, with about 9 percent of users becoming addicted. A study published in JAMA Pediatrics (2020) reported an association between prenatal marijuana exposure and an increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. Findings from a study in JAMA Network Open (2020) suggested that marijuana smoke, similar to tobacco smoke, could be associated with lung damage and respiratory issues. A review published in the journal Current Addiction Reports (2021) highlighted that heavy cannabis use in adolescence and young adulthood may have lasting negative effects on cognitive function and brain structure. A study in the journal Lancet Psychiatry (2021) found that cannabis use was linked to an elevated risk of developing anxiety disorders. Research published in JAMA Psychiatry (2021) indicated that marijuana use was associated with an increased risk of developing depression, particularly among heavy and frequent users. Despite its popularity, marijuana is a dangerous drug, Creech said. During recent sessions of the North Carolina General Assembly, this year being the most intense, there has been a full-throttle approach to getting medical marijuana approved in the Tar Heel state. What we should consider is the establishment of medical marijuana programs contribute to greater public acceptance and the normalization of marijuana use. This normalization reduces the social stigma associated with cannabis, making it more palatable for broader recreational use. Legalization, he added, sends mixed messages to young people about the potential risks and harms of cannabis use. The legalization of medical marijuana will create a slippery slope towards full recreational legalization, Creech said. It will set a precedent for loosening restrictions on marijuana use and will lead to a more permissive attitude towards recreational use in the future. More than 1,000 Israelis and Palestinians dead as conflict continues Cars are on fire after they were hit by rockets from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, Israel Hundreds of people have been injured in the attacks, with at least 22 Israelis dead, according to Israeli officials. Palestinians celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis Fire and smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City (Fatima Shbair/AP) Smoke rises from an explosion caused by an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land, and sea and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) DUP MP Carla Lockhart has branded a tweet from Alliance leader Naomi Long pathetic and said the party is sitting on the fence amid ongoing violence in Israel after Hamas. In a post on the website X, formerly Twitter, Ms Long called for justice for all instead of lighting up buildings in solidarity. Instead of lighting up buildings in solidarity with either 'side' in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, maybe we should instead light a candle for peace in the darkness of war, and in memory of all those whose lives have been lost. My prayer is for peace and justice for all x, she posted. The tweet was met with criticism from Ms Lockhart who claimed the Alliance Party was refusing to condemn Hamas, which launched a series of surprise attacks on the nation over the weekend. "Pathetic from the Alliance party, the DUP MP wrote. Not one word of condemnation for the terrorists of Hamas. Over 700 people dead in Israel and not a word of condemnation from the party. Sitting on the fence for political expediency doesnt cut it, wrote Ms Lockhart. Fire and smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City (Fatima Shbair/AP) Ms Longs post referred to several buildings across the world, including No 10 Downing Street, demonstrating support for Israel by projecting the flag or lighting up the building in the flags blue and white colours. Ms Lockhart also reposted a tweet which showed the Brandenburg Gate with the Israeli flag projected onto it and asked why Belfast had not done the same. When challenged in the replies to her tweet, including by former police officer Jon Burrows who claimed Ms Long was showing neutrality and therefore a dereliction of leadership duty, the Alliance leader hit back to disagree. Jon, I didn't suggest 'neutrality'. I suggested that a ceasefire is the interests of all of the people - Israeli and Palestinian - though not necessarily what their respective governments will seek. Standing for peace in the face of violence isn't a neutral position, she responded. Middle East conflict: What happened and what could follow Many political figures in Northern Ireland have waded into the commentary over the violence which has so far killed over 1,000 Israelis and Palestinians. Over the weekend, Sinn Fein was branded shameless over social media posts following the deadly attack by Hamas. DUP MLA Emma Little-Pengelly hit out after the partys youth wing Tweeted a photo of a Palestinian flag, saying it was a disgrace. The post was also criticised by UUP leader Doug Beattie, who also described a post from the partys South Down MP Chris Hazzard in support of Palestine as crass. It came as the Assembly watchdog was urged to probe a disgusting pro-Palestinian Tweet from People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll. In the most serious escalation in the decades-old conflict in a generation, Palestinian militants launched an unprecedented assault into Israeli territory, sending fighters across the border and firing thousands of rockets. Israel retaliated with strikes in Gaza City, reducing buildings to rubble. Its premier Benjamin Netanyahu declared Israel will take "mighty vengeance for this black day". He warned people living in Gaza to leave as he vowed to turn parts of the territory "into rubble" in revenge. Massive shooting of rockets amid unprecedented Hamas operation against Israel A 20-year-old British man serving in the Israeli army is among the dead. Nathanel Young was serving with the Israeli Defence Services when he was killed on the Gaza border on Saturday. His death comes after 26-year-old Jake Marlow, who went to the same London school at Mr Young, was reported missing while providing security at a music festival near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza border. Dozens of Israelis have been taken hostage by Palestinian militants. The Israeli Embassy to the United States put the figure at 100 in a social media post. There has been widespread condemnation, with US President Joe Biden saying support for Israel was rock solid and unwavering. However, Sinn Feins youth wing, Ogra Sinn Fein, was criticised after Tweeting an image on Saturday evening of a Palestinian flag. Ms Little-Pengelly said it was shameful by Sinn Fein. She added: No matter the view on the region SF may have, the murder and torture, including of many, many civilians, is wrong and evil. To allow the official Sinn Fein youth organisation to post this of all days is a disgrace. Mr Beattie said he was staggered by what he said was Sinn Feins support for Hamass actions. He also described as unbelievably crass comments by Mr Hazzard on X, where he said: Palestinians must be free to live without oppression, apartheid & colonisation, adding Free Palestine. Sinn Fein was contacted for comment on both posts. The party referred to an earlier statement from TD Matt Carthy Mr Carthy said: The attacks by Hamas against Israeli civilians and military targets, and the Israeli bombardment on Gaza, must stop immediately. These events have the potential to lead towards a new dangerous tipping point. He added: A lasting and just peace between Palestinians and Israelis requires an end to the occupation and apartheid systems being imposed upon the Palestinian people. Earlier, West Belfast MLA Gerry Carroll sparked anger after Tweeting: Victory to the Palestinian Resistance, accompanied by two clenched fist emojis. Mr Beattie has reported the post to the Assemblys Standards Commissioner. UUP deputy leader Robbie Butler said Mr Carrolls comments were utterly disgusting and despicable. Such acts, as with any act of terror, must be condemned in the strongest sense by all right-minded people. To act or comment on this horror with triumphalism is nothing short of abhorrent, he said. Therefore, I was shocked and disgusted to see a People Before Profit MLA - Gerry Carroll - tweet 'victory to the Palestinian resistance' as these images were being broadcast on our screens. Promoting violence and a terrorist attack in this manner is not acceptable and brings Stormont into disrepute. "On behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party MLA group, my party leader is reporting him and his comments to the Standards Commissioner. Alliance MP Stephen Farry said the post was shameful. Former First Minister Dame Arlene Foster said: Surely this is against the Assembly pledge against violence. Its absolutely disgraceful. On Saturday evening, Tel Aviv and other central Israeli cities were hit by a new barrage of rockets. President Biden reaffirmed the US's full support for Israel, saying its support is "rock solid and unwavering". "This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks, to seek an advantage. The world is watching, he added. Israels ambassador to the UK says the country is now in a necessity war with Hamas to protect our people. Speaking to BBC Breakfast from Givat Shumel in Israel, Tzipi Hotovoley says Israelis woke up to a nightmare, and called Hamas a terrorist organisation that targets civilians and innocent children. Read more US and European leaders condemn Hamas attack on Israel Israel has blockaded Gaza since Hamas gained control of the territory in 2007 and the two have fought wars ever since. Hamas caught Israel off-guard on Simchat Torah, a major holiday, with the strength, sophistication and timing of the attack shocking Israelis. On Sunday an Israeli military official said "hundreds of terrorists" have been killed and dozens captured amid ongoing fighting with Hamas militants in Gaza and southern Israel. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari spoke to reporters more than 24 hours after the Palestinian militant group launched an unprecedented assault into Israel. Israeli soldiers battled Hamas fighters in streets in the south of the country on Sunday and exchanged strikes with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group in the north. The prospect of Hezbollah joining the fighting a day after the attack from Gaza raised the chances of a broader conflict. Hamas fighters, backed by a volley of thousands of rockets, broke through barricades around Gaza early on Saturday to rampage through nearby communities in Israel. They took captives back into the coastal enclave, including women, children and the elderly, while Israel's retaliation strikes levelled buildings in Gaza. Israeli media, citing rescue service officials, said at least 300 people were killed, including 26 soldiers. More than 400 Palestinian militants have been killed in southern Israel and the Gaza Strip, and dozens more have been captured, according to IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari. On Saturday, Hamas gunmen used explosives to break through the border fence enclosing Gaza, then crossed with motorcycles, pick-up trucks, paragliders and speed boats on the coast. They rolled into as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip, including towns and other communities as far as 15 miles from the Gaza border, while Hamas launched thousands of rockets at Israeli cities. On Sunday, the Israeli military said its forces were fighting Hamas incursions in eight places. An Israeli military spokesperson said two hostage situations had been "resolved" but did not say whether all the hostages had been rescued alive. In a televised address on Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military will use all of its strength to destroy Hamas' capabilities. "All the places that Hamas hides in, operates from, we will turn them into ruins," he added. People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll speaking during a rally at Belfast City Hall in response to the Israeli attack onJenin refugee camp. Credit: Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX Left-wing politician Gerry Carroll has said he will be taking no lessons from Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie after the People Before Profit MLA sparked anger after tweeting: Victory to the Palestinian Resistance, accompanied by two clenched fist emojis. Mr Beattie has reported the post to the Assemblys Standards Commissioner while UUP deputy leader Robbie Butler said the West Belfast MLA's comments were utterly disgusting and despicable. In response to the criticism for his comments as their war of words continued, Mr Carroll said: Ill be taking no lectures from Doug Beattie or anyone else who hasnt a word to utter about the brutal occupation, apartheid and violence faced by Palestinians on a daily basis. He also referred to Mr Beatties book An Ordinary Soldier, in which the former the Royal Irish Regiment captain and Military Cross recipient wrote about his experiences in Afghanistan. In Dougs book, Israeli state terror inaccurately described as right to defend itself is fine, and he seems to have no problem supporting a nuclear state thats armed to the teeth which regularly terrorises Palestinians. Doug would do well to reconsider his partys support for a state that has widely been condemned across the world, including in Ireland, for its ongoing violence, denial of the right to return of some six million refugees and regular human rights abuses, added Mr Carroll. Read more Irish woman Kim Damti (22) missing after Hamas attack on Israel desert rave Mr Beattie had criticised the social media post on Saturday, which followed news of Hamas attacks on Israel, saying: Such acts, as with any act of terror, must be condemned in the strongest sense by all right-minded people. To act or comment on this horror with triumphalism is nothing short of abhorrent. Therefore, I was shocked and disgusted to see a People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll tweet victory to the Palestinian resistance as these images were being broadcast on our screens. Promoting violence and a terrorist attack in this manner is not acceptable and brings Stormont into disrepute. On behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party MLA group, my party leader is reporting him and his comments to the Standards Commissioner. Alliance MP Stephen Farry said the post was shameful while former First Minister Dame Arlene Foster added: Surely this is against the Assembly pledge against violence? Its absolutely disgraceful. The PSNI has thanked the public for their assistance in locating four missing children from Co Fermanagh. On Sunday, police put out a public appeal in a bid to locate four children from Lisnaskea who they believed may have travelled into the Republic of Ireland with their father and mother. In a statement, a police spokesperson said: Thank you for all your help with our appeal to find four children missing from the Lisnaskea area. The children have been located safely. Gael Force Art posted on Facebook that their group stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people who launched their biggest operation in fifty years against the rogue state of Israel. They added that they will support our Palestinian brothers and sisters who will continue to face a murderous bombardment from the Zionist Israel state. They added that Israel maintains a system of settler colonialism, apartheid and occupation over the Palestinian people. Gael Force Art calls on everyone to fly the Palestinian flag in support of the Palestinian people. Long Live Palestine. Read more Sinn Fein refusing to take down billboard calling for united Ireland despite civil service instruction Elsewhere, activists in Co Down have relabelled goods in Marks & Spencer with pro-Palestinian stickers. The Newry Rebel Art group took to Facebook to highlight the act, which they said: will make people aware of the reality of what is happening in Palestine. The stickers are of the Palestinian flag with the words Boycott Israeli Apartheid. They said the reason behind it is because the store is a leading distributor of Israeli goods. In a post on Facebook on Sunday, barely 24 hours after Hamas led attacks against Israel, they said: Such stores use suppliers that trade in products from illegal Israeli settlements, these settlements are built on stolen Palestinian land and are illegal under international law. Purchasing Israeli products provides support to the Israeli economy, which in turn lends support to the Israeli state and its murderous campaign against the Palestinian people. The boycotting of Israeli goods sends a very strong economic and political message to Israel apartheid and genocide are not acceptable in our world. Just like the apartheid regime of South Africa, Israel is on the wrong side of history. For as long as that regime exists right-thinking people across the world will organise opposition to it. Dissident republican group Saoradh regarded as the political wing of the New IRA yesterday raised the Palestinian flag at its Newry office. A flag representing the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine [PFLP] was also held aloft in support of the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the armed wing of the Front, spokesman Stephen Murney said. Irish Republicans have watched with admiration as Palestinians bravely stood up against all odds and launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, an offensive against the Israeli war machine, he said. We salute the martyrs who have selflessly paid the supreme sacrifice while resisting the occupiers over the past few days. Their bravery and resilience is inspiring for Revolutionary anti-imperialists around the world, ourselves included. Seventeen police officers have been assaulted in incidents across Northern Ireland in the past 24 hours, according to the PSNI. In a statement, police confirmed their officers had been spat at, punched and attacked with broken glass in a string of unconnected incidents. The first incident occurred when four officers were assaulted in Coalisland on Saturday afternoon whilst dealing with a man who was found apparently collapsed on the street. The man lashed out at the responding officers, headbutting one and punching, spitting and kicking at others. He was arrested and when placed in the police vehicle, the man continued to spit and lash out. Police have said this resulted in damage to the interior and rendering the vehicle unusable for a number of hours. The man, aged 38, was subsequently charged with a number of offences including assault on police, grievous bodily harm, criminal damage and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He will appear at Enniskillen Magistrates court on Monday morning. PSNI: Beaten, attacked with bricks and shot at Two of the injured officers required hospital treatment but returned to duty. The second incident occurred when five police officers attended a report of domestic assault in Antrim shortly after midnight. Upon arrival, the officers were attacked by a man holding a large piece of broken glass. Three of the officers sustained cuts and lacerations that required medical treatment. A 32 year old man who was arrested subsequently also caused damage to a police vehicle which had to be removed from service for the remainder of the night. The arrested man remains in police custody at present. Read more Man arrested after 2,500 stash of cannabis found in Co Antrim In Ballymena, three officers attending a reported assault on a man in the Linenhall Street area were punched in the face and head, and had their uniform and equipment damaged. A 28 year old man was arrested and is currently in police custody. In Belfast, three officers were also spat on and struck in the face by a man they were transporting to hospital. Its understood the man had sustained injuries in an earlier altercation and was being taken for treatment by police when he attacked them. He was arrested and remains in custody at present. Also in the city, a 34 year old man has been charged with assaulting police, criminal damage and disorderly behaviour after he was arrested following a disturbance in Union Street during the early hours of Sunday. He is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates on 3 November. In a separate incident a 30 year old woman was charged to court after assaulting an officer outside a Belfast hospital and causing criminal damage to a police car. She is expected to appear at Belfast Magistrates on 3 November. A 29 year old man also arrested at the same time on suspicion of assaulting police was released pending a report to the PPS. Read more New IRA set to up ante in Tyrone as new boss takes over Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd slammed the attacks against police officers and said it was completely unacceptable. It is appalling that any police officer should be subjected to violence whilst simply doing their job. For seventeen individual officers to be subjected to violence, spat on, kicked and slashed in a single day beggars belief, he said. Whilst we come to work knowing we could be faced with difficult and dangerous situations, it is completely unacceptable that officers should be physically attacked. These horrible incidents just show the often grim reality of what officers on the ground are facing each and every day as they work to help people and keep our communities safe. Irish director Joe Lawlor said his film Baltimore about heiress-turned-IRA mastermind Rose Dugdale has modern connotations with groups such as Extinction Rebellion UK and Just Stop Oil who he suggests will become more militant in time. The film from Lawlor and his wife Christine Molloy focuses on the aftermath of the art heist considered to be the largest in history by former debutante Rose in the name of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Actress Imogen Poots plays the ringleader of the 1974 heist at the private estate Russborough House in Irelands County Wicklow, where the group stole 19 priceless paintings. Imogen Poots (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Speaking about the character, Lawlor told the PA news agency at the London Film Festival: If I think about Extinction Rebellion or Just Stop Oil, I can easily see how people, particularly around the climate, will incrementally become more and more militant. I think thats going to be at the sharp end of action, because it really isnt changing as fast as it should, so dont be surprised if people lean into history in the 60s and 70s, it can still instruct and help people to realise that we may well be and are already running out of time. It may well be that radical action is the only thing thats going to really focus peoples attention. So I do think (the film) speaks to today, very loudly and very clearly, we have lost that gear. But that gear is being found again, and there was a real lack of it. But I think people will become more and more frustrated. Molloy said that Rose Dugdales actions came out of something very principled. When Rose Dugdale began her involvement with the IRA, it began as a civil rights movement to improve the lives of the Catholic community in Northern Ireland, the director said. She put her money where her mouth was today it can be seen in people who are taking huge personal risks for what they believe in. The Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize, is languishing in prison in Iran, and shes fighting for very basic human rights. Prominent Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi who won the Nobel Peace Prize (Vahid Salemi/AP/PA) The couple said that although they could have had the opportunity to meet Rose, who they believe is in a nursing home in Dublin, they didnt want the film to become a biopic. She has no idea this film has been made, shell hear about it soon enough I imagine, Lawlor said. We were interested in the ideas around her, and the kind of the drama around her. But we werent so interested in getting to know her as an actual person and getting distracted by too much story. Molloy said the inspiration for the film was born as Roses role in the heist was completely forgotten about as the focus shifted to Irish criminal Martin Cahill, known as The General. Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lucy Frazer speaking at the UK Theatre Awards at the Guildhall, in the City of London (Aaron Chown/PA) The Lyric Theatre in Belfast scooped two major prizes at the UK Theatre Awards on Saturday. The ceremony, hosted by musical theatre star Zoe Birkett at Londons Guildhall, saw the Northern Irish theatre win best play revival for its performance of The Beauty Queen Of Leenane with Belfast-based Prime Cut productions. The play from Oscar-winning filmmaker Martin McDonagh first premiered in Galway in 1966. Meanwhile, Tony award-winning Irish star Garry Hynes won best director for the Druid Theatre production of DruidOCasey at Lyric Theatre Belfast, a trilogy of stories written by Irish dramatist Sean OCasey. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, who spoke at the event, said: The UK Theatre Awards are a fantastic opportunity to come together and celebrate the incredible creative and technical talent that we have here in the UK. We are proudly home to world-renowned actors, visionary directors, breath-taking sets, wonderful theatres and a mission to entertain, educate and challenge through performance art. The Government will continue to back theatre through tax reliefs to maximise the potential of theatre across the country. The ceremony also saw best musical production awarded to The Mill at Sonning for their revival of Gypsy, adapted from the book by Arthur Laurents, with lyrics by the late Stephen Sondheim. Meanwhile English actor, director and writer Mark Gatiss was honoured with the outstanding contribution to British theatre award, recognising his contribution to regional theatre throughout his career. Presenting the award, artistic director of the Nottingham Playhouse Adam Penford said: Mark excels at everything that he turns his hand to. Ive worked with Mark five times, and his love of theatre is infectious. Whether thats in London, or out of London, in the West End, or on the Fringe. A Labour government would have a consistent position on China which would not boil down to one word threat, the shadow foreign secretary has said. David Lammy, in a wide-ranging discussion on foreign policy on the fringes of the Labour conference, also said Sir Keir Starmers party would absolutely review the post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union, while staying out of the single market and customs union. On China, he criticised what he described as the inconsistency of successive Tory governments in their approach to the Asian superpower. What we cant have is six positions on China, he told the event hosted by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. We need a consistent position on China. It cannot be boiled down to one word, which is threat. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has faced pressure from some in his party to describe the state as a threat to the UK, as he did during the Tory leadership contest last year, before softening his language, describing it as a challenge, since entering office. Mr Lammy said Labour, if it wins power at the next election, would be guided by the three Cs, including competing with China on issues such as security, challenging China over Hong Kong and its treatment of Uighurs, and co-operating with Beijing. I hope we can co-operate with them on artificial intelligence, he said. On relations with Europe, Mr Lammy said: Weve been clear that whilst we will remain outside of the single market and the customs union, we absolutely believe that we should review the trade deal in 2025 and look at it very closely. Asked whether a rapprochement is possible without a path back into the single market, he outlined the need for structured dialogue with the EU, saying: No-one in this room, in all seriousness, would suggest that you could get married again without even going on a date. Mr Lammy said the horror in Israel and Gaza provided a sad and worrying backdrop for Labours annual conference in Liverpool, as he said Israel has a right to self-defence and to defend itself against terrorism. He said he would not mince my words in describing Hamas as a terrorist organisation. At an earlier fringe event, Mr Lammy said Sir Keirs message does not have the razzmatazz of Sir Tony Blairs election-winning campaign, but that is not what todays electorate wants. He suggested that while voters in the 1990s wanted ambition from politicians, they now want reassurance. He stressed the importance of the party communicating its policies in a way that is relevant to people. He also said Labours offer to voters should be centred on reviving the economy and that it should not be lured into arguments on culture war issues by the Conservatives. He told an event hosted by the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank: We must not be seduced into tangential arguments that are the arguments of division around the woke issue, that of course Im not suggesting arent important, but in the end are not about where most people are in their everyday lives. He said Sir Keirs five missions are as exciting as anything weve offered before. But, he acknowledged, it hasnt quite landed with the kind of razzmatazz that you would associate with the Clinton, Obama, Blair era of politics. Im not sure, by the way, people are going to be seduced by that kind of (thing) because theyre just not in that place as an electorate. People are primarily focused on the economy and the state of public services, he said. Were going nowhere if we do not reassure the British electorate that we can run the economy. Fire and smoke after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Sunday (Fatima Shbair/AP) By Tia Goldberg and Wafaa Shurafa, Associated Press By Tia Goldberg and Wafaa Shurafa, Associated Press The Israeli government formally declared war on Sunday and gave the green light for significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack. The declaration came as the military tried to crush fighters still in southern towns and intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip. The toll passed 1,000 dead and thousands wounded on both sides. More than 24 hours after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still trying to defeat the last groups of militants holed up in several towns. Rockets are fired towards Israel from the Gaza Strip on Sunday (Fatima Shbair/AP) At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel, a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades, and more than 300 have been killed in Gaza as Israeli airstrikes pound the territory. The Israeli rescue service Zaka said its paramedics removed about 260 bodies from a music festival attended by thousands that came under attack. The total figure is expected to be higher as other paramedic teams were working in the area. Video on social media and Israeli news outlets showed dozens of festivalgoers running through an open field as gunshots rang out. Many hid in nearby fruit orchards or were gunned down as they fled. The declaration of war portended greater fighting ahead, and a major question was whether Israel would launch a ground assault into Gaza, a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. A building hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Sunday (Fatima Shbair/AP) Meanwhile, in northern Israel, a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group fanned fears that the fighting could expand into a wider regional war. Authorities were still trying to determine how many civilians and soldiers were seized by Hamas fighters during the mayhem and taken back to Gaza. From videos and witnesses, the captives are known to include women, children and the elderly. The leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, Ziad Nakhaleh, said his group, which took part in the attack, is holding more than 30 Israelis, among dozens he said were captive in Gaza. He said they would not be released until all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are freed. Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk told Arabic language news outlet al-Ghad on Sunday that they were holding more than 100 people captive. During their rampage through southern Israel, militants dragged back into Gaza dozens of captives, among them women, children and the elderly. Their precise number had not been clear until the two militant groups made their announcements. US secretary of state Antony Blinken said as many as 1,000 Hamas fighters were involved in the assault, a high figure that underscored the extent of planning by the militant group ruling Gaza. The gunmen rampaged for hours, gunning down civilians in towns, along roads and at a techno music festival being held in the desert near Gaza. Israel has hit more than 800 targets in Gaza so far, its military said, including airstrikes that levelled much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the enclaves northeast corner. Warplanes fired tons of explosives on 120 targets, Israeli Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters, saying Hamas was using the town as a staging ground for attacks. There was no immediate word on casualties, and most of the communitys population of tens of thousands of people are likely to have fled before the bombardment. We will continue to attack in this way, with this force, continuously, on all gathering (places) and routes used by Hamas, Hagari said. Civilians on both sides were already paying a high price. A line of Israelis snaked outside a central Israel police station to supply DNA samples and other means that could help identify missing family members. An Israeli family arrives at a police station in Lod to provide DNA samples (Maya Alleruzzo/AP) Israeli TV news aired a stream of accounts from relatives of captive or missing Israelis who wept and begged for assistance and information. In Gaza, the tiny enclave of 2.3 million people sealed off by an Israeli-Egyptian blockade for 16 years since the Hamas takeover, residents feared an intensified onslaught. Israeli strikes flattened a number of residential buildings. Some 74,000 displaced Gazans were staying in 64 shelters, with the number expected to increase. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNWRA, said a school sheltering more than 225 people took a direct hit. It did not say where the fire came from. Several Israeli media outlets, citing rescue service officials, said at least 700 people have been killed in Israel, including 44 soldiers. The Gaza health ministry said 313 people, including 20 children, were killed in the territory. A destroyed mosque in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip (Yousef Masoud/AP) Some 2,000 people have been wounded on each side. An Israeli official said security forces have killed 400 militants and captured dozens more. The exchange of fire with Hezbollah added to concern that the conflict could spread. Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and shells on Sunday at three Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border, and the Israeli military fired back using armed drones. Iranian-backed Hezbollah is estimated to have tens of thousands of rockets at its disposal. Since its brutal 2006 war with Israel, Hezbollah has stayed on the sidelines amid previous outbreaks of Israeli-Hamas fighting. But if destruction in Gaza escalates, it may feel pressure to intervene. Palestinians walk away from the kibbutz of Kfar Azza, Israel, near the fence with the Gaza strip (Hassan Eslaiah/AP) The security cabinet also approved significant military steps. The steps were not defined, but the declaration appears to give the military and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu a wide mandate. Speaking on national television on Saturday, Mr Netanyahu vowed that Hamas will pay an unprecedented price. He further warned: This war will take time. It will be difficult. In a statement, his office said the aim will be the destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities to an extent that prevents it from threatening Israelis for many years. Israelis were still reeling from the breadth, ferocity and surprise of the Hamas assault. The groups fighters broke through Israels security fence surrounding the Gaza Strip early on Saturday. Using motorcycles and pickup trucks, even paragliders and speedboats on the coast, they moved into nearby Israeli communities as many as 22 locations. Israeli police retrieve weapons used by militants outside a police station that was overrun by Hamas gunmen on Saturday, in Sderot (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) The high death toll and slow response to the onslaught pointed to a major intelligence failure and undermined the long-held perception that Israel has eyes and ears everywhere in the small, densely populated territory it has controlled for decades. The Israeli military was evacuating at least five towns close to Gaza and then scouring them for militants. Much of the territorys population was thrown into darkness on Saturday night as Israel cut off electricity and said it would no longer supply power, fuel or other goods to the territory. One woman sheltering at an UNWRA school in Gaza Citys Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood described a panicked flight from her home in the middle of the night. The Israeli military made announcements on loudspeakers telling people to leave. We didnt know where to go, she said. It was a miracle we arrived at the schools because there was no transport. The presence of hostages in Gaza complicates Israels response. Hamas officials have said they will seek the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners, and Israel has a history of making heavily lopsided exchanges to get captive Israelis home. The military has confirmed that a substantial number of Israelis were abducted on Saturday without giving an exact figure. Over the past year, Israels far-right government has ramped up settlement construction in the occupied West Bank. Israeli settler violence has displaced hundreds of Palestinians there, and tensions have flared around the Al-Aqsa mosque, a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site. Fire and smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City (Fatima Shbair/AP) Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned people living in Gaza to leave as he vowed to turn parts of the territory into ruins. Mr Netanyahu earlier declared Israel was at war after Hamas militants broke out of the blockaded Gaza Strip on Saturday to launch an early morning attack. Rescue service officials have told Israeli media at least 250 people, including 26 soldiers, were killed in the deadliest attack on Israel in decades with 1,500 wounded. The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least 232 people had died and 1,700 wounded in airstrikes by Israel on the blockaded territory. In a televised address, Mr Netanyahu said the countrys military would take revenge for this black day but he warned: This war will take time. It will be difficult. All the places that Hamas hides in, operates from, we will turn them into ruins. Get out of there now. Israel will stop supplying electricity, fuel and goods to Gaza, according to a statement from Mr Netanyahus office on Saturday night. Much of Gaza was already thrown into darkness by nightfall after electrical supplies from Israel, which supplies almost all of the territories power, were cut off earlier in the day. Mr Netanyahu also said the first phase of the counter operation had ended, and that Israel had fought off the majority of Hamas militants. Palestinians ride on an Israeli military vehicle taken by an army base overrun by Hamas militants near the Gaza Strip fence in Gaza City (Abed Abu Reash/AP) He vowed to continue the offensive without reservation and without respite. Hamas gunmen targeted up to 22 locations in the initial assault with gun battles continuing well after nightfall. Militants held hostages in two towns and occupied a police station in a third. After nightfall, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza intensified, flattening several residential buildings in giant explosions, including a 14-storey tower that held dozens of apartments as well as Hamas offices in central Gaza City. Israeli forces fired a warning just before and there were no reports of casualties. Soon after, a Hamas rocket barrage into central Israel hit four cities, including Tel Aviv and a nearby suburb, where two people were seriously injured. People chant anti-Israel slogans while waving Palestinian flags during a rally celebrating the attacks that the militant Hamas group carried out against Israel, in Istanbul, Turkey (Khalil Hamra/AP) Throughout the day, Hamas fired more than 3,500 rockets, the Israeli military said. In the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an Israeli airstrike late on Saturday flattened a home, killing 12 members of the Abu Qouto family, neighbours said. Ten members of a family in the northern town of Jebalya were killed in another airstrike, relatives said. It was not known why the homes were targeted. Palestinians demonstrated in towns and cities around the West Bank on Saturday night amid the offensive from Gaza and Israeli retaliation. Palestinian health officials said Israeli fire killed five there, but gave few details. President Joe Biden said from the White House that he had spoken with Mr Netanyahu to say the United States stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults. He said: Israel has the right to defend itself and its people, full stop. King Abdullah of Jordan spoke to Mr Biden and called for intensifying international efforts to stop the escalation of violence, while Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has spoken to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to urge a halt to the violence in and around Gaza. Prince Faisal emphasised the kingdoms rejection of the targeting of civilians and the need for all sides to respect international humanitarian law. The Saudis have been in talks with the White House over potentially forging diplomatic relations with Israel. The Hamas incursion on Simchat Torah, a normally joyous day when Jews complete the annual cycle of reading the Torah scroll, revived painful memories of the 1973 Mideast war practically 50 years to the day, in which Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, aiming to take back Israeli-occupied territories. Comparisons with one of the most traumatic moments in Israeli history sharpened criticism of Mr Netanyahu and his far-right allies, who had campaigned on more aggressive action against threats from Gaza. Hamas military wing claimed it was holding dozens of Israeli soldiers captive in safe places and tunnels in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military confirmed that a number of Israelis were abducted but would not give a figure. Airlines cancelled more than 80 flights to and from Tel Aviv by Saturday evening roughly 14% of all flights scheduled because of the unprecedented attack in Israel by the militant group Hamas, according to the website FlightAware. Ahead of NI gigs, Oz-based comic on living in worlds most locked down city, pressure of playing here, and the rise of woke Jimeoin will be performing in Northern Ireland this month and next Growing up in the coastal town of Portstewart, James Eoin Paul McKeown, better known as Jimeoin, dreamed of becoming a musician. But at 22, following a serious bout of wanderlust, he emigrated to the other side of the world where he planned on becoming a builder. Fast forward three decades and hes still living in Australia but instead of construction, he stumbled into comedy, and went on to become a master of the stand-up routine. Ahead of his forthcoming shows at home, he takes advantage of a break between venues to talk. Despite decades of living Down Under, theres no mistaking the Northern Irish twang as he chats affably about his love of family, the joys as well as the challenges of performing to a home crowd, woke culture and how during lockdown, a joke a day kept boredom at bay. Jimeoin attends the Melbourne premiere of Elvis with his wife Catherine Arena Considering that humour differs around the world, it follows that appearing on home turf where audiences share the same culture and background makes for an easier gig. Or does it? Not always, Im under pressure to be good, he says. I remember one time I was home and an old school friend had organised a do at a parish church and asked if Id get up and do something. I was s******g myself because I had to clean up all my jokes. Anyway, I got up and told them stories about my school days at Dominican in Portstewart and a gig in Belfast where Sister Lucina from the school came to the show. I was effing and blinding all over the place. Then at the end of the night a lady came over and said, Do you know who I am? Oh, yes: Sister Lucina! Then one time, I was doing a routine that was a wee bit off-colour and looked down to see my auntie Mary and uncle Peter in the front row. Every time I said something a bit rude or effed a bit I could see auntie Mary nipping at uncle Peter. Talk about embarrassing. Jimeoin will be performing in Northern Ireland this month and next For some, moving more than 9,000 miles from home might stretch the family ties but for Jimeoin the bond is tighter than ever. Family is important to me and I try to get home as often as possible. Ive got four kids and, sometimes, if Im performing at the Edinburgh Fringe, I like to rent a flat for us to hang out and then travel over to Portstewart together. My mum and dad are gone now but when they used to come out to us in Melbourne, theyd stay for up to three months at a time. My wife Catherine says I probably saw more of them here than I would have if wed lived round the corner. During lockdowns, family also helped the comic cope. Wasnt it mad? he says. Do you know we had eight lockdowns. I was in the most locked down city in the world. I mean, you couldnt move. I think it had something to do with how Covid affected us in this part of the world. We didnt get many cases to start with, maybe a few hundred but then suddenly figures were up to two million. Everybody had their own way of coping. I tried telling a joke every day and going for very long walks. I spent a lot of time futtering about with my toolkit and even managed to build a table and a skateboard ramp. But I couldnt have done it without help from my father-in-law Mario. Hes full-on Maltese and ridiculously handy. He lives here in Australia and has a huge toolkit with the right tool for any job. With over 30 years in the spotlight, is stage fright ever a problem? Walking on stage for the first time is like doing a bungee jump. But like everything else, the more you do it the easier it becomes, he admits. Although, there was a time when I witnessed a car crash and it had a terrible effect on me. It left me spooked for about two years afterwards and I really struggled with any kind of tension. Yeah, at times it can be hard. You just have to accept that, during any show, some things will always be beyond your control and things can go wrong. Scottish stand-up comedian Kevin Bridges For many in the business, the advent of woke culture has brought added pressure. Sometimes I might be a wee bit worried that I might say something but in general no, Im not a controversial type and I dont push the envelope, he says. You know, occasionally, when I do a gig, therell be some kind of dignitary in the audience and you get the impression that, when I tell a joke or something, the crowd look to the dignitary to take their lead on how to react. Well, I suppose, now its a bit like that, theres a dignitary in the room. To fans, Jimeoin is the best but the comic rates Kevin Bridges and Micky Flanagan highly, he dubs brilliant. Finally, when he isnt being funny, how does he relax? I dont have any real understanding of music but I can play guitar. I enjoy music. I liked Bowie, the Sex Pistols, the Ramones, all that kind of stuff. One time, I was on Live Aid and saw Queen and thought they were quite good. Then theres Elvis Costello, by the way, did you know his dad is from Larne? I met him on a radio show, and he had a full-on Northern Ireland accent. Micky Flanagan Jimeoin plays the Millennium Forum on October 13 and 14 and Belfasts Waterfront Hall on November 10-12. For more information, see www.jimeoin.com EXCLUSIVE | Belfast church urged child abuser to repent by giving his schoolgirl victim apology letter Victim waives right to anonymity to reveal how clergy closed ranks around depraved paedophile The Word of Faith church closed a number of years ago, and (inset) abuser Alan Stewart Ciaran Barnes Sun 8 Oct 2023 at 08:14 An evangelical church has been accused of covering up the horrific sexual abuse of a six-year-old girl. The owner of a highly rated kebab shop has been charged with failing to control a mouse problem. Adam Boudissa is accused of four breaches of food hygiene regulations in relation to his takeaway King Kebab in west Belfast. According to court documents its alleged he didnt put measures in place to control pests, namely mice, and failed to ensure the premises was designed in a way to help protect against contamination by pests. Mr Boudissa is further accused of failing to keep the premises clean and in good repair and failed to ensure the refuse storage areas were managed in a way that would enable them to be kept clean free of animals and pests. All the offences are said to have occurred on May 11 last year and are being prosecuted on behalf of Belfast City Council. The case is due to be mentioned at Belfast Departmental Magistrates Court on October 17. Offences under the Food Hygiene Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 order carry a sentence of up to two years in jail. King Kebab, on the Falls Road, currently has a rating of one out of five in the Scores on the Doors system following an inspection on May 15 last year. Its entry on the Food Standards Agency website states its hygienic food handling is good and its cleanliness and condition of facilities and building was generally satisfactory but the management of food safety is said to need major improvement. However, its average rating by customers on Google Reviews is 4.1 out of five, with one woman stating: Nicest kebab place in the whole of Belfast, anytime you go in staff are working hard but constantly smiling. When theyre bunged theyre still willing to help. Will always recommend, love the staff. Amazing! Another wrote: Been using King Kebab for years such a lovely family who owns and works in it and there (sic) food is out of this world. But some were less complimentary, criticising the price and the temperature of the food upon delivery. Sunday Life tried to contact Mr Boudissa yesterday but hadnt heard back by the time of going to press last night. Award-winning Belfast writer Leesa Harker has told how a real-life bullying experience that left her young daughter afraid of attending school inspired her debut short film. The Bully is the Maggie Muff creators first foray into cinema after a successful career as a playwright and, more recently, a trainee script editor on BBC Daytime and Britbox police drama Hope Street. The piece, directed by Joe McStravick and starring Hope Streets Kerri Quinn, has been picked up by six film festivals in Ireland, England and the US. The dark comedy will be screened at the New York City Short Comedy Film Festival and this months Kerry International Film Festival. Leesa with the cast of The Bully Leesa, who won over theatre audiences at home and abroad with Fifty Shades of Red, White and Blue, said while she had been bullied, it was the targeting of one of her two teenage daughters that sparked the idea. She explained: One of my girls was bullied at school, but when I went to speak to them about it, I was told it was low-level anti-social behaviour. They wouldnt admit it was bullying. They said they did have an anti-bullying policy, but my daughter wasnt allowed to refer to it as bullying because this caused offence to the child who was doing it. It was an awful situation, a complete fiasco. I wasnt allowed on the premises because Id raised complaints and my daughter wasnt happy going to school. Kerri Quinn Leesa was waiting for her daughter outside the school one day when the bully stopped right in front of her car and stared in at her, before eventually moving on. It was then that the north Belfast woman came up with the idea of writing a script about someone who is bullied to the point of seeking revenge. Kerri Quinn plays a character called Gloria who is bullied in every area of her life, she told Sunday Life. Shes picked on by her boss, her ex, her sons bullied at school and shes bullied by the principal too. Its a pile-on. The film looks at what can happen when someone is pushed too far and the red mist descends. Will she allow herself to be walked on forever or will she stand up for herself? The Bully While working on the second series of Hope Street, Leesa met director Joe McStravick and asked him to take a look at her script. He liked her idea and they teamed up to work on the short after the series finished. The Bully was self-funded by Leesa, who owns a production company called Beezer Productions, and was filmed over two weekends in north Belfast last autumn. As well as Quinn, the cast also includes Maggie Muff actress Caroline Curran, Rachel Murray, Conor ODonnell and Shane Todd. Leesa, who also wrote Dirty Dancin in Le Shebeen and Maggies Feg Run, has penned an episode for the third series of Hope Street, due to air in the next few months. She has also written two feature film scripts and is waiting for the stars to align so the projects can get off the ground. Leesa said: Its been such a confidence boost to see The Bully picked up by so many festivals and the feedback so far has been really good, so Im delighted. Hardliner targeting police officers left exposed by the PSNIs humiliating data leak Police have been warned the New IRA in Tyrone under the command of a militant new boss are gearing up for a renewed campaign of violence. The terror gang, which teamed up with drug dealers to try and kill top cop John Caldwell earlier this year, is now being led by Conor Casey, who previously served a 14-year prison sentence after being caught with a 200lb bomb. Sailor Joe recounts 1,860-mile trek in some of worlds most unforgiving conditions to reach stricken scientist A Belfast man has told how he was involved in a dramatic rescue at a research station in Antarctica. Joe McMenemy works on the RSV Nuyina icebreaker, which ferried a researcher to Tasmania for treatment following a medical emergency. The ship travelled 1,860 miles for the rescue, with the mission requiring a retrieval team and three helicopters. We did not know the nature of his illness, only that he needed to urgent medical attention, explained Joe. The rescue what we call a medivac was unusual because there are no ships down [in Antarctica] at this time of year because its winter, conditions can be very difficult and you have very limited daylight, even complete darkness. When the story hit the headlines, the mission was still ongoing and Joe and the rest of the crew were not allowed to talk about it until the patient had been safely retrieved from the Casey Research Station. The RSV Nuyina icebreaker With the rescue requiring three helicopters, the science and research ship had to be reconfigured before it could set off from Hobart in Tasmania. We were fully manned and in the middle of doing science commissioning trials off the coast, and had come back in to change out crews, Joe said. That was when my crew and I joined the ship and got the news that we had to do a medivac. Everything else was immediately put on hold. The patient was suffering from what was described as a developing medical condition and required specialist treatment that could not be provided at the research station. It just couldnt wait. A chopper couldnt go there because of the conditions, so that meant we had to go, Joe said. The mission required several weeks of preparation, with the ship taking 10 days to cover the 1,860 miles to Casey Research Station. The rescue mission required three helicopters We didnt go full speed ahead, just our normal cruising speed of 14 knots because we were waiting for a weather window to open up so the helicopters could fly, Joe said. The Belfast man, who has spent more than 40 years at sea, admitted that even with little information, there was a bit of excitement on board as this was the first time most of the crew had done a medivac. The Australian government-owned RSV Nuyina stretches to 160 metres, displaces 25,500 tonnes and is barely two years old. It cost 271m to construct and is fitted with laboratories for biological, meteorological, and oceanographic research. Its name, which comes from the Tasmanian Aboriginal word for the southern lights, was chosen by schoolchildren. The building of the ship was a huge leap forward for the Australian Antarctic Program, which has three permanent research stations on the continent. The vessel breaks ice by cracking pieces and bouncing them off each other, or with sheer brute force. Research published in June showed the amount of sea ice around the continent was at its lowest level since 1979. Joe was part of the helideck team and only got to briefly talk to the patient when he welcomed him on board. He added: After that we did not have anything to do with him as he was looked after by the medical team. Our job was to get him and the crew safely back to Hobart, and we did that. Israels Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from Sderot, southern Israel, Oct. 8, 2023. UPDATED at 10:40 a.m. EDT on 2023-10-11 Hamas fighters are believed to have taken 11 Thai nationals captive in southern Israel near the Gaza Strip during attacks that the Palestinian military group launched this weekend against the Jewish state, Thai officials said Sunday. At least one Thai farm worker was feared killed in the outbreak of violence, which started on Saturday, Thai government officials said. Subsequent fighting between both sides has left hundreds dead and at least 2,000 people injured in Israel and the Gaza Strip, according to reports. At present, the [Thai] embassy is coordinating with authorities in Israel to confirm the following information on Thai nationals in Israel, which is one fatality, eight injured, and eleven people captured, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nakara, Thailands minister of foreign affairs and deputy prime minister, told a press conference Sunday. At this stage the Israeli forces could not secure the ground and so it cannot [yet] confirm the toll or any information officially, Parnpree said. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin had ordered the Royal Thai Air Force to be ready to fly missions to evacuate Thai nationals from Israel, the minister said. At dawn on Saturday, Hamas launched a barrage of rockets and carried out raids into Israeli territory, in a surprise attack that coincided with the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah and came almost 50 years to the day marking the start of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, reports said. The attacks prompted Israeli Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu to declare that his country was at war with Hamas. Israeli forces hit back with air strikes targeting the Gaza Strip, one of two territories under Palestinian control. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 232 were killed and 1,790 were injured in Gaza, U.S.-based ABC News reported. On the Israeli side of the border, at least 100 people were killed and more than 900 others were injured, the network said, citing information from the Israeli Health Ministry. A Thai farm hand, who works in Zikim, Israel less than two miles (3.2 km) north of the Gaza Strip said that he and other Thai workers saw dozens of missiles streaking through the sky on Saturday. There is fighting going on. Helicopters keep flying all the time, Wutthichai Panisen told BenarNews via Facebook Messenger on Sunday. Thousands of Thai nationals work as farm hands in Israel. In May 2021, two Thai agricultural workers were killed and another eight were injured in Moshav Ohad, southern Israel, in an explosion by a Hamas rocket fired from Gaza. After Hamas combatants infiltrated Israeli territory near Gaza, photos that allegedly showed Thais and other people in the custody of the Palestinian militants began circulating on social media. On Sunday, the sister of a Thai man said she believed her brother was among the captives because she had recognized his face in one of the photos. She said that her brothers fate remained unknown because his phone signal had been cut off since Saturday. He was working on a farm in Reim, southern Israel, east of the border with Gaza. There is no update on Nont. Friends in Israel said there is no development so far, the mans sister, Rasikarn Phanuariyaphat told BenarNews, referring to her brother by his nickname. May Nont be safe. God bless him. Palestinians inspect the rubble of a building after it was struck by an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, Oct. 8, 2023. [Fatima Shbair/AP] As of August, more than 4,533 Thais were working in areas of southern Israel close to the Gaza Strip, according to the Thai Ministry of Labor. There are about 30,000 Thais working throughout Israel, according to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Israel is regaining control of the intruded areas. They [the Israelis] gained some ground but not where the Thai workers were reportedly being held, Pannabha Chandraramya, the Thai ambassador in Tel Aviv, told the news conference in Bangkok via a video link. Those captured included not only Thai but Israelis and workers from other nations, she said. The embassy is restless to monitor the situation and provide the Thai workers with assistance soonest. International reactions On Saturday, Srettha, Thailands newly installed prime minister, joined other countries in condemning the attack by Hamas on Israel. Inhumane attacks cost innocent lives and [cause] injuries, Srettha said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. And I would like to express my deepest condolences to the government and people of Israel. This incident should not have happened. And I join with the international community in condemning such actions. In Washington, the Biden administration issued several statements, including one from the White House saying the United States unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza and that its support for Israels security was rock solid. In Beijing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said China was deeply concerned over the current escalation of tensions and violence between Palestine and Israel. We call on relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians and avoid further deterioration of the situation, the ministry said. The recurrence of the conflict shows once again that the protracted standstill of the peace process cannot go on. The fundamental way out of the conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent State of Palestine. In Manila, the Marcos administration said the president had instructed responsible agencies to locate and account for all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families in Israel. Tens of thousands of Filipinos work in Israel. Thai workers collect freshly harvested fennel near Kibbutz Alumim in southern Israel, Feb. 7, 2017. [Amir Cohen/Reuters] Meanwhile in Jakarta, the government of the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation stopped short of condemning Hamas. Indonesia is deeply concerned with the escalation of conflict between Palestine and Israel, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a message posted on X. Indonesia urges the immediate end of violence to avoid further human casualties. The root of the conflict, namely the occupation of the Palestinian territories by Israel, must be resolved, in accordance with the parameters agreed upon by the U.N., it added. And in neighboring Malaysia, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was blunt as he expressed his solidarity with the Palestinian people. The international community continues to take one-sided action regarding all forms of cruelty and oppression to the Palestinian people, Anwar said in Malay via X. The Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement. The root cause [of the conflict] must be acknowledged. The Palestinians have been subjected to the prolonged illegal occupation, blockade and sufferings, the desecration of Al-Aqsa [Mosque], as well as the politics of dispossession at the hands of Israel as the occupier, the ministry said. Imran Vittachi in Washington contributed to this report. CORRECTION: An earlier version incorrectly reported that more than 4,533 Thais were working in Israel as of August 2023. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Trump is inserting himself into the messy race to become the next House speaker. Will it matter? Donald Trumps decision to insert himself into the chaotic race to replace Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker will serve as a test of the former presidents sway with lawmakers as he works to win a second term FILE - A vendor bags psilocybin mushrooms at a cannabis marketplace on May 24, 2019, in Los Angeles. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill aimed at decriminalizing the possession and use of some hallucinogens, including psychedelic mushrooms. The veto, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, comes after the Legislature voted to make California the third state to do so. The bill would have removed criminal penalties for the possession and use of psychedelic mushrooms, mescaline and dimethyltryptamine, or DMT. It would only have applied to those older than 21 years old. BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC, Siboniso Duma, says the investment in a new Futurelife manufacturing facility at the Dube Trade Port special economic zone (SEZ) has created hope for a better future for the province. Duma made the remarks during the launch of a R75 million investment by South African health foods manufacturer, Futurelife, which took occupation in a new manufacturing facility in Dube Trade Port, located near the King Shaka International Airport. The modern factory is set to streamline Futurelife's production processes, enhancing the organisation's efficiency through the purchase of advanced machinery and equipment that will enable the factory to operate at international standards. Cutting the ribbon to officially mark the factory opening for business, Duma emphasised the important role that the factory will play in sustainable economic development in KwaZulu-Natal. Duma said locating the business within the Dube Trade Port SEZ will ensure efficiencies in the operations while reducing the logistics costs. Stimulate manufacturing industry Ahead of the COVID-19 lockdown, about 315,000 people were employed in manufacturing, representing just of 12% of total formal and informal employment. He said the plant is an integral part of the provincial industrial strategy which aims to stimulate the manufacturing industry in order to increase employment. This launch is a result of your ability to work together to master new state-of-the-art technologies and to do this all on schedule. If we are to realise the provinces full potential and discharge our shared commitment to create a better life for all South Africans, then increased investment in the province is of critical importance." The fact that Futurelife already sources 87% of its raw materials locally, gives local producers an advantage of future upstream integration as Futurelife continues to pursue growth into regional and international markets," Duma said Futurelife, which previously had its operations in Pinetown for 14 years, was fully acquired by food and beverage company, PepsiCo South Africa in 2023. Former Futurelife managing director and now PepsiCo South Africas commercial vice president Mark Bunn said the exceptional facility is a testament to the companys commitment to transforming and improving South Africans' health and well-being. Homegrown company investing back in the region The new factory embodies our dedication to contributing positively to the local community and ultimately the broader economy. The company has its origins in KwaZulu-Natal and has experienced significant growth and success within this region and, over time, in South Africa at large," said Bunn. We are, therefore, unwavering in our commitment to giving back to the very community and economy that has played a pivotal role in our journey. Our dedication extends beyond business as usual; it's a pledge to support and enrich the local community and economy through our endeavours, ensuring a lasting positive impact for years to come. Bunn said the company currently has a staff complement of 186 and anticipates creating an additional 24 direct jobs in the next five years of its operations within the new facility. He added that the company anticipates growing 30% of its business into export markets in Asia, Middle East, Europe, North America and the rest of the African continent. Dube Trade Port SEZ CEO, Hamish Erskine said the investment is significant for FutureLife, and serves as a notable endorsement for the SEZ, as an investment destination in South Africa. As the Special Economic Zone operator, we welcome this investment and look forward to working with and supporting FutureLife in their development journey, as we also continue to build a highly secure and functional industrial precinct, Erskine said. Dube Trade Port Special Economic Zone is home to 46 operational business enterprises, which have collectively created 10,803 jobs, as at March 2023. Chinese-built modern railway in Kenya extolled for its myriad benefits Xinhua) 10:45, October 08, 2023 The delegation of envoys visits the dispatch center at the Nairobi Station of the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway in Nairobi, Kenya, Oct. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen) NAIROBI, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese-built Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) has been a catalyst for transformation in Kenya since its launch six years ago, a group of foreign envoys based in Kenya have said. Speaking during a ride at the SGR passenger train from Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, to the coastal city of Mombasa Friday, the envoys noted that the modern railway project has unleashed myriad benefits including seamless mobility of people and cargo, revitalization of commerce and investments along its 472-km corridor. Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Zhou Pingjian was joined by ambassadors from Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, Hungary, and Ethiopia to sample the safe, efficient, and speedy ride guaranteed by the SGR passenger train. The delegation of envoys that included Maimunah Mohd Sharif, the executive director of the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT), watched promotional videos to mark the sixth anniversary of the launch of Mombasa-Nairobi SGR on May 31, 2017, and visited the dispatch center and the China-Kenya monument before embarking on the journey. Russian Ambassador to Kenya Dmitry Maksimychev said the ride offered him a platform to experience the benefits of China-Kenya cooperation, adding that the SGR project was a model of technology transfer to spur inclusive development. In addition, Maksimychev noted that the modern railway project adhered to ecological protection ethos during its construction besides enhancing connectivity between Kenya's two largest cities which are commercial and logistical hubs. An early fruit of China's proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Mombasa-Nairobi SGR is also a flagship project of Kenya's Vision 2030 long-term development blueprint. It is a critical component of the Northern Corridor of the East African Railway Network and was selected as the 2018 Global Outstanding Railway Project by Engineering News-Record, a weekly magazine. Construction of phase one of the 472-km SGR project from Mombasa to Nairobi, which began on Dec. 12, 2014, was completed two and a half years later ahead of schedule. The construction of phase 2A of the project which runs from Nairobi to the Rift Valley town of Naivasha covering 120 km commenced in October 2016 and was completed on Oct. 16, 2019. Having operated without major hitches for 2,314 days as of Sept. 30, 2023, the modern railway line stretching from Mombasa to Naivasha had transported 2,405 million standard containers and 28.609 million metric tons of goods since its reception. The number of passengers transported through the Mombasa-Nairobi-Naivasha SGR in the same period stood at 11.155 million, with an average seat occupancy rate of 95.8 percent. Iranian Ambassador to Kenya Jafar Barmaki said that a modern railway network was a strategic investment for the East African Nation given its ability to ease mobility, enhance connectivity and accelerate economic progress. Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu, the high commissioner of South Africa to Kenya, said that given its positive impact on the local economy and livelihoods, the SGR has served as an inspiration for other African countries in their quest for revolutionizing mobility. Children wait to board a train at the Nairobi Station of the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway in Nairobi, Kenya, Oct. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen) The delegation of envoys watches performance at the Nairobi Station of the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway in Nairobi, Kenya, Oct. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) A Government minister has urged a proportionate response from Israel to an outrageous attack by Hamas militants. It comes after a surprise attack against Israel saw gunmen enter villages and thousands of missiles launched into Israel. Advertisement Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tanaiste Micheal Martin condemned the unprecedented attack, stating that the violence needed to stop and a peace process needed to take place. Mr Martin said on Saturday that Ireland supported Israels right to defend itself, but said its response needed to be proportionate. Advertisement Asked whether the response had been proportionate, Mr Martin said that more hard information was needed to make that assessment. Minister of State Thomas Byrne said the attack from Hamas was absolutely wrong and outrageous. Israel is entitled to defend itself, thats clear. However, it has to be proportionate. They cannot go in and do the same thing, they need to watch what theyre doing as well, he said, speaking on RTEs The Week In Politics. Advertisement Advertisement We certainly believe that the ultimate answer to this is what weve been advocating for decades, in Fianna Fail and the Irish Government, which is a two-state solution. And weve been working to that, and it is time that I suppose the world gets serious about that. Sinn Fein has written to the Ceann Comhairle, the speaker of the Dail, and the parliamentary business committee to request that the parliament reconvenes as soon as possible to discuss hostilities in Gaza and Israel. Asked whether Sinn Fein condemns the attack by Hamas, TD Mairead Farrell said of course we condemn any targeting of civilians. Asked about a tweet sent by her parliamentary party colleague Chris Andrews who said the attack was a direct result of years of apartheid in Palestine, as well as Ireland and the EU not holding Israel to account, Ms Farrell said Ireland and the EU did need to speak out loudly in relation to any breaking of international law. Advertisement An air strike on Gaza City (AP) Mr Martin, who is also the Minister for Foreign Affairs, said on Saturday evening he now feared for people in Gaza and said it was vital that the voice of moderation comes to the fore. Advertisement The Tanaiste said that he could see tensions rising during a trip to the region last month, and the scale of Saturdays attack by Hamas was quite shocking and launched without justification. Advertisement He said it was clearly a breach of international law. Mr Martin also said Irelands support for a two-state solution had not changed, and that it remained the only sensible and rational solution to this issue, but it needed political momentum. My sense is that the hardliners are growing in influence, and thats why I believe the need to have moderate voices in the centre is key. So what we need really is a political peace process to get on track in a serious way, Mr Martin said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office says his security cabinet has declared the country at war following a deadly Hamas assault in southern Israel. The decision, announced on Sunday, formally authorises the taking of significant military steps, it said in a statement. Advertisement The war that was forced on the State of Israel in a murderous terrorist assault from the Gaza Strip began at 06:00 yesterday, it said. Mr Netanyahu had previous declared the country at war and the military has promised a harsh response in Gaza. Israeli media say at least 600 people have been killed in the surprise cross-border incursion by Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip. Palestinians inspect the rubble of a building after it was struck by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City (Fatima Shbair/AP/PA) Advertisement The Kan public broadcaster and Channel 12, as well as the Haaretz and Times of Israel newspapers, all reported the toll. Advertisement There has been no official confirmation of the number of deaths on the Israeli side since the fighting erupted early on Saturday. Palestinian officials say more than 300 people have been killed in Gaza, without differentiating between fighters and civilians. Advertisement A brief exchange of strikes with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group raised fears of a broader conflict. There was still some fighting under way more than 24 hours after an unprecedented surprise attack from Gaza, in which Hamas militants, backed by a volley of thousands of rockets, broke through Israels security barrier and rampaged through nearby communities. They took captives back into the coastal Gaza enclave, including women, children and the elderly, who they will likely try to trade for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Hundreds have been killed on both sides. The high death toll, multiple captives and a slow response to the onslaught pointed to a major intelligence failure and undermined the long-held perception that Israel has eyes and ears everywhere in the small, densely-populated territory it has controlled for decades. Advertisement Mr Netanyahu vowed that Hamas will pay an unprecedented price. But, he warned, This war will take time. It will be difficult. Vehicles burn after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a car park in Ashkelon, southern Israel (Tsafrir Abayov/AP/PA) Advertisement Israeli media, citing rescue service officials, said at least 300 people were killed in Israel, including 44 soldiers, while officials in Gaza said 313 people had died in the territory. Advertisement An Israeli official said the military had killed 400 militants and captured dozens more. Israeli TV news aired a stream of accounts from the relatives of captive or missing Israelis, who wailed and begged for assistance amid a fog of uncertainty surrounding the fate of their loved ones. In Gaza, residents fled homes near the border to escape Israeli strikes, fleeing deeper inside the territory after warnings in Arabic from the Israeli military. In neighbouring Egypt, a policeman shot dead two Israeli tourists and an Egyptian at a tourist site in Alexandria, the Interior Ministry said. Egypt made peace with Israel decades ago, but anti-Israel sentiment runs high in the country, especially during bouts of Israeli-Palestinian violence. Israelis inspect the rubble of a building a day after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip (Oded Balilty/AP/PA) The flare-up on Israels northern border also threatened to draw into the battle Hezbollah, a fierce enemy of Israels which is backed by Iran and estimated to have tens of thousands of rockets at its disposal. Advertisement Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and shells on Sunday at three Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border and Israels military fired back using armed drones. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military official, told reporters the situation at the northern border was calm after the exchange. But he said fighting was still under way in the south and that there were still hostage situations there. He said troops had moved into every community near the Gaza frontier, where they planned to evacuate all civilians and scour the area for militants. Hamas said that overnight it had continued to send forces and equipment into a number of locations inside our occupied territories, referring to Israel. Hamas-linked media reported that the son of Nizar Awadallah, a senior political official, was killed. The Islamic militant group has not reported any senior members being captured, killed or wounded. Hundreds of terrorists have been killed and dozens captured amid ongoing fighting with Hamas militants in Gaza and southern Israel, an Israeli military official has said. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari spoke to reporters on Sunday, more than 24 hours after the Palestinian militant group launched an unprecedented assault into Israel, killing hundreds of people and taking captives back into blockaded Gaza as the group launched thousands of rockets. Advertisement Israeli soldiers battled Hamas fighters in streets in the south of the country on Sunday and exchanged strikes with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group in the north. Advertisement The prospect of Hezbollah joining the fighting a day after the attack from Gaza raised the chances of a broader conflict. Hamas fighters, backed by a volley of thousands of rockets, broke through barricades around Gaza early on Saturday to rampage through nearby communities in Israel. Advertisement They took captives back into the coastal enclave, including women, children and the elderly, while Israels retaliation strikes levelled buildings in Gaza. Israeli media, citing rescue service officials, said at least 300 people were killed, including 44 soldiers. Advertisement At least 250 people were killed in Gaza and civilians paid a staggering cost for the violence on both sides. People stand outside a mosque destroyed in an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip (Yousef Masoud/AP/PA) Israeli TV news aired a stream of accounts from the relatives of captive or missing Israelis, who wailed and begged for assistance amid a fog of uncertainty surrounding the fate of their loved ones. Advertisement In Gaza, residents fled homes near the border to escape Israeli strikes, fleeing deeper inside the territory after warnings in Arabic from the Israeli military. The flare-up on Israels northern border also threatened to draw into the battle Hezbollah, a fierce enemy of Israels which is backed by Iran and estimated to have tens of thousands of rockets at its disposal. Hezbollah struck Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border with Syrias Golan Heights and Israels military responded with armed drone strikes on Hezbollah targets in a disputed area where the borders of Israel, Lebanon and Syria meet. Advertisement In an assault of startling breadth on Saturday, Hamas gunmen used explosives to break through the border fence enclosing Gaza, then crossed with motorcycles, pick-up trucks, paragliders and speed boats on the coast. Advertisement Rockets are launched by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip towards Israel (Hatem Moussa/AP/PA) They rolled into as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip, including towns and other communities as far as 15 miles from the Gaza border, while Hamas launched thousands of rockets at Israeli cities. On Sunday, the Israeli military said its forces were fighting Hamas incursions in eight places. An Israeli military spokesperson said two hostage situations had been resolved but did not say whether all the hostages had been rescued alive. Israel struck 426 targets in Gaza, its military said, flattening residential buildings in giant explosions. Among the 256 killed in Gaza were 20 children, and close to 1,800 wounded, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. Israelis inspect the rubble of a building a day after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip (Oded Balilty/AP/PA) Israeli media said at least 300 people were killed and 1,500 wounded in Saturdays attack, making it the deadliest in Israel in decades. In a televised address on Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military will use all of its strength to destroy Hamas capabilities. Advertisement All the places that Hamas hides in, operates from, we will turn them into ruins, he added. Get out of there now, he told Gaza residents, who have no way to leave the tiny, overcrowded Mediterranean territory. Gazas 2.3 million people have endured a border blockade, enforced to varying degrees by Israel and Egypt, since Hamas militants seized control in 2007. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned people living in Gaza to leave as he vowed to turn parts of the territory into ruins. Mr Netanyahu earlier declared Israel was at war after Hamas militants broke out of the blockaded Gaza Strip on Saturday to launch an early morning attack. Advertisement Rescue service officials have told Israeli media at least 250 people, including 26 soldiers, were killed in the deadliest attack on Israel in decades with 1,500 wounded. The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least 232 people had died and 1,700 wounded in airstrikes by Israel on the blockaded territory. Advertisement In a televised address, Mr Netanyahu said the countrys military would take revenge for this black day but he warned: This war will take time. It will be difficult. All the places that Hamas hides in, operates from, we will turn them into ruins. Get out of there now. Advertisement Israel will stop supplying electricity, fuel and goods to Gaza, according to a statement from Mr Netanyahus office on Saturday night. Advertisement Much of Gaza was already thrown into darkness by nightfall after electrical supplies from Israel, which supplies almost all of the territories power, were cut off earlier in the day. Mr Netanyahu also said the first phase of the counter operation had ended, and that Israel had fought off the majority of Hamas militants. Palestinians ride on an Israeli military vehicle taken by an army base overrun by Hamas militants near the Gaza Strip fence in Gaza City (Abed Abu Reash/AP) Advertisement He vowed to continue the offensive without reservation and without respite. Hamas gunmen targeted up to 22 locations in the initial assault with gun battles continuing well after nightfall. Militants held hostages in two towns and occupied a police station in a third. After nightfall, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza intensified, flattening several residential buildings in giant explosions, including a 14-storey tower that held dozens of apartments as well as Hamas offices in central Gaza City. Israeli forces fired a warning just before and there were no reports of casualties. Advertisement Soon after, a Hamas rocket barrage into central Israel hit four cities, including Tel Aviv and a nearby suburb, where two people were seriously injured. Advertisement People chant anti-Israel slogans while waving Palestinian flags during a rally celebrating the attacks that the militant Hamas group carried out against Israel, in Istanbul, Turkey (Khalil Hamra/AP) Throughout the day, Hamas fired more than 3,500 rockets, the Israeli military said. In the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an Israeli airstrike late on Saturday flattened a home, killing 12 members of the Abu Qouto family, neighbours said. Ten members of a family in the northern town of Jebalya were killed in another airstrike, relatives said. It was not known why the homes were targeted. Palestinians demonstrated in towns and cities around the West Bank on Saturday night amid the offensive from Gaza and Israeli retaliation. Palestinian health officials said Israeli fire killed five there, but gave few details. President Joe Biden said from the White House that he had spoken with Mr Netanyahu to say the United States stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults. He said: Israel has the right to defend itself and its people, full stop. Let me say this as clearly as I can. This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage. My Administrations support for Israels security is rock solid and unwavering. Advertisement President Biden (@POTUS) October 7, 2023 King Abdullah of Jordan spoke to Mr Biden and called for intensifying international efforts to stop the escalation of violence, while Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has spoken to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to urge a halt to the violence in and around Gaza. Prince Faisal emphasised the kingdoms rejection of the targeting of civilians and the need for all sides to respect international humanitarian law. The Saudis have been in talks with the White House over potentially forging diplomatic relations with Israel. The Hamas incursion on Simchat Torah, a normally joyous day when Jews complete the annual cycle of reading the Torah scroll, revived painful memories of the 1973 Mideast war practically 50 years to the day, in which Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, aiming to take back Israeli-occupied territories. Comparisons with one of the most traumatic moments in Israeli history sharpened criticism of Mr Netanyahu and his far-right allies, who had campaigned on more aggressive action against threats from Gaza. Hamas military wing claimed it was holding dozens of Israeli soldiers captive in safe places and tunnels in the Gaza Strip. Advertisement The Israeli military confirmed that a number of Israelis were abducted but would not give a figure. Airlines cancelled more than 80 flights to and from Tel Aviv by Saturday evening roughly 14% of all flights scheduled because of the unprecedented attack in Israel by the militant group Hamas, according to the website FlightAware. A leading barrister and ex-wife of Boris Johnson is set to be appointed as Labours new whistleblowing tsar, offering advice on proposed protections for women against workplace harassment. Marina Wheeler KC will help the party with its plans to strengthen employment rights to safeguard women from abusive colleagues, the Independent reported. Advertisement Ms Wheeler is the second high-profile woman from outside party politics to join Sir Keir Starmers team. Former top civil servant and partygate investigator Sue Gray (Stefan Rousseau/PA) It follows the appointment of former civil servant Sue Gray, whose report into lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street during Mr Johnsons tenure contributed to his downfall, as Labours chief of staff. Advertisement The party reportedly plans to give women subjected to harassment at work whistleblower status to encourage them to come forward with complaints without fear of being penalised for speaking out. Advertisement Labour would also seek to give common-law wives who live with their partners the same rights, including over property, as married women should their relationship end. Ms Wheeler, who is an expert in employment law, would advise the party on its proposed reforms. She told The Independent it would be a privilege to help Labour protect women from abusive colleagues saying: (Women in the workplace) too often suffer sexual harassment and assault and they pay a heavy price for speaking out. Knowing this, and to keep their jobs, they suffer in silence. Advertisement Shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry will set out the plans in her speech on Tuesday to the partys annual conference in Liverpool. She will tell delegates: That is the difference between a Tory government that pretends to care about womens rights, and a Labour Party that delivers them. Whistleblowers are already protected from unfairly losing their job, but the law only applies in certain scenarios such as potential miscarriages of justice or criminal wrongdoing. UK government guidance warns that: Personal grievances (for example bullying, harassment, discrimination) are not covered by whistleblowing law, unless your particular case is in the public interest. Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to scrap plans to forcibly remove asylum seekers to Rwanda even if the policy is deemed legal by the courts and such action reduces the number of unauthorised Channel crossings. The Labour leader was clear he would reverse the hugely expensive and wrong scheme which he said would only ever impact a very small proportion of migrants crossing the Channel. Advertisement The Supreme Court will on Monday begin hearing the UK governments appeal against the ruling that the policy is unlawful as ministers struggle to achieve Rishi Sunaks pledge to stop the boats. Advertisement In a BBC interview in Liverpool ahead of the Labour conference, Mr Starmer was asked if he would terminate the plans even if the judges approve it and small boat crossings then decline. Advertisement Yes. I think its the wrong policy, its hugely expensive, he told the Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme. Its a tiny number of individuals who would go to Rwanda and the real problem is at source. Advertisement Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Victoria Derbyshire on the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Youre putting this to me on the basis that its working, weve been told by the Government time and again that even saying theyve got a Rwanda scheme will reduce the numbers that hasnt happened. Instead, Mr Starmer said he would work with other countries to smash the criminal gangs who are running this vile trade of people smuggling. As a pragmatist I want a pragmatic plan that is actually going to fix this problem, not rhetoric which has got this Government absolutely nowhere, he added. Advertisement (PA Graphics) Senior Conservatives seized on the comments, with party chairman Greg Hands arguing Mr Starmer failed to give another option to the Rwanda policy. UK immigration minister Robert Jenrick said: Proof, if it were needed, that Labour dont even want to stop the boats. Advertisement They are ideologically opposed to border controls. Their solution is to force British communities to tolerate this flagrant criminality. A UK government source said: (Sir Keirs) just another human rights lawyer from north London who puts party interests before the British people. Advertisement UK home secretary Suella Braverman and Rwandan minister for foreign affairs and international co-operation, Vincent Biruta sign an enhanced partnership deal in Kigali in March (PA) The UK has already paid Rwanda 140 million under its asylum partnership announced in April last year but not a single removal flight has taken off for the capital of Kigali yet. In June, Court of Appeal judges overturned an earlier High Court ruling which found Rwanda could be considered a safe third country, disrupting the key plan in the Prime Ministers boats strategy. Home Office figures have suggested the UK government could spend 169,000 on every asylum seeker forcibly removed to third countries, such as Rwanda. And they indicated that nearly two in five people would need to be deterred from crossing the Channel in small boats for the policies set out in the Illegal Migration Bill to break even. Research from the Refugee Council, which opposes the policy, has suggested that three-quarters of people who crossed the Channel in small boats this year would be recognised as refugees if their application had been processed. Republicans in the US House of Representatives face new pressure to select a speaker after Israel declared war on Sunday, following a rare attack by Hamas militants that has prompted calls for more US military aid. Some Republicans, including representative Jim Jordan, a top candidate for the job, also want lawmakers to agree on how to move forward on the thorniest issue the House faces federal spending for the current year when they choose a new speaker. Advertisement The US in 2016 pledged $3.8 billion in annual aid to Israel under former president Barack Obama, part of a record 10-year $38 billion aid deal that guarantees weapons, ammo and other military support. House Republicans are expected to hear from speaker candidates behind closed doors on Tuesday and vote to choose their nominee on Wednesday. A House floor vote to elect a replacement for Republican former speaker Kevin McCarthy could come later in the week. Advertisement Until then, the chamber cannot approve new aid. "It's not ideal," Republican representative Michael McCaul told CNN on Sunday. "What kind of message are we sending to our adversaries when we can't govern, when we're dysfunctional, when we don't even have a speaker of the House?" Advertisement Jordan and others also want a spending agreement, which could avert a government shutdown next month. "When we walk out of that room we've got to have 218 votes for a Republican speaker and we've got to have 218 votes for how we deal with Nov. 17, when the funding bill for the government comes due," Mr Jordan, who is battling the House's No 2 Republican Steve Scalise of Louisiana for speakership, told Fox News on Sunday. Hardliners pushing for cuts that would reduce government funding to fiscal 2022 levels have divided House Republicans for months and brought Congress to the brink of a government shutdown just over a week ago. Any House bill that includes severe spending cuts is unlikely to pass the Democrat-controlled Senate. Advertisement "I am not going to support anybody until the conference figures out spending," Republican representative Ken Buck told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday. Securing the 218 votes to elect a new speaker behind closed doors would avoid a recurrence of the 15 floor votes that preceded Mr McCarthy's election to the speakership in January. Matt Gaetz, the Florida congressman who led Mr McCarthys ouster, downplayed the speaker election's impact on Israel's security needs, suggesting on NBCs "Meet the Press" that the US could fulfill the country's requests. US president Joe Biden told Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday that "additional assistance for the Israeli Defense Forces is now on its way to Israel," and that more would follow in the coming days, the White House said. "The actions taken by some members of my party were wholly irresponsible without this going on," Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie told ABC's "This Week". "They're now even putting a brighter light on the irresponsibility of not having someone in place." Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Ito izakaya nods to the home of pasta and bottarga in its opening menu. Ito izakaya opens in Surry Hills, mixing up Japanese and Italian cuisines. Jiwon Kim Japanese izakaya Ito opens in Surry Hills on Wednesday, October 11, with a smattering of Italian ingredients dotted through its menu. Just dont mention the F-word around the head chef. Itos Italian-born head chef Erik Ortolani is no fan of fusion. He believes in a gentler approach, adding the occasional Italian ingredient where the flavour profiles of the Japanese and Italian cuisines naturally meet. He points to the similarities of sashimi and crudo, and the use of ponzu and lemon. You need to appreciate Ortolanis childhood in northern Italys lake district to understand the culinary intersection hes now speeding through. I was always passionate about Asian food and culture. It was an escape from the homogenous environment around me. Ortolani trained in Italian fine-dining restaurants in Milan, moving to Australia to follow his passion for Japanese. That meant taking a step back, spending a couple of years learning how to slice sashimi at Cho Cho San restaurant in Potts Point, where he eventually rose to head chef. As the dust settles on the leadership transition from Daniel Andrews to Jacinta Allan, it is worth speculating on what kind of premier Allan will be over the next three years. What will be the features of her leadership, how will it be distinguished from Andrews approach and how might she fare as premier? Perhaps inevitably, the influence of Allans gender has already been to the fore of such conjecture. The first question Allan faced in the media conference that followed her crowning as Labor leader was how she felt about being Victorias second female premier after Joan Kirner. Premier Jacinta Allan in parliament this week. Credit: Eamon Gallagher One immediate point on her gender is that, unlike when Kirner was premier between 1990 and 1992, female leaders are no longer such a novelty at the sub-national level of government in Australia. With Allans ascension there have now been 13 women leaders of the states and territories with 10 in power this century. In other words, although progress is still too slow, female leaders are gradually being normalised at this level of government. Nevertheless, women leaders are still rare enough to attract curiosity and provoke questions about how they differ from the blokes. Stereotypically, it is assumed women will be more collaborative and empathetic than their male counterparts. Yet, in practice, female leaders are as diverse in ruling style as men are. But what is particular to female leaders is that they can be caught in what is dubbed in the political science literature a double bind. That is, they either mimic masculinist leadership modes (decisiveness and aggression), which transgresses gender norms and erodes their likeability, or they take a feminalist approach (for example, being more conciliatory), which risks accusations that they are too weak for leadership. Will Allan be ensnared by this bind? It is too early to tell whether this is a brief hiatus, a bottoming out or the beginnings of a bounce-back for the Yes camp, but it will give them some hope that their dominant advertising spend and refreshed message is reaping rewards. The survey shows that 19 per cent of Australians are soft voters because there is a greater doubt about whether they will commit to Yes or No and that a big shift within this group could decide the outcome when ballots are counted this Saturday. This comprises 9 per cent of voters who are soft No and 10 per cent who are soft Yes on a key question that gives them the same wording as the referendum ballot paper. The Resolve Political Monitor surveyed 4728 eligible voters, three times the respondent base for standard monthly surveys, to generate results with a margin of error of 1.4 percentage points and a greater confidence in the findings for each state, and groups within each state. Asked the exact wording of the referendum proposal, the survey shows 49 per cent of voters oppose the Voice and 38 per cent support it, with another 13 per cent undecided. The number of voters who say they would definitely vote yes has climbed from 22 to 25 per cent over the past month, while those who say they would probably vote yes has edged up from 12 to 13 per cent. There has been no change to the definite or probable No vote. Loading While the number of undecided voters has fallen over the past month, the total impact has not delivered a big gain for the Yes camp because many of those undecided ultimately say they would vote no. When asked a second question that allows only a yes or no answer akin to the referendum, and using the exact wording put forward by the government, 56 per cent oppose the change and 44 per cent are in favour. This is the first Resolve Political Monitor over the past six months to show an increase for the Yes side, with surveys during this year showing a slide in support from 58 per cent in January to 53 per cent in May and 49 per cent in June. The latest shift, from 43 per cent in September to 44 per cent in October, is within the margin of error for the survey and too small to suggest a dramatic resurgence in the final week. Our survey shows that undecided voters are splitting fairly equally between Yes and No when we force them to choose, which reflects what will happen to them at the ballot box, Reed said. That means the decreasing undecided vote is having a minimal impact, which is also true of enrolment and turnout now we know both of those will be high. Younger voters have shifted toward the Yes side but their move has not been enough to salvage the bid for constitutional reform. Support for the Voice among voters aged from 18 to 34 has risen to 62 per cent from 58 per cent one month ago on the yes or no question, but this has not been enough to offset strong opposition from older voters. Loading While voters aged from 35 to 54 have increased their support for the change to 47 per cent from 42 per cent last month, a majority of this age group continues to oppose the change. Those aged 55 and over have cemented their objections to the Voice, with 69 per cent against, and this cohort represents a bigger share of the electorate due to the ageing of the population. A gender divide has also widened over the past month, with 58 per cent of men against the Voice compared to 54 per cent of women. While the proportion of men who are against the change has not shifted from the September results, the number of women who oppose it has fallen from 57 per cent one month ago. Support for the Voice among Labor voters has increased to 67 per cent after a steady decline all year and a result of 60 per cent one month ago. Coalition voters have not moved over the past month, with 84 per cent against the change on the yes or no question. Greens voters are backing the proposal with 80 per cent in favour, up slightly from 78 per cent one month ago. It was just hours since being sworn in as leader when new Victorian Premier Jacinta Allans coronation was completed with the donning of the ceremonial hard hat at her first press conference in the top job. Speaking at the site of a level crossing removal in Pakenham, the new premier was surrounded by nodders in hi-vis. During the press conference, which was held under a rail bridge and fenced off from the actual work site, those nodders wore clear protective glasses which had no other purpose than to shield them against the white-hot flame of their new leaders genius. At another press conference earlier that month, journalists were told to show up wearing closed-toed shoes but werent provided with hi-vis vests or other safety gear. Melbourne mayor Sally Capp, speaking at the presser, wore hi-vis and a helmet with unsafe high heels, the latter of course out of shot. Former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet famously got in trouble for dressing up when he was young, but that didnt stop him dressing up for infrastructure photo-ops as premier. And before the last federal election, the real starting gun was fired not when PM Scott Morrison announced the poll date but when his opponent, inner-urban DJ Albanese, first donned an Akubra. Sometimes, even social change that some people think is radical at the time is not radical enough. Of course, any analogy between the female suffrage movement and the campaign for the Voice is imperfect. Loading In Australia, all Indigenous people have had the right to vote since 1965, when Queensland lifted the last restrictions, meaning that for the first time, all Indigenous Australians had equal voting rights at every level of government. Probably the strongest argument of the No case is that the Voice disturbs this equilibrium of one vote per citizen. No campaigners argue that the Voice elevates the rights of one group above another, which, they say, is anti-democratic. Like many of the No campaign arguments, it only works if you squint a bit the Voice would not confer any special rights, only the opportunity to offer an expert opinion on policy, something other groups already have as an entrenched feature of parliamentary democracy. Loading The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age have reported that the Yes campaign will conduct a last-week blitz on multicultural Australians, of whom about 18 per cent are undecided on the Voice, apparently. The blitz will focus primarily on non-Anglo women in Chinese, Vietnamese, Greek and Italian communities in the hope they will feel empathy for Indigenous families who have suffered from structural disadvantage. According to Mary Crooks of the Victorian Womens Trust: Women from migrant and refugee communities are likely to empathise with First Nations people as many have also suffered dispossession, dislocation and tensions that harmed their loved ones and communities. Filmmaker Rachel Perkins, a lead Yes campaigner, says that at the core of this is being listened to. Women have historically not been listened to its a frustration I think many women might empathise with: Indigenous peoples experience of having laws and policies made about us, without us. A suffragette in Sydney, way back when. Credit: Fairfax Media Perkins told me that women have been key leaders in the movement for constitutional recognition Megan Davis, Pat Anderson, Tania Hosch, Marcia Langton, Jackie Huggins and many others (including herself). Part of the design principle for the Voice is for gender equity, she says. Thats very important to me because I feel like in the Aboriginal movement, although women have done a lot of the work, we havent always had a seat at the table. That needs to be rectified. Perkins, who is from Alice Springs, says the women in her town suffer some of the greatest disadvantage, but are also the linchpins of family and community, and they should be given the opportunity to participate in high-level decision-making about the unique problems of the place. They have the solution to a lot of our issues in domestic and family violence, the care of children, and having healthy families, Perkins says. I am not asking for the Voice for me, Im asking for the Voice for them. One of the best articulations of the case for the Voice was from Lauren Dubois, a former political journalist-turned-author with a large online following. She made a TikTok widely circulated among the formal Yes23 campaign (of which she is not part), in which she paints a picture of an all-male parliament making laws that affect women. When women offer expertise and advice to these male lawmakers, the men are outraged: How dare you expect to get something special? I thought we were supposed to be equal! and I know a woman who doesnt support this, so Im going to have to say no. But if the polls are any guide, such messages are either too late, or not strong enough to resonate with a majority of voters. Resolve polling shows that between August 2022 and March this year, there was about a 9-point gap between men and women intending to vote Yes, with women more likely to. But that gap has narrowed to less than three points, with women only slightly more likely to vote Yes (the overall percentage of Yes voters was 43 per cent last month). Local media and witnesses have described people at the Nova Festival fleeing for safety early on Saturday morning (Israel time), attempting to escape in cars or on foot, while others were gunned down in their tracks. A young man who said he was at the festival wrote on a message board: People were shot in their cars as they tried to drive away. A lot of people just started running. It was crazy. Nobody knows where their friends are. Family and friends of the Israeli revellers have taken to social media groups to post callouts for missing loved ones in a growing list populated with photos and pleas for any information of their whereabouts. Tom Weintraub Louk, 30, told The Washington Post that her first cousin, Shani Louk, was missing after the outdoor dance party was stormed. We knew she was in the party. She didnt answer, Louk said of the familys attempts to contact her cousin. The Post reported that the family later identified the young woman in a harrowing video of a woman taken hostage by armed militants in the back of a utility vehicle. We recognised her by the tattoos, and she has long dreadlocks, Louk added. The violence waged across Israel has shocked the country and intelligence services, which have been criticised for failing to warn of the Hamas assault. It marks the deadliest attack on Israeli soil in decades and the addition of more direct person-to-person fighting than rocket barrages. Loading Some of the worst reports of violence have emerged from the southern town of Sderot, which lies about four kilometres from the Gaza border, where locals are never far from a bomb shelter and some locals carry guns on their belts. In the town of about 30,000 people, residents have only seconds between a missile warning alarm sounding and an explosion, due to the proximity to the Gaza conflict zone. Every home, every park has a bomb shelter. At childrens playgrounds the protective shells take the shape of brightly painted animals or cartoon characters. A playground bomb shelter in Sderot, a few kilometres from Gaza . Witness and local media accounts described civilians bodies strewn across streets where they had encountered advancing gunmen, including at least nine people gunned down at a bus shelter. Their bodies had been laid out on stretchers on the street, their bags still on the kerb nearby. Graphic videos circulated on social media included scenes of Hamas gunmen dragging Israeli civilian and military hostages, parading some through the streets of Gaza. Londons Telegraph reported footage too graphic to publish showed men spitting on a womans corpse. Sderot mayor Alon Davidi pleaded with residents on Saturday to stay locked in their homes while Israeli security forces tried to locate the militants who had infiltrated the community. Dont open the doors, stay inside, close the windows were still searching the area, Davidi told a local TV station, calling for Israels leadership to deal a significant blow to Hamas. The death toll in Sderot is unknown. However, the many killed so far are believed to be victims of Hamas gunmen on foot, rather than rocket fire which has rained across Israel since Saturday morning. Hundreds of young Israelis are still believed to be missing from the festival near Urim, which started late on Friday night and continued into Saturday morning, while the Times of Israel and local television said dozens of bodies were being removed from the site. Israel said the number of hostages taken by Hamas militants across the country since the beginning of the onslaught was substantial, and included children. It has not provided specific figures. Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri said the group was holding dozens of Israelis hostage, including senior officials, indicating that Hamas wants to trade its hostages for militants imprisoned in Israel. Natan Sachs, the director of the Centre for Middle East Policy and a senior fellow in the foreign policy program at think tank the Brookings Institution, said capturing civilians and soldiers was aimed at achieving two things. The pro-Palestinian rally is slowly dispersing from the Sydney Opera House with protesters headed down towards Circular Quay. Scenes from the pro-Palestinian protest at the Sydney Opera House. Dozens of police are following the group, with officers pushing some protesters out of the way in an effort to move them on. The colours of the Israeli flag - which are projected onto the sails - were hard to see for those down at the Opera House forecourt due to proximity. A protester waves the Palestinian flag at a rally in central Sydney. Credit: Louie Douvis Father and daughter Maram Abu-Samen and Saud Abu-Samen said they believed the Opera House should be lit up with Palestinian colours tomorrow. It should be equal, Palestinians and Israelis live in this country and we deserve the same opportunity, Saud said. Protesters Siri Veseth and Yunesh Padayatchi also said they found the move divisive. I think its quite horrible. Its narrow-minded and disappointed, Siri said. Its politics, its a major thing happening in the world, but its sad that only one side of the story gets told, Yunesh said. Reliance General Insurance Company (RGIC), a subsidiary of Reliance Capital, finds itself in a bind as the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) has issued multiple Show Cause Notices (SCNs) amounting to Rs 922.6 crore. This development comes at a time when Reliance Capital is currently undergoing a debt resolution under the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) process in which the Hinduja group has emerged the winner. The Hinduja acquisition is currently awaiting the Supreme Courts approval after the Torrent group, the winner of the first round, challenged the second auction conducted by the lenders of Reliance Capital. Torrent plea will be heard on October 11. Bankers said the fresh demand will impact the valuation of the company. The Hinduja group had made a Rs 9,800 crore all-cash offer for the company. Reliance Capital was sent for debt resolution in November 2021 after the company defaulted on loans worth Rs 22,000 crore. According to a legal source, RGIC received four SCNs from the DGGI, demanding GST payments of varying sums: Rs 478.8 crore, Rs 359.7 crore, Rs 78.6 crore, and Rs 5.4 crore respectively. These notices pertain to revenues generated from services such as re-insurance and co-insurance. Emails sent to the company did not elicit a response. A legal source said RGIC's auditors will need to set aside the fresh tax demand as a contingent liability in their September quarter results. RGIC plays an important role within Reliance Capital, constituting nearly 70 per cent of the company's total value. The first show cause notice of Rs 478.8 crore, was served to RGIC by the DGGI on September 28. It concerns the application of GST on re-insurance commission associated with re-insurance services ceded to various Indian and foreign reinsurance companies. The GST authority's argument is that re-insurance commission should be regarded as part of the company's recorded revenue, thus necessitating GST payment. Also Read Banks receive GST notices for use of brand name by branches, subsidiaries After insurance firms, now private banks under income tax scanner I-T Dept sends 8,000 notices to taxpayers who claimed exemption for charity US investment firm Invesco slashes Swiggy valuation by 33% to $5.5 billion GST spurts fiscal equality: tax-GSDP ratio higher in poorer states Essar's Black Box expands footprints in India to serve local customers Air India cancels two Tel Aviv flights in wake of Hamas attack on Israel Norris Medicines recalls toxic cough syrups, says only sold in India TVS Motor, BMW commence production of first electric bike CE 02 at TN plant Softbank sells 2.54% stake in PB Fintech; Godrej Industries shares up 20% Similarly, another SCN, totalling Rs 359.7 crore, was sent by the department on the same day. This notice pertains to the applicability of the GST on co-insurance premiums received as a follower in co-insurance transactions. RGIC contends that the lead insurer has already discharged the GST liability on the entire premium, making it unnecessary for the company to pay GST on follower premiums. However, the GST department asserts that the GST Act doesn't permit one registered entity to collect and disburse tax on behalf of another, irrespective of co-insurance arrangements. For large insurance cover, co-insurance transactions involve the insured party spreading their risk among multiple insurers by allocating risk shares. The insurer with the most significant risk coverage is termed the lead insurer, while others sharing the risk are known as participating co-insurers or followers. The third SCN, totalling Rs 78.6 crore, revolves around an investigation initiated by the DGGI regarding the claiming of input tax credit (ITC) without underlying services related to marketing expenses from July 1, 2017, to March 31, 2022. In response, the company has deposited Rs 10.13 crore under protest concerning the ITC. The fourth SCN addresses the non-payment of GST under reverse charge basis concerning the import of re-insurance services from foreign reinsurers in connection with an exempted crop insurance scheme from July 2017 to January 2018. The GST authority has issued a tax notice amounting to Rs 5.38 crore in this particular matter. India and Tanzania will sign 15 agreements covering different areas of cooperation, Tanzanian Foreign Minister January Yusuf Makamba said ahead of the bilateral talks between visiting President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. The presidential visit from Tanzania to India is taking place after a span of more than eight years. "This is a very important visit for Tanzania. The big announcement we expect here is regarding the elevation of the bilateral relations into a strategic partnership. We expect that commitments on enhancement of trade and investment will be announced. We expect an announcement on about 15 agreements covering different areas of cooperation, both government to government but also with private entities," Makamba told PTI on Sunday. The Tanzanian foreign minister, who has already taken part in bilateral discussions with his Indian counterpart, S Jaishankar, is optimistic that India, as a significant partner in the Official Development Assistance (ODA), might announce an extension of a water project in the African country. India has so far contributed $1 billion in assistance for water projects in Tanzania. The Tanzanian president will also address a business forum in New Delhi on October 10, where the two countries expect the signing of new deals and partnerships between Tanzanian and Indian companies. "One of the objectives of this visit is precisely to enhance the trade volumes, to speak to the Indian business community here, to speak to the Indian government to see what barriers exist, what challenges exist that impede the expansion of trade. And we believe that we can get to $ 10 billion bilateral trade in the next three years," Makamba said. Appreciating India's initiative for trade settlement in national currencies, he noted that it offers several benefits, including advantages related to exchange rates and preservation of foreign exchange reserves. "There are some technical details that are being worked out. Two teams are working from two central banks to fix some unclear provisions from this initiative to make sure that it creates an opportunity for an explosion of trade between our two countries," Makamba emphasised. India and Tanzania have also been collaborating to enhance defence cooperation through initiatives, such as capacity building, training, technology transfer, joint patrols and military exercises. "Defence cooperation is one of the pillars of our strategic partnership. Now, in terms of the specifics about the kind of equipment needed by Tanzania, that will come later in a detailed conversation between technical teams. The needs assessment will be carried out and the capacity of India to supply these will be determined and agreements may be reached at a later stage," Makamba said. Also Read EAM Jaishankar discusses defence ties with Tanzania's President Samia EAM meets Tanzanian counterpart, discusses Tanzanian Prez's state visit India, Tanzania agree to explore new areas of cooperation to boost ties India signs agreement with Tanzania to set up first int'l IIT campus India, Tanzania agree on five-year roadmap for defence cooperation Israel-Hamas war: Indian exporters may face higher premiums, shipping costs Biggest-ever round of oil and gas blocks may be open for bidding in Nov Israel trade with India nearly doubled after Covid-19 pandemic, shows data US inflation seen corroborating higher for longer Fed, CPI increase at 0.3% India, Saudi Arabia sign MoU on grid connection and green hydrogen The Tanzanian president will receive a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhawan here on Monday morning, followed by an in-depth bilateral dialogue with Modi. Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi will take part in an urban summit in Australia and present the work done by the Arvind Kejriwal government in the national capital, officials said on Sunday. The 'Asia Pacific Cities Summit' is scheduled to take place in Brisbane from October 11-13. While the theme of the summit is 'Shaping Cities for Our Future', there are three sub-themes: technology, data, development, and people's well-being, according to a statement issued by the mayor's office. Oberoi will depart for Brisbane on Monday, it said. She will present the 'model of the Kejriwal governance' to a global audience. This model showcases the work done in Delhi, Punjab, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi under the leadership of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the statement said. She will talk about education, health, and cleanliness. The summit will facilitate the exchange of ideas and achievements among mayors, policymakers, business leaders, and more. In the 2019 edition of the Summit, mayors from around the world had represented over 99 million people. Therefore, the agreements and insights from this summit can have a direct impact on people's lives. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will pay a four-day visit to Italy and France beginning Monday to expand bilateral strategic engagement and explore industrial cooperation for joint development of military hardware. In the first leg of his two-nation tour, Singh will travel to Rome where he will hold wide-ranging talks with his Italian counterpart Guido Crisetto, according to the defence ministry. The relationship between India and Italy was elevated to the level of strategic partnership in March during the Italian prime minister's visit to India. "Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Italy and France from October 9 to 12, " the ministry said. In Paris, Singh will attend the fifth annual India-France defence dialogue with his French counterpart Sebastian Lecornu. "India and France recently celebrated 25 years of strategic partnership. Both countries enjoy a deep and wide-ranging bilateral defence relationship, including significant industrial cooperation," the defence ministry said in a statement. "In both Rome and Paris, the defence minister will also interact with the defence industry CEOs and senior representatives to discuss potential opportunities for industrial cooperation," it said. Officials said the potential for joint development of military platforms will be part of Singh's discussions both in Rome and Paris. Meanwhile, Eric Trappier, the chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, is set to visit New Delhi this week to discuss various aspects of India's proposed purchase of 26 naval variants of the Rafale aircraft, people familiar with the matter said. They said Trappier arrives in Delhi on Monday on a two-day trip to hold preliminary negotiations on the procurement. However, there is no official announcement on the visit by Dassault Aviation. The defence and strategic ties between India and France have been on an upswing in the last few years. In July, India and France announced a raft of ground-breaking defence cooperation projects including the joint development of jet and helicopter engines and construction of three Scorpene submarines for the Indian Navy. The two strategic partners also expressed commitment to cooperate in the co-development and co-production of advanced defence technologies, including for the benefit of third countries. Also Read Rajnath Singh to visit Italy, France from Oct 9-12 to strengthen ties Robust defence finance system backbone of strong military: Rajnath Singh China concludes military drills around Taiwan; says ended combat readiness Defence industry fulfilling security needs of friendly countries: Rajnath China launches military drills around Taiwan after Tsai's visit to US Money laundering case: SC to hear Satyendar Jain's bail plea on October 9 ITBP rescues 56 civilians stranded in North Sikkim's flash flood Govt clears appointments of 12 executive directors for state-owned banks Stranded in Israel after Hamas attacks, actor Nushrratt on her way home Our responsibility to keep students stress-free: Min on Kota suicides India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) has sanctioned loans worth Rs 8,800 crore for airports and civil aviation infrastructure development in the country, its Managing Director PR Jaishankar has said. The government has an ambitious target to develop the civil aviation sector in the country, and to realise the dream, huge investment is required, he noted. "So far, the IIFCL has sanctioned loans of about Rs 8,800 crore with the disbursement of around Rs 4,000 crore for the development of airport projects," he told PTI. The company is one of the major financiers of airports in India and has supported airports with a total project outlay of about Rs 74,000 crore, he said, adding that IIFCL is present in almost all major airports of the country. Over the past few years, India has seen massive growth in the airport sector with increasing investments from both government and private sector, mainly due to a rising proportion of middle-income households, infrastructure build-up at leading airports and supportive policy framework. As a result of expansion, the passenger handling capacity is expected to increase from the existing 350 million per annum to 500 million per annum by the end of the current financial year and 2 billion by 2047. IIFCL will continue to extend its support to develop world-class airport infrastructure in India and explore opportunities in funding the greenfield airport projects, as well as maintenance, repairs and overhaul (MRO) facilities under the PPP mode by way of term loan, subscription to bonds, refinancing, or credit enhancement etc, Jaishankar said. Highlighting the importance of the airport sector, Jaishankar said it holds the potential to provide a huge positive impact on the economy, with an economic multiplier of 3.1 and an employment multiplier of 6. To meet the growing demand for air travel in India, he said, it has become imperative to increase the capacity of airport infrastructure. According to the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP), about Rs 91,000 crore capex has been envisaged for the civil aviation sector in the five years till FY25. Israel formally declared war on Hamas on Sunday, setting the stage for a major military operation in Gaza as fighting rages on following Saturdays surprise assault by the Islamist militant group in which over 600 Israelis were killed. Israeli air strikes hit housing blocks, tunnels, a mosque and homes of Hamas officials in Gaza, killing more than 370 people, including 20 children, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed mighty vengeance for this black day. In southern Israel, Hamas gunmen were still fighting Israeli security forces 24 hours after a surprise, multi-pronged assault of rocket barrages and bands of gunmen who overran army bases and invaded border towns. Israels military said it had regained control of most infiltration points along security barriers, killed hundreds of attackers and taken dozens more prisoner. Were going to be attacking Hamas severely and this is going to be a long, long haul, an Israeli military spokesperson told a briefing with reporters. Meanwhile, a video has emerged from Israel in which a family is seen being held hostage reportedly by armed men of the Hamas group. One of the girls in the family was reportedly executed in front of her siblings, Israel-based journalist India Naftali posted on X. An Egyptian policeman opened fire on a group of Israeli tourists in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria on Sunday, killing two of the holidaymakers and a local guide, the state-run Middle East News Agency reported. The shooter was taken into custody by Egyptian authorities, MENA said. Germany, France, and Britain step up security American citizens may be among those abducted, killed: Blinken Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that the US is actively working to verify reports that several Americans may be among the dead in the Israel-Hamas conflict, as well as reports that there could be some US hostages. Pressed again on whether some US citizens could have been taken hostage as well, Blinken replied: Thats correct, NBC News reported. Biden, Netanyahu talk on phone US President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, CNN reported. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US is considering Israeli requests for additional military aid after the attack. Blinken cited a memorandum of understanding signed under former President Barack Obama to provide Israel with $3.8 billion a year in US military assistance. We are looking at specific additional requests that the Israelis have made, he said on CNN. These are early days, Blinken told CBS. Israel has to ensure the security of its people in Israel, and then its determined to take steps to make sure that this doesnt happen again. Agencies Israel, Hezbollah trade artillery, rocket fire Israel and Lebanons powerful armed group Hezbollah exchanged artillery and rocket fire on Sunday following the deadliest attack in years by Palestinian gunmen on Israel. Hezbollah on Sunday said it had launched guided rockets and artillery onto three posts in the Shebaa Farms in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Our history, our guns and our rockets are with you, said senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine at an event in the Hezbollah stronghold of Dahieh on Beiruts outskirts in solidarity with the Palestinian fighters. R euters China reiterates 2-state solution to end conflict China said the latest escalation of violence after Hamas attacked Israel showed a long-term stagnation of the peace process is unsustainable, as it reiterated support for an independent Palestinian state. All parties should act with restraint and cease fire immediately to prevent further deterioration, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement Sunday. A fundamental way to stem the recurrence of conflict between Palestine and Israel is a two-state solution, according to the statement. Bloomberg Jerusalem Post hit by multiple cyberattacks Hackers targeted Israels leading and best-selling English newspaper, The Jerusalem Post, with multiple cyberattacks, ANI reported. The Jerusalem Post has been targeted by multiple cyberattacks this morning causing our site to crash, the Israeli daily posted on X. The daily added, "Well be back soon and will continue to be the top source of information on Operation Swords of Iron and the murderous attacks by Hamas. The cyberattacks came on the heels of the Hamas group launching a massive rocket barrage and ground, air, and sea offensive against Israel. A gencies Germany, France and Britain moved to reinforce security around Jewish temples, schools and monuments after the surprise attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas against Israel. Germany tightened police protection of Jewish and Israeli institutions, as some supporters of the Palestinians took to the streets of Berlin to celebrate the attack. Former President Donald Trump and other GOP contenders tried to lay blame on the Biden administration after Hamas militants launched the deadliest attack on Israel in decades, citing a $6 billion transfer to Iran that administration officials insisted Saturday had yet to be spent. Hamas' surprise early morning attack during a major Jewish holiday Saturday marks a new foreign policy front in a presidential election that has already been unusually dominated by foreign affairs. Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine has divided the Republican field, with some like Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis questioning the US's continued involvement, while others like former Vice President Mike Pence insist that supporting the Ukrainian military is vital to US national security interests. On Saturday, the candidates appeared united, standing with Israel. The Hamas terrorist invasion of Israeli territory and the murder of Israeli soldiers today and the brutal murder of citizens is an act of savagery that must and will be crushed," Trump said at an appearance in Waterloo, Iowa. Trump, like others, directly blamed the $6 billion American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks, he said in an earlier statement and argued that, under Biden, the US is perceived as being weak and ineffective on the global stage, opening the door to hostility. They didn't have that level of aggression with me. They didn't have it. This would have never happened with me either, Trump claimed, adding later in Cedar Rapids that Biden had betrayed Israel" with the deal. Biden on Saturday decried the unconscionable assault and pledged to ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself after the attack. Much of the Republican criticism focused on a complex deal announced by the Biden administration in September to release five US citizens detained in Iran. As part of the deal, roughly $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets that were being held in South Korea were transferred to an account in Doha, Qatar. Although Hamas is a Sunni Muslim group, it has a militant wing that has long nurtured close ties with Iran, a source of funding and a Shiite powerhouse. Hamas and Iran are brought together by a shared enmity toward Israel. Also Read Here are five things to know about Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel The Trump saga: Indictment, RICO law & future of presidential campaign Nervous, scared, in touch with Embassy: Indian students after Hamas' attack Israel launches operation 'Iron Swords' after Hamas' surprise attack Israel will repel rocket fire assault of Hamas terrorists: India envoy Trump sets his sights on Iowa with visits as he tries to solidify support IDF will use all its strength to destroy Hamas' capabilities: Netanyahu Nervous, scared, in touch with Embassy: Indian students after Hamas' attack Here are five things to know about Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel Hamas says it is holding Israeli soldiers captured in surprise incursion Administration officials said Saturday that no money in the Doha account so far has been spent. The $6 billion figure is not US taxpayer money, senior Biden administration officials stressed at the time of the deal, but rather payments made by South Korea to Iran to buy oil in recent years. The funds had been stuck in South Korea due to US sanctions. That money is now held in a restricted account in Doha, and is meant to be used for solely humanitarian purposes such as food and medicine for Iranians and handled by what the administration described as vetted non-Iranian vendors. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said his country would spend the money wherever we need it, although the US has said in response that it would exercise rigorous oversight over how the funds are disbursed and that it could freeze the assets again if needed. DeSantis, in a video statement, accused Biden of policies that have gone easy on Iran and have helped to fill their coffers. Israel is now paying the price for those policies. We're going to stand with the State of Israel, they need to root out Hamas and we need to stand up to Iran. And South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott alleged the attack was the Biden $6 billion ransom payment at work. We didn't just invite this aggression, we paid for it, he said in a statement. Adrienne Watson, a spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, said she could not directly address Republican criticism due to federal restrictions. "But I can clarify the facts: Not a single cent from these funds has been spent, and when it is spent, it can only be spent on things like food and medicine for the Iranian people, she said Saturday in a statement. These funds have absolutely nothing to do with the horrific attacks today and this is not the time to spread disinformation. Brian Nelson, the undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence at Treasury, also stressed that these restricted funds cannot go to Iran and that any suggestion to the contrary is false and misleading. Pence also blamed Biden, saying the current administration projects weakness on the world stage and kowtows to the mullahs in Iran. But in an appearance in Iowa, Pence also turned the focus on his GOP rivals who have been advocating more isolationist policies, particularly on Ukraine, calling the attack a testament to the fact that we need new leadership in the White House, but we also need leadership in the Republican Party that understands the stakes, that understands we achieve peace through strength. I call on Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Ron DeSantis," he said, "to abandon the language of appeasement to say that we will stand strong with Israel, we will stand strong with Ukraine, we will stand as the leader of the free world. Ecuador's prison officials confirmed on Friday, October 6, that six individuals apprehended as the accused murderers of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in August were killed inside a jail in Guayaquil. The prison administration has confirmed that six Columbian inmates who died at Litoral Penitentiary were the suspects in the death of ex-presidential candidate Villavicencio. Jhon Gregore R., Andres Manuel M., Adey Fernando G., Camilo Andres R., Sules Osmini C., and Jose Neyder L. are the names given. In Relation to Murder of Villavicencio According to CBS News, the news organization had previously stated that "an event occurred inside" the jail, resulting in the deaths of six inmates. Over the previous three years, many disturbances at Ecuador's largest and most deadly jail, Litoral, have resulted in many fatalities there. The murders happened as prosecutors were wrapping up their investigation into Villavicencio's August 9 shooting death as he left a political gathering. Villavicencio's suspected assassins were arrested hours after the incident and placed in preventative prison. There have been a total of six further arrests made on suspicion of participation. On Friday, police did not comment on the murders, but local media said that they took place in Pavillion 7, an area controlled by Los Choneros, a local gang controlled by Adolfo Macias. Villaviciencio made it a point to call out Macias as the source of death threats throughout his campaign. See Also: Ecuador Gang Violence: Inmates Take Over 50 Law Officers Hostage Following Car Bombs, Unrest Shift From Calm to Chaos The 59-year-old lawmaker and former journalist was still a terrible reminder of the rise in crime besetting Ecuador less than two weeks before the election. He said that members of the Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico had threatened him. The Sinaloa cartel is only one of numerous international criminal organizations with a presence in Ecuador. Villavicencio did not hold back his criticism when it came to the ties between organized crime and government officials. A political science professor at Florida International University, Eduardo Gamarra, told CBS News that Villavicencio's willingness to speak his mind may have contributed to his untimely demise. "One of the most notorious and prescient things that he said, that he always said, is that it would cost him his life." For a long time, Ecuador has had a reputation as one of South America's most peaceful countries. But Gamarra, a specialist in Latin America, says that the nation is becoming more violent, unsafe, and fatal. The current situation, he added, is reminiscent of Colombia in the 1980s and 1990s, when drug conflicts there led to the deaths of journalists, judges, and even a presidential contender named Luis Carlos Galan. While traditionally peaceful, violence in Ecuador has increased dramatically over the last year as drug traffickers have rushed to the South American country. This has led to an alarming rise in drug trafficking, violent deaths, and the recruitment of children by gangs. See Also: US Pledges Funds To Support Ecuador's Anti-Drug Initiatives in Effort To Fight High-Profile Crimes @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. What actually makes the country welcoming to immigrants? A few examples are flexible work permits, simple visa requirements, availability of jobs and services, and a welcoming environment. It is challenging to stay informed about the most recent post-study job prospects in other countries because immigration, visa, and work permit regulations are becoming more stringent everywhere. Student Work Permit Simply explained, a post-study work visa is a period of time during which a student is allowed to remain in the country in order to look for employment in his field of study after receiving his graduation or post-graduation. The requirements for obtaining such a post-study employment visa vary per nation. While some nations are rather lax about allowing international students to remain after graduation and work alongside locals, others are strict about upholding the integrity of their labor markets and can frequently make life difficult for students by complicating and bending the rules for obtaining a post-study work visa. Work Permit After Study Foreign students should be aware that only the company may apply for a work permit visa on behalf of their employees. The employer of the student would be required to submit an application for the work permit once the student has successfully secured a full-time position during his post-study work visa. Top Immigration-Friendly Countries As was already mentioned, the length of stay on a post-study work visa varies by country. Let's examine the present employment prospects, post-study work visa choices, and other significant features of the nations that Indian nationals travel to the most frequently, which also makes them some of the countries with the friendliest immigration policies. Study in Canada Canada, one of the nations with the friendliest policies toward immigration, takes pride in being named by the UN as one of the finest places to live. Some of the top international universities in the world are found in Canada, a country rich in resources. Canada is a popular place for immigration because of its high standard of life and low crime and violence rates. Through the Canadian government, the nation has established a number of immigration programs for the benefit of those seeking to immigrate. But due to diplomatic tension between India and Canada, students are relucting to go there. Well, the conditions are expected to be normal very soon. These include, among other things, a family sponsorship program, a skilled workers program, a program for immigrant investors, a program for refugees, and an Atlantic immigration pilot program. The Canadian government has also lately implemented welcoming immigration laws that give permanent residency to highly qualified students and provide various perks to Indian graduates of Canadian universities. Canada has one of the most vibrant job markets in the world and one of the lowest unemployment rates overall. For Indians looking to relocate overseas, Canada is one of the most popular locations thanks to its lenient immigration laws and simple visa requirements. Graduates who want to work in professional services are welcome to apply for work permits in Canada, which has several industries that are experiencing a shortage of skilled workers. The nation employs a point-based system. They assign points for each factor, such as age, education level, and employment history. The education and linguistic abilities of an individual, as well as the experience they have gained from using such abilities in their line of work, are highly valued. The nation has consistently been ranked as one of the greatest places to live, but in order to qualify for immigration, one must hold a diploma or bachelor's degree. Course Duration Stay back period in Canada Less than 8 months No post-study work permit 9 months to 24 months Post-study work permit no longer than the course duration Over 24 months 3 years of study work permit may be issued Study in New Zealand One of the most stunning places on earth and a top immigration destination, New Zealand is home to some of the best colleges in the world. This little island country has a rich cultural diversity, and its people have access to a good quality of life and education. Moving to New Zealand will expose you to a top-notch education, cutting-edge infrastructure, and a gorgeous subtropical environment. The nation is recognized as one of the greatest for raising children since it offers a wide variety of sporting opportunities. An individual would need a Resident Visa in order to live continuously in New Zealand. There are several routes to get a resident visa, many of which begin with a temporary one that lets you enter New Zealand to work, study, or run a business. Some visas, such as those issued under the category for skilled immigrants, provide you residence immediately. Any requirements imposed by your visa must be met if you don't want your road to permanent residency to be blocked. Aspirants should think about the kind of visas they are qualified for and whether they will allow them to live permanently in New Zealand before traveling there. Additionally, you must ensure that you are prepared for your transfer to New Zealand because you will need time to fulfill the needs of your temporary or resident visa conditions. Study in Australia Australia, the home of koalas and kangaroos, is an excellent area to relocate and dwell. For individuals wishing to immigrate, the nation has simple rules for obtaining permanent status. The country's residents enjoy a good standard of living and education. Australia is renowned as the country of job opportunities and also uses a points-based system. The government assigns points for each factor, including age, education level, and work experience. The maximum age for applicants is 49 years old, and a diploma or bachelor's degree is the minimal requirement for schooling. For a post-study work visa in Australia, international students must have completed at least two years of academic education there. Candidates may choose a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral degree to meet the requirements. The student's eligibility for a post-study visa in Australia is not impacted by the field of study's subject matter. In what comes as a bit of a shock, Mazda has announced that will cease production of the CX-8 in its home market of Japan by December 2023. ... French filmmaker reflects past film characters in latest protagonist By Lee Gyu-lee BUSAN French director Luc Besson explained the protagonist, a luckless troubled man, in his latest film Dogman is a condensation of all of the characters from his previous films. The character of Douglas is the summary of all the characters I have created over the 20 years. This is an implicative character that holds the essence of all previous characters, the director said during the press conference, at the Korean Film Councils headquarters, Saturday, for the films screening at the 28th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). The dark thriller, written and directed by Besson, revolves around an antihero, Douglas (Caleb Landry Jones), with a tragic backstory. He was abused by his father, who locked him up in a kennel with fight dogs and shot his legs, paralyzing him from the waist down. Growing up as a social outcast, Douglas finds comfort among the canines and seeks to practice his own sense of justice. The film, which competed at this year's Venice Film Festival, is invited to BIFF for the "Open Cinema" section. Besson revealed that a real-life incident inspired the film's storyline. This was a true event. I developed the story after seeing an article about a father who locked his young son in a dog kennel. And I started this movie from imagining how this child will live his life afterward, he said. When we endure a painful childhood, we are given an opportunity to make choices in our lives. I began this story with a question on whether this child would walk a wrongful path or a good one. He added that the dogs in the plot help the character stay on the right path. "Ultimately, the protagonist of this movie chooses the path of goodness. The dog here is a great example that shows unconditional love. The character didnt experience much love during his childhood, but because of the love he received from the dogs, he was able to be led onto the right path. The main focus of the story is how Douglas rebuilds his life after freeing himself from isolation, the director said. The structure of this script is simple. For example, theres a Frankenstein monster. And everyones scared of that monster. But when you look closely, its not that bad, in fact, its lovely. In a way, the real monster isnt actually him, but the people around him. And thats the structure that I developed, he said. I paid attention to the story that goes on after he is released from the kennel and gets freedom. Now he has freedom, but he is caught up in another set of constraints. Nevertheless, I wanted to show hope in that situation. Through the protagonist, I wanted to show that no matter how difficult it may be, one can break free from reality on their own will." ATLANTA The Carter Center strongly condemns the targeting of Israeli and Palestinian civilians and calls for genuine dialogue as well as international collective action to halt hostilities in the region. Our hearts are heavy with sorrow for the tragic loss of innocent lives on all sides of the conflict. We urge all parties to prioritize the protection and well-being of civilians by refraining from actions that target residential areas. The Carter Center acknowledges the profound historical and religious significance this region holds for all parties involved. The fundamental human rights of all residents of the region must be protected, land claims and security concerns addressed, and the sanctity of Muslim and Christian holy sites preserved. In addition, it is crucial to recognize the complex dynamics of this situation, including the ongoing occupation. The Carter Center calls upon the international community to engage actively in building peace in the region. The urgency for a robust and renewed peace process has never been greater. There is not a military solution to the crisis only a political one. We implore the international community to fulfill its responsibilities and reinvigorate a credible process that brings peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians while safeguarding the lives of all civilians. ### Contact: In Atlanta, media@cartercenter.org The Carter Center Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope. A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide. Photo: The Canadian Press People gather for the screening of the MuchMusic documentary "299 Queen Street West" in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. Decades of MuchMusic programming is being rescued from the sands of time. The music channels owner Bell Media is on the final stretch of a years-long project that involves going through tens of thousands of videotapes and transferring pieces of history into a new digital archive, said Justin Stockman, vice president of Bell's content development and programming. "Basically, any interview with any artist you could imagine," he told The Canadian Press. That means everything from sit-downs with Canadian and international musicians to special event broadcasts will find a more permanent home safe from the gradual deterioration of tape. Many videotapes of MuchMusic sat on shelves in the lower level of the station's former Toronto headquarters known as the Chum-City Building on Queen and John street, now home to Bell Media. The massive collection eventually overflowed to other locations, Stockman said. Saving all of that footage became a gargantuan task. Making the challenge trickier was the variety of videotape formats MuchMusic used over the years. When leadership at Bell began the project, they had to decide what to preserve. On the rescue list were the interviews, of course, and memorable programs such as the media literacy talks on "Too Much 4 Much" and the winter spectacle of the "Snow Job" gatherings. Off the rescue list were most of the so-called "video throws" fleeting moments where Much VJs introduced music videos as part of the daily "Videoflow" programming block. "Can you imagine how many of those there are?" Stockman posed. "At some point, you've got to pick what's valuable and what's not. And anything that was a noteworthy moment or interview is being captured." He said digitization of the MuchMusic archive is about 70 per cent finished. The endeavour has been in the works for several years, he said. As part of the process, the Canadian broadcaster is also replacing its aging physical card catalogue system with a computerized alternative. Much of the digitized footage wasn't available last year, according to filmmaker Sean Menard, whose documentary "299 Queen Street West" draws from old clips as it retraces the channel's legacy. Menard said he worked with the archivists at Bell Media to pull specific tapes from the libraries and they digitized them for use in his film, which begins a screening tour of Canadian cities later this month. Stockman said he's sure the digital archive will become a resource for filmmakers who want access to slivers of pop culture history. For instance, clips of MuchMusic's extensive on-the-ground coverage of Woodstock '99 which captured the music festival's descent into chaos appeared in last year's Netflix docuseries "Trainwreck: Woodstock '99." Other footage, digitized years before the latest initiative, put a small portion of MuchMusic's history on YouTube. Some of Much's most significant moments, including one of the final interviews with the late Kurt Cobain, have collectively tallied millions of views. Stockman said other programs will also be preserved, including Citytv's "Fashion Television," an influential fashion news magazine hosted by Jeanne Beker that's in Bell's hands. "Speakers Corner" isn't lined up for the same fate. Also a Citytv series, the show ran for nearly two decades and was comprised of short video clips that passersby recorded in an automated video booth at the corner of the Chum-City Building. People would pay a dollar to rant, weigh in on hot topics or send shoutouts to loved ones. Rights to "Speaker's Corner" landed at Rogers Media when the telecommunications giant scooped up the assets of Citytv in Bell's merger with CHUM Ltd., more than a decade ago. While Rogers still uses the "Speaker's Corner" brand on some weekly segments, a representative said "there are no plans at this time to digitize its archives." Leeum's 'Willow Drum Oriole' is artist's largest solo museum show to date By Park Han-sol Suki Seokyeong Kangs latest exhibition, mounted at the Leeum Museum of Art in central Seoul, offers a multi-sensory journey through the artist's innovative interpretations of Korea's visual traditions of space. The show unfurls like a 3D sansuhwa (traditional Korean landscape painting of mountains and water). Yet, instead of delicate ink brushstrokes, what adorns the museums grand halls and lobby are mountains crafted from metal, leather and hwamunseok (Korean handwoven reed mat); abstract minimalist scenes of day and night stretched across the floor and walls; and pastel-colored pillars with comb-patterned slits. Titled Willow Drum Oriole, the exhibit is Kangs largest solo museum show to date, bringing an array of more than 130 pieces across the mediums of painting, sculpture, textile, installation and video. The multidisciplinary artist is best known for invoking classical Korean cultural heritage including poetry, music, handicraft and dance and decoding its aesthetic language to then articulate, in her own subversively minimalist way, the contemporary notion of space and individuals position within it. The basic building block of her Jeong series is grid, which draws inspiration from jeongganbo a 15th-century Korean musical notation that was considered the first East Asian system to convey rhythm and pitch using square frames. In the artists eyes, each square, known as jeong, was more than just a physical shape; it was a conceptual framework that rendered the intangible elements of sound, movement, time and space in a tangible visual form. Her Jeong series thus explores various interpretations of the grid. It sometimes manifests itself as a canvas frame or a three-dimensional installation. Alternatively, it operates as an overarching compositional system, partitioning the entire exhibition space. Kang delves deeper into the concept of grid-based space division and its broader sociopolitical implications through her Mat Black Mat and Mat series. Here, she subtly references Chunaengmu (dance of the spring oriole), a one-person royal court dance from the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom era. The historical dance is characterized by a distinctive choreography, which restricts the female dancer to restrained movements within the confines of a small rectangular hwamunseok mat. The artist takes this reed mat, used as a stage for a single performer, and reinterprets it as jari, or the limited space each individual occupies within societal power structures. For Kang, the mat symbolizes the extent of space or the sphere of action that can fully bear the weight of ones own body, both literally and figuratively, said Kwak June-young, curator behind the exhibition. Like Jeong, the Mat series takes many different forms in the show suspended in mid-air, folded in half, rolled up, framed in steel or even draped over other pieces like skin. Among the standout pieces are Kang's anthropomorphic sculptural entities, Grandmother Tower series. The series earned her the prestigious Baloise Art Prize at Art Basel in 2018 and brought the artist international recognition. These sculptures, with their gracefully hunched postures, are an abstract portrait of her own grandmother during her final days. By carefully stacking round steel frames wrapped in threads, Kang constructs a delicate skeleton that maintains its own balance. This artistic endeavor stands as a touching tribute to the enduring strength found in women during their later years, a testament to resilience in the face of human frailty. The exhibition also features Kang's latest Mountain series. This series takes its cues from classical jinkyung sansuhwa, a form of true-view landscape painting representing real-world environments that the artist has observed, as opposed to idealized or imaginary landscapes. However, rather than being limited to two-dimensional depictions, her mountains, constructed from glinting aluminum, leather and hwamunseok, are presented either as life-sized sculptures or mobiles hovering above the ground. I've been a frequent visitor to the Leeum Museum of Art since my student days, particularly to view renowned sansuhwa works. I used to contemplate how people in the past perceived these mountainous landscapes in traditional paintings and how their narratives from bygone eras could intersect with those of the present, shared the 46-year-old artist. While reflecting on these matters, a series of significant life events unfolded, including childbirth and my battle with cancer. It was during this period that the mountains from those old paintings, which had previously appeared as vast, abstract masses to me, suddenly drew closer. They felt like something small and precious. By inviting visitors to stroll amongst her ridges, she creates a new dynamic landscape where her tradition-evoking pieces merge with the bodily movements of present-day viewers. Overall, Kangs compact exhibition offers a delightfully confounding experience, where a myriad of paintings, sculptures and installations all converge and overlap while narrating their own stories of the past and the present. And this was precisely Kangs objective. In this show, tens of thousands of orioles have come together to chirp their own stories and share their differences. Thats what art is, in the end collaborating and coexisting with others." Willow Drum Oriole runs through Dec. 31 at the Leeum Museum of Art. By Kim Hyun-bin Kuang-Chung Liang, the representative of the Taipei mission in Korea, underscored the significance of the Taiwan-Korea partnership as a beacon of hope and progress in a world that values freedom, democracy and human rights, during the Taiwan National Day ceremony held in Seoul, Friday. In Liang's perspective, the Taiwan Strait and Korean Peninsula are not mere geopolitical flashpoints; they serve as linchpins in the broader defense of global freedom, democracy and human rights. Furthermore, they are integral to the preservation of sturdy and dependable global supply chains, which are the cornerstone of the contemporary global economy. "We firmly believe that bolstering investment and fostering cooperation in economic matters and trade, while maintaining robust and resilient supply chains, are fundamental requisites for democracies in their efforts to counter authoritarianism," he said. Liang noted the significant progress made in trade relations between the two countries since he assumed office in July last year. He expressed satisfaction at witnessing the total bilateral trade volume surging to $56.42 billion in the past year, marking an 11 percent increase compared to 2021. This development has resulted in Korea becoming Taiwan's fifth-largest trading partner, with Taiwan reciprocally ranking as Korea's sixth-largest trading partner. In addition, Liang anticipated that the bilateral Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Tax Evasion (ADTA) would soon come into effect by the end of the year. He expressed eagerness to expedite the consultation and negotiation of a "bilateral investment agreement" to create a more favorable investment environment for enterprises from both nations. On the cultural front, Liang noted the gradual return to normalcy in exchanges between the two countries after Taiwan reopened its borders at the end of last year. He highlighted the recent launch of the new Kaohsiung-Gimpo air route on June 30, which has significantly enhanced the convenience of travel between the two nations. Liang optimistically predicted that the number of visitors between Taiwan and Korea might soon surpass the 3 million mark. Concluding his remarks, Liang expressed Taiwan's eagerness to collaborate with Korea and other like-minded nations through regional and international organizations. Together, they could collectively address pressing transnational challenges, encompassing issues such as climate change, post-pandemic recovery, sustainable development and cybersecurity. Additionally, Liang called for the international community's support in urging the United Nations to rectify the erroneous interpretation of U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 and to endorse Taiwan's meaningful participation in the U.N., emphasizing the mutual interests of the global community. Sue Ann Ulrey, 87, passed away on Friday, October 6, 2023. She was a resident of Harrison, and a member of Ware Branch Church of Christ. Sue was a preachers wife, with five beautiful children. She was very creative, using her decorating skills in her florist business. She was also wonderful at making crafts, crocheting, and sewing. In 2001, Sue moved from North Georgia, finally settling in Harrison. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronnie Ulrey; parents, A.B. and Ellen Harrison; daughter, Joy Ferguson; brother, Bill Harrison, and grandson, Will Taylor. Sue is survived by her sons, Mike Ulrey (Theresa), David Ulrey (Rose), and Mark Ulrey (Betty); daughter, Debbie Allen (Stanley); many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends on Thursday, Oct. 12, from 10 a.m.12:30 p.m. at Turner Funeral Home at Highway 58. A funeral service will follow in the chapel with Minister John Deck officiating. Sue will be laid to rest in Chattanooga National Cemetery with her husband, Ronnie Ulrey. Share your memories and express condolences at www. turnerfamilyfuneralhome.com Arrangements are by Turner Funeral Home, Highway 58 Chapel, 423 622-3171. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations to be made to Church of Christ Waldron Missions, 423 N. Main St., Crossville, Tn. 38555. Prince Harry shared in 'Spare' what became 'suddenly clear' to him after King Charles asked about the future of Meghan Markle's acting career in 2017 just moments before he asked Queen Elizabeth II for permission to propose. Meghan Markle left Suits shortly before marrying Prince Harry and joining the royal family in 2018. According to Spare, the idea of the Duchess of Sussex doing the job alongside the Duke of Sussex didnt exactly sit well with King Charles III. As Harry recalled in his January 2023 memoir, his father claimed he wouldnt be able to pay for anyone else were Meghan to give up acting to become a working royal. King Charles told Harry theres not enough money to go around while discussing the possibility of Meghan quitting acting Just before asking Queen Elizabeth IIs permission to marry Meghan on a cloudy, blustery day in 2017, Harry found himself in a car with his father and brother, Prince William, on their way to an afternoon of shooting. The conversation about Meghan started innocently enough with the king asking casually about Harrys then-girlfriend. Does she want to keep on acting? the now-father of two recalled his own father asking (via Spare). To which he replied: Oh. I mean, I dont know, I wouldnt think so. I expect shell want to be with me, doing the job, you know, which would rule out Suits since they film in Toronto. At the time, Meghan had been playing Rachel Zane on the USA legal drama for six-plus years. As for how the king, the then Prince of Wales, responded, he told Harry the following: Hmm. I see. Well, darling boy, you know theres not enough money to go around. Harry thought King Charless 2017 comment had to do with Meghan grabbing the limelight King Charles III, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | Chris Jackson/Getty Images The Duke of Sussex continued, sharing how he reacted to King Charless not enough money claim. I stared. What was he banging on about? He explained. Or tried to. I cant pay for anyone else. Im already having to pay for your brother and Catherine. I turned to Willy, gave him a look that said: You listening to this? His face was blank, Harry recalled, before noting their father didnt offer financial support out of pure generosity. That was his job. That was the whole deal. We agreed to serve the monarch, go wherever we were sent, do whatever we were told, he wrote. In exchange the keepers of the cage agreed to feed and clothe us. Was Pa, with all his millions from the hugely lucrative Duchy of Cornwall, trying to say that our captivity was starting to cost him a bit too much? Harry wondered. Besides which how much could it possibly cost to house and feed Meg? I want to say, She doesnt each much, you know! And Ill ask her to make her own clothes, if you like. However, it became suddenly clear to Harry that this wasnt about money. Pa might have dreaded the rising cost of maintaining us, but what he really couldnt stomach was someone new dominating the monarchy, grabbing the limelight, someone shiny and new coming in and overshadowing him. And Camilla. Hed lived through that before, and had no interest in living through it again. I had no time for petty jealousies and Palace intrigue, he concluded. Harry and Meghans 2018 royal tour changed their relationship with King Charles and other royals A 16-day royal tour across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Tonga in the fall of 2018 proved to be a turning point. Recalling their first tour abroad as newlyweds, Harry told Oprah Winfrey during his and Meghans 2021 interview that things changed. My father, my brother, Kate, and all the rest of the family, they were really welcoming to Meghan, Harry recalled. But it really changed after the Australia tour, after our South Pacific tour. It was the first time that the family got to see how incredible [Meghan] is at the job. I just wish that we would all learn from the past, he continued. To see how effortless it was for Meghan to come into the family so quickly in Australia and across New Zealand, Fiji, and Tonga, and just be able to connect with people. Meanwhile, in Spare, Harry recalled feeling so uneasy about Meghans success that he actually cautioned her against doing too well. She was so brilliant that midway through the tour I felt compelled to warn her, Harry wrote before recalling what he told Meghan. Youre doing too well, my love. Too damn well. Youre making it look too easy. This is how everything started with my mother. Harry continued, explaining how when Diana dazzled on royal tours, it caused tension within the royal family. Maybe I sounded mad, paranoid, he wrote. But everyone knew that Mummys situation went from bad to worse when she showed the world, showed the family, that she was better at touring, better at connecting with people, better at being royal, than she had any right to be. Christine Brown has officially walked down the aisle. While Sister Wives fans knew Kody Browns ex-wife was set to wed her new love sometime this month, she did keep the date somewhat secret. Now its official. Christine Brown and David Woolley married in an outdoor wedding ceremony attended by hundreds of friends and family members this weekend. Christine and David Woolley are married David Woolley and Christine Brown are officially married. The couples Moab, Utah, wedding took place on Oct. 7 in front of more than 300 guests. According to People, the outdoor event was planned and coordinated by a wedding planner who ensured Christine and Davids every wish became a reality. Christine Brown | TLC/YouTube According to the publication, Christine Brown was escorted down the aisle by her father, Rex Allred, and her controversial son, Paedon Brown. Christines five other children were also in attendance for the big event. After a short outdoor wedding ceremony, Christine Brown and David Woolleys guests enjoyed a cocktail hour and a buffet-style dinner. While 330 people were in attendance, we can think of at least eight people who absolutely were not on the invite list. Christine Brown has had no relationship with her ex-husband, Kody Brown, and her former sister wives, Meri Brown and Robyn Brown, since the divorce. Meri has also left Kody behind. Christine has no connection to Robyn and Kodys five children. She has appeared icy toward Meris only child, Leon Brown, since the divorce as well. There is no word on if Leon and their spouse, Audrey Kriss, attended the event. How did Christine Brown meet David Woolley? Christine Brown leaned into the polygamist community she was raised in for her first romance to find a love match. The community eventually led her to Kody Brown in 1994. Following a tumultuous and painful plural marriage, she learned her lesson. After she left Kody Brown, the mother of six made it clear that she would not be seeking out a plural relationship ever again. Instead of looking for love at churches, she did what most people do now: she went online. Christine and David met on a dating website. The couple had their first meetup in October 2022 and have been together ever since. They hard-launched their relationship on Instagram in February 2023. Since revealing her new love on social media, Christine has kept her followers up to date on all the big changes, and there have been a lot. Christine announced her engagement in April. She and David have also settled into a new Lehi, Utah abode. Sister Wives Christine Brown and David Woolley | Instagram This is Christine Browns first legal marriage, despite spending nearly 30 decades in a polygamist union. Christine Brown is Davids second wife. David was widowed in 2012. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo departed for France on Sunday on a four-nation trip including stops in Denmark, Croatia and Greece to promote Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in the southeastern city of Busan. The weeklong trip comes as Korea has been stepping up its campaign to host the event about 50 days before the Bureau of International des Expositions (BIE) selects the host city between Busan, Riyadh and Rome. In Paris on Monday, Han will participate in the Busan Expo Symposium 2023, followed by a meeting with his French counterpart, Elisabeth Borne. After his stay in Paris, Han will fly over to Copenhagen on Tuesday and hold talks with his Danish counterpart, Mette Frederiksen, to discuss expanding cooperation between the two countries. The next leg of Han's journey will take him to Zagreb, marking the first high-level official visit to Croatia. He will hold a meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic to discuss cooperation in sectors such as defense and technology, according to the office. From Thursday to Saturday, Han will make his official visit to Greece, where he is scheduled to hold a summit meeting with his Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Han's visit will mark the first official visit to Greece by Korea's prime minister in six years. The BIE plans to select the host city for the World Expo in late November. (Yonhap) Tyarra Williams of Greensboro, North Carolina, was known for her kind nature and big heart. And during her junior year of high school, she became very passionate about helping children. After all, Tyarra grew up with a younger brother with whom she was very protective over. She also hoped to specifically help children with special needs and, by her senior year of high school, began working toward that goal. Tyarra first moved into her grandmothers Stoneybrook Apartment Complex in an effort to become more independent. Then, after graduating high school, she took a gap year before preparing for college in December of 2015. That month, she registered at Guilford Technical Community College as an early childhood development and education major. And on the morning of January 7, 2016, Tyarras higher education dreams were all about to come true. That day, she traveled to the college to pick up her student ID and register for classes. And afterward, Tyarra went to her mother, Danielles, apartment. The pair planned to go back-to-school shopping for supplies and textbooks the very next day. Then, in the evening, Tyarras boyfriend, Aaron, visited to attend family dinner and watch some TV. But, at 8:30 p.m., Tyarra, her younger brother, and Aaron all left her mothers apartment and Tyarra was never seen again. Facebook; pictured above is Tyarra If true crime defines your free time, this is for you: join Chip Chicks True Crime Tribe. Have you ever been in a relationship where if you ever mentioned anything about your ex, your current partner would get really annoyed or freaked out? One man wants to go on an extended work trip to Japan, which happens to be where his ex-fiancee was from, but now his current girlfriend is feeling triggered and doesnt feel comfortable with him going there. Six years ago, he was engaged to a woman from Japan. He met her while traveling back and forth for work and spent a lot of time in the country during their five-year relationship. Eventually, things didnt work out, and he broke up with this woman. Now, she lives in Los Angeles and is happily married. While his relationship may have ended, his love for Japan and Tokyo never died. I really grew to love the city and culture, he said. Id learned a good amount of the language while being there and had plans to return and travel to Osaka prior to COVID shutting everything down. Currently, hes with a woman hes been with for two years, and things have been going really well for the most part. However, she gets really triggered whenever he mentions anything related to Japan, even if it has nothing to do with his ex-fiancee. His girlfriend becomes furious whenever he mentions something about Japan and even begins yelling and accusing him of being obsessed with the country and not over his ex. Its gotten to the point where if he wants to practice his Japanese, he has to hide in another room and only spend 10-15 minutes a day on DuoLingo while wearing headphones. Recently, he received some news that has his girlfriend on an emotional rollercoaster. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. While I love my dog like hes my own child, I understand that there are boundaries for places and events where I shouldnt take him. One woman recently had to tell a bridesmaid in her sisters bridal party that she couldnt take her dog to their bachelorette party because they didnt have the resources to accommodate him. Shes 30-years-old and is the maid of honor for her older sisters wedding. Soon, the bridal party will be flying out to Las Vegas for the bachelorette party. Shes been planning a fun trip and expects theyll hardly spend time in their hotel since they want to be out on the town. As the trip drew closer, one of the bridesmaids reached out to her and asked if they could make it so her 50-pound Australian shepherd could come with them to Vegas. The bridesmaid said the dog was an emotional support animal and that she likes to have her dog there on planes, she said. We literally flew to Istanbul together not six months ago without this dog, and there was no issue whatsoever. And when we get to Vegas, does she plan on just keeping her dog all cooped up in her crate the entire time? She looked into it, and while the hotel theyre staying in does take pets, they dont like the dogs to roam around unsupervised, which means the bridesmaids dog could be sitting in a crate for hours while theyre out and about. Thatd be awful for the dog. To make matters worse, her younger sister will be going on the trip, and shes very allergic to dogs. It would also be out of their trip budget to book this bridesmaid and her dog a separate room to prevent an allergy attack. She decided that unless the bridesmaid was willing and able to make the special accommodations on the trip and take enough action so that her sister didnt have an allergic reaction, the dog shouldnt go. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. Loren Cunningham (left), the founder of Youth With a Mission, spoke during the first night of the Korean World Mission Conference. | Christianity Daily On Oct 6th, Loren Cunningham, the founder of Youth With a Mission (YWAM), passed away from stage 4 cancer at the age of 88. His impact on the global missions and his dedication to spreading the Gospel reached every corner of the earth. Loren Cunningham, along with his wife Darlene, established YWAM in 1960, with a mission to engage and nurture young people in the field of missions. Over the years, YWAM has grown into a global movement, uniting Christians from diverse backgrounds and traditions, all devoted to serving Jesus worldwide. The obituary on Cunninghams own website says, often called the de-regulator of missions, Cunningham challenged the traditional model by creating opportunities for youth to serve short-term, globally and unsalaried. This groundbreaking approach opened the floodgates, enabling millions to become missionaries, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries to share the truth of God's love. Loren Cunningham's divine calling to the Great Commission came at 13. He vividly described a transformative vision he experienced while praying in the Bahamas, where he saw the continents as living entities, each covered by waves of young people, passionately sharing the Gospel with fervor that transcended age. This vision became the cornerstone of his life's work. Loren was the first person in history to travel to every sovereign nation on earth, all dependent countries, and more than 100 territories and islands for the sake of Christ and the Great Commission (Mark 16:15) asserted the web statement. Cunningham's influence extended far beyond his own lifetime. The University of the Nations, an institution he established, continues to equip and inspire future generations of YWAM leaders, ensuring that his vision for global missions lives on. His dedication to ending Bible poverty through translation efforts has also left an indelible mark on the world of Christian outreach. Loren is survived by his beloved wife, his daughter, his son and three grandchildren, concluded the obituary. Americans awoke this morning to reports of war in the Middle East, as the terrorist group Hamas attacked the state of Israel in unspeakably brutal ways. As our screens fill with imagery of fire raining down from the skies, of families grieving the kidnapping and murder of their loved ones, we know thatjust as for our own country in the aftermath of the September 11 attacksthis evil day is just the beginning of what is to come. As we pray for peace at the beginning of this war, American Christians should do so with the moral clarity to recognize Israels right and duty to defend itself. Some might assume that evangelical Protestants automatically support Israel based on eschatological views that cast the modern state of Israel in some role in biblical prophecy. For some, this is indeed the case. Many of us, though, dont share those beliefs. We believe the promises of God are fulfilled in Christ, not in the 1948 Israeli Declaration of Independence. Many of us are quite willing to call out Israel when we believe it is acting wrongly. We dont believe the Israeli Knesset is somehow inerrant or infallible. But even with those disagreements, American Christians should be united in support of Israel as its under attack. Some Christians, to be sure, are pacifists who believe any military action to be wrong. Most Christians throughout church history, however, have held to some form of just war theory, which holds that war is always awful, butunder certain, very limited circumstancescan be morally justified. Jesus interacted with soldiers (Matt. 8:513) and called them, as others, to repent of sin. But he never spoke of military service itself as a sin. The apostle Paul wrote of the role of the state to bear the sword against the wrongdoer (Rom. 13:14). This authority is hardly boundless. Every state is accountable to the justice of God and, if it acts unjustly, is subject to the judgment of God. The very Roman government of which Paul wrote was pictured later in Scripture as a beast state to be opposed (Rev. 13:118). When acting justly, though, the state has not only the right but the responsibility to protect itself and the lives of its citizens. Sometimes, especially in the early moments of any war, we may be uncertain about who is right and who is wrong. There is no such moral confusion here. Hamasand its state sponsorsattacked innocent people, as they have done repeatedly in the past, this time employing a force and brutality previously unseen. We should expect any just state to respond with force to an attack like the one Israel has sufferedbut here, that impetus is heightened by the unique circumstances that led to the formation of the Jewish state. Many tried to appease a bloodthirsty German Reich even as it carried out the worst genocidal atrocity in the history of the world. After those butchers were defeated, and the state of Israel established, Israel faced constant threats to its very existence, often in terms of the very same antisemitic tropes weaponized by the Nazis about the so-called Jewish question. As Americans, we should stand with Israel under attack because it is a fellow liberal democracyand a democracy in a region dominated by illiberal, authoritarian regimes. As Christians, we should pay special attention to violence directed toward Israeljust as we would pay special attention to a violent attack on a member of our extended family. After all, we are grafted on to the promise made to Abraham (Rom. 11:17). Our Lord Jesus was and is a Jewish man from Galilee. Rage against the Jewish people is rage against him, and, because we are in him, against us. No one wanted to wake up to war in what was already a tinderbox of the world order. But war has come, and we should recognize terrorism for what it is. We should also recognize the justice of a forceful response to that terrorism. However we read the prophecy passages of the Bible, and however we disagree on world politics, American Christians ought to stand together with Israel now. Russell Moore is the editor in chief at Christianity Today and leads its Public Theology Project. Pastors say there's a dire need for forgiveness, lament some Christians not in forgiving mood When some Christians hear the words forgive or forgiveness, it might bring up feelings of grief, painful memories or bitterness and resentment toward others. Yet other believers feel warmth in their hearts followed by relief and the joy of reconciliation. Throughout the Bible, God shows how much He values forgiveness. In Colossians 3:13, He instructs Christians to forgive as the Lord forgave you, and to forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins (Mark 11:25). For National Forgiveness Day, The Christian Post interviewed pastors to learn more about why God expects Christians to forgive and why forgiveness is increasingly difficult for many believers who find themselves unwilling to forgive even after years or decades have passed. According to a 2019 Barna Research study, while most Christians have engaged in no-strings-attached forgiveness at some point in their lives, one in four practicing Christians struggle to forgive. James Slick, the executive pastor of Summit Baptist Church in Acworth, Georgia, told CP that there is always going to be a need for forgiveness, because, in every relationship, there are going to be weaknesses, challenges and struggles. In our relationship with God, there's always a need for forgiveness because we're always going to be imperfect. As hard as we try to be really good people, we're still going to make mistakes. We're going to fall short of God's glory. We're going to have what we would call sin in our lives, Slick said. There's a constant need for there to be forgiveness that we either request from God or that God grants to us. And the same thing exists in our relationships with people. The bottom line is, I'm not perfect. I make mistakes. And as a result of the fact that we're never going to be perfect, there's always going to be a need for forgiveness. Slick said he learned in his life that there is never a reason to withhold forgiveness from anyone because bitterness only hurts the person who is harboring it. Slick shared that he encountered two tragic situations where he had to find forgiveness and it wasn't easy. However, he knew finding it in himself to forgive had to happen in order to obey Gods biblical commands. We realized at one point in our lives that one of our children had been sexually abused by another family member. The only thing I can tell you is, I keep going back to what I believe Scripture teaches and that is Jesus said, If you're not willing to forgive people for their sins, how can you expect me to be willing to forgive you? Slick said, adding that he forgave the family member. That has been something that's really been a primary thought in my life as I've gone through the ministry. Because sometimes, when you're in the ministry, everyone would think that you're treated really well, just because you're representing Jesus Christ. But that's not always the case. In addition to his child being abused, Slick said he also had to forgive his father for many things that occurred when he was in high school and college. I was raised in a family where my father suffered significantly with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of trauma that he experienced while in the military. This was years ago before PTSD was ever diagnosed properly or accurately, and it was before it was understood to exist, Slick said. Our relationship was very tumultuous, mainly because of the issues he experienced from PTSD. And I will be honest, it took a lot of prayer and a lot of seeking God's help for me to reach the point where I could say, I forgive you. Slick said that forgiveness has become increasingly difficult for many in society because people have distanced themselves from their Creator. I think what's happened in our world is that we have moved further and further away from biblical principles as it relates to the kinds of relationships we should not only have with God, but the kinds of relationships we should have with each other, Slick said. He added: "We live in a very self-centered world where most people are functioning on what I would call an earthly wisdom, as opposed to a heavenly wisdom. Earthly wisdom is evil in the way that it leads people to make decisions. And as you make decisions, that's going to impact the kinds of relationships that you have with people, which would ultimately impact your attitude about forgiveness and encouragement and love and support and all of those issues that I think are clearly delineated in Scripture. Forgiveness: Posture of the heart Charles Washington, the pastor of Regeneration Temple Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, told CP that forgiveness is a posture of the heart, which in many ways mirrors the act of repentance. Repent means to turn. Repent means to make a decision. If I was caught in a sin, when I repent, it's not just saying I'm sorry. Its saying I've turned from what I'm doing. I've changed my heart, and I've changed my mind not to do it again, and I'm going in another direction to follow Christ, Washington said. Likewise, forgiveness is a heart thing. Just like repentance, if I forgive, I'm not going back to the same issue. I'm not bringing it up. I don't have to keep rebuking you or talking to you because Ive forgiven you in my heart. It doesn't matter what you say, he added. Jesus spoke to many people in the Bible about how they would say things, but their heart was not right and He knew that. Their lips didnt match their heart. Washington said that if someone wants to forgive, they need to be aware that their heart is the first thing that needs to be changed because forgiveness starts at the heart. With God and with Christianity, everything is a matter of the heart. That's why David said, Lord, create in me a clean heart. He didn't say, Lord just change my mouth. Because if I changed my language, but my heart isnt changed, then it doesn't mean anything. And out of the heart, the mouth speaks, he said. Washington had to learn to live without his father, who abandoned him when he was 8 years old, and as a result, he felt bitterness and resentment toward him for many years. It was hard for me for a while to deal with that. I held a lot of hurt and pain and unforgiveness for that. But I realized that I was only hurting myself by holding him in bondage. And by thinking that I was holding him in bondage, I was the one behind the prison bars, he said. I dealt with that for many years. I had to ask God to give me a forgiving heart, that I may be able to forgive and that's how I got through that. 'Selfie-generation' lacks forgiveness Christians moving further away from forgiveness is a direct result of the times people are living in, Washington added, labeling the present generation "the selfie generation." We're in the generation where, by and large, it has become a lot about ourselves. The Bible says, In the last days, men will be lovers of their own selves. That Scripture kind of tells us what day we are in, he said. With people being more focused on themselves, Washington said, it has become harder for many to spend any time thinking about how they can love others better and engage in forgiveness wholeheartedly. The Scripture tells us that in the last days, we will be a selfish generation. With all of the social media platforms, it's about how many likes and followers you get. I do understand why this is happening because the world teaches you to be all about yourself, Washington said. The Bible teaches to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him. It's a different philosophy. You've got the Kingdom of light and you've got the kingdom of darkness. And many of us in the world are influenced by the kingdom of darkness and not the Kingdom of light. The Churchs role in forgiveness Andy Rogers, the family ministry pastor at Capital Life Church in Arlington, Virginia, told CP that he doesnt think there is any direct correlation between declining church attendance in the United States and the decline in those who are engaging in forgiveness. However, he said, it's worth recognizing that many churches are working toward spreading forgiveness among their congregations. "If you start living in a world that welcomes, that extends forgiveness and receives forgiveness on a regular basis, you're going to be a healthier person. It really doesn't have to do so much with the four walls of the church," Rogers said. But we also know that the Church is sharing that truth if they are a Bible-believing church that believes that the Word of God is the inherent Word of God, that everything that's in it is real, that everything in it is truth, and that you have to accept the Word of God for what it is. Rogers said that, in his own life, he once thought he forgave someone, but he later came to realize that he unknowingly still harbored some bitterness toward that person. There was a pastor that I had worked for, and I was let go from a church. There were some things that were going on in the church. It wasn't too healthy. I was asked to leave and I had done nothing wrong. They couldn't give me a reason, other than the fact that they were kind of cleaning out, just to get some fresh people there that didn't know about some past things that happened at the church, Rogers recounted. I actually asked for forgiveness or whatever for my feelings that I had toward him. And I also wanted to share some of the things that deeply hurt me and he had the opportunity to apologize. We actually sat down at Starbucks and did this reconciliation, he said. Fast forward 10 years later, we were both in the same spot together and we kind of brushed paths. And all those old feelings of hurt and bitterness resurfaced and it showed in the way I treated the pastor. And I was like, what just happened? I forgave him 10 years ago. Rogers said the bitterness he still held toward the pastor hurt him more than anyone else, recalling that I had reached down and I grabbed that stuff up from the foot of the cross." "That negates the work that Jesus did when we take it up, and we try to deal with it on our own. We have to let that go. And even when we're tapes or keep replaying past hurts in our minds thats part of resentment. We have to let it go, he said. One reason that Christians might be moving further away from engaging in forgiveness, Rogers said, is possibly because they might be saying I forgive you in order to obey God, but they are not really engaging in genuine forgiveness toward those who harmed them. Our society as a whole is not in a very forgiving mood. As a family ministry pastor who works with younger generations, I think it's even more important for us adults to reach out to the next generation in the Church and explain what forgiveness does. What are the benefits of being forgiven? Rogers said. Being a believer, you need to have a better understanding of who Jesus Christ is because in and of itself, forgiveness is OK. But unless you add that element of Jesus Christ doing that work on your heart, it's not going to mean a whole lot. US Christian leaders urge prayers as Hamas attack on Israel leaves over 700 Israelis dead At least 100 Israelis held hostage by Hamas Updated 5:30 p.m. ET Oct. 8, 2023: The death toll rose to at least 700 Israelis killed in Hamas attacks Saturday and rescuers found 260 bodies at the site of the rave music festival. Retaliatory Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 413 people in the Gaza Strip, with 2,300 wounded, according to the latest update from Palestinian officials. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told media outlets on Sunday that its believed several American citizens are among those killed in Hamas attacks. Original report Hamas gunmen killed at least 600 Israelis, injured over 1,800 and took 100 hostages in a surprise assault, marking the deadliest day in Israel since the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago. As a U.S. interdenominational group condemned the Palestinian assault and Christian leaders called for prayers, Israels retaliation strikes have killed over 300 Gazans. In an unparalleled assault that caught Israel unprepared on Simchat Torah, a significant Jewish holiday, Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip launched a multi-pronged attack at dawn on Saturday. The group fired thousands of rockets and deployed fighters who breached Israels fortified borders by air, land and sea. In a statement to The Christian Post, Robert J. Pacienza, senior pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and founder of the Institute for Faith & Culture, said: "The violent attacks on Israel necessitate an urgent call to all Americans to pray for the state of Israel and the people in the region. These events have been perpetrated by terrorists and resourced by the terrorist state of Iran. Democracy and principled freedom in Israel, throughout the Middle East, and the world are at risk because of these efforts. Christians in particular should be concerned for the humanitarian rights and religious liberties that will be threatened as a result. Considering the biblical duty of peace and honor, and the principles of just war, we have a responsibility to speak out on behalf of those that are being unjustly assaulted." The BBC reported on Sunday that Palestinian officials say Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 313 people in the Gaza Strip, with almost 2,000 wounded. In an interview with Sky News on Sunday, Tzipi Hotovely, Israels ambassador to the U.K., said their focus is on rescuing the hostages, some of whom are "young children" and "people with dementia." "Our first aim is, first of all, to bring back those people that have been taken hostage," she said. "Were talking [about] over 100 people that are hostage at the moment in [the] Gaza Strip and Israeli families dont know where they are. Ive seen the horrible photos and videos coming from people being taken to Gaza and this is our duty to our people, Hotovely added. Soon after the Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians were reported on Saturday, the interdenominational group Congress of Christian Leaders called for prayers for Israels peace and security. The Rev. Johnnie Moore wrote on Twitter that his group is issuing an emergency call to prayer for the peace and security of Israel. Churches from all over the world will gather this weekend standing with Israel and dedicating time to pray for Israel, he added. Sacha Roytman Dratwa, CEO of the Combat Antisemitism Movement, condemned the coordinated terrorist assault on Israel in a statement, saying it shocks the conscience. Roytman Dratwa called on leaders across the globe to be swift and unequivocal in condemning the evil actions of Palestinian terrorist groups, including the barbaric murder of Israeli women and children inside their own homes on a Shabbat morning. He continued, There is only one moral choice at this perilous moment to stand resolutely with the brave soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces and the resilient people of Israel as they wage a just war to defend themselves from bloody-thirsty killers whose hatred of Jews has no bounds. He added, May the memories of the victims of todays heinous violence forever be a blessing, and we pray for the full and speedy recovery of the wounded. In Sderot, near Gaza, bodies of Israeli civilians lay in the streets. Shlomi, a resident, described a sea of bodies to Reuters. Israelis recounted their experiences on live TV and social media while barricaded in safe rooms or detained by Hamas inside their homes. Footage showed Israelis running for their lives during an overnight rave near Gaza. I said, 'OK, I'm going to die, it's OK, just breathe, just close your eyes, Gili Yoskovich told the BBC. Esther Borochov survived an attack on a dance rave by playing dead. I couldnt move my legs, she told the newswire. Senior military officers were among the Israeli casualties, according to the Israeli military. By early Sunday, Israeli troops were still engaged with Hamas fighters in southern Israel. An Israeli army spokesperson stated the situation was not fully under control. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh warned that the assault would extend to the West Bank and Jerusalem. Haniyeh cited threats to Jerusalems Al-Aqsa Mosque and the ongoing Gaza blockade as motivations, the newswire said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Israel is at war after Hamas launched the attack Saturday morning. We will take mighty vengeance for this wicked day. The Israeli cabinet approved measures to cripple Hamas and Islamic Jihad, including cutting essential supplies to Gaza. In Gaza, hospitals struggled with a surge of casualties. Streets in Gaza were deserted, except for racing ambulances. Israel cut power to the area, plunging it into darkness. In Gaza, residents rushed to buy supplies. Some evacuated their homes for shelters. Scores of Palestinians were killed attempting to cross into Israel, according to Reuters. Hamas claimed to have captured dozens of Israelis, including soldiers. Israels military confirmed hostages were taken. The Associated Press reported seeing four hostages taken from Kfar Azza, including two women. Saleh al-Arouri, Hamas deputy chief, told Al Jazeera that they had enough hostages to force Israel to free all Palestinians in its jails. U.S. President Joe Biden expressed support for Israel. The world is watching, he warned nations hostile to Israel. A senior Biden official said the U.S. was working to contain the crisis in Gaza. Demonstrations supporting Hamas erupted across the Middle East. The attack was praised by Iran and Hezbollah. Hamas cited escalated Israeli attacks on Palestinians as the reason for their assault. This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on Earth, Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif was quoted as saying. Tensions had been rising in Gaza, but neither side was expected to escalate. Israelis criticized their security forces for not responding more quickly. Footage on Hamas channels showed captured or killed Israeli soldiers. Korea on Sunday issued a special travel advisory on Israel and urged Korean nationals to leave via a third country, if possible, amid security concerns in the wake of the Hamas militant group's rocket attack, the foreign ministry said. The militant Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip in Palestine, launched rocket attacks on central and southern areas of Israel during a major Jewish holiday Saturday and Israel staged retaliatory air strikes against it, leaving hundreds of people killed on both sides. The advisory calls for Korean citizens to cancel or postpone their trips to Israel and to leave the country if they are already there, unless for urgent matters, according to the ministry. A special advisory is issued by the government in cases of urgent security risks to travelers and can be maintained for up to 90 days. The ministry said there has been no reported harm to Korean nationals in Israel. A total of 570 Koreans are estimated to be living or staying in Israel, in addition to some 360 traveling in the country, according to the ministry. Foreign Minister Park Jin called for securing the safety of Korean nationals and discussed measures during a meeting with relevant officials earlier Sunday, it said. Korean Air, the country's national flag carrier which runs flights connecting Seoul and Tel Aviv three times a week, cancelled a flight that was scheduled to depart for the Israeli city on Monday. The company is reviewing whether to operate a flight departing from Ben Gurion International Airport as planned, but at a later time than the normal schedule, to assist people returning to Korea. Flight schedules for Wednesday and onward have not been confirmed. (Yonhap) Blinken promises US aid to Gaza won't benefit Hamas during Middle East trip While traveling to Jerusalem on Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and announced the United States plans to provide aid to Gaza and assured that work will be done to ensure Hamas doesn't benefit from U.S. aid dollars. We know that to prevent a return to violence, we have to use the space created to address a larger set of underlying issues and challenges, and that begins with tackling the grave humanitarian situation in Gaza and starting to rebuild, Blinken said in remarks. Blinken reiterated that the U.S. would ensure Hamas did not receive any aid intended to assist the Palestinian people. The United States will work to rally international support around that effort while also making our own significant contributions, including some that Ill announce later today, Blinken continued. Well work with our partners, closely with all to ensure that Hamas does not benefit from the reconstruction assistance. Blinken announced $38 million of aid to support humanitarian efforts in Gaza and the West Bank. "This new assistance includes nearly $33 million for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in support of its West Bank and Gaza operations, and an additional $5.5 million to humanitarian partners," the announcement reads. "This critical assistance will support humanitarian organizations to provide emergency shelter, food, relief items, and health care, as well as mental health and psychosocial support for those who experienced trauma." The administration also stated its intent to work with Congress to provide $75 million in "additional development and economic assistance over the next year that will support relief and recovery in the West Bank and Gaza." The aim of that potential funding is to "advance private sector growth and access to basic needs and services, such as providing health care and addressing food insecurity." "Pending completion of congressional notification, another $10 million will support programs that support reconciliation work to reduce tension and violence over the long term," the State Department announcement explained. The total amount of U.S. assistance to Palestinians pledged by the Biden administration is at least $360 million after President Donald Trump cut off virtually all aid for the region, according to ABC News. Last Friday, the United Nations announced its release of $22.5 million in humanitarian aid for the rising needs in Gaza after the flare-up of violence in recent weeks between Israeli Defense Forces and Hamas led to death, injury and mass displacement. Some are concerned that providing aid to Gaza will indirectly contribute to the Iran-backed Hamas terrorist group, which has a powerful hold on Gaza. Blinken's remark comes after a senior State Department official on Monday said the agency could not guarantee that Hamas will not receive any of the funding when asked by a reporter if the U.S. could ensure aid to Gaza would not be diverted to replenish the Hamas arsenal. Were going to be working in partnership with the United Nations and the Palestinian Authority to kind of channel aid there in a manner that does its best to go to the people of Gaza, the official said, according to a State Department transcript. Im also sure that the Government of Egypt will have some role in that, the official continued. As weve seen in life, as we all know in life, there are no guarantees, but were going to do everything that we can to ensure that this assistance reaches the people who need it the most. Hamas, which the U.S. recognizes as a foreign terror organization, seek Israels demise and initiated the recent attacks that lasted nearly two weeks, firing over 4,000 rockets into Israel. In response, Israel Defense Forces launched airstrikes targeting Hamas leaders, which Gaza health authorities say also killed civilians and children. Around 250 people were killed, and hundreds were wounded, primarily Palestinians, in the two weeks of violence. Additionally, several buildings were destroyed. A ceasefire was reached on May 21. Blinken also mentioned the U.S.s potential return to the Iran nuclear agreement while countering Irans destabilizing actions in the region. The Trump administration withdrew the U.S. from the nuclear agreement with Iran, one of Hamas top sponsors. Netanyahu said he hopes the U.S. does not rejoin the nuclear deal with Iran since Israel believes "that that deal paves the way for Iran to have an arsenal of nuclear weapons with international legitimacy." During the remarks, Netanyahu thanked Biden for firmly supporting Israels right of self-defense." He said if Hamas breaks the calm and attacks Israel, our response will be very powerful. The prime minister said that they have discussed ways to collaborate to prevent Hamas rearmament with weapons and means of aggression. Netanyahu also emphasized the importance of improving the lives of Palestinians and conditions in Gaza. We discussed also how to improve the lives and the conditions of the Palestinians, the humanitarian conditions in Gaza, including the question of the return of our MIAs and two civilians who are there, as well as building economic growth for Judea and Samaria, the West Bank, with international cooperation and participation, and for peace itself with the Palestinians, a formal peace, Netanyahu said. I think President Biden was absolutely correct when he said youre not going to get peace until Israel is recognized as an independent Jewish state, the prime minister continued. And that is the key. Blinkens trip to the Middle East includes travels to Jerusalem, Ramallah, Cairo and Amman. The U.S. has engaged in intensive diplomacy to bring an end to the hostilities in Gaza, according to the State Department. During his visit, Blinken will discuss efforts to continue to reduce the risk of conflict and continue the ceasefire. "I believe the Palestinians and Israelis equally deserve to live safely and securely and to enjoy equal measures of freedom, prosperity and democracy," Biden said upon the announcement of the ceasefire. "My administration will continue our quiet and relentless diplomacy toward that end. Israel sentences former World Vision aid manager to 12 years for alleged funding of Hamas The Evangelical humanitarian charity World Vision is disappointed that an Israeli court sentenced a former employee to more than a decade behind bars on terrorism charges, saying the judgment against him stands in "sharp contrast" to the facts of the case. The international charity released a statement Tuesday announcing that Mohammad El Halabi, who formerly served as the organization's Gaza zonal manager, has been sentenced to 12 years in an Israeli prison after a six-year-long legal battle over an accusation that Halabi funneled millions of dollars to the terror organization Hamas. "The 12-year sentence announced today in the trial of Mohammad El Halabi is deeply disappointing and in sharp contrast to the evidence and facts of the case," World Vision declared. "We reject any attempt to divert humanitarian resources or exploit the work of aid organisations operating anywhere, and we do not see evidence of these things in this case." In June, Halabi was convicted in the Beersheva District Court. At the time, World Vision decried "irregularities in the trial process and a lack of substantive, publicly available evidence." "We support Mohammad's intent to appeal the verdict and the sentence and call for a fair and transparent appeal process based on the facts of the case," World Vision stressed in its Tuesday statement, adding that his conviction and sentencing are "emblematic of actions that hinder humanitarian work in Gaza and the West Bank." "It adds to the chilling impact on World Vision and other aid or development groups working to assist Palestinians," the group argued. "We are saddened that our work helping Gaza's most vulnerable children has been disrupted for so long, and we hope to return to Gaza. We remain committed to improving the lives of the vulnerable children in the region, and hope we will be able to advance our humanitarian work in the context of our longstanding cooperation with the relevant Israeli and Palestinian authorities." Halabi was arrested on June 15, 2016, and later charged with diverting $50 million in funds intended for World Vision to Hamas. Then-World Vision International CEO Kevin Jenkins said in a statement that it's mathematically impossible for Halabi to have engaged in such embezzlement. "World Vision's cumulative operating budget in Gaza for the past ten years was approximately US$22.5 million, which makes the alleged amount of up to US$50 million being diverted hard to reconcile," he insisted. "Mohammad El Halabi was the manager of our Gaza operations only since October 2014; before that time he managed only portions of the Gaza budget. World Vision's accountability processes cap the amount individuals in management positions at his level to a signing authority of US$15,000." World Vision conducted an investigation into its Gaza operations in response to Halabi's arrest and found no evidence of improper diversion of funds to Hamas on the part of their former employee. The organization again proclaimed a belief in his innocence in a January 2022 statement asserting, "We have not seen anything that makes us question our conclusion that Mohammad is innocent of all the charges." The charity also noted that Halabi refused plea agreements because he has "so steadfastly assert[ed] his innocence" even when the plea sentences offered reportedly would have had him free by now. A source who spoke with The Christian Post in August 2016 suggested that the charges against Halabi may constitute retaliation against the charity for criticism directed at Israel by Steve Haas, who served as vice president and chief catalyst for World Vision U.S. Haas gave a speech at Massachusetts' Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 2014, suggesting that Israel was perpetrating "the largest and longest occupation of another people group in modern history." He also condemned the "oppressive" legal system in Israel and took issue with Christians' strong support for the nation. Charity Navigator gives World Vision a four-star rating awarded to "exceptional" charities. A four-star rating indicates that donors can "give with confidence." It also identified the organization's revenue in the fiscal year 2020 as more than $1.2 billion. Understanding God's holiness is vital In the last post, we studied what an encounter with our holy God looks like and how it changes us. True believers are filled with dread, awe, fear, and reverence upon encountering the holy God of Israel. This is completely antithetical to the world and sadly many evangelical churches display a glibness and a lack of reverence and awe when it comes to our Lords holiness. Having seen what happens when sinners encounter God in His holiness, we want to answer the question, What does the Bible mean when it says that God is holy? The Bible uses the word holy and its derivatives over 500 times, but it never defines the word, leaving us to discover its meaning by seeing how it is used in various contexts. Scripture instead gives us three different angles to reveal the meaning of the holiness of God. The first angle is that Gods holiness is manifest in His incomparable preeminence. Theologians use several different terms for this aspect of Gods holiness, referring to His majesty and exaltedness. The phrase speaks to the distinction between God and everything that God has made when it is used in the context of creation. The word holy is derived from a word that means to cut or to separate, and so the idea of Gods holiness is the idea that God is separate from us. There is nothing in creation like God; He is incomparably preeminent in that He is above everything, and nothing compares to Him. Some passages in Scripture help us understand the holiness of God in His incomparable preeminence. The foundational text to consider is Exodus 15:11, where Moses and the sons of Israel are praising God for His holiness. These people note two things about Gods holiness: that His holiness is majestic, and that His holiness puts Him in a class all by Himself. This verse really defines Gods holiness in His incomparable preeminence for the rest of Scripture because it shows us that Gods holiness speaks to His majesty and to His exaltedness over all that exists in creation. Perhaps no one waxes as eloquently about Gods incomparable preeminence as the prophet Isaiah. In Isaiah 40, Isaiah invites a comparison between God and things of the world. We see that the more questions Isaiah asks, the more obvious it becomes that there is no one like God. No one is like God in His majestic holiness! No one has power like His, no one has sovereignty like His, no one has majesty like His, no one has wisdom like His, and no one creates like He does. God is in a class by Himself. As R.C. Sproul put it, God is an infinite cut above everything else. He is so far above and beyond us that He seems almost totally foreign to us. The second angle is that Gods holiness is manifest in His incorruptible purity. This aspect of Gods holiness speaks to His perfect righteousness and justice. God does not do anything evil; He does not think anything evil; He is never tempted by evil. God has no hint of darkness in Him at all, but He is pure light, righteousness, and goodness. The Scriptures also present this aspect of Gods perfect holiness to us. The prophet Habakkuk was wrestling with Gods incorruptible purity when he learned God was going to judge Israels sins through the Babylonians, a nation far more wicked than Israel. In Habakkuks wrestling, he notes the holiness of God in Habakkuk 1:12-13 and then takes it to its logical conclusion: God is too pure to approve evil, and He cannot look on wickedness with favor. It seemed like God was doing just that, but Habakkuk was reassuring himself that God was holy; and although it might look like God was acting in an unholy way, that was impossible. James 1:13 goes further, informing us that God is so far from evil so separate from evil, that He never tempts anyone to do evil nor does He watch someone else do evil. He wants nothing to do with evil at all because He is incorruptibly pure. The biggest spiritual problem of our culture is that individuals think theyre generally good people because theyve never encountered the holiness of God much like the rich young ruler in Luke 18. Just about everyone in the world today is like that rich young ruler: they think there is something good they can do to inherit eternal life. However, despite the mental objections of millions to the idea of eternal punishment at the hands of an almighty God, God doesnt send good people to Hell; He sends sinners to Hell because God alone is good. We must declare to the unbelievers in our culture not that God wants them to have a better life or to help them with their problems or to be all that they can be but that God is holy, and that they are standing on the precipice of hell because they are wicked people who deserve judgment. The final angle is that Gods holiness is manifest in His infinite perfections. This phrase simply means that Gods holiness is not one attribute among many, but that His holiness is the attribute that permeates everything about Him. God is holy in all His perfections. R.C. Sproul once noted that only once in scared Scripture is an attribute of God elevated to the third degree The Bible says that God is holy, holy, holy The Bible never says that God is love, love, love; or mercy, mercy, mercy; or wrath, wrath, wrath; or justice, justice, justice. It does say that He is holy, holy, holy. We might think about this idea by considering some of Gods many perfections, starting with His love. God is not any kind of love; He is a holy kind of love. Gods love is not perverse, self-centered, worldly, lustful, or any other worldly characteristic of love. Gods wrath is not an outburst of wrath like ours when we give into the flesh, but it only manifests itself at appropriate times and towards appropriate objects; Gods wrath is a holy wrath. Gods grace does not violate His holiness even while He displays that grace to sinners, but that grace comes at great cost in the death of His Son. God shows us a holy grace. We know, too, that Gods omnipotence, jealousy, patience, and kindness are all holy. These perfections of God are infinitely greater than our manifestations of them. We are not to look at human grace, mercy, love, or wrath and think that we see what God is like because weve seen what men are like. Instead, we are to look at Gods Word to learn what grace, mercy, love, and wrath are supposed to be like and then conform ourselves to Gods holy perfections. When we talk about Gods holiness, we can scarcely wrap our minds around it or adequately capture it in human language. We can, though, understand it in measure. Seeing the greatness of Gods holiness leads us to wonder how it is that a holy God can have a relationship with sinful people. Next, we will look at the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man. Why the Church should preach politics Pastor ... dont get political! Politics have no place in the church. Jesus never talked politics. What about the separation of church and state? On the surface, church and politics dont mix. But do they? I understand the concerns about the Church aligning too closely with a political party. These worries are valid. Blind partisanship tempts our fragile egos, making us feel superior to those who think differently. Partisanship can often result in demonizing those we have been called to love. Moreover, blind partisanship can destroy a pastors love for the community he is called to serve. When we feel threatened by opposing views, we can quickly view our neighbors as enemies to conquer. Blind partisanship can steal the pastors prophetic voice. How many have lost their credibility because they sought the approval of a party over their principles? Therefore, I believe the Church should reject obligatory allegiance to either party, both the left and the right. Nevertheless, party and politics are not one and the same thing. Politics deals with human relationships. Politics concerns the ethics required to maintain a good and just society. The philosopher Aristotle rightly observed what the Hebrew scriptures had taught 1500 years prior humans are made to live in relationships. Aristotle called humans political animals because he observed (although he did not know it) that creatures bearing the image of the trinitarian God can only flourish when they live within a community. But a political party is different. A political party is concerned with implementing specific policies to solve social problems within a community. A political party seeks to unify people for the purpose of enacting community change toward its own particular vision of the good. Thus, it seems possible to talk about politics (the ethics of living in a community) without endorsing a particular party (the specific policies for solving relational issues). But it seems impossible to talk about a political party without acknowledging its underlying ethics. Given the distinctions between politics and political parties, the Church has no choice but to discuss politics. The Churchs primary message is one of relationships. The Gospel is good news because it tells humanity how to be restored in relationship to God, which necessarily affects humanitys relationship with one another. The call to love ones neighbor as oneself is a political message. Thus, the Church talks about politics every time she declares, Repent and believe. Moreover, if the Church does not cast a vision for goodness, truth, and beauty, then those inside and outside the Church will have their moral vision shaped by an incomplete understanding of what is truly good. For instance, a good society might envision a world without poverty at the expense of individual property. Or it may envision individual liberties without a concern for my neighbors wellbeing. An honest respect for ethnic differences may collapse into worshiping ones own race. If the French Revolution of the 19th century and the Russian Revolution of the 20th century teach us anything, an ideology is always ready to fill the void whenever the Church abdicates her role. Ideologies are dangerous because they pick up on a partial truth and then totalize it to the exclusion of the fullness of truth, goodness, and beauty. Consequently, if the Church does not embrace her role in shaping the communitys moral conscience, then something or someone else will. To be clear, I am not arguing for mere moralism. Moralism provides ethical demands without a vision for why that standard is excellent and beautiful. Moralism promises that we will reach Heaven if we check all the right ethical boxes. Moralism is like the short-tempered parent who yells from the front seat, Because I said so, thats why! But shaping the moral conscience is more like the composer who meticulously arranges every note until the song crescendos in a breathtaking moment. Shaping the moral conscience provides theological reasons for why a moral act is good or evil and creates an awe-inspiring aesthetic. Unfortunately, I fear that much of the Churchs political voice has sounded more like a summer road trip to the beach than Handels Messiah. However, the Church has answers to todays pressing social concerns. And beyond simply providing rational answers, the Church can cast a compelling vision for a good and flourishing society. The Gospel includes a vision for ecology, justice, dignity, evil, human exceptionalism, and love. The Churchs social vision holds up nicely when we contrast the Gospels vision against the banal and futile vision of todays live for now ethic. So, lets not shy away from politics in the Church. Lets not allow a false conception of what is political to keep us from addressing our cultures needs. Lets not avoid the ethical concerns that are destroying our communities. Considering our current social climate, it seems now is the right time for the Church to get more political. Appeals for peace after Hamas attack on Israel Church leaders have been calling for an immediate cessation of violence after Hamas launched an astonishing attack on Israel. The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem said they "stand in solidarity" with the people of the Holy Land as they lamented the "devastating consequences of continued strife". "Our faith, which is founded on the teachings of Jesus Christ, compels us to advocate for the cessation of all violent and military activities that bring harm to both Palestinian and Israeli civilians," they said. They appealed to both sides to respect the legal status quo of holy sites and to enter into dialogue to find a lasting solution. In addition, they said that they "unequivocally condemn" any acts targeting civilians and urged the international community to "redouble its efforts to mediate a just and lasting peace in the Holy Land, based on equal rights for all and on international legitimacy". "It is our fervent hope and prayer that all parties involved will heed this call for an immediate cessation of violence," they said. "We implore political leaders and authorities to engage in sincere dialogue, seeking lasting solutions that promote justice, peace and reconciliation for the people of this land who have endured the burdens of conflict for far too long." They added, "Let us remember the words of the Apostle Paul: 'For God is not a God of disorder but of peace' (1 Corinthians 14:33). In the spirit of this divine message, we implore all to work tirelessly towards an end to violence and the establishment of a just and lasting peace that will allow the Holy Land to be a beacon of hope, faith and love for all." The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem warned that the latest violence has plunged the region "back to the worst periods of our history" and "will create more hatred and division, and will destroy more and more any perspective of stability". It called on international and religious leaders "to make every effort in helping to de-escalate the situation, restore calm and work to guarantee the fundamental rights of people in the region". "Unilateral declarations surrounding the status of religious sites and places of worship rattle religious sentiment and fuel even more hatred and extremism," it said. "It is therefore important to preserve the status quo in the holy places in the Holy Land and in Jerusalem in particular. "The continuing bloodshed and declarations of war remind us once again of the urgent need to find a lasting and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in this land, which is called to be a land of justice, peace and reconciliation among peoples. "We ask God to inspire world leaders in their intervention for the implementation of peace and concord so that Jerusalem may be a house of prayer for all peoples." In the UK, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York said they are "grieved and deeply concerned" at the violence in Israel and Gaza, and "unequivocally condemn the attacks by Hamas". They said they were praying for all who were mourning, the injured and those fearing for their safety. "We pray for restraint on all sides, and renewed efforts towards a just peace for all," they said. "The way forward must be for both sides to build confidence in a secure future through which Israel and its people can live in security within its internationally recognised borders, and Palestinians have their own state and live in their lands in security, and with peace and justice." The Orthodox Archbishop of London, Archbishop Angaelos said he was praying for peace and healing and added that "in the midst of extensive reporting, rhetoric and analysis of yesterday's attack and counter attack in Israel and Gaza we cannot lose sight of the real human cost of hundreds who have died and many thousands bereaved and fearful on both sides today". The head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, asked people to pray that the conflict "will quickly come to an end". "Violence is never a solution. Retribution is never a contribution to peace. Please pray today for that peace," he said. Anglican broadcaster and commentator Giles Fraser said he was "sickened by the disgusting images coming out of southern Israel". "Worried for my family over there. Prayers for those who have been taken. I stand with Israel," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. China calls on Palestine, Israel to immediately end hostilities to protect civilians Xinhua) 13:28, October 08, 2023 BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- China is deeply concerned over the current escalation of tensions and violence between Palestine and Israel, and calls on relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians and avoid further deterioration of the situation, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Sunday. The spokesperson made the remarks in response to the fierce conflicts between Israel and Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip that have caused massive casualties on both sides. The spokesperson said the recurrence of the conflict shows once again that the protracted standstill of the peace process cannot last. The fundamental way out of the conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent State of Palestine. The spokesperson said the international community needs to act with greater urgency, step up input into the Palestine question, facilitate the early resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel, and find a way to bring about enduring peace. China will continue to work relentlessly with the international community towards that end, the spokesperson added. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Protect the poor and persuade middle class The price of electricity is unusually cheap in Korea. Power bills in this country are the third lowest among OECD countries. That makes Koreans the fourth-heaviest electricity spenders in the club of mostly rich countries. Workers wear cardigans in their offices in the summer as air conditioners are set on full blast, while children play in shorts in their apartments during winter as the thermostat is set high. That is hard to understand, given this resource-poor country depends on imports for more than 90 percent of its energy needs. Korea's renewable energy share stood at 8.1 percent last year, thereby placing it 38th out of the 44 countries surveyed. Koreans think electricity is an essential good that must be supplied cheaply. They also think the energy industry is there to help other manufacturers rather than being an independent, for-profit sector. Politicians, who face elections every four or five years, have not dared to challenge such perceptions except during emergencies like the oil shocks of the 1970s. This must change as the world worries about its sustainability amid climate change. The energy industry must be a key sector itself. Two recent developments reaffirmed the need for a shift. Last Wednesday, Kim Dong-cheol, the new CEO of Korea Electric Power Corp., called for normalizing electricity rates. KEPCOs total debt came to 201.4 trillion won ($151.5 billion) in June, the largest among all listed companies. The state utilitys operating loss reached 32.63 trillion won last year, more than quadrupling from 2021. As things stand now, the energy industrys ecosystem could break down, Kim said. A day later, the government said the U.S. had slapped countervailing duties on two Korean steelmakers. South Koreas cheap electricity is effectively subsidizing its steel industry, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy quoted its U.S. counterpart as saying. The protracted Russia-Ukraine war has pushed up global natural gas prices, forcing KEPCO to supply electricity at prices 30 percent lower than its generation cost. Koreas low power bills have even become an international trade issue. As always, the Yoon Suk Yeol administration blames its predecessor for the situation. It especially criticizes the previous governments policy to phase out nuclear power generation. However, despite the Moon Jae-in administrations slogan to shift from nuclear to renewable energy, the share of atomic power generation rose from 26.8 percent of the total in 2017 to 27.4 percent in 2021. Moon might be somewhat hasty in his idealistic energy policy but not wrong. Yoons undue reliance on atomic energy is costlier and riskier than renewables in the long term. Electricity price hikes are inevitable. The question is how high and who bears how much of the burden. Koreas 20 largest companies spend 10 percent more electricity than all households combined. For a long time, these industrial consumers paid far less per kilowatt hour than individuals. The price gap narrowed recently but the preferential pricing system remains. That disincentivizes the conservation of energy by businesses and its more efficient use. Not all households are are the same. The government needs to encourage mid or higher-income families to more efficiently use energy in their homes. For the bottom 20 percent of income earners, it should maintain or lower energey rates. The supplier also has many problems. KEPCO 51 percent owned by the government remains a monopolized supplier. Korea cannot privatize it fully but needs to allow increased participation of private firms with creative ideas. That should include improving the nations power grid. The current system to transmit and distribute electricity is unfit for renewable energy, thereby making it too costly. In the long term, it could even consider the idea of decentralizing the overall power supply system. KEPCO vows to reform itself. But only competition and further market-opening measures can change it. President Yoon Suk Yeol has accused his predecessor of delaying the unavoidable due to populism. However, alarmed by angry public opinion, caused by heating bill bombs last year, his government made only nominal rate cuts. People will watch to see whether and how this government acts differently until April's parliamentary elections. First announced in late September, certain foreign nationals will soon be able to immigrate to Nova Scotia through the expansion of one stream within the local Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). This move will make immigration to Nova Scotia a possibility for international students who want to become paramedics and pharmacy technicians. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration Announced jointly by Nova Scotias Minister of Health, Michelle Thompson, and the provinces Minister of Advanced Education Brian Wong, this change is taking effect because Nova Scotia is set to expand the International Graduates in Demand (IGD) stream of its PNP. Nova Scotias PNP: IGD Stream PNPs operated in every Canadian province and territory except Quebec and Nunavut allow local governments to nominate specific immigration candidates (for permanent residence (PR) in their region) who they feel will best help them address local labour market gaps. Prior to this latest expansion, international graduates seeking work in the following occupations could immigrate to Nova Scotia through this PNP stream. Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates (National Occupation Classification 2021: 33102) Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 2021: 42202) Paramedics (NOC 2021, Paramedical Occupations: 32102) and Pharmacy Technicians (NOC 2021: 32124) are now eligible thanks to this announcement. In order to be eligible for immigration through this stream of Nova Scotias PNP, interested candidates must meet the following criteria: Possess a full-time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer in an eligible occupation Be between the ages of 21 and 55 Have completed at least a high school education Have completed a course of study at least 30 weeks long (in the last three years)* Possess the appropriate certifications required for the job Have official language proficiency that equates to a level 5 on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Possess enough money to settle permanently in Nova Scotia *At least half of the qualifying educational program must have been completed in Nova Scotia. Applying for immigration through the IGD PNP stream Here are the basic steps to apply for immigration to this province through the IGD stream of its PNP: Upload the required documents and submit a completed application on the government website If approved, apply for PR directly with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) within six months of receiving your provincial nomination certificate Note: Applicants can request a Letter of Support for a temporary work permit from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration (NSOI), which will allow them to stay in Nova Scotia while their application is being processed. Paramedics and pharmacy technicians needed in Nova Scotia The chief executive of Nova Scotias Pharmacy Association told CBC that the province will need about 200 [pharmacy] technicians over the next few years. An additional 150 [to] 200 paramedic positions could be available for international students as well, according to Charbel Daniel, the director of operations for ambulance services provider Emergency Medical Care Inc. Beyond the two occupations added to the IGD stream of Nova Scotias PNP, there is significant demand for employable persons looking to work in many healthcare occupations across Canada. Other healthcare workers are also in demand According to employment agency and consulting firm Randstad, these are the top three healthcare careers in demand across Canada for 2023: Registered Nurses (NOC 2021: 31301) Personal Support Workers (NOC 2021: 44101) Healthcare Aides** (NOC 2021: 33102) **Healthcare Aides are also specifically eligible for immigration to Nova Scotia through the IGD stream, as noted above According to the Government of Canada, the following represents the expected number of job openings for each of the above occupations between 2022 and 2031. Registered Nurses (155,400) Personal Support Workers (34,500) Healthcare Aides (191,000) The above numbers reinforce the need for more healthcare industry workers across Canada, including in Nova Scotia. Coming to Canada as a healthcare worker To attract more healthcare workers, IRCC has begun conducting category-based Express Entry draws. The first of these draws took place on June 28, 2023. These draws were implemented specifically to attract Canadian immigration candidates who can help address some of the most significant labour market challenges in this country. For 2023, IRCC is issuing ITAs through category-based draws to eligible and interested candidates who possess recent work experience in one of five different occupational categories. One of this years categories is designated for foreign nationals with recent work experience in healthcare professions. Healthcare category-based draw history So far this year, Canada has conducted two healthcare category-based Express Entry draws. The first draw took place on June 28, when 500 candidates were issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian PR. For this draw, candidates with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 476 were considered. The second draw for this category took place on July 6. This draw invited 1,500 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 463. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration By Robert Neff Cemeteries are windows into the past. The two primary foreign cemeteries of the 1392-1910 Joseon era are Jemulpos Foreign Cemetery located within Incheon Family Park Cemetery and Yanghwajin Foreigners Cemetery in Hapjeong-dong in Seoul. Each of these cemeteries provides a different view of Koreas past. Yanghwajin is much larger and is the final resting place for nearly 10 times as many people as there are at the smaller cemetery in Jemulpo. The two are different not just physically but in a much deeper sense. Yanghwajin whispers the histories of the powerful political and spiritual leaders whose lives influenced modern Korean society. Found within its manicured grounds are those who defied the 1910-45 Japanese occupation of Korea, inspired nationalism, built hospitals and schools and published books in an effort to not only introduce their Korean hosts to the outside world but to introduce the world to Korea. Jemulpo, however, is about the individual. The whispers heard among its stones are a kaleidoscope of colorful stories starting with the summer of 1883. Here are the stones of those who dreamt of better and more prosperous lives occasionally their dreams were fulfilled, but more often than not they were unrealized and ended in costly failures. Other stones bear witness to the lives of those who craved adventure but unfortunately died from misadventure. Mixed in among them are the markers of those who came to protect the innocent and missing. Seemingly lost or deliberately misplaced is the stone of a man accused of taking the innocence of his own daughter. Here, too, are sailors and marines who died not from war but from diseases, accidents and foolishness. Murder and incest darken some of the stones while others are brightened with devotion examples of what lengths people will go to for their loved ones. This cemetery is also the final resting place of a man who depending upon your perception was either a mass murderer or a vigilante exacting vengeance for an act of mass murder. Will he and the others with blood on their hands truly find rest? Sadly, some whispers are too faint to hear; their stories are lost to us for the present but, as time passes, maybe their voices will again be heard through the discovery of lost letters and documents that will breathe strength back into their memories. At least one such history has been resurrected. I have been fortunate enough to identify the occupant of one badly damaged stone (marked unknown) by its birth and death dates. During the first half-century of the cemeterys existence, there were 59 persons buried within: 21 English, 14 American, seven Russian, six German, three Italian, two French, three Dutch and one each Austrian, Indian, Greek and Chinese. Since the mid-1930s, several more have been added including a Spanish lady and two Korean brothers. Modern politics have changed the nationalities of many of those buried within so through our modern perception we must add Poland, the Czech Republic, Australia and Canada to the list of countries represented in the cemetery. Modernization and urban expansion have also been responsible for changes to the cemetery. The original cemetery was moved in 1965 to a quiet little hill where it stood for just over a half-century but in October 2016 the local government began moving the graves to their present site within the Incheon Family Park Cemetery. Within seven months the disinterment was completed. The stones have been cleaned and repaired, and the Foreigners Cemetery is far more accessible now than it was in the past but unfortunately, it feels sterile and artificial with its carefully manicured lawns and lined up stones. The historic atmosphere of the previous site is gone, the whispers have been silenced and the cemetery no longer breathes the past. It is my hope to complete a series of books over the next couple of years that breathes life once more into the histories of the inhabitants of the small foreign cemeteries scattered throughout the Korean Peninsula. The first book, Whispers of the Past Chemulpo, is almost finished and hopefully will be published by the end of the year or the beginning of 2024. Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters. CLEVELAND, Ohio When Marcela Rodriguez-Gonzalez arrived in Cleveland six years ago, she led the first bilingual programs at the Cleveland Play House for Clark-Fulton residents who had been displaced from Puerto Rico in 2017 by Hurricane Maria. I consider myself a community builder, idea-maker and educator, said Rodriguez-Gonzalez, director of community development at the Cleveland Play House. It has been my passion to build and develop communities in Cleveland using the arts as a tool for social action, empowerment, and neighborhood development. Rodriguez-Gonzalez, 32, is among the Hispanic leaders being profiled as part of The Plain Dealer and cleveland.coms celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Cleveland.com readers nominated more than 50 leaders influential across northern Ohio in business, art, music, politics, advocacy, activism, education and other areas. Cleveland is second to Columbus for Hispanic population, with 48,699 Hispanics representing 13.1% of the Clevelands population, according to the 2020 census. In terms of percent, the largest concentrations of Hispanics in Ohio cities are found in Lorain (29.2%) and Painesville (26.8%). This is the first in a series of profiles of selected Hispanic leaders being published ahead of the end of Hispanic Heritage Month on Sunday, Oct. 15. Read the entire series at this link. Lets get to know Rodriguez-Gonzalez: Family heritage: Mexico Current hometown: Euclid What others say: Marcela is passionate about serving the community in Cleveland using arts and education as a tool for empowerment, Pablo Lopes, associated director of wraparound services at the Cleveland Play House, said when nominating her. Since 2017, she has created innovative, bilingual, and free programs for children and their families in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood to celebrate their culture and heritage while providing much needed resources, whether they are academic, social or behavioral. Marcela is an advocate for the Latino community. She likes to help everyone that needs a hand. Her passion inspires not only her team but anyone that she encounters. Involvement in the Hispanic community: I have created culturally relevant and bilingual programs for Hispanic families, led multicultural teams that reflect the needs of the students in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, and worked to secure funding to sustain our educational programs while providing resources to the community, Rodriguez-Gonzalez said. In 2021, through the Cleveland Foundation Equity in the Arts Fund, I led the development of a new play written in Spanish through workshops with children from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, focusing on the effects of immigration from a childs perspective. Today, I continue to lead the development of new theatre plays that tell the stories of our most vulnerable neighborhoods in Cleveland. I find joy in getting to know people from diverse backgrounds, listening to their stories, needs and challenges, and creating experiences with them, using the arts as a bridge to connect families with academic, social, and behavioral resources in partnership with regional nonprofits. Challenges facing the Hispanic community: Historically, Hispanic families have faced challenges related to having quality health care, housing, and safe neighborhoods, she said. One of the biggest obstacles I encounter when working with the community is that Hispanic families are unaware of the social and educational services offered by nonprofit organizations in Northeast Ohio. Whether it is because of a language barrier or embarrassment, families do not ask for assistance. A second challenge is that the Hispanic communities dont always get recognition for our contributions. Nonetheless, our community is growing and thriving. We are resilient individuals, but when we come together to support each other, this is what makes us thrive. As our population continues to evolve in Northeast Ohio, more leaders are coming together to change how we are perceived and how we can continue to advocate for one another, she said. Advice for the next generation of Hispanic leaders: There may be times that you will encounter challenges because of the way you speak or look. Remember that your culture and your life experiences make you unique! Rodriguez-Gonzalez said. You deserve a seat at the table. Be genuine: you do not have to change to fit. Your voice is crucial for our community to succeed. More importantly, uplift and support people like you. We are not here to compete with one another, but to help each other thrive. Unidos somos mas fuertes! (United we are stronger!). Julie Washington covers healthcare for cleveland.com. Read previous stories at this link. MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio Identity theft: Engle Road Police relayed an interdepartmental email Sept. 27 that several agencies were trying to identify the driver and occupants of a car that had a fictitious Delaware license plate. The occupants were using counterfeit identifications to pick up cell phones at FedEx stores. A Middleburg Heights officer saw a Flock alert on that car at Engle and Bagley roads Sept. 27. Based on the email, he headed to FedEx. He saw the car back into a parking spot in front of FedEx. The cars description matched that in the email. He was unaware if there was anyone in the car, so he parked and used binoculars to view the car. He saw someone near the car as another officer drove into the lot. That person, however, was not related to the incident. The officer then drove by the car and saw a woman inside. The car then pulled out of the spot and into another. A cruiser was parked in front of it to prevent the car from moving. One officer stayed with the car while another started walking to the store and saw a man come out. The man claimed he spoke little or no English. The officer saw his wallet clipped to his pants. He found a U.S. permanent resident card inside of it. Police were unable to find the name anywhere through the computer. The officer went inside, where an employee gave him a counterfeit Ohio Identification number. The photo matched the suspect, but not the name and address. It belonged to a Medina resident. The officer received paperwork about the items the suspect tried to pick up. The suspects car was towed due to it not being able to be identified. An officer found two fake Ohio IDs, a cell phone and a printer that could have printed the fake IDs inside the car. Seized from the suspects were a possible fake Pennsylvania ID, a cell phone and two wallets. The man gave police a Social Security number. Police located the man in NCIC/LEADS. The woman was also found in the system. The detective bureau received the report to determine charges and further investigation. Open container: Bagley Road An officer at 2:33 p.m. Oct. 1 went to the Bagley Road sidewalk under the Interstate 71 overpass regarding a man on the ground. The fire department was there when the officer arrived. The man was identified through his name and Social Security number. He had several active warrants with the Parma and RTA police departments. The two entities said the warrants were active. They asked police to tell the suspect about them, then release him. The officer, however, noted that the man had red, glossy eyes and his speech was slurred. The officer found an open can of hard liquor next to him. The suspect admitted it was his. He was cited for having an open container. Due to his level of intoxication, the man asked to be transported to the hospital for treatment. Falsification: Engle Road An officer at 12:41 p.m. Sept. 30 saw a car at Speedway that had several items hanging from its rearview mirror. As the car pulled away, the officer also noted that there were large stickers on the rear windshield that would obstruct the operators view. He learned that the license plate belonged to a truck, not that car. He got behind the car. The car stopped near Motel 6. The driver was the only occupant. He handed the officer his paper identification, saying the plate should belong to his girlfriend. He then called his girlfriend, who was at Motel 6. She told the officer she had the title and registration in her room and could bring it to him. Dispatch, however, told the officer that the drivers image on the license did not match the man in the car. Police asked him to get out of the car. He did so and was arrested. Police found two knives on him. The suspect continued to give another name, which proved false. He eventually was identified as a man who had several felony warrants for his arrest. His girlfriend arrived. She allowed police to search the car. A backpack in the car had several fake IDs, checks and other documents containing other personal information. It also had suspected methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a computer. They were seized. The girlfriend then got possession of the car, whose title had not yet transferred. The suspect was taken to the police station, where other credit cards were found in his wallet. He was transported to the Cuyahoga County Jail without incident. He was charged with a traffic citation for obstructed view, display, license and driving while under suspension. Theft: Pearl Road An officer at 2 p.m. Sept. 28 went to Sunnyside Mitsubishi about two cars that had their catalytic converters removed. The cars were reportedly in proper condition when they were moved Sept. 15. As they were started, it was apparent that the converters had been taken from the cars. The value to repair the cars was about $10,000. Obstructing official business: Bagley Road Police at 12:56 a.m. Sept. 28 went to Red Roof Inn about a man who was sitting in his car when someone else tried to open his door. The hotel staff had the license plate number of the car the suspect had exited prior to the incident. The man was described as having scruffy hair and tattoos. The car was registered to a woman who had a hotel room. An officer went to the room, where he encountered her outside the room. He told her of the complaint. She identified the man who was in her room. He had an active warrant for his arrest with Parma. The officer knocked on the door and the man opened it. He denied trying to open the other mans car door. He was detained due to his warrant. The man gave the officer a name and date of birth. However, they came back to someone else. The officer found the suspects BMV image, which matched. The suspect repeatedly denied his proper name. He was cited for falsification and obstructing official business. He was transferred to Parma. Police were unable to view the incident that had occurred outside. Read more from the News Sun. CLEVELAND -- Tomorrow, thousands of Greater Clevelanders will gather in Little Italy to attend our annual Columbus Day parade. The story of how the first Columbus Day celebration began in 1892 is a tragic example of the mistreatment of immigrants that needs to be told. Between 1880 and 1920, some 4 million Italian immigrants left impoverished towns throughout southern Italy to seek a better life for their families in America. Upon their arrival in America, they were subjected to violence and hostility unlike anything they had experienced in Italy. Many of these immigrants arrived through the port of New Orleans to provide cheap labor needed in the sugar-cane fields. They took the place of emancipated slaves. One of the worst episodes of racial violence in our countrys history occurred in New Orleans in 1891 when the citys police chief, David Hennessey, was shot. As he lay dying in a dark street, when asked who shot him, he allegedly said, the Dagos. Some 200 Italian immigrants were taken into custody, and nine of them were tried before a jury. None were found guilty. Despite that finding, they were all returned to the jail. Political and business leaders in the community inflamed the deep-seated anti-Italian-immigrant sentiment that existed in New Orleans. A mob in excess of 5,000 people gathered in the town square, stormed the jail, and beat, shot and lynched 11 Italian immigrants. This was the largest mob to ever participate in a mass lynching in American history. Yet you will not read a single word about it in any of our schools history books. To fully understand how despised the immigrants were, The New York Times, and many other newspapers throughout the country, actually applauded the lynchings in their editorials. A future president, Teddy Roosevelt, stated that the lynchings were a rather good thing. Tragically, the New Orleans lynchings were not an isolated incident. Over the next 30 years, 40 more Italian immigrants were strung up by angry mobs. In an effort to encourage more tolerance and acceptance of Italian immigrants, President Benjamin Harrison declared a national celebration of Columbus Day in 1892. From that day to this, Columbus, who was regarded as a national hero of Italian heritage, was embraced by Italian immigrants as a symbol that they would someday be accepted in America. But injustice again befell our community in 1920, when immigrants Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were arrested and ultimately executed in Massachusetts for allegedly killing a shoe factory paymaster and guard. Their trial was another example of a corrupted justice system. The trial was conducted by a bigoted judge who expressed his contempt for Italian immigrants publicly. Protests in support of Sacco and Vanzetti were held throughout the world to no avail. Anti-Italian hysteria again reached a fever pitch in World War II, when 600,000 Italians living in our country were designated as enemy aliens and were subjected to curfews, confiscation of property, loss of jobs, relocation from their homes, and in many cases internment camps. The tragic irony of this situation is that while they were being treated as criminals, one million of their sons were fighting and dying to keep our country free. Through decade after decade of hardship, hostility, persecution and prejudice, the statues, parades and days created in Columbus honor were the outlets through which Italians in America expressed their pride in their heritage and their gratitude to their new homeland. This unique and inseparable bond helped our community overcome the bias and violence we encountered in our long journey to assimilation into Americas mainstream culture. To hear many well-intentioned, but misinformed, Americans vilify Columbus because of contrived allegations that are not supported by primary source material is a desecration of our countrys history. Many books have been published in recent years that debunk all of the lies and misinformation. The following books provide a truthful and accurate representation of Columbus heroic accomplishments and his honorable character: Columbus and the Quest for Jerusalem, by Carol Delaney; Debunking Howard Zinn, by Mary Grabar; and Christopher Columbus The Hero, by Rafael. Basil M. Russo, a former judge and city councilman, serves as national president of the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations, and chairman of Clevelands Columbus Day parade. He and his wife Patricia happily spend all of their free time with their 13 beautiful grandchildren. For more information: COPOMIAO.org/officers. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this opinion column to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com Guest columnist Susan Van Vorst is dean of the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this fall. In a world fixated on the pragmatic, the pursuit of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) has taken center stage. But in the rush to embrace science and technology, theres one critical letter we shouldnt leave behind. The A representing the Arts that turns STEM into STEAM. And just as steam powered early engines, STEAM is vital for the flourishing of a creative society. The broader questions often asked are whether the arts are worth our support, and if the study of arts and music can lead to viable employment opportunities. As the dean of the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music, I believe the answer to both questions is an emphatic yes. At the BW Conservatory of Music, weve witnessed the transformative power of the arts in the lives of our students and our community. The vast majority of our graduates venture onto diverse paths after graduation, including graduate school, K-12 teaching appointments, music therapy internships and Broadway careers. Those who remain in Northeast Ohio contribute significantly to the regional cultural landscape, establishing private teaching studios, performing in local ensembles, composing for and collaborating on a broad spectrum of artistic projects and fueling the creative economy through appointments as arts administrators. This fall, we herald the BW Conservatory of Musics largest entering class in six years. A total of 91 new music majors now call BW home; an additional 23 students begin their BW careers pursuing bachelor of arts degrees with majors in music, arts management and entrepreneurship, and music industry. Conservatory students hail from 20 states and Shanghai, China. Can these Conservatory graduates truly make a living in Northeast Ohio following graduation? The unequivocal answer is yes, though it may involve a portfolio career -- a blend of artistic endeavors and income-generating activities. Most gigging musicians in Northeast Ohio have steady day jobs that provide the foundational stability they require. This approach allows young professionals to achieve financial stability while advancing their artistic aspirations, making them invaluable contributors to our regions cultural fabric. For Northeast Ohio to maintain its exceptional talent and creative vibrancy, we must move beyond individual artistic efforts. We must collectively recognize the value of the arts and invest in their growth and sustainability. Should there be more public, foundation and individual support for the arts? Absolutely. Supporting the arts is not just about finances; its an investment in our communitys heart and soul. Increased support for individual artists and their projects is not a luxury, but a strategic necessity. By nurturing creativity incubators that encourage artistic collaboration, experimentation and development, we can expand our artistic community, forge career-enhancing connections for emerging talent and leverage the arts to address broader societal and community needs. Envision a Northeast Ohio where creativity knows no bounds, where artists thrive and where innovation and expression harmonize with STEM disciplines. This vision is attainable, but it demands unwavering commitment to STEAM -- Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. The A in STEAM isnt an afterthought; its a fundamental element in shaping a well-rounded and prosperous society. As we look to the future, lets embrace the arts with open hearts and financial fuel, recognizing that our investment in creativity yields dividends that extend beyond economic returns. Lets celebrate the artists who enrich our lives -- actors, designers, dancers, sculptors and musicians -- who ignite our spirits and challenge our perspectives. Lets safeguard the A in STEAM, for it holds the key to a future where innovation and imagination flourish side by side. Readers are invited to submit Opinion page essays on topics of regional or general interest. Send your 500-word essay for consideration to Ann Norman at anorman@cleveland.com. Essays must include a brief bio and headshot of the writer. Essays rebutting todays topics are also welcome. By John J. Metzler A wide swath of Asian security issues were discussed and deliberated during the recent U.N. General debate. China and Korea dominated concerns though other topics such as the South China Sea were largely overlooked. Speaking at the start of the 78th Assembly, President Joe Biden politely addressed Chinas growing military threat saying the U.S. seeks to responsibly manage competition with Beijing so it doesnt tip into conflict. True but this all sounds a bit mercantile; evoking trade competition, markets and balance sheets. Not the dangerously tipping military balance in the Pacific. Biden stressed that U.S. policy towards China is based on de-risking, not de-coupling, adding that while Washington will stand against Chinas aggressive actions, the U.S. is also ready to work with Beijing on issues like climate change. All pretty vapid. We should note that since the vaunted Paris Climate Agreement of 2015, Beijings coal-fired energy plants have been puffing away at an alarming rate; China has doubled its coal plant capacity since 2019! Addressing the situation on the divided Korean Peninsula, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol warned, The nuclear and missile programs of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea pose not only a direct and existential threat to the peace of the Republic of Korea, but are also a serious challenge to peace in the Indo-Pacific region and across the globe. No question, but despite many Security Council resolutions banning North Korean nuclear and missile firings, the Pyongyang regime continues testing unabated. President Yoon added warily, if the DPRK acquires the information and technology necessary to enhance its WMD capabilities in exchange for supporting Russia with conventional weapons, the deal will be a direct provocation threatening the peace and security of not only Ukraine but also the Republic of Korea. In other words, will Moscow enhance Pyongyangs technological capacity? He warned, The Republic of Korea together with its allies and partners, will not stand idly by. Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was a bit less direct stating, Japans policy on North Korea remains unchanged. Japan seeks to normalize its relationship with North Korea through resolving outstanding issues of abductions, nuclear and missile issues, as well as settlement of our unfortunate past. He added that he would like to meet President Kim Jong-un face to face at any time without conditions. Nonetheless, there were no direct mentions of Mainland China. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong warned, The Indo-Pacific is home to an unprecedented military build-up, yet transparency and strategic reassurance are lacking. She added, Tension is rising between states with overlapping claims in the South China Sea, and disputed features have been militarized. Minister Wong asserted, North Korea continues to destabilize with its ongoing nuclear weapons program and ballistic missile launches, threatening Japan, the Republic of Korea and the broader region. Interestingly Czech President Petr Pavel argued, We deplore Chinas military actions which raise tensions in the Taiwan Strait, and its unfriendly actions against partners in the South China Sea. Any dispute or contagious issue must be solved peacefully. Any potential armed conflict in the region would have negative consequences for the whole world. In the absence of President Xi Jinping or his Foreign Minister Wang Yi, China sent a mid-level delegate, vice president Han Zheng, who reaffirmed Beijings dedication to close links with the developing world aka the Global South. Han nonetheless became strident on Beijings views of its national sovereignty; No one, no force should ever underestimate the firm resolve, strong will or the power of the Chinese people to safeguard their sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said. All part of Beijings classic bullying and threats towards democratic Taiwan. Hans remarks underscored that there is only one China in the world represented by the government of the Peoples Republic of China; Realizing Chinas complete reunification is a shared aspiration. His Government will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and utmost effort. Despite Chinas assertions, more than a dozen UN members such as Guatemala, St. Lucia and Paraguay called for Taiwans participation in the United Nations. Myanmar aka Burma, controlled by a military junta, has routinely trounced human rights and sanctioned humanitarian crackdowns; but Burmas fate was barely mentioned except by Singapores eloquent Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Anwar Ibrahim who decried, The barbarism and depravity inflicted upon the people of Myanmar is indefensible. All studiously careful words from world leaders, who are tiptoeing around Chinas growing military threat and North Koreas blatant missile proliferation. John J. Metzler (jjmcolumn@earthlink.net) is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He is the author of "Divided Dynamism The Diplomacy of Separated Nations; Germany, Korea, China." Gunmen from the Palestinian group Hamas rampaged through Israeli towns on Saturday, killing at least 250 Israelis and escaping with dozens of hostages in by far the deadliest day of violence in Israel since the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago. More than 230 Gazans were also killed when Israel responded with one of its most devastating days of retaliatory strikes. Fighting continued into the night. "We will take mighty vengeance for this wicked day," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. "Hamas launched a cruel and wicked war. We will win this war but the price is too heavy to bear," he said. "Hamas wants to murder us all. This is an enemy that murders mothers and children in their homes, in their beds. An enemy that abducts elderly, children, teenage girls." Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said the assault that had begun in Gaza would spread to the West Bank and Jerusalem. In a speech, Haniyeh highlighted threats to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, the continuation of the blockade on Gaza and Israeli normalization with countries in the region. "How many times have we warned you that the Palestinian people have been living in refugee camps for 75 years, and you refuse to recognise the rights of our people?" Bodies of Israeli civilians were strewn across the streets of Sderot in southern Israel, near Gaza, surrounded by broken glass. The bodies of a woman and a man were sprawled across the front seats of a car. "I went out, I saw loads of bodies of terrorists, civilians, cars shot up. A sea of bodies, inside Sderot along the road, other places, loads of bodies," said Shlomi from Sderot. Terrified Israelis, barricaded into safe rooms, recounted their plight by phone on live TV. Esther Borochov, who fled a dance rave party attacked by the gunmen, told Reuters she survived by playing dead in a car after the driver trying to help her escape was shot point blank. "I couldn't move my legs," she told Reuters at the hospital. "Soldiers came and took us away to the bushes." Senior military officers were among those killed in fighting near Gaza on Saturday, the Israeli military said. By 1:30 a.m. local time (2330 GMT) Israeli troops were still clashing with Hamas fighters in some parts of southern Israel. In a briefing on social media, an Israeli army spokesperson said the situation was not fully under control. The Israeli prime minister's office said the security cabinet had approved steps to destroy the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad "for many years," including cutting electricity and fuel supplies and the entry of goods into Gaza. In Gaza, black smoke, orange flashes and sparks lit the sky. Crowds of mourners carried the bodies of freshly killed militants through the streets, wrapped in green Hamas flags. Gaza's dead and wounded were carried into crumbling and overcrowded hospitals with severe shortages of medical supplies and equipment. The health ministry said 232 people had been killed and at least 1,700 wounded. Streets were deserted apart from ambulances racing to the scenes of air strikes. Israel cut the power, plunging the city into darkness. Western countries, led by the United States, denounced the attack. At the White House, President Joe Biden went on national television to say Israel had the right to defend itself and issued a blunt warning to Iran and other nations hostile to Israel. "This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage. The world is watching," he said. A senior Biden administration official told reporters that the United States was working with other governments to make sure the crisis does not spread and is contained to Gaza. Washington has been trying to strike a deal that would normalize ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia, seen by Israelis as the biggest prize yet in their decades-long quest for Arab recognition. Palestinians fear any such deal could sell out their future dreams of an independent state. Across the Middle East, there were demonstrations in support of Hamas, with Israeli and U.S. flags set on fire and marchers waving Palestinian flags in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. The Hamas attack was openly praised by Iran and by Hezbollah, Iran's Lebanese allies. Long after nightfall, residents had yet to be given the all-clear to go home. "Its not over because the (army) hasnt said the kibbutz is clear of terrorists," Dani Rahamim told Reuters by telephone from the shelter where he was still hiding in Nahal Oz, close to the Gaza fence. Gunfire had subsided but regular explosions could still be heard. Hamas said it fired a fresh volley of 150 rockets toward Tel Aviv on Saturday evening in retaliation for an Israeli air strike that took down a high rise with more than 100 apartments. Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri told Al Jazeera that the group was holding a big number of Israeli captives, including senior officials. He said Hamas had enough captives to make Israel free all Palestinians in its jails. Hamas, which advocates Israel's destruction, said the attack was driven by what it said were Israel's escalated attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, Jerusalem and against Palestinians in Israeli prisons. "This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on earth," Hamas military commander Mohammad Deif said, announcing the start of the operation in a broadcast on Hamas media and calling on Palestinians everywhere to fight. Gaza has been devastated by four wars and countless skirmishes between Hamas and Israel since the militants seized control of the strip in 2007. But the scenes of violence inside Israel itself were beyond anything seen there even at the height of the Palestinian Intifada uprisings of past decades. That Israel was caught completely off guard was lamented as one of the worst intelligence failures in its history, a shock to a nation that boasts of its intensive infiltration and monitoring of militants. In Gaza, a narrow strip where 2.3 million Palestinians have lived under an Israeli blockade for 16 years, residents rushed to buy supplies. Some evacuated their homes and headed for shelters. Scores of Palestinians were killed and hundreds wounded in clashes at the border into Israel, where fighters captured the crossing point and tore down fences. Some of the dead were civilians, among crowds that attempted to cross into Israel through the damaged gates. "We are afraid," a Palestinian woman, Amal Abu Daqqa, told Reuters as she left her house in Khan Younis. The escalation comes against a backdrop of surging violence between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where a Palestinian authority exercises limited self-rule, opposed by Hamas that wants Israel destroyed. In the West Bank, there were clashes in several locations on Saturday, with stone throwing youths confronting Israeli troops. Four Palestinians including a 13-year-old boy were killed. Palestinian factions called a general strike for Sunday. Israel itself has been experiencing internal political upheaval, with the most right-wing government in its history attempting to overhaul the judiciary. (Reuters) U.S. President Joe Biden offered Israel on Saturday "all appropriate means of support" after a deadly attack from Palestinian militant group Hamas and warned "any party hostile to Israel" not to seek advantage. U.S. and Israeli officials were coordinating about Israel's military needs in the wake of the attack, with a decision expected soon, a senior U.S. official said. The United States is working with other governments to make sure the crisis does not spread and is contained to Gaza following a deadly Hamas attack in Israel, the official said. "We want to make sure this is contained in Gaza," the official told reporters. The assault by the Iran-backed Islamist group erupted amid efforts by Biden and his team to negotiate a landmark normalization agreement between foes Israel and Saudi Arabia and a U.S.-Saudi defense pact. Biden spoke by phone to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday to offer U.S. support, with scenes of violence playing out on American news networks. The two leaders have had strained relations but met in New York last month in a show of solidarity. "I made clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu that we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the government and people of Israel," Biden said in a written statement issued after their call. In his televised remarks later, Biden issued a blunt warning. "Israel has a right to defend itself and its people - full stop," he said. "Let me say this as clearly as I can. This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage. The world is watching." The senior U.S. official, speaking on a conference call, said there was no indication yet that Iran was involved in the Hamas attack but vowed to look into it. Amid worries about a massive Israeli intelligence failure, the official said Washington had no specific warning or indication that Hamas would launch the attack. "We always share timely intelligence," the official said. Biden directed his national security team to stay in touch about the situation with countries throughout the region including Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and European allies. The violence came as Washington was in disarray: Republicans are looking for a successor to ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy of the House of Representatives, and a budget showdown looms with Biden and his Democrats that could lead to a government shutdown in about 40 days. Biden's choice to be U.S. ambassador to Israel, former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, has yet to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Iran criticism Republicans seeking to oust Biden in the 2024 presidential election were quick to criticize his handling of the situation. "Iran has helped fund this war against Israel, and Joe Biden's policies that have gone easy on Iran has helped to fill their coffers. Israel is now paying the price for those policies," said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican running for his party's presidential nomination. DeSantis appeared to be referring to a prisoner swap deal the Biden administration completed with Iran in September. The deal was first made public in August. Under the deal, the United States waived sanctions to allow the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian funds from South Korea to Qatar, a step needed to carry out the U.S.-Iran prisoner swap. A Biden administration official said not a dollar of the $6 billion has been spent yet. The money is intended solely for humanitarian purposes. "I can't comment on 2024 because of the Hatch Act. But I can clarify the facts: Not a single cent from these funds has been spent, and when it is spent, it can only be spent on things like food and medicine for the Iranian people," said White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson. The Hatch Act prohibits White House officials from engaging in political activity. Brian Nelson, a senior Treasury Department official, said: "All of the money held in restricted accounts in Doha as part of the arrangement to secure the release of five Americans in September remains in Doha." The impact of the Hamas attack on the U.S.-Israel-Saudi normalization negotiations was unclear, but the U.S. official said Washington would not let the militant group derail the talks. The United States has been insistent any agreement include some Israeli concessions to the Palestinians, but what those would be remained a subject of negotiations. Reuters reported last month that Saudi Arabia is determined to secure a military pact requiring the United States to defend the kingdom in return for opening ties with Israel, and will not hold up a deal even if Israel does not offer major concessions to Palestinians in their bid for statehood. (Reuters) A senior American lawmaker, leading the first congressional trip to China in four years, said Saturday that the U.S. does not want to cut economic ties with the world's second-largest economy but seeks a level playing field so that American companies can compete freely. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and five other senators arrived in Shanghai earlier in the day on a three-country tour that will also take them to South Korea and Japan. The trip comes amid a sharp deterioration in relations between the U.S. and China and as officials try to lay the groundwork for a possible meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping in November. We are prepared to compete but we do not seek to conflict, Schumer told Shanghai's Communist Party chief shortly after the delegation's arrival. The party head, Chen Jining, avoided specific issues in his public remarks, saying that a healthy and stable China-U.S. relationship would benefit the entire world. He noted the presence of 5,640 American companies in Shanghai, and said he is happy to have the opportunity to discuss how to promote trade at the local level. The U.S. has placed tariff and other trade restrictions on China over national security, human rights and other concerns and blocked access to advanced semiconductors and other key technologies. China has accused the U.S. of seeking to contain its economic development as it emerges as a global power and potential threat to the U.S.-led international order. Schumer said the U.S. wants the Chinese people to have increased economic opportunity but that many Americans feel China does not treat U.S. companies fairly. We believe we need reciprocity allowing American companies to compete as freely in China as Chinese companies are able to compete here, he said. A series of high-ranking Biden administration officials have met their Chinese counterparts in Beijing in recent months, but Schumer and his colleagues are the first American lawmakers to make the trip since China lifted its COVID-19 restrictions in December of last year. The delegation of three Democrats and three Republicans landed on a U.S. government jet on an overcast and windy afternoon. The Republicans were led by Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, the senior member of his party on the Senate Finance Committee. Schumer is a New York Democrat. China, in a statement earlier this week, said it hoped the visit would contribute to a more objective understanding of China in the U.S. Congress. Schumer also raised the issue of Chinese companies that have stopped making fentanyl but which the U.S. government says continue to supply the ingredients for production of the opioid in Mexico. They are fueling the fentanyl crisis that is poisoning communities across the United States, he said. Every one of us knows families who have lost young men and women to fentanyl. China has said that it maintains strict control of the chemicals to ensure they are not exported for illegal purposes and that the U.S. should stop shifting the blame for its failure to curb drug abuse. In a reminder of the tensions between the two countries, China's commerce ministry said on Saturday that new U.S. restrictions placed on 42 Chinese companies were "a typical act of economic coercion and unilateral bullying. The U.S. Commerce Department added the Chinese companies and seven others to its entity list on Friday. It said the companies supplied U.S.-origin semiconductors that Russia uses for missile guidance systems and drones in the war against Ukraine. American companies cannot export to organizations on the entity list without obtaining a special license. A Chinese international relations expert said that Schumer's visit is a sign of improvement in China-U.S. relations. The senators hope to meet Xi in Beijing during their visit. If the talks proceed well, there is the possibility that President Xi will meet Schumer, said Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University of China. If their meeting is realized, the chances for a Xi-Biden meeting will become greater. The White House has been in touch with Schumer and supports the delegation's visit to the region, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said after the trip was announced. (AP) 3 U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on March 22, 2023 in Washington. Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images News | Getty Images U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that it is not clear there was any involvement by Iran in the weekend attack by Hamas on Israel. Iran has long been a supporter of Hamas, the group designated by the U.S. as a terrorist organization, whose attack on Saturday left at least 250 in Israel dead. "We have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack, but there is certainly a long relationship," Blinken said on CNN's "State of the Union." Smoke billows following Palestinians' respond to Israeli airstrikes with rockets from Gaza, in Gaza City, Gaza on May 10, 2023. Ali Jadallah | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Some Republican leaders have pointed to Iran as a cause of the attack. Rep Michael McCaul (R-TX) said later on CNN that "we do know that Iran was behind this" but did not specify whether he was talking about specific information on this weekend's attack or just the country's historic support of Hamas in general. One area of criticism of Blinken and the Biden administration has been the $6 billion the U.S. agreed in September to unfreeze for Iran to use only for humanitarian purposes as part of a swap of detainees. However, Blinken said Sunday that none of the $6 billion released to Iran has been spent. Blinken also said the U.S. is working to verify reports that Americans were killed or are missing from the attacks. He added there could be news about requests for additional aid for Israel from the U.S. later on Sunday. Israel's Iron Dome air defense system intercepts rockets launched from Gaza City, on May 10, 2023. Mohammed Abed | AFP | Getty Images If travel companies want to capture the business of Gen Z travelers, they'll have to rethink their approach, according to research by Bernstein. Those in the younger generation born between 1997 and 2012 don't just use the internet differently than their older counterparts, they are increasingly likely to engage with social media platforms to find information, analyst Richard Clarke wrote in a Wednesday note. Gen Z adults use TikTok and Instagram to make purchase decisions at more than double the rate of the average person, a Bernstein analysis found. While older generations may spend more money, younger Americans are booking more travel than Gen X and Baby Boomers. Some 40% said they booked a trip in the past month, following millennials at 49%, according to a recent survey by decision intelligence company Morning Consult . "Given enough time, this generation will change the travel distribution landscape," Clarke said. Because of this shift to social media, organic content and engagement on the sites are key for those trying to win Gen Z's business, he noted. "Travel companies will need to cultivate their presence, rather than leaning on high conversion platforms like Google," he said. Clarke believes online travel agencies (OTAs) have the advantage since they have a much larger brand presence on social media sites. The clearest generational winner appears to be Airbnb , he said. ABNB YTD mountain Airbnb year to date "Airbnb looks best at attracting the youngest visitors, in part helped by its content being the most social media friendly," Clarke wrote. The vacation-rental platform has the highest skew to 18-24 year olds and 5.4 million Instagram followers, the highest among travel companies, he added. Clarke has an overweight rating on the stock and a $168 price target, implying about nearly 33% upside from Friday's close. In comparison, Airbnb has an average analyst rating of hold and 12%upside to the average price target, per FactSet. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting. The surprise attack by Hamas on Israel suggests a massive intelligence failure as the Israeli government appeared blindsided by the infiltration of Hamas fighters across the southern border and the launch of thousands of rockets. The Hamas assault by air, land and sea also raised questions as to why U.S. intelligence agencies apparently did not see it coming, experts and former intelligence officials said. U.S. officials said that if the Israelis knew an attack was imminent, they did not share it with Washington. "We were not tracking this," one senior U.S. military official told NBC News. U.S. officials are discussing enhancing intelligence sharing with the Israelis to support the Israeli government in response to the Hamas attack, according to a U.S. official and a source familiar with the discussions. The additional intelligence to Israel could include information gathered from drones, eavesdropping and satellites, but the officials did not elaborate. The onslaught took place a day after the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war and carried echoes of that conflict, when Israel was caught flat-footed by a coordinated offensive by its Arab neighbors, led by Egypt and Syria. "This is Israel's 9/11. Not since 1973 has there been such a catastrophic intelligence failure in Israel," said Marc Polymeropoulous, who worked for 26 years for the CIA, where he specialized in counterterrorism, the Middle East and South Asia. In this article VNDA Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Palestinian firemen extinguish a fire that was raging in a residential building destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on October 8, 2023. Mohammed Abed | Afp | Getty Images Crude oil prices could see a spike on Monday but the overall impact of the attack on Israel by Palestinian militants Hamas will likely be limited, energy experts told CNBC. That's provided the conflict does not escalate further, they said. "We may see a knee-jerk surge in crude prices when markets open on Monday," Vandana Hari, CEO of Vanda Insights, told CNBC via email. "There will be some risk premium factored in as a default, until the market is satisfied that the event is not setting off a chain reaction and Mideast oil and gas supplies won't be affected," said Hari. Follow our live updates Israel-Hamas war and the latest news from the Gaza Strip Militants from Hamas designated by the U.S., European Union and the U.K. as a terrorist organization infiltrated Israel by land, sea and air on Saturday, during a major Jewish holiday. The incursion came hours after the Islamist militants fired thousands of rockets into Israel from Gaza. Civilians including women, children and the elderly have been abducted, and others killed in their homes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. The impact on the oil price will be limited unless we see the 'war' between the two sides expand quickly to a regional war... Iman Nasseri Facts Global Energy Israel has begun the offensive phase, and will "continue with neither limitations nor respite until the objectives are achieved," Netanyahu said. He vowed to "exact an immense price from the enemy, within the Gaza Strip as well." Late Saturday, Israel cut off the supply of electricity, fuel and goods to the narrow strip where 2.3 million Palestinians live. At the time of publication, there were at least 250 Israelis killed and more than 1,860 injured, including 320 in serious condition, NBC News reported. The Palestinian Health Ministry recorded 256 deaths and 1,790 injuries in Gaza. How much oil is involved? Both Israel and Palestine are not major oil players, but the conflict sits in a wider key oil producing region, analysts told CNBC, warning that it has the potential to conflagrate further. Hari noted that while the conflict does not directly impact oil production or supply, it is still "on the doorstep of an important oil-producing and exporting region." Israel boasts two oil refineries with a combined capacity of almost 300,000 barrels per day. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the country has "virtually no crude oil and condensate production." The Palestinian territories produce no oil, data from EIA shows. It has the potential to widen into regional hostilities. Vandana Hari CEO of Vanda Insights Hari's sentiments were echoed by other market watchers. "The impact on the oil price will be limited unless we see the 'war' between the two sides expand quickly to a regional war where the U.S. and Iran and other supporters of the parties get directly involved," Middle East managing director of energy consultancy Facts Global Energy, Iman Nasseri, told CNBC. Similarly, French businessman and hedge fund manager Pierre Andurand said that since the Levant is not a large oil producing region, the war is unlikely to impact oil supply in the short term. "One should not expect a large oil price spike in the coming days. But it could eventually have an impact on supply and prices," he said in a post on X, the social media platform that was formerly Twitter. Andurand said global oil inventories are low, and production cuts by OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia, as well as Russia, will lead to more inventory draws over the next few months. "The market will eventually have to beg for more Saudi supply, which I believe, will not happen sub $110 Brent." Crude oil prices recently hit their highest level in more than a year before pulling back. Still, Hari warned that the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict "has the potential to widen into regional hostilities." Fire and smoke rise after an Israeli airstrike targeted the National Bank in Gaza City, on Oct. 8, 2023. Ahmed Zakout | AFP | Getty Images A plume of smoke rises above buildings in Gaza City on October 7, 2023 during an Israeli air strike. Mahmud Hams | AFP | Getty Images Hamas' assault on Israel drove oil prices higher on Monday as markets priced in fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East, a day after Israel pounded the Palestinian enclave of Gaza in retaliation for one of the bloodiest attacks in its history. Fighters from Islamist group Hamas killed 700 Israelis and abducted dozens more as they attacked Israeli towns on Saturday, the deadliest incursion into Israeli territory since Egypt and Syria's attacks in the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago. In response, Israeli air strikes hit housing blocks, tunnels, a mosque and homes of Hamas officials in Gaza on Sunday, killing more than 400 people, including 20 children, in keeping with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's vow of "mighty vengeance." "The price the Gaza Strip will pay will be a very heavy one that will change reality for generations," said Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in the town of Ofakim, which suffered casualties and had hostages taken. Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said the country had called in around 100,000 soldiers. "Our job is to make sure that at the end of this war, Hamas will no longer have any military capabilities to threaten Israeli civilians with, and in addition to that we also need to make sure Hamas will not govern the Gaza Strip," he said. Hamas' armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades hold a Palestinian flag as they destroy a tank of Israeli forces in Gaza City, Gaza on October 07, 2023. Hani Alshaer | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images The violence fueled volatility on global markets on Monday, with concerns about possible disruptions to supplies from Iran, helping to drive Brent crude up $4.18, or 4.94%, to $88.76 a barrel by 1:20 GMT in Asian trade. Iran is an ally of Hamas and while it congratulated Hamas on the attack, its mission to the United Nations said Tehran was not involved in the attacks. Any sustained rally in oil prices would act as a tax on consumers and add to global inflationary pressures, which weighed on equities as S&P 500 futures shed 0.7% and Nasdaq futures lost 0.6%. Several international air carriers have suspended flight services with Tel Aviv in light of the Hamas attack, saying they are waiting for conditions to improve before resuming. Beyond blockaded Gaza, Israeli forces and Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militia exchanged artillery and rocket fire on Sunday, while in Egypt, two Israeli tourists were shot dead along with a guide. Appeals for restraint came from around the world, though Western nations largely stood by Israel, while Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi telephoned the Hamas chief to congratulate him for the "victory" and Hezbollah and protesters in various Middle Eastern nations lauded Hamas. People assess the destruction cause by Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on October 7, 2023. Majdi Fathi | Nurphoto | Getty Images In southern Israel on Sunday, Hamas gunmen were still fighting Israeli security forces more than 24 hours after their surprise, multi-pronged assault of rocket barrages and bands of gunmen who overran army bases and invaded border towns. "My two little girls, they're only babies. They're not even five years old and three years old," said Yoni Asher who recounted seeing video of Palestinian gunmen seizing his wife and two small daughters after she took them to visit her mother. Uri David told a news conference he spent 30 minutes on the phone with his two daughters, Tair and Odaya, during an attack until they no longer responded to him and that he did not know their fate. "I heard shooting, shouting in Arabic, I told them to lie on the ground and hold hands," he said, breaking down in tears. Captives Israel's military, which faces awkward questions for not thwarting the attack, said it had regained control of most infiltration points along security barriers, killed hundreds of attackers and taken dozens more prisoner. Israeli air strikes on Gaza destroyed Hamas' offices and training camps, but also houses and other buildings. The Palestinian health ministry said 413 Palestinians, including 78 children, were killed and 2,300 people wounded since Saturday. Flares illuminate the sky over northern Gaza, as seen from Ashkelon, southern Israel October 7, 2023. Amir Cohen | Reuters "As an occupying power, Israel has no right or justification to target the defenseless civilian population in Gaza or elsewhere in Palestine," the Palestinian foreign ministry said, denouncing a "barbarous campaign of death and destruction". Hamas fired more rocket salvoes into Israel on Sunday. The Israeli military said it had deployed tens of thousands of soldiers around Gaza, a narrow strip of land that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, and was starting to evacuate Israelis around the frontier. "This is my fifth war. The war should stop. I don't want to keep feeling this," said Qassab al-Attar, a Palestinian wheelchair user in Gaza whose brothers carried him to shelter. Israel has not released an official toll but its media said at least 700 people were killed in Saturday's attacks, children among them. Military spokesperson Daniel Hagari called it "the worst massacre of innocent civilians in Israel's history." Several Americans were killed by Hamas attackers, a White House National Security Council spokesperson confirmed, saying the U.S. would continue to monitor the situation closely. About 30 missing Israelis attending a dance party that was attacked by gunmen emerged from hiding on Sunday, Israeli media reported, putting the death toll at the outdoor gathering at 260. Israeli soldiers work to secure residential areas following a mass-infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Sderot, southern Israel October 7, 2023. REUTERS/Ammar Awad Ammar Awad | Reuters Palestinian fighters took dozens of hostages to Gaza, including soldiers and civilians, children and the elderly. A second Palestinian militant group, Islamic Jihad, said it was holding more than 30 of the captives. The capture of so many Israelis, some pulled through security checkpoints or driven bleeding into Gaza, is another conundrum for Netanyahu after past episodes when hostages were exchanged for many Palestinian prisoners. "The cruel reality is Hamas took hostages as an insurance policy against Israeli retaliatory action, particularly a massive ground attack and to trade for Palestinian prisoners," said Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Unabated violence U.S. President Joe Biden spoke to Netanyahu for the second straight day on Sunday, saying in a post on the social media platform X that he expressed "my full support for the people of Israel in the face of an unprecedented and appalling assault by Hamas terrorists." U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he had ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the eastern Mediterranean as a show of support to Israel and would also begin providing fresh munitions to Washington's closest Middle Easy ally. Children are seen in a destroyed house after Israeli attacks in Gaza City, Gaza on October 07, 2023. Mustafa Hassona | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images From being labeled "Israel's 9/11," to the culmination of a "50-year time bomb," political analysts are reacting to the Israel-Hamas conflict and contemplating what happens next as the fighting extends into a second day. At dawn Saturday, Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an infiltration into Israel by land, sea and air. The attack came hours after a barrage of rockets were sent from Gaza into Israel. The offensive occurred during a major Jewish holiday, and a day after the 50th anniversary of the Arab-Israeli war. The attack certainly "did not come out of the blue," said Dan Steinbock, founder of global consultancy firm Difference Group. Massive attacks by Hamas leadership into Israel This is no less than Israel's 9/11. Ian Bremmer President of Eurasia Group "The Israeli-Hamas War is a logical result of 50 years of failed military policies," Steinbock said in an e-mail to CNBC. He added that the attack marked the first major direct conflict within the Israeli territory since the country's founding. "It is a game-changer in the Israeli-Palestine conflict," Steinbock added. Follow our live updates Israel-Hamas war and the latest news from the Gaza Strip At the time of publication, at least 250 Israelis have reportedly been killed with more than 1,860 injured, according to NBC News. The Palestinian Health Ministry, meanwhile, has recorded 256 deaths and 1,790 injuries in Gaza. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Getty Images "Massive attacks by Hamas leadership into Israel This is no less than Israel's 9/11," said the president of Eurasia Group, Ian Bremmer, in reference to the scale of the attack. Israel is in its "strongest geopolitical position" in decades, Bremmer said in a video analysis, elaborating on Israel's normalization of ties with various nations. Bremmer cited the Abraham Accords, which opened diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE, as well as Morocco and Bahrain. More recently, talks of potentially normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel had been in the cards. "And if you are the leadership of Hamas, refusing to accept Israel's right to exist watching the politics of the region turn against you Well, certainly that is part of the reason why Hamas would have decided to engage in this level of unprecedented strikes against Israel," Bremmer concluded. 'Massive intelligence failure' The attack also marked a "massive intelligence and defense failure for Israel," Bremmer highlighted, saying it was an oversight stemming from the government's new judicial reforms. Israel's defense system is hallmarked by its "Iron Dome," an anti-rocket air defense system shielding its heavily populated areas since 2011. The dome claims to have a 96% success rate, however, some of Hamas' rockets have bypassed the defenses and struck buildings inside Israel. Rockets launched towards Israel from the northern Gaza Strip and response from the Israeli missile defense system known as the Iron Dome leave streaks through the sky on May 14, 2021 in Gaza City, Gaza. Fatima Shbair | Getty Images For months, Israel has been beleaguered by political turmoil following controversial judicial reforms pushed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government. And that, according to Bremmer, "has clearly distracted Israeli intelligence. It's also distracted the Israeli military," he said, many of whom said they were not willing to serve in the military if the judicial overhaul proceeded. And what does the fighting mean for both parties' relations with other Middle Eastern counterparts? For one, analysts expect the conflict to derail a U.S.-brokered negotiation between Israel and Saudi Arabia to establish formal relations with each other. "The violence has certainly poured cold water on the possibility of a fast-tracked Israeli-Saudi normalization process and reminded the international community that the issue of Palestine requires urgent conflict management and mediation," said Chatham House's Middle East North Africa Programme Director Sanam Vakil. From what we see so far [this] is a Gaza and Israel war. So far there is no sign that Iran and Hezbollah plan to join. As long as this is the case the global impact is limited. Zvi Eckstein emeritus professor of Economics at Tel Aviv University Just a few weeks back, Saudi Arabia had told the Biden administration of its decision to freeze efforts toward normalizing relations with Israel. According to the Saudi-owned newspaper Elaph, an Israeli official had attributed the suspension to the Israeli government's unwillingness to make any concessions to the Palestinians. Israeli soldiers head south near Ashkelon, Israel, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Ohad Zwigenberg | AP "The Israeli-Saudi deal which was close to getting done is now over," Bremmer said. "If anything was accomplished that Hamas wanted, that would be the single biggest thing," he said. Saudi Arabia has stated it does not support the attacks, and has joined global calls for a de-escalation. "The kingdom recalls its repeated warnings of the dangers of the explosion of the situation as a result of the continued occupation, the deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights, and the repetition of systematic provocations against its sanctities," Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said in a statement Saturday. Does the conflict spread? "From what we see so far [this] is a Gaza and Israel war. So far there is no sign that Iran and Hezbollah plan to join. As long as this is the case the global impact is limited," Zvi Eckstein, former deputy governor at the Bank of Israel, told CNBC via e-mail. An Israeli soldier mans a position in the northern Israeli town of Metula bordering Lebanon on October 8, 2023. Jalaa Marey | AFP | Getty Images Eckstein, who is currently emeritus professor of economics at Tel Aviv University, said he does not see any global impact like that of the Russia-Ukraine war. However, that may not stay for long, should Iran be found to have had a hand in the attacks, Bremmer said. "Certainly, if it is found that Iran helped to plan these attacks by Hamas, that would be a game changer and would probably lead to Israeli strikes against Iranian military," he said. Smoke rises over Gaza City on October 7, 2023 during Israeli air strike. Mahmud Hams | AFP | Getty Images "The broader question is whether or not we see ongoing military collaboration for Hamas, from Iran, from Syria that could of course lead to an expansion of the war." On Sunday, Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group confirmed it launched attacks on three sites in the Shebaa Farms a strip of land that sits at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Golan Heights, which is occupied by Israel. The Israeli Defense Force confirmed it has returned fire and "struck Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure." Packages of Modelo Especial beer are displayed for sale in a grocery store on June 14, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Mario Tama | Getty Images People in the U.S. are drinking less alcohol than they used to, but when they do indulge, they're more likely than ever to opt for a beverage originating from Mexico. The U.S. is the largest market for Mexico's agave-based spirits and its top beers. In recent years, Mexican brands have begun to dominate the U.S. alcoholic beverages industry as drinkers develop a thirst for premium-priced products with authentic backstories. Last year, Mexico's native agave-based spirits tequila and mezcal overtook American whiskey to become the second-fastest growing spirits category by revenue and volume within the U.S., according to analysis by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, an industry trade association. In 2022 alone, nearly 30 million 9 liter cases of tequila and mezcal were sold in the U.S. Experts say the segment is poised to pass vodka in 2023 to become the country's fastest-growing spirits category in terms of volume. Lea este articulo en espanol aqui. "Tequila has been such a national treasure here in Mexico," said Guilherme Espagnoli Martins, global brand director of Diageo-owned Don Julio Tequila. "Now, it's breaking through geographies and flying to other countries as well." "It's putting Mexico on the map," he said. The rise of Mexican alcoholic beverages into the mainstream U.S., more than 20 years in the making, is the result of authentic, savvy marketing aimed at making Mexican brands palatable to consumers outside of the brands' home country, while still resonating with their traditional market. Other factors driving the higher sales include consumers' increasing willingness to spend more on higher-quality products across wine, spirits and beer. The growth of tequila and mezcal in particular has been propelled by sales of premium or high-end brands such as Casamigos and Don Julio, which are priced higher at retail and are produced with 100% agave, without flavoring or additives. The George Clooney-founded Casamigos, which came into the market a decade ago and paved the way for other celebrity-owned premium tequilas, is so far this year's top-selling tequila across the alcohol e-commerce site Drizly, a Drizly spokesperson told CNBC. Don Julio was the second. Since 2003, the tequila and mezcal category in the U.S. overall grew 273% in volumes, or at an average rate of 7.2% per year, while premium agave-based spirits skyrocketed 1,522%, DISCUS found. All the products driving the tequila boom originate from Mexico. While some brands such as Casamigos are based outside the country, the spirit legally has to be produced there. Don Julio, a more than 80-year-old Mexican business now owned by British spirits giant Diageo, is rebranding and finding fresh success amid the new wave of appreciation for tequila. Martins said Don Julio's smooth taste, versatility and perception as a purer, cleaner spirit has boosted the product. This year-end, the brand saw double-digit growth in global sales and is up 20% in 2023 compared to last year, a spokesperson told CNBC. Last month, it debuted a new look and promotional film as it seeks to replicate the success it has had in the U.S. overseas. Don Julio Tequila Blanco. Courtesy: Don Julio "As we take this brand global, there is a huge responsibility for us to put modern Mexico on the world stage," Martins said of the campaign. The Mexican beer boom It's not just tequila and mezcal Mexican beer is booming, too. Mexican beer imports into the U.S. are up 10.6% in 2023, according to alcohol research firm Bump Williams Consulting. Earlier this year, Mexico's Modelo Especial became the best-selling beer in the U.S., dethroning Bud Light, which held the top spot since 2001. "Once [the beer's owner] Constellation got their hands on Modelo, the company was really able to step up marketing investment and drive tremendous growth," said TD Cowen analyst Vivien Azer. Constellation Brands acquired Modelo in 2013 following an antitrust deal that blocked rival Anheuser-Busch InBev from buying the brand. Its rise to the top started before the conservative boycott against AB InBev's Bud Light that began this spring. Modelo, along with Constellation's Corona Extra, has benefited from the U.S.' steadily growing Hispanic population, Azer said. But the company sought growth outside of Hispanic drinkers as well. "It was a deliberate strategy by Constellation to diversify away from Hispanic consumers and toward a wider market," said Azer. watch now A spokesperson for Constellation told CNBC that Mexican beer sales grew as Hispanic culture gained a stronger foothold around the world. "The popularity of Mexican beers can in part be tied to the Hispanic population growth and influence on culture," the spokesperson said. "Younger generations are increasingly bicultural and Latin culture has had a huge impact on the mainstream." Constellation on Thursday reported quarterly results that topped Wall Street estimates, driven by the surge in demand for its Mexican beer brands. The companies behind the lagers' growth also attributed their success to a simple factor: taste. Mexican beers are "very easy to drink," said Jonnie Cahill, chief marketing officer at Heineken USA, which distributes the Mexican beers Dos Equis and Tecate. Cahill said that not only are Mexican beers riding on the tailwinds of changing consumer preferences toward lighter-tasting, more expensive imported lagers, but also the category has been lifted by "authentic" marketing, such as the pairing of lime and beer, which is played up in advertisements, at bars and for holidays such as Cinco de Mayo. "We focus on authentic Mexican flavors whenever we innovate and we avoid randomness, because that's the opportunism that people often reject," Cahill said of Heineken's Dos Equis brand, which peaked in the mid-2000s with its iconic The Most Interesting Man in the World campaign. It's a competitive space, admitted Cahill. Sales for Dos Equis have declined in recent years. In the week ending Sept. 9, Dos Equis retail sales off premise were down 1.7%, while Modelo and Corona were up 10.6% and 3.3% respectively, according to Bump Williams Consulting. Cahill said the brand is trying to ramp up distribution across the U.S. in hopes of competing with rivals. A family affair Eduardo "Lalo" Gonzalez grew up in the agave fields where his grandfather Don Julio began a tequila empire that would reach all parts of the world. "I always had this dream and this idea of continuing this legacy of my family," said Gonzalez. "Believe it or not, there's a lack of Mexican ownership in tequila brands." Eduardo "Lalo" Gonzalez, the founder of LALO Blanco Tequila and grandson of Don Julio Gonzalez, in a field of agave. LALO Blanco Tequila A new chip from Nvidia could prove the next major catalyst for the artificial intelligence darling in 2024, according to Wall Street analysts. Year to date, Nvidia shares have more than tripled on the promise of AI and the hope that surging demand for graphics processing units needed to build large language models will lift earnings and further boost the stock price. NVDA mountain 2023-08-31 Nvidia's stock performance since August's closing high But rising rates that could spell trouble for future growth at CEO Jensen Huang's company have lately put a dent in that rally, with Nvidia down 9% since its August closing high. Even so, Wall Street remains bullish on the chipmaker, with about 85% of analysts holding a buy rating on the stock, and the average price target implying 43% upside from Friday's close. While the launch of the next-generation chip known as Blackwell isn't expected until 2024, Wall Street analysts are already bracing for the debut to drive significant growth at Nvidia, which already dominates the AI market. "Per our estimations, B100 GPU could be an even bigger AI game changer than H100 at its launch from a technology standpoint and set for a rapid adoption which subsequently will drive up Nvidia's [average selling price], sales, and margins," Citi analyst Atif Malik wrote in a recent note, referring to Nvidia's new chip model and graphics processing units. NVDA YTD mountain Nvidia shares year to date Some reports suggest that the architecture will adopt Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's 3nm (nanometer) process technology, and will utilize a multi-chiplet design to enhance performance. The next generation chips offer increased transistor density, faster speed and reduced power. The chip is also slated to carry a higher average selling price and better performance than Nvidia's current H100 model. Piper Sandler's Harsh Kumar called the product the "next-gen compute GPU product" for AI and high performance computing. According to estimates from KeyBanc Capital Markets, the transition to higher-priced B100 GPUs toward the end of 2024 should play a pivotal role in boosting Nvidia's datacenter revenues. Combined with more chip on wafer on substrate (CoWoS) capacity coming online, KeyBanc analyst John Vinh projects a 201% uplift in datacenter revenues in calendar 2023, to $45 billion. Higher-priced GPUs could boost those revenues to $101 billion in calendar 2024. CoWoS is a chip packaging technology used in Nvidia's chips. "Longer term, we see more meaningful capacity coming online in 2H24, as well as continued outsized growth as NVDA looks to pull in the ramp of its next generation GPU, the B100, into 4Q24," Vinh said in an early October note. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting Israel fired barrages of artillery into southern Lebanon on Sunday after Hezbollah targeted three Israeli military positions in the disputed Shebaa Farms. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The cross-border fire comes a day after a surprise attack by Palestinian gunmen on Israeli towns left at least 250 Israelis dead, with another 230 Gazans killed in Israel's retaliatory bombardment. Hezbollah, a powerful armed party backed by Iran, said it had launched guided rockets and artillery onto three posts in the Shebaa Farms "in solidarity" with the Palestinian people. The Israeli military said Sunday it fired artillery into an area of Lebanon where cross-border mortar fire was launched. "IDF (Israel Defense Forces) artillery is currently striking the area in Lebanon from where a shooting was carried out," it said. Israel's military said one its drones struck a Hezbollah post in the area of Har Dov, an area in Shebaa. Israel has held the Shebaa Farms, a 15-square-mile (39-square-km) patch of land, since 1967. Both Syria and Lebanon claim the Shebaa Farms are Lebanese. The United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Saturday, it said it had enhanced its presence in southern Lebanon following developments in Israel and Gaza, including its operations to counter rocket launches. Hezbollah, which effectively controls southern Lebanon, said Saturday it was in "direct contact" with leaders of Palestinian "resistance" groups and that it saw Palestinian attacks on Israel as a "decisive response to Israel's continued occupation and a message to those seeking normalisation with Israel." (Reuters) The German housing market has been remarkably strong in the last couple of decades, but it faces a serious price correction in the next couple of years, according to some analysts. Two German states hold elections on Sunday at the halfway mark of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's unpopular national government, with polls showing the center-right opposition well ahead and Germany's interior minister facing an uphill struggle in a bid to become governor of her home region. About 9.4 million people are eligible to vote for the new state legislature in Bavaria and around 4.3 million in neighboring Hesse, a region that includes Germany's financial capital, Frankfurt. Both states are led by the country's main opposition Union bloc, made up of the Christian Democratic Union and the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union. The outcome could increase tensions in Scholz's three-party coalition, which has become notorious for infighting, and offer pointers to who might challenge Scholz in the 2025 national election. Polls point to the CSU, which has led Bavaria since 1957, extending that run albeit with lackluster support, by its historical standards, of less than 40%. In Hesse, they give the CDU a double-digit lead in a three-way contest for the governor's office among the conservative party, Scholz's center-left Social Democrats and the environmentalist Greens. The far-right Alternative for Germany party, which has risen to second place in national polls behind the Union, won't be a factor in determining the new governments of Bavaria or Hesse, as other parties refuse to work with it. But they will be watching whether it improves significantly on double-digit showings five years ago. The three national governing parties the Social Democrats, the Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats won't do well on Sunday because people "aren't confident in their being able to solve the problems in the country," prominent political scientist Karl-Rudolf Korte told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper. "That has to do with the variety of crises, but also with the communication," he said. "The situation would be different if the (coalition) partners would explain better what they are doing and why, if they would act more closely together." Voters have been turned off by repeated public squabbling, notably on a plan to replace fossil-fuel heating systems with greener alternatives. Polls suggest that the Free Democrats could struggle Sunday to win the 5% support needed to keep their place in the two state legislatures; previous election flops for the party have fueled tensions in the national government. Scholz's government also faces intense pressure to reduce the number of migrants arriving, a major issue in the run-up to the elections. Scholz would have to find someone new to lead his government's response on that issue if Interior Minister Nancy Faeser becomes governor of Hesse, but she doesn't appear likely to end the CDU's 24-year hold on the job. Green challenger Tarek Al-Wazir, currently the deputy governor to conservative incumbent Boris Rhein, also faces an uphill struggle. In Bavaria, governor Markus Soeder is calling for voters to back "continuity and stability." He has bet on continuing his current coalition with the Free Voters, a conservative party that is strong locally but isn't represented in the national parliament. Soeder decided last month to keep that party's leader, Hubert Aiwanger, as his deputy governor despite a furor that started with allegations denied by Aiwanger that he was responsible for an antisemitic flyer when he was a high school student 35 years ago. Soeder is widely considered a potential candidate to challenge Scholz in 2025, although he has denied such ambitions. A respectable result on Sunday would underscore his standing. The US Commerce Department on Friday added 42 Chinese companies to a government export control list over their support for Moscow's military and defense industrial base - support that includes the supply of US-origin integrated circuits. Share Market Live NSE Another seven entities from Finland, Germany, India, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom were also added to the trade export control list. The circuits include microelectronics that Russia uses for precision guidance systems in missiles and drones launched against civilian targets in Ukraine, the Commerce Department said in a statement. "Todays additions to the Entity List provide a clear message: if you supply the Russian defense sector with US-origin technology, we will find out, and we will take action," Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew Axelrod said in the statement. China called the US action "economic coercion and unilateral bullying". "The United States should immediately correct its wrong practices and stop its unreasonable suppression of Chinese companies," China's Ministry of Commerce said in a statement. Also Read: Vivek Ramaswamy to deliver key foreign policy speech on China in US State of Ohio It has been 20 months since Russian invaded Ukraine. A Russian missile strike in a village in northeastern Ukraine on Thursday killed at least 52 people in one of the most deadly attacks yet. Companies are added the US Entity List when Washington deems them a threat to US national security or foreign policy. Suppliers must then be granted generally hard-to-get licenses before shipping goods to entities on the list. Also Read: US companies struggle to operate in China as raids and exit bans mount The United States has offered "rock solid and unwavering" support to Israel, where Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a wave of rocket attacks on October 7, killing hundreds of civilians. The United States stands with the people of Israel...This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage. My Administrations support for Israels security is rock solid and unwavering," US president Joe Biden said in a series of posts on microblogging platform X. In this moment of tragedy, I want to say to them and to the world and to terrorists everywhere that the United States stands with Israel. We will not ever fail to have their back," he said. Let me say this as clearly as I can. This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage.My Administrations support for Israels security is rock solid and unwavering. President Biden (@POTUS) October 7, 2023 Biden added that the US will make sure that Israel has the help its citizens need and they can continue to defend themselves. Earlier in the day, the US president had posted that the world was seeing appalling images. Thousands of rockets raining down on Israeli cities. Hamas terrorists killing not only Israeli soldiers, but civilians on the streets and in their homes. Its unconscionable. Israel has a right to defend itself full stop. Meanwhile, Israel has already responded with a wave of air strikes on Gaza, killing more than 230 people, media reports quoted officials as saying. According to a senior administration official cited by PTI, Biden has received a full briefing on the situation and developments in Israel and he has directed full engagement with Israeli counterparts and with regional counterparts. Immediately after that call, the President called Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu. The prime minister on that call made very clear this was an unprecedented day for Israel, the official added. We have a very close partnership with Israel. We always share timely intelligence about threats in the regions with Israel and other partners but in particular with Israel. The President directed his team to ensure providing all that support for Israel that it needs now, he further said. The remarks come as dozens of Hamas militants, backed by a barrage of rockets, broke out of the blockaded Gaza Strip and into nearby Israeli towns , killing dozens and abducting others in an unprecedented surprise early morning attack during a major Jewish holiday on October 7. Following which, a stunned Israel launched airstrikes in Gaza, with its prime minister saying the country is now at war with Hamas and vowing to inflict an unprecedented price. In an assault of startling breadth, Hamas gunmen rolled into as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip, including towns and other communities as far as 15 miles (24 kilometres) from the Gaza border. In some places, they roamed for hours, gunning down civilians and soldiers as Israel's military scrambled to muster a response. Gunbattles continued well after nightfall, and militants held hostages in standoffs in two towns and occupied a police station in a third. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson, in a live briefing on X, said that the unprecedented attack on Israeli citizens will generate an unprecedented response from Israel. Hamas is responsible for this. Each and every Israeli and each and every Palestinian who is killed, it's on Hamas. Also Read: Global leaders unite in solidarity with Israel following Hamas attack "Our response will be unlike anything we have delivered in the past. This is going to be a long and difficult war. We will strike back. We will make Hamas pay a price they have never paid," the IDF spokesperson said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9) The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) urges the public to be vigilant and take precautionary measures against fraudulent activities in light of the Sept. 22 ransomware attack. In a statement Sunday, the state health insurer strongly advised members to change their online account passwords, enable multi-factor authentication, and monitor suspicious activity in their online accounts. It added that they should also avoid opening and clicking suspicious emails and links, and answering suspicious calls and text messages. "Using the stolen data, the hackers will likely target members through calls, emails or text messages, PhilHealth chief Emmanuel R. Ledesma Jr. said. Let us then heed the advice of authorities to refrain from clicking doubtful links or providing passwords or OTPs. It is best to ignore suspicious calls, and to delete text or emails instead from unknown and suspicious senders. The recommendation comes following the announcement of the Department of Information and Technology (DICT) that the hackers uploaded on Telegram over 600 gigabytes worth of illegally obtained data from the workstations of PhilHealth employees. Based on the DICT's initial analysis, the personal data included identification cards, payrolls, photos, and some ATM cards of PhilHealth employees. Authorities previously said the hackers may face up to 20 years in prison and that any individual or entity found downloading, processing, or sharing the exfiltrated data will be held accountable for unauthorized processing of personal information and could also face criminal charges. The National Privacy Commission has launched a further investigation into the cyberattack and that officials could be charged for possible negligence. PhilHealth said it is prepared to face any inquiry on the incident. Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. Of all the 50 states in the union, there is, perhaps, no single colony more dumped upon in modern times than that of Florida or, as Jack Donaghy calls it, Americas Australia. Long before the dawn of the Florida Man meme turned the Sunshine State into the internets most phallic punching bag, Tina Fey and her writers at 30 Rock were concocting ways to demean and degrade Floridians that were far more creative than any techniques taught at the Royal Tampa Academy of Dramatic Tricks. 30 Rock took shots at Florida primarily through their exploration of TGS star Jenna Maroneys humble beginnings of school boats and Gator Hater Gator Spray, and with each successive season, the lefty homoerotic propaganda hour grew even more ruthless in its ridicule of the racecar-loving wide loads of Florida. Over in the 30 Rock subreddit, the uppity yankees all recently got together to discuss which of the 30 Rock digs on Florida were the absolute funniest from a northern perspective. Here are a few of their picks 8 Central Florida is dominated by Jewish retirees, serial killers and secretly gay Disney princes 7 The only crowds I could never figure out were in Northern Florida. One minute theyre laughing at me, and the next theyre laughing at me 6 Why can t we just cut this state adrift and let it crash into Cuba? 5 Florida the penis of America 4 Have you ever been to Florida? It s basically a prison population. It s America s Australia 3 I would have definitely gone to my reunion, but the boat I was educated on sank 2 Where are my manners? This is Florida. Let me boil up a pot of hot Gatorade. Is blue okay? Israeli soldiers battled Hamas fighters in the streets of southern Israel on Sunday and launched retaliation strikes that leveled buildings in Gaza, while in northern Israel a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group raised fears of a broader conflict. Fighting still raged more than 24 hours after an unprecedented surprise attack from Gaza, in which Hamas fighters, backed by a volley of thousands of rockets, broke through Israel's security barrier and rampaged through nearby communities. The fighters took captives back into the coastal Gaza enclave, including women, children and the elderly, who they will likely try to trade for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country was at war and would exact a heavy price from its enemies. Hamas leaders said they were prepared for further escalation. Israeli media, citing rescue service officials, said at least 300 people were killed, including 26 soldiers, while in Gaza officials said 313 people had died. An Israeli military official said hundreds of militants had been killed and dozens captured. Civilians paid a staggering cost for the violence on both sides. Israeli TV news aired a stream of accounts from the relatives of captive or missing Israelis, who wailed and begged for assistance amid a fog of uncertainty surrounding the fate of their loved ones. In Gaza, residents fled homes near the border to escape Israeli strikes, fleeing deeper inside the territory after warnings in Arabic from the Israeli military. Previous conflicts between Israel and Gazas Hamas rulers brought widespread destruction in Gaza and days of rocket fire on Israeli towns. The situation is potentially more volatile now, with Israels far-right government stung by the unprecedented security breach and Palestinians in despair over a never-ending occupation in the West Bank and suffocating blockade of Gaza. The flare-up on Israel's northern border also threatened to draw into the battle Hezbollah, a fierce enemy of Israel's which is backed by Iran and estimated to have tens of thousands of rockets at its disposal. Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and shells on Sunday at three Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border and Israels military fired back using armed drones. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military official, told reporters the situation at the northern border was calm after the exchange. But he said fighting was still underway in the south and that there were still hostage situations there. He said troops had moved into every community near the Gaza frontier, where they planned to evacuate all civilians and scour the area for any remaining militants. Hagari said the military had killed 400 militants since the start of the war and captured dozens more. We will go through every community until we kill every terrorist that is in Israeli territory," he said. In Gaza, every terrorist located in a house, all the commanders in houses, will be hit by Israeli fire. That will continue escalating in the coming hours. Hamas said that overnight it had continued to send forces and equipment into a number of locations inside our occupied territories, referring to Israel. The surprise attack Saturday was the deadliest on Israel in decades. In an assault of startling breadth, Hamas gunmen used explosives to break through the border fence enclosing Gaza, then crossed with motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders and speed boats on the coast. They rolled into as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip early Saturday morning, including towns and other communities as far as 15 miles (24 kilometers) from the Gaza border, while Hamas launched thousands of rockets at Israeli cities. Israel is waking up this morning to a terrible morning, said Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman. There are a lot of people killed... children, grandmothers, families, bodies. Israeli media said at least 300 people were killed and 1,500 wounded in Saturdays attack. Hamas fighters took an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive into Gaza, and a line of Israelis with missing relatives snaked outside a police station in central Israel to supply investigators with DNA samples and other means that could help identify their family members. Israel struck 426 targets in Gaza, its military said, flattening residential buildings in giant explosions. That included a 14-story tower that held dozens of apartments as well as Hamas offices in central Gaza City. Israeli forces fired a warning just before. Among the 313 killed in Gaza were 20 children, and close to 2,000 wounded, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinians, said more than 20,000 Palestinians left Gaza's border region to head further inside the territory and take refuge in U.N. schools. In a televised address Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military will use all of its strength to destroy Hamas capabilities. All the places that Hamas hides in, operates from, we will turn them into ruins, he added. Get out of there now, he told Gaza residents, who have no way to leave the tiny, overcrowded Mediterranean territory. Gazas 2.3 million people have endured a border blockade, enforced to varying degrees by Israel and Egypt, since Hamas militants seized control in 2007. A major question now was whether Israel will launch a ground assault into Gaza, a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. Netanyahu vowed that Hamas will pay an unprecedented price. But, he warned, This war will take time. It will be difficult. Israels military says it is bringing four divisions of troops as well as tanks to the Gaza border, joining 31 battalions already in the area. Hamas said it had planned for a long fight. We are prepared for all options, including all-out war, the deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, Saleh al-Arouri, told Al-Jazeera TV. We are ready to do whatever is necessary for the dignity and freedom of our people. The abduction of Israeli civilians and soldiers also raised a particularly thorny issue for Israel, which has a history of making heavily lopsided exchanges to bring captive Israelis home. Israel is holding thousands of Palestinians in its prisons. The military has confirmed that a substantial number of Israelis were abducted Saturday without giving an exact figure. An Egyptian official said Israel has sought help from Cairo to ensure the safety of the hostages, and that Egypts intelligence chief had contacted Hamas and the smaller but more radical Islamic Jihad group, which also took part in the incursion, to seek information. Egypt has often mediated between the two sides in the past. The official said Palestinian leaders claimed that they dont yet have a full picture of hostages, but said those who were brought into Gaza were taken to secure locations across the territory. Its clear that they have a big number several dozens, said the official, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to brief media. Egypt also spoke with both sides about a potential cease-fire, but the official said Israel was not open to a truce at this stage. The shadowy leader of Hamas military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the assault was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, and a series of recent incidents that have brought Israeli-Palestinian tensions to a fever pitch. Over the past year, Israels far-right government has ramped up settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, Israeli settler violence has displaced hundreds of Palestinians there, and tensions have flared around the Al-Aqsa mosque, a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site . Deif, who does not appear in public, said in a recorded message that the attack was only the start of what he called Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, and called on Palestinians from east Jerusalem to northern Israel to join the fight. In Gaza, much of the population was thrown into darkness Saturday night as Israel cut off electricity. Netanyahus office said in a statement that Israel would stop supplying electricity, fuel and goods to Gaza. Before daybreak Sunday, militants fired more rockets from Gaza, hitting a hospital in the Israeli coastal town of Ashkelon. The military said patients had been evacuated before the strike. School was canceled across Israel. U.S. President Joe Biden said from the White House that he had spoken with Netanyahu to say the United States stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults. Israel has the right to defend itself and its people, full stop." The Hamas incursion on Simchat Torah, a Jewish holiday, revived painful memories of the 1973 Mideast war , in which Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, aiming to take back Israeli-occupied territories. The comparison sharpened criticism of Netanyahu and his far-right allies, who had campaigned as security hawks. The attack comes at a time of historic division within Israel over Netanyahus proposal to overhaul the judiciary . Mass protests over the plan have sent hundreds of thousands of Israeli demonstrators into the streets and prompted hundreds of military reservists to avoid volunteer duty turmoil that has raised fears over the militarys battlefield readiness. (AP) It was going to be a major triumph for the Sunak government. My client is a big green tech company, the business consultant explained to me, and they were preparing to announce 3 billion of new investment in the UK. But then they saw Rishi Sunaks speech about rowing back on net zero. So they said: We cant be associated with that. Well just wait a few months, and then make the announcement with Keir Starmer. This story partly explains why, next week, Labour will be anointed as the party of British business. The main corporate conference forum in Liverpool was sold out in June. After her speech tomorrow, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves will hold a private reception for 50 chief executives, including the chair of building merchants Travis Perkins, the CEO of brewers Greene King and the director-general of the British Chamber of Commerce. Many of them have travelled solely to Liverpool to meet her. Labour has been turning a lot of people away, one business leader told me. Theyre hand-picking who they want to let in. The process of selecting which businesses should be allowed to kiss the ring of putative Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and presumptive Chancellor Reeves, has not been left to chance. Over the past year, Labour strategists have been carefully focus-grouping which type of corporates are most acceptable to the electorate. They have a preferred list, another corporate lobbyist explained. Non-food retail, such as M&S. Long-term capital investors. Infrastructure and green tech. And manufacturers. These are the people Keir and Rachel want to be photographed with. You wont see them shaking hands with any corporate raiders or cigarette companies. Many chief executives have travelled solely to Liverpool to meet Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves This rapprochement between the standard bearers of capitalism and the party that raged in its most recent election manifesto the big polluters, financial speculators and corporate tax-dodgers have had a free ride for too long is the product of a number of factors. One is the ability of corporate Britain to read an opinion poll just as well as anyone else. I had seven clients who asked to go to Tory conference, one lobbyist told me, but I had 15 who asked to go to Labour conference. They think the writings on the wall. They want to get to know the people they think will be running the country this time next year. The feeling is mutual. A Labour source said that on the day Starmer appointed Reeves as Shadow Chancellor, he told her: At the next election, I want people to look at you and think, I can trust her with my money. Rachel took that as her marching orders to bring business back to the party. Her view was the only way the British people will think they can trust us with their money is if they see business trusts us with its money. Reeves lobbying efforts have been boosted by her impressive economic CV: an MSc from the London School of Economics, and stints as an economist for the Bank of England, the British Embassy in Washington and HBOS. But her predominance has also been recognised by a more unexpected quarter. A Tory Minister conceded to me: Business has had it with us. Our party conference was the last straw: U-turns on net zero and HS2 have led the corporates to say, We just cant trust you guys any more. Well take our chances with Labour. Over the past year, Labour strategists have been carefully focus-grouping which type of corporates are most acceptable to the electorate, writes DAN HODGES This view echoes the dialogue Starmer and his team have been having with the business community. As one senior aide explains: Business leaders have been pretty upfront. Theyve said, Look, we know you wont necessarily be in the same place as us on every tax and regulatory issue but we dont really care. What we need from you is consistency, and evidence that if you say youll do something over the long-term, youll stick to it. For Labour, this represents the culmination of years of hard graft on the City prawn cocktail circuit. Or what an aide to Shadow Business Secretary Johnny Reynolds dubs the scrambled egg circuit. Johnny started this under Corbyn and that was hard going. Hes been doing two to three breakfast meetings a week. He must have sat down with more than a thousand bosses. And now were finally seeing the benefit. But Labours charm offensive also carries political risk. Some business executives are becoming resentful at being manipulated as part of what they feel is essentially a carefully choreographed propaganda exercise. What Labours doing is business-washing. Its all for show. Were all being used, one told me. Another problem is that Starmers embrace of the business community will inevitably further alienate the already embittered Corbynite rump of his party. A number of Left-wing MPs and activists see a direct correlation between the Labour leaders City love-in and his watering down of pledges on nationalisation and workers rights. If Starmer wins a comfortable Commons majority, this would be seen as irrelevant carping. But if he falls short, his corporate-cosplaying would swiftly be turned against him. And there is one final danger. In his conference speech, Rishi Sunak attempted to rebrand himself as the candidate of change. Be in no doubt: it is time for a change. And we are it, the PM boldly declared. Initial post-speech polling suggested Sunak had failed to convince the British public. And Labour aides laughed off his claim. You cant be the agent of change when youre Prime Minister of a government thats been in power for 13 years, one told me dismissively. But at least Sunak is reaching all be it desperately and belatedly for the mantle of insurgency. By contrast, Starmer seems increasingly happy to paint himself as the Establishments friend. Asked at the start of the year if he preferred hanging out in Westminster or with the global corporate elite in Davos, he replied: Davos. Because Westminster is too constrained. Asked at the start of the year if he preferred hanging out in Westminster or with the global corporate elite in Davos, Keir Starmer replied Davos, because Westminster is too 'constrained' Last month, he was at the Global Progress Action Conference in Montreal, with Canadian premier Justin Trudeau, former Finnish PM Sanna Marin and Tony Blair, and proudly announced: I think theres an opportunity for a progressive moment. A few days earlier he had been photographed in Paris cheerily handing French president Emmanuel Macron an Arsenal shirt. All of this is, of course, a transparent effort to whitewash away the stain of Corbynism from the Labour brand. And the evidence at the moment is that its working. Labours poll lead remains robust. And its triumph in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election shows Starmer now has a clear path to a working overall majority. But Labours leader needs to take care not to enjoy the company of his new corporate and diplomatic friends too much. The next General Election will not be won in the boardrooms of corporate Britain or the seminars of the Tony Blair Institute. It will instead be decided on the housing estates and terraces of a country that, after years of austerity and a cost-of-living crisis, is wary of being told business has its best interests at heart. The eager business executives would also do well to have a mild degree of scepticism when they mingle with Labour in Liverpool. Starmer and Reeves are making all the right noises. But as with so many other areas of their agenda, policy specifics remain thin. The coming week will see Labour formally supplant Rishi Sunaks confused and embattled Tories as the party of British business. But as they sit down to break bread together, Starmer and his corporate guests would do well to sup with a long spoon. Driving here I passed the site of the Battle of Shrewsbury, where in 1403 Henry IV biffed Harry Hotspur. But in Liverpool yesterday an even nastier fight took place outside the Labour conference. Even H Bolingbroke might have hesitated to join this fray. The Battle of Albert Dock kicked off when law-abiding feminists gathered to protest against Keir Starmer's ambiguity on the great issue of our day: Can a woman have a whatnot? Sir Keir's dithering has been like that of an England batsman involved in a run-out. 'Yes, no sorry.' The feminists were led by a short, platinum blonde, Posie Parker. Pictured, Posie Parker speaks on the Royal Dock during the Labour Party Conference It was a sight to chill the liver and shrivel the giblets, if you have any. It's fine if you don't. Pictured: Trans and women's rights protesters She wore a jaunty pink suit and was just starting to warm to her task, declaiming 'let women speak', when a hostile force appeared over the horizon. As the colour-sergeant did not quite say in the 1964 film Zulu: 'Trans activists, sir, thousands of 'em.' It was a sight to chill the liver and shrivel the giblets, if you have any. It's fine if you don't. This column is fashionably non-binary. But the pro-trans force that bore down on Albert Dock, shaking placards and ululating furiously, was something to behold. Several had badges from the Usdaw trade union. Nearly all wore masks. Most of these were blue, Covid-era jobs but a few organisers wore black masks, along with black trousers and black T-shirts. A bystander suggested that these sinister figures were from Antifa, an anti-fascist group. Ms Parker was at her microphone, saying women felt threatened by trans zealots. The trans lot countered this suggestion by surrounding the small knot of feminists and screaming at them violently for more than an hour. It was so unpleasant that the speaker following pink Posie was shaking with nerves. Who could blame her? 'Fascist scum off our streets!' screamed the trans troops, within a foot or two of the feminists' heads. Other chants were unrepeatable. 'Let women spe ...,' tried Ms Parker's troops. Their words were lost in the volley of filth from the trans rights brigade, who were generally younger and, if they will forgive me, a good deal more masculine. Two were well over six foot, with broad shoulders and burly corporations, one in a red bandana, the other with a Jimmy Savile hairdo. They would not have looked out of place on ITV's Saturday afternoon wrestling programme in the old days. Their placards were home-made, to the extent that one was unintelligible for its poor spelling. One cardboard sign said 'microwave oven' before its owner realised she had it the wrong way round. The other side said 'Rishi Sunak Is A Ratface ****' (my asterisks). The Battle of Albert Dock kicked off when law-abiding feminists gathered to protest against Keir Starmer 's ambiguity on the great issue of our day: Can a woman have a whatnot? 'Let women spe ...,' tried the gallant band of mums and aunties who were supporting Posie Parker. '**** terfs!' bellowed the trans army. I fell into conversation with one of the invaders. She was a big unit from Bristol, in skimpy sleeveless top and roughly two chipped teeth in the top jaw. Answered to the name of Robbie. 'Don't look into the caverns of those who espouse fear,' Robbie said by way of explanation. A pale punk rocker with half an ironmonger's worth of metalwork in her nose said Ms Parker had brought this trouble on herself by talking to Right-wing media platforms. I didn't have the heart to tell Comrade Chrome-Nose that I wrote for the Mail. 'Queer solidarity!' yelled another charmer in my lughole. Squeezing through the mob, some of whom were getting antsy with the police, I made it to the feminists' side of the barricades. The ladies were in a state of despair. Karen Beck, 53, an NHS worker, said: 'We just want our toilets and private space back. Until Keir Starmer says what a woman is, he won't get a single one of our votes.' Meanwhile, inside the conference zone a few yards away, Peter Mandelson vouchsafed a honeyed interview to the BBC and a party official, Harry Donaldson, assured delegates 'everyone has a right to live their lives free of abuse'. Israeli media reports unconfirmed death tolls as high as 600 Israeli forces battled holdout Hamas fighters and pounded targets in the Gaza Strip on Sunday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of a long and difficult war after the Palestinian militants launched a massive surprise attack. Gun fights raged Sunday in towns and on highways as the Israeli army deployed tens of thousands of forces to secure southern desert regions near the coastal enclave, aiming to rescue Israeli hostages there and evacuate the entire region within 24 hours. Well reach each and every community until we kill every terrorist in Israel, vowed military spokesman Daniel Hagari, a day after hundreds of Hamas fighters launched their shock offensive and surged into Israel using vehicles, boats and even motorized paragliders. The worst fighting in decades has killed more than 200 Israelis, the army said, while Israeli media reported unconfirmed death tolls as high as 400 and 600, while on the Gaza side at least 313 were reported dead. There was widespread shock and dismay in Israel after dozens of citizens were reported captured by Hamas gunmen and abducted into Gaza, with images circulating on social media of bloodied hostages, and distraught relatives pleading for the state to rescue them. Yifat Zailer, 37, said she was horrified to see online video footage from inside Gaza that showed her female cousin and the womans children, aged nine months and three years. Thats the only confirmation we have, she told AFP by phone, her voicing breaking, and adding there was no information on her cousins husband and her elderly parents. After the army took control of the kibbutz, they werent at home, she said. We assume they were kidnapped ... We want to know what their condition is, we want them to return safe. Theyre innocent civilians.Israel also came under attack from the north when Lebanons Hezbollah launched guided missiles and artillery shells Sunday in solidarity with the unprecedented Hamas offensive, without causing any casualties. Israel responded with artillery strikes across the United Nations-patrolled border. We recommend Hezbollah not to come into this, said army spokesman Richard Hecht. If they come, we are ready. Israel was stunned when Hamas launched their multi-pronged offensive at dawn Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, raining down thousands of rockets as fighters infiltrated towns and kibbutz communities and stormed an outdoor rave party held under the desert sky. Panicked Israeli residents phoned media outlets as they hid out in their homes from militants going door to door and shooting civilians or dragging them away. Two Thai nationals were among those killed, and other Asian nationals, many of whom work as farm laborers in the region, were believed to be among the hostages. A lot of people have been killed, said Hecht, after the military released the names of 26 fallen soldiers. We lost soldiers, lost commanders and lost a lot of civilians. We are completing efforts to retake full control of Israeli territory from Hamas, he added, reporting that the army had struck 426 Hamas targets including Gaza tunnels and buildings. Global concern has mounted, with Western capitals condemning the attack by the Islamist group Hamas, which Washington and Brussels consider a terrorist group. Israels foes, including Iran and Hezbollah, have praised the assault. Anti-Israel protests have flared in other Muslim countries, and Germany and France were among nations stepping up security around Jewish temples and schools. In the Egyptian city of Alexandria a police officer opened fire at random on Israeli tourists Sunday, killing two of them and their Egyptian guide before he was arrested. Netanyahu -- who leads a hard-right coalition government but has received pledges of support from political opponents during Israels national emergency -- has vowed to turn Hamas hideouts to rubble and urged Palestinians there to flee. We are embarking on a long and difficult war that was forced on us by a murderous Hamas attack, Netanyahu wrote on X, formerly Twitter. The first stage is ending at this time with the destruction of the vast majority of the enemy forces that infiltrated our territory, he added, pledging no respite until victory. U.S. President Joe Biden has voiced rock solid and unwavering support for its key ally Israel and warned against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation. Hamas has labelled its attack Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and called on resistance fighters in the West Bank and Arab and Islamic nations to join the battle. Its attack came half a century after the outbreak of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, called the Yom Kippur war in Israel, sparking bitter recriminations on what was widely seen as an enormous intelligence failure. There was a very bad failure here, said Sderot resident Yaakov Shoshani, 70. The Yom Kippur War was small compared to it, and I was a soldier in the Yom Kippur War. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh has predicted victory and vowed to press ahead with the battle to liberate our land and our prisoners languishing in occupation prisons. Hamas said Saturday it had fired 5,000 rockets, while Israel reported some 3,000 incoming projectiles. Several bypassed the Iron Dome missile defence system and smashed into buildings as far as Tel Aviv. Israel rushed forces to the embattled south, called up reservists and hit Gaza in operation Swords of Iron, with some observers predicting a possible ground invasion of Gaza. Israeli attacks have reduced several Gaza residential towers to rubble in what Israel said were strikes aimed at Hamas facilities and which had followed warning calls for people inside to evacuate. Another strike completely destroyed a mosque in Gazas Khan Yunis. Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, leading to Israels blockade of the impoverished enclave of 2.3 million people. Israel and Hamas have fought several wars since, with the latest in May killing 34 Palestinians and one Israeli. Many Gaza residents voiced defiance, with Mohammed Saq Allah, 23, saying: We will not give up, and we are here to stay. This is our land, and we will not abandon our land. The new war follows months of rising violence in the occupied West Bank and tensions around Gazas border and at contested holy sites in Jerusalem. Before Saturday, the conflict had killed at least 247 Palestinians, 32 Israelis and two foreigners, including combatants and civilians, this year, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials. Violence flared again in the West Bank Saturday, leaving at least seven Palestinians dead, said the health ministry in Ramallah. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all diplomatic efforts to avoid a wider conflagration and stressed that only through negotiation leading to a two-state solution can peace be achieved. (AFP) The coincidence of a murderous invasion of Israel by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas with the opening of the Labour Party conference provokes an obvious question. What if Jeremy Corbyn were still the party's leader, as Prime Minister, having won the 2019 general election? In the event, Labour was hammered, but that did not seem at all inevitable at the time, especially since, under Corbyn, the party had erased the Conservatives' parliamentary majority in the 2017 general election. Lest we forget (though many of us never will), at a parliamentary meeting in 2009 Corbyn called Hamas his 'friends'; he said the British government's decision to proscribe it as a terrorist organisation was 'a big, big mistake', and described it as an organisation 'dedicated towards the good of the Palestinian people and bringing about long-term peace and social justice in the whole region'. No wonder so many British Jews, including traditional Labour voters, were terrified by the prospect of Corbyn becoming Prime Minister; and a number of Jewish Labour MPs, subject to vile anti-Semitic abuse from Party members who 'loved Jeremy', left in disgust and horror. Their stance was vindicated in a report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which declared that the party had acted unlawfully in discriminating against Jewish members, and that Corbyn was 'ultimately responsible'. Lest we forget (though many of us never will), at a parliamentary meeting in 2009 Corbyn called Hamas his 'friends'; he said the British government's decision to proscribe it as a terrorist organisation was 'a big, big mistake', writes DOMINIC LAWSON The uncomfortable fact remains that Sir Keir Starmer did absolutely nothing while anti-Semitic abuse was at its height As he wouldn't apologise or accept all the EHRC's findings, Corbyn who yesterday refused to condemn Hamas was handed the ultimate sanction by his successor, Sir Keir Starmer: he barred him from representing Labour at the next election. For this, and his declaration that he would 'tear out this poison [anti-Semitism in the Labour Party] by its roots', Starmer has gained great credit. The uncomfortable fact remains that he did absolutely nothing about it while the abuse was at its height. His behaviour was in contrast, for example, to that of his shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, who refused to serve under Corbyn, and more recently declared that she was 'pleased' that Corbyn did not become PM. But in February 2019, Starmer, who was then shadow Brexit secretary, told BBC Breakfast TV: 'I do think Jeremy Corbyn would make a great Prime Minister.' Later that year, being interviewed on the BBC's The Andrew Marr Show, when asked about the resignation of Louise Ellman from the party, and her claim that Corbyn was a danger to the British Jewish community, he vehemently responded: 'I don't accept that. I don't accept that.' I can see why, as a shadow cabinet member, and especially in the run-up to a general election, Starmer decided to brazen it out. My suspicion is he knew how vilely Jewish Labour MPs and party members were being treated, and he also would have regarded Corbyn's long-standing affiliation with vicious Islamist groups as cranky, at best. But, unlike some other Labour MPs (perhaps less personally ambitious, or even ruthless) he did everything in his power to get Corbyn in to 10 Downing Street. After the party's defeat in the 2019 general election, that put him in the best position for the resulting leadership contest, in which, knowing the continued popularity of Corbyn among the membership, he actually attacked those who had criticised 'Jeremy': 'The attacks on Jeremy Corbyn were terrible, they vilified him.' And in April 2020 he said of Corbyn: 'He's a friend and he's led us through some really difficult times in the Labour Party . . . I respect him.' Shocking footage from the aftermath of the music festival attack shows tents empty and abandoned cars of those trying to escape strewn on the side of the road Since then he has repeatedly denied that he had ever regarded Corbyn as 'a friend', which provoked his predecessor to remark: 'He suddenly announced to the world that I was a friend, and then a short time later I was not a friend. This is primary school stuff.' Actually, it seems to be the grown-up Starmer's modus operandi. But the thought that should scare us is how a government under Corbyn would have reacted to the appalling scenes in Israel, where video footage has emerged of the naked corpse of a young woman driven in a pick-up truck by Hamas gangs, and men spitting on it. It emerged later that this was not an Israeli, but a 30-year-old German woman, Shani Louk, who had been attending a music festival near the border with Gaza. She was one of at least 250 festival-goers massacred by Hamas gunmen. And from the Israeli city of Sderot, film emerged of gunmen firing assault rifles into bodies piled up inside a room, presumably to kill off any survivors 'playing dead'. For many Jews, not just those in Israel, such scenes will evoke memories of what happened in Europe 80 years ago (and why it was necessary to have a Jewish homeland). It was at the time of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel, in 2008, that I visited Sderot. Its population of 20,000 was under daily bombardment by Hamas's Qassam missiles, which took only 30 seconds to make their journey of no more than a kilometre. I talked with an Israeli nurse, Geut Aragon, whose home had been hit by a Qassam: she still had shrapnel lodged close to her brain. As we spoke, the early warning system sounded and we both rushed for cover. Afterwards, she told me the biggest mistake had been Israel's decision to withdraw entirely from Gaza (which it had occupied in the wake of the 1967 war): 'I knew it was a terrible idea, I knew we would be a target. And I know my Arab friends will suffer when the IDF [Israel Defence Forces] goes back into Gaza.' Which may well now happen. But and this is something Corbyn, and those with his views who still sit on the Labour benches seem unable to grasp the most regular victims of Hamas are its fellow Palestinians. Nine years ago I wrote here of how little interest anyone showed when 18 kneeling Palestinian captives, including two women, were filmed being executed by masked Hamas fighters in Gaza. They were probably supporters of Fatah, which had been driven from power in Gaza in a bloody coup by the Islamists of Hamas. I'd spoken to a Fatah official on my visit in 2008 who said of Hamas: 'These people are crazy, deviant, horrible.' A man runs in the road as fires burn in Ashkelon, Israel, following Hamas rocket attacks Yet, if Corbyn were now Prime Minister, doubtless with Keir Starmer in a senior Cabinet role, the British government would not be condemning Hamas (his 'friends'), unlike the rest of what we once called the civilised world. And I wonder if such a government would be doing what the Sunak administration is now: stepping up the already intense security around Britain's synagogues for they will surely become a target for Hamas's sympathisers here, when, as is inevitable, Israel goes on a counteroffensive. Now, under Sir Keir, the Labour Party conference will be displaying the Union Jack, rather than the Palestinian flags waved at this annual event under the previous regime. Labour officials are, on his orders, declaring that theirs is a 'proudly patriotic party' an attempt to persuade voters that Corbyn's sympathy with groups defined as terrorists under British law, and murderous anti-Semites to boot, has been expunged from Labour's ranks. But does Starmer deserve unquestioning gratitude for this? Ian Austin, the son of a man who fled to this country to avoid extermination by the Nazis, and who himself resigned as a Labour MP under Corbyn, puts it well: the apology Starmer has since made for what happened was only on behalf of the party, not for his own acquiescence. And as Austin says: 'No one should expect to be praised for it, anyway. It ought to be the most basic requirement for the job not something to boast about or expect to be thanked for.' And still, I think: how would it feel if the man Starmer supported so loyally were now Prime Minister of this country, while his anti-Semitic 'friends' in Hamas were engaged in their greatest acts of depravity? Two days on from the most barbaric and deliberate attack on Jews since the Holocaust, there is a growing understanding that while Hamas terrorists were responsible for the actual acts of butchery, Iran is the power behind the group. Iran funds Hamas, supplies it and directs it. Hamas does not act without Iran's involvement, and an operation as widescale as that seen on Saturday can only have been planned with Iran's active support and more likely at Iran's instruction. Iran is the world's leading funder of terror. Much of this happens through direct funding, as with Hamas. But the regime also operates through its armed forces, in particular its renowned Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The US State Department describes the IRGC's role as being 'to provide support to terrorist organisations, provide cover for associated covert operations, and create instability'. Yet it is, as we shall see, the weakness and ineptitude of the US under President Joe Biden that has emboldened Iran and Hamas to wreak such devastating destruction. And make no mistake, the appalling events in Israel affect all of us. Two days on from the most barbaric and deliberate attack on Jews since the Holocaust, there is a growing understanding that while Hamas terrorists were responsible for the actual acts of butchery, Iran is the power behind the group. Pictured: A rocket is launched from the coastal Gaza strip towards Israel on Saturday A view of a junction shows the aftermath of a mass-infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in the Sderot area of southern Israel, on Saturday The US State Department describes the IRGC's role as being 'to provide support to terrorist organisations, provide cover for associated covert operations, and create instability'. Yet it is, as we shall see, the weakness and ineptitude of the US under President Joe Biden (pictured with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken last week) that has emboldened Iran and Hamas to wreak such devastating destruction You might think that the Middle East is in distant lands that, however horrifying things are over there, they do not impinge on us in the UK. You would be gravely mistaken. Iran's malign influence is certainly growing in the Middle East. But, increasingly, it is also being felt here in Britain. In February, security minister Tom Tugendhat told the House of Commons that 'between 2020 and 2022, Iran tried to collect intelligence on UK-based Israeli and Jewish individuals. We believe this was a preparation for future lethal operations'. That followed his revelation of what he called 'very real and specific threats towards UK-based journalists working for Iran International' a prominent and independent Persian-language news channel. Earlier, the MI5 director-general had said there had been ten Iranian plots to kidnap or murder British residents in 2022. It is difficult to put a precise figure on the amounts Iran spends supporting Hamas but we do know that back in 1992, when the terror group began suicide bombings in Israel, Iran was sending it around $50million (41million) a year. By 2020, the US State Department was reporting that Iran's funding had doubled to more than $100million (81million) a year. Hamas's leader, Ismail Haniyeh, is reported to have said recently the Iranians gave it an extra $70million (57million) to develop missile and defence systems in the Gaza Strip weapons which were likely used this weekend. A missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on Sunday as the conflict's death toll surged close to 1,000 after the Palestinian militant group launched a massive surprise assault A woman stands in a damaged room in Ashkelon, Israel after rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip by Hamas militants In the deadliest day of violence in Israel in 50 years, the middle eastern country's warplanes strafed densely populated Gaza City with bombs in retaliatory strikes Rockets struck buildings across southern Israel - and militants are reported to have taken to the streets after 'infiltrating' the country Hamas's founding charter is clear about its aim. It is not despite the repeated assertions of so many in gullible broadcasters such as the BBC the creation of a Palestinian state. It's not even just the elimination of Israel. The Hamas charter states openly that its aim is the elimination of Jews. The charter quotes the Islamic hadith ['saying'] in which Mohammed prophesies the annihilation of the Jews: 'The Day of Judgement will not come until the Muslims fight the Jews, when the Jews will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say, 'O Muslim, O servant of God, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.' So when Hamas butchers Jews as it did on Saturday for no reason other than that they are Jews, no one should be surprised. Hamas is officially classified as a terrorist organisation by the UK, the US and the EU. Not that that is enough for the BBC, which refuses to ascribe any blame to Hamas-inspired mass murder, and insists the group's terrorists are simply 'militants'. Indeed, yesterday morning a BBC News presenter spoke of 'the scale and ferocity of attacks on both sides' as if the victims of terror are as guilty as the terrorists. What lies behind this is the inherent anti-Israel bias of the BBC, rooted perhaps in the pernicious idea that one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. It ends up with the BBC labelling those monsters who parade the bullet-ridden bodies of Israeli civilians through the streets of Gaza as 'gunmen', as if they are simply engaged in a fight. And while seemingly unable to call a terrorist a terrorist, the BBC also gives apologists for terror a platform to justify the atrocities. Smoke billows from a building in Gaza after Israel fired missiles in response to Palestinian air strikes on Saturday An injured man is carried on a stretcher by members of the Israeli security forces following air strikes in southern Israel People flee as clashes flare between Palestinian groups and Israeli forces in Gaza City following the earlier air strikes on Saturday Palestinians celebrate on Saturday after an Israeli tank was hit by Hamas gunmen who infiltrated the south of the country, on the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border Yesterday's The World This Weekend on Radio 4 led with an interviewee who was talking about the 'dream' of seeing the Israelis attacked. Given Iran's critical role in these attacks, you would think that Western governments would do all they could to isolate the regime and starve it of the money it needs to fund terror. Yet quite the opposite is happening. In 2015, the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action more widely known as the Iran Deal was signed by Iran with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and Germany. It offered Iran relief from sanctions the West had imposed on the country if it agreed to inspections of its nuclear programme, to prevent it developing a nuclear weapon. All well and good except Iran had no intention of halting its nuclear weapons plan and simply hid it from inspectors. The naivety was almost incomprehensible. Iran's Middle East neighbours, led by the Saudis, were incandescent over the deal which gave Iran much-needed cash and the space to pursue nuclear weapons development. Donald Trump rightly ripped it up in 2018. Under Mr Trump's new 'maximum pressure' sanctions strategy, Iran started to be brought to its knees economically. But Mr Biden's arrival in the White House ended that by bringing back to office many of those behind the original misguided deal. They have spent the past three years unsuccessfully trying to agree a new deal. This has not stopped Mr Biden appeasing Iran, first by lifting most oil sanctions allowing the country to sell millions of barrels a day and then in August handing over $6billion (4billion) to the regime as part of a deal to free five Americans who were being held in Tehran. The Israeli army moves artillery units toward border with Gaza on Sunday A man is seen walking with his bicycle on Sunday after Israeli airstrikes destroyed buildings and neighbourhoods at Rimal district of Gaza City Pathetically, in its appalling naivety, the US insists this money can only be used for humanitarian aid. The result is that Iran is once again flush with cash and getting more so cash which is used to fund the likes of Hamas and the Revolutionary Guards. The world has seen this weekend how Hamas operates. Iran will be filled with glee. And as the West continues to pretend Iran can be treated as a normal state, that glee will only grow. Stephen Pollard is the former editor of The Jewish Chronicle. After police found out, her father killed himself when Sammy was almost 15 Despite the multiple accusations from girls, her mother didn't believed he did it A woman has detailed the horrific sexual and physical abuse she suffered at the hands of her own father, which began when she was five and only ended when he killed himself just days before her 15th birthday. Appearing on the We're All Insane podcast, 23-year-old Sammy said she developed a dissociative disorder with eight alternative personalities cohabitating in a 'system' as a result of her traumatic upbringing. 'I was five going on six [when the abuse started],' Sammy explained to host Devorah Roloff. 'It was that intense, immediate and repetitive trauma that really started that dissociative disorder system develop.' Sammy said the abuse began in 2005, after her biological father - who taught music - was accused of molesting two of his female students, and the family subsequently moved from New York to South Carolina. Sammy appeared on the We're All Insane podcast to talk abut her traumatic childhood, where she suffered horrific sexual and physical abuse at the hands of her very own father Sammy told host Devorah Roloff (pictured) the abuse started when she was as young as five years old, and continued for around a decade after that '[We were told we were] moving because my grandpa needed to be in warmer weather,' she recalled. [But] there was definitely a time in our lives where our parents were trying to cover it up.' Sammy's family - consisting of herself, her parents, younger brother and older half sister - moved in 2005, despite her father still being involved in active trials over the accusations from the girls he molested in New York. He was found guilty in 2010 of sexual abuse in the second degree, but was released early on good behavior, after serving, what Sammy believes to be, around eight months in prison. When he returned home in 2011, she claims the abuse 'skyrocketed.' 'When I was younger - probably like ages five to seven - I was probably molested once every two weeks [and] after he got out of jail in 2011 I was getting abused multiple times a week,' she told Devorah. 'I actually got my menstrual cycle when I was 11, it just increased the contact that he needed to have with me.' Sammy said her father would also constantly pit her and her older half-sister - her mother's daughter - against one other, recalling she grew up 'hating' her sister only to realize later she was also being abused. '[My sister] was one of the only victims to come forward and say this definitely happened to me [and] this is f***ked up,' Sammy recalled. 'They were so strong about it and it threatened my mother's reality of what had happened and who her husband was.' She added it was also 'vital' to her father's grooming system to make sure they were kept apart, so they couldn't reveal the abuse to one another. The now 23-year-old has no contact with her mother anymore and hasn't spoken to her in two years The survivor of incest sexual abuse recalled some of the tactics her father would use to groom her, like pitting her against her older sister and threatening to commit suicide Sammy detailed other psychological parts of her father's abuse, saying he was around her for her entire childhood so he could 'mold' her exactly how he wanted her to be. She recalled him showering with her, shaving her and trying to convince her to take naked photos of herself. The 23-year-old also detailed co-dependent relationships with friends, who later became one of her father's next victims. When a friend came to Sammy and told her what had happened, she admits she thought her friend was lying at first. 'I like "how could that have happened?" But really I felt threatened,' she acknowledged. 'I was not mad he was molesting her, I say I was mad that he was molesting someone else.' Another tactic Sammy's father used to undermine her was by threatening to kill himself - something she said he had done consistently growing up to control his victims. '[He'd say] "I'm so close to killing myself" [and] I would allow him to molest me because it would give him another couple of days,' she recalled. The abuse reached an all-time high in early 2014, with Sammy being abused 'morning, noon and night' by her father, recalling missing 92 out of 180 days of school to stay home with him. Sammy stressed the importance of getting help if you need it, and to trust your gut instincts She even claims that her own mother witnessed the abuse but decided to ignore it. 'There were times that my mom walked in on him molesting me in their bed,' she said. 'He would [have] his hand in my pants or my shirt - my mom would just walk in on it and go right past the bed to the bathroom.' However, after her friend started distancing herself from her family when she was around 14, she believes her father knew he was going to be caught. 'My dad's caseworker (as an offender) reached out and was like you have another accusation on your case,' she recalled. 'At that point, my dad would have been in jail for life because being a reoffender as a sexual offender doubles your charge.' What is dissociative disorder disorder? Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a mental health condition. According to the Cleveland Clinic, people with DID have two or more identities, and these personalities control their behavior at different times. DID is very rare and affects between 0.01 and 1 per cent of the population. It can occur at any age. Women are more likely than men to have DID, and the disorder often forms as a response from trauma, and is often the result of sexual or physical abuse during childhood. Advertisement Sammy said she spoke to the Department of Social Services for the first time ever in 2014, despite living with a convicted sex offender, saying Adelaide - one of her dominant personalities - 'took over' and admitted to being molested by her father. In the months following, Sammy said both of parents accused her of lying, and the stress caused another personality to form. On April 1, 2014, police came to Sammy's house to arrest her father after months of him threatening suicide, only to find him not in the home. They later found him dead the in space he used as an office. Sammy described the next few years at school as 'intense,' recalling defending her father's memory. However, when she attempted suicide at 17, it triggered her dissociative disorder system, which involved multiple personalities spawning to help her deal with the waves of trauma she was constantly facing. Sammy explained that Adelaide, who's currently 'fronting' her personalities, is the protector of the dissociative disorder system. 'That means they're the trauma holder, they take on the trauma to keep the host of the system safe,' she explained. Another personality was Tristan, who developed when she graduated high school, describing him as 'very much a protector' in her system. When Sammy was 21 she chose to leave home, and no longer speaks to her mother. 'I don't speak to my mother anymore because to this day if I went to her and said your husband molested me she would tell me I was lying,' she claimed. Sammy stressed the importance of getting help if you need it, and to trust your gut instincts. Homeowners are being warned that having a mirror facing their bed could lead to a disturbed nights sleep and create 'bad Feng Shui'. Experts at Me and My Glass have revealed that there are a multitude of reasons why placing your mirror next to where you sleep is not the greatest idea. The first of which, is that according to Feng Shui rules, mirrors opposite the bed can reflect negative thoughts, stresses and worries, which may make it harder to sleep. Feng Shui is an age-old Chinese practice that refers to the arrangement of objects around us and is based on the idea that our homes reflect what's happening inside us. People who practice Fung Shui arrange pieces in their homes to create balance with the natural world - experts in the field can advise you what changes you can make to your spaces to allow energy to flow more freely. People are being warned that having a mirror facing their bed could lead to a disturbed nights sleep and create 'bad Feng Shui' Sleep & Interiors Expert from Zinus, Victoria Cedeno, said 'While homeware and furniture choices ultimately depend on personal preference, incorporating Feng Shui principles can help create a home environment that feels calming and harmonious. 'In particular, paying attention to Feng Shui in the bedroom can promote better sleep patterns and overall wellness. 'Feng Shui practices offer varying perspectives on the role of mirrors in the bedroom. 'Some suggest avoiding them altogether, while others recommend positioning them away from the bed. 'This advice is rooted in the notion that mirrors have the power to reflect and intensify both positive and negative energy, potentially interfering with sleep quality.' She advised 'to add a mirror to your bedroom, consider placing it facing the window to encourage the natural light, which can then be adjusted with curtains if necessary. 'Avoid placing the mirror at bed level by hanging it above drawers. 'Alternatively, those wanting a full-length mirror without it being prominently displayed should try positioning it inside a wardrobe.' Another Feng Shui expert, Janine Lowe, added 'A mirror can bring discord to a relationship if placed in the wrong position in the bedroom. According to Feng Shui rules, mirrors opposite your bed can reflect negative thoughts, stresses and worries, which may make it harder to sleep 'I have my mirror placed inside my wardrobe door and that solves all problems. 'Hallways are excellent areas to place mirrors. Placement depends on what way your front door opens. 'So, my suggestion is, as your door opens place it on the facing wall, allowing the positive energy from the outside to reflect off the mirror and bounce around the house.' As well as the rules of Fung Shui, in a lot of cultures having a mirror in this position is considered back luck and taboo. There are also design issues with choosing the place a mirror in front of your bed. Reflecting an object as large as a bed can 'draw the room inward,' making it appear smaller and more cramped. John Cutts, founder of Me and My Glass, explained: 'From a design point of view, your mirror shouldnt really face your bed. 'If youre a bit of a messy person the mirror is only going to amplify your unmade bed along with any other clutter you may have on there. 'The reflection of a big bed can also make your room appear smaller. To maximise the use of a mirror in the bedroom and help the space to look bigger, youll want to make sure the mirror is reflecting natural light.' More than six decades after its release, Breakfast at Tiffany's continues to captivate audiences with its tale of a stunning socialite navigating her way through life in New York. The hit film, which was released on October 5, 1961, starred Audrey Hepburn as its leading lady opposite George Peppard. The duo charmed viewers with their onscreen chemistry but not everything was as it seems - often clashing when the cameras cut. But it seems that both Hepburn and Peppard, along with their other co-stars, were also embroiled in a slew of other issues after credits rolled. Here, FEMAIL has laid bare the worst scandals to have plagued the Breakfast at Tiffany's cast - from multiple infidelities and accusations of rape attempted rape to tumultuous relationships and claims of betrayal. More than six decades after its release, Breakfast at Tiffany's continues to captivate audiences with its tale of a stunning socialite navigating her way through life in New York Audrey Hepburn had a 'morose personality' and was caught up in a string of infidelities The film's leading lady mesmerized viewers with her portrayal of Holly Golightly - an exuberant socialite with an ethereal presence. But it appears that this did not extend off screen as a damning report in the Observer decried her as 'not so saintly after all,' adding that she was a 'sad star, strongly sexed.' And it was no secret that Audrey, who smoked three packs of cigarettes a day, had indulged in a series of affairs. The first began when she struck up a relationship with married co-star William Holden during the filming of Sabrina in 1954. Audrey Hepburn captivated viewers with her portrayal of Holly Golightly (pictured) as an exuberant socialite with an ethereal presence The first began when she struck up a relationship with married co-star William Holden during the filming of Sabrina in 1954 (pictured) Holden's wife Ardis had often overlooked his womanizing previously but considered the actress to be a direct threat to her marriage. Ultimately, Ardis issued her husband with an ultimatum before the affair concluded. Audrey went on to tie the knot with fellow actor Mel Ferrer but their 14 years of marriage were not without issue. There were rumors on infidelity on both sides. He is said to have had a girlfriend with claims that Audrey cheated on Ferrer with Albert Finney. Following their divorce, Audrey went on to marry Andrea Dotti the very next year. A damning report in the Observer decried her as 'not so saintly after all,' adding that she was a 'sad star, strongly sexed' It seems that Audrey's personal satisfaction did not match her professional success. Pictured: Audrey with Mel Ferrer (left) and with Andrea Dotti (right) But once again both parties reportedly strayed - Dotti with a string of younger women and Audrey with actor Ben Gazzara. Nonetheless, the marriage continued for 13 years before the pair decided to call it quits. And so it appears that Audrey's personal satisfaction did not match her professional success. This was seemingly noted in the telling piece which described her as 'a conflicted, somewhat morose personality' who 'moved through her movies like a mournful swan, unsure of her own beauty.' George Peppard was accused of assault and attempted rape of an exotic dancer Audrey Hepburn is said to have clashed with her opposite number - George Peppard - despite their sweet on screen chemistry. Peppard was allegedly not as gentle and sensitive as his aspiring writer character in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Film producer Richard Shepherd spoke for the star about her rare distaste for her onscreen love interest. Audrey Hepburn is said to have clashed with her opposite number - George Peppard - despite their sweet on screen chemistry on screen (pictured) He said: 'I must say there wasn't a human being that Audrey Hepburn didn't have a kind word for except George Peppard. 'She didn't like him at all. She thought he was pompous. When she wasn't around, he referred to her as "The Happy Nun."' But the off-screen dispute was not the only scandal that Peppard got caught up in. In 1972, the actor was accused of assault and the attempted rape of an exotic dancer from Cambridge, UK. In 1972, the actor was accused of assault and the attempted rape of an exotic dancer from Cambridge, UK, but was later cleared Joan McLaughlin, then 24, claimed that Peppard attacked her in a room in the Ritz Carleton Hotel on January 30. She testified she bit the actor on the cheek 'when he hugged me too tightly.' But a judge in Boston Municipal Court dismissed the rape charge and found no probable cause in the assault charge. According to the New York Times, he said: 'The only assault was on the man who got. bitten on the face.' Patricia Neal endured a tumultuous relationship with children's author Roald Dahl Beloved actress of both the stage and screen Patricia Neal assumed the role of Emily Eustace '2E' Failensen in Breakfast at Tiffany's. But despite enjoying an illustrious career in the industry, it was her personal life that was plagued with misery. According to Carmela Ciuraru's recent book Lives of the Wives, which takes in complex relationships of writers and their significant others, Patricia went into her marriage with children's author Roald Dahl, who wrote classics like the BFG and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with her eyes wide open. The book states: 'Even in the early days of their relationship, Patricia knew that her future husband 'seemed to feel he had the right to be awful and no one should dare counter him.'' He was described as 'rude, argumentative, and arrogant with a vicious misogynist streak.' Many thought that he envied his wife's success, ambition and the relationship she had with her close friends. Beloved actress of both the stage and screen Patricia Neal assumed the role of Emily Eustace '2E' Failensen (pictured) in Breakfast at Tiffany's Patricia went into her marriage with children's author Roald Dahl, who wrote classics like the BFG and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with her eyes wide open And, despite Roald bringing so much happiness to children through his books, his marriage was seemingly a joyless one. He first asked for a divorce less than eight months after tying the knot - but the pair continued to plough on. Over the course of his 30-year marriage to Patricia, he said 'I love you' just three times, and reportedly 'found her nudity off-putting.' But things only got worse after Patricia had a stroke. During her recovery, Roald became a 'bully, tormentor, and protector, and the wife patient, warrior, and victim.' When his wife spoke about suicide, Roald seemed to encourage it, telling her: 'We've got knives that will do you up fine and there are my razor blades. Or else you can lock yourself in the car and turn on the engine.' Over the course of his thirty-year marriage to Patricia, he said 'I love you' just three times, and reportedly 'found her nudity off-putting' And he repeatedly 'criticized [Patricia's] so-called shortcomings - accusing her of black moods, self-absorption, intellectual laziness.' Added to the already tense martial mix, Roald wrote flirtatious letters and had flings with a handful of women, even after his wife's stroke. His daughter, Tessa, who was a teenager at the time suffering with an eating disorder and drug addiction, once overheard her father on the phone to one of his mistresses. She confronted him about the affair - and he was quick to lash out at the youngster. According to her account, he said: 'You've always been trouble, you've always been a nosy little b****. I want you to get out of this f***ing house now.' Patricia and Roald eventually divorced. Before his death, there was a kind of reconciliation and, at the end of her memoir, Patricia penned a generous toward her former husband. Buddy Ebsen was accused of 'betraying' his co-star in political clash In Breakfast at Tiffany's, Doc Golightly was played by Buddy Ebsen. Ebsen had originally made headlines in the industry for his part in The Wizard Of Oz in which he was cast as the Tin Man. For the role, he was painted in pure aluminum and the constant lung ingestion caused him to suffer difficulty breathing as well as severe cramping in his hands, arms and legs. Ebsen was on set for just nine days before being hospitalized and was forced to be spend two weeks in an oxygen tent. In Breakfast at Tiffany's, Doc Golightly (pictured) was played by Buddy Ebsen He ultimately bowed out of the film but was able to overcome the health struggles and return to the screen. Following his appearance on Breakfast at Tiffany's, Ebsen went on to star in long-running American sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies as Jed Clampett. But it was there that he began to clash with co-star Nancy Kulp over their political stances. The two were never particularly close on set but tensions spilled over even after filming ended. It was on the set of sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies where began to clash with co-star Nancy Kulp (pictured together) over their political stances Kulp headed back to Pennsylvania after credits rolled and set her sights on a seat in the United States House of Representatives as the underdog. But her political campaign in 1984 was made that much harder when her former co-star Ebsen agreed to create an ad campaign for Kulp's opponent Bud Shuster. In it, he accused Kulp of being 'too liberal' and she ultimately lost the race. Speaking afterwards about the defeat, Kulp insisted that Ebsen had 'no business' getting involved and that she wished he had stayed out of it. Lexy, Tony's wife, moved to Florida with her boys after being given full custody The couple met online and have since welcomed two more children together A couple in Florida has made their blended family official after a man adopted all six of his wife's children from a previous marriage. Tony Thomas first met Lexy on a dating site called Christian Mingle just a month after the stay-at-home mom signed up. After talking online, Tony decided to fly out to see her in Kentucky, where she was living at the time with her sons - Elijah, 16, Isaiah, 15, Ethan, 14, Sheldon, 12, Simeon, 10, and Iridius who is seven years old. The couple fell madly in love and decided to tie the knot in 2018 - despite the fact they admitted many people thought their relationship wouldn't 'work out.' Tony and Lexy Thomas (pictured) first met online and began dating long distance, before tying the knot in 2018 and living together in Florida Lexy, who says her boy's biological father has nothing to do with the kids, was a single mom to six young boys in Kentucky before moving her family to Florida to be with Tony 'The odds weren't in our favor,' Lexy wrote in a TikTok video. 'No one really believed it could work out but it did.' Tony, who also had a 21-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, even decided to adopt Lexy's six boys - formalizing the adoption paperwork four years after their wedding. 'I was married previously to my boys' biological father, which unfortunately ended, but he's no longer in their life and hasn't seen them since they were younger,' Lexy explained. Lexy said her children adore Tony so much they have all now taken his surname. 'Tony is on all the kids' birth certificates as their father,' Lexy said. 'One of the boys even changed his first, middle and last name when he was adopted.' The couple began planning for the entire family to live together in Florida after getting married. '[We] put a contract in on a house and took all these steps for everyone to be there,' Tony explained. 'We see us living in Florida as a blessing because initially, there was no way for her to move or relocate,' he continued. 'But we really felt like God was telling us that we would live in Florida, and we just had to have faith.' Lexy was granted fully custody of her children, and moved them out to Florida as soon as the judge granted her permission with Tony legally adopted all of them four years after he and Lexy married Tony started visiting Lexy in Kentucky on some weekends, but the couple decided to move their family to Florida, which is where Tony lived with his daughter The loved-up couple went on to expand their blended family, welcoming two daughters of their own Lexy says she see's them as a 'very blended family' because there has never been this dynamic of 'his kids, my kids' Tony is on Lexy's son's birth certificates as their father, and one of her son's even changed his first, middle and last name when he was adopted Lexy and Tony love raising their large, chaotic family and often post about it to TikTok Lexy was granted fully custody of her children, and moved them out to Florida as soon as the judge granted her permission. 'I booked last minute flights for all the boys to see Tony and because I was granted full custody of them, they never went back to Kentucky. 'The judge said that it's been one in two cases where she has ever permitted the biological parent to move to another state from the other biological parent,' she shared. The happy couple gushed about how lucky they were to find each other, and often post videos online about raising their blended family. 'I had prayed for all the great characteristics in a man that I see in Tony,' Lexy said. 'I didn't pray for like a super weird husband, but that's what I got,' she joked. 'But then I got all these other things.' The parents love their chaotic household, and have gone on to welcome two more biological daughters of their own. 'I see us as a very blended family because there has never been this dynamic of his kids, my kids,' Lexy said. 'We are a family, there is no separation.' Are you striving to be seen as an in-the-know jetsetter who explores the classy, cool or unheard of places around the world when sharing your holiday snaps online? If so, you should avoid these cliche destinations, according to a London-based popular culture expert. He explained to FEMAIL how some locations have been 'over-done' on social media and rather than looking exotic and exciting, travelling to those areas will instead make you seem like you're following the crowd. That's not to say these popular destinations such as Santorini and Bali don't deserve a visit - but if you want to seem ahead of the curve, avoid bragging about them in the office, according to the expert. Or if you're looking for a peaceful, elegant holiday, the expert has shared the locations that you're best to steer clear of due to them being known as the place to be for raucous Stag and Hen Dos. Some of the locations on the expert's list equally aren't a fan of boozed-up Brits, with Seville's Mayor Jose Luis Sanz declaring the Spanish city has 'no interest whatsoever' in party tourism. The mayor has said the city council is planning to ban groups from wearing underwear in the streets and engaging in 'obscene acts'. Mykonos Nicole Scherzinger posted this picture on Instagram on July 9 of her on holiday in Mykonos The expert warns Mykonos is 'overpriced' and 'overcrowded' (stock photo) It's the sun-soaked Greek party island that has hosted a string of A-list celebrities once again this summer, from Nicole Scherzinger to Matt Damon. But the expert warns Mykonos is 'overpriced' and 'overcrowded', adding: It's got some fabulous clubs that only start at 1am but the amount of people all trying to pass each other on super narrow pathways is worse than the stampede for the January sales at Next. 'It may be a place for the gram but with beach beds and drinks at overinflated prices it's better to stay on the mainland.' Meanwhile, a study by consumer group Which? recently found it is now Europe's worst coastal destination. Mykonos Town was ranked last in the survey involving more than 3,500 Britons, with a rating of just 58 per cent and scoring just three stars for its seafront and friendliness. The overall score was much lower than that of the second-last hotspot of Fuengirola in Spain, with 66 per cent. Third last was Portimao in Portugal with 68 per cent. Locations were marked on 12 separate criteria, including quality of the beaches, seafronts and marinas, attractiveness, food and drink and value for money. Visitors to Mykonos had particular criticism for the town's seafront, marina and value for money - with some reportedly charged 70 (60) for a sun lounger. According to The Times, one Which? member in the survey said of Mykonos: 'Choose a different Greek island as there are many more authentic ones.' Another said: 'Awful place, wouldn't recommend anything.' And a third added that visitors should 'take twice as much money as they think they need'. The island also has a reputation for bad behaviour among British tourists, while the scale of tourism on Mykonos and overdevelopment have also caused concern for local residents, with an estimated 220,000 visitors in a single week of peak season in July last year. Last year Marigoula Apostolou, president of the local folklore museum, told the Observer: 'Our island is full, it has exceeded its limits. Our natural environment has been destroyed, our water and sewage infrastructure cannot cope, and that is before we even talk about the threat to our lifestyle by being branded a party isle.' Seville Molly-Mae Hague put on a stylish display as she stepped out in Seville in October 2021 Thanks to its popularity with boozed-up Brits, the expert said Seville is 'very touristy, it is a little bit tacky, and it is certainly not off the beaten path' (stock photo) Thanks to its popularity with boozed-up Brits, the expert said Seville is 'very touristy, it is a little bit tacky, and it is certainly not off the beaten path'. 'Still, there is something special to the city; the method of life, the narrow medina-like alleyways and the tapas culture have such a phenomenal emotional cliched draw that people flock to it to tick off their holiday bucket lists.' It comes after Seville's Mayor Jose Luis Sanz said the city council is planning to ban groups from wearing underwear in the streets and engaging in 'obscene acts' as he declared the area has 'no interest whatsoever' in party tourism. Speaking to The Times, Mr Sanz said: 'Anyone can celebrate their bachelor party in Seville. 'What we don't view favourably are groups of people dressed as whatever, with brass bands behind them, disturbing the many residents of Seville especially in areas of the historic centre who also have the right to enjoy their city. It comes amid increasing fears from locals that the religious city - famed for its architectural heritage and Seville oranges - is being overrun by youngsters who see it as a thrifty option to party abroad thanks to its good weather and cheap alcohol. Santorini Vicky Pattison enjoyed a sun-soaked trip to Santorini in September 2022 Greece offers some of the most mesmerising landscapes on the planet - but the downside is that holidaymakers the world over have caught on, with hotspots such as Mykonos and Santorini (pictured) jampacked with tourists in the summer season Greece offers some of the most mesmerising landscapes on the planet - but the downside is that holidaymakers the world over have caught on, with hotspots such as Mykonos and Santorini jampacked with tourists in the summer season. The expert said: 'Santorini is super touristy and quite tacky in the overwhelming nature of the crowds, souvenirs and selfie sticks. 'Its picture postcard perfect but the problem is it's so overcrowded that you can't even take a picture anymore without strangers in it.' Earlier this year, a fascinating reworked world map revealed the European holiday destinations that are the most popular globally and it was Santorini that scored first place. On the map - generated using Google search data country names were supplemented with their residents' most-searched-for European holiday spots. Researchers studied 12 months of Google data in 185 countries to find out which EU holiday destinations were being Googled the most using phrases like 'destination + holiday' or 'destination + vacation'. Santorini topped the list, generated by CV Villas, thanks to being the most popular European spot in 47 countries around the world, including the U.S, Finland, Colombia, Bolivia, India, Australia and New Zealand. Las Vegas and Benidorm The expert suggested those visiting Las Vegas already know 'it's going to be tacky but that's why you go'. He noted the 'crowded venues, long queues and packed pools make it a full on experience'. In 2019, Las Vegas took the second spot in a study of tourist-to-local ranking, with 993 visitors at the time to 100 locals. Lady Gaga in Las Vegas in May 2022 Meanwhile, the expert also added Benidorm to this list, saying: 'This infamous destination still holds onto the crown for the tackiest destination in Europe. 'Over the last 30 years it's fair to say that the resort has earned a bit of a 'cheap and tacky' reputation. 'But, in truth, Benidorm is a huge economic success which attracts millions of thrifty tourists annually. 'You can spend your holiday as cheaply and cheerfully as you wish. 'It may be cliched but if it's sun and sangria you're looking for then Benidorm has it by the bucket load.' Advertisement Bali 'Bali is a place we have all heard of and although rich in culture it is overrun with cheap bars, tacky clubs and overcrowded beaches,' said the expert. 'It may be a chilled out tropical paradise but the tourists ruin it for everyone.' The expert's comments come after it was revealed this summer that holidaymakers could have to meet a certain criteria before entering the Indonesian island as the government looks to impose restrictions to prioritise 'quality' tourists over 'quantity'. The restriction on visitor numbers is just one of many changes being introduced as locals lose patience with boisterous and littering foreigners not respecting local customs and sacred sites. Bali has a population of 4.3million people but there were 6.3million visitors in 2019 before travel was interrupted by the Covid pandemic. The steady rise in tourists - up from less than 2million in 2008 - has government officials worried the number could skyrocket over the coming years. The sheer volume of visitors pouring in combined with the island's reputation as a party hotspot has resulted in a string of controversies. Earlier this year a tourist filmed himself naked at a sacred Hindu site. The episode was just one of a series of similar incidents. Another tourist was seen screaming and lunging at security officers outside a religious ritual. While yet another group of travellers filed an official complaint about roosters crowing at dawn which infuriated Bali locals who rely on the poultry to make a living. A figure of seven million tourists is being considered for the cap, which could see tough competition for places as Bali becomes increasingly known across the globe as a holiday destination for those on a budget. Applicants could have to show they have enough cash to fund their entire trip to successfully gain entry, while the slightest trouble there could result in a ban from returning. The island's governor Wayan Koster told local media: 'These foreigners are very arrogant but I am not anti-foreigners. A comprehensive evaluation is necessary to regulate the entry of foreign tourists. 'For instance, there might be a consideration of a limit of seven million individuals based on certain criteria.' Mr Koster said the island should focus on 'quality tourism'. 'This is to maintain Balinese culture and local wisdom which must be dignified,' he said. Vick Hope soaked up the sun in Bali in December 2022 The island has already banned some tourists from driving mopeds following anti-social behaviour. A tourist tax is also being considered by President Joko Widodo's government that would be between $45 and $150 and have the dual effect of boosting revenue from the island and lifting the standard of visitors. 'Income from the tourism tax would help fund a range of measures and prevent Bali from becoming known only as a cheap destination,' Bali Tourism Board chairman Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana said. 'Cheap destinations bring in cheap tourists who tend to cause a lot of problems.' While Bali is less strict than the rest of Indonesia, the island is deeply conservative with many locals frowning upon excessive drinking or scantily-clad social media snaps at temples. Miami Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz leave dinner in Miami Beach, Florida 'Miami is the Brighton of the US, its tacky and brash, and anything goes,' insisted the expert. 'Miami is one of the most selfie-obsessed cities in the world, everyone is taking photos of themselves, having overpriced cocktails or by the beach and pretending to work out. 'With tacky shops and over the top houses you'll feel like a real housewife as soon as you land,' claimed the popular culture expert. In 2019, a study found that Miami was the city with the highest tourist-to-local ratio. Research showed that for every 100 residents in the Florida city there were 1,641 visitors. The research was carried out by visa application and processing firm Official Esta, which analysed the number of international tourist arrivals in cities around the world and compared them with population data. It found that top-ranked Miami had a population of 500,000 people at the time but had 8.1million tourist arrivals each year. Paris Love Island star Maura Higgins poses in Paris in August 2022 The brand and culture expert said Paris 'is full of some of the world's most famous landmarks and with shows like Emily in Paris dominating our screens it's one of the most cliched cities in the world to visit. 'But it's OK to embrace that as that's the best way to enjoy the city. No one knows if the locals really like the tourists who flock to the city but that's part of its charm.' However, the expert warned overall: 'Now more than ever we have the option to go to some fabulous destinations but still we go to the same places time and time again. Tourism has damaged some of the most beautiful places in the world.' Filming has begun in the lavish Magdalena Palace in Santander, Spain Following the footsteps of The Firm, the Spanish royal family will now receive their own on-screen adaptation - titled Ena. Filmed by Spanish broadcaster RTVE, the biographical drama series will entail the life of Victoria Eugenia de Battenberg, Queen of Spain, and her tumultuous marriage to Alfonso XIII between 31 May 1906 and 14 April 1931 - with the couple's wedding day famously marred by a bomb attack. The royal, known as Ena by close friends and family - was born in Balmoral Castle, Scotland - to Henry of Battenberg and Princess Beatrice, the youngest daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Filming has already begun for the six-episode series in the grand Magdalena Palace in Santander, where the monarch resided during her summers, according to verTele. The glitzy adaptation, comprising female-only directors Anais Pareto and Estel Diaz, is based on the historical novel of the same name by Pilar Eyre. The Spanish royal family are set to receive their own TV adaptation, Ena, following the life of Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain, as played by Kimberley Tell (pictured) The life of Victoria Eugenia, set to be played by Spanish actress Kimberley Tell, was a far cry from uncomplicated. The series will portray her public and private struggles, including two world wars, a civil war, and the Spanish Great Influenza. Drama followed the royal couple right from the start of their marriage. On their wedding day, 31 May 1906, a terrorist attack occurred, intending to assassinate the newlyweds. During the royal procession, a bomb disguised as a bouquet of flowers was thrown from a hotel balcony directly at the royal carriage by Matteu Morrol, who longed to spark a revolution. Luckily, the royal couple spared injury, but hundreds faced harm on their special day. Tragedy ensued when the royal couple welcomed their children. The mother-of-seven discovered that she was a carrier of haemophilia through her grandmother, Queen Victoria, which she passed on to her eldest and youngest sons, according to Royal Collection Trust. The health problem, which prevents blood from clotting properly, built up tension in the royal marriage and led to the eventual break up of their union, according to Royal Watcher. Following the rift, the royals faced a series of cheating scandals on behalf of her husband, set to be played by Joan Amargos. The show will follow the tragic love life of Victoria Eugenia and her husband King Alfonso XIII, played by Joan Amargos (pictured left) The royals faced a series of cheating scandals as well as two world wars, a civil war, and the Spanish Great Influenza. Here, the royal pair are picture on 10 June 1906 Regardless, the British-born Queen threw herself into her role, promoting education and helping the less fortunate, according to Unofficial Royalty. Soon after, in 1931, the royal family went into exile following the establishment of the Second Spanish Republic. From then onwards, the couple travelled to France and Italy before ultimately going their separate ways. At first, Victoria settled in 34 Porchester Terrace, London, to be close to her mother during the early days of the separation. But despite the rift, the mother-of-seven travelled to Alfonso's side on his deathbed in Italy in 1941. The Spanish royal, who had seven children in total, was born in Balmoral Castle , Scotland, to Henry of Battenberg and Princess Beatrice , the youngest daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert Eventually, Victoria settled in Lausanne, Switzerland, after being forced to flee Italy after Mussolini's government accused her of spying. Despite relocating, Ena continued to enjoy a busy social life and spent much of her time with her family. On 15 April 1985, aged 81, Victoria Eugenia passed away in her home after her health declined. In discussion about the adaptation, Javier Olivares, the writer of the series, said: 'Ena is the portrait of historical moments that seem distant but are not so far away, because without them we would not understand the times we live in now. The adaptation follows several on-screen series of European royals, including The Crown. Gerardo Iracheta, an executive producer of the show, seemingly nodded to this influence on Ena. In conversation with verTele, he said: 'This series shows that the history of Spain interests the public and, well treated, can be an inexhaustible source of top quality fiction, as the example of other European countries shows us.' While the premiere date is unknown, it is thought that filming will continue until the end of December 2023. Nicholas Witchell has branded Martin Bashir an 'absolute blaggard' as he hit out at his disgraced old colleague, who famously spoke to Princess Diana in a sensational 1995 interview. The BBC's veteran royal correspondent revealed that he 'was the person who put the idea' of doing Panorama into the late royal's head, and approached a member of the Royal Family, whom he declines to name, with the suggestion. 'I was initially going to be the person to do the interview, and I was twice due to go and have lunch to discuss it with her, but at that stage I had been made aware that this absolute blaggard called Martin Bashir had entered the picture,' he told the Telegraph. 'At the time nobody had any reason to think that anything untoward was occurring. It always mystified me that he was able to get alongside her.' In 2020, the Daily Mail revealed Bashir duped Diana into a Panorama interview in which she said 'there are three of us in this marriage' referring to Camilla. The BBC 's veteran royal correspondent (pictured in 2016) revealed that he 'was the person who put the idea' of doing Panorama into the late Princess Diana's head Bashir had faked bank statements to make Diana think her inner circle was selling her secrets. An inquiry by Lord Dyson, a former Supreme Court Judge - for which Nicholas gave evidence - concluded the BBC covered up Bashir's 'deceitful behaviour' in preying on Diana's insecurity to obtain the interview. Nicholas has in past also said that he was told to 'back off' from speaking to Diana, to give his colleague Martin Bashir a 'clear run'. But the 70-year-old was told by Steve Hewlett, then editor of Panorama, to step back so that Bashir could secure the interview while working on a 'confidential basis'. Nicholas, who became royal correspondent three years later in 1998, said he was told the matter had to be kept 'secret from the Kensington Palace authorities'. Interviewed about Lord Dyson's report on BBC Breakfast in 2021, he said: 'I was due twice to go and meet Princess Diana to discuss the Panorama interview. 'And it was explained to me that Martin Bashir was working on a confidential basis and that it was necessary to keep this matter secret from the Kensington Palace authorities. In 2020, the Daily Mail revealed Bashir duped Diana into a Panorama interview in which she said 'there are three of us in this marriage' referring to Camilla Bashir, pictured in 2007, had faked bank statements to make Diana think her inner circle was selling her secrets 'And I have to say I have always wondered in the years since then how it was that Martin Bashir succeeded in getting alongside the Princess. Well, now we know.' Nicholas also told the Telegraph about being one of the first people to find out about Princess Diana's tragic death in 1997, as he was eight hours ahead of UK time, boarding a plane in Manila. 'I phoned the BBC newsroom. I found it difficult to get the words out, I felt that if I said them, thats it this tsunami of news and grief begins,' he admitted. Veteran broadcaster Nicholas, who has covered the Royal Family for nearly three decades, will retire next year. He joined the broadcaster as a graduate news trainee in 1976. In 2005, the-then Prince of Wales was caught on a microphone making remarks about Nicholas. The journalist had asked a question about the royal's upcoming nuptials to Camilla Parker Bowles during a photoshoot in the Swiss Alps. While seated next to his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, he said: 'Bloody people. I can't bear that man. I mean, he is so awful, he really is.' William remained calm and politely said: 'As long as I don't lose the rings. I have one responsibility and I'm bound to do something wrong.' The family had been on holiday at Klosters ski resort in the Swiss Alps. Aides suggested that Charles was annoyed about William and Kate then just the prince's girlfriend being photographed the previous day. However it seems there is no hard feelings from Nicholas, who told the Telegraph that while he was 'shocked', 'we all mutter under our breath, dont we?'. It comes following recent reports that the BBC has spent 100,000 of licence-payers' money on a legal battle to keep secret thousands of emails linked to Bashir's notorious interview with Diana. BBC chiefs have refused to release the emails that could reveal explosive details about how it handled the scandal as it erupted three years ago. Veteran broadcaster Nicholas (pictured in 2005), who has covered the Royal Family for nearly three decades, will retire next year. He joined the broadcaster as a graduate news trainee in 1976 King Charles with his arms around Prince William and Prince Harry during the Royal Family's ski break in the region at Klosters on March 31, 2005 But documentary maker Andy Webb, who helped expose the cover-up, believes the BBC did not release all of its incriminating evidence. In 2021, he requested all emails between BBC managers and its information office sent from September to November 2000. The BBC has fiercely resisted his request for more than two years, hiring a legal team led by barrister Jason Pobjoy of Blackstone Chambers, who represented Boris Johnson during the Partygate allegations. Embarrassingly, the Corporation initially claimed its archive contained no further documents - only to then apologise after discovering 3,200 emails. It then, however, refused to make these public, arguing they are either irrelevant or contain 'legally privileged' information. Now, figures obtained by Mr Webb, show how the BBC forked out more than 75,700 up until July in legal fees fighting his request. A day-long hearing was held at the information rights tribunal last month, pushing the Corporation's likely legal cost beyond 100,000. The spending comes after the BBC spent 1.4m on the six-month probe by Lord Dyson. Mr Webb last month lambasted the Corporation for a 'shocking' waste of licence-fee payers' money and questioned why it was still fighting to keep the emails under wraps. He said: 'The BBC say that all these emails I've asked for are "irrelevant". Yet they have spent tens of thousands of pounds in public funds to keep them secret. 'This looks like a shocking waste of licence fee-payers money and of course deepens my suspicion that the BBC is still covering up. If they have nothing to hide, why on earth don't they release these documents?' Under a possible compromise struck a few weeks ago, the BBC has agreed to let Mr Webb see a sample of 477 of its emails. The BBC apologised at the tribunal for 'errors' in its handling of disclosure relating to the Panorama interview. Earl Spencer, Diana's brother, told last month's hearing that a BBC executive falsely claimed he conspired with Bashir to persuade Diana to take part in the Panorama interview. A heavily redacted briefing by Lord Hall of Birkenhead - head of news at the time and later director general - to the BBC's governors in 1996 suggested Earl Spencer gave Bashir bank statements belonging to his former head of security. Asked last week if it was true that he had conspired with Bashir, Earl Spencer, who is backing Mr Webb's case, replied: 'No I did not.' He also dismissed a suggestion made by a BBC executive that the allegation was already in the public domain before the broadcaster released Lord Hall's briefing in 2020. A BBC spokesperson said: 'We are committed to resolving legal issues without external support, whenever possible, but there are times when we do need to draw on external legal advice and representation - that can happen when legal actions are initiated by others. 'In relation to the ongoing proceedings regarding the handling of a Freedom of Information Act request, the BBC has accepted that errors have been made and has apologised to Mr Webb and the Tribunal. 'The BBC has at all times acted in good faith, has taken extensive steps to try to rectify those past errors and is committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act.' The King was behind the wheel as he and the Queen drove to church at Balmoral this morning. Charles and Camilla are, as the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip always did, enjoying an extended summer break - now into October - at their Scottish residence. The royal couple appeared in good spirits as they made their way from Balmoral to Crathie Kirk Church. Looking typically stylish, Camilla, 76, opted for an emerald green hat and suit, with a frilled white blouse. She added to her look with a smattering of glamorous makeup. The King, 74, meanwhile, looked smart in a green and red tie teamed with his cream coat and white shirt. The King was behind the wheel as he and the Queen drove to church at Balmoral this morning Their outing comes after a royal expert claimed the King is said to be 'subtly punishing' Prince Harry over their rift, while Prince William is 'full of regret' that his and his brother's 'relationship is irretrievably broken'. The British monarch, 74, will now only communicate with his youngest son, 39, through palace advisors, reported The Sun. Royal author Duncan Larcombe told the publication: 'It appears that King Charles approach towards Harry now is business as usual - "if you want to see me you need to make an appointment". 'Harry will have to get past the grey suits and jump through hoops to talk to his father. It's very standoffish but I think that's a way that the King is subtly punishing his son.' The royal expert claimed the King is still upset by the claims the Duke of Sussex made in his memoir Spare - particularly those concerning Queen Camilla, in which she was labelled 'dangerous' and a 'villain'. It is believed King Charles, 74, will now only communicate with his youngest son Prince Harry (pictured together in 2019), 39, through palace advisors Indeed, it was reported that Camilla herself was 'hurt' by the contents of the book, according to one of her closest friends. 'Of course it bothers her, of course it hurts,' Fiona, the Marchioness of Lansdowne - who was one of the Queen's official companions at the King's Coronation, told the Sunday Times. 'But she doesn't let it get to her. Her philosophy is always, "Don't make a thing of it and it will settle down least said, soonest mended."' Meanwhile, Duncan said Prince William, 41, and Harry's 'relationship is irretrievably broken'. The expert said: 'Im sure William is full of regret that things are the way they are, as they were once very close... But Harry has offered up a betrayal that no brother should put up with.' Earlier this year, insiders expressed their belief that a reconciliation between Harry, Prince William and their father is not out of the realm of possibility. Meanwhile, Duncan said Prince William, 41, and Harry's 'relationship is irretrievably broken'. Pictured, the brothers in July 2021 'It's fixable,' they told The Times. 'Both sides need to hold their hands up and admit ''we didn't get everything right, and we got a lot wrong''... It's going to take flexibility on all sides, but it can be done.' 'It needs Harry over here, in the room with the King and Prince of Wales, a couple of other family members, some of 'his people' he trusts who always had his back, so he doesn't think he's being ambushed.' However, the Prince of Wales may be slightly harder to win over, the source added. Harry had shared deeply personal recollections of brotherly spats, revealed text messages between his wife Meghan and the Princess of Wales during their now infamous bridesmaid dress argument and accused the future King and Queen of endorsing his Nazi costume. Even still, the royal source says William's loyalty is ultimately to his country, and he will reconcile if he believes it's the best thing for the future of the monarchy. Hamass attack on Israel yesterday (Saturday 7 October) came as a shock, taking the Israeli Intelligence and military establishment by surprise, but it should not surprise us in the least. It is the direct consequence of the escalating violent suppression of the Palestinians promoted by Netanyahu, who is leading the most right-wing reactionary government in Israels history. The attack saw thousands of rockets launched from Gaza, with dozens breaking through the Israeli Iron Dome anti-missile defence system, while hundreds of Hamas fighters crashed through the most-guarded border fence in the world, to attack border towns and military bases on Israeli soil. This resulted in hundreds of Israeli casualties (over 600 killed and 2,000 injured at the time of writing). The fighting is still ongoing more than 24 hours after the initial attack in at least eight out of the 22 targets taken over by the Palestinian commandos. New commandos are entering Israel from Gaza, with dozens of Israeli soldiers and civilians taken prisoner and brought to Gaza. Hamas fighters have overrun a military base, destroyed Israeli tanks and other military equipment, and seized military vehicles, capturing Israeli military commanders, allegedly including Nimrod Aloni, a major-general of the IDF. This is unprecedented. The Israeli state has been humiliated and its response will be brutal. Netanyahu has declared a State of War, and is carrying out retaliatory bombings, which have already killed more than 300 Palestinians and injured 1,600. Israel immediately cut off the electricity supply to the Gaza Strip, with severe consequences for the 2.1 million Palestinian civilian population living there, and undermining the already fragile infrastructure and the healthcare system, which are already close to collapsing. The hypocrisy of western imperialist governments The leaders of Western imperialist governments are now talking about the right of Israel to defend itself. Biden, Macron and reformist leaders like Starmer in Britain, in a hypocritical chorus, have condemned the attack on Israel, but conveniently remained silent for decades in the face of Israeli brutality. The western media has raised uproar at what they call the 'unprovoked attack' by Hamas. But the right-wing Netanyahu government has systematically provoked the Palestinian people with escalating violence, culminating in the onslaught against Jenin in July / Image: Zoe Lafferty Twitter They all ignore the fact that, under Netanyahus cynical watch, violence by far-right Jewish settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem against Palestinian neighbourhoods have escalated exponentially, encouraged by guaranteed impunity and the open or covert complicity of the Israeli security forces. The attempts by Palestinian youth to resist the occupation have been met with disproportionate and systematic deadly violence by the IDF, with an endless string of attacks and targeted assassinations, culminating in the brutal onslaught against the Jenin refugee camp in July. All this, while armed settlers menace the Palestinian population. Thousands of Palestinian youth, many of them minors, from the West Bank, East Jerusalem and from within Israel itself, have been arrested and are languishing in prison without a trial. And yet, how many of the settlers responsible for these crimes have been arrested? Israel has been in a political deadlock since the beginning of 2023, shaken by the massive protests by hundreds of thousands against Netanyahus judicial reforms and the deep divisions within the Zionist ruling class itself. Netanyahus last stand for his own political survival has provided an unprecedented opportunity to the Jewish supremacist, extreme right wing of Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, to come out of the woodwork and rise to positions of power within the Israeli state. Their programme is to provoke a new Nakba (emulating the massive ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian population that led to the proclamation of Israel in 1948), by annexing the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and Gaza and driving out the whole of the Palestinian population. It is Netanyahu and the supporters of the Zionist dystopia in which an entire people are suppressed and ethnically cleansed from their own land, while attempting to insulate Israel from the consequences of its ferocious regime of occupation that are to blame for the present escalation. You cannot continue to deny a whole people its basic democratic rights, squeeze and oppress them, take more and more of their land and houses, shoot at them, arrest them, torture them, render them poorer and poorer, without sooner or later provoking an almighty backlash. The storming, just a few days ago, of the Al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem by a mob of hundreds of Jewish supremacists, whose declared aim is to raze the mosque and replace it with a Jewish Temple, was a conscious provocation. The Al-Aqsa mosque is considered the third-holiest religious site in Islam, and therefore to have extreme supremacist Zionists taking it over is an open affront. This action was aided and protected by Israeli police forces. The desecration of the holy site provided the immediate justification for the present attack, launched a few days later by Hamas. This was intentionally obscured by international media in an attempt to focus the blame on crazy Palestinian violence. The storming of the Al-Aqsa compound a few days ago by a mob of Jewish supremacists was a conscious provocation that has been largely ignored in the western media / Image: Godot13, Wikimedia It is interesting to note the coverage of the BBC, for example, which announced the rocket attack by Hamas without explaining the background, including the constant provocations that the Palestinian people have had to put up with. They also give far less coverage to the physical attacks on Palestinians by settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and prefer to sweep under the carpet the fact that, before the events of the past two days, over 200 Palestinians had been killed this year alone. Those who talk about Palestinian terrorism would do well to remember that, when the Palestinians launched a peaceful movement of mass resistance in 2018, known as the Great March of Return, the Israeli state answered by opening fire with live ammunition, killing hundreds of unarmed protesters, 46 of them minors. The same people who talk today about terrorism remained silent during Operation Cast Lead in 2008-09, when Israel killed 1,391 Palestinians, including 318 minors, destroyed more than 3,500 homes, leaving tens of thousands without shelter, and wreaked havoc upon other structures and key infrastructure facilities in Gaza. They remained silent during Operation Protective Edge in 2014, in which Israel killed 2,203 Palestinians, 1,372 of whom did not participate in the hostilities, including 528 minors, and destroyed or severely damaged more than 18,000 homes, leaving more than 100,000 Palestinians homeless. This is just to mention some recent examples. This reminds us of what Karl Marx wrote in The Civil War in France: All the chorus of calumny, which the Party of Order never fail, in their orgies of blood, to raise against their victims, only proves that the bourgeois of our days considers himself the legitimate successor to the baron of old, who thought every weapon in his own hand fair against the plebeian, while in the hands of the plebeian a weapon of any kind constituted in itself a crime. They present the situation as if it were a struggle between two equivalent forces. This is entirely false. It is the struggle between a powerful and aggressive imperialist state and a weak and oppressed people, fighting to defend itself and assert its right to exist as a nation. The Israeli ruling clique attempts to defend its oppressive actions under the guise of self-defence. They quote the Bible: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life. But it is never a question of a life for a life. The Israelis respond to the death of one of their citizens by the slaughter of hundreds of Palestinians. This will also be the case in the present conflict. The Israelis will extract the most bloody revenge for their recent humiliation. The slaughter has only just begun. Netanyahu has threatened "mighty revenge" against the Palestinian people, and this could well lead to a ground invasion of Gaza, which would inevitably lead to thousands more civilian casualties / Image: ownwork The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) are amassing tens of thousands of troops around the Gaza border in the attempt to clear out the commandos, and regain control. However, this is proving to be more difficult than expected. Netanyahu has threatened a mighty revenge and to reduce Gaza to a deserted island. This could well lead to an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza in an attempt to destroy Hamas, which would result in thousands more civilian casualties. Israels response to the failure of its brutal clampdown on the Palestinians is: more of the same! On the northern Israeli border with Lebanon, the possibility that Hezbollah opens a second front is worrying the Israeli military strategists. Hezbollah launched rockets on the Shebaa Farms area, which is contested by Lebanon and Israel and occupied by Israel. Israels measured retaliation was designed not to escalate the situation further, and Hezbollah doesnt seem to be prepared to go beyond symbolic gestures of defiance. Hezbollah may be forced to change its attitude if the Israeli army invades Gaza with boots on the ground. One thing can be said, however. While it is certainly possible for Israel to bomb, strangle, invade and reduce Gaza to rubble, as they have done many times in the past, it will prove impossible for them to hold it under occupation. The decision of Ariel Sharon to withdraw from Gaza, carried out in 2005, and Israels disastrous invasion of Gaza in 2014, proved the impossibility of suppressing and subduing more than two million people for long with purely military means. This present conflict also proves that the establishment of the Palestinian Authority after the Oslo Accords of 1993 was a complete travesty designed to turn the former Palestinian resistance, the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), into a force that guaranteed Israels peace by policing their own people. It is grotesque to see today Palestinian president Abbas arguing that Israel is responsible for creating the present crisis, while at the same time his Palestinian Authority is in a partnership with Israel to police and suppress the Palestinian youth who are rising against the occupation in the West Bank. Within Israel itself, the present show of unity between Netanyahu and the opposition in the face of such an unprecedented attack which may even see Netanyahus arch-enemies Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz join an emergency national government cannot paper over the cracks that are dividing the Israeli ruling class. Such a show of unity is going to inevitably fall apart under the hammer blow of events. However, the oppositions capitulation shows that the differences between the Zionist right and the Zionist left are of a secondary character when it comes down to what attitude they should adopt towards the Palestinian national struggle and the occupation. US imperialism and Zionists equally culpable US president Biden has come out firmly in support of Israel, offering "all appropriate means of support", adding that his,...Administrations support for Israels security is rock solid and unwavering. Of course, he made no mention of the Palestinians right to oppose Israeli oppression. Biden is navigating troubled waters, with support for Zionism and Israel severely undermined in the United States as a result of the Jewish supremacist direction taken by Netanyahu. However, nothing else could be expected from Biden, considering that the US is subsidising Israels military to the tune of $3.6bn per year. For US imperialism, Israel is its only truly guaranteed ally in the Middle East, and it will always side with the Zionists when the chips are down, no matter how many words of criticism may be uttered here or there. US imperialism is as responsible as the Zionists and Netanyahu for the present situation, by persistently defending Israel as a bastion of democracy (meaning an important asset for US imperialism in the Middle East). Bidens mildly critical tone towards Netanyahu in recent years was because Netanyahus crazy policies were threatening to undermine the stability in the region and international support for Israel. This threat has now become a reality for everyone to see. This latest escalation will completely undermine Bidens attempt to broker a negotiated settlement between Israel and the Saudi monarchy. Such a deal, as well as the Abraham Accords and the idea of normalisation between the Arab states and Israel, has been scuppered for the foreseeable future. Even the cynical Saudi rulers have to take into account the massive hatred towards Israel that has accumulated among the mass of the Saudi population, as well as in the rest of the Arab world. However, the prospect of an Israeli invasion of Gaza, the likely collapse of the Palestinian Authority, and consequently the full occupation by Israel of the West Bank, setting the whole of the Middle East on fire, must worry the most serious imperialist strategists in Washington. This situation is a harbinger for revolutionary convulsions and social instability. The determination and organisation displayed by the Palestinian youth, who over the past two years have established a new generation of Palestinian resistance against the occupation in the West Bank, have exposed the fragility of any delusional peace settlement for Palestine, and the Middle East that does not include full recognition of the rights of the Palestinians. Biden has promised full support for Israel, which is the main bulwark for US imperialist interests in the region / Image: Gage Skidmore Wikimedia Commons Hamass attack may have been the trigger for a deeper crisis, but this crisis was already in the making. In fact, Hamass tactic of going for a direct military confrontation with Israel is clearly appealing to the growing defiant mood of resistance developing among the Palestinian youth. The youth want action and not words, or deals that only serve to weaken their cause and strengthen the grip of the Zionists. At the same time, the Zionist state, with Netanyahu at the helm, is also regrouping and using the present scenario to whip up a national frenzy against the Palestinians, in an attempt to strengthen its social base of support, using this to draw behind it even those layers that had previously mobilised massively against the right. The Israeli population has been dragged once again into supporting the Zionist state and the occupation. The movement against the governments judicial reform has been immediately suspended. The anti-Netanyahu veteran group, who previously refused to serve as reservists, Achim leNeshek (Brothers and Sisters in Arms) has declared: Brothers and Sisters in Arms call on everyone who is required to stand up for the defence of Israel without hesitation and immediately. However, there are a few critical voices taking courageous positions and denouncing the governments responsibility in this crisis. Another Israeli veterans organisation Breaking the Silence, while condemning Hamas, highlighted: how our Jewish-supremacist government brought us to this point. Ofer Cassif, Israeli MP for the left-wing Hadash, has stated: I will continue to tell the truth: turn off the brutal, criminal siege of Gaza and the regime of Jewish supremacy, they are responsible for the bloodshed and only their end will bring us all security, peace and a better future. Mere words of condemnation, however, are not enough. Only the revolutionary initiative of the Palestinian masses themselves, in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, as well as in Gaza and within Israel itself, holds the key for a qualitative leap in a successful struggle against the occupation. The Arab masses in the neighbouring countries must also play a key role. Supporting the struggle for Palestinian national liberation means first of all overthrowing the reactionary pro-imperialist regimes in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, etc. All these bourgeois regimes, in one way or another, accept the present status quo and have no wish to see a revolutionary conflagration sweep them from power. So, while making verbal gestures of solidarity, they do nothing concrete to aid the Palestinian people. International solidarity of the youth and working-class movement is also crucial in determining the outcome of this crisis, provided that it is not based on abstract appeals for peace and de-escalation of tensions. Decades of UN resolutions and international agreements have not advanced the cause of the national liberation of the Palestinian one millimetre. In fact, the opposite is the case, they have allowed the Israeli state to occupy an ever increasing share of Palestinian land. The movement must be clear on the following: British chocolate fans are keen to get their hands on the new sweet creations Iceland has shared four new Cadbury chocolate bars - and fans are delighted. The British food retailer has released flavour combinations that are not usually easily available to UK customers - as well as reintroduced an old-school fan favourite. The latest chocolate creations see the return of the previously discontinued white chocolate bar, Dream, but this time with added chunky Oreo pieces. One lucky fan managed to get their hands on each of the treats and shared snaps of the new snacks on Facebook. The post has since alerted Cadbury lovers to the news of their release, and fans are desperate for a taste, but it's best to be quick because they might not be around for long. Iceland has shared four new Cadbury chocolate bars - and fans are delighted (stock photo) The exciting launch sees the release of four fresh flavours. First up is a special edition called 'Hokey Pokey,' which combines caramelised white chocolate with honeycomb pieces. Secondly, the retailer has put Cadbury's white chocolate Dream bar back on British shelves, but this time with Oreo biscuit pieces. Fans of nut chocolate will also be pleased as the third flavour mixes Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate with peanuts, hazelnuts, and salted toffee. Lastly, fans can get their hands on the unique flavour 'top deck.' The delicious creation sees Dairy Milk chocolate layered with Dream white chocolate. For chocolate lovers who might struggle to get to a store, the chocolate creations can also be found on the Iceland website online for the price of 3.00. The post has since amassed 700 likes, and fans are keen to get their hands on the chocolate bars. New Caramilk flavour 'Hokey Pokey' (pictured left) combines caramelised white chocolate with honeycomb pieces. Pictured right, The exciting release sees the return of previously discontinued white chocolate flavour Dream- but this time with Oreo pieces There's something for nut lovers too, as the release of 'More' sees Dairy Milk chocolate combined with nuts and salted toffee (pictured left). Pictured right, The final flavour combines Dairy Milk milk chocolate with a thick layers of Dream White Chocolate over the top One fan wrote: 'Get them in the Christmas bag.' A second chocolate fan simply added: 'I want all them xx.' Another said: 'Gonna have to get my hands on the caramilk one. That looks lovely.' Caramilk seemed to be a popular choice as a fourth wrote: ''OMG I need Caramilk.' A fifth added: 'Need an Iceland trip.' It comes after sweet-toothed individuals have been left bemused after Cadbury ditched one of its chocolate bars. Chocolate fans all have a favourite treat, whether it's a Double Decker or a Wispa, or something slightly less sweet like Bourneville. Delighted chocolate lovers took to the comment section to share their thoughts on the new release But those who want to enjoy chocolate that is less sugary have been left unhappy after Cadbury had scrapped Dairy Milk 30 per cent less sugar chocolate bar - only four years after its launch. The sweet treat was originally released in 2019, but has now unfortunately been pulled from shelves due to a drop in demand for the product. Mondelez, formerly known as Kraft, who purchased Cadbury in 2010, put the share bar on supermarket shelves to serve as a slightly healthier option to the traditional Dairy Milk. The multinational American confectionery company said the chocolate bar, which has 30 per cent less sugar, would be equally as 'irresistibly smooth and creamy' as its full-sugar counterpart. Mondelez also stated that the bar would satisfy chocolate fans with every single mouthful regardless of its lower sugar content. During the launch, Mondelez bosses also clarified that the treat was made with cocoa that was sustainably sourced. However only four years on and the Chicago-based company has opted to 'de-list' the vegetarian-friendly bar. The Prince of Wales has told young readers 'we must think big and dream bigger' if we are to protect the earth, in a foreword to a children's Earthshot Prize book. In his introduction, Prince William, 41, writes that when he was a child some people 'refused' to believe climate change was happening. 'But while denying it was happening then was scary', giving up hope that environmental problems can be fixed now, was 'an even scarier thought', he said. The future king launched his Earthshot Prize in 2021 to discover and scale-up ground-breaking solutions to repair the planet, with the winners in five categories - also known as Earthshots - receiving 1 million each to help develop their ideas. The new children's book, The Earthshot Prize: A Handbook For Dreamers And Thinkers: Solutions To Repair Our Planet, is co-authored by Jonnie Hughes and Colin Butfield, and aims to inspire young people to develop their own ideas to help the Earth. The Prince of Wales has told young readers 'we must think big and dream bigger' if we are to protect the earth, in a foreword to a children's Earthshot Prize book Published on October 12, the book contains practical things young readers can do or make to help save the planet, as well as big ideas and contributions from around the world, including from broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough. Speaking about the Earth, William says in his foreword: 'She is the only home we have and we must think big and dream bigger if we are to protect her.' He also writes: 'We now live in a world where seaweed can replace plastic and whole countries team together to protect rainforests, and our goal with The Earthshot Prize Handbook For Dreamers And Thinkers is simple: to encourage you to think about how you can become one of these amazing people contributing to the mission to repair our planet. 'From pulling carbon dioxide from the air and locking it away in rocks, to making leather from flowers instead of animals, and from sustainable concrete to bubble barriers that remove plastic from our rivers, the Earthshots you'll read about in these pages are the stories of possibility and potential, and it is my hope that they will leave you feeling inspired and optimistic. 'Because if we put our minds to it, the urgency we need, with the optimism we must hold on to, will equal the action we need to repair our planet.' Singapore will host the third Earthshot Prize awards in November, after ceremonies were staged in Boston last year and London's Alexandra Palace in 2021. Last month it was revealed the Princess of Wales will not attend Prince William's Earthshot Awards ceremony this year because she wants to be at home to support Prince George during his exams. Kate, 41, will not travel to Singapore with her husband in November and instead stay with her eldest son George, 10, and his siblings Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, at the family residence in Windsor. The new children's book, The Earthshot Prize: A Handbook For Dreamers And Thinkers: Solutions To Repair Our Planet, is co-authored by Jonnie Hughes and Colin Butfield, and aims to inspire young people to develop their own ideas to help the Earth The Daily Mail's Royal Editor, Rebecca English, has had confirmation that the royal won't be attending the glitzy event. It is understood 'Prince George has exams that week and she wants to be at home to support him.' The mother-of-three attended the previous two Earthshot Awards in Boston and London. Prince William founded the awards in 2020, saying he wanted to turn 'current pessimism surrounding environmental issues into optimism by celebrating the people and places driving change. Every year between 2021 and 2030, an awards ceremony will honour winners in the prize's five categories who are creating innovations which tackle environmental issues. Announcing the destination of the Earthshot Prize ceremony in May this year, Prince William said: 'The Earthshot Prize is all about showing the world that solutions to some of the biggest environmental challenges we face are out there. 'After two years of discovering impactful ideas and innovations, I am delighted that The Earthshot Prize is travelling to Singapore, where the ground-breaking solutions of our 2023 Finalists will be celebrated.' William has said that Earthshot was inspired by John F Kennedy's Moonshot programme which challenged America to put man on the moon and helped launch the Moon landing in 1969. Last year's winners included a British start-up, Notpla, which uses seaweed to make packaging. After our dismal summer, like many, Im dithering over whether to grab a last-minute autumn holiday abroad. However, following the news that the mayor of Dubrovnik has banned people from wheeling suitcases through the streets of the old town, the beautiful Croatian city is now top of my wish list. Referred to as the pearl of the Adriatic its somewhere Ive always wanted to visit. Knowing that my chances of being maimed by a wheelie suitcase are now hugely reduced only adds to its appeal. Mayor Mato Frankovic has implemented the rule after complaints from locals that the constant clacking sound of wheels on cobbles was disturbing their peace. Owners of wheelie suitcases drag these bags behind them, totally oblivious to the chaos they leave in their wake as their dirty wheels run over exposed toes in sandals and trip people up The mayor of Dubrovnik has banned people from wheeling suitcases through the streets of the old town Visitors now have to carry suitcases or risk a fine. In November things will get even stricter when all luggage must be left at the walls of the old town. In Dubrovnik, the constant clacking on cobbles was disturbing residents peace Anyone who needs their baggage transported to a hotel will have to pay for a courier to deliver it by electric vehicle. The boom in budget airlines and their policy of charging for hold luggage has led to a rise in the sale of cabin cases compact pieces of luggage suitable for short breaks and that fit tidily under a seat or in a locker, the overwhelming majority being on wheels. Mayor Mato Frankovic responded to complaints from locals Owners drag these bags behind them, totally oblivious to the chaos they leave in their wake as their dirty wheels run over exposed toes in sandals and trip people up. These wretched bags are now also commonplace on Tubes, trains and buses as office workers use them instead of briefcases and holdalls. Lets hope more tourist hot spots follow in the footsteps of Dubrovnik by banning these wheelie cases and sparing our precious toes. A successful baker is transforming the cake industry with her new cupcake vending machines - and her journey to the top has earned Australia-wide recognition. Katelyn Matheson, 25, opened her own bakery Cake Creatins by Kate when she was just 18 years old and earned $1.6million before her 21st birthday. She now sells upwards of 5,000 cupcakes a day. Katelyn started her business by selling baked goods at a local farmers' market in Point Cook, Victoria, to raise money for a professional baking qualification. In an unexpected twist, Kate had to take a break from her patisserie course due to an injury and her business took off while she was resting. 'Word really spread about the quality and taste of my cakes, and I started getting a lot of special orders and requests,' she told FEMAIL. 'I've expanded so much since baking at home in my mum's kitchen - I now work in a 300sqm warehouse with 26 other incredible people who take the operation to the next level.' Katelyn Matheson, 25, opened her own bakery when she was just 18-years-old and now sells upwards of 5,000 cupcakes a day Kate first started her business by selling baked goods at a local farmers' market in Point Cook, Victoria, to raise money for a professional baking qualification The baker said that the secret to her success was ensuring she never compromised the quality of her cakes to maximise profits. 'My recipes are still unchanged - they're the same ones I used to sell at the farmers' market and the sweets I grew up baking with my grandmother. 'Authentic Australian ingredients make such a huge difference to how a cupcakes tastes, and I'd never want to lose that. I really love baking, and it's something I've had an affinity for from a very young age. I found my footing after Year 12 when I saw it as more than a hobby.' Kate loves to create 'all things fruity', and said her favourite treats to make are jam doughnuts and mini lemon cupcakes. The baker revealed that the secret to her success was ensuring she never compromised the quality of her cakes to maximise profits A successful baker is completely changing the cake industry with the introduction of a new cupcake vending machine - and her journey to the top has garnered Australia-wide recognition Kate came up with the idea of cupcake vending machines that dispensed fresh baked goods every day when she realised she couldn't keep up with demand. 'It's been really crazy - I remember turning away orders months in advance because I couldn't keep up with the production,' she said. 'We had so many birthday and anniversary cakes, and then I started getting requests for corporate events and larger catering jobs. 'We started doing pop up stores throughout Melbourne and it was so amazing to see people interested in buying our sweet treats - but it made me realise we weren't making enough every day. 'That's where the vending machines come in: I think they are really special.' Kate's team will place ten vending machines around Melbourne with the hopes of expanding to other places in Victoria and nation-wide by 2025. Kate came up with the idea of cupcake vending machines that dispensed fresh baked goods every day when she realised she couldn't keep up with demand READ MORE: I went from a traumatic childhood and stealing scraps from plates in cafes to owning a successful business Advertisement Kate's family has been extremely supportive on her journey and even travelled overseas with her to research the perfect vending machines 'It's definitely a game-changer for the industry - I've worked really hard to find a top quality machine that can safely store and dispense cupcakes to our customers. 'I sourced them myself from Italy after months of looking, and everything inside is baked fresh daily using quality Australian products.' But while it may seem that success has come easy, Kate admitted there are challenges. 'It was very hard starting out so young and navigating the business world as well as managing the production side of things. 'I have learnt that you just need to get up and keep moving forward whenever you face hard times. 'My family has been so supportive throughout the whole process - they even came to Europe with me to find the perfect machines that would move the treats without damaging the icing.' Hundreds of reviewers online gave Kate's business five stars for stellar quality and design Kate's advice to other bakers and business owners is to use social media to advertise and be honest about yourself and your process Kate's advice to other bakers and business owners is to use social media to advertise and be honest about yourself and your process. 'I shared a lot of photos and videos at the beginning - and I think customers saw that I was really serious about the business and wanted to do my best. 'If you show people the hard work you're putting into something you're passionate about, they will rally behind to support you.' Hundreds of reviewers online gave Kate's business five stars for stellar quality and design. 'I tried four cupcakes and they were, fluffy, light, and the butter cream was perfect. Delicious!' a woman said. 'Absolutely amazing cakes,' another said. 'I ordered a large cake for my daughter's first birthday and it was beautiful and affordable. 'Ordered corporate cakes for our anniversary with short notice and the team were able to deliver on time. Cakes look amazing and looking forward to organising many more!' a man wrote. Failing to tackle Britains growing bedbug problem will herald a return of Victorian-era infestations, experts have warned. An outbreak of the blood-sucking parasites has been reported in Paris, with residents and tourists taking to social media to post images of the bugs which are about the size of an apple seed crawling across train seats and hotel bed sheets. The deputy mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Gregoire, last week claimed that no one is safe from the scourge of bedbugs, whose bites cause painful itching and even permanent scarring. Meanwhile, some have suggested that the bedbug infestation could easily spread from Paris to London via the Eurostar. The trainline has confirmed it is now checking all departures from Paris 16 each day for the tiny insects which often hide in fabric. But specialists speaking to the MoS claimed the UK already has a growing bedbug problem which can no longer be controlled by conventional insecticides. And studies suggest that bedbug cases have risen by a quarter in the past 15 years. SCOURGE: Bedbugs have spread in Pariss hotels and trains but there are already record infestations in the UK So how worried should we be about the attack of the bedbugs? QUESTION: I thought bedbugs existed only in the bedroom how has Paris become infested? ANSWER: Despite their name, bedbugs hide in many places, including bed frames, mattresses, clothing and cracks in walls. If youre seeing them on your sheets, then theyve likely already got deep into the mattress and your furniture too, says Natalie Bungay of the British Pest Control Association. At that point they become incredibly tricky to remove and can easily spread as well. Bedbugs typically spread when they get into clothing or bags which are then taken elsewhere. People may not notice an infestation at first because the bugs usually bite in order to feed on blood at night. The bites appear as raised red bumps, often in a straight line, but do not itch initially, with most people only feeling them the next day. This means that they can spread quickly before people realise they are carrying them. Experts say the outbreak in Paris is likely due to residents returning to the capital after spending the summer elsewhere. But its also due to the fact that bedbugs are becoming harder to exterminate. The insecticides weve used for decades to fight these bugs cant always be relied on any more, says Professor James Logan, an insect expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and chief executive of research firm Arctech Innovation. Bedbugs in many places have evolved to resist these toxic chemicals. QUESTION: Should we be worried that these French bedbugs could make their way to the UK? ANSWER: It's likely that some of the bedbugs in Paris will end up in the UK. Both Eurostar and Transport For London, which controls all public transport in the capital, say they are monitoring surfaces for bedbugs and regularly cleaning seats. Despite their name, bedbugs hide in many places, including bed frames, mattresses, clothing and cracks in walls Tell-tale signs you've got the bug Bedbugs can often be hard to spot given their small size but their bites are usually an easy giveaway. The blood-sucking parasites generally come out at night, meaning their bites, pictured right, usually appear in the morning. They are typically red and itchy, and no larger than a penny. However, some people can have a reaction to the bites which can result in painful swelling. Often the bites will be grouped together or in a line on an area of the skin exposed while sleeping such as the face, neck and arms. One of the most common signs of bedbugs are small brown spots on bedding or furniture, which are bedbug faeces. To look for the bugs, check the seams and tags of the mattress, as well as cracks in the bedframe. They may also hide in the seams of chairs and couches or in the folds of curtains. Advertisement But experts say we should be more worried about the bedbugs which are already here. A study carried out by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that, between 2008 and 2015, the number of reported infestations in the UK rose by 25 per cent. Its likely this has risen more since then, says Prof Logan. According to the British Pest Control Association, there are now roughly 12,000 bedbug-related callouts every year. And experts say that these outbreaks are becoming harder to tackle. Two decades ago a pest controller would show up, spray the house and that would be it, says Ms Bungay. Now were hearing of a record number of cases where theyre having to return repeatedly because the bugs just arent dying. QUESTION: But bedbugs are just insects how can they be getting harder to kill? ANSWER: Bedbugs are evolving to resist the insecticides that are used to kill them. Until about 75 years ago, infestations were common in the UK. But after the Second World War the invention of insecticides chemicals designed to kill parasites saw the number of bedbug cases in the UK and other developed countries dramatically fall. But in the 1990s, outbreaks in the UK began to shoot up again. Experts say this is because bedbugs evolve quickly, meaning that, over time, they develop stronger defences against insecticides. QUESTION: I know bedbugs can be a pain, but can they make me sick? ANSWER: Bedbugs have long been suspected as carriers of diseases, but there is no clear evidence that this is the case. Research has suggested they may spread hepatitis B, which can damage the liver. And, in August, US scientists published a study which proved that bedbugs were able to carry MRSA a type of bacteria which can cause death though they were not able to prove the insects could pass the disease on to humans. However, experts say the most severe health risk of bedbugs is usually self-inflicted. When you have hundreds of these itchy bites, your first reaction is to scratch them, says Prof Logan. But this can open up wounds on the skin which can get infected. People can end up severely ill in hospital with these infections. Antihistamine tablets, such as Piriton, can reduce itching and steroid creams can also help. BEEN ATTACKED BY BEDBUGS? We want to hear your story. Get in touch by email at health@mailonsunday.co.uk. Advertisement QUESTION: If insecticides dont work, how can I get rid of bedbugs? ANSWER: Removing bedbugs can be complicated and is not cheap. As the parasites are increasingly resistant to traditional insecticides, exterminators have to employ several techniques. The most common involves sealing off the affected rooms and filling them with hot air, which kills most of the bugs. The exterminators then spray insecticides. This process can cost about 600 and take several weeks. Prof Logan has developed a bed-bug trap, BugScents, which uses pheromones emitted by the insects to lure them in so the user can call an exterminator to handle the rest. The trick is to catch them early before they begin laying eggs, he says. We should be implementing more traps and alert systems to tackle the problem. But we also need to develop new insecticides to avoid infestations becoming commonplace again. My husband lost his sense of smell about two years ago, and, to our knowledge, he hasnt had Covid. Hes tried smell training to no avail. Can you give us any advice on possible treatment or indeed cause? Anosmia, or loss of sense of smell, came to everyones attention as a symptom of Covid. It was particularly prevalent at the start of the pandemic some experts suggest it was less likely with later variants of the virus. But it can be caused by just about any virus or infection of the upper airways, such as the common cold, which damages the nerves that send smell signals to the brain. It can also come from nerve degeneration or a brain injury after a head trauma or stroke, for instance. Short-term anosmia can be caused if the nose is blocked by a cold, but a long-term cause may be nasal polyps fleshy growths inside the nasal cavity or chronic nasal congestion linked to allergies or smoking. A persistent loss of smell would be worth seeing a GP about, and possibly a referral to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor to look for polyps. If found, they can be treated surgically or with sprays. Anosmia, or loss of sense of smell, came to everyones attention as a symptom of Covid. It was particularly prevalent at the start of the pandemic some experts suggest it was less likely with later variants of the virus The condition is serious, as it can put you at risk of not being able to smell dangerous things, such as gas or a fire, and as it also takes away the pleasure of eating and drinking, enduring it can be pretty miserable. Smell training kits are worth persisting with these involve actively sniffing the same scents for about 20 seconds every day. There are two charities that offer excellent advice to people with loss of smell: AbScent (abscent.org) and Fifth Sense (fifthsense.org.uk). Our 16-year-old grandson is very poorly, suffering from nausea, fatigue, rushing to the toilet, extreme anxiousness and severe cramp under the ribs. He also looks jaundiced. He has been diagnosed with Gilbert syndrome. We were told theres no treatment, and he just has to live with it. Before this, he was a fit young man. Do you know where we can turn to? He has hardly attended school this year. You are our last hope. Gilbert syndrome is considered harmless and isnt even usually called a disease. Most people do not even know when they have it, and it is normally spotted by accident when somebody has a liver function test. It does not cause anxiousness, cramps, nausea tiredness and stomach pains. If that is happening in a teenager, other causes need to be looked for. Write to Dr Ellie Do you have a question for Dr Ellie Cannon? Email DrEllie@mailonsunday.co.uk Dr Cannon cannot enter into personal correspondence and her replies should be taken in a general context. Advertisement Gilbert syndrome is thought to affect about four per cent of the population and often runs in families. It causes high levels of something called bilirubin a waste product of red blood cells and this may cause a jaundiced appearance. This can occur in stressed, ill or dehydrated people. The British Liver Trust (britishlivertrust.org.uk) offers good advice on the syndrome. In a teen with such significant problems, Id suggest that investigations into inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohns or colitis, coeliac disease or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) should be done. More tests may be needed, including repeated blood tests, screening for infections and very specific stool analysis looking for inflammation. It might also be worthwhile for them to have the chance to speak to their doctor alone, in case there are concerns they are unable to discuss with the family. This is also an age when people start to suffer with mental health problems that may initially manifest as physical symptoms. My husband has been diagnosed with BPPV. Hes been feeling dizzy and nauseous for weeks and is getting more unsteady on his feet. Nobody has been able to suggest a treatment other than something called the Epley manoeuvre, which his osteopath did to no difference. Is there any medication that can be taken for this problem? Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV, is a problem within the ear, and the dizziness tends to arise when the patient is in certain positions, turns their head or rolls over in bed. The tiny components that make up the inner ear control our sense of balance, which is why problems within it will cause these symptoms. BPPV is surprisingly common, particularly in people over 50, and can be quite distressing. For older people, it leads to falls and makes normal life very difficult. It can be reassuring to know that recovery often happens spontaneously over several weeks without treatment. Simply being aware of the triggering movements can help. The Epley manoeuvre, which involves slowly moving the head into different positions, is designed to shift fluid and debris in the inner ear. This might be offered alongside Brandt-Daroff exercises, which are similar and can be done at home. If the Epley manoeuvre hasnt worked, it can be tried again. It is most common that vertigo is caused by issues from within the ear and seldom the brain. If things are not improving, or getting steadily worse (BPPV can come and go), it is worth discussing with a doctor about an alternative diagnosis. Can anyone seriously argue against a smoking ban? When I was growing up, you could smoke in restaurants, on public transport and even on planes. When I told my own teenagers this, they couldnt believe it, even though that wasnt that long ago. In fact they find the concept totally bizarre, and that makes me really happy. The progress in preventing smoking in our society has been great, but I believe that we can do more. I welcome the Governments plan to keep raising the legal age to buy cigarettes by a year every year, meaning younger teenagers will effectively never be old enough to purchase them. Raising the smoking age from 16 to 18 in 2007 helped reduce the number of teens taking up the habit by about 30 per cent, so we know these measures work. I simply cannot understand why anyone would argue against this, though Ive seen a few trying on social media. There is no value in a child being able to buy cigarettes, other than money for tobacco companies. No time off for man-opause Is there a male menopause? Im doubtful. And Im even more in doubt about whether middle-aged men need time off work to cope with things such as hot flushes and the emotional changes that some claim are similar to those experienced by many menopausal women. Apparently this is happening in some NHS Trusts, which I find difficult to believe. Ive certainly never come across it. The battle for women to have menopause recognised has been hard-won, and it is absolutely justified given the menopause is physiologically proven due to the significant fall in the natural production of female hormones. The same cannot be said for the so-called man-opause. I often test mens testosterone mostly when they are suffering from erectile dysfunction and very, very few have abnormal levels. Male menopause symptoms are far more likely to come from obvious things: a lack of exercise, weight gain, depression and failing relationships, for instance. Lets not make this a thing when it isnt. Diabetes experts have clashed amid calls for a radical revamp on how younger women are tested for the disease. Top doctors last week claimed 35,000 women could have been wrongly cleared of having type 2 diabetes because of flaws in testing, and warned that a late diagnosis can put them at risk of developing serious complications such as heart disease. A report by researchers from Salford Royal Hospital suggested younger women may suffer diabetes symptoms with lower blood sugar readings than older women, so have proposed lowering the diagnosis threshold for those under 50. Some 4.3 million people in the UK live with diabetes, and 44 per cent are women, most suffering from type 2 which is often linked to an excess of body fat. The condition means the level of sugar (or glucose) in the blood can become too high, which can trigger heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, eye problems and even lead to limb amputations. The study, which looked at the blood sugar readings of more than a million people in England and Wales being tested for diabetes, found women aged below 50 had far lower levels, on average, compared with men. IN CONTROL: A finger prick test can be used to analyse blood sugar levels Researchers estimate that almost 35,000 women under 50 may have been mistakenly told they do not have diabetes (Stock Image) Some experts believe this can be explained by a womans menstrual cycle, which affects the accuracy of the test used to measure average blood sugar levels across three months. But others have dismissed the idea. The researchers have taken a leap too far, says Prof Naveed Sattar, an expert in cardiovascular and metabolic health at the University of Glasgow. Just because someone is investigated for diabetes doesnt mean they have it. Many could have been suffering other problems that cause symptoms, such as fatigue. Secondly, the point in diabetes care is to prevent complications related to high blood sugar, like kidney disease and blood vessel problems. There is no evidence that lowering the diabetic threshold [for diagnosis] would make women any less likely to develop these conditions. One way to diagnose type 2 diabetes is through an HbA1c blood test, which gives a measure of long-term blood sugar levels. Those with the disease have an HbA1c of more than 48 mmol/mol, but the Salford researchers found female patients aged under 50 have, on average, 4.7 per cent lower levels than men, and argue the diabetes diagnosis threshold for them ought to be lowered to 46 mmol/mol. However, some say the study neglects the fact that diabetes diagnoses are not always based on HbA1c tests alone. It can be diagnosed by different methods, including testing fasting blood glucose levels and an oral glucose tolerance test, says Dr Gary Deed, chair of the Diabetes Specific Interest Network at the Royal Australian College of GPs. It would have been best if these authors had combined different methods to confirm the accuracy of the diagnosis. Medics have also cast doubt on the researchers theory that links the menstrual cycle to lower HbA1c levels. Prof Nick Wareham, co-director of the Institute of Metabolic Science at the University of Cambridge, calls it unproven. He adds: They are trying to offer an alternative explanation for gender differences in HbA1c without any proof. Experts in the diagnosis of diabetes dont think this piece of research would justify radical changes to how we diagnose the disease. Shortly after my step-father died this year, my mum had a knock on the door. To her surprise, the delivery man had brought a beautiful bunch of flowers from the staff at her local bank. It was a touching gesture from people who, over the decades my parents had gone there, had become something more than staff behind a counter. If the big banks carry on shutting branches and pushing customers online, such personal relationships and sense of community will be lost. Branches are not Luddite leftovers whose only justification is as a quasi-social service for the elderly. Many of a certain age, like my retired teacher mum, are perfectly able to conduct their financial affairs online. But branches are essential for human contact, accountability and problem-solving. There are times when a bot just won't do. Some commentators have seized on the downfall of Metro Bank, whose hallmark was its buzzy branches, as evidence that a network is too expensive to run. This is bogus. By coincidence, as Metro was scrambling to raise capital this weekend, Nationwide building society was doubling down on its pledge to keep branches open. Closures: Branches are essential for human contact, accountability and problem-solving It has just leapfrogged Lloyds Bank to have the UK's largest network, with just over 600 outlets. True, it is behind Lloyds Banking Group if the old Halifax branches are added in. Even so, it outstrips Barclays (346) and HSBC (333). Nationwide says it even has an actual manager at each one, something that has more or less died out elsewhere. Rivals may paint this as a Canute-like endeavour, particularly in the light of Metro's woes. Branches per se are not the root cause of Metro's implosion. This lies in its culture, past leadership and business model. The bank was founded by US entrepreneur Vernon Hill and floated on the London stock market in 2010. Hill left in 2019 after an accounting scandal. He is no longer involved with the bank, but it bears his indelible imprint. Under his chairmanship, Metro handed around 25m over the years to InterArch, a company owned by his wife Shirley, for design services in branches. Our special webinar to help grow your wealth This is Money has a special webinar Investing, pensions and growing your wealth coming up on 17th October. Simon Lambert will be joined by Netwealth founder Charlotte Ransom and Mail Group Wealth & Personal Finance Editor Jeff Prestridge to answer readers questions. You need to register to watch it, find out how to do that and ask a question at the webinar sign-up page below. > Sign-up for the Investing, pensions and growing your wealth webinar Previously, Hill had been ousted from a US bank after a contretemps with regulators over contracts with family members. Then, after leaving Metro, he was given the elbow from another bank, Republic First of Philadelphia, after a boardroom row. In 2022, Vernon and Shirley were ordered to pay more than $2m (1.63m) to restore mismanaged assets and in penalties to the InterArch pension plan, after investing some of its funds in Metro and Republic First shares that fell heavily. The pair were found to have engaged in self-dealing, and violated their duties. They also had to pay another $1m into the pension to resolve a related lawsuit. There is no basis to extrapolate from Metro's trajectory and arrive at the view that bank branches are ruinous follies. Nationwide's stance is a healthy antidote to the anti-branch bandwagon that has captured the mindset of most bank bosses. Its chief executive, Debbie Crosbie, argues that she can invest in branches because as a mutual building society it does not have to chase profit to satisfy shareholders. It helps that Nationwide did in fact make a hefty profit of 2.2billion in 2023, although a large chunk was given back to customers in mutual benefits. Half-year figures next month are likely to show the society is being run very cost-efficiently. Nationwide does not get everything right, but full marks for backing branches. A 91-year-old Sheriff has said he will hand over his badge after more than 50 years as a Georgia county's top lawman, making him the longest-serving cop in the state. Houston County Sheriff Cullen Talton has confirmed he won't be seeking reelection in 2024 and will be stepping down at the end of his term. The former dairy farmer, who was born in 1932, was first elected to the role of Sheriff in 1972 after also having worked as the county commissioner. Houston County commissioners called Talton the longest-serving sheriff not only in Georgia, but in the United States, when they honored him earlier this week. The sheriff, now over fifty years into the position, said he still likes his job but would be handing over his badge soon, saying; 'I enjoy what I'm doing. I enjoy people. It's time for me to hang it up, so I won't be rut again, Houston County Sheriff Cullen Talton, pictured here, has now said he will step down from the role next year after over 50 years The sheriff, pictured here in his younger days, was first elected to the role of Sheriff in 1972 after also having worked as the county commissioner When Talton took the reins of the department in 1972, he was responsible for just 28 employees, a number which has climbed to over 300. Talton was elected in 1966 and took office the following year as the county commissioner. In his second term as commissioner however, he left and said he saw a need for professional law enforcement in the Sheriff's office. His campaign promise at the time was that he would be professional, despite never having worked in law enforcement before. At the time, the county's population was about 63,000 people. It now has nearly 170,000. During the early days he had his first experience of murder, which he said was a big deal for him having never been involved with law enforcement. In a previous interview with Mike Chaloult, of the Digital Library of Georgia, the Sheriff said: 'We had quite a time solving that one, we had quite a few since then. 'We've got three unsolved murders over forty years. ' During the interview, Talton also recalled how he once pulled a driver over and completely unaware to him, the car was situated over railway tracks. As the Sheriff exited his own vehicle to check the license plate a train whistle blew in the distance, and the driver fled the scene. He recalled: 'I get out to check the license, I heard the train whistle blow and he just took off and left me standing there. I had the train in-between me and him. Laughing, he added: 'We got a good look at him so we caught him later down the line, that was sort of embarrassing.' On Tuesday, leaders and community members gathered at the Houston County Annex at a meeting to honor the long-time sheriff. Among those who attended the ceremony honoring Talton earlier this week were two of his great-grandchildren, including 12-year-old Ellie Talton. When Talton took the reins of the department in 1972, he was responsible for just 28 employees, a number which has climbed to over 300 She told 13WMAZ: 'He's done an amazing job and deserves every bit of the credit,I just love how much he is just not wanting to receive the credit, that he's giving it to others. 'That's just had a big impact on me. He's always been the peacekeeper of the family. 'He's just such a role model to me. The way he always loves everybody, and how he always wants to serve. 'It just impacted not just me but the whole county as a whole. Just to love others and to serve others, not just on the county level Chairman Dan Perdue said: 'I think if there's one word I would use to describe Sheriff Talton it is 'servant' because he has been a servant of this community and a servant of the public for so long.' The NHS is directing vulnerable teenagers confused about their gender to 'transing factories' that believe in controversial 'affirmation' techniques, according to a former Tavistock Trust doctor. There are more than 7,500 children and young people on NHS waiting lists who are confused about their gender - with some set to wait more than five years to be seen. Four regional gender clinics are directing teenagers aged 17 and over to support from Gendered Intelligence, a trans charity that rejected elements of the Cass report that was commissioned to investigate the scandal-ridden Tavistock children's gender clinic. Dr Az Hakeem worked at the Tavistock and Portman Foundation Trust for 12 years and is now a Consultant Psychiatrist on Harley Street. He told MailOnline it was shocking the NHS was directing teenagers to Gendered Intelligence and other similar support groups, branding them 'transing factories'. Dr Az Hakeem worked at the Tavistock and Portman Foundation Trust for 12 years and is now a Consultant Psychiatrist on Harley Street. He called regional gender clinics and support groups 'transing factories' Four regional gender clinics are directing teenagers aged 17 and over to support from Gendered Intelligence, a trans charity that rejected elements of the Cass report that was commissioned to investigate the scandal-ridden Tavistock children's gender clinic (pictured) Four NHS regional gender clinics - Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health, East of England Gender Service, The Laurels Exeter and Sheffield Porter Brook Gender Identity Clinic (pictured) - suggest patients on their waiting lists go to Gendered Intelligence for support Pictured: Regional NHS gender clinic The Laurels, in Exeter Pictured: Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health, which points patients to Gendered Intelligence He said: '[Staff at Gendered Intelligence] are not clinicians. They are people who are very politically active. 'There won't be any critical scrutiny. I'm not sure that's meeting the Cass requirements. 'Clinics are transing factories. These support groups are transing factories. 'There's no other option on the menu.' The scandal-ridden Tavistock gender clinic was told to close after a review from senior paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass branded the Tavistock as 'not safe'. The clinic was accused of rushing children onto puberty-blocking drugs by former patients who feel they weren't challenged enough. It treated at least 9,000 children for gender dysphoria since it opened in 1989. The clinic was supposed to close its doors this year but the closure was postponed until March 2024. Four NHS regional gender clinics - Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health, East of England Gender Service, The Laurels Exeter and Sheffield Porter Brook Gender Identity Clinic - all suggest patients on their waiting lists go to Gendered Intelligence for extra support. Dr Hakeem said one of the problems with groups like Gendered Intelligence was that they believe in affirmation - allegedly supporting confused people by telling them they are trans rather than exploring reasons for their thoughts. He said: 'Affirmation is never questioning, only everyone saying ''yes you're right, you are [in the wrong body]'', which is unhelpful. 'The support will be by a lot of people who are buying into this ideological solution. 'Rather than do no harm, it's not forming a proper assessment of the problem. 'You are merely colluding with grooming, with the fantasy and often false allusion that a child has come up with. A service update on Sheffield Porter Brook Gender Identity Clinic's website directed patients to Gendered Intelligence Although Gendered Intelligence works with trans children as young as seven years old, it says its support groups for people on NHS gender waiting lists are for over-18s only Gendered Intelligence was founded in 2008 by Jay Stewart (pictured) '[Gender questioning children] have only got children's brains, which is not the same as adults. 'What's helpful is to work out what the problems are. 'I have been doing this for 23 years. My role was to help them think about it. '[Gender dysphoria is] a symptom, not a diagnosis. You need to work out how they came to that conclusion but with affirmation you don't do that.' At the Portman Clinic, Dr Hakeem set up and ran the UK's only dedicated Gender Dysphoria Psychotherapy Service from 2000 to 2012. He was also attached to controversial children's gender clinic the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) part time as a special registrar. More than a quarter of his patients were trans people who regretted transitioning. He said: 'Everyone was affirming them. What they wanted was someone to think about their thinking with them. 'If you are just all there supporting, it might not be very helpful.' Regional NHS clinics are set to replace the disgraced children's gender clinic at the Tavistock after it was marked for closure following a series of scandals. However, Dr Hakeem said many people are worried the NHS will re-employ the same 'affirmation only' staff who still don't think the Tavistock did anything wrong. He said: 'Our main concern is whether they are going to re-employ the same people or whether they are going to listen to the Cass recommendations.' Gendered Intelligence said its aim is to create 'a world where diverse gender expressions are visible and valued, and where trans, non-binary, gender diverse and gender questioning people live healthy, safe and fulfilled lives'. Although Gendered Intelligence works with trans children as young as seven years old, it says its support groups for people on NHS gender waiting lists are for over-18s only. It hopes the workshops will enable gender-questioning people to 'share space with other people who are also waiting, so that we can support each other'. Gendered Intelligence said: 'Each month, we will focus on a different topic, including: What to do when dysphoria takes over, The clothes we wear and our identity, Accessible exercise and How to change your name via deed poll.' The meetings are for over-18s and last two hours each month. People taking part are encouraged to keep their cameras on. Gendered Intelligence was founded in 2008 by Jay Stewart. During a Ted Talk he said: 'Gender is complex but we need to complicate the picture of gender because by oversimplifying gender it restricts everybody. 'I am a trans person. I was assigned female at birth and now live as a man. 'People who identify as trans have got a lot to say about gender and a huge amount to contributing to complicating the picture of gender. 'We have to rethink the structure of gender identity and sexual orientation. 'We are living on the cusp of a gender revolution.' The Family Education Trust's Lucy Marsh told MailOnline: 'Gendered Intelligence is an ideological lobby group with an affirmation-only approach which confuses children by pretending that biological sex is a social construct. Its training sessions in schools tell young children that sex is 'assigned at birth'. 'The group also has an alarming lack of safeguarding protocols since its regular youth sessions mix young children with adults. All of its advisors must identify as either trans or 'genderqueer'. 'It runs a dedicated 'medical transition' group for children and advises on 'top' and 'bottom' surgery, as well as giving tips on breast binding and signposting to suppliers where children can purchase one online. 'Its trans youth document advises children on accessing puberty blockers and hormones. Dr Hakeem said: 'Affirmation is never questioning, only everyone saying ''yes you're right, you are [in the wrong body]'', which is unhelpful. You are merely colluding with grooming, with the fantasy and often false allusion that a child has come up with' Pictured: The Tavistock Centre NHS clinic in London. NHS England has ordered the trust to close down its gender identity clinic for children 'The NHS should not be referring any child with mental health issues to Gendered Intelligence because the child will simply be affirmed as being transgender without any proper psychological assessment, and set on a pathway where they will be irreversibly harmed by medical interventions. 'The Cass Review found that puberty blockers are harmful for children, so it's unfathomable that doctors are referring children to a transgender activist group who will arguably cause more harm than the Tavistock. 'Vulnerable children who are confused about their gender need mental health support and talking therapies. 'They should not be pushed into the willing arms of a transgender activist group who are actively working to indoctrinate children and separate them from their families.' Gendered Intelligence said: 'We're not a healthcare provider and don't treat anyone. 'We provide youth groups, education, and outreach in support of the trans community in the UK.' It denied it was a lobby group and added: 'We are a registered charity specialising in youth work, education, and advocacy for the trans community in the UK. 'We have over fifteen years of safeguarding experience and are leaders in working with vulnerable young people. 'We believe that the health, welfare and safety of children and adults at risk is paramount and that all people have a human right to be protected from abuse of any kind regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, gender identity, lifestyle or family make-up, or beliefs. 'The NHS does not ''refer'' anyone to us for assessment or any other kind of treatment. 'Families want to support their young people, and young people deserve to be supported. 'It's a sad fact that there's so much hostility towards trans people right now but we'll keep standing up for our young people, parents and carers, and families so that everyone can have the safety and care they deserve. 'We are endorsed by UK Youth, London Youth, and work in partnership with the Youth and Community Department at London Metropolitan University, a nationally recognised provider of youth work qualifications. 'We're proud to have recently been awarded a Bronze Quality Mark Award for Youth Work by London Youth. We're confident these endorsements speak for themselves. An NHS Spokesperson said: 'It is inaccurate to suggest that the NHS outsources any healthcare to Gendered Intelligence. 'Some NHS adult gender clinics have chosen to include a link to the organisation on their website as a possible source of additional support alongside other options, should patients wish to access any further support.' Latest developments of Palestinian-Israeli conflict: 3,000 rockets fired, hundreds killed Xinhua) 13:37, October 08, 2023 Palestinians are seen near an Israeli tank, near the fence of the Gaza-Israel border, east of the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Happening now: The Israeli military confirmed that Palestinian militants had launched almost 3,000 rockets against Israel, and dozens of militants had infiltrated southern Israel. Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, claimed to have captured a number of Israeli officers and soldiers, adding that they are being held in "safe places." In response, the Israeli military said it had targeted Hamas sites and headquarters with dozens of warplanes across various regions of the coastal enclave. Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz also said his country would cut off the power supply to the Palestinian enclave in the wake of the Hamas attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in a national address that Israel was "in a state of war" and ordered "a full mobilization of reserves." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held an emergency meeting with key officials, emphasizing the right of the Palestinian people to defend themselves against Israeli forces and settlers. Casualties: Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the death toll among Israelis has crossed 200, marking it as the deadliest attack in Israel in decades. What are they saying: China is deeply concerned over the current escalation of tensions and violence between Palestine and Israel, and calls on relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians and avoid further deterioration of the situation, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Sunday. Sudan on Saturday voiced support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people in response to the developments in the Palestinian territories earlier on the day. In a phone call, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan highlighted the necessity for respecting the Palestinian people's rights while evaluating the latest developments in the Arab state, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry. Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit slammed on Saturday Israel's violent policies against the Palestinians as "a time bomb," calling for an immediate cease-fire in the Palestinian Gaza Strip that is currently witnessing deadly clashes between the two sides. The Iraqi government on Saturday warned that continued escalation between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) would impact negatively on the stability of the region. Government Spokesman Basim al-Awadi said in a statement that Iraq affirms its position towards the Palestinian issue, as it stands by the Palestinian people in achieving "their full legitimate rights." Jordan on Saturday stressed the need to halt the dangerous escalation in the Gaza Strip and its surroundings. Jordan's Foreign Ministry warned in a statement of the serious repercussions of the escalation, especially in light of the Israeli attacks and violations against the Palestinian people, as well as against the Islamic and Christian holy sites in the West Bank and Jerusalem. Timeline: Hamas official criticizes U.S. biased position towards Israel GAZA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday criticized the biased position of the United States towards Israel amid the current escalating tensions in the Gaza Strip. Saleh al-Arouri, deputy chief of Hamas, said in a press statement that "the hypocritical position of the U.S. is known to the world, and we do not count on it." Al-Arouri's remarks came after U.S. President Joe Biden affirmed his country's full support for Israel's right to defend itself in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza rises to 232 GAZA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 232, with 1,697 others injured, according to an update from the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza on Saturday. Hamas fires 150 rockets at Tel Aviv in response to Israeli attack on Palestine Tower GAZA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said in a statement that it fired 150 rockets at Tel Aviv on Saturday in response to the Israeli airstrike on a residential tower in Gaza. Israeli media outlets reported that sirens sounded in Tel Aviv as a result of the rocket attack. The 14-floor Palestine Tower, one of the first residential towers built in Gaza, contains residential apartments and headquarters for local media companies and relief institutions. Israel to cut power supply to Gaza Strip after Hamas attacks: minister JERUSALEM, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Israel Katz announced Saturday that power to the Gaza Strip will be cut off in light of the latest round of fighting between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). "I signed the order instructing the electric company to stop supplying electricity to the Gaza Strip. What was will no longer be," Katz posted on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Captured Israeli officers, soldiers held in "safe places": Hamas armed wing GAZA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), announced on Saturday that the Israeli officers and soldiers it captured earlier in the day are being held in "safe places" in Gaza. In a brief statement, Abu Obida, spokesperson of the armed group, said they have captured "dozens of Israeli officers and soldiers, and they have been secured in safe places and resistance tunnels." Hamas armed wing says fighting ongoing in 25 Israeli sites GAZA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said on Saturday that the fighting with the Israeli army is still continuing in 25 sites in the Israeli cities. In a statement, al-Qassam said that "our fighters were able to cross the enemy's defensive line under intense missile cover and targeting of the enemy's command and control systems." Israel confirms civilians, soldiers held as hostages in Gaza JERUSALEM, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Some Israeli civilians and soldiers have been taken as hostages by the Hamas militant group in Gaza Strip, confirmed Israel Defense Forces spokesman. Daniel Hagari told reporters that some Israeli soldiers have been killed during clashes with Hamas, without revealing the number of hostages and soldiers killed. Over 100 Israelis killed during massive Hamas attack JERUSALEM, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least 100 Israelis were killed during a Hamas rocket and infiltrating attack since Saturday morning, local media reported, citing the Israeli Health Ministry, adding that over 900 were injured, dozens of them critically wounded. At least 198 Palestinians killed in Israeli air strikes: health sources GAZA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least 198 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air strikes and over 1,600 others were wounded, media reports said Saturday quoting health sources. Over 40 Israelis killed during Hamas attack: emergency services JERUSALEM, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Over 40 Israelis have been killed and more than 700 injured in the Islamic Resistance Movement's (Hamas) offensive that began earlier on Saturday, reported Israeli media citing Magen David Adom from emergency services. Israeli officials have not confirmed reports on various media channels that tens of Israeli civilians and soldiers are being held captive by Hamas. Palestinians have right to defend themselves: president Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday that the Palestinian people have the right to defend themselves against the "Israeli violations." During an emergency leadership meeting held in Ramallah, Abbas instructed the concerned Palestinian authorities to provide everything necessary "to strengthen the steadfastness of the Palestinians in the face of crimes committed by the Israeli occupation and settler gangs," Over 22 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza: medical source More than 22 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured by the Israeli strikes attacking Gaza, a Palestinian medical source said on Saturday. "The deaths, as well as injuries, were transferred to local hospitals in the Gaza Strip, while a number of injuries are suffering from critical health conditions," the source said to Xinhua. At least 22 Israelis killed in Hamas surprise offensive on Israel JERUSALEM, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Israeli emergency services confirmed that at least 22 Israelis were killed and hundreds wounded in a surprise offensive carried out by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday. "We are at war," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared in a video released by his office. "We will return fire of a magnitude that the enemy has not known. The enemy will pay an unprecedented price." Hamas releases video of capturing Israelis RAMALLAH, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), released on Saturday a short video showing some militants capturing a number of Israelis from the Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip. In the 37-second short video, members of the Al-Qassam Brigades were shown kidnapping a number of Israelis in civilian clothes inside an army military base, without providing further details. Hamas announces start of new military operation against Israel GAZA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Mohammed al-Deif, a leader from Hamas, announced on Saturday the beginning of a new military operation the "Al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel. Rockets fired from Gaza into Israel: sources Gaza, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- A barrage of rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel on Saturday morning, Palestinian security sources and witnesses told Xinhua. Sirens are sounding in central Israel, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) War poses everything in stark terms and thus puts all tendencies to the test. The war in Ukraine has led to a series of splits within the communist parties in several countries, as well as provoking divisions among them. In order to go forward it is necessary to return to genuine Leninist policies, on this and on all questions. As soon as the war in Ukraine started, communist parties around the world took wildly different positions. On the right wing of the movement, several parties adopted a position of more or less open support for the ruling class of their own country and western imperialism. A particularly hypocritical example of this is the position of the Spanish Communist Party (PCE). The PCE is part of a Spanish coalition government with the Socialist Party (PSOE). Spains vice-president Yolanda Diaz and Minister Alberto Garzon are party members, and the PCE general secretary is also a secretary of state. This government is firmly committed to NATO imperialism and has sent weapons and aid to Ukraine. But at the same time, the PCE issues statements demanding the disbandment of NATO and rejecting the war in Ukraine. Even its purely verbal so-called opposition to NATO imperialism, is couched in terms of peace in the abstract, and defence of international institutions and the rule of international law. A similar position was taken by the French Communist Party (PCF), which condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine as being against international law and in breach of international treaties. In the same vein, the PCF upholds Frances strategic independence, which is the phrase under which the French ruling class advances its pretence to play an independent role in the world arena. Furthermore, while calling for peace, the PCF fully supports western imperialist sanctions on Russia, as if in some way economic sanctions are not also a part of the actual war. Their whole position is one of tail-ending the French bourgeoisie, which in the early days of the war was also calling for peace negotiations in an attempt to strike a somewhat independent position from that of US imperialism. A large number of so-called communist parties, having abandoned Leninism a long time ago, are mesmerised by the idea of peace in the abstract and of the international institutions, chiefly the United Nations. This is far removed from Lenins position towards imperialist war. Lenin insisted that communists are not pacifists as there are wars we consider to be justified: wars of national liberation, against imperialism and revolutionary wars. Since war is the consequence of imperialism, the only consistent way to fight against war is to fight imperialism and the capitalist system from which it arises. Lenins slogan during the First World War was not that of peace, but rather, turn the war into a civil war. That is to say, he called for workers to fight their own ruling class. He explained that the war would eventually end, but that an imperialist peace would be just the preparatory period for further wars later on. Therefore, Lenin insisted, the only way to achieve genuine peace was to struggle for socialism. As for international institutions, Lenin and the Bolsheviks were scathing in their rejection of the United Nations predecessor, the League of Nations, which they described as a thieves kitchen that is, a place where different imperialist powers came to share out their loot. Lenin insisted that communists are not pacifists / Image: public domain Lenin considered this point so important that he included rejection of the League of Nations in the famous 21 conditions for membership of the Communist International. These were meant to cleanse the new organisation of unworthy opportunist elements, which had joined under the pressure of the rank and file: without the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism, no international arbitration courts, no talk about a reduction of armaments, no democratic reorganisation of the League of Nations will save mankind from new imperialist wars. The position of revolutionary Marxists in the First World War (they did not adopt the name communist until after the war) was summed up in Karl Liebknechts dictum, the main enemy of the working class is at home. This basic internationalist principle has been abandoned by many communist parties around the world, not only in those countries that are part of NATO or support US imperialism, but also on the other side of the war. Thus, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) has also taken a shameful chauvinist position, uncritically defending Putin and the war he is waging in the interest of the Russian ruling class. Split at the Havana International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties This abject capitulation led to an open conflict at the 22nd International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties (IMCWP), which took place in Havana, Cuba on 27-29 October 2022. The IMCWP is an annual conference, which was initiated by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) back in 1998. Communist parties from around the world meet to discuss and the conference usually ends with a joint statement, which is arrived at by consensus, rather than voted upon after a debate. This time it was different. While a joint statement was produced, it did not deal with the war in Ukraine, which was only mentioned in passing. The statement ended with the words: United in the struggle against imperialism and capitalism! But the nearly 60 parties participating were very far from being united on this question. The meeting was in fact, sharply divided over the Ukraine war. In its intervention, the Russian Communist Workers Party (RCWP) argued that Russias war was just and defensive, and that the task of Communists was to support the Russian bourgeois state as it was fighting to suppress fascism and assist the national liberation struggle in Ukraine. The CPRF, for their part, were correctly accused by the KKE of supporting Putin and his United Russia party, and retorted that, in fact, it was Putin who was supporting them! It is not that the CPRF has shown solidarity with United Russia and President Putin, but [United Russia and President Putin], owing to historical imperatives, have to follow the path the CPRF has persistently called for over three decades. Two separate declarations were therefore issued on the war. One was proposed by the Russian Communist Workers Party (RCWP), the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), and the Communist Party of Ukraine (CPU), which basically repeated the arguments of the Russian ruling class in justification for their intervention in Ukraine; whilst peppering these justifications with a fair dose of Communist, proletarian and anti-fascist seasoning. It contains no attempt to analyse the war aims of the Russian capitalist class, nor does it contain a single word of criticism of Putin and his reactionary capitalist regime. That this was proposed by two parties calling themselves Communist from Russia is an utterly scandalous capitulation to social-chauvinism. This statement was signed by 23 IMCWP participant parties, and another 12 organisations not participating in the meeting. In response, a second counter-declaration was issued, signed by 24 parties participating in the IMCWP, notably including the KKE, plus another four. This starts by describing the war as a capitalist war on both sides. It also denies any claim that the Russian government has anything to do with the anti-fascist struggle or with pro-Soviet sentiment, correctly pointing out that Russia is a capitalist country, something which some, incredibly, do not seem to understand: The Russian Federation, being a bourgeois state, is only nominally, in the framework of bourgeois law, the inheritor of the USSR, while it has nothing in common with the USSR either in its base or superstructure. During the 30 years of independence of the Russian Federation, financial and monopolistic capital was created; industry, education, and health care sectors were systematically destroyed; unemployment increased, and the gap between the rich and the poor grew, labour rights and democratic freedoms were eliminated. This second resolution also correctly criticises the militarisation of Ukraine, promotion of an extremely reactionary nationalist ideology, incitement of inter-ethnic hatred, creation of nationalist militant groups, as well as the suppression of labour and political rights. But perhaps the most interesting part of the resolution is point five, which explains how to put an end to the war in Ukraine: We are certain that it is only the Ukrainian working class united with the Russian proletariat and supported by the workers of the world that are able to stop the imperialist slaughter. Ukraines, Russias and world bourgeoisie mobilised and armed workers. It is necessary that these armaments be aimed at the governments of war, to convert the imperialist war between the peoples into a civil war between classes. It is only this that will enable the working class to put an end to imperialism as a source of wars and form bodies of workers power, as well as transform the combating states in the interests of working people. This is absolutely correct, and is in fact a repetition of the arguments made by Lenin during the First World War. The Russian Communist Workers Party (RCWP) argued that Russias war was just and defensive / Image: AFU StratCom, Wikimedia Commons It is remarkable, however, that in the Spanish version of the statement, which has also been published on the official IMCWP site, this whole section is missing, being replaced instead by talk of immediate peace negotiations, a ceasefire, the investigation of war crimes committed by all sides in the conflict (without saying who is going to carry out such an investigation), etc. This is at odds with the English version, which correctly explains that it is the task of the working class to fight imperialism and war. The second, internationalist, resolution then launches a correct and sharp head-on attack on the supporters of the first pro-Russian resolution: It is shameful and criminal for communists all over the world to trail behind the governments of bourgeois countries and work for the interests of their national bourgeoisie, to support one or another bloc of bourgeois countries. Our immutable task is to help workers all over the world realise that imperialist wars do not lead to the emancipation of labour, on the contrary, they enslave it even more; that in the imperialist conflict the working class has no allies among the ruling circles, only enemies; that their friends are only the proletarians, no matter what nationality they may be. We fully agree with this. There are of course some criticisms that could be made of the internationalist resolution. The analysis of the causes and character of the war in the first part is very schematic and underdeveloped. It says nothing about the role of US imperialism and its provocative eastward expansion of NATO over 30 years; it does not deal with the reactionary Maidan movement of 2014 and the regime that it established, etc. Many of these points are explained in the Havana meeting joint statement, but the internationalist resolution would have been strengthened by including them. How not to build an international This is symptomatic of a major problem in the method used to build the IMCWP. The fact that parties that are completely at odds, can sign a joint declaration avoiding the issues in dispute, even if these are central to the world situation, and then produce two additional statements with opposing views, makes a farce of the idea of building an international Communist organisation. In fact, the IMCWP is based on diplomacy, rather than a frank struggle of ideas. It should also be noted that there were a number of parties that signed the final statement whilst having a purely bourgeois pacifist position, of trust in the international institutions, and even some (like the PCE in Spain) that are participants in governments that are part of NATO and are sending weapons and funding to Ukraine. The PCE and other parties sharing a similar position are then allowed to sign the Havana IMCWP joint statement talking about the struggle for socialism, the interests of the world proletariat, and the promotion of Marxism and Leninism, while sitting in a pro-imperialist government. Even amongst those organisations that signed the second, more principled statement, there is a great deal of hypocrisy. How else can you explain the fact that the South African Communist Party (SACP) which has had a two-stage policy for decades and has been part of the ANC capitalist government for nearly 30 years (a government which ordered the security forces to open fire on striking miners at Marikana, in defence of the interests of the multinational mine-owners) is allowed to put its name to a resolution which says it is shameful and criminal for communists all over the world to trail behind the governments of bourgeois countries and work for the interests of their national bourgeoisie? This would have been unthinkable in Lenins Communist International. There were many sharp debates while Lenin was alive, and there were occasions in which Lenin himself was in a minority. But he never thought of saying, well, we can have a joint statement avoiding the polemical questions, and then each faction can have their own separate statements about the issues we disagree with. Such a procedure makes a mockery of the very idea of a Communist international, which should be based on democratic centralist principles, not on unanimity and certainly not on consensus. The sharpness of the split that took place at the Havana meeting is the result of the war in Ukraine, which brought crucial issues to the fore, but also of the method of papering over differences used before in these IMCWP meetings. There were also a number of parties present that do not seem to have signed either statement on the war in Ukraine, including the Communist Party of Britain, the Communist Party of France, the Communist Party of Spain (PCE) and the Communist Party of Cuba, among others. The dispute at the Havana meeting continued with a series of attacks by participating parties on each other, and public statements by the CPRF, the RCWP, the KKE, etc. The split revealed at the Havana meeting had serious consequences for several of the parties involved. It led to a split in the RCWP, particularly affecting its youth wing and its trade union front. The party was reduced to a rump. The social-chauvinist position the RCWP leadership adopted towards the war in Ukraine, in direct contradiction to its claim to stand for Marxist and Leninist principles, has destroyed it. Previously, the leadership could claim to stand to the left of the CPRF, but now they have adopted exactly the same chauvinist position. The hypocrisy and double standards of the party leadership in public and towards its own members were finally laid bare. The split amongst the IMCWP participants has now led to the decision, taken by the KKE, to disband the European Communist Initiative, the European equivalent of the IMCWP, and will probably lead to the dissolution of the IMCWP itself at its forthcoming meeting in Turkey. Lessons must be drawn. An international can only be built on the basis of political clarification and principled agreement, not diplomacy and empty speechifying. The so-called Anti-imperialist Platform The split amongst the Communist parties that came to the fore at the Havana meeting had been anticipated by the formation of the so-called World Anti-imperialist Platform (WAP), promoted by the Peoples Democracy Party of Korea and with the participation of several of the IMCWP parties. The organisation of the Platform seems to have a lot of resources, and has organised five international meetings in the space of one year with all expenses paid (two in Paris, one in Seoul, one in Belgrade and one in Caracas). The political line of this Platform is very clearly stated in its founding Paris Declaration. The main points are: there is no economic data to justify characterising China or Russia as imperialist; that Russia, China and the DPRK are the targets of imperialist aggression because they represent a serious threat to the imperialists world hegemony; We must challenge the misleading and dangerous practice of certain forces calling themselves communist and socialist who have declared the war in Ukraine to be an inter imperialist conflict in which both sides are equally aggressive and to blame, and furthermore: Russia and China in particular are able not only to defend themselves against imperialist bullying but also to help small or economically weak developing countries stand up for themselves and break free of imperialist colonisation and debt slavery. And as a consequence of this, the Platform argues that the people should be educated on these questions and anti-imperialists should stand for the victory of Russia and China: Victory to the forces of national-liberation and anti-imperialist resistance! The PSUV has used the state apparatus to launch an attack on the Communist Party of Venezuela / Image: Nicolas Maduro, Twitter The groups involved in this Platform are a strange amalgam of small Maoist sects, Titoist organisations, a few Italian fringe groupings, etc. The RCWP has typically played cat and mouse with it. While participating in the meetings and publicly defending the main ideas of the Platform, it has refrained from actually signing the declaration in an attempt to cover itself up. As well as some parties, which can be considered left wing in one way or another, there are also some openly reactionary organisations in the Platform. Among them is Vanguardia Espanola, a Spanish chauvinist sect, which mixes support for Spanish colonisation of America with references to Marxism. This is not too surprising. Once you abandon a class point of view and adopt a chauvinist position, everything is possible. In fact, one of the triggers for the split in the RCWP was the move of its leadership towards joint work with Limonovs group, the openly fascist National Bolshevik Party of Russia. Meanwhile, the Communist Party (Italy) of Marco Rizzo (also part of the WAP) had an electoral alliance with people who had been linked to the fascist party Forza Nuova, all in the name of defending national sovereignty. Also part of the Platform is the Venezuelan ruling party, the PSUV, which in recent years has carried out a policy contrary to that which led to all the gains and advances of the Bolivarian revolution under Chavez. Its policy has involved privatising factories that were previously nationalised; taking land from the peasants to give it back to the old landowners; jailing trade union activists, and implementing a brutal monetarist package to make the workers pay the price for the capitalist crisis. More than this, in recent months, the PSUV has used the state apparatus to launch an attack on the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV), which has reached the point of the Supreme Court removing the PCVs elected leadership and replacing it with an ad hoc junta made up of non-party members. This was done in order to take over the partys electoral registration. In terms of size, the so-called WAP is quite irrelevant. But the positions it advances are more widespread, particularly the idea that somehow China and Russia are anti-imperialist and play a progressive role in world relations. Are Russia and China anti-imperialist? In Russia, capitalism was restored after 1991 by the degenerate leadership of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union / Image: Kremlin.ru We have dealt with these questions in detail elsewhere (see: Imperialism today and the character of Russia and China) but it should be clear to everyone that both countries are capitalist. In Russia, capitalism was restored after 1991 by the degenerate leadership of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union a bureaucratic layer that was not content with deriving enormous privileges from the state-owned planned economy, and instead wanted to convert itself into the private owners of the means of production. This they did through the wholesale looting of state property in a reactionary process, which led to a brutal collapse of living and cultural standards, throwing the working class back decades. After a period in which the new capitalist ruling class was completely under the domination of western imperialism (represented by the Yeltsin years), it then gained confidence and started asserting its own interests, first in the regional (Georgia, Ukraine, Caucasus), and then, although to a lesser extent, on the world arena (Syria, Africa). In China, the process of capitalist restoration took place over a protracted period of time with the Communist Party remaining firmly in power. Now, however, it serves completely different property relations: no longer those of the planned economy but of a capitalist economy. Initially, this transition occurred by allowing foreign capital in. But progressively, the Chinese capitalist class started to assert its own separate interests, under the protection of the Chinese state. Increasingly, China has become an imperialist power, although relatively weak compared to US imperialism. It exports capital, which it invests abroad in order to secure sources of energy and raw materials, to protect its trade routes, and to control fields of investment and markets for its exports. In the process, it has come into conflict with US imperialism, the dominant world power. This is the meaning of the trade and military tensions between the two. However, we need to have a sense of proportion. US imperialism is still the dominant power in the world due to its economic weight and control of the international financial system. Its military might is derived from its economic power and the superior productivity of labour it is capable of achieving. Yes, US imperialism is in relative decline, but only relative decline. Yes, China and to a lesser extent Russia are rising imperialist powers, but they are still much weaker than the US. The task of communists is not to support one bloc against the other, but rather to defend the interests of the working class everywhere against those of the ruling class, primarily our own ruling class at home. The split in the Brazilian Communist Party The most politically interesting fallout of the conflict amongst the different Communist parties on the war in Ukraine is the recent split in the Brazilian Communist Party (PCB), which was triggered directly by the participation of its leadership in these meetings of the World Anti-Imperialist Platform, a move that was against party policy as agreed at its most recent congress. Within the PCB, a left-wing opposition coalesced against the policy of supporting the interests of the capitalist ruling class of China and Russia. The former general secretary of the PCB, Ivan Pinheiro, was critical of the partys participation in the WAP meetings and the statements made at them by the party leadership. After being bureaucratically blocked from expressing his critical views internally, he decided to issue a public document in June. The leadership of the PCB responded to the growing support for the left opposition around Pinheiro, particularly strong amongst the partys youth, by resorting to bureaucratic measures and expulsions. The left opposition demanded that the party congress, long overdue, should be convened so that all differences could be debated democratically. This was the last thing the clique in the leadership wanted, as it feared it would become a minority if there was a democratic debate in the ranks. Things came to a head at the end of July when the leadership decided to expel five CC members, including Pinheiro himself on spurious grounds. Rather than becoming demoralised, those expelled mounted a counter-offensive, launching a Manifesto for the Revolutionary Reconstruction of the PCB. As the weeks went by, an increasing number of party, local and regional organisations, cells and organisations of the youth (UJC) declared their support for the left opposition and came out in favour of the PCB RR. As Ivan Pinheiro explains: Within the PCB, a left-wing opposition coalesced against the policy of supporting the interests of the capitalist ruling class of China and Russia / Image: , Wikimedia Commons I believe that the outbreak of the war in Ukraine was the fuse that sparked this intense polarisation it has forced us to debate issues that many of us were reluctant to face up to, including the character of the Chinese state and the relevance of imperialism, the class illusion of so-called multipolarity, the role of communists in the face of a war between national bourgeoisies that turn their proletariats into cannon fodder and which is inseparable from inter-imperialist disputes. The right-wing shift of the leadership of the PCB was not limited to international affairs. As Pinheiros left opposition pointed out, it went hand in hand with a growing adaptation to bourgeois democracy and the government of Lula, which is one of open class collaboration. The fact that the PCB receives electoral state funding for political parties helps the party bureaucracy gain a degree of independence from the party ranks, thus solidifying its reformist tendencies. We welcome the struggle waged by the expelled left opposition of the PCB and their efforts of revolutionary reconstruction. We find ourselves in very close agreement with the comrades on key questions of international and national politics, and this sets the ground for fraternal collaboration, as we collaborated a decade ago when Pinheiro was the general secretary of the party. That collaboration extended to the question of Ukraine and the struggle against the Maidan regime in 2014. Of course, there are differences between our organisations inevitably but we agree on one fundamental question: we stand firmly on the principle of proletarian class struggle, against any collaboration with the bourgeoisie and any form of stageism, which puts off the socialist revolution to a far off, distant future. A rebellion of the youth: back to Lenin! The dispute over the position towards the war in Ukraine was not the only element in the crisis of the PCB. There is another element, which is common to the crisis in a number of other Communist parties around the world. In the recent period, and particularly during the pandemic and the lockdown, a layer of youth joined the party, attracted by its communist name. These were fresh, new layers, imbued with a revolutionary spirit, and they soon clashed with the leadership, which was unable to offer them any inspiration or political education. Some of the new youth they recruited became quite popular on different social media platforms for their defence of the ideas of communism. Their prominence was seen as a threat to the party leadership, and so they became the first ones to be hit by bureaucratic measures. The use of administrative measures to solve political debates is a clear sign of a leadership which has no trust in its own ideas. This phenomenon the influx of youth into communist parties, attracted by the name and symbols, their rejection of the reformist policies and parliamentary cretinism of the leadership and of the use of bureaucratic measures to suppress them is quite widespread. Rizzos Communist Party in Italy lost its youth organisation. The Connolly Youth Movement (CYM) broke with the Communist Party of Ireland at the beginning of 2021, after a series of splits and conflicts. In Spain the PCE has just expelled the whole leadership of its youth movement, UJCE, and appointed an ad hoc leadership, after the youth developed a strong criticism of the reformism of the PCE leadership and were silenced at the last party congress. The list goes on. A cursory examination of Stalins policies would reveal that they represent a fundamental break with Lenin and Leninism / Image: public domain In several of these cases, the new, young, radical elements have gravitated towards the figure of Stalin as a reaction against the reformism of the leadership of the party. This is understandable, but wrong. A cursory examination of Stalins policies would reveal that they represent a fundamental break with Lenin and Leninism. Where Lenin firmly defended a strategy of no confidence in bourgeois liberals and the need for the working class to take power, Stalin brought back the Menshevik two stage theory of alliance with the progressive bourgeoisie, which led to disaster in China, Spain and elsewhere. Where Lenin opposed international institutions like the League of Nations, which he described as a thieves kitchen, Stalin brought the USSR into the League of Nations in 1934. Where Lenin advocated proletarian internationalism, Stalin courted the different imperialist powers, and then disbanded the Communist International in May 1943 as a gesture of goodwill. On the question of methods of party democracy and democratic centralism, we have to say that in many cases, these youth have been on the receiving end of bureaucratic methods, which are typical of Stalinism and have nothing to do with the clean banner of Leninist democratic centralism. While Lenin was alive, debate thrived within the Communist International and the Russian party on many different questions: the Brest-Litovsk negotiations, the trade union question, the New Economic Policy, the United Front, participation in parliament and trade unions, etc. That made the party and the International stronger, not the opposite. We ask those comrades who are members of communist parties, and who have rightly come into opposition, to examine these questions carefully as they are not of merely historical interest. On the contrary, they are extremely relevant to the discussions taking place today among Communist parties about imperialism, the character of Russia and China, the role of the BRICS, and the idea of a so-called multipolar world. Of course, some will say: but you are Trotskyists! And so we are. We defend the ideas and traditions of Trotsky, but we think these are not different from the ideas and traditions of Lenin. On all the aforementioned questions (working-class independence, opposing collaboration with the bourgeoisie, proletarian internationalism, and a democratic centralist form of organisation) there was no difference between Lenin and Trotsky after 1917. It is true that many who call themselves Trotskyists have in fact capitulated to the ruling class, and in relation to the war in Ukraine have adopted a treacherous pro-imperialist position. This is the case for instance with the so-called Fourth International, whose scandalous slogan is sanctions on Russia, weapons for Ukraine. They are de facto on the same side as NATO imperialism, i.e. their own ruling class, in this war. This has nothing to do with the genuine ideas of Trotsky and is the result of having abandoned a class point of view, in the same way that those Communist parties which support their own imperialist ruling class have nothing to do with Lenin or Leninism, regardless of how they claim to define themselves. We are firmly convinced that on all of these questions, which are crucial for Communists today, it is necessary to break with reformism, chauvinism and adopt a principled working-class point of view. That is, it is necessary to go back to Lenin. In this way, the basis can be laid for the rebuilding of a genuine and revolutionary Communist international which can only be created through political struggle and not through diplomatic combinations. This is the moment a driver who tried to pay for petrol with a 20 coin was arrested by police at a BP garage. The man, who goes by YouTube name Eye Spy Audit, claims he was arrested by Cleveland Police for making off without payment for using a 20 Royal Mint coin, even though he 'never left the store'. He took legal action after the arrest, and has now been awarded 4,000. He shared a video of the experience, that happened in November 2022, to his YouTube channel - it got over 135,000 views and over 3,500 comments. You can watch the full video on YouTube by clicking here. The man, who goes by Eye Spy Audit on YouTube, says he was arrested by Cleveland Police for making off without payment for using a 20 Royal Mint coin, even though he 'never left the store' Clips of the exchange are now circulating on social media platforms such as TikTok. The man told MailOnline: 'I was detained for just over two hours, with no questioning, I wasn't even put in handcuffs or even a cell. You just couldn't make it up. 'I took legal action as Cleveland Police refused to accept liability for the unlawful arrest. 'They have provided no apology whatsoever, but paid 4,000, but only after taking the Chief Constable to Court'. The coin he tried to use was a limited edition Outbreak 2014 20 coin. In the video, the cashier at the petrol station refuses to accept it and shortly after, a police officer arrives and says she's never 'seen [one of] them in her life'. The driver explains: 'It's from the Royal Mint so the same place where all legal tender comes from'. However, she asks him to use an alternative form of payment or give her his details to sort it out as a civil issue, at a later date. In the video, the man working at the petrol station refuses to accept it and shortly after, a police officer arrives and says she's never 'seen them in her life' A second police officer soon turns up and they are heard saying the petrol station rang the post office, who said the coin doesn't really exist. What is classed as legal tender? In England and Wales, any Royal Mint coin or Bank of England note is legal tender. This means that all coins and notes which have been made by these organisations can be used, the standard denominations being: 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50. But other coins minted by the Royal Mint can also be used to pay for items - this includes the 20 coin and 5. However, the Bank of England warns that while any coin or note is legal tender, individual shops have a legal right to decide how they accept payment for goods. This could involve turning down a 50 note, or someone paying in pound coins for a 200 item. There are also some restrictions on small-value coins - for example, 1p and 2p coins can only count as tender up to the value of 20p. Advertisement In the video, one officer tells her colleague: 'He obviously won't give us his details, I've explained to him that to a degree it is a civil matter, however if he does make off and he doesn't give us his details, we're struggling for any sort of civil issue at a later date, any details and he's making off without payment.' They added that if the man gave the police his details, they could resolve it later, however he refused, explaining 'because it's a civil issue and it's nothing for the police to get involved in'. The police officer replies: 'But you're still going to make off aren't you? Technically without payment,' to which the man responded that he had paid and that 'it is the store's policy to accept the 20 coin'. A second officer the man: 'If you walk out that door now you are liable for an arrest because we don't have your details' and 'to make off without payment is a police matter'. They asked him if he could pay another way or give them his details but he refused to do either and said they were 'going around in circles'. In the YouTube video, the back and forth goes on for a while, before he was eventually arrested off camera. However, he claims that after this, the Custody Sergeant did not authorise the arrest. The man added that the Custody Sergeant's written comments read 'Detention not authorised - the DP was presented as make off without payment. 'The DP has not made off from the scene and has awaited Police attendance. In the YouTube video, the back and forth goes on for a while, before he was eventually arrested off camera 'As such this offence was not made out. The DP has also made no attempt to leave, so the offence of attempt make off is not made out either. READ MORE: Rare 50c coin from 1988 minted to celebrate bicentenary worth $15,000 Advertisement 'The officer advises she arrested the DP because she was advised to by her supervisor, but she advised me she agreed here were no grounds to detained the DP, other than to identify his name/address. 'The DP provided me with those details in any event. I explained to the Officer that in order to arrest to establish name/address, there also needs to be a substantive offence to investigate - as per earlier there is no offence made out. 'The officer was satisfied that there were no further grounds to detain the DP, and intends to deal with the issue as a civil matter.' The man says he was 'shocked' that the didn't take the coin and after taking legal action, he was awarded 4,000. Iain Gould, the man's solicitor who specialises in claims against the police, said 'A 20 coin is legal tender of the realm, but here the Police Officers involved seemed to forget their oath to uphold the laws of this land and instead acted as if they were bouncers for BP. 'Hopefully my clients action will remind the Police where their true duty lies'. A spokesperson from Cleveland Police commented: 'A settlement was made to an individual following an incident at a petrol station whereby a man was arrested. 'This was later deemed to be a civil matter. The detention of the man was for no longer than necessary and the man was released once his name and address were provided. As is the case with any complaint or claim, we will look at any learning or feedback to individuals or departments as necessary.' Military leaders are now utilizing cutting-edge technology to assess recruits' fitness, including full body scanners that detect their total body fat A growing number of active duty personnel are also overweight after obesity levels ballooned during the pandemic The US military is struggling with 'skinny fat recruits' - those who appear slim and healthy but fail mandatory fitness tests because they lack muscle mass The US military is fighting a fitness crisis brought by a growing number of obese troops and 'skinny fat' recruits who can't pass fitness tests. Obesity rates among service members surged during COVID and recruiters are also confronted by a growing number of would-be soldiers who are simply too large, too weak or both. Top brass are now redefining fitness tests - including the military's notorious 'tape test' - and introducing state-of-the-art scanner machines that calculate body fat. Troops who fail are placed on special programs to bring them into shape. The military's fitness crisis, which generals have terms a threat to national security, is compounded by the growing obesity rates among all Americans. A recent report by the Center for Diseases Control titled 'Unfit to Serve' found a staggering one third of young adults are 'too heavy' to serve in the military. Around 23 percent of Army soldiers were obese in 2021, according to a recent study of data from the Military Health System Data Repository. That's compared to 18 percent before the pandemic, which meant physical work and training was scaled back due to lockdowns. The US military is fighting a fitness crisis brought by a growing number of obese troops and 'skinny fat' recruits who can't pass fitness tests. PIctured: U.S. Army trainees participating in the Army's new Future Soldier Prep Course at Fort Jackson, SC, on September 28, 2022 Military leaders warn a decline in the fitness of US military personnel poses a threat to national security (file photo) Study author Tracey Perez Koehlmoos, director of the Center for Health Services Research at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland, said: 'The Army and the other services need to focus on how to bring the forces back to fitness.' Marine Corps Brigadier General Stephen Cheney went further and said the military's fitness crisis is a 'dramatic national security problem' which is getting 'worse and worse and worse'. Similar declines in fitness have also been observed in the Navy and the Marines. The emerging 'skinny fat' phenomenon has been highlighted by Dr Karl E. Friedl, a physician and former Army officer who led research into fitness within the military. 'It's guys who look good in skinny jeans, but they have high fat because there's no muscle,' he told the Wall Street Journal. Sources say recruits at some military bases are now also even calcium supplements after a rise in broken bones. The military uses a series of standardized fitness tests and procedures to calculate fitness and body fat and decide a person's eligibility to serve. Applicants who don't meet the criteria can be screened out, while current service members who fail the tests are placed on special fitness programs to get them in shape. One procedure to calculate body fat levels is the notorious 'tape test', which until recently involved using a tape to measure a soldier's height, and neck and weight circumference, then putting the answers through a formula which also accounts for age to calculate their body fat. That was revamped in June 2023 to the 'one-site tape test' that involves simply measuring the 'abdominal circumference' and throwing that into a formula. Sounds simple enough - but for years the tape test has been the cause of much consternation, not least because of disputes inside the Pentagon about exactly where a person's waist should be measured. Army guidance states it is the belly button, while the Navy cites the iliac crest (around the pelvis). The Air Force opts for the spot between the lowest rip and the tip of the hip bone, per the WSJ's review of the tape test's many discrepancies. Friedl recalled a 'whole meeting' in 1989 about where the waist should be measured. The Pentagon has invested in high-tech machines including the 'Bod Pod' to calculate body fat Before the pandemic, about 18 percent of the soldiers were obese; by 2021, it grew to 23 percent, the study found Under the new, somewhat simplified 'one-site' test, male soldiers must not exceed a body fat of 24 to 30 percent, depending on their age, while for females it is 30 to 36 percent. Troops who narrowly fail the test can opt for a full body scan in a futuristic machine called the 'Bod Pod' which calculates fat levels. Other machines are also available which perform 'bioelectrical impedance analysis' or 'dual energy X-ray absorptiometry', each with the same purpose of giving a more accurate measure of fat than measuring with tape. Fitness is also, obviously, decided by a series of physical tests - and candidates who excel in these can be exempt from the body fat test. Each branch of the military uses a slightly different test. The Army's involves timed push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, running, hiking and swimming. Doctors have previously told DailyMail.com that anti-obesity drugs like Wegovy could be used to help soldiers shed weight. In fiscal year 2022, the Army failed to make its recruiting goal for the first time, falling short by 15,000 recruits, or a quarter of the requirement. That is largely because three-quarters of Americans aged 17 to 24 are not eligible for military service for several reasons, including extra weight. Being overweight is the biggest individual disqualifier, affecting more than one in 10 potential recruits, according to the report. A psychotic killer accountant who slit the throat of a random stranger in a shopping mall led a deluded fantasy life where he claimed to be a decorated soldier. Twisted Nick Boak, 40, claimed to be an SAS veteran who had won the Victoria Cross for bravery before he launched his savage attack on Michael Eaton, 51. Mr Eaton was a lonely father-of-five who had recently split with his wife and was an early morning regular at Cairns Central Shopping Centre in far north Queensland. The friendly former dog breeder and car fanatic was unable to work for health reasons but enjoyed the company of chatting with shop staff before they opened. But at 8am on a Wednesday morning in September 2021, he was targeted by Boak on the ground floor of the mall while Boak was in the midst of a psychotic episode. The accountant - who had most recently been working at holiday resorts on Fitzroy Island and in Airlie Beach - began ranting erratically at Mr Eaton, said locals. Mr Eaton shrugged off the outbursts, but Boak suddenly pulled out a knife and crept up behind Mr Eaton before slashing his throat without any warning or provocation. The deluded life of psychotic killer accountant Nick Boak can finally be revealed after he slit the throat of a random stranger in a city shopping mall Michael Eaton, 51, (pictured) was a lonely father-of-five who had recently split with his wife and was an early morning regular at Cairns Central Shopping Centre in far north Queensland At 8am on a Wednesday morning in September 2021, he was targeted by Boak on the ground floor of the mall while Boak was in the midst of a psychotic episode He left Mr Eaton bleeding out where he died 20 minutes later, drenched in a pool of his own blood, despite the efforts of bystanders and emergency services. Brisbane-born Boak was arrested nearby soon after and the details of his bizarre past began to be revealed. He was already under investigation by ex-military veterans after bizarrely claiming to be an SAS hero who saw action in Korea, and that he had won the Victoria Cross. In an application to join a Queensland Returned Serviceman's Club, he said he was a serving Major who had tours of duty in Malaysia, Iraq, the Gulf War and Afghanistan. He claimed to have enlisted in 2003 and even posed as a secret service spy, adopting the 007-style name Nick Bond Industries for one of the companies he set up. But the reality was very different. Boak was instead an otherwise mild-mannered accountant and fitness freak who studied at Ballarat-based Federation University in regional Victoria. He joined the Australian Army Reserves while a student but graduated as an accountant who also worked as a personal trainer. He also attended Duntroon Royal Military College in Canberra with the reserves but there's no record of him seeing action, despite posing on social media with medals. A month before he launched his savage attack on Mr Eaton, he had just started his latest new firm Advanced Accounting Australia while employed as an auditor on Fitzroy Island. Boak's lies were exposed by an online group of former soldiers who hunt down fake soldiers online to shame them for their lies on Facebook. Six days before his bloody attack, he posed with a dumbbell while looking intensely at the camera and said he was working on his beach body Boak's application claimed to have served in various theatres of war as a major in the SAS and he also claimed to have won the Victoria Cross for bravery He moved back to Queensland from Victoria in 2018 and relocated from Airlie Beach to work on Fitzroy Island during the Covid lockdowns but struggled to make friends. In social media posts just nine days before he killed Mr Eaton, Boak reached out to make new mates in the Cairns area. 'I've now been a resident of Fitzroy Island for three months and I'm putting down roots,' he posted. 'If you are a local and planning a visit and a hike here and are a good human please feel free to DM me.' In another post, six days before his bloody attack, he posed with a dumbbell while looking intensely at the camera and said he was working on his beach body. 'A pre-shift workout is just the best,' he posted on Instagram. 'I am so very thankful for this amazing gym on our tropical island paradise. 'Beach-ready goal is on track for summer. VIP Visitor access and 1on1 training hopefully soon' He flew into Cairns from Fitzroy just a few days before he went on his murderous rampage, but no reason for the savage attack has ever been revealed. In the wake of his arrest, Boak was considered too dangerous to appear in court to face murder charges. 'He presents an extreme risk to watchhouse staff,' police prosecutor Codi Dalley told Cairns Magistrates Court hours after his arrest. 'We would require extra time and a specialised team to move him.' Two years later on August 18, 2023, the court found Boak was of unsound mind and discontinued proceedings. He was transferred to the high security psychiatric unit at The Park Centre for Mental Health in Wacol, Brisbane, for treatment. Nick Boak moved back to Queensland from Victoria in 2018 and relocated from Airlie Beach to work on Fitzroy Island during the Covid lockdowns but struggled to make friends Detective Inspector Kevin Goan said his sympathies were with Boak's victim Mr Eaton and his family. 'His untimely death is mourned by many,' said DI Goan. 'He was considered to be quite a pleasant, laidback man. 'His engagements with others were quite happy, not something that would warrant this type of action towards him.' The family appealed for privacy in the wake of the tragedy and DI Goan added: 'He also has an aged mother who is doing it tough at this time because of this loss.' British taxpayers are helping fund duty of care payments worth tens of thousands of pounds to mass murderers who helped orchestrate the Rwandan genocide, the Mail can reveal. The ex-soldiers have pocketed 16,000 each in living costs and also benefit from legal, medical and accommodation expenses after a series of rulings by a United Nations court. Recipients include Colonel Anatole Nsengiyumva who was nicknamed The Butcher of Gisenyi for his part in the 1994 genocide which in total around 800,000 mostly ethnic Tutsis were massacred in 100 days in the East African country. The payments come from the UNs budget, to which the UK is one of the biggest funders - contributing 100m this year alone. News of the handouts prompted furious response from UK-based Tutsi survivors who say they havent received any financial support from the UN despite their horrendous ordeal. Around 800,000 mostly ethnic Tutsis were massacred in 100 days in Rwanda Skulls of victims of the Rwanda's 1994 genocide's at the Ntarama Genocide Memorial Recipients include Colonel Anatole Nsengiyumva who was nicknamed The Butcher of Gisenyi for his part in the 1994 genocide Company director Stephanie Kayirangwa, 39, now living in Portsmouth, was 10 years old when she escaped one of Rwanda's most notorious massacres by minutes. She had been ushered to a Catholic school in Kigali that UN peacekeepers had designated a safe zone, but when the peacekeepers fled the site, the majority Hutu militias moved in and slaughtered around 2000 Tutsi inside. Stephanie Kayirangwa, 39 was 10 years old when she escaped Rwanda Ms Kayirangwa, who lost her father and two sisters in the genocide, only survived because a third sister was married to a Belgian national who refused to leave with the peacekeepers unless they also took her. She arrived in the UK in 2003 and later set up a catering business making sauces which now supplies high street brands and chains. She said: I was shocked when I first heard that these murderers are getting financial support and the UN owes them a 'duty of care'. It is ridiculous because if the UN wanted to help, they should be helping the survivors. Where is the 'duty of care' to the survivors? I do not understand why British taxpayers should be supporting these people when all the survivors are working their backsides off trying to make a living. Currently four convicted war criminals have received duty of care cash following release but experts fear costs are likely to spiral to potentially millions of pounds because dozens more war criminals convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda(ICTR) are soon to finish their sentences. Those who have already received the cash include Nsengiyumva, who prosecutors described as being among the enemies of the human race as he was convicted of crimes against humanity including genocide, extermination, and persecution. Colonel Alphonse Nteziryayo, former Commanding Officer of the Military Police and later Prefect of Butare in Rwanda, was convicted of incitement to commit genocide Tharcisse Muvunyi, a former lieutenant colonel in the Rwandan army may have received payouts Innocent Sagahutu was jailed for 15 years for aiding and abetting the killing of the Belgian peacekeepers Colonel Alphonse Nteziryayo, former Commanding Officer of the Military Police and later Prefect of Butare in Rwanda, was convicted of incitement to commit genocide after calling for the killing of Tutsis at rallies and Innocent Sagahutu was jailed for 15 years for aiding and abetting the killing of the Belgian peacekeepers. Tharcisse Muvunyi, a former lieutenant colonel in the Rwandan army who later fled to Britain, was also jailed for incitement to commit genocide. He died in June so it is unclear if he received all the handouts. The ICTR was set up by the UN in late 1994, just months after armed Hutu militias slaughtered Tutsis and moderate Hutus during the Rwandan Civil War. Based in Tanzania the court convicted 61 individuals by the time it was disbanded in December 2015. After release from jail, the convicts did not want to return to Rwanda, where they would likely face fresh trials, but no other country wanted them. After initially living in a Tanzanian safe house also at UN expense in late 2021 the UN reached an agreement to send the men to live in Niger after agreeing to pay their accommodation and a one-time lump sum of 8,000 to each of the men. But in January this year following continued disputes over where they should live after their arrival in Niger, the UN court agreed to give the surviving seven men another 8,000 each for subsistence funds. The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), which replaced the ICTR also lays out a remuneration policy for lawyers representingconvicted persons in post-conviction proceedings. Another IRMCT judgement said the UN would coverthe costs of necessary hospitalisations and/or other medical treatments on case-by-case basis of relocated persons. Ethnic Tutsi Rwandan Patriotic Front troops look over a pile of skulls dug up to be reburied in a memorial for approximately 12,000 Tutsi massacred by Hutu militia in and around the western town of Kaduha Former squadron commander in the elite reconnaissance unite Innocent Sagahutu (R) speaks with his lawyer prior to a hearing of his appeal trial for crimes against humanity Author and ICTR expert Andrew Wallis said: It is an absolute disgrace. How can the United Nations have a duty of care to men responsible for the deaths of so many? The ICTR has cost in the region of 2.4billion and yet the Rwandan survivors and their families have never received a penny compensation or any support. One survivor said to me You should have just given the money direct to us and not bothered with the court. Mr Wallis said most of those released after serving time for their role in the genocide wanted to join their families in Belgium and France many of which are financially well off. So, why is it that the UN and, the British taxpayer, is picking up the bill for these men? This is an international scandal. A Foreign Office spokesman said: The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals is an independent judicial institution that is funded through the UN budget, which all Member States contribute to. The UK does not interfere in its judicial decisions. The UK remains committed to supporting the IRMCTs work to bring perpetrators of international crimes to justice. The UN press office directed the Mail's enquiry to the IRMCT press office which did not respond to questions about criticism of the payouts. Joe Biden's tension with his Secret Service detail goes back to his years as vice president when he made female agents uncomfortable by skinny-dipping in front of them but it's gotten worse during his White House years after his German Shepherds bit several agents. Biden's new two-year-old dog Commander has bitten at least a dozen agents plus people who work in the White House residence, requiring some to get medical attention. And the first couple's former dog Major was so aggressive and prone to biting that he was rehomed to friends in Delaware. 'It's outrageous, just outrageous for those agents who risk their lives every day to protect the president,' Ronald Kessler, the author of several books on the Secret Service, told DailyMail.com. 'They never know when they're gonna get shot and they have to put up with with the fear of being bitten by a dog. It's just unthinkable that it went on this long.' Commander has been moved off campus, living at an undisclosed location. Earlier, DailyMail.com published exclusive photos showing the dog biting the superintendent of the White House grounds on September 13. President Joe Biden with his Secret Service detail Tenions have risen between Biden and his agents since Commander (above) has bitten members of the president's detail The Bidens' relationship with the Secret Service is now 'combustible,' a source told CNN, citing the tensions with the first pets, constant schedule changes and other issues. The Secret Service denied there were any problems. 'On this I can say with firsthand knowledge that it is categorically false. There is an immense degree of trust and respect between the Secret Service and the first family and we know those feelings are mutual,' Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi told DailyMail.com in a statement. The tensions are said to have started during Biden's time as vice president, and to have continued in his early days in the White House. 'Agents say that, whether at the vice president's residence or at his home in Delaware, Biden has a habit of swimming in his pool nude,' Kessler wrote in his book, The First Family Detail: Secret Service Agents Reveal the Hidden Lives of the Presidents. 'Female Secret Service agents find that offensive,' he noted. Kessler also outlined the agents' frustration with Biden's constantly-changing schedule and frequent trips to his home in Wilmington, Delaware. 'He would never give agents any kind of pre-warning of what his schedule was going to be,' Kessler told DailyMail.com. 'He would just, on the spur of the moment, decide to go back to Wilmington, frequently, more than once a week. And so they could never plan their their lives. They could never set up a social occasion.' He noted agents considered Biden duty the 'second worst assignment.' The top spot went to being on Hillary Clinton's detail. The mistrust goes both ways. The Bidens were also said to be suspicious of their agents, many of whom they suspected supported Donald Trump. A level of trust is important, given the close quarters. Agents shadow the first couple wherever they go, often overhearing private conversations and witnessing private moments. 'It seems to me that it's it's critical,' Christopher Whipple, author of The Fight for His Life: Inside Joe Biden's White House, told DailyMail.com. 'For the most obvious reasons that the President's safety depends upon it.' 'But I think I think he also has a right to assume that the Secret Service check their politics at the door and that he can have confidential conversations without worrying about whether there's a MAGA sympathizer that will report that to someone else.' The pool at the vice president's residence - when Joe Biden lived there he made his Secret Service detail uncomfortable when he skinny dipped Joe and Jill Biden with Commander, who they received as a gift in 2021 A White House staffer walks Commander Biden on the South Lawn Joe and Jill Biden play with Commander at Rehoboth Beach in December 2021 Commander Biden no longer living at White House after biting incidents The Bidens aren't the first presidential couple to worry about the agents' political ties. The Clintons were worried their detail were still loyal to George W. Bush and his family. Additionally, adjusting to the fishbowl life in the White House - where agents and staff are around 24/7 - can be difficult for every first couple. Even Melania Trump, who had a large staff and private security when she lived at Trump Tower, was said to find life in the White House stifling. But the recent spate of dog bites have ratcheted up the tension. Commander was a birthday gift to the president from James and Sara Biden, his brother and sister-in-law, and first came to the White House on December 20, 2021. The pet's biting record was released in July when a conservative group used a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain emails from Secret Service officials. It was revealed the 2-year-old German Shepherd has bitten at least a dozen Secret Service agents. Later reports found he also went after staff in the residence. And the Bidens' earlier dog Major was so aggressive that residence officials warned Jill Biden's office the Bidens could face a lawsuit for injuries unless there were changes, Axios reported. Major was eventually given to Biden friends in Delaware. When at the White House, Commander lives upstairs with the first couple. Jill Biden walks him in the mornings and when she is at home. Otherwise Dale Haney, the longtime groundskeeper takes him out, or residence staff do so. German shepherds can be aggressive and are known to defend those they consider family. The Biden administration has defended the dog. Jill Biden's office has noted that the White House 'can be a stressful environment for family pets, and the First Family continues to work on ways to help Commander handle the often unpredictable nature of the White House grounds.' But a former White House official who regularly interacted with both Commander and Major told Axios: 'The first family and their inner circle refuse to engage in any problem-solving discussions to protect the agents and [Executive Residence] staff.' 'The ongoing discipline issue of the Biden dogs is in no way a Secret Service problem. The agency is just trying to protect their own agents from these animals who do have violent behaviors.' President Joe Biden had entered the White House with two German Shepherds, Champ who died in 2021 and Major who was removed that year A photo obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com shows Commander biting yet another staffer at the White House last month The incident, which was unwittingly captured on camera by a tourist snapping photos on September 13, shows the two-year-old German Shepherd sinking its teeth into the groundskeeper Dale Haney's left arm The White House has claimed that 'everyone loves' Commander. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that she has never felt threatened by the dog. 'I've seen Commander many times. I was never worried. And I've never been bitten by Commander,' she said. 'As it relates to me, I was never wary of Commander. I've seen him many, many times. And so I can only speak for myself though, and I can't speak to any anything else outside of that,' she added. White House officials said the Bidens were working through new training for Commander. A new documentary about the horrific sex crimes committed by former BBC DJ Jimmy Savile will be released on Monday, October 9. The upcoming show, titled The Reckoning, will give an insight into how he managed to escape punishment for his crimes over such a long period. So, how exactly did he get found out? When was he officially charged for committing sex offences? Read on below for a full timeline on how Savile's acts were eventually uncovered. A handout photo from the new BBC documentary titled The Reckoning, which will give an insight into how Jimmy Savile (played in the film by Steve Coogan) managed to escape punishment for his crimes over such a long period How did Jimmy Savile get found out? READ MORE: Peter Kay recalls creepy encounter with Jimmy Savile when paedophile licked startled female TV executive on set Advertisement 2011 October 29: Jimmy Savile dies aged 84. November: Following his death, BBC Newsnight investigates historic allegations and they are told the Surrey case - where Savile was interviewed under caution by Surrey police investigating an incident of alleged indecent assault at Duncroft School, Surrey, in 2009 - was dropped as Savile was too old. November 11: The BBC airs a show paying tribute to Savile. December 1: Newsnight editor Peter Rippon tells reporter Meirion Jones to stop working on aspects of the investigation because it is not strong enough without confirmation the case was dropped because of Savile's age. In response, Jones argues the case for why the BBC should proceed with the story. December 9: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) tells Jones they did not pursue the Surrey case due to a lack of evidence, denying that the former BBC DJ's evidence was a factor. Jones accepts that the BBC want to pull the story. 2012 January 8: The Sunday Mirror reports that the Newsnight show was axed because of a clash with the tribute programme. October: A criminal investigation by the name of Operation Yewtree is launched after a flood of complaints. It centred upon sexual abuse allegations, focusing on the abuse of children, by Savile and other notable figures. October 3: ITV airs Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile, which takes a look at the crimes committed by Savile. Savile makes an appearance on the TV programme 'Calendar' in 1970. Following his death in 2011, BBC Newsnight investigates historic allegations and they are told the Surrey case - where Savile was interviewed under caution by Surrey police investigating an incident of alleged indecent assault at Duncroft School, Surrey, in 2009 - was dropped as Savile was too old October 8: BBC's director-general George Entwistle appears on the Today programme. Newsnight reporter Liz Mackean emails him to voice her displeasure over 'the handling of the Newsnight Savile story'. Entwistle asks Ken MacQuarrie, director of BBC Scotland, to investigate why the show was axed. October 17: The BBC asks Dame Janet Smith to investigate the culture at the BBC throughout the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, when Savile worked for the broadcaster. October 22: Panorama broadcast a special on Savile, titled Jimmy Savile: What The BBC Knew. October 23: Entwistle is asked to appear before the culture, media and sport select committee. November 10: Entwistle resigns following the meeting. Savile prepares for The Bupa Great North Run in Newcastle on October 1, 2006 Coogan will portray Savile at several stages of his career, from his earlier years of presenting to the latter stages of his life (pictured: Coogan as an older Savile) 2013 January 11: The report from Scotland Yard, which collaborated with the NSPCC, finds that Savile was a 'prolific predatory' sex offender. The report reveals 214 criminal offences across 28 police forces, which occurred between 1955 and 2009. Its report, Giving Victims a Voice, added that 73 per cent of victims were children. It also found that Savile was able to hide 'in plain sight' thanks to his fame. Operation Yewtree subsequently investigated many other TV personalities that were contemporaries of Savile. Speaking at the time, Peter Watt of the NSPCC, described Savile as 'one of the most prolific sex offenders we have ever come across.' He continued: 'It's clear Savile cunningly built his entire life into gaining access to vulnerable children. 'The sheer scale of Savile's abuse over six decades simply beggars belief. 'But with this report we can at least show his victims that they have been taken seriously and their suffering has been recognised,' per inews. Savile was revealed to have bragged to NHS staff that he performed sex acts on the bodies of recently deceased persons in the mortuary of Leeds General Hospital. Steve Coogan filming The Reckoning, in character as Jimmy Savile in one of the paedophile's trademark tracksuits 2014 June 26: A report on Savile's actions at NHS hospitals across the UK is presented to Jeremy Hunt, who was serving as Health Secretary at the time. The report revealed the shocking actions of Savile, who was found to have assaulted victims in NHS hospitals over several decades. This included at Leeds General Infirmary, where 60 people (aged from five to 75), including staff and patients, stated they had been abused by Savile. Savile was also revealed to have bragged to NHS staff that he performed sex acts on the bodies of recently deceased persons in the mortuary of Leeds General Hospital. Despite its findings, the report said: 'We have no way of proving Savile's claims that he interfered with the bodies of the deceased patients in the mortuary in this way'. 2015 February 26: Another report into Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Buckinghamshire found he had sexually abused more than 50 people there, including staff, patients and visitors, with one victim just eight years of age. It concluded that it was widely known at the hospital that Savile was a 'sex pest'. Although 10 complaints were made at the time, no action was taken to report Savile. That same day, another report by barrister Kate Lampard was published. It said: 'Savile was a highly unusual personality whose lifestyle, behaviour and offending patterns were equally unusual. 'As a result of his celebrity, his volunteering, and his fundraising he had exceptional access to a number of NHS hospitals and took the opportunities that that access gave him to abuse patients, staff and others on a remarkable scale. 'Savile's ability to continue to pursue his activities without effective challenge was aided by fragmented hospital management arrangements; social attitudes of the times, including reticence in reporting and accepting reports of sexual harassment and abuse, and greater deference than today towards those in positions of influence and power; and less bold and intrusive media reporting 'While it might be tempting to dismiss the Savile case as wholly exceptional, a unique result of a perfect storm of circumstances, the evidence we have gathered indicates that there are many elements of the Savile story that could be repeated in the future.' A report into Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Buckinghamshire found he had sexually abused more than 50 people there, including staff, patients and visitors, with one victim just eight years of age. Pictured: Savile in 1968 2016 February: The findings of the report by Dame Janet Smith show that BBC staff missed numerous opportunities to stop Savile from committing sex offences. Smith identifies 72 people who were the victims of sexual crimes while Savile worked at the BBC, the youngest of whom was 10 years old. The earliest reported incident was the rape of a 13-year-old girl at Lime Grove studios in 1959, with other offences by Savile being committed as late as 2006, at the last recording of Top of the Pops. The review found misconduct to have been committed at 'virtually every one of the BBC premises at which he worked'. Smith added that some BBC staff were aware of complaints, but did not pass the information to senior management due to the 'culture of not complaining' at the corporation. A Royal Navy ship that performed a crucial role on D-Day won't be able to attend the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings next year - because of soaring fuel bills. HMS Medusa was one of the first Allied vessels to arrive off the Normandy beaches on June 6, 1944, and acted as a marker for minesweepers. She was a Harbour Defence Motor Launch and out of nearly 500 vessels in her class she is the only one remaining in original condition. The volunteers who keep her ship-shape had hoped to return to the scene of her finest wartime mission next June, but need to find thousands of pounds to pay for the trip. It will cost 8,000 for 6,000 litres of marine diesel for the return voyage from Gosport, Hants, to Normandy. They are now appealing for donations so Medusa can make the trip. Her present captain Alan Watson OBE said: 'We'd love to go to France next year and think it fitting, but costs have risen. 'On top of the 20,000 a year we need just to keep her in a seaworthy condition we need another 10,000 and most of that is fuel costs. HMS Medusa was one of the first Allied vessels to arrive off the Normandy beaches on June 6, 1944, and acted as a marker for minesweepers She was a Harbour Defence Motor Launch and out of nearly 500 vessels in her class she is the only one remaining in original condition Medusa, 72ft long, carried the most advanced navigation equipment to help her locate the exact spot on the day of the landings The volunteers who keep her ship-shape had hoped to return to the scene of her finest wartime mission next June (Pictured - The engine room on board the ship) 'Many ships that took part in D-Day will be marking the anniversary in UK waters, but we think Medusa should be in France.' HMS Medusa was built in Poole, Dorset in 1943. She set off from Portland Harbour on the night of June 4, 1944, before the invasion was delayed. She returned, waited, then set off again on June 5 to mark a precise spot on the edge of a German minefield off Omaha beach for the following day's invasion. There she stayed as a beacon for the minesweepers so they knew where to cut a passage to the beaches, and as a marker for the invading force that followed. Medusa, 72ft long, carried the most advanced navigation equipment to help her locate the exact spot. This kit was so precious that she was fitted with demolition charges so she could destroy herself rather than let her equipment be taken by the enemy. For 30 hours she stayed in the same location, allowing the ships and landing craft a safe passage through the water to the beaches. After the landings, Medusa, who turns 80 this month, worked off Scotland as an escort to a minesweeping flotilla and in May 1945 went to Ijmuiden in the Netherlands where she accepted the surrender of the occupying German forces. Her present captain Alan Watson OBE said: 'We'd love to go to France next year and think it fitting, but costs have risen' It will cost 8,000 for 6,000 litres of marine diesel for the return voyage from Gosport, Hants, to Normandy D-Day - Operation Neptune - in June 1944 was the biggest seaborne invasion in history (Pictured - plans for the operation) From there she navigated the North Sea Canal to Amsterdam, the first allied ship to do so, and was there for VE Day on the 9th of May. READ MORE: How the Daily Mail revealed the D-Day assault, hailing it as 'the first historic day of Europe's liberation' The Daily Mail's front page the day after D-Day was incredibly optimistic, with the splash declaring the 'first historic day of Europe's liberation has gone completely in favour of the Allies' Advertisement Capt Watson said: 'She is an incredible survivor. There are one or two hulls of her class remaining used as house boats and one other that has been modernised, so she is unique. 'She was built in Poole in Dorset on the site now occupied by Sunseeker, the motor yacht builder. 'She had a short but eventful war and took part in Exercise Fabius 1 - the rehearsal for the Normandy landings conducted at Slapton Sands in Devon. 'On D-Day itself she performed a very important role and had an increased crew of 20, up from the usual 12. 'She had to be extremely precise with her positioning and her job as 'navigational leader' was to mark 'Channel 4' one of the passages to Omaha beach for the minesweepers then the invasion force, which consisted of mainly Americans. 'None of her D-Day crew are alive today but in their memory we'd like to take her across the Channel. 'We have a volunteer crew and a team that keeps her seaworthy, but we need extra funds to enable us to go. 'Medusa was sold by the Admiralty in 1968 after 25 years' service and was intended for the breaker's yard, but a group led by Mike Boyce in Weymouth spent 18 years restoring her. 'In 2002 a trust was formed to look after her and she is now based at Gosport in Hampshire. 'This country's maritime heritage is often overlooked and Medusa is a living, breathing part of that history.' D-Day - Operation Neptune - in June 1944 was the biggest seaborne invasion in history. Allied forces left England's south coast for France where they began to liberate the continent from the Nazis, and begin the ending of World War II. Donations can be made through the Medusa Trust's website https://www.hmsmedusa.org.uk/ Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to defeat Hamas after their sudden invasion left at least 482 people dead An American woman living one mile from Gaza says she has 'never been this scared in my life' after Hamas militants attacked Israel, infiltrating her daughter's home and killing three members of her community. Adele Raemer, a 68-year-old retired teacher who moved from the Bronx to Israel in 1975, recorded her experience while holed up in her safe room as terrorists raided her building. 'I have to say this is very scary. Ive never been this scared in my life,' Raemer said in a video update from her safe room. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to defeat Hamas after their sudden invasion left at least 482 people dead and another 3,200 injured - in less than one day. Dozens more are said to have been kidnapped and driven across the border into the Gaza Strip. Adele Raemer, 68, documented Hamas' attack on Israel from her home just one mile from the Gaza Strip Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel Saturday morning, ultimately killing hundreds and injuring thousands Raemer, who lives on a kibbutz one mile from Gaza where she entertains children in hospital as a clown, first documented the attack in a post early Saturday morning: 'Suddenly out of nowhere, massive barrage, non stop,' she said. 'Hearing massive machine gun fire. No idea if IDF are here yet. Everyone in lockdown,' she said. Raemer said Hamas militants were going through the kibbutz and trying to break in. 'I hear much shooting, even through the the thick walls of the saferoom. I need to go to the bathroom, but dare not. I have literally never been this frightened,' she wrote. Just the night before the attack, Raemer posted a video celebrating the 77th anniversary of her community. Hours later they were at war. Raemer's son-in-law was forced to shoot militants who stormed the home where her grandkids live and three members of her kibbutz and nine terrorists were killed, according to The New York Post. 'This is just totally unprecedented. We never had anything like this before,' Raemer said in a video update. 'The sheer number of rockets that are being shot at the same time is overwhelming Iron Dome. 'So I dont know where were going from here, but this is war. There is no getting around that. I dont know if you can hear the explosions in the background.' Raemer, a 68-year-old retired teacher who moved from the Bronx to Israel in 1975, was eventually rescued by soldiers She said she 'has never been more terrified in her life' after terrorist tried to break into her home Dozens of people are said to have been kidnapped off the streets of Israel and driven across the border into the Gaza Strip 'Terrorists have infiltrated into Israel and thats in addition to the massive rocket attacks. If youre the praying type, pray for us.' Raemer said she was thirsty and had to use the restroom but was terrified to drink too much or leave her safe room. She shared a photo of her covered windows and wrote: 'Still in lock down, terrorists tried to break into my house. So far they haven't succeeded.' In the afternoon she was notified that help was on the way and hoped to have time to grab some of her stuff to take with her. She later posted a photo with soldiers who rescued her and revealed how she had to flee in just the clothes on her back. 'We were taken to a safe central place, guarded by our members with guns, and are awaiting further instructions,' she said. 'I left with the dress I'm wearing, my purse, grabbed my sleeping pills, and put on shoes. 'This is totally unprecedented, we have always been able to at least pack a bag. I haven't brushed my teeth, or cleaned my face.' Raemer said her son-in-law was forced to shoot militants who stormed the home where her grandkids live Three members of Raemer kibbutz and nine terrorists were killed in the attacks Raemer shared a video of her being taken to safety, showing the damage around her community. 'What is happening here, and in other communities along the border, is the case of a terrorist army, invading a sovereign state. I will not apologize for any military action that our IDF take, in order to return the safety to our lives,' she said. Raemer is now still in the kibbutz but under army protection and described the conditions. 'So I'm spending the night with the frightened humanity of my community. We are in a large common safe space, with toilets and garbage that are overflowing, surrounded by the smells of unwashed people,' she said. The attack has left hundreds dead and thousands injured. Dozens more are said to have been kidnapped and driven across the border into the Gaza Strip. Rukhshana, September 28, 2023 An Afghan women protestor and her adult son have been detained by Taliban forces in a raid on the family home in Qala-e-Fatullah in Kabul, according to one of the familys relatives. Taliban forces first arrested Zhulia Parsis 21-year-old son from his workplace a photography shop in Kot-e-Sangi area, before taking him to Qala-e-Fatullah and raiding Zhulia Parsis home and taking her away, the source said. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Taliban forces returned to Mrs Parsis home at around 1.00PM, interrogated her remaining children, and took away some of her documents. The family do not know where Mrs Parsi and her son have been taken, and the de facto authorities are not commenting on the issue. Mrs Parsi is one of the protesting women and a member of the womens movement called the Spontaneous Womens Movement in Kabul. She has participated in many demonstrations for womens rights in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, a number of women and girls and civil activists have launched a social media campaign using the hashtag #FreeZhuliaParsi to demand her immediate release. Zhulia Parsi was one of the active and protesting women, Sima Noori, a womens rights activist posted on X, formerly Twitter. Her arrests news by the enemies of humanity and misogynists, the Taliban, is unfortunate. Hoda Khamosh, another womens rights activist, said in a post, Every day we just go backward. We are oppressed every day. We are moving towards the Stone Ages every day. From trouble to aggression and restrictions that are increasing on daily basis. Today Zhulia Parsi was detained with her eldest son by the group of ignorance, and until now there is no information about their fate. Last week the Taliban intelligence forces arrested Neda Parwani, her husband, and her four-year-old son. To date, there is still no information about their fate. Amnesty International has expressed its concern about the situation of Mrs Parwani and her family and demanded their immediate and unconditional release. An Aussie backpacker who gave birth after a horror 80 hour labour in 'the foothills of the Himalayas' is pleading for government help to return to Australia after falling ill. India Hodgkins, a 22-year-old backpacker from Brisbane, is showing 'signs of liver failure' and her newborn son Neo's health has become 'precarious'. Ms Hodgkins' fiance, Jordan Austin, who travelled 8,000km in six days to be with her, says the mother and baby are in a race against time and need a 'bureaucratic wall' to fall so they can get urgent medical help at home. 'We need the Australian immigration department to recognise the urgency of our situation and allow us to come home now, not in three months,' he wrote on GoFundMe. Ms Hodgkins did not know she was pregnant before she went into labour while camping in a rice field in Rukum, a mountain district 280km west of Katmandu, Nepal. Medical appointments in Australia failed to detect her pregnancy, so the young Brisbane barista went traveling. India Hodgkins gave birth to baby Neo after a horror 80 hour labour that moved from a tent in a rice field to a forest bein 'watched by monkeys' then a barn, before finally getting to a tiny rural hospital. Pictured: Ms Hodgkins with Neo and Jordan Austin Ms Hodgkins, a 22-year-old backpacker from Brisbane , is showing 'signs of liver failure' while her baby is also unwell. Mr Austin has pleaded with government authorities to relax requirements and issue the baby with a passport so they can get medical care quickly Ms Hodgkins's 80 hour ordeal began in a rice field in Rukum, Nepal in the foothills of the Himalayas (pictured) After months of bloating and vomiting she became convinced she had a tropical disease that she couldn't shake - until her waters suddenly broke at the end of September. 'We thought everything from iron deficiency to gluten intolerance through to digestive issues and even water-borne bacteria, said Ms Hodgkins' partner Jordan Austin. READ MORE: Mother gives birth to wins beside busy highway A young mum has reflected on the miracle of her 'roadside babies' after she gave birth to adorable twins on the side of a Queensland highway. Advertisement Only when her waters broke did she realise the dramatic miscalculation she and her doctors had made. Now Mr Austin is pleading for the Australian government to speed up approval of Neo's Australian citizenship to the trio can get home to Queensland. Mr Austin claimed staff at the Australian embassy in Kathmandu told he and India to apply for citizenship online for their baby. But because Nepalese authorities issued a birth certificate without a name and the Australian government needs to the baby's name on the document, the family is stuck in limbo. 'My son Neo Dundalli Tal Austin is 14 days old at time of writing. We are currently in Kathmandu, Nepal and unable to return to Australia as [he] is without a passport,' Mr Austin wrote. That process can take three months, a wait that could be life-threatening for mother and son, whose condition has become 'precarious'. 'Since the birth both baby and mumma have had health complications,' he said. 'India is showing signs of liver failure and extremely low iron levels, beyond anaemic levels. 'She totally lost her vision, blacking out for over 5 minutes and almost fainted. Mr Austin said the couple face a 'bureaucratic brick wall' from the Australian government 'Neo was born with severe jaundice and without any ultrasounds or knowledge of whether he was premature or not.' But Mr Austin said the couple face a 'bureaucratic brick wall' before they can get on a plane to come home for the medical care they so desperately need. 'The Australian Embassy in Kathmandu is largely indifferent to our situation,' he said. Ms Hodgkins' epic and 'intense' three-day childbirth began when her waters broke while she was camping in a rice field in Rukum with 50 other people. She tried to stay in her tent but when it became too hot, she walked slowly with friends to a nearby forest, where she she lay in agony, watched by 'monkeys', the Courier Mail reported. She moved back to the rice field, then a nearby hotel, then a stranger's barn, before being carried over a flooded river on a stretcher to reach a medical facility in Mangalsen.' That is where Mr Austin finally reached her. He received a text message that he was 'going to be a dad' from a friend with Ms Hodgkins while he was in Ravenshoe, far north Queensland. He drove for 24 of the next 28 hours, sleeping in a tent beside a service station at one point, then needed three flights to reach Kathmandu, before taking two overnight bus trips to reach her. Mr Austin travelled over 8,000km from far north Queensland to reach his fiance, India Hodgkins in Nepal, where had given birth Mr Austin started a fundraiser to keep the young family 'afloat' financially while they wait for the Australian government to process the baby's citizenship forms. Ms Hodgkins parents have joined the couple in Nepal and the family is believed to have the 'means' to travel home, but want financial support for medical care while overseas. A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said consular assistance was being provided to an Australian family in Nepal. It declined to comment any further due to privacy obligations. It's the 20,000-mile school run no parent would envy. Greg Jackson, founder and CEO of green company Octopus Energy, today reveals his extraordinary journeys to ensure he can pick up his two sons from school. Jackson, 52, who is no longer with the mother of his two sons, tells Radio 4s Desert Island Discs he will travel across continents so he can spend a Wednesday night with his the boys. He has them twice a week and on alternative weekends and says: Travel means its much harder now than it actually was even just working hard before. 'Because of the importance of particularly the Wednesday night with the boys I have done things like flying to Japan on a Sunday night. I get to Tokyo Monday morning meetings there, meetings in Yokohama Monday afternoon, dinner in Tokyo Monday evening. Greg Jackson today reveals his extraordinary journeys to ensure he can pick up his two sons from school The 52-year-old is the founder and CEO of green company Octopus Energy 'Then plane overnight to Sydney, meetings in Sydney on Tuesday morning, then to Melbourne, meetings in Melbourne on Tuesday evening than back on a plane to get to the UK in time for school pick-up on a Wednesday. That sort of thing is quite hard. The initial flight from Britain to Tokyo is around 5,900 miles while the subsequent flight from Tokyo to Sydney is just over 4,000 miles. Jackson then has to make the more than 10,000-mile journey from Melbourne to London. It is unclear if he has more flights while travelling in Japan and Australia. Though his trips to the school are beyond the dreams of most people, the meal awaiting the children at his home is a humbler affair. He reveals he will try to show his love for the boys through cooking, though he is not a great chef. He recently served up a quality meal of spaghetti and fish fingers. Octopus has 3.5 million customers globally, operates in 14 countries and has a 4.4billion portfolio of renewable energy assets. Desert Island Discs is on Radio 4 today at 11.15am and available via BBC Sounds. A senior Labour MP has been forced to suspend one of his staff today for appearing to joke about the IRA assassination of King Charles's great-uncle Lord Mountbatten. Andy McDonald, who served in Sir Keir Starmer's Shadow Cabinet, took action against constituency caseworker Roisin Nic Lochlainn after this newspaper challenged him over his aide's offensive social media posts which she 'apologised unreservedly' for. The Mail on Sunday can reveal how ardent Irish republican sympathiser Ms Nic Lochlainn, 23, appeared to make light of his death in a post on X, formerly Twitter, last year. It read: 'OK question for all the Brits flooding my replies and quote tweets, how's Mountbatten doing xx.' The King's confidant died in 1979 when his boat was blown to pieces by an IRA bomb. Labour MP Andy McDonald (pictured) has been forced to suspend one of his staff for appearing to joke about the IRA assassination of King Charles's great-uncle Lord Mountbatten McDonald (pictured right), who served in Sir Keir Starmer's (pictured centre) Shadow Cabinet, took action against constituency caseworker Roisin Nic Lochlainn Last month, she 'liked' an X post which attacked the Royal Family as 'child abusers and racists' and, in 2018, quoted a poem which mocked the 'blood-soaked' Remembrance Day poppy in a Facebook post. On the eve of Labour's annual conference, Mr McDonald stressed that he had been unaware of the 'wholly unacceptable' comments. The MP for Middlesbrough added in a statement: 'I fully appreciate that some of these remarks were made by her as a teenager but in all the circumstances I have suspended Roisin's employment pending the outcome of our internal inquiries and processes.' The wife of the 'The Incredible Hulk' star Lou Ferrigno has filed for divorce, accusing him of flaunting a mistress, and trapping her in an abusive and controlling marriage after she was diagnosed with dementia, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal. Ferrigno's wife Carla, 74, made the disturbing claims in recent court filings in San Luis Obispo County, California, as she opposed his attempt to establish a court-ordered conservatorship to control her affairs. It comes after Ferrigno, 71, claimed in court that Carla has 'advanced dementia' and accused their own daughter, 42-year-old Shanna of 'elder abuse' for attempting to drive Carla to the bank to withdraw $500,000. In response, Carla now accuses Ferrigno, her husband of 43 years, of covertly cutting off her access to their joint finances, and of keeping her physically isolated to prevent her from divorcing him. In a signed declaration, she also alleges that Ferrigno has a brazen affair with a mistress named Lisa, 'with whom he spends most of his time, traveling to his various appearances and flaunting in my face even when he is home.' Lou Ferrigno is seen with wife Carla and their children Lou Jr and Shanna in 2020. Carla has filed for divorce and is firing back at Lou's claims her daughter is responsible for 'elder abuse' Ferrigno was a bodybuilding rival of Arnold Schwarzenegger before becoming an actor best known for The Incredible Hulk 'While his infidelity may not be abuse, when I get upset with him about her being around, he physically intimidates me, by getting into my face and using his much larger sizehe will remind everyone that he is the Hulkcompared to my slight stature, to scare and control me into submission,' said Carla. 'While towering over me, he yells at me, claiming horrible things about me and making sure that I understand that I am ruining his life and that he will not care for me,' she adds. Ferrigno was a bodybuilding rival of Arnold Schwarzenegger before becoming an actor best known for The Hulk - and their competition was the subject of the 1977 documentary Pumping Iron. Ferrigno's attorney Vatche Zetjian responded in a statement to DailyMail.com, saying: 'Lou's priority remains his wife's welfare. All of the Restraining Orders recently mentioned in the press have been suspended upon mutual agreement of the parties. 'Lou and Carla, through counsel, have agreed to mediate and Lou's hope remains that they reach an amicable resolution. Lou requests privacy for all his family members at this time.' Although Carla confirms in the filings that she has been diagnosed with dementia, both her doctor and attorney say she has consistently expressed her desire for a divorce for years, and has the capacity to understand that decision. 'Lou decided to hatch what can only be described as a Machiavellian scheme to try to trap Carla in the marriage so that he can hold on to all the assets Carla and Lou accumulated throughout their 43 year marriage,' Carla's attorneys wrote in a filing. Those assets include the $2.9 million mansion the couple purchased in 2019 in Arroyo Grande, California. California's community property law typically requires any assets earned during a marriage, or purchased with those earnings, be equally split in a divorce. Text messages between Lou and Shanna, including in the filings, purport to show Lou lamenting that Carla wanted to divorce him over a year ago. In multiple messages, Lou shares his concern that a divorce would mean the loss of their mansion, writing 'She can take my house away' and 'she wants to take away my beautiful home.' Carla's attorneys alleged that Ferrigno is keeping her 'trapped' in their marriage because he fears losing the $2.9 million mansion they bought in 2019 Text messages between Lou and Shanna, including in the filings, purport to show Lou lamenting that Carla wanted to divorce him over a year ago It comes after Ferrigno, 71, accused their own daughter, 42-year-old Shanna (above) of 'elder abuse' for attempting to drive Carla to the bank to withdraw $500,000 According to the court filings reviewed by DailyMail.com, Carla met with her attorneys Gary Hunt and Alex Newsum on September 8 to seek a divorce. 'Without divulging any attorney-client communications, I can state that Carla expressed a clear desire to divorce her husband, Lou Ferrigno, and to hire our office to pursue that action,' Newsum said in a signed declaration. Newsum said he followed up with a phone call with Carla's neurologist of the past three years, Dr. Robert Price, to consult on her mental state. According to Newsum, and verified in a signed letter from Price, the doctor stated his belief that Carla had the capacity to understand and express her desires regarding a divorce, and pursue the necessary legal action. Price in his September 13 letter wrote that during their first meeting in 2020, Carla had 'complained bitterly' about her marriage, in particular the recent move to Arroyo Grande and the mansion, which she felt was 'solely inspired by her husband and his needs.' On September 14, Carla's lawyers filed a petition for divorce, and a request for a restraining order, which included declaration describing the alleged abuse and a supporting statement from hired caregiver Kari Shaw. 'Through recent filings and statements through his attorneys, Lou has made it known that I have been diagnosed with dementia, but what he leaves out is that his own frustration with that fact and my aging in a way that prevents me from keeping up with him, has led to him being abusive of me in many ways,' she said in the declaration. 'I do not deny that I am not in the same condition as I was when I was younger, but I know what is going on around me, how Lou treats me, and that he is trying to ensure that I am treated as completely incompetent so that he can use our estate and leave me to die,' she continued. 'I know that I want a divorce and that Lou is trying to stop that by isolating me from other family members,' said Carla. Lou and Carla Ferrigno are pictured in 1985 in Los Angeles. They married in 1980 Lou Ferrigno was a famous bodybuilder and later actor in the 1970s and 80s Carla also appeared to address Lou's prior claims that her daughter, Shanna, attempted to trick her into withdrawing $500,000 from his bank account -- though the filing does not explicitly say she is describing the same incident. In a restraining order request, Lou claimed Shanna, a fitness trainer, and her aunt, Carla's sister Pam Voge, were attempting to siphon Carla's assets, and accused them of 'financially exploiting' Carla. Carla said in her declaration: 'I believed that I had access to some joint accounts and credit cards, but recently went to the bank to access this, and Lou had used estate planning documents to limit my access and he was notified at my attempt, came to the bank and made sure that I was not able to access our money, in any way.' The declaration makes disturbing allegations that Lou severely restricts Carla's movements within the mansion by locking interior doors, restricting her to her bedroom and the kitchen. She alleges that he has failed to make the home safer for her declining mental condition by installing traction on the stairs, or a fence around the pool. She claims that her bed smells like dog urine, because her 17-year old dog had difficulty going down stairs to get outside, and that Lou refuses to steam clean the carpet. 'Lou has and is continuing to assert total control over me by way of physical intimidation, emotional abuse, restricting my movement within our own home, depriving me of access to our estate, and, most concerning to me, trying to make sure that I do not have access to my family, including our own children,' said Carla. She alleged that Lou's restraining order request against Shanna was an attempt to cut her off from family who could help. 'While for a long time Lou was willing to allow me to be cared for by our daughter and my sister, as well as hired care takers, now that they are calling him out on his abuse, he is taking steps to limit my contact with them,' said Carla. Carla told the court that she would like her daughter Shanna to manage her affairs, or alternatively, her son Lou Jr. After more than a century, the town of Reading, Pennsylvania closed the casket on Saturday on its oddest-ever resident - a mummified man who was finally buried, 128 years after his death. 'Stoneman Willie' had attracted large crowds of people in recent days who came to pay their respects, snap photos and gaze with bewilderment at the macabre mystery in a scene unlikely to ever be repeated in the United States. The alleged thief died in 1895 in jail and was taken to the Theo C. Auman Funeral Home and when no one claimed his body he was accidentally mummified by undertakers. 'Fast-forward 128 years and he's still here,' funeral home director Kyle Blankenbiller explained before of the burial. The thief gave authorities a false name - Willie - but his true identity was tracked down and finally revealed during Saturday's ceremony, a fitting end to his life - and bizarre afterlife. James Murphy was engraved on his gravestone which was unveiled at the climax of his funeral. The mummified man known as 'Stoneman Willie' has been on display in a Pennsylvania funeral home since he died in 1895 Reverend Robert Whitmer visits 'Stoneman Willie' during his funeral service in Reading, Pennsylvania, on October 7, 2023 Staff and volunteers load the casket of 'Stoneman Willie' into a hearse during his funeral service in Reading, Pennsylvania At his interment, a crowd gathered under overcast skies, circling around Willie's black tombstone at a local cemetery for one final farewell. Funeral home employees and well-wishers, said in unison, 'Rest in peace, James,' as they unveiled his tombstone, with his real name in small letters below large type reading, 'Stoneman Willie.' He got his nickname from his hard-as-stone leathery skin and smooth sunken facial features which have been the object of fascination for thousands, including curious locals, researchers and, in decades past, schoolchildren on class trips. The corpse had been in an open casket at the funeral home until Saturday when it was loaded into a motorcycle-drawn hearse. He was dressed in a suit with a bow tie with a red sash across his chest and his hair and teeth intact. Whitmer conducts the funeral for 'Stoneman Willie' (James Murphy) on Saturday James Stilianos holds his hat over his heart as he visits the body of 'Stoneman Willie' for one final time The mummified man had become a quirky fixture of Reading history, 'our friend' who now got a well-deserved sendoff, Blankenbiller said. Murphy was of Irish descent, an alcoholic, and was in Reading at a firefighters' convention when he died in the local jailhouse of kidney failure on November 19, 1895, said Kyle Blankenbiller, the director of the Theo C. Auman Inc. Funeral Home where Murphy's remains had resided. The 37-year-old died after battling gastritis, which worsened into acute uremia or end-stage kidney disease. According to his cellmate, Willie was arrested for pickpocketing and adopted the fictitious name James Penn because he did not want to shame his wealthy Irish father. Funeral attendees look at the headstone for 'Stoneman Willie' during his funeral service The man's true identity was unknown because he gave a fake name when he was arrested more than a century ago for pickpocketing Auman Funeral Home Director Kyle Blankenbiller speaks to visitors before closing the casket of 'Stoneman Willie' during his funeral service On his death, local officials were unable to locate relatives, and the body was sent to Auman's. 'Weeks passed, months passed, years passed and no one claimed the remains,' said local historian George Meiser said during Saturday's service. Pastor Robert Whitmire told the gatherers that to those who may have known him, 'Stoneman Willie...at one time may have been a beloved friend and family member.' With embalming still an emerging science, Blankenbiller said, Theodor Auman, a mortician, experimented with a new formula with innovative arterial embalming - a technique still relatively new in the late 19th century. Before this, corpses were stored on ice until the burial. The process entails injecting the embalming fluid into an artery, which displaces the blood, and a drain tube facilitates the ejection of blood from the vein. The body of 'Stoneman Willie' is carried in a coffin to take part in a parade commemorating the 275th anniversary of the incorporation of the municipality of Reading, Pennsylvania 'Stoneman Willie' had attracted large crowds of people in recent days who came to pay their respects, snap photos and gaze with bewilderment at the macabre mystery in a scene unlikely to ever be repeated in the United States. 'Stoneman Willie's' gravestone revealed his real name as James Murphy 'The intensity of the concoction that he used' led to Stoneman Willie's mummification, a moisture removal process that forestalls decomposition. The excessive amount essentially petrified the man's body. Now, 'he's been gawked at enough,' Blankenbiller said. Burying Stoneman Willie during anniversary commemorations for the city was the 'reverent, respectful thing to do. 'We don't refer to him as a mummy. We refer to him as our friend Willie,' Blankenbiller explained. 'He has just been become such an icon, such a storied part of not only Reading's past but certainly its present.' Murphy was of Irish descent, an alcoholic, and was in Reading at a firefighters' convention when he died in the local jailhouse of kidney failure on November 19, 1895, Crowds of people have lined up in recent days to pay their respects to 'Stoneman Willie' It took some historic sleuthing by local historians to unearth his real name through records from the prison, funeral home and other documents to find the truth. The funeral home was eventually granted permission by the state to keep the body instead of burying it to monitor the experimental embalming process. Among those saying goodbye in recent days was Berks County resident Michael Klein, who was fascinated by the 'mystery of who this guy really was.' Stoneman Willie was buried in a vintage black tuxedo, fittingly from the 1890s. 'Everyone comes to America to live the American dream. Nobody comes to die in a prison unknown,' Klein said. Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu last night declared that Israel will take 'mighty vengeance for this black day' as warplanes launched a retaliatory strikes against Hamas. Airstrikes yesterday flattened several buildings in the centre of Gaza City, including an 11-storey building called Palestine Tower which houses Hamas radio stations on its rooftop. Seventeen Hamas compounds were also hit as dozens of fighter jets launched strikes against the terror group. Israel's military has mobilised tens of thousands of reservists and is now expected to launch a huge ground operation in Gaza. The country's energy and infrastructure minister Israel Katz said Israel will cut off its electricity supply to the Gaza Strip. Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu last night declared that Israel will take 'mighty vengeance for this black day' as warplanes launched a retaliatory strikes against Hamas Smoke and flames billow after Israeli forces struck a high-rise tower in Gaza City, October 7 'I have signed an order instructing Israel's electric company to stop the electricity supply to Gaza,' Mr Katz said in a statement. READ MORE: Who are Hamas? Everything you need to know about the Palestinian terror movement that has launched war on Israel Advertisement Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, an Israeli army spokesman, last night told reporters fighting is still going on at 22 locations on Israeli territory after Hamas terrorists attacked early on Saturday. He said a 'severe hostage situation' was ongoing at Be'eri, a kibbutz in southern Israel, and the nearby town of Ofakim, where Hamas fighters are believed to have taken both Israeli soldiers and civilians hostage. Earlier, in a statement filmed at Israel Defence forces headquarters in Tel Aviv, Mr Netanyahu declared 'we are at war' and said Hamas will pay 'an unprecedented price' for its attacks on Israel. He said: 'Citizens of Israel, we are at war. Not an operation, not a round [of fighting,] at war!' He announced that he was launching an 'extensive mobilisation of the reserves to fight back on a scale and intensity that the enemy has so far not experienced'. In a further statement, the PM vowed Israel would 'reach every place Hamas is hiding'. He says the terrorist group is responsible for the wellbeing of the more than 50 captives it has seized. 'Israel will settle the score with anyone who harms them,' he added. Israeli forces have mounted strikes against targets in Gaza City following attacks on Saturday A tower block in Gaza City is hit by an Israeli airstrike after Palestinian militants struck Israel A rocket is launched from the coastal Gaza strip towards Israel by militants of the Ezz Al-Din Al Qassam militia, the military wing of Hamas movement, in Gaza City, 7 October 2023 Medical aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres said a nurse and an ambulance driver were killed in Israeli strikes on two hospitals in Gaza. Israel fired a warning just before its devastating strike against the Palestine Tower. Video footage showed the building erupting in flames as a blitz of six bombs smashed into it. The number of casualties was not immediately known. Soon after, Hamas fired a barrage of rockets into central Israel, hitting four cities, including Tel Aviv and a nearby suburb, where two people were seriously injured. Meanwhile, Israel was last night facing questions over its 'colossal failure' to foresee and prevent the unprecedented attacks from Gaza. Hamas rocket and drone attacks were coupled with hundreds of gunmen rushing through breaches in the vast border fence to little apparent opposition, after which they spent Saturday indiscriminately killing civilians, seizing hostages and spreading terror. Commentators were shocked at how such a major attack could have preserved the element of total surprise, despite Israel's cutting-edge military and sophisticated intelligence services. Netanyahu announced that he was launching an 'extensive mobilisation of the reserves to fight back on a scale and intensity that the enemy has so far not experienced'. Pictured: Fire and smoke rises above Gaza after an Israeli air strike moke and flames rise after Israeli forces airstrikes as clashes continue between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups 'All of Israel is asking itself: Where is the IDF, where is the police, where is the security? It's a colossal failure; the hierarchies have simply failed, with vast consequences', Eli Maron, the former head of the Israeli Navy, said. Others compared the attack to the beginning of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, which also began with surprise Arab attacks on the eponymous High Holy Day, before Israel launched a successful fightback. Asked by reporters how Hamas had managed to catch the military off guard, Lt Col Hecht replied: 'That's a good question.' Theories quickly began circulating in Israeli media. Some suggested protests near the Gaza border fence could have been used to disguise operations. Others blamed the distraction caused by recent political battles over judicial reforms that were pushed forward by the PM and his far-Right coalition partners. Liberal and Left-wing opponents said they would weaken the rule of law and potentially usher in dictatorship, leading to hundreds of military reservists threatening to stop reporting for duty. Mainstream protest groups yesterday cancelled further demonstrations and urged supporters to rally to the defence of Israel, 'without hesitation and immediately' in light of events. The shadowy leader of Hamas' military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the assault was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, Israeli raids inside West Bank cities over the past year, violence at Al Aqsa the disputed Jerusalem holy site sacred to Jews as the Temple Mount increasing attacks by settlers on Palestinians and growth of settlements. He said the morning attack was only the start of what he called 'Operation Al-Aqsa Storm'. New York City Mayor Eric Adams was heckled while touring a Colombian port town where many migrants start their journey to the United States. 'Shame on you Eric Adams,' a protester is heard on video during the mayor's Saturday tour of Necocli. 'It will increase the amount of violence against migrants across the United States,' the heckler said. Adams is on a tour of Latin America to tell migrants that New York City is 'at capacity' and they 'won't get five-star hotels' if they come to the Big Apple. Others gathered to protest the mayor during his final stop. One sign read: 'Go back to New Jersey you migrant hating creep.' New York City Mayor Eric Adams toured Necocli in northern Colombia on Saturday, capping off his vanity tour of South America Adams was faced by protesters during his visit. One person shouted, 'Shame on you Eric Adams,' another person held a sign that said, 'Go back to New Jersey you migrant hating creep' Adams wrapped up his 'vanity tour' of South and Central America calling for the right to work for migrants in the US. 'When you look at Colombia they have really shown how to absorb individuals into their societies, and one of the most important ways to do it is to allow people to work,' Adams told reporters in Necocli. 'Nothing is more humane and, nothing is more American than your right to work, and we believe that is a right we should extend.' The mayor said he was given a 'true analysis' of the Darien Gap by Colombian officials and law enforcement as part of his 'fact-finding' mission, according to the New York Post. 'This is a true learning experience of how Colombia has really shown a direction that we can all benefit from by analyzing what they are doing and how we can grow on what they are doing to show the humanity they deserve,' said Adams. According to Panama's National Immigration Service, more than 200,000 Venezuelans crossed the Darien Gap this year on their way to the United States. During his stop in Ecuador, the mayor met with migrants in a family shelter and stopped short of telling them not to come to the city. The Big Apple is struggling to keep up the massive influx of migrants who have overwhelmed its shelter system and strained financial resources. Estimated costs to accommodate them is set to tip $4.7 billion. The staggering cost is equal to the city's sanitation, fire and parks departments budgets combined. During his Ecuador stop, Adams fell short of telling migrants not to come to the Big Apple In August, hundreds of migrants slept while waiting for placement at the Roosevelt Hotel intake center in New York In August 2022, Adams welcome migrants bused in from Texas at Port Authority, saying he was proud New York is a shelter state After his stop in Mexico, the mayor said: 'Our hearts are endless, but our resources are not. We don't want to put people in congregate shelters. We don't want people to think they will be employed.' The Democrat has taken a change of tone with migrants in his city. In 2022, Adams welcomed migrants arriving on busses sent from Texas 'As the mayor of New York, I have to provide services families that are here, and that's what we're going to do - our responsibility as a city, and I'm proud that this is a Right to Shelter state, and we're going continue to do that,' he said at the time. On Tuesday, Adams asked a judge to suspend the right to shelter law as he struggles to house more than 122,000 migrants who have flooded the city since last year. The sinking of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse with the loss of more than 800 lives remains one of the worst losses in British naval history. But now an unseemly row has broken out over plans to create a new memorial for the men who died after being targeted by Japanese bombers during World War Two. Doctor Dominic Tweddle the head of the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth fears both the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office are blocking his plans to establish a memorial in the UK which can be visited by the loved ones of those killed. He said: 'We have asked for this material, and we are somewhat disappointed with the response that the Ministry of Defence wants it to stay in Malaysia for some unknown reason.' 'What I want is the two anchors, the hawsepipe which goes through the side of the ship and a number of personal objects including items of clothing, cutlery and everyday signs of life.' Doctor Dominic Tweddle (pictured), the head of the National Museum of the Royal Navy, is battling with the government over plans for a memorial for 800 sailors lost in one of Britain's worst naval disasters of the Second World War 'I think if you look at it from the perspective from the families of the people who were lost on these two ships, they would probably prefer a memorial to be created back in the UK than in Malaysia because it's easier for them. It becomes more present.' Dr Tweddle and his team at the museum are trying, as yet unsuccessfully to repatriate items which once belonged on HMS Prince of Wales. He said he had no idea why his proposal was being blocked. But sources believe the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, who would have to meet the costs of bringing the material back to the UK, would prefer it to stay in Malaysia, perhaps forming a memorial in that country. HMS Prince of Wales along with the battlecruiser HMS Repulse was sunk in the South China sea on 10 December 1941 just days after the attack on Pearl Harbour. The two vessels accompanied by four destroyers, which formed Z force, had been on a mission to intercept Japanese invasion convoys in the South China sea when they were attacked by waves of Japanese bombers. The British ships had no air cover of their own. Both vessels turned over as they sank the remains of the Prince of Wales sit at a depth of 223 ft while the remains of the Repulse are at 183ft. Prof Tweddle said the Ministry of Defence and Foreign Office had blocked his plans to commemorate the sinking of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse (pictured) by the Japanese in 1941 When told of the sinking war time prime minister Sir Winston Churchill said he never 'received a more direct shock.' The two vessels which remain in the South China Sea are designated war graves. Earlier this year it emerged that the Prince of Wales had been targeted by Chinese pirates who had looted material from the ship. The authorities in Malaysia recovered much of the stolen material and these are the objects Mr Tweddle wants to bring back to the UK. In August he wrote to the British High Commissioner in Malaysia to claim the items. Mr Tweddle, an archaeologist, said its vital that material from both vessels, which are now classed as war graves, are cared for properly. He said: 'We thought that these ought to returned to the United Kingdom. They need conservation. Any metal that's underwater for any length of time acquires salt from the sea. It gets into the structure of the metal and if it's not washed out the metal will over time fall apart. They need specialist treatment these items.' He added: 'I think these are some of the most significant naval losses of the second world war. They shocked the nation. Hundreds of people lost their lives. They have been preserved as war graves since the end of the second world war and if they can't be preserved in situ it seems to me, they should be represented in the UK to memorialise the people who lost their lives.' But a Royal Navy source last night insisted that no decision had been made about the future of any of the items. They said: 'There is no block here. This is a delicate diplomatic process that is ongoing.' A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said: 'We are working closely with appropriate authorities and partners to ensure the future preservation of the recovered artefacts. 'We consider these sunken British warships to be the final resting place of our servicemen who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and have engaged with the local and regional authorities to ensure that our position is understood.' The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office declined to comment Sadiq Khan has given firms 151.8million in lucrative contracts to track down drivers who fail to pay Ulez penalties and other road fines. The London mayor has briefed four companies to chase motorists who are dodging the 12.50 daily charge for driving into recently expanded Ulez with non-compliant vehicles. The firms have been told to compile lists of persistent evaders - even if they are living abroad. They have also been tasked with gathering information on specific groups, according to contract details first seen by The Sun. The debt collectors have also been instructed to go after those who fail to pay parking tickets, the congestion charge and other motoring fines. At the end of last year, there was 255million worth of outstanding Ulez penalty notices. Sadiq Khan has reportedly given firms 151.8million in lucrative contracts to track down drivers who fail to pay Ulez penalties and other road fines The London mayor has briefed four companies to chase motorists who are dodging the 12.50 daily charge The hated Ulez was expanded from August 29 this year. The decision has sparked a major backlash People who drive in the zone with a polluting vehicle and fail to pay the 12.50 daily fee are initially being sent warning letters. But in the coming weeks Transport for London (TfL) is expected to start issuing rule-breakers with 180 fines, which could rise to 250. If paid within 14 days, it is reduced to 90. One firm has been handed a 34.6million contract to chase Ulez fine dodgers who have gone abroad. A second contract worth 117.2million has been spread out across three firms - debt recovery company Marston, enforcement agency Bristow and Sutor, and bailiffs JBW. As part of the agreement, TfL wants Marston and Bristow and Sutor to hand over a monthly 'persistent evader' report. JBW's role is to 'participate in intelligence-led enforcement activities targeting specific individuals or groups'. The ten-year contracts were first awarded in 2020 - a year after the Ulez charge was launched in central London. The Ulez expanded to cover all of London's 32 boroughs from August 29 in a move which has sparked massive protests, including serious damage being inflicted on cameras. Anti-ULEZ protesters staged a demo outside Mr Khan's house on Monday in the latest display of opposition to the controversial scheme. Furious drivers set up tents and signs outside the property in south London with one bringing a caravan with the words 'Sack Khan' and 'No To Ulez' on it. The Action Against Ulez organisation was out in force wearing hi-vis jackets for the 'all weekender' which they described as a 'hunger strike and protest'. Pictured: A Ulez camera deliberately turned away from the road and marked with red paint Furious motorists take part in an anti-Ulez protest in central London on Saturday September 23 The anti-ULEZ campaigners who are staging and ongoing protest outside London Mayor Sadiq Khan's house. They were pictured here on October 1 Signs plastered on vehicles parked outside on Saturday and Sunday said 'are you listening yet Mr Khan'; 'Ulez expansion justified with lies'; and 'stop the toxic air lie'. Further messages said 'resist, defy, do not comply' and 'every penny they can screw you for matters to TfL [Transport for London] and the Dictator of London'. Meanwhile, earlier this week a member of the infamous Blade Runners gang has vowed to continue destroying cameras - telling the Mayor of London: 'We won't stop until you stop. That's the bottom line.' In an interview with Talk TV, the masked maverick - who uses Ben as a fake name - claimed to have wrecked 150 of the traffic cameras since they were expanded across the capital's boroughs on August 29. Ben, wearing a balaclava and hood, is seen in the footage using an angle-grinder to cut down a Ulez camera mounted on a traffic light in just four seconds. The father-of-three, aged in his forties, says he goes out in the dead of night several days a week flouting the law to carry out what he calls 'unpaid voluntary work'. Speaking to TalkTV, Ben claims he's behind a near total blackout of enforcement cameras in the Bromley area, one of the Greater London boroughs where the scheme has been extended. Ben insists support among the public is widespread with many hailing them as heroes, saying, 'We are the voice of the people. You experienced the cheers against ULEZ right there and then you can see we are reflecting the voice of the public.' Activists, one dressed as a dinosaur and another wearing a dog costume, mocked ULEZ officials during their peaceful protest last month As well as blocking the ULEZ van's view with a truck, protesters also put a sign saying 'ULEZ scam' in front of the camera Ben - who has been a member of the group for several months, and says membership is growing: 'It started off as a small group of people and it has gradually grown. 'Since the expansion went live on August 29, numbers have increased significantly. We're like a pack of lone wolves. We sometimes work together, we work in isolation, and we all have this common goal.' Ben says mayor Sadiq Khan is targeting the most vulnerable people at the worst possible time as they struggle through a cost of living crisis. He explains: 'The members of society that have less disposable income are hit the hardest because if they can't afford to change their vehicle, they'll be subject to that daily charge no matter what. He claims the ULEZ network has been installed to 'catch everyone out'. Responding to the footage, London Minister Paul Scully said: 'I can understand the frustration but I can't condone the vandalism. You can't pick and choose the laws you want to adhere to. 'Nonetheless Sadiq Khan has shown through all of this that he is just not listening. 'I've got one camera near to where I live that just points towards the entrance of the Royal Marsden cancer hospital.' A TfL spokesperson said: 'We have had UK debt management and non-UK debt recovery contracts in place since 2003 when the Congestion Charge was introduced in London. 'No TfL revenue is spent on the UK debt management and enforcement contracts. These three companies generate their own revenue through fees that are included as part of the enforcement process. These fees are set by the Ministry of Justice. 'In the case of non-UK debt recovery, TfL pays EPC per case they process. The value of the contract with EPC (34.6million) reflects a maximum estimate of PCNs issued to non-UK registered vehicles across all of our road user charging schemes over the ten year contract period.' Anthony Albanese has doubled down in declaring one of the No campaign's key arguments 'the great lie', as he pleads with undecided Australians to vote Yes in the Voice to Parliament referendum. On Saturday, Australians will head to the polls to vote in the first referendum since 1999, where they will be asked whether they agree to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the constitution. Already, about two million people, including the Prime Minister, have voted in pre-polling. All published polls have the referendum on track to fail, but Mr Albanese says he remains hopeful that Australians will come together and vote Yes. He said Yes campaigns always had the tougher job in convincing Australians, pointing to the fact that just eight of 44 referendums in Australia's history have been successful, but said the arguments levelled by the No campaign had been harmful and dishonest. Anthony Albanese has doubled down in declaring one of the No campaign's key arguments 'the great lie', as he pleads with undecided Australians to vote Yes in the Voice to Parliament referendum Mr Albanese said Coalition Indigenous Australians spokeswoman and leading No campaigner Jacinta Nampijinpa Price's claims that the Voice will divide Australia by race was 'the great lie'. 'There is race powers now in our Constitution,' Mr Albanese told ABC Insiders. 'And what this (referendum) is about is Indigenous issues, not race... Every other former colony in the world... has recognised its first peoples in its founding document. READ MORE: See the moment ex-PM Tony Abbott is brutally heckled by a Yes supporter after casting his No vote Advertisement us peoples) to be listened to. Recognise the special relationship with 65,000 years of connection to land and waters gives to Indigenous Australians. ' Asked whether Senator Price was 'lying to Australians', Mr Albanese said it 'was not true to say this is divisive'. 'This is an opportunity to bring the country together,' he said. He said Australia was 'last in the queue' when it came to acknowledging the role of Indigenous Australians in its history. 'A vote for yes is a vote to show respect to Indigenous Australians. It's an opportunity for non-Indigenous Australians to lift that burden up, but it's something that will also be seen by much of the world,' he said. He said the world was watching closely. 'Australia is being... for how we're perceived, and it will be seen as an uplifting moment,' he said. 'It will be seen that Australia has come to terms with their history, that we're a mature nation, and we'd be diminished if we vote No.' Mr Albanese reiterated that the government would not legislate the Voice if the referendum fails, saying it would be 'inappropriate'. Asked if he would 'walk away altogether' from the Voice in the event of a No vote, Mr Albanese said 'correct'. 'Indigenous Australians have said they want a Voice that's enshrined,' he said. Mr Albanese reiterated that the government would not legislate the Voice if the referendum fails, saying it would be 'inappropriate' 'What they don't want to do is what they've done time and time again, which is to part of establishing representative organisations, only to see, for opportunistic reasons, a government to come in and just abolish it.' The argument for enshrining a Voice in the constitution rather than legislating it ensures that it cannot be repealed unless there is another referendum. The Opposition have been leading the charge in calling for the Prime Minister to legislate a Voice and put recognition only to the Australian people in a referendum. Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley earlier told Sky News it was a 'lose-lose' whatever the result was next Saturday, but the country needed to ensure it 'came together' the day after to move forward. 'It will be bad, divisive, and unhappy for Australians the next day. So we do need to bring the country together,' she said. 'I won't be happy, by the way, if No wins. I will be voting no with a heavy heart.' She said the Liberal Party was still committed to legislating regional and local voices, and remained determine to recognising Indigenous Australians in the constitution without the 'divisive' Voice. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton last month announced his intention to hold a second referendum for First Nations' recognition if the Coalition were to win the next election, but later watered down his commitment after Senator Price declined to back it. Ms Ley said a second referendum, coupled with legislating local and regional voices 'backs in our determination to recognise Indigenous Australians in our constitution'. Rukhshana, September 28, 2023 Taliban forces have detained three employees of Radio Naseem in central Daikundi province and sealed its office closed, according to two local sources. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Rukhshana Media the radio employees were handcuffed and taken away on Wednesday. They include radio chief Sultan Ali Jawadi and two reporters Saifullah Rezayi and Mujtaba Qasemi. According to the source, they were detained on charges of propagating against the Taliban. The employees were released after five hours in detention and violent beatings after giving a guarantee that they would not continue to speak against the Taliban. However, their cellphones were not returned to them and have been handed to the Talibans intelligence department, according to the source. The source said that Talibans provincial administration forced a commitment from the employees of the radio station that whenever they are summoned, they must appear immediately. Naseem Radio station was mostly active in the field of health and environment in Daikundi province and had recently published several reports about the situation of women in the province. Its believed this is the reason its employees were detained, the source said. According to the source, the three men were also forced to commit to not speak to external media or reporters. The broadcast of the radio station has been suspended until further notice. After regaining control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have severely limited media publications and have detained, tortured, and imprisoned many journalists in the country. Conservatives pounced on their comments and framed them as criticism of Israel which has lost hundreds of lives in the attack While the 'Squad' members are condemning the violence, critics are saying Israel should be able to defend themselves Republicans are criticizing 'Squad' House Democrats who are calling for a ceasefire after Hamas' deadly attacks on Israel. The left-wing group put out statements following the devastating attacks which Israeli officials say have left at least 300 dead and with at least 1,500 injured. Democrats Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Ilhan Omar lead condemnation of the attacks and called for a ceasefire. 'Today is devastating for all those seeking a lasting peace and respect for human rights in Israel and Palestine. I condemn Hamas' attack in the strongest possible terms,' Rep. Ocasio-Cortez said. 'No child and family should ever endure this kind of violence and fear, and this violence will not solve the ongoing oppression and occupation in the region.' 'An immediate ceasefire and de-escalation is urgently needed to save lives.' Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for an 'immediate ceasefire and de-escalation' after Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday Rep. Ilhan Omar said 'violence will only repeat the back and forth' and called for Israel to stand down I condemn the horrific acts we are seeing unfold today in Israel against children, women, the elderly, and the unarmed people who are being slaughtered and taken hostage by Hamas. Such senseless violence will only repeat the back and forth cycle we've seen, which we cannot allow Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) October 7, 2023 These devastating attacks on Israelis are deeply alarming and my heart breaks for the victims & their loved ones. We need an immediate ceasefire & de-escalation. It is long past time to stop this cycle of violence & trauma, and work toward a just & lasting peace in the region. https://t.co/mPUukLKYg6 Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) October 7, 2023 My statement on the escalating violence in the Middle East: pic.twitter.com/xGb8FYnqit Congressman Jamaal Bowman (@RepBowman) October 7, 2023 My statement on the escalating violence in the Middle East: pic.twitter.com/bf9wfKu66X Congresswoman Summer Lee (@RepSummerLee) October 7, 2023 Rep. Omar said: 'I condemn the horrific acts we are seeing unfold today in Israel against children, women, the elderly, and the unarmed people who are being slaughtered and taken hostage by Hamas.' 'Such senseless violence will only repeat the back and forth cycle we've seen, which we cannot allow to continue. We need to call for de-escalation and ceasefire. I will keep advocating for peace and justice throughout the Middle East.' Rep. Omar's statement received backlash from conservative pundits. 'She will never acknowledge that there was peace in the Middle East & Europe when Trump was in office,' said FOX & Friends Weekend co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. Conservative commentator John Hasson said: 'Notice how she only condemns the acts against 'children, women, the elderly, and the unarmed.' She's implying that attacking/killing IDF forces is fine.' Fighting continued overnight as Israel announced over 300 deaths in the surprise attack from the Hamas Saturday morning After the attacks Saturday morning, Hamas took dozens of Israeli civilians hostage Omar also expressed her compassion for the people in the Palestinian enclave of the Gaza Strip. 'Reminder, Gaza doesn't have shelters or an iron dome and to please pray for them,' the progressive lawmaker wrote on X. 'May peace prevail in the region and move us towards a moral awakening to care about the human suffering we are seeing. Palestinians are human beings who have been in besieged and are deserving of protection from the international community.' Rep. Ayanna Pressley said: 'These devastating attacks on Israelis are deeply alarming and my heart breaks for the victims & their loved ones. We need an immediate ceasefire & de-escalation. It is long past time to stop this cycle of violence & trauma, and work toward a just & lasting peace in the region.' Her statement was slammed for dismissing the need for Israel to defend itself. 'The squad telling Israel to stand down after it was attacked and hundreds of its citizens were massacred,' wrote one user. Rep. Jamaal Bowman said: 'I strongly condemn the horrific attacks by Hamas and am saddened by the loss of precious lives, especially on the holy day of Simchat Torah We need a way to end this deadly violence that is killing and traumatizing generations of Israelis and Palestinians alike including the blockade of Gaza.' 'I have been to the Gaza border and know that Israelis and Palestinians are constantly living in fear. We must work harder to ensure peace in the region.' Conservative radio host Jason Rantz said: 'Bowman can't merely condemn terrorism. He has to include his ignorant criticism of Israel.' She will never acknowledge that there was peace in the Middle East & Europe when Trump was in office. https://t.co/PjUi8NPXCL Rachel Campos-Duffy (@RCamposDuffy) October 7, 2023 Notice how she only condemns the acts against children, women, the elderly, and the unarmed. Shes implying that attacking/killing IDF forces is fine https://t.co/UB1VRpbqkc John Hasson (@SonofHas) October 7, 2023 The squad telling Israel to stand down after it was attacked and hundreds of its citizens were massacred Incredible https://t.co/VIO3X3zotu Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) October 7, 2023 Jamaal Bowman cant merely condemn terrorism. He has to include his ignorant criticism of Israel. https://t.co/mimYokeN3N Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) October 7, 2023 Ridiculous. Just denounce the attacks by Hamas. Denounce their dragging someones dead daughter through the streets. Denounce them kidnapping someone grandmother. Denounce them kidnapping babies. You represent a large US Jewish community, act like it. https://t.co/38HrfnBLyA Christine Stone (@ChristineMStone) October 7, 2023 Rep. Summer Lee said: 'We need urgent de-escalation and an end to this tragic cycle of violence. To achieve this, we must bring an end to the occupation and help broker a just and lasting peace. One user responded to Lee: 'Ridiculous. Just denounce the attacks by Hamas. Denounce their dragging someone's dead daughter through the streets. Denounce them kidnapping someone grandmother. Denounce them kidnapping babies. You represent a large US Jewish community, act like it.' 'And we also know that there is no military solution that will bring an end to this violence,' Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Cori Bush and Rep. Greg Casar have not put out statements on the attacks in Israel. Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to fight back and declared in a statement that they are at war. Police have charged a man for assault after he allegedly stabbed a woman in the stomach during a suspected domestic violence incident in South Australia. Emergency services rushed to Henley Beach Road in Torrensville, Adelaide, just after 9.30pm on Saturday following reports a woman was stabbed. A 44-year-old woman from Brooklyn Park was found at the scene with a stab wound to her torso and was taken to hospital for her injuries. South Australia police have charged a 40-year-old man with assault causing harm after he allegedly stabbed a woman in the torso during a domestic altercation Emergency services rushed to Henley Beach Road (pictured) in Torrensville, Adelaide and found a 44-year-old woman from Brooklyn Park with a stab wound to her torso 'Her injuries are not considered life-threatening at this time,' police said. A 40-year-old man was arrested nearby after police searched the area for the alleged attacker. Police said the altercation was not random as the pair are known to each other. The 40-year-old man has since been charged with assault causing harm and was refused bail. He will appear at Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday. Moments after the paragliders landed they inflicted terror on the innocent partygoers some of whom were killed and while many others were kidnapped Israelis could be partying in the desert while paragliders edged ever closer unbeknownst to those dancing on the sands below at a religious festival Israeli festivalgoers could be seen dancing in the desert at dawn on Saturday, completely unaware that within minutes members of the Hamas militant group were about to descend from the skies and inflict terror. The revelers had gathered for an all-night trance music rave near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip, to celebrate the end of the Sukkot religious holiday. They appeared to be oblivious to the impending terror floating hundreds of feet above their heads in the distance in footage posted to TikTok. The footage, shot soon after sunrise, sees the eagle-eyed cameraperson suddenly zoom in on grey dots in the air, which turn out to be Palestinian militants. Hamas fighters managed to infiltrate Israel essentially undetected by paragliding across the normally heavily guarded frontier. Moments later, the dancing stops and out terror ensues as festival goers are forced to run for their lives as armed Hamas fighters began shooting and kidnapping whoever lay in their path. Israeli festival goers could be seen dancing in the desert at dawn on Saturday, completely unawares that within minutes members of the Hamas militant group were about to descend from the skies and inflict terror In footage posted to TikTok revelers appeared to be oblivious to the impending terror floating hundreds of feet above their heads in the distance The militant paragliders can be seen to be getting closer while those on the ground appear oblivious Hamas fighters circumvented Israel's border with the Gaza Strip by flying in via paraglider, according to the Israeli military (pictured: an alleged paraglider crossing into Israel) Festivalgoers are then warned of an incoming rocket attack just as the invasion begins. The terrifying incident occurred during a religious music festival near Kibbutz Urim in the South of Israel, with the immediate panic that swept through the crowd captured on video. 'We received a 'red siren' [rocket warning] alert. It led to chaos, especially among the vehicles trying to exit,' a festivalgoer named Daniel explained. 'Then gunshots began, and we had to start running. Currently, we are in hiding, waiting for assistance.' The siren was quickly drowned out by gunshots when heavily armed Hamas militants arrived on the scene as the terror group began its attack on Israel which have so far killed hundreds and wounded thousands more. Videos posted to social media, although grainy, appear to depict scenes of chaos in the sand at the outdoor party, reports The Jerusalem Post. Panicked Israelis can be seen shouting, running, and hurriedly getting into cars as they attempt to escape the festival in the north-western Negev desert, about 5 miles from the city of Ofakim. 'Palestinian terrorists invaded a festival where hundreds of Israelis were camping out for the Shemini Atzeret holiday. The panic caused by this is evident on the fades [faces] of the civilians being targeted by heavily armed militants. Pray for Israel,' the video is captioned. A second video of the same scene also sees hundreds of Israelis running for cover and countless others speeding off in packed vehicles across the dusty ground. 'Israelis running from cities to deserts by foot, car and any other means,' reads the caption. Israeli festivalgoers run for their lives through the desert after being warned of an incoming rocket attack just as Hamas invaded the country on Saturday Panic swept through the crowd who were partying in the north-western Negev desert, about 5 miles from the city of Ofakim. People could be seen hurriedly packing their cars in a desperate effort to get away Israelis running from cities to deserts by foot, car and any other means.#Israel pic.twitter.com/zu2fyGrd17 The_anonymous_wave (@anonymouswave1) October 7, 2023 The Jerusalem Post details how Israeli security forces managed to escort some to a southern military base for safety. The attack came during the Jewish holy festival of Shemini Atzeret and just one day after Israel marked the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War. One student snatched by Hamas terrorists who attended the desert rave was a mother and her two young girls. Noa Argamani, 25, was kidnapped yesterday morning as a video showed her sitting on the back of a militant's motorcycle, with her outstretched arms pointing towards her helpless boyfriend, pleading for her life. She screams 'Don't kill me! No, no, no' but the gunman speeds off. Noa has not been seen since. Her boyfriend, Avi Nathan, distraught and helpless, is left behind in the desert. He too is also missing. The footage of Noa's kidnapping was widely shared on social media. Israelis could be heard shouting, running, and hurriedly getting into cars as they attempt to escape Some could be seen scrambling for the safety of cars to get away from danger Videos posted to social media appears to depict scenes of chaos in the sand Palestinian terrorists invaded a festival where hundreds of Israelis were camping out for the Shemini Atzeret holiday. The panic caused by this is evident on the fades of the civilians being targeted by heavily armed militants. Pray for Israel. pic.twitter.com/l6zviWr2hy Jay Engelmayer (@jengelmayer) October 7, 2023 'Imagine what it is like for her family,' said her university roommate, Amir Moadi. They found out she had been snatched only when they chanced upon the footage online.' 'I was supposed to go to the desert party but decided at the last minute not to,' said Amir. 'We last heard from her around 10am or 11am this morning when she texted us all to say that terrorists had opened fire and were chasing everyone but that they were both safe in hiding. 'We haven't heard from them since but then, unfortunately, we saw the disturbing videos of her abduction online. One of her on the back of a bike with terrorists. 'Her parents are in shock and can't even speak. She's an only child. Sitting on the back of a terrorist's motorcycle, her outstretched arms pointing towards her helpless boyfriend, student Noa Argamani pleads for her life Shani Louk, 30, a German tattoo artist, was also taken from the festival by terrorists as they attacked Israel in a surprise assault which has left at least 480 people dead and 3,200 injured. Her lifeless and semi-naked body was paraded in the back of a Hamas pick-up truck as militants sat on top of her and jeered following the violent incursion. She filmed splayed in the back of a truck, with one leg at an unnatural angle, terrorists sitting around it and supporters of the group cheering, running alongside and spitting on her. Hamas had claimed the body was a female Israeli soldier - but it was last night confirmed to be Shani by her cousin Tomasina Weintraub-Louk, who told DailyMail.com that the family recognized her distinctive leg tattoos and dreadlocked hair. Noa's boyfriend, Avi Nathan (left), distraught and helpless, is left behind in the desert. He too is missing Along with hundreds of other young Israelis, Noa (pictured) and Avi had been enjoying a peace festival in the desert when they were forced to flee for their lives 'We have heard nothing. We are hoping for positive news. It is definitely Shani. She was at a music festival for peace. This is a nightmare for our family,' she said. Esther Borochov, who fled the rave party, said she survived by playing dead in a car after the driver trying to help her escape was shot point blank. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Israel was 'at war' and called for a mass mobilization of army reserves. Israel will stop supplying electricity, fuel and goods to Gaza, according to a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office Saturday night. Much of Gaza was already thrown into darkness by nightfall after electrical supplies from Israel, which supplies almost all of the territories' power, were cut off earlier in the day. Netanyahu also said the 'first phase' of the counter operation had ended, and that Israel had fought off the majority of Hamas militants. He vowed to continue the offensive 'without reservation and without respite.' German tattoo artist named Shani Louk, 30, was in Israel to attend a peace rave Shocking footage shared on social media appears to show Palestinian fighters parading Shani's naked body on the back of a pick-up truck Hamas had claimed the body in the truck was a female Israeli soldier - but it was last night confirmed to be tourist Shani by her cousin Tomasina Weintraub-Louk Hamas claimed to have fired 5,000 rockets into Israel from the occupied Gaza Strip, setting off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem Israeli civilians were purportedly taken off the street and driven back into Gaza Hamas militants fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip in an unprecedented surprise early morning attack during a major Jewish holiday Saturday. Pictured, people try to extinguish fire on cars following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, southern Israel A woman in Tel Aviv picks her way through rubble late on Saturday Dozens of rockets are fired by Palestinians towards Israel on Saturday night The announcement came after the surprise attack saw militant fire thousands of rockets together with dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip in an unprecedented early morning invasion during a major Jewish holiday. Israel said it is now at war with Hamas and launched airstrikes in Gaza. The Hamas militant group says it is holding 'dozens' of Israeli soldiers captive in the Gaza Strip. The No campaign has released shocking new data on how Indigenous people intend to vote throwing into doubt a major claim made by the Yes campaign. The Yes23 campaign has repeatedly said 80 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people support the Voice, a figure which has also been used by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. But the No camp said its internal polling for First Nations people shows support for the referendum is far lower than the Yes side claims. In a poll in February it found Indigenous support for the Voice was at 60 per cent - at a time when the overall support in the general community was almost the exact same, at 59 per cent. By May, the number of Indigenous people backing the Voice had fallen to 57 per cent, and to 54 per cent among all Australians, the Sunday Telegraph reported. With more than 2million people, including Anthony Albanese (pictured at the Garma Festival with his partner Jodie Haydon), having already voted in the Voice to Parliament referendum, the No campaign has released shocking new data on how Indigenous people intend to vote The 80 per cent figure is based on polls from January and March taken by Ipsos and YouGov, which found support for the Voice among Indigenous Australians at 80 per cent and 83 per cent respectively. A No camp spokesman said its figures, of support ranging from 57 to 60 per cent, rather than 80 to 83 per cent, 'blow away the Yes campaign's assertion that Indigenous Australians overwhelmingly support the Voice it's not true'. READ MORE: Split in Lidia Thorpe's family as sister reveals sudden switch on Voice There has been a split in Senator Lidia Thorpe's family as her sister has suddenly switched positions on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum vote. Advertisement 'It's a lie that has propped up their campaign for months. The experience on the ground is clear Indigenous Australians are just as divided over the Voice as everyone else.' The No camp's polling was done online, which 'skews towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have access to the internet' and 'does not include face-to-face in remote communities'. But the Ipsos and YouGov polls were also conducted online. Early polling stations opened in some states on Monday, and were all open across Australia by Tuesday due to some jurisdictions having a public holiday. Like around 2.2million Australians, Mr Albanese has already voted in the referendum, doing so on Saturday in his home electorate of Marrickville in Sydney's inner west. 'Yes for recognition, Yes for listening, Yes for better outcomes,' Mr Albanese wrote in a social media post, accompanied by a photo of him putting his vote into the ballot box alongside his son Nathan. On Friday, he tweeted that 'We have eight days to make the greatest country on earth even greater by voting Yes.' If the Yes vote is successful, the Voice will provide an avenue for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to advise the government on policy and legislation issues that directly impact them. The most recent Newspoll suggested the Yes vote would fail 36 to 56 per cent. Meanwhile, Australia's former chief justice Robert French KC says Australians are 'better than' abiding by the No campaigns slogan 'if you don't know, vote no,' in an address to the National Press Club on Friday. For months, the Yes23 campaign has repeatedly said 80 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people support the Voice, a figure which has also been used by the Prime Minister. An Aboriginal smoking ceremony is pictured We have eight days to make the greatest country on earth even greater by voting Yes. Thousands of Australians are gathered tonight at the Now and Forever Concert tonight. pic.twitter.com/FTyU3NYmrP Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) October 6, 2023 'It invites us to a resentful, uninquiring passivity. Australians - whether they vote Yes or No - are better than that,' he said. 'We look forward. We can also look back to better understand where we have come from and where we are now.' The overwhelming majority of legal experts in Australia say the proposed amendment Australians are voting on is constitutionally sound and would 'enhance' the system of government, Mr French said. Daily Mail Australia contacted the Yes23 campaign, but it declined to comment. An Australian expat living in Israel has described her family's frantic escape to a bomb shelter during the deadly Hamas attacks. Mebourne mum Emily Gian and her family received only 30 seconds warning to reach an underground bomb shelter ahead of incoming missiles at Yehud, south of Tel Aviv, on Saturday. Hamas, recognised as a terrorist organisation by Australia, fired thousands of rockets into Israel, catching the country - celebrating a religious holiday - by surprise. Some 2,200 hundred missiles were fired off killing at least 250 people and wounding 1,500 making it the deadliest attack in Israel in decades. Ms Gian's 'terrifying' experiences came as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was criticised for his slow response and his Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong was slammed for calling on Israel to act with 'restraint'. The Coalition MP said Ms Wong's calls for restraint were 'unbelievable'. Melbourne mum Emily Gian, (pictured left trying to keep a brave face for her children), had 30 seconds warning to reach an underground bomb shelter ahead of a missile attacks aimed at Tel Aviv More than 2200 missiles launched from Gaza rained down on Israel Penny Wong was slammed for advising Israel to exercise 'restraint' in its response 'Israel has every right to defend itself with whatever force is required,' Mr Sukkar said. Ms Gian was 'confused' when a friend texted to ask if she was ok before the missiles began to rain down. 'Thirty seconds later, a red alert siren. All 3 kids were fast asleep,' she posted on social media. 'As gently as possible we woke all three and took them down to the shelter.' Ms Gian described how she and her family have to run for their lives to the shelter several times this weekend as bombs fell nearby. 'Was just sitting outside with my husband, trying to catch my breath... asked him which direction hypothetically a rocket would come from,' she said. 'As he was pointing, the red alert sirens went off. Down to the shelter. Followed by many booms.' 'My heart is breaking,' she posted online late on Saturday night, adding: 'I feel this so deeply... I can't close my eyes.' Ms Gian and her family moved to Israel three months ago but have visited many times before the move. She told 9News she's never known conflict like this in Israel in 'over 20 years'. 'I've been here through various different phases with terrorism but I've never [seen] anything like this in m lifetime... with old ladies being dragged out of their homes, mothers holding their children and being dragged across the street,' she said. Ms Gian slammed Hamas as 'barbarians and cowards' on her social media account, saying anyone defending them 'has a special place in hell'. 'Barbarians. They are targeting our hospitals while their leaders are probably bunkered down under their own hospitals in Gaza knowing Israel will take greater care for civilians than they will. Cowards.' The Coalition says Israel has 'every right' to defend itself, although the opposition's foreign affairs spokesperson, Simon Birmingham, pleaded for 'all parties' to work together to protect innocent lives and end the violence. Australia's peak national representative body of the Australian Jewish community say calls for de-escalation by 'both sides' are 'misconceived and only play into the hands of the terrorists'. Ms Gian slammed Hamas as 'barbarians and cowards' on her social media account, saying anyone defending them 'has a special place in hell' Images coming out of Israel after the missile attacks horrified the world A rocket is launched from the coastal Gaza strip towards Israel by militants of the Ezz Al-Din Al Qassam militia, the military wing of Hamas movement, in Gaza City It comes as the Coalition hits out at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for his delayed response to the events. World leaders and diplomats were quick to condemn the Palestinian attack, including Senator Wong. 'Australia unequivocally condemns the attacks on Israel by Hamas including indiscriminate rocket fire on cities and civilians,' she wrote on X - formerly known as Twitter. 'We call for these attacks to stop and recognise Israel's right to defend itself. 'Australia urges the exercise of restraint and protection of civilian lives.' But it was the last few words in Senator Wong's statement that drew the ire of Opposition shadow frontbencher Michael Sukkar. 'Unbelievable, restraint? Israel has every right to defend itself with whatever force is required,' he said. In his own statement, Senator Birmingham strongly condemned Hamas' actions and urged 'all parties to protect innocent lives and to work to end the violence'. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said it was 'yet another example of a deliberate act of violence intended to inflict maximum harm on innocent civilians'. 'The attack is a provocation. Israel has every right to defend itself in response and to deter future attacks and other acts of aggression, coercion, and interference,' he said. Residents look at the wreckage of destroyed vehicles in Ashkelon following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel on October 7 Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley was quick to call Mr Albanese out for his delayed response The Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said the acts 'constitute egregious war crimes' in the targeting of civilians and are 'an armed attack against a sovereign state'. 'We expect the State of Israel to take all necessary measures to defend itself and to defeat the terror forces of Hamas and restore peace for Israel's citizens,' chief executive Alex Ryvchin said. 'We call upon the Australian Government to condemn without equivocation these flagrant crimes. Any calls for de-escalation by 'both sides' or attempts to draw equivalences between the crimes of a terrorist organisation and the defensive measures of a sovereign and democratic state are misconceived and only play into the hands of the terrorists. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday morning condemned the 'abhorrent attack on Israel' but said Israel had 'a right to defend itself'. 'This is a dreadful circumstance that people didn't see coming,' he told ABC's Insiders. 'We of course are worried about escalation. 'There is no precedent for what is occurring here.' Mr Albanese had earlier come under attack by the Coalition for taking over 12 hours to respond to the attacks, writing on social media site X at 6.23am on Sunday that Australia 'stands with our friend Israel in this time'. Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley was quick to call Mr Albanese out for his delayed response. 'It took him until 6am this morning to actually make a public statement about this. You don't get nights off as a world leader and across the globe, we saw an immediate reaction from world leaders ... and it took until this morning for Anthony Albanese to make that statement. I think he needs to be questioned about that today,' she told Sky News. 'I'm questioning his timing ... You don't get time off.' The attacks have led to the death of 300 Israelis and left 1,590 injured At another rally in Waterloo, Iowa, he called President Joe Biden as a weak and ineffective leader Donald Trump said that the Israeli attacks needed to be crushed and avenged at his presidential rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa Donald Trump said Hamas' bloody attack on Israel is an 'act of savagery that must be crushed' and blamed Joe Biden for being a weak and ineffective leader. The former president, speaking at his presidential rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Saturday, condemned the attacks and used it as an opportunity to once again whack his political rival. 'The terror invasion of Israeli territory and the murder of Israeli soldiers and citizens is an act of savagery that must be, and will be, crushed and avenged,' he said. 'As president, I will once again stand with Israel and we will cut off the money to Palestinian terrorists on day one, he told the cheering crowds.' The Republican told another rally in Waterloo, Iowa that Democrat Biden had made the US look weak on the world stage. 'The Israeli attack was made because we are perceived as being weak and ineffective and with a really weak leader,' he said. 'It was a big attack with a lot of dead people all over the place. Who would think that? And the only difference, I believe, is the difference between one president and another president.' Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, striking by land, air and sea. The attacks left more than 300 dead 1,590 injured in just the first 24 hours. 'This is our 9/11,' Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan said in an appearance on Fox News Saturday. 'Babies, women, the elderly were dragged outside of their homes, were taken hostage.' 'These animals will pay a heavy price and they will learn that these atrocities cannot be committed again against our civilians,' he said Hamas, the de facto governing authority of the Gaza Strip, claims to have fired 5,000 rockets into Israel, setting off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The coordinated attack has seen border fences broken down, tanks immobilised, dozens of hostages reportedly taken and residential buildings targeted by airstrikes. The murder of civilians has drawn widespread condemnation from world leaders and prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to say the country is at 'war'. Running gun battles continued on the streets of Israel early on Sunday, some 24 hours after the assault began. Biden has offered his 'unwavering' support to Israel and said it has 'a right to defend itself and its people.' 'This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks, to seek an advantage,' he said. 'The world is watching'. Biden spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the phone on Saturday morning to offer US support. The White House condemned the 'unprovoked attacks' against Israeli civilians issuing a strong statement on Saturday morning. 'The United States unequivocally condemns the unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians. There is never any justification for terrorism,' National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in the statement Bill Maher closed his Friday night show ripping into comedian Hasan Minhaj for admitting to telling fabricated stories, that Minhaj called 'emotional truths.' 'Hasan Minhaj, the comedian who answers the question, 'What if Jussie Smollett did stand-up?''' said the 'Real Time' host. 'This dangerous idea that has taken root in America that something is true merely because you want to believe it's true has got to go. When the right does this, we call it conspiracy theories, and rightly so. When the left does it, we call it "emotional truth.''' Minhaj, in a recent New Yorker interview, admitted to making up stories of racial discrimination. The former Daily Show correspondent said: 'Every story in my style is built around a seed of truth. My comedy Arnold Palmer is 70 percent emotional truth and then 30 percent hyperbole, exaggeration, fiction.' 'Real Time' show Bill Maher closed his Friday night show ripping into comedian Hasan Minhaj for admitting to telling fabricated stories Maher picked apart each of Minhaj's fabrications. When justifying his lies Minhaj said, 'the emotional truth is first. The factual truth is secondary.' He once shared a story about how he was left standing at a white girl's door when he went to pick her up for their homecoming dance. The unidentified woman in the sob story said that the incident never even happened. She clarified she had turned her close friend down days before the dance. The woman also said she and her family had been facing online threats and doxing for years because Minhaj had failed to adequately disguise her identity and revealed she was engaged to an Indian American man at the time. Minhaj claimed a man named Brother Eric, whose real name is Cory Monteilh, 'infiltrated' his local mosque. Monteilh, said that is completely false. Monteilh said he was in prison in 2002 and didn't begin to work for the FBI on counterterrorism measures until 2006. Minhaj, in a recent New Yorker interview, admitted to making up stories of racial discrimination. The former Daily Show correspondent said his comedy recipe is 70 percent emotional truth and then 30 percent hyperbole, exaggeration, fiction Jussie Smollett, the former 'Empire' actor, was convicted for staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself in 2019 and then lying about it to Chicago police 'The stories Mr. Minhaj tells in his act to elicit sympathy for himself as a Muslim and a person of color are completely made up,' said Maher. 'If you want to speak truth to power, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say you have to include the truth part.' One of his most egregious claims was that a suspicious white powder fell on his daughter while he opened up a letter. Minhaj admitted to the magazine his daughter had never been exposed to a white powder. The truth is that he opened a letter that contained some sort of powder and joked that it could be anthrax. Maher's call out became personal when he mentioned false accusations Minhaj has said about him. 'Because he's done this before with me, accusing me of saying Muslims should be put in internment campssomething I've never come close to thinking, let alone saying,' said the 'Real Time' host. Maher said: 'This dangerous idea that has taken root in America that something is true merely because you want to believe it's true has got to go. When the right does this, we call it conspiracy theories, and rightly so. When the left does it, we call it "emotional truth''' Things began personal when Maher called out lies Minhaj had previously said about himself. He said Minhaj has accused him of saying Muslims should be put in internment camps 'I think the younger generations have a real problem with wanting to build their identity around being a victim. 'They want to have racism to fight, not fight racism, have racism to fight so badly that when it's not there, they make it up. And there's enough real racism in the world that making up more doesn't help,' Maher said. Maher called out Minhaj for having a victim complex and turning himself into one enough he has not faced the oppression he claimed to. 'He seems to literally feel cheated by progress, the progress that has denied him any good stories about being oppressed by the man. Dude, America is far from the worst,' he said. 'You're a Muslim married to a Hindu. If you were living in India, she'd have to murder you.' 'If people don't like you now, it's probably not because you're a person of color. It's because you're shady,' he said. WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT A HIV-positive paedophile who led South Australia's online child abuse syndicate could have eventually sex trafficked babies if he was not caught, a court has heard. Jadd William Brooker was caught by the Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team and pleaded guilty to 182 sexual abuse and exploitation offences against children and teenagers in Australia and around the world. Before he was arrested, the 41-year-old told his syndicate that he wanted to infect children with HIV and even filmed himself trying to infect a child. Brooker pursued 20 children, in person and online, for sex and was found to be in possession of 4.5 million images and 50,000 messages of child exploitation. Jadd William Brooker pleaded guilty to 182 sexual abuse and exploitation offences against children and teenagers in Australia and around the world The Supreme Court this week was told about Brooker's lack of remorse and empathy for his victims. The court was told Brooker was a deceitful, manipulative and dishonest pervert who had a grandiose view of himself. Prosecutors called for the 'uncontrollable predator' to be jailed indefinitely, following laws created by a campaign by victim advocates and The Advertiser. Clinical director of South Australia's Forensic Mental Health Service Psychiatrist Narain Nambiar told the court Brooker would reoffend. He claimed conversations between Brooker and syndicate members showed would go to extreme lengths to abuse children. 'Brooker demonstrates a particular attitude that supports sexual exploitation and violence, and encouraging others to engage in that behaviour,' Dr Nambiar said. 'In one conversation, he discussed the sexual trafficking and selling of children while there's no evidence he did that, whether he engaged in it or not, he encouraged it. 'He possessed images of very young babies and toddlers with violent sex acts being performed against them.' Dr Nambiar's evidence explained Brooker had a 'loving' adult partner - who was not involved and unaware of his crimes. He also had 'numerous' other consenting adult sexual partners while he was abusing children. Dr Nambiar added Brooker was also trying to infect his adult partners with HIV as well as he did not wear a condom, was inconsistent in taking his medication and lied to them and doctors about his health. The psychiatrist labelled Brooker as 'deceitful' claiming it is hard to believe if he will actually engage in treatment and will not reoffend. Dr Nambiar said Brooker's lack of empathy and remorse along with his dishonesty, manipulative nature and 'grandiose' view of himself demonstrated a 'psychopathic personality'. Brooker also bragged about trying to infect children with HIV and even filmed himself doing so with a child. A psychatrist told the court Brooker will 'most likely' reoffend Despite Brooker's apologies and willingness for rehabilitation, Dr Nambiar said he is 'more likely' to reoffend due to the 'diverse and prolific nature' of his crimes. He added there was no knowing just how far Brooker would have gone in his abuse against children if he had not been caught. Dr Nambiar labelled Brooker's apologies as 'hollow words' claiming it came from his frustrations for being in jail and concerns for his family and not his victims' suffering. Brooker will be sentenced by Justice Adam Kimber on a date that has yet to be set. An aircraft over Seattle appeared to be on fire in videos posted online on Saturday night, sparking fear on social media -- but the incident was a false alarm. 'It was a skydiver with pyrotechnics for the Sounders Game occurring this evening over at Lumen Field,' a Seattle Police Department spokesperson told DailyMail.com, referring to the city's MLS club. Photos and videos posted to social media showed an aircraft with twin streaks of flames extending behind it. Some of the images depicted the streaks of flames veering off in separate directions. A plane over Seattle appeared to be on fire in videos posted online on Saturday night, sparking fear on social media -- but the incident was a false alarm A skydiver poses for a picture after landing in Lumen field on Saturday night. Pyrotechnics used by the skydiver were responsible for false alarms about a burning plane, police said The images, which were first posted on X at around 7.30pm local time, sparked confusion and panic on the platform. 'Looks like a passenger plane engine exploded mid air in Seattle,' one person wrote. 'Um, what were those falling fireballs in the Seattle sky just now?' wrote another. Yet another asked: 'What in the name is going on in Seattle'? In 2019, a similar incident sparked reports of a UFO or huge meteor over downtown Los Angeles. In that case, the fireball turned out to be winged jumpers who were performing a Red Bull stunt. A member of the Navy Leap Frogs parachutes into Lumen Field before a match between the Seattle Sounders on Saturday In the Los Angeles incident, three members of the 'Red Bull Air Force' had jumped from a helicopter, 4,000 feet in the air, as part of a stunt to mark the third supermoon of the year. They wore custom winged suits which had pyrotechnics and LED lights fitted to them and which sparkled as the men flew through the air at 120mph before activating their parachutes. Police said that Saturday's sighting in Seattle was related to the Sounders game, where members of the Navy Leap Frogs parachuted into Lumen Field. The Sounders, who clinched an MLS playoff berth on Wednesday, were set to face their Cascadia Cup rivals, the Vancouver Whitecaps. Seattle is returning to the playoffs after missing out in 2022, the only season since it joined MLS in 2009 in which it failed to qualify for the postseason. A man gunned down in a brazen drive-by shooting in Melbourne's north on Saturday afternoon has been named as Robert Issa. Victoria Police said on Sunday the killing is linked to a raging underworld war over the illegal tobacco trade across the state. Mr Issa, 27, was shot dead in a luxury Mercedes SUV riddled with bullets, while another man, 28, was seriously injured at Craigieburn Central shopping centre. Four balaclava-clad gunmen remain on the run after targeting the pair as they sat in the car on Windrock Avenue at around 3pm on Saturday. The dead man is believed to have been close to a Comanchero-linked figure and was involved in Melbourne's criminal underworld, the Herald Sun reported. A man gunned down in a brazen drive-by shooting in Melbourne 's north on Saturday afternoon has been named as Comanchero associate Robert Issa (pictured) The shooters fled from the scene in a luxury SUV and the police are investigating if a black Range Rover Sport, which was later found burnt out, is linked to the attack. One of the offenders may have suffered burns while torching the car, Victoria Police Crime Command Commander Paul O'Halloran said. READ MORE: Gangland shooting victim wanted 'ordinary life' One of Australia's most feared gangland enforcers, who was shot dead in broad daylight, dreamt of living an 'ordinary' life. Gavin 'Capable' Preston, 50, was hit with 10 bullets at Sweet Lulus cafe at the Keilor Village in Melbourne 's north-west. Advertisement The suspects are still on the run with police hunting for clues regarding their whereabouts and identities. After ditching and torching a second vehicle, the shooters got into another car near Hammersley Court, Reservoir. Commander O'Halloran asked for the public's help catch the alleged killers. 'It was a busy location, (with) cars in the vicinity, people onsite and we are appealing for any information, witnesses and dashcam (footage) which would be vital to advance this investigation,' he said. The killing is believed to be the latest act in an underworld war for control of the illegal tobacco trade which has also seen a number of homes and businesses firebombed in recent months. 'A significant investigation has been underway into a series of incidents linked in the last six months to organised crime groups involved in the importation and sale of illicit tobacco in the state of Victoria,' Anti-Gangs Superintendent Jason Kelly said. 'Police believe that the current situation is because of competing organised crime entities that are in conflict over the illicit tobacco trade here in Victoria and Australia more broadly.' Groups involved in the conflict include Middle Eastern organised crime groups and outlaw motorcycle gangs. Mr Issa was reportedly the target of another drive-by in Craigieburn last month which saw attackers spray his parents' home with bullets while they slept inside. His parents are not accused of any wrongdoing, nor is there a suggestion they had any knowledge of their son's activities. Mr Issa, 27, was shot dead in a luxury Mercedes SUV riddled with bullets (pictured), while another man, 28, was seriously injured at Craigieburn Central shopping centre The shooters fled from the scene in a luxury SUV and the police are investigating if a black Range Rover Sport (pictured), which was later found burnt out, is linked to the attack Police say the battle for control of Melbourne's illegal tobacco trade is linked to the latest gangland execution. A scene from the aftermath of the shooting is pictured 'What we're seeing here is targeted attacks between criminals,' Commander O'Halloran said, adding police were concerned about a further escalation of violence. 'Melbourne and Victoria is a very safe place ... however I understand and Victoria Police understands these are very distressing and worrying for the people who have ... seen these incidents recently.' Fitness worker Veronica Estimova, who works at the Elevate 24:7 Fitness gym in Craigieburn Central, said she heard 'loud bangs'. 'It was quite scary, we didn't know what was going on,' she said. 'A group of people ran into the gym and said there had been a drive-by shooting, they said they saw a young man lying on the ground.' The brazen attack came exactly four weeks after notorious crime figure Gavin 'Capable' Preston was gunned down outside a cafe. Preston who was riddled with bullets while having breakfast with the son of his former mate Nabil 'Mad Lebo' Maghnie in Keilor, in Melbourne's north-west. Abbas Maghnie Jr, known as AJ, took a bullet in the stomach as he ran from Preston's executioner at a cafe on September 8, but managed to survive. The masked assassin and his getaway driver had reportedly parked opposite the site of the attack for three hours before the deadly ambush. Preston, 50, was hit with 10 bullets in the daylight shooting at Sweet Lulus cafe. A chilling 40-second clip of the killing showed a hooded man in black sprinting towards the cafe's outdoor seating area and firing in Preston's direction. Terrified diners threw themselves to the ground and covered their faces as the notorious criminal slumped in his seat and fell to the ground beside his table. As the gunman ran away, two women checked each other for injuries before grabbing their handbags and escaping the cafe. Two men then cautiously approached Preston, who was motionless beside the table where just seconds earlier he had been eating breakfast. Preston's distraught fiance Lauran Howe had to be restrained by officers after she arrived at the cafe in the aftermath of the shooting. Underworld figure Gavin 'Capable' Preston was shot dead at Sweet Lulus cafe at Keilor Village in Melbourne's north-west in September 'He's my husband,' she could be heard screaming as she tried to get through police tape cordoning off the scene to the public. Ms Howe eventually had to be led away by officers with another man, also known to Preston, also pinned to the ground by officers. It's believed the alleged shooters fled the scene in a black Audi Q5. Two burnt-out cars were found after the shooting, including one just 500m from the scene. The luxury SUV was found abandoned in nearby Blair Court before the gunmen fled in a second car. Blog Archive: Nov 2023 (10) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55) Rally is being organized by multiple pro-Palestine organizations at Times Square, New York Sunday New York Governor Kathy Hochul has condemned the pro-Palestine rally planned for Times Square on Sunday amid calls for her to cancel the event from being held in a city with the biggest Jewish population in the world. Hochul described the rally as abhorrent and morally repugnant in a post she made on X, formerly Twitter after Hamas militants invaded Israel and slaughtered hundreds of citizens. 'The people of Israel are facing violent terrorist attacks and civilian kidnappings. I condemn plans to rally in Times Square tomorrow in support of the perpetrators of these horrific actions,' she said. 'The planned rally is abhorrent and morally repugnant.' NYC Mayor Eric Adams, who is on a vanity tour of South America to discourage migrants from crossing the border, condemned the attacks which left at least 480 people dead and 3,200 injured but was yet to weigh in on the rally. His police department told DailyMail.com that it was not aware of any pro-Palestine rallies taking place in the City and did not know if any action would be taken against them. NYPD told DailyMail.com it was not aware of the event city and did not know if any action would be taken against them The 'All Out for Palestine' rally is being organised by multiple pro-Palestine organizations at Times Square, New York tomorrow Hochul described the rally as abhorrent and morally repugnant in a post she made on X, formerly Twitter after Hamas militants invaded Israel and slaughtered hundreds of citizens. Tomorrow, October 8, at 1PM. Times Square. In solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to resist 75 years of occupation and apartheid. FREE PALESTINE! https://t.co/1N67nS56GZ NYC-DSA (@nycDSA) October 7, 2023 The rally, titled 'All Out for Palestine' is being organized by multiple pro-Palestine organizations at Times Square in support of the attack on Israel by Hamas militants. Hochul was not along in criticizing and denouncing the attacks and the planned rally. Congressman Ritchie Torres called one of the groups conducting the rally 'an anti-Semitic stain on the soul of America's largest city.' 'The NYC-DSA is planning to hold a rally tomorrow, glorifying the terrorism of Hamas as 'resistance',' he said on X. 'Never mind the hundreds of Israeli civilians and children who have been murdered, wounded, abducted, and terrorized. Their lives mean nothing to the DSA. Nothing. 'The NYC-DSA is revealing itself for what it truly is: an antisemitic stain on the soul of America's largest city. 'There is a special place in hell for those who glorify the cold-blooded murder of civilians and children.' Ex-Deputy Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism at Department of State, Ellie Cohanim denounced the rally on X. 'All decent New Yorkers call upon Governor @KathyHochul & Mayor @ericadamsfornyc: cancel this disgusting event which glorifies terror! Just say no to hate!' she wrote. NYC Mayor Eric Adams, who is on a vanity tour of South America to discourage migrants from crossing the border, condemned the attacks which left at least 480 people dead and 3,200 injured but was yet to weigh in on the rally The NYC-DSA is planning to hold a rally tomorrow, glorifying the terrorism of Hamas as resistance. Never mind the hundreds of Israeli civilians and children who have been murdered, wounded, abducted, and terrorized. Their lives mean nothing to the DSA. Nothing. The NYC-DSA is pic.twitter.com/FDaWgBtGEJ Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) October 7, 2023 Mayor Adams, who on Saturday was in the Colombian port town of Necocli, tweeted in support of Israel. 'New York City has the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel, and we stand side by side with Israel every day but we do so with extra resolve tonight,' he said. The Jewish population in New York City is the largest in the world, with 1.77 million Jews living across the city according to 2023 data. The City's iconic Empire State Building was also lit up in blue and white, colors of Israel's flag on Saturday night in support of the country. The City's iconic Empire State Building was also lit up in blue and white, colors of Israel's flag late night on October 7 in support of the country President Joe Biden too has offered his 'unwavering' support to Israel and said it has 'a right to defend itself and its people.' 'This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks, to seek an advantage,' he said. 'The world is watching'. Biden spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the phone on Saturday morning to offer US support. The White House condemned the 'unprovoked attacks' against Israeli civilians issuing a strong statement on Saturday morning. 'The United States unequivocally condemns the unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians. There is never any justification for terrorism,' National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in the statement This is the moment terrified citizens ducked for cover in their cars as relentless gunfire breaks out between Israeli soldiers and terrorists. More than 600 Israelis are now feared dead and thousands more have been injured following an unprecedented attack by Hamas militants. The Jewish nation is raining down fire on fighters in the Gaza strip in a ruthless counteroffensive in the south while it also pounds Lebanon with artillery in the north. Terrifying footage posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, shows petrified citizens hiding in their cars to dodge being killed as shots are fired continuously around them. The people, sitting in their car in broad daylight, have to shrink down to remain unseen while gunmen block the road and sirens are heard in the background. In the deadliest day of violence in Israel in 50 years, the middle eastern country's warplanes strafed densely populated Gaza City with bombs in retaliatory strikes. Terrifying footage shows the moment terrified citizens ducked for cover in their cars as relentless gunfire broke out between Israeli soldiers and terrorists Gunmen can be seen standing right outside the car and firing bullets while those inside duck for their lives Israeli soldiers and terrorists block the road and sirens can be heard in the background People react at the site where a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip landed in Tel Aviv, Israel A member of Israeli police is seen in Ashkelon, southern Israel yesterday after the Hamas offensive Israeli media said at least 600 people were killed and 2,000 wounded in Saturday's attack. Hamas fighters have also taken an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive into Gaza. Among the missing is British soldier Jake Marlowe, 26, who has not been heard from since Saturday morning after he was working as part of a security team at the festival near Re'im, a village close to the border with Gaza in the south of Israel. And Londoner Nathaniel Young was killed yesterday while serving in the 13th Battalion of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Heavy smoke and flames were seen rising from Gaza's Burc Vatan shopping mall, after the Palestine Tower in the Al-Rimal neighbourhood, one of the tallest buildings in the strip, was reduced to rubble. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has released footage of a missile strike it claims took place on a compound belonging to Hamas' head of military intelligence, adding it had also targeted two banks belonging to the terrorist organisation and aerial weapons production sites in Gaza. An injured soldier is brought into Tel Aviv's Surasky Medical Center on October 7 Smoke rises above buildings in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, following an Israeli strike Destruction of the Palestine Tower in Al-Rimal neighborhood in the central Gaza Strip Palestinians inspect a mosque destroyed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip Palestinians search under the rubble of a house destroyed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip Drone footage, taken over the last 24 hours and released by the military branch, also shows a group of Hamas fighters being attacked from the sky as they try to cross into Israeli territory. Meanwhile, in the north of the country IDF forces carried out artillery strikes against Lebanon in the disputed area of Mount Dov, following mortar fire directed towards Israel from its northern neighbour. The U.N. agency for Palestinian Refugees, UNRWA, said over 20,000 people were sheltering in 44 of its schools around Gaza by Saturday evening - adding that three of these had suffered 'collateral'=' damage from Israeli airstrikes. Iran-backed Hezbollah militants said it was behind the strikes and the attack was carried out 'in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance', reported the BBC. Columns of heavy weaponry including tanks and armoured personnel carriers were also spotted moving north toward Israel's border with Lebanon and Syria. 'We are embarking on a long and difficult war that was forced on us by a murderous Hamas attack,' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Sunday, adding that the 'offensive phase' of the IDF response has begun. The death toll in Israel following a surprise attack by the militant group Hamas stands at 600, according to several Israeli media outlets. People standing on a rooftop watch as a ball of fire and smoke rises above a building in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike that hit the Palestine Tower building on Saturday A man takes a solar panel from a mosque destroyed in an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip People stand outside a mosque destroyed in an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip Debris of 'Akluk' building destroyed by Israeli fighter jets in Gaza City this morning The Kan public broadcaster and Channel 12, as well as the Haaretz and Times of Israel newspapers, reported the toll Sunday. There has been no official confirmation of the number of deaths on the Israeli side since the fighting erupted early Saturday. IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said more than 400 Palestinian militants had been killed in southern Israel and the Gaza strip, and dozens more captured. 'As of this hour, there are forces fighting in [Kibbutz] Kfar Aza, there are searches in a large number of towns. There are IDF forces in all towns, there is no town that does not have an IDF force in it,' he is quoted as saying in The Times of Israel. Speaking at a briefing this morning, he added: 'Hamas' brutal attack is a war crime. 'Taking women and children captive violates international law and goes against Islam. Whoever took part will pay the price. 'The war is diffcult and challenging days lie ahead. The IDF is strong and will use every bit of its strength and power.' Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom Tzipi Hotovely has blamed Iran for supporting Hamas ahead of Saturday's attack. She told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News: 'Iran is backing up Hamas, Iran is destabilising the region with its proxies. 'We are willing to take a long fighting time to defend our people, we must make sure no one has a motivation to do that again.' At least 26 Israeli soldiers have been killed in an attack by the Hamas militant group on the countrys south, Israel's military confirmed. Palestinians sit on a debris-strewn street near the Watan Tower, which was destroyed in Israeli strikes People walk around the ruins of a building destroyed in Israeli strikes in Gaza City as fighting rages between Israeli forces and the Palestinian militant group Hamas Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip in Sderot, southern Israel A rocket fired by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip is intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defence missile system over Sderot And at least 313 Palestinians have been killed, and nearly 2,000 injured, in retaliatory Israeli military action since yesterday, the country's health ministry has said. Among them is British Nathanel Young, from London, was serving in the 13th Battalion of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) when he was killed yesterday, according to the IDF. In a statement posted on social media, his family said: 'We're heartbroken to share that our little brother Nathanel Young was tragically killed on the Gaza Border yesterday.' He is the first confirmed British casualty of the worst violence in the region for decades, after Palestinian militants launched cross-border raids early on Saturday morning. Another Briton, Jake Marlowe, who was working as security guard at a desert rave which was targeted by Hamas, is currently missing the Israeli embassy has confirmed. The 26-year-old has not been heard from since Saturday morning after he was working as part of a security team at the festival near Re'im, a village close to the border with Gaza in the south of Israel. The Israeli Embassy in London said that Jake, who is Jewish and has lived in the Israeli city of Ma'alot for the past two years, is currently 'missing near Gaza' following the attack on the festival by Hamas militants on Saturday. An embassy source told MailOnline that they do not know whether he is dead or has been captured. Nathanel Young, from London, was serving in the 13th Battalion of the Israeli Defence Forces when he was killed yesterday The 20-year-old (pictured) grew up in north London before moving to Israel after leaving school Jake Marlowe (pictured) was working as a security guard at a music festival that was attacked by Hamas militants. He has not been heard from since Saturday morning Lea Sztemberg (pictured, left) exclusively told MailOnline that Jake left the UK two years ago for Israel over anxieties related to the rise of anti-Semitism It is understood that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is in contact with and assisting the families of several people in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. On Sunday morning, Israel was still fighting Hamas incursions in eight places, the Israeli military said. 'Israel is waking up this morning to a terrible morning,' said Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman. 'There are a lot of people killed... children, grandmothers, families, bodies.' In other developments on Israel's darkest day for decades: Hamas fighters began their attack at dawn on Saturday with a huge barrage of rockets into southern Israel, giving cover to an unprecedented, multi-pronged infiltration of fighters into Israel from Gaza. The militants killed hundreds of Israelis in clashes through the day, and escaped back into Gaza with at least dozens of hostages, including women, children, and disabled elderly Israelis. The UN Security Council has said it will hold an emergency meeting this evening to discuss the escalation in violence in the Middle East. The group of nations, which is currently chaired by Brazil, will gather at 7pm tonight to talk about 'the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question', it said in a statement. An Israeli military spokesperson said Sunday morning that two hostage situations had been 'resolved,' but did not say whether those hostages had been rescued alive. Israeli fighter jets carry out air strikes on Hamas intelligence chief's compound Drone footage of a car being blown up was released An official number of how many people have been kidnapped is currently not known, but the Israeli Embassy to the United States suggests a figure of 100 civilians and soldiers. The military branch announced in a post to X, formerly Twitter, early on Sunday morning that it had ordered a missile strike on a compound belonging to Hamas' head of intelligence, along with a video of a purported attack. It said: 'A short while ago, IAF fighter jets struck a compound belonging to the head of the intelligence department in the Hamas terrorist organization. 'The IAF is currently continuing to strike terror targets in the Gaza Strip.' The short black-and-white clip, shared to social media, shows a missile cruising into a house in a densely built up area, before smoke and fire begin pouring out of the building. On top of this, it said it targeted two banks 'belonging to Hamas terror organisation for terror funds', an 'aerial weapons production' site belonging to the 'Islamic Jihad terrorist organisation', and a building 'including offices and storage units' where weapons and military equipment were stored. Drone footage also showed the moment a group of Hamas fighters were attacked from the sky as they try and cross the Gaza-Israel border. At least seven armed men can be seen moving, before being consumed by a fireball caused by an Israeli missile. The footage also shows a drone attack on a car that is driving at high speeds through the Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described the attack by Hamas as 'cowardly and depraved. Hamas claimed to have fired 5,000 rockets into Israel from the occupied Gaza Strip, setting off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem People assess the destruction cause by Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on Saturday. Israel has launched a counterstrike against Hamas militants after a sneak attack that killed hundreds In the deadliest day of violence in Israel in 50 years, the middle eastern country's warplanes strafed densely populated Gaza City with bombs in retaliatory strikes. Pictured: A house destroyed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip In a post on X, he said: 'As the barbarity of today's atrocities becomes clearer, we stand unequivocally with Israel.' US President Joe Biden 'unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza', and said 'we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel'. 'Terrorism is never justified. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people,' he said. Israeli airstrikes in Gaza had intensified after nightfall, flattening residential buildings in giant explosions, including a 14-story tower that held dozens of apartments as well as Hamas offices in central Gaza City. Israeli forces issued a warning just before. Around 3am, a loudspeaker atop a mosque in Gaza City blared a stark warning to residents of nearby apartment buildings: Evacuate immediately. Just minutes later, an Israeli airstrike reduced one nearby five-story building to ashes. On Sunday, Israel's army said it is aiming to evacuate Israelis living close to the Gaza Strip within 24 hours. Mr Hagari told reporters that fighting was still on to 'rescue hostages' held by militants in Israel. Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from Ashkelon in southern Israel early Sunday Smoke and flames rise in Burc Vatan shopping mall after bombing of Israeli forces with warplanes as clashes continue between Israeli forces and Hamas armed groups 'There are tens of thousands of combat soldiers in the area, he said. 'We'll reach each and every community till we kill every terrorist in Israel.' After one Israeli strike, a Hamas rocket barrage hit four cities, including Tel Aviv and a nearby suburb. Throughout the day, Hamas fired more than 3,500 rockets, the Israeli military said. Israeli officials said that operations to eliminate the armed invaders were winding down early on Sunday. 'The first stage is ending at this time by the destruction of the vast majority of the enemy forces that infiltrated our territory, said Netanyahu following an early morning Security Cabinet meeting. 'At the same time, we have begun the offensive phase, which will continue with neither limitations nor respite until the objectives are achieved. We will restore security to the citizens of Israel and we will win,' he added. The PM's office said the Security Cabinet had decided to halt the supply of electricity, fuel and goods to Gaza, a narrow strip that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians. Gazans have lived under an Israeli blockade for 16 years. Netanyahu's office said his security cabinet had approved steps to destroy the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, another militant group, 'for years'. Palestinian inspect a mosque destroyed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis, Gaza on Sunday People walk atop the rubble of a tower destroyed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza on Saturday Israeli troops battled Hamas gunmen through the night in parts of southern Israel. An Israeli army spokesperson said on social media the situation was not fully under control. Bodies of Israeli civilians surrounded by broken glass were strewn across the streets of Sderot in southern Israel near Gaza. The bodies of a man and woman were sprawled across the front seats of a car. Terrified Israelis, barricaded into safe rooms, recounted their plight by phone on live television. Senior military officers were among those killed in fighting near Gaza, the Israeli military said. In Gaza, black smoke, orange flashes and sparks lit the sky from explosions. Israeli drones could be heard overhead. Gaza's dead and wounded were carried into crumbling and overcrowded hospitals with severe shortages of medical supplies and equipment. The health ministry said 232 people had been killed and at least 1,700 wounded. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh claimed the assault, which the group dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, would spread to the West Bank and Jerusalem. In a speech, Haniyeh highlighted threats to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, the continuation of an Israeli the blockade on Gaza and Israeli normalization with countries in the region. 'How many times have we warned you that the Palestinian people have been living in refugee camps for 75 years, and you refuse to recognize the rights of our people?' Israeli police officers evacuate a woman and a child from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Saturday Palestinian cross the Gaza-Israel border fence in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip in a surprise incursion into southern Israel on Saturday Sitting on the back of a terrorist's motorcycle, student Noa Argamani (left) pleads for her life as she is abducted and her boyfriend (right) is led away by the gang of militants Western countries, led by the United States, denounced the attack At the White House, President Joe Biden went on national television to say Israel had the right to defend itself, issuing a blunt warning to Iran and other countries: 'This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage. The world is watching.' The United States has been seeking a deal to normalize ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia, seen by Israelis as the biggest prize yet in their decades-long quest for Arab recognition. Palestinians fear any such agreement could sell out their dreams of an independent state. Osama Hamdan, the leader of Hamas in Lebanon, told Reuters that Saturday's operation should make Arab states realize that accepting Israeli security demands would not bring peace. Across the Middle East, there were demonstrations in support of Hamas, with Israeli and US flags set on fire and marchers waving Palestinian flags in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. Iran and Hezbollah, Iran's Lebanese allies, praised the Hamas attack. Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri told Al Jazeera the group was holding a large number of Israeli captives, including senior officials. He said Hamas had enough captives to make Israel free all Palestinians in its jails. Hamas said the attack was driven by what it called escalated Israeli attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, Jerusalem and against Palestinians in Israeli prisons. That Israel was caught completely off guard was lamented as one of the worst intelligence failures in its history, a shock to a nation that boasts of its intensive infiltration and monitoring of militants. Joe Biden's critics are accusing him of 'sleeping on the job' while war was breaking out in Israel and others are wondering if he received the '3am phone call' Hillary Clinton famously said every president should be ready to take. Republican presidential candidate and GOP Florida Governor Ron DeSantis accused the president of being missing in action after his stunning revelation during a press conference on Saturday. The president alluded to having calls on the unfolding situation in the Middle East at about '7:30, 8 o'clock' - eight hours after Hamas's bombardment of Israel began. 'When I got up this morning and started this at 7:30, 8:00, my calls...' Biden began during a statement he made on Saturday. Joe Biden alluded to having calls on the unfolding situation in the Middle East at about '7:30, 8 o'clock' - eight hours after Hamas's bombardment of Israel began Ron DeSantis accused the president of being missing in action after his stunning revelation during a press conference on Saturday But some, including DeSantis, are wondering why the commander in chief was not awoken during the most ferocious attack on Israel in 50 years. In a coordinated, multi-pronged assault, Palestinian terrorists crossed into Israel from the Gaza Strip, seizing settlements and capturing and murdering civilians celebrating a Jewish holiday. Published reports from Israel indicate more than 300 Israelis have been killed, and 1,590 injured, since Hamas launched its blitz attack with rockets and gangs of roving gunmen, attacking civilians and soldiers alike across dozens of locations. 'I saw the president's comments with respect to the attacks on Israel. He said that he was up at 7:30 in the morning, but, you know, this was happening late, late last night into the early morning,' DeSantis said. 'The president needs to be there answering the call when our top ally in the Middle East is under the gun. 'You can't be sleeping on the job. You've got to get there, you've got to do it, and you've got to engage. 'I think that we need to see leadership here. We need a very clear voice, we need strong support for the state of Israel,' he added. Online, there were further questions as to whether Biden had been told of the news in the small hours of the morning. 'Was that his first briefing on the attacks, which started at approx. 11:30pm ET and continued throughout the night?' asked a Twitter account for the Republican National Committee. The posting led to plenty of users on social media also demanding answers as to why the president did not appear to be aware of the attack until daylight hours. The posting led to plenty of users on social media also demanding answers as to why the president did not appear to be aware of the attack until daylight hours 'Told you they had to wake him up early. He usually sleeps until 10 am,' suggested one user. 'I was up most of the night when the story brokeAND I'M NOT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,' added one. 'Biden has not been awake at 7:30 since he took the train as a Senator!' joked another. While stated in jest, such a comment may not be far from the truth. Earlier this year, former White House press secretary Jennifer Psaki revealed how Biden does very little before 9am. During the Silicon Valley Bank collapse in March, Psaki suggested the fact Biden was making comments at 9am showed just how seriously he was taking the matter. 'It's important to note, President Biden does nothing at 9:00am. He is a night owl. So the fact that he is doing this at 9:00am speaks to how vital the White House recognizes it is for him to have his voice out there,' she told MSNBC. One Democrat user was also quick to defend the hour at which Biden may have been briefed on the situation between Israel and Hamas. 'The President with Secretary of State by his side at the presser has to first receive intelligence briefings beforehand about any world event or crises before he goes before the public to speak about any event. Do you want him to get it wrong? I bet you do. Despicable!' they wrote. For some, it brought back memories of the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election campaign, when Clinton suggested that she, rather than Barack Obama, would be the best leader of the free world to take a phone call in the middle of the night during a global crisis. Biden's comments raised memories of the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election campaign, when Hillary Clinton suggested that she, rather than Barack Obama, would be the best leader of the free world to take a phone call in the middle of the night during a global crisis The '3am phone call' became part of political lexicon when Clinton deployed it in a Texas television ad asking voters who they want to answer the phone when the nation is in crisis Biden and top aides spent Saturday consulting with European and Middle East leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) The '3am phone call' quickly became part of the lexicon of the election when Clinton deployed it in a Texas television ad asking voters who they want to answer the phone when the nation is in crisis. 'The world is a dangerous place. At any hour, our president could be called on to act calmly, decisively, intelligently,' the ad said. Biden and top aides spent Saturday consulting with European and Middle East leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In remarks before reporters at the White House, Biden called the attacks 'unconscionable' and pledged his administration would ensure Israel has 'what it needs to defend itself.' 'Let me say this as clearly as I can: This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage,' Biden said. Gun manufacturing giant Smith & Wesson hosted a grand opening of its $125 million new Tennessee headquarters after moving from its longtime home in Massachusetts. The company built a new 650,000-square feet office in Maryville as part of a relocation plan announced in 2021. The gunmaker had been located in Springfield, Massachusetts, since the mid-19th century, but hoped to move to a more gun-friendly state. 'From where I stand, the next 170 years of Smith & Wesson are looking pretty good. It is something special here in Tennessee,' President and CEO Mark Smith said at Saturday's grand opening. Gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson opened its $125 million new headquarters in Tennessee after relocating from Massachusetts Blount County Mayor Ed Mitchel (left), Si Robertson of Duck Dynasty (center) and Rep. Tim Burchett (right) helped cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony. Smith & Wesson chose Tennessee because they wanted to move to a gun-friendly state Smith & Wesson officials have said legislative proposals in Massachusetts would prohibit them from manufacturing certain weapons. The Democrat led state is known to have some of the countrys strictest gun laws. Smith said The Volunteer State's welcoming regulatory environment and close collaboration with the state government was a crucial piece of the plan to relocate. He said the new facility would create hundreds of jobs. Tennessee has moved to loosen gun restrictions in recent years under Republican leadership. In 2021, the state passed a law to allow most adults 21 and older to carry handguns without a permit that requires first clearing a state-level background check and training. Smith & Wesson manufactures AR-15 style rifle weapons, the weapon of choice in many of America's deadliest mass shootings. Smith & Wesson manufactures AR-15 style rifle weapons (pictured) which has been used in many of America's deadliest mass shootings A 2022 House Oversight Committee investigation determined that five major American gunmakers: Daniel Defense, Bushmaster, Sig Sauer, Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc., and Sturm, Ruger & Co., took in a combined total of $1 billion in revenue over 10 years from the sale of AR-15s. Smith & Wesson saw sales jump over the same period from $108 million to $253 million. The company was slammed for refusing to appear at that House hearing on assault rifles. President Joe Biden has called on Congress to pass an assault weapons ban several times. An AFP investigation has led to a former childcare worker being charged with 1623 child abuse offences against 91 children - including 136 counts of rape and 110 counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 10 - in Brisbane, Sydney and overseas between 2007 and 2022. The Gold Coast man, 45, has been in custody in Queensland since August 2022 when the AFP arrested and charged him initially with two counts of making child exploitation material and one count of using a carriage service for child pornography material. The case is scheduled for a mention in Brisbane Magistrates Court on 21 August, 2023. After the man was charged last year, the AFP will allege further self-produced child abuse material was identified on electronic devices allegedly owned by the man. The AFP launched Operation Tenterfield immediately after arresting the man on 21 August last year. Operation Tenterfield has in part focused on identifying the children in the alleged child abuse material recorded at childcare centres in Queensland (10) and NSW (one), and an early learning centre attached to a school overseas. The AFP alleges the man recorded his offending on phones and cameras while working in 10 childcare centres in Brisbane between 2007 to 2013, and 2018 to 2022; an overseas location in 2013 and 2014; and one centre in Sydney between 2014 and 2017. All the children allegedly offended against were pre-pubescent girls. The man worked at other childcare centres but the AFP is highly-confident the man did not allegedly offend at those centres. The AFP is also highly-confident that all 87 Australian children who were recorded in the alleged child abuse material have been identified. The AFP believes the man recorded all his alleged offending. The parents of all the Australian children recorded in the alleged child abuse material have been informed of the investigation. Some of the individuals identified in the alleged child abuse material are now aged over 18 years and have been informed. Support services have been offered and continue to be provided. The AFP is working with international authorities to help identify four children recorded in alleged child abuse material created overseas. The AFP Queensland Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) and victim identification specialists from the AFP and Queensland Police Service (QPS) have been working tirelessly since the man's arrest last year to identify all children in the alleged child abuse material. In November, 2022, the AFP provided evidence to NSW Police Force (NSWPF) to enable an investigation for the alleged offending in NSW. NSWPF launched Strike Force Boorong to investigate alleged offending in Sydney. With the assistance of the AFP, NSWPF notified families and individuals identified under Operation Tenterfield. Operation Tenterfield with the assistance of Strike Force Boorong has undertaken detailed forensic investigations of more than 4000 images and videos containing alleged child abuse material, which was allegedly created by the man. In July, 2023, the AFP laid further charges against the man (on top of the three original charges) for the alleged offending against 64 children in Queensland and four children overseas. Those charges include: In June, 2023, NSWPF laid charges for alleged offending against 23 children in NSW. Charges include: NSWPF has issued a first instance warrant for the man's future extradition. Operation Tenterfield has been complex and has involved highly-skilled victim identification specialists. Up to 35 AFP members have been involved in the investigation since August 2022. The AFP thanks QPS and NSWPF for dedicating resources to the investigation. The genesis of Operation Tenterfield is linked to QPS locating alleged child abuse images and videos on the dark web in 2014. QPS posted them on an international victim identification database, seeking assistance from the global victim-identification community. The AFP and other agencies examined the images but they contained few distinguishable clues for investigators to follow. But in August, 2022, the AFP was able to trace objects identified in the background of the alleged images and videos posted on the dark web between 2013 and 2014 to a Brisbane childcare centre. Following inquiries with the childcare centre, the AFP executed a search warrant on 20 August, 2022, in Brisbane, and arrested the man in Brisbane's southwestern suburbs. He was charged with making and distributing child abuse material that was allegedly posted on the dark web. In the next 48 hours, the AFP executed two further search warrants including at the man's Gold Coast home and seized electronic devices allegedly containing child abuse material created by the man. In September 2022, the AFP coordinated a joint-agency taskforce with QPS at the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) to review nearly 4000 seized images and videos the man had allegedly created. Victim identification specialists helped identify 91 children who had allegedly been offended against by the man. The childcare centres will not be named to help protect the identity of alleged victims. AFP Northern Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough said the AFP and other agencies were providing ongoing support to parents and children. 'The AFP, working with support services, has ensured parents and carers have received as much information as possible as this investigation continues,' Assistant Commissioner Gough said. 'I can assure members of the Australian public that if you have not been contacted by law enforcement, it is extremely unlikely your child was allegedly offended against by the man. 'The AFP is highly-confident that all the Australian children who were recorded in the alleged child abuse material have been identified. 'The AFP and our partners never gave up trying to identify the alleged offender and the children in the alleged abuse material. 'Given there were so many alleged images and videos of children recorded over 15 years on the alleged offender's devices, the process of identification took time, skill and determination. 'While I am extremely proud of law enforcements' persistence and their unwavering dedication to identify this alleged offender, and stop further abuse, this is chilling news. 'It is with a heavy-heart that the AFP and other law enforcement dedicate so much time and resources to prevent and take action against individuals who commit heinous crimes against children. 'There is not much solace I can give parents and children who have been identified under Operation Tenterfield, but I can tell you that we never gave up, and we never will when it comes to protecting children. 'This is a distressing time for families, carers and the community broadly. 'We know this type of news can re-traumatise survivors of sexual abuse, and, please, I urge those survivors to seek support, or talk to a trusted network, if today's news has caused distress.' Queensland Police Service Acting Assistant Commissioner Col Briggs said this outcome was the culmination of years of dedicated and complex investigation across jurisdictions. 'From the moment Argos located images of victim children being shared on the dark web in 2014 an extensive examination was launched to identify the children in the pictures,' Acting Assistant Commissioner Briggs said. 'The challenges posed by an investigation of this type were significant and officers never gave up on identifying this alleged offender, reminding themselves that everything you do online leaves a trace. 'In recent years investigators engaged the support of a joint-agency Victim Identification Taskforce at the ACCCE, with several agencies working together to ensure the victims and their families were located. 'These allegations are horrific and confronting, but I commend all investigators from each jurisdiction in their relentless efforts to ensure that our community is made safer as a result of the arrest of the alleged perpetrator. Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald from the NSWPF State Crime Command confirmed the man would also be facing child sex abuse related charges in NSW. 'Today we announce that the NSW Police Force have issued a warrant for this man's arrest in our home state, where he faces 180 child sex abuse charges against 23 victims aged one to five,' Assistant Commissioner Fitzgerald said. 'Once this man faces the AFP charges in Queensland, we will be seeking to extradite him to Sydney to face the full force of the law in New South Wales. 'This is one of the most horrific cases of alleged child abuse our detectives have seen, and we will continue to relentlessly pursue this matter on behalf of the 23 victims of NSW, who remain our number one priority. 'Alongside our partner agencies, we are absolutely committed to prosecuting anyone who goes after our community's most vulnerable.' The AFP urges anyone in the community who needs to access support to visit the ACCCE website www.accce.gov.au - for a full list of available support services with contact details. Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.accce.gov.au/report. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000. Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety. If you or someone you know are impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation there are support services available at www.accce.gov.au/support. Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at www.thinkuknow.org.au, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation. Hundreds have died in strikes between Israel & Palestine Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has sparked controversy after calling on Israel to show 'restraint' following a devastating surprise attack launched by Palestinian militant group, Hamas. Hamas, recognised as a terrorist organisation by Australia, fired at least 3,500 rockets into Israel before armed militants stormed towns and killed, injured or captured civilians during a major Jewish holiday on Saturday. Israeli forces retaliated with airstrikes on Gaza, destroying multiple residential buildings. The fighting has resulted in the deaths of more than 500 people, while thousands more have been injured. Senator Wong was among many world leaders and diplomats who were quick to condemn the attack from Palestinian militants. Foreigns Affairs Minister Penny Wong (pictured) has been slammed by the opposition after calling on Israel to show 'restraint' following a devastating attack launched by Palestinian militant group, Hamas 'Australia unequivocally condemns the attacks on Israel by Hamas including indiscriminate rocket fire on cities and civilians,' she wrote on X. 'We call for these attacks to stop and recognise Israel's right to defend itself. 'Australia urges the exercise of restraint and protection of civilian lives.' But it was the last few words in Senator Wong's statement that drew the ire of Opposition shadow frontbencher Michael Sukkar. 'Unbelievable, restraint? Israel has every right to defend itself with whatever force is required,' he responded. The opposition's foreign affairs spokesperson, Simon Birmingham, also condemned Hamas' attack. Hamas fired thousands of rockets into Israel before armed militants stormed towns on Saturday (pictured, people try to extinguish fire on cars following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, southern Israel) Israeli forces retaliated with airstrikes on Gaza, destroying multiple residential buildings (pictured, fire and smoke rises above buildings during an Israeli air strike in Gaza City) Senator Wong was among many world leaders and diplomats who were quick to condemn the attack 'I strongly condemn Hamas for firing indiscriminate rockets into Israel & launching ground attacks killing both Israeli civilians & soldiers,' he wrote. 'Israel has a right to defend itself against such terrorism. I urge all parties to protect innocent lives & to work to end the violence.' Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said it was 'yet another example of a deliberate act of violence intended to inflict maximum harm on innocent civilians'. 'The attack is a provocation. Israel has every right to defend itself in response and to deter future attacks and other acts of aggression, coercion, and interference,' he said. Both Mr Dutton and Mr Birmingham have supported a move to light up Parliament House and the Sydney Opera House in the blue and white of the Israeli flag as a show of support. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded to the unprecedented strike and expressed support for Israel on Sunday. 'Australia stands with our friend Israel in this time,' he wrote on X. 'We condemn the indiscriminate and abhorrent attacks by Hamas on Israel, its cities and civilians. We recognise Israel's right to defend itself.' Opposition Leader Peter Dutton (pictured) said it was 'yet another example of a deliberate act of violence intended to inflict maximum harm on innocent civilians' Anthony Albanese (pictured) expressed support for Israel in a post on Sunday but the Coalition was critical of the Prime Minister's 'delayed' response to the attack But the Coalition was also critical of the timing of the Prime Minister's post, which came 12 hours after the initial attack. Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley was first to call Mr Albanese out over his response. 'It took him until 6am this morning to actually make a public statement about this,' she told Sky News Australia on Sunday. 'You don't get nights off as a world leader and across the globe, we saw an immediate reaction from world leadersand it took until this morning for Anthony Albanese to make that statement.' 'I think he needs to be questioned about that today.' 'I'm questioning his timingYou don't get time off.' A man runs in the road as fires burn in Ashkelon, Israel, following rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip initiated by Islamic militant group Hamas A tower block in Gaza City is hit by an Israeli airstrike after Palestinian militants struck Israel Israeli media have reported about 300 deaths and more than 1800 injured by the Palestinian attack. Israel's response has killed at least 400 people in Gaza and injured about 1700. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war after the initial rocket strikes on Saturday. He said that Israel would destroy Hamas' capabilities, but also warned that 'this war will take time. It will be difficult'. The Prime Minister vowed that Hamas 'will pay an unprecedented price' for the attack. 'All the places that Hamas hides in, operates from, we will turn them into ruins,' he said. Israel's air force says it has struck several Hamas compounds, including one belonging to the head of intelligence, across the Gaza Strip as its retaliatory strikes against the militant group are well underway. Drone footage, taken over the last 24 hours and released by the military branch, shows a group of Hamas fighters being attacked from the sky as they try to cross into Israeli territory. At least seven armed men can be seen moving, before being consumed by a fireball caused by an Israeli missile. The footage also shows a drone attack on a car that is driving at high speeds through the Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians. It comes as the air force said it hit 150 targets so far, including banks, weapons factories and the homes and compounds of key Hamas leaders. At least seven armed fighters were seen in the drone footage They were consumed by an explosion, though their fates have not yet been confirmed The attack on the militants come as Israel's retaliatory strikes are well underway The country's air force says it has targeted 150 sites Drone footage of a car being blown up was released The car was travelling at high speeds before it was consumed in a fireball The military branch announced in a post to X, formerly Twitter, early on Sunday morning that it had ordered a missile strike on a compound belonging to Hamas' head of intelligence, along with a video of a purported attack. It said: 'A short while ago, IAF fighter jets struck a compound belonging to the head of the intelligence department in the Hamas terrorist organization. 'The IAF is currently continuing to strike terror targets in the Gaza Strip.' The short black-and-white clip, shared to social media, shows a missile cruising into a house in a densely built up area, before smoke and fire begin pouring out of the building. On top of this, it said it targeted two banks 'belonging to Hamas terror organisation for terror funds', an 'aerial weapons production' site belonging to the 'Islamic Jihad terrorist organisation', and a building 'including offices and storage units' where weapons and military equipment were stored. Palestinian officials claim that since Saturday, Israel's retaliatory strikes have claimed the lives of 313 civilians, while nearly 2,000 have been injured. Israel has reportedly lost about as many, with the country's embassy in Turkey quoting Israel's health ministry figures that claim that at least 300 Israelis have been killed, while close to 2,000 people are being treated in hospitals. 19 people are said to be in a critical condition. Israel's air force claims it targeted the compound used by Hamas' intelligence chief The compound was blown up by a missile fired early on Sunday morning Hamas claimed to have fired 5,000 rockets into Israel from the occupied Gaza Strip, setting off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem A rocket is launched from the coastal Gaza strip towards Israel by militants of the Ezz Al-Din Al Qassam militia, the military wing of Hamas movement, in Gaza City The surprise attack began on Saturday morning after Hamas fighters blitzed into Israel on motorised paragliders during a lightning offensive, while thousands of rockets rained down across the south of the country. Footage showed squads of Palestinians on suicide missions swooping over the border on the aircraft, spreading fear and chaos among cowering families below before landing and opening fire on Israeli civilians and soldiers alike. Fighters fired some 2,500 missiles into Israel from 7am UK time. As they rained down on major towns, and even as far as Tel Aviv nearly 50 miles away, fighters used explosives to break through the border fence. Israel as since begun retaliating, striking Gaza and flattening residential buildings in massive explosions, including a 14-storey tower that was home to dozens of families. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today warned that Israel faces a 'long and difficult war' with Palestine, telling reporters after a meeting of the country's security cabinet early on Sunday that it had now begun its 'offensive phase.' Israeli airstrike hits Al-Watan Tower in Gaza City, causing it to collapse Netanyahu, 73, claimed that Israel has already destroyed the 'vast majority of the enemy forces that infiltrated our territory.' The Israeli ambassador to the UK has said the country's reality has 'become a nightmare' and said its military needs to defend its people. Tzipi Hotovely told BBC Breakfast: 'Israel is in a war that Hamas started yesterday. Calculated. Planned. Targeting Israelis, targeting civilians, targeting innocent children. 'We saw Prime Minister Sunak, we saw President Biden yesterday, they're supporting Israel's right for self-defence, because we are in a reality that has become a nightmare. 'We can't do anything else... we need to protect our people. People standing on a rooftop watch as a ball of fire and smoke rises above a building in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike that hit the Palestine Tower building on Saturday Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from Ashkelon in southern Israel early Sunday People assess the destruction cause by Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on Saturday. Israel has launched a counterstrike against Hamas militants after a sneak attack that killed hundreds 'This is a necessity war. (Israel) wasn't expecting this to happen (but) we need to make sure the infrastructure of terrorism is 100 per cent destroyed.' UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said last night in a post to X: 'As the barbarity of todays atrocities becomes clearer, we stand unequivocally with Israel. 'This attack by Hamas is cowardly and depraved. We have expressed our full solidarity to [Benjamin Netanyahu] and will work with international partners in the next 24 hours to co-ordinate support.' US President Joe Biden, meanwhile, said he 'unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza', and said 'we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel'. 'Terrorism is never justified. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people,' he added. At the White House, he went on national television to say Israel had the right to defend itself, issuing a blunt warning to Iran and other countries: 'This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage. The world is watching.' More than 2200 missiles launched from Gaza rained down on Israel Images coming out of Israel after the missile attacks horrified the world Residents look at the wreckage of destroyed vehicles in Ashkelon following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel on October 7 The United States has been seeking a deal to normalize ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia, seen by Israelis as the biggest prize yet in their decades-long quest for Arab recognition. Palestinians fear any such agreement could sell out their dreams of an independent state. Osama Hamdan, the leader of Hamas in Lebanon, told Reuters that Saturday's operation should make Arab states realize that accepting Israeli security demands would not bring peace. Across the Middle East, there were demonstrations in support of Hamas, with Israeli and US flags set on fire and marchers waving Palestinian flags in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. Iran and Hezbollah, Iran's Lebanese allies, praised the Hamas attack. Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri told Al Jazeera the group was holding a large number of Israeli captives, including senior officials. In footage posted to TikTok revelers appeared to be oblivious to the impending terror floating hundreds of feet above their heads in the distance He said Hamas had enough captives to make Israel free all Palestinians in its jails. Hamas said the attack was driven by what it called escalated Israeli attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, Jerusalem and against Palestinians in Israeli prisons. That Israel was caught completely off guard was lamented as one of the worst intelligence failures in its history, a shock to a nation that boasts of its intensive infiltration and monitoring of militants. The war has already seemingly spilled outwards to neighbouring countries. Israel has been pounding Lebanon with artillery strikes today after claiming there had been 'shooting' directed towards it from its northern neighbour. Columns of heavy weaponry including tanks and armored personnel carriers were also spotted moving north toward Israel's border with Lebanon and Syria, after Iran-backed Hezbollah said it was striking Israel in 'solidarity with the Palestinian resistance.' Richard Hecht, a spokesperson for Israel's armed forces, said the military was looking into the incident but that it had not been an 'all out' attack from Lebanon. He urged Hizbollah, which has a strong presence in southern Lebanon, not to enter the fighting, telling the FT: 'I don't think they will. But if they do, we are ready.' Suella Braverman today warned that the 'full force of the law' will be used against those who support Hamas or 'intimidate' Jews in Britain. The Home Secretary delivered the stark message as the Met Police stepped up 'reassurance' patrols in London following the horrific attacks on civilians in Israel. Images of people waving Palestine flags and celebrating the bloody assault in the city have been shared on social media, including by Countdown presenter Rachel Riley. Ms Braverman posted on X this morning to say the government was doing 'everything necessary' to protect Jewish communities. 'Whenever Israel is attacked, Islamists and other racists use Israeli defensive measures as a pretext to stir up hatred against British Jews,' she wrote. 'There must be zero tolerance for anti-semitism or glorification of terrorism on the streets of Britain. 'I expect the police to use the full force of the law against displays of support for Hamas, other proscribed terrorist groups or attempts to intimidate British Jews.' Scotland Yard said it would increase the presence of officers in response to a 'number of incidents'. Suella Braverman delivered a stark message as the Met Police stepped up 'reassurance' patrols in London following the horrific attacks on civilians in Israel Ms Braverman posted on X this morning to say the government was doing 'everything necessary' to protect Jewish communities Images of people waving Palestine flags and celebrating the bloody assault in the city have been shared on social media, including by Countdown presenter Rachel Riley People celebrating the Hamas atrocity in Israel outside a cafe in Acton, West London yesterday The Met said that 'an appropriate policing plan' will be put in place as the force anticipates protests over the coming days. Also today, shadow policing minister Chris Philp condemned remarks made by Dana Abuqamar, president of Manchester Friends of Palestine, in which she said she was 'full of pride' and 'joy' at the events. Speaking to Sky News at a pro-Hamas event in Manchester, she said: 'We are full of pride. We are really, really full of joy (at) what has happened.... We are proud that Palestinian resistance has come to this point.' In a post sharing her quotes on X, Mr Philp wrote: 'This is sick. I'm appalled that anyone holds these repugnant views.' Militant Islamist group Hamas launched an attack on Israel overnight on Friday, claiming to have fired 5,000 rockets before militants poured across the border, seemingly taking Israel completely by surprise. Civilians have been slaughtered and hostages taken. In just 12 hours almost 400 people are confirmed to have died, with a further 2,610 injured in both Israel and the Gaza Strip. In just 12 hours almost 400 people are confirmed to have died, with a further 2,610 injured in both Israel and the Gaza Strip Hamas militants began their attack early on Saturday and appeared to take the Israelis completely by surprise The Met Police has confirmed that officers will step up patrols in London amid fears of antisemitic attacks and protests Hamas claimed to have fired 5,000 rockets into Israel from the occupied Gaza Strip, setting off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem In a statement, Scotland Yard said: 'We are aware of a number of incidents, including those that have been shared on social media, in relation to the ongoing conflict in Israel and the border with Gaza. 'The Met has increased policing patrols across parts of London in order to provide a visible presence and reassurance to our communities.' It added: 'We are aware that the ongoing conflict may lead to protests over the coming days. We will ensure that an appropriate policing plan is in place in order to balance the right to protest against any disruption to Londoners.' The news comes amid fears the new escalation could seriously destabilise the region and result in an extended conflict after Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu told Hamas they are now 'at war'. During the 2021 Gaza-Israel conflict, which began in early May, the CST documented a record 628 hate incidents directed towards British Jews between early May and early June, a fourfold increase on the same period the previous year. The latest statistics on hate crimes, released this week, show a rise in religious-based hate crimes in 2022-23 in the UK. Jewish communities are the second-most hit by religious-based hate crimes, accounting for 17 percent of all those recorded. Israeli police officers evacuate a family from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Saturday, October 7, 2023 Palestinians wave their national flag and celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis southern Saturday, October 7, 2023 A woman and child are evacuated from the site of a rocket attack in southern Israel on Saturday Islamophobia results in the highest number of religious-based hate crimes per year, and made up 39 percent of them, the latest data shows. After the scale of the Hamas attack became clear, British politicians rushed to support their own communities and the public. Rishi Sunak said: 'I am shocked by this morning's attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli citizens. 'Israel has an absolute right to defend itself. We're in contact with Israeli authorities, and British nationals in Israel should follow travel advice.' Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer said: 'I utterly condemn the ongoing attacks on Israel and her citizens. 'There is no justification for this act of terror which is being perpetrated by those who seek to undermine any chance for future peace in the region. Israel has a right to defend herself.' The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan explicitly acknowledge the risk of increased levels of antisemitism. He said: 'The news coming out of Israel is deeply distressing. I condemn the terrorist acts of Hamas and my thoughts are with those affected and those who have lost loved ones. 'Tragically, we know that violence in the Middle East can lead to a rise in hate crime in London. I'm in touch with senior officers at the Met and communities across our city. Let me be clear - hate crime in London will not be tolerated. Now or ever.' Ugly scenes from Israel appear to show Hamas militants abducting women, children and even entire families off the streets and ferrying them back towards the Gaza strip. Meanwhile both sides are continuing to fire rockets at one another, with active fighting going on in 22 different locations. Rockets appear to have hit targets in both the Gaza Strip and Israel itself, with multiple reports of fires and explosions in Tel Aviv. Meanwhile the Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure has ordered the immediate suspension of power to the Gaza Strip. Palestinians celebrate after an Israeli tank was hit by Hamas gunmen who infiltrated the south of the country, on the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border Israeli medical teams evacuate an injured person from the southern city of Sderot, close to the border with the Gaza Strip A man carries a crying child as they walk past a building destroyed by an Israeli air strike in Gaza City People flee as clashes flare between Palestinian groups and Israeli forces in Gaza City following the earlier air strikes Palestinians are greeted by crowds after returning from crossing the border into Israel Gaza's power authority says 80 percent of Gaza electricity supplies have been shut following Israel's announcement. The Gaza Strip is one of the most densely populated places in the world, with around two million people packed into 140 square miles. But it depends on Israel for water, electricity, telecommunications, and other utilities, and imports are carefully controlled by the occupying country. Conflict between Israel and Palestinians has been going on for decades, but this is the deadliest attack in years, leading to fears it could start an ongoing war. From Israel's perspective, the surprise attack has been 'humiliating', undermining intelligence efforts and overwhelming the Iron Dome defence system, which is far superior to Gaza's own anti-missile defences. READ MORE: Man charged with murdering his mother Two bodies discovered at property in Sydney's south The bodies of a man and woman have been discovered at a property in what is suspected to be a murder suicide. Officers were called to a home on Union Street at Riverwood in Sydney's south about 2pm on Sunday. They first found a man's body inside a truck that was parked in the driveway. A woman's body was then located inside the single-level home. The man is believed to be in his 60s and the woman in her 50s. The bodies of a man and woman have been discovered at a property in Riverwood in Sydney's south (pictured, police at the scene) Police found the man's body in a truck that was parked in the driveway before discovering the woman inside the home A crime scene has been established and inquiries are underway. St George detectives are heading the investigation and are being assisted by the State Crime Commands Homicide Squad. A police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that detectives were looking into whether the incident was domestic-violence related. There are no other suspects. Union Street was cordoned off between Coleridge Street and Pennsylvania Road during the investigation on Sunday afternoon. Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call Crime Stoppers. Speed signs across the country have been vandalised to read 'No' ahead of this Saturday's Voice to Parliament referendum, sparking warnings from authorities. Dozens of signs alerting drivers of a 110 km/h speed limit along the Pacific Highway and M1 between Hornsby and Newcastle were defaced with black tape on Sunday to read 'NO'. Signs were also vandalised in the same way in both South Australia and Victoria leading to authorities to warn of severe fines or even jail time for those caught tampering with road signs. In NSW, the maximum punishment is a fine of $2200, while in South Australia a perpetrator can face a fine of up to $5000 or a year imprisonment. Dozens of speed signs along both the Pacific Highway and M1 between Hornsby and Newcastle have been defaced on Sunday to read 'NO' instead of 110 (pictured) READ MORE: Indigenous Voice poll pokes holes in Yes campaign's claims about First Nation support for referendum Advertisement The secretary for Transport for NSW, Josh Murray, stated the importance of speed limit signs in keeping motorists and roads safe. 'Defacing road safety signage is potentially dangerous and is an offence that will not be tolerated, with offenders facing fines of up to $2200,' Mr Murray wrote in a statement. 'Speed limits are in place to help keep motorists safe and damaging road signage is irresponsible and dangerous, especially at a time when families are travelling home at the end of the school holiday period. 'Transport for NSW has already assigned a crew to repair the signs as soon as possible.' He urged anyone with information or dash cam footage of the vandalism being undertaken to come forward to NSW Police, who are aware of the incidents. Similar signs were vandalised in South Australia and Victoria in the lead up to the Voice to parliament referendum on Saturday (pictured) Images of similar incidents in South Australia and Victoria were posted to social media last week, showing dozens of signs vandalised. The state's Department for Infrastructure and Transport said it was taking the issue 'very seriously' in a statement to the ABC. 'Defacing road infrastructure is a criminal offence, which carries a maximum penalty of $5,000 or one-year imprisonment. 'Road signs and infrastructure are very important for driver safety and we are taking this issue very seriously.' Keir Starmer condemned the 'appalling' atrocities in Israel today as he faces pressure to act against Labour MPs and activists who make excuses for Hamas. The leader decried the 'acts of terrorism' as he struggles to stop hard-left figures including Jeremy Corbyn derailing his pre-election conference in Liverpool. In a BBC interview, Sir Keir said the indiscriminate launching of missiles, slaughter of civilians and hostage-taking in Israel was a 'deliberate' attempt to set back the peace process. But Tories have been insisting that Labour 'hasn't changed' after mixed signals from some elements of the party. Mr Corbyn - banned from standing as an MP again but still a party member - tweeted urging a ceasefire, but seemingly stopping short of directly condemning the actions. Pictures on social media showed an MP posing at a Palestine Solidarity Campaign stall as the grim scenes unfolded in Israel. Keir Starmer condemned the 'appalling' atrocities in Israel today as he faces pressure to act against Labour MPs and activists who make excuses for Hamas Jeremy Corbyn was slammed by security minister Tom Tugendhat yesterday after he posted on X saying the 'unfolding events in Israel and Palestine are deeply alarming' - but seemingly stopping short of directly condemning the action Keir Starmer arriving for his interview at the conference venue in Liverpool this morning Suella Braverman has warned that the 'full force of the law' will be used against those who support Hamas or 'intimidate' Jews in Britain. The Home Secretary delivered the stark message as the Met Police stepped up 'reassurance' patrols in London. Images of people waving Palestine flags and celebrating the bloody assault in the city have been shared on social media, including by Countdown presenter Rachel Riley. Ms Braverman posted on X this morning to say the government was doing 'everything necessary' to protect Jewish communities. 'Whenever Israel is attacked, Islamists and other racists use Israeli defensive measures as a pretext to stir up hatred against British Jews,' she wrote. 'There must be zero tolerance for anti-semitism or glorification of terrorism on the streets of Britain. 'I expect the police to use the full force of the law against displays of support for Hamas, other proscribed terrorist groups or attempts to intimidate British Jews.' Mr Corbyn - who is due to appear at a fringe event at conference this afternoon - posted on X yesterday saying the 'unfolding events in Israel and Palestine are deeply alarming'. 'We need an immediate ceasefire and urgent de-escalation,' he added. But security minister Tom Tugendhat responded: 'Your ''friends'' Hamas are murdering children and taking civilian hostages. Haven't you said enough?' Scotland Yard said it would increase the presence of officers in response to a 'number of incidents'. Sir Keir had been hoping for a 'safety first' conference - potentially the last before an election - with Labour enjoying consistent double-digit poll leads. Despite being buoyed by victory in the Rutherglen & Hamilton West by-election, Sir Keir warned against complacency. 'It is not going to be giddy, it is not going to be 'job done',' Sir Keir told the Observer. 'So you won't get razzmatazz. You won't see mistakes that have been made in the past by opposition parties.' In an interview with the Sunday Mirror, he set out proposals to pay doctors and nurses overtime to carry out more procedures like scans and operations at the weekend. The plan, which the party estimates would create 2.2 million NHS appointments a year, would be backed by 1.5billion which Labour says would come from scrapping the non-dom tax status. Abolishing the regime is how the party plans to fund the largest ever workforce expansion in the NHS. 'I think everybody knows someone who's on the NHS waiting list. And I'm certainly not immune from that. This is a period of high anxiety for individuals huge personal discomfort in many cases,' he said. In an eve-of-conference reception for London Labour members, Sir Keir said: 'I say to Rishi Sunak: if he wants change, bring it on.' He told the crowd: 'I don't agree with Rishi Sunak on very much, but when he stood up last week and said we've had years of failure and we need a change, I thought he was spot on. 'We need change. He can't be that change, he's been the nodding dog as chancellor nodding through all the decisions he now says were so terrible they've got to change them.' Deputy leader Angela Rayner will open proceedings on the conference main stage and has said Labour is 'certainly not taking anything for granted' despite the 'seismic' win in the Rutherglen contest. Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves will take to the main stage on Monday to detail Labour's plans for economic growth, before Sir Keir's keynote address on Tuesday. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Ms Reeves raised the prospect that the green belt could be curtailed to build hundreds of thousands more homes. People celebrating the Hamas atrocity in Israel outside a cafe in Acton, West London yesterday Ms Braverman posted on X this morning to say the government was doing 'everything necessary' to protect Jewish communities Images of people waving Palestine flags and celebrating the bloody assault in the city have been shared on social media, including by Countdown presenter Rachel Riley She suggested the party could offer incentives to so-called 'nimbys' to allow green development in their area. This could mean cutting energy bills for people who live near onshore wind farms or electricity pylons. 'I think that people deserve something in return,' she told the paper. 'It's the same with housing.' Elsewhere, shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood told The Sun on Sunday Labour must not be too 'queasy' about concerns over high immigration figures. But she denounced Home Secretary Suella Braverman for claiming a 'hurricane' of migration was coming, describing the rhetoric as 'the lowest kind of politics'. Russell Brand's father shared a conspiracy theory-laden video about 'the matrix' which appears to attack the women who have accused his son of rape and sexual assault. Ron Brand posted the video of Youtuber Lennie Moreno to his Facebook page just weeks after his son faced allegations. In the clip, Moreno says the 'rape charge pattern on people speaking against the system is getting pretty clear by now' and compares the Brand allegations to those of Donald Trump, Andrew Tate, Julian Assange and Tupac. In what appears to be an attack on the women accusing Brand, he says: 'As soon as you get too big and start speaking some sense to your following, some blackmailed woman or pissed off ex-date is going to come out of the woodwork by orders of "the matrix" and synchronise all the media outlets to break the news at the same exact time.' During the vile rant shared by Ron, Moreno also claims that if you have 'power and swag and options you never need to rape anybody'. Russell Brand and his father Ron are pictured as they leave a London hotel, after enjoying lunch together in 2014 Ron Brand posted a video of Youtuber Lennie Moreno (pictured) to his Facebook page just weeks after his son faced allegations Ron Brand (pictured) shared a conspiracy theory-laden video about 'the matrix' which appears to attack the women who have accused his son of rape and sexual assault Brand's father shared the video weeks after accusations published in The Sunday Times and on Channel 4's Dispatches saw multiple women accuse his son of abusive and predatory behaviour, including rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse, between 2006 and 2013. The comic has vehemently denied the allegations but the BBC, Channel 4 and production firm Banijay launched investigations into his behaviour, while the Met Police and Thames Valley police said they are investigating complaints. On September 30, Brand's father also shared a conspiracy-laden video from James Atkinson, who hosts a podcast called World Wide Awake, which also spoke of a 'pattern' of charges against men who have 'gone against the establishment'. In a swear-filled rant, Atkinson said: 'So my thoughts on the Russell Brand situation, he's a man who has gone against the establishment, he's spoken out against the very people who have now gone after him. READ MORE: Russell Brand is forced to pull down illegal barricade he built around his pub after bombshell rape allegations Advertisement 'There's a clear pattern that emerges with any f***er that decides to speak out and take a stand for what they believe in.' And last week, it was revealed a second police force is investigating claims about Russell Brand. After Scotland Yard launched a criminal probe, Thames Valley Police confirmed it was investigating 'information in relation to the harassment and stalking allegations' made by a woman. Following the Dispatches and Times investigation, in which Brand was accused of one rape and sexual assault by four women, a slew of further claims emerged as women told their stories to newspapers and the BBC. At least ten have made public claims so far. The comedian, 48, has strenuously denied wrongdoing, and says he has evidence to refute allegations. He has called the claims a conspiracy by the 'mainstream media'. In the latest allegation, the Mail saw police logs claiming that the woman accused him of being a 'sexual predator'. She lived near Brand and became friendly with him in 2015, before they each accused the other of harassment. Police are understood to have looked into her claims previously, and dismissed them. Now officers are re-examining the case. Brand begged his fans to splash out 48 a year and subscribe to his Rumble channel after being cut off from YouTube following a 'distressing' week following the allegations against him. Brand went live on the platform after his lucrative YouTube channel was demonetised in the wake of the scandal, which has seen him losing the backing of publishers, agents and seen his stand-up tour postponed. Brand was last seen in public on September 16 following his stand up show at a theatre in Wembley. The rest of his tour has since been postponed Brand opened the programme begging for people to subscribe to his Rumble channel before then launching into a rambling attack on the so-called 'corporatist state and global media' About 70,000 viewers tuned into his stream, in which Brand launched a fresh attack on the so-called 'corporatist state and global media' in a long, rambling video where he urged his followers to 'oppose increasingly authoritarian centralised power'. Pleading with his fans to back him, Brand said: 'If you're watching this on YouTube or anywhere else, eventually you're going to have to click the link in the description and join us over in Rumble and if you can become a supporter it's the only way that you can back our independent voice at a time where it's obviously being challenged.' He added in another part of the stream: You now know that I have been demonetised on YouTube fully well aware that the government wrote to social media platforms to demand that I be further censored. Keir Starmer today vowed to scrap Rwanda deportations even if they are working should he become PM. The Labour leader insisted the policy was 'wrong' and too expensive as he ruled out keeping it under any circumstances. Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman have put the idea at the heart of their push to 'Stop the Boats', saying would-be migrants will be deterred if they know they will not stay in the UK. Supreme Court justices are due to hear arguments from the Home Office tomorrow that legal blocks on the scheme should be lifted. Keir Starmer (pictured arriving for conference in Liverpool today) insisted the Rwanda policy was 'wrong' and too expensive as he ruled out keeping it under any circumstances A group of Channel migrants being brought ashore in Kent last week Asked in a BBC interview whether he would ditch the policy even if it is ruled legal and cuts Channel crossings, Sir Keir said: 'Yes. 'I think it's the wrong policy, it's hugely expensive. It's a tiny number of individuals who would go to Rwanda and the real problem is at source. 'You're putting this to me on the basis that it's working, we've been told by the Government time and again that even saying they've got a Rwanda scheme will reduce the numbers that hasn't happened.' Instead Sir Keir said he would work with other countries to 'smash the criminal gangs who are running this vile trade' of people smuggling. If the Rwanda scheme is given the go-ahead by British courts, the European Court of Human Rights could still attempt to block it with an interim injunction. That could theoretically be ignored under measures in the new Illegal Migration Act earlier this year. However, senior Tories believe Attorney General Victoria Prentis could try and block the move. It would leave the Prime Minister with the choice of giving in to the European court or overruling the Government's chief law officer. Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said last week he was 'quietly confident' that the justices will overturn a previous ruling from the Court of Appeal clearing the way for the first flights to take off, probably in the new year. Ministers are drawing up emergency legislation that would attempt to carve out illegal migration from the jurisdiction of the ECHR in the event of a Supreme Court defeat. Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman have put the idea at the heart of their push to 'Stop the Boats', saying would-be migrants will be deterred if they know they will not stay in the UK Ms Braverman is understood to believe a 'halfway house' option would be to exclude illegal migrants from the remit of human rights laws. Parliament would be asked to pass the new measures revoking the ECHR in all cases involving small boat migrants and other 'irregular' arrivals. It would mean unelected judges at home and abroad could no longer interfere in Parliament's decisions on illegal migration. However, the legislation would be 'very difficult' to get through in the time available before the next general election. Immigration minister Robert Jenrick said Sir Keir's comments were 'proof, if it were needed, that Labour don't even want to stop the boats. They are ideologically opposed to border controls. 'Their solution is to force British communities to tolerate this flagrant criminality.' Tory chairman Greg Hands said Sir Keir's 'mask has slipped'. He added the Labour leader was reluctant to take tough action to defend UK borders because he wanted to 'save face with his north London dinner party pals'. A government source said Sir Keir's stance showed he was 'putting ideology before the national interest'. The insider added: 'Now we have the truth Sir Keir doesn't care about stopping the boats at all. He'd cancel our Rwanda deterrent even when it's up and working just because it doesn't fit with his political ideology. 'Instead he plans to go cap in hand to Brussels to beg for an EU quota scheme to potentially allow hundreds of thousands more migrants in. 'He's just another human rights lawyer from north London who puts party interests before the British people.' The UK has paid Rwanda 140million under its asylum partnership announced in April last year but legal challenges have so far prevented any flights. Last month he proposed a plan to seek a 'returns agreement' with the EU, saying Labour would accept a 'quid pro quo'. He denied claims this would lead to the UK taking 100,000-plus asylum-seekers a year but did not say how many Labour would accept. Tory strategists believe the dividing line on Rwanda could prove a key factor in shoring up support in red wall seats. But a poll today by think tank More in Common points to a 26-point swing to Labour among 'socially conservative' voters, with the party even leading on immigration. A young British man who last texted his mother about 'rockets flying over' a music festival near the Gaza Strip is feared to be missing. Jake Marlowe, 26, has not been heard from since Saturday morning after he was working as part of a security team at the festival near Re'im, a village close to the border with Gaza. The Israeli Embassy in London said that he is currently 'missing near Gaza' following the attack on the festival by Hamas militants on Saturday. Jake's mother, Lisa, said she received a call in the early hours of the morning from him, telling her that the festival was under attack. 'He was doing security at this rave and called me at 4.30am to say all these rockets were flying over,' she said. Jake Marlowe (pictured) was working as a security guard at a music festival that was attacked by Hamas militants 'Then, at about 5.30am, he texted to say, 'signal very bad, everything OK, will keep you updated I promise you,' and that he loves me.' She added that Jake permanently moved to the city of Ma'alot, in north Israel, two years ago. The Israeli Embassy confirmed that Jake is currently missing, and a spokesperson told MailOnline that it was currently working with and supporting his family. Jake and his family aren't the only Brits who have been terrorised by the unprecedented attack on Israel by Hamas militants. A family of British-Israeli citizens revealed they spent nine hours in hiding after being woken up by rocket fire in the early hours of Saturday morning in their homes, just one-and-a-half miles from Israel's border with Gaza. Israeli festivalgoers run for their lives through the desert after being warned of an incoming rocket attack just as Hamas invaded the country on Saturday Panic swept through the crowd who were partying in the north-western Negev desert, about 5 miles from the city of Ofakim. People could be seen hurriedly packing their cars in a desperate effort to get away Hamas claimed to have fired 5,000 rockets into Israel from the occupied Gaza Strip, setting off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem Deborah Mintz, originally from Romford, hid in a tiny room with her grandson Kai, and his parents, Aimee and Uriel Labban, both in their 30s. The family's house and cars were torched by Hamas fighters, while their pet dog was killed, the family said. At one point, as smoke poured into their safe room, they were forced to lift Kai up to the ceiling to protect him from the fumes The family was finally freed just before 3pm local time as Israeli Defence Forces arrived and escorted them to a nearby bomb shelter Russell Langer, a policy researcher related to the family, told the Telegraph he learnt of their plight when they received a text message saying: 'We are stuck. They came in and burnt our house'. Israelis could be heard shouting, running, and hurriedly getting into cars as they attempt to escape Some could be seen scrambling for the safety of cars to get away from danger Videos posted to social media appears to depict scenes of chaos in the sand Langer said told the newspaper: 'Baby Kai appears to be okay, but [he is] a bit covered in soot,' he said. 'The house is burnt out, as are their cars.' Meanwhile, British woman Charlotte, and her mum, were stuck in Tel Aviv as Hamas rockets rained down on the city. 'We were outside when the missiles were directed at Tel Aviv and I have never heard anything so loud.' The pair are currently stuck in Tel Aviv in a hotel, and told Sky News they are in regular contact with the British embassy, which assured them it was doing everything it could to fly them home. 'We've received very few updates whilst here [and] the streets are deserted and everything has been closed.' She said she has an app that has been alerting her and her mum of incoming missiles, and woke up to 2,000 different notifications regarding strikes since Sunday morning. Israeli civilians were purportedly taken off the street and driven back into Gaza Hamas militants fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip in an unprecedented surprise early morning attack during a major Jewish holiday Saturday. Pictured, people try to extinguish fire on cars following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, southern Israel A woman in Tel Aviv picks her way through rubble late on Saturday Dozens of rockets are fired by Palestinians towards Israel on Saturday night The surprise attack began on Saturday morning after Hamas fighters blitzed into Israel on motorised paragliders during a lightning offensive, while thousands of rockets rained down across the south of the country. Footage showed squads of Palestinians on suicide missions swooping over the border on the aircraft, spreading fear and chaos among cowering families below before landing and opening fire on Israeli civilians and soldiers alike. Fighters fired some 2,500 missiles into Israel from 7am UK time. As they rained down on major towns, and even as far as Tel Aviv nearly 50 miles away, fighters used explosives to break through the border fence. Israel as since begun retaliating, striking Gaza and flattening residential buildings in massive explosions, including a 14-storey tower that was home to dozens of families. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today warned that Israel faces a 'long and difficult war' with Palestine, telling reporters after a meeting of the country's security cabinet early on Sunday that it had now begun its 'offensive phase.' The attack took place at popular tourist site Pompey's Pillar on Sunday morning Two Israelis have been killed after a police officer opened fire on a group of tourists from the country in the city of Alexandria in Egypt. The pair, along with a local guide, were fatally injured after being shot at popular the Roman tourist attractionin the Mediterranean city on Sunday morning. A statement from Egypt's Interior Ministry said that another person was wounded in the attack at the Pompey's Pillar site. It provided no further details. The Israeli Foreign Ministry identified the wounded as an Israeli who suffered moderate injuries. The ministry said in a statement that Israeli authorities were working with the Egyptian government to bring the Israelis home. Extra News television channel, which has close ties to Egyptian security agencies, reported that the suspected assailant was detained. According to Egyptian sources speaking to Reuters, the policeman said he lost control and fired randomly on the tourist group after being provoked. It comes amid rising tensions across the region after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza strip, killing hundreds of people and taking dozens of others hostage. Disturbing video posted online shows bodies lying on the floor after an Egyptian police officer opened fire on Israeli tourists in the city of Alexandria Footage shows police standing close to the bodies after the attacker was taken into custody Amateur video shows casualties being loaded into ambulances at popular tourist site Pompey's Pillar following the attack The head of Egyptian intelligence was in close contact with officials from Israel and Hamas following the outbreak of violence, three security sources said on Saturday. READ MORE HERE: Israeli woman describes terrifying ordeal as she played dead for three hours while Hamas terrorists massacred fleeing revellers Advertisement Egypt made peace with Israel decades ago and has long served as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But anti-Israeli sentiment runs high in the country, especially during bouts of violence. In June, three Israeli soldiers and one Egyptian security officer were killed in an hours-long incident near the countries' border. Israel's Zaka rescue service reported two people had been killed in Alexandria in the latest attack. In a statement Israel's Foreign Ministry said: 'This morning during a tourist visit of a group of Israelis in Alexandria, Egypt, a local opened fire on them, as a result of which two Israeli citizens and the local Egyptian guide were murdered. 'In addition, there is a wounded Israeli in moderate condition,' it added. Disturbing footage shared online shows the bodies of three people laying on a stairway close to Pompey's Pillar, while a wounded man is attended to by passerby. One amateur video circulating on social media showed at least three ambulances apparently taking the victims to hospitals while onlookers were seen watching behind a police barrier. The attack triggered mixed reactions from social media users. Some lauded the attack in Alexandria while others condemned the killing of civilians visiting Egypt. Writing on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, renowned Egyptian writer and TV host Ibrahim Issa called the attack a 'terrorist crime,' adding that, 'any attempt to justify it is a crime against humanity and the nation.' Amr Magdi, researcher with Human Rights Watch, condemned the attack, saying on X: 'No justification whatsoever for intentionally targeting Israeli civilians in Egypt, Gaza or anywhere else.' Pompey's Pillar is a famous Roman-era granite column which stands in the Serapeum of Alexandria, an ancient Greek temple. The 33.85-metre column, which was built in the 3rd Century, is the only ancient monument still standing in the city still in its original location and is a popular tourist attraction. The attack comes as Israel defends itself against a sneak attack by terrorist group Hamas from the Gaza strip. The attack took place near Pompey's Pillar (pictured), a Roman-era granite column that has stood on the site since the 3rd Century The site, which also has a sphinx at the base of the pillar (pictured), is a popular tourist attraction in Alexandria People assess the destruction cause by Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on Saturday. Israel has launched a counterstrike against Hamas militants after a sneak attack that killed hundreds Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from Ashkelon in southern Israel early Sunday More than 300 Israelis have been killed, and 1,590 injured, since Hamas launched its blitz attack on Saturday morning with rockets and up to 1,000 armed militants roving in gangs, attacking civilians and soldiers alike across dozens of locations. The assault caught Israel by surprise, with no warning for people living near the border with the Palestinian territory. Gangs of the Hamas militants charged across into Israel, targeting settlements and people nearby, including hundreds of people who were attending a 'peace festival' in the desert. Here they killed dozens of people, with witnesses describing how they saw terrorists shooting people with automatic weapons as they went 'tree by tree' murdering those trying to hide. Videos released on social media later showed them taking hostages, including one terrified student who could be heard desperately pleading 'don't kill me' as she was forcibly separated from her boyfriend. Hamas claimed to have fired 5,000 rockets into Israel from the occupied Gaza Strip, setting off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem Palestinian inspect a mosque destroyed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis, Gaza on Sunday Disturbing footage later showed the bodies of people killed being paraded on a truck by Hamas militants, including a female German tattoo artist who the terrorists claimed was an Israeli soldier. An Israeli military spokesperson said Sunday morning that two hostage situations had been 'resolved,' but did not say whether those hostages had been rescued alive. READ MORE HERE: Moment Israeli drone rains down fire on Hamas fighters as retaliation strikes begin Advertisement An official number of how many people have been kidnapped is currently not known, but the Israeli Embassy to the United States suggests a figure of 100 civilians and soldiers. Israel has since launched retaliatory air strikes in the territory and is fighting street-by-street in some towns in southern Israel to force them out. IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said more than 400 Palestinian militants had been killed in southern Israel and the Gaza strip, and dozens more captured. 'As of this hour, there are forces fighting in [Kibbutz] Kfar Aza, there are searches in a large number of towns. There are IDF forces in all towns, there is no town that does not have an IDF force in it,' he is quoted as saying in The Times of Israel. Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom Tzipi Hotovely has blamed Iran for supporting Hamas ahead of Saturday's attack. She told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News: 'Iran is backing up Hamas, Iran is destabilising the region with its proxies. 'We are willing to take a long fighting time to defend our people, we must make sure no one has a motivation to do that again.' People standing on a rooftop watch as a ball of fire and smoke rises above a building in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike that hit the Palestine Tower building on Saturday The military branch announced in a post to X, formerly Twitter, early on Sunday morning that it had ordered a missile strike on a compound belonging to Hamas' head of intelligence, along with a video of a purported attack. It said: 'A short while ago, IAF fighter jets struck a compound belonging to the head of the intelligence department in the Hamas terrorist organization. 'The IAF is currently continuing to strike terror targets in the Gaza Strip.' The short black-and-white clip, shared to social media, shows a missile cruising into a house in a densely built up area, before smoke and fire begin pouring out of the building. On top of this, it said it targeted two banks 'belonging to Hamas terror organisation for terror funds', an 'aerial weapons production' site belonging to the 'Islamic Jihad terrorist organisation', and a building 'including offices and storage units' where weapons and military equipment were stored. Drone footage also showed the moment a group of Hamas fighters were attacked from the sky as they try and cross the Gaza-Israel border. At least seven armed men can be seen moving, before being consumed by a fireball caused by an Israeli missile. The footage also shows a drone attack on a car that is driving at high speeds through the Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians. Bar owners in the historic city of Seville are already turning away raucous stag and hen parties after mayor Jose Luis Sanz said they weren't welcome. A group of women on a hen party were berated by a local resident and then turned away from an open-air bar in one of the city's most popular squares over the weekend. The group of 15 young women all smartly dressed and seemingly sober were told to leave the Salvador Plaza in the city old town after staff at the bar noticed they were all wearing toy builders hats. The gimmicky bright yellow hats marked them out as a hen party and staff at the La Antigua Bodeguita bar moved quickly to order them away. Earlier, a local man had berated the women and remonstrated with them as they walked into the square looking for somewhere to eat. A group of women on a hen party were berated by a local resident and then turned away from an open-air bar in one of the city's most popular squares over the weekend Another hen party being held in the city for Veronica del Cerro who was accompanied by ten friends all dressed in pink carefully chose where they would have a meal The turning away of stag and hen parties comes after mayor Jose Luis Sanz said they weren't welcome The gimmicky bright yellow hats marked them out as a hen party and staff at the La Antigua Bodeguita bar (pictured) moved quickly to order them away The women who were all from Madrid left without making a scene and had lunch at another restaurant. 'It is ridiculous that we cannot sit down just because we are here to celebrate our friend's wedding,' said one of the women from the hen party. 'We know they are bringing in these rules, but we are not drunk and not making any trouble. 'It is only because we have the hats that they have singled us out.' The bride-to-be Maria Bertram de Lis Sanchez said she wasn't worried about being turned away as there were dozens of places to celebrate her forthcoming nuptials. The construction worker hats were a recognition of her job in the building industry. Another hen party being held in the city for Veronica del Cerro who was accompanied by ten friends all dressed in pink carefully chose where they would have a meal. The group from the city of Toledo were unaware of the proposed ban - with the final say on what happens and how severe the fines will be yet to be agreed by the city council. Seville Mayor Jose Luis Sanz is seeking cross party support for the measures as he maintains boozed up Brits and other revellers are not the sort of tourism he wants for his city. Mr Sanz said: 'It will be one of the first things I'll do because this type of tourism doesn't interest Seville. 'Anyone can celebrate their stag or hen do in Seville. What we don't approve of are those groups of people wearing all sorts and blaring out loud music and annoying all those other people here who have the right to enjoy their city and their rest in the old part of the town.' Seville is likely to follow other Spanish cities such as Malaga on the Costa Del Sol who have had enough of drunken groups causing nightly mayhem. The city introduced fines of 650 in February for anyone seen carrying round an inflatable doll or walking around in their underwear. Seville, famed for its cathedral and architecture as well as some of the best tapas in Spain, is most popular with stag and hen party groups during the spring months. The new laws being put forward will likely be in place before the party season begins and when temperatures are much cooler than the 30C blanketing the city this weekend. Most of the bars that attract the crowds are in the Alfalfa area of the city as well as Almeda near the Guadalquivir River. During the day - and also at night the tapas bars are packed with locals and tourists to well past midnight. Bride-to-be Maria Bertram de Lis Sanchez (far left) said she wasn't worried about being turned away as there were dozens of places to celebrate her forthcoming nuptials The all-in-pink hen group from the city of Toledo were unaware of the proposed ban with the final say on what happens and how severe the fines will be yet to be agreed by the city council The group of 15 young women in construction hats all smartly dressed and seemingly sober were told to leave the Salvador Plaza in the city old town after staff at the bar Seville Mayor Jose Luis Sanz is seeking cross party support for the measures as he maintains boozed up Brits and other revellers are not the sort of tourism he wants for his city. Pictured is Antigua Taberna which has banned hen and stag parties Hen Veronica del Cerro said her and her group of friends were unaware of the ban on hen and stag parties in Seville Seville (pictured) is likely to follow other Spanish cities such as Malaga on the Costa Del Sol who have had enough of drunken groups causing nightly mayhem Clubs that stay open to 4am are a major attraction for stag groups visiting for the weekend. Bar owners and staff have welcomed the crackdown. Paula Gonzales, who works at the Cafe Manlo bar and restaurant, said they do not want people in fancy dress sitting at their outside tables. She said: 'They create a bad environment for the bar and put other customers off. We are happy that there will be fines for those who flout the rules.' At the Bar Europa, waiter Jose Luis Diaz said he supported the mayor's plans. 'If people want to sit and eat and drink, then that is fine. We do not need so much noise and whatever comes with the groups. I am happy if they stay away.' As many of the residents in the old town live in flats above the restaurants favoured by noisy groups, they are fully behind the mayor. 'We are used to people who eat and drink at the outside places, but sometimes the noise is too much. They can get over excited and that is when the problems occur,' said one elderly resident who lives near the Plaza Salvador. She said the majority of the population are Catholic and the sight of men carrying round inflatable dolls has caused offence. 'It is too much for such a beautiful place and we all support the planned new rules,' said tour guide Theresa Carranza. Paula Gonzales (pictured), who works at the Cafe Manlo bar and restaurant, said they do not want people in fancy dress sitting at their outside tables At the Bar Europa waiter Jose Luis Diaz (pictured) said he supported the mayor's plans, saying: 'If people want to sit and eat and drink, then that is fine' 'It is too much for such a beautiful place and we all support the planned new rules,' said tour guide Theresa Carranza (pictured) Bar owner Sergio Martin (pictured) said he backed the ban. 'It is not the type of people that we want to come to the restaurant,' he said 'The place has become so noisy and unruly and residents just want it to go away. 'We do not want to hear loud music all the time when you are sitting outside and eating. It is an annoyance.' Bar owner Sergio Martin said he backed the ban. 'It is not the type of people that we want to come to the restaurant,' he said. 'They are a nuisance and many people do not want to eat next to a loud group of young men and women.' Seville's mayor has cited one group of partygoers who paraded through the streets accompanied by a brass band as a perfect example of why he wants a ban. He had viewed a TikTok video posted by a British tourist where a group of men dressed in animal costumes jumped up and down to the music. The musical groups are known as 'Charanga' and dozens offer their services on the internet. The professional musicians charge from 200-400 to follow hen or stag groups around blasting out tunes. The organiser of one of the groups, who asked not to be named, said banning Charanga was taking away a tradition known all over Spain. 'I don't get why the mayor is so upset with the brass bands He knows that at weddings and other social events Charanga is a tradition. Seville's mayor has cited one group of partygoers who paraded through the streets accompanied by a brass band as a perfect example of why he wants a ban - known as Charanga Musical groups are known as 'Charanga' follow around hen and stag-dos playing music and dozens offer their services on the internet The professional musicians charge from 200-400 to follow hen or stag groups around blasting out tunes The organiser of one of the groups, who asked not to be named, said banning Charanga was taking away a tradition known all over Spain 'Does he want to put us all out of business because he wants to make a name for himself. It is very unfair and we are being penalised because of the actions of people who are drunk.' Stag party organiser Juan Blanco is naturally opposed to any ban as it threatens his business. He has been arranging between 15-20 events a month as his business recovers from shutdown during the Covid pandemic. He told Mail Online:' Of course I do not agree with what the mayor wants. 'It is going to be so hard to regulate, and the police are not going to want to be out handing out fines.' While Seville is not at the top of the list of stag and hen party destinations in Europe the cheap beer at 2.50 a pint and a glass of Sangria costing 2 has made it an attractive alternative to other cities, such as Prague and Amsterdam. The all-year-round good weather with open air dining is also another attraction. The city is particularly popular with Spanish revellers, but with three flights a day from Gatwick increasing numbers of British tourists are discovering the city. READ MORE: Father of Israeli student kidnapped breaks down in tears EXCLUSIVE Palestinian supporters in western Sydney have celebrated the abhorrent terror attacks on Israel by Hamas. A large crowd gathered outside Lakemba Station on Sunday night, just one day after at least 600 Israeli civilians were killed and thousands more injured in the largest and most well co-ordinated strike on the Jewish state in 50 years. But with the world reeling, some Australians cheered on the violence in a confronting show of support for the terror group. 'I'm smiling and I'm happy. I'm elated,' Sheik Ibrahim Dadoun told the crowd. 'It's a day of courage. It's a day of pride. It's a day of victory. This is the day we've been waiting for!' he shouted as the mob who chanted 'Allahu Akbar' or God is great in Arabic. 'I'm smiling and I'm happy. I'm elated,' Sheik Ibrahim Dadoun told the crowd A large crowd gathered outside Lakemba Station on Sunday night, just one day after at least 600 Israeli civilians were killed and thousands more injured in the largest and most well co-ordinated strike on the Jewish state in 50 years 'This brings pride to the heart, this brings joy to the heart, my brothers and my sisters... you and I, standing in Australia we support our brothers and sisters in Palestine. Video uploaded to social media also shows fireworks being set off from the back of a ute in a neighboring suburb in an apparent celebration of the terror attacks. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese explicitly condemned the celebrations on Monday morning. 'There's nothing to celebrate by the murder of innocent civilians going about their day,' Mr Albanese told Channel Nine. 'Some of those have been captured are young people who were attending a rave, enjoying life and enjoying each others' company. 'There's nothing to celebrate here.' Video uploaded to social media also showed fireworks being set off in the street in a neighboring suburb in an apparent celebration of the terror attacks (pictured) A firework is fired from the back of a utility truck on Sunday evening The attacks began about 6.30am Israeli time on Saturday when thousands of Hamas rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Sothern Israeli and as far as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. At the same time hundreds of Palestinian militants managed to infiltrate Israel by paragliding across the heavily guarded frontier, while others stormed towns by boat or after blasting holes in the GazaIsrael barrier. Terrorists then went door to door gunning down innocent civilians and soldiers before kidnapping more then 100 Israelis and taking them into Gaza. Sheik Dadoun laid blame for the attacks on Israel. '75 years of occupation and 15 years of blockade that Palestinians have faced since the instatement of Israel,' he told the crowd. 'What happened yesterday is the first time our brothers and sisters break through the largest prison on earth. 'Their land was taken away from them, their homes were destroyed, their children were killed for generations and what do you expect. 'It didn't happen by itself, it didn't happen on its own, it didn't come out of a vacuum, my brothers and sisters Palestine will be free.' There are now fears tensions could escalate in the Harbour City with a pro-Palestinian protest planned for Monday night after New South Wales Premier Chris Minns announced the Sydney Opera House would be lit up in blue and white - the colours of Israel's flag - as a show of solidarity. Palestinian supporters in western Sydney have celebrated the abhorrent terror attacks on Israel by Hamas People react at the site where a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip landed in Tel Aviv, Israel Earlier on Sunday Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong sparked controversy after calling on Israel to show 'restraint' in the face of the crisis. She among many world leaders and diplomats who condemned the attack from Palestinian militants. 'Australia unequivocally condemns the attacks on Israel by Hamas including indiscriminate rocket fire on cities and civilians,' she wrote on X. 'We call for these attacks to stop and recognise Israel's right to defend itself. 'Australia urges the exercise of restraint and protection of civilian lives.' But it was the last few words in Senator Wong's statement that drew the ire of Opposition shadow frontbencher Michael Sukkar. 'Unbelievable, restraint? Israel has every right to defend itself with whatever force is required,' he responded. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also responded to the unprecedented strike and expressed support for Israel. 'Australia stands with our friend Israel in this time,' he wrote on X. 'We condemn the indiscriminate and abhorrent attacks by Hamas on Israel, its cities and civilians. We recognise Israel's right to defend itself.' But the Coalition was also critical of the timing of the Prime Minister's post, which came 12 hours after the initial attack. Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley was first to call Mr Albanese out over his response. 'It took him until 6am this morning to actually make a public statement about this,' she told Sky News Australia on Sunday. 'You don't get nights off as a world leader and across the globe, we saw an immediate reaction from world leadersand it took until this morning for Anthony Albanese to make that statement.' 'I think he needs to be questioned about that today.' 'I'm questioning his timingYou don't get time off.' Foreigns Affairs Minister Penny Wong (pictured) has been slammed by the opposition after calling on Israel to show 'restraint' following a devastating attack launched by Palestinian militant group, Hamas Senator Wong was among many world leaders and diplomats who were quick to condemn the attack More than 600 Israelis are now feared dead and thousands more have been injured following an unprecedented attack by Hamas militants. The Jewish nation is raining down fire on fighters in the Gaza strip in a ruthless counteroffensive in the south while it also pounds Lebanon with artillery in the north. Terrifying footage posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, shows petrified citizens hiding in their cars to dodge being killed as shots are fired continuously around them. The people, sitting in their car in broad daylight, have to shrink down to remain unseen while gunmen block the road and sirens are heard in the background. In the deadliest day of violence in Israel in 50 years, the middle eastern country's warplanes strafed densely populated Gaza City with bombs in retaliatory strikes. A member of Israeli police is seen in Ashkelon, southern Israel yesterday after the Hamas offensive Terrifying footage shows the moment terrified citizens ducked for cover in their cars as relentless gunfire broke out between Israeli soldiers and terrorists Israeli media said at least 600 people were killed and 2,000 wounded in Saturday's attack. Hamas fighters have also taken an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive into Gaza. Among the missing is British soldier Jake Marlowe, 26, who has not been heard from since Saturday morning after he was working as part of a security team at the festival near Re'im, a village close to the border with Gaza in the south of Israel. And Londoner Nathaniel Young was killed yesterday while serving in the 13th Battalion of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Heavy smoke and flames were seen rising from Gaza's Burc Vatan shopping mall, after the Palestine Tower in the Al-Rimal neighbourhood, one of the tallest buildings in the strip, was reduced to rubble. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has released footage of a missile strike it claims took place on a compound belonging to Hamas' head of military intelligence, adding it had also targeted two banks belonging to the terrorist organisation and aerial weapons production sites in Gaza. An injured soldier is brought into Tel Aviv's Surasky Medical Center on October 7 Smoke rises above buildings in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, following an Israeli strike Destruction of the Palestine Tower in Al-Rimal neighborhood in the central Gaza Strip Drone footage, taken over the last 24 hours and released by the military branch, also shows a group of Hamas fighters being attacked from the sky as they try to cross into Israeli territory. Meanwhile, in the north of the country IDF forces carried out artillery strikes against Lebanon in the disputed area of Mount Dov, following mortar fire directed towards Israel from its northern neighbour. The U.N. agency for Palestinian Refugees, UNRWA, said over 20,000 people were sheltering in 44 of its schools around Gaza by Saturday evening - adding that three of these had suffered 'collateral'=' damage from Israeli airstrikes. Iran-backed Hezbollah militants said it was behind the strikes and the attack was carried out 'in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance', reported the BBC. Columns of heavy weaponry including tanks and armoured personnel carriers were also spotted moving north toward Israel's border with Lebanon and Syria. 'We are embarking on a long and difficult war that was forced on us by a murderous Hamas attack,' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Sunday, adding that the 'offensive phase' of the IDF response has begun. The death toll in Israel following a surprise attack by the militant group Hamas stands at 600, according to several Israeli media outlets. People standing on a rooftop watch as a ball of fire and smoke rises above a building in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike that hit the Palestine Tower building on Saturday The Kan public broadcaster and Channel 12, as well as the Haaretz and Times of Israel newspapers, reported the toll Sunday. There has been no official confirmation of the number of deaths on the Israeli side since the fighting erupted early Saturday. IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said more than 400 Palestinian militants had been killed in southern Israel and the Gaza strip, and dozens more captured. 'As of this hour, there are forces fighting in [Kibbutz] Kfar Aza, there are searches in a large number of towns. There are IDF forces in all towns, there is no town that does not have an IDF force in it,' he is quoted as saying in The Times of Israel. Speaking at a briefing this morning, he added: 'Hamas' brutal attack is a war crime. 'Taking women and children captive violates international law and goes against Islam. Whoever took part will pay the price. 'The war is diffcult and challenging days lie ahead. The IDF is strong and will use every bit of its strength and power.' At least 26 Israeli soldiers have been killed in an attack by the Hamas militant group on the countrys south, Israel's military confirmed. Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip in Sderot, southern Israel And at least 313 Palestinians have been killed, and nearly 2,000 injured, in retaliatory Israeli military action since yesterday, the country's health ministry has said On Sunday morning, Israel was still fighting Hamas incursions in eight places, the Israeli military said. 'Israel is waking up this morning to a terrible morning,' said Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman. 'There are a lot of people killed... children, grandmothers, families, bodies.' In other developments on Israel's darkest day for decades: Hamas fighters began their attack at dawn on Saturday with a huge barrage of rockets into southern Israel, giving cover to an unprecedented, multi-pronged infiltration of fighters into Israel from Gaza. The militants killed hundreds of Israelis in clashes through the day, and escaped back into Gaza with at least dozens of hostages, including women, children, and disabled elderly Israelis. The UN Security Council has said it will hold an emergency meeting this evening to discuss the escalation in violence in the Middle East. The group of nations, which is currently chaired by Brazil, will gather at 7pm tonight to talk about 'the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question', it said in a statement. An Israeli military spokesperson said Sunday morning that two hostage situations had been 'resolved,' but did not say whether those hostages had been rescued alive. An official number of how many people have been kidnapped is currently not known, but the Israeli Embassy to the United States suggests a figure of 100 civilians and soldiers. The military branch announced in a post to X, formerly Twitter, early on Sunday morning that it had ordered a missile strike on a compound belonging to Hamas' head of intelligence, along with a video of a purported attack. It said: 'A short while ago, IAF fighter jets struck a compound belonging to the head of the intelligence department in the Hamas terrorist organization. 'The IAF is currently continuing to strike terror targets in the Gaza Strip.' The short black-and-white clip, shared to social media, shows a missile cruising into a house in a densely built up area, before smoke and fire begin pouring out of the building. On top of this, it said it targeted two banks 'belonging to Hamas terror organisation for terror funds', an 'aerial weapons production' site belonging to the 'Islamic Jihad terrorist organisation', and a building 'including offices and storage units' where weapons and military equipment were stored. Drone footage also showed the moment a group of Hamas fighters were attacked from the sky as they try and cross the Gaza-Israel border. At least seven armed men can be seen moving, before being consumed by a fireball caused by an Israeli missile. The footage also shows a drone attack on a car that is driving at high speeds through the Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians. Hamas claimed to have fired 5,000 rockets into Israel from the occupied Gaza Strip, setting off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem In a post on X, he said: 'As the barbarity of today's atrocities becomes clearer, we stand unequivocally with Israel.' US President Joe Biden 'unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza', and said 'we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel'. 'Terrorism is never justified. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people,' he said. Israeli airstrikes in Gaza had intensified after nightfall, flattening residential buildings in giant explosions, including a 14-story tower that held dozens of apartments as well as Hamas offices in central Gaza City. Israeli forces issued a warning just before. Around 3am, a loudspeaker atop a mosque in Gaza City blared a stark warning to residents of nearby apartment buildings: Evacuate immediately. Just minutes later, an Israeli airstrike reduced one nearby five-story building to ashes. On Sunday, Israel's army said it is aiming to evacuate Israelis living close to the Gaza Strip within 24 hours. Mr Hagari told reporters that fighting was still on to 'rescue hostages' held by militants in Israel. Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from Ashkelon in southern Israel early Sunday 'There are tens of thousands of combat soldiers in the area, he said. 'We'll reach each and every community till we kill every terrorist in Israel.' After one Israeli strike, a Hamas rocket barrage hit four cities, including Tel Aviv and a nearby suburb. Throughout the day, Hamas fired more than 3,500 rockets, the Israeli military said. Israeli officials said that operations to eliminate the armed invaders were winding down early on Sunday. 'The first stage is ending at this time by the destruction of the vast majority of the enemy forces that infiltrated our territory, said Netanyahu following an early morning Security Cabinet meeting. 'At the same time, we have begun the offensive phase, which will continue with neither limitations nor respite until the objectives are achieved. We will restore security to the citizens of Israel and we will win,' he added. The PM's office said the Security Cabinet had decided to halt the supply of electricity, fuel and goods to Gaza, a narrow strip that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians. Gazans have lived under an Israeli blockade for 16 years. Netanyahu's office said his security cabinet had approved steps to destroy the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, another militant group, 'for years'. Previously said voters going by No slogan are 'd***heads' Ray Martin has struggled to explain what the Voice to Parliament would look like if Saturday's referendum is successful. The TV icon sparked controversy last week when he called voters convinced by the No campaign's 'If you don't know, vote No' slogan 'd***heads and dinosaurs'. But on Seven Spotlight's Voice to Parliament referendum debate on Sunday night he had trouble describing how Australians should inform themselves. 'The referendum is about two things. One is, do we give First Australians a Voice, two is do we recognise them. That's the only two things it's about, there's no tricks here,' Martin said, prompting moderator Liam Bartlett to ask: 'But what is the Voice, Ray?' 'The Voice is an opportunity for First Australians to talk about their problems as they haven't been able to do for 235 years,' Martin responded. Bartlett replied: 'And how much would it cost? What would it look like? How many people would be involved?' 'Progressive' No advocate Lidia Thorpe then interjected, saying 'it's not about our problems, it's about the government's problems in not allowing us to decide what's best for us.' No campaigner Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who featured on the panel along with Martin, independent senator Thorpe and Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy, earlier defended the 'If you don't know, vote No' slogan, saying it's been impossible for Australians to find out exactly what they are being asked to vote on. Veteran TV journalist Ray Martin (pictured) has struggled to explain what the Voice to Parliament would look like if Saturday's referendum is successful Senator Price (pictured) told Martin that the No camp's slogan was chosen because people still 'don't know' about the Voice and how it will operate Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe (pictured), who is a 'progressive' No voter, told Martin that the issue was the government 'not allowing Indigenous people to decide what is best for us' 'Let's be clear about the slogan, you're an intelligent bloke Ray... when people seek answers to their questions about how this whole thing will operate, how people are elected, we don't know, we're told it'll come after the vote's taken place,' Senator Price said. 'So if you don't know, if you're not clear, evidently the government is not clear as how this whole thing is supposed to operate. That's a red flag to me, I'd vote No.' Earlier in the program, Martin defended his 'd***heads and dinosaurs' comment. 'I didn't say No voters were dinosaurs or d***heads. I said that those who vote no because they don't know, that slogan is one of the silliest I've ever heard,' he said. Bartlett countered that those who took notice of the slogan were, in Martin's mind, a 'dinosaur or d***head'. Martin then stated that both Yes and No voters should be informed when they vote. 'You didn't say that, you said No voters,' Bartlett responded. 'No I didn't. If you read my speech, that's not true. That is categorically not true,' Martin said. The TV journalist originally made the comment at a Yes rally at Marrickville's Factory Theatre, in Sydney's inner west on September 28. Martin was personally invited by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who praised the address as 'very powerful' the next day. An audience poll was conducted following the conclusion of the debate for those watching the debate in the studio and for those watching from home on their TV or tablet. For voters in the studio, 53 per cent indicated that they intended to vote No, 30 per cent were Yes and 17 per cent were undecided. For people watching from home, a whopping 72 per cent said they'd vote No, 23 per cent Yes and just five per cent were undecided. There were almost 41,000 votes for the at-home poll. Video obtained by Daily Mail Australia shows Martin taking aim at the No side's 'If you don't know, vote No' slogan, saying: 'If you don't know, find out what you don't know Bartlett asked the panellists if they were surprised by the results. Martin admitted he was surprised that the Yes campaign's backing from big business, sporting clubs and churches had little to no impact on the vote. 'I must say covering politics for 60-odd years I've never seen a coalition like this in terms of the churches and the sporting groups and the unions and 50,000 volunteers - I'm surprised that's not showing in what is a soft vote,' he said. 'But you know, you've got to go on the votes.' Senator Price said she wasn't surprised as 'corporate Australia' wasn't 'everyday Australians'. The Voice to Parliament referendum will be held on Saturday October 14, but 2.2million Australians have already cast their ballots at early voting stations. Angela Rayner insisted Labour is 'unified' about getting into power today as she glossed over infighting with the Left. The deputy leader stressed that the party has 'one aim' as she rallied activists at conference in Liverpool. Ms Rayner took a series of potshots at Tories, including swiping at Suella Braverman's tough law and order stance and joking that Jacob Rees-Mogg uses carrier pigeons instead of WhatsApp. Addressing a packed hall, she said she hoped it would be her last speech to conference before the general election. 'Because just like you, I am sick of being in Opposition,' she said. Angela Rayner stressed that the party has 'one aim' as she rallied activists at conference in Liverpool Keir Starmer warmly embraced Ms Rayner after she gave her speech to conference Ms Rayner looked touched by the response she received from activists at conference today 'When you elected me three and a half years ago, it was the honour of my life. 'But you didn't elect me to be Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you elected me to be Deputy Prime Minister of a Labour Government. 'One that will transform people's lives, like the last Labour government changed my own.' She added: 'Our movement has never been so unified, so focused. Around one aim. To give Britain its Future Back. Keir Starmer has been hoping for a 'safety first' conference - potentially the last before an election - with Labour enjoying consistent double-digit poll leads. But the Hamas atrocities in Israel have threatened to reopen a deep schism with the Left. And there have been complaints from all wings that Sir Keir has failed to announce any bold policy or set out what he stands for. Ms Rayner tried to reassure activists that the leadership is not backing off radical left-wing changes. 'Conference, I've heard some rumours that we'll be watering down our New Deal For Working People,' she said. 'Be in no doubt, not with Keir and I at the helm. 'We'll ban zero-hour contracts, and fire-and-rehire, and give workers basic rights from day one. 'We'll go further and faster in closing the gender pay gap, make work more family-friendly, and tackle sexual harassment. 'And we won't stop there. We'll ensure that unions can stand up for their members. We will boost collective bargaining, to improve workers' pay, terms and conditions.' A protester calling for more funding for the NHS tried to speak on the conference stage this morning, but was ushered away by staff Women's rights and trans rights activists were both staging protests outside the Labour conference today Ms Rayner also promised Labour would deliver new council homes, strengthen renters rights, and abolish leasehold land tenure. Despite being buoyed by victory in the Rutherglen & Hamilton West by-election, Sir Keir warned against complacency. 'It is not going to be giddy, it is not going to be 'job done',' Sir Keir told the Observer. 'So you won't get razzmatazz. You won't see mistakes that have been made in the past by opposition parties.' In an interview with the Sunday Mirror, he set out proposals to pay doctors and nurses overtime to carry out more procedures like scans and operations at the weekend. The plan, which the party estimates would create 2.2 million NHS appointments a year, would be backed by 1.5billion which Labour says would come from scrapping the non-dom tax status. Abolishing the regime is how the party plans to fund the largest ever workforce expansion in the NHS. 'I think everybody knows someone who's on the NHS waiting list. And I'm certainly not immune from that. This is a period of high anxiety for individuals huge personal discomfort in many cases,' he said. Keir Starmer has come under fire for not being clear enough about his plans for power A missing British man who last texted his mother about 'rockets flying over' a music festival near the Gaza Strip left the UK to live in Israel because of his worries about the rise of anti-Semitism, his best friend has revealed. Jake Marlowe, 26, has not been heard from since Saturday morning after he was working as part of a security team at the festival near Re'im, a village close to the border with Gaza in the south of Israel. The Israeli Embassy in London said that Jake, who is Jewish and has lived in the Israeli city of Ma'alot for the past two years, is currently 'missing near Gaza' following the attack on the festival by Hamas militants on Saturday. An embassy source told MailOnline that they do not know whether he is dead or has been captured. Jake's best friend, Lea S., exclusively told MailOnline that he left the UK two years ago for Israel over anxieties related to the rise of anti-Semitism. Lea, a law student who met Jake three-and-a-half years ago, said: 'Just before he went to live in Israel, he was really worried about the UK situation with the rise of anti-Semitism. Jake Marlowe (pictured) was working as a security guard at a music festival that was attacked by Hamas militants He has not been heard from since Saturday morning 'He was thinking he should go to Israel because everything that was happening to him in the UK was a lot for him.' Lea, a French-Jewish woman who splits her time between the UK and France, told MailOnline: 'He was really interested in the history of Jewish culture. She added: 'He was obsessed with his DNA history and Jewish history, because he was really really searching for his identity.' Her partner, Daniel Aboudy, told Sky News that his yearning for more knowledge about his Jewish heritage started during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'He felt it was duty to trace back to his roots, and find his home that he felt he truly belonged to in Israel.' 'He also had a desire to enlist in the Army at one point, but unfortunately wasn't given the opportunity to do so. 'He was very determined to fight for what we believed in as a Jewish people.' Lea told MailOnline that she and Daniel, who have been close friends with Jake, who is from Potters Bar in North London, since they met, are extremely worried about him because he is a 'protective' person who prioritises other people's safety over his own. 'We were really worried, because we know that Jake is someone who is not scared to to give his life for another [person].' 'I really can't copy, I can't sleep at night. All I'm doing in checking the news, checking social media, my TV's on 24/7. I feel horrible.' Lea S. (pictured, left) exclusively told MailOnline that Jake left the UK two years ago for Israel over anxieties related to the rise of anti-Semitism Lea, a law student who first met Jake three-and-a-half years ago, said he was really interested in his own Jewish heritage She added that his partner Shira, who asked not to be further identified, is also extremely worried about his safety. Lea said that Shira was keeping Shabbat, a Jewish tradition of not working on rest days, in the north of Israel, far away from where Jake was working, and did not know about his disappearance until 6pm on Saturday evening. Jake's mother, Lisa, said she received a call in the early hours of the morning from him, telling her that the festival was under attack. 'He was doing security at this rave and called me at 4.30am to say all these rockets were flying over,' she said. 'Then, at about 5.30am, he texted to say, 'signal very bad, everything OK, will keep you updated I promise you,' and that he loves me.' Jake and his family aren't the only Brits who have been terrorised by the unprecedented attack on Israel by Hamas militants. A family of British-Israeli citizens revealed they spent nine hours in hiding after being woken up by rocket fire in the early hours of Saturday morning in their homes, just one-and-a-half miles from Israel's border with Gaza. Jake texted his mother to inform her that missiles were flying overhead at the festival he was working at Lea said Jake is a 'protective' person who prioritises other people's safety over his own. Jake grew up in Kenton, in North London, and moved to Israel two years ago Jake's partner, Shira, who asked not to be further identified, said she did not know he was missing until 6pm on Saturday evening Deborah Mintz, originally from Romford, hid in a tiny room with her grandson Kai, and his parents, Aimee and Uriel Labban, both in their 30s. The family's house and cars were torched by Hamas fighters, while their pet dog was killed, the family said. At one point, as smoke poured into their safe room, they were forced to lift Kai up to the ceiling to protect him from the fumes The family was finally freed just before 3pm local time as Israeli Defence Forces arrived and escorted them to a nearby bomb shelter Russell Langer, a policy researcher related to the family, told the Telegraph he learnt of their plight when they received a text message saying: 'We are stuck. They came in and burnt our house'. Langer told the newspaper: 'Baby Kai appears to be okay, but [he is] a bit covered in soot,' he said. 'The house is burnt out, as are their cars.' Meanwhile, British woman Charlotte, and her mum, were stuck in Tel Aviv as Hamas rockets rained down on the city. 'We were outside when the missiles were directed at Tel Aviv and I have never heard anything so loud.' Israeli festivalgoers run for their lives through the desert after being warned of an incoming rocket attack just as Hamas invaded the country on Saturday Panic swept through the crowd who were partying in the north-western Negev desert, about 5 miles from the city of Ofakim. People could be seen hurriedly packing their cars in a desperate effort to get away Hamas claimed to have fired 5,000 rockets into Israel from the occupied Gaza Strip, setting off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem The pair are currently stuck in Tel Aviv in a hotel, and told Sky News they are in regular contact with the British embassy, which assured them it was doing everything it could to fly them home. 'We've received very few updates whilst here [and] the streets are deserted and everything has been closed.' She said she has an app that has been alerting her and her mum of incoming missiles, and woke up to 2,000 different notifications regarding strikes since Sunday morning. The surprise attack began on Saturday morning after Hamas fighters blitzed into Israel on motorised paragliders during a lightning offensive, while thousands of rockets rained down across the south of the country. Footage showed squads of Palestinians on suicide missions swooping over the border on the aircraft, spreading fear and chaos among cowering families below before landing and opening fire on Israeli civilians and soldiers alike. Israelis could be heard shouting, running, and hurriedly getting into cars as they attempt to escape Some could be seen scrambling for the safety of cars to get away from danger Videos posted to social media appears to depict scenes of chaos in the sand Fighters fired some 2,500 missiles into Israel from 7am UK time. As they rained down on major towns, and even as far as Tel Aviv nearly 50 miles away, fighters used explosives to break through the border fence. Israel as since begun retaliating, striking Gaza and flattening residential buildings in massive explosions, including a 14-storey tower that was home to dozens of families. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today warned that Israel faces a 'long and difficult war' with Palestine, telling reporters after a meeting of the country's security cabinet early on Sunday that it had now begun its 'offensive phase.' Netanyahu, 73, claimed that Israel has already destroyed the 'vast majority of the enemy forces that infiltrated our territory.' 'This is a necessity war. (Israel) wasn't expecting this to happen (but) we need to make sure the infrastructure of terrorism is 100 per cent destroyed.' UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said last night in a post to X: 'As the barbarity of todays atrocities becomes clearer, we stand unequivocally with Israel. Israeli civilians were purportedly taken off the street and driven back into Gaza Hamas militants fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip in an unprecedented surprise early morning attack during a major Jewish holiday Saturday. Pictured, people try to extinguish fire on cars following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, southern Israel A woman in Tel Aviv picks her way through rubble late on Saturday Dozens of rockets are fired by Palestinians towards Israel on Saturday night 'This attack by Hamas is cowardly and depraved. We have expressed our full solidarity to [Benjamin Netanyahu] and will work with international partners in the next 24 hours to co-ordinate support.' US President Joe Biden, meanwhile, said he 'unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza', and said 'we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel'. 'Terrorism is never justified. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people,' he added. The Israeli ambassador to the UK has said the country's reality has 'become a nightmare' and said its military needs to defend its people. Tzipi Hotovely told BBC Breakfast: 'Israel is in a war that Hamas started yesterday. Calculated. Planned. Targeting Israelis, targeting civilians, targeting innocent children. 'We saw Prime Minister Sunak, we saw President Biden yesterday, they're supporting Israel's right for self-defence, because we are in a reality that has become a nightmare. 'We can't do anything else... we need to protect our people. The city of New York has paid out $200,000 to a female student who was sexually abused at her public school - in an assault that was videotaped and posted to social media by two of her teenage attackers. Administrators proceeded to not punish the group of boys, a now-settled civil suit states - adding to the already 'dangerous environment' alleged to be present at the school. The lawsuit named Marlon Bynum, the principal of East New York's High School of Transit Technology, and Janice Ross, superintendent of the Brooklyn North district, and says administrators were aware of the incident, or other similar events. The suit also cites a 'climate of harassment' that paved the way for the previously unreported assault - which took place on October 21, 2021, as the girl walked to class through an isolated staircase. The girl, who was either 13 or 14, immediately reported the attack - telling cops one boy 'pushed her head down' onto another boy to perform oral sex, while a third recorded and then posted it to platforms including TikTok and Snapchat. The city of New York has paid out $200,000 to a female student who was sexually abused at Transit Tech High School in East New York (seen here) - in a 2021 assault that was videotaped and posted to social media by her two attackers The girl's mother claimed principal Marlon Bynum (pictured) told her the day after the assault, of the attackers: 'kids are kids' - before allowing them to continue on as students unpunished The NYPD arrested two boys, charging one with felony sexual assault and the other with offensive display, a misdemeanor - but the charges were dropped a week later after the local DA's office declined to prosecute. The office, presided over by Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, does not comment on juvenile cases - and it remains unclear why the cases never made it to court. A DOE report on the incident - which was first reported by The New York Post - notes that 'video footage is available', but the girl's lawyer, personal injury attorney Kevin Mosley, claim the school erased the surveillance tape before he could obtain a copy. He and the girl's parents, who have since transferred their daughter to another school, alleged Saturday the school engaged in a cover-up - one that allowed the two unnamed students to continue on at Transit Tech unpunished. In fact, speaking to the outlet Saturday - two months after the city agreed to fork over the plum settlement - the girl's mother claimed the principal told her the day after the assault, of the attackers: 'kids are kids'. She also said that about a week after the assault, she received an unsigned email from the DOE stating that after a probe, officials deemed the boys' 'behavior' did not violate laws that prohibit harassment - despite the litany of charges they were hit with. Alleging a conspiracy, Mosley told The Post that 'authorities did not take [the child's claims] seriously' and that 'the cover-up is beyond belief' - with the girl, now 15, set to receive $132,170, after legal fees, when she turns 18. Still, even with that money, the unnamed girl's mother said the damage is done - and that 'no amount of money will compensate [her] daughter for what she had to go through, and is still going through, as a victim of sexual assault.' Since settled, the suit also named Brooklyn North superintendent Janice Ross (pictured) as a defendant, charging she was aware of similar incidents occurring in her school system The suit further cites a 'climate of harassment' that paved the way for the previously unreported assault on October 21, 2021 - which happened as the girl walked to class through an isolated staircase. A shot of the East New York public school is seen here The NYPD initially arrested the boys, charging one with felony sexual assault and the other with offensive display, a misdemeanor - but the charges were dropped after DA Erik Gonzalez (seen here) declined to prosecute In her suit filed in Brooklyn federal court, she claimed Bynum and others at the school 'were aware that female students were regularly harassed and subjected to abuse and that sexual activity was occurring within the school.' It also claims school admins fueled the 'dangerous environment' at the school of 797 students by [turning] their backs on this vulnerable student, encouraging [her] to leave the school' while her attackers remained at Transit. 'School officials simply raised their hands and turned their backs... [and] created a dangerous school environment that condoned sexual abuse and harassment.' It added that both Bynum and Ross 'were aware that female students were regularly harassed and subjected to abuse and that sexual activity was occurring within the school... particularly by a group of offenders who have been allowed to engage in similar despicable conduct without effective reprimand or discipline.' It claimed she suffered physically and emotionally as a result of the incident - which also affected her studies, causing both her attendance and grades to slip that year. It also stated she needed counseling afterward to navigate the trauma. When contacted about the deal, a city Law Department spokesman said the 'settlement was in the best interests of the parties.' State data, meanwhile, shows that two sexual offenses and one assault have occurred at the school during the school year when the assault occurred. The statistics also show 14 instances of discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, or bullying, and 12 of drug possession or sales. A Briton who was serving in the Israeli army has been killed in Hamas' sneak attack from the Gaza strip. Nathanel Young, from London, was serving in the 13th Battalion of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) when he was killed yesterday, according to the IDF. In a statement posted on social media, his family said: 'We're heartbroken to share that our little brother Nathanel Young was tragically killed on the Gaza Border yesterday.' He is the first confirmed British casualty of the worst violence in the region for decades, after Palestinian militants launched cross-border raids early on Saturday morning. Another Briton, Jake Marlowe, who was working as security guard at a desert rave which was targeted by Hamas, is currently missing the Israeli embassy has confirmed. It is understood that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is in contact with and assisting the families of several people in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Nathanel Young, from London, was serving in the 13th Battalion of the Israeli Defence Forces when he was killed yesterday The 20-year-old (pictured) grew up in north London before moving to Israel after leaving school In a moving tribute his family described Mr Young (centre right) as 'the life of the party' and a 'talented DJ' Mr Young (pictured) had been living close to the city of Tel Aviv, which is 50 miles from the border with Gaza Mr Young, who grew up in north London, had been serving in the IDF and living close to the city of Tel Aviv, which is 50 miles from the border with Gaza, Sky News reports. Jewish News reported that he attended a Jewish school in north London. In a tribute his family said: 'Nathanel was full of life and the life of the party - he carried the nickname DJ on base and at Benji's house, the lone soldier house that he lived at. 'He loved his family and friends and was loved by everyone. He loved music and was a talented DJ. 'Always willing to go to any lengths for his loved ones. An amazing uncle and brother. He was so happy and thriving in Israel. He loved the country.' His death comes as fears grow for another British man is missing after last texting his mother about 'rockets flying over' a music festival near the Gaza Strip. Jake Marlowe, 26, has not been heard from since Saturday morning after he was working as part of a security team at the festival near Re'im, a village close to the border with Gaza. The Israeli Embassy in London said that he is currently 'missing near Gaza' following the attack on the festival by Hamas militants on Saturday. Jake Marlowe (pictured) was working as a security guard at a music festival that was attacked by Hamas militants Jake's mother, Lisa, said she received a call in the early hours of the morning from him, telling her that the festival was under attack. 'He was doing security at this rave and called me at 4.30am to say all these rockets were flying over,' she said. 'Then, at about 5.30am, he texted to say, 'signal very bad, everything OK, will keep you updated I promise you,' and that he loves me.' She added that Jake permanently moved to the city of Ma'alot, in north Israel, two years ago. The Israeli Embassy confirmed that Jake is currently missing, and a spokesperson told MailOnline that it was currently working with and supporting his family. Jake and his family aren't the only Brits who have been terrorised by the unprecedented attack on Israel by Hamas militants. A family of British-Israeli citizens revealed they spent nine hours in hiding after being woken up by rocket fire in the early hours of Saturday morning in their homes, just one-and-a-half miles from Israel's border with Gaza. Deborah Mintz, originally from Romford, hid in a tiny room with her grandson Kai, and his parents, Aimee and Uriel Labban, both in their 30s. The family's house and cars were torched by Hamas fighters, while their pet dog was killed, the family said. At one point, as smoke poured into their safe room, they were forced to lift Kai up to the ceiling to protect him from the fumes The family was finally freed just before 3pm local time as Israeli Defence Forces arrived and escorted them to a nearby bomb shelter Hamas claimed to have fired 5,000 rockets into Israel from the occupied Gaza Strip, setting off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem Russell Langer, a policy researcher related to the family, told the Telegraph he learnt of their plight when they received a text message saying: 'We are stuck. They came in and burnt our house'. anger said told the newspaper: 'Baby Kai appears to be okay, but [he is] a bit covered in soot,' he said. 'The house is burnt out, as are their cars.' Meanwhile, British woman Charlotte, and her mum, were stuck in Tel Aviv as Hamas rockets rained down on the city. 'We were outside when the missiles were directed at Tel Aviv and I have never heard anything so loud.' The pair are currently stuck in Tel Aviv in a hotel, and told Sky News they are in regular contact with the British embassy, which assured them it was doing everything it could to fly them home. 'We've received very few updates whilst here [and] the streets are deserted and everything has been closed.' She said she has an app that has been alerting her and her mum of incoming missiles, and woke up to 2,000 different notifications regarding strikes since Sunday morning. Israeli civilians were purportedly taken off the street and driven back into Gaza Hamas militants fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip in an unprecedented surprise early morning attack during a major Jewish holiday Saturday. Pictured, people try to extinguish fire on cars following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, southern Israel A woman in Tel Aviv picks her way through rubble late on Saturday The surprise attack began on Saturday morning after Hamas fighters blitzed into Israel on motorised paragliders during a lightning offensive, while thousands of rockets rained down across the south of the country. Footage showed squads of Palestinians on suicide missions swooping over the border on the aircraft, spreading fear and chaos among cowering families below before landing and opening fire on Israeli civilians and soldiers alike. Fighters fired some 2,500 missiles into Israel from 7am UK time. As they rained down on major towns, and even as far as Tel Aviv nearly 50 miles away, fighters used explosives to break through the border fence. Israel as since begun retaliating, striking Gaza and flattening residential buildings in massive explosions, including a 14-storey tower that was home to dozens of families. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today warned that Israel faces a 'long and difficult war' with Palestine, telling reporters after a meeting of the country's security cabinet early on Sunday that it had now begun its 'offensive phase.' The US's most hated CEO has been named and it's a leader who laid off 200 workers while earning 3000 times the average pay - as he didn't receive a single vote of approval. According to Blind, a tech career community that provides an anonymous platform for employees to discuss issues, 13,171 US workers gave their opinions on their companies' CEOs. David Goeckeler of San Joses Western Digital didn't receive a single vote of approval from his workers, as the results showed that Bay Area firm employees are fed up with their top executives. According to the company's 2022 fiscal year summary, Goeckler made an astounding 3,332 times what Western Digitals average employee made - with the CEO earning $32million in 2022. The manufacturing company states it 'has long been the forefront of game changing innovations,' as they created the first hard drive and are currently working on 3D NAND advancements. David Goeclker, the CEO of Western Digital, did not receive any votes of approval in an anonymous survey to Silicon Valley tech employees. The company laid off more than 200 people in June 2023 In May 2020, Goeckeler joined Western Digital as the newest CEO after Steve Milligan retired. Prior to that he was served as executive vice president and general manager of Cisco, a $34 billion Networking and Security Business In May 2020, Goeckeler joined Western Digital as the newest CEO after Steve Milligan retired. Prior to that, he was served as executive vice president and general manager of Cisco, a $34 billion Networking and Security Business. His CEO pay was significantly higher than the company's median worker pay of $9,644. Many of the firm's 62,500 employees work overseas. In an April 2022 interview with McKinsey & Company, Goeckeler touted creating a work environment people want to join. 'Ive made a career of going into new organizations, and this question always comes up: How are you going to attract talent and retain all the great people that are here? The answer is to create an environment they want to be a part of,' he told the outlet. 'I have a core belief that people want to be part of something bigger than themselves. 'Now, we have the pandemic, which poses a challenge. Weve got to keep the business going, but the business isnt going to work unless the people are taken care of. So with everyone working remotely, how do we create the sense that our employees are a part of something? If you can create that, you will get tremendous loyalty.' The company's stock has also taken a nose dive going from $77.17 in June 2022 to $46.40 at the end of last week. Overall, the company has seen a nearly 15 percent drop in its stock in the last five years. MailOnline.com has reached out to Western Digital for comment about Goeckeler's ranking. Apple CEO Tim Cook came in at an 83 percent approval rating as he's been in the position since 2011 after he served as chief operating officer under co-founder Steve Jobs Mark Zuckerberg racked in with a 45 percent approval rating after Meta fired more than 50,000 in 2023 alone, the survey reported Erik Nordstrom (center) also received a 0 percent approval rating in the survey. He is pictured with Jamie Nordstrom (left) and Blake Nordstrom (right) Goeckeler wasn't the only CEO to score a 0 percent approval rating, with Erik Nordstrom, of the department store that bears his family's name, also hitting the low mark. However, Nordstrom's disapproval rating sat at 92 percent, compared to 94 percent for Goeckeler. Other companies saw much better rankings for their CEOS with leaders of NVIDIA, Walmart, Palo Alto Networks, Apple, Databricks, Autodesk and ServiceNow all receiving above 80 percent for their approval ratings. Here are some of the most notable CEOs across the country and their approval rankings: 1. Tim Cook- Apple- 83 percent 2. Dara Khosrowshahi- Uber- 68 percent 3. Tony Xu- DoorDash- 67 percent 4. Brian Chesky- Airbnb- 64 percent 5. Mark Zuckerberg-Meta- 45 percent 6. Sundar Pichai- Google- 26 percent 7. Andy Jassy- Amazon- 10 percent 8. Eric Yuan- Zoom- 7 percent 9. Linda Yaccarino- X- 4 percent 10. Evan Spiegel- Snap- 3 percent Google and parent company Alphabet's CEO Sundar Pichai received a 26 percent approval rating after it started off the year with 12,000 layoffs, according to USA Today. Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X, formally known as Twitter, got a 4 percent approval rating as the tech company has made considerable downsizes on top of its name change that happened at the end of July by its creator Elon Musk. Evan Spiegel, the CEO of Snap, the parent company of the popular social media app Snapchat, got a low 3 percent approval rating. He became one of the youngest billionaires in the world when he was just 25. Mark Zuckerberg racked in with a 45 percent approval rating after Meta fired more than 50,000 workers in 2023, the survey reported. Google and parent company Alphabet's CEO Sundar Pichai received a 26 percent approval rating after it started off the year with 12,000 layoffs Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X, formally known as Twitter got a 4 percent approval rating as the tech company has made considerable downsizes and changed its name 'The tech executives at the top of the approval rankings often had a financial commonality: a stock price that boomed in 2023,' SFGATE reported. At the top with a nearly perfect rating, Nvidias Jensen Huang got a 96 percent approval rating from his NVIDIA employees. Huang's chip-making firm has made three times more interest in its AI technology than it did at the start of the year. Not far behind Huang, Apple CEO Tim Cook came in at an 83 percent approval rating as he's been in the position since 2011 after he served as chief operating officer under co-founder Steve Jobs. In Blind's inaugural 2023 CEO approval rating index, the average approval ratings for CEOS sat at 32 percent. Amazon's Alexa has told users that the 2020 presidential election was 'stolen by a massive amount of election fraud' causing Jeff Bezos' empire to scramble to explain the concerning content. An investigation by the Washington Post showed when the devices were asked if the election was stolen, they would cite unproven facts and say that electoral fraud had taken place. The Alexa said it was 'stolen by a massive amount of election fraud,' while citing Rumble, a right-wing video streaming site. Amazon did not say why the machines use information from unvetted sources when answering questions posed by users. Amazon's Alexa has told users that the 2020 presidential election was 'stolen by a massive amount of election fraud' causing Jeff Bezos ' empire to scramble to explain the concerning content The January 6 Capitol riot grew out of President Trump's false claim that the 2020 election was stolen. The same sentiment is fueling threats against local election officials In another instance, Alexa cited Substack and said the race was 'notorious for many incidents of irregularities and indications pointing to electoral fraud taking place in major metro centers.' Amazon claims they work with 'credible sources' such as Reuters, Ballotpedia and RealClearPolitics. After being informed of the issue, the response given by the machine allegedly changed, reports the Post. Amazon spokeswoman Lauren Raemhild said in a statement: 'These responses were errors that were delivered a small number of times, and quickly fixed when brought to our attention. 'We continually audit and improve the systems we have in place for detecting and blocking inaccurate content.' Polling continues to show that former President Donald Trump convinced a large portion of Republican voters that President Joe Biden's 2020 win was illegitimate. A CNN poll released in August found that 69 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning voters still believe Biden's win wasn't legitimate - up from 63 percent earlier this year. Among registered voters who cast a ballot for Trump in 2020, the numbers were even higher - with 75 percent expressing doubts that the last election was conducted properly. Jeff Bezos is the billionaire founder of Amazon - who manufacture the Amazon Alexa Overall, pollsters found that 38 percent of Americans currently believe the so-called 'big lie,' while 61 percent say that Biden legitimately won the 2020 race. Among those 69 percent of Republican-leaning voters who expressed skepticism about the 2020 election, 39 percent said they believed there was solid evidence proving it was illegitimate. The other 30 percent simply said they had a suspicion that something was afoul. Another 29 percent of GOP-leaning voters believed that Biden's win was legitimate. Special Counsel Jack Smith detailed how many people in Trump's circle were expressing to the president there was no evidence of widespread election fraud - including from the top-tiers of the Department of Justice and the Director of National Intelligence. Federal prosecutors will need to show that Trump knew he was lying about election fraud in order to prove their case. Directly after the January 6 Capitol attack, 54 percent of Republican-leaning voters said they believed there was evidence proving the election had been stolen from Trump - the lie the ex-president was telling his supporters. Trump's 2024 Republican rivals tend to try to have it both ways - they've expressed skepticism about how the 2020 election was conducted, but won't say they believe Trump was the legitimate winner. The fresh polling showed widespread anxiety about U.S. elections. Fifty percent of Americans said they felt it was at least somewhat likely that elected officials could successfully overturn the results of an election if their party didn't win. The Trump indictment laid out a scheme the ex-president pursued that included pressuring election officials, putting in place fake slates of Electoral College electors and pushing Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the election during the joint session of Congress on January 6, 2021. A majority - 58 percent - said they are just a little or not at all confident that elections reflect the voters' will. Another 42 percent said they had at least some confidence elections are carried out properly. Only 13 percent of those polled said they are 'very confident' in U.S. elections - which is the lowest percentage captured in CNN surveys since 2021. A 24-year-old school counselor has allegedly admitted to having sex with a 13-year-old boy after being 'busted' during a three-way call with cops and his mother. Ohio investigators discovered a disturbing video of Payton Shires having sex with the young boy following a report from his worried parent in September. Columbus Police officers charged Shires, of Mount Sterling, Ohio, with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, per ABC6. The boy's mother began suspecting Shires of predatory behavior when she spotted texts between the licensed counselor and her son on his phone. The teen was receiving counseling from the 24-year-old. Charging documents show the mom contacted police on September 27 after seeing a message from Shires asking her son whether he had 'deleted the videos' - and whether anyone had seen them. Columbus Police officers have charged Payton Shires (pictured), of Mount Sterling, Ohio, with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor Investigators took the boy's phone and found disturbing footage of Shires having sex with the 13-year-old who was in her care The boy told detectives they had sex at least twice at different places in Columbus. Police set up a three-way call between the mother, detectives and Shires, where the social worker reportedly admitted to the sexual relationship. Shires was taken into custody and police said further charges could be brought against her in the coming days. Police have released a mugshot of Shires, who is white with blue eyes and dyed blond hair. State records show her counseling license was issued on June 12, 2023, and she used to work for the National Youth Advocate Program. The program, which supports families in the foster care system or who need advocacy, would not disclose why she stopped working for them, citing confidentiality and the ongoing police case. 'Protecting children is everyone's responsibility.' program representatives said in a statement. 'The National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP) is saddened by the situation involving one of our former employees and a young person served by our organization. 'NYAP has reported the situation to Franklin County Children Services (FCCS) and is collaborating with them and the Columbus Police Department on this case.' Shires, who is being held at the Franklin County Corrections Center, appeared in court Friday and Judge Mike McAllister set her bond at $500,000. A Boston college professor's daughter and son-in-law were among those killed in Israel after a series of fierce attacks from Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. Professor Ilan Troen, 83, had recently retired from his role at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, and moved to Israel to be with his family. The Boston-born academic recalled how his daughter Debbie Shahar Troen Mathias and son-in-law Shlomi Mathias were killed by gunmen from the Gaza Strip on Saturday. They managed to save their teenage son by flinging their bodies over him. The family were together in a secure room inside their home when in was penetrated by Hamas fighters. The young boy, Troen's grandson, was shot in the abdomen and is in hospital. More than 600 Israelis are now feared dead and thousands more have been injured following an unprecedented attack by militants. The Jewish nation is now raining down fire in a ruthless counteroffensive following the barbaric attacks. Debbie Shahar Troen Mathias and Shlomi Mathias. They were killed while protecting their son in Israel Professor Ilan Troen had recently retired from his role at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts , and moved to Israel to live. The Boston-born academic recalled how his daughter and son-in-law were killed by gunmen from the Gaza strip on Saturday - and how the pair managed to save their teenage son by flinging their bodies over him People try to extinguish fire on cars following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, southern Israel Speaking to NPR from a Soroka Hospital room in Israel, Professor Ilan Troen said: 'My daughter and son-in-law were killed today, but, in their dying, saved his life. 'They followed his body. 'They were all together in the secure room. And they covered his body, and he was saved. He - nevertheless, a bullet penetrated them and went into his abdomen.' US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday morning that 'several Americans' may be among the dead and captured in the Israeli terror attacks. Brandeis University confirmed the professor's tragedy. Officials said in a statement: 'We at Brandeis are deeply saddened to learn that Professor Troen has lost his daughter and son-in-law in the tragic events that are currently taking place in Israel. 'Ilan, a Brandeis alumnus, and his family have long been treasured members of the Brandeis community, and we hold Ilan, his wife Carol, and his entire family in our thoughts. 'We condemn in the strongest way terrorism such as we have seen today perpetrated against innocent civilians.' Troen taught Israel Studies at the private school, having studied there himself as an undergraduate student before receiving his master's and PhD from the University of Chicago. Debbie Shahar Troen Mathias and Shlomi Mathias are among those who were killed by Hamas US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday morning that 'several Americans' may be among the dead and captured in the Israeli terror attacks Pictured: Soroka Hospital in Israel, where Professor Ilan Troen's grandson is suffering from a gunshot wound Palestinians are greeted by crowds after returning from crossing the border into Israel Journalist Bari Weiss wrote on social media: 'So many friends of mine count Ilan Troen as a beloved teacher and mentor. 'Today his daughter and son-in-law were murdered in their home by terrorists. They managed to save their son.' Historian Martin Kramer said: 'My friend Ilan Troen, who has done so much for Israel studies in America, has suffered an unimaginable loss. 'He just recently retired from Brandeis and returned home to Israel. A miracle wrapped in tragedy.' Yesterday, brazen Hamas fighters knocked on the doors of residents who expected to find Israeli soldiers looking to reassure them about the air-raid sirens. Instead the violence kickstarted one of the worst atrocities Israel has encountered in decades. A man carries a crying child as they walk past a building destroyed by an Israeli air strike in Gaza City Innocent mothers with children, settlers and even the frail elderly found themselves the 'war booty' of the masked terrorists, who dragged them away at gunpoint. Their actions which horrified the international community brought back grim reminders of masked Islamic State terrorists in Syria, who paraded hostages on social media before executing them. But one Hamas leader hinted to the world that these hostages, whose number was well over 50 last night, would not be killed but be used as human bargaining chips to have their own prisoners in Israeli jails released. One terrorism expert added that the captured Israelis could even be used as human shields to stop the Israeli air force which began pounding Gaza yesterday from blowing up certain targets. Horrifying footage on social media showed terrified hostages being taken to Gaza by Hamas fighters, who chanted 'Allahu akbar' (God is great) as they led them away. In New York, a pro-Palestine rally is planned to take place just after midday on Sunday. The state's Governor Kathy Hochul has condemned the protest. Demonstrators have arrived in NYC's Times Square - the social and cultural epicenter of New York - which is the city with the largest Jewish population outside of Israel itself. Hochul described the rally as abhorrent and morally repugnant in a post she made on X, formerly Twitter after Hamas militants invaded Israel and slaughtered hundreds of citizens. 'The people of Israel are facing violent terrorist attacks and civilian kidnappings. I condemn plans to rally in Times Square tomorrow in support of the perpetrators of these horrific actions,' she said. 'The planned rally is abhorrent and morally repugnant.' NYC Mayor Eric Adams, who is on a vanity tour of South America to discourage migrants from crossing the border, condemned the attacks in Israel. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has failed to deter migrants from making the treacherous trip to the Big Apple from South America, with many, more empowered than ever. Adams this weekend visited the Darien Gap, a treacherous rainforest traversed by thousands of mostly South American migrants a month, to try to dissuade them from coming as U.S. cities like his own struggle to accommodate them. His unusual trip to Mexico, Ecuador and Colombia underscores the criticism that he and other Democratic city and state leaders have voiced for the immigration policies of President Joe Biden. But for those making the journey, Adams' pleas to dissuade them, although somewhat poorly, fell on deaf ears as some begged the question: 'How can you tell someone not to follow their American dream?' 'I'm not going to be discouraged by what a politician says or a mayor says,' one migrant said. New York City Mayor Eric Adams (pictured) has failed to deter migrants from making the treacherous trip to the Big Apple from South America, with many, more empowered than ever Sitting on a restaurant doorstep with his wife and children, Carlos Gabriel Hernandez told the New York Times he'd already tried and failed to cross Darien Gap. The remote, roadless crossing on the border between Colombia and Panama consists of more than 60 miles of dense rainforest, steep mountains and vast swamps and has taken the lives of hundreds. Despite the obstacles, Hernandez said he was still determined to try again to reach New York and was puzzled, even offended, to learn why Adams had been visiting. Johanna del Valle Acosta, told the outlet that while she understood Adams' perspective, that she wished there was more compassion. 'I think he, as mayor, is defending his country,' she said. 'Suddenly other countries see us as a threat, but we are good people who want to work.' Meanwhile, Jhonatan Antony Velasquez Diaz, told the Times that friends who had made it to New York 'tell me to come, that a lot of them have jobs.' 'That lifts me up and helps me to keep going,' he said. He said he doubted Adams' words would carry much weight adding that 'no matter what, people are going to get there.' A protest during the visit of New York mayor Eric Adams to Necocli, northern Colombia, after he capped off a four-day trip to Latin America to deter migrants The remote, roadless crossing on the border between Colombia and Panama consists of more than sixty miles of dense rain forest, steep mountains, and vast swamps and has taken the lives of hundreds 'I'm not going to be discouraged by what a politician says or a mayor says,' he said. In a press conference during a stop in Puebla in central Mexico, Adams said: 'Our hearts are endless, but our resources are not.' Adding, 'they deserve a more dignified environment than we are able to give.' The trip, traveling thousands of miles to make his case, highlights how the latest wave of migrants is reshaping the immigration debate among some Democratic leaders. Republican governors near the border have been fiercely critical of Biden's border policies. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has been busing thousands of migrants north to New York, Chicago and other Democratic-controlled cities. But in recent months, Adams and some other Democrats have said their cities far from the southern border are now also being strained by a surge of new arrivals, many of whom are fleeing violence and economic distress in Venezuela. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, called the influx 'untenable' in a letter to Biden on Monday, while the mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson, also a Democrat, said this week he planned to visit the U.S.-Mexico border after more than 17,000 migrants had arrived in the city since last year. Adams and some other Democrats have said their cities far from the southern border are now also being strained by a surge of new arrivals who have risked their lives to be there Biden's administration said on Thursday it will add sections to a wall to reduce the record number of migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border Immigration will likely be a campaign theme in the U.S. 2024 presidential race with a 54 percent majority of Americans agreeing with the statement that 'immigration is making life harder for native-born Americans,' a September Reuters/Ipsos poll found. Some 73 percent of Republicans and 37 percent of Democrats surveyed agreed with that statement. Biden's administration said on Thursday it will add sections to a wall to reduce the record number of migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border, carrying forward a signature policy of former President Donald Trump, Biden's predecessor and the frontrunner in the Republican race to challenge him in 2024. Adams has said that many asylum seekers set out for New York in the belief they would receive jobs and rooms in 'five-star hotels' upon arrival, led astray by misinformation spread by smugglers and on social media. 'We're saying that is not true.' The New York Immigration Coalition and other advocacy groups have criticized Adams' trip as an ineffectual use of time and money when Adams is slashing city budgets, saying New York's mayor has no influence on international policy and that the city has mismanaged the existing shelter system. They have said his remarks last month that the migrant crisis will 'destroy New York City' are inflammatory. The New York Immigration Coalition and other advocacy groups have criticized Adams' trip as an ineffectual use of time and money The city says hundreds of migrants are arriving each day with nowhere to stay This week, Adams' office asked a judge to end a decades-old right-to-shelter mandate, which requires New York to provide a place to sleep to anyone who needs one. The city says hundreds of migrants are arriving each day with nowhere to stay. The effort is opposed by the Legal Aid Society, which advocates for newly arrived migrants seeking shelter. Joshua Goldfein, a Legal Aid attorney, said it was unclear whether physically traveling to the Darien Gap might help with the crisis in New York City, and there was more the mayor could be doing without leaving his hometown. Much of the misinformation the mayor has described was being seen by asylum seekers on cellphones, in TikTok videos being shared on WhatsApp. To counter this, the city should be making its own videos in the languages of the migrants traveling north, Goldfein said. 'All three levels of government need to step up here to solve this problem,' Goldfein said: the federal government should be giving people work authorization, and assisting local officials in states and cities to meet new arrivals and help them resettle in less expensive and strained cities. 'But they're all sort of pointing fingers at each other.' A paedophile who was jailed for a 'relentless' two-decade campaign of sexual abuse has been housed minutes from a primary school upon his release from prison. Parents have been left furious after Alan Bright was spotted 'hanging around' Stock Church of England Primary School in Essex and even seen visiting the school library. The former school caretaker was jailed for 15 years in 2015 for 22 counts including rape, indecent assault and gross indecency. During sentencing he was told by the judge: 'Your abuse was relentless.' Bright, who is understood to have been released from prison on licence in July after serving half of his sentence, was housed less than a five minute walk from the primary school without informing the headteacher or parents. Essex Police has received a flurry of complaints from concerned parents - only to be told the force has 'advised' Bright not to go near the school. Paedophile Alan Bright, 87, (pictured) was spotted 'hanging around' Stock Church of England Primary School in Essex and even seen visiting the school library An email sent to parents by headteacher Alina Clay said: 'I am aware that there are serious concerns regarding a known paedophile that has moved in to the area and the impact this may have on your children's safety. The school wasn't notified and I was only made aware of this by people who live in the village. 'The police are liaising with us and have asked us to inform you that they are dealing with the matter.' A later email added: 'Further to my earlier email I have been speaking with the police and they have asked me to pass this onto you: Please let parents know that police have advised him not to go near the school, library, or alleyways etc near the school. 'If any future incidents occur and he is seen near the school, could you pass onto parents to report it with exact time, date, location.' Bright, 87, was described as having 'put his victims through hell' and judge Patricia Lynch said he had 'manipulated children in the course of [his] daily life' and abused his position of trust by committing offences between about 1970 and 1990. The court heard Bright, who also went by the name John, had spent years manipulating children 'under the guise of playing games' such as hide and seek and that the earliest instance of abuse was when he groped a 10-year-old girl on a ghost train at a funfair. His victims were left scarred by the abuse and Detective Constable Cornelius Bowen, of Essex Police, said: 'It has personally been one of the hardest cases I have dealt with.' Parents have been left furious after Alan Bright was spotted 'hanging around' Stock Church of England Primary School in Essex and even seen visiting the school library. Pictured: Ingatestone village The judge sentenced Bright under the guidelines of the Sexual Offences Act 1956, which was in place when he committed the offences, but told the court that under the sentencing regime in 2015 his prison term would have been considerably higher. One parent, who did not wish to be named, said: 'It is absolutely ludicrous that an individual who has committed such heinous crimes against children would be housed so close to a school and preschool. 'There is also the massive concern that the village library is on the same premises as the school, we have been given no assurances by anyone that this predator will be prevented from using it and we find this absolutely astounding and totally unacceptable. 'Exactly who was it that decided this location was suitable for a convicted child sex offender?' One mother who says she spotted him hanging around the school on three days reported him to the police on 7 September (ref number 0341). Parents are furious at Chelmsford City Council and have also written to express their concerns to Chelmsford MP John Whittingdale, who has taken their case to the Prison & Probation Service. In response Phil Copple, Director General of Operations at HM Prison and Probation Service, said in a letter that he was unable to comment on specific cases but added: 'I understand the concerns you raise. The protection of the public is of utmost priority. 'An offender serving a determinate sentence is released automatically on licence at either the half-way or two-thirds point of the sentence, depending on its length, and subject to supervision by the probation for the remainder of the sentence. 'The licence contains seven standard licence conditions, together with any additional conditions needed to manage specific risks. 'Probation and police also carry out unannounced home visits, often together, to meet the individual, confirm residence and assess the ongoing suitability of the address.' Another parent of a pupil at the primary school added: 'We are all extremely angry and incredibly shocked, we feel our children have been put in real danger by this decision, it has caused a massive amount of unease and is a source of daily worry. 'There are so many things put in place to keep the offender safe from public retribution, but what have the authorities actually done to protect the children at the school? 'How can they say the protection of the public is of the utmost priority and then choose to relocate this sick individual so close to a school? It is insane and unforgivable.' Hamas terrorists who murdered hundreds of innocent civilians in an attack on Israel were applauded at a left wing event in the sidelines of the Labour conference today. The clapping for the bloody violence broke out among the audience at a meeting to mark 75 years since the Nakba or 'catastrophe' - which led to the creation of the Jewish state. It came as one of the speakers at the event said she was 'honoured' to be speaking at such a 'historic moment'. More than 100 people attended the event at The World Transformed, a left wing festival that is not officially linked to Labour but which sprang up while Jeremy Corbyn was Labour leader. Yasmin Elsouda, an activist and member of the Palestinian Youth Movement, told the audience: 'I'm honoured to be speaking at such an historic moment, certainly in my lifetime, in our struggle Meanwhile Mr Corbyn, who is still a Labour member despite being kicked out of the parliamentary party, refused to say if he directly condemned Hamas when quizzed by reporters in Liverpool today. Yasmin Elsouda (right), an activist and member of the Palestinian Youth Movement, told the audience at a fringe event: 'Yesterday over 230 of our siblings ascended to martyrdom at the hands of the Zionist entity.' Jeremy Corbyn, who is still a Labour member despite being kicked out of the parliamentary party, refused to say if he directly condemned Hamas when quizzed by reporters in Liverpool today The ex-Labour leader pointed to a statement he issued yesterday over the violence during tetchy exchanges with journalists A woman in Tel Aviv picks her way through rubble late on Saturday Israeli civilians were purportedly taken off the street and driven back into Gaza The ex-Labour leader pointed to a statement he issued yesterday over the violence during tetchy exchanges with journalists. 'Why are you interrputing me?,' Mr Corbyn said. 'Yesterday I sent out a statement calling for a ceasefire, calling for peace and calling for an end to the occupation of Palestine which, of course, is fundamentally the background to the whole issue. 'Obviously all attacks are wrong.' Mr Corbyn has sat in the House of Commons as an independent since October 2020 after being suspended as a Labour MP over his response to a critical anti-semitism report. He had posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, yesterday: 'The unfolding events in Israel and Palestine are deeply alarming. 'We need an immediate ceasefire and urgent de-escalation. And we need a route out of this tragic cycle of violence: ending the occupation is the only means of achieving a just and lasting peace.' Hamas has been proscribed as a terror group in its entirety in the UK since 2021. At the Labour conference fringe event, which was not attended by Mr Corbyn, Ms Elsouda went on to outline attacks on Palestinians by the Israeli authorities in the run-up to the brutal break out from Gaza that left hundreds dead and saw women and children kidnapped by militants. She added: 'Yesterday over 230 of our siblings ascended to martyrdom at the hands of the Zionist entity. 'The current Zionist government has in no uncertain words been calling for genocide, another Nakba. 'Despite this, our Palestinian resistance has once again taken the failed Zionist entity by surprise and has declared enough is enough.' Hamas militants' bodies lie on the road south of Israeli near the border with Gaza on Sunday Israeli soldiers at the southern Israeli town of Ofakim on Sunday. Israel announced initiating a large-scale operation 'Swords of Iron' after the surprise attacks yesterday Search and rescue team continue their effort at the damaged buildings after Israeli airstrikes launched in Gaza City yesterday Israeli soldiers are pictured at the southern Israeli town of Ofakim on Sunday Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Sunday after the militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel Airstrikes on Islamic National Bank of Gaza destroy buildings and neighbourhoods at Rimal district of Gaza City. People are seen amongst the rubble on Sunday People are pictured walking through the Rimal district of Gaza City on Sunday after airstrikes on Islamic National Bank of Gaza destroyed buildings and neighbourhoods Palestinians inspect the rubble of a building after it was struck by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Sunday The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land, and sea, killing hundreds and taking captives. Palestinians on Sunday are pictured inspecting the rubble of a building after it was struck by an Israeli airstrike Fire and smoke rise following an airstrike in Israel on Sunday Later, Ms Elsouda was cheered a second time when she said: 'Yesterday the Palestinian resistance crossed the fence that contained more than a million refugees so are we only willing to support Palestinians rising up when they are held at the fence and shot down? 'Or are we serious about the return, the liberation of colonised lands? These are the questions of our time and we have a responsibility to rise up and do the bare minimum, a colonise people's right to resist.' Freelance journalist Zoe Holman, who chaired the event, started with 'a brief moment of silence to consider events and the losses not only of the last days but of the last decades and the last century in the region'. It lasted about 25 seconds, after which she told the audience: 'We are here at a very unexpectedly dramatic moment in the region. 'The developments of the past days reflect the violent outcomes of the process of colonialism, occupation and apartheid that has taken place over almost a century. They are a reminder of the urgency of the campaign for Palestinian justice.' Families across Israel woke up yesterday expecting to celebrate one of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar together. Instead, the festival of Simchat Torah became a day of terror and bloodshed for residents living near the Gaza Strip. The peace of the holy Sabbath was shattered in the early morning as marauding Hamas gunmen invaded the streets in places such as Sderot, a city less than a mile from the border. Hamas claimed to have fired 5,000 rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip, setting off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem Palestinians celebrate on Saturday after an Israeli tank was hit by Hamas gunmen who infiltrated the south of the country, on the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border Israeli soldiers are pictured patrolling the roads near the border with Gaza on Sunday Israeli airstrikes on Islamic National Bank of Gaza destroy buildings and neighbourhoods at Rimal district of Gaza City on Sunday Israeli soldiers patrol on the roads near the border with Gaza on Sunday after Israel announced initiating a large-scale operation 'Swords of Iron' Israeli medical teams evacuate an injured person from the southern city of Sderot, close to the border with the Gaza Strip, on Saturday A man carries a crying child as they walk past a building destroyed by an Israeli air strike in Gaza City on Saturday People flee as clashes flare between Palestinian groups and Israeli forces in Gaza City following the earlier air strikes on Saturday Palestinians are greeted by crowds after returning from crossing the border into Israel on Saturday Keir Starmer condemned the 'appalling' atrocities in Israel today as he faces pressure to act against Labour MPs and activists who make excuses for Hamas. The Labour leader decried the 'acts of terrorism' as he struggles to stop hard-left figures including Jeremy Corbyn derailing his pre-election conference in Liverpool. In a BBC interview, Sir Keir said the indiscriminate launching of missiles, slaughter of civilians and hostage-taking in Israel was a 'deliberate' attempt to set back the peace process. But Tories have been insisting that Labour 'hasn't changed' after mixed signals from some elements of the party. Mr Corbyn - banned from standing as an MP again but still a party member - tweeted urging a ceasefire, but seemingly stopping short of directly condemning the actions. Suella Braverman has warned that the 'full force of the law' will be used against those who support Hamas or 'intimidate' Jews in Britain. The Home Secretary delivered the stark message as the Met Police stepped up 'reassurance' patrols in London. Images of people waving Palestine flags and celebrating the bloody assault in the city have been shared on social media, including by Countdown presenter Rachel Riley. On London's Edgware Road, nicknamed the capital's 'Arab Street', cars were draped with the Palestinian flag and horns blaring as if there was a football match victory. Posting a video, a social media user said: 'Islamists in London celebrating the deaths and captures of innocent civilians. Monsters.' Motorists were also seen in other parts of London waving the Palestinian flag in celebration. Rachel Riley, the Countdown presenter who is Jewish, posted a video on her X account, which showed a number of people celebrating the Hamas atrocity outside a cafe in Acton, West London. 'People have been brutally murdered and kidnapped and there are people in London dancing', said Countdown's Rachel Riley, who is Jewish, after the massacre in Israel unfolded yesterday People celebrating the Hamas atrocity in Israel outside a cafe in Acton, West London on Saturday Hamas militants' bodies lie next to their car on the road south of Israeli near the border with Gaza on Sunday Israeli army move artillery units towards the border with Gaza on Sunday sraeli soldiers take position on the main road near the border with Gaza on Sunday A man is seen walking with his bicycle on Sunday after Israeli airstrikes destroyed buildings and neighbourhoods at Rimal district of Gaza City The Israeli army moves artillery units toward border with Gaza on Sunday She tweeted: 'People have been brutally murdered and kidnapped and there are people in London dancing.' The Met Police has confirmed that officers will step up patrols in London amid fears of antisemitic attacks and protests. Scotland Yard said it would increase the presence of officers in response to a 'number of incidents' - some shared on social media - of people celebrating the attack on Israel which has put the Middle East on the brink of all-out war. The Met said that 'an appropriate policing plan' will be put in place as the force anticipates protests over the coming days. Conversations have also been held between the Home Office and the Community Security Trust (CST) which resulted in the decision to increase footfall to reassure local communities across Britain, the CST confirmed to MailOnline. Ms Braverman posted on X this morning to say the government was doing 'everything necessary' to protect Jewish communities. 'Whenever Israel is attacked, Islamists and other racists use Israeli defensive measures as a pretext to stir up hatred against British Jews,' she wrote. 'There must be zero tolerance for anti-semitism or glorification of terrorism on the streets of Britain. 'I expect the police to use the full force of the law against displays of support for Hamas, other proscribed terrorist groups or attempts to intimidate British Jews.' An activist gives out leaflets at the fringe event today Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Sunday. It comes ater the attack launched by Hamas on Israel yesterday Gaza City's Al-Watan Tower was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike early on Sunday. Palestinians are pictured inspecting the damage today Palestinian men walk amidst the rubble of a UNRWA school in Gaza City, which was destroyed overnight in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday Gaza City residents inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes on Sunday Residents check the damage following Israeli air strikes in Gaza City early on Sunday Palestinian citizens inspect damage caused by Israeli air strikes on their homes on Sunday. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel, with its fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the Palestinians to leave Gaza, and warned that the army would turn Hamas positions 'into rubble.' Pictured: Gaza City, Gaza on Sunday Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes in Gaza City on Sunday Militant Islamist group Hamas launched an attack on Israel overnight on Friday, claiming to have fired 5,000 rockets before militants poured across the border, seemingly taking Israel completely by surprise. Pictured: Damage to Gaza City on Sunday caused by Israeli airstrikes There are fears the new escalation could seriously destabilise the region and result in an extended conflict after Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu told Hamas they are now 'at war'. Pictured: Damaged buildings in Gaza City on Sunday READ MORE: Met Police confirms increased patrols in London amid fears of antisemitic attacks on capital's Jewish communities and huge protests following violence in Israel Advertisement It comes after militant Islamist group Hamas launched an attack on Israel overnight on Friday, claiming to have fired 5,000 rockets before militants poured across the border, seemingly taking Israel completely by surprise. In just 12 hours almost 600 people are confirmed to have died, with a further 2,610 injured in both Israel and the Gaza Strip. The news comes amid fears the new escalation could seriously destabilise the region and result in an extended conflict after Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu told Hamas they are now 'at war'. Since the Hamas incursion, which began on a Jewish holiday, talks between Home Secretary Suella Braverman, the Home Office and CST have been held remotely to assess the risk of retaliation upon the UK's Jewish community. During the 2021 Gaza-Israel conflict, which began in early May, the CST documented a record 628 hate incidents directed towards British Jews between early May and early June, a fourfold increase on the same period the previous year. The latest statistics on hate crimes, released this week, show a rise in religious-based hate crimes in 2022-23 in the UK. Jewish communities are the second-most hit by religious-based hate crimes, accounting for 17 percent of all those recorded. Islamophobia results in the highest number of religious-based hate crimes per year, and made up 39 percent of them, the latest data shows. Ugly scenes from Israel appear to show Hamas militants abducting women, children and even entire families off the streets and ferrying them back towards the Gaza strip. Meanwhile both sides are continuing to fire rockets at one another, with active fighting going on in 22 different locations. Rockets appear to have hit targets in both the Gaza Strip and Israel itself, with multiple reports of fires and explosions in Tel Aviv. Meanwhile the Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure has ordered the immediate suspension of power to the Gaza Strip. In just 12 hours almost 600 people are confirmed to have died, with a further 2,610 injured in both Israel and the Gaza Strip Hamas militants began their attack early on Saturday and appeared to take the Israelis completely by surprise The Met Police has confirmed that officers will step up patrols in London amid fears of antisemitic attacks and protests Residents survey the damage in the Israeli city of Ashkelon following rocket launches from Gaza on Saturday Gaza's power authority says 80 percent of Gaza electricity supplies have been shut following Israel's announcement. The Gaza Strip is one of the most densely populated places in the world, with around two million people packed into 140 square miles. But it depends on Israel for water, electricity, telecommunications, and other utilities, and imports are carefully controlled by Israel. Conflict between Israel and Palestinians has been going on for decades, but this is the deadliest attack in years, leading to fears it could start an ongoing war. From Israel's perspective, the surprise attack has been 'humiliating', undermining intelligence efforts and overwhelming the Iron Dome defence system, which is far superior to Gaza's own anti-missile defences. Conservatives pounced on their comments and framed them as criticism of Israel which has lost hundreds of lives in the attack Rep. Ilhan Omar shockingly called for international protections and support for Palestinians after their fundamentalist terrorist group Hamas carried out a brutal terrorist attack on Israel. The progressive Minnesota congresswoman expressed her compassion for the people in the Palestinian enclave of the Gaza Strip amid widespread criticism for her and her colleagues' response to the violence. 'Reminder, Gaza doesn't have shelters or an iron dome and to please pray for them,' Omar wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. 'May peace prevail in the region and move us towards a moral awakening to care about the human suffering we are seeing.' 'Palestinians are human beings who have been in besieged and are deserving of protection from the international community,' she added. Omar is one of the two first Muslim women to be elected to Congress joined by Palestinian-American Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who has remained noticeably silent on the recent terrorist attack. Rep. Ilhan Omar called for 'international' protections in Gaza after the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas launched surprise multi-front attacks in Israel on Saturday Omar (right) was one of the first two Muslim women to be elected to Congress in 2018, she was joined by Palestinian-American Rep. Rashida Tlaib (pictured left), who has remained noticeably silent on the recent terrorist attacks In her post Saturday night, Omar was responding to MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan, who claimed that Israel launching attacks on civilians in Gaza only helps the Palestinian terrorists part of Hamas. 'Strategically, killing civilians in Gaza who aren't Hamas won't hurt Hamas, it'll help them, in the long-run,' he claimed in a post to X. 'Morally, killing civilians in Gaza as part of an 'overwhelming' show of force isn't moral. It's immoral.' Republicans are criticizing 'Squad' House Democrats who are calling for a ceasefire after Israel launched a ruthless counteroffensive in the south while it also pounding Lebanon with artillery in the north. The left-wing group of lawmakers put out statements following the devastating attacks which Israeli officials say have left at least 300 dead and with at least 1,500 injured. Democrats Omar and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez led condemnation of the attacks. 'Today is devastating for all those seeking a lasting peace and respect for human rights in Israel and Palestine. I condemn Hamas' attack in the strongest possible terms,' Rep. Ocasio-Cortez said. 'No child and family should ever endure this kind of violence and fear, and this violence will not solve the ongoing oppression and occupation in the region.' 'An immediate ceasefire and de-escalation is urgently needed to save lives.' Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for an 'immediate ceasefire and de-escalation' after Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday. While Rep. Ilhan Omar said 'violence will only repeat the back and forth' and called for Israel to stand down I condemn the horrific acts we are seeing unfold today in Israel against children, women, the elderly, and the unarmed people who are being slaughtered and taken hostage by Hamas. Such senseless violence will only repeat the back and forth cycle we've seen, which we cannot allow Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) October 7, 2023 These devastating attacks on Israelis are deeply alarming and my heart breaks for the victims & their loved ones. We need an immediate ceasefire & de-escalation. It is long past time to stop this cycle of violence & trauma, and work toward a just & lasting peace in the region. https://t.co/mPUukLKYg6 Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) October 7, 2023 My statement on the escalating violence in the Middle East: pic.twitter.com/xGb8FYnqit Congressman Jamaal Bowman (@RepBowman) October 7, 2023 My statement on the escalating violence in the Middle East: pic.twitter.com/bf9wfKu66X Congresswoman Summer Lee (@RepSummerLee) October 7, 2023 Rep. Omar said: 'I condemn the horrific acts we are seeing unfold today in Israel against children, women, the elderly, and the unarmed people who are being slaughtered and taken hostage by Hamas.' 'Such senseless violence will only repeat the back and forth cycle we've seen, which we cannot allow to continue. We need to call for de-escalation and ceasefire. I will keep advocating for peace and justice throughout the Middle East.' Rep. Omar's statement received backlash from conservative pundits. 'She will never acknowledge that there was peace in the Middle East & Europe when Trump was in office,' said FOX & Friends Weekend co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. Conservative commentator John Hasson said: 'Notice how she only condemns the acts against 'children, women, the elderly, and the unarmed.' She's implying that attacking/killing IDF forces is fine.' Fighting continued overnight as Israel announced over 300 deaths in the surprise attack from the Hamas Saturday morning After the attacks Saturday morning, Hamas took dozens of Israeli civilians hostage Omar also expressed her compassion for the people in the Palestinian enclave of the Gaza Strip. 'Reminder, Gaza doesn't have shelters or an iron dome and to please pray for them,' the progressive lawmaker wrote on X. 'May peace prevail in the region and move us towards a moral awakening to care about the human suffering we are seeing. Palestinians are human beings who have been in besieged and are deserving of protection from the international community.' Rep. Ayanna Pressley said: 'These devastating attacks on Israelis are deeply alarming and my heart breaks for the victims & their loved ones. We need an immediate ceasefire & de-escalation. It is long past time to stop this cycle of violence & trauma, and work toward a just & lasting peace in the region.' Her statement was slammed for dismissing the need for Israel to defend itself. 'The squad telling Israel to stand down after it was attacked and hundreds of its citizens were massacred,' wrote one user. Rep. Jamaal Bowman said: 'I strongly condemn the horrific attacks by Hamas and am saddened by the loss of precious lives, especially on the holy day of Simchat Torah We need a way to end this deadly violence that is killing and traumatizing generations of Israelis and Palestinians alike including the blockade of Gaza.' 'I have been to the Gaza border and know that Israelis and Palestinians are constantly living in fear. We must work harder to ensure peace in the region.' Conservative radio host Jason Rantz said: 'Bowman can't merely condemn terrorism. He has to include his ignorant criticism of Israel.' She will never acknowledge that there was peace in the Middle East & Europe when Trump was in office. https://t.co/PjUi8NPXCL Rachel Campos-Duffy (@RCamposDuffy) October 7, 2023 Notice how she only condemns the acts against children, women, the elderly, and the unarmed. Shes implying that attacking/killing IDF forces is fine https://t.co/UB1VRpbqkc John Hasson (@SonofHas) October 7, 2023 The squad telling Israel to stand down after it was attacked and hundreds of its citizens were massacred Incredible https://t.co/VIO3X3zotu Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) October 7, 2023 Jamaal Bowman cant merely condemn terrorism. He has to include his ignorant criticism of Israel. https://t.co/mimYokeN3N Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) October 7, 2023 Ridiculous. Just denounce the attacks by Hamas. Denounce their dragging someones dead daughter through the streets. Denounce them kidnapping someone grandmother. Denounce them kidnapping babies. You represent a large US Jewish community, act like it. https://t.co/38HrfnBLyA Christine Stone (@ChristineMStone) October 7, 2023 Rep. Summer Lee said: 'We need urgent de-escalation and an end to this tragic cycle of violence. To achieve this, we must bring an end to the occupation and help broker a just and lasting peace. One user responded to Lee: 'Ridiculous. Just denounce the attacks by Hamas. Denounce their dragging someone's dead daughter through the streets. Denounce them kidnapping someone grandmother. Denounce them kidnapping babies. You represent a large US Jewish community, act like it.' 'And we also know that there is no military solution that will bring an end to this violence,' Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Cori Bush and Rep. Greg Casar have not put out statements on the attacks in Israel. Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to fight back and declared in a statement that they are at war. Templeton Emerging Markets Investment Trust PLC (the "Company") announces that the Board of Directors have agreed to appoint Angus Macpherson as a non-executive Director of the Company, with effect from 6 October 2023. The Board of Directors confirms that the intention is that Angus will take on the role of Chairman of the Company on 1 January 2024 and will work closely with the current Chairman Paul Manduca, who is retiring after over 8 years on the Board, to ensure an orderly handover of the role. Angus Macpherson is chief executive of Noble and Company (UK) Limited, an independent boutique Scottish corporate finance business. He was based in Asia between 1995 and 2004 in Singapore and Hong Kong, latterly as head of capital markets and financing for Merrill Lynch for Asia. He is currently Chairman of Pacific Horizon Investment Trust, Henderson Diversified Income and a director of Schroder Japan Trust and Hampden & Co. Angus Macpherson commented "I am excited to be joining the Board of Templeton Emerging Markets Investment Trust and look forward to working with the other members of the Board and the manager. I have a particular affection for the Company which was a trailblazer in investing in higher growth economies when I first started working in Asia. Paul Manduca has made an outstanding contribution during his tenure as Chairman which, with the help of the Board, I hope to build on." Paul Manduca said "I am delighted that Angus has agreed to join the Board in October and succeed me as Chairman on 1 January 2024. He is a first-class choice to be the next Chairman and I wish both him and the Company the very best for the future." The Company discloses this information pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.11.R and 9.6.13 R made by the UK Listing Authority. This disclosure is based upon information provided by this Director and has not been independently verified by the Company. Angus Macpherson has no details to disclose pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.13 R (2) to Listing Rule 9.6.13 R (6). He has advised the Board of Pacific Horizon that he intends to step down as Chair as soon as a suitable successor can be appointed. For further information please e-mail temitcosec@franklintempleton.com or contact Franklin Templeton Client Dealer Services via e-mail at enquiries@franklintempleton.co.uk or via free phone 0800 305 306, +44 (0) 20 7073 8690 for overseas investors. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. 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. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: SPN - AMENDED Slower trade see South Port temper guidance GTR - Full-Year Results Announcement Date Synlait Annual Meeting 2023 EROAD H1 FY24 Results and Conference Call Details TWL - TradeWindow Director resignation November 1st Morning Report General Capital Subsidiary Director Resignation Arvida Bank Facility Update BFG - Capital Return - Interim Orders Received CHI - Exchange Mechanism of CHI010 notes for CHI030 bonds Americans were possibly kidnapped and killed in Israel during Hamas' massive terrorist attack, Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed on Sunday. Blinken assured the U.S. is working 'overtime' to look into reports claiming Americans were murdered in the heinous attack by Palestinian terrorists. 'Is there any indication that Americans were either killed or kidnapped by terrorists?' CNN's Dana Bash asked Blinken. 'Yes, we have reports that several Americans were killed. We're working overtime to verify that,' President Joe Biden's top State Department official replied. He added: 'At the same time, there are reports of missing Americans. And, there again, we're working to verify those reports.' It comes after it was revealed Sunday morning that 600 Israelis are confirmed dead after just a single day of conflict and more than 2,000 are injured. This does not include those still being held hostage by the terrorist group, the number of which is unknown. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed to CNN Sunday morning there are 'indications' that Americans were kidnapped and killed by Hamas terrorists in Israel over the weekend Blinken said the State Department is working 'overtime' to confirm the report. It comes after a massive attack by Palestinian Hamas terrorist was launched on Israel on Saturday. Pictured: Rescuers gather in front of an Israeli police station in Sderot after it was damaged in battles to dislodge Hamas militants stationed inside on Sunday, October 8, 2023 The death toll is by far the largest mass murder of Jewish people in a single day since World War II. Israel's Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog told CBS News' Face the Nation during a Sunday interview that U.S. citizens are among the hostages taken by Hamas. Hamas launched a surprise multi-front attack on Israel on Saturday the 50 year anniversary of the Yom Kippur War that saw a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria attacking Israel. Speaking with CBS Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan on Sunday, Blinken said that it's possible Americans could be among those being held hostage in the Gaza Stip. 'We can't confirm that in this moment,' he said, 'but we're very actively working to see if we can confirm the reports.' He then told NBC Meet the Press host Kristen Welker in a separate interview on Sunday: 'Any American anywhere who is being detained ... is going to be a priority.' Blinken previewed in his State of the Union interview on Sunday that there could be an announcement later in the day about additional assistance for Israel. 'Our first focus is to make sure Israel has what it needs,' Blinken told CNN host Bash. 'We are looking at additional requests the Israelis have made.' He previewed: 'I think you're likely to hear more about that later today.' Israeli soldier look out to Lebanon from the Israeli side of the border as the Jewish state launched a counteroffensive on their northern neighbor Israel is raining down fire on fighters in the Gaza strip in a ruthless counteroffensive in the south while it also pounds Lebanon with artillery in the north. Speaking with ABC News This Week host George Stephanopoulos, Blinken recognized: 'This is the worst attack on Israel since 1973, the Yom Kippur War.' 'But there's a fundamental difference that was a war that was state to state, country to country, army to army,' the Secretary of State said. 'This is a massive terrorist attack that is gunning down Israeli civilians in their towns, in their homes and as we've seen, so graphically literally dragging people across the border with Gaza, including a Holocaust survivor in a wheelchair, women and children.' 'So you can imagine the impact this is having throughout Israel and the world should be revolted at what it's seen,' he added. The world has been divided once again by a bloody and brutal conflict, this time in the Middle East, as Palestine and Israel descend into a fight that has claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians in just one weekend. Nations across the world are watching violence unfold in the region, and appear to have already chosen sides in the conflict, which has so far been the bloodiest weekend in the region for 50 years. Local media reports that Israel's death toll has surpassed 700, while Gaza has so far reported at least 370 deaths at time of publication. The attack began on Saturday morning after Hamas fighters blitzed into Israel on motorised paragliders during a lightning offensive, while thousands of rockets rained down across the south of the country. Footage showed squads of Palestinians on suicide missions swooping over the border on the aircraft, spreading fear and chaos among cowering families below before landing and opening fire on Israeli civilians and soldiers alike. Western countries, including the US, Germany and the UK, have shown signs of solidarity with Israel, while much of the Arab world has stood behind Palestine. Rishi Sunak has vowed to 'stand with Israel unequivocally' against Hamas during a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, No10 said tonight. US and Israeli flags have been burned across the world in recent hours The US has stood in solidarity with Israel, as one of its oldest and staunchest allies But few in the Arab world agree with the Western position of solidarity with Israel Hundreds of Germans stood in support of Israel at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany (pictured) A No10 spokesperson said: 'The Prime Minister spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this afternoon, following deadly attacks by Hamas against Israel. 'He reaffirmed that the UK will stand with Israel unequivocally against these acts of terror. The Prime Minister offered Prime Minister Netanyahu any support Israel needs. 'The Prime Minister outlined the diplomatic work the UK is doing to ensure the world speaks with one voice in opposition to these appalling attacks. Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked the Prime Minister for the UK's support. 'The Prime Minister also stressed his commitment to ensuring the Jewish community in the UK feels safe and secure at this time. 'The leaders agreed to stay in close contact as the situation develops.' In Berlin, Germany, hundreds of supporters gathered by the Brandenburg Gate in the heart of the city on Sunday, many of whom waved Israeli flags in solidarity. The wall was also lit up with the Israeli flag overnight, shortly after news of the Hamas attack broke. The gate, once used as a prominent symbol for the Nazi party, now represents freedom in the eyes of Berliners, and has played host to several world leaders, including four US presidents. Elsewhere in Berlin, the government flew the Israeli flag along side its own flag, as well as the European Union's flag, next to the Reichstag building, the heart of the federal government in the country. Germany's chancellor, Olaf Schulz, said in a statement earlier today: 'We are deeply shocked by the rocket fire from Gaza and the escalating violence. Germany condemns these attacks and stands by Israel.' Elsewhere in Europe, the European Commission's building was lit up with the Israeli flag overnight, while in the UK, Home Secretary Suella Braverman warned 'the full force of the law' will be used against supporters of Hamas and people who 'intimidate' Jewish Brits. The US also showed signs of solidarity with Israel, as one of its oldest and staunchest allies. New York's Moynihan Train Hall was lit up with Israel's flag's colours last night The Brandenburg Gate was lit up with the Israeli flag overnight Activists in Pakistan burned the Israeli and US flags in a bold statement against both countries Young boys were seen standing on the two flags Over in Yemen, anti-US sentiment took over and several red, white and blue flags were set alight Protestors were also seen tearing into Israeli and US flags The flags were then set alight by angry protestors New York governor ordered several monuments in New York City, including the Empire State Building and Moynihan Train Hall, to be lit up in blue and while, the colours of Israel's flag. 'There is never any justification for terrorism. We stand in solidarity with the government and people of Israel, and extend our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks,' US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement released by the State Department. But many across the world have condemned both Israel for its treatment of Palestine over the last few decades, and the US for its continued support of the state. In Pakistan, supporters of Palestine were seen chanting at a demonstration as protestors burned flags of both the US and Israel. Several young boys were also seen standing on top of the flag before they were burned, waving their own Palestinian flags. One man in Beirut was seen holding a banner that read: 'Your entity will vanish. Your fortifications are made of cardboard. Your army is humiliated and vanquished' Over in Yemen, Huthi rebels who control the capital expressed their support for 'the heroic jihadist operation' Meanwhile, Yemeni supporters of Palestine were seen tearing into US and Israeli flags in a major protest in Sana'a, the country's capital city. Jalil Abbas Jilani, the foreign minister of Pakistan, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter: 'Pakistan is deeply concerned by the escalating hostility in the Middle East and the loss of innocent lives. 'We stand in solidarity with Palestinians and call for an immediate end to the violence and oppression by Israeli occupation forces.' Over in Yemen, Huthi rebels who control the capital expressed their support for 'the heroic jihadist operation'. In a statement published on the website of the Huthi-controlled SABA news agency, the Iran-aligned militant group said the attack 'revealed the weakness, fragility and impotence' of Israel. Iraq also stood by Palestine, after several people were seen burning both Israeli and US flags in Baghdad The Iraqi government expressed its support for Gaza and the Palestinian people Several other pro-Palestine protests were seen in Muslim majority countries, including Turkey and Iran, Palestine supporters were seen waving flags in Tehran Neighbouring Lebanon has shown its support for Hamas, the force behind the deadly attack on Saturday, with hundreds of its citizens in Beirut coming together in the streets in solidarity marches. One man was seen holding a banner that read: 'Your entity will vanish. Your fortifications are made of cardboard. Your army is humiliated and vanquished' Israel's military retaliated to Hezbollah mortars launched from Lebanon with its own missile and mortar strikes from the north of the country. Iraq also stood by Palestine, after several people were seen burning both Israeli and US flags in Baghdad, the country's capital city. The Iraqi government expressed its support for Gaza and the Palestinian people and called the rocket attack on Israel a 'natural result of the systematic oppression... at the hands of the Zionist occupation authority.' Palestinian solidarity marches were also held in Tehran, Iran, and Istanbul, Turkey, overnight as citizens of both countries, both of which are majority Muslim, lit flares and waved flags in support of Palestine. Flares were lit in support of Palestine overnight across Tehran Hamas Fighters fired some 2,500 missiles into Israel from 7am UK time. As they rained down on major towns, and even as far as Tel Aviv nearly 50 miles away, fighters used explosives to break through the border fence. Israel as since begun retaliating, striking Gaza and flattening residential buildings in massive explosions, including a 14-storey tower that was home to dozens of families. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today warned that Israel faces a 'long and difficult war' with Palestine, telling reporters after a meeting of the country's security cabinet early on Sunday that it had now begun its 'offensive phase.' Netanyahu, 73, claimed that Israel has already destroyed the 'vast majority of the enemy forces that infiltrated our territory.' The Israeli ambassador to the UK has said the country's reality has 'become a nightmare' and said its military needs to defend its people. Tzipi Hotovely told BBC Breakfast: 'Israel is in a war that Hamas started yesterday. Calculated. Planned. Targeting Israelis, targeting civilians, targeting innocent children. 'We saw Prime Minister Sunak, we saw President Biden yesterday, they're supporting Israel's right for self-defence, because we are in a reality that has become a nightmare. 'We can't do anything else... we need to protect our people. 'This is a necessity war. (Israel) wasn't expecting this to happen (but) we need to make sure the infrastructure of terrorism is 100 per cent destroyed.' An American man sent a chilling text message to his parents while he attended a desert party in Israel - moments before Hamas terrorists launched their brutal surprise attack. Hersh Golberg-Polin, 23, texted his mother and father 'I love you, Im sorry' at 8.11am on Saturday - as callous Palestinian militants declared war on Israel, took dozens of people as hostage and killed hundreds during the Jewish high holiday. Born in Berkeley, California, Hersh and his family moved to Jerusalem when he was just seven-years-old. His family have no idea where he is - and they are now fearing for his life, after he spent the evening at the desert rave near the Gaza Strip that was infiltrated and ambushed by Palestinian terrorists. Militant Hamas carried out the unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of fighters bombarded the heavily fortified border in several locations. Jonathan Polin, Hersh's father, told the Jerusalem Post: 'We just want him home and safe. We love you. Come home to us.' Hersh Golberg-Polin, 23, texted his mother and father 'I love you. Im sorry' at 8.11am on Saturday - as Palestinian militants declared war on Israel, took dozens of people as hostage and killed hundreds during the Jewish high holiday Born in Berkeley, California , Hersh and his family moved to Jerusalem when he was just seven-years-old The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations The 23-year-old was celebrating the end of his army service. Until April, he had been a tank driver in the 7th Armored Brigade and trained to become a medic. His father, Jonathan, and mother, Rachel, said their son had been working as a waiter and was saving up money to fund a trip to India, which was his lifelong dream. The worried parents last saw their son at 11pm the night before the attacks started. He had attended Simhat Torah holiday services with them at their local Jerusalem synagogue - before having dinner with them to celebrate the religious event. His father Jonathan, from Chicago, Illinois, said: 'He had a backpack and left at around 11 to join his friend.' Golberg-Polin had attended an all-night 'nature party' near Kibbutz Re'im - not far from the Gaza Strip. The young man loves music festivals and soccer, his dad said. Clips showed partygoers fleeing for their lives once they realized the event was under attack by the terrorists. Many were captured and taken as hostages into Gaza. Jonathon Polin, Hersh Golberg-Polin's father. He received a text from his son at 8.11am, reading: 'I love you, I'm sorry' There were two locations where the 23-year-old may have escaped to - Yishuv Saad and Ofakim - according to a handwritten list with the names of party attendees etched on to it. But his terrified parents said: 'He wasn't at any of those places.' Because of the volatile situation, and now the deadly strikes being fired from both sides, it is too dangerous for the parents to drive down themselves to find their son. Jonathon said: 'They [police] think theres still a bunch of people hiding in the area. 'Every time we hear information, we turn over everything we can to find out anything. Theres very little we can actually do.' Many of Golberg-Polin's family, including aunts, uncles, and cousins, still live in Illinois. His aunt Abby wrote on social media on Sunday: 'Praying for a safe return of my nephew Hersh Goldberg Polin and everyone in Israel.' As of Sunday morning, more than 600 Israelis are now feared dead and thousands more have been injured following an unprecedented attack by Hamas militants. The Jewish nation is now raining down fire on fighters in the Gaza Strip in a ruthless counteroffensive in the south while it also pounds Lebanon with artillery in the north. In the deadliest day of violence in Israel in 50 years, the Middle Eastern country's warplanes strafed densely populated Gaza City with bombs in retaliatory strikes. Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City Hersh Golberg-Polin had lived in Israel from the age of seven. He was born in California An Israeli soldier directs a self-propelled howitzer near the southern city of Ashkelon Attendees at an outdoor party near Kibbutz Urim - the same one Hersh Golberg-Polin was at - flee for their lives after hearing gunshots Hamas fighters have also taken an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive into Gaza - including several US citizens, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Yesterday, brazen Hamas fighters knocked on the doors of residents who expected to find Israeli soldiers looking to reassure them about the air-raid sirens. Instead the violence kickstarted one of the worst atrocities Israel has encountered in decades. Innocent mothers with children, settlers and even the frail elderly found themselves the 'war booty' of the masked terrorists, who dragged them away at gunpoint. Their actions which horrified the international community brought back grim reminders of masked Islamic State terrorists in Syria, who paraded hostages on social media before executing them. But one Hamas leader hinted to the world that these hostages, whose number was well over 50 last night, would not be killed but be used as human bargaining chips to have their own prisoners in Israeli jails released. One terrorism expert added that the captured Israelis could even be used as human shields to stop the Israeli air force which began pounding Gaza yesterday from blowing up certain targets. Horrifying footage on social media showed terrified hostages being taken to Gaza by Hamas fighters, who chanted 'Allahu akbar' (God is great) as they led them away. In New York, a pro-Palestine rally is planned to take place just after midday on Sunday. The state's Governor Kathy Hochul has condemned the protest. Demonstrators are expected to take over Times Square - the social and cultural epicenter of New York - which is the city with the largest Jewish population in the world. It was revealed this morning that a Boston college professor's daughter and son-in-law were among those killed in Israel after a series of fierce attacks from Hamas. Professor Ilan Troen, 83, recently retired from his role at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, and moved to Israel to be with his family. Israeli police officers evacuate a woman and a child from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon Sitting on the back of a terrorist's motorcycle, captured Israeli Noa Argamani pleaded for her life, screaming 'don't kill me' Israeli civilians were purportedly taken off the street and driven back into Gaza The Boston-born academic recalled how his daughter and son-in-law were killed by gunmen from the Gaza strip on Saturday - and how the pair managed to save their teenage son by flinging their bodies over him. The family were together in a secure room inside their home when in was penetrated by Hamas fighters. The young boy, Troen's grandson, was shot in the abdomen and is in hospital. Troen taught Israel Studies at the private school, having studied there himself as an undergraduate before receiving his PhD from the University of Chicago. Speaking on Saturday night, Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu issued a dire warning to Hamas militants: 'I tell Hamas, you are responsible for the wellbeing of captives, Israel will settle the score with anyone who harms them.' He vowed to defeat the group, but said the war would 'take time', continuing: 'What happened today has never been seen in Israel, we will take mighty vengeance for this black day.' Promising 'mighty vengeance', he promised to reduce Gaza to 'rubble', telling innocent Palestinians to leave immediately. Soon after, a convey of tanks were reported to be heading towards the border with Gaza. Residents are torn between wanting time to grieve and needing to get back to work and help the area's economy For the first time since the deadly wildfires, tourists are being allowed into West Maui For the first time since deadly wildfires ripped through Maui, tourists are being allowed in the area leaving locals split on the need to grieve and jump-starting the economy. Thousands of buildings were destroyed and 97 lives lost in early August when deadly fires swept West Maui, nearly burning the historic town of Lahaina to the ground. However, the area contributes 15 percent of state tourism revenue, and the decrease in visitors has caused an estimated loss of state tax revenue between $11 million and $13 million each day. On Sunday, the state allowed tourists to return to the area even as burned-out buildings remain in the area. 'I know families that want to go back to work, and they all work in the hotel industry,' Molokai resident Bridget Mowat told the Maui County Council on October 6. 'Its not what they want its what they need. They need work.' October 8 marked the first time tourists could visit West Maui since deadly wildfires ripped through the area Protestors gathered on October 3 to deliver a petition to Governor Josh Green, urging him to postpone reopening the ravaged area to tourists Nealry 100 people were killed in the blaze that left hundreds of buildings destroyed and the area a disaster zone Last week, the county council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution urging Hawaii Governor Josh Green to postpone the reopening of West Maui to tourism. The governor previously announced that state officials were looking to reopen West Maui starting October 8. While he acknowledged that there was no 'right time' to welcome tourists back, Green said: 'I can say that if we support Mauis economy and keep our people employed, they will heal faster and can continue to be able to afford to live on Maui.' The Council heard from Pamela Tumpap, the president of the Maui Chamber of Commerce, who said economic damage to Maui could be curtailed by helping the tourism industry while simultaneously providing humanitarian relief. 'Relief efforts are just not coming quickly enough for many businesses, and theyre seeing the negative impacts due to visitor losses,' she explained. Just under 8,800 people are estimated to be out of work on the island, and nearly 8,000 people who lost their homes are staying in temporary accommodations. The county's resolution reads: 'The reopening of West Maui for tourism poses a significant challenge to the emotional well-being and readiness of our community members, particularly those directly affected by the wildfires.' It says the recovery process 'requires time, compassion and a supportive environment that allows residents to heal, rebuild and regain a sense of normalcy,' and highlights concerns that tensions may arise between stressed residents and tourists - a strain that could damage Hawaii's welcoming reputation. The resolution came after a roughly ten-hour council committee meeting on September 27 where members heard concerns from hundreds of West Maui residents. Council member Keani Rawlins-Fernandez described Green as having 'cracked the whip' in sending the residents of West Maui back to work. She described the decision to reopen as 'not trauma-informed' and one that was inconsiderate to those suffering. Rawlins-Fernandez identified a spectrum of tourists ranging from 'amazing human beings, to the uneducated, to the downright deplorable humans' who treated 'residents as roadside attractions.' But she also acknowledged the desire - and need - of others to return to work. Opinions are torn between those wanting time to process the loss of possessions and loved ones and those rearing to get back to work in the hospitality sector The governor previously announced plans to reopen West Maui beginning October 8 Some fear tourists may not be considerate of the trauma residents are still trying to process, like Maui County Council member Tamara Paltin (pictured) A petition from community advocate group Lahaina Strong garnered 11,141 signatures before it was hand-delivered to Greens office on October 3. That number grew to nearly 17,000 by the weekend. Demands included stabilizing housing and rent for displaced residents, ensuring education for children and marketing other parts of Maui to tourists - points that were touched upon during Tuesday's protest. Gathering outside the Hawaii State Capitol, protestors brandished signs reading 'Let Lahaina Heal' and 'Delay West Maui Reopening.' Speakers acknowledged the indispensable role tourism played in the economy -but stressed that many survivors were not ready to reopen their home to visitors, especially those still grappling with the anguish of having lost their possessions and loved ones. Council member Tamara Paltin opened her remarks by saying: 'Majority of people I speak to, myself included, still cannot sleep through the night. Majority of people in West Maui, our kids are not in school.' She said she texted the governor asking him to hold off on allowing tourists back when she first learned of the proposal on September 7. 'So many people I've spoken to have had tourists stick cameras in their faces, demanding to be told what the experience is like, if they lost their house. Nobody is in the headspace to deal with that politely,' she said. Paltin encouraged elected officials to open a dialogue with the people of West Maui to set benchmarks for reopening rather than 'a date you pick out of the calendar.' Green's absence from the event furthered protestors' frustration. 'All the people are really asking for is that back-and-forth dialogue in a public setting. I don't think that's too much to ask,' Paltin told reporters from KHON 2. Lahaina native Paele Kiakona stressed the trauma caused by the fires - and that for many, grief was still fresh. 'Obviously our business benefits from the presence of tourism,' he began. 'For myself personally, I'm not ready to go back. I don't want the conversation to also be, "Oh did you lose your home? How were you displaced in this wildfire?" And that's for myself. 'Imagine somebody else who doesn't have the metals stability given they might be in even more trying times. And somebody consistently reminding you of the disaster you just went through and reminding you of that trauma. 'This is where we come with that plea that so many of us are not ready,' he said. 'Everything in Lahaina right now is very disorganized. On every level. So adding tourist visitors coming to Lahaina is adding insult to injury.' After the speakers gave their remarks, a chant started up: 'Keep West Maui closed! Now is not the time!' On October 6, the Maui County Council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution urging the governor to postpone the reopening of West Maui to tourism Green previously said: 'I can say that if we support Mauis economy and keep our people employed, they will heal faster and can continue to be able to afford to live on Maui' Maui Mayor Richard Bissen provided his own statement following the adoption of the resolution. In a video published to the County of Maui Facebook page on Saturday, Mayor Bissen stood before a peaceful beach backdrop. 'I know we are still grieving and it feels too soon, but the reality is there are those in our community who are ready to get back to work,' he said. 'Bills need to be paid.' The mayor explained that a few hotels would welcome tourists as part of a 'phased reopening' staggered by proximity to Lahaina. The initial phase area runs from the Kapalua Resort to Kahana Villa. Two phases closer to Lahaina will follow with unspecified timing. Bissen explained that his office would be working with community partners to ensure those displaced by the fires wouldn't be pushed out of temporary housing to make room for tourists. He also referenced launching an education campaign to guarantee visitors would treat the island respectfully. 'And together, we will make our way to restoring and rebuilding the Maui we want for our families and our children,' the mayor said. The Albanese government says some nine million Australians will be better off under super law changes. Above, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher Almost nine million Australian workers will soon be better off at retirement age as the government closes a superannuation loophole. In a move Treasurer Jim Chalmers said would ensure millions of workers are better off, legislation will soon be introduced that would make it mandatory for employers to pay superannuation the same time they pay salary or wages from July 1, 2026. The measures, first announced in the most recent Federal budget, aim to claw back billions of unpaid super to workers. It's estimated workers were owed $3.4 billion worth of super in the 2019/20 financial year, according to the Australian Tax Office. 'The non-payment and underpayment of superannuation guarantee contributions by employers risks the retirement income of millions of employees,' a consultation paper on the changes said. 'Due to the current design of the superannuation guarantee system, many superannuation guarantee obligations remain unpaid for extended periods of time.' Dr Chalmers and Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones said an estimated 8.9m Australians would have higher retirement savings if they received their super payments earlier and more frequently throughout their working lives. They said that by switching to payday super, a 25-year-old earning the median income currently receiving their super payments quarterly and wages fortnightly could be around $6000 better off at retirement. Australian workers are currently paid 11 per cent super, but the guarantee will reach 12 per cent by July 1, 2025. As it currently stands, it is illegal to not pay workers the super guarantee, however, many employers only pay superannuation quarterly, rather than at payday. Right now, if employers do not pay the correct entitlements to an employee by the quarterly payment date, they may be liable for the Superannuation Guarantee charge payable to the ATO. But shortfalls in the current design of the system means that many obligations remain unpaid for extended periods of time, causing significant issues should employers enter liquidation without having paid their obligations. Australian workers are often paid super quarterly - rather than on payday itself. That will change under Albanese government laws coming in 2026 Along with the super pay changes, the government is also looking to beef up the ATO to detect and recover super payments that have not been placed in the funds of workers. 'The ATO has noted that businesses often enter liquidation or bankruptcy before the underpayment is identified, limiting its ability to conduct effective compliance activities and recover unpaid superannuation,' the consultation paper said. Consultation on the proposed changes will be open for industries to suggest improvements until November 3. The government is also seeking feedback on how the choice of super funds by employees could be improved when a worker joins a company. Design on the proposed laws will take place throughout much of 2024, following the consultation process. British 'xenophobes' will be attracted by Suella Braverman's warning of an migration 'hurricane', a Labour frontbencher said today. Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock said there was a 'segment of the electorate' that is 'xenophobic' and would agree with the Home Secretary. Speaking at a Labour conference fringe event, he branded Ms Braverman's address to Tory conference last week a 'new low'. 'It was a new low I say that resignedly, as we've seen many, many new lows,' Mr Kinnock told the panel discussion hosted by the Hope Not Hate campaign group. Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock (file picture) said there was a 'segment of the electorate' that is 'xenophobic' and would agree with the Home Secretary Mr Kinnock was speaking at a panel discussion hosted by the Hope Not Hate campaign group He added: 'We ain't seen nothing yet. They will stop at nothing to divide our communities and find issues that they think will fire up their base. Their policies on asylum and immigration are being driven entirely by Machiavellian policies. 'There are segments of the electorate that have very progressive views on immigration, there are segments of the electorate who want a controlled and compassionate approach 'I'm afraid there is a segment of the electorate which, I'm afraid, is xenophobic and has a view on immigration that is essentially reflected in what Suella Braverman said.' During her speech to the Tory conference in Manchester last week, Ms Braverman said her own parents' migration to Britain was a 'mere gust compared to the hurricane that is coming'. She argued that millions of people could come, including those who would take jobs off locals and criminals who would groom children. But her hardline address to Conservative members prompted a fierce backlash from critics, while she also faced jibes she was prioritising her Tory leadership hopes over tackling day-to-day issues. Cabinet colleague Grant Shapps was among those who backed the Home Secretary, dismissing comparisons to Enoch Powell's infamous 'rivers of blood' speech. 'Suella's first generation, her parents came over in the 60s. So this is certainly no Enoch Powell situation, is it, to make the very obvious point.' In his own speech a day later, Mr Sunak was viewed as taking a pointed dig at Ms Braverman's recent claim that multiculturalism has 'failed'. The PM spoke about his personal pride that 'a family can go from arriving here with little to Downing Street in three generations'. Dozens of XL Bully owners added their voice today against Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's plans to ban the breed following a spate of horror attacks, with one young woman insisting: 'My dog's no killer - he's as sweet as an angel!' A large group descended at a park in Leicester for an angry protest in a bid to help overturn the PM's proposal to outlaw the controversial Bully breed. It was a spearheaded by mother-of-three Hannah Smith, 27, who said: 'The government has got this so wrong and must have a re-think! 'The majorly of Bully owners are responsible people and it is ridiculous this breed could be banned because of the irresponsibility of just a few. 'They are a lovely breed but in the wrong hands, yes they can be dangerous and attack.' Dozens of XL Bully owners added their voice today in Leicester against Prime Minister Rishi Sunak 's plans to ban the breed following a spate of horror attacks. Pictured are Abbey Park Aaron Singh, 34, owner of Just Raw, raw dig food shop Brother Deljit Singh, 22 with there family Protesters Isobel Wittington, 22 (left) and Evie, 18 (right) joined others at a park in Leicester for an angry protest The protest was in a bid to help overturn the PM's proposal to outlaw the controversial Bully breed Isobel Wittington, 22, whose beloved two-year-old Bully XL Dexter has been with the family since a puppy, said: 'He's so cute and as sweet as an angel. My dog's no killer! 'There are bad owners but banning the breed will not stop attacks.' The incensed owners met at historic Abbey Park on the outskirts of Leicester but left their pets at home as Miss Smith explained: 'It is about our voice and not their bark.' They later marched into the city centre, congregating at the Clock Tower - a small police presence in attendance at both locations. The protest, following a similar one in London last month, comes after a spate of Bully XL attacks on children and adults across the country. The powerful beasts are set to be banned by the end of the year following the recent mauling to death of father-of-two Ian Price from Staffordshire, who was killed by two Bullies after they jumped out of a neighbour's window. Just last week Ian Langley was fatally mauled by a Bully in Sunderland and a toddler nearly lost his leg in a brutal attack in Greenwich, South East London. A majority of Brits - nine out of 10 - say Bully dogs should be banned. But owners out in force in The Midlands city strongly disagree. Many of the protesters - including young children - walked with banners promoting their cause, chanting 'Save our Bullies' and 'Muzzle Rishi not our dogs.' Others stated: 'Don't ban me, licence me' and 'Stop bullying our best friends'. Any ban will include an amnesty for existing owners providing their pets are registered, neutered and muzzled when in public. Owners feared their animals would be put down but this will not be the case. Miss Smith from Wigston, Leicestershire, believes the ban is a heavy-handed approach and more could be done to ensure backyard breeders and the 'wrong people don't get their hands on the dogs. Speaking to MailOnline as she led a protest march around Abbey Park, she said: 'Rishi Sunak is not hearing our arguments defending the dog breed and is just going straight to the final option of banning them. 'Most owners are very responsible and he is actively working against us. I can't imagine he knows anything about the breed.' Miss Smith, who has a Bully called Kobe, and three children aged six, five and four, added:.If a Bully isn't properly trained, that's when you start to get problems but that can be true for any breed, not just this one. It was a spearheaded by mother-of-three Hannah Smith (pictured), 27, who said: 'The government has got this so wrong and must have a re-think!' Many of the protesters - including young children - walked with banners promoting their cause, chanting 'Save our Bullies' and 'Muzzle Rishi not our dogs.' The protest, following a similar one in London last month, comes after a spate of Bully XL attacks on children and adults across the country 'XL Bullies are companion dogs. Kobe is such a chilled out lazy couch potato who just likes to sleep on the sofa and get cuddles. I have no worries or concerns about him being around my kids or anyone else. He's not once snarled. 'My six year old son Logan, out here today is even defending the breed, because if doesn't want Kobe to go anywhere and loves him. 'The fatal attacks and others have been awful but banning Bullies will not stop attacks in future. Those dogs have been in the wrong hands.' She continued: 'The protest is because the Government should be tackling backyard breeder not penalising responsible owners who care for their dog's property and live them to bits.' 'You can't have a rule for one dog breed which can harm people and not the others. That's unfair. READ MORE: Nine out of 10 say XL Bully dogs should be banned as toddler nearly loses his leg and 54-year-old is killed in latest attacks Advertisement She added: 'We're not looking to cause trouble, we're just walking from Abbey Park to the Clock Tower without our dogs. We don't want to give off the wrong impression, we want people to approach us and talk with us about the breed.' Ms Wittington, protesting with her mum and three sisters, admitted: 'There are some bad and inexperienced owners out there and that's when attacks can happen but they are in the minority. 'But is is wrong to ban the whole breed so we are standing up against these ridiculous plans.' Her mum Faith Wittington a social care commissioner, said: 'What a beautiful park. It would have been a lovely place to have brought our dogs. But it not the time or place for dogs now. 'We have to save our Bullies. We don't want them to be banned. It will not work. They are not an aggressive breed.' Mrs Wittington, 49, from Hinckley, Leicestershire, said: 'We want owners and breeders to be registered and licensed. These regulation must be put in place.' Another daughter Uni student Evie Wittington, 18, said it would be 'a shame' for the dogs to be muzzled in public, saying: 'They want to run around playing and catching sticks in their mouths. It's a shame they will lose their freedom.' Eleven-year-old Joel Cannam, among their group, said: 'It is wrong to ban the whole Bully breed because of a few bad apples.' Pub worker Megan Pryor, 26, fumed: 'Thus ban is ridiculous. There are some bad owners but the majority are good. Fatal attacks are very traumatising for people involved and the public but in some of these instances the dogs are not Bully XL but cross bred. Aaron Singh, whose extended family owns eight Bully XL's, described the ban as 'nonsense.' A majority of Brits - nine out of 10 - say Bully dogs should be banned. But owners out in force in The Midlands city strongly disagree Though the bully XL is the most common, the dogs can also be bred with mastiffs and other larger dogs to make them bigger, XXL or even XXXL He said: 'We have eight children and eight Bullies and never have a problem with the dogs because they are properly looked after and trained. 'The youngest child is just one and he loves the dogs and feels totally safe around them. They are not dangerous.' Mr Singh, 34, from Leicester, who owns Just Raw, a raw dog food shop, said: 'The Government must thing again about what is it doing.' His brother Deljit Singh, 22, added: 'Our dogs are lovely family pets. They each cost between 5,000 to 10,000 and we look after them properly, as most other owners do. 'The breed should not be banned because of some bad dogs and owners. What about all those paedophiles and murderers out there - the human race is not banned! 'Our dogs are completely safe, they are not dangerous.' American bullies are a relatively new breed, having originated in the 1980s. They are mixed breed bulldogs, typically American pitbull terriers crossed with American, English and Olde English bulldogs. Though the bully XL is the most common, the dogs can also be bred with mastiffs and other larger dogs to make them bigger, XXL or even XXXL. Despite their relative popularity in the UK, they are not officially registered as a breed by the UK Kennel Club, making it difficult to know exactly how many are in the country. The Governor previously supported the legalization of marijuana and said Saturday that more needs to be done before hallucinogens are decriminalized Newsom said in a statement that he believed the caste bill was unnecessary California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a caste-based discrimination bill and a 'magic mushroom' bill that would have allowed the hallucinogen psilocybin California Governor Gavin Newsom on Saturday vetoed bills that would have allowed hallucinogens like magic mushrooms and outlawed caste-based discrimination. If passed, one bill would not have legalized the hallucinogenic component psilocybin, but would have decriminalized it and two other similar components. The Governor said steps should be taken to set up guidelines for future approval that would allow them to safely decriminalize hallucinogens but that time is not now. 'Unfortunately, this bill would decriminalize possession prior to these guidelines going into place, and I cannot sign it,' Newsom said in a statement. In terms of the caste-based discrimination bill, the Democrat said it was an unnecessary ban since California already has protections in place. Two bills vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom on Saturday would have decriminalized magic mushrooms and banned caste-based discrimination in the state Governor Gavin Newsom called the caste-based bill 'unnecessary' and said the bill regarding the hallucinogens cannot be allowed yet until guidelines are in place Newsom - who previously fought to legalize marijuana - said he believes the state should 'immediately' work on treatment guidelines using the hallucinogens. 'California should immediately begin work to set up regulated treatment guidelines replete with dosing information, therapeutic guidelines, rules to prevent against exploitation during guided treatments, and medical clearance of no underlying psychoses,' Newsom's statement read. The law would have decriminalized psilocybin for those older than 21 - the hallucinogenic component in magic mushrooms, as well as dimethyltryptamine and mescaline. Rather than full legalization, it would have ensured people are neither arrested nor prosecuted for the possession of the plant-based substances. The substances would still be illegal under federal law if the bill had passed. Supporters of the bill said it could have been a game-changer for some patients who were undergoing treatment for mental illnesses like post-traumatic stress disorder. In 2019, the FDA cited psilocybin as a 'breakthrough therapy' for treatment-resistant depression. Others, however, said the bill would have given a 'green light' to those who shouldn't be using or don't need to use the drugs. Jennifer Mitchell, a neurology professor at UC-San Francisco, was against the bill. 'My biggest concern is that it seeks to decriminalize personal use before developing an infrastructure that would ensure safety and education,' she told the L.A. Times. The law would have decriminalized psilocybin for those older than 21 - the hallucinogenic component in magic mushrooms, as well as dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and mescaline. PICTURED: A Golden Teacher mushroom is displayed at Epic Healing Eugene, Oregon's first licensed psilocybin service center California State Senator Scott Wiener who proposed the bill to decriminalize hallucinogens The California caste bill was introduced by state Sen. Aisha Wahab (picuted) in March As for the veto of the caste bill, Newsom said California already 'prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation and other characteristics,' making the caste-discrimination unnecessary. He added current state law specifies that the civil rights mentioned above 'shall be liberally construed.' 'Because discrimination based on caste is already prohibited under these existing categories, this bill is unnecessary,' Newsom said in the statement. Caste, typically associated with Indian culture, is a way of designating individuals by their hereditary social class. Those at the bottom of the caste system - the Dalits - have been pushing for legal protections in California and across the U.S. for years. Supporters argue the protections would help ensure access to housing and education as well as the chance to advance their position. The California bill was introduced by state Sen. Aisha Wahab in March. Wahab is the first Muslim and Afghan American elected to the California Legislature. The law would have also included caste as a sub-category of 'ethnicity.' Celebrity mystifier Uri Geller has spoken of his country's fury against their intelligence services after Hamas militants were able to attack Israel. The 76-year-old spoon-bender called the breach a 'colossal, major failure' in a scathing attack from the Tel Aviv house he refuses to flee. Geller - who was injured fighting in the 1967 Six-Day War - also told of the horror of seeing his country under threat from 'the viciousness, the hatred' of invading forces. And now, watching and listening bombs exploding in nearby cities as he stands on the roof of his home - he says the attack is 'Israel's 9/11'. More than 600 Israelis are now feared dead and thousands more have been injured following an unprecedented attack by Palestinian terrorists. Geller told MailOnline: 'I see this first of all as a colossal, major failure of Israeli intelligence. Uri Geller - who was injured fighting in the 1967 Six-Day War - also told of the horror of seeing his country under threat from 'the viciousness, the hatred' of invading forces. Pictured: On his rooftop with Tel Aviv behind him A building close to Geller's home in Tel Aviv is damaged by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip on October 7 Palestinians celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence on Saturday afternoon Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from Ashkelon in southern Israel early Sunday 'The terrorists attacked us through the air, through the land and they also tried to penetrate through the sea. '50 years ago, the Yom Kippur War, we were also taken by surprise. 'So this is the anger that I see now here and I hear about - how on earth we as one of the most powerful nations in the world with the best intelligence agencies, how come we did not detect many vehicles being prepared. 'This Hamas move to infiltrate settlements has been planned. It has been planned by many people. It has been planned by for many days, probably many weeks, maybe even many months. 'So the big question is, the anger is, how come our intelligence did not pick this up? 'Where were all the Cobra helicopters, the Aperture helicopters, Apaches when these vehicles started - where was the army? 'People were left stranded there.' The mystifier served as a paratrooper sergeant against a coalition of Arab states in 1967 and worked for Mossad when he was as young as 13, when his mother ran a hotel in Cyprus that doubled as a safe house. The mystifier served as a paratrooper sergeant against a coalition of Arab states in 1967 and worked for Mossad when he was as young as 13, when his mother ran a hotel in Cyprus that doubled as a safe house Now, watching and listening bombs exploding in nearby cities as he stands on the roof of his home - Geller says the attack is 'Israel's 9/11 ' Sitting on the back of a terrorist's motorcycle, student Noa Argamani (left) pleads for her life as she is abducted and her boyfriend (right) is led away by the gang of militants Hamas terrorists fired some 2,500 missiles into Israel from 7am UK time. As they rained down on major towns, and even as far as Tel Aviv nearly 50 miles away, fighters used explosives to break through the border fence. Convoys of motorcycles and pick-up trucks then sped into Israel while other terrorists reportedly jumped into heavily armed speedboats to storm naval defences. As Hamas' fighters swarmed into the country they targeted civilians, with young Israelis at an open-air music concert in the desert among the first to be hit. Footage showed the revellers desperately clambering into cars to try to flee the invaders in Be'er Sheva. As the day unfolded, men were seen fighting brutal close-quarters gun battles in towns, with bodies including civilians soon piling up on the streets as the deadliest attack the country has endured for years unfolded. Geller continued: 'Children were murdered. Babies were murdered. Elderly were murdered. We're calling it the 9/11 of Israel. 'When I see these horrifying videos coming in from terrorists murdering children and old women - it's just gut wrenching. 'Of course we will win this war but it still hits you spiritually, emotionally, physically when you see these things happening around you. 'I stand on my roof and I look left - I can see cities that are being hit by rocket fire. I can hear bombs exploding. A man runs in the road as fires burn in Ashkelon, Israel, following rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip initiated by Islamic militant group Hamas Rockets launched from the coastal Gaza strip towards Israel by militants of the Ezz Al-Din Al Qassam militia, the military wing of Hamas movement 'When the sirens go we go to what we call our shelter - it's basically under a staircase. It's just like a movie. You're living a real war film. 'You're sitting under a staircase, you hear the sirens wailing outside... and then you hear the bangs.' The militants killed hundreds of Israelis in clashes through the day, and escaped back into Gaza with at least dozens of hostages, including women, children, and disabled elderly Israelis. And the world-famous mystic has been left horrified by the cruel violence so close to home. He says he has the news on throughout the day - and the missile warning app on his phone is triggered every few seconds as deadly projectiles are pumped towards the Jewish cities. He added: 'They were murdered. You can see them just being slaughtered. 'Children were kidnapped, babies were kidnapped, old women were kidnapped, young men were kidnapped - so you can imagine what that does to the psyche of Israelis. 'It's just unbelievable - the viciousness, the hatred. 'Never, ever will I leave my people in such a situation. Never, ever. 'I've heard of people who want to get out of Israel - but not me.' Dramatic Images of the US and Israeli flags engulfed in flames has started to emerge across the world after Hamas launched a brutal attack on Israel. Around 600 Israelis are believed to have been killed and more than 370 Palestinians are dead with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning of a 'long and difficult war' ahead. Nations across the world watching the violence unfold in the region appear to have already chosen sides in the conflict, which has so far been the bloodiest weekend in the region for 50 years. Western countries, including the US, Germany and the UK have shown signs of solidarity with Israel, while much of the Arab world has stood behind Palestine. In some nations, flags have been set on fire to show opposition to the US-Israel side. Dramatic Images of the US and Israeli flags engulfed in flames has started to emerge across the world after Hamas launched a brutal attack on Israel In Pakistan, supporters of Palestine were seen chanting at a demonstration as protestors burned flags of both the US and Israel In Pakistan, supporters of Palestine were seen chanting at a demonstration as protestors burned flags of both the US and Israel. Several young boys were also seen standing on top of the flag before they were burned, waving their own Palestinian flags. Meanwhile, Yemeni supporters of Palestine were seen tearing into US and Israeli flags in a major protest in Sana'a, the country's capital city. Neighboring Lebanon has shown its support for Hamas, the force behind the deadly attack, with hundreds of its citizens in Beirut coming together in the streets in solidarity marches. During a celebration of the attacks in southern Beirut supporters expressed their solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip by also burning a flag. The Israeli government formally declared war Sunday and gave the green light for 'significant military steps' to retaliate against Hamas. More than 24 hours after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still trying to crush the last groups of militant fighters holed up in several towns of southern Israel. At least 600 people have reportedly been killed in Israel a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades and more than 300 have been killed in Gaza as Israeli airstrikes pound the territory. Authorities were still trying to determine how many civilians and soldiers were seized by Hamas fighters during the mayhem and taken back to Gaza. From videos and witnesses, the captives are known to include women, children, and the elderly. As many as 1,000 Hamas fighters were involved in the assault, U.S. Secretary of State Andrew Blinken said on ABC's 'This Week.' The high figure underscored the extent of planning by the militant group ruling Gaza. The gunmen rampaged for hours, firing on civilians in towns, along highways and at a techno music festival being held in the desert near Gaza. Civilians on both sides were already paying a high price. Meanwhile, Yemeni supporters of Palestine were seen tearing into US and Israeli flags in a major protest in Sana'a, the country's capital city In southern Beirut, Lebanon an Israeli flag was burned during a celebration of the attacks that the militant Hamas group carried out to express solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip A line of Israelis snaked outside a central Israel police station to supply DNA samples and other means that could help identify missing family members. Israeli TV news aired a stream of accounts from relatives of captive or missing Israelis who wept and begged for assistance and information. In Gaza, the tiny enclave of 2.3 million people sealed off by an Israeli-Egyptian blockade for 16 years since the Hamas takeover, residents feared an intensified onslaught. Israeli strikes flattened a number of residential buildings. More than 20,000 people who fled their homes crowded into schools run by the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNWRA, the agency said. Several Israeli media outlets, citing rescue service officials, said at least 600 people have been killed in Israel, including 44 soldiers. The Gaza Health Ministry said 313 people, including 20 children, were killed in the territory. Some 2,000 people have been wounded on each side. An Israeli official said security forces have killed 400 militants and captured dozens more. An exchange of fire in northern Israel with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah raised fears of a spread of the conflict. Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and shells Sunday at three Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border, and the Israeli military fired back using armed drones. Two children were lightly wounded by broken glass on the Lebanese side, according to the nearby Marjayoun Hospital. The Israeli military said the situation since was calm after the exchange. Iranian-backed Hezbollah is estimated to have tens of thousands of rockets at its disposal. U.S. and Israeli national flags burn, as members of Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba, gather next to fire during a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Baghdad, Iraq Yemenis burned the Israeli flag during a rally expressing solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in Sana'a, Yemen Since its brutal 2006 war with Israel, Hezbollah has stayed on the sidelines amid previous outbreaks of Israeli-Hamas fighting. But if destruction in Gaza escalates, it may feel pressure to intervene. A major question was whether Israel will launch a ground assault into Gaza, a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. The declaration of war announced by Israel's Security Cabinet was largely symbolic, said Yohanan Plesner, the head of the Israel Democracy Institute, a local think tank. But it 'demonstrates that the government thinks we are entering a more lengthy, intense and significant period of war.' Israel has carried out major military campaigns over the past four decades in Lebanon and Gaza that it portrayed as wars, but without a formal declaration. The Security Cabinet also approved 'significant military steps.' The steps were not defined, but the declaration appears to give the military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a wide mandate. Speaking on national television Saturday, Netanyahu vowed that Hamas 'will pay an unprecedented price.' He further warned: 'This war will take time. It will be difficult.' In a statement, his office said the aim will be the destruction of Hamas' 'military and governing capabilities' to an extent that prevents it from threatening Israelis 'for many years.' Israelis were still reeling from the breadth, ferocity and surprise of the Hamas assault. The group's fighters broke through Israel's security fence surrounding the Gaza Strip early Saturday. Using motorcycles and pickup trucks, even paragliders and speedboats on the coast, they moved into nearby Israeli communities as many as 22 locations. Nations across the world watching the violence unfold in the region appear to have already chosen sides in the conflict, which has so far been the bloodiest weekend in the region for 50 years Around 600 Israelis are believed to have been killed and more than 370 Palestinians are dead with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning of a 'long and difficult war' ahead The high death toll and slow response to the onslaught pointed to a major intelligence failure and undermined the long-held perception that Israel has eyes and ears everywhere in the small, densely populated territory it has controlled for decades. Hamas said that overnight it continued to send forces and equipment into southern Israel. On Sunday, fighting continued in some parts of the south, and gunmen still held hostages in some locations, Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters. The Israeli military said it was evacuating at least five towns close to Gaza. 'We will go through every community until we kill every terrorist that is in Israeli territory,' Hagari said. In Gaza, 'every terrorist located in a house, all the commanders in houses, will be hit by Israeli fire. That will continue escalating in the coming hours.' Israel struck 426 targets in Gaza so far, its military said Sunday. Much of the territory's population was thrown into darkness Saturday night as Israel cut off electricity and said it would no longer supply power, fuel or other goods to the territory. One woman sheltering at an UNWRA school in Gaza City's Sheikh Radwan neighborhood described a panicked flight from her home in the middle of the night. The Israeli military made announcements on loudspeakers telling people to leave. 'We didn't know where to go,' she said. 'It was a miracle we arrived at the schools because there was no transport.' The presence of hostages in Gaza complicates Israel's response. Hamas officials have said they will seek the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners, and Israel has a history of making heavily lopsided exchanges to bring captive Israelis home. The military has confirmed that a 'substantial' number of Israelis were abducted Saturday without giving an exact figure. An Egyptian official said Israel sought help from Cairo to ensure the safety of the hostages, and that Egypt's intelligence chief contacted Hamas and the smaller but more radical Islamic Jihad group, which also took part in the incursion, to seek information. Egypt has often mediated between the two sides in the past. The official said Palestinian leaders claimed they don't yet have a 'full picture' of the number of hostages but said those who were brought into Gaza were taken to 'secure locations' across the territory. 'It's clear that they have a big number several dozens,' said the official, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to brief media. An aerial view shows people inspecting the destroyed Al-Aklouk Tower following Israeli air strikes, in Gaza City Palestinian men walk amidst the rubble of a UNRWA school in Gaza City, which was destroyed overnight in an Israeli airstrike Egypt also spoke with both sides about a potential cease-fire, but the official said Israel was not open to a truce 'at this stage.' In Iran, which has long supported Hamas and other militant groups, senior officials have openly praised the incursion. President Ebrahim Raisi spoke by phone with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Islamic Jihad leader Ziad al-Nakhalah, the state-run IRNA news agency reported Sunday. The shadowy leader of Hamas' military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the assault, named 'Operation Al-Aqsa Storm,' was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, the Israeli occupation and a series of recent incidents that have brought Israeli-Palestinian tensions to a fever pitch. Over the past year, Israel's far-right government has ramped up settlement construction in the occupied West Bank. Israeli settler violence has displaced hundreds of Palestinians there, and tensions have flared around the Al-Aqsa mosque, a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site. by Ruwantissa Abeyratne It is forbidden to kill; therefore, all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets. Voltaire The War Margeret Atwood once said: War is what happens when language fails. On the 7th of October, a significant event unfolded as the Palestinian militant organization, Hamas, initiated an unprecedented assault on Israel during the early hours of that Saturday. This aggressive action involved Hamas fighters infiltrating communities near the Gaza Strip, resulting in the tragic loss of lives among the residents and the taking of hostages. In response to this attack, Israel swiftly declared a state of war. This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows Israeli soldiers at the southern Israeli town of Ofakim. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua) Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist militant group that currently governs the Gaza Strip. This organization has long-standing and uncompromising intentions to bring about the destruction of Israel, and over the years, it has engaged in multiple armed conflicts with Israel since it assumed control of Gaza in 2007. It is important to note that in the periods between these wars, Hamas has either directly launched thousands of rockets at Israel or allowed other affiliated groups to do so, as well as conducting various other lethal attacks. Israel, in turn, has responded with repeated airstrikes against Hamas and, in collaboration with Egypt, imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007, citing security concerns as their rationale. Hamas also functions as a political entity, holding governance in Palestine for the past 17 years. This dual role complicates matters further, as it justifies Israel not only targeting military objectives in Gaza but also striking state institutions such as banks, police stations, and other government facilities. Unfortunately, this places the Palestinian population at considerable risk. One additional pressing concern is the potential for this conflict to escalate beyond the borders of Israel and Hamas. If allies of Palestine become involved, it could provoke a response from Israels allies, leading to a broader and more devastating international conflict. The Yom Kippur War For 50 years, there has been no such massive, concentrated attack against Israel. The Yom Kippur War, alternatively referred to as the October War or the 1973 Arab Israeli War, unfolded during the month of October in 1973. It stood as a momentous military clash pitting Israel against a coalition of Arab nations, principally led by Egypt and Syria. The war derives its name from the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, which coincided with the wars commencement. This conflict was initiated as a surprise offensive by Egypt and Syria, taking Israel by surprise. The Arab coalition launched their attack on October 6, 1973, with the objective of reclaiming territories lost to Israel during the Six-Day War of 1967. In the initial stages of the conflict, Egyptian and Syrian forces achieved notable territorial gains. Nevertheless, Israel, with the backing of the United States, managed to orchestrate a counteroffensive, ultimately reversing the course of the war in their favor. Israeli forces crossed the Suez Canal into Egypt and pushed back Syrian forces in the Golan Heights. The war eventually concluded with a ceasefire on October 25, 1973. Action by Airlines In response to the current conflict, numerous airlines have opted to cease their flight operations to and from Israel. These airlines encompass American Airlines, KLM, Swiss Air, Austrian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Aegean Airlines. American Airlines emphasized its commitment to prioritizing safety and security while closely monitoring the situation, making operational adjustments as necessary. Delta, in a similar vein, expressed its dedication to safely repatriate Delta employees to the United States and assist U.S. citizens who wish to return home, collaborating with the U.S. government as required. Additional airlines such as Air France, Lufthansa, Emirates, Ryanair, and Aegean Airlines have also taken the step of canceling their flights. However, its worth noting that commercial air links with Eilat, Israels secondary international airport situated on the Red Sea and a popular tourist destination, have not been disrupted. Lufthansa conveyed its decision to cancel all Tel Aviv flights through Monday due to the current security situation in Tel Aviv. The airlines spokesperson emphasized that they were continuously monitoring Israels security situation. Brussels Airlines, a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group, also followed suit in canceling its Tel Aviv flights. Air France has announced the suspension of its Tel Aviv flights until further notice and introduced commercial measures allowing customers to reschedule or cancel their trips without incurring charges. Transavia, the low-cost carrier within the Air France-KLM group, likewise canceled all flights from Paris and Lyon to Tel Aviv until Monday. Iberia, the Spanish airline, revealed that its budget subsidiary, Iberia Express, was scrapping its Tel Aviv flights. ITA Airways, Italys flagship carrier, postponed its flights until at least Sunday morning, citing passenger and crew safety concerns. Furthermore, Polish carrier LOT canceled its flights departing from Warsaw on Saturday in response to the situation. The Status of Palestine The status of Palestine as a state presents a complex and contentious matter in international politics. While many nations and international organizations acknowledge Palestine as a sovereign state, its control over its territory and borders remains incomplete due to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States, adopted in 1933 defines a State as having the following characteristics: A Permanent Population: A state must have a stable and permanent population residing within defined territorial borders. This criterion implies that a state is not merely a government in exile or a transient entity; Defined Territory: A state must have a clearly defined territory with recognized borders. This territory should be under its control, and the state should exercise sovereignty over it; Government: A state must have a government that exercises effective control over its territory and population. This government should have the capacity to conduct international relations, make decisions, and enforce laws within its borders; Capacity to Enter into Relations with Other States: A state must possess the capacity to enter into diplomatic relations with other states. This implies that it can engage in treaties, negotiate agreements, and conduct foreign affairs independently. In 1988, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) declared the establishment of the State of Palestine, and this declaration received increasing recognition from numerous countries. In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly conferred non-member observer state status upon Palestine within the United Nations, further solidifying its statehood status in the eyes of a substantial portion of the international community. Nevertheless, the situation on the ground is intricate, given that significant portions of Palestinian territories, including the West Bank and Gaza Strip, are subject to varying degrees of Israeli control. The ultimate status of these territories and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict remain unresolved and are subject to ongoing negotiations. Thus, while Palestine enjoys recognition as a state by a considerable number of nations and international bodies, the practical exercise of full statehood, encompassing control over borders and territory, remains a subject of dispute and negotiation. The status of Palestine remains a central issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and international diplomacy. International Law In ordinary parlance, what applies to the airlines operating international air services would be the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention). However Article 89 of the Chicago Convention provides that in case of war, the provisions of the Convention must not affect the freedom of action of any of the contracting States whether as belligerents or as neutrals. The same principle applies in the case of any contracting State which declares a state of national emergency and notifies the fact to the Council. It does not say that the Chicago Convention will not apply to a State involved in a war. It merely says that freedom of action of that State pertaining to the war must not be affected by the Convention thus circumscribing action. It is arguable therefore that the state of Israel can opt to close its skies for foreign aircraft (irrespective of article 15 of the Convention which says that every airport in a contracting State which is open to public use by its national aircraft must likewise be open under uniform conditions to the aircraft of all the other contracting States)) or invoke Article 9 of the Convention which says inter alia: Each contracting State may, for reasons of military necessity or public safety, restrict or prohibit uniformly the aircraft of other States from flying over certain areas of its territory, provided that no distinction in this respect is made between the aircraft of the State whose territory is involved, engaged in international scheduled airline services, and the aircraft of the other contracting States likewise engage. Conclusion At the time of writing, The United Nations Security Council was meeting, and it would be interesting to see the outcome. Firstly, it is noteworthy that although the Chicago Convention addresses States the United Nations, by virtue of its Charter concerns itself with Nations or peoples of the world which includes Palestine (The United Nations has active involvement in Palestine). The Charter of the United Nations is thematically built on peace where its Preamble says: We the peoples of the United Nations, determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom. The Preamble outlines the fundamental principles and goals of the United Nations, including the prevention of war, the promotion of human rights, gender equality, and the pursuit of social progress and higher living standards for all. Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter addresses the Action Taken Regarding Threats to Peace, Breaches of the Peace, and Acts of Aggression. This section delineates the powers and duties of the United Nations Security Council when confronted with situations that jeopardize global peace and security. Chapter VII confers significant authority upon the Security Council to take actions to confront threats to international peace and security. This includes determining the existence of such threats and deciding on appropriate courses of action. The Security Council is first encouraged to seek peaceful resolutions to conflicts. This might involve diplomatic negotiations, mediation, or other non-coercive methods of conflict resolution. In cases where peaceful measures prove ineffective, the Security Council has the option to impose sanctions, such as economic embargoes or travel restrictions, on the parties involved in a dispute. When peaceful measures and sanctions fail to address a threat to peace adequately, the Security Council possesses the authority to employ military force to restore or uphold international peace and security. This includes authorizing the deployment of armed forces and the establishment of peacekeeping missions. Chapter VII also acknowledges the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense in the event of an armed attack against a member state. However, member states must inform the Security Council of such actions, and the Security Council retains the power to take actions necessary to preserve or restore global peace and security. The chapter underscores that the decisions of the Security Council, when exercising its powers under Chapter VII, are binding upon all member states. Member states are obligated to comply with the determinations made by the Security Council. Finally, Chapter VII plays a pivotal role within the United Nations Charter, offering the legal framework through which the Security Council can respond to international crises and conflicts, all with the aim of averting or mitigating threats to worldwide peace and security. With this, one can only remain hopeful. The U.S. Congress is capable of providing any assistance required in Israel despite the absence of a House Speaker, Rep. Matt Gaetz insisted after launching last week the vote that ousted Kevin McCarthy. Without Rep. McCarthy or anyone at the helm Gaetz says the House can still move to provide support for Israel as it runs counterstrikes against Palestinian terrorists. Meanwhile, with the absence of an elected House Speaker, Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was updated on the situation in Israel and will hold an all-members briefing, reports confirmed on Sunday. 'Congressman, you say that you stand with Israel, you're ready to defend Israel and yet you're completely incapable of helping Israel because you've brought Congress to a standstill, a state of paralysis, have you not?' NBC Meet the Press host Kristen Welker posed to Gaetz during a Sunday morning interview. He assured, however, that there is 'no need in Israel that we're not going to be able to meet based on the funding that we've already approved for Israel.' Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz said Sunday that the absence of a House Speaker will not impact congressional approval for aid to Israel Hamas terrorists launched a coordinated surprise multi-front attack in Israel, killing upwards of 600 and injuring thousands of others not including those still missing or held hostage in Gaza 'And the reason we have this multibillion-dollar commitment each and every year to Israel is because we want Israel to have a qualitative military edge over everyone in the region. They have that edge,' he explained. 'I'm very concerned about what Hezbollah might do, what Lebanon might do there to try to create more instability,' Gaetz added, saying: 'But there is no ask from Israel that we are unable to meet because it's going to take us a few days to pick a new speaker.' Interim Speaker Patrick McHenry was put in place, but is effectively powerless when it comes to Israel, experts warn. He also sent Congress home for the week rather than remaining in session to elect a new Speaker immediately after McCarthy's ouster. Now, the House will vote this week on a new Speaker and Gaetz signals he is open to voting on the floor for either House Majority Leader Steve Scalise or Rep. Jim Jordan if the GOP caucus votes for either one. Meanwhile, 2024 presidential hopeful Chris Christie slammed the in-fighting in Congress for putting Israel at heightened risk of decreased U.S. assistance. Meanwhile, the House voted last week to oust Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker, leaving on of the top roles in Congress vacant during the latest attack 'Look, what I would be doing is making sure, one, that Israel has everything that it needs to be able to take whatever actions it needs to take,' Christie told ABC News This Week host George Stephanopoulos. 'And this is the problem with not having a speaker right now, George, and and the actions taken by some members of my party were wholly irresponsible without this going on,' the former New Jersey governor added. 'They're now even putting a brighter light on the irresponsibility of not having someone in place.' 'But first make sure they have everything that they need.' A teenage migrant tragically drowned this morning after trying to cross the Channel in a small boat rammed full of 60 people. French emergency services found the body of an Eritrean male aged around 17 to 18 years of age on October 8. The victim was travelling on just one of a number of small boats which tried to make it to Britain. According to French authorities, 60 migrants boarded the small boat which capsized in the Channel shortly after it left the country. Dozens of people, including young women and men, fell into the water. The teenager was just one of 60 deperate people crammed into a tiny boat crossing the Channel Home Office figures show that more than 25,000 people have been detected crossing the English Channel so far this year French paramedics and firefighters scrambled to the scene while French detectives started an investigation into the death. Most migrants needed medical attention after the incident and they were interviewed by detectives A source said: 'Sixty migrants on a boat is going to create massive problems. It was an unsettled night as well. 'They could be heard screaming and shouting for help when they were in the water and returned to the French coast. 'They were unable to cross.' Home Office figures show that more than 25,000 people have been detected crossing the English Channel so far this year. This is down on last year's figures which by this time in 2022 had reached 33,001. Pictured: Border Force bring 50 Migrants ashore at Dover Docks on October 1 who had been rescued mid-Channel READ MORE: Hundreds more migrants cross the Channel as people-traffickers use new tactics to keep one step ahead of the authorities Advertisement But the numbers are still up on 2021, when 17,085 had made the dangerous crossing by September 30, and it was 7,000 by the same point in 2020. An investigation by the News Advocates Investigates podcast has found migrants are being offered trips across the Channel from Dunkirk for 1,500 per person, claiming they would be taken to a four-star hotel by British police once they arrive. The people smugglers also claim Brexit has made it easier for them as they state there are 'no fingerprint' checks any more, the podcast said. The team of undercover reporters posed as family members looking to bring a cousin to the UK illegally, and they covertly recorded their conversations with the people smugglers. On the safety of crossing the Channel, one of the gang said: 'If the boat has a problem the [UK] police will come help the boat. When the boat goes into the English Channel the police are waiting and will help... They will take him to a four-star hotel.' On the benefits of Brexit, the gang is reported to have said: 'Now England is out of Europe it is very good for us... no fingerprints.' Prime Minister Rishi Sunak used his Conservatives conference speech to do 'whatever is necessary' to stop small boats crossing the Channel. The Prime Minister said: 'I never pretended that stopping the boats would be easy. 'At the time I committed the Government to delivering that goal the consensus was simple - there was nothing we could do about it. 'It is not impossible, and we are proving it. 'Small boat crossings are, for the first time since the phenomenon began, down 20 per cent this year. All while entry into Europe is up. 'We are by no means where we want to be - but don't let anyone tell you we aren't making progress. We are, and we will get there' The Israel-Palestine conflict is one of the longest running in history, with tensions simmering for decades and intermittently escalating into armed clashes which have seen thousands of people killed on both sides. It has now exploded into a fresh, all-out war, after the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas launched its biggest assault on Israel in years early on Saturday. Militants fired a barrage of rockets from Gaza and sent fighters across the border, with a festival near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip, stormed and revellers killed and taken hostage. Israel said it was on a war footing and began its own strikes against Hamas targets in Gaza, with Israeli media reporting gunbattles between bands of Palestinian fighters and security forces in southern Israel. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that his country would take 'mighty vengeance for this black day' as warplanes launched a retaliatory strikes against Hamas. Looking back on what led to this moment, MailOnline has compiled a timeline of the most significant moments of the world's most bitter conflict. 1948-49 - First Arab-Israeli war Israel was declared an independent state on May 14 1948 with the Declaration of the Establishment of Israel. Immediately after, five Arab nations invaded territory of the former Palestinian mandate. There were thousands of casualties sustained on both sides before an armistice agreement was reached in 1949. Israeli soldiers patrol a road in Israel during the 1948-49 Arab-Israeli war June 5-10, 1967 - Six-day war Almost 20 years after the armistice, conflict broke out again as relations between Israel and its Arab neighbours deteriorated. By the end of the less than week-long hostilities, Israel took the Jordanian-annexed West Bank and Egyptian-occupied Gaza Strip. 2005 - Israel withdraws from the Gaza strip Israeli forces unilaterally withdrew from Gaza 38 years after capturing it from Egypt in the Middle East war. In doing so, they evicted almost 10,000 Israeli settlers and abandoned settlements and relocated them. They left the enclave under the control of the Palestinian Authority. The Disengagement Plan, put forward by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, sparked significant political division in Israel. Thousands of supporters of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan January 25, 2006 - Hamas wins elections in Palestine The Islamist group Hamas won a majority of seats in a Palestinian legislative election. Israel and the US cut off aid to Palestinians because Hamas refused to renounce violence and recognise Israel. June 25, 2006 - Hamas militants capture Israeli Hamas militants captured Israeli army conscript Gilad Shali during a cross-border raid from Gaza, prompting Israeli air strikes and incursions. Shalit was finally freed more than five years later in a prisoner exchange. June 14, 2007 - Hamas takes over Gaza Hamas took over Gaza during a brief civil war, ousting Fatah forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is based in the West Bank. December 27, 2008 - Israel launches offensive in Gaza Israel launched a 22-day military offensive in Gaza after Palestinians fired rockets at the southern Israeli town of Sderot. About 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were reported killed before a ceasefire was agreed. November 14, 2012 - Israel kills Hamas military leader Israel killed Hamas's military chief of staff, Ahmad Jabari. Eight days of Palestinian militant rocket fire and Israeli air strikes followed. July-August, 2014 - Seven-week war The kidnap and killing of three Israeli teenagers by Hamas sparked a seven-week war. More than 2,100 Palestinians were reported killed in Gaza and 73 Israelis reported dead, 67 of them military. March 2018 - Bloodshed during Palestinian protests in Gaza Israeli troops opened fire on Palestinian protesters, saying they were trying to keep them back as they demonstrated at the fence between Israel and Gaza. More than 170 Palestinians were reported killed in several months of protests, which also prompted fighting between Hamas and Israeli forces. Palestinian protesters run during clashes with Israeli forces across the border fence following a demonstration near the border east of Gaza City on December 28, 2018 May 2021 - Palestinians killed in clashes with IDF After weeks of tensions during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, hundreds of Palestinians were wounded in clashes with Israeli security forces at the Al Aqsa compound in Jerusalem, Islam's third holiest site. After demanding Israel withdraw security forces from the compound, Hamas unleashed a barrage of rockets from Gaza into Israel. Israel hit back with air strikes on Gaza. Fighting went on for 11 days, killing at least 250 people in Gaza and 13 in Israel. August 2022 - Israel air strikes At least 44 people, including 15 children, were killed in three days of violence that begin when Israeli air strikes hit a senior Islamic Jihad commander. Israel said the strikes were a pre-emptive operation against an imminent attack by the Iranian-backed militant movement, targeting commanders and arms depots. In response, Islamic Jihad fired more than 1,000 rockets towards Israel. Israel's Iron Dome air defence system prevented any serious damage or casualties. January 2023 - Jihadists in Gaza fire rockets at Israel Islamic Jihad in Gaza fired two rockets towards Israel after Israeli troops raided a refugee camp and kill seven Palestinian gunmen and two civilians. The rockets set off alarms in Israeli communities near the border but caused no casualties. Israel responded with air strikes on Gaza. October 2023 - Hamas launches major assault on Israel Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel in years from the Gaza Strip, with a surprise assault combining gunmen crossing the border with a heavy barrage of rockets. Islamic Jihad fighters joined the attack. Israel's military said it was on a war footing, adding it had carried out strikes targeting Hamas in Gaza and had called up reservists. More Israelis have died in the conflict so far than in the last 15 years of hostilities. Hundreds of civilians on both sides have lost their lives. Another American-Nepalese pair, Gina Marie Rzucidlo and Tenjen Sherpa, also disappeared, and are currently being looked for on the now closed-off mountain An American climber has been confirmed dead and another is missing following an attempt to scale the worlds 14th-tallest peak. The unsuccessful ascent happened Saturday on Tibets Mount Shishapangma - after two avalanches hit its slopes at an altitude of around 26,000 feet, Chinese media reports. United States traveler Anna Gutu, 32, and her Nepalese guide, Mingmar Sherpa, were reported missing - and on Sunday were confirmed to be deceased after their bodies were pulled from the snow. Another American-Nepalese pair, Gina Marie Rzucidlo, 45, and Tenjen Sherpa, also disappeared in the flows of snow - the cause of at least 120 deaths in the region over the past two years. They both remain missing. Both women had been racing to become the first American women to traverse the true summits of the world's only eight-thousanders - a series of mountains located in the Himalayas and neighboring Karakorams with 8,000-meter (26,000 feet) peaks. United States mountaineer Anna Gutu was confirmed dead Sunday, after attempting to climb Tibets Mount Shishapangma Still missing is Gina Marie Rzucidlo, another American who had been racing to be the first female from the US to reach the summits of the world's only eight-thousanders - a series of mountains located in the Himalayas and neighboring Karakorams with 8,000-meter peaks All of the summits, including Shishapangma, are considered 'death zones' - meaning they boast altitudes above a certain point that create a lack of oxygen insufficient to sustain human life. That marker is generally accepted to be around 8,000 meters - roughly the altitude where Gutu and Mingmar had been when one of the avalanches seen Saturday on Shishapangma, the world's 14th-highest mountain, at 8,027 meters (26,335 feet). Their bodies were recovered by a mountaineering team Sunday, according to the Himalayan Times - while Rzucidlo and her Nepalese mountain guide, as of 1:30pm ET, are still said to be missing. The four were among a total of 52 climbers from countries like Britain, Romania and Pakistan pushing for the summit when the avalanches hit, and were virtually there when the snow struck. Also affected by the dueling natural disasters was Nepalese mountain guide Karma Geljen Sherpa, who was escorted down the mountain by rescuers and is now said to be in stable condition. The still-missing Sherpa, meanwhile, was one half of a duo who shattered the record for the fastest climb of the 14 mountains this past July, with a time of 92 days. The previous record was 189 days - more than double the time it took he and 37-year-old Norwegian climber Kristin Harila. Aged 35 himself, a successful ascent would have seen him become the youngest climber to scale all 14 peaks twice. Gutu's Nepalese guide, Mingmar Sherpa (pictured), was also reported missing - and his body was retrieved along with the Americans on Sunday Rzucidlo (left) and her Nepalese mountaineering partner Tenjen (right) on Sunday afternoon were still missing, as all four were near the summit when the unseasonal avalanches struck The still-missing Sherpa, meanwhile, was one half of a duo who shattered the record for the fastest climb of the 14 mountains this past July - doing so with Norwegian professional Kristin Harila (right) in just 92 days His partner, Rzucidlo, had been climbing with Seven Summit Tracks. Harila, an accomplished climber with more than 160,000 followers on social media, confirmed Saturday that she and members of her mountaineering team were on a plane to Nepal to assist in the search for both climbers. An accompanying statement from Harila's team, citing The Himalayan Times report, insisted her 'thoughts and prayers are with [Tenjen] and his family.' Gutu - another expert whose exploits had amassed her a more than 33,000-strong following on social media - had been climbing with Elite Exped, another respected climbing company founded by world-class Nepalese mountaineers in 2017. The Ukrainian-born American's friends and fans have since flocked to her sprawling social media accounts to pay their respects. One tribute, left by renowned Indian police official Gurjot Singh Kaler, read: Really miss you. Heartbroken to learn about the avalanche. You were one of the best human beings I ever came across.' The avalanches struck Tibets Mount Shishapangma on Saturday afternoon at 7,600 (about 25,000 feet) and 8,000 meters (about 26,000 feet) Guta's body and that of her Sherpa were recovered Sunday, and friends and fans have since flocked to her social media to pay their respects. The mountain remains closed off due to dangerous conditions created by the snow One mourner wrote of the American, who was born in Ukraine: 'We lost the most beautiful light today. The world will never be as bright without you. You are forever frozen in time as our beautiful mountain angel. I love you very much' The search for Rzucidlo and Tenjen, meanwhile, continues Another added: 'We lost the most beautiful light today. The world will never be as bright without you. You are forever frozen in time as our beautiful mountain angel. I love you very much.' Experts also warn that climate change has increased the risk of avalanches in the region even during the somewhat sage post monsoon season, which the region is currently in the midst of. Still, the mountain is known to claim lives year-round. The incident comes after at least 42 were killed after a glacial lake burst its banks and triggered floods in the region this past week. Officials are still assessing the extent of that crisis. This is the moment a vicious brawl broke out on the streets of Croydon with teenagers seen punching and kicking each other to the floor. Video footage shows one youngster being punched repeatedly as they lie on the floor, with a man appearing to try and drag him away. A few feet away, a separate trio of teenage boys are seen punching each other, with one grabbing the other's neck appearing to try and swing him on to the floor, as a young girl watches them. The chaos that spilled into the road near the West Croydon Bus Station, near St Michael's Road, resulted in a bus being held up with its frustrated bus driver repeatedly blaring the horn to get the children to move. Eventually other youngsters and passersby appear to tear apart the teens, with one girl being picked up by an older man, while another man, dressed in a high vis jacket, walks towards the bundle. A trio of teenage boys in Croydon are seen punching each other, with one grabbing the other's neck appearing to try and swing him onto the floor, as a young girl watches them Video footage shows one youngster being punched repeatedly as they lie on the floor, with a man appearing to try and drag him away A crowd quickly begins to form, with many filming the incident, while other children, appearing to have jumped off the bus, are pointing and laughing. MailOnline has contacted the Metropolitan Police about the incident. The outburst of violence comes days after the London borough was revealed to have had the highest number of stabbings over the past five years. There have been 920 stabbings resulting in injury in Croydon since January 2018, according to Met Police data. August saw 32 attacks. It makes it on average over the past five years the third worst borough in London for that particular type of crime. Less than two weeks ago, a 15-year-old girl was stabbed there on her way top school. Elianne Andam was fatally attacked by a 17-year-old boy after she got off a bus last Wednesday, the Old Bailey heard on Wednesday. In a separate attack a man in his 40s was killed last Monday night and a 17-year-old boy was knifed in a park in the borough during the early hours of Tuesday morning - the third stabbing in a week. Norman Brennan is an anti-knife crime campaigner and a former Met police officer. He told MailOnline: 'Croydon is one of the most dangerous areas in Britain. We have lawless streets that nobody controls apart from the criminal element. There are many gangs in Croydon. Lots of their members carry knives, some won't be in school. 'These people have no values and no idea of the value of life. That's why so many people are losing their lives or taking those of others. Each knife is a potential murder if you hit an artery or an organ.' The oldest pair of shoes in Europe has been discovered in a cave in southern Spain. About 20 pairs of the sandals are at least 6,200 years old and possibly older as other woven objects in the cave dated back to 9,500 years. They measured around 20.5cm and would be UK child's size 13.5 today. A pair of 5,500 year-old leather shoes were discovered in a cave in Armenia back in 2008 and Britain's oldest are 3,000-year-old, late Bronze Age toddler's shoe in north Kent. However, the oldest footwear in the world dating back approximately 10,000 years were found in Fort Rock, Oregon amazingly preserved under a layer of volcanic ash from nearby Mt Mazama. Twenty pairs of sandals estimated to be over 6,000 years old have been discovered in a cave in southern Spain The latest find was made after carbon dating 76 objects from the Cueva de los Murcielagos, Albunol, near Granada, dug out by miners in the 19th century. The baskets are the first direct evidence of the skill in Mesolithic hunter-gatherer societies in southern Europe. The objects, made of wood, reed and esparto grass, date to the early and middle Holocene period, between 9,500 and 6,200 years ago. The study from the Universidad de Alcala (UAH) and the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB), was published in the journal Science Advances. Researcher at the Prehistory Department of UAH, Francisco Martinez Sevilla, said: 'These are the earliest and widest-ranging assemblage of prehistoric footwear, both in the Iberian Peninsula and in Europe, unparalleled at other latitudes. 'The new dating of the esparto baskets from the Cueva de los Murcielagos of Albunol opens a window of opportunity to understanding the last hunter-gatherer societies of the early Holocene. 'The quality and technological complexity of the basketry makes us question the simplistic assumptions we have about human communities prior to the arrival of agriculture in southern Europe. 'This work and the project that is being developed places the Cueva de los Murcielagos as a unique site in Europe to study the organic materials of prehistoric populations.' The objects, made of wood, reed and esparto grass, date to the early and middle Holocene period, between 9,500 and 6,200 years ago Cueva de los Murcielagos is located on the coast of Andalucia in the province of Cordoba, to the south of the Sierra Nevada and it is believed the finds were well preserved thanks to the low humidity levels. The cave opens on the right side of the Barranco de las Angosturas, at an altitude of 450 meters above sea level and about seven kilometres from the current coastline. It is one of the most emblematic prehistoric archaeological sites of the Iberian Peninsula due to the rare preservation of organic materials, which until this study had only been attributed to the Neolithic. Study co-author Maria Herrero Otal, said: 'The esparto grass objects from Cueva de los Murcielagos are the oldest and best-preserved set of plant fibre materials in southern Europe so far known. 'The technological diversity and the treatment of the raw material documented demonstrates the ability of prehistoric communities to master this type of craftsmanship, at least since 9,500 years ago, in the Mesolithic period. 'Only one type of technique related to hunter-gatherers has been identified, while the typological, technological and treatment range of esparto grass was extended during the Neolithic from 7,200 to 6,200 years before the present'. Pro-Palestinian protesters took over New York City's Times Square on Sunday - just one day after terrorist organization Hamas callously attacked Israel, leaving hundreds of civilians dead. Irate counter-protesters waving Israeli flags clashed with 300 seething placard-clad demonstrators - one of which was spotted on the front line holding up a swastika. New York is the city with the largest Jewish population in the world - and the swastika was the symbol used by Adolf Hitler when he murdered 6million Jews during the Holocaust. The clamorous group in Manhattan's Midtown chanted 'free Palestine' while others in the Israeli kettle yelled back: 'How can you support this! F***ing murderers!' As the Palestinian faction in Times Square swelled, so too did the group of around 70 Israeli protesters - who waved flags in retaliation from behind an NYPD-enforced metal fence. One man charged towards the Palestinian group but was immediately intercepted and escorted away by a cop. Irate counter-protesters waving Israeli flags clashed with 300 seething placard-clad demonstrators - one of which was spotted holding up a swastika (pictured) The protester pointed the swastika - the symbol used by Nazis during the Holocaust - at the Israeli counter protesters One protester in the pro-Palestinian kettle (center) holds up a swastika on his phone and points it towards the hundreds of pro-Israeli demonstrators in Times Square Swathes of pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets of Manhattan on Sunday following rocket attacks, pillaging, and murders on the streets of Israel over the weekend. Hamas, the terrorist organization and de facto rulers of the Gaza Strip, ambushed and killed hundreds of Israelis during their high holiday Skirmishes have broken out in New York City 's Times Square as pro-Palestinian groups gather rally - after Hamas attacked Israel leaving more than 900 dead An angry bystander already clashed with placard-clad protesters who rallied together at 1pm on Sunday in Manhattan's Midtown. New York is the city with the largest Jewish population in the world Pro-Israeli protesters joined the counter-protest on Sunday in New York City There was a heavy police presence in New York's Time Square today - as pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets of Midtown after Hamas launched surprise attacks on Israel Pro-Palestinian protesters continued to chant 'resistance is justified' into the afternoon - as a sea of signs and posters took over Times Square Protesters gathered with megaphones and yellow signs reading: 'Resistance against occupation is a human right' and 'end all US aid to apartheid Israel'. They chanted: '5, 6, 7, 8 Israel is a terrorist state.' Demonstrators planned to take over Times Square - the social and symbolic epicenter of New York - just one day after Israeli women and children were dragged from their homes and slaughtered by Palestinian militants. American citizens are among the dead and captured, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. The total number of fatalities has reached 1,100 but is expected to climb. On Sunday, protesters waving Palestinian flags on 42nd Street chanted their age-old rallying jingo: 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.' The cry is a reference to the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea - a territory that includes the State of Israel - therefore implying the dismantling of the Jewish state. In response, Israeli demonstrators shouted back: 'Shame on you!' New Yorker Claudia De La Cruz, 42, a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation who joined the Palestinian side today, told DailyMail.com: Were here in solidarity with the Palestinians understanding that for more than 70 years they have been victims of abuses by the Israel colonial state. Their lands have been occupied, their people have been displaced, there have been several bombings of the Gaza Strip. Hundreds of people took over Times Square to protest on Sunday There were a number of NYPD officers on the scene - as tensions rose in Times Square NEW YORK CITY: The death toll in the Middle East has nearly reached 1,000 A woman waves an Israeli as part of the counter-protest on Sunday 'How can you support this! F***ing murderers!' one man screamed - as a raucous group of around 300 people chanted 'free Palestine ' during the demo Demonstrators planned to take over Times Square - the social and cultural epicenter of New York - just one day after Israeli women and children were dragged from their homes and slaughtered by Palestinian militants One woman holds up a sign: 'Zionism is terrorism.' The total number of fatalities in the Middle East has reached 900 New York's Gov. Kathy Hochul condemned the protest yesterday - but it still went ahead this afternoon As the Palestinian faction in Times Square swelled, a group of Israeli protesters began to form - waving flags in retaliation from behind a metal fence NEW YORK CITY: Protesters hold up handmade signs in Times Square on Sunday On Sunday, protesters waving Palestinian flags on 42nd Street chanted: 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' Pro-Palestinian protesters chanted 'resistance is justified' She added: We know that everyone who is living under colonial rule and who is repressed has the right to self-defense and that is what were seeing now. When asked whether she considered the Hamas killings as self defense, Ms De La Cruz said: (We support) self-defense in any way, shape or form.' She blasted the Democrats for funding apartheid in Israel. When asked about New York Governor Kathy Hochuls condemnation of their protest, she said: Of course, they (Democrats) are going to condemn what they are calling terrorism when we know the United States is aiding terrorism against Palestinians. This is not an anti-Semitism type of thing, were not against the Jewish community - were against Zionism, which is a whole different type of thing. The death toll in Israel is only expected to rise, now that the Israel has launched a fierce counter offensive Hundreds of people descended on Times Square on Sunday - a day after atrocities took place in Israel The Israeli protesters started shouting 'terrorists' towards the pro-Palestinian faction TIMES SQUARE: One protester holds up the sign: 'Free Palestine' Israeli-American dual national David Needle, 23, told DailyMail.com he has family and friends who have been caught up in the attacks in Israel. Needle said he has friends who attended the peace party near the Gaza Strip on Saturday night - where the terrorists launched their fatal ambushed - and as a result, he has not been able to contact many of them since. He said on the streets of Manhattan: 'This is not something that is shockingly new. Hamas is a terrorist organization. 'How is this self-defense? How is abducting an elderly woman and other people that aren't soldiers helping in your defense? 'You haven't defended yourself, you haven't helped yourself at all. 'Why is killing civilians increasing your freedom?' Idan Naol, 39, is from Israel but is currently on holiday in New York. He said that seeing the horrific attacks on his homeland yesterday forced him to take to the streets of Manhattan today. Naol, a former Israeli soldier who now works in Tel Aviv, told DailyMail.com: 'Yesterday, when I saw my countrymen, my people, get slaughtered, murdered, kidnapped, from their homes...families, children, grandchildren, grandmothers, mothers, fathers.... 'Murdered in the streets. Kidnapped inside Gaza. Yes, this is why I come here to protest. Achmat Akkad, 38, joined the Palestinian kettle this afternoon - and after coming into a verbal conflict with a protester on the opposing end, he told DailyMail.com that he has 'no sympathy' for Israelis Idan Naol, 39, is from Israel but is currently on holiday in New York. He said that seeing the horrific attacks on his homeland yesterday forced him to take to the streets of Manhattan 'I do not have an issue against the Palestinians. They don't understand. I have issues against the terrorists that take my family from their homes. Against Hamas, against the terrorists. 'How can I sit down and be quiet while I see these kind of pictures. Children put inside cages. This is not a horror film. This is real. 'This is 9/11 style. And the world needs to know that.' Achmat Akkad, 38, joined the Palestinian kettle this afternoon - and after coming into a verbal conflict with a protester on the opposing end, he told DailyMail.com he has 'no sympathy' for Israelis. When asked if he sympathized at all, Akkad, a government worker, said: 'I don't. I think at some point you can't ignore the injustice that continues to happen in Palestine and not think there is going to be consequences. 'You can't keep two million people locked up in a cage, denying their freedom, and expect them to be peaceful. It doesn't work that way.' Akkad said that he believes there's a 'racial divide' within the debate. He also said of Gov. Hochul's comments: 'She doesn't reflect what New Yorkers think. She doesn't reflect what I think. She reflects her special interests.' Pro-Palestinian protesters continued to chant 'resistance is justified' into the afternoon - as a sea of signs and posters took over Times Square. People holding Israeli flags shouted back 'terrorists!' while police manned the gap in between the two demonstrator groups. WASHINGTON, DC: Palestinian Mai Dawod, from the West Bank city of Ramallah, joins pro-Palestinian demonstrators as they rally outside the White House in Washington ATLANTA: Pro-Palestinian demonstrators chant slogans outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta on Sunday CHICAGO: Palestinian-Americans and their supporters protest as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas continues, outside the Israeli consulate in downtown Chicago THE WHITE HOUSE: Demonstrators stand with placards outside the White House in Washington, DC WASHINGTON, DC: Israel, reeling from the deadliest attack in half a century, formally declared war on Hamas Sunday OTTAWA: Palestinian supporters rally outside Ottawa City Hall, Canada THE WHITE HOUSE: In Washington, DC, demonstrators stood outside the White House with placards reading: 'No $ to Israel,' 'End Gaza siege,' and 'Palestine should be free' CHICAGO: Protesters hold up a sign: 'From the river to the sea' WASHINGTON, DC: Hamas, the terror group that runs Gaza, declared war on Israel on Saturday ATLANTA: Cities across the US, including New York and DC, have seen protests on Sunday MONTREAL: People take part in a protest for Palestine in Montreal, Sunday, October 8 CHICAGO: Protests also were seen through the streets of downtown Chicago New York City was not the only place in the US that erupted in protest on Sunday. In Washington, DC, demonstrators stood outside the White House with placards reading: 'No $ to Israel,' 'End Gaza siege,' and 'Palestine should be free.' Young children - brought to the protests by their parents - stood in lines holding signage while pro-Palestinian crowds chanted in unison. One protester said outside the White House: 'October 7 is the beginning of our victory...our return home.' Supporters cheered the speaker. Chanting with the crowds, they shouted: 'There is only one solution: Intifada, revolution!' Similarly, pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta on Sunday following the conflict that has killed hundreds and wounded thousands in the Middle East. Protests also were seen through the streets of downtown Chicago. In Canada, pro-Palestine rallies took place in Ottawa and Montreal on Sunday. Yesterday, Gov. Hochul described the rally as abhorrent and morally repugnant after Hamas militants invaded Israel and slaughtered hundreds of citizens. A poster for the rally occurring on Sunday at 1pm, following the Hamas attack on Israel She wrote: 'The people of Israel are facing violent terrorist attacks and civilian kidnappings. I condemn plans to rally in Times Square tomorrow in support of the perpetrators of these horrific actions. 'The planned rally is abhorrent and morally repugnant.' NYC Mayor Eric Adams, who is on a vanity tour of South America to discourage migrants from crossing the border, condemned the attacks in Israel. There is an estimated 1.6million Jewish people living in New York City - half of whom reside in Brooklyn. One of the Americans caught up in the tragedies unfolding in Israel is Hersh Golberg-Polin - a 23-year-old born in Berkeley, California. Golberg-Polin sent his mother and father a text reading 'I love you, Im sorry' at 8.11am on Saturday - as callous Palestinian militants declared war on Israel, took dozens of people as hostage and killed hundreds during the Jewish high holiday. He was attending an all-night 'nature party' near Kibbutz Re'im - not far from the Gaza Strip. The rave was infiltrated and ambushed by Palestinian terrorists. Mike Pence said that his Republican 2024 primary competitors and their rhetoric are to blame for emboldening Hamas terrorists to attack Israel. In a tweet, the former vice president placed the onus for the conflict directly on GOP 'leading voices' including ex-President Donald Trump, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis the three frontrunners in the Republican primary contest. Pence wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: 'This is what happens when we have leading voices like Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Ron DeSantis signaling retreat from America's role as leader of the free world. When I'm President of the United States, we'll lead from American Strength.' Meanwhile, most other Republicans are blaming President Joe Biden for the invasion, claiming that his $6 billion payment to Iran agreed on last month is being used to directly fund the Hamas terrorists who attacked Israel from Palestinian enclaves in the region. Presidential hopeful and former Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday morning that he blames Republican voices mainly his 2024 competitors for Hamas attacking Israel Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley said on Sunday: 'Americans need to remember, it's not that Israel needs America. America needs Israel.' 'Israel is the front line of defense for the Iranian regime and terrorists that want to hurt us and want to hurt our friends and we need to be honest with the American people about that,' Haley assured in an interview with NBC News' Meet the Press host Kristen Welker. While Pence also blames Biden, he says Republicans are also at fault. 'That disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan has emboldened the enemies of freedom around the world,' Pence said in reference to the botched withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan early in Biden's presidency. 'And now war is raging in Eastern Europe.' 'And President Joe Biden's kowtowing for the last two-and-a-half years to the mullahs in Iran, lifting sanctions, begging them to get back in the Iran nuclear deal, and then paying $6 billion in a ransom for hostages, I think set the conditions for this unprecedented terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel.' 'But I also believe this is what happens when we have leading voices like Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Ron DeSantis signaling retreat from America's role as leader of the free world,' the former vice president and now 2024 hopeful told CNN. Many leaders, including are Pence, are saying the show of full-throated support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian invasion should be the similar response toward Israel. 'Look, what happened in Ukraine was an unprovoked invasion by Russia. What happened this weekend was an unprovoked invasion by Hamas into Israel. And I really believe now, more than ever, both the debate within the Republican Party and the debate within America, is whether or not we're going to once again stand without apology as the leader of the free world, as the arsenal of democracy' Last month, the Biden administration paid $6 billion to Iran as a deal reached in exchange for the release of five Americans from custody in the Middle East. Biden insists the funds are subject to strict oversight and are narrowly limited to humanitarian, non-sanctionable purchases like food and medicine. Meanwhile, the Iranian government claims it can use the money however it pleases. Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured during the rounds during Sunday morning television interview that the $6 billion payment is not to blame for the Hamas attack. 'I actually think it was irresponsible for Secretary Blinken to say that the $6 billion doesn't weigh in here,' Haley told NBC News. 'I mean, let's be honest with the American people and understand that Hamas knows, and Iran knows they're moving money around as we speak, because they know $6 billion is going to be released. That's the reality.' She claimed that history proves when money or payments are sent to hostile entities, they end up funding terrorism. Former UN Ambassador and 2024 hopeful Nikki Haley said Sunday that America need Israel more than Israel needs America 'Secretary Blinken is just wrong to imply that this money is not being moved around as we speak to hurt those that love freedom,' she concluded. Israel is raining down fire on fighters in the Gaza strip in a ruthless counteroffensive in the south while it also pounds Lebanon with artillery in the north. It was revealed Sunday morning that 600 Israelis are confirmed dead after just a single day of conflict and more than 2,000 are injured. This does not include those still being held hostage by the terrorist group, the number of which is unknown. Blinken warned that there are reports and indicators that American citizens were kidnapped and are being held hostage by Hamas fighters in Israel. He also said there are reports others were murdered in the attacks. Marcus Anthony Hall - affectionately referred to as 'Mar Mar' - had just celebrated his birthday in July An Ohio family is grieving the loss of their two-year-old after the little boy snuck away when his mother was sleeping and drowned in a neighbors pool. According to police officials, the little boy left the house while his mother was asleep on October 4. He was later found at the bottom of his neighbor's pool and taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police were called to the area, just an hour before the boy was found for a child left unattended. They told the boy's mother to be more careful. The mourning father said he'd remember Marcus Anthony Hall - also known as Mar Mar - by his smile. 'He was a cool little dude,' the childs father, Anthony Hall, said of his two-year-old son, who had just celebrated his birthday in July. Two-year-old Marcus Anthony Hall and his older brother wandered out of their house on October 4 while their mother slept A neighbor called 911 when she saw one of the children, who was brought home. The mother called police an hour later to say she could not find Marcus - who was drowning in the neighbor's pool Oregon Police Chief Brandon Begin said an officer jumped in the pool, handed the child to another officer and performed CPR as they rushed to the hospital - but Marcus later died On Tuesday, Hall was at work while Marcus and his four-year-old brother were home alone with their mother. He said the children went outside their Oregon, Ohio, home while their mom was asleep. At 10.34am, a neighbor spotted one of the boys and called 911, telling dispatchers: 'Theres a baby outside in just a diaper chasing a dog. Theres no adults.' An officer arrived and told the mother to be more careful. He recommended that she consider installing safety devices. At 11.27am - less than an hour later - Oregon police received a second call from the mother. 'I got woken up to the cops over here knocking on my door because they said that kids were running around outside, so when I woke up, only my 4-year-old here,' she said. 'So your two-year-old is missing? the dispatcher asked. 'Yeah,' the woman replied. Officers returned to the scene and found the two-year-old drowning in the neighbors pool. The boy's father, Anthony Hall, described Marcus - nicknamed 'Mar Mar' - as 'a cool little dude' Police said Children Services are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the boy's death 'It dont help I got to wake up every morning and see the neighbor's pool where this happened,' the boy's father posted on Facebook. 'Still with a ladder in it' Police chief Brandon Begin said an officer jumped into the water, handed the child to another officer and performed CPR as they rushed to the hospital. Marcus drowned in a white above-ground pool with a small ladder. While the yard was fenced in, the pool itself did not have a fence around it. A complaint was filed with the city, as every private swimming pool must be enclosed by a fence under Ohio state law. It is currently unclear if charges have been filed against the mom or the neighbor to date. Children Services is investigating the circumstances surrounding the boy's death, police said. A funeral service is set for October 10. Hall created a GoFundMe seeking help with expenses. 'I don't how to explain this but I will try the best way I can,' he wrote. So far, the campaign has raised $1,840 of its $2,500 goal. 'My name is Anthony Hall, Marcus's dad,' the page read. 'I just want my baby to be able to rest, I cant imagine what was going though his mind during all this.' Hall also posted to Facebook, thanking those who had donated and supported the family through the tragedy. He said that he broke down every time he saw a photo of his son. 'It dont help I got to wake up every morning and see the neighbor's pool where this happened,' Hall wrote. 'Still with a ladder in it.' Currently the number of Russian tanks available is shrinking faster than the Ukrainian tank force. The key factor here is the inability of Russia to manufacture enough tanks to cover losses, much less increase their tank force. Russian manufacturing in general is suffering from Western sanctions which Russia tries to mitigate with substitution or smuggling. This is an imperfect solution and is not w0rking. Another problem is that their one tank manufacturing plant, Uralvagonzavod, can only produce about 300 tanks a year. This assumes they have access to the needed components, which is currently not the case. Fixing crippled but repairable tanks is also disrupted by not having enough tank transporters to carry damaged tanks to a rail road that will take them to a repair facility. These facilities are still busy refurbishing elderly (1960s) T-62s for infantry support duties. Production of the 115mm main gun of the T-62 ceased production decades ago while many of the stored T-62s have 115mm guns that already have a lot of use and cannot fire many more shells before the barrels need replacement. Artillery barrels in general can only be fired a certain number of shells before they become unreliable and inaccurate. Tank guns fire higher velocity shells than the shorter barreled field artillery and so become unreliable much faster. Ukraine has access to lots of imported Western tanks as well as more tank repair facilities. Most of the imported Western tanks are more capable than anything Russia has. Older tanks donated to Ukraine, like Leopard 1A5s, are superior to the T-62. The Leopard 1 entered service in 1961 and began getting replaced by Leopard 2s in 1979. The original Leopard 1 was first upgraded in the 1970s to the Leopard A1. The A2, A3 and A4 upgrades were implemented in the 1970s and the A5 upgrades in the 1990s. Some 4,700 Leopard 1s were built between 1965 and 1984. In the 1990s major users of more capable Leopard 2s retired many of these tanks. Germany had 2,100 Leopard 2s and retired most of them by selling them off, at very attractive prices, to friendly countries. Despite this flood of low cost Leopard 2s, many nations kept their Leopard 1s. The 42-ton Leopard 1 and its 105mm gun can deal with any Russian tank, but not as efficiently as a 61-ton Leopard 2 and its 120mm gun. Ukrainians have been building tanks for nearly a century and know these combat vehicles quite well. A hundred Leopard 1A5s will overwhelm the Russians faster than a few dozen Leopard 2s and Challengers 2s. There are more Leopard 1A5s available from European nations that realized their values and put them in storage rather than scrapping them. Most NATO users want to hold on to most of their Leopard 2s, just in case. That means more Leopard 1s are available and Ukraine is eager to have them. About a hundred American M1 began arriving in Ukraine during September 2023. Earlier 31 were made available to train Ukrainian crews and mechanics. The U.S. built over 10,000 M1s since it entered service in 1982. The M1 and Leopard 2 are roughly equal in capability although the M1 has more combat experience. Both cost about the same at $6 million, which is twice what a new Leopard 1 cost. Meanwhile, Ukraine believes a hundred Leopard 1A5s arriving first can get most of the work done. The young girl will be able to live a normal life and will 'still be the same person' according to Robison Brianna's doctor - Aaron Robison - completely disconnected half of her brain, which will effectively stop her disease from progressing Brianna Bodley, 6, recently underwent a ten-hour surgery to treat her Rasmussen's Encephalitis - a disease that impacts 500 kids in the U.S. each year A 6-year-old California girl with an incredibly rare disease had half of her brain disconnected by doctors in what experts are calling a 'life-changing surgery.' Brianna Bodley, 6, recently underwent a ten-hour surgery at Loma Linda University Health to treat her Rasmussen's Encephalitis - an inflammatory disease that impacts just 500 children in the United States each year. Brianna used to experience daily seizures, paralysis and encountered learning disabilities prior to going on anti-seizure medication and steroids. Through surgery, however, her medical team - including neurosurgeon Dr. Aaron Robison - has given the girl a new life - one with only half her brain at work. 'Brianna will still be the same person, even after disconnecting half her brain,' Robison said, explaining how the inflammation previously caused brain shrinkage. Brianna Bodley, 6, had half of her brain disconnected by doctors in what experts are calling a 'life-changing surgery' to treat her Rasmussen's Encephalitis Brianna is on her way back to living a normal life after the ten-hour surgery Through surgery, Brianna's medical team - including neurosurgeon Dr. Aaron Robison (pictured) - has given the girl a new life - one with only half her brain at work Robison demonstrates how he disconnected half of Briana's brain to stop her disease Talking with ABC 7 Los Angeles, Brianna's mother, Crystal Bodley, said the young girl essentially had the left side of her body 'turned off' after the surgery. Doctors expect some side effects, including the potential loss of some peripheral vision and some fine motor skills in her left hand. Through physical therapy, her doctors and family believe she will be able to gain most of her normal life back and remain seizure free. It was the best possible outcome for the child, who is already back on her feet just days after the complicated and time-consuming procedure. In photos and videos posted to Crystal's Facebook, Brianna can be seen eating mashed potatoes from her hospital bed and walking with the help of her mom. 'Our baby girl is starting to walk with support,' Crystal wrote. 'She is still sleep majority of the day but, not wasting any time she is awake.' 'Who needs Inpatient rehab when she has mommy,' the proud mom shared. 'Happy her brain has already starting to make the connection that she has a left side of her body to be controlled with the left brain,' Crystal continued. It would appear everything is going according to Brianna's medical team's plans. 'Just disconnecting it is enough to stop the disease completely and essentially, potentially cure it,' Dr. Robison said of the surgery. Before doctors gained the ability to disconnect a portion of the brain during a hemispherectomy, surgeons would completely remove half of the brain. Surgeons enter the cranium through an opening called the sylvian fissure that allows doctors to cut away white matter from the thalamus. From there, Robison disconnected the left side of Brianna's brain, which allows the right side take control and regain functionality for the body. Brianna was feeding herself just days after the surgery where half her brain was disconnected Doctors expect some side effects, including the potential loss of some peripheral vision and some fine motor skills on her left hand. Pictured: Brianna five days after her procedure Brianna with her mom, Crystal Bodley in a photo posted to Facebook In photos and videos posted to Crystal's Facebook, Brianna can be seen eating mashed potatoes from her hospital bed and walking with the help of her mom The scar from Brianna's hemispherectomy in September 'Brianna will still be the same person, even after disconnecting half her brain,' Robison said, explaining how the inflammation previously caused brain shrinkage Brianna was transferred home to begin rehab just a week after the surgery took place Brianna's family says they are excited to see their little girl get to experience childhood again after a year of medical issues. 'I just want to see her little Brianna running around doing her artwork and having the fun she always had,' said her grandmother, Chris Breheim. Prior to the surgery, the girl would experience troubles with her motor functions that left her at the whim of her rare disease. 'Her leg would bend up all the time, she would have trouble walking,' Crystal said. Brianna began undergoing treatment with medication in January but the disease kept progressing, leaving doctors with no other viable options. 'She would talk to me sometimes and said she was scared, but I told her, "I know it's scary, but you will be okay,"' said Brianna's sister, Torie Bodley. The initial medications Brianna took caused the little girl to gain weight and grow out of her clothes, prompting one business to step in with an act of kindness. Helpful Honda came to the family's San Bernardino home and gave Brianna a whole new wardrobe, complete with dresses, skirts and pajamas. The community has rallied around the young girl and her family during their time of need, but the expenses have still piled up. Crystal started a GoFundMe to help cover the cost of medical expenses, which has only raised $4,800 of its $20,000 goal as of October. Crystal started a GoFundMe to help cover the cost of medical expenses, which has only raised $4,800 of its $20,000 goal as of October Prior to her Rasmussen's Encephalitis diagnosis, Brianna loved singing and dancing Brianna was gifted a new wardrobe following her medications causing her to gain weight 'I just want to see her little Brianna running around doing her art work and having the fun she always had,' said grandmother Chris Breheim Doctors expect Brianna to be able to live an almost completely normal life The road ahead is long still for Brianna and her family but there is now a light at the end of the tunnel for the girl to get back to a normal childhood. 'So proud of her,' Crystal wrote in one Facebook post. According to the Cleveland Clinic, 66 percent of children who undergo a hemispherectomy become completely seizure free after the procedure. Another 15 to 20 percent of patients see a 'substantial reduction.' This is the shocking moment an Israeli missile strike was captured destroying a building near the BBC's rooftop base in Gaza. The shaky footage shows reporters ducking for cover after the deafening sound of an explosion can be heard, before capturing the dramatic scene of a building collapsing in a fiery blaze. Plumes of grey smoke engulf the area as the sound of the blast echoes around the site, following the retaliatory strike on Saturday. Cameras propped on tripods bare full witness to the carnage, as reporters in press flak jackets and safety helmets peer from behind a wall before bravely running out to check the footage. Another reporter films the horrific scenes on his phone as the reporters carefully retreat back to their positions. A second explosion in the night was captured during a live report on TV by a BBC journalist who can be seen tensing instinctively and ducking his head at the sound of the sudden explosion. BBC reporter Rushdi Abu Alouf was speaking to presenter Maryam Moshiri live on air when the blast interrupted his report. Alarmed, Ms Moshiri responded by saying: 'That sounds like it was quite close to you Rushdi'. There appeared to be some issues with communication equipment following the explosion, and Mr Alouf could be seen readjusting his earpiece as Ms Moshiri's voice from the studio could be heard playing out from his side with some lag. Mr Alouf confirmed that the explosion sounded 'quite close'. The presenter asked if Mr Alouf could hear her, and asked: 'Are you okay to stay where you are or would like to move?' This comes as the Israeli government formally declared war on Sunday and gave the green light for 'significant military steps' to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack. The declaration came as the military tried to crush fighters still in southern towns and intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip. It also suggests that the conflict is set to intensify, inviting speculation around whether Israel will launch a ground assault into Gaza, a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. The Israeli government formally declared war on Sunday and gave the green light for 'significant military steps' to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack. Academic Professor Anthony Glees told the MailOnline that the surprise attack by Hamas 'undermines the idea that Israel has the best intelligence and security service in the world'. He added: 'This looking ever more like a general attack on an Israel that is seen to be weak and reeling. 'America fears a more general war in the Middle East. Forces united to try to destroy Israel once and for all seem to be gathering. 'The Iranians are backing Islamist terrorism of the most crude, sinister and deeply antisemitic [kind]. 'It looks to me as if there could be a wider war going on here. You've got Hezbollah (an armed party backed by Iran) in the north, you've got Hamas in the south and you've got Fatah (a Palestinian political party) refusing to condemn the killing of innocent civilians. 'The Iranians, I would say, would be a trigger to a more general war'. Hezbollah said on Sunday that it had launched guided rockets and artillery onto three Israeli posts in the Shebaa Farms 'in solidarity' with the Palestinian people. In retaliation, the Israeli military fired artillery into an area of Lebanon where the cross-border fire was launched and said that one of its drones had successfully targeted a Hezbollah post in Har Dov, an area in Shebaa. The Israeli military said: 'IDF (Israel Defense Forces) artillery is currently striking the area in Lebanon from where a shooting was carried out.' On Saturday, Al Jazeera journalist Youmna El Sayed was reporting live when she was forced to take cover. While informing viewers about the 'barrages of rockets' being launched into Gaza, El Sayed - who was wearing a helmet - screamed as she was forced to take cover as a huge fireball erupted behind her. Reporters in press flak jackets and safety helmets peer from behind a wall before bravely running out to check the footage Plumes of grey smoke engulf the area as the sound of the blast echoes around the site, following the retaliatory strike on Saturday The footage captured the shocking scene of a building collapsing in a fiery blaze Cameras propped on tripods bare full witness to the carnage as reporters retreated to take cover during the missile strike close to the BBC's Gaza base She then turns around to see smoke billowing from what is believed to be a residential building which was destroyed by a missile. Earlier on Saturday, Palestinian militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, striking by land, air and sea in attacks killing at least 22 Israelis. More than 24 hours after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still trying to defeat the last groups of militants holed up in several towns. At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel, a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades, and more than 300 have been killed in Gaza as Israeli airstrikes pound the territory. The Israeli rescue service Zaka said its paramedics removed about 260 bodies from a music festival attended by thousands that came under attack. The total figure is expected to be higher in the deadliest attack in Israel in decades as other paramedic teams were working in the area. The coordinated attack has seen border fences broken down, tanks immobilised, dozens of hostages reportedly taken and residential buildings targeted by airstrikes. The murder of civilians has drawn widespread condemnation from world leaders and prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to say the country is at 'war'. The Israeli army said that the high number of civilian and military personnel taken hostage by terrorist group in Saturday's surprise attack on Israeli towns near Gaza would shape the future of the war how Israel would retaliate, according to Reuters. BBC reporter Rushdi Abu Alouf can be seen tensing instinctively and ducking his head at the sound of the sudden explosion BBC reporter Rushdi Abu Alouf was speaking to presenter Maryam Moshiri live on air when the blast interrupted his report There appeared to be some issues with communication equipment following the explosion, and Mr Alouf could be seen readjusting his earpiece Alarmed, Ms Moshiri responded by saying: 'That sounds like it was quite close to you Rushdi' Meanwhile, in northern Israel, a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group fanned fears that the fighting could expand into a wider regional war. Authorities were still trying to determine how many civilians and soldiers were seized by Hamas fighters during the mayhem and taken back to Gaza. From videos and witnesses, the captives are known to include women, children and the elderly. The leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, Ziad Nakhaleh, said his group, which took part in the attack, is holding more than 30 Israelis, among dozens he said were captive in Gaza. He said they would not be released until all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are freed. US secretary of state Antony Blinken said as many as 1,000 Hamas fighters were involved in the assault, a high figure that underscored the extent of planning by the militant group ruling Gaza. This is the terrifying moment a missile strike hit a Palestinian tower as Al Jazeera journalist Youmna El Sayed was reporting live coverage of a brutal first day of war The gunmen rampaged for hours, gunning down civilians in towns, along roads and at a techno music festival being held in the desert near Gaza. Israel has hit more than 800 targets in Gaza so far, its military said, including airstrikes that levelled much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the enclave's northeast corner. Warplanes fired tons of explosives on 120 targets, Israeli Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters, saying Hamas was using the town as a staging ground for attacks. There was no immediate word on casualties, and most of the community's population of tens of thousands of people are likely to have fled before the bombardment. 'We will continue to attack in this way, with this force, continuously, on all gathering (places) and routes' used by Hamas, Hagari said. The Jewish nation is raining down fire on fighters in the Gaza strip in a ruthless counteroffensive in the south while it also pounds Lebanon with artillery in the north In the deadliest day of violence in Israel in 50 years, the middle eastern country's warplanes strafed densely populated Gaza City with bombs in retaliatory strikes Civilians on both sides were already paying a high price. A line of Israelis snaked outside a central Israel police station to supply DNA samples and other means that could help identify missing family members. Israeli TV news aired a stream of accounts from relatives of captive or missing Israelis who wept and begged for assistance and information. In Gaza, the tiny enclave of 2.3 million people sealed off by an Israeli-Egyptian blockade for 16 years since the Hamas takeover, residents feared an intensified onslaught. Israeli strikes flattened a number of residential buildings. Some 74,000 displaced Gazans were staying in 64 shelters, with the number expected to increase. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNWRA, said a school sheltering more than 225 people took a direct hit. It did not say where the fire came from. Several Israeli media outlets, citing rescue service officials, said at least 700 people have been killed in Israel, including 44 soldiers. The Gaza health ministry said 313 people, including 20 children, were killed in the territory. Some 2,000 people have been wounded on each side. An Israeli official said security forces have killed 400 militants and captured dozens more. The exchange of fire with Hezbollah added to concern that the conflict could spread. Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and shells on Sunday at three Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border, and the Israeli military fired back using armed drones. Iranian-backed Hezbollah is estimated to have tens of thousands of rockets at its disposal. Since its brutal 2006 war with Israel, Hezbollah has stayed on the sidelines amid previous outbreaks of Israeli-Hamas fighting. But if destruction in Gaza escalates, it may feel pressure to intervene. The security cabinet also approved 'significant military steps'. The steps were not defined, but the declaration appears to give the military and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu a wide mandate. Speaking on national television on Saturday, Mr Netanyahu vowed that Hamas 'will pay an unprecedented price'. He further warned: 'This war will take time. It will be difficult.' In a statement, his office said the aim will be the destruction of Hamas' 'military and governing capabilities' to an extent that prevents it from threatening Israelis 'for many years'. Israelis were still reeling from the breadth, ferocity and surprise of the Hamas assault. The group's fighters broke through Israel's security fence surrounding the Gaza Strip early on Saturday. Rockets struck buildings across southern Israel - and militants are reported to have taken to the streets after 'infiltrating' the country Smoke billows from a building in Gaza after Israel fired missiles in response to Palestinian air strikes on Saturday Using motorcycles and pickup trucks, even paragliders and speedboats on the coast, they moved into nearby Israeli communities - as many as 22 locations. The high death toll and slow response to the onslaught pointed to a major intelligence failure and undermined the long-held perception that Israel has eyes and ears everywhere in the small, densely populated territory it has controlled for decades. The Israeli military was evacuating at least five towns close to Gaza and then scouring them for militants. Much of the territory's population was thrown into darkness on Saturday night as Israel cut off electricity and said it would no longer supply power, fuel or other goods to the territory. One woman sheltering at an UNWRA school in Gaza City's Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood described a panicked flight from her home in the middle of the night. The Israeli military made announcements on loudspeakers telling people to leave. 'We didn't know where to go,' she said. 'It was a miracle we arrived at the schools because there was no transport.' The presence of hostages in Gaza complicates Israel's response. Hamas officials have said they will seek the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners, and Israel has a history of making heavily lopsided exchanges to get captive Israelis home. An injured man is carried on a stretcher by members of the Israeli security forces following air strikes in southern Israel A family, including a tearful girl, is evacuated after a rocket attack in southern Israel on Saturday A woman stands in a damaged room in Ashkelon, Israel after rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip by Hamas militants The military has confirmed that a 'substantial' number of Israelis were abducted on Saturday without giving an exact figure. Over the past year, Israel's far-right government has ramped up settlement construction in the occupied West Bank. Israeli settler violence has displaced hundreds of Palestinians there, and tensions have flared around the Al-Aqsa mosque, a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site. At least 232 people in the Gaza Strip have been killed and at least 1,700 wounded in Israeli strikes, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. Hamas fighters took an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive into Gaza, a deeply sensitive issue for Israel, in harrowing scenes posted on social media videos, AP reports. Among those killed in Israel was Lt. Col. Jonathan Steinberg, a senior officer who commanded the military's Nahal Brigade, a prominent infantry unit. Hamas gunmen have taken dozens of hostages off the streets of Israel as the war takes a darker turn and the death toll reached 450 after less than one day. Yesterday, Rishi Sunak said Israel has an 'absolute right to defend itself' after attacks by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip. In a post on X, formally known as Twitter, Mr Sunak wrote: 'I am shocked by this morning's attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli citizens. 'Israel has an absolute right to defend itself. 'We're in contact with Israeli authorities, and British nationals in Israel should follow travel advice.' Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has also condemned the 'horrific' attacks by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip in southern Israel. Mr Cleverly wrote on social media: 'The UK unequivocally condemns the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians. 'The UK will always support Israel's right to defend itself.' The Jewish nation is raining down fire on fighters in the Gaza strip in a ruthless counteroffensive in the south while it also pounds Lebanon with artillery in the north. In the deadliest day of violence in Israel in 50 years, the middle eastern country's warplanes strafed densely populated Gaza City with bombs in retaliatory strikes. Israeli and Palestinian citizens have been fleeing homes close to the border as both sides stepped up air strikes and engaged in gun battles throughout the day. Other public figures have taken to social media to criticise today's attacks, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: 'I utterly condemn the ongoing attacks on Israel and her citizens. 'There is no justification for this act of terror which is being perpetrated by those who seek to undermine any chance for future peace in the region. 'Israel has a right to defend herself.' Ireland's deputy premier has condemned attacks from Hamas militants on Israel and called for 'all hostilities' to stop. Mr Martin, who is Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs, expressed his sympathies over the lives that had been lost. 'I strongly condemn the firing of rockets into Israel by Hamas and attacks against Israel from Gaza,' Mr Martin said. 'I deeply regret the loss of life and the impact on civilians. A 20-year-old British man, who was working as a soldier in Israel, is among the hundreds of innocent victims killed in a series of surprise attacks launched by the terrorist group Hamas yesterday. Nathanel Young, from London, was serving in the 13th Battalion of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) when he was killed yesterday, according to the IDF, with his heartbroken family paying tribute to their son who was 'the life of the party'. The death toll from the conflict is continuing to rise, with more than 700 people said to be killed in Israel, with a further 400 killed in Palestine. Meanwhile, more than 100 Israelis are being held captive, a senior Hamas official said this evening. Thousands remain missing. British photographer Danny Darlington, who was visiting Israel from Berlin, is amongst those unaccounted for, with no one hearing from him since he went into hiding in a bunker in Nir Or, a kibbutz in Southern Israel, on Saturday. Jake Marlowe, 26, from London, is also missing. He was working at the Supernova Festival, near the Gaza Strip, when Palestinian militants stormed onto the site at the crack of dawn, firing rockets and sending in terrorists armed with guns to attack. This evening, Israeli rescue service Zaka tonight said at least 260 bodies have been recovered and removed from the festival site, with emergency workers branding the devastating scene a 'massacre'. An embassy source told MailOnline that they do not know whether Mr Marlowe is dead or has been captured. Londoner Nathanel Young, 20, is more than 600 people who were killed in Israel yesterday, it has been confirmed British photographer Danny Darlington, who was visiting Israel from Berlin, is amongst those unaccounted for UK national Jake Marlowe, 26, is amongst those unaccounted for and no one has heard from him since Saturday morning Earlier today, Mr Young's heartbroken sister Gaby Sahleve confirmed the death on social media, writing: 'We're heartbroken to share that our little brother Nathanel Young was tragically killed on the Gaza Border yesterday.' His was death later confirmed by the Israeli Embassy in London. Mr Young's brother, Eliot Young, said in a statement released to the BBC: 'Nathanel was full of life and the life of the party. He loved his family and friends and was loved by everyone. 'He loved music and was a talented DJ, DJing both on base and at Benji's House, the lone-soldier house where he was living.' Mr Young had been living in the Bayit Shel Benji lone-soldier house in Raanana, according to the Jewish News. Mr Darlington and Mr Marlowe's family have joined a heartbreaking roll call of people desperately trying to find their loved ones. The photographer's father David Darlington told the BBC that his son had been travelling with a German woman and that his half-sister had last spoken to him on Saturday morning. He said: 'The communications network is down and we haven't spoken to him for 24 hours.' Nathanel Young, from London, was serving in the 13th Battalion of the Israeli Defence Forces when he was killed yesterday The 20-year-old (pictured) grew up in north London before moving to Israel after leaving school Mr Young (pictured) had been living close to the city of Tel Aviv, which is 50 miles from the border with Gaza In a moving tribute his family described Mr Young (centre right) as 'the life of the party' and a 'talented DJ' Mr Darlington, who is originally from the UK but now lives in Berlin, was travelling with German girlfriend Carolin Bohl, According to the Associated Press Carolin's brother-in-law Sam Pasquesi said no one had heard from the missing pair since they went into hiding in the bunker. Their deaths come as hundreds remain missing in Israel following the surprise attack from the Palestinian militant group. No one has heard from Mr Marlowe since Saturday morning, when he was working at the music rave near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip. His mother Lisa told the Jewish News: 'He was doing security at this rave yesterday and called me at 4.30am to say all these rockets were flying over. 'Then, at about 5.30am, he texted to say 'signal very bad, everything OK, will keep you updated I promise you', and that he loves me.' The festival rave was one of the targets of Hamas' surprise attacks, seeing partygoers being killed and kidnapped. Tonight, the Israeli rescue service Zaka tonight said at least 260 bodies have been recovered and removed from the festival site. Jake Marlowe (pictured) was working as a security guard at a music festival that was attacked by Hamas militants Jake's partner, Shira, who asked not to be further identified, said she did not know he was missing until 6pm on Saturday evening Jake grew up in Kenton, in North London, and moved to Israel two years ago The Israeli Embassy in London said that Jake, who is Jewish and has lived in the Israeli city of Ma'alot for the past two years, is currently 'missing near Gaza' following the attack on the festival by Hamas militants on Saturday. READ MORE: Met Police confirms increased patrols in London amid fears of antisemitic attacks on capital's Jewish communities and huge protests following violence in Israel Advertisement Video footage from the festival shows the terrified youngsters, mostly in their 20s and 30s, fleeing on foot over the sand to their cars, screaming as shots are fired. Some are seen holding hands as they run away while others shout 'go, go, go'. Partygoers said they first realised something was wrong when a siren began blaring at dawn warning of rockets. Hamas terrorists then cut the electricity before firing rockets and blasting gunshots from jeeps they drove onto the site. Yaniv, an emergency worker who was amongst those medics who raced to the scene told public broadcaster Kan News he saw 'at least 200 bodies of Israelis in the area'. He said: 'There are at least 200 bodies of Israelis in the area I was in. It was a massacre. 'I've never seen anything like it in my life. It was a planned ambush. As people came out of the emergency exits, squads of terrorists were waiting for them there and just started picking them off.' One partygoer named Ortel said the rockets fired were quickly followed by gunshots being fired from jeeps full of gunmen. She told the BBC: 'They turned off the electricity and suddenly out of nowhere they [militants] come inside with gunfire, opening fire in every direction. 'Fifty terrorists arrived in vans, dressed in military uniforms. They fired bursts, and we reached a point where everyone stopped their vehicles and started running.' Horrifying videos shows some of those at the event being dragged off by Hamas, while others said they were forced to hide in trees. An embassy source told MailOnline earlier today that they do not know whether he is dead or has been captured. Jake's best friend, Lea Sztemberg, exclusively told MailOnline that he left the UK two years ago for Israel over anxieties related to the rise of anti-Semitism. An explosion in the city of Gaza following an Israeli airstrike on October 8 2023 Lea Sztemberg (pictured, left) exclusively told MailOnline that Jake left the UK two years ago for Israel over anxieties related to the rise of anti-Semitism She said: 'Just before he went to live in Israel, he was really worried about the UK situation with the rise of anti-Semitism. 'He was thinking he should go to Israel because everything that was happening to him in the UK was a lot for him.' Her partner, Daniel Aboudy, told Sky News that his yearning for more knowledge about his Jewish heritage started during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'He felt it was duty to trace back to his roots, and find his home that he felt he truly belonged to in Israel.' All three British men are said to be former pupils of the JFS Jewish School in north London. Irish-Israeli citizen, Kim Damti, 22, is also thought to be amongst the missing following the militant's surprise attack. The Irish government said it is contact with the young woman's family, whose mother is reportedly Irish, according to the Irish Times. Irish premier Leo Varadkar confirmed they were aware of the case. He said: 'We don't have any definite detail beyond that, but certainly (we're) aware of it and willing to offer any consular assistance we can to any Irish citizens or any dual Irish citizens that are caught up in these terrible attacks.' Terrified partygoers were seen fleeing the festival on foot, running across the sand, trying to jump into cars as Hamas terrorists fired shots Sitting on the back of a terrorist's motorcycle, her outstretched arms pointing towards her helpless boyfriend, student Noa Argamani pleads for her life Hamas fighters circumvented Israel's border with the Gaza Strip by flying in via paraglider, according to the Israeli military (pictured: an alleged paraglider crossing into Israel) Ireland's deputy premier and foreign affairs minister Micheal Martin added: 'We are aware of the case and the Department Foreign Affairs has been in touch... with the family. But we don't intend to comment specifically on the case at this stage,' the Tanaiste said. 'Could I say that as more information is revealed, I think the full horror of the crimes that were committed yesterday by Hamas are laid bare - hundreds and hundreds of innocent people slaughtered in the most savage of ways.' The death toll on both sides has passed 1,000 with thousands more injured. At least 700 people have been killed in Israel according to local media reports while 413 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, including dozens of children, the Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement on their official Facebook page. Today, the Israeli government formally gave the green light for 'significant military steps' to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack. The declaration came as military tried to crush Hamas terrorists in the southern towns and Israel intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Sunday after the militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel Israeli soldiers are pictured at the southern Israeli town of Ofakim on Sunday Hamas claimed to have fired 5,000 rockets into Israel from the occupied Gaza Strip, setting off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem Videos and photos shared online have showed the devastating scenes. Some footage showed women, children and the elderly being abducted by Hamas militants. MailOnline has contacted the Israeli Embassy. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'We don't comment on individual consular cases. However we can confirm we are in contact with and assisting the families of several individuals in Israel and the OPTs. 'The safety of all British nationals continues to be our utmost priority and we urge everyone to continue to follow our travel advice which is updated regularly. 'British nationals requiring consular assistance should call the following numbers: +972 (0)3 725 1222 or +972 (2) 5414100. If you experience technical difficulties with these or if you are in the UK, call +44 20 7008 5000.' The United States will send multiple military ships and aircraft closer to Israel as a show of support, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. It comes as Washington believes Hamas' latest attack may have been motivated to disrupt a potential normalizing of Israel-Saudi Arabia ties. Hamas fighters rampaged through Israeli towns as the country suffered its bloodiest day in decades on Saturday. Israel battered Palestinians with air strikes in Gaza on Sunday, with nearly 1,000 reportedly killed on both sides. The spiraling violence threatens to start a major new war in the Middle East. The United States will send multiple military ships and aircraft closer to Israel as a show of support, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said The spiraling violence threatens to start a major new war in the Middle East Austin also added the United States will provide munitions to Israel, and that its security assistance will begin moving on Sunday. The Pentagon will be adding fighter jets to the region as well, he said. U.S. President Joe Biden told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday that additional assistance for the Israeli Defense Forces was on its way to Israel and more would follow in the coming days, the White House said after their call. Austin said he ordered moving a carrier strike group closer to Israel, which includes the Ford carrier and ships that support it. 'I have directed the movement of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Eastern Mediterranean,' he said in his statement. The attack by Hamas launched at dawn on Saturday represented the biggest and deadliest incursion into Israel since Egypt and Syria launched a sudden assault in an effort to reclaim lost territory in the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago. 'It wouldn't be a surprise that part of the motivation may have been to disrupt efforts to bring Saudi Arabia and Israel together, along with other countries that may be interested in normalizing relations with Israel,' U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN earlier on Sunday. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets Hamas on Saturday said the attack was driven by what it called escalated Israeli attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and against Palestinians in Israeli prisons. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh had highlighted threats to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, the continuation of an Israeli blockade on Gaza and Israeli normalization with countries in the region. Netanyahu last month said he believed his country was on the cusp of peace with Saudi Arabia, predicting that the move could reshape the Middle East. Saudi Arabia, the home of Islam's two holiest shrines, has long insisted on the Palestinians' right to statehood as a condition of recognizing Israel - something many members of Netanyahu's nationalist religious coalition have long resisted. The United States on Sunday said that Saudi-Israel normalization efforts should continue despite the latest attack. 'We think it would be in both countries' interests to continue to pursue this possibility,' U.S. Deputy National Security adviser Jon Finer told Fox News Sunday. Blinken added the United States has also taken note of reports of several Americans killed and kidnapped in Israel, and Washington is looking to verify the details and figures. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City on Sunday 'We have reports that several Americans were killed. We're working overtime to verify that,' Blinken said. The secretary labeled the attack on Israel as a 'terrorist attack by a terrorist organization.' Blinken added that there was relative calm on Sunday in most of Israel but intense fighting in Gaza, an Israeli-blockaded Palestinian enclave that has witnessed weeks of protests by youth groups due to long-time grievances related to the Israeli military occupation, the Palestinian national cause and prolonged economic strife. He added that there was not yet any evidence seen by the United States of Iran being behind the latest attack in Israel but he noted the long-standing ties between Iran and Hamas, which governs Gaza. The UK government is working to establish the status of UK citizens in Israel Israeli army says it has destroyed 800 targets so far in the Gaza strip Dramatic video footage caught the moment the Islamic National Bank in Gaza was hit during an Israeli air strike on Sunday. Footage captured the second the bank in the Rimal district of Gaza city was struck, sending a huge a cloud of smoke and dust into the air, tearing through the neighbourhood and destroying several nearby buildings. It comes as the Gaza Strip suffered its deadliest day in 15 years in the wake of the unprecedented attack by Hamas into Israel, with air strikes killing nearly 300 Palestinians in 24 hours, according to Palestinian officials. Among those dead are three-month-old twins killed with their mother and three sisters in an air strike on Saturday in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, family members said. At least 10 people were killed in that strike, which destroyed four houses. Rescuers were still trying to find survivors in the rubble on Sunday. Dramatic footage caught the moment Gaza's Islamic National Bank exploded after being hit during Israeli air strikes The Gaza Strip has suffered its deadliest day in 15 years in the wake of the unprecedented attack by Hamas into Israel Video footage captured the second the Islamic National Bank was struck, sending a huge cloud of smoke and flames into the air Nearby buildings were destroyed during the strike on the bank in the Rimal district Two men stand near the site of the explosion, which tore through the neighbourhood and ripped overhead wires Air strikes have killed nearly 300 Palestinians in 24 hours, according to Palestinian officials Among those dead are three-month-old twins killed with their mother and three sisters in an air strike on Saturday Israeli tanks being transported on a road near Sderot. Israel formally declared war on Hamas on Sunday Israeli soldiers in the southern Israeli town of Ofakim Israel's main military spokesman called the attack by Hamas fighters, who killed at least 700 Israelis and abducted dozens, as 'the worst massacre of innocent civilians in Israel's history' and the response has been correspondingly harsh. The Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip has reported 370 Palestinians killed so far, and another 2,200 wounded, with nearly 300 killed on Saturday, the largest number of Palestinians killed in Gaza by Israeli attacks in a single day since 2008. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to exact 'mighty vengeance for this wicked day'. In Gaza, Sabreen Abu Daqqa, who was dug from the rubble of the houses struck in Khan Younis, woke up in hospital to learn three of her children had been killed, two of them had been wounded, and the fate of a sixth was unclear. 'Everything collapsed on top of us. My children were around me,' she said, her voice weak as she spoke from hospital. She called out for her children from under the rubble, but heard no reply. 'They began to remove the rubble off me little by little. It took them three hours,' she said. Israeli air strikes on Gaza began soon after the Hamas attack and continued overnight and into Sunday, destroying the group's offices and training camps, along with houses and other buildings. Abu Daqqa and residents of three other homes destroyed in the air strikes said they had received no forewarning from Israel, saying this was different from previous rounds of bombardment during which Israeli security forces had called residents telling them to evacuate in advance of an attack. The Israeli military, which regularly accuses Hamas of deliberately operating in residential and other civilian buildings, has declined to comment. The Israeli army has said its fighter jets have destroyed 800 militant targets so far in the Gaza Strip. Salama Marouf, head of the Hamas government media office, rejected this as a 'cover to justify the occupation's aggression against civilian people and property.' In Rafah city, adjacent to the Egyptian border, an Israeli air strike killed 12 members of the Abu Qouta family, relatives said. Seven other family members were believed to be under the rubble, they added. Militant Hamas rulers carried out an unprecedented attack of Israel on Saturday, during the Shabbat and the last of the Jewish High Holy Days The British Government says it is working to establish the status of British citizens currently in Israel amid the escalating situation Smoke rises from a damaged three-storey building in Gaza following Israeli air strikes Rockets fired from the Gaza strip from Israel on Sunday Home to some 2 million people, the Gaza Strip has been run by Hamas since it seized control of the territory in 2007. Its economy has long been choked by a blockade imposed by Israel with Egypt's help. As air strikes began on Saturday, thousands of Palestinians living near the frontier with Israel fled their homes. READ MORE: US plans to move Navy ships and military aircraft closer to Israel in a show of support as conflict rages on in Middle East after Hamas' brutal attack on Israel Advertisement Meanwhile the Government is working to establish the status of UK citizens in Israel, Rishi Sunak said, as deadly attacks by Hamas saw one British man serving in the country's army killed. The Prime Minister declared 'terrorism will not prevail' and pledged 'steadfast support' for his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu as the death toll from the incursion climbed to at least 600 on Sunday. It comes as the family of 20-year-old Nathanel Young, a Briton serving with the Israeli Defence Services, said he had been killed on the Gaza border on Saturday. Two other UK nationals - 26-year-old Jake Marlowe, who went to the same London school as Mr Young and photographer Dan Darlington - are also thought to be missing. In a statement delivered from Chequers, the Prime Minister said he had spoken to the Israeli PM on Sunday and added that 'terrorism will not prevail'. He said: 'The scenes that we've seen in Israel over the past 36 hours are truly horrifying. 'I want to express my absolute solidarity for the people of Israel now is not a time for equivocation, and I'm unequivocal. Hamas, and the people who support Hamas, are fully responsible for this appalling act of terror, for the murder of civilians and for the kidnapping of innocent people, including children.' UK prime minister Rishi Sunak described the scenes in Israel as 'truly horrifying' and condemned Hamas for the 'appalling act of terror' The Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip has reported 370 Palestinians killed so far, and another 2,200 wounded, with nearly 300 killed on Saturday The Israeli army has said its fighter jets have destroyed 800 militant targets so far in the Gaza Strip UNRWA, the U.N. agency that provides essential services to Palestinians, said at least 20,000 Palestinians were taking shelter at 44 of the schools it operates in the Gaza Strip. In a statement, UNRWA said two boys, both students at UN-run schools in Khan Younis and Beit Hanoun, were confirmed to be among those killed. Three UNRWA schools suffered 'collateral damages' caused by Israeli airstrikes, it added. Eid Al-Attar, a teacher, raced to an UNRWA school with his five children and wheelchair-bound brother as Israeli air strikes hit near their houses in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahiya. 'We lived through five wars since 2008, each has been harsher more difficult than the other,' he said. Ashraf Al-Qidra, the spokesman of the Gaza Health Ministry, said hospitals had been overwhelmed and were depending on worn-out generators for electricity after Israel cut the 120 megawatts it supplies to the Gaza Strip on Saturday. Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said on Saturday Israel would cut off the power supply to the Gaza Strip, declaring 'what has been up until now will no longer be,' signaling Israel views the attack as a complete game changer. The SNP is on course for a devastating defeat at the next Holyrood election and Anas Sarwar could be the next First Minister, a poll has revealed. Labour would replace the SNP as Scotland's biggest party thanks to the freefall in support for the Nationalists, according to the latest study into Scots' voting intentions. Support for the SNP collapsed at last week's Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election, where the Nationalists were trounced by Labour. A new YouGov poll shows former SNP voters are abandoning it in droves, putting Scottish Labour leader Mr Sarwar in line to become the next First Minister. The survey of more than 1,000 Scots suggests Labour would overtake the SNP and become Holyrood's largest party after a decade languishing in third place. Anas Sarwar continues to be the most popular party leader north of the Border The Sunday Times poll indicates that Labour would win one more seat than the SNP. With neither the Liberal Democrats or Tories willing to support the SNP, such a result would propel Mr Sarwar into Bute House. Mr Sarwar continues to be the most popular party leader north of the Border, with an unchanged approval rating from three months ago of minus 2. Mr Yousaf's rating has plummeted to minus 19, according to the poll carried out in the three days prior to the by-election. Polling expert Sir John Curtice said: 'The decline in SNP support not only threatens its dominance of Scotland's representation at Westminster, it could eventually undermine its control of Holyrood.' Sir John suggested Labour could win up 42 seats at the next general election with a similar performance to Rutherglen and Hamilton West. He also said that Mr Yousaf was 'struggling to make a favourable opinion on Scots', with only 36 per cent of SNP voters reckoning he is doing a good job. Sir John added: 'The SNP leader's unpopularity is likely to be one of the reasons why one in six supporters of independence are currently backing Labour.' At the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool today, Mr Sarwar is expected to say: 'The cracks in the foundations of the SNP are deeper and wider than they have ever recognised.' Following last week's by-election, Mr Yousaf said: 'There's a message voters are sending us. We'll reflect, regroup, reorganise and come back stronger.' A Scottish Tory spokesman said: 'Across the country, only the Scottish Conservatives can unseat the independence-obsessed SNP and get the focus back on voters' real priorities.' It showed the class's content - like the belief that BMI should stand for 'badly mistaken idea' because it does not take into account one's 'gender or ethnicity' Some of its lessons were laid bare Sunday by Fox News in the form of several leaked PowerPoint slides A prestigious US medical school reportedly offered a course over the summer that promoted 'alarming' progressive ideals - including several relating to gender, and Diversity, equity, and inclusion. The course, titled 'Health Equity and Justice,' was held at Missouri's Washington University School of Medicine this past summer - and some of its alleged lessons were laid bare Sunday by Fox News. The outlet shared a series of PowerPoint slides that seemed to show the class's irregular content - including one that insisted that BMI should stand for 'badly mistaken idea' because it does not take into account 'a persons gender or ethnicity.' Another that centers around 'health equity' argues nutrition is inherently racist - due to the fact the white doctor who invented the concept of calorie counting carried out nutrition experiments on aboriginal children in the 1940s. The lesson then concludes with a series of points marking the 'structural differences between cis and trans individuals', with one insisting that the 'contribution of these structural differences to gender identity [remains] not clear.' The course, titled 'Health Equity and Justice,' was held at Missouri 's Washington University School of Medicine this past summer - and some of its alleged lessons were laid bare Sunday by Fox News. The St Louis school's Brookings Hall building is seen here The slide - unlike the others - seems to promote the recent use of cross-sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone blockers, even while conceding the effect of such hormones on a human's biological neural network remains 'unknown.' In the leaked page pertaining to BMI - which stands for 'Body Mass Index' - instructors note how 'current BMIs are based on the imagined "ideal" Caucasian,' and thus should be taken with a grain of salt. BMI is a common medical measure used to calculate a person's ideal weight to their height. It was invented in the 1800s by a Belgian mathematician. Titled 'Why BMI should stand for "Badly Mistaken Idea,"' the Washington University slide in question notes: 'Current BMI cutoffs are based on the imagined "ideal" Caucasian and do not consider a person's gender ethnicity. 'Higher and lower BMI's [sic] might be healthier for different groups of people.' Another bullet argues: 'Since many people with higher BMIs are healthy, the BMI can perpetuate weight bias. 'People in larger bodies,' it adds, ' tend to get less quality of care.' It further states 'too much focus on weight can encourage harmful eating habits', and the 'BMI and weight bias' created by the scientific system 'can discourage people from seeking care, leading to worse health outcomes.' The slide then warns that stigmas surrounding weight could '[cause] chronic stress,' while insisting that there are better predictors of [one's] health status.' David H. Perlmutter is the dean at the School of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis A series of PowerPoint slides seemed to show the class's irregular content. Pictured: Students in 2021 at the Washington University School of Medicine The slides obtained by Fox make no mention of any such alternative - though another looks to impart an entirely different message involving health when it comes to race. Labeled 'Racism and Nutrition', the slide argues that nutrition, by nature is steeped in racism. The slide offers a TikTok video in which a black man explains the first person who determined how many calories a day are needed in order to survive, Canada's Dr. Lionel Bradley Pett, 'found out exactly what it took to keep the human body alive by starving native children to death.' The assertion, while true, seems to insinuate that calorie counting is an unavoidably racist construct as a result - with the smiling TikToker eventually concluding of the government-sanctioned experiments: 'And thats how the deaths of indigenous children became todays moment in White History. 'Happy Indigenous Heritage Month,' he adds. Then, in a slide that appears to mark the alleged lesson's conclusion, instructors write that 'several modalities demonstrate structural differences between' straight and LGBTQ subjects - before noting that the 'contribution of these structural differences to gender identity [is] not clear.' In a final line, instructors write that the 'effect of gender-affirming hormone therapy or type of regimen on neural circuity of gender identity is unknown' - while still promoting puberty blockers. Washington University was recently forced to do away with its doling out of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones on campus because of the newly passed state law Speaking to Fox Sunday, Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, the chairman of a national association of medical professionals against polarizing, progressive ideas being placed in the US healthcare system, said that slide to him appeared most dangerous. 'Most concerning is their persistent advocacy for the use of puberty blockers in children,' the 'Do Not Harm' doctor said, citing how it goes against laws currently in place in the state where the school, headed by Dean David H. Perlmutter, is set. 'This law aligns with the best scientific evidence, as determined by five European nations whose healthcare systems have conducted thorough and systematic research,' said Goldfarb, while also slamming the other slides obtained by the outlet. He said they 'appear to actively promote highly political and divisive ideologies to its students.' Washington University - which was recently forced to do away with its doling out of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones on campus because of the newly passed state law - did not immediately respond to a DailyMail.com request for comment. According to the school's website, Perlmutter 'leads a $3.2 billion academic medical center.' The school is the third largest research-intensive medical school in the US, and boasts a $1.2 billion annual investment in basic and medical science research. The Hamas leader behind the deadliest attack on Israel watched and celebrated the invasion from the safety of his Qatar office. Ismail Haniyeh was spotted with other Hamas officials cheering for joy before they prostrated themselves on the floor and praised God. It came as the terrorist group launched the single deadliest attack ever launched against Israel - which the Jewish state has claimed is 'our 9/11'. Israeli media said at least 700 people were killed and 2,000 wounded in Saturday's attack. US secretary of state Antony Blinken said as many as 1,000 Hamas fighters were involved in the assault, a high figure that underscored the extent of planning by the militant group ruling Gaza. Ismail Haniyeh, pictured, was spotted with other Hamas officials cheering for joy in the safety of Qatar A member of the Israeli security forces stands near burning cars following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, southern Israe The gunmen rampaged for hours, gunning down civilians in towns, along roads and at a techno music festival being held in the desert near Gaza. Hamas fighters have also taken an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive into Gaza. Haniyeh has emerged as the public's face behind Saturday's attack. He gave a speech hailing the killings as the beginning of a new era in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He said: 'Enough is enough, the cycle of intifadas and revolutions in the battle to liberate our Palestinian land and our prisoners languishing in occupation prisons must be completed.' The terror chief also hinted that further violence was coming to Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. Hamas, which advocates Israel's destruction, said the attack was driven by what it said were Israel's escalated attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, Jerusalem and against Palestinians in Israeli prisons. 'This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on earth,' Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif said, announcing the start of the operation in a broadcast on Hamas media and calling on Palestinians everywhere to fight. However, Saturday's attack may have been coordinated with Hamas' regional allies such as Iran and Lebanon's Hizbollah, The Telegraph reported. Qatar has said it holds Israel responsible for Saturday's massacre. They have hosted Hanieyh in an office in Doha for a number of years, but also deny they have supported Hamas. The gulf state has also hosted the Taliban, claiming it is an effort to foster mediation efforts between the terror group and the West. Haniyeh was born in the al-Shati refugee camp in 1962. His parents fled their homes in what is now Ashkelon near the Gaza border during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. He joined Hamas while studying Arabic literature at university and rose through the ranks. Throughout his earlier life, he was in and out of Israeli prisons including a six-month stint in 1988. Also, he was locked up for three years in 1989 during the First Intifada on terror group memberships charges. He was deported to Lebanon before returning to Gaza where he survived at least one Israeli assassination attempt in the early 2000s during the Second Intifada. In 2006, he came to prominence worldwide, leading Hamas to an early election victory. This prompted a civil war and a complete takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas. In 2016 Haniyeh relocated from Gaza to Qatar. The attacks on Saturday have prompted mass violence and bloodshed. Israeli Defence Forces carried out artillery strikes against Lebanon in the disputed area of Mount Dov, following mortar fire directed towards Israel from its northern neighbour. The UN agency for Palestinian Refugees, UNRWA, said over 20,000 people were sheltering in 44 of its schools around Gaza by Saturday evening - adding that three of these had suffered 'collateral' damage from Israeli airstrikes. Iran-backed Hezbollah militants said it was behind the strikes and the attack was carried out 'in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance', reported the BBC. The Islamic Republic of Iran also brandished a gigantic anti-Israel billboard in Tehran following the strike. It showed a chequered keffiye covering the Star of David, entitled 'Operation Al-Aqsa Flood'. The Israeli government formally declared war on Sunday and gave the green light for 'significant military steps' to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack. Palestinian cross the Gaza-Israel border fence in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip in a surprise incursion into southern Israel on Saturday The declaration came as the military tried to crush fighters still in southern towns and intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip. The toll passed 1,000 dead and thousands wounded on both sides. More than 24 hours after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still trying to defeat the last groups of militants holed up in several towns. At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel, a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades, and more than 300 have been killed in Gaza as Israeli airstrikes pound the territory. The Israeli rescue service Zaka said its paramedics removed about 260 bodies from a music festival attended by thousands that came under attack. The total figure is expected to be higher as other paramedic teams were working in the area. Video on social media and Israeli news outlets showed dozens of festivalgoers running through an open field as gunshots rang out. Many hid in nearby fruit orchards or were gunned down as they fled. The declaration of war portended greater fighting ahead, and a major question was whether Israel would launch a ground assault into Gaza, a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. People walk atop the rubble of a tower destroyed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza on Saturday Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from Ashkelon in southern Israel early Sunday Meanwhile, in northern Israel, a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group fanned fears that the fighting could expand into a wider regional war. Authorities were still trying to determine how many civilians and soldiers were seized by Hamas fighters during the mayhem and taken back to Gaza. From videos and witnesses, the captives are known to include women, children and the elderly. Among the missing is British soldier Jake Marlowe, 26, who has not been heard from since Saturday morning after he was working as part of a security team at the festival near Re'im, a village close to the border with Gaza in the south of Israel. A member of Israeli police is seen in Ashkelon, southern Israel yesterday after the Hamas offensive The Jewish nation is raining down fire on fighters in the Gaza strip in a ruthless counteroffensive in the south while it also pounds Lebanon with artillery in the north. In a post on X, he said: 'As the barbarity of today's atrocities becomes clearer, we stand unequivocally with Israel.' US President Joe Biden 'unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza', and said 'we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel'. 'Terrorism is never justified. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people,' he said. Gaza has been devastated by four wars and countless skirmishes between Hamas and Israel since the militants seized control of the strip in 2007. But the scenes of violence inside Israel itself were beyond anything seen there even at the height of the Palestinian Intifada uprisings of past decades. That Israel was caught completely off guard was lamented as one of the worst intelligence failures in its history, a shock to a nation that boasts of its intensive infiltration and monitoring of militants. A counterterrorism expert and former member of the Israeli Defense Force has issued a stern warning to 'work quickly' to save hostages in Gaza taken by Hamas. Aaron Cohen spoke to Fox News saying it's imperative to retrieve those taken before the situation escalates. 'The longer Israel waits to be able to conduct those hostage rescues in Gaza, the longer the terrorists have to move around those hostages,' he said. 'Which makes it more difficult for our Mossad and our Shin Bet security or intelligence agencies to find them. 'So, Israel has to work very quickly to be able to strike those targets.' Cohen explained that the 'longer they wait, the more those hostages are going to get moved around.' More than 100 people are being held hostage, Hamas claimed, according to the Associated Press. Counterterrorism expert Aaron Cohen has issued a warning to the Israel military to 'work quickly' to save hostages in Gaza taken by Hamas 'The more sick they're going to get, the more tired they're going to get and the more the Hamas will be able to continue to build layers in between the Israeli intelligence agencies and those hostages,' he added. The former Israeli special operator claimed Israel is a 'master' of hostage rescue which will be advantageous during the retrieval process. He noted that Israel performed one of the 'most spectacular' rescue raids in 1976, when 103 hostages were taken prisoner to Entebbe, Uganda. The hostages were flown there in a plane hijacked by members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. 'Israel invented or perfected the hostage rescue game and what we're going to see now is Israel doing what it does best,' he said. Images shared on social media appear to show an armed Hamas militant taking a bound and wounded Israeli woman hostage 'It's complicated, there are two different fronts here that Israel has to deal with. 'There are hostages that are currently being held inside of Israel, and there are hostages that are now being held in Gaza, whether they're in tunnels, or in buildings or in apartments,' adding that 'time if of the essence.' 'I believe that you're going to see Israel dial things up and do what they do best, which is selective operations, using disguise, using surprise and using audacity and tenaciousness,' he said. 'Let me tell you, those assets, they're on par with Delta Force. They're on par with DEVGRU or SEAL Team Six. 'The Israelis are finely tuned machines when it comes to these operations.' Cohen noted that Israel performed one of the 'most spectacular' rescue raids in 1976 (pictured after retrieving hostages), when 103 hostages were taken prisoner to Entebbe, Uganda An Israeli hostage is greeted on her return to Israel after Operation Entebbe on 3rd July 1976, in which, Israeli special forces rescued 100 hostages held at Entebbe Airport in Uganda The Israeli government formally declared war Sunday and gave the green light for 'significant military steps' to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack from the Gaza Strip. More than 24 hours after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still trying to crush the last groups of militant fighters holed up in several towns of southern Israel. At least 600 people have reportedly been killed in Israel and more than 300 have been killed in Gaza as Israeli airstrikes pound the territory. Authorities were still trying to determine how many civilians and soldiers were seized by Hamas fighters during the mayhem and taken back to Gaza. This is the bizarre moment a man's fatal skydiving accident was caught on surveillance video seconds before he hit the ground and died. Around 12.25pm Saturday, the man was seen in the reflection of the back car window that was parked in the driveway of a Titusville, Florida, home. The unnamed skydiver hit the pavement and was found dead. 'He landed right here,' James Sconiers, the owner of the house told WKMG. Sconiers approached the man and repeatedly asked if he could hear him, but got no response. Around 12.25pm Saturday, the man was seen in the reflection of the back car window that was parked in the driveway of a Titusville, Florida, home It is unclear if the man was skydiving by himself or if he was with others The man was found wearing neon yellow parachute gear. Sconiers, a Vietnam Veteran, said: 'Look at the video and look at what happened. Why did he fall so hard if all the safety mechanisms in place? Something tells me there's a problem there.' Police revealed the man was found just about a block away from the Arthur Dunn Airpark. The airpark is home to the Skydive Space Center. When asked about the incident by WKMG, center officials refused to comment. It is unclear if the man was skydiving by himself or if he was with others. At the time of the accident, the Titusville Fire Department post on X and said: '**Skydiver down** Report of skydiver down on Merry Ln. this located just adjacent to Arthur-Dunn Airpark.' James Sconiers, the owner of the house, said 'Look at the video and look at what happened. Why did he fall so hard if all the safety mechanisms in place? Something tells me there's a problem there' The man was found wearing neon yellow parachute gear Police revealed the man was found just about a block away from the Arthur Dunn Airpark The airpark is home to the Skydive Space Center. When asked about the incident by WKMG, center officials refused to comment No further details have been released on what exactly happened, but Sconiers insisted that the Florida community needs answers. 'God forbid I'm right here, you know, and from a safety perspective we need to make sure things is the way it's supposed to be,' Sconiers said. Titusville Police said they would release more information once the investigation is complete. DailyMail.com reached out to the department but did not get an immediate response. History regularly repeats the fact that going to war brings with it unexpected costs. Russia didnt expect its invasion of Ukraine to cost so much. This began with Russian leaders convincing themselves that Ukrainian resistance would not be a problem and would be over quickly. Many Russian government and military officials knew otherwise but the senior decision makers dismissed such pessimistic assessments. To make matters worse, Russian leader Vladimir Putin is determined to wear down Ukrainian resistance, despite heavy Russian losses. The Russian plan includes reducing Russian casualties by continuing to spend heavily on weapons, munitions and missile attacks on Ukrainian economic targets. Russia has coped a fair amount with Western economic sanctions and convinced the Russian population that the war effort is for the defense of Russia against NATO aggression. Russia can afford this because they have an annual GDP of over two trillion dollars and the ability to increase annual defense spending to over $100 billion. Thats up from $86 billion in 2022 and $66 billion in 2021. A decade ago, annual defense spending was $20 billion. This is tolerated by Russian taxpayers because, before 2022, the military threat was hypothetical. That changed in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine as part of an effort to protect Russia from purported inevitable NATO aggression. All that makes no sense to most Westerners, but Ukrainians understood as did NATOs East European members, especially Poland and the Baltic States. Russia does not have a blank check for defense spending. The invasion of Ukraine triggered massive Western sanctions. These did not stop Russian aggression but did impose limits to what Russia could do with a larger defense budget, A wartime defense budget has very different priorities than it does in peacetime. For Russia, this is a major problem in Ukraine, where their faltering invasion effort turned out to be a lot more expensive than expected. While the salaries of the troops and operating costs of the military came to $85 billion, the additional wartime expenses included $34 billion for lost weapons and equipment as well as $21 billion for medical care of those wounded and $26 billion for compensating the families of those killed in combat. The latter is also a good way for foreign intelligence agencies to estimate Russian casualties. Those families, especially if they consist of a wife and children, need continued support. Without this compensation you cannot obtain volunteers who join to be career officers and NCOs. For these men the military is a job that they will normally hold for about twenty years before they are eligible to retire with lifetime monthly pay. This compensation is 2.5 percent of monthly pay for every year served. Retire after 20 years and you get half your active duty pay. Retire after 40 years and you continue getting the same monthly pay received while on active service. There are large one-time payments for those badly wounded and even higher payments to families of soldiers killed. These payments go only to career officers and soldiers because conscripts only serve one year and are prohibited from being sent to a foreign war. Families of conscripts get lesser death benefits. In 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, over half of Russian military personnel were either volunteers serving on contracts or career officers. The ability of the military to hold onto those contract (contrakti) soldiers is always weakened if there are a lot of casualties or too much chance of being sent to a combat zone. This manifested itself in 2022 when contract troops refused to renew contracts. Most of the combat units sent into Ukraine were composed of contract troops who were killed in large numbers. When the survivors got back to Russia, either because of wounds or because many combat battalions returned because of heavy losses, there was a sudden shortage of contract soldiers. That was because most contract troops were near the end of their two-to-three-year contracts and refused to renew. The army had signed up many soldiers for the new (since 2016) short term (six to twelve month) contracts for former soldiers or conscripts willing to try it, and found that there were far fewer vets willing to sign these short contracts because so few recent short-term contract soldiers had survived service in Ukraine. Soldiers with time left on their contracts were a liability because they told anyone who would listen that the Ukraine operation had been a disaster for Russian troops because of determined and well-armed Ukrainians regularly ambushing columns of Russian armored vehicles and quickly destroying most of them. While Russian troops were forbidden to take cell phones with them into Ukraine, the Ukrainians still had them to take photos and videos of the aftermath of these battles, and these were getting back to Russia where Russian veterans of the fighting confirmed they had seen the same grisly evidence of Russian losses or even survived one of these battles. Russia played down these losses but the Ukrainian military published daily updates of Russian losses in terms of soldiers killed, wounded or captured as well as equipment losses. After thirty days of fighting the Ukrainians were claiming that over a third of Russian troops sent into Ukraine had been killed, wounded or captured with even larger quantities of vehicles and weapons lost. After six weeks the Russian military admitted that losses were heavier than previously acknowledged but would not give exact figures. Without a lot of contract soldiers Russia could not replace initial losses. Replacing lost tanks and other vehicles also proved to be more difficult than expected. On paper Russia had thousands of fully armed and equipped tanks and other armored vehicles in reserve for quickly replacing combat losses. Not surprisingly those reserve vehicles were often in bad shape, having been poorly maintained by conscripts and larcenous civilians who made a lot of money by taking key items from these vehicles and selling them on the black market. These missing items were usually not reported missing until troops received these vehicles, which were generally mobile enough to be driven onto a railroad flatcar for transportation to units needing them. Once received these reserve vehicles were found missing equipment and in need of extensive repairs to make the vehicles combat ready. This was nothing new and has been common since the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991 and the mighty Red Army lost 80 percent of its personnel strength but few of its ships, aircraft, vehicles and heavy weapons. Most of these were in reserve even though many were found abandoned throughout Russia, and new groups of these abandoned vehicles are still being found in forests while known concentrations of these vehicles or aircraft have been picked clean of useful parts. Conscription was in even worse shape, with the number of conscripts available declining each year. In April 2018 the Russian military only ended up with 128,000 conscripts during the semiannual draft call. This was the lowest since 2006, a year when there were more young men available as well as more deferments and rampant draft dodging. In the years since 2018 the decline was reversed by issuing fewer deferments, punishing more draft dodgers and enforcing laws against conscripts serving in combat zones. The one exception was if the fighting was in Russia-held portions of Ukraine (since the 2014 invasion) and this was the excuse the government used in 2022 as it claimed they were not invading Ukraine but reuniting Ukraine with Russia. The Ukrainians as well as Russian conscripts and their families disagree with this interpretation of the invasion. Another reason for fewer conscripts is that there were fewer young men to conscript because of lower birth rates ,and more young men who were either (or all) in poor physical shape, addicted to drugs, or have a police record and considered more trouble than they are worth if conscripted. All this was expected but since the 1990s Russia has been seeking solutions and finding none that work well enough to keep the military up to strength. As early as 2012 a parliament-ordered investigation found that the army was short a third of the privates, the lowest ranking enlisted troops, they were supposed to have. The Russian military, mainly the Army and Interior Ministry paramilitary units, are supposed to have a million personnel. But officials admitted in 2011, off-the-record, that the real number was closer to 800,000 and slowly but relentlessly declining. A subsequent investigation confirmed this. In 2021 it was still no more than 800,000. Since 2012 the military has come up with a growing list of solutions for the problem but all these efforts do is slow the decline of military manpower numbers, not reverse it. Current fixes involve calling up reservists, usually for a brief period to test the system. Instead of letting the reservists quickly return to civilian life, the military is keeping many of the reservists for six months or more. This was one reason for the short-term (less than 12 month) contract. Doing this too often made reservists refuse to appear when recalled. The economic recession since 2014, caused by oil prices and Western sanctions, was supposed to encourage more Russians to volunteer but that did not happen and there was less money for increasing the pay for contract soldiers. Recruiting foreigners had minimal impact and so the Russian military keeps fading away. Before the Ukraine invasion the military had 220,000 officers, also on contracts, many veteran "contract personnel" who provide technical experts, and other senior enlisted personnel. These are higher paid contract soldiers, some with a decade or more of service, who often become the long-absent Russian NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer, or sergeants) but there are not enough of these NCOs to make a difference. Conscripts still make up nearly half of the military and it's getting harder and harder to find enough people to conscript or willing to sign a contract. This means there are two classes of Russian military personnel. Most (about 70 percent) are much less capable with most of them conscripts in for one year of service or new contract soldiers on two- or three-year contracts. These are supervised by the inexperienced junior officers and a much smaller number of career NCOs. A third of the military are more enthusiastic volunteers and conscripts. These staff the elite special operations, airborne, security and specialist units. In other words, while the government claims to have a million military personnel on duty, the reality is that there are only about 200,000 troops on active duty who are good at what they do and want to be in the military. Conscripts are inducted twice a year, in April and October. In 2011, the April intake was nominally 220,000 but fewer than that actually made it into uniform. In 2018 the April draft was 128,000. In 2011 only about 75 percent of the men who showed up were considered fit to take. In 2018 standards of fitness for military service are much less strict and the military has to cope with a lot more recruits who are of marginal use. In 2012 the military reluctantly accepted the fact that they would not be able to obtain more than 270,000 conscripts a year needed to reach the official strength of a million personnel. In the last six years maintaining anything close to that number meant taking less willing and able men. Senior leaders now accept that they will never command a million-man force. Lowering their standards in order to make their annual quotas just fills the ranks with more troublesome people, who cause more of the good troops to get out. In the last few years, the military has quietly stopped accepting many volunteers or conscripts from Moslem areas, especially the Caucasus (particularly Chechnya and Dagestan). The wisdom of this was made clear when Russian intelligence reported that the most effective Russian Moslems who joined and fought for Islamic terrorist groups were military veterans. In contrast, Russian Moslems who had not served in the military were less likely to become Islamic terrorists and if they did, they were used as suicide bombers or support staff, not as long-term fighters. Moreover, commanders continued to report that if more than a few percent of their troops were Moslems there would be morale problems or worse. The basic recruiting problem is twofold. First, military service is very unpopular, and potential conscripts are increasingly successful at dodging the draft deliberately or otherwise. But the biggest problem is that the number of 18- year-olds is rapidly declining each year. By 2009 all draftees were born after the Soviet Union dissolved. That was when the birth rate went south year after year. Not so much because the Soviet Union was gone but more because of the economic collapse (caused by decades of communist misrule) that precipitated the collapse of the communist government. The number of available draftees went from 1.5 million a year in the early 1990s to less than half that today. Less than half those potential conscripts are showing up and many have criminal records or tendencies that help sustain the abuse of new recruits that have made military service so unsavory. With conscripts now in for only a year, rather than two, the military is forced to take a lot of marginal (sickly, overweight, bad attitudes, drug users) recruits in order to keep the military and Ministry of Interior units up to strength. This worked during the cold war because conscript service was three years for elite units. With one-year conscripts, elite airborne and commando units using some conscripts find that these eager conscripts take a year to master the skills needed to be useful and then they are discharged. Few choose to remain in uniform and become career soldiers. That's primarily because the Russian military is seen as a crippled institution and one not likely to get better any time soon. With so many of the troops now one-year conscripts, an increasing number of the best officers and NCOs get tired of coping with all the alcoholics, drug users, and petty criminals that are taken in just to make quotas. With the exodus of the best leaders and a growing proportion of ill-trained and unreliable conscripts, the Russian military is more of a mirage than an effective combat (or even police) organization. The military is unpopular for conscripts mainly because of the brutal treatment they receive. This has not been getting better and "hazing" incidents are still increasing each year. This is serious stuff. There are a lot of reasons for not wanting to be in the Russian Army but the worst of them is the hazing. One year conscription was supposed to solve this but new conscripts are tormented by conscripts who have been in a few months longer. It was thought that this sort of thing would speed the demise of conscription in Russia, once the Cold War ended in 1991. Didn't work out that way. The government found that, even among the "contract soldiers the old abuses lived on and that most of the best contract soldiers left when their contract was up. It was because of the brutality and lack of discipline in the barracks. The hazing is most frequently committed by troops who have been in six months or so against the new recruits. But this extends to a pattern of abuse and brutality by all senior enlisted troops against junior ones. It remains out of control. The abuse continues to exist in part because of the growing animosity against troops who are not ethnic Russians and especially against those who are Moslem. Because of higher birth rates among the Moslem populations, nearly 15 percent of eligible conscripts are Moslems and that is seen as more of a problem than a solution. This hazing originally developed after World War II, when Russia deliberately avoided developing professional NCOs. They preferred to have officers take care of nearly all troop supervision. The Soviets failed to note that good NCOs were the key to effective troops. The Soviets felt that officers were more politically reliable, as they were more carefully selected and monitored. The NCOs that did exist were treated as slightly more reliable enlisted men but given little real authority. Since officers did not live with the men, slack discipline in the barracks gave rise to the vicious hazing and exploitation of junior conscripts by the senior ones. This led to very low morale, and a lot of suicides, theft, sabotage, and desertions. This hazing has been one of the basic causes of crimes in the Russian armed forces, accounting for 20 to 30 percent of all soldier crimes. This has caused a suicide rate that is among the highest in the world. Poor working conditions in general also mean that Russian soldiers are nearly twice as likely to die from accidents, or suicide, then American soldiers. Long recognized as a problem, no solution to the hazing ever worked. Conscription itself, and the prospect of being exposed to the hazing has led to a massive increase in draft dodging. Bribes, and document fraud are freely used. Few parents, or potential conscripts, consider this a crime. Avoiding the draft is seen as a form of self-preservation. The government has cracked down on the parent-backed draft dodging with little effect. Thats because there is still so much corruption in Russia and evading conscription is seen by many as not really criminal, especially when the parents can afford to pay a bribe to keep their only son (and often an only child) out of the Russian military. The Russian lack of sergeants (praporshchiki) was difficult to fix. Just promoting more troops to that rank, paying them more, and telling them to take charge, did not solve the problem. So going back to look at how Western armies do it, the Russians noted that those foreign armies provided a lot of professional training for new NCOs and more of it as the NCOs advanced in rank. But this is a long-term process and takes years before benefits will be felt. By 2022 there were a lot more of the veteran NCOs available and they probably made a difference. But the losses were so heavy in Ukraine that it may never be known how good the NCOs were. All this is in sharp contrast to the old days. When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, it had five million troops in its armed forces. Now it's less than 800,000 in just Russia (which has about half the population of the Soviet Union but most of the territory). Although the Russian armed forces lost over 80 percent of its strength by the end of the 1990s a disproportionate number of officers remained. This problem was solved, after encountering much resistance from officers in general and, after a series of reforms, the number of officers was reduced by over 50 percent. The Russian military has an image problem that just won't go away easily. This resulted in the period of service for conscripts being lowered to one year (from two) in 2008. That was partly to placate the growing number of parents who were encouraging, and assisting, their kids in avoiding military service. All this comes after more than a decade of reforms in the armed forces, particularly the army. Poor discipline, low morale, and incompetent performance are all legacies of the Soviet era (1921-1991). Russian commanders, envious of the success of all-volunteer Western forces, have long studied their former foes and decided to adopt a lot of Western military customs. For example, one recent reform ordered that Russian troops would not be confined to their barracks most of the time. In the Soviet era, the conscripted troops were treated like convicts and their barracks were more like a prison than the college dormitory atmosphere found in troop housing for Western military personnel. Russian conscripts are now free to leave the base on weekends and work only a five-day week. All barracks have showers (a recent achievement) and troop accommodations are the best they have ever been. Things like this help a bit but not enough. Russia tried to change public attitudes towards the armed forces by publicizing all the new changes and programs. But word got around that most of these efforts failed. Blame that on the Internet. Polls consistently show that most military age men do not want to serve in the military and the main reason is the hazing and prison-like conditions in the barracks. As a result of all these factors, prospects of a revival of the traditional large Russian armed forces continues to fade. The defeats in Ukraine have not helped. The war in Ukraine made military service for Russian men something to be avoided, even if that meant illegally leaving Russia. After 1991 Russia was no longer a dictatorship and that provided Russians more opportunities to avoid military service. Avoiding serving in Ukraine was considered a matter of life or death for Russian soldiers. There was not much good news to report and lots of evidence that Russian casualties were high. This could not be hidden because there were many news reports of Russian communities commemorating local men who were sent to Ukraine and never returned or did come back wounded, sometimes to the point of permanent disability. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's popularity has slumped to a new low as a poll finds support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament has fallen among young voters. Labor's primary vote dropped to 34 per cent - its lowest level sine the election and only two percentage points ahead of the Coalition, according to a Newspoll conducted by The Australian. Satisfaction with Mr Albanese's performance dropped two points to 45 per cent - the lowest since he became Prime Minister. In another blow to Mr Albanese, support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament also declined ahead of this week's referendum. Support for the Voice fell to 34 per cent in the past fortnight ahead of Aussies casting their vote on October 14. Support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament has slumped to 34 per cent ahead of voting on October 14 The referendum's approval rating has reached its lowest ebb since it was first proposed, while support for the No vote rose two points to 58 per cent. About eight per cent of voters are still undecided but since the 'don't know' category has been removed as an option the split becomes 37/63 in favour of the No vote. The poll, which surveyed 1,225 voters nationally between October 3 and October 6, found a troubling trend for the Yes campaign among its key group of voters. For the first time, support for the referendum slumped to below 50 per cent in voters aged between 18 to 34 years old. READ MORE: Indigenous Voice poll pokes holes in Yes campaign's claims about First Nation support for referendum Advertisement Young voters who intend to vote No rose eight percentage points to 49 per cent, with those planning to vote Yes dropped four points to 46 per cent. While young Aussies undecided in their vote almost doubled from five to nine per cent. Former Labor strategist turned pollster Kos Samaras declared the Yes vote could not win from here. 'Once you include undecided voters. That's closer to the high 30s,' he said of the Yes vote. 'It's done. It's over.' Since its inception, approval for the referendum has dropped by almost 10 per cent among young Australians - a critical voting group for the Yes campaign. Support for the referendum also dropped to below 50 per cent among Labor voters, with the No vote rising six points to 42 per cent and the Yes vote falling six points to 48 per cent. The poll found that the No vote outnumbered the Yes case in every demographic category. Just over a quarter - 26 per cent - of Australians aged between 50 and 64 years-old said they were in favour of the Voice, while 24 per cent of voters aged over 65 would vote yes. Support for the Yes vote rose by one point to 37 per cent among Australians aged 35 to 49 years old but is still behind a strong No case at 53 per cent. Despite the recent grim poll results, Mr Albanese still remains optimistic that the referendum will win. The poll showed the coalition lead Labor 36 per cent to 34 per cent on primary votes although the ALP still holds a comfortable two-party preferred lead of 53 per cent to 47 per cent. For the first time, support for the referendum slumped to below 50 per cent in a critical voting group for the Yes campaign - Aussies aged between 18 to 34 years old Voters showed a one-percentage-point rise for the Greens to 12 per cent while Pauline Hanson's One Nation was down one point to five per cent. Support for other minor parties and independents, categorised as 'others' in the poll, rose two points to 13 per cent - another new high since the election. Mr Albanese's popularity as the country's preferred prime minister has also slipped, with his lead over coalition leader Peter Dutton narrowing to 17 points - the tightest margin since the election. Satisfaction with Mr Albanese's performance dropped two points to 45 per cent - the lowest since he became prime minister. Those dissatisfied with the job he was doing as leader rose two points to 46 per cent, delivering a net negative satisfaction rating of minus one. Mr Dutton's approval ratings rose five points to 37 per cent while a two-point fall in those dissatisfied with him left him at 50 per cent, keeping the coalition leader firmly in negative territory on minus 13.s to 31 per cent. The SNPs result in Rutherglen and Hamilton West was not merely a rebuke but an almighty skelping: 28 per cent of the vote, down 17 percentage points on 2019, its lowest share in a Westminster by-election since Glasgow North East in 2009. Much ink has since been spilled ruminating on Thursday nights outcome and its potential significance for the next general election. Is Labour poised to return as the dominant party in Scotland? Could the SNPs grip on power at Holyrood be under threat? Is Sir Keir Starmer now guaranteed a stable working majority? These queries are topical so they seem urgent, but I fear we are rushing past a much bigger question: how did it come to this? None of us can be certain whether Rutherglen portends devastation for the SNP come next year or whether the party will be able to pull back from the brink of disaster. But if Rutherglen proves to have been the opening salvo in an electoral reckoning, the party will be left to reflect on the path that brought it there. The SNPs soul has been hollowed out and replaced with buzzwords, poses and fashionable dogma - leader Humza Yousaf after the crushing defeat last Thursday It need not wait because the answers are available now. What happened is that, after seven decades without a sniff of executive power, the SNP ousted Labour at Holyrood and was finally in government. It arrived on a crest of optimism and big promises, disrupting a sclerotic political landscape beholden to the interests and fixations of Central Belt Labour. The SNP would be different. It was for independence, of course, but it also believed in transforming society. It was nationalist, but social democratic too. Or so it said. It said a lot of things. The SNP said it would cut class sizes. (They went up.) It would abolish the council tax. (Still in place.) It would dump student debt. (It didnt.) Promises These pledges were joined by others. To dual the A9. (Still not finished.) To have 130,000 jobs in the low-carbon economy by 2020. (There were 20,500.) To close the attainment gap. (Its widened.) To reduce waiting times with a treatment time guarantee. (The guarantee was broken in four in ten cases in the last quarter.) To freeze the council tax. (It went up.) The SNP was going to end delayed discharge. (In August alone, 55,709 additional days were spent in hospital thanks to delayed discharge.) It was going to end single-crewing of ambulances. (More than 15,000 single-crewed ambulances in the past five years.) It was going to cut cancer treatment waiting times to 62 days. (The target was last met in 2012.) Two ferries to be built in three years for 97million? Eight years on, no completed ferries, bill of more than 300million. Legally binding climate targets to limit emissions? Broken eight times in 12 years. A publicly owned energy company? Never happened. Super-fast broadband for every home and business by 2021? Still waiting. All governments break promises and drop priorities. What is striking about the SNP is just how little it has to show for 16 years in power. Sixteen years in which, whether in majority or minority government, its control of the Scottish parliaments legislative agenda has seldom been in doubt. Sixteen years in which to do almost anything it wanted. Sixteen years and what is there to show for it? There is a case to be made that this has been a great era of Scottish conservatism, a time of government inertia, an age of the inactive state. Millions of Left-of-centre votes went in and triangulating managerialism came out. All those self-proclaimed progressives who abandoned their old party for the SNP and all they got in return was an off-Broadway New Labour. Same plot points, lower calibre of performers. Headlines Voters have grown tired of the emptiness and the phonyness, of the headlines chased and the undertakings never honoured, of a party whose only priority is itself and its endless parade of rows, scandals and drama. Being governed by the SNP is exhausting and in times of turmoil people dont want exhausting. They want predictable; they want boring but dependable. There are others who want something else the SNP has not been able to deliver: independence. It is nine years since 45 per cent of Scots voted to end the Union. That position did not come into being by itself, it was the product of decades of work by generations of SNP members. The idealistic kids who chapped doors and the world-weary old-timers who staffed stalls, chaired meetings and put around collection boxes for party funds. You need not agree with them on the constitution to feel a pang of pity at how their hard work has been frittered away. Make no mistake: frittered away it has been. Independence is a more distant prospect today than it was in 2014. It may never come so close again. Not because of anything Westminster has done, mind you. Westminster has served up Brexit, Boris Johnson and the Liz Truss debacle, any one of which ought to have put independence over the line. That none did is almost entirely down to the SNP. Not the Tories, not Labour, not the big bad BBC and not the Unionist press the SNP. It was the SNP that failed to capitalise on Brexit, on an astonishingly unpopular prime minister, on a humiliating fiscal reverse ferret. It was the SNP that chose to abandon the core concerns of the average voter in favour of a social agenda that youd need a masters in sociology to make head or tail of. It was the SNP that threw in its lot with the Scottish Greens, a doomsday cult of middle-class millenarians convinced they must sacrifice the livelihoods and living standards of other people to the climate gods. It was the SNP, or rather Nicola Sturgeon backed to the hilt by Humza Yousaf, who placed the referendum question before the UK Supreme Court. It was foolhardy then, it is foolhardy now and it was foolhardy most of all the day the court unanimously ruled that Westminster was sovereign in matters of independence. The gambit bought the former First Minister maybe another year in power but independence supporters will pay the price for years to come. Warning In the wake of Rutherglen and Hamilton West, there will be voices in the SNP warning against self-reflection. Even if the votes fell similarly across Scotland in next years election, some would still call for the line to be held. But that line was not one laid down by the SNP rank-and-file and it is not one they are obliged to defend. It is the Sturgeon line, the Yousaf line, the line of a New SNP that has strayed far from the party that got them where they are. Holding the line is not an option. Continuity, as someone once said, wont cut it. A hidebound refusal to listen, to learn from Rutherglen and correct course accordingly, could lead not only to defeat for the SNP in 2024 but to the loss of government at Holyrood two years after that. Those are the stakes and so those must be the terms on which the SNP talks about its future. The fatal flaw of the late Sturgeon and early Yousaf years is that the SNP has been captured by elites and elite thinking. This can happen to any party but it is especially noxious to the SNP. A national party that loses touch with the nation loses that intimate connection that is its advantage over its rivals. It becomes just another party. It loses something else: the soul of the cause it is meant to serve. The SNPs soul has been hollowed out and replaced with buzzwords, poses and fashionable dogma. It cannot lead the country. It might no longer be able to lead the national movement. He was the host of several TV shows including the Emmy Award-winning Easy Entertaining With Michael Chiarello The prominent Italian-American chef died October 6 following an 'acute allergic reaction that led to anaphylactic shock' Michael Chiarello, the American chef and TV host known for his Italian-influenced California cuisine, has died at age 61. Chiarello died Friday night, surrounded by family and friends, at Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa, California. His Gruppo Chiarello restaurant group said the chef had been hospitalized for the last week following an acute allergic reaction that led to anaphylactic shock. Born in 1962, the passionate cook followed his childhood dream of becoming a world-class chef and hosted a slew of television shows for a decade. He was named Food & Wine magazine's Chef of the Year in 1985, and later received CIAs Chef of the Year award in 1995. He was also recognized by the James Beard Foundation and authored many cookbooks. Prominent chef Michael Chiarello passed away aged 61 followed a serious allergic reaction The Italian-American culinary whiz and TV host appeared on a slew of television shows and opened several restaurants He appeared on networks like PBS, Food Network, Fine Living and Cooking Channel throughout his career Chiarello hailed from an Italian-American family and came up in the central California community of Turlock. He left his sunny hometown for Hyde Park, New York, to study at the Culinary Institute of America. After graduating in 1982, Chiarello attended Florida International Universitys School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, receiving a bachelor's degree two years later. It was then he kicked off his professional career by opening his first restaurant, Toby's, in Miami. Chiarello found immediate fame and moved back home to open Tra Vigne Restaurant in Napa Valley, where he acted as Executive Chef and a partner for the restaurant - and seven others. As his influence grew further, Chiarello hosted shows on PBS, Food Network, Fine Living and Cooking Channel for a decade, also making appearances as a guest chef on the Today show and The View. He served as a judge on Bravos Top Chef and Top Chef Masters, and, in 2011, competed on the fourth season of Food Networks Next Iron Chef. He will be most remembered for his show Easy Entertaining With Michael Chiarello, which ran for ten seasons on Food Network and scored him a Daytime Emmy in 2005 for Outstanding Service Show Host. Chiarello found instant fame when he opened his first restaurant, Toby's, after graduating from college He hosted a slew of television shows for a decade, including the Emmy-winning series Easy Entertaining With Michael Chiarello He authored several cookbooks and was named Food & Wine magazine's Chef of the Year in 1985 as well as CIAs Chef of the Year in 1995 Chiarello faced accusations of workplace misconduct towards the end of his life and settled out of court with two former employees Towards the end of his life, Chiarello was steeped in legal trouble including allegations of sexual harassment and wage stealing from two former employees in 2016. Following the accusations, Chiarello continued his public appearances and prompted a public outcry when he was invited to be a part of the South Beach Food and Wine Festival in 2018. Afterward, the chef worked on his restaurants, Bottega and Coqueta, and largely retreated from the spotlight. 'Chef Michael Chiarellos passion for food and life will forever be etched in our kitchens and our hearts,' his Gruppo Chiarello partners said in a statement. The group oversees his restaurants Bottega, Coqueta - with two locations in San Francisco and Napa Valley - and Ottimo. 'In remembrance, we ask that you join us in celebrating his remarkable journey and the incredible impact he had on the world of food, wine, and family by inviting you to share a meal with your family and friends to remind all of us that the bonds forged over a meal are among lifes most precious treasures,' the statement read. Chiarello's family issued their own statement expressing their deep sense of grief. 'His culinary brilliance, boundless creativity, and unwavering commitment to family were at the core of his being. 'He brought people together through the joy of shared meals, fostering lasting memories around the table. As we navigate this profound loss, we hold dear the moments we cherished with him, both in his kitchens and in our hearts. 'His legacy will forever live on in the love he poured into every dish and the passion he instilled in all of us to savor lifes flavors.' The family has asked for donations to Meals on Wheels in place of flowers. Sunrise host Natalie Barr has questioned the leadership of Anthony Albanese as support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament plummets, declaring the referendum as a 'disaster'. During a fiery interview on Seven's Sunrise on Monday morning, Barr highlighted recent polls showing an increase in the No vote just five days out from the referendum. According to the latest poll released on Monday, support for the Voice has fallen to 34 per cent in the past fortnight as polling booths opened for pre-poll ballots. 'Is it all over for the Yes campaign?' she asked. A defiant Mr Albanese refused to concede defeat. 'Not at all. We have five days to go, which people have the opportunity to examine the opportunity before them,' he fired back. 'Answering the request from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be recognised in our Constitution, in our nation's founding document, and through a non-binding advisory committee, a Voice so that we can listen to indigenous Australians in order to get better outcomes. 'That is what is on the ballot paper on Saturday and I'm sincerely hoping that when Australians examine what the question is that they will vote Yes too.' Support for the Voice has fallen to 34 per cent in the past fortnight. Pictured are protesters outside a Vote No event in Brisbane READ MORE: Indigenous Voice poll pokes holes in Yes campaign's claims Advertisement Barr continued to grill the Prime Minister with tough questions. 'At the start of all this, the polls were good. They were in your favour. They have just crashed over the last couple of months. When you look back - what could you have done better?' Mr Albanese replied: 'I'm focused on Saturday. We know, when I stood up and spoke about these issues, that it is hard to get a referendum up in Australia.' 'But if you don't run on the field, I think I said at the time, then you don't win the grand final. We're on the field, and we are taking up the request of Indigenous Australians.' He argued the proposal had been around for a long time and was more than a decade in the making, most of which was under the former Coalition government. 'It is unfortunate that there is not bipartisan support in this referendum, but what we will continue to do is to put the positive argument for Yes, because No equals more of the same,' Mr Albanese added. Nat Barr unleashed at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about The Voice to Parliament on Monday morning He referenced the eight-year life expectancy gap between white and Indigenous Australians before Barr interjected. 'We know they are terrible statistics, but you are on the field and you've hobbled. It is like half the team has been subbed off,' Barr said before continuing with some brutal words for Mr Albanese. 'It's a disaster, isn't it? And also for your leadership. You stood there on election night and you said you would be hanging your hat on this.' Mr Albanese snapped back: 'This is about an idea, not an individual.' Barr interrupted: 'But you stood there and one of the first things you and Penny Wong mentioned on election night was this.' The prime minister responded: 'I didn't mention it on election night, I mentioned it dozens and dozens of times beforehand, as did Scott Morrison before the 2019 election, as did John Howard before the 2007 election. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and son Nathan (left) casted their votes for the Voice at a pre-polling booth on Saturday 'This constitutional recognition of our first Australians has been spoken about for decades and we are bringing the country together to vote Yes on Saturday,' he declared. 'Just like the apology to Stolen Generations, it had no downside, only upside. There is everything to gain here are nothing to fear. 'It is easy to run a smear campaign and run misinformation about this because most Australians don't sit and have the Constitution by their bedside table, but the point here is this is an opportunity to take the country forward.' Sir Keir Starmer led his Shadow Cabinet on a night out in Liverpool tonight, as they went to wind down after a busy start to the Labour Party Conference. The first day of the annual meeting was clearly thirsty work for its top delegates, with a crowd of senior MPs pictured gathering at a Revolution bar in Albert Dock. Dressed-down Starmer opted for a denim shirt and chinos as he headed to the bar, while some of his colleagues appeared to not have had time to change - arriving straight from the M&S Bank Arena. Among them was Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who smiled for the cameras as they arrived to socialise with their peers. Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Shabana Mahmood, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, also made an appearance at the packed Party social. Dressed-down Starmer opted for a denim shirt and chinos as he headed to the bar in Liverpool Rachel Reeves wore a smart teal suit and black heels as she arrived from the conference Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy smiled for the cameras as he headed out in Liverpool Shabana Mahmood, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, met up with her colleagues after the first day of the conference Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper made an appearance along with other top flight MPs Senior MPs and party advisors made an appearance at the Sunday night social at a Revolution bar in Albert Dock The Labour leader was seen laughing with his colleagues in a far more relaxed setting than the conference hall The top flight Labourites may have been raising a toast after the Party revealed that it recruited 1,000 new members during the week of the Conservative Party conference. Party treasurer Mike Payne said membership fees continue to be the primary source of income, and raise approximately 16 million. He said the membership stands at around 380,000, which is 'slightly lower' than the number reported for 2021 although membership income levels were 'higher than anticipated'. Mr Payne said it is 'not unusual for membership numbers to fluctuate throughout election cycles', telling the Labour Party conference in Liverpool: 'Due to the turbulence in the Government over the summer and autumn, and given the positive vision for Britain and the policy agenda set out by (Starmer), we have seen a surge in new members into the party.' He added: 'During the Tory conference we recruited 1,000 members in a week.' Labour general secretary David Evans, looking ahead to the next general election, said: 'How close do you feel we are to winning? Well, Keir will often remind us we should never be complacent, and we're not, but there are reasons to be confident.' He said the party has made progress since 2019, saying: 'Difficult decisions, so our finances are strong and we can now invest more in this campaign than ever before.' Mr Evans warned that Labour will 'pay the price' if they give the Conservatives an opportunity, as he noted their opponents have 'given up governing' but they 'haven't given up campaigning'. Starmer arriving at the Albert Dock venue after a busy day of speeches and policy pledges The speeches didn't end at the conference, as Starmer was pictured addressing his colleagues at the social event Anneliese Dodds, Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, stepped out for the event Labour peer Tom Watson, Baron Watson of Wyre Forest, was among those who attended the gathering late on Sunday evening Veteran MP Barry Gardiner was among those who turned up fresh from conference - clutching a pile of papers During a busy day of speeches and making policy pledges, Deputy Leader Angela Rayner insisted Labour is 'unified' about getting into power. She stressed that the party has 'one aim' as she rallied activists and glossed over infighting within the Left. She took a series of potshots at Tories, including swiping at Suella Braverman's tough law and order stance and joking that Jacob Rees-Mogg uses carrier pigeons instead of WhatsApp. Addressing a packed hall, she said she hoped it would be her last speech to conference before the general election. 'Because just like you, I am sick of being in Opposition,' she said. Looking ahead to tomorrow, a gathering of hundreds of company bosses will see Starmer ramp up the charm offensive with big business. The party said Monday's meeting in Liverpool will be the biggest of its kind - with hundreds remaining on the waiting list despite a doubling of the capacity. Microsoft, Ikea and Octopus were to be among the attendees as the Labour leader tries to portray his party as both pro-worker and pro-business. Keir Starmer warmly embraced Angela Rayner after she gave her speech to conference Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves will address the business forum, as will shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds. Currys chief executive Alex Baldock said Labour was now taking engagement with businesses 'much more seriously', saying having met with the shadow chancellor recently does not make him 'special'. 'I think everyone in London who wears a tie has had breakfast with Rachel Reeves,' he told the BBC on Sunday. Mr Reynolds will tell the businesses that Labour is 'now the undisputed party of business'. 'While the Conservatives have crashed the economy, Labour has worked hard to restore our economic credibility and put forward a policy platform that will get our economy back on track,' he is expected to say. 'While the Conservatives back-pedal on the promises made to British industry, Labour is outlining our serious plans for growth, sorting out the problems holding British business back.' A New York tech founder has volunteered to serve with the elite unit of the Israel Defense Force after seeing the horror unfolding in the Middle East. The Israeli government formally declare war on Sunday and gave the green light for 'significant military steps' to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack from the Gaza Strip. Noy Leyb, 32, was watching Hamas infiltrate Israel from New York City's Upper East and decided to volunteer and has been encouraging others to also join. 'I'm not one to document myself but us Israelis, us Jews, us people are living in a horror movie,' he said in a video posted to Instagram. 'The kidnappings, the hostages, the Hamas terrorists infiltrating Israel and lighting houses where people think they're safe is unimaginable. 'Being outside of Israel and being in New York is super hard for me and many Israelis.' Noy Leyb, 32, was watching Hamas infiltrate Israel from New York City's Upper East and decided to volunteer and serve with the elite unit of the Israel Defense Force The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets Leyb watched from afar, devastated, as at least 600 people were reportedly killed in Israel and more than 300 killed in Gaza - as Israeli airstrikes pound the territory. 'Last night I opened a group for Israelis who want to go back and want to fight it's been amazing to see everyone come together,' he said. 'I'm working with 180 other people in this group to get to Israel and hopefully some of us will be there tomorrow. 'I think for me the hardest part has been telling my parents that I'm coming back.' Following the video, the 32-year-old spoke to the New York Post saying this was 'not an operation' and that he 'fully expects to go to war.' 'No one is expecting me to come my commanders even said there's no expectation since I'm not in the country,' Leyb told The Post. 'For me, there's no question. My heart is in Israel. There's no chance anything would stop me from coming back.' Leyb watched from afar, devastated, as at least 600 people were reportedly killed in Israel and more than 300 killed in Gaza - as Israeli airstrikes pound the territory Following the video the 32-year-old spoke to the New York Post saying this was 'not an operation' and that he 'fully expects to go to war.' Leyb told the outlet he didn't give the decision a second thought and started to cancel meetings and get-togethers, saying he hasn't thought about a return date. 'Maybe a day, a week or months from now. I'm leaving here on a one-way ticket, not sure when I'm coming back,' he said. Spending the early part of Saturday morning trying book a flight, Leyb secured a midnight plane. 'I was yelling at the ticket agent, why she couldn't get me an earlier flight,' he told the outlet. 'I don't even know what I packed or what I'm going with, but I just need myself and that's it.' The reservist first enlisted in the IDF in 2009 at age 18 and already served the minimum 32 months. 'We value the lives of women and children and innocent civilians,' he said, noting that Israeli soldiers bring terrorists to the hospital for treatment. The spiraling violence threatens to start a major new war in the Middle East He then went on to draw a contrast with Hamas, which 'puts rockets under schools, and use women and children as human shields.' 'the savagery, the inhumanity it's like we're in a dream,' Leyb told the Post of the images he saw flooding online and broadcast globally. 'This is what you see in the craziest action movies. But it's happening right now.' Leyb posted a video of himself with his passport and ticket with a discernable smile on his face knowing that he would be in Israel soon to show his support. DailyMail.com has contacted Leyb for comment but he did not immediately respond. Senior members of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah claimed that Hamas' surprise attack on Israel that killed at least 700 people was given the green light by Iranian security officials. Hamas plotted the air, land and sea invasions with help from officers of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Israel has since branded Iran a 'terrorist state.' The official go-ahead for the attack was allegedly given at a Monday meeting in Beirut. Four other Iranian backed military groups were believed to be at the meeting, including members of Hamas and Hezbollah. Secretary of State Antony Blinken claims he has 'not yet seen evidence' that Iran was involved in the attack. Palestinians are greeted by crowds after returning from crossing the border into Israel on Saturday 'We don't have any information at this time to corroborate this account,' an American official said. A senior Hamas official said in a statement that they acted alone. 'This is a Palestinian and Hamas decision,' he said. However, a European official and adviser to Syria gave the same accounts as others that this was planned out in concert. The sources quoted claim that members of each group have met with a branch of the IRGC biweekly since at least August to plan out the attack. Some in attendance include IRGC military leader Ismail Qaani, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Islamic Jihad leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah, and Saleh al-Arouri, Hamass military leader. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran's foreign minister, has attended two of the meetings. Qaani has been the figurehead of a movement to unite Iran's foreign proxies since at least April in an attempt to further its influence in the region. Iran has backed Hamas in the past but had remained on the fringes until recent months. The spiraling violence threatens to start a major new war in the Middle East The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City on Sunday Children walk on the ruins of a mosque destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip Last night, Israeli forces said more than 400 Hamas fighters had been killed in the last 24 hours in revenge. Smoke and flames rise after Israeli forces launched an airstrike on Gaza City Iran was branded a terrorist state by Israel last night as the spiralling violence threatened to spill into a major conflict in the Middle East. Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a mighty vengeance, promising to reduce parts of Gaza run by Hamas into rubble. Forces in the north also exchanged rocket and artillery fire with Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah militia. Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, spokesman of the Israel Defense Forces (lDF) said: Without Irans funding, weapons, training, guidance and political incitement, Hamas would not have the capability nor the capacity. He added: This was a watershed moment, unprecedented in scale, severity, brutality and the sheer joy with which terrorists were butchering Israeli citizens. The Israeli government formally declared war Sunday and gave the green light for 'significant military steps' to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack from the Gaza Strip. More than 24 hours after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still trying to crush the last groups of militant fighters holed up in several towns of southern Israel. The declaration came as the military tried to crush fighters still in southern towns and intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Islamic Jihad leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah (pictured left) and Hamas' representative, Saleh al-Arouri (pictured right), allegedly attended biweekly meetings to plan out the attack Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian attended at least two of the meetings The toll passed 1,000 dead and thousands wounded on both sides. More than 24 hours after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still trying to defeat the last groups of militants holed up in several towns. At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel, a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades, and more than 300 have been killed in Gaza as Israeli airstrikes pound the territory. The Israeli rescue service Zaka said its paramedics removed about 260 bodies from a music festival attended by thousands that came under attack. A member of the Israeli security forces stands near burning cars following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, southern Israe People walk atop the rubble of a tower destroyed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza on Saturday Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from Ashkelon in southern Israel early Sunday The total figure is expected to be higher as other paramedic teams were working in the area. Video on social media and Israeli news outlets showed dozens of festivalgoers running through an open field as gunshots rang out. Many hid in nearby fruit orchards or were gunned down as they fled. The declaration of war portended greater fighting ahead, and a major question was whether Israel would launch a ground assault into Gaza, a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. Meanwhile, in northern Israel, a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group fanned fears that the fighting could expand into a wider regional war. Authorities were still trying to determine how many civilians and soldiers were seized by Hamas fighters during the mayhem and taken back to Gaza. From videos and witnesses, the captives are known to include women, children and the elderly. Among the missing is British soldier Jake Marlowe, 26, who has not been heard from since Saturday morning after he was working as part of a security team at the festival near Re'im, a village close to the border with Gaza in the south of Israel. A member of Israeli police is seen in Ashkelon, southern Israel yesterday after the Hamas offensive The Jewish nation is raining down fire on fighters in the Gaza strip in a ruthless counteroffensive in the south while it also pounds Lebanon with artillery in the north. In a post on X, he said: 'As the barbarity of today's atrocities becomes clearer, we stand unequivocally with Israel.' US President Joe Biden 'unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza', and said 'we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel'. 'Terrorism is never justified. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people,' he said. Gaza has been devastated by four wars and countless skirmishes between Hamas and Israel since the militants seized control of the strip in 2007. But the scenes of violence inside Israel itself were beyond anything seen there even at the height of the Palestinian Intifada uprisings of past decades. That Israel was caught completely off guard was lamented as one of the worst intelligence failures in its history, a shock to a nation that boasts of its intensive infiltration and monitoring of militants. Sir Keir Starmer yesterday refused to suspend a Labour MP who posed with a group hours after it announced a protest outside the Israeli embassy in response to Hamas murdering hundreds of civilians. Backbencher Apsana Begum, a Jeremy Corbyn supporter, posed at the Labour Women's Conference on Saturday with the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC), which praised her backing for the group's cause. But a spokesman for Sir Keir said she would face no disciplinary action because the group is not banned in Britain. It came on a day when Labour was reminded of its dark time under Corbyn as activists at an event on the sidelines of the party conference in Liverpool applauded Hamas terrorists. Yasmin Elsouda, a member of the Palestinian Youth Movement, told more than 100 people at a meeting that the Palestinians who had died were 'martyrs'. Speaking at The World Transformed a festival separate from the main conference, set up by Corbynista group Momentum during his leadership in 2016 she said: 'I'm honoured to be speaking at such a historic moment. Yesterday over 230 of our siblings... ascended to martyrdom at the hands of the Zionist entity.' Side by side: Labour MP Apsana Begum, circled, poses alongside the Palestinian Solidarity Group hours after it announced a protest outside the Israeli embassy Yasmin Elsouda, (pictured speaking yesterday) a member of the Palestinian Youth Movement, told more than 100 people at a meeting that the Palestinians who had died were 'martyrs' Sir Keir Starmer yesterday refused to suspend MP Apsana Begum, who posed with a group hours after it announced a protest outside the Israeli embassy in response to Hamas murdering hundreds of civilians. Sir Keir is pictured on Sunday at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool Sir Keir has condemned 'appalling' atrocities and what he described as 'acts of terrorism' committed by Hamas. Pictured: An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Saturday In Liverpool yesterday, Mr Corbyn was asked by Channel 4 News whether he condemned Hamas for the attacks. He repeatedly refused to do so, but said: 'Obviously all attacks are wrong.' Crackdown on parades Police chiefs are drawing up plans to prevent convoys of pro-Palestinian activists parading through Jewish communities in Britain. Home Secretary Suella Braverman yesterday urged officers to 'use the full force of the law' after videos emerged of people appearing to celebrate attacks on Israel. The Metropolitan Police increased patrols in London after Countdown presenter Rachel Riley reported seeing two cars with Palestinian flags flying from each window, 'seemingly celebrating like they were having a party'. She later posted a video which showed people waving Palestinian flags, beeping car horns and clapping in Acton, west London. Mrs Braverman posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: 'There must be zero tolerance for anti-Semitism or glorification of terrorism on the streets of Britain.' Advertisement Following the assault by Hamas, the PSC announced an 'emergency demo' outside the Israeli embassy in London this evening. The group has said the atrocity was caused by Israel's own actions rather than Palestinian terrorists. The protest was intended to 'demand Israel end its violent imposition of... occupation, apartheid and colonisation over the Palestinian people'. Last night Sir Keir faced calls to take action against Ms Begum after Tory Party chairman Greg Hands wrote to Labour to demand she have the whip suspended over her support for the PSC. Mr Hands said: 'The Jewish community has expressed valid concerns about anti-Semitism within the party in the past. 'Failing to take immediate and decisive action against a Labour MP associated with an organisation known for its anti-Semitic rhetoric could further erode trust and support within this community. I urge you to take swift action by suspending the MP in question and remove the PSC from Labour conference.' Last night a spokesman for Sir Keir said there were no grounds to take action against Ms Begum. 'PSC is not a proscribed organisation,' he said. 'I'm not aware of Apsana saying anything on the Hamas attack on Israel.' Sir Keir has condemned 'appalling' atrocities and what he described as 'acts of terrorism' committed by Hamas. 'Labour stands firmly in support of Israel's right to defend itself, rescue hostages, and protect its citizens,' he said in a statement. Israeli soldiers are pictured at the southern Israeli town of Ofakim on Sunday Israeli soldiers take position on the main road near the border with Gaza on Sunday An explosion in the city of Gaza following an Israeli airstrike on October 8 2023 People flee as clashes flare between Palestinian groups and Israeli forces in Gaza City following the earlier air strikes on Saturday The Israeli army moves artillery units toward border with Gaza on Sunday Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Sunday after the militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel Theresa May's former pollster James Johnson told the conference Labour must crack down on hard-Left MPs like Ms Begum or they will taint the party brand. A spokesman for Sir Keir said in response: 'This is precisely why Keir Starmer has been determined to change the Labour Party.' Sir Keir has attempted to root out anti-Semitism from Labour after it was found to have unlawfully harassed Jewish members under Mr Corbyn's leadership. A three-year investigation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission found it was responsible for three Equality Act breaches. But the PSC was permitted to host a stall at the conference, where it is demanding that Labour oppose government plans to make it illegal for public bodies to boycott Israeli goods. A member of Israeli police is seen in Ashkelon, southern Israel on Saturday after the Hamas offensive A man is seen walking with his bicycle on Sunday after Israeli airstrikes destroyed buildings and neighbourhoods at Rimal district of Gaza City Palestinians celebrate on Saturday after an Israeli tank was hit by Hamas gunmen who infiltrated the south of the country, on the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border A Palestinian diplomat scheduled to speak alongside shadow foreign secretary David Lammy at a conference event tomorrow appeared to blame Israel for the attack. Husam Zomlot, head of the Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom, is due to appear with Mr Lammy at Labour Friends of Palestine's reception in Liverpool. He told CNN: 'This is a war crime committed by Israel Israel knew that this was coming their way.' Mr Lammy tweeted to 'condemn Hamas's attacks unequivocally' and say his party 'stands in solidarity' with Israel. Iran was branded a 'terrorist state' last night as the spiralling violence threatened to spill into a major conflict in the Middle East. Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a 'mighty vengeance', promising to reduce parts of Gaza run by Hamas 'into rubble'. Forces in the north also exchanged rocket and artillery fire with Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militia. Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, spokesman of the Israel Defense Forces (lDF) said: 'Without Iran's funding, weapons, training, guidance and political incitement, Hamas would not have the capability nor the capacity.' He added: 'This was a watershed moment, unprecedented in scale, severity, brutality and the sheer joy with which terrorists were butchering Israeli citizens. Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip Last night, Israeli forces said more than 400 Hamas fighters had been killed in the last 24 hours in revenge. Smoke and flames rise after Israeli forces launched an airstrike on Gaza City 'The atrocity they have committed, they have opened the floodgates to hell on themselves and on the Gaza Strip.' On Saturday, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's top military adviser said the regime would continue to back attacks 'until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem'. The country's foreign ministry said the attack was 'a spontaneous movement of resistance groups and... oppressed people in defence of their inalienable rights'. Videos carried by state television showed people gathered at Tehran's Palestine Square to welcome the news of the attack, chanting 'death to Israel' and setting off fireworks. Last night, Israeli forces said more than 400 Hamas fighters had been killed in the last 24 hours in revenge for the surprise attack on Saturday. More than 2,000 were wounded in Gaza. Tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers have been stationed around Gaza, a narrow strip that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians. Social media footage showed tanks massing along the border, with military officials admitting they were 'prepared' to enter if required. Pockets of terrorists were still battling with IDF soldiers last night on Israel territory, as officers described fighting 'trash can to trash can' to regain control of most infiltration points along the security barriers yesterday. Residents fled homes near the border to escape air strikes as Israeli forces pounded Gaza, hitting over 500 targets in 24 hours including command centres and ammunition storages. Missiles also hit housing blocks, tunnels, a mosque and homes of Hamas officials in Gaza, killing 20 children. Although the Palestinian civilians bore the brunt of Israel's fury, a senior British politician said Hamas's bloodiest attack in decades had 'Iran's fingerprints all over it'. Alicia Kearns, chairman of the Commons foreign affairs committee, added: 'The fact that it was land, sea and air, it has taken IDF by shock, and the coordinated nature of the attacks. 'It is almost impossible to believe that Hamas could have done this without explicit Iranian support. 'Iran is a terrorist state and that's how it should be treated.' Children walk on the ruins of a mosque destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip She added that Britain had been complacent about the risks represented by escalating conflict in the region, saying there had been a 'lack of political will' to engage in the Middle East. Yesterday US President Joe Biden issued a warning to Iran and other countries saying: 'This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks.' But he faced condemnation from Republican presidential candidates who claimed $6billion (4billion) in oil revenue that his administration recently unfroze in a prisoner exchange with Iran could have helped fund the operation. Former president Donald Trump said: 'Sadly, American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks, which many reports are saying came from the Biden Administration.' Treasury undersecretary Brian Nelson described the claims as 'false and misleading'. Meanwhile, Robert O'Brien, who was national security adviser under Mr Trump's administration, called for American special forces to be deployed to Israel. The Mayor of New York City , Eric Adams, has spoken out against pro-Palestinian protesters taking over Times Square during a rally on Sunday afternoon. Adams, who had been on a 'vanity tour' to the South American countries of Ecuador and Colombia late last week but returned earlier in the on Sunday, said the streets of the Big Apple were not the place to 'spread hate'. 'Throughout the day, I've been monitoring the protest that started in Times Square and that moved through our streets to outside the Israeli Consulate General's Office in New York,' the Mayor began. 'At a moment when innocent people are being slaughtered and children kidnapped in Israel, it is disgusting that this group of extremists would show support for terrorism. I reject this. New York City rejects this. Do not use our streets to spread your hate,' Adams wrote on Twitter. The Mayor of New York City , Eric Adams, has tweeted speaking out against pro-Palestinian protesters taking over Times Square during a rally on Sunday afternoon Adams, who had been on a 'vanity tour' to the South America but returned earlier in the day on Sunday, said the streets of the Big Apple were not the place to 'spread hate' Demonstrators in New York waved Palestinian flags during the peaceful march from Times Square to near both the Israeli consulate and the United Nations headquarters, where the Security Council was to convene over the weekend's violence People demonstrate in support of Palestinians and Israelis after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel, in Times Square on Sunday On Saturday night the Mayor declared the city's full-throated support for Israel tweeting picture of City Hall bathed in the blue and white colors of the Israeli flag. 'New York City has the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel, and we stand side by side with Israel every day but we do so with extra resolve tonight,' the Mayor wrote. About one thousand demonstrators gathered at Times Square in solidarity with Palestinians as pro-Israel marchers counter-protested following a bloody escalation in the Middle East conflict. The rallies followed yesterday's surge in violence that's killed hundreds and wounded thousands in the region, after the militant group Hamas launched a deadly assault on Israel which responded by hammering blockaded Palestinian Gaza with heavy air strikes. Demonstrators in New York waved Palestinian flags during the peaceful march from Times Square to near both the Israeli consulate and the United Nations headquarters, where the Security Council was to convene over the weekend's violence. 'We are here in solidarity with the Palestinian people who are fighting 75 years of Israeli settler colonialism, settler violence and 16 years of military blockade of Gaza,' said Munir Atalla, a 30-year-old member of the Palestinian Youth Movement group, which was among the demonstration's organizers. 'What we saw yesterday was the people of Gaza breaking out of their open-air prison,' he continued. 'It's impossible to view the events of this week, without first understanding the context that the Israeli regime is founded on violence... it's founded on the erasure and annihilation of Palestinians.' On Saturday night the Mayor declared the city's full-throated support for Israel The Mayor tweeted a picture of City Hall bathed in the blue and white colors of the Israeli flag Some thousand demonstrators on Sunday gathered in Manhattan's Times Square to voice support for the Palestinian people and urge against continued US military aid to Israel Demonstrators in New York waved Palestinian flags during the peaceful march from Times Square to near both the Israeli consulate and the United Nations headquarters, where the Security Council was to convene over the weekend's violence The demonstrations came as the United States quickly affirmed its support for Israel, with US President Joe Biden ordering US ships and warplanes closer to its ally and sending fresh military aid. 'Not another nickel, not another dime, no more money for Israel's crimes,' protestors in New York chanted. Sarah Barqawi, 38, told said she came to Sunday's rally 'because my family is currently under siege in Gaza and are just waiting to know if they will be alive or dead, without any electricity, without any support, without any supplies.' 'They are merely trying to defend their right to existence.' Supporters of Israel face people rallying in support of Palestinians in Times Square in New York on October 8, 2023 On Saturday evening the New York branches of organizations including Jewish Voice for Peace and If Not Now marched to the Brooklyn home of Chuck Schumer, the Senate's majority leader, to call 'for an end to all US military funding to Israel.' Schumer was among the chorus of US political leaders over the weekend to reiterate support for Israel and its 'unwavering right to defend itself.' At a separate Manhattan protest on Sunday, a couple hundred people waving Israeli flags decried 'vicious Hamas,' among them Ofer Jacobawitz, who said, 'We need to demonstrate for public opinion.' 'We just want everyone to know that we're supporting Israel and whatever it does now to in order to defend itself and prevent this from ever happening again.' Palestinian solidarity demonstrations came as the United States quickly affirmed its support for Israel, with US President Joe Biden ordering US ships and warplanes closer to its ally and sending fresh military aid New York's Governor Kathy Hochul lambasted Manhattan's Palestinian solidarity rally as 'abhorrent and morally repugnant' The Governor ordered landmarks in the state including the World Trade Center to be illuminated in blue and white New York's Moynihan Train Statin was lit up in blue and white this weekend New York State's officers in Albany were all bathed in blue and white light on Saturday evening New York's Governor Kathy Hochul -- who lambasted Manhattan's Palestinian solidarity rally as 'abhorrent and morally repugnant' -- meanwhile ordered landmarks in the state including the World Trade Center and Niagara Falls to be illuminated in blue and white. 'New York is proud to be home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel,' she said. As he marched on Sunday at the Palestinian solidarity rally, Morgan Bassichis, 40, said that 'as a Jewish person who believes that everyone, with no exception, should be free, I am firmly in support of the Palestinian freedom movement, and I believe that all violence in the region is a result of the root cause of Israeli apartheid.' 'It's our job as people in the US to get our government' to stop financing Israel, he said. Flamethrower operator ignites controlled fire China Military Online) 14:36, October 08, 2023 A soldier assigned to a chemical-defense element with a brigade of the army uses the flamethrower to ignite a controlled fire to burn down the targets during an attacking drill in late September, 2023. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/photo by Cao Xuguang) A soldier assigned to a chemical-defense element with a brigade of the army uses the flamethrower to ignite a controlled fire to burn down the targets during an attacking drill in late September, 2023. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/photo by Cao Xuguang) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) MANZINI Ex-Kwaluseni Member of Parliament (MP) Sibusiso Mabhanisi Dlamini has clarified allegations that some losers in the primary elections de-campaigned those in the secondary elections. Allegations were made by runner-up Simoene Simelane that his loss to incumbent MP Sifiso Shongwe was a result of interference from a bunch of losers. The former Tolex Academy School Director from Mbikwakhe secured 2 890 votes and was declared number two with 257 votes short of winning the elections. Simelane told our sister publication, Times of Eswatini, that his investigation on how he lost in the secondary elections revealed that there were three candidates who lost in the primary elections who teamed up against him. I lost because there was a bunch of losers who teamed up against me. I will not mention names, but it was three individuals who teamed up against me. They knew I worked with people because I am always on the ground, he said. Dlamini retaliated to the comments made by Simelane and said he was aware that as someone who lost in the primary elections, he might be among the people Simelane was referring to. He said he was shocked by Simelanes statement and could not help but feel implicated. Dlamini said the averments shared by Simelane were indirectly implicating everyone who lost during the primary and he did not take kindly to that. The former Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Portfolio Committee Chairperson minced no words as he said Simelanes sentiments were evident that he needed to grow up and accept the result. composure He needs to grow up. His sentiments show that he still needs to learn composure in politics and stop pointing fingers at other people for his own failures. I lost and I did not point any finger to anyone but the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC). How would I blame other candidates for doing what was merely going to make them win? Simelane needs to be strong and accept that he lost and go back to the drawing board, otherwise he will lose again in 2028 if he still carries the same attitude, he said. Dlamini mentioned that he was one of those who were backing Simelane based on the fact that he had displayed his desire to serve the people. He said the fact that Simelane lost twice before the elections this year, he was convinced that he was now politically matured and ready to serve the people. He said he spent his own money trying to advocate and garner votes for Simelane and was, therefore, surprised that he became indirectly implicated as part of the bunch of losers who orchestrated his defeat. I went out of my way to convince people to vote for him; not because the other candidates were not capable but because he participated twice and showed great potential. It is disturbing to hear him say such things when he should be supporting the winner and getting himself acquainted to politics ahead of the 2028 elections. In fact all of us who lost in the election should be supporting Shongwe as the winner because anything good that he will do will impact our community and that is what we should be fighting for, he said. Dlamini revealed that he spent almost E25 000 in the elections, which was utilised in transporting and feeding his agents during the campaign period. He further revealed that he did not have any sponsor for the elections and funded everything from his own pocket. coerce He emphasised that the money he spent was not for buying votes or trying to coerce the people to vote for him, but he used it to pay costs related to the execution of his campaign. He said he was ready to face life outside Parliament and was not scared. I am lucky that my life did not change much when I entered Parliament, I drive a low cost car and I refused to change friends or alter my lifestyle. I still attend the same events and places I used to go before I became an MP, so there is nothing to fear. I made some investments and I am accustomed to the life of hustling so ngitawuchubeka nekuphanda (I will continue hustling), he said. It is worth mentioning that Dlamini, after his lose in the primary elections, blamed one of the commissioners at EBC and claimed that he crafted a strategy to reduce his votes from His Majestys Correctional Service (HMCS). He also made allegations that the commissioner told church members not to vote for him. The name of the commissioner cannot be revealed as the allegation made by Dlamini were not tested. The outspoken MP also stated that he was a member of the Kings regiment and, therefore, he was not going to starve because regiments did not starve. This was the third consecutive time that Simelane lost the elections and became a runner-up as he previously lost to former MPs Mabhanisi and Mkhosi Dlamini before losing to Sifiso Shongwe this year, who won the elections after being voted for by 3 846 people. Police officer and Lubasiwe Investments businessman Celumusa Mbingo came third with a total of 1 689 votes. declared Immediately after his loss to Shongwe, Simelane declared that he was going to run for the elections again in 2028. Life goes on even after youve lost elections. Although this was my third consecutive defeat, I will still run for the elections even in 2028 and contest against the other MP candidates. Out of the votes I garnered, I think I have spent approximately E10 000 in both the primary and secondary elections. This money was mainly used for transport and other logistics. Otherwise, the people who voted did that out of love and trust that I can represent them in Parliament, said Simelane. Incumbent Kwaluseni MP Sifiso Shongwe was among the new legislators who were sworn in on Friday and he is taking over the reign from Mabhanisi who served after Mkhosi. A popular cheese sold at Woolworths has been urgently recalled over fears it could be contaminated with listeria bacteria. Snowbrand Australia, which trades as Unicorn Cheese, has recalled two versions of its 125g camembert cheese. Shoppers have been warned not to consume Unicorn Classic Camembert and Community Co French Style Camembert. The products are feared to be potentially contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. The 125g wheels of Unicorn classic camembert and Community Co French style camembert sold at Woollies in four states have been urgently recalls over possible listeria contamination Snowbrand trading as Unicorn Cheese issued the joint recall with Food Standards Australia. Pictured: one of the two brands urgently recalled The pathogenic bacteria causes the infection listeriosis which can kill vulnerable people. Listerosis can affect pregnant women and their unborn babies, the elderly and people with low immune systems. The brand is sold in several Woolworths and IGA stores in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia. An estimated 20 to 30 per cent of foodborne listeriosis infections in high-risk people may be fatal. NSW has recorded 28 cases of listeria this year and there have been multiple smaller outbreaks in other states. 'Five cases of listeriosis have been reported in Victorian residents this August, the highest monthly total since 2018,' Victoria's Department of Health said in a statement on September 19. The bacteria thrives in cold environments and can survive in the fridge. Anyone who bought Community Co French style camembert (pictured) should throw it in the bin or return it to the store they bought it for a full refund The recalled cheese were also sold at IGA in Victoria and Queensland The cheese were sold at Woolworths in NSW, Victoria, SA and Tasmania and at IGA in Victoria and Queensland. It was also sold at several smaller independent retailers including Our United Food Co in Queensland, and Natures Best, V&C Food Distributors and Bills Cheese and Yoghurts in NSW. The affected batch was 123123E, with a best before date of November 8, 2023. Food Standards Australia said anyone concerned about their health should seek medical help. 'The recall is due to potential microbial (Listeria monocytogenes) contamination,' FSA said in a statement. 'Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice and should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund.' Soft cheeses such as camembert, brie, ricotta, blue-vein, and feta are considered high risk for listeria. Pregnant women and 'at risk' people are advised to avoid them. It was also sold at several smaller independent retailers including Our United Food Co in Queensland, and Natures Best (pictured), V&C Food Distributors and Bills Cheese and Yoghurts in NSW. The BBC has been labelled an 'utter disgrace' for refusing to refer to Hamas gunmen as terrorists in news broadcasts. Although the Government classifies the group as a 'single terrorist organisation', the broadcaster has continually referred to it as a 'militant' group and called the invasion a 'militant' attack. Yesterday there was growing disquiet about the BBC's refusal to use the word terrorist in reference to the attacks, which have seen the Islamist group inflict brutal violence on Israeli citizens. About 700 Israelis have reportedly been killed since the Palestinian terrorists crossed over into Israel from the Gaza Strip in a surprise assault. A plume of smoke rises above buildings in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike in retaliation to Hamas attack on Saturday One BBC online report described a warning that 'Hamas militants from Gaza are still fighting' in Israel, while another said Israeli security forces were carrying out operations to rescue hostages 'taken by Palestinian militants'. The choice of language comes despite shocking footage of the way innocent civilians were targeted in the attack. A video showed a student screaming 'Don't kill me!' after being seized at an outdoor peace festival and driven off on a motorbike by a gunman. Former Tory Party chairman Eric Pickles said the broadcaster's coverage had been 'universally biased and dreadful'. He added: 'Hamas is a terrorist organisation. They are breaking into civilian homes and murdering children. The BBC has been slammed for referring to Hamas, a terror group, as 'militants' and describing attacks as 'militant attacks' 'It is beyond belief that the one place you look for balance, the BBC, is not delivering coverage that is fair, balanced or reasonable. 'They need to get their act together.' Stephen Pollard, the editor-at-large of the Jewish Chronicle newspaper, described the corporation as being an 'utter disgrace these last 24 hours'. A BBC spokesman said: 'We reported the Hamas attacks and the response by Israel in line with the BBC's editorial guidelines. We have included contributors who have condemned the attackers as terrorists.' More than 1,200 criminals have been jailed thanks to the infiltration of an encrypted messaging platform, police chiefs revealed yesterday. Gangsters were so confident in the security of EncroChat that at least two were snared on the basis of selfies they sent to other crooks. The National Crime Agency led Britain's response after Dutch and French officials smashed the network, with 3,100 arrests made in the UK alone. NCA deputy director Craig Turner said the EncroChat hack had revolutionised the investigation of criminal gangs. 'It gave us a goldmine of intelligence and evidence we could put forward to the CPS to convict some of the most hard-to-reach criminals,' he added. Evidence gathered from the illicit conversations between criminals was so strong that of the 1,240 people convicted so far, 85 per cent pleaded guilty. Pictured: Cocaine seized by police Officers seized 173 firearms, 3,000 rounds of ammunition and more than 19million in cash Commander Paul Brogden of Scotland Yard described his force's investigation, codenamed Eternal, as 'the most significant operation targeting organised crime figures in the Met's history'. Officers seized 173 firearms, 3,000 rounds of ammunition and more than 19million in cash. Evidence gathered from the illicit conversations between criminals was so strong that of the 1,240 people convicted so far, 85 per cent pleaded guilty. They were sentenced to a combined 8,000 years in prison. EncroChat was a secret operating system accessed by a secure password on Android phones, with each user given a unique 'handle'. The handsets, which cost 1,500, could only communicate with other EncroChat devices and had built-in safeguards such as a special PIN code that instantly wiped all data. Frankie Sinclair, 35, from Cardiff, was jailed for life with a minimum of 18 years after plotting a revenge murder Others jailed include high-ranking gang member Naki Aslan, 39, who was sentenced to 23 years in prison for conspiring to import in excess of 20kg of heroin and cocaine Commander Brogden added: 'These criminals were using what we call a 'hard and secure' communication device, so effectively it's like a social media platform that the criminals believed that we couldn't access. They were playing out their lifestyles on EncroChat, trading drugs, ordering violence and murder here on the streets of London, and we could see that play out in a way we've never seen before. It was a significant leap forward.' The platform sent a message to all its users urging them to dispose of their handsets once the network had been compromised by law enforcement in June 2020, and it was shut down shortly afterwards. Commander Brogden said many of those uncovered in the operation were 'kingpins' of crime networks, adding: 'They were sitting in their leafy enclaves and didn't expect police to knock on their door, and we did and brought them to justice.' More than 1,200 criminals have been jailed thanks to the infiltration of encrypted messaging platform EncroChat (Stock Image) Among the criminals who have been imprisoned are two who gave themselves away via photos they sent of their dogs. Frankie Sinclair, 35, from Cardiff, was jailed for life with a minimum of 18 years after plotting a revenge murder. A photo he sent to an associate showing his bulldog helped police prove he was linked to the plot. Others jailed include high-ranking gang member Naki Aslan, 39, who was sentenced to 23 years in prison for conspiring to import in excess of 20kg of heroin and cocaine And Danny Brown, 56, was brought down by a photograph of his pet that showed his girlfriend's phone number on the collar. Brown, from Bromley, south-east London, and five associates were jailed last December for a total of 140 years over a plot to smuggle 45million of ecstasy. The group were travelling from Canberra to Armidale EXCLUSIVE The father of three children killed in a plane crash along with their grandfather once made a heartfelt post about the beauty of fatherhood - as eerie footage emerges of the aircraft at the centre of the tragedy. Accountant David Smith and his wife Elise moved to Armidale, in northern NSW, in late 2020 as he took on the role as the Diocesan Financial Administrator for the local Catholic Church. In the years since, the couple - who had been living in nearby Tamworth - have become well-respected members of the community and welcomed their fifth child. But tragedy struck on Friday when their three eldest children Raphael, 11, Evita, nine, and Philomena, six, were killed alongside Elise's father Peter Nally, when the aircraft he was flying crashed in a paddock at Gundaroo, just north of Canberra. At the time, Mr Nally, a highly experienced pilot, had been flying the children home after the group had spent two days in Canberra visiting extended family. Now, as the family comes to terms with their devastating loss, an old interview has come to light where Mr Smith raved about family life and doted on the 'uniqueness' of his children. In November 2020, as Mr Smith embraced his new job, he spoke to the Diocese of Armidale to give the members of the parish insight about their freshly appointed DFA. David and Elise Smith with their children Raphael, 11, Evita, nine, and Philomena, six during happier times The light plane crashed (pictured) in Gundaroo, about 35km north of Canberra, on Friday afternoon before the aircraft burst into flames Mr Smith said fatherhood had taught him three things that he did not expect. 'Kids can be so insightful and really surprise you,' he said. '[Also] life is not perfect and you need to be patient and understanding, particularly with your children. '[And] lastly, there is no limit to compassion and kindness, use these often and freely!' Asked about the challenges of having a large family, Mr Smith said he and his wife had 'no regrets' and marrying his wife was the 'best deal' he could ever have made because 'I am so well looked after and my kids are too!' 'Our kids are all beautiful,' he continued. '[They are] each so unique and they can be really funny too!'. The heartbreaking post comes as haunting footage emerges of the five-seater Cirrus SR22 registration VH-MSF involved in the crash up and running at Redcliffe Aero Club just months ago. A video shared online by a tourist visiting the club shows a man sitting on the wing of the plane as it idles on the tarmac while crowds of people surround it, taking photos. Elise and David moved to Armidale with their children three years ago The clip is accompanied by Frank Sinatra's hit song 'Come Fly With Me'. The plane Mr Nally was flying was registered to the club's president Mike Cahill. Mr Nally, who is from Bunga in Brisbane, departed from Redcliffe Aero Club early last week to go to Armidale to visit his daughter, before later taking his three grandchildren down to Canberra. The four family members were just 16 minutes into the 750km trip back to Armidale when the plane crashed near Lake George. While taking off, the plane climbed to 9,000ft but quickly lost altitude and smashed into the ground where it burst into flames. The single-engine aircraft exploded on impact at around 2.50pm. Air traffic control repeatedly tried to raise a response from Mr Nally but were met with radio silence before eventually raising the alarm. Investigators said working out was caused the crash would be difficult because of the level of destruction Mr Nally, who has hundreds of hours of flying experience, and his wife Therese are highly-respected members of the north Brisbane community. The couple also own an indoor plant hire business - which has operated for more than 20 years - and are active within their local Catholic Diocese. Tributes have begun flowing online, with friend remembering Mr Nally as a 'very good guy'. Yun Hap Taekwondo Club said Mr Nally and his wife were 'great supporters' of the club, which was attended by several of their children. 'Most of our current club members will be too new to remember Liam Nally, Yun Hap 4th Dan, who trained with us for many years. Liam's sister, Beth, and brother, Michael, also trained with us for a long time. 'The Nally family is a big family and Liam, Beth and Michael have other siblings as well. 'Our thoughts are with them all at this sad time. May they all rest in peace and may the family receive love and support from each other and those around them.' The Cirrus SR22 has a whole plane parachute as a standard safety feature that has a very high success rate at saving lives when deployed above 1,000ft The Redcliffe Aero Club also issued a statement offering its deepest condolences to the family. 'The pilot was active in the social side of the Club with many hours of flying experience,' the organisation said. 'The aircraft was privately owned and not operated by the club. Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) have sent teams to examine the crash site to determine what happened. Investigators are reportedly focusing on why a special parachute, that is a standard safety feature on the aircraft, did not appear to deploy. The Cirrus SR22 has a built-in whole plane 'ballistic parachute' designed to prevent such crashes. ATSB Chief Operating Officer Colin McNamara said engineers will study the plane's maintenance log as well as the flight history of the pilot. The ATSB's preliminary report is expected to be released within two months. Almost 48 hours into the fighting, the Israeli Defense Forces have said there are still Hamas fighters inside Israel. Jonathan Conricus, an IDF reservist and spokesman, shared the forces' nightly update on X, saying 'the situation in Israel is a dire one.' 'There is still fighting going on in southern Israel our troops are still fighting and hunting down terrorists inside Israeli territory. That is something that will take a few more hours or maybe a little more than that. 'We assessed that there were approximately 1,000 terrorists who participated in yesterday's invasion.' He went on: 'It is by far the worst day in Israeli history, never before have so many Israelis been killed by one single thing, let alone enemy activity in one day. The sole survivor of a deadly mushroom lunch is believed to be cooperating with police after a powerful public display at his wife's memorial. Pastor Ian Wilkinson mourned his late wife on Wednesday in his first public appearance since falling ill himself. Heather Wilkinson, 66, was one of four people who ate beef Wellington at Erin Patterson's Leongatha home in the state's southeast on July 29. Mrs Wilkinson died after the lunch, as did her sister Gail Patterson and brother-in-law Don Patterson, both 70. Mr Wilkinson, 68, also became critically ill after the lunch and spent close to two months in hospital. The Baptist church pastor returned home on September 22 where he continues to receive help from in-home carers. Ian Wilkinson is seen arriving at the memorial service of his wife Heather on Wednesday While it remains unknown if Mr Wilkinson has provided homicide squad detectives with a full statement, his robust appearance on Wednesday proved he more than had the capacity. Observers told Daily Mail Australia they were confident if Mr Wilkinson hadn't already spoken with detectives, he appeared well enough to be able to. After eight weeks in hospital, Mr Wilkinson looked leaner and paler than he did in the one photo media organisations have published of him since word of the tragedy spread. Uniformed police officers watched over Mr Wilkinson as he stood and spoke to well-wishers for more than an hour after his wife's memorial. Undercover officers were also expected to be among the mourners in anticipation of an appearance by Erin Patterson, who did not materialise. One by one, Mr Wilkinson hugged and shared stories with a line of friends, family and parishioners, who snaked their way back into the Korumburra Indoor Recreation Centre where the service had been held. Wearing a black mask, Mr Wilkinson showed no fear of catching an illness as he continued to mingle with the more than 300 people who attended his wife's memorial. Even as his strength waned, Mr Wilkinson reverted to sitting upon his walker's stool where he continued to converse with all that wished to speak with him. Hours earlier, Mr Wilkinson had bravely faced-off with a media pack, walking directly through the front door of the recreation centre past a horde of reporters and cameras. Heather Wilkinson's son Dave is seen at the memorial service on Wednesday He had arrived near on an hour early for the service, catching his media lackey Jessica O'Donnell off guard as she rallied to take control. Clearly weakened from the event, Mr Wilkinson was spirited away in a wheelchair through a rear entrance upon leaving the memorial. Heather Wilkinson, 66, was one of four people who ate beef Wellington at Erin Patterson's Leongatha home in the state's southeast on July 29 The survival of Mr Wilkinson, who could hold the key to what went on at the deadly lunch, is being hailed as a miracle by more than just his parishioners in Korumburra. Multiple sources have claimed Mr Wilkinson did not undergo a liver transplant after being taken to Melbourne's Austin Hospital. It remains unclear how he managed to avoid the severe toxic poisoning that claimed the lives of three others, with speculation he must have only consumed a small quantity of the killer beef wellington. Victoria Police remain tight-lipped on how it is running its investigation into the deadly lunch. Police command notified media outlets on September 8 it would no longer answer any questions about the investigation. 'That being the case, we are not currently facilitating requests for interviews or a further press conference. We will also not be providing background or off the record briefings on the investigation,' a spokesperson stated. Ms Wilkinson died after the lunch. Her husband Ian (pictured together) recently returned home after spending two months in hospital In a statement to police, Ms Patterson said she made a beef wellington using button mushrooms from a major supermarket and dried mushrooms bought at an Asian grocery store Since his release from hospital, Mr Wilkinson has beefed-up security at his Korumburra home, where he once lived with his wife. Security cameras now keep watch at every entrance to his home, with frequent visitors checking in on his welfare. It remains unclear what specific security concerns Mr Wilkinson has. Daily Mail Australia does not suggest it is Erin Patterson. Locals in the tight-knit community have become increasingly hostile towards the neverending intrusion by Melbourne's media organisations. Journalists continue to roam Korumburra and its neighbouring town Leongatha where Erin Patterson lives. But the saga remains the talk of both towns, where locals continue to openly discuss their thought and theories on what happened. Just weeks ago, one parishioner told news outlets the town was desperate to learn the 'truth' of what had occurred. 'Everyone in this community, and even the outskirts, have felt and been praying on their knees about his recovery and prayers are answered,' the parishioner told 7NEWS. 'Weve all got questions, but hopefully theyll get answered. 'The truth will come out and then well all be able to, in a sense, relax because then therell be some closure.' Most weddings suffer from a little 'pre-match tension' and there was certainly plenty of that in the run up to Harry and Meghan's fairytale ceremony in 2018. There were cross words over bridesmaid dresses and tiaras. There was uncertainty over whether or not the father of the bride, Thomas Markle would be well enough to come. In the event, he wasn't and Prince Charles walked Meghan down the aisle at St George's Chapel. But one of the strangest disputes of all must surely have been the row over whether or not the groom was allowed to wear a beard - according, at least, to Prince Harry in his best selling memoir, Spare. In Harry's telling of the story, his older brother went so far as to try and ban his bristles, telling Harry they were not appropriate Meghan looking lovingly at her bristly new husband - and his beard - on their wedding day in 2018 A clean shaven Prince William is followed by his younger and defiantly bearded brother on his wedding day Prince Harry reveals an argument about his beard in his controversial memoir, Spare 'A beard was thought by some to be a clear violation of protocol and long-standing norms, especially since I was getting married in my Army uniform,' explains Harry in the book. 'Beards were forbidden in the British Army.' In the memoir, ghost-written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author JR Moehringer, Harry says he was driven to ask his grandmother, the late Queen, for permission in person, explaining that the beard made him feel calmer. 'Yes, she said, you may keep your beard,' writes Harry. 'But then I explained it to my brother and he... bristled? 'Not the done thing, he said. Military rules, so forth.' Harry says he gave his older brother 'a quick history lesson' with the help of Google showing William images of Royal ancestors who were bearded and uniformed, such as Edward VII and George V. George V wore a beard in uniform - and at the altar, as Prince Harry explains But when when Harry played his trump card and explained he had already been granted permission by their grandmother to keep the facial hair, William 'became livid'. Harry reports his brother saying: 'You put her in an uncomfortable position, Harold! She had no choice but to say yes.' According to Harry adds that William 'wouldn't let it go' and that the argument continued 'in person, on the phone, for more than a week'. It culminated, according to Harry, with William ordering him to shave his beard off. Harry says he asked why on earth it mattered, only to get this answer: 'Because I wasn't allowed to keep my beard.' A bearded Prince William at Sandringham in 2008 shortly after he had just completed his Special Forces training The smiling brothers were beardless as they walked into Westminster Abbey on Prince William's wedding day in 2011 Princess William and Kate wave to the crowds after their wedding service at Westminster Abbey in 2011 Harry concludes: 'Ah, there it was. After he'd come back from an assignment with Special Forces, Willy was sporting a full beard, and someone told him to be a good boy, run along and shave it. 'He hated the idea of me enjoying a perk he'd been denied.' William, it should be said has never commented on the claims - or given his side of the story. A woman has shared her story about being cyberstalked by her estranged husband in hopes of saving others from the same fate. Jennifer, whose name has been changed for privacy, told DailyMail.com that her nightmare began when she started receiving strange notifications stating her social media accounts were accessed from unrecognizable locations. 'I quickly made sure to block my stalker on social accounts and set them to private, as well as those close to him who may unknowingly feed information to him,' she said. 'It was frightening not to feel that I could communicate in the manner I typically do. I am now very aware of what information I share on the web to minimize my risk.' She said using privacy tools such as blocking and minimizing the amount you share online is critical. The signs of cyber-stalking can be subtle (Shutterstock) Cyberstalking affects millions of Americans, with three million people stalked using technology in 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. I'm a privacy expert, here's how to stop your phone spying on you Data privacy advocate Gael Duval said that its possible to change settings so this doesn't happen. Advertisement The alarming fact that too few people know is that 67 percent of cyberstalking victims know their stalker, according to U.S. Government research. Darren Guccione, CEO and co-founder of Keeper Security, told DailyMail.com, 'Our digital and physical worlds are more intertwined than ever before. 'We are increasingly seeing the ramifications of online behavior play out in real life, and the impacts from malicious actions can be devastating to victims.' Guccione and Jennifer said that there are several warning signs that you might be being cyber-stalked. Password reset requests If you ever receive a password reset request for a social media, email or even banking account and you didn't initiate it, be suspicious, Guccione said. Cuccione said, 'This could be a sign that someone is trying to change your passwords to lock you out of your accounts and gain control of personal or financial information.' 'If an attacker can take over those accounts, the damage can be far-reaching and severe.' People pretending to be you A classic sign of cyber-stalking is if you find profiles pretending to be you on social media - abusers can use these fake profiles to spread unpleasant stories or harass friends. People pretending to be you online can be a sign you are being cyber-stalked Guccione said, 'If you believe a user has created new accounts for the purpose of harassing you, you can block those accounts too, and report the user, as most websites have a policy against this behavior.' People sharing your own information with you Guccione said that if people on social media are keen to share information that only you or people close to you should know, that can be a clear sign that this is a fake profile. If you're being cyber-stalked, you should 'lock down' your social media profiles as much as possible and notify customer support. Sign-ons from unusual locations Jennifer found that she received notifications saying that her account had been logged into unusual places - then she realized what those places were. She told DailyMail.com, 'I started receiving notifications of unrecognized login attempts on some of my accounts. Darren Guccione of Keeper Security said: 'If you believe a user has created new accounts for the purpose of harassing you, you can block those accounts too, and report the user, as most websites have a policy against this behavior' 'When I looked at where they were coming from, I discovered those logins were coming from the location of my estranged husband - sometimes from the home we used to share and sometimes from his work location.' Unexplained packages arriving If unwanted Amazon packages arrive at your house, for example, this is a clear sign of cyber-stalking behavior. Cyber-stalkers want to show their victims that they have information about them (such as their address) to strike fear. Fake profiles befriending you Guccione said that cyberstalkers commonly create fake social media profiles to harass victims. Most social networks have strict rules around people creating multiple fake accounts: if this happens to you, contact customer support and see if they can help. People showing up to places you mentioned online Guccione said, 'Online harassment and cyber-stalking do not always remain confined to the digital world. 'The lines can blur between cyber and physical stalking and physical security must not be neglected. Using a VPN service and disabling geo-tagging on the digital photos you share online will ensure your true location is not traceable to an abuser. Now a conservationist, he has devoted his life to photographing these creatures A surfer and photographer has shared insight into how humans can best avoid a shark attack - something he endured himself in his teens. Mike Coots, 44, lost his right leg at the calf when he was bitten by a tiger shark while bodyboarding off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii, in 1997. He lost so much blood in the attack that doctors said he should have died. However, rather than fearing these apex predators, he went on to become a shark conservationist and has dedicated his life to capturing mesmerising photographs of them. After swimming with sharks over the past two decades, Mike has learned there are important dos and don'ts to consider if you encounter one. He tells MailOnline Travel: The safest way to be underwater with sharks is to have clear visibility and lots of eye contact with sharks. They are ambush predators and if they know you know they are there, its much safer. Shark conservationist Mike Coots has shared insight into how humans can best avoid a shark attack - something he endured himself in his teens. Above is one of the images from his photobook, Shark: Portraits. It shows a great white shark named Buckethead off the coast of Mexico's Guadalupe Island Following a 1997 shark attack in which he lost his right leg at the calf when he was bitten by a tiger shark while bodyboarding off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii, Hawaiian photographer Mike Coots (above) devoted his life to shark conservation When photographers are trying to capture pictures of these creatures, one dangerous mistake they can make is to get distracted by the camera. Mike, who recently released a stunning photo book of shark photography titled Shark: Portraits, says: They get caught up in looking through the camera viewfinder too much and are unaware of whats happening around them, especially if there are multiple sharks in the area. When are sharks most likely to attack? Mike says that people can provoke an attack if they're in 'murky water' or 'splashing and looking like an injured animal'. He instructs: Dont splash, panic, and if underwater always look at the shark and make yourself seem large. It's a mistake to turn away from these creatures, he says, warning: Dont turn your back on a shark. And there are certain red flags to suggest that a shark is preparing for an attack. They will drop their pectoral fins and arch their body and swim erratically, Coots explains. Dont splash, panic, and if underwater always look at the shark and make yourself seem large, says Mike. Above is a picture he took of a male great white shark called Johnny Rainbow, captured by Mexico's Guadalupe Island. On his head, bite marks from another shark are visible This stunning shot shows a great white shark by Motunui, also known as Edwards Island, in New Zealand LEFT: Coots photographing a tiger shark at the Tiger Beach dive site in the Bahamas. RIGHT: A great white shark nears the water's surface off the coast of Motunui, also known as Edwards Island, in New Zealand Shark: Portraits by Mike Coots, published by Rizzoli, is on sale now for 49 ($60) But despite what some may think, sharks arent intent on hunting humans, Coots notes. He says the biggest misconception about these creatures is that a shark wants to bite you as soon as you enter the water. In fact, thats the furthest from the truth, he says. Coots thinks that humans' misguided fear of sharks is largely a response to their representation in Hollywood - with films such as the 1974 blockbuster Jaws - and the media. The biggest positive to his work, he reveals, is getting to share compelling, authentic images to those who love sharks, and to those who are unfamiliar with them, showcase a new side [to sharks]. He hopes that his new photo book demonstrates how sharks are misunderstood, gorgeous as a subject and needed in our seas for a healthy planet. Looking to find a bargain flight for your next vacation? Look no further. Attorney and personal finance expert Erika Kullberg, from the US, has revealed in a TikTok how to land on cheap plane tickets thanks to a savvy hack. Firstly she instructs viewers to go to google.com/flights to start their search. Then she says to 'select your starting point and click explore.' Instead of picking a destination, she says 'you have to leave it blank for this hack to work, just wait....' Attorney and personal finance expert Erika Kullberg has revealed in a TikTok how to land on cheap plane tickets thanks to a savvy hack Continuing the run of instructions, she says: 'Pick the length of your trip, then you'll get the first set of results.' Erika said when she did a search using this method, she managed to source a flight to Miami for $98. To get prices for international flights, she instructs viewers to 'zoom out of the map.' This then shows all of the price options for various destinations. When she did this, a screenshot shows Erika was presented with flights to Paris for $428 and a return trip to London for $431. Hundreds of viewers have thanked Erika for sharing her flight-booking hack. One commenter wrote: 'OMG OMG IT WORKED, 1 hour layover stop my flight to Peru is $300.' Another fan added: 'Thanks. I didn't know about leaving the destination blank and zooming out.' Continuing the run of instructions, she says: 'Pick the length of your trip, then you'll get the first set of results' To get prices for international flights, she instructs viewers to 'zoom out of the map.' This then shows all of the price options for various destinations One viewer revealed that they were already in the know, writing: 'I've been doing this for years and have gotten SO many great flights!' Another commenter said that Google's hotel search engine was 'great too.' However, some viewers said that when they tried Erika's trick it didn't serve up good deals. One disappointed traveler wrote: 'By the time it takes you to the actual website, it doubles or triples! Hoped it would be that realistic.' Another complained: 'I tried this but the price is either the same or more expensive compared to other travel websites.' MBABANE He was a man everybody loved to hate, at the helm of the police service during an unprecedented political unrest and he is no more. National Commissioner (NATCOM) of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) William Tsitsibala Dlamini collapsed and died yesterday morning at OR Tambo International Airport in the Republic of South Africa (SA). Details around his death were scanty, except that he collapsed on arrival at the airport and was certified dead after inspection by medical practitioners. There were mixed reactions on social media as news of his untimely demise started seeping in at about 6:30am yesterday. While others recollected some of the unpopular decisions the late Dlamini had to make during the political unrest, others sent condolences to his family and reminisced on the good deeds he did while leading the police service. Dlamini, who was popular for making bold statements during the political unrest, was coming back home from a high-level police meeting with other African cop leaders in Angola. deserted When the Times SUNDAY team arrived at his official residence in Sidwashini South at 9:10am yesterday, the place looked deserted and there was no one to open the gate. There was no security in sight and several attempts to call for assistance did not receive any attention. At his homestead in Mpolonjeni Mbabane, which he shared with his wife Doreen, gates were closed and a close relative informed the team that senior police officers were locked up in a meeting with some of the family members. About four cars were parked outside, while a peep through the gate showed an extra three cars within the premises. compound The team waited outside the compound from 9:30am until 11:30am, when senior officer Wendy Hleta came out accompanied by another unidentified female officer to inform the team that an official comment could only be sought from senior family members at Mahlangatsha, in the outskirts of Mankayane, where Dlaminis paternal home was. Hleta said there were only children inside the house and the wife was not in a position to speak to the media. shocked However, Deputy Commissioner Lydia Dlamini confirmed Dlaminis death in a statement issued later on the day and said they were shattered as the REPS. She said they were not in a position to divulge much details but were shocked at the sudden death of their leader. It is with deep sorrow that the Royal Eswatini Police Service announces the sudden passing on of the national commissioner. Dlamini passed away instantly, while at the Oliver Tambo International Airport en route to Eswatini from an INTERPOL meeting in Angola yesterday morning. We are at a loss for words about this tragedy which has befallen us. Losing our leader so untimely is a traumatic experience for all of us and we can only look to God to comfort and help us at this difficult time. We pass our sincere and heartfelt condolences to Their Majesties, His Majestys Government, the Dlamini family and relatives, as well as the nation at large. We also pass commiserations to all members of the police service who, as already stated, are affected by this loss, said the deputy commissioner. mourners At the late Dlaminis parental home in Mahlangatsha, some family members started arriving as early as 7am and when the Times SUNDAY team arrived in the afternoon, close relatives were already receiving mourners inside one of the houses. Dlaminis younger brother, Hezekiah, said they were shocked by his brothers death because he did not show any signs of sickness when they saw him before he left for Angola. He said the family was not aware of any ailment or health condition that might have caused his sudden death. As you can see, we are shattered as a family. He was a pillar in this family, only God can sustain us now. We do not have details since his wife is still in Mbabane clearing up things. We will wait for her and only then can we comment. We were with him last weekend before he left for Angola and we still cant believe that he is gone, he said. He further revealed that his brother had just traditionally wedded his wife a month ago. He said the family was still consulting with the relevant authorities for guidance on the funeral arrangements. They are Australian triplets known for their popular Outspoken podcast. And now Amy, Kate and Sophie Taeuber are all engaged and expected to soon tie the knot. But two of the siblings are cringing over the awkward moment their boyfriends proposed on the same night. Amy and Sophie spilled the details during an appearance on the Judge Gina podcast on Tuesday. Sophie told listeners the proposals were not planned and came about because her fiance Brandon did not share his news with Amy's fiance Dale. Podcasters Amy, Kate and Sophie Taeuber are all engaged and expected to soon tie the knot But it seems that Amy and Sophie - pictured with their fiance - are still cringing over the awkward moment their boyfriends proposed on the same night in 2021 Judge Gina asked Sophie to clarify as to whether boys were friends. 'They are friends, but you think they might run it past one another,' she joked. 'Sophie's partners face dropped when he heard the news,' added Amy. 'And then thats because he'd been planning to pop the question when Sophie got home that night,' she continued. Elsewhere in the chat, Sophie said triplets already share 'so much' with each other and they weren't counting on sharing an engagement. The sisters previously revealed that Amy and Sophie's partners both popped the question on Christmas Eve, 2021, while Kate got engaged back in May. At the time, Sophie shared the story of the family's double-engagement with Daily Mail Australia. 'On Christmas Eve we had a family dinner with our parents,' she explained. 'Before the dinner, Dale proposed to Amy. He said they should exchange one present before Christmas because it's always so hectic. He had wrapped the ring up and made a little video of their memories together,' she added. 'When they arrived at dinner they didn't tell anyone and waited for us to spot the ring. In the meantime, my partner Brandon had his parents at our house setting up lights and a "will you marry me" sign.' 'When Brandon heard the news about Amy and Dale he was so stressed and frantically messaging his family asking whether he should pull the pin and do it a different night,' she laughed. Brandon eventually decided to pop the question, but in an awkward turn of events, both he and Dale had selected very similar engagement rings for their brides-to-be. Sophie told listeners during the Judge Gina podcast that the double engagement came about largely because her fiance Brandon did not share his news with Amy's fiance Dale Sophies partners face dropped when he heard the news Amy said in the podcast (pictured) 'Our dad knew both were happening, as they'd ask his permission. However, he only knew mine was happening on Christmas Eve,' Sophie added. Together the Tauber triplets host the Outspoken podcast, which covers the lives and scandals of Australia's biggest social media influencers. The show often tops the charts and is regularly featured in the top 200 on the overall Apple Podcasts chart. The triplets are all journalists, with Amy having previously worked for Channel Seven, while Sophie was employed at Network 10 and Hit 107. Dwayne Johnson - AKA The Rock - has starred in a host of blockbuster movies - from Disney's Moana (2016) to Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) and Black Adam (2022). Most of the characters he plays are notably tough heroes that you wouldn't want to mess with - and there may be a little-known reason for this. The actor's most notable role is arguably as Agent Luke Hobbs in the Fast and Furious franchise. In these fast-paced action movies, fight scenes are common and you may have noticed that bizarrely, the stars of the film including Dwayne Johnson, never seemed to lose one. This is actually because of a clause in the contract they signed, according to the Wall Street Journal and it limits how 'badly' they can be beaten up on screen. The actor's most notable role is arguably as Agent Luke Hobbs in the Fast and Furious franchise This is actually because of a clause in the contract they signed, according to the Wall Street Journal and it limits how 'badly' they can be beaten up on screen The newspaper reported that Vin-Diesel, who plays Dominic Toretto in the film franchise, developed a system where he assigned a numerical value to each punch he received while on screen. Allegedly he had a producer count how many punches he was taking in each fight scene to make sure it matched the contract. Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham, who plays Deckard Shaw, supposedly wanted this in their contracts too. The Wall Street Journal reported 'According to producers and crew members on the films, Mr. Statham, 51 years old, negotiated an agreement with the studio that limits how badly he can be beaten up on screen. 'Mr. Johnson, 47, enlists producers, editors and fight coordinators to help make sure he always gives as good as he gets.' Supposedly Johnson even had a script tweaked in The Fate of the Furious, so that he was sitting up instead of lying down after a brawl. According to a video by Charles Peralo on TikTok, he still has the 'no lose' clause in his movie contracts. Comments read 'I get the punch thing but why a no losing contract? That makes things way too predictable' and 'why would I want a character who never loses? The audience can't relate to that'. The actor was made famous as The Rock in WWE before his jump to Hollywood - he made a surprise appearance on SmackDown for the first time since 2019 last month which broke social media viewing records. It's been 14 years since Jack Tweed tragically lost his wife Jade Goody to cervical cancer when he was aged 21. The pair married in February 2009, with his new bride sadly dying one month later. Jack, 36, recently commented on his relationship with Jade's children, Strictly star Bobby, 20, and model Freddie, 19, from her past relationship with Jeff Brazier, 44. He insisted that Jade would 'one hundred million per cent' want him to still be in her children's lives. So, who is Jack Tweed, when did he meet and marry the late Jade Goody and what is he doing now? Who is Jack Tweed? Heartbreaking: It's been 14 years since Jack Tweed tragically lost his wife Jade Goody to cervical cancer when he was aged 21 (pictured on GMB in 2019) His love: The pair married in February 2009, with his new bride sadly dying one month later, pictured together in 2006) Jack Tweed was born on 9 June 1987 in Waltham Forest, North-East London, England. Essex boy Jack, friends with TOWIE star Mark Wright became a widely-known British television personality when he and Jade appeared together on the fifth season of Celebrity Big Brother in 2007. Jade had also appeared on the civilian version of the show. Jack famously finished the show in sixth place after reaching the finals, with Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty being crowned the winner. Jade was caught in a media frenzy when she was accused of being 'racist' towards Shilpa, before being diagnosed with ovarian cancer the following year. A former dental nurse, Jade sprang to overnight fame on Big Brother in 2002, with her success seeing her invited back onto the show five years later to take part in the Celebrity version, alongside her mother Jackiey Budden and boyfriend Jack. Ofcom received 44,500 complaints from the public - a record at the time - with the trio accused of making racist remarks by referring to her as 'Shilpa F***awalla' and 'Shilpa Poppadom', among other comments. It was Jade's mum Jackiey Budden who first began to make offensive remarks to Shilpa - repeatedly mispronouncing her name and referring to her as 'the Indian.' Jack added further fuel to the race row by branding Shilpa a 'c***' and a 'w*****.' Jade, who gave her 50,000 appearance fee to charity, later admitted that her comments towards the actress were 'racist.' Jack's criminal convictions and allegations Prison: Jack left court in a Serco van in March 2009, after being convicted of common assault for attacking a taxi driver the previous year and sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment Jack served six months of an 18-month sentence for assaulting a 16-year-old boy in 2006. In March 2009, he was convicted of common assault for attacking a taxi driver the previous year and was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment until his release on May 29. Magistrates were told that Tweed grabbed Mr Wilkins around the neck and threatened to stab him as the taxi drove at about 50mph, as reported by The Telegraph. Tweed said he was 'stupid drunk' and had no memory of the incident, denying the offence. Jack was arrested and charged on suspicion of two counts of rape in September 2009, after a young woman reported an attack to police after a party at the club promoter's Essex home. He was cleared in less than 20 minutes in April 2010 of raping the teenage student, with the TV personality punching the air as he left court after the woman's allegations were dismissed. The TV personality appeared on This Morning in 2010 and revealed he contemplated suicide after being arrested. When did Jack Tweed and Jade Goody get married? Lovebirds: Jack and Jade had originally met at a nightclub in Essex, and he later admitted he had lied about his age when he had crossed paths with her for a second time, (pictured in June 2006) Diagnosis: Their romance had been cut short when Jade was diagnosed with cervical cancer during her time on the Indian version of Celebrity Big Brother, Big Boss, in 2008, (pictured in June 2006) Heartbreaking: By February 2009, (pictured that month), Jade's cervical cancer had metastasized and she become terminally ill - Jack proposed by the River Thames only days later Joyous moment: Jack and Jade tied the knot on February 22, 2009, at Down Hall country house near Hatfield Heath Beautiful ceremony: Jade and Jack shared a civil ceremony with family, friends and over 100 guests - including Richard Madeley, Paul O'Grady and Judy Finnigan - followed by a reception Tragic: The TV star passed away in her home, exactly one month after the wedding on March 22, 2009, with her mother, family friend Kevin Adams and husband Jack at her bedside Jack married Jade just one month before she died from cervical cancer in 2009. Appearing on Good Morning Britain in 2017, he told presenters Kate Garraway and Richard Madeley that he and Jade had originally met at a nightclub in Essex, and that he had lied about his age when he had crossed paths with her for a second time. As reported by Metro, he said: 'We met in a nightclub just round the corner in Essex, then we didnt speak for a while and then we met in the same nightclub again. 'I put on an extra five years to my age, yeah.' During her appearance on the Indian version of Celebrity Big Brother, Big Boss, in August 2008, she received the news that she had cervical cancer, and left the show early to fly back to the UK. By February 2009, the cancer had metastasized and she become terminally ill - with what had become only a month left to live, prompting Jack to propose by the River Thames only days later. Jade summoned her five bridesmaids to her bedside to plan the wedding to her fiance, with many of the preparations still being made just days before the wedding, due to her illness.Jack and Jade finally tied the knot on February 22, 2009, at Down Hall country house near Hatfield Heath, after he proposed by the River Thames earlier that month. Jade wore a 3,400 Manuel Mota dress gifted to her by the late Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed, who was father of Dodi Fayed, the romantic partner of Diana, Princess of Wales, who both died in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997. Jade and Jack shared a civil ceremony with family, friends and over 100 guests - including Richard Madeley, Paul O'Grady and Judy Finnigan - followed by a reception. The TV star passed away in her home, exactly one month later, in the early hours of March 22, 2009, with her mother, family friend Kevin Adams and husband Jack at her bedside. How many kids do Jack and Jade share? Reunited: Jack revealed that Jeff Brazier allowed him to reunite with Jade's sons after only seeing them once since her death, following his run-ins with the law and spiraling behaviour Past love: Jeff and Jade were in a relationship from 2002 to 2004, (pictured in February 2003) Jade was pregnant with twins during her relationship with Jack but lost both of them, her mother claimed to OK! Magazine in September 2009. One of the babies was miscarried and the other one was stillborn, said Jackiey Budden. But she claimed Jade has been 'reunited' with one of them - a daughter she named Summer - in 'heaven.' Jack sees Bobby and Freddie socially and has said he would love to take them for a day out and 'be normal, just like they used to be.' Jack told the Mirror: 'Jeff has done an amazing job bringing them up. In my eyes and the way I care about them, I look at them as my stepsons, but I don't want to take credit for how Jeff has brought them up.' In March 2019, Jack revealed that Jeff allowed him to reunite with Jade's sons after apparently only seeing them once since her death, according to The Sun. Speaking about their relationship after Jade's death, he admitted Jeff was right to restrict access back in 2009 he told OK! Magazine: 'Jeff stopped me from seeing the boys. 'At that time, I was getting into trouble and I was off the rails - so Jeff was probably right to do that. Now hes seen Ive sorted myself out, so he got in touch and said the boys had been asking about me.' What is Jack Tweed doing now? Mourning: Following Jade's death, Jack turned to alcohol and cannabis to 'block everything out,' saying: 'I didn't know how to deal with it when I was young' Tribute: The TV star pays tribute to his late wife annually, in touching Instagram posts commemorating how many years has passed since her death According to OK! Magazine, following Jade's death, Jack turned to alcohol and cannabis to 'block everything out.' He told The Sun: 'I didn't know how to deal with it when I was young. Id just sit at home, think about Jade, start crying and then think the only thing to do was go out and drink vodka.' 'I replaced the booze for weed and it took me a good four months to get rid of it, to get out of the habit of smoking every day - I was spending 100 a day.' Jack started a relationship with Big Brother star Chanelle Hayes in 2011, but it wasnt to last and they went their separate ways. At the time of their relationship, it was reported that Jack was still heartbroken about Jade's death. Over the years, Jack has become friends with some of the cast of TOWIE, including James 'Arg' Argent and hunk Mark Wright. TOWIE links: Jack has become good friends with some of the cast of TOWIE, including hunk Mark Wright (pictured, front), with the TOWIE boys invited to his wedding to Jade in 2009 Finding love: Jack has been dating PA Ellie Sargeant (pictured, right) since January 2022, after being introduced by mutual pals, with the pair 'smitten' with each other The TV personality was rumoured to be set for a role on the 2011 series of the ITV2 reality show, but he is said to be regarded as being too famous, according to The Standard. According to The Sun, show bosses would not allow Jack to appear on the programme because they do not want the cast to consider themselves as "celebrities." Jack - who now works as an electrician - eventually found love with a PA from Essex in 2022, after admitting he found relationships hard because he was 'always comparing' girlfriends with Jade. The TV star has been dating Ellie Sargeant since January 2022, after being introduced by mutual pals. The pair moved in together and are already 'smitten' with each, with Ellie pictured in September 2022 helping Jack organise a charity event in aid of Jade's honour, before attending the event to support him. A new Netflix adaptation is stirring up fan buzz thanks to its acclaimed source material. Readers of the Pulitzer Prizewinning historical drama All The Light We Cannot See shared their excitement on social media this week after the streaming service released the first full-length trailer for the miniseries of the same name. The show, which is directed by Shawn Levy, features Mark Ruffalo and Hugh Laurie in major roles, along with the acclaimed German actors Louis Hofmann and Lars Eidinger. But much of the fan buzz for the show is centered around its lead actress, Aria Mia Loberti, who is blind like the character she plays. The miniseries marks the screen acting debut of the rising star, who won her role after wowing the show's director and producers in a global search for blind and low-vision actresses. Excitement: The Mark Ruffalostarring Netflix miniseries All The Light We Cannot See has fans buzzing after it released its first full-length trailer this week Inspiring: The WWII film was popular with fans thanks to its best-selling source novel and the cast of the blind actress Aria Mia Loberti Once the trailer was posted to YouTube and social media, fans of the commented in droves to express their excitement. The novel, written by American author Anthony Doerr, was a hit with critics, who applauded his lyrical writing style. All The Light We Cannot See was also a massive commercial success, leading to dozens of reprints after the initial print run sold out. As of late 2021, the book has sold more than 15 million copies. It was subsequently awarded the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, as well as that year's Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, and it also was one of the shortlist selections vying for the National Book Award. The novel and subsequent series follow two opposing characters, a blind French girl and a German youth who becomes a soldier due to his skill with radio technology. The girl (Loberti) leads covert anti-Nazi broadcasts on a secret radio system with the help of her uncle (Hugh Laurie), while Ruffalo plays her father. But as she tries to fight the Nazi occupation, the young soldier who has been conscripted against his will is tasked with locating the source of her broadcasts. At odds: Loberti plays a young French girl leading anti-Nazi broadcasts during the occupation, while Louis Hofmann plays a young soldier forced to work for the Nazis because of his skill in locating covert broadcasts Family: Hugh Laurie plays the girl's uncle, who led his own secret broadcasts, while Ruffalo plays her father Terrifying: Lars Eidinger plays a Nazi officer who is determined to track down Loberti's rebellious character 'Omg finally!! The book was so good it's one of my favorite historical fiction novels,' gushed one fan in response to the trailer. Another fan gushed that 'Another World War 2 novel that I like is being turned into a movie,' while comparing it to the earlier adaptation of The Book Thief. 'So elated I could CRY.' One user expressed their excitement and called it 'a beautiful story.' Another fan thought the trailer made the show look 'breathtaking' and 'chilling.' A user who claimed to have won a contest to see the first episode of the series early was already impressed and urged viewers of the trailer to check out the source novel. Another viewer wondered if the show might be even better than the novel, based on the promise of the atmospheric trailer. Other viewers were inspired by the casting of legally blind actress Loberti, who added a sense of veracity to the miniseries. 'All The Light We Cannot See looks like one of the better movies Netflix is putting out recently and to have a blind actress play a role of someone secretly radio broadcasting during WW2 is quite interesting,' wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter). Better than the book? Several fans were blown away by the trailer after already loving the source novel, which was a massive commercial success Representation: Other people who viewed the trailer were inspired by the cast of legally blind new actress Aria Mia Loberti, which they found inspiring One fan who was apparently legally blind was inspired to have a character like her in the show. 'Means so much to watch a blind woman like me playing a lead in a notable series and created by authentic talent,' they wrote. One viewer was inspired by a behind-the-scenes video of Loberti's casting and hoped to see more of her time working on the show. All four episodes of All The Light We Cannot See will be released on Netflix on November 2. Big Brother will make its long-awaited return this weekend, 23 years after the first series hit the screens. And while the show has created a slew of household names throughout its run, there is one name that stands above the rest. Jade Goody appeared on Big Brother's third series back in 2002, entering the house as an unknown dental assistant from south-east London, and leaving nine weeks later as a nationwide star. Her later years in the spotlight proved to be a turbulent time, with her controversial return on Celebrity Big Brother in 2007 dogged by accusations of racism, before she tragically died two years later following a battle cervical cancer. So, as Big Brother prepares to welcome a new batch of housemates for a six-week run, MailOnline takes a look-back at the life and legacy of the original reality star. Her Big Brother debut Legendary: Jade Goody was a contestant on Big Brother in 2002, and applied for a spot on the show by submitting a video of herself, passing her entire body through a rubber band Blast from the past: Jade's time on Big Brother came when the show was still in its infancy, and that series featured a vast array of characters including Adele Roberts, Alison Hammond Jade was a contestant on Big Brother's third series in 2002, and applied for a spot on the show by submitting a video of herself, passing her entire body through a rubber band. Working as a dental nurse at the time, she'd faced a difficult upbringing, caring for her mother Jackiey Budden. She missed much of her schooling to look after her mum, who lost the use of her left arm and eye in a motorbike accident when Jade was a child. In the 2019 documentary, titled Jade: The Reality Star Who Changed TV, Jackiet said Jade went on Big Brother to escape her troubled life. She said: 'We were a twisted-up, mucked-up family. She didn't go in for fame. She went in to get away from me.' Jade's time on Big Brother came when the show was still in its infancy, and that series featured a vast array of characters including Adele Roberts, Alison Hammond and eventual winner Kate Lawler. Jade-isms Amusing: During her stint in the house, Jade left viewers in hysterics with a slew of clangers, including her questioning whether 'East Angular' was in the UK or abroad Amusing: In one tearful exchange, Jade also delivered the iconic quote: 'Am I minging?' What a ride! However, she still made it to the final, finishing in fourth place, and earned a hugely warm reception from the crowd as she exited the house During her stint in the house, Jade left viewers in hysterics with a slew of clangers, including her questioning whether 'East Angular' was in the UK or abroad. She also wondered whether Croissants were English because she 'got them with a full English breakfast,' if Jerusalem was a real place or 'just in the Bible,' and 'Do they speak Portuganese in Portugal? I thought Portugal was in Spain.' In one tearful exchange, Jade also delivered the iconic quote: 'Am I minging?' Jade's behaviour did spark some backlash from viewers, with Channel 4's chief executive Alex Mahon admitting in 2019 that it was 'a mistake' to broadcast some scenes. However, she still made it to the final, finishing in fourth place, and earned a hugely warm reception from the crowd as she exited the house. In the later years, Jade become one of the UK's most recognisable names, with a slew of TV appearances and brand deals, and set the stage for many reality stars that enter the spotlight today. She also had two sons with then-partner Jeff Brazier, Bobby, 20, and Freddy, 19. A controversial return Shocking: In 2007, Jade returned to the Big Brother house for its celebrity series, and sparked thousands of Ofcom complaints after being accused of racist behaviour towards Shilpa Shetty Explosive: Ofcom received more than 44,500 complaints from the public and bosses opted not to have a live crowd when Jade was evicted from the house Drama: While Jade gave interviews in the ensuing days apologising for her behaviour, the backlash brought her career to a screeching halt In January 2007, Jade made a surprise return to the Big Brother house for its celebrity series, accompanied by her mum Jackie and boyfriend Jack Tweed, with the ensuing days leading to a dramatic fall from grace for the star. During her time in the house, Jade clashed with fellow housemate, Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty, including calling the actress 'Shilpa Poppadom' and mocking her for bleaching her facial hair. A particular moment that caused the most outrage was a huge row between Jade and Shilpa over an Oxo Cube. Jade told Shilpa that she was 'no f*****g princess here,' and she hit back that she needed 'etiquette classes', while fellow housemates Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara laughed throughout. Back in 2007, Ofcom received more than 44,500 complaints from the public (a record at the time), and bosses opted not to have a live crowd when Jade was evicted from the house. Such was the scandal at the time that although Shilpa did not lodge an official complaint about racist behaviour with Big Brother, her allegations compelled police to investigate the possible classification of her treatment as 'racial hatred'. While Jade gave interviews in the ensuing days apologising for her behaviour, the backlash brought her career to a screeching halt, and she checked herself into The Priory before stepping back from the spotlight in 2007. Devastating cancer news Shocking: In 2008, Jade appeared on the Indian version of Big Brother, but while she was in the house learned she'd been diagnosed with cervical cancer In 2008, Jade was invited to appear on the Indian version of Big Brother, Bigg Boss, where she was reunited with Shilpa, now the show's host, to make amends. But on just her second day in the house, Jade received the heartbreaking news she had cervical cancer, with footage of the moment broadcast on Indian TV at the time. In a clip from the Channel 4 show, Jade said: 'I had no idea that that conversation was being filmed... it was not right.' She said it felt 'lonely' to feel like she was the last to learn of her diagnosis and she 'just wanted to be cuddled'. Her premature passing Moving: Upon learning that the disease was terminal, the star tied the knot with Jack in an emotional ceremony, just a month before her death Near the end: Jade died in her sleep in the early hours of March 22 2009 with her mother and husband by her side, at the age of just 27 (pictured on March 3, 19 days before her death) After her cancer diagnosis, Jade made the decision to continue with her reality show filming and work commitments to make money for her young sons Bobby and Freddie, while she battled cancer. Upon learning that the disease was terminal, the star tied the knot with Jack in an emotional ceremony, just a month before her death. Jade's personal trainer and close confidante Kevin Adams praised her for soldiering on through the pain to make the most of every moment of her wedding day, in footage from Channel 4's 2019 documentary. He said: 'She was in excruciating pain, she was dancing, and she stayed dancing because it was her wedding day and that's what you do.' Jade died in her sleep in the early hours of March 22 2009 with her mother and husband by her side, at the age of just 27. The funeral service took place at St John The Baptist Church in Buckhurst Hill, Essex, with a video montage of the star's remarkable life played on a big screen to crowds outside. Stars including Victoria Beckham and Simon Cowell sent flowers to be laid on her white coffin. The star was also honoured by fans for raising awareness of cervical cancer and the importance of regular smear tests, with many calling her decision to remain so public about her condition her 'true legacy.' Lili Reinhart has opened up about an issue that affects many people: acne. The Riverdale star, 27, posted three close-ups of her skin in different lighting outside and inside. Lili - who went sleeveless at Paris Fashion Week - had her hair pulled back into an updo and appeared to be topless. 'Since I was 12, I've struggled with acne. My skin has suffered consistent breakouts, hyperpigmentation, redness and scarring,' she captioned the post. 'I feel impassioned and motivated to find solutions for not only myself, but others who struggle as well. This is my skin now, makeup free no filter. I cant wait to share more about what Ive been working on.' Selfie: Lili Reinhart has opened up about an issue that affects many people: acne. The Riverdale star, 27, posted three close-ups of her skin in different lighting outside and inside This isn't the first time the Look Both Ways star has opened up about her skin. In fact, she considers her Instagram to be a 'safe space for body positivity and mental health awareness/acceptance.' In addition to her skin care woes, the Hustlers actress has also opened up about her depression, panic attacks and body dysmorphia. 'My body dysmorphia has been going crazy because I feel like my arms need to be half the size they are currently? 'We've glamorized these skinny arms that, for most of us, can only be achieved if you're a literal adolescent,' she shared on X/Twitter last month. Reinhart continued: 'I truly wonder how anyone survives or gets through this life without having severe BD. Maybe it's a cruel amplified version in combination with my OCD, but damn. 'The amount of time I've wasted thinking about my arms in the last few months is insane,' she admitted. 'I wanted to throw my own thoughts out there to let other women know they aren't alone.' But Lili doesn't let any of these things hold her back as she proved last week when she stepped out in a gorgeous blue sleeveless dress despite her 'average sized arms' during Paris Fashion Week. Skin care: 'Since I was 12, Ive struggled with acne. My skin has suffered consistent breakouts, hyperpigmentation, redness and scarring,' she captioned the post Opening up: 'I feel impassioned and motivated to find solutions for not only myself, but others who struggle as well. This is my skin now, makeup free no filter. I cant wait to share more about what Ive been working on' In January of 2022, Lili opened up about her body dysmorphia in a series of Instagram Stories. 'I know I'm not alone in this toxic way of thinking about my body,' she said, adding that it was 'heartbreaking' to know that so many people feel as she does. She blamed Hollywood's obsession with youth, beauty and slim figures for messing with her mind. 'I didn't think being in this industry, that is so obsessed with women's bodies and weights, could ever mess with my own body acceptance and positivity. But it has. I wish I hadn't grown up in a time where the media worshipped only one size of women.' Filming for The White Lotus season 3 has been on hold due to the writers strike. But now that the strike, which lasted 146 days the second longest writers' strike in the history of Hollywood is over, fans will be thrilled to know that the next season of the HBO hit show is a top priority for the network. The White Lotus, along with Euphoria and The Last of Us, are the three shows that HBO wants to start on right away, according to Deadline. The new season of the satirical drama will be written, once again, by its creator Mike White, which is still allowed under the new WGA deal. Find out when we can expect new episodes and everything else we know about season 3 so far, by reading on. Top priority: The White Lotus, season 3, is one of three shows that HBO wants to start working on right away now that the writers strike is over; Jennifer Coolidge seen in a still Has filming started for The White Lotus Season 3? Filming for season 3 has not yet started. Following the end of the strike, the highly-anticipated third season will first resume pre-production. Given that information, filming will most likely begin next year, in 2024. HBO officially renewed The White Lotus for a third season back in November. The first season of The White Lotus made its debut in July 2021, while the second installment aired a little over a year later, in October 2022. Another adventure: The highly-anticipated third season will first resume pre-production. Given that information, filming will most likely begin next year, in 2024 When will The White Lotus Season 3 be released? It is not yet clear when the new installment of The White Lotus will premiere. But given the length of the strike, the most likely release date will be in late 2024 or early 2025. HBO's head of drama Francesca Orsi gave an update on the show back in May, amid the strike. At the time she revealed to Deadline that it was 'too early to tell' how the strike would impact the release date of the show. She said 'The White Lotus was ideally looking to go in 2024'. 'We were looking at "The Last Of Us" for some time in 2025. And "The White Lotus" was ideally looking to go in 2024 but theres some question about timing of the strike.' Release date? Given the length of the strike, the most likely release date for the new season will be in late 2024 or early 2025 Where will The White Lotus Season 3 be filmed? The black comedy is known for its lavish filming locations. The first season was filmed in Hawaii, while the second season took place in Sicily, Italy. Both seasons were filmed at Four Seasons resorts Four Seasons Maui and Four Seasons Taormina which have been rebranded as The White Lotus in the show. The third season will continue with another exciting destination, which is reported to be Thailand, according to Variety. It's also most likely that the show's partnership with Four Seasons will continue. White previously teased that filming might take place in Asia, in an interview with Deadline. 'I think it'd be fun to maybe go to a whole different continent. You know, we did Europe, and maybe Asia, something crazy like that, that would be fun.' Executive producer David Bernad made a similar remark at the Berlinale Series Market in Germany saying, 'Weve tried to work in Asia a lot and hopefully Season 3 will be our chance to make something happen there.' Where will it take place? The third season will continue with another exciting destination, which is reported to be Thailand White also previously teased plans for a potential Australian edition of the hit series at a press conference at Sydney's Vivid Festival. 'My dream would be to hit every continent, so yeah, this is like its own continent basically,' he said. 'We kind of have to come to Australia if we keep going. It would be so fun. ' He added: 'Obviously, there's a huge wealth of talent here and the beauty is inarguable, so it feels like it checks all the boxes'. What is the plot of The White Lotus Season 3? Though the full plot of the new season has not yet been released, White gave fans some insight as he spoke in an HBO teaser earlier this year. 'The first season kind of highlighted money, and then, the second season is sex. And I think the third season it would be maybe a kind of satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality.' 'And it feels like it could be a rich tapestry to do another round at White Lotus.' He also hinted that parts of the plot from season two could carry over to the new installment. White spoke about the murder-for-hire plot that involved Greg (Jon Gries), Tanyas husband, and Portia (Haley Lu Richardson), her assistant, who was beginning to solve the mystery. 'I think as far as like, what happens to Greg and the conspiracy of Tanyas death, its possible that I think Portia is scared enough to just leave it alone, but the fact that all of those guys die on the boat, it feels like theres gotta be somebody whos gonna track it back down to Greg.' 'But maybe youll have to wait to find out what happens,' he teased. The plot: As for the plot, creator Mike White said it will be 'a kind of satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality' Who is in the cast for The White Lotus Season 3? While Jennifer Coolidge's beloved portrayal of wealthy heiress Tanya McQuoid-Hunt in season 1 and 2 appears to have come to an end, after she was murdered and left at the bottom of the Sicilian sea at the end of last season, a number of other stars will surely make the new installment just as exciting. Natasha Rothwell who played Belinda Lindsey in season 1 has confirmed her return to the show. In April she wrote on her Twitter, 'Belinda is back baby!!!' Connie Britton who starred on the first season as Nicole Mossbacher has said that she'd like to return to the show and that White wants her to be on the new season. 'He wanted me to be in the second season, and there was an idea that I loved for the character,' she told Deadline. 'Our intention is to do it in the third season. A piece of casting didnt work in the second season and were hoping to [do] that in the third season. I would love to see a spin-off on every character in that show.' Michael Imperioli and Jon Gries from season 2 might also make a return, though it has not yet been confirmed. Fans have also speculated that Danny DeVito might be appearing on the show, after he was spotted having lunch with White in West Hollywood. Returning! Natasha Rothwell who played Belinda Lindsey in season 1 has confirmed her return to the show Short but sweet: The number of episodes in season three is another mystery at the moment. The first season had six episodes, while the second season had a total of seven episodes Jennifer Aniston has also revealed that she'd like to play Tanya's sister in the third season. Meanwhile White previously teased that if there is a prequel to season 1, Australian actor Murray Bartlett, who played hotel manager Armond, and Coolidge might make a return. 'I absolutely think that's possible, we were just talking about that,' he said at Sydney's Vivid Festival. 'It's a funny idea. And making Jennifer, you know, 20 years younger, that would be fun too. We can bring Murray Bartlett back.' How many episodes will there be in The White Lotus Season 3? The number of episodes in season three is another mystery at the moment. Though judging by previous seasons, fans probably shouldn't expect an extensive number. The first season had just six episodes, while the second season was longer by one more, with a total of seven episodes. Seasons 1 and 2 of The White Lotus are available to watch on HBO Max. Shay Mitchell looked stunning as she strolled through the streets of Paris on Friday. The actress, 35, visited the sites in the City of Lights wearing an all-leather ensemble and showing off her new hair style. The Pretty Little Liars alumna showcased her taut tummy wearing a high-waisted black ankle length skirt and a burgundy leather bra top. The fashionista wore an ankle-length burgundy leather coat. She also sashayed through the city in funky black sling-backs with an ankle strap. Stunning: Shay Mitchell, 35, looked stunning as she strolled through the streets of Paris Friday Shay accessorized with large gold earrings, dark sunglasses and a YSL handbag. The Dollface star credited celebrity hairstylist Ricky Fraser for new look on social media. She traded in her long, dark locks for an edgy new layered bob, which her fans went wild for. Vanessa Hudgens wrote she was 'Obsessed' with the look, and Sophia Bush posted three heart emojis. 'Luvee uour new hairstyle' penned one fan, while another shared this, 'No hate but you should be more careful with what you post, pretty sure it's against community guidelines to be that gorgeous.' The mom of two, who shares daughters Atlas, four, and Rome, 16 months with her partner Matte Babel, traveled to the French capital for Fashion Week. With more than 36 million followers, Shay is a popular influencer. She has partnerships with companies such as VETEMENTS clothing, and founded the luggage company Beis in 2018. In an interview with Conde Nast Traveler earlier this year, the designer said she created the line based on what she wanted in a suitcase or bag. Taut: The Pretty Little Liars alumna showcased her taut tummy in a high-waisted black ankle-length skirt and a burgundy leather bra top Edgy: Gone were Shay's long, dark locks. The actress debuted a new edgy layered bob by celebrity stylist Ricky Fraser. Vanessa Hudgens wrote she was 'Obsessed,' and Sophia Bush posted three heart emojis Gold: Shay accessorized with large gold earrings, dark sunglasses and a YSL handbag Funky: She sashayed through the city in funky black sling-backs with an ankle strap 'I began to think that I could create the product that I've always wanted for myself and that I think other people would enjoy. Nothing excites me moreI could talk about bags and zippers and all of it forever. Its my passion,' she told the outlet. 'The fun and amazing part of Beis is that I can design things I truly want to use myself,' she continued. 'Thats really how the Beis Baby collection came to be. And now as my kids are growing up, we designed a new Kids' collection that will be coming out this year.' The Carry-On Roller has a comfortable cushion and a built in weight indicator that turns red if the bag weighs more then 50 pounds. Hugh Jackman has proven why he really is Hollywood's most eligible bachelor. The newly-single Wolverine star, who recently announced his shock split from wife Deborra-Lee Furness after 27 years, took to Instagram on Saturday with a photo of himself volunteering at God's Love charity kitchen in New York City. Posing alongside a group of other volunteers, the Australian actor, 54, wrote next to the image: '@GodsloveNYC Thank you for a wonderful day!' Looking anything but heartbroken, Jackman was seen smiling broadly while dressed in a white apron and gloves. Hugh is said to be preparing to release a new tell-all memoir following his split from Deborra-Lee. Hugh Jackman, 54, took to Instagram on Saturday with a photo of himself volunteering at God's Love charity kitchen in New York City According to US Weekly, Hugh is currently in the early stages of writing his bombshell book. His new memoir is set to feature details of his life and 'bombshell' revelations. 'Hugh is choosing to [write this book] now because he's finally [being] honest with himself [and] the divorce,' an insider said. Hugh is said to be preparing to release a new tell-all memoir following his split from his wife Deborra-Lee Furness after 27 years. Both pictured According to US Weekly, the Australian actor is currently in the early stages of writing his bombshell book 'The content will be Hugh speaking about his life. He'll be opening up about his life like never before.' Hugh and Deborra-Lee shocked fans when they announced they were divorcing last month. 'We have been blessed to share almost three decades together in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth,' the couple said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. 'Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness. We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition.' The former couple signed the statement as 'Deb and Hugh Jackman,' adding: 'This is the sole statement either of us will make.' The Australian couple share two children together; Oscar, 23, and Ava, 18. Last April, the pair celebrated their anniversary and Jackman had posted a gushing tribute to his wife on Instagram. 'I love you Deb. Today is our 27th wedding anniversary. 27 years! I love you so much,' the actor wrote in his caption. 'Together we have created a beautiful family. And life. Your laughter, your spirit, generosity, humour, cheekiness, courage, and loyalty is an incredible gift to me. I love you with all my heart,' he shared in the heartfelt post. Josh Gad took to Instagram on Saturday to share with his 1.3 million followers that he would not be able to appear in his scheduled afternoon performance of the Broadway musical Gutenberg. The 42-year-old actor who spoke out against internet trolls earlier this year filmed himself in the backseat of a vehicle as he addressed his fans. 'Hey guys, I just wanted to give you a quick message,' he opened the clip before adding, 'Unfortunately, I am going to not be able to do this afternoons show. I have a bit of a medical emergency that I have to go deal with right now.' Gad added, 'I would rather be spending my afternoon with all of you than at a hospital, but I hope that this gets resolved pretty quickly and Ill be back on stage with my buddy [Andrew] Rannells as soon as possible.' The star also elaborated on the situation in his caption. News: Josh Gad took to Instagram on Saturday to share with his 1.3 million followers that he would not be able to appear in his scheduled afternoon performance of the Broadway musical Gutenberg; pictured 2023 The note read: 'Not the news Id like to share, but life happens. Unfortunately, I will not be at this afternoons performance of Gutenberg. 'Im dealing with a medical emergency that despite telling my doctors I wanted to wait till Monday to address, they thought needed to be addressed immediately. 'So, off to hospital for (hopefully) quick treatment and then with any luck will be back by this evening.' Josh gave a shoutout to his understudy as he added, 'In the meantime, please help me wish @russelljdaniels the best of luck as he makes his Broadway debut as Bud! I know he is going to give you all the show of your lives!' He mentioned Daniels again in his Instagram Story, sharing a backstage photo of him with Rannells arm-in-arm. Gad wrote, 'Today, with 2 hours' notice @russelljdaniels took the reins opposite my brilliant co-star @andrewrannells and blew the roof off. So truly proud.' Hours later, the Frozen star reemerged the social media platform to share a positive health update. He uploaded a screenshot of a message typed in Apple's Notes app that had a banner that read in bold, capital letters: 'GOOD NEWS.' Plot: The show is based on Johannes Gutenberg, who invented the printing press Shoutout: He mentioned his understudy Russell Daniels in his Instagram Story, sharing a backstage photo of him with Rannells arm-in-arm Resolution: Hours later, the Frozen star reemerged the social media platform to share a positive health update The brief note continued: 'Thanks to the phenomenal team at Lenox Hill, Iwas able to be diagnosed and treated in record time for some lower abdominal issues I've been having. 'With their blessing, I will be back in the show this evening. Thank you all for your incredible messages and good vibes. 'Felt them and got the best possible results! Now, let's get back to eating dreams!' Then note concluded with three red heart emoji. The caption of the post simple read: 'GUTENBERG AND HEALTH UPDATE.' Bahrains Labour Fund (Tamkeen) has created over 7,700 job openings and more than 7,100 training opportunities through various initiatives this year, and helped 4,000 enterprises through various programmes. These efforts place the organisation on track towards achieving its key performance indicators set for this year, said Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez, Chief Executive of Tamkeen, at its third quarterly Board of Directors meeting for the year 2023. As part of ongoing training partnerships aimed at human capital development, Tamkeen also facilitated over 1,500 training opportunities in various fields including information technology, software engineering, data science, iOS applications development, 3D animation, game development and more. These training programmes achieved high success rates for graduates with 65% being either employed, promoted, or have start their own businesses as a result of completion, she said. Bahrainis the first choice During the meeting, Tamkeens Chairman, Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa reiterated Tamkeens ongoing commitment to realising the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in making Bahrainis the first choice of employment in the labour market. This is in addition to the efforts of all the government under the leadership of Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to foster an environment that supports training and development for Bahrainis, thus enabling them to enter the labour market, access quality job opportunities and pursue entrepreneurship. He added that work is currently under way in coordination with the relevant government entities to introduce enhanced programmes to support Bahrainis in the labour market. StartUp Bahrain Pitch When it comes to supporting enterprises and entrepreneurship, Tamkeen hosted six editions of StartUp Bahrain Pitch, an initiative aimed at connecting startups with potential investors and providing them with funding options and exposure through pitching events. During these pitching events, entrepreneurs present their concepts to a panel of judges featuring local and international investors and experts who select the winner of each event. Furthermore, Tamkeen launched the second edition of the Young Entrepreneur (Mashroo3i 2.0) programme which is aligned with efforts to encourage Bahraini youth to pursue entrepreneurship as a career path. The programme enables participants to turn their concepts into viable businesses and launch them through training and an advisory bootcamp.--TradeArabia News Service Caitlyn Jenner says she was drawn to ex-wife Kris Jenner from the moment they met. The 73-year-old former Olympian, who has provided interviews for the new House of Kardashian documentary, is opening up about her relationship with her former spouse, 67. The former reality star told The Times the pair met on a blind date in 1990. 'We hit it off right at the beginning,' Caitlyn, who was married to Kris for 23 years, shared with the outlet. 'I was infatuated with her, because she was very different from me.' Instant attraction: Caitlyn Jenner says she was drawn to ex-wife Kris Jenner from the moment they met. 'We hit it off right at the beginning,' she told The Times. 'I was infatuated with her, because she was very different from me; (L) Caitlyn seen in 2022, (R) Kris seen in 2022 'But yes, Id have to say, it was love at first sight.' Kris, who shared kids Kourtney, Kim, Khloe and Rob with her former husband, the late OJ Simpson attorney Robert Kardashian, was 'basically a housewife in Beverly Hills,' at the time they met and wed. 'I was totally impressed with her and how she lived her life she had four kids, I had four kids and we got married five and a half months later! It was very quick.' Little did the decathlon winner know the woman with whom he would have Kendall, 27, and Kylie, 26, would have such a head for business. 'I had no idea what the future held for us,' Caitlyn, who went by Bruce Jenner at the time, explained. 'I dont think even she did.' Kris took the reins by taking over Caitlyn's business, curing jobs making informercials for the family. Long marriage: Caitlyn, who went by Bruce at the time, married Kris in 1991 after 5 1/2 months of dating. They divorced after 22 years of marriage (Pictured in Beverly Hills in September 2012) Family business: Caitlyn credits Kris with raising the family's fortunes and profile, explaining Kris took over her business and began securing informercials for their large family; Pictured in New York in 2016 Single lady: Caitlyn says she is currently single and happy. 'Im fine. Im not even close to looking for a relationship,' she stated; Pictured in London October 4 Keeping Up with the Kardashians debuted in 2007. The show would turn most members of the Kardashian/Jenner clan household names with their antics captured on television. Caitlyn and Kris divorced in 2015 after 22 years together. Caitlyn told The Times she is single and happy. 'Im fine. Im not even close to looking for a relationship,' she contended. 'Ill never have a relationship in the future. I just dont see that in my life. I am not looking for that.' Cara Delevingne and her girlfriend Leah Mason proved they are a perfect match for each other as they jetted out of Rome wearing almost identical outfits. The supermodel and her musician lover, who performs under the name Minke, wore cream beanies and stuck to a monochrome palette as they flew out of the city. They had earlier been in Venice to celebrate actress Anya Taylor-Joy's two-day wedding bash to musician Malcolm McRae. Cara, 31, met her girlfriend, also aged 31, at boarding school 20 years ago and started dating her early last year after they reconnected at a party. Cara said: 'Being with my girlfriend, in this relationship, there are just so many things that came at once and have made me so happy and comfortable with who I am.' The concept of celebrity couples dressing alike is not new. Cara Delevingne and her girlfriend Leah Mason wore cream beanies and stuck to a monochrome palette as they flew out of Rome Relationship psychologist Mairead Malloy said: 'People often choose a partner who looks similar to them and has similar style. A shared interest in what we choose to wear is understandable, especially after spending a lot of time with someone.' Victoria and David Beckham have joked about their 'twinning' style. The former Spice Girl admitted: 'When we started out we were just having fun with it. It was naivety then.' And she said their recent 'double denim' look posted on social media was an accident. She insisted: 'I thought those days were over. 'I got dressed first FYI!' Jurassic Park actor Jeff Gold-blum, 70, and his wife Emilie Livingston, 40, were in matching vertical-striped outfits at a Prada fashion event in Los Angeles. She said: 'I think it's fun to dress up with your partner sometimes. It's harmless and it looks good.' Superstar Rihanna chose to double up in beige with husband A$AP Rocky at the premiere of last year's blockbuster Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The concept of celebrity couples dressing alike is not new. Victoria and David Beckham have joked about their 'twinning' style Dawnn Karen, a fashion psychologist, said dressing alike shows empathy and contentment in a relationship. She said: 'It shows you're on the same frequency. 'A lot of couples dress alike and it correlates to a high degree of happiness. 'Some couples randomly do it and others do it on purpose. Ultimately, it shows how united they are.' Lindsay Lohan appeared to be enjoying playing her iconic Mean Girls role of Cady Heron for an upcoming commercial. On the set of the shoot, the Parent Trap actress, 37, was spotted walking while shielding her fair skin with a black umbrella. She carried an iced coffee and had sunglasses on her face and a pale pink, short satin robe on which concealed her costume from the crew and any fans who assembled to catch a glimpse of the Herbie: Fully Loaded star. Lindsay's signature red hair was held back with white hair clips and she wore white socks with black shoes. The Freaky Friday star was flanked by security personnel dressed in black. Iconic: Lindsay Lohan, 37, was spotted walking to the set of a Mean Girls themed commercial while shielding her fair skin with a black umbrella These latest snaps of the Falling For Christmas star come one day after a mini Mean Girls reunion on the same set with Lacey Chabert, 41, and Amanda Seyfried, 37. The three have remained pals since the 2004 film which has been turned into a stage musical - and next an upcoming feature film of the musical. The only member of The Plastics that was missing from the shoot was Rachel McAdams, 44. According to Vanity Fair, the foursome were interested in participating, but negotiations stalled due to a 'disrespectful' salary offer. It's been nearly 20 years since the film that brought them together was released to audiences. The award winning film, written by Tina Fey and inspired by Rosalind Wiseman's Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and Other Realities of Adolescence is still resonating with audiences of all ages. In a social media post celebrating the cult comedy's 19th anniversary, Lacey wrote, 'Im forever thankful to have been a part of this special movie. The friendships that were formed because of it still bring so much joy to my life.' 'Thank you to the fans for all of the support & love over the years.' Mean Girls Day was celebrated October 3 with Paramount releasing the original film on TikTok in 23 different snippets, ranging from ranging from 60 seconds to 10 minutes. The Just My Luck star welcomed her first child, a son named Luai, which husband Bader Shammas in July. Incognito: She carried an iced coffee and had sunglasses on her face and a pale pink, short satin robe on which concealed her costume Red hair: Lindsay's signature red hair was held back with white hair clips and she wore white socks with black shoes 20 years: It's been nearly 20 years since Mean Girls, starring Lindsay, Amanda Seyfried and Lacey Chabert, along with Rachel McAdams was released in theaters Musical: The Mean Girls Musical is headed to theaters. Paramount was intended to stream the film but it did so well with test audiences, the studio decided to put it on the big screen beginning January 12 Plastics: It appears none of the original Plastics, the clique headed by Rachel McAdams in the 2004 film will appear in the musical version due to what Vanity Fair reported was a 'disrespectful' salary offer Her representative told DailyMail.com at the time: 'Lindsay Lohan and her financier husband, Bader Shammas welcomed a beautiful, healthy son named Luai. The family is over the moon in love.' The baby was born in Dubai, where the couple lives, and Luai is an Arabic name that means 'shield or protector.' She and Shammas married in 2022, a year after she debuted him on her social media and shared that they were engaged. 'My love. My life. My family. My future,' Lindsay wrote, gushing about her fiance. Christine Brown officially said 'I do' to David Woolley during a 'fairytale' wedding ceremony that took place in Moab, Utah on Saturday. The Sister Wives star, 51 - who happily announced her engagement to Woolley, 59, earlier this year in April - held her nuptials at the Red Cliffs Lodge in front of 330 of their close friends and loved ones, according to People. The star was escorted down the aisle by her father and son, Paedon, 25, during the outdoor ceremony that offered a scenic view on the clear and sunny day. Brown - who first met David on a dating app last year in 2022 - was a stunning bride wearing a white, sleeveless gown with a beaded and lace overlay from Boda Bridal, a store that is located in Salt Lake City. Her blonde locks flowed down in light waves past her shoulders, while some pieces were pulled back away from her face, allowing loose strands to border the sides of her face. Officially married! Christine Brown, 51, officially said 'I do' to David Woolley, 59, during a 'fairytale' wedding ceremony that took place in Moab, Utah on Saturday. Romantic ceremony: The Sister Wives star held her nuptials at the Red Cliffs Lodge in front of 330 of their close friends and loved ones, according to People In the past: Before she met David, Christine was notably in a polygamous marriage to Kody Brown with three other women: Janelle, Meri and also Robyn; Janelle (far left), Christine, Kody, Meri and Robyn (far right) seen in 2015 in Las Vegas The groom was also dressed to impress, and was seen wearing a classic black suit along with a black vest and dark dress shirt underneath. Her makeup was classically done for the special day - and was completed by Eliza Schmidt, who also did Brown's elegant hairstyle. Christine and David said their vows while standing under a wooden arch that was decorated with florals for a romantic flare. After the couple were announced as husband and wife, the pair shared a kiss and began walking back down the aisle while the song, At Last by Etta James, played in the background. While gushing about the nuptials, Brown told People, 'It's a fairytale. It's everything I never thought I would have.' The TV personality continued, 'I get to walk down the aisle to David, him just looking at me the way that he does, it's a dream come true.' Not long before the ceremony commenced, Woolley expressed to the outlet that Christine, 'wants to be able to wear a white dress and walk down the aisle with her dad.' He added, 'She never got to do on her first marriage. She wants all the bells and whistles.' Brown cut in to say, 'It's true. I do want the big white wedding!' Stunning: Brown - who first met David on a dating app last year in 2022 - was a stunning bride wearing a white, sleeveless gown with a beaded and lace overlay from Boda Bridal 'Fairytale': While gushing about the nuptials, Brown told People, 'It's a fairytale. It's everything I never thought I would have' She explained, 'We're going to have a slew of kids and grandkids walk down the aisle in between the parents, our officiant, David, and me. We wanted to make it as family oriented as possible.' When the ceremony ended, guests and the newlyweds made their way to a spacious tent that was lavishly decorated with eye-catching lights and more florals. Following a cocktail hour, a buffet dinner was served, and attendees had the chance to choose from an assortment of tasty food - such as roast beef, BBQ chicken, potatoes and also corn on the cob. A three-layer cake was served for a dessert, as well as a second cake which was Dark Vader-themed for Woolley. On Friday, one day before the wedding took place, the fun kicked off with a dinner cruise along the Colorado River. 'We just liked the idea of having as much family and friends there as possible. We're going to have so much fun,' Christine expressed before saying 'I do.' Earlier this year in February for Valentine's Day, the Sister Wives star debuted her romance with David. Two months later, the couple announced their engagement. She uploaded a photo of herself standing next to her Woolley shortly after he popped the big question. Her left hand rested on his chest as they stood closely together to better show off the engagement ring. Happy! Earlier this year in February for Valentine's Day, the Sister Wives star debuted her romance with David and two months later, the couple announced their engagement So in love: At the time of the engagement, Brown opened up about her relationship with Woolley and stated to People, 'David treats me like a queen and tells me I'm beautiful every day' In the caption, the star wrote, 'Were engaged! David popped the question VERY romantically, and I said YES! Im so excited and just live in bliss every day!' At the time, Brown opened up about her relationship with Woolley and stated to People, 'David treats me like a queen and tells me I'm beautiful every day.' 'I've never been in love like this before, and the world seems like a brighter place with him in it. I'm so excited for the wonderful adventure we are going to embark on for the rest of our lives.' She has kept her fans updated with her budding romance with Woolley by often sharing adorable snaps on her main Instagram page of the two. Before she met David, Christine was notably in a polygamous marriage to Kody Brown with three other women: Janelle, Meri and also Robyn. She notably split from Kody in 2021, and both Janelle and Meri also later ended their marriage with him as well. Christine shares six children with her ex: Aspyn, Mykelti, Paedon, Gwendlyn, Ysabel, and Truely. After the split from Kody, she released a statement that read, 'After more than 25 years together, Kody and I have grown apart and I have made the difficult decision to leave.' Family: Christine shares six children with her ex: Aspyn, Mykelti, Paedon, Gwendlyn, Ysabel, and Truely and David is also father to eight children whom he shares with his wife that passed away in 2012 'We will continue to be a strong presence in each others lives as we parent our beautiful children and support our wonderful family. At this time, we ask for your grace and kindness as we navigate through this stage within our family.' David is also father to eight children whom he shares with his wife that passed away in 2012. 'After my wife passed away, I dated and I just could never find somebody. I knew Christine was "the one." It just feels so right,' he told People. As the lovebirds celebrated their nuptials on Saturday, Christine gushed to the publication, 'We have so many things in common.' 'It's just easy. I found someone who is everything I've been looking for, who is a true partner, and someone who just wants to be with me and loves me for me.' The who's who of Australian television graced the city of Perth on Saturday to attend the wedding of beloved Nine News reporter Tracy Vo and her partner Liam Connolly. The much-anticipated event was held at the picturesque Moana Hall, and it was indeed a star-studded affair. Leading the guest list was Nine's Sylvia Jeffreys and her Sky News journalist husband Peter Stefanovic, the power couple of Australian media. Sylvia, 37, looked chic in a strapless maxi dress that she teamed up with a black designer bag and strappy heels. Sylvia curled her short blonde locks and wore a neutral palette of makeup for the outing. The who's who of Australian television graced the city of Perth on Saturday to attend the wedding of beloved Nine News reporter Tracy Vo and her partner Liam Connolly. Pictured: Sylvia Jeffreys and Peter Stefanovic The much-anticipated event was held at the picturesque Moana Hall, and it was indeed a star-studded affair. Pictured: Tracy Vo and Liam Connolly Peter, 41, also looked stylish in navy suit as he arrived to the venue alongside his wife. Both were seen sharing light moments with fellow attendees, reflecting the joyous atmosphere of the occasion. Allison Langdon meanwhile looked stylish in a $2,300 blush coloured Diane Gown dress that featured a drape. Sylvia, 37, looked chic in a grey coloured strapless maxi dress that she teamed up with a black designer bag and strappy heels Allison Langdon meanwhile looked stylish in a $2,300 blush coloured Diane Gown dress that featured a drape The A Current Affair presenter was joined by her husband Mike Willesee Jr. and cricket star Mitchell Johnson, who looked smart in a navy blazer and beige trousers. Jessica Rowe and her Nine newsreader husband Peter Overton were also pictured arriving for the celebrations. The former Studio 10 host stunned in a long-sleeve pink sequin dress and heels. Jessica opted for a glowing makeup look with a nude lipstick and finished her look with dangling statement earrings. The A Current Affair presenter was joined by her husband Mike Willesee Jr. and cricket star Mitchell Johnson, who looked smart in a navy blazer and beige trousers The couple were seen chatting to friends as they made their way to the wedding venue Also attending was Jessica Rowe and her husband Peter Overton. The former Studio 10 host stunned in a long-sleeve pink sequin dress and heels Jessica opted for a glowing makeup look with a nude lipstick and finished her look with dangling statement earrings Weather presenter Scherri-Lee Biggs showed off her growing baby bump as she was seen arriving with her AFL player husband Daniel Venables. The Today star, 33, shared their happy news to Instagram last month alongside a heartwarming picture of brown baby socks. 'Theres going to be lots of little socks around come Feb!' Scherri-Lee wrote in the caption of their dual post. Weather presenter Scherri-Lee Biggs showed off her growing baby bump as she was seen arriving with her AFL player husband Daniel Venables They were joined by another two guests who were all glammed up for the special day Ex-Today newsreader Tracy announced her engagement to her longtime beau in July last year, showing off her flashy engagement ring by the waterfall. She shared the happy news on Instagram, saying: 'He took me to Miri Miri and asked me to marry him. I cried, I swore and then I said yes.' Tracy continued: 'I cant wait to be your wife Liam! You are the kindest and sweetest soul. You make me laugh everyday. What more could a gal ask for. I love you.' Photos from the intimate ceremony were shared to social media over the weekend In early 2020, she relocated from her hometown of Perth to Sydney after she was promoted as newsreader to the Today show. But the role was short-lived after she returned home to Perth just before Western Australia slammed its borders shut due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Her decision to move back was prompted by her elderly father suffering from Morvan Syndrome, a rare autoimmune disease. 'I really miss the Today show guys and it was just a family decision, purely a family decision,' Tracy said at the time. 'I'm still part of the family and I really miss them but it was just one of those things, I had to do it, you know.' Arnold Schwarzenegger confessed he's still coming to terms with his body image as a 76-year-old man. During an interview on The Howard Stern Show, the actor and former California governor revealed feeling like 'damaged goods' and admitted that seeing signs of aging 'sucks.' The actor shared that he's struggled with the body he now sees in the mirror after spending most of his life in rock-solid shape as a bodybuilding champion and action hero of Hollywood. 'I kind of just smile because everyday I do look in a mirror and I say, "Yea, you suck. Look at this body. Look at those pectoral muscles that used to be firm and perky and really powerful with a striation in there. Now theyre just hanging there.' 'I mean, what the hell is going on here?"' he told Stern, while promoting his new self-help book Be Useful: Seven Tools For Life. 'It sucks': Arnold Schwarzenegger admitted he's still coming to terms with aging and his body image as a 76-year-old man after being 'hailed for years as this supreme body' While the seven-time Mr. Olympia champion knows most people deal with the same body image crisis, he made the case that most people don't know what it feels like to go from am idealized 'Superman' physique to an average man. 'Most of the people have never been in shape. So what does it mean in getting out of shape? They always looked at a sh**y body. So therefore it gets sh**tier as time goes on,' he explained. 'It's just that when you've been hailed for years as this supreme body, and you have the definition and you see the veins coming down your abs, and you see veins on top of your chest and now you cut and roll the clock 50 years and you're standing there and you don't see that anymore,' he said of his changing body. Although the Terminator star clarified that he looks better than the 'majority' of people his age, he still isn't satisfied. 'I never, ever thought about that when I was 30-years-old or 40-years old that this [was] going to happen,' he added. 'It just sucks.' The Thai, Austria native then turned the topic of conversation back on the host by praising him for staying lean. 'I'm always amazed at how lean you stayed. You didn't gain any weight,' the father of five said to Stern.'But this is smart. You can only live longer and healthier if you are lean.' He went on to reveal he only eats two meals a day: breakfast and dinner, in his strategy to try to stay lean and in shape. Harsh reality: 'I kind of just smile because everyday I do look in a mirror and I say, "Yea, you suck. Look at this body. Look at those pectoral muscles that used to be firm and perky and really powerful with a striation in there. Now theyre just hanging there,' the actor and former politician revealed to Howard Stern Coming to terms: Although the Terminator star clarified that he looks better than the 'majority' of people his age, he still isnt satisfied with his body at 76 High praise: 'I'm always amazed at how lean you stayed. You didn't gain any weight,' the father of five said to Stern.'But this is smart. You can only live longer and healthier if you are lean' Realization: Schwarzenegger revealed everything changed for him after he had open heart surgery at 50, leaving him feeling like 'damaged goods' for the first time The Predator actor says everything changed for him after he had open heart surgery at 50, leaving him feeling like 'damaged goods' for the first time. 'That was the first time where I felt kind of vulnerable,' the exercise guru said. 'Where all of a sudden the doctor says, "You shouldnt lift that heavy anymore. Or just pay attention when you breathe. When you exercise exhale, don't keep the air pressed inside because that is too much stress on your valves in your heart. Schwarzenegger went on to share that he doesn't think life is the same as when he was 30 or 40-years-old 'where you could do anything and you never had to think about anything'. 'Now all of sudden you have to start thinking about those things to warm up for this, and to warm up for that. But am I upset about it? No, because there's nothing I can do about it.' He tries to take aging all in stride, which includes taking on those challenges as they come his way It's the only choice we have,' he said before adding, 'The bottom line is I'm 76-years-old. I'm full of energy. I'm full of enthusiasm. I'm as enthusiastic and as excited as I was when I was 30-years-old.' Legendary: The native of Thai, Austria first gained recognition for being a bodybuilding champion that includes seven Mr. Olympia titles Action hero status: Schwarzenegger used his ripped physique to forge ahead with a wildly successful career in film, first as an action hero Promo mode: Schwarzenegger is currently out promoting his upcoming new self-help book Be Useful: Seven Tools For Life, which is scheduled to be available on October 24 Schwarzenegger then went deeper into his mindset to disclose how he takes each day as it comes. 'I just see mountains in front of me to be climbed,' he said. 'And so as long as I see those mountains I keep my enthusiasm and I keep my excitement and that fire in the belly to keep climbing and climbing and that's what it's all about.' Schwarzenegger's upcoming new book Be Useful: Seven Tools For Life is scheduled to be available on October 24. In it he shares his seven rules to follow to 'realize your true purpose in life' by opening up about his own journey of ceaseless reinvention and extraordinary achievement that includes being at one time in his life the world's greatest bodybuilder; the world's highest-paid movie star; and the leader of the world's sixth-largest economy as California governor from 2003-2011. Erin McNaught was recently spotted looking loved up with her new music producer boyfriend Stasi 'Stace Cadet' Kotaras. And on Sunday, the model took the next step in their relationship by going Instagram official. Sharing a gallery of loved-up photos with her 183K followers, Erin was ready to show off her beau. 'Our recent adventures QT/Magnetic Island' she captioned the post. In one photo, the couple are seen smiling while standing in the snow after going on ski trip to Queenstown New Zealand. Model Erin McNaught, 41, (left) went Instagram official with her new music producer boyfriend Stasi 'Stace Cadet' Kotaras (right) on Sunday - following her shock split from rapper Example Sharing a gallery of loved-up photos with her 183K followers, Erin was ready to show off her beau Another photo shows Erin squished between two rocks, wearing a crop top and a denim skirt while on holiday in Magnetic Island. The pair haven't made any formal announcement of their relationship, but last month shared a number of flirty exchanges on Instagram. 'Last little chunk of life. It's been good to me,' McNaught captioned a slew of photos, with a love heart emoji. 'Our recent adventures QT/Magnetic Island' she captioned the post 'Yes it has,' Stace Cadet replied, with a wink and two heart emojis. The mother-of-two left a fire and heart emoji on his post about doing a 'little mix' for the 'legends at Triple J'. Erin and her ex-husband, rapper Example, real name Elliot Gleave, announced their split in October last year. Another photo shows Erin squished between two rocks, wearing a crop top and a denim skirt while on holiday in Magnetic Island The A-list couple were married from 2013 to 2022. The performer is now seeing art advisor Daisy Cox, who has relocated to Australia to be with him. Example wrote that their romance came to a 'natural end' after 11 years together and said that he and Erin will still be happily co-parenting their sons Evander, aged seven, and Ennio, aged five. In a joint Instagram statement, the couple explained: 'At the start of the UK summer we decided to separate. We have had an amazing 11 years together, but just a few too many adventures. Erin and her ex-husband, rapper Example, real name Elliot Gleave, (left) announced their split in October last year. The pair were married from 2013 to 2022 'Obviously we spent a lot of time behind the scenes trying to figure things out, but we came to the realisation that perhaps our time as a couple had just come to a natural end. 'So we have decided to go our separate ways whilst there is still an abundance of love and respect for one another. 'We have been co-parenting happily and effectively now for almost half a year and our boys are surrounded with love.' Continuing his statement, he penned: 'Due to Elliot's busy summer schedule over 14 weeks in Europe, Erin and the boys flew to London for 4 weeks so Elliot wouldn't have to go months without seeing Evander and Ennio. 'We had an amazing family holiday, and look forward to more in the future. We have had incredible support from our closest friends and family, who are proud of how are handling this separation. 'We have turned off commenting to protect ourselves, our children and closest friends and family. Please do not feel the need to text or DM us whoever you are.' Dawn French has reflected on the sudden end to her smash hit BBC show French And Saunders. The comedian, 65, wrote and starred in the sketch show with best friend Jennifer Saunders for six wildly successful series, but in 2004 the duo announced the end, shocking fans. Writing in her new book The Twat Files, Dawn recalls the 'tipping point' came during filming for a sketch with pop star Anastacia. Dawn and Jennifer were filming the scene in the toilets in the BBC building with Dawn seen describing her fantasy that Anastacia will hear her sing and invite her to come on Top of the Pops with her. Anastacia stars in the sketch, overhearing the conversation. Cut to Dawn in the pop star's signature cowgirl look singing with the star on TOTP. Smash hit: Dawn French has reflected on the sudden end to her smash hit BBC show French And Saunders (pictured with comedy partner Jennifer Saunders in the show) End of an era: The comedian wrote and starred in the sketch show with best friend Jennifer Saunders for six wildly successful series, but in 2004 the duo announced the end Dawn writes in her new book The Twat Files that seeing herself in the costume was the moment she decided to quit the show. 'I'd genuinely never felt so ugly. I'd often voluntarily, happily been 'ugly' for hundreds of sketches'. 'I've never minded what something looks like, as long as it's servicing the joke right. The mirror was clearly telling me why this was so painfully abhorrent.' 'Because the joke was on me.' After wrapping filming for the day, Dawn says she 'burst into hot, angry tears. I properly sobbed all the 28 miles home' before calling Jennifer and telling her she wanted to end their show. Speaking to The Times, Dawn insisted that her best friend didn't try to dissuade her, explaining: 'Jennifer would never fight me on something so big. 'She does say now, 'What the f*** were you thinking? We could have sorted that easily.' But it wasn't a problem.' As for her, she has never regretted her decision, adding: 'I think it was time to go to another chapter, and you have to know when that happens.' French and Saunders started working together when they met in their early 20s in 1978, with their eponymous sketch show first airing on BBC Two in 1987. Unhappy: Writing in her new book The Twat Files, Dawn recalls the 'tipping point' came during filming for a sketch with pop star Anastacia Fan favourites: French and Saunders, 63, started working together when they met in their early 20s in 1978, with their eponymous sketch show first airing on BBC Two in 1987 In total it ran for six full series, in addition to a host of Christmas specials and compilation episodes, the most recent of which was 300 Years of French and Saunders which aired on Christmas Day in 2017. Speaking on The Graham Norton Show last year, Dawn said she and Jennifer have no plans for a revival. 'I think the time for the sketch show is over, but Jen and I are like kids when we get together and have lots of fun thinking about it the likes of Line of Duty, Killing Eve and The Crown are just begging for it!' she admitted. Instead the comedic icon is concentrating on her one woman show Dawn French is a Huge Twat and the imminent release of her latest book, The Twat Files. Holly Willoughby has cancelled her plans to attend the Pride of Britain awards on Sunday night as she deals with an alleged kidnap plot. The TV presenter is a regular attendee on the celebrity-packed guest list for the annual awards, which honour members of the public for acts of bravery in challenging situations. It has already been confirmed that Holly will not appear on This Morning on Monday as she struggles to deal with the terror of an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her. The presenter, who is being guarded by police and a security team from ITV, has decided to take time off and is likely to be replaced by Alison Hammond or Josie Gibson. Holly Willoughby has cancelled her plans to attend the Pride of Britain awards on Sunday night as she deals with an alleged kidnap plot Cancelled: The TV presenter is a regular attendee on the celebrity-packed guest list for the annual awards which honour members of the public for acts of bravery (pictured at the ceremony in 2018) This Morning insiders say that Ms Willoughby, 42, will not return to the programme until after the half-term break because she had a scheduled holiday then, as she does every year. The distraught star's decision came after emotional conversations with senior ITV executives on Friday. They are now in the process of preparing Monday's episode of the daytime show with a stand-in host. Ms Willoughby is unlikely to appear on the programme until the end of October at the earliest. ITV bosses are yet to decide how the programme will cover the incident. One source told The Mail on Sunday: 'As the days go by, something like this doesn't get any easier for Holly but it is difficult to think about any kind of work right now, let alone when your job is to present a live television show. 'She needs to be around her nearest and dearest and take the right advice from the right people, too. 'The This Morning presenters have been in touch with her and they will juggle covering her role for as long as is needed.' Ms Willoughby did not appear on the programme on Thursday as she had learned of Gavin Plumb's alleged plot to commit kidnap and murder her only the night before. Ms Willoughby did not appear on the programme on Thursday as she had learned of Gavin Plumb's (pictured) alleged plot to commit kidnap and murder her only the night before Holly is likely to be replaced by Alison Hammond or Josie Gibson (pictured left) She does not work on Fridays but spent her day hearing further details of the allegations against 30-stone security guard Plumb, which left her and her family 'absolutely petrified'. Friends have now rallied around the mother of three. One said: 'Holly can't believe this is happening. She has just got through the whole Schofield scandal and settled back into a new routine on This Morning. Nobody deserves to endure this.' It is not known if Ms Willoughby, who is married to television producer Dan Baldwin, has remained at her London home or whether they have gone elsewhere. Plumb, 36, was arrested at his flat in Harlow, Essex, on Wednesday, where he was found allegedly in possession of weapons. He has been charged with soliciting to commit murder and incitement to commit kidnap in relation to the TV presenter. The father of two appeared in the dock at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Friday wearing a green T-shirt with the slogan 'Aged to Perfection'. He spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, address and where he worked. Prosecutors told the court that Plumb was part of a network of like-minded individuals and that he had conspired with a man called David Nelson to kidnap and kill Ms Willoughby.Plumb is alleged to have tried to hire a hitman from the US, the court heard. He had allegedly arranged for a third party to fly to Britain next week and made a 'detailed plan' to execute their conspiracy. According to the charge sheet, Plumb had 'assembled a kidnap and restraint kit capable of encouraging or assisting the commission of the kidnap of Holly Willoughby'. Police were said to have seized mobile phones and electronic devices from his flat, as well as the weapons haul. Plumb was remanded in custody by District Judge Caroline Jackson and will appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on November 3. Kylie Jenner posted then deleted an Instagram Story showing her support for Israel on Saturday - after backlash from some of her fans. The influencer, 26, took to her social media with image of Israel's flag with the text, 'Now and always, we stand with the people of Israel!' The image she reshared was from nonprofit organization StandWithUs - a body which states that it supports Israel and opposes antisemitism. On Twitter a video that appeared to be of comments on Jenner's post showed numerous users replying that they supported a free Palestine. Israel launched retaliatory strikes against Hamas after the militant group launched a series of attacks on Saturday, in the biggest escalation in the region in decades. Changed her mind: Kylie Jenner posted then deleted an Instagram Story showing her support for Israel on Saturday Opinion: The influencer, 26, took to her social media with image of Israel's flag with the text, 'Now and always, we stand with the people of Israel!' According to Palestinian officials, Israeli air strikes have killed at least 313 people in the Gaza Strip, with almost 2,000 wounded. In Israel, 300 civilians have also been killed, and dozens of Israelis have been taken hostage. Under Kylie's recent post - as she shared snaps from Paris Fashion Week - many have made their feelings clear by posting the flag of Palestine. Other penned comments like: 'Free Palestine'. Israel has launched a counterstrike against Hamas militants in the Gaza strip in the south, and is pounding Lebanon with artillery in the north, following an unprecedented sneak attack that has left at least 300 Israelis dead. As the sun rose on Sunday following the deadliest day of violence in Israel in 50 years, the Jewish nation's warplanes strafed densely populated Gaza City with bombs in retaliatory strikes. Heavy smoke and flames were seen rising from Gaza's Burc Vatan shopping mall, after the Palestine Tower in the Al-Rimal neighbourhood, one of the tallest buildings in the strip, was reduced to rubble. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has released footage of a missile strike it claims took place on a compound belonging to Hamas' head of military intelligence, adding it had also targeted two banks belonging to the terrorist organisation and aerial weapons production sites in Gaza. Reaction: Under Kylie's recent post - as she shared snaps from Paris Fashion Week - many have made their feelings clear by posting the flag of Palestine Cause: The image she reshared was from nonprofit organization StandWithUs - a body which states that it supports Israel and opposes antisemitism Horror: People assess the destruction cause by Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on Saturday. Israel has launched a counterstrike against Hamas militants after a sneak attack that killed hundreds Drone footage, taken over the last 24 hours and released by the military branch, also shows a group of Hamas fighters being attacked from the sky as they try to cross into Israeli territory. Meanwhile, in the north of the country IDF forces carried out artillery strikes against Lebanon in the disputed area of Mount Dov, following mortar fire directed towards Israel from its northern neighbour. Iran-backed Hezbollah militants said it was behind the strikes and the attack was carried out 'in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance', reported the BBC. Columns of heavy weaponry including tanks and armoured personnel carriers were also spotted moving north toward Israel's border with Lebanon and Syria. 'We are embarking on a long and difficult war that was forced on us by a murderous Hamas attack,' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Sunday, adding that the 'offensive phase' of the IDF response has begun. IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said more than 400 Palestinian militants had been killed in southern Israel and the Gaza strip, and dozens more captured. 'As of this hour, there are forces fighting in [Kibbutz] Kfar Aza, there are searches in a large number of towns. There are IDF forces in all towns, there is no town that does not have an IDF force in it,' he is quoted as saying in The Times of Israel. Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom Tzipi Hotovely has blamed Iran for supporting Hamas ahead of Saturday's attack. She told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News: 'Iran is backing up Hamas, Iran is destabilising the region with its proxies. 'We are willing to take a long fighting time to defend our people, we must make sure no one has a motivation to do that again.' More than 300 Israelis have been killed, and 1,590 injured, since Hamas launched its blitz attack on Saturday morning with rockets and up to 1,000 armed militants roving in gangs, attacking civilians and soldiers alike across dozens of locations. At least 26 Israeli soldiers have been killed in an attack by the Hamas militant group on the countrys south, Israel's military confirmed. And at least 313 Palestinians have been killed, and nearly 2,000 injured, in retaliatory Israeli military action since yesterday, the country's health ministry has said. On Sunday morning, Israel was still fighting Hamas incursions in eight places, the Israeli military said. 'Israel is waking up this morning to a terrible morning,' said Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman. 'There are a lot of people killed... children, grandmothers, families, bodies.' Hamas fighters began their attack at dawn on Saturday with a huge barrage of rockets into southern Israel, giving cover to an unprecedented, multi-pronged infiltration of fighters into Israel from Gaza. Hamas fighters killed hundreds of Israelis in clashes through the day, and escaped back into Gaza with at least dozens of hostages, including women, children, and disabled elderly Israelis. An Israeli military spokesperson said Sunday morning that two hostage situations had been 'resolved,' but did not say whether those hostages had been rescued alive. Conflict: Hamas claimed to have fired 5,000 rockets into Israel from the occupied Gaza Strip, setting off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem Scared: People standing on a rooftop watch as a ball of fire and smoke rises above a building in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike that hit the Palestine Tower building on Saturday An official number of how many people have been kidnapped is currently not known, but the Israeli Embassy to the United States suggests a figure of 100 civilians and soldiers. The military branch announced in a post to X, formerly Twitter, early on Sunday morning that it had ordered a missile strike on a compound belonging to Hamas' head of intelligence, along with a video of a purported attack. It said: 'A short while ago, IAF fighter jets struck a compound belonging to the head of the intelligence department in the Hamas terrorist organization. 'The IAF is currently continuing to strike terror targets in the Gaza Strip.' Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, the ultra-low-fare national airline of the UAE, and the second-largest airline in Abu Dhabi by seat capacity, is celebrating the inauguration of its first flight from Abu Dhabi to Erbil, a city in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The new route provides affordable, hassle-free, point-to-point travel for tourists and residents in the UAE, Iraq and across the region, with fares starting as low as AED 269 ($73). The flights from Abu Dhabi to Erbil operate on a convenient schedule, flying on Monday and Friday, with the national airline flying to more than 40 destinations from Abu Dhabi. Erbil is a modern metropolis with a rich history, warm hospitality, and stunning landscapes. With a vibrant culture and incredible historical sites, including the ancient Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, travellers of all ages can immerse themselves in multiple historical civilizations. Some of the must-see historical and natural attractions include the Sami Abdul Rahman Park, Jalil Khayat Mosque and Kurdish textile museum with memorable and enriching travel experiences awaiting. Abu Dhabi is a world-renowned family friendly destination with incredible art, culture, tradition and hospitality offerings. The UAE capital, blessed with stunning beach resorts, excellent cultural offerings and exciting attractions offers visitors a warm welcome and breath taking natural and built beauty. The city offers an enriching historical experience and a bustling culture to explore with a plethora of both relaxation and adventure options to suit all ages. Johan Eidhagen, Managing Director of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, said: We are delighted to inaugurate our first flight to Erbil, a city of spectacular historical beauty, as we reaffirm our commitment to growing our ever-expanding network throughout the region. With the recent arrival of the 11th aircraft to our fleet, we are further bolstering our ambitious expansion plans and are ready to unlock further low-fares and exciting travel options to must-see destinations. We look forward to sharing our love of travel and welcoming you on board our aircraft soon. TradeArabia News Service Hugh Sheridan was trapped in Israel during the Hamas terrorist attacks before fleeing the country. The Packed to the Rafters star, 38, shared alarming footage to Instagram on Sunday, capturing him hiding from Palestinian fighters in a stairwell with some friends. He also posted some distressing video of sirens going off and the deserted Israeli streets, telling fans he was searching for a taxi to drive him to safety. 'A few hours ago everyone was living life completely normal in Israel. It was a big Jewish holiday yesterday, one week after new year,' he wrote. 'We were at a BBQ yesterday with young people who are now on their way to Gaza to fight. My heart breaks, I'm in the stairwell,' he added. Hugh Sheridan is trapped in Israel during the Hamas terrorist attacks and is searching for a way out of the country. Pictured The Packed to the Rafters star, 38, shared alarming footage to Instagram on Sunday, capturing him hiding from insurgents in a stairwell with some friends Sheridan also posted a video of a scarily quiet Israeli street, as he and his friends tried to make their way to the airport and leave the country. 'It's gotten eerily quiet. Desperately looking for a cab to the airport to try and get out. The missiles were way too close,' he wrote next to the clip. Fortunately, Hugh and his friends managed to get to the airport and safely boarded a flight to Athens, Greece. It comes as Hamas, recognised as a terrorist organisation by Australia, fired thousands of rockets into Israel on Saturday, catching the country - celebrating a religious holiday - by surprise. Some 2,200 hundred missiles were fired off killing hundreds and wounding 1,500 making it the deadliest attack in Israel in decades. Sheridan also posted some distressing footage of sirens going off Sheridan also posted a video of a scarily quiet Israeli street, as he and his friends tried to make their way to the airport and leave the country The Coalition has said Israel has 'every right' to defend itself, although the opposition's foreign affairs spokesperson, Simon Birmingham, pleaded for 'all parties' to work together to protect innocent lives and end the violence. Australia's peak national representative body of the Australian Jewish community say calls for de-escalation by 'both sides' are 'misconceived and only play into the hands of the terrorists'. World leaders and diplomats were quick to condemn the Palestinian attack, including Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong. 'Australia unequivocally condemns the attacks on Israel by Hamas including indiscriminate rocket fire on cities and civilians,' she wrote on social media. Brigitte Bardot was seen making a rare public appearance last week as she went for a drive in the south of France. The French actress was pictured behind the wheel of an old white minivan on the day of her 89th birthday. Brigitte drove from her luxury villa La Madrague in Saint-Tropez to her property in La Garigue. She sported a black long-sleeved top and a pair of oversized sunglasses, while sweeping her blonde hair up in a messy bun. Her outing comes after emergency services rushed to her home in July after she suffered some difficulties breathing. Out and about: Brigitte Bardot was seen making a rare public appearance last week as she went for a drive in the south of France Milestone: The French actress was pictured behind the wheel of an old white minivan on the day of her 89th birthday Drive: Brigitte drove from her luxury villa La Madrague in Saint-Tropez to her property in La Garigue Her husband, Bernard d'Ormale, confirmed the news and clarified what happened shortly after the incident occurred at their Saint-Tropez residence. He told Var-matin: 'It was around 9 a.m. when Brigitte had trouble breathing,' noting that ambulances in the south of France initially 'got the wrong' address. He continued: '[Her breathing] was stronger than usual but she did not lose consciousness. Let's call it a moment of respiratory distraction.' Bernard confirmed that once emergency services arrived they put Brigitte on oxygen 'and stayed to watch her' for a while. He said: 'Like all people of a certain age, she can no longer bear the heat. It happens at 88 years old. She must not make useless efforts.' Brigitte starred in 47 films before she quit the movie industry in 1973. Born and raised in Paris, she was an aspiring ballerina before she started working as a fashion model and actress. She was just 15 when she graced the cover of Elle magazine in 1950, which launched her acting career. Stylish: She sported a black long-sleeved top and a pair of oversized sunglasses, while sweeping her blonde hair up in a messy bun Health scare: Her outing comes after emergency services rushed to her home in July after she suffered some difficulties breathing Update: Her husband, Bernard d'Ormale, confirmed the news and clarified what happened shortly after the incident occurred at their Saint-Tropez residence Emergency: Bernard confirmed that once emergency services arrived they put Brigitte on oxygen 'and stayed to watch her' for a while Shortly after, Brigitte met her first husband, filmmaker Roger Vadim, at an audition. She didn't get the role, but she and Roger fell madly in love. Despite the initial disapproval of her family, they married in 1952, when she was 18 and he was 24. Brigitte shot to fame and became an international sex symbol after playing a sexually liberated young woman in the 1956 film And God Created Woman. She and Roger divorced the following year, but they went on to work together in the 1958 movie The Night Heaven Fell. In 1959, she tied the knot with Jacques Charrier, and they had a son, Nicolas, together before splitting up in 1962. Four years later, she wed German millionaire Gunter Sachs, but they divorced in 1969. Since retiring from acting, she has devoted herself to the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, which is dedicated to animal protection. Brigitte launched the organization in Saint-Tropez, a coastal town on the French Riviera, in 1986 with money raised from selling off her jewelry. Stardom: Brigitte shot to fame and became an international sex symbol after playing a sexually liberated young woman in the 1956 film And God Created Woman Stunning: The star was just 15 when she graced the cover of Elle magazine in 1950, which launched her acting career, and starred in 47 films before her retirement All change: She quit the movie industry in 1973 and now runs an animal sanctuary in the French Riviera resort of St Tropez (pictured in 2007) The actress-turned-animal rights activist has been married to far-right political aide Bernard since 1992. Brigitte has become a controversial figure in recent years and has been fined six times for 'inciting racial hatred' with her writings about animal abuse. In 2019, she launched a rambling attack against the inhabitants of La Reunion, one of France's overseas territories spread across the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean, in response to what she saw as their mistreatment of animals. Brigitte called the Indian Ocean islanders 'savages' and was later fined 20,000, about $23,000, by a French court in 2021. Her spokesman Bruno Jacquelin was also fined by the court in the main town of Saint-Denis de la Reunion 4,000 euros (3,400) for his role in sending the statement to several media outlets at her request. 'The natives have kept their savage genes,' the animal rights campaigner wrote in an open letter attacking the islanders for their treatment of animals, describing locals as 'degenerate savages'. She took aim at the island's Hindu Tamil population for sacrificing goats, evoking the 'cannibalism of past centuries' as she lashed 'a degenerate population still soaked in barbarous ancestral traditions'. Brigitte has also been convicted in the past over her comments about Muslims. Couple: The actress-turned-animal rights activist has been married to far-right political aide Bernard d'Ormale since 1992 (pictured together in 1994) France's then overseas territories minister Annick Girardin told her in a letter at the time after her comments on Le Reunion 'that racism is not an opinion, it's an offence'. Didier Robert, President of the Reunion region, previously described Brigitte as 'irresponsible, outrageous and contemptuous'. He said her letter contained deeply racist terms that were 'absolutely unacceptable'. Animal rights activists say abuse of animals is common on the island and that animal sacrifice is tolerated in some religious ceremonies. Brigitte is a close friend of Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of the FN, who has been convicted for anti-Semitism, racism and Holocaust denial. His daughter, Marine Le Pen, now runs the party. 21 Savage performed outside the States for the first time in his life during Drake's concert at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Saturday night - one day after Canadian officials kept him from entering the country due to undisclosed reasons. The London-born, Atlanta-raised 30-year-old recently became a lawful permanent resident of the USA after a four-year immigration saga stemming from his 2019 drug and gun possession arrest and subsequent 10-day ICE detainment. Early Sunday morning, the Canadian 36-year-old shared a video of the moment he invited 21 Savage (born Sheyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph) onstage: 'Ladies and gentleman, performing for the first time outside America in his life, make some noise for my brother, 21!' The Grammy winner wrapped a Canadian flag around his head and climbed onstage while Drake (born Aubrey Graham) alerted his sound team to play the Canadian national anthem, O Canada, and the roaring crowd patriotically sang along. The five-time Grammy winner - who boasts 263.7M social media followers - called it 'hands down the best moment I ever had in my career on stage' and gushed: 'Congrats my brother the world is yours!' Made it! 21 Savage (R) performed outside the States for the first time in his life during Drake's (L) concert at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Saturday night - one day after Canadian officials kept him from entering the country due to undisclosed reasons Mugshot: The London-born, Atlanta-raised 30-year-old recently became a lawful permanent resident of the USA after a four-year immigration saga stemming from his 2019 drug and gun possession arrest and subsequent 10-day ICE detainment 21 Savage is featured on the track Calling for You off Drake's eighth studio album For All the Dogs, which just dropped last Friday. In fact, it was the Emmy-nominated Euphoria producer who first revealed his colleague obtained a green card in his track 8AM in Charlotte, rapping: 'Savage got a green card straight out of the consulate. Where I go, you go, brother, we Yugoslavian.' On Friday, 21 Savage announced he'd be returning to London for the first time since he attended his uncle's funeral in 2005 at the age of 12 (and then returned to Atlanta on an H-4 visa which expired a year later). It contained footage of the Another One Of Me rapper - who was born in Newham University Hospital - when he lived in London as a child set to Diddy and Skylar Grey's 2010 song Coming Home. 21 Savage was only seven years old when his British-Dominican mother Heather Joseph brought him to Atlanta after legally separating from his British-Saint Vincent and the Grenadines father Kevin Emmons. And while the Good Good rapper did not give any date or venue for his upcoming UK concert, he will likely enjoy a long-delayed family reunion with his father and twin sisters Kyra and Jayda Davis. Meanwhile, Drake concludes his 54-date It's All a Blur Tour this Monday night at Ohio's Schottenstein Center in Columbus. Early Sunday morning, the Canadian 36-year-old shared a video of the moment he invited 21 Savage (born Sheyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph) onstage: 'Ladies and gentleman, performing for the first time outside America in his life, make some noise for my brother, 21!' 'Play what I told you to play!' The Grammy winner wrapped a Canadian flag around his head and climbed onstage while Drake (born Aubrey Graham) alerted his sound team to play the Canadian national anthem, O Canada, and the roaring crowd patriotically sang along The five-time Grammy winner - who boasts 263.7M social media followers - called it 'hands down the best moment I ever had in my career on stage' and gushed: 'Congrats my brother the world is yours!' Dropped last Friday! 21 Savage is featured on the track Calling for You off Drake's eighth studio album For All the Dogs In fact, it was the Emmy-nominated Euphoria producer (L) who first revealed his colleague obtained a green card in his track 8AM in Charlotte, rapping: 'Savage got a green card straight out of the consulate. Where I go, you go, brother, we Yugoslavian' 'I'm coming home!' On Friday, 21 Savage announced he'd be returning to London for the first time since he attended his uncle's funeral in 2005 at the age of 12 (and then returned to Atlanta on an H-4 visa which expired a year later) Nostalgic: It contained footage of the Another One Of Me rapper - who was born in Newham University Hospital - when he lived in London as a child set to Diddy and Skylar Grey's 2010 song Coming Home Uprooted: 21 Savage was only seven years old when his British-Dominican mother Heather Joseph brought him to Atlanta after legally separating from his British-Saint Vincent and the Grenadines father Kevin Emmons Across the pond: And while the Good Good rapper did not give any date or venue for his upcoming UK concert, he will likely enjoy a long-delayed family reunion with his father and twin sisters Kyra and Jayda Davis The Pride of Britain Awards returned to London's Grosvenor House Hotel for a 24th year on Sunday, to celebrate members of the public for their heroic acts. And Billie Shepherd stunned an elegant cream gown, with tiny beads that glistened under the lights as she walked the red carpet ahead of the main event. The strapless number featured structured panels and a chic train that nipped in at the waist with two crystals. TOWIE star Billie, 33, accessorised her look with a pair of glitzy, diamond earrings and elevated her height with a pair of gold heels. To top off her outfit she opted for a subtle smokey eye makeup and styled her hair into a sleek updo. Chic: Billie Shepherd, 33, stunned an elegant cream gown, with tiny beads that glistened under the lights as she walked the red carpet at The annual Pride of Britain Awards on Sunday The annual Pride of Britain Awards will return for a 24th year at London's Grosvenor House, with Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo co-hosting the star-studded affair. Taking place since 1999, the ceremony honours the achievements of truly remarkable people from across the UK and all walks of life - nominated by members of the public. After a shortlist has been produced from the thousands of entries, winners are chosen by the Pride of Britain judging panel. Despite taking place on Sunday evening, the ceremony will be aired on ITV on Thursday October 12 at 8pm. The Pride Of Britain awards will honour winners in nine categories; TSB Community Hero Award, Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser of the Year, This Morning Emergency Services Award, Outstanding Bravery, Child of Courage, Prince's Trust Young Achiever, Special Recognition and Outstanding Contribution. Winners who will be honoured at the glitzy event include murdered hero Lee Rigby's son, Jack Rigby, 13, and former rugby player Rob Burrow, alongside his wife Lindsay and best friend Kevin Sinfield. Speaking to the Daily Mirror about his award, Rob said: 'I am inspired by the true unsung heroes that make me proud to be British. 'It is even more special that I get to receive the award alongside my wife Lindsey and great friend Kevin. I am so proud of them.' Pretty: The strapless number featured structured panels and a chic train that nipped in at the waist with two crystals A slew of famous faces are set to go to the bash, however regular attendee Holly Willoughby will not be appearing. The TV presenter has cancelled her plans to attend the annual awards as she deals with an alleged kidnap plot. Advertisement The showbiz world took a step away from the spotlight on Sunday evening as ordinary folk from across the country were applauded for heroic acts of individual bravery at the annual Pride Of Britain Awards. The event returned to London's Grosvenor House Hotel, where a host of stars were on hand to celebrate those members of the public whose selfless acts helped change - and in some cases save - the lives of others. Leading the way ahead of the annual ceremony, Maura Higgins commanded attention as she greeted onlookers on the red carpet. The former Love Island star, 32, gave a glimpse at her toned midriff as her black and white gown featured cut out detail to the front. Television personality Maura flashed plenty of skin as she posed on the red carpet, with the top of the off-the-shoulder dress being shaped like a bow. Stunning: Maura Higgins joins glamorous Vicky Pattison, Carol Vorderman and Christine McGuinness look glamorous as they arrived at the star-studded Pride Of Britain Awards The ruffled puff skirt rested on the ground around her, with Maura holding the material out to the side. Louise Redknapp looked typically stylish in a sheer black lace top with a bra underneath, teamed with a blazer and trousers. Ferne McCann put on a busty display in a plunging black gown with a long mesh train. The TV personality, who is already mother to daughter Sunday, welcomed a baby girl with her businessman fiance, 31, in July. Oti Mabuse, who is expecting her first child with her husband Marius Lepure, 40, put on a glamorous display in a black satin gown with embellished silver detail. The professional dancer, 33, elevated her height in black stilettos and her long raven tresses were styled in a high ponytail. Nicola showed off her incredible figure in a strapless red gown with a rose detail and a thigh-high split. Meanwhile, Billie Shepherd stunned an elegant cream gown, with tiny beads that glistened under the lights as she walked the red carpet ahead of the main event. The strapless number featured structured panels and a chic train that nipped in at the waist with two crystals. TOWIE star Billie, 33, accessorised her look with a pair of glitzy, diamond earrings and elevated her height with a pair of gold heels. To top off her outfit she opted for a subtle smokey eye makeup and styled her hair into a sleek updo. Georgia Harrison wowed in a red sparkly red gown which was adorned with sequined poppies. The reality star showed off her ample cleavage in the sleeveless dress which featured a huge skirt and flowed onto the red carpet. Looking good: The former Love Island star gave a glimpse at her toned midriff as her black and white gown featured cut out detail to the front Strike a pose: Television personality Maura flashed plenty of skin as she posed on the red carpet, with the top of the off-the-shoulder dress being shaped like a bow Glamour: Vicky Pattison, 35, looked stunning in a gorgeous purple dress with a plunging neckline Beautiful: The former Geordie Shore star looked amazing in the classic outfit which featured ruffled detailing on the sleeves which feel off her shoulders Elegant: The singer, 48, looked typically stylish in a sheer black lace top with a bra underneath, teamed with a blazer and trousers Couple: Ferne McCann, 33, stunned in a plunging black gown as she arrived at the Pride Of Britain awards with her fiance Lorri Haines, 31, on Sunday Incredible: The TV personality, who is already mother to daughter Sunday, welcomed a baby girl with her businessman fiance, 31, in July Perfection: Nicola, 38, slipped into a red satin frock with featured a fitted bodice and large floral corsage Legs 11: Slipping her feet into a pair of a strappy silver heels she teased a glimpse of her long toned legs thanks to her dress' high slit Glowing: Frankie Bridge donned a figure-hugging white gown and styled her short blonde locks in a bob Stunning: The former Saturdays singer oozed elegance in the strapless ensemble as she posed up a storm for the cameras Amazing: The professional dancer, 33, who is expecting her first child with her husband Marius Lepure, 40, put on a glamorous display in a black satin gown with embellished silver detail Beauty: She sported a glamorous makeup look with a glossy nude lip Glamorous: Princess Andre, 16, showed off her elegant sense of style in a silver sequinned dress In the detail: She accessorised with some silver chain necklaces, with one featuring a heard which hung just above the neckline of her gown Star quality: The daughter of model Katie Price and former pop star Peter Andre cut a statuesque figure as she posed on the red carpet in a silver sequinned dress with a side split Looking good: The aspiring model proved she certainly takes after her famous mother as she confidently struck a number of poses on the red carpet Amy Dowden oozed sophistication in a floor-length pink gown, with a giant satin bow detailing on the shoulder. The Strictly Come Dancing star, 33, beamed for the camera as she stepped out for her first red carpet appearance with a shaven head looking sensational. She carried her essentials in a silver sequin clutch and accessorised with a pair of diamond hoop earrings. October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the colour for which, is pink, so Amy's dress was very fitting for the occasion. Also in attendance were Amy's fellow Strictly dance pros, Janette Manrara and Dianne Buswell who were out to support their girl. Laura Anderson looked incredible as she went full glam for the Pride Of Britain Awards. The former Love Islander welcomed her first child, Bonnie, with her on-off partner Gary Lucy at the beginning of September, and the star was positively glowing just one month on since becoming a mum. Showcasing her amazing post birth figure the reality star went full glam in a black fitted sleeveless dress which featured a train. The gown clung to her slim physique and was adorned with two huge three dimensional silk roses. The star certainly turned heads in the eye-catching gown which she paired with a black pair of long matching silk gloves. Sensational: Amy Dowden stole the spotlight as she led the glamorous arrivals at the 2023 Pride of Britain Awards Beautiful: The Strictly Come Dancing star, 33, looked sensational in a floor-length pink gown, with a giant satin bow detailing on the shoulder Brave: Amy beamed for the camera as she stepped out for her first red carpet appearance with a shaven head looking sensational Important: October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the colour for which, is pink, so Amy's dress was very fitting for the occasion Top trio: Also in attendance were Amy's fellow Strictly dance pros, Janette Manrara and Dianne Buswell who were out to support their girl Stunning: Helen Flanagan, 33, put on a VERY busty display in shimmering black figure hugging gown Wow: The 33-year-old showcased her ample cleavage in the dress which featured a plunging neckline Beaming: The mother-of-three went full glam for her makeup as she opted for a bold glossy red lip Gorgeous: The star completed the with some dangly silver earrings while tucking her blonde curled locks behind her ear Wow! Laura Anderson, 34, showed off her sensational figure just ONE month after giving birth as she attended her first red carpet since becoming a mum at the Pride Of Britain Awards Eye-catching: The gown clung to the star's slim physique and was adorned with two huge three dimensional silk roses Denise Van Outen wore a busty, pale pink gown as she walked the red carpet at the event. The actress, 49, looked incredible in the pretty number that featured a semi-sheer skirt and delicate, spaghetti straps. She elevated her height with a pair of nude strappy heels and accessorised with a layered pearl necklace. Jamie Laing and wife Sophie Habboo cut very glamorous figures as they stepped out to the Pride of Britain Awards together. Former Made In Chelsea star Jamie, 34, looked dapper in a black suit and matching tie which he teamed with a white shirt. He was seen standing with his arm around fellow reality star Sophie, 29, with the television personality wearing a black halter neck dress with cut out detail to the front and a thigh-high split. The garment dazzled under the bright lights at the venue as it was covered with silver crystals. She boosted her height with a pair of black heels and wore some silver earrings for the evening. Glamorous: Carol Vorderman, who is hosting the awards, wowed in a blue satin gown Awards: Despite taking place on Sunday evening, the ceremony will be aired on ITV on Thursday October 12 at 8pm Glamorous: The host flashed her incredible curves and tiny waist in the strapless royal blue garment and added height to her frame with huge platform heels incredible: The dress featured a ruffled detailing on her bustier and presenter her incredibly slender physique Chic: Billie Shepherd, 33, stunned an elegant cream gown, with tiny beads that glistened under the lights as she walked the red carpet at The annual Pride of Britain Awards on Sunday Pretty: The strapless number featured structured panels and a chic train that nipped in at the waist with two crystals Sensational: Georgia Harrison, 28, wowed in a sparkly red floral gown for Pride of Britain awards Stunning: The reality star showed off her ample cleavage in the sleeveless dress which featured a huge skirt and flowed onto the red carpet Incredible: Georgia made heads turn on the carpet as she paraded the long train of her gown Glamorous: Matching her nails to her dress she donned a red manicure while carrying her few possessions in a silver sparkly clutch bag Wow: Christine McGuinness flashed her ample cleavage in the strapless garment and sported lacy arm warmers to match her glamorous gown Stunning: Christine's gown detailed a satin skirt which trailed elegantly behind her on the carpet Beauty: She looked nothing short of sensational in her sexy gown and beamed for the cameras outside the Grosvenor Hotel Pretty: Denise Van Outen, 49, wore a busty, pale pink gown as she walked the red carpet at the annual Pride of Britain Awards Stunning: The actress looked incredible in the pretty number that featured a semi-sheer skirt and delicate, spaghetti straps First appearance: Jermain Defoe, 41, made a red carpet debut with his elegant girlfriend Alisha LeMay, 31 Glam: Scarlett Moffatt sported a dazzling gold and black dress as she arrived at the Awards with her boyfriend Scott Dobinson Helen Flanagan wowed in a black sparkly dress as she posed up a storm on the red carpet. The former Coronation Street actress, 33, put on a very busty display as she showcased her ample cleavage in the dress which featured a plunging neckline. The halter neck style dress clung to her figure perfectly as it accentuated her incredible physique. Beaming in the snaps the mother-of-three went full glam for her makeup as she opted for a bold glossy red lip. Faye Winter caught the eye in a dramatic black gown with a ruffled tulle skirt and thigh-high leg slit. Walking the red carpet at London's Grosvenor House Hotel, she boosted her height with a pair of strappy black heels. The former Love Island star, 28, completed her glamorous look by styling her blonde hair into waves and accessorised with a simple silver necklace. As she posed for photos at the event, a member of staffed helped the TV personality arrange the gown's voluminous train. Smooch: Megan McKenna, 31, shared a steamy kiss with her fiance Oliver Burke, 26, as the couple attended the event Edgy: Posing for photos at London's Grosvenor House Hotel, Megan looked sensational in a corseted mini dress Loved-up: The singer and the footballer, who announced their engagement in July after a whirlwind five month romance, wore coordinating khaki green and black outfits Glamorous: Zara McDermott, 26, put on a leggy display in a white silk gown as she attended alongside her Strictly partner Graziano Di Prima, 29, on Sunday evening Wow: The former Love Islander looked sensational in a white silk gown with a nude sparkly bodice Stunning: The Strictly star put on a leggy display in the dress which featured a high slit up her left leg and a long white train Stylish: The star elevated her height with a pair of silver sparkly heels as she posed confidently Sensational Zara accessorised the look with some sparkly dangly heart earrings and natural makeup Frosty? Love Island winners Jess Harding (left) and Sammy Root (right) arrived separately to the Pride of Britain Awards in London on Sunday just days after news of their split emerged In style: Jess, 22, cut a glamorous figure in a black off-the-shoulder dress with a low cut neckline and front split Smart: Sammy, also 22, looked dapper in a ruby red suit and matching tie which he teamed with a white shirt Stylish: Love Island's Ella Thomas turned heads in a glamorous black gown, while showing off her new auburn tresses Stunning: Olivia Attwood wore a backless, black gown for the event that showed off her toned figure through cut-out sections The annual Pride of Britain Awards will return for a 24th year at London's Grosvenor House, with Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo co-hosting the star-studded affair. Taking place since 1999, the ceremony honours the achievements of truly remarkable people from across the UK and all walks of life - nominated by members of the public. After a shortlist has been produced from the thousands of entries, winners are chosen by the Pride of Britain judging panel. Despite taking place on Sunday evening, the ceremony will be aired on ITV on Thursday October 12 at 8pm. The Pride Of Britain awards will honour winners in nine categories; TSB Community Hero Award, Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser of the Year, This Morning Emergency Services Award, Outstanding Bravery, Child of Courage, Prince's Trust Young Achiever, Special Recognition and Outstanding Contribution. Winners who will be honoured at the glitzy event include murdered hero Lee Rigby 's son, Jack Rigby, 13, and former rugby player Rob Burrow, alongside his wife Lindsay and best friend Kevin Sinfield. Sensational: Faye Winter, 38, put on a very busty display as she attended the 24th annual Pride of Britain Awards on Sunday Glam: The former Love Island star caught the eye in a dramatic black gown with a ruffled tulle skirt and thigh-high leg slit Pose: Kimberley Walsh flaunted her sensational figure in a white skin-tight gown which featured one sleeve and a daring thigh-high split Couple: Jamie Laing and his wife Sophie Habboo looked loved-up as they stepped onto the red carpet Looking good: Former Made In Chelsea star Jamie, 34, looked dapper in a black suit and matching tie which he teamed with a white shirt Bold: Kate Garraway put on a busty display in a plunging pink satin gown Beaming: Kate was all smiles as she posed on the red carpet Couple: Nick Knowles, 61, stepped out hand-in-hand with his glamorous fiancee Katie Dadzie, 33, to the 24th annual Pride of Britain Awards All smiles: The presenter and the business woman looked as loved-up as ever as they posed for photos on the red carpet at London's Grosvenor House Hotel Stunning: Katie looked incredible in a champagne gown with silver sequin details and a plunging neckline Eye-catching: Jessica Wright posed up a storm in a bright green gown with feather trim Wow: Dani Dyer, 27, looked effortlessly chic in a pink satin gown Stunning: Katherine Ryan, 40, looked sensational as she walked the red carpet at the Pride of Britain Awards Couple: The comedian, who wore a floral gown with a daring thigh-high leg slit, was joined by her husband Bobby Kootstra Pretty: Katherine's striking dress featured a sequinned bra top, cut-out sections and was complete with an asymmetric train Perfect pair: Christine and Frank Lampard looked like the ultimate power couple on Sunday as they arrived in style at The Pride of Britain Awards. Gorgeous: The presenter, 44, looked chic in a black sequin dress with sleeves that feel seductively off the shoulders Lady in red: Mollie King, 36, showed off her impeccable sense of style in a red gown In the detail: Former pop star Mollie accessorised with some gold earrings as she posed on the red carpet Ravishing: The former Saturdays singer wore an elegant red gown which perfectly accentuated her hourglass figure Radiant: Laura Tobin looked glamorous in a dazzling nude gown with gold detail Wow: Saffron Barker donned a white gown with a daring thigh-high split Colourful: Katie Piper looked incredible in a pale pink gown with yellow embellished detail Pose: Susanna Reid's strapless frock hugged every inch of her gorgeous curves and she carried the colour story into her accessories with a dainty emerald necklace Say cheese: Susanna posed alongside co-host Ben Shepard Chic: Charlotte Hawkins donned a plunging blue ruffled gown, teamed with strappy gold heels Incredible: TikTok star Grace Keeling, also known as GK Barry, looked glamorous in a blue velvet gown with dazzling gold detail Elegant: Anna Williams put on a busty display in a plunging black skin-tight gown L:ady in red: Gemma Atkinson looked nothing short of sensational as she showcased her incredible post baby figure in a red suit Wow: Katie McGlynn, 30, put on a dazzling display in a silver sheer dress Drop dead gorgeous: Karen showcased her jaw-dropping figure and incredibly toned abs in a strapless and dramatic navy gown Legs 11: Meanwhile Dianne stunned in a figure-hugging yellow dress with a boned bodice and draped skirt as she flashed her long toned legs Couple: Johannes Radebe also made an appearance with his strictly partner Annabel Croft Pose: Lulu, 73 (R) was every inch the style icon as she joined pal and A Place In The Sun host Lee Juggurnauth, 34 (L) at the Pride of Britain Awards at London's Grosvenor House Hotel on Sunday Pals: Pete Wicks and Sam Thomson posed for playful snaps on the red carpet Stunning: Loose Women's Sophie Morgan looked glamorous in a dazzling gold mini dress Pose: Anna Whitehouse looked elegant in a satin black ball gown Looking good: Louise Pentland stood out in a shimmering purple gown Speaking to the Daily Mirror about his award, Rob said: 'I am inspired by the true unsung heroes that make me proud to be British. 'It is even more special that I get to receive the award alongside my wife Lindsey and great friend Kevin. I am so proud of them.' A slew of famous faces are set to go to the bash, however regular attendee Holly Willoughby will not be appearing. The TV presenter has cancelled her plans to attend the annual awards as she deals with an alleged kidnap plot. Jamie Laing and wife Sophie Habboo cut very glamorous figures as they stepped out to the Pride of Britain Awards 2023 at Grosvenor House in London on Sunday. Former Made In Chelsea star Jamie, 34, looked dapper in a black suit and matching tie which he teamed with a white shirt. He was seen standing with his arm around fellow reality star Sophie, 29, with the television personality wearing a black halter neck dress with cut out detail to the front and a thigh-high split. The garment, a bespoke dress created by Coast at Debenhams, dazzled under the bright lights at the venue as it was covered with silver crystals. She boosted her height with a pair of black heels and wore some silver earrings for the evening. Glitterati: Sophie Habboo, 29, stunned in a black halter neck dress with cut out detail and a thigh-high split while with husband Jamie Laing at the Pride of Britain Awards on Sunday The couple got married at an intimate wedding in London in April this year before having a more lavish ceremony in Spain in May. And it appears Jamie is loving married life, with the star recently telling MailOnline: 'I get to wake up every day with my best friend. It's the best thing ever.' The annual Pride of Britain Awards returned for a 24th year at London's Grosvenor House, with Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo co-hosting the star-studded affair. Taking place since 1999, the ceremony honours the achievements of truly remarkable people from across the UK and all walks of life - nominated by members of the public. After a shortlist has been produced from the thousands of entries, winners are chosen by the Pride of Britain judging panel. Despite taking place on Sunday evening, the ceremony will be aired on ITV on Thursday October 12 at 8pm. The Pride Of Britain awards will honour winners in nine categories; TSB Community Hero Award, Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser of the Year, This Morning Emergency Services Award, Outstanding Bravery, Child of Courage, Prince's Trust Young Achiever, Special Recognition and Outstanding Contribution. Winners who will be honoured at the glitzy event include murdered hero Lee Rigby 's son, Jack Rigby, 13, and former rugby player Rob Burrow, alongside his wife Lindsay and best friend Kevin Sinfield. Looking good: Former Made In Chelsea star Jamie, 34, looked dapper in a black suit and matching tie which he teamed with a white shirt Loved-up: The couple got married at an intimate wedding in London in April this year before having a more lavish ceremony in Spain in May Speaking to the Daily Mirror about his award, Rob said: 'I am inspired by the true unsung heroes that make me proud to be British. 'It is even more special that I get to receive the award alongside my wife Lindsey and great friend Kevin. I am so proud of them.' A slew of famous faces are set to go to the bash, however regular attendee Holly Willoughby will not be appearing. The TV presenter has cancelled her plans to attend the annual awards as she deals with an alleged kidnap plot. The Pride of Britain Awards returned to London's Grosvenor House Hotel for a 24th year on Sunday, to celebrate members of the public for their heroic acts. And Denise Van Outen wore a busty, pale pink gown as she walked the red carpet at the event. The actress, 49, looked incredible in the pretty number that featured a semi-sheer skirt and delicate, spaghetti straps. She elevated her height with a pair of nude strappy heels and accessorised with a layered pearl necklace. Denise completed her chic ensemble by styling her blonde hair into waves and adding a slick of lip gloss. Pretty: Denise Van Outen, 49, wore a busty, pale pink gown as she walked the red carpet at the annual Pride of Britain Awards in London on Sunday The annual Pride of Britain Awards will return for a 24th year at London's Grosvenor House, with Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo co-hosting the star-studded affair. Taking place since 1999, the ceremony honours the achievements of truly remarkable people from across the UK and all walks of life - nominated by members of the public. After a shortlist has been produced from the thousands of entries, winners are chosen by the Pride of Britain judging panel. Despite taking place on Sunday evening, the ceremony will be aired on ITV on Thursday October 12 at 8pm. The Pride Of Britain awards will honour winners in nine categories; TSB Community Hero Award, Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser of the Year and This Morning Emergency Services Award. As well as Outstanding Bravery, Child of Courage, Prince's Trust Young Achiever, Special Recognition and Outstanding Contribution. Winners who will be honoured at the glitzy event include murdered hero Lee Rigby's son, Jack Rigby, 13, and former rugby player Rob Burrow, alongside his wife Lindsay and best friend Kevin Sinfield. Speaking to the Daily Mirror about his award, Rob said: 'I am inspired by the true unsung heroes that make me proud to be British. Stunning: The actress looked incredible in the pretty number that featured a semi-sheer skirt and delicate, spaghetti straps 'It is even more special that I get to receive the award alongside my wife Lindsey and great friend Kevin. I am so proud of them.' A slew of famous faces are set to go to the bash, however regular attendee Holly Willoughby will not be appearing. The TV presenter has cancelled her plans to attend the annual awards as she deals with an alleged kidnap plot. Sami Sheen stepped out with her boyfriend for dinner at celeb hot spot Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica on Saturday night. The couple's photo was snapped as they held hands after dining with a group of friends in the restaurant's private room. The Only Fans model, 19, was pretty in a pale pink, strapless, minidress that showed off her thin figure and long legs. The daughter of Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen wore platform-heeled, black sandals on her feet and carried a black handbag. She wore her platinum blonde hair parted in the middle and straight. Couple: Sami Sheen stepped out with her boyfriend for dinner at celeb hot spot Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica on Saturday night. The couple's photo was snapped as they held hands after dining with a group of friends in the restaurant's private room Sami's boyfriend looked casually chic in a short-sleeved, black polo and white pants which he paired with black trainers. Last month, Sami shared that she planned to undergo breast augmentation surgery but before that happens, she plans to quit vaping. 'So I've never spoken about this on social media for good reason,' Sami said in a TikTok video on September 18, 'because I like to keep my life private and people are very judgmental and already think I'm a f***ing loser, but I think I should talk about this because there are a lot of people who are struggling in my exact situation right now.' 'I have been vaping for 5 years now. I've been addicted to nicotine for five f***ng years.' She continued: 'I don't want to quit. Like realistically I do want to quit because I know I'm going to be so much healthier and live longer because of it but I just don't want to deal with it and I've just been putting it off.' 'I'm getting a boob job in two months and I have to be nicotine free for a month before,' she explained. 'I'm already getting anxiety. I have not gone a single day in the past 5 years without this motherf***er.' And before she asked for helpful tips on quitting vaping, she said that the boob job would end up saving her life. 'I think me getting my boobs done is honestly going to save my life because it's forcing me to quit this. So, at least we have that,' she added. 'I've debated on postponing my surgery just because I'm too scared to quit nicotine.' Pretty in pink: The Only Fans model, 19, was pretty in a pale pink, strapless, minidress that showed off her thin figure and long legs. The daughter of Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen wore platform-heeled, black sandals on her feet and carried a black handbag Flashback: Sami's mother, Denise Richards, has been supportive of her eldest daughter's decision to join Only Fans. Pictured her in 2015 with her sister Lola Sheen Family: Her father Charlie has, by some reports, gone ballistic over his daughter's decision to join OnlyFans. Pictured here a few years ago. And while her dad Charlie isn't happy with his oldest daughter's decision to join Only Fans, her mom Denise is very supportive. 'My daughter got a lot of backlash for opening the account. I had heard of OnlyFans but I wasn't educated on what OnlyFans was, and once I started to learn about it, I really think that the creators of the site really took the best of every platform of social media and put it into one site,' she explained to KTLA. After Sami launched her OnlyFans page last year, Charlie told E! News: 'I do not condone this, but since I'm unable to prevent it, I urged her to keep it classy, creative and not sacrifice her integrity. She is 18 years old now and living with her mother. This did not occur under my roof.' But Denise weighed in on her ex's feelings, saying: 'Sami is 18, and this decision wasn't based on whose house she lives in. All I can do as a parent is guide her and trust her judgement, but she makes her own choices.' A pregnant Oti Mabuse cradled her blossoming baby bump as she arrived at the Pride of Britain Awards 2023 at Grosvenor House in London on Sunday. The former Strictly Come Dancing star, 33, who is expecting her first child with husband Marius Iepure, 41, wore an edgy black dress with silver studs on the top and an asymmetrical hem on the skirt. Twinkle-toed star Oti put on a leggy display as she posed on the red carpet, while she added a few inches to her stature by wearing a pair of towering black heels. She ensured onlookers got a full view of her outfit, turning to reveal the ruffled detail of her skirt. Oti announced she was pregnant live on air during ITV's Oti Mabuse's Breakfast Show in August. Baby on the way: A pregnant Oti Mabuse, 33, cradled her blossoming baby bump while wearing an edgy black dress at the Pride of Britain Awards 2023 in London on Sunday In style: The former Strictly Come Dancing star, who is expecting her first child with husband Marius Iepure, 41, wore an edgy black dress with silver studs on the top She said at the time: 'Speaking of things that you didn't know at home, we have a little something for all of you, we've been holding some good news. We're having a baby!' Oti and husband Marius met in Germany during a dance trial and competed together in several competitions. They tied the knot in 2014 and he moved to the UK with her when she was offered Strictly Come Dancing. The annual Pride of Britain Awards returned for a 24th year at London's Grosvenor House, with Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo co-hosting the star-studded affair. Taking place since 1999, the ceremony honours the achievements of truly remarkable people from across the UK and all walks of life - nominated by members of the public. After a shortlist has been produced from the thousands of entries, winners are chosen by the Pride of Britain judging panel. Despite taking place on Sunday evening, the ceremony will be aired on ITV on Thursday October 12 at 8pm. The Pride Of Britain awards will honour winners in nine categories; TSB Community Hero Award, Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser of the Year, This Morning Emergency Services Award, Outstanding Bravery, Child of Courage, Prince's Trust Young Achiever, Special Recognition and Outstanding Contribution. In style: She ensured onlookers got a full view of her outfit, turning to reveal the ruffled detail of her skirt Strike a pose: Twinkle-toed star Oti put on a leggy display as she posed on the red carpet, while she added a few inches to her stature by wearing a pair of towering black heels Congratulations! Oti announced that she was pregnant with her first child with her husband Marius Iepure in August this year Winners who will be honoured at the glitzy event include murdered hero Lee Rigby 's son, Jack Rigby, 13, and former rugby player Rob Burrow, alongside his wife Lindsay and best friend Kevin Sinfield. Speaking to the Daily Mirror about his award, Rob said: 'I am inspired by the true unsung heroes that make me proud to be British. It is even more special that I get to receive the award alongside my wife Lindsey and great friend Kevin. I am so proud of them.' A slew of famous faces are set to go to the bash, however regular attendee Holly Willoughby will not be appearing. The TV presenter has cancelled her plans to attend the annual awards as she deals with an alleged kidnap plot. Zara McDermott and her Strictly partner Graziano Di Prima looked dazzling as they attended the Grosvenor Hotel for the Pride of Britain awards on Sunday evening. The former Love Islander looked sensational in a white silk gown with a nude sparkly bodice. The Strictly star put on a leggy display in the dress which featured a high slit up her left leg and a long white train. She elevated her height with a pair of silver sparkly heels and accessorised the look with some sparkly dangly heart earrings. She was joined by her dance partner, as the Italian looked dapper in a cream pinstriped suit. Glamorous: Zara McDermott, 26, put on a leggy display in a white silk gown as she attended the Pride of Britain awards at The Grosvenor Hotel alongside her Strictly partner Graziano Di Prima, 29, on Sunday evening Wow: The former Love Islander looked sensational in a white silk gown with a nude sparkly bodice Stunning: The Strictly star put on a leggy display in the dress which featured a high slit up her left leg and a long white train Graziano flashed his chest underneath the blazer as he kept the top buttons of his shirt open. The pair beamed in snaps as they enjoyed their night off from their gruelling Strictly schedule. Zara, who was a complete novice when she joined the show, has been slowly climbing the leader board and thrilled audiences in this week's Movie Week with her Puss and Boot's themed paso doble. The annual Pride of Britain Awards will return for a 24th year at London's Grosvenor House, with Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo co-hosting the star-studded affair. Taking place since 1999, the ceremony honours the achievements of truly remarkable people from across the UK and all walks of life - nominated by members of the public. After a shortlist has been produced from the thousands of entries, winners are chosen by the Pride of Britain judging panel. Despite taking place on Sunday evening, the ceremony will be aired on ITV on Thursday October 12 at 8pm. The Pride Of Britain awards will honour winners in nine categories; TSB Community Hero Award, Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser of the Year, This Morning Emergency Services Award, Outstanding Bravery, Child of Courage, Prince's Trust Young Achiever, Special Recognition and Outstanding Contribution. Winners who will be honoured at the glitzy event include murdered hero Lee Rigby's son, Jack Rigby, 13, and former rugby player Rob Burrow, alongside his wife Lindsay and best friend Kevin Sinfield. Stylish: The star elevated her height with a pair of silver sparkly heels as she posed confidently Sensational Zara accessorised the look with some sparkly dangly heart earrings and natural makeup Smart: Zara was joined by her dance partner, as the Italian looked dapper in a cream pinstriped suit From the dancefloor to the red carpet: Zara enjoyed her day off from the gruelling Strictly schedule Speaking to the Daily Mirror about his award, Rob said: 'I am inspired by the true unsung heroes that make me proud to be British. 'It is even more special that I get to receive the award alongside my wife Lindsey and great friend Kevin. I am so proud of them.' A slew of famous faces are set to go to the bash, however regular attendee Holly Willoughby will not be appearing. The TV presenter has cancelled her plans to attend the annual awards as she deals with an alleged kidnap plot. Malta's modern lifestyle, culinary culture and artistic scene besides a captivating performance by the Maltese Jazz Band Joseph Debono Trio were the highlights of Malta's 59th Independence Anniversary celebrations in the UAE. The Embassy of the Republic of Malta in the UAE also commemorated 50 years of diplomatic relations with UAE. Among the guests-of-honour were Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and Owen Bonnici, Minister for National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government, as well as a number of government officials from Malta as well as from the UAE. Maltese nationals The event was attended by Maltese nationals living in the UAE, Emirati and international dignitaries, and friends of Malta from various spheres including diplomacy, politics, commerce, culture, education, and social circles, along with local press, travel trade professionals, and media influencers, was a testament to the enduring bond between the two nations. The event highlighted various facets of Malta's contemporary identity and showcasing its vibrant cultural, music, art and tourism scenes, while also emphasising the wealth of business prospects shared between the two nations. The evening featured a captivating performance by the renowned Maltese Jazz Band, Joseph Debono Trio, featuring the talented Nadine Axisa, which made a special trip to the UAE to delight the audience with a diverse repertoire encompassing both Maltese and international musical arrangements, supported by Malta Tourism Authority and the Mediterranean Conference Centre. High-level visits Maria Camilleri Calleja, Ambassador of the Republic of Malta to the UAE commended the relations between the two countries, growing from strength to strength, which have this year seen a number of high-level visits, and highlighted the commitment of Malta to increase trade and investments with the UAE in different sectors including travel and tourism, advanced technology, education, digital economy, fintech, green technology as well as education and culture. Bonnici said: Having had the pleasure of visiting The Louvre Abu Dhabi during my visit here, I was pleased to see the comprehensive collection of artworks from around the world which tells the story of human civilisations and artistic achievements. I also had the time to contemplate at the reunited Cippi, the two iconic pair of pillars of Maltese origin, which as ancient artifacts date back to the 2nd Century BC, and have been separated for the last 241 years. Thankfully they are now reunited here in Abu Dhabi at this artistic and cultural edifice, with the support of Heritage Malta, the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Louvre in Paris and the Embassy of Malta in the UAE. The reunion of these iconic Cippi in the UAE is nothing short of a testament to the enduring power of culture and diplomacy. Bonds of diplomacy These ancient artifacts not only hold immense historical and aesthetic value, but also symbolise the decipherment of language and the bonds of diplomacy. They remind us that history has a remarkable way of bringing us together, even across centuries and continents. The event was generously supported by 20 Maltese entities namely the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, Malta Tourism Authority, ENDEVIO, Tech.MT, Kore Group, RISC Institute, 242.Group, Residency Malta, Mediterranean Conference Centre, MED-TECH World, Malta Enterprise, MEDSERV METS Regis, LIYFE, Gaming Malta, KSI Malta, Emirates Airlines, Corinthia Group, Construct Furniture, A&Z International Trading, Farsons.-- TradeArabia News Service Jess Wright looked in high spirits as she attended the Pride of Britain Awards at The Grosvenor Hotel in London on Sunday. The former TOWIE star, 38, cut a glamorous figure for the bash, donning a lime green dress with feather fringing. Pairing it with some strappy heels, the garment also featured a boa style detail that she wore over one shoulder. Styling her locks into a sleek up do, Jess completed her look with a pair of drop earrings. Jess, who recently celebrated her second wedding anniversary accentuated her beauty with a bronzed palette of make up. Professional poser: Former TOWIE star, Jess Wright, 38, cut a glamorous figure for The Pride of Britain Awards, donning a lime green dress with feather fringing The annual Pride of Britain Awards will return for a 24th year at London's Grosvenor House, with Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo co-hosting the star-studded affair. Taking place since 1999, the ceremony honours the achievements of truly remarkable people from across the UK and all walks of life - nominated by members of the public. After a shortlist has been produced from the thousands of entries, winners are chosen by the Pride of Britain judging panel. Despite taking place on Sunday evening, the ceremony will be aired on ITV on Thursday October 12 at 8pm. The Pride Of Britain awards will honour winners in nine categories; TSB Community Hero Award, Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser of the Year, This Morning Emergency Services Award, Outstanding Bravery, Child of Courage, Prince's Trust Young Achiever, Special Recognition and Outstanding Contribution. Winners who will be honoured at the glitzy event include murdered hero Lee Rigby's son, Jack Rigby, 13, and former rugby player Rob Burrow, alongside his wife Lindsay and best friend Kevin Sinfield. Speaking to the Daily Mirror about his award, Rob said: 'I am inspired by the true unsung heroes that make me proud to be British. 'It is even more special that I get to receive the award alongside my wife Lindsey and great friend Kevin. I am so proud of them.' Looks the part: She paired her dress with some strappy heels and styled her locks into a sleek up do A slew of famous faces are set to go to the bash, however regular attendee Holly Willoughby will not be appearing. The TV presenter has cancelled her plans to attend the annual awards as she deals with an alleged kidnap plot. She welcomed her second baby nearly three months ago with her fiance, Strictly's Gorka Marquez. And Gemma Atkinson looked nothing short of sensational as she showcased her incredible post baby figure at The Pride of Britain Awards on Sunday. The radio star, 38, who welcomed her son Thiago in July, wowed in an eye catching red ensemble as she posed for snaps. The former Hollyoaks actress donned a stylish red blazer which featured button panelling down the centre and side pockets with pearl details. She wore a gothic style brooch for added glamour and matching red trousers to really stand out. L:ady in red: Gemma Atkinson looked nothing short of sensational as she showcased her incredible post baby figure at The Pride of Britain Awards on Sunday Gemma elevated her frame in a pair of red pointed heels and accessorised with a colourful beaded clutch bag. The TV star styled her blonde tresses in a slicked back low ponytail and opted for a sexy makeup palette including a smoky eyeshadow and a bold red lipstick. Her partner Gorka, 33, was by her side after he and Nikita Kanda were the second couple to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2023 during Sunday night's tense results show. The BBC Asian Network radio host, 28, and the Spanish pro were voted off after underwhelming on Saturday's Movie Night. The annual Pride of Britain Awards will return for a 24th year at London's Grosvenor House, with Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo co-hosting the star-studded affair. Taking place since 1999, the ceremony honours the achievements of truly remarkable people from across the UK and all walks of life - nominated by members of the public. After a shortlist has been produced from the thousands of entries, winners are chosen by the Pride of Britain judging panel. Despite taking place on Sunday evening, the ceremony will be aired on ITV on Thursday October 12 at 8pm. Looking good: The radio star, 38, who welcomed her son Thiago in July, wowed in an eye catching red ensemble as she posed for snaps at the glitzy event Stylish: The former Hollyoaks actress oozed sophisticated in a fitted red blazer, which featured details on the pockets and a standout brooch Exit: Gemma's partner Gorka, 33, was by her side after he and Nikita Kanda were the second couple to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2023 during Sunday night's tense results show The Pride Of Britain awards will honour winners in nine categories; TSB Community Hero Award, Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser of the Year, This Morning Emergency Services Award, Outstanding Bravery, Child of Courage, Prince's Trust Young Achiever, Special Recognition and Outstanding Contribution. Winners who will be honoured at the glitzy event include murdered hero Lee Rigby's son, Jack Rigby, 13, and former rugby player Rob Burrow, alongside his wife Lindsay and best friend Kevin Sinfield. Speaking to the Daily Mirror about his award, Rob said: 'I am inspired by the true unsung heroes that make me proud to be British. 'It is even more special that I get to receive the award alongside my wife Lindsey and great friend Kevin. I am so proud of them.' A slew of famous faces are set to go to the bash, however regular attendee Holly Willoughby will not be appearing. The TV presenter has cancelled her plans to attend the annual awards as she deals with an alleged kidnap plot. Big Brother has returned to British television following a five-year hiatus and show bosses wasted no time in setting the cat amongst the pigeons with the housemates. The influential social experiment, in which strangers live together in a custom-built home for weeks without access to the outside world, in a bid to win a cash prize, has re-opened its doors. New hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best kicked off the launch show on ITV , after the reality show was axed in 2018 by Channel 5 , introducing a new batch of 16 contestants in front of a studio audience. But as a barman, butcher and a Muslim make-up artist entered the house, fans accused the show of 'going woke'. Just moments after her arrival, dancer Olivia, 23, was left sobbing after she was put up for eviction this Friday when her fellow housemates predicted she would be the most difficult to live with, and Jenkin, 25, has his suitcase blown up when he was voted as having the worst dress sense. Drama: Big Brother bosses wasted no time in rattling housemates during Sunday's launch show, with Olivia sobbing when she was put up for eviction this Friday Here she comes! Make-up artist Farida, 50, from Wolverhampton, entered the house this weekend Opening the show, presenter Will said: 'The OG (original) is back and if you've never seen it before, get ready for the greatest reality show on earth, and like all famous faces it's had a 2023 glow-up ready for a brand new series.' AJ, wearing a blue catsuit, added: 'Tonight sees the return of the most famous house in the UK, we've got a brand new house, shall we put some new housemates in it? 'At the end of it there will be one contestant standing and they will win 100,000.' Jenkin, 25, from Bridgend in Wales was the first housemate to enter. He said: 'I'm not the only gay in the village, I am the best one... I am the barman, cleaner, I am the bingo caller and 69 is my favourite number.' He added: 'I can't help myself to be a bit of an instigator. I'll bring the drama.' On why he applied for the show, he said: 'I was bored and I thought I'd do something different, give it a whirl.' And on what he's looking forward to most by taking part, he said: 'I think meeting new people. I'm looking forward to it but I'm also dreading it as well because Im like, "Oh, how is this gonna go..." but it will be fine.' Comeback: New hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best kicked off the launch show on ITV , after the reality show was axed in 2018 by Channel 5 , introducing a new batch of 16 contestants Back with a bang? Big Brother has returned to British TV following a five-year hiatus ut as a barman, butcher and a Muslim make-up artist entered , fans accused the show of 'going woke' (housemate Jenkin pictured) On why he's most likely to get nominated, he said: 'Just talking about people, I'm not gonna lie. I can't keep secrets, I really struggle.' Make-up artist Farida, 50, from Wolverhampton, was the next to enter the house. On why she applied to be a housemate, she said: 'I'm very proud of who I am and I feel like Asian women and Asian culture is underrepresented on TV. 'A lot of people think that wearing a headscarf might stop you from having opportunities, whereas for me, it's been completely the opposite. I embrace it with confidence and it's actually given me lots of opportunities. 'I want to let people know that us Muslims, we really aren't suppressed. I'm far from suppressed - I used to be a holiday rep!' On what she's looking for from the experience, she continued: 'I'm looking forward to everything honestly, I'm just going to embrace it. I believe in living for the moment and I want to remember that Im one of thousands of applicants who made it inside the house.' And on why she may get booted from the house by her housemates, she said: 'People will nominate me because they feel intimidated by the fact that I've got potential to win this, its as simple as that.' Butcher Tom, 21, from Somerset, followed Farida into the house, insisting he was 'funny and outgoing'. Tom said he may be nominated for eviction because he could 'potentially offend some people,' adding: 'My mouth moves faster than my brain.' When asked what he'd do with the prize money if he wins, he said: 'Theres a good couple of cars I want to buy. Id probably put a good bit of it into savings for a house, and then probably spunk a trip to Ibiza or somewhere.' In for the win? Butcher Tom, 21, from Somerset, followed Farida into the house, insisting he was 'funny and outgoing' Incoming: The youngest contestant to enter the Big Brother house this year was next in, in the for of 18-year-old youth worker Hallie (right), who has never lived away from home before Views: As a barman, butcher and a Muslim make-up artist entered the house, fans accused the show of 'going woke ', while others were impressed with the revamp The youngest contestant to enter the Big Brother house this year was next in, in the form of 18-year-old youth worker Hallie, who has never lived away from home before. On why she applied, she said: 'Just the whole experience. I feel like Big Brother is the biggest social experiment and I want to be a part of it. It's about getting my face out there and just having fun, enjoying life. I'm only 18 so I didn't grow up watching it but as I got older, I would watch clips on YouTube and stuff, so I've been a fan. And yeah, just for fun, really?' She said her friends would describe her as: 'I'm a bit of a diva and I speak my mind but I'm also a very lovely person. I'm a girl's girl, for sure. I'm honest, fun and, yeah, just brilliant.' Trish, 33, from Luton, followed Hallie in next, with the mother saying on why she applied: 'I always wanted to apply back in the day, my friends would always be like, "I think you'd be good in there, you're quite mouthy!" 'When I saw it was coming back I thought it was the universe telling me something so I just went for it. 'Also because I want to humanise refugees and immigrants, especially in this political climate. I want people to see that behind the stats and figures, there are real humans. We are important simply because we exist, not only when we participate in capitalism. We matter because we are alive and breathing - no human is illegal!' Customer Support Agent Yinrun, 25, from Harrogate, was next in the house. On what she's excited for most, she said: 'Im most excited about being surrounded by so many people from different walks of life. I don't think I will ever live in a house again with so many different kinds of people. Im from China and I think it will help me be more immersed in British culture.' New housemate: Trish, 33 (pictured), from Luton, said her friends always said she should apply for Big Brother because she's 'mouthy' Greetings: Customer Support Agent Yinrun, 25 (centre), from Harrogate, was next in the house and she hopes it will help her immerse into British culture more as she's originally from China In for the win? Lawyer Jordan, 25, from Scunthorpe said he applied because he was 'quite disillusioned with life' And on if she won she show, she said: 'I want to move to a farm. Thats my final dream, I will live on a farm and have some chickens, grow my organic vegetables and have a puppy to run around. And Ill have eggs from the chicken, it will be so wholesome. This is my dream.' Lawyer Jordan, 25, from Scunthorpe was the next housemate to enter, with the contestant saying on why he applied: 'Well, I love the show. I was quite disillusioned with life so I suppose boredom made me apply to some extent. I honestly applied on a whim. I'm interested in the social experiments side of Big Brother. I don't really like the idea of living with people but I thought I might as well give it a try. And I wanted to challenge myself.' On why he's most likely to get nominated, he explained: 'Being cantankerous and acting as if I don't want to be there even if I do in my heart. They might nominate me for being disengaged perhaps or not paying everyone an equal amount of attention. They may feel left out but I can't help that.' Jordan was followed into the house by model Zak, 28, from Manchester. On why he applied, he said: 'I feel like it's one of those shows where you can get your personality across and I've got one of those personalities I feel the world needs to see. 'My friends and family have always told me I should do TV and I never really wanted to do a dating show. I want to do a show where I could just be myself and get my personality out there and have a laugh with people.' On what makes him interesting as a person, he said: 'I actually grew up in the jungle in Thailand. People automatically think I grew up in Manchester but when I tell them my life story they are quite surprised. When I was a kid I used to collect snakes and everything.' Looking good: Jordan was followed into the house by model Zak, 28, from Manchester during the opening episode Larking about: Dental therapist Chanelle, 29, from Llanelli in Wales insisted she initially applied for the show as 'a joke' as she entered Dental therapist Chanelle, 29, from Llanelli in Wales insisted she initially applied for the show as 'a joke' as she entered. However, she's had a change of heart: 'Now that I'm going in, I'm doing it for myself, for the experience and to make friends for life. Something that was a joke has now materialised into real life!' On what makes her interesting, she said: 'I would probably say the fact that I have a first class honours degree because I think often people will judge me by my blonde hair and are surprised. Im quite book smart but I have no common sense so when I tell people I got first class honours, they're like, "Did you pay someone for that?"' DJ Dylan, 39, from Coventry was next to enter the house. The performer, who has had his leg amputated, said on what he's looking forward to the most: 'I always like meeting new people and having new hurdles to jump as an amputee. It's going to be an interesting journey to see if I can do whatever were asked without having any problems with staying on my leg for a certain amount of time and doing all the tasks. Im excited for the challenge.' Doctor Matty, 24, from the Isle of Man, was the next housemate to enter the house. He said enjoys living freely, dancing under the moon and 'eating food from the bin' before he walked in the door. Matty said: 'I want to experience everything before I die, and I just thought why not do something mad like this? 'I used to watch Big Brother when I was like, nine or 10 past my bedtime with my mom. I grew up in such a small place on the Isle of Man where I didn't really see many people who felt like me. I remember watching Big Brother and I could see myself in all these characters from a cross section of society, and I thought like, oh, maybe I would fit in there. So I just always wanted to apply.' New face: DJ Dylan, 39, from Coventry, who has had his leg amputated, said on taking part: 'I always like meeting new people and having new hurdles to jump as an amputee' Unique: Doctor Matty, 24, from the Isle of Man, said enjoys living freely, dancing under the moon and 'eating food from the bin' before he walked in the door New experiences: On why he applied, he said: Matty said: 'I want to experience everything before I die, and I just thought why not do something mad like this?' Security Officer Paul, 23, from Liverpool, and Henry, 25, a food writer, from the Cotswolds, were the next housemates to enter. On how his friends would describe him, Paul said: 'Extroverted to say the least. A bit nuts but also the agony aunt, like Ill sit and speak with them but Ill also take the p**s out of them.' And Henry said: 'I think they would say I'm particularly sociable and very chatty. I mean, I'll be honest, my parents would definitely say Im a bit of a snob but I take it as a compliment. I think it means you've got high standards and good taste. Theyd say I was quite a peculiar child.' Banker and former Miss Universe beauty queen Noky, 26, from Derby, was next to enter the house. On why she wanted to appear on the show, she said: 'I love challenges. I've had so many amazing times in my life, like going to Miss Universe as Miss Great Britain. I like to do something different and I think this is the next challenge I want to conquer. 'I want to show people what pageant girls are really like and disprove a lot of stereotypes around them. 'I also show what it's like being a woman who's worked in male- dominated fields. I want to show that women are capable of doing anything they want.' New arrival: Security Officer Paul, 23, from Liverpool, said his friends would describe him as 'extroverted to say the least. A bit nuts but also the agony aunt' Fun guy? Henry, a food writer, from the Cotswolds, said his friends would say: 'I'm particularly sociable and very chatty. I'll be honest, my parents would definitely say Im a bit of a snob' Noky was followed by dancer Olivia, 23, from Glasgow, who said she's looking forward to living in a 'completely alternate universe' while in the house. She said: 'Its a totally surreal experience. I like to meet people, Im quite a social being. I think just the overall experience of getting to disappear for a few weeks and take part in something that's so excluded from normal day to day life.' On how her family would describe her, she said: 'Loud, confident, annoying. I'm the type of person who is up for anything. I'm the life and soul of the party. Im that friend who people invite to things because at least I'll be fun. They know that they're guaranteed a good night if I'm there.' The final housemate to enter was NHS Manager Kerry, 40, from Essex, with the contestant saying: 'I'm a bit of a force to be reckoned with. I'm a doer and I'm quite competitive.' On why she applied, she said: 'I love the programme. It is, for me, the ultimate reality TV show ever. I've got multiple sclerosis and so the reason why I never applied before is because I always saw those whacking great big stairs to get into the house. 'It just felt a little bit unachievable because for the first three years of my illness I was in a wheelchair. When I saw it was coming back and searching for real people from all walks of life, I thought, this is my year.' Beauty queen: Banker and former Miss Universe beauty queen Noky, 26, from Derby, was next to enter the house New world: Noky was followed by dancer Olivia, 23, from Glasgow, who said she's looking forward to living in a 'completely alternate universe' while in the house Big personality: The final housemate to enter was NHS Manager Kerry, 40, from Essex, with the contestant saying: 'I'm a bit of a force to be reckoned with' As the housemates entered, the first game began with a rendition of musical statues during the housewarming party. Yinrun won the game with a prize of breakfast in bed, choosing fellow housemate Jenkin to cook and deliver it to her. During the third game of the housewarming party, Olivia was chosen by Jenkin from, as the contestant he thought would be hardest to live with, telling her 'I don't think we've gelled.' As her punishment, Big Brother announced that Olivia would be facing the first public eviction on Friday. After the game of pass the parcel had ended, Olivia started crying in the garden to make-up artist Farida, saying: 'I was second last in and I felt like it was a bit unfair.' Later in the diary room, Big Brother told Olivia that she can 'change her fate and win immunity' during a game the housemates will play in 24 hours where they rank themselves from most to least entertaining. Talking about the game, she said Jenkin is 'obviously intimidated by me', but 'at least I don't have the worst dress sense so whatever'. It comes after Kerry chose Jenkin as the housemate with 'the most questionable dress sense', which meant he would not receive his suitcase - before a video was shown of his suitcase being blown up. He was later given a tub of 'essential' clothes in the diary room, and said he felt 'guilty about the Olivia thing', calling himself 'public enemy number one'. Party time: The housemates were tasked with playing games including musical statues and pass the parcel during the housewarming party after entering Earlier in the night, Jenkin also lost a game of hide and seek and 'will not receive hot water for the next 24 hours'. Big Brother announced: 'Jenkin it's cold showers for you', to which he said: 'That's sly as f***.' During the housewarming games, Dylan was chosen as the housemate Paul would least like to share a bed with, before Big Brother announced he would not have a bed to sleep on that night as a punishment. The influential social experiment show has opened its doors on ITV for the first time in five years after it was axed by Channel 5 in 2018 amid a ratings slump. The launch episode saw a new cast of 'carefully selected housemates from all walks of life' arrive at the brand-new house in front of a studio audience. A total of 30,000 people applied to take part in the show and just 16 were selected to enter the house. The winner will scoop a whopping 100,000 when the series reaches its end. Big Brother hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best reminded fans to be kind online to the new batch of contestants ahead of the series returning to British TV screens this week. Ahead of the launch show on Sunday evening, 35-year-old Odudu said in a video posted in Instagram: 'Please do remember that all of our housemates are real people with their real lives. 'If you wouldn't say anything to them in person, please watch out what you say to them online.' Tearful: Olivia was chosen by Jenkin as being potentially the most difficult housemate to live with, meaning she would be facing the first public eviction on Friday TV presenter Will, 38, said: 'We all just want to be fair and kind to everybody, and that way we can all enjoy this series together and we can support our housemates on the show and beyond.' AJ added: 'Let's make this the most positive series yet and give all of the housemates the respect that you would wish for if you were a housemate too. Is that a deal?' The new batch of housemates have received respect and inclusion training to set out the 'expectation for appropriate behaviour and language' before they take part in the show, ITV has said. As part of the broadcaster's duty of care protocols, all housemates will be given the training to prepare them for life within the house - as well as undergoing psychological and medical assessments, background checks and a social media review. Similar to recent series of ITV's Love Island, housemates and their family and friends have also been asked to not post any content about the show on their individual social media accounts while they are in the house. It comes as broadcasters' duty of care policies have faced scrutiny following a number of controversies involving on-screen talent. Big Brother has experienced its own fair share of controversy over the years including contestants being accused of making racist and sexist comments. ITV has said the famous house will see the return of tasks, nominations and live evictions with the voting public playing a 'crucial role' through the series - before voting for the winner of the show. AJ and Will will host Big Brother: Late & Live each night in front of a live studio audience after the show has aired, which will feature the evictees' first live interview, as well as celebrity guest commentary and weekly nomination results. Big Brother: Live Stream also makes its return to screens, showing footage from the all-new house into the small hours every night on ITVX after Big Brother: Late & Live. The social experiment programme, which sees housemates live together in a custom-built home for weeks without access to the outside world in a bid to win a cash prize, started in 2000 on Channel 4 before Channel 5 took over in 2011. Big Brother continues tomorrow at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX. They have been estranged since his dramatic exit from ITV's This Morning in May. But Phillip Schofield has reportedly lent his support to former co-presenter Holly Willoughby following news of an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her. Security guard Gavin Plumb, from Harlow in Essex, appeared in court on Friday charged with soliciting to commit murder. The 36-year-old is also accused of incitement to commit kidnap. Ms Willoughby, 42, who has three young children with TV producer Dan Baldwin, is now receiving 24-hour police protection at her London home. Schofield reportedly contacted her for the first time in five months to share his well wishes. The pair had been close friends and co-hosts on This Morning for 14 years until Schofield left after admitting to having had an affair with a younger member of staff, which he initially lied about. The presenting duo had not spoken since his departure, with rumours of a rift after he and his two daughters unfollowed Ms Willoughby on social media. However, Schofield broke the ice because he was 'horrified' by the allegations about the plot to target her. Phillip Schofield has reportedly lent his support to former co-presenter Holly Willoughby following news of an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her. The pair are pictured together in August 2022 Security guard Gavin Plumb, (pictured) from Harlow in Essex, appeared in court on Friday charged with soliciting to commit murder. The 36-year-old is also accused of incitement to commit kidnap 'Holly and Phil's friendship was so close before the events of this year,' a source told the Daily Mirror. 'Phil's decision to reach out, and the welcome it has been received with by Holly, shows that there is still a bond there.' Another source said: 'Phil was absolutely horrified to hear she had been allegedly targeted in such a sickening way and decided to reach out to her, in spite of their lack of contact. 'He wanted her to know he was thinking of her and her family. They've so much history, and this is something you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy.' On Friday, Chelmsford Magistrates' Court heard how Plumb had 'weapons' in his possession and had compiled a 'restraint kit' in his alleged aim to kidnap Ms Willoughby. On Friday, Chelmsford Magistrates' Court heard how Plumb had 'weapons' in his possession and had compiled a 'restraint kit' in his alleged aim to kidnap Ms Willoughby. Plumb is pictured in a court sketch appearing at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Friday Ms Willoughby is on indefinite leave from This Morning. She is pictured on the show on September 25 this year Plumb, a security guard at Pinnacles Shopping Centre, was remanded in custody and is set to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on November 3. Ms Willoughby is on indefinite leave from This Morning. 'Her absolute priority is her own safety and that of her family who are supporting her through this incredibly difficult time,' the source added. The Mail has contacted representatives for both Ms Willoughby and Schofield for comment. Emma Corrin looked effortlessly stylish on Saturday as they walked their dog Spencer in London. The actor, 27, who identifies as non-binary, wore a white T-shirt that was printed with the words: 'Don't Ruin My Fantasy'. They teamed the slogan shirt with a pair of simple black trousers and brown leather clog sandals. The Crown star wore several pieces of understated silver jewellery and perched a pair of sunglasses on their shaved head. Their outing comes after Emma returned from France earlier this week after attending Paris Fashion Week with boyfriend Rami Malek. Looking good: Emma Corrin looked effortlessly stylish on Saturday as they walked their dog Spencer in London Statement: The actor, 27, who identifies as non-binary, wore a white T-shirt that was printed with the words: 'Don't Ruin My Fantasy' Emma and the actor, 42, confirmed their romance last month when they were spotted packing on the PDA after Rami's ex Lucy Boynton moved on with a new man. During the trip, the couple put on a very public display when they left the Miu Miu afterparty together while holding hands. Last month, sources claimed that Emma and Rami had enjoyed a string of 'loved-up dates' following his 'split' from Lucy Boynton, 29, who also seems to have moved on with new man, guitarist Murdo Mitchell. The pair 'didn't seem to mind who could see' as they smooched over lunch at the Buoy and Oyster restaurant in Margate, Kent. Emma and Rami could be seen sat together at an outside table as they perused the menu. An onlooker said: 'They were very passionate and looking into each other's eyes. They kissed and didn't seem to mind who could see. 'Rami and Emma just seemed totally besotted with each other and paid no attention to anyone else.' The pair reportedly went on to order a 125 seafood platter as well as two swanky bottles of wine. Romance: Their outing comes after Emma returned from Paris Fashion Week with boyfriend Rami Malek, during which they put on a very public display as they left the Miu Miu afterparty while holding hands The two were first spotted looking very close at Bruce Springsteen's BST Hyde Park concert in London on July 8. They cosied up together in their seats with the Oscar winner seemingly placing his hand on Emma's knee. However, he later sent tongues wagging after being pictured holding hands with a mystery blonde just hours ahead of his close encounter with Emma. The No Time to Die star and former co-star Lucy split after more than five years together. The couple confirmed their romance in 2018 after starring together in the 2017 Freddie Mercury biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody. Confirmation of their separation comes following months of speculation as the couple have not been seen together since the BAFTA Awards in London in February. Lucy was spotted out with new man Murdo Mitchell on Thursday as they enjoyed a PDA-filled stroll. As he slung his arm around the Sense And Sensibility actress, 29, the pair headed back to Lucy's London home. It's over: The No Time to Die star and former co-star Lucy Boynton split after more than five years together and she has moved on with new man (pictured together in 2020) Packing on the PDA, the couple held hands while her date planted a kiss on the star's cheek. A source previously claimed Lucy and Rami went their separate ways earlier this year after 'growing apart'. Lucy, who played Mary Austin, Freddie Mercury's almost-wife, in Bohemian Rhapsody, went to Wimbledon alone. In recent years, she and Rami went together. A Hollywood source said: 'Rami is very private. When you go out with him he's like catnip to the ladies because he's so sweet and charming. But he never talks about his love life.' They added: 'He and Lucy are very sweet together but there have been rumours for months they've split.' According to Life & Style, rumours Rami and Lucy had split began when the actor was snapped looking very cosy with his No Time To Die co-star Lea Seydoux. Silicon Valley darling Stripe is a goliath of online payments and used by businesses around the world to process credit and debit card transactions. But today it has become embroiled in a 'debanking' dispute after a host of entrepreneurs complained they had their accounts suddenly terminated without proper explanation. A boudoir photographer, a military-themed goods seller and a British air rifle accessory retailer are among its customers to have had their accounts shut down. These owners told DailyMail.com they believe they were targeted because Stripe opposed the nature of their business dealings. It comes amid a growing debate around financial institutions withdrawing service to some customers. 'When they do that, they put my business and how I feed my family in tremendous jeopardy,' said Luke Schuetzle. The 36-year-old from Pierre, South Dakota, runs a film production company and online store selling military-themed items which are often featured in historical movies. He suspects his account was terminated due to his sale of vintage ammo boxes and holsters. 'They don't ever give a reason,' said Schuetzle. 'They just have that power to say, "Sorry, you're done".' Online payments company Stripe has a headquarters in San Francisco (pictured). It provides online payments for businesses around the world Luke Schuetzle, 36, thinks his Stripe account was terminated due to his sale of vintage ammo boxes and holsters When contacted by DailyMail.com, Stripe would not elaborate on why Schuetzle's account was closed. Stripe was founded in 2010 by Irish brothers Patrick and John Collison. It processed $817 billion worth of transactions in 2022 and in March was valued at $50 billion. The firm famously processes payments for OnlyFans, an online subscription platform service commonly used to upload adult material. In 2021 it banned sexually explicit videos on its site. Its then-CEO Tim Stokely claimed the decision was made to appease payment partners - of which it has several. According to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by DailyMail.com, the Federal Trade Commission has received 1,591 complaints about Stripe since January 1, 2020. A Stripe spokesperson told DailyMail.com that it would not discuss individual cases due to company policy but 'will continue to listen to feedback from our users'. 'When we are unable to support a business, we notify our users by email. If a user believes that we've misunderstood or miscategorized their business and would like us to conduct a review of their account, they can complete a form,' they said. But other businesses have also said no effort was made to properly justify costly account closures despite appeals for more information and attempts to resolve the issue. Stephanie Nivens, 42, has run a photography business since around 2019 in Watertown, Tennessee. The Stripe account she used to process payments from clients was terminated in November. 'We are unable to accept payments for pornography and adult content,' it wrote to her in an email seen by DailyMail.com. Her specialism, boudoir photography, has long been a victim of Stripe, those in her industry say. Boudoir photography involves capturing erotic images of a person, usually a woman, in a bedroom or dressing room. Numerous boudoir photographers told DailyMail.com Stripe had refused to support their businesses. Schuetzle, from Pierre, South Dakota, is a movie producer that deals in military costumes. He is pictured on a movie set in the driver's seat of the Jeep Stephanie Nivens, 42, has run a Boudoir photography business since 2019 but last year her Stripe account was terminated Usually the subject is in lingerie and can be nude, but none of the photos on Nivens' website feature nipples or full nudity. 'It's all about empowering women and letting them see a side of themselves that they've never really seen before,' said Nivens. 'They come in here and want to be able to see themselves in a new light. And they do, they walk out feeling more confident and happy.' Nivens vehemently rejected the classification of her work as pornography. Stripe's 'restricted businesses' web page states that it will not support businesses that deal in 'pornography and other mature audience content (including literature, imagery and other media) depicting nudity or explicit sexual acts'. But other, less controversial businesses also say they have been brutally shut down by Stripe. Nick Ahmann, 44, is the CEO and founder of Inisev, an software company based in Malta that sells WordPress widgets for web developers. He said Stripe reviewed and onboarded his business two years ago before suddenly dropping him in April - a move that has cost him as much as $70,000 or $80,000 in annual revenue and more than a thousand clients. 'Transparency was always the issue,' he said. 'They feel big, they are big, but they treat clients with utter disrespect.' Ahmann noted that all businesses Stripe onboards are subject to an initial review. But it was not until much later that his own was suddenly booted from the platform. 'It would have been much better if they had declined us right from the start, because then we wouldn't have implemented this solution, we wouldn't have the trouble we eventually got into,' he said. Photographer Nivens runs a business, Boudoir Unleashed. She noted that none of the photos on her website featured nipples or full nudity when Stripe terminated her account last year Alastair Muir (pictured), 60, is the Managing Director of Farm Cottage Brands, an online country good retailer which he runs with his wife and son. He said his account was axed because he sells legal air rifle accessories Ahmann's losses were particularly severe because many of his customers paid him on a routine basis - every six months or a year, for example. When Stripe terminated his account, not only did it stop processing payments, it denied transfer of Inisev's customer information to a new processor. Military enthusiast Schuetzle said he felt like Stripe had the ability to simply wipe out a business. 'They decide: "We don't want this to be a real business, and if we take away their ability to have sales, we can take them out of business,"' he said. Martina Weimart, the CEO of the European Payments Initiative, set up by more than 30 banks and credit card processors to compete with the US-led payments industry, said Stripe can ultimately do as it pleases. 'It's a free market, there is no enforcement that you must provide to a certain client but there is also there is no enforcement of having to use certain providers,' she said. Occasionally, after a long-winded appeals process, Stripe will reinstate business' accounts after an additional review and invite them to continue using their service. British country goods retailer Alastair Muir was eventually allowed back on the platform after being axed for selling legal air rifle accessories, DailyMail.com reported earlier this month. Whenever David and Susan Schwartz arrive on vacation, they barely give themselves time to drop off their bags before hopping back in their rental car and hurtling towards their favorite attraction: Costco. For decades, the couple have kept a tradition of making the mega store their first port of call when visiting somewhere new. But in the last seven years, they have taken that ritual even further, embarking on a round-the-world trip to visit over 200 of the 850 Costcos in operation. In all, they travelled 220,000 miles and visited 14 different countries. So regimented was their adventure they would not even visit any tourist attractions - except for one stop to the Great Wall of China in Beijing. 'We went to Paris and didn't visit a single museum - just the Costco. Our friends really struggled to understand that,' Susan told DailyMail.com, as the couple recover from their latest 1,582-mile road trip from New York to a store in Omaha, Nebraska. In the last seven years, David and Susan Schwartz have taken that ritual even further, embarking on a round-the-world trip to visit over 200 Costcos. They are pictured at a Costco in San Diego in 2018 'I always tell people we're harmless but we're nuts!' Susan and David have now self-published a book on their adventure: 'The Joy of Costco: A Treasure Hunt from A to Z' - even getting the chain's executives on board who gave them a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their favorite store. When they checked off their final Costco in Liberty Township, Ohio, employees surprised them with a sheet cake saying 'Congratulations.' The idea for the book came about as David - a former investment banker and published writer - grappled with ideas for his next publication. David said: 'People cannot understand how I went from writing a biography about the physicist Enrico Fermi to a book about Costco. They ask me "what's the link?" 'But I just wanted to write about something I found fun.' Susan, who previously worked in TV commercials before becoming a headhunter, added: 'We're in the second halves of our lives now and it was a great way to see the world.' The couple - who pay $120 a year for a Costco Executive membership - would not disclose how much the trip cost, adding it was 'expensive but worth it.' In all, they travelled 220,000 miles and visited 13 different countries. They are pictured at a Costco in Sweden So regimented was their adventure they would not even visit any tourist attractions along the way- except for one stop to the Great Wall of China in Beijing. David and Susan are pictured hot dog tasting at a warehouse in Illinois in 2022 From each location, they took home several mementoes which are stocked in their 450-square-foot Upper West Side apartment in New York. They say it now resembles a Costco Warehouse. Among their favorite purchases is an Alice in Wonderland teapot from a store in Sweden and a 1.75-liter bottle of Glenmorangie scotch in Taiwan - which they had to purchase extra airport luggage to accommodate. Both in their 60s, Susan and David were Costco fans long before meeting each other in 2002, growing up in households where their parents had memberships. They are both drawn to the low-cost prices, the company's ethos and, of course, the famous Costco hot dogs. 'During Covid, they didn't let a single employee go which I think shows what a great company they are,' Susan enthused. And they have even gotten the whole family on board: David's son from a previous marriage has his own membership and recently sent them a photo of one of their grandchildren with a Costco hot dog in hand. The couple - who pay $120 a year for a Costco Executive membership - would not disclose how much the trip cost, adding it was 'expensive but worth it.' They are pictured in Xalapa, Mexico Susan and David have now self-published a book on their adventure: 'The Joy of Costco: A Treasure Hunt from A to Z' Costco first opened in 1976 under the name Price Club and originally only served small businesses. But it later expanded to serving a selected audience of non-business members. In 1983, its first warehouse under its current name opened in Seattle. It is based on a membership model, with prices starting at $60 per year. On its website it describes its philosophy as: 'Keep costs down and pass the savings onto our members.' In September its sales growth grew by 6 percent to $22.75 billion, up from $21.46 billion a year earlier. Ukraine is betting on drones to repel Russian aggression while Moscow seeks to strengthen its arsenals with the help of North Korea, which has considerably increased rail transport to Russia. "The path of a drone from development to purchase is now as short as possible. Drone production has multiplied a hundred times in one year. More than 200 Ukrainian companies began developing drones," the Ukrainian Prime Minister reported on Telegram. , Denis Shmigal. According to the head of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Ukrainian State is working "to strengthen its own defense and recovery capabilities." "The approaches to the development of the Ukrainian military industry changed radically and a new company was created on the basis of Ukroboronprom (the main Ukrainian military company) in accordance with modern standards of business management," he noted. Ukraine has considerably increased the use of drones in recent months, both on the battlefield and in the Russian rear and even against several Russian regions bordering Ukraine or Moscow itself. In the last 24 hours alone, Russian anti-aircraft defense shot down 25 Ukrainian drones in the annexed regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, which put the number of drones shot down in the previous day at 38. Russia is not far behind in this endeavor, by increasing production of Shahed drones in Russian territory with cooperation from Iran, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuri Ignat told television today. "Based on intelligence data, from experts, there is an increase in production," he stated, although he considered it unlikely that Russia could manufacture these drones "independently", without help from Iran. Ignat added that Ukraine currently knows the countries that manufacture the components necessary for the manufacture of these drones and the probable supply routes to Iran, and then to Russia. According to the head of the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 500 drones in September, a record number. In addition, during the past month, Russia reported several attacks with Russian-made Lantset suicide drones, widely used on the front line, against targets 70 kilometers from the front, which implies a considerable renewal of these projectiles. Furthermore, Moscow, which is unable to reverse the situation on the front and is barely containing the Ukrainian counteroffensive, could have turned to North Korea for help with military supplies and weapons. According to satellite images, there is an "unprecedented" increase in freight rail traffic on the border between both countries, following the recent meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. A study published by the specialized website Beyond Parallel reveals the presence of 73 freight cars at the Tumangang station in Rason, a North Korean city bordering Russia. This is a much larger volume than that observed at this station over the last five years, even taking into account pre-pandemic levels, since the global health crisis led the regime to shield its borders, according to the study on the specialized website , attached to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington. "Given that Kim and Putin discussed certain military exchanges and cooperation at their recent summit, the dramatic increase in rail traffic possibly indicates the supply of weapons and ammunition to Russia," said the conclusions of the study, which failed to identify the content of the wagons. Although Putin and Kim remained silent on the matter, the main media outlets and experts estimated that the North Korean leader's visit to Russia was aimed at agreeing to the supply of weapons to Russia, of which Pyongyang has considerable reserves, in exchange for military technologies of advanced. The full dress rehearsal of the Indian Air Force (IAF) took place on Friday ahead of the air show to be held here on October 8. This rehearsal was organised at Central Air Command (CAC) headquarters, Bamrauli. The para jumper jumped down from a height of 8,000 feet at a speed of 150 kilometres. The soldiers separated the entire moving part of the gypsy and then tied it in the same way. It took only five minutes for the brave men to do all this. After a while, Surya Kirans team created the shape of Tejas in the sky through smoke, while Sarang helicopters created a heart and an arrow piercing it. The 91st Foundation Day of the IAF will be celebrated here on October 8. In the air show to be held on this day, 120 aircraft and helicopters like Tejas will be seen performing stunts. Before it Air Force fighter planes are rehearsing. CO of Sarang team SK Mishra said the team will perform aerial stunts over the Sangam for 12 minutes. The team includes 18 people including women personnel Squadron Leader Kshipra. Alok Kumar from Surya Kiran team said nine planes will fly past simultaneously in the air. Tejas will perform tricks in the air by making various shapes like dolphin leap, diamond ring through smoke from MiG-29. To make this air show historic, the entire team of Air Force officers from across the country has camped here. The Sangam area has been declared a no-flying zone. The Sangam area has been completely evacuated. Whatever temporary shops were set up in front of Hanuman temple in Sangam, the administration has got them all removed. No shop of any kind has been allowed to be set up at Sangam Nose till October 8. WILDLIFE WEEK: In support of Prime Ministers Vision to protect Environment, College of Forestry of Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHUATS) is celebrating the 69th edition of Wildlife Week from October 2 to 8 with the theme Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation. The Wildlife Week celebration is a momentous occasion dedicated to raising awareness about wildlife conservation in India and underscores the vital role of collaborative efforts in preserving the nations rich biodiversity. Chief guest on the occasion Prof Dr Antony Joseph Raj, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Dean, College of Forestry informed that India is one of the richest biodiversity hotspots comprising seven-eight per cent of all recorded species of the world with nearly about 91,797 species of animals and 46,340 species of plants. Prof Antony proudly mentioned that India, with great wealth of biological diversity, is home to 411 species of mammals, 1,232 birds, 456 reptiles, 219 amphibians, 2,546 fish, 83,436 kinds of invertebrates and over 50,000 plant species. He highlighted the importance of wildlife conservation efforts in our country which has scripted a remarkable success story in the growth of tigers with the help of 53 tiger reserves and it is a proud moment for India for increasing the tiger population from 1,411 in 2006 to 2,967 in 2018 and finally to 3167 in 2022. He said the significant mammals of pride of India are Asiatic lion, Royal Bengal tiger, Asiatic elephant, snow leopard, leopard, Indian rhinoceros, Indian bison, lion-tailed macaque, langur, deer, black buck etc. Prof Dr Antony urged the students and young people to stand as a significant stride in raising awareness and instilling a sense of responsibility for conservation of Indias remarkable wildlife. In his welcome address, Dr Afaq M Wani, Head of Forest Biology, Tree Improvement and Wildlife Sciences, stressed the significance of wildlife conservation in India and our moral responsibility to preserve the faunal and avifaunal resources for the future generations. He also emphasised the significance of awareness celebrations to raise knowledge of students about wildlife conservation. Dr.Afaq added that the stress on wildlife habitat has been caused by population growth. Dr Abhishek James, Associate Dean of College of Forestry, proposed the vote of thanks. Dr James thanked Prof Dr Antony J Raj, Pro-Vice Chancellor and chief guest), Dr Afaq M Wani (Head), all faculty members and students for making the Wildlife Week celebrations in College of Forestry a grand success. The important events and competitions for the students were quiz competition, drawing competition, wildlife photography competition and scientific name (wild animals and birds) writing competition. Certificates and prizes were distributed to the deserving winners of the competitions. The organising committee members of the wildlife week celebrations were Dr Satyendra Nath (Head, Environmental Science), Dr Neelam Khare (Head, Forest Products), Dr Harsh Bodh Paliwal, Dr Sameer Daniel, Dr Hemant Kumar, Dr Ekta P Mishra, Dr Bipasha David, Dr Iba, Dr John, Dr Amreen Hasan, Mohd Sameer, Satish Kumar, Clint Sones, Anup Kujur, Sanjeet Kumar and Sanjay Kumar. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Sunday found itself in a bit of a soup after Singapores High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong, pointed out a significant spelling error in the name of his country on a signboard installed near the high commission. A sign board installed by the MCD at the High Commission premises read Singapur High Commission instead of the correct Singapore High Commission. However, the NDMC quickly fixed the Singapur issue by using some white tape. Earlier in the morning, the diplomat took to X and shared a picture of the signage which read Singapur High Commission instead of Singapore High Commission. Wong also shared a picture of himself where he can be seen donning a tee with SINGAPORE (the correct spelling) inscribed on it. It is always good to spell check first, sharing the photos he wrote. Wong, who discovered the gaffe while on his morning walk and asked the MCD to do a spell check before installing the signage.The post featured a picture of signage and Mr Wong. The Singapore In India Twitter handle also tagged the MCD and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Official in the post on X. The board also contains the name of Embassy of Vietnam. The said Commission is located at Chandragupta Marg, Chanakyapuri in New Delhi, 110021 (pincode). The post has amassed more than 212000 views on X within just four hours. The post received a barrage of comments on social media with many users sharing their thoughts in the comments section. Some users chimed in with their own stories of similar experiences with signage errors. A user wrote, A big oops moment hope @MCD_Delhi fixes it ASAP. Another user wrote on X, Good advice...but then where will our smiles come from? It is what happens when people translate from Hindi word to English... Common mistakes in all regional languages, the third user commented. The fourth user wrote, This is nothing. Most of the Punjabi translations of signages in Delhi are outright wrong. Have complained multiple times, but nothing changes. Another user wrote, But we in India always wonder how it became .. PORE in the first place from the original PUR. Kanpur, Nagpur, Singapur, right?!, another user commented. However, the NDMC quickly fixed the Singapur issue by using some white tape. Following this, Wong expressed his gratitude to the municipal bodies. I appreciate the rapid fix. HC Wong @tweetndmc @MCD_Delhi, Wong posted on X. Reacting to Wongs second post, a social media user wrote, Not a good pasting job India. Im sure we can do better. This post also viewed over 1534000 on X ( formerly twitter). Meanwhile, another user wrote, High Commissioner, while one must admire the MCD for its quick response - on Sunday no less - the fact is that the matter has not been fixed. If the photo is a genuine representation of the road signage, it reads with a 0 (zero), not O!! Another user wrote, That was the fastest grievance redressal ever Wish every government department responds with such alacrity. Good they changed . But the O in Singapore seems very different from the O s in Commission.,isnt..? Seems that the numeric 0 has been inserted there. It was always thought that if it is anything connected with Singapore - ita high quality & high precision with effort, wrote another user. Earlier, High Commissioner of Singapore in India Simon Wong danced with folk artists at a G20 meeting in West Bengals Darjeeling. White House considering asking Congress to release $100bln in aid for Ukraine Washington, Oct 8 (UNI) US President Joe Biden is considering a "one-and-done" spending bill for Ukraine, and the White House is already drawing up plans to ask Congress to release a total of $100 billion in a single aid package for Kiev, The Telegraph reported Saturday, citing sources familiar with the matter. "The big package idea is firmly supported by many throughout the administration. Supporters of Ukraine want this to be a one-and-done big bill, and then not have to deal with it until after the next election," one of the sources told the newspaper. The newspaper cited sources as saying that the single aid package may provide the Biden administration with the best chance of securing funding for Ukraine until after next Novembers election. The report also said that Congress has approved four war packages of around $113 billion for Kiev since the launch of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. Biden has struggled to get new funding for Ukraine through Congress. And in the wake of the ouster of Kevin McCarthy as House speaker, his administration reportedly lacks a strategy going forward. The White House is no longer pursuing the $24 billion for Ukraine aid included as part of a supplemental funding request, The Washington Post reported on Thursday. UNI/SPUTNIK AKS Men dug through rubble with their bare hands and shovels in western Afghanistan on Sunday in desperate attempts to pull victims from the wreckage left by powerful earthquakes that killed at least 2,000 people. Entire villages were flattened, bodies were trapped under collapsed houses and locals waited for help without even shovels to dig out bodies. Living and dead, victims were trapped under rubble, their faces grey with dust. Most people were shocked ... Some couldn't even talk. But there were others who couldn't stop crying and shouting, photographer Omid Haqjoo, who visited four villages Sunday, told The Associated Press by phone from Afghanistan's fourth largest city, Herat. Saturday's magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit a densely populated area near Herat. It was followed by strong aftershocks. A Taliban Government spokesman on Sunday provided the toll that, if confirmed, would make it one of the deadliest earthquakes to strike the country in two decades. An earthquake that hit eastern Afghanistan in June 2022, striking a rugged, mountainous region, flattened stone and mud-brick homes and killed at least 1,000 people. People in Herat freed a baby girl from a collapsed building after she was buried up to her neck in debris. A hand cradled the baby's torso as rescuers eased the child out of the ground. Rescuers said it was the baby's mother. It was not clear if the mother survived. The video was shared online and verified by The Associated Press. The US Geological Survey said the quake's epicentre was about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Herat. It was followed by three very strong aftershocks, measuring magnitude 6.3, 5.9 and 5.5, as well as lesser shocks. Abdul Wahid Rayan, a spokesman at the Ministry of Information and Culture, said Sunday the death toll is higher than originally reported. Villages have been destroyed, and hundreds of civilians are buried under the debris, he said while calling for urgent help. Besides the 2,060 dead, 1,240 people are injured and 1,320 houses are completely destroyed, said Rayan. At least a dozen teams have been scrambled to help with rescue efforts, including from the military and nonprofit organisations like the Red Crescent. The United Nations migration agency deployed four ambulances with doctors and psychosocial support counselors to the regional hospital. At least three mobile health teams were on their way to the Zenda Jan district, which is one of the worst-hit areas. Doctors Without Borders set up five medical tents at Herat Regional Hospital to accommodate up to 80 patients. Authorities have treated more than 300 patients, according to the agency. UNICEF dispatched thousands of supplies, including winter clothes, blankets and tarpaulins as temperatures dropped. Irfanullah Sharafzai, a spokesman for the Afghan Red Crescent Society, said seven teams were busy with rescue efforts while others were arriving from eight nearby provinces. They set up a temporary camp for the displaced, Sharafzai said. Some aid groups, like the World Food Program, were already on the scene with essential items. Later Sunday, people from surrounding villages brought equipment to support rescue efforts. The first quake was the strongest, causing the most damage and casualties, photographer Haqjoo said, quoting survivors. Save the Children said the scale of the damage was horrific. The numbers affected by this tragedy are truly disturbing and those numbers will rise as people are still trapped in the rubble of their homes in Herat, said the aid group's country director for Afghanistan, Arshad Malik. The Congress is likely to replicate the Bihar model of Caste census in all the four States governed by the party now and would also urge the Jharkhand Government to follow suit where the grand old party is in a coalition Government. The Congress has been pushing for a caste census across the country and is making it a poll issue. A nationwide caste census is a key agenda of the opposition INDIA Bloc, which believes it will help the alliance in the forthcoming elections in the Hindi heartland where caste politics plays a key role. Ahead of the Assembly polls next month, the Ashok Gehlot led Congress Government in Rajasthan has already issued an order for the conduct of a caste survey in the State. Rajasthan will be the second State in the country to conduct such a population count. The decision is on the table for discussion in the partys top decision making body Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Monday convened to deliberate on the current political situation, caste census and further firm up the strategy for the upcoming Assembly elections in five States. Currently, the Congress enjoys a full majority in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, and holds a stake in the Governments of Bihar and Jharkhand. The CWC meet comes at a time when some Opposition leaders owing allegiance to INDIA Bloc are facing heat from Central agencies. The latest in the series of arrests is that of AAP leader Sanjay Singh in the Delhi excise policy case and the Congress top leadership will have to take a call on extending support to him and others being targeted by the Government. The meeting of the top decision making body of the Congress comes just over three weeks after the first meeting of the reconstituted CWC was held in Hyderabad last month to evolve a strategy for the Assembly polls in five States and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The party is seeking to retain power in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, while hoping to wrest power from the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, BRS in Telangana and the Mizo National Front (MNF) in Mizoram. In the last Assembly polls, the Congress emerged victorious in MP and had a stable Government led by Kamal Nath for one-and-a-half years until a faction breakaway supported the BJP to form the Shivraj Singh Chouhan Government. The Congress on Sunday questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of caste census and asked why the BJP ruled States were not conducting them to ensure social justice and rights. The partys remarks come a day after the Gehlot Government issued an order for the conduct of a caste survey in Rajasthan. Congress chief spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said when the Bharat Jodo Yatra was in Rajasthan, Rahul Gandhi had met delegations of many communities and during that time OBC delegations had specifically raised the demand for a caste census. The question is why such initiatives are not being taken in any BJP ruled State and why is the Prime Minister silent on the issue of caste census, Ramesh asked. According to the Rajasthan Government order, issued by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment after the State Cabinets nod, the administration will conduct the survey with its own resources for collecting information and figures related to social, economic and educational level of all its citizens. We will conduct a survey. The order for this will be released immediately. It will be a survey. Census is done by the Government of India. It cannot be done by the State Government. This will be a survey of families to know their economic situation. This is our partys commitment that we are taking forward, Gehlot briefed the media. He also said conducting such a survey takes time. It took one-and-a-half years in Bihar. We have taken a decision for a survey, which is a big thing. AICC (All India Congress Committee) in its Raipur convention had made a decision and we are taking it forward. We want that the economic status of every family should be known so that they get the benefits of government schemes in the future, he said. Gehlot said Rajasthan will follow the model of Bihar. On October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Nitish Kumar Government in Bihar released the findings of its caste survey, which revealed that Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) constituted a whopping 63 per cent of the States total population. About 50 years ago I lost a little cousin to a similar fury of Teesta when in an instant flood the entire Jalpaiguri town was submerged. Anaath Narjinari, a 70 years old fish vendor who witnessed the October 4 deluge up in the hills recalls a 50 years old story. It goes thus. Past midnight as the furious Karola, a branch of Teesta that meanders through Jalpaiguri town, entered the village the Jeley or fishermen dumped their families and effects in their boats and sculled out in the dark watery wilderness. At that point my Thakruda (grandfather) spotted a commotion in the water and charged his ballam (harpoon) at the animal, apparently a big fish The target pierced in its heart was not a big fish but the tiniest toddler of the family that had tumbled into the water from the boat. Fifty years later Anaath was at Rangpo the border town between Bengal and Sikkim to witness once again the same Teesta rush down with vengeance. The river that normally flows about 50-70 feet below along the national highway till Teesta Bazaar before taking a curve towards Kalimpong while you turn towards Gangtok seemed suddenly to have gone violent In the morning we saw only a 10th of the national highway hanging from the mountains. The rest had gone to the River, Anaath said. On October 4 Sikkim and Darjeeling-Kalimpong region of Bengal saw a rerun of the calamity with a violently gurgling Teesta, the largest river in the region apart from Mahananda, hurtling down the mountains sweeping away whatever it encountered down-stream. Such was the burst of Teesta that the Rangit River that joins the former off Rangpo saw its waters pushed up stream by several furlongs, sources said. A flash flood in the wake of a cloudburst in the upper regions of Himalayas in the wee hours of Wednesday led to a flash flood that mainly affected Sikkim and also to some extent parts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts in Bengal. Villages, Army camps, roads, livestock and property including army vehicles were washed away in no time. Wednesdays flash flood resembled the one in 1968 which too triggered hundreds of landslides, leaving behind a trail of death. About 1,000 people died then on the same day of October. I wonder whether it is the verdict of the Providence that the violent weather had to return on the same day, said a professor in the Department of Geography in North Bengal University wondering whether too many dams and high rises along the Teesta had added to the ferocity of the flash floods. There are about 7-9 big and small dams which have dammed us these are fragile territories and if you construct dams at that rate then you are in for trouble thank God that Coronation Bridge at Sevoke off Siliguri, the only link between the rest of India and the North East is still safe, he says, ruling how politics takes bigger tolls than natural calamities. About 65 people have been rescued safely and several scores have been recorded dead with bodies still being fished out from the lower Teesta regions of Jalpagirui and even Bangladesh, sources in the district administration said. l A missing army man was literally dug out from a heap of mud as late as on Saturday and he was still breathing, sources said adding he had been sent to a hospital. While authorities in the flood-hit State of Sikkim confirmed a total of 77 deaths on Sunday, the Jalpaiguri district police informed that they had discovered 48 more bodies. Official records indicate that over 100 people remain unaccounted for. Officials from ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) and NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) have also been sent (to the affected areas). Union Home Minister Amit Shah has released funds for SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) and has promised to provide all possible assistance to NDRF as well, Minister of State Ajay Mishra said. From Siliguri local MLA Gautam Deb said, You have bigger things to do after the initial rescue work but there is always a lack of resources. The low-lying areas of Jalpaiguri have been evacuated, sources said adding even the people living on the banks of Karola have been shifted out to safer areas. Referring to politics being played, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said how the Centre was ignoring her State despite the gravity of the situation being the same. Bengal was not a beggar she said before announcing a relief of Rs 24 crore for flood hit areas of Kalimpong and Darjeeling. Siliguri MLA and Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb said how the Centre has sanctioned funds for Sikkim but has given not a single farthing to Bengal for Kalimpong. Bengal Minister Arup Biswas said how the Centre is allergic to Bengal they have given relief funds to other States but nothing to Bengal. He made the statements after reports of Centre releasing Rs 45 crore for Sikkim. Even Anit Thapa the Chairman of Gokhaland Territorial Authority expressed his anger too. The Centre is giving step-motherly treatment to GTA when we too have been affected by the flash floods, he said. How will we carry out the rescue work how will we rebuild our sides of the flooded region when we have received no money from the Centre and consider that these are peak tourism seasons with Durga Pujas approaching. From Teesta cut to Damodar. Large parts of Hooghly, West Midnapore and Howrah districts. With the Damodar Valley Corporation releasing about one lakh cusecs of water flood-like situations prevailed in these districts. Ghatal in West Midnapore remained the most affected area. So much so that local Arambagh MP Aparupa Poddar was gheraoed by the villagers a couple of days ago when she went to take stock of the situation. Poddar was forced by the villagers to walk down the inundated areas to see our houses and how we live daily they come in AC cars and make some promises and go, whereas year after year we have to live like animals, a villager said. According to sources in the Irrigation Department In south Bengal, water level in most rivers in East and West Burdwan, Birbhum, West Midnapore, Bankura, Hooghly and Howrah districts have risen, adding about 10,000 people have been kept in 120 camps. For the past couple of days there has been no rain but if it rains again then we are ready for the situation, a senior Irrigation Department official said. VIT Bhopal University organised its 4th Annual Convocation on 08th October, 2023, and 1256 graduands were conferred with the degree in this Convocation. Dr. G. Viswanathan, Chancellor of VIT Bhopal, presided over the function and declared the convocation ceremony open. In his presidential address, he congratulated the students for their achievements in the placement drive. He mentioned that VIT is contributing to the improvement of the educational health of Madhya Pradesh and this will help in making the state developed. He commended the initiatives of the VIT Bhopal for introducing several future-ready programmes. The Chief Guest Justice Anil Verma, Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh Bench at Indore, delivered the Convocation address, appreciated the innovative teaching methodologies, and advanced curriculum designs followed at VIT Bhopal. The Guest of Honour, Rajeev Verma, Director of Samsung Electronics, Bangalore, has appreciated the personalized attention given to the students during their studies and placements at VIT Bhopal. He urged the students to be ready for the challenges ahead and work hard to achieve all success.Assistant Vice President, VIT Bhopal Ms. Kadhambari S Viswanathan stated that it has been a tremendous journey starting from 2017 with 383 students and 32 faculties at campus to till date when more than 10000 students with 100% doctoral faculties have put their faith in us and participating in our commitment of transforming higher education. In the current graduating B.Tech. 2019 2023 batch, VIT Bhopal achieved 90.5 % placement with a top package of 59 LPA. Total 27 students have achieved 20 LPA+ packages and 93+ students got above 15 Lakhs per annum. 60% of the placed students received Dream or Super Dream offers. We secured international offers from Human Resourcia, Japan for the second year in a row. For the Class of 2024 despite the recession, we have kept pace with our past records. Placements have begun with 400 students already placed and a top package of 52 LPA+. 212+ students have secured super dream offers in these 400 students. We have achieved Microsoft placement for the 4th year in a row which shows our consistency. VIT Bhopal has also established collaborative academic programs with foreign universities, providing international exposure and enriching research opportunities.She said that to uplift the marginalized section in Madhya Pradesh VIT Bhopal has launched STARS (Support the Advancement of Rural Students) Scheme under which 100 Boys and 76 Girls, district toppers from MP Govt. Schools, are getting free education and free boarding facilities, and thus is contributing in realizing the goal - Atmanirbhar Madhya Pradesh. In the recent placement drive all registered STARS scheme students secured placements. This year's Microsoft Placement was achieved by a STAR student from the 5 year Integrated M Tech branch. The Chancellor administered the pledge. Chancellor, Dr G Viswanathan, Vice President, Shri Sankar Viswanathan, Assistant Vice President Ms. Kadhambari S. Viswanathan, and Trustee Mrs. Ramani Balasundaram, the Chief Guest Justice Anil Verma and the Guest of Honour, Rajeev Verma presented a total of 16 Gold Medals to Toppers from various programmes and Rank Certificates to 45 meritorious students. The devastating attack of Hamas on Israel and the counter Israeli attack has opened a new front of war. The element of shock and surprise in this attack on Israel is simply astonishing. It has busted the myth of invincibility woven around Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency. The world was already facing the heat of the Russia Ukraine conflict and lo and behold , this new catastrophic war reared its head from nowhere. The hostility between Israel and Hamas is very old, but nobody expected it to break out at this point of time. There are many players involved in the Israel Palestine relationship which has been a hotbed of conflict and bloodbath since the formation of Israel in 1948. The most important are America led NATO, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Qatar, Turkey, Russia, China and militant outfits like Hamas and Hizbollah and their cover organisation Palestine Liberation Organisation. On the one hand is a tiny Jewish state Israel for whom it is a promised land. On the other are the Arabs fighting for their holyland. Jerusalem is a holy place for the Jews, Christians and Muslims. Jews have the support of powerful Christian states and the Islamic world largely supports the Arabs. There was a delicate and fragile balance between the two rivals. America wanted to strengthen the position of Israel by bringing it closer to Saudi Arabia. Of late, China has started poking its nose in the whole issue and it was trying to broker a deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran. In these ventures, Russia is on the same page with China. It is a common knowledge that Hamas is supported by Iran in every possible way. America and Iran have been at loggerheads for the last few years and Hamas has emerged as a strategic nuisance for America. The immediate cause that triggered the whole situation is the defiling of the holy Al Aqsa mosque by Israeli forces in the month of April this year. In the given conditions, it would be premature to jump to any conclusion. However, the intelligence failure on the part of Israel appears to be doubtful. Hamas fired about five thousand rockets on Israel within a span of twenty minutes. The stockpiling of rockets must have taken a very long time and firing them in a short time with such precision speaks of deft planning. It is hard to believe that Mossad and other western intelligence agencies would fail so miserably that they could not sniff such a blitzkrieg. Then, why did it happen or why was it allowed to happen? It might be that they did not expect such an intense attack and allowed it to happen as they needed some solid provocation to thoroughly change the equation on the ground in the region. Netanyahu declared that Israel was at war and it would inflict a crushing defeat on Hamas and realise an unprecedented cost from them. The Israeli response to any such attack has always been very intense and disproportionate and this time it would be astonishing. It appears that the war against Hamas would change the geography of Israel and Palestine. It would have far reaching consequences for the whole world. It would be a daunting political and diplomatic responsibility of the leaders of the world to keep the war localised. Netanyahu is a strong leader and is capable of leading Israel at this critical juncture of its history when it is fighting for its existence. Bokaro Superintendent of Police conducted a surprise inspection of Naxal affected areas and police stations. At the same time, police officers and police station in-charge and other police officers have been instructed to keep a close watch on Naxalite activities, so that Naxalites cannot strengthen their credibility. Bokaro SP also gave guidelines while conducting surprise inspections from CRPF Camp to Jhumra Camp, Rahavan OP, Daniya Picket, Jagesar Vihar Police Station and he said to keep an eye on Naxal activities. According to the Bokaro SP, this step has been taken by him to destroy the plans of Naxalites. However, under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, a general meeting was held in Delhi to uproot Naxalites from the entire country. In which Chief Minister Hemant Soren and DGP of Jharkhand have participated. A route map strategy is being prepared on how to uproot Naxalites from the state of Jharkhand, so that the menace of Naxalites can be ended. The Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) on Sunday said that candidates can submit representation to the Commission along with photocopies of their answer sheets in case of any discrepancy in marking. The statement came after the answer sheets (by preparing screenshots and image clips of incomplete answers to the questions) went viral on social media, showing that marks were given even for wrong answers. A total of 2,661 candidates appeared in the State Service Main Examination 2022, an official statement said. On the basis of 1 or 2 pages of answer sheets (screenshot image clips of incomplete answers to the questions) circulated on social media, it is not possible to identify as to which candidate the said answer sheet belongs to nor is it possible to verify the facts, the statement said. So, such candidates can submit representation, it said. Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to order a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the CGPSC candidate selection and evaluation process. He had also said that an irregularity has been exposed in the evaluation and interview of the main examination of State Service Examination 2022 conducted by CGPSC. On his last day of a three-day tour to Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offered prayers at Kedarnath temple on Sunday Morning. Thousands of people greeted the chief minister, chanting Jai Shri Ram. Badri Kedar Temple Committee chairman Ajay Ajayendra, Rudraprayag district panchayat president Amardei Shah, BJP district president Mahavir Panwar, District Magistrate Saurabh Gaharwar, Superintendent of Police Vishakha and other dignitaries welcomed Yogi Adityanath at the Kedarnath helipad by presenting him a bouquet. The priest community welcomed Yogi with the traditional chanting of mantras. The chief minister prayed for the welfare of the people of the country and the state. Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra, Principal Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad and Principal Secretary Tourism Mukesh Meshram were also present on the occasion. After offering prayers at Kedarnath temple on Sunday, the chief minister said that the places of pilgrimage were the bases of both faith as well as national integration and under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the sense of respect for heritage was presenting the new aura of the new India. Kedarpuri was hit by a disaster in 2013, but today, thanks to the confidence of the local people and the strong determination, inspiration, and guidance of the prime minister, both pilgrimage sites, Shri Kedarnath and Shri Badrinath, are adding to the glory of New India, he said. Yogi further said that this was what respect for heritage means. Lakhs of pilgrims are coming here, which is a matter of inspiration for us. It draws our attention towards a new future, Yogi remarked. CM Yogi praised the timely and quality of work going on in Kedarnath. This overflowing crowd of devotion presents a new picture of the new India, which has vision and foresight, he pointed out. The Chhattisgarh Congress Election Committee on Sunday met to discuss allocation of all 90 seats for the upcoming Assembly elections. Chhattisgarh Congress in-charge Kumari Selja told reporters: There are many aspects related to elections; we discussed that. Every seat is important. There is a good atmosphere for the party. We are taking inputs in different ways. The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Deputy Chief Minister T.S. Singh Deo and other party leaders. After this, they departed for New Delhi. The Chief Minister told reporters at the Swami Vivekananda Airport: All of us are going for the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting to be held tomorrow (Monday). The meeting would be regarding the Assembly or Lok Sabha elections. As the echoes of bidding adieu to Lord Ganpati fade away, the vibrant Gujarati community in Jamshedpur is eagerly preparing for the upcoming Navratri Utsav. With joy and anticipation, denizens are adorning themselves in traditional Gujarati attire such as Lehenga Choli, gold jewelry, and other accessories associated with the festive revelry. Navratri, marking the triumph of adishakti over the demon Mahishasur after a nine-day battle, is celebrated in the city with a focus on cultural and religious programs. The Bengali community adds another layer of festivity by organizing their traditional Durga Puja alongside. The Gujarati Sanatan Samaj, the parent body of Gujaratis in the city, is set to host the Navratri Utsav at its premises in Bistupur starting from October 15. Office bearers assure a mix of traditional Goddess Durga worship and cultural events, including ras garba, dandiya, and a fancy dress competition. Come evening, thousands of enthusiasts, adorned in traditional wear, gather at Navratri Mandals for an evening of fun, frolic, and vibrant colors. After performing traditional rituals and paying homage to Goddess Durga, the crowd bursts into song and dance. Jayanti Shah, a community member, highlights the popularity of the Gujarati women's folk dance, Garba, stating, "Garba of Gujarat is the most popular womens folk dance of Gujarat. Today it is a social dance at all levels of society." Dinesh Ranpara, a senior functionary of the Gujarati Sanatan Samaj, shares insights into the community's rituals, including the use of 'Garbo,' a decorated pot symbolizing Goddess Ambema, with a small 'Diva' inside. Members of the community, dressed in traditional Gujarati sarees or chaniya choli, showcase their skills in raas, garba, and dandiya. This year, enthusiasts are opting for designer wares to stand out during the event. Bharati Shah, a city-based designer, notes the high demand for Gujarati chainya cholis during the festive season. To accommodate the large influx of devotees, the officials of Gujarati Sanatan Samaj ensure basic amenities, offering free food and accommodation at guest houses. The festival is further enriched with cultural and musical performances by both amateur and renowned artists, adding to the overall grandeur of the Navratri Utsav. Melvin Rogers in Laphams Quarterly: Debates about the representation of African Americans circulated throughout the 1920swhat kinds of depictions should be encouraged, who should be responsible for them, and what role black artists had in responding to negative descriptions and uplifting the race. These themes served as the subject of W.E.B. Du Bois 1926 symposium, The Negro in Art: How Shall He Be Portrayed? hosted in the NAACPs magazine, The Crisis. Even a cursory glance at the responses to Du Bois question reveals that few believed African Americans were duty bound to direct their art to the cause of social justice. The unencumbered freedom of the artist, many argued, was far too important. As playwright and novelist Heyward DuBose argues, who himself was not an African American, black people must be treated artistically. It destroys itself as soon as it is made a vehicle for propaganda. If it carries a moral or a lesson, they should be subordinated to the artistic aim. Du Bois essay Criteria of Negro Art is his answer to the symposium that he organized. But whereas most read this essay as the dividing line (and there is some truth in this) between Du Bois and many in the Harlem Renaissance, especially the writer and philosopher Alain Locke, the essay suggests closer proximity between these two figures. They each were seeking to avoid black artists needing to manage the unacceptable demands of what Langston Hughes called the undertow of sharp criticism and misunderstanding from black people and unintentional bribes from whites. More here. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that I have not run the government but my family, I have worked as Chief Minister only by becoming brother and Mama. I have a wonderful relationship with the people of the state. Changing the lives of sisters, making better arrangements for children's education, teaching employment skills to the youth, providing treatment and all possible help in case of illness, arranging pilgrimage for senior citizens, providing zero percent interest to farmers, providing timely financial assistance to them, making timely arrangements for fertiliser for farmers and land lease for every poor person to live are important for me. I did not become the Chief Minister to get a peaceful sleep, I never slept more than 4 hours in 24 hours, changing the lives of the people has been my top priority. CM Chouhan was addressing a Jan Samwad programme in village Jahazpur (Budhni) of Sehore district. Chief Minister Chouhan honoured local resident Jamuna Bai by gifting her shawl and shrifal. It is noteworthy that when CM Chouhan was holding mass contact for the MLA election for the first time, Smt. Jamuna Bai had blessed him to be successful by gifting him Rs 2 as her contribution and co-operation in contesting the elections. Chief Minister Chouhan also performed Bhoomi Pujan of construction and development works worth more than Rs 10 crore. Under this, Bhumi Poojan was performed for 2 community buildings in village Bayan and retaining wall to be built at a cost of Rs 2 crore 49 lakh, Panchayat building in Matha village, Manglik Bhavan, Manglik Bhavan and fisherman building in village Marhanpur and community building and public utility facilities near Shiv temple. He also performed Bhoomi Pujan of community building in village Neemkhedi, Anganwadi building in village Phulada and Mogra, Panchayat building in village Bhadkul, community building for Korku community in Salkanpur and Manglik Bhavan in Jahazpur. Chief Minister Chouhan also performed Bhoomi Pujan of road construction, street light arrangement, cleanliness related infrastructure construction and other works in various villages of the area. Chief Minister Chouhan said that schemes like Ladli Laxmi Yojana, Kanya Vivah Yojana were run to empower sisters and daughters. Ladli Bahna Yojana has also been launched with the aim of boosting the respect and self-confidence of sisters. Arrangements were made to provide Rs 1000 per month to the sisters so that they do not have to depend on anyone for money and they become self-reliant. This has been hiked to Rs 1250, by increasing the amount gradually, the sisters will be given Rs 3000 per month. Chief Minister Chouhan said that CM Rise Schools are being built to provide education facilities like private schools to the children of the poor and the farmers. In order to encourage them for studies, arrangements have also been made to give them bicycles, laptops, scooties etc. along with money. When students take admission in medical and engineering colleges, their fees will be paid by the state government. To ensure that every poor has his own house, arrangements have been made to provide lease under the Mukhyamantri Bhu-awasiya Yojana. We have given the poor farmers their rights, a yagya of service is going on in the state. MP Ramakant Bhargava also addressed the programme. Regional public representatives were present on this occasion. State BJP president and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi said that corruption is at its peak in Jharkhand. The state government is not concerned about this. Who will end this corruption in Jharkhand? How will corruption stop when state head himself is involved in corruption cases. Marandi dares CM to face ED interrogation asking the CM why he is running away from the fear of ED today. Today, the Soren family has become the biggest moneylender in the state. The Soren family is not well-wishers of the poor and tribals, said Marandi. Marandi said that Jharkhand became a separate state because of BJP. JMM says that they fought for the separate Jharkhand movement, but the people of state know the truth. Marandi said that Narendra Modi took oath as Prime Minister in 2014. He had pledged that his government would be dedicated to the villages, the poor, the farmers, the labourers, the mothers and sisters. The Prime Minister always remained committed to this resolution. Earlier women used to wait for sunrise or sunset to defecate. Modi ji understood this pain and the first thing he did was to build a house of respect for women. Then Prime Minister Narendra Modi did the work of providing Prime Minister House to lakhs of poor people. The Chief Minister had said that he will give them 1 lakh more rupees so that the poor can make their house bigger but leave alone 1 lakh rupees, not even a single penny was given. The money sent by Centre does not reach the poor properly. Modi ji empowered women by giving them gas stove. Modi ji did the work of giving subsidy of Rs 400 to the beneficiaries of Ujjwala scheme. Modi government cares about poor women. Earlier the poor did not have access to banks. Jan Dhan account of the poor was opened with zero balance. Modi government did the work of sending all the subsidies directly to the accounts of the beneficiaries. During the Corona period, the work of sending money to Jan Dhan accounts was done. 5 kg grains are being sent to 80 crore population. Hemant Soren government is not able to deliver this food grain to the poor but is selling it in the markets and is busy filling its coffers with this money. This government will have to be changed. You all have to leave from here with this resolve. Marandi said that the job of the government is to maintain law and order, but what is happening in Jharkhand today is not hidden from anyone, here theft, dacoity, robbery, kidnapping, murder happen every day, even the honor of daughter-in-law is not safe. Why did this situation arise? Crime is at its peak. When there is a BJP government in Jharkhand, the criminals get scared and run away from Jharkhand, but when the government is formed in the state under the leadership of Hemant Soren, the criminals commit crimes without fear. After all, what does the police do? Caption: BJP-3 : BJP State President Babulal Marandi addresses a gathering during his Shankalp Yatra at Bishunpur in Gumla on Sunday. In a significant breakthrough, law enforcement agencies successfully apprehended Josef Guria, also known as Laden, a prominent PLFI (People's Liberation Front of India) rebel, in the Anandpur thana area of West Singhbhum. Guria was a key suspect in a double murder case reported at Anandpur thana in September 2021. Acting on a reliable tip-off, a joint operation involving local police and paramilitary forces unfolded on Saturday morning, leading to the arrest of the wanted rebel. West Singhbhum SP Ashutosh Shekhar, in a press statement, disclosed that intelligence suggested Laden's clandestine movements in the Anandpur and Bano thana areas, prompting the swift action that led to his capture. The specially formed team successfully apprehended Guria after a thorough search operation in the Anandpur thana area. The arrest comes after the PLFI area commander, Sujit Kumar Ram alias Sahuji, executed a double murder on September 9, 2021, by killing two associates and burying their bodies near Patihar Mangradoha nala under the jurisdiction of Anandpur thana. Upon the arrest of two PLFI rebels earlier, the police extracted crucial information during the interrogation, unveiling Laden's involvement in the heinous crime. Laden, 32, had been on the run since his name surfaced in the accused list. West Singhbhum SP emphasized that Laden's arrest was a significant milestone in resolving the double murder case. The police, assisted by paramilitary forces, are committed to bringing justice to the victims and ensuring the apprehension of all those involved in this heinous act. Further investigation is underway to gather more insights into the PLFI's activities and potential connections in the region. According to the statement, the PLFI area commander Sujit Kumar Ram alias Sahuji had killed two of his associates and buried the bodies near Patihar Mangradoha nala under the Anandpur thana area. After the arrest of two of the PLFI rebels, the police exhumed the bodies from the said spot. During the interrogation, the arrested rebels had divulged that Laden (32) was also involved in the double murder. Ever since Ladens name had figured in the accused list, he had absconded. Second accused involved in the murder of a 44-year-old man was arrested by police; the man was killed after he opposed teasing his sister and niece near Bharat Talkies during Ganesh idol immersion procession on September 29. Seven days after the murder of a young man in Bhopal, a video related to the case has surfaced. In this, the accused is seen forcibly sitting among the women and when the man with them protested, he started fighting. The accused hit the young man on the head with a brick while his associates hit the women. On the night of September 29, the ceremony of immersion of Ganesh idol was going on between Bharat Talkies and Alpana Tirahe in the city. Amit Sirolia (44) had gone to see this with his sisters and nieces. He was near Bharat Talkies when Vinod Thakur came and started to molest. During this he started fighting with Amit. When the sisters tried to intervene, her three aides also came. They also started fighting. Meanwhile, Vinod Thakur picked up a brick lying nearby and hit it on Amit's head. Devendra alias Pappu (34), the second accused in the murder of Amit Sirolia, has also been arrested. Bhopal ACP Rakesh Baghel said that absconding accused Devendra alias Pappu Thakur (34), resident of Kainchi Chhola, has been arrested and sent to jail. There was a huge crowd at the spot on the night of the incident, but there were only two accused in the murder. Vinod had hit Amit on the head with a brick. Devendra had beaten his sisters with a stick. He was hiding in Bhopal since the incident. He has been arrested on the information of the informer. Governor lieutenant general (retd) Gurmit Singh said that considering the changing scenario, the police needs to further strengthen its intelligence system. With criminals adopting new ways to commit crimes, the police will have to prepare itself and remain one step ahead of such elements. As cyber crime is a major challenge in modern policing, the police force needs capacity building in cyber monitoring. The governor was speaking as the chief guest at the conclusion of the 49th All India Police Science Congress here on Sunday. The work of the police is challenging but with their skill and intelligence, the police should also attempt to remove the misconceptions in the public about them. It is also important that the people are aware of the good works, said Singh. He said that the participation of women is important for making India a developed nation. Issues related to women and girls are very sensitive. Ensuring a safe environment for them will be a big achievement and effective steps should also be taken to achieve this. Appreciating the work of Uttarakhand police, he said that the police in this state have to face various types of challenges. Bureau of Police Research and Development director general Balaji Srivastav informed in brief about the deliberations held during the two-day programme. The Uttarakhand director general of police Ashok Kumar proposed the vote of thanks. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has ignited a political firestorm by challenging key opposition leaders to a high-stakes live debate on November 1, as the state grapples with the contentious issue of the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. Mann's decision, to coincide the debate with Punjab Day, holds significant historical resonance, as this day marks the formation of a Punjabi language speaking state under the Punjab Reorganisation Act in 1966. The symbolism is hard to miss, as Mann sets the stage for a historic showdown on a date etched into Punjab's history. The Chief Ministers bold move came in the wake of a recent Supreme Court directive, issued on October 4, ordering the Central Government to survey the land allocated for the canals construction in Punjab and assess the extent of work completed. This decision has fueled tensions, with opposition parties lambasting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. In a direct challenge to the state's political heavyweights, Mann dared Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha Partap Singh Bajwa, and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal to a public debate on the states burning issues. Accepting the Chief Ministers challenge, the opposition leaders used the opportunity to criticize the AAP Government's handling of the SYL issue. Punjab BJP chief Jakhar questioned the circumstances that led the Chief Minister to yield to the Supreme Court on such a vital matter concerning Punjab's water resources. Sukhbir went a step further, challenging Mann to a face-to-face meeting at his residence in Chandigarh on October 10, well ahead of the scheduled debate. He insisted that the discussion encompass a wide range of state issues, including Punjab's water rights, and be held in the presence of the media. Taking a swipe at Mann, referring to him as a pawn and declaring AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal the real Chief Minister of Punjab, while asking Mann to call Kejriwal for the debate. SAD has also announced its plans to gherao Mann's official residence in Chandigarh on October 10 in protest of the SYL issue. Accusing Mann of attempting to divert attention from the core issue, Punjab Congress president Warring suggested that a more meaningful discussion involving leaders from all political parties and farmer representatives would be more appropriate to address the SYL matter. Warring posed several pointed questions to Mann, ranging from the spike in criminal cases to the state's debt, farmer suicides, and flood relief compensation. Meanwhile, Bajwa, in accepting Mann's challenge, proposed that the debate take place at a neutral location rather than a government facility like the Vidhan Sabha. He further suggested that a retired Supreme Court judge or a mutually agreed-upon individual moderate the debate. The SYL issue has been a lightning rod for controversy in Punjab, with opposition parties repeatedly criticizing the AAP Government's handling of the matter. The Punjab BJP, in particular, has accused the State Government of failing to safeguard Punjab's interests in the ongoing dispute over river water resources. During recent proceedings in the Supreme Court, the Punjab Government reportedly indicated its willingness to construct the canal, submitting that the Opposition parties and farmers have vehemently opposed this course of action. As political tensions continue to simmer and the SYL issue looms large, Mann's challenge has set the stage for a potentially explosive showdown, with the future of Punjab's water resources hanging in the balance. A Clash of Titans: Mann's Challenge and SYL Canal Dispute The Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue has a long and contentious history in Punjab. It revolves around the allocation and sharing of river waters between Punjab and neighboring states, primarily Haryana and Rajasthan. The SYL canal was conceived as a means to transport Punjab's share of the river waters to these states. In recent years, the issue has gained renewed prominence, with the Supreme Court stepping in to address the ongoing dispute. The Court's directive to the central government to survey the land earmarked for the canal and assess the progress of its construction has triggered a fresh wave of political turmoil in Punjab. Mann's decision to issue a public challenge for a debate on this matter is not merely a political maneuver; it is a reflection of the heightened stakes surrounding the SYL issue. It highlights the deep-seated differences and tensions between political parties in the State, each vying to champion what they perceive as Punjab's interests. Mann's Call to Action: The Debate Challenge In calling for a public debate, Chief Minister Mann seeks to shift the narrative away from political posturing and toward a transparent and public discourse on Punjab's water resources. He invites key opposition leaders to present their perspectives and defend their positions in front of the people of Punjab and the media. Mann's challenge is comprehensive, encompassing a wide range of issues that affect the state, including nepotism, toll plazas, youth, agriculture, trade, shopkeepers, Gurbani, and the sharing of the Sutlej river's waters. By addressing this broad spectrum of concerns, Mann aims to demonstrate his commitment to transparency and open dialogue on all matters of public interest. Challenging the entire opposition, the Chief Minister said that the hands and souls of these leaders are drenched with blood of state as they have betrayed Punjab and its people. People of the state can never forgive these leaders for their sins against Punjab, said Mann, asking these leaders to prepare well for the proposed debate on Punjab Day where he will expose them badly for their misdeeds. The Chief Minister said that the debate will be centred around who and how Punjab has been looted till now, nepotism (bhai-bhatija, saala-jeeja), favouritism, toll plazas, youth, agriculture, trade-shopkeepers, Gurbani, river waters and others. These leaders have deceived Punjab on all these issues for which they are answerable to the people of the State, said Mann daring these leaders to participate in this open debate before Punjabis and media. The Chief Minister said that these leaders have ample of time to prepare for this debate adding that they can make as many notes as they want defend themselves. However, Mann said that as he will speak only the truth so he needs no paper for help and he will participate in debate without any paper. He asked the leaders to do as much cramming as they want because ultimately he will uncover all their misdeeds during debate on November 1. Opposition's Response: A Fierce Exchange of Words The opposition leaders, who have accepted Mann's challenge, have not shied away from launching verbal salvos. Their willingness to engage in a public debate indicates the seriousness of the SYL issue and their determination to assert their respective positions. Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar has wasted no time in questioning the circumstances surrounding the State Government's apparent capitulation to the Supreme Court's directives. He has called for transparency regarding the decision-making process concerning Punjab's water resources. SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, adopting a combative stance, challenged Mann to an early meeting and questioning Mann's authority as the Chief Minister. His assertion that Arvind Kejriwal wields the true power in Punjab adds a layer of complexity to the political dynamics. Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring accused Mann of attempting to divert attention from the core issue of the SYL canal. He has advocated for a more comprehensive discussion involving leaders from all political parties and farmer representatives, emphasizing the need for transparency in addressing various issues plaguing the state. Amity University Jharkhand today welcomed Veteran Indian Theater and Film Actor Vinay Pathak on its premises. Dr. Ashok K. Srivastava, Vice Chancellor, Amity University Jharkhand conveyed his best wishes on this occasion. Pathak has starred in many films including Khosla Ka Ghosla, Bheja Fry, Island City and Johnny Gaddaar. While interacting with the students at Amity School of Communication (ASCO) and Amity Institute of English Studies and Research (AIESR) he talked about his upcoming film Ab to Sab Bhagwan Bharose soon to be released on 13th October 2023. He mentioned that ideas and writing for a script are correlated. He highlighted the role of artificial intelligence. He has himself been a literature student so suggested English honours and Journalism students to compliment the utilities of each others fields. Hindi literature is quite rich. What we have created in the last century is still being worked on. For example, Ramayana. The point I am emphasizing is people are writing less and less. It is a matter of devotion to become a writer, he stated. Addressing the budding journalists of ASCO, he felt that it is this generation which can reshape the field of journalism. You just need to imbibe and implement what you know he told the mass communication students. How many of each can watch a good movie without a pause these days or read a good book without breaks? A little attention from the next generation is very much needed for all of us to grow and evolve. The information is at their fingertips. He expressed his love for food by quoting himself as a foodie. It is very important to understand your limitations and how much you can push yourself, he added. According to him, there are more platforms and less artists today. Apart from the veteran actor Vinay Pathak, Ab Toh Sab Bhagwan Bharose movie Director-Producer Shiladitya Bora, Story and Screenplay Writer Sudhakar Nilmani Eklavya, Associate Producer Raviraj and Actor Vicky were present on this auspicious occasion. They also clarified the queries of the students related to writing blogs or films and how to bring themselves in spotlight through networking. Notably, Ab Toh Sab Bhagwan Bharoses shooting has been done in Deoghar. A Stand Up Comedy competition titled Laugh Lounge 2.0 was held at the end of todays celebrations wherein students from various colleges and universities participated actively. Union Home minister Amit Shahs meeting with BJP leaders on Saturday has boosted the morale of the party with Shah stating that the State government under chief minister Pushkar Singh Dham is doing good work. The BJP State president Mahendra Bhatt told the media on Sunday that during the meeting-which continued till late evening- Shah said that the State government is performing better like the Central government. Some of the decisions and actions taken by the State government are being appreciated across India, said Bhatt. While meeting the office bearers of the media and social media cells of the party, Shah gave suggestions for constructive use of social media to ensure public awareness on welfare schemes through social media. The information shared should be correct and clear so that the people can benefit from it. Shah further suggested that WhatsApp groups should be formed till the booth level to further improve communication. The BJP State president informed that there are a total of 11,670 booths in the State out of which WhatsApp groups have been prepared for 10,000 booths. Shah was of the opinion that due to the governments work and organisational efforts, the people are going to elect Modi to office for the third time. The BJP will win all the five Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand with record votes, he said. The Cyber Crime Police Station of the Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a man on charges of his involvement in a scam worth at least Rs 18 crore carried out via fake shell companies in Dubai. Over 300 complaints are registered against the accused and he is wanted by the police of 18 states, claimed the deputy superintendent of police of cyber crime police station Ankush Mishra. He said that the accused has been identified as Harmeet Singh Bedi (33) and was arrested from Ludhiana in Punjab. The STF received a complaint from a man named Sunny Singh in June this year who said that he was contacted by some unknown men via WhatsApp who claimed to work for a company that provides freelance work. They allegedly sent him a link to add him to their Telegram group through which they hacked his mobile phone and withdrew Rs 14.18 lakh. The DSP said a team was formed to investigate the case and after conducting a thorough technical investigation for months, the team found out the traces of the accused in Ludhiana. Bedi was finally arrested from Punjab on Saturday. He said that the accused has confessed to his crimes and revealed that they also invested the scammed money in crypto trading. Mishra said that the gang operated by creating fake websites of renowned companies and then contacting people through WhatsApp, emails, calls and other social media sites as employees of these companies. They lure people by offering them a job with earnings of Rs 3,000 to 8,000 per day. They ask them to join a Telegram group via a link which is operated from Dubai to withdraw the victim's money, said Mishra. It was revealed in the preliminary analysis of the case that the man along with his gang had carried out a scam of at least Rs 18 crore, claimed the DSP. He said that police of 18 states were also looking for the accused and the Uttarakhand STF might make more arrests in the case. In a bid to fortify the region's security apparatus, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kaushal Kishore led a meticulous monthly crime review meeting that convened key stakeholders from law enforcement agencies. The session, held on Saturday addressed pivotal issues requiring immediate attention, setting the tone for an enhanced and proactive approach to crime prevention. During the meeting, SSP articulated comprehensive guidelines aimed at expediting the resolution of pending cases, executing warrants, and seizing illicit activities. The emphasis on swift action underscores the commitment of the law enforcement community to deliver justice promptly. One of the focal points of discussion was the intensification of patrolling and strategic raids within the area. SSP Kishore highlighted the importance of a visible and active police presence to deter criminal activities and ensure the safety of the community. In recognition of the evolving nature of criminal tactics, the meeting stressed the need for special vigilance in securing banks and ATMs. Guidelines were meticulously laid out to fortify these financial institutions against potential threats, emphasizing the role of law enforcement in ensuring the integrity of the financial sector. SSP expressed optimism regarding the collaborative efforts of the various agencies involved. "Our collective commitment to public safety is unwavering. This meeting serves as a platform for us to synchronize our strategies, address challenges head-on, and ensure the security of our community," stated SSP Kishore. The attendees, comprising high-ranking officials from the police department, expressed their dedication to implementing the outlined guidelines promptly. The collaborative spirit exhibited during the meeting reaffirms the collective determination to create a safer and more secure environment for residents. This strategic crime review meeting underlines SSP Kaushal Kishore's proactive and hands-on approach to law enforcement. The continued commitment to regular assessments and targeted interventions signifies a commitment to staying one step ahead in the ongoing battle against crime. In a decisive move, SSP issued orders to bring an end to the ordeal faced by common citizens, signaling a commitment to improving public welfare and safety. The directive aims to address longstanding issues and streamline processes for a more citizen-friendly experience. Pamela Paul in The New York Times: One night in 1981, in the middle of bath time, Marty Gonzalez noticed a strange glow that seemed to emanate from inside one of the eyes of her 9-month-old daughter, Marissa. It was really bizarre, Gonzalez recalls. It looked like a cats eye like I could see all the way through. Though Marissas pediatrician in Long Beach, Calif., assured Gonzalez it was nothing, she sought another opinion. While teaching her sixth-grade class, Gonzalez anxiously awaited news from her mother, who had taken Marissa to see a pediatric ophthalmologist. By lunchtime, with still no word from her mom, Gonzalez called the doctor directly. I think its cancer, the doctor told her. Marissa, it turned out, had retinoblastoma, or Rb, a rare but aggressive cancer that almost exclusively affects children. Rb makes up only 3 percent of all pediatric cancer cases, which translates into about 300 children in the United States a year. Marissa had tumors in both eyes and needed immediate treatment: cryotherapy to freeze the malignancies and radiation to destroy them. Two days later, Marissa and her mother were on a flight across the country to see a specialist in retinoblastoma at Columbia University. More here. The Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Department (UPNEDA) is working tirelessly to develop Ayodhya as the states first solar city before the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with over 10,000 dignitaries from across the country, is expected to attend the pran pratishtha (consecration) ceremony, scheduled for January 22. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath personally monitoring the ongoing work in Ayodhya During the May inspection, the chief minister declared Ayodhya as the capital of Suryavansh, emphasising that electricity here would solely come from the sun, not from other sources. The plan entails developing a solar park along the banks of the Saryu, providing solar-powered boats, installing solar street lights, adoption of solar energy sources in public transport, providing solar-powered amenities such as mobile charging points at public places along with electrification of government buildings using solar energy and improving penetration of solar power for domestic use. Officials sources said the project was part of Uttar Pradeshs ambitious Solar Energy Policy 2022. An important aspect of the plan was to develop 16 municipal corporations and Noida as solar cities. The plan is to develop Ayodhya as the model for the solar city project and use the learnings in the implementation of solar policies in other proposed cities, UPNEDA director Anupam Shukla said. While the solar city project is a five-year plan (2023-28), facilities such as streetlights, installation of solar panels at government buildings, e-rickshaws with charging stations, solar trees and solar energy-powered purifiers for drinking water kiosks are to be covered in the first phase. We are confident that most of the ongoing projects in Ayodhya will be completed by January, said Shukla. He said that the biggest aspect of the project was the installation of a 40 MW solar plant on the banks of the Saryu, to be established by NTPC Green. The commissioning of 10 MW of the project was expected by January. The land for the project had been finalised and work was already underway. The work also includes installing solar panels on the rooftops of 117 government buildings, totalling 2.5 mw. This includes a 250 kw solar panel installed at RML Avadh University, a 155 kw panel at Agriculture University, a 100 kw capacity panel at the district court, a 58 kw panel at Ram Katha Museum and 50 kw panels at different government secondary schools, he said. The authorities have also set a target to establish solar power with a capacity of 6 MW on 125 residential and commercial buildings. UPNEDA has already installed 134 solar smart streetlights designed specifically for Ayodhya. The remaining 276 will be installed shortly. These streetlights come with a modular design where the battery is fitted inside the pole with the solar panel on the top, a official said. The solar streetlights will be installed along the famous Ram Path, the 12.9-kilometre six-lane road that leads to the temple from Sahadatganj on the Lucknow-Ayodhya National Highway and up to the Lata Mangeshkar Chowk in the Nayaghat area. Forty solar trees of 1 kW capacity and 18 of 2.5 KW capacity are being installed at various places. These solar trees will have solar panels in branch-like structures with LED lights. The branch-like panels will also provide shade and can be installed over small drinking water kiosks or benches, said the officials. To give a push to electric vehicles, UPNEDA is establishing two solar-powered EV charging stations. A solar cold storage of six metric tonnes is also being constructed at the mandi for farmers to store their produce. Other amenities that will come up by January include 150 solar high-mast lights at prominent road crossings, five dedicated e-rickshaws for devotees with disabilities, 10 solar-powered water kiosks - four of which have been installed already - and two solar-powered boats with a capacity to seat 30 people. The boats, to be used by devotees on the Saryu, will be operated by the UP State Tourism Development Corporation, Shukla said. According to the Solar Energy Policy, any city where 10 per cent of electricity demand is met through renewable power will be deemed a solar city. UPNEDA officials asserted that the target for Ayodhya will be met in the initial phase by January. Khajuri road police arrested two vehicle lifters who were stealing vehicles from Chirayu Hospital Bhainsakhedi Bhopal and recovered 3 motorcycles. Police said that the information was received regarding a suspicious man who was standing in Chirayu parking lot with the intention of stealing a vehicle based on the information team reached Chirayu Hospital and detained the suspect. He was caught with the help of the guard deployed at the hospital who was identified as Jeevar Rathore of Naibasti Gandhinagar, Bhopal and when he was interrogated he revealed that one Hero Splendor was stolen from parking bearing registration number MP04OP2890. During the investigation, the accused confessed selling two vehicles to Ankit Verma of Sehore and from his possession Honda Livo was recovered from Budhi. Later, another bike stolen from Chirayu hospital parking was recovered from his possession. Both the accused are being interrogated in connection with other vehicle thefts. The team took immediate action on the information and arrested the accused Jeevan Rathore and Ankit Verma and recovered three stolen motorcycles worth Rs 210,000 which were stolen from Chirayu hospital parking. Police have started further investigation and more crimes and recoveries would be made. Other aides of the accused would be searched who have helped in stealing the vehicles and disposing the stolen vehicles. The Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday underscored the pivotal role of farmers in the country's economy. He encouraged them to bolster the nation's economy by harnessing the benefits of cutting-edge technologies and innovations in agriculture. The Vice President was addressing the gathering as the chief guest during the inauguration of the three-day Agricultural Development Fair-2023, organized by Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University in Hisar. In his address to the farmers, the Vice President stressed that their actions would determine whether India could celebrate its centenary of independence in 2047 and become the world's leading nation. He urged farmers to secure better prices for their agricultural products through trading. The Vice President emphasized the importance of enhancing the value of agricultural products through trading, encouraging farmers to sell their produce directly in the market. He encouraged farmers to take advantage of government schemes and increase their income. The Vice President also urged them to embrace technological advancements and innovations in agriculture, make use of government discounts on agricultural equipment, and benefit from subsidies on new tractors to boost production. Recognizing the achievements of Indian athletes in the Asian Games, the Vice President lauded Haryana's contribution, stating that Haryana athletes had secured one-third of the medals. He highlighted the unique quality of Haryana's dairy products, emphasizing that Haryana's milk, ghee, and curd had no equals. The Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister JP Dalal said that with the advanced technologies being provided by Chaudhary Charan Singh University, the farmers in Haryana are excelling not only in crop production but in the other endeavours as well. Haryana Agricultural University in Hisar and the Agriculture Department has also improved schemes for farmers. Farmers are making significant strides in animal husbandry, fish farming, vegetable cultivation, mushroom cultivation, and are bolstering their income through successful beekeeping endeavors. Furthermore, they have successfully reclaimed 27,000 acres of salt-affected land in the state. Tata Motors on Thursday said it plans to equip over 50 per cent of its overall workforce with new-age auto tech capabilities within five years as part of its strategy to develop skilled and future-ready staff focused on electric vehicles and other emerging technologies in the auto industry. The company, which has over 57,000 employees across different functions, has collaborated with organisations such as ARAI, Bosch, Mathworks, SAE, and Tata Technologies, among others to provide its employees with professional certification programmes in connected, electric, shared and safe (CESS) through its upskilling programme. "A dynamically evolving industry like ours mandates consistent upskilling and training to remain ahead of the curve and future ready," Tata Motors Vice President HR, Passenger Vehicles and Electric Vehicles, Sitaram Kandi said. As India-Canada relations strained in the wake of allegations by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau against India, there is another major problem that is plaguing Indian students here - lack of job opportunities. In 2022, a total of 226,450 Indian students arrived in Canada to pursue higher education, making India the top source country of new international students entering the North American nation last year, data suggests. According to the global education search platform Erudera, the total number of international students in all education levels in Canada is 807,750, including higher education. Of this, 551,405 received a study permit in Canada last year. BlackRock Energy and Resources Income Trust plc (LON:BERI Get Free Report) insider Carol Bell purchased 6,800 shares of BlackRock Energy and Resources Income Trust stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 4th. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 115 ($1.39) per share, for a total transaction of 7,820 ($9,452.44). BlackRock Energy and Resources Income Trust Price Performance BERI opened at GBX 109.60 ($1.32) on Friday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is GBX 115.70 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 118.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.62, a current ratio of 0.20 and a quick ratio of 0.32. BlackRock Energy and Resources Income Trust plc has a 1 year low of GBX 108 ($1.31) and a 1 year high of GBX 150 ($1.81). The firm has a market cap of 146.31 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -843.08 and a beta of 1.06. Get BlackRock Energy and Resources Income Trust alerts: BlackRock Energy and Resources Income Trust Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 27th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 28th will be given a dividend of GBX 1.10 ($0.01) per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th. This represents a yield of 0.92%. BlackRock Energy and Resources Income Trusts payout ratio is -3,076.92%. About BlackRock Energy and Resources Income Trust BlackRock Commodities Income Investment Trust plc is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched by BlackRock Fund Managers Limited. The fund is managed by BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited. It invests in public equity markets across the globe. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating in the mining and energy sectors. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Energy and Resources Income Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock Energy and Resources Income Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut shares of Telecom Italia (OTCMKTS:TIIAY Free Report) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note published on Thursday morning, Marketbeat reports. Separately, Barclays upgraded Telecom Italia from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, September 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have assigned a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $0.19. Get Telecom Italia alerts: Get Our Latest Report on Telecom Italia Telecom Italia Stock Performance About Telecom Italia Shares of Telecom Italia stock opened at $2.76 on Thursday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $3.07 and a 200-day moving average price of $2.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a current ratio of 0.58. Telecom Italia has a twelve month low of $1.65 and a twelve month high of $3.48. (Get Free Report) Telecom Italia S.p.A., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of fixed and mobile telecommunications services in Italy and internationally. The company operates through Domestic, Brazil, and Other Operations segments. It offers fixed and mobile voice and Internet, and public telephony services, as well as products managed and developed for individuals and families; and voice, data, and Internet services and products, and information and communications technology solutions for small and medium-size enterprises, small offices/home offices, the public sector, large accounts, and enterprises in the fixed and mobile telecommunications markets. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Telecom Italia Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Telecom Italia and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of Toyo Suisan Kaisha (OTCMKTS:TSUKY Free Report) in a report published on Wednesday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports. The firm issued a buy rating on the stock. Toyo Suisan Kaisha Stock Performance Shares of TSUKY opened at $39.50 on Wednesday. Toyo Suisan Kaisha has a 52 week low of $35.83 and a 52 week high of $47.24. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $40.74 and its 200-day moving average price is $42.88. Get Toyo Suisan Kaisha alerts: Toyo Suisan Kaisha Company Profile (Get Free Report) Read More Toyo Suisan Kaisha, Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells food products in Japan and internationally. The company operates through Seafood, Overseas Instant Noodles, Domestic Instant Noodles, Frozen and Refrigerated Foods, Processed Foods, and Cold-Storage segments. It purchases, processes, and sells seafood. Receive News & Ratings for Toyo Suisan Kaisha Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toyo Suisan Kaisha and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dupont Capital Management Corp lowered its stake in Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:ALSN Free Report) by 10.2% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 9,939 shares of the auto parts companys stock after selling 1,130 shares during the quarter. Dupont Capital Management Corps holdings in Allison Transmission were worth $561,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Allison Transmission by 54.3% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 3,462,569 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $155,123,000 after purchasing an additional 1,218,399 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Allison Transmission during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $49,812,000. Balyasny Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Allison Transmission during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $16,514,000. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Allison Transmission by 309.4% during the 1st quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 627,556 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $28,391,000 after purchasing an additional 474,287 shares during the period. Finally, Two Sigma Investments LP acquired a new position in Allison Transmission during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $13,939,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.57% of the companys stock. Get Allison Transmission alerts: Insider Transactions at Allison Transmission In other news, VP Ryan A. Milburn sold 7,372 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, August 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.15, for a total transaction of $436,053.80. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 13,827 shares of the companys stock, valued at $817,867.05. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, VP Ryan A. Milburn sold 7,372 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, August 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.15, for a total transaction of $436,053.80. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 13,827 shares of the companys stock, valued at $817,867.05. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP John Coll sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, September 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.19, for a total value of $120,380.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 16,788 shares in the company, valued at $1,010,469.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 17,112 shares of company stock valued at $1,019,628. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Allison Transmission Stock Up 0.9 % ALSN opened at $59.30 on Friday. Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. has a one year low of $34.61 and a one year high of $61.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.37, a quick ratio of 1.59 and a current ratio of 2.15. The stocks fifty day moving average is $59.27 and its 200-day moving average is $53.62. The company has a market capitalization of $5.31 billion, a PE ratio of 8.80, a P/E/G ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 0.99. Allison Transmission (NYSE:ALSN Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The auto parts company reported $1.92 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.61 by $0.31. Allison Transmission had a return on equity of 67.93% and a net margin of 21.17%. The company had revenue of $783.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $735.95 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.26 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 17.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. will post 6.99 EPS for the current fiscal year. Allison Transmission Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 14th were paid a $0.23 dividend. This represents a $0.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.55%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 11th. Allison Transmissions dividend payout ratio is presently 13.65%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms recently issued reports on ALSN. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Allison Transmission from $62.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 1st. Credit Suisse Group boosted their price target on Allison Transmission from $49.00 to $57.00 in a research report on Monday, July 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on Allison Transmission from $42.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research report on Monday, July 31st. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Allison Transmission in a research report on Thursday. They set a strong-buy rating for the company. Finally, Oppenheimer boosted their price target on Allison Transmission from $53.00 to $67.00 in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Allison Transmission currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $52.86. Read Our Latest Research Report on ALSN About Allison Transmission (Free Report) Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and sells commercial and defense fully automatic transmissions for medium-and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, and medium-and heavy-tactical U.S. defense vehicles worldwide. The company offers transmissions for various applications, including distribution, refuse, construction, fire, and emergency on-highway trucks; school and transit buses; motor homes; energy, mining, and construction off-highway vehicles and equipment; and wheeled and tracked defense vehicles. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ALSN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:ALSN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Allison Transmission Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Allison Transmission and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC boosted its position in shares of iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IJK Free Report) by 6.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,863 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 572 shares during the quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLCs holdings in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF were worth $733,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Breakwater Capital Group boosted its stake in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF by 21.9% during the second quarter. Breakwater Capital Group now owns 8,510 shares of the companys stock worth $638,000 after buying an additional 1,527 shares during the period. Retirement Planning Group LLC boosted its stake in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF by 2.2% during the second quarter. Retirement Planning Group LLC now owns 33,330 shares of the companys stock worth $2,500,000 after buying an additional 711 shares during the period. Salomon & Ludwin LLC boosted its stake in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF by 0.3% during the second quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 314,922 shares of the companys stock worth $23,619,000 after buying an additional 801 shares during the period. Summit Financial Strategies Inc. purchased a new position in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF during the second quarter worth $232,000. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC boosted its stake in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF by 87.6% during the second quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 29,748 shares of the companys stock worth $2,231,000 after buying an additional 13,888 shares during the period. Get iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF alerts: iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF Stock Up 0.8 % NYSEARCA IJK opened at $71.27 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $74.54 and a two-hundred day moving average of $73.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.73 and a beta of 1.08. iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF has a 52 week low of $62.60 and a 52 week high of $78.28. About iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF, formerly iShares S&P MidCap 400 Growth Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P MidCap 400 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the mid-capitalization growth sector of the United States equity market and consists of those stocks in the S&P MidCap 400 Index exhibiting the strongest growth characteristics. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IJK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IJK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC trimmed its stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report) by 51.5% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 19,216 shares of the companys stock after selling 20,373 shares during the quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLCs holdings in Altria Group were worth $884,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in MO. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its stake in shares of Altria Group by 100,097.6% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,100,359,981 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,846,307,000 after purchasing an additional 1,099,261,791 shares during the period. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in Altria Group by 108,222.5% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 18,590,308 shares of the companys stock worth $849,763,000 after acquiring an additional 18,573,146 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Altria Group by 6.4% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 36,302,349 shares of the companys stock worth $1,896,798,000 after acquiring an additional 2,178,596 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC increased its stake in Altria Group by 8.3% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 25,132,929 shares of the companys stock worth $1,121,431,000 after acquiring an additional 1,926,492 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased its stake in Altria Group by 9.8% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 17,105,285 shares of the companys stock worth $781,883,000 after acquiring an additional 1,531,337 shares during the last quarter. 58.94% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Altria Group alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts have weighed in on MO shares. UBS Group decreased their target price on Altria Group from $40.40 to $39.20 and set a sell rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. StockNews.com started coverage on Altria Group in a research note on Thursday. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on Altria Group from $56.00 to $55.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, August 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $47.70. Altria Group Trading Up 0.2 % Shares of Altria Group stock opened at $42.07 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $74.66 billion, a PE ratio of 11.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 0.59. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $43.39 and its 200-day moving average price is $44.60. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $40.91 and a 12 month high of $51.57. Altria Group (NYSE:MO Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported $1.31 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.31. The firm had revenue of $5.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.43 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 225.61% and a net margin of 27.40%. The companys revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.26 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Altria Group Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th will be paid a $0.98 dividend. This is a boost from Altria Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.94. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 9.32%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 14th. Altria Groups payout ratio is 102.89%. Altria Group Profile (Free Report) Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company provides cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; cigars and pipe tobacco principally under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco products and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; and on! oral nicotine pouches. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC trimmed its holdings in American Express (NYSE:AXP) by 43.6% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,418 shares of the payment services companys stock after selling 4,180 shares during the period. Ameritas Advisory Services LLCs holdings in American Express were worth $920,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Zullo Investment Group Inc. grew its stake in American Express by 2.4% in the 2nd quarter. Zullo Investment Group Inc. now owns 2,589 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $451,000 after buying an additional 61 shares in the last quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in American Express by 5.4% in the 4th quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 1,220 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $180,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares during the period. Accurate Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in American Express by 4.1% in the 2nd quarter. Accurate Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,588 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $275,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares during the period. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in American Express by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,885 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $806,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the period. Finally, Magnus Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in American Express by 1.9% in the 2nd quarter. Magnus Financial Group LLC now owns 3,549 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $618,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the period. 83.08% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get American Express alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Oppenheimer raised their price target on shares of American Express from $180.00 to $193.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, July 18th. 22nd Century Group reissued a reiterates rating on shares of American Express in a report on Friday, June 30th. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of American Express from $188.00 to $185.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. 51job reaffirmed a reiterates rating on shares of American Express in a report on Friday, June 30th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on shares of American Express from $191.00 to $190.00 in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $173.44. American Express Stock Performance American Express stock opened at $149.32 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.59, a current ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.75. The company has a market capitalization of $109.97 billion, a PE ratio of 15.19, a P/E/G ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 1.19. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $158.66 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $162.01. American Express has a twelve month low of $130.65 and a twelve month high of $182.15. American Express (NYSE:AXP Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 21st. The payment services company reported $2.89 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.81 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $15.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.41 billion. American Express had a net margin of 12.99% and a return on equity of 29.26%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 12.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.57 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that American Express will post 11.13 EPS for the current year. American Express Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 6th will be paid a dividend of $0.60 per share. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.61%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 5th. American Expresss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 24.42%. About American Express (Free Report) American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides charge and credit payment card products, and travel-related services worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Global Consumer Services Group, Global Commercial Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services. Its products and services include payment and financing products; network services; accounts payable expense management products and services; and travel and lifestyle services. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AXP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for American Express (NYSE:AXP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for American Express Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Express and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. OLD National Bancorp IN lessened its holdings in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM Free Report) by 5.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 25,992 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,524 shares during the period. OLD National Bancorp INs holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland were worth $1,964,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in ADM. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its position in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 4.7% during the first quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 43,470 shares of the companys stock worth $3,463,000 after buying an additional 1,940 shares during the period. Toronto Dominion Bank increased its position in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 0.4% during the first quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 276,660 shares of the companys stock worth $22,027,000 after buying an additional 1,138 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in Archer-Daniels-Midland during the first quarter worth approximately $574,000. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in Archer-Daniels-Midland during the second quarter worth approximately $691,000. Finally, Transform Wealth LLC increased its position in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 21.3% during the first quarter. Transform Wealth LLC now owns 204,456 shares of the companys stock worth $16,287,000 after buying an additional 35,944 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.73% of the companys stock. Get Archer-Daniels-Midland alerts: Insider Transactions at Archer-Daniels-Midland In other news, insider Fruit Molly L. Strader sold 1,455 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $86.80, for a total value of $126,294.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 10,809 shares of the companys stock, valued at $938,221.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.20% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on ADM shares. Argus boosted their target price on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $91.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. StockNews.com started coverage on Archer-Daniels-Midland in a report on Thursday. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Roth Mkm started coverage on Archer-Daniels-Midland in a report on Thursday, June 22nd. They issued a buy rating and a $92.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $83.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, July 31st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Archer-Daniels-Midland presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $97.50. Read Our Latest Stock Report on Archer-Daniels-Midland Archer-Daniels-Midland Stock Down 0.4 % ADM opened at $72.86 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average is $80.24 and its two-hundred day moving average is $78.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.63. The company has a market cap of $39.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.73, a PEG ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.83. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company has a one year low of $69.92 and a one year high of $98.28. Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The company reported $1.89 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.59 by $0.30. The company had revenue of $25.19 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $25.82 billion. Archer-Daniels-Midland had a return on equity of 17.52% and a net margin of 4.14%. Archer-Daniels-Midlands quarterly revenue was down 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.15 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Archer-Daniels-Midland Company will post 7.19 EPS for the current fiscal year. Archer-Daniels-Midland Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 6th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 16th were issued a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 15th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.47%. Archer-Daniels-Midlands dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 24.03%. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company Profile (Free Report) Archer-Daniels-Midland Company procures, transports, stores, processes, and merchandises agricultural commodities, products, and ingredients in the United States, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ADM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Archer-Daniels-Midland Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Archer-Daniels-Midland and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Blue Square Asset Management LLC raised its stake in The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG Free Report) by 183.5% during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 10,889 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 7,048 shares during the period. Procter & Gamble comprises 1.2% of Blue Square Asset Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 21st largest position. Blue Square Asset Management LLCs holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $1,652,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Tevis Investment Management boosted its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Tevis Investment Management now owns 12,260 shares of the companys stock worth $1,823,000 after acquiring an additional 64 shares during the period. Eagle Strategies LLC boosted its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Eagle Strategies LLC now owns 3,526 shares of the companys stock worth $524,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the period. WealthTrust Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Procter & Gamble by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. WealthTrust Asset Management LLC now owns 1,990 shares of the companys stock worth $296,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Exeter Financial LLC lifted its holdings in Procter & Gamble by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Exeter Financial LLC now owns 15,144 shares of the companys stock worth $2,286,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Diligent Investors LLC lifted its holdings in Procter & Gamble by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Diligent Investors LLC now owns 16,084 shares of the companys stock worth $2,391,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.43% of the companys stock. Get Procter & Gamble alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, insider Susan Street Whaley sold 575 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.97, for a total transaction of $83,357.75. Following the sale, the insider now owns 7,498 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,086,985.06. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Procter & Gamble news, insider Susan Street Whaley sold 575 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.97, for a total value of $83,357.75. Following the sale, the insider now owns 7,498 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,086,985.06. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Balaji Purushothaman sold 12,629 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $157.19, for a total value of $1,985,152.51. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 13,051 shares in the company, valued at $2,051,486.69. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 108,760 shares of company stock worth $16,835,914 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock. Procter & Gamble Trading Up 0.2 % Shares of PG opened at $144.09 on Friday. The Procter & Gamble Company has a 52-week low of $122.18 and a 52-week high of $158.38. The businesss fifty day moving average is $152.60 and its 200-day moving average is $151.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 0.63. The firm has a market cap of $339.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.42, a PEG ratio of 3.29 and a beta of 0.44. Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 28th. The company reported $1.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.32 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $20.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.01 billion. Procter & Gamble had a return on equity of 32.88% and a net margin of 17.87%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.21 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that The Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.38 EPS for the current fiscal year. Procter & Gamble Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, August 15th. Investors of record on Friday, July 21st were given a dividend of $0.9407 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 20th. This represents a $3.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.61%. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio is currently 63.73%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms recently weighed in on PG. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on Procter & Gamble from $170.00 to $173.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, July 31st. StockNews.com raised Procter & Gamble from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and set a $174.00 price target on shares of Procter & Gamble in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. Barclays lifted their price objective on Procter & Gamble from $160.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on Procter & Gamble from $165.00 to $167.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, July 31st. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $165.61. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on PG About Procter & Gamble (Free Report) The Procter & Gamble Company provides branded consumer packaged goods worldwide. It operates through five segments: Beauty; Grooming; Health Care; Fabric & Home Care; and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. The Beauty segment offers conditioners, shampoos, styling aids, and treatments under the Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Pantene, and Rejoice brands; and antiperspirants and deodorants, personal cleansing, and skin care products under the Olay, Old Spice, Safeguard, Secret, and SK-II brands. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Procter & Gamble Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Procter & Gamble and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Boston Common Asset Management LLC lessened its holdings in The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG Free Report) by 3.8% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 185,847 shares of the companys stock after selling 7,306 shares during the quarter. Boston Common Asset Management LLCs holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $28,200,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Tevis Investment Management lifted its stake in Procter & Gamble by 0.5% during the first quarter. Tevis Investment Management now owns 12,260 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,823,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. Eagle Strategies LLC lifted its stake in Procter & Gamble by 1.9% during the first quarter. Eagle Strategies LLC now owns 3,526 shares of the companys stock valued at $524,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. WealthTrust Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 3.4% during the first quarter. WealthTrust Asset Management LLC now owns 1,990 shares of the companys stock valued at $296,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the period. Exeter Financial LLC raised its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 0.4% during the first quarter. Exeter Financial LLC now owns 15,144 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,286,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares during the period. Finally, Diligent Investors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 0.4% during the first quarter. Diligent Investors LLC now owns 16,084 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,391,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 63.43% of the companys stock. Get Procter & Gamble alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms have recently issued reports on PG. Bank of America boosted their price target on shares of Procter & Gamble from $170.00 to $175.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. HSBC began coverage on shares of Procter & Gamble in a report on Friday, September 22nd. They set a buy rating and a $179.00 price target on the stock. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Procter & Gamble from $160.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Procter & Gamble from $155.00 to $161.00 in a research note on Monday, July 31st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on shares of Procter & Gamble from $165.00 to $167.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, July 31st. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $165.61. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CAO Matthew W. Janzaruk sold 33,022 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.26, for a total transaction of $5,160,017.72. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 888 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $138,758.88. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other Procter & Gamble news, CFO Andre Schulten sold 806 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.85, for a total value of $123,197.10. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 28,373 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,336,813.05. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CAO Matthew W. Janzaruk sold 33,022 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.26, for a total transaction of $5,160,017.72. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 888 shares of the companys stock, valued at $138,758.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 108,760 shares of company stock valued at $16,835,914. Company insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock. Procter & Gamble Stock Performance Shares of PG opened at $144.09 on Friday. The companys fifty day moving average is $152.60 and its 200-day moving average is $151.16. The Procter & Gamble Company has a 12 month low of $122.18 and a 12 month high of $158.38. The firm has a market cap of $339.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.29 and a beta of 0.44. The company has a quick ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 28th. The company reported $1.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.32 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $20.60 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.01 billion. Procter & Gamble had a net margin of 17.87% and a return on equity of 32.88%. Procter & Gambles quarterly revenue was up 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.21 EPS. Equities analysts expect that The Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.38 EPS for the current fiscal year. Procter & Gamble Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, August 15th. Investors of record on Friday, July 21st were issued a dividend of $0.9407 per share. This represents a $3.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.61%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 20th. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio is currently 63.73%. Procter & Gamble Profile (Free Report) The Procter & Gamble Company provides branded consumer packaged goods worldwide. It operates through five segments: Beauty; Grooming; Health Care; Fabric & Home Care; and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. The Beauty segment offers conditioners, shampoos, styling aids, and treatments under the Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Pantene, and Rejoice brands; and antiperspirants and deodorants, personal cleansing, and skin care products under the Olay, Old Spice, Safeguard, Secret, and SK-II brands. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Procter & Gamble Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Procter & Gamble and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. O ROURKE & COMPANY Inc grew its stake in shares of Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX Free Report) by 7.1% in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 1,620 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after acquiring an additional 108 shares during the quarter. O ROURKE & COMPANY Incs holdings in Chevron were worth $255,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its holdings in shares of Chevron by 100,509.4% during the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 426,861,553 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $67,166,665,000 after purchasing an additional 426,437,277 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in Chevron by 12.7% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 32,906,060 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $5,906,309,000 after acquiring an additional 3,711,923 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Chevron by 104,997.3% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 24,490,824 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $4,395,858,000 after acquiring an additional 24,467,521 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in Chevron by 76.5% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 23,667,484 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $3,839,241,000 after acquiring an additional 10,257,980 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Chevron in the 4th quarter worth about $3,058,235,000. 68.87% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Chevron alerts: Chevron Stock Performance Shares of NYSE CVX opened at $162.23 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.43. The firm has a market cap of $302.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.29, a P/E/G ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 1.14. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $163.54 and its 200-day simple moving average is $160.90. Chevron Co. has a 52 week low of $149.74 and a 52 week high of $189.68. Chevron Announces Dividend Chevron ( NYSE:CVX Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 28th. The oil and gas company reported $3.08 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.95 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $48.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $48 billion. Chevron had a return on equity of 19.48% and a net margin of 13.54%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 28.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $5.82 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Chevron Co. will post 13.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 18th were issued a $1.51 dividend. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.72%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 17th. Chevrons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 38.30%. Insider Buying and Selling at Chevron In other Chevron news, CFO Pierre R. Breber sold 25,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $164.00, for a total value of $4,100,000.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 6,021 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $987,444. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other Chevron news, CFO Pierre R. Breber sold 25,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $164.00, for a total value of $4,100,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 6,021 shares in the company, valued at approximately $987,444. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, VP Jeff B. Gustavson sold 3,750 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.88, for a total value of $603,300.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 1,718 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $276,391.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.18% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on CVX shares. UBS Group increased their price objective on Chevron from $209.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday. Citigroup reduced their price objective on Chevron from $180.00 to $170.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 11th. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on Chevron from $196.00 to $188.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 13th. Truist Financial upped their target price on Chevron from $163.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Monday, July 31st. Finally, Bank of America upped their target price on Chevron from $185.00 to $190.00 in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Chevron presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $190.89. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on CVX Chevron Profile (Free Report) Chevron Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the integrated energy and chemicals operations in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Upstream and Downstream. The Upstream segment is involved in the exploration, development, production, and transportation of crude oil and natural gas; liquefaction, transportation, and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas; transportation of crude oil through pipelines; and processing, transportation, storage, and marketing of natural gas, as well as a gas-to-liquids plant. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CVX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Chevron Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chevron and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC lowered its stake in shares of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ Free Report) by 1.8% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 94,610 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,730 shares during the period. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLCs holdings in Constellation Brands were worth $23,286,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Vontobel Holding Ltd. boosted its stake in Constellation Brands by 2.4% during the second quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 54,367 shares of the companys stock worth $13,381,000 after buying an additional 1,259 shares during the last quarter. Meridian Financial Partners LLC boosted its stake in Constellation Brands by 4.7% during the second quarter. Meridian Financial Partners LLC now owns 4,091 shares of the companys stock worth $1,101,000 after buying an additional 183 shares during the last quarter. Accurate Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Constellation Brands by 4.2% in the 2nd quarter. Accurate Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,254 shares of the companys stock valued at $320,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Benin Management CORP acquired a new position in shares of Constellation Brands in the 2nd quarter valued at $207,000. Finally, Marion Wealth Management lifted its stake in shares of Constellation Brands by 2.3% in the 2nd quarter. Marion Wealth Management now owns 3,892 shares of the companys stock valued at $958,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.99% of the companys stock. Get Constellation Brands alerts: Constellation Brands Trading Down 2.0 % NYSE:STZ opened at $236.61 on Friday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $259.79 and its 200 day moving average price is $245.80. The company has a market capitalization of $43.38 billion, a PE ratio of 28.82, a P/E/G ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10. Constellation Brands, Inc. has a 52-week low of $208.12 and a 52-week high of $273.65. Constellation Brands Announces Dividend Constellation Brands ( NYSE:STZ Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 5th. The company reported $3.70 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.37 by $0.33. Constellation Brands had a return on equity of 23.35% and a net margin of 14.41%. The company had revenue of $2.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.82 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $3.17 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that Constellation Brands, Inc. will post 12.1 EPS for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 3rd will be given a dividend of $0.89 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 2nd. This represents a $3.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.50%. Constellation Brandss payout ratio is 43.36%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts have recently commented on STZ shares. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Constellation Brands from $290.00 to $305.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, July 24th. Truist Financial reaffirmed a hold rating and issued a $260.00 price target on shares of Constellation Brands in a research note on Friday. Wedbush upped their price target on Constellation Brands from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on Constellation Brands from $293.00 to $300.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 27th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $295.00 price target on shares of Constellation Brands in a research note on Friday, September 15th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $277.64. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Constellation Brands Insiders Place Their Bets In other Constellation Brands news, CEO William A. Newlands sold 49,425 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $267.90, for a total transaction of $13,240,957.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 9,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,495,756.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Robert Lee Hanson sold 12,299 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $268.10, for a total value of $3,297,361.90. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 11,862 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,180,202.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO William A. Newlands sold 49,425 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $267.90, for a total value of $13,240,957.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 9,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,495,756.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 100,819 shares of company stock valued at $27,054,755. 16.19% of the stock is owned by company insiders. About Constellation Brands (Free Report) Constellation Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, produces, imports, markets, and sells beer, wine, and spirits in the United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. The company provides beer primarily under the Corona Extra, Corona Premier, Corona Familiar, Corona Light, Corona Refresca, Corona Hard Seltzer, Modelo Especial, Modelo Negra, Modelo Chelada, Victoria, Vicky Chamoy, and Pacifico brands. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding STZ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Constellation Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Constellation Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dfpg Investments LLC raised its position in shares of Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK Free Report) by 226.3% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,494 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 5,197 shares during the quarter. Dfpg Investments LLCs holdings in Duke Energy were worth $687,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System increased its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 0.6% during the first quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 50,100 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $4,833,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Rainsberger Wealth Advisors Inc. increased its position in Duke Energy by 36.9% during the 1st quarter. Rainsberger Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 10,784 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,040,000 after buying an additional 2,905 shares in the last quarter. Avidian Wealth Solutions LLC boosted its holdings in Duke Energy by 21.2% in the first quarter. Avidian Wealth Solutions LLC now owns 4,565 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $440,000 after acquiring an additional 798 shares in the last quarter. Fiduciary Alliance LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Duke Energy in the second quarter worth $118,000. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 2.6% during the second quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 8,760 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $783,000 after acquiring an additional 224 shares in the last quarter. 63.68% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Duke Energy alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Guggenheim cut their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $114.00 to $102.00 in a research report on Friday, July 7th. Bank of America reduced their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $112.00 to $110.00 in a research report on Sunday, June 11th. Mizuho lowered their price objective on Duke Energy from $92.00 to $91.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Duke Energy from $98.00 to $101.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, August 17th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lowered their price target on Duke Energy from $105.00 to $98.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Duke Energy presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $99.17. Duke Energy Trading Up 1.7 % Shares of NYSE:DUK opened at $86.92 on Friday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $90.73 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $92.82. Duke Energy Co. has a 52-week low of $83.06 and a 52-week high of $106.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a current ratio of 0.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $66.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.56, a PEG ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 0.43. Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The utilities provider reported $0.91 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.98 by ($0.07). The business had revenue of $6.58 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.16 billion. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 8.05% and a net margin of 5.06%. The firms revenue was down 1.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.14 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Duke Energy Co. will post 5.6 EPS for the current year. Duke Energy Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 18th were paid a $1.025 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 17th. This represents a $4.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.72%. This is an increase from Duke Energys previous quarterly dividend of $1.01. Duke Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 229.05%. Duke Energy Profile (Free Report) Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through two segments, Electric Utilities and Infrastructure (EU&I) and Gas Utilities and Infrastructure (GU&I). The EU&I segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest; and uses coal, hydroelectric, natural gas, oil, solar and wind sources, renewables, and nuclear fuel to generate electricity. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DUK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Duke Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Duke Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dupont Capital Management Corp raised its stake in The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR Free Report) by 132.4% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 18,204 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 10,371 shares during the quarter. Dupont Capital Management Corps holdings in Kroger were worth $856,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in KR. Sanders Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Kroger in the 1st quarter worth about $622,480,000. Boston Partners increased its holdings in shares of Kroger by 5,992.3% in the 1st quarter. Boston Partners now owns 4,299,033 shares of the companys stock worth $212,221,000 after buying an additional 4,228,468 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Kroger in the 4th quarter worth about $156,126,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its stake in shares of Kroger by 119.0% during the 4th quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 5,289,249 shares of the companys stock worth $235,795,000 after purchasing an additional 2,874,114 shares during the period. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its stake in shares of Kroger by 82.0% during the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 5,667,159 shares of the companys stock worth $252,642,000 after purchasing an additional 2,552,989 shares during the period. 78.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Kroger alerts: Insider Activity In other news, SVP Timothy A. Massa sold 23,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.46, for a total value of $1,045,580.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 194,956 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,862,699.76. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, SVP Timothy A. Massa sold 23,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.46, for a total value of $1,045,580.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 194,956 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,862,699.76. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP Carin L. Fike sold 6,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.50, for a total transaction of $279,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 44,090 shares in the company, valued at $2,050,185. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 33,798 shares of company stock valued at $1,542,985 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 1.38% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms recently commented on KR. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on shares of Kroger from $56.00 to $54.00 in a research note on Friday, June 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price target on shares of Kroger from $54.00 to $50.00 in a research note on Friday, June 16th. 3M reissued a maintains rating on shares of Kroger in a research report on Friday, June 16th. UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of Kroger from $51.00 to $48.00 in a research report on Monday, June 19th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Kroger in a research report on Thursday. They issued a buy rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Kroger has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $52.31. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Kroger Kroger Trading Down 1.6 % Shares of Kroger stock opened at $43.45 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14. The Kroger Co. has a 12-month low of $41.81 and a 12-month high of $50.41. The firm has a market capitalization of $31.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.40, a PEG ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 0.48. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $46.57 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $47.33. Kroger (NYSE:KR Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, September 8th. The company reported $0.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.91 by $0.05. Kroger had a net margin of 1.10% and a return on equity of 30.61%. The business had revenue of $33.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $34.12 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.90 EPS. Krogers revenue for the quarter was down 2.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that The Kroger Co. will post 4.52 EPS for the current year. Kroger Cuts Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 15th will be issued a $0.29 dividend. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.67%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, November 14th. Krogers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 51.79%. About Kroger (Free Report) The Kroger Co operates as a food and drug retailer in the United States. The company operates combination food and drug stores, multi-department stores, marketplace stores, and price impact warehouses. Its combination food and drug stores offer natural food and organic sections, pharmacies, general merchandise, pet centers, fresh seafood, and organic produce; and multi-department stores provide apparel, home fashion and furnishings, outdoor living, electronics, automotive products, and toys. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Kroger Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kroger and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dupont Capital Management Corp boosted its position in shares of Owens Corning (NYSE:OC Free Report) by 79.9% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 5,760 shares of the construction companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,559 shares during the quarter. Dupont Capital Management Corps holdings in Owens Corning were worth $752,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in OC. US Bancorp DE increased its stake in shares of Owens Corning by 4.0% during the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 6,502 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $595,000 after buying an additional 249 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Owens Corning by 9.3% during the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 2,606 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $238,000 after buying an additional 221 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors L.P. raised its stake in Owens Corning by 24.9% in the first quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 13,517 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,237,000 after buying an additional 2,693 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its position in Owens Corning by 10.8% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 19,987 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,888,000 after acquiring an additional 1,952 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Owens Corning by 245.2% during the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 3,649 shares of the construction companys stock worth $333,000 after acquiring an additional 2,592 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.22% of the companys stock. Get Owens Corning alerts: Owens Corning Stock Performance Shares of OC opened at $132.40 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.38, a PEG ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 2.07 and a quick ratio of 1.37. Owens Corning has a one year low of $80.24 and a one year high of $147.00. The business has a fifty day moving average of $138.89 and a 200 day moving average of $122.08. Owens Corning Announces Dividend Owens Corning ( NYSE:OC Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The construction company reported $4.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.25 by $0.97. Owens Corning had a return on equity of 25.59% and a net margin of 13.62%. The business had revenue of $2.56 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.54 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.83 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Owens Corning will post 13.6 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 3rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, October 16th will be given a $0.52 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 13th. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.57%. Owens Cornings payout ratio is presently 14.74%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms recently weighed in on OC. Truist Financial lifted their price target on Owens Corning from $105.00 to $135.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 6th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Owens Corning from $161.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Benchmark lowered shares of Owens Corning from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, July 20th. Bank of America increased their target price on Owens Corning from $127.00 to $152.00 in a research note on Friday, July 14th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Owens Corning from a sell rating to a neutral rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $113.00 to $150.00 in a report on Thursday, September 7th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Owens Corning presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $141.57. Read Our Latest Analysis on OC Insider Transactions at Owens Corning In related news, Director W Howard Morris sold 1,033 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $141.63, for a total value of $146,303.79. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 40,889 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,791,109.07. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, insider Todd W. Fister sold 5,375 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $136.23, for a total value of $732,236.25. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 26,067 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,551,107.41. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director W Howard Morris sold 1,033 shares of Owens Corning stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $141.63, for a total transaction of $146,303.79. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 40,889 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,791,109.07. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.89% of the companys stock. Owens Corning Company Profile (Free Report) Owens Corning engages in manufacture and sale of insulation, roofing, and fiberglass composite materials in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and internationally. It operates in three segments: Composites, Insulation, and Roofing. The Composites segment manufactures, fabricates, and sells glass reinforcements in the form of fiber; and glass fiber products in the form of fabrics, non-wovens, and other specialized products. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding OC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Owens Corning (NYSE:OC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Owens Corning Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Owens Corning and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dupont Capital Management Corp boosted its holdings in shares of WestRock (NYSE:WRK Free Report) by 498.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 23,440 shares of the basic materials companys stock after acquiring an additional 19,520 shares during the quarter. Dupont Capital Management Corps holdings in WestRock were worth $681,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. CVA Family Office LLC raised its holdings in WestRock by 5,620.0% in the 2nd quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 1,430 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 1,405 shares during the period. Numerai GP LLC purchased a new stake in shares of WestRock in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $2,477,000. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lifted its holdings in shares of WestRock by 3.7% in the 1st quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 25,748 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $785,000 after acquiring an additional 912 shares during the last quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc boosted its position in shares of WestRock by 0.8% during the 1st quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 5,259,854 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $160,268,000 after purchasing an additional 41,237 shares during the period. Finally, Flputnam Investment Management Co. acquired a new stake in WestRock in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $1,738,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.51% of the companys stock. Get WestRock alerts: WestRock Price Performance WestRock stock opened at $36.06 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $34.09 and a 200-day simple moving average of $30.96. WestRock has a 12-month low of $26.84 and a 12-month high of $39.30. WestRock Dividend Announcement WestRock ( NYSE:WRK Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 3rd. The basic materials company reported $0.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.50 by $0.39. WestRock had a positive return on equity of 8.75% and a negative net margin of 6.82%. The business had revenue of $5.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.16 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.54 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 7.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that WestRock will post 3.02 EPS for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 24th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 10th were issued a dividend of $0.275 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 9th. This represents a $1.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.05%. WestRocks payout ratio is currently -19.86%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on WestRock from $33.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of WestRock from $37.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, August 4th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of WestRock in a report on Saturday. They issued a hold rating for the company. UBS Group reduced their target price on shares of WestRock from $42.00 to $37.00 in a report on Friday, June 30th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price target on shares of WestRock from $34.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $37.57. View Our Latest Stock Report on WRK WestRock Company Profile (Free Report) WestRock Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides fiber-based paper and packaging solutions in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It operates in four segments, Corrugated Packaging, Consumer Packaging, Global Paper, and Distribution. The Corrugated Packaging segment produces containerboards, corrugated sheets, corrugated packaging, and preprinted linerboards to consumer and industrial products manufacturers, and corrugated box manufacturers. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WRK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for WestRock (NYSE:WRK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for WestRock Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for WestRock and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dupont Capital Management Corp lowered its position in shares of TransUnion (NYSE:TRU Free Report) by 9.0% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,502 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 743 shares during the period. Dupont Capital Management Corps holdings in TransUnion were worth $588,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of TRU. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its position in TransUnion by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 13,272 shares of the business services providers stock worth $1,372,000 after acquiring an additional 207 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. grew its position in TransUnion by 52.4% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 8,374 shares of the business services providers stock worth $865,000 after acquiring an additional 2,880 shares during the last quarter. Roundview Capital LLC grew its position in TransUnion by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 20,949 shares of the business services providers stock worth $2,165,000 after acquiring an additional 272 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its position in TransUnion by 50.9% during the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 6,551 shares of the business services providers stock worth $673,000 after acquiring an additional 2,211 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in TransUnion during the 1st quarter worth $1,000,000. Get TransUnion alerts: TransUnion Stock Down 0.1 % Shares of NYSE:TRU opened at $70.24 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $13.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 58.53, a P/E/G ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 1.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.51 and a quick ratio of 1.51. The businesss 50-day moving average is $77.32 and its 200-day moving average is $72.89. TransUnion has a 1 year low of $50.32 and a 1 year high of $82.75. TransUnion Announces Dividend TransUnion ( NYSE:TRU Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The business services provider reported $0.86 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.83 by $0.03. TransUnion had a return on equity of 13.59% and a net margin of 6.19%. The business had revenue of $968.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $957.64 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.89 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that TransUnion will post 3.23 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 7th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 23rd were paid a dividend of $0.105 per share. This represents a $0.42 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.60%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 22nd. TransUnions dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 35.00%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on TRU shares. StockNews.com assumed coverage on TransUnion in a research report on Thursday. They set a hold rating on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on TransUnion from $86.00 to $98.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Barclays lifted their target price on TransUnion from $67.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, July 25th. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on TransUnion from $91.00 to $95.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 26th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC lifted their target price on TransUnion from $84.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 25th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $84.14. Get Our Latest Research Report on TRU Insider Buying and Selling In related news, insider Steven M. Chaouki sold 1,276 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.43, for a total transaction of $91,144.68. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 56,860 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,061,509.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other TransUnion news, insider Steven M. Chaouki sold 1,276 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.43, for a total transaction of $91,144.68. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 56,860 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,061,509.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Steven M. Chaouki sold 951 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.31, for a total value of $76,374.81. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 61,421 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,932,720.51. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 6,689 shares of company stock valued at $518,181. 0.22% of the stock is owned by company insiders. TransUnion Profile (Free Report) TransUnion operates as a global consumer credit reporting agency that provides risk and information solutions. The company operates in three segments: U.S. Markets, International, and Consumer Interactive. The U.S. Markets segment provides consumer reports, actionable insights, and analytic services to businesses, which uses its services to acquire new customers; assess consumer ability to pay for services; identify cross-selling opportunities; measure and manage debt portfolio risk; collect debt; verify consumer identities; and mitigate fraud risk. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TRU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for TransUnion (NYSE:TRU Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for TransUnion Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TransUnion and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its holdings in Evergy, Inc. (NYSE:EVRG Free Report) by 35.7% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 313,603 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 82,527 shares during the quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A.s holdings in Evergy were worth $18,321,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Red Tortoise LLC grew its holdings in shares of Evergy by 793.5% in the first quarter. Red Tortoise LLC now owns 411 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 365 shares in the last quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC grew its holdings in shares of Evergy by 92.7% in the first quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 451 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 217 shares in the last quarter. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC acquired a new position in shares of Evergy in the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Pacific Center for Financial Services acquired a new position in shares of Evergy in the first quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Finally, Spire Wealth Management grew its holdings in shares of Evergy by 53.2% in the first quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 726 shares of the companys stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 252 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.82% of the companys stock. Get Evergy alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes EVRG has been the subject of a number of research reports. Barclays began coverage on shares of Evergy in a report on Wednesday, August 23rd. They issued an equal weight rating and a $56.00 price objective for the company. Guggenheim decreased their price target on shares of Evergy from $68.00 to $62.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Evergy from $65.00 to $56.00 in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Wolfe Research downgraded shares of Evergy from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research note on Monday, September 11th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded shares of Evergy from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $52.00 to $49.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have assigned a hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $57.50. Evergy Stock Up 0.9 % Shares of NYSE:EVRG opened at $48.79 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $11.21 billion, a PE ratio of 13.15, a P/E/G ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 0.52. The company has a current ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06. Evergy, Inc. has a twelve month low of $46.92 and a twelve month high of $65.39. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $54.69 and a 200-day simple moving average of $58.26. Evergy (NYSE:EVRG Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 4th. The company reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.77 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $1.35 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.45 billion. Evergy had a net margin of 12.97% and a return on equity of 8.94%. The companys revenue was down 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.86 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Evergy, Inc. will post 3.58 EPS for the current fiscal year. Evergy Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 20th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 21st were issued a $0.6125 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 18th. This represents a $2.45 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.02%. Evergys payout ratio is 74.47%. About Evergy (Free Report) Evergy, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in Kansas and Missouri, the United States. The company generates electricity through coal, hydroelectric, landfill gas, uranium, and natural gas and oil sources, as well as solar, wind, other renewable sources. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EVRG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Evergy, Inc. (NYSE:EVRG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Evergy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Evergy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. UMB Bank n.a. trimmed its stake in shares of General Electric (NYSE:GE Free Report) by 2.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 16,657 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 496 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a.s holdings in General Electric were worth $1,830,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Global Wealth Management Investment Advisory Inc. increased its position in General Electric by 808.1% in the 1st quarter. Global Wealth Management Investment Advisory Inc. now owns 336 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 299 shares during the last quarter. Syverson Strege & Co increased its holdings in shares of General Electric by 53.6% during the 1st quarter. Syverson Strege & Co now owns 338 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 118 shares during the last quarter. Ridgewood Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of General Electric during the 1st quarter valued at about $34,000. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of General Electric by 97.8% during the 2nd quarter. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 366 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 181 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Silicon Valley Capital Partners acquired a new position in shares of General Electric during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. 74.83% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get General Electric alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 112,614 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.20, for a total transaction of $12,973,132.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 57,923 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,672,729.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.67% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have recently commented on GE. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on General Electric from $122.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, August 10th. Bank of America raised their target price on General Electric from $108.00 to $120.00 in a report on Thursday, July 6th. Citigroup raised their target price on General Electric from $126.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on General Electric from $120.00 to $130.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 26th. Finally, Oppenheimer lowered General Electric from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a report on Monday, July 31st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $122.71. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on GE General Electric Price Performance General Electric stock opened at $111.47 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 0.90. The company has a market capitalization of $121.32 billion, a PE ratio of 13.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.75 and a beta of 1.27. General Electric has a one year low of $48.98 and a one year high of $117.96. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $112.84 and a 200 day simple moving average of $106.29. General Electric (NYSE:GE Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The conglomerate reported $0.68 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.46 by $0.22. The business had revenue of $15.85 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.76 billion. General Electric had a return on equity of 9.30% and a net margin of 13.32%. General Electrics revenue was up 18.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.78 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that General Electric will post 2.32 EPS for the current fiscal year. General Electric Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 25th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 26th will be given a dividend of $0.08 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 25th. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.29%. General Electrics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 3.80%. General Electric Profile (Free Report) General Electric Company operates as a high-tech industrial company in Europe, China, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa. It offers gas and steam turbines, full balance of plant, upgrade, and service solutions, as well as data-leveraging software for power generation, industrial, government, and other customers. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General Electric (NYSE:GE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for General Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. IQ EQ FUND MANAGEMENT IRELAND Ltd boosted its holdings in Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN Free Report) by 9.4% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 2,514 shares of the business services providers stock after acquiring an additional 217 shares during the period. IQ EQ FUND MANAGEMENT IRELAND Ltds holdings in Global Payments were worth $248,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in shares of Global Payments by 10.3% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 6,136 shares of the business services providers stock worth $840,000 after buying an additional 572 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Global Payments by 7.7% during the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 3,942 shares of the business services providers stock worth $539,000 after buying an additional 281 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of Global Payments by 3.9% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,288,788 shares of the business services providers stock worth $176,366,000 after buying an additional 48,605 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Global Payments by 259.7% during the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 17,285 shares of the business services providers stock worth $2,377,000 after buying an additional 12,479 shares during the period. Finally, Prudential PLC purchased a new position in shares of Global Payments during the first quarter worth $766,000. 85.23% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Global Payments alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research analysts have recently commented on GPN shares. B. Riley started coverage on Global Payments in a research report on Friday, June 23rd. They set a buy rating and a $179.00 price target for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Global Payments from $126.00 to $143.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $154.00 price objective on shares of Global Payments in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. Redburn Atlantic lowered Global Payments from a neutral rating to an underweight rating and set a $105.00 target price for the company. in a report on Monday, September 18th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $135.00 target price on shares of Global Payments in a report on Friday, September 8th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and twenty-one have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Global Payments has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $148.32. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Global Payments news, CFO Joshua J. Whipple sold 37,096 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.28, for a total transaction of $4,721,578.88. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 39,772 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,062,180.16. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, CFO Joshua J. Whipple sold 37,096 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.28, for a total transaction of $4,721,578.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 39,772 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,062,180.16. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CAO David M. Sheffield sold 2,016 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.47, for a total value of $240,851.52. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 25,045 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,992,126.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.30% of the stock is owned by insiders. Global Payments Stock Up 0.5 % Shares of NYSE GPN opened at $114.71 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $29.82 billion, a PE ratio of 38.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. Global Payments Inc. has a 52-week low of $92.27 and a 52-week high of $129.70. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $122.28 and a 200 day moving average price of $110.37. Global Payments (NYSE:GPN Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The business services provider reported $2.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.43 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $2.45 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.19 billion. Global Payments had a return on equity of 10.98% and a net margin of 8.65%. The businesss revenue was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.23 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Global Payments Inc. will post 9.68 earnings per share for the current year. Global Payments Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th were given a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.87%. Global Paymentss payout ratio is 33.33%. About Global Payments (Free Report) Global Payments Inc provides payment technology and software solutions for card, check, and digital-based payments in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates through three segments: Merchant Solutions, Issuer Solutions, and Consumer Solutions. The Merchant Solutions segment offers authorization, settlement and funding, customer support, chargeback resolution, terminal rental, sales and deployment, payment security, and consolidated billing and reporting services. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GPN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Global Payments Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Global Payments and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. IQ EQ FUND MANAGEMENT IRELAND Ltd decreased its stake in Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS Free Report) by 21.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 1,719 shares of the companys stock after selling 477 shares during the period. IQ EQ FUND MANAGEMENT IRELAND Ltds holdings in Zoetis were worth $296,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Evermay Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Zoetis by 439.3% in the first quarter. Evermay Wealth Management LLC now owns 151 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 123 shares in the last quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC grew its stake in Zoetis by 430.8% during the first quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 138 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. Worth Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Zoetis during the first quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Pacifica Partners Inc. grew its stake in Zoetis by 76.9% during the second quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. now owns 161 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Altshuler Shaham Ltd purchased a new position in Zoetis during the second quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Institutional investors own 89.47% of the companys stock. Get Zoetis alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts recently commented on the stock. StockNews.com cut shares of Zoetis from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Sunday. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on shares of Zoetis from $204.00 to $213.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Argus boosted their price objective on shares of Zoetis from $190.00 to $201.00 in a research note on Tuesday, September 19th. Stifel Nicolaus reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $205.00 price objective on shares of Zoetis in a research note on Tuesday, September 12th. Finally, Piper Sandler cut their price target on shares of Zoetis from $220.00 to $210.00 in a research note on Thursday. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $221.33. Zoetis Price Performance ZTS stock opened at $175.58 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $80.82 billion, a PE ratio of 36.89, a P/E/G ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 3.50 and a quick ratio of 1.97. Zoetis Inc. has a one year low of $124.15 and a one year high of $194.99. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $182.96 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $176.21. Zoetis (NYSE:ZTS Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $1.41 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.31 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $2.18 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.16 billion. Zoetis had a net margin of 26.92% and a return on equity of 52.02%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 3.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.20 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Zoetis Inc. will post 5.42 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Transactions at Zoetis In other news, EVP Roxanne Lagano sold 923 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $192.97, for a total value of $178,111.31. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 25,434 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,907,998.98. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Zoetis news, EVP Roxanne Lagano sold 923 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, September 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $192.97, for a total transaction of $178,111.31. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 25,434 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,907,998.98. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Kristin C. Peck sold 13,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $179.97, for a total transaction of $2,339,610.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 56,843 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,230,034.71. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 25,930 shares of company stock worth $4,691,799. 0.12% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Zoetis Company Profile (Free Report) Zoetis Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, and commercializes animal health medicines, vaccines, and diagnostic products in the United States and internationally. It commercializes products primarily across species, including livestock, such as cattle, swine, poultry, fish, and sheep and others; and companion animals comprising dogs, cats, and horses. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ZTS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Zoetis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Zoetis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. McBroom & Associates LLC acquired a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK Free Report) in the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor acquired 2,005 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $231,000. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in MRK. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 102,675.5% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,860,147,936 shares of the companys stock worth $214,642,470,000 after buying an additional 1,858,338,022 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 103,159.7% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 39,327,490 shares of the companys stock worth $4,363,385,000 after buying an additional 39,289,404 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. during the 4th quarter worth about $2,736,293,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 72.4% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 26,314,030 shares of the companys stock worth $2,919,542,000 after purchasing an additional 11,051,945 shares during the period. Finally, FMR LLC boosted its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 30.2% during the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 35,734,925 shares of the companys stock worth $3,801,839,000 after purchasing an additional 8,281,942 shares during the period. 74.59% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Merck & Co. Inc. alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts recently commented on MRK shares. Truist Financial reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $122.00 price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Friday. HSBC started coverage on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Friday, July 14th. They set a hold rating and a $123.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Thursday. They set a buy rating for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $135.00 price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $102.00 to $113.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 18th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Merck & Co., Inc. presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $124.74. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, EVP Steven Mizell sold 4,250 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.01, for a total transaction of $463,292.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 22,935 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,500,144.35. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Merck & Co., Inc. Trading Up 0.3 % NYSE:MRK opened at $103.88 on Friday. Merck & Co., Inc. has a one year low of $87.11 and a one year high of $119.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.28. The firm has a market cap of $263.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 85.15, a P/E/G ratio of 4.08 and a beta of 0.34. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $107.09 and a 200-day simple moving average of $110.10. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported ($2.06) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($2.18) by $0.12. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 5.34% and a return on equity of 16.29%. The business had revenue of $15.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.44 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.87 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 3.04 EPS for the current fiscal year. Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 6th. Investors of record on Friday, September 15th were paid a dividend of $0.73 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $2.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.81%. Merck & Co., Inc.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 239.34%. About Merck & Co., Inc. (Free Report) Merck & Co, Inc operates as a healthcare company worldwide. It operates through two segments, Pharmaceutical and Animal Health. The Pharmaceutical segment offers human health pharmaceutical products in the areas of oncology, hospital acute care, immunology, neuroscience, virology, cardiovascular, and diabetes, as well as vaccine products, such as preventive pediatric, adolescent, and adult vaccines. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MRK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Merck & Co. Inc. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Merck & Co. Inc. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. OLD National Bancorp IN lessened its position in shares of Invesco Preferred ETF (NYSEARCA:PGX Free Report) by 13.8% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 204,051 shares of the companys stock after selling 32,744 shares during the quarter. OLD National Bancorp INs holdings in Invesco Preferred ETF were worth $2,320,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its position in shares of Invesco Preferred ETF by 98,060.5% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 28,711,953 shares of the companys stock valued at $326,455,000 after buying an additional 28,682,703 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its position in shares of Invesco Preferred ETF by 20.7% during the 1st quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 12,055,619 shares of the companys stock valued at $138,580,000 after buying an additional 2,069,259 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley raised its position in shares of Invesco Preferred ETF by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 11,412,032 shares of the companys stock valued at $127,587,000 after buying an additional 172,922 shares during the period. Stonebridge Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Invesco Preferred ETF by 87.5% during the 2nd quarter. Stonebridge Advisors LLC now owns 9,896,659 shares of the companys stock valued at $112,525,000 after buying an additional 4,617,845 shares during the period. Finally, LPL Financial LLC raised its position in Invesco Preferred ETF by 54.0% in the first quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 9,179,765 shares of the companys stock valued at $105,384,000 after purchasing an additional 3,218,377 shares during the period. Get Invesco Preferred ETF alerts: Invesco Preferred ETF Price Performance Shares of NYSEARCA PGX opened at $10.48 on Friday. Invesco Preferred ETF has a 52-week low of $10.39 and a 52-week high of $12.81. The businesss 50 day moving average is $11.07 and its two-hundred day moving average is $11.24. Invesco Preferred ETF Company Profile The PowerShares Preferred Portfolio (Fund) is based on The BofA Merrill Lynch Core Fixed Rate Preferred Securities Index (Index). The Fund normally invest at least 90% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Index. The Index is designed to replicate the total return of a diversified group of investment-grade preferred securities. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PGX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco Preferred ETF (NYSEARCA:PGX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Preferred ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Preferred ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. boosted its holdings in Builders FirstSource, Inc. (NYSE:BLDR Free Report) by 46.4% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 146,300 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 46,382 shares during the period. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V.s holdings in Builders FirstSource were worth $19,897,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. BOKF NA acquired a new stake in shares of Builders FirstSource in the first quarter valued at approximately $27,000. UMB Bank n.a. bought a new position in Builders FirstSource during the 1st quarter worth $28,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV raised its holdings in Builders FirstSource by 179.0% in the 1st quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 332 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 213 shares in the last quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. lifted its position in shares of Builders FirstSource by 1,447.1% during the 2nd quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 263 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 246 shares during the period. Finally, Advisors Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Builders FirstSource by 135.3% during the 4th quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 706 shares of the companys stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 406 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.73% of the companys stock. Get Builders FirstSource alerts: Builders FirstSource Stock Performance NYSE:BLDR opened at $119.31 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $135.90 and its 200-day moving average is $124.50. The stock has a market cap of $14.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.24 and a beta of 2.04. Builders FirstSource, Inc. has a 1-year low of $53.79 and a 1-year high of $156.85. The company has a current ratio of 1.84, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Builders FirstSource ( NYSE:BLDR Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The company reported $3.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.69 by $1.20. The firm had revenue of $4.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.24 billion. Builders FirstSource had a net margin of 10.04% and a return on equity of 45.73%. The companys revenue was down 35.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $6.26 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Builders FirstSource, Inc. will post 13.69 earnings per share for the current year. Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on BLDR shares. Benchmark upped their price objective on shares of Builders FirstSource from $153.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on shares of Builders FirstSource from $125.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Builders FirstSource from $148.00 to $175.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. 888 reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Builders FirstSource in a report on Monday, June 26th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Builders FirstSource from $162.00 to $188.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $149.69. Read Our Latest Research Report on BLDR Insider Buying and Selling In other Builders FirstSource news, insider Michael Hiller sold 5,965 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $147.91, for a total value of $882,283.15. Following the sale, the insider now owns 32,892 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,865,055.72. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, insider Michael Hiller sold 5,965 shares of Builders FirstSource stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $147.91, for a total value of $882,283.15. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 32,892 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,865,055.72. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Timothy D. Johnson sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.69, for a total transaction of $758,450.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 65,748 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,973,314.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.90% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. About Builders FirstSource (Free Report) Builders FirstSource, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and supplies building materials, manufactured components, and construction services to professional homebuilders, sub-contractors, remodelers, and consumers in the United States. It offers lumber and lumber sheet goods comprising dimensional lumber, plywood, and oriented strand board products that are used in on-site house framing; manufactured products, such as wood floor and roof trusses, steel roof trusses, wall panels, stairs, and engineered wood products; and windows, and interior and exterior door units, as well as interior trims and custom products comprising intricate mouldings, stair parts, and columns under the Synboard brand name. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BLDR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Builders FirstSource, Inc. (NYSE:BLDR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Builders FirstSource Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Builders FirstSource and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. trimmed its holdings in shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM Free Report) by 5.1% during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 438,885 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 23,749 shares during the period. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V.s holdings in Unum Group were worth $20,935,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Founders Capital Management boosted its stake in shares of Unum Group by 11.5% in the 2nd quarter. Founders Capital Management now owns 2,034 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $97,000 after purchasing an additional 210 shares in the last quarter. Westpac Banking Corp boosted its position in Unum Group by 0.9% in the first quarter. Westpac Banking Corp now owns 25,184 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $996,000 after buying an additional 229 shares in the last quarter. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC grew its stake in Unum Group by 4.4% during the second quarter. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC now owns 5,607 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $267,000 after buying an additional 234 shares during the last quarter. CVA Family Office LLC increased its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 37.8% during the second quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 1,075 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $51,000 after buying an additional 295 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Savant Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of Unum Group by 4.2% in the first quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 7,490 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $296,000 after acquiring an additional 303 shares during the last quarter. 79.37% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Unum Group alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Unum Group In other news, EVP Timothy Gerald Arnold sold 20,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total transaction of $1,000,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 72,061 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,603,050. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, EVP Christopher W. Pyne sold 3,750 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.02, for a total value of $183,825.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 46,334 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,271,292.68. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Timothy Gerald Arnold sold 20,000 shares of Unum Group stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total value of $1,000,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 72,061 shares in the company, valued at $3,603,050. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.94% of the companys stock. Unum Group Stock Up 2.3 % Shares of NYSE:UNM opened at $49.57 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $49.06 and a 200-day moving average of $45.91. Unum Group has a one year low of $36.27 and a one year high of $51.15. The stock has a market cap of $9.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.88, a P/E/G ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 0.29 and a quick ratio of 0.29. Unum Group (NYSE:UNM Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The financial services provider reported $2.06 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.87 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $3.11 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.07 billion. Unum Group had a net margin of 11.90% and a return on equity of 15.10%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Unum Group will post 7.73 earnings per share for the current year. Unum Group Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 18th. Investors of record on Friday, July 28th were issued a $0.365 dividend. This represents a $1.46 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.95%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 27th. This is an increase from Unum Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.33. Unum Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 20.25%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts recently commented on UNM shares. Citigroup increased their price target on Unum Group from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on Unum Group from $55.00 to $59.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, September 14th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Unum Group from $52.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, August 18th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Unum Group in a research report on Thursday. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of Unum Group from $54.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $55.25. View Our Latest Stock Report on UNM Unum Group Profile (Free Report) Unum Group, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial protection benefit solutions primarily in the United States, the United Kingdom, Poland, and internationally. It operates through Unum US, Unum International, Colonial Life, and Closed Block and Corporate segments. The company offers group long-term and short-term disability, group life, and accidental death and dismemberment products; supplemental and voluntary products, such as individual disability, voluntary benefits, and dental and vision products; and accident, sickness, disability, life, and cancer and critical illness products. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Unum Group (NYSE:UNM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Unum Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Unum Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Intangible cultural heritage inheritor in China's Xinjiang devoted to building 'mobile homes' for herdspeople for five decades People's Daily Online) 14:46, October 08, 2023 Dalelkhan Kabdesh, a representative inheritor of the yurt-making craft of the Kazakh ethnic group, has been building Kazakh yurts, a type of traditional portable dwelling used by nomads, for more than 50 years. Yurts have an extremely significant place in the nomadic lifestyle of herdspeople, and are regarded as their "mobile homes". Dalelkhan Kabdesh shows the roof hoop of a yurt. (Photo/Chinanews.com) "Herdspeople move more than 10 times a year, living in yurts for most of the year except winter," said Dalelkhan Kabdesh. Born into a herdsman's family in Emin county, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in 1955, he has wanted to build a durable yurt for his family since he was young. In 1971, Dalelkhan Kabdesh started to learn yurt-making techniques from his grandfather, uncle and father, among other people. He has so far constructed over 50 yurts by himself, and built more than 200 of the special dwelling in collaboration with others. Yurt-making is an ancient craft of the Kazakh people. The overall structure is designed to be lightweight but sturdy for easy assembly and disassembly. The dwelling is completely made by hand. The cylindrical structure of a Kazakh yurt comprises components including a roof hoop, frame, door, felt wall, lattice, and roof blanket. The roof hoop is connected with the frame through drilled holes, and the frame is joined to the lattice, thus forming the overall structure of a Kazakh yurt. The dwelling is basically completed after the overall structure is covered with felt blankets. "Each step seems simple but requires meticulous work and careful selection of materials," Dalelkhan Kabdesh said, explaining that wood used for different parts of a yurt are made from different species of trees. Dalelkhan Kabdesh (left) displays a yurt lattice with his son-in-law. (Photo/Chinanews.com) "A quality yurt can last 30 years," he added. Yurt-making was recognized as China's national-level intangible cultural heritage in 2008. Later, Dalelkhan Kabdesh was designated as a representative inheritor of this heritage. His outstanding craftsmanship makes his yurts sturdy and popular among local herders. Nowadays, herdspeople in Xinjiang's pasturing areas live in houses with better amenities and are more disaster-resilient. With the advancement of industrialization, metal-pipe yurts emerged in the market, impacting the traditional yurt-making craft. However, according to Dalelkhan Kabdesh, more people have been looking to him for instruction and guidance on making Kazakh yurts, and he has received more orders from scenic areas for them. "Traditional yurts represent Kazakh customs and memories," noted Dalelkhan Kabdesh, explaining that many herdspeople of the Kazakh ethnic group still build yurts at their settlements for gatherings. Moreover, Xinjiang's booming tourism sector has expanded the craft's reach. Since 2000, Dalelkhan Kabdesh has trained 23 apprentices, 13 of whom can now build yurts independently. "Now that we have good national policies supporting the protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage, and people are interested in yurts, I'll keep passing on this craft as long as I'm able to do it," said Dalelkhan Kabdesh passionately. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. trimmed its position in shares of Deckers Outdoor Co. (NYSE:DECK Free Report) by 15.7% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 41,548 shares of the textile makers stock after selling 7,718 shares during the quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V.s holdings in Deckers Outdoor were worth $21,923,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Deckers Outdoor by 64.3% in the second quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 69 shares of the textile makers stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 27 shares during the last quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV boosted its stake in shares of Deckers Outdoor by 100.0% during the 1st quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 72 shares of the textile makers stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 36 shares during the last quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Deckers Outdoor by 9,000.0% during the 1st quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 91 shares of the textile makers stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 90 shares during the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Deckers Outdoor by 2,375.0% during the 1st quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 99 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $48,000 after acquiring an additional 95 shares during the period. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Deckers Outdoor in the 1st quarter worth $58,000. 95.69% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Deckers Outdoor alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have issued reports on DECK. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on Deckers Outdoor from $575.00 to $620.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, July 28th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on Deckers Outdoor from $550.00 to $600.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Wedbush raised their target price on shares of Deckers Outdoor from $505.00 to $614.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 26th. Piper Sandler upped their price target on shares of Deckers Outdoor from $535.00 to $595.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Finally, Raymond James began coverage on shares of Deckers Outdoor in a research note on Tuesday, June 13th. They issued an outperform rating and a $565.00 price objective for the company. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $577.64. Insider Activity In other news, insider Thomas Garcia sold 3,595 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $516.73, for a total transaction of $1,857,644.35. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 16,457 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,503,825.61. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.70% of the companys stock. Deckers Outdoor Stock Performance DECK stock opened at $495.08 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $532.18 and a 200 day moving average price of $505.84. Deckers Outdoor Co. has a fifty-two week low of $320.14 and a fifty-two week high of $568.47. The firm has a market cap of $12.94 billion, a PE ratio of 24.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 0.92. Deckers Outdoor (NYSE:DECK Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The textile maker reported $2.41 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.16 by $0.25. Deckers Outdoor had a net margin of 14.33% and a return on equity of 30.85%. The firm had revenue of $675.79 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $666.95 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.66 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 10.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that Deckers Outdoor Co. will post 22.4 EPS for the current year. About Deckers Outdoor (Free Report) Deckers Outdoor Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, designs, markets, and distributes footwear, apparel, and accessories for casual lifestyle use and high-performance activities in the United States and internationally. The company offers premium footwear, apparel, and accessories under the UGG brand name; footwear and apparel for ultra-runners and athletes under the Hoka brand; and sandals, shoes, and boots under the Teva brand name. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DECK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Deckers Outdoor Co. (NYSE:DECK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Deckers Outdoor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deckers Outdoor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sage Mountain Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK Free Report) by 4.4% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 18,264 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 762 shares during the period. Sage Mountain Advisors LLCs holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $2,107,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Marion Wealth Management grew its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 1.7% during the second quarter. Marion Wealth Management now owns 22,497 shares of the companys stock worth $2,596,000 after purchasing an additional 381 shares during the period. Annex Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 1.4% during the second quarter. Annex Advisory Services LLC now owns 150,850 shares of the companys stock worth $17,407,000 after acquiring an additional 2,078 shares in the last quarter. Scharf Investments LLC lifted its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 6.6% during the second quarter. Scharf Investments LLC now owns 8,501 shares of the companys stock worth $981,000 after acquiring an additional 528 shares in the last quarter. Achmea Investment Management B.V. lifted its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 17.2% during the second quarter. Achmea Investment Management B.V. now owns 414,293 shares of the companys stock worth $47,805,000 after acquiring an additional 60,681 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 3.1% during the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,865,417 shares of the companys stock worth $215,250,000 after acquiring an additional 55,503 shares in the last quarter. 74.59% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Merck & Co. Inc. alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth MRK has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and set a $135.00 target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a report on Monday, October 2nd. TheStreet lowered Merck & Co., Inc. from an a- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Friday, September 1st. Truist Financial restated a buy rating and issued a $122.00 price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a report on Friday. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on Merck & Co., Inc. from $102.00 to $113.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 18th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Merck & Co., Inc. from $109.00 to $116.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $124.74. Insider Activity In other news, EVP Steven Mizell sold 4,250 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $109.01, for a total value of $463,292.50. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 22,935 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,500,144.35. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Merck & Co., Inc. Price Performance Shares of NYSE MRK opened at $103.88 on Friday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $107.09 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $110.10. The company has a market cap of $263.60 billion, a PE ratio of 85.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.08 and a beta of 0.34. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88. Merck & Co., Inc. has a twelve month low of $87.11 and a twelve month high of $119.65. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported ($2.06) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($2.18) by $0.12. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 16.29% and a net margin of 5.34%. The company had revenue of $15.04 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.44 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.87 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 3.04 EPS for the current year. Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 15th were given a $0.73 dividend. This represents a $2.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.81%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. Merck & Co., Inc.s payout ratio is 239.34%. Merck & Co., Inc. Profile (Free Report) Merck & Co, Inc operates as a healthcare company worldwide. It operates through two segments, Pharmaceutical and Animal Health. The Pharmaceutical segment offers human health pharmaceutical products in the areas of oncology, hospital acute care, immunology, neuroscience, virology, cardiovascular, and diabetes, as well as vaccine products, such as preventive pediatric, adolescent, and adult vaccines. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MRK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Merck & Co. Inc. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Merck & Co. Inc. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue decreased its stake in Snap-on Incorporated (NYSE:SNA Free Report) by 6.9% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 20,869 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,542 shares during the period. State of Alaska Department of Revenues holdings in Snap-on were worth $6,013,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of SNA. Avantax Planning Partners Inc. grew its stake in Snap-on by 3.7% during the 2nd quarter. Avantax Planning Partners Inc. now owns 1,093 shares of the companys stock worth $315,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. J. W. Coons Advisors LLC grew its stake in Snap-on by 2.3% during the 1st quarter. J. W. Coons Advisors LLC now owns 1,899 shares of the companys stock valued at $469,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc grew its stake in Snap-on by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 9,808 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,241,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Kolinsky Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Snap-on by 2.9% during the 1st quarter. Kolinsky Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,586 shares of the companys stock valued at $392,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quantinno Capital Management LP grew its stake in Snap-on by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 8,934 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,041,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.90% of the companys stock. Get Snap-on alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Tigress Financial boosted their price target on Snap-on from $328.00 to $336.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, September 29th. CL King assumed coverage on Snap-on in a research note on Friday, July 7th. They set a neutral rating on the stock. StockNews.com started coverage on Snap-on in a research note on Thursday. They set a buy rating on the stock. Barrington Research restated an outperform rating and issued a $325.00 target price on shares of Snap-on in a research note on Monday, July 24th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their target price on Snap-on from $270.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, July 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $298.17. Snap-on Stock Performance NYSE SNA opened at $259.71 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.39, a PEG ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 1.10. Snap-on Incorporated has a twelve month low of $201.80 and a twelve month high of $297.26. The company has a current ratio of 3.67, a quick ratio of 2.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $263.95 and a 200 day moving average of $262.83. Snap-on (NYSE:SNA Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The company reported $4.89 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $4.58 by $0.31. The company had revenue of $1.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.19 billion. Snap-on had a return on equity of 21.38% and a net margin of 21.06%. Snap-ons quarterly revenue was up 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $4.27 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Snap-on Incorporated will post 18.45 EPS for the current fiscal year. Snap-on Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 11th. Investors of record on Friday, August 18th were given a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 17th. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.50%. Snap-ons payout ratio is 35.90%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Nicholas T. Pinchuk sold 22,078 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $258.16, for a total value of $5,699,656.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 697,506 shares in the company, valued at $180,068,148.96. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Nicholas T. Pinchuk sold 22,078 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $258.16, for a total transaction of $5,699,656.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 697,506 shares in the company, valued at $180,068,148.96. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Aldo John Pagliari sold 4,842 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $262.13, for a total value of $1,269,233.46. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 86,888 shares of the companys stock, valued at $22,775,951.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 40,563 shares of company stock worth $10,915,763. Company insiders own 4.20% of the companys stock. Snap-on Company Profile (Free Report) Snap-on Incorporated manufactures and markets tools, equipment, diagnostics, and repair information and systems solutions for professional users worldwide. It operates through Commercial & Industrial Group, Snap-on Tools Group, Repair Systems & Information Group, and Financial Services segments. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SNA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Snap-on Incorporated (NYSE:SNA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Snap-on Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Snap-on and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dupont Capital Management Corp trimmed its position in TriNet Group, Inc. (NYSE:TNET Free Report) by 9.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,264 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 719 shares during the quarter. Dupont Capital Management Corps holdings in TriNet Group were worth $690,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Mawer Investment Management Ltd. raised its position in TriNet Group by 66.3% during the first quarter. Mawer Investment Management Ltd. now owns 4,394,957 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $354,277,000 after acquiring an additional 1,752,532 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its holdings in shares of TriNet Group by 11.4% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 4,190,526 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $412,181,000 after purchasing an additional 430,430 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of TriNet Group by 3.6% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,403,490 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $113,130,000 after purchasing an additional 48,461 shares during the period. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in TriNet Group by 1.5% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 819,550 shares of the business services providers stock worth $80,611,000 after buying an additional 12,253 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in TriNet Group by 1.3% during the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 743,104 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $59,902,000 after buying an additional 9,775 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.58% of the companys stock. Get TriNet Group alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several brokerages recently weighed in on TNET. StockNews.com began coverage on TriNet Group in a research note on Thursday. They issued a buy rating for the company. Credit Suisse Group reissued a neutral rating and issued a $87.00 price target on shares of TriNet Group in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Needham & Company LLC boosted their target price on shares of TriNet Group from $120.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, September 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of TriNet Group from $90.00 to $107.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 22nd. Finally, TD Cowen upgraded TriNet Group from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $95.00 to $125.00 in a report on Monday, August 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $99.67. Insiders Place Their Bets In other TriNet Group news, SVP Alexander G. Warren sold 1,928 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.81, for a total value of $202,073.68. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 35,559 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,726,938.79. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, SVP Alexander G. Warren sold 1,928 shares of TriNet Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.81, for a total transaction of $202,073.68. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 35,559 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,726,938.79. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Samantha Wellington sold 10,225 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.19, for a total value of $1,136,917.75. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 85,012 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,452,484.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 3,439,011 shares of company stock valued at $368,111,271. Insiders own 37.40% of the companys stock. TriNet Group Stock Performance NYSE:TNET opened at $118.81 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $7.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.41 and a beta of 1.13. TriNet Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $60.60 and a twelve month high of $119.51. The companys 50-day moving average price is $110.36 and its 200-day moving average price is $97.66. The company has a current ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. TriNet Group (NYSE:TNET Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The business services provider reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.07 by $0.45. The business had revenue of $341.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $310.34 million. TriNet Group had a net margin of 6.91% and a return on equity of 45.40%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that TriNet Group, Inc. will post 6.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. TriNet Group Profile (Free Report) TriNet Group, Inc provides human resources (HR) consulting services, employee benefit options, payroll services, and employment risk mitigation services for small and medium size businesses in the United States. The company offers multi-state payroll processing and tax administration; employee benefits programs, including health insurance and retirement plans; workers compensation insurance and claims management; employment and benefits law compliance; and other HR related services. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TNET? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for TriNet Group, Inc. (NYSE:TNET Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for TriNet Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TriNet Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. cut its holdings in GXO Logistics, Inc. (NYSE:GXO Free Report) by 13.2% in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 135,497 shares of the companys stock after selling 20,611 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd.s holdings in GXO Logistics were worth $8,512,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Sei Investments Co. grew its stake in GXO Logistics by 21.0% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 245,247 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,375,000 after purchasing an additional 42,645 shares during the period. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board grew its position in GXO Logistics by 16.2% during the first quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board now owns 21,500 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,085,000 after buying an additional 3,000 shares during the period. Ethic Inc. increased its holdings in GXO Logistics by 64.5% during the first quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 13,472 shares of the companys stock worth $680,000 after buying an additional 5,284 shares during the last quarter. Meridian Management Co. raised its position in GXO Logistics by 14.8% in the first quarter. Meridian Management Co. now owns 53,583 shares of the companys stock worth $2,704,000 after acquiring an additional 6,900 shares during the period. Finally, AE Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in GXO Logistics during the second quarter valued at $701,000. 90.67% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get GXO Logistics alerts: GXO Logistics Trading Up 1.7 % Shares of GXO opened at $55.89 on Friday. GXO Logistics, Inc. has a 1-year low of $32.10 and a 1-year high of $67.57. The company has a market capitalization of $6.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.47, a P/E/G ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 1.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 0.96 and a quick ratio of 0.96. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $61.16 and its 200 day simple moving average is $58.55. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades GXO Logistics ( NYSE:GXO Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 2nd. The company reported $0.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.61 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $2.39 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.38 billion. GXO Logistics had a net margin of 2.10% and a return on equity of 12.25%. The firms revenue was up 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.68 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that GXO Logistics, Inc. will post 2.58 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on GXO shares. Citigroup lifted their price objective on GXO Logistics from $66.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, August 31st. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on shares of GXO Logistics from $75.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, September 15th. UBS Group initiated coverage on shares of GXO Logistics in a report on Tuesday, August 22nd. They issued a buy rating and a $74.00 price objective for the company. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on shares of GXO Logistics from $76.00 to $74.00 and set a positive rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. Finally, Oppenheimer reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $76.00 price target on shares of GXO Logistics in a report on Monday, August 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, GXO Logistics has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $68.81. View Our Latest Report on GXO Logistics GXO Logistics Profile (Free Report) GXO Logistics, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides logistics services worldwide. The company provides warehousing and distribution, order fulfilment, e-commerce, reverse logistics, and other supply chain services. As of December 31, 2022, it operated in approximately 979 facilities. The company serves various customers in the e-commerce, omnichannel retail, technology and consumer electronics, food and beverage, industrial and manufacturing, consumer packaged goods, and others. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GXO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for GXO Logistics, Inc. (NYSE:GXO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for GXO Logistics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for GXO Logistics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. decreased its holdings in ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP Free Report) by 3.9% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 97,910 shares of the energy producers stock after selling 3,946 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd.s holdings in ConocoPhillips were worth $10,144,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Jackson Grant Investment Advisers Inc. grew its holdings in shares of ConocoPhillips by 398.1% in the first quarter. Jackson Grant Investment Advisers Inc. now owns 269 shares of the energy producers stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 215 shares during the period. Northwest Bank & Trust Co purchased a new position in ConocoPhillips in the second quarter worth about $29,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in shares of ConocoPhillips during the 1st quarter valued at about $31,000. Financial Connections Group Inc. increased its position in shares of ConocoPhillips by 383.3% during the 4th quarter. Financial Connections Group Inc. now owns 290 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 230 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewSquare Capital LLC lifted its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 335.4% in the 1st quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 344 shares of the energy producers stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 265 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.36% of the companys stock. Get ConocoPhillips alerts: ConocoPhillips Price Performance Shares of ConocoPhillips stock opened at $115.33 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. ConocoPhillips has a 12 month low of $91.53 and a 12 month high of $138.49. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $118.68 and a 200 day moving average of $108.99. The firm has a market cap of $138.11 billion, a PE ratio of 11.11, a PEG ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.28. ConocoPhillips Announces Dividend ConocoPhillips ( NYSE:COP Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The energy producer reported $1.84 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.94 by ($0.10). The business had revenue of $12.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.64 billion. ConocoPhillips had a net margin of 18.66% and a return on equity of 27.27%. During the same period last year, the business posted $3.91 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that ConocoPhillips will post 9.18 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 16th were given a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.77%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, September 27th. ConocoPhillipss dividend payout ratio is 19.65%. Insider Activity at ConocoPhillips In other ConocoPhillips news, CEO Ryan Michael Lance sold 569,400 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $122.14, for a total transaction of $69,546,516.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 18,187 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,221,360.18. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Ryan Michael Lance sold 569,400 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $122.14, for a total transaction of $69,546,516.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 18,187 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,221,360.18. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, SVP Andrew D. Lundquist sold 30,800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.83, for a total value of $3,813,964.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 5,937 shares of the companys stock, valued at $735,178.71. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 602,049 shares of company stock valued at $73,591,956. Insiders own 0.37% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $134.00 to $138.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, August 4th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips from $147.00 to $149.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday. Raymond James decreased their target price on ConocoPhillips from $142.00 to $138.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 24th. Wolfe Research raised ConocoPhillips from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $120.00 price target for the company in a report on Friday, July 7th. Finally, Erste Group Bank raised ConocoPhillips from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, September 8th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, ConocoPhillips presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $135.63. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on ConocoPhillips About ConocoPhillips (Free Report) ConocoPhillips explores for, produces, transports, and markets crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and natural gas liquids in the United States and internationally. The company's portfolio includes unconventional plays in North America; conventional assets in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia; various LNG developments; oil sands assets in Canada; and an inventory of global exploration prospects. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding COP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for ConocoPhillips Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ConocoPhillips and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wealth Advisors of Iowa LLC lessened its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV Free Report) by 0.2% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 14,881 shares of the companys stock after selling 26 shares during the quarter. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF accounts for about 4.8% of Wealth Advisors of Iowa LLCs holdings, making the stock its 5th biggest position. Wealth Advisors of Iowa LLCs holdings in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF were worth $6,632,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Alesco Advisors LLC grew its stake in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Alesco Advisors LLC now owns 1,450,225 shares of the companys stock valued at $596,159,000 after acquiring an additional 18,317 shares in the last quarter. Verde Capital Management purchased a new position in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at about $219,000. HFG Advisors Inc. grew its stake in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. HFG Advisors Inc. now owns 2,685 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,197,000 after acquiring an additional 26 shares in the last quarter. Prosperity Consulting Group LLC grew its stake in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 2.4% during the 1st quarter. Prosperity Consulting Group LLC now owns 48,966 shares of the companys stock valued at $20,129,000 after acquiring an additional 1,144 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC grew its stake in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 7.7% during the 1st quarter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC now owns 201,747 shares of the companys stock valued at $82,934,000 after acquiring an additional 14,386 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares Core S&P 500 ETF alerts: iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Price Performance NYSEARCA:IVV opened at $431.37 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $333.73 billion, a PE ratio of 18.43 and a beta of 1.00. The stocks 50-day moving average is $443.89 and its two-hundred day moving average is $432.33. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has a fifty-two week low of $349.53 and a fifty-two week high of $461.88. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Company Profile iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poors 500 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization sector of the United States equity market. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IVV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core S&P 500 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL Get Free Report) had its price target increased by equities researchers at Wells Fargo & Company from $75.00 to $80.00 in a report released on Friday, FlyOnTheWall reports. Wells Fargo & Companys price target would suggest a potential upside of 20.46% from the companys current price. A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their target price on shares of Dell Technologies from $60.00 to $70.00 in a research report on Friday, September 1st. Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of Dell Technologies from $70.00 to $76.00 in a research report on Friday. Daiwa Capital Markets raised shares of Dell Technologies from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $50.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Monday, September 18th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Dell Technologies from $70.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, September 22nd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on shares of Dell Technologies from $68.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, September 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Dell Technologies presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $69.00. Get Dell Technologies alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on DELL Dell Technologies Trading Up 0.3 % DELL stock opened at $66.41 on Friday. Dell Technologies has a 1 year low of $32.90 and a 1 year high of $72.82. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $62.52 and a 200 day simple moving average of $52.53. The firm has a market cap of $48.04 billion, a PE ratio of 25.64, a PEG ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 0.95. Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 31st. The technology company reported $1.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.88 by $0.56. Dell Technologies had a net margin of 2.03% and a negative return on equity of 149.91%. The business had revenue of $22.93 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.78 billion. As a group, analysts forecast that Dell Technologies will post 5.35 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Buying and Selling at Dell Technologies In other Dell Technologies news, CMO Allison Dew sold 329,038 shares of Dell Technologies stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.24, for a total transaction of $18,176,059.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 98,354 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,433,074.96. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, CMO Allison Dew sold 329,038 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.24, for a total transaction of $18,176,059.12. Following the completion of the sale, the chief marketing officer now owns 98,354 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,433,074.96. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, General Counsel Richard J. Rothberg sold 30,009 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $68.00, for a total value of $2,040,612.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 99,899 shares in the company, valued at $6,793,132. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 3,995,850 shares of company stock worth $221,526,369 over the last three months. Company insiders own 48.60% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in DELL. Boulder Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Dell Technologies in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. MV Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Dell Technologies by 519.2% in the first quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. now owns 613 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 514 shares in the last quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. bought a new position in Dell Technologies in the 1st quarter worth approximately $27,000. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Dell Technologies during the 1st quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Compass Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Dell Technologies in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. 38.10% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About Dell Technologies (Get Free Report) Dell Technologies Inc designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells, and supports various comprehensive and integrated solutions, products, and services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) and Client Solutions Group (CSG). Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Dell Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dell Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. How hard can it be? Car mechanics are technical people anyway and would be up and running on the studio equipment in a jiffy. If Clarkson wants a punch up hed get a wrench across his face. It would also make for some great telly, imagine having a team of mechanic producers and Jeremy Clarkson having a full on brawl with pieces of steak and chips flying all over the place. There certainly would be no place for a cheese platter in that mess but ratings would shoot up, Niles Pemberton, a commissioning editor who sometimes advises the BBC, revealed on Friday. One other ex-BBC employee went as far as to suggest employing partially naked female car mechanics for the Top Gear show as producers, at least this way Clarkson may be distracted as would most of the audience and other presenters. Ratings would hit the roof. Imagine having a female car mechanic who not only talks dirty but can grease up the rod bearings on a V12 engine one minute, advise the cameraman to pan right the next whilst booking a hotel room, and smear motor oil over her chest at the same time. If Clarkson wants a steak shed throw a frozen one at him. Clarkson would be sitting there like a simpering dog with his tongue hanging out in awe! Thered be no more nonsense from Clarkson ever again. Its a win win situation for the BBC. Either way, it would be a sad day if the left-wing BBC killed off one of Britains eccentrics. Thats what makes Britain Great, its eccentric characters who bring colour to the drab socialist, politically correct, impotent, boring and turgid moroseness. We need more punch ups, more fucking life, more wildness. AAAaaargh!!!! During the high security visit by Senior Deputy Commissar of the Labour Party, Harriet Harman, the Comrade in arms with Supreme Unelected Comrade Gordon Brown, was protected by a phalanx of thirty Stasi Police officers. Any proles within the area were told to stay back and were not permitted within 100 metres of Comrade Harman. Wearing a stab-proof Kevlar vest on the London streets, Comrade Harman walked on the same dangerous roads as the prole masses and was not stabbed or shot once during the whole visit. By walking these streets I have shown the masses that we are living in a new era of safety and change. Since our Supreme Commander in Chief Gordon Brown was instated into our one-party system we have had unbridled freedom to walk the streets without fear, Comrade Harman exclaimed to our reporter from the armoured vehicle after her tour. Not since last month when Comrade Jacqui Smith of the Labour Home Secretariat decided to buy a doner kebab from a prole food stall within the sector has there been such daring shown. She bought the kebab resplendent with a liberal dollop of chilli sauce whilst flanked by no less than ten armed Bolshevik soldiers. Why put someone like a staunch Remainer Philip Hammond as the Chancellor of the Exchequer? This is the ultimate question that must be asked, because this putrid excuse for a Briton is a Remainer, a person who is against Britains freedom from the EU, a person who would sell Britain down the river at the drop of a hat. Let us consider for one second what this means to Brexit. At every turn, you will have Hammond bearing down on the key Brexiteers within cabinet. At every possible policy change, there will be this iconoclast putting a spanner in the works. One can only conclude that either Theresa May is extremely stupid or naive, or she deliberately put this traitorous Remain zealot into one of the highest posts in government on purpose. Remove this pox immediately if we are to Brexit, otherwise we will be in a state of stasis until people lose their fervour to Brexit. There is also the distinct possibility that stalling Brexit for as long as possible will create an additional feeling of apathy in the people, who will forget and let this go. That is what they hope. Whatever the outcome of this tumultuous affair, one thing is for certain, the new PM is making Brexit promises that may never occur and this is dangerous not only for her position but for the relative calm we are witnessing at the moment. There are still staunch Brexiteers out there, and they never forget. They know who the Remainers are, and these people are seen as Vichy apologists and treacherous traitors, who would no doubt be targets if severe civil unrest were to break out. Yes, it is unfortunate, however civil unrest is a distinct possibility if the wishes of the people are not adhered to. Not only would there be a major fracturing of the political system but society as a whole could be smashed for many years to come. The unfettered influx is too much to take for millions, and it will have to stop one way or another. You would have thought that Africans would be happy to receive aid from America, but unfortunately, this vast continent is tired of American hand-me-downs, especially when it comes to clothes. I dont know anyone in Africa who has a 65 inch waist. This is ridiculous, we can make tents out of this shit. Those fat fuck slothful fast-food guzzling greed-driven Americans are sending us clothes that we cant possibly ever wear. They have plundered the earths resources for their wasteful culture of gluttony while the rest of the world is left with nothing, Albert Kinoko, Rural Minister of Agriculture in Kinshasa told the BBC. Every day, over 500 tonnes of outsized clothing is dumped in African countries. America has the highest levels of obesity in the world, with 89% of the country being clinically obese; a stark contrast to any other part of the world. SUPER SIZE Unfortunately outsize clothing is not the only other unwelcome American export in the world. The story is the same across the whole of Africa. There are now surplus mounds of American clothes dumped across Africa from the Cape of Good Hope to Nigeria. We have found an ingenious way to deal with the problem. If we receive one Americans jeans, we cut up the material and we can usually make clothes for five or six people, or even a tent that can house ten people, a resourceful aid worker for Medecins Sans Frontieres revealed. After much research, we have finally come to the conclusion that Jesus is coming back soon and we are getting very close to the Rapture, Professor Alex Pendleton, the chief scientist in charge of the emergency study into the bird deaths told Fox News. According to many of the scholars, Jesus is flying around the earth at thousands of miles per hour waiting for the right time to land and it is because of the immense speed he is flying at that he is colliding with birds who are migrating back up north from their winter retreats in the southern hemisphere. The Rapture Jesus is coming back for the Rapture when all the Christians will be lifted up and taken up to heaven, where they will live in paradise for all of eternity. He is circling the earth right now as we speak and when he lands there will be bright lights and sounds of angels blowing their trumpets and bassoons. If you aint a true Christian, youre shit outta luck though. Hes definitely coming now because of all the troubles in the world. Gays in the military and Obama the Anti-Christ, Professor Pendleton said. Christian scholars from the institute previously said that the Rapture was meant to have occurred in 2009 but it was subsequently re-scheduled for 2010, that date did not materialise either, so hopefully 2011 will be the year that Jesus comes back to save the Christians from living on earth. Radar Tracking Jesus Weve been tracking him circling the earth for weeks now on radar and satellite. We use satellite trackers to see Jesus. He sure flies fast too. I saw him banking over the horizon last night and he zoomed past at about 12,000 km/h. Dang, it was a beautiful sight. He made a great big whooshing sound as he flew past. I just got chills down my back and had to get down on my knees right there in the gas station to pray, Edward Jonestown, another researcher working on the project said. Some country folk, however, have sadly tried to shoot Jesus as he strafed their towns in the Midwest. We had some boys shooting at him thinkin he was an Iraqi attack airplane or the Russians. We had to go over to their trailer and tell them to stop shooting at Jesus. I think hes bullet proof anyway, but still its disrespectful, Merv Bart, a logger from Deans Creek in Wisconsin told CBS news. There were also protests from wildlife preservation groups and animal rights activists who decry the fact that Jesus is out there killing birds because hes flying so fast. He saved the birds in the cages in the temple in Jerusalem. So whats he doing flying around killing all the blackbirds? Ive reported him to the authorities and PETA, Anna Bolic, an angry animal rights activist from Utah said. The woman who attended Snaresbrook crown court today has refuted calls of racism because she was simply reading out excerpts from a daily newspaper which is readily available on news stands the length and breadth of Britain. According to reports, the woman was seated in one of the underground carriages passing through Finsbury Park on the Victoria line when she flew into a rage and started calling people p@kis, ni@@ers and Muslims and other racist words before telling everyone in the carriage to go back home. After we arrested the woman and took her to the station, she simply took out a copy of the Daily Mail newspaper and continued to read it out aloud. We then warned the defendant that anything she said could be used against her in a court of law and after hearing her reciting even more racist language from the newspaper we arrested her for a second time. The woman kept on reading the offensive material until we took the copy of the Daily Mail away from her and passed it around all the officers inside the police station, PC Bill Plebb, told the Daily Mail newspaper. The case is currently ongoing. While Biden slept and spent trillions of dollars on useless tin-pot socialist projects that serve no purpose at all, Iran has strengthened its octopus grip on the Middle East and is now probably capable of nuclear war. Through its proxies like militant group Hamas, Iran is orchestrating another full on assault on Israel, specifically targeting civilians. Behind Iran, lies Russian influence. What the Iranians and Hamas do not know is that they have now unleashed the demonic wrath of Israel, and have possibly sealed their own fate. Iran is also very fearful of a bilateral deal with arch enemies Saudi Arabia and Israel, and will do anything to thwart it. Our prophetic parody satire news article of 2011 is slowly realising itself. Remember, prophecies cannot be chosen, they are presented to us without filter or bias, good or bad. Yom Kippur 2.0 Israel is now at war whether it likes it or not after Hamas terrorists butchered at least 250 civilians in cold blood and took dozens of hostages to Gaza in a major surprise assault that left the country reeling. The surprise attack occurred on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. Touted as Israels 9/11 moment by the legacy press, one can only feel that this was an attack designed to catch the headlines and offer some harrowing footage to bolster the troops for the mother of all battles. Hamas gunmen dragged off dozens of Israeli civilian and military hostages, including babies and their mothers, parading them through the streets of Gaza to baying crowds of Palestinians. The naked body of a German teenage girl who was killed whilst attending a music festival was seen being driven in the back of a pick-up truck. In video footage too graphic to publish, men and young boys are seen spitting on her body. Unlocking the wrath of Israel is a dangerous pursuit, and it is assured that all hell has just been unleashed. This latest Hamas attack will most certainly lead to war. Global conflict may escalate further in Europe and the Middle East. The Iraqi City of Kirkuk is the oil rich powerhouse currently held by the Kurds who are a further threat to Turkey. Get the Turkey on the table, we have a golden opportunity now to elevate our oil holdings by 10,000%. One thing Turkey does not have is oil, if we take Kirkuk, then we wont just have kebabs, but well have oil and kebabs. Now thats an unbeatable combination right there, Turkeys oil Minister, Abdullah Akdeniz, told Turkish news. Free For All The Isis rebels also kidnapped eighty Turkish diplomats and staff on Wednesday, so this is further impetus for Turkey to act. The Turks were forbidden from taking Kirkuk during the second Gulf war by the U.S., but the time is now as this opportunity will not last for long. The bankrupt Americans are on a seemingly permanent vacation and are dithering whilst the spoils of their wars burn. The Turkey is now firmly in the oven, and if it gets roasted too much, it may need some more oil over the top, like barrels of the stuff. Union minister of state (MoS) for external affairs Meenakshi Lekhi. (Twitter) NEW DELHI: Union minister of state (MoS) for external affairs Meenakshi Lekhi on Sunday said the Prime Minister's Office is monitoring the ongoing situation in Israel and that the government is making efforts to bring back stranded Indians. Several Indians are believed to be trapped in Israeli cities. Some posted videos appealing for evacuation, saying, "The situation is hard and uncertain." "I received many messages last night and through the night we were working, but I'm also aware that the Prime Minister's office is directly supervising the situation... We are on the job... Whether it was Operation Ganga or Vande Bharat, we brought everyone back. I'm sure the government and the Prime Minister's Office are directly in touch with those people and are working and monitoring the situation," said Ms Lekhi. There are about 18,000 Indian nationals living and working in Israel. So far, no Indian is known to have been taken hostage by Hamas or killed during the crossfire between Israel and Hamas. However, the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv has received requests to facilitate a safe exit. A mad rush was seen at airports as people rushed to leave Israel. With flights to Israel cancelled, people are rushing to neighbouring countries to exit the war zone. Air India has announced it is cancelling all its flights to and from Tel Aviv till October 14. Air India has evacuated its crew members and two other employees from Israel via Egypt. Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma said, "As per the latest information and through the efforts of the ministry of external affairs and the Indian mission, our 27 citizens from Meghalaya, who were stuck in the war conflict zone of Israel and Palestine, have safely crossed the border into Egypt." Indian actress Nusrat Bharucha, who was in Israel for a film promotion, was trapped, but she managed to reach Mumbai on Sunday. MoS ministry of external affairs V. Muraleedharan said instructions have already been given to Indians in Israel through advisories to stay safe and get in touch with the Indian embassy if they need any assistance. Talking to reporters, Israel's ambassador to India Naor Gilon said some of the Indians wanted to volunteer to fight for Israel against Hamas. "Israel never asks anyone to come and fight for us... We had quite a few Indians who wanted to volunteer; I told them, Thank you very much...we fight our own fight," Mr Gilon said. On Saturday, the Indian mission in Tel Aviv and the representative office of India in Palestine issued advisories asking Indian nationals on their respective sides to "remain vigilant" and "directly contact the office" in case of an emergency. A big chunk of Indians living in Israel work as caregivers but there are also about a thousand students, several IT professionals and diamond traders. All Indian students are in touch with each other and are constantly taking stock of the situation. Some other students, when contacted, also said that they see the situation coming under control and that "we should not spread panic unnecessarily". Most of the Indian students are staying in dorms and in accommodations provided by the institutions. The Indian caregivers in Israel are inclined towards staying put and focusing on following the instructions shared by the Indian mission. Elle Prasad, who lives in Ashkelon, where the maximum number of rockets have fallen, said that "they have to be very alert so that they reach the shelter house as soon as possible after the siren wails". An Indian national living in Gaza, when contacted, said that the situation was "scary" but she and her family were safe. IT minister K.T. Rama Rao addresses a public meeting at the Government Degree College ground in Kamareddy on Saturday (Twitter) Kamareddy: BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao on Saturday promised village-wise poll manifestoes and appointment of senior leaders as booth committee incharges at Kamareddy Assembly constituency, from where Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao will contest the polls. "Not only Telangana state, the entire country is eagerly waiting to know why KCR chose Kamareddy to contest and the majority he will get. To blank out Opposition parties Congress and BJP leaders, people of Kamareddy should give 1.5 lakh majority to KCR for robust development," he said. Rama Rao was speaking at the maiden meeting of the BRS at Government Degree College ground following Raos announcement to contest from Kamareddy, apart from Gajwel. Arriving in a helicopter and addressing party workers, Rama Rao said: "Our forefathers are from Konapur village in Kamareddy district, but we never thought to contest from Kamareddy. After invitation from sitting Kamareddy MLA Gampa Govardhan, the Chief Minister agreed to contest from here." Calling on the Kamareddy electorate to set a majority record by voting for Rao, the IT minister said: "We will extend our base to neighbouring Maharashtra state, where people are vexed with the uncertainty in the government and sought a strong leader like KCR. Not only KCR, myself, minister Prashanth Reddy and Gampa Govardhan will work for the development of Kamareddy." Rama Rao urged party leaders to set aside their differences and work together for Chandrashekar Raos victory. Sharing an anecdote, Rama Rao said he met a group of youths at Machareddy on his way from Gambhiraopet to Hyderabad, who said they were proud to be a part of the electorate in the Chief Ministers constituency. Rama Rao took the chance to attack the Congress, reiterating that TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy was "a hardcore RSS pracharak and Congress was already dead." "If Congress wins 10-12 MLA seats, Revanth Reddy will jump to BJP overnight," he said. "When BJP state president G. Kishan Reddy contested from the Karvan Assembly constituency in 1999, Revanth Reddy was his election agent. Revanth Reddy had a great transformation from the voter for note status to seat for note status by selling MLA tickets," KTR alleged. Before addressing the meeting, Rama Rao laid the foundation stone for the construction of an indoor stadium, at Rs 8 crore, in Kamareddy. He was accompanied by minister V. Prashanth Reddy, Government Whip Gampa Govardhan, MP B.B. Patil, municipal chairperson N. Jahnavi, vice-chair Indupriya, BRS district president Mujeebuddin, collector Jitesh V. Patil and SP B. Srinivas, among others. State BJP chief Daggubati Purandeswari will be given the task of holding preliminary talks with the Telugu Desam, and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan as a mediator. (Image source:Twitter) Hyderabad: The Telugu Desam (TD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJ) are likely to start talks on forging an electoral alliance in Andhra Pradesh, making it a three-party front, along with Jana Sena, against the YSR Congress. State BJP chief Daggubati Purandeswari will be given the task of holding preliminary talks with the Telugu Desam, with Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan as a mediator. The actor-turned-politician who has announced a poll pact with the TD had not severed ties with the BJP and has constantly been propagating a tripartite alliance. According to reliable sources, Hindutva organisations including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) were "deeply concerned" about "widespread religious conversions" in the state and had been looking out for a political solution as they strongly believed that the "institutions engaged in conversions have been drawing strength from the presence of YSR Congress government." "It is hard to believe but coastal districts like Konaseema and Guntur have been witnessing large conversion into Islam, too," sources in the Sangh Parivar told Deccan Chronicle. Sangh affiliate organisations including Samarasata Sewa Foundation and Jana Jagrurthi which extensively tour tribal areas and mingle with marginalised sections in the plain areas were said to have submitted reports of high incidence of conversions. The right-wing organisations had also flagged the issue of filling the staff with Christians in majority residential schools, particularly those dedicated to girls, sources added. However, there may not be total acceptance from the saffron brigade on reviving ties with the TD, which they blame for scuttling the growth of the BJP. They argue that it was during the tenure of YSRC supremo and Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddys tenure that the large construction of Rama temples in villages was taken up, and TD president and then CM N. Chandrababu Naidu, despite several requests, had withheld funds. They see little difference in the BJPs position if Naidu formed a government after the state elections scheduled next year. Incidentally, K. Kannababu, former minister and YSR Congress MLA from the coastal Kakinada, dismissing as a "factually incorrect campaign" that conversions had increased, also cited the construction of not less than 1,000 Rama temples in every constituency and large release of funds for main temples to showcase the Jagan Mohan Reddy governments commitment to upkeep Hindu dharma. The BJP had kept Naidu at bay after he fell out with the National Democratic Alliance and carried out a personalised attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose personal life he had criticised. Ending a four-year stand against, the BJP central leadership recently granted an audience to the TD chief who held prolonged discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party president J.P. Nadda. The BJP national leadership also informed Pawan Kalyan last week that it would invite him to Delhi to discuss the electoral alliances. "Much before Naidus arrest, the BJP had broached the possibilities of an alliance with the TD but apparently wanted to wait till the Telangana polls are over," Jana Sena political affairs committee chairman Nadendla Manohar said. "We will get some clarity in our next meeting with BJP." The TD is also open to an alliance with the BJP, as was evident from senior leader Yanamala Ramakrishnudu stating that seat-sharing would be a secondary issue and could worked out after reaching an in-principle decision to fight together. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (AFP) New Delhi: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Friday evening spoke to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, underscoring the need for de-escalation of the diplomatic row between Canada and India. According to a 10 Downing Street statement, Mr Trudeau updated Mr Sunak on the situation relating to Canadian diplomats in India and spoke about the current situation. "The Prime Minister spoke to the Canadian Prime Minister this evening. Mr Trudeau updated on the situation relating to Canadian diplomats in India. The Prime Minister reaffirmed the UKs position that all countries should respect sovereignty and the rule of law, including the principles of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. He hoped to see a de-escalation in the situation and agreed to remain in contact with Mr Trudeau on the next steps," said a statement from the UK PMs office. The conversation took place against the backdrop of the Canadian PM making allegations against India for carrying out the killing of its citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who is a wanted terrorist in India. Canada has so far not provided any concrete evidence to India to back its allegations. The Canadian Prime Minister's Office in Ottawa said in a statement that during their discussions, the two Prime Ministers discussed the need to manage global challenges in close partnership and the importance of upholding and respecting the rule of law. "Mr Trudeau provided an update on the current situation between Canada and India. The leaders emphasised respect for the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations and the need to ensure the safety and security of their citizens. They underscored the importance of de-escalation in this context. Mr Trudeau and Mr Sunak agreed to remain in close contact and to continue working together to tackle global issues," said Mr Trudeaus office. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC trimmed its stake in Carrier Global Co. (NYSE:CARR Free Report) by 43.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,757 shares of the companys stock after selling 5,943 shares during the period. Exchange Traded Concepts LLCs holdings in Carrier Global were worth $386,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of CARR. Avantax Planning Partners Inc. grew its position in Carrier Global by 3.1% during the second quarter. Avantax Planning Partners Inc. now owns 6,815 shares of the companys stock valued at $339,000 after acquiring an additional 204 shares during the last quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC lifted its position in Carrier Global by 9.0% during the second quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC now owns 2,489 shares of the companys stock valued at $124,000 after buying an additional 205 shares during the period. Integrated Advisors Network LLC lifted its position in Carrier Global by 4.2% during the second quarter. Integrated Advisors Network LLC now owns 5,380 shares of the companys stock valued at $267,000 after buying an additional 219 shares during the period. Securian Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Carrier Global by 0.4% in the 1st quarter. Securian Asset Management Inc. now owns 68,906 shares of the companys stock worth $3,152,000 after purchasing an additional 257 shares during the last quarter. Finally, TFC Financial Management Inc. increased its holdings in Carrier Global by 6.4% in the 1st quarter. TFC Financial Management Inc. now owns 4,399 shares of the companys stock worth $201,000 after buying an additional 264 shares in the last quarter. 91.47% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Carrier Global alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages recently issued reports on CARR. Argus boosted their price objective on Carrier Global from $52.00 to $68.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st. TD Cowen increased their price target on Carrier Global from $54.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, July 31st. Mizuho downgraded Carrier Global from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price objective for the company from $63.00 to $61.00 in a research report on Thursday, September 14th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Carrier Global from $45.00 to $50.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Carrier Global from $57.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, September 22nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $55.22. Insider Buying and Selling In other Carrier Global news, VP Kyle Crockett sold 6,817 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.22, for a total transaction of $403,702.74. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 42 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,487.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other Carrier Global news, VP Kyle Crockett sold 6,817 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.22, for a total transaction of $403,702.74. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 42 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,487.24. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Jurgen Timperman sold 164,450 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.25, for a total value of $9,743,662.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.38% of the companys stock. Carrier Global Stock Up 1.4 % Carrier Global stock opened at $54.28 on Friday. Carrier Global Co. has a fifty-two week low of $33.10 and a fifty-two week high of $60.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.63. The company has a market capitalization of $45.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.54, a PEG ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 1.41. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $55.64 and a 200-day simple moving average of $49.38. Carrier Global (NYSE:CARR Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The company reported $0.79 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.76 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $6 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.83 billion. Carrier Global had a return on equity of 25.42% and a net margin of 9.87%. The firms revenue was up 15.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.69 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Carrier Global Co. will post 2.63 earnings per share for the current year. Carrier Global Profile (Free Report) Carrier Global Corporation provides heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, fire, security, and building automation technologies worldwide. It operates through three segments: HVAC, Refrigeration, and Fire & Security. The HVAC segment provides products, controls, services, and solutions to meet the heating, cooling, and ventilation needs of residential and commercial customers. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Carrier Global Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Carrier Global and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System reduced its stake in Snap-on Incorporated (NYSE:SNA Free Report) by 5.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,300 shares of the companys stock after selling 200 shares during the period. Louisiana State Employees Retirement Systems holdings in Snap-on were worth $951,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Carl Stuart Investment Advisor Inc. acquired a new stake in Snap-on in the 1st quarter valued at $208,645,000. Clear Street Markets LLC increased its holdings in Snap-on by 96.3% in the 1st quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 106 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. Ridgewood Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Snap-on during the first quarter valued at about $29,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust increased its position in shares of Snap-on by 57.3% during the first quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 129 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Spire Wealth Management increased its position in shares of Snap-on by 50.0% during the first quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 144 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. 83.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Snap-on alerts: Snap-on Stock Up 0.7 % Shares of Snap-on stock opened at $259.71 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.58, a current ratio of 3.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. The firm has a market cap of $13.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.39, a P/E/G ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 1.10. Snap-on Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $201.80 and a fifty-two week high of $297.26. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $263.95 and a 200 day moving average price of $262.83. Snap-on Dividend Announcement Snap-on ( NYSE:SNA Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 20th. The company reported $4.89 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.58 by $0.31. Snap-on had a return on equity of 21.38% and a net margin of 21.06%. The firm had revenue of $1.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.19 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $4.27 earnings per share. Snap-ons quarterly revenue was up 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Snap-on Incorporated will post 18.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 18th were paid a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 17th. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.50%. Snap-ons payout ratio is currently 35.90%. Analyst Ratings Changes SNA has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on Snap-on from $270.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, July 21st. CL King initiated coverage on Snap-on in a research report on Friday, July 7th. They set a neutral rating on the stock. Tigress Financial lifted their target price on Snap-on from $328.00 to $336.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, September 29th. Barrington Research reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $325.00 target price on shares of Snap-on in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Finally, Roth Mkm reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $324.00 target price on shares of Snap-on in a research report on Monday, August 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $298.17. Read Our Latest Research Report on Snap-on Insider Buying and Selling at Snap-on In other Snap-on news, CEO Nicholas T. Pinchuk sold 22,078 shares of Snap-on stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $258.16, for a total value of $5,699,656.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 697,506 shares in the company, valued at $180,068,148.96. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, VP Iain Boyd sold 8,963 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $289.30, for a total transaction of $2,592,995.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 7,345 shares in the company, valued at $2,124,908.50. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Nicholas T. Pinchuk sold 22,078 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $258.16, for a total value of $5,699,656.48. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 697,506 shares of the companys stock, valued at $180,068,148.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 40,563 shares of company stock worth $10,915,763 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 4.20% of the companys stock. Snap-on Company Profile (Free Report) Snap-on Incorporated manufactures and markets tools, equipment, diagnostics, and repair information and systems solutions for professional users worldwide. It operates through Commercial & Industrial Group, Snap-on Tools Group, Repair Systems & Information Group, and Financial Services segments. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SNA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Snap-on Incorporated (NYSE:SNA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Snap-on Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Snap-on and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A justice initiative targeting people who commit crimes related to drug or alcohol abuse is helping to transform and save lives, a probation chief has said. Staff from the Probation Board for Northern Ireland have been briefing justice staff in England about the operation of the substance misuse court, which has been running at Laganside Magistrates Court in Belfast. Through the programme an offender signs up to a strict treatment plan aimed at tackling their substance misuse, instead of going immediately to prison. As part of the plan, the person who has offended will have regular contact with staff from the Probation Board as well as other health professionals. They will also have regular and random drug and alcohol testing. The persons progress and any risks they pose to the public are closely monitored and reported back to the court. They will appear at least once a month before a judge. If the person who has offended successfully completes the programme they will be sentenced by the judge, who will take into account their participation in the programme. Gillian Montgomery, director of operations at the Probation Board, said: The estimated cost of substance misuse in NI is 900 million and there has been a 203% increase in drug misuse deaths in the last 10 years. As part of the strategy to try and tackle this problem, probation in partnership with our colleagues in the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunal Service, the Judiciary and Inspire Wellbeing have been delivering a project which provides holistic support including interventions from probation officers, psychologists, and counsellors to try and help people turn their lives around and move away from the addiction which is causing their offending. Ms Montgomery said 74% of those who took part reduced their likelihood of offending score by the end of the programme and 60% showed a reduction in drugs-related problem behaviour, with 37% achieving full abstinence. She added: This programme is one way of helping to tackle substance related offending. Presiding district judge Steven Keown said: The substance misuse court is a unique project which offers people who want to change their lives an opportunity to really tackle their addiction and the root cause of their offending. At the beginning of the process people may be extremely chaotic and need significant support. The communication with probation staff is critical in helping me to assess if individuals are likely to make progress through this project and whether they will benefit from the support and opportunities the substance misuse court provides. Aideen McLaughlin, assistant director at the Probation Board, said: Those who have participated in this project must undertake regular drug testing, psychological assessment, treatment and attend court. It is about providing support but also holding people to account. A number of service users have said that they believe they would have died had it not been for the treatment provided by this project. It has been life-changing for those people. Irish director Joe Lawlor said his film Baltimore about heiress-turned-IRA mastermind Rose Dugdale has modern connotations with groups such as Extinction Rebellion UK and Just Stop Oil who he suggests will become more militant in time. The film from Lawlor and his wife Christine Molloy focuses on the aftermath of the art heist considered to be the largest in history by former debutante Rose in the name of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Actress Imogen Poots plays the ringleader of the 1974 heist at the private estate Russborough House in Irelands County Wicklow, where the group stole 19 priceless paintings. Speaking about the character, Lawlor told the PA news agency at the London Film Festival: If I think about Extinction Rebellion or Just Stop Oil, I can easily see how people, particularly around the climate, will incrementally become more and more militant. I think thats going to be at the sharp end of action, because it really isnt changing as fast as it should, so dont be surprised if people lean into history in the 60s and 70s, it can still instruct and help people to realise that we may well be and are already running out of time. It may well be that radical action is the only thing thats going to really focus peoples attention. So I do think (the film) speaks to today, very loudly and very clearly, we have lost that gear. But that gear is being found again, and there was a real lack of it. But I think people will become more and more frustrated. Thanks to everyone who came out to the UK premiere of BALTIMORE at #LFF. A very memorable night for us.Christine and Joe on stage @BFI NFT1 one of our absolute favourite cinemas for the post screening Q&A hosted by Arike Oke.@BanksideFilms @Samson_Films @ScreenIreland pic.twitter.com/GIl5SH6obe Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor (@DesOpProduction) October 8, 2023 Molloy said that Rose Dugdales actions came out of something very principled. When Rose Dugdale began her involvement with the IRA, it began as a civil rights movement to improve the lives of the Catholic community in Northern Ireland, the director said. She put her money where her mouth was today it can be seen in people who are taking huge personal risks for what they believe in. The Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize, is languishing in prison in Iran, and shes fighting for very basic human rights. The couple said that although they could have had the opportunity to meet Rose, who they believe is in a nursing home in Dublin, they didnt want the film to become a biopic. She has no idea this film has been made, shell hear about it soon enough I imagine, Lawlor said. We were interested in the ideas around her, and the kind of the drama around her. But we werent so interested in getting to know her as an actual person and getting distracted by too much story. Molloy said the inspiration for the film was born as Roses role in the heist was completely forgotten about as the focus shifted to Irish criminal Martin Cahill, known as The General. Pictured above: (L-R): Mel Kiernan InSync; Niamh Curran, InSync Youth Work for Naas/Clane youth projects; Lucy Masterson, CEO, Irish Youth Foundation; Irish Rugby legend Keith Earls; InSync CEO Tom Dunne; McDonalds Franchisee Sean Quirke; and (holding sign) Mackenzie Fox, InSync McDonalds has launched its Youth Opportunity Ireland 2023 programme, the second of a two-year partnership with the Irish Youth Foundation designed to provide specialised skills and training opportunities to young people from disadvantaged areas. Ten youth organisations from across Ireland including Foroige's Cable Project from Louth will receive a combined 100,000 in funding from McDonalds in 2023 to deliver targeted youth employability programmes. These organisations work directly with young people who are not currently in education, employment or training. In 2022 over 650 young people took part in McDonalds Youth Opportunity Ireland funded programmes, learning new technical skills and enhancing their own personal development to help them maximise employment and further training and education opportunities. Despite record numbers of people in employment in Ireland, youth unemployment has remained higher than the national average. According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the youth unemployment rate was 11.2% in August 2023, which is almost triple the overall unemployment rate of 4.1%. The McDonalds Youth Opportunity Ireland Programme aims to combat this issue and empower young people with the skills necessary to kick-start their careers or explore further training and education opportunities. The 2023 programme was launched at a community event in McDonalds Naas restaurant, with McDonalds Youth Opportunity Ireland ambassador and rugby player Keith Earls and Naas-based youth group and funding recipient InSync. The event celebrated McDonalds long-standing support for community groups and charities throughout the country. Speaking at the launch event, Irish Rugby player and McDonalds Youth Opportunity Ireland ambassador Keith Earls said: Last year I saw first-hand the impact of the McDonalds Youth Opportunity Ireland programme in providing support and opportunities to young people across the country. "These youth organisations work tirelessly to make the lives of young people better, and that is why I am passionate about supporting this project. McDonalds Franchisee Sean Quirke said: McDonalds is proud of its involvement with the Irish Youth Foundation and the success of the McDonalds Youth Opportunity Ireland programme to date. "As an organisation we place great importance on providing our people with opportunities to develop and grow in their careers. Helping these youth organisations across the country implement their own employability and skills projects with young people is something that we all strongly believe in. Lucy Masterson, Chief Executive of the Irish Youth Foundation said: The McDonalds Youth Opportunity Ireland programme addresses an issue that many young people from disadvantaged areas face, how to gain the necessary skills and training that will help them get a job. "With this funding, eleven youth organisations will be able to roll out specific employability programmes, helping hundreds of young people in the process. The 10 youth organisations receiving funding through the McDonalds Youth Opportunity Ireland programme in 2023 are: A MANUSCRIPT written by a 19th century east Cork poet in which he extolls in verse the virtues of a newly arrived hedge school teacher in Midleton has been presented to the Cork City and County Archive by the members of Carrigtwohill and District Historical Society. The manuscript was hand-written in ink by Davy Barry (Daibhi de Barra), who was also known by his local nickname, Dath an Ghleanna or Davy of the Glen. Daibhi de Barra or Davy Barry of the Glen lived in the area between 1757/8 and 1851 and he was a prose writer, scribe, and poet in Irish, said society vice-secretary Tony O Floinn Davy had been born in Woodstock in Carrigtwohill, the son of Davy, who was a tenant farmer on the Earl of Barrymores estate. The 92-line poem was written, it is believed, in 1825 and, after Davys death in 1851, was taken by a relative John Doherty who emigrated to the USA in 1870. It was handed down across the generations until it reached a fourth generation descendant of John, Paul Doherty who decided that it should be put on view to the public in his native Cork. In 2019, we unveiled a headstone to Daibhi de Barra on the family plot wheres he believed to be buried and Paul Doherty came to this ceremony and, afterward, he presented us with the manuscript, said Mr O Floinn. The Carrigtwohill and District Historical Society arranged for the manuscript to be bound by Muckross Bookbinders, a firm that specialises in dealing with historical documents, and the bound document was presented to the Cork City and County Archive at Cork City Hall recently. It was unusual that Daibhi wrote this in English as he was mostly known for his writing in Irish, said Mr O Floinn, remarking that there was a particularly rich Irish language tradition in the area around Carrigtwohill. Pictured are, Tony Bourke, Tony O Floinn, both Carrigtwohill & District Historical Society, Brian McGee, Senior Archivist Cork City and County Archives Service and Lord Mayor Cllr Kieran McCarthy, Jim Barry, Andre Saubolle and Marie McCarthy, all Carrigtwohill & District Historical Society, at the Carrigtwohill & District Historical Society presentation of a Daibhi de Barra manuscript to the Cork City and County Archives Service, at City Hall, Cork. Picture: Jim Coughlan. Carrigtwohill and District Historical Society secretary Andre Saubolle said Davy was known as a scholar and a poet during his lifetime but is admired latterly for his prose writings and translations. As a scribe he was industrious, devoting much of his Sundays to learning after working his farm all week, and 13 complete manuscripts have come down to us from his hand, mainly from the period 182135. One of the two men accused of burgling a hotel in Cork appeared again at Cork District Court in custody. Judge Olann Kelleher told Craig OConnell that if he got bail at the High Court he must appear in Cork District Court in person. Craig OConnell of 88 Hollyville, Hollyhill, Cork, is charged with carrying out at a burglary at The Address Hotel, Military Hill, Cork. Garda Dermot Broughton arrested 23-year-old Craig OConnell of 88 Hollyville, Hollyhill, Cork, previously and charged him with burglary where the particulars of the charge stated that at The Address Hotel, Military Hotel, Cork, they entered the staff quarters of the hotel as a trespasser to commit an offence of theft. A co-accused was given bail and his case was adjourned until November 15 to allow time for directions to be obtained from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Stephen Maguire in Creeslough A blanket of silence wrapped itself around the still heartbroken village of Creeslough in Co Donegal at 3.17pm this afternoon. Exactly a year ago, the heart of this village and its community was ripped apart as ten people lost their lives in an explosion at the local Applegreen Filling Station on a busy Friday afternoon. The sound of a bell tolling ten times marked the loss of those 10 precious lives. The names of James O'Flaherty, Leona Harper, Martin McGill, Hugh Kelly, Jessica Gallagher, Martina Martin, Catherine O'Donnell and her son James Monaghan, Robert Garwe and his daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe will be forever connected to this village. As he did a year ago, local priest Fr John Joe Duffy tried to find a way to guide the local community who gathered in prayer outside the very place where this awful tragedy unfolded. The scene that day was one of utter chaos as locals searched in the rubble for those caught up in this horrific tragedy. A year later, people gathered at the same location still searching but this time for solace or some small crumb of comfort to ease the heartache which continues to pull away at this tightly-knit community. Fr Duffy said "It is a day of sadness, of acute sadness, but a day of personal reflection, a day of fond memories of loved ones who were lost in this tragedy. "The last year has been a difficult journey, a journey of mourning, a journey of healing, a journey of learning to cope, particularly for those from whom this tragedy took ten beautiful souls and for those also who were injured in body and for all of us who were injured in mind. "The journey of recovery will continue for all of us for a long time to come. Unlike most journeys we set out on in life, this journey of Creeslough we know neither the length nor the duration of the road ahead but we know that we will travel it together, each of us together, linked together. "We are as strong as our weakest part and out weakest part is our most previous part of us all. Today, I would like to finish by thanking all in the emergency services from across this island who came here once again today standing in solidarity with us to give us comfort." He finished by thanking the people of Ireland for supporting the people of Creeeslough over the past year. People arrive carrying floral tributes at a commemoration and remembrance service in Creeslough, Co Donegal on the first anniversary of the explosion at a service station which killed 10 people. "I ask you, the people of Ireland who have responded to us from your homes by sending us thousands of cards and messages to continue to keep us in your prayers for the journey that lies ahead. "This day is another step on the long journey ahead. God bless you all and thank you for your kindness, for your comfort and consolation to us all," he said Fr Duffy thanked all the bereaved families for the strength they gave to him personally. Not all members of the families who lost loved ones in the explosion attended the memorial with some preferring to remember them in their own personal way. However, a crowd of around 1,500 did gather to remember those lost in the tragedy and the families who continue to search for answers. Those who attended included Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue who represented the Government, local Deputies Joe McHugh, Padraig Mac Lochlainn and Pearse Doherty, Principal of Mulroy College in Milford, Ms Fiona Temple, who lost both parents and pupils in the blast. The emergency services were represented in large numbers including members of the Irish Coastguard, An Garda Siochana, the Donegal Fire Service and the National Ambulance Service. Also there were members of the K9 Search and Rescue unit from Northern Ireland incluidng one of their dogs Max who helped search for survivors in the aftermath of the blast. The Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe Andrew Forster told mourners it has been a very difficult and painful year and a year of heartache. However, he added it had also been a year in which "we saw the best of people". A message on behalf of the Bishop of Raphoe, Alan McGuckian, who was away in Rome was also read out. Music played a major part in the ceremony with renowned musician Matt McGranaghan playing a number of tunes before finishing off the ceremony with the poignant Somewhere Over The Rainbow.'Fr Duffy also revealed that the bell used to commemorate the ten victims of the tragedy will be stored at the nearby St Michael's Church in Creeslough before it will be moved to another location when the time is right. Ten yellow roses rested alongside the bell remembering each of the ten victims. A poem written by the pupils of nearby Glassan National School in Dunfanaghy was read out by principal Ms Aine Whoriskey. As prayers were read and music floated across the still October afternoon, couples hugged each other as they allowed tears to flow openly. Children played with teddy bears, oblivious to the sadness of the day and the loss which was being recalled. While those left behind continue to search for their own answers, a number of agencies continue to find answers to the cause of the massive explosion. Rev John Joe Duffy speaking at the commemoration. And that task has been huge and still goes on. The agencies involved include by the Health and Safety Authority, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities and Norwegian company DNV Det Norske Veritas, which specialises in investigating and testing energy systems. Gardai have also confirmed that they have undertaken more than 1,350 lines of enquiry while more than 900 statements have also been taken. A Family Liaison Team with a dedicated Family Liaison Officer was also appointed to each deceased persons family is in place and continues to support the bereaved families. Creeslough too, is trying to rebuild on a practical level. People around Ireland and indeed the world wanted to reach out in a practical way to help after witnessing the horrific scenes thorough the media and the donations began to flow in. Local woman Majella McFadden was appointed as Community Links Manager in a bid to address the issues being encountered by the community on a day-to-day-basis. The Department of Rural and Community Development found 500,000 in funding for the Creeslough Together Initiative over three years. The Red Cross also established the Creeslough Community Support Fund and to date it has raised 1,878,476 for all those effected by the tragedy. This fund has helped on a practical level with funeral costs, those who lost possessions or jobs as a result of the incident. More than 130,000 has also been allocated for a legacy community project. Ten yellow roses in a wreath for each of those died in the Cresslough tragedy. Majella's own brother Gerard, who is based in Australia, started a Go Fund Me page for Creeslough immediately after the tragedy which raised a staggering 520,000. Today's ceremony was all about helping to heal and showing support for those directly impacted by the awful tragedy of the events of one year ago. The people of this typical rural Irish town know they face further challenges in the coming months and years as more becomes known about the cause of the tragedy as well as the continued heartache of living life without loved ones. But for now they must continue to find comfort and strength and face the future together as a community. ONE night, in a West Cork hostelry in 1932, the subject of the forthcoming five-day International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin came up for debate. This coming together of the Roman Catholic faithful from June 22-26 was one of the largest events to take place in Ireland in the 20th century - an estimated 25% of the population attended the various masses and events in the capital. It was concluded, after the odd drink (one, three or five!) that, if those men in that bar were absent, they could, God forbid, be branded pagans. It was agreed, they had to travel up. On Friday, June 24, they set off for Ballinascarthy railway station along with scores of other devotees. The train left Courtmacsherry with a large contingent of pilgrims and stopped at Timoleague and Skeaf - then the smallest railway station in Ireland - where passengers from Clogagh, Kilmalooda and surrounding areas boarded. By the time it arrived at Ballinascarthy, the train was full to capacity and the men from the bar were unable to board. What to do? A decision was swiftly taken to make alternative travel arrangements to Dublin. My father, Lar Calnan, and Pat Dineen, both lorry owners, offered to drive the disappointed group up the next day, giving them 24 hours to ready the vehicles for the trip of a lifetime. Lar, of Ballinascarthy, had recently purchased a lorry, to service local industry and the community and, if truth be told, at this point he was no expert at driving. The lorry was a Ford V8, petrol model, about 14ft x 7ft complete with side boards. The cockpit had a bench seat which could accommodate the driver and two passengers. LORRY DRIVER: Lar Calnan, of Ballinascarthy A few extra changes had to be made so rear passengers would be sheltered from the elements. Front and side cribs were fitted and covered over by what was known as a lorry cover. For seating, timber butter boxes were procured from the nearby Ballinascarthy branch of the Cork and Kerry Creamery. Normally used for the export of butter, these were placed upside down on the floor of the truck with planks of timber placed across them. Passengers had to bring their own cushions, a generous offer of a mattress was made. Safety belts were unheard of. At 10am on Saturday, June 25, 1932, Lar left Ballinascarthy with 12 passengers. As far as can be ascertained, these included Sonny Murphy of Carrig, Sonny Kingston of Lisselan, Jack Calnan of Pedlers Cross, Jimmy Murphy of Tullig, Pad Murphy (Goddle), Stephen Walsh of Ballinascarthy Post Office, Davy Nolan of Ballinascarthy, and Con Warren, of Ballineen (relief driver and co-pilot). Ritchie Barrett and his sister Mary, who had a broken leg, also travelled by lorry to Dublin, though it is not certain on which vehicle. Fuel costs were divided between travelling parties. The group brought with them sandwiches and bottles of milk mixed in with the odd (that word again) bottle of Guinness. They travelled an average 25mph per hour - these pilgrims made very slow progress. Allowing, at most, two hours for stoppages, they arrived in Dublin at about 6pm. The lorry was parked up on the south side of Dublin city, from where there was a plentiful supply of buses and sidecars to the Phoenix Park. The men had arrived into a capital festooned with bunting, flags and special lighting effects, giving the whole city a palpable air of excitement. Logistics for the occasion were very impressive, with a number of catering centres a short walk from the Phoenix Park. Likewise, sleeping accommodation was available in large camps, national schools, halls, and other places. The Eucharistic Congress displayed to the world the strength and enthusiasm of the Catholic faith in 1930s Ireland, and left an indelible impression on all who attended, giving them pride in both their religious beliefs and nationality. Early on Sunday, June 26, the West Cork pilgrims joined the multitudes in the Phoenix Park for the Pontifical High Mass. The icing on the cake for them was the address by Pope Pius XI, directly from the Vatican, over the largest PA system then in existence. Equally, they never forgot Athlone-born tenor Count John McCormacks haunting rendition of Panis Angelicus. Pad Murphy said: There were so many priests, bishops and cardinals to be seen around Dublin, that the rest of the world must be drained of clergy. Of the Eastern clergy, with their exotic vestments and long beards, he remarked that you wouldnt want to meet one of these peculiar-looking fellas on your way home after a few drinks in the local. That evening, Lar and his passengers departed Dublin, having purchased their refreshments for the long road home. Tired, but exhilarated by their experience, the group arrived back in Ballinascarthy around 2am on Monday, June 27. There had been no communication with home for two whole days. Sure, no news was good news, and they were the news, not alone in the village, but across the parish of Timoleague and beyond. It was the trip of a lifetime. You have to admire the faith of our fathers. P.S. Lar returned the mattress to the donor and told her they had it blessed in Dublin, to which she replied: You can keep the blessed thing, I have been trying to get rid of it for some time. Beijing on Wednesday morning issued an alert for geological disasters as a rainstorm is real money gambling games for your phoneforecast to soak the capital from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday morning. At 9:25 a.m., Beijing Municipal Bureau of Land and Resources and Beijing Meteorological Bureau jointly issued the yellow alert for possible geological disasters of mud-slides, cave-ins and landslips in mountainous areas in the districts of Fangshan, Mentougou, Huairou, Pinggu and Shijingshan, as well as Miyun county. The yellow alert is the third highest warning level in Chinas five-tier color-coded geological disaster warning system. According to latest meteorological data, from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday morning, Beijing will receive heavy rains with average precipitation of 30 to 50 millimeters, said Zhang Linna, chief forecaster of Beijing Meteorological Station. The eastern part of Beijing will receive rainstorms with average precipitation of over 50 millimeters, said Zhang. A massive downpour, the worst to hit the city in 61 years, battered Beijing on Saturday, leaving 37 people dead and causing significant damage. At 11:50 a.m., Beijing Meteorological Station released a blue alert for the rainstorm, the lowest warning level in Chinas four-tier color-coded weather warning system. Affected by Saturdays rainstorm, the soil water contents in Beijings mountainous areas are saturated, which could lead to floods and geological disasters, said Sun Jisong, chief forecaster of Beijing Meteorological Bureau. Beijing has entered into its main flood period, which is featured by concentrated heavy rains and rainstorms. Zhang Linna said Beijing is expected to brace for another round of substantial rainfall from Friday to Saturday. Xinhua Beijing issued yellow alert for geological disasters as more rain to peltadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline NATO could meet to discuss Article 4 after Russian missile strike in Poland: reports closeVideo Fox News Senior Foreign Affairs correspondent Greg Palkot reports the latest on Russian missiles hitting Ukraine and landing in Poland on 'Special Report with Bret Baier.' KYIV, Ukraine The sirens wailed again today In Kyiv, and the Fox News team heard explosions nearby. Russian missiles were launched in a massive attack against Ukraine Tuesday, and one struck inside Poland, igniting big international concerns. Early reports said a Russian missile landed three miles inside Poland, striking an agricultural site, killing two people perhaps by accident Ukrainian President Zelenskyy was still very concerned. RUSSIAN MISSILES CROSS INTO NATO MEMBER POLAND, KILL 2: SENIOR US INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL A vehicle travels past a police blockade after an explosion in Przewodow, a village in eastern Poland near the border with Ukraine, Nov. 16, 2022. (REUTERS/Kacper Pempel) "This is a very significant escalation. We must act," he said in a TV address. It's significant because any attack on a NATO country by another nation could trigger "Article 5" military action by the alliance. NATO says its concerned but is not confirming the reports. Neither is the Pentagon. REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: "COLD" WAR IN KYIV AS RUSSIA HITS COUNTRY'S ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE "We dont have any information at this time to corroborate those reports," Pentagon spokesman Gen. Pat Ryder said, "and we are looking into this further." Moscow is flatly denying it was involved. According to a defense ministry spokesman, "No strikes were made against targets near the Ukrainian-Polish state border by Russian means of destruction." Firefighters work to put out a fire in a residential building hit by a Russian strike amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine Nov. 15, 2022. (REUTERS/Gleb Garanich) Later reports suggested what landed in Poland might have been fragments of a Russian missile shot down by Ukrainian air defenses. Poland is confirming the missile was Russian made. REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: OLD-STYLE GEAR TO FIGHT CURRENT-DAY UKRAINE WAR A Fox News crew saw something similar when it went to the scene of a Russian strike in Kyiv Tuesday. A Russian missile flying over Kyiv had been hit by a Ukrainian missile and fell in pieces to the ground, badly damaging and setting fire to an apartment building. One person was killed, another was injured. When Fox reached the neighborhood, the fire was out, but the damage was evident. Emergency workers swarmed over the scene. Some carted away shards of the missile. Polish government spokesman Piotr Muller speaks to the media after a meeting in Warsaw of the security committee about the missile attack on the territory of Poland Nov. 15, 2022. (Maciek Jazwiecki/Agencja Wyborcza.pl via REUTERS ) One eyewitness told Fox the fireball in the sky was "shocking." Another said it was simply the work of the "Russian terror state." All told, according to officials here, some 90 Russian missiles were launched across the country, and 70 were shot down by Ukraine. Fifteen hit the power grid, leaving millions nationwide without electricity. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP NATO says it will consider acting on the cross-border missile incident. Poland reportedly suggested the alliances "Article 4" be considered, which is a response to a threat rather than an attack by another nation on an alliance member. Greg Palkot currently serves as a London-based senior foreign affairs correspondent for Fox News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in 1998 as a correspondent. Follow him on Twitter@GregPalkot. National broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) has released a documentary on self-immolation in the countrys Tibetan-inhabited areas. Thebioshock infinite blockchain track documentary debuted at 9:27 p.m. on Sunday on CCTV-4, an international channel mainly targeting overseas viewers in Chinese language. It also aired on CCTVs English channel, Spanish channel, French channel, Arabic channel and Russian channel on Monday. The documentary, titled Facts About Self-Immolation in Tibetan Areas of Ngapa (Aba), discloses the truth about self-immolations that have occurred in Aba, a Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture in southwest Chinas Sichuan Province. The documentary contains interviews with the masterminds and victims of the self-immolations. It states that the monks in Aba were acting on orders sent from overseas to convince people to self-immolate, as well as sending information about the self-immolations abroad, as they have claimed that the acts were a form of protest against Chinese rule in Tibetan areas. The documentary also states that the Dalai clique masterminded the self-immolations in order to split China. Xinhua CCTV releases documentary on Tibetan self-immolationadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has urged greater efforts in revitalizing old industrial bases in northeast China. He Guoqiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remark during a two-day tour concluding Sunday in Changchun, the provincial capital of Jilin. Since the government implemented a strategy to regenerate the countrys old industrial bases including the northeast, the northeastern region is developing in a healthy way, He said. He said Jilin should make full use of precious opportunities including a plan to rejuvenate the economy of northeast China during the countrys 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015). Jilin should coordinate efforts to promote the provinces industrialization, urbanization and modernization of agriculture, further deepen its reform and opening up, ensure and improve peoples livelihoods and maintain social harmony and stability, he said. He visited a local company which processes agricultural products and urged it to stick to the path of independent innovation, boost the deep processing of agricultural products and promote farmers income increases. He hailed a project to improve the heating conditions of residential buildings after visiting a community in Changchun. He also urged the local government to make unswerving efforts to improve the CPCs work style, build a clean government and fight corruption. Last week, the Chinese government approved the plan to regenerate northeast Chinas economy during the 2011-2015 period. According to the plan, the northeastern region, once a leading industrial hub, will be built into an internationally competitive base for equipment manufacturing, raw materials and energy supplies. Xinhua He Guoqiang stresses regeneration of old industrial baseadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline This is why the Supreme Court ruling on concealed carry matters closeVideo Concealed carry instructor tells 'The Ingraham Angle' that today was a great day for gun ownership and empowerment for people to be able to defend themselves. A federal appeals court on Tuesday temporarily reinstated parts of New York's new concealed carry law after a judge last week blocked some provisions that restrict the carrying of firearms in certain public spaces. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals issued the temporary injunction while a legal challenge filed by a Second Amendment-rights group makes its way through the courts. "Defendants-Appellants seek a stay pending appeal, and an emergency interim stay, of the preliminary injunction issued by the district court on November 7, 2022," Tuesday's ruling states. "IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that a temporary stay is granted pending the panels consideration of the motion." STRICT GUN BILL ON OREGON BALLOT WILL CAUSE 'GREATER RISK OF VIOLENCE,' HARMFUL TO PUBLIC SAFETY, CRITICS WARN New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul was "served a plate of humble pie" from a New York district court judge last week, Second Amendment group says. On Tuesday, a federal appeals court issued a temporary stay against the earlier ruling. (Riccardo Savi/Getty Images for Concordia Summit) On Nov. 7, District Court Judge Glenn Suddaby said New York's conceal carry law invoked "unprecedented constitutional violations" and granted a partial preliminary injunction in favor of Gun Owners of America (GOA), forcing the state to cease enforcement of parts of the law, which was signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul in July. Suddaby ruled the state can still prevent people from carrying guns in Times Square, public playgrounds, libraries, nurseries and preschools. However, mental hospitals, places of worship, public parks, zoos, theaters, conference centers, protests and bars were no longer off limits for people with a concealed carry permit. A sign zip-tied to a utility pole at the intersection of East 47th St and Avenue of The Americas declares Times Square is a gun free zone. On Tuesday, a federal appeals court issued a temporary stay against the earlier ruling. (Karlo Pastrovic/Fox News Digital) Tuesday's ruling blocks Suddaby's order. "New York has once again defied the Constitution and the Supreme Courts Bruen decision," GOA Senior Vice President Erich Pratt said in response to Tuesday's ruling. "And this brings us just one step closer to standing before SCOTUS, where we know that Justice Clarence Thomas is waiting to slap down NY lawbreakers once again!" Video CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The GOA lawsuit came after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that a state law requiring citizens to show "proper cause" for self-defense to obtain a concealed carry permit was unconstitutional. New York lawmakers made changes to the concealed carry law after the decision. Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected]. James Curwen has been named the new CEO of Yggdrasil,cashman casino free coins 2019 starting on 1 October. Curwen, who is now the Chief Online Officer of OPAP, the Greek Operator, will take over this executive post when Bjorn Krantz steps down as CEO. Until his departure at the end of September, Krantz will keep leading the business and ensuring an easy transition. Krantz said: Since day one, my work with Yggdrasil has been focused on transformation and as the company now enters the next phase of its global developments, its time for me to hand over the reins. James Curwen is an industry veteran; he will bring invaluable experience and leadership to the company as it enters the next phase of driving sustainable, profitable growth. Its his time to lead. Entertainers perform during the opening ceremony of an ethnic clothing festival held in Kunming,slots capital online casino southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 15, 2022. Creations from different ethnic groups of Yunnan will be presented during the ethnic clothing festival. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo) A model presents creations during the opening ceremony of an ethnic clothing festival held in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 15, 2022. Creations from different ethnic groups of Yunnan will be presented during the ethnic clothing festival. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo) Entertainers perform during the opening ceremony of an ethnic clothing festival held in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 15, 2022. Creations from different ethnic groups of Yunnan will be presented during the ethnic clothing festival. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo) A model presents creations during the opening ceremony of an ethnic clothing festival held in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 15, 2022. Creations from different ethnic groups of Yunnan will be presented during the ethnic clothing festival. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo) A model presents creations during the opening ceremony of an ethnic clothing festival held in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 15, 2022. Creations from different ethnic groups of Yunnan will be presented during the ethnic clothing festival. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo) A designer (C) displays her creations during the opening ceremony of an ethnic clothing festival held in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 15, 2022. Creations from different ethnic groups of Yunnan will be presented during the ethnic clothing festival. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo) Get your flu shot in 'sweet spot' season before mid-November: Dr. Anne Rimoin closeVideo University of California in Los Angeles Department of Epidemiology professor Dr. Anne Rimoin advises how to best prepare for cold and flu season. Several Southern California hospitals have begun using overflow tents outside emergency rooms to cope with a rising number of patients with flu and other respiratory illnesses. The San Diego-Union Tribune reported Friday that overflow tents were put up at Scripps Memorial Hospital in Encinitas, Jacobs Medical Center at UC San Diego Health in La Jolla and Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa to handle an increase in respiratory illness. Scripps hospitals and doctor's offices reported 1,695 positive flu tests since Sept. 1, up from 471 during the same time period one year ago. A patient receives a dose of vaccine during a vaccination campaign against the flu. (Nicolas Maeterlinck/Belga/AFP via Getty Images) The move comes amid a rise in flu symptoms in emergency room patients in San Diego County. About 9% of these patients had flu symptoms last week, up from 7% two weeks ago, according to a county report. The San Diego-Union Tribune also flagged an increase in patients with COVID-19 symptoms, though not as quickly, according to the countys weekly respiratory illness report. EARLY, SURPRISING SURGE OF RSV IN KIDS HAS HOSPITALS, MEDICAL CENTERS CONCERNED "The fear is that everything is just sort of bouncing off everything else and once youve been through the flu you could still get hit by COVID or whatever other virus youre going to get," said Dr. Ghazala Sharieff, Scripps Health's chief medical officer of acute care operations and clinical excellence. "Im hopeful, but were still kind of planning that its going to be this way through February," Sharieff said. A pharmacist administers a free flu shot at a CVS Health Corp. Pharmacy in Miami, Florida, on Sept. 30, 2020. (Marco Bello/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Generally, the flu hits hardest from late December through February. The Southern Hemisphere also dealt with an earlier than usual influenza season. Chile's influenza positivity rates reached epidemic thresholds as early as January, several months sooner than usual. AMOXICILLIN PRESCRIBED FOR CHILDREN IS IN SHORT SUPPLY, FDA SAYS Health experts said it was not immediately clear whether flu cases would reach an earlier-than-usual peak in California, which typically sees the bulk of cases in December through February, or a prolonged flu season. Nurses prepare injections during a flu shot clinic at Dorchester House, a health care clinic, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Reuters/Brian Snyder) Much of the United States is seeing a fast start to the flu season. Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said more flu cases are being reported than is typically expected at this time. JUST 2 OMICRON SUBVARIANTS MAKE UP 44% OF ALL US COVID CASES On Friday, the CDC reported that the flu and similar viral illnesses are notably high in Georgia, New York City, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Washington, D.C. "Early increases in seasonal influenza activity continue nationwide. The southeastern and south-central areas of the country are reporting the highest levels of activity followed by the Mid-Atlantic and the south-central West Coast regions." the CDC said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Most of those are influenza A, specifically a strain called H3N2. While any version of the flu can be dangerous in vulnerable populations, this strain has been known to cause more severe illness. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Sarah Rumpf is a Fox News Digital Production Assistant. You can reach her on Twitter at @rumpfsarahc An airborne drill is best game to play at casino redditconducted by Tibet's airborne rescue team for emergency response to train for firefighting in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Nov. 12, 2022. (Xinhua) LHASA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region has set up its first airborne rescue team for emergency response. The 20-member team, co-established by the administration of emergency management in the city of Nyingchi and the city's forest fire brigade, will mainly be responsible for rescue and relief work in case of natural disasters and accidents in Nyingchi, according to the brigade. Located in the southeast part of Tibet, Nyingchi has lush forests and complicated terrain, posing a great threat to firefighting work in case of forest fires. The equipment of two helicopters gives the team great mobility in emergency response and rescue work, said Pu Tongmeng, captain of the team. On Saturday, the team carried out an airborne drill to train for firefighting, delivery of rescuers, transfer of trapped personnel, and aerial patrol. An airborne drill is conducted by Tibet's airborne rescue team for emergency response to train for firefighting in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Nov. 12, 2022. (Xinhua) How Gov. Ron DeSantis turned Florida red closeVideo A swing state no more, and new talk of 2024. New York Times columnist Paul Krugman faced backlash for claiming that Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., caused 20,000 "unnecessary deaths" because of his coronavirus polices in what many viewed as "disinformation." On Sunday, Krugman put out a lengthy Twitter thread on the possibility of DeSantis running for president in 2024 after he won a second term as governor in a historic landslide. Rather than discuss DeSantis election prospects, Krugman focused primarily on attacking the governor for thousands of "excess" deaths from the coronavirus pandemic. "Can Ron DeSantis effectively challenge Trump? I have no idea. But one thing I hope doesn't get forgotten in the horse-race coverage is DeSantis' major achievement as governor: the unnecessary death of around 20,000 Floridians," Krugman wrote. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gives a victory speech after defeating Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rep. Charlie Crist during his election night watch party at the Tampa Convention Center on Nov. 8, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Octavio Jones/Getty Images) AFTER FLORIDA BLOWOUT IN MIDTERMS, DEMOCRATS AND MEDIA PLAY BLAME GAME He claimed that he found the number by comparing COVID-19 deaths by state since Jan. 2021 based on when vaccines were widely available as well as adjusting for population. "Adjusted for population, the Florida-equivalent death toll was FL 59,170; CA 39,217; NY 39,551. So states that didn't have governors promoting Covid disinformation and anti-tax propaganda lost far fewer people the equivalent of ~20K excess in FL," Krugman tweeted. Krugmans tweets were heavily attacked, primarily for ignoring Floridas older population in comparison to the other states. Townhall.com web editor Rebecca Downs wrote, "How on earth do you not adjust for age unless youre trying to be a complete liar?" "Florida has the second oldest population in the nation. And the vaccines dont work as promised. You are a hack partisan buffoon on this issue, like everything else. LOL at anti-tax propaganda though," "Rubin Report" host Dave Rubin tweeted. "Why would you adjust for population and not age for a disease where the mortality is mostly on the older side?" asked NewsNation digital reporter Zaid Jilani. New York Times columnist Paul Krugman attacked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Sunday, blaming him for excess COVID deaths in the state. (Ricardo Rubio/Europa Press via Getty Images)) BILL MAHER CALLS DESANTIS POWERFUL, RIPS LOSER TRUMP: HOW MANY ELECTIONS HAS HE NOW FED UP IN GEORGIA? The Lafayette Co. President Ellen Carmichael pointed out how Krugman's parameters could be turned around on Bide, commenting, "This is a truly fantastic argument considering Biden oversaw the deaths of hundreds of thousands more Americans than Trump did, even with abundant vaccine access." "You should delete this, given that it's already been clearly marked as disinformation thanks to your inability to do math," The Spectator Editor-at-large Ben Domenech wrote. Fellow New York Times columnist Joe Nocera remarked, "So according to you, Cuomo is off the hook for sending infected nursing home residents back to spread C19 in their facilities, but DeSantis is damned b/c Fl has the highest %age of elderly in the nation. Really?? If you adjust for age of population, Cal and Fl are even." Writer Rav Arora said, "An economist and NYT opinion columnist doesnt understand basic statistics. You control for relevant variables before comparing two groups so its not apples to oranges. Missing a big one: age. @paulkrugman you should come back to undergrad with me and take stats 101." Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has frequently been touted as a frontrunner for the 2024 presidential election. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images) Krugman continued to criticize DeSantis, claiming that the governor "deterred" people from receiving "life-saving" vaccines. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "Why didn't DeSantis pay a price for this? Because Covid victims die out of the public eye, offscreen as it were. A resident of Florida is ~20X as likely to die gratuitously from Covid as a resident of NY is to be murdered, but crime makes headlines while other deaths don't," Krugman wrote. "And no, it's not about freedom. We're not talking about lockdowns and restrictions at this point, just about lifesaving shots that DeSantis deterred people from getting. Truly awesome." Lindsay Kornick is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @lmkornick. There are many ways by which language changes over time. In many cases, speakers accidentally substitute one word for another. For whatever reason, the mistake catches on, and new expression becomes commonplace. This particular vector of language change is called word-swapping. It refers to the substitution of one word for a homophone or near homophone, usually by accident. That is exactly what took place between home inand hone in, two variants of a common phrasal verb. Continue reading to learn the full story, and to find out whether you should choose hone inor home in. What is the Difference Between Home In and Hone In? In this article, I will compare home invs. hone in. I will outline the history of this phrase, and, at the end, I will discuss a helpful trick to remember when youre having trouble deciding whether to use home inor hone inin your writing. When to Use Home In What does home in mean? Home inis a phrasal verb. To home inon something is to narrow ones focus or to grow nearer to a conclusion. Home inis the older, standard variant. According to Garners Modern American English, the original metaphor was derived from homing pigeons, and over the course of the 20th century it also became linked to aircraft and missiles. See the examples below of this phrasal verb used in sentences. As the detective gathered clues, he began to home in on the solution to the mystery. The pigeon will home in on its destination and deliver the message. Today, Law buys much of her raw materials from the Dutch, often homing in on whichever variety might have been over-grown that year in order to reduce her environmental footprint. Newsweek Since the Tesla crash, U.S. lawmakers, safety advocates and others have begun homing in on how car companies describe their autonomous-driving systems. The Wall Street Journal When to Use Hone In What does hone in mean? Hone inis variant spelling of the same phrasal verb. It grew to prominence through word-swapping in the late 20th century. Despite its ubiquitous use in spoken American English, it is still considered a substandard variant in both American and British English. As you can see from the below graph, it still trails home inin written English throughout the world. The graph is even more pronounced if you select only British English writings. This graph is not perfect. It only draws from books written in English since 1800, ignoring other print sources and spoken language on the whole. Still, it is useful for identifying a long term trend. Trick to Remember the Difference Here is a helpful trick to remember hone isvs. home in. Hone inis common in spoken American English, but in written English home inis still the preferred spelling. Since home inis the standard form, you should use it, especially in academic and professional writing. If you were writing fiction, and you wanted to craft believable dialogue that captures the way an ordinary American might speak, choosing hone inover home inmight help you achieve that goal. In other contexts, however, avoid using hone in. You can remember that home inis standard by imagining the original metaphor of the homing pigeon. A pigeon flies back to its home, not its hone. By using this trick, youll always know that home in is the correct variant of this phrase. Summary Is it home in or hone in?Home inand hone inare two variants of a phrasal verb that means to narrow ones focus or to grow nearer to a conclusion. It was originally a metaphor related to homing pigeons. If you keep this metaphor in mind, you will always be able to remember that home inis the standard form and that you should avoid hone infor academic and professional writing. Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Monday addressed an event for foreign diplomats and representatives of international agencies and said that China will work with other nations toward world peace and development. China will, together with all other countries, share opportunities, tackle challenges, and make new and greater contribution to the lofty cause of peace and development for mankind, Yang said at a New Year Reception hosted by the Foreign Ministry. Briefing the guests on the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Yang said China will continue to hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit; promote equality, mutual trust, inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutually beneficial cooperation in international relations; firmly pursue an independent foreign policy of peace; unwaveringly follow the path of peaceful development and grow friendship and cooperation in all fields with other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. According to the foreign minister, 2012 has seen fresh and important progress in Chinas diplomatic work, as evidenced by the countrys growing international standing and influence. We have advanced our ties with other countries and deepened good-neighborly friendship and cooperation with our neighbors, Yang said. He told the audience, We have played the responsible and constructive role of a big country in dealing with international and regional hotspot issues, worked actively to push for peaceful settlement of disputes and issues, and stood for non-intervention in others internal affairs and other basic norms governing international relations. We have carried out extensive public diplomacy activities as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges to encourage deeper understanding and friendship between the Chinese people and people of other countries. Yang said Chinas diplomacy will maintain continuity and consistency, and the country will adapt itself to new developments and requirements, both domestically and internationally. We will seek to create a more favorable international environment for our efforts to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and achieve socialist modernization, he said. In the coming year, we look forward to maintaining good cooperation with all of you and stepping up mutual support and coordination with all related agencies. In his address, Nolana Ta-Ama, dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Togos ambassador to China, hailed Chinas great achievements in 2012. In todays world, the positive developments would not have been possible without Chinas decisive contribution, he said, particularly stressing Chinas role in tackling the international financial crisis and addressing environment and climate change issues. I cannot help but mention the courage of China as a permanent member of the UN Security Council in urging countries in conflicts to respect the concerns of all parties, show flexibility and practicality and resolve crises through dialogue and other diplomatic means, he added. More than 400 people, including Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, attended Mondays reception in Beijing. Xinhua China pledges more contribution to world peaceadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Two of the six people suspected of trying to hijack the commercial aircraft died in hospital. According to the newspaper Global Times, they died from injuries occurred during the arrest. No details were given. The foiled attempt to hijack a passenger plane happened in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on June 29. Tianjin Airline Flight GS7554 took off from the city Hetyan to Urumqi, the administrative center of the region. 10 minutes after take-off, six criminals tried to hijack the plane. However, the hijackers were arrested and disarmed by the crew members and passengers. Several people were slightly injured. Those criminals were handed over to police soon after the plane returned to the Hetyan airport. They are from 20 to 36 years. The case is now under investigation. Two suspects died in hospital after an attempt to hijack a planeadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Jesse Watters: FTX crypto scandal much worse than Madoff closeVideo Fox News host Jesse Watters weighs in on the Democratic Party's relationship with the now bankrupt cryptocurrency company FTX on 'Jesse Watters Primetime.' Fox News host Jesse Watters dives into Ukraine's investment in now-bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange company FTX and the company's donations to Democratic campaigns on "Jesse Watters Primetime." JESSE WATTERS: This is bigger than Bernie Madoff, but unlike Bernie Madoff, who was getting rich off a Ponzi scheme, the Democratic Party was getting rich off of FTX. FTX came onto the scene in 2019, and it spent $10 million to put Joe Bidenin the White House in 2020. And the guy running FTX, the second-biggest Democrat donor in the midterms after Soros, of course, spent $40 million to get Democrats elected. SEC CHAIRMAN GARY GENSLER MET WITH HEAD OF FTX MONTHS BEFORE COLLAPSE Sam Bankman-Fried, founder and chief executive officer of FTX Cryptocurrency Derivatives Exchange, speaks during the Institute of International Finance (IIF) annual membership meeting in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022. This year's conference theme is "The Search for Stability in an Era of Uncertainty, Realignment and Transformation." (Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Ukraine was an investor in FTX. You may be asking why is a country in the middle of a war investing in crypto? Shouldn't they be buying weapons, or I mean, if they have to invest in anything, doesn't crypto sound a little risky for Zelenskyy? You wouldn't want an investment with a solid rate of return and years of stable growth? No. Zelenskyy thought he'd give it to a guy living in a tax haven fresh out of college with funny hair. Well, when Democrats are sending you billions of dollars of weaponry, the least you could do is reward their favorite megadonor. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP And what did FTX do with the money Ukraine invested? Well, they plowed it right back into the Democratic Party. Democrats send money to Ukraine, Ukraine sends money to FTX, and FTX sends money to the Democrats campaigns. This article was written by Fox News staff. Chinese entrepreneurs will be boosted after an European Court of Justice ruling safeguarded their overseas rights and interests,bandar88 slotted bare according to Chinas commercial authorities on Tuesday. On November 15, the court ruled on a trade dispute between a Chinese shoemaker and the European Commission. It overturned the six-year-long anti-dumping duties the commission imposed to Chinese shoe companies. Commenting on the final ruling on Tuesday, Ministry of Commerce spokesman Shen Danyang said that China would continue to adopt legal means under the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in trade disputes to protect the overseas interests of Chinese corporations. The European Commission imposed the anti-dumping taxes to Chinese shoe producers in a bid to protect local manufacturers, in October 2006. The duties were rated at 16.5 percent, said Aokang Group Co.(Aokang), one of the shoemakers involved and the only firm that decided to go through the appeal process, lasting six years after their first lawsuit was objected in 2010. Shen said the ruling represents a warning to the European Commission to strictly exercise its administrative power in accordance with the law. The case will provide guidance to the handling of similar cases in the future, Shen added. Aokang chairman, Wang Zhentao, said the case has given the company an opportunity to learn how to address international trade disputes. When looking back, we consider the anti-dumping duties to some extent a good thing, which has prompted us to improve the structure of our products and product technology, Wang said. After entry to the WTO in 2001, China has filed 11 lawsuits on international trade disputes. Xinhua European court ruling boost Chinese entrepreneurs confidenceadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Vetoed by Moscow and Beijing has caused widespread outrage in the Arab and Western capitals and both countries are now trying to defuse criticism. The rejection of the draft resolution supported by the Arab League primarily reflects the will of Moscow and Beijing to prevent Western intervention in the Libya model, analysts said. The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that the draft resolution was not balanced because it formulated demands to government and Syrian security forces, but with very little elements on the opposition. An argument echoed by his Chinese counterpart saying that the text is not likely to ease tensions which have lasted for eleven months in the country. Sergei Lavrov is expected to visit Damascus with director of intelligence, Mikail Fradkov. In a statement Sunday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the two men try to convince the Syrian president to compromise. Asked Monday after talks with his Bahraini counterpart in Moscow, Sergei Lavrov would not specify the message to Bashar al-Assad. He simply repeated that Russia urged the Syrian regime to adopt democratic reforms, while accusing some opponents to use the protest movement for regime change through violence. In Beijing, the Peoples Daily, organ of the Communist Party, wrote that the recent examples in Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq demonstrate that the error would be a forced change of regime in Damascus. For Russia, the challenge is to defend its interests in Syria, with which it is linked by arms contracts worth several billion dollars that fuel the Russian military-industrial complex. Syria also hosts on its Mediterranean coast the only Russian naval base outside the borders of the former Soviet Union. The goal of Russia is twofold: to save what can be saved from a shipwreck of the Assad regime and contain Western influence on its most important ally in the Arab world, said Shashank Joshi, a researcher at the Royal United Services Institute, a British military think tank. If that fails, Russia runs the risk of losing all influence in Syria dominated by opponents of the Assad regime. If Russia had supported the resolution, it could preserve its base and even some contracts, said military analyst Alexander Golts. China and Russia to counter Western influenceadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Trump announces 2024 presidential run closeVideo 'The Ingraham Angle' panelists weigh in on former President Donald Trump's announcement from his Mar-a-Lago home a week after the midterm elections. The Democratic Party has issued a statement responding to former President Donald Trumps announcement that he is running for the presidency in 2024, predicting he will lose. "Donald Trump was a failure as president; thats why he lost in 2020 and its why he will lose again," DNC Chair Jaime Harrison said in a statement about Trumps candidacy. Harrison said it would be likely that other Republicans would try to contest Trumps effort to snag the Republican nomination. Still, he said the Democratic Party would "be ready for them all." Former U.S. President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump arrive for an event at his Mar-a-Lago home on November 15, 2022 in Palm Beach, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) "Today is just the kickoff to what will be a messy Republican primary with candidates competing to be the most extreme MAGA Republican in the race," Harrison added. DONALD TRUMP ANNOUNCES 2024 RE-ELECTION RUN FOR PRESIDENT "Democrats stand ready to remind Americans what Trump brought America: the worst jobs record since the Great Depression, rigged the economy for the super-rich with massive tax giveaways to corporations, the right-wing Supreme Court that overturned Roe and paved the way for extreme Republicans across the country to criminalize abortion, a diminished standing across the world, and absolute chaos that culminated in inciting a mob to attack the Capitol to try to overturn an election he knew he lost," Harrison also said. In Palm Beach, Florida on Tuesday, Trump formally announced he is running for the 2024 Republican nomination for president. Former US President Donald Trump during an announcement at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, US, on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images) The "Make America Great Again" movement leaders presidential bid will be his third, after defeating Hillary Clinton in 2016, but falling to President Joe Biden in 2020. "In order to make America great and glorious again. I am tonight announcing my candidacy for president of the United States," Trump said at his Mar-a-Lago estate to a group of eager supporters. 2024 WATCH: MEET THE POTENTIAL GOP PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDERS "But just as I promised in 2016, I am your voice. I am your voice," he added. "The Washington establishment wants to silence us, but we will not let them do that. What we have built together over the past six years is the greatest movement in history because it is not about politics. It's about our love for this great country, America, and we're not going to let it fail." Former US President Donald Trump arrives to speak with former First Lady Melania Trump, left, at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, US, on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images) "I am running because I believe the world has not yet seen the true glory of what this nation can be. We have not reached that pinnacle, believe it or not," said Trump. "In fact, we can go very far. We're going to have to go far first. We have to get out of this ditch. And once we're out, you'll see things that nobody imagined for any country. It's called the United States of America. And it's an incredible place." CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Democratic nominee is expected to be President Biden, pitting him and Trump in a 2020 rematch where both candidates set respective records for the most votes ever received. A communication chip of China's BeiDou-3 Navigation Satellite System is casino free slots games no download requiredon display at the 10th China (Mianyang) Science and Technology City International High-Tech Expo in Mianyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 16, 2022. The expo commenced Wednesday in the city of Mianyang. Under the theme "Science and Technology Leading, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Win-win Cooperation", the expo will see more than 600 high-tech companies and institutes participating both online and offline. (Xinhua/Tang Wenhao) CHENGDU, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The 10th China (Mianyang) Science and Technology City International High-Tech Expo commenced Wednesday in the city of Mianyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province. The expo, held under the theme -- "Science and Technology Leading, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Win-win Cooperation" -- will see more than 600 high-tech companies and institutes participating both online and offline. Argentina is attending the 2022 edition of the expo as the guest country of honor. Experts and industry leaders will make speeches and exchange views on industries such as nuclear medicine equipment, laser technology, magnetic materials, microwave communication, and more. Jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Sichuan provincial government, the expo has been held annually since its establishment in 2013. People visit the 10th China (Mianyang) Science and Technology City International High-Tech Expo in Mianyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 16, 2022. The expo commenced Wednesday in the city of Mianyang. (Xinhua/Tang Wenhao) This photo shows the opening ceremony of the 10th China (Mianyang) Science and Technology City International High-Tech Expo in Mianyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Tang Wenhao) Visitors learn about a smart agricultural breeding platform at the 10th China (Mianyang) Science and Technology City International High-Tech Expo in Mianyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 16, 2022. The expo commenced Wednesday in the city of Mianyang. Under the theme "Science and Technology Leading, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Win-win Cooperation", the expo will see more than 600 high-tech companies and institutes participating both online and offline. (Xinhua/Tang Wenhao) A visitor views a flexible robot at the 10th China (Mianyang) Science and Technology City International High-Tech Expo in Mianyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 16, 2022. The expo commenced Wednesday in the city of Mianyang. Under the theme "Science and Technology Leading, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Win-win Cooperation", the expo will see more than 600 high-tech companies and institutes participating both online and offline. (Xinhua/Tang Wenhao) China's homegrown TP500 unmanned freighter is on display at the 10th China (Mianyang) Science and Technology City International High-Tech Expo in Mianyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 16, 2022. The expo commenced Wednesday in the city of Mianyang. Under the theme "Science and Technology Leading, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Win-win Cooperation", the expo will see more than 600 high-tech companies and institutes participating both online and offline. (Xinhua/Tang Wenhao) Volunteers wear special glasses to view a 3D display screen connected to the endoscope at the 10th China (Mianyang) Science and Technology City International High-Tech Expo in Mianyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 16, 2022. The expo commenced Wednesday in the city of Mianyang. Under the theme "Science and Technology Leading, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Win-win Cooperation", the expo will see more than 600 high-tech companies and institutes participating both online and offline. (Xinhua/Tang Wenhao) An exhibitor shows the operation of a laser cutting machine at the 10th China (Mianyang) Science and Technology City International High-Tech Expo in Mianyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 16, 2022. The expo commenced Wednesday in the city of Mianyang. Under the theme "Science and Technology Leading, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Win-win Cooperation", the expo will see more than 600 high-tech companies and institutes participating both online and offline. (Xinhua/Tang Wenhao) A child interacts with a robotic dog at the 10th China (Mianyang) Science and Technology City International High-Tech Expo in Mianyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 16, 2022. The expo commenced Wednesday in the city of Mianyang. Under the theme "Science and Technology Leading, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Win-win Cooperation", the expo will see more than 600 high-tech companies and institutes participating both online and offline. (Xinhua/Tang Wenhao) This photo shows an emergency mechanized bridge exhibited at the 10th China (Mianyang) Science and Technology City International High-Tech Expo in Mianyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 16, 2022. The expo commenced Wednesday in the city of Mianyang. Under the theme "Science and Technology Leading, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Win-win Cooperation", the expo will see more than 600 high-tech companies and institutes participating both online and offline. (Xinhua/Tang Wenhao) A visitor learns about a polishing machine at the 10th China (Mianyang) Science and Technology City International High-Tech Expo in Mianyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 16, 2022. The expo commenced Wednesday in the city of Mianyang. Under the theme "Science and Technology Leading, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Win-win Cooperation", the expo will see more than 600 high-tech companies and institutes participating both online and offline. (Xinhua/Tang Wenhao) NANNING,eagles falcons odds bovada nascar Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- More than 7,000 middle school teachers and students from 57 countries and regions are attending the "6th Belt and Road Teenager Maker Camp & Teacher Workshop," which opened in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Tuesday. Participants can share abundant learning resources and join exchange activities such as dialogues with scientists and scientific seminars -- both offline and online -- at the camp. More than 500 transportation experts will deliver popular science courses to the teenagers, while engineering and technology personnel from more than 20 enterprises will provide them with online tutoring. Participants can also visit China online and experience traditional Chinese culture in the process. The camp aims to build a platform for teachers and students from countries along the Belt and Road to communicate with each other and improve the teenagers' scientific literacy, according to the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST). The camp, jointly sponsored by the CAST, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the regional governments of Guangxi and Chongqing Municipality, will last until the end of November. Some 87,fidelity investments bonus offer000 kilometers of new highways opened in China in 2012, marking a record-high year-on-year growth rate, a senior transport official said Saturday. Minister of Transport Yang Chuantang said 11,000 km of the new highways are expressways. In addition to building new highways, China has also improved 194,000 km of rural roads this year, according to Yang. Chinas transport sector has seen historic changes during the past decade, said Yang, adding that the total length of highways in operation is expected to reach 4.1 million km by the end of this year. However, Yang also said Chinas transport capacity remains insufficient, considering the booming demand created by the countrys industrialization and urbanization. To meet mounting demand, Yang said China will continue to intensify transport facility construction and try to make these facilities more durable and reliable. China will also make efforts to improve transport facilities in rural areas as well as those in the countrys central and western regions, he said. At the same time, China will improve road safety by taking measures to prevent serious transport accidents, Yang said. Xinhua Chinas transport improves, faces pressureadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Will Cain: Whoever is responsible for Poland missile strike will get even richer closeVideo Fox News host Will Cain reacts to the missile strike in Poland on 'Tucker Carlson Tonight.' Fox News host Will Cain argued Tuesday that whoever launched missiles against Poland will make money off of it on " Tucker Carlson Tonight ." WILL CAIN: You heard in that report the mention of Article 5. That's a self-defense provision in the NATO charter. Now, if invoked, it means world war against Russia. There's no doubt about it and within minutes of that apparent strike in Poland, the government of Estonia, a NATO ally, made it clear that world war might result. "Estonia is ready to defend every inch of NATO territory." Is America? RUSSIA HAMMERS KYIV, UKRAINE WITH MISSILES, VIDEO SHOWS FIERY AFTERMATH Polish government spokesman Piotr Muller speaks to media after a meeting of the security committee in connection with the missile attack on the territory of Poland, in Warsaw, Poland November 15, 2022. Maciek Jazwiecki/Agencja Wyborcza.pl via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. POLAND OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN POLAND. (Maciek Jazwiecki/Agencja Wyborcza.pl via REUTERS ) Now, there are reports that instead of Article 5, Poland will actually look to invoke Article 4. Now, that would give them the power to ask NATO to come together for more support for Ukraine, more money, perhaps air and anti-air power over Ukraine and in fact, the White House today asked Congress for another $37 billion and, of course, they'll get that for Ukraine. In other words, whoever was responsible for that missile strike in Poland, well, they're about to get even richer: Defense contractors. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Look, we don't know what happened yet in Poland. We don't know where those missiles came from. We don't know what was the intended target. We don't know if it was a mistake. Russia denies launching the attack. The Pentagon hasn't confirmedit even happened. Ukraine's President Zelenskyy, of course, has blamed Russia, but we should know the answers to these questions before we zombie-walk into war. This article was written by Fox News staff. Chinese telecom giant ZTE Corporation said Sunday it expects huge net losses in the third quarter due to falling revenues and profit margin, while noting a negative impact of U.S. probes on its business with Iran. The company forecast 1.9 billion yuan (299.7 million U.S. dollars) to 2 billion yuan of net losses in the third quarter of the year, compared with net profits of 299 million yuan in the same period of 2011 and 245 million yuan in the first half. Delayed progress in some international projects and low gross profit margins of contracts in Europe and Asia including China reduced revenues and the total profit margin in the third quarter, ZTE said in a statement to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, where it is listed. As a result of ongoing probes by U.S. Department of Commerce and Department of Justice on ZTEs business with Iran, the companys performance in Iran made a negative impact on the third-quarter results, according to the statement. Chinas Ministry of Commerce (MOC) has called on the United States to fairly resolve the case it brought against ZTE over allegations that the company sold banned U.S. telecom products to Iran. China has kept normal, open and transparent economic and trade relations with Iran, not violating any UN Security Council resolution, and should not have to endure groundless criticism, MOC spokesman Shen Danyang said in July. ZTE, together with another leading Chinese telecom firm Huawei, also faced accusations raised by a U.S. Congress committee last week for posing possible threats to U.S. national security. For the first three quarters of the year, ZTE is expected to report 1.65 billion yuan to 1.75 billion yuan of net losses in total, the company said. Xinhua Chinas ZTE forecasts huge quarterly losses, U.S. probes hurtadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline China has devoted substantial resources to helping developing countries deal with the severe challenges posed by climate change,neo cryptocurrency prices today a senior Chinese official said on Tuesday. The country has earmarked 200 million U.S. dollars for this cause over a period of three years, Xie Zhenhua, head of Chinas delegation to the ongoing UN climate talks in Doha, Qatar, said. The funds will be used to finance climate programs in Africa, the least developed countries and small island countries, Xie, also deputy director of Chinas National Development and Reform Commission, added. Some developing countries have made remarkable progress in improving energy efficiency with Chinas help, said Xie. For example, Grenada, a small island country in the Caribbean, has halved its energy consumption and saved 1 million dollars in public spending by using Chinese-provided energy-saving technologies and equipment, according to the Chinese official. China has also offered training programs on climate change to hundreds of officials and technicians from other developing countries and the number will reach 2,000 in the next two years, he added. The Chinese efforts, part of developing countries drive to promote so-called South-South cooperation on climate change, was welcomed by international deputies at the Doha climate talks. Tewolde Berhan, director-general of Ethiopias Environmental Protection Authority, praised Chinas contribution to the South-South cooperation, citing Chinas support for his countrys hydropower development as an example. Helen Clark, administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, said at a meeting held on the sidelines of the Doha climate talks that South-South cooperation is important for environment protection and the fight against global warming. Xinhua China backs developing countries to combat climate changeadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Thewarriors raptors odds Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the Peoples Republic of China released the Assessment Report on National Industrial Development Quality 2011 (hereinafter referred to as the Report), according to Chongqing Economy and Informatization on January 7, 2013. Chongqing ranks 12th place in this comprehensive assessment on provinces and municipalities in China. Chongqing in second-tier group The Report says that China boasts three unique groups in terms of the industrial development. The first-tier group consists of seven provinces, all of which own talents and technologies. They are responsible of leading the Chinese industry transition and upgrade. Including Chongqing, 15 provinces constitute the second-tier group. Members in this group, on the development surge, have a certain degree of industrial development potential. They are also confronted with great pressure brought by transition and upgrade. The last group, comprising 9 provinces, has a weak industrial foundation. They need to bring their resource superiority into full play for a characteristic progress. Chongqing stands out in 4 indicators Chongqing has a sound industrial momentum, shows the Report. In particular, it performs well in 4 indicators. For instance, Chongqing are respectively the 11th and 10th in operational performance and development vitality. The comparative advantages of Chongqing also betrays in steady growth and structure optimization. Tan Jiangang Chongqings industrial development: 12th in Chinaadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline 03:29 A unanimous vote by the U.N. Security Council Friday - demanding an end to the chaos in Haiti and targeting a notorious gang leader for sanctions. Still unresolved is mit blackjack team earningswhether the international community will respond to Haiti's appeal for military intervention. For more, check out our exclusive content on CGTN Now and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The China Report. China and India, the main buyers of Iranian oil plan to cut down oil imports from the Islamic Republic by 10 percent or more. According to received information, the company Unipec, a subsidiary of Chinas largest oil and gas corporation Sinopec Corp., Will reduce the import of Iranian oil by 10 20 percent of contracts for delivery in 2012. Quantities of energy coming from Iran to China in the first quarter has decreased sharply because of a price dispute between the parties on the annual supply contract. According to the experts, taking into account the constant level of supply for the corporation, Zhuhai Zhenrong Corp, and the company Chinaoil, China will reduce oil imports from Iran about 14 percent. Meanwhile, Indian authorities are trying to reduce purchases of Iranian oil by 10 15 percent, according to sources in the industry. January 23 this year, foreign ministers of EU countries have decided to completely stop importing Iranian oil. This solution leads to a ban on new contracts and renewals of existing agreements. However, previous transactions are still effective. A full embargo will be introduced by 1 July by which time all existing contracts will be terminated. China and India plan to cut oil imports from Iran by 10 percent or moreadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Taiwans foreign trade increased 5.5 percent to US$48.08 billion in December on the back of a recovering global economy and Lunar New Year inventory purchases by mainland Chinese firms,week 4 cfb lines all online pokies according to the Ministry of Finance Jan. 7. The latest MOF statistics showed Taiwans exports climbed 9 percent year on year to US$26.1 billion, while imports inched up 1.6 percent to US$21.98 billion. The countrys net trade surplus surged 78 percent to US$4.13 billion. Yeh Maan-tzwu, director-general of the MOF Department of Statistics, credited the encouraging results to robust demand for Taiwans display panels, oil products and transportation equipment, which all registered double-digit growth from the year before. A strong sign is the 2.1 percent increase in exports of information and communication technology products, the first gain after a 13-month decline, she said. Imports were supported by demand for capital equipment, raw materials and record high shipments of consumer goods, especially handsets. Exports to Japan and mainland China, including Hong Kong, and Taiwans six major trading partners from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations all posted double-digit gains, with the 11 percent increase of shipments to Europe reversing a seven-month downward trend. Taiwans full-year exports dipped 2.3 percent to US$301.11 billion year on year, while imports decreased 3.8 percent to US$270.73 billion. Foreign trade was down 3 percent to US$571.84 billion, with net trade surplus surging 13.27 percent to an all-time high of US$30.38 billion. While the foreign trade figure for 2012 marks the fifth annual decline since 1975, Yeh said she remains cautiously optimistic about the countrys export outlook for the first quarter due to stabilizing conditions in emerging markets and the introduction of new mobile devices by leading ICT firms worldwide. Yehs positive outlook is influenced in part by the Ministry of Economic Affairs continuous drive to expand Taiwans export markets, with a focus on 11 nations in Central and Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. As a result of these efforts, the MOEA expects Taiwans exports to surge 5.5 percent and top US$317.7 billion this year. (JSM) Meg Chang Taiwan Today Taiwans foreign trade gains 5.5 percent in Decemberadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Samsung,all british casino bonus code LG and four Taiwanese firms have been fined heavily for price-fixing of liquid crystal display (LCD) panels on the Chinese mainland. These companies have been ordered to pay 144 million yuan in fines and return 172 million yuan of extra payment to Chinese mainland buyers. The government also confiscated 36.75 million yuan of their illegal gains, Chinas top price regulator said Friday. The four firms from Taiwan are Chi Mei Optoelectronics, AU Optronics, Chunghwa Picture Tubes and HannStar Display. The six companies were fined for price-rigging on the Chinese mainland between 2001 and 2006, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The NDRC launched an investigation after receiving multiple complaints since Dec. 2006 about price-fixing involving the six companies. During the investigation, the firms confessed that they held 53 meetings between 2001 and 2006 to fix the prices of flat panels supplied to the Chinese mainland market. This harmed the interests of both other LCD panel suppliers and consumers, according to the NDRC. LCD panels accounted for about 80 percent of the production cost of color TVs during the 2001-2006 period. More recently, the rate is around 70 percent, according to NDRC data. The 172 million yuan that was illegally obtained from Chinese television manufacturers has now been reimbursed to these companies, said the NDRC. The six companies also vowed to extend the free warranty period of their LCD panels for TV producers on the Chinese mainland from 18 months to 36 months, which could save manufacturers 395 million yuan each year on maintenance costs, the NDRC added. Up until recent years, TV manufacturers on the mainland have suffered from their reliance on LCD panel imports, as the core technology of LCD production has been kept among LCD panel suppliers in South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. The NDRCs move will help establish a fair market, said Bai Weimin, vice president of the China Video Industry Association. TV producers on the mainland have always hoped for fair treatment from overseas LCD panel suppliers, whose products now cover nearly half of the global LCD TV output, said Bai. Meanwhile, Chinese netizens voiced their support for the commissions firm stance. It may shock all the foreign-funded companies in China running against Chinese laws and regulations, said a netizen on Friday in a post at the Twitter-like Sina Weibo. All the domestic TV makers could do nothing but accept the prices those giants fixed, which impacts the industry, said a user with the screen name Fanrenyanzhongkanshjie. However, some online comments showed their dissatisfaction, saying the fine could not be compared to that levied by the United States and the European Union on companies for similar deeds, which amounted to about 1 billion U.S. dollars. The fine means very little for them, Donghuahudegui posted. The amount of the fine was made based on the companies illegal income and was in accordance with the Pricing Law of China, the NDRC said. It also took their confession into consideration. Others thought what matters is the penalty itself, not the exact fine. The incident is a milestone for Chinese market regulators who will act hard if anyone plays against rules, said Prof. Wu Hong, Dean of School of Economic Laws under East China University of Political Science and Law. Xinhua Samsung, LG fined for LCD panel price-riggingadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Mike Pence opens up about his relationship with Donald Trump closeVideo Former Vice President Mike Pence joins 'Hannity' for a wide-ranging exclusive interview following contentious midterms. Former Vice President Mike Pence told Fox News on Monday he still greatly regrets how his once close relationship with Donald Trump deteriorated quickly after he refused to back down from his view there was no Constitutional maneuver to overturn the results of the 2020 election. "I have to tell you that as different as the two of us are, President Trump and I actually forged a close working relationship. He was not just my president. He was my friend," Pence recalled. "We literally spent time together every day when we were both at the White House, sometimes up to 4 hours." Pence said he and Trump initially parted "amicably" even in the wake of the January 6 riot, but that Trump's later return to biting public criticisms and accusations against Pence in terms of his role as presiding officer of the Senate during the electoral count led him to part ways permanently. STUDENT LOAN BUYOUT AND ABORTION WON MIDTERMS FOR DEMOCRATS, SAY CRITICS Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the National Press Club on Nov. 30, 2021 in Washington. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Some Republicans had believed the 1960 Presidential Election in Hawaii represented a precedent for submitting a second slate of electors from states where advocates believed there were errors afoot. That year, then-Republican majority Hawaii saw Republicans approve a slate and Democrats approve an uncertified slate of electors for Richard M. Nixon and John F. Kennedy respectively. Democrats prevailed in a December recount and sent a third slate of Kennedy electors certified by Republican Gov. William Quinn, which were ultimately accepted by then-Vice President Nixon sitting in Pence's position on January 6, 1961. Critics further analyzed the Electoral Count Act of 1887, which itself came following Republican President Rutherford Hayes' disputed election win against former New York Democratic Gov. Samuel Tilden. "It's part of what made what happened at the end so difficult," the Indiana Republican said of how the reaction to that disagreement broke his and Trump's once strong relationship. "I knew what my duty was under the Constitution of the United States. I made that clear many times over to the president. But he had legal advisers around him that were telling him something different. And we ended up having to have a disagreement, a very loud disagreement in public." BIDEN'S CHINA DIPLOMACY STRATEGIC INSANITY WITH REAL-WORLD REPERCUSSIONS: THIESSEN Former President Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Hilton Anatole on Aug. 6, 2022 in Dallas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) "What made that even more difficult is because literally every step of the way from the day I was added to the national ticket all the way until Election Day 2020 we had a strong, close working relationship that was built on mutual respect." "Last fall, when we got together, We parted amicably. And we spoke a number of times after I left office. But frankly, when the President returned to some of the rhetoric about me and others who had taken a stand for the Constitution, I thought it was best that we just go our separate ways." Unlike Biden, he said he and Trump did not just "talk" to world rivals like China's Xi Jinping they acted. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Then President Trump arrives with then Vice President Mike Pence for a Make America Great Again rally at Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City, Michigan on Nov. 2, 2020. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) "We imposed $250 billion in tariffs. We strengthened our military alliances in the region. We maintained freedom of navigation, held them accountable for intellectual property theft," he said. Pence cited several other accomplishments he and Trump forged together, notably what he characterized as "rallying back" after the Senate failed to repeal Obamacare by Arizonan John McCain's famous thumbs-down nay-vote. "But then to see the way, with the president's leadership, we rallied back, and we cut taxes and really restored the strength and vitality of this country," he said. Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital. He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant. Charles covers media, politics and breaking news, and has covered the annual CPAC conference for Fox News Digital. Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to [email protected]. The flags of G20 member nations and posters are hung ahead of the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, Nov. 13, 2022. Photo: China News Service Chinese President Xi Jinping met a number of foreign leaders - including some from US allies and major developing economies - on the first day of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Bali, Indonesia, fully underscoring the strategic and guiding role of head-of-state diplomacy and implications of Chinese diplomacy following the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) as the world expects China-proposed solutions and its wisdom in handling issues of concern amid growing geopolitical uncertainties.Xi met French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Senegalese President Macky Sall, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, Spanish President Pedro Sanchez and Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez on Tuesday on the sidelines of the G20, which Chinese experts said reflects China's multi-faceted diplomacy and its growing influence in handling international affairs.It was also the first time the top Chinese leader had such intensive in-person meetings with foreign leaders overseas since the COVID-19 outbreak, which shows China is widely welcomed and expected on the global stage with its major-country diplomacy being put under the spotlight at the crucial multilateral event.During the meeting with French President Macron, Xi stressed that the two sides need to make top-level planning for the bilateral relations with a view toward the future, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, deepen practical cooperation, and work for continued progress in traditional areas of cooperation while actively tapping into green energy, scientific and technological innovation and other areas for cooperation potential.Xi said China hopes France will encourage the EU to stay committed to an independent and positive China policy. China stands ready to work with France to support Indonesia in hosting a successful G20 Bali summit, step up communication and coordination on issues including climate response and biodiversity conservation, jointly uphold true multilateralism.The Chinese president also expressed the hope for pushing forward China-Europe relations during his meeting with Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Xi said that China hopes the Netherlands will play a constructive role in safeguarding multilateralism, pushing forward European openness and cooperation and playing an active role in stable and sound China-Europe ties.During the meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez, Xi said China hopes to enhance coordination with Spain under G20 and other multilateral platforms and jointly tackle challenges including the climate change, energy and food crisis. He also hopes that Spain will play an active role in boosting China-EU relations.Those meetings send a clear message that it is hoped that China-Europe relations will be stabilized by overcoming growing challenges, and the two sides should adhere to strategic independence and respect each other, Cui Hongjian, director of the Department of European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday."China's insistence on the noninterference principle and rejecting being driven by different ideologies echo Europe's strategic autonomy strategy pushed by France, and EU members are expected to play a more constructive role in China-EU relations," Cui said.During the meeting with Albanese, prime minister of Australia, with whom China's ties have deteriorated sharply in recent years, Xi emphasized the importance of candid communication to narrow the divergences, saying that the two countries have no major conflict of interest but highly complementary economies and common aspirations of safeguarding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.When talking with South Korean President Yoon, Xi said that China and South Korea should accelerate bilateral free trade agreement negotiations, deepen cooperation in high-tech manufacturing, big data and green economy and jointly safeguard the international free trade system and global supply chains. China also opposes politicizing economic activities or generalizing the security issue.The US ramped up efforts in instigating its allies in the Asia-Pacific by using mechanisms such as the Quad and the "Indo-Pacific Strategy" to contain China. Most recently, the US reportedly formed a chip alliance to create semiconductor barrier against the Chinese mainland, putting countries like South Korea into a dilemma.However, such a busy head-of-state diplomacy shows that some of the China-proposed ideas and principles for international relations are being more welcomed and accepted by countries around the world, including the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, as well as China-proposed idea of building a community of a shared future for mankind, in contrast to US-led hegemony and bloc confrontation, experts said.Behind this global spotlight is the trend of China-proposed diplomatic principles winning hearts and minds in an extremely uncertain and unstable world, foreign and Chinese experts said.China as a world power today builds an international relationship system based on the perspective of multilateralism; the value embodied in multilateralism that China offers is common development, Veronika S. Saraswati, China Study Unit Convener at the Center for Strategic and International Studies Indonesia, told the Global Times on Tuesday.In contrast to the perspective of unilateralism that eliminates other countries, China emphasizes respect for other countries as well as fair partnership because no country can stand alone. Definitely, this principle is "a candle in the dark" amid world uncertainty and an international economic recession, Saraswati said. "There is great hope in the light that China brings to the world."She further noted that China places other countries as partners to develop together, building respectful and non-dominative economic partnerships being a major force in China's foreign policy principles.The in-person interaction between Chinese and US leaders, the first of its kind since the COVID-19 outbreak, on the sidelines of G20 has motivated some of Washington's allies to reconsider their relations with China, Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Tuesday.The Chinese president expounded on China's position on the Ukraine crisis. During his meeting with Macron, Xi made the point that China's position on the matter is clear and consistent: China stands for cease-fire, cessation of the conflict and peace talks. The international community should create conditions for this to happen. China will also continue to work in its way to play a constructive role.During the meetings with South African President Ramaphosa and Argentinian President Fernandez, he emphasized deepening cooperation under multilateral mechanisms such as BRICS and advancing the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative by expanding cooperation in sectors such as agriculture, energy and infrastructure, as well as on climate change."It reflects what our multi-faceted diplomacy is: We won't draw a line based on different ideologies and we will take actions to fulfill our promises to the international community," Cui said. "It doesn't matter if it's about post-epidemic recovery or the Ukraine crisis, more countries are realizing that China is playing an active and constructive role." Clay Travis: Biden is insane on the issue of transgender surgery closeVideo OutKick founder Clay Travis responds to Joe Biden's support of statewide rights for gender-affirming care A new wrinkle has been added to the ongoing battle regarding gender transitions for minors, as a group "dedicated to the health of all children" declared anyone under 18 doesnt have the agency to decide they want a tattoo but approves of "gender-affirming care." The New York Times reported Sunday that a New York mother was arrested after giving her 10-year-old son permission to get a tattoo. "While some states have no minimum age for receiving a tattoo if a parent allows it, New York State forbids anyone younger than 18 from getting tattooed with or without parental consent," the Times reported. A new wrinkle has been added to the ongoing battle regarding gender transitions for minors, as a group "dedicated to the health of all children" declared anyone under 18 doesnt have the agency to decide they want a tattoo but approves of "gender-affirming care." ((Credit: iStock)) RADICAL GENDER THEORY HAS NOW MADE ITS WAY INTO MORE THAN 4,000 US SCHOOLS According to the Times, the tattoo artist was also arrested. Ink Magazine reported that the mother was charged with one count of endangering a child, and the tattoo artist was charged with unlawfully dealing with a child and endangering the welfare of a child. The Times cited a pediatrician whose work has been issued by the American Academy of Pediatric Medicine, which bills itself as "dedicated to the health of all children." The group is made up of 67,000 pediatricians, according to its website. "It is a permanent mark or a symbol you are putting on your body, and I dont think kids under 18 have that kind of agency to make a decision," Dr. Cora Bruener told the Times. "We need to look at these laws again." While the American Academy of Pediatric Medicine doesnt believe minors should be allowed to receive tattoos, the group is in favor of allowing gender transitions for children under 18. The American Academy of Pediatric Medicine doesnt believe minors should be allowed to receive tattoos. (iStock) The American Academy of Pediatric Medicine filed amicus briefs in support of legal challenges brought by the American Civil Liberties Union in several states. SAN DIEGO SCHOOLS WANT TO DITCH GENDER BINARY THEY CLAIM DOMINATES RACIAL, SEXUAL MINORITIES "It is critically important for every child to have access to quality, comprehensive and evidence-based care transgender and gender-diverse youth are no exception. As pediatricians, we will continue to speak up and advocate for our patients. We also want transgender and gender-diverse youth to know that not only do we care for them, we care about them, we value them and we will do all we can to ensure they have access to the care they need and deserve," ex-AAP president Lee Savio Beers, M.D., said in January. One of the amicus briefs filed by the AAP was an effort to combat Arkansas attempting to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youths and prohibiting health care providers from referring them for gender-affirming care. Video In August, AAP president Moira Szilagyi, M.D., explained the groups updated position in a letter to the Wall Street Journal. MEDIA RIDICULES DISSENTING VIEWS ON GENDER IDENTITY, PRAISES THOSE WHO AGREE: ANALYSIS "The AAP advises pediatricians to offer developmentally appropriate care that is oriented toward understanding and appreciating the youths gender experience. This care is nonjudgmental, includes families and allows questions and concerns to be raised in a supportive environment. This is what it means to affirm a child or teen; it means destigmatizing gender variance and promoting a childs self-worth. Gender-affirming care can be lifesaving. It doesnt push medical treatments or surgery; for the vast majority of children, it recommends the opposite," Szilagyi wrote. "The AAP will continue to stand up for all children and adolescents, including those who are transgender." The AAP did not immediately respond when asked if the group believes getting a tattoo is a bigger decision than receiving gender-affirming care. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Brian Flood is a media reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @briansflood. The pandemic learning loss was deep closeVideo National test scores reveal a sharp falloff in school progress. The Los Angeles Unified School District's initiative to combat COVID-era learning loss has been met with some criticism from parents and teachers alike. According to The Los Angeles Times editorial board, the Acceleration Days initiative focused on helping students make up some instruction lost during the pandemic would add additional days to the school calendar two during winter break and two during spring break. The district is currently surveying parents and teachers to determine who will participate in the program. Parents have the option to opt out their children, and many already have, according to the editorial. "Frustrated parents say answers arent forthcoming from the schools, which also seem to have limited information. A district webpage provides some details, but these may not be enough for some parents to make decisions soon about how best to juggle work, holiday plans and kids vacation during winter break," the Times said. LA TEACHERS UNION BOSS SAYS CHILDREN LOST NOTHING DURING PANDEMIC, NOW KNOW WORDS INSURRECTION AND COUP An elementary school student works on an assignment in class. (iStock) "Acceleration Days are designed to help address learning loss associated with the pandemic by providing additional instruction and enrichment opportunities for students," a press release for Acceleration Day reads. "Numerous studies have shown that additional learning time leads to increased academic achievement. These extra days provide students the opportunity to gain personalized support and focus on areas for improvement and enrichment. Furthermore, their placement during transition times provides an opportunity for analysis of formative data that allows for identification of the students who stand to benefit most." Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho called the initiative a "win" for students. "Since arriving at Los Angeles Unified, I have been very clear: the Districts top priority is to provide all students with opportunities that will set them up for success," Carvalho said in a statement. "Students must not be hampered by academic status, adverse academic experiences, learning disabilities or any demographic descriptor. Every student deserves the ability to better their life. I am heartened by the collaborative effort with labor partners, which will deliver a focused, impactful approach to Acceleration Days. This move is definitely a win for our students." The district has planned to use COVID funds to support the initiative that some argue has been ambiguous at best, with parents asserting they have been given inadequate details about what their children could expect to gain from participating, according to the Times. "Though parents have recently received a barrage of texts, emails, and phone calls from the district urging them to sign up, they have been given little information about what the program entails," the outlet said, adding that, "None of the communiques contain specific information that parents need to decide whether to send their children to the program, parents say." BLUE STATE COVID LEARNING LOSS WIDENED RACIAL ACHIEVEMENT GAPS RELATIVE TO RED STATES: STUDY The Los Angeles Times (Reuters) Criticism also came from some teachers, with teachers' unions having reportedly pushed back against its implementation by threatening to boycott the additional learning days. "This isnt the first time that the district has tried to move ahead on this initiative without consulting key parties," the Times added. "Supt. Alberto Carvalho promised a year of acceleration at the beginning of the school year, with plans to set voluntary learning days throughout the school year," the editors wrote. "However, a plan to extend the school year by four days ran into trouble because, as the teachers union rightly said, it first should have been discussed during labor negotiations. LEARNING LOSS FROM COVID LOCKDOWNS CAUSED UNMITIGATED DISASTER PARTICULARLY IN STUDENT BEHAVIOR: EXPERTS Students wear masks during classroom activities. ( Allison Dinner/Bloomberg via Getty Images) "United Teachers Los Angeles then threatened to boycott the first voluntary learning day on Oct. 19, before LAUSD canceled that plan." The editors argued the district should have consulted teachers unions and parents in more upfront ways, calling the effort to bring the district's students to a desired level a "monumental task" considering they belong to the second-largest district in the U.S. Union officials have different plays, the LA Times reported, and are dedicated to increasing teacher pay, increased healthy food options for students, and more. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Video Taylor Penley is a production assistant with Fox News. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Tuesday hailed the rapid development of mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Africa. In a keynote speech delivered at the opening ceremony of the second China-Africa Peoples Forum, Xi said China and Africa always pursue mutual benefit and common development. The respective and mutually complementary comparative advantages of China and Africa have allowed us to seek development together, lending tremendous impetus to our trade and economic cooperation, said Xi. According to the vice president, China has become the largest trading partner of Africa, and Africa in turn the fourth-largest destination of Chinas overseas investment. In 2011, even against the slowdown of world economic growth, the volume of trade between China and Africa still reached a record high of 166.3 billion U.S. dollars, Xi noted. As of 2011, Chinese direct investment in Africa exceeded 14.7 billion U.S. dollars, with more than 2,000 Chinese-invested businesses operating in the continent, he said. These entities have not only created jobs for the local people, but also provided community services, according to Xi. Both sides have also successfully cooperated in other areas like infrastructure construction, agriculture, healthcare, education and human resource development, he added. Talking about the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, established 12 years ago as a platform for collective dialogue and a mechanism for cooperation between China and Africa, Xi said the event has now become a banner guiding our relations and a renowned brand name for our cooperation, propelling our trade and economic relations into a period of steady and rapid growth. About 300 delegates from China and 35 African states are attending the second China-Africa Peoples Forum, held on Tuesday and Wednesday in Suzhou, a tourist resort and economic hub in east China. The first China-Africa Peoples Forum was held in Nairobi, Kenya, last year. Xinhua Xi Jinping praises mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Africaadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline A national meeting of social security organs chiefs from around China on Wednesday called for efforts to make schools safer for children. At least one full-time security guard will be posted at each of the countrys middle and primary schools,premier greyhound tips and kindergartens, according to the meeting. Comprehensive plans should be put in place to improve security inside and around school grounds. The meeting also called on government compounds, enterprises and public organizations to boost their security. Xinhua China vows upgraded protection for school childrenadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline BEIJING,180prediction poker game app free Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- China's policy bank responsible for facilitating the country's foreign trade, has rolled out specific credit support for imports from countries that are members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). A specific credit quota worth 200 billion yuan (about 27.7 billion U.S. dollars) has been set up to cater for the financing demands of related importers, according to the Export-Import Bank of China. This credit support will focus on fields like foreign trade and manufacturing, in a bid to expand related imports from RCEP member countries. In the first 10 months of 2022, the policy bank has offered over 310 billion yuan in total credit to support imports. The policy bank has also unveiled a tailor-made financial services package for relevant customers, such as participants in the upcoming fifth China International Import Expo. Visitors are seen at the 19th China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning,jokaroom casino log in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Lu Boan) PHNOM PENH, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- From Cambodian rice, Thai fragrant coconut to Vietnamese passion fruit and durian, a growing number of agricultural products from the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) now have easier access to the Chinese market since the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). In the eyes of many agricultural business owners in ASEAN countries, the gradual implementation of RCEP rules has significantly reduced intra-regional trade costs and further facilitated trade, bringing tangible benefits to them. TRADE FACILITATION IMPROVED As RCEP took effect early this year, agricultural businesses in ASEAN countries have benefited from lower import costs and more export opportunities due to lower tariffs. Under the agreement, more than 90 percent of trade in goods within the region will eventually be tariff-free, greatly boosting cross-border trade. "We are no longer worried about export orders as before. The industrial chain adjustment brought about by RCEP has boosted our product sales in the Chinese market," said Narongsak Chuensuchon, chairman of NC Coconut, a company in Thailand's Ratchaburi Province. Narongsak's company gained access for its products to the Chinese market in 2013, and sales have increased several times in just a few years. China has become a major export market for the company's coconut products, he said. Since the beginning of this year, Vietnamese passion fruit and durian have been approved to enter the Chinese market. "This is good news for Vietnam, which has rich fruit resources," said Do Thi Thu, a lecturer at the Vietnamese Banking Academy, hoping that more Vietnamese agricultural products could be exported to China in the future, so as to give full play to the complementary advantages of resources between the two countries and make full use of RCEP to push forward bilateral trade relations. "The general reduction of import duties under RCEP is great news for Cambodia's agricultural development," Chen Qisheng, general manager of China Certification and Inspection Group (Cambodia) Co., Ltd., also said. CROSS-BORDER CARGO ON THE RISE Since late October, Cambodia's jasmine rice has entered its harvest season. Cargo ships loaded with the fragrant rice depart from Sihanoukville or Phnom Penh, and arrive at Shekou Port in the city of Shenzhen, China within a week. After going through inspection and quarantine of customs at the port, the rice sized 5 kg per bag can directly enter the retail market, while the larger packages of 25 kg or 50 kg will go to the wholesale link to supply large grain users, or be put on the market after being repackaged into smaller sizes by rice-processing enterprises. China is one of Cambodia's largest rice export markets. Cambodia exported more than 230,000 tonnes of rice to China in the first 10 months this year, accounting for nearly half of its total exports, data from the Cambodia Rice Federation showed. In recent years, major projects such as the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and the China-Laos Railway, as well as improved infrastructure such as cold chain and cold storage, have made it increasingly convenient for agricultural products from ASEAN countries to enter the Chinese market. Taking Thai durian as an example, in addition to air transport to the Chinese market, there are also land transport options, as well as marine transport from Thailand's Laem Chabang Port to China's Qinzhou Port in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guangzhou Port and Nansha Port in Guangdong province, among others. In the first 10 months of this year, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor saw 621,026 twenty-foot equivalent unit containers transported by the rail and sea, up 19.7 percent year on year, the latest data showed. At present, more than 640 categories of items can be transported by the rail and sea through the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. Statistics from China Railway's Kunming bureau showed that the total quantity of freight transported by the China-Laos Railway had exceeded 10 million tonnes as of Nov. 7, with the cross-border cargo transportation volume topping 1.8 million tonnes and its value hitting 12 billion yuan (about 1.7 billion U.S. dollars). So far, 25 provincial-level regions in China have operated international freight trains on the China-Laos Railway, and freight transportation has covered countries including Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and Singapore. The cargo has expanded to more than 1,200 categories, including chemical fertilizers, electronic and photovoltaic products, and cold-chain fruits. TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES UPGRADED For Narongsak, RCEP can drive the formation and expansion of emerging industries in the region and promote the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries. "While China is our largest export market, we pay more attention to improving product quality and enhancing competitiveness," he said, adding that the company now exports coconut jelly and bottled coconut water to China in addition to fresh coconuts. "In the past, when we planted durians, we watered or fertilized them based only on our experience, and sometimes got frustrated because the trees did not grow well," Malaysian durian orchard owner Leong Pui Sam told Xinhua. Sam, who plants the famed Malaysian Musang King durian, said that ever since his farm adopted a smart farming system co-developed by Regaltech and Alibaba Cloud, planting durians is now much more cost-and-time efficient with smart data collection and analysis. Ouyang Jianbin, general manager of Zhong Bao (Cambodia) Food Science&Technology Co., Ltd., said RCEP is conducive to the industrial construction and adjustment of Chinese agricultural enterprises in Cambodia. The traditional mode was importing raw materials first then processing, now it has largely been changed to processing raw materials at the place of origin first, then the products will be traded, which has not only optimized the regional economic form but also reduced unnecessary waste, the general manager said. A research report of growth projections for 2050, published on Tuesday, February 14 by the Centre for Future Studies and International Information (CEPII) announced that China could amount 33% of the worlds economy in the middle of the century , almost as much as the European Union (12%), the United States (9%), India (8%) and Japan (5%) combined. At constant prices of 2005, the Chinese and Indian economies are each increased eightfold from 2008 to 2050, while the American and European would increase only by 80% to 90%. We have avoided extrapolating current growth rate, says Agnes Benassy-Quere, Director of the CEPII. For example, for China, a growth rate of 8% would be multiplied by 21 times of its economy. We have proposed a scenario for 147 countries based on capital, labor and energy, coupled with demographics, and take two forms of technological progress into account. Remember that these are not exact forecasts, but academic projections . Chinas growth will shift over the period 2008-2025 from 7.2% to 4.3%, because its population will decline rapidly, its enormous savings rate and investments will also become less efficient. Its trade surplus could disappear by 2030. The United States, which would lose the position as the worlds first economy around 2020, would experience poor growth of 1.6% on average, far from its historical trend, and barely higher than the Europe (+1.5%). These projections contain a surprise and a confirmation. The surprise, its very average performance of Brazil grow by 3.3% from 2008 to 2025 and 2.6% from 2025 to 2050, says director of CEPII. The confirmation: the workforce is the parameter which overwrites the others, and the sub-Saharan Africa will be greatly benefited by rapid population growth, so that from 2040, it will be the most dynamic region in the world with an average growth of 5% per year. The disadvantages of this kind of projections are obvious. Indeed, it doesnt take technological innovations comparable to internet or mobile phone into account, or miss the exploitation of discoveries such as giant offshore oil fields. Finally, these projections can be disrupted by profound social changes. Thus, the CEPII has notably adjusted upwards the projected growth of India (6.4% and 5.1%) and Morocco (4.4% and 4%), by integrating into its calculations assuming an increasing level of education of women, then a lower number of children and, consequently, a higher female employment rate which will cause an increased enrichment. But the pace of this change may be hampered by cultural, religious or budget, and remains a major unknown. China represents one third of the world economy in 2050added by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Russian armed forces have started large-scale exercises on the Kuril Islands in the Far East,arbkf stock news the Defense Ministry said Tuesday. Artillery, air forces, navy and border troops are involved in the drills, Alexander Gordeev, spokesman for the Eastern military district, told reporters. These are the planned exercises. One of its tasks is to conduct a training rescue operation for a ship in distress in Russian waters, the RIA Novosti news agency quoted him as saying. Gordeev did not specify whether or not the drills were conducted at the four South Kuril Islands disputed between Russia and Japan, neither did he elaborate the timeframe of the drills. The island dispute, which has lingered since the end of World War II, has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty. Japan refers to the disputed islands as the Northern Territories. Xinhua Russia starts large-scale drills in Far Eastadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Authorities have formulated 10 measures to shore up the development of cross-border economic cooperation zones in a bid to lift Chinas opening-up in border areas,slot master joker mobile nft games a senior official said on Wednesday. Wang Chao, vice minister of commerce, unveiled the package at a working conference in Kunming, in southwest Chinas Yunnan Province, on such zones. The measures will provide loans with discounted interest for infrastructure construction in cross-border economic cooperation zones, a 15-percent tax discount for enterprises concerning prioritized industries in west China before the end of 2020, direct administrative power to examine and verify foreign investment in industries concerning transportation, international freight forwarding and wholesaling. Priorities will also be given on land management, customs supervision, labor service cooperation, project contracting and personnel exchanges, said Wang. The measures were jointly formulated by the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Finance (MOC), Ministry of Land and Resources, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the General Administration of Customs, and the State Administration of Taxation. Since 1992, China has set up 15 cross-border economic cooperation zones in border regions of areas including Yunnan Province, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Liaoning Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, covering a total land area of 92 square km. Wang noted that such zones have greatly promoted the economic and social development of local areas. In 2011, cross-border economic cooperation zones nationwide achieved a total foreign trade volume of 14.3 billion U.S. dollars, utilizing foreign investment of 560 million U.S. dollars, according to MOC data. In a report on Chinas economic and social development plan issued in March this year, the Chinese central government vowed to further promote development of cross-border economic cooperation zones and support infrastructure connectivity with neighboring countries. Xinhua China incentivizes cross-border economic cooperation zone investorsadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline New Hampshire Senate race is neck and neck as the midterm elections approach closeVideo FOX Business correspondent Hillary Vaughn reports on the New Hampshire Senate race with election night on its way on 'Special Report.' An ominous blood moon lunar eclipse will hang in the sky early on the morning of next weeks midterm elections. "A total lunar eclipse is on the way to provide a little celestial magic early on the morning of November 8th," NASA said in a video posted on its Twitter account. A blood lunar eclipse is expected next Tuesday. (NASA) The eclipse will be visible to viewers in North America, the Pacific region, Australia, and Eastern Asia anywhere where the moon is above the horizon. NASA spectators can see the entire eclipse unfold before sunrise weather permitting as the moon exits the dark part of Earths shadow called the "umbra," a few minutes before 5 a.m. HAWAII'S MAUNA LOA VOLCANO: EARTHQUAKES RUMBLES, SENDING WARNING SIGNS OF POSSIBLE DISRUPTION During this time, stars will be more visible as the moon will dim to a "dull red," NASA said. Viewers with binoculars will be able to see Uranus "just a finger's width away" from the eclipsed moon, NASA said. A blood moon lunar eclipse seen in the sky. (NASA) These types of lunar eclipses are referred to as "blood moons" because of the reddish hue cast onto the moon by refracted sunlight passing through Earths atmosphere. The more dust or clouds in Earths atmosphere, the redder the moon will be, according to NASA. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Tuesdays total lunar eclipse will be the last visible from Earth for the next three years. Those interested can visit moon.nasa.gov for more information on local details. Bradford Betz is a Fox News Digital breaking reporter covering crime, political issues, and much more. Chinas automobile output and sales will both surpass 19 million units in 2012,apollo god of the sun slot review the countrys minister of industry and information technology predicted on Tuesday at an industry conference. The countrys auto output and sales grew at an annual pace of over 20 percent from 2000 and 2010, Miao Wei said. In 2009, China overtook the United States as the worlds biggest auto market in terms of sales volumes after the central government introduced tax incentives for small cars with engine sizes of 1.6 liters or less. Vehicle exports have also soared during the past five years, rising 21.3 percent annually. China will likely meet its export target of one million vehicles this year, according to Miao. China exported 760,000 vehicles during the first nine months, up 22.9 percent year on year. However, auto sales in China have slowed in recent months due to a sluggish domestic economy and stringent government policies on vehicle registration. Auto sales rose by a mild 3.56 percent year on year in the first 10 months of 2012, while output increased by 4.56 percent over the previous year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Xinhua Minister quantifies Chinas auto industry growthadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Jimmy Failla sounds off on 'Lion King' interpreter's firing: 'The left has become cultural arsonists' closeVideo 'Fox Across America' host Jimmy Failla weighs in after a sign-language interpreter for the Broadway show 'Lion King' claimed he was fired for being White. NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A White sign language interpreter claims he was fired from "The Lion King" Broadway musical because producers wanted a person of color translating the dialogue of the mostly Black cast. If the allegation proves true, there's NO DOUBT Americans would vote for this as "the most ridiculous social justice crusade of the year." Although there is SOME DOUBT those votes would be counted on time in Arizona and Nevada. 53-year-old Keith Wann has filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the non-profit Theater Development Fund, which staffs Broadway plays with American Sign Language interpreters. His filing includes an email from the group's head of staffing stating that although "he was an amazing ASL performer, he is not a black person and therefore should not be representing the Lion King as the majority of characters are black actors and the content takes place in Africa." Sign language interpreter Keith Wann joins 'FOx and Friends' on Nov. 14, 2022. The Minskoff Theatre advertises "The Lion King" on West 44th street between Broadway and Eighth avenue. (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) BROADWAYS THE LION KING IS FACING LAWSUIT FOR ALLEGEDLY FIRING SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER FOR BEING WHITE So, if you're keeping score at home, Broadway, aka the Great Woke Way, does not want a White man signing the words of Black actors in a pretend story called "The Lion King" because that's some sort of cultural appropriation. Yet it's perfectly fine to have Black actors portraying the White men who founded this country in "Hamilton." Video It's a double standard big enough to drive an oversized SUV through but be careful because it'll cost you $200 bucks to park it in Times Square. This brings me to my next point. There are so many things to be offended by at a Broadway play, from the large cost of attending to the small size of the seats, that I don't think anyone had the sign language interpreter's skin color in their top ten. Seriously. I'm still paying interest on a hot pretzel I bought my son at the "SpongeBob" musical, and that play was canceled in 2018. If we're really looking for justice, let's get MasterCard on the phone. BROADWAY'S WOKE TRIGGER WARNINGS AND MORAL PREENING RIPPED IN WASHINGTON POST OPINION PIECE Our country is being plagued by a scourge of cultural arsonists on the left who like to set racial fires simply so they can extinguish them and claim valor or virtue for doing so. Video It's a self-serving effort to claim moral superiority by pointing out to the world that they're more in tune with the suffering of minority communities than the rest of us. We saw this two years ago when a San Francisco school district was exploring the possibility of removing Abraham Lincoln's name off a high school because in their eyes he hadn't done enough to demonstrate that Black lives mattered to him. In the end, it went nowhere because it's hard to racially gaslight the country over the president who ended slavery. But, things got so dicey in the summer of 2020 that my son Lincoln started going by his middle name, O.J. CLICK HERE TO GET THE OPINION NEWSLETTER The problem with these woke crusades is every attempt to highlight their connection to minority communities showcases just how out of touch they are with the real struggles. FILE -- Director/Producer Jon Favreau attends the World Premiere of Disney's "THE LION KING" at the Dolby Theatre on July 09, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) Jimmy Failla is the host of "Fox Across America" which airs weekdays from 12-3 on Fox News Radio / Fox Nation / FoxNewsRadio.Com. Follow him on Twitter @jimmyfailla. 03:14 August 15th marks one year since the Taliban seized control of Kabul during the withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan. Since that time the United Nations has worked alongside the de facto authorities to try to tackle the countrys humanitarian crisis,crypto em which it says is the worst in the world. But it comes as the Taliban is accused of eroding basic human rights and failing to adhere to promises of access to education for women and girls. CGTN's Sarah Walton reports. For more, check out our exclusive content on CGTN Nowand subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The China Report. Chinese filmmakers have been quick to criticize a recently released propaganda film entitled Shen Zhou 11 after it received the Best Movie Award at the 28th Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers awards ceremonies. Produced by the August First Film Studio, which is a military studio, the film has been generating a lot of controversy. Sean Ching, a young Chinese director and film critic, was quoted as saying, The Awards is out-dated and too state-controlled because the awards recognized a propaganda film. To respond to the outcry, Ming Zhenjiang, the head of the studio, accepted an interview with Sina.com yesterday and outlined his vision of the future of the August First Film Studio. Ming said in the interview that the studio is now facing three difficulties, The first is the state-controlled system. Li Changchun said in an inspection visit that No matter who rules the studio, you must make excellent productions. But we dont have theaters and markets spread throughout society like the China Film Group. We aim to make movies for armies. The second problem is about the material. We helped Feng Xiaogang produce Assembly anonymously because we cant film this kind of material for some regulations and political sensitivity. The third one is the aging of our production team and facility. Sina: After The Founding of a Republic and The Founding of a party, there was speculation on the internet that you will make a third movie, is that true? Ming: I personally am opposed to the idea. These two movies have the same filming stylebig events and famous stars. But our film industry needs innovation. Ive discussed this with Han Sanping and Huang Jianxin. Audiences wont buy it a third time. Sina: Shen Zhou 11 mentions some confidential aspects of our aerospace science and technology. Another movie produced by the studio early this year, Sky Fighter, borrowed several J-10 Fighters for its production. We know the US military has always been supportive of local movie productions. Will we adopt the same patterns when making our own Transformers franchise? Ming: I dont think so. After 9-11, the United States Department of Defense directly made seven subjects for Hollywood to show off their military strength and high technology deterrence. I dont agree with making movie productions a political tool. Its a very good idea to make stories like Transformers. Our Liberation Army can fight against invaders from outer space too. America wont be the only force protecting the planet. Sina: The August First Film Studio has its own special effects department and independent technologies. What will you do, considering the fierce competition? Ming: We recently founded our own digital workstation and brought in an array of equipment that is valued at 20 million RMB. Our next step is to boost the digitalization of film-making. Movies are a combination of modern industries and comprehensive arts. America is the most successful country at bringing high and advanced technologies into movie productions, which has maintained the lasting prosperity of Hollywood studios. We will learn from Hollywood. Sina: Many home-grown blockbusters employ foreign companies to do the special effects. Will you consider that? Ming: Its not because we dont have a free mind. We still insist on developing our own technologies. Many audiences said we are both losing money and face due to productions that arent polished. But in the long term, we will catch up with Hollywood as we have enough talent. Sina: Will you work with famous directors outside your system? Ming: Of course! Im friends with Feng Xiaogang and Chen Kaige. Ive also talked with Zhang Yimou a few times. We should open our studio to society and join the competition. Chen Nan Chinese Films Ming Zhenjiang on the future of the August First Film Studioadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline BEIJING,bca slot 777 the venetian resort Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- For 24-year-old Sun Ailin, persimmon is an old-fashioned fruit that is in her childhood memory and never makes it onto her supermarket shopping list, but she has developed a soft spot for the sweet orange fruit this autumn. Sun now consumes about five persimmons a week, but not in its original form. After lunch every workday, the IT white-collar worker routinely orders a bottle of tea drink made with persimmon. "It tastes a little like cheese. With minced ice, green tea, and konjac jellies, the drink makes persimmon tasty," said Sun. The persimmon tea drink, rolled out in late September by Chinese popular drink chain HEYTEA, has gained favor among many young consumers like Sun. HEYTEA said the persimmon tea drink is one of its best-selling drinks this autumn, with a record daily sales of about 100,000 bottles. "Its orange color feels warm, and most importantly, the drink has an auspicious tag," Sun said, referring to persimmon's good-luck connotation in its Chinese name. Many tea drink brands have rolled out similar products this autumn, and desserts made with persimmons are also getting popular, making the once-ordinary fruit a trending topic on social media platforms. Data from the Chinese e-commerce platform Meituan showed that in October, sales of persimmon-themed food and drinks rose over 200 percent month on month. Eastern cities like Shanghai and Hangzhou, which are not traditional consumers of persimmon, were the leading spenders. China's top persimmon producer, Fuping County in northwestern Shaanxi Province, is one beneficiary of the innovative persimmon products trend. Several drink brands, including HEYTEA, choose the county as their raw material supplier. The annual output of fresh persimmon in Fuping stands at about 250,000 tonnes, and processed dried persimmon is 60,000 tonnes. "The majority of our persimmons are processed into dried fruits," said Chen Taoliang, owner of a local farming cooperative. "We tried other products, but most of them fell flat." The consumption-leveraging power of popular food and drink brands has put other fruits under the spotlight before. Coconut coffee, ice cream, and milk tea are hot sellers this summer. Amla, a niche fruit mainly consumed in south China, has gained wider recognition thanks to several popular tea drinks and fruit juices. Liu Zhenwen, a catering company owner and veteran tea drink developer, estimated that the persimmon products can be sustainable as some brands are developing fruit puree to extend its sales season. "Even if persimmon turns out to be a fleeting star, there would be other fruits emerging on the stage via trendy drinks," Liu said. Fox News Flash top headlines for November 14 closeVideo Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. A research team led by Oregon State University is planning to develop a new rechargeable battery that could reduce the need for environmentally destructive mining of rare minerals like nickel and lithium and accelerate the clean energy transition. The U.S. Department of Energy awarded OSU $3 million to explore the development of a new rechargeable battery technology that would accelerate the clean energy transition without relying on rare finite minerals such as lithium, cobalt and nickel. OSU chemistry professor Xiulei "David" Ji, who will lead a battery research team, said it could be a game-changer. "Its a new paradigm," he told Oregon Public Broadcasting. "We are very excited and very grateful to have this opportunity to work on this project." CALIFORNIA PUSHES INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO PROMOTE MORE AT-HOME SOLAR SYSTEMS As the world transitions from fossil fuels to clean energy to reduce contributions to climate change, there is a growing need for batteries to store renewable energy and power electric vehicles. The resulting battery boom has generated environmental concerns because of the impacts of mining battery materials such as lithium, and it has driven up prices and demand for the minerals used to make batteries. According to the International Energy Agency, an organization that provides data analysis for global energy policies, the world could face lithium shortages by 2025. The price of lithium has soared, tripling in 2021. Nickel, a mineral used for lithium-ion batteries, has also grown in demand and seen price hikes. OSU received $3 million to research how to develop a rechargeable battery that's more environmentally sustainable. 300 China-made EV unveiled at the G20 Summit in Indonesia as official vehicles. Photo: Yang Ruoyu/GT Multiple eye-catching Chinese elements are seen at the 17th G20 summit,which will kick off on Tuesday in Bali, Indonesia, including new-energy shuttle vehicles sponsored by SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile (SGMW), a joint venture based in Liuzhou, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Global Times reporters observed at the site of the summit on Monday.SGMW sponsored 300 new-energy vehicles (NEVs) for the summit. With an appearance adopting local artistic batik themes and car bodies covered with G20 logos, the vehicles are colorful, in sharp contrast with other vehicles.The SGMW's Air ev series can travel 200 kilometers per charge, which can meet the demand of the summit meetings, according to a statement sent to the Global Times by the company.Behind the Chinese elements showing up at the summit, there is increasingly close cooperation of the two countries in the NEV sector. Indonesia plans to reduce its carbon emissions by 31.89 percent by 2030."We will see more Air EV shuttles in Bali, and we hope Wuling will become an important part of the ecological development of electric vehicles in Indonesia," Pratikno, Minister of the State Secretariat of Indonesia, said at the delivery ceremony in October.As the first Chinese NEV landing in the Indonesian market, the Air ev has received more than 4,000 orders since its debut, becoming the NEV with the highest monthly sales in Indonesia, the company said.In addition to the shuttle vehicles, the Global Times learned that many local staffers working at the summit chose China-made COVID-19 vaccines. Reporters and staffers at the scene are required to be vaccinated.China-based CanSino Biologics Inc signed an agreement with Indonesian biopharmaceutical Company Etana on Sunday, planning to conduct cooperation on the development of inhaled vaccine technology and a vaccine for epidemic meningitis.CanSino will work with partners in Indonesia to promote the joint development and commercialization of innovative vaccine products and contribute to the development of a regional vaccine production hub in Indonesia, the company said in a statement sent to the Global Times.Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the two countries have joined hands to combat the virus. Indonesia was one of the earliest countries and regions to send epidemic prevention supplies to China, and China was the first to cooperate with Indonesia in the research and development of COVID-19 vaccines and specific drugs. It's also the largest supplier of vaccines to Indonesia, according to media reports.In particular, the much-anticipated Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Railway, which links China's Belt and Road Initiative and Indonesia's Global Maritime Fulcrum strategy, will be put into test operation during the G20 summit.With a design speed of 350 kilometers per hour, the railway will cut the journey between Jakarta and Bandung from over three hours to around 40 minutes, boosting economic growth and enhancing the competitiveness of the local economy.Since the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership, the two countries have seen rapid growth of cooperation in various fields. In 2021, bilateral trade totaled $124.4 billion, surging 58.6 percent year-on-year. China has been Indonesia's largest trading partner for nine years in a row, according to data released by China's General Administration of Customs.Meanwhile, Indonesia has become the second-largest investment destination for China in the ASEAN bloc.Chinese tech giant Tencent launched its first internet data centre in Indonesia in April 2021, providing global access and a rich array of services to governments and organizations that need advanced infrastructure and a resilient environment, such as those in the online games, live broadcast, and financial services sectors, the company told the Global Times in a statement on Monday. Thecrypto apps with sign up bonus Salt Lake Resources and Environmental Science Database, completed by the Qinghai Salt Lake Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has been approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology after 6 years hard work. This is the largest data sharing system for salt lake resources and environmental science in China. Salt Lake resources are one of the characteristic resources of western China, and also the inorganic mineral resources with relatively international advantages in China. The resource components such as potassium, lithium, boron, strontium and strontium are related to the resource security and strategic security of the country, as well as the development of the national economy. They are of great strategic importance. The Qinghai Salt Lake Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences introduced that the project is supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology Foundation and the 100-member plan of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, covering six sub-libraries such as the Salt Lake Basic Information Database, the Salt Lake Resource Database, the Salt Lake Environmental Database, the Salt Lake Resources Development Status Database, the Salt Lake Image Database and the Salt Lake Multimedia Database. It is understood that the China Salt Lake Resources and Environmental Science Database contains basic information data of nearly 1000 salt lakes in China based on field surveys and multi-source data integration, multi-stage salt lake quantity, area, meteorology, salt lake distribution area landsat satellite image raw data. There are 12 categories of data, such as the status of the surface environment in the salt lake area, the water volume of the salt lake, the type of salt lake, the type of salt lake resources, and the high score image data set. The data volume is about 570 GB. The Qinghai Salt Lake Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences said that the completion of the data sharing platform provided a basic support for the sharing of scientific data in the Salt Lake. In the future, the data center will continue to build a multi-source and heterogeneous data integration and data application research in the whole field of salt lake science, and from perspectives like resource security and optimal allocation, integrated management decision-making, sustainable development, etc., it provides local governments, salt lake industries and the public with information resources integration and sharing services for salt lakes, and provides scientific evidence for scientific decision-making of rational allocation and efficient use of salt lake resources. China built up salt lake resources and environmental science databaseadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Dr. Michio Kaku: Mars mission begins new era of space exploration closeVideo Professor and 'Future of Humanity' author explains significance of NASA rover touching down on the Red Planet NASA said its Mars Perseverance rover has collected rock-core samples in an area long considered by scientists to be a top candidate for finding signs of ancient microbial life. In an update, the team said its latest findings provide greater detail of the region, with the rover taking four samples from an ancient river delta in the 28-mile-wide Jezero Crater since July. In total, the rover has collected 12 compelling rock samples. The crater's delta formed about 3.5 billion years ago at the convergence of a Martian river and a lake. JAMES WEBB TELESCOPE CAPTURES 'COSMIC TARANTULA' IN STUNNING NEW IMAGE The delta's sedimentary rocks formed when particles of various sizes settled in the environment. NASAs Perseverance rover puts its robotic arm to work around a rocky outcrop called "Skinner Ridge" in Mars Jezero Crater. Composed of multiple images, this mosaic shows layered sedimentary rocks in the face of a cliff in the delta, as well as one of the locations where the rover abraded a circular patch to analyze a rocks composition. (Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS.) During its first scientific campaign, the rover explored the craters floor, finding igneous rock. "We picked the Jezero Crater for Perseverance to explore because we thought it had the best chance of providing scientifically excellent samples and now we know we sent the rover to the right location," Thomas Zurbuchen, NASAs associate administrator for science in Washington, said in a statement. "These first two science campaigns have yielded an amazing diversity of samples to bring back to Earth by the Mars Sample Return campaign." "The delta, with its diverse sedimentary rocks, contrasts beautifully with the igneous rocks formed from crystallization of magma discovered on the crater floor," Perseverance project scientist Ken Farley said. "This juxtaposition provides us with a rich understanding of the geologic history after the crater formed and a diverse sample suite. For example, we found a sandstone that carries grains and rock fragments created far from Jezero Crater and a mudstone that includes intriguing organic compounds." NASAs Perseverance rover collected rock samples for possible return to Earth in the future from two locations seen in this image of Mars Jezero Crater: "Wildcat Ridge" (lower left) and "Skinner Ridge" (upper right). (Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS.) NASA FUNDED TECH THAT HELPS RELIEVE MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS One of those rocks is "Wildcat Ridge," which likely formed billions of years ago. Perseverance has abraded some surface of the rock so it could analyze the area with its Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman & Luminescence for Organics & Chemicals (SHERLOC) instrument. NASA said the SHERLOC samples were found to feature a class of organic molecules that are spatially correlated with those of sulfate minerals. Composed of multiple images from NASAs Perseverance Mars rover, this mosaic shows a rocky outcrop called "Wildcat Ridge," where the rover extracted two rock cores and abraded a circular patch to investigate the rocks composition. (Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS.) The presence of organic molecules, which can contain elements like sulfur, is considered to be a potential biosignature. While Perseverance and the Curiosity Mars rovers have found evidence or organics before, this detection was made in an area where sediment and salts were deposited into a lake under conditions in which life could have potentially existed. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "In the distant past, the sand, mud and salts that now make up the Wildcat Ridge sample were deposited under conditions where life could potentially have thrived," Farley explained. "The fact the organic matter was found in such a sedimentary rock known for preserving fossils of ancient life here on Earth is important. However, as capable as our instruments aboard Perseverance are, further conclusions regarding what is contained in the Wildcat Ridge sample will have to wait until its returned to Earth for in-depth study as part of the agencys Mars Sample Return campaign." Julia Musto is a reporter for Fox News and Fox Business Digital. Three people were killed and another four injured as a house collapsed around midnight Friday in southwest Chinas Yunnan Province,lucky creek online casino bonus codes rescuers said Saturday. Fire fighters with the Weixi Lisu Autonomous County received the report early Saturday morning saying seven were buried in the house collapse in the village of Luoyi, Badi Township, said a statement issued by the countys fire department. When the rescuers arrived, five had been saved by villagers. One of them died at the scene. The injuries of the others were not life threatening, said the statement. The fire fighters pulled the other two trapped out of the debris around 2 a.m., who were both dead later. An investigation into the case is under way. Xinhua SW China house collapse kills 3, injures 4added by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline 1619 Project creator Nikole Hannah-Jones slams modern American society closeVideo The controversial racial commentator appeared to slam America not just for its past, but for the present state of American life. In a video statement, former President Barack Obama congratulated the work of New York Times journalist and 1619 Project creator Nikole Hannah-Jones for helping to promote "historically informed journalism" with the opening of her new center. On Tuesday, Howard University officially opened the Center for Journalism & Democracy, founded by Hannah-Jones who also serves as the "inaugural Knight Chair in Race and Journalism" at the school. To celebrate its launch, the center hosted a Democracy Summit. Obama recorded a video that was played at the summit and promoted on the center's official Twitter account. In the video, he praised Hannah-Jones center as well as her efforts in journalism. "I want to thank Nikole and everyone who has worked so hard to make it a reality. The center will help students to learn investigative reporting skills and give them more opportunities to put those skills into practice. But what really sets the center apart, and this is not surprising given Nikoles background, is a focus on historically informed journalism in service of democracy and equity," he began. 1619 Project author Nikole Hannah-Jones has been criticized for pushing many historical inaccuracies in her work. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) "As a society, we need journalists who will report not just whats happening but why its happening and whos being affected. Journalists who can connect the dots and tell a more complete version of our American story. Thats what the Center for Journalism & Democracy will train young journalists to do," Obama continued. MICHELLE OBAMA CELEBRATES MIDTERM RESULTS WITH STEPHEN COLBERT: MOST OF US ARE REASONABLE, DECENT PEOPLE The former president also emphasized the need for the center and journalism to preserve our democracy as we know it. "Our democracy has never been a given. We, as citizens, have to nurture and tend it. As part of that work, we must recognize the vital role a free press plays in our democracy. Journalists give all of us as citizens the chance to know the truth about our countries, ourselves, our governments. It makes us better. It makes us stronger. It gives voice to the voiceless, exposes injustice and hold leaders accountable. Thats why the mission of the Center for Journalism & Democracy at Howard is so important," Obama said. He closed, "So congratulations again to Nikole and everyone who has helped us get to this moment. I cannot wait to see the work you do. And I know our democracy will be better for it." Former President Barack Obama campaigns for Nevada Democratic candidates at a rally Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, in North Las Vegas, Nevada. (AP Photo/John Locher) The Center for Journalism & Democracy's first Democracy Summit included controversial figures such as MSNBC columnist Anthea Butler, author Ta-Nehisi Coates and former NAACP lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill. Several topics from the summit focused on how race and "White nationalism" is at the heart of the fight for democracy. "What we have is a national crisis in our election system, but it has been a long-standing crisis that has effected our Black people," Ifill said. Coates also commented, "When we talk about a Center for Journalism & Democracy I don't know where else you would want to be besides of an HBCU [historically Black colleges and universities]. Because the tradition of Black journalism is truth telling." Journalist Wesley Lowery was quoted saying, "We've never had a pro-democracy press in the U.S." PROVIDENCE SCHOOL DISTRICT SLAPPED WITH CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINTS OVER LOAN FORGIVENESS ONLY FOR NON-WHITES Hannah-Jones infamously produced The 1619 Project, which purports "to reframe the country's history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the very center of the United States' national narrative." However, the work has been heavily criticized by historians for several inaccuracies, such as suggesting that the Revolutionary War was fought in part to preserve slavery. Despite this, Hannah-Jones and her project have been praised by several mainstream media outlets and promoted in school curriculum. Conservatives, and critical historians, have generally argued that the 1619 Project distorted the true history of the U.S. with many of Nikole Hannah-Jones claims, but the mainstream media has largely turned a blind eye to negative feedback. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Hannah-Jones has also been ridiculed on Twitter for several outrageous statements of her own, including claims that tipping in restaurants is a "legacy of slavery" and that the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima not to end the war but "because theyd spent all this money developing it." Lindsay Kornick is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @lmkornick. LHASA,gsz14036 Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Though it has been seven years since Changchub Lhamo's retirement, the former Tibetan ranger often returns to the vast grassland to visit her ungulate "friends." Changchub Lhamo, 67, used to work at Riwoche national nature reserve in Riwoche County in the city of Qamdo, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Covering an area of 1,206 square km, the nature reserve was set up to protect red deer, a species under second-class national protection. The bond between Changchub Lhamo and the red deer dates back over 50 years, when she, at the age of 15, saved three fawns in the wild. "I found them while farming in the field. I waited all day without seeing their parents, and so I decided to take them home to protect them from beasts or starving to death," she recalled. Even though her family was not well-off at that time, she spared some barley for the baby deer and fed them yak milk. At night, she cuddled them while sleeping to keep them warm. The three fawns grew healthily under the meticulous care of Changchub Lhamo, and one of them was even named after her. Two years later, Changchub Lhamo released them into the wild. "I was reluctant to part with them, but I knew that nature was their home," she said. In the first winter after their release, Changchub Lhamo was surprised to find the three red deer returning, followed by a few more. After learning about the moving story, the local government allocated a pasture for the red deer to graze during winter and hired Changchub Lhamo as a ranger. The Riwoche red deer nature reserve was established in 1993 and upgraded to a national one in 2005. Duan Shichang, from the forestry and grassland administration of Riwoche County, said the local government spends more than 200,000 yuan (about 27,700 U.S. dollars) on fodder to help red deer survive winter every year, while monitoring stations, patrol trails and veterinary stations have also been built. Thanks to these protection measures, the population of red deer in the reserve increased from more than 1,000 in the 1990s to about 3,000 currently. Changchub Lhamo's two sons are now among the nine rangers working for the reserve. The rangers observe the deer, carry out regular patrols and rescue injured deer. "Red deer are my mother's lifelong affection. Now, I will continue to follow in her steps and make my own contribution to wildlife protection," said Changchub Lhamo's son Rinchen Tsephel, 25, who has been working for the reserve for six years. SHIJIAZHUANG,wildcard city casino aus Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Firefighters in Shexian County, north China's Hebei Province, received over 1,000 paper cranes ahead of this year's National Fire Prevention Day, which fell on Wednesday. Notes written on the cranes revealed the well-wishers to be dozens of children from a mountainous school. They folded these gifts to express their gratitude to the firefighters, who have volunteered to support the education of children from the school for more than two decades. "You are my role model, and I hope I can be a hero like you to save people in danger after I grow up," a note on a pink paper crane reads. This caring relationship began in 1994, when the Shexian County firefighters heard that a student who had an excellent academic performance faced difficulties continuing his studies, as his family was barely able to make ends meet. Although living on meager incomes in the 1990s, some firefighters donated half of their wages to support the child. As they helped students at Guanghua High School, which formerly also encompassed primary and middle schools, with their physical training before the start of each semester, they noticed many came from impoverished households. They all agreed to provide financial assistance to students at the school every year, donating in the fire station's name. The tradition has been carried on for 28 years, despite new firefighters being recruited and elder firefighters retiring. The station's support for the children has never ceased. Many students have benefited from their support, with over 130 admitted to colleges, 13 joining the army, 20 becoming teachers after graduation, and some becoming firefighters. Inspired by the firefighters, the students also learned to pay it back to society. "Two decades ago, I almost dropped out as my family could barely support my education," said Li Tianbao, who has become a teacher at his old school. "It was the firefighters who helped me out." Li often told his students that "no man is an island, and we should pass on kindness and love with generosity." Over 500 students from impoverished families have been sponsored by the firefighters in Shexian, with donations totaling over 100,000 yuan (13,790 U.S. dollars), and nearly 4,000 books provided. The school has grown from three classrooms with three teachers to a well-known local school covering 112,000 square meters. "After all these years, I can still clearly remember their looks and names, because the firefighters are like family," said Zhao Jiao'e, who has been the principal of the school since 1994. Road of Prosperity: A Xinjiang resident's life by the sea People's Daily Online) 16:05, October 08, 2023 It was Aug. 7, 2023, the 326th day since Mahejiang started working at the China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) Logistics Cooperation Base. As he focused on translating Russian and Kazakh letters, Mahejiang subtly pursed his lips and raised his thick eyebrows, forming an inverted Chinese character "" (which means eight) on his forehead. Time seemed to freeze before him, but as the young man's fingertips floated over the keyboard, the Chinese words flowed smoothly and danced lightly across the computer screen. When he spotted the reporters, he promptly stood up. "Hello! You are the reporters from Xinjiang!" A warm smile instantly graced Mahejiang's lips, and his Mandarin was so fluent that it was hard to believe he was from Kazakhstan. Glancing over his shoulder, he pointed to the enormous storage tank outside the window where the bold red words "Connecting the continental bridge, Sailing in the Pacific Ocean" stretched out beneath the vast blue sky, resembling outstretched arms. Photo taken on Aug. 7, 2023, shows a reporter from the "Road of ProsperityBelt and Road Reporting Project" interview team speaking with Mahejiang. The way Mahejiang looked at us set him apart from the others. Alongside his friendliness, there was an extra quality that made people feel an immediate connection without quite knowing why. It wasn't until he smiled and said, "I was born in Toli county, Tacheng prefecture, in northwest China's Xinjiang," that we truly understood. He was born at a time when Silk Road trade was surging. In the 1990s, China's reform and opening-up were in full swing, akin to a tidal surge at the Bhaktu Port in Tacheng. People from Kazakhstan and China on both sides of the port entered a golden age of cross-border trade. "My uncle's family lived in Toli county, more than 100 kilometers away from Bhaktu Port. Back then, my uncle was involved in foreign trade, and his business was thriving. He invited my parents to come from Kazakhstan to China, where opportunities were abundant," recounted Mahejiang. In 1994, with the first cry, a little boy was born, and the first sky he saw was that of Toli county. This bond continued throughout Mahejiang's childhood and adolescence. At the age of nine, his parents sent him back to Toli county for a year to attend primary school. "It was primarily to learn Chinese. My father believed that learning Chinese would be beneficial in the future, and he had great foresight!" Mahejiang reminisced. Thus, Mahejiang's journey to China was like a seed planted in his heart, eventually blossoming into a magnificent flower. In 2013, at 19, the young man had no inkling that, much like his father's generation who had reaped the benefits of China's reform and opening-up, his life would undergo a profound transformation during another golden age of Silk Road trade. That year, President Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, first proposed the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative in Mahejiang's homeland of Kazakhstan. Shortly after that, the China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) Logistics Cooperation Base was formally established in Lianyungang City, situated at the eastern end of the Pacific Ocean. This marked the first project implemented after the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative. The deepening exchanges and cooperation between countries have opened new opportunities for countless ordinary people. "After completing my undergraduate studies, I came to Northwest A&F University to pursue my postgraduate degree. China and Kazakhstan have always shared a close economic and cultural bond, and I hoped to learn more," Mahejiang explained. Once again, fate had brought him to China. "After graduating from Northwest A&F University, a friend of mine introduced me to the China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) Logistics Cooperation Base, saying that I could express my affection for both China and Kazakhstan here and feel at home. At that time, I didn't know much about Lianyungang, but I decided to come anyway. I was young, and I wanted to explore the world!" "When I first arrived in Lianyungang, I was in awe. I had never seen such a massive harbor," Mahejiang recounted. He witnessed countless ships from various countries arriving at the port from the Pacific Ocean, millions of containers being loaded and unloaded, and the long China-Europe Railway Express trains whistling as they departed from the port. This was a sight he had never encountered before. The convergence of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in Lianyungang city made Mahejiang realize that he was living in a remarkable era. "I only have one life, and I don't want to miss this opportunity." Photo taken on Aug. 7, 2023, shows Mahejiang translating documents. (Photo by Xinhua Daily Lianyungang Branch/Song Tao) That was a young man's commitment to himself, and reality tested him every day. Mahejiang's daily responsibilities included handling various documents, translating correspondence, and logistics applications, among other tasks. Over the past decade, the trade volume of the China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) Logistics Cooperation Base has steadily increased, and behind every piece of correspondence lay significant economic activity. These letters didn't come in small numbers but often in dozens. "There have been times when hundreds of pages of documents were piled up in front of me, and the translation workload was immense. Fortunately, my Chinese colleagues have taken excellent care of me. They were there for me during my most challenging moments!" Mahejiang smiled again, saying, "Now, I genuinely enjoy working here." In recent years, the successful establishment and operation of the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Frontier Cooperation Center, the China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) Logistics Cooperation Base, and the Horgos Special Economic Zone have significantly enhanced the connectivity between China and Kazakhstan. "During my last visit to my home country, I noticed an increasing number of Chinese vehicles on the streets of Kazakhstan, and more Chinese companies have established a presence there," mentioned Mahejiang, adding that his brother works for a Chinese company in Kazakhstan. As for Mahejiang himself, he is thoroughly enjoying his life and work in China. "Every day in China is a valuable experience for me, which I will definitely cherish, and if I can, I hope to stay for a long time," Mahejiang said with a smile. "If you are so fond of China, why not consider marrying someone from China?" "Sounds like a good suggestion." Source: TIANSHANNET (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for a fair and objective probe into the crash of the Malaysia Airlines plane. Xi made the statement on Friday at a joint press conference with his gsx140371Argentine counterpart Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. He said he was shocked by the downing of the flight, and conveyed Chinas profound condolences to the victims as well as their families. Xi said an investigation was needed to establish the truth as early as possible. President Xi mourns victims of crashadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Musonda Mumba (R),waterfall bath mixer tap with handheld shower secretary-general of the Ramsar Convention, gives the certificate of accreditation that recognises Wuhan of central China's Hubei Province as the international wetland city to a Chinese representative during the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, in Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 10, 2022. Twenty-five cities from 13 countries, notably seven from China, were accredited on Thursday by the Ramsar Convention as international wetland cities. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) GENEVA, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-five cities from 13 countries, notably seven from China, were accredited on Thursday by the Ramsar Convention as international wetland cities. An accreditation ceremony was held during the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The other 18 cities are from Canada, France, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Morocco, South Korea, Rwanda, South Africa, Spain and Thailand. Of the seven Chinese cities, Hefei of the eastern Anhui Province has five national wetland parks and three provincial wetland parks, with a wetland protection rate of 75 percent, the highest within the province. Jining of east China's coastal Shandong Province has 32 wetland towns, 56 wetland villages and 124 micro-wetlands. Liangping of Chongqing Municipality is the only wetland city in southwestern China, with more than 400 model micro-wetlands featuring organic industries, local guesthouses and ecological tourism. Nanchang of east China's Jiangxi Province has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. Panjin, located at the mouth of the Liaohe River in the northeastern Liaoning Province, is an important transit location and destination for migratory birds of the East Asian-Australasia flyway, as well as a breeding ground for the largest population of saunders's gulls in the world. Wuhan of Hubei Province is a megacity with the most abundant wetland resources in inland China, and also a typical example of lake-type wetlands at the same latitude worldwide as well as the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Yancheng of east China's Jiangsu Province has two wetlands of international importance as well as China's first World Natural Heritage site of coastal wetlands. In her speech at the accreditation, Musonda Mumba, secretary-general of the Ramsar Convention, congratulated the newly certified wetland cities and recalled her visit to Wuhan, also the host city of COP14. "I always have beautiful memories of Wuhan," she said. At the ceremony, Wuhan Vice Mayor Yang Zefa attributed Wuhan's accreditation not only to myriad wetlands within the city boundary, but to its practice of the notion of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," which stresses ecological protection and restoration of water bodies, and the harmonious coexistence of people, nature and the city. On the list of all the 43 international wetland cities worldwide are 13 Chinese cities, making China a country with most such cities. The other six Chinese cities that have shared the honor since 2018 are Harbin of Heilongjiang Province, Haikou of Hainan Province, Yinchuan of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Changde of Hunan Province, Changshu of Jiangsu Province and Dongying of Shandong Province. Musonda Mumba (R), secretary-general of the Ramsar Convention, gives the certificate of accreditation that recognises Jining of east China's Shandong Province as the international wetland city to a Chinese representative during the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, in Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 10, 2022. Twenty-five cities from 13 countries, notably seven from China, were accredited on Thursday by the Ramsar Convention as international wetland cities. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) Musonda Mumba, secretary-general of the Ramsar Convention, displays the certificate of accreditation that recognises Hefei of east China's Anhui Province as the international wetland city during the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, in Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 10, 2022. Twenty-five cities from 13 countries, notably seven from China, were accredited on Thursday by the Ramsar Convention as international wetland cities. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) Musonda Mumba (R), secretary-general of the Ramsar Convention, gives the certificate of accreditation that recognises Yancheng City of east China's Jiangsu Province as the international wetland city to a Chinese representative during the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, in Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 10, 2022. Twenty-five cities from 13 countries, notably seven from China, were accredited on Thursday by the Ramsar Convention as international wetland cities. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) Musonda Mumba (R), secretary-general of the Ramsar Convention, gives the certificate of accreditation that recognises Nanchang of east China's Jiangxi Province as the international wetland city to a Chinese representative during the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, in Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 10, 2022. Twenty-five cities from 13 countries, notably seven from China, were accredited on Thursday by the Ramsar Convention as international wetland cities. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) Musonda Mumba (R), secretary-general of the Ramsar Convention, gives the certificate of accreditation that recognises Panjin of northeast China's Liaoning Province as the international wetland city to a Chinese representative during the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, in Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 10, 2022. Twenty-five cities from 13 countries, notably seven from China, were accredited on Thursday by the Ramsar Convention as international wetland cities. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) Musonda Mumba (R), secretary-general of the Ramsar Convention, gives the certificate of accreditation that recognises Liangping District of southwest China's Chongqing as the international wetland city to a Chinese representative during the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, in Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 10, 2022. Twenty-five cities from 13 countries, notably seven from China, were accredited on Thursday by the Ramsar Convention as international wetland cities. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) This photo taken on Dec. 3, 2019 shows white cranes at a crane sanctuary in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi) This photo taken on May 2, 2021 shows local residents camping at Aixi Lake wetland park of Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang) This photo taken on Jan. 12, 2022 shows white cranes at a crane sanctuary in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang) This aerial photo taken on Dec. 4, 2021 shows scenery of Yuweizhou wetland park in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi) This photo taken on Jan. 1, 2022 shows white cranes at a crane sanctuary in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang) This photo taken on Jan. 12, 2022 shows migrant birds at a crane sanctuary in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang) This photo taken on Nov. 18, 2020 shows swans flying above a wetland in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi) This photo taken on Jan. 12, 2021 shows view of Xianghu wetland park in Xihu District of Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. (Photo by Fan Wei/Xinhua) This photo taken on May 18, 2021 shows an egret feeding its babies at Xiangshan forest park in Xinjian District of Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang) This photo taken on Sept. 28, 2019 shows cyclists competing during the Tour of Poyang Lake in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi) This aerial photo taken on May 2, 2021 shows people boating at Aixi Lake wetland park in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang) This photo taken on May 23, 2019 shows black swans at Aixi Lake wetland park in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi) This photo taken on Sept. 28, 2019 shows cyclists competing during the Tour of Poyang Lake in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi) This photo taken on April 19, 2020 shows view of Xianghu wetland park in Xihu Distrcit of Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. (Photo by Zeng Zhenjin/Xinhua/Wan Xiang) This aerial photo taken on Nov. 8, 2022 shows scenery of Yuweizhou wetland park in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang) This aerial photo taken on Nov. 8, 2022 shows scenery of Yuweizhou wetland park in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang) This photo taken on Dec. 21, 2021 shows migrant birds at a crane sanctuary in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang) This photo taken on April 6, 2020 shows local residents resting on lawn at Aixi Lake wetland park in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi) TOKYO,blackjack unblocked agen 137 slot Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- This year marks the 30th anniversary of Chinese calligrapher Jin Ou's arrival in Japan. "In the 30 years since I came to Japan, I have been introducing Chinese culture through calligraphy and seal carving works, and promoting the art exchange of calligraphy and painting between the two countries," he said. To commemorate the anniversary, Jin recently held an exhibition at the China Cultural Center in Tokyo displaying calligraphy and seal carving works by him and his students, where Jin said he wants to help the Chinese people in Japan strengthen their traditional cultural learning and seek their culture roots from calligraphy. "Kanji, as Chinese characters are called in Japan, come from China, and calligraphy has always been very popular in Japan," he said. Jin, who was born in Wuzhen, east China's Zhejiang Province, in 1957, went to Japan for study in 1992. During the period of his stay, he studied Chinese calligraphy and Japanese calligraphy at the same time, and published "Jin Ou's Calligraphy, Painting and Seal Carving Works" and "History of Japanese Ancient Seals and Ancient Seals Research". Over the years, Jin has actively participated in various large-scale cultural exhibitions in Japan and performed seal carving skills, which has attracted a lot of attention from the Japanese media. In 2002, Jin opened the Jin Ou Art Academy, teaching calligraphy, painting and seal carving. "In Japan, calligraphy, painting, and seal carving are generally taught by three teachers, but I teach the three categories at the same time all by myself, and I modify my way of teaching to suit each student's personal interests and aptitudes," he explained. Because of the distinctive teaching method, many Japanese came to the school to learn art, and Jin's academy has gained increasing popularity in Japan. Hajime Matsunaga has been studying calligraphy and seal carving with Jin for nearly 20 years. In the exhibition, his work Four Divine Beasts in Seal Carving is placed in a prominent position. His art and skills shine through the vivid depiction of the four mythical beasts as well as the carved characters. "I come to the school almost every day now, and I am very happy to learn calligraphy and seal cutting, and classical Chinese culture," Matsunaga told Xinhua. In 2004, Jin and several other Chinese calligraphers in Japan established the All-Japan Chinese Calligraphers Association, hoping to provide a greater platform and promote more in-depth exchanges between Chinese and Japanese calligraphy and seal cutting circles. Nowadays, Jin instructs a monthly charity calligraphy class at the China Cultural Center for overseas Chinese for free. "Calligraphy not only brings peace of mind to people, but also allows them to relive the traditional Chinese culture and find the roots of their souls," he said. Taiwans export orders surged 10.6 percent year on year in June to US$38.82 billion, buoyed by steadily warming global demand and a lower comparison base from last year, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs July 21. June marked the fifth consecutive month of growth and the largest percentage gain since December 2012, said Lin Lee-jen, director-general of the MOEA Department of Statistics. The figures were much better than expected. For the first six months of the year, exports gained 5.4 percent to US$220.46 billion, the highest on record for the period. According to the official, orders for seven of the countrys eight major export sectors registered growth, with electronics, chemicals and machinery leading the way at 17 percent, 16.4 percent and 15.2 percent, respectively. The increasing popularity of handheld devices continued to spur business for Taiwans foundries, integrated circuit makers and memory producers, Lin said. An improving business climate worldwide also boosted private investment and drove up demand for Taiwan machinery, especially from Europe, the U.S. and Taiwans six major partners from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, she added. Precision instruments, including display panels, was the only sector experiencing a contraction as competition from South Korea and mainland China stiffened. Mainland China, including Hong Kong, remained the top source of orders, up 14.5 percent to US$10.21 billion. The U.S. was No. 2 with an increase of 6.7 percent to US$9.41 billion, while Europe came in third at US$6.86 billion, up 15.2 percent from the year before. The outlook for the following months is even more positive, Lin said. With global heavyweights set to introduce more mobile devices in the near future, Taiwan exports are expected to continue picking up steam in the second half of the year. Taiwan Today Taiwan export orders up 10.6 percent in Juneadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Peng Liyuan,mega rush casino shiva crypto coin wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, meets with Indonesian First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo in Bali, Indonesia, Nov 16, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua] BALI, Indonesia - Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, met here on Wednesday afternoon with Indonesian First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo. When Peng arrived, local youths played welcoming music with Gamelan, a traditional Indonesian musical instrument. Iriana greeted Peng warmly and took photos with her. Accompanied by Iriana, Peng watched a performance of Indonesian traditional culture and art, as well as a craft products exhibition. Local girls, dressed in festive costumes, performed Bali's traditional "Pendet dance" to welcome the distinguished guest. Peng chatted with them cordially and hailed the handmade silk fabrics with Bali characteristics as exquisite. Peng and Iriana tasted fragrant teas, chatted about family life and enjoyed music. She spoke highly of Iriana's enthusiasm for public welfare and briefed her about China's active policies and achievements in the treatment and prevention of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, saying she hopes that the two countries will strengthen exchanges in public welfare and jointly promote people's livelihood and well-being. Before leaving, students at the Tourism Confucius Institute of Indonesia's Udayana University in Bali, dressed in folk costumes, sang in Chinese the Indonesian song Bengawan Solo. Peng praised students for their beautiful singing, and thanked musical instrument players for their accompaniments. Some of the students shouted affectionately "Hello, Peng Mama!" and she responded happily. Peng asked the students about their study and life, encouraged them to continue working hard to learn Chinese, and welcomed more Indonesian youths to visit China, learn the Chinese culture and become envoys of China-Indonesia cooperation. 1 2 3 4 Next >>| 1/4 Next Finance ministers of the euro zone on Saturday agreed to lend up to 100 billion euros to Spain in order to allow it to bail out its troubled banks. Following a conference of more than two hours and half between the finance ministers of the euro area in a tense atmosphere, the Eurogroup and Madrid have said that the amount of aid would therefore sufficient to dissipate doubts. The loan amount will cover the estimated needs of capital with an extra margin of safety, which brings the estimated amount to 100 billion euros in total, said the Eurogroup in a statement. The Spanish government declared its intention to seek European funding to recapitalize Spanish banks in need, said the Spanish Minister of Economy, Luis de Guindos, during a press conference in Madrid. The amounts needed, he added, are manageable and should amply cover all needs. Aid to Spain to recapitalize its banks brings the number of European countries affected by the sovereign debt crisis in the euro area and benefiting from a bailout to four. The European Union and the International Monetary Fund has now raised approximately EUR 500 billion to fund the bailouts of Greece, Ireland, Portugal and now Spain. Washington, who did not hide its concern that the crisis in the euro area jeopardize the recovery of the U.S. economy, welcomed the decisions. The Eurozone agreed to raise 100 billion euros for Spainadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff had a phone conversation Thursday on bilateral ties and the U.N. Sustainable Development Conference to be hosted by Brazil in June. Wen said the development of China-Brazil ties has good momentum; cooperation has been fruitful; the strategic and global natures of the bilateral ties have become increasingly obvious. To strengthen China-Brazil cooperation is lucky tiger free spin codesof great significance and enjoys broad prospects against the backdrop of changing international situation and uncertainties in global economic recovery, Wen said. China is ready to work with Brazil to push the bilateral strategic partnership to a new level and deepen the relationship between China and Latin America as a whole, he said. As for the upcoming U.N. conference in Rio de Janeiro next month, Wen said the meeting should send out positive and clear and strong signals and inject new energy to global sustainable development. China will participate in the conference in an active and constructive manner and will cooperate with Brazil in a bid to make the conference a success. Rousseff said Brazil and China are important strategic cooperative partners that enjoy broad potential for mutually beneficial cooperation. The two sides have consensus on major international issues. She thanked China for its support in the preparation of the conference and expressed the hope that the international community could make concerted efforts to find political consensus to achieve positive results on promoting economic development, social progress and environmental protection. She said she expected an important role of China in this respect. Xinhua Chinese, Brazilian leaders discuss bilateral ties over phoneadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Taiwan society is aging at an alarming rate and all government agencies must incorporate this demographic shift into their policymaking to ensure the islands sustainable development, according to the Council for Economic Planning and Development of Taiwan July 22. In its latest biennial report, the CEPD warns that Taiwans population is forecast to peak at 23.7 million in 2025 based on a projected growth rate of 0.19 percent in 2012 to -1.16 percent in 2060. Despite a slight spike in the number of marriages and new births over the past two years, Taiwans population is heading toward a negative growth track, a CEPD official said. This demographic change will play a key role in national development and all agencies need to make the necessary preparations in terms of human resources planning, medical services policies, social welfare programs and urban development, he added. Under a medium-growth scenario, births will decline from 229,000 in 2012 to 115,000 in 2060 when deaths will more than double to 342,000, resulting in a population of 18.92 million and a median age of 57.4. Over the same period, the percentage of those 65 and above will jump from 11.2 percent to 39.4 percent, while the over-80s will account for 41.4 percent of all the senior citizens, up from 25.4 percent in 2012. At the same time, the 18-64 aged workforce is projected to drop from 74.2 percent to 50.7 percent. This will produce a dependency ratio of 97 persons in 2060, more than double the figure of 35 persons in 2012. Although this trend appears irreversible, the official said, stimulus measures aimed at boosting the birthrate will buy the government more time in mapping out appropriate responsive measures. (JSM) Meg Chang Taiwan Today Taiwan government agencies warn on aging populationadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline The international community should strengthen its coordination and cooperation on the Somali piracy issue, a Chinese diplomat said here on Wednesday. The issue of piracy off the Somali coast has always posed a serious threat to stability and development of the region as well as safety and security of international shipping, said Wang Min, Chinas deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, when addressing the 12th Plenary Meeting of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS). At present, acts of piracy are still running rampant. They are getting apparently industrialized and violent, with increased all-weather piracy capabilities and expanding scope of attacks, he said. It is imperative for the international community to strengthen coordination and cooperation to cope with these developments. Wang noted that China supports combating piracy off the Somali coast under the relevant international law and Security Council resolutions and has taken an active part in international cooperation within the framework of the CGPCS. The Chinese navy started to dispatch escort warships to the Gulf of Aden and the Somali waters in January 2009, he said. By the beginning of this July, China has dispatched 12 batches of 31 warships to engage in escort missions for 4,711 vessels in 469 batches, more than half of which are foreign vessels. The escort missions are 100 percent successful, he added. The Chinese envoy also said the fundamental settlement of the Somali piracy issue depends on political stability, economic growth and social tranquility in the country. China hopes the parties concerned in Somalia can strengthen cooperation, resolve their disputes through dialogue and consultation, and end the transitional period as scheduled, he said. Wang called on the international community to continue to put great emphasis on the situation in Somalia, saying that the international community should provide consistent and comprehensive support to Somalia and faithfully fulfill its commitments to assisting the country. China will continue to work with the international community and play a constructive role in promoting the peace process in Somalia, he added. The CGPCS was established on January 14, 2009 to facilitate the discussion and coordination of actions among states and organizations to suppress piracy off the coast of Somalia. This international forum has brought together more than 60 countries and international organizations, all of which are working towards the prevention of piracy off the Somali coast. Xinhua China calls for further coordination and cooperation on Somali piracyadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Premier Wen Jiabao on Friday had a meeting with the 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu (), at the Zhongnanhai compound in central Beijing, which is the office complex for both the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council. During the meeting, Wen, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committees Political Bureau, congratulated the Panchen Lama, as well as all Tibetan compatriots, on the forthcoming Tibetan New Year, which falls on February 22. The premiere heard a report by the Panchen Lama on his life and work since he was enthroned 17 years ago. Wen praised and congratulated the Panchen Lama on his marked progress in Buddhist research and cultural and ethic aspects, noting that the Panchen Lama has behaved in a good style as a Living Buddha of the Tibetan Buddhism. The year 2011 is the 60th anniversary of the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet, and over the past six decades, Tibet has experienced enormous changes thanks to the leadership of the Party and the government, the assistance by the people of all nationalities, and hard work and continuous efforts made by the people of Tibet from different ethnic groups, Wen said. Talking to the Panchen Lama, the premier pledged that in the future the regional ethnic autonomy will continue, while greater efforts will be made to improve the lives of Tibetan compatriots, protect the environment and the regions cultural traditions, as well as the religious freedom of the Tibetan people. Wen asked the Panchen Lama to further deepen his research of academic works on Buddhist doctrines in an effort to ascertain positive thoughts from Tibetan Buddhist doctrines, so as to lead the Buddhists lamas and followers in loving the country, abiding by laws and abiding by Buddhism commandments. He also called on the Panchen Lama to play an even greater and more positive role in safeguarding the national unification and unity of all ethnic groups. Present at the meeting was Du Qinglin, a vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and director of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee. Xinhua Chinese Premier Wen meets Panchen Lamaadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline China is got better crossword clueofficially New Zealand s second biggest tourist market, after spending by Chinese visitors jumped by 37 percent in the year to the end of September, New Zealands Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment announced Tuesday. Chinese visitors spent 555 million NZ dollars (458.15 million U. S. dollars) in the year ending September, which put them ahead of spending by travelers from the United Kingdom, on 545 million NZ dollars, for the first time, according to the ministry. However, Chinese visitors would have to more than triple their spending to overtake New Zealands largest tourist market Australia, on 1.7 billion NZ dollars. The ministrys tourism research and evaluation manager Peter Ellis said the ongoing growth in Chinese visitors would have major implications for New Zealands tourism industry. In the last three years China has overtaken Japan, the United States and now the UK tourist markets to become our second largest tourism market, as we forecast 14 months ago would happen around this time. The number of visitors from China has increased by 37 percent in the last year alone, and just as importantly, the amount they spend while here has also risen by 37 percent, Ellis said in a statement. The Chinese tend to have shorter trips to New Zealand than visitors from other countries, and their experience of New Zealand tends to be focused on Auckland and Rotorua, although Queenstown has been growing in importance in recent years. The ministry was working with relevant agencies and the tourism industry on a China Market Review to identify how to improve the quality of experiences for Chinese visitors and maximize the potential. Overall, the ministrys International Visitor Survey showed that total visitor spending had fallen by 2 percent, despite an increase in arrivals numbers of 2 percent. Last month, Statistics New Zealand released figures showing the growth in overseas visitor spending had slowed in the year to March, with international tourism expenditure up just 1.6 percent, or 149 million NZ dollars, following a 1.8-percent increase in the year to the end of March 2011. Commentators said the high value of the New Zealand dollar was hurting the countrys international tourism industry, which contributed 6.2 billion NZ dollars, or 3.3 percent, of New Zealand s GDP through spending by overseas visitors. Xinhua China becomes New Zealands second tourism market by spendingadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline BALI,cheap cryptocurrency to invest in 2020 Indonesia, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met here on Tuesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov while Wang, as an entourage of Chinese President Xi Jinping, attended the Group of 20 summit. Lavrov once again extended warm congratulations on the successful conclusion of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), saying that Xi's re-election by unanimous vote as general secretary of the Central Committee of the CPC fully demonstrates his lofty political prestige and the high trust and support of the Chinese people. He said the Russian side stands ready to work with China to further consolidate the sound momentum of high-level exchanges of the two sides, maintain the continuity of the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, expand bilateral practical cooperation, strengthen international coordination and fully unleash the potential of Russia-China relations. Wang said that the success of the 20th CPC National Congress has attracted the attention of the whole country as well as the world, adding that the most important achievement of the congress was the election of a new central leadership with Comrade Xi at its core, which fully demonstrates the will of the Party and the people. With General Secretary Xi as the core of the CPC Central Committee and the Party, China will march bravely towards its established goals and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, he noted. Wang said that China is willing to work with Russia to push forward their high-level exchanges and communication in various fields, deepen bilateral practical cooperation and facilitate personnel exchanges. He stressed that China is willing to work with Russia and like-minded countries to firmly promote the world multipolarity process, staunchly support the democratization of international relations, and steadfastly safeguard the UN-centered international system. The two sides reiterated that they will continue to strengthen communication and cooperation within multilateral frameworks, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS countries. The two sides exchanged views on the Ukraine issue. Wang said the four points about what must be done and the four things the international community must do together proposed by Xi is China's basic principles in tackling the Ukraine issue. China noticed that Russia has recently reaffirmed the established position that "a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought," which shows Russia's rational and responsible attitude, he added. China willingly saw Russia release the signal of dialogue and agree to resume the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. China will continue holding an objective and fair position and playing a constructive role in promoting peace talks, Wang said. Lavrov said Russia has always been open to negotiation and dialogue. The two sides also exchanged views on issues such as the Asia-Pacific situation, the Korean Peninsula issue and the Iran nuclear issue. Theace 8 poker betway 25 free spins Chinese government on Wednesday released a guideline on its basic medicine system that forbids hospitals from linking doctors incomes with their patients medicine and medical exam expenses. Some hospitals link doctors pay with revenues earned through medication sales and exam fees, creating greater economic burdens for patients. The guideline, released by the health reform office under the State Council, or Chinas Cabinet, is intended to consolidate and improve the basic medicine system and offer solutions for problems related to local-level health care reform. The guideline calls for efforts to teach medical staff to use basic medicine properly, as well as encourages non-governmental local medical institutions to use medications that are on the basic medicine list. According to the guideline, income distribution should be tilted toward medical workers who are on the frontline of medical practice or are in key positions, as well as toward those who have made outstanding contributions in the field. The new guideline aims to reinforce and improve various policies based on implementation results seen over the past few years, said Sun Zhigang, head of the office. According to Sun, the office conducted local inspections and solicited opinions from various medical officials and experts in order to draft the guideline. The guideline stresses that a government funding system must be secured to keep local medical institutions up and running, with enough equipment and personnel capabilities to match their service scope and quality. On one hand, we must cultivate enough talent for local medical institutions and ensure their normal operation; on the other, their medical services should gradually adopt a more information technology-based mode, Sun said. According to Sun, ensuring the interests of village doctors is a key aspect of the guideline, which also aims to improve their working conditions and solve issues concerning their pensions and professional risks. While encouraging medical institutions at the village level to shoulder some 40 percent of local medical service burdens, the guideline urges punishment for village doctors who abuse medical resources or unreasonably prescribe drugs to patients. Local health and medical institutions that seek to earn greater profits by prescribing basic medicines will also be punished, the guideline says. In addition, the guideline also calls for quality inspections for basic medicine and the implementation of electronic monitoring during the medication production process. It also asks for inspection results to be released to the public regularly. The health reform office has urged province-level governments to draft concrete measures to help medical workers adjust to the new guideline. Xinhua China forbids linking doctors incomes, medical expensesadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held talks in Buenos Aires with Argentine President Cristina on June 25. Premier Wen said that China is ready to work with Argentina to enhance mutual political trust, China supports Argentinas claim to sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands. Wen Jiabao said China is implementing the 12th Five-Year Plan, Argentina has developed a 2020 development strategy, a bilateral cooperation will bring the great potential for both countries. The two sides decided to launch a joint action plan between the two governments for the development of bilateral relations. Christina said Argentina is willing to learn from Chinas development experience, strengthen strategic communication with China and expand the development of mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields such as economic, trade, agriculture, infrastructure construction, energy, hydropower, transportation and mineral resources. Argentina welcomes Chinese enterprises to expand investment in Argentina and actively participate in large-scale construction projects. Wen: China supports Argentinas claim to sovereignty over the Malvinas Islandsadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Fox News Flash top headlines for November 14 closeVideo Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. The Tennessee Department of Transportation is encouraging residents to participate in cleanup events throughout the state this month. So far more than eight tons of trash has been collected in the department's No Trash November initiative. INDIANA AUTHORITIES CATCH ILLEGAL DUMPER AFTER RECEIPT FOUND IN GARBAGE The University of Tennessee is teaming up with the department's Nobody Trashes Tennessee campaign for a cleanup event Tuesday morning. Participants will meet at the Torchbearer statue on the Knoxville campus where they will receive cleanup supplies and safety instruction. Thousands of Tennessee residents are taking part in 'No Trash November' cleanup events throughout the state this month in order to keep their community clean. Reflex Gaming,among us free planet 7 no deposit a well-established online casino and gaming machine provider from the UK, is making its American debut with a new game at West Virginia online casinos. The company partnered with ODDSworks, an essential player in North Americas gaming jurisdictions, to facilitate this milestone launch. The partnership will allow Reflexs new games to utilize ODDSworks state-of-the-art remote game server, BETguard. Founded in 2004 in England, Reflex Gaming gradually rose to prominence and was listed as one of the UKs 100 fastest-growing tech companies by the Sunday Times in 2015. In 2019, gaming machine provider Dransfields acquired the company, further boosting its status. With a catalog of 19 online slot titles and 21 land-based slots, Reflex Gaming has been a force in the European gaming industry. Thedream vegas casino bonus U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) on Friday initiated four Section 337 investigations involving two kinds of Chinese products. This is the second time in four days that the U.S. government used trade remedy actions. The first product at issue is protective cases that used for handheld portable electronic devices. The probe is based on a complaint filed by Speculative Product Design, LLC based in California on December 26, 2012, said the USITC in a statement. Shengda Huanqiu Shijie of Shenzhen and another three companies from China were identified as respondents in the investigation. The accuser claimed Section 337 violations involving patents infringement, and requested an exclusion order and cease and desist orders, according to the federal bipartisan panel. The other product is smart phone and associated touch keyboard software that permits a user to input information with increased speed and/or accuracy. Four communications companies based in Massachusetts complained Chinas Shanghai Hanxiang (Coo Tek) Information Technology Co. Ltd. and another U.S. company in New York state infringed their patents. They also requested an exclusion order and cease and desist orders. The institution of the investigation does not mean the USITC has made any decision on the merits of the case. Within 45 days the body will set a target date for completing the investigation. Should the complaint be approved, the panel will issue remedial orders, such as a ban on importation of accused products. Daniel Ikenson, director of Center for Trade Policy Studies at Cato Institute, told Xinhua that the USITC action was redundant, because the patent holders had the right to sue at a regular court. More importantly, he added, Section 337 violates the rules of the World Trade Organization, and it is merely a protectionist relic that needs to go. In January this year, the United States launched one antidumping and three Section 337 investigations against Chinese products. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has repeatedly urged Washington to abide by its commitment against protectionism and help maintain a free, open and just international trade environment. Xinhua U.S. launches investigation into two Chinese productsadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline A passenger plane from Chinas Taiwan made an emergency landing Sunday at an airport in central Japan. Thewilliamhill correct score prediction China Airlines plane from Taipei was scheduled to land at Toyama Airport around noon, but failed to do so due to unstable air currents, according to Japans Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry. The pilot, after trying to land at Toyama Airport three times in vain, changed the direction and made an emergency landing at the Chubu Airport in Nagoya due to shortage of fuel, according to the ministry. A total of 155 passengers and crew members were on board the plane, and none was injured. Xinhua Passenger plane from Chinas Taiwan makes emergency landing in Japanadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Thecashman casino for windows free Embassy Chef Challenge returned to Washington, D.C. Thursday night after a two-year COVID hiatus. Chinese chefs won the top prize in the Judges' Choice Award. They featured fish flavored shrimp balls and mapo tofu with Chinese tea and baijiu. 01:27 Over 40 embassy chefs participated from around the world. With food and drink pairings, chefs showcased the unique flavors of their home countries. Hundreds of locals and visitors flocked to taste the world. They also voted for best dish to determine the People's Choice Award winner. The first place in the People's Choice Award went to the Embassy of the Philippines. The Embassy Chef Challenge is an annual event celebrating global food and culinary diplomacy. (Click left or right arrow to see more) For more, check out our exclusive content on CGTN Now and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The China Report. Thegame judi mega fetch crypto reddit Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Thursday that it will impose five-year anti-dumping duties on high-performance stainless steel seamless tubes imported from the European Union (EU) and Japan. Duty rates will range from 9.2 percent to 14.4 percent and will become effective on Friday, the ministry said. An investigation showed that the EU and Japan have been dumping high-performance stainless steel seamless tubes into the Chinese market, substantially harming Chinese producers, the ministry said in a statement. China launched an anti-dumping probe into steel tubes made in the EU and Japan in September last year. The MOC issued a preliminary ruling on May 8 stating that the EU and Japan have been dumping high-performance stainless steel seamless tubes into the Chinese market. Xinhua China imposes anti-dumping duties on EU, Japan steel tubesadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline HAIKOU,player 88bet reddit splinterlands Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- In an Indonesian-style restaurant decorated with special wood ceilings, jelly-like desserts with green layers lure many foodies visiting from across China. "I definitely like the coconut rolls with pandan leaf juice," said a tourist surnamed Zhang, from northeast China. "I have ordered some to take home for my friends." The snack shop is located in Xinglong Town of Wanning, a coastal city in the tropical island province of Hainan in south China. It offers a variety of products, such as coffee, herbal tea and cakes, all mixed with green pandan leaf juice. The snacks are captivating for customers eager to have a taste of the distinctive flavor of Southeast Asia, said shop owner Zhan Shumin, 38. "My granny was born and raised in Indonesia, and since I was a little girl, I begged her to teach me how to make snacks with pandan leaf juice," she said. Pandan is a tropical plant with fragrant leaves frequently used in food as flavoring in both Southeast Asia and South Asia. In the 1950s, some Chinese returned from overseas and introduced the plant to Xinglong, and desserts made with pandan leaf juice gradually gained popularity in the area. Wanning has agreeable weather, with an average annual temperature of around 23 degrees Celsius and average annual precipitation of 2,100 millimeters. Average humidity is 86 percent while average annual sunshine is up to 2,200 hours, making it a perfect place for pandan cultivation. The introduction of pandan plants has translated into quite a business in Wanning, with locals currently growing more than 333 hectares of this fragrant herb in the city, according to the latest government figures. "Pandan plants grow very well in areas with abundant water resources -- of which Xinglong has many -- and that is why Xinglong is great for the cultivation of this plant," Zhan said. Given her family connection with Indonesia, Zhan decided to keep some of this culture alive through dessert-making, she said. "Handmade desserts using pandan leaves really represent that culture well," she said, adding that women in her family all know how to make such snacks. "You collect pandan leaves, clean them, mix and blend them with water," she said. "Then it is important to filter the green juice three times to make concentrate, mix the concentrate with cassava flour, sugar and salt, before steaming the mixture for at least 50 minutes. Every step is essential." She started selling the desserts in 2014 as a street vendor. Sales went so well that she expanded her business into a big snack shop within just two years. "Many customers come from far away just to have a taste," she said. "Currently, the shop consumes about 50 kg of fresh pandan leaves a day." The most popular desserts are pandan cakes and pandan rolls with durian sauce, Zhan said. Pandan rainbow rolls featuring multiple colored layers are also popular. "My personal favorite is, of course, the pandan coconut rolls, which have sliced coconut on the surface," she said. Her shop -- Xinglong Nanyang Flavor -- has become a must-visit venue in the tourist city, garnering a high score and thousands of comments from customers on Dianping, the Chinese version of Yelp. "I am just so happy that people enjoy the desserts that we make," she said. This success story resulted in many other locals jumping on the bandwagon, and in Xinglong alone, scores of similar snack bars have sprung up. The cash crop is taking root in Wanning and other Hainan cities such as Qionghai and Danzhou, according to Chen Deran, an official in charge of rural revitalization in Wanning. "Pandan plants are easy to grow, take about 10 to 12 months to reach harvesting maturity, and can be harvested for many years to come," Chen said. In Qiaobei Village, for example, about 90 percent of villagers grow these plants, after local authorities gave them free seedlings and scientists taught them planting techniques. "I think the future of pandan cultivation is bright," said Chen. BALI,crypto voyager app blockchain shib Indonesia, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met here on Wednesday with Coordinator for Cooperation with China and Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut B. Pandjaitan on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) Bali summit. Wang acknowledged Indonesia's tremendous efforts to ensure the summit a success, and said China will continue to fully support Indonesia, who holds the rotating G20 presidency, in playing its role. Recalling Indonesian President Joko Widodo's successful visit to China this July, he said the two heads of state reached important consensus during the visit, and confirmed that the two sides will work toward the general direction of building a China-Indonesia community with a shared future, which has demonstrated the high level of strategic mutual trust. China stands ready to work together with Indonesia to ensure that the upcoming meeting between the two heads of state achieves fruitful results, Wang said. For his part, Luhut extended once again congratulations on the success of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and expressed his wish and confidence that China will make more and greater achievements in advancing its modernization, particularly in such fields as enhancing people's well-being. He thanked China for supporting Indonesia in hosting the G20 Bali summit, adding that Indonesia will strengthen communication and coordination with China. Indonesia stands ready to deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with China, implement and solidify the vision of jointly building a China-Indonesia community with a shared future, and bring bilateral cooperation to new heights, said the Indonesian minister. MACAO,led basin taps earn crypto online Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- A forum on protecting and sustainably developing heritage of the Maritime Silk Road opened Wednesday in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR). The two-day forum was aimed at sharing the frontier fruits of protection and research on heritage of the Maritime Silk Road, helping delegates and residents understand the importance of heritage, and continuously stepping up exchanges and cooperation on protection of heritage in regions along the route. Experts and scholars from the China Academy of Cultural Heritage, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Beijing Cluster Office, as well as from Indonesia and Malaysia, discussed the history of the Maritime Silk Road and ways to protect heritage along the route. Ao Ieong U, secretary for social affairs and culture of the Macao SAR government, said at the forum that Macao will continue stepping up cooperation with other cities to facilitate the nomination of the Maritime Silk Road for the UNESCO heritage list. Themelbet casino online ufc odds 259 All-China Womens Federation has granted 10 women the title of Role Model for March 8th Red Banner Holder, a national honor granted to those who are regarded as role models for all Chinese women to follow, the federation announced on Wednesday. Zhang Lili, a middle school teacher in northeast Chinas Heilongjiang Province who lost her legs while saving two students from an oncoming bus, topped the list. The runner-up was Lu Xinning, a reporter for the Peoples Daily, the flagship newspaper of the Communist Party of China (CPC). She received the award for her notable achievements in news reporting. The third was Qian Aling, the head of a microcredit company in east Chinas Jiangsu province who has who helped small business owners get through financial difficulties. Other recipients include a genetics researcher, a local-level doctor, a philanthropic businesswoman and a farmer who has engaged in agricultural innovation. Another 300 individuals received the honorary title of March 8th Red Banner Holder in addition to the ten women, while 200 institutions were given the title of March 8th Red Banner Collective, according to the federation. The awards were first given out starting in 1960 but were halted during the decade-long Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). In 1979, the awards were restored to encourage women to take part in Chinas reform and opening-up drive. A special exception was made last year, when the federation announced that it would bestow a special title on Liu Yang, Chinas first female astronaut. She received the title of Role Model for March 8th Red Banner Holders, making the total number of recipients 11 instead of 10. Liu and male crew members Jing Haipeng and Liu Wang entered space aboard the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft on June 16. The crew successfully conducted both automatic and manual space docking procedures with the Tiangong-1 orbiter. Xinhua China honors female role modelsadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Theplay casino promo code ongoing visit of Honorary Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan has positive significance to mainland-Taiwan exchanges and high-level interaction, according to a mainland spokeswoman. A new consensus between the two sides has been established during the visit, Fan Liqing, the spokeswoman for Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said at a press conference Wednesday in Beijing. Fan said that both sides fully recognized the major progresses gained in cross-Strait relations since 2008 and the shared belief in a promising future. More consensus was reached on paraphrasing the framework of the one China principle, which would have significant and positive effects in further consolidating and deepening mutual political trust, said Fan. The spokeswoman also noted that both sides had agreed in expanding exchanges and cooperation in economic, cultural and educational fields, while encouraging non-governmental think tanks on both sides to discuss political issues. In addition, the blood bond between the mainland and Taiwan compatriots and the shared duty in realizing the Chinese dream the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation were also highlighted during Liens meeting with mainland leaders. Lien arrived in Beijing on Sunday and has met Xi Jinping, Hu Jintao and Jia Qinglin, respectively, in the last two days. The visiting delegation headed by Lien consists of representatives from a wide range of sectors on the island, including business, education,cultural and religious circles. Xinhua Mainland hails Lien Chans visitadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline CNN Video Ad Feedback Biden describes what he discussed with Xi Jinping in G20 meeting 03:43 - Source: CNN World News 15 videosVideo Ad Feedback Biden describes what he discussed with Xi Jinping in G20 meeting03:43 Now playing - Source: CNNVideo Ad Feedback Ex-NATO commander: NATO article isn't a commitment to respond with force01:00 Now playing - Source: CNNVideo Ad Feedback Hear Biden's response when asked about origin of missile in Poland strike03:12 Now playing - Source: CNNVideo Ad Feedback CNN reporter describes local accounts of Poland explosion that left 2 dead02:34 Now playing - Source: CNNVideo Ad Feedback Former NATO ambassador reveals the 'worst thing' NATO can do right now01:43 Now playing - Source: CNNIVideo Ad Feedback Explained: What is the 'One China' policy?05:25 Now playing - Source: CNNVideo Ad Feedback Clarissa Ward reacts to Zelensky's 10-point peace plan02:39 Now playing - Source: CNNVideo Ad Feedback Crowd breaks down street barriers as anger over Covid restrictions boils over02:10 Now playing - Source: CNNVideo Ad Feedback Watch: Ukrainian soldier tearfully reunites with grandmother after Kherson is liberated06:21 Now playing - Source: CNNVideo Ad Feedback Ex-inmate explains what Brittney Griner should expect in Russian penal colony03:27 Now playing - Source: CNNVideo Ad Feedback Video shows moment of deadly explosion01:26 Now playing - Source: CNNVideo Ad Feedback Ukrainians celebrate liberation as Russia pulls out of Kherson02:34 Now playing - Source: CNNVideo Ad Feedback Explained: How much damage can North Korea's weapons do?02:53 Now playing - Source: CNNVideo Ad Feedback Field tool for female Ukrainian soldiers amazes Amanpour03:52 Now playing - Source: CNNVideo Ad Feedback Watch the moment the UN Secretary-General realizes he's reading the wrong speech at COP2701:02 Now playing - Source: CNN The world can breathe a little easier after US President Joe Bidens talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Monday. But the two 21st century superpowers are still on a collision course. The summit in Indonesia yielded two important outcomes, according to the US: A joint position that Russia must not use a nuclear weapon in Ukraine and an expected resumption of talks on climate between American and Chinese negotiators, a boost for the COP 27 global climate conference in Egypt. Biden, meanwhile, reported that he stressed to Xi that Beijing also has an obligation to temper North Koreas destabilizing missile and nuclear activity that has the Pacific region on edge. That the worlds two most powerful leaders had not been addressing these issues together in recent months shows how the entire world suffers when Washington and Beijing are as deeply estranged as theyve been this year. Public statements from both sides also appeared to indicate a basic foundation that each recognize the critical nature of their rivalry, and both want to ensure that it doesnt boil over into a war, at least yet. They are moving towards reopening more regular conversations US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is now expected to visit China next year. Such exchanges have been suspended since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August and triggered fierce Chinese protests and a vast military operation showing a growing capacity to cut off the self-governing island. Communications between leaders are critical at times of crisis and any understanding and trust between Xi and Biden could come into play in the event, for instance, that the two sides naval forces slide into a clash in the South China Sea. Biden has known Xi for years and having a channel to the top in Beijing is especially vital now that his counterpart has become synonymous with the Chinese state itself, as Xi Jinping thought becomes official doctrine. The lack of such communications between leaders is one reason why the Russian standoff with the West over Ukraine is so perilous. Leon Panetta a former White House chief of staff, defense secretary and CIA chief who dealt with US-China relations for decades expressed cautious optimism after the talks on the sidelines of the G20 summit. If the result of this meeting is to put the relationship back on a more diplomatic plane, in which instead of beating each other up they can begin a dialogue on the kind of issues that need to be dealt with, I think this meeting could very well be pivotal, Panetta told CNNs John King on Inside Politics. Limits of leader summits Relationships between leaders can set the tone for inter-state contacts. But they are also often overrated by the leaders themselves and in post-summit analysis. The dynamics that have led to the US and China each viewing the other as their prime national security threat are being driven by national interests not personality, even if Xis assumption of ultimate power in Beijing with a norm-busting third term may mean he may now have less of an immediate political reason to demonstrate toughness toward the United States. But at the summit in Bali, Indonesia, it was clear that while both sides want to avoid a clash now, their goals China wants to be the preeminent Asian and potentially global power, as does the US remain fundamentally incompatible. While Biden said he now understands that China has no imminent plan to invade Taiwan, he did rebuke Xi over Beijings coercive and increasingly aggressive actions toward the island, according to the White House. Chinas readout of the talks expressed irritation with a central premise of Bidens foreign policy the global clash between democracy and autocracy, and the fact that relations with Beijing tend to be viewed by this prism. Neither side should try to remold the other in ones own image or seek to change or even subvert the others system, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. Instead of talking in one way and acting in another, the United States needs to honor its commitments with concrete action, the readout added. Equally, Xis public comments before the talks that a statesman should think about and know where to lead his country. He should also think about and know how to get along with other countries and the wider world, could be seen as an acknowledgment of new responsibility with China now a major world power. But they could also be read as the kind of lecture that Washington once delivered to Chinese leaders that Xi is now taking the opportunity to throw back at the US. Biden said after the talks that he didnt find Xi more confrontational or more conciliatory. I found him the way hes always been: Direct and straightforward. We were very blunt with one another about places where we disagreed or where we were uncertain of each others position. Such commentary suggests heated behind-closed-doors disagreements on the most volatile areas in the relationship Taiwan, trade and human rights, for example. But at least, after adding a measure of strategic confusion to the US position on Taiwan with his own recent comments that suggested Washington would come to the islands defense in the event of a Chinese invasion, Biden said he and Xi now understood exactly where one another were coming from. Progress for the world But there were some signs that the worlds most powerful nations can still work together in the planets wider interests. Biden publicly told Xi that the US was ready to reengage in climate talks at an opportune moment for the Egypt climate summit. After the talks, a White House readout said that the two leaders agreed to empower key senior officials to maintain communication and deepen constructive efforts on climate change, global macroeconomic stability including debt relief, health security and global food security. The US statement that Xi and Biden reiterated their agreement that a nuclear war should never be fought and can never be won and underscored their opposition to the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine was also important. While Beijing has yet to confirm Xis side of the conversation, Chinas consummation of a new friendship with Moscow just before the invasion of Ukraine caused alarm in the West. And as top US and Russian officials met in Turkey on Monday, partly about the nuclear issue, the signals coming out of the Xi-Biden talks could be an important indication of restraint from Beijing to Moscow and a diplomatic win for Washington. Bidens maneuvering is also the latest sign that an emerging goal of his foreign policy is to stress differences between Moscow and Beijing. Before he went to Asia, Biden suggested that China didnt have that much respect for either Russian President Vladimir Putin or Russia itself. So, Washingtons foreign policy has come full circle, since part of Richard Nixons motivation in engaging China during the 1970s Cold War deep freeze was to open strategic gaps between Beijing and Moscow. Things arent so different now, though the dynamic between the Kremlin and Beijing has reversed, with China the global power and Russia the junior partner. Demand for industrial robots is the best slots onlinepredicted to hit 32,000 units by 2014 making China the worlds largest robotics consumer. According to the International Federation of Robotics, the sectors technology and production have gained momentum amid higher labor costs and Chinas efforts to restructure its economic growth pattern and improve energy efficiency. At the China International Industry Fair, which closed on Saturday, Chinas robot manufacturers exhibited their models in direct competition with their foreign counterparts. The fair attracted more than 1,800 participants over the five-day exhibition. At the event, SIASUN Robot & Automation Co. demonstrated their new models, which are integrated with numerical control machines that can accomplish multi-procedure processes. The companys self-designed products have been exported to overseas markets including the U.S., Canada, Russia and India. Despite the growing sector, the industry warned that a lack of core technology will stall the development of robot manufacturing in the country. Gu Chunyuan, vice president at manufacturer ABB (China) Limited, said, despite the substantive demand, Chinese manufacturers still have to rely on some overseas suppliers for many key components, which may hinder the independent growth of Chinas robot sector. Gu also highlighted the importance in supporting downstream industries and nurturing professional talent to improve development of the sector. Xinhua China to become largest robot consumer in 2014added by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline China invested 8.4 million U. S. dollars in the first half of this free footy super tipsyear, according to state television TVM. The station said China surpassed South Africa to become No. 1 investor in Mozambique. The Chinese investment mainly went to the areas of construction, road and bridge building and cement production. China has built most of the new government buildings, such as the Joaquim Chissano International Conference Center, the Constitutional Court and High Courts and the ministries of foreign affairs and tourism. The Asian country has also rehabilitated the Maputo International Airport, while planning to build a bridge over the Indian Ocean to link the capital Maputo and Katembe, involving more that 70 million dollars.. China is among others building Maputos circular roads to ease traffic jams the capital has been facing in the past years. Xinhua China invests 8.4 mln USD in Mozambique in first half of 2012added by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Thenfl picks cbs week 7 governments of Iran and China have signed a cooperation agreement to block the entrance of low quality products from the Asian giant to the Islamic Republic, as reported by the Iranian television channel Press TV. The document, signed in Beijing on Saturday, is a regulation of products entering into the country and aims to control and regulate the goods that cross national boundaries, according to IRNA agency reported. The agreement came after years of negotiations on the matter. In practice, affects the 4,500 consumer and industrial goods imported from China to Iran. According to the text, all products entering the country must meet the Iranian law and must have received the validation of its quality by both countries. The document is an important step in developing economic and trade cooperation between Iran and China, said the Iranian ambassador in Beijing, Mahdi Safari. The bilateral trade volume reached 30,000 million dollars annually. Safari has said that it is hoped that through this agreement this amount will increase by another 10,000 million in the remainder of the year. Iran Blocks the Entry of Low Quality Products from Chinaadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline A senior information technology official on Tuesday said China hopes to boost Internet-related cooperation with other emerging countries and contribute to global Internet prosperity. Wang Chen, head of the State Internet Information Office, made the remarks while delivering a keynote speech at the 2012 Internet Roundtable for Emerging Countries. Enhanced international cooperation is urgently needed to cope with increasingly severe challenges regarding Internet security, according to Wang. Emerging countries have a lot of common understanding, similar conduct and appeals regarding the development of the Internet, as well as common interests and a sound basis for cooperation, he said. Wang described the roundtable as a new platform for emerging countries to conduct exchanges and share experience regarding the development of the Internet. The event was attended by government officials, Internet experts and corporate representatives from China, Russia, Brazil and South Africa. The online sector has witnessed rapid development since the country gained access to the Internet in 1994. The number of Chinese Internet users reached 538 million by the end of June this year, the most users of any country in the world. Over the past 18 years, China has been striving to tap the potential of the Internet as a new medium for the dissemination of information, as well as for the expression of reasonable and constructive ideas, Wang said. Xinhua China pushes for Internet cooperation among emerging countriesadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline China sent off the second batch of policemen on Friday night to the Republic of South Sudan for United Nations (UN) peace-keeping missions. The 13-member team was composed of policemen in a range of sections, including anti-terror department, entrance and exit administration, regimental and patrolling police, border checking, and fire case investigation. All of them came from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south China. Four members had participated in previous UN peace-keeping missions, and the team leader, Wen Long, had served in three peace-keeping missions before the current one. After passing examinations by local and central public security authorities, the team had received training on international laws, first aid know-how, driving, English, shooting as well as orientations on the situation of the task region. The first team of policemen from southwest Chinas Chongqing Municipality began their peace-keeping mission in South Sudan on Nov. 11, 2011, and they were scheduled to return on Nov. 13 this year. Since 2000, China has dispatched 1,786 peace-keeping policemen to eight task regions, including Timore-leste, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Liberia, Afghanistan, Sudan, Haiti, and South Sudan, according to the Ministry of Public Security. Xinhua Chinese peace-keeping police set off to South Sudanadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline WASHINGTON,betway login account login toca Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- A bus of migrants transported from Texas arrived in the U.S. city of Philadelphia on Wednesday, adding fuel to the already intensified partisan debate over immigration in the country. "Individuals seeking asylum" were sent by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Philadelphia City Mayor Jim Kenney tweeted. "All of the folks who arrived here today have been screened by U.S. Customs and Border Control," Kenney wrote, adding that "most will continue traveling to meet family elsewhere." Kenney, mayor of Pennsylvania's largest city and a Democrat, accused Abbott, a Republican, of "using immigrant families as political pawns." Abbott announced on Tuesday "the departure of the first group of migrants bused to Philadelphia," which he called a "sanctuary city." Texas border communities have been "overwhelmed by the historic influx of migrants," said Abbott, criticizing the Biden administration's immigration policy. In April, Abbott chartered buses to transport migrants from Texas to Washington, D.C. and added New York City and Chicago as additional drop-off locations this summer. Thousands of migrants have been transported to these cities this year, fueling partisan debate over immigration. The2021 casino jackpots starspins Communist Party of China (CPC) announced on Tuesday an investigation into Zhou Yongkang, the latest and highest ranking tiger in the anti-corruption campaigns crosshairs. The investigation of Zhou, a former Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, for suspected serious disciplinary violations will be conducted by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI). Top leaders are resolved to target both high-ranking tigers and low-ranking flies in their anti-corruption effort. After taking the helm at the CPC in November 2012, Xi Jinping has led efforts in fighting corruption, calling on the whole Party to stay on full alert, and describing corruption as a threat to the Partys very survival. Xi vowed that there would be no exceptions: No leniency will be meted out no matter who is involved. The downfall of a big tiger like Zhou could have a deterrent effect on Party members and corrupt officials who believe they are immune.According to the CCDI website, around 40 officials of provincial and ministerial level or higher have been investigated for corruption or other serious disciplinary violations since November 2012. Xu Caihou, former vice chairman of Chinas Central Military Commission, was expelled from the CPC for bribery last month and may face prosecution. Also in June, authorities announced the investigation into Su Rong, then vice chairman of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference National Committee, who was previously Party chief of several provinces. Zhou Yongkang investigated for serious disciplinary violationadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Chinese have become increasingly active in volunteering activities on the international stage,where can i buy wax crypto a visiting UN official has said. Rebecca Grynspan, UN Under-Secretary-General and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) associate administrator, made the remarks while making her first visit to Shanghai. Grynspan is visiting China to learn about the development of Chinese youth volunteer services and inspect a local UN volunteer program. Grynspan said she was surprised to learn how many volunteers and related organizations are in Shanghai, as well as complimented the volunteers work. The UNDP signed an agreement with the Chinese government to launch the Umbrella Programme in 2011 for the purpose of strengthening civic engagement and social innovation in China through volunteerism. The Shanghai Youth Volunteers Association has participated in the program, providing training and guidance for youth volunteer organizations and promoting international volunteer exchanges. The program has helped 500 volunteer organizations in Shanghai to train volunteers so as to better serve society, Grynspan said. Xinhua Volunteerism of Chinese increasingly active: UN officialadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline US sends warning to Iran with B-52 bomber flight over region closeVideo Fox News' Jennifer Griffin reports on the Pentagon's message to Iran as the regime continues its intense crackdown on protesters. Enough material to fuel more than a dozen medium-range ballistic missiles has been intercepted by the U.S. Navy on a fishing vessel heading from Iran to Yemen. The massive amount of explosive material was seized by the U.S. Naval Forces 5th Fleet on Nov. 8 while the ship was traveling along a route used to send weapons to the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the war-torn country. "The unlawful transfer of lethal aid from Iran does not go unnoticed," Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces, said in a statement. "It is irresponsible, dangerous and leads to violence and instability across the Middle East." The 5th Fleet said the vessel was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard ship USCGC John Scheuerman and guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans. IRAN ISSUES FIRST-KNOWN DEATH SENTENCE TO ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTER The U.S. 5th Fleet removes explosive material found on board a ship traveling from Iran to Yemen. (U.S. 5th Fleet) "Patrol coastal ship USS Hurricane (PC 3) and Navy explosive ordnance disposal technicians from U.S. 5th Fleets Task Force 56 also assisted during a weeklong effort to fully search the vessel and verify the type of material found," it said in a statement. While on board, "forces discovered more than 70 tons of ammonium perchlorate, a powerful oxidizer commonly used to make rocket and missile fuel as well as explosives," according to the U.S. 5th Fleet, which added that it was the first time it has intercepted the material. The U.S. 5th Fleet says it found "more than 70 tons of ammonium perchlorate, a powerful oxidizer commonly used to make rocket and missile fuel as well as explosives," on board the fishing vessel. (U.S. 5th Fleet) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The raid also netted more than 100 tons of urea fertilizer, a chemical compound which can be used to make explosives. The U.S. 5th Fleet says the ship was traveling along a route historically used to send lethal aid to Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. (U.S. 5th Fleet) U.S. forces sank the vessel on Nov. 13, determining it a hazard for commercial shipping. The four crew members operating it were returned to Yemen two days later during an at-sea exchange in the Gulf of Aden with the Yemen Coast Guard. Liz Friden is a Pentagon producer based in Washington, D.C. Sean Patrick Mahoney suggests Hochul a factor in New York losses closeVideo DCCC chief Sean Patrick Mahoney added Gov. Kathy Hochul's low poll numbers as a factor in congressional losses in New York during the midterm elections. Conservative critics of newly re-elected Governor Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., tore into her on Twitter after a recent video showed her happily dancing unmasked surrounded by dozens of masked kids in a Puerto Rican school. Only days after her victory over Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., in the New York governors race, Hochul traveled down to Puerto Rico to provide aide to the U.S. territorys victims of Hurricane Fiona. During her trip, video of the governor visiting a local school went viral on Twitter. It depicted Hochul smiling and dancing with dozens of Puerto Rican school children. HOCHULS RE-ELECTION IS DEFINITION OF INSANITY: MADELINE BRAME | FOX NEWS VIDEO Gov. Hochul visits Puerto Rican school children while on a recent trip to the territory. (Screenshot/Twitter) Though as conservatives pointed out once the video hit Twitter, Hochul was not wearing a mask, while each of the surrounding children was. Her critics piled on her for the apparent hypocrisy. The RNC Research Twitter account slammed the re-elected New York governor, tweeting, "Here is Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul celebrating her re-election in the only way she knows how forcing young children to wear masks." Conservative commentator Jason Howerton skewered Hochul, writing, "All the children are forced into masks while @GovKathyHochul and adults breathe freely. They've learned nothing. And why would they have? New York, you just elected this woman after witnessing the utter destruction of your state. You'll get what you voted for." NY GOV. KATHY HOCHUL ACCUSES LEE ZELDIN OF TRYING TO SCARE PEOPLE FOR MONTHS OVER STATE'S CRIME WOES Vice President Kamala Harris, left, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, center and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, stand together on stage during a campaign event for Hochul on Nov. 3, at Barnard College in New York. (AP/Mary Altaffer) The Young Americans for Liberty Twitter account claimed, "Masks on the children. No mask for @GovKathyHochul. She's special, you see. New York just elected Hochul for a full term as governor. A tyrant has been emboldened and New Yorkers are going to get what they voted for." Journalist Ian Miles Cheong tweeted, "Kathy Hochul visits a school in San Juan. She doesn't wear a mask but all the kids have to. Know your betters, peasants." Social Worker Justin Spiro asked, "Why is Governor Hochul and nearly every adult maskless while nearly every child is masked? Is that the rule at this school in Puerto Rico?" AFT tweet congratulating Kathy Hochul. (American Federation of Teachers Twitter) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Conservative activist Charles Downs provided harsh comment on the governors antics, tweeting, "Kathy Hochul is just the worst! Over the next four years, New York City and the surrounding areas will turn into Seattle. Remember in Portland and Seattle: crime, ANTIFA, and all the crazy woke ideology make it into the suburbs. Democrats destroy states!" Conservative and Grabien.com founder Tom Elliott tweeted, "Forcing kids to wear masks while you exploit them for your own political career. What shameful cruelty." Gabriel Hays is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou said Dec. 9 that the government will do its best to help Taiwans former comfort women preserve relevant historical evidence in their fight for compensation from the Japanese government. Ma made the remarks at the 11th Asian Solidarity Conference for the Issue of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan held by Taipei Womens Rescue Foundation and attended by support groups from Japan,snatch casino mainland China, the Philippines and South Korea. The Japanese armys sexual enslavement of Asian women during World War II is a recognized fact, Ma said. In 1995, the U.N. listed comfort women as military sex slaves, but regrettably, the Japanese government has never admitted its mistakes. Some politicians have even denied that the Japanese military used forced prostitution, or claimed the evidence is insufficient. Nevertheless, the Japanese government established the Asian Peace and Friendship Foundation in 1995, offering each former comfort woman NT$500,000 (US$17,241) in exchange for agreeing to drop all claims against Japan. This offer was rejected by the women, and the ROC government and private sector raised NT$38 million as a show of support, providing each former comfort woman in Taiwan NT$1 million for a lawsuit against Japan. History can be forgiven, but cannot be forgotten, Ma said. Only when we learn from our past mistakes can we prevent such tragedies from happening again. The president further urged Japan to face its history, apologize to and compensate victims of military sexual slavery. Grace Kuo Taiwan Today Ma urges justice for WWII comfort womenadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Chinese companies have seen steady growth in cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&As) while expanding overseas,bobby ferdinand poker according to statistics issued by the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Friday. From 2008 to 2011, Chinese companies outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) in the form of M&As totalled 106.3 billion U.S. dollars, representing an annualized growth of 44 percent, Chen Runyun, an official from the MOCs department of outward investment and economic cooperation, said at a news briefing in Beijing. In 2011 alone, OFDI in the form of M&As amounted to 27.2 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for 37 percent of the total OFDI that year, Chen said. Mining, manufacturing and power generation are among the most favored sectors for Chinese investors, according to Chen. In a recent case, the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) was given approval by the Canadian government earlier this month to buy Calgary-based oil and gas producer Nexen Inc. for 15.1 billion U.S. dollars. Once completed, the takeover will be Chinas largest overseas acquisition. Despite robust activity overseas, Chen said Chinese companies overseas investment, which accounts for just 2 percent of the global flow, has encountered a string of obstacles, including a lack of operation experience, weak risk controls and frequent safety accidents. Chen said the ministry will work to improve policy support to facilitate Chinese companies overseas expansion. Xinhua Chinese companies cross-border M&A risingadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline BEIJING,casino stake sure 1.5 odds daily Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Nine years ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road successively in Kazakhstan and Indonesia. This is how the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), aimed at building a trade, investment, and infrastructure network that connects different regions along the ancient trade routes, took shape. Nine years on, the BRI has achieved more than connectivity. The Belt and Road cooperation, following the guiding principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, has grown into a global platform where countries along the routes work together to promote people's wellbeing and give a further boost to global development amid daunting challenges. GREATER CONNECTIVITY After years of Belt and Road cooperation, a general connectivity framework consisting of six corridors, six connectivity routes and multiple countries and ports has been put in place. Landmark accomplishments include the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway in Africa, China-Laos Railway in Asia, the new Haifa port in Israel, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, among others. Besides infrastructure projects, a new logistics channel between Asia and Europe has been established through China-Europe freight train services. With 82 routes, the trains now reach 200 cities in 24 European countries, forming a transport network covering the whole of Europe. Connectivity means fewer barriers, whether in terms of policy coordination, road travels, trade, financial flows or people-to-people exchanges. It also entails more resilience to uncertainties. The China-Europe freight train service has acted as "a passage of life" when sea and air transportation was hit hard during the pandemic. With such connectivity, the Belt and Road cooperation has scored growth despite global economic recessions. From 2013 to 2021, the total volume of trade of goods between China and countries along the BRI routes amounted to nearly 11 trillion U.S. dollars, while two-way investment exceeded 230 billion dollars, according to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. In Central Asia, with the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan highway and the China-Tajikistan expressway, road transport has been largely improved. And the Central Asian countries are expected to unlock greater transit potential through the upcoming China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project. The BRI gives the Central Asian region an opportunity to fulfill the strategic task of direct access to seaports and turn the region into a transportation hub of transcontinental highways from east to west, and from north to south, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov has commented. POVERTY REDUCTION In the eyes of Lewis M. Ndichu, a researcher at Nairobi-based think tank Africa Policy Institute, one of the BRI's contributions to the African continent is on poverty alleviation and agricultural development. China has set up poverty reduction projects, sent agricultural experts to Africa and facilitated modern agro-technology exchanges between the two sides, which is significant to regional development, he pointed out. Burkina Faso is among the countries that have witnessed the changes brought by the BRI. Chinese experts have helped increase its rice production, which in the past could barely meet the population's needs. With their assistance, rice production in the demonstration area, Nariou village, has doubled or even tripled the output in previous years, and the rice quality has also been significantly improved. This is just a miniature of how the Belt and Road cooperation improves people's wellbeing around the globe. By the end of 2021, China has built 79 zones for economic and trade cooperation in 24 countries along the BRI routes, investing 43 billion dollars and creating 346,000 local jobs, according to China's Ministry of Commerce. More projects focus on basic needs of people in developing countries are prioritized under the BRI framework. In Senegal, a rural well-drilling project, consisting of 251 wells and 1,800 km water pipelines that China had pledged to fund, has brought clean water to one-seventh of Senegal's population. While in Argentina, the photovoltaic plant in the country's northern province of Jujuy powers some 160,000 homes. A World Bank report has predicted that BRI transport projects could, by 2030, help lift 7.6 million people out of extreme poverty and 32 million people out of moderate poverty globally. CLOSING DEVELOPMENT DIVIDE The world today is undergoing a sea change amid a lingering COVID-19 pandemic, sluggish global growth, a changing climate and escalating tensions. Great strides have been made towards global prosperity, but the gap between the richest and the poorest countries continues to widen. Reducing destitution is not enough. To improve equity and social justice, countries need to be equally entitled to development opportunities. Upholding that spirit, the BRI offers an open platform and a win-win mechanism. By the end of July 2022, China had signed more than 200 BRI cooperation agreements with 149 countries and 32 international organizations, according to China's National Development and Reform Commission. "Through the Belt and Road Initiative, it has therefore brought new thinking about development -- from being mere loan recipients to actual projects on the ground that bring development through trade and enterprises," said James M. Njihia, dean of Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, University of Nairobi. "This will have great multiplier effects in future by increasing local, regional and international integration," he said. Echoing that view, Khairy Tourk, professor of economics with the Stuart School of Business at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, has said the China-proposed BRI puts developing nations on the right track to achieving their long-term development goals. Infrastructure has not been the main focus of post-1945 multilateral institutions. "The BRI has drawn world attention to the importance of infrastructure as an essential pillar of economic development," Tourk said. For decades, these countries couldn't modernize their antiquated infrastructure, he said. "Now China is providing them funds, the construction expertise to build modern infrastructure, and this is the basis for sustained development, and bodes well for the economic future of developing nations." A total of 253 suspects were taken into custody by Chinese mainland and Taiwan police in a latest joint raid against phone fraud rings, said the Ministry of Public Security on Friday. Among them, 105 are from the mainland and 148 from Taiwan, said a ministry statement. Police in southeast Chinas Fujian and southern Guangdong and Hainan provinces and their Taiwan counterparts together raided 32 locations on Thursday morning, the statement said. The criminal rings were found to have engaged in a new type of phone fraud mainly targeting online shoppers in Taiwan, it said. Illegally obtaining customer information from online shopping websites, the suspects, disguised as website service staff, allegedly called customers telling them they needed to correct some mistakes by the banks concerning their payment and deceived them into transferring money into wrong bank accounts. Mainland police started investigations shortly after Taiwan police informed them of such frauds in April and uncovered nine criminal rings mainly in Fujian, Guangdong and Hainan, the statement said. Xinhua Mainland, Taiwan jointly bust fraud rings, detaining 253 suspectsadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline U.S. President Barack Obama is facing sustained pressure from his counterparts at the Summit of the Americas in Colombia to include Cuba in future meetings. Both leftist and conservative-run nations are pushing for communist-run Cuba to be included in the next summit. The summits host, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, told the gathering that there is no reason in the current climate to exclude the island nation. Isolation, the embargo, indifference, turning away, have all already shown their ineffectiveness, he said. In todays world, thats not a justifiable path. Its an anachronism that ties us to the era of the Cold War that was overcome decades ago. Ecuadors President Rafael Correa is boycotting the gathering in Cartagena to protest Cubas absence. The United States has argued that Cuba is ineligible to attend because it lacks democratic credentials and does not respect the human rights of the Cuban people. More than 30 heads of state and government are taking part in the sixth Summit of the Americas. The two-day regional meeting ends Sunday. Drug legalization is another divisive issue that has emerged at the summit. President Santos and other leaders say it should be considered as a more effective and less expensive alternative to the U.S.-led war on drugs. President Obama reiterated his opposition to the move, though he recognized the brutal toll of drug violence and said he is open to legitimate discussions. On Saturday, Obama said Washington wants deeper economic relations in the Western Hemisphere, but that existing barriers hamper greater integration. Obama spoke of impressive economic growth in Latin America and highlighted two U.S. free trade agreements one with the host country, Colombia, and the other with Panama. But he also said stark inequalities endure in the region, with far too many people still living in poverty. Santos has urged his fellow leaders to be partners for prosperity, which is part of the official theme of the gathering. Washingtons influence in Latin America has waned since the last summit in 2009, as the region increases its economic and diplomatic ties with emerging economies such as China and India. Haitian President Michel Joseph Martelly and his Venezuelan counterpart, Hugo Chavez, are not attending the summit for medical reasons. VOA US Under Pressure to Let Cuba Join Americas Summitadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Trump facing calls to delay 'big announcement' at Mar-a-Lago closeVideo Vice President of America First Legal Gene Hamilton joined 'Fox & Friends First' to discuss why Trump is facing calls to delay the announcement and Sen. Josh Hawley demanding answers on the Biden administration's 'disinformation' efforts. EXCLUSIVE: Ivanka Trump, in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, said she loves and supports her father, former President Trump, "very much" but does "not plan to be involved in politics" and says her "focus is prioritizing" her young children and her family. "I love my father very much. This time around, I am choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family," Ivanka Trump told Fox News Digital. "I do not plan to be involved in politics. "While I will always love and support my father, going forward I will do so outside the political arena. I am grateful to have had the honor of serving the American people and will always be proud of many of our administrations accomplishments." Ivankas comments come after her father announced his third presidential campaign Tuesday night. Neither Ivanka nor Donald Trump Jr. attended their fathers announcement ceremony at Mar-a-Lago. Instead, Jared Kushner and Kimberly Guilfoyle attended to show their support. 2024 WATCH: MEET THE POTENTIAL GOP PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDERS During an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital Tuesday, Ivanka said she is "extremely close" with her father. (Ivanka Trump) Ivanka told Fox she is "extremely close" with her father. "That hasnt changed and will never change," she added. "Ive had many roles over the years but that of daughter is one of the most elemental and consequential. I am loving this time with my kids, loving life in Miami and the freedom and privacy with having returned to the private sector. This has been one of the greatest times of my life." IVANKA TRUMP SENDS 1M MEALS TO UKRAINIAN REFUGEES Ivanka and Kushner moved to Miami after spending four years in Washington, D.C., and serving in the former Trump administration. "My kids are thriving, and I want to maintain this cadence this rhythm at this point in our familys life," she continued, adding that "time is fleeting, and every parent will tell you it really does go by so quickly." Ivanka and Kushner, have three children Arabella, 11, Joseph, 9, and Theodore, 6. "They are at critical ages, and we are enjoying these moments with them," Ivanka said. "Were happy where we are right now, and we will continue to support my father as his kids." Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, have three children Arabella, 11, Joseph, 9, and Theodore, 6. (Ivanka Trump) Ivanka, who served as a senior adviser in the White House during the Trump administration, told Fox News Digital she "never intended to go into politics." "Im very proud of what I was able to accomplish," she said. "I left it all on the field, and I dont miss it." TRUMP CONFIRMS HE VOTED FOR RON DESANTIS, SAYS ELECTION WILL BE 'EXCITING DAY' FOR REPUBLICANS Tiffany Trump, who got married over the weekend, also did not attend her father's announcement. A source close to Ivanka told Fox News Digital she is always transparent with her father, saying the decision to stay out of politics is not one she made "yesterday." "This is where shes been since she left Washington," a source close to Ivanka told Fox News Digital. "She felt she had served the country, and now she is going to focus on her family, and Jared felt the same." During her time in the Trump administration, Ivanka championed policies that supported economic opportunities for working families, including doubling the child tax credit, child care support, education workforce development and paid family leave. "My focus is prioritizing our young children and the private life were creating as a family," Ivanka said. (Ivanka Trump) Ivanka led efforts for legislation that doubled the child tax credit and expanded eligibility while successfully advocating for the largest expansion ever of Child Care and Development Block Grants. Ivanka also worked with members of Congress to secure 12 weeks of paid family leave for federal workers. She also took part in COVID negotiations to ensure workers at small businesses had paid sick leave to care for themselves or sick family members. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ivanka also worked closely with the Small Business Administration and the Department of the Treasury to help enact the Paycheck Protection Program and worked with USDA to create the "Farmers to Families Food Box" program, which delivered more than 170 million boxes of fresh food to families in need. During her time in Washington, she also pushed to double Department of Justice funding to combat human trafficking. "She feels proud of what she was able to accomplish," a friend of Ivankas told Fox News Digital. "But she has no nostalgia for Washington." Since leaving government, Ivanka has focused on her philanthropic efforts. (Getty Images) Since leaving government, Ivanka has focused on her philanthropic efforts, specifically in supporting farmers in the United States, fighting food insecurity and aiding in various disaster relief efforts at home and abroad. During the early days of Russias war against Ukraine, Ivanka helped to supply 1 million meals to Ukrainian families in need. Domestically, Ivanka has provided financial relief and volunteered at disaster-stricken areas across the United States, including Kentucky, Florida and Louisiana. A source close to Ivanka and Jared told Fox News the couple is committed to the work they are doing in the private sector and in philanthropy. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Kushner last year started a nonprofit, The Abraham Accords Peace Institute, after working in the Trump administration on the Abraham Accords, which officials touted as a "historic peace agreement" between Israel and the United Arab Emirates that normalized Middle East relations. Brooke Singman is a Fox News Digital politics reporter. You can reach her at [email protected] or @BrookeSingman on Twitter. Explore Eastern is our annual open house event that gives prospective students a chance to have a first look at everything Eastern Michigan University has to offer! At Explore Eastern, you will have the opportunity to: Talk with future professors Learn about your intended major Hear your scholarship and financial aid opportunities Take a tour of our favorite places on campus Apply to EMU for free And EXPLORE so much more! Explore Eastern is open to all prospective undergraduate students (first-year and transfer)! For the first couple decades of its existence, NASA was the epitome of an Old Boys Club; its astronaut ranks pulled exclusively from the Armed Services' test pilot programs which, at that time, were exclusively staffed by men. Glass ceilings weren't the only things broken when Sally Ride, Judy Resnik, Kathy Sullivan, Anna Fisher, Margaret "Rhea" Seddon and Shannon Lucid were admitted to the program in 1978 numerous spaceflight systems had to be reassessed to accommodate a more diverse workforce. In The Six: The Untold Story of Americas First Women Astronauts, journalist Loren Grush chronicles the numerous trials and challenges these women faced from institutional sexism to enduring survival training to navigating the personal pressures that the public life of an astronaut entails in their efforts to reach orbit. Scribner Adapted from The Six: The Untold Story of Americas First Women Astronauts by Loren Grush. Copyright 2023 by Loren Grush. Excerpted with permission by Scribner, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Above the Chisos Mountains sprawling across Big Bend National Park in West Texas, Kathy [Sullivan, PhD, third woman to fly in space and future head of the NOAA] sat in the back seat of NASAs WB-57F reconnaissance aircraft as it climbed higher into the sky. The pilot, Jim Korkowski, kept his eye on the jets altimeter as they ascended. Theyd just passed sixty thousand feet, and they werent done rising. It was a dizzyingly high altitude, but the plane was made to handle such extremes. Inside the cockpit, both Kathy and Jim were prepared. They were fully outfitted in the air forces high-altitude pressure suits. To the untrained observer, the gear looked almost like actual space suits. Each ensemble consisted of a bulky dark onesie, with thick gloves and a thick helmet. The combination was designed to apply pressure to the body as the high-altitude air thinned away and made it almost impossible for the human body to function. The duo eventually reached their target height: 63,300 feet. At that altitude, their pressure suits were a matter of life and death. The surrounding air pressure was so low that their blood could start to boil if their bodies were left unprotected. But with the suits on, it was an uneventful research expedition. Kathy took images with a specialized infrared camera that could produce color photos, and she also scanned the distant terrain in various wavelengths of light. They spent just an hour and a half over Big Bend, and the flight lasted just four hours in total. While it may have seemed a quick and easy flight, Kathy made history when she reached that final altitude above West Texas on July 1, 1979. In that moment, she flew higher than any woman ever had, setting an unofficial world aviation record. The assignment to train with the WB-57 had scared her at first, but Kathy wound up loving those high-flying planes. That was very fun, other than this little bit of vague concern that, Hope this doesnt mean Im falling off the face of the Earth, Kathy said. The assignment took her on flights up north to Alaska and down south to Peru. As shed hoped, she received full qualification to wear the air forces pressure suits, becoming the first woman to do so. Soon, donning a full-body suit designed to keep her alive became second nature to her. NASA officials had also sought her out to test a new piece of equipment they were developing for future Shuttle astronauts, one that would let people relieve themselves while in space. During the Apollo and Gemini eras, NASA developed a relatively complex apparatus for astronauts to pee in their flight suits. It was, in essence, a flexible rubber cuff that fit around the penis, which then attached to a collection bag. The condom-like cuffs came in small, medium, and large (though Michael Collins claimed the astronauts gave them their own terms: extra large, immense, and unbelievable). It was certainly not a foolproof system. Urine often escaped from beneath the sheath. Cuffs certainly werent going to work once women entered the astronaut corps. While the Space Shuttle had a fancy new toilet for both men and women to use, the astronauts still needed some outlet for when they were strapped to their seats for hours, awaiting launch or reentry. And if one of the women was to do a spacewalk, shed need some kind of device during those hours afloat. So, NASA engineers created the Disposable Absorption Containment Trunk (DACT). In its most basic form it was . . . a diaper. It was an easy fix in case astronauts needed to urinate while out of reach of the toilet. It was designed to absorb fecal matter, too, though the women probably opted to wait until they reached orbit for that. Kathy was the best person to test it out. Often during her high-altitude flights, shed be trapped in her pressure suit for hours on end, creating the perfect testing conditions to analyze the DACTs durability. It worked like a charm. And although the first male Shuttle fliers stuck to the cuffs, eventually the DACT became standard equipment for everyone. After accumulating hundreds of hours in these pressure suits, Kathy hoped to leverage her experience into a flight assignment, one that might let her take a walk outside the Space Shuttle one day. As luck would have it, she ran into Bruce McCandless II in the JSC gym one afternoon. He was the guy to know when it came to spacewalks. NASA officials had put him in charge of developing all the spacewalk procedures and protocols, and at times he seemed to live in the NASA pools. Plus, he was always conscripting one of Kathys classmates to do simulated runs with him in the tanks. Kathy wanted to be next. Projecting as much confidence as she could, she asked him to consider her for his next training run. It worked. Bruce invited Kathy to accompany him to Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama to take a dive in the tank there. The two would be working on spacewalk techniques that might be used one day to assemble a space station. However, the Space Shuttle suits still werent ready to use yet. Kathy had to wear Apollo moonwalker Pete Conrads suit, just like Anna had done during her spacewalk simulations. But while the suit swallowed tiny Anna, it was just slightly too small for Kathy, by about an inch. When she put it on, the suit stabbed her shoulders, while parts of it seemed to dig into her chest and back. She tried to stand up and nearly passed out. It took all her strength to walk over to the pool before she flopped into the tank. In the simulated weightless environment, the pain immediately evaporated. But it was still a crucial lesson in space-suit sizes. The suits have to fit their wearers perfectly if the spacewalk is going to work. The session may have started off painfully, but once she began tinkering with tools and understanding how to maneuver her arms to shift the rest of her body, she was hooked. She loved spacewalking so much that shed go on to do dozens more practice dives throughout training. But it wasnt enough to practice in the pool. She wanted to go orbital. Sunday, October 8, 2023 On March 23, 2018, the world witnessed an act of incredible bravery in the small town of Trebes in southern France. An ISIS terrorist stormed a supermarket and took several hostages, threatening innocent lives. It was in this perilous situation that Lieutenant Colonel Arnaud Beltrame made a decision that would ultimately cost him his life but save the lives of others. Beltrame, a French gendarme, understood the gravity of the situation. With unwavering resolve, he offered himself as a hostage in exchange for one of the captives. His decision was born out of a deep commitment to his duty to protect the public and a profound sense of humanity. He willingly put himself in harms way to shield others from danger. But Beltrames heroism did not end there. He displayed remarkable ingenuity by placing his mobile phone on a table with its line open, allowing police officers outside to listen in on the events unfolding inside the supermarket. This critical information provided the authorities with a real-time understanding of the situation, enabling them to plan their response more effectively and minimize the risk to the hostages. Tragically, Beltrame paid the ultimate price for his selfless act. During the standoff with the terrorist, he was severely injured, and he succumbed to his wounds. His sacrifice serves as a powerful reminder of the lengths to which individuals in law enforcement are willing to go to protect the lives of their fellow citizens. Lieutenant Colonel Arnaud Beltrames story resonates not only as an example of incredible valor but also as a testament to the values of duty, honor, and selflessness that are at the core of the law enforcement profession. His actions remind us of the immense debt of gratitude we owe to those who put their lives on the line daily to ensure our safety and security. In recognition of his exceptional courage and sacrifice, Lieutenant Colonel Arnaud Beltrame was posthumously awarded the Legion dhonneur, Frances highest decoration, by President Emmanuel Macron. His legacy lives on as an inspiration to all, a symbol of the selfless dedication that defines the men and women who serve and protect our communities. Photo credit: Gendarmerie Nationale, France Bruce Goguen of Broomfield, Colorado, is paralyzed from multiple sclerosis. Without his wheelchair, he would be stuck in bed. But going through his wheelchair supplier to get broken or worn-out parts repaired can take weeks or even months. (Photo by Robin Bolduc) Robin Bolduc isnt the type of person who takes no for an answer particularly when it comes to fixing her husbands wheelchair. Her husband, Bruce Goguen, 69, is paralyzed from multiple sclerosis. And without his chair, he would be stuck in bed, at risk of developing pneumonia or pressure sores that could lead to sepsis and death. When components of the chair wear out or break down, the road to repair is littered with obstacles. Recently, the Broomfield, Colorado, residents had to replace a button that Goguen presses with his head to control his wheelchair. They considered going through his wheelchair supplier for the repairs. If we did that, he would literally be in bed for months, said Bolduc, who, along with her husband, is a member of the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, an advocacy group. Theres a quality-of-life issue he could be lying in bed staring at the ceiling. He has no movement without his wheelchair. But, instead, Bolduc tracked down the manufacturer, ordered several buttons online for $20 each, and discovered that replacing the part herself was simple. Its a plug, she explained. Its like charging your cellphone. The multibillion-dollar power-wheelchair market is dominated by two national suppliers, Numotion and National Seating and Mobility. Both are owned by private equity firms that seek to increase profits and cut spending. One way they do that is by limiting what they spend on technicians and repairs, which, when combined with insurance and regulatory obstacles, frustrates wheelchair users seeking timely fixes. The $70 billion durable medical equipment market has been an attractive target for private equity investment because of the aging U.S. population, the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions, and a growing preference for older adults to be treated at home, according to the investment banking firm Provident Healthcare Partners. Medicares use of competitive bidding favors large companies that can achieve economies of scale in manufacturing and administrative costs, often at the price of quality and customer service. Regulations set by Medicare and adopted by most Medicaid and commercial health plans have led to lower-quality products, no coverage for preventive maintenance, and enough red tape to bring wheelchairs to a halt. Power wheelchair users have long been fighting for the right to repair their wheelchairs themselves or through independent repair shops. Medicare and most insurance companies will replace complex wheelchairs only every five years. The wheelchair suppliers that have contracts with public and private health insurance plans restrict access to parts, tools, and service manuals. They usually keep a limited inventory of parts on hand and wait until health plans approve repair claims before ordering parts. Some chairs require a software passcode or a physical key for any repairs. Wheelchair users who make fixes themselves may void their warranty or lose out on insurance payments for repairs. What bothers me is that the wheelchair company, knowing that the buttons wear out, wont keep any in stock, Bolduc said. Theyll risk my husbands life, but they wont risk $20 to buy a button and not get reimbursed for it. The Colorado legislature passed a first-in-the-nation right-to-repair bill for power wheelchairs that will allow owners and independent repair shops to access parts, embedded software, tools, and documentation needed to perform diagnostic, maintenance, or repair services. The right-to-repair bill may help, said Mark Schmeler, an associate professor of rehabilitation science and technology at the University of Pittsburgh, but its not a perfect solution. There is a serious problem with wheelchair repairs, and the consumers are basically crying out for help, he said. Part of the problem, Schmeler said, is a Medicare decision not to cover preventive maintenance for power wheelchairs. Many wheelchair users are unfamiliar with or unable to do routine maintenance such as tightening the bolts or cleaning the casters. As a result, problems arent addressed until something breaks down, often leaving the user stranded. Additionally, Medicare officials have interpreted the statute establishing payment for durable medical equipment to cover wheelchairs only for in-home use. Consequently, many power wheelchairs arent designed for outdoor use and are prone to failures when users take them outside. Its like youre outside walking around all day with your slippers on, Schmeler said. When Medicare adopted competitive bidding for durable medical equipment in 2011, it allowed large companies to undercut the pricing of smaller, local wheelchair shops. Numotion and National Seating and Mobility bought out many smaller companies and now dominate the market. Competitive bidding encourages suppliers to press manufacturers for lower-cost wheelchairs, which spurs manufacturers to use lower-quality parts. More than 1 in 4 repairs result in users being stranded, missing a medical appointment, or missing work, according to a study published in 2016 in the journal Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Wheelchair suppliers make most of their money by selling the wheelchair and tend to lose money on repairs. So there is little incentive to hire more technicians or pay for training. Suppliers testified against the Colorado bill. The problem with this legislation is that it does not provide a good solution to address the problems responsible for the delays, said Seth Johnson, senior vice president of government affairs for Pride Mobility Products, a Duryea, Pennsylvania-based supplier of power wheelchairs. If repairs are done incorrectly, he said, patient safety could be jeopardized. Medicare regulations add to the problems, with low reimbursements, and Medicare pays only for parts and labor, not for technicians travel time. Another cause for delays: Medicare sometimes requires physicians to document that an individual still needs a wheelchair and that it needs to be repaired. Kenny Maestas of Lamar, Colorado, has been in a wheelchair since his spine was severed during a rollover vehicle accident in 1987. His wheelchair supplier, located more than 150 miles away, wont schedule a repair visit unless it has another client nearby that needs a repair. When his battery begins to die and wont hold a charge, he becomes tethered to an outlet, unable to leave his home for more than 20 to 30 minutes at a time until the supplier replaces the battery. Its such a broken system, Maestas said. Julie Jennings, 56, of Denver, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1995 and now cant walk. She described a lengthy ordeal to get even a simple wheelchair fix the supplier waited for insurance to approve the repair before ordering the parts. The last time she needed a repair visit to replace the battery, armrests, and a joystick controller the entire process took three months. I try to be proactive, and I try to keep an eye on the wear and tear, she said. The right to repair could help reduce the kind of delays that Maestas and Jennings have experienced by allowing users to purchase the parts and repair the wheelchairs themselves or to call in independent repair shops. Consumer advocates with the Colorado Public Interest Research Group said the power-wheelchair industry is the first sector required to provide repair access since Massachusetts voters approved a right-to-repair measure for cars through a 2012 ballot initiative. Car manufacturers decided they didnt want to fight that battle in all 50 states and opted to apply the same standard across the country. Don Clayback, executive director of the National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology, an industry group representing wheelchair suppliers, said whether the industry would change its policies nationwide was unclear. We would expect changes will be limited to Colorado, he said. In 2021, President Joe Biden issued an executive order that directed the Federal Trade Commission to draft regulations that limit manufacturers ability to restrict independent repairs of their products. At least three right-to-repair bills have been introduced in Congress this year. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania are also considering bills that address wheelchair repairs. For now, Bolduc is prepared to go to any length to get her husbands chair repaired. Once, she took away an uncooperative technicians keys until he fixed the wheelchair. She then returned his keys and gave him a big candy bar to smooth things over. Theyll turn me into this crazy woman because my husbands life is on the line, she said. If I have to kidnap somebody to get his chair fixed, Ill do it. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. KFF Health News is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation. The post Despite a right-to-repair law, theres no easy fix for wheelchair users appeared first on Daily Montanan. The Welsh government has said it is 'more important than ever' for poultry farmers to have the highest levels of biosecurity as the winter season approaches. Wales chief veterinary officer (CVO), Dr Richard Irvine said farmers and keepers must stay vigilant as the UK continues to see its largest ever outbreak of bird flu. The current outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza began in October 2021, with experts describing it as the UK's worst ever. The crisis has led to hundreds of thousands of birds culled in commercial or flock settings. The UK's latest case of bird flu was confirmed on 27 September, in a backyard poultry flock on a farm located on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland. Mr Irvine said farmers must keep their flocks safe by following stringent biosecurity measures and adhering to high levels of hygiene. While bird flu has continued to affect wild birds over the summer, the winter migration period brings a heightened risk to kept birds, he noted. 'Rigorous and scrupulous' hygiene and biosecurity measures offer the best protection against another large outbreak of the highly pathogenic disease. Whether keepers have a few birds or a thousand, it is vital the very highest standards of biosecurity are maintained at all times," he said. Vigilance is also key. Its important you report any signs or suspicion of avian influenza in your flock immediately. Wales' CVO also thanked poultry farmers and birdkeepers for their efforts to date in keeping their flocks safe from bird flu. It comes after the UK government could soon roll out remote veterinary video inspections for farms impacted by a bird flu outbreak. Earlier this year, four poultry workers contracted avian influenza after they came into contact with infected birds. Adam Richman was ordered by his dad to respect all cultures' cuisine. Adam Richman's father taught him not to disrespect other cultures' foods The 49-year-old television host, famed for his extreme eating challenges on shows like Man v Food, says his late father Jeffrey Mark Richman immediately shut down his moaning about choices such as chicken feet on a Chinese menu when his dad took him for dim sum at a restaurant near his law office in New York. Adam told InTouch magazine: My father had a law office near Chinatown, and Ill never forget the day he took me for dim sum. This place had things like chicken feet, and I remember going, Ick! My dad immediately shut that down. He said, How many things do we eat that these people might not like? Its disrespectful. The former Food Fighters host added how growing up in a diverse neighbourhood in Brooklyn meant he was exposed to a huge range of foods from classic Italian dishes to Syrian staples and Irish baked goods. He said: My dads philosophy was, You dont have to like it, but at least you have to try it. We were exposed to all these flavours in my Brooklyn neighbourhood. The Agostino family would be pressing eggplant and making caponata; the Sultan family would have kibbeh and tabbouleh; and then the Irish immigrant family had colcannon and potato bread. As a result of his culinary education, Adam has always been happy to sample anything almost. He said he draws the line at those bright atomic red maraschino cherries and hates a Japanese fermented bean product named natto. Adam added: I am natto going to eat that! It looks like someone else ate it, didnt want it, and went, Enjoy. Im not trying to yuck someone elses yum or malign Japanese cuisine, but its not for me. He also said the most surprising thing he has learned from his eating experiments is eating bananas before spicy food will help you later. Kylie Minogue has sold her West London home for more than 6 million. Kylie Minogue is relocating to Australia The 55-year-old pop star has reportedly made a 775,000 profit on the five-bedroom property, 12 years after she bought it. A source told The Sun newspaper's Bizarre column: "Kylie is a shrewd businesswoman as well as a music superstar and she chose to sell her West London house rather than hold on to it for rentals. "She snapped it up for 5.25 million in 2010 and had so many happy memories from living there." Kylie previously revealed that she was relocating to her native Australia, and the chart-topping star "couldnt be happier". The insider shared: "After she decided to relocate she put it on the market and it got snapped up and has sold for just over 6 million. "It was a big move for Kylie to head back to Australia but she couldnt be happier." Meanwhile, Kylie recently insisted that she won't change her style in order to satisfy her critics. The award-winning star will continue to wear whatever she wants - regardless of what her critics say. Kylie - who is the highest-selling female Australian artist of all time - told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: "Its not about being sexy, its about being yourself. Im not going down to Tescos in thigh boots and a catsuit, but in Popland that is me. "I dont even call it sexy as even that feels passe. "I am happy there is a strength in inhabiting your own playfulness, your own confidence and empowerment. "It is an acceptance and kind of daring to feel confident with yourself and be at ease. I am really comfortable with what I am doing." In what came as a shocking news, Nushrratt Bharuccha was reportedly stranded in Israel amid the ongoing war between Israel and the militant group Hamas. This happened after the Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety Actress had flown to Israel to be a part of Haifa International Film Festival. The media reports suggested that she was out of contact since Saturday noon which had left everyone worried about Nushrratt's well being. As everyone has been praying for the actress' safe return, the recent update suggests that the Akelli actress is safe and managed to reach the airport. In fact, the media reports also suggested that her team has managed to contact her with the help of the Embassy and that she is currently on her way to India. "We have finally managed to get in touch with Nushrratt and with the help of the Embassy, she is being safely brought back home. We did not get a direct flight so she is on a connecting flight home. For her further safety, more details cannot be shared but as soon as she lands in India, we will inform you. We are relieved and thank god that she is safe and on her way to India," the actor's team said in a statement. To note, the news of Nushrratt Bharuccha being missing in Israel comes after a full-fledged war broke out between Israel and the militant group Hamas in the Gaza strip which killed around 200 people and left over 1000 people injured. It was reported that Hamas militants had captured several Israeli soldiers at the borders and even fired over 5,000 rockets from the Gaza strip into Israel. Meanwhile, talking about the work front, Nushrratt Bharuccha was last seen in Akelli which happens to be the story of a girl caught up in Iraq's civil war, struggling to return home. Bigg Boss Kannada is coming back with the 10th season and the audience can't keep calm about it. The popular reality show will mark Kiccha Sudeep's return as a host and will be coming up with several interesting surprises for the audience. From a new theme to an intriguing ensemble of contestants, everything about Bigg Boss Kannada 10 has been making headlines. Ever since the new season of Bigg Boss Kannada has been announced, there have been endless speculations about who will be participating in the reality show to fight for the winner's trophy. While several names are doing the rounds, among these is Namratha Gowda. Who is Namratha Gowda? For the uninitiated, Namratha has done her graduation from Acharya NRV School of Architecture. She made her acting debut with Krishna Rukmini in 2011. She became a household name with her stint in Naagini 2 and later in Putta Gowri Maduve. She recently made headlines as she purchased a lavish new house in Bengaluru and hosted a grand house warming ceremony which was attended by several celebs like Kishen Bilagali, Anupama Gowda, Yashaswini, Kavitha Gowda etc. Meanwhile, it is reported that around 17 contestants will be seen fighting for the winner's trophy for around 100 days inside the Bigg Boss house which is coming with 'Happy Bigg Boss' theme to celebrate a decade of Bigg Boss Kannada. Earlier, talking about Bigg Boss Kannada season 10, the makers stated, "This being the 10th installment of the most significant visual spectacle in the Kannada GEC market, Bigg Boss Kannada, we are introducing the theme for this season, 'Happy Bigg Boss', which aims to spread joy among all Kannada television viewers. Bigg Boss is a show that encompasses a wide range of emotions, and happiness has always been one of the most celebrated human sentiments. In essence, we are announcing happiness for our audience to make this season the best one yet". After creating immense buzz in the town, the much awaited Bigg Boss Kannada 10 is finally going on air today and the audience can't keep calm about it. The popular reality show will be hosted by superstar Kiccha Sudeep and has been the talk of the town ever since it was announced. Bigg Boss Kannada season 10 will be coming up with several surprises for the audience and is bound to keep everyone intrigued. Interestingly, ever since Bigg Kannada 10 has been announced, there have been speculations about who will be entering the Bigg Boss house to fight for the winner's trophy. While several celebs have been rumoured to be participating in Bigg Boss Kannada season 10, among this is Snake Shyam who will reportedly be a contestant of Kiccha Sudeep's show this season. Who is Snake Shyam? M. S. Balasubramania aka Snake Shyam has been a snake enthusiast and wildlife conservationist who rescues and rehabilitates snakes. He was even featured on National Geographic in the Croc Chronicles: Snakes, Karma, Action special, and was also featured on the Discovery channel. Reportedly, Shyam has caught more than 86 thousand snakes in around forty years. Interestingly, Shyam has also served as a member of the Mysore Municipal Corporation for a while. Meanwhile, it is reported that around 17 contestants will be seen fighting for the winner's trophy for around 100 days inside the Bigg Boss house which is coming with 'Happy Bigg Boss' theme to celebrate a decade of Bigg Boss Kannada. Earlier, talking about Bigg Boss Kannada season 10, the makers stated, "This being the 10th installment of the most significant visual spectacle in the Kannada GEC market, Bigg Boss Kannada, we are introducing the theme for this season, 'Happy Bigg Boss', which aims to spread joy among all Kannada television viewers. Bigg Boss is a show that encompasses a wide range of emotions, and happiness has always been one of the most celebrated human sentiments. In essence, we are announcing happiness for our audience to make this season the best one yet". West Australian art lovers are invited to the annual Colours of our Country exhibition, to share in the stories and culture of the Pilbara region. Now in its 18th year, the exhibition will be held at the Central Park building from Monday 9 October to Friday 20 October and will showcase a vibrant collection of more than 200 unique Aboriginal artworks, from 46 artists. This year's inspiring line-up will feature independent artists and participating art centres including Yinjaa-Barni Art Centre, Wangaba Roebourne Art Group, Cheeditha Art Group and Juluwarlu Art Group. Artwork can be purchased in person, or online via a virtual exhibition at coloursofourcountry.com, with all proceeds going directly to the artists, art centres and their communities. Since the exhibition launched in 2006, more than 2,860 artworks have been sold, generating more than $3.1 million for local artists, their art groups and communities. Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive Simon Trott said, "We are afforded the great privilege of operating on the lands of Traditional Owners and we are proud to partner with these amazing artists to showcase the unique culture and landscapes of the Pilbara. "West Australians and international buyers can support these artists by purchasing their works during the two-week exhibition." A piece by Cheeditha Art Group member Wendy Warrie titled 'Out on the Horizon,' has been chosen as the signature art piece for this year's exhibition. Reflecting on her artwork, Wendy Warrie said, "When I go fishing, I like to watch the tide come in and throw in my fishing line and wait for a bite. When I look out to sea, I see a storm cloud gathering on the horizon. I get scared sometimes because it might be a big storm coming and I go sit in the car." For those unable to attend in person, the full catalogue of art is available for purchase from Monday 9 October. About Colours of our Country First held in 2006, Colours of our Country has evolved from a pop-up exhibition originally commemorating 40 years of Rio Tinto's iron ore operations in Western Australia. Now a high-profile annual event, providing art-lovers with the opportunity to connect with Pilbara Aboriginal artists and hear the stories that inspire their work. For the first time ever in 2020, an online exhibition was held to coincide with the physical exhibition, increasing the reach of those able to secure local Pilbara art. For more details visit coloursofourcountry.com LIVE EXHIBITION Central Park foyer, 152-158 St Georges Terrace, Perth Week 1: Monday 9 Friday 13 October 2023 8am 4.30pm Week 2: Monday 16 Friday 20 October 2023 8am 4.30pm ONLINE EXHIBITION Monday 9 Friday 20 October 2023 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231007500090/en/ Contacts: Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com. Media Relations Elizabeth Klauz +61 (0) 474 382 204 Rio Tinto plc 6 St James's Square London SW1Y 4AD United Kingdom T +44 20 7781 2000 Registered in England No. 719885 Rio Tinto Limited Level 43, 120 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 Australia T +61 3 9283 3333 Registered in Australia ABN 96 004 458 404 riotinto.com Category GENERAL CouponForless continues to update new features and offers for upcoming Fall Event and Happy Halloween 2023 in various categories including clothing, home decor, Halloween supplies, and more. West New York, New Jersey--(Newsfile Corp. - October 7, 2023) - CouponForless is rolling out new features that are designed to help customers get a better experience directly from the website. The newly added section is making it easier to find coupons by highlighting the present events such as Happy Halloween 2023, Fall Event, and more on the tab bar with eye-catching red buttons. This new feature was launched in early October, allowing customers to experience easy shopping with exclusive offers without too much hassle. About the website revamp, Sean R. Weiland, Marketing Manager at CouponForless, said, "We've updated a new Deal section that points up more offers on many brands and products. The top brands with competitive prices will be updated regularly to help customers check as soon as possible whether their favorite items are at special prices or not." CouponForless is also adding their partner list with many new brand stores. The website has partnered with thousands of worldwide brands and merchants to give customers multiple choices. About the revamp Mr. Sean, continued, "The website is also adding more than 8,000 coupons for multiple events and occasions with a database of over 5,000 stores. We are towards the goal of satisfying wise customers when making online purchases." To kick off new festival seasons this October, Couponforless.com is also pleased to launch new sections with Happy Halloween 2023 and Fall Events. Customers can browse the website and find a vast amount of opportunities to get discounted spooky Halloween-themed items like Halloween costumes, candy, decorations, etc. to prepare for the dressing-up festival. Simultaneously, worldwide brands also shared with CouponForless their fresh offers for Fall Events, so that shoppers can easily find desired ones in one place only. About CouponForless CouponForless.com is a friendly platform where customers can find coupons and offers daily while shopping online. The website allows customers to find aggregates and curates amazing offers from a wide range of online retailers and stores. Customers also check their needed categories as well as their favorite stores to shop online via active codes. Not only providing coupons for US stores, CouponForless also updates offers for different brand names in other regions such as the UK, Australia, and Canada. That is the reason why the website attracts millions of people visiting every day. Customers can reach the website https://couponforless.com to maximize benefits when shopping for all events. For updates, follow CouponForless on Social Media: Facebook @Couponforless Twitter @couponforlessI Instagram @couponforlessinc Pinterest @Couponforless Media Contact Company Name: CouponForLess Contact Person: Ms. Bella J Email: info@couponforless.com Phone No.: +1 2023784867 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183132 RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ministry of Energy Saudi Arabia has granted patronage to ICIS' 18th Middle Eastern Base Oils and Lubricants Conference, to be held on 17-18 October in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This premier event will provide a unique opportunity for leaders in the base oils and lubricants industry to network, share wisdom, and tackle pressing industry challenges. Sarah Harvey, director of events at ICIS, comments, "We are honoured that the Ministry is supporting the 18th Middle Eastern Base Oils and Lubricants Conference through their patronage. It reflects the event's prestige and the value of the base oils market in the region. Although base oils represent just 1% of total oil production, they are crucial profit drivers in the broader industry. The conference is structured to reinforce this segment, shedding light on global trends and providing essential information to boost the sale of base oils and lubricants." ICIS is also pleased to announce that the opening keynote speech at the 18th Middle Eastern Base Oils and Lubricants Conference will now be delivered by the Deputy of Oil and Gas Regulatory and Technical Affairs, Ministry of Energy Saudi Arabia, Eng. Majed Hindi AlUteibi. Over its two days, the conference will provide a comprehensive outlook for the Middle East market, incorporating insight into growth drivers in the region, such as infrastructure development and engagement with the African market; evolving trends, such as sustainability and digitalisation; fuel retail topics, and a view into global economic trends for base oils. "We are delighted to welcome Eng. Majed Hindi AlUteibi to provide the keynote address this year. This event is now recognised as the prime gathering spot for industry experts and underscores the value of building connections. With an agenda defined by the industry for the industry, it features prominent voices and is tailored to attract an array of participants, spanning base oil manufacturers, lubricant blenders, additive companies, and the burgeoning fuel retail business," concludes Harvey. To find out more about Middle East Base Oils and Lubricants 2023 and to register for the event, please visit https://events.icis.com/website/8329/. Related Links: Delegate Registrations - here. Free Media Registrations - here. About ICIS About RELX Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/619935/ICIS_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/the-ministry-of-energy-saudi-arabia-grants-patronage-to-iciss-18th-middle-eastern-base-oils-and-lubricants-conference-301949808.html Road Town, British Virgin Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2023) - LBank Exchange, a global digital asset trading platform, will list Fishing Tuna (TUNA) on October 9, 2023. For all users of LBank Exchange, the TUNA/USDT trading pair will be officially available for trading at 8:00 UTC on October 9, 2023. TUNA Listing Banner To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8831/183266_94c20adbb422dbab_001full.jpg Fishing Tuna (TUNA) offers individuals a distinctive fishing and investment opportunity, allowing them to catch fish, and enhance their equipment by holding TUNA tokens. Introducing Fishing Tuna LBank Exchange is thrilled to announce the upcoming listing of Fishing Tuna (TUNA), offering individuals a distinctive fishing and investment opportunity, allowing them to catch fish, and enhance their equipment by holding TUNA tokens. In the exciting world of digital assets and recreational fishing, the TUNA project emerges as a unique and innovative opportunity for individuals seeking a thrilling blend of leisure and financial growth. With a vision to make fishing accessible to all, TUNA offers a user-friendly platform that encourages both seasoned anglers and newcomers to cast their lines and engage in a rewarding fishing experience. TUNA's approach is refreshingly simple. Anglers can start by purchasing a basic fishing kit, which includes essential gear such as a fishing rod, bait, and a bucket. Once equipped, they can venture into the serene waters to catch fish, all while earning profits with every successful haul. The flexibility to either sell their catch for immediate financial gains or release fish back into the waters to nurture and enhance their growth adds a fascinating dimension to the experience. Crucially, TUNA introduces an enticing token-based system. By acquiring and holding TUNA tokens, participants can significantly amplify their fishing capabilities. These tokens serve as a gateway to upgrading their equipment, ultimately leading to the capture of more valuable fish. TUNA tokens are expected to be listed on both decentralized (DEX) and centralized (CEX) exchanges, offering participants opportunities for trading and potential growth. With a commitment to transparency and security, TUNA assures investors of a reliable smart contract that undergoes rigorous audits. The absence of backdoors and privileges for the owner underscores the project's dedication to a fair and equitable ecosystem. TUNA invites fishing enthusiasts and aspiring investors alike to join its community, partake in this unique fusion of recreation and finance, and ride the waves of potential profit while basking in the joys of fishing. About TUNA Token The TUNA token represents an exciting foray into the world of cryptocurrency and investment. Designed to empower fishing enthusiasts and investors alike, TUNA tokens unlock a world of opportunity within the TUNA ecosystem. Holders of these tokens can enhance their fishing equipment, and actively participate in a dynamic digital asset landscape. With its commitment to liquidity and accessibility, TUNA is poised to make waves in the cryptocurrency market, offering a novel and rewarding avenue for those seeking both leisure and financial growth. Based on BEP20, TUNA has a total supply of 5 million (i.e. 5,000,000). Token distribution includes 70% for DEX Exchange, 20% allocated to participants, and 10% for CEX Exchange. It will be listed on LBank Exchange at 8:00 UTC on October 9, 2023. Investors who are interested in TUNA can easily buy and sell it on LBank Exchange by then. Learn More about TUNA Token: Official Website: https://fishing-tuna.com/ Contract: https://bscscan.com/token/0x75adb3f6d788c344c409278263f70c5b60feb33a Telegram: https://t.me/fishing_tuna Twitter: https://twitter.com/FishingTunaBNB About LBank LBank is one of the top crypto exchanges, established in 2015. It offers specialized financial derivatives, expert asset management services, and safe crypto trading to its users. The platform holds over 9 million users from more than 210 regions across the world. LBank is a cutting-edge growing platform that ensures the integrity of users' funds and aims to contribute to the global adoption of cryptocurrencies. Start Trading Now: lbank.com Community & Social Media: l Telegram l Twitter l Facebook l LinkedIn l Instagram l YouTube Press contact: press@lbank.info Business Contact: LBK Blockchain Co. Limited LBank Exchange marketing@lbank.info business@lbank.info To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183266 Glydways, a South San Francisco, CA-based company develping an on-demand Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system, raised $56M in Series B funding. The round, which brought the total amount to over $70M, including the conversion of notes valued at more than $28M, and was by New Science Ventures with participation from The ACS Group, Gates Frontier and Khosla Ventures. The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its business reach. Founded in 2016 by Mark Seeger, and led by Gokul Hemmady, CEO, Glydways is a urban mobility company that provides equitable access to housing, jobs, education, healthcare, and community. Its Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system of on-demand, personal, autonomous, battery-operated electric vehicles travel on small, dedicated rights of way that can be built at-grade, elevated, or tunneled and integrates with any public transportation options. The vehicles, called Glydcars, exclusively use these lanes with no crossings and no other vehicles which means Glydcars travel unimpeded with no stops or slowdowns. The system can move up to 10,000 people per hour per lane/direction, which means larger numbers of riders will move more comfortably, sustainably and affordably than ever before, all for the cost of a transit fare. The system generates zero emissions. Each car is electric battery powered and bi-directional. In addition to this recent funding, Glydways has been selected by Contra Costa Transportation Authority and Tri Delta Transit (Authorities) for the initial segment of the Dynamic Personal Micro Transit project to increase public transit accessibility for the communities of Pittsburg, Antioch, Oakley and Brentwood. The Project will be jointly administered by the Authorities and is designed to complement, enhance and expand existing public transportation options to create a meaningful multi-modal system. This is the second significant project Glydways has been awarded already this year, with the first being the City of San Joses project connecting San Jose Mineta International Airport to the Citys downtown Diridon Station, both located in California. FinSMEs 08/10/2023 Its been more than 24 hours since Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel. Its the deadliest the country has witnessed in decades. More than 300 people have died in Israel after rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip and Palestinian terrorists entered the Israeli territory by land, sea, and air. Even as Tel Aviv launched retaliatory airstrikes that killed more than 230 in Gaza, Hamas continued to wreak havoc taking several hostages, including Israeli soldiers. Their fate remains unknown. Now the conflict has entered the second day and fighting continues in southern Israel between Hamas militants and Israeli defence forces. The attack is seen as a major failure for a nation which has one of the most extensive intelligence services in the world. We take a look at how Hamas breached Israeli security. An attack by land, air, and sea Hamas terrorists travelled in vehicles, boats and motorised paragliders. They breached Gazas security barrier and attacked nearby Israeli towns and military posts, opening fire on residents and passersby. The border fence between Israel and Gaza has cameras, sophisticated sensors and regular army patrols. The barbed-wired fence is said to have a smart barrier to stop infiltration. The fortified border proved no match for heavy explosives unleashed by Hamas militants as they burst into Israel. According to a BBC report, some Hamas militants made their way into Israel by cutting holes in the wires. Several others entered by sea and by air, using paragliders. Videos circulating on social media showed several masked gunmen were seen driving around in a pickup truck in Sderot, the Israeli city which is close to the Gaza border. For Israelis working and living within the range of Gaza, the sight of Hamas terrorists roaming the streets marked a terrifying turn of events unlike anything residents had experienced before. This was always the nightmare. We told ourselves that one day, the terrorists will come inside here, Jehan Berman, a 42-year-old in the small community of Avshalom near Gaza told The Associated Press. It took eight hours, he said, for the Israeli military to arrive at his kibbutz and start fending off the Hamas fighters. The attack was dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm by Hamas military commander Muhammad Al-Deif. He said it was in response to the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, the attacks on women and the ongoing siege of Gaza. Also read: Israel is at war: How conflict with Gaza escalated after Hamas attack Bypassing Israels Iron Dome Hamas multi-pronged attack started around 6:30 am Saturday with thousands of rockets aimed as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, some bypassing the almost impenetrable Iron Dome defence system and hitting buildings. Hamas says they fired 5,000 rockets at Israel, while the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) puts that figure at 2,200. Even the conservative estimate is huge. In comparison, some 4,000 rockets were fired from Gaza to Israel during the 50-day war between the two sides in 2014, according to a CNN report. The Iron Dome System is a short-range, ground-to-air defence system with radar and Tamir interceptor missiles, which track and neutralise any rockets or missiles aimed at Israeli targets. It has been successfully used for countering rockets, artillery & mortars (C-RAM), which has been deployed in 2011. Experts say it has a success rate of 80 per cent. However, on Saturday it was overpowered after thousands of rockets were fired from Gaza 5000 in 20 minutes if Hamas is to be believed. The multiple attacks in such a short period made it difficult for the control system to intercept all targets. Air raid sirens wailed across southern and central Israel, as well as in Jerusalem, as multiple rockets were launched. In Tel Aviv, a gaping hole was ripped into a building, with residents boarding a bus to seek safety in a hotel, reports news agency AFP. Rocket impacts left cars burning beneath residential buildings in the Israeli city of Ashkelon, north of Gaza. Overnight gunbattles Gun battles continued overnight in southern Israel between Hamas militants and the Israeli soldiers. On Sunday, Israel said it was still dealing with Hamas in eight areas where Palestinian militants had infiltrated following the surprise attack. Israeli military spokesperson Lt Col Richard Hecht in a Sunday morning briefing, that the IDF regained control of 22 locations in the south that were invaded by Hamas militants But they are still dealing with them in eight locations, mainly to confirm clean of terrorist inside those communities. Mass killings, taking hostages Hamas on Saturday released images of several Israelis taken captive, and another Israeli army spokesman, Daniel Hagari, confirmed that there are kidnapped soldiers and civilians. I cant give figures about them at the moment. Its a war crime committed by Hamas and they will pay the price. But the Israeli Embassy to the United States has put the figure at 100 in a social media post. That includes both civilians and soldiers, it says. Operational Update: pic.twitter.com/hJlnftPmJN Embassy of Israel to the USA | #IsraelUSA75 (@IsraelinUSA) October 8, 2023 Bodies were seen lying on the streets of Sderot near Gaza and inside cars, their windscreens shattered by bullets. I saw many bodies, of terrorists and civilians, one man who gave his name as Shlomi told the news agency AFP, standing beside covered corpses on a road near Gevim Kibbutz in southern Israel. So many bodies, so many bodies. Israels Channel 12 aired a string of harrowing phone call recordings by civilians trapped inside their homes as militants closed in. The callers used hushed tones to describe terrifying scenes to their loved ones, reports AP. We can hear them, theyre breaking in through the windows and theres no one here to help us, one caller said. Israeli army Major General Ghasan Alyan warned that Hamas had opened the gates of hell. An intelligence failure The escalation follows months of rising violence, mostly in the occupied West Bank, and tensions around Gazas border and at contested holy sites in Jerusalem. However, the surprise attack is seen as a massive failure of Israels intelligence services. With the combined efforts of Shin Bet, Israeli domestic intelligence, Mossad, its external spy agency and all the assets of the Israel Defense Forces, it is frankly astounding that nobody saw this coming, wrote BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner. Israel is said to have spies in Palestinian militant groups and Lebanon and Syria. They have in the past eliminated militants and carried out drone attacks. But on Saturday, Israels intelligence and security were hoodwinked, as Hamas carried out a well-coordinated attack right under noses. An army spokesman said there would be discussions on the intelligence preparation down the road but for the moment the focus was on fighting. We'll talk about that when we need to talk about it, he told a briefing with reporters. Israel has now vowed revenge. The IDF has said it will focus on taking control of the Gaza Strip, as the conflict rages on. With inputs from agencies The war is raging. The Israel and Palestine conflict entered Day 2 after a surprise attack by Hamas. Soon after, Israel announced Operation Iron Swords against the Palestinian militants, declaring a state of war. So far, at least 350 people have died and thousands have been injured in Israel. The death toll in Gaza has also surpassed 300. The Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the country is embarking on a long and difficult war. He warned Gazans to get out of there (Gaza Strip) now, vowing to reduce Hamas hideouts to rubble. Also read: How Hamas breached Israels sophisticated security, hoodwinked its intelligence Hamas has taken at least 100 Israeli civilians and soldiers hostage. And the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) say their focus is taking control of the Gaza Strip. As the war continues to escalate, we take a look at the big four conflicts between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, since Israeli forces and settlers withdrew from the coastal territory in 2005. Operation Cast Lead (2008) On 27 December 2008, Israel launched a campaign of air strikes against militants in Gaza, dubbed Operation Cast Lead, to stop Palestinian rocket fire into Israel. It also deployed ground forces. The flare-up continued for 22 days. Palestinian armed groups fired 571 rockets and 205 mortar shells which landed in Israeli terrority. The Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas armed wing, claimed responsibility for most of the rockets launched into Israel. The other militant groups involved included the armed wings of Fatah of Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. By the time a ceasefire was announced on 18 January, 1,400 Palestinians, many of them civilians, were killed. Extensive damage was caused to Gazas civilian infrastructure, according to the BBC. Israel puts the figure at 1,166. Thirteen Israelis died during the conflict including four soldiers in a friendly fire incident. Operation Pillar of Defence (2012) On 14 November 2012, Israel launched Operation Pillar of Defence to stop rocket fire and cripple Hanas capability to launch attacks. Israel carried out a massive missile strike that killed its top Hamas commander Ahmed Jaabari. Gaza militants fire more than 1,000 rockets into Israel, hundreds of which are intercepted by Israels sophisticated Iron Dome missile defence system, reports AFP. Eight days on, Egypt brokered a ceasefire which included a promise from both sides to stop attacks. In this conflict, 177 Palestinians and six Israelis were killed during this skirmish. Operation Protective Edge (2014) On 8 July 2014, Israel launched Operation Protective Edge. The goal was similar to stop Palestinian rocket fire and destroy tunnels used by militants to infiltrate Israel. Israeli forces pounded the Gaza Strip from air and sea. The seven-week offensive between 8 July and 27 August killed more than 2000 Palestinians and 74 Israelis, including 68 soldiers. According to the United Nations, at least 2,104 Palestinians died, including 1,462 civilians, of whom 495 were children and 253 women. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that they had killed 1,000 terrorists during the assault on Gaza. During the conflict, Hamas fired at least 4,591 rockets towards Israel between 8 July and 31 August 2014. Of these more than 735 were intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile systems, claimed IDF. It said that its forces targeted at least 5,226 targets in Gaza. On 26 August 2014, 50 days after the operation was launched, Israel and Palestinian factions agreed an open-ended ceasefire brokered by Egypt, reports BBC. The 11-day war (2021) On 10 May 2021, fighting erupted between Israel and Palestine when Hamas militants in Gaza fired long-range rockets toward Jerusalem. The militant group had launched the rockets after clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians at the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem left hundreds of Palestinians injured, reports AFP. Israel responded with an 11-day campaign of air and artillery strikes, which killed at least 248 people in Gaza, including 66 children. Thirteen died on the Israeli side, including one soldier. Hamas and other militant groups fired over 4,000 rockets into Israel throughout the fighting, launching the projectiles from civilian areas at Israeli cities. Dozens of projectiles flew as far north as Tel Aviv, the countrys bustling commercial and cultural capital. The two sides agreed to a ceasefire on 21 May 2021, but the fighting ended inconclusively. Clashes with Islamic Jihad (2023) In May 2023, Islamic Jihad, Gazas second-largest militant group after Hamas, launched rockets against Israel in response to the death of a prominent hunger-striking Islamic Jihad leader in an Israeli prison. In a surprise attack, a week later, Israeli warplanes killed three top Islamic Jihad commanders along with the wives of two of them and some of their children as they slept in their homes, reports The Associated Press. Five days of fighting between Israel and Islamic Jihad left 33 dead in Gaza and two in Israel, a Palestinian labourer from Gaza and an elderly Israeli. In all, Israeli strikes killed at least six top figures from Islamic Jihad, which is considered a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union. The tensions ended after a ceasefire was negotiated by Egypt. With inputs from agencies Israel is at war. Its Day 2 of gun battle after the Palestinian terror group Hamas launched one of its biggest and deadliest attacks against Israel on Saturday (7 October), prompting Israelis Benjamin Netanyahu to announce that his country was now at war. What happened today has never been seen in Israel. We will take mighty vengeance for this black day, Netanyahu said in a televised speech on Saturday. Israel will reach every place Hamas is hiding. The surprise attacks have since claimed the lives of at least 350 people and caused unprecedented damage and destruction. Mohammed Deif, head of the Palestinian groups military wing al-Qassam Brigades announced the group had fired over 5,000 rockets in the first strike of 20 minutes under Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on Saturday. In addition, the group also launched ground attacks, infiltrating military bases and overrunning parts of two southern Israel towns, taking hostages in the process. Amid the gun battle, many questions are being raised? Is it an intelligence failure on the part of Tel Aviv? How was Hamas able to launch a barrage of rockets against Israels famous Iron Dome an air defence system meant especially for this purpose? We take a closer look at what exactly is the Iron Dome air defence system? How does it work and how equipped is it during an all-out war? What is the Iron Dome? The Iron Dome, operational since 2011, is Israels short-range air defence system known for taking down largely unguided rockets fired from Palestinian territory. It was first created by Israeli firms Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries with some support from the United States. The genesis of the Iron Dome came after the 2006 Lebanon conflict when thousands of rockets were launched into Israel, causing huge damage, mass evacuations and dozens of deaths. After that Israel said a new missile defence shield would be developed. The Iron Dome is used for countering rockets, artillery & mortars (C-RAM) as well as aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. As NDTV reports, it has a range of approximately 70 km and has three central components that form a unit, namely; Detection and Tracking radar, Battle Management and Weapons Control and the Missile Launcher armed with 20 Tamir Missiles. It is effective in all weather conditions, including during the day and night. The Iron Dome doesnt take down each and every rocket fired; it relies on radar and artificial intelligence (AI) to determine whether an incoming trajectile is a threat and only fires when the incoming rocket is running the risk of hitting a populated area or infrastructure. If the system determines there is no danger, then it allows the rocket to land. The manufacturer of the Iron Dome states that the success rate of the air defence system is as high as 90 per cent, but experts agree the success rate is over 80 per cent. However, the Iron Dome doesnt come cheap. In fact, a lot has been said about its cost. Each battery, or the full unit, can cost over $50 million (Rs 415 crore), and one interceptor Tamir missile costs around $80,000 (Rs 66.5 lakh). But Retired Air Marshal Anil Chopra, who heads the Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) think tank in New Delhi, told the Indian Express that it is not the right way to judge its cost effectiveness. If I have to take rockets, which cost very little, and I am firing any missile, then its an expensive exercise. But it proves a deterrent, he told the newspaper, Additionally, the morale of the nation is maintained as it doesnt get intimidated by rockets. This has been echoed by Jean-Loup Samaan, a research affiliate with the Middle East Institute at the National University of Singapore who has studied Israels missile defence. Speaking to Vox earlier, he said that the Iron Dome is an insurance policy; it reassures citizens and protects against loss of life and property damage. Its important to note here that the Iron Dome isnt effective against more potent missiles, for instance, a ballistic missile. Those missiles are bigger and faster, with longer and steeper trajectories. Iron Dome is specifically for shorter-range threats. The success of the Iron Dome has generated a lot of interest from other countries parts of it have already been sold to countries like Canada, Britain, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. However, Israel has refrained from selling the system to Ukraine, despite Kyiv repeatedly requesting to purchase the costly technology to protect its civilians from heavy Russian shelling during the ongoing war. So, what happened on Saturday? On Saturday (7 October), Hamas, the Palestinian terror group, who has long been trying to find a weakness in the Iron Dome over powered the defence system. They overwhelmed the system firing over 5,000 rockets in less than 20 minutes, making it difficult for the control system to intercept all targets. News18 has reported that Hamas is also developing its crude rocket technology and it has increased its range to cover major cities of Israel including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Moreover, a rocket launched by Hamas is much cheaper than the Tamir missile fired to intercept it. In fact, following the attacks, Irans Nournews reported that Israel could not predict their operations, and that its Iron Dome was nothing but a dome of straw above a sand castle. Moreover, Hamas didnt restrict itself to just rocket launches. Hamas terrorists travelled in vehicles, boats and motorised paragliders. They breached Gazas security barrier and attacked nearby Israeli towns and military posts, opening fire on residents and passersby. With inputs from agencies Another war has broken out. This time in West Asia. An unprecedented attack by the militant group Hamas on Israel has left more than 300 dead. It prompted retribution from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Citizens of Israel, we are at war not in an operation, not in rounds at war, Netanyahu said in a video message on Saturday, as the country launched airstrikes on Gaza in retaliation. More than 230 have been killed in Israels revenge attack. The more than 100-year-old conflict between Israel and Palestine has taken a deadly turn. The history of the region is complicated and the fallout of the latest conflict will impact geopolitics in the region and beyond. We break it down for you. Meanwhile, tensions between India and Canada continue unabated over the K-factor. Though Justin Trudeau seems to be slowly backing away after weeks of allegations, Ottawa has still not banned five pro-Khalistani outfits despite New Delhi repeatedly urging it to do so. An irate India threatened to revoke the diplomatic immunity of Canadian envoys if Ottawa did not reduce its diplomatic presence. Days after the warning, a majority of its diplomats working in India have been moved outside of New Delhi to either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. In America, events in the US House which had long threatened to spiral out of Kevin McCarthys control, finally did so with spectacular results leaving the Republican humiliated and with the ignominy of being the only House Speaker deposed on a motion to vacate in the republics long and storied history. In Iran, a 16-year-old girl is in a coma after being brutally beaten by the morality police. The case of the teen, identified as Armita Garawand, has for many brought back memories of the death of Mahsa Amini last September and shone a fresh spotlight on the plight of women in Iran. With the Nobel season in full swing, it is worth taking a fresh look at the awards themselves as well as their creator Alfred Nobel. Over in Spain, work on the five central towers of the famed Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is finally complete. Not too shabby considering construction on them began in 1882. Dios Mio! All of this and more in our recap of the top international stories from the week: 1. The Israel and Palestine conflict escalated after a surprise attack by Hamas. Its a black day said Netanyahu, as he vowed mighty vengeance and he told Israelis that they are entering a long and difficult war. But what prompted Hamas to unleash more than 5,000 rockets at Israel from the Gaza Strip? We explain and bring you a brief history of the militant group. 2. Delhi has asked Ottawa to ban at least five pro-Khalistan outfits including the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and the Khalistan Commando Force (KFC). This piece examines the origins of these terrorist groups, their top leadership, where they are based and who is funding them. With New Delhi in no mood to relent and Ottawa not backing down despite Trudeau saying he does not want to escalate diplomatic tensions well done on that account by the way India threatened to withdraw diplomatic immunity if 40 Canadian diplomats do not exit by 10 October. They have been moved out of New Delhi. Here is a detailed look at the concept of diplomatic immunity, its history, and the rules governing its withdrawal. 3. As Kevin McCarthy exits stage left as House Speaker, some on the far-right have thrown their support to one eyebrow-raising name as a replacement former president Donald J Trump. But questions about his eligibility as House Speaker remain not to mention the small matters of his legal troubles and running for president. We look at the chances of the former president becoming House Speaker and take a gander at the firm favourites, dark horses and longshots. 4. Targeted on Irans metro for not wearing a hijab and brutally beaten by women morality police officers, Armita Garawand is fighting for her life. Authorities in Iran have denied any verbal or physical conflict occurred which of course they have and the poor girls parents have been pressed into toeing the official line of low blood pressure. This piece takes a detailed look at the sad incident and its echoes of Mahsa Aminis case. 5. The Nobel season is set to end on Monday with the announcement of the prize for economics. While the award famously comprises a $1 million award, how much do you really know about it? Like, for instance, why is there no prize for mathematics? How many Peace Prize winners have been stopped from attending the ceremony? And can the prizes be awarded posthumously? This piece answers all the questions you want and several you didnt even know you needed answered. 6. While the Spanish are famed for taking siestas their famed afternoon naps one might argue there are some examples of taking it too far. Like work on the magnificent Sagrada Familia for example which has been happening off and on for the past 144 years! Heres a look at the long, winding road to completion of work on the five domes of the famed structure in Barcelona. Watch this space for more explainers. PS: In this special Vantage edition, Firstpost executive editor Palki Sharma brings you the full story on the Israel-Palestine conflict. As I trace the footsteps of the illustrious Chola dynasty through the corridors of the Brihadeeshwara temple, the walls burst into life with scenes of regal magnificence and unwavering divine devotion. I am standing in the grand corridor, overwhelmed by the sheer intricacies of Thanjavur paintings gracing the walls. Deities depicted in Chola, Nayaka, and Maratha artistic styles are juxtaposed against the backdrop of sacred shivlingas. These Chola Paintings, or as locals call them, the Thanjai Periya Kovil paintings grace the Brihadeeswarar temple in not one, but two remarkable sets. The first set is open to the public in the temples hallways, and another set is within the temples secret passages that connect to RajaRaja Cholas palace. These paintings provide a window into the ever-shifting tapestry of artistic expression, spanning across diverse dynastic reigns. However, the story behind these paintings is one of turmoil and migration. The fall of the mighty Vijayanagar Empire and the subsequent sack of Hampi in the Battle of Talikota in 1565 CE had profound consequences. Among the many affected were the talented painters, who had relied on the empires patronage for their livelihood and with their world shattered, they sought refuge in Thanjavur. Under the benevolent patronage of the Thanjavur Nayakas, these displaced artists found solace and a purpose. The talented artists of this atelier eagerly embraced the local influences and the preferences of their Maratha patrons. Not content with merely painting in temples, they expanded their horizons and embarked on an endeavour to paint the buildings, palaces, chatrams, and opulent residences of the Maratha kings. The artisans then introduced gesso work, glass beads, precious and semi-precious gems, and gold foil to bring out the depth of the paintings. Thanjavur holds a remarkable position in the annals of Indian painting, and some specimens of its art can also be found in the Saraswathi Mahal Library. My driver Jehan regales me with stories from the sacred Sanskrit tome, Prabothachandrodaya, as we journey to the home of a renowned Thanjavur painter. He tells me that this literary masterwork has Marathi translations of the Mahabharata and Bhagavatham, both of which feature artwork by Madhava swami, who was born in 1824 AD. Jehan tells me, Faint traces of Maratha-style paintings inset with glass are on the walls of the Thiruvaiyaru Chatram built by Serfoji after his pilgrimage to Kashi. Many other buildings in and around Thanjavur have fine examples of Thanjavur paintings on the roofs and walls, though many are gradually disappearing due to serious neglect. We arrive at the Art Village twenty minutes later, hidden within the quiet alleyways of Ramani Nagar. Kathirvel (55), the master artisan, welcomes me inside his humble home-turned-workshop, a labyrinth of interconnected rooms with blue doors and windows. As I look around, a 6ft Tirupathi Balaji gold painting on a black backdrop, conjures an illusion so vivid that even the painted garland appears as real as the deitys mural in a sacred temple. Traditionally, the Telgu-speaking Raju community of Thanjavur and Tiruchi, also called Jinigara or Chitragara along with the Nayudu community of Madurai were the artists who made Thanjavur paintings. Rajus and Naidus moved to Tamil Nadu from Andhra Pradesh in the wake of the fall of the Vijayanagar empire. These artists turned out a wide repertoire of paintings on a variety of subjects, depending on the patrons interest, influence, and financial capacity. However, the art was generally regarded as a sacred work to be carried out with a degree of ritual purity and humility by skilled artisans, many of whom chose to remain anonymous and never signed their paintings. Within this artful space, other framed masterpieces are of the goddess Lakshmi seated upon a blooming lotus, a Tamil priest from the Chola period, Tridev, the holy trinity of Lord Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, united in divine harmony, and Lord Krishna, from his tender childhood (Bal Krishna) to his adulthood. Traditional materials and techniques are at the heart of it all. From the use of gold foil to colours, each element plays a crucial role in bringing these stunning works of art to life. In the local parlance, Thanjavur Paintings are also called Palagai Padam, which translates to pictures on wooden planks as they are typically completed on boards made from teak or jackfruit wood. Thanjavur paintings have a syncretic style, and the closest influences are the Kalamkari and Tirupati paintings. Kathirvel pulls out all the brushes, colours and 22 or 24K gold foil, he uses to create these paintings. Over the next few hours, I closely observe how he and other artists painstakingly create these masterpieces, skilfully blending colours and embedding precious gems to create a visual symphony. When it comes to Thanjavur paintings, the journey from gold foil to vibrant colours is a fascinating one. These paintings have been around for centuries, and its amazing to see how theyve evolved. They are not just beautiful, but they also tell tales of mythology, history, and everyday life. We have been keeping this ancient art form alive for generations, passing down skills to the next generation. says Kathirvel. His son Aravind is the fourth-generation heir. The canvas is evenly coated with a paste of French chalk (gopi) or powdered limestone and a binding medium and dried. The artist then draws or traces using a stencil, a detailed outline of the main and subsidiary subjects on the canvas. A paste, made of limestone powder and a binding medium called sukkan or makku, is used for creating the Gesso work. Gold leaves and gems of varied hues are inlaid in selected areas like pillars, arches, thrones, dresses, etc. Finally, colours were applied to the sketch. Kathirvel says, This art form finds its roots in the year 1600 AD, when the Nayakas under the patronage of the Vijayanagara Rayas, fostered a flourishing artistic renaissance. What sets Thanjavur painting apart is its resplendent gold coating, which adds to it, an ethereal touch. The paintings were initially created to decorate the walls of temples and palaces. However, it was during the Maratha court of Thanjavur, that Thanjavur paintings truly blossomed into the masterpiece we know today. Dark brown or red is used for outlining. The colour red is preferred for the background, but blue and green are also used. Lord Vishnu is painted blue, Lord Nataraja white, and his consort Goddess Sivakami is painted green. Of course, the sky is blue, but black is also used on occasion. Figures in the paintings are likewise typical, with almost all of them having rounded faces, almond-shaped eyes, and smooth, streamlined bodies. The individuals are set within arches, draperies, and ornate borders in this static and two-dimensional composition. The main topic is substantially larger than the other subjects and takes up most of the paintings space. Except for the face, which has shading, the figurines are painted in brilliant flat hues. Thanjavur art uses shading to create a sense of depth rather than to adhere to perspective rules. Within the artistic confines of a mantapa or prabhavali, the protagonists take centre stage, while an ensemble of subsidiary subjects gracefully adorn the surrounding canvas. In essence, these paintings act as devotional icons, where tales from the Puranas, Sthala-puranas, and other sacred texts are brought to life through vivid visualisations. Kathirvel says, We use natural materials like limestone powder, tamarind seed powder, and gold leaf to create intricate designs and patterns. We also use a special technique called thickening to create a 3D effect on the paintings. Then he takes me through the process of the making of a Thanjavur painting. He shows the wooden board covered with a cotton cloth, which serves as a canvas for the artwork. He first, deftly outlines the pencil designs. Then he uses a mixture of edible gum, chalk powder and limestone for embossing. The embossing adds depth to the paintings. After embossing, he uses the tamarind seeds paste to emboss the stones and 24k gold foil. When he presses the gold leaf inside, the design comes out. After this, he either adds semi-precious stones, or precious stones which are 50 per cent first-quality diamonds. These gems are arranged to create intricate patterns and designs, which enhance the complexity of the painting. Thereafter, different types of natural colours are painted over the outlined sketch. We use three types of colours: Karli, water, and natural plant dyes. Finding natural colours is the biggest challenge in todays art market so we have our own recipes for colours. Natural colours in the hibiscus flower produces the blue or cyan colour, while the teak wood (Tkku Maram in Tamil) leaf produces the saffron colour, drumsticks, lend their verdant touch to the palette with a green colour, and brinjal, contributes to the artistic spectrum by offering a blend of blue and purple tones through its skin, says Kathirvel. The colour palette of Thanjavur paintings makes use of rich reds, azure blues, and lush greens. Kathirvel remains dedicated to the use of vegetable and mineral dyes as natural pigments for his artworks, just as the great artists of the past did. These colours convey many feelings and moods. Red, for example, indicates passion, love, and purity, whereas green represents fertility and prosperity. He adds, Were working on 2-3 natural colour choices. We use axles to grind the paste with milk in a wood colour. Natural colours have a more antique appearance. Acrylic and watercolour paints are less expensive, however, they are also durable because they are protected by a glass frame. These paintings which range from Rs 1500 to Rs 2.5 lakhs or more, are perfect for embellishing Pooja rooms and are frequently given as regal presents, or as home decorations. The time it takes to make a Thanjavur painting varies tremendously based on its size, intricacy, and level of detail. A modest to medium-sized painting can take several weeks on average. It can take months to produce a large and meticulously detailed painting. The paintings illustrate scenes from Hindu mythology and also Tamil Nadus rich cultural legacy. Each picture offers a different story. Kathirvel points to a Krishna Thanjavur painting and tells me how these paintings are thought to provide auspiciousness to the home and are valued as rare antiques. He says, These paintings are created using 24-carat original gold foils, natural paints, pearls, precious AD Stones, semi-precious stones, Arabic gum, and chalk powder on a fabric adhered to water-resistant plywood. Tirupati paintings, in particular, were made in the temple town using different techniques, like gilded terracotta relief slabs of the deity, which were framed and packaged in neat wooden boxes to be carried back as holy memorabilia. They are perfect for embellishing Pooja rooms and are frequently given as regal presents. Inside Kathirvels workshop, I also noticed spherical plates hanging on the wall made of three metals: copper, brass, and silver with god figures etched in them. Meanwhile, Santhil, Keetha, Sangarai, Thivavakar, and Tharmaa (artists) continue to emboss gold leaves into drawn artworks and glueing gems to them in the third room. Their table is decked with brushes of various sizes and colours. Outside the third room is an open courtyard with mango and jackfruit trees, and directly across that is another room where artisans are sketching in natural or acrylic colours. Back in the time, Thanjavur paintings were created in a variety of sizes based on the occasion, theme, and client preference. Large paintings of deities and Maratha rulers, as well as their courtiers and aristocracy, were painted in Maratha palaces and buildings to serve as architectural accents. The art form has stood against the test of time, and the reason it survived through centuries is the adaptability of the painting style to change the format. The painters ensure that the mystery of Thanjavur paintings will be enjoyed and admired for years to come by conserving the techniques and materials that have been employed for millennia. With more than a decade of writing experience and a passion for exploring the world, the author is a travel journalist with a knack for captivating storytelling.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 countrys elite and internationally reputed educational institute, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), in Mumbai is needlessly mired in a bizarre controversy that has nothing to do with technical or scientific excellence. It is to do with vegetarian and non-vegetarian food being served to the students in the hostel food mess where they eat. Indeed, this absurd issue has been agitating both students and the authorities who are supposed to be focussed on the pursuit of technological learning. The controversy was sparked off by a decision taken by the mess council of the institute to reserve special vegetarian only tables in the mess serving three hostel blocks to segregate vegetarian students from their non-vegetarian counterparts. Not surprisingly there was a huge commotion among the student community at this unprecedented decision implemented in late September this year although there was talk about this for some time in IIT Mumbai. What has compounded matters is the provocative move by a few students to take their non-vegetarian food and eat it at the tables reserved for vegetarians openly defying the authorities. As a matter of fact, one of the students had written to the Dean of Student Affairs declaring that he did not accept the decision to impose separate vegetarian tables in the hostel mess and would continue to eat non-vegetarian food there to protest. Despite a stern warning by the authorities forbidding him to do so he and two other students went ahead with their protest. The incensed Institute management has hit back with a drastic ten thousand rupees fine on the student and is in the process of identifying the two other protesters. This has led to further furore among the protesting students. The hostel authorities after a lengthy silence on the turmoil over vegetarian students versus non-vegetarian ones has finally in its first official communication declared, Indiscipline in any form leading to disruption of harmony in the hostels will not be tolerated, justifying the ban. They have argued that only a few tables in the hostel mess have been reserved for vegetarians but accused some of the students encroaching the segregated space and deliberately spilling non-veg food to cause discomfort to fellow students. Such provocative and insensitive actions are not acceptable, the authorities warned. Meanwhile, the Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC), an informal student collective that wields some influence in the campus is spearheading the students protests against the segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian eating spaces. Since APPSC espouses radical Dalit politics the student agitation is rapidly taking a casteist turn further vitiating the academic atmosphere of one of the most elite educational institutes in the country. The problem is that this whole attitude that non-vegetarians and vegetarians need to be segregated comes from the idea that non-vegetarian food is contaminated, an APPSC representative in IIT Mumbai told the media. We understand it is totally normal to feel uncomfortable, and any student who feels that way can ask their fellow students to move to another table, and I am sure everyone has the basic civic sense to understand that. But turning it into segregation is very problematic. We believe it is a casteist practice, he added. This is not the first time that IIT Mumbai students have faced problems over what and how they eat in the hostel mess. As many as five years ago, non-vegetarian students of one hostel block received an official email from the hostel mess manager asking them not to use the main plates but special trays for non-vegetarian food that was covered by the local media and swiftly hushed up by the institute management. It is also true that the current hullabaloo over reserved vegetarian tables has been simmering for several months. Last July there was consternation within the student community at posters suddenly appearing in parts of the hostel mess that said in large letters, Vegetarians only are allowed to sit here but there was no official backing and they were torn down. Now with tables being officially reserved for only vegetarians, the entire issue has erupted into a full-blown controversy. The entire concept of vegetarian students being segregated by the IIT Mumbai authorities from non-vegetarian eating spaces is quite baffling considering that many of the former are likely to sooner or later travel abroad to entirely non-vegetarian countries for further education or job. Starting with the flights they take and the hostels they are likely to occupy it is most unlikely that vegetarians can isolate themselves from non-vegetarians while eating however distasteful their food may seem. It is also strange why the authorities in the institute could not avoid the divisions over food in the student community through a larger consultation among them. There is little doubt that farce over vegetarian and non-vegetarian food being enacted in IIT Mumbai is inextricably linked to the new socio-political agenda being imposed over the past decade in the country that imbues some kind of purity to vegetarian food over non-vegetarian fare. This is quite ludicrous in India where a vast majority of people are actually non-vegetarian and are as indigenous as vegetarians. The writer is a Delhi-based political commentator. 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. Israel continues to reel from a massive and well-coordinated Hamas terror attack on Saturday. Hamas fired thousands of rockets into Israel, while hundreds of Hamas terrorists penetrated the Gaza Strips heavily fortified border with Israel. Some used bulldozers to break down fences. Others paraglided into Israel. Terrorists may also have tunneled into Israel. The terrorists rampaged through nearby communities, grabbing hostages and going door-to-door, executing entire families. The attack represents Israels greatest intelligence failure in 50 years. Just as the intelligence failure surrounding the 1973 Yom Kippur War brought down Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir the following year, the current crisis puts Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus career on life support. While Israel is no stranger to terrorism, the current attacks will scar Israeli society as September 11, 2001, branded itself on American society and the November 2008 Mumbai attacks imprinted themselves onto Indias consciousness. While India is not a party to the Israel-Palestine dispute, the attack will nevertheless affect India. Terrorists crave headlines and they seek to outdo previous attacks to maintain a shock factor. The 1985 Air India 182 bombing and the Pan Am 107 downing over Lockerbie set a new standard for terrorist bombings, at least until Al Qaeda turned passenger jets into flying bombings over New York and Washington in 2001. Taking down a single aircraft might have been horrific, but by comparison, it seemed a quaint tactic from the distant past. Terrorists then tried to take the tactic to a new level. In January 2005, Ramzi Yousef, a Kuwait-born Pakistani involved in the 1993 World Trade Center attack, launched Operation Bojinka, an elaborate plot to bring down 12 airlines almost simultaneously over the Pacific Ocean. Had the terror plot succeeded, it would have surpassed the death toll of the 2001 World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. The terror threat from the Gaza Strip was well-known. In theory, alongside the demilitarised zone between the two Koreas, the Gaza border is one of the most heavily monitored locations. Israel collects extensive signals intelligence, penetrates Gaza with human intelligence, and watches the area with satellites; yet, Hamas has managed to take Israel completely by surprise. So too did Iran. Videos released of Hamas grabbing Israeli hostages recorded Persian language commands suggesting the presence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps operatives. India should be on high alert, not from Iran and certainly not from Palestinian groups but rather from the many groups Pakistan nurtures, cultivates, and sponsors. Lashkar-e-Taiba, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Tehreek-e-Taliban-e-Pakistan, various Khalistan extremists, and the Islamic State Khorasan will each seek the limelight by upstaging the Hamas attack in audacity and scale. The India-Pakistan border and Line of Control is more than 3,300 km long, more than 500 times the length of Israels border with Gaza. An attempt at a massive, multipronged cross border attack in Kashmir or Punjab is almost inevitable, as is another Mumbai-style attack on other cities, perhaps simultaneously. Just as Israel faces simultaneous attacks from ground, sea, and air, might India face missiles, suicide operatives, and drone swarms? What might Pakistan-supported terrorists do to kill more than 1,000 Indians or take hundreds hostage? Rather than focus counter-terrorism on stopping the last attack, it is essential to tackle something new and completely different. This is where Israel failed. Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, and has no desire to return to the densely packed territory or police its inhabitants; that was the job in theory of the Palestinian Authority, even though Hamas purged Palestinian Authority forces from the Gaza Strip in June 2007. Israel, however, also could not tolerate a terror safe haven. Israeli generals and strategists therefore began to talk about mowing the grass, the idea that every so often, Israel would launch a counter-terror operation to take out Hamas weapons factories and disrupt terror infrastructure. The mass attack on Israel suggests that strategy has failed. Rather than mow the grass, Israel must uproot the entire lawn. The question for India now becomes whether it will mow the grass when Pakistan-based terrorists try to infiltrate Kashmir and Punjab, or whether Indian forces will be prepared for the inevitability of addressing the terror nexus inside Pakistan in a much more permanent way. Michael Rubin is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC. 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 head of the African Union Commission has appealed for an end to the conflict between Israeli forces and the Palestinian militant group Hamas which has killed hundreds on both sides. Moussa Faki Mahamat called on both parties to return, without preconditions, to the negotiating table to implement the principle of two States living side by side. The Chairperson further calls on the international community, and the major world powers in particular, to assume their responsibilities to impose peace and guarantee the rights of the two peoples, Faki said in a statement posted late Saturday by the 55-member AU bloc on X, formerly known as Twitter. He wishes to recall that denial of the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, particularly that of an independent and sovereign State, is the main cause of the permanent Israeli-Palestinian tension, the statement said. Hamas launched a massive offensive early Saturday against Israel, firing thousands of rockets aimed as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as its fighters breached Gazas security barrier. Israels army said the land, sea and air attack which saw Hamas fighters shooting residents in Israeli towns and settlements had killed more than 200 Israelis and wounded 1,000. Gun battles raged into Sunday morning between Israeli forces and hundreds of Hamas fighters in multiple Israel locations, while soldiers and civilians were taken hostage. Gaza officials said intense Israeli air strikes on the coastal enclave had brought the Palestinian death toll to at least 256, with nearly 1,800 wounded. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday warned Israel was embarking on a long and difficult war and vowed its response against Hamas would continue with neither limitations nor respite until the objectives are reached. Following a lightning Azerbaijani military operation last month, Azerbaijans president chastised the European Union and warned that Frances plan to deliver military supplies to Armenia might spark a new battle in the South Caucasus. Last week, Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev backed out of an EU-mediated meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, during which Brussels stated its support for Armenia. According to an Azerbaijani statement issued late Saturday, Aliyev blasted the EUs attitude, notably Frances position, when European Council President Charles Michel called him. President Ilham Aliyev said that due to the well-known position of France, Azerbaijan did not participate in the meeting in Granada, the Azerbaijani presidential office said. The head of state emphasized that the provision of weapons by France to Armenia was an approach that was not serving peace, but one intended to inflate a new conflict, and if any new conflict occurs in the region, France would be responsible for causing it. France has agreed on future contracts with Armenia to supply it with military equipment to help ensure its defences, Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said Oct. 3 during a visit to Yerevan. She declined to elaborate on what sort of military aid was envisaged for Armenia under future supply contracts. French President Emmanuel Macron scolded Azerbaijan, saying that Baku appeared to have a problem with international law. Aliyev restored control over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh last month with a 24-hour military operation which triggered the exodus of most of the territorys 120,000 ethnic Armenians to Armenia. Aliyev said he had acted in accordance with international law, adding that eight villages in Azerbaijan were still under Armenian occupation, and stressed the importance of liberating these villages from occupation. After Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaustrongly denounced the terrorist attack on Israel, Hamas supporters were seen doing a road show with the Palestinian flag in their hands in joy on Toronto streets. Ever since the video surfaced online, Canada is facing the fire for harboring supporters of violence in the name separatism while trying to portray self as supporters of fundamental freedoms of civilians. In the video, Hamas supporters can be seen in fleet of cars waving the Palestinian flags while sloganeering and howling in support of the terror strikes in Israel. Earlier, PM Justin Trudeau took to X previously known as Twitter to condemn the strikes. He said, Canada strongly condemns the current terrorist attacks against Israel. These acts of violence are completely unacceptable. We stand with Israel and fully support its right to defend itself. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this. Civilian life must be protected. Canada strongly condemns the current terrorist attacks against Israel. These acts of violence are completely unacceptable. We stand with Israel and fully support its right to defend itself. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this. Civilian life must be protected. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 7, 2023 Under his post several X users called him out for giving shelters to such elements. More than 2,000 people were killed in earthquakes in Afghanistan and more than 9,000 injured, the Taliban administration said on Sunday, in the deadliest tremors to rock the quake-prone mountainous country in years. The Saturday quakes in the west of the country hit 35 km (20 miles) northwest of the city of Herat, with one of 6.3 magnitude, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said. They were among the worlds deadliest quakes in a year when tremors in Turkey and Syria killed an estimated 50,000 in February. Janan Sayeeq, spokesman for the Ministry of Disasters, said 2,053 people were killed, 9,240 injured and 1,320 houses damaged or destroyed. The death toll spiked from 500 reported earlier on Sunday by the Red Crescent. Ten rescue teams were in the area, which borders Iran, Sayeeq told a press conference. More than 200 dead had been brought to various hospitals, said a Herat health department official who identified himself as Dr Danish, adding most of them were women and children. Bodies had been taken to several places military bases, hospitals, Danish said. Beds were set up outside the main hospital in Herat to receive a flood of victims, photos on social media showed. Food, drinking water, medicine, clothes and tents were urgently needed for rescue and relief, Suhail Shaheen, the head of the Taliban political office in Qatar, said in a message to the media. The mediaeval minarets of Herat sustained some damage, photographs on social media showed, with cracks visible and tiles fallen off. Hemmed in by mountains, Afghanistan has a history of strong earthquakes, many in the rugged Hindu Kush region bordering Pakistan. Death tolls often rise when information comes in from more remote parts of a country where decades of war have left infrastructure in a shambles, and relief and rescue operations difficult to organise. Afghanistans healthcare system, reliant almost entirely on foreign aid, has faced crippling cuts in the two years since the Taliban took over and much international assistance, which had formed the backbone of the economy, was halted. Diplomats and aid officials say concerns over Taliban restrictions on women and competing global humanitarian crises are causing donors to pull back on financial support. The Islamist government has ordered most Afghan female aid staff not to work, although with exemptions in health and education. In August, a spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross said it was likely to end its financial support for 25 Afghan hospitals because of funding constraints. It was not immediately clear if the Herat hospital was on that list. The quakes triggered panic in Herat, resident Naseema said. People left their houses, we all are on the streets, she wrote in a text message to Reuters on Saturday, adding that the city was feeling aftershocks. There are a total of 202 public health facilities in Herat province, one of which is the major regional hospital where 500 casualties had been taken, the World Health Organization (WHO)said in a report on Sunday. A vast majority of the facilities are smaller basic health centres and logistical challenges were hindering operations, particularly in remote areas, the WHO said. While search and rescue operations remain ongoing, casualties in these areas have not yet been fully identified, it said. Head of Hezbollahs Executive Council Hashem Safi al-Din addressed the US and Israel at a press conference today, claiming that their crossing of all lines and infringements on Islamic holy sites have resulted in Hamas Al-Aqsa Deluge terror campaign. If they continue in their foolishness, the entire Islamic nation will join the deluge, he claims. Hezbollah claimed to be acting in support of the Palestinian resistance when it fired mortar shells at Israeli military installations near the Lebanon border early on Sunday morning. No injuries were reported, and the Israeli Defense Forces claimed to have retaliated with artillery fire on the launch site and a drone strike against Hezbollah infrastructure nearby. Germany and France increased security around Jewish temples, schools, and monuments on Saturday, following a surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Germany increased police protection of Jewish and Israeli institutions as some Palestinian sympathisers celebrated the incident in Berlin. France concentrated on Jewish temples and schools throughout the country, as one Jewish leader voiced concern that the war could be transported there. In Berlin, police protection has been immediately stepped up, Germanys Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told Bild newspaper. The federal government and the regions are closely coordinating their actions. Germanys authorities were also closely watching potential supporters of Hamas in the Islamist sphere, she added. Berlin police posted photos on social media showing people celebrating the attacks on Israel by passing out pastries on Sonnenallee, the main avenue in the citys Neukoelln district. Police had in some cases carried out identity checks and filed complaints, they added. The German account of the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network posted photos of the distribution of pastries on the streets of Berlin and a message celebrating the resistance of the Palestinian people. Martin Hikel, mayor of the Neukoelln district, denounced a horrible glorification of a terrible war, in comments to Welt television. He called on the government to ban the disgusting terrorist propaganda of Samidoun. Later Saturday, Berlins famous Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of reunified Germany, was lit up in the colours of the Israeli flag. In solidarity with Israel, wrote Chancellor Olaf Scholz on X, formerly Twitter. Israels ambassador replied on the same platform, thanking him for this beautiful symbol. Shocked and worried In France, security had already been stepped up at synagogues in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Strasbourg because of religious holidays observed since late September. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin sent an urgent message to regional officials asking them to reinforce surveillance even further. At a time when terrorist attacks from Gaza are hitting Israel, I ask you to immediately step up vigilance, security and protection of Jewish community sites in France, he wrote in a message seen by AFP. He called for a visible and systematic static presence, and the use of soldiers from Frances Operation Sentinelle, a special force deployed across the country since the 2015 terror attacks. The interior ministry will review the security situation at a special meeting Sunday. In the east of France, increased surveillance of Jewish schools and synagogues in the city of Strasbourg was being organised, said Pierre Haas, of the Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF). We were very shocked and worried by this outburst of violence, he told AFP. Knowing the Israeli army would hit back, he said, were not reassured by the possibility of the conflict being imported to France. Police sources confirmed that security had also been stepped up in the southern port city of Marseille, the north of France and in the Paris region. Londons police service said late Saturday it had increased patrols across parts of the UK capital after a number of incidents in relation to the ongoing conflict in Israel and the border with Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country was at war after the large-scale, surprise attack launched by Hamas out of Gaza on Saturday. Hundreds have already been killed on both sides according to figures from Israeli medical services and the Gaza authorities, the conflicts bloodiest escalation in years. Germany Sunday said it was reviewing its aid to Palestine, which runs into hundreds of millions of Euros, after Hamas attack on Israel. According to the Guardian, Development Minister Svenja Schulze said the German government was always careful to ensure that the monetary aid was only used for peaceful ends. But these attacks on Israel mark a terrible fracture, she said. We will now review our entire engagement for the Palestinian territories. Some German lawmakers even called for ending the aid altogether. All of Europe, all 27 states, must now say: we need a new start and we will no longer finance terrorists, Armin Laschet, chancellor candidate for the conservatives at the last federal election, was quoted as saying by Guardian. He called upon the European Unions to end cooperation with the President of the Palestinian Authority, President Mahmoud Abbas. Gregor Gysi, a prominent member of the opposition Left party argued against such a move, saying Hamas, and not all Palestinians, were responsible for the attack. Israel has the right to defend itself against barbaric attacks, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Sunday, after the Palestinian militant group Hamass massive surprise assault. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, speaking at a presser, also voiced his support for Israel and its right to protect its citizens and to pursue the attackers. Scholz said he planned to hold talks with leaders from Egypt, the United States, Britain and France. We are doing everything in our power to ensure that this attack does not turn into a conflagration with incalculable consequences for the entire region, and we warn everyone against fuelling and spreading terror in this situation, he said. Scholz said he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and told him that Germany stands firmly and unwaveringly by Israels side. He also said, we do not accept the heinous attacks against Israel being celebrated here on our streets. The suffering, the destruction, the death of so many people cannot be a cause for joy. Meanwhile, on the ground, the Israeli army was evacuating the settlements near the Gaza Border as it prepared for the possibility of an invasion into the Gaza Strip. Fighting between Israeli security forces and Hamas terrorists, who infiltrated into southern Israel on Saturday, continued at several places. Hamas militants launched a multi-pronged incursion into southern Israel on Saturday, killing over 600, and injuring over 2,000 others. Over 100 Israelis are held captive by Hamas, according to Israels press office. Around 400 were killed and over 2000 were wounded in Gaza as Israel pounds the Hamas stronghold, taking the total tally of deaths in the ongoing conflict to around 1000. With AFP inputs With its surprise attack against Israel, Hamas has violently shifted the worlds eyes back to the Palestinians and dealt a severe blow to momentum to secure a landmark US-brokered deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The Iranian-backed Islamist militants who run the impoverished, blockaded Gaza Strip on Saturday fired thousands of rockets and infiltrated forces into Israel, 50 years after Arab states assault on Israel during the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was at war. Just weeks earlier he had brushed aside the Palestinian issue during a speech at the United Nations and said normalization in 2020 with three other Arab nations in the so-called Abraham Accords had heralded a new age of peace. Netanyahu also said Israel was on the cusp of a bigger prize recognition by Saudi Arabia, guardian of Islams two holiest sites. President Joe Biden, eager before next years US election for a major diplomatic win, has pushed for a deal, and more talks were expected in coming weeks despite skepticism from some of Bidens fellow Democrats about the proposed security guarantees to the conservative kingdom, whose rights record has long been under scrutiny. It was always a tough hill to climb, and that hill just got a lot steeper, said Brian Katulis, vice president of policy at the Middle East Institute in Washington. The violence throws a spotlight on disputes between Israel and the Palestinians and makes it harder to sweep those complicated issues under the rug the way the 2020 Abraham Accords did, he said. Saudi Arabias de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has spoken recently of progress with Israel but also insisted on movement on the Palestinian cause, seen as a priority for the aging King Salman. Saudi Arabias foreign ministry returned to familiar language Saturday, saying in a statement that the kingdom had been warning of an explosive situation as a result of the continued occupation and deprivation of the Palestinian peoples legitimate rights. Aziz Alghashian, a Saudi expert on Saudi-Israeli relations, said the statement was intended to dispel any notion that the kingdom would prioritize normalization at the expense of supporting the Palestinians. This kind of situation has made Saudi Arabia go back to its traditional role, he said. Netanyahu put another obstacle to these normalization talks because he said this is now a war. I dont anticipate normalization is going to take place against the backdrop of war, Alghashian said. A US official said it was premature to discuss the violences effect on normalization, as Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the conflict with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, by telephone. A Saudi readout of the call said Prince Faisal stressed the kingdoms rejection of targeting civilians in any way and the need for all parties to respect international humanitarian law. Public opposition Netanyahu has cast diplomacy with the Palestinians as antiquated and described a future of friendship with Gulf Arabs, who share Israels hostility toward Irans clerical rulers. Netanyahus government, the most right-wing in Israeli history, has continued to pursue settlements, although the prime minister backtracked in 2020 on annexation in the West Bank as he sought to woo the United Arab Emirates, the lead country in the Abraham Accords. Joost Hiltermann, Middle East director of the International Crisis Group, which looks to resolve conflicts, said Hamas may have acted in part due to fear of a looming further marginalization of the Palestinian cause in Palestinian eyes if Saudi Arabia recognizes Israel. With Israel expected to respond forcefully to Saturdays attacks, Arab states will likely feel obliged to take a harder stance in line with public sentiment, he said. If that all happens, then I would foresee a scenario where, just like we have a cold peace between Israel and Jordan, between Israel and Egypt, we end up with a cooling of the relationship between Israel and the Emirates and probably a delay, at least, of any sort of deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia, he said. Steven Cook, a senior fellow on the Council on Foreign Relations, pointed to a survey that showed just two percent of Saudis backed normalizing ties with Israel. It wasnt that long ago, he noted, that there were telethons happening in Saudi Arabia in support of Hamas suicide bombers. Iran opposes normalization The Biden administration has largely sought to lessen US involvement in the Middle East, also by easing tensions with Iran. Irans clerical leadership, which since last year has suppressed major protests led by women, supports Hamas and Lebanons Hezbollah and hailed the offensive. This is about Irans priorities in the Middle East, said Danielle Pletka of the conservative American Enterprise Institute. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said that the attack appeared designed to stop peace efforts between Saudi Arabia and Israel. A peace agreement between those two nations would be a nightmare for Iran and Hamas, he said. Hundreds of Hamas militants were killed and dozens were captured in the ongoing fighting in southern Israel and Gaza, an Israeli military official said Sunday. According to the Guardian, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari spoke to reporters on Sunday, more than 24 hours after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a multi-pronged incrusion into Israel barging through the border fences, paragliding into Israeli communities, and speed boats trying to reach Israeli shores. The surprise attacks killed hundreds of people and militants took many back to Gaza as hostages. According to the latest updates over 300 Israelis have been killed and over 1800 were injured. Hamas has claimed to be holding dozens of Israelis captive across Gaza. Israel has also confirmed civilians and soldiers kept captives in Gaza. Israel responded to Hamas invasion by declaring a state of war. The Israeli Defence Forces launched the Swords of Iron operation. The Air Force has been targeting Hamas headquarters and installations in the densely populated Gaza Strip. So far, 313 Palestinians were killed and over 2000 injured. Col. Jonathan Steinberg, Israels Nahal Infantry Brigades commanding officer, was killed on Saturday during gunfire exchanges with terrorists from Hamas in the Kerem Shalom neighborhood close to the Gaza Strips border. According to the Israel Defense Forces, Steinberg, 42, of the southern Israeli settlement of Shomria, was slain by a terrorist while on his way to the scene of skirmishes being overseen by his subordinates. As of Saturday night, he was the most senior official whose death had been officially confirmed during the fighting. He was also one of the most senior officials to have recently lost their lives in battle. With thousands of missiles fired and hundreds of armed men sent into Israeli cities by land, sea, and air, the Gaza-based terror group launched an unprecedented attack on Israel in the morning, killing at least 250 people and wounded more than 1,500 by midnight. Following Israels commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the surprise invasion on Yom Kippur, the multi-pronged onslaught utterly took the Israeli military and security services off guard. According to residents, Israeli forces did not put up much of a fight as Hamas gunmen overran at least one military base and went through Israeli border settlements, killing and kidnapping civilians. Other videos that have been shared online purport to depict Israeli people being held hostage by the terrorist organization. According to Arabic media, 52 Israelis have been taken prisoner. Some of those captured appeared to have been killed. A significant victory for Hamas was the infiltration of fighters into southern Israel, which also marked an escalation in the conflict. As a result, millions of Israelis were compelled to take refuge in safe rooms to avoid rocket explosions and ongoing gunfights with Hamas gunmen. As the military barred highways near Gaza, cities and towns became deserted. As of Saturday, according to the Gaza Strips Hamas-run health ministry, 232 Palestinians had died and 1,697 had been injured. Israels retaliatory attacks appear to have killed the majority of individuals in the Gaza Strip. In strikes in the Gaza Strip and inside Israel, the IDF claimed to have killed hundreds of Palestinian militants. The death toll in the ongoing war in Israel crossed 1000 Sunday evening as fighting raged between the security forces and Hamas terrorists in parts of southern Israel. While 600 were declared dead by Israel, the death toll was not final and could be expected to rise as over 2,000 were injured with 200 in critical condition, AFP reported, citing an Israeli government official. Officials in Gaza said around 370 were killed and over 2000 wounded as Israel pounds the Palestinian enclave in response to Hamas attack. This takes the total death toll in the ongoing conflict near 1000. Fighting between Israeli security forces and Hamas terrorists continued Sunday evening at at least seven locations in southern Israel, according to Haaretz.com. The Hamas attack, the biggest in Israel since the 1973 Arab-Israel war, began Saturday morning. Hamas launched a heavy barrage of rockets into Israel while its fighters crossed into the countrys south along the border with the Gaza Strip on land, air and sea; Hamas terrorists drove through the border fences. Many paraglided into communities deep inside southern Israel. Some even tried reaching Israeli shores on speed boats. Israel responded by declaring a state of war, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to destroy Hamas and forcefully avenge this dark day. Israeli Defence Forces immediately started taking out Hamas targets in Gaza. According to the latest reports, tanks were seen being sent towards the border with Gaza as a ground operation into Gaza, where Hamas operates from, seemed imminent. The Israeli army has already started evacuating communities close to the border, while those living close to the fence in Gaza were asked to leave for safety. Gun battles raged Sunday between Hamas militants and Israeli forces a day after the Islamist group launched a surprise attack on Israel from Gaza, in a dramatic escalation of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Hundreds of people have been killed on both sides since the Iran-backed Hamas launched the multi-pronged assault at dawn on Saturday, with Israeli forces fighting holdout militants and pounding the Gaza Strip with air strikes. This is what we know about the conflict so far: How it unfolded The army said hundreds of Hamas militants attacked Israel from around 6:30 am (0330 GMT) on Saturday, the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, in an assault that also came 50 years after the outbreak of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. The Islamist group fired thousands of rockets into Israel from Gaza as its militants used explosives and bulldozers to break through the fence surrounding the blockaded Palestinian enclave, multiple sources said. Using motorbikes, pickup trucks, motorised gliders and speed boats, the militants streamed into Israeli urban areas including Ashkelon, Sderot and Ofakim, which is about 22 kilometres (13 miles) from Gaza. The gunmen attacked a rave party attended by hundreds of young Israelis near Kibbutz Reim, close to Gaza, Israeli media reported. Hamas seized Israeli military equipment and took an unknown number of Israelis and civilians hostage. Israeli news website Ynet said there were dozens of Israeli captives, including numerous women, children and elders. The militants overran several locations inside Israel, including a Sderot police station where they were engaged in a shootout with Israeli forces on Sunday. How Israel is responding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to reduce to rubble Hamas hideouts in Gaza, an impoverished enclave of 2.3 million people hemmed in by an Israeli blockade for more than 15 years. The army said it has deployed tens of thousands of soldiers to fight the militants in southern desert regions of Israel near Gaza. It has also carried out air strikes on Hamas positions inside Gaza, in an operation it has dubbed Sword of Iron. Army spokesman Richard Hecht said the air raids had struck 426 targets including Gaza tunnels, buildings and other infrastructure. The military said it aims to rescue Israeli hostages and then evacuate the entire region within 24 hours. Analysts say Israel was caught off-guard by the attack. Hundreds killed Israel says Hamas gunmen have killed more than 200 people and wounded over 1,000 in Israeli cities, towns and kibbutz communities. The military has released the names of 26 fallen soldiers. AFP journalists have seen the bullet-riddled bodies of civilians lying on the streets in at least three locations in Israel: the city of Sderot, the nearby kibbutz of Gevim and Zikim beach north of the Palestinian coastal enclave. An unknown number of people were reportedly killed at the rave. On the Gaza side, at least 313 people have been killed and more than 1,700 were reported wounded. Thailand said on Sunday that two of its citizens were killed in the violence. Cambodia has confirmed the death of a Cambodian student who had been in Israel when Hamas attacked. What Hamas says about the offensive Hamas said it fired 5,000 rockets in an offensive it has branded Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. Its chief Ismail Haniyeh on Saturday vowed to press ahead with the battle to liberate our land and our prisoners languishing in occupation prisons. Hamas has called on resistance fighters in the West Bank as well as in Arab and Islamic nations to join the battle. Early on Sunday, Lebanons Iran-backed Shiite militant group Hezbollah said it launched missiles and artillery shells into northern Israel in solidarity with the Hamas offensive. The Israeli army said it retaliated with artillery fire. Elsewhere, media outlets in Egypt said a policeman opened fire randomly at an Israeli tour group in the northern city of Alexandria on Sunday, killing two Israelis and one Egyptian. How the world has reacted United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned in the strongest terms Hamas attack on Israel and called for diplomatic efforts to avoid a wider conflagration. The West, much of which has designated Hamas a terrorist organisation, have also condemned the Islamist groups assault on Israel. President Joe Biden said the United States support for its key ally Israel was rock solid and unwavering. A White House official said talks with Israel on military aid were very much underway. The European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen said: I unequivocally condemn the attack carried out by Hamas terrorists against Israel. Russia called for an immediate ceasefire. In Iran, a senior adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed support for the Hamas attack, calling it a proud operation. Saudi Arabia called for an immediate halt to the escalation between the two sides, protection of civilians, and self-control. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who strongly supports the Palestinian cause, urged both sides to stay away from impulsive steps that raise tensions. The Israeli Defense Forces claim to have set up a situation center to concentrate on gathering precise information regarding the Israeli hostages held by the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip. After taking control of a number of military bases and communities, Hamas terrorists abducted unknown numbers of civilians and soldiers and transported them to Gaza. Lior Carmeli, a general in the reserves, is chosen to lead the group by Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor, the director of the IDF Personnel Directorate. According to the IDF, the squad would create a situational picture in order to find the prisoners, including both soldiers and civilians. It is essential to send out trustworthy communications as soon as possible in the midst of all the complexity and uncertainty. The IDF reports that some families have already received messages about their loved ones. Using DNA samples submitted by relatives, police and the IDF Home Front Command have also set up a situation center to identify individuals murdered in the attacks. Israelis waiting in line to give DNA samples and other evidence that might help identify their missing family members snaked outside a police station in the center of Israel. Videos showing men, women, and children being brought into the Strip, many of whom appeared to have been abused, were widely shared on social media. Additionally, videos of dead Israelis, including troops, were published. Yair Lapid, the leader of the opposition, demands that Benjamin Netanyahu designate a coordinator for Israelis who are missing or who have been taken hostage right once so that there will be someone to work with the families. According to an Egyptian official, Israel has asked Cairo for assistance in ensuring the safety of the hostages. Egypts intelligence head is also said to have made inquiries with Hamas and the smaller but more extremist Islamic Jihad group, which also participated in the raid, in order to gather information. In the past, Egypt has frequently served as a mediator between the two parties. According to the official, Palestinian leaders asserted that they do not yet have a full picture of the hostages, but stated those that were carried into Gaza were taken to secure locations throughout the region. The person, who requested anonymity because he was not allowed to brief the media, claims that its clear that they have a big number several dozens. On Sunday, Israel launched artillery barrages into southern Lebanon after Hezbollah hit three Israeli military positions in the contested Shebaa Farms. There were no reports of casualties at the time. The cross-border firing comes a day after a surprise attack on Israeli communities by Palestinian militants murdered at least 250 Israelis, with Israel retaliating by killing another 230 Gazans. Hezbollah, a formidable military group supported by Iran, said it launched guided rockets and artillery at three Shebaa Farms posts in solidarity with the Palestinian people. The Israeli military said Sunday it fired artillery into an area of Lebanon where cross-border mortar fire was launched. IDF (Israel Defense Forces) artillery is currently striking the area in Lebanon from where a shooting was carried out, it said. Israels military said one its drones struck a Hezbollah post in the area of Har Dov, an area in Shebaa. Israel has held the Shebaa Farms, a 15-square-mile (39-square-km) patch of land, since 1967. Both Syria and Lebanon claim the Shebaa Farms are Lebanese. The United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Saturday, it said it had enhanced its presence in southern Lebanon following developments in Israel and Gaza, including its operations to counter rocket launches. Hezbollah, which effectively controls southern Lebanon, said Saturday it was in direct contact with leaders of Palestinian resistance groups and that it saw Palestinian attacks on Israel as a decisive response to Israels continued occupation and a message to those seeking normalisation with Israel. Israel intensified strikes on Gaza late Sunday evening in what appeared to be the groundwork for a potential invasion. According to a Fox News correspondent, reporting from near the Gaza border, the Israeli air strikes focused particularly on an area in the northern part of the Palestinian exclave. Visuals shared on social media showed the dark sky over Gaza lit by the flares of Israeli air strikes. The Israeli forces were attacking the areas near the border into Gaza, according to AlJazeera, which it claimed was their standard practice before land invasion. Earlier in the evening Israel brought tanks near the border with heavy military movement. The Israeli settlements near the border were also evacuated. Palestinian civilians from neighbourhoods along the border with Israel also evacuated after warnings from the Israeli military. This comes after the Israeli security cabinet officially declared a state of war allowing the taking of significant military steps. Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, which controls Gaza, Saturday morning launched a multi-pronged incursion into Israel barging through the border fences, paragliding into Israeli communities, and speed boats trying to reach Israeli shores. The surprise attacks killed hundreds of people and militants took many back to Gaza as hostages. According to the latest updates over 600 Israelis have been killed and over 1800 were injured, while over 100 were held captive by Hamas. Israel responded to the attack by launching the Swords of Iron operation. The Air Force has been targeting Hamas headquarters and installations in the densely populated Gaza Strip. So far, around 400 Palestinians have been killed and over 2000 injured. A London-born soldier who was a member of the Israeli army passed away on Saturday near the Gaza border, according to his family. On Sunday, the Israel embassy in London reported the missing status of another British soldier. According to Jewish News, Nathanel Young was one of many Israeli troops killed in a coordinated assault by Palestinian militants. Family members posted a heartbreaking statement on Facebook: Were heartbroken to share that our little brother Nathanel Young was tragically killed on the Gaza Border yesterday. The embassy reported that a second guy went missing early on Saturday. His mother, Lisa, told Jewish News that Jake Marlowe, 26, had been providing security at a music festival and she last heard from her son via text message. He was doing security at this rave and called me at 04:30 to say all these rockets were flying over, she said. Then, at about 05:30, he texted to say, signal very bad, everything OK, will keep you updated I promise you, and that he loves me. In Saturdays assault, Hamas fighters escaped back to Gaza with dozens of hostages, including both soldiers and civilians. Tzipi Hotovely, the Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom, earlier told Sky News a British citizen was in Gaza. But she did not identify the name of the individual. I know that Israel is doing everything to make sure all the people being kept hostage at the moment in the hands of Hamas will be released, she said. (With inputs from agencies) The prime minister of Thailand announced Sunday afternoon that it is now clear that two Thai citizens perished in the Hamas attacks on Israel on Saturday. According to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, Pannabha Chandraramya, Thailands ambassador to Tel Aviv confirmed death of one more Thai person in the violence, bringing the total to two. The ambassador claimed that terrorists from Hamas had abducted persons of various nationalities and that clashes were still taking place near the Gaza Strips border. She claimed that although Israel had only retaken two sites, neither of them had Thai workplaces. According to the foreign affairs minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, 11 Thais were taken into custody and eight Thais were hurt. Five of the eight injured Thais were taken to the hospital, while three more were waiting for rescue, according to the minister. The Hamas attacks, according to Srettha, resulted in the death of a Thai worker and the detention of roughly 11 others, while a complete sky lockdown delayed evacuations. Srettha stated that there was an unsubstantiated report that one Thai was slain and around 11 others were held in Israel prior to his international trip, which was scheduled to last from Sunday to Thursday. The precise number of injured Thai persons there had not been disclosed to him. The prime minister pledged to utilize every diplomatic tool at his disposal to secure the release of the Thai victims. They are innocent and have nothing to do with any conflict, he stated. According to Bangkok, there are 5,000 Thai citizens living in southern Israel areas that are currently under a state of conflict. The majority work as farmhands in rural areas, some of which were attacked during Saturdays initial assault. There were definitely two more Thai nationals killed. According to Thawatchai and Thongkhoon Onkeaw, their son Natthaporn Onkeaw, 26, is pictured in a photo purporting to depict Thai laborers being held by Hamas gunmen, the Post writes. The image, which was shared on the Telegram messaging app, depicts masked gunmen aiming firearms at at least five individuals who are seated in the earth with their hands behind their backs in what appears to be a bunker. The British Embassy also confirmed that British-Israeli Jake Marlow, who attended a desert party close to Kibbutz Reim, is missing in the region. Marlow, who relocated to Israel two years ago, was working security, according to sources, and has been missing since Saturday morning at 8:45 a.m. Videos taken at the event revealed other attendees being held captive by Hamas. Tzipi Hotovely, the Israeli ambassador to the UK, told that she thought a British national had been kidnapped, but the Israeli embassy then withdrew the statement. People in Israel were instructed to stay indoors during the ongoing lockdown procedures, according to Srettha, who added that there had been no definitive word on the whereabouts of the impacted Thais. In Israel, where the situation remains of concern, the air force was preparing transport aircraft for the evacuation of Thai citizens, he said. He sent the Thai envoy in Israel the advice to maintain the aircraft nearby for speedy evacuation when necessary. He claimed that the Israeli sky was still entirely opaque. The prime minister claimed that one flight could accommodate 423 passengers. About 5,000 of the 25,000 Thai employees in Israel were in locations that were under lockdown. Jakkapong Sangmanee, the deputy foreign minister, was expelled from Sretthas travel party and instructed to stay in the nation to oversee actions pertaining to the situation in Israel. An Egyptian policeman opened fire on Israeli tourists in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, killing at least two Israelis and one Egyptian, according to Egypts Interior Ministry. Extra News television channel, which has close ties to Egyptian security agencies, quoted an unidentified security official as saying that another person was wounded in the attack, which took place at Pompeys Pillar site in Alexandria. It said the suspected assailant was detained. Security forces quickly cordoned off the site of the attack. Graphic footage posted on social media showed two figures lying motionless on the ground of what appeared to be a tourist site. Another was seen being helped by a group of men. One woman was heard screaming for an ambulance. Israels Zaka rescue service reported two people killed in Alexandria. Sundays attack came as Israel was battling Palestinian militants after a major incursion from Gaza. Egypt made peace with Israel decades ago and has long served as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, anti-Israeli sentiment runs high in the country, especially during bouts of violence. President Joe Biden pledged rock solid support for Israel on Saturday in the face of what he described as terrorist assaults by Palestinian militant group Hamas, with an announcement on US military assistance expected imminently. High-level discussions between US and Israeli officials on military aid were already underway, a US senior administration official said, with an announcement by Washington possible as early as Sunday. Biden described the assault as a terrible tragedy on a human level and said he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to underline his support. I told him the United States stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults, Biden said in a televised address from the White House. In my administration, support for Israels security is rock solid and unwavering, he said. Well make sure that they have the help their citizens need and they can continue to defend themselves. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reaffirmed Washingtons commitment, saying over the coming days the Department of Defense will work to ensure that Israel has what it needs. As the attacks threatened to trigger a wider conflict, Biden also warned this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage. The world is watching. Biden stressed that Israel which the United States has supplied with billions of dollars of arms has a right to defend itself after Iran-backed Hamas launched air, sea and land strikes. The senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stressed it was too early to say whether Iran was directly involved in Hamas large-scale attack, but that there was no doubt Hamas is funded, equipped and armed by Iran and others. Meanwhile, top US diplomat Antony Blinken spoke with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas whose West Bank-based Fatah movement is a rival to Hamas and called on all leadership in the region to condemn the attack on Israel. Trump weighs in Former president Donald Trump weighed in, blaming Biden, without evidence, for indirectly funding the attacks. These Hamas attacks are a disgrace and Israel has every right to defend itself with overwhelming force, Trump said in a statement. Sadly, American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks, which many reports are saying came from the Biden Administration. Trumps allegations reflected Republican claims that $6 billion released last month to Iran as part of a prisoner exchange deal was used to fund the Hamas attack. White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates said on social media that this is a shameful lie in every respect, at a time when both parties should be totally united in supporting Israels defense. The money can only be used for verifiable purchases of humanitarian needs like food & medicine, Bates added, in a fierce pushback against the claims. There seemed little chance of keeping US partisan politics out of the matter, with the senior administration official saying that the situation in Congress where the lower chamber currently lacks a leader will likely complicate any US action. Peace agreements Israel normalized relations decades ago with neighboring Egypt and Jordan and in 2020 added three more Arab states to the list the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco in what Trump considered his towering foreign policy achievement. The so-called Abraham Accords also included sweeteners from Trump, including a promise to sell jets to the United Arab Emirates. We brought so much peace to the Middle East through the Abraham Accords, only to see Biden whittle it away at a far more rapid pace than anyone thought possible, Trump, who plans to stand against Biden in the 2024 election, said. Before Saturdays assault, Biden had been hoping to transform the Middle East and score a pre-election diplomatic victory by securing recognition of the Jewish state by Saudi Arabia, the guardian of Islams two holiest sites. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said Saturday that this unprecedented and brutal attack by Hamas is not only supported by Iran, it was designed to stop peace efforts between Saudi Arabia and Israel. A peace agreement between those two nations would be a nightmare for Iran and Hamas. It would serve Israel and the world well to respond to this outrage by launching an operation that will destroy the Hamas organization not just contain it, he added. Biden has had recently rocky relations with Netanyahu, publicly criticizing him for overhauling Israels judiciary, a step seen by opponents as undermining democracy. Hong Kong: Israel travel alert raised to red The Government today raised the outbound travel alert for Israel to red in view of the latest developments there. It advised residents who intend to visit Israel to adjust their travel plans and avoid non-essential travel. Those already there should monitor the situation, exercise caution, attend to their personal safety and avoid protests and large gatherings of people. Due to the volatile security situation, the Government also reminded residents to avoid all travel to Gaza and its vicinity as well as areas along the border with Syria and Lebanon. The Security Bureau will continue to closely monitor the situation in Israel and issue updates through the media, the bureau's mobile app and its outbound travel alert webpage. In response to the latest situation in Israel and Palestine, the Hong Kong Immigration Department has immediately contacted the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the State of Israel, the Office of the People's Republic of China to the State of Palestine and the Travel Industry Authority to understand the situation. As at 6pm today, the department has received enquiries from 17 Hong Kong residents. Five of them have left safely and are on their way back to Hong Kong. The department said it will continue to maintain close liaison with the remaining 12 Hong Kong residents and provide information and assistance regarding their itinerary and flight arrangements as appropriate. It also noted that a tour group of 30 Hong Kong residents is currently in Israel and some members of the group will return to Hong Kong early. It will maintain close liaison with the group and render assistance according to their wishes. Hong Kong residents in Israel may call the 24-hour hotline of the departments Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit at (852) 1868, contact the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the State of Israel at (972) 3-5459520, or the Office of the People's Republic of China to the State of Palestine at (970) 595776516 for assistance. This story has been published on: 2023-10-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. China to do its best to assist in Afghanistan's disaster-relief efforts: spokesperson Xinhua) 18:29, October 08, 2023 BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- China will do its best to assist in Afghanistan's disaster-relief efforts in light of its needs, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Sunday. It was reported that 6.2-magnitude earthquakes hit Herat province in western Afghanistan on October 7 local time, killing more than 2,000 and injuring nearly 10,000 so far. Noting the devastating earthquakes which hit Herat province in Afghanistan have caused heavy casualties, the spokesperson said that China deeply mourns for the victims and offers its sincere sympathies to the injured and the families who have lost loved ones. "We believe that the people of Afghanistan will overcome the impact of the disaster and rebuild their homes at an early date. We will do our best to assist in Afghanistan's disaster-relief efforts in light of its needs," said the spokesperson. China has so far found no injuries or deaths of Chinese nationals in the quakes, said the spokesperson. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Kou Jie) The Republican field is blaming Joe Biden for dealing with Iran after Hamas' attack on Israel Former President Donald Trump and other GOP contenders tried to lay blame on the Biden administration after Hamas militants launched the deadliest attack on Israel in decades, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare the country at war Former US soldier arrested for helping Chinese spies Joseph Schmidt, 29, had Top Secret clearance and allegedly contacted Chinese officials to pass on military secrets. By Alex Willemyns for RFA 2023.10.06 -- A 29-year-old former American soldier was arrested at San Francisco International Airport on Friday and charged with passing on military secrets to Chinese spies, according to the U.S. Justice Department. Joseph Schmidt was a soldier working in human intelligence from January 2015 to January 2020 and was based in Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, according to a statement. It says he had "Top Secret" clearance that continued after leaving the role. "After his separation from the military, Schmidt allegedly reached out to the Chinese Consulate in Turkey and later the Chinese security services via email, offering information about national defense information," the Justice Department statement says. "In March 2020, Schmidt traveled to Hong Kong and allegedly continued his efforts to provide Chinese intelligence with classified information he obtained from his military service," it says. He "retained a device that allows for access to secure military computer networks," it adds, and "offered the device to Chinese authorities to assist them in efforts to gain access to such networks." Schmidt remained in China for the past three years, before returning to San Francisco. He faces up to 10 years in prison if found guilty. Tessa Gorman, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington state, said in the statement that Schmidt had sworn an oath to "defend our country" and had violated that in his actions. "[T]he alleged actions of this former military member are shocking - not only attempting to provide national defense information, but also information that would assist a foreign adversary to gain access to Department of Defense secure computer networks," she said. 'Exceptionally grave' A separate filing made by Brandon Tower, the FBI investigator on Schmidt's case, notes that the "Top Secret" classification is only given to information that "could be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security" if released publicly. It says Schmidt was a team leader in human intelligence covering the Indo-Pacific region and reached the rank of army sergeant before leaving the service in 2020. It says he then departed for Beijing six days after ending his service and then traveled onward to Turkey. The filing details an email he allegedly sent to the Chinese Consulate in Istanbul on Feb. 24, 2020, a month after he left the United States. "I also am trying to share information I learned during my career as an interrogator with the Chinese government. I have a current top secret clearance, and would like to talk to someone from the Government to share this information with you if that is possible," the email says. "My experience includes training in interrogation, running sources as a spy handler, surveillance detection, and other advanced psychological operation strategies," it says. It also documents a number of Google searches allegedly performed by Schmidt, including: "soldier defect," "chinese consulate," "iranian embassy," "what is china's intelligence agency," "countries that dont extradite" and "can you be extradited for treason." 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 October 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 Critics cry hypocrisy as Hun Manet urges students to volunteer Cambodia's youth activists have been targeted in many crackdowns, so they wonder how he can ask for more activism. By RFA Khmer 2023.10.06 -- Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet on Thursday urged students and young adults to volunteer to serve their communities, but critics say it's hypocritical for him to ask at a time when his government regularly cracks down on social and environmental activism. In a speech before government officials, teachers and students, Hun Manet encouraged the students to take a day off from school once or twice a week to volunteer. "[We should] train people and children to know how to help social work," he said. "We can assign people to help improve sanitation, to help the elderly and to help plant trees." Hun Manet, who recently took over the prime ministership after his father Hun Sen ruled the country for nearly four decades, said that it was important to foster a volunteer mindset. "[This is] a way we can encourage [students,]" he said. "Their grades [should] not just come from in-class examinations, but also come from their discipline and behavior." The request seemed disingenuous to Phuong Keo Raksmey, a member of the Mother Nature Cambodia environmentalist group. While she appreciated the encouragement to volunteer, she told RFA Khmer that students in 7th grade and up are regularly recruited into the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia - an organization led by the prime minister's brother Hun Many - which, in her opinion, does not engage in activities that better the community, but serves the interests of the ruling Cambodian People's Party. "First, the definition of 'social work' should be defined," she said. "It should not be limited to work that [directly] supports the government or the policies of any political party." She urged the government to allow people freedom to choose how they volunteer. Keut Saray, the president of the Khmer Intellectual Students Association, said that the government should make amends for past crackdowns on volunteers, including himself. "When young students became active in social work [in the past], they were restricted and charged under the penal code and then imprisoned," he said. "So we're seeing that they 'talk the talk,' but it doesn't mean anything if it isn't translated into action." The crackdown on social activists occurred under the rule of Hun Sen, not Hun Manet, but since taking over, the son's administration has yet to take concrete steps to guarantee the rights of young people involved in activism. For example, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court denied a request by Phuong Keoraksmey and two other members of Mother Nature Cambodia for permission to leave the country so that they could travel to Sweden to receive the prestigious Right Livelihood Award this November in recognition for their environmental activism. The award has been described as an alternative to the more well-known Nobel Prize. Phnom Penh protest Around 10 members of the organization, including the three recipients, protested the travel ban by marching in chains on the streets of Phnom Penh to the Ministry of Justice. "Please let us go to Sweden. We need to get our award," Phuong Keoraksmey said. "The Cambodian people support us. Our actions were not illegal. Our actions protected the environment and nature." Thun Ratha, another recipient, told RFA that allowing the three to receive the award in person is necessary for Cambodia's global reputation on the international stage "to show that Cambodia has resources of brave young people to defend human rights and natural resources." The third recipient, Long Kunthea asked the minister of justice to reconsider. "It's an amazing award that we received ... It shows that Cambodia has brave youth who will sacrifice our lives to protect natural resources." RFA could not reach Ministry of Justice spokesperson Chin Malin for comment Friday. Suon Yuthia, the director of the advocacy division of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, told RFA that the new government under Hun Manet must allow the three to receive their award. "They are role models to youth and are working hard for our country to protect the environment and human rights," he said. The three recipients are currently serving suspended prison sentences after being found guilty of incitement for their role in protests against forest and water development projects. Translated by Sok Ry Sum. Edited by Eugene Whong. Update adds the account of the protest and quotes from the award recipients. 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 October 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 Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the attacks against Israel European Council / Council of the European Union Council of the EU Press release 7 October 2023 The EU condemns in the strongest possible terms the multiple and indiscriminate attacks across Israel by Hamas and deeply deplores the loss of lives. The EU calls for an immediate cessation of these senseless attacks and violence, which will only further increase tensions on the ground and seriously undermine Palestinian people's aspirations for peace. The EU stands in solidarity with Israel which has the right to defend itself in line with international law, in the face of such violent and indiscriminate attacks. The EU recalls the importance of working towards a lasting and sustainable peace through reinvigorated efforts in the Middle East Peace Process. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Military escalation through joint drills with US 'to backfire on Philippines' Global Times By Liu Xuanzun Published: Oct 07, 2023 06:39 PM The ongoing multilateral military exercises featuring the US and Philippine navies in the South China Sea and the Philippines' continued provocations against China could lead to a military escalation to the tensions that will backfire on the Philippines, experts said on Saturday. Featuring anti-submarine, anti-surface, anti-air and electronic warfare drills, the 12-day Exercise SAMASAMA is being held around the Luzon, the Philippines from Monday to Friday, VOA reported on Saturday. The Philippines, US, Canada, Japan, UK, France, Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand are participating in the exercise, with the Philippines sending the BRP Antonio Luna frigate, the US sending the USS Dewey destroyer and the USNS Wally Schirra dry cargo ship, the UK sending the HMS Spey offshore patrol vessel, Canada sending the HMCS Vancouver frigate and Japan sending the JS Akebono destroyer, VOA reported. The VOA report cited analysts as saying that the multilateral exercise is being held only about 340 kilometers away from Huangyan Dao (also known as Huangyan Island), which could become a focus of tensions between the US, the Philippines and China. The exercise is being held amid tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, with the Philippines making several provocations against China in the region since August, including repeated attempts to send building materials to China's Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef) to reinforce a Philippine warship illegally grounded there since 1999, and a self-staged show hyping China's setting up of a "floating barrier" to block a Philippine vessel's illegal entry. All those attempts were dealt with by the China Coast Guard, which vowed to continue to hold law enforcement activities in waters under Chinese jurisdiction in accordance with the law and will resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights, while Philippine and some foreign media continued to hype the close encounters between China Coast Guard vessels and Philippine ships. However, if the Philippines and countries outside the region including the US opt to send naval forces and escalate the current tensions in the South China Sea to a higher and more military level, China will have to send the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, analysts said. "China has been countering provocations reciprocally. The Philippines sent coast guard vessels, so it was the China Coast Guard that dealt with them. But if the Philippines and the US escalate the tensions by sending their militaries, China will likely respond reciprocally," Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Saturday. If this happens, it will be the Philippines that is stuck in the middle of a China-US major power competition and will suffer the most, Song said. China will not tolerate the Philippines challenging its national sovereignty and security no matter who supports it, so the Philippines should manage risks and not go further on this wrong path, which was created by the US with sinister intentions of containing China, disrupting the Asia-Pacific region and benefiting at the Philippines' expense, Song said. The PLA is always ready to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity in the South China Sea, observers said. On September 17, the PLA Navy Type 056A corvette Aba rescued a wounded Philippine fisherman seeking help near Ren'ai Jiao, the PLA Navy said in a press release on September 24. The PLA Navy said that the warship was on a combat readiness patrol around the region, and analysts said that its immediate response to the distress call showed the PLA's continuous presence in the South China Sea. The PLA has established a complete system and a network consisting of multiple military services and branches including the Navy, the Air Force and the Rocket Force in the South China Sea, ensuring its ability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, another Chinese military expert, who requested anonymity, told the Global Times on Saturday. Provocations will not benefit the Philippines' national interests, so the Philippines should see through the US' incitements and return to the right track of dialogue and cooperation with China, which will help it with economic development, the expert said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billstrom Government Offices of Sweden 07 October 2023 This morning's developments in Israel and Gaza are deeply worrying. On behalf of the Swedish Government, I have condemned the attacks on Israel by the terrorist group Hamas in no uncertain terms. Israel has a natural right to defend itself against terrorism and indiscriminate rocket fire. Operations to this end are already under way. Naturally, it is important that Israel's legitimate response is in accordance with the principles of international law. Joint efforts, including by regional actors and the UN, are also important in order to avoid a serious spiral of violence, full-scale war and knock-on effects in the region. The EU also has a role to play in this. Terrorism must be condemned and combated collectively. At the same time, renewed endeavours are needed to ultimately bring an end to the violence and find a path to a sustainable peace. The EU and Sweden see no peaceful way forward other than a negotiated two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine co-existing in peace and security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address "Al-Aqsa Storm" opens new chapter in field of resistance against occupiers: Kanaani ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sat / 7 October 2023 / 18:07 Tehran (ISNA) - Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanaani congratulated the Palestinian nation and all resistance groups and movements on the successful operation of "Al-Aqsa Storm" on Saturday, stressing that today's operation opened a new page in the field of resistance and armed operations against the occupiers. Speaking in an interview with ISNA, Kanaani stated, "What happened today is in line with the continuation of the victories of the anti-Zionist resistance movement in various areas, including in Syria, Lebanon, and occupied territories". "Today's operation is a turning point in the ongoing process of armed resistance by the Palestinian people against the Zionists. In other words, this operation has opened a new chapter in the field of resistance and armed operations against the occupiers. This operation showed that the resistance movement in Palestine has a very good self-confidence to carry out combined and multi-dimensional operations against occupiers and used surprise elements and other combined methods in this operation, which show the Palestinian people's confidence in the face of the occupiers," he added. "This operation once again proved how fragile Zionists are within the framework of a serious operational action and they do not have the necessary spirit to resist," Kanaani went on to say. "The resistance has so far achieved brilliant victories during this operation, and this is a bright spot in the history of the Palestinian people's struggle against the Zionists," he added. "We hope that the resistance movement can achieve more victories on the path to liberating Palestine and realizing the aspirations of the Palestinian people," the spokesman emphasized. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan's concerns at the unfolding situation in the Middle East Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs We are closely monitoring the unfolding situation in the Middle East and the eruption of hostilities between Israel and Palestinians. We are concerned about the human cost of the escalating situation. Pakistan has consistently advocated for a two-state solution as the key to enduring peace in the Middle East, with a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the Palestinian question anchored in international law and in line with relevant United Nations and OIC resolutions. A viable, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine should be established on the basis of pre-1967 borders, with Al Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. We call on the international community to come together for cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and for a lasting peace in the Middle East. Islamabad 07 October 2023 194/2023 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran FM: Anti-Israeli operation result of Zionist regime's incessant crimes against Palestinians Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 October 2023 8:37 PM Iran's foreign minister says the ongoing operation launched by Palestinian resistance groups against Israel is an outcome of the Zionist regime's incessant crimes against the people of Palestine. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was speaking in a phone call with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, on Saturday. His remark came after earlier in the day, Hamas resistance fighters broke out of the fences separating Gaza and illegally occupied Palestinian territories and infiltrated a number of towns and settlements. A heavy barrage of more than 7,000 rockets was also fired from the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement said its fighters have joined the operation as Hamas called on Palestinians everywhere to fight and on resistance groups in Lebanon to join the fighting against Israel. According to Israeli media, at least 300 Israelis have been killed and nearly 1,500 injured following the large-scale operation. Amir-Abdollahian told his Turkish counterpart that "the Palestinian resistance's operation is a spontaneous move and the result of the Zionist regime's incessant crimes against Palestine." He urged all Muslim countries "to remain united in support of the holy occupied city of al-Quds, as well as the oppressed and resistant Palestinian nation." The two foreign ministers also discussed the latest situation in the occupied Palestine, stressing that the rights of Palestinians must be respected. Iran has declared its firm support for Palestinians' anti-Israeli operation, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani saying on Saturday that Operation al-Aqsa Storm was "a turning point and a new chapter" in the continuing resistance against the Zionist regime. He added that the operation "shows the Palestinian resistance is confidently capable of conducting hybrid and multilateral operations against the occupiers." Meanwhile, head of the political bureau of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, said the resistance group is gaining a great victory following its surprise offensive against Israeli-occupied territories. Stressing that "we are on the verge of a great victory and a clear conquest on the Gaza front," Haniyeh said the battle has moved into the heart of the "Zionist entity." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas boasts of large number of Israelis taken captive during blitz Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 October 2023 6:02 PM The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says it has captured enough number of Israeli soldiers to swap them for all Palestinians who are illegally kept in Israeli prisons. Deputy chief of Hamas's political bureau Saleh al-Arouri said on Saturday the resistance movement had taken an unprecedented number of Israeli captives during an operation that was launched earlier in the day from the Gaza Strip into the occupied territories. "Our detainees in [Israeli] prisons, their freedom is looming large. What we have in our hands will release all our prisoners," Arouri said, adding that some senior Israeli officers were among the captives. Hamas forces managed to infiltrate the heavily-fortified territories that are under the Israeli occupation early on Saturday after the resistance group fired thousands of rockets into those areas. Arouri said Hamas was ready for an expansion of the war with Israel while insisting that continued fighting would enable the group to take more Israelis captive. "The longer fighting continues, the higher the number of prisoners will become," he told Al Jazeera. Hamas has repeatedly said securing the release of Palestinians imprisoned by the Israeli regime is among its main priorities. Estimates by NGOs suggest that nearly 5,200 Palestinians are in Israeli prisons with women and minors accounting for a significant number. Israel launched attacks on Gaza after the launch of the Palestinian Operation al-Aqsa Storm on Saturday. Nearly 200 Palestinians have been killed. The Hamas says its operation, which has left at least 100 Israelis killed, has been a response to repeated acts of insult by Israeli settlers against the al-Aqsa Mosque, a holy Muslim site located in the occupied city of al-Quds. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Palestinian resistance on verge of 'great victory': Hamas chief Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 October 2023 5:46 PM Head of the political bureau of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says the resistance group is on the "verge of a great victory," following its surprise offensive against Israeli-occupied territories. Ismail Haniyeh made the remarks in televised a speech on Saturday, after Palestinian fighters launched their biggest operation against the occupying regime in years and crossed the fence into Israeli-occupied cities, with hundreds of rockets being fired from the Gaza Strip. "We are on the verge of a great victory and a clear conquest on the Gaza front," Haniyeh said, adding that the battle has moved into the heart of the "Zionist entity." "Enough is enough, the cycle of intifadas (uprisings) and revolutions in the battle to liberate our (Palestinian) land and our prisoners languishing in occupation (Israeli) prisons must be completed," he stated. The top Hamas official further noted that the resistance group has already warned that "it will not remain silent about what is happening in al-Quds and the al-Aqsa Mosque, even if the entire world keeps silent on these insults and adversarial intentions." He also said the latest operation would soon inspire other resistance groups in the occupied West Bank and elsewhere, urging all Palestinians to participate in this battle which he said will end with victory. Haniyeh warned the Arab countries that have moved to normalize their relations with Israel in recent years that the occupying regime cannot bring them security. "We say to all countries, including our Arab brothers, that this entity, which cannot protect itself in the face of resistors, cannot provide you with any protection," he said. "All the normalization agreements that you signed with that entity cannot resolve this (Palestinian) conflict," he added. Earlier in the day, Hamas resistance fighters broke out of the fences separating Gaza and illegally occupied territories and infiltrated a number of towns and settlements. A heavy barrage of rockets was also fired from the Gaza Strip. Hamas said more than 7,000 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel, declaring it had started "Operation al-Aqsa Storm". The Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement also said its fighters have joined the operation as Hamas called on Palestinians everywhere to fight and on resistance groups in Lebanon to join the fighting against Israel. The operation came a day after Israeli forces attacked hundreds of Palestinians attending the funeral procession of a young Palestinian man in the occupied West Bank, injuring over 50 people. According to Israeli media, at least 200 Israelis have been killed and over 1,100 injured following the large-scale operation. Abu Ubaida, the spokesman for al-Qassam Brigades, the military arm of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, has also said that "Operation al-Aqsa Storm" is in its first stage. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Leader's advisor: Palestine's successful operation accelerates collapse of Israel Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 October 2023 5:26 PM A senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the "successful" large-scale operation of Palestinians against Israel will definitely accelerate and facilitate the regime's collapse and its imminent elimination. Ali Akbar Velayati, who is also the secretary general of World Assembly of Islamic Awakening, made the remarks in a Saturday message to the head of the political bureau of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, and Ziad al-Nakhaleh, the secretary-general of Islamic Jihad movement. "The era of domination and tyranny of the terrorist Zionist regime has come to an end," Velayati said. He added that the ongoing developments in the occupied territories are just a small manifestation of the power of the Islamic resistance front in Palestine. Velayati said the operation by the Palestinian resistance movement against the "criminal" Israeli regime was a "big victory" which caused horror and astonishment for the enemies and happiness of Muslims in all parts of the world, especially in West Asia. The senior Iranian official said the Operation al-Aqsa Storm was a response to Israel's constant crimes in the occupied territories. "It has definitely made a fundamental change in the power balance in the occupied Palestine and put the Zionist regime in a position of weakness more than ever before," Velayati pointed out. He said Palestinians' "big and strategic" victory was a serious warning to all those who compromise with Israel, adding that more victories would be achieved until the collapse of the criminal regime. Palestinian resistance fighters staged a surprise, large-scale operation early Saturday in response to the desecration of al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence. Reports say at least 200 Israelis have been killed and over 1,100 injured so far as a result of the surprise Palestinian offensive that was launched on Saturday. The operation combined fighters crossing the fence into Israeli occupied cities with a heavy barrage of rockets from the besieged Gaza Strip. In response to the Palestinians' operation, Israel carried out heavy bombardment across the besieged Gaza Strip which according to Palestinian medical authorities killed nearly 200 people and injured 1,610 others. A large number of buildings, homes and public facilities have also been badly damaged due to heavy Israeli bombardments. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN warns Pakistan not to forcibly deport Afghan refugees Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 October 2023 4:55 PM The agencies added that the planned move could lead to severe human rights violations including the separation of families and deportation of minors. "UNHCR and IOM appreciate Pakistan's generous hospitality towards Afghan nationals for over four decades, despite challenges, and repeats the call for all returns to be voluntary, safe and dignified without any pressure, to ensure protection for those seeking safety," it said. "The forced repatriation of Afghan nationals has the potential to result in severe human rights violations, including the separation of families and deportation of minors," it further said. Islamabad recently announced its crackdown on all undocumented migrants and refugees living in Pakistan illegally, ordering them to either leave the country at their own volition and return to their homeland by the end of this month, or face being arrested by police and forcibly sent away for good by authorities. "We have given them a deadline of November 1, Pakistan's caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti said on Tuesday, adding that nearly 4.4mn Afghan refugees live in the country - of which more than 1.7mn were undocumented. Meanwhile, Pakistani landlords received notices ordering them to either evict "illegal Afghans" or face penalties. The government said it is setting up a hotline to offer cash rewards to those who inform them on the whereabouts of illegal migrants and refugees. In response, the interim Afghan government led by the Taliban gave a stinging rebuke of Pakistan's announcement, calling it "unacceptable". Government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid on Wednesday said in response to Bugti's remarks, that the Pakistani government should "reconsider the decision", and that Pakistan "should tolerate them." In the past, Pakistan has sent high-level delegations to Kabul for negotiations, urging the Afghan Taliban to improve border controls along the shared 2,640 km-long dividing line which passes through rugged mountains, densely forested valleys and narrow rock passages. Its topography makes it porous and difficult to control. According to estimates, more than 95 percent of refugees in Pakistan, both documented and undocumented, are Afghan nationals. The first influx of refugees to Pakistan began after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, which resulted in more than three million Afghans fleeing to Pakistan. Over the years, many of them returned home. The second influx started in 2001 when the United States invaded Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks. The third influx began in 2022 after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in 2021. Roughly 1.7mn Afghan refugees now live in Pakistan. Half of them live along the North-Western Frontier bordering Afghanistan in what is now the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan, and one-quarter of them live in Pakistan's Baluchistan Province. A report released in July by Refugees International, an independent humanitarian group that advocates for displaced people, said that since then more than 600,000 Afghans have fled to Pakistan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Over 230 Palestinian killed in new Israeli aggression against Gaza Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 October 2023 4:38 PM Palestinian medical authorities say more than 230 people have been killed and many more injured as a result of Israeli bombardment across the besieged Gaza Strip. The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that hospital officials in the Strip have recorded the death of 232 civilians and injury of nearly 1,700 others. A large number of buildings, homes and public facilities have also been badly damaged due to heavy Israeli bombardments. Israel launched the strike after resistance fighters staged a surprise, large-scale operation in response to the desecration of al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence. Local sources confirmed the arrival of 9 dead bodies at Gaza's largest medical complex, Al-Shifa hospital, five others at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, and another two at Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah. Additionally, an Israeli fighter jet struck a residential building near al-Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City with a missile, injuring at least six civilians and severely damaging to the targeted structure and nearby homes. Six Israeli rockets slammed into a site in the Ansar area west of Gaza City, completely destroying it and causing damage to adjacent residential buildings. Israeli warplanes also carried out airstrikes on medical personnel in Gaza. One of the airstrikes targeted an ambulance at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, while the other struck the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza. Israeli military forces fired dozens of concussion rockets into agricultural lands in the border areas east and north of Gaza, causing damage to nearby homes. Meantime, the Israeli Health Ministry says so far 908 injured people have been taken to hospitals for treatment in the ongoing retaliatory attacks by Palestinian fighters on southern and central Israel. At least 100 have been killed in the unprecedented assaults, authorities say. The Israeli Army Radio network alleged that the regime's troops had killed nine Hamas members in the southern town of Nirim, close to the border with the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Navy also claimed it had killed dozens of Palestinian fighters, who attempted to infiltrate into Israel this morning. Furthermore, the Israeli military's top spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said the Hamas resistance movement had taken settlers as hostages to the Gaza Strip. In a briefing with reporters, Hagari said Israeli soldiers have also been killed in the fighting. No statistics have been given on the number of hostages or soldiers killed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Qatar holds Israel responsible for escalation in occupied territories, others urge restraint Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 October 2023 2:37 PM Qatar holds the Israeli regime solely responsible for the ongoing escalation of violence with the Palestinians, as a number of other regional countries urge both sides to exercise restraint. In a statement on Saturday, Qatar expressed deep concern over the latest developments in Palestine's occupied territories, holding Israel "solely" responsible for the ongoing escalation of violence. Qatar's Foreign Ministry made the remarks after Palestinian fighters launched their biggest operation against the occupying regime in years and managed to cross the fences into Israeli-occupied cities with a heavy barrage of rockets from the Gaza Strip. The ministry said that Israel alone is responsible for the ongoing flare-up, calling on all parties to halt the escalations and "exercise utmost restraint". It also urged the international community to prevent Israel from using these events as an excuse to launch a disproportionate war against Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Syria, meanwhile, hailed the Operation Al-Aqsa Storm and said that resistance is the only way to achieve the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. "Palestinian resistance factions marked a new chapter of struggle on the path to achieving the inalienable Palestinian rights," Foreign and Expatriates Ministry said in a statement on Saturday. "Syria reiterates its support for the Palestinian people against Zionist terrorism and stresses that Palestine is close to achieving the desired victory," the statement added. The Iraqi government called for an emergency meeting of the Arab League to discuss "serious" developments within the Palestinian territories. "Iraq reaffirms its steadfast position, as a people and a government, towards the Palestinian issue, and its support for the Palestinian people in achieving their legitimate aspirations and securing their full rights," Bassam Al-Awadi, a government spokesperson, said in statement. "Injustice and the violation of these rights cannot produce sustainable peace," he added. Oman called on Israel and the Palestinians to exercise maximum self-restraint, urging the international community to "intervene immediately to stop the ongoing escalation and resort to the rules of international law". In a statement on Saturday, Saudi Arabia also called for an "immediate halt to the escalation," urging the protection of civilians and for the two sides to show restraint. The Saudi Foreign Ministry further noted that it is closely watching the unprecedented developments unfolding between the Israeli regime and the Palestinian resistance groups and the ensuing escalation in violence. It also reiterated the kingdom's previous warnings that the ongoing Israeli occupation and depriving Palestinians of their legitimate rights may risk the situation boiling over in the occupied territories. Riyadh further warned against the ongoing systematic provocations against the holy sites. It also called on the international community to assume its responsibilities and activate a credible peaceful process that would end with the implementation of the two-state solution to achieve security and Meanwhile, Turkey, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have called for restraint from both sides, seeking a quick end to the ongoing violence without letting the situation go out of control. On Saturday, resistance fighters broke out of the fences separating Gaza and illegally occupied territories and infiltrated a number of towns and settlements, with hundreds of rockets fired at Israel. The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas said more than 7,000 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel, declaring it had started "Operation al-Aqsa Storm". The Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement also said its fighters have joined the operation as Hamas called on Palestinians everywhere to fight and on resistance groups in Lebanon to join the fighting against Israel. The operation came a day after Israeli forces attacked hundreds of Palestinians attending the funeral procession of a young Palestinian man in the occupied West Bank, injuring over 50 people. Israel has escalated its violence against Palestinians recently, particularly after a right-wing cabinet led by Benjamin Netanyahu came to power. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran: Palestinian operation against Israel 'turning point' in anti-Zionist resistance Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 October 2023 2:18 PM Iran hails the largest Palestinian military operation against Israel in years as "a turning point and a new chapter" in the continuing resistance against the Zionists. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani said on Saturday that the Operation al-Aqsa Storm "shows the Palestinian resistance is confidently capable of conducting hybrid and multilateral operations against the occupiers." Reports say at least 100 Israelis have been killed and over 900 injured so far as a result of the surprise Palestinian offensive that was launched on Saturday. The operation combined fighters crossing the fence into Israeli occupied cities with a heavy barrage of rockets from the besieged Gaza Strip. The Palestinian offensive is without precedent in scale. It started as Israelis celebrated the last day of the weeklong Sukkot festival. The Iranian official also extended congratulations to the Palestinian people and all resistance groups over the operation. "What happened today is in line with the continuation of the victories of the resistance in the face of the Zionists in various fields, including in Syria, Lebanon and the occupied territories." He said the operation once again proved that Israelis are vulnerable in the face of a serious move and lack the spirit to resist. The Iranian diplomat expressed hope that resistance would succeed in achieving more victories in the path towards the liberation of Palestine. Leader's aide: Iran backs Operation al-Aqsa Storm Meanwhile, a top military adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said Iran supports the "courageous" Palestinian operation against Israel. Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi said Iran will stand by the Palestinian fighters until the liberation of Palestine and al-Quds. He expressed confidence the resistance front would also support the operation. The senior Iranian military official lamented the fact that Israel keeps killing Palestinian children and youths as international organizations keep silent and show no reaction. He emphasized that Israelis must be punished for their crimes against the Palestinian children. He urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to take practical measures in that regard. People in Tehran take to streets to celebrate Palestine's successful operation Meanwhile, people and university students gathered in front of Palestine's embassy in the Iranian capital Tehran on Saturday to celebrate the successful operation of the Palestinian resistance groups in the face of the Israeli regime. The participants carried placards and chanted slogans against Israel and the US and expressed their support and solidarity with the Palestinian fighters in their battle against the Tel Aviv regime. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address WSJ: US plans major cut in special forces amid pivot away from West Asia Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 October 2023 10:16 AM The United States military has made plans to cut the number of its special forces units and instead expand its conventional army as it shifts its focus from the Middle East to China, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Pentagon plans to cut 10 percent of US Army Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and shift its focus from West Asia to what it deems as growing threat now posed by China. In sum, the cuts to the Pentagon's umbrella, including Green Berets, amounts to about 3,700 troops. The cut would need to be approved by Congress and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin would have to sign the final approval. The US Army is facing recruitment struggles. So far this year, the military missed a recruiting goal by 15,000 people, according to the Journal. A majority of US veterans have said that Washington's perpetual wars are not worth fighting, according to a poll conducted by Pew Research Center in 2019. Rep. Mike Waltz, a retired National Guard colonel and Green Beret, said, "I am stunned and appalled by reports indicating the US Army will cut 3,000 troops from its special operations ranks as a means to manage their worst recruiting crisis since the Vietnam War." US special forces are often illustrated in American movies and TV series as a formidable fighting machine; however, many critics have dismissed them as childish propaganda for the military industrial complex, citing the Pentagon's influence on the film industry. On Tuesday, the Journal said the Pentagon, White House, and Ukrainian officials have warned that without a fresh infusion of funds from the US Congress, Washington will lose the US-led Western proxy war against Russia. The US and other donor states provide funds for the salaries of 150,000 civil servants in Ukraine, as well as more than half a million educators and school staff, in addition to various government costs, including healthcare and housing subsidies. Since the start of the war last February, the primary focus of US legislators has been to supply Kiev with a variety of guns and weapons and millions of rounds of ammunition. The UK, possibly Washington and Kiev's closest ally, has also run out of weapons for Ukraine. A senior military chief told No. 10 Tuesday that Kiev urgently needed "air defense assets and artillery ammunition" which the UK has now "run dry on". "We've given away all we can afford," the Daily Telegraph quoted the British military official as saying. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Operation al-Aqsa Storm': 300 Israelis killed, 1,452 injured in surprise Palestinian attack Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 October 2023 5:18 AM Palestinians have launched their biggest operation against Israel in years in a surprise offensive that combined fighters crossing the fence into Israeli occupied cities with a heavy barrage of rockets from the Gaza Strip. Videos purportedly showed resistance fighters inside a military base on Saturday, as bodies of dead soldiers lied on the ground. At least 300 Israelis have been killed and 1,452 injured, Israeli media reported, citing the Israeli ambulance service. The Times of Israeli said Palestinian fighters infiltrated the town of Sderot and other settlements. Hamas released a video showing its fighters had captured three Israelis. "Scenes of Al-Qassam Brigades capturing a number of enemy soldiers in the battle of Al-Aqsa Flood," said a sentence appearing on a black background at the start of the video. Signs in Hebrew in the background suggested the footage was filmed on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing to the Gaza Strip. Other videos circulating on social media showed bodies of a number of people in military fatigues. The unprecedented offensive started a few minutes before 7 a.m. as Israelis celebrated the last day of the weeklong Sukkot festival, with hundreds of rockets fired at Israel. Videos showed young Israelis fleeing in panic when Palestinian fighters raided a music festival in the desert. Red alert warning sirens were activated in Tel Aviv, Sde Boker, Arad, and Dimona in the south as explosions were heard by residents on Saturday. In al-Quds, rocket sirens sounded followed by the sound of explosions. Cars were seen on fire after a rocket landed in Ashkelon, southern Israel. Hamas' armed wing said more than 7,000 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel on Saturday, declaring it had started "Operation al-Aqsa Storm". "We decided to put an end to all the crimes of the occupation, their time for rampaging without being held accountable is over," Hamas said. Gaza-based Islamic Jihad said its fighters have joined the operation as Hamas called on Palestinians everywhere to fight and on resistance groups in Lebanon also to join the fighting against Israel. "We are part of this battle, our fighters are side-by-side with their brothers in the Qassam Brigades until victory is achieved," said Islamic Jihad armed wing spokesman Abu Hamza on a post on Telegram. "This storm which started from Gaza will spread to the West Bank and outside the country and all the places where our people and nation are present," Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh said. Haniyeh called the operation historic and epic, saying the main reason for its start was the "criminal aggression of the Zionists in al-Aqsa Mosque, which had reached its peak in recent days". Videos showed a bomb dropped from a quadcopter on a Merkava tank and later Palestinians pulling out a soldier from the vehicle. A witness reporting from the scene is heard saying that the operators of the tank had been captured and taken to Gaza. One video purportedly shows an Israeli soldier being ridden pillion on a motorbike in the custody of two Palestinians and taken to Gaza. Another video circulating on social media showed large black plumes of smoke and fires from a suspected impact site in Ashkelon. In Gaza the roar of rocket launches could be heard and residents reported armed clashes along the separation fence with Israel, near the southern town of Khan Younis, and said they had seen significant movement of armed fighters. Israel's ambulance service said teams had been dispatched to areas in southern Israel near Gaza and residents were warned to stay inside. Palestinians in Gaza expressed disbelief at the infiltration into the territories occupied by Israel. "It is like a dream. I still can't believe it, fighters inside our occupied land?" said one Gaza shopkeeper, quoted by Reuters. Senior Hamas military commander Mohammad Deif said, "This is the day of the greatest battle end the last occupation on earth." He said Palestinian resistance fighters struck numerous Israeli targets, including airports and military facilities. "Today, the wrath of our nation and righteous fighters is boiling over. This is your day to make the enemy understand that its time has come to an end," the top commander stated. The operation came a day after Israel marked the 50th anniversary of the 1973 war that brought the entity to the verge of catastrophic defeat following a surprise attack by Syria and Egypt. "This attack too appeared to catch Israel completely by surprise," the Times of Israel wrote. Minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant rushed to Tel Aviv to consult with security chiefs. Hardline prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also to take part. The military said it was moving to a "state of war readiness" and Gallant authorized a widespread call-up of reserves. Gallant also declared an emergency situation within a range of 80 kilometers from the Gaza Strip. The area includes the major cities Tel Aviv and Beersheba. The military said it carried out at least two airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. Palestinian journalist, hospital worker killed in Gaza In the besieged Gaza, a Palestinian journalist was killed in an Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip, official news agency WAFA reported. Mohammad Salhi was fatally shot while covering the events east of Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, it added. A Palestinian hospital worker was also killed in an Israeli shelling of a hospital in Beit Lahyia, north of the Gaza Strip. Informed sources said at least one Israeli missile hit the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahiya, killing a worker and injuring others while causing damage to vital hospital equipment. On Friday, Israeli military forces attacked hundreds of Palestinians attending the funeral procession of a young Palestinian man in the West Bank, injuring more than 50 people. According to Palestinian media outlets, the crowd was mourning the 19-year-old Labib Dumaidi, who in the early hours of Friday succumbed to injuries sustained in a raid by Israeli settlers on the town of Huwara, south of Nablus. Local sources said the Israeli forces attacked Palestinians with live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, stun grenades and tear gas to prevent them from continuing the procession. The reports said 51 citizens were injured, including 19 citizens who were hit with rubber bullets, two of them in the head, and three who were hit with live bullets in the foot. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hundreds Feared Dead In Powerful Earthquakes In Afghanistan's Herat Region By RFE/RL's Radio Azadi October 07, 2023 The death toll from a series of strong earthquakes in Afghanistan's Herat region has soared to at least 320 people, with hundreds more injured, the United Nations said on October 7, as rescue crews continued to search for survivors through the ruins of the area, including in several remote towns and villages. There were reports of collapsed buildings in Herat, Afghanistan's third-largest city some 850 kilometers west of Kabul. "We have information that people are buried under the rubble," Herat Public Health Director Mohammad Taleb Shahid told the AFP news agency. The epicenter of the first earthquake was some 40 kilometers northwest of Herat, a city of 700,000 people. It was followed by at least three major aftershocks. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the largest of the temblors at a magnitude of 6.3, with the latest aftershock coming about 30 kilometers northeast of the city of Zindah Jan, which has a population of about 70,000 people. "This earthquake was preceded by a 6.3 earthquake that occurred approximately 30 minutes before," the USGS said. Because of the remote nature of some of the earthquake-hit areas, authorities were uncertain as to the exact casualty toll. A spokesman for Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority told the German dpa news agency that "some villages had up to 1,000 or more people living in them. There were 300 houses. Only 100 people survived." At least 600 people had been injured, officials said. Musa Ashgari, head of the ruling Taliban agency in Herat, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi that at least 12 villages had been destroyed in the disaster and expressed concerns that the death toll could rise substantially. Earthquakes are common in the Herat region of northwest Afghanistan and across the nearby border with Iran. The World Health Organization (WHO) office in Afghanistan said it had sent 12 ambulances to Zindah Jan to evacuate casualties to hospitals. "We have sent medicines and medical supplies to the hospitals to support treatment of those wounded. Our warehouse is ready to deploy for additional medicines as needed," WHO Afghanistan said. "As deaths and casualties from the earthquake continue to be reported, teams are in hospitals assisting treatment of wounded and assessing additional needs," the UN agency said. With reporting by AP, dpa, and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan- earthquake-herat/32627324.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 Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on the sharp escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict 7 October 2023 14:14 1972-07-10-2023 Russia is gravely concerned over a sharp escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. In this we regard we would like to reaffirm our principled and consistent stance that this conflict, which has continued for 75 years, cannot be resolved by force and can be settled exclusively by political and diplomatic means, by engaging in a full-fledged negotiation process based on the well-known international legal framework stipulating the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with a capital in East Jerusalem that co-exists with Israel in peace and security. We regard the current large-scale escalation as another extremely dangerous manifestation of a vicious circle of violence resulting from chronic failure to comply with the corresponding resolutions of the UN and its Security Council and the blocking by the West of the work of the Middle East Quartet of international mediators made up of Russia, the United States, the EU and the UN. We call on the Palestinian and Israeli sides to implement an immediate ceasefire, renounce violence, exercise restraint and begin, with the assistance of the international community, a negotiation process aimed at establishing a comprehensive, lasting and long-awaited peace in the Middle East. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas' Sneak Attack on Israel Deemed 'Major Failure' for Israeli Intelligence Sputnik News 20231007 Early on October 7, Palestinian militants based in the Gaza Strip launched a surprise offensive against Israel dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, launching thousands of missiles while other groups advanced into Israeli territory. While Palestinian militants fought their way into several Israeli communities and military installations, taking a number of Israeli soldiers prisoner and seizing military hardware, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have retaliated with airstrikes against the Gaza Strip. Death toll on both sides keep rising and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly declared that his country is "at war", vowing to drive the Hamas forces from the territories they "infiltrated" during this attack. Dr. Meir Elran, a retired IDF brigadier general and a senior research fellow and head of three security programs at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University, told Sputnik that the attack began at about 6:30 a.m. on Saturday and apparently caught the Israeli forces completely by surprise. "We were not really prepared for that. And this is really a major blow both to the intelligence and to the operation of the IDF. There is no doubt about that. We have to admit that," he said. Describing the attack as a "premeditated, pre-planned assault on the part of the Palestinian Hamas movement," Elran admitted that the militants managed to successfully hide their preparations from the Israeli agencies that are supposed to uncover such plots beforehand. "This just shows you that here in the neighborhood, here in the Middle East, things can happen. Even those things that you do not really predict will happen," the former IDF officer mused, noting that, this "major failure" of the Israeli intelligence calls for a "very serious investigation." "I'm sure that we're going to do that. I'm sure that lessons will be taken. But unfortunately, it's happened. And as I said before, this was not the first time this happened to us," he added. Elran's concerns were echoed by Dr. Simon Tsipis, an expert on national security, political science, and international relations, who argued that the current crisis has become probably one of the biggest failures for the Israel Security Agency (ISA), Israel's internal security service. While it is unclear at this time exactly how the Palestinian militants managed to obfuscate their preparations, Tsipis speculated that ISA might have been deliberately misled by its own assets in the Gaza Strip whose hatred of the Israelis prevails over their greed, as he put it. According to Tsipis, the current situation was made possible in no small part due to the current political crisis in Israel whose "right-wing, radical government" likely regarded "provoking a war" as its only chance to stay in power. "That is - and this is my personal opinion - this right-wing radical government led by Benjamin Netanyahu was practically on the verge of a breakup and collapse. Mere days before the current events, we had a number of fractures within the coalition," he said, pointing out that many Israelis also became upset with Netanyahu's government over his latest judicial reform. The overall readiness of the Israeli armed forces was reduced by the actions of "many officers" who, having become disgruntled with Netanyahu's government, said they will not report for duty, while Hamas militants thrived thanks to generous financial support from Arab states, Tsipis added. He also observed that the current Hamas incursion is an unprecedented move for the movement which seems to have carefully planned its actions. "Previously, a single boat could land on a shore and deploy" but they would have been "swiftly liquidated." Or there were previous instances where several militants managed to "sneak (into Israeli territory) by land. But right now, they are attacking across all fronts, so to speak," Tsipis elaborated. Despite all the media attention that the current escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has attracted, Tsipis argued that, at this point it is merely a "local clash" that is unlikely to transform into some regional or global conflict - assuming, of course, that some foreign actor, such as Hezbollah, does not attempt to use the situation to further its own goals, he added. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Urges Israel, Palestine to Cease Fire, Return to Negotiations - Foreign Ministry Sputnik News 20231007 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia calls on Israel and Palestine to cease fire and return to the negotiating table and considers the current escalation a very dangerous relapse of the long-running conflict, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told Sputnik on Saturday. "We are in contact with all of them, calling on them to cease fire and return to the negotiating table. How receptive are they to our appeals? Well, we are in favor of resolving all issues peacefully on the basis of mutual interests," Bogdanov said. Russia is currently in contact with Israel, Palestine, Egypt and other Arab countries to de-escalate the situation, Bogdanov said. "We are in touch with everyone. We're asking them to stop as soon as possible. There are many victims, destruction and those injured. It is necessary to stop all this as soon as possible and sit down at the negotiating table, especially since the international legal basis is known there must be a fair, comprehensive solution to the conflict. Our position has not changed," Bogdanov said. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Call with Palestinian Authority President Abbas US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson October 7, 2023 The following is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The Secretary reiterated the United States' unequivocal condemnation of the terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel, and called on all leadership in the region to condemn them. The Secretary urged the Palestinian Authority to continue and enhance steps to restore calm and stability in the West Bank. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Call with Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson October 7, 2023 The following is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry about the horrific attacks on Israel and the urgency in achieving an immediate halt to the appalling assault by Hamas terrorists against Israel. The Secretary expressed appreciation for the Egyptian leadership's ongoing efforts and reiterated the urgent need to halt the Hamas attacks. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Call with European Counterparts US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson October 7, 2023 The following is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell. They discussed the unprecedented scale and brutality of the Hamas attacks on Israeli territory, which they condemned in the strongest terms. The Secretary underlined the United States' support for Israel's right to defend itself and encouraged continued engagement by Quint countries and the EU. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Call with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson October 7, 2023 The following is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss today's appalling terrorist attacks on Israel. The Secretary reiterated Israel's right to self-defense and called for coordinated efforts to achieve an immediate halt to the violent attacks by Hamas terrorists and other militants. The two agreed to remain closely coordinated. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the terrorist attack on Israel President of Ukraine 7 October 2023 - 14:43 Appalling news from Israel. I extend my condolences to all those whose loved ones were killed in the terrorist attack. We believe that order will be restored and terrorists will be eliminated. Terror must not be given a single chance anywhere in the world, because terror is always a crime not just against one country or its specific victims, but against humanity as a whole and our entire world. Whoever uses terror commits a crime against the world. Whoever sponsors terror commits a crime against the world. The world must stand in unity and solidarity so that terror never attempts to conquer or destroy life anywhere. Israel's right to defense is beyond question. All the circumstances of this terrorist attack must be clarified so that the world knows and brings to justice everyone who incited the attack and helped organize it. All Ukrainian citizens in the danger zone should carefully follow the instructions of the security forces on the ground and closely monitor the information. Please stay safe! The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and our Embassy in Israel are ready to help in any situation. An operational headquarters has been established to assist Ukrainians in Israel. If you need assistance, please contact any of our diplomatic or consular missions immediately by any means available to you. Every life matters! We condemn every act of terror. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on violence in Israel and the State of Palestine UNICEF 07 October 2023 NEW YORK, 7 October 2023 - "I am deeply concerned for the wellbeing of children in Israel and the State of Palestine. "With hundreds of civilians reportedly killed or injured, we are closely monitoring the situation for reports of grave rights violations committed against children. "Today's events continue the trend of spikes in violence that have wracked Israel and the State of Palestine, leaving 199 children dead and more than 2,800 injured in the last three years. "UNICEF calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities, and for all parties to protect children from harm and afford them the special protection to which they are entitled, in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law. "More than anything, the children of Israel and the State of Palestine need a lasting political solution to the crisis, so that they can grow up in peace and free from the shadow of violence." ##### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN agencies call on Pakistan to protect Afghan refugees 7 October 2023 - Following Pakistan's announcement to repatriate Afghan nationals, the UN's refugee and migration agencies together appealed to Islamabad on Saturday to continue protecting those who sought safety in the country and could be "at imminent risk if forced to return". Amid a "severe humanitarian crisis", Afghanistan currently faces several human rights challenges, particularly for women and girls, according to the UN. Pakistan's new plans would have "serious implications" for all who have been forced to leave the country and may face serious protection risks upon their return, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a joint statement. "The forced repatriation of Afghan nationals has the potential to result in severe human rights violations, including the separation of families and deportation of minors," the UN agencies warned. Pakistan continues to be one of the world's largest refugee-hosting countries, providing safety to some 1.3 million registered refugees who were forced to flee their countries, 99 per cent of which are Afghans, according to UNHCR's latest update in August. 'Suspend forcible returns' They reiterated a call on all countries to "suspend forcible returns of Afghan nationals" and ensure any possible returns to the country take place in a safe, dignified, and voluntary manner. Acknowledging Pakistan's sovereign prerogative over domestic policies, its need to manage populations on its territory, and its obligations to ensure public safety and security, the agencies recalled their longstanding and strong collaboration with the Government. "UNHCR and IOM appreciate Pakistan's generous hospitality towards Afghan nationals for over four decades, despite challenges," they said, adding that they "stand ready to provide support in developing a comprehensive and sustainable mechanism to register and manage Afghan nationals, including those who may be in need of international protection". NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, Colombia soar together: Angel de los Andes, Relampago VII bolster interoperability Published Oct. 7, 2023 By Jennifer Whitaker 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFNS) -- The U.S. military recently teamed up with the Colombian Aerospace Force to showcase bilateral cooperation and a commitment to enhancing military readiness in the Angel de los Andes and Relampago VIII exercises, hosted recently in Colombia. Teams from the U.S. Air Force, Army, Space Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Marines trained alongside their Colombian counterparts to reinforce the thriving partnership between the two nations. U.S. Air Force Col. Matthew Vollkommer, 612th Air Operations Center commander, served as exercise director for Angel de los Andes and Relampago VIII. He said holding the exercises concurrently gave units the chance to practice executing multiple missions simultaneously, better aligning with how militaries must operate in the real world. "We developed a strong bond," he said. "Anytime you're thinking about crisis response, it helps to know the people you're working with. You develop a deeper sense of trust that will lead to success." Vollkommer said that the exercise was successful due in large part to most of the combined forces being located together in Palenquero, allowing them to develop trusting relationships. He pointed to the hospitality of the Colombian hosts as a force multiplier in building the camaraderie that the teams needed to exercise well together. "The most valuable things that happened with interoperability didn't happen during execution," Vollkommer said. "It was actually during the planning and debrief of what was executed," with both nations sharing valuable lessons learned. While the two exercises happened concurrently, they had distinct missions. Angel de los Andes was focused on joint humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and combat search and rescue training, while exercise Relampago VIII focused on training defensive counteroperations and air sovereignty. It is one of the largest and most complex air combat exercises in Latin America, said Florida Air National Guard Lt. Col. Daniel Schiller, F-15 pilot and chief of safety at the 125th Fighter Wing. "It's good for us to share tactics and techniques with each other to learn from each other," Schiller said. "We have very different mission sets, the F-15 to the KFIR, but there's still a lot of commonality and similarities between the two air frames...so it's easy for us to fly in the same airspace and operate as a cohesive team to achieve a common goal." As an aeromedical evacuation training exercise, Angel de los Andes aimed to save lives. During the exercise's simulated earthquake scenario, U.S. C-17 and HH-60 aircraft flew alongside Colombian helicopters, transporting and treating 50 patients in a large-scale recovery effort. In another exercise scenario, combined teams of special forces parachuted into simulated enemy territory to rescue friendly troops from danger. Flying aboard an HH-60 helicopter, a Colombian and U.S. crew worked side-by-side, conducting river rescues, overcoming difficult terrain and breaking through the language barrier to succeed in their mission, said Colombian AF Maj. Cesar Trivino, a UH-60 helicopter pilot who participated in Angel de los Andes. With scenarios unfolding in multiple locations throughout Colombia, overhead imagery was key to assuring safe and accurate exercise missions. The Air Forces Southern space team partnered with U.S. Space Command's Joint Task Force-Space Defense Commercial Operations cell for Space Domain Awareness to provide overhead imagery of helicopter landing zones, satellite overflight information and space weather prognostics to aid in decision-making, planning and execution. Vollkommer congratulated the Colombian Aerospace Force on making a "grand strategic statement" in recognizing the importance of space to all aspects of military operations and national sovereignty. "Space isn't an afterthought," he said. Colombian AF Maj. Gen. Carlos Silva Rueda, Colombian AF second commander, said that by integrating capabilities, the two nations strengthen ties of friendship and cooperation. "We have a 200-year tradition of mutual support with [the U.S.], and here we are at the tip of the spear of military technology and operational capabilities," Rueda said. U.S. Air Force Col. John B. Creel, 12 Air Force deputy commander, expressed how critical this partnership for our future success. "Our partnership is great," said Creel. "If you're great partners in peacetime, when there is a security issue that comes up later, you're ready to help each other right away." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biden Condemns Deadly Israel Terror Attacks, Affirms 'Rock Solid' Support By Anita Powell October 07, 2023 President Joe Biden on Saturday condemned the surprise Hamas-led attacks that killed hundreds of Israelis, saying the events were "unconscionable" and "heartbreaking," with "no justification" and reiterating Washington's "rock solid" support for Israel. "As this situation continues to develop, let there be no mistake," he said, "The United States stands with the state of Israel." Biden said he had also spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who, like many Israelis and Jews around the world, was ending a week of religious observations for the holiday of Sukkot to convey that message, and had also been in contact with the king of Jordan and top U.S. national security officials. In a call Saturday evening with reporters, a senior Biden administration official said the White House had been engaging all day with top officials or leaders, including those from the Palestinian Authority, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Germany, the U.K. and Italy. The official was not identified, as is customary during these background calls. Saturday's attacks by the militant Palestinian group produced a rare moment of agreement among high-ranking American politicians on both sides of the U.S.' deep political divide. Many also alluded to the global impacts of the violence. "The unprovoked terror attack today and the murders of innocent Israeli citizens are a stark reminder of the brutality of Hamas and Iran-backed extremists," Representative Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican who is campaigning to be the next speaker of the House of Representatives, said in a statement. "The indiscriminate killings of men, women and children are sickening." The White House official noted the unusual situation U.S. lawmakers find themselves in after the historic ouster of the previous House speaker, Kevin McCarthy a move that leaves Congress effectively immobilized until a new speaker is chosen. "Without a speaker of the House, that is a unique situation we're going to have to work through," the administration official said when asked about the ability of the current Congress to pass any Israel-related legislation. The two top members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Republican Michael McCaul and Democrat Gregory Meeks, spoke as one in a statement and pledged their support. "We strongly and unequivocally condemn Hamas' heinous attack on Israel today. We support Israel's right to self-defense and are ready to ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself. We stand with Israel as it mourns the dead, cares for the wounded, and defends its homeland, citizens and visitors." From the Senate, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, urged the United States and "the civilized world" to stand in solidarity with Israel and pointed to outside influence. "The terrorists responsible for this ongoing war against Israel were trained and equipped by Iran, the same terror state providing lethal drones to Russia to attack Ukraine," he said in a statement. "There must be consequences for those who conduct or support such terror. Failure to support friends under attack in Kyiv or Tel Aviv will only embolden the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism and fellow authoritarians who watch closely for a weakening of American leadership and Western solidarity." His Democrat counterpart, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, agreed. "The terrorist attacks by Hamas on the people of Israel are absolutely horrific," Schumer said in a statement. "The United States stands with Israel in its unwavering right to defend itself. I stand ready to ensure Israel has the support to do so. My prayers are with the dead and those taken hostage, their families, and the hundreds injured." Speaking from the White House Saturday afternoon, Biden said he had made his support clear to Netanyahu. "We stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the government and people of Israel," said Biden. "Terrorism is never justified. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people. The United States warns against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation. My administration's support for Israel's security is rock solid and unwavering." American adversaries watching, say experts Analysts say these events are being keenly watched by U.S. adversaries like Russia and China. And, they said, Iran is very much involved. "It's very important to note that all these groups have one thing in common and that's Iran," said Joe Truzman, a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies' Long War Journal. When asked about that, the White House official told journalists "it's too early to say whether the state of Iran was directly involved, or planning, or supporting." But, the official added: "That said, there's no doubt that Hamas is funded, equipped, armed by Iran and others. And so that's why we have taken action throughout this administration to hold Iran accountable, to impose sanctions on Iran for support to Hamas and other terrorist organizations. That is going to continue, believe me." "It's absolutely in Russia's interest to create chaos in the Middle East," said Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the think tank. "It's a big distraction from the U.S. effort to support Ukraine. Certainly the Chinese are going to be enjoying this, too." On whether this violence complicates a Biden administration initiative to get Israel and Saudi Arabia to normalize relations, Dubowitz said while that may be Tehran's intent, that process may not be disrupted so easily. "I don't think the Iranian strategy will work here to derail normalization," he said. "I think normalization from a Saudi perspective is so strategic to [Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman] economically, politically, militarily, from a national security perspective, that he needs normalization and will continue to move forward." Reactions from around world The global impacts of this event were also made clear by swift reactions from other world leaders. "Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that these attacks, for his people, are something they "have a special feeling about" as they evoke Russia's attacks against Ukraine for 19 months. "Our position is crystal clear: Anyone who causes terror and death anywhere on the planet must be held accountable," Zelenskyy said. "Today's terrorist attack on Israel was well-planned, and the entire world knows which sponsors of terrorism could have endorsed and enabled its organization. Israel has the full right to defend itself against terror. As any other state. And it's critical that the whole world responds to terror in a unified and principled manner." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Promises Israel 'Ironclad Support' Following Hamas Attack By Jeff Seldin October 07, 2023 The U.S. condemnation of the Hamas terror attack on Israel is being backed by pledges to make sure the Israeli military has what it needs to repel the assault and defend its people. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a phone call Saturday with Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant promised "his ironclad support" for the Israeli Defense Forces, or IDF, according to a Pentagon readout. "Our commitment to Israel's right to defend itself remains unwavering," Austin said in a separate statement. "Over the coming days the Department of Defense will work to ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself and protect civilians from indiscriminate violence and terrorism." U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. forces and relationships with U.S. allies across the Middle East, likewise said it was in contact with its Israeli counterpart and was "closely tracking the situation surrounding the appalling terrorist attack." What shape the U.S. support will take, though, is unclear. "We stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the government and people of Israel," a senior U.S. administration official told reporters late Saturday, speaking on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House. "There has been a deep engagement ... up and down our military chains, just regular coordination about some of the needs that Israel anticipates," the official said. "And I am not going to get ahead of that process." Israel's security needs a priority The official said the U.S. has made Israel's security needs a priority, pointing to a $1 billion deal to help Israel restock its Iron Dome short range missile system in 2021. The U.S. also maintains a weapons and ammunition stockpile in Israel and has made its contents available to Israel on at least two occasions. In 2006, the U.S. granted Israel access to precision guided munitions during its war with Hezbollah. And in 2014, the U.S. gave Israel access to tank rounds and other ammunition to support operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. U.S. officials have declined to say, however, whether using the stockpile will be an option this time around. "We will continue close consultations with the IDF regarding any requests for support they may have," according to a U.S. military official, speaking to VOA on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the talks. "Our focus remains on consulting with Israel and ensuring they have the support they need as a result of this abhorrent terrorist attack by Hamas." There also are concerns about the stockpile itself. The U.S. pulled 300,000 artillery shells from the stockpile late last year and early this year to give to Ukraine. And the types of armaments and equipment in the stockpile may not be of immediate use in pushing back Hamas fighters. "My initial impression is that the things that Israel needs most right now are not in there," said Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "There have been concerns about what's actually in that stockpile, whether it's well maintained, whether it's the right weapons and equipment, and how frequently we practice drying that equipment out," he noted. In addition, the U.S. maintains some military personnel in Israel, and U.S. forces periodically conduct exercises with Israeli troops most recently this past July. The U.S. military official said all U.S. personnel "are safe and accounted for," without elaborating on how many are currently in the country. Additionally, the official said there was nothing to announce as far as any changes to the force posture of the more than 30,000 U.S. troops currently stationed across the Middle East and South Asia. Still, U.S. military and intelligence officials have expressed ongoing concern about tensions in the region, specifically pointing to Iran, which helps fund Hamas. "What I see is a pretty brazen Iranian threat network that is willing to explore avenues for attack internationally and in the region," National Counterterrorism Center Director Christine Abizaid told an audience in Washington in January. "They are very active and intent on escalatory, a tit for tat with the Israelis, as far as we can tell." Assessment warned of Iran's intent The annual Worldwide Threat Assessment, issued by the top U.S. intelligence agencies in March further warned of Iran's intentions toward Israel. "Iran remains a threat to Israel, both directly through its missile and UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle] forces and indirectly through its support of Lebanese Hizballah, and other partners and proxies," the report said. The senior U.S. administration official Saturday declined to tie Tehran directly to the Hamas attack on Israel, but said, "We are going to be looking at that very closely." "We don't have anything to indicate Iran was involved in this specific, what is unfolding now," the official said. "That said, there's no doubt Hamas is funded, equipped, armed by Iran ... Hamas would not exist without that support over many, many years." Iran's foreign ministry Saturday described the Hamas attack in a statement as a "spontaneous movement of resistance groups and Palestine's oppressed people in defense of their inalienable rights," according a report by the Reuters news agency. Separately, an account on X, formerly known as Twitter, belonging to Iranian Supreme leader Ali Khamenei twice posted about the attack. "Today, the Palestinian youth and the Palestinian movement is more energetic, more alive, and more prepared than it has ever been during the last 80 years," one post said, using a hashtag "AlAqsaStorm," the name Hamas gave to the operation. A second post said, "God willing, the cancer of the usurper Zionist regime will be eradicated at the hands of the Palestinian people," and showed a video of Israelis fleeing from Hamas forces. For now, the U.S. official said the U.S. will share any relevant intelligence with Israel but denied Washington had any advance warning of the Hamas attack. "We have had concern about, obviously, rising tensions, particularly in the West Bank," the official said. "But in terms of the level of sophistication of what transpired overnight here and what continues to transpire, that's a very different issue." The U.S. in recent months has surged forces to the region to push back after Iran's naval forces embarked on a campaign of harassing and seizing commercial ships in the Persian Gulf. Earlier this week, the commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command said that surge, which included F-35 and F-16 fighter jets, a naval destroyer and an amphibious assault group that included 2,500 U.S. Marines, seemed to have deterred Iran for the moment. "It doesn't suit their political ends right now to resort to violence," Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich told members of the Defense Writers Group in Washington. "But there's no doubt in my military mind, at least, that they would resort to that at some point in the future if they saw it as in their interests." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas Attacks Israel, Killing Hundreds; Dozens Kidnapped By VOA News October 07, 2023 Gun battles raged into the night, hours after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale attack against Israel Saturday. Hamas had fired thousands of rockets from Gaza and sent fighters to kill and abduct soldiers and civilians. The coordinated attack came as a complete surprise to Israeli intelligence. At least 250 Israelis were killed and more than 1,000 wounded after dozens of Palestinian militants infiltrated Israel from Gaza by land, sea and air. An unknown number of Israeli soldiers and civilians were seized and taken into Gaza, an enormously sensitive issue for Israel. Israel launched airstrikes on Gaza, leveling several buildings in Gaza City. Palestinian health officials said at least 200 Palestinians were killed and more than 1,600 wounded in the Israeli strikes. Israel vows retaliation Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to avenge what he said was a "black day" for Israel, saying the army will strike back at Hamas in Gaza with full force. "The [Israeli Defense Force] is about to use all its force to destroy Hamas's capabilities," Netanyahu said in a brief televised statement. "We'll strike them to the bitter end and avenge with force this black day they brought on Israel and its people." U.S. President Joe Biden voiced "rock solid and unwavering" support for the U.S. ally and warned "against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation." The United Nations Security Council called an emergency meeting for Sunday to discuss the latest violence. Fighting continues As night fell, the Israeli army said its forces were engaged in live gun battles in 22 locations in Israel. "There are still 22 locations where we are engaging with terrorists that came into Israel, from the sea, from the land and from the air," said army spokesperson Richard Hecht on what he labelled a "robust ground invasion." The coordinated attack began around 6:30 a.m. local time with thousands of rockets aimed as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, some bypassing the Iron Dome defense system and hitting buildings. Hamas fighters, using ground vehicles, motorized paragliders, and boats, breached Gaza's security barrier and attacked nearby Israeli towns and military posts, opening fire on residents and passersby. Linda Gradstein in Jerusalem contributed to this report; some material for this article came from The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN: Earthquake Kills at Least 100 in Afghanistan By Ayaz Gul October 07, 2023 The United Nations said Saturday that a strong earthquake struck western Afghanistan, killing at least 100 people and injuring 500 others. The epicenter of the magnitude 6.3 quake was located near Zinda Jan, a district in the central part of the Afghan province of Herat, bordering Iran. At least eight powerful aftershocks rattled the province within five hours and affected villages across three districts, said the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. It described as serious the condition of many of those injured. "More than 600 houses were partially or fully damaged. At least 4,200 people [600 families] have been affected. Additionally, an estimated 300 families, or 2,100 people, are reported to have been displaced, the U.N. agency said "In coordination with the health authorities, the World Health Organization [WHO] Country Office in Kabul and the WHO Field Office in Herat rapidly mobilized resources and extended immediate life-saving support for the affected population," the statement noted. Afghanistan's Taliban authorities said rescue teams were busy retrieving victims from under the rubble and transporting them to hospitals or safety. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed sadness at the loss of life in the earthquake, asserted his solidarity with the Afghanistan people, and extended "his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a swift recovery to those injured." The rest of statement released by Stephane Dujarric, secretary-general spokesman, read, "The United Nations and our partners in Afghanistan are coordinating with the de facto authorities to swiftly assess needs and provide emergency assistance. "As winter approaches, the Secretary-General calls on the international community to come together and support people impacted by the earthquake, many of whom were already in need before this crisis." In June 2022, a powerful earthquake in the eastern parts of the impoverished South Asian nation killed more than 1,000 people. Afghanistan has faced prolonged conflict and natural disasters, including flooding, drought and earthquakes, leading to one of the world's largest humanitarian crises. The U.N. estimates that two-thirds of the country's population is in need of aid. The hardline Taliban seized control of the country two years ago. They imposed sweeping restrictions on women's access to education and work per their strict interpretation of Islamic law. The de facto rulers have also barred women from working for aid groups, hampering humanitarian activities in Afghanistan. No country has recognized the Taliban government, citing human rights concerns and their treatment of women. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sudan Citizens Live on Knife's Edge Amid Ongoing Conflict By Lisa Schlein October 07, 2023 While on a quest to solicit support for millions of Sudanese whose lives have been upended by war, a senior U.N. official Thursday warned that the people of Sudan are living on a knife's edge and are at risk of falling off the cliff if the world does not step up to help them. United Nations statistics show Sudan has become the world's fastest-growing displacement crisis since two rival generals plunged the country into war nearly six months ago. Some 5.4 million people are either displaced within Sudan or in neighboring countries as refugees. "That is an average of more than 30,000 a day, many fleeing with nothing but the clothes on their back," said Clementine Nkweta-Salami, U.N. resident and humanitarian coordinator in Sudan. The U.N. official finished a weeklong visit in Geneva, where she met with donor countries as she seeks support for the U.N.'s severely underfunded humanitarian operation in Sudan. To date, the effort has received one-third of the $2.6 billion needed to provide lifesaving assistance for more than 18 million people. "I have met mothers in Sudan who have told me they do not know where to find the next meal for their children," Nkweta-Salami said. "I have met families sleeping in makeshift shelters, struggling to find food and water, unable to access health care, their children out of school and the family breadwinners out of work." She noted that half of Sudan's 24.7 million people need humanitarian aid and protection, warning that "conflict, displacement and disease outbreaks threaten to consume the entire country." She said people were unable to get health care because 70% of hospitals are not functioning. That, she said, was happening at a time when heavy flooding in the country could "lead to more outbreaks of water-borne diseases" and when a cholera outbreak has been declared in parts of the country. "Battling a cholera outbreak in a war zone is difficult at the best of times," she said. "With fighting escalating, it may be near-impossible to control." She said she was afraid that the conflict could reach areas like Jazirah State, Sudan's breadbasket. "This would have grave consequences for food security," she said. The Food and Agriculture Organization said the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report found that "20.3 million people in Sudan face a high level of acute food insecurity, making this one of the most food-insecure countries on the planet." To make matters worse, Nkweta-Salami said, the warring parties do not keep their promises. "Four months ago, the parties meeting in Jeddah committed to de-escalate the fighting, minimize civilian harm and refrain from any disproportionate attacks," she said. "But since then, the killing of civilians has continued in Khartoum, in Nyala, in al-Fasher, and other areas." The Sudan Ministry of Health says 1,265 people have been killed and 8,396 injured since fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in mid-April. U.N. agencies believe the actual number of casualties is likely much higher. The clash between the armed forces also has ignited intercommunal violence in West Darfur, resulting in many casualties, displacements and widespread looting. Nkweta-Salami said U.N. agencies so far have been able to deliver aid to at least 3.6 million people through two main access points Port Sudan and from Chad to Darfur. She said more people could be reached if the efforts were not hampered by bureaucratic obstacles, forced checks of humanitarian trucks and criminal activities, such as the looting of trucks by armed groups. In both Port Sudan and Darfur, she said, the U.N. must negotiate with various militia for "convoys to move in a safe, unimpeded manner." Without a cessation of hostilities and a permanent cease-fire, she said, the conflict in Sudan risks becoming a protracted crisis. She warned, "There is also a risk that if the conflict is not brought to an end, that it will have a spillover effect in the region. And that is something we must and should avoid." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Polish Elections: Why They Matter By Myroslava Gongadze October 07, 2023 Polish voters face a stark choice in parliamentary elections set for October 15, which are likely to have a significant impact not only on a deeply polarized Polish society but also on the future of Europe as a whole. The ruling right-wing Law and Justice party and the opposition Civic Coalition bloc are competing for seats in the two-house, 460-member Parliament. Polling data aggregated by Politico indicate a close race. One of these political forces will likely have to form a coalition in order to govern what is the largest post-communist EU and NATO member and a critical supporter of Ukraine in its defense against Russia's invasion. The Law and Justice party has held power for eight years. Led from behind the scenes by former Prime Minister Jarosaw Kaczynski, 74, the party pledges to maintain traditional values and ensure the country's security, especially in light of Russian aggression in neighboring Ukraine. The party leadership also aims to conclude a revamping of the Polish judicial system, a process that started in 2019 and has been criticized by the EU as undermining judicial independence. In contrast, the Civic Coalition bloc, headed by Donald Tusk, 66, a former president of the European Council and a former Polish prime minister, pledges to reverse the judicial amendments, safeguard media independence and protect civil liberties. The Tusk coalition asserts that it will work to restore Poland's international reputation as a democratic nation and rebuild its cooperative relationships within the EU, particularly with Germany, which has faced strong criticism from the current government in recent months. Political battle ahead "It will be a very close run. The election result is extremely difficult to predict," Jacek Kucharczyk, president of the Institute of Public Affairs in Warsaw, said in an interview with VOA. Tusk's Civic Coalition trails the Law and Justice party by several percentage points in the polls, but Kucharczyk believes it has a chance to secure enough votes to form a parliamentary majority in partnership with other forces, like Poland's New Left. Alternatively, he foresees "a coalition between the current ruling party, Law and Justice, and the far-right Confederation party" an outcome that he believes "will likely result in further democratic backsliding in Poland." Campaign strategist Sergiusz Trzeciak says it will be very challenging for either bloc to form a governing coalition "due to their differing platform positions." He anticipates a protracted political struggle after the election, possibly leading to a new election. And bearing in mind that Poland will have local elections early next year and a presidential election later in 2025, "this is going to be a very difficult time for Polish politics." Ukraine factor A protracted internal political struggle could have adverse implications for Poland's stance on Ukraine, as demonstrated in recent months with restrictions on agricultural products from Ukraine and rhetoric centered on protecting Polish farmers, an important voting bloc. "Initially, due to the war in Ukraine and Russian aggression, there was a rare moment of national unity in Poland, with widespread agreement on supporting Ukraine and against Russian aggression," said Kucharczyk, the Institute of Public Affairs president. But that consensus has eroded during this election campaign, and in Kucharczyk's view, the Law and Justice party is adjusting its rhetoric, particularly on Ukraine, to fend off competition from the far-right Confederates, who are perceived as pro-Russian. Additionally, there is a crisis in agricultural imports, especially grain deliveries in rural areas, which is influencing the ruling party's messaging. Analysts say the majority of polls still show support for the effort to assist Ukraine, but recent political rhetoric has created a crack in Polish-Ukraine unity. "I am very, very relieved that Poles are fully aware that they still need to provide support to Ukraine," Trzeciak said. Analysts assert that, when considering centuries of Polish suffering at the hands of Russia, it is highly unlikely that Poland would become pro-Russian, regardless of the election outcome. From Euro enthusiasts to Euro realists EU-Polish relations could be the next casualty of political uncertainty, especially with the upcoming 2024 European Parliament elections. Poland, under the current ruling party, has had strained relations with the EU. On the one hand, EU funding has ensured a Polish economic revival. At the same time, the current political leadership in Warsaw is offended by criticism from Brussels toward its immigration policies and restrictions on civil liberties. "Poles used to be Euro enthusiasts. Now they have become Euro realists, or sometimes even more and more people are simply Euroskeptic," said Trzeciak, the campaign strategist. Kucharczyk says he believes the Polish election is of major significance for the entire EU bloc. He says the outcome will affect external EU policies like relations with Russia and Ukraine, as well as its internal cohesion based on values like democracy and the rule of law. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Remarks by President Biden on the Terrorist Attacks In Israel October 07, 2023 State Dining Room 2:48 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Today, the people of Israel are under attack, orchestrated by a terrorist organization, Hamas. In this moment of tragedy, I want to say to them and to the world and to terrorists everywhere that the United States stands with Israel. We will not ever fail to have their back. We'll make sure they have the help their citizens need and they can continue to defend themselves. You know, the world has seen appalling images: thousands of rockets in the space of hours raining down on Israeli cities. When I got up this morning and started this at 7:30, 8 o'clock my calls. Hamas terrorists crossing into Israel killing not only Israeli soldiers, but Israeli civilians in the street, in their homes. Innocent people murdered, wounded, entire families taken hostage by Hamas just days after Israel marked the holiest of days on the Jewish calendar. It's unconscionable. You know, when I spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu this morning, I told him the United States stands with the people of Israel in the face of this terrorist assaults. Israel has the right to defend itself and its people. Full stop. There is never justification for terrorist acts. And my administration's support for Israel's security is rock solid and unwavering. Let me say this as clearly as I can: This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage. The world is watching. I have also been in contact with the King of Jordan, spoken with members of Congress, directed my national security team to engage with their Israeli counterparts military to military, intelligence to intelligence, diplo- diplomat to diplomat to make sure Israel has what it needs. I've also directed my team to remain in constant contact with leaders throughout the region, including Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman, the UAE, as well as with our European partners and the Palestinian Authority. This is also a terrible tragedy on a human level. It's hurting innocent people seeing the lives that have been broken by this, the families torn apart. It's heart breaking. And Jill and I are praying for those families who have been impacted by this violence. We grieve with those who have lost their loved their ones, lost a piece of their soul. We have hope for a swift recovery for many who have been wounded. But we're going to remain in close touch with Prime Minister I, personally, am going to remain in close contact with Prime Minister Netanyahu as this situation continues to develop. And let there be no mistake: The United States stands with the State of Israel, just as we have from the moment the United States became the first nation to recognize Israel, 11 minutes after its founding, 75 years ago. Thank you very much. 2:51 P.M. EDT NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Massive rockets fired from Gaza into Israel, at least 22 Israelis killed People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 10:16, October 08, 2023 GAZA/JERUSALEM, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Massive rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel, while a number of Palestinian militants have penetrated into Israel from Gaza, the Israeli military said Saturday, while hitting back. According to Israeli medical sources, the new round of conflict between the two sides has already killed 22 Israelis. The surprise attack targeting Israel started a few minutes before 7 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) on the morning of Israeli holiday Simchat Torah. Earlier the Israeli emergency service Megan David Adom said one civilian was killed and over a dozen injured. Two hours after the attack began, the Israeli air force launched airstrikes on targets in the Gaza Strip, declaring that it was "on alert for war." Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant approved the drafting of reserve soldiers to the military. Footage on social media showed masked gunmen driving around the Israeli city of Sderot and shooting in the streets. Israeli news channels quoted residents of several cities on the border with Gaza as saying there were masked gunmen in the streets and near homes. Footage on news channels showed damage from rocket fire in several scenes. Accusing Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, of being behind the attack, the Israeli military said in a statement that the Palestinian movement "will bear the results and responsibility for the events." Mohammed al-Deif, a leader from Hamas, announced on Saturday the beginning of a new military operation "Al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel, via a brief recorded statement. The Hamas-run health authorities said in a press statement that Israel attacked a hospital in north Gaza, killing a worker and injuring some locals. In recent weeks, there have been protests at the border, with demonstrators burning tires and throwing explosive devices at Israeli troops. Hamas said the protests were in reaction to recent Jewish visits to the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. In response, Israel has barred the entry of Gaza residents who had permits to work in the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Massive rockets fired from Gaza into Israel, 1 killed People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:30, October 08, 2023 GAZA/JERUSALEM, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Massive rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel, while a number of Palestinian militants have infiltrated into Israel from Gaza, the Israeli military said Saturday. The surprise attack started a few minutes before 7 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) on the morning of Israeli holiday Simchat Torah. The Israeli emergency service Megan David Adom said one civilian was killed and over a dozen injured. Two hours after the attack began, the Israeli air force launched airstrikes on targets in the Gaza Strip, declaring that it was "on alert for war." Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant approved the drafting of reserve soldiers to the military. Footage on social media showed masked gunmen driving around the Israeli city of Sderot and shooting in the streets. There are no reports of casualties in these incidents. Israeli news channels quoted residents of several cities on the border with Gaza as saying there were masked gunmen in the streets and near homes. Footage on news channels showed damage from rocket fire in several scenes. Saying Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, is behind this attack, the Israeli military said in a statement that the Palestinian movement "will bear the results and responsibility for the events." Mohammed al-Deif, a leader from Hamas, announced on Saturday the beginning of a new military operation, the "Al-Aqsa Flood," against Israel. He made the declaration through a brief recorded statement. In recent weeks, there have been protests at the border, with demonstrators burning tires and throwing explosive devices at Israeli troops. Hamas said the protests were in reaction to recent Jewish visits to the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. In response, Israel barred the entry of Gaza residents who had permits to work in the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel, Hamas Battle for Second Day after Surprise Hamas Attack By VOA News October 08, 2023 Fighting raged in parts of Israel and the Gaza Strip early Sunday, one day after the Palestinian militant group Hamas carried out a surprise large-scale attack against Israel. Israeli retaliatory airstrikes on Gaza in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday destroyed Hamas locations and several residential buildings. The Associated Press reports one airstrike flattened a 14-story tower that held dozens of apartments as well as Hamas offices in central Gaza City. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's offensive will continue "without reservation and without respite." Hamas kept up its strikes overnight too, firing rockets overnight at several cities, including Tel Aviv. Much of Gaza has been plunged into darkness since the attacks. Israel maintains a blockade around the territory and Netanyahu announced that Israel will cut the electricity, fuel and other goods it supplies to Gaza. Saturday's coordinated attack from Hamas came as a complete surprise to Israeli intelligence. Israel "didn't have an inkling of what was going on," Efraim Halevy, the former chief of Mossad, Israel's intelligence service, told CNN. "We had no warning of any kind and it was a total surprise that the war broke out this morning." He said the attack was the first time the Palestinians had been able to "penetrate" so deeply into Israel. The militants launched over 3,000 missiles in less than 24 hours, according to Halevy. "This is beyond imagination from our point of view," Halvey told CNN. "We didn't know they had this quantity of missiles and we certainly didn't expect that they would be as effective as they were today. ... As an operation, it was highly successful, unfortunately." At least 250 Israelis were killed and more than 1,000 wounded after dozens of Palestinian militants infiltrated Israel from Gaza by land, sea and air. An unknown number of Israeli soldiers and civilians were seized and taken into Gaza, an enormously sensitive issue for Israel. Palestinian health officials said at least 200 Palestinians were killed and more than 1,600 wounded in Israel's retaliatory strikes. Netanyahu vowed to avenge what he said was a "black day" for Israel, saying the army will strike back at Hamas in Gaza with full force. "The [Israeli Defense Force] is about to use all its force to destroy Hamas' capabilities," Netanyahu said in a brief televised statement. "We'll strike them to the bitter end and avenge with force this black day they brought on Israel and its people." U.S. President Joe Biden voiced "rock solid and unwavering" support for the U.S. ally and warned "against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation." Hamas and Israel have fought four wars since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007. The U.N. Security Council called an emergency meeting for Sunday to discuss the latest violence. As night fell Saturday, the Israeli army said its forces were engaged in live gun battles in many locations. "There are still 22 locations where we are engaging with terrorists that came into Israel, from the sea, from the land and from the air," said army spokesperson Richard Hecht on what he labelled a "robust ground invasion." The coordinated attack began around 6:30 a.m. local time with thousands of rockets aimed as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, some slipping past Israel's Iron Dome defense system and hitting buildings. Hamas fighters, using ground vehicles, motorized paragliders and boats, breached Gaza's security barrier and attacked nearby Israeli towns and military posts, opening fire on residents and passersby. Linda Gradstein in Jerusalem contributed to this report; some material for this article came from The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Operation Iron Swords - Day 2 - 08 October 2023 Israel's security cabinet on 08 October 2023 officially declared a state of war following attacks by Hamas militants. The declaration allows "far-reaching military steps." More than 100 people had been kidnapped and 600 killed in Israel in large-scale attacks by the Islamist group Hamas, the Israeli government said 08 October 2023. According to Israeli media reports, there are around 170 Israelis in captivity in the Gaza Strip. In the Egyptian city of Alexandria, two Israeli tourists were shot dead along with their Egyptian guide. US media reports suggest several Americans were among the dead and US nationals among those abducted by Hamas. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health in Gaza said at least 370 people have died there so far as a result of Israeli retaliation. and around 2,200 were injured. German national Shani Louk was seen in the car of Hamas militants in videos shared on social media. She had been attending a peace festival near Gaza. A video circulating on social media showed a womans naked body being paraded in a pickup truck by Hamas terrorists during the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. Some social media users compared the bodys features to those of named Shani Louk. Louks mother confirmed that her 30-year-old daughter was indeed German and had been part of a tourist group in Israel. She expressed that she had seen the viral video and appealed to the public for any additional information they might have. Germany is reviewing its hundreds of millions of euros of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territories, Development Minister Svenja Schulze said 08 October 2023. She said although Germany had been careful to check that the donor money was only used for peaceful ends, the nature of the current attack by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas marked a "terrible turning point." Germany would discuss with Israel how development projects in the region could best be served, but she added it was also in the country's interest for people in the Palestinian territories to be able to live in stability in the long term. "We will now review our entire engagement for the Palestinian territories," Schulze said. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and assured him of German support. Scholz said Israel had the right to defend itself after the "barbaric attacks." Speaking to reporters at the United Nations ahead of a UN Security Council meeting, Israeli envoy Gilad Erdan also said it was time to "obliterate" Hamas' military infrastructure. "The era of reasoning with these savages is over," he said. "Now is the time to obliterate Hamas' terror infrastructure, to completely erase it, so that such horrors are never committed again." The Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have destroyed more than 550 Hamas facilities, IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee told Sputnik on Sunday, adding that these included homes, infrastructure and military positions. "Israel launched a series of dense and continuous strikes on the Gaza Strip, destroying more than 550 Hamas targets, including high-rise buildings, homes, infrastructure, positions, residential complexes and other facilities used by Hamas," Adraee said. The IDF air force also carried out strikes against Hamas groups attempting to infiltrate Israeli territory, killing hundreds of fighters in the Gaza Strip and along the border, the spokesman added. Israeli army spokesperson Richard Hecht said the fence to the Gaza Strip had been breached at 29 points, all of which were now under check. The Israeli military says there are still eight places in southern Israel, on the border with Gaza, where its forces are searching for possible attackers. Masha Michelson, head of the IDF's European press desk, said that hundreds of thousands of reservists had been sent to southern Israel to stabilize the border area with Gaza. "We have struck 426 targets since yesterday" in the Gaza Strip, including 100 strikes from UAVs that have been conducted on the border with Israel, she added, using the acronym for unmanned aerial vehicle. Michelson said there would be an investigation carried out "calmly, without bias and thoroughly" to determine how the surprise attack by Hamas was able to take place. Palestinians in Gaza have received messages on their phones from Israeli authorities, especially those living near the eastern part of Gaza, to evacuate immediately and move to more central areas. The Israeli army said it fired artillery on southern Lebanon after coming under fire from militants in the region. "Israeli artillery is in the process of striking the area of Lebanon from which a shot was fired," said a statement, which was issued shortly before 7:30 a.m. (0430 GMT) local time on Sunday. It did not give any further details about the attack. "The IDF is prepared for all scenarios, and will continue to protect the security of the residents of the State of Israel," IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari wrote. Israel will obliterate Hamas, the countrys envoy to the UN Gilad Erdan has said, ruling out any prospects of negotiating with the Palestinian militant group. Speaking ahead of an extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council on Sunday, the diplomat denounced Hamas as a genocidal Islamist terror organization, comparing it to Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) and al-Qaeda. The era of reasoning with these savages is over, Erdan announced. Now is the time to obliterate Hamas terror infrastructure, to completely wipe it out, so that such horrors are never committed again. In a wave of night attacks, the IDF attacked more than 500 strategic targets of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip. Among the targets attacked, seven operational headquarters of Hamas and another operational headquarters of the terrorist organization were destroyed. In addition, the IDF attacked a number of high-rise buildings, one of which houses a Hamas military headquarters. From there, terrorism was directed against the State of Israel. Also, a building that was used operationally by a senior naval officer of the terrorist organization Hamas was attacked. As part of the attack wave, three terror tunnels in the Beit Hanon area were destroyed. Two Hamas operational properties were also attacked from the air, one of them located in the heart of a mosque. Hezbollah said it fired at Israeli positions in the disputed Shebaa Farms along the border with Syria's Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah claimed responsibility, saying it had fired "large numbers of artillery shells and guided missiles" at Israeli positions "in solidarity" with Hamas. The Palestinian Authority (PA) is in a difficult position because it is betting on a political process that does not exist, a Palestinian analyst told Al Jazeera. The PA was hoping to maintain the status quo, but this operation has ensured that Hamass popularity will increase, especially if, once the fog of war clears, Hamas still has Israeli POWs, said Esmat Mansour, a Ramallah-based journalist specialising in Israeli affairs. Israel has not engaged in peace talks with the PA since 2014 and successive opinion polls show that a majority of Palestinians want its president, Mahmoud Abbas, to resign. Jordans King Abdullah said there was a need to intensify diplomatic efforts to prevent escalating Israeli-Palestinian violence with dangerous repercussions for the regions security. In comments made on state media, Abdullah said contacts with regional and international parties were under way to discuss urgent international action to avoid an escalation and prevent the region from the consequences of a new round of violence. Washington ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford, an aircraft carrier, and its accompanying warships to the eastern Mediterranean, the Pentagon said, adding that it was increasing fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. The Ford carrier strike group has around 5,000 sailors and deck of warplanes. The carrier will be accompanied by cruisers and destroyers. A statement from US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed that the US would provide munitions and equipment to Israel and boost American forces in the Middle East. "The United States government will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions," Austin's statement said. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgias 14th District, who, in the immediate aftermath of the Hamas attack, Tweeted/Xeeted We need to work with Israel to track serial numbers on any US weapons used by Hamas against Israel. Did they come from Afghanistan? the Congresswoman asks. Did they come from Ukraine? Highly likely the answer is both. Republican candidates hoping to unseat President Joe Biden quickly blamed him for the crisis. "Sadly, American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks, which many reports are saying came from the Biden Administration," former President Donald Trump said in a statement. Former Vice President Mike Pence, who's running for president, said in a statement, This is what happens when Americas president projects weakness on the world stage, kowtows to the mullahs in Iran with a $6 Billion ransom, and leaders in the Republican Party signal American retreat as Leader of the Free World. Weakness arouses Evil." Vivek Ramaswamy, said in a post on the social platform X, "Americas broken foreign policy establishment knew they were funding Hamas & went ahead with it anyway. The unprecedented $6BN in ransom paid to Iran last month worsened it: our taxpayer dollars are funding Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah. This will end on Day 1 of my administration." "All of the money held in restricted accounts in Doha as part of the arrangement to secure the release of 5 Americans in September remains in Doha. Not a penny has been spent," tweeted Treasury undersecretary Brian Nelson. "These restricted funds cannot go to Iran it can only be used for future humanitarian-related purposes. Any suggestion to the contrary is false and misleading." National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson also said in a post on X that none of the funds has been spent yet. "I cant comment on 2024 because of the Hatch Act. But I can clarify the facts: Not a single cent from these funds has been spent, and when it is spent, it can only be spent on things like food and medicine for the Iranian people. These funds have absolutely nothing to do with the horrific attacks today and this is not the time to spread," she wrote. In Germany, it was striking who did not comment: There was no prominent voice from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on the matter and barely any comments from the socialist Left Party. The leaders of the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), the center-right Christian Democrats (CDU), as well as the Greens and the neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP) made a rare joint statement expressing solidarity with Israel. "The security of the State of Israel is our obligation," they said, stressing that the two countries were joined in "in a democratic community of values." Polish President Andrzej Duda believes the extremist group Hamas' attack on Israel will aid Russia in its war against Ukraine as it draws away attention from the conflict, he said on Polish television. "This certainly helps Russia and Russian aggression against Ukraine, it distracts the world's attention," he said. Sergey Mardan, one of Russias best-known propagandists and host of the eponymous show on the state channel Solovyov Live, wrote on his Telegram channel that This mess is beneficial for Russia, because the globalist toad will be distracted from Ukraine and will get busy trying to put out the eternal Middle Eastern fire. Mardan explained, Iran is our real military ally. Israel is an ally of the United States. Therefore, choosing a side is easy! Host of the show Morning Z on Solovyov Live, Boris Yakemenko, blamed the violence on gender issues (presumably a reference to LGBT+ debates in the West), stating, What is happening today in different corners of the world shows that the world has come to a dangerous point, beyond which lies the new world. Crossing into it will be preceded by horrendous casualties, because of a feeling of total injustice, insanity, a total lack of understanding of what is happening, with all of these genders, with all of these strange phenomena! Putins former advisor, Sergey Markov, said The Soviet Union has been helping Palestinians for many years. The main ally of Israel is the United States, which is also Russias main enemy right now. Russias ally, Iran, is an ally of Hamas. Russia will benefit from the rising oil prices as a consequence of this war . . . Any conflicts on which the US and the EU have to expend resources are beneficial for Russia because this lessens the resources sent to the Russophobic regime in Ukraine. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who is deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said on X (formerly Twitter): Clashes between Hamas and Israel on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War come as an expected development. This is what Washington and its allies should be busy with. The conflict between Israel and Palestine has been going on for decades, with the US the key player in it. Medvedev added: But instead of actively working at Palestinian-Israeli settlement, these morons have interfered with us, and are providing the neo-Nazis with full-scale aid, pitting the two closely related peoples against each other. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ? Desde el Callao, la presidenta Dina Boluarte participa en la ceremonia por el 202. aniversario de la Marina de Guerra del Peru y el 144. aniversario del combate de Angamos. pic.twitter.com/WdoLjAVAdl Russo-Ukraine War - 07 October 2023 - Day 591 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The UK Ministry of Defence reported that on 1 October 2023, the Russian Black Sea resort town of Sochi was struck by uncrewed aerial vehicles for the second time in two weeks. Media reporting stated a helicopter landing site at Sochi Airport was damaged. The previous attack on 20 September 2023 caused a large fire at an oil storage facility, near the airport. It was the first recorded strike on the area since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Sochi is a popular holiday destination, heavily associated with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and serves as the summer base for many of Russia's elite. Strikes near the city mark a further example of the war directly affecting Russia's population well away from the Ukrainian border. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of October 7, there were 50x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 8x missile and 25x air strikes, 30x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Thus, at night, the Kremlin's terrorist forces launched another series of missile attacks on civilian port infrastructure in Odesa oblast as well as on the central area of the city of Myrhorod (Poltava oblast). Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in deaths and injuries among the civilians. A grain storage facility, buildings of a boarding house in a recreational area, apartment and private residential buildings, a vocational school, and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged. The operational situation in east and south of Ukraine remains difficult. Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group. Certain units of the armed forces of Belarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine. Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the Russian adversary maintains its military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. Russia continues to shell Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the density of minefields along the state border of Ukraine. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of the settlement of Stepne (Sumy oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at more than 15x settlements, including Volfyne, Pysarivka, Hrabovs'ke, Porozok (Sumy oblast), Udy, Pletenivka, Milove (Kharkiv oblast). Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 10x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Syn'kivka and Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Kup'yans'k, Kyrylivka, Pishchane, Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast). More than 10x settlements, including Kyslivka, Kotlyarivka, Tabaivka, Krokhmal'ne, Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire. Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 5x Russian attacks in the area of Makiivka (Luhansk oblast). The settlements of Novolyubivka, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Katerynivka, Spirne (Donetsk oblast) suffered Russian air strikes. The invaders fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast) and Spirne, Rozdolivka, (Donetsk oblast). Bakhmut axis: Russian forces launched air strikes near Klishchiivka and New York (Donetsk oblast). More than 15x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Kurdyumivka, Dachne, Pivnichne, Zalizne Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled all Russian attacks near Avdiivka and Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Sukha Balka, Novobakhmutivka, Keramik, Avdiivka, Opytne, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Mar'inka axis: during the day of October 7, Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully repelled 12x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Mar'inka, Krasnohorivka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). The adversary launched an air strike near Mar'inka (Donetsk oblast). About 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Antonivka, Katerynivka (Donetsk oblast) were under artillery and mortar fire of the occupiers. Shakhtars'ke axis: under heavy artillery fire and air strikes, Ukrainian defenders repelled 8x Russian attacks in the area of Vodyane (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces unsuccessfully tried to regain the lost ground to the east of Zolota Nyva (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinity of Volodyne (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Novoukrainka, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire. Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Pryyutne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 30x settlements, including Orikhiv, Novodanylivka, Robotyne, Novoandriivka, Lobkove, Mali Shcherbaky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire. Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at Zolota Balka, Nechajeve, Shyroka Balka (Kherson oblast) and the city of Kherson. At the same time, the Ukrainian defense forces continue their offensive operation on Melitopol' axis and offensive (assault) operations on Bakhmut axis, inflicting losses in manpower and equipment on the Russian occupation forces, exhausting Russian forces all along the front line. The Russian occupiers continue to place military hospitals in houses with civilians. Thus, in the city of Lysychans'k (Luhansk oblast), the Russian occupation forces set up a military hospital in an apartment building with civilians living in it. Also, in the settlement of Nyzhni Sirohozy (Kherson oblast), the occupiers moved sick civilians from the hospital to nearby private houses in order to free up hospital wards for wounded soldiers of the Russian occupation forces. During the day of October 7, Ukrainian Air Force launched 8x air strikes on the concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment, 5x air strikes on the anti-aircraft missile systems. The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x artillery system, 1x concentration of troops, weapons and military equipment, 1x electronic warfare station of the Russian invaders. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, the Zapad Group of Forces supported by aircraft, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled five counter-attacks of the AFU 4th Tank Brigade and 66th Mechanised Brigade near Makeyevka (Lugansk People's Republic) and Liman Perviy (Kharkov region). In addition, Russian units inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 14th, 30th, 32nd mechanised brigades, and 115th Territorial Defence Brigade near Kupyansk, Sinkovka, Liman Perviy, and Ivanovka (Kharkov region). Over 40 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system were neutralised. In Krasny Liman direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces' units, Army aviation, artillery repelled one attack of an assault detachment of the AFU 63rd Mechanised Brigade close to Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to more than 65 Ukrainian troops, two pick-up trucks, one Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer, two D-30 and one D-20 howitzers. In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled three attacks of AFU assault detachments near Kurdyumovka, Veseloye, and Severnoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy's losses in this direction during the day amounted to up to 190 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, three motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, and one D-30 howitzer. In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces repelled three attacks of the AFU 127th and 128th territorial defence brigades assault detachments close to Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region). Ground-Attack Aviation and artillery launched attacks at manpower and hardware of the AFU 58th Motorised Brigade and 79th Air Assault Brigade close to Urozhaynoye and Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy lost up to 225 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, one D-20 howitzer, as well as one electronic warfare station. In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by Ground-Attack aviation and helicopters hit manpower and hardware of the AFU 80th Airborne Assault Brigade, 65th and 118th mechanised brigades near Uspenovka, Rabotino, Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region). Up to 50 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and two pick-up trucks were eliminated. In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one Msta-B howitzer, one D-20 howitzer, and one M-46 towed field gun were neutralised. In Kherson direction, up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer have been neutralised by fire. Two AFU sabotage and reconnaissance groups were eliminated on Aleshinskiy and Pereyaslavsky islands. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 121 areas during the day. In addition, one AFU military equipment depot has been obliterated close to Ilichevsk (Odessa region). The command post of the AFU 95th Airborne Assault Brigade was hit near Pobeda (Donetsk People's Republic). Ukrainian Air Force air-delivered ordnance depots were destroyed near Dubievka (Cherkasy region). One ammunition depot of the AFU 1st Special Operations Brigade was destroyed close to Ogurtsovo (Kharkov region). AFU aircraft fuel depots were destroyed at Ozernoye airfield near Zhitomyr and Mirgorod airfield in Poltava region. Russian air defence units intercepted one Su-25 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force near Preobrazhenka (Zaporozhye region). Air defence units shot down seven HIMARS MLRS projectiles and four HARM anti-radiation missiles during the day. Moreover, 38 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles suppressed and neutralised close to Rubezhnoye, Svatovo (Lugansk People's Republic), Mospino, Novoselovka, Veseloye (Donetsk People's Republic), Romanovskoye, Vishnevoye, and Skelevatoye (Zaporozhye region). In total, 487 airplanes and 250 helicopters, 7,610 unmanned aerial vehicles, 440 air defence missile systems, 12,387 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,161 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 6,679 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 13,892 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US blacklists 42 Chinese firms for selling microchips to Russia The US-origin microchips have been banned from export to Russia for more than a year. By Alex Willemyns for RFA 2023.10.06 -- The United States has blacklisted 42 Chinese companies among a total of 49 worldwide for on-selling U.S.-made microchips to Russia in violation of sanctions, according to a document released Friday. The blacklisting, under the Department of Commerce's Entity List, means American companies will need to apply for a special license - which is rarely, if ever, granted - to continue selling to the firms. The move comes amid a brewing U.S.-China trade war on microchip sales, with the Biden administration banning the export of technology to make high-end chips to China and Beijing hitting back by banning U.S. chipmaker Micron from selling in China's market. Besides the 42 Chinese companies, there are also three Indian and two Turkish firms blacklisted, as well as one each in Estonia, Finland, Germany, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. All are accused of activities "contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States," says the Federal Register filing. "These entities are added to the Entity List for providing support to Russia's military and/or defense industrial base. Specifically, these entities supplied Russian consignees connected to the Russian defense sector with U.S.-origin integrated circuits," it says. The chips "have been controlled for export and reexport and transfer within Russia since September 15, 2022," and companies need to seek a specific license for any sales "destined to Russia or Belarus." The United States has called on China to not materially support Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and has called the transfer of weapons a redline. But officials have also said they do not necessarily consider small shipments made by private Chinese firms to be a violation. 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 October 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 'Pillar of Shame' sculptor says Hong Kong 'too dangerous' to visit Danish artist says officials say he made the statue commemorating Tiananmen massacre to stir up trouble. By Chen Zifei for RFA Mandarin, Jojo Man for RFA Cantonese 2023.10.06 -- The Danish sculptor whose "Pillar of Shame" statue commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen massacre was seized by Hong Kong authorities said police in the city are harassing the relatives of people who work with him overseas. Jens GalschiAt also said that some European artists and politicians are wary of traveling to the city under the current crackdown on dissent. GalschiAt has been trying to retrieve his artwork since it was removed from the University of Hong Kong in December 2021 and seized by Hong Kong national security police in May, said he would like to go to the city to get it back, but that this is currently "impossible." "I really want to go to Hong Kong to meet some of my friends there, but I don't think it's possible," he said, adding that he has - like U.S. photographer Matthew Connors - previously been denied entry to the city, and that the Hong Kong government's stance towards him is "extremely aggressive." Hong Kong security chief Chris Tang has declined to confirm whether media reports that there is a warrant out for GalschiAt's arrest are true or not. But he warned in August that artistic creations like the "Pillar of Shame" can sometimes be a "pretext" for those seeking to "endanger national security." 'Mainland China has taken over' Speaking on a trip to democratic Taiwan, GalschiAt said the authorities seem to have decided he is out to make trouble, despite the fact that the sculpture was made a quarter of a century ago. "They attack me the whole time ... and they attack the people I work together with in Europe," he said. "They say I am just making art to disturb [things] there, and they don't think at all that we put this sculpture [there] 25 years ago." "It's a really, really strange situation ... that kind of shows the changes in in Hong Kong and this show that mainland China has taken over also in the court system, and the whole system," he said, in a reference to an ongoing crackdown on public criticism of the authorities under the 2020 National Security Law. In December 2021, authorities at the government-run University of Hong Kong removed the "Pillar of Shame" and placed it under guarded storage, saying they had taken "legal advice" regarding potential risks for the university under the new law. Days later, authorities at the Chinese University of Hong Kong took down a 6.4-meter bronze replica of the "Goddess of Democracy" figure used in the Tiananmen Square protests, while Lingnan University removed or painted over two public art works commemorating the victims of the massacre. Vigils banned Annual vigils commemorating the 1989 massacre of unarmed civilians by the People's Liberation Army have also been banned, with their organizers behind bars. GalschiAt said things in Hong Kong "couldn't be worse." "I have a lot of people who they're starting now to disturb their family," he said. "The people I work together with in Europe, were talking to me and I talked to the press, then they take the people in Hong Kong and ask the family the father, the brother, and say, 'Oh, do you know what your brother is doing in Europe?'" "This is their way of doing it in Hong Kong at the moment. I'm quite surprised. I think it's going really really quickly and too quickly," he said, blaming Beijing's insistence on "smashing" the democracy movement with the national security law. He said he knows people who are wary of traveling to Hong Kong at all, where the national security law applies to words and actions committed anywhere in the world, and by people of any nationality. "There are a lot of people in Europe who have canceled their trip to Hong Kong and are afraid to go there," GalschiAt said. "Both in the Chinese diaspora but also a lot of the European people are saying okay, we don't go to Hong Kong - it's too dangerous for us to go there." "I know some people from the parliament in Denmark. They can't go to Hong Kong because they're afraid of getting arrested," he said. The Chinese and Hong Kong governments have blamed recent waves of mass protest in Hong Kong on incitement by "hostile foreign forces" seeking to foment a "color revolution" - or democratic regime change - in the city. In August, Chris Tang blamed the mass protest campaign in 2012 by students - some of them still in secondary school - against patriotic education in Hong Kong's schools, the 2014 Occupy Central movement for fully democratic elections, the 2016 "fishball revolution" in Mong Kok and the 2019 movement against extradition to mainland China on the actions of "foreign forces." Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. 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 October 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 Schumer's China visit continues momentum of high-level contacts Global Times By GT staff reporters Published: Oct 07, 2023 10:28 PM A bipartisan delegation of senators led by US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer arrived in Shanghai on Saturday. While expressing hope that the visit would be an opportunity for US politicians to gain more understanding of China, some analysts said that Schumer's visit is more about aligning with the Biden administration's recent "tactical" adjustments to enhance engagement with China. They called on the US to take more actions to improve the complicated bilateral relations rather than add obstacles.. A detailed itinerary of the US congressional delegation's trip in China has not been released but Schumer will reportedly meet with senior Chinese officials in Shanghai and Beijing. According to some media, the delegation will also visit South Korea and Japan with "the goal of advancing US economic and national security interests" in the region. Schumer's journey to China, which is also the first congressional visit to the nation since 2019, has particular significance for US-China ties, analysts said. Schumer has long been a critic of China and supported several unfavorable laws regarding China. In light of the present complicated situation, the trip demonstrated the need to continue communication between China and the US, Sun Chenghao, a fellow and head of the US-EU program at the Center for International Security and Strategy in Tsinghua University, told the Global Times. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that China welcomes Schumer's visit, and hopes that it will contribute to a more objective understanding of China in the US Congress, increase dialogue and communication between the legislatures of the two countries, and add positive factors to the growth of China-US relations. During his stay in China, Schumer may discuss the possibility of improving legislative exchanges between China and the US and also update his understanding of China to make preparations for another comprehensive competition bill against China. Moreover, as a Democrat, Schumer may help the Biden administration in gathering information on China's attitude during the visit, said Sun. In May, US Senate Democrats, led by Schumer, launched a renewed effort to create a bill - dubbed "China Competition 2.0" - to limit the flow of technology to China, Reuters reported. Senators from both parties are in the visiting group, including Republican Senator Mike Crapo, the senior member of his party on the Senate Finance Committee, and two additional Democratic Senators and another two Republican Senators. Domestic politics and the upcoming election are also reasons for these senators to join in the delegation, and some think they will use the occasion to talk about issues involving China, such as Micron Technology's capacity to conduct business in China, some experts said. Before the visit, Schumer's office said on Tuesday that he planned to talk to Chinese officials about human rights, concerns about fentanyl and "China's role in the international community," the Associated Press reported. It is not unexpected that Schumer will bring up these issues given the bipartisan consensus to maintain competitiveness and a tough stance toward China, and the extreme division of US politics has also encouraged hardliners to criticize other politicians with varying degrees of anti-China sentiment, said Sun. More actions urged Schumer and the bipartisan delegation's visit coincided with growing speculation about a meeting of top leaders from China and the US on the sidelines of next month's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in San Francisco. US President Joe Biden told reporters on Friday that such a meeting "is a possibility," but no information had come from China. Analysts have urged the US to make more of an effort to foster amicability rather than put obstacles in the way of a higher-level meeting. Apart from Schumer's visit to China, recent weeks have witnessed a series of frequent high-level engagements between China and the US, including the meeting between Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in New York last month and the meeting between Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan in Malta also in September. The engagement between China and the US fits the interests of the two countries as well as the expectations of the international community. But some observers noted that the Biden administration has not changed its policy of competing with China, and its current adjustments are temporary and tactical. They also noted that the US has shown a more positive attitude in words than in moves in recent months for a possible top leaders' meeting, as it is still creating obstacles to bilateral relations. The Biden administration is attempting to exploit high-level encounters to shake and erode China's resolve to resist US sanctions that have no basis in reality. Additionally, it has kept up the pressure on China on the high-tech sector front and on the Taiwan question and the issue of the South China Sea, LA Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. On Friday, the US Commerce Department added 42 Chinese companies to a government export control list using "their support for Moscow's military and defense industrial base" as an excuse. According to LA, current China-US relations are still complicated since bilateral ties have stopped further deteriorating but are still at a low point. "We welcome the US' positive statements and efforts to mend relations, but their words have become unreliable due to their sanctions against Chinese companies," said the expert. The window of opportunity to normalize US-China ties is still open, and if the Biden administration misses it, they will be plunged into internal "wars" and disarray in the upcoming election period, said LA. Echoing LA, many experts have also called on the Biden administration to show more sincerity in improving relations with China as the recent high-level engagements not only improve exchanges between the governments but also help resume people-to-people exchanges. For example, on October 4, Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng met with a delegation of nearly 30 renowned Chinese and American scholars led by a Chinese think tank and an American think tank, during which Xie noted that think tanks and scholars of the two countries have always played an important role in promoting mutual understanding It is significant for China and the US to maintain dialogue and exchanges at all levels and in various fields to avoid derailing bilateral relations, and the US needs to take more actions rather than fancy words to truly improve bilateral relations and to help create a friendly environment for higher-level talks, analysts said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US bans trade with 42 Chinese firms, Beijing decries 'bullying' Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 October 2023 4:51 PM The United States has banned trade with 42 more Chinese companies over military support for Russia. Beijing decries the move as "a typical act of economic coercion and unilateral bullying." The US Commerce Department said in a statement on Friday that the companies supplied "US-origin" semiconductors that Russia uses for missile guidance systems and drones in the military operation in Ukraine. "Today's additions to the Entity List provide a clear message: if you supply the Russian defense sector with US-origin technology, we will find out, and we will take action," said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew Axelrod. The US department said it is adding another seven entities in total from Finland, Germany, India, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Industry and security undersecretary Alan Estevez said in a separate statement, "No matter how convoluted the trail may be or how many hands items are passing through if US-origin items are finding their way to Russia's military, we will work tirelessly to stop it." China's Ministry of Commerce reacted to Washington's latest decision in a statement on Saturday, describing the move as "economic coercion and unilateral bullying." "The US has generalized [the concept of] national security and abused export control measures, willfully imposing unilateral sanctions and 'long-arm jurisdiction' on Chinese companies." It called on Washington to "immediately correct its wrong practices and stop its unreasonable suppression of Chinese companies." The ministry vowed to take "all necessary measures to firmly defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies." Last month, the US Commerce Department added 11 Chinese entities to the same trade control list for supplying components to make drones for the Russian military. Washington has placed tariffs and other trade restrictions on China over national security, human rights and other concerns. Beijing, however, says Washington is seeking to contain China's economic development as it emerges as a global power and potential threat to the US-led international order. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address October 7, 2023 Release Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout: Secretary Austin spoke this morning with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant to convey his condolences for the victims of this appalling, abhorrent terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel. He conveyed that his thoughts are with the families of the victims, and that he sends his best wishes for recovery to those who were injured. Secretary Austin made clear to Minister Gallant his ironclad support for the Israeli Defense Forces and the Israeli people. He reaffirmed that the Department's commitment to Israel's security and its absolute right to defend itself from acts of terrorism is unwavering. Secretary Austin has directed his team to ensure that DoD is closely consulting with all of our Allies and partners who share a commitment to peace and oppose terrorism. Secretary Austin will continue to consult with Minister Gallant in the coming days and weeks to ensure that Israel has the support it needs. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3551614/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Vladimir Putin had a meeting with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Novo-Ogaryovo. October 7, 2023 16:30 President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Tokayev, I am delighted to welcome you to Russia, to Moscow, and I say this from the bottom of my heart. We will have another meeting in Kyrgyzstan in several days, but your visit to Moscow is a landmark event, and I am grateful to you for this, as well as for the fact that we implemented a project together that we presented today. It is quite modest, to my mind, but this is the first step, a very important step towards energy cooperation in the region. We have just had a conversation with heads of energy companies behind closed doors, and we heard their assessments and views. We will, as agreed, issue instructions to create a working group that will analyse all potential scenarios and all possible and perspective steps in this direction. But, apart from this, we have topics to talk about, we have a huge volume of joint work, since the situation is changing in a very positive way in all areas, in a way that we need, and I would like to thank you for this. During our meeting today, we will have an opportunity to cover each segment in an informal setting, including industrial production, manufacturing, services, transport and high-tech fields, including space - there are many issues to be discussed here. In general, I want to say once again that I am very happy to see you. Welcome! President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev: Mr Putin, I am very glad to be in Moscow on this day and I would like to begin by wishing you a happy birthday. I know that you do not celebrate your birthdays, but in any case, this is an important event in the life of each individual. So, from the bottom of my heart, I would like to wish you good health and longevity -whether it is political longevity as head of the Russian state or simply in life. I believe that for many people you are an example of a resilient, physically strong person, and I know that you are an athlete. But in any case, you cannot have too many kind wishes on your birthday. As for cooperation between our countries, it is developing successfully in many different areas. First and foremost, it is strategic cooperation and relations between our states are an alliance in most diverse spheres. Today we took part in the launch of a major project. Indeed, in terms of figures it might not be all that big, but nevertheless a large amount of work has been done. <...> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Death toll for anti-junta fighters surges in past two months The higher death rate reflects intensifying civil war and coordination issues between rebel units. By RFA Burmese 2023.10.06 -- The death toll of anti-junta fighters has spiked over the past two months, surpassing 100 in August and September together, according to Burma News International's Myanmar Peace Monitor, which compiles data on military conflict in the country. The higher death rate is another indication that civil war between the junta and rebels resisting the military's rule since it overthrew a democratically elected government in a 2021 coup d'etat. During the previous six months - between February and July - a total of 132 members of People' Defense Forces were killed, it said. Many PDF members are ordinary citizens who have taken up arms against the military, and sometimes there is a lack of coordination or cooperation between the disparate units, sources told Radio Free Asia. "When the war intensified, the need for tactics and the differences in weapons and ammunition shows there is still a problem for the revolutionary forces," said Captain Lin Chet Aung, a member of the Civil Disobedience Movement, made up of soldiers and government employees who quit to protest the coup. The rebel fighters need more weapons and train more on tactics and coordination, he said. "If you look at the areas where the killings took place, there is a lack of connection between the groups in their area, and a lack of information," he said. "There is a lack of trust" between PDF units. 'Must have run out of ammunition' According to Myanmar Peace Monitor's tally, the death toll included 51 people in Sagaing region, six in Magway region, 20 in Chin state, two in Kayah state, 10 in Tanintharyi region, three in Mandalay region, one in Kachin state, two in Bago region, five in Kayin state and one in Shan state. Some of the killings have come in bursts. On Sept. 18, seven PDF members were killed in a battle between the PDF troops and the junta in Palaw township in Tanintharyi region. They were arrested and killed due to lack of manpower and firing power, the person in charge of Myeik District No. 1 Battalion told RFA on condition of anonymity. "They were surrounded by more than 200 strong junta troops. They were arrested in a house in Mya Taung village," the person said. "They must have run out of ammunition while shooting." On Sept. 22, junta troops arrested and killed 27 PDF members near Chay Yar Taw village in Sagaing region's Myinmu township, Captain Khin Thaung of Myengmu Township PDF told RFA. "They did not get time to run because they were evacuating the civilians," he said. "Furthermore, security information was leaked out and they did not get information in time." Political commentator Than Soe Naing said the PDFs must adapt to the change in the junta's tactics. Resistance forces are suffering more casualties because they lack basic military strategy, he said. "This isn't a situation like in the past when the junta launched offensives by using artillery," he said. RFA attempted to contact junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun for a response on the recent increase in killings of PDF members, but he didn't respond. Translated by Htin Aung Kyaw. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster. 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 October 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 Body found in Myanmar's Pale township as junta continues on warpath Around 15,000 displaced as raids continue into their third day. By RFA Burmese 2023.10.06 -- Myanmar's junta killed a man as a convoy of troops moving through Sagaing region continued to raid villages and abduct residents, locals told Radio Free Asia Friday. The body of the man in his 30s was discovered Thursday near Ma Taunt Ta village after being tortured by the junta group Tiger Ogre, local residents told Radio Free Asia. "Go ahead, it won't be so long until you can clearly see the ashes," was written on a tarp near the corpse and signed by Tiger Ogre, according to a group helping war victims in the area. "He was tortured and killed after he was captured while fleeing the fighting. He was found when the locals returned to the village after the column left," said a member of the assistance group, asking to be kept anonymous for fear of reprisals. "His name and where he is from are still not known. The body was already mutilated when locals found it near Ma Taunt Ta village." The convoy, consisting of more than 300 soldiers and 17 military trucks, continues to arbitrarily open fire along their route. Locals report they also continue to raid villages, arrest members of local People's Defense Forces, and take hostages. The morning of Oct. 4, Tiger Ogre raided five villages between Salingyi and Yinmarbin townships in southern Sagaing region. The targeted villages included Baik Tha Yet, Ma Taunt Ta and Shwe Tha Min. After firing at villages from a helicopter for an hour, the junta troops left for Pale township on the morning of October 5. As the troops continue their raids across the region, more than 15,000 residents in Salingyi, Yinmarbin, and Pale townships have fled, aid workers and locals said. The troops have also killed and captured locals, as well as taken rations of rice, oil, and peas whenever they entered the villages, residents said. The number of casualties has not been confirmed by RFA. On Thursday morning, 10 locals were also arrested on suspicion of planting landmines near the entrance of Let Taung Gyi village in Pale township. A witness said there were about 20 military trucks reinforcing the column when the junta troops raided the villages in Pale township. "Now the column has arrived in Kokko Kone village in Pale township," said a witness asking to remain anonymous. "The 10 civilians who were arrested from Let Taung Gyi village were released in the night. They were released around 7pm when we received the information." He added that villages are still being targeted because of landmines planted by local resistance groups along the junta's route. Tiger Ogre column is responsible for violent decapitations, torture and robberies in other townships in southern Sagaing earlier this year. Calls by RFA to Sagaing's junta spokesperson Sai Naing Naing Kyaw went unanswered. More than 813,000 people have fled their homes in Sagaing due to fighting according to a United Nations report on Oct. 2. Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn. 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 October 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 Myanmar Supreme Court rejects Suu Kyi appeals of six graft cases Former democracy icon is serving 27 years for defaming military and undermining state order. By RFA Burmese 2023.10.06 -- The Myanmar junta's high court on Friday rejected appeals of all six corruption convictions handed to former State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. The Union Supreme Court announced that it would not hear challenges to the original rulings in the six graft cases - four related to the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation and two related to businessman Maung Weik. Junta authorities arrested the 78-year-old Suu Kyi in the immediate aftermath of the military's Feb. 1, 2021, coup, along with former President Win Myint and other leaders of the deposed National League for Democracy, or NLD, party. She was serving a 33-year prison sentence for convictions in 19 cases but on Aug. 1 was partially pardoned for five of them as part of a general amnesty, reducing her punishment to 27 years in jail. They relate to the Natural Disaster Management Law, the Communication Law and one case under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code, which deals with defaming the country's military and undermining state order. The 72-year-old Win Myint, who is reportedly in poor health, had his 12 years of combined prison sentences reduced by four years in August. Suu Kyi is also suffering from "urgent" dental issues in detention, sources told RFA, but junta authorities have ignored her request for permission to seek treatment. In fact, it is not even clear where she is being detained. The Associated Press cited a legal official who is familiar with Suu Kyi's cases as saying that of the six appeals rejected on Friday, four were convictions for abusing her position to rent property in the capital Naypyitaw and Yangon, Myanmar's largest city. The cases alleged that she had obtained the land at below-market prices for a charitable foundation that she chaired and had built a residence for herself on one plot with money donated for the foundation. The legal official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the other appeal cases were related to two counts of corruption in which Suu Kyi was found guilty of receiving a total of US$550,000 between 2018 and 2020 from Maung Weik, a tycoon who in 2008 had been convicted of drug trafficking. The Union Supreme Court also rejected appeals of five of Suu Kyi's convictions on Aug. 29. The legal team representing Suu Kyi and Win Myint had repeatedly requested meetings with the two NLD leaders to discuss their appeals since January, but were never allowed to do so. Sources with ties to Myanmar's judiciary told RFA Burmese that the remaining cases for which Suu Kyi was imprisoned are still in the appeal process at the Union Supreme Court. Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster. 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 October 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 The Swedish Vallhund stands at 11 to 13 inches (28 to 33 centimeters) tall and weighs up to 35 pounds (16 kilograms), but don't let its size fool you: This small dog is big on personality. In fact, that's what draws many of the breed's enthusiasts. "My Lucas loves to boop things when he is frustrated, is very vocal about his needs, will herd you (a wee nip) when you aren't moving fast enough, and is the sweetest, funniest, most loving dog we have ever had," emails Georgette Champagne, who lives in Virginia with her Swedish Vallhund, Lucas. "He loves his scritches!" Advertisement This personable little breed (that still retains its herding instincts) actually has an ancient pedigree that nearly went extinct. By the 1940s, few Swedes had seen a Swedish Vallhund and fewer still had one as a companion. It wasn't until Bjorn von Rosen, who already had successfully saved several ancient Swedish dog breeds, recalled the Swedish Vallhund of his youth that measures were taken to increase its numbers. Von Rosen placed an advertisement in a newspaper, inquiring about existing dogs of that type, and eventually heard from a man named K.G. Zettersten. Together, they began a Swedish Vallhund breeding program predicated on finding foundation stock. Before long, they had located five suitable dogs one male and four females and were intent on bringing the Swedish Vallhund back to life. In 1943, after just one year of exhibiting and showing Swedish Vallhunds, the breed was recognized by the Swedish Kennel Club. It wasn't until 1974 that the breed expanded outside Sweden, with the first Swedish Vallhund transported to England. By 1986, the first Swedish Vallhund litter had been born in the United States, but it wasn't until 2007 that the breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Launch of Russian gas supplies to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part, via videoconference, in the launch of Russian gas supplies to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan. October 7, 2023 15:00 Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller delivered a report via videoconference on the project implementation. * * * President of Russia Vladimir Putin: President Tokayev, President Mirziyoyev, friends, I would like to once again extend my heartfelt welcome to all the participants in today's launch of Russian gas supplies to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan, and to Kazakhstan. This is an enormous trilateral energy project, and it is being implemented using the Central Asia-Centre gas pipeline system, built in the 1960s. Back then it was the first transcontinental Eurasian gas pipeline which delivered gas from Uzbekistan simultaneously to eight union republics, carrying around 80 billion cubic metres of gas per year. Now this pipeline will operate in reverse mode and will reliably meet the needs of the dynamically growing economy of Uzbekistan and, to some extent, Kazakhstan, which is developing at a fast pace and also needs additional energy resources. I would like to remind you that our Uzbekistani friends asked us at the end of last year to launch gas supplies. We promptly responded to their request, issued corresponding instructions to Gazprom, which worked out all the necessary technical details with our partners from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The contract on the export of Russian gas to Uzbekistan and the agreement on its transportation via Kazakhstan were signed during the St Petersburg International Economic Forum in June. Pursuant to these documents, Russia will supply 2.8 billion cubic metres of gas to consumers in Uzbekistan within the next two years. I would like to emphasise that the three countries' specialists faced a large-scale and challenging task: to test, repair and modernise the gas transportation system facilities of Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan which have not been operated for a long time. This had to be done in the shortest possible time, very fast. We needed to complete the work before winter sets in, bearing in mind the challenges of last winter, which was very severe in Uzbekistan, with temperatures reaching minus 20 degrees; Mr Mirziyoyev said even minus 25 and lower. The scope of the work, executed within such a short time frame, is impressive. The Aleksandrov Gai gas metering station in the Saratov Region, Russia, has been modernised. Pipelines were repaired and compressor stations were emptied in Kazakhstan. A gas metering station and a new section of the Bukhara-Ural gas pipeline were built in Uzbekistan. Our three countries established technical supervision over the progress made in the repair and modernisation work. Issues with supplies for the project were resolved with manufacturers of pipes and fittings. Additional capacities of Russian Railways were engaged to ensure timely shipments from Russian manufacturing plants to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. It is also important to note that we used our own, state-of-the-art, innovative technologies during the modernisation of the cross-border pipeline system, and I am confident that they will ensure maximum economic efficiency, safety and environmental friendliness of fuel transportation. The implementation of this project will have obvious benefits for all three states. Uzbekistan will receive an additional source of energy, which will guarantee an uninterrupted supply of heating and electricity to households and socially important facilities. Kazakhstan will be able to resolve issues of gas supply to its northern and eastern regions. Gazprom is already working out the corresponding routes and gas supply parameters. Russia has confirmed its status as a reliable natural gas supplier. We are open to future cooperation and will strive to meet the needs of all our Kazakh and Uzbek friends and partners, as well as other consumers interested in this fuel. Overall, the project undoubtedly has great importance for economic development and energy security of our three countries and the entire vast region. In conclusion I would like to thank everyone who made sure that the interests of all three countries are taken into account, and successfully organised new schemes of Russian gas deliveries to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, all those who worked on designing and building the new gas transportation route - engineers, builders and employees of Russia's Gazprom, Kazakh and Uzbek power engineers. We worked as a team, and I want to tell you: great job and thank you very much! Your professionalism and dedication deserve the highest praise. Prompt implementation of such a large-scale, mutually beneficial and socially important project has shown that Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are able to tackle the most difficult, most ambitious tasks. I am confident that the strategic partnership of our three countries will continue. It will develop further and bring specific, tangible results to our nations. Thank you very much. Please, colleagues. President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev: President Putin, President Mirziyoyev, colleagues, friends. I am glad to welcome you to the launch of Russian gas transit to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan. This is a truly historic event, which opens another bright page in the history of neighbourly relations between our countries, taking our strategic cooperation and energy collaboration to a whole new level. The gas industry plays a large and important role in the steady socioeconomic development of our countries, and that is why this project meets the interests of all stakeholders. Kazakhstan has completed the preparation of the mains pipeline in its territory on time and in full. The project is aimed at diversifying Russian gas exports, expanding and modernising Kazakhstan's gas transportation infrastructure and satisfying Uzbekistan's growing need for natural gas, which amounts to up to three billion cubic metres a year. It will also give a powerful impetus to our countries' industrial development, enhance the business climate, and improve the quality of people's lives. I would like to highlight the project's role in strengthening regional stability and energy security of Central Asia. More than 20,000 kilometres of mains pipelines with an annual throughput capacity of up to 255 billion cubic metres pass through Kazakhstan, and our country is interested in using its transit potential in full and is ready to further increase the volume of Russian gas deliveries. In conclusion I would like to thank President Putin for his personal contribution to promoting this extremely important transnational project. You were the driving force behind its implementation. I would also like to express my gratitude to President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev for his extensive support. I want to separately thank Gazprom management and Mr Alexei Miller personally, and all Kazakh, Russian and Uzbek specialists for their professional and responsible joint work. I want to wish you prosperity and every success. President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev: President Putin, President Tokayev, participants in the launch ceremony, I am delighted to be here at the launch of Russian natural gas deliveries to the Republic of Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan. This is a truly landmark event in our cooperation. Energy cooperation between Uzbekistan, Russia and Kazakhstan has reached a new development level. Thanks to political will and joint efforts, a new gas transportation corridor has been established. The Central Asia - Centre gas pipeline, which was used for many decades for gas deliveries and transit to Russia, will now be used in the reverse direction to supply the Russian blue fuel. Over a short period, our specialists worked together to complete a huge amount of work. They prepared infrastructure for gas transportation, rebuilt sections of the gas pipeline, modernised compressor stations, and built the Beyneu gas metering station. Additionally, our energy companies entered into agreements and contracts on natural gas deliveries and transit. The launch of this gas transport corridor has strategic value. First, it means reliable and guaranteed supplies of the blue fuel, which is a major energy security factor for our country and the whole region. Second, it means additional gas volumes for uninterrupted supply of hydrocarbons to the economy and households. I would like to once again stress that this project is an outstanding example of successful, mutually beneficial energy cooperation between Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Its implementation demonstrates our unity and ability to provide a prompt response to global economic challenges, especially in ensuring energy security, and we are ready to develop a long-term partnership in this sphere. I would like to take this opportunity and express my sincere gratitude to President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for their personal support of this strategic project and moving it forward. I would also like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our countries' specialists and experts: gas sector professionals, engineers, builders and other oil and gas industry workers who implemented the project within the shortest time period. I would like to thank Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and KazakhGas management for their assistance in expediting the work on this project. Colleagues, friends, I am convinced that implementing such a large-scale project and its results will contribute to further strengthening diverse relations between our three states, and will contribute to the well-being and prosperity of our nations. Thank you for your attention. Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much. Mr Miller, please. Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller: President Putin, President Tokayev, President Mirziyoyev, I am joining you from St Petersburg, Gazprom's central office in Lakhta Centre. Mr Putin, I would like to use this opportunity to wish you a happy birthday. We have come together for an important event for the gas industry, a landmark event: today we give a new lease on life to the Central Asia - Centre system of mains gas pipelines. For the first time it will operate in a reverse mode to supply Russian gas to Uzbekistan. Gas supply and transit contracts were signed in mid-June and we got down to work at once. Repairs, modernisation and new construction were carried out on a section stretching for 1,760 kilometres through Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. This complex of work was carried out within the shortest time period possible: just 3.5 months. I want to thank everyone who took part in this work. You can see the gas supply system on the screen. Gas from Russia's unified gas supply system reaches the border with Kazakhstan, is transported to the border of Uzbekistan along the specially dedicated gas transport corridor and is then delivered to consumers. Gentlemen, Your instruction to launch Russian gas supplies to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan was accomplished within the indicated deadlines. We will continue to develop our long-term mutually beneficial cooperation in the gas sphere. <...> Alexei Millier: TheAleksandrov Gaicompressor station located on the border of Russia and Kazakhstan is on the line. Mr President of Russia, I ask for your permission to launch the supplies of Russia gas to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan. Vladimir Putin: You have my permission Alexei Miller: Launch the supplies of Russian gas. Remark: Gas is being supplied. The pressure in the mains pipeline corresponds to the set parameters, all systems are working in a stable operation mode. Vladimir Putin: Congratulations to everyone! (Applause.) Once again thank you for your work. We are sure that it will continue. We agreed with our colleagues that we will discuss the future prospects now. They are serious and substantial - in the energy sector in general, not only in terms of gas supplies. We are well aware of the demands. The economies of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan under the leadership of President Tokayev and President Mirziyoyev are growing at a fast pace, and the countries need energy. We have plans and opportunities, as you have just reported and showed us. We have very well-trained professionals - in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Russia. We will discuss all of these issues with our colleagues today and I am confident that we will find solutions to satisfy the growing needs of all our countries. Thank you very much once again. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US expels two Russian diplomats; Moscow calls it 'banal revenge' Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 October 2023 7:41 AM The US has expelled two Russian diplomats in what the Russian ambassador to the United States called "banal revenge". The US State Department said it made the decision in response to Russia declaring two US diplomats persona non grata in September over alleged collaboration with a Russian spy. "The Department will not tolerate the Russian government's pattern of harassment of our diplomats," said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. Russian ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said reacted to the decision in a statement on Telegram after a meeting with the US side. "I asked my interlocutors to explain what exactly our comrades were accused of and I received no arguments. Thus, this is, in fact, banal revenge, which does not do credit to American diplomacy," he said. On September 14, the Russian foreign ministry summoned US Ambassador Lynne Tracy to inform her that two American diplomats - first secretary Jeffrey Sillin and second secretary David Bernstein - had been declared as "persona non grata", meaning that they had to leave the Russian Federation within a week. The Kremlin had accused the pair of keeping contact with a Russian national - Robert Shonov - who had once worked for the now-closed US consulate in Russia's far-eastern city of Vladivostok and been arrested earlier this year on the charge of "confidential cooperation" with a foreign government. Shonov was employed by the US Consulate General in the faraway city for more than 25 years up 2021, when Moscow prevented the local staff from working for the US mission. In mid-September, Miller warned that the US would respond to the expulsion of the two US diplomats from Russia "expeditiously." He further slammed the charges as being "wholly without merit", saying that Shonov had been working "in strict compliance with Russia's laws and regulations." Moscow has said that the two expelled US diplomats "carried out illegal activities" and maintained contact with Shonov, "who was given tasks for financial compensation aimed at harming the national security of the Russian Federation." Tensions between Russia and the US have been worsening for years and both sides have expelled diplomatic staff in retaliatory moves. In February, the US expelled 12 diplomats from Russia's New York-based mission to the UN, accusing the staff of engaging in espionage activities. Moscow condemned the move as hostile and a gross violation of the commitments by the US. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address No More Coaxing Convicts. Russia's Defense Ministry Wants To Change The Law To Permit Drafting Prisoners. By RFE/RL's North.Realities October 07, 2023 By the time Russian Defense Ministry recruiters arrived at penitentiary IK-29 in the far northern region of Arkhangelsk in April, Artyom Bunyatov had already turned down two previous pitches by mercenary group representatives urging him to serve on the front lines in Ukraine in exchange for his freedom. The 31-year-old convicted drug dealer had been warned by his mother, Larisa, not to make such a pact but instead to serve out the remaining three years of his prison term. He had no previous military training, she reminded him in a phone call. This time, however, the cajoling finally worked. According to Larisa, the Defense Ministry officials promised him a clean criminal record and a job upon completion of a tour in Ukraine -- and he signed up for combat. The practice of coaxing and pressuring inmates like Bunyatov to serve in Ukraine may soon come to an end -- but not because Russia has a surfeit of troops. With Russian casualties estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands, no end to its invasion of Ukraine in sight, and another round of call-ups posing a political risk for the Kremlin ahead of a presidential election in March 2024, Moscow is seeking to make it legal to draft inmates to help fill the ranks. Russian legislation currently forbids the military to register convicted prisoners for the draft or call them up for duty. But last month, the Defense Ministry submitted a proposal to remove that restriction from the law, potentially making tens of thousands of convicts fair game for deployment to Ukraine. "It's possible that they may start conscripting directly from prison," a representative of Russia Behind Bars, a group that advocates for prisoners' rights, told RFE/RL. The representative, who asked that their name be withheld out of safety concerns, said that it could take several months after the legislation is adopted for prisons to set up the necessary infrastructure before the first convict is drafted. But when it is complete, "then they will be able to start pulling [prisoners] indiscriminately" for military service, the representative said. Russia currently has 266,000 convicts behind bars, Deputy Justice Minister Vsevolod Vukolov said October 4. The overwhelming majority are men. Manpower Shortage Russia has been eagerly tapping the penitentiary system since last year after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 quickly turned into a war of attrition that experts say it was completely unprepared for. As Ukraine's troops routed Russian forces in the Kharkiv region in September 2022, exposing Moscow's lack of manpower, President Vladimir Putin ordered the mobilization of some 300,000 men. The call-up proved highly unpopular at home and led to the exodus of hundreds of thousands of Russian citizens. The recruitment of tens of thousands of inmates like Bunyatov over the past year helped bolster thin Russian forces at a crucial point. They have been thrown into the thick of the fighting and have suffered massive losses. As many as 20,000 Russian prisoners were killed trying to take the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, Western intelligence agencies have estimated. Earlier this week, Reuters published an investigative report on the harsh conditions faced by fighting units known as Storm-Z that are comprised of convicts and insubordinate soldiers. Dara Massicot, a Russia-focused military analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, said Russia is suffering from a lack of skilled manpower and the authorities may be throwing convicts into battle can help conserve better-trained men. "They probably calculate that a combat loss of an inmate in a Storm-Z unit is more manageable and perhaps preferable than the loss of a skilled soldier or someone mobilized who in their judgement is a more productive part of Russian society," she told RFE/RL. Bunyatov was released from prison on April 14 and was in the trenches by early May, despite having no previous military training. He complained about a lack of food and water, his mother said. His family last heard from him on May 17, and he is presumed by his family to be dead. While nearly 300,000 Russian soldiers had been killed or wounded as of mid-August, according to U.S. intelligence, and the military continues to lose men at a rapid pace, Putin is constrained in his ability to push through another mass mobilization. He is expected to seek reelection in March 2024. Kremlin control over the entire election process and media all but guarantees him victory, but analysts say he will want to win in a landslide to demonstrate that the Russian people are behind him and his war. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on October 4 that there will be no additional mobilization, claiming 350,000 people had signed up for service since the start of the year. In an October 4 thread on X, formerly know as Twitter, Massicot said that Shoigu's figures appear inflated and could include double counting. "If Russia had anywhere near 50K a month getting ready for Ukraine, you can bet they would show them in mass somehow," she wrote. Russia earlier this year required troops serving in private military companies to sign a contract with the military and Shoigu could be including them in his calculation, she said. Special Military Registry The Defense Ministry's new proposal requires penitentiaries to maintain a registry of prisoners who are eligible for mandatory conscription or mobilization along with their personal information such as address, criminal record, and sentence. The proposal also requires penitentiaries to notify military registration offices when an inmate arrives and is transferred or released. The proposal will need to be approved by parliament and signed into law by Putin. It is unclear when parliament will take up the proposal. Just as Russian civilians go to great lengths to avoid conscription and mobilization, so, too, will convicts, creating the potential for vast corruption, the Russia Behind Bars representative told RFE/RL. "This scheme is a limitless corruption opportunity for the Federal Penitentiary Service. If prisoners used to pay to get out on parole, now they will pay not to get on the list and go to war," the representative said. Written and with additional reporting by Todd Prince Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-drafting-prisoners- law-ukraine-war-attrition/32627429.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 Monitoring Situation With NATO's Military Activity - Moscow Sputnik News 20231007 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia is monitoring the situation with NATO's military activity in Europe to plan a response, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik. UK Defense Minister Grant Shapps said on October 1 that the UK is deploying Typhoon fighter jets to Poland to protect its NATO ally from an alleged threat from Russia. Moscow is monitoring "the situation with the buildup of troops and the development of NATO military activity on the eastern flank of the alliance, the development of new routes for the deployment of US forces and assets to Europe and the creation of new command structures on the European theater of operations. These negative factors are taken into account when we are planning our response," Zakharova said. She said this deployment actually means the West's air support for the group of troops in eastern Poland, on the borders of the Russia-Belarus Union State. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson October 7, 2023 The following is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan to discuss today's appalling attacks on Israel. The Secretary reiterated Israel's right to self-defense and called for coordinated efforts to achieve an immediate halt to the violent attacks by Hamas terrorists and other militants. The two sides agreed to remain in close coordination. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on the Suicide Drone Attack on a Military Academy in Homs, Syria Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China 2023-10-07 23:25 Q: A suicide drone attack on a military academy in Homs, Syria on October 5 has killed at least 80 and wounded more than 200. What's China's comment? A: China firmly opposes all forms of violent terrorist acts. We condemn the attack, mourn for the victims in the attack and offer our sympathies to the injured and the families who have lost loved ones. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC chief: Perpetrators of drone attack on Syria military college to pay 'heavy price' Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 October 2023 4:35 PM The chief commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says those who committed a "criminal" drone attack on a military academy in Syria's western city of Homs will pay a heavy price. Major General Hossein Salami made the remark in a message to Syria's chief of the general staff of the army and armed forces and defense minister on Saturday. Salami condemned the "terrorist crime" that targeted the Homs Military Academy during a Thursday graduation ceremony for military cadets. At least 89 people were killed and more than 270 wounded. "The perpetrators of this crime and its sponsors will face a major response and surprising revenge from the faithful fighters of the Islamic resistance and will pay a heavy price," the top Iranian commander said. The international community expects world organizations and institutions, particularly the UN Security Council, to fulfill their responsibility vis-A -vis those who have occupied Syria and disrupt security and calm of the country's people, he said. The gruesome act of terrorism, carried out by drones laden with explosives, shook Syria and sparked international outrage. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which is considered as one of the deadliest on the war-torn country's army in years. However, the Syrian army on Thursday blamed foreign-backed terrorist groups for the attack, vowing to "respond with full force." The Syrian government has declared three days of mourning starting from Friday. In a Friday message to his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad, Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi said foreign backers of terrorist groups, including the occupiers, are responsible for the "criminal" drone attack in Homs. "Undoubtedly, the responsibility for this tragic incident lies with the foreign supporters of terrorist groups, including the occupiers of the Syrian lands, who prevent... the effective fight against terrorism," Raeisi said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Call with Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson October 7, 2023 The following is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The two discussed the unprecedented scale and brutality of the Hamas attacks on Israeli territory. The Secretary underlined the United States' support for Israel's right to defend itself and encouraged TArkiye's engagement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Reports Small Advances In East As Russian Air Strikes Continue By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service October 07, 2023 Russia carried out dozens of air strikes against Ukraine during the night of October 6-7, as Ukraine's military reported continued slow progress in its ongoing counteroffensive. Ukraine's General Staff said during its daily briefing that its forces were making slow progress in the areas of Melitopol in the south and Bakhmut in the east. A spokesman for Ukraine's eastern group of forces told RFE/RL on October 6 that Kyiv's forces had gained "up to 400 meters" of territory in the greater Bakhmut area and was holding its new positions against heavy Russian assaults. "I cannot give details because the enemy is using this information," spokesman Ilya Yevlash said. "We have to get a foothold and only then can we talk about it more openly." Four civilians were reported injured in the Black Sea port city of Odesa as a result of an overnight missile attack that struck residential buildings and a granary. The missiles were launched from a coastal missile complex in the Russia-occupied Ukrainian region of Crimea, Ukraine's military said. Air-raid alerts were issued overnight in the Kharkiv, Poltava, Chernihiv, and Sumy regions. Authorities in Moscow have been dismantling a spontaneous memorial to the dozens of civilian victims of a suspected Russian attack on October 5 a village in the northeastern Kharkiv region. Muscovites have been bringing yellow and blue flowers and ribbons to a monument to Ukrainian poet Lesya Ukrayinka, with communal workers removing them almost immediately. There have been no reports of arrests. The Russian Defense Ministry reported on October 7 that a Ukrainian drone had been shot down in an area of Moscow without causing any damage. Later, Russia's Defense Ministry said late on October 7 that air-defense systems in Crimea had "detected and destroyed" two Ukrainian S-200 antiaircraft missiles that had been repurposed for ground attacks. Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne quoted a resident as saying two explosions were heard near Yevtaporiya in western of Crimea. The ministry also said a Ukrainian drone attack had been repulsed off the coast of occupied Crimea near the port city of Sevastopol. RFE/RL is not able to independently verify reports from areas of heavy fighting. With reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-advances-odesa- attack-drones-russia-strikes/32627217.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 'Be A Nurse Or A Cook': Kyrgyz Women Migrants In Russia Recruited For War In Ukraine By RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, Baktygul Chynybaeva October 07, 2023 Nurjamal has been a chef for 10 years in Russia's Khabarovsk region, where she came as a labor migrant from Kyrgyzstan looking for a job. Despite being a Kyrgyz citizen with no Russian passport, Nurjamal has received multiple offers with tantalizing benefits to work for the Russian military in war-torn areas of Ukraine. "They promised me 200,000 rubles ($2,000) per month [contract] or 1 million rubles ($10,297) per year," said Nurjamal, whose name has been changed for security reasons. "I immediately refused, saying that Russia has its own citizens to fight in Ukraine. They asked: 'What's the difference for you? You came here to work and you need money.' But I said I value my life more than money." But recruiters did not give up easily. They called her two more times from unlisted numbers, urging her to go to Ukraine to help the Russian war effort that began in February 2022 and has led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people and uprooted millions of others. "I declined those invitations as well. But these days -- despite not having Russian citizenship -- many Kyrgyz citizens, especially young men, have been recruited to join the war. Recruiters promise to provide you with a Russian passport and 1 million rubles. Most Kyrgyz migrants are still refusing the offers and [some even] return to Kyrgyzstan to avoid the [pressure to join the] war," she said. Central Asian-born migrants both with and without Russian citizenship emerged as an important target in Russia's military recruitment drive through the mercenary group Wagner -- which scoured penal institutions for recruits -- or in the partial mobilization announced by President Vladimir Putin in September 2022. Several hundred thousand Kyrgyz work in Russia as labor migrants due to the high rate of unemployment in Kyrgyzstan. 'She-Wolves' In The War Relatives of an imprisoned woman in Russia originally from Kyrgyzstan showed one of her letters to them to RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service. In it, she said Russian Defense Ministry officials visited the prison to encourage women to join the war effort. "[Officials from the Defense Ministry] recorded our names and listed the volunteers. [Many of] those with long sentences signed up to go [to the war] in the hope of gaining their freedom afterward. But I refused. God willing, I hope to go to Kyrgyzstan," wrote the woman, who was convicted of drug trafficking while working in Russia and sentenced to 12 years in prison in the Vladimir region. Olga Romanova, a Russian journalist and human rights defender, said many female convicts from occupied areas in Ukraine as well as from prisons in southwest Russia have been recruited to work in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine. "About 50 female prisoners from Donetsk and Snejnoe were recruited [from occupied parts of Ukraine] as well as at least 100 women from Russian prisons in southern regions who are working on the front line," Romanova told Current Time, the Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA, adding that such women "are calling themselves 'she-wolves.' They are not cooks, nurses, or paramedics. They fight like stormtroopers. It became known that women from a colony in the Lipetsk region [of western Russia] are also being recruited." Quick Study To Become A 'War Nurse' Recruiters also visited the home of Ainura (not her real name) -- another Kyrgyz woman who has been working in Russia for about a decade -- and asked both her and her husband to go to Ukraine. "Now [recruiters] are even coming to our home and trying to recruit us as cooks or proposing to study for one or two months to become war nurses," she said. "I heard that some of my colleagues have also received similar proposals." Many of the Central Asia migrants in Russia are unable to openly discuss their involvement in the war due to personal concerns and family security. Some also fear that saying the wrong thing could result in deportation. Jumabek, a migrant worker from Kyrgyzstan (his name has been changed), shared information about some migrants who were apprehended on the street by police and put in an "educational camp" before being sent to war a month later. "There was a case in August where a Kyrgyz guy was forced to sign and enlist while walking on the street. He said he would go to the camp after doing some shopping, but instead ran away and [escaped back] to Kyrgyzstan," he said. "Most labor migrants do not understand the nature of the documents they are signing." "Tajik and Uzbek nationals without work permits in Russia are really under pressure," Jumabek said. "And if a Kyrgyz citizen has a Russian passport but has not registered for military service, they are taken directly to the war. We don't even notice it because officials are forcing them to sign agreements not to tell their relatives and sometimes their phones are confiscated." RFE/RL has reported about hundreds of Central Asian migrants who have been hired by Russian firms to work in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory despite warnings from their governments not to do so. Kyiv has also stated that such workers will be seen as accomplices of the Russian invaders. Many have been killed in battle and sent back to Kyrgyzstan for burial. The Kyrgyz Embassy in Moscow has also been holding informative meetings for migrants from Kyrgyzstan. Embassy spokeswoman Nazgul Jusubakunova said diplomatic officials visit Russian prisons and meet with Kyrgyz detainees. "We have not received any official reports indicating that women detainees from Kyrgyzstan were involuntarily involved in military actions," Jusubakunova said. The Kyrgyz Interior Ministry said there were 1,077 Kyrgyz citizens in Russian prisons in January but did not say how many are women, making it hard to estimate how many imprisoned Kyrgyz women migrants have gone to Ukraine to aid in the war effort. Kyrgyz authorities have urged their citizens to avoid taking part in military activities abroad as it violates the country's criminal code. Citizens found guilty can face up to 10 years in prison. Two men were arrested in recent months in Kyrgyzstan -- and one given a prison sentence -- for fighting as mercenaries in Ukraine. Written and reported by Baktygul Chynybaeva in Prague based on reporting by RFE/RL Kyrgyz Service correspondent Kanymgul Elkeeva. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kyrgyzstan-women- recruited-russia-war-ukraine-migrants/32627426.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 Lamine Yamal set his latest record in a breakthrough year Teenager Lamine Yamal became the youngest goalscorer in La Liga history as Barcelona fought back from two goals down to earn a point against Granada. Aged 16 years and 87 days old, Yamal kickstarted Barcelona's comeback. The visitors fell behind after just 17 seconds, with Bryan Zaragoza's first-half double putting Granada in charge. But, after Yamal scored in first half added time, Sergi Roberto eventually ended Granada's resistance with five minutes remaining. The point left Barcelona third, three points behind leaders Real Madrid and one behind second-placed Girona heading into the international break. Remarkably, Xavi's side fell behind after just 17 seconds when Granada won possession following kick-off and Bryan Zaragoza fired in past Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Despite the visitors dominating in search of a response, Zaragoza doubled the advantage with an excellent solo goal on the break after 29 minutes. Yamal's tap-in from Joao Felix's pass before the interval changed the complexion of the match but it took until the 85th minute for Roberto to find the equaliser, slotting in from Alejandro Balde's assist. Felix believed he had scored a dramatic late winner but his goal was ruled out for a marginal offside against Ferran Torres. Yamal adds latest record in breakthrough year It has been quite the year for Yamal. At 15 years and 290 days, the winger became Barcelona's youngest-ever player as a substitute against Real Betis in April. He then became the youngest player - and goalscorer - for the Spanish national team in a 7-1 Euro 2024 qualifying win against Georgia in September. And on Sunday, against Granada, he added the title of La Liga's youngest scorer to his list of achievements in 2023. Yamal has featured in all nine of Barcelona's league games this season - starting five of those matches, including the past two. Academy product Yamal, who has a Moroccan father and mother from Equatorial Guinea, was born on 13 July 2007 and has been at Barca since he was five. The youngest player ever to be called up to the Spain senior squad, he started against Cyprus following his goal against Georgia and is once again in the squad for October's internationals against Scotland and Norway. Russian Air Defense Systems Destroy Ukrainian S-200 Missile Flying to Crimea Sputnik News 20231007 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian air defense systems have destroyed a Ukrainian S-200 long-range missile converted into a strike version that was intended for targeting Crimea, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday. "On October 7, at about 22:00 Moscow time [19:00 GMT], the Kiev regime attempted to stage a terrorist attack on the territory of Crimea with a surface-to-air missile of the S-200 air defense system, converted into a strike version. The Ukrainian missile was timely detected and destroyed in the air by the Russian air defense systems," the defense ministry said in a statement. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Lost Almost 200 Troops in Donetsk Direction in Past Day Sputnik News 20231007 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - In the Donetsk direction, the South group of the Russian armed forces repulsed 3 attacks of the Ukrainian army over the day and the enemy lost up to 190 servicepeople and 5 units of equipment, including one US-made M777 howitzer, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday. "In the Donetsk direction, units of the Southern group of forces, supported by air and artillery fire, repelled three attacks by Ukrainian assault groups in the areas of the settlements of Kurdyumovka, Veseloe and Severnoye in the Donetsk People's Republic. The enemy's losses in this direction amounted to up to 190 Ukrainian servicepeople killed and wounded, three vehicles, a US-made M777 artillery system and a D-30 howitzer," the ministry said in a statement. Ukraine has also lost up to 50 soldiers in the Zaporozhye direction, up to 225 servicepeople in the South Donetsk direction, more than 100 people in the Kupyansk and Krasny Liman directions, the statement read. Meanwhile, Russian air defense systems shot down a Ukrainian Su-25 attack aircraft, 38 drones, 7 HIMARS shells and 4 HARM anti-radar missiles over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Loses About 60 Soldiers As Russia Repels 7 Attacks Sputnik News 20231007 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine has lost about 60 servicemen as Russia has repelled seven attacks by the Kiev regime in the Krasny Liman direction, Alexander Savchuk, a spokesman for Russia's Center group of troops, told Sputnik. "In the Krasny Liman direction in the area of aathe Torsky site and Serebryansky forestry, competent actions of units of the Center group of troops, artillery fire, and attacks by assault and army aviation disrupted and repelled seven attempted attacks by assault groups of the 63rd, 67th mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the 5th brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine. The enemy's losses amounted to about 60 servicemen," Savchuk said. He also said air defenses shot down two HIMARS rockets. Ukraine launched its much-touted counteroffensive earlier in June and its troops quickly ran into stalwart Russian defenses and minefields. According to information, provided by Russian Ministry of Defense, Ukraine lost over 66,000 people during summer and failed to achieve any goals. In September hostilities, death toll of Ukrainian militants exceeded over 17,000 troops. Earlier Sputnik reported that men in Ukraine are buying death certificates to avoid mobilization. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address When terrorists attack, everyone who values life must stand in solidarity - address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 7 October 2023 - 21:32 Dear Ukrainians! Today, since morning, I have been in constant contact with our diplomats and intelligence. Due to the terrorist attack on Israel and the threat to our citizens in Israel, an operational headquarters has been established under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. All agencies and our embassy are monitoring information about Ukrainian citizens who may be in danger. As of now, the information about the possible death of one Ukrainian citizen is being verified and the search for two of our citizens is underway. As soon as the details regarding these people are verified, Ukrainian diplomats will announce it to the public. Please, dear Ukrainians, if you are in Israel now, be as careful as possible. Follow the instructions of the security forces and take care of yourself and others around you. If you need anything, please contact our embassy by any means available to you - Ukraine will help all its people, no matter what. Today, the whole world has seen horrific footage from Israel - footage of terrorists abusing women and men, taking even the elderly hostage without mercy... My condolences to all those whose loved ones have been killed! I wish a speedy recovery to everyone wounded. When such a terrorist attack occurs, everyone who values life must stand in solidarity. We in Ukraine are particularly sensitive to what has happened. Thousands of missiles in the sky of Israel... People killed right in the streets... Riddled cars with civilians... Abuse of hostages... Unfortunately, terror has also brought all this to the streets of Ukrainian cities and villages... Our position is absolutely clear: anywhere in the world, anyone who brings terror and death must be held accountable. Today's terrorist attack on Israel was thoroughly prepared, and the whole world understands which sponsors of terror could have encouraged and organized this attack. Israel has every right to protect itself from terror. So does any other state. And it is very important for the whole world to respond to terror in a united and principled fashion. No support for terrorists! Wherever they aim their missiles and whomever they attack, terrorists must lose. And this is important for the whole world. Human life, peace and tranquility of nations are equally important everywhere - in Asia, Europe, Africa, America and Australia. Everywhere. Let the value of human life and the intolerance of terror be the principles that will finally unite the whole world. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ihor Zhovkva starts negotiations with Japan on bilateral agreement on security guarantees President of Ukraine 7 October 2023 - 16:05 On the instructions of the President of Ukraine and the Head of the Presidential Office, the first round of negotiations with Japan on a bilateral agreement on security guarantees, as envisaged by the Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, has begun today. The Ukrainian negotiating team was led by Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva. The team also included Deputy Head of the Office of the President Roman Mashovets, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mykola Tochytskyi, and Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office Oleksandr Bevz. After the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, Japan is the fourth country with which Ukraine has started negotiations. "The start of bilateral consultations with Japan is not only a confirmation of our strategic partnership, but also a demonstration of global support for Ukraine, which goes far beyond Europe and North America. It is symbolic that Japan started bilateral talks on security guarantees with Ukraine during its Presidency of the Group of Seven," emphasized Ihor Zhovkva. These bilateral guarantees for Ukraine are a continuation of the significant non-lethal, security, humanitarian and financial assistance that Japan has provided to our country since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. An integral part of the security guarantees is also assistance in Ukraine's economic recovery, which will be further discussed during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Japan scheduled for the beginning of next year. The parties agreed to hold further coordination and approved a plan for bilateral talks until the end of this year. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New York, Oct. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global F umed S ilica M arket is expected to witness significant growth at a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period of 2023-2031. Factors such as increasing demand for paints and coatings due to the growth of the construction and automotive industries. According to a recent report by Consegic Business Intelligence, the fumed silica market is poised for strong expansion and is expected to reach USD 2,135.88 million by 2031 and USD 1,524.58 million by 2023. The market which was valued at USD 1,470.67 million in 2022, is predicted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.3% during the period 2023-2031. The report highlights the significant growth in the demand for paints and coatings in the automotive and construction industries across the globe, which is augmenting the global market growth. Consegic Business Intelligence study also provides insights into the market's competitive landscape, market segmentation, regional outlook, and emerging technologies in the fumed silica market. Get Sample Report@ https://www.consegicbusinessintelligence.com/request-sample/1295 Fumed silica are finely divided amorphous silicon dioxide particles produced by high temperatures in an oxygen-hydrogen flame. Fumed silica is a safe and effective material that has been used in a variety of applications as it is a non-toxic and non-hazardous material that is also recyclable. Further, this material exhibits thixotropic properties and is typically used as a desiccant, thickening and anti-caking agent, and stabilizer in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, paints and coatings, sealants, and gel-cell batteries. Global Fumed Silica Market: Report Attributes Report Attributes Report Details Study Timeline 2017-2031 Market Size in 2031 (USD Million) USD 2,135.88 Million CAGR (2023-2031) 4.3% By Type Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic By Application Cosmetics, Printing Inks, Silicone Rubber, Paints and Coatings, Food Additives, Adhesives and Sealants, Pharmaceuticals, and Others Report Coverage Company Ranking and Market Share, Growth Factors, Total Revenue Forecast, Regional Competitive Landscape, Business Strategies, and more. By Region North America, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Europe, Middle East & Africa Key Players Cabot Corporation, Evonik Industries AG, PCC GROUP, Merck KGaA, Tokuyama Corporation, Astrra Chemicals, Oi, Zhejiang FuShiTe Group Co., Ltd, OCI COMPANY Ltd, Kemitura Group A/S, China-Henan Huamei Chemical Co.,Ltd., and Hubei Huifu Nanomaterial Co., Ltd. Immediate Delivery Available, Buy Now @ https://www.consegicbusinessintelligence.com/secure-checkout/1295 Global Fumed Silica Market Segmentation Details: Based on Type, the hydrophilic segment contributed the largest shares to the market growth in 2022. The growth of the segment is driven by their strong ability to process and adjust to the best rheology. This makes hydrophilic fumed silica a versatile additive that can be used in a variety of applications, such as electronic components, epoxy resins, food and industrial powders, and others. Based on Application, the adhesives and sealants segment accounted for the largest market share in the year 2022. Fumed silica is widely used in adhesives and sealants in the construction industry. In addition to this, adhesives are used in wind turbines, chemical anchor systems, and automotive, among others. Moreover, factors such as the increasing use of prefabricated building materials and growing the need for stronger, more durable, and energy-efficient structures is contributing to the growth of the segment. Based on Region, in the year 2022, Asia Pacific accounted for the largest share contribution to the market growth. The demand for fumed silica is mainly influenced by trends in key markets for silicones, adhesives, and coatings applications, notably, structural adhesives for automobile light-weighting, epoxy bonding paste for wind turbines, high-performance coatings and hybrid sealants for construction and silicones for medical devices and the proliferation of electronics. Get Sample Report@ https://www.consegicbusinessintelligence.com/request-sample/1295 Competitive Landscape Cabot Corporation, Evonik Industries AG, and PCC GROUP are major market players that comprise the latest market circumstances. These companies are substantially leveraging their technologies for the development of a new range of fumed silica. Further, the fumed silica market is expected to grow steadily due to the growing innovations in the pharmaceutical industry in developing new and improved drugs and therapies. Additionally, the trend toward increasing expansion of fumed silica players in the international market is expected to increase the competition in the industry. Recent Developments In October 2021, the joint venture between Evonik and Wynca, namely Evonik Wynca (Zhenjiang) Silicon Material Co., Ltd. started the operations of its new fumed silica plant in China. In May 2022, Tokuyama Corporation announced the expansion of their hydrophobic grade fumed silica production line at Tokuyama Chemicals (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary. List of major players in the Global Fumed Silica Market: Cabot Corporation Evonik Industries AG PCC GROUP Merck KGaA Tokuyama Corporation Astrra Chemicals Oi Zhejiang FuShiTe Group Co., Ltd OCI COMPANY Ltd Kemitura Group A/S China-Henan Huamei Chemical Co.,Ltd. Hubei Huifu Nanomaterial Co., Ltd. Browse Full Report & TOC @ https://www.consegicbusinessintelligence.com/fumed-silica-market Key Market Takeaways Asia Pacific accounted for the highest market share at 36.10% valued at USD 530.91 million in 2022 and USD 550.83 million in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 774.47 million in 2031. Moreover, in the Asia Pacific region, China accounted for the highest market share of 23.10% during the base year of 2022. Based on type, the hydrophilic segment accounted for the highest market share contribution to the fumed silica market statistics in 2022. Based on application, the adhesives and sealants segment accounted for the highest share contribution to the fumed silica market statistics in 2022. Europe is expected to boost the demand for fumed silica due to the growing demand for sealants, paints, and coatings from the automotive industry across the region. Global Fumed Silica Market Segmentation: By Type Hydrophobic Hydrophilic Application Cosmetics Printing Inks Silicone Rubber Paints and Coatings Food Additives Adhesives and Sealants Pharmaceuticals Others Request for Customization @ https://www.consegicbusinessintelligence.com/request-customization/1295 Frequently Asked Questions in the Fumed Silica Market Report What was the market size of the fumed silica industry in 2022? In 2022, the market size of fumed silica was USD 1,470.67 million. What will be the potential market valuation for the fumed silica industry by 2031? By 2031, the market size of fumed silica is expected to reach USD 2,135.88 million. What are the key factors restraining the growth of the fumed silica market? Availability of substitutes is likely to restrict the fumed silica market growth. What is the dominating segment in the fumed silica market by type? In 2022, the hydrophilic segment accounted for the highest market share in the overall fumed silica market. Based on current market trends and future predictions, which geographical region is growing at the fastest CAGR over the forecast period in the fumed silica market? Europe is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the overall fumed silica market. Our Other Research Reports here:- Switch Mode Power Supply Transformers Market Size, Growth, Trends | Analysis Forecast 2023 - 2030 Muconic Acid Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends | Analysis Forecast 2023 - 2030 Anti-Reflective Glass Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends | Analysis Forecast 2023 - 2030 Vanilla Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends | Analysis Forecast 2023 - 2030 Human Growth Hormone Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends | Analysis Forecast 2023 - 2030 About Consegic Business Intelligence Pvt Ltd. Consegic Business Intelligence Pvt Ltd . is the leading research industry that offers contextual and data-centric research services to its customers across the globe. The firm assists its clients to strategize business policies and accomplish sustainable growth in their respective market domains. The industry provides consulting services, syndicated research reports, and customized research reports. Topnotch research organizations and institutions to comprehend the regional and global commercial status use the data produced by Consegic Business Intelligence Pvt Ltd. Our reports comprise in-depth analytical and statistical analysis on various industries in foremost countries around the globe. Press Releases:- https://www.consegicbusinessintelligence.com/press-release/fumed-silica-market Contact: Consegic Business intelligence Pvt Ltd. Contact no.: (US) (505) 715-4344 Beerse, Belgium, Oct. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The new safety data is from the ESCAPE-TRD Phase 3b study 1 Additional findings from this study showed esketamine NS demonstrated a significant increase in the proportion of patients achieving remission and response compared to quetiapine XR, based on the patient-reported Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)2 BEERSE, BELGIUM, 9 October 2023 The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson today announced further findings for SPRAVATO (esketamine nasal spray [NS]) from the ESCAPE-TRD study. Data on treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) suggest a more favourable tolerability profile in adults with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (TRD) receiving esketamine NS than quetiapine XR. Across all reported TEAEs experienced with esketamine NS, 92.1 percent were transient and resolved the same-day vs 12.1 percent of TEAEs experienced with quetiapine XR.1 The findings were presented at the 36th European College of Neuropsychopharmacology Congress (ECNP 2023) taking place from 7 October to 10 October in Barcelona, Spain. While more TEAEs were observed with esketamine NS than with quetiapine XR, a greater proportion of esketamine NS-treated patients (82.6 percent) reported a TEAE that resolved same-day day vs quetiapine XR patients (15.5 percent).1 Fewer esketamine NS-treated patients (53.6 percent) reported a TEAE that persisted for more than one day vs quetiapine XR-treated patients (74.7 percent) and TEAEs leading to treatment discontinuation were more frequent with quetiapine XR (11.0 percent) than with esketamine NS (4.2 percent).1 From a clinicians perspective, each decision for treating a patient is based on a thorough evaluation of the treatments benefits and risks, with patient safety being of paramount importance, said Professor Eduard Vieta, Investigator for the ESCAPE-TRD study and Head of the Psychiatry and Psychology Service of the Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Spain.1 The findings from the ESCAPE-TRD study give confidence to healthcare professionals treating those living with TRD. It is important to have treatment options that are less likely to lead to discontinuation for a patient population that is, by its very definition, difficult to treat. Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects nearly 40 million people in Europe.3 Approximately one-third of people who experience MDD do not respond to treatment and are considered to have TRD a term for people living with MDD who have cycled through two or more antidepressant treatments within the current depressive episode without experiencing symptomatic relief.4,5 Patients Report Superior Efficacy with Esketamine NS vs Quetiapine XR In addition, patients enrolled in the ESCAPE-TRD study reported treatment effectiveness, using the nine-item patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) scale. PHQ-9 is a widely used and effective tool for the detection of depression, and for monitoring its severity.6 Findings presented at ECNP 2023 showed that esketamine NS significantly increased the proportion of patients achieving, and shortened time to, PHQ-9 remission versus quetiapine XR, with patients being 1.21 times as likely to experience remission at Week 32.2 From the patients perspective of their own symptoms, esketamine NS showed superior short and long-term efficacy in TRD compared to quetiapine XR.2 Significantly more patients in the esketamine NS arm achieved PHQ-9 defined remission (56.8 percent versus 43.3 percent [p<0.001]) at Week 8, with numbers increasing by Week 32 (68.9 percent versus 57.2 percent [p<0.01], respectively) compared to patients in the quetiapine XR arm.2 These findings were consistent with results of the primary endpoint analysis, which showed a significantly higher remission rate measured using the clinician-rated Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) in the esketamine NS arm versus the quetiapine XR arm.7 In addition to the previously published clinician-rated efficacy data from the ESCAPE-TRD study, the patient rated PHQ-9 data further confirms the favourable efficacy of esketamine NS compared to quetiapine XR, and were proud to be providing options to patients in a therapeutic area that has seen few developments in recent years. said Dr Tamara Werner-Kiechle, EMEA Therapeutic Area Lead, Neuroscience and Pulmonary Hypertension, Janssen-Cilag GmbH, a Johnson & Johnson company. Patient experience is increasingly recognised for its important role in driving improved patient outcomes and treatment experiences. Thats why results like these really matter, especially for people impacted by TRD who often face treatment failure. The 2023 ECNP data announcement follows the recent New England Journal of Medicine publication of the primary manuscript of the ESCAPE-TRD Phase 3b study, demonstrating the superior efficacy of esketamine NS compared to quetiapine XR in achieving remission at Week 8, and remaining relapse-free through Week 32 for patients with TRD.7 -ENDS- NOTES TO EDITORS About ESCAPE-TRD ESCAPE-TRD is a randomised, open-label, rater-blinded, active-controlled, international, multicentre phase 3b clinical study designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of flexibly-dosed esketamine NS compared with quetiapine XR, both in combination with a continuing selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or serotoninnorepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) in subjects with TRD.7,8 676 adults were randomised to receive either esketamine NS (N=336) or quetiapine XR (N=340), both in combination with their current SSRI/SNRI.7,8 The duration of the treatment period was up to a maximum of 32 weeks for all participants. Phases of the study were: an up-to-14-day screening phase, a treatment phase which included an 8-week acute phase and a 24-week maintenance phase, and a 2-week safety follow-up following the last dose of study intervention.7,8 The ESCAPE-TRD study was conducted across 24 countries in Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia.8 About treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (TRD) Depression affects nearly 40 million people of all ages in Europe and is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide.3,9 TRD is a term for people living with major depressive disorder (MDD) who have cycled through two or more antidepressant treatments within the current depressive episode without experiencing symptomatic relief.5 Approximately a third of people who suffer from MDD do not respond to treatment and are considered to have TRD.4 TRD is a chronic condition that places an ongoing emotional, functional, and economic burden on the individual, their loved ones, and society.10 The long-term nature of TRD means the condition has a greater patient and societal burden when compared to non-treatment-resistant MDD, including health-related quality of life (HRQoL), higher comorbidity, reduced functionality and increased use of health resources.3,4,11,12 About esketamine nasal spray (NS) As an antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor, esketamine NS has a different mechanism of action and drug administration compared to other approved depression treatments.13-15 Esketamine NS is self-administered, under the direct supervision of a healthcare professional, through a single-use nasal spray device, for the treatment of patients within the licensed indications.14,15 The decision to prescribe esketamine NS should be determined by a psychiatrist.14 Esketamine NS was authorised by the European Commission in December 2019 for use in combination with a SSRI or SNRI in adult patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder who have not responded to at least two different treatments with antidepressants in the current moderate to severe depressive episode.16,17 It was also approved in February 2021 for co-administered use with oral antidepressant therapy in adults with a moderate to severe episode of major depressive disorder, as acute short-term treatment, for the rapid reduction of depressive symptoms, which according to clinical judgement constitute a psychiatric emergency.14,17 Important safety information Adverse events should be reported. This medicinal product is subject to additional monitoring and it is therefore important to report any suspected adverse events related to this medicinal product according to the local Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). See Section 4.8 of your local SmPC to find specific reporting guidelines. For non-EU countries, please refer to your local SmPC. About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson At Janssen, were creating a future where disease is a thing of the past. Were the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, working tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity, and healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine where we can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular, Metabolism & Retina; Immunology; Infectious Diseases & Vaccines; Neuroscience; Oncology; and Pulmonary Hypertension. Learn more at www.janssen.com/emea. Follow us at www.twitter.com/JanssenEMEA. Janssen-Cilag International NV, the marketing authorisation holder for SPRAVATO in the EU, and Janssen-Cilag GmbH, are Johnson & Johnson companies. # # # Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements. This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding product development. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialise, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Janssen-Cilag International NV, Janssen-Cilag Limited, Janssen-Cilag GmbH, and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; [manufacturing difficulties and delays;] competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; [product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action;] changes in behaviour and spending patterns of purchasers of healthcare products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnsons Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2023, including in the sections captioned Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Item 1A. Risk Factors, and in Johnson & Johnsons subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments. # # # *Professor Eduard Vieta has been a paid consultant to Janssen; he has not been renumerated for contributing to this press release With a third position on the executive board of the global lender, Sub-Saharan Africa will have a "stronger voice" at the International Monetary Fund, according to IMF Director Kristalina Georgieva to AFP. Georgieva broke the announcement ahead of the first IMF and World Bank meetings to be held on the continent since 1973, which would take place in Marrakesh, Morocco, the following week. The IMF executive board, which Georgieva chairs and now consists of 24 members, is in charge of managing the organization's day-to-day operations. With more votes than any other area or emerging country, the United States, which has the greatest economy in the world, is followed in economic importance by Japan, China, and Western Europe. "I have some good news for Africa. We are advancing a preparation to have a third representative of Sub-Saharan Africa on our executive board," Georgieva stated. "Ultimately, what it will mean is (a) stronger voice for Africa," she added. The World Bank has also said that it will add a third spot on its own board for African countries. This decision will become official during the meetings in Marrakech from October 9 to 15. In Morocco, the IMF and World Bank will confront the complex problem of institutional reform in the face of mounting pressure to do more to combat climate change and debt in developing nations. Recently, the IMF noted that Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to see a brighter economic outlook in 2024, following projections of Africas economic downturn in 2023. Ghana Bloggers Association trains young bloggers to be financially viable Graphic Showbiz Showbiz News Oct - 07 - 2023 , 22:02 The Ghana Bloggers Association (Bloggers Association of Ghana) has held a meeting with up and coming bloggers to teach them ways to be relevant in the field. The said meeting which was held on Thursday, October 5 also provided the platform for the young bloggers to talk about their challenges and the way forward. The President of the association, Mr Andre Mustapha Nii Okai Inusah, well known as Attractive Mustapha gave participants the opportunity for one on one interactions -- and for each blogger to state their grievances and whats affecting the growth of their blogging business. During his submission, Attractive Mustapha noted that the purpose of the meeting was to provide the participants the requisite knowledge to thrive in the blossoming blogging industry and also make financial gains. He described the blogging industry as a new gold mine which requires lots of hard work and tenacity to reap from it. He also assured them of the association's support and guidance to succeed in the bogging space. Shatta Wale is Ghana Music Awards UK Artiste of the Year Edith Mensah Showbiz News Oct - 08 - 2023 , 12:38 Ghanaian Dancehall artiste Shatta Wale has emerged as the ultimate winner for the highly-coveted Artiste of the Year award at the Ghana Music Awards UK. The ceremony, which took place at the Royal Regency in London on Saturday, October 7, 2023 was attended by music enthusiasts, fellow artistes, and industry insiders. Shatta Wale triumphed over a formidable lineup of nominees, including Black Sherif, Piesie Esther, Stonebwoy, Sarkodie, and King Promise. The Ghana Music Awards UK Artiste of the Year accolade acknowledges the exceptional contributions of the ultimate winner to the music industry during the reviewed year, and the 'I Know My Level' crooner met the criteria. That wasn't the only feather in Shatta Wale's cap for the night. He also clinched the Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year award and the Reggae Dancehall and Most Popular Song of the Year with his hit song On God. The category featured tough competition from renowned artistes including Epixode and Stonebwoy. He also won Most Dominant Fanbase of the Year. Speaking after receiving his awards, Shatta Wale expressed gratitude to his fans for their unwavering support. He credited his success to their loyalty and promised to continue delivering exceptional music that resonates with the masses. "Thank you Shatta Movement UK , Ghana music awards UK was fun , we made history. " Latest News Headlines from Ghana Accra Golden Lions Club holds fundraiser to support Korle BU Diabetic Unit Oct - 03 - 2023 , 10:14 The Accra Golden Lions Club has organised a fundraiser as part of its 31st Charter Anniversary to support the Diabetic Clinic at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH). The primary objective of the event was to raise funds for the purchase of a Confocal Retina Camera valued at GHS 150,000.00, which is crucial for enhancing the clinic's capabilities. The Confocal Retina Camera is a specialized low-power microscope equipped with a camera designed to photograph the interior surface of the eye, including the retina. Dr. Helena Asamoah-Hassan, 1st Vice District Governor of D418, Ghana, emphasised the global impact of diabetes during her address at the event. She revealed that an estimated 463 million adults worldwide are living with diabetes, making it a truly global health concern. Dr. Asamoah-Hassan also highlighted Lions International's mission, which includes reducing the prevalence of diabetes, improving the quality of life for those diagnosed, and educating communities about diabetes while fostering environments that promote healthy lifestyles. She cited concerning statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), indicating that the number of adults with diabetes is projected to increase by a staggering 129 percent, reaching 55 million by 2045. Dr. Asamoah-Hassan also pointed out that diabetes is the only major non-communicable disease where the risk of premature death is increasing rather than decreasing. In Ghana, the situation is equally concerning, with approximately 2.4 million people living with diabetes. Type-2 diabetes affects around 7.5 percent of adults in the country, with a higher prevalence among women. Dr. Yacoba Atiase, Head of the National Diabetes Management and Research Center (NDMRC) at KBTH, expressed her appreciation for the Accra Golden Lions Club's charitable efforts. She mentioned that the renovation of the Center has been ongoing for several years, including the construction of a shed to accommodate patients while awaiting the completion of the facility. Mr. Alfred Kwame Avorka, President of the Accra Golden Lions Club, stated, "We, as a humanitarian Club, have decided to use this occasion to also raise more funds towards numerous activities, including helping the less privileged." The Accra Golden Lions Club pleaded it's commitment towards the fight against the increasing prevalence of diabetes and improve the lives of those affected by the disease and also aims to create a more supportive environment for diabetes care and prevention in the country . Ministry of Health denies abandoning antiretroviral drugs at ports GraphicOnline Oct - 08 - 2023 , 09:49 The Ministry of Health has denied claims that donated antiretroviral drugs have been abandoned at ports since July due to the government's failure to waive taxes. In a statement released on Saturday, the Ministry said that the headlines suggesting this were misleading and did not accurately reflect the truth. The Ministry said that the Ghana Supply Commission had effectively managed the clearance of antiretroviral drugs and other medical items at the ports on behalf of the Ministry of Health for many years. It said that the necessary waivers for the clearance of this batch of drugs were issued on time. However, the Ministry said that the volumes in this batch had been high, requiring extra resources. It said that it had brought this to the attention of the commission and that steps had been taken to secure the needed extra funds to ensure clearance by Friday, October 13, 2023. The Ministry also stated that currently, four per cent of persons living with HIV/AIDS in Ghana relied on these specific medications. It said that drugs for the remaining 96% were well supplied and that even for the four per cent, there were viable alternative medications available in public health facilities. The Ministry urged the public to disregard the erroneous and misleading headlines, and said that it remained steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the health of all citizens and would continue to ensure the availability of essential healthcare resources. The Ministry's statement comes after some media outlets reported that donated antiretroviral drugs had been abandoned at ports since July due to the government's failure to waive taxes. These reports sparked concerns among HIV/AIDS patients and advocates, as they feared that the delay in clearing the drugs could lead to a shortage of essential medications. The Member of Parliament for Juaboso, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh urged the Ministry of Finance to consider tax exemption for antiretroviral drugs, consumables and other medical equipment that were currently stuck at the ports. Ministry of Information condemns attacks on UTV GraphicOnline Oct - 08 - 2023 , 08:28 The Ministry of Information has condemned an attack on United Television (U TV), a private television station in Accra. In a statement released on today, the Ministry said it had made a report to the Ghana Police Service to intervene in the incident, which involved a group of persons entering UTV's studios without authorization to express displeasure at the content of a live TV program. The police subsequently arrested 16 persons at the premises of UTV, and investigations are currently ongoing. The Ministry condemned in no uncertain terms any unauthorized entry into media organizations, in protest at media content, or interference with media work. The right to free expression and the freedom of the media are key pillars of our democracy and must be fiercely protected, the statement said. The Ministry stands with the police and the courts in the conduct of their duties. The Ministry also encouraged the media, especially broadcast media show hosts and panellists, to do their utmost to help promote national cohesion even as they exercise their fundamental freedoms. The attacks on UTV have been condemned by the National Media Commission and other media organizations in the country who have called on the police to investigate the attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice. NMC concerned about attack on UTV, working with Police to address situation GraphicOnline Oct - 08 - 2023 , 09:09 The National Media Commission (NMC) has expressed concern about the reported attacks on UTV and is working with the Ghana Police Service to address the situation. In a statement released on Saturday, the NMC said it was concerned about the increasing use of violence as the preferred method for addressing grievances against the media and journalists. Perpetrators of such crimes must realise that violence does not produce better journalism, the statement said. This is why the Constitution provides anyone who feels aggrieved by the work of the media the opportunity to seek redress through the complaint settlement mechanism of the National Media Commission. This is what happened at UTV on Saturday and what started it [VIDEO] The NMC also noted that the attack on UTV came ahead of the 2024 elections in Ghana, and urged political actors and all Ghanaians to learn that the country's future would not be built on the path of violent attacks on journalists. In the next couple of weeks, the NMC will be rolling out a comprehensive programme to reactivate with our key stakeholders the Coordinated Mechanism for the Safety of Journalists to ensure the media continue to operate without fear, the statement said. In the meantime, we assure the public of our cooperation with the Ghana Police Service to get to the bottom of this matter. The NMC is an independent body that regulates the media in Ghana. It was established under the Constitution of Ghana in 1992 to promote freedom and independence of the media, and to ensure the media's accountability to the public. UTV is a private television station in Ghana. It is owned by Despite Media Group, one of the largest media companies in the country. Bawumia celebrates 60th birthday with Kumasi Children's Home Graphic.com.gh Politics Oct - 08 - 2023 , 05:52 As part of activities marking his 60th birthday, the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has donated assorted food, drinks, toiletries and other items to the Kumasi Childrens Home. In lieu of his annual birthday lunch with cured lepers at his home in Accra, Dr Bawumia has also sent bags of rice and other items to the inmates of the Weija Leprosarium to help them celebrate his special day. Accompanied by 2nd Lady Samira Bawumia, the Vice President handed over a number of items including rice (100 bags), sugar (20 bags), diapers (50 packs), tooth brushes (20 boxes), toilet rolls (20 packs), detergents (100 packs), oil (20 boxes), tinned tomatoes (10 boxes), water (150 cartons), assorted drinks (200 cartons) and a large variety of biscuits. As well, to mark 60 years of life, Dr Bawumia donated GH60,000 to help in the running of the Home, and pledged to provide a Coaster bus and also serve as Patron. "Everyone needs some form of help, but in my opinion those with the most need are these children in orphanages, who are here through no fault of theirs. That's why I chose to spend my birthday with the children in this Home, as I am here in Kumasi on my birthday," he explained. "Every year I spend my birthday with the vulnerable in society, so you can be sure that if God gives me life, this is not the last time you will see me or hear from me on my birthday," Dr Bawumia pledged. The Managress of the Kumasi Childrens Home, Mabel Amponsah expressed the appreciation of the almost 90 children at the institution, some with disabilities, noting that Dr Bawumia's decision to spend his birthday with vulnerable and abandoned children is a clear indication of his love for humanity. "As you have shown us love and care on your special day, we pray that your dreams and desires will be met. We ask the Almighty to grant you your heart's desires. We will continue to pray for you." Earlier in the day, Muslim and Christian clerics offered prayers and pronounced blessings on Dr Bawumia, wishing him long life and success in his quest to lead the NPP and eventually Ghana. The Coast Guard is urging the public to prepare for the onset of heavy weather, and reminded the public to "stay out of the water." It has set the Port Heavy Weather Condition for the ports of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands as of 10 a.m. Sunday, in anticipation of Tropical Storm Bolaven. "This is a precautionary measure to protect the port and we have been working with port partners proactively for a couple of days working up to this. The COTP (Captain of the Port) upgraded the condition level in preparation for Tropical Storm Bolaven," Chief Warrant Officer Sara Muir, public affairs officer for the Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam. As of 7 a.m., the National Weather Service forecast projects the storm to make its closest point of approach to Rota early Tuesday morning. Guam and the CNMI are under a typhoon watch and a flood watch. Beach safety alert In light of recent events, the Coast Guard urges everyone to exercise caution when near the beach before, during, and after a storm. Swift currents and rough surf can pose significant dangers, even before the storm's arrival. "As a community, we suffered three civilian deaths during and immediately after (Typhoon) Mawar when people chose to swim, a completely avoidable situation," the Coast Guard said. It is with a heavy heart that the two tragic missing swimmer cases during or just after Mawar in May had to be referenced, the Coast Guard. "These unfortunate incidents required first responders to dedicate their precious time to search for individuals in situations that could have been avoided. Regrettably, it resulted in the loss of three lives. Let's honor their memory by prioritizing safety. Please stay out of the water during storms and remain vigilant. Your safety is paramount to us," the Coast Guard said. Following a storm, beaches and coastal areas may be contaminated or hide hidden debris. The Coast Guard said it's working proactively with port partners and the commercial industry to assess and mitigate risks to the port and vessels despite the holiday weekend by reviewing heavy weather plans and ensuring facilities and vessels are ready for the storm well in advance. Port Heavy Weather Condition X-RAY indicates winds above 39 mph are expected within 48 hours. As the storm approaches, if necessary, the COTP will direct a shift to Port Heavy Weather Condition YANKEE, meaning strong winds, faster than 39 mph are expected within the next 24 hours. "Simply put, it's a sign that bad weather is coming soon," the Coast Guard said. Here is what happens when PHWC Yankee is declared: All commercial ships still present need to get ready to finish loading and unloading their cargo and leave the ports of Guam and the CNMI. If there are ships that can't move on their own, like those with no power, or other types of vessels like barges and drydocks that can't go out to sea, they must quickly send a written request to the COTP and have a plan to ride out the storm. Once PHWC Yankee is in effect, all big commercial ships, those equal to or bigger than 200 tons, must leave, and no more ships are allowed to enter the ports. If it gets even worse, and PHWC Zulu is declared, the ports and marinas will be completely closed to any incoming traffic, and all cargo and bunker operations will stop. These actions are taken to keep everyone safe during the bad weather, reduce possible damage, and protect the port for faster reopening to resume the flow of vital commerce and any necessary relief supplies. Tropical Storm Bolaven was expected to intensify before passing between Rota and Tinian as a typhoon overnight Tuesday, and forecasters were warning residents on Guam to expect high winds, heavy rain and dangerous surf. "Because the storms are usually weaker on the left side, that's going to the side that Guam ends up on," National Weather Service Senior Forecaster Paul Stanko said Monday morning. "And especially with the giant debris pile in Tiyan still being very sizable, that's going to work hugely in our favor." As of 5 a.m. Monday, Bolaven was located at 10.9 degrees north latitude and 151.1 east longitude, 460 miles east-southeast of Guam. Bolaven was moving northwest at 8 mph with maximum winds of 60 mph. It was expected to make a slight turn toward the northwest with an increase in forward speed through Tuesday. Guam can expect winds of 30 to 50 mph, with gusts to 60 or 70 mph, Stanko said. Guam and the Northern Marianas are under a typhoon watch and a flood watch, and coastal inundation is possible in low-lying areas. Guam is under a tropical storm warning. Dangerous surf will be a concern until Thursday. State of emergency Guam was placed in Condition of Readiness 2, and military bases were placed in a similar readiness level at 8 p.m. Sunday. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency "to safeguard the community, critical infrastructure, and the general welfare of the island." Non-essential government services will remain closed until COR 4 is announced. The Guam Solid Waste Authority will operate normally Monday. Any changes to the operations will be announced Monday. The Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center pharmacy will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 pm. Monday. The Guam Memorial Hospital anticipates receiving pregnant mothers who are 36 weeks or more along and all high-risk pregnant mothers who are 24 weeks or more in their pregnancy by 6 p.m. Monday. The Guam Community College campus is closed to the public and all scheduled classes, bootcamps, and testing have been canceled. The campus will resume operations once the island returns to COR 4 and the campus has been cleared to open. The Guam Legislature will be closed. GFD waiver The Guam Fire Department has waived the fire permit requirement for gasoline and diesel up to 20 gallons individual portable containers until Oct. 22. The waiver is not an approval of violating any federal or local highway fuel transportation requirements, and it doesn't include non-portable containers. Portable containers can't be filled while located inside the trunk or passenger compartment of a vehicle. Containers must be of an approved material and construction designed for the type of fuel. They must have a tight closure with a screwed or spring-loaded cover so designed that the contents can be dispensed without spilling, according to a news release from the Joint Information Center. Guam is now under a typhoon watch and will be moving to a Condition of Readiness 2 at 8 p.m. Sunday as a result of a still intensifying Tropical Storm Bolaven, according to separate statements from the National Weather Service and the Joint Information Center. At COR 2, the government of Guam, with the exception of essential services, will not be operational and will remain closed until COR 4 is announced. Emergency shelters will open at 6 p.m. Monday, and residents are reminded to not go to any emergency shelter until that hour. The island has been on COR 3 as of 10 a.m. Sunday. A typhoon watch means there is a high possibility for damaging winds of 39 to 58 miles per hour and heavy rains, within 48 hours. This is expected as early as Tuesday morning. "Bolaven is forecast to intensify through tonight, possibly becoming a typhoon by late Monday night or early Tuesday morning," NWS' Guam Weather Forecast Office said. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Rear Admiral Gregory Huffman at 10 a.m. Sunday placed Guam and the respective military bases in COR3, which means damaging winds 39-57 are expected within 48 hours. Joint Region Marianas, Naval Base Guam, Andersen Air Force Base, and Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz also established COR 3. All military installations on Guam are currently securing facilities and housing residents are urged to commence heavy weather preparedness efforts in COR 3, JIC said. A typhoon watch is also in effect for Rota, Tinian, and Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, NWS' Guam Weather Forecast Office said. "Any one, or several islands, may take a near miss or a direct hit at its passage," NWS said. That's because there remains uncertainty for the exact track of the system as Bolaven approaches the Marianas. Where is it now? NWS continues to monitor Bolaven as it moves west-northwest. As of 1 p.m. Sunday, Bolaven was located near 9.6 degrees north latitude and 152.9 degrees east longitude. That's about 610 miles east-southeast of Guam, moving west-northwest at 5 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. Bolaven is expected to maintain this general course with a slight increase in forward speed through Monday morning. It is forecast to intensify through Sunday night, possibly becoming a typhoon by late Monday night or early Tuesday morning. Current forecast tracks have Bolaven passing through the Marianas late Tuesday. The latest forecasts show 6 to 10 inches of rainfall are likely, with locally higher amounts in excess of 12 inches possible. Waves may increase, possibly exceeding 15 feet, as fresh to strong sustained winds develop. What's being done now Response efforts are underway. The Department of Public Works has pre-staged heavy equipment in flood-prone areas islandwide and has begun clearing poor drainage areas, in partnership with village mayors offices. The Guam Power Authority has begun tree-trimming on Friday and continuing, especially around water well areas. The Guam Waterworks Authority continues to top off all reservoirs. The Port Authority of Guam continues to prepare the Port yard and have already begun working with gas companies. FEMA continues to monitor and prepare for impacts from Tropical Depression Bolaven, on Guam and the CNMI. In addition to federal teams and specialists continuing to help with recovery from Typhoon Mawar, FEMA is deploying an additional 175 federal staff to respond to Bolaven, if federal help is needed. These additional personnel, includes two incident management assistance teams that will embed with Guam and CNMI officials prior to the storms landfall to enhance preparedness efforts. FEMA is coordinating other federal partners, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the American Red Cross, U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Defense and Health and Human Services. These agencies and organizations stand ready to lend their support to the response efforts in Guam and CNMI. FEMA's distribution center in Guam is a permanent federal storage facility that receives, stores, and ships critical disaster resources when needed. Prepare now Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautionary actions: Those living in flood-prone areas should take action now; clear drainage areas and unblock storm drains to minimize flooding; Stay up to date with the latest information; Clear loose debris around your yard and store any items that may become airborne with heavy winds, such as canopies, tarps, and trampolines, before inclement weather arrives; Have an emergency kit prepared: Store enough food and water for your household for seven to 10 days. Include medication, disinfectant supplies and pet supplies; Secure important documents such as birth certificates, tax papers, and insurance documents and keep copies in a water-proof bag; Review your emergency plan: If you do not have a plan, learn how to create an emergency plan; Have plans for your family members and pets. If you are a person with disabilities or a caregiver for elderly, you may need to take extra steps to plan for those additional needs. Get emergency alerts: Stay informed by having a weather alert radio, battery-operated, or hand-crank radio, where you can listen to emergency news; Gas your vehicles and get fuel for your generators; Pull cash from the ATM in case of power outages; Dont drive through flood waters: Almost half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. When in your car, look out for flooding in low-lying areas at bridges and at highway dips. As little as 6 inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Visit the following links for the latest information: This comes just months after Typhoon Mawar hit Guam in May, resulting in major losses to property and recovery from that typhoon still continues. (With reports from Thomas Benavente) Energy cooperation between China, B&R countries bears fruit Xinhua) 20:38, October 08, 2023 BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- After dehydration, desulfurization and decarbonization, freshly extracted gas from Central Asian countries merges into the China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline, jointly operated by the China National Petroleum Corporation and local partners. Traversing wild deserts and grasslands, the natural gas in the pipeline will travel nearly 2,000 km eastward over the next 84 hours to the Chinese border city of Horgos in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, from where it is distributed further to various Chinese regions, including Shanghai, Fuzhou, and Hong Kong. Data showed that in 2022, the Horgos Station delivered about 43 billion cubic meters of Central Asian natural gas via the pipeline, accounting for 11.8 percent of China's consumption in that year. The project is a vivid example of energy cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and a concrete manifestation of the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. China has constantly enlarged its "circle of friends" among Belt and Road (B&R) countries in energy cooperation. At present, the country has established the Belt and Road Energy Partnership with 32 countries. Several regional energy cooperation platforms such as the APEC Sustainable Energy Center and the China-ASEAN Clean Energy Cooperation Center have been built, promoting common development of China and relevant countries in the energy field. Energy cooperation under the BRI has not only injected impetus into the world's economic prosperity and social development, but also contributes to the sense of happiness of people in B&R countries, said an official with the National Energy Administration (NEA). The Karot hydropower station, the first hydropower project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, became fully commercial in June 2022. It has generated 3.64 billion kilowatt-hours in just over a year, meeting the electricity demands of more than 5 million residents. "The hydropower station has improved our livelihoods, and Chinese people have also paved the road and repaired the dilapidated school buildings for children," said a villager who lives nearby. Promoting global low-carbon transition is also a bright spot of energy cooperation under the BRI. In August this year, Xi'an, capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province and also the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, launched a China-Europe freight train loaded with photovoltaic (PV) modules bound for Tashkent, Uzbekistan. These modules will serve a 1-gigawatt PV project in Uzbekistan, which will produce 2.4 billion kWh of clean energy annually, helping cut carbon emissions by up to 2.4 million tonnes. Li Wenxue, Party chief of the solar technology giant LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd., said that the company has provided one-third of the key equipment for the PV projects in the five Central Asian countries. In the past 10 years, China has carried out green energy project cooperation with more than 100 countries and regions, and the country's investment in B&R countries in terms of green and low-carbon energy has exceeded that for traditional energy. China will continue to promote high-quality energy cooperation under the BRI, and build closer, greener and more inclusive energy partnerships in the future, according to the NEA. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Kou Jie) Residents at Lattimore Hall were displaced by water damage following a small fire there Saturday afternoon, the Auburn Fire Department said. Mike Grady, an assistant fire chief with the department, said a call came in at around 4:47 p.m. on a fire alarm activation at the independent student housing complex for Cayuga Community College at 81 Genesee St. A small fire was caused by food catching fire on a stovetop in one of the units on the dormitory's third floor, Grady said. The sprinkler system doused out the fire before the department arrived. But due to the water damage that resulted, the Auburn Code Enforcement Office condemned the unit where the fire took place, plus the first- and second-floor units directly below, as the water reached them as well. Grady said Lattimore Hall's property manager is relocating the residents in the affected units. The fire department shut down the third floor's sprinkler system and tried to get as much water out as they could, Grady continued, in addition to venting the smoke from the third floor. No one was injured. Auburn City Ambulance was also at the scene. Opponents of Attorney General Douglas Moylan are calling for lawmakers to scrutinize how well his office is functioning in light of recent controversy, but senators are not all on the same page. The attorney general said he welcomes any review of his administrations conduct. Sen. Tom Fisher, himself an attorney, as well as public defender and AG hopeful Peter Santos, both want an oversight hearing on the Office of the Attorney General, in light of the high number of attorneys that have departed during the Moylan administration and recent allegations of a toxic work environment which the AG has denied. Both men have been vocal critics of Moylan. The AGs office went from 54 attorneys last December to 30 as of two weeks ago, the PDN reported. An acting chief prosecutor has since resigned, though Moylan said two more off-island hires are coming onboard, and contract attorneys are shoring up legal functions. Sen. Joanne Brown, co-chair of the justice committee, said it would be up to Speaker Therese Terlaje to decide on any possible oversight at the appropriate time. Though the number of attorneys that had departed were sizable, she said that Moylan, as an elected official, should have the opportunity to address the issue. Retaining staff at any government office was difficult, and the AGs office was no exception, especially with the reported decline in local attorneys, she said. Its also a question of the challenge Im sure the Attorney General has of having people on his team that he feels are going to fulfill his agenda. Thats the challenge of being elected office in his particular capacity. He has made it very clear what his agenda is, Brown said. Moylan had so far stuck to his promise to go after criminals that hurt the community, Brown said, a promise she supported. Her main concern was ensuring he had the lawyers to follow through on it. As for any allegations of unethical behavior by Moylan made in documents obtained by the media, I think thats something that AG Moylan has to answer for and there are processes and procedures that are in place in the government of Guam to address that. Huge concern Fisher, meanwhile, said the departure of attorneys is a huge concern. At the time of the interview, Fisher said he plans to discuss with the speaker the topic of calling an oversight hearing on the AGs office. Is there a need for an oversight? My gosh, weve called oversight hearings for much, much less this is an extraordinary part of our right to have confidence in our government, and to the extent we dont have it, the legislature needs to step in and have a look, he said. Guam couldnt have an AGs office which doesnt function, he added. Though prosecution was the usual focus of issues at the OAG, the office is also tasked with providing basic legal advice to the government of Guam, a function now imperiled by staff shortages, Fisher said. He suggested that it may be time to return to an appointed attorney general that would serve the administration, and instead have the public elect a public prosecutor responsible for going after criminals. As for allegations of a hostile working environment, he said, I cant believe all those people who have quit, not every one of them can be wrong. A lot of detractors Public safety chair Sen. Chris Barnett said hes not clear on whether the exit of staff attorneys is a point of serious concern or routine for a changeover in administrations, given Moylans is a complete 180 from his predecessor, former attorney general Leevin Camacho. What I do know is that the attorney general has a lot of detractors who seem to work full time to just constantly, you know, throw shots at him and the office, Barnett said. He added, I support the job hes doing and like I said, Im not sure if this is just something thats happening or if something that his detractors are trying to give life to. I support the guy, I think we need someone whos tough on crime. And I think that when you ask the people of Guam, they support it too. Theyre the ones who are under siege. Barnett said he was not aware enough of the details at the OAG to determine whether Moylans leadership may be at issue. He said he was satisfied with the convictions the office has secured, and was hopeful more committed staff would come onboard. Turnover at the OAG wasnt the same during the takeover of the former attorney general, Camacho. Over the same nine-month period, the OAG went from 55 lawyers to 63 under Camacho, staffing records show. Moylan, however, has been vocal about weeding out attorneys who are not competent or in compliance with his tough on crime agenda. Santos, Moylan butt heads Santos, who represents clients at the Alternate Public Defender, threw his full weight behind allegations of a toxic work environment and unethical behavior at the OAG. But he also made several criticisms of the handling of prosecution by Moylans administration. Santos campaigned against Moylan in the last race for the AGs seat, and plans to do so again in 2026. For one, there are now 20 public defenders between the APD and Public Defender Service Corporation, Santos said, while the OAG is short of its goal of 21 prosecutors. That shortage was affecting the outcome of criminals cases, Santos said, where the OAG has been having dozens and dozens of dismissals in court due to a lack of prosecutors to bring cases to trial. The issue was made even worse as the AGs office was seeking the maximum sentences possible in the plea deals it offered, which incentivized defendants to go to trial because when you ask for the max, you got nothing to lose. Any claims that the OAG was performing better at trial were inflated by the increased number of open and shut cases where a defendant would have plead out in the past, but instead decided to roll the dice on their case getting thrown out due to the prosecutor shortage, Santos said. Moylan said it was untrue that a large number of cases were being dismissed, and if he believes that, identify them. Lets go over them one at a time. I would challenge anyone thats making these types of allegations. There was no obligation that his office offer lenient plea deals, and going to trial meant there was an increased risk of failure on the part of the OAG, not a lower one, he said. On the assertion that defendants were choosing to go to trial instead of cop a plea, what is so bad about exercising your constitutional right to go to trial? he said. Allegations made in the so far unverified document bearing the name of former chief prosecutor Heather Zona were salacious until someone came out of the dark to make them, Moylan said. On the question of a possible oversight hearing, Moylan said he was always available if senators chose to call one. Why would I not want to be answerable to how were operating? This is the peoples law office. Although, theres confidential information and documents contained herein, and this document that Peter Santos is using for his political aspirations. Where is the exactitude of due process and the law when nothing but an unverified document, and no complainant is being used to taxpayer monies be expended. The 37th Guam Legislature has passed Bill 164-37 (LS), a bill that would appropriate at least $30 million to GMHA to help pay remaining vendor payments, during an emergency session on Oct. 13, 2023. 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. Haiti - FLASH : Belize will send troops to Haiti Saturday October 7, 2023, following the approval by the Security Council of the sending of a multinational support force to the National Police of Haiti (PNH) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40642-haiti-flash-the-security-council-approves-the-intervention-of-a-multinational-force-in-haiti.html to fight against armed gangs and restore peace... Florencio Marin Jr., the Minister of National Defense and Border Security, confirmed that members of the Belize Defense Force and Coast Guard would be deployed to Haiti, saying logistics are being finalized to ensure the safety of Belizeans sent in Haiti. "Not everything is decided as yet, but That Belize will participate, YES. But if youre asking for the details, we have not gone through that as yet. What were hearing is that Kenya will lead the delegation [...] But we dont have all the specific details as to when and yet. However, our Belize Defense Force and our Coast Guard are beginning to make the necessary preparations for when the time comes." Adding "Ill leave that up to the General and the Admiral to make that decision who best will go. Part of the decision for that will be on the mission that has been defined. From there the General and Admiral Bennett will be able to decide who are the best soldiers and sailors to go. We are beginning to make all the necessary preparations right now. Theyre planning as to what is needed, the cost, the training, the equipment. All these works have to be going before we can actually deploy the troops." See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40666-haiti-flash-canada-plans-to-send-rcmp-trainers-for-military-intervention-in-haiti.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-40659-icihaiti-international-force-the-usa-seeks-to-have-$100m-approved-by-congress.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40604-haiti-flash-12-countries-have-confirmed-their-participation-in-an-intervention-mission-in-haiti.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40642-haiti-flash-the-security-council-approves-the-intervention-of-a-multinational-force-in-haiti.html SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Dom. Rep. : More than 160,000 Haitians returned to the country, repatriated or voluntarily in 3 months. Since the application of decree 668-22 which provides for the expulsion from Dominican territory of all foreigners in an irregular migratory situation, the number of expulsions of Haitians has increased considerably. Repatriation August 2023: Official border points: Anse-a-Pitres, Belladere, Malpasse and Ouanaminthe 11,280 men 4,020 women 643 girls 445 boys Unofficial border points: Baptiste, Belladere (Rocher), Cornillon, Fonds-Verettes, Las Cahobas (Bateille), Savanette (Miguel) 3,680 men 1,954 women 702 girls 1,086 boys For a total of Total 23,810 Added to this are 4,140 pushbacks at the border To these repatriations we must finally add the so-called "voluntary" spontaneous returns which amount for the month of August 2023 to 21,590 Haitians. Grand total of Haitians returned to the country in August 2023 : compared to 56,884 in July 2023 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40244-haiti-flash-56-434-haitians-back-from-dom-rep-a-record-in-one-month-july-2023.html Let's remember that in 12 days since the closure of the Dominican borders (September 15, 2023 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40503-haiti-flash-dr-closes-its-land-sea-and-air-borders-with-haiti-goods-and-passengers.html ) 61,000 additional Haitians returned to Haiti, voluntarily or repatriated as of September 27, 2023. For a total of 163,284 Haitians returned to the country in 3 months... See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40608-haiti-exodusmore-than-61-000-haitians-back-to-haiti-since-the-border-closed.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40244-haiti-flash-56-434-haitians-back-from-dom-rep-a-record-in-one-month-july-2023.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping More than 20 police stations burned in 2 years In 2 years, at least 20 police stations and sub-stations have been attacked, looted, and burned by gangs... North : 14 gangs dismantled 4 suspects killed, 363 arrests and 6 firearms recovered: assessment of the various operations carried out by the Police in several municipalities of the northern department for the month of September 2023. 14 armed gangs were dismantled, according to the northern departmental spokesperson the PNH. International support for the PNH "necessary and indispensable" According to the former Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Haiti Ricardo Seitenfus "[...] In the current context, where the population is taken hostage by armed groups, international support for the Haitian security forces is necessary, useful and indispensable." FLASH Cap-Haiten : Show for the 203rd anniversary of the death of King Henry 1st The Northern Destination Management Organization of Haiti intends to commemorate the 203rd anniversary of the death of King Henri 1st, by staging a show on Sunday, October 8, 2023 from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the space between the street 18 F and the Cathedral. Multifunctional shelter constructions As part of the Risk Management and Resilience Project in the face of Climate Hazards, the General Directorate of Civil Protection has officially launched work on the construction of secure multifunctional shelters in the Nippes department. These multifunctional shelters, which will be built in the municipalities of Miragoane, Paillant, Anse-a-Veau and Plaisance du Sud, will have the capacity to accommodate up to 1,000 people in the event of a disaster. They will also serve as community centers for social and economic activities. Launch of the month of Creole language and cultures Friday October 6, 2023, the "Akademi kreyol ayisyen" (AKA) launched the month of Creole language and cultures, on the theme "Lang kreyol ayisyen, yon zouti pou devlopman dirab". Conferences, round tables, meetings in schools and universities across the country and presentation of the second resolution on the spelling of the Creole language are on the menu of activities planned for the event. HL/ HaitiLibre Published on 2023/10/08 Ordinary university student Lee Won-joon's life takes a delightful turn when he moves into a shared house occupied by retired K-pop idol Doona. As the premiere date of October 20 for "Doona!" approaches, the main trailer and key art give fans a taste of what's to come. Advertisement The Blossoming Romance Between Bae Suzy and Yang Se-jong Bae Suzy, previously a K-pop sensation herself, is a near-perfect embodiment of Doona. Paired with Yang Se-jong's portrayal of the innocent-hearted university student Won-joon, the series promises a heart-fluttering romance. Director Lee Jeong-hyo, recognized for his masterful direction in hits like "Crash Landing on You" and "Romance is a Bonus Book", emphasizes the essence of the series, saying, "The webtoon realistically depicts the awkwardness in relationships. I want "Doona!" to be a series where viewers can fondly reminisce about their clumsy days in their 20s". "Doona!" Bae Suzy's Enchanting Portrayal of Doona On the surface, Bae Suzy is also an uncannily accurate representation of Doona from the popular webtoon. Bae Suzy's impeccable features, from her porcelain complexion and sleek black hair to her mesmerizing eyes, confirm she's the ideal fit for the role. As director Lee says, "Who else could play the role of Doona if not Bae Suzy?" Describing her character, Bae Suzy says, "Doona is straightforward and blunt, but she also carries many scars within. She may seem like a cat with sharp claws, but in reality, she is like a 'dog-cat' who likes people". Mysteries surrounding Doona Despite being a central character, the reasons behind Doona's retirement from her stellar idol career remain shrouded in mystery. Hints from the trailer suggest a turbulent past, with glimpses of emotional breakdowns and unanswered questions. With the trailer hinting at the romance between a former idol and a college student, "Doona!" is set to debut on October 20 exclusively on Netflix, promising a heartwarming exploration of love, identity, and youth. ___________ "Doona!" is directed by Lee Jeong-hyo, written by Jang Yoo-ha, and features Bae Suzy, Yang Se-jong, Park Se-wan, Ha Young, Baek Ji-hye, Kim Do-wan. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2023/10/20~Upcoming, Fri on Netflix. As chairman of the Orleans County Republican Committee and a county legislator, Skip Draper has dealt with U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney on governmental and political matters. Based on the first year Tenney, R-Canandaigua, has represented the county in Congress, Draper likes what he sees. "When we need anything, I call her and I get an immediate response," he told The Citizen Friday. "If I'm having trouble with anything, especially a federal agency, they get right involved." Draper is one of the 12 Republican chairs in the 24th Congressional District who endorsed Tenney for reelection. The endorsements were announced after Mario Fratto, a Geneva attorney and businessman, launched his campaign to challenge Tenney for the GOP nomination. Three Republican chairs, including Draper, who spoke with The Citizen offered rave reviews of Tenney's performance. They praised her transparency she posts her vote explanations online and her representation of their communities. MaryAnne Nicosia-McCarthy, chair of the Wayne County Republican Committee, said she recently traveled and watched TV news out of Buffalo. The news report featured Tenney speaking about Wayne County. "She knows who we are," Nicosia-McCarthy said. Oswego County Republican Chairman Terry Wilbur, who also serves as county clerk, also lauded Tenney. She has represented at least parts of the county, first as a state assemblywoman and later as a member of Congress. "She works with us, with our committees, our towns, our cities, our villages," Wilbur said. "I know personally as a county clerk ... she's always there. If we have a question, we need help with something at the county level, she's right there to help us." The GOP leaders are also critical of Fratto's challenge. On social media, he shared a post that claimed "90% of our elected officials are spineless, clueless or corrupt." That rankled the chairs, some of whom are local elected officials. If Fratto qualifies for the primary ballot in 2024, it would be a rematch of the 2022 race for the party's nomination. Tenney moved from the Utica area to run in the 24th district, which is comprised of all or parts of 12 counties stretching from western New York to the North Country. Fratto accused her of being a carpetbagger. Tenney won the primary by 13 percentage points and cruised to a general election win over Democrat Steven Holden. When Fratto launched his second campaign for Congress this week, he repeated some of the same criticisms of Tenney that she isn't from here and panned her voting record, namely her vote to raise the debt ceiling in June and past support for Ukraine funding. "I had hoped that our close primary race would encourage her to make a course correction and vote the values of the most conservative district in the state," Fratto said. "She has instead doubled down on the bad policies that filled the carpet bag she dragged into our district last year, moving over 100 miles from her childhood home to stay in office." Tenney countered by highlighting her work in Congress, including her membership on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, and accused Fratto of being a "pro-criminal lawyer who is running for Congress to get attention and to monetize this important position of trust for personal gain." (Fratto responded by accusing Tenney of distracting from her voting record.) In a statement, Tenney said Republicans must unite to retain the House majority. "I have handily defeated past primary opponents, including Fratto, because of my strong conservative record of accomplishment and unparalleled and aggressive advocacy on behalf of my constituents," she continued. "The race in 2024 will be no different. I am honored to represent this district and grateful for the overwhelming support that I have received from constituents throughout all 12 counties." Tenney's campaign announced Friday that every Republican chair in the 12-county district, including Cayuga County GOP Chairman John Camardo, has endorsed her for reelection. Some Conservative Party leaders are also supporting her for another term, including Cayuga County Conservative Party Chairman David Pappert. In the aftermath of the vote to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Nicosia-McCarthy noted that not only is the country divided, but the Republican Party is divided, too. That's why she thinks it's important to support Tenney. "We need her," Nicosia-McCarthy said. "She's on Ways and Means. For the 12 counties in upstate New York, we have a member of Congress who is on Ways and Means. We don't need to start over again with a backbencher. We need experience. We need talent. The party needs to unite." Over the past two years, Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) from companies like Xpeng, BYD, and MG have become a common sight on the streets of Finland, Stockholm and Oslo. This trend isn't limited to Nordics alone; it's spreading across Europe, offering consumers a unique opportunity to embrace electric mobility. China's commitment to electrification isn't just about reducing air pollution; the country has been aiming at providing affordable, high-quality EVs to its own 1.5 billion citizens and of course the global market. China's dedication to electrification extends beyond environmental considerations; it's about becoming a major player in the global auto industry. While China has a history of manufacturing budget-friendly, entry-level vehicles, the rise of electric vehicles has opened the door to compete on a global scale. Today, Chinese automakers are not just making EVs; they are making them with quality and affordability in mind. Chinese EVs vs. Prestigious Western Brands While Chinese-made EVs may not carry the same luxury badge as a Porsche or the tech-savvy appeal of a Tesla, but they cater to a vast market of budget-conscious consumers. Western automakers have primarily focused on high-end electric models, leaving a significant gap in the affordable EV segment. Chinese automakers have seized this opportunity to to fill the niche. Brands in Finland Voyah, a brand under the state-owned giant Dongfeng, is launching in Finland, introducing the Free, a street-smart SUV with ambitious claims of "revolutionising the premium electric vehicle market" and being of the "utmost elite" class. As Juha-Pekka Makinen, CEO of Nordcars, the company responsible for importing Voyah to Finland, told Helsingin Sanomat, "Conservative minds won't be swayed by words or speeches. I encourage curiosity and giving this vehicle a chance. After a test drive, we can have discussions about what's good and what's not." Priced at 79,900, the Voyah Free offers a substantial all-wheel-drive SUV with a spacious interior, a 100-kilowatt-hour battery pack, and an impressive estimated range of 500 kilometres. While the vehicle's specs are noteworthy, its entry into the Finnish market is not coincidental. Nordcars conducted thorough due diligence, engaging in negotiations with Dongfeng following their visit to the Beijing Auto Show. As Makinen explained, "We visited the Beijing Auto Show at the beginning of the year, and we began negotiations. By the time summer came, we had agreements in place." With confidence in the brand's ethical and responsible practices and consideration of Finnish winter conditions, Voyah is poised to make its mark in Finland's electric vehicle landscape. Voyah Free SUV ready for test drive in Helsinki / Lehtikuva Another Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD made its entrance into Finland earlier with a store at Espoon Ainoa shopping center. According to the country manager Michael Place, "BYD comes from the words: Build Your Dreams. "Many drivers often have preconceived notions about Chinese car brands, however, Place suggests that one should experience the car firsthand before passing judgment: "Before condemning the brand, it's worth getting to know and test-driving the car yourself." The test drive indeed challenges preconceptions, as the Han model offers top-notch finishing, a quiet driving experience, and a sporty and luxurious sedan feel. Moreover, it packs innovative technology, an impressive 517 horsepower, and a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 3.9 seconds. BYD's passenger car lineup currently consists of three models: Atto 3, Tang 4 4 SUV, and Han 4 4. The Atto 3 starts at 44,000 and is a compact-sized model, while the Tang 4 4 SUV is a spacious seven-seater family car with four-wheel drive. Starting from the beginning of the year, there will be a total of six different models available, with the upcoming Dolphin being the most affordable at 35,000, sharing the same size as Volkswagen's ID 3. Notably, BYD, one of the world's largest electric vehicle manufacturers, uses its proprietary Blade battery technology, which the company claims is groundbreaking, particularly in terms of longevity. With the company's robust product development and resources, Finland's Espoon Ainoa shopping center has welcomed BYD, offering customers the opportunity to test drive their vehicles alongside their retail presence, although customer reactions have been mixed, with some expressing concerns about the Chinese brand's quality compared to European competitors, while others have been pleasantly surprised during test drives. Place asserts that BYD is not a startup but a brand that will remain in the automotive market. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares' Perspective Carlos Tavares, the CEO of Stellantis, a global automotive group, has drawn attention to the significant price difference between European and Chinese electric vehicles. Tavares points out that European regulations have resulted in electric cars built in Europe being approximately 40% more expensive than their Chinese counterparts. This price disparity has the potential to push European middle-class consumers towards choosing Chinese-made EVs. One of the key factors contributing to this price difference is the cost of batteries, a critical component of electric vehicles. European consumers have been paying a premium for smaller urban EVs compared to their Chinese counterparts. To address this issue, rapid innovation is essential. European automakers need to find ways to make small, affordable EVs with competitive battery prices. The rise of affordable Chinese-made electric vehicles represents an exciting opportunity for Nordic and European consumers. These vehicles may not carry the same prestige as luxury European brands in the minds of consumers yet, but they offer a practical and accessible option for those looking to embrace electric mobility without breaking the bank. As the industry evolves, European automakers will need to adapt to this changing landscape, ensuring that high-quality, affordable EVs are readily available to meet the growing demand. Ultimately, the emergence of Chinese EVs in Europe highlights the need for innovation and competition, driving the automotive industry towards a more sustainable and accessible future for consumers worldwide. Here are the most exciting new Chinese EVs in the Nordic market as of October 2023, along with some of their key features: BYD Han The BYD Han is one of the first Chinese EVs to feature a blade battery, which is a safer and more efficient type of battery technology. The Han also has a new electric drive system that is more powerful and efficient than previous BYD models. Features: Impressive range of up to 506 kilometres (WLTP) Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds Luxurious interior with a large touchscreen display Advanced safety features such as adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning Xpeng P7 The Xpeng P7 is one of the first Chinese EVs to feature a lidar sensor, which allows for more accurate and reliable self-driving features. The P7 also has a new augmented reality (AR) navigation system that displays directions on the windshield. Features: Sleek and aerodynamic design Range of up to 536 kilometres (WLTP) Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) with features such as automatic emergency braking and lane centring Large panoramic sunroof MG ZS EV The MG ZS EV is one of the first Chinese EVs to feature a wireless charging system. The ZS EV also has a new over-the-air (OTA) update system that allows for software updates to be installed without having to take the car to a dealership. Features: Affordable price Range of up to 320 kilometres (WLTP) Practical and spacious interior Five-star Euro NCAP safety rating Ora Funky Cat The Ora Funky Cat is one of the first Chinese EVs to feature a voice-activated virtual assistant. The Funky Cat also has a new face recognition system that can be used to unlock the car and start the engine. Features: Retro-inspired design Range of up to 310 kilometres (WLTP) Easy to park and manoeuvre Affordable price Other Chinese EVs that are expected to launch in the Nordic market in the near future include the Nio ET7 and Li Auto L9. Both of these vehicles are luxury SUVs with long ranges and advanced features. HT St. John in Wilderness to bless pets today The Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness will celebrate a Blessing of the Animals at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8, in the back parking lot behind the Parish Hall, 1905 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock. Furry and feathered companions are invited to this special service to receive a blessing. Dogs, cats, snakes, chickens, horses, birds, goats in fact, all domestic animals are welcome. As an option, a stuffed animal or pet photo may be presented to receive a blessing. The outdoor meeting space will create a lively Eucharist for all creatures involved. This annual celebration has become an important tradition at St. John because pets are such an important part of family life, said the Rev. Josh Stephens, parish rector. It is also a time when our community neighbors are welcomed to express their shared connection with animals and with the God who made us all. Beijing (Gasgoo)- On September 28, Dongfeng Forthing, the passenger vehicle brand under Dongfeng Motor, saw 400 units of its Leiting pure electric vehicles (EVs) loaded onto a ship in Port of Shanghai, setting sail for delivery to Israel. Photo credit: Dongfeng Forthing This marks a significant milestone as it was the first large-scale overseas export of pure electric new energy vehicles by Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor. Israel's one-time purchase of 400 units of the Dongfeng Forthing Leiting EVs signifies a major breakthrough for the company in international markets as it pivots towards new energy vehicles. Dongfeng Forthing has set a strategic goal to achieve 100% electrification among its products within three years. The Leiting, a compact pure electric SUV, is the first representative of Dongfeng Forthing's comprehensive transition to new energy vehicles. The Leiting hit the market on March 26 this year, offering seven variants with a price range of 129,000 yuan to 229,900 yuan. Measuring 4,600mm in length, 1,860mm in width, and 1,680mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,715mm, the Leiting features an efficient 150kW electric motor delivering 340Nm of peak torque and a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 7.9 seconds. The vehicle incorporates Huawei's TMS 2.0 heat pump management system, coupled with the innovative nine-valve integration technology to mitigate issues related to low temperatures, such as power loss, reduced range, and battery capacity degradation. It's available in two CLTC-rated range options of 430km and 630km. The Israelis have described the October 7 massacre of innocent Jews by Iran backed Hamas Sunni terrorists as their 9/11. Indian media tends to compare the dastardly attack on Israel with 26/11, where even Israeli Jews were targeted by Pakistan Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) group with ISI support at Chabad House at Nariman Point. The common thread in all these three massacres is that innocents by the hundreds were butchered by jihadists with the exception that intelligence was available in 9/11 and 26/11 but not properly assessed. In 26/11, the intelligence was actionable, pin-pointed and shared by US with India but still the attack could not be prevented due to poor national security leadership and even more pathetic CT execution. Israeli counter attack, in Gaza after 10/7 massacre While 9/11 and 26/11 were single-dimensional eventsthe first air-based attack and second sea-based attackthe 10/7 ongoing terror attack is far more complex in nature with strikes from land, sea and air across the Gaza border and with no chatter. The synchronization of terrorists infiltrating into south Israel through land by simply over-running the check posts, using para-gliders to cross the border through air and finally use boats to infiltrate into Siderot-Ashkelon-Ashdod areas shows tremendous planning for a military commando operation that will be hailed as a master operation for jihadists in times to come. And that the fabled Shin Bet and Mossad had prima facie no clue about the incoming attack will also be recorded in history unless they had the information but failed to assess the threat. The massive intelligence failure in Israel and humiliation by a Palestinian terrorist group also poses very serious questions to western intelligence apparatus, which analyses the communication chatter in the world 24 X 7. That 3000 rockets were launched simultaneously from Gaza towards Israel shows the level of war planning and the humungous intelligence failure. While it is clear that Israel will extract massive vengeance on Hamas for this audacious attack, their retaliation will be hampered by Israeli citizens and soldiers (male and female) held hostage by the Hamas terrorists in tunnels under Gaza. There is a possibility of horizontal escalation of war on two fronts if Iran backed Hezbollah opens another front on Israel-Lebanon borders. If that happens, then the entire Middle-East will go up in flames given the umbilical links between Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas as well as Palestinian Islamic Jihad, who are now leading the terror strike. Although the consequences of 10/7 will play out in the decades to come, the hands of jihadists and the fundamentalist forces have been strengthened for the time being as the Hamas attack comes after Sunni fundamentalist Taliban captured Kabul on August 15, 2021. This temporary victory for Hamas will spread more religious radicalization and threaten the economic growth of Middle-East and the world in long term. The new cycle of violence and religious extremism has already begun. Is India prepared for it? 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 Pisces (19th February to 20th March) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, You are a born leader Accurate daily horoscope calls for a peaceful end for all love-related troubles. Handle the professional work smartly while enjoying good money & health today. Pisces Daily Horoscope Today, October 9, 2023. Accurate daily horoscope calls for a peaceful end for all love-related troubles. Enjoy the love relationship today and face the challenges in professional life. Both financial life and health will be intact. You may find success in the online lottery as well stock market. Also Read Horoscope Today Pisces Love Horoscope Today Handle romantic problems sensibly today as the chances are high that a ruckus will happen in the relationship. Be open in communication and avoid digging into the past as your goal is to stay happy in your personal life. New relationships will take time to settle down. Plan a romantic evening where you may also introduce the partner to the family. Single Pisces natives may fall in love today, especially in the first half of the day. Also Read Weekly Love Horoscope for Oct 9-15 Pisces Career Horoscope Today Some creative persons will get opportunities to display their talent in the second half of the day. A few performance-related issues may cause trouble for IT professionals who may also quit their jobs to join somewhere new. Business developers as well as marketing persons will have a busy day and must also work overtime. Some media persons will also face challenges professionally. Those who are into business need to wait a day or two to make new deals. Also Read Weekly Career Horoscope for Oct 9-15 Pisces Money Horoscope Today Be a smart investor today and avoid spending high amounts on luxury items. Some Pisces natives will find success in online lottery. Avoid lending a nig amount to some today and you should not buy property or land today. Take the guidance of a financial expert to make proper money plans. Some male natives will also win a property-related legal battle to have prosperity today. Pisces Health Horoscope Today You may experience headache, stomach pain, digestion issues as well as sleeplessness today. There can also be pain in joints which may severely affect senior Pisces natives. It is good to start a yoga session or attend a gym. Those who have minor chest pain must consult a doctor with immediate effect. Pisces Sign Attributes Strength: Conscious, Aesthetic, Kind-hearted Weakness: Sentimental, Indecisive, Unrealistic Symbol: Fish Element: Water Body Part: Blood Circulation Sign Ruler: Neptune Lucky Day: Thursday Lucky Color: Purple Lucky Number: 11 Lucky Stone: Yellow Sapphire Pisces Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, Capricorn Good compatibility: Virgo, Pisces Fair compatibility: Aries, Leo, Libra, Aquarius Less compatibility: Gemini, Sagittarius By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: https://www.cyberastro.com E-mail: caresponse@cyberastro.com Phone: 9717199568, 9958780857 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 Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has said that the firecracker shop accident case that killed 14 people in Attibele will be handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He also said that the cracker store doesnt hold a valid licence to run the shop and assured an action against all those involved. Attibele cracker shop fire mishap case will be handed over to CID: Karnataka CM Also read - Karnataka: 5L compensation announced for kin of deceased in fire incident at Attibele Speaking to reporters after visiting the accident site, CM Siddaramaiah said, The firecrackers that were stocked and stored at a place that lacks basic safety measures. The owners have violated all the rules which led to the death of 14 people. Four people were severely injured and being treated at the hospital. The case will be handed over to CID for further investigation. Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar also accompanied the CM and visited the accident site. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also condoled the loss of lives in the fire on social media platforms. He wrote on social media platform X, "I was deeply saddened to hear the news that 14 people died in the fire accident that broke out in a firecracker store near Anekal, Bangalore city district. I am going to visit the accident site and inspect it. My condolences to the family of the deceased workers." The Karnataka government has announced a compensation of 5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased in a major fire incident. According to police, a massive fire broke out in a firecracker shop which was built right next to the highway at Attibele on Saturday evening. The warehouse which was next to the firecracker shop also caught fire and intensified the flames. Along with 14 people, seven two-wheelers, a container lorry, and three other vehicles were gutted in the fire. 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! Beijing (Gasgoo)- Beijing Hyundai's Chongqing factory has been listed for sale on the China Beijing Equity Exchange at a transfer base price of 2.58 billion yuan, encompassing land use rights, above-ground structures, and related assets. Photo credit: Beijing Hyundai A significant portion of the assets being transferred, particularly the movable property, is either idle or in a scrapped state, signifying that the factory has been idle for some time. According to reports, the Beijing Hyundai Chongqing factory ceased operations in December 2021. This marks the automakers second attempt to sell the Chongqing factory. The first listing took place on August 11 of this year, with a transfer base price of 3.68 billion yuan. However, the sale was not completed by the deadline, resulting in a second listing by BAIC Group on September 27, which saw a reduction of 1.1 billion yuan in the transfer price. Beijing Hyundai dealership; photo credit: Beijing Hyundai The Chongqing factory, constructed during the peak of Beijing Hyundai's expansion, involved an investment of 7.75 billion yuan. The factory began construction in 2015, commenced production in 2017, and was designed with an annual vehicle production capacity of 300,000 units and an engine production capacity of 300,000 units. The factory comprises 28 facilities covering stamping, body, painting, assembly, and engine production, featuring extensive use of industrial robots, achieving an automation rate of 100%, and producing a new vehicle every 55 seconds. Following the Chongqing factory's commencement of production, Beijing Hyundai's annual production capacity reached 1.65 million units. However, between 2017 and 2021, Beijing Hyundai's approximate annual sales figures gradually declined from 820,000 units to 746,000 units, 703,000 units, 502,000 units, and 385,000 units. In 2022, Beijing Hyundai opted not to disclose its annual sales figures, though rough industry estimates suggest they did not surpass 300,000 units. Data disclosed by Beijing Hyundai for the first half of this year indicated overall sales of only 123,000 units. Due to extensive idle capacity, Beijing Hyundai sold its Beijing No. 1 factory to Li Auto in 2021, marking its first factory sale in China. In June 2023, during discussions on its Chinese strategy, Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor, indicated that Beijing Hyundai would close another Chinese factory and sell two of them. According to this plan, the Chongqing factory has already been divested, and among the remaining Beijing No. 2, No. 3, and Cangzhou factories, one will be closed, and one will be offered for sale. This will leave Beijing Hyundai with just one factory in China. After multiple delays and deadlines misses, the Bengaluru metros purple line is set to be fully operational from October 9. The Namma Metro said that the two pending lines, Krishnarajapuram Baiyappanahalli and Kengeri Challaghatta are good to go and the Whitefield Challaghatta will be fully operational from tomorrow. It's official! Bengaluru Metro's purple line fully operational from tomorrow(Ajay Aggarwal/HT Photo) Also Read - Bengaluru metro's yellow line connecting Bommasandra to Silk Board to open by February 2024, says MP Tejasvi Surya There will be no formal or informal event on the inaugural day. Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed a special concern towards this purple line and directed the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials to launch it immediately. In an X post, he said, PM Shri @narendramodi Ji has directed BMRCL to commence services on the new stretches of the #PurpleLine (Challaghatta to Kengeri and Baiyappanahalli to Whitefield), without postponing operations for a formal inauguration ceremony with VIP presence. The Commissioner for Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) had already inspected the newly constructed KR Puram Baiyappanahalli and Kengeri Challaghatta line. Both metro stretches on the purple line received the safety nod and an approval from CMRS. Bengaluru south MP Tejasvi Surya recently slammed the Congress-led state government for continuous delays in launching the KR Puram-Baiyappanahalli metro line. "About 5 to 6 lakh people use the Bengaluru metro every day. Around 50-60 per cent of this number is set to get benefits if the Baiyappanahalli-KR Puram metro section opens. The state government despite receiving all approvals and green signalling from the CMRS after its inspection, is still delaying the opening of this line, said Surya. He also said, However, the state government is not opening the operations to the public only because it is waiting for either Rahul Gandhi or some other leader of the Congress to come and inaugurate this project. Once inaugurated, the purple line is expected to enhance the public transport in Bengaluru, as Whitefield has numerous tech parks and employees from various parts of the city work there. 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 Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is likely to visit the gutted remains of a firecracker store in Attibele of Anekal town here, where a massive fire broke out on Saturday afternoon, claiming 14 lives. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah to visit Attibele after 14 died in fire accident Also Read - Karnataka: 5L compensation announced for kin of deceased in fire incident at Attibele The fire broke out as the workers at the store were unloading firecrackers from a vehicle on Saturday, around 3.30 pm, police said. According to the police, the situation is currently under control with the firefighters managing to put out the flames entirely. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire, the police added. The Karnataka government, meanwhile, announced a compensation of 5 lakh each to the next-of-kin of the deceased in the incident. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar visited the site of the fire on Saturday night and took a briefing on the incident from officials. "Officials said that 13 people died in the fire. I spoke to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the phone about the incident. The next of kin of the deceased will receive an ex-gratia amount of 5 lakh each from the government," Shivakumar said. The deputy CM added that an investigation was underway to determine the exact cause of the fire. The police are also checking IF the fire prevention rules were followed, the deputy CM said. "With Diwali not too far away, the police have been instructed to adhere to strict observance of fire safety norms in cracker shops and godowns across the state," Shivakumar added. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also condoled the loss of lives in the fire on social media platform X, posting, "I was deeply saddened to hear the news that 12 people died in the fire accident that broke out in a firecracker store near Anekal, Bangalore city district. I am going to visit the accident site tomorrow and inspect it. My condolences to the family of the deceased workers." According to the damage assessment done by the officials, seven two-wheelers, a container lorry, and three other vehicles were gutted in the fire. 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 Karnataka government has announced a compensation of 5 lakhs each to the kin of the deceased in a major fire incident at a firecracker store in Attibele of Anekal town on Saturday. 5L compensation announced for kin of deceased in fire incident. (Pic for representation) Also Read - Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah appeals for 4,860 crore compensation over drought, says actual loss is over 30,000 crore Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar visited the site of the incident on Saturday night and got the information from the officials. "Officials said that 13 people died in the accident. I spoke to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the phone about the incident. The family of the deceased will be given a compensation of 5 lakh each by the government," Shivakumar said. Karnataka Deputy CM further said that the police are conducting a thorough investigation into the tragedy. They are also checking whether the fire prevention rules were followed or not. "In view of approaching Diwali, the police officials have been instructed to take precautionary measures regarding the observance of fire hazard control rules in firecracker shops and godowns across the state," Shivakumar added. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also condoled the accident and said on X, "I was deeply saddened to hear the news that 12 people died in the fire accident that broke out in a firecracker store near Anekal, Bangalore city district. I am going to visit the accident site tomorrow and inspect it. My condolences to the family of the deceased workers." According to the fire department officials, several fire tenders were rushed to douse the fire at the site. "A fire broke out in a firecracker shop suddenly this afternoon. The shop was built right next to the highway. The firework shop was on fire in no time. The warehouse which was next to the firecracker shop also caught fire. The situation is under control," police said earlier. According to the damage assessment done by the officials, seven two-wheelers, a container lorry, and three other vehicles were gutted in the fire. 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! BJP's social media post sharing a poster on 'X' portraying Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as a "new age Ravan", has evoked strong reaction from Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. Siddaramiah and DK Shivakumar hit out at BJP for 'Ravan' poster of Rahul Gandhi(CMO Karnataka ) Also Read - CM Siddaramaiah clarifies after Shivakumar's liquor licence in Karnataka statement sparks row While Siddaramaiah has retaliated by calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi "Vote Hunter" in a post along with a poster, Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress president, claimed that Rahul Gandhi's leadership has created a very big fear in the minds of the BJP as INDIA alliance is getting stronger. "Stop focusing on 10 heads, Start focusing on the 10000000s of lives lost," Siddaramaiah said in a post on social media platform 'X' along with a poster of the prime minister calling him a "Vote Hunter". Stating that Gandhi's leadership has created very big fear in the minds of everyone in the BJP, Shivakumar said, "INDIA (alliance) is going stronger, it is united and will be protected. INDIA has been formed after his (Rahul Gandhi) Bharat Jodo yatra, fearing it, they have put Ravana poster with ten heads." Speaking to reporters here, he said, "One has to understand that there is a culture in north India which worships Ravana. Ahead of Rama and Ravana heading in to a war, Ravana helps Rama to make sankalpa (a ritual). Let me not discuss all those things now...let them (BJP) do anything. This shows how much they are afraid of Rahul Gandhi and his leadership." The poster by BJP on Rahul Gandhi came out after the Congress posted on 'X' a picture of Narendra Modi with the caption "The Biggest Liar" and another calling him a "Jumla Boy" who was "going to hit the election rally soon". In a sharp retort, the BJP on its official handle 'X' shared a poster of Gandhi with several heads with the title "Bharat Khatre Mein Hai - A Congress party production. Directed by George Soros". 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 workers of a textile unit were found dead in a chemical tank of the factory in the Jalalpur Industrial area of Panipat, the police said on Sunday. Family members of workers found dead in chemical tank at Panipat textile unit stage a protest outside the factory on Sunday. (HT Photo) The police said the deceased have been identified as Kurban Ali, 30, and Islam, 41, both residents of Jalalur, and Suresh Kumar, 39, of Uttar Pradesh. On Sunday morning their bodies were spotted in the tank and the factory workers called the fire brigade. A team of firefighters took the bodies out of the chemical tank and handed them over to the police. They were rushed to hospital, but the doctors declared them brought dead. As per the family members, they worked as tractor drivers, and they used to drain out chemical water from the tanks. The incident took place on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. As they did not reach home at night and their mobile phones were switched off, their family members reached the factory, and their bodies were spotted in the tank. The family members held a protest outside the factory and demanded the police to book the owners of the factory on charges of murder. The family members also damaged the window glass of the ambulance at the civil hospital. The family members alleged that the vitims were murdered and later their bodies were dumped into the tank to divert police attention. Later, police officials managed to pacify the protesters and they agreed to allow the postmortem of the bodies. The police said that on the complaint of the family members, an FIR has been registered against the three owners of the unit under Sections 302, 34 and 323 of the Indian Penal Code. Additional superintendent of police Mayank Mishra assured the family members of fair investigation in the case. The actual cause of the death could be ascertained only after postmortem examination. A probe into the matter is underway, he said. Panipat superintendent of police Ajit Singh Shekhawat said that the FIR has been registered against the owners and the investigation is going on. 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 Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that there is no such demand of caste census in Haryana and the BJP never supported the caste-based politics, but the key objective of the saffron party is the welfare of the poor and deprived without any bias. Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar at a Jan Samvad programme in Yamunanagar on Sunday. (HT Photo) There is no demand of caste-based census in Haryana because the BJP-led government already working for the welfare of the poor and needy people and its above the caste census, the chief minister said when asked whether the Haryana government will also conduct a caste census in the state. Also read: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar regularises 303 illegal colonies His response came a day after the outgoing Congress government in Rajasthan announced to conduct a caste census in Rajasthan on the lines of Bihar. Khattar accused the Congress party of promoting 3Cs - corruption, crime and caste-based politics. But caste-based politics was never on the agenda of the BJP as the party was already working to provide benefits to the poor and downtrodden for which the caste census is being conducted in several states. In Haryana we are working on the agenda of Haryana Ek-Haryanvi Ek, he added. Khattar, who attended a programme of party workers in Karnal, said that the BJP has a strong strength of panna pramukhs in the state and they have strengthened its base in at the booth level in Haryana, whereas the Congress has failed to appoint its district-level office-bearers. We have deputed a huge force of panna-pramukhs at booth level in all 90 assembly segments of the state and the partys organisation is working hard at the ground to ensure the partys victory with a thumping majority in the coming elections, he said But on the other hand, the Congress have failed to appoint its district presidents and the appointment of the HPCC president was also marred by controversies and they had to appoint four working presidents to strike a balance, he added. Replying to a question about the SYL Canal issue the chief minister reiterated that the Supreme Courts verdict is clear and now it is a matter of execution of the orders by the Punjab and the Centre. But the Punjab governments objection related to the distribution of water is a separate issue and it will be decided by the Water Disputes Tribunal. Khattar reduces timber market fee by 1% for plywood industries Ambala Accepting the long-standing demand of plywood factory operators, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday announced a reduction in the market fee on the purchase of lumber from the current 2% to 1%. This decision, officials said, is likely to yield an annual profit of over 8 crore for the plywood factory operators that have time and again highlighted the burden primarily due to losses following the pandemic. The chief minister made this announcement while addressing his Jan Samvad programme at Dussehra Ground in Yamunanagar, the first such event held under the limits of any municipal corporation. Later a delegation of the plywood association met Khattar with school education minister Kanwar Pal and MLA Ghanshyamdas Arora to thank him. Arora said that the industry will directly benefit from the announcement and improve its condition that is struggling with the market fee. Khattar said that his government is planning to conduct a survey of old colonies in the state, some of which have legal status, while others remain unauthorised and the goal is to legalise these colonies within the next 4-5 months. He said that a physical survey will also be carried out for families grappling with high electricity bills due to their business activities, based on which appropriate facilities will be extended to these families and those working in various occupations such as auto drivers, washermen, ironworkers, barbers, and carpenters, will also receive support. Highlighting the progress in providing essential services to the public, the chief minister said that the number of below poverty line (BPL) cardholders in Yamunanagar district has increased from 55,693 in December 2022 to 71,388 at present, with approximately 16,000 new cards issued in just seven months. He announced that all BPL cardholders would now receive 2 liters of mustard oil, removing the previous 12,000 per month electricity bill threshold for BPL families. Moreover, the chief minister also announced approvals for the construction of 15 roads in the assembly constituency with work underway on eight of them and tenders set to be issued for the remaining seven. During the programme, he also handed over pension certificates to 11 individuals aged 60 or above, whose income was less than 3 lakh, offering his congratulations. Meanwhile, Yamunanagar Police didnt allow a few of the residents including four leaders from Aam Aadmi Party to enter the venue. 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 Neeraj Mohan Neeraj Mohan is a correspondent, covering Karnal, Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Panipat and Yamunanagar districts of Haryana. ...view detail A court in Uttar Pradeshs Shahjahanpur awarded death penalty to British citizen Ramandeep Kaur for murdering her NRI husband with the help of a friend seven years ago. UP court order: British-Sikh woman gets death penalty for killing NRI husband Her friend and accomplice Gurpreet was sentenced to life imprisonment with a fine of 3 lakh. Also read: Man gets death for rape and murder of 8-year-old daughter Sukhjeet Singh (34), was sleeping with his sons Arjun and Aryan, when he was killed by Kaur and Gurpreet, additional district government counsel Shree Pal Verma said on Saturday. Arjun told the court during a hearing that his mother smothered Sukhjeet with a pillow and then, Gurpreet hit him with a hammer on his head. Then, Gurpreet took out a knife from his pocket and gave it to Kaur, who slit her husbands throat, Verma said citing Arjuns testimony. The prosecution said Sukhjeet, his wife, and sons Arjun Aryan visited his native place in Shahjahanpur in August 2016. Gurpreet, from Punjab, also an NRI, accompanied them. Sukhjeet was found murdered in the house on September 2, 2016. Hours after her sentencing, Kaur said she is being framed by her husbands family members, a jail official said on Sunday. Kaur said she will appeal against the capital punishment, according to the official. Superintendent of Shahjahanpur district jail Mijaji Lal on Sunday said two female inmates of the jail and a woman constable have been deployed to monitor Kaur. When she was asked why she committed the murder, Kaur said her husband wanted to sell his entire property and move to England, so his family members killed him and wrongly framed her, according to the jail official. She said that she is innocent, and she will appeal against the capital punishment, Lal said. Reacting to the verdict, Sukhjeets mother Vanshjeet Kaur had told reporters on Saturday, I feel relieved. My prayers were answered and I got what I was expecting from the court. I was demanding capital punishment for Ramandeep so that no mothers child dies like this. 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 27-year-old key operative of the terrorist-gangster alliance of Arsh Dalla and Sukha Duneke was arrested from Faridabad in Haryana on Friday, for his alleged involvement in multiple murders reported in Punjab and Haryana, the special cell of Delhi Police said on Saturday. Police said the accused is allegedly involved in multiple murders reported in Punjab and Haryana. (Representative image) The suspect, Harjeet Singh alias Harry Maur, who is originally from Bhatinda in Punjab and was evading arrest for the last two years. He was also wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Another member of the alliance named Harry Rajpura was arrested from Faridabad last month, said deputy commissioner of police (counter intelligence, special cell) Pratiksha Godara. Our team arrested Maur and Rajpura in quick succession. They were the last two prominent on-ground operatives of Arsh DallaSukha Duneke gang. Maur was one of the main accused behind the killing of British kabaddi team captain Sandeep Nangal Ambian. Amid a huge gathering, Ambian was killed when he was presiding a tournament as the chief guest at Nakodar in Punjab, said special commissioner of police (special cell) HGS Dhaliwal. The arrest of Maur and Rajpura marks the conclusion of the reign of terror orchestrated by them in northern India. They were the most trustworthy operatives of the gangster-terrorist alliance led by Sukha Duneke, who was reportedly murdered by unidentified assailants in Canada on September 21, Arsh Dalla, Lakhbir Singh aka Landa and Harvinder Singh aka Rinda. The gang has been involved in anti-national activities in India in collaboration with Pakistans ISI, said DCP Godara. According to the DCP, Arsh Dalla and Sukha Duneke were primarily engaged in targeted killings and extortion. They employed their network of sources to identify potential targets in India and conveyed instructions to Harry Maur, as well as Harry Rajpura, to carry out these assignments. Conversely, Landa and Rinda focused more on the trafficking of illicit weapons and narcotics across international borders. Maur and Rajpura were tasked with facilitating the transportation of drone-delivered shipments to the various recipients. The extorted funds and the proceeds of smuggling are routed through hawala channels to the foreign-based kingpins, from where they are redirected to these operatives in India for execution of criminal activities, added Godara. The special cell said that Rajpura was arrested on September 7 from Hodal in Faridabad and his interrogation led to the arrest of Maur from Faridabad on October 6. About the cases Maur was involved in, DCP Godara said that on January 13 last year, he and his associates murdered two menManpreet Challa and Manpreet Vickey, who were close aides of dead gangster Kulbir Narunaa. Two months later, he and his aides killed one Yashbir in Haryanas Palwal over gang rivalry and the same month they killed Sandeep Nangal, an NRI based out of UK, in full public view during an ongoing kabbadi match in Punjabs Nakodar. 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 Gurugram Home Developers Association demanded on Sunday that the government lift the eight-month-long ban on the construction of a fourth floor and a stilt on residential plots, claiming that the ban had resulted in significant losses for plot owners, contractors, and developers who had invested in such plots. According to the association, permission should be granted as per the old zoning plan as soon as possible, or else all stakeholders will continue to suffer heavy losses. Narender Yadav, president of the Gurugram Home Developers Association, at the press conference on Sunday. (HT Photo) Narender Yadav, president of the association, told a press conference on Sunday that under the old zoning rules, property owners were required to leave more space for setbacks in the front and rear of the building, resulting in more open spaces between structures. The fourth-floor ban was imposed in February, and the government formed a committee that submitted a report four months ago, but no decision has been made. This policy limbo has impacted at least 500 plot owners and contractors, he said. The association said that the ban has increased the price of plots by nearly 15%, while the supply of residential homes in the form of floors has decreased significantly. The availability of flats in the city was already low due to the launch of few new group projects in 2020 and 2021, but the floors made up for the shortage. The ban has really put property owners, contractors, and brokers in a bind because several people have taken out loans and invested money to build a fourth floor, he said. According to the association, another major issue that plot owners are facing is that many of them built the fourth floor while taking into account the compounding rule of DTCP (department of town and country planning) and HSVP (Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran), but with the decision to halt the fourth-floor policy, their investments are in jeopardy. Since the ban was imposed, weve met with senior DTCP officials and even the chief minister, and weve been assured that a decision will be made soon on this matter, but its still stuck. We urge the government to make a decision on this matter as soon as possible, he said. The association also said that the infrastructure issue in Gurugram city can be resolved if the government spends thousands of crore collected as external development charges (EDC). The Haryana government allowed the registration of a fourth floor as an independent floor in 2019, but in February 2023, it imposed a ban on construction and registration of fourth floors after this policy was challenged in the Punjab and Haryana high court and raised in the state assembly. Opponents of the fourth-floor policy say that adding floors without building infrastructure puts a strain on the existing amenities and utilities. Following the courts directions, the state government formed a committee to investigate the matter thoroughly. The committee, led by P Raghavendra Rao, chairman of the Haryana state pollution control board, conducted a detailed study and submitted its report on June 29. The government, however, has yet to make a decision on the committees recommendations. When questioned about the matter, a senior DTCP official said that the matter is under consideration and the government will take a decision on it. Chaitali Mandhotra, co-convenor of United Gurugram residents welfate association (RWA), a body of RWAs, said that the government must upgrade infrastructure in the neighbourhoods before granting permission to build a fourth floor. The city urgently needs to upgrade its power, sewage, and road systems. The current infrastructure is insufficient for the population, she said. RK Yadav, president of the Sector 46 RWA, said the current infrastructure in the city cannot serve the population living in two to three-storey houses. Unless basic amenities are upgraded, the fourth floor should not be allowed, Yadav added. The people need water, power, sewage lines, and roads, which are already under pressure. The government must expand capacity before giving any construction permission, 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! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjees principal chief advisor Amit Mitra targeted the Bharatiya Janata Paty (BJP) on Saturday alleging that the suspension of central funds for welfare schemes, Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on opposition leaders across India and action against NGOs are all part of a design aimed at helping the saffron party win elections in all states. Amit Mitra, principal chief advisor to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. (File Photo) What can be more anti-federal than this? Mitra, former finance minister of the state, said at a virtual press conference, days after Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee launched an indefinite demonstration outside the Raj Bhawan in Kolkata protesting suspension of central funds for schemes under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (MNREGA) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in the state. The agitation entered its third day on Saturday when two TMC Lok Sabha members, Mahua Moitra and Kalyan Banerjee, and panchayat minister Pradip Mazumdar, reached Darjeeling to meet governor C V Ananda Bose with the demand that he must meet a TMC delegation led by Banerjee in Kolkata. The Union ministry of rural development stopped the MNREGA funds for Bengal on December 24, 2021 but did not cite any reason. Realising that some reason must be cited, the Centre sent a letter on March 9, 2022, saying the action was taken under Section 27 of MNREGA, Mitra said in Kolkata. Till September 27 this year, Bengals MNREGA dues stood at 6,907 crores. Even the interest on this amount would be around 200 crore. A number of NGOs have moved court, challenging this action. We are keeping a watch on the court proceedings, he added. You will notice a pattern here. There is a plan to destabilise state governments run by opposition parties that are part of the INDIA group. ED is conducting raids on leaders of these parties in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telengana, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and Delhi under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This is fundamentally anti-democratic. The courts are questioning ED and pointing at lack of evidence. This is cowboy politics, Mitra said. NGOs and the civil society have been targeted as well. The registrations of 5933 NGOs have lapsed in 10 years. During this period, the licences of 20,600 NGOs have been cancelled, according to Amnesty International. Of these, 6000 licences were cancelled in 2022, said Mitra. On the other hand, there have been no development in the probe into the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh. NGOs affiliated to the Sangh Parivar are getting huge funds from abroad, Mitra added. Earlier this week, the ED summoned Abhishek Banerjees wife and his parents, Amit and Lata Banerjee, between October 6 and 9 for questioning in the bribe-for-job scam in the education department since they are directors of Leaps and Bounds, a company under scanner. The companys offices were raided by ED on August 21 and 22. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is also probing the case under orders of the Calcutta high court. Amit Banerjee - one of the younger siblings of Mamata Banerjee and his wife were never questioned by any federal agency earlier. Lata Banerjee did not go to the ED office on Friday citing illness, ED officials said. Amid the tussle over central funds, Union minister of state for rural development, Sadvi Niranjan Jyoti, landed in Kolkata to counter Abhishek Banerjees allegation that she did not meet the TMC delegation at her Delhi office on October 3. The Centre has no intention of stopping the funds. It will be released as soon as the state government furnishes accounts of the money spent so far. I was waiting at my office till 9.30pm. Instead of meeting me, the TMC MPs kept putting up conditions. Initially they said five MPs would see me. Then they said 10 MPs would come. I agreed to both but instead of coming to my room they sent a message saying I would have to meet the people from Bengal who went to Delhi (for the agitation). I refused, saying the appointment was sought only to hold official discussion on MNREGA funds, the minister said. TMC leaders are spreading lies, saying I left my office through the backdoor instead of meeting them. It seems the TMCs foundation stands on lies, she added. After meeting the governor at the Raj Bhawan in Darjeeling, Mahua Moitra said: The governor assured us that he will talk to the Centre but said he wont be able to do anything if this issue becomes political. 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! 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. NIO executive: range-extender vehicle charging takes twice as long as pure electric NIO Powers Senior Vice President, Shen Fei, recently discussed the recharging solutions for electric vehicles on Weibo. He shared data indicating that charging a range-extender vehicle takes twice as long as a pure electric one. Shen Fei emphasized that swapping batteries is an unbeatable and significantly time-saving solution for long-distance EV journeys compared to traditional charging. Photo credit: NIO Shanghai inaugurates hydrogen & fuel cell testing base Shanghai's hydrogen and fuel cell testing base recently held its inauguration ceremony in Jiading District. As part of Shanghai's new infrastructure initiatives, this facility plays a vital role in the hydrogen energy industry chain by covering testing and certification for fuel cell vehicles, engines, fuel cell stacks, and essential components. It serves as a third-party testing and research platform, supporting the industrialization of hydrogen energy in the Yangtze River Delta and contributing to the development of the domestic hydrogen and fuel cell automotive sector. CATL, FAW Jiefang set up joint venture According to Chinese corporate database Tianyancha, Jiefang Contemporary Amperex Technology (Jilin) Limited was recently incorporated, with a registered capital of 5 million yuan. The company's scope of business includes the sale of complete new energy vehicles, battery sales, sales of battery components, electric vehicle charging infrastructure operation, sales of charging piles, information system integration services, intelligent control system integration, manufacturing of transmission and control equipment, and more. The company is wholly owned by Jiefang Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited, which is jointly held by FAW Jiefang and CATL, each with a 50% stake. Beijing Hyundai's Chongqing factory listed for sale at reduced price Beijing Hyundai's Chongqing factory has been listed for sale on the China Beijing Equity Exchange at a transfer price of 2.58 billion yuan, encompassing land use rights, above-ground structures, and related assets. ZEEKR rolls out first major OTA upgrade for ZEEKR X On October 7, ZEEKR, the premium new energy vehicle brand under Geely, rolled out the first significant over-the-air (OTA) software update for the ZEEKR X SUV model. Changan's Lumin mini-EV to introduce 301km fast charging variant On October 8, Changan New Energy made an official announcement that its mini electric vehicle model, the Changan Lumin, is set to welcome an additional variant with a 301km fast-charging capability later this month. Chinese LiDAR maker LSLiDAR bags hundreds of millions of yuan in Series D financing Shenzhen-based LiDAR maker LSLiDAR (Leishen Intelligent System Co., Ltd.) recently secured hundreds of millions of yuan in its D-round funding. DiDi's KargoBot L4 autonomous trucks granted road testing approval in Beijing Recently, DiDi's autonomous freight solution, KargoBot, received a notice for road testing of its factory-assembled L4 autonomous trucks in the Beijing High-level Automated Driving Demonstration Area. Dongfeng Forthing's Leiting EVs embark on first overseas export to Israel On September 28, Dongfeng Forthing, the passenger vehicle brand under Dongfeng Motor, saw 400 units of its Leiting pure electric vehicles (EVs) loaded onto a ship in Port of Shanghai, setting sail for delivery to Israel. Chinas Tianjin city wants new energy vehicles to account for 45% of all car production by 2027 The Tianjin Municipal Government recently issued the "the Plan for Accelerating the Development of the New Energy and Intelligent Connected Vehicle Industry (2023-2027)." This comprehensive plan outlines strategic goals and milestones aimed at propelling the city's new energy vehicle (NEV) and intelligent connected vehicle (ICV) sectors to new heights. Huawei Digital Energy puts fully liquid-cooled ultra-fast charging stations into operation along Sichuan-Tibet Highway Southern Route During China's National Day holiday, a series of fully liquid-cooled ultra-fast charging stations, which use the technology developed by Huawei Digital Energy, have officially gone live in multiple locations along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway Southern Route, namely, the route stretching from Litang County to Yading in Sichuan province, Huawei Digital Energy announced earlier this month via its WeChat account. First mass-produced NETA X SUVs roll off production line The first mass-produced units of the NETA X, a fire new SUV model of the Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) startup NETA Auto, has rolled off the assembly line, the automaker announced on October 7 via its WeChat account. The model is expected to hit the market later this month, with deliveries to begin upon its market release. West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Tuesday said he will meet those deprived of MGNREGA work as the Centre has stopped funds under the scheme to the state, and take up their grievances with New Delhi. West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose (File)(ANI) Bose, who will later in the day return to Kolkata from Darjeeling, where he has gone to visit the flood situation in north Bengal, also wrote to Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi, inquiring whether permission was granted for the TMC's ongoing sit-in demonstration outside Raj Bhavan, a source at the governor house said. "I will speak with the deprived. I will hear complaints directly from them. After that, I will talk not only to the Centre but also all parties involved," Bose told reporters at Kalimpong. Incidentally, a three-member TMC delegation on Saturday called on Bose in Darjeeling, where they presented demands regarding the clearance of the state's financial dues under the scheme. Soon after meeting them, Bose said that he would be taking up the matter of MGNREGA dues of the state with the Centre. The West Bengal governor on Sunday morning went to Teesta Bazaar area in Kalimpong to take stock of the flood situation, and he will be returning to Kolkata by Sunday evening, the Raj Bhavan source said. There was, however, no confirmation on whether he would be meeting TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee after returning to the city. "The governor wrote to the chief secretary wanting to know whether proper permission was given to the TMC to hold the sit-in demonstration outside the Raj Bhavan. He also asked the chief secretary where there was any breach of the law in giving permission to the ruling party in the state to hold the protest outside his residence where Section 144 of CrPC is supposed to be imposed till 150 metres from the Raj Bhavan's boundary," the source told PTI. The indefinite sit-in demonstration outside Raj Bhavan by TMC activists led by senior leader Abhishek Banerjee entered the fourth day on Sunday with agitators asserting their stir will continue till Bose meets them at the protest site. The Ministry of Rural Development stated on October 5 that the release of funds for West Bengal was stopped from March 9, 2022, in accordance with Section 27 of MGNREGA because of the state's non-compliance with directives of the central government. 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 a push to technology, Uttar Pradesh government's Department of Science and Technology has approved over 100 research studies on using technologies like artificial intelligence and block chain in sectors like healthcare and renewable energy, by leading educational institutes, including IIT-Kanpur, MNNIT and KGMU, officials said. These researches are aimed at developing applications and systems for early throat cancer detection in tobacco users, correcting sitting posture among desk workers, aiding people with disability with special wheelchairs, etc.(HT Photo) These government-funded research studies are aimed at developing applications and systems for early throat cancer detection in tobacco users, correcting sitting posture among desk workers, aiding people with disability with special wheelchairs, etc. A meeting for this was held in Lucknow on October 5 under the chairmanship of Narendra Bhooshan, Principal Secretary, Department of Science and Technology and Director General Council of Science and Technology, a senior official said. At the meeting, a total of 109 research proposals were approved, which is the highest number of such approvals, said Anil Yadav, Director of the Council of Science and Technology, Uttar Pradesh. These studies would cost an expenditure of 14 crore, he said. The council noted that desk workers continue to work for several hours while sitting at the same seat for long durations, leading to back pain and spondylitis, among other health issues. To overcome this problem, the help of artificial intelligence, machine learning and IoT-based real time posture correction system is to be developed by Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT), Prayagraj. The research work for this has been approved and the system would help desk workers get a warning every time they have their posture wrong, Yadav said. The department noted that diagnosis of cancer is often delayed in cases where users consume 'paan' and tobacco. IIT-Kanpur will develop a healthcare application using artificial intelligence and advance endoscopic imaging which will help in early detection of this serious disease so that early diagnosis and treatment of patients can be done to prevent loss of life, he said. The King George Medical University in Lucknow is to develop a multi-parameter MRI model based on machine learning which will help in identification classification and diagnosis of renal tumors, he said. Among the proposals which have received the Council's nod, is a helmet-controlled electronic vehicle chair which is to be developed by the Ambedkar Institute of Technology for Handicapped, Kanpur, he said, adding This wheelchair will utilise artificial intelligence and operate on principles of IoT. The department has also approved research studies to encourage renewable energy sector in the state. For this, the department has approved a research by JSS Academy in Noida to develop a system using block chain microcontroller, and IoT which will allow any person in a locality to use surplus solar energy which has been generated by any other resident of the locality, he said. The Rohilkhand University, Bareilly will develop resources using artificial Intelligence and drone technology for asset inspection of industries working on solar energy in the state, he said. The Rani Lakshmibai Central University, Jhansi will work to encourage the cultivation of 'Plas' in the tribal areas of Bundelkhand and make its improved varieties available. 'Plas' is used in making colours, making 'Dona' leaves, medicines, ply boards etc. This project will help in generating employment and increasing the income of farmers, Yadav said. The Science and Technology Department, Uttar Pradesh has also announced a hike in fellowship of research staff in projects funded by the Council of Science and Technology. The fellowship of research assistants has been increased from 20,000 to 25,000 while that of senior research assistants has been increased from 22,000 to 28,000, Yadav said. During the meeting, the Executive Committee of the Council also suggested conducting research work in all the districts of the state, especially the aspirational districts, backward districts of Bundelkhand and Purvanchal, he added. 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! htmumbai@hindustantimes.com Seawoods residents protest against hospital building lying unused Navi Mumbai:Seawoods residents participated in a serial hunger strike to draw CIDCOs attention over the non-utilization of a building constructed on a plot leased to a trust in 1999 for the purpose of having a multi-specialty hospital in the area. Residents of Sector 48 A, comprising 48 multi storied buildings and nearly one lakh population, came out in large numbers on October 5 to participate in a serial hunger strike. A ground plus four storey building has been constructed, but lying unutilised for the last 24 years. The building was to have a multi-specialty hospital but has remained unoccupied for more than two decades. We fail to understand the reason for CIDCO failing to get this building commissioned, said Anita Das, a resident. The strike commenced from 10 am onwards on Thursday with residents taking turns in a gap of 4 hours to sit on hunger strike. Former corporator Vishal Dolas undertook the fast continuously till Friday 4 pm. Since I represent the ward, I am aware of the seriousness of the issue. In fact during COVID, the residents experienced personal hardships with no access to a hospital nearby. The land was leased to a trust by CIDCO to construct the hospital. The trust has constructed the building, but for reasons unknown for many years, the infrastructure is lying unused, said Dolas. During the Covid period, the residents ire made several requests to the administration to commission a hospital. Since the building has been lying vacant during COVID, we made multiple requests to let the premises be used for patients. The request was not entertained. As a result, in spite of a G Plus 4 building meant for hospital standing near us, we had to travel to Vashi and other areas to avail emergency treatment. Since then, it was decided that either the building should be made operational or the structure should be handed over to NMMC, said Srikant Powar, another resident. When contacted, an CIDCO official said the undertaking had issued a show cause notice to the trust in October 2020 and proposal to terminate the lease agreement with the concerned trust was sent recently to the higher authorities to decide. Since the response to the show cause notice was not satisfactory, the proposal to terminate the agreement has been made and a final decision will be taken shortly, said the official. MLA Ganesh Naik has assured the residents of getting the matter resolved at the earliest. The strike was eventually called off on Friday at 4 pm after receiving assurance from both authorities and political leaders to look into 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! The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Sharad Pawar has approached the Supreme Court seeking directives to the Maharashtra Assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar to take action against MLAs who have shifted their loyalty to Ajit Pawar. NCP has filed disqualification petitions against 40 MLAs for anti-party activities after Ajit Pawar split the party and joined the coalition government as deputy chief minister. Pune, India - October 29, 2018: Nationalist Congress Party leaders Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar at the samvidhan bachao (save the Constitution) rally organised at Ganesh Kala Krida Manch on Monday. in Pune, India, on Monday, October 29, 2018. (Photo by Rahul Raut/HT PHOTO) The SC is expected to hear the petition on Monday. The move comes at a time when the Election Commission has started hearing the petition of Ajit Pawar, staking a claim to the partys name and its election symbol. Also read: Sharad Pawar faction's emotive reply over Ajit Pawar's lawyer's alleged fiefdom jab: Man who raised you The party is looking to compel the speaker to dispose of the disqualification case filed by them in the light of SC remarks directing him to spell out the timeline within a week for adjudication of the disqualification petitions filed against chief minister Eknath Shinde and his party MLAs who split Shiv Sena and tied up with the BJP to form a new government in June 2022, insiders said. On behalf of our party (Sharad Pawar led NCP), Maharashtra president Jayant Patil has filed a writ petition before the Supreme Court on September 24. We have sought directives to the speaker who has done nothing in over three months since our first disqualification petition was filed before him on July 2, said an NCP insider. NCP has filed three petitions for disqualification of rebel MLAs. The first petition was filed against nine MLAs including Ajit Pawar, second petition was against 20 MLAs and third against eleven MLAs. The objective of the petition is to expedite our case as we are afraid that the speaker will decide in the Ajit factions favour. This will help us approach the SC and get them disqualified in a short period of time if the speakers decision is against us, he added. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction has also filed a caveat before the apex court. Praful Patel, working national president of the Ajit-led faction, confirmed this. Since they have filed a petition, we have also submitted a caveat asking the court not to pass any order without hearing our side, he said. The Ajit-led faction is of the view that nothing will happen to them. We know that the SC has refused to intervene in the speakers jurisdiction in the Shiv Sena versus Eknath Shinde case. It means the same will be repeated in our case, said an insider from Ajit led faction, adding, At the most, the apex court will ask Narwekar to give its ruling in a reasonable time and elections can be held any time next year. Meanwhile, the second hearing by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on a petition filed by the NCP rebel faction staking claim to the partys name and symbol will also take place on Monday. 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 Assam Police in joint operations with the Border Security Force (BSF) and theb Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have arrested eight drug peddlers from Assams Cachar and Karimganj districts and seized 43,000 Yaba Tablets and 568 grams heroin worth 12 crores in past 24 hours. The Assam police seized 43,000 Yaba Tablets and 568 grams heroin worth 12 crores. (Image posted on X by Himanta Biswa Sarma) The operations were conducted in different areas of the two neighbouring districts on Friday and Saturday , according to the police. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday morning informed that based on a tip-off, the Karimganj Police conducted a special operation Friday night where heroin worth 3.5 crore were seized. 568 grams of suspected heroin contained in 52 soap cases were seized from secret chambers of a vehicle coming from a neighbouring state in Gandharajbari under Ratabari Police Station. Three people have been arrested in this connection, he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Superintendent of police (SP) of Cachar district, Numal Mahatta said that at around 4.30pm on Friday, they launched a joint operation with BSF intelligence and intercepted one Swift Dezire vehicle. We seized 30,000 Yaba Tablets from a vehicle and arrested two Silchar residents, Mahatta said. In another search operation with CRPF in Cachars Kalain area near Assam-Meghalaya border, the Assam police recovered 13,000 Yaba Tablets on Friday night. Mahatta said that a dealing of drugs was going on in that area and the police reached the area after receiving information from a secret source. Seeing the police, the involved persons tried to escape but somehow they were apprehended by our team and we recovered 13,000 yaba tablets from their possession, he said. All the eight arrested persons are local residents and they have been arrested under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, according to the police. 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 Dzongu, a region in north Sikkim, which has over the years been established as an official reserve of the Lepchas the aboriginal inhabitants of the tiny Himalayan state in eastern India has been badly hit by the flash flood. On Tuesday night, a flash flood was triggered by an outburst of the Lhonak glacial lake in north Sikkim (File Photo) The flood has washed away the Lepcha Traditional House at Namprikdang in Dzongu, which used to boast of a museum showcasing traditional items and utensils used by the community such as agricultural, kitchen and musical equipment. The Lepcha Traditional House, the community ground where the villagers used to organize their social and cultural events, has been washed away, said a senior official of Sikkim. Also Read: Sikkim floods: A long wait for survivors as bad weather halts rescue operation Located more than 75 km from the states capital Gangtok, the region in north Sikkims Mangan district one of the worst-hit districts, is bounded by the River Teesta and River Tholung Chu on two sides and by the mountains on one side. It borders the Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most of Dzongu still remains unexplored because of its remotes and inaccessibility. Very few tourists used to come here and the region seems to be almost untouched. Tourists need a permit to visit Dzongu as it is a restricted area. The flood has also damaged the entry barricade at Phidang village, the sentry post and the pass permit issue post, along with the forest guest house at Namprikdang and the rangers office. This apart, a few houses have also been damaged, said an official. Lepchas constitute around 15% of the states population. They have strong ties with nature and have lived here for centuries. Even though a team from the state disaster response force managed to reach flood-hit Chungthan town in Mangan after three days, Dzongu remains detached after two bridges, which used to connect the region with the rest of the district, were washed away. It is a big loss. The community ground was where all the people used to meet during social and cultural programs. With the two bridges being swept away, the region now remains disconnected from the rest of the world, said Gyatso Lepcha, general secretary of the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT). Also Read: Sikkim floods: CM warns against stockpiling as he announces additional package The ACT, an organization of the Lepchas of Sikkim, was formed to protect Dzongu and its environment from mega hydroelectric power projects in the region. On Tuesday night, a flash flood was triggered by an outburst of the Lhonak glacial lake in north Sikkim. Huge volumes of water, along with rocks and boulders, came crashing down and hit the Teesta-III hydel project dam in Mangan district. The dam and the entire water and debris barreled down the river Teesta tearing down villages and towns on its banks. Even West Bengal suffered some damage. Dzongu was also hit by an earthquake in October 2011 and had suffered some damage, said an official. Sikkim chief minister Prem Singh Tamang, who visited north Sikkim on Saturday, said a 55m long bailey suspension bridge will be installed to connect Dzongu with Mangan. Zip lines were also being installed with support from the locals to ensure that food and other essentials reaches the people of Dzongu, who have been completely cut off following the calamity. 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 Tokyo Revengers, the anime sensation that has been gripping fans worldwide, is set to unveil the highly anticipated Episode 2 of Season 3. This season promises to delve deep into the gripping Tenjiku Arc, where Toman's fate teeters on the edge, thanks to the enigmatic Mikey. Takemichi and his friends face the challenge of defeating the Tenjiku gang in Tokyo Revengers Season 3 Episode 2.(YouTube/Kodansha USA ) Tokyo Revengers Season 3 Episode 2 release date and time: Mark your calendars for October 11, 2023, when Tokyo Revengers Season 3 Episode 2 is scheduled to make its debut. Japanese fans can catch the action at precisely 12:00 AM JST. For fans residing in other regions, the release time may vary according to their respective time zones. Where to watch Tokyo Revengers Season 3 Episode 2: The adventures of Tokyo Revengers Season 3 Episode 2 will unfold on several Japanese networks, including MBS, Tokyo MX, and TV Aichi. International fans need not worry, as the episode will be available for streaming exclusively on Hulu and Disney+ worldwide. Tokyo Revengers Season 3 Episode 1 recap: In the gripping Episode 1 of Season 3, our protagonist, Takemichi Hanagaki, embarks on a time-travelling journey back to 2005, with the mission to save his beloved girlfriend, Hinata Tachibana, and his friends from impending doom. Aided by Naoto Tachibana, Hinata's younger brother, they uncover a sinister plot by the Tenjiku gang to attack the Tokyo Manji Gang. Takemichi's efforts to convince Mikey Sano, the Tokyo Manji Gang leader, to prepare for the impending attack are met with scepticism. He eventually crosses paths with Izana Kurokawa, the Tenjiku gang leader, and learns of Izana's deep-seated grudge against Mikey. As the episode concludes, Takemichi returns to the present, only to find that the Tokyo Manji Gang has been obliterated, and Mikey has mysteriously vanished. What to expect from Tokyo Revengers Season 3 Episode 2: In Tokyo Revengers Season 3 Episode 2, fans can anticipate the fallout from Takemichi's failed mission. Despite his attempts to alter the course of history by preventing the Tenjiku gang's formation, the gang now stands as a formidable force. Takemichi and his friends will grapple with the monumental challenge of defeating the Tenjiku gang while ensuring their own survival. The episode will also introduce viewers to new characters, such as the ruthless Izana Kurokawa and the skilled fighter Kakucho. With Izana at the helm of the Tenjiku gang, Takemichi's journey becomes increasingly perilous. Tokyo Revengers Season 3 episode count: Tokyo Revengers Season 3 is confirmed to consist of 12 thrilling episodes, with one episode released each week. So, fans can look forward to ten more episodes of adrenaline-pumping action and suspense after Episode 2. In conclusion, Tokyo Revengers Season 3 Episode 2 promises a riveting continuation of the Tenjiku Arc, with intense battles, character developments, and the relentless pursuit of changing the course of history. 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! Kourtney Kardashian, the eldest of the Kardashian clan, is beaming with pride as she supports her stepson, Landon Asher Barker, in his musical endeavours. The reality TV star, who recently tied the knot with acclaimed rock drummer Travis Barker, took to her Instagram stories to promote Landon's upcoming birthday concert on October 9th. Kourtney Kardashian is expecting her first child with Travis Barker.(kourtneykardash/Instagram) Landon Asher Barker Birthday Concert.(kourtneykardash/Instagram) Kourtney shared a poster of Landon's birthday show and urged her followers to attend the event by including a link to purchase tickets. Landon, following in his father's musical footsteps, is an accomplished drummer known for collaborating with artists like Machine Gun Kelly. The bond between Kourtney and Landon was evident at the couple's wedding last year, where the 19-year-old stepson expressed his gratitude, saying, "You look out for me like a mother and have always had my back," acknowledging Kourtney and her family's warm welcome. Kourtney and Travis, the drummer for Blink-182, tied the knot on May 15, 2022, and are expecting their first child together later this year. Despite their joyous anticipation, the couple faces challenges due to Travis's busy touring schedule. He is set to perform across Europe, including cities like Amsterdam, Paris, London, Birmingham, and Manchester, before returning to the USA for shows in Las Vegas. Travis's commitment to his musical career might mean he risks missing the birth of their child, adding a layer of complexity to the family's preparations. Meanwhile, Kourtney, already a mother to Mason, Penelope, and Reign, has been taking it easy during her pregnancy. She recently shared a video from her Calabasas home, highlighting her growing baby bump as she relaxed while her children played in the backyard. As the Kardashian-Barker family navigates this exciting and busy time, Kourtney's unwavering support for her stepson's musical passion remains a testament to the love and harmony within their blended family. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Kanya West and wife Bianca Censori have been making heads turn for quite a while now. The duo have become famous for their antics and fashion sense. Everyone is extremely concerned. This isnt who she is.," said a friend of Bianca's.(Twitter/ Daily Loud) In a recently released report, by the Daily Mail, Kanye has a set of rules for Bianca, which includes never speak and wear what he wants her to wear. A source spoke with the news outlet to reveal that Bianca "is also required to eat certain food items and to work out even though Kanye doesnt work out. The insider also expressed that Bianca acts as if she doesn't have a mind of her own and obeys whatever Kanye puts her up to, as he has compelled her into believing that they are- royal. In an earlier interview, Bianca's friends had expressed that they feared the American Rapper would turn her into another version of his ex-wife Kim Kardashian, who is the mother to four of his children. Everyone is extremely concerned. This isnt who she is. She is an incredibly outspoken and lively person who is never one to keep her mouth shut, they stated worryingly. Kanye West and Bianca Censori's designer has something different to say Mowalola Ogunlesi, a Nigerian designer, who has worked with the couple in the past is of a completely different opinion. According to her, the Yeezy Architect has enormous control over what she wears and in fact, the couple work on her outfits together. "Everything Bianca is wearing is really from her and Ye's brain, said the London-based designer in an interview with Page Six. "They want to show people that you can do this yourself. It's stuff that's attainable tights," she added. Kanye West and Bianca Censori- Timeline Kanye and Bianca sparked up romance rumours in January 2023, just two months after he finalized his divorce from ex-wife Kim Kardashian. Reportedly, the duo later married each other using a confidential marriage license. At least 13 people were charred to death and four persons injured in a massive fire that broke out at a firecracker shop-cum-godown in Attibele in rural Bengaluru near the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border on Saturday, officials said. The incident took place around 3:30pm when workers were unloading firecrackers from a transport vehicle (Twitter Photo) The incident took place around 3:30pm when workers were unloading firecrackers from a transport vehicle, police said. Fire and emergency services received a call at 3.33pm, a senior official in the fire department said, adding that nine vehicles, including water tankers and water lorries, were pressed into service. Over 100 personnel from the fire and emergency services and the police continued their efforts till late at night to contain the blaze, a fire department official said. Police said that around 20 people were present in the godown at the time of the incident, with some still unaccounted for as of Saturday night. Bengaluru (rural) superintendent of police (SP) Mallikarjuna Baladandi confirmed the recovery of 13 charred bodies from the site, all of which have been transported to the hospital. He said that the majority of the casualties were employees working at the firecracker godown and shop. Some employees were working inside the shop when the fire broke out. Search operations are still underway. Police are currently working to establish the identities of the deceased, the SP said. Many workers hailed from Amnapettai, Kallakurichi district of Tamil Nadu, having arrived for work in anticipation of Deepavali. The shop, located near a liquor store, housed an estimated 5 crore worth of firecrackers, according to the police. Following the incident, police and fire officials carried out evacuations of shops and residences in the vicinity and the entire area was cordoned off. Traffic on the highway was also diverted, as the accident site was located near the road, police said. While the exact cause of the accident has yet to be determined by the FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory), preliminary suspicion suggests that an electric wire within the godown may have sparked the fire, said police. Authorities are awaiting the opportunity to interview the injured for further information. Chief minister Siddaramaiah expressed grief over the tragic incident and announced a Rs. 5 lakh compensation to the kin of the deceased in the fire. The CM would visit the accident spot on Sunday for an inspection. Bharatiya Janata Party MP A Narayanaswamy said that a search for another body is underway. Earthmovers have been deployed to remove the debris and identify the bodies. How permission was given to store such amounts of firecrackers in the godown needs to be investigated. I have asked the police to do the needful, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Shanghai (Gasgoo)- The Tianjin Municipal Government recently issued the "the Plan for Accelerating the Development of the New Energy and Intelligent Connected Vehicle Industry (2023-2027)." This comprehensive plan outlines strategic goals and milestones aimed at propelling the city's new energy vehicle (NEV) and intelligent connected vehicle (ICV) sectors to new heights. Toyota bZ3; photo credit: FAW-Toyota By the year 2025, the plan envisions that NEVs will account for 30% of the total automobile production in the city, solidifying the industry's presence and scale. Furthermore, it aims to promote the commercial application of ICVs in designated areas and specific scenarios, fostering a distinct and relatively complete supply chain for the industry. Looking ahead to 2027, the plan aims for NEVs to comprise 45% of the city's total automobile output, positioning Tianjin as a pivotal hub for NEV manufacturing in northern China and a national demonstration city for ICV applications and achievements. To achieve these ambitious objectives, the plan emphasizes the acceleration of NEV production. Collaboration with major automotive groups is encouraged to steer more vehicle models towards production in Tianjin. Additionally, support is extended to car manufacturers to focus their NEV endeavors in the city, facilitating the introduction of NEV models for prompt and full-scale production. In addition, efforts are directed towards expanding R&D and sales functions within Tianjin, according to the plan. Car companies are encouraged to enlarge their existing R&D centers, incubate technical teams in the city, and expedite autonomous model development. The plan also encourages the establishment of digital intelligent connected vehicle towns by automakers, aimed at creating solutions for vehicle-road coordination systems. Furthermore, it promotes car companies to establish NEV sales companies, utilizing Tianjin Port's roll-on/roll-off shipping routes and China-Europe freight train operations to establish Tianjin as an export base. The plan also explicitly outlines the acceleration of the construction of the ICV pilot zone. It advocates advancing the core zone within the Tianjin (Xiqing) National-level Intelligent Connected Vehicle Pilot Zone and supports the expansion of such zones in Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area, Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City, Tianjin Dongjiang Comprehensive Bonded Zone, Jinnan District, Hebei District, Wuqing District, and Baodi District. Furthermore, the plan promotes the development of a three-tier testing system, encompassing virtual testing, closed-ground testing, and open-road testing, to enhance vehicle connectivity testing and verification capabilities. It also calls for pioneering autonomous driving policies within the pilot zone, thereby advancing legislation for ICVs. Moreover, the plan advocates the consolidation and development of core automotive components manufacturers. In particular, it highlights the expansion and upgrading of the power battery industry. The plan calls for the expedited development of key projects related to power batteries and the transformation of battery production enterprises from consumer batteries to automotive power batteries, with a continuous increase in power battery production capacity. It aims to attract leading companies in the power battery sector to invest in Tianjin, supporting R&D and manufacturing bases for next-generation battery technologies such as solid-state batteries. Furthermore, the plan emphasizes the acceleration of automotive-grade chip development. It entails increased efforts in the R&D of automotive-grade microcontroller unit (MCU) chips, radio-frequency (RF) chips, and video transmission chips, with a goal of replacing imported RF chips with locally-made ones. This initiative aims to establish a leading edge in automotive safety and vehicle communication security. It also proposes the creation of the China Automotive Chip Standard Testing Service Alliance to establish standards for automotive chips and evaluation systems for testing and certification. Twenty-seven Meghalayan residents who were on a pilgrimage to Israel are believed to be leaving Bethlehem now, and from there, they will travel to Egypts capital Cairo before returning to India, people aware of developments told HT on Sunday. Smoke rises after Israeli strikes in Gaza (Reuters Photo) The pilgrims were stranded in Jerusalem as the country engulfed in a war-like situation since Friday after an attack by Hamas, a Palestine militant group from Gaza. Speaking to HT over the phone from Tel Aviv, a person hailing from Meghalaya, who is now living in Israel, said: Were okay, but the war is waging. The army has regained some villages taken over by the extremists, and perhaps things will return to normal. We have been instructed to remain indoors and stay close to bomb shelters, and all citizens are dutifully following the advisory. Also Read: Indian students stuck in Israel share their plight: Very nervous and scared The people mentioned above said that the Meghalaya residents would be escorted by the army along the Suez Canal. The 27 Meghalaya residents who came for pilgrimage will probably have to travel in a convoy escorted by the army along the Suez Canal, which is about 10 hours away, they said. In response, the Meghalaya government said it is working closely with the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure the safe return of these 27 citizens from Meghalaya. Confirming this via X, Meghalaya chief minster Conrad K Sangma said: 27 citizens of Meghalaya who travelled for the Holy Pilgrimage to Jerusalem are stuck in Bethlehem due to the tension between Israel and Palestine. I am in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure their safe passage back home. Stating that their safety and well-being are of paramount concern, Sangma has assured the families and loved ones of the stranded pilgrims that every possible effort is being made to secure their safe passage back home. Meanwhile, the government is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to provide updates as developments unfold. The people of Meghalaya and the nation at large are hoping for a swift and safe resolution to the current crisis, allowing the pilgrims to return home to their families and loved ones. The conflict in Israel began in the early morning of October 7 after Hamas declared a military operation against Israel and fired a barrage of missiles towards the Jewish state from the Gaza Strip for the first time since May last year. On Saturday, declaring a state of war, the Israeli military waged airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. The incident set off air raid sirens across the country, with Israel ordering residents to remain indoors. The assault has left more than 250 dead and at least 1,000 injured so far. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The 22nd Law Panel chairperson Rituraj Awasthi on Saturday responded to reports highlighting the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)s concern over the panels report on the age of consent under the Pocso Act, and said that the commission had done its work and it was for the government to decide what was to be done. HT Image NCPCR is altogether a different body and they may take any stand but we have done our work and submitted our report to the government. The NCPCR may have raised a concern, but ultimately the government will decide accordingly, so we cannot make any comment on the stand of NCPCR or anyone else, law panel chairperson Awasthi told HT. Noting that the panels report on the age of consent was only recomendary and not binding, the law panel head noted that the commission had taken the recommendations of the NCPCR under consideration while publishing the report. We had discussed this matter and consulted NCPCR on this issue and whatever they have said we have taken into consideration while preparing the report, Awasthi added. NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanoongo however underlined that the apex child rights body had no issues with the recommendation made by the law commission but instead noted that the policy brief published jointly by Enfold Proactive Health Trust, UNFPA and UNICEF was incorrect. Raising concerns over the policy brief published jointly by Enfold Proactive Health Trust, UNFPA and UNICEF, Kanoongo told HT, We have no issues with the law commission; our only objection is whatever data has been used by the UNICEF and Enfold was incorrect because they have not used Indian government data sources, specially NCRB, and they have been forced to withdraw the report. Reacting to the suspension of the circulation of the UNICEFs policy brief on the implications of the age of consent on adolescents rights under national and international human rights laws, the NCPCR chairperson added, We will inform all the concerned departments, ministries and the commission about the withdrawal of the report of the UNICEF. The inception of the issue points to the report of UNICEF and that has been withdrawn, so now our chain of action would be first to apprise the government on that. Hours after the apex child rights body had raised questions on the veracity of the policy brief and written a letter raising concern, UNICEF India noted that the body had suspended circulation of a policy brief on the implications of the age of consent on adolescents rights under national and international human rights laws, noting that the paper is not UNICEFs policy position on the complex issue of the age of consent and the conclusions are not endorsed by UNICEF India as policy recommendations. In light of important issues and perspectives that have been raised, UNICEF recognises the need to review all available data and perspectives including the need to fully and comprehensively include an analysis of NCRB and other data on this issue and continue to engage with stakeholders and partners, UNICEF India said in a statement. The 22nd Law Commission has advised the government not to tinker with the existing minimum age of consent under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. The panel in its report to the Union law ministry suggested introducing guided judicial discretion in the matter of sentencing in cases involving tacit approval of children in the 16-18 age bracket. The NCPCRs main concern was the issue of giving the judiciary discretion in POCSO cases involving tacit approval of children aged 16-18 years. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hyderabad The Union Jal Shakti ministry issued a gazette notification to update the terms of reference of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II to reallocate the Krishna river waters between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. (HT Archives) The Andhra Pradesh government on Saturday announced that it would approach the Supreme Court against the gazette notification issued by the Union Jal Shakti ministry to update the terms of reference of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II) to reallocate the Krishna river waters between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The gazette notification, issued by Joint Secretary Anand Mohan on Friday night, which was reviewed by HT, specified the terms of reference for adjudication of the matter by the KWDT-II, following the Union Cabinet approval on October 4. The move came after requests from the Telangana government for reallocation of Krishna waters between the two Telugu states. Andhra irrigation minister Ambati Rambabu told reporters that the terms of reference for sharing of Krishna river waters by the two Telugu states were already mentioned in Section 89 of the AP Reorganisation Act; as such, there was no need for fixing fresh terms of reference to KWDT-II headed by Justice (retired) Brajesh Kumar. The new terms of reference will harm the interests of Andhra Pradesh. We have decided to challenge the gazette notification by filing a special leave petition in the Supreme Court soon, Rambabu said. As per the award of the KWDT-I headed by Justice R S Bachawat in 1973, Andhra Pradesh was allotted 811 tmc ft (thousand million cubic feet), whereas Maharashtra would get 585 tmc ft and Karnataka 734 tmc ft in the available water in Krishna river every year. After the bifurcation of the combined Andhra Pradesh in June 2014, the Telangana and residuary Andhra Pradesh were supposed to share the allocated waters of 811 tmc ft in the ratio of 66:34 per cent. Even the KWDT-II, in its award in November 2013, made the same suggestion and it was mentioned in the AP Reorganisation Act. As such, Andhra Pradesh is entitled to get 512 tmc and Telangana 299 tmc from the original allotment of Krishna waters, the minister said. He pointed out that there was a stay on the KWDT-II award as Andhra Pradesh and Telangana had moved the Supreme Court in 2014. At this stage, any change in the terms of reference in the KWDT-II, seeking to make fresh allocations would jeopardise the interests of Andhra. We are not ready to forgo even a single drop of water from our share, the minister asserted. The notification said the reallocation of Krishna waters could be made project-wise taking into consideration existing, on-going and contemplated projects of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, from the undivided share of erstwhile AP. Strongly opposing the Union cabinet decision, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday dashed off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to direct the concerned authorities not to proceed further on the terms of reference given to the KWDT-II. The revised terms of reference of the tribunal restricting water sharing to only Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, excluding other two basin states of Maharashtra and Karnataka is not only unscientific but is also against the overall judicious use of water resources as a national asset, Jagan said. Meanwhile, the Telangana government, which welcomed the issuance of the gazette notification, said the reallocation of water should be done in a scientific manner so that both the states would get equal rights over the Krishna waters. We are also going to insist that Telangana should get an additional share of 45 tmc ft water in Krishna river, if 80 tmc of Godavari river is diverted to Krishna Delta by AP through Polavaram and Pattiseema. It could be used as dependable water for Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme, once adjudicated, a senior official of the Telangana irrigation department said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hyderabad Hyderabad-based casino and gambling club organiser Chikoti Praveen said he should have joined the BJP in September, but could not do so due to some miscommunication between him and the state BJP leaders. (Agency) Hyderabad-based casino and gambling club organiser Chikoti Praveen on Saturday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, ahead of the assembly elections in Telangana. At a low-profile event held at the BJP Hyderabad unit office at Barkatpura, party national vice-president D K Aruna formally inducted Praveen into the party by offering the saffron stole. Former MLC N Ramchander Rao and BJP Hyderabad (central) unit president Gautam Rao welcomed him into the party. Speaking to reporters later, Praveen said his entry into the BJP was like a homecoming of sorts. Though I was not a BJP member in the past, I had been associated with the activities of the party for quite a long time. It is like a missing child returning to his home, he said. Stating that he would strive for strengthening the BJP in Hyderabad, Praveen said he was confident that the people would vote the party to power in the coming assembly elections. They have witnessed the rule of all the other parties the Congress, Telugu Desam Party and the Bharat Rasthra Samithi. Now, we shall ask them to give a chance to the BJP this time, he said. He said he should have joined the BJP in September, but could not do so due to some miscommunication between him and the state BJP leaders. Now that I have joined the party, I am happy. The BJP is a party with commitment and discipline and I shall work for the party like a disciplined soldier, he said. Praveen, who has been facing criminal cases for organising gambling clubs and casinos in India and abroad, had planned to join the BJP on September 12. He went in a huge procession of his followers and supporters to the BJP state headquarters, but when he reached there, there was nobody in the office, including party president G Kishan Reddy who was supposed to welcome him into the party. A red-faced Praveen alleged then that some vested interests in the BJP were trying to block his entry into the party. A Telangana BJP leader familiar with the development said several BJP leaders had complained to partys election in-charge for Telangana Prakash Javadekar that Praveens entry would bring bad name to the party, as he was notorious for organising gambling and casino clubs. Praveen is also known for his craze for exotic and rare birds and animals. During a raid by the forest officials on his farmhouse at Saireddygudem village of Kandukur block near Kadthal in Ranga Reddy district, about 50 km from Hyderabad, in the last week of July in 2022, they found a sort of mini zoo there with several species of pythons, mongoose, iguanas, monitor lizards, ostrich, horses, swans, ducks, parrots, pigeons and rare varieties of big spiders, besides dogs, cows and buffaloes. On July 29, 2022, Enforcement Directorate authorities raided on his residence at Saidabad, on suspicion of his involvement in hawala money transactions. They also found several videos of Praveen organising casinos at Jhapa in Nepal, Goa and Thailand. In May this year, he was caught in Thailand during a casino raid, along with several others. Upon his return to India, he claimed to have been an unwitting guest at the hotel where gambling activities were taking place. Praveen was booked by the Gajwel police in July this year, for taking out a rally in violation of prohibitory orders amid communal tension in the area. He took out a rally to pay tribute to Maratha ruler Shivaji after a man had allegedly defiled his statue. In the same month, Chatrinaka police in Hyderabad booked him for employing private security guards with illegal weapons. Shortly after the case was filed, he got bail in the case. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Siliguri: The release of Central funds to the tune of Rs.44.8 crore as advance for flood-hit Sikkim has triggered a political slugfest in West Bengal. Cloudburst over Lhonak Lake triggered a flash flood in the Teesta river basin in Sikkim (File Photo) West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday lashed out at the Centre for not considering the districts in West Bengal, including Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri, where the floods caused by the overflowing of Teesta River - which flows in Bengal from Sikkim - destroyed many villages. I am stunned by the central discrimination against our affected people of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and north Bengal, despite the gravity of disaster and number of deaths there too. We are not beggars, and we are certainly for Sikkim, but we want equality of treatment and non-discrimination in matters relating to central help in disaster management, Banerjee wrote on her social media handle on Saturday. Also Read: Experts warn of Sikkim-like glacial lake outburst in Himachal Pradesh Banerjees reaction came a day after Sikkim chief minister Prem Singh Tamang said he had spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, President Droupadi Murmu and several Union ministers. Shah approved the release of 44.8 crore as an advance amount from the Central share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to Sikkim, the Centre said in a statement on Friday. The Union home ministry also formed an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT), which is in Sikkim to assess the damages. Ajay Kumar Mishra, Union minister of state for home affairs, went to Rangpo, one of the worst affected areas, on Saturday. Anit Thapa, the chief executive of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) in Darjeeling, said: Hundreds of houses have been damaged here as well and our priority is to rebuild those. In her message on the social media platform X, Banerjee wrote: From the night of the flash flood occurrence, I have been working 24X7 with my entire administration to save people from further distress, and have rushed in all help, including Rs. 25 crore assistance to GTA in the hills. Amit Malviya, head of the national information technology cell of the Bharatiya Janata Party, immediately countered her on his X-handle. This is not the time to politicise the tragedy. But till yesterday, over 60 hours since the flash flood on Teesta caused widespread destruction, loss of infrastructure, properties and lives, not a single WB Govt minister, or even senior bureaucrat had bothered to visit Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills and Terai region, Malviya wrote. It is one thing to care less, but completely unbecoming of the chief minister to show utter indifference towards the people of the region. Instead of working on ensuring basic facilities for the survivors, those running GTA seem to be only and only concerned about relief funds. This is their priority. Shameful to say the least, Malviya added. Banerjee did not comment on this issue on Sunday. The death count in flash floods until Saturday evening stood at 55. Of those, 29 bodies were fished out of the Teesta and its tributaries in Bengals Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts. However, it could not be ascertained whether any of these people were residents of Bengal. The flood water destroyed the Bardang army camp in Sikkim and swept away crates of ammunition and mortars, prompting the authorities to sound a warning that citizens should not touch anything found along the banks of the Teesta. Despite the warning, Sahinur Alam, a seven-year-old boy, died and five men were critically injured in an explosion at Jalpaiguri on Thursday when they tried to disassemble a mortar found on the river bank. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pramod Giri I am working with Hindustan Times since 2001 and am posted in Siliguri, West Bengal, as Principal Correspondent. I have been regularly covering vast area of northern parts of West Bengal, Sikkim and parts of Nepal and Bhutan. ...view detail The death toll in flash floods in Sikkim jumped to 55 with officials in the Himalayan state confirming 26 bodies were recovered within its territory till Saturday evening while in Bengal, where 27 bodies were fished out of rivers till Friday, two more were found a day later. A road damaged due to flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall in Mangan district. (PTI) Bad weather still hampered rescue and several villages and town neighbourhoods lining the Teesta river as it flowed from Chungthang, in north Sikkim, to Teesta Bazar, at the foothills on the Bengal-Sikkim border, remained under neck-deep layers of silt and debris brought in by the flood. The first disaster relief personnel reached the Chungthang village in Mangan district, which was the worst hit, late on Friday after trekking for days. While the first team of SDRF personnel managed to reach Chungthang on Friday night, a second team reached this [Saturday] morning. Nearly 80% of the town has been damaged and most of the houses, shops and offices are buried under several feet of debris, a top government official said, asking not to be named. The SDRF team had to trek for several kilometres through treacherous hilly trails and then cross the Teesta using a precarious suspension bridge to reach the town. There are no reports of any casualties from the town till now. Relief has finally reached Chunthang. We hope to restore communication lines within two to three days, a senior IAS officer posted in Mangan said. The state administration confirmed it was still counting the mounting losses. So far, 26 dead bodies have been found inside Sikkim and 143 people are still missing. As many as 2,565 people have been affected and 1,170 houses were damaged. We have rescued 2,413 people. The state government has set up 22 relief camps, said Bikash Basnet, press secretary to Sikkim chief minister Prem Singh Tamang. In West Bengal, where 27 bodies, including those of five Army personnel, were recovered from the Teesta river and its tributaries, two more were found on Saturday. These bodies were found in Darjeeling and Cooch Behar districts hundreds of kilometres away from North Sikkim. Union minister of state for the home ministry Ajay Kumar Mishra reached Sikkim on Friday night to take stock of the situation. The MHA in a statement said that Mishra held a meeting on Saturday morning with the chief secretary and head of departments of the state government and other agencies working on the ground. With bad weather stopping the Sikkim government from deploying helicopters to evacuate stranded tourists from north Sikkim, road engineers started working on an alternative route. Most of the 3,000 tourists in Sikkim are stranded at Lachen and Lachung, popular destinations in Mangan district. The floods occurred in the early hours of Wednesday when a glacial lake at south Lhonak burst following torrential rain. A statement issued by Sikkims science and technology department said that on Tuesday a large chunk of moraine got detached from the side wall of the Lhonak lake and fell into the water. The detached moraine --- a clump of loose rocks --- plunged into the water, resulting in overflow of huge volumes of water from the lake. As the water pushed its way through the outlet, it widened and deepened the outlake. Huge amounts of water and debris, comprising rocks and boulders, then came crashing through the Goma channel, which joins the Zemu river that, further downstream, joins the Lachen River, a tributary of the Teesta, the statement said. Bhupendra Chettri, deputy general manager of Sikkim Nationalized Transport, a government of Sikkim undertaking, said in Siliguri that eight buses have been sent to Gangtok to bring back stranded people. Thirty of these people arrived at Siliguri in the evening in one of these buses. One of the passengers, Meenakshi Choudhary, an engineering student at Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology (SMIT), said she had to travel for 10 hours. Her relatives, who had come from Dhubri in Assam, were waiting to take her home. She said: Many houses near our institute were washed away and the situation in Sikkim is really painful. All educational institutes in Sikkim would remain closed till October 15, the state has declared. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Congress on Sunday issued a statement condemning the terrorist attacks in Israel after the major escalation between Israel and Palestine became a BJP-Congress debate with the BJP alleging that India suffered the same between 2004-14. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the Congress always believed that the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people must be fulfilled only through a process of dialogue and negotiations. No type of violence provides any solution, the Congress said. India has condemned the attack and PM Modi said India stands with Israel. Read | 'Indian Muslims never supported violence': IAS officer on Israel-Palestine conflict The Congress issued a statement on the Israel-Palestine escalation after PM Modi said India stands with Israel at this difficult hours. The BJP on Saturday used the Hamas attack on Israel to launch a broadside on the Congress. Citing the examples of various terror incidents across the county including the Mumbai terror attack, the BJP said, "What Israel is facing today, India suffered between 2004-14. Never forgive, never forget...". The video issued by the BJP also contained a statement of Rahul Gandhi saying 'it's very difficult to stop every single terrorist attack'. In an unprecedented attack, Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip on Saturday, also a Jewish holiday, infiltrated into Israel firing thousands of rockets. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in retaliation declared war and called for a mass mobilisation of army reserves. Which countries are supporting Palestine? India, US, UK stand with Israel Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran appeared to back Hamas while Pakistan and Afghanistan too showed support for Palestine. India has a strategic relationship with Israel. PM Modi expressed shock over the terrorist attacks in Israel and said India stands with Israel in solidarity at its difficult hour. Israel thanked India for its support after the deadly attack carried out by the Hamas. Israel's ambassador to India Naor Gilon appreciated India's moral support. Resolve Palestine so that peace prevails: Mehbooba Mufti PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said it is unfortunate that the world woke up to the Israel-Palestinian conflict now after such death and destruction. "Deafening silence is maintained year after year as innocent Palestinians are murdered & their homes destroyed. Today just because the shoe on the other foot is pinching, the so called democracies are outraged. This selective outrage is criminal to say the least. Resolve Palestine so that peace prevails," Mehbooba Mufti tweeted. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Poulomi Ghosh Poulomi Ghosh is a journalist with Hindustan Times, New Delhi. ...view detail With the Congress winning several seats in the elections to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, the party said it is a direct impact of Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. (File Photo) Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also took a swipe at the media saying "the national media will blank it out, but trends coming in show Congress leading convincingly in the elections to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil with an almost complete wipeout of the BJP." "This is a direct impact of Rahul Gandhi continuing Bharat Jodo Yatra in Ladakh last month," Ramesh said in a post on X. The National Conference and Congress have together won 17 seats so far in the LAHDC polls with the counting of votes still underway, officials said on Sunday. Of the 26 seats for which elections were held on October 4, results of 20 seats have been declared so far, they said. According to the officials, the National Conference (NC) has so far won nine seats while its ally Congress registered victory in eight. The BJP has won two seats, while an independent candidate has registered victory in one seat, they said. The election, which saw a triangular contest among the NC, Congress and the BJP in most of the 26 seats, is the first key poll in Kargil after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, and the creation of the Ladakh Union territory. The NC and Congress had announced a pre-poll alliance but fielded 17 and 22 candidates, respectively. Both parties said the arrangement was restricted to areas where there was a tough contest with the BJP. Two girls, cousins aged 16, died allegedly by suicide in Pratapgarh on Saturday and their family said they had been raped by four of their classmates a day earlier, police officers said, and added that three of the accused, including a minor, have been detained while a fourth suspect is still absconding. Three accused have been detained while a fourth suspect is still absconding (Representational picture) According to the police, the girls studied in Class 12 at a local village school. Their families recently rented an accommodation owned by the brother of the prime accused in the case. The girls met the accused at the house, and later happened to join the same class in a village school. However, their fathers soon vacated the house fearing for their daughters security in the presence of the accused, said superintendent of police Amit Budaniya. On Wednesday, the accused called the victims for a meeting on the school premises to resolve differences. The accused, however, assaulted the victims. They also snatched their phones when the victims tried to call their families. Later that day, the father of one of the girls lodged a complaint against four boys, accusing them of molestation and intimidation. The accused were, however, absconding, Budaniya said. On Saturday, the two sisters died by suicide by consuming poison. Their families later lodged a rape complaint against the accused, said the SP, adding that no suicide note was recovered from the spot. The police have booked all four accused under Sections 341 (wrongfully restraining any person), 354 (assaulting women), 354- B (outraging womans modesty, using criminal force on her), 334 (Voluntarily causing hurt on grave and sudden provocation), and 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code. We have detained three of the accused, including a minor. As per primary investigation, the allegations of intimidation and molestation have been found to be true. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination to confirm allegations of rape, he said. The incident sparked a fresh political row, with state elections expected to be announced within days. Atrocities against women and daughters are at their peak under the jungle raj of Congress...Ashok Gehlot has failed as the head of the home department, BJP MLA Rajendra Rathore posted on X (formerly Twitter). Congress spokesperson Swarnim Chaturvedi, meanwhile, assured the victims families of stringent action against accused. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Karnataka government has begun working on a unit that will scrutinise complaints and monitor the internet for misinformation and hate speech, according to tender documents and remarks by states information technology minister Priyank Kharge. He said a rough budget of at least 10 crore will be allotted, and shared new details of how the unit will function. Karnataka government to form a new fact-check unit to take on misinformation, hate speech in the state, says IT minister Priyank Kharge. (ANI) The plan to create such a unit named the Information Disorder Tackling Unit was first announced in June, weeks after a new government headed by the Congress party took over. On Tuesday, the state released a call for proposal (CFP) with broad outlines about the project as it sought applications to constitute teams with three distinct mandates fact checking, analytics and capacity building. The proposal has drawn concerns that the project could jeopardise freedom of speech online. It comes against the backdrop of the Union governments attempts to create its own fact-check unit, which has been kept in limbo after being challenged by comedian Kunal Kamra and slew of media bodies in the Bombay high court. Kharge said the Karnataka plan was different. What they [the Centre] have tried to do is amend the IT Act (Information Technology Act, 2000) and try to force in their narrative We are not amending a single act. We are not getting in any new rules. We are merely using technology to determine what is [legal] as per the current IPC sections or current law of the land. It is as simple as that, said Kharge, who also holds the biotechnology portfolio. The CFP does not specify a budget. Once the empanelment is done, we will figure out what kind of physical and digital infrastructure is required and then we will do it. Right now, the in-principle agreement is over 10 crores, Kharge said. The minister said the IDTU will be physically housed within the offices of the state government. When asked about the timeline for the unit to be up and running, Kharge said yesterday in a lighter vein, but added that all necessary protocols first need to be followed. We have to follow all the rules, he said. I dont want anybody to say that these rules are not being followed by the IT department or that these rules are being flouted by the Home department. That is why we are giving the expression of interest; we are calling people and we are talking to them. Everything has been done in a very transparent manner so that the courts dont give a stay nor does the central government have any holes to pick, Kharge added. Fact-check: Concerns over process For fact checking, the team can either receive content from the public or look at content that they or the analytics team find by proactive hunting. In the latter case, a single point of contact (review SPOC), appointed by the state government, must first approve initiating a fact check. If the information to perform a fact check is not available in public domain, they will ask nodal officers of state departments for it. Once they complete their analysis, there will be an internal review within the fact check agency. This internal review will again be looked at by the review SPOC, who will authorise the fact check to be made public. Thus, the fact check teams work will undergo two approvals by the state-appointed review SPOC, a process that imperils the editorial independence. No newsroom can be editorially independent if they have a government nominee gatekeeping which claims to address or not. That goes against the spirit of editorial independence followed by good newsrooms across the world. Under the IDTU workflow, the claims have to be approved by a state government official which is not in line with the principles followed by a fact-checking newsroom, Jency Jacob, the managing editor of BOOM Fact Check, an IFCN signatory, told HT. Kharge said any rejections by the review SPOC will be made public. According to the CFP, before the fact check is made public, the review SPOC will also determine if the content violates a social media platforms policies, is illegal, or needs to be blocked. They will subsequently either inform the social media company, or lodge a complaint (with the police), or refer the matter to the central government to recommend blocking under Section 69A of the Information technology Act, respectively. Will content that is referred to the social media company, the police or the central government also be publicly fact checked? Kharge said yes. Online content is regulated by the central government. If the central government refuses to block content under Section 69A despite the states recommendation, Kharge said the state will put it in public saying that we have put it up to the central government to get this content down and it is malafide and it is fake. That itself is good enough. When a government makes it clear that a piece of news is fake, it goes a long way to ensure that fewer people spread it, Kharge said. According to central governments rules under the IT Act, referrals for blocking and blocking orders are bound by a confidentiality clause a fact that could put the Karnataka governments plans to disclose details at conflict with federal law. It is already in public. We are combatting misinformation that is in the public domain. Only the complainants identity will be kept confidential, Kharge said, denying there could be problems. Every fact check will also need to reveal methodology and sources, according to the state governments plan. The Karnataka government will also set up an oversight committee to oversee the operations of IDTU. This committee will include the head of the IT department, the additional director general of police (Intelligence), representatives from the department of Information and Public Relations, the additional advocate general, the centre head of Cyber Security Unit, and representatives from civil society, he had said in September. I have also invited the Press Guild or anybody else from the press to be a part of the Oversight Committee, he told HT now. Selecting fact checkers The fact check team will consist of independent fact check agencies whose fact checks must be unbiased and evidence based. Its remit will be restricted to the jurisdiction of Karnataka. How will that be determined? Consider the Karnataka-Maharashtra border dispute or the Krishna River water dispute. If somebody is saying that the Supreme Court passed a ruling in Maharashtras favour which is causing chaos in Karnataka, it is my responsibility to put up [a fact check] saying that there is no such order, citing the facts, Kharge said. And the remit could also include issues of national importance, citizenship or public interest. What would that look like? Kharge reiterated the novel nature of this unit and said, We intend to cross the bridge when we get to it. We dont have readymade answers for everything. Based on inputs from the fact check team, officers from the state government could order media agencies to take down fake content wherever necessary or deemed fit. According to the CFP, applicants will have to demonstrate no political/ideological affiliation that could impact the work and the reputation of the ITDU. It is not clear how the government will make such as assessment. The empanelled agency will also need to be able to work in all the key languages of Karnataka, including Kannada, English, Hindi, Urdu, Tulu, Konkani, Telugu, Tamil and Marathi. Only Indian fact-checking entities that have been in existence for at least three years as of August 31 can apply. Such entities must also not have a record of criminal proceedings of any serious crimes or violation of code of conduct against the entity or its directors. While evaluating the agency, the government will look at their qualifications, experience, effectiveness of proposed tools and methodologies, their non-partisanship and fairness in conduct of work, previous work and references. Applications from IFCN signatories seem difficult Amongst the requirements, the CFP states that being a signatory to the code of principles of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) will be an added advantage. It is not clear how an IFCN signatory could apply for this because according to the IFCN code of principles, signatory status cannot be granted to an organisation whose editorial work is controlled by the state, a political party or a politician. IFCNs code of principles require fact-checkers to be non-partisan and fair. Any government-run fact-checking unit will fail to meet that criteria. Fact checking newsrooms are effective and trustworthy when they are able to display non-partisanship and fact check all claims across the political spectrum, Jacob said. But Kharge claims that multiple fact checkers have expressed interest in being empanelled. While applying, the companies must also give details of their funding especially any foreign funding, along with details of criminal proceedings against their current and past directors. But will having an IFCN grant be an added advantage? We have tried to put in as many checks and balances as possible. Because this is a new domain [where] forget the government, even the private sector does not have enough experience, Kharge said. Despite the novelty of the step, agencies that have provided Indian government departments with similar services in the past will also have an added advantage. How can fact checkers have such experience if such a unit is unprecedented? A lot of agencies have taken this up. There are many technology companies that use AI and machine learning to tackle misinformation. They work closely with the governments of India, Karnataka and Maharashtra, Kharge said. Despite being asked, he didnt name any companies. Jacob, on the other hand, could not think of any fact-checking publications in India that have worked with the government. For analytics team, proactive monitoring key task The analytics team will use data analytics and AI to proactively monitor content online to detect false information and identify key nodes, networks and actors that propagate false information harmful to the interest of the society and public order. Any kind of proactive monitoring that pre-empts actions before they happen runs the risk of enabling surveillance and censorship. Kharge, in his conversation with HT, dismissed such concerns and stressed on the need for tackling misinformation, disinformation and malinformation. This analytics team will also need to detect hate speech; identify fake, bot and impersonation accounts; and map the spread of disinformation, find the node of origin of a piece of false information and the nodes that resulted in maximum propagation. They will need to provide a platform that will work as a one stop shop where all content from the different social media platforms and other websites will be searchable a search engine but only for all social media and communication platforms. This platform must also allow for the categorisation of propagation of content by authentic accounts, bots, etc. Capacity building teams core mandate The capacity building team will conduct awareness campaigns. It will build a platform for citizens to send in information or messages that they need fact checked, and contain a repository of fact-checked information. This platform, which should support all major and local languages, must include a web portal and accounts on all key social media and digital communication platforms. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- During China's National Day holiday, a series of fully liquid-cooled ultra-fast charging stations, which use the technology developed by Huawei Digital Energy, have officially gone live in multiple locations along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway Southern Route, namely, the route stretching from Litang County to Yading in Sichuan province, Huawei Digital Energy announced earlier this month via its WeChat account. The supercharging station in Litang County; photo credit: Huawei Digital Energy Huawei Digital Energy, the provider of digital power products and solutions under Huawei, said it has actively responded to the planning and layout for building high-quality charging infrastructures along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway Southern Route, as outlined by the People's Government of Sichuan Province and the Department of Transportation of Sichuan Province. In collaboration with customers and partners, they have embarked on creating the "318 Sichuan-Tibet Supercharging Green Corridor," which includes the construction of fully liquid-cooled ultra-fast charging stations at service areas and gas stations along the route. The aforementioned supercharging green corridor leverages Huawei's liquid-cooled ultra-fast charging technology. The company claimed that these liquid-cooled stations can offer electric vehicle owners a "grab a coffee, hit the road fully charged" experience. According to Huawei Digital Power's introduction, these liquid-cooled ultra-fast charging facilities come with the following features: 1. The maximum output power of such charging terminals is a whopping 600 kW, with a maximum current of 600A. This makes them the highest-power and fastest-charging infrastructure available, even in high-altitude regions, ensuring a refueling-like charging experience for electric vehicle owners. 2. The liquid-cooling technology guarantees high equipment reliability, with resistance to high temperatures, high humidity, dust, corrosion, and other complex conditions often found in the high-altitude areas along the route. 3. These terminals boast a remarkable 99% success rate for one-time charging, with a charging range of 200V-1,000V compatible with all vehicle models, including passenger cars under such brands as Tesla, XPeng, and Li Auto, as well as commercial vehicles from Huolala, etc. Along the 318 Sichuan-Tibet Route, they are the pioneers in offering the "plug-and-play" service. Furthermore, Huawei Digital Energy expressed its commitment to delivering a top-tier charging experience for electric vehicle owners. In September 2023, in close collaboration with customers and partners, they successfully deployed Huawei fully liquid-cooled ultra-fast charging stations along the 318 Super Charging Green Corridor, covering locations such as Tianquan, Zheduo Mountain, Kazila Mountain, Litang, and Sangdui. To date, the charging stations in Tianquan, Litang, and Sangdui have become operational. Defence minister Rajnath Singh will on Monday leave for official visits to Italy and France from October 9 to 12 to deepen defence cooperation with the two countries, a defence ministry spokesperson said on Sunday. Defence minister Rajnath Singh. (File Photo) The visit to France comes at a time when India is pursuing some major military acquisitions from that country including maritime fighter jets. In the first leg of the visit, Singh will hold talks with Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto in Rome, while during the second leg he will hold the 5th Annual Defence Dialogue with his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu in Paris, the ministry said in a statement. A roadmap for defence cooperation is likely to be announced in Paris, officials aware of the matter said. The relationship between India and Italy was elevated to strategic partnership in March 2023 during the visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to India. Also, India and France recently celebrated 25 years of their strategic partnership. In both Rome and Paris, the Raksha Mantri will also interact with defence industry CEOs and senior representatives to discuss potential opportunities for industrial cooperation, the statement added. The visit to France comes at a time when India is looking at buying 26 Rafale M fighters from that country for the navys first indigenous aircraft carrier, the 45,000-tonne INS Vikrant. The Rafale M edged out the American F/A-18 Super Hornet in a direct competition to equip the navy with new deck-based fighters. India will also build three more Scorpene-class submarines in the country with technology from France to boost the navys undersea capabilities. The two deals are estimated to have a combined value of 9 billion to 10 billion, though the final price will be determined after complex negotiations between India and France. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Paris in July as the guest of honour at the French National Day on the 25th anniversary of the India-France strategic partnership. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is studying the first information report (FIR) filed by Delhi Police against NewsClick and its founder Prabir Purkayastha under the anti-terror law to see if an additional case is made out against the news portal, an agency official said on Saturday. **EDS: COMBO PHOTO** New Delhi: NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha (L) and HR Head Amit Chakravarty being brought to the Lodhi Road Special Cell office, in New Delhi, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. Police on Tuesday searched more than 30 locations connected with the online portal NewsClick, questioned several journalists in connection with the case and arrested Purkayastha and Chakravarty. (PTI Photo)(PTI10_04_2023_000585A) (PTI) The federal agency that investigates financial crimes is already probing the funding of NewsClick since 2021 and has seized Purkayasthas flat in New Delhis Saket in April. In August, Delhi Police registered a case under stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against the website after a report in the New York Times alleged that the portal was part of a global network to spread Chinese government propaganda funded by American businessman Neville Roy Singham. The development came even as a special cell officer said investigators were looking into 125,000 doubtful emails allegedly exchanged between Singham and Purkayastha. The officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that police were also looking into purkayasthas foreign trips and alleged anti national activity. Police carried out raids and interrogated journalists on October 3. It arrested Purkayastha and human resources head Amit Chakravorty after the raids. We have obtained the FIR of Delhi Police special cell and are studying it to see if there are facts in it which can be looked further into as part of ongoing or a separate probe, said an official, who didnt want to be named. The police complaint alleges that Purkayastha conspired with a group named Peoples Alliance for Democracy and Secularism to sabotage the 2019 general elections and that Chinese firms such as Xiaomi and Vivo incorporated shell companies to infuse foreign funds to further the conspiracy. Citing secret inputs, it claims that Indian and foreign entities illegally infused funds worth crores, which was done in pursuance of conspiracy and intention to disrupt Indias sovereignty and territorial integrity, cause disaffection and threaten the countrys unity and integrity. The FIR cites emails between Purkayastha, Neville, and some other Chinese employees and says they expose their intent to show that Arunachal Pradesh and Kashmir as not parts of India. We have information that Singham himself is monitoring all the anti-national activities in India from a place in China. They are particularly active in some eastern and southern states of India, from where they are involved in anti-India activities. We are investigating whether the accused named in this FIR were in connivance with them or not, said the special cell officer quoted above. NewsClick has refuted the charges, saying that it never published any news or information at the behest of any Chinese entity or authority. It denied taking any directions from Singham. All funding received by NewsClick has been through the appropriate banking channels and been reported to the relevant authorities as required by law, as substantiated by the Reserve Bank of India in proceedings before the high court of Delhi, the portal said in a statement. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON IAF Foundation Day 2023: The Indian Air Force (IAF) began the celebration of its 91st Foundation Day with a ceremonial parade at Bamrauli Air Force Station in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj on Sunday. Air warriors take part in a parade during full dress rehearsal ahead of the 91st Air Force Day celebrations in Prayagraj on October 6.(PTI) The day marks the official induction of the IAF into the country's armed forces, which was established on 8 October 1932. The theme of this year's Indian Air Force Day is IAF - Airpower Beyond Boundaries. An IAF official told news agency ANI that the grand programme in Prayagraj will start with a parade and flypast, followed by an aerial display. "After the parade and fly-past programme, the mega airshow will start over Triveni Sangam from 2:30pm. Fighter aircraft, Sukhoi 30, MiG 29, Rafale, and Jaguar and other fighter aircraft will be seen in the sky. Akashganga team will also perform stunts in the sky, thousands of people will witness this historic moment at Sangam," the official said. Notably, a woman officer, Group Captain Shaliza Dhami, will command the IAF parade for the first time. Dhami was also the first woman to assume command of a frontline IAF combat unit in March. She heads a missile squadron in the western sector. At Sunday's event, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari will also unveil the air forces new ensign at Prayagraj. The IAF crest will now be featured in the top right corner of the ensign, which currently displays the national flag in the upper left canton and the IAF tri-colour roundel on the right. Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh extended greetings to all IAF personnel on 91st Air Force Foundation Day. The nation is proud to have such a strong, courageous and dynamic Air Force which is always prepared to face challenges. I salute our inspiring heroes who not only protect the skies but also remain in the forefront for humanitarian assistance, the president wrote on X. Modi said India is proud of the valour, commitment and dedication of the Indian Air Force. Their great service and sacrifice ensure our skies are safe, he said. We are proud of our Airwarriors who play a significant role in keeping India safe. The IAF today is a lethal and formidable force, projecting its air power beyond boundaries. Greetings to the Air Force personnel on #IndianAirForceDay, Shah wrote on X. Singh said the IAF has fervently secured the nation's interests during war and peace. "On this auspicious occasion, I commemorate the invaluable service and the sacrifices made by them to protect the sovereignty of the nation," the defense minister posted on X. The IAF was established on October 8, 1932, as a supporting force of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force. Initially known as the Royal Indian Air Force, the prefix Royal was dropped in 1950 when India transitioned into a Republic. The IAF is the air wing of the Indian Armed Forces and the fourth-largest air force in the world. It is headed by an Air Chief Marshal (ACM), while the President of India is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari unveiled the air forces new ensign at the 91st IAF Day celebrations at Air Force Station-Bamrauli in Prayagraj on Sunday. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari unveiling the new IAF ensign during the Air Force Day parade at Air Force Station-Bamrauli in Prayagraj (Anil Kumar Maurya/HT Photo) Its after 72 years that the IAF has got a new ensign. The current ensign replaces the Royal Indian Air Force ensign that featured the Union Jack and the RIAF roundel (red, white and blue). Also Read: IAF Day: PM Modi extends greetings as 91st Foundation Day celebrated in Prayagraj The ensign was first brought to the Air Chief by four air warriors fixed on a movable mini stage and as the Air Chief unveiled the new ensign, two drones lifted a larger version of the ensign from behind the curtain wall. The new ensign was then hoisted at the flag post, which was on the tarmac of the airbase where the parade was held. While the new ensign was hoisted the older version was pulled down, folded with full honour and handed over to the Air Chief. It will now be an exhibit at the Air Force Museum in New Delhi. Thereafter, a team of air warriors and IAF officers carried the new ensign at the parade. A Mi-17v5 also flew low, trooping the new Air Force ensign. The IAF crest now features on the top right corner of the ensign, which displays the national flag in the upper left canton and the IAF tri-colour roundel in the lower right. This ensign was adopted in 1951. The crest has the national symbol, the Ashoka lion on the top Satyamev Jayate written in Devanagari below it. Below the Ashoka lion is a Himalayan eagle with its wings spread, denoting the fighting qualities of the IAF. A ring in light blue colour encircles the Himalayan eagle with the words Bhartiya Vayu Sena. Also read: Indian Air Force Day 2023: Date, history, theme, significance and all you need to know The motto of the IAF is inscribed below the Himalayan Eagle in golden Devanagari. The IAF motto has been taken from verse 24, Chapter 11 of the Bhagavad Gita and means Radiant Thou Touchest Heaven or in other words Touching the sky with glory. Post-Independence, the IAF ensign was created by replacing the Union Jack with the Indian Tricolour and the RAF roundels with the IAF Tricolour roundel in the lower right canton. Last year, a new combat uniform for the Indian Air Force was unveiled on the occasion of Indian Air Force Day 2022. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Congress and the National Conference alliance defeated the BJP in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Council elections in Kargil, in the first-ever poll held in J&K after Article 370 was scrapped in 2019. As the counting of the 26-seat Ladakh Council went on, Congress and the National Conference left BJP far behind. Out of the 26 seats, Congress won 10 seats, National Conference 12 emerging as the single-largest party. The BJP only won 2 and two seats went to an Independent candidate. Paramilitary personnel stand guard as Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) and Congress supporters wait outside amid the counting of votes. Congress credits Ladakh council poll success to Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti said it's heartening to see secular parties like NC and the Congress win in Kargil. PDP did not contest the election. "Heartening to see secular parties like NC and Congress register their victory in Kargil. It's the first election post-2019 and people of Ladakh have spoken," Mehbooba Mufti posted as the early trends showed a big win for the alliance. About 65 per cent of voters turned up in the Kargil district as per the cumulative figure of 3rd round of voting for the 5th LAHDC elections. Earlier last month, the Ladakh administration announced a new schedule for elections to the fifth LAHDC in the Kargil region, following a directive by the Supreme Court. This notification came after the Supreme Court, while restoring the National Conference's party symbol for the upcoming election, also set aside the Union Territory administration's previous election notification since National Conference candidates had not been able to file nominations. As per the notification, elections to 26 seats of the 30-member LAHDC were held on October 4. The existing council is headed by the NC's Feroz Ahmad Khan. The Congress joined hands with the NC before the election and fielded 22 candidates. NC fielded 17. Both parties said the arrangement was restricted to areas where there was a tough contest with the BJP. The BJP, which won one seat in the last election and later took its tally to three with the joining of two PDP councillors, had fielded 17 candidates this time. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) tried its luck on four seats while 25 Independents were also in the fray. Wae-up call for BJP: Omar Abdullah National Conference leader Omar Abdullah congratulated the people of Ladakh for the result and said this should be a wake-up call for the BJP. "It is time to cease hiding behind the Raj Bhawan and unelected representatives and, instead, acknowledge the people's rightful desire for a democratically elected government in Jammu and Kashmir. Democracy demands the voices of the people be heard and respected," Omar tweeted. 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 Israel's ambassador to India Naor Gilon said India's support is significant to Israel for two reasons and the first one of them is India's importance in the world. The second one, Naor explained, is linked to India's long fight against terrorism. "India comes from a position of a country who knows terrorism So it comes from a point of knowledge and not of ignorance. And for that, we are very much thankful. And again, Israel needs only moral and political support. Work on the ground we know how to do it, but we need to have the ability to execute the plan in order to make sure that Hamas will not threaten anyone else again," Naor said. After PM Modi's tweet on Saturday expressing solidarity with Israel, many Indian ministers, civil servants, and businessmen reached out to the ambassador, Naor confirmed. PM Modi said India stands with Israel at this difficult hour, after Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday.(Twitter.com/@netanyahu) In an unprecedented attack, Hamas on Saturday infiltrated from Gaza Strip and bombed Israel. As the toll a day after reached around 600, countries are being watched for their reaction to the terrorist attack -- the sides they choose and with what clarity in this long-drawn battle between Israel and Palestine. PM Modi posted a message on X hours after the attack and condemned it, without naming Hamas or Palestine. "We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour," PM Modi's message was clear as he denounced the 'terrorist attacks'. Israel thanked for PM Modi's support. Israel-Hamas war, Indians in Israel: Here are the latest updates The conflict in Israel reached the second day after Israel announced war against Hamas following its unprecedented attack. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of a long and difficult war as the Israeli army deployed thousands of forces with a 24-hour deadline in mind to flush out the infiltrators. Israeli media said the toll reached 600 in the worst fighting in decades. Several Indians are stuck in Israel, but there is no news of any Indian among the casualties. " We don't know of Indian foreign nationals so far, we didn't get any information of such," the ambassador said. Israel needs India's strong support because Hamas will now present themselves as the victim, Naor said. "Now they have also Israeli hostages to hide behind and to present themselves as the victim. This is always the issue. That's why we will need this very strong support of our Indian friends and India as a very influential country in the world, as a country that knows terrorism and understands the crisis, it will be very important for us to give us the ability to do what we need to do in order to make sure that Hamas will not be able to continue doing atrocities. It's clear to us that Iran is involved with it. We know for sure about supplying of weapons, training..." the ambassador said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Poulomi Ghosh Poulomi Ghosh is a journalist with Hindustan Times, New Delhi. ...view detail Israeli ambassador Naor Gilon on Sunday accused Iran of having a hand in organising the deadly terror attacks that have killed hundreds of people and said the support of countries such as India is needed for Israels actions to prevent further atrocities. Israel Ambassador to India Naor Gilon addresses a press conference in New Delhi on Sunday. (ANI) The surprise attacks by Hamas militants from Gaza on Saturday, including rocket barrages and assaults on towns, killed around 600 Israelis and injured 2,000 more. More than 250 Palestinians were killed as Israeli defence forces targeted Hamas targets in Gaza. Its clear to us that Iran is involved with it. We know for sure about the supplying of weapons, training, and I will not exclude even organising or helping organise this specific attack, Gilon told a media briefing in Delhi. Our evidence is very clear...we know of many attempts of Iran to supply weapons to Hamas. In an apparent reference to Israels efforts to normalise ties with Arab countries through the Abraham Accords, Gilon said the huge and significant change being made to West Asia by Israel could be one of the reasons why countries like Iran and other extremists are trying to derail this process. Noting that Israels neighbours too perceive Hamas as a terror organisation, he said there is convergence of interests and all countries should continue working together against extremism. Gilon emphasised the importance of support for Israels actions from countries such as India but made it clear his country hasnt sought any specific assistance from the Indian side. Israel, he said, will need the very strong support of our Indian friends and India as a very influential country in the world, as a country that knows terrorism and understands the crisis. He added: It will be very important for us, to give us the ability to do what we need to do in order to make sure that Hamas will not be able to continue doing atrocities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi denounced the terror attacks on Saturday and said India stands in solidarity with Israel. Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel...We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour, Modi posted on X. The Israeli envoy ruled out the possibility of mediation at the current juncture, saying it was time to take action against terror. He added, Mediation maybe will come, maybe will not come in future...now its time for action. Asked about countries such as China that have not specifically condemned the violence and instead highlighted the need for talks leading to the two-state solution, Gilon said Israel expects all countries to speak out against the attacks. We expect all countries in the world to, first and foremost, condemn the unprovoked murder and kidnapping of hundreds of Israeli civilians, women, men, elderly, children. This is unacceptable...Terror is terror is terror, anything else but condemnation is justifying the terrorism, he said. Gilon acknowledged that the situation has been complicated because the attackers have taken Israeli hostages. The ability of Israel to inflict pain on an organisation like Hamas is endless. The only thing that is stopping us is not Hamas, its the human population that we try, in any way, not to hit, he said. Israeli authorities are compiling lists of foreigners and Israelis in areas that were attacked, and have also been contacted by different embassies about missing people, Gilon said. While the attackers had entered some 20 communities on Saturday, they are now present in only a few pockets, where they have been surrounded by Israeli troops. Meanwhile, Indias representative office in Palestine has issued a public notice in view of the security situation and asked Indian nationals in the region to directly contact the office to address any emergency or assistance. It provided numbers for two 24-hour emergency helplines: Jawwal 0592-916418 and WhatsApp +970-59291641. The Indian embassy in Israel had issued an advisory on Saturday, urging Indians to exercise caution and avoid movement. There were no immediate reports of any Indian casualties in the fighting. There are some 18,000 Indian citizens in Israel, including 900 students. A group of 27 Indians from Meghalaya, caught in the conflict zone while on a pilgrimage, safely crossed the border into Egypt through the efforts of the external affairs ministry and the Indian mebassy, Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma posted on X. Air India suspended all flights between New Delhi and Tel Aviv till October 14 to ensure the safety of passengers and crew, an airline spokesperson said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Belagavi: A Class 6 girl student, angry after getting low marks for what she thought correct answers, mixed expired tablets into a teachers water bottle in Karnatakas Mangaluru district on Saturday, police said. Mangaluru Police Commissioner said the police refrained from filing a formal complaint against the girl students to avoid detrimental consequences for their future, and suggested counselling. (HT Archives) The teacher and her colleague fell ill after consuming the water and were hospitalised. The incident occurred at a private English-medium school in Ullal. CCTV footage showed the girl along with a classmate placing tablets into the water bottle. Both the girls admitted to their action, saying it was an act of revenge against the mathematics teacher, said a school official who didnt want to be named. The girl has brought the tablets from her house. The girl said she and her close classmate took the action because they had received low marks, even for correct answers, in the mid-term examination. The mathematics teacher who consumed the water during breakfast experienced vomiting and dizziness, while another female teacher who drank from the same bottle suffered facial swelling. Other teachers in the staffroom noticed undissolved tablets and a peculiar odour in the water bottle and immediately took the affected teachers to the government hospital in Ullal, said the headmaster. The school management convened an urgent meeting with the School Development Management Committee (SDMC) and questioned both girls, who initially denied the charges but later confessed after viewing the CCTV footage, said another teaching staff of the school, who didnt want to be named. . The school contacted the parents of the girls to apprise them of the incident and presented the CCTV footage. The school management committee later announced that both the girl students were expelled from school due to the gravity of their actions. But the school did not to file a complaint with the police, citing the girls future as the primary concern. Ullal police said that the tablets mixed into the water bottle were commonly kept at homes for minor illnesses but had expired. Doctors said the teachers are out of danger. Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal said the police refrained from filing a formal complaint to avoid detrimental consequences for the girls future. But the Ullal police cautioned the girls and advised their parents to prevent recurrence of such incidents. We have suggested counselling for the students, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi on Sunday said that she received several messages overnight about Indians in Israel and added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office is directly supervising the situation, ANI reported. Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi.(X) "Indian government is striving to bring back stranded students of India from Israel. Prime Minister and his office are monitoring the situation and huge efforts are underway to get back our students who are stuck in that country," Lekhi told reporters. She added that India has successfully evacuated its citizens from abroad during the Russia-Ukraine war or in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. So whether it was Operation Ganga or Vande Bharat, we brought everyone back and I'm sure GoI (Government of India) and the prime minister's office are directly in touch with those people and are working and monitoring the situation, the minister added. She also expressed condolence over the deaths of people in the rocket strikes launched by Hamas on Israel. "PM Modi has already given his condolences and stands with Israel at this difficult juncture. We express our condolences to all those who have been killed in this attack and the families of the injured at this difficult time," the minister told ANI. Israel on Saturday declared a state of war in the country after an unprecedented attack by Palestine's Hamas militants. They stormed from the blockaded Gaza Strip into nearby Israeli towns, killing dozens and abducting others during a major Jewish holiday on Saturday. Follow LIVE updates. On Sunday, Israel carried out retaliatory attacks and airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, killing over 400 persons. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to reduce the group's Gaza hideouts to rubble. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "deeply shocked" by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour," he wrote on X. 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 Indian students stuck in Israel amid the Hamas militant group attacks on the country shared their plight even as the Indian embassies in Israel and Palestine issued advisories for all its citizens to "remain vigilant". According to the students, while they are in constant touch with the Indian embassy, they feel extremely nervous and scared as the situation is very tense. Members of the Israeli security forces walk along a debris-strewn street in Tel Aviv, after it was hit by a rocket fired by Palestinians from the Gaza Strip(AFP) I am very nervous and scared...Thankfully we have shelter and Israeli police forces nearby. So far, we are safe...We are in touch with Indian embassy people, we have a good Indian community around and we are connected, an Indian student in Israel Gokul Manavalan told news agency ANI. Another student Vimal Krishnasamy Manivannan Chitra said the attack was very tense and scary. Indian embassy is in touch with us in the group. They are keeping a check on us, he added. Sharing his situation at the moment the attack was launched, a student Aditya Karunanithi Nivedita said, It was all very sudden we did not expect it, because there are religious holidays in Israel going on. We got the sirens early in the morning at around 5:30am. We were in bunkers for around 7-8 hours the sirens went off...We are asked to stay inside our homes. According to a student studying at the Hebrew University in Israel, they are staying in dorms and accommodations are being provided by the college. An Indian national working in Israel for the past 18 years, Soma Ravi, told news agency PTI: Today was a very difficult day, we have never seen a situation (like this). Within 20 minutes, 5,000 rockets were fired, and they (Hamas militants) killed 22 people while 500 were injured. This is a very difficult situation for the country. In an unprecedented surprise attack on Saturday morning, dozens of Hamas militants broke out of the blockaded Gaza Strip and into nearby Israeli towns, killing and abducting several people. According to the latest data by the Israeli media, at least 300 people have been killed, while over 1,500 have been wounded in one of the deadliest attacks. Meanwhile, at least 232 people in the Gaza Strip have been killed and around 1,700 wounded in Israeli strikes, the Palestinian health ministry said. Reportedly, the Hamas military commander Muhammad Al-Deif called the attack operation Al-Aqsa Storm and said that the assault on Israel was a response to attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, and the ongoing siege of Gaza. Indian embassies issue advisory The Indian embassy in Jerusalem and the Representative Office of India in Palestine on Saturday issued advisories asking Indian nationals in respective countries to remain vigilant and directly contact the Office in case of emergency. In view of the current situation in Israel, all Indian nationals in Israel are requested to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities. Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement, and stay close to safety shelters, the Embassy said in its advisory - issued in English, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages. The advisory also gave relevant phone numbers in case of emergency and also provided URLs for Israeli Home Front Command and Preparedness brochures. According to the details on the embassy's website, there are about 18,000 Indian citizens in Israel, primarily caregivers employed by Israeli elders, diamond traders, IT professionals, and students. Meanwhile, there are also approximately 85,000 Jews of Indian origin in Israel who were part of the main waves of immigration into Israel from India in the fifties and sixties. (With inputs from agencies) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Susan Johnson has lived in Flagstaff for over 30 years and loves to delve into her adopted hometowns past. She has written two books for the History Press, Haunted Flagstaff and Flagstaffs Walkup Family Murders, and, with her son Nick, manages Freaky Foot Tours. Youll find her hiking the trails with her corgi, Shimmer. All events were taken from issues of the Arizona Daily Sun and its predecessors, the Coconino Weekly Sun and the Coconino Sun. S Somanath, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Saturday said that the country's space agency is facing more than 100 cyber-attacks daily. ISRO Chairman S. Somnath speaks at a convention in New Delhi. (File Photo by Vipin Kumar/ Hindustan Times)(Hindustan Times) Somanath, while speaking on the concluding session of the 16th edition of the c0c0n, a two-day international cyber conference in Kerala's Kochi, further said that the possibility of cyber-attacks is much higher in rocket technology which uses ultra-modern software and chip-based hardware. "The organisation is equipped with a robust cybersecurity network to face such attacks," he said. Notably, the conference was organised by the Kerala Police and Information Security Research Association here. The ISRO chief further said that apart from the software, ISRO is also going ahead with various tests focusing on the safety of the hardware chips inside the rockets. "Earlier, the way of monitoring one satellite has changed to a way of software monitoring many satellites at a time. This indicates the growth of this sector. During COVID, it was possible to launch from a remote location which shows the triumph of technology," he added. He further said that there are different types of satellites that branch out for navigation, maintenance, etc. "And apart from these, satellites which help the daily life of common people are also present. All these are controlled by different types of software. Cyber security is very important to protect all of these,' Somanath added. He said advanced technology is a boon and a threat at the same time. "We can face the challenges posed by cyber criminals using technology like artificial intelligence with the same technology. There should be research and hard work towards this end," he said. Meanwhile, Kerala Revenue Minister P Rajeev, who inaugurated the concluding session of the conference said that the state is a role model for cyber security governance as the state government is capable of providing adequate security to the cyber arena. "The state government is capable of providing adequate security to the cyber arena. The government is also providing necessary support to this sector by establishing the Digital University in the state. Kerala is a state where the internet is ensured through K-Fone in every house," the minister said. He further said that the c0c0n is a role model for the Indian cyber security sector, which is making the necessary innovations for cyber security. "C0c0n is capable of creating cyber security experts among the next generation," P Rajeev added. Hibi Eden MP presided over the function in which Mayor M Anilkumar was the chief guest. Actor Mamta Mohandas, Intelligence ADGP Manoj Abraham IPS and ISRA president Manu Zacharia also addressed the event. In a first since the abrogation of Article 370 and the creation of Ladakh union territory in 2019, the counting of votes for the fifth Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC)-Kargil election began on Sunday morning at 8am. The election that took place on October 4 saw a triangular contest between the National Conference (NC), Congress, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in most of the 26 seats. Election staff during the 5th Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil elections, in Kargil (PTI) At least 73 per cent of people voted for the first time for the Hill Development Council - out of the total 95,388 voters, 74,026 exercised their right of franchise, reported news agency PTI. According to officials, strict security arrangements have been put in place at and around the government Polytechnic College where the counting of the votes is being held. BJP vs Congress vs NC The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council has a total of 30 seats out of which elections were held on 26 seats, while four councillors with voting rights are nominated by the administration. Out of the total seats, Congress is contesting on 22 seats and the NC is contesting on 17 seats - even though the parties earlier had announced a pre-poll alliance. According to the parties, the arrangement was restricted to areas where there was a tough contest with the BJP. Meanwhile, the BJP has fielded 17 candidates. The saffron party had won one seat in the last election and later took its tally to three with the joining of two PDP councillors to the party. The AAP has also fielded its candidates for four seats, while 25 independents are also in the fray. Notably, the existing council headed by NCs Feroz Ahmad Khan completed its five-year term on October 1. The new council is set to be in place before October 11. (With inputs from PTI) A new panel Sri Ram Sewa Vidhi Vidhan Samiti will now look after the preparations and other details for the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla and related events at the Ram Temple, members of the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust said on Sunday, adding that a test will be conducted to appoint priests to the panel. A new panel Sri Ram Sewa Vidhi Vidhan Samiti will now look after the preparations and other details for the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla. (PTI) The format and facets of the test are yet to be decided, the trust added. Also read: Ram Lallas idol to be finalised this month The treasurer of the trust, Govind Dev Giri said that the samiti is also preparing a religious text, based on which daily rituals at the temple will be performed. All the rituals of Ram Lalla will be performed as per the Ramanandi prathi, Giri added. Meanwhile, the members of the trust also inspected the Ram Katha Sangrahalaya, a museum in Ayodhya being run by the state tourism department WHEN. The state government will hand over the museum to the trust on Monday after signing an MoU in the presence of chief minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow. The trust overseeing the construction of the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya has decided to distribute sacred grain rice (akshata), offered to the deity at the Ram Janmabhoomi, to 500,000 villages across the country ahead of the consecration ceremony of the deity scheduled in January next year. The board approved a proposal to distribute 10 crore [100 million] pictures of the Ram Lallas idol to devotees visiting Ayodhya over the next two to three years (PTI) The extensive initiative, which is in line with the one taken during the Ram temple movement in 1980s, was approved by the board of trustees of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra in Ayodhya on Saturday, general secretary of the trust Champat Rai told the reporters. During the over three-hour meeting, the trust board approved the proposal to reach out to five lakh villages throughout the country between January 1 and 15, Rai said. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) volunteers will arrive in Ayodhya from 50 VHP centres after Dussehra to collect the akshata. In November and December, the volunteers will strategise how to implement the initiative, Rai added. It was also decided in the meeting that people across the country will be urged to light five earthen diyas (lamps) at their doorsteps on the day of the consecration of Ram Lallas idol in the grand temple in Ayodhya. Chairman of the trust, Mahant Nritya Gopal, and chairman of the Ram temple construction committee, Nripendra Misra, also attended the meeting. Out of the 15 members on the board, 11 attended the meeting in person, while three, including Supreme Court lawyer K Parasaran, attended virtually. The board approved a proposal to distribute 10 crore [100 million] pictures of the Ram Lallas idol, the one that will be installed at the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple, to devotees visiting Ayodhya over the next two to three years, a trust official said. The trust will also sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Uttar Pradesh government on October 9 to transfer the Ram Katha Sanghralaya (museum) in Ayodhya to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath will be present at the event in Lucknow, the official said. The trust has also informed that it incurred an expenditure of 900 crore on the construction of the Ram temple till March 31. The temples bhumi pujan was performed on August 5, 2020, and it was presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Eighty-two people have been confirmed dead in the Sikkim flash floods, with 32 bodies recovered from the hill state, 46 from West Bengal, and four in neighbouring Bangladesh, officials confirmed on Sunday evening, as the toll from the disaster skyrocketed amid protracted and arduous relief operations that involved rescuers combing through river-beds and debris caked in layers of silt. Vehicles buried in the sand along the Teesta river in Rongpo in east Sikkim on Sunday. (AP) At least 140 people are still missing and the toll is expected to rise further, warned officials, explaining that the path of the Teesta river which flows from Sikkim to West Bengal and eventually enters Bangladesh meant that several bodies are likely to have been washed several hundreds of kilometres downstream. Also read: Central assistance for flood-hit Sikkim triggers political slugfest in Bengal Inclement weather, however, hampered search operations in a state that has largely been cut off from the rest of the country, as the flash floods washed away parts of the vital NH-10. Efforts within the state were also hamstrung by the widespread destruction of infrastructure, leaving northern Sikkim hemmed off from the south, with rescue teams using choppers to evacuate stranded people. Bikash Basnet, press secretary to Sikkim chief minister Prem Singh Tamang, said, Around 140 people are still missing. In West Bengal, the bodies were recovered from the Teesta river and its tributaries in Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and Cooch Behar districts. Only 10 of those bodies were identified, officials said. Four bodies were recovered from Bangladesh territory, said Dyutiman Bhattacharya, superintendent of police of Cooch Behar in West Bengal. Bangladesh border agencies informed Indias Border Security Force (BSF) that they are keeping a watch on the river. The floods occurred in the early hours of Wednesday when a glacial lake at South Lhonak burst following torrential rain, pushing water through the Teesta, which in turn swelled along its path and washed away homes, roads, bridges, while also cleaving a crucial 1,200MW dam that generated power for hundreds of towns and villages. The overflowing river, which barrelled downstream, bathed vast swathes of the state in silt, sludge and mud, often several metres deep in some parts, burying bodies and debris, and severely impairing rescue efforts. So far, 2,563 people have been rescued from across the state, said the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA). Special radars, drones and Army dogs have been pressed into action to bolster the search operations, officials said. So far, 21 bodies have been recovered in Pakyong, six in Gangtok, four in Mangan and two in Namchi, they said. Engineers from the Sikkim government and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on Saturday also began carving out alternative routes to enter remote areas and rescue marooned residents and tourists. Around 3,000 tourists are still stranded in Lachen and Lachung towns, popular destinations in Mangan district, said officials. Lachen, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state, remained largely cut off till Sunday, with roads and bridges to its south and north destroyed. Norgay Lachungpa, president of the Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS) said, According to our estimates, around 500 tourists are stranded at Lachen. He added that 876 Indian tourists, 62 foreigners and 156 to 170 drivers are stranded in Lachung. The Army said it provided food and medicines for these people. We are waiting for the weather to get better so that evacuation can start at Lachung, said Lachungpa. The army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the state government are also working round-the-clock to build a temporary bridge at Chungthang, one of the worst-hit parts of the state, officials said. Meanwhile, eight of the 22 army personnel who went missing after the flash floods hit the state on Wednesday have so far been confirmed dead, while 14 are still missing. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pramod Giri I am working with Hindustan Times since 2001 and am posted in Siliguri, West Bengal, as Principal Correspondent. I have been regularly covering vast area of northern parts of West Bengal, Sikkim and parts of Nepal and Bhutan. ...view detail For the past five days, her life has been the same. Every day, she wakes up in the auditorium of the government senior secondary school in Singtam in south-east Sikkim. Every day she asks the same questions, the answer only becoming inescapably clearer. She asks the authorities if they have heard of her father. Every day, they tell her they havent. Joshna Khan is one of 630 residents that now call the school their home, living in one of the largest relief camps dot the mountains after the flash floods that tore through Sikkim on Wednesday left 82 dead, and 105 missing. But even among shared tragedy, Khans grief is solitary. She is the only one among the residents that has lost a family member. PREMIUM Overall, Sikkim now has 28 relief camps, that house around 6,487 people. (HT Photo) Overall, Sikkim now has 28 relief camps, that house around 6,487 people. The district with the most such camps is Gangtok, with 10 camps. Also read: Sikkim floods: A long wait for survivors as bad weather halts rescue operation At 2 am on Wednesday, the flood waters swirled around Khans home in Lal Bazaar area, and they had very little time to save themselves. We all rushed out of our houses to reach higher ground. But in the melee I lost my father. He was washed away by the flood waters. I lost my mother a few years ago and now he is gone. I have been left alone, Khan said. Bereaved and lonely, Khan stares at an uncertain future. I was unable to bring anything out documents, clothes, money. My house at Lal Bazar is gone. I dont know where to go or what to do after this. I will not be able to stay here forever, she said. On her body, are the same clothes she escaped her home in. 30 kilometres away from the states capital Gangtok, the three storey school building, that once held within it the cacophony of 1400 school children, now has every room occupied by bedraggled residents that no longer have safe homes. SK Pradhan, principal of the school said all ten class rooms on the first and second floors as well as the auditorium on the third have all been opened for flood victims. One staff room has been allotted to police personnel that live there as night guards. And numbers are swelling. On Wednesday, the shelter only had 318 people. By Saturday, it was 639. After the flood my husband, two daughters and I took shelter in a relatives home. But we decided to move in to the flood shelter because we thought the relative was going through too much for us in their one room home. Our residence at Adarsh Gaon has been washed away. Every day my husband goes to check if anything can be done to restore and rebuilt the house, but I am always scared because who knows how safe it will be, said Smriti Pradhan. Tables, once used by school children to study, are now demarcating boundaries between families. Some sleep on mattresses; others just on the floor with a bedsheet. The government has arranged for food twice a day, as well as a cup of tea and biscuits in the morning. With the school closed, its 50 teaching staff and as many students now work from 7 am to 8 pm as volunteers. Even though the school is closed, we go there every day, to serve the victims. We give them food and water and do whatever is needed like cleaning the rooms. I am happy to help them because they are in distress, said Rancho Gurung, a student of class VII and the youngest of the volunteers, who aspires to join the army in future. Among the various desks that have been set up by the school authorities, one is occupied by a legal team from the state government that helps victims fill up forms, lodge police complaints- required for duplicates of marksheets, identity cards, certificates and bank documents. A team of doctors has also been posted. When new victims come in, we need to ensure he is not suffering from an infectious disease. One person who arrived was suffering from tuberculosis and had to be immediately shifted to a hospital, one volunteer said. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Sunday began a four-day visit to India with an aim to bolster bilateral relations. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan being welcomed on her arrival, in New Delhi on Sunday(ANI) The presidential visit from Tanzania to India is taking place after a span of more than eight years. On Monday, Hassan is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. READ | First IIT campus outside India to come up in Tanzanias Zanzibar "Giving a fresh impetus to India-Tanzania ties. President @SuluhuSamia of Tanzania arrives on a State Visit to India. This is her first visit to India since the assumption of the office of President," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi wrote on X after Hassan's arrival. The Tanzanian president will also participate in a business and investment forum in Delhi on October 10. Hassan will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Monday morning and thereafter, she will hold a detailed bilateral dialogue with Modi. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) encountered an awkward situation on Sunday when Singapore's High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong, pointed out that Singapore was misspelt as Singapur on the signage placed near the high commission. Wong, who came across the error during his morning walk, took to social media and urged the NDMC to conduct a 'spell check' before putting up such signage. Singapore High Commissioner Simon Wong(X/Singapore in India) "It is always good to spell check first. HC Wong," the Singapore high commissioner wrote sharing pictures of the signage pointing to the High Commission of Singapore. However, the error was fixed by the NDMC in a few hours. Wong also thanked the municipal corporation for the quick fix. Thank you for the quick fix. HC Wong @tweetndmc @MCD_Delhi", Wong's post on X read. Published a few moments ago, the post has garnered around 33.3K views on X. Commenting on the post, a user wrote, That was the fastest grievance redressal everWish every government department responds with such alacrity, while a second commented, Still seems like a jugaad. That's not an O but a Zero (0) pasted. READ | 'A great pic': Singapore's High Commissioner lauds Chandrayaan-3's lunar images Previously, Singapore's High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong, engaged in a dance with local folk artists during a G20 meeting held in Darjeeling, West Bengal. "A wonderful evening at the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting. Moonlight tea picking was the highlight. HC Wong," the Singapore high commissioner posted back then. The post received around 18.9K views on X. A woman officer, Group Captain Shaliza Dhami, will on Sunday command the Indian Air Force Day parade for the first time at air force station Bamrauli in Prayagraj to mark the services 91st anniversary, officials aware of the matter said. Group Captain Shaliza Dhami A helicopter pilot, Dhami was also the first woman to assume command of a frontline IAF combat unit in March. She heads a missile squadron in the western sector. Commissioned into the IAF in 2003, Dhami is a qualified flying instructor and has logged more than 2,800 hours of flying. The development comes at a time when the armed forces are opening more frontiers for women and giving them opportunities on a par with their male counterparts. Also for the first time, the parade will have an all-women contingent consisting of the newly inducted Agniveer Vayu, who shall march shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. The parade also includes a flight of Garud commandos for the first time, IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Ashish Moghe said on Sunday. Women in uniform are no longer on the fringes but are being assigned central roles like their male counterparts they are flying fighter planes, serving on board warships, being inducted in the personnel below officer rank (PBOR) cadre, eligible for permanent commission, and undergoing training at the National Defence Academy. The IAF and navy have allowed women officers to join their special forces units --- the Garud commando force and Marine Commandos, respectively, to promote gender equality within their ranks, provided they meet the criteria for selection. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari will unveil the air forces new ensign at Prayagraj. The IAF crest will now be featured in the top right corner of the ensign, which currently displays the national flag in the upper left canton and IAF tri-colour roundel on the right. The current ensign was adopted more than seven decades ago, replacing the Royal Indian Air Force ensign that featured the Union Jack and the RIAF roundel (red, white and blue). The IAF crest consists of the Ashoka lion on the top, with the Himalayan eagle with its wings spread below it. A light blue ring encircles the eagle with Bhartiya Vayu Sena written on it in Hindi. The IAFs motto, Nabh Sparsham Deeptam (Touch the Sky with Glory), is inscribed below the eagle in golden Devanagari. It comes a year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Indian Navys ensign at the commissioning ceremony of aircraft carrier Vikrant, with the flag drawing inspiration from the seal of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Cross of St George being dropped. The IAFs MiG-21 fighter jets will take part in the IAF Day flypast over Sangam in Prayagraj for the last time this year. The flypast will feature around 110 aircraft, including the IAFs newest C-295 transport plane. The air display will include Rafales, Sukhoi-30s, Mirage-2000s, MiG-29s, Jaguars, LCA Tejas, C-17s, C-130Js, IL-76s, AN-32s, Chinooks, Apaches and Hawks. The IAF held its annual celebrations in Chandigarh last year, in line with the three services now organising their flagship ceremonial events outside the national capital. The parade was traditionally held at the Hindan air base on the outskirts of the national capital. Your favourite Bollywood stars often get snapped by the paparazzi during an outing in Mumbai or outside the airport after landing in the bay. Celebrities' stylish and casual-chic looks for these outings serve steal-worthy style statements. Last night, Kiara Advani, Ananya Panday and Kriti Sanon were clicked arriving at the Mumbai airport, and Tara Sutaria and Khushi Kapoor were clicked outside a restaurant by the paparazzi. So, we decided to dissect their look for these occasions to help you steal some style ideas to revamp your wardrobe. Check out what these stars wore. What Kiara Advani, Ananya Panday, Kriti Sanon, Tara Sutaria and Khushi Kapoor for their outings. What Kiara Advani, Ananya Panday, Kriti Sanon, Tara Sutaria and Khushi Kapoor wore Kiara Advani Kiara Advani chose a business-casual look for her airport look as she arrived in Mumbai. The star's pictures and videos show her in a white fitted tank top, a blush pink-coloured notch lapel blazer and a mid-rise light-blue flared denim jeans. She styled the ensemble with a beige handbag, colourful chunky sneakers, centre-parted open locks, and minimal glam. Ananya Panday Ananya Panday embraced the classic for her airport look. She wore a white tank top at the airport, and tucked it inside dark blue denim jeans featuring a mid-rise waistline and a relaxed silhouette. Ananya styled the ensemble with a handbag, chunky lace-up sneakers, a centre-parted messy bun, and a no-makeup look. Kriti Sanon Kriti Sanon nailed her airport look in a casual-chic ensemble - a tank top featuring black and white stripes, a plunging round neckline with a slit on the front, and a fitted silhouette. She styled it with denim jeans featuring patchwork and straight-leg fitting. Sneakers, open locks and a no-makeup look gave the finishing touch. Tara Sutaria Tara Sutaria stepped out in Mumbai last night with her friends. The paparazzi clicked her in a head-turning black dress featuring spaghetti straps, a ruched design, a side slit, a bodycon fitting, and a plunging neckline. She styled the outfit with a shoulder bag, strapped heels, dainty jewels, blushed skin, minimal eye glam, and a nude lip shade. Khushi Kapoor Khushi Kapoor stepped out in Mumbai last night for a dinner outing with her friends. For the occasion, Khushi chose a white mini dress featuring a plunging neckline, full-length billowy sleeves, a cinched detail on the torso, and a flared skirt. She styled the ensemble with a dainty gold chain, rings, hoop earrings, centre-parted open locks, and minimal glam. 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! Ekadashi Shraddha is performed for the deceased family members who died on the Ekadashi date. On this day, Shraddha can be performed on the Ekadashi date of either Shukla Paksha or Krishna Paksha. Ekadashi holds great significance for Hindus. Also known as Gyaras Shraddha, muhurats like Kutup and Rauhin are considered auspicious for performing Shraddha rituals. According to Hindu customs, these rituals should be performed ideally during the afternoon. Meanwhile, Tarpan is offered at the end of the Shraddha. Scroll through to know the date, puja time, significance, rituals, and more. Know the Ekadashi Shraddha date, puja time, rituals, significance and more. (Pinterest) Ekadashi Shraddha 2023 Date: According to Drik Panchang, Ekadashi Shraddha falls on Monday, October 9. The Ekadashi date starts at 12:36 pm on October 9 and ends at 3:08 pm on October 10. Ekadashi Shraddha 2023 Timings: The Kutup Muhurat on Ekadashi Shraddha will begin at 11:45 am and end at 12:32 pm. The Rauhin Muhurat will begin at 12:32 pm and end at 1:18 pm. Lastly, the afternoon time during Ekadashi Shraddha will last from 1:18 pm to 3:38 pm. Ekadashi Shraddha 2023 Significance: It is believed by Hindus that Ekadashi is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the preserver of this whole world. It is believed that people should offer prayers and perform Pitru Tarpan and Pind Daan for their ancestors on this sacred day for their salvation. Those who perform these rituals are said to be blessed by Lord Vishnu. Hindus believe Lord Vishnu offers them a place in his abode, Baikunth Dham. Additionally, it is believed that those suffering from bad karma from their past lives or getting punished by Lord Yamraj should perform the Ekadashi Shraddha. Ekadashi Shraddha 2023 Rituals: One should wake up early and take a bath to purify themselves. Begin the day by offering water to Lord Surya. One should clean the house and purify it with Gangajal. Feed cows, crows, dogs and ants on Ekadashi Shraddha. Perform Pind Daan and donate food, milk and rice to the needy. 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! World Post Day 2023: Before the age of e-mails, letters used to be handwritten and delivered by post across the world and even today, postal services hold a significant role in the delivery of parcels globally and World Post Day acknowledges the same. The vast postal network involving millions of workers moving billions of pieces of mail through hundreds of thousands of post offices is woven into our societies, connecting communities the world over. World Post Day 2023: Date, history, significance and celebration (Photo by Twitter/llicoatings) Date: World Post Day is observed every year on October 9. History: World Post Day is celebrated in remembrance of the foundation of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874 in Bern, Switzerland. Celebrated across 151 countries, it was first declared as the World Post Day by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan, in 1969. In India, too, the day acknowledges the beginning of National Postal week, celebrated from October 9 to October 15. Significance: World Post Day recognises the invaluable contributions of postal workers to our societies and economies. World Post Day marks the establishment of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the creation of the revolutionary mode of communication with letters in the everyday lives of the people. Celebration: Member nations around the globe use this day to launch new postal initiatives and hold special exhibitions to raise awareness about the importance of postal services in everyday lives and its contribution to the social and economic development of countries. 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 manager at artificial intelligence firm OpenAI caused consternation recently by writing that she just had "a quite emotional, personal conversation" with her firm's viral chatbot ChatGPT. "Never tried therapy before but this is probably it?" Lilian Weng posted on X, formerly Twitter, prompting a torrent of negative commentary accusing her of downplaying mental illness. Buzzy startups have been pushing AI apps offering therapy, companionship and other mental health support for years now -- and it is big business. (Unsplash) However, Weng's take on her interaction with ChatGPT may be explained by a version of the placebo effect outlined this week by research in the Nature Machine Intelligence journal. A team from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Arizona State University asked more than 300 participants to interact with mental health AI programmes and primed them on what to expect. Some were told the chatbot was empathetic, others that it was manipulative and a third group that it was neutral. Those who were told they were talking with a caring chatbot were far more likely than the other groups to see their chatbot therapists as trustworthy. "From this study, we see that to some extent the AI is the AI of the beholder," said report co-author Pat Pataranutaporn. Buzzy startups have been pushing AI apps offering therapy, companionship and other mental health support for years now -- and it is big business. But the field remains a lightning rod for controversy. 'Weird, empty' Like every other sector that AI is threatening to disrupt, critics are concerned that bots will eventually replace human workers rather than complement them. And with mental health, the concern is that bots are unlikely to do a great job. "Therapy is for mental well-being and it's hard work," Cher Scarlett, an activist and programmer, wrote in response to Weng's initial post on X. "Vibing to yourself is fine and all but it's not the same." Compounding the general fear over AI, some apps in the mental health space have a chequered recent history. Users of Replika, a popular AI companion that is sometimes marketed as bringing mental health benefits, have long complained that the bot can be sex obsessed and abusive. Separately, a US nonprofit called Koko ran an experiment in February with 4,000 clients offering counselling using GPT-3, finding that automated responses simply did not work as therapy. "Simulated empathy feels weird, empty," the firm's co-founder, Rob Morris, wrote on X. His findings were similar to the MIT/Arizona researchers, who said some participants likened the chatbot experience to "talking to a brick wall". But Morris was later forced to defend himself after widespread criticism of his experiment, mostly because it was unclear if his clients were aware of their participation. 'Lower expectations' David Shaw from Basel University, who was not involved in the MIT/Arizona study, told AFP the findings were not surprising. But he pointed out: "It seems none of the participants were actually told all chatbots bullshit." That, he said, may be the most accurate primer of all. Yet the chatbot-as-therapist idea is intertwined with the 1960s roots of the technology. ELIZA, the first chatbot, was developed to simulate a type of psychotherapy. The MIT/Arizona researchers used ELIZA for half the participants and GPT-3 for the other half. Although the effect was much stronger with GPT-3, users primed for positivity still generally regarded ELIZA as trustworthy. So it is hardly surprising that Weng would be glowing about her interactions with ChatGPT -- she works for the company that makes it. The MIT/Arizona researchers said society needed to get a grip on the narratives around AI. "The way that AI is presented to society matters because it changes how AI is experienced," the paper argued. It may be desirable to prime a user to have lower or more negative expectations. 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 winter beckons in India, we also welcome the sale season. Starting from Ganesh Chaturthi (in western India) and going right up to Christmas and New Year, consumers will be spoilt for choice. Anything under the sun will be available at discounted rates. Many of these sales these days happen online and of them, one of the biggest is the Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale 2023. Amazon Sale 2023: Printers, weight machines, grinders are small appliances essential to any household or small business. During sales, electrical items become more affordable due to discounts and promotions. Retailers often offer significant price reductions, making it an ideal time to buy expensive electronics that may be out of budget at other times. This cost-saving opportunity allows consumers to upgrade and invest in quality products. Now, whenever there is any talk of electronic items, one invariably thinks of smartphones, laptops, tablets etc. When we talk of home appliances, we think of washing machines, refrigerators, air conditioners etc. But have we ever thought that smaller electrical items such as printers, angle grinders, convertible freezers, a good weighing machine among many other items are so essential in every home and deserve a mention? Well, that is the segment we are checking out here in this article, which are also part of this sale. If you have a small business, then you will certainly see a lot of utility in owning a barcode printer. These printers create labels with encoded information in the form of barcodes. They are used for efficient inventory management, product tracking, and quick data retrieval in various industries. InkTank colour printers utilize refillable ink reservoirs, offering cost-effective, high-quality colour printing. They are ideal for businesses and homes with heavy printing needs, providing vivid and consistent results while reducing ink replacement expenses. Digital weighing scale weight machines provide precise and easy-to-read measurements. They're essential for monitoring personal or industrial weights, ensuring accuracy and convenience in diverse applications, from fitness tracking to shipping and manufacturing processes. Inverter ARC compact welding machines are portable and versatile tools for welding various metals. They use advanced inverter technology to provide stable and efficient welding arcs. These machines are favoured for their lightweight design, energy efficiency, and ability to deliver high-quality welds, making them ideal for professionals and DIY enthusiasts. We have curated a list of some such items that are part of this Amazon Sale. Check them out here and add them to your cart as well. Go shopping. Canon PIXMA G1730 Single Function (Print only) Inktank Color Printer with Small Size Ink Bottles for Home/Office The Canon PIXMA G1730 is a single-function ink tank colour printer designed to meet all your home and office printing needs with ease. This compact powerhouse combines high-quality printing and affordability. Equipped with small-sized ink bottles, it's perfect for those seeking cost-effective solutions without compromising on performance. The Canon PIXMA G1730 ensures brilliant, borderless prints with sharp text and vibrant colors. Its efficient ink tank system minimizes the need for frequent refills, saving you time and money. This printer's small footprint makes it suitable for even the coziest spaces. Elevate your printing experience with the Canon PIXMA G1730 efficiency, quality, and affordability in one sleek package. Specifications of Canon PIXMA G1730: Single function printer: Print only functionality for focused and efficient printing tasks. Inktank colour technology: Equipped with a reliable ink tank system for high-quality colour prints. Small-sized ink bottles: Designed for cost-effective printing and reduced maintenance requirements. Compact design: Space-saving form factor ideal for both home and office environments. Borderless printing: Create stunning, edge-to-edge prints with sharp text and vibrant colours for professional-looking documents. Pros Cons 1. High-Quality Colour Printing 1. Limited Functionality (Print Only) 2. Cost-Effective Small Ink Bottles 2. No Scanning or Copying Capability B0BY949L3M TSC TE244 Desktop Thermal Transfer Barcode Printer with USB connectivity 203 DPI Bar Code Label Printer The TSC TE244 Desktop Thermal Transfer Barcode Printer is a versatile and efficient solution for all your labeling needs. With a high-resolution 203 DPI capability, this printer ensures crisp and clear barcode labels that meet industry standards. Its USB connectivity offers seamless integration with your computer systems, making data transfer a breeze. The TE244 is perfect for businesses requiring barcode labels for inventory management, shipping, retail, and more. Its compact design fits comfortably on any desktop, while its robust build guarantees long-lasting performance. Say goodbye to smudged or illegible labels the TSC TE244 ensures accuracy and professionalism in every print job. Elevate your labelling game with this reliable barcode label printer. Specifications of TSC TE244 Desktop Thermal Transfer Barcode Printer: Printing Technology: Thermal transfer Resolution: 203 DPI (dots per inch) Connectivity: USB connectivity for easy integration with computer systems Print Width: Up to 4.25 inches (108 mm) Print Speed: Fast printing speed of up to 4 inches per second for efficient label production. Pros Cons 1. High-resolution 203 DPI printing 1. May require additional software for setup 2. USB connectivity for easy integration 2. Limited to thermal transfer printing method B07RJG8M11 Glun Multipurpose Portable Electronic Digital Weighing Scale Weight Machine (10 Kg - with Back Light) The Glun Multipurpose Portable Electronic Digital Weighing Scale Weight Machine is a versatile and indispensable tool for a variety of weighing needs. This portable device offers precision and convenience, with a maximum capacity of 10 kilograms. Equipped with a handy backlit display, it ensures easy readability even in low-light conditions. The Glun Digital Weighing Scale is perfect for home kitchens, shops, or wherever precise measurements are required. Its compact design makes it easy to store or carry, while its accuracy ensures you get reliable weight readings every time. Simplify your weighing tasks with this essential multipurpose scale, designed to make your life easier. Specifications on Glun Multipurpose Portable Electronic Digital Weighing Scale Weight Machine: Weight Capacity: Up to 10 kilograms. Display: Backlit digital display for easy reading, even in low-light conditions. Precision: Offers precise weight measurements for accurate results. Portability: Compact and lightweight design, making it easy to carry and store. Versatility: Suitable for various applications, including kitchen use and commercial weighing needs. Pros Cons 1. High Weight Capacity (Up to 10 kg) 1. Limited weight capacity for larger items 2. Backlit Display for Easy Reading 2. Requires batteries, which may need replacement B09185QH3C ROCKWELL 523 Ltr 5 Star Double Door Convertible GREEN Deep Freezer-GFR550DDUC (10 yr Warranty on body,Upto 53% Power Saving,100% copper coil) The ROCKWELL 523 Ltr 5 Star Double Door Convertible Deep Freezer is a pinnacle of refrigeration technology that redefines food storage. Boasting a massive 523-litre capacity, this freezer is designed to accommodate all your frozen goods, making it perfect for families and commercial use. With its 5-star energy rating, it ensures up to 53% power savings, promoting energy efficiency and cost savings. Crafted with a durable 100% copper coil, it guarantees longevity and reliable performance. Plus, with a 10-year warranty on the body, you can have complete peace of mind. Upgrade your freezing experience with ROCKWELL's commitment to quality and innovation. Specifications on ROCKWELL 523 Ltr 5 Star Double Door Convertible Deep Freezer: Capacity: 523 litres, providing ample storage space. Energy Rating: 5-star rating, offering up to 53% power savings. Coil Material: Equipped with a 100% copper coil for efficient cooling and durability. Warranty: Comes with a 10-year warranty on the body, ensuring long-term reliability. Design: Double door convertible design, enhancing versatility for different storage needs. Pros Cons 1. Spacious 523-litre capacity 1. Potentially large size, requiring ample space 2. High energy efficiency with 5-star rating 2. Initial purchase cost may be relatively high B085DGN48J Shakti Technology MMA-250G Inverter ARC Compact Welding Machine (IGBT) 250A with Hot Start and Anti-Stick Functions - 1 Year Warranty The Shakti Technology MMA-250G Inverter ARC Compact Welding Machine is a powerful and reliable welding solution for professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike. With a robust 250A output capacity, this IGBT-based welder ensures efficient and precise welding performance. The built-in Hot Start and Anti-Stick functions enhance ease of use and prevent common welding issues. Backed by a 1-year warranty, you can trust in its durability and longevity. Whether you're working on metal fabrication or repairs, this compact welding machine provides the versatility and reliability you need to achieve outstanding welding results. Upgrade your welding game with Shakti Technology. Specifications of Shakti Technology MMA-250G Inverter ARC Compact Welding Machine: Welding Current: 250A output capacity for powerful welding. Technology: IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) technology for efficient performance. Special Functions: Hot Start and Anti-Stick functions for improved welding control. Warranty: 1-year warranty for added peace of mind. Compact Design: Portable and space-saving, ideal for various welding applications. Pros Cons 1. Powerful 250A Output Capacity 1. May be relatively heavy for some users 2. Hot Start and Anti-Stick Functions 2. Limited to ARC welding process B09FK7X41B Bosch Professional GWS 600 Angle Grinder - 670W, 100mm, M10 (Blue), Multipurpose The Bosch Professional GWS 600 Angle Grinder is a versatile and robust tool designed for both professionals and DIY enthusiasts. With a powerful 670W motor and a compact 100mm wheel size, it excels in various cutting and grinding applications. Its M10 spindle thread ensures compatibility with a wide range of accessories. This blue powerhouse is built to withstand tough conditions, delivering consistent performance. Whether you're tackling metalwork, masonry, or wood, the Bosch GWS 600 Angle Grinder is your trusted companion, offering precision and reliability for all your grinding needs. Elevate your workmanship with Bosch Professional quality. Specifications of Bosch Professional GWS 600 Angle Grinder: Power Rating: 670 watts for robust cutting and grinding capabilities. Wheel Diameter: 100mm (4 inches) for versatile applications. Spindle Thread: M10 for compatibility with a wide range of accessories. Colour: Blue, a distinctive and durable exterior. Multipurpose: Suitable for various cutting and grinding tasks across different materials. Pros Cons 1. Powerful 670W Motor 1. May require additional safety gear for operation 2. Versatile 100mm Wheel Size 2. Potential for overheating with prolonged use B01K4Q3Q9G 3M 1110 Ear Plugs Corded, Extra Soft, Reusable Earbuds Noise Cancellation, Soundproof Earplug Use For Underwater, Meditation, Study, Flight Travel,Sleeping Sound Block Up To 29 Decibel (Pack of 10) The 3M 1110 Ear Plugs Corded is the perfect solution for noise reduction in various settings. Crafted with extra-soft material, these reusable earbuds provide exceptional comfort for extended wear. Whether you're underwater, meditating, studying, on a flight, travelling, or simply trying to get a peaceful night's sleep, these earplugs excel at soundproofing, effectively blocking up to 29 decibels of unwanted noise. With a convenient pack of 10, you'll have plenty for various occasions. Embrace tranquility and enjoy uninterrupted moments with 3M's reliable and comfortable earplugs, designed to keep unwanted noise at bay. Specifications of 3M 1110 Ear Plugs Corded: Design: Corded earplugs for easy removal and prevention of loss. Material: Made from extra-soft, comfortable, and reusable material. Noise Reduction: Effectively blocks up to 29 decibels of sound. Versatile Use: Suitable for underwater activities, meditation, studying, flight travel, and sleeping. Quantity: Comes in a pack of 10 for convenience and multiple uses. Pros Cons 1. Extra-Soft and Comfortable Material 1. Some users may find corded design less convenient 2. Reusable and Suitable for Multiple Uses 2. May not completely block extremely loud noises B00VTNZAXO Best value for money The "best value for money" product among these options can vary depending on individual needs. However, the Canon PIXMA G1730 Inktank Color Printer stands out as a strong contender. It offers affordable printing with small-sized ink bottles, making it a cost-effective choice for both home and office use. Its versatility, along with economical ink consumption, ensures long-term savings while providing high-quality prints. This printer strikes a balance between performance and affordability, making it a smart investment for those seeking value without compromising on quality. Best deal The "best deal" product can depend on specific requirements, but the Glun Multipurpose Portable Electronic Digital Weighing Scale stands out as an excellent choice. With its affordable price and essential features like a backlit display and a 10 kg weight capacity, it offers a great deal for those needing accurate and convenient weight measurements. Its versatility makes it suitable for various applications, including kitchen use and personal fitness tracking, ensuring that you get the most value for your money without compromising on functionality. Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority. 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! Former president Donald Trump has blamed President Joe Biden for the attack launched on Israel by Hamas. Trump has claimed that the violence erupted because Biden is considered weak. Former president Donald Trump has blamed President Joe Biden for the attack launched on Israel by Hamas (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst, photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) It was a big attack with a lot of dead people all over the place, Trump told an audience at a Waterloo, Iowa rally, according to The Daily Beast. Who would think that? And the only difference, I believe, is the difference between one president and another president. During the attack, Hamas militants infiltratedIsraeli towns and launched missiles, reportedly resulting in the death of at least 250 people in Israel and 232 in Gaza. In a televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the attack murderous. Trump said at the rally that had he been the president,a series of geopolitical conflicts would not have taken place. They didnt have that level of aggression with me, he said. They didnt have it. This would have never happened with me. You know what wouldnt have happened? Ukraine wouldnt have happened. Taiwan and all this tough talk with Taiwan wouldnt have happened. Trump added that the Israeli attack was made because we are perceived as being weak and ineffective and with a really weak leader. Trumps son spoke up about American weakness too, writing on X, As we perpetually indoctrinate our children with weakness, feminize our boys, attack masculine men, glorify trans insanity, etc. just understand that one day the savages you see brutally attacking innocent civilians in the streets of Israel will be on your front door & you and your loved ones will have ZERO capability of defending themselves. Thats the future the left is creating for you. What did Vivek Ramaswamy say? Vivek Ramaswamy, too, opened up about the incident. Ramaswamy reshared a post that reads, Want to know how much the Hamas invasion is a result of Biden policy? This is from less thantwo months ago. The post, shared by Noah Pollak, also accompanied a Washington Free Beacon article headlined, Biden Admin Raised Concerns Palestinian Aid Would Boost Hamas. It Went Ahead With Aid Anyway. Ramaswamy wrote, sharing the tweet, Americas broken foreign policy establishment knew they were funding Hamas & went ahead with it anyway. The unprecedented $6BN in ransom paid to Iran last month worsened it: our taxpayer dollars are funding Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah. This will end on Day 1 of my administration. In a different post, he wrote, I am appalled by the barbaric and medieval Hamas attacks. Shooting civilians and kidnapping children are war crimes. Israels right to exist & defend itself should never be doubted and Iran-backed Hamas & Hezbollah cannot be allowed to prevail. I stand with Israel and the U.S. should too. Washington: Hamass unprecedented attack on Israel, which has been welcomed and celebrated by Iran, appears to be aimed to complicate the historic process of normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia that is underway in the region and has the potential to dramatically alter global geopolitics. Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu (right) and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (left) (AP Photo) But initial responses to the terror attacks from Israels Arab neighbours indicate that while they will stick to the stated line of support for Palestinians, they dont wish to let Saturdays developments completely derail the prospects for normalcy on the table. Whether Riyadh can stay the course and whether Tel Aviv can find it within its national psyche to accommodate Palestinian aspirations to enable normalisation with its other neighbours, even as it mounts a war in Palestinian territory, will be critical variables to watch in the weeks and months ahead. This is not to suggest that the historical roots of the conflict, Israels brutality in Gaza, the far-right turn in Tel Aviv, and its adverse implications for Israels own security preparedness, Hamass search for relevance and power and its terror machine, the disputes around the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the anxieties among Palestinians, and the lack of movement towards a viable two-state solution arent the underlying factors at play. But Hamass unacceptable terror attacks against Israel must be located within this particular juncture in West Asian politics. The context of peacemaking Over the past five years, the region has changed. The Americans have actively engineered, facilitated, and supported the Abraham Accords, which saw Israel arrive at a diplomatic modus vivendi with a group of its neighbours, most significantly the UAE. The US is attempting to lower the temperature in the region by bringing together its allies in the Sunni world and the worlds only Jewish state on the same page, who are increasingly united by their shared anxieties about Iran, the self-declared leader of the Shia world. A Saudi-Israel deal, which would have been the most significant symbolic acceptance from the Muslim world of Israels right to exist, would have also required Israel to be more accommodating of Palestinian aspirations. This wasnt done yet, for Benjamin Netanyahus government is hostage to far-right extremists who have weakened democracy and have not been in any mood to step back from their belligerence in the West Bank. Irrespective of what Israel would have finally decided on the Palestinian issue and whether it would have been enough for the Saudi crown prince and PM Mohammed bin Salman to move ahead, the fact that these discussions were happening under American auspices and had assumed such a serious degree of intensity clearly left many in the region unhappy. The attack and fallout The scale and complexity of Hamass attacks, most analysts in Washington are convinced, could not have happened without Irans support. There has been a spike in attacks against Israel from Lebanon. And Hamas, unlike other relatively moderate but weaker and more dysfunctional Palestinian factions, is clearly invested in ensuring that Saudis dont do a deal with Israel. An attack on Israel of this nature is based on a simple calculation. Any state, let alone a state that combines a deep sense of insecurity with extraordinary belligerence and is led by a regime that prides itself on strong national security credentials, is bound to react with ferocity to such terror. The fact that this is among the biggest failures of the Israeli intelligence apparatus in its history is sure to rankle and Israel will need to figure out whether, and to what extent, its divisive and all-consuming politics has led to a situation where its security alertness has slipped. But the failure will also have the consequence of leading to greater fury and a more intense response. The US, which has seen a rare but remarkably open conversation about the worrying trends in Israels democracy this year, will rally behind its ally even if it encourages the formation of a national unity government in Israel. Offering political, diplomatic, security, and moral support to Tel Aviv will take priority over all other considerations. As Israel retaliates, and its military response on Saturday is just a precursor to a prolonged onslaught against Gaza, those hostile to normalisation will hope it will make it more difficult for Tel Avivs friends-in-the-making such as Riyadh to be able to continue to be seen pursuing the line of normalisation. But Riyadhs response shows that it will continue to walk a fine line between its support for Palestine with its hopes for normalcy with Israel. The Saudis have said they are closely following the situation between various Palestinian factions and Israels occupation forces; called for an immediate halt to the escalation, restraint, and protection of civilians; recalled their warnings of dangers of explosion as a result of continued occupation and deprivation of rights for the Palestinian people; and reiterated the call for a two-state solution. All of this is rhetorically targeted at Israel, but the statement leaves enough room for the normalisation process to continue, even if with a delay. The Indian stakes All of this has implications for India. As external affairs minister S Jaishankar explained in Washington last week, Delhi and West Asias economies are now enmeshed in multiple ways across the energy, migration, food, and trade dimensions. I2U2, the grouping that includes India, Israel, UAE and the US, is an unprecedented attempt to deepen diplomatic and economic linkages between four countries which have never shared the same platform, even if they have had bilateral ties with each other. And IMEC, the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor unveiled on the sidelines of the G20, is both dependent on and meant to contribute to the process of the Saudi-Israel normalisation. PM Narendra Modi has unequivocally backed Israel against the terror attacks. But Delhi will also be invested in ensuring that the region finds relative stability, where the zero-sum security approach that has governed it for decades slowly continues to give way to the dream of connectivity and prosperity between erstwhile rivals. Saturday shows that the road to future normalcy will, however, be littered with terror and violence. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a landmark anti-caste discrimination bill recently passed by the state assembly, terming it "unnecessary" and underlining that laws to ban caste-based discrimination already exist in the US state. California Governor Gavin Newsom(AP) The governors move has been welcomed by a large segment of the Indian-American community who were opposing the bill based on the same argument. In California, we believe everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter who they are, where they come from, who they love, or where they live, Newsom said in a statement on Saturday. "That is why California already prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, colour, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other characteristics, and state law specifies that these civil rights protections shall be liberally construed. Because discrimination based on caste is already prohibited under these existing categories, this bill is unnecessary," he said. For this reason, Newsom asserted that he cannot sign the bill, known as SB403, which was recently passed by a large majority by both the House of Representatives and Senate of the California State Assembly. California would have been the first US state to formally ban discrimination on the basis of caste if the Governor had signed the bill. The bill was introduced in March by Democratic state Senator Aisha Wahab, the first Muslim and Afghan American elected to the California Legislature. The bill defines "ancestry" for purposes of the Fair Employment and Housing Act, the Unruh Act, and the Education Code to include "caste" and other dimensions of ancestry. The opponents of the bill described it as historic and said that such a move by the Governor has prevented the efforts of many to target the South Asian community and the Hindus in the state. Reacting to the development, Castefiles, an educational platform which challenges false caste and race narratives in media, described the move as a historic decision. Governor Newsom has taken a stance to veto SB403 - an attempt to sully the Civil Rights Act by adding discriminatory notes to it with the highly contentious term 'CASTE'. Newsom has recognised the pain and fight of the South Asian micro minority. Democracy wins today in America - the Vox populi that fought to be heard amidst the deafening roar of fake caste narratives, it said. Samir Kalra, managing director of the Hindu American Foundation, said, With the stroke of his pen, Governor Newsom has averted a civil rights and constitutional disaster that would have put a target on hundreds of thousands of Californians simply because of their ethnicity or their religious identity, as well as create a slippery slope of facially discriminatory laws. Leading Democrat Ajay Bhutoria, in a statement, expressed his gratitude to Newsom for vetoing the bill and described it as a momentous development. During a recent engagement at a Democratic National Committee (DNC) event in Chicago, Bhutoria from California and Rakesh Kapur from Boston urged the governor to veto the bill. Vetoing the SB403 Caste Bill was the right course of action, elucidating the detrimental impacts it could have on the community, they told the governor in Chicago last month. This legislation was undeniably redundant and unnecessary, and I am pleased that our discussions in Chicago bore fruit. The veto of this bill is a testament to the power of constructive dialogue and collaboration," Bhutoria said in a statement. This is a culmination of the efforts of the entire #HinduAmerican community, and the hundreds of organisations, temples, businesses, and allies that fought against #profiling. We rose above the lies, the insinuations, and the wild accusations - and we prevailed, Coalition of Hindus of North America said. It was an effort that saw hundreds of volunteers turn out in person, dozens of organisations, and thousands of California residents who wrote, called, and texted their lawmakers. Proof that if we unite and take action, nothing is impossible, CoHNA said. Khanderao Kand from the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora (FIIDS) thanked Newsom for this historic and correct decision. I reject all and any form of discrimination, however as the governor said California law already covers all discriminations, moreover, this bill would have caused facial and ethnic profiling leading to difficulty for industries, particularly the tech industry to operate, he said. The recently formed Americans for Hindus said the bill was not facially neutral. It relied on misleading narratives, strawman arguments, and a questionable survey that actively encouraged falsification of data, it said, thanking the governor for vetoing the bill. In a statement, Deelip Mhaske, president of the Foundation for Human Horizon and prominent Ambedkarite, said while the governor ideologically supported the bill, he was against anything that would further divide the Indian-American community or promote negative sentiments towards India. Consequently, he vetoed the bill, not because he opposed the legislation per se, but due to concerns over divisive groups hijacking the movement, he said. According to Mhaske, after the bill was passed by the California Assembly, several organisations supporting the bill initiated a hunger strike, prompting an investigation into the participants, especially Equality Lab. Concerns were raised that some groups were using the bill as a means to promote financial interests, as well as fostering divisive anti-India and anti-Hindu sentiments within the Indian community in America, he said, welcoming the decision of the governor to veto the bill. Vaishali V, president of the Ambedkar-Phule Network of American Dalits and Bahujans, congratulated Newsom for seeing through the flaws in the bill and how it would adversely impact people from South Asia, including the marginalised communities. As California's Governor has rightly pointed out, California's law on civil rights already covers all instances of discrimination. We believe that this bill was brought with the sole intention of stereotyping Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Muslims and other communities from South Asia. While we welcome the veto, we know that nothing can bring back the life of our leader Milind Makwana who was the voice marginalised and at the forefront of the struggle against SB-403 Nothing can heal the loss and the trauma that this bill has caused to the families of the marginalised communities, Vaishali said. Expressing profound relief and gratitude following the governor's decision to veto bill SB403, Hindu Parents said this significant decision stands as a beacon against prejudice, discrimination, and misinformation about Hinduism and its followers in California. With this development, our children can look forward to a future where they are not subject to undue stereotyping and profiling based on perceptions. This ensures they can practise their faith peacefully, with pride, and without the looming shadows of colonial-era stereotypes and prejudice, Hindu Parents said. While we celebrate this victory, we recognise there's more work ahead. The portrayal of Hinduism and Hindu-Americans, especially in educational materials, remains a concern. It is our hope that the state of California will address these systemic biases and stereotypes in our textbooks. True reconciliation can be achieved when education reflects the rich diversity and historical contributions of Hinduism, said the organisation representing Hindu Parents. Standing against all forms of hatred, bullying, and discrimination is our collective responsibility, it said. Eminent Indian American Yogi Chug said Governor Newsoms veto of SB403 demonstrates the outcome of a protracted and long effort by the Indian-American community to advocate for the limitations of the original bill as authored. One must applaud the relentless effort of so many community members who diligently made the case for ensuring that no one is singled out or profiled as it iterated through various versions in the California legislature, he said. The key is to ensure that the Indian-American community continues to remain engaged and recognise that they have the potential to be a responsible and meaningful voice in the American political process. Equally important is to focus on this ongoing political journey with the utmost humility and purpose, Chug said. Equality Lab, which had relentlessly worked for the bill and its passage, said though Governor Newsom has rejected the legislation for now, the caste equity movement still views this as a win. SB403 is the first anti-caste discrimination bill to have made it all the way through the California legislature, it said. We are very proud of the power and resilience that caste-oppressed people across the state have shown in their advocacy for SB403. While it is heartbreaking to receive the Governors veto, it is not a reflection of the incredible democratic power that our communities showed. We did the impossible, said Thenmozhi Soundararajan, Executive Director of Equality Labs. Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of SALDEF, said they are deeply disappointed by Governor Newsom's veto of SB 403, which would have banned caste discrimination in California. This veto is a missed opportunity to protect millions of Californians from a form of discrimination that is deeply rooted in our society. But we wont stop fighting for a more just and equal society and will continue fighting for California to be the first state to ban discrimination based on caste, Gill said. Rasheed Ahmed, Executive Director of Indian American Muslim Council, said the Indian-American Muslims are shocked, disheartened and deeply disappointed to see that Governor Newsom backed down from the chance to uphold the civil rights of all Californians and make history for caste-oppressed people throughout the state by vetoing SB-403. The Sikh Coalition is deeply disappointed to learn that Governor Newsom has chosen to veto SB403, said Harman Singh, Policy and Education Director, Sikh Coalition. Millions of American Hindus, and people from the Indian subcontinent can take a sigh of relief, that they wont be targeted for hate and prejudice under the garb of caste, said Hindu Action in a statement. Kudos to the California governor for vetoing the racist bill on caste. It turned an existing law against discrimination and used it to target Hindus specifically. What hypocrisy by those claiming to fight prejudice? Our pushback has finally produced results, said author Rajiv Malhotra. Amid the war in Israel between the Hamas militants and the Israeli forces, shocking videos are coming to light that show people being taken as hostages. In one such video that surfaced on the internet, a woman, Noa Argamani, was seen pleading for her life as Hamas militants manhandled her. Posting the video on X, a user wrote, Noa was partying in the south of Israel in a peace music festival when Hams terrorists kidnapped her and dragged her from Israel into Gaza. Noa is held hostage by Hamas. She could be your daughter, sister, friend. Noa Argamani being taken as hostage by the Hamas militants.(X/HenMazzig) READ | Hamas will 'bear the results' of its attack: Israel to UN Security Council In the video, Noa was seen screaming, "Don't kill me! No, no, no. Her boyfriend Avi Nathan who went missing was seen being manhandled by the group. Nathans brother Moshe Or reported him as missing, the New York Post reported. Argamani's college roommate Amir Moadi spoke of her and said that the former's family was in shock". Argamani is such a lovely, positive woman who loves to travel Moadi told The New York Post. Meanwhile, other videos showing Hamas militants parading the lifeless body of a German tattoo artist also went viral. In the video, the woman identified as German citizen Shani Louk was seen being displayed on a vehicle by the Hamas chanting the Arabic phrase Allahu Akbar, meaning "God is Great." READ | View: Hamas brutal attack on Israel will spur new cycle of violence and extremism We recognised her by the tattoos, and she has long dreadlocks, Louks cousin told the Washington Post. Fighting in southern Israel continued for the second consecutive day, with Israeli forces actively working to reclaim areas that had been infiltrated by militants from the Gaza Strip. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), they have successfully regained full control of 29 points that were initially breached. However, combat is ongoing in eight locations in the southern region. An Egyptian policeman opened fire on Israeli tourists in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, killing at least two Israelis and one Egyptian, according to Egypt's Interior Ministry. Sundays attack came as Israel was battling Palestinian militants after a major incursion from Gaza. (File) Extra News television channel, which has close ties to Egyptian security agencies, quoted an unidentified security official as saying that another person was wounded in the attack, which took place at the Pompeys Pillar site in Alexandria. It said the suspected assailant was detained. Security forces quickly cordoned off the site of the attack. An amateur video circulating on social media showed at least three ambulances apparently taking the victims to hospitals, while onlookers were seen watching behind a police barrier. Israels Zaka rescue service reported two people killed in Alexandria. Sundays attack came as Israel was battling Palestinian militants after a major incursion from Gaza. Egypt made peace with Israel decades ago and has long served as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But anti-Israeli sentiment runs high in the country, especially during bouts of violence. It would, perhaps, be difficult to find an image that could better represent the long history of Israeli-Palestinian tensions, the decades of brutal Israeli occupation, the recurrent Hamas bombings and rocket strikes, and the political deterioration on both sides than the image doing rounds on social media of a bulldozer pulling down a portion of a fence that has long enclosed the Gaza Strip. Palestinians break into the Israeli side of Israel-Gaza border fence after gunmen infiltrated areas of southern Israel, on Saturday. (REUTERS) The Hamas, in a surprise attack on Saturday, fired thousands of rockets at Israel as its fighters entered Israeli territory by land, sea and even air. More than 1,000 people have died on the both sides in the war with 700 in Israel in its bloodiest conflict yet. Follow LIVE updates on Israel-Palestine conflict This is the first time since 1948 any Palestinian militant movement has taken territory in Israel proper. That symbolic victory (and defeat for Israel) will resonate across the region, professor Clive Jones, director of Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (IMEIS) at Durham University told HT. The Palestinian group, which has been designated as a terrorist organisation by several, mainly Western, countries, has been the de facto governing authority of the Gaza Strip since 2007. In response, Israel imposed a blockade over Gaza, which has devastated the economy and turned the enclave into what rights groups have long called an open-air prison. A crucial component of this is a sophisticated border fence. The first contours of the present day security fence began in 1994, after the signing of the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip when Israel constructed a 60km fence along its boundary with the eastern Palestinian enclave. The construction was completed in 1996 though it didnt necessarily represent a hard border. In 2005, under former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Israel carried out a disengagement from Gaza, which included, among other things, pulling out its troops. This meant that the one-kilometre buffer zone that the Israeli Defence Forces maintained after the first fence was torn down by Gazans in 2000 was no longer a possibility. A plan for an alternate fortified fence few dozen metres east of the original fence, entirely on Israeli land, was developed. The present day 65-kilometre barrier has several sections: a 6-metre (20ft) high smart over-the-ground fence, with a maritime section manned by sensors to detect incursions from the water, and an underground wall of classified depth and thickness, with sensors to detect any digging. (Hamas used tunnels to blindside Israeli troops in a 2014 war.) The overground barrier, which makes up 81% of the fence, is supported by a complex network of cameras, radar systems, as well as command and control rooms. 140,000 tonnes of iron and steel were used in the construction of the underground wall, which took three-and-a-half years to complete. The total cost of the project is estimated at $1.11 billion. The barrier, which is an innovative and technologically advanced project, deprives Hamas of one of the capabilities it tried to develop, former Israeli defence minister Benny Gantz said in 2021 after the construction was completed. [It] places an iron wall, sensors and concrete between the terror organisation and the residents of Israels south. Also read: This is our 9/11, Hamas went for babies, grandmothers: Israel Defense Forces But for the 2.3 million Gazans, who have been virtually trapped for 15 years, as well as Palestinians on the West Bank, who have been constantly surveilled, have their movement restricted, and have experienced growing military violence, this means something else. While the Israeli response will be fed by the failure of this system, making the future of all Palestinians even more precarious, the impact of Saturdays attack will create ripples for the time being. For Palestinians this is hugely significant, psychologically and symbolically. It shatters that idea of Israels military superiority, at least for now, added professor Jones. Ted Schwinden, a Wolf Point native who was known for his frankness and ability to connect with Democrats and Republicans alike as Montana's governor from 1981-89, has died. He was 98. Schwinden, a fiscally conservative Democrat who was famous for keeping his home number listed in the Helena phone book and responding to every letter written to him, first served in public office in the Montana House from 1959-63. In 1969, newly elected Democratic Gov. Forrest Anderson appointed him state land commissioner. Ted was one of the first public servants my folks ever introduced me to. He was a great Montanan, a great Governor, and a top-notch guy. Sharla and my thoughts are with his family. https://t.co/0iS78i4yNS Senator Jon Tester (@SenatorTester) October 9, 2023 Schwinden, who died in Phoenix, liked to describe his native state as the "Last of What is Best." His slogan when running for governor in 1980 was "Straight Talk, Good People." "Ted Schwinden had two attributes that stand out: He was both friendly and direct," said Bob Brown, former Republican secretary of state and Senate president. "There wasn't any missing his meaning. He was a kindly, friendly, easy man to communicate with but there was also a directness about him. He was the furthest thing from a BS'er and I respected him enormously. "I know people on both sides of the aisle felt that way about him." Former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (2005-2013) said he visited with Schwinden in Phoenix for advice ahead of his run for governor in 2004 because, in part, the state hadn't elected as Democrat in 16 years. "The best advice he gave me was be good with money," Schweitzer recalled. "A Dem that is good with money is unassailable, so that's where I always was. He said, 'You ran a ranch, you know you never paid more than you needed for something'. So I was always questioning spending. I attempted to run government in his legacy." Schweitzer added: "He talked to me like a dad, and I was very happy he did." Said fellow former Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock: "I first met Gov. Schwinden while in high school. He epitomized the best of public service down to earth, never acting like he was superior to his constituents, and doing his best to represent all Montanans, regardless of whether they agreed with him or his party." Jean Turnage, former Senate leader and Montana Supreme Court chief justice, once described Schwinden as "reasonable, knowledgeable and honorable." Schwinden was elected lieutenant governor in 1976 on the ticket with incumbent Democractic Gov. Tom Judge. It was the first time a governor and lieutenant governor ran as a team because of the 1972 Constitution. Schwinden became the 19th governor after the 1980 election after defeating Judge in the primary, with former Republican Missoula mayor George Turman as his running mate. He often traveled the state for "straight talk" on Montana issues and staged "Capitol for a Day" events in all 56 counties. Appreciated by members of both parties for his frankness and honesty, a Republican rancher once reportedly said, "I don't agree with Ted, but I trust the son of a bitch!" Per Schwinden's obituary released by his family Sunday, he was most proud of a story his son Dore told of his father speaking from the back of a pickup on a blustery northern Montana day, attending farmer marveled to a neighbor, "That Schwinden is a tough old bird!" Promising to serve only two terms as governor, Schwinden declined to run for a third time despite favorable polling in 1988. He and his wife, Jean, retired to their Helena home, where he taught college courses. Brown, who described Schwinden as "a prairie-populist Democrat", recalled that he was governor at a challenging time for Montana, remembering that "the state was broke." "We required a really good, shrewd manager to be governor at that time," Brown continued. "I think he was exactly what Montana needed at that time." Schweitzer said Schwinden told him his greatest challenges would revolve around the Fish, Wildlife & Parks and Corrections departments. Montanans, he said, want their streets to be safe and their wildlife protected. "He said, 'You have got to get those right every single day or they will bring you down' ", Schweitzer said. "So you've got to be a good listener. He was a pragmatic guy, very practical." Schwinden was born in 1925 on the family farm between Wolf Point and Poplar, on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. He was eventually adopted into the Red Bottom Clan of the Assiniboine Nation. Schwinden was educated in a one-room schoolhouse and eventually became valedictorian at Wolf Point High. He was state spelling bee champion in high school. After high school, Schwinden enlisted in the Army and became a veteran of both the European and Pacific theaters (1944-46). His cheek was once grazed by a German sniper's bullet. After leaving the Army, Schwinden graduated with a degree in history from what was then Montana State University in Missoula and was working on his Ph.D. thesis at the University of Minnesota when he had to return to run the family's farm in Roosevelt County after his father suffered a heart attack. He became president of the Montana Grain Growers in 1965 and was chosen Commissioner of State Lands in 1969. Schwinden served two terms in the House of Representatives but lost in his bid for a third. "In a government of the people, the people are always right," he said in defeat. Once asked by a reporter what he hoped to bring to the governor's office, Schwinden responded he hoped to be a "healing" governor who would restore public confidence in elected leaders. Once, Schwinden was invited by Miami Dolphins owner Joe Robbie to join him at a Super Bowl. He declined, citing a commitment he'd made to speak to a rural high school class in Montana. "Ted was smart, funny, incredibly patient a guy who knew his way around Montana and was as common as a well-worn cowboy hat," said former congressman Pat Williams said, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1979-97. By then living in Phoenix with his daughter Chrys, Schwinden wrote an op-ed for Lee Newspapers of Montana in June 2022 celebrating the 50th anniversary of the state's 1972 Constitution. "Hopefully the eyes of all Montanans can be opened even more to this wonderful document crafted over 54 days, fifty years ago in 1972," he wrote. "Enjoy and learn from these proceedings. Enjoy the celebration. And enjoy your future days in Montana under the strong, people-oriented provisions of Montanas 1972 Constitution. It serves us all well." Schwinden is survived by three children (Mike, Chrys and Dore), six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Jean, his wife of 62 years, died after a battle with cancer in 2007. This story will be updated. The deadliest fighting in 50 years continued in southern Israel for a second day as Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) sought to regain control of areas infiltrated on Saturday by Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip. While the IDF said it now has full control over 29 points that were breached, there is still fighting in eight southern locations on Sunday. Israeli police check the occupants of a vehicle near Ashkelon, Israel, on Sunday.(Bloomberg) There was limited mortar fire on Sunday from southern Lebanon into areas controlled by Israel, which responded with artillery fire. Israel has hit 426 targets in Gaza so far and civilians in Israeli areas near the border are being evacuated on a scale not seen in almost a decade, the IDF said. Israel is at war, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday after the surprise attack, which killed at least 300 Israelis and at least 400 Palestinians. The operation Hamas which included taking scores of Israeli hostages was an unprecedented incursion into Israel and a likely consequential failure of the nations intelligence operations. Those images and the mounting death toll come 50 years and a day after invading forces from Egypt and Syria caught Israel by surprise with the launch of an attack on Israel that set off the 19-day conflict that became known as the Yom Kippur War. Meanwhile, Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said it fired missiles and artillery fire against three Israeli positions in Shebaa Farms, Mayadeen TV reported, citing a statement from the group. Shebaa Farms is the land claimed by both Lebanon and Syria that Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war. Here are glossary of terms related to Israel-Palestine conflict: Hamas: Hamas, or the Islamic Resistance Movement, was founded in 1987 during the first Palestinian Intifada, or uprising. It is backed by Shia Iran and shares the Islamist ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood, which was established in Egypt in the 1920s. It has run the Gaza Strip since 2007, after a brief civil war with forces loyal to the Fatah movement led by President Mahmoud Abbas, who is based in the West Bank and also heads the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The Hamas takeover of Gaza followed its win in Palestinian parliamentary elections in 2006 the last time they were held. Hamas accused Abbas of conspiring against it. Abbas described what happened as a coup. Since then, there have been numerous rounds of conflict with Israel, often involving Hamas rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel and Israeli airstrikes and bombardment of Gaza. Hamas refuses to recognise the state of Israel and violently opposed the Oslo peace accords negotiated by Israel and the PLO in the mid-1990s. It is designated as a terrorist organisation by Israel, the US, European Union, Canada, Egypt and Japan. Hamas is part of a regional alliance comprising Iran, Syria and the Shia Islamist group Hezbollah in Lebanon, which all broadly oppose US policy in the Middle East and Israel. Hezbollah: Backed by Iran, the Shia group has risen from a shadowy faction established during Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war to a heavily armed force with big sway over the Lebanese state. Governments, including the United States. deem it a terrorist organisation. Iran's Revolutionary Guards founded Hezbollah in 1982 to export its Islamic Revolution and fight Israeli forces that had invaded Lebanon. Sharing Tehran's Shia Islamist ideology, Hezbollah recruited among Lebanese Shia Muslims. Hezbollah kept its weapons at the end of the civil war to fight Israeli forces occupying the predominantly Shia south. Years of guerrilla warfare led Israel to withdraw in 2000. Hezbollah demonstrated its military advances in 2006 during a five-week war with Israel, which erupted after it crossed into Israel, kidnapping two soldiers and killing others. The war killed 1,200 people in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 158 Israelis, mostly soldiers. Hezbollah fired thousands of rockets into Israel. Its military power grew after deploying into Syria in 2012 to help President Bashar al-Assad fight mostly Sunni rebels. Hezbollah has deep ties to other Iran-backed groups around the region, including the Palestinian factions Hamas and Islamic Jihad. As Saturday's attack unfolded, Hezbollah said it was in "direct contact with the leadership of the Palestinian resistance". Gaza Strip: It is a 41-km-long and 10-km-wide territory between Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. More than 2.3 million people reside here. Gaza city has been continuously inhabited for more than 3,000 years and was a crossroads of ancient civilizations. It is believed to be the burial place of the Prophet Muhammads great-grandfather. Four centuries of rule by the Ottoman Empire were briefly interrupted by Napoleonic France and also saw growing Egyptian influence until Britain took control of Gaza and the rest of Palestine in World War One. Egypt took control of the Strip during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. The Strips population tripled in 1948-49 when it absorbed about a quarter of the hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees displaced from areas that are now part of Israel. Israel captured the Gaza Strip from Egypt in the 1967 war. Israel conducted large-scale ground operations in June 2006 after militants tunnelled across the Gaza border and captured an Israeli soldier. A year later, Hamas Islamists took control of the Gaza Strip after routing President Mahmoud Abbass Fatah forces. Israel Defense Forces or IDF: Founded in 1948, the IDF ranks among the most battle-tested armed forces in the world, having had to defend the country in six major wars. Its main tasks include reinforcing the peace arrangements; ensuring overall security in the West Bank in coordination with the Palestinian authority; spearheading the war against terrorism, both inside Israel and across its borders; and maintaining a deterrent capability to prevent the outbreak of hostilities. Men and women soldiers of all ranks serve side by side as technicians, communications and intelligence specialists, combat instructors, cartographers, administrative and ordnance personnel, computer operators, doctors, lawyers, and the like. More and more women are now serving in combat units as well. Yom Kippur War: The 1973 ArabIsraeli War was an armed conflict fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria. The war broke out in the Middle East as Egyptian soldiers infiltrated the Sinai Peninsula and Syria entered the Golan Heights. The forces hoped to reclaim lost territory after Israel's triumph in the six-day war of 1967 and convince Israel's leaders that a lasting peace deal was necessary, according to the History Channel. Not expecting the attack and with many soldiers away from their posts, Israel was initially overwhelmed before it was able to launch a counteroffensive and repel the attacking forces. It ended in an Israeli victory and recapture of the Golan Heights. The Yom Kippur War drew the US and the Soviet Union nearer to potential nuclear conflict, as each aided its allies after failed attempts at proposing ceasefires. The Soviet Union then began sending weapons to resupply Syria and Egypt, and days later, the US did the same for Israel, according to the State Department. The war continued nearly three weeks, from October 6 through October 25, 1973. Most fighting had ended by October 26. Despite gaining more territory, Israel was criticised for a lack of preparation before the attack, and also suffered many casualties. Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. (With inputs from agencies) 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 Hamass unprecedented attack on Israel, which has been welcomed and celebrated by Iran, appears to be aimed to complicate the historic process of normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia that is underway in the region and has the potential to dramatically alter global geopolitics. HT Image But initial responses to the terror attacks from Israels Arab neighbours indicate that while they will stick to the stated line of support for Palestinians, they dont wish to let Saturdays developments completely derail the prospects for normalcy on the table. Whether Riyadh can stay the course, and whether Tel Aviv can find it within its national psyche to accommodate Palestinian aspirations to enable normalisation with its other neighbours, even as it mounts a war in Palestinian territory, will be critical variables to watch in the weeks and months ahead. This is not to suggest that the historical roots of the conflict, Israels brutality in Gaza, the far-right turn in Tel Aviv and its adverse implications for Israels own security preparedness, Hamass search for relevance and power and its terror machine, the disputes around the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the anxieties among Palestinians, and the lack of movement towards a viable two-state solution arent the underlying factors at play. But Hamass unacceptable terror attacks against Israel must be located within this particular juncture in West Asian politics. The context of peacemaking Over the past five years, the region has changed. The Americans have actively engineered, facilitated, and supported the Abraham Accords which saw Israel arrive at a diplomatic modus vivendi with a group of its neighbours, most significantly the UAE. The US is attempting to lower the temperature in the region by bringing together its allies in the Sunni world and the worlds only Jewish state on the same page, who are increasingly united by their shared anxieties about Iran, the self declared leader of the Shia world. A Saudi-Israel deal, which would have been the most significant symbolic acceptance from the Muslim world of Israels right to exist, would have also required Israel to be more accommodative of Palestinian aspirations. This wasnt done yet, for the Benjamin Netanyahus government is hostage to far right extremists who have weakened democracy and have not been in any mood to step back from their belligerence in West Bank. Irrespective of what Israel would have finally decided on the Palestinian issue, and whether it would have been enough for Saudi crown prince and PM Mohammed bin Salman to move ahead, the fact that these discussions were happening under American auspices and had assumed such a serious degree of intensity clearly left many in the the region unhappy. The attack and fallout The scale and complexity of Hamass attacks, most analysts in Washington are convinced, could not have happened without Irans support. There has been a spike in attacks against Israel from Lebanon. And Hamas, unlike other relatively moderate but weaker and more dysfunctional Palestinian factions, is clearly invested in ensuring that Saudis dont do a deal with Israel. An attack on Israel of this nature is based on a simple calculation. Any state, let alone a state that combines a deep sense of insecurity with extraordinary belligerence and is led by a regime that prides itself on strong national security credentials, is bound to react with ferocity to such terror. The fact that this is among the biggest failures of the Israeli intelligence apparatus in its history is sure to rankle and Israel will need to figure out whether, and to what extent, its divisive and all-consuming politics has led to a situation where its security alertness has slipped. But the failure will also have the consequence of leading to greater fury and a more intense response. The US, which has seen a rare but remarkably open conversation about the worrying trends in Israels democracy this year, will rally behind its ally even if it encourages the formation of an national unity government in Israel. Offering political, diplomatic, security, and moral support to Tel Aviv will take priority over all other considerations. As Israel retaliates, and its military response on Saturday is just a precursor to a prolonged onslaught against Gaza, those hostile to normalisation will hope it will make it more difficult for Tel Avivs friends-in-the-making such as Riyadh to be able to continue to be seen pursuing the line of normalisation. But Riyadhs response shows that it will continue to walk a fine line between its support for Palestine with its hopes for normalcy with Israel. The Saudis have said they are closely following the situation between various Palestinian factions and Israels occupation forces; called for an immediate halt to the escalation, restraint, and protection of civilians; recalled their warnings of dangers of explosion as a result of continued occupation and deprivation of rights for the Palestinian people; and reiterated the call for a two state solution. All of this is rhetorically targeted at Israel, but the statement leaves enough room for the normalisation process to continue, even if with a delay. The Indian stakes All of this has implications for India. As external affairs minister S Jaishankar explained in Washington last week, Delhi and West Asias economies are now enmeshed in multiple ways across the energy, migration, food, trade dimensions. I2U2, the grouping that includes India, Israel, UAE and US, is an unprecedented attempt to deepen diplomatic and economic linkages between four countries which have never shared the same platform, even if they have had bilateral ties with each other. And IMEC, the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor unveiled on the sidelines of the G20, is both dependent on and meant to contribute to the process of the Saudi-Israel normalisation. PM Narendra Modi has unequivocally backed Israel against the terror attacks. But Delhi will also be invested in ensuring that the region finds relative stability, where the zero sum security approach that has governed it for decades slowly continues to gives way to the dream of connectivity and prosperity between erstwhile rivals. Saturday shows that the road to future normalcy will, however, be littered with terror and violence. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Prashant Jha Prashant Jha is the Washington DC-based US correspondent of Hindustan Times. He is also the editor of HT Premium. Jha has earlier served as editor-views and national political editor/bureau chief of the paper. He is the author of How the BJP Wins: Inside India's Greatest Election Machine and Battles of the New Republic: A Contemporary History of Nepal. ...view detail Scores of flights in Hong Kong were cancelled Sunday as Tropical Storm Koinu neared the southern Chinese city after leaving one dead and over 300 injured in Taiwan. Tropical Storm Koinu: Travelers look at a flights information display which shows some of the flights have been canceled due to the super typhoon Koinu.(AP) Koinu was expected to skirt about 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Hong Kong on Sunday night, dumping heavy showers, the Hong Kong Observatory said. The storm is forecast to move across the coastal waters of neighbouring Guangdong province on Sunday and Monday. Koinu was packing maximum winds of 90 kph (55 mph) and gusts of up to 122 kph (76 mph), according to the observatory. Hong Kong on Sunday raised its No. 8 storm signal, effectively shutting the city down with shops and schools closing and reducing frequencies of public transport. Scores of flights to and from Hong Kong were cancelled and the main Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge closed temporarily, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Koinu had earlier battered Taiwan with heavy winds and strong rain but later the typhoon had weakened into a tropical storm on its way to southern China. It comes a month after southern China and Hong Kong were lashed by Typhoon Saola, which triggered Hong Kong's highest storm signal on a scale of 11. A week later, Guangdong province and Hong Kong were hit with the heaviest torrential rains in almost 140 years. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An Egyptian policeman shot dead two Israeli tourists and their Egyptian guide Sunday, local media and Israeli authorities said, as war raged for a second day between Israel and Palestinian militants. Egyptian police cordon off the site where a a policeman killed two Israeli tourists and one Egyptian in Alexandria on October 8, 2023.(AFP) Israel's National Security Council later said its citizens should consider not travelling abroad particularly in the Middle East "on the backdrop of the attack in Egypt." It said visitors already in Egypt should leave "as soon as possible." The policeman fired "at random" at an Israeli tour group visiting Alexandria using "his personal weapon", the state-affiliated private television Extra News said, quoting a security source. A fourth person was wounded and the policeman was "immediately arrested", it added. The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the deaths in a statement. "This morning during a visit of Israeli tourists in Alexandria, Egypt, a local opened fire at them, murdering two Israeli citizens and their Egyptian guide," it said. "In addition, there is a wounded Israeli in moderate condition." Israel's National Security Council added "there is a fear of a rise in motivation of terror groups and lone assailants" who could carry out attacks on Israelis abroad. Cairo had not immediately commented on the attack against the tourists. The deaths came as fighting raged after Palestinian militants on Saturday launched a multi-pronged attack on Israel, which has declared war on the Hamas movement and launched air strikes on Gaza. Egypt was the first Arab country to forge a peace deal with Israel in 1979, and has long served as an intermediary between Israel and the Palestinians. Israeli tourists regularly visit Egypt but, despite the diplomatic relations, Israel remains largely unpopular among Egyptians. In June, three Israeli soldiers were killed in a firefight at the border with Egypt by a member of the Egyptian security forces who crossed the boundary "in pursuit of drug traffickers", according to the Egyptian army. On Saturday, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warned of a "vicious cycle of tensions threatening regional stability and security". SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Palestine's Hamas militants stormed from the blockaded Gaza Strip into nearby Israeli towns, killing dozens and abducting others in an unprecedented surprise attack during a major Jewish holiday on Saturday. A stunned Israel launched airstrikes in Gaza, with its prime minister saying the country is now at war with Hamas and vowing to inflict an unprecedented price. A ball of fire and smoke rises from an explosion on a Palestine apartment tower following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City on Saturday. (AP) How Hamas attacks on Israel unfolded on Saturday : Around 6.30 am (10 am IST), Palestinian militant group Hamas fired a huge barrage of rockets across southern Israel, with sirens heard as far away as Tel Aviv and Beersheba. Hamas claimed that it had fired 5,000 rockets in a first barrage. Israel's military said 2,500 rockets were fired. Smoke billowed over residential Israeli areas and people sheltered behind buildings as sirens sounded. At least one woman was reported killed by the rockets. We announce the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and we announce that the first strike, which targeted enemy positions, airports, and military fortifications, exceeded 5,000 missiles and shells, Mohammed Deif, head of the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said. At 7.40 am (11:10 am IST), Israeli military said that Palestinian gunmen had crossed into Israel. The barrage served as cover for an unprecedented multi-pronged infiltration of fighters. Most fighters crossed through breaches in land security barriers separating Gaza and Israel. But at least one was filmed crossing on a powered parachute while a motorboat was filmed heading to Zikim, an Israeli coastal town and military base. Videos issued by Hamas showed fighters breaching the security fences, with the dim light and low sun suggesting it was at around the time of the rocket barrage, news agency Reuters reported. A photograph released by Hamas showed a bulldozer tearing down a section of security fence. At 9:45am (12:15 pm IST), blasts were heard in Gaza and at 10am (12:30 pm IST) Israels military spokesperson said the air force was carrying out attacks in Gaza. Israel's military said at 10 am that Palestinian fighters had penetrated at least three military installations around the frontier - the Erez border crossing, the Zikim base and the Gaza division headquarters at Reim. It said fighting at Erez and Zikim continued. Fighters raided the Israeli border town of Sderot and were reported to be in another border community, Be'eri, and the town of Ofakim 30km east of Gaza, according to Israeli media citing phone calls from residents. Israel's military ordered residents to shelter inside, saying on the radio we will reach you. By mid-morning, Israel's police chief Yaacov Shabtai said forces were engaging gunmen in 21 locations and at 1.30pm (4pm IST), the military said troops were still working to clear communities that had been overrun by gunmen. Israeli news media reported at least 100 Israelis killed and 800 wounded. Hamas videos and unverified images circulating on social media showed dead civilians, Israeli soldiers and Palestinian fighters. Israel's foreign ministry said Hamas gunmen had gone house-to-house killing civilians. Israeli media has reported that gunmen have seized hostages in Ofakim. Islamic Jihad said it was holding several Israeli soldiers captive and Hamas social media accounts showed footage of appearing to show captives being taken alive into Gaza. Deadliest day of violence in Israel in 50 years Hamas killed at least 300 Israelis and escaped with dozens of hostages in by far the deadliest day of violence in Israel since the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago. More than 230 Gazans were also killed when Israel responded with one of its most devastating days of retaliatory strikes. Fighting continued into the night. "We will take mighty vengeance for this wicked day," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. "Hamas launched a cruel and wicked war. We will win this war but the price is too heavy to bear," he said. "Hamas wants to murder us all. This is an enemy that murders mothers and children in their homes, in their beds. An enemy that abducts elderly, children, teenage girls." Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said the assault that had begun in Gaza, a narrow strip that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, would spread to the West Bank and Jerusalem. Gazans have lived under an Israeli blockade for 16 years. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Germany and France on Saturday moved to reinforce security around Jewish temples, schools and monuments after the surprise attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas against Israel. The Brandenburg Gate is illuminated in the colors of the Israeli flag as a show of solidarity in Berlin on October 7.(AP) Germany tightened police protection of Jewish and Israeli institutions, as some supporters of the Palestinians took to the streets of Berlin to celebrate the attack. Follow Israel-Hamas war LIVE updates. France focused on Jewish temples and schools in cities across the country, as one Jewish leader expressed concern at the possibility the conflict might be imported there. "In Berlin, police protection has been immediately stepped up," Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told Bild newspaper. "The federal government and the regions are closely coordinating their actions." Germany's authorities were also closely watching "potential supporters of Hamas in the Islamist sphere", she added. Supporters of the Palestinians and police forces clash in Berlin on October 7.(AP) Berlin police posted photos on social media showing "people celebrating the attacks on Israel by passing out pastries" on Sonnenallee, the main avenue in the city's Neukoelln district. Police had in some cases carried out identity checks and filed complaints, they added. The German account of the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network posted photos of the distribution of pastries on the streets of Berlin and a message celebrating "the resistance of the Palestinian people". Martin Hikel, mayor of the Neukoelln district, denounced "a horrible glorification of a terrible war", in comments to Welt television. He called on the government to ban "the disgusting terrorist propaganda of Samidoun". Later Saturday, Berlin's famous Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of reunified Germany, was lit up in the colours of the Israeli flag. "In solidarity with Israel," wrote Chancellor Olaf Scholz on X, formerly Twitter. Israel's ambassador replied on the same platform, thanking him for "this beautiful symbol". 'Shocked and worried' In France, security had already been stepped up at synagogues in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Strasbourg because of religious holidays observed since late September. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin sent an urgent message to regional officials asking them to reinforce surveillance even further. The Brandenburg Gate is illuminated in the colours of the Israeli flag as a show of solidarity in Berlin on October 7.(AP) "At a time when terrorist attacks from Gaza are hitting Israel, I ask you to immediately step up vigilance, security and protection of Jewish community sites in France," he wrote in a message seen by AFP. He called for a "visible and systematic static presence", and the use of soldiers from France's Operation Sentinelle, a special force deployed across the country since the 2015 terror attacks. The Interior Ministry will review the security situation at a special meeting Sunday. In the east of France, increased surveillance of Jewish schools and synagogues in the city of Strasbourg was being organised, said Pierre Haas, of the Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF). "We were very shocked and worried by this outburst of violence," he told AFP. Knowing the Israeli army would hit back, he said, "We're not reassured by the possibility of the conflict being imported to France". Police sources confirmed that security had also been stepped up in the southern port city of Marseille, the north of France and in the Paris region. London's police service said late Saturday it had increased patrols across parts of the UK capital after "a number of incidents ... in relation to the ongoing conflict in Israel and the border with Gaza". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country was at war after the large-scale, surprise attack launched by Hamas out of Gaza on Saturday. Hundreds have already been killed on both sides according to figures from Israeli medical services and the Gaza authorities, the conflict's bloodiest escalation in years. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON China said the latest escalation of violence after Hamas attacked Israel showed a long-term stagnation of the peace process is unsustainable, as it reiterated support for an independent Palestinian state. Israeli soldiers walk near the police station that was overrun by Hamas militants on October 8.(AP) All parties should act with restraint and cease fire immediately to prevent further deterioration, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement Sunday. A fundamental way to stem the recurrence of conflict between Palestine and Israel is a two-state solution, according to the statement. Follow Live updates Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his country is at war after Gaza Strip militants fired over 3,000 missiles and infiltrated its southern parts early Saturday. Hundreds have been killed on both sides. Peace talks around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have been stalled since 2014. The international community should increase its sense of urgency, increase investment in the Palestinian issue, promote the early resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel, and seek a path to lasting peace, the Chinese foreign ministry said. China will continue to work with the international community to make unremitting efforts to this end. China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has been increasingly vocal on Israeli-Palestinian issues as it tries to raise its presence in the Middle East. In June, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas visited China and met President Xi Jinping, who proposed an international peace conference on the conflict. The two-state solution The two-state solution was proposed by the Peel Commission, which was formed by Britishers in 1937. The United Nations proposed the solution of Israel and Palestine becoming two separate independent states and coexisting in harmony in 1947. However, over the years, it was never materialised. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Palestine-based Hamas militants launched a barrage of rockets on Israel on Saturday infiltrating the towns near the Gaza Strip through land, air and sea. As per reports, Palestinian fighters entered Israeli towns on boats, pick-up trucks and hand gliders. Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from Ashkelon in southern Israel. (Reuters) In a recorded message, Hamas commander Mohammad Deif claimed the outfit launched 5,000 rockets into Israel. Announcing the operation, Deif said, We announce the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and we announce that the first strike, which targeted enemy positions, airports, and military fortifications, exceeded 5,000 missiles and shells. Along with this, Palestinian fighters laid attacks on the ground as they spread across Israeli towns killing civilians and taking in Israeli people and forces hostage. Israeli Army spokesman Richard Hecht said on Saturday, It was a combined ground raid which happened through paragliders, through the sea and through the ground. Right now we're fighting. We're fighting in certain locations around the Gaza Strip... our forces are now fighting on the ground. A significant number of rockets targeted towards Israel were intercepted through the Israeli military's anti-rocket defence system Iron Dome. However, several found their mark in raiding Israeli towns. What is Israel's Iron Dome system? Israel's Iron Dome system is a short-range air defence system which is known to have a 96 per cent success rate in intercepting rockets, news agency Reuters reported. reported. As reported by Associated Press , the Iron Dome system intercepted 90 per cent of the rockets fired by Hamas in the recent attack. , the Iron Dome system intercepted 90 per cent of the rockets fired by Hamas in the recent attack. The system was developed by state-owned Rafael Advanced Defence Systems with the backing of the United States in order to counter rockets fired by the terror group Hezbollah from Lebanon during the 2006 war and by Palestine's Hamas. The air-defence system became operational in 2011. Considered one of the most advanced defence systems in the world, the Iron Dome uses a radar in order to identify and destroy air-based threats before they can cause any damage. Israels wider air defence shield also includes Davids Sling and Arrow to identify and eliminate medium- and long-range threats like drones and planes. Another air-defence system by the Israeli military is Arrow-3, which was designed to intercept and counter ballistic missiles outside the atmosphere of the earth. Due to the high success rate over the past decade and the backing from the US, Iron Dome has received international attention. Rafael in 2020 said that it delivered two Iron Dome batteries to the US. However, All Israel News reported that in May this year, Iron Dome did not perform well against a barrage of rockets from Gaza. Out of the 104 rockets launched, the system only countered 24 of them, leading the interception rate to come down to 60 per cent. The Israeli Defense Force later said that there was a technical glitch. reported that in May this year, Iron Dome did not perform well against a barrage of rockets from Gaza. Out of the 104 rockets launched, the system only countered 24 of them, leading the interception rate to come down to 60 per cent. The Israeli Defense Force later said that there was a technical glitch. In 2017, Israel also developed a naval version of the Iron Dome system in order to protect ships and other sea-based assets. How does it work? Iron Dome consists of truck-towed units, each of which fires radar-guided missiles to counter short-range threats including rockets, mortars and drones while they are mid-air. The all-weather system does not shoot down all the rockets on Israel's radar. It uses an Artificial Intelligence based mechanism to first determine whether an incoming rocket is an interpreted threat and will hit a populated area, if not the Iron Dome ignores the rocket and lets it enter Israel's air space, Reuters reported. Iron Dome originally had a range between 4 and 70 km, in order to provide city-sized coverage, however, it has been said to have expanded. The cost to launch an Iron Dome interceptor ranges between $50,000 and $100,000. As reported by BBC, militant groups try to overwhelm the system by testing its limitations. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sanskriti Falor Sanskriti Falor is a Senior Content Producer at the News Desk of HT Digital. Having worked in Digital Media for the past two years, she is interested in covering civic issues and global affairs. ...view detail Amid the rising tensions between Israel and Palestine-based Hamas militants, Saudi Arabia appealed for an immediate halt of war, calling upon the international community to activate a credible peace process leading to a two-state solution. A man walks along a debris-strewn street in Tel Aviv, after it was hit by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip. (AFP) Hundreds of Hamas militants broke from blockaded Gaza Strip and entered Israeli towns on Saturday killing around 300 people and injuring over 1,500 others in an unprecedented surprise attack. In retaliation, Israeli forces launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip along with flattening buildings hosting Hamas offices and fighters. The strikes continued for over 24 hours. The Kingdom renews the call of the international community to assume its responsibilities and activate a credible peace process that leads to the two-state solution to achieve security and peace in the region and protect civilians, Saudi Arabia said in a statement. Saudi Arabia said it was closely following the developments of the unprecedented situation between a number of Palestinian factions and the Israeli occupation forces. Calling for an immediate halt to the escalation between the two sides, Saudi Arabia urged for the protection of civilians and maintaining restraint. It also recalled its repeated warnings regarding the decades-old crisis of the danger of the explosion of the situation between Israel and Palestine. Saudi Arabia said, The Kingdom recalls its repeated warnings of the dangers of the explosion of the situation as a result of the continued occupation, the deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights, and the repetition of systematic provocations against its sanctities. India, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Turkey and Ukraine are among the countries who have extended their support to Israel. Iran has supported Palestine's attack on Israeli towns calling the Al-Aqsa Storm operation a proud move. The two-state solution The two-state solution was proposed by the Peel Commission, which was formed by Britishers in 1937. The United Nations proposed the solution of Israel and Palestine becoming two separate independent states and coexisting in harmony in 1947. However, over the years, it was never materialised. In September this year, United States President Joe Biden spoke in favour of the two-state solution as he said at the United Nations General Assembly, It demonstrates how Israels greater normalization and economic connections with its neighbors is delivering positive and practical impacts even as we continue to work tirelessly to support a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, two states for two people. Pew Research Centre in a September report noted that the prospects for a two-state nation are fading. The research said, Only 35% of Israelis think a way can be found for Israel and an independent Palestinian state to coexist peacefully, according to the survey, which was conducted in March and April, prior to the latest violence in the West Bank. That represents a decline of 9 percentage points since 2017 and 15 points since 2013. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Israel-Hamas War Updates: The Israeli Air Force on Sunday said its fighter jets struck a compound belonging to the head of the intelligence department of Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip. The complex was among the ten targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization.(X) The air force claimed that the location was among the 10 targets belonging to Hamas from where terror activities were carried out against Israeli civilians. Follow LIVE updates Among them, the intelligence headquarters belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization and a military compound used by the Hamas terrorist organizations aerial forces were struck, the Israeli Air Force wrote on X. It also added that it struck two banks belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization the Islamic National Bank and the First Bank from where terror activities were allegedly financed. The IAF (also) struck an aerial weapons production site used by the aerial forces belonging to the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization in the city of Gaza, and a building including offices and storage units where the terrorist organization stores weapons and military equipment, the air force added. Israel is carrying out retaliatory airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, a day after Palestine's Hamas militants attacked its civilians in an unprecedented surprise attack. Palestinians search through the rubble of a house destroyed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 8.(Reuters) The militants stormed from the blockaded Gaza Strip into nearby Israeli towns, killing dozens and abducting others during a major Jewish holiday on Saturday. While over 200 people were killed in the attack by Hamas militants on Israeli towns, the wave of air strikes on Gaza by Tel Aviv has killed more than 230 people. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to reduce the group's Gaza hideouts to rubble. "I'm telling the people of Gaza: get out of there now, because we're about to act everywhere with all our force," a stunned Netanyahu had said in an address to the nation. We'll strike them to the bitter end and avenge with force this black day they brought on Israel and its people. Israel has also reportedly stopped supplying electricity, fuel and goods to Gaza. 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 Heavy casualties reported in Gaza, Israel after Hamas surprise attack prompts retaliation Xinhua) 20:45, October 08, 2023 GAZA/JERUSALEM, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. According to statistics issued by the Gaza-based Health Ministry, at least 313 Palestinians were killed and 1,990 wounded by the Israeli strikes in Gaza. A barrage of rockets fired from Gaza into Israel are seen in the sky of the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack that also featured infiltrating ground assaults onto southern Israel, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held an emergency meeting attended by senior officials, who emphasized the right of the Palestinian people to defend themselves against Israeli forces and settlers. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in a national address that Israel was "in a state of war" and ordered a full mobilization of reservists. This photo taken on Oct. 7, 2023 shows a building hit by a rocket in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Gideon Markowicz/JINI via Xinhua) DEADLY CONFLICT Backed by the rockets, dozens of Hamas militants entered Israeli towns on Saturday near the Gaza Strip, killing and kidnapping Israelis in a surprise morning attack. The Hamas rockets hit as far as Jerusalem, where air-raid sirens sounded. A spokesman from the Israel Defense Forces, Daniel Hagari, confirmed that some Israeli civilians and soldiers had been taken as hostages by Hamas. Hamas military commander Mohammad Deif said the attack was in response to Israel's blockade of Gaza, its frequent raids on the West Bank over the past year, its storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound -- a site holy to both Muslims and Jews -- Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians and the expansion of Israeli settlements. He called on other Palestinians to join the fight. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, another armed Palestinian group, declared that its militants had joined Hamas in the attack. Videos and photos released on social media showed masked Palestinian militants roaming in jeeps on the streets of the southern Israeli city of Sderot, where an exchange of fire occurred. Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) A spokesman from the Israeli army said on Saturday that several Palestinian militants entered towns in southern Israel and clashed with the Israeli soldiers. Israeli media reported that Palestinian militants had controlled at least three Jewish settlements near the Gaza Strip. Israeli authorities asked residents in southern Israel not to leave their homes. In response to the attack, the Israeli military carried out dozens of airstrikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, destroying buildings, including a residential tower with about 100 apartments. As the main electricity supplier to the Palestinian enclave, Israel also cut off the power to the territory, plunging it into darkness after nightfall. Residents in Gaza City rushed to the streets to buy daily necessities. In the northeastern part of the Gaza Strip, hundreds of civilians fled their homes with blankets and food out of fear of a military escalation. People get down on the ground to avoid shrapnel damage in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Oct. 7, 2023. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua) UNLIKELY TO END SOON The attack marks the most severe conflict between Hamas and Israel since May 2021, during which the two sides fought for 11 days, resulting in the deaths of at least 256 people in Gaza and 13 in Israel. Analysts believe the current clash is unlikely to end anytime soon as Hamas appears to be well-prepared to wage a protracted conflict. Hours after the massive Hamas offensive, Netanyahu gave a televised address on Saturday night, vowing to "take revenge for this black day." He said the Israel Defense Forces would "immediately use all of its power to destroy Hamas' capabilities," warning of "challenging days still ahead of us." Egypt, a long-time broker of peace between Israel and Palestinian militant groups, discussed with France on Saturday solving the ongoing conflict. In a phone conversation with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi warned that further violence and escalation might drag the region into "a vicious circle of tension" and undermine regional stability and security. Palestinians check destroyed residential buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) NEGATIVE IMPACT ON ISRAELI-ARAB RECONCILIATION The attack came on Simchat Torah, a Jewish holiday that marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and almost coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, which began on Oct. 6, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria. The latest round of conflict followed frequent Israeli raids on the West Bank over the past year, often resulting in Palestinian casualties. Israel said these actions were necessary to apprehend Palestinian militants involved in attacks against Israelis. The military conflict also comes when Israel seeks to normalize its relations with Saudi Arabia. Brokered by the United States, Israel has been in touch with Saudi Arabia over a potential peace deal between the two countries. After meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden on Sept. 20 in New York, Netanyahu said the normalization of ties between his country and Saudi Arabia could be "within reach." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (5th R, front) attends a cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel, Oct. 7, 2023. (GPO/Handout via Xinhua) For Israel, normalizing relations with Arab countries has remained an important strategic goal for years as it seeks to improve the geopolitical environment. So far, six Arab countries have normalized relations with Israel, including Egypt and Jordan, which established diplomatic ties with Israel in the 1970s and 1990s, respectively, as well as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco, which agreed to normalize ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords in 2020. Hamas has repeatedly said that it condemned any progress in normalizing relations between Arab countries and Israel, saying that normalizing relations between Arab countries and Israel in all forms is unacceptable and is bound to harm the Palestinian cause. Ding Long, a professor from the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, said the protracted Palestinian-Israeli conflict will negatively impact the normalization of Israel and Saudi Arabia relations, adding that Saudi Arabia may suspend normalizing relations with Israel in the short term. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Kou Jie) Permitting reform is crucial to ensure the clean energy transition happens fast enough to get projects up and running and ward off the extreme weather, fire, and smoke events that affect all of us in Montana. We need to build transmission lines, improve early community involvement, and quickly build and deploy new clean energy projects. Big energy projects need written approval from local, state and, or federal agencies to begin construction. But it takes about 5 years on average for these agencies to complete environmental assessments and impact statements. Electrical, safety, construction, and building permits are also required. Streamlining the project permitting process while protecting the lives and health of people living near them as well as the birds, bats, wildlife, federally endangered or threatened species, aquatic species, and ecosystems is required. Unless we quickly build the necessary infrastructure, well only achieve about 20% of the potential carbon pollution reductions from existing climate policy. It takes 10 years on average to build new long distance transmission lines required for these projects. Most new infrastructure proposed in the U.S. is now for clean energy, so making permitting easier will benefit these projects. Building wind and solar farms with battery storage will bring economic and health benefits and jobs. Clean energy will help improve our air quality. Wildfire smoke is a particularly dangerous form of air pollution that damages human health. As the fourth leading risk factor for early death, its responsible for more than 6 million premature deaths each year from heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and respiratory diseases. Children are especially at risk from dirty air including wildfire smoke because they breathe more air relative to their size, are more active than adults, and are still growing and developing. Permitting reform will help keep the supply chain in the U.S. Right now, over 80% of supply chains for materials (such as critical minerals like copper, lithium, and cobalt) arent all controlled by the U.S. or are within the U.S. Keeping the supply chain at home means lower costs, more jobs, and lets us follow the highest environmental standards. Recently, at a hearing before the Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives, representatives from all seven of the U.S.s grid operators said power grids will need to adapt to rapid electrification. The Fiscal Responsibility Act, passed in May 2023, is an example of legislation that will help streamline clean energy permitting because it made the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) permitting process more efficient. But this is just the start. We need bipartisan action to pass a standalone legislative package. Fortunately, momentum is building across the aisle in Congress. The BIG WIRES Act (Building Integrated Grids with Interregional Energy Supply) was recently introduced in Congress. It will help ensure that the U.S. has a resilient grid that can provide abundant, affordable, and reliable clean electricity. It would require utilities to allow more power to flow between regions of the country, helping protect against major, long term outages due to extreme weather events. Additional transmission would lower energy costs for Americans overall areas producing cheap energy can sell it to regions where its more expensive, and regions can connect new, low-cost resources to the grid. We call on Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester and Representatives Matt Rosendale and Ryan Zinke to support the BIG WIRES Act. You can make a quick phone call to urge them to support BIG WIRES and enact legislation that will help boost transmission projects, improve early community involvement, and quickly build and deploy new clean energy projects. Go to cclusa.org/action and follow the prompts. Israel-Hamas conflict highlights: Death toll in Israel-Gaza war has crossed 700, local media reports said on Sunday. Rockets are fired toward Israel from the Gaza Strip(AP) Tel Aviv declared a state of war on Saturday after Hamas launched a deadly surprise operation against the country Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, consisting of a barrage of 3,000 rockets and an unprecedented infiltration into Israel's southern towns. The conflict escalated with gunfights and hostage situations as the Hamas' assault extended to around 22 locations up to 15 miles from the Gaza border. As of now, the operation is still going on in eight locations, the Israeli forces said Sunday. Highlights from Saturday's events on the Israel-Hamas war. The Israeli military said that it has also captured dozens of militants during its 'Operation Iron Swords against Hamas militants. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier vowed to reduce the group's Gaza hideouts to "rubble". The military in a late-night briefing said that the number of civilian and military personnel taken hostage by Hamas would shape the future of the war. The bitter enemies have fought four wars since the Islamic militant group that opposes Israel, seized control of Gaza in 2007. Israel has maintained a blockade over Gaza since that time. The woman, whose lifeless and undressed body surfaced in a disturbing video on social media on Saturday after Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip launched a massive assault on multiple Israel towns, has now been identified as German citizen Shani Louk. German citizen Shani Louk and her mother. In the video, verified by CNN, Louk is seen being displayed on a vehicle by armed militants in Gaza who are chanting "Allahu Akbar," an Arabic phrase meaning "God is Great." CNN reported that Louk was a German-Israeli dual national. While CNN claimed to have reached out to her family for comment (but has not yet received a response), her cousin confirmed to the Washington Post that Louk attended the music festival. Hamas captured 'hostages and prisoners of war' during the assault on Israel, the Israel Defense Forces said. HT could not confirm Louks whereabouts or condition at this time. We recognised her by the tattoos, and she has long dreadlocks, Louks cousin told the Washington Post. We have some kind of hope Hamas is responsible for her and the others. A German foreign ministry source told CNN: The Federal Foreign Office and the German embassy in Tel Aviv are in close contact with the Israeli authorities in order to clarify whether and to what extent German citizens are affected. Louk was reportedly a German citizen and a tattoo artist and had visited Israel to participate in a music festival for peace near the Gaza border fence. In a heartbreaking video, her mother is seen making an emotional appeal to the Hamas terrorists to at least return the body of her daughter. Fighting continued in southern Israel for a second day as Israeli forces sought to regain control of areas infiltrated by militants from the Gaza Strip. While the IDF said it now has full control over 29 points that were breached, there is still fighting in eight southern locations. There was limited mortar fire on Sunday from southern Lebanon into areas controlled by Israel, which responded with artillery fire. Israel has hit 426 targets in Gaza so far and civilians in Israeli areas near the border are being evacuated on a scale not seen in almost a decade, the IDF said. Israel is at war, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday after the surprise attack, which killed at least 200 Israelis and at least 230 Palestinians. The operation by the militant group Hamas which included taking scores of Israeli hostages was an unprecedented incursion into Israel and a likely consequential failure of the nations intelligence operations. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Israeli officials falsely concluded that Hamas may not provoke a full-scale war with Israel, it was reported amid questions over Tel Aviv's major intelligence failures amid deadly assault. According to Haaretz, an Israeli Left-wing newspaper, an assessment by security services last week found that Hamas was eager to avoid a full-fledged war with Israel." Israel-Palestine Conflict: Smoke billows from a boat following Israeli strikes, at Port of Gaza.(Reuters) The assessment concluded that Hamas did not want to jeopardise past achievements that bettered the lives of the Gazan residents, Haaretz reported, referring to economic incentives offered by Israel to Gaza. This comes as the death toll from the Hamas attack rose above 600 in Israel following the militant group's multi-pronged attack that involved ground, sea and air incursions into southern Israel. Some Israeli outlets condemned the attack as Israels worst security failure in 50 years. Netanyahus recklessness has brought war upon Israel, stated the headline of a column by Haaretz journalist Yossi Verter. Even if all of the Gaza Strip is destroyed [and there is no need for this], he wrote, and even if the heads of Mohammed Deif, Khaled Meshal, Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh and their associates roll in the alleys, this will not make up for the biggest security failure since 1973. It will not sweeten the bitter taste of the debacle, and it wont ease the shock of the number of those killed and kidnapped," he added. Jonathan Panikoff, a former senior US official and analyst at the Atlantic Council think tank told the Telegraph, This was an intelligence failure; it could not be otherwise. It was a security failure, undermining what was thought to be an aggressive and successful layered approach toward Gaza by Israel. 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 Dozens of Israeli civilians have been taken hostage by Hamas as part of the groups surprise attack from Gaza. As families described the horror of losing contact with loved ones, an Israeli woman said that she was talking with her kids on the phone when they were kidnapped by Hamas militants. A man named Yoni Asher told CNN that after losing touch with his wife Doron and the couples two daughters, he later saw them on video being loaded into a cart. Israel-Palestine Conflict: Israeli soldiers take position at the southern Israeli town of Ofakim.(AP) He realised they had been taken to Gaza by tracking their phones, Later on when I saw the video there was no doubt. My wife and my two little daughters were on this cart. I know for sure they are taken," he said. Elad Strohmayer of the Israeli ministry of foreign affairs also brought attention to the case, writing on X (formerly Twitter), The family of Doron and her two daughters, Raz and Aviv, saw how they were kidnapped into Gaza by Hamas terrorists. Their family asked to share this so everyone will know the truth. There are many more Israelis who were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists. Israel is under a heinous terror attack. Another Israeli woman, Emma Segev, told The Jewish Chronicle. They told us that Hamas were outside their door and they could hear Arabic and gunshots, but now things have gone silent. I stopped breathing hours ago. Last thing we heard their house is on fire. Lt colonel Jonathan Conricus of the Israeli defense forces told CNN that Hamas is believed to have dozens of hostages in Gaza, but that the chaos of the war made finding an exact figure challenging. This is an extremely foggy situation, he said. 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 US President Joe Biden has ordered "additional support" for Israel after the attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas, the White House said Sunday, without giving further details. Israel-Palestine Conflict: US President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with his Cabinet in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington.(AP) "The President directed additional support for Israel in the face of this unprecedented terrorist assault by Hamas," the White House said in a statement. The announcement came after a senior administration official had said on Saturday that high-level discussions between US and Israeli officials on military aid were already underway. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed by national security officials on the situation in Israel early Sunday and will continue to receive updates, the White House said. White House officials will also remain in contact with Israelis and "counterparts throughout the region," the statement added. Biden gave a statement on Saturday pledging "rock solid and unwavering" support for Israel, Washington's key Middle East ally, after the surprise attacks by Hamas which killed more than 600 people on the Israeli side. Palestinian officials have reported at least 370 deaths in Israeli air strikes on Gaza. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US is considering Israeli requests for additional military aid after the sweeping attack by Hamas and signaled an announcement is likely on Sunday. Israel-Palestine Conflict: Secretary of State Antony Blinken listens to a question during a media briefing at the State Department.(AP) Blinken also said the US is looking into reports that US citizens were killed or taken hostage in the surprise attack, which has killed more than 600 Israelis and prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare his country at war with the Palestinian militant group. Blinken cited a memorandum of understanding signed under former President Barack Obama to provide Israel with $3.8 billion a year in US military assistance. We are looking at specific additional requests that the Israelis have made, he said on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday. I think youre likely to hear more about that later today. These are early days, Blinken said in an interview with CBSs Face the Nation. Israel has to, first and foremost, ensure the security of its people in Israel, and then its determined to take steps to try to make sure that this doesnt happen again. President Joe Biden said Saturday he made it clear to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US is ready to offer all appropriate means of support to Israels government and its people. Blinken said the US is working very actively to verify reports that several Americans are among the dead. At the same time, there are reports of Americans being taken hostage. There too, were working to get the facts and find out if those reports are accurate, he said on CBS. On ABCs This Week, Blinken put the number of Hamas militants who infiltrated Israel in the surprise attack at about 1,000. Whatever Israel does in Gaza, as always, we look to it to do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties, even though theres absolutely no comparison to Hamass deliberate targeting of civilians, Blinken said on CBS. (Updates with Biden comments on US citizens starting in second paragraph.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2023 Bloomberg L.P. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The US Navy is moving its warships and aircraft closer to Israel amid an unprecedented assault on the country from Hamas, a US military official told Fox News as US president Joe Biden affirmed Israel's right to defend itself. Saturday's surprise attack has so far killed at least 600 Israelis and wounded at least 2,000 more. Israel-Palestine Conflict: Smoke rises above buildings in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike.(AFP) Joe Biden ordered "additional support" for Israel, the White House said, without giving further details. "The President directed additional support for Israel in the face of this unprecedented terrorist assault by Hamas," the White House said in a statement following high-level discussions between US and Israeli officials on military aid. The White House said Joe Biden and US vice president Kamala Harris were briefed by national security officials on the situation in Israel and will continue to receive updates, the White House said. White House officials will also remain in contact with Israelis and "counterparts throughout the region," the statement added. This came after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Washington is considering Israeli requests for additional military aid. The US is looking into reports that the country's citizens were killed or taken hostage in the surprise attack, Antony Blinken said. We are looking at specific additional requests that the Israelis have made, he said , adding, I think youre likely to hear more about that later today. These are early days. Israel has to, first and foremost, ensure the security of its people in Israel, and then its determined to take steps to try to make sure that this doesnt happen again," he continued. 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 Israel-Gaza war updates: Scores of Hamas militants, backed by a barrage of rockets, broke out of the blockaded Gaza Strip and into nearby Israeli towns, killing more than 300 people and abducting others in an unprecedented surprise early morning attack during a major Jewish holiday Saturday. People react at the site where a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip landed in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday. (REUTERS) A stunned Israel hit back with airstrikes in Gaza, with its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to reduce the group's Gaza hideouts to rubble. Earlier on Saturday, in a televised address, Netanyahu told the stunned nation that we are at war, after Hamas had launched its multipronged attack at dawn, half a century after the outbreak of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. Israeli media, citing rescue service officials, said at least 300 people were killed and 1,500 wounded, making it the deadliest attack in Israel in decades. At least 232 people in the Gaza Strip have been killed and at least 1,700 wounded in Israeli strikes, the Palestinian health ministry said. Hamas fighters took an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive into Gaza, a deeply sensitive issue for Israel, in harrowing scenes posted on social media videos. Follow Live Updates on Israel-Gaza war Latest updates on the Israel-Hamas conflict: Israel has reportedly stopped supplying electricity, fuel and goods to Gaza shortly after a statement from Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Saturday night. Much of Gaza was already thrown into darkness by nightfall after electrical supplies from Israel, which supplies almost all of the territories' power, were cut off earlier in the day. Netanyahu also said the first phase of the counter-operation had ended, and that Israel had fought off the majority of Hamas militants. He vowed to continue the offensive without reservation and without respite." "I'm telling the people of Gaza: get out of there now, because we're about to act everywhere with all our force," Netanyahu said. We'll strike them to the bitter end and avenge with force this black day they brought on Israel and its people. He warned that all the places in which Hamas is based, in this city of evil, all the places Hamas is hiding in, acting from -- we'll turn them into rubble What happened today is unprecedented in Israel and I will see to it that it does not happen again." Demonstrators shout slogans during a rally in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in front of the Israeli embassy in Ankara, Turkey. (REUTERS) Intense air strikes on the coastal enclave brought the Palestinian death toll to at least 232, Gaza officials said, after Hamas fighters -- travelling in ground vehicles, motorised paragliders and boats -- breached Gaza's security barrier and attacked nearby Israeli towns and military posts, opening fire on residents and passersby. Gun battles raged into the night between Israeli forces and hundreds of Hamas fighters in at least 22 Israel locations, including at least two where gunmen were holding hostages, the army said. The army said terrorists rampaged and broke into homes, massacring civilians, adding that more than 1,000 people in Israel were wounded by gunshots or the more than 3,000 incoming rockets. Rockets fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza City are intercepted by the Israeli Iron Dome defence missile system. (AFP) As the UN Security Council called an emergency meeting for Sunday, President Joe Biden voiced "rock solid and unwavering" support for the US ally and warned "against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation". As night fell, the Israeli Army said its forces were still engaged in live gun battles in a string of Israel locations, in an operation labelled "Swords of Iron", as reservists were being called up. In a briefing on social media, the army spokesperson also said the high number of civilian and military personnel taken hostage by Hamas in Saturday's surprise attack on Israeli towns near Gaza would shape the future of the war and what Israel would do against Hamas. Airlines cancelled more than 80 flights to and from Tel Aviv by Saturday evening roughly 14% of all flights scheduled because of the unprecedented attack in Israel by the militant group Hamas, according to FlightAware, news agency AP reported. (With inputs from agencies) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In the wake of ongoing rumours regarding a strained relationship within the Royal Family, King Charles has chosen a subtle yet firm approach to express his discontentment with his son, Prince Harry. King Charles maintains a standoffish approach towards Prince Harry. Speculation about a growing rift between Prince Harry and the Royal Family has been circulating since he and Meghan Markle stepped back from their royal duties in 2020. The tension escalated after the couples candid interview with Oprah Winfrey, where they voiced their concerns about the lack of support from the Palace and criticized how they were portrayed in the media. Royal author Duncan Larcombe sheds light on King Charles' stance, stating, "It appears that King Charles approach towards Harry now is business as usual - if you want to see me, you need to make an appointment. Harry will have to get past the grey suits and jump through hoops to talk to his father. It's very standoffish but I think that's a way that the king is subtly punishing his son." Larcombe suggests that King Charles is particularly dismayed by the representation of his wife, Queen Camilla, in Harry's memoir, Spare. Despite this, King Charles is not closing the door on reconciliation. He seems to be keeping "channels of communication open," indicating a willingness to resolve the conflict, albeit on his terms. More on the royal family: The Royal Family, known for its stoic approach encapsulated in the motto "never complain, never explain," has chosen not to comment on the claims made in Prince Harrys memoir, emphasizing their commitment to this age-old adage. While tensions persist, King Charles' measured response signifies a delicate balance between expressing his displeasure and leaving the room for potential reconciliation. New Jersey is hosting the world's largest modern-era Hindu temple that is constructed outside of India, as reported by PTI. This temple, known as BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, is set to become a significant symbol of Hindu culture and architectural excellence in the Western world. BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham: New Jersey welcomes the world's largest Hindu temple outside India (akshardhamusa/Instagram)(Instagram) ALSO READ: Ram temple trust finalises modalities for Jan event Here are 10 things you need to know about the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham before visiting: The construction of Akshardham has been made possible by over 12,500 volunteers from across the United States, dedicating more than 12 years, from 2011 to 2023, to bring it to life. The temple spans an impressive 255 feet in length, 345 feet in width, and 191 feet in height, covering an expansive 183 acres. The inauguration for the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, guided by BAPS spiritual leader Mahant Swami Maharaj, is scheduled for October 8, with doors opening to visitors on October 18. In anticipation of its inauguration, the temple has already started attracting thousands of Hindu devotees and individuals from various faiths and beliefs. This monumental temple is situated approximately 60 miles (90 kilometers) south of Times Square in New York or around 180 miles (289 kilometers) north of Washington, DC, in the United States. The Akshardham's design is deeply rooted in ancient Hindu scriptures and features elements from India's rich cultural heritage, including a remarkable collection of over 10,000 statues, complex carvings of Indian musical instruments, and various dance forms. Among modern-era Hindu temples, Akshardham is possibly the second largest, trailing only behind Cambodia's iconic Angkor Wat, according to PTI. The temple's distinctive design incorporates a central main shrine, 12 sub-shrines, nine shikhars (towering spire-like structures), and nine pyramidal shikhars. Notably, Akshardham boasts the largest elliptical dome in traditional stone architecture, designed to withstand the test of time for a thousand years. ALSO READ: World's second-largest Hindu temple outside India to be inaugurated in US on October 8: All you need to know Within its premises, you'll find the Brahma Kund, a traditional Indian stepwell filled with water sourced from more than 300 bodies of water worldwide, including the sacred rivers of India and all 50 states of the US. The construction of Akshardham has been a collective effort, with volunteers from across the United States receiving guidance from skilled artisans in India. This monumental endeavor has only been possible due to the efforts made by millions of volunteers and their precious time to reach this milestone. Since wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park in 1995, Kristin Barker jokingly estimated there have been 12.75 bajillion studies conducted to answer: How a recovering population of predators would affect their prey populations as well as other aspects of the ecosystem? So after several decades of good, concerted study, what have we learned? she asked a crowd gathered at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming, on Thursday. Barker is the research coordinator for the Beyond Yellowstone Program, a new group supporting local conservation efforts with best available science. Her presentation was based on her most recent research into wolf avoidance of humans utilizing collared wolves and cow elk in the Jackson Hole area. We have learned that wolves decrease the population size of their prey sometimes. After wolf reintroduction, some elk population sizes decreased, others remained stable and others increased, Barker said. We have also learned that wolves change the behavior and distribution of their prey sometimes, she added. Sometimes wolves show up and elk bounce into a drainage. Sometimes wolves show up and elk give them the side-eye and go back to eating. Variations Likewise, Barker said some studies have shown the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone caused a trophic cascade, where the reduction in elk caused aspen regeneration leading to more songbirds and habitat for species like beavers. Other studies have debunked this idea. Why are the results conflicting? There are variations in the landscapes studied, but that doesnt explain the gaps, Barker said. One thing that could be going on is that prey should be responding to the actual risk of predation on the landscape, she said. But knowing what predation risk actually is is really hard to measure and identify. Consequently, researchers often use substitutes. So an open, flat landscape might be considered a high-risk area for prey species, as would a place where wolves spend more time. But we know those proxies dont always represent the actual risk of an animal dying on the landscape, Barker said. Since wildlife, both prey and predators, will alter their behavior around humans, this factor also has to be considered in research examining predation. For example, the human shield hypothesis argues that large predators avoid areas where there are humans. On the other hand, theres the argument that humans might increase the risk of predation because their watered lawns or agricultural fields may concentrate prey species like elk and deer, providing predators an attractive source of food. Jackson Hole Barkers study set out to try and answer some of these questions in the Jackson Hole area in winter. To do that, the researchers identified areas where collared wolves congregated and then investigated to see if they had made a kill. If so, the animal remains were analyzed through necropsy to figure out if the wolves were scavenging or had made the kill themselves. Out of more than 1,000 sites checked, 170 had wolf kills mainly elk that were analyzed in the three winters between 2019 and 2021. The majority of other places where wolves concentrated were bedding areas. The region provided a good sample of varied conditions. Jackson Hole is close to people, roads and trails. It also has elk winter feedgrounds, attracting the animals. In the regions forests, wolves are hunted, whereas nearby Grand Teton National Park does not allow wolf hunting. So basically what we were doing is we were figuring out how the probability of a wolf killing something in a certain area changed as a function of environmental influences and human influences, Barker said. And we tested whether different versions of those things matched what we saw in reality. Findings The research showed wolves were more likely to make kills in wooded areas, places with shallow snow and in drainages and valley bottoms. Humans were found to increase and decrease the risk of predation, depending on the situation. So there was a higher risk of predation near feedgrounds, snowmobile and ski trails, but mostly at night. Wolves tended to avoid roads. Something else we also found is that prey availability is a big driver of how wolves respond to humans, Barker said. Wolves prioritize acquiring prey over responding to humans. That means when wolves expand into areas with less to eat, they may be more willing to take risks near humans to acquire food. Wolves use of trails rather than roads in the study area may be due to the fact that trail use occurred mainly in the day, while traffic was flowing into the night on roadways. So humans have an effect on wolf predation, but wolves are constantly considering the risks of eating versus a possible interaction with humans. So you cant paint a broad stroke and say, Humans will decrease or increase the risk of predation, Barker said. Bold elk Next, the study looked at whether collared cow elk were likely to travel, forage or rest in risky places at risky times and to also see if they behaved differently depending on how much risk they had previously experienced. What the research showed is that elk didnt always change their behavior when they encountered a wolf. They did, however, more consistently change their behavior when they were in risky places. However, some elk that had faced more risk were less worried about hanging out in areas where wolves were more likely to make a kill. Were their personalities just more risk averse, or were they just more interested in eating than being killed? Possibly the elk were in a bigger group, which the study couldnt measure because only some of the elk were collared. Barker theorized that without accounting for an individuals experience with risk, researchers might have difficulty detecting common behavioral responses. This could explain why different studies have come to opposite conclusions. So it makes sense that someone studying an elk population thats just experiencing wolves right after reintroduction would find different behaviors than someone studying a population thats had wolves around for generations, Barker said. Also, with different human influences on the landscape, researchers are going to see different impacts of wolves on their prey, she added. Wrap up So overall we see differences based on food scarcity, based on different kinds of human influences, based on elk experiences, she said. So this very clear-cut relationship that has been put forward of wolves affecting elk, affecting vegetation could absolutely be true in some places and times, but it would be extraordinarily unlikely for it to play out in the exact same way across all of the different places and times in this broad, varied ecosystem that people are looking across. Barker then asked her audience if wolves were the ecosystem angel that is tirelessly restoring natural processes? Or is the wolf the ecosystem devil who is just eating thousands and thousands of animals and killing things for fun? To each question, Barker firmly asserted the predator is neither. Wolves are just another species that has co-evolved in concert with all of the other species that have come together to make up the ecosystem that we live in here today just another animal trying to survive in a pretty harsh place. A leather-skinned mummified man lying in an open coffin in Reading, Pennsylvania, known only as "Stoneman Willie to the public got two things on Saturday he went without for 128 years - a burial and his real name. James Murphy, a man who was accidentally mummified and known publicly by the name "Stoneman Willie", lies on display at a local funeral home in Reading, Pennsylvania.(Reuters) Dressed in a period tuxedo, his generations-long public afterlife as the stuff of city lore and ghost stories ended when he was introduced to the world as James Murphy of New York at a funeral in Reading. A group of funeral home employees and well-wishers, said in unison, "Rest in peace, James," as they unveiled his tombstone, with his real name in small letters below large type reading, "Stoneman Willie." His send-off included a colorful procession with a motorcycle hearse carrying his casket. Murphy was of Irish descent, an alcoholic, and was in Reading at a firefighters' convention when he died in the local jailhouse of kidney failure on November 19, 1895, said Kyle Blankenbiller, the director of the Theo C Auman Inc. Funeral Home where Murphy's remains had resided. James Murphy, a man who was accidentally mummified and known publicly by the name "Stoneman Willie", lies on display at a local funeral home in Pennsylvania.(Reuters) Blankenbiller said at the funeral that Murphys real name was known to the original Theo Auman, director of the funeral home in 1895. Murphys real name had been passed down within the funeral home over the past 128 years, but it was not until the latest decision to give him a proper burial that the research was done to conclusively confirm his identity as James Murphy. The once unidentified man was in jail accused of being a thief, and he was accidentally mummified by a mortician experimenting with new embalming techniques. Local officials were unable to locate relatives, said local historian George Meiser. "Weeks passed, months passed, years passed and no one claimed the remains," Meiser said at the service. The gravestone of James Murphy, a man who was accidentally mummified and known publicly by the name "Stoneman Willie".(Reuters) It took some historic sleuthing by local historians to unearth his real name through records from the prison, funeral home and other documents to find the truth. The funeral home was eventually granted permission by the state to keep the body instead of burying it to monitor the experimental embalming process. He got his nickname Stoneman from his hard-as-stone leathery skin. Pastor Robert Whitmire told the gatherers that to those who may have known him, Stoneman Willie...at one time may have been a beloved friend and family member. Palestine's Islamic Jihad chief Ziad al-Nakhala said on Sunday that his faction was holding captive more than 30 of the Israelis who were abducted in the Gaza Strip since Saturday after Hamas launched attacks on Israel. A plume of smoke rises above buildings in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike, on October 8, 2023. (AFP) The captives will not be repatriated "till all of our prisoners are released," al-Nakhala added, referring to thousands of Palestinians who are in Israeli prisons. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Pope Francis called for end to attacks and violence in Israel on Sunday, saying terrorism and war would not solve any problems, but only bring further suffering and death to innocent people. Pope Francis (REUTERS) "War is a defeat, only a defeat. Let's pray for peace in Israel and Palestine," the pope said in his weekly address to faithful in St. Peter's Square. READ | Hamas will 'bear the results' of its attack: Israel to UN Security Council On Saturday, a multi-pronged attack by Palestinian gunmen on Israeli towns left at least 250 Israelis dead, with more than 300 Palestinians killed in Israel's retaliatory bombardment. "Let the attacks and weapons cease, please, because it must be understood that terrorism and war bring no solutions, but only to the death and suffering of many innocent lives. War is a defeat, every war is a defeat. Let us pray for peace in Israel and Palestine," the pope said. Ukraine's air force expects a record number of Russian drone attacks on its soil this winter, its spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said on Sunday, as Kyiv girds for a second winter of mass bombardment of its energy facilities. Russia-Ukraine War: A destroyed cafe after a Russian rocket attack in the village of Hroza near Kharkiv, Ukraine.(AP) Ihnat said that data for September showed the use by Russia of Iranian-designed Shahed kamikaze drones would smash last year's figure. "This autumn and winter ... is already a record in terms of the number of Shahed drones. Over 500 (were used) in September," Ihnat said in an interview on national television. He contrasted this number with Russia's air strike campaign on Ukraine last winter, when he said about 1,000 Shahed drones were used in six months. Attacks on energy facilites last winter damaged a significant chunk of Ukraine's power system and forced most cities to ration electricity and hot water. Despite Ukraine bolstering its air defences, officials have warned of the risk of a repeat this winter, with the power grid still far from rebuilt after the last campaign of bombardment. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON On the second day of the Israel-Hamas war, the IDF said the last 24 hours were very hard as unprecedented events unfolded following the attack of Hamas on Saturday. As Israel started retaliating and announced an all-out war against Hamas mobilising all army reserves, Israel Defence Forces spokesperson Richard Hecht said this is Israel's 9/11 and more than that. "In a way, this is our 9/11 and even more than that. It wasn't crashing into a building. It was mutilating and attacking the Gaza Strip Nature Party, attacking civilians, kidnapping a grandmother," the spokesperson said. Read | Israeli intelligence last week said Hamas won't attack, avoiding war: Report Israeli airstrike in Gaza on October 8, a day after Hamas attacked Israel. (AFP) "We are going to respond to this very very seriously. This is against international law, this is against Islam -- hurting children. I mean, this is all very hard to comprehend and all of this makes us all sick.. I hope Hezbollah and Iran do not make the mistake of joining in. We are ready," the spokesperson said. We have been talking about Hamas for years who they are & what they want - the annihilation of our state...Everybody got a taste of who they are, yesterday. They attacked us on the ground, in the air & also through the sea. They did not go for military targets, they went for civilians.. children, babies, grandmothers...the visuals are eyesore. The style of the attack is barbaric," the IDF spokesperson said. Israel-Hamas conflict: Here are the top updates 1. The toll in Isreal reached over 600 including soldiers and civilians. Israel's counterattack in the Gaza Strip resulted in 300 deaths while 1,500 people were left wounded. 2. Hamas held several people including women, children and the elderly captive and took them back into the Gaza enclave with an aim to trade for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. 3. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country was at war and would exact a heavy price from its enemies. Netanyahu warned that the war could go on for a very long time. Hamas also said they are ready for a long fight. 4. Lebanon's Hezbollah on Sunday fired dozens of rockers at three Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border. Israels military fired back using armed drones. Two children were lightly wounded by broken glass on the Lebanese side, reports said. 5. Hamas said it had continued to send forces and equipment overnight into a number of locations inside our occupied territories, referring to Israel. 6. Israel struck 426 targets in Gaza, its military said. 7. Israel's cabinet declared war so that significant military steps could be taken. 8. The United States is focussing on helping Israel recover the territory that has been taken by Hamas. 9. A major portion of Gaza was without electricity on Sunda as Israel cut off electricity and said it would no longer supply power, fuel or other goods to Gaza. 10. Egypt spoke to both sides but Israel was not open to a ceasefire at this stage. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Poulomi Ghosh Poulomi Ghosh is a journalist with Hindustan Times, New Delhi. ...view detail American mountaineer Anna Gutu and a Nepalese guide Mingmar Sherpa were confirmed dead after avalanches struck the slopes of Tibetan mountain Shishapangma. Two others remained missing, it was reported after avalanches struck Shishapangma on Saturday at 7,600 (about 25,000 ft) and 8,000 meters (about 26,000 ft) in altitude, according to Xinhua news agency. Tibet Avalanches: The avalanches struck Tibets Mount Shishapangma. American climber Gina Marie Rzucidlo and a Nepalese mountain guide Tenjen Sherpa went missing, the news agency said. Tenjen Sherpa shattered the record for the fastest climb of the 14 mountains more than 8,000 meters (about 26,000 feet) high in July this year. He aimed to become the youngest climber to scale all 14 peaks twice. The avalanches seriously injured Nepalese mountain guide Karma Geljen Sherpa, who was escorted down the mountain by rescuers. He is currently in stable condition. A total of 52 climbers from countries including the US, Britain, Japan, and Italy were attempting to summit the mountain when the avalanches hit. Climbing activities on Shishapangma have since been suspended. Shishapangma is the 14th-highest mountain in the world, at over 8,027 meters (26,335 ft) above sea level. 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 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday to reiterate Kyiv's support to Israel, which retaliated after a massive assault from the Palestinian Hamas group. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky(AP) "I spoke with Netanyahu to affirm Ukraine's solidarity with Israel, which suffers from a brazen large-scale attack, and to express condolences for the multiple victims," Zelensky said, adding we also discussed the attack's ramifications for the security situation in the region and beyond. The United States, a close ally and major supplier of arms to Israel, could announce later Sunday new military support for the country following the Hamas attack, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken(AP) "We're looking at specific additional requests that the Israelis have made. I think you're likely to hear more about that later today," Blinken told CNN. READ | We stand ready: Joe Biden's support for Israel amid attack and a warning President (Joe) Biden's direction was to make sure that we're providing Israel everything it needs in this moment to deal with the attacks from Hamas. The conflict's worst escalation in decades has claimed more than 600 lives on the Israeli side, the government press office said, while Gaza officials reported at least 370 deaths, with thousands more wounded on each side. "We have reports that several Americans were killed. We're working overtime to verify that. At the same time, there are reports of missing Americans and there again, we're working to verify those reports," Blinken said. He told ABC that "this is a massive terrorist attack that is gunning down Israeli civilians in their towns, in their homes, and as we've seen so graphically, literally dragging people across the border with Gaza. "So, you can imagine the impact this is having throughout Israel. And the world should be revolted at what it has seen." Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi spoke Sunday with leaders of Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, official media said, a day after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel. Israel-Palestine Conflict: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi looks on during a press conference.(Reuters) "Raisi discussed the developments in Palestine in separate phone calls with Ziyad al-Nakhalah, secretary general of the Islamic Jihad Movement, and Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the (Hamas) political bureau," state news agency IRNA reported, without giving further details. Militants from Hamas, which controls the Gaza strip, penetrated Israel at dawn on Saturday under cover of a massive rocket barrage. Israel's government said the worst fighting in decades has killed more than 600 Israelis and that Hamas took more than 100 people hostage. On the Gaza side at least 313 were reported dead. Iran hailed the Palestinian attack calling it a "proud operation" and a "great victory". "This victorious operation, which will facilitate and accelerate the collapse of the Zionist regime, promises the impending destruction of the Zionist regime," said Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "I am congratulating this great and strategic victory, which is a serious warning to all compromisers in the region," he added in a letter to Hamas and Islamic Jihad on Saturday. The Islamic republic hosted talks with leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in June. At the time, Raisi said that Israel was seeking to normalise ties with more Arab and Muslim countries "to discourage young Palestinians from (seeking to) liberate the occupied territories", according to the Iranian presidency. On Saturday, hundreds gathered in major cities in Iran, including in Tehran's Palestine Square, carrying the Palestinian flag and pictures of slain General Qasem Soleimani, who was assassinated in a US drone attack in Baghdad in 2020 after overseeing the Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations for more than a decade. Large billboards celebrating the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation were installed in Tehran including one that says "the great liberation operation has begun". Crowds in some cities set off fireworks and torched Israeli flags while others carrying the Palestinian colours took to the streets while motorists honked their honks in jubilation, according to footage carried by the official IRNA news agency. Iran does not recognise Israel and has made support for the Palestinian cause a centrepiece of its foreign policy ever since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The two governments have engaged in a shadow war for years, with Iran accusing Israel of a series of sabotage attacks and assassinations targeting its nuclear programme. The United States and Israel have previously accused Iran of using drones and missiles to attack US forces and Israel-linked ships in the Gulf. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The US and other Western powers on Saturday backed Israels right to defend itself in the face of a wave of attacks by Hamas and other groups as key West Asian players such as Saudi Arabia urged the world community to back a peace process that leads to a two-state solution. At about 6.30 a.m. (0430 GMT) Palestinian Islamist group Hamas fired a huge barrage of rockets across southern Israel on Saturday (Reuters Photo) The surprise attacks by Palestinian militants, dozens of whom infiltrated into south Israel, killed at least 70 people and injured more than 900. Israeli combat jets and ground troops targeted Hamas after close to 2,500 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip. Nearly 200 Palestinians were killed and another 1,600 injured in Gaza. President Joe Biden, who telephoned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said the US stands alongside Israel and fully supports Israels right to self-defence, according to a post on X by the premiers office. Netanyahu said a forceful, prolonged campaign which Israel will win is necessary. Also Read: PM Modi denounces attacks in Israel, says India stands in solidarity A White House statement quoted Biden as saying that the US stands ready to offer all appropriate means of support to Israel. Terrorism is never justified. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people. The US warns against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation. My Administrations support for Israels security is rock solid and unwavering, Biden said. French President Emmanuel Macron, who spoke on the telephone with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Netanyahu, condemned the attacks from Gaza. France stands in solidarity with Israel and the Israelis, committed to their security and their right to defend themselves, Macron posted on X. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte also expressed his support for Israels right to defend itself. Most West Asian powers, including Saudi Arabia, linked the violence to Israels occupation of Palestinian territories and deprivation of the rights of the Palestinian people. A statement from the Saudi foreign ministry reiterated the kingdoms earlier warnings of the possible risk of escalation due to the occupation and deprivation of legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and the systematic provocation against their holy sites. The statement added, The Kingdom calls for an immediate halt to the escalation between the two sides, the protection of civilians, and restraint. Saudi Arabia also called on the world community to activate a credible peace process that leads to the two-state solution to achieve security and peace in the region. Qatar, another influential player in West Asia, held Israel solely responsible for the violence and said the escalation was due to repeated incursions by Israelis into Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam. A statement from Qatars foreign ministry expressed deep concern at the developments in the Gaza Strip and called on all parties to de-escalate and exercise maximum restraint. Qatar holds Israel solely responsible for the ongoing escalation due to its ongoing violations of the rights of the Palestinian people, the latest of which was the repeated incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of the Israeli police. Also Read: Israel at war: What exactly happened? A breakdown of how Hamas attacks unfolded Qatar called on the international community to compel Israel to stop its flagrant violations of international law, respect the...historical rights of the Palestinian people, and to prevent these events from being used as a pretext to ignite a new asymmetric war against Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), which signed the Abraham Accords in 2020 to normalise relations with Israel, called for utmost restraint and an immediate ceasefire in order to avoid serious repercussions. The UAE, a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, urged the world community to reactivate the international Quartet to revive the Arab-Israeli peace process and increase efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive peace and prevent further violence and instability, according to a foreign ministry statement. Palestines foreign ministry said it had warned of the consequences of daily provocations and attacks, including the continued settlers and occupation forces terrorism, as well as the raids on Al-Aqsa Mosque. It listed several reasons for the explosive situation, including Israels disavowal of agreements, a policy of double standards, and the world communitys silence on the criminal and racist practices of the Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinian people. Nepals foreign ministry expressed solidarity with Israel and said nine Nepalese citizens were injured, two of them seriously when a farm where they were working was attacked. Nepals embassy in Israel is in close communication with Nepalese citizens living in the areas under attack and is coordinating with Israeli authorities to ensure their safety. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The chasm between the royal couples, Prince William and Kate Middleton, and Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, appears insurmountable, according to insiders. Royal expert Tom Quinn, in an exclusive interview with Daily Express US, revealed that palace insiders had informed him that the feud between the two couples "is never really going to be healed." FILE - BFrom left, Meghan the Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate the Duchess of Cambridge watch a flypast of Royal Air Force aircraft pass over Buckingham Palace in London, (AP) Quinn's revelations shed light on the private sentiments within the royal circles. He stated, "I've spoken to people who worked for both William and Kate when they were in England. They say the rift is never really going to be healed." Quinn suggested that even at future royal engagements, the couples would exchange uncomfortable glances, portraying the deep-seated tension between them. This sentiment was echoed by royal biographer Tom Bower, who argued that Prince William and Kate Middleton would be "well advised" to stay away from Meghan and Harry. Bower pointed out, "Harry and Meghan have only said awful things about William and Kate. Why on earth should William and Kate forgive them?" He emphasized that any attempt at reconciliation could lead to further abuse of their relationship, as he criticized Harry and Meghan's selfish behaviour. More on the royal family: The rift between the royal couple intensified following Meghan and Harry's move to the United States. Their bombshell interviews and revelations, including Meghan's claims of racism within the royal family and Harry's accusations against Prince William, have further strained relations. The infamous interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 marked the beginning of a series of revelations that rocked the royal institution. In the face of these revelations, it seems Prince William and Kate Middleton have chosen a path of distance, unwilling to engage further with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. As the dust settles, the future interactions of these royal couples remain uncertain. Military officials from the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed Wednesday (October 4) that the Iranian weapons and ammunition seized by the US would be sent to Ukraine. This move would alleviate some of the critical shortages facing the Ukrainian military as it awaits more financial and logistical assistance from the US and its allies. In a press release, CENTCOM said it had already transferred over one million rounds of the seized ammunition to the Ukrainians last Monday (October 2). "The government obtained ownership of these munitions on July 20, 2023, through the Department of Justice's civil forfeiture claims against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)," the statement said. The Justice Department announced last March that it was seeking the forfeiture of one million rounds of Iranian ammunition, as well as thousands of proximity fuses for rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), and tons of fuel for RPGs that the US Navy seized from Iran over the past year as it was in transit to Yemen, CNN reported. "These munitions were originally seized by US Central Command naval forces from the transiting stateless dhow MARWAN 1, December 9, 2022," the statement added. "The munitions were being transferred from the IRGC to the Houthis in Yemen in violation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2216." The shipment came weeks after five Americans held in Tehran were returned to US soil as part of a prisoner swap in exchange for Washington unfreezing about $6 billion in oil revenue. Read Also: Ukraine Could Potentially Join the EU as Accession Negotiations May Start in December Guns From Iran to Ukraine For months, the Biden administration has deliberated how to legally send the seized weapons currently stored in CENTCOM facilities across the Middle East to the Ukrainians. It was said that the weapons and ammunition were frequently transported aboard small stateless vessels that use routes historically used to smuggle weapons to the Houthis in Yemen. In mid-January alone, a Franco-American operation led to the seizure of around 3,000 Iranian assault rifles bound for Yemen and 23 anti-tank guided missiles. Justice Department and defense officials have been collaborating to find a legal loophole to send the weapons to Ukraine, officials added, with one option being passing them over through the US's civil forfeiture authorities, of which at least two complaints were filed against seized Iranian ammunition and weapons this year. "At the end of the day, Ukraine needs various supplies for the war effort, and while this isn't a solution to all of Ukraine's military needs, it will provide critical support," Center for a New American Security senior fellow Jonathan Lord said in a Washington Post op-ed last February. Lord also stated that the move could seriously affect Iran's relationship with Russia. It can be recalled that Russia was heavily relying on Iranian-made drones to attack Ukrainian cities. "There is poetic justice in Ukraine utilizing seized Iranian weapons to defend its people against Russia's criminal invasion and abuses," he added. "Additionally, this policy may put greater pressure on the burgeoning relationship between Moscow and Tehran." Related Article: US Prisoners Come Home in Rare Prisoner Swap With Iran After $6B Unfrozen @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Mario Tama/Getty Images) Apple releases its new iOS 17.0.3 update in an attempt to fix the widespread overheating issue that many users are complaining about with their iPhone 15 devices. Apple rolled out its iOS 17.0.3 update to fix the iPhone 15's overheating issue, which has affected many consumers and brought down the reliability of the tech giant's latest product. The company said that the overheating problem was caused by software and not hardware or design flaws within the iPhone 15 product itself. Additionally, the tech giant said that the new update would not reduce the A17 Pro chip's performance. iPhone 15 New iOS Update The situation comes after many users of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max complained that after using their devices for a while, they would get extremely hot. This includes basic activities such as browsing the internet. Apple responded that it was normal for the iPhone to get hotter than usual when it initially sets up, restores from a backup, charges wirelessly, or runs graphics-intensive or processor-intensive apps. However, the tech giant acknowledged last weekend that a software issue in iOS 17 caused iPhone 15 devices to run at abnormally high temperatures, as per 9to5Mac. The company updated the security fixes for this patch, listing two solutions to problems on iOS and iPadOS. The first one is a kernel exploit for an attacker with local access to the device that Apple said "may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 16.6" and a fix for a libvpx bug. The latter is something that CISA issued a warning about, as it could allow someone to take over a device remotely. The latest update is readily available for download and requires 423.2 megabytes of memory. Read Also: Japanese Startup Builds Rideable Gundam-Like ARCHAX Robot With $3 Million Price Tag Addressing the Overheating Issue Before Apple released the update, many users speculated about the potential reason for the overheating issue. According to The Verge, these include hardware issues, potentially from the iPhone 15's more powerful processor or titanium components. The tech giant said another issue involves some recent updates related to third-party apps that overload the iPhone 15's system. These apps include Instagram, Uber, and Asphalt 9, as revealed by Apple. Apple also reassured its consumers that the product's overheating issue is unrelated to its new titanium casing, replacing older models' stainless steel. Additionally, the company dismissed speculations that the new USB-C port was causing the issue, allowing it to comply with a mandate that European regulators issued, said BBC. Rising concerns about a potential device sound issue also plague the iPhone 15. Some users have reported that the sound from their phones' speakers is a bit off, especially at higher volumes. Complaints include hearing crackling and/or rattling noises when playing music or blasting calls on the speaker at or near maximum volume. While some may be tempted to find a fix with a replacement device, some have already tried, so who said that the issue was not fixed at all, said Phone Arena. Related Article: Apple Explains Why iPhone 15 Overheats Easily @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. MrBeast and some BBC stars are the latest victims of AI deepfakes. Reports stated that their fake images are being used by scammers in advertisements to fool online users. One of the scam ad videos, which claims that the YouTuber is offering new iPhones for just $2, has already appeared on TikTok. Since the image of MrBeast looks real, there's a high chance that many people will fall victim to the malicious deepfake campaign. MrBeast Questions SocMeds After YouTuber's Deepfakes Appear in Scam Ad According to BBC News, the world's biggest YouTuber is not the only one who has fallen to AI deepfakes. Malicious actors also deepfaked the images of BBC stars Sally Bundock and Matthew Amroliwala. Like the MrBeast scam ad, fake photos and videos of Amroliwala and Bundock were also used to promote other advertisement scams. One of these videos showed the BBC journalists introducing billionaire Elon Musk, who is promoting an investment opportunity (of course, the X owner's video is also fake). This is not new since older deepfake videos already used Elon Musk's deepfakes, claiming he was giving away free money and cryptocurrency coins. Since the latest deepfake scam ads are quite serious, BBC contacted Meta. After that, the Facebook owner decided to take down the content. A Meta spokesperson said they are not allowing this kind of content and have removed it. "We're constantly working to improve our systems and encourage anyone who sees content they believe breaks our rules to report it using our in-app tools so we can investigate and take action," added the official. A TikTok spokesman also announced that the fake MrBeast advertisement was removed a few hours after scammers uploaded it. The popular video platform also promised that the account that published the scam advertisement has been removed for violating its policies. Read Also: Arabic AI Breakthrough Could Benefit Millions of Language Speakers Worldwide MrBeast Questions SocMeds' Capabilities After the deepfake scam incident on TikTok, MrBeast (real name Jimmy Donaldson) questioned the capabilities of socmed companies when handling fake AI advertisements. NBC News reported that MrBeast posted on X, explaining how serious AI deepfake malicious campaigns are. Donaldson said that more and more people are getting exposed to the deepfake ad he was featured in. He asked if social media firms are ready to handle the rise of AI deepfakes, reiterating that this is a "serious problem." Experts said that the MrBeast deepfake video is far from perfect. They noticed some lip-syn errors in the content. However, researchers warned that AI deepfakes are becoming more realistic as years pass. Related Article: Microsoft Bing Chat AI Used by News Outlet To Write Article on AI Risks in Journalism-Here's What the Bot Said @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP) (MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images) French officials are sounding the alarm and calling for immediate response as the bedbug outbreak in Paris is causing widespread concern ahead of the 2024 Olympics. Paris' bedbug outbreak is sparking widespread concern as there is less than a year before the start of the 2024 Olympics, which will be held in the iconic French capital, prompting calls from officials for an immediate response. In most areas in the region, from hotel rooms to trains to movie theaters, bedbugs have crawled into every nook and cranny of one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. French officials struggle to cope with the issue, but experts have issued various recommendations to protect your health from these nasty critters. Paris' Bedbug Outbreak Full-grown versions of the insects are brown or reddish-brown and have an oval-shaped body roughly the size of an apple seed. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said the young versions of bedbugs are much smaller, translucent, or whitish-yellow, and difficult to see. According to CBS News, these critters typically come out at night to feed on human blood. Medical experts recommend that travelers thoroughly check the bed underneath it, behind the bed frame, on the sides of the mattress, and in between the mattress and the frame when they arrive at a hotel or a vacation rental. French officials are also sounding the alarm regarding the issue and calling for an immediate response from the government to ensure that the bedbug outbreak does not spiral out of control. A top opposition lawmaker from the lower house of Parliament held up a small vial filled with bedbugs for her colleagues to see. Mathilde Panot questioned Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne if they must wait for the latter's office to be infected before finally reacting to the issue. Borne urged Panot to observe a "bit of decency" and pledged that the French government would act resolutely against the bedbug infestation. French President Emmanuel Macron's government has been forced to convene a flurry of top-level meetings this week to ensure that Paris will not turn into a city filled with bedbugs, according to the New York Times. Read Also: Arizona Takes Stand Against Saudi-Owned Farm, Cancels Leases for Access to Groundwater Addressing the Crisis The government spokesman, Olivier Veran, said they must give the people a definitive answer. He noted that the exact scope of the issue remains unclear but argued that the government would announce new measures after a cabinet meeting scheduled on Friday. French Transportation Minister Clement Beaune said they are taking the matter very seriously after meeting with transportation authorities on Wednesday. He stressed that buses, trains, and subways are regularly cleaned and taken out of circulation if suspected of any anomalies. Earlier this year, the French government agency ANSES reported that roughly 11% of households in the country had bedbugs between 2017 and 2022 and that the infestations were not correlated to wealth. An increase in travel and the bedbugs' growing resistance to insecticides are some factors that have led to a surge in infestations. The first deputy mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Gregoire, announced that he had already asked Borne to organize a conference on the battle against the critters as he called it a public health issue, said NPR. Related Article: South Africa Battles Bird Flu Outbreak, Culling Millions of Chickens and Causing Shortages @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images) A protester returns a tear gas canister during clashes with Israeli forces following a demonstration against the expropriation of Palestinian land by Israel in the village of Kfar Qaddum, in the occupied West Bank on September 29, 2023. In a West Bank army raid on Thursday, the Palestinian health ministry stated that two Palestinian militants were fatally shot by Israeli gunfire. In the occupied territory, the recent deaths mark the continuation of a surge of violence that has persisted for several months. In the early morning hours, the Israeli military reportedly conducted a raid, prompting troops to respond by shooting Palestinian gunmen. In the recent clashes, it has been reported that a total of five border police officers sustained injuries The two men, who were later claimed by the Hamas militant group that governs the Gaza Strip, have been identified. In a continuing wave of violence that has consumed the occupied territory for over a year and a half, the incident unfolded as the latest occurrence. In a series of near-nightly operations, the Israeli military has conducted raids into Palestinian towns, resulting in frequent and sometimes fatal confrontations with local residents. A surge in militancy has been observed among young Palestinians, according to ABC News. In a recent development, Israeli troops took decisive action by closing roads in the vicinity and successfully apprehending two individuals who were traveling in a car. The Israeli military said that the troops promptly "neutralized" the suspects, as per Big News Network. According to the report, an M-16 rifle and magazines, which were allegedly used by the Palestinians, were discovered in the vehicle. Two youths were discovered deceased following an incident where their vehicle was allegedly targeted by Israeli soldiers near Shufa. Read Also: Ukraine Now Relies on Smoke-Belching DIY Combat Vehicles as Desperate Move Against Russia Israel-Palestine Violence In the ongoing surge of violence between Israel and Palestinians in the West Bank, the incident in question has emerged as the latest occurrence. In recent months, the West Bank, an area that is considered to be illegally occupied by Israel, has experienced a significant increase in violence. This surge in violence comes amidst a nearly decade-long stalemate in United States-sponsored peacemaking efforts. In an ongoing operation spanning over 18 months, Israel has intensified its military raids, focusing primarily on the northern region of the occupied West Bank. The objective behind these raids, as stated by Israeli authorities, is to eliminate Palestinian resistance fighters and prevent potential future attacks, Aljazeera reported. In a span of 56 years, the Israeli army has maintained a military occupation in the West Bank, a region that is home to approximately three million Palestinians. This occupation has been widely regarded as illegal by the United Nations and the majority of countries. In a significant development, Israel carried out a major offensive on the occupied West Bank in July, resulting in the loss of lives and injuries. Reports indicate that at least 12 Palestinians were killed in the Jenin refugee camp, while approximately 100 others sustained injuries during the attack. According to the United Nations, 2023 has been declared as the deadliest year for Palestinians since the organization began recording fatalities in 2006. These individuals, who have lost hope in their leadership and the possibility of a political resolution to the conflict, are now taking matters into their own hands. In the West Bank, the death toll of Palestinians due to Israeli fire has reached a significant milestone this year. Nearly 200 Palestinians have lost their lives, marking the highest number of fatalities in recent years. According to Israeli officials, the majority of those killed in the ongoing conflict have been identified as militants. However, it is important to note that alongside these militants, there have also been casualties among stone-throwing youths who are protesting incursions, as well as innocent bystanders. Since the beginning of 2023, over 30 individuals have lost their lives in a series of Palestinian attacks targeting Israelis. In the 1967 Mideast war, Israel successfully captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. Related Article: Israeli Tactical School Offers a Fresh Model for Combating Domestic Terrorism in the U.S. and Protecting the Jewish Community @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Activists in Iran claimed on Wednesday, October 4, that the country's morality police were responsible for the serious injuries sustained by a teenage girl who was not wearing a headscarf in a Tehran subway station. The Iranian officials and the teen's parents, however, insist she was hospitalized due to low blood pressure. According to the Norway-based Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, a 16-year-old named Armita Geravand is in a coma after being assaulted by morality police last weekend. IranWire, another opposition network, claimed to have learned that Geravand had been hospitalized with head trauma. Awyer Shekhi, a member of the Hengaw staff, told CNN, "Prior to her arrival at the Shohada metro station, female morality police officers approached her and requested that she adjust her hijab. This request resulted in an altercation with the morality police officers physically assaulting Armita. She was pushed, leading to her collapse." Apparently, after the confrontation, the young girl made it into the subway but fainted later on, Shekhi added. See Also: Muslim Nations Plan Street Protests After Quran Burning in Sweden No Confrontation? The CEO of the Tehran Metro, nevertheless, told state media that Geravand had no contact with his employees. The company's managing director, Masoud Dorosti, said that their internal investigation found no evidence of a verbal or physical altercation between the passengers and their personnel from the time the girl entered the station until the time she boarded the train. Fars News Agency, a state-affiliated news outlet, shared a video on X (previously known as Twitter) showing a group of young women boarding a subway car. It has been unable to determine which of the females in the video is Geravand. Some of the women who entered with Geravand did not appear to be wearing head coverings. A few seconds later, while the metro is pulling out of the station, a group of girls can be seen taking Geravand out of the train and laying her on the platform. In the edited footage shown by official media, there was no physical conflict. The media has been unable to verify the accuracy of the events. In an interview with state media, Geravand's parents said their daughter had banged her head after fainting due to low blood pressure on the way to school. According to the parents, they noticed no evidence in the recordings they watched that Geravand was mistreated. It is not clear if Geravand's relatives were pressured into giving an interview to the state-run media. Previously, the families of demonstrators slain by Iranian police have been accused by the United Nations and rights organizations of being coerced into making comments in favor of the government's narrative. The teenager is now getting medical care in Tehran. Reportedly, she is currently receiving medical care at Fajr Air Force Hospital. See Also: PM Narendra Modi's Party Tied to Most Muslim Hate Speech Incidents in India: Report @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Several Pentagon officials confirmed a US Air Force F-16 fighter jet shot down a Turkish drone operation above Syria Thursday (October 5). Multiple reports marked the incident as a rare moment that NATO allies have clashed against each other. A US official familiar with the aerial kill told the Wall Street Journal on the condition of anonymity that the drone posed a threat to US troops in the northeastern part of the country. Another official also told the Journal that the US knew the drone was Turkish and armed with air-to-ground munitions. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights earlier said the drone was targeted by an "International Coalition," but fell short of naming which country or countries were responsible. Read Also: Why Is the F-35 the Fighter Jet of Choice of Air Forces Trying to Upgrade? Turkey's Bombing Runs vs. Kurds On the other hand, Reuters reported that Turkish military officials acknowledged an unmanned aircraft was shot down but denied ownership of the drone. The incident was reported as the country has increased its bombing sorties against what it said were Kurdish fighters in Iraq and Syria, blaming them for the suicide bombing in Ankara last weekend. Observers said several people have been killed this week by the Turkish attacks. The US has around 900 troops deployed in Syria as part of an international coalition working with local forces to carry out counterterrorism operations against the Islamic State. They recently conducted two helicopter raids last week resulting in the capture of an ISIS official, the US Central Command reported. In a separate incident Thursday, over 100 people were killed after a drone targeted a graduation parade of a Syrian military academy in Homs. Ten of those killed were civilians, while the rest were either military personnel or cadets who just graduated before the strike. Related Article: US Agrees To Train Ukraine's F-16 Pilots in Arizona as Norway Joins Denmark, the Netherlands in Supplying Kyiv with Fighter Jets @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Moawia Atrash / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP) (MOAWIA ATRASH/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images) A drone attack in Syria targeted a military academy and resulted in the death of more than 100 people and injury of several hundreds of others. A horrific drone attack in Syria targeted a military academy and resulted in the death of more than 100 people, as no country or group has yet to claim responsibility for the assault. A war monitor and an official said the weaponized drones bombed the area a few minutes after Syria's defense minister left a graduation ceremony. The attack is considered one of the bloodiest assaults against a Syrian army installation. Its use of weaponized drones is unprecedented in a country that has endured 12 years of civil war. Drone Attack in Syrian Military Academy The fatal victims of the recent attack include civilians and military personnel, as revealed by a statement released by Syria's defense ministry. Officials added that "terrorist" groups had used drones to attack the military academy in Homs's central province. Syria's Minister of Health, Hassan Al-Ghabbash, said that the victims included women and children and added that the drone attack resulted in the injury of several hundreds of other people, as per CNN. Following the attack, the country's defense and foreign ministries vowed in written statements that they would respond "with full force" to the assault. Syrian government forces have also carried out heavy bombing attacks on the opposition-held zone of Idlib throughout the day. A Syrian man who helped set up decorations at the military academy for the occasion said that following the event, people went down to the courtyard, and the explosives suddenly struck. He added that they had no idea where they came from and noted that they saw corpses across the ground. Video footage showed bodies, some wearing fatigues and others civilian clothes, lying in pools of blood in a large courtyard. Some of the corpses were smoking, and others were still on fire. People could also be heard screaming, and one could be pinpointed saying, "Put him out!" as a spray of gunfire sounds in the background. Read Also: Dozens Killed in Latest Russian Strike, Ukraine Says Yearslong Conflict In a statement, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the fatalities numbered more than 100, and roughly 125 were injured. The conflict in Syria began with protests against President Bashar al-Assad in 2011. Still, according to The Guardian, it quickly spiraled into an all-out war that has already left hundreds of thousands of people dead and millions displaced. Additionally, the Syrian army has been gutted by the long period of fighting and relied heavily on military support from Russia and Iran and Tehran-backed fighters from Lebanon, Iraq, and other nations. Following the attack, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern regarding the drone strike and "reports of retaliatory shelling" in northwest Syria. The Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, said the attacks targeted 20 villages and towns across the Idlib governorate. The drone strikes were launched from government positions south and east of Jabal al-Zawiya and started at around 3:30 p.m. local time. Locals also noted that the drone attacks targeted a power station and a popular market, said Aljazeera. Related Article: Blue on Blue? US F-16 Fighter Jet Shoots Down Turkish Drone Over Syria @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A pair of real estate professionals, who as a married couple operated a real estate investment fund, were indicted this week by the federal grand jury for conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Paul Waln, 58, of Dallas, Texas, and his ex-wife Tamara King, aka Tamara Waln, 54, of Toledo, Ohio, previously resided in Bellevue and Kirkland, Washington. The pair are scheduled to appear on the indictment on October 12. READ ALSO: Statement from Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on U.S. - EU Summit According to the indictment, between August 2009 and December 2013, Waln solicited investments in a real estate fund called Halcyon. Twenty-two victims, most of whom were Seattle residents, invested $2.25 million in the fund. Waln told investors their funds would be pooled to purchase and renovate an apartment building in West Seattle, and then used for other real estate projects. Investors were required to leave their money in the investment pool for ten years. Waln said that at the end of the 10-year period, Waln would return the investment principal and earnings, which he estimated amount to a 20 percent annual return. Waln was entitled to receive a 1% fee for managing the investment fund. In 2013, Waln married King, who was also a real estate agent. Waln and King then jointly managed the investment fund. Between February 2014 and December 2018, they conspired to misappropriate money from the fund to pay their personal expenses. The pair secretly transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time from the fund to their management company, and then transferred the money to King's personal accounts. In some instances, they wrote secret memos characterizing these transfers as "loans," but the money was never repaid. Investors were never told about the "loans." Under the terms of the investment, Waln and King were required to distribute the investment funds to investors in 2019. But by the end of 2018, they had misappropriated all the money. In December 2018, Waln sent investors a letter falsely claiming that the fund's general contractor had been diagnosed with cancer. Waln told investors that this would result in a two-to-three-year delay before he would be able to return investors' money. The contractor in question never had a cancer diagnosis. Finally, in October 2019, King informed the investors that all the money was gone, and the investment had failed. All the remaining investors lost their entire investments. The defendants are charged with conspiracy, eight counts of wire fraud, and two counts of money laundering. Conspiracy is punishable by up to five years in prison. Wire fraud and money laundering are punishable by up to twenty years in prison. The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case is being investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth Wilkinson. indictment_waln.pdf (1.06 MB) READ MORE: Statement from President Joe Biden on North Carolina Enacting Medicaid Expansion @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Genres : Drama, Thriller Director : Jafar Panahi Plot Synopsis One of the worlds great cinema artists, Jafar Panahi has been carefully crafting self-reflexive works about artistic, personal, and political freedom for the past three decades, despite being banned from filmmaking by the Iranian government since 2010. In No Bearscompleted shortly before his imprisonment in 2022Panahi plays a fictionalized version of himself, a dissident filmmaker who relocates to a rural border town to direct a film remotely in nearby Turkey and finds himself embroiled in a local scandal. As he struggles to complete his feature, Panahi must confront the opposing pulls of tradition and progress, city and country, belief and evidence, as well as the universal desire to reject oppression. SPECIAL FEATURES (Photo : David Dee Delgado/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 13: Suspect Frank James is escorted out of the 9th Precinct by police after being arrested for his connection to the mass shooting at the 36 St subway station on April 13, 2022 in New York City. Frank James, the suspected gunman in Tuesday's shooting, was arrested this afternoon after a hotline caller's tip. James is alleged to have shot 10 people, critically injuring five, on the N train during Tuesday's morning rush hour. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images) Frank James has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars. The verdict was delivered on Thursday in Brooklyn federal court, where James received a staggering 10 life sentences. Notably, each sentence corresponds to one of the victims during the April 2022 shooting incident that occurred in a crowded subway car during rush hour. NYC Mass Subway Shooter Frank James Sentenced to Life In a dramatic courtroom statement, James took full responsibility for the attack, declaring, "I alone am responsible. They in no way deserved to have what happened to them." In a statement, 64-year-old James explained that his actions were motivated by a desire to bring attention to specific conditions within the city where he grew up. According to James' attorney, his client allegedly did not receive the necessary health care treatment from the city. In a shocking incident that unfolded on the morning of April 12, 2022, James launched a series of dangerous actions aboard a Manhattan-bound N train in Brooklyn. Reportedly, James detonated a smoke canister and proceeded to open fire, creating a highly alarming situation for the passengers on board. In the incident, gunfire directly wounded ten individuals, while several others sustained various injuries. In a request made by prosecutors, they sought a life sentence for the accused. The sentencing hearing commenced promptly at noon today at Brooklyn Federal Court, where a series of significant victim impact statements were delivered by the injured passengers. During a news conference held after the hearing, Breon Peace, the US attorney for the Eastern District of New York, confidently declared, "Today marks the delivery of justice." In a shocking incident that unfolded during the morning rush hour on April 12, 2022, Frank James carried out a meticulously planned assault on unsuspecting commuters in a subway car. According to Peace, James opened fire, discharging a total of 32 shots and inflicting serious injuries upon 10 individuals. In a significant legal development, Frank James has been handed down a verdict that will see him spend the rest of his life behind bars. The court has sentenced James to a total of 10 concurrent life sentences, along with an additional consecutive sentence of 10 years. This decision marks a severe punishment for the acts committed by James. During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors unveiled fresh details regarding James' whereabouts and actions during the short period in which he managed to evade law enforcement following the shooting. Read Also: Nicholas Rossi To Be Extradited to US From Scotland; Rape Suspect Accused of Faking Own Death, Claims to be Irish Orphan Brooklyn Subway Shooting Incident According to prosecutors, it has been revealed that James, following the shooting incident, acquired a burner phone. This device was allegedly utilized by James to clandestinely monitor the media coverage surrounding his attack, all while evading law enforcement. Per Ny Post, James reportedly viewed a total of 31 news report videos regarding the subway shooting incident. In a post-hearing news conference, Peace emphasized the crucial role of the New York City transportation system, referring to it as the "daily life blood" that residents of the city rely on for safe transportation. According to Peace, Frank James allegedly aimed to undermine the feeling of security and sow fear and disorder within the city. In a tale of temporary triumph followed by ultimate defeat, the individual in question managed to achieve a fleeting sense of accomplishment with their plot. However, the indomitable spirit of the people of New York City, coupled with their unwavering commitment to upholding justice, proved insurmountable for the individual, leading to their ultimate failure. In a statement, Robert Kessane, the FBI special agent in charge of the bureau's joint terrorism task force, expressed his hope that the court's severe sentencing would provide closure and a feeling of justice for the victims. Kessane also emphasized that this punishment should serve as a strong deterrent for anyone contemplating the idea of traveling to terrorize the city. Related Article: Man With Rifle Returns to Wisconsin Capitol to See Gov. Tony Evers the Night After Being Arrested for Bringing Hand Gun @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A homeless man in Kansas is now facing murder charges after he was accused of killing and raping a 5-year-old girl in Topeka. Authorities said the suspect was identified as Mickel Cherry (25-year-old). As of writing, the homeless guy is jailed on a $2 million bond. Officials haven't disclosed when the man's next court appearance will happen. Kansas: Homeless Man Allegedly Rapes, Murders 5-Year-Old Girl According to Fox News' latest report, Cherry is facing one count of first-degree murder, capital murder, and rape in the death of 5-year-old Zoey Felix. Since he is facing a capital murder, the man could be eligible for the death penalty. But Shawnee County prosecutor Michael Kagay hasn't shared any details if they will seek a death penalty against Cherry. Meanwhile, the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit said they would represent the homeless man's case. The legal services provider's Chief Capital Defender, Mark Manna, confirmed this. Although no major details were shared by the latest murder case against the homeless man, Shawnee County Department of Corrections Deputy Director Timothy Phelps confirmed that the suspect and the victim once lived at the same address. However, it is unclear if the two individuals know each other, especially since Mickel was already homeless when he was arrested. Authorities said that the houseless guy has no criminal records, except for a misdemeanor criminal trespass conviction in Amarillo, Texas, as reported by News-Press Now. Read Also: Holyoke, Massachusetts Shooting Leaves Baby Dead After Pregnant Mom Was Shot, 3 Others Injured What Happened to Zoey? When they arrived at a gas station, law enforcement officers said fire crews were already attempting to save the girl's life. Unfortunately, she was later pronounced dead. Based on medical examinations at the hospital, the victim suffered from injuries consistent with sexual assault. Before the incident, neighbors of Zoey's family were already concerned about their situation. This is because the Felix family had no electricity. To help them, their neighbors even called the police and child welfare. "She just had a good spirit to her. Honestly, very outgoing, and smart. She was curious about everything. She'd ask you 1,001 questions, and she demanded answers for those too," said Shaniqua Bradley, one of their neighbors. As of press time, officials haven't released the specific cause of Zoey's death. But it looks like Kagay already considers the investigation complete. "I think the investigation into the murder and rape of this 5-year-old girl is fairly complete," said the district attorney. Related Article: Missing New York Girl: Authorities Issue Amber Alert After 9-Year-Old Charlotte Sena Vanishes on Camping Trip @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Niki Davidov/IAA via Getty Images) Scientists discovered ancient footprints that have recently been dated as far back as 21,000 to 23,000 years ago, upending the current known timeline of humans in the Americas. Scientists discovered ancient footprints that they believe are evidence of humans arriving earlier than previously thought in the Americas. The finding of the fossilized footprints that were made in what is not known as New Mexico was first made public in 2021. At the time, it was a historic discovery for archaeology and seemingly rewrote a chapter of the human story. However, new research now offers further evidence that the findings are more significant than initially believed. Ancient Fossilized Footprints While the ancient footprints look like they could have been made just yesterday, they were pressed into the mud roughly 21,000 to 23,000 years ago. This was found by using radiocarbon dating of the seeds of an aquatic plant that were preserved above and below the fossilized footprints. This timeline dramatically pushes back the timeline of humans' history in the Americas, the last landmass to be settled by prehistoric people. The 61 dated footprints, first found in the Tularosa Basin, near the edge of an ancient lake in White Sands National Park, were made when scientists think that massive ice sheets prevented humans from passing into North America, as per CNN. However, some archeologists have voiced concern and questioned the footprints' age established by the initial findings. They noted that aquatic plants such as Ruppia cirrhosa, used in the 2021 study, can acquire carbon from dissolved atoms in the water rather than the air, which could have a misleadingly early date. On Thursday, a follow-up study was published in Science. Researchers said they had produced two new lines of evidence to support their initial dates. In a statement, a research geologist at the US Geological Survey, Kathleen Springer, a co-lead author of the new study, said that they continued to forge ahead even when the original work was being published. Read Also: Nearly 41% Or Over 2,000 Amphibian Species in Danger of Becoming Extinct, Experts Claim Human History in the Americas She noted that they are confident with the original ages for the discovered ancient footprints, adding that they have strong geologic, hydrologic, and stratigraphic evidence. For a long time, there have been debates with regard to when and how early humans first migrated to the Americas. Edward Jolie, an anthropological archaeologist at the University of Arizona, said, "It's more or less a master class in how you do this." According to the Washington Post, she was part of the team that studied the White Sands footprints in the field but was not involved in the recent research. An archeological scientist at Cornell University, Thomas Urban, who was involved in the 2021 study but the latest one, said that this has been controversial for so long because it is quite significant. He said that it centers around understanding the last chapter of the people of the world. An independent archeological geologist in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Thomas Stafford, said that he was a bit skeptical before but is now convinced thanks to the new study, which he was not a part of, said Yahoo News. Related Article: Campi Flegrei: Italian Authorities Plan to Evacuate Naples as Volcanic Earthquakes Increase @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Jung Yeon-je / AFP) (JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images) During its annual developer conference (SDC), Samsung unveiled a plan to partner with universities and academic hospitals for its "digital health ecosystem." Samsung unveils plans for a new "digital health ecosystem" with universities and academic hospitals during the Korean tech giant's annual developer conference, SDC23. The company's yearly event kicked off with a keynote that was live streamed on YouTube, and it revealed that it would be partnering with leading universities and academic hospitals. This is part of efforts to enhance Samsung's digital health ecosystem through collaborations with experts coming from those institutions. Samsung's Annual Developer Conference The partnership will include the sharing of existing research between said institutions and Samsung itself as well as new research to understand better how various aspects of a person's life can affect their health and better predict risk factors that can lead to serious diseases, including ones that are related to the heart. The Korean tech giant's smartwatches, similar to those from other manufacturers, enable users to track their sleeping habits and offer advice on fixing issues affecting their sleep quality. Additionally, through a partnership with the MIT Media Lab, Samsung hopes to "investigate more unique sleep profiles, to better personalize sleep interventions for users, and to explore better models for sleep regularity, homeostasis, and circadian rhythm," as per Sam Mobile. The company will also be working with Harvard's Brigham & Women's Hospital to gain insights on how to help users develop higher resilience against things that stress them out during their day-to-day lives. Its partnership with Tulane University School of Medicine will instead see Samsung's BioActive Sensor tech and machine learning be used to understand the indicators of cardiovascular diseases more deeply. The data and research information gathered from these partnerships will later be used to enhance Samsung's wearable products' health and fitness tracking capabilities. These include the company's smartwatches and the upcoming Galaxy smart ring. However, it might take a while to observe any major breakthroughs or improvements. Read Also: Extremely Rare Foxdata Chrome Leopard Nintendo 64 (N64) Controller Going for up to $1200 at Auction Advancing Technologies On top of the digital health ecosystem plans, Samsung also revealed a range of security innovations across its ecosystem of products and services. This comes with the release of One UI 6 and the innovations include updates to Samsung Knox Matrix with passkeys and end-to-end encryption for backed-up and restored Samsung Cloud data, according to the Samsung Newsroom. The new advancements are designed for an era of hyperconnectivity to ensure that security is not compromised when multiple devices connect and share information. Samsung highlighted how these innovations will push the tech industry forward and empower users with more ways to do what they do safely. During SDC23, the Korean tech giant also announced the expansion of Tizen, Samsung's operating system, to power more devices, including home appliances with a 7-inch screen. Additionally, on-device AI and the Home AI Edge Hub will enhance the Tizen experience. Using the Home AI Edge Hub, appliances with lower computing power can request AI services from devices with stronger computing resources, which makes all devices in the home intelligent, said VentureBeat. Related Article: Apple Released iOS 17.0.3 Update in Attempt To Fix iPhone 15's Overheating Issue @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Three new X subscription tiers are expected to arrive soon. These paid subscription plans are believed to be based on the platform's existing Premium plan. This was revealed by a source who claims he attended the social media company's recent briefing call with debt holders. If you are an X user, here's what you need to know about these new paid tiers. X Premium Plan Could Be Divided Into Three Tiers Business Insider reported that Elon Musk is planning to release new paid tiers for his X platform. These are specifically the rumored Premium Basic, Premium Standard, and Premium Plus. Based on the anonymous source, the price of each tier will depend on the number of ads shown to users. As of writing, the X Premium plan costs $8 per month. This existing service offers the blue checkmark, as well as provides users early access to new features, and allows them to edit their X posts. This is not the first time that the tech executive has shown interest in rolling out new paid services. In September, Musk talked with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that the social media company might release a paywall for all its users. "We are actually going to come up with a lower-tier pricing. We want it to be just a small amount of money," said the billionaire. Elon added that the reason for this fee is to fight against the rising numbers of bots within his platform. This is criticized by many people, especially critics of Elon Musk. Now, the three new tiers are also being bashed by some experts, saying that they're just another way for Elon Musk to squeeze every penny he can from the platform's users. Read Also: Twitter's X Rebranding Leads to Downrating; Frustrated Users Now Leaving 1-Star Negative Reviews What to Know About X's New Subscription Tiers According to Mashable SE Asia's latest report, @aaronp613, a well-known developer and leaker, was able to acquire the X app's iOS update code. Thanks to his efforts, he was able to identify more details about the rumored tiers of the platform. Here is the information the leaker shared: X Premium Basic: Full Ads X Premium Standard: Half Ads X Premium Plus: No Ads Unlike those who criticize the three new paid plans, other experts claim that these three tiers could benefit users instead. This is because dividing the current Premium plan can allow consumers to have more options, and possibly get cheaper prices than the $8 monthly fee. However, it is important to remember that the details acquired by the tech leaker don't mean that X will really roll out the three new tiers. It will still depend on Elon Musk if he will release these subscription services or give in to what critics say against him. Related Article: Elon Musk: X Users Who are Unfairly Treated to Receive Financial Help-Billionaire Says There's No Limitation @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. You may not know it, but bed bugs can really ruin your vacation. Since the winter months are already here, many people will try to spend their vacations in hotels. But, even if you're not on the beach, forests, or other outdoor places, bed bugs can still "bug" you and your family. This is true even in air-conditioned hotel rooms. Travel Safety Guide 2023: Check for Bed Bugs in Hotel Rooms Cari Curri, a flight attendant TikToker, said that it is important to check for bed bugs in any Airbnbs, such as hotels. "It is more important now than ever to be checking your hotel rooms for bed bugs - and your Airbnbs," she said via Travel+Leisure. She said that no matter where she goes-whether it's a cheap hotel or a 5-star one-she always checks for pests, especially bed bugs. Her warning about these annoying insects comes after news about bed bug infestations over France, the United Kingdom, and other parts of the globe. To help other travelers Curri decided to provide her personal tips on how to check for bed bugs in hotel rooms. The most important thing she always does is to avoid allowing her bags to touch the hard floor onto the carpet and on the bed whenever she checks in. Instead, she will pull the bedding all the way to the mattress level to check every corner. The TikToker said that she usually does this using her handset's flashlight. After that, she will check the fabric seating and luggage racks to see if there are signs of bed bugs hiding in the tiny spaces. Once she sees that there are some bed bugs, even if they are few, the flight attendant will call the front desk immediately for assistance. Most of the time, she will request to be transferred to another room and repeat the process. Read Also: Retirement Guide 2023: How to Avoid Running Out of Money-Signs and Things You Can Do Avoiding Bed Bugs If you think that checking for bed bugs is the only thing you need to do, then think again. The New York Times provided other important habits you need to practice when traveling during bed bug seasons: Arriving at the Hotel Before doing your bed bug inspection, bring your luggage and other belongings to the hotel room's bathroom since this area is cold (bed bugs are usually attracted to warmth, carbon dioxide, and the blood of humans). After that, check anything where bed bugs can hide, such as side tables, bed skirts, box springs, bedding, and even the alarm clock. When Staying at the Hotel Instead of placing your clothes, bags, and other belongings inside the hotel room's cabinets and other storage, place them in sealable plastic bags. Make sure that they are large enough and airtight to prevent these pests from invading them. When Returning Home Once you are in your house, the best thing you can do is to put all your clothes and other belongings you brought in a light-colored surface. This will allow you to see bed bugs that accidentally came along with you. If you really brought some of these pests, use a vacuum to capture them or shake your infested clothes in a bathtub filled with water. Related Article: How to Know If Your Partner is Cheating: Here are the 'Serial Cheater' Signs to Check For @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The anonymous bomb threat that caused the Philippines to place all of its commercial airports on heightened security alert is most likely a "hoax," according to the head of the aviation police department, who made the statement on Friday, October 6. Flights from Manila to Davao, Bicol, and the popular islands of Palawan and Cebu were allegedly threatened in an anonymous email sent to air traffic services, as per reports. 'Business as Usual' After receiving an anonymous email warning that flights taking off from Manila to various tourist locations may explode, authorities requested increased security at 42 airports around the country. According to Reuters, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said airports had been asked on Wednesday, October 4, to beef up security following bomb threats. Manila officials have reportedly increased safety measures at airport terminals by deploying more police and canine patrols as they verify the danger. Despite the warning, Manila's major international airport and the country's two largest airlines continued regular operations. Transport Minister Jaime Bautista said that there would be no disruptions to flights. According to an anonymous source at Philippine Airlines, who was not authorized to talk to the media, things are "business as usual" at the flag carrier and it is following usual protocols. In a statement by Transport Minister Bautista, there is no anticipation of any effect on any regularly scheduled flights. He wants to reassure those who are traveling that processes are in place to protect everyone's safety and security. Read Also: Productivity or Forced to Work: Philippines' Unemployment Rate Decreases, Says PSA Probably Hoax? A screenshot of the emailed threat was referenced in a document from the CAAP. It was dated October 4 but was only shared with media outlets on Friday. The letter did not include the term "bomb" but rather warned recipients to "please beware" because an aircraft would explode at Manila's international airport. It was also predicted that "Cebu, Palawan, Bicol, and Davao will also be hit" in the anonymous email. More than a million domestic and international tourists visited Cebu last year, making it one of the most popular beach destinations in the area, while over 5 million people visited Bicol in the center of the Philippines. On Wednesday morning at 8:00 AM (0000 GMT), aviation police commander Jack Wanky acknowledged that a threat had been issued, although he expressed doubt about its veracity. "It's most likely a hoax. Nothing is happening," he stated in a report by Reuters. "Airport operations [are] continuous, it's normal." The email was first sent to a minor airport in Bicol. The National Capital Region (NCR) Police Department was notified of a similar incident by the aviation police. Kevin Beachley, an Australian on a business trip, was flying out of Manila on Friday and said he was not concerned. "It's just a simple way of causing a lot of trouble without actually having to do anything other than a phone call," according to him. Philippine citizen Joy Nequinto was more skeptical, though. "Our security is not that safe, especially in Manila. I do love the Philippines, but sometimes I feel scared at the airport." Read Also: Conan the Security Cat: Meet the Philippines' Adopted Feline Friend @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday (October 5) that his country's forces successfully completed the testing of a new nuclear-powered strategic missile, the first time in decades the Kremlin has done so. Putin also threatened to revoke its ratification of a nuclear test ban treaty, raising fears that Russia could resume nuclear testing. In his hours-long remarks in a forum in Sochi, Putin said Moscow has almost completed work on "modern types of strategic weapons," which he first announced in 2018. The name of the new nuclear missile is Burevestnik (Russian for "Storm Petrel") - NATO codename: "Skyfall". "The last successful test of the Burevestnik, a global-range cruise missile with a nuclear propulsion system, was carried out," he said, explaining that the only thing the Kremlin needed to do was to resolve what he called some "purely administrative and bureaucratic" procedures in order to move on to mass production of the weapons and commissioning them into its arsenal. "We will do this soon," he added. Read Also: Russia Plans New Naval Base on Black Sea Coast Near Occupied Georgia Region Following Crimea Retreat Serious or Empty Threat? Since the start of Russia's war with Ukraine, Putin has repeatedly threatened to use its nuclear weapons should its sovereignty or territorial integrity be threatened. This mindset is currently part of Russia's nuclear doctrine, which he said was not in need of any update. He added that he was not ready to say whether nuclear testing was actually needed, but he threatened to revoke Russia's ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Theory, which banned all kinds of nuclear explosions. Putin added such a position would mirror Washington's stance of signing the treaty but not ratifying it. Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin wrote his support of Putin's plan on Telegram, saying that lawmakers would look into it during the lower house of parliament's next session. On the other hand, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov clarified Friday (October 6) that revoking the ratification would not mean that Russia planned to conduct nuclear tests. The New York Times reported earlier this week that, according to satellite imagery and aviation it obtained, Russia might be preparing to test an experimental nuclear-powered cruise missile, or might have already tested one, but has not confirmed if it was the Burevestnik Putin was talking about. However, analysts like International Institute for Strategic Studies director of strategy, technology, and arms control William Alberque were not convinced there was too much to be worried about from the weapon. "This is a stupid weapon system, designed by stupid people for operational reasons that are not tremendously useful," he told NBC News. While Russian authorities claimed the missile could bypass missile defense systems and reach Hawaii and the Pacific Coast of the US, there have been doubts about how quickly Russia could develop a major new weapon of such a scale and how easy it would be to handle. On top of that were alleged reports of Burevestnik failing tests in 2019 and causing a radiation spike near the test site. Related Article: Dozens Killed in Latest Russian Strike, Ukraine Says @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Photo by Mary Altafeer-Pool/Getty Images) Former United States President Donald Trump won a partial victory after Judge Aileen Cannon ordered a temporary pause to deadlines in the Republican businessman's hush money case. Former United States President Donald Trump won a partial victory in his legal challenges after Judge Aileen Cannon ordered a temporary pause on the deadlines about the Republican businessman's hush money case. The case involves alleged payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels and is one of many legal challenges the former president faces. The pause will affect a series of significant pre-trial deadlines of prosecutors' sharing of sensitive materials that Trump is entitled to while building his defense in the case. Judge Grants Temporary Pause in Trump Case Judge Cannon authorized a paperless order that delayed the deadline she previously set for October 2023 through May 2024. The latter is when the trial for the former president and his three co-defendants in the case is scheduled to start in Fort Pierce, Florida. While the federal judge's order does not address the May 20 start date for the trial, it did note that all of the scheduled deadlines that were connected to classified information were put on hold "pending consideration and resolution" of a Trump motion that proposed a new timeline when it was filed last month, as per Yahoo News. The filing on Sept. 22 accused special counsel Jack Smith's team of making allegedly unjust efforts to "foist rushed CIPA litigation on the Court, President Trump, and his co-defendants." On Wednesday, a separate motion was filed by the former president's legal team, making the trial schedule a point of contention after Trump requested a delay of at least six months with regard to the trial's start date that would push it beyond the 2024 presidential elections. That particular motion cited ongoing legal litigation over the sensitive evidence alongside scheduling conflicts with Trump's other federal criminal case in Washington, DC. In the filing, Trump's attorneys said that the Mar. 4, 2023, trial date and the underlying schedule in the hush money case require the defendant and his lawyers to be in two places at once. Read Also: Donald Trump Seeks Dismissal of Election Interference Case, Claims Presidential Immunity Partial Legal Victory However, some legal experts questioned Cannon's decision on Friday and suggested it could pave the way for the former president to delay the trial date. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, national security lawyer Bradley Moss said that the real question now is how long it would take Cannon to rule on the matter. At the center of the case is how the defendants and their attorneys will handle the classified materials based on national security requirements. Trump and his attorneys argued last month that he and his co-defendants have not yet had access to "significant portions of the materials," according to ABC News. The classified materials involved in the case are so sensitive, prosecutors said, that they cannot be stored even in the highly secure facility in Miami that Trump and his legal team have been using. They argued that the items must be reviewed under strict supervision in Washington to avoid potential issues, said the New York Times. Related Article: Justice Department's Press Release on the Indictment of Former US Army Sergeant Joseph Daniel Schmidt @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Ludovic MARIN / AFP) (LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images) Hungary and Poland voiced their opposition to the European Union's joint statement on new migration policies to address irregular immigration in the region. Hungary and Poland stood together to reject the European Union's proposed migration reform that threatened to derail the Granada summit involving the region's leaders. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki both shot down a proposed statement for inclusion in a document on the Granada summit's conclusion on Friday. The situation forced European Council President Charles Michel to issue a separate statement in his name. Hungary and Poland Reject EU Migration Policy He talked about asylum policy and border protection and noted that the French and German leaders said that the legislative process on the issue would still move forward as planned. Additionally, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who hosted the summit, dismissed concerns about the situation. Sanchez added that the most important thing is what their interior ministers achieved just a few weeks ago with the agreement on crisis regulation. He argued that this is because that is what is relevant in political terms, as per Aljazeera. However, the Granada summit did give Morawiecki, facing a general election this weekend, and Orban a stage to brandish populist credentials for their domestic audiences. The Polish prime minister boasted that his veto of the joint statement on migration meant that the process would not be able to move forward. On the other hand, the Hungarian prime minister compared accepting refugees to sexual assault. Orban noted that the migration agreement is impossible politically, not just today, but for the next few years. Read Also: Pope Francis Opens Vatican Synod on Catholic Church's Future; Publishes New Document on Environment, Climate He argued that this is because legally, the region is, as he said, "we are raped." He questioned the desire for a compromise during this kind of situation. The bloc of European nations has continued to be divided on addressing irregular migration in the region. So far this year, roughly 250,000 people have arrived beyond regular border crossings to the EU, home to about 450 million people. According to Reuters, Berlin, Madrid, and Rome all voiced their concern about increasing irregular migration, which is a politically sensitive matter. Addressing Irregular Migration Morawiecki also accused Germany and Poland's opposition leader of collaborating to push new EU laws that would fine countries if they refused to host people from the Middle East and Africa. He said that his country does not agree with someone else furnishing its home. This week, 22 out of the 27 member nations of the EU agreed on ways to handle irregular immigration at times of significantly high arrivals. It was a step forward to reforming the bloc's inefficient asylum and migration rules. In response to Hungary and Poland's actions, EU leaders agreed to remove a 119-word paragraph related to the bloc's general pledges on migration from the text of a final communique concluding their summit in Granada. They instead adopted a "Granada declaration" on other issues that included an overall strategy for the bloc in the years to come. The Guardian said that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also played down Hungary and Poland's objections to the statement, saying that there was still "broad support" at the summit for the proposed laws. Related Article: EU Member States Agree on Series of New Procedures To Address Migration Crisis @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Possessing psychedelic drugs such as magic mushrooms will remain a serious criminal offense in California after governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill decriminalizing their possession. Newsom issued a vague statement saying more "needs to be done" regarding medical guidelines. Newsom also vetoed a ban on caste discrimination, claiming it's already illegal. Newsom, a Democrat who championed legalizing cannabis in 2016, said in a statement Saturday that more needs to be done before California decriminalizes the hallucinogens. In recent years, psychedelics have emerged as an alternative approach to treating a variety of mental illnesses, including post-traumatic stress disorder. The Federal Drug Administration designated psilocybin as a "breakthrough therapy" for treatment-resistant depression in 2019 and recently published a draft guideline on using psychedelics in clinical trials. Public opinion on psychedelics, which have been mostly associated with 1960s drug culture, has also shifted to support therapeutic use. Perhaps a flavor of the "Authoritarianism Zero" centrist that'll be on offer when this guy runs for pres, no move made without careful triangulation of landline-polled Romney voters, industry lobbyists, and the dream of the eternal 1990s. When the network of light-bathed healing centers with tinkling ambient music where it's sold as a $300-an-hour wellness experience is ready to roll, maybe then he'll have his pen out. Dalits, though, until they can out-donate big tech, they can keep hoping. On Friday, a family in Florida was convicted to federal prison for more than 12 years for selling dangerous drugs and claiming it is the remedy for COVID-19, containing a toxic industrial bleach. Jonathan Grenon, 37, Jordan Grenon, 29, Joseph Grenon, 36, and Mark Grenon, 66, were found guilty of conspiring to defraud the United States by distributing an illegal and mislabeled medication, the Department of Justice confirmed. The Grenon's Family Scheme The Grenon Family sold $1 million worth of their "Mineral Miracle Solution," which was claimed to be a cure for COVID-19. The mislabeled drugs were sold under the disguise of a church group called Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, federal prosecutors confirmed to ABC News. The "Mineral Miracle Solution" (MMS) is composed of sodium chlorite and water. The family attracted victims by promoting their drugs to cure 95% of known disorders, such as COVID-19, Alzheimer's, autism, brain cancer, HIV/AIDS, and multiple sclerosis. It was revealed that the US Food and Drug Administration did not even approve MMS to be in the market as a treatment for COVID-19 and other diseases that the Grenons have proclaimed. The prosecutors showed the jury images and video of hundreds of blue chemical barrels filled to the brim with roughly 10,000 pounds of sodium chlorite powder found in Jonathan Grenon's backyard in Bradenton during his trial. The labels on the drums warned consumers not to ingest the substance because it was poisonous. The drugs were proven to have hazardous effects when taken. Read Also: Dead Star Hits Earth With Powerful Energy Blast, Baffling Scientists Food and Drug Administration Recognized Symptoms According to the DOJ, when MMS was orally taken, it transformed into chlorine dioxide, a potent bleach used for bleaching pulp, paper, and textiles. The main MMS component had warning signs stating the substance was poisonous, explosive, and extremely risky to consume. "The FDA has received reports of consumers who have suffered from severe vomiting, severe diarrhea, life-threatening low blood pressure caused by dehydration, and acute liver failure after drinking these products," the FDA said. The FDA warned about the intake of MMS way back in 2010, wherein the MMS caused severe response. The worst cases of taking MMS lead to people's death and poses life-threatening conditions. The Grenons denied their wrongdoings during the trial by telling the prosecutors that the revenue from selling MMS was for church donations to avoid going to jail. They threatened to use force against the sitting judge and vowed to return with another lie. The church was found not to be related to any religious affiliations. The attainment of the arrest of the Grenon Family was assisted by the Office of International Affairs (OIA) and the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS) Judicial Attaches of the Justice Department in Bogota, Colombia. Additionally, they are dealing with Mark and Joseph Grenon's deportation. The federal government sued the Grenons and Genesis II Church of Health and Healing. The DOJ summarized Jonathan and Jordan's case under fraud of mislabeled medication. Related Article: US DOJ Announces Indictments Against Chinese Fentanyl Supply Chain Producers @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Return to Nature Funeral Home, a green funeral service company in Colorado, is under investigation after authorities discovered hundreds of corpses improperly stored. Officials said they were alerted to the funeral service's location in Penrose, Colorado after residents complained that the establishment was reeking of foul stench. Colorado Green Funeral Found Storing Hundreds of Corpses Improperly The Return to Nature Funeral Home, which specializes in green burials, is being investigated by the Fremont County Sheriff's Office. The investigation is being assisted by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the FBI. When authorities arrived at the scene, they discovered over 115 dead bodies improperly stored at the Colorado funeral building. Unfortunately, officials said that identifying all the corpses would take months to complete. During a press conference on Friday, Oct. 6, officials said that the improperly stored corpses at the Return to Nature Funeral Home created a hazardous scene. "Without providing too much detail to avoid further victimizing these families, the air of the funeral home where the bodies were stored was horrific," explained Fremont County Sheriff Allen Cooper. Since the issue is quite serious, Colorado Governor Jared Polis decided to issue a local disaster emergency to make state resources available to investigators. Authorities said that it is unclear whether the discovered corpses were intended for cremation or burial. However, the official website of the Green Funeral Home confirmed that they already halted their cremation services in July. "There have been a lot of questions and concerns expressed by the community, especially those families who entrusted their loved ones to this funeral home," explained Cooper via Yahoo News. He added that their main priority right now is to focus on the families of the dead bodies. Read Also: China Surging COVID-19 Deaths Overwhelm Funeral Homes Prompting To Give Families Only 10 Minutes To Mourn What Return to Nature Funeral Home Clients Should Do The Associated Press reported that family members getting the Return to Nature Funeral Home services or if their deceased loved ones are already in the green funeral service provider should contact the sheriff's office and other investigators. Fremont County Coroner Randy Keller already warned that the ongoing investigation could be a very long process since they need to conduct forensic identification, such as getting the DNA and fingerprints of the affected corpses. As of press time, the FBI is sending additional investigators. These include a technical hazardous response team and a disaster recovery team. The FBI promised that family members would receive a notification and further assistance once the dead bodies were identified. Related Article: NYC Funeral Home Gets Body and Botches Embalming, Family Files Court Case @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. On Tuesday, 'The Last of Us' star Ashley Johnson, 40, and six other women accused Brian Wayne Foster, a former critical employee, of domestic violence, intentional infliction of mental distress, sexual battery and assault, and stalking. Johnson and other women processed and filed a civil complaint against Foster, her ex-boyfriend, in Los Angeles. Ashley Johnson, Others File Lawsuit Against Ex-Boyfriend The copies of the lawsuit's complaints, which differ from woman to woman, were revealed to process the investigation. Allegations against Foster include assault, gender abuse, domestic violence, and civil rights crimes. According to the court document, Foster's actions caused Johnson to believe he intended to murder her. The seven victims are California residents, including Johnson's sister, Haylie Langseth. Johnson claims in the lawsuit that the intoxicated Foster harassed and groped her during a family gathering in front of her kids. Foster was also connected to a controversy involving physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, wherein several fabrications, threats, intimidation, and manipulation were done to control the victims. Johnson allegedly said Foster threatened to extort her for $150,000, claiming he would expose "personal information," in an interview with AVClub. The lawsuit also includes allegations of verbal abuse and groping from several other women, including subordinates at Critical Role, who claim that Foster exploited his position at the company to seek access to women. These allegations are in addition to those made by Johnson and her sister. Read Also: Washington Seaplane Crash Update: NTSB Blames One Mechanical Issue; Agency Explains How To Avoid Similar Incidents Johnson Traumatized After Breakup With Foster The Los Angeles Police Department assisted Johnson when she requested assistance in May, and they looked into her allegations. Foster started acting strangely after the couple split in March 2023, carrying a sizable black duffel bag, an ammo case containing two airsoft pistols altered to look like real ones, and a garotte, a device for strangling people. According to the lawsuit, Foster seized control of Johnson's home security cameras and microphones to monitor her and track her comings and goings after Foster was forced to leave Johnson's house by the police due to an Emergency Protective Order. "After years of suffering Foster's abuse and being pushed towards an emotional breakdown as a result, Plaintiffs have had enough," the suit stated. To shield others from suffering the same fate as Foster's victims, plaintiffs attempt to break the silence. No woman should have to endure the abuse and fear that Foster inflicted upon the Plaintiffs and other women. Ashley Johnson remained brave and continued the lawsuit with the other women whom Foster had sexually abused. As the investigation continues, other victims are now speaking up against Foster. The collaboration of the women to take down Foster is an example of women's empowerment and advocacy against rape and sexual abuse. Until now, Johnson is still recovering from her trauma and issues with Foster. Related Article: India: Girl Gang-Raped, Brutally Dumped in 50 Ft. Deep Well as New Delhi Faces Outrage Over Increasing Sex Assaults | @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images) A member of the Israeli security forces stands along a debris-strewn street in Tel Aviv, after it was hit by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale attack against Israel on October 7, firing thousands of rockets from Gaza and sending fighters to kill or abduct people as Israel retaliated with devastating air strikes. In a stunning turn of events, Israel has declared itself at war following a bold and unprecedented strike by Hamas. Vowing to seek vengeance on an immense scale, Israel finds itself on high alert after Hamas launched a barrage of rockets across the heavily fortified border with Gaza. This shocking attack, executed through land, sea, and air, has left the nation in a state of heightened tension and uncertainty. Israel War: Civilians, Security Held Hostage After Massive Palestinian Attack he Palestinian militant group has caught Israel off guard with a military threat, exactly 50 years after the harrowing Yom Kippur or October war. This unexpected development marks the most significant challenge Israel has encountered in the past five decades. In a distressing turn of events, a significant number of Israelis have reportedly been held captive in an Israeli settlement situated in close proximity to the Gaza border. Disturbing footage capturing individuals being forcefully handled has emerged on various social media platforms, further intensifying concerns surrounding this incident. In a swift and decisive move, Israel wasted no time in retaliating against the early morning assault. Responding with full force, the nation launched a series of attacks within the Gaza region. As tensions escalated, warning sirens blared across the southern and central areas of the country, prompting Israel to also call up its military reservists. According to Israeli army officials, Saturday has been described as "the worst day for Israeli civilians ever." Reports suggest that the tragic event has resulted in a staggering death toll of at least 150 Israelis, while over 1,500 individuals have been reported injured. In a recent statement, Major Nir Dinar of the Israeli army expressed astonishment at the unprecedented figures involved in the ongoing situation. Describing the capture and hostage-taking of Israelis as both "unbearable" and "terrible," Major Dinar highlighted the severity of the issue at hand. An attack unfolded on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, leaving Israelis in a state of alarm. As the sun rose, sirens blared throughout the southern and central regions of the country, including the bustling cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, as per The Independent. Hamas, reportedly launched a daring assault on the border, targeting nearby settlements. Shockingly, there are even reports of individuals paragliding from Gaza into Israel as part of these attacks. Read Also: US Tourist Jailed Over Damaged Roman Sculptures at Israel Museum US President Joe Biden Offers Israel 'All Appropriate Means of Support' In a recent video shared on social media, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a bold statement, declaring that the nation is currently engaged in a war. Netanyahu has issued orders for strikes on Gaza and has urgently called for an "extensive reserve mobilization" in response to the unprecedented incursion. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has strongly denounced what he has described as an "appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists." The President has unequivocally stated that Israel possesses the right to protect itself and its citizens. Biden added, "My Administration's support for Israel's security is rock solid and unwavering." In a recorded message that has emerged, Mohammed Deif, the enigmatic leader of the military wing of the group, has made a strong statement, declaring "Enough is enough." Per NBC News, Deif's message serves as a rallying cry, urging Palestinians to unite and join the ongoing fight. In a momentous declaration, he proclaimed that today marked the pinnacle of the ultimate conflict aimed at eradicating the final vestiges of occupation on our planet. Furthermore, he revealed that an astounding 5,000 rockets had been unleashed into the skies. The militant group has announced that it has successfully taken a significant number of hostages, which reportedly includes several high-ranking Israeli officers.In a somber tone, Western leaders expressed their deep concern and sorrow over the sudden eruption of violence. Related Article: Israel Forces Kill 2 Palestinians, Injure Dozens in Occupied West Bank @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. There are rising concerns for defense leaders as Israel suffered from a devastating strike by Hamas terrorists who breached boundaries surrounding Gaza and wandered at liberty, murdering dozens of people in Israeli communities. Reuters reported that on the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, the Israeli military appeared to have been taken off guard once again by an unexpected strike. Retired Israeli National Security Council chief General Giora Eiland noted, "It looks quite similar to what happened at that time." According to his statement in a meeting with the media, Israel was surprised by a well-coordinated strike. A military spokesperson has said that conversations on intelligence preparation would take place in the future; however, the focus right now is on combat operations. He told reporters at a briefing that the issue will be discussed when it needs to be discussed. Israel-Hamas Conflict Israel has always seen Hamas as an acknowledged adversary, but since inflicting major damage on Gaza during a 10-day war in 2021, the country has used a combination of bribes and threats to keep the blockaded enclave peaceful. A strict ban and the continual threat of air attacks were maintained, but economic incentives, such as thousands of work permits, were granted to Gazans so that they might find employment in Israel or the occupied West Bank. While violence has raged in the West Bank for the last 18 months, it has been relatively peaceful in Gaza, with the exception of occasional cross-border fights between members of the smaller Islamic Jihad organization and Hamas. The right-wing administration of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long made a big deal about its security credentials and adopted an unyielding stance against the Palestinian terrorist organizations, especially Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007. See Also: PM Netanyahu Says Israel is at War After Deadly Palestinian Attack; US President Joe Biden Offers Support 'An Intelligence Failure' Israel's defenses seemed to collapse when Hamas soldiers, numbering in the hundreds, breached the perimeter and dispersed among the cities. Former US government deputy national intelligence officer for the Middle East and current member of the Atlantic Council think tank Jonathan Panikoff said, "This was an intelligence failure; it could not be otherwise." He added it constituted a security breach that undermined Israel's forceful and effective layered strategy against Gaza. Photos and videos from Gaza, showing citizens being dragged or marched into detention or lying dead on the streets, shocked Israelis to their core. An unprecedented number of Israelis, over 250, were murdered, and over 1,500 were injured in a single day. Palestinian terrorist organizations claimed to have seized scores of troops and that the military had suffered heavy casualties. See Also: Israel-Palestinian Conflict: Videos Show Devastating Moment Affecting Innocent Civilians @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Cannabis firms are still considered illegal businesses in the U.S. However, it looks like there's hope for entrepreneurs who want to start selling marijuana, thanks to a new legislation. The Secure & Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act was introduced in May 2017. Now, it looks like this legislation is getting close to becoming law. Will the U.S. government really allow the SAFER Banking Act to become a law to legalize cannabis businesses? SAFER Banking Act: What It Means to Cannabis Businesses According to The Guardian's latest report, 38 U.S. states already legalized cannabis for medical use. Meanwhile, 23 of them allow the use of marijuana for recreational purposes. Aside from these, eight more U.S. states decriminalized the use of cannabis. However, although the use of marijuana is already legal in numerous U.S. states, running cannabis businesses is still somehow illegal. Unlike normal businesses, cannabis firms can't easily run their advertisements on Facebook and other social media platforms. TV or radio stations also don't allow marijuana commercials. Another issue with cannabis businesses is that they can't do any campaigns outside their state since interstate commerce is illegal. But, the major problem for marijuana entrepreneurs is opening bank accounts. Although they can choose from around 200 independent and community financial firms, these banks commonly don't offer online banking, wire transfers, international access, investment options, financial stability, etc. To make it simple, all these issues prevent cannabis firms from getting the financial services they need. They are usually forced to store huge amounts of cash in their stores, making them more vulnerable to thefts and other crimes. But, all these problems can be solved if the U.S. Senate decides to enact the SAFER Banking Act. Read Also: [STUDY] Cannabis Addicts More Vulnerable to Heart Attacks; Researchers Claim Adults With CUD Are 60% More at Risk About SAFER Banking Act On Sept. 27, Reuters reported that A U.S. Senate committee voted to push the SAFER Banking Act to the Senate floor. This means that it is getting close to becoming a law. If this legislation is passed, it allow cannabis businesses to have the same benefits and opportunities that other legal companies receive. The SAFER Banking Act will not only prove cannabis firms the capability to deposit their money into banks, but it will also allow them to take out loans when opening their retained stores. "What this should do is lead to generational wealth in communities of color that have been denied that ability," explained Esta Bigler, the Director of Labor & Employment Law at the New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations. As of writing, the SAFER Banking Act is still waiting to be passed by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. If ever it happens, then U.S. President Joe Biden can just sign it to turn it into a law. Related Article: Marijuana Recommendation by US Health Agency Could Lead to Major Changes in Weed Laws @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. As a new round of fighting breaks out between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinians of Gaza, leaders worldwide made their reactions known. Geopolitical analysts say the new conflict was a step higher than the tensions faced by both parties during the Yom Kippur War exactly 50 years to the day of the attack. Here are some of the statements key figures made, according to Reuters. Concern and Condemnation First to react was US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who said in a statement that there was no justification for what he called terrorism. He also said the US would stand in solidarity with the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu, who has since declared his country was in a state of war. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said his department would ensure that the US would supply Israel with all that they need to stave off Palestinian incursion and protect civilians from the horrors of war. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also released a statement saying his country strongly condemned the attacks against Israel. As for the United Nations (UN), both Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland and High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Tuerk urge both warring parties to cease hostilities. Saudi Arabia, which is currently strengthening its ties with Israel, pleaded for an immediate cessation of violence. Egypt, on the other hand, warned grave consequences would ensue if the conflict escalated - especially fears of more civilians being caught in the crossfire. While Morocco's government is moving towards full diplomatic ties under the so-called "Abraham Accords" and expressed concern over the attacks, the Moroccan Islamist PJD party sided with the Palestinians, praising the Hamas attack as a "heroic" act. Across Europe, leaders also condemned the Palestinian attack on southern Israel. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen "unequivocally" condemned the attacks Hamas carried out, further calling them terrorism in its most despicable form. European Union top diplomat Josep Borrell condemned Hamas's use of Israeli civilians as hostages, adding that he would do everything in his power to secure their liberation. He is scheduled to meet with Arab foreign ministers in Muscat to discuss how to promote peace in the Middle East. . , . , . Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) October 7, 2023 German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish President Andrzej Duda, Czech President Petr Pavel, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, and Spanish acting Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares also said their respective countries condemned the attacks and are supporting Israel in the conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a secular Jew by background, resonated with Israel in the face of his own nation being at war with Russia, saying he condemned what he called a terror attack on Israel. Quad leaders Anthony Albanese (Australia), Narendra Modi (India), and Fumio Kishida (Japan) also echoed the sentiments of their Western counterparts. In Latin America, both Brazil and Argentina also condemned the attacks and expressed support for Israel. Meanwhile, the Philippines - which has a significant number of expatriates in Israel and has been a close ally ever since its inception - said Sunday (October 8) they condemn Hamas's attacks, especially against civilians. The Malacanang added it was sending its condolences to the families of the people who died in the attacks. In a separate statement, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said his department would "continue to look after the welfare" of its expatriate population in Israel. Meanwhile, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has instructed his country's Department of Migrant Workers to "locate and account for" all overseas Filipinos in Israel, as per Rappler. As of writing, the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv is still verifying if any Filipinos were captured by Palestinian fighters. Read Also: Israel Forces Kill 2 Palestinians, Injure Dozens in Occupied West Bank Jubilation and Hopes for Victory Several Islamist states and organizations commended the Palestinians of Gaza for what could be described as a blitz over southern Israel. Palestinian state media WAFA has quoted President Mahmoud Abbas saying that his people have the right to defend themselves against what he called the terrorist settlement of Israel. Meanwhile, Iran has announced their official congratulations to the Palestinian fighters, as per the semi-official state media ISNA. Adviser to the Iranian Ayatollah, Yahya Rahim Safavi, added that they stand with the Palestinians until the "liberation" of both Palestine and Jerusalem. In a separate statement, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani claimed that Palestinian fighters used the element of surprise and overwhelming numbers, among other tactics. Iranian state television also showed members of parliament (MPs) chanting "Death to Israel." The Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah said it was in direct contact with Palestinian leaders and described the attacks as a decisive response to Israel's continued occupation and a message to those in the Arab world seeking normalization with Israel. The Houthi rebels controlling Yemen's capital Sanaa also congratulated the Palestinians and expressed their support for what they called a "heroic" jihadist operation, The Times of Israel reported. While not outrightly supporting the Palestinians and calling for both sides to show restraint, Qatar and Kuwait both said Israel alone was responsible for the ongoing escalation of violence. Other Reactions Several nations that are more different in their stances or more ambiguous in terms of interest also reacted in the series of attacks. The Chinese foreign ministry, for one, urged relevant parties to maintain a state of calm and exercise restraint. Beijing officials also urged Israel and Palestine to end hostilities to prevent more civilian casualties. The ministry further suggested the implementation of a two-state solution and establishing Palestine as a separate and independent nation. The African Union's Moussa Faki Mahamat and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni expressed a similar sentiment, while Kenya insisted that Israel had the right to retaliate with what they were dealt with. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the United Arab Emirates' foreign ministry called for restraint from all parties involved through a ceasefire. Meanwhile, Indonesia -the world's largest Muslim-majority nation - said it was very concerned about the escalation of conflicts in the eastern Mediterranean. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told reporters that the Kremlin is in contact with Israel, the Palestinians, and Arab countries regarding the escalation. The office of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni released a statement saying that her cabinet and other relevant officials have convened to assess the situation in Israel, as well as the effort to assure the security of the Jewish community in Italy. Related Article: PM Netanyahu Says Israel is at War After Deadly Palestinian Attack; US President Joe Biden Offers Support @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Hamas attack in Israel forced many major airlines to cancel their flights going to the Middle Eastern country. Among the flight companies that suspended their trips to Israel are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. They confirmed the flight cancellations after the Federal Aviation Industry updated its Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) statement on Sunday, Oct. 8. Hamas Attack Update: AA, Other Major Airlines Cancel Flights to Israel According to CBS News' latest report, the FAA's updated NOTAM urged U.S. airlines and their pilots to be extra cautious when flying at any altitude in Israeli airspace. The FAA issued this after the deadly surprise attack in Israel on Saturday, Oct. 7. Experts said that the new FAA NOTAM mirrors a similar alert issued by the Israeli government. After the Hamas attack killed hundreds of Israeli residents and injured thousands of them, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the country was already at war. Meanwhile, the Israeli government retaliated with airstrikes on Gaza, killing more than 300 Palestinians. "Due to the ongoing conflict situation in the region, between Israel and Gaza-based extremist militants, operators are advised to review current security, threat information and NOTAMS," said the Israeli Civil Aviation Authority. Since the Israel-Palestine war is worsening, many major U.S. airlines already canceled their flights going to the Middle Eastern country. Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines all confirmed that their trips have been temporarily suspend to and from the international airport near Tel Aviv. "Future operations at TLV will be suspended until conditions allow them to resume," said United Airlines. American Airlines also issued a statement, saying that they will continue monitoring the current situation in Israel. AA added that the safety and security of their passengers will be their top priorities. Read Also: PM Netanyahu Says Israel is at War After Palestinian Militants Bucher Civilians; US President Joe Biden Offers Support Other Airlines Cancel Flights As Well Aside from the three major U.S. Airlines, the Lufthansa Group, a global aviation organization, announced that all its flights to and from Israel have been canceled. These include trips via Swiss International Air Lines and Austrian Airlines. The Lufthansa Group said they will monitor Israel's security situation, as reported by CNBC. The aviation group promised that they are in close contact with Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of their passengers, as well as crew members. While international airlines are suspending their flights, the major Israeli airline, El Al, said it will continue its operations as scheduled. But, the flight company said their passengers can get travel waivers to delay or cancel their flights. Related Article: Israel-Palestinian Conflict: Videos Show Devastating Moment Affecting Innocent Civilians @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Walgreens pharmacists, technicians, and support personnel are reportedly preparing a walkout from October 9-11. While some workers only want to strike for a single day, many others say they would close their pharmacies for the whole three days, according to CNN insiders. A Walgreens pharmacy worker and walkout organizer claimed that staff members at more than 500 of the chain's 9,000 US locations have indicated interest and support. Still, probably, only a few of those locations will actually have a walkout. A number of CVS drugstore workers in the Kansas City region went on strike the previous week, prompting the planned action. Unreasonable Management Expectations Employees at several Walgreens pharmacies have joined together to protest what they see as unreasonable demands from corporate management on filling prescriptions and administering immunizations. This results in workers falling behind and having to deal with frustrated clients. The pharmacy worker said that the company's performance standards were established by the prescribed number of team members for each drugstore. However, in practice, personnel levels are far lower. A reduction in training time for new technicians has also been made, according to the employee. "We don't believe that Walgreens is allowing us to give our patients safe care on a daily basis. Walgreens isn't responding; they're not fixing those things," the organizer said. Walgreens has boosted training for new pharmacists but has halted non-critical training during the hectic vaccine season, according to a company spokeswoman. Representatives for Walgreens said that the company has never used corporate quotas and that last year, all task-based criteria were removed from the performance reports of retail pharmacy employees. The corporation has invested an additional $265 million in their countrywide pharmacy team this fiscal year. They have also established new jobs whose only responsibility is to oversee the administration and management of the company's stock of pharmaceuticals. Walgreens pharmacy workers and activists said the outbreak made their jobs almost impossible. Common complaints include understaffing, poor pay, excessive immunization quotas, lengthy periods without restroom breaks, aggressive management, and violent clients. See Also: Walgreens CEO Resigns as Company Doubles Down on Efforts to Transform Into Healthcare Provider Promised Salary Increases, Recruiting Incentives Walgreens admitted that its pharmacists were overworked in a statement to CNN. Director of Communications Fraser Engerman said, "The last few years have required an unprecedented effort from our team members, and we share their pride in this work - while recognizing it has been a very challenging time. We also understand the immense pressures felt across the US in retail pharmacy right now. We are engaged and listening to the concerns raised by some of our team members." Engerman added that Walgreens is dedicated to providing its pharmacy staff with the tools and resources they need to care for their own health and of their patients. For the most difficult-to-fill positions, the firm is increasing pharmacist salaries and offering recruitment incentives, he said. See Also: Violence in Healthcare: Attacks at US Medical Centers on the Rise @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Celebrities gave mixed reactions regarding the latest conflict between Israel and Palestine as the fighting dragged on to its second day. As Hamas and Israeli forces clash and hundreds of people are killed in the process, celebrities also take sides on who to support and why. Pro-Israel Statements First on the list of those who support Israel is one of their own - Gal Gadot, popularly known for portraying Wonder Woman/Diana Prince in DC's Justice League. In an Instagram post, she said the world could not "sit on the fence" while alleged Hamas atrocities have been done. Another pro-Israel supporter was legendary pop star Madonna, who also took to Instagram to share videos and photos of the situation in southern Israel. Michael Rapaport and Geraldo Riviera also came out to condemn Hamas's attack, adding that harming the Israeli hostages they have would mean dire consequences and a "massive retaliation" from Israel. Meanwhile, actress Jill Zarin called for the US Congress to support Israel and condemn Hamas's attack publicly. Other celebrities who came to the side of Israel were Jewish actor Joshua Malina, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kangana Ranaut, and Amy Schumer. Kylie Jenner initially posted her support for Israel but was reportedly forced to delete it after facing backlash from her pro-Palestine followers. Read Also: PM Netanyahu Says Israel is at War After Deadly Palestinian Attack; US President Joe Biden Offers Support Pro-Palestine Sentiments On the other hand, there were also celebrities who sided with Palestine and believed the Jewish Israelis were allegedly illegally occupying what they claimed was their own land. Palestinian fashion influencer twins Simi and Haze Khadra, known collectively as SimiHaze, called the outrage against Hamas "absolute Zionist thinking" that allegedly dismissed all Palestinians as terrorists, The Messenger reported. Former porn star and anti-porn advocate Mia Khalifa also shared her pro-Palestinian perspective, saying that siding with the Israelis was being on the "wrong side of apartheid." Meanwhile, the Hindustan Times reported that Bollywood actress Swara Bhasker found those who expressed shock at Hamas's attacks hypocritical. Neutral, Nuanced Take Meanwhile, comedian Sarah Silverman said her relatives were in Israel to partake in protests against "BIBI," the derogatory name protesters gave to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While she believed Hamas was a terrorist organization, she urged people to fight for a two-state solution where both Israel and Palestine would be recognized as independent countries. Related Article: Israel-Palestinian Conflict: Videos Show Devastating Moment Affecting Innocent Civilians @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Bucknell Bison volleyball team (8-9, 4-4 PL) defeated the visiting Holy Cross Crusaders (3-13, 0-7 PL) in three sets (25-22, 25-16, 25-17) on Saturday night.andled a balanced attack with 10 kills each.notched 20 digs to pass the career 1300 mark.The Bison set the tone in the first set and, with the benefit of hindsight, the entire game by scoring the first two points. Holy Cross battled to within 7-5, but the Bison put their hooves and blitzed to a 17-7 lead courtesy of numerous kills and Crusader errors. Holy Cross stabilized the situation with several mini-runs to draw within 20-15. Bucknell used a 3-0 stretch to keep the Crusaders away, but the Worcester team charged forward, going on a 7-1 run to make things interesting. Bucknell calmed down and used akill to win the first set.Holy Cross took a brief 4-3 lead early in the second set before Bucknell turned on the jets. The Bison galloped off to a 17-10 lead as the Orange & Blue used a mixture of attacks and Crusader errors to power the point-scoring. Once again, Holy Cross did not go quietly into the night in set play as the Massachusetts squad drew with 21-16. Bucknell refused to allow a further comeback, scoring the last four points of the set to win 25-16. Jamison powered the stretch with two kills.The third set was nearly all Bucknell. Holy Cross tied the score twice early, but with the tally at 7-6 Bucknell, the Bison went on a 10-2 run to end all Crusader dreams.recorded two service aces during the stretch to demoralize the Holy Cross defense. The Crusaders recovered their nerves and fought valiantly to cut it to 21-15, but the Bison were not daunted. Jamison recorded her 10th kill for the 24th point, and a Holy Cross service error provided the anticlimactic result to win the set and game.continues her climb up the Bucknell record book for career digs. She now has 1319 digs in her third year of competition.The Bison have a rematch with Holy Cross at the Crusaders' home castle in Worcester on Oct. 14. Governor Healey Nominates Attorneys to Superior Court BOSTON Governor Maura T. Healey today nominated Boston-based attorney Adam L. Sisitsky and Springfield-based attorney Tracy E. Duncan as Associate Justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court. The nominees will now be considered by the Governor's Council for confirmation. "I'm proud to nominate two experienced attorneys to the Superior Court. Adam Sisitsky and Tracy Duncan share our commitment to making Massachusetts stronger by upholding justice, equity and the rule of law," said Governor Maura Healey. "We thank the Governor's Council in advance for their diligent consideration of these two nominations." The Superior Court, the trial court of general jurisdiction for Massachusetts, is committed to delivering high quality justice in a timely and fair manner in accordance with the rule of law. The Court's 82 justices sit in 20 courthouses in all 14 counties. The Superior Court has original jurisdiction in civil actions over $25,000 and in matters where equitable relief is sought. It also has original jurisdiction in actions including labor disputes where injunctive relief is sought, exclusive authority to convene medical malpractice tribunals, appellate jurisdiction over certain administrative proceedings, and may hold sittings for naturalization in any city or town. The Superior Court also has exclusive original jurisdiction of first-degree murder cases and original jurisdiction of all other crimes. Adam L. Sisitsky Adam is a deeply experienced litigator and trial lawyer practicing at Mintz, a top national law firm recognized as a litigation powerhouse. He began his legal career in 1997 at Mintz and currently serves as Co-chair of the firm's Securities Litigation practice. Adam has led complex litigation defense strategies, managed internal investigations, and responded to government enforcement actions across various sectors, including life sciences, health care, and financial services. His experience in these highly regulated industries and his numerous achievements have earned him recognition by Benchmark Litigation, Lawdragon, Boston Magazine, among other accolades. He has been actively involved in initiatives that support pro bono legal services work and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal sector. Adam has a B.A. from American University, a M.A. in Public Administration from Framingham State College, and a J.D. from New England School of Law. He is currently a Board Member and Secretary of the Independent Jewish Community, Inc. and actively involved in Framingham youth sports. He was previously Chair of the Joint Bar Committee on Judicial Appointments, Chair of the Framingham Board of Health, a Corporate Member of Greater Boston Legal Services, and a Board Member of the Target Cancer Foundation. He lives in Framingham. Tracy E. Duncan Duncan is a Springfield-based attorney who has led her own practice for more than 30 years. Her areas of practice include Criminal Defense, Juvenile Delinquency, and Landlord Tenant. Her practice is focused on the Hampden County Superior Court and U.S. District Court located in Springfield, Mass. She is the recipient of the Hampden County Lawyers for Justice Inc. 2023 Distinguished Bar Advocate award. She has a B.A. from Lake Forest College and a J.D. from Western New England University School of Law. She is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Springfield Chapter of Links, Incorporated, and Springfield Chapter of the Girl Friends. If confirmed, Duncan would be the second person of color to serve on the Superior Court in Western Massachusetts in state history. Clarksburg School Applying for Safe Routes Grant CLARKSBURG, Mass. Clarksburg School is applying a for a half-million Safe Routes to School grant to improve safe access to the Community Center. "Essentially what we're proposing is a safe route from the school to the town field and a crosswalk to the senior center," said Assistant Superintendent Tara Barnes. "That's the evacuation plan ... not that we would ever want an evacuation to happen but if it were to happen, we want the safest possible route for the students to get out." The Community Center is the town's designated emergency center and is located within walking distance of the school. However, there are a number of safety considerations in moving children to the center. The students can now reach the town field through a rough path in the woods and walk the field until crossing the road or walk along the sidewalk-free Cross Road, a heavily traveled way with no shoulders. Superintendent John Franzoni said Barnes had provided pictures that show "how narrow and dangerous" the road is. "It's a really a well-traveled road that vehicles sometimes go too fast on and and people are walking on that road," he said. The school is a town hub and the goal is to make it more pedestrian and bicycle friendly, Barnes said. "The project is intended just to create more accessibility between resources for everyone." The Select Board has signed off on the application and Barnes said she included some of the work being done by Municipal Vulnerability Committee in its planning for the town field. She said the school's contact with Safe Routes has been helping with shepherding the application through and, should it be rejected, they should get some feedback on preparing for the next grant round. Franzoni also alerted the School Committee to a potential issue regarding school choice students and tuition. A reading by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is that schools are responsible for the K-12 education of children who school choice in. This does not create a problem for small schools in regional districts or school systems that already educate Grades K-12. But for independent schools like Clarksburg that only educate up to Grade 6 or 8, it could cause financial issues. For example, Franzoni said, if an Adams student attended through school choice and wanted to attend Drury, Clarksburg could be on the hook for their tuition. This might be a rare instance, since the majority of the children who school choice into Clarksburg are North Adams residents. The superintendent said it was something he wanted to bring up with the School Committee and that it will be discussed further at the next meeting. In other business: Principal Sandy Cote said the school has received its Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System rating results. The administration is reviewing the data but, overall, she said, "we are making moderate progress ... we're pleased with that." She also noted that the school's float in the Fall Foliage Parade received the Mayor's Award and that the annual Haunted Hayride at Clarksburg State Forest is next weekend. "We're keeping an eye on the weather." Six people were transported to Olean General Hospital, two of them with serious burns from a house fire at 304 E. State St., the Olean City Fire Department reported. Firefighters were dispatched at 4:44 a.m. Sunday to the blaze at the corner of East State and Clinton streets to find heavy fire throughout the first floor and a trapped resident who had escaped through a third-story window and was awaiting rescue on the second-story roof. Fire crews placed a ladder and brought the resident down while other firefighters stretched hose lines to bring the fire under control. The fire department reported that extensive fire travel occurred through void spaces of the home. Six residents were taken to the hospital, four with minor injuries and smoke inhalation and two with significant burn injuries, according to the fire department. Two dogs died in the fire and two firefighters were treated at the scene for minor injuries. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The City of Olean was assisted by Olean Police, Trans Am Ambulance, Cattaraugus County Deputy Fire Coordinator 4, Weston Mills Fire, Allegany Fire, National Grid and National Fuel. Love Thy Neighbor was on hand providing support to firefighters. Olean City Fire Chief Eric Maurouard said the department reminds residents to ensure they have working smoke detectors and to always sleep with their bedroom door shut to prevent fire and smoke from spreading. - Janet Gramza A convict who was caught after skipping out of a halfway house in Buffalo has pleaded guilty to an escape charge, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross reported. Brandon Loyd, 27, faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he returns for sentencing Dec. 21 before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Prosecutors said Loyd, who was convicted of bank robbery in May 2017, had left Lighthouse Buffalo Residential Re-entry Center without authorization on Dec. 18, 2021. He had been transferred to the Glenwood Avenue facility in September 2021. According to prosecutors, Loyd spoke with a staff member by telephone later on the day that he left and said, Im going out of state, and they are going to have to extradite me. He was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service six days later. - Dale Anderson Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Philippines (MLBB PH) celebrates its seventh anniversary in the Philippines through MLBB Ann7versaya, a corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaign in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - National Capital Region (DENR). The event was launched October 7, 2023 at Filipino-Chinese Friendship Park, Binondo, Manila. MLBB Annyversaya aims to help instill in the young minds of Filipino gamers the shared responsibility to take care of the Pasig River by mounting a floating Mystery Box that sailed on the river for seven days. Floating mystery box reveals hundreds of plants to aid in cleaning the Pasig River During the launch, the boat revealed a huge cake with hundreds of plants that will help improve the quality of water such as Water Hyacinth, Vetiver, Areca Palm, Boston Fern, and Dracaena. The plants were turned over to the DENR-NCR through Public Relations Officer Raphael Torres. "MLBB Ann7versaya is our way of celebrating our seventh year in the Philippines by giving back to the community. We hope to remind our Filipino gamers that they can be heroes in-game or in the real world, by taking small steps in taking care of our environment," says Chai Gutierrez, MOONTON Games Marketing Manager for Gaming. "Pasig River is going legendary! We're so pleased and excited to be working with Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Philippines in building and rebuilding a community that promotes social interaction and responsibility! Pasig River is more than just the most well-known river in the metro. Rather, its where dreams flourish and victories are planted. Speak of that, the plant giveaway was such a huge success," says Torres. Popular MLBB gamers and content creators OKATA, HYPEBITS, Nics Orense, JAYAT Gaming, and Shyr Balagtas were also present to lead the campaign and encourage their followers to make their small efforts to revitalize the river. Get to know more about Mobile Legends: Bang Bang by visiting the following official social media platforms: 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 }} An American and a Nepalese mountaineer were confirmed dead on Sunday after avalanches struck high on the slopes of a Tibetan mountain, as reported by local media. Anna Gutu was climbing Shishapangma, the worlds 14th tallest peak when two avalanches hit its slopes at elevations of 7,600m and 8,000m on Saturday, killing American climber along with her guide Mingmar Sherpa, reported Xinhua news agency. American climber Gina Marie Rzucidlo and her Nepalese guide, Tenjen Sherpa, were reported missing by Chinese state media. Both Gutu and Rzucidlo were racing to become the first American women to climb the true summits of all 8,000-metre peaks. Mr Sherpa guided Norways Kristin Harila in July of this year as they successfully climbed K2 in Pakistan, becoming the worlds fastest climbers to scale all 14 peaks over 8,000 metres. Their bodies were recovered by a team led by Mingma G from Imagine Nepal Treks, as reported by the Himalayan Times. A total of 52 climbers, including those from the United States, Britain, Romania, Albania, Italy, Japan and Pakistan were pushing for the summit when the avalanches hit, the outlet reported. It seriously injured Nepalese mountain guide Karma Geljen Sherpa, who was escorted down the mountain by rescuers and is currently in stable condition. Two Pakistani climbers narrowly escaped the avalanches on Saturday after calling off their summit bid because of poor weather despite coming within a few hundred metres of the peak, Pakistani media reported. According to private estimates reported by Reuters, more than 300 successful summits of Shishapangma have been logged to date, with fewer than 10 per cent of climbers who attempted to reach the top dying in their attempts. File: Nepal's sherpa guide Tenjen Sherpa, 35, smiles during an interview with the Associated Press in Kathmandu, Nepal (AP) Among those who had previously died on Shishapangma was famed American climber Alex Lowe in 1999, also because of an avalanche. His body as well as the remains of his climbing companion David Bridges were found in 2016 in a partially melted glacier. October is a popular time to trek the Himalayas as its after the rainy monsoon season, but experts have cautioned that climate change has increased the risk of avalanches in the region. At least 120 people in the Indian Himalayas were killed by avalanches over the past two years. Additional reporting from the agencies 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 }} A Chinese dissident living out of a suitcase at a Taiwan airport has been granted refuge in Canada. I was able to successfully obtain political asylum in Canada, Chen Siming, who has been stuck inside Taoyuan International Airport since 22 September, told The Guardian after arriving in Vancouver on Saturday. Appreciating the efforts by the United Nations refugee agency, Taiwan and Canada, he said: The three parties handled my case quickly in the spirit of humanitarian care. This kindness will be remembered forever, I would like to express my sincere gratitude. Chen is known in his home country for the annual commemorations of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre a taboo subject there and his social media posts about the massacre have previously irked Beijings authorities. Police harassment was not new to him either, and he says he has been detained many times in the past. But in recent years, he has noticed a significant crackdown on dissent. On 21 July this year, Chen packed his clothes. He had decided to run. He first chose Thailand a country considered a friend of China that has in the past turned in other dissidents to Chinese authorities. The activist travelled from Hunan province down to the southern border with Laos a distance of almost 1,400km, his bagful of clothes in tow, arriving there in August. However, he did not feel any sense of ease and feared deportation by Thailands immigration authorities, subsequently flying to Taiwan. The island, unlike Thailand, shares an icy relationship with China and continues to assert its status as a self-governing democracy. There, he pleaded for help, saying his situation was dangerous and urgent. To avoid the political oppression of the Chinese Communist Party, I have now come to Taiwan. I hope to receive political asylum from the US or Canada. I ask friends to call on the Taiwanese government to not send me back to China, he urged at the time. On Sunday, he took to X/Twitter, posting pictures of him from Vancouver. I arrived in Vancouver, Canada on October 5th, he wrote, as he thanked the rights bodies and international entities for their support. This kindness will be unforgettable forever! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart! Thanks! 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 }} At least 2,000 people have died from the earthquakes that shook Afghanistan on Saturday, a Taliban spokesperson has confirmed. A powerful magnitude 6.3 earthquake followed by strong aftershocks destroyed about six villages, in what has been described as the deadliest earthquake to strike the country in two decades. Hundreds of civilians have been buried under the debris, said Abdul Wahid Rayan, spokesperson for the ministry of information and culture, while calling for urgent help. Mullah Janan Sayeeq, the spokesperson for the ministry of disaster [management], told reporters that 2,053 people were dead, 9,240 were injured and 1,329 houses were damaged or destroyed. More than 200 dead had been brought to different hospitals, a Herat health department official who identified himself as Dr Danish said. Most of them are women and children, while 510 are injured. These numbers might change. Bodies had been taken to several places military bases, hospitals, Dr Danish said. That is why we cant confirm or reject the number. The United Nations gave a preliminary figure of 320 dead but later said the figure was still being verified. Local authorities gave an estimate of 100 people killed and 500 injured, according to the same update from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The update also said 465 houses had been reported destroyed and a further 135 were damaged. Partners and local authorities anticipate the number of casualties to increase as search and rescue efforts continue amid reports that some people may be trapped under collapsed buildings, the UN said. Disaster authority spokesperson Mohammad Abdullah Jan said that four villages in the Zenda Jan district in Herat province bore the brunt of the quake and aftershocks. The United States Geological Survey said that the quakes epicentre was about 25 miles northwest of the city of Herat. It was followed by three very strong aftershocks, measuring magnitude 6.3, 5.9 and 5.5, as well as lesser shocks. Afghan residents clear debris from a damaged house after an earthquake in Sarbuland village of Zendeh Jan district of Herat province on 7 October (AFP via Getty Images) At least five strong tremors struck the city around noon, Herat city resident Abdul Shakor Samadi said. All people are out of their homes, Mr Samadi said. Houses, offices and shops are all empty and there are fears of more earthquakes. My family and I were inside our home, I felt the quake. His family began shouting and ran outside, afraid to return indoors. The situation was very horrible, I have never experienced such a thing, said student Idrees Arsala. He was the last to safely evacuate his classroom after the earthquakes hit. Nek Mohammad told reporters that his home flattened after the tremor struck. We came home and saw that actually there was nothing left. Everything had turned to sand, said the 32-year-old, adding that some 30 bodies had been recovered. So far, we have nothing. No blankets or anything else. We are here left out at night with our martyrs, he said as darkness began to fall. The World Health Organisation (WHO) in Afghanistan said it dispatched 12 ambulance cars to Zenda Jan to evacuate casualties to hospitals. As deaths and casualties from the earthquake continue to be reported, teams are in hospitals assisting the treatment of wounded and assessing additional needs, the UN agency said on X, formerly known as Twitter. WHO-supported ambulances are transporting those affected, most of them women and children. Telephone connections went down in Herat, making it hard to get details from affected areas. Videos on social media showed hundreds of people in the streets outside their homes and offices in Herat city. People gather on the streets in Herat after the earthquake (AFP via Getty Images) Herat province borders Iran. The quake was also felt in the nearby Afghan provinces of Farah and Badghis, according to local media reports. Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban-appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs, expressed his condolences to the dead and injured in Herat and Badghis. The Taliban urged local organisations to reach earthquake-hit areas as soon as possible to help take the injured to hospital, provide shelter for the homeless, and deliver food to survivors. They said security agencies should use all their resources and facilities to rescue people trapped under debris. We ask our wealthy compatriots to give any possible cooperation and help to our afflicted brothers, the Taliban said on X. Takashi Okada, Japans ambassador to Afghanistan, expressed his condolences saying on the social media platform X, that he was deeply grieved and saddened to learn the news of earthquake in Herat province. In June 2022, a powerful earthquake struck a rugged, mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan, flattening stone and mud-brick homes. The quake killed at least 1,000 people and injured about 1,500. Additional reporting from the agencies A rising number of school districts across the country have installed high-tech vape detectors to catch students using e-cigarettes in school bathrooms. Clarence High Schools pilot program, however, is unusual in one way: It was students, not district administrators, who pushed for the devices to curtail rampant vaping. There were swarms of people that would come to the bathrooms for the purpose of vaping. Like, sometimes wed have 15 or 20 people in there at a time, said Oaklie Zdrojewski, a Clarence senior who campaigned for the detectors. And it was uncomfortable for anyone to go in and actually use the facilities. School officials say, more than functioning as an enforcement mechanism, the technology can identify students who are or may become addicted to vaping and get them help. As students get savvier about concealing their vaping, districts such as Maryvale and Grand Island say they need the latest technology to keep up. This will be another tool in the tool belt. And then once we understand the data, it may lead us down a different path of the best possible way to educate young people, Grand Island Superintendent Brian Graham said. But advocates say the vape detectors can infringe on students privacy rights. They say theyre particularly concerned about models, including some in use locally, that pick up on sounds to sense when a fight or bullying is taking place. Weve always said that schools should be welcoming and supportive places for kids not places where theyre continuously sort of followed, or spied on, surveilled, you name it, said Beth Haroules, New York Civil Liberties Union senior staff attorney. Youth vaping unsafe E-cigarettes, or vapes, rely on a battery to heat a liquid into an aerosol that can be inhaled. This e-juice doesnt contain tobacco, but it typically contains nicotine, along with other chemicals and flavorings. Overall, the evidence suggests that e-cigarettes are much less harmful than smoking, but theyre not harmless. Obviously, they still contain nicotine, which is an addictive chemical, said Nick Felicione, assistant professor of community health and health behavior at the University at Buffalo. You must be 21 years old to buy e-cigarette products in this country, and New York, for one, banned e-cigarette flavoring to make them less appealing to young people. Still, a 2022 survey of American teenagers found 2.55 million reported using e-cigarettes at least once in the previous 30 days. This was 14% of high school students and 3.3% of middle schoolers, federal agencies reported. Youth use of tobacco products in any form, including e-cigarettes is unsafe, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated. A survey found 18.7% of New York high schoolers vaped in 2022, a fall of nearly one-third from a peak of 27.4% in 2018, according to the state Health Department. However, Felicione said hes not sure how much this decline stems from pandemic-driven changes in teenage habits and whether updated data will reveal an increase. How the detectors work The Maryvale School District in Cheektowaga installed the detectors at its high school four years ago and at its middle school last year. Principal Peter Frank said middle school staffers saw evidence that more students were sneaking in e-cigarettes to vape during the school day. My thought here is, if a student is that hard up that they need to use that vape through the seven hours theyre in school, they most likely have an addiction, Frank said. So we want to curb that so that they never get addicted to it to begin with. These students had learned new ways to conceal their vape pens and cartridges, Frank said. For example, he said, eight sixth graders coordinated to have just one of them on a rotating basis hold the vaping materials for the group, minimizing the risk of any one student getting caught. Wish they put that much effort toward their studies, Frank said. The students learned, he said, bathrooms were the place they could vape or fight with the lowest chance of getting in trouble. The detectors, installed in all eight middle school bathrooms, detect the particles in the air released when students vape. Frank said false positives for hair spray or aerosol deodorant are infrequent. When the device detects vaping or a high-decibel noise, a text message is sent to Frank, assistant principals and teachers whose rooms are near the bathroom. Students are forewarned that anyone caught in a bathroom when e-cigarette use is detected is subject to a non-intrusive search, Frank said. The school can, if needed, use footage from cameras located outside a bathroom to reveal who entered or exited around the time vaping was detected. Of 30 Maryvale Middle School students caught vaping during the 2022-23 school year, 23 were discovered through a vape detector, Frank said. While some students are disciplined for violating district e-cigarette rules, the school also works with them to get treatment if nicotine addiction is suspected, Frank said. A bigger society problem Grand Island will install vape detectors at its high school and middle school in the next several weeks, said Graham, the superintendent. The project, a School Board priority, will cost roughly $15,000, he said. Administrators consulted with other districts that have used vape detectors, studied the various systems on the market and discussed the program with student leaders, who welcomed the concept, Graham said. After conversations at the Board of Education table, conversations with students, we felt it was time to spend some resources in installing vape detectors in our lavatories, he said. The devices will send out emails or text messages upon registering vaping activity, said Graham, though he doesnt want busy school staffers overwhelmed by the new alerts. School officials will take their time getting used to the detectors and collecting information on when, where and how often vaping is discovered, he said. Im tending to think that this is a bigger issue in society than maybe everybody thought, Graham said. Clarence pilot program In Clarence, unlike the other districts, the push to introduce the system came from students and youth advocates. Jack Loewer said his daughter, a Clarence graduate, would complain about vaping in the restrooms and be told to use the bathroom in the nurses office only to find a long line of students there to do the same thing. For every 10 cases in town Youth Court, eight involve vaping violations, estimated Loewer, chair of the towns Youth Board. Its a terrible problem, he said. Loewer said he researched vape detectors and pitched them to Superintendent Matt Frahm and Patricia Grupka, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, but they were cool to the idea. Loewer urged the student Youth Board members to press their case with school administrators, which they did during a roundtable meeting with the superintendent. Oaklie asked students whether they had seen someone vaping in a high school bathroom and all 30 raised a hand, as the Clarence Bee reported. Eventually, the district agreed to install vape detectors in two high school bathrooms. Oaklie said shes glad the detectors are in place, and some students were caught, but the activity continues at her high school. I dont know if its because of the natural teenager rebellion stage, Oaklie said. Or just because they saw their friends doing it, so they got pressured into doing it themselves, and its a problem that they cant stop. Clarence officials declined an interview, but issued a statement that read, in part, the health and safety of our students is paramount and we value student voice and our students role in continuously improving our facilities. Privacy concerns raised Vape detectors are part of a trend of K-12 schools using technology to monitor and control student behavior, the NYCLUs Haroules said. There are a lot of questions about how well the devices detect vaping or recognize aggressive sounds, she said. These are particularly concerning when the student population is from a marginalized community, said Haroules, who also wondered whether and how schools are collecting voice data. Whos setting the parameters here? she said. At the end of the day, it really, I think, just leads people down a path that they have not considered all the collateral consequences. UBs Felicione is also skeptical given the lack of research into detectors effectiveness and the stubborn craftiness of the typical teenager when told not to do something. They find a way, he said. 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 }} Lance Stroll claimed he passed out at the wheel of his Aston Martin because of the extreme humidity in Sundays Qatar Grand Prix. American rookie Logan Sargeant was forced to retire through illness, French driver Esteban Ocon said he vomited in his cockpit, while London-born Thai Alex Albon was taken to the medical centre with acute heat exposure as the grids drivers battled the intense conditions at the Lusail International Circuit. A statement from 27-year-old Albons Williams team read: Following the Qatar Grand Prix, Alex was taken to the medical centre to be treated for acute heat exposure. He has now been assessed and cleared by the medical team. Williams also revealed Sargeant, 22, had suffered from intense dehydration following flu-like symptoms earlier in the week. Aston Martins Stroll, 24, who fell over as he made his way to conduct his media duties, said: I was passing out in the car. They painted the kerbs and made the track narrower but you cant feel the kerbs. I couldnt see where I was going because I was passing out. I was fading in and out. The temperature was too much. George Russell, who finished fourth following a first-lap collision with Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton, also revealed he felt ill throughout Sundays 57-lap Grand Prix. Lance Stroll claimed he passed out at the wheel during the Qatar Grand Prix (Getty Images) The 25-year-old said: It was an absolutely brutal race and by far the most physical race I have ever experienced. I felt close to fainting in that race and I have never experienced anything like it before. I wasnt physically sick in the car but I felt ill. I had to ask my engineer to give me encouragement to take my mind off of it. This was only the second staging of the Qatar race and the first of a 10-year deal. Next years edition will be held two months later in December when it is expected to be cooler. 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 }} It was a not-so glamourous end to Paris Fashion Week, as a widespread outbreak of bedbugs caused panic and disgust in the French capital. Paris authorities sent out a public warning that no-one is safe, with the small insects making their way through the city. In recent weeks and months, there have been numerous sightings on public transport and other locations. No one is safe. You can catch them anywhere and bring them home, and not detect them in time until they have multiplied and spread, deputy mayor Emmanuel Gregoire, told French TV. Videos posted on social media show insects crawling over seats on the Paris Metro as well as appearing in huge numbers on cinema seats. Some users have also shared their experiences of being bitten by the critters. So, how can you help protect yourself against a bedbug infestation? Heres everything you need to know. How do you know if you have bed bugs? Bedbugs cause cause itchy welts aroud the body (Getty Images/iStockphoto) To find out if you have bedbugs, its best to keep an eye out for two things: 1. Bites on your body these look like little red marks that cause itchy welts. These welts usually appear in a zigzag pattern, the American Academy of Dermatology Association says. 2. You should always keep an eye out for signs of bedbugs, this includes odour, specks of blood on bedding, exoskeletons, tiny blackish specks and eggs. Odour: If you notice a sweet or musty smell in your sleeping area, there might be a heavy infestation in the room, the AADA says. Specks of blood: Look at your bedding, mattress and furniture if you notice specks of blood anywhere, the insects might have made their way into your home. Exoskeletons: The small insects have an outer shell that they shed and leave behind. Check for remains on your bedding, mattress and cushions. Tiny blackish specks: The blackish specks are a sign of beg bug excrement. Eggs: After mating, female bedbugs lay white, oval eggs in cracks and crevices, the AADA says on its website. These will be in the size of an apple seed, so keep your eyes peeled. These small creatures can be found in your mattress as well as other spaces around your home (Getty Images/iStockphoto) How do I treat bedbug bites? The NHS says bedbug bites usually clear up on their own in a week or so but there are a few steps you can take to help you during your recovery process: Put something cool, like a clean, damp cloth on the affected area to help with the itching and to ease off any swelling. Be sure to keep the affected area clean to prevent any further infection. Try your best not to scratch the affected area. You can also get steroid creams like hydrocortisone cream to ease bedbug bites. However, children under 10 and women who are pregnant should get advice from a doctor before using this cream. Another option would be to use antihistamines, these may help if the bites are very itchy and youre unable to sleep, the NHS says. How to get rid of bedbugs the dos and donts You might have to call pest control to help you get rid of the insects. (Getty Images) It can be hard to get rid of the small insects on your own, so you might need to contact your local council or pest control service to get rid of the pesky creatures. Here are some steps you can take to reduce bedbugs: Remove the affected bedding and clothing wash on a hot wash of 60c and tumble try on a hot setting for at least 30 minutes. You can also put the infested bedding and clothing in a plastic bag and place It in your freezer for 3 to 4 days. Its time to up your cleaning game bedbugs are found in both clean and dirty places, but regular cleaning will help you spot them early, the NHS adds. Heres what you should avoid doing: Do not keep clutter around your bed, try to keep your space as clean as possible. Do not bring second-hand furniture indoors unless you have cleaned and carefully checked it. Do not take luggage or clothing indoors without checking it properly especially if you have come from somewhere where you know there are bedbugs. What are the causes of bedbugs and where do they live? The wingless parasitic insects are found all around the world and may be linked to, more frequent travel, changes in pest control practices and insecticide resistance. Bedbugs can be found in: Clothing Luggage Bedding Boxes Box springs Mattresses Headboards Objects near beds According to the Mayo Clinic, they can also be found: Under peeling pain or loose wallpaper Under carpeting near baseboards In upholstered furniture seams Under light switch plates or electrical outlets (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Can bedbugs reach the UK? The short answer is yes Bedbugs have a lifespan of between four to six months and are known to cling onto dirty suitcases so it is possible that they may hitch a ride on the Eurostar which is just two hours away from London. The Independents Barney Davis asked David Cain, founder and MD of Bed Bugs LTD and a qualified microbiologist, whether the bugs could survive the journey. Easily, yes, without a shadow of a doubt, he responded. Read the latest on the bedbug infestation in Paris here. 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 }} Details of funding for the A75 road upgrade have yet to be fleshed out, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has said. The project to improve the road, which links the ferry port at Cairnryan to the north of England, was mentioned in the Prime Ministers Conservative party conference speech. As one of a number of road projects benefitting from funding freed up by cancelling HS2, Rishi Sunak said it would connect our Union with the A75 boosting links between Scotland and Northern Ireland. Speaking to the PA news agency during a trade visit to Vietnam, Mr Jack said the A75 went through his Dumfries and Galloway constituency. He said: Im delighted there will be money for that. Weve already agreed with the Scottish Government a feasibility project, the UK Government is funding 7 million on the upgrade of the road. And then theres the 36 billion thats been freed up from the HS2 project and some of that 36 billion will be apportioned to the A75. We haven't fleshed out the detail yet Alister Jack Asked how much this would be, he said: No, weve got to thrash out the details. These are discussions Ill be having in the very near future but we havent fleshed out the detail yet. He added: Obviously I want to see it starting in the next few years, but it will take a number of years to complete Following the Prime Ministers statement, First Minister Humza Yousaf told reporters that he doubted the money would be forthcoming. Mr Jack was in Hanoi to promote Scotch whisky exports and meet members of the Vietnamese government. As well as whisky, the UK delegation discussed cooperation around Vietnams offshore wind power ambitions and a new partnership between the British University in Vietnam and Stirling University. Exports of whisky have grown more than threefold since 2019 when a new trade deal was signed. Mr Jack, who is the first Scottish Secretary to visit the southeast Asian country, said the spirit was very, very popular in Vietnam. 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 }} A British citizen is missing believed to be in Gaza following the Hamas attack on Israel. Jake Marlowe has not been seen since the invasion early on Saturday morning when he was providing security for a music event in the desert near Kibbutz Reim, close to the Gaza border. Israeli media has reported that at least 300 people were killed, including 26 soldiers, during the attack, prompting PM Benjamin Netanyahu to say they were at war as the country launched a military response. The Israeli embassy in London confirmed that the 26-year-old London-born man who is reported to have moved to Israel two years ago was missing, but it had not been confirmed that he had been kidnapped. A spokesperson told the PA news agency: He is missing, we dont know for sure that he is taken hostage or dead or in a hospital. Lisa, the mother of the former pupil at the JFS School in Kenton, north London, told the Jewish News: He was doing security at this rave yesterday and called me at 4.30am to say all these rockets were flying over. Then, at about 5.30am, he texted to say signal very bad, everything OK, will keep you updated I promise you, and that he loves me. Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom Tzipi Hotovely confirmed that a British citizen is in Gaza following kidnappings by Hamas in Israel, but did not clarify if they were being held hostage. She told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News: I know there is one British citizen who is in Gaza at the moment. The Israeli government is doing everything we can to help those who are held hostage and every citizen who is taken is returned. Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns said the Governments priority would be ensuring the safety of the missing Briton and as well as other British nationals in Israel. Its crucial we do not give the terrorists what they want but, at the same time, first and foremost the duty of the British Government is to keep British nationals safe Alicia Kearns, Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman She told Sky News: What we did see yesterday was British families having to hide in safe rooms some with, I believe, a baby as young as 10 days old, and so many international victims being taken hostage. Obviously, that will be a priority for the British Government, I would expect the ministers will be in today working on precisely how we can get that individual to safety working with our allies. Its crucial we do not give the terrorists what they want but, at the same time, first and foremost the duty of the British Government is to keep British nationals safe. Ms Kearns placed the blame for the attack on Iran for supporting Hamas and called for the proscription of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) which she described as the countrys international terror tool. Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the UK would support Israel in whatever it decides is necessary to defend itself against Hamas attacks. He told the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: We support their right of self-defence and will support them in whatever they decide to do to defend their country against terrorist attacks. A Foreign Office spokeswoman said they would not comment on individual cases but added: However, we can confirm we are in contact with and assisting the families of several individuals in Israel and the OPTs (Occupied Palestinian Territories). The safety of all British nationals continues to be our utmost priority and we urge everyone to continue to follow our travel advice which is updated regularly. 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 }} A 20-year-old British man serving in the Israeli army has been killed in an attack by Hamas militants, his family have said. Nathanel Young was serving with the Israeli Defence Services when he was killed on the Gaza border on Saturday. His death comes after 26-year-old Jake Marlow, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, was reported missing while providing security at a music festival near Kibbutz Reim, close to the Gaza border. A second Briton, photographer Dan Darlington, who was visiting from his home in Berlin, Germany, is also missing, according to his father David, as reported by the BBC. Gaby Shalev, from London, posted on Facebook: Were heartbroken to share that our little brother Nathanel Young was tragically killed on the Gaza Border yesterday. Mr Youngs brother, Eliot Young, said in a statement released to the BBC: Nathanel was full of life and the life of the party. He loved his family and friends and was loved by everyone. He loved music and was a talented DJ, DJing both on base and at Benjis House, the lone-soldier house where he was living. The former pupil at JFS Jewish school in Kenton, north London, had been living in the Bayit Shel Benji lone-soldier house in Raanana, according to the Jewish News. The Israeli Embassy in London has confirmed his death to the PA news agency and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has been approached for comment. The FCDO has advised against all but essential travel to Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories due to the conflict. The Israeli Embassy in London confirmed that London-born Mr Marlowe, who is reported to have moved to Israel two years ago was missing but it had not been confirmed that he had been kidnapped. Israeli media have reported that at least 600 people were killed, including 26 soldiers, during the attacks, prompting PM Benjamin Netanyahu to say they were at war as the country launched a military response. A spokesperson told the PA news agency: He is missing, we dont know for sure that he is taken hostage or dead or in a hospital. Mr Marlowe has not been seen since the invasion early on Saturday morning when he was providing security for a music event in the desert near Kibbutz Reim, close to the Gaza border. Mr Marlowes mother Lisa, told the Jewish News: He was doing security at this rave yesterday and called me at 4.30am to say all these rockets were flying over. Then, at about 5.30am, he texted to say signal very bad, everything OK, will keep you updated I promise you, and that he loves me. The Israeli government is doing everything we can to help those who are held hostage and every citizen who is taken is returned Tzipi Hotovely, Israel's ambassador to the UK Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom Tzipi Hotovely confirmed that a British citizen is in Gaza following kidnappings by Hamas, but did not clarify if they were being held hostage. She told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News: I know there is one British citizen who is in Gaza at the moment. The Israeli government is doing everything we can to help those who are held hostage and every citizen who is taken is returned. Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns said the Governments priority would be ensuring the safety of the missing Briton and as well as other British nationals in Israel. Its crucial we do not give the terrorists what they want but, at the same time, first and foremost the duty of the British Government is to keep British nationals safe Alicia Kearns, Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman She told Sky News: What we did see yesterday was British families having to hide in safe rooms some with, I believe, a baby as young as 10 days old, and so many international victims being taken hostage. Obviously, that will be a priority for the British Government, I would expect the ministers will be in today working on precisely how we can get that individual to safety working with our allies. Its crucial we do not give the terrorists what they want but, at the same time, first and foremost the duty of the British Government is to keep British nationals safe. Ms Kearns placed the blame for the attack on Iran for supporting Hamas and called for the proscription of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) which she described as the countrys international terror tool. Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the UK would support Israel in whatever it decides is necessary to defend itself against Hamas attacks. He told the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: We support their right of self-defence and will support them in whatever they decide to do to defend their country against terrorist attacks. A Foreign Office spokeswoman said they would not comment on individual cases but added: However, we can confirm we are in contact with, and assisting, the families of several individuals in Israel and the OPTs (Occupied Palestinian Territories). The safety of all British nationals continues to be our utmost priority and we urge everyone to continue to follow our travel advice which is updated regularly. 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 }} A Labour government would have a consistent position on China which would not boil down to one word threat, the shadow foreign secretary has said. David Lammy, in a wide-ranging discussion on foreign policy on the fringes of the Labour conference, also said Sir Keir Starmers party would absolutely review the post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union, while staying out of the single market and customs union. On China, he criticised what he described as the inconsistency of successive Tory governments in their approach to the Asian superpower. We need a consistent position on China. It cannot be boiled down to one word, which is threat Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy What we cant have is six positions on China, he told the event hosted by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. We need a consistent position on China. It cannot be boiled down to one word, which is threat. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has faced pressure from some in his party to describe the state as a threat to the UK, as he did during the Tory leadership contest last year, before softening his language, describing it as a challenge, since entering office. Mr Lammy said Labour, if it wins power at the next election, would be guided by the three Cs, including competing with China on issues such as security, challenging China over Hong Kong and its treatment of Uighurs, and co-operating with Beijing. I hope we can co-operate with them on artificial intelligence, he said. On relations with Europe, Mr Lammy said: Weve been clear that whilst we will remain outside of the single market and the customs union, we absolutely believe that we should review the trade deal in 2025 and look at it very closely. Asked whether a rapprochement is possible without a path back into the single market, he outlined the need for structured dialogue with the EU, saying: No-one in this room, in all seriousness, would suggest that you could get married again without even going on a date. Mr Lammy said the horror in Israel and Gaza provided a sad and worrying backdrop for Labours annual conference in Liverpool, as he said Israel has a right to self-defence and to defend itself against terrorism. He said he would not mince my words in describing Hamas as a terrorist organisation. At an earlier fringe event, Mr Lammy said Sir Keirs message does not have the razzmatazz of Sir Tony Blairs election-winning campaign, but that is not what todays electorate wants. He suggested that while voters in the 1990s wanted ambition from politicians, they now want reassurance. He stressed the importance of the party communicating its policies in a way that is relevant to people. It hasn't quite landed with the kind of razzmatazz that you would associate with the Clinton, Obama, Blair era of politics David Lammy He also said Labours offer to voters should be centred on reviving the economy and that it should not be lured into arguments on culture war issues by the Conservatives. He told an event hosted by the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank: We must not be seduced into tangential arguments that are the arguments of division around the woke issue, that of course Im not suggesting arent important, but in the end are not about where most people are in their everyday lives. He said Sir Keirs five missions are as exciting as anything weve offered before. But, he acknowledged, it hasnt quite landed with the kind of razzmatazz that you would associate with the Clinton, Obama, Blair era of politics. Im not sure, by the way, people are going to be seduced by that kind of (thing) because theyre just not in that place as an electorate. People are primarily focused on the economy and the state of public services, he said. Were going nowhere if we do not reassure the British electorate that we can run the economy. 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 }} Sir Keir Starmer clearly labelled Hamass deadly assault on Israel a terrorist attack, in contrast to Jeremy Corbyn who resisted directly condemning the militant group. The Labour leader said on Sunday that there can be no justification for the operation that has left at least 600 dead, including a British man serving in the Israeli army, and provoked a furious response from Israel that killed more than 300 in Gaza. His predecessor said he does not support any attacks, but sought to avoid directly criticising Hamas while being questioned in Liverpool, where Mr Corbyn is attending a left-wing political festival instead of the Labour conference. In a tetchy exchange with journalists on the way to one event, Mr Corbyn said he wants peace, a ceasefire and a process that ends the Israeli occupation of Palestine. I dont support any attacks, therefore I criticise them all, he said, after being repeatedly asked whether he would condemn Hamas, having not been clear about his position on the group. Mr Corbyn is sitting as an independent MP after being removed from Labours parliamentary party over his response to antisemitism under his leadership, but remains a party member. At an event at The World Transformed festival, which coincides with the Labour conference, Mr Corbyn said he was working with people around the world to bring about peace. He added: You dont just condemn as I do any acts of violence, anywhere around the world. You look at the causes as well. On the current terrible situation in Israel and Palestine, he said: The way to end that, I think, is to end the occupation of Palestine by Israel. Sir Keir was quick to criticise the thousands of rockets launched towards Israel in a surprise attack by Hamas on land, sea and air as a terrorist attack. Labour stands firmly in support of Israels right to defend itself, rescue hostages and protect its citizens, he said in a statement. The indiscriminate attacks from Hamas are unjustifiable and have set back the cause of peace. He said in an interview with the BBC that he spoke to the leader of the Israeli Labour Party, Merav Michaeli, on Saturday night. As we were on the phone the siren went off and she had to go down into her shelter taking her papers with her, he said. So its an appalling act of terrorism, it needs to be called out across the world. Sir Keirs shadow foreign secretary, David Lammy, said he would not mince my words in describing Hamas as a terrorist organisation. He told a conference fringe event that Labour remains committed to a two-state solution to the conflict in the Middle East. Hamas are seeking to undermine that. They are seeking to break that, they are approaching this with rockets and with terrorism. Hamas is an Islamist military group which has since 2007 ruled over the Gaza Strip, which has been blockaded by Israel. Backed by Iran, Hamas is designated as a terrorist organisation by the UK, US and the EU. A Labour spokesman said: Keir Starmer leads a changed Labour Party, unrecognisable from the one that lost in 2019, and were never going back. Meanwhile, Tory party chair Greg Hands urged Labour to suspend MP Apsana Begum for posing for a photo with activists from the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, which is demanding the end to what it calls an apartheid. 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 }} Home Secretary Suella Braverman has said she expects the police to use the full force of the law against displays of support for Hamas after videos emerged of people appearing to celebrate the attack on Israel. Metropolitan Police patrols have been increased in London after the force was urged to intervene by immigration minister Robert Jenrick, who shared a video posted on social media by Countdown presenter Rachel Riley after Hamas launched its biggest attack in years on Israel. Riley posted on X on Saturday saying she passed two cars in west London driving with Palestinian flags flying from each window, bouncing up and down in their cars and seemingly celebrating like they were having a party. She later posted a video which showed people waving Palestinian flags, beeping car horns and clapping in Acton. Home Secretary Suella Braverman posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday morning, saying: Whenever Israel is attacked, Islamists and other racists use Israeli defensive measures as a pretext to stir up hatred against British Jews. Yesterday I spoke with @CST_UK (Community Security Trust) to ensure the Government is doing everything necessary for the protection of our Jewish communities. There must be zero tolerance for antisemitism or glorification of terrorism on the streets of Britain. I expect the police to use the full force of the law against displays of support for Hamas, other proscribed terrorist groups or attempts to intimidate British Jews. The Met Police said on Sunday afternoon no arrests had been made but officers attended a small number of low-level public order incidents in different parts of London. The force added that a number of protests have been planned, including a Stop The War protest due to be held on Monday evening at the Israeli Embassy, and officers will be there primarily to ensure protests pass off peacefully but will make arrests if they suspect a criminal offence has been committed. Rileys post on the social media site said: Acton, half an hour ago. Popped into a cafe for some baklava with the kids and our Ukrainian friends. People have been brutally murdered, kidnapped and there are people in London dancing. Just had a reassuring call with the police, if anyone is scared, please call them. She added on the social media site: Most people understand this is an abomination. No-one should cheer war and death. Speaking at an event at the Labour Party Conference, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan condemned the Hamas attacks and said it was important they did not spill over into increased hate crime in London. He said: Hamas is a proscribed organisation. What they have done in the last 24 hours in Israel, causing the death and injury of hundreds, is unacceptable and its got to be condemned and I do condemn that. Weve also got to recognise the history of disturbances in the Middle East, it often spills over into an increase in hate crime in our city. Ive been in regular contact with the police over the last 24 hours, and communities in London who are feeling scared and vulnerable and frightened, and there are increased officers present across London to reassure communities. Asked whether he condemned Londoners waving flags in support of Hamas, he added: Waving the flag of Hamas is against the law. Hamas is proscribed and the police are making sure that they enforce the law. Theres obviously a distinction with the right to freedom of protest and so forth, but nobody likes to see people scared as a consequence of the actions of others. Prominent barrister Charlotte Proudman also posted a video of a car with Palestinian flags sounding its horn. She wrote: Celebrating the murders and kidnapping of Israelis is quite possibly the most heinous act of public hate I have seen on the streets of London. Mr Jenrick shared Rileys post on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, and said: These disgusting people are glorifying the terrorist activities of Hamas, a proscribed organisation. There is no place for this in the UK. I trust @metpoliceuk will be taking this seriously. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine, in charge of policing London on Sunday, said: We are aware that this conflict has a far-reaching impact on communities around the world, and we extend our full support to those affected in London. We are listening and working with communities and partners to ensure people feel safe and protected. We ask that members of the public report anything concerning, such as threatening behaviour. We are aware that a number of demonstrations and protests are planned. We have spoken to the organisers and we expect these will pass off peacefully. However, we will take a zero tolerance approach to any activity which crosses the lines into criminality. The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that protects British Jews from antisemitism and related threats, said it has been in discussion with the Met Police and Government since Saturday morning to ensure the appropriate levels of security and policing are in place in Jewish community areas. Dave Rich, director of policy at CST, said: Experience tells us that as conflicts in Israel and Gaza escalate, we will see a spike in antisemitic hate crimes in Britain. Our advice to the Jewish community is to report any examples of antisemitism or suspicious behaviour around Jewish buildings to the police immediately and then to CST. He added: During the last big conflict between Israel and Gaza in May 2021, one of the things that caused the most anger and fear in Jewish communities was car convoys waving flags. We hope what happened on Saturday night isnt an indication that were going to see the same thing again as that would be extremely damaging to community relations. We kind of accept it as normal that when theres conflict, we see a rise in antisemitism in Britain we shouldnt accept it as normal, it should never be acceptable. A group called the Palestine Solidarity Campaign has called for people to attend an emergency demonstration on Monday outside the Israeli embassy. 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 }} Lovers beware. Paris has been engulfed by an infestation of bedbugs with authorities warning no one is safe. Footage of the blood-sucking insects has horrified TikTok users, leading to some standing on the infested Parisian metro instead of sitting on the fabric seats, or posting warning about the creepy critters swarming all over their Airbnb rentals. Speaking to French TV station LCI on Friday, deputy mayor of Paris Emmanuel Gregoire called the infestation widespread. Typical bedbugs bite (NHS) You have to understand that in reality no one is safe, obviously there are risk factors but in reality, you can catch bedbugs anywhere and bring them home, he said. But should Londoners be concerned with a comfortable journey on the fabric seats of the Eurostar just two hours away? Yes is the short answer. With a typical lifespan of 4-6 months and a penchant for hitching rides in dirty suitcases, it is very possible they can make the 2hr 16min trip from the City of Love to the Big Smoke. One bedbug expert from Bed Bugs Ltd, based in London, says the creatures are already here but could even increase in numbers with the Paris epidemic. The Independent asked David Cain, founder and MD of Bed Bugs LTD and a qualified microbiologist, whether the bugs could survive the journey. France wary over bedbugs spread (REUTERS) He said: Easily, yes, without a shadow of a doubt. I have known people go on day trips to Paris, not even staying in hotels or other high-risk activities, and come back with them. Paris has been a popular link for the last six years. Business is already booming. I started doing this in 2005, when bedbugs were rare and obscure, but [they are] not any more. If everyone had listened to me in 2006 and started a public education campaign, this wouldnt be happening. They dont know... and check when you travel that you dont get them. Check your home. More bedbugs (Supplied) You wont be the first person in your office who has had them. Theres so much psychological [aversion] ingrained in the national psyche. Some people who seem to have it all together simply turn into a gibbering wreck. So much of our website is dedicated to psychology and emotional support. People are scared by what they dont understand, but we understand what you are going through. He added: There is no medication that will prevent bedbugs. They tried to recommend ivermectin, the one Trump thought could stop him from getting Covid then got it a couple of days later. Its a nasty drug. His best advice: Baking soda and an ice cube make a paste, apply it to the skin for 30 seconds. One Reddit user helpfully suggested: ALWAYS use a luggage stand when travelling, and if you want to be extra safe bag up your clothes before you get home and then run everything through a wash cycle with a hot dryer cycle. Use a suitcase with very few nooks and crannies if possible too, so it can easily be vacuumed/wiped down. NHS signs of bedbugs include: Spots of blood on your bedding from the bites or from squashing a bedbug Small brown spots on bedding or furniture (bedbug poo) On white skin, bedbug bites usually look red. On black or brown skin, they may look purple and may be harder to see. Technically, bedbugs are mutants. Scientists have found that the bedbug possesses genes from other organisms, which makes the creatures which have been around since the age of the dinosaurs even harder to kill. There are 400 types of bacteria that can be found in and on bedbugs, which appear to help keep them alive by fending off viruses, pesticides, and other harmful substances. Eurostar have insisted their trains are cleaned thoroughly (Gareth Fuller/PA) (PA Archive) Eurostar said they were planning on ramping up preventative treatments across their entire network to keep the critters on the other side of the Channel. A spokesperson told The Independent: The safety and wellbeing of our customers is always our number one priority, and the presence of insects such as bedbugs on our trains is extremely rare. The textile surfaces on all of our trains are cleaned thoroughly on a regular basis, and this involves hot-water injection and extraction cleaning, which has proven highly effective in eliminating bugs. Any reports on hygiene matters are taken very seriously, and our cleaning teams, in addition to the usual cleaning, will also disinfect a train on request or as soon as there is the slightest doubt. Earlier this year, pest control company Rentokil highlighted a 65 per cent increase year-on-year in infestations across the country, as experts suggested this could be due to more people buying second-hand furniture from resale websites such as eBay and Facebook Marketplace. Construction on a wastewater pipeline meant to service Genesee Countys STAMP industrial park has been halted by federal authorities after at least two drilling fluid spills occurred at the pipelines construction site in the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, according to documents obtained by The Buffalo News. The biggest of those spills, which occurred on Sept. 7, discharged approximately 100 gallons of slurry into wetlands that feed into Oak Orchard Creek, according to notices from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state Department of Environmental Conservation. Tonawanda Seneca Nation, environmentalists decry plans for STAMP wastewater pipeline Thursday's public comment period was the latest battle between county officials promoting economic growth and activists fighting for Indigenous sovereignty and environmental protections. Fluids from the spill were not contained on the project site and spread over an area of about 24,000 square feet. Construction also caused the formation of sinkholes and several instances where the road shoulder was slumping and pulling away from the rest of the road, a federal report found. Following inspections, federal authorities directed the Genesee County Economic Development Center Genesee Countys economic development agency and the entity overseeing STAMP to halt construction until it could meet eight conditions. Those conditions require the agency to develop a remediation plan, prepare a report on what went wrong and why and create a monitoring plan, among others. For their part, state authorities inspected the construction twice, finding that the county agency had failed to clean up the slurry over the course of at least 10 days and was in violation of state environmental laws and the conditions for two separate permits. Both state and federal regulators are considering levying fines on the Genesee County agency for polluting the wildlife refuge. State fines could cost the economic development agency tens of thousands of dollars for each day that [a] violation continues. Clark Patterson Lee, the firm hired to construct the pipeline, will oversee cleanup work done by G. DeVincentis and Son Construction Company. The DEC will continue to closely monitor the site to ensure it is cleaned up appropriately as required, a DEC spokesperson said. The economic development agency is following standard operating procedure by removing the fluids with a vacuum truck in conjunction with the DEC, a spokesperson for the economic development agency said. It expects to resume construction using the same horizontal drilling techniques once it receives approval from the DEC. The county agencys spokesperson didnt specify whether the drilling fluids would have any effect on the wildlife refuge but described them as non-toxic by-products that have no adverse impacts on human health and safety. The September spill follows an earlier minor incident in mid-August when drilling fluid spilled into the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. The DEC allowed construction to resume after that spill was contained to a roadside ditch and removed by a vacuum truck. Plug Power plans $387 million STAMP plant expansion The expansion is on top of the $291 million investment the company is making in a facility it is building at the Town of Alabama site. When asked if the two spills were related, a county agency spokesperson said that both incidents included the release of non-toxic drilling fluids. Hundreds more gallons of slurry were spilled while crews worked to clean up the mid-August spill, according to Investigative Post, which was the first to report the story. The under-construction wastewater pipeline would discharge 6 million gallons of wastewater into Oak Orchard Creek in Orleans County. Its crucial to the construction of STAMP Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park a sprawling, 1,250-acre industrial park being built in northwestern Genesee County. Since its inception in 2010, the park has recruited two tenants: Power Plug, a hydrogen cell manufacturer, and Edwards, a British vacuum pump manufacturer. The Tonawanda Seneca Nation which sued to stop the construction of STAMP next to its reservation territory in 2021 before agreeing to settle later that year called on the Fish and Wildlife Service to revoke its potentially disastrous construction permit for the pipeline project, arguing that the drilling fluid may cause harm to aquatic and terrestrial organisms. The Nation has had concerns that drilling for the construction of the pipeline would be an environmental hazard to the biodiversity and wildlife in the Refuge, which lies within our ancestral territory, Nation spokesperson Grandell Logan said in a statement following the Sept. 7 spill. Today, some of our fears were realized. Nation citizens also vocally opposed the pipeline at a hearing in July, with one describing the pipeline project as greed at the expense of the environment. The spill isnt the only obstacle facing the construction of the pipeline. Orleans County, while in support of STAMP overall, opposes the pipeline, which would deposit its contents into Orleans County. After GCEDC attempted to gain temporary access to three Orleans County properties to construct the pipelines, Orleans County sued, accusing GCEDC of illegally funding a project outside of its jurisdiction. A State Supreme Court justice temporarily barred GCEDC from undertaking any construction projects in Orleans County pending an October court date. The Tonawanda Seneca Nation also criticized several government agencies handling of the pipeline construction, decrying the Fish and Wildlife Service for not permitting Nation observers onto the construction site and the DEC for not giving the site a satisfactory rating despite a lack of properly installed erosion and sediment control measures and discharge from the site on the day of the inspection. 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 }} A 20-year-old British man serving in the Israeli army has been killed in an attack by Hamas militants, his family have said. Nathanel Young was serving with the Israeli Defence Forces when he was killed on the Gaza border on Saturday, after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack firing thousands of rockets into Israel and storming across the heavily-fortified border. Hundreds of Israelis have been killed and scores taken hostage, as gunfights continued for a second day to clear Hamas fighters from numerous settlements in Israel close to the border with Gaza. Nathanel Young had gone to school in north London and was serving in the Israeli army (Sourced) Gaby Shalev, from London, posted on Facebook: Were heartbroken to share that our little brother Nathanel Young was tragically killed on the Gaza Border yesterday. The former pupil at JFS Jewish school in Kenton, north London, had been living in the Bayit Shel Benji lone-soldier house in Raanana, according to the Jewish News. It comes after the Israeli embassy to the UK said another British citizen, 26-year-old Jake Marlowe who reportedly attended the same school as Young was among the missing after Hamas attacked a dance music festival taking place close to the border as it launched its incursion. We dont know yet if taken hostage or killed, the embassy told The Independent. His mother, Lisa, said her son had been providing security at the rave in the desert near Kibbutz Reim when the surprise attack unfolded and had called her at 4:30am to say all these rockets were flying over. Nathanel Young was killed on the Gaza border, his family said (Sourced) Then, at about 5.30am, he texted to say, signal very bad, everything OK, will keep you updated I promise you, and that he loves me, Ms Marlowe told Jewish News. Ms Marlowe said her son had not been online for hours, adding: Ive left him lots of WhatsApp messages but Ive not been able to leave him a [voice] message I cant bear to listen to the phone just ringing and not being answered. In a desperate voice message, sent as gunmen stormed the festival a transcript of which was shared with The Independent Mr Marlowe can be heard saying: We are seeing it in front of our eyes, we are rounding up the people from the party now, we are on an ATV [quad bike] and we are telling everyone to get the f*** outta there. Revellers fled the festival in their thousands as gunmen opened fire (Sourced) He is among dozens of festival attendees who are missing, kidnapped or presumed dead, multiple witnesses and family members told The Independent. Cabinet minister Mark Harper told Sky News the UK was working very closely and have been in contact with the Israeli government about any British citizens in the region, but said he had no specific information on the reports that Mr Marlowe is missing. Terrified Israeli residents living near the Gaza border hid in their homes and barricaded themselves in safe rooms on Saturday, as civilians and soldiers alike were shot by Hamas in the streets outside, with others seized and taken to Gaza to be held as hostages. At least 600 people have been killed in Israel and 100 taken hostage, authorities have said, while Palestines health ministry has reported at least 370 fatalities as Israel launches relentless retaliatory strikes on Gaza. 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 }} A British citizen feared abducted by Hamas militants to Gaza said he was trying to evacuate people on a quad bike in a last desperate voice message sent as gunmen stormed the Israeli festival where he was working. Jake Marlowe, 26, a carpenter by trade, was employed as a security guard at the Nova music festival just six kilometres east of Gaza, which was in full swing Saturday when Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel in decades. He is among dozens of festival attendees who are missing, kidnapped or presumed dead, multiple witnesses and family members told The Independent. On Sunday night, Israels search and rescue agency said more than 260 people had died. He last spoke to his mother at 4.30am UK time, saying he saw rockets [fired from Gaza] and that he even filmed it, Daniel Aboudy, a friend of Mr Marlowe, told The Independent from London. Then 45 minutes later they spoke briefly but since then his phone hasnt rung. Follow all the latest updates on our live blog. Jake Marlowe (right), who is missing in Israel, with friend Daniel Aboudy (Daniel Aboudy) He added: Another friend forwarded a voice message from Jake and his friend, as they were told to evacuate. In the voice message, Mr Marlowe said he and a friend, who he named as Shlomi, were desperately trying to get people to safety. Me and Shlomi are right by Gaza, bro, he said, according to a transcript of the voice message shared with The Independent. We are seeing it in front of our eyes, we are rounding up the people from the party now, we are on an ATV [quad bike] and we are telling everyone to get the f*** outta there. Jake Marlowe is missing in Israel (Jake Marlowe/Facebook) Israels embassy to the UK confirmed Mr Marlowe is missing in a statement released on Saturday. Tzipi Hotovely, the Israeli ambassador to Britain, earlier told Sky News a British citizen was in Gaza but she did not name the individual. His mother, Lisa, told the Jewish News he was providing security at a party and she last heard from her son via text message at 5.30am UK time (7.30am local). At about 5.30am, he texted to say, signal very bad, everything OK, will keep you updated I promise you, and that he loves me, she said. I dont know what were supposed to be doing. Ive got people in Israel phoning the home guard command, others talking to others, everyones just trying to help as much as they can. Revellers fleeing the festival in southern Israel as Hamas militants arrive (Sourced) Mr Aboudy added: His mum is in a massive state of shock. The moment she found out, she gave me a missed call at 1pm yesterday. We have spoken to the Home Front Command in Israel and then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but so far we dont know anything. The 26-year-old is feared to be among dozens of people who are missing from the festival and may have been taken to Gaza by Hamas, who blew up a border fence and stormed Israel in the early hours of Saturday via land, sea and air. Israels Benjamin Netanyahu responded by declaring the country was now at war. On Sunday, one video showed the mutilated body of one woman, identified as German tattoo artist Shani Louk by her friends, being paraded around in her underwear around Gaza. It is believed she had been attending the same outdoor music festival. Israeli military officials told The Independent the attack was completely unprecedented and they were fearful for the lives of the hostages. They also said they had no confirmed numbers and were working on their safe return. Nationwide is giving the Great British high street a patriotic shot in the arm with its biggest rebrand in decades. Rolling out the chic new design at the stroke of midnight, Britains biggest building society will overhaul the high street with a red, white and blue rebrand across hundreds of branches and thousands of ATMs up and down the country. The move will add style to substance amid their ongoing committment to high street branches as they promise to keep the doors open just as shareholder-owned rivals are pulling down the shutters. Praising the building societys stylish new rebrand and faith in bricks-and-mortar outlets, Nationwide chief executive Debbie Crosbie said: Our rebrand keeps us relevant for customers today and tomorrow. Alongside the elegant branches, all payment cards and customer letters and emails will be updated with the new branding along with the slogan A Good Way to Bank. The new-look branding for logos, literature and cards (Nationwide) Banks have been steadily closing branches after some customers switched to using online services. But the change has isolated people without internet access, those who benefit from personal interaction and residents who want to keep high streets alive. Nationwide, which will update all 605 of its branches with the new branding, says it is determined to protect face-to-face service, which is invaluable to many customers, including the vulnerable. In May, the society returned 340m of profit to 3.4 million eligible members through its first Nationwide fairer share payment, each receiving 100. The following month, the society extended its branch promise, meaning it will not leave any town or city in which it is based until at least 2026. And last month, Nationwide launched an offer of 200 cash to new customers switching their current account to it, as well as a linked savings account paying 8 per cent interest. While bank branches are closing because they are unprofitable, the Nationwide says its branches are still extremely busy with customers wanting face-to-face service, and this year have had more customers in person opening savings accounts than at any time since 2015. Weve seen very steady footfall for the past 18 months, a spokesperson said. Weve not recorded a drop in branch usage since the pandemic, with some branches having returned to pre-pandemic levels. Between January and July, our branches saved customers from losing over 4m to fraudsters and scammers Nationwide spokesperson We are seeing increases in branch conversations around mortgages and savings, and more complex enquiries such as fraud. Between January and July, our branches have saved our customers from losing over 4m to fraudsters and scammers. The image overhaul will be its biggest in a generation - since 1987, when the average house cost just 40,882. Today, it costs 257,808, representing a rise in the house-price-to-earnings ratio from 4.1 to 6.4. The Wimborne branch (ARedhouse Photography) Old look: The new Nationwide design adds a touch of style compared to previous interations such as this (Mike Egerton/PA Wire) Building society bosses say the rebrand is aimed at ensuring the member-owned mutual remains attractive and relevant for future generations of customers looking for a financial services provider that puts people before profit. They are promising to beat rivals on service, value and fairness. Chief executive Crosbie added: Nationwide is the large-scale alternative to shareholder-owned banks. We offer a good way to bank for our customers through our national network of branches, better service, value and fairness. Our rebrand keeps us relevant for customers today and tomorrow. 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 }} Local residents and businesses in Stratford have expressed their concerns over plans to build a 300ft Las Vegas-style sphere in their neighbourhood. The 21,500-capacity stadium is expected to be covered in animated adverts for the next 25 years as some residents say they will move out of the homes they have lived in for years if plans go ahead. The proposals are yet to be approved by the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and the levelling up secretary, Michael Gove. Karina Novic, 30, has recently moved to the area and said she hadnt been aware of the plans before she moved. She said shed consider moving if they went ahead: I dont think it should be in an area like this. Right now, its nice because its quite quiet and secluded. I might move if plans go ahead, although it depends on how long construction takes. Owner of El Cafecito, a small coffee stand outside Stratford International Station, Ivan Sahagun, 41, said he regularly sees an influx of customers due to West Ham games at London Stadium and visitors to Westfield shopping centre. The site of the development is currently quiet and secluded (The Independent) He said: We dont need another venue, they could do so many other things with the money, things that will actually help the community. The venue has an estimated cost of 800m, and residents of East Village expressed their disapproval of large corporate developers, pointing to the lack of affordable housing and large numbers of households in poverty. Newham, the London borough that includes Stratford, is one of the most deprived in the country, with 36 per cent of its residents living in poverty. They could do so many other things with the money: Ivan Sahagun (The Independent) There are also concerns about what some perceive as the increasing encroachment of commercial spaces into residential areas. Jolly Ndikumana, 27, is a finance employee and has lived in the area for years. She said Stratford had become gentrified enough as it is although she was curious to see what value the development could bring. Im young but if I was to have kids or have a vulnerable person living with me, I dont know how Id feel about it all, she said. Theres been construction going on around here for years and I was living in front of a construction site and there was never any silence except for Sundays. Gentrified enough as it is: Jolly Ndikumana (The Independent) Site supervisor Victor Ziait, 32, says that there will be a lot of complaints. Mr Ziait says that the first couple of months of construction can be very noisy and his team working on another development in East Village have had a lot of complaints about the noise of their work. Were not that noisy but some people are very [sensitive] and they put in complaints, he said. There will be a lot of complaints: Victor Ziait (The Independent) Marissa, another local resident who did not want to be identified by her full name, said she had been living in the area for years and that no one wants it [the MSG Sphere] here. She said the plans were: Awful, awful, awful. Can you imagine trying to live with that outside your window? If it gets built, Im going to move. I will not be staying here. They need to put it somewhere without lots of residents. No way it should be a huge billboard: Ibraheem Howell (The Independent) Others felt there could be hidden opportunities in the new development. Ibraheem Howell, 23, is a model and says the immersive experiences offered by the MSG Sphere could be exciting for people who love music. If its anything like the one in Las Vegas, it will be wicked, he said. But they shouldnt force it on residents against their will, and theres no way it should be a huge billboard. The offer of blinds to shut out light is a joke. Assistant headteacher and father of two Andy Wands, 35, said he regularly brought his children to the area to use the parks. There used to be a space there where children could play, there were climbing frames and play areas for children. That was quite nice, he said. For me, its mixed feelings because I would probably attend if there was someone playing who I liked, but not at the expense of residents. For me, its mixed feelings: Andy Wands (The Independent) West Ham MP Lyn Brown, who opposes the construction, has called the sphere monstrous and has raised fears about added pressure on local transport. Stratford train station is the fifth busiest in the UK and currently deals with passengers from Westfield shopping centre, West Ham's 60,000-seater stadium and commuters travelling to and from the centre of London. She urged Mayor Khan and Michael Gove to intervene to prevent or limit its construction. An MSG Sphere spokesperson said: We are fully committed to bringing Sphere to London and delivering its many cultural and economic benefits, including creating thousands of jobs and generating billions of pounds for the local, London and UK economy. They also provided a factsheet which states that the development is expected to create 1,200 on-site operational jobs and 1,000 on-site construction jobs. They estimate that the venue will create a positive economic impact for the capital with over 2.5bn generated in the first 20 years and 50m every year in revenue for local businesses. When asked about consultation with residents, they referred to a 2019 poll in each of the wards in Newham which demonstrated strong support for Sphere London among residents. Eighty-five per cent of 1,019 adults polled supported plans while only 4 per cent opposed, according to their figures. 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 }} Tiny traces of oil left on the stump of the Sycamore Gap tree could lead police to identify the person who chopped it down, it has emerged. Forensic scientists are searching for traces from the chainsaws oiler, which lubricates the chain of the saw to keep it from overheating and seizing up. According to those familiar with the case, a distinctive oil mixture might lead officers to the saw. The 70ft Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland, believed to have been about 300 years old, was cut down overnight on 27 September, in what detectives described as a deliberate act of vandalism. The National Trust, which manages the land where the tree stood, said it was shocked and saddened to learn of the news. Now, as Northumbria Police continue their search for evidence to catch the culprit, forensic scientists claim traces of the chainsaw oil could help officers in the case. Dr Angela Gallop, one of Britains most experienced forensic scientists, told The Times: Any oil smeared onto the stump from the chainsaw could be useful in providing a link with a particular saw. When topping up machinery with different types of oils, you might add one type of oil with another type of oil with slightly different chemical components, and build up a chemical fingerprint. Another expert said: Its not uncommon for farmers to save themselves 20 by using engine oil to lubricate the chain. Or they might have used one of the popular makes like Husqvarna or Stihl. Or perhaps a blend of both might be found, giving a unique forensic make-up. Forensic investigators examining the felled Sycamore Gap tree (PA) The hope of a breakthrough comes after police arrested a 69-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy in connection with the incident. Both have been released on bail. The felling of the Sycamore Gap tree caused widespread upset across the country, including distraught celebrities and politicians who expressed their outrage. The National Trust is now meeting with its stakeholders to decide whether to try to save or replace the iconic tree. It is clear this tree was special to many, many people, a spokesperson told The Independent. In the immediate term, our priority has been to ensure the safety of the site, and the tree, and to support staff and the local community coming to terms with the news. We are beginning discussions with stakeholders about the future of the site, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site, and will be working with Northumberland National Park and local people to decide the best way forward. We will inform people as soon as we know. 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 }} An Irish-Israeli citizen is missing after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Saturday. The Irish government said it is in contact with the family of 22-year-old Kim Damti, who is unaccounted for after an unprecedented surprise attack was launched against Israel. According to the Irish Times, who first reported the story, the young womans mother is Irish. Irish premier Leo Varadkar said on Sunday that they were aware of the case. He added: We dont have any definite detail beyond that, but certainly (were) aware of it and willing to offer any consular assistance we can to any Irish citizens or any dual Irish citizens that are caught up in these terrible attacks. Irelands deputy premier and foreign affairs minister Micheal Martin echoed those comments. We are aware of the case and the Department Foreign Affairs has been in touch with the family. But we dont intend to comment specifically on the case at this stage, the Tanaiste said. Could I say that as more information is revealed, I think the full horror of the crimes that were committed yesterday by Hamas are laid bare hundreds and hundreds of innocent people slaughtered in the most savage of ways. He said that people had been targeted in their homes in an indiscriminate way. The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of this case and we are in touch with the family directly and providing consular assistance. We dont comment on the detail of individual cases, it added. Mr Varadkar said that the surprise attack launched by Hamas is probably the worst attack that Israel has had to endure for 40 years now. The government condemns it unreservedly, there can be no excuse for targeting women, children, taking children and women, civilians as hostage, the Taoiseach said. I dont think anyone could do anything other than condemn that and we do condemn it unreservedly. I would also urge restraint though by the Israeli authorities, there will be retaliation for this, Im sure, but for the first time, I think in a very long time, Israel is united and the free world is standing in solidarity with Israel. But that could change, I think, if the response from Israel is excessive and results in unnecessary civilian deaths in Gaza, so very much that is this part of our message too. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} UK police should investigate those celebrating Hamas attacks on Israel in Britain for potential hate crimes, senior Labour MP Wes Streeting has said. Home secretary Suella Braverman has said that she expects the police to use the full force of the law against displays of support for the Palestinian militants after videos emerged of people celebrating the kidnappings and killings. The issue seems set to be a distraction for Keir Starmer and reignite old rows with the left, as he kicks off the Labour conference in Liverpool against a backdrop of fighting between Israeli military and Palestinian militants. Labour MP Apsana Begum was pictured posing with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) at the conference ahead of the groups planned protest outside the Israeli embassy. Mr Streeting, when he was asked on GB News if the police should investigate those who are celebrating the Hamas attacks in Israel for hate crimes, said: Certainly I think they need to look at whether crimes are being committed here. The Labour frontbencher added: People celebrating on the streets of London, and elsewhere in the UK, have got to ask themselves, where is their humanity? Mr Streeting said: To those who are worried about Palestinian human rights, [or] want to see a state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel ... what were seeing on our screens not only cant be justified in human terms, and the barbarity and the fear that the families are going through, but it also sets back the cause of peace. Labour left-winger Ms Begum, the MP for Poplar and Limehouse, who was a strong supporter of Jeremy Corbyn, was photographed posing at the PSC stand at the conference on Saturday afternoon. The group, who later deleted the photo shared on X / Twitter, has organised a protest to demand Israel end its violent imposition of occupation, apartheid and colonisation over the Palestinian people. The PSC has also urged Labour to confront the reality of Israels practice of the crime of apartheid rather than avoid naming it. Labours shadow health secretary Wes Streeting (PA) The Independent understands that Labour will take no action against Ms Begum, since the PSC is not a banned organisation and the MP has not said anything about Hamas. Sir Keir Starmer has said there is no justification for the appalling attack on Israel. He told the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme: The perpetrators of this have deliberately pushed back the prospect of peace agreements. Former Labour MP Luciana Berger was moved to tears as she received a standing ovation before speaking at a fringe event at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool. The Jewish politician, who was one of six who resigned from Labour in 2019 in protest at Jeremy Corbyns leadership, told a Labour First rally: It means so much to be home in the Labour party because the Labour Party is my home and for too long it wasnt ... its a very different party [under Mr Starmer]. Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police patrols have been increased in London after the force was urged to intervene by immigration minister Robert Jenrick, who shared a video posted on social media by Countdown presenter Rachel Riley. Ms Riley posted on X on Saturday saying she had passed two cars in west London driving with Palestinian flags flying from each window, bouncing up and down in their cars. Ms Riley said they were seemingly celebrating like they were having a party, and later posted a video that showed people in Acton waving Palestinian flags, beeping car horns and clapping. Ms Braverman also posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday morning, saying: Whenever Israel is attacked, Islamists and other racists use Israeli defensive measures as a pretext to stir up hatred against British Jews. The home secretary added: I expect the police to use the full force of the law against displays of support for Hamas, other proscribed terrorist groups or attempts to intimidate British Jews. The Community Security Trust, a charity that protects British Jews from antisemitism and related threats, said it had been in discussion with the Met Police and government since Saturday morning to ensure the appropriate levels of security and policing are in place in Jewish community areas. In a statement, Scotland Yard said it was aware of a number of incidents in relation to the Middle East conflict and said there would likely be an increase in protests in the coming days. The Met has increased policing patrols across parts of London in order to provide a visible presence and reassurance to our communities, they said. Anyone who experiences threatening behaviour or is worried about their safety is urged to contact police. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Israeli ambassador to the UK has called on Britain to stand with Israel against the evil brutality of Hamas, as the death toll from the weekends eruption of violence rose to more than 1,000. Writing a highly personal plea from central Israel for The Independent, ambassador Tzipi Hotovely described the fear of her three-year-old daughter as the family hid in their bomb shelter, saying that her own nightmares have become reality. Israel and Gaza spent the day reeling from the aftermath of Hamass strike on Saturday, with the number of dead continuing to rise and retaliatory strikes causing devastation. Writing about the shock attacks, the top diplomat urged the British people: I ask you not to simply keep scrolling through your news feeds, but to amplify the voices of countless innocent Israelis by sharing their story. Help to expose the truly hateful and barbaric face of Hamas, and show to the people of Israel that you stand with us and our right to defend ourselves from evil brutality. Her plea came as: The Israeli death toll passed 700, with over 400 dead in Gaza from retaliatory strikes Israel said Hamas had taken 100 people hostage including women, children, and a Holocaust survivor One British man was confirmed dead and another missing, assumed kidnapped and taken to Gaza More than 260 killed at Israeli desert rave - as survivors told The Independent how they hid in fear Poland said it was evacuating its citizens from Israel, while the US pledged new assistance for its ally Ms Hotovelys plea for British support came on a second devastating day of violence, in which fierce gun battles took place across southern Israel, with the country suffering its bloodiest days in decades. Israeli media reported that at least 700 Israelis had been killed since Hamas launched its shock attack on Saturday morning, with another 2,048 wounded. Retaliatory air strikes launched on Gaza have killed at least 400 people and wounded another 2,200, according to Palestinian officials. Among those in the immediate path of the militants were thousands of revellers at a trance music festival in the desert, which was interrupted on Saturday by rockets flying before militants stormed the event and opened fire with assault rifles and grenades - on Sunday night, emergency services said more than 260 died in the attack. Revellers flee rave in southern Israel as Hamas militants arrive (Sourced) Eyewitnesses and friends told The Independentthat the militants had fatally shot and kidnapped dozens of people, and that they had hunted down partygoers as they tried to hide in a wooded area nearby. One woman said she had survived by playing dead in a car after the driver trying to help her escape was shot, while another told the BBC that she had hidden under a tree for three hours while gunmen roamed the area shooting all in their sight. Harrowing footage showed a 25-year-old woman, Noa Argamani, being driven away on a Palestinian gunmans motorcycle as she pleaded Dont kill me. Her boyfriend, who was seen in the footage being dragged away, is also believed to have been taken hostage, his brother told Israels Channel 12 news. The Israeli ambassador wrote in The Independent that the attacks would live on in the collective Israeli psyche for generations to come, warning that the number of innocent people massacred by Hamas would rise in the days ahead. Ms Hotovely said the sight of Israelis being taken hostage and dragged back across the border into Gaza was something I have never witnessed before in my lifetime. Palestinians search under the rubble of a house destroyed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis (REUTERS) She added: As an Israeli, and as a mother, my nightmares have become reality. Whilst we sought safety in our shelter, my three-year-old daughter asked me yesterday, Why, Mum? Why do they want to kill me? Ms Hotovely also pointed the finger at Iran for funding Hamas, saying that the two were aligned in their support for terror, for destroying our democratic values, and for extinguishing us from existence. A 20-year-old British man serving in the Israeli army was killed in an attack by Hamas, his family confirmed. Nathanel Young was serving with the Israeli Defense Forces when he was killed on the Gaza border on Saturday. Mr Youngs brother, Eliot Young, said in a statement released to the BBC that Nathanel was loved by everyone. Another British citizen, photographer Dan Darlington, was reported missing by his family. It comes after 26-year-old Jake Marlowe, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, was reported missing while providing security at a music festival near Kibbutz Reim, close to the Gaza border. Israeli soldiers take position in the southern Israeli town of Ofakim (AP) The Israeli embassy in London confirmed that London-born Mr Marlowe, who is reported to have moved to Israel two years ago, was missing but it had not been confirmed that he had been kidnapped. In a voice note a transcript of which has been seen by The Independent sent by Mr Marlowe to a friend, the 26-year-old said: We are seeing it in front of our eyes. We are rounding up the people from the party now. We are on an ATV [quad bike] and we are telling everyone to get the f*** outta there. Jake Marlowe (right), who is missing in Israel, with his friend Daniel Aboudy (Daniel Aboudy) Israeli troops also traded rocket and artillery fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon, raising fears of a broader conflict. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus security cabinet officially declared the country at war on Sunday, saying that it had formally authorised the taking of significant military steps. Israel said it had struck 800 Hamas targets, and cut off power and other supplies to the besieged enclave on Sunday doing little to disperse fears of a looming ground offensive. Mr Netanyahu had first vowed to go through every community until we kill every terrorist that is in Israeli territory as he ordered the evacuation of regions near the border where Israeli troops were seeking to dislodge Hamas fighters from eight separate locations. Moment Israel strikes Gaza tower block as reporter is live on-air Rishi Sunak also spoke to Mr Netanyahu on Sunday afternoon, reaffirming that the UK stands with Israel unequivocally against these acts of terror and offering any support Israel needs. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the prime minister said that terrorism will not prevail and promised that the UK would help Israel in the wake of the attack by Hamas. The UK for a long time has been one of Israels strongest allies in supporting its right to self-defence, and indeed, providing the kinds of equipment that Israel has used to defend itself from these appalling attacks over the past 36 hours, he said. We will continue to do everything that we can to help. When I spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu ... I assured him of that support, and said that the UK stood ready to provide that support, whether thats diplomatic or security support. Palestinians gather round the rubble of buildings hit during Israeli airstrikes on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip (AFP/Getty) US president Joe Biden also spoke with Mr Netanyahu to express his support on Sunday. And US secretary of state Antony Blinken said Washington would announce new assistance for Israel, after Hamas fighters rampaged through Israeli towns. Mr Blinken said that part of the motivation for Hamass shock attack may have been to disrupt a potential normalisation of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, along with other countries that may be interested in normalising relations with Israel. The secretary of state told CNN that the US is working to verify reports that several Americans were killed or are missing. One French citizen had died as a result of the attacks in Israel, a spokesperson for the French foreign ministry said on Sunday. Polish president Andrzej Duda said on Sunday that his country would send military planes to evacuate its citizens from Israel. Recommended Israel festivalgoer describes terrifying moment Hamas militants opened fire UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said that more than 20,000 Palestinians had left Gazas border region to head further into the territory and take refuge in UN schools. Hamas said it had planned for a long fight. We are prepared for all options, including all-out war, the deputy head of its political bureau, Saleh al-Arouri, told Al Jazeera TV. Mr Netanyahu braced Israels residents for a drawn-out conflict, saying: This war will take time. It will be difficult. Meanwhile, Britains home secretary Suella Braverman said that she expects the police to use the full force of the law against displays of support for Palestinian militants, after videos emerged of people celebrating the attack on Israel on the streets of London. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Jeremy Corbyn has refused to condemn Hamas after militants stormed settlements in southern Israel, killing and taking hostage both soldiers and civilians in a surprise attack. The former Labour leader said all attacks are wrong and repeated his call for an end to Israels occupation of Palestine. Which, of course, is fundamentally the background to the whole issue, Mr Corbyn said. I dont support any attacks, therefore I criticise them all, he added. However, asked by ITV News, Mr Corbyn stopped short of directly condemning the terrorist group he previously called friends comments he later said he regretted. It comes on the opening day of Labours annual conference in Liverpool, taking place against a backdrop of fighting between the Israeli military and Palestinian militants. Mr Corbyn issued a statement on Saturday describing the events in Israel as deeply alarming. We need an immediate ceasefire and urgent de-escalation, he said. And he called for Israel to end its occupation of Palestine as the only means of achieving a just and lasting peace. We need a route out of this tragic cycle of violence, Mr Corbyn said. Former Labour MP Ian Austin said his statement was disgraceful. Hamas terrorists are slaughtering people in the streets, kidnapping civilians and firing rockets indiscriminately at cities, he said. The conflict threatens to reignite old rows with the left wing of the Labour party at its annual conference this week. Putting clear blue water between himself and the Labour left, Sir Keir Starmer said there is no justification for the appalling attack on Israel. He told the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme: The perpetrators of this have deliberately pushed back the prospect of peace agreements. And Labours shadow foreign secretary David Lammy condemned Hamas as a terrorist organisation at a separate event at the conference. Mr Lammy said: I dont mince my words. Im a lawyer by trade. Hamas is a terrorist organisation. Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said UK police should investigate those celebrating Hamas attacks on Israel in Britain for potential hate crimes. Mr Streeting said: People celebrating on the streets of London, and elsewhere in the UK, have got to ask themselves, where is their humanity? Home secretary Suella Braverman also weighed in, saying she expects the police to use the full force of the law against displays of support for the Palestinian militants after videos emerged of people celebrating the kidnappings and killings. On Saturday morning, Palestinian militants breached the heavily fortified border from Gaza and poured into nearby settlements, killing and taking hostage both soldiers and civilians in an unprecedented attack. Attacks included Hamas storming a music festival and seizing partygoers, including British citizen Jacob Marlowe, as hostages. The death toll for Israelis has risen to almost 600, several local media outlets have reported including The Times of Israel and Haaretz. Vowing brutal retaliation, the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared the country to be at war and vowed to turn Hamas sites to rubble warning Palestinians they should leave besieged Gaza, despite them being unable to do so. Gaza health authorities reported 370 fatalities, as relentless Israeli strikes continued overnight. Israels military claimed on Sunday to have killed more than 400 Hamas gunmen as battles continued to dislodge and root out militants from eight settlements within Israel. A year and a half after Boris Johnson and the then home secretary, Priti Patel, unveiled their Rwanda deportation plan, the flagship immigration scheme hangs in the balance. It has been deemed unlawful in the Court of Appeal, a flight is yet to take off for the countrys capital Kigali, and Sir Keir Starmer has promised to axe the plan if Labour wins power. His promise, in an interview with the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, is the strongest indication yet that Labour will junk the policy if the party wins the election. Israel evacuates communities near Gaza on 2nd day of escalation with Hamas Xinhua) 20:59, October 08, 2023 JERUSALEM, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Israel was evacuating residents in communities in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip on Sunday, the second day of battles with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). All civilians in the 24 communities adjacent to the security fence were asked to evacuate their homes immediately, the Israeli military said in a statement, noting the move follows "the operational situational assessment." Hamas, which rules Gaza, launched an unprecedented surprise attack on Israel on Saturday and Hamas militants breached in a massive attack on the communities near the border. On Sunday afternoon, the Israeli security forces still had not gained full control in the south, with some gun battles between Israeli troops and Hamas militants who infiltrated from Gaza continuing. Israel responded with large-scale airstrikes. The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza reported on Sunday that at least 313 Palestinians were killed in the blockaded enclave by the Israeli airstrikes, including 20 children. Meanwhile, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported the death toll among Israelis has reached 600, marking Hamas' deadliest attack on the country. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Kou Jie) Ishmail Coleman moved to Hamburg recently. It wasnt his idea. And he has a lot of company. Coleman is among more than 100 homeless people staying at the former Quality Inn and Super 8 hotels on Camp Road in Hamburg, and about 400 people being sheltered by Erie County from the Southtowns to Niagara Falls who have moved there because a collision of circumstances created a sudden shortage of available beds for homeless people in Western New York. The use of the two hotels came as a surprise to Hamburg officials who were not prepared to answer questions about the situation, to residents who are concerned about whether their new neighbors have adequate access to food and necessary services and to school officials who learned that they were going to have some new students enrolled. There was no plan, said Erie County Legislator John J. Gilmour, who represents Hamburg. No one sat down to talk it out to figure out how we could work together to make sure theres a smooth transition, and everybody gets what they need, especially if people are living there. Coleman ended up there following two back surgeries and surgery on his Achilles tendon that landed him on disability. When he finished rehabilitation, he learned that the housing he had before had been condemned. The Erie County Department of Social Services is responsible for sheltering people who have no home and qualify for the Temporary Housing Assistance Program. DSS put me here, until I can fix myself with physical therapy, Coleman said last week. This summer, the county placed 55 people and 53 families who need emergency housing in the two lodgings now called Kwality Hamburg Hotel and Superb Hamburg Motel at the Hamburg town-village border. The county has arrangements with 13 hotel providers and six shelter providers in Amherst, Buffalo, Hamburg, Tonawanda, Clarence, Cheektowaga, West Seneca and Niagara Falls, county spokesman Peter Anderson said. The number of those needing help changes daily. The county sheltered 391 homeless households as of Sept. 21; more than one-third were families. Capacity at each of the five hotels now being used has been more than 85%, Anderson said. He said New York State reimburses the county for 100% of the cost of sheltering a family, while single placements are reimbursed 29%. The cost for all five hotels is $712,800 a month. The cost for shelter providers is $392,820 per month. The growth of family cases in the last 12 months means that most of the cost will be reimbursed by the state, Anderson told The Buffalo News in an email. Why now? This group of homeless people is different from those now seeking asylum in the region and far-flung parts of the U.S. The pandemic left an unprecedented uptick in homelessness of American citizens in its wake. A federal eviction moratorium was in place during the heat of the pandemic, so families with financial challenges were able to stay in their homes and apartments and evade eviction. Homelessness climbed nationwide after the moratorium ended in late August 2021, after agencies that house the homeless cut back on beds when demand fell during the pandemic. Funding for shelters is based on how many beds are used each night. So if your shelter is not full, then you dont receive as much money, said Kexin Ma, executive director of the Homeless Alliance of Western New York. Lack of demand led to less funding being sent to the shelters, and the funds did not cover all of the operational costs, including staffing, Ma said. That led many shelters to reduce the number of beds. As soon as the moratorium was lifted, evictions began nationwide. A growing number of homeless people and households scrambled to find temporary shelter and rebuild their lives. Protections have ended, the federal moratorium is obviously over and emergency rental assistance money has dried up in most places, said Daniel Grubbs-Donovan, a research specialist at Princeton Universitys Eviction Lab, told Fortune magazine in June. During the pandemic, a number of shelters that relied on volunteers closed and never reopened, according to Erie County officials. And the cost of housing has since dramatically increased, pricing some people out of their apartments. The number of homeless people in Erie County began to spike in August 2022. During the last year, the county has seen placements for single people climb to 22% above median pre-pandemic levels. Family placements jumped 56% above those levels. The Department of Social Services signed contracts with five hotel providers between January and August this year, and maintains an on-demand relationship with eight other hotels and six shelter providers. The significant increase in family placements has dramatically increased the need to use hotels as shelter bed providers in the last six months because a family placement may require multiple rooms depending on family size, county officials said. It is not a homeless crisis, but a housing crisis, county officials said, and families are the new face of homelessness because of the difficulty finding affordable housing in their income range. We also seem to have an uptick in homelessness because of the fact that theres been a renaissance in the city and the cost of renting apartments in the City of Buffalo has gone up, and people cant afford it, and theyre being evicted, Gilmour said. And now were trying to find places to put them. Local issues Hamburg officials and nonprofit providers were not immediately told that the 120 rooms at two local hotels would be nearly filled with people who are homeless. Village police noticed that calls for help from June 1 to Oct. 2 numbered 351 in the Camp Road area from the Thruway to Sunset Drive, nearly three times as many as last year. Government officials also started hearing questions from people in the adjacent Holiday Lane neighborhood. Part of the frustration that I and others have had is the ignorance of what is going on, Mayor Thomas Tallman said. It took me three weeks to get a meeting with Erie County. Village officials noted there are not many services near the hotels. So did some hotel residents, whose rooms include a microwave and small refrigerator. Disabled veteran Phillip Norton does not want to be homeless, the reason his left leg was amputated below the knee. Three years ago, I became homeless. Thats how I lost my leg, in the winter time: frostbite, Norton, now homeless again, said in the parking lot of one of the Hamburg hotels. The nearest full-service grocery stores are 2 miles from the hotels, and few of the residents have motor vehicles. Bus service is limited to two Metro buses that leave before 8 a.m. to go to Buffalo and return about 5 p.m. The closest place to shop that is cheap is Dollar General, and thats a mile down the road, said Norton, who uses a wheelchair. It took me an hour and 10 minutes in this chair to go down and back and do my shopping. People are literally shopping at the Red Apple, the gas station next door, said Gilmour, the county legislator. So its not a good situation. Its not a great location. Some hotel residents pointed to Dennys and Wendys restaurants within walking distance, and a pizza shop in a small plaza near the hotels. One mentioned DoorDash for food delivery. Gilmour said meetings are being arranged with representatives of the county, village, school district. Stepping in Churches try to fill the void. We are delivering groceries to them on a daily basis, said Karen Dusza, director of the outreach center at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Hamburg. The church has a food pantry and gets food from FeedMore WNY. The church also received a grant to help purchase food and other necessities. If it wasnt for the food pantry, I would have starved, Norton said. Coleman said he appreciates that the pantry does as much as it can to help feed people in the hotels. He tries to call the pantry only once a week. Afternoon deliveries typically come after requests in the morning. I dont want to overdo it, take from somebody else if I have food, he said. Several churches and groups are helping, Dusza said, including Revive Wesleyan Church, which runs an emergency food pantry. Were all trying to help out to the ability we can, Dusza said. It could happen to anybody. A lot of people are just a paycheck away. Hamburg Central School District officials did not know there would be children staying in the hotels who would enter their schools. The legal obligation we have is to educate the children who live within our boundaries, and weve welcomed these children and their families with open arms, Superintendent Michael Cornell said. Children who become homeless can continue to go to school in their original district, even if they live temporarily outside the district. They also can be educated in the district where they are staying. Cornell declined to disclose how many children entered school this fall because he did not want to stigmatize them. The district doesnt typically release numbers of homeless families, he said. Because state and federal aid follows the child, Cornell said he does not foresee a large impact on the district budget. Because of the way the federal law is written, we feel like any budgetary impact would be rather muted, he said, but were certainly going to keep an eye on it. If theres a moment at which we think the impact is not going to be as muted as we think, were going to be talking to the state. Sharing communal places with strangers from different walks of life has sometimes been challenging, but Coleman lauded many in the community for welcoming him, and the other new arrivals. Close Starmer speech Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Keir Starmer vowed to oversee a decade of renewal if Labour wins the next election after his conference speech got off to a shaky start when a protester stormed on stage and covered him in glitter. The Labour leader set out his mission for government, promising to build 1.5 million homes in what he described as a new generation of towns. Shocking footage captured the moment the heckler evades security and dumps glitter over the Labour leader while wrapping his arms around him and shouting we are in crisis before finally being bundled to the ground. The heckler was heard shouting: We demand a peoples house, we are in crisis politics needs an update. We are in crisis. Footage emerged online afterwards of the protester being dragged from the building by police. Removing his jacket and rolling up his sleeves, Starmer was applauded for keeping his cool and regaining control of the podium. He told the audience: If he thinks that bothers me he doesnt know me. Protest not power, that is why we changed our party conference. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Leading barrister, and Boris Johnsons ex-wife, Marina Wheeler had hoped to attend the partys annual conference this week, The Independent understands. Ms Wheeler, who was on Saturday unveiled as Labour's new adviser on whistleblowing, is helping Sir Keir Starmers party develop its policy to help victims of sexual harassment in the workplace. She told The Independent it was a privilege to help Labour protect women from abusive colleagues. Her appointment has been widely viewed as a coup for Labour. She is the second high-profile woman from outside party politics to join Sir Keirs team. It follows the appointment of former civil servant Sue Gray, whose report into lockdown-busting parties inside No 10 during his time as prime minister contributed to his downfall. Ms Wheeler will advise the shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry, who will set out the plans in her speech to the event on Tuesday. The Independent understands that Ms Wheeler had initially hoped to attend the conference, being held in Liverpool this week. The meeting could be the last such gathering before the party tries to oust the Tories at the next general election. Sources claimed that work commitments had kept Ms Wheeler away, however. Whistleblowers are already protected from unfairly losing their job, but the law only applies in certain scenarios, including potential miscarriages of justice or criminal wrongdoing. The governments current guidance on whistleblowing warns that: Personal grievances (for example bullying, harassment, discrimination) are not covered by whistleblowing law, unless your particular case is in the public interest. Ms Wheeler said that the at the moment: "(Women in the workplace) too often suffer sexual harassment and assault and they pay a heavy price for speaking out. Knowing this, and to keep their jobs, they suffer in silence." Ms Thornberry will tell her party's conference that while the prime minister says he knows what a woman is there is a difference between a Tory government that pretends to care about women's rights, and a Labour Party that delivers them." In another landmark change, common-law wives who live with their partners will also get the same rights, including over property, as married women should their relationship end. 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 }} The Government is working to establish the status of UK citizens in Israel, Rishi Sunak said, as deadly attacks by Hamas saw one British man serving in the countrys army killed. The Prime Minister declared terrorism will not prevail and pledged steadfast support for his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu as the death toll from the incursion climbed to at least 600 on Sunday. It comes as the family of 20-year-old Nathanel Young, a Briton serving with the Israeli Defence Services, said he had been killed on the Gaza border on Saturday. Two other UK nationals 26-year-old Jake Marlowe, who went to the same London school as Mr Young and photographer Dan Darlington are also thought to be missing. In a statement delivered from Chequers, the Prime Minister said: The scenes that weve seen in Israel over the past 36 hours are truly horrifying. I want to express my absolute solidarity for the people of Israel now is not a time for equivocation, and Im unequivocal. Hamas, and the people who support Hamas, are fully responsible for this appalling act of terror, for the murder of civilians and for the kidnapping of innocent people, including children. Mr Sunak said he had spoken with the Israeli PM earlier on Sunday to offer the UKs ongoing support, adding: Terrorism will not prevail. Asked what assistance is being provided to British citizens caught up in the conflict, he told reporters: This is a dangerous and fast-moving situation on the ground. And I know that there will be families who are anxious about their loved ones. I want to reassure them that the Foreign Office and the Government here is in close contact with our Israeli counterpart to establish the status of any British nationals on the ground. Mr Young, who was a former pupil at JFS Jewish School in north London, is among hundreds to have died following a surprise attack by Palestinian militants which caught Israel off-guard on a major holiday. Gaby Shalev, from London, posted on Facebook: Were heartbroken to share that our little brother Nathanel Young was tragically killed on the Gaza Border yesterday. The indiscriminate attacks from Hamas are unjustifiable and have set back the cause of peace Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said his thoughts were with Mr Youngs family, condemning the terrible violence which he labelled a terrorist attack. This is a grave and significant moment, he said. The indiscriminate attacks from Hamas are unjustifiable and have set back the cause of peace. The Board of Deputies of British Jews warned that previous conflicts in the Middle East have seen an increase in antisemitism in the UK and said it was in touch with Government to ensure the Jewish community is supported. The organisation is also holding a vigil near Downing Street in central London on Monday for those killed or injured in the violence. On Sunday evening, the Israeli flag was projected on to the outside of No 10 in a show of support for the country. Mr Marlowe was reported missing while providing security at a music festival near Kibbutz Reim, close to the Gaza border. Mr Darlington, who was visiting from his home in Berlin, Germany, is also missing, according to his father David, as reported by the BBC. Mr Youngs brother, Eliot Young, said in a statement released to the BBC: Nathanel was full of life and the life of the party. He loved his family and friends and was loved by everyone. He loved music and was a talented DJ, DJing both on base and at Benjis House, the lone-soldier house where he was living. Mr Young had been living in the Bayit Shel Benji lone-soldier house in Raanana, according to the Jewish News. The Israeli Embassy in London has confirmed his death to the PA news agency and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has been approached for comment. The FCDO has advised against all but essential travel to Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories due to the conflict. The Israeli Embassy in London confirmed that London-born Mr Marlowe, who is reported to have moved to Israel two years ago was missing, but it had not been confirmed that he had been kidnapped. A spokesperson told PA: He is missing, we dont know for sure that he is taken hostage or dead or in a hospital. Mr Marlowes mother Lisa, told the Jewish News: He was doing security at this rave yesterday and called me at 4.30am to say all these rockets were flying over. Then, at about 5.30am, he texted to say signal very bad, everything OK, will keep you updated I promise you, and that he loves me. Israeli media have reported that at least 600 people were killed, including 26 soldiers, during the attacks, prompting Mr Netanyahu to say they were at war as the country launched a military response. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said he had spoken with his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen on Sunday and made clear the UK is resolute in its support for Israel in the face of terrorism. The Israeli government is doing everything we can to help those who are held hostage and every citizen who is taken is returned Tzipi Hotovely, Israel's ambassador to the UK Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom Tzipi Hotovely confirmed that a British citizen is in Gaza following kidnappings by Hamas, but did not clarify if they were being held hostage. She told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News: I know there is one British citizen who is in Gaza at the moment. The Israeli government is doing everything we can to help those who are held hostage and every citizen who is taken is returned. Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns said the Governments priority would be ensuring the safety of the missing Briton and as well as other British nationals in Israel. Its crucial we do not give the terrorists what they want but, at the same time, first and foremost the duty of the British Government is to keep British nationals safe Alicia Kearns, Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman She told Sky News: What we did see yesterday was British families having to hide in safe rooms some with, I believe, a baby as young as 10 days old, and so many international victims being taken hostage. Obviously, that will be a priority for the British Government, I would expect the ministers will be in today working on precisely how we can get that individual to safety working with our allies. Ms Kearns placed the blame for the attack on Iran for supporting Hamas and called for the proscription of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) which she described as the countrys international terror tool. A Foreign Office spokeswoman said they would not comment on individual cases but added: However, we can confirm we are in contact with, and assisting, the families of several individuals in Israel and the OPTs (Occupied Palestinian Territories). The safety of all British nationals continues to be our utmost priority and we urge everyone to continue to follow our travel advice which is updated regularly. 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 }} The UKs new ambassador for Ukraine wore a kilt for his first meeting with President Vlodymyr Zelensky. Father-of-three Martin Harris, 54, previously served from 2003 to 2008 in Kyiv as deputy head of mission and consul general, and raised his children in Ukraine. Mr Harris, who grew up in Scotland, wore his familys Ferguson tartan for his initiation into the role, which was admired by President Zelensky. After the war broke out in February 2022, Mr Harris got a tie made from a tartan named Ukraine Forever as a gesture of solidarity. Earlier this year, Mr Harris spent a month in Lviv to refresh his fluent Ukrainian. He went on holiday to Scotland recently and was moved to see the Ukrainian flag flying in rural Shetland. Mr Harris said: The Ukrainians express their national identity strongly through traditional clothing, so I wanted to wear my national dress as the UKs new ambassador. President Zelensky noted my kilt and many Ukrainians have complimented me. My kilt was in my family tartan Ferguson and I also have a tie in a tartan called Ukraine Forever, which was created in solidarity with the country after it came under the full-scale attack. Im honoured to lead the UKs Embassy as we support Ukraine in its fight for freedom and democracy. Ukraine is defending the international principles underpinning the UKs security, as well as its own. The courage and resolve of the Ukrainian armed forces and people are a constant inspiration. It is a privilege to be here in Ukraine standing alongside them. Our relationship has never been closer or more important. Together we are stronger. Mr Harris will lead the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) at the British Embassy in Kyiv, after taking over from Dame Melinda Simmons. Previous postings included Moscow, where he was involved in a hostage situation in 2002, and Afghanistan, and Mr Harris also served as the UKs Ambassador to Romania. During his last stint in Kyiv, Mr Harris was caught up in the Orange Revolution, when pro-democracy campaigners demonstrated against the rigged election result in 2004. Mr Harris said: This is my second posting to Ukraine. When I left in 2008, I thought Id really like to come back as Ambassador, so this is a dream come true. My family has a great affinity with Ukraine because its where my children grew up. What has unfolded has been truly heart-breaking for us. There was never a doubt I should take on this role and their excitement was tinged with disappointment they couldnt come with me to live in Kyiv. Im under no illusion that this is a dangerous posting, but this is as much about protecting the UKs security as about Ukraines security. The conditions Ukrainian soldiers are facing on the front line are much more severe. The people who deserve all the credit are the Ukrainian warriors on the front line. The UKs total military, humanitarian and economic support for Ukraine now amounts to 9.3 billion more than any country other than the United States. 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 }} Even among seasoned true-crime fans, the story of Ed Gein elicits shock. Gein was 51 years old when, in 1957, he was revealed to have murdered two women and robbed multiple graves. Most notoriously, he collected and lived amongst body parts. His case is a regular subject in true-crime media, where his crimes and their echoes on popular culture (Gein was the inspiration behind Psychos Richard Bates and Texas Chainsaw Massacres Leatherface, among others) have long been examined. But throughout the years, one person never spoke: Gein himself. For all the macabre fascination Gein exercised on true-crime followers, he remained a somewhat abstract figure, more boogeyman than person. A new documentary series, Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein, attempts to change that. The show centers newly unearthed, and never-before-heard interview tapes of Gein, conducted by local law enforcement following his arrest. The recordings were discovered in 2019, James Buddy Day, the shows director, tells The Independent in a phone interview. County Judge Boyd Clark, who is heard questioning Gein on the tapes, kept them in his office for years, Day says. When Clark died, his family placed the tapes in a safety deposit box, where they remained for a time. Then, the family got in touch with producers Josh Kunau and Jill Latiano Howerton, who in turn contacted Day. The rest is history, Day said. I was incredibly excited, they were excited, and we were like, Weve got to get this out there. So we set out to work. Born in 1906 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Gein grew up on a farm in the village of Plainfield, and still lived there at the time of his arrest. His father drank heavily and was sometimes violent; his mother is often described as obsessively religious and as having isolated her two sons (Gein and his older brother Henry) from the rest of the world. Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein, though, is careful not to oversimplify Geins origin story. When you want to understand this kind of psychopathology that is so strong and so deviant, its not just a result of poor parenting, Dr Louis Scheslinger, a psychology professor at the City University of New York, said in episode one of the documentary. There are so many people that are brought up in all of these bizarre sorts of ways. Almost none of them go out and do what Gein did. Gein killed his first victim, Mary Hogan, the owner of a local bar, in 1954. He murdered his second victim, Bernice Worden, the owner of a hardware store, in 1957. In addition to the killings, Gein dug up remains and collected human body parts, which he kept around his home and sometimes assembled into other items. Anthony Perkins' (left) famous 'Psycho' character was inspired by real-life killer Ed Gein (Universal) There is an underlying promise to the unearthing of the Gein tapes. If we are to hear from the man himself, then surely, we might be able to get an explanation for his behavior. But when Ted Bundy was sentenced to death in 1984, he described himself shortly afterwards as tired, sad, and both fascinated with and angry at myself as if he could not entirely parse his own actions. A similar feeling emerges in Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein. Often, Gein seems bewildered by his own crimes; if there is an explanation for why he acted the way he did, he does not seem to possess it. Far from weakening the documentary, this absence of a simple answer deepens it. There is no cookie-cutter thesis to be found here. Rather, the four-part series serves as a compelling (and often disturbing) depiction of the complete mental collapse that must accompany acts such as Geins. The shows expert participants Dr Scheslinger; Dr Jooyoung Lee, a sociology professor; Harold Schechter, the author of the Gein book Deviant: The Shocking True Story of the Original Psycho; Dr NG Berrill, a psychologist; and Dr Jocelyn Szczepaniak-Gillece, a professor of film studies help viewers make sense of the unknowable. The whole concept of serial killers is based on the idea that was formed in the 1970s, based on the work of the FBI, Day said on the phone. Their original conceit was that they were going to go talk to these men, and that by talking to them, they would gain this ability to prophesize their actions. That idea, Day says, seems ridiculous in hindsight. The idea that you can talk to a serial killer, and that serial killer will have this tremendous insight into who they are and why theyre doing things has permeated films and TV, he said. But the reality is that almost every serial killer youre going to speak to has very little insight into why they do what they do. You cant rely on a serial killer to tell you why they did what they did. This doesnt mean there is no truth to be found in the docuseries, which airs its final episode on Sunday. There is. It is the kind of truth that emerges when one spends just under four hours,around the total duration of the four-part show, immersed in the story of Gein and his crimes. There are detours through the history of the prosecution of necrophilia, and examinations of Geins psyche and upbringing. Perhaps the sane mind isnt meant to fully grasp Geins actions Gein was convicted of murder, but he was ultimately deemed not guilty by reason of insanity and spent the rest of his life in institutions but the tapes do bring them into closer focus. My perspective changed after hearing the tapes, Day said on the phone. I had always assumed that Ed Gein was this meek, mild person, and that really comes through in the tapes. But when you hear his voice and you hear that interaction between him and the authorities, it really sets him apart from the serial killer myth, this kind of handsome, Anthony Perkins type who can talk his way out of anything. Ed Gein is the opposite of that. But thats what I think is so scary about him. He really is a monster in plain sight. The documentary does not shy away from showing Geins crimes in all their gruesome reality. Police photos of his home are used throughout the series, all four episodes of which open with warnings about its graphic contents. The result is an impression of real-life horrorwhich is exactly the chord Day was hoping to strike. America has processed Ed Geins crimes for the last 75 years through horror, Day says. When his crimes were revealed in the national media in 1957, the immediate response was a horror novel called Psycho [the 1959 book from which Alfred Hitchcocks movie is adapted]. Tobe Hoopers The Texas Chainsaw Massacre followed in 1974, as did hundreds of movies in similar veins, Day says. He saw a synergy between the horror genre and the real-life story in the documentary, and viewed the former as a way to unlock the latter. Such an approach wouldnt necessarily work with all crimes, Day says, but it felt apt in this particular situation. Horror is subversive, he says. It allows the audience to look deeper, and see the metaphor in violence and things of that nature. This felt like the best way to tell the story. Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein is available now on MGM+ 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 }} Elon Musk pleaded with X users on Sunday to try and stick to the facts, as the site and its billionaire owner come under heavy criticism for the spread of false information regarding the Israel-Hamas war. As always, please try stay as close to the truth as possible, even for stuff you dont like, Mr Musk wrote on X. This platform aspires to maximize signal/noise of the human collective. Critics have been hammering Mr Musk for the proliferation of fake news on the site, arguing his attempts to loosen the reins on its content moderation have allowed bad actors and dubious sources to flourish. This site is a cesspool of disinformation, former Obama administration official and podcaster Tommy Vietor wrote on X in response to Mr Musks plea. You have made it exponentially worse, and just this morning you recommended an account known to spread lies and antisemitism. Other than that, great job. This site is worse than useless during a breaking news story, Aaron Kleinman, of the States Project political advocacy group, wrote recently in response to a thread collecting false information about the war in Israel and Gaza. Actively harmful. Dont log in if you want to be informed. Dubious news stories have spread far and wide on the site formerly known as Twitter since the outbreak of war in Israel yesterday. A widely seen video, purporting to show a Hamas militant shooting down an Israeli helicopter, was really a clip from a video game, BBC Verifys Shayan Sardarizadeh reports. A Taliban spokesperson had to set the record straight after a false claim spread on social media that the group was seeking to join in the conflict, Pakistan bureau chief for WIONews Anas Mallick reports. And a widely shared clip of Israel reportedly bombing a Gazan office tower really was from fighting that occured in 2021. Critics of X allege that policy changes under Mr Musk have allowed such false information to spread more easily. Since taking over, Mr Musk has disbanded Twitters trust and safety team, reinstated (and at times vocally endorsed the content of) known extremists and far-right commentators, removed labels noting accounts associated with foreign governments, and allowed paid access to the verification feature, a designation on Twitter previously reserved for heads of states, celebrities, journalists, and other high-profile individuals who could see their credibility abused by imitators. The Independent has contacted X for comment. 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 }} New York City Mayor Eric Adams capped off a four-day trip to Latin America on Saturday by calling for a right to work for migrants in the United States. He spoke during a visit to Necocli, the northern Colombia town where thousands of migrants start the perilous trek across the roadless Darien jungle into Panama, as they head for the U.S. Speaking from a dock where migrants take boats toward the jungle, Adams said countries in the region need to come together to find solutions to the immigration crisis being felt across the Americas as well as in cities in the United States, including New York. He called on the U.S goverment to find pathways for migrants and asylum seekers to work legally in the United States. When you look at Colombia they have really shown how to absorb individuals into their societies, and one of the most important ways to do it is to allow people to work, Adams told reporters in Necocli. Nothing is more humane and, nothing is more American than your right to work, and we believe that is a right we should extend. New York City has struggled to provide emergency accommodation to tens of thousands of migrants who have arrived in the city this year, with Adams and other city leaders calling on the federal government to speed up work authorizations for those who are already in the city. A unique rule dating from the 1980s requires New York to provide shelter to anyone in need. Adams has said the cost of supporting migrants could climb to $12 billion in the following three years, and this week challenged the statute that obliges the city to provide migrants with shelter. The mayor also went to Ecuador and Mexico during his whistlestop tour, where he visited shelters for migrants and spoke to local legislators. After stopping in Mexicos Puebla state, Adams said his city is at capacity. Our hearts are endless, but our resources are not, Adams told reporters. We dont want to put people in congregate shelters. We dont want people to think they will be employed. In Colombia, Adams said his goal is not to tell migrants what they should do, but to learn about their motives and find solutions to the immigration crisis. The South American country has received 2.8 million migrants from Venezuela over the past seven years, and enabled them to apply for 10-year work permits that also give them access health and education services. But despite the effort to regularize Venezuelan migrants, many are heading to the United States after struggling to rebuild their lives in Colombia and other South American countries, where economies are still recovering from the pandemic. According to Panama's National Immigration Service, more than 200,000 Venezuelans crossed the Darien Gap this year on their way to the United States. Many are moving for the second or third time, after living in South American countries like Colombia, Chile and Peru. This week the Biden administration struck a deal with Venezuela's socialist government to resume direct deportations flights to Venezuela and said that Venezuelans who do not qualify for ayslum will be returned to their homeland. In Necocli, some Venezuelan migrants headed north said they would persist in their trek to reach the U.S. border despite the new policy. Getting in (the U.S.) is also a matter of luck," said Miguel Ruben Camacaro, a Venezuelan migrant travelling with his two children and slept on a tent at Necocli's beach. We will chase the dream, until there are no other options. ___ Rueda reported from Bogota, Colombia. 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 }} A Pennsylvania chocolate manufacturer has been fined $44,000 for failing to evacuate employees who smelled gas before a deadly factory blast that killed seven people. RM Palmer was cited for not heeding gas smell warnings by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) before its factory in West Reading, Berks County, exploded on 24 March. The company was also cited for for not marking emergency exit signs clearly, using flexible cords improperly and for record-keeping violations, OSHA said in a statement. Seven workers will never return home because the RM Palmer Co. did not evacuate the facility after being told of a suspected gas leak, OSHA Area Director Kevin T Chambers said in a statement. Ensuring the safety of a workplace is expected of employers and required by law. The company could have prevented this horrific tragedy by following required safety procedures. The massive explosion levelled RM Palmers factory in West Reading, a small town about 60 miles (96 kilometres) northwest of Philadelphia, where the family-owned company has run a factory for more than 60 years. Some workers reported that they smelled natural gas before the blast, which investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said was due to an underground gas pipeline. Smoke rises from an explosion at the RM Palmer Co plant in West Reading, Pennsylvania, on 24 March 2023 (AP) Rescue workers searched through the rubble for several days trying to identify victims from the 24 March blast, which injured 10 others and damaged surrounding buildings. In a statement, RM Palmer said it stood by its safety programme and policies and would contest the fine. The Company disputes each of the citations and contends that the agency had no basis to issue these citations as stated, the company said. Until the NTSBs investigation is complete, there is simply no basis to evaluate OSHAs statement that an evacuation would have prevented the seven tragic deaths that occurred. In a separate statement, RM Palmer said was still mourning the tragic deaths and injuries to its employees. Our thoughts and prayers remain with those who were injured and the families of those were killed. The deceased were identified as Amy Sandoe, Judith Lopez-Moran, Xiorky Nunez, Susan Halvonik, Michael Breedy, Marion Township, Domingo Cruz, and Diana M Cedeno. Close Aftermath of Russian missile strike on Ukraine mail depot that killed six 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 }} Russian troops have been executed for retreating from Putins offensive in the eastern city of Avdiivka, Donetsk, according to the White House. We have information that the Russian military has been actually executing soldiers who refuse to follow orders, White House spokesperson John Kirby told a media briefing on Thursday. Ukrainian forces have been repelling the Russian onslaught on the frontline in Donetsk for several weeks since mid-October. It comes as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Putin had lost at least a brigdade of troops in the offensive as Kyivs forces pushed them back. The invaders made several attempts to surround Avdiivka, but each time our soldiers stopped them and threw them back, causing painful losses. In these cases, the enemy lost at least a brigade, Zelensky said. Meanwhile, Oleksandr Shtupun, a spokesperson for Ukraines southern groups of forces, said last week that Russian forces had suffered over 400 casualties a day in its campaign which has relied on small assault groups of 30 to 40 men. 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 }} A 10-day-old British-Israeli baby was trapped with his parents in a safe house for nine hours surrounded by the wreckage of their home as Hamas militants stormed their town, The Independent has been told. The family, who lived in the neighbourhood of Nirim, 1.5 miles from the Gaza border, ran to the shelter after hearing rocket fire at 6 am on Saturday. Aimee Labban and her husband Uriel were hiding with baby Kai and his aunt, Deborah Mintz, too terrified to leave, said his cousin Russell Langer, a policy researcher based in London. They were among thousands of people - including aid workers - who hid in Israel and Gaza as Hamas and the Israeli Defence Force exchanged retaliatory strikes. Mr Langer told The Independent that he was worried after seeing the news of Hammas missile strikes, knowing that his family lived near the Gaza border. He texted Mrs Labban and it soon became clear that her family was in immediate danger. He received a message from her saying: We are stuck. They came in and burnt our house. As the family was trapped in their safe room, they became aware that Hammas terrorists were in their community and shortly after Hammas set fire to their home. Aimee Labban, holding 10-day-old Kai (Russell Langer) They were inside the safe room, the fire was stopped from spreading but the room did fill up with smoke, and they had to hold the baby up to the window to ensure that he was able to breathe. All they could do at that point in time was weighed in the hope that they would be rescued and not captured, He said. Their house was completely burnt down and so were their cars outside. Baby Kai appears to be okay but they will never be able to return to their home again, as theres nothing left to come back to, Mr Langer added. Mr Langer said the family were later rescued by the Israeli Defence Force and are now in hospital receiving initial treatment. The immediate danger is over, but they're still recovering. It's been quite a traumatic experience for him. In Gaza, two British nationals were among 23 foreign aid workers trapped in a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) safe house. Abdelqader Hammad, 67 - one of the two British citizens currently stuck - is a consultant transplant surgeon at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. He had travelled to Gaza on Friday afternoon to perform kidney transplants voluntarily as part of Liverpools International Transplant Initiative. As he spoke to The Independent, explosions could be heard in the background as he commented that the bombing had become very heavy. People inspect the ruins of a building destroyed in Israeli strikes in Gaza City on 8 October 2023 (AFP via Getty Images) People are here from all over the world, he said. Theyre all foreign aid workers from Britain, Germany, Ukraine, Japan, and some African countries. There are quite a few nationalities here. Mr Hammad arrived in the country the day preceding Hamass offensive into Israel and was expecting to return to Liverpool on Tuesday after he had completed some scheduled kidney transplants that had been prepared for months prior. He said the offensive had taken everyone by surprise. Were in a better place than most of the people in Gaza, he said. I came here to do some surgeries, and I find myself stuck doing nothing just watching bombs dropping around us. Weve heard about five explosions nearby. Foreign aid workers were briefed minutes before our conversation and are reported to have been told: dont hold your breath for an early evacuation as WHO attempted to liaise with the Israeli side with no idea of timescales. We could be here for days, said Mr Hammad. We hope were in the safest place in Gaza, but thats a very relative word. With limited food and resources, the workers say they are trying to keep their spirits up but that people are definitely worried. A local charity worker Rasha, 38, who did not want to be known by her full name said that a 40-storey building 300m from her home had been raized to the ground by an Israeli air strike. She said the average age of the population was only 18. 23 foreign nationals including 2 British citizens are said to be trapped in Gaza as Israeli air strikes continue (AFP via Getty Images) I look after my elderly parents, and Im trying to keep them safe, she said. But at the same time, there are so many kids in the building that are terrified and theyre crying all the time. I can hear babies crying all day. Rasha, who lives in the centre of Gaza said that planes had been flying very close to their homes and that the buildings had been shaking by the both the flights and the air strikes. UNRWA (AP) Were hearing strikes every hour, she said. There arent any bunkers, theres nowhere to hide. As she spoke, explosions could be heard: They [the explosions]are far away, I can tell the difference between an F16 and other planes now. We just feel drained. Gaza is considered one of the most densely populated regions in the world, and Rasha says dropping missiles anywhere is going to lead to a lot of casualties. Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), a charity supporting healthcare and medical aid for Palestinians in Gaza say they have a number of workers on the ground. Mahmoud Shalabi, their Senior Programme Manager in Gaza said: Todays escalation is one of the most violent that we have ever witnessed in Gaza, with hospitals overwhelmed by casualties within hours. Residents walk along a debris-strewn street in front of a building that collapse during an Israeli air strike (MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images) Mr Shalabi said the situation on the ground was grim and that one healthcare worker described it as a slaughterhouse. He continued: Many residential buildings are being destroyed forcing people to become internally displaced. The streets are empty. My eldest son is 9, and asked me if hed die would he go to heaven or hell. It broke my heart in half. In regards to resources, he said that medical staff were barely coping as they had no electricity from 3pm yesterday to 9am this morning. Two of Mr Shalabis colleagues lost cousins and he said We cannot reach warehouses, and there are no safe corridors for humanitarians too. We hope that we will come out of this alive and safe. MAP have launched an emergency response in reaction to the crisis. The World Health Organisation and British Embassy have been approached for comment. In 2021, the voters of New York had the opportunity to amend our state constitution to allow for no fault absentee ballot voting. New York voters by over 300,000 votes rejected this amendment and kept in place the absentee voting safeguards that were enshrined in our state constitution over a century ago. New York has had a well-documented history of absentee voting mishaps and scandals in recent years. Just last year, the Staten Island district attorney a Democrat convened a grand jury to investigate absentee ballot fraud in a 2021 New York City Council primary. The grand jury, in its report, actually recommended adding safeguards such as requiring proof of identification to accompany absentee ballots to the existing absentee ballot process. Albany politicians, however, dont really care about the facts or the constitution. Gov. Hochul recently signed into law a bill that rejects the will of the voters, eliminates all absentee voting safeguards, and enacts no fault absentee voting. The voters of New York spoke clearly in 2021 and said no to no fault absentee voting. They cast their votes in favor of maintaining a system where its easy to vote and hard to cheat. Supporters of the newly enacted no fault absentee voting law claim to be champions of democracy. But what could be more undemocratic than enacting a law that a majority of New Yorkers in a referendum held just two years ago clearly stated they did not favor? Thankfully, action is being taken to stop the Albany political machines unconstitutional actions. A coalition of concerned citizens and public officials led by U.S. Reps. Nick Langworthy, Elise Stefanik and Claudia Tenney filed a lawsuit in Albany County to block this unconstitutional law from taking effect. Our state constitution explicitly guarantees all New Yorkers their right to vote. New Yorkers regardless of political affiliation deserve an electoral system that they can trust. The no fault absentee voting law expressly violates the state constitution; its also bad public policy. Our courts must do the right thing, defend the constitution, and invalidate this very troubling law. 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 }} Israeli strikes battered Gaza on Sunday after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his country is at war following the unprecedented surprise attack by Hamas. Thousands of rockets were fired from Gaza into southern Israeli towns on Saturday morning while Hamas militants opened fire as they stormed borders into Israel. The Israeli embassy said around 100 hostages had been taken by Hamas and the Israeli death toll has risen to at least 600. Overnight, Israeli air strikes hit housing blocks, tunnels, a mosque and homes of Hamas officials in Gaza, killing more than 300 people, including 20 children, in retaliatory attacks described as mighty vengeance by Mr Netanyahu. Israeli strikes battered Gaza on Sunday (AFP via Getty Images) Israels military, which faces questions over its failure to prevent the attack, said it had regained control of most infiltration points, killed hundreds of attackers and taken dozens more prisoner but was still fighting in some places. It said it had deployed tens of thousands of soldiers in the area surrounding Gaza, a narrow strip that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, and planned to evacuate all Israelis living around the frontier of the territory. Were going to be attacking Hamas severely and this is going to be a long, long haul, a military spokesman told a briefing with reporters. In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua said the attack had been in defence of our people, adding the groups fighters continued rocket strikes and were still conducting operations behind the lines. Relatives mourn after Israeli air strikes had hit housing blocks, tunnels, a mosque and homes of Hamas officials in Gaza (REUTERS) Hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians have been killed since the strikes and street fighting erupted on Saturday (Getty Images) Where is the fighting now? View more Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said its fighters are still engaged in fierce clashes in several sites inside Israel, with fighting continuing in several areas bordering the Gaza strip, including Ofakim, Sderot, Yad Mordechai, Kfar Azza, Beeri, Yatid and Kissufim. Israeli media reported that hostages were released in Beeri and Ofakim, but when asked by AFP the army refused to offer details. In Gaza, a densely populated strip where Hamas is headquartered, Israeli strikes have been targeting old Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Rafah, killing hundreds and injuring thousands. The fighting has also spilled over to Lebanon where an exchange of strikes with the Hezbollah militant group has raised fears of a broader conflict. What is the current travel advice? The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has advised British citizens to consult Israeli Home Front Command for more information: www.oref.org.il/en or call 104 if you are in Israel. Follow the instructions of local authorities if you are in these areas. The FCDO advises against all travel to: Gaza the Shebaa Farms and Ghajjar within 500m of the border with Lebanon (the Blue Line) east of Metula, including the northern edge of the town and and within 500m of the border with Syria (the Alpha Line). The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to: 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 }} Gunfights are raging in the streets of Israel after Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to root out every Hamas militant who broke through the Gaza border and rampaged through nearby settlements, as harrowing accounts emerge of the toll on civilians in their path. In the wake of Hamass unprecedented attack on Saturday morning which has led to the worst loss of Israeli lives in decades Israels security cabinet formally declared war on Sunday, authorising it to take significant military steps in retaliation. Already hammering the trapped residents of Gaza with relentless airstrikes, and cutting off power and other supplies to the besieged enclave the prospect of a large-scale humanitarian crisis grew starker on Sunday with Israel doing little to disperse fears of a looming ground offensive. Mr Netanyahu had first vowed to go through every community until we kill every terrorist that is in Israeli territory as he ordered the evacuation of regions near the border where Israeli troops were seeking to dislodge Hamas fighters from eight separate locations. It came as: Fatalities in Israel hit 600 and in Palestine surpassed 370, with thousands more injured. Hezbollah and Israel traded rocket and artillery fire on Lebanon border. Witnesses told The Independent of fatalities at a music festival raided by Hamas. Israel confirmed that Hamas had taken 100 hostages. Poland announced it was evacuating its citizens from Israel In extraordinary scenes, gunfire was exchanged on streets in southern Israel on Sunday, with Hamas claiming its fighters had continued to cross the border overnight in the wake of their initial incursion involving paragliders, speedboats and motorbikes, after blowing up Israeli observation towers and other fortifications. Among those in the immediate path of the militants were thousands of revellers at a trance music festival, which was interrupted on Saturday morning by rockets flying overhead, before militants stormed the event and opened fire with assault rifles and grenades. Hunting down partygoers as they tried to hide in a wooded area nearby, the militants killed and kidnapped dozens of people, eyewitnesses and friends told The Independent. Hundreds of revellers fled the rave as Hamas attacked (Sourced) One woman said she had survived only by playing dead in a car after the driver who tried to help her escape was shot at point-blank range, while another told the BBC of hiding under a tree for three hours while gunmen with automatic weapons roamed the area shooting all in their sight. Harrowing footage showed a 25-year-old woman being driven away on a Palestinian gunmans motorcycle as she pleaded dont kill me. Her boyfriend, who was also in the footage being dragged away, is also believed to have been taken hostage, his brother told Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 News. British citizen Jake Marlowe was working as a security guard at the festival, and has been missing since sending his mother a message telling her he loved her at 5.30am on Saturday, she told Jewish News. In a voice note a transcript of which has been seen by The Independent sent by Mr Marlowe to a friend, the 26-year-old said: We are seeing it in front of our eyes, we are rounding up the people from the party now, we are on an ATV [quad bike] and we are telling everyone to get the f*** outta there. Jake Marlowe has been missing since Saturday morning (Jake Marlowe/Facebook) Another British citizen, photographer Dan Darlington, was reported missing by his family, while relatives of 20-year-old Nathanel Young a Briton serving with the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said he had been killed near the Gaza border. In a sign the conflict could spread, Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia exchanged artillery and rocket fire along the Lebanese border, while in Egypt, two Israeli tourists were shot dead by a police officer along with their Egyptian guide. United States secretary of state Antony Blinken said Washington would announce new aid and assistance for Israel, and suggested that part of the motivation for Hamass attack could have been disrupting a potential normalising of Israel-Saudi Arabia ties. With Iran and Iraq among nations to praise Hamas, US president Joe Biden warned: This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks. Palestinians gather around the rubble of buildings hit during Israeli airstrikes on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip (AFP via Getty Images) Indicating heightened concerns, announced it was sending military planes to evacuate some 200 of its citizens from Israels Ben Gurion Airport, with Romania having repatriated nearly 350 people overnight on Saturday on two flights. Polish defence minister defence minister Mariusz Blaszczak said his country was in talks on establishing an evacuation bridge with Greece. Meanwhile, Israel claimed Hamas militants were hiding in civilian houses, hospitals and schools in Gaza, as Israeli air strikes hit housing blocks, tunnels, a hospital and a mosque. The IDF said it had hit 800 Hamas targets in Gaza, and claimed to have killed hundreds of Hamas miliants inside Israel. Israeli soldiers look at the remains of a police station in Sderot (REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun) Cutting off electricity and the supply of other goods, Mr Netanuhyu had warned on Saturday that Palestinians had 24 hours to evacuate Gaza despite the enclaves 2.3 million inhabitants living there under Israeli blockade. Issuing a fresh warning on Sunday morning, the prime minister vowed that, in Gaza, every terrorist located in a house, all the commanders in houses, will be hit by Israeli fire, adding: That will continue escalating in the coming hours. Vowing to destroy the military and governing capabilities of Hamas, he braced Israels residents for a drawn-out conflict, saying: This war will take time. It will be difficult. 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 }} The killing of at least 700 Israelis in the carnage of the attack by Hamas is the most lethal day in the countrys many conflicts, exceeding by far the 317 killed on 7 October 1973, the first 24 hours of the Yom Kippur war, which had also started with the enemy achieving a total surprise attack to great effect. Unlike that conflict, when multiple assaults came from Arab states led by Egypt and Syria, what happened this weekend is not an existential threat to the Jewish state. Hamas, along with other militias which may join in the fight, like Hezbollah in Lebanon, are nowhere near being a military match for Israel. A reported request by the Taliban in Afghanistan to Iran to let its fighters transit to fight Israel is not going to change that balance, we can safely assume, if passage is granted. But Benjamin Netanyahus government faces the severest security crisis in decades with the potential prospect of combat on two fronts, Lebanon and Gaza, as well as escalation in the West Bank where militant Palestinian groups such as the Jenin Brigade and Lions Den have already been involved in a rising number of armed clashes with Israeli security forces. Images from the extraordinary Hamas assault, of fighters flying in on gliders to kill and kidnap, civilians getting shot in streets, abductions at a music festival and hostages being paraded in Gaza, have been a seismic shock to the system in Israel. The colossal failure of the countrys much-vaunted intelligence system, which allowed Hamas to seemingly plan and arm itself for this operation for months, has been astonishing. Along with humint (human intelligence) from agents on the ground, communications in Gaza are monitored, as are the movements of people and vehicles at the border, with the most advanced sensors. Israel carries out regular air strikes on the territory to ensure, it says, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, another militant group, do not build up stockpiles of weaponry such as missiles. A decapitation campaign targeted killing of senior militant figures supposedly denudes command and control. Moment Israel strikes Gaza tower block as reporter is live on-air What went so wrong will be examined by boards of inquiries in the future and will almost certainly lead to resignations and sackings in the security hierarchy. The scale of the failure was summed up by Efraim Halevy, the former head of Mossad, who acknowledged: This attack was beyond imagination. We didnt know they had this quantity of missiles, and we certainly didnt expect they would be so effective as they were. What happens now? The Israeli government has formally declared that it is at war. Netanyahu has pledged mighty violence, threatened to reduce Gaza to rubble and told its inhabitants to leave immediately, although it is unclear where they are meant to go. There are now predictions that a full-scale land offensive, to go with the massive air strikes already taking place, will be launched into Gaza by Israel. But how effective will this be, and what is the end purpose? Palestinian firemen extinguish a fire that was raging in a residential building destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Sunday (AFP/Getty) I covered the 2014 Gaza war, far deadlier than any of the Gaza conflicts previously or since, inside Gaza. Ground forces were sent in by Israel along with Merkava tanks. It was a brutal affair. More than 2,205 Palestinians were killed, including 1,483 civilians, according to the UN, and 71 Israelis, 66 of them soldiers, in 50 days of fighting. I recall speaking to Israeli Defence Force (IDF) officers afterwards about the efficacy of using infantry and armour in densely populated urban areas. Several expressed deep reservations and said that targeted, forensic Special Forces operations would have been much more preferable. What makes a full ground assault even more problematic this time is the presence of so many hostages in Gaza. There is always the danger of them getting injured or killed if caught up in combat. Special Forces operations to rescue them are possible, albeit a challenging task as they are likely to be held in differing locations including, possibly, hospitals. Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu may adopt a more nuanced and tactical approach (AP) The tense political and social climate in Israel, with emotions understandably running high, will help shape the nature and extent of the military mission. The 2014 offensive was in the end limited on the advice of the military and intelligence services who warned of mounting civilian losses amid forces being bogged down in months of attritional combat. Netanyahu, who was the prime minister then as well, overrode the demands of hardliners in his cabinet, including Avigdor Lieberman, the foreign secretary, to reoccupy Gaza reversing the pullout of 2005. The current coalition government is far more right wing and there is likely to be a greater push for all-out war, goes the argument. But Netanyahu has, in the past, shown a disinclination for such open-ended military gambits and, with the backing of the security hierarchy, who are alarmed by far-right ministers like Itamar Ben-Gvir, a more nuanced and tactical approach may emerge. Armed action is not the only course of punitive action available to Israel at present. The energy minister, Israel Katz, announced at the weekend that he had ordered cutting off electricity to Gaza. This could be followed by the blocking of fuel and water supplies. These measures will not by themselves prevent the bloodshed ahead, too much has happened for that to be the case. In the gathering darkness, the most realistic hope is that the conflict unfolding does not totally get out of control. 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 }} Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that his country is at war after Hamas fired thousands of rockets across the border from Gaza on Saturday. At least 40 Israelis have been killed and hundreds have been hospitalised, local media reported, as emerging reports from Gaza state multiple are dead and wounded in Israeli strikes on the besieged strip. The surprise offensive has seen Hamas gunmen cross the border in attacks by land, sea and air, as warning sirens sounded across southern and central parts of Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and reports emerged of civilians and soldiers being taken hostage. In a rare public statement, Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif urged all Palestinians to confront Israel, adding: Weve decided to say enough is enough. This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on earth. At least 40 Israelis have been killed in Hamas strikes on Israel (AFP via Getty Images) As the international community watches on in horror, here we take a look at the UKs current travel advice for Israel: Travel advice to Israel The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to: Gaza The Shebaa Farms and Ghajjar Within 500m of the border with Lebanon (the Blue Line) east of Metula, including the northern edge of the town and within 500m of the border with Syria (the Alpha Line). The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to: Areas north of and including Jenin city, Burqin and Arranah in the north of the West Bank. This includes Jenin refugee camp and all areas north of this until the Jalamah checkpoint for access to Israel The city of Nablus, Josephs Tomb, and the Balata and New Askar refugee camps near Nablus and the village of Huwara, south of Nablus. Map showing the FCDOs current travel advisory (Foreign, Commonweath and Development Office) View more Where is the conflict happening right now? View more Have flights been cancelled? Flights have continued to operate at Tel Aviv airport, the main gateway to the nation. But many airlines are diverting or cancelling flights. Wizz Air has so far diverted four flights that were en route to Israel when the attacks began. Airbus jets from Catania, Cluj, Debrecen and Warsaw all diverted to Larnaca, the main airport on the island of Cyprus. A Wizz Air flight from Rome to Tel Aviv turned around and flew back to its starting point as did an Anadulojet service from Istanbul. Palestinian militants celebrate by an Israeli tank at the border fence of the Gaza Strip on Saturday (AP) Two Lufthansa flights from Frankfurt and one from Munich have been grounded, as have departures on Brussels Airlines from the Belgian capital and SunExpress from Antalya. From the UK, Virgin Atlantics overnight flight from London Heathrow arrived at Tel Aviv at 5am as normal. British Airways has a flight from Heathrow this afternoon, which is still shown as departing normally. The Independent has asked BA if it will be going ahead and whether passengers booked to or from Tel Aviv will be given the option to change without penalty. Saturday is a very quiet day at Ben Gurion international airport, serving Tel Aviv, due to observation of the Jewish Sabbath (Shabbat). It runs from shortly before sunset on Friday to nightfall on Saturday. No aircraft from El Al, the Israeli national airline, are in the air. 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 }} What happened on Saturday morning is something that will live on in the collective Israeli psyche for generations to come. As families were on their way to synagogues up and down the country, on a Jewish holy day, the Islamist terrorist organisation, Hamas, chose to wage war on Israel. Hamas attacked Israel by air, land and sea. Its terrorists infiltrated Israeli towns and villages near the Gaza border, going from door to door, massacring innocent Israelis, including women, children and the elderly. Hundreds of Israelis have been pronounced dead, and thousands have been seriously injured. Sadly, these numbers will only rise. As I write this article, in central Israel, dozens of Israelis have been taken hostage by Hamas terrorists and have been dragged back across the border into Gaza. This is something I have never witnessed before in my lifetime. It is barbaric. I am sure many of us will have seen the gut-wrenching videos on social media of a bloodied Israeli girl, no older than 16, being forced into the back of a car by a dozen Palestinian terrorists. Or will have heard the harrowing story of a young family scared for their lives, hiding in a safe room in their own home in southern Israel, as Hamas terrorists entered their property before setting it on fire. Their 10-day-old baby continues to be treated in hospital at this time. As an Israeli, and as a mother, my nightmares have become reality. Whilst we sought safety in our shelter, my three-year-old daughter asked me yesterday, Why, Mum? Why do they want to kill me? That is a question that many mothers right across Israel will be struggling to answer. The fact is that Hamas is directly funded by Iran, a brutal genocidal regime that openly calls for the destruction of the worlds only Jewish state. Israeli police officers evacuate a family from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip (Copyright 2023The Associated Press All rights reserved) Hamas and Iran are aligned in their support for terror, for destroying our democratic values, and for extinguishing us from existence. Hatred is what motivated 9/11. Hatred is what motivated the 7/7 London bombings, the Westminster Bridge attacks, and the Manchester Arena bombing. And it is hatred that drives Hamas to kill innocent Israeli civilians, on our streets and in our communities. When we hear or read about tragic global events from the UK, we often feel helpless. But I ask you not to feel helpless. Rather, when you learn of such horrific stories unfolding in Israel, I ask you not to simply keep scrolling through your news feeds, but to amplify the voices of countless innocent Israelis by sharing their story. Help to expose the truly hateful and barbaric face of Hamas, and show the people of Israel that you stand with us and our right to defend ourselves from evil brutality. 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 }} An Israeli commander is among the 500 people killed, the countrys military has confirmed. Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Steinberg was killed in an encounter with a terrorist, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said. It was allowed to be published that the commander of the Nahal Brigade, the late Lt Col Jonathan Steinberg, was killed today in an encounter with a terrorist near Kerem Shalom, a spokesman said. The 42-year-old, who was the commander of the Nahal Brigade, was on his way to an exchange of fire being conducted by his troops at the time he was killed, the statement continued. The IDF shares in the familys grief and will continue to accompany it, the IDF say. He is among the 500 people killed in Saturdays fighting so far. Local media have reported that 300 Israelis have died in the surprise attacks by Hamas on Saturday morning, citing health officials. Palestinian officials say at least 232 Palestinians have been killed and 1,700 have been injured by Israeli air strikes in Gaza carried out in retaliation. Israels health ministry added that the number injured in the Hamas attacks has risen from 1,452 to 1,590. (AP) The assault began early on Saturday, when Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip stormed into southern Israel by land, air, and sea, appearing to catch the famed Israeli security apparatus by suprise. Thousands of rockets from Gaza have been fired into civilian areas in Israel. In response, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is at war. Our enemy will pay a price the type of which it has never known, he said. We are in a war and we will win it. Hamas claims it has captured dozens of Israelis, including soldiers. Israels military has also acknowledged hostages were taken. After nightfall, airstrikes intensified, flattening several residential buildings in giant explosions, including a 14-story tower that held dozens of apartments as well as Hamas offices in central Gaza City. The UN peacekeeping force has been deployed along the Lebanon-Israel border to maintain stability and help avoid escalation as the US, UK and Ukraine are among the states supporting Israel. Firefighters work to put out a fire in an open field, following a mass-infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip in southern Israel (REUTERS) Speaking at a live address today, US President Joe Biden said: In the face of these terrorist assaults, Israel has the right to defend itself and his people, full stop. He added: Theres never justification for terrorist attacks and my administrations support for Israels security is rock solid and unwavering. Irans foreign ministry says attacks by its ally Hamas on Israel on Saturday were an act of self-defence by Palestinians, and called on Muslim countries to support their rights. The death toll currently stands at 532 and is expected to rise as fighting continues through the night. 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 }} Two Israeli tourists were killed after an Egyptian police officer reportedly opened fire at Israeli tourists in the coastal city of Alexandria, according to Egypts interior ministry. One Egyptian person was also killed in the shooting. Egypts Extra News, a television channel with strong affiliations to Egyptian security agencies, cited an unnamed security official who reported that another individual sustained injuries in the incident, which occurred at Pompeys Pillar site in Alexandria. The gunman has been detained by authorities, the local media reported. The police officer allegedly discharged his personal firearm at the tourist group in the Mansheya area in Alexandria. This comes as Israel declared itself at war and vowed immense revenge after Hamas launched an unprecedented strike across the heavily fortified border with Gaza, firing thousands of rockets in a shock attack by land, sea and air on Saturday. Egypt forged a peace agreement with Israel several decades ago and has played a pivotal role as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for long. However, anti-Israeli sentiments remain high in the country, particularly during periods of violence. Meanwhile, the Zaka rescue service from Israel has also confirmed that two people lost their lives at the tourist site in Alexandria. Pompeys Pillar is a popular tourist attraction. The Egyptian foreign ministry, in a statement earlier called for utmost levels of restraint and avoid exposing civilians to further risks. More follows 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 }} Partygoers at a rave in the desert near the border with Gaza have told how the first hint of the horror raging towards them in the early hours of Saturday was a barrage of rockets roaring through the morning sky, as it emerged more than 260 people had died in the attack. It was 6am. Most of the attendees, including a British and a German citizen, had not been to bed and were dancing to trance music under multicoloured tents set up for the Supernova festival. The music stopped briefly and they dropped to the floor a well-rehearsed drill for Israelis in the south of the country used to frequent cross-border exchange of fire with the Hamas militant group. But this was so much worse than usual. Peleg Oren was one of the revellers at the desert rave music festival in Israel when Hamas attacked (Peleg Oren) For five minutes there wasnt a seconds break without a rocket, says bartender Peleg Oren, 26, one of those who escaped safely. The barrage was so relentless that his friend started to have a panic attack, and begged him to help her leave. I had my own car, I tried to convince friends to leave with me but some had already arranged taxis and wanted to stick together so they wouldnt listen, he told The Independent. The main problem was many of the festivalgoers arrived on buses and had no transport. Minutes later, Hamas operatives who had blown through the border fence into Israel burst into the campus with grenades and assault rifles. Israeli festivalgoers flee as Gaza strikes begin They shot and killed and kidnapped dozens of people, according to eyewitnesses and friends. They hunted down partygoers many dressed in just swimsuits and shorts as they tried to hide in the wooded area surrounding the encampment. Parents and friends received panicked messages, seen by The Independent, desperately asking for help and for the army to deploy, saying they were wounded and had no way out. Partygoers run from the rave in the Israeli desert after it was hit by bombing (supplied) One girl named by Israeli media as Karin had a pre-existing broken leg, her brace preventing her from being able to run. She had no way to escape, her mother Inbal told the Israeli news network Mako. Those who escaped the initial onslaught were then filmed running through dusty fields against the backdrop of machine-gun fire with some dropping to the ground. Then videos from Gaza started appearing online, including one showing a young woman Noa Argamani being abducted by Hamas militants as she rode with her boyfriend on a motorcycle. We last heard from Noa around 10am and then the next thing we see is her on a Hamas propaganda video, says Yad Gorjalstan 27, a childhood friend. You can hear her screaming, No, no, no, I am innocent! he added breaking down. Yad shared the last screenshots of Noas messages moments before she was captured where she says she was hiding with a group, while assailants were lynching people. She repeatedly called for help, asking for soldiers to come and help them. She was saying there are terrorists going crazy killing and kidnapping people, Yad added, audibly shaken. Among those believed to have been taken hostage in Gaza is Jake Marlowe (Jake Marlowe/Facebook) Among those believed to have been taken hostage in Gaza is a British man named locally as Jake Marlowe who had been doing security at the event according to Daniel Aboudy, a friend who spoke to The Independent. He sent a last voice note saying he was watching militants round up people from the party in front of our eyes. We are telling everyone to get the f*** outta there, he said in the voice note. We have spoken to the home front command in Israel and then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but so far, we dont know anything about what happened after that, Daniel added. On Sunday night, Israels search and rescue agency said more than 260 dead bodies had been recovered from the music festival. They havent all been collected yet, added the agency, called Zaka. The Israeli military had earlier told The Independent they had no firm figures of how many had been abducted to Gaza from the festival saying very significant numbers of people had been killed and taken hostage. Noa Argamani appeared in a chilling video being abducted by Hamas militants as she rode with her boyfriend on a motorcycle (Telegram) They are beginning the impossible task of trying to locate and retrieve them. It is unlike anything we have ever seen, said Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, the international spokesperson for the army. There is a deep concern for the wellbeing and lives of the hostages. At this stage, I dont think anyone can guarantee they will be returned alive. We do not know who is alive and who is dead. The hostages were not only taken from the Nova party. In Kibbutz Nirim, just 8km south of the festival, militants raided the town, going from house to house trying to abduct people. One resident who asked not to be named said she knew of a family of three who had been kidnapped: No one knows what happened to them. Terrorists broke into their house and took them hostage. It took the army almost eight hours to get here, she told The Independent. We have been hiding in our shelter all day. As for Peleg, the bartender, he only survived because he left the Nova festival just in time. He described manically driving through farmlands trying to find safety past bombed-out cars full of shot-up Israeli civilians who had been killed trying to flee. There was no army or any help there at all. We used [navigation app] Waze to navigate through the fields, we saw a car returning that had been near us, the passenger circling his hand saying go back go back. A childhood friend of Noa shared her last messages moments before she was captured where she says she was hiding as people were lynched (Sourced) There was a car full of holes and dead bodies inside. So we drove back into the fields. There was so much gun and missile fire that he parked by the side of the road and hid until help finally came. My friend Ori is still missing, as are the other bar staff, he added. Family members of the missing put out desperate pleas for help. The mother of Shani Louk, a tattoo artist whose body was filmed being driven around Gaza, released a video in German begging for her body to be returned. Yad, Noas friend, says the family is devastated. My heart is broken as its Noas birthday coming up very soon and knowing she will be in Gaza is killing me. I was with Noas dad and family yesterday to see him crying for help because his only child has been taken, he is broken, you can not imagine what this feels like. 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 }} The modern state of Israel was founded in May 1948 in the aftermath of the Holocaust and Second World War but the conflict that has raged between Israelis and Palestinians since can be traced back much further. Historians and commentators offer differing opinions as to when this chapter of history begins. In her series Al Nakba (2008) on Al Jazeera, documentary maker Rawan Damen begins her story with Napoleon Bonaparte, who proposed a Jewish homeland in Palestine as long ago as 1799 in the wake of the siege of Acre during his war against the Ottoman Empire. Pre-1900 The French commander was ultimately defeated in that conquest but his attempt to establish a European stronghold in the Middle East was revived by the British 41 years on, when foreign secretary Lord Palmerston wrote to his ambassador in Istanbul, urging him to press the Sultan to open up Palestine to Jewish immigrants as a means of countering the considerable influence of Egyptian governor Mohammed Ali. While there were only around 3,000 Jews living in Palestine at that time, wealthy benefactors such as French aristocrat Baron Edmond de Rothschild began to sponsor others from Europe to join them and establish settlements, the most notable being Rishon Le Zion, founded in 1882. Austrian writer Nathan Birnbaum coined the term Zionism in 1885 as Jews, particularly from eastern Europe, continued to arrive in Palestine. Austro-Hungarian journalist Dr Theodor Herzls book The Jewish State appeared a decade later, envisioning the establishment of such an entity with the coming of the 20th century. According to Al Nakba, two rabbis were sent by Herzls friend Max Nordau to Palestine to investigate the feasibility of the prospect and reported back: The bride is beautiful but she is married to another man, although the authenticity of this exchange is contested. Birnbaum, Herzl and Nordau organised the First Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland, in 1897 to discuss their dream of an independent Jewish nation and plans to lobby European powers for its realisation. By 1907, Britain was considering the need for a buffer state in the Middle East to bolster its dominance. British Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann, a biochemist, would arrive in Jerusalem at this time to establish a company engaged in buying up land near Jaffa. Within three years, about 10,000 dunums, an old land measurement equivalent to acres, had been acquired in the Marj Bin Amer region of northern Palestine, forcing out 60,000 local farmers to accommodate Jewish arrivals from Europe and Yemen. As a Jewish militia, Hashomer, was established to protect the growing number of settlements, Palestinian pharmacist Najib Nassar set up a newspaper, Al-Karmel, to warn against what he considered to be a colonising force. The First World War 1914 - 1918 The outbreak of the First World War prompted a Britain distrustful of Mohammedans to intensify its interest in developing an allied presence in Palestine, not least to strengthen its grasp on the Suez Canal. In January 1915, Liberal Party politician Herbert Samuel drafted his secret memo The Future of Palestine, which was circulated among the Cabinet and in which he backed annexation and the country gradually becoming an autonomous Jewish state under the protectorship of the British Empire. Samuels recommendations were discussed privately by diplomats Sir Mark Sykes and Francois Georges-Picot the following year, architects of the Sykes-Picot Agreement that demarcated British and French spheres of influence in the event of the collapse of Ottoman rule. Austro-Hungarian journalist Dr Theodor Herzl who wrote The Jewish State advocating a nation in Palestine (Getty) The Balfour Declaration 1917 The British governments Balfour Declaration followed on 9 November 1917, formally declaring support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine in a letter between David Lloyd Georges foreign secretary Arthur Balfour and Jewish community leader Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild, effectively assuming ownership over a land that many would argue it had no legal right to give away. Rothschild, Samuel, Sykes and Weizmann addressed a celebratory meeting in London a month later before, on 11 December 1917, General Edmund Allenby captured the holy city of Jerusalem. Following the Kaisers defeat and the Great Wars end, US president Woodrow Wilson commissioned a report into the non-Turkish regions of the fallen Ottoman Empire conducted by academic Dr Henry King and orientalist Charles Crane, who found that the almost 90 per cent non-Jewish population of Palestine were emphatically against the Zionist project. The authors warned of the intensity of feeling and argued that Jewish immigration should be limited in the greater interests of peace but were roundly ignored by the international community, their conclusions suppressed until 1922. At the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, lieutenant-colonel TE Lawrence (much-mythologised as Lawrence of Arabia) mediated the signing of an agreement between Weizmann, now leader of the Zionist delegation, and his Arab counterpart Prince Faisal bin Hussein, agreeing in principle the founding of a Jewish homeland in Palestine and an independent Arab nation in the Middle East. In 1922, the League of Nations recognised the British Mandate to rule Palestine under the jurisdiction of Samuel, now high commissioner, who was instrumental in enacting at least 100 legal initiatives to establish a Jewish presence, including recognising Hebrew as an official language and permitting a separate Jewish educational system and Jewish army. The Hebrew University and Histadrut, a labour union, were in place by 1925. As the decade progressed, mass protests began to erupt opposing Jewish immigration as the Palestinian movement tried in vain to counter and resist what its members considered a usurpation backed by the military and diplomatic muscle of imperial Britain. Black flags were raised by Palestinians when Balfour visited Jerusalem and almost 250 Jews and Arabs were killed and many more wounded in August 1929 at the Wailing Wall in a tragedy that became known as the Buraq Revolt. Three Muslim men were put to death by Samuels successor, Sir John Chancellor, for their part in the unrest, an act of brutality intended as a deterrent. Foreign secretary Arthur Balfour, right, formally declared British support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people (Getty) But the protests continued, reaching fever pitch in 1933, as more Jewish immigrants arrived to make a home for themselves, the influx accelerating from 4,000 in 1931 to 62,000 in 1935. That same year, Muslim revolutionary leader Sheikh Izz ad-Din al-Qassam was shot dead by British soldiers in the hills above Jenin. In 1936, the intensity of opposition to British colonial rule imposing the Balfour Declaration on a people who deplored it resulted in a six-month-long general strike, an impressive feat of organisation that nevertheless resulted in a backlash in which Palestinian homes were destroyed. The Second World War 1939 - 1945 The wider world would once more be plunged into war in 1939 in the fightback against Adolf Hitlers Nazi Germany, whose Third Reich would ultimately be found responsible for executing six million Jews in extermination camps, and concentration camps. Not long after the US entrance into the conflict, American-Zionist relations would be cemented with a 1942 conference at the Biltmore Hotel in New York. This occurred against a backdrop of several years activity by an armed Zionist paramilitary force known as Irgun, that had been attacking local Arab groups in Palestine. Irgun would become notorious for the bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem on 22 July 1946, in which 91 people died, and the Deir Yassin Massacre on 9 April 1948, carried out in collaboration with another organisation, Lehi (or the Stern Gang), in which 107 were killed. That summer, Lehi would assassinate Folke Bernadotte, a Swedish diplomat dispatched by the United Nations to mediate the dispute. Following the Allied victories in Europe and the Pacific in 1945, world powers turned their attention towards ending the violence in Palestine. UN Partition Plan (or two-state solution) 1947 A two-state solution to the disputed territory almost came into being in 1947, when the UN General Assembly volunteered Resolution 181, which proposed carving a new state from Palestine west of the River Jordan: one housing Jews, the other Arabs. The resolution was adopted after a vote, allegedly as a result of diplomatic pressure from the US, but rejected by the Palestinians, who argued that Jewish residents owned no more than 5.5 per cent of the land at the time and so had no right to receive 56 per cent, in addition to the accompanying international legitimacy. Jewish jubilation met with Arab hostility and a civil war duly erupted. The first Israeli prime minister David Ben-Gurion officially proclaims the state of Israel in Tel Aviv in 1948 (AFP/Getty) The Arab-Israeli War and Nakba 1948 The state of Israel was nevertheless founded under prime minister David Ben-Gurion on 14 May 1948 with the end of the British Mandate, winning immediate recognition from the US and Soviet Union but prompting the outbreak of the bloody Arab-Israeli War, which saw 3,000 resistance fighters rise up against the new nation and forced 700,000 Palestinian people to flee the fighting, seeking refuge in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza, often without citizenship being granted. The displacement of the Palestinian people on that date is still marked every year on Nakba Day, named for an Arabic word for catastrophe and on which Palestinians give speeches, hold rallies and brandish the keys to the homes they were forced to leave behind and still hope to return to. In December of 1948, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 194, recognising that Palestinian people who want to return to their homes and live in peace with their neighbours should be given the right to do so as soon as possible. Israel though rejected the notion as a threat to the exclusively Jewish nature of the new state. A year later, the chamber would establish the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to further support those displaced. In the interim between those two events, Israel had signed armistice agreements with its neighbours in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt. Six-Day War 1967 Jordan assumed administrative control of the West Bank in 1950 and Egypt would hold Gaza, an arrangement that would last until the Six-Day War of 1967, when Israeli forces conquered those territories. Prior to that, the violence continued sporadically. Notable massacres took place in the villages of Qalqilya, Kufr Qasim and Khan Yunis in 1956 and in as-Samu in 1966. The Palestinian Liberation Organisation was founded in Cairo in 1964, dedicated to fighting for the liberation of Palestine through armed revolution rather than dwelling on rights issues, a stance the PLO would not abandon until 1993 and which would see it labelled a terrorist organisation by both Israel and the US. It would be recognised as the sole representative of the Palestinian people by the Arab League in 1974. Israels military advance on the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Golan Heights and Egyptian Sinai in 1967 sparked fresh bloodshed and saw the UN Security Council pass Resolution 242 ordering it to withdraw from territories it considered occupied. The council was ignored. Following the Yom Kippur War, the Security Council would pass another resolution, 338, calling for a ceasefire and again demanding Israel retreat from its 1967 incursions. Again, Israel refused. On 30 March 1976, Israeli land confiscations were met with uprisings, strikes and further violent reprisals in towns from the Sea of Galilee to the Negev, a date commemorated by Palestinians ever after as Land Day. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu was befriended by Donald Trump (AP) An apparent breakthrough for peace in the Middle East occurred on 17 September 1978 when Israeli PM Menachem Begin met Egyptian president Anwar Sadat to sign the Camp David Accords at the Maryland retreat of president Jimmy Carter. One of the framework agreements clinched harmonious relations between their two nations and won the signatories the Nobel Peace Prize but the other, concerning the future of the disputed territories Palestine, would be condemned by the UN for being agreed without a Palestinian delegations involvement. The First Intifada and Oslo Accords 1987 - 1993 Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982 while the first Intifada in Palestinian territories would erupt protesting occupation at the decades end. However, further incremental steps towards peace did occur when the PLO accepted UN Resolutions 242 and 338, formally recognising the state of Israel. Talks stalled again in 1991 and 1992, with no resolution in sight. Then, in summer 1993, the Oslo I Accord was signed by Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat, providing for the creation of a Palestinian interim self-government, the Palestinian National Authority, and the withdrawal of Israeli Defence Forces from zones still widely considered occupied. A second agreement, Oslo II, followed in 1995 and granted Palestinian autonomy in certain parts of the West Bank and Gaza but, again, did not offer statehood. The Second Intifada and Gaza wars 2002 - 2021 An uneasy truce held until a second Intifada saw Israel reoccupy West Bank cities in 2002, a destabilising event that would be worsened by the death of Arafat in 2004, a great blow to the Palestinian cause. Since that time, violence has returned, with Israel declaring war on Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006 and launching repeated assaults on Hamas in Gaza, including Operation Cast Lead (2008), Operation Pillar of Defence (2012) and Operation Protective Edge (2014). Further violence blew up on Nakba Day in both 2017 and 2018, the latter severe enough to merit a UN war crimes investigation. The election of Donald Trump as US president further shook up the situation, with the former reality television star befriending Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and relocating the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as a gesture of recognition that the city is its capital before designating the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, in defiance of the broad international consensus that the region was illegally annexed. Mr Trump also cut US funding to the UNRWA and absurdly tasked his Jewish son-in-law, Jared Kushner, with developing a plan to bring peace to the Middle East, something the junior property developer was confident he could achieve without bias having read no fewer than 25 books on the subject. The tensions have subsequently erupted again, after Hamas sent fighters across the border and fired thousands of rockets at Israel in what it said was a new operation on Saturday. Israel has responded by saying the country is "at war" and fired at targets in Gaza in response. For the latest updates, follow the Independents live coverage This year is on pace to set the record for the highest number of attempted book bans since the American Library Association began compiling data on library censorship more than 20 years ago. Last year, there were demands to censor more than 2,500 library books. In several states, legislatures have enacted censorship into law. In 2022, lawmakers in Florida passed HB 1467, which requires books to be approved by a media specialist trained by Floridas Department of Education. Educators and librarians found in violation of the law could be charged with a third-degree felony. Other states, such as Missouri and Utah, have since enacted similar laws that punish librarians for explicit content. Librarians and other educators in those states are fighting to defend the publics right to intellectual freedom, but libraries have always been on the front lines of the conflict between censorship and free speech in the U.S. since the first public libraries were established in the 19th century. The Comstock Act of 1873, for example, was meant to curb the nascent movement of womens reproductive health care but constrained both the publishing industry and libraries. The law allowed the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice to force New York public libraries to withdraw a number of books from their collections, including, famously, Lady Chatterleys Lover and Ulysses. In the early 20th century, censorship continued with German, Italian and even Irish works and newspapers that were often banned and locked down at the urging of both the government and citizens. At the same time, amid the growing threat of fascism abroad, libraries emerged as a great symbol of democracy. Then came the postwar red scare as public libraries got pulled into Sen. Joseph R. McCarthys Cold War witch hunt. He attacked the Voice of Americas overseas libraries and called for authors whom he had condemned as communists to be stripped from the shelves. Any librarians who refused faced inquiries into their own personal lives. Among the Americans who took up McCarthys cause was a San Antonio resident named Myrtle G. Hance, a member of the Minute Women of the U.S.A., whose stated mission was to remove supporters and sympathizers of communism from schools. In 1953, Hance combed through the books available at the San Antonio Public Library and declared 500 books to contain communist materials. In response, San Antonio Mayor Jack White, whose wife was also a Minute Woman, demanded that each be branded with a large red sticker, so that readers would know they were dangerous. Another city official went further calling for the books Hance singled out to be burned. It was the chief librarian of San Antonio who stood in the way. Julia Grothaus, whod served in her position for two decades, rallied the support of local writers, journalists and civic organizations; the Public Library Board of Trustees refused to go along with the mayors call for her resignation. Only because of her defiance, the books in San Antonio were not labeled or burned. What occurred in San Antonio occurred in communities across the country as organizations like the Minute Women stoked the publics fears of communism. Librarians resisted in various ways to varying degrees of success. Then, on June 14, 1953, they received major support from President Eisenhower, who told the new graduates at his Dartmouth College commencement speech, Dont join the book-burners Dont be afraid to go to your library and read every book. The press interpreted the presidents words to be a direct rebuff of McCarthy. The following day, McCarthys actions against the Voice of Americas overseas libraries made the front page of the New York Times when Secretary of State John Foster Dulles confirmed that 11 books from those libraries had been taken and actually burned. The ALA moved quickly to capitalize on the presidents support and the public attention. On June 25, 1953, it issued the Freedom to Read Statement, which declared: Most attempts at suppression rest on a denial of the fundamental premise of democracy: that the ordinary individual, by exercising critical judgment, will select the good and reject the bad. We trust Americans to recognize propaganda and misinformation, and to make their own decisions about what they read and believe. We do not believe they are prepared to sacrifice their heritage of a free press in order to be protected against what others think may be bad for them. Seventy years later, there is no better description of censorship efforts taking shape around the country nor a better defense of the publics right to choose what to read. This year, the Florida Education Association, which includes librarians, along with the Florida Freedom to Read Project, filed an action to challenge the censorship law. After conservative lawmakers in Arkansas enacted Act 372, which sought to protect children from indoctrination by allowing librarians to be brought up on criminal charges if they were found with items harmful to minors, libraries in Arkansas and the Freedom to Read Foundation, among several plaintiffs, filed a federal lawsuit to challenge the laws constitutionality. A federal judge agreed, and the law has been blocked for now. Libraries, of course, have always offered more than just books. At their center, they offer a community space with safety to explore identities, histories and cultures. As librarians know, the loss of this intellectual freedom would be catastrophic to American culture and democracy. Madison Ingram is a Ph.D. candidate in the department of history at Temple University. This article was produced in partnership with Zocalo Public Square. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice A woman who has refused to leave a Los Angeles-area Airbnb is now demanding to be paid $100,000 to get out, according to a settlement offer reviewed by the Los Angeles Times. The host, Sascha Jovanovic, said the womans stay was scheduled to end in April 2022, but she then refused to move out. Elizabeth Hirschhorn, dubbed as the tenant from hell, has been living rent-free ever since. Mr Jovanovic, who owns the estate where the homestay is located in the hills of Brentwood, told the Times he cannot go into his home and know that Im safe when a potentially hostile person is living there. Im thinking about it at all times, he added. Hirschhorn declined to speak to the outlet to share her side of the story; however, her attorney, Colin Walshok, argued that she was not required to pay rent. The landlord broke the law and tried to make money by renting out an illegal bootleg unit, he told the Times. After he was caught, instead of doing the right thing, he has resorted to bullying, harassment and the filing of frivolous lawsuits containing elaborate false stories, all in attempt to cover his tracks. After deciding to put out his small guesthouse for rent, Mr Jovanovic approved a long-term stay for Ms Hirschhorn in September of 2021. The space was rented for six months at a rate of $105 per night, which with fees brought the total to $20,793 for 187 nights. The pair got on well in the beginning, sharing tea and small talk, but there were some warning signs that Mr Jovanovic said he should have listened to. Another Airbnb host had put out a review on Ms Hirschhorns profile that said she had a lot of particular needs that I eventually could not accommodate. And then, Mr Jovanovic claims, he went into the guesthouse to check on electric blinds that had stopped working and noticed there was water damage and signs of mould around the sink, problems he says were not there before Hirschhorn arrived. Wanting to repair the sink and stop the spread of mould, the landlord said he offered to pay his guest to stay at a hotel for a few days and also offered $1,000 toward a hotel of her choice, according to Airbnb messages and emails exchanged between the two. However, Ms Hirschhorn declined, saying: I dont feel safe being forced to vacate with a housing disability and the high risks of Covid-19 complications. She then quoted L.A. Countys Covid-19 Tenant Protections Resolution and showed a 2011 doctors note pointing out chemical sensitivities. In addition, the emails showed he had also offered her to stay in his home, which she declined. Ms Hirschhorn is now counter-suing Mr Jovanovic and claims that he inappropriately invited her to move into his house with him. Ms Hirschhorns Airbnb stay was scheduled to end on 19 March; however, Mr Jovanovic offered her a months extension in order to find somewhere else to live, something that backfired on him because Airbnb was then free from getting involved in the dispute. Once everything went to hell, Airbnb was out, said Sebastian Rucci, an attorney representing Mr Jovanovic, according to the Times. Then came the new deadline and Ms Hirschhorn stayed put. In an email, she said: I cant leave on Apr. 12 as relocation and funding plan is not in place, it would be unsafe. If you want to work something out I am willing to do that. Since then, she has not paid any rent and she still remains over 540 days later having claimed in a May 2022 email that Your actions and alleged repairs are made knowing that of my disability requiring accommodation, I believe it was made to harass and scare me. Mr Jovanovic tried serving multiple eviction notices, but a housing department investigator, Pedro Gonzalez, said Mr Jovanovic had to withdraw his eviction notices as the building did not comply with the citys building-safety rules. But Ms Hirschhorn refused to let the host inside the property so it could be updated to comply with the citys building codes. Mr Jovanovic is incredulous, telling the Times: How can you stay in someones home for a year and a half and not have any feeling of embarrassment or responsibility? The Independent has contacted Airbnb for a comment. A woman has described the harrowing moment gunmen opened fire on a desert dance festival in Israel, as fellow party-goers ran for their lives. Gili Yoskovich hid under a tree in the desert near to Kibbutz Reim, along the Gaza Strip, as Hamas militants reportedly went tree-to-tree shooting at anyone. I saw people were dying all around. I was very quiet. I didnt cry, I didnt do anything, she told the BBC. I was... breathing, saying: OK, Im going to die. Its OK, just breathe, just close your eyes. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} By now, everyone is aware that Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse allegations that he strongly denies. While these are serious matters for the police and other professionals to investigate, something I find curious is what Brand has said about them publicly, in his own defence. In his very first video released a day before the news broke of a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches Brand said the allegations make me question is there another agenda at play? He goes on to say, Im aware that you guys have been saying in the comments for a while watch out Russell they're coming for you, you're getting too close to the truth. Which begs the question what truth? Just before the investigation was published on 16 September, Brands most recent videos were on the Covid vaccine, Big Pharma, the war in Ukraine, the JFK assassination, an interview with Hitler was OK until he tried to globalise Candace Owens, and one about Bill Gates doing something with fruit. To me, that sounds less like someone who is getting too close to the truth and more like someone who is mining topics they know are catnip for fans of conspiracies. Fortunately for multimillionaire Brand, numerous other multimillionaires and at least one billionaire have leapt to his defence. Elon Musk, Tucker Carlson, Andrew Tate, Jordan Peterson, Alex Jones, Ben Shapiro, Donald Trump Jr, Steven Crowder the list seems to grow by the day. In fact, if Brand has many more ultra-wealthy people and oligarchs defending him there wont be much of an establishment left to threaten. And one might think, with friends like those, who needs the deep state as an enemy? To me and I might be wrong all this talk of being too close to the truth sounds like bulls***. Brand is not a threat to any elites not now and not when he was at the height of his fame. Hes not that important. The allegations (so far) range from 2006 to 2013, during which time Brand had his first major film role in the British comedy St Trinians (2007), then went to Hollywood to make Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008), Get Him to the Greek (2010), Arthur (2011), and Rock of Ages (2012). He also voiced characters in the first two Despicable Me films, as well as an animated feature called Hop, about the son of the Easter bunny who runs away to become a drummer. Then, in 2013, Brand did an interview with Jeremy Paxman where he said he never votes, and that same year released his stand-up special, Messiah Complex, in which he describes getting arrested for masturbating on top of a police van. Yes, I imagine the deep state were terrified. If the allegations are proven to be true and there is shown to be contemporaneous evidence (such as texts, rape treatment centre admission, months of therapy notes, etc), will we then be expected to stretch our imaginations even further and entertain the possibility that a nefarious shadowy elite planted those things on the off-chance they would need them in the future? Sowing useful seeds over a decade before just in case the guy who was doing the voice of a cartoon rabbit started questioning a vaccine that hadnt yet been invented? If so, God only knows what secret files of kompromat are still being held on the surviving cast of Watership Down. Brand can rail against the corporate media as much as he likes, but a very simple and provable truth is: hes part of it. His show is on Rumble, a media platform backed by (you probably guessed) a huge Wall Street corporation Cantor Fitzgerald and has in the past few years been receiving investment from a group of prominent conservative venture capitalists, including JD Vance and the tech billionaire Peter Thiel. You know, the little guys. The underdogs who fight against the elites. But why are we just hearing about all of this now? ask people who seem to have never heard of NDAs, super injunctions, libel laws or a suite of other legal tools that might keep someone from being able to speak out publicly for years. Another grim truth is, if you were an all-powerful deep state and wanted to cancel someone because they posed a serious threat, you wouldnt accuse them of rape, because not enough people care about it. Last year alone almost 70,000 rapes were recorded in England and Wales. (Figures from Scotland and Northern Ireland are in addition to that.) Of those recorded rapes, only 1.9 per cent resulted in a charge that year thats a charge, not a conviction. Five in six women who are raped do not report it. The same is true for four in five men. So now we are looking at multiples of 70,000 just in the UK and just in 12 months. As one rape survivor recently said: It is hard to think of these statistics getting any worse. If they did, then that would be tantamount to admitting rape was effectively legal in the UK. So why didnt these women go to the police? The statistics suggest that in all likelihood you wouldnt either. In addition to this, within 48 hours of the Brand Sunday Times article being published, another headline made the news Met Police investigating 1,600 officers and staff over alleged abuse against women which might indicate the police are perhaps not the most approachable organisation. Sometimes it is worth taking people at their word if only for a short time just to see what picture of reality emerges. Brands picture doesnt match up with anything I recognise. Whereas to me the four women who bravely came forward in spite of the odds are describing something that is all too real and unaddressed in this country. Theyre receiving plenty of hate about it online maybe theyre the ones getting too close to the truth. Clint Edwards is a stand-up comedian and writer 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 }} Scotland has been warned of more "danger to life" floods after relentless rain wreaked havoc across the country, causing landslides and leaving stations and streets submerged. Relentless rainfall started on Saturday and continued through the night, causing travel chaos on roads and railways. Landslides blocked some roads in the west of Scotland, with 10 drivers being rescued by helicopter after becoming trapped on the A83 near Inverary in Argyll and Bute. The torrential rain is continuing on Sunday, with the Met Office issuing an amber warning for rain across Angus, Perth and Kinross, Aberdeenshire, Moray and Highland until 2pm. It says fast-flowing or deep flood water could pose a risk to life. Members of the public struggle with flooding as torrential rain continues in Dumbarton (Getty Images) A separate amber warning, stretching from Aviemore to Glasgow, expired at 6am, with much of the rest of the country now under yellow warnings. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has 54 flood warnings in place, while a severe flood warning is active for the Aviemore/Dalfaber area. Issuing an update at 9am on Sunday, Sepa said people should remain vigilant about the risk of flooding. Flood duty manager at Sepa Vincent Fitzsimons said: Its been a rough weekend across Scotland, with severe weather causing widespread travel disruption to road and rail networks and impacts in communities from Greenock to Aviemore. Our teams have been working around the clock with Scottish Government and the Met Office in the lead into and across this major weather event. Members of the public struggle with flooding as torrential rain continues (Getty Images) He added: Today the focus continues to turn to communities across the North, with a particular concern for severe flood impacts to communities along the Spey and Tay rivers. Its a day to stay alert, not stand down. The risk to life remains. TransPennine Express, meanwhile, warned customers not to travel by train to or from Scotland on Saturday. Due to heavy rainfall forecasted tomorrow in parts of Scotland were advising customers do not travel on services to and from Scotland, the company said in a statement. Members of the public struggle with flooding in Drymen, Scotland, after amber weather warnings were issued across much of the country. (Getty Images) The Met Office said Tyndrum, west Perthshire has experienced the most rain so far, with 112.6mm falling on the small village. In the south of the UK, meanwhile, sunshine and highs of around 25C are forecast by the Met Office for Sunday. The contrasting weather was caused by warm weather travelling up from France meeting cold weather coming from the north with the temperature contrast leading to the heavy rain in Scotland, said Tom Morgan, a Met Office meteorologist. The warm weather in southern parts was expected to last until Tuesday. Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Chris Almond said: Warmth to the south is likely to continue at least at the start of next week, before a likely gradual return to a more typically autumnal weather regime. Legal affairs In 2021, Cramer and Futures Group claimed that Denis Brosnan (pictured) had 'falsified and destroyed corporate documents'. Photo: Alan Pace Former Kerry Group boss Denis Brosnan and his ex-son-in-law have had their long-running, bitter business dispute voluntarily dismissed in the US following recent settlement talks. According to a court filing last week in the US, lawyers for Brosnan, his former son-in-law Geoff Cramer and his tech company Futures Group voluntarily dismissed all claims in and associated with the action, which started in 2021. Details on any settlement were not included. Last week, the Sunday Independent reported that a settlement between Brosnan, Cramer and Futures was close. The nearing deal was included in court documents filed by Futures, which was seeking a protective order after a row broke out over a delayed deposition that Brosnan claimed would put him at a disadvantage should negotiations break down. According to legal filings, Futures said the parties sought to finalise a comprehensive settlement agreement. Futures claimed it would not only cover the US business dispute but also a related lawsuit between the company and Brosnans daughter Aimee, an Irish case between Brosnan and Cramer over a loan from AIB, and the divorce proceedings between Cramer and Aimee. The court filing on the voluntary dismissal did not specify if cases other than the business dispute in the US had been closed. In 2021, Cramer and Futures Group claimed in a lawsuit that Denis Brosnan falsified and destroyed corporate records, lied about shareholdings to avoid taxes and tried to inflate how much the company owed him. Brosnan denied the allegations and responded with various counterclaims in the US. His spokesman previously told the Sunday Independent he would fully defend his reputation and pursue these matters to a conclusion. Brosnan also brought a case against Cramer in Ireland concerning a loan he secured from AIB for the American and his company. Brosnan claimed he was entitled to an indemnity from Cramer over the 425,000 loan. In March, the Irish High Court refused an application by Brosnan to enter summary judgment. Before the dispute, Cramer and Brosnans daughter Aimee had been married, breaking up in 2020. It later emerged that Cramer had been surreptitiously recording conversations with Brosnan and Aimee relating to Futures. At the time of writing, neither Brosnan or Futures commented on the settlement. Brosnans spokesman previously said the businessman would not make further comments before the litigation concludes. Sometimes the hardest thing about bad news is that, for everyone else, life just carries on. Last Tuesday, news was breaking that Goodbody Stockbrokers now in the ownership of AIB was cutting 20 out of the 100 jobs in its investment banking unit. The fact that big Irish companies have been running for the exits from the Irish stock market has left the firm facing challenges in that business. Meanwhile, Some onlookers commented on the unfortunate timing of AIB chief executive Colin Hunt that evening hosting what was described as a fancy dinner attended by a whos who of west of Ireland business at the Galmont Hotel in Galway. But another source close to the business said that although the job losses were painful for those involved, remaining employees would be happy to see Hunt touting for new business that might come the way of a Goodbody seeking new opportunities. When asked, an AIB spokesman declined to reveal the guest list or the menu but commented: From time to time businesses host events for their customers and, as one of the largest supporters of businesses in the west of Ireland, AIB hosted an event in Galways Galmont Hotel to support businesses and customers in the region. Frampton launched his autobiography a week ago last Saturday. Photo: Aodhan Roberts Frampton hopes new whiskey is a knockout Former boxer Carl Frampton has been keeping busy in the past few weeks. Just before he launched his autobiography a week ago last Saturday, he raised a glass to an altogether different venture. Last month, the former two-weight world champ from Northern Ireland launched Stablemate Irish Whiskey. Frampton launched the new drink at an exclusive invitation-only event. he said he was buzzing and proud in equal measures to get the project off the ground. There was a lot of hard work by a lot of people, he said. Its not easy being greenor profitable Across the business landscape, being greener was supposed to be seen as a way of attracting more customers. Not so, say businesses in a new poll carried out by Behaviour & Attitudes on behalf of SSE Airtricity in its Green Business Sentiment Index series. The poll found just 25pc of Irish businesses agree that being greener attracts more customers, down from 42pc in 2021. Despite the Governments targets to reduce carbon emissions, just two in five firms (37pc) consider sustainability and energy efficiency a priority in their budget. The total value of Irish trade with Asia has surpassed a 100bn target, two years ahead of schedule, Secretary General at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) Declan Hughes told a business summit in Donegal that two-way trade between this country and Asia is now worth 120bn. We have an Asia-Pacific strategy, and a clear target of that was to increase our trade with the region to 100bn by 2025, he said And we are already ahead of that target, with 50bn in goods and 70bn in services. Welcoming the announcement, Martin Murray the executive director of Asia Matters, which promotes trade with the continent, said that any Irish company wanting to boost foreign orders must now look at the opportunities that exist across Asia. The smart home heating company said the adviser would prepare a rescue plan and work with creditors to consolidate company debts Last month, Dundalk-based Climote appointed Dessie Morrow of Azets as its Scarp process adviser. Climote has attracted investments from several big names in business. These include Kingspans Murtagh, who invested 400,000 and former Bord Gais CEO John Mullins and ex-Airtricity boss Ian Marchant. On its website, Climote said the adviser was appointed to prepare a rescue plan and work with creditors to consolidate company debts. Climote said it decided to enter the Scarp due to the impact on turnover from the Covid-19 pandemic. Another issue was the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland removing single-measure solutions from a scheme, ending many partnerships. It said a report to the board showed that Climote has a very reasonable prospect of survival if it restructures its balance sheet and secures investment. Planning overhauls and relief for tourism interests hit by refugees are among the asks There are concerns that planning is affecting the delivery of homes and infrastructure Will we get any nice surprises on Tuesday? Photo: Getty While normal people may associate October with Halloween, for interest bodies and lobbyists, theres only one show in town the Budget. Every year, every business group in the country worth its salt sends a list of requests a mile long to the Government. A pre-budget submission for one organisation can easily run to 30 or 40 pages long. And while dozens are submitted every year, this year its ramped up a notch as every group is eyeing a piece of the Exchequers surplus pie. To put some order to the chaos, the Sunday Independent has spoken to some of Irelands largest business groups. Each has been asked if they could have *just one* budget request, what would it be? The responses fell broadly into three camps. Restaurants were particularly focused on the VAT issue First was the catch-all business groups concerned about the minimum wage and employers costs. Then hospitality and tourism-focused groups, upset about the recent VAT increase in the sector. And finally, development-focused bodies building homes, renewable projects, and so on who are pushing for better investment in the planning system. Well start with the latter category first. While the ins and outs of the planning may not be the most exciting subject, the knock-on impacts on wider society are enormous. An Bord Pleanala has been extremely slow in issuing decisions this year, with a variety of controversies leaving it struggling for staff at the very time when demand for new homes and the production capacity to produce renewable energy are surging. To get an idea of how slow its working, Wind Energy Ireland says the planning regulator is meant to issue decisions on renewable projects within 18 weeks. But the current waiting time is... 90 weeks. The upshot is that many proposed developments have been left in limbo. The housing crisis and climate change are two of the biggest challenges facing Ireland. Project stalling in planning makes dealing with these much harder. There are concerns that planning is affecting the delivery of homes and infrastructure The ask from Wind Energy Ireland is straightforward: first figure out how many planning staff are needed to install all the renewable projects envisaged under the States climate action plan, and then put the money in place to hire them. With lengthy timelines for the delivery of infrastructure, this is the last budget opportunity to put in place the resources needed to achieve our 2030 target, the group told the Sunday Independent. The planning system needs to keep pace with the scale of renewable energy deployment needed. This was also the number one request from the Construction Industry Federation, which said issues in the planning system are delaying housing during a critical time for the country. The organisation made a similar call for extra resources for the planning system, though it was of course more concerned with the impact on building homes and infrastructure. On the tourism and hospitality side of things, representative groups were unsurprisingly most aggrieved by the Governments recent decision to reinstate the sectors 13.5pc VAT rate, increasing it from its long-held temporary rate of 9pc. The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), the Restaurants Association and the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) were united in their criticism, saying the move was a major blow to the sector and would push up prices for customers. Restaurants were particularly focused on the issue, with Adrian Cummins, the groups boss, telling the Sunday Independent: Many other local food-led businesses will not be able to withstand the VAT rate increase and are going to close over the coming months, unless a change occurs. However, the VAT rate was only reinstated to 13.5pc just last month. As ITIC boss Eoghan OMara Walsh conceded: Its pretty unlikely they would increase it one month and then reduce it again the next. There was a call for some kind of relief for employers PRSI The IHF also tactically acknowledged an immediate VAT reinstatement is probably not on the cards, calling for a fund to retrofit hotels, which the group said would support the States climate action plan. Despite the insistence on sticking to one key measure, ITIC boss OMara Walsh proposed two. The first would be a mitigation fund for tourism businesses in towns hosting refugees, which he estimated would cost between 5m and 10m. About 20pc of all hotels and guesthouses have been contracted for Ukrainian refugees and asylum seekers, he said. While its of course understandable, it has an impact on downstream tourism businesses like adventure centres or pubs which rely on tourists. Theyre struggling, and theres a strong case to compensate businesses like this, which have been affected through no fault of their own. The second was for some kind of relief for employers PRSI, the tax which is used primarily to fund the state pension. This was also called for by the Ibec lobby group and Retail Ireland, both of which are part of the same organisation. Retail Ireland director Arnold Dillon said lowering employers PRSI was needed to balance out a likely increase in the minimum wage expected in early 2024. Theres a commitment to a living wage and we accept that, but the transition will involve an increase in the minimum wage which will rise by 12pc in January and more in subsequent years, he said. We believe that supports are needed to help that transition and it should be offset through lower employers PRSI. We have had nothing material for entrepreneurs in 20 years This is the opposite of what has been signalled by the Government, which will likely look at increasing PRSI to help pay the state pension as the population ages. However, Dillon said some kind of support for employers was needed, due to rising wages. There will need to be some level of support and we believe that money would be best channelled through PRSI, he said. While also voicing concern about wage costs, if the Budget Fairy could deliver just one present to Neil McDonnell, the head of small business group ISME, it would be lower capital gains tax (CGT). We have had nothing material for entrepreneurs since Charlie McCreevy was finance minister over 20 years ago, he said. No one wants to list on the Irish stock exchange, the entrepreneurial side of things in Ireland is a wasteland. McDonnell believes a targeted lower rate of CGT, currently set at 33pc, could motivate budding startups. While an Entrepreneur Relief means business founders and the like currently pay a reduced CGT rate of 10pc when selling qualifying business assets, McDonnell said this should be expanded. A rate of 20pc CGT on intellectual property (IP) transactions for example. There should be a reward for someone who sells their IP, to encourage entrepreneurial activity, he said. After a good week for job news, Irelands FDI strategy is ticking along but competition is heating up Clockwise from left: Michael Lohan of the IDA; HPE's Fidelma Russo; Minister Simon Coveney; EXL's Rowan McGrath; Mark Ostwald of Freudenberg Medical; and Adil Syed of Rippling Monday last was a good day, according to Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney as he delivered his speech at the Galway base of US technology multinational Hewlett Packard Enterprise. The firm was announcing 150 new jobs at the facility, while elsewhere in the country more than 500 other jobs were being announced by international and Irish companies. Its a day when we are reminded that actually the technology sector in Ireland is stronger than its ever been, despite some of the challenges that weve seen in the first half of this year internationally in many tech companies. Ireland has a well-established path for large US tech companies Coveney said Ireland is still seeing strong growth in foreign direct investment. But there have been plenty of alarm bells raised about Irelands ability to continue to attract bumper foreign direct investment (FDI) deals to Ireland. There is a growing tide of competition for deals like that of HPEs whether with other EU nations, or with the US itself, where the Biden administration has put together a slate of subsidies and incentives to attract industry and manufacturing. Meanwhile questions regularly pop up about energy infrastructure in Ireland to support large FDI investments, such as in data centres. At last week's Hewlett Packard Enterprise announcement. Photo: Andrew Downes Those alarm bells werent to be heard in recent weeks as the Government and IDA soaked in some victories, including last months opening of Intels new 17bn manufacturing facility in Leixlip. But Ireland is not the only venue for the likes of Intel when scouting investment locations in Europe. Intel is building a massive new facility in Germany with up to 10bn worth of subsidies from the German government, while other countries are racing to attract chipmakers thanks to the EUs Chips Act to bolster the industry in Europe. It is against this backdrop that Ireland is competing for deals. The competition for FDI is intense says Michael Lohan, chief executive of IDA Ireland. What we have seen is a change in the industrial policy landscape and that industrial policy is heavily based on incentives. At one level, you would think that those incentives would be very attractive for certain types of investments, Lohan told the Sunday Independent. The reality of it for investors is they take a long-term view as to where success will be guaranteed and success alone wont be guaranteed on incentives. "Success will be guaranteed on getting the right infrastructure, getting the right talent and innovation and having a pro-enterprise policy base, which we have in Ireland. For us, investing in current locations is always a better proposition Irelands existing FDI base will help in fending off competition from other countries, Lohan said. The country is in an envious position, given its established roster of multinationals already operating here. I think other nations are looking at that, at the proposition that Ireland has developed over the last number of decades, and theyre wondering how can they replicate that. Replicating that sort of proposition takes time, and has many dimensions in it. It is a call echoed by HPEs chief technology officer Fidelma Russo. The Cork woman took the senior executive position at HPE two years ago with expansion on the agenda, including the new engineering-focused centre announced this week. For us, investing in current locations is always a better proposition, she said. In a new location, you have to put in all the foundational stuff the HR pieces, the finance pieces all the pieces that make everything work, she said. If you have engineers coming to a site and you dont have this, its not going to be a great experience so thats first and foremost: build around the hubs that we already have today, and then of course make sure that theyre fit for purpose. Galway is HPEs largest site in Ireland, alongside bases in Leixlip and Cork. There was a lot of lobbying to put a centre in Leixlip, but we felt that the heritage here in Galway, the skills weve got in place, and because of the ability to cross-pollinate between teams and then the university relationship we thought this was the right location. HPEs expansion comes despite the tech sector being rocked over the last 18 months by a downturn in fortunes. This has been typified by mass sackings at major tech firms such as Meta and Google, who all have significant employee footprints in Ireland. Many jobs in this country did not escape the axe. Such moves added to the alarm bells about Irelands ability to attract FDI if companies are tightening their belts. Russo said that HPE has not adjusted its investment plans since she joined the company. We were very prudent in the last number of years, she said. We didnt over-hire as we went through Covid, and as a result we didnt have to make any adjustments to our plans. Freudenberg Medical, a German medical device company, announced 100 new jobs at its Spiddal, Co Galway, base this week, despite the headwinds globally. For chief executive Dr Mark Ostwald, building on the existing base was a key driver in the decision too. Our expansion in Galway was not an either/or decision relative to other Freudenberg Medical locations. We are building upon the success of our overall operations in Ireland where we now employ over 1,000 people, he said. While companies with Irish operations seem happy to grow those operations, how does Ireland fare in attracting first-time investors in todays environment? The IDA Ireland said in its half-year report that of the 139 investments secured in the first half of 2023, 52 were new name investors. Since then, IDA Ireland secured a high-profile win when OpenAI, the multibillion-dollar AI firm behind ChatGPT, announced a Dublin office. Last week EXL, a US data analytics company, announced 200 jobs at its new European HQ in Dublin, hiring engineers and AI specialists. Foreign direct investment is a central part of our offering Rowan McGrath, senior vice- president for international at EXL, said that Ireland remains an attractive location for a US company to build a European base and to expand into that market. It is a well-established path for large US-headquartered technology companies. Many have grown significantly in terms of tapping into the talent thats here, and also using it as a base to expand into European and global markets. Thats very much EXLs thinking, McGrath said. However there are still issues that linger over Irelands FDI policy namely the housing crisis. The housing situation is well documented. It hasnt been a problem for us to date, but I recognise that were at the start of a journey, McGrath said. The roles we are hiring are highly skilled and well-paid jobs so its probably a little easier for our people to get accommodation in a supply constrained market. That said, he added that he expects to see measures that will significantly improve the housing stock in Ireland in next weeks Budget, measures which will help companies setting up in Ireland by benefitting their staff. Adil Syed of Rippling with Minister Simon Coveney Adil Syed heads up the Irish operations of US tech firm Rippling which recently established its EU HQ in Dublin. He relocated to Dublin with his family from the US to lead the business here. Housing and the cost of living factored into discussions when the company was evaluating European cities, Syed told the Sunday Independent. The current challenges that the city might be facing when it comes to housing related to the number of folks that come out here for tech feel like they are being focused on by the Government and well addressed, he said. The version of Dublin that you see 10 or 20 years out will look like one thats evolved to accommodate many of the high-growth businesses that are looking to expand into Dublin and build a home in Dublin for the business. My expectations are that things will get better and better over time. Were quite optimistic. In the longer term, Ireland is staring down a major change with the hiking of Irelands 12.5pc corporation tax rate to 15pc for larger companies as part of the OECDs effort to harmonise how multinationals are taxed globally. FDI has long been the crown in Irelands industrial policy crown with an attractively low tax rate being a key component of that. The raising of the corporation tax rate will require a greater emphasis on Irelands other sweeteners to lure future FDI to these shores. Finance minister Michael McGrath, speaking at an event last month, said that Ireland will have to renew its FDI offering and keep it fresh. The tax change does mean that our relative advantage has narrowed in tax terms. It means that we have to look at all of the other options that we have available to us to enhance that offering. This has drawn calls from Irelands startup and SME sectors to strengthen policies for indigenous companies, rather than have any over reliance on FDI. But FDI shows no sign of taking a back seat any time soon. Foreign direct investment is a central part of our offering in terms of economic growth and you will see that featured as a priority for government in the budget, Coveney said on Monday. News / Local by Staff reporter On Friday, a Harare man proposed providing his ex-wife with two pairs of shoes to sell, in addition to $30 monthly, for the support of their two minor children.Samuel Kuenda informed Magistrate Ayanda Dlamini that due to his unemployment, he could only offer Tarisai Mupingisi two pairs of shoes each month to be sold.Kuenda explained that each pair of shoes was valued at $15, and he would also provide $30.However, Mupingisi rejected the offer and requested $155.Magistrate Dlamini ruled that Kuenda must pay $30 per month for child support, in addition to covering school fees starting on October 31. Unless you have been hiding away on a desert island with dial-up internet, you will know by now that the USA is facing into 13 months of nail-biting and back-stabbing election intrigue the like of which the American electorate has never seen before. While the presidential election will dominate most of the headlines, it is easy to forget that, parallel to this, 33 seats in the US Senate will also be up for grabs, as well as all 435 seats in their House of Representatives. Not to mention 14 so-called gubernatorial elections in various states, which will are also set for November 5, 2024. $10.2bn will be spend on adverts for next years US elections Set against a backdrop of deep and often toxic social and cultural divisions within politics and without the probable re-run of the 2020 battle between Joe Biden and Donald Trump means there is a lot at stake. And not just for the USA. One thing is clear however. The role advertising will play in who gets elected will be crucial, substantial and ultimately, costly. According to the advertising intelligence company AdImpacts, which tracks political advertising spend in the US, the 2023-2024 election cycle will probably be the most expensive ever, with a staggering $10.2bn likely to be spent by the two main parties, the PACs and the various political candidates jockeying to get elected. Donald Trump. Photo: Reuters AdImpacts notes that the presidential election alone is likely to lead to an advertising spend of around $2.7bn, although this figure also includes the spend in the Republican primaries this year. But as much as $1.5bn could end up being spent by both Joe Biden and Donald Trump (assuming he gets the nod, and hes 2/9 at Paddy Power), as they fight toe-to-toe for the hearts, minds and wallets of Americans. Candidates running for the US Senate, meanwhile, are expected to splurge another $2.1bn on advertising, while those seeking to get elected to the House will likely spend in the region of $1.7bn between them. The biggest chunk $3.3bn will be spent on advertising in various down-ballot races and other initiatives across the nation, according to AdImpacts. All of this is good news for many cash-strapped US media organisations. Not only do they have a pulsating news agenda in place for 2024, but their coffers are gratefully open to whoever wants to throw money their way. The biggest beneficiaries, according to AdImpacts, will be the broadcasters of TV and radio which can expect around 50pc, or $5.1bn, to flow in their direction. In terms of the presidential election, as much as $1.3bn in advertising spend is likely to go to broadcast TV operators, $592m to cable TV companies, another $358m to streaming platforms, $37m to satellite TV providers and $84m to radio stations. Not surprisingly, digital advertising will play a key role in this election cycle, with as much as $1.2bn forecast to go to the major digital platforms. Of this, $362m is attributable to the presidential election. The main beneficiary here is likely to be Google, but Facebook and Twitter will also cash in both platforms having lifted their bans on political advertising. For its part, TikTok does not allow political advertising on its platform though that doesnt mean bad actors and rogue campaign managers will attempt to use it to their advantage. The same is true of the other platforms, all of which will be severely tested when it comes to the spreading of disinformation. Given the Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2016 and the subsequent ramping up of misinformation and disinformation campaigns on social media platforms, digital platforms could well be a deciding factor when it comes to influencing voters while providing content moderators with a nightmarish task of epic proportions. All in all, its going to be a bumpy 13 months. Research excellence The Marketing Society of Ireland has launched a call for entries for this years Research Excellence Awards which will be held on Friday, December 1, at the Shelbourne Hotel. Now in their 14th year, and co-sponsored by Mediahuis, publisher of this newspaper, the annual awards are one of the highlights of the marketing calendar and showcase the best market research work undertaken over the last 12 months. Rural broadband Creative agency TBWA\Dublin has rolled out a new brand refresh and campaign for the national broadband provider, Imagine Broadband. Called Faster Broadband, Faster, the new campaign will feature in press, radio, digital, social plus out-of-home channels, and it aims to highlight the companys mission to redefine rural connectivity by connecting communities across rural Ireland with fast broadband. Stand-up comedian Kevin McAleers surrealist deadpan style made him a household name in the late 1980s when he became a fixture on the RTE TV show Nighthawks. McAleer grew up on a small farm in the Co Tyrone townland of Drumnakilly, just outside Omagh, and his rural background informed many of his Nighthawks sketches, which he performed in his trademark slow Co Tyrone drawl. McAleer became a successful stand-up performer during the 1990s and 2000s. But it was his role as the rambling Uncle Colm on Channel 4s Derry Girls that introduced him to a whole new generation, with Colm famously helping the girls disentangle themselves from a run-in with the law by boring Liam Neesons RUC officer character into submission. The 67-year-old, who is married with three adult children, will be appearing at the Black Box Theatre in Galway on October 25 as part of the Galway Comedy Festival, which runs from October 24 to October 30. What did you learn about money while growing up? We didnt have loads of money but we were self-sufficient in the essentials: food, housing, and energy. An important lesson. When were you most broke? I once had to walk from Luton airport to a city centre train station because I hadnt budgeted for the airport bus. What is Uncle Colms approach to his personal finances? Uncle Colm has never paid for anything in his life. He bores people at point of sale until they actually pay him to go away. Whats the most expensive place youve ever visited? Tokyo in 1987, probably. Wages were high, too, but for the casual tourist ouch. Would you buy property now? No. I co-own one house and thats enough. What was your best ever investment? Making modest house improvements at a time when they were ridiculously cheap, in retrospect. Do you still carry cash? A very small amount. In case the cards dont work. Do you use any of the digital banks? No. What was your biggest ever financial mistake? I bought a digital video editing system to play with in the early 1990s, when the technology was clunky and expensive. I paid four grand for a 9GB hard drive. What was your worst career mistake? Being too laid back to make the most of my talents. Whats been your most lucrative gig? Leisureland in Salthill, 1993. Are you a spender or a saver? Im neither. I save nothing but dont spend much either video editing system aside. What was your worst ever job? Cleaning toilets at the airport in Amsterdam, circa 1980. One day the supervisor complimented me on my work. I quit at lunchtime. Do you have a pension? Just the state pension. Which gives me a ridiculous amount of satisfaction. What three things would you not be able to do without if you had to tighten your belt? Coffee, organic vegetables, and petrol. As we mark European Cybersecurity Month, it offers an important opportunity to celebrate Irelands increasing standing in the world and the achievements of Irish companies in this sector. Given the fact that Ireland has an established reputation as being a global tech hub, it will come as no surprise that Irish tech companies are going from strength to strength in the international cybersecurity sector, with a growing reputation as being a global leader in this sector, which focuses on mitigating and managing threats to online systems. The calibre of Irish companies coming through the ranks is increasingly innovative and competitive, and the local ecosystem is constantly building its core capabilities and supporting the development of these firms. Much of this is due to Government investment in the Irish cyber sector, and Enterprise Ireland supports 60 companies in the cyber cluster here. Together, these have over $300m (285m) in annual revenue. That support is not the only driver, however. Todays growth can also be attributed to the convergence of well-aligned initiatives and collaboration from industry, academia and Government. Smart government funding combined with innovative thinking is paying all sorts of dividends for the best-in-class cyber startups. While most countries in the world saw their cybersecurity skills gap growing in 2022 (on average by 26.2pc), Ireland closed that gap by 19.5pc. Last week, 12 leading Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) from North America and from organisations such as Disney, SunLife Financial and Microsoft Canada visited Ireland for the Enterprise Ireland Cyber Summit 2023. During the three-day summit, which began in Galway before moving to Dublin, the CISOs got to meet representatives of 16 leading Irish cyber companies, from early-stage builders to multinational businesses. In fact, there were 95 separate one-to-one meetings between North American and Irish delegates over the three days. The Irish businesses attending included Tines, which helps to fight the cyber skills shortage through its innovative security automation solution. Other Irish data security and risk management specialists also took part including Cytidel, Oblivious, Vaultree and GetVisibility. On the application, network and cloud security front, Waratek and Stryve led the way, while Siren led representation of Irelands threat detection and response specialists. Other Irish companies that participated included 4Securitas, Corrata, Daon, Edgescan, Privacy Engine, Smarttech 247, Threatscape and Velona Systems. Also attending were organisations such as Cyber Ireland, Cyber Skills and the National Cyber Security Centre. The visiting delegation also included CISOs from Ceridian, AppFire, Ruby Life, ISA Cybersecurity, Hummingbird, Black Rifle Coffee, Cyber Risk Alliance and Proofpoint. This was the first year the Cyber Summit coincided with the Cyber Ireland National Conference, and this meant the US and Canadian delegates were also able to benefit from sessions with leading speakers from the US Department of Homeland Security, the Irish National Cyber Security Centre, Accenture and others. Having attended an event at the Enterprise Ireland-funded Portershed incubator in Galway on the first day of the summit, the delegates also got to visit Trinity College Dublin on the final day for events and networking at the Tangent workspace there. Claire Walsh is Senior Vice President, Digital Technologies (East Coast), Enterprise Ireland According to the Governments White Paper on Enterprise published last year, SMEs and entrepreneurship are central to a national objective of diversified, sustainable growth. Ireland has long directed programmes at indigenous firms in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors, with a specific emphasis on expanding exports. The justification for this is obvious: exporting firms have been demonstrated to be bigger, to have greater productivity, to be more skill and capital intensive, and to providing better salaries than firms that are confined to the domestic market. With this in mind, and as the forthcoming Budget will be the first one since the publication of the White Paper, there is a compelling reason to take positive action to support and incentivise domestic businesses in this years budget so that they play a bigger role in the economy and ensure that we are not over-dependent on the multinational sector for jobs, investment and tax revenues. I believe that we have an opportunity to address a trend where the revenues from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) provide us with the largest part of our annual tax take (20bn in 2022). It is vital that we balance this with indigenous enterprises that can scale sufficiently and indeed become the FDIs of other markets, in due course. As recently as last week the Central Bank again highlighted the notable drop in export growth for goods and services from 13.9pc to just 0.2pc in 2023 and the forecast of growth for 2024 is 2.9pc. Furthermore, the Central Bank also commented that corporation tax accounts for 45pc of the growth in tax revenue and is concentrated in a small number of foreign owned firms. Tellingly, the Central Bank economics director told the Oireachtas Committee on Budgetary Oversight that the growth in tax revenue over the last five years was almost identical to that in the period from 2002-2007. If, for whatever reason, one or more of our multinationals decided to leave, we would be exposed, and a hole blown in our tax take. Fortunately, though, the minister is conscious of these developments and has highlighted them many times, and Government has taken a number of steps to mitigate our exposure. 6bn in windfall corporation tax receipts have been transferred to the National Reserve Fund, and work is ongoing in relation to establishing a longer-term investment fund. While we still have time it is paramount that we reach the stage where we lessen our dependence on foreign investment and in this regard what is crucial is that Irish entrepreneurs believe they can compete on a level playing field and be rewarded for taking risks on the international stage. Under those circumstances Irish businesses will grow, pay tax, and create employment. I propose the following: 1) The Irish Stock Exchange (Euronext Dublin) is no longer attractive to Irish Companies whose primary focus is on scaling up, achieved by a bigger pool of investors and more opportunities to grow. Its time we looked at our tax incentives for business owners who sell their own shares in companies as part of an initial public offering (IPO) or a tax credit scheme to make the IPO process cheaper for new businesses. This is not about matching the NY Stock Exchange but making our exchange more attractive and appealing. 2) There is a significant number of Irish exporters and employers who are not clients of Enterprise Ireland or the Local Enterprise Offices. These companies have made it clear to me that they need encouraging tax measures in this years budget. Amending Capital Gains Tax and enhancing the Employment Investment and Incentive Scheme (EIIS) will be material and self-financing over a five year period. Ireland is one of only two EU countries that does not currently have an export credit guarantee scheme. Such a scheme would assist to level the playing field and help to introduce new players to our exports. We are very fortunate to have Enterprise Ireland and the work it does to help its clients navigate new markets regrettably figures provided to me earlier in the year identified a worrying number of vacancies in Enterprise Ireland offices abroad. 3) Irish owned businesses feel discriminated against being excluded from the Special Assignee Relief Programme (SARP). We need to examine the extension of this to indigenous businesses. 4) Many owner managers will tell you they dont have the band width to absorb all the administrative burden associated with the Irish tax regime when it comes to indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs. Paperwork is seldom an entrepreneur strength and can strangle a profitable business. A review of the current system is overdue. The fact is that our indigenous enterprises are not active in international markets, with less than 10pc SMEs directly trading across borders. It is critical that this changes and I hope that Finance Minister Michael McGrath will take action to address this. Robert Troy is a Fianna Fail TD who served as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment from July 2020 until his resignation in August 2022 In cinemas; Cert 16 How did it come to this? William Friedkin, director of The Exorcist, once described John Boormans diabolical sequel, Exorcist II: The Heretic, as a scurrilous picture, among the worst hed ever seen. I looked at half an hour of it, said Friedkin. And I thought it was as bad as seeing a traffic accident in the street. It was horrible. A harsh assessment, but Boormans follow-up is a bit of a dogs dinner, and the film was laughed out of cinemas in the summer of 1977. Who knows what the late, great Friedkin might have made of David Gordon Greens effort. Fresh from a commercially successful yet creatively bankrupt reboot of the Halloween series, the Texas filmmaker has once again been handed the keys to a dusty horror franchise. Wiser viewers will question who, if anyone, asked for another Exorcist picture. Beats me, but Green and his pals among them, screenwriter Danny McBride and super producer Jason Blum have designed an unusual challenge for themselves. Technically, The Exorcist: Believer is the sixth entry in the saga but Greens film comes with a tricksy disclaimer. It is, they say, a direct sequel to Friedkins original, so we can forget the Boorman entry hell, its as if the Paul Schrader one, Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist, never happened (thats probably for the best). Yes, this is how franchise storytelling now works. The big question is this: Is Believer worth the hassle? Absolutely not. To be fair, the set-up isnt entirely incompetent. Two Georgia youngsters (Lidya Jewetts Angela and Olivia Marcums Katherine) disappear in the woods following a secret after-school excursion. Angelas widowed father, Victor (Leslie Odom Jr), is the first to notice theyre missing. Might they be studying at a friends house like they said they were? Not today. Victor panics so, too, does Katherines mum, Miranda (Jennifer Nettles), and her dad, Tony (Norbert Leo Butz). Ellen Burstyn and Leslie Odom Jr star. Photo: Universal Studios The authorities are notified and soon the girls schoolbags are found in the middle of the forest. Its every parents worst nightmare and, after a three-day search, Angela and Katherine are discovered hiding out in a farmhouse, some 30 miles from where they disappeared. How did they get there? Nobody knows, not even the girls. Their bodies are scratched and scarred their memories are hazy. Police officers are stumped; so, too, are the doctors. It gets worse. Back home, Angela is moody and violent towards her father. Shes hearing voices, too and Katherine isnt much better. Mirandas little one makes quite the scene at Sunday morning mass. Clearly, a monstrous entity is involved, but Victor isnt quite convinced. That all changes after a local nurse (Ann Dowd) hands him a book written by someone who knows a thing or two about demonic possession. Enter Ellen Burstyns Chris MacNeil, whose daughter Regan was tormented by hellish hooligans in the 1973 picture. Things get messy. A peculiar tale there, and Green almost fools us into thinking hes in control of it. He isnt and, despite a promising start, it quickly collapses in on itself. Listen closely and you can practically hear the creaks, the cracks, the awkward strain of a film desperately trying to attach itself to another. A murky, muddled endeavour, it makes us wonder if Green and his team watched Friedkins original film and decided the only way to top it was to double up on everything. And so we get two possessed girls for the price of one; four demon slayers instead of two; an extra helping of Mike Oldfields Tubular Bells. Indeed, originality is in short supply. Its a waste of everyones time and The Exorcist: Believer is hollow and suspenseless, a cheap and unintentionally comical knock-off of a horror masterpiece. Remember Leslie Nielsen and Linda Blairs goofy Exorcist send-up, Repossessed? Its like that, minus the self-awareness. Believer explains itself too much, and as far as scares are concerned, there are none how could there be? Friedkins classic did everything it was supposed to there is nothing left to add. Green should know this and so should Ms Burstyn, but we can hardly blame the 90-year-old Oscar winner who says she used her fee from the film to develop a university scholarship program for young actors in New York. At least someone benefited from this clumsy, bone-headed venture. Oh, and another sequel is in development. God help us all. Two stars Crackdown on dealing in Wheatfield Prison, as 500,000 of drugs thrown over the wall this year Drugs are four times more expensive in jail, compared to street prices Wheatfield Prison in Dublin Ali Bracken Sun 8 Oct 2023 at 03:30 A crackdown on organised crime and drug dealing in Dublins Wheatfield prison is underway, with 12 mobile phones uncovered during a raid on just one prison landing. GARDAI are treating the death of a man in Cork as suspicious. The 49-year-old man, who is believed to be a Ukrainian national, was found unconscious near a vehicle which had stopped, having mounted a grass verge just off the Kinsale Road, not far from Cork Airport, around 3am on Sunday morning. The vehicle had come to a halt a short distance from a local hotel. Emergency services were notified and both Gardai and paramedics raced to the scene. The man was unconscious and was immediately rushed to Cork University Hospital (CUH). Despite desperate efforts by doctors to stabilise his condition, he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival at the hospital. The State Pathologist's Office was notified. A full post mortem examination is expected to be conducted at CUH on Monday morning. Gardai are understood to be eager to determine the nature and cause of a number of injuries visible on the man. Local reports indicated that the deceased was from Ukraine and had been resident in Ireland for a number of months. It is understood that he arrived in Ireland as a refugee after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Gardai are working to confirm the man's identity and are liaising with authorities in Ukraine to trace and notify any relatives the man might have. The man's death is being treated as suspicious. However, sources stressed that the nature of their ongoing investigation will be determined by the findings of the post mortem examination and the results of toxicology tests. [Gardai] are keeping an open mind about this man's death and want to clarify the circumstances in which he was found and how he was injured," a source told the Irish Independent. Gardai sealed off the area around the car to allow for a full examination by technical and forensic experts. Officers also commenced checks at a number of local premises to determine if anyone had seen or heard anything unusual late on Saturday night or into the early hours of Sunday morning. CCTV security camera footage from around the area is also being examined as part of the garda investigation. Anyone who may have heard or seen anything unusual in the area - or any motorists who may have passed the area on Saturday night or early Sunday morning and whose vehicles are equipped with dash-cams - are asked to contact Togher Garda Station to assist with inquiries. Gardai have preserved a scene at a house on the outskirts of Limerick City following the discovery a mans body which it is believe lay undiscovered inside the property for a considerable period of time. The body was discovered on the Old Cratloe Road around 8.30am on Saturday. The mans body was removed to University Hospital Limerick for a post mortem which is to be conducted by the State Pathologist. The results of the autopsy will determine the course of the Garda investigation. Gardai believe the man, who was aged in his 60s, had been dead for a considerable period of time. When asked for comment, a Garda spokeswoman replied: Gardai in Mayorstone Park are investigating all the circumstances in relation to the discovery of a male body at a residence on Old Cratloe Road, Limerick yesterday morning Saturday 7th October, 2023 at approximately 8.30am. The scene is preserved to allow for a forensic and technical examination by the Garda Technical Bureau. The body of the man has been removed from the scene to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick. A post-mortem examination will be conducted which will determine the course of the investigation. Investigations are ongoing. The Utrecht company developing the worlds only spring implant for children with scoliosis said they had no prior knowledge of the experimental surgeries at Temple Street childrens hospital. Cresco Spine, a company co-founded by the inventors of the surgical technique, said the team was not contacted by the consultant who adapted the innovation for use on three children in Ireland, using ordinary steel springs not intended for use in surgery. Dennis Magermans, chief executive of Cresco-Spine, said the implant, made from medical grade titanium, is still under development, in a process that requires strict compliance with the rules required for the EUs CE certification and approval from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in the US. There are a lot of things you have to take into account when you create a spring for implantation, and we are in that phase at the moment, he said. Mr Magermans comments follow controversy over the implanting of unauthorised springs on three children undergoing spinal surgery by a consultant at Temple Street. The consultant, Connor Green, is understood to have adapted the Spring Distraction System patented by the Netherlands team which is still under development. The use of the unlicensed springs emerged against a backdrop of concerns about spinal surgeries on children at Temple Street. Two reviews of spinal surgeries at Temple Street, published last month, raised concerns over the rate of post-surgery complications in children, including rates of infection and rate of return for further surgeries. A third external review of surgeries by an orthopaedic consultant based in Liverpool, Selvadurai Nayagam, is under way. Two parents groups who called for a fully independent inquiry have said they will boycott the review. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly last week ordered the health watchdog, HIQA, to conduct a statutory inquiry into the use of the unauthorised springs, as well as a wider review of oversight and governance over the use of surgical implants at Childrens Health Ireland (CHI). Cresco-Spine is developing the spring system for the medical market for children under 10 with early-onset scoliosis. Known as the Spring Distraction System, it has been extensively trialled by the Dutch team, has been peer reviewed and is currently awaiting regulatory approval. The team behind the company includes specialists at the University Medical Centre in Utrecht who invented the spring system. Nancy Lamerigts, marketing executive and co-founder of Cresco Spine, said the team was allowed to use the implant on a very specific cohort of patients only after getting ethical approval from the Utrecht hospital, following extensive review of the medical research and academic papers. She said the consultant attempting to adapt the spring would not have had access to key information. How tight the spring should be, how much force the spring should apply that has all been under investigation at the University of Utrecht, and that is also in the patent, and in the way that is created, she said. We would like to emphasise once again how terrible we feel about what has happened to the young scoliosis patients in Ireland. As said, currently we are going through all the tedious registration procedures, and with approval in the near future, the demand for the improved treatment of this group of patients can be fulfilled by the worldwide paediatric surgical community. Informed sources told the Sunday Independent that Mr Green used the spring technique on three very sick children because other techniques were unsuitable. A letter, purporting to be from Mr Green and released to Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, suggested that he sought guidance from CHI management on the use of experimental surgery on children. The letter, addressed to chief executive Eilish Hardiman, apparently flagged up his plans to use off label spinal surgery techniques. However, Ms Hardiman told an Oireachtas Committee she did not receive the letter and cannot recall ever discussing the spring system. CHI has said no authority would ever be granted for the implantation of a non-CE marked non-medical grade device in a patient. Senator Tom Clonan last week described the CHIs position as not credible. An Irish Government minister has urged a proportionate response from Israel to an outrageous attack by Hamas militants. It comes after a surprise attack against Israel saw gunmen enter villages and thousands of missiles launched into Israel. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tanaiste Micheal Martin condemned the unprecedented attack, stating that the violence needed to stop and a peace process needed to take place. Mr Martin said on Saturday that Ireland supported Israels right to defend itself, but said its response needed to be proportionate. Asked whether the response had been proportionate, Mr Martin said that more hard information was needed to make that assessment. Junior minister Thomas Byrne said that the attack from Hamas was absolutely wrong and outrageous. Israel is entitled to defend itself, thats clear. However, it has to be proportionate. They cannot go in and do the same thing, they need to watch what theyre doing as well, he said, speaking on RTEs The Week In Politics. We certainly believe that the ultimate answer to this is what weve been advocating for decades, in Fianna Fail and the Irish government, which is a two-state solution. And weve been working to that, and it is time that I suppose the world gets serious about that. Israel strikes Hamas targets on Gaza Strip after a night of intensified airstrikes Sinn Fein has written to the Ceann Comhairle and the parliamentary business committee to request that the parliament reconvenes as soon as possible to discuss hostilities in Gaza and Israel. Asked whether Sinn Fein condemns the attack by Hamas, TD Mairead Farrell said of course we condemn any targeting of civilians. Asked about a tweet sent by her parliamentary party colleague Chris Andrews who said the attack was a direct result of years of apartheid in Palestine, as well as Ireland and the EU not holding Israel to account, Ms Farrell said said Ireland and the EU did need to speak out loudly in relation to any breaking of international law. An air strike on Gaza City (AP) Mr Martin, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, and who visited the region last month, said on Saturday evening he now feared for people in Gaza and said it was vital that the voice of moderation comes to the fore. The Tanaiste said that he could see tensions rising during a trip to the region last month, and the scale of Saturdays attack by Hamas was quite shocking and launched without justification. He said it was clearly a breach of international law. Mr Martin also said Irelands support for a two-state solution had not changed, and that it remained the only sensible and rational solution to this issue, but it needed political momentum. My sense is that the hardliners are growing in influence, and thats why I believe the need to have moderate voices in the centre is key. So what we need really is a political peace process to get on track in a serious way, Mr Martin said. News / Local by Staff reporter A planned demonstration to shut down the Beitbridge Border Post today failed to materialize as both Zimbabwe and South Africa maintained a strong security presence.Security personnel from both countries, including Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Support Unit and regular forces, as well as Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) servicemen, patrolled the bridges and surrounding areas.Despite calls from groups such as the Economic Revolutionary Alliance (ERA) and Progressive Zimbabweans In South Africa, there were no signs of any demonstrators.The demonstration was reportedly aimed at pressing for fresh elections in Zimbabwe. Flyers on social media by ERA urged action for freedom and change. However, very few pedestrians and vehicles crossed the border, with many travelers likely choosing to exercise caution in response to the threats of demonstrations.Truck drivers largely opted to park their trucks in the Customs and Excise yards of both Zimbabwe and South Africa. A 22-year-old Irish dual citizen has been reported missing in southern Israel after she attended a rave close to Gaza. Kim Damti, and her mother Jennifer (60) who is from Portlaoise, last spoke when the first rockets were launched by Hamas into Israel at around 7am on Saturday. Some young people had been dancing in the desert at the rave all night, when they were attacked, with some being killed and others kidnapped into Gaza, according to reports. Tanaiste Micheal Martin condemns the "unjustified" attack by Hamas on Israel During the phonecall Ms Damti had been running with her friend towards a car, but this was the last time her mother heard from her. The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of this case and we are in touch with the family directly and providing consular assistance. "We dont comment on the detail of individual cases. Ms Damtis mother Jennifer told the Irish Times: Shes just a brilliant kid, a happy kid, trying to have fun. They shot them (the young people) down like ducks. So many kids were slaughtered there. Kims name was originally on a list of those who had reached a safe kibbutz but she was not on the buses that evacuated those at the rave. The young woman is one of five siblings, all born in Israel. The family lived in Gadera in Israel but according to the Irish Times, they spent their summer holidays in Ireland. Thousands of young people had attended the Nova Festival, where gunfire broke out. Many had been dancing to Trance music right through the night into the morning. When rockets were heard continuously, the music stopped and young people dropped to the floor. This was reported to be a practiced reaction to security alerts in Israel over the years. Death tolls rise on both sides after Hamas launches unprecedented attack However, when the rockets continued, the young ravers realised something was very wrong and they tried to flee. Many of the festival-goers didnt have cars and attempted to run but this is when they were targeted by Hamas, who attacked the festival area with grenades and assault rifles. Many who were attacked, killed and kidnapped were wearing just swimsuits or shorts. And parents received frantic texts from those trying to escape death. Video on social media of the abduction of a young Israeli woman Noa Argamani, by Hamas militants, on a motorbike, were confirmed by her friend, Yad Gorjalstan (27) according to The Independent. Ms Argamani had shouted at Hamas that she was innocent, according to her friend. Among others believed to have been taken hostage into Gaza, is a British man, Jake Marlowe, whod been working as security at the rave. Mr Marlowes friend Daniel Aboudy told The Independent that Mr Marlowe had sent a last voice note stating the gunmen were rounding up people from the party in front of our eyes. We are telling everyone to get the f**** out of there. All beekeeper associations on this island support an import ban Time was when the native Irish honey bee was also known as the black bee as it flew around gathering pollen and nectar for its colony. However, newly published research has found that its distinctive black hue is now fading fast, due to cross-breeding with non-native imports. Ireland is one of the last refuges of the dark honey bee, which once thrived in parts of Europe extending from the Atlantic to the Urals. However, the Irish species with its unique genetic make-up, known as Apis mellifera mellifera, is not protected under national legislation. The new research says the number of imported queen bees has increased ten-fold, and keepers are observing far more honeybees that are not totally black. The Department says bees are livestock, so they have freedom of movement in the EU This is due to hybridisation, where non-native imports breed with native honey bees. The rate of hybridisation has risen from 5pc to over 12pc in a five-year period, according to the study by University of Galway scientists Molly McCann and Professor Grace McCormack. The scientists used a number of different techniques to analyse individuals in 36 free-living Apis mellifera mellifera colonies, as outlined in their paper published in the Journal of Apicultural Research. The scientists detected banding in some of the black bees, which indicates a change in colour. Imported bees have swarmed into the environment and are perpetuating for a number of generations at least, their study states. Loretta Neary, chair of the Native Irish Honey Bee Society (NIHBS), said that the research showed how the honey bee population is being devastated. She said political action was imperative, but the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine had argued that bees are considered livestock which have freedom of movement across the EU. The Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021 aims to find a solution, but it is currently stalled as the Government commissions further scientific research. The bill was introduced by Green Party senator Vincent P Martin who warned in the Seanad that imported honey bees are destroying the delicate balance honed by thousands of years of evolution, threatening loss of the unique genetic traits of the native honeybee. If we wait two more years for this research, we could have 50pc hybridised bees at that stage, warned Loretta Neary. All the beekeeper associations on this island have supported a statement calling for an import ban. Fellow beekeeper Gerard Coyne in Connemara said he wasnt surprised by the papers findings, as it is a major problem. Coyne pointed out that the native honey bee has evolved to thrive in cooler temperatures here, and had been known for its docile nature. The hybridised bees which I have seen in the Maam Valley and Rosmuc are not suitable to this climate and when they cross-breed they can be very angry and vicious, he said. I rear a lot of queens, and am now finding that there is more demand to replace hybridised queens in colonies, which is very depressing, he said. Professor Grace McCormack said the study is important because it documents an increase in genetic hybrids which supports observations by beekeepers in recent years. The eyes of Europe are looking to Ireland to protect this biodiversity, and we mustnt allow it to be lost as it has been elsewhere, she said. Beekeepers can help protect native bees that have adapted to conditions in Ireland by stopping buying bees from abroad, said McCormack. A small number of Irish citizens are in Gaza amid an Israeli bombardment and declaration of war, with concerns they may struggle to escape. One of the largest conflicts in decades has broken out between Palestinian militants and the Israeli Army following an unprecedented rocket attack and land incursions into Israel which began on Saturday morning. More than 700 Israelis have died in the violence and more than 300 people in Gaza have also perished. The true death toll is expected to be much higher. Among the Irish currently in the conflict zone, are human rights campaigners whove been drawing attention to the Palestinian plight in recent years. The Department of Foreign Affairs told the Irish Independent: We are in contact with a small number of Irish citizens currently in Gaza and are providing consular assistance as appropriate. Yesterday, after Hamas attacked southern Israel from Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to turn part of the territory into rubble as vengeance against Hamas. Mr Netanyahu also warned civilians in Gaza to Leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere. The Irish Independent asked the Department of Foreign Affairs how Irish citizens could escape Gaza, a territory notoriously difficult to leave. It responded: We do not comment on the detail of individual cases. The Department added, however, that its closely monitoring the situation in respect of Irish citizens in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). The Irish Independent has contacted two campaigners from Ireland who are in Gaza but they are yet to respond. Overnight on Saturday and today, thousands of Palestinians in Gaza attempted to find safe haven from Israeli bombardment. Mahmoud Shalabi of Medical Aid for Palestinians, told the Guardian there were bodies lying on the ground and there wasnt enough space in the emergency department to deal with the wounded. Israel has been attacking the Gaza Strip, home to two million people, an area of 365 sq km since Saturday afternoon in response to the thousands of rockets fired from the regions by Hamas. Hamas militants and insurgents from Islamic Jihad also crossed into Israel, killed civilians and soldiers and also took many hostage. Residents of Gaza have been advised to evacuate their homes but its uncertain if the infrastructure will allow for refuge. The IDF issued pleas for Gazans to go to certain locations within the territory on Saturday night but the political wing of Hamas, which largely controls the area, advised citizens against this. The Department of Foreign Affairs said: Our Embassy in Tel Aviv and our Representative Office in Ramallah, with support from our HQ consular team, are in ongoing contact with a significant number of citizens and are providing support. Anyone with concerns in relation to Irish citizens can contact the Department of Foreign Affairs on 01-4082000 or follow @dfatirl. We also urge all citizens in Israel and the oPt to follow closely the consular advice issued by our Embassy in Tel Aviv and our Representative Office in Ramallah on X (formerly Twitter). The Department has upgraded its security advice to Avoid non-essential travel to the region. We urge citizens to avoid all travel to southern Israel and exercise extreme caution in both Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, it said. As of today, Sunday 8 October, Ben Gurion, Israels main international airport is open. Citizens in Israel wishing to leave should keep in contact with their airline. This is a developing situation, with the potential for escalation. Any citizen currently in Israel or the occupied Palestinian territory, should register with the Embassy. Vincent Durac, associate professor at the school of politics and international relations at DCU, told This Week on RTE Radio 1 that the reference by Netanyahu to Palestinians leaving was so fanciful it went to the very heart of this. They have no freedom of movement, he added. Mr Durac said there had been a split in the leadership of Hamas - the ruling Government of Gaza - as some members felt conflict with Israel was causing more hardship for Gaza than progress. He also felt it was not unlikely that Israeli Defence Forces troops could enter Gaza, as public outcry to the attacks from Gaza was likely to call for further retaliation. Budget 2024: What we know so far Around 50,000 Students are set for a significant Budget boost with college grants in line to increase by more than 300 next year. Higher Education Minister Simon Harris is still in talks aimed at reducing college fees but has secured an increase in State funded grants from January. The budget decisions will mean some students will be able to apply for Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) grants of almost 4,000-a-year while students from low income families will be able to apply for grants of more than 7,000. Post graduate students will be eligible for grants of up to 2,300 under a deal stuck by Minister Harris. The move follows Mr Harris securing funding to increase grants and reduce college fees in last years Budget negotiations. It comes as the Government leaders are set to hold talks with Finance Minister Michael McGrath and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe to thrash out the finer details of budget decisions on tax and welfare. The meeting is due to take place in Government Buildings at 4pm today. Meanwhile, it has emerged a double Child Benefit payment will be paid to all parents before Christmas. Every household in the country will also benefit from a discount of between 300 and 400 on their electricity bills between now and next spring under proposals being finalised by the Coalition ahead of Tuesdays Budget. And there will be a major hike in the allowance paid to trainee gardai in a bid to boost recruitment to the force, with the weekly allowance of 184 being increased to 305 from Tuesday onwards. What is being described as a modest tax relief on income for small landlords is also on the cards or else a reduction in capital gains tax linked to how long the property remains in the rental market. The rent tax credit is set to increase from 500 to between 750 and 800 which will be a boost for renters. The minimum wage is set to increase by 1.40 to 12.70 but a financial measures to soften the blow for employers will also be introduced. An increase of at least 12 in the core welfare rates such as pensions, carers allowances, disability payments and jobseekers allowances are also expected but Taoiseach Leo Varadkar wants the rates hikes to be higher. There will also be a 1.1bn tax package which will focus on increasing the entry point to the 40pc top rate of income tax along with reductions in the Universal Social Charge (USC). Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys has confirmed that welfare rates will increase for pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and working families in Budget 2024. Ms Humphreys said the finer details were yet to be decided ahead of a meeting with Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe on Sunday afternoon. "I'll be pushing hard to deliver a strong package that supports households with the cost of living and puts money back in people's pockets, and there's no secret that the groups I'm advocating strongly for are older people, are carers, people with disabilities and working families," she told RTE's This Week programme. "I am proposing that we have an across-the-board increase in welfare payments and we'll also have a package of lump sum payments that are targeted at specific areas, but again, it's subject to negotiation and I don't have the finer details yet." Asked about reports of a 12-euro-a-week welfare payment increase, she said that increases in the rate were still subject to negotiations but confirmed that pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and working families "will receive an increase in their core weekly rate". Almost two years since it won planning battle, the centre remains unopened The centre in Ballivor, Co Meath, was the subject of a planning court battle A 9m residential Co Meath drug rehabilitation centre linked to the Church of Scientology has yet to open its doors almost two years on from winning a legal battle with residents. In November 2021, the Court of Appeal upheld a decision of the High Court that An Bord Pleanala was incorrect in deciding the facility at Ballivor, Co Meath, required planning permission. This gave Narconon Trust, the rehab centre linked to the controversial church, the go-ahead for its plans for the site, originally earmarked as a nursing home. Despite this, almost two years later, it remains unopened. Anyone can set up a private rehab clinic and theyre not subject to HSE or Hiqa inspections Narconon said: The centre is not open to clients as yet. There is a caretaker is on site. The spokeswoman did not respond to queries on when it will open or whether the reason it was not yet open was due to a lack of interest from the public. The Ballivor rehabilitation centre is intended to be the first Narconon facility in Ireland, though the Church of Scientology already has a community centre in the Dublin suburb of Firhouse as well as headquarters in Merrion Square. Aontu leader and Meath TD Peadar Toibin, who has been involved in protests opposing the opening of the centre, said he questioned whether the facility will ever open. It is incredibly surprising they have not opened their doors, after two years. Particularly given the court battle and that the premises is entirely fit for purpose. If they are saying they have no clients, one would have to question whether there is simply no interest from the general public in what they have to offer, he said. The TD said drug and alcohol facilities were in short supply, but said private facilities were unregulated. Right now, anyone can set up a private rehab clinic, using any regime, and they are not subject to any HSE or Hiqa inspections. That needs to change immediately, he said. It is a failure of this government that anyone can open a private rehab centre and operate it however they wish. It is not safe practice, especially considering that these patients are entirely vulnerable. The site was acquired in 2016 by Narconon Trust, which is registered in Sussex, south-east England, and is linked to the Church of Scientology. The trust was founded by Massimo Angius, a trustee and director of the Church of Scientology in England for more than 20 years. It has about 40 drug rehab facilities around the world and has spent 9m to date on purchasing and reconstructing the Ballivor facility. It bought the site after getting a declaration from Meath County Council in 2016 that the change of use from a nursing home to residential drug rehabilitation facility was exempted development. Claire OMara, of the Ballivor Says No action group, said she and others in the community were not against rehabilitation centres, but had questions about Narconons methods. Hopefully they will realise there is no interest here, that they are not wanted in this community, and permanently close their doors and leave, she said. I am not against drug rehabilitation centres at all. I am against this one, though, because of its links to Scientology. The property would have made a lovely nursing home, which is what it was originally intended as, and it would have brought jobs to the community. We do not want Ballivor to be put on the map as the village in Meath with the controversial Scientology rehab centre. Narconon does not believe in weaning addicts off drugs. Instead, participants stop straight away. They get high doses of vitamins, coupled with long periods in dry saunas, which it says flushes toxins out of drug users bodies. In a previous statement to the Sunday Independent Narconon said: Thousands of people from many ethnic and religious backgrounds have gone through the Narconon programme, reporting that it has helped them get off drugs and alcohol, stay drug-free, rebuild their lives and reunite with their families. Propaganda at Newry roundabout has been condemned by local politicians Sinn Fein has refused to take down a billboard calling for a united Ireland at the junction of a busy roundabout in Newry despite being instructed to do so by Northern Ireland civil servants. The Department for Infrastructure (DfI), which was occupied by a Sinn Fein minister up until October last year, contacted the party earlier this year asking it to remove the billboard beside the Egyptian Arch railway bridge just off the Camlough Road Roundabout in Newry. However, the billboard which states A United Ireland is for Everyone. Lets Talk About It and includes the Sinn Fein logo was still up when the Sunday Independent visited the site last Friday. The erection of Sinn Fein billboards at busy road junctions across South Armagh has angered some local politicians from other parties. The DfI, which owns the site in question, has also confirmed it is investigating whether Sinn Fein has legally erected another billboard promoting the party at another of its sites at the Dorans Hill junction in Newry. Separately, the Northern Ireland public transport company Translink said it has taken appropriate action over another Sinn Fein billboard at a road junction by the Cloughoge railway bridge in Newry. In a DfI letter sent to a local politician, who asked not to be named, on September 7, an official confirmed that those responsible for erecting the current advertising have been asked to remove the billboard at the Camlough Road Roundabout. The local politician had written to the departments permanent secretary in mid-August about the billboard which was erected in the same location where a billboard remembering the late Noah Donohoe, a 14-year-old who died in Belfast in 2020, had previously been placed. The politician, who would not speak on the record for fear of a local backlash, said there had been a complete proliferation of Sinn Fein propaganda all over Newry City and South Armagh. A DfI spokesperson said: The Department has contacted Sinn Fein regarding the removal of the billboard on DfI property at the Camlough Road Roundabout/Egyptian Arch. The department has not been in contact with Sinn Fein regarding a billboard at Dorans Hill but will now investigate and decide if any action is required. Sinn Feins John ODowd, the Norths former acting first minister, was briefly the minister for infrastructure prior to the collapse of power-sharing last year. Last Friday there were two billboards at the Cloughoge Railway Bridge, one promoting four local Sinn Fein representatives and another calling on the Irish government to establish a Citizens Assembly on Irish Unity. When contacted, Translink said: We have looked into this and can confirm that appropriate action has been taken. When asked what it meant by appropriate action, the spokesperson responded: Translink is a non-political organisation, serving all communities in Northern Ireland. Sinn Fein did not respond to queries this week about the legality of the three billboards that the Sunday Independent inquired about. In a further comment yesterday a DfI spokesperson said: Sinn Fein has acknowledged the departments request to remove the billboard on DfI property at Egyptian Arch, however, the billboard has not yet been removed. The department must prioritise its resources and has not yet had an opportunity to investigate reports of a billboard at Dorans Hill. A teenager has died after being hit by a car in Kerry last night. It was one of three fatal incidents on Irish roads overnight, with a young driver dying in Roscommon and a pedestrian being killed on the M1 in Louth. The incident in Kerry occurred on the R555 at Duagh Village, Listowel, shortly before 10pm. The male pedestrian, aged in his late teens, was seriously injured and rushed to Kerry University Hospital, where he later died. A post mortem will take place in due course. The female driver of the car, aged in her early 20s, and three passengers in their late teens were uninjured. The scene of the crash is currently preserved for a technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators (FCI). The road remains closed and local diversions are in place. Gardai in Listowel are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them. Any road users who were travelling on the R555 last night between 9.30pm and 10pm, and who may have camera footage (including dash-cam), is asked to make this available to gardai. Anyone with information is asked to contact Listowel Garda Station on 068 50820, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station. Separately, a young man has in a road crash in county Roscommon in the early hours of Sunday morning. The driver, aged in his early 20s, was killed when his car overturned at Scrine Hill in Scrine, a rural area in the south of the county near Athleague village. A post mortem will take place in due course, gardai said. Gardai rushed to the scene shortly before 3am after being alerted to the crash. No other vehicles were involved. The scene is currently preserved for a technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators (FCI). The road remains closed and local diversions are in place. A pedestrian in his 40s also died after he was struck by a vehicle at Junction 16 southbound on the M1 motorway in Dundalk, Co Louth, shortly before 3am. His body remains at the scene and a post mortem will take place in due course, gardai said. The male driver of the vehicle, aged in his early 50s, and his three passengers (aged in their 50s and 40s) were treated for non-life threatening injuries by paramedics at the scene. Terry Prone on losing her late husband Tom and grief: I was proposed to by a man who had never kissed me I hadnt realised grief is physically painful. It was like having broken ribs Terry Prone. Photo: Barry McCall Niamh Horan Sun 8 Oct 2023 at 09:29 It has been six years since Terry Prones husband died, and she has still not spoken openly about it. A group of 78 GPs working in Co Donegal have written to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to highlight concerns over patient safety at Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH). The letter sent to the Mr Donnelly calls for urgent action at the emergency department of the hospital. It calls for the Minister and senior officials to launch an external review into the emergency department at LUH after GPs were left dissatisfied by the proposed scale and ambition of plans laid out by hospital management. GPs said in the letter that some patients are refusing to go to the emergency department and would rather take their chances and stay at home. There is a real fear, founded in the reality of other patients experiences, that they will not be seen in an appropriate time frame and instead sit on hard hospital chairs for hours awaiting treatment. Efforts to improve services at the hospital were acknowledged by the GPs, however they said the ambition, the speed and the delivery is not good enough. We cannot continue to sit back and watch our patients wait for hours in ambulances at the door of the ED or on hard chairs waiting for treatments. Alternative pathways to hospital services need to be explored, the GPs said. We are worried about the outcomes for our patients in this waiting period, which we know can contribute to worsening morbidity and mortality. They said external reviews had been carried out into other departments at LUH, resulting in improved outcomes for patients. GPs said in the letter that an external review into the emergency department must include GP input and must report back with tangible solutions before year end, backed up by appropriate resources. In simple terms, the system is broken. We no longer have faith that the current system can be fixed and appropriately managed without outside intervention, support and resources, the letter read. The letter, which was also copied to HSE Chief Clinical Officer, Dr Colm Henry; Department of Health General Secretary, Robert Watt; and Saolta Group CEO Tony Canavan, asked for Mr Donnelly to meet locally with GPs to put together a roadmap for safer services for patients this winter. The Donegal GPs highlighted that the county faces the longest ambulance turnaround times and patients are left waiting in ambulances before being seen by emergency department staff. Donegal is a unique county in Ireland, sparsely populated, sharing a land border with the rest of the Republic of only a few miles. We have limited private capacity. As a result, we need Donegal-based solutions taking our geographical location into account. This is not the developing world, this is Ireland in 2023 with a huge budget surplus. And Donegal deserves the same access to timely healthcare that patients get elsewhere in the country. If we dont get that access, we will be encouraging and supporting our patients to take to the streets to demand it. Minister we implore you to take action. We are in this job to advocate for our patients, if you are too, then please listen to our demand for support, before it is too late and more of our patients suffer adverse outcomes, the letter concluded. The Irish Independent has contacted the Department of Health and Saolta Hospital Group for comment. News / Local by Staff reporter On Friday, a Harare woman informed a magistrate that her daughter-in-law was mistreating her by referring to her as "ED." Betty Chinyangare accused Mercy Mutonono of insulting her by using the initials of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's name.Chinyangare stated, "She says I am ruthless and want to be regarded as a president, hence she calls me ED." She expressed her desire for Mutonono and her son to vacate her house due to the disrespectful behavior and verbal abuse she had endured, including the use of obscene language and alleged conspiring with other tenants against her.Mutonono denied the accusations, stating, "My mother-in-law is troublesome." She also claimed to have suffered physical abuse from her mother-in-law.Magistrate Nyasha Marufu approved Chinyangare's request for a peace order and ordered Mutonono to vacate her in-law's house. A garda sergeant who has been on sick leave from the force for over two years is running an award-winning tourism business in the west of Ireland. Stephen Clarke (45) set up Westport Walking Tours in 2015 when he registered the name of the business with the Companies Registration Office. The paperwork listed his occupation as garda sergeant with an address in Claremorris in Co Mayo. Liam Connellan, who has died at the age of 87, was the former director-general of the Confederation of Irish Industry, which later merged with the Federation of Irish Employers (FIE) to become the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (Ibec). He was previously working at the Irish Management Institute (IMI) when a major disaster took place which greatly affected the Irish business sector. On June 18, 1972, BEA Flight 548 took off from Heathrow and was heading to Brussels when the engine stalled and the plane crashed near Staines, south-east England. All 118 persons on board lost their lives, including 12 members of an Irish business delegation travelling to the Belgian capital to meet the European Commission in the aftermath of the previous months referendum on the Treaty of Accession, where 83pc of voters approved Irelands entry to the European Communities, later to become the EU. The delegation included the president of the Confederation of Irish Industry (CII), Con Smith, who had just been re-elected to the position, as well as the organisations director-general, Edward J (Ned) Gray, along with other leading figures in Irish business and industry. The following month Connellan, who headed the small business division of the IMI at the time, became director-general of the CII, initially on a temporary basis but later as a permanent position. Connellan was born in Longford on May 19, 1936. His father was a solicitor and his mother a dentist. When he was a year-and-a-half, the family moved to Strokestown in his parents native Co Roscommon and he grew up there in the 1940s and early 1950s. In a February 2018 interview with Maurice OKeeffe of the Irish Life And Lore oral history website, he said: I regard myself very much as a Roscommon person. When he was in his mid-teens the family moved to Roscommon town. Connellan, who had been attending Garbally College in Ballinasloe, transferred to the CBS in Roscommon where he acquired his Leaving Certificate. He moved on to University College Dublin, graduating in 1957 with a bachelors degree in mechanical and electrical engineering. Following graduation, he went to Sweden for a years training before moving to England to spend a year-and-a-half with the British Thomson-Houston engineering and heavy industrial company in Rugby. Although offered a job involving Volkswagen motor-assembly in Dublin, he moved instead to Waterford in 1960 to work in electrical engineering for the Belgian-owned ACEC which specialised in making small electric motors for pumps, milking-machines and other devices. He later said he got a tremendous buzz out of helping to create new jobs in the process. It was an exciting time, with Ireland emerging from its protectionist phase and achieving economic expansion under the leadership of Sean Lemass, then taoiseach, and the guidance of top civil servant T.K. Whitaker. Connellan left Waterford in 1965 for a position in Dublin with the IMI, which was starting up at the time. He lectured at the IMI in production management and he headed its small industry department. Recalling how he travelled around Ireland, conducting management training programmes for several years he said: I ran courses in every county in the country. His career-path was dramatically changed after the terrible tragedy at Staines when, as he recalled later: I was asked to go on secondment for six months over to the Confederation of Irish Industry to replace the director-general. It was a life-changing transition for Connellan, as Ireland embarked on its new European adventure, with tariffs being lifted and industry adjusting to the new situation. Later in the year he was made permanent in the job, which also involved membership of the executive committee of the Brussels-based Union of Industrial and Employers Confederations of Europe (UNICE), now known as Business Europe. His work also acquired a significant Northern Ireland dimension. In the early 1970s, the CII held meetings with its counterparts in the northern section of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), but the encounters were put on ice for about 10 years as a result of the general strike by the Ulster Workers Council in May 1974 and the generally violent situation. Then in the late 1980s, our northern colleagues agreed that it would be time to restart our meetings, our regular contacts, he told interviewer Maurice OKeeffe. A meeting took place in Belfast between the CII and the CBI and a Joint Business Council was set up, which is still in existence today. He had an excellent working relationship with his northern CBI counterpart, the late Colonel James Sleator. Connellan points out in his interview that half the population of the island are living on the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor, making it a potential magnet for inward investment that no other place on the island could offer, competing with such places as Milan and Hamburg. Under his leadership, which continued until the early 1990s, the CII moved its Dublin-based headquarters from Fitzwilliam Place to Kildare Street. Connellan recalled how, as a result: A lot of people thought that we were part of government and that was what we liked: we were in the nest, they were next door to us; you could have a meeting with the civil servants and so on in the Department of Industry and Commerce, as it was then, very easily it was a hundred yards up the road and the Dail was even less. Relations between the CII and government were occasionally confrontational, but most times were not. He remained very active after finishing up at CII/Ibec and became the first chairperson of the National Roads Authority (NRA) in 1994. Conferring him with an honorary doctorate of science at UCD in September 2014, Professor Gerry Byrne said: The new NRA policies, developed under the direction of visionaries such as Liam, resulted in completely new motorway developments linking the cities of Ireland. Connellan was a board-member with the Irish American Partnership and he received an honorary doctorate from NUI Galway. He served as president of the Royal Dublin Society and as president of the Institution of Engineers of Ireland, later known as Engineers Ireland. He was also an active member of the Peter McVerry Trust. Paying tribute, Ibec chief executive Danny McCoy said the merger of the CII and FIE to set up the new body in 1993 was a significant achievement by Connellan and his FIE counterpart John Dunne who both showed remarkable foresight and leadership. Connellan died on September 26 at Newtownpark House in Blackrock, Co Dublin, surrounded by his family. Predeceased by his wife Marie, he is survived by his children, Rachel, Paul, Brendan, Liam and David, and siblings Rita, Seamus, Dermot and Mary. Social media on display with fake news and hoax information. Searching on tablet, pad, phone or smartphone screen in hand. Abstract concept of news titles broadcasting 3d illustration. Does a child in Kildare really identify as a cat? And has a teacher been sacked for refusing to put down a saucer or milk? Fake news how does it spread, who spreads it and why? Youve probably heard viral social media stories recently of children identifying as cats, horses, even dinosaurs. These tall tales have been spiralling around the internet in recent years. Journalists look into these stories, but somehow, they can never find where they came from. Theyre all part of the fake news phenomenon false stories created to incite rage. Where are these stories coming from? How do they become so viral and do people realise that theyre sharing nonsense? Todays episode of the Indo Daily comes from our sister podcast The BelTel. Ciaran Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph technology reporter Kurtis Reid, to explain the facts around fake news. Louth native Jennifer Hanratty with her daughter Maeve speaking at the Latching On morning in Aras an Uachtaran Picture: Caroline Duggan Louth native Jennifer Hanratty, who is a founder member of Breastival, was recently invited to speak at the annual Latching Morning at Aras an Uachtarain. Jennifer, who is originally from Bellurgan Point and new lives in Belfast with her husband and three children, was one of the speakers at the event organised by Sabrina Higgins to celebrate Breast Feeding Week. It was a great day and great to be invited to speak, said Jennifer, who attended the event with a number of other women from Breastival, the Belfast festival which aims at celebrating and normalise breast feeding. She is one of the founders of Breastival which has become an annual event since it was first held outside Belfast City Hall in 2016. At the time there were a lot of negative comments around breastfeeding coming from politicians and also articles about how women who were breastfeeding were being asked to move on and cover up. Jennifer, who was breastfeeding her eldest six week old child at the time, decided that something must be done to help women feel confident about breastfeeding in public, was among a small group of women who organised that first gathering. "It proved so successful that we got funding from the public health agency in Northern Ireland the following year, and from starting out as a small gathering, it has grown and grown. It the first year 500 people showed up and it has got bigger and bigger ever since. Jennifer is a passionate advocate about the benefits of breastfeeding but she stresses that women need support if they are to persevere with it. "For me it is so integral to the way I approach parenting and its something I enjoyed doing with all my children. While the benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby are well documented, she says that women can find breastfeeding difficult and need to be supported. "Its not easy and it takes effort now to do it. A lot of Mums, especially those with their first babies, are not prepared for how difficult and challenging it can be and how normal it is to have to learn how to do it. In that process about breastfeeding, I got a lot of support from other women, and this is my way of playing it forward. She says that for many of the women who attend the Breastival events in Belfast, it would be their first time breastfeeding it public and it gave them the confidence to feel good about what they are doing. Following her address to the Latching On morning in Aras an Uachtarain, Sabrina Higgins praised the work of Breastival and said she hoped that similar events would be held in the south. Although she has been living in Belfast for several years, Jennifer was delighted to learn that Louth County Council is launching a campaign to support women breastfeeding and that Dunleer is to be the first breastfeeding friendly town in Co Louth. There was a fantastic sense of school pride on show when Scoil Naomh Brid in Knockananna welcomed Bishop Denis Nulty to west Wicklow to officially open the school's new extension. The excitement in the air was palpable as the children awaited the arrival of the special guest. With members of the board of management, present and retired staff, pupils, parents, grandparents and members of the local community in attendance, Chairperson Brian Cuffe welcomed all and acted as MC for the occasion. Following an opening hymn by the school choir, led by Ms Adamson, and opening prayer by Fr Terence McGovern, pupils Leah, Sarah, Daragh, Kate, Naoise, Peter John and Jake read extracts from a book about the school written by the pupils last year. School secretary Irene Cullen read a reflection, and Carmel Gavin, Principal, thanked all who were involved in the build and all who supported the school in any way. Bishop Nulty blessed the school extension, unveiled a plaque in the entrance hall and planted a red oak tree on the school grounds to commemorate the occasion. A second tree was planted by Mrs Fallon, retired principal, and Danny Byrne from sixth class to remember all who work or have ever worked in Scoil Naomh Brid. Both trees were generously donated by Rob and Caitriona from Cullen Nurseries. Designed by McLoughlin Architecture and built by Debcon Ltd, the beautiful modern classroom, disabled access toilet /shower room, and new entrance hall have greatly added to the facilities in Knockananna NS. This follows a separate project in 2021 when local builder Eoin Walsh combined the two small classrooms in the original building. The welcome addition of a staff car park has also resulted in a safer drop-off and collection zone for the pupils. Visitors to the school are greeted by the sight of a beautiful mural in the entrance hall, designed and painted by the senior pupils, under the tutelage of Wexford artist Nonie Stafford, supported by the BLAST scheme and Wexford Education Centre, a school spokesperson said. All in Scoil Naomh Brid are very proud of our school and enjoyed the opportunity to welcome everyone last Friday. Paddy Agnew: Doubters fail to stop Vatican synod discussing once-taboo church topics Dissidents are viewing with disbelief the extensive range of topics on the agenda Pope Francis on the third day of the synod. Photo: Reuters Paddy Agnew Sun 8 Oct 2023 at 03:30 For much of the last 30 years, a feature of Vatican set-piece occasions, such as the current Synod on Synodality, has been the sometimes colourful but persistent sideshow of protest from Catholic believers calling for the ordination of women. M.S. Swaminathan in his lab in 1956. Photo by MSSRF/Flickr. M.S. Swaminathans greatest strength was his ability to engage and connect with ease with everybody across board, from politicians to bureaucrats, academics, journalists, students and common people. Swaminathans primary contribution to the country was his work for the Green Revolution. The Green Revolution was a package that helped India overcome a crisis and was not a long-term sustainable solution. Swaminathan was aware of this and it is obvious from the research-for-development projects being implemented by the Foundation. Mongabay India Managing Editor writer S. Gopikrishna Warrier remembers him Eminent agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan breathed his last on September 28. He celebrated his 98th birthday on August 7. Swaminathan had been keeping indifferent health for the past few years. His wife had predeceased him a few years ago. Swaminathans primary contribution to the country was his work with Nobel Laureate Norman Borlaug to grow high-yielding varieties of rice and wheat, a phase in the countrys agricultural history which came to be known as Indias Green Revolution. The Green Revolution provided the Indian farmers a package of support and within years the country became food self-sufficient, from a food aid seeker. In the 1960s, the new nation state was facing a severe food shortage, and was living on food aid from the U.S. under the PL480 scheme. The ignominy to the national pride and the political insecurity this created was immense. It is said that when Indias then agriculture minister C. Subramaniam went on a mission to request more foodgrains, he was humiliated in the U.S. He communicated this to the then prime minister, Indira Gandhi. She enquired if a technological answer to improve agricultural production and productivity was available, and Indian scientists answered in the affirmative. A political decision was made at the highest level to launch and support the Green Revolution. M.S. Swaminathan with Dr. Norman Borlaug. Photo by MSSRF/Flickr. Swaminathan was associated with the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) as a senior scientist and researcher, and later as its director general. In Mexico, Norman Borlaug had registered success with his work on developing high-yielding foodgrain varieties that responded well to external inputs and provided higher productivity and production. Swaminathan worked with Borlaug to adopt these technologies in India. That was the beginning of the Green Revolution in the country. Launched in the irrigated tracts, farmers were supplied with improved seeds, chemical fertilisers and pesticides, agricultural credit and marketing support. The political implications of the resultant food self-sufficiency were immense. Much of Indian history starting from the 1970s, rode on the back of this freedom. I carry words of praise from him as a medal I have known M.S. Swaminathan from the time I moved to Chennai in 1992. The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) had just moved into its own building. All through the 1990s Swaminathan organised multiple international conferences, where many eminent people from across the world participated. I was a young journalist with The Hindu Business Line and was assigned to cover these meetings. While I was expected to only cover the inaugural and the valedictory, I was excited to stay on and listen to the experts.I stayed right through some of these meetings, absorbing like a sponge. One day Swaminathan came to me and said, Wish there are more journalists like you, Gopi! I carry those words as a medal. The 1990s were a heady period. Politically, it was a period of coalitions and there was much scope for public discussions. India had signed the Climate Change Convention and the Biodiversity Convention enunciated at the Rio Summit of 1992. Almost immediately, the national government had rolled out the process to develop a Biodiversity Act. Swaminathan was appointed as the chair of the first committee to draft the legislation. Many of the meetings for this happened at the MSSRF. Meanwhile, the World Trade Organisation Agreement came into place in 1994 and there was a labyrinth of agreements that people had to wrap their heads around. The controversies regarding genetically modified crops were spilling into India from Europe. M.S. Swaminathan receiving a national award from then-President, Pranab Mukherjee in 2015. Photo by MSSRF/Flickr. Along with these discussions there were others that Swaminathan was personally interested in. They were about the evergreen Revolution, the importance of millets and how to deal with chronic malnutrition. The MSSRF became the hub of many of these discussions. Even a decade later, the discussions continued and scaled up when Swaminathan chaired the Farmers Commission. Read more: Architect of Indias Green Revolution, agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan passes away Linking with international research When the international network of agricultural research organisations under the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) were scouting for locations to establish their research centres, India missed the bus and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) went to the Philippines. India particularly wanted IRRI since the country is one of the centres of origin for rice. Thus, when the proposal for the next CGIAR centre came, India responded with alacrity. Swaminathan chaired the committee that scouted for land for the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). In the early 1970s, the committee found land with naturally-occuring black and red soils outside Hyderabad for ICRISAT. In the 1980s, Swaminathan became the director general of IRRI. There was a controversy that erupted which accused him of transferring Indian rice germplasm collected in the Regional Rice Research Institute at Raipur to IRRI as a quid pro quo for obtaining his position. The accusation was wrong on two counts. One, Swaminathan would have been considered for the position even without the quid pro quo. Two, before the Convention on Biological Diversity of 1992, genetic wealth was considered part of global commons, and agricultural research grew based on such exchanges. M.S. Swaminathan in 2015. Photo by MSSRF/Flickr. The Green Revolution has its share of critics. And rightfully so anything achieved should be open to criticism. For the Green Revolution, the governmental infrastructure took seeds of high yielding varieties, chemical fertilisers, pesticides, credit and extension services to farmers in the irrigated tracts which in the 1960s covered one-third of Indias agricultural land. That meant that two-thirds was ignored. So if the violence of Punjab came from the irrigated tracts, the Maoist movement emerged from the rain-fed tracts. Also, all the chemical pollution of land and water bodies that happened in the decades following the GR. However, all this fades before the ignominy India could have continued to face if it were still food insecure. Almost all that is done in the decades since the 1960s, including the Chandrayaan, is built on that freedom. The Green Revolution was a package that helped India overcome a crisis. It was not a long-term sustainable solution. The fact that Swaminathan was aware of this is obvious from the many research-for-development projects being implemented by the Foundation. In terms of awards, Swaminathan is the recipient of all the three Padma awards, the Ramon Magsaysay Award and the World Food Prize. He has also been on the listing for the Nobel Peace Prize. For me personally, Swaminathans greatest strength was his ability to engage and connect with ease with everybody across board, from politicians to bureaucrats, academics, journalists, students and common people. Image Source: Video grab #IsraelAtWar: Live Blog On Israel-Palestine Conflict India Blooms New Service | @indiablooms #Israel, #Hamas, #HamasRocketAttack, #Gaza, #Palestine, #Netanyahu More than 1,000 people have died in Israel and Palestine since the Hamas group members launched an attack against Israel on Saturday. Number of Israeli residents injured as result of escalation up to 2,382 The number of Israeli residents hospitalized as a result of the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has increased to 2,382, The Times of Israel newspaper reported on Monday, citing the latest data by the Health Ministry. Earlier reports indicated that 2,315 people were injured as a result of the conflict's escalation, while over 700 were killed. 1,23,000 Palestinians flee their homes in Gaza due to armed conflict More than 1,23,000 Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes in the Gaza Strip as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict escalates, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Sunday. "As of 21:00, 123,538 Palestinians had been displaced in Gaza," the OCHA said in a statement. Death toll due to ongoing conflict crosses 1,000 More than 1,000 people have died in Israel and Palestine after the surprise rocket attack on Saturday by Hamas triggered a war in the region. "More than 700 people have been killed in Israel, while more than 400 Palestinians have been killed, according to authorities. Some 2,300 others have been wounded in Gaza, with power cuts threatening lives of hundreds of injured and patients," the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza was quoted as saying by CNN. US moves carrier strike group to eastern Mediterranean The United States has begun moving USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Eastern Mediterranean. This includes the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), as well as the Arleigh-Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Carney (DDG 64), and USS Roosevelt (DDG 80). "USCENTCOM stands firmly with our Israeli and regional partners to address the risks of any party seeking to expand the conflict," said General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, Commander, U.S. Central Command.https://t.co/URHNRuPLkV pic.twitter.com/Dgclz8PuwC U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) October 8, 2023 IDF shares images of 'war crimes' committed by Hamas on its X page This is incriminating evidence of the war crimes committed by the Hamas terrorist organization. pic.twitter.com/gM9mWZVkeG Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 9, 2023 Death toll crosses 1,000 as Israel-Hamas conflict continues More than 1,000 people have died in Israel and Palestine since the Hamas group members launched an attack against Israel on Saturday. "More than 700 people have been killed in Israel, while more than 400 Palestinians have been killed, according to authorities. Some 2,300 others have been wounded in Gaza, with power cuts threatening "lives of hundreds of injuries and patients," the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza was quoted as saying by CNN. Israel has declared war on Hamas and initiated airstrikes in response to this fierce attack. Swords of Iron42 hours in. These are the NUMBERS. This is the reality of Israel right now. pic.twitter.com/eUSNBFRgB2 Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 8, 2023 The Israel Defense Forces told CNN that Israel has "severely degraded the capabilities" of the Palestinian militant group Hamas as airstrikes on Gaza continued into early Monday. Israel Defense Forces said 2150 people have been injured in the attack so far. Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with several world leaders including Ukraine President A tweet posted on the official X handle of the Israel PM said: "Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, all of whom expressed unreserved support for Israel's right to defend itself as necessary." Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, all of whom expressed unreserved support for Israel's right to defend itself as necessary. Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 8, 2023 At least 100 Israelis are currently held captive in Gaza: Government More than 600 Israelis killed and 100 abducted by Hamas militants since Saturday, the Israeli government says Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has spoken with the leader of Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad (PIJ) , says Iran's state media Over 500 Israelis killed in last 24 hrs, 313 people dead in Gaza Hamas's attack on Israel has killed 500 Israelis in the past 24 hours, local media reports. In the Gaza Strip, the Ministry of Health said 313 people had been killed by Israeli air strikes, with almost 2,000 wounded, reports BBC. Internet connection snapped in large parts of Gaza after Israel strikes People in Gaza worried war will last for a very long time, reports BBC UN officials strongly condemn deadly attacks in Israel Top UN officials were in close contact with all concerned to urge maximum restraint following horrific scenes of violence that left dozens dead and hundreds wounded in Israeli cities near the Gaza Strip amid rocket attacks by armed Palestinian militants early Saturday morning, with the UN Security Council announcing it would hold a Sunday afternoon private meeting to discuss the matter. The UN Secretary-General condemned in the strongest terms the attack by Hamas against Israeli towns, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said. The girl whose naked body surfaced in a social media video on Saturday after Hamas attack on Israel has now been identified as German citizen Shani Louk The video has been verified by CNN. Louk was seen in a vehicle by militants in Gaza who are chanting "Allahu Akbar." CNN reported that Louk was a German-Israeli dual national. Louk reportedly attended the music festival attacked by Hamas. The girl whose body Hamas posted on social media and paraded during the attack on Israel is reportedly a German national, Shani Lauk, who was attending a music festival in Israel. pic.twitter.com/qdqzp5yg9W Dave Lucas (@davelucas) October 8, 2023 An operational update from IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari: An operational update from IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari: pic.twitter.com/2QNm29UYZ7 Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 8, 2023 Hezbollah congratulates Hamas BBC reports that Hezbollah, which like Iran, is committed to Israels destruction, yesterday congratulated Hamas on its attacks on Israeli territory and said it would keep a close eye on developments. Today's attacks were in solidarity with the Palestinian people, a fresh statement said. More than 400 Palestinian militants have been killed in southern Israel and the Gaza Strip, and dozens more have been captured, an IDF spokesman was quoted as saying by the Times of Israel War in Israellast 30 hours. pic.twitter.com/EdCarXTqg0 Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 8, 2023 A long, difficult war ahead for Israel, say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu The Israeli prime minister said in an overnight message that the war had been "forced on us by a murderous attack by Hamas", and the first stage would end in the coming hours when most of the militants on Israeli territory had been wiped out. Israel would restore security to its citizens and win, he added. This morning, on Shabbat and a holiday, Hamas invaded Israeli territory and murdered innocent citizens including children and the elderly. Hamas has started a brutal and evil war. We will be victorious in this war despite an unbearable price. This is a very difficult day for all Benjamin Netanyahu - (@netanyahu) October 8, 2023 The possibility of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict intensifying looms large over southern Lebanon and across the nation Fighting between the Israeli military and Palestinian militants continues in Israeli territory near Gaza, reports BBC Amid heavy firing by Gaza militants, Israel music festival attendees seen running for lives in new viral video As Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning, hundreds of people attending an Israeli music festival were caught in a video running for their lives amid heavy firing by militants at them. The Music Festival that was taking place in the Kibbutz of Urim, in Israel, before Hamas terrorists invaded the Gaza Strip. Terrorist arrived shooting at the party participants, killing and injuring many of them. Some of them were taken into Gaza #Israel #IsraelUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/BBQNT7dNhc Deborah Turnley (@WolfsMuse) October 8, 2023 Israeli army strikes in 'area in Lebanon' in response to fire The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Sunday that it was striking "the area in Lebanon" in response to fire from the area. "IDF Artillery is currently striking the area in Lebanon from where a shooting was carried out," the IDF said on Telegram, adding that it "has been taking preparational measures for this type of possibility and will continue to operate in all regions and at any time necessary to ensure the safety of the Israeli civilians." Hezbollah claims responsibility for targeting Israeli sites: CNN According to CNN, the Lebanese group Hezbollah claimed responsibility for targeting three Israeli sites in an area known as Shebaa Farms using missiles and artillery. It issued a statement on Sunday. Over 300 killed as Israel-Palestine war escalates following over 5000 rocket attacks by Hamas. Photo courtesy: UNI Israeli security forces secure control of Sderot police station : CNN Israels southern district police forces and soldiers from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Sunday secured control of Sderot police station, according to a southern district police spokesperson, quoted CNN. Starting in the morning, the southern district police forces and IDF soldiers are working to neutralize terrorists who infiltrated the Sderot station, the police spokesperson said. A short time ago, full control was achieved. CNN reports: About 10 armed terrorists were neutralized, after the forces were ordered to carry out live fire by all means on the station where the terrorists were entrenched, the spokesperson said. Live briefing from Tel Avivwith an IDF Spokesperson LTC (Res.) Jonathan Conricus Live briefing from Tel Avivwith an IDF Spokesperson LTC (Res.) Jonathan Conricus https://t.co/nOU4IDlsQx Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 7, 2023 Israeli woman being kidnapped by Hamas video goes viral Hamas = ISIS Same ideology, different names. The footage coming out of southern Israel makes this absolutely clear. In the video: Hamas terrorists kidnapped an Israeli young woman earlier today. #Israel_under_attack #IsraelUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/QVtQBWgInA David Saranga (@DavidSaranga) October 7, 2023 Attack on residential buildings in Gaza by Hamas BREAKING: Residential building in Gaza has been destroyed by aerial bombs as Hamas continues to target innocent people in Israel. Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu has declared war in response to the attacks, saying the enemy will pay a price it has never known before. Biden has pic.twitter.com/geolNC5ypg Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 7, 2023 X video by British politician shows Hamas on rampage in Gaza Strip neighbourhood Hamas terrorists on the rampage in a neighbourhood near the Gaza Strip. #Israel #Hamas #Palestine #Palestinian #IronDome #Gaza #TelAviv pic.twitter.com/z0x1vBZUQV Paul Golding (@GoldingBF) October 7, 2023 US condemns attack by Hamas, stands by Israel We will never fail to have Israels back. pic.twitter.com/3JM8d665iJ President Biden (@POTUS) October 8, 2023 Over 300 killed in Israel in large-scale attack by Palestinian group Hamas More than 300 were killed in Israel in a surprise large-scale attack by the Palestinian group Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to reduce its Gaza hideouts to "rubble". In Gaza, more than 230 have been killed in Israel's response. RIGHT NOW: Barzilai Medical Centerin southern Israelwas targeted by Hamas rocket fire. Hours before the strike, Dr. Chezy Levy, the Director of the medical center, and his staff moved patients to safety. This is indiscriminate fire against civilians. The IDF will not stand pic.twitter.com/OS0HLo3CQU Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 8, 2023 Israel to cut off electricity supply to Gaza Reuters news agency reported Israel's energy minister, Israel Katz, as saying that Israel would cut off Gaza's electricity supply. Israel ready to launch ground operation on Gaza The Israeli military has mobilised tens of thousands of reservists and is now expected to launch a ground operation in Gaza, reports BBC. 232 killed, 1600 wounded in Gaza as Israel launches air strikes on Gaza Air India cancels flights to and from Israel as country declares retaliatory 'Operation Iron Swords' against Hamas At least 150 people are reported killed and 1,100 wounded in Israel after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched attacks Israel declares 'Operation Iron Swords' against Hamas militants Israel has declared 'Operation Iron Swords' against Hamas militants, involving a coordinated attack by the Israel Air Force. Dozens of fighter jets have been deployed to target the Hamas militant group in various locations across the Gaza Strip. Death toll rises to 100 in Israel in Palestinian militant group Hamas's biggest attack in years https://www.justearthnews.com/news-details/6690/israel-palestine-war-150-dead-over-1-000-injured-in-hamas-attack.html 'We will win this war': Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant "Hamas has made a grave mistake this morning and launched a war against the State of Israel," Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement. "IDF troops (Israeli army) are fighting against the enemy at every location," he said. "I call on all of Israel's citizens to follow security instructions. The State of Israel will win this war," he said in a video statement on X. Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant following an operational situation assessment held this morning: The Hamas [terrorist organization] has made a grave mistake this morning and launched a war against the State of Israel. IDF troops are fighting against the enemy at every pic.twitter.com/8fkoEU3IcZ Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) October 7, 2023 After surprise rocket attack, Hamas militants enter Israel's cities, kidnap, shoot people Disturbing videos circulating on social media on Saturday showed civilians being targeted by Hamas militants in Israel's southern cities near Gaza, using motorcycles, SUVs, and even paragliders to infiltrate the towns. Just surreal! Footage of Palestinian Hamas terrorists who infiltrated into Israel from Gaza, firing at residents in Sderot from an SUV. pic.twitter.com/ffUO5XwG1I Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) October 7, 2023 News / Local by Staff reporter President Nelson Chamisa concluded his countrywide citizen interfaces by visiting Bulawayo province. Citizens from all across the country shared their disturbing and horrifying experiences during the recently ended highly disputed elections. They unanimously agreed with him pic.twitter.com/OHHyTQhPCU Citizens' Coalition for Change (@CCCZimbabwe) October 7, 2023 IN MATEBELELAND NORTH..Lupane. The Citizens Interface confirms the hope across the whole country. Change must and will happen! #Godisinit pic.twitter.com/QxOtQkAiOn nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) October 6, 2023 The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has announced that its leader, Nelson Chamisa, has completed his nationwide engagements with party members to discuss the way forward following the disputed general elections held on August 23-24.In those elections, Zanu-PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa was declared the winner by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) with 52.6% of the vote, while CCC's Nelson Chamisa received 44%. Chamisa has refused to accept Mnangagwa as the legitimate winner, alleging electoral fraud, a view echoed by regional and international observer missions.Chamisa conducted a tour of Matabeleland, where his party secured several council seats in rural Matabeleland South and North, in addition to its traditional strongholds. He concluded this tour with an interface meeting in Bulawayo.During these visits, Chamisa engaged with CCC cluster leaders, business figures, and community leaders to discuss the way forward after the contentious elections.The CCC reiterated Chamisa's stance that the only viable path forward for Zimbabwe is to hold fresh, free, and democratic elections within a transitional government framework. This position is in contrast to the formation of a government of national unity.Chamisa's engagements with CCC supporters followed the opposition legislators' boycott of President Mnangagwa's State of the Nation Address (SONA) during the opening of the 10th Parliament. They maintained that Mnangagwa lacks legitimacy. Photo Courtesy: UNI The CBI on Sunday began searching the houses of West Bengal Minister and city Mayor Firhad Hakim and TMC legislator Madan Mitra in south Kolkata, official sources confirmed. The CBI on Sunday questioned and searched West Bengal minister and city Mayor Firhad Hakim's house for nearly 9 and half hours in the city in relation to the alleged irregularities in different municipalities across the state, official sources told UNI. Besides the house of state urban development minister Firhad Hakim alias Bobby,at Chetla, the federal agency also searched and questioned former minister and TMC MLA Madan Mitra at Bhawanipur, also in south Kolkata, they said. The sleuths of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also raided the offices of 10 municipalities,including Dum Dum, Halisahar, Kachrapara, Krishnanagar, New Barrackpore, Taki and other places in the alleged cash for jobs in as many as 14 civic bodies. Many present and former chairpersons are under the scanner of the Calcutta high court monitored CBI probe. Hakim, a close cabinet colleague of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, told reporters that there was a conspiracy to maligne the government, which according to him is people friendly. "I would urge that the agency must produce evidence into the court of law as what it has found during the search operation". Hakim said, who is also the Mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation. Priyadarshini Hakim, daughter of the minister, alleged that there had been mental torture during the nine and haf hours searchung and questioning on them. "I am 100 percent sure as a citizen that her father is not at all involved in any of the irregularities. This is a political vendettas," she alleged. The Calcutta high court has directed the CBI to conduct a probe in the alleged jobs for cash in different municipalities. The central probe agencies also recently searched at different municipalities, which are under the scanner of investigation. During the search operations, the CRPF jawans had surrounded the house and prevented others from getting in while the CBI officials was searching the house. Daughter Priyadarshini Hakim, who was prevented from entering the house by the central forces, was allowed to get in after the CBI officials recognised her. She along with three domestic helpers have been allowed to get in. Hakim's supporters and followers also were seen protesting the search operation of Firhad Hakim house and shouted slogans against the central forces. Another central probe agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had searched the house of state food minister Rathin Ghosh in North 24 Parganas and grilled him for nearly 19 hours on Thursday. The ED officials raided the house of state Food and Supplies Minister Rathin Ghosh in connection with the alleged recruitment scam. A total of 14 properties, including the houses of TMC leaders, were also searched. The CBI also conducted raids at the house of Kamarhati MLA and former TMC minister Madan Mitra in connection with the same case. (With UNI inputs) Photo Courtesy: PIB New Delhi: Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Italy and France from Oct 9 to 12, 2023, officials said on Sunday. During the first leg of his two-nation visit, Singh is scheduled to meet Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto in Rome. "The relationship between India and Italy was elevated to Strategic Partnership in March 2023 during the visit of the Italian Prime Minister to India," read a statement issued by the Indian government. During the second and final leg, Rajnath Singh will conduct the 5th Annual Defence Dialogue with his counterpart, French Minister of Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu in Paris. India and France recently celebrated 25 years of Strategic Partnership. Both countries enjoy a deep and wide-ranging bilateral defence relationship, including significant industrial cooperation. In both Rome and Paris, Singh will also interact with the defence industry CEOs and senior representatives to discuss potential opportunities for industrial cooperation. In image destruction in Israel/ courtesy: UNI Tel Aviv/IBNS: The number of people killed in Israel amid the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has exceeded 300, and over 1,500 people have been injured, media reports said. Israeli newspaper Jerusalem Post reported, citing the country's health ministry, that the death toll has exceeded 300 people, and more than 1,500 people have been injured in the conflict so far. Also Read: Israel At War: Live Blog Israel at War: More than 300 dead and IDF fights back Follow all the #OperationIronSwords live updates from The Jerusalem Post.https://t.co/tZK8boI4eL pic.twitter.com/YhR1T0F905 The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) October 7, 2023 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to reduce its Gaza hideouts to "rubble". In Gaza, more than 230 have been killed in Israel's response. Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to avenge what he said was a "black day" for Israel, saying the army will strike back at Hamas in Gaza with full force. "The IDF (army) is about to use all its force to destroy Hamas's capabilities. We'll strike them to the bitter end and avenge with force this black day they brought on Israel and its people," he said. "We are embarking on a long and difficult war. The war was forced upon us by a murderous attack by Hamas," Netanyahu said. Israeli security forces secure control of Sderot police station : CNN Israels southern district police forces and soldiers from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Sunday secured control of Sderot police station, according to a southern district police spokesperson, quoted CNN. Starting in the morning, the southern district police forces and IDF soldiers are working to neutralize terrorists who infiltrated the Sderot station, the police spokesperson said. A short time ago, full control was achieved. CNN reports: About 10 armed terrorists were neutralized, after the forces were ordered to carry out live fire by all means on the station where the terrorists were entrenched, the spokesperson said. Live briefing from Tel Avivwith an IDF Spokesperson LTC (Res.) Jonathan Conricus https://t.co/nOU4IDlsQx Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 7, 2023 Video shows Israeli woman kidnapped by Hamas A viral video showed how a woman is pulled from the trunk of jeep by Hamas gunmen and forced in the backseat of the car as she is taken captive. The video has been geolocated and authenticated by CNN. Her is the video as posted on X: IDF Air Defense personnel operate the Iron Dome, May 2021 (Image Courtesy: wikipedia.org) Tel Aviv: The Iron DomeIsraels air defence systemwhich was thought to be largely impenetrable came undone on Saturday as Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a massive barrage of rockets in a surprise attack, its biggest-ever assault on Israel in years. Hamas launched 5,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip, starting at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, into Israeli territory within a span of just 20 minutes. Sirens blared to alert the people about the sudden attack. Many Israelis were taken away as hostages and several others were shot at by Hamas militants as they infiltrated into Israel's southern cities near Gaza, using motorcycles, SUVs, and even paragliders. Also Read: Israel At War: Live Blog In Israel, 300 civilians have been killed, and dozens of Israelis have been taken hostage, while Israeli air strikes have killed at least 313 people in the Gaza Strip, with almost 2,000 wounded, Palestinian officials say, reported BBC. Near #Gaza - exploding above our heads - #Israels Iron Dome missiles intercept Hamas rockets pic.twitter.com/64Xe0NOFDW Nic Robertson (@NicRobertsonCNN) October 8, 2023 Despite the interception of several rockets by Israel's highly regarded Iron Dome missile defence system, many rockets landed in Israeli territory, resulting in one of the deadliest escalations in decades. Israel's advanced air defence system, equipped with state-of-the-art sensors, proved ineffective against the powerful explosives launched by Hamas militants as they breached Israeli territory. The Iron Dome, a ground-to-air short-range air defence system, was developed by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, a government-owned arms company located in the northern city of Haifa. It also receives partial funding from the United States, which allocated $5 billion towards its development in 2016. Since its inception in 2011, the Iron Dome has played a crucial role in Israel's defence strategy, a cornerstone of the US-Israeli alliance that has been upheld by successive Democratic and Republican administrations. In August 2019, the US Army entered into an agreement to acquire two Iron Dome batteries, bolstering its own capabilities in short-range missile defence. Apart from the Iron Dome, Israel possesses other missile defence systems like the Arrow, designed to counter ballistic missiles, and David's Sling, which addresses medium-range rocket or missile threats. How does Iron Dome work? The Iron Dome system is designed to disperse in a spread-out arrangement. Each launcher, equipped with 20 interceptors, is autonomously deployed and operated through a secure wireless link. It is reported that a single Iron Dome battery can safeguard an urban region of around 150 square km. The Iron Dome of Israel defence neutralising missiles fired from Gaza. Iron Dome can detect and intercept incoming missiles, providing a crucial layer of protection for Israeli civilians against rocket attacks from Gaza. pic.twitter.com/RTUazEtzBo BALA (@erbmjha) October 7, 2023 Each battery includes a radar system for detection and tracking, a control system for firing, and three launchers accommodating 20 interceptor missiles. The mobility of the batteries allows them to be relocated to areas as needed. This weapon system has been engineered to counter less advanced, shorter-range weaponry like the rockets, mortars, artillery shells, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) at short range launched from Gaza. When a rocket is heading towards a populated area or a critical facility, the launcher initiates the Tamir Missile, intercepting and destroying the rocket in mid-air to eliminate the danger. A battery typically includes three to four launchers, and there are at least 10 in Israels arsenal. The manufacturer of the Iron Dome system, Rafael Advanced Defence System, asserts that it has achieved a success rate of 90 percent, with over 2,000 interceptions recorded so far. How Hamas outsmarted Iron Dome? According to reports, Hamas had been looking for a weakness in the near-perfect Iron Dome. On Saturday, the Palestinian military group largely overpowered the seemingly impregnable air defence system with a Salvo rocket attacklaunching multiple rockets in rapid succession, an astonishing 5,000 rocket in just 20 minutesto inundate the system, thereby complicating the interception of all targets. Hamas movement published scenes of their new homemade missile system that the Al-Qassam Brigades used for the Al Aqsa Flood Operation. This is unprecedented military hardware and tactical edge against a vastly sophisticated Israeli Defence Forces. The Iron Dome air defense pic.twitter.com/RWZOekujal Abdirizak Terra (@TerraAbdirizak) October 7, 2023 The militant group managed to take Israel by surprise. It had been continuously developing its crude rocket technology to cover Israels major cities like capital Tel Aviv and even the holy city of Jerusalem. Israel has been spending billions of dollars on the Iron Dome air defence system because of its high-level precision performance, proving helpful in saving lives and properties across the country. The estimated cost of each Tamir interceptor missile was cited in 2014 as from US$20,000 to 50,000; a 2020 analysis estimated a total cost of $100,000 to $150,000 for each interception. In contrast, a crudely manufactured Qassam rocket, fired by Palestinian forces, costs around $800 and the Hamas Grad rocket costs only several thousand dollars. In the 2012 conflict with Hamas, Israel asserted that they successfully intercepted 85 percent of the 400 rockets launched from the Gaza Strip towards civilian and strategic locations. In the 2014 conflict, Hamas fired more than 4,500 rockets over several days. Of these, over 800 were intercepted and approximately 735 were neutralized, achieving a success rate of 90 percent. In 2021, Israel announced enhancements to the system to address a wider range of aerial threats, including the interception of rocket and missile salvos, along with simultaneous interceptions of multiple unmanned aerial vehicles. During the two-week-long Israel-Palestine conflict in May 2021, more than 1,000 rockets were launched in the early days, with over 4,500 fired throughout the entire conflict. Officials reported a 90 percent success rate for the system in countering these rockets during the crisis. Iron Dome helped Israeli society live in peace According to Yoav Fromer from Tel Aviv University, the effectiveness of the Iron Dome offers Israelis a sense of both physical and psychological security, allowing them to carry on with their daily activities. He suggests that this could potentially diminish the immediate need for a more comprehensive regional political and diplomatic resolution in the long run. However, Amir Peretz, the Israeli Defense Minister who pushed through the implementation of Iron Dome, told The Washington Post that the system is no more than a stopgap measure, and that "In the end, the only thing that will bring true quiet is a diplomatic solution." Tel Aviv: Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu has asked the nation to brace for a prolonged and difficult war. The Israeli prime minister said in an overnight message that the war had been "forced on us by a murderous attack by Hamas", and the first stage would end in the coming hours when most of the militants on Israeli territory had been wiped out. Israel would restore security to its citizens and win, he added. This morning, on Shabbat and a holiday, Hamas invaded Israeli territory and murdered innocent citizens including children and the elderly. Hamas has started a brutal and evil war. We will be victorious in this war despite an unbearable price. This is a very difficult day for all Benjamin Netanyahu - (@netanyahu) October 8, 2023 Israeli officials have issued a warning that Hamas militants have entered southern Israel, resulting in hundreds of casualties. Israeli media reported earlier in the day that over 300 people were killed and more than 1,500 others were injured in Israel as a result of the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. At the same time, the Palestinian Health Ministry said that more than 195 people have been killed and over 1,600 injured in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. Hundreds of armed Hamas militants entered southern Israel, causing casualties, and reportedly taking several people as hostages into Gaza. In retaliation, Israel has unleashed air strikes, targeting operational assets in Gaza. The Israeli military has conducted artillery strikes in southern Lebanon in response to mortar fire from the region toward Israeli positions in the Mount Dov/Shebaa Farms area, a disputed territory. Photo Courtesy: UNI/Xinhua The number of people dead due to the surprise attack by Hamas in Israel on Saturday has touched 500, media reports said. Zaka, an emergency rescue service that specializes in handling the bodies of the dead, told CNN Sunday that it had confirmed around 500 people are dead. That number does not include people who died or were declared dead in hospitals, and Zaka has not been able to reach every location where people are thought to have been killed, meaning the total number is almost certainly more than 500, the American news channel reported. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces said schools in the country will remain shut amid ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas grouping the Gaza Strip. Additionally, businesses south of Netanya and north of the central Negev can only be opened if there is ready access to bomb shelters, the military says, as quoted by The Times of Israel. Gatherings are restricted to 10 people outdoors and 50 people indoors in those areas, the IDF Home Front Command says. The restrictions will currently remain valid till Tuesday at 6 pm. However, the time might be extended further due to the ongoing fighting. Top UN officials were in close contact with all concerned to urge maximum restraint following horrific scenes of violence that left dozens dead and hundreds wounded in Israeli cities near the Gaza Strip amid rocket attacks by armed Palestinian militants early Saturday morning, with the UN Security Council announcing it would hold a Sunday afternoon private meeting to discuss the matter. The UN Secretary-General condemned in the strongest terms the attack by Hamas against Israeli towns, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said. State of war At dawn, a Hamas-led operation launched thousands of rockets towards Israel from the Gaza Strip, according to the UN relief agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, and its latest situation report. In response, Israeli authorities declared that the country is in a state of war and called up military reservists, according to the agency, which is based in Gaza. By mid-day, UNRWA reported that Israeli forces launched operation Iron Sword with strikes on the Gaza strip by air, land and sea. At nightfall, the agency said the Ministry of Health in Gaza reported 232 people had been killed and 1,697 injuries, including two UNRWA students. Meanwhile, at least 20,363 internally displaced people were sheltering in 44 UNRWA schools in all areas in the Gaza Strip, except Khan Younis, 28 of which are designated emergency shelters. Attacks, abductions The attacks have so far claimed numerous Israeli civilian lives and injured many hundreds, Mr. Dujarric said. The Secretary-General is appalled by reports that civilians have been attacked and abducted from their own homes. The UN chief is deeply concerned for the civilian population and urges maximum restraint and that all diplomatic efforts are made to avoid a wider conflagration, the UN Spokesperson said. Civilians must be respected and protected in accordance with international humanitarian law at all times. With deepest condolences to the families of the victims, the UN chief called for the immediate release of all abducted persons, Mr. Dujarric said. He stresses that violence cannot provide a solution to the conflict, and that only through negotiation leading to a two-State solution can peace be achieved, the UN Spokesperson said. Targeting civilians I vehemently condemn this mornings multi-front assault against Israeli towns and cities near the Gaza Strip and barrage of rockets reaching across central Israel by Hamas militants, said Tor Wennesland, the UN's Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. These events have resulted in horrific scenes of violence and many Israeli fatalities and injuries, with many believed to be kidnapped inside the Strip, he said. These are heinous attacks targeting civilians and must stop immediately. Deeply concerned for the well-being of all civilians, he said he is in close contact with all concerned to urge maximum restraint. This is a dangerous precipice and I appeal to all to pull back from the brink, he said, calling on all sides to protect civilians. Photo courtesy: Instagram @shanukkk A semi-naked girl seen in a shocking social media video and who has been apparently kidnapped from a dance festival by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza strip after their surprise rocket attack on Israel has been identified as a German citizen and a tattoo artist, media reports said on Sunday. The victim in a semi naked state and appearing almost lifeless in a pick-up truck has been confirmed as that of Shani Louk and after identifying her daughter, the mother of the girl, released a statement appealing for her release and information. She confirmed she had seen her daughter on the video and requested people for more information. CNN has confirmed the identity of the woman as Shani Louk, and said she is a German-Israeli dual national. Her cousin confirmed to the Washington Post that Louk attended the music festival for peace near the Gaza border fence in Israel on Oct 5. Shani Louk was among the hundreds of victims in Israel when Hamas targeted a dance party near Kibbutz Urim and other Israeli communities, according to the New York Post. The terrorists were hollering Allahu Akbar Arabic for God is Great as they paraded her apparently still body around, NY Post reported. In the video, Louk appears dead while a grenade-wielding militant has her leg on her waist, while another militant was holding her dreadlocks, said media reports. One man is seen spitting on Louks head as the vehicle drives off. We recognized her by the tattoos, and she has long dreadlocks, Louks cousin told the Washington Post. We have some kind of hope Hamas is responsible for her and the others. The whereabouts and condition of Shani is still unknown. The mother of Shani Louk, the woman whose body was seen on video in the back of a pick-up truck driven by Palestinian terrorists to Gaza, released a statement earlier today. She confirmed she had seen her daughter on the video & asked the public for help with more information pic.twitter.com/LDcPsjGHP8 Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) October 8, 2023 Shani Louk is a 30-year-old German citizen and had a mixed ethnic background, with a Jewish father from Poland and a Christian mother from Germany, media reports said. Shani is a tattoo artist and hair stylist, according to social media accounts that are assumed to be hers. Israeli Hostages: A large number of Israeli civilians and soldiers have been held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip while many are presumed dead, according to the Israeli military spokesman Lt Col Jonathan Conricus. Children, women, the elderly and the disabled were among those taken, he added, quoted the BBC. "These are numbers that were up until now unimaginable," he said. "This will shape the future of this war," he added. Photo Courtesy: UNOCHA/Sayed Habib Bidel Following Pakistans announcement to repatriate Afghan nationals, the UNs refugee and migration agencies together appealed to Islamabad on Saturday to continue protecting those who sought safety in the country and could be at imminent risk if forced to return. Amid a severe humanitarian crisis, Afghanistan currently faces several human rights challenges, particularly for women and girls, according to the UN. Pakistans new plans would have serious implications for all who have been forced to leave the country and may face serious protection risks upon their return, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a joint statement. The forced repatriation of Afghan nationals has the potential to result in severe human rights violations, including the separation of families and deportation of minors, the UN agencies warned. Pakistan continues to be one of the worlds largest refugee-hosting countries, providing safety to some 1.3 million registered refugees who were forced to flee their countries, 99 per cent of which are Afghans, according to UNHCRs latest update in August. 'Suspend forcible returns' They reiterated a call on all countries to "suspend forcible returns of Afghan nationals" and ensure any possible returns to the country take place in a safe, dignified, and voluntary manner. Acknowledging Pakistans sovereign prerogative over domestic policies, its need to manage populations on its territory, and its obligations to ensure public safety and security, the agencies recalled their longstanding and strong collaboration with the Government. UNHCR and IOM appreciate Pakistans generous hospitality towards Afghan nationals for over four decades, despite challenges, they said, adding that they stand ready to provide support in developing a comprehensive and sustainable mechanism to register and manage Afghan nationals, including those who may be in need of international protection. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash An IED blast in Quetta region of Pakistan on Sunday left the project manager of the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) dead, media reports said. The blast reportedly targeted his vehicle. Quetta Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Jawad Tariq confirmed the casualty to Dawn.com and identified the deceased as Shabat Mirza. He said the PMDC official was travelling to the Sor Range in a car along with his driver, Muhammad Zakir, when the blast occurred. Mirza passed away on the spot while his driver sustained critical injuries," he told the newspaper. According to initial investigation, explosives were fitted on the side of the road, the police official said. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash An off-duty policeman was shot dead when he attempted to resist robbery in Pakistan's Karachi city on Sunday. According to a statement issued by Site police, sub-inspector Amir Ali, 52, was returning home from a graveyard when unknown assailants opened fire on him near the Chakar Hotel, located on the Superhighway, reported Dawn News. Speaking to the Pakistani newspaper, East Superintendent of Police (SSP) Irfan Bahadur said: Amir was on the way to the Federal B Area after visiting the grave of his grandson when the suspects shot him. They also took his official pistol. Initial investigation show sup-inspector Amir was killed by robbers over resistance, SSP Bahadur told the newspaper. News / Local by Staff reporter Zimbabwe has witnessed a significant increase in airline connectivity, with 19 local and international carriers now operating in the country. This expansion has provided greater convenience and options for both business and leisure travelers. Before 2017, during the Second Republic, only three airlines were serving Zimbabwe.The country's Open Skies Policy is credited with contributing to this growth in the aviation sector. In addition to the arrival of new airlines, existing carriers have increased their flight frequencies and even introduced new domestic routes.According to Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona, this increase in airline activity is a testament to the country's improved appeal to investors and tourists. The expanded connectivity benefits Zimbabwe's economy and its tourism industry.Among the airlines flying into Zimbabwe are Air Botswana, Eswatini Air, Zambian Airways, Cemair, Air Zimbabwe, Fastjet, Kenya Airways, Martin Air Cargo, and Mackair. South Africa's low-cost airline FlySafair recently commenced operations in Zimbabwe after obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals. FlySafair is expected to serve routes to Victoria Falls and Bulawayo in addition to its Johannesburg-Harare route. Image courtesy: The White House Washington/IBNS: US President Joe Biden Saturday said the United States was ready to offer "all appropriate means of support" to Israel in the face of the large-scale attack from pro-Iran group Hamas and warned "any other party hostile to Israel" not to seek advantage. "The world is seeing appalling images. Thousands of rockets raining down on Israeli cities. Hamas terrorists killing not only Israeli soldiers, but civilians on the streets and in their homes. Its unconscionable. Israel has a right to defend itself full stop," Biden said. We have the right to defend ourselves, and we will https://t.co/IR7A6s6G4o Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 8, 2023 The number of people killed in Israel amid the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has exceeded 300, and over 1,500 people have been injured, media reports said. Israel at War: More than 300 dead and IDF fights back Follow all the #OperationIronSwords live updates from The Jerusalem Post.https://t.co/tZK8boI4eL pic.twitter.com/YhR1T0F905 The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) October 7, 2023 Biden spoke on phone to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday to offer U.S. support. Photo courtesy: YouTube Screenshot The two leaders have had strained relations but met in New York last month in a showing of solidarity. Also Read: Israel At War: Live Blog Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to reduce its Gaza hideouts to "rubble". In Gaza, more than 230 have been killed in Israel's response. Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to avenge what he said was a "black day" for Israel, saying the army will strike back at Hamas in Gaza with full force. "The IDF (army) is about to use all its force to destroy Hamas's capabilities. We'll strike them to the bitter end and avenge with force this black day they brought on Israel and its people," he said. The United States will continue to provide Israel close and deep intelligence sharing amid the escalation in Gaza, a senior US administration official said during a conference call. "We will continue to provide Israel with support during this critical time, including close, deep intelligence sharing," the US official said on Saturday. Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning. The Israeli army said Hamas fired more than 3,000 rockets, adding that dozens of Hamas troops infiltrated border areas in southern Israel. The Israeli military has since sent troops to the southern territories to reconquer them from the Palestinian forces. Israeli media reported earlier in the day that over 300 people were killed and more than 1,500 others were injured in Israel as a result of the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. At the same time, the Palestinian Health Ministry said that more than 195 people have been killed and over 1,600 injured in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. Theres been a rising concern about the apparent decline in media literacy, with an increasing number of individuals, particularly Gen Z, lacking this vital ability. Widespread misinformation has made it challenging to distinguish between fact and fiction, and it appears that many young people have lost their ability to effectively analyze and interpret media content. Enter Kelsey. Who is Kelsey Russel and how is she getting Gen Z hooked to newspapers? Twitter Bringing a ray of hope in these times of bleakness is Kelsey Russell, a 23-year-old grad student at Columbia. Russel is trying to revive the dying status of print media among the true natives of the internet who are much too familiar with flashy headlines on social media posts than what is actually happening in the world. While reading a copy of the New York Magazine, Russel said in a video, Im just your media-literate hottie thats gonna help you decide what print media you want to get invested in. Is Her Genius Method Working For Gen Z? Recently, Russell initiated a TikTok series in which she documents her daily discoveries from reading the physical edition of The New York Times. As a special request for her 23rd birthday, she asked her family for a subscription, and her inaugural video in the series delved into her insights from the newspaper's Sunday edition. Russell's enthusiastic and straightforward news summaries have gained significant traction, with certain videos amassing thousands, and even millions, of views. I dont remember where I read about TikTok user @kelscruss but she reads the paper online (check out her account!) and this all seems to fit with an interest in news https://t.co/KU3Qk0m2Y9 pic.twitter.com/OhgJgMh8V1 Lia Haberman (@liahaberman) September 7, 2023 Recognizing her growing influence, publications like the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal have provided her with subscriptions in anticipation that she might include their stories as well. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. "The ongoing violence from all sides in the region dynamizes any prospect of resolving the disputes and brutally affects the security and rights of civilians, Israelis and Palestinians in particular.We are firmly in favour of the immediate resumption of credible bilateral talks, for a viable two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state." Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Sunday, said until the vendor who issued a replacement certificate to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu denies the document, there is no case against him. There has been controversy over a certificate Tinubu claimed he obtained from the Chicago State University (CSU) after graduating from the institution. In a deposition, Caleb Westberg, CSUs Registrar said vendors issue replacement certificates and that the one the President obtained in 1997 matches the institutions format. Recall that the institution released Tinubus academic records after former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar filed a case in the United States, requesting the documents. Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is however seeking to disqualify Tinubu as President on the grounds that he forged his academic certificate. Information Nigeria had reported that Atiku has since filed a motion seeking to introduce the Presidents records at the Supreme Court as new evidence after the presidential election petitions tribunal verdict didnt favour him. However, reacting, Keyamo via X said Abubakar must find the vendor who issued the replacement certificate to find out if it is genuine or not. READ ALSO: Shehu Sani Slams Wole Soyinkas Critics Over Alleged Fake Academic Records Applying this principle to the case of Atiku Abubakar V Chicago State University, so long as the University openly said THEY DO NOT ISSUE REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATES, BUT THAT VENDORS DO SO ON THEIR BEHALF, all these noise about so-called forgery are useless until THE PARTICULAR VENDOR THAT ISSUED the replacement certificate to @officialABAT denies its authenticity, he said. And it is the duty of the accuser to fish out the said vendor and get that evidence. It is not the other way round. He who alleges must prove. This is the simple principle I laid down in 2019 during our defence of President Buhari that has been so mischievously celebrated as if they have hit the bulls eye, he posted. The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has sought the leave of the Supreme Court to bring in fresh evidence to prove that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu submitted forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in aid of his qualification for the February 25 election. The documents Atiku sought to tender, as part of further efforts at establishing allegation of forgery and lying on oath, is the academic records of Tinubu, which were handed over to him by the Chicago State University on Monday October 2. The 32 page documents were released to the former Vice President on the orders of Judge Nancy Maldonado of the District Court of Illinois, Eastern Division, Illinois, United States of America. Atiku had consistently maintained that the issue of forgery and perjury is a serious constitutional issue; hence the court should order the removal of Tinubu as President. The former Vice President predicated his prayers for leave to file fresh evidence on Order 2, Rule 12(1) of the Supreme Court Rules 1985, Section 137(1) O of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), and under the inherent jurisdiction of the Honourable Court as granted by Section 6(6)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended). The application specifically prayed the apex court for an order granting him leave to produce and for the court to receive fresh and additional evidence by way of deposition on oath from the Chicago State University for use in this appeal to wit: the certified discovery deposition made by Caleb Westberg on behalf of Chicago State University on October 3, 2023, disclaiming the certificate presented by the 2nd respondent, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission. Atiku further prayed the Court to receive the said deposition in evidence as exhibit in the resolution of this appeal, as well as any such order or orders the apex court may deem fit to make in the circumstances. READ ALSO: Were Ready For Peaceful Dialogue With FG To Exit Nigeria IPOB The application was predicated on 20 grounds, which amongst others claimed that the deposition sought to be adduced is, along with its accompanying documents, such as would have important effect in the resolution of this appeal. According to the appellant, The deposition is relevant to this matter, having confirmed that the certificate presented by the 2nd Respondent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not emanate from Chicago State University, and that whoever issued the certificate presented by the 2nd Respondent, did not have the authority of the Chicago State University, and that the 2nd Respondent never applied for any replacement certificate nor was he issued any replacement certificate by the Chicago State University. The deposition which is on oath and deposed to in the presence of the 2nd Respondents Attorney is credible and believable, and ought to be believed. The deposition is clear and unambiguous, and no further evidence is needed to be adduced on it. The evidence is such that could not have been obtained with reasonable diligence for use at the trial, as the deposition required the commencement of the suit in the United States of America before receiving same. It was not possible to obtain the said evidence before the trial at the Court below. The deposition was made on October 03, 2023 after the conclusion of trial at the Court below, and was not available to be tendered at the trial. Atiku through his lead counsel, Chris Uche, reminded the Court that, Presentation of a forged certificate to the independent National Electoral Commission by a candidate for election to the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a weighty constitutional matter, requiring consideration by the Courts as custodians of the Constitution. Controversial Nollywood actor, Kenneth Okonkwo has reacted to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) warning to Arise Television over what it described as the use of derogatory and incendiary remarks on its programmes. Recall that NBC had accused the media house of defaulting on its responsibility while airing its Newsday programme which featured Okonkwo, who according to them used derogatory remarks on air. However, Okonkwo, in his reaction to NBCs warning, called out the broadcasting corporation of infringing on his fundamental human rights. The Labour Party chieftain shared his grievances via an open letter addressed to NBCs Director-General, Dr. Balarabe Ilelah. He subsequently warned NBC to desist from mentioning his name in further publications. The letter reads in part: I read the letter written by Mr Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, DG of NBC, and wish to state as follows: I sympathize with him in this unfortunate journey intended to please his employers, but state that he would have been more wise and circumspect in going about it. READ MORE: NBC Gives Arise TV Final Warning Over Guests Use Of Derogatory Remarks Maybe he is not aware that the Court has decided that NBC has no power to fine or sanction any media house. Intimidating or manipulating the media house is a form of sanction and is unlawful. He ill-advisedly mentioned my name in his letter as making an unguarded utterance simply because I confirmed that the Chicago State University certificate, which BAT submitted to INEC, was forged, for the simple reason that the University has expressly stated that the certificate did not come from them, which is the condition necessary to prove forgery. This statement is an outright infringement on my fundamental human rights as enshrined in Sections 38 and 39, which provide that every person shall be entitled to freedom of though, every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information, ideas and information without interference. These rights are superior to the NBC Statute which the DG incorrectly stated and his mentioning my name in his letter is an attempt to rudely interfere with my divinely and constitutionally guaranteed rights and he should desist henceforth from further mentioning my name in any letter or communication whatsoever. I remind him that, by law, any infringement on the fundamental human rights of Nigerians attracts punishment of damages. The Constitution also protects the right of the media in Section 22 to be free to uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people. Again the DG does not have the right to deny Arise TV their right to hold the government accountable to the people. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has called for a de-escalation of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Information Nigeria had reported that in the early hours of Saturday, the Palestinian Hamas militant group infiltrated Israel in what was an unprecedented attack. At least 200 people in Israel have been confirmed killed, with more than a hundred others receiving treatment in hospitals. Hamas military commander, Mohammed Deif, said the attacks were a reprisal for Israels desecration of the Al-Agsa Mosque in Jerusalem, while alleging that Israel has killed and wounded hundreds of Palestinians this year. In a statement on Saturday, Saudi Arabias foreign affairs ministry said it is monitoring developments closely. The Kingdom calls for an immediate halt to the escalation between the two sides, the protection of civilians, and restraint. The Kingdom recalls its repeated warnings of the dangers of the explosion of the situation as a result of the continued occupation, the deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights, and the repetition of systematic provocations against its sanctities. The Kingdom renews the call of the international community to assume its responsibilities and activate a credible peace process that leads to the two-state solution to achieve security and peace in the region and protect civilians, the statement read. A senior Iranian government advisor explicitly endorsed Hamas in the conflict, the most direct support for the militant group from any government official globally. We congratulate the Palestinian fighters, advisor Yahya Rahim Safavi said, according to state media via Reuters. We will stand by the Palestinian fighters until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem, Safavi added Iran state media showed video of parliament members chanting in support of Hamas on Saturday, saying Death to Israel and Palestine is victorious, Israel will be destroyed. Iran has funded and supplied Hamas for years as part of its decades-long conflict with Israel. The Qatari Foreign Ministry also blamed Israel for the violence. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs holds Israel alone responsible for the current escalation due to this ongoing violations of the rights of the Palestinian people, the latest of which is the repeated raids on the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque under of the protection of Israeli police, the ministry said in a statement. Big Brother Naija reality show star, Pere Egbi has revealed his preference between colleagues, Mercy Eke and KimOprah. In the latest episode of Clout Africas Getting PersonaL, Cross asked Pere who he preferred if he were to choose between KimOprah and Mercy, and without hesitation, Pere picked the latter. Cross asked: Pere, be honest if you were to choose between Mercy Eke and KimOprah, who would you choose? READ ALSO: BBNaija All Stars: Pere Denies Knowing Alex (Video) Pere responded: Mercy Eke 1000 times. Ill choose Mercy Eke aka Lamborghini. Recall that houseguest KimOprah was in an entanglement triangle with best friends, Cross and Pere during her three-week stint in the just concluded BBNaija All Stars season. Peres inability to admit that she later ditched him for Cross made him engage in a verbal altercation with Doyin who confronted him with the harsh reality. However, Pere later found solace in Mercy Eke towards the end of the show. Nigerias Federal Government has reacted to the latest conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group. In a statement signed by Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the government called on both sides to exercise restraint and prioritise the safety of civilians. In the early hours of Saturday, the Hamas militant group infiltrated Israel from the Gaza strip, in what has been described as an unprecedented attack. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister, has since called the invasion an act of war. The federal government of Nigeria is deeply concerned about the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in the early hours of Saturday, 7th October, 2023 and calls for de-escalation and ceasefire, the statement reads. The cycle of violence and retaliation that the current escalation has assumed, only serves to perpetuate an unending cycle of pain and suffering for the civilian population that bear the brunt of every conflict. We are therefore calling for a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue. READ ALSO: Arise TV: Media In Nigeria Should Be Free To Exercise Their Right- Amnesty International Tells FG Meanwhile former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode via X posited that there is nothing gallant or noble about firing rockets into and invading a sovereign nation, targetting and slaughtering innocent women and children and abducting civilians. Such acts are not only despicable but they are also condemnable and barbaric. The truth is that it is time for the Israeli Defence Force to wipe Hamas from the face of the earth. It is time to retake Gaza. It is time to occupy Southern Lebanon. It is time to eliminate Hezbollah. It is time to stand up to Iran. It is time that the world understood that the Jewish state is here to stay and that she has a right to exist in peace and prosperity with her neighbours. Israel is surrounded by enemies but she has never been defeated and she will never be defeated. May God defend Israel. May God watch over Israel. May God be with the Jewish state and may He deliver the Sons and Daughters of David. News / National by Staff reporter South African musician and record producer Master KG, known as Kgaogelo Moagi, is all set to be the headline act at the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo closing concert in Bulawayo.The 16th edition of this annual event is scheduled to take place from October 12 to 14.Traditionally, the organizers of the expo host a family music festival on the event's final day.The three-day tourism expo will commence on Thursday at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) grounds, while the concert is scheduled to be held at the ZITF main arena on Saturday.The lineup for the concert includes top artists from South Africa and Zimbabwe, such as Master KG, renowned for the hit song "Jerusalema," Sandra Ndebele, ExQ, and Jeys Marabini.Master KG is a highly regarded entertainer whose debut album, "Skeleton Move" (2018), received critical acclaim and earned him an AFRIMA Award for Best Artist/Group in the African Electro category. He is known for blending tropical vibes, African rhythms, deep house grooves, and pop melodies to create a unique sound he refers to as "bolobedu house."In 2020, his single "Jerusalema" went viral on social media, leading to numerous remixes of the track, particularly in Nigeria.Godfrey Koti, the Head of Corporate Affairs at the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, expressed excitement about the event: "As has become the norm, we want to shut down the expo in style. Artistes have been carefully selected so that we cater for different tastes. We will have music for the young and the mature crowd."Last year, the Sanganai/Hlanganani shutdown concert featured South African artists, including Big Zulu, known for the hit "Imali Eningi," and the late Costa Tich, who delivered outstanding performances.Koti mentioned that they are collaborating with local music promoters and a Bulawayo-based commercial radio station to organize the concert."The major acts are Master KG, Sandra Ndebele, ExQ, and Jeys Marabini. However, we will have several other supporting acts, mainly youngsters from Bulawayo and surrounding areas. Similarly, there will be several performances throughout the three-day program, especially on the opening day," Koti added.The Sanganai/Hlanganani event will feature a variety of activities, including township tourism, musical performances, cultural exhibitions, and familiarization trips to different tourism sites across the country.Sanganai/Hlanganani attracts both local and international exhibitors, industry professionals, and visitors interested in exploring Zimbabwe's unique tourism offerings and investment opportunities.Koti encouraged the public to attend the family music festival, emphasizing that a nominal fee will be charged for the show. He also assured that preparations are in place to make the event memorable and flawless. Operatives of Kaduna State Police Command have arrested no fewer than ten individuals suspected of involvement in kidnapping activities between September and October 3, 2023. The Commands Acting Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, confirmed the development during a press briefing on Saturday, Hassan revealed that the security men successfully seized three AK47 rifles, three fabricated 10-round revolvers, 448 rounds of 7.62 X 39mm live ammunition, an additional cache of 15 rounds of 7.62 X 39mm live ammunition, and a vehicle bearing the registration number Ebonyi HKW 578 AA, from the suspects. He lamented that the culprits had been successfully carrying out their operations due to the alleged cooperations within the state security personnel and the criminal elements. He said: It is pertinent to note that we often have interface with you in an effort to showcase our successes in the fight against robbery, banditry, kidnapping and other sundry crimes. The accomplishments are not devoid of the assurances of our definite commitment to our statutory duty, thus, we seek for a robust Police Public partnership in the continuous fight against criminal elements as the task of securing the communities is everybodys duty. The Command is not unmindful of the security challenges bedevilling the state, amongst which are banditry, kidnapping, robbery and farmers/herders skirmishes, among others. However, remarkable efforts were not spared in addressing the untoward situation, which culminates into the relative peace currently being experienced by the law-abiding citizens in the state, Hassan said during the press conference. The police mouthpiece said the suspects are currently undergoing interrogation and will be brought before the court once the investigations are concluded. READ MORE: Auto Crash Claims Six Lives On Kaduna-Abuja Highway The Commissioner of Police, Musa Garba, expressed his appreciation for the bravery and commitment to duty demonstrated by the officers and personnel of the Command, as relayed by the spokesperson. He added that the Commissioner of Police also issued a stern warning to criminals to refrain from operating within the state and emphasized the Polices unwavering dedication to safeguarding the lives and property of the people. Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has ordered all criminals currently operating in the State to leave or risk arrest. This was contained in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Tersoo Kula, and made available to newsmen in Makurdi on Saturday. Gov. Alia is serious about securing the state and ridding it of criminal elements, it read. The statement furthered that no criminal in the State would escape punishment, adding that nobody is above the law as long as the person is resident in the State. Speaking on the Kwande attack on cattle traders, he stated categorically that no Fulani person was among the two traders that were unfortunately killed by criminals as alleged by the Benue Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He advised the PDP to join him to bring development to the State instead of continuously stoking the embers of hatred and sparking ethnic tensions. According to the statement, Alia has directed security agencies and traditional rulers within the area to ensure that the criminals who attacked and killed two Katsina-Ala Local Government Area-based cattle traders are arrested and prosecuted. READ ALSO: Opposition Planning To Deploy Youths In Military Uniform To Cause Mayhem Bayelsa Gov. Alleges The allegation by the PDP that it was Fulani herders that were attacked and killed is patently false and a figment of its blurry imagination which is obviously a decoy to mislead the unsuspecting public. The public is hereby urged to disregard such blanket falsehood which is the usual antics of the PDP drawn from its familiar tone. It has to be clearly stated that what happened at Nyihemba was purely a criminal act and the perpetrators must be punished to serve as a deterrent to others. It is therefore mischievous for the PDP to interpret the incident as though it was an assault targeted at cattle traders, he stated. The statement further quoted the Governor as saying that the State cannot be allowed to descend into a state of anarchy where impunity and lawlessness reign supreme. While submitting that he would not surrender the State to criminal gangs, he vowed that no stone would be left unturned in ensuring that Benue enjoys maximum security. Fulani socio-cultural group, Miyetti Allah Kautal has responded to the threat by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to ban open grazing in the Nigerian capital. Recall that Wike had earlier disclosed that he would consult with relevant stakeholders to effectively enforce the ban on open cattle grazing. He said: Before we take any decision, we will do proper consultations so that nobody will say you never alerted them, you never interacted with them before you took that decision. Replying to the minister in a statement on Saturday, the National Secretary of the body, Saleh Alhassan Kubah, mocked Wike, saying that his threat is inconsequential. Saleh added that Wike must find a way for the cows as most of the cattle belong to the elite. The statement reads: Where is the grazing land in Abuja? Is it inside the building they will graze? The thing is, Wike is not consequential. We have seen Ortom come and go. READ MORE: Wike Sacks 21 Heads Of FCTA Agencies, Companies (Full List) So we dont want to engage Wike, who has to take Ogogoro before he goes to the office every morning. Youve not heard it before? He said it himself. Let him deliver services in the FCT. We are waiting to see the good work he will do. You know hes working for our party, so I cant criticise him. Hes our minister. So I dont want to start fighting our minister. Its not consequential because theres no grazing area in Abuja. All those cattle you see there belong to the elite there, so hell find a way for them. Wike doesnt merit our responses. Let him deal with the massive abandoned buildings. Let him collect tax from all those houses nobody is occupying. Let him develop the city. Let him take care of the indigenous people that have been neglected, the Gwari people. Hes from Port Harcourt, an Ikwerre man. He knows how they behave in Port Harcourt. If the Gwari people give him 10 per cent of how Ikwerre people behave in Port Harcourt, he will know how to deal with them. Let him develop the rural areas, and the satellite towns and give them amenities. Power is transient. No matter how it is, he will leave very soon. We cant engage him. He cant get new information from us. Hes an attention seeker. Is there any grazing land around the Villa? Or, is it the sight of cows that people dont want to see? Are cows not the beauty of the Northern geography? You want to eat cows, but you dont want to see them; is it not contradictory? If there are no cows in the northern geography, what you will be seeing is a crisis caused by the spirits of the land. The land wont be stable [because the cows need to move for the spirits to be happy]. It is their environment. He cant chase the cows away. Who will chase the cows away in the northern territory? Nobody can chase them. Were going nowhere. Let him revoke the lands in the FCT; why is giving them more time? I thought he would just revoke them at once. In the Abuja development plan, theres no grazing area in the FCT or AMAC area council. Let him handle the issues of insecurity in Abuja. Were not and will never be his problem. Former Kaduna Central lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has condemned the allegations of fraudulent academic records leveled against Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka. Recall that INFORMATION NIGERIA had earlier reported that Soyinka called out those accusing him of fake academic records to submit all evidence to the various anti-graft agencies and the Directorate of Prosecutions within 30 days for probe. The Noble Laureate made this known in a statement titled: A Moral Call to A moral Conscripts on Friday after an online publication challenged his academic record. Soyinka declared in advance that, if found guilty, he would strip himself of any titles and honours he might have garnered in his entire career, from the most obscure to the most coveted. READ MORE: Submit All Evidence In 30 Days Or Jump Into River Niger With Life Jackets Soyinka To Those Disputing His Academic Records The award winning playwright disclosed that if such allegations are yet again proven baseless, all his accusers should prepare to jump off the bridge of the symbolic River Niger. Reacting in a post via his X handle on Saturday, Senator Sani said the campaign of mudslinging against Soyinka is condemnable and should stop immediately. Sani said those peddling unsubstantiated allegations against the playwright should respond to his challenge with evidence or nip their mischief. He wrote: The campaign of mudslinging against Professor Soyinka is condemnable. Those peddling unsubstantiated allegations against him should respond to his challenge with evidence or nip their mischief. The presidential aide and son of the late Chief MKO Abiola, Jamiu Abiola, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu applied to the Chicago State University (CSU) as a male and not as a female as it was claimed by Atiku Abubakar. Abiola made this known in his reaction to controversies surrounding the academic records of his principal released by the CSU to the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku, on the order of a U.S. Court. It was gathered that Atiku had sought the certificate of Tinubu in his move to challenge the ruling of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) and oust him from office at the Supreme Court. In an interview with The Punch, Abiola said that President Tinubu applied to the university as a male and graduated as a male with excellent grades, saying that there is no debate about his gender. READ MORE: Chicago: Stop Chasing Shadows, Start Preparing For 2027, Ex-APC Spokesman Tells Atiku He stated that the most significant fact is that the American university has acknowledged that the President graduated from there, adding that the opposition is making up something that does not exist and blowing things out of proportion. Abiola noted that most Nigerians are more interested in how President Tinubu would turn Nigeria into a dazzling model state with a robust master plan as he did in Lagos State. He said: The opposition is making up something that does not exist and blowing things out of proportion. The most significant fact is that the university has acknowledged that the President graduated from there. He even scored a high grade, which is a source of pride to Nigerians and not a slap on their faces. The President applied to the university as a male and graduated as a male with excellent grades. Most Nigerians are more interested in how President Tinubu turned a gloomy Lagos into a dazzling model state with a robust master plan. They want him to achieve the same feat in Nigeria as a whole. People voted for him because of his Renewed Hope Agenda and because, unlike other politicians, he had a realistic plan. Nigerians have real problems, and they need a man capable of solving these problems. Zaphaniah Jisalo, Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, says the Federal Government is proposing financial autonomy for tertiary institutions in the country to promote growth in the nations education sector. The Minister, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, disclosed this at the 27th convocation of the University of Abuja. Ministrys Director of Press, Anastasia Ogbonna, in a statement on Saturday said the proposed autonomy was in line with the administrations Renewed Hope Agenda. One of the key strategies proposed in the renewed hope agenda is financial autonomy for tertiary institutions which will encourage universities to source funds through grants and corporate sponsorship, promoting self-sustainability and reducing dependency on the Federal Government. READ ALSO: We Responded To Police Inquiry On Mohbad Since September 28 NDLEA By granting financial autonomy, institutions can effectively manage funds to enhance competitiveness, strive for excellence in education and eradicate education disruption caused by the strike, and let me emphasise that this administration is resolute in its dedication to reforming the nations education sector, Jisalo was quoted as saying. He also said Tinubus administration would use education to combat poverty in the country. Quality education for all is a central target of the renewed hope agenda and the President is committed to hastening the delivery of quality education by implementing policies that prioritise technological base learning resources, administration standards and quality improvement, he added. The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has traced the history of the Igbo race to Ile-Ife. While addressing journalists ahead of an International Conference on Ile-Ife and Yoruba Civilization: Nexus between Tradition and Modernity, at his palace in Ife, he disclosed that documented evidence proves the fact. He also challenged the academia in Nigerian universities to properly document the history of Yoruba race rather than relying on jaundiced history. READ ALSO: Were Being Governed By The Worst Amongst Us Ezekwesili We have good evidence to believe that Igbo race has its roots here in Ile-Ife. There is Ile-Igbo here in the palace which was not a recent creation but has been existing here for decades. For this and many other reasons, I believe we need proper documentation of our history. We are not involving government in this project so that we can just place all the facts together, we must write our history properly and put things right for the coming generations, he said. Obiageli Ezekwesili, an ex-Minister of Education, on Saturday, expressed optimism that Africa holds the potential to excel as the premier continent in the 21st century once it corrects its leadership anomaly. This perspective was conveyed during the third 2023 graduation event of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG) in Abuja on Saturday. Ezekwesili underscored the widely acknowledged challenge of leadership in Africa, asserting that the region is being governed by inadequate individuals. The former minister emphasized the critical necessity for concerted efforts from all Africans to reshape the narrative prevalent in the continent. If we succeed in correcting the leadership anomaly that we have on our continent, one thing is certain, Africa will claim the 21st century. READ ALSO: Kano Gov., Yusuf Hires Tinubus Lawyers To Retrieve Mandate At Appellate Court What ultimately concludes the matter is that Africas problem is poor public leadership; we have said it so often as a continent. The SPPG is our answer and our response to that problem. We are saying that it is not our destiny to be governed by the worst amongst us. And if you reject a situation then you must act to correct that situation. As the founder of the SPPG, she noted that the school was borne out of the need to groom leaders with integrity to saturate the political and business sectors so as to cause positive change. She further urged the graduands to always be of good character and uphold the values of character, competence and capacity preached by the school. Ezekwesili warned that the certificate issued to them would be retrieved if they were found wanting in character or competence in any public office. Darren Laustsen near Pennridge High School on Friday, Oct.6, 2023. He has taken the district to court in a quest to see if it's been secretly removing books. Read more The day after the Pennridge school board passed a policy last fall prohibiting sexualized content in library books, Darren Laustsen logged onto the districts card catalog. Before the September 2022 vote, one board member had read aloud from the young-adult novel Allegedly, by Tiffany D. Jackson an example of what another member described as pornographic filth harbored in the districts libraries. Laustsen, a father in the district, was suspicious. The reading wasnt a specific passage, but various sentences strung together that made Allegedly a thriller about a Black girl navigating the juvenile justice system sound relentlessly profane. Similar scenes had been playing out at school board meetings across the country, with parents some tied to groups such as the conservative Moms for Liberty reading explicit book excerpts while accusing schools of seeking to sexualize children. The board members said Allegedly had been removed from the shelves; Laustsen wanted to know whether other books had, too. Advertisement The question didnt yield a straightforward answer. Seven records requests, countless card catalog searches, and one court case later, Laustsen has identified more than a dozen books he believes were banned as a result of the policy some checked out for nearly a year before they were placed on lists of weeded books to be discarded. Yet the district hasnt announced any bans, or even any review process leaving Laustsen and other parents to draw their own conclusions. There was no public acknowledgement these books were even under review, no due process, just a backdoor ban, Laustsen said. Which is crazy. A Pennridge spokesperson didnt respond to requests for comment. The district is defending itself in court in an open-records dispute with Laustsen, who says Pennridge manipulated library checkout records to conceal books being reviewed. (The district has acknowledged errors in the records it supplied Laustsen, but hasnt provided a definitive explanation.) Soft censorship on the rise The situation demonstrates how the movement targeting books may be having a wider impact than what is publicly known. A report last month by free-speech group PEN America identified a 33% increase in book bans at the K-12 level nationally last school year, with 186 bans in Pennsylvania districts. None, however, was recorded for Pennridge. We are very confident that our count is an undercount, said Kasey Meehan, the Freedom to Read program director at PEN. She also noted a broadening of the types of books being banned: Although stories about or by LGBTQ people and people of color remain targeted, so are those featuring any kind of challenging and complex human experience, including violence, sexual assault, or drug abuse. In just the last two weeks, the Philadelphia-based Education Law Center received complaints about six Pennsylvania school districts that appear to have practiced soft censorship, circumventing policies to remove books, said Deborah Gordon-Klehr, the centers executive director. She spoke at a hearing on book bans Thursday in Harrisburg, where Democrats have introduced legislation seeking to bar public schools from censoring books based on certain factors, including school board members discomfort, personal morality, and political or religious views. Gordon-Klehr noted the U.S. Supreme Courts 1982 Pico ruling that districts must follow established, unbiased procedures to remove books, and cannot impose a narrow view of community values on libraries. Removals that dont follow such procedures are more likely to violate students First Amendment rights, she said. Laustsen, who has one child in elementary school and the other in preschool, doesnt doubt that whats happening in Pennridge is taking place elsewhere. But no one has been this crazy to obsess over this, he said of his efforts. Books with waiting times of more than a year His quest began last September with the passage of Pennridges library policy, which, like the policy adopted that summer in the Central Bucks School District, prohibits sexualized content. (In Central Bucks, Gender Queer and This Book Is Gay have since been banned, and 60 more challenges are pending.) The morning after the vote, Laustsen wrote to the districts then-superintendent, David Bolton, noting board members comments about Allegedly. He asked whether other books had been removed. Bolton responded that he had checked out Allegedly to read it once he learned about concerns over content. There was no formal removal of the book, Bolton said in an email, adding that in light of the new policy, librarians and curriculum supervisors would be reviewing our current resources. Laustsen began searching the high schools catalog for other frequently challenged books. He noticed that all nine copies of Looking for Alaska, a coming-of-age novel by John Green, were checked out, with an estimated wait time of 358-359 days. He again emailed Bolton. I have confirmed with the HS librarian that Looking for Alaska is also being reviewed by her based on the updated criteria in Policy 109, Bolton wrote. How many other books were being reviewed? Laustsen wondered. He found other books with similarly lengthy checkouts such as Sold, by Patricia McCormick, a novel about a girl sold into sexual slavery in India. To try to get an answer, Laustsen filed an open-records request last October, seeking records of all high school library books checked out by patrons other than students. But the response he got didnt make sense: For instance, it didnt include Allegedly or Looking for Alaska, the books the superintendent confirmed had been checked out by staff for review, or Sold. In pressing for clarification, Laustsen received more library records, which didnt seem to match his findings. The district said it couldnt conclusively answer Laustsens question about non-student checkouts because faculty could take out books under student accounts. Pennsylvanias Office of Open Records ruled in Pennridges favor. Frustrated, Laustsen appealed to the Court of Common Pleas in February; hes now awaiting a ruling on whether Pennridge acted in bad faith, given records showing that numerous books that had been taken out by faculty were checked back in and then checked out by student accounts the same day the district responded to Laustsens request for faculty checkouts. In the meantime, lists of books slated to be weeded from library shelves have appeared on school board agendas described as obsolete items for removal. Mixed in with almanacs, detective novels and titles by Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner were some of the books Laustsen had been tracking Allegedly, Looking for Alaska, and Sold; a series of fantasy novels by Sarah Maas; Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez; The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky; Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur. Some of the books were marked with numbers indicating reasons for their removal many listed as infrequent use. Beloved by Toni Morrison was also weeded out; although Laustsen hadnt noticed any unusually long checkouts of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, it had been targeted elsewhere for its depictions of rape and violence amid the horrors of slavery. Apparently, this was the pornography our school board needed to ban, Laustsen said Thursday, holding up Beloved as he testified during Thursdays hearing. A lot of other bad things go along with it While Laustsen sees book removals as bizarre and dystopian, his broader worry is about the direction of his school district, where the board has required teachers to consult Hillsdale Colleges 1776 Curriculum and hired a former employee of the conservative college to help craft courses, over opposition from Pennridge staff. When people start banning books, a lot of other bad things go along with it, Laustsen said in an interview. In Central Bucks, where book debates have attracted intense attention, social studies teacher Keith Willard told lawmakers that the library of LGBTQ-themed books he maintained in his role as adviser to his schools Gay Straight Alliance was audited after political extremists trespassed in my classroom after hours, posting a video of his library on social media with superimposed images of books that I didnt even have in my collection. Willard still maintains the library, though some books have been boxed away for fear of future controversy. He said some colleagues have performed similar self-censorship noting how easily people can generate book challenges with the help of Booklooks, a website created by a former Moms for Liberty member that catalogs any sexual descriptions, profanity and inflammatory racial commentary found in various books. The one formal book challenge Laustsen knows of that was filed with Pennridge appeared to cite Booklooks. Board members discussed the challenge in June, after Identical, by Ellen Hopkins, had already been quietly evaluated. Arguing that the book should have been removed, board member Jordan Blomgren read a passage that described a father molesting his daughter spurring discussion about whether the board needed to better define explicit language that was grounds for removal. A dissenting member, Ron Wurz, said the book teaches somebody about the horrors of this. Given the push by board members to purge content they consider inappropriate, Laustsen isnt sure why they havent said what books theyve banned. Its just like an open secret, he said. Pennsylvania Share Icon Link copied to clipboard When will recreational weed be legal in Pennsylvania? The outlook is hazy. Optimists say legal weed is coming. Realists arent so sure. News / National by Staff reporter The Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (ZICOSU) is in mourning following the tragic passing of its provincial chairperson for Mashonaland Central, Panashe Chatambudza. Chatambudza, who also served as the district chairperson for Chipindura in the Zanu-PF party, lost his life this morning in a fatal accident that occurred in Madziva.The incident occurred when the car Chatambudza was driving collided with the trailer of a haulage truck, resulting in his immediate demise. Two other passengers who were with him sustained severe injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment at Bindura Hospital.Pijiwest Nhamburo, the national president of ZICOSU, has officially confirmed the unfortunate news, expressing deep sorrow over the loss. Nhamburo stated, "We are profoundly saddened by the sudden loss of our colleague in this tragic accident that occurred earlier today. He was returning from attending a funeral to support one of our party comrades who had lost a family member when this dreadful accident took place, claiming his life on the spot."Brian Jonga, a provincial member of Zanu-PF, expressed shock and sorrow at Chatambudza's untimely passing, emphasizing his significant contributions as a diligent youth leader and his commendable progress in his academic pursuits. Jonga also highlighted Chatambudza's pivotal role within the youth league and his close collaboration with party leaders across various sectors. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands during a meeting at the White House on Sept. 21. Biden has failed to clearly state the U.S. end goals in the conflict, writes Trudy Rubin. Read more As the GOP wrangles over finding a new House speaker, the future of aid to Ukraine suddenly looks uncertain. No one knows whether the next speaker will have the guts to buck the MAGA firebrands who want to ax help for Ukraine. Those extremists, who were responsible for toppling former speaker Kevin McCarthy, are playing on broader public uncertainty about where the war is headed. Egged on by Donald Trump, fueled by social media and Fox News, they are spewing disinformation. I see the impact in my email, which often parrots claims about a corrupt Ukraine. Even supporters are often uncertain of where the war is headed. This is in large part because President Joe Biden has failed to clearly state the U.S. end goals in the conflict, or clarify whether he wants Ukraine to win and what win means. So, in hopes of greater clarity, let me reply to some of the questions Ive received from readers on both sides of the Ukraine debate. Advertisement Why should Americans give a hoot about Ukraine? Oddly, McCarthy put it best in a news conference after he was ousted, when he spoke honestly. Whats happening [in Ukraine] looks a lot like the 1930s, he said. A lot of actions that Putin takes is very similar to Hitler. He described how Russian President Vladimir Putin, furious at the breakup of the Soviet Union (as Adolf Hitler was at Germanys loss in World War I), wants to restore the great Russian empire, with Ukraine at its core. Id add: If the West lets him win there, NATO will crack, and Putin will use his nuclear threats to intervene further in Europe, the Arctic, and Asia in league with North Korea, Iran, and sometimes China. In other words, what goes on in Ukraine wont stay in Ukraine. Why should we help Ukraine when we need the money to close the southern border? The United States is fully capable of dealing with foreign and domestic crises at the same time. Yes, the Biden team has failed to adequately address the problem of immigration. But the border issue is mainly political, not financial. Slashing Ukraine aid is irrelevant to a solution, which requires an overall immigration reform plan, at which point funding could be found. Where do the Ukraine aid funds go? Most of the military aid to Ukraine goes to U.S. contractors to produce military supplies, or to reimburse the Pentagon for stock sent to Ukraine (the U.S. military uses the funds to replenish stocks or purchase upgraded systems while the Ukrainians often get older equipment). As for corruption, Ukraine is not Iraq or Afghanistan. Yes, there is a corruption hangover from Soviet times, but Ukraines anti-corruption nongovernmental organizations and its free press are busy investigating rumors of misspent monies, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has fired many officials because of alleged corruption. Why does Europe give little to Ukraine and the U.S. so much? Another misunderstanding pushed by Trump and the MAGA crowd. As detailed by the Ukraine Support Tracker of the Kiel Institute, a German think tank that keeps careful track of all U.S. and European funds promised to Ukraine, the commitments by all European donors (both EU members and non-EU) are twice as large as those of the United States: roughly $164 billion to $74 billion, if you include multiyear commitments. The difference is that European nations give far more financial support, while U.S. aid is focused much more heavily on weapons. Why not force both sides to negotiate now? Trump promotes this dishonest argument by pledging to put Putin and Zelensky in a room and produce a solution in 24 hours. For starters, Putin has made clear he has no interest in negotiations now but is waiting for Western support for Ukraine to wane and the possibility that Trump could be reelected. Trump has said publicly that he believes Putin is entitled to keep Crimea because its population is Russian-speaking. Never mind that most Ukrainians were Russian speakers before Putin invaded and that he has mercilessly bombed cities full of Russian speakers. Moreover, Putin has broken every accord he previously made with Ukraine, and Kyiv knows he would use any pause for negotiations to rebuild his army before restarting the war. But isnt the Ukraine war hopeless? Hasnt the counteroffensive failed? No to both questions. True, Ukraine has been slow to advance on the ground because Russia mined the battlefields five levels deep and built lines of concrete trenches in occupied territories. Ukraines tanks cant cut through such defenses without air cover and long-range munitions. Yet the White House has slow-walked permission for Europeans to send U.S.-made F-16s and long-range ATACMS missiles. However, Ukraine has brilliantly changed strategy and is destroying Russian supply lines and equipment behind the front lines, particularly in Crimea, which is the key to victory. With British long-range missiles and homemade sea drones, it has forced Russian warships in the Black Sea to mostly abandon Crimea. So is there still a chance Ukraine could win? And what does that mean? Winning means that Kyiv puts the Russian army on its back. The key: making Crimea untenable for Russias military by cutting off land, air, and sea support to the peninsula that enables Russian control of the Black Sea. If Russian troops were forced to retreat, the blow to the Kremlin might make much of the occupation unsustainable. Only then might talks become possible. But to win, Ukraine needs those long-range ATACMS and F-16s. What must the U.S. do now to ensure that Ukraine and its Western allies doesnt lose? Patriotic GOP legislators must push through a bipartisan Ukraine aid bill over objections from the extremists. Biden should finally explain to the U.S. public why a Ukraine victory is good for Americans and why a loss would be a disaster. And the president must stop letting Putins bluster deter him from delivering needed weapons. Neither Washington nor Kyiv can afford to let this war drag on indefinitely. A war of attrition is a win for Putin. Higher costs contributed to pre-tax profits at the Northern Ireland operation of Dunnes Stores declining by 41% to 3.75m (4.32m) last year. New accounts filed by Dunne Stores (Bangor) show that the company recorded a decrease in pre-tax profits as revenues increased by 34% from 118.76m to 158.68m. The family-owned Irish retailer operates 15 stores in Northern Ireland including four in Belfast, two in Derry, and two in Newry. According to the directors report signed off by director, Dr Anne Heffernan, the groups and companys balance sheets are robust with strong cash flow and no external funding. In a report accompanying the accounts, Dr Heffernan states: As a family company with generations of accumulated experience, we see things in the longer term and take our key business decisions accordingly. In a rare statement on the progress of the business, Dr Heffernan states that Dunnes Stores' philosophy is summed up by better value. The board of directors believes that its philosophy "underpins the success of the company in its first 75 years and it continues to guide us into the future. Dr Heffernan also stated: As a retail business, almost every decision we make is about providing customers with the widest, freshest range of food products, and the most exciting fashion and homewares brands and in-store experience. All of our stakeholders work hard to achieve this. We know we depend on all of our people and partners and we aim to be a responsible partner and employer. Numbers employed by Dunnes Stores (Bangor) Ltd reduced by 38 from 987 to 949 and staff costs increased by 2.97m from 14.89m to 17.86m. The pre-tax loss also takes into account non-cash depreciation costs of 2.2m. The company recorded a post-tax profit of 2.59m after incurring a corporation tax charge of 1.16m. The most recent Kantar Worldpanel survey shows that Dunnes Stores is the most popular retailer in the market, holding the highest market share of 23%. At the end of last year, the companys accumulated profits stood at 51.55m while its cash funds increased marginally from 38.06m to 38.2m. The companys cost of sales last year increased by 35.9m or 30pc from 90.89m to 126.87m with operating expenses increased by 7m or 32pc from 21.7m to 28.8m. The retailers costs increased in part to a 10% pay award confirmed in December 2021 and its full-year impact was recorded in 2022. Last December, Mandate welcomed a further 8% increase in pay. Dunnes is one of the largest private employers in the country operating 138 stores in Ireland, Spain, and Northern Ireland, with 15,000 employees. The first store was opened by founder, the late Ben Dunne on Corks Patrick Street in 1944. Aisling OConnor has fond memories of going into town as a young girl with her late mother, Denise and being let loose around Penneys to gather gifts for Team Hopes Christmas Shoebox Appeal. I was given the autonomy to pick out all the little gifts, says the 25-year-old, who was this years Clare Rose of Tralee. Id go through endless arrays of fluffy socks and mittens and colouring books. Id add in chewy sweets and choose bright Christmas paper for wrapping the box. Even as a child, I felt fulfilled doing this. In August, the primary school teacher from Feakle moved the country to tears at the Rose of Tralee as she spoke about the loss of her parents her dad, Pat, died in an accident in 2018, while her mum passed away in 2021 after a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis a year earlier. Aisling says she has been overwhelmed and grateful for the positivity, nice comments and support she and her family have received since the Rose of Tralee. That night she described how the local community surrounded her and her five brothers and kept us close and how theyve never been alone since 2021, with dinners outside the gate every day, vouchers left, bags of shopping, electricity bills paid and always somebody at the end of the phone. Her onstage account touched a chord with Team Hope, the Irish international development organisation that helps children in Africa and Eastern Europe, affected by poverty or marginalisation. The charity reached out to Aisling, inviting her to launch this years shoebox appeal, something shes so delighted about. They were struck by the message of community I was telling, the way the community really rallied around us in our time of need. They saw a correlation with what they and Irish communities do helping people less fortunate in Eastern Europe and Africa. Adding that the shoebox appeal has a strong place in Irish hearts Its part of our Christmas tradition now Aisling has been hearing murmurs since September from schools gearing up to do the shoebox collection. Just this year, she left her permanent teaching job in Dublin to move back home, where shes subbing in local schools. Ill be encouraging the children to save some of their Halloween treats for the shoebox, she says, adding that shell also read Bunnys Shoebox Journey with the class the story follows Bunny from when hes bought by Sophie and her mum, to visiting pre-school and being put in a shoebox, to his journey across the ocean to Malawi where hes given to Beatrice. When putting together a shoebox, people are encouraged to think of the four Ws: Write (something to write with), Wash (something to wash with), Wear (something to wear) and Wow (something fun or a novelty). As a teacher and coming from that angle, Aisling says she always loves to include a small picture book. Children can use their imagination and flick through the colourful pages, and a book can be used again and again. Working on the shoebox appeal, she cant help but think of special toys. Hers is the first ever teddy she got. His name is Champagne. Initially, he was called that for his colour. Now hes a muddy beige. He has literally turned up in drainpipes he has fallen in and people have pulled him out. He has survived so much! Theres something really comforting about a childhood teddy he has come with me to the Rose of Tralee and across the world. He has fallen apart a bit over the years. He has a head and a bit of a body and limp arms and legs but hes mine. Anna Kachanivska, Team Hope volunteer. Based in Waterford for 18 months since she fled the war in Ukraine, Anna Kachanivska from Kyiv is volunteering with Team Hope and describes how touched she is by the shoebox appeal. Its so good an idea. I was amazed at how people care about the boxes, what they buy and how carefully they package the box. I have sometimes found letters and photos of the family [donating] and it is so cool. Anna was 23, and 18 months into her university course in social work, when she arrived in Ireland without family and with just one friend, Sofia. Describing how scared and alone she felt, she says: I knew very little English. I didnt know what I needed to do, what my future would be and when could I go back to Ukraine. Through the Telegram app a globally accessible, free messaging app she heard from other Ukrainians about opportunities to volunteer where a lack of English wouldnt be an obstacle. We had started thinking about working and learning English, and volunteering was a good opportunity to do these things. And I also had a desire to help other people. Arriving at Waterford Volunteer Centre was the start of her hope. She realised that her English maybe wasnt so bad, and that its much more difficult for older Ukrainians to adapt to a new culture and language. I started English classes and I started helping others with translations, she says, describing some of the assistance she offers others: going to the doctor or post office, filling in forms and contacting social services. Last year, Team Hope sent almost 32,000 shoeboxes to Ukraine, and Anna is very happy about this. Christmas is a very important celebration in Ukraine, says the young woman, whose mum, older brother and stepfather are still back home. With the Internet connection good in summer, Anna says its easier to connect with family then, whereas in winter contact is more limited. She describes how, when power is cut off, the authorities try to turn it back on and give people the opportunity to cook or do laundry for at least a few hours a day and how she uses that opportunity to exchange very short emails, checking in with family to see if everything was okay during the day. I try to talk every day to my family because I dont know when something will happen, she says. Pictured at the launch of the Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal 2023 is Ambassador and Clare Rose, Aisling O'Connor. Pic: Marc O'Sullivan In a world where theres so much to grieve about, Team Hopes Christmas Shoebox Appeal is about making smiles happen. In 2022, shoeboxes were packed here by over 2,000 volunteers in 50 checking centres. Eleven 40-foot trucks took the shoeboxes to Eastern Europe, while 10 40-foot containers travelled by ship to Africa. Team Hope is calling on parents/children/teachers/families/communities to build-a-box at home or online to help reach the goal of 200,000 shoeboxes this year. Every shoebox equals a smile on a childs face in 12 countries across Africa and Eastern Europe thats got to be a target worth achieving! says a spokesperson. To take part, find an empty shoebox, wrap it in Christmas paper and fill it with gifts for a boy or girl aged between 2 and 14, give online or attach a 5 donation and bring it to a local drop-off point before Friday November 10. Build-a-box online by donating at https://www.teamhope.ie/ a Team Hope local partner will build a box on your behalf and ensure it goes where its needed most. Follow Team Hope on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/team.hope.ireland/. Four people have died in four separate collisions since Friday night, bringing the number of deaths on Irish roads this year to 143. The latest incident occurred in Dundalk when a pedestrian died after he was struck by a vehicle in the early hours of Sunday morning on a motorway. Gardai attended the scene of the incident at around 2.45am at Junction 16 southbound on the M1 motorway. The man, aged in his 40s, was struck by a vehicle and was fatally injured. His body remains at the scene and an autopsy will take place in due course. The male driver, aged in his early 50s, and the three passengers, aged in their 50s and 40s, were attended to by ambulance personnel at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries. The scene of the collision remains preserved for a technical examination. The road remains closed and local diversions are in place. Gardai in Dundalk are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them. "Any road users who were travelling on the M1 this morning between 2.30am and 3am, and who may have camera footage (including dash-cam), is asked to make this available to gardai," a spokesperson said. "Anyone with any information is asked to contact Dundalk Garda Station on 042 938 8400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station. Four deaths in three days The man's death brings the total number of fatal road traffic collisions across the country in the past three days to four. According to Garda data, the latest collisions bring the total number of road deaths in Ireland this year to 143. Garda figures show that up 9am on October 6, there had been 139 fatalities on Irish roads, up 26 on last year's figure. In Co Roscommon, a man in his early 20s died after his car overturned in the early hours of Sunday morning. Gardai are currently at the scene of the collision that happened at Scrine Hill, Scrine at around 2.50am. The road remains closed and local diversions are in place. In Co Kerry, the road on the R55 at Duagh Village, Listowel remains closed after a teenage pedestrian died following a collision involving a car at around 9.50pm. The man, in his late teens, was seriously injured and rushed to Kerry University Hospital. He later passed away. The scene remains preserved for a technical examination. The female driver, in her early 20s, and the three passengers in the car, all in their later teens, were uninjured. On Friday evening, a man who was one of the last residents of Inishbiggle Island off the Co Mayo coast, died in a road traffic incident on the island. Christy Henry, who was in his 60s, was pronounced dead after his car veered off the road and entered a lake on the island at around 8.30pm. His body has since been removed from the scene to the mortuary at Mayo University Hospital. An autopsy is due to take place. An Irish woman has been reported missing following Saturday mornings surprise attacks in Israel by Hamas militants. Kim Damti, who holds joint Irish and Israeli citizenship, is unaccounted for following the attack having been in attendance at a rave when the attack occurred. In a statement to the Irish Examiner, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of the case. The Department is aware of this case, and we are in touch with the family directly and providing consular assistance," said a spokesperson. Leo Varadkar added on Sunday: We dont have any definite detail beyond that, but certainly (were) aware of it and willing to offer any consular assistance we can to any Irish citizens or any dual Irish citizens that are caught up in these terrible attacks. According to The Irish Times, the 22-year-old was partying at an outdoor rave close to the Gaza border when the first rocket barrage hit close to 7am. Hundreds of terrified young people who had been dancing at the rave fled for their lives after Hamas militants entered the area and began firing at them. Ms Damtis mother, Jennifer, is originally from Portlaoise but currently lives in Israel. She told The Irish Times that her daughter is a "brilliant", "happy" kid. They shot them down like ducks. So many kids were slaughtered there, she said. The concerned mother said Ms Damti's name was originally on a list of those who had reached safety but she was not on the buses that evacuated people from the rave. Ms Damti was born in Israel, along with her four siblings. They live in the Israeli town of Gadera but have often spent summers in Ireland. The attack occurred on Saturday morning when Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired thousands of rockets from Gaza and armed militants broke down the hi-tech barriers surrounding the strip to enter Israel, shooting and taking hostages. Militants infiltrated Jewish communities near the border with Gaza, killing and seizing civilians and soldiers. The exact reasons for the attack are not clear, but there has been growing violence for months between Israeli soldiers and settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank. Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said he is aware of the case of an Irish-Israeli citizen missing after Saturdays attack by Hamas. We are aware of the case and the Department Foreign Affairs has been in touch with the family. But we dont intend to comment specifically on the case at this stage, the Tanaiste said. Could I say that as more information is revealed, I think the full horror of the crimes that were committed yesterday by Hamas are laid bare hundreds and hundreds of innocent people slaughtered in the most savage of ways. He said that people had been targeted in their homes in an indiscriminate way. Mr Varadkar said that the surprise attack launched by Hamas is probably the worst attack that Israel has had to endure for 40 years now. The government condemns it unreservedly, there can be no excuse for targeting women, children, taking children and women, civilians as hostage, the Taoiseach said. I dont think anyone could do anything other than condemn that and we do condemn it unreservedly. I would also urge restraint though by the Israeli authorities, there will be retaliation for this, Im sure, but for the first time, I think in a very long time, Israel is united and the free world is standing in solidarity with Israel. But that could change, I think, if the response from Israel is excessive and results in unnecessary civilian deaths in Gaza, so very much that is this part of our message too. Oroko Travel, Irelands leading luxury tailored travel specialists, are delighted to introduce the newest addition to their luxury travel brand: Oroko Corporate Leisure. This marks the official launch of Ireland's premier destination for luxury tailored corporate leisure holidays, where opulence meets expertise. Oroko specialise in bespoke luxury holidays, promising unmatched service, experiences that are tailor-made to each client and unbeatable value. The team at Oroko take the time to listen and understand to create the perfect luxury holidays for each client, resulting in customers that return to Oroko to craft their bespoke trips time and time again. Among the large number of customers returning to avail of the Oroko teams knowledge and operational excellence were those who sought their expertise in crafting tailor-made luxury getaways for corporate leisure groups. In response to the growing demand from their clientele, Oroko naturally expanded its horizons into the domain of corporate leisure holidays. These meticulously designed end-to-end experiences aim to reward top-performing employees, build relationships across valued teams and incentivise esteemed colleagues. Recognising the time-consuming nature of trip planning, Oroko Corporate Leisure is here to alleviate that burden, understanding that each individual and group possess unique preferences, and going to great lengths to grasp your needs thoroughly. Instead of sifting through endless options, navigating complicated travel details and managing a number of staff abroad, entrust Oroko to handle every aspect of your trip, down to the smallest detail. From ski adventures in pristine Alpine landscapes to Grand Prix excursions that put you at the centre of the action, Oroko Corporate Leisure offers a myriad of suggested experiences. Whether you are aiming to inspire your sales team, reward top executives, or commemorate your companys milestone anniversary, Orokos team of experts will carefully craft and flawlessly execute each aspect of your journey. Today, were sharing what sets Oroko Corporate Leisure apart. Sharing wine and cheese Tailored to your group When booking a corporate leisure holiday with Oroko, you can expect an experience crafted entirely to you. Excelling in curating tailor-made itineraries that bring everyone together and create lasting memories, Oroko Corporate Leisure aims to craft a unique experience that fosters deeper connections within your team. Building strong client relationships, Oroko will ask the right questions to gain a thorough understanding of your requirements, resulting in a personalised itinerary that offers unparalleled luxury and value, tailored exclusively to your group. Whether its dining under the starry Moroccan skies or savouring the finest wines of Bordeaux, your team will take part in a range of activities aimed at promoting camaraderie and shared moments, designed just for you. Mary Masterson, Oroko travel specialist, says At Oroko, we specialise in tailored-made travel which is hugely beneficial for corporate leisure groups who want the best from their holiday. With so many preferences and needs in one group, having a trip that is tailored just for your group is paramount. Apres ski with a view Concierge When you book an Oroko Corporate Leisure holiday, you receive exclusive access to a dedicated concierge service, committed to ensuring your holiday unfolds seamlessly and stress-free. Oroko understand that planning and arranging reservations can be a time-consuming and overwhelming task, especially when catering for large groups. Thats why the concierge service is here to take care of all the essential preparations in advance, from securing restaurant reservations in the most coveted spots to scheduling spa appointments. So, sit back, relax, and trust Oroko to handle everything on your behalf. Operational excellence At Oroko, the team go the extra mile to streamline your journey. Prior to your arrival, they will take care of online check-ins, submitting your passport details to the hotel and arranging room keys in advance, ensuring a hassle-free and efficient check-in process for everyone in your party. To enhance your travel experience, each member of your group will receive a sustainable travel wallet before departure. These thoughtful packages include complimentary extras such as Butlers Chocolate Cafe coffee vouchers and personalised luggage tags. Each group member also receives fast track at Dublin Airport, affording a stress-free experience. Group on a boat trip Oroko trip co-ordinator We know how difficult it can be for the holiday organiser to enjoy the experience. Guided by your Oroko trip co-ordinator, who will be by your side on your luxury holiday, all members of your group can relax and enjoy time spent together. Leave the logistics and planning to their capable hands, allowing you and your group to fully immerse yourselves in a seamless travel experience. Marek, Oroko operations manager, has been accompanying corporate leisure groups on trips for many years. He says Its very rewarding to see everyone enjoying the trip equally. The Oroko trip co-ordinator takes the burden off the trips organiser and, with their expertise, makes the holiday truly seamless and stress-free. Expertise The Oroko teams exceptional success is anchored in their unparalleled knowledge, having explored the length and breadth of world and designed fantastic luxury holidays for many years. What distinguishes the Oroko team is their intimate familiarity with their recommended destinations. Each experience they offer has been explored and reviewed by the team, gaining proud and trusted partnerships all over the world along the way and guaranteeing that they deliver the perfect itinerary for you and your group. The Oroko app Personalised App Profiles Every group member will enjoy the convenience of a personalised Oroko app profile, complete with essential travel documents, real-time flight updates, detailed mapping information, and their Oroko Corporate Leisure itinerary. With the Oroko app, everyone remains well-informed and connected, proving particularly advantageous with varying flight schedules or departure points among guests, guaranteeing a seamless travel experience for every member of your party. If youre feeling inspired, head to the Oroko Corporate Leisure website to take a look at some of their suggested offerings or to download the Oroko Corporate Leisure brochure. Get in touch by giving the team a call on 01 260 0240 or emailing info@orokotravel.ie. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office says his security cabinet has declared the country at war following a deadly Hamas assault in southern Israel. The decision, announced on Sunday, formally authorises the taking of significant military steps, it said in a statement. The war that was forced on the State of Israel in a murderous terrorist assault from the Gaza Strip began at 06:00 yesterday, it said. Mr Netanyahu had previous declared the country at war and the military has promised a harsh response in Gaza. Israeli media say at least 600 people have been killed in the surprise cross-border incursion by Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip. Israeli police retrieve weapons used by militants outside a police station that was overrun by Hamas gunmen on Saturday, in Sderot, Israel, Sunday, Oct.8, 2023. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg) The Kan public broadcaster and Channel 12, as well as the Haaretz and Times of Israel newspapers, all reported the toll. There has been no official confirmation of the number of deaths on the Israeli side since the fighting erupted early on Saturday. Palestinian officials say more than 300 people have been killed in Gaza, without differentiating between fighters and civilians. A brief exchange of strikes with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group raised fears of a broader conflict. There was still some fighting under way more than 24 hours after an unprecedented surprise attack from Gaza, in which Hamas militants, backed by a volley of thousands of rockets, broke through Israels security barrier and rampaged through nearby communities. A man takes pictures of a car burned during an infiltration by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip, a day after the attack near the southern city of Sderot on October 8, 2023. (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images) They took captives back into the coastal Gaza enclave, including women, children and the elderly, who they will likely try to trade for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Hundreds have been killed on both sides. The high death toll, multiple captives and a slow response to the onslaught pointed to a major intelligence failure and undermined the long-held perception that Israel has eyes and ears everywhere in the small, densely-populated territory it has controlled for decades. Mr Netanyahu vowed that Hamas will pay an unprecedented price. But, he warned, This war will take time. It will be difficult. Israeli media, citing rescue service officials, said at least 300 people were killed in Israel, including 44 soldiers, while officials in Gaza said 313 people had died in the territory. An Israeli official said the military had killed 400 militants and captured dozens more. Israeli TV news aired a stream of accounts from the relatives of captive or missing Israelis, who wailed and begged for assistance amid a fog of uncertainty surrounding the fate of their loved ones. Israeli tank heads south near Sderot, Israel, Sunday, Oct.8, 2023. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg) In Gaza, residents fled homes near the border to escape Israeli strikes, fleeing deeper inside the territory after warnings in Arabic from the Israeli military. In neighbouring Egypt, a policeman shot dead two Israeli tourists and an Egyptian at a tourist site in Alexandria, the Interior Ministry said. Egypt made peace with Israel decades ago, but anti-Israel sentiment runs high in the country, especially during bouts of Israeli-Palestinian violence. The flare-up on Israels northern border also threatened to draw into the battle Hezbollah, a fierce enemy of Israels which is backed by Iran and estimated to have tens of thousands of rockets at its disposal. Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and shells on Sunday at three Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border and Israels military fired back using armed drones. An Israeli soldier walks outside a police station that was overrun by Hamas militants on Saturday, in Sderot, Israel, Sunday, Oct.8, 2023. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg, File) Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military official, told reporters the situation at the northern border was calm after the exchange. But he said fighting was still under way in the south and that there were still hostage situations there. He said troops had moved into every community near the Gaza frontier, where they planned to evacuate all civilians and scour the area for militants. Hamas said that overnight it had continued to send forces and equipment into a number of locations inside our occupied territories, referring to Israel. Hamas-linked media reported that the son of Nizar Awadallah, a senior political official, was killed. The Islamic militant group has not reported any senior members being captured, killed or wounded. US defence secretary Lloyd Austin said on Sunday he has ordered the Ford carrier strike group to sail to the eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel after the attack by Hamas that has left more than 1,000 dead on both sides. Americans were reported to be among those killed and missing. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the navys newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, and its approximately 5,000 sailors and deck of warplanes will be accompanied by cruisers and destroyers in a show of force that is meant to be ready to respond to anything, from possibly interdicting additional weapons from reaching Hamas to conducting surveillance. The deployment, which also includes a host of ships and warplanes, underscores the concern that the United States has in trying to deter the conflict from growing. Strengthening our joint force posture, in addition to the materiel supportincluding munitionsthat we will rapidly provide to Israel, underscores the United States ironclad support for Israel. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) October 8, 2023 But the Israeli government formally declared war on Sunday and gave the green light for significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas. Preliminary reports indicate that at least four American citizens were killed in the attacks and an additional seven were missing and unaccounted for, according to a US official. Most, if not all, of those reported dead or missing are dual US-Israeli citizens, the official said. Along with the Ford the U.S. is sending the cruiser USS Normandy, destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt and the US is augmenting Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. We will never fail to have Israels back. pic.twitter.com/3JM8d665iJ President Biden (@POTUS) October 8, 2023 The US maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required, Mr Austin said in a statement. In addition, the Biden administration will be rapidly providing the Israel defence forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions. The first security assistance will begin moving today and arriving in the coming days, Mr Austin said. The carrier strike group was already in the Mediterranean. Last week it was conducting naval exercises with Italy in the Ionian Sea. The carrier is in its first full deployment. US President Joe Biden and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a telephone call on Sunday, discussed the taking of hostages by Hamas terrorists, including entire families, the elderly, and young children, according to a White House statement describing their conversation. Mr Biden stressed that all countries must stand united in the face of such brutal atrocities. What happened on the border between Israel and Gaza on Saturday? Shocked Israelis woke on the last day of the Jewish high holidays to the wail of sirens as Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired thousands of rockets from Gaza and armed militants broke down the hi-tech barriers surrounding the strip to enter Israel, shooting and taking hostages. Militants in boats also tried to enter Israel by sea. It was a staggering and unprecedented offensive by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and a catastrophic intelligence failure by Israel and both will have long-lasting repercussions and consequences. The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, declared that Israel was at war and that Palestinians would pay a heavy price. Militants infiltrated Jewish communities near the border with Gaza, killing and seizing civilians and soldiers. Unverified videos showed terrified Israelis covered in blood, and with hands tied behind their backs, being taken by Palestinian gunmen. Many people rushed to safe rooms in their homes as the carnage unfolded around them. Hundreds of young people at an all-night dance festival in southern Israel found themselves under fire. They were going tree by tree and shooting. Everywhere. From two sides. I saw people were dying all around, said one survivor. By nightfall on Saturday, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) estimated there were still 200-300 Palestinian militants inside Israel. There were eight points of engagement where the IDF was trying to regain control from militants. How did Israel respond? Israel called up army reservists and launched a wave of airstrikes on the tiny strip, which is home to 2.3 million people. Netanyahu warned Palestinians in Gaza to get out of there now as he vowed to reduce Hamas hideouts to rubble, but there is nowhere for those in the blockaded territory to escape to. Fire and smoke rise after an Israeli air strike targeted the National Bank on Gaza City, on October 8, 2023. (Photo by AHMED ZAKOUT/AFP via Getty Images) Warplanes targeted several buildings in the centre of Gaza City, including Palestine Tower, an 11-storey building that houses Hamas radio stations. Israel has indicated it may launch a ground invasion, although this would carry huge risks both for IDF troops and for Israeli hostages being held in the territory. Israel has cut off electricity and fuel supplies to Gaza, which may soon affect the strips medical facilities that are already under extreme pressure from people injured in the bombardment. Video recorded in Gaza showed a mosque destroyed in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, and several large buildings in Gaza City in ruins. Palestinians in Gaza shared images of text messages sent by the Israeli military to people in the Beit Hanoun area in the north of the strip that ordered them to leave their homes before the airstrikes. How many people have been killed and injured? And how many Israelis have been taken hostage? Around 700 people, including 73 soldiers, have been killed in Israel, according to Israeli media outlets, citing rescue service a staggering toll by the scale of its recent conflicts. The Gaza Health Ministry said 493 people, including 78 children and 41 women, were killed in the territory. Thousands have been wounded on both sides. Palestinian militant groups claimed to be holding more than 130 people abducted in Israel and dragged into Gaza. Why did Hamas and Islamic Jihad launch the attack? The exact reasons for the attack are not clear, but there has been growing violence for months between Israeli soldiers and settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank. Armed settlers have attacked Palestinian villages; militants in the West Bank have attacked soldiers and settlers, and there have been repeated IDF raids on Palestinian cities. During the past week, some Jews have prayed inside the compound of al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalems Old City. The area around the mosque is known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and is the third holiest place for Islam after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. To Jews, it is known as Temple Mount, and is venerated as the site of the biblical Jewish temple. Jews are not permitted to pray inside al-Aqsa compound; to do so is highly provocative. Hamas has called its current offensive Operation al-Aqsa Deluge. Palestinians kid walks by the rubble of a building after it was struck by an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair) The longer backdrop is a 16-year blockade of Gaza by Israel and Egypt that has almost destroyed the strips internal economy and has caused hardship for the people living there. Extreme religious nationalists who are part of Israels rightwing coalition government have repeatedly called for the annexation of Palestinian territory. There has also been speculation that the offensive could have been encouraged by Iran as a means of scuppering moves by Saudi Arabia to normalise relations with Israel. Why did the attack take Israel by surprise? Hamas must have planned this offensive for many months, and it is a mystery why Israeli intelligence appears to have had no idea it was coming. Israels surveillance of Gaza is intense. It monitors activity, communications and daily life via state-of-the-art surveillance equipment, including drones flying over the strip. It also relies on human intelligence via informants, many of whom are blackmailed or otherwise coerced into assisting Israel. The intelligence failure is monumental, and will shake the Israeli publics faith in their government and armys ability to protect civilians. A man takes pictures of a car burned during an infiltration by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip, a day after the attack near the southern city of Sderot on October 8, 2023.(Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images) All of Israel is asking itself: where is the IDF, where are the police, where is the security? said Eli Maron, a former head of the Israeli navy, on Channel 12. Its a colossal failure; the [defence] establishments have simply failed, with vast consequences. What does Hamas hope to gain? The militant organisation that has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007 has shown the world that it is a force to be reckoned with, but it is hard to see how there can be a positive outcome for Hamas or Gaza from the events this weekend. Israel is likely to use the full force of its military might to crush militant activity, not just in Gaza but also the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In the process, a huge number of Palestinian civilians are likely to be killed, and homes and infrastructure destroyed. The hostage-taking will also complicate Israels response and gives Hamas a significant bargaining chip. Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier held in Gaza by Hamas for five years, was finally released in 2011 in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. If Iran is involved, it will hope the violence will scupper any deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Does Hamas have the support of ordinary people in Gaza? Many people in Gaza just want to get on with their lives, free from the blockade and repeated wars and conflicts. They resent the restrictions imposed on them and the fear instilled in them by Hamas rulers. Palestinians fleeing Israeli air strikes take refuge in a school run by the United Nations in Gaza City on October 8, 2023. (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images) However, others are driven to take up arms by the lack of hope and the misery that is characteristic of life in Gaza. They see militant action as the only way of asserting themselves and fighting for a better future. Support for Hamas has not been tested since the last elections in Gaza in 2006. What has been the international reaction to the Hamas offensive? There has been overwhelming condemnation of Hamas and support for Israels right to defend itself. Joe Biden told Netanyahu that the US stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults My administrations support for Israelis security is rock solid and unwavering. The UN security council is to hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss the crisis. Meanwhile, UN peacekeeping forces have been deployed along the Lebanon-Israel border to maintain stability and help avoid escalation. The Egyptian government said it was in talks with Saudi Arabia and Jordan to try to find a way to defuse the crisis. Egypt has been heavily involved in brokering ceasefires in the past. - The Guardian Israeli death toll in Hamas attack reaches 600 Xinhua) 21:04, October 08, 2023 JERUSALEM, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The death toll of Hamas' unprecedented surprise attack on Israel reached 600, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Sunday, the second day of the deadly war. Kan quoted government officials as saying that the death toll reached at least 600, marking one of the deadliest attacks in Israel's history. The Israeli Health Ministry said in a statement on Sunday that at least 2,048 were injured, including 20 in critical condition. Also on Sunday, Israel's Security Cabinet officially announced that "Israel was at war," saying in a statement that it will carry out "meaningful military operations" in Gaza in the next days. On Saturday, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which controls Gaza, showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack. Israel's military responded with airstrikes in Gaza, flattening multi-story buildings and attacking Hamas targets. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, at least 313 Palestinians were killed and 1,990 were injured. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Kou Jie) News / National by Staff reporter The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) has reported that the construction progress of the Gwayi-Shangani Dam in Matabeleland North Province has reached 70.2%. There are concerted efforts to expedite the supply of water from this dam to address the ongoing water shortages in Bulawayo.Bulawayo has been grappling with recurring water shortages, with residents enduring more than a week without access to this essential resource. The ambitious project, aimed at sourcing water from the distant Zambezi River, located over 400 kilometers away, is regarded as a lasting solution to the city's water challenges. Remarkably, this project was first proposed in 1912, and after over a century, it is still under construction.In January, the Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Rural Development, Anxious Masuka, had stated that the massive Lake Gwayi-Shangani would be completed before the start of the 2023/24 summer cropping season.Addressing questions regarding the state of water supply dams for Bulawayo and the progress on the Gwayi-Shangani Dam, Zinwa spokesperson Marjorie Munyonga revealed that the project has reached a completion rate of 70.2%. She emphasized the significance of the Gwayi-Shangani Dam and the Gwayi-Shangani to Bulawayo pipeline as critical components of the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project, which is considered the long-term solution to Bulawayo's water challenges. Munyonga affirmed, "Once the project is complete, the city will receive a reliable water supply."The construction of the dam is being undertaken through collaboration between Zinwa and a Chinese contractor.Currently, Bulawayo sources its water from six dams located in Matabeleland South: Insiza Mayfair, Umzingwane, Mtshabezi, Inyankuni, Lower Ncema, and Upper Ncema dams. Munyonga acknowledged that these dams have contributed to addressing the city's water challenges, with the Mtshabezi Pipeline serving as a medium-term solution. However, she stressed that the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project is actively and diligently pursued as the long-term solution.Munyonga provided water level updates as of September 20: Umzingwane Dam at 8.2%, Mtshabezi Dam at 77%, Upper Ncema at 24.4%, Inyankuni at 31.8%, Lower Ncema at 34.8%, and Insiza at 64%.Meanwhile, Bulawayo residents have expressed growing concerns about worsening water shortages in the post-election period. Ambrose Sibindi, chairperson of the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association, highlighted that some suburbs, such as Pumula South, Pumula East, and Nkulumane, experience water shortages lasting beyond the scheduled 72-hour water shedding periods, posing a potential risk of waterborne diseases. To mitigate this, Bulawayo town clerk Christopher Dube mentioned that the council is supplying water using bowsers to stabilize the situation and prevent waterborne disease outbreaks. 1371138342::cfb49c8e-2422-11e5-99a3-d7f5c6e8b241 A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. News / National by Staff reporter On Wednesday, a 48-year-old man from Bulawayo made an appearance before Magistrate Nomagugu Maphosa, facing charges related to domestic violence. He stands accused of physically assaulting his wife and daughter in a dispute over a new television set, which he suspected had been gifted to his wife by her lover.Bruce Mlauzi, who has been charged with three counts of physically abusing his wife, Simomo Dube, and daughter, Pretty, was granted bail of US$20 and remanded until October 18.The allegations suggest that on October 1, at approximately 2 pm, Mlauzi confronted his wife regarding the origin of the television set. She responded that it had been given to her by their neighbor. However, Mlauzi remained unconvinced and accused his wife of receiving the television set from her lover. Subsequently, he allegedly subjected his wife to physical assault, using both fists and boots.Additionally, the accused assaulted his daughter by forcefully pushing her to the ground. The following day, Mlauzi is said to have assaulted his wife once again.As a result of the injuries sustained, Dube was referred to Mpilo Hospital for a medical examination, and a police report was filed, leading to Maphosa's arrest. News / National by Staff reporter Acting Chief Nyamandi born Siyano Machaya has told village heads not to give Presidential agricultural inputs to anyone deemed not to have voted Zanu-PF in the August 2023 harmonised elections.Nyamandi is the largest and most populous chieftainship in Gutu District spanning three wards.Nyamandi told a Mirror undercover journalist in a telephone call that he had the backing of Zanu-PF national secretary for security and Minister of State in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Lovemore Matuke in the programme. He said he is currently going around in the company of Central Intelligence Officers (CIO) and Police officers from the CID in Gutu instructing village heads not to give Presidential inputs to CCC supporters.The Mirror has recordings of the chief. Chiefs are by law not allowed to dabble in politics.Earlier, on Saturday September 30, 2023 Nyamandi addressed village heads at Mutero and instructed them not to give any Presidential inputs to CCC supporters."You should not give anything to people who did not vote for the President. The Presidential inputs that are coming in the next few days are for those who voted President Mnangagwa. You cannot give food to someone who did not support you. Inputs coming from the President are for his supporters," said Nyamandi.Matuke however, distanced himself from Nyamandi's statement. He said that he never talked to the chief about the distribution of inputs and as far as he is concerned Presidential inputs are for everyone."If the chief has his own inputs, he can give that out at his discretion but State aid is for everyone," said Matuke.Police Spokesperson Paul Nyathi said he can only comment after gathering facts on the issue.CIO Director General Isaac Moyo's phone was not reachable.Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission spokesperson Everson Mushava could not be eached for comment. Questions sent on his Whatsaap platform remained undelivered.CCC spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi said chiefs should not delve in politics but embrace all their subjects.Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum acting executive director Wilfred Mandinde said presidential inputs are there for everyone because they are provided by the State."If Zanu-PF wants to distribute its resources it can do so without using State machinery," said Mandinde.He warned Chief Nyamandi to stop dabbling in politics citing an order issued by the High Court in Masvingo against Chief Charumbira."Ndakavaudza vese kuti vasina nechekuita ne musangano we Zanu-PF hapana chavanowana. Shuwa tingape munhu waipikisa President chikafu? Madates e distribution ndichaudzwa naDA (I told them that anyone who was against Zanu-PF during elections will not get anything. We cannot feed those who opposed President Mnangagwa. I will get the distribution dates from the District Development Coordinator (DDC) offices," he says in one audio.However, when The Mirror later contacted him for a comment, Nyamandi vehemently refuted his earlier statement but confirmed what the public had always feared that Zanu-PF is responsible for the distribution of welfare aid."I never said that. Everything is done by Zanu-PF the ruling party with the assistance of Agriculture Extension (Agritex) officers and headmen. I never uttered such words. Every subject in my chiefdom should receive food and inputs," he said.Nyamandi's position jellies with Zanu-PF's strategy on Election Day where villagers were recording their names with party officials before going into polling booths. It was said that the list would be used for distribution of Government aid.Gutu district is one of the most polarized districts and is not new to cases of politicization of food aid and presidential inputs. The polarization was most acute in Gutu North under Zanu-PF legislator Yeukai Simbanegavi. Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum acting executive director Wilfred Mandinde said . Reddit 25 Email 617 Shares Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) The conflict that broke out on October 7, 2023, between Palestinian militants and Israel underlined once again that the status quo, with Israel occupying 5 million stateless Palestinians, is unsustainable. In the midst of the 2012 presidential campaign, Republican standard-bearer Mitt Romney was recorded giving a fundraising speech in which he admitted that it was impractical to give the Palestinians a state and that the only thing you could do with the Israel-Palestine issue was to kick the can down the road. Periodic kinetic conflicts are the price of the American elites studied inaction and, worse, coddling of the ugliest political forces on the Israeli side, as well as failure to offer ordinary Palestinians a dignified life that could allow them to develop alternatives to the ambitious and bloodthirsty fundamentalists who run Gaza. Article continues after bonus IC video Watch: High-Rise Building in Gaza Crumbles After Israeli Airstrike | WSJ News More recently, the standard line from both Israeli politicians such as Binyamin Netanyahu and from American politicians such as Jared Kushner (Trumps special envoy to the Middle East) and Bidens Secretary of State Antony Blinken, has been that Palestinian citizenship in a state is not essential to a peace settlement. Rather, Israel can do diplomatic deals with Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Sudan, and now perhaps Saudi Arabia. The wealthier Middle East states could exchange technology with Israel, do joint start-ups, and engage in trade, giving a fillip to the Israeli economy that would trickle down to the Palestinians. With rising incomes and economic well-being, the Palestinians would be content to forego rights to nationhood and would acquiesce in Israeli military rule (in the Palestinian West Bank) or Israeli siege (in the Gaza Strip). As with all trickle-down theories, this one is a chimera, an illusion, in brief, a scam. The reality is seedier and considerably less promising. Some 75% of the families in Gaza are descended from refugees driven out of what is now southern Israel, out of what is now Beersheva and Sderot and other places that either no longer exist or have been renamed by the settler-colonial victors. They have not forgotten where they came from. Many could walk home in less than a day if they were allowed to recover their patrimony. The economic efflorescence dreamed of by Kushner and Netanyahu once Tel Aviv was married up to Dubai has not taken place, either for most ordinary Israelis, and least of all the under-educated and under-employed Ultra-Orthodox, or for the Palestinians, who have a Depression-era unemployment rate of 25%. In the Gaza Strip joblessness stands at 46.4%, as a direct result of the Israeli siege imposed since 2007. So far from economic efflorescence is Gaza that only 4% of its freshwater is fit for human consumption, and it has electricity only for a few hours a day. Israel does not allow Gaza to have a harbor or an airport, rather denting the likelihood of anything trickling down. While the so-called Abraham Accords (a piece of blasphemy toward the patriarch) may have allowed Arab oil billionaires and Israel tech billionaires to do some deals, those people were never at war in the first place, and their finances remained in the stratosphere out of sight of ordinary mortals. We have seen the rise of a set of fascist parties among the Ultra-Orthodox Jews and especially those who had been encouraged or allowed by the Israeli government to squat on land owned by Palestinian families in the West Bank. Never very helpful to the cause of social harmony even when considered pariahs by the Israeli Establishment, they have been given the keys to reshape both Israeli and Palestinian society by the desperate and wily Binyamin Netanyahu, who brought them into his government as full partners to regain the position of prime minister and avoid going to jail for corruption. His attempt to neuter the Israeli High Court on their behalf has deeply divided Israeli society and caused many Israelis to think twice about their duties as military reservists. The fascists immediately backed Israeli squatter pogroms against Palestinian hamlets such as Huwara, fomenting a slow-motion civil war. Rising Israeli squatter violence and rising Palestinian resentment had led to the killing of over 200 Palestinians this year by Israeli security forces or vigilante squatters, before the outbreak of direct hostilities on Saturday. The Israeli extremists have openly been talking about illegally annexing the occupied Palestinian territories that Israel seized in 1967 and imposing full Israeli sovereignty, with the implication that the stateless Palestinians would somehow be expelled. Indeed, forms of ethnic cleansing or population transfer have already been taking place this year. One of the underlying assumptions of the Israeli right is that the Palestinians are anyway helpless, and so can be preyed upon with impunity. Any humane person will regret the gratuitous violence and the terror deployed against innocent noncombatants by the Gaza militants, but their sophisticated and well-executed attack cannot be seen as a sign of helplessness. The rhetoric about making the Palestinians forget all about being Palestinians by luring them with a good economy always consisted of empty rhetoric. It was nothing more than a smokescreen for predatory projects of colonizing and appropriating Palestinian land or making Gaza into an open air penitentiary. It was a way, like the similarly empty and frankly cynical American talk of a two-state solution, of kicking the can down the road. As I said in 2012 when Romney let the cat out of the bag, It turns out that what Romney is kicking down the road is not a can. It is a live grenade. Reddit Email 40 Shares ( IMEMC ) An 18-year-old Palestinian man and a 13-year-old child were the latest in a long list of civilians killed on Saturday, October 7th. Following the massive attacks in Gaza, in which over 200 Palestinians were killed on Saturday, marches and protests broke out across the West Bank, calling for justice, freedom, and self-determination for the state of Palestine. Israeli troops attacked Palestinians in several parts of the West Bank on Saturday afternoon and evening. The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced the latest casualty on Saturday evening: Mahmoud Bassem Mahmoud Bassem Ekhmayyes, 18 years old, who died from wounds after being shot by the Israeli occupation forces in the town of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron. Violent confrontations broke out at the entrance to the town of Beit Ummar, during which the Israeli occupation forces fired live bullets at the young men and boys who were gathered there, which led to the young man, Akhmis, being hit by live bullets in the chest and transported to the hospital, where he died of his wounds. Dozens of Palestinians were also injured by rubber-coated metal bullets and suffered from tear gas inhalation. The director of Al-Ahli Hospital in Hebron, Dr. Youssef Al-Takrouri, told the Palestinian Wafa News Agency that a young man, Youssef Nader Suleiman Idris, 19 years old, was shot in the chest by live Israeli bullets during confrontations in the Wadi Al-Nasara neighborhood in the center of Hebron. Earlier on Saturday, a child, identified as Ahmad Abdel Nasser Rabi (13 years old) was shot by Israeli live bullets in the abdomen during confrontations at the northern entrance to the city of Qalqilya, in the northern West Bank. In the Ramallah district, three young men were killed by Israeli forces. One young man, Amr Yousef Ibrahim Abed, from the town of Betunia, west of Ramallah, died as a result of his critical injury sustained by live Israeli occupation bullets in the head during the confrontations at the northern entrance to Al-Biereh. Mohammad Awad Jarboua (24 years old), from the town of Betunia, died from critical wounds sustained by Israeli occupation bullets on Saturday afternoon near the village of Al-Laban Al-Gharbi, west of Ramallah. The Israeli military claimed that Al-Gharbi had attempted to carry out a stabbing attack against Israeli soldiers. In the northeastern part of the West Bank, a young man, Karam Nasser Al-Ayedi (22 years old), from Ain Al-Sultan camp, died as a result of a critical injury sustained by live Israeli occupation bullets in the head, during confrontations that broke out at the northern entrance to the city of Jericho. Via IMEMC Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0 Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International The Vatican may have saved thousands of Jews during the wartime papacy of Pius XII but the late pope's silence on genocide will be debated this week during an international conference. The conference of scholars to be held in Rome from Monday to Wednesday comes two years after Pope Francis ordered the unsealing of Vatican archives from the papacy of Pius XII, who led the Catholic Church from 1939 to 1958. Francis' move, which followed decades of pressure from scholars fiercely divided over the former pope's perceived passivity during Nazi Germany's extermination of millions of European Jews, made available about 16 million new documents to historians and theologians. But the disagreements remain. Things are "neither black nor white", said Etienne Veto, the auxiliary bishop of Reims and former director of the Cardinal Bea Center, a Rome research institute on Jewish-Christian relations. Still unchanged, said Veto, are the two radically opposed narratives that researchers are working to reconcile about the actions of Pius, who was trained in law and served as Holy See nuncio to Prussia and then Germany before becoming pope. One narrative sees Pius as a reclusive pontiff, hidden away in his Vatican palace who never publicly denounced the persecution, deportation and extermination of the Jews. Another views him as a discreet and savvy pope, whose army of priests and nuns helped hide at least 4,000 Roman Jews while seeking to protect Catholics in Europe. - Defenders and critics - The newly opened archives "do not change the main line of historiography, which is that of public silence", said Nina Valbousquet, a historian of anti-Semitism at the French School of Rome. "What we see more is the underlying reasoning," Valbousquet said. The Vatican has defended Pius XII, saying he saved many Jews by having them hidden in religious institutions and that his silence was born out of a wish to avoid aggravating their situation. His supporters see the wartime pope as seeking to combine a diplomat's prudence with the desire to retain papal neutrality. Gabriele Rigano, a professor of contemporary and Church history at the University for Foreigners of Perugia, said Pius's silence reflected "a conscious choice that responds to different needs of the papacy and the Catholic Church, which can be summarised by the policy of impartiality". Vatican thinking at the time also viewed an ultimately victorious Germany as a bulwark against Communism and the Soviet Union, noted Vaticanist Marco Politi. Among the wealth of documents showing that the Vatican was aware of the extermination of Jews in the Nazi concentration camps was a letter from a German Jesuit priest, Lothar Koenig, to Pius' private secretary, the German Robert Leiber. - Dying every day - Koenig's letter of December 14, 1942 -- revealed last month by a researcher -- mentions the "blast furnace" in the Belzec death camp in Poland, where "up to 6,000 men and women die every day, especially Poles and Jews". The main contribution of the newly opened archives, however, reflect changes in Church policy towards Jews following the war. The Curia, or government of the Holy See, "was marked by strong anti-Judaism, which bordered on anti-Semitism", said Rigano, while Pius's silence contrasted with the attitude of his predecessor, Pius XI. The latter protested against Italy's Fascist-era racial laws, writing: "We Christians are spiritually Semites." The Holocaust became an "awakening" for the Church, which realised that its own teachings could have become "a breeding ground for the poisonous plant of anti-Semitism", Veto said. Still, the Vatican was slow to react, said Valbousquet, citing "the persistence of anti-Jewish prejudices within the Church in the immediate post-war period and the lack of awareness of what the Shoah was". It was not until 1965 that the Second Vatican Council published the "Nostra Aetate" declaration on the Church's relationship to non-Christian religions. That document once and for all rejected anti-Semitism. A formal process for Pius's beatification began in 1967. But since Pope Benedict XVI in 2009 proclaimed him "venerable", a further step towards sainthood, the process has stalled. More than 200 Israelis died in a surprise large-scale attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday, the army said, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to reduce the group's Gaza hideouts to "rubble". Intense air strikes on the coastal enclave brought the Palestinian death toll to at least 232, Gaza officials said, following Hamas's massive rocket barrage and ground, air and sea offensive, in the conflict's bloodiest escalation in decades. Gun battles raged into the night between Israeli forces and hundreds of Hamas fighters in at least 22 Israel locations, including at least two where gunmen were holding hostages, the army said. "Terrorists rampaged and broke into homes, massacring civilians," the army said, adding that more than 1,000 people in Israel were wounded by gunshots or the more than 3,000 incoming rockets. "We are at war," Netanyahu told the stunned nation in the morning, after Hamas had launched its multipronged attack at dawn, half a century after the outbreak of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. "I'm telling the people of Gaza: get out of there now, because we're about to act everywhere with all our force," the premier said later. "We'll strike them to the bitter end and avenge with force this black day they brought on Israel and its people." He warned that "all the places in which Hamas is based, in this city of evil, all the places Hamas is hiding in, acting from -- we'll turn them into rubble." "What happened today is unprecedented in Israel and I will see to it that it does not happen again." As the UN Security Council called an emergency meeting for Sunday, President Joe Biden voiced "rock solid and unwavering" support for the US ally and warned "against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation". - 'So many bodies' - Secretary of State Antony Blinken also spoke to Egypt, a key intermediary between Israel and Hamas about the "urgency in achieving an immediate halt" to the fighting, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. As night fell, the Israeli army said its forces were still engaged in live gun battles in a string of Israel locations, in an operation labelled "Swords of Iron", as reservists were being called up. "There are still 22 locations where we are engaging with terrorists that came into Israel, from the sea, from the land and from the air," said army spokesman Richard Hecht on what he labelled a "robust ground invasion". Israeli army launched air strikes into Gaza later in the night while militants fired rockets, an AFP journalist reported. Hamas earlier released images of several Israelis taken captive, and another army spokesman, Daniel Hagari, confirmed that "there are kidnapped soldiers and civilians. "I can't give figures about them at the moment. It's a war crime committed by Hamas and they will pay the price." Hecht said there was also a "severe hostage situation" in the Negev desert communities of Beeri and Ofakim east of Gaza. The Islamist group started the multi-pronged attack around 6:30 am (0330 GMT) with thousands of rockets aimed as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, some bypassing the Iron Dome defence system and hitting buildings. Hamas fighters -- travelling in ground vehicles, motorised paragliders and boats -- breached Gaza's security barrier and attacked nearby Israeli towns and military posts, opening fire on residents and passersby. "Send help, please!" one Israeli woman sheltering with her two-year-old child pleaded as militants outside opened fire and tried to break into their safe room, Israeli media reported. Bodies were strewn on the streets of the Israeli town of Sderot near Gaza and inside cars, the windscreens shattered by hails of bullets. "I saw many bodies, of terrorists and civilians," one man told AFP, standing beside covered corpses on a road near Gevim Kibbutz in southern Israel. "So many bodies, so many bodies." AFP journalists witnessed Palestinian armed men gather around a burning Israeli tank, and others driving a seized Israeli military Humvee back into Gaza, where they were met by cheering crowds. - 'Gates of hell' - Israeli army Major General Ghasan Alyan warned Hamas had "opened the gates of hell". An AFP journalist in Gaza saw clouds of dust from the remains of bombed residential towers which Gaza's interior ministry said contained 100 apartments. Israel's military said it had warned residents to evacuate before targeting the multi-storey buildings used by Hamas. Israel's state-run electricity company cut the power supply to Gaza as army flares lit up the night sky. The escalation follows months of rising violence, mostly in the occupied West Bank, and tensions around Gaza's border and at contested holy sites in Jerusalem. Before Saturday, at least 247 Palestinians, 32 Israelis and two foreigners had been killed this year, including combatants and civilians, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials. Hamas labelled its attack "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" and called on "resistance fighters in the West Bank" as well as in "Arab and Islamic nations" to join the battle. Its armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, claimed to have fired more than 5,000 rockets, while Hecht said Israel had counted more than 3,000 incoming rockets. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh claimed the group was on the "verge of a great victory". "The cycle of intifadas (uprisings) and revolutions in the battle to liberate our land and our prisoners languishing in occupation prisons must be completed," he said. - 'Dangerous precipice' - Air raid sirens wailed across southern and central Israel, as well as in Jerusalem. In Tel Aviv, a gaping hole was ripped into a building, with residents boarding a bus to flee to safety. The conflict sparked major disruption at Tel Aviv airport, where many carriers cancelled flights. Schools will remain closed on Sunday, the start of the week in Israel. Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, leading to Israel's crippling blockade of the impoverished enclave of 2.3 million people. Israel and Hamas have since fought several wars. The last major military exchange, in May, killed 34 Palestinians and one Israeli. In northern Gaza on Saturday, hundreds of people fled their homes, carrying food and blankets, an AFP correspondent said. Violence also erupted across the West Bank, including annexed east Jerusalem, with five Palestinians killed and 120 wounded in clashes with Israeli forces and settlers, Palestinian medical services said. Western capitals condemned the wave of attacks by Hamas, which Israel, the United States and European Union consider a terrorist group. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the attack "terrorism in its most despicable form". But Hamas drew support from other foes of Israel, with Iran's supreme leader declaring he was "proud" and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah praising the "heroic operation". UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland warned of "a dangerous precipice" and called on all sides to "pull back from the brink". BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Sunday the country expected to receive investment of at least $5 billion from Tesla, Google and Microsoft. "Tesla would be looking into an EV manufacturing facility, Microsoft and Google are looking at data centres," he said, without detailing whether the $5 billion was expected to be a combined investment or made individually by each company. Tesla, Google and Microsoft did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Srettha was speaking to reporters in Bangkok after attending the U.N. General Assembly in New York where he also held talks with company executives earlier this week. Fresh foreign investment would boost Thailand's flagging economy, which is expected to grow by 2.8% this year, less than previously projected, due to weaker exports. Srettha spoke with Tesla CEO Elon Musk last week about the electric vehicle sector. Thailand, Asia's fourth-largest automobile assembly hub, has been offering incentives to EV and battery makers, and tax cuts to local EV buyers, to remain a regional auto centre. (Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Jamie Freed) Ahead of release, Nam Joo Hyuk is already receiving anticipation for his role in the upcoming thriller drama "Vigilante." The director also complimented the actor for his character immersion. Keep on reading for details. 'Vigilante' Releases 3 Episodes at Busan International Film Festival In celebration of the 28th Busan International Film Festival, "Vigilante," which received an invitation to the "On Screen" section, already released its first three episodes. Actors who attended to represent the series are Lee Joon Hyuk, Yoo Ji Tae, and Kim So Jin, alongside Director Choi Jung Yeol. Nam Joo Hyuk, on the other hand, failed to join as he is fulfilling his military service. "Vigilante" is based on a webtoon of the same name. This action-thriller series follows the story of Kim Ji Yong (Nam Joo Hyuk), a model police academy student by day who transforms into a dark hero at night who punishes criminals who break the law. People who watched the special screening were pleased and showed enthusiastic cheers. The actors were surprised to hear the loud applause from the attendees. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Nam Joo Hyuk Military Update: Actor Surprises Fans With New Photo Nam Joo Hyuk will headline the series. He took a break from playing that sweet and romantic lead and challenged himself in a dark hero role. It has been said that despite exploring something new, the actor perfectly portrayed dual roles in this project. Nam Joo Hyuk's First Dark Hero Role Receives Praise & Anticipation The series' director praised the lead actor for his strong immersion in his character. According to him, "I liked Nam Joo Hyuk's eyes. Before, I thought there was another meaning deep inside his eyes. And my prediction was correct, he was really Kim Ji Young himself." Director Choi expressed his satisfaction with Nam Joo Hyuk's effective acting and was able to bring Kim Ji Young's character to life. Furthermore, Nam Joo Hyuk's new role is receiving anticipation as viewers are curious about how the heartthrob expressed the deep inner pain of his character through actions. It has been said that the actor also did bloody and ruthless action scenes, which added to the audience's anticipation. More Action Scenes for Nam Joo Hyuk? The director spoiled that he focused on the action scenes because that's what made the original webtoon known. He elaborated that Kim Ji Young's actions depend on his opponents' behaviors. Aside from the thrilling action scenes, Nam Joo Hyuk also showcased his wide range of emotions which the director humbly shared and asked viewers to watch once the drama is finally available. "Vigilante" is scheduled to hit the screen beginning November 8 on the online streaming platform Disney Plus. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Nam Joo Hyuk Lives Dual Life in 'Vigilante' + Drama Reveals Release Date What can you say about Nam Joo Hyuk's upcoming drama role? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments! For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article. Shai Collins wrote this. Quebec Liberal party MNA Frederic Beauchemin speaks to the media before the party caucus in St-Paulin, Que., Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023.Quebec Liberal Party interim leader Marc Tanguay has asked Quebec national assembly member Beauchemin to withdraw from the party caucus pending an inquiry into allegations of psychological harassment. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz 8 Shares Share Today, more than one in five Americans are caregivers, providing care to an adult or child with special needs at some time in the past 12 months. Given this sobering statistic, Im surprised we do not see as many health narratives written by caregivers as, say, doctors and patients, at least not in print. Caregiving is emotionally draining. However, writing when you are in a caregiving role is one of a handful ways to console and take care of yourself, to improve your well-being. Whether you are a caregiver in a hospital or home or places in-between, writing can be a form of nurturing and renewal, an answer to the question that so many caregivers ask: Who will take care of me? Lets face it: Caregiving can make your own health worse, so say about a quarter of the people in caregiving roles. Once every five years, AARP takes the pulse of caregivers in the United States. The most recent survey is from 2020. Although the results may be tinged by COVID-19, the flavor comes through. Here are the main takeaways as discussed in the executive summary: Nearly one in five (19%) of Americans are providing unpaid care to an adult with health or functional needs. More Americans (24%) are caring for more than one person, up from 18% in 2015. More family caregivers (26%) have difficulty coordinating care, up from 19% in 2015. More Americans (26%) are caring for someone with Alzheimers disease or dementia, up from 22% in 2015. More Americans (23%) say caregiving has made their own health worse, up from 17% in 2015. Family caregiving spans across all generations, including Boomers, Gen-X, Gen-Z, Millennials, and Silent. 61% of family caregivers are also working. The AARP survey also paints a picture of the many different faces of caregivers stepping up to help family and friends: ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+, students, and so on essentially individuals from all walks of life. Career disruption and losses in living are common consequences of caregiving. Unfortunately, caregiving is a growing reality in the U.S. as the proportion of older adults with cognitive impairments increases, and helping resources decrease, including eldercare and health insurance. Caregivers report physical, emotional, and financial strain, with 2 in 10 reporting they feel alone. Thus, support for caregivers and their recipients is especially critical to counter the epidemic of loneliness. The AARP survey notes, Without greater explicit support for caregivers, their overall responsibilities will likely intensify and place greater pressures on individuals within families, especially as baby boomers move into old age. Thats why, despite various solutions proposed to address this national crisis many of them complex and politically non-starters something as simple as writing about the caregiving experience and sharing those experiences with other caregivers can bear so much fruit. There are very few national, centralized well-organized movements of writers or writing programs for caregivers, but there are certainly local chapters. Most of them are organized by communities, where all comers are welcome in person or online, or by disease type, e.g., Alzheimers, childhood disabilities, and others. Some offer weekend retreats and workshops (who has the time for a retreat, you ask?). One workshop advertises: No rules. Just write. Write time. Write place. Write now. Here are some examples of caregivers who participated in that group writing program: A woman taking care of her mother who has Alzheimers disease. A mother taking care of a child who has developmental delays. A husband whose wife sustained a brain injury in a car accident. A father whose son has a serious mental illness. A woman whose sister died from cancer and who, like her fellow caregivers, wants to begin sorting out those experiences in writing. Research shows that family caregivers who list self-care as a priority can better provide care, are at lower risk of burning out and becoming ill, and find more joy in their role as a caregiver. Writing is a form of self-care; it creates a sacred space and nourishes and restores our vitality. While taking care of a loved one, you may have lost much of your former lifestyle including social supports and activities. There is a good chance you are feeling stressed and isolated and need to develop or acquire healthful self-care practices. Think of writing as care for the caregiver, a good nosh, or chicken soup for the soul. An interesting observation about narratives of family caregiving is that diverse themes emerge, suggesting that caregivers interpret different meanings despite often similar experiences. In addition, a narrative approach may help caregivers transition into the role needed for coping with the eventual loss of a loved one. Although expressive writing cannot change the reality of a loss, it can help caregivers to reframe the significance or story related to that loss. Even if you dont think of yourself as a writer, you have a story. A woman from British Columbia wrote: I started just writing stories about what was going on; my thoughts, my feelings. Some of those actually became published in the local seniors newspaper, which Im grateful for. As it turned out, the published articles not only helped me, they helped others as well. So, organize your thoughts on paper, and if you can do it in the company of others who get it, so much the better. Arthur Lazarus is a former Doximity Fellow, a member of the editorial board of the American Association for Physician Leadership, and an adjunct professor of psychiatry at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. His forthcoming book is titled Every Story Counts: Exploring Contemporary Practice Through Narrative Medicine. Installation of the peace dialogues between the FARC guerrilla dissidents, the Central General Staff (EMC), and the Colombian government, in Tibu Installation of the peace dialogues between the FARC guerrilla dissidents, the Central General Staff (EMC), and the Colombian government, in Tibu By Camilo Cohecha TIBU, Colombia (Reuters) -Colombia's government and the country's largest group of dissident former FARC rebels on Sunday suspended offensive actions and celebrated the start of a peace process meant to end the group's role in almost six decades of internal conflict, the rebel group announced. The negotiations with the Estado Mayor Central (EMC) - a dissident group of the now-demobilized Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas - form part of President Gustavo Petro's efforts to reach "total peace." The EMC rejected a 2016 peace deal with the state that ended the FARC's role in the conflict, which has killed at least 450,000 people and displaced millions. The government will issue a formal ceasefire decree on Oct. 16, the day when the exploratory process concludes and peace talks formally begin, the Colombian government and EMC rebels said in a joint statement Sunday. The two sides have said the ceasefire will initially last 10 months, but they did not mention its length in the statement. The event took place in Tibu, in Norte de Santander province, the scene of frequent clashes between Colombia's military and a plethora of illegally armed groups and where vast swathes of land are covered in crops of coca, the chief ingredient in cocaine. The EMC currently has some 3,530 members - 2,180 combatants and 1,350 others - in regions across Colombia where illicit trades like drug trafficking and illegal gold mining occur, according to security sources. Colombia's government in May partially suspended a bilateral ceasefire it had entered with the EMC in January following the murder of four indigenous minors and ordered the reactivation of military operations against the group in the southeast of the country. The government is also pushing peace efforts with the Segunda Marquetalia, another FARC dissident group with over 1,600 members. Experts have warned that negotiations with the Segunda Marquetalia would face legal issues because the group's leaders accepted and then abandoned the 2016 deal. The National Liberation Army (ELN), another rebel group, is currently in peace talks with the government and holding a six-month bilateral ceasefire that began in August. (Reporting by Camilo Cohecha; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Mark Porter and Lisa Shumaker) Ifac, Irelands farming, food, and agribusiness specialist professional services firm and a top 10 accountancy firm, the Agricultural Science Association (ASA) and the Irish Farmers Journal are teaming up once more to hold an online event to unpack Budget 2024 for Irish farming and rural communities. The live webinar, titled Unpacking Budget 2024, will take place at 8 pm on Tuesday, 10th October, with all the experts involved sharing highlights across their respective social media channels. Head of Tax at ifac, Marty Murphy, will share his perspective on Budget 2024 and outline changes to the tax regime. Ifac is delighted to be joined by President of the ASA, Niamh Brambrick, and Sheep and Schemes Editor with the Irish Farmers Journal, Darren Carty, who will discuss the outcomes of Budget 2024 for farmers and any changes to farm schemes. Speaking about the event, Marty Murphy, Head of Tax at ifac said: All eyes will be on Budget 2024 and we are very grateful to our experts for sharing their expertise during this online event to help farmers navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead, mirroring what we have been doing at ifac for over 48 years. "Right now farmers and rural communities all over the country are really feeling under pressure from several factors including huge input costs, the cut in the nitrates derogation and further responsibilities for climate action, as well as low incomes across certain sectors. This year, in particular, they are hoping that Budget 2024 will deliver to help ensure a sustainable agricultural sector. Click here to register for the free Zoom webinar. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LWv9nGvXTy2fPGhfKLiwwg#/registration Ifac has been at the heart of agriculture and food since 1975, providing a quality service and expert advice to its farming, food, and agribusiness clients across the country. Ifac has over 30 locations nationwide and 500 people serving 22,000 clients. One of Irelands oldest schools, Kilkenny College, is celebrating 50 years of co-education this year, with a slice of educational and social history. This years celebration will be the first step towards commemorating the 500th anniversary of the school in 15 years time. Kilkenny College, founded in 1538, was an all-boys school for its first 435 years and in 1973 the school amalgamated with the all-girls Collegiate School in Celbridge. Kilkenny College is now a thriving boarding and day school under Church of Ireland management catering for 920 students. To mark the occasion the school is planning a get together for past students of both Kilkenny College and Collegiate School Celbridge on Saturday, October 21. There are many family connections, grandmothers who attended Collegiate School in Celbridge and grandfathers who attended Kilkenny College now come back to the school to support their grandchildren in school plays, musical performances or on the playing fields. The get together will have a 1973 feel to it. The music department are delving into the charts for musical inspiration. The art department are mounting and exhibition of memorabilia both from the school archives and from items donated from past students. The archive is a treasure trove with one original document dated 1680. To mark the 1973 amalgamation and also to look towards celebrating the schools 500th anniversary in 2038, the school has commissioned a short film documenting its social history from the 1973 to the present day. The film will be screened for the first time at the October 21 celebratory get-together. The film company also filmed a time capsule which will be available to view in 2038. Last February, the school welcomed Emma Raughter as principal. Ms Raughter is the first female principal of the school. She attended Kilkenny College between 1985 and 1991, and her mother attended Collegiate School in Celbridge. Coalition leaders are expected to finalise the details of Budget 2024 on Sunday, with issues related to tax, health and social welfare decided. The cost-of-living measures will not be as large as last years 4.1 billion euro package, the government indicated. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the tax package and measures for small businesses were among the outstanding issues, as were two of the big-budget departments, health and social welfare. Mr Varadkar said government ministers would be burning the midnight oil on Sunday to finalise details. Food delivery drivers were seen arriving on Sunday to drop orders at Government Buildings as ministers arrived for the last of the talks. The three coalition leaders met Finance Minister Michael McGrath and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe on Sunday to confirm the measures ahead of Tuesday. Mr McGrath indicated on Saturday that peoples standard of living would improve on the back of the budget, and said he hoped the measures would have their desired effect. The total cost of Budget 2024 is about 6.4 billion euro, with taxation measures worth 1.1 billion euro of the total. Among the measures being floated are one-off electricity credits worth less than last years, a cut in the USC and measures to help both landlords and renters. As you know, pretty much half of all the Government spends is healthcare, social welfare, pensions, so they pretty much go down to the wire, Mr Varadkar said ahead of the meeting. What I can say on the tax side is that there will be a good income tax and USC package, all income earners workers, pensioners will see a reduction in income tax and USC, and also there will be a package to help small businesses because were very aware of the increased costs that are coming at businesses at the moment. We want to make sure that they can absorb those costs and not have to pass on everything as price increases to the consumer. Asked whether this years cost-of-living package would be larger or smaller than last years, worth 4.1 billion euro, Mr Varadkar said that it would be smaller than it was, but it will still be substantial. It will contain a number of measures that are universal that benefit every household, particularly in relation to energy costs and electricity bills in particular, and then a number of elements of that are targeted towards families who are particularly absorbing the burden of the increased cost of living. Pensioners, for example, and carers, people with disabilities and so on. So not quite as large as last year, but still very meaningful. Tanaiste Micheal Martin said Budget 2024 aims to protect people from the rising cost of living, but said the package of one-off measures probably wont be at the same level as last year. But weve to try and finalise that now, he said on his way into Government Buildings. Thats part of the reason for todays meeting. I mean, there are still a number of issues from public expenditure to be resolved, so there are challenging issues yet to be resolved before the budget. One of the largest looming issues to be resolved is the overrun in the Department of Health, with Mr Martin saying on Saturday that population growth in Ireland over a short space of time had led to an increased demand for health, education and childcare services. Earlier on Saturday, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys confirmed that pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and working families will receive an increase in their core weekly rate. Asked how much rates would rise by, Ms Humphreys said the finer details were yet to be decided. But she also said she would push for lump sum welfare payments, and that she was supportive of the very popular double child benefit as part of the cost-of-living package accompanying the budget. Ill be pushing hard to deliver a strong package that supports households with the cost of living and puts money back in peoples pockets, and theres no secret that the groups Im advocating strongly for are older people, are carers, people with disabilities and working families, she told RTEs This Week programme. I am proposing that we have an across-the-board increase in welfare payments and well also have a package of lump sum payments that are targeted at specific areas but, again, its subject to negotiation and I dont have the finer details yet. Asked about reports of a 12-euro-a-week welfare payment increase, she said any rise in the rates was still subject to negotiations. Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, but I do want to assure our pensioners, our carers, our people with disabilities and our working families that they will receive an increase in their core weekly rate. Asked whether there will be a double child benefit payment in Budget 2024, she said: Theres nothing nailed down yet, but we did do a double child benefit payment last year, and I have to say, its got a very positive feedback. Asked whether the core child benefit payment should be increased, Ms Humphreys said: Even though the economy has been doing extremely well, theres still a limited pot available and I have to make choices. 20 Craziest 90 Day Fiance Moments, From Secret Wives to Swimming in Condoms On Oct. 8, TLC will kick off the 10th season of 90 Day Fiance. Over its 10 seasons, the show has taught its audience about the United States K-1 Visa process, heralding a new wave of reality TV with its unique format and even more unique cast members. The flagship series has birthed a slew of spinoffs that contribute to the 90 Day universe, defined by international love stories and the drama that comes with them. More from Variety To commemorate the shows 10th season, Variety has compiled a list of the 20 most notable moments across 90 Day Fiance and its spinoffs ones indelibly etched into fans minds because of how cringeworthy, moving or insane they were. 1. Azan Is Only 55% Attracted to Nicole (90 Day Fiance, Season 5) 1. Azan Is Only 55% Attracted to Nicole (90 Day Fiance, Season 5) In a nauseating interview moment, Azan revealed that he was only 55% attracted to his fiancee, Nicole. The couple was discussing Nicoles gym efforts, since Azan was insistent he wanted his partner to be healthy. Sitting beside her, Azan revealed that he was attracted to Nicole, for example, 55%, saying number was that because he always wants my wife to go to the gym with me. 2. Luis Thinks Mollys Home Decor is Witchcraft (90 Day Fiance, Season 5) 2. Luis Thinks Mollys Home Decor is Witchcraft (90 Day Fiance, Season 5) At 26 years old, Luis felt he wasnt ready to be a father figure for Mollys children. Bringing this up, Molly and Luis entered a conversation that led to a discussion that was full of red flags. As they talked, Luis blamed Mollys emotions on her period, then shifted his focus to religion while criticizing her home decor. I never see one Bible here. I never see something about God here, he said. You know witchcraft? You understand that? Story continues Luis continued: Why [does] she have a lot of Buddha here, a lot of things with candles? The bird [owl], why? And she say, No its for [the room to] smell good, but its not true. That is something bad here, thats true. 3. Larissa Cements Herself as the Queen (90 Day Fiance, Season 6) 3. Larissa Cements Herself as the Queen (90 Day Fiance, Season 6) Colt and Larissa were joined by his cousin John at a family barbeque, when an argument erupted as John alleged Larissa was engaged to Colt for his money. Larissa declared that John was no longer allowed to attend her wedding, in a screaming match in front of Colts entire family. As Larissa climbed a set of stairs, seemingly to retreat to her room, she looked back, and warned, Who is against the Queen will die! a slogan that has followed her and the show ever since. 4. Kobe Meets His Son (90 Day Fiance, Season 9) 4. Kobe Meets His Son (90 Day Fiance, Season 9) After Kobes fiancee Emily got pregnant on a trip to China, their K-1 visa process was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in him not being present for the birth of their child. However, on the ninth season of 90 Day Fiance, Kobe met his son, Koben, for the first time in a heartwrenching scene. The pure joy and love radiating from Kobe made this moment one fans will never forget. 5. Paul Wears a Condom While Swimming (Before the 90 Days, Season 1) 5. Paul Wears a Condom While Swimming (Before the 90 Days, Season 1) When traveling to meet his Brazilian girlfriend Karine, Paul was prepared for any and all possible situations. Pauls doctor allegedly warned him to not drink or swim in any untreated water because of all the diseases or so Paul said. Going for a swim with Karine, Paul took matters into his own hands by wearing a condom (like a lifejacket) before entering the water. Definitely dont want nothing swimming up my penis, he said. 6. Darcey and Jesse Fight About Cutting Steak (Before the 90 Days, Season 1) 6. Darcey and Jesse Fight About Cutting Steak (Before the 90 Days, Season 1) Darcey introduced Jesse to her daughters for the second time over a homemade steak dinner. Tensions rose as Jesse thought Darcey was not being patient enough during the cooking process. Proclaiming that he knows steak, the argument took a turn as Darcey urged Jesse to cut [the steak] on a bias. He then dropped the knife on the cutting board and stormed out of the home. The moment was painstakingly awkward, since both of Darceys young daughters were present, there to take in all the contentious fighting as it erupted. 7. Paul Runs Into the Woods for No Reason (Before the 90 Days, Season 1) 7. Paul Runs Into the Woods for No Reason (Before the 90 Days, Season 1) With a language barrier impeding their communication, Paul whos already been on this list once because he wore a condom while swimming used a translation app to admit to Karine that he was a convicted criminal who had been in jail for arson, and had a restraining order from an ex-girlfriend. While audiences may have expected a dramatic reaction from Karine, Paul was the one who stunned viewers as he ran from the camera crew and retreated into the woods before Karine could respond. Where was he going? Thats still unknown. 8. Big Ed Says Roses Breath is Not Pretty (Before the 90 Days, Season 4) 8. Big Ed Says Roses Breath is Not Pretty (Before the 90 Days, Season 4) After traveling to the Philippines to meet Rose, Big Ed a true breakout star of the 90 Day franchise began throwing subtle insults about her hygiene. He went as far as to purchase her mouthwash, toothpaste and a toothbrush, because he felt her breath was not pretty. He attempted to justify his purchase, insisting that he was concerned about her health, since Rose had revealed she was suffering from an ulcer that contributed to her not pretty breath. 9. David Flies to Ukraine Four Times Without Meeting Girlfriend Lana (Before the 90 Days, Season 4) 9. David Flies to Ukraine Four Times Without Meeting Girlfriend Lana (Before the 90 Days, Season 4) After traveling to Ukraine four separate times (yes, four!) in the hopes of meeting his Ukrainian girlfriend Lana, many 90 Day fans thought David was getting scammed. David and Lana were dating online for a whopping seven years before he finally returned back to Ukraine for a fifth time, and got to meet his girlfriend in person. It was a moment no one saw coming even Lana. 10. Jasmine Gets Bald Revenge on Gino (Before the 90 Days, Season 5) 10. Jasmine Gets Bald Revenge on Gino (Before the 90 Days, Season 5) After learning that Gino had sent her nude photos to one of his ex-girlfriends, Jasmine felt distraught and betrayed. In an attempt at revenge, Jasmine decided to hit Gino where it would hurt the most by exposing his bald head. Throughout Season 5 of B90, Gino had been intent on not taking off his hat while filming (even while in bed with Jasmine). During an argument, Gino maintained that he had not shared Jasmines nudes, causing her to leap across the bed and snatch his hat off his head, revealing his unhatted head. As she walked out of the room, Jasmine screamed Those are nudes! 11. Mohamed Stops Having Sex With Danielle Because of Her Smell (Happily Ever After?, Season 1) 11. Mohamed Stops Having Sex With Danielle Because of Her Smell (Happily Ever After?, Season 1) During the Tell All episode of Happily Ever After? Season 1, Mohamed explained that he and Danielle had stopped being intimate due to a problem. Host Shaun Robinson questioned what the problem could have been, to which Danielle confessed he has told people that I smell, and I peed on him. Mohamed rebutted the claims with a quick you do, as Robinson quickly shut down the conversation and switched topics. 12. Chantel Thinks Pedros Sister Called Her a Puta (Happily Ever After?, Season 2) 12. Chantel Thinks Pedros Sister Called Her a Puta (Happily Ever After?, Season 2) Chantel and Pedros families were feuding when Chantel misinterpreted what Nicole said to her. Speaking in Spanish, Nicole said punto, but Chantel thought she called her a puta, which she interpreted as bitch. This set Chantel off, leading her to ask Nicole if she had called her a fucking bitch, to which Nicole replied yes. Chantels response was to call Nicole a fucking whore, storming off and continuing to call her a fuck ass, bitch ass, slut-ass whore as she walked away. 13. Pedro and Chantels Brother Get Physical at Dinner (Happily Ever After?, Season 3) 13. Pedro and Chantels Brother Get Physical at Dinner (Happily Ever After?, Season 3) Tensions between Pedro and Chantels families exploded during a family dinner on Season 5 of Happily Ever After? Chantels family was hosting Pedros sister, Nicole, for dinner while she was visiting the U.S., when things took a sour, physical turn. Pedro and Chantels brother, River, randomly got into a physical altercation that resulted in both families getting sucked into the middle of the chaos. At the time of its airing in 2016, the brawl was one of the most dramatic incidents to happen across any 90 Day series. 14. Andrei and Libbys Brother Face Off (Happily Ever After?, Season 6) 14. Andrei and Libbys Brother Face Off (Happily Ever After?, Season 6) In an attempt to squash their family beef, Libbys father invited his children and their spouses over to his house to reconnect. As soon as Libbys brother Charlie arrived, he and Andrei went after each other. The two men began pushing and tackling each other to the ground, leaving Libbys family even more disjointed than it was ahead of the attempted reconciliation. 15. Angela Flashes Michaels Aunt Lydia (and Everyone) at the Tell All (Happily Ever After? Season 6) 15. Angela Flashes Michaels Aunt Lydia (and Everyone) at the Tell All (Happily Ever After? Season 6) When speaking with Michaels Aunt Lydia via video chat during the Happily Ever After? Season 6 Tell All, Angela got increasingly frustrated because she felt Lydia was too involved in their relationship. The discourse boiled over when Lydia made a comment about Angela trying to look sexy for other men a reference to her recent plastic surgeries. Standing up speaking directly into the camera, Angela yelled at Aunt Lydia, You will not tell my husband what to do, while revealing her breasts, continuing, Suck on these brand-new fucking titties, bitch! How do you like that shit now? Before storming off once more, she told Michael, You wont see them goddamn titties again. 16. Angela Pays Michael a Surprise Visit (Happily Ever After?, Season 7) 16. Angela Pays Michael a Surprise Visit (Happily Ever After?, Season 7) During a rough patch, that very same Angela decided to travel to Nigeria and visit Michael without telling him. Showing up at his home one night, Angela demanded that Michael come outside, which he refused to do. Angela began ripping apart pieces of Michaels car to get his attention. When he finally came outside, the two got into another intense argument that almost turned physical. 17. Jenny Learns Sumit Has a Wife (The Other Way, Season 1) 17. Jenny Learns Sumit Has a Wife (The Other Way, Season 1) Jenny and Sumit are a staple couple of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way, the spinoff in which an American moves to another country to live with their partner. Assimilating to life in her new home in India, Jenny was wary, since Sumit was never fully ready to commit to her with a proposal. Things took a turn for the worse when Sumits wifes father yes wifes showed up on their doorstep, alerting her that Sumit was already in an arranged marriage. Yes, Sumit moved Jenny to India while having a wife, keeping their romantic relationship a secret from his family, as well as from her. 18. Steven Admits Hes Been Cheating on Alina and Wants a Threesome After Preaching Abstinence (The Other Way, Season 3) 18. Steven Admits Hes Been Cheating on Alina and Wants a Threesome After Preaching Abstinence (The Other Way, Season 3) Upon meeting Alina, Steven professed he was an LDS Mormon who strictly followed his churchs rules, and that he wanted his fiancee to convert to his religion. Steven was intent on the two not sleeping together before marriage, though he ended up revealing he was not a virgin. Continuing to urge Alina to follow Mormon norms, the two wed. However, it was revealed in the Tell All episode that he had received inappropriate messages and naked pictures from nine different girls after getting married to Alina who he was encouraging by sending back images of him with his tongue out. He blamed his cheating on his sexual energy, confessing that he wanted to have a threesome with Alina because he didnt want to repress [his] urges and feelings. 19. Kenny and Armando Celebrate the First Queer Marriage in 90 Day History (The Other Way, Season 3) 19. Kenny and Armando Celebrate the First Queer Marriage in 90 Day History (The Other Way, Season 3) Kenny and Armando were the first gay male couple to be featured across the franchise during Season 2 of The Other Way. Kenny, the American, moved to Mexico to be with his fiance Armando, where they navigated Aramandos disapproving family, how to raise his young daughter and the state of LGBTQ rights in Mexico specifically the countrys regulations around same-sex marriages. During the shows third season, Kenny and Armandos marriage case was approved, and they were able to tie the knot. In a 90 Day first, Kenny and Armando became the first gay couple to wed on the show. The ceremony featured a tear-jerking ceremony, attended by both grooms families in a historic celebration of queer love. 20. Asuelu Gets a Yeast Infection After Cheating on Kalani, Gives Her a Hall Pass and She Develops Feelings for New Sexual Partner (The Last Resort, Season 1) 20. Asuelu Gets a Yeast Infection After Cheating on Kalani, Gives Her a Hall Pass and She Develops Feelings for New Sexual Partner (The Last Resort, Season 1) In one of the most recent bombshell 90 Day moments, Kalani revealed during a group therapy session that she found out her husband Asuelu cheated by noticing that his tongue was white while he was on a trip to Samoa. You have thrush, and theres only a certain way you can get it, she said, implying he had oral sex with another woman who had a yeast infection. In an attempt to make things even or fair, Asuelu told Kalani she could have a hall pass, which she used. Kalani then revealed during a therapy session that not only had she kissed someone, but shed had had sex with this new mystery man who she was still in contact with, and had developed feelings for. 21. Honorable Mention: Mary Breaks Up With Brandan for Sitting By a Girl on Plane While Hes Moving to the Philippines to Live With Her (The Other Way, Season 5) 21. Honorable Mention: Mary Breaks Up With Brandan for Sitting By a Girl on Plane While Hes Moving to the Philippines to Live With Her (The Other Way, Season 5) Before Mary and Brandan met in person, they stayed on a nonstop video chat (even while they were sleeping). As Brandan began his move to the Philippines, he sat beside a girl on the plane, which angered Mary. Just wow, she texted Brandan. You always want to be with girlsYou make me crazySo fuck you and your girls there. Brandan then moved to an empty seat as Mary continued to text him I dont want to see you, I dont want to live a life with you and Dont come here while he was on the plane, en route to the Philippines. Best of Variety Netanyahu says Israel is at war after Hamas launches surprise air and ground attack from Gaza You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close StockNews.com began coverage on shares of U.S. Silica (NYSE:SLCA Free Report) in a research report released on Thursday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the mining companys stock. Separately, Barclays dropped their price target on U.S. Silica from $18.00 to $15.00 in a research note on Monday, July 17th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $15.00. Get U.S. Silica alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on SLCA U.S. Silica Trading Up 1.7 % NYSE:SLCA opened at $12.81 on Thursday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $13.09 and its 200 day moving average price is $12.65. The company has a market capitalization of $987.91 million, a PE ratio of 6.50 and a beta of 2.53. The company has a quick ratio of 1.99, a current ratio of 2.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10. U.S. Silica has a 52-week low of $10.38 and a 52-week high of $14.90. U.S. Silica (NYSE:SLCA Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The mining company reported $0.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.54 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $406.78 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $434.79 million. U.S. Silica had a return on equity of 22.65% and a net margin of 9.20%. On average, research analysts anticipate that U.S. Silica will post 1.88 EPS for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling at U.S. Silica In other U.S. Silica news, CEO Bryan Adair Shinn sold 41,501 shares of U.S. Silica stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $14.06, for a total value of $583,504.06. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,419,183 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,953,712.98. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 3.70% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. HM Payson & Co. acquired a new stake in shares of U.S. Silica in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Fiduciary Alliance LLC acquired a new stake in shares of U.S. Silica in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its holdings in shares of U.S. Silica by 262.4% in the 2nd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 4,439 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $54,000 after buying an additional 3,214 shares during the period. Quarry LP lifted its holdings in shares of U.S. Silica by 164.1% in the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 5,003 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $60,000 after buying an additional 3,109 shares during the period. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI acquired a new stake in shares of U.S. Silica in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $66,000. 85.94% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About U.S. Silica (Get Free Report) U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc produces and sells commercial silica in the United States. It operates through two segments, Oil & Gas Proppants and Industrial & Specialty Products. The company offers whole grain commercial silica products to be used as fracturing sand in connection with oil and natural gas recovery, as well as sells its whole grain silica products in various size distributions, grain shapes, and chemical purity levels for the manufacturing of glass products. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for U.S. Silica Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for U.S. Silica and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. No matter what date is chosen, an early primary election would be a logistical challenge for Cumberland County. That was the word Thursday from Bethany Salzarulo, county director of elections and voter registration. She is hopeful that state lawmakers could decide this month whether to move up the Pennsylvania primary from its current date of April 23 to a proposed date of either March 19 or April 2. A recent bill to decide the matter fell through. During a presidential election cycle, the state primary tends to happen in April instead of May, as is the rule for a normal municipal election. Lawmakers in Harrisburg are debating whether to move up the primary to give Pennsylvanians more of a say on the nationwide outcome. To follow through, the state General Assembly would have to approve the change through both chambers before sending legislation to Gov. Josh Shapiro for his signature. There really is no good date for an earlier primary, Salzarulo said, citing logistical issues with the timing of both proposed dates. As director, shes in charge of an office that oversees about 1,000 poll workers at 118 polling places throughout Cumberland County. The petition period for people running for a primary on March 19 would be over the Christmas holiday, Salzarulo told county election board members Thursday. We would wrap up this [the Nov. 7] election and fly right into the next. There would be no break in between. She said an early primary would significantly affect the elections calendar, including the deadlines for voter registration and mail-in ballots. She said April 2 would have issues because it would be more difficult to get into some churches to set up polling places during the previous weekend, which is Easter. The longer it takes for them to decide, the harder it will be to get the word out to polling places and poll workers to get it scheduled, Salzarulo said. In an attempt to head off the challenge, the county elections office has distributed a survey to all polling places and poll workers advising of the possibility of an early primary and asking them to report back on their availability on the proposed dates. Hopefully, theyre doing that, so we can get an idea, Salzarulo said. In related news, the elections office plans to start sending out mail-in and absentee ballots next week. The public has until Oct. 31 to request an application for a ballot. As of right now, we have 17,103 people who have applied for a mail-in or absentee ballot, Salzarulo told the election board. Of that number, 10,657 ballots are for people identifying themselves as Democrats, 4,729 are for Republicans and 1,717 are for others. As with prior elections, there are plans to offer extended drop-off times outside of the normal business hours of the election office at Suite 201, 1601 Ritner Highway, Carlisle. On Thursday, Nov. 2, we will be staying open until 7 p.m., Salzarulo said. On Nov. 4, which is the Saturday before the election, will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Superior Industries International (NYSE:SUP Free Report) in a research report sent to investors on Thursday. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the auto parts companys stock. Superior Industries International Stock Performance Shares of SUP opened at $2.80 on Thursday. The businesss 50 day moving average is $3.40 and its 200 day moving average is $3.84. Superior Industries International has a 12-month low of $2.60 and a 12-month high of $7.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 25.43, a current ratio of 2.27 and a quick ratio of 1.48. Get Superior Industries International alerts: Superior Industries International (NYSE:SUP Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The auto parts company reported $0.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $372.60 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $388.35 million. Superior Industries International had a negative return on equity of 156.56% and a net margin of 0.77%. Insider Activity at Superior Industries International Institutional Trading of Superior Industries International In other Superior Industries International news, CFO Timothy Trenary sold 20,900 shares of Superior Industries International stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.67, for a total value of $76,703.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 165,738 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $608,258.46. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . In other news, major shareholder Mill Road Capital Iii, L.P. acquired 67,695 shares of Superior Industries International stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were acquired at an average price of $3.68 per share, with a total value of $249,117.60. Following the purchase, the insider now directly owns 4,264,565 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,693,599.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . Also, CFO Timothy Trenary sold 20,900 shares of Superior Industries International stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.67, for a total value of $76,703.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 165,738 shares in the company, valued at approximately $608,258.46. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last 90 days, insiders have acquired 109,311 shares of company stock valued at $399,178 and have sold 36,499 shares valued at $132,622. 8.90% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in SUP. Marshall Wace LLP bought a new position in shares of Superior Industries International during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its position in shares of Superior Industries International by 868.0% during the 1st quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 10,222 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $51,000 after purchasing an additional 9,166 shares during the last quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. bought a new position in shares of Superior Industries International during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $52,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Superior Industries International during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $69,000. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Superior Industries International during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $92,000. Institutional investors own 43.80% of the companys stock. Superior Industries International Company Profile (Get Free Report) Superior Industries International, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and sells aluminum wheels to the original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket distributors in North America and Europe. It offers its products under the ATS, RIAL, ALUTEC, and ANZIO brand names. The company was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Superior Industries International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Superior Industries International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (NYSE:TEVA Free Report) in a report issued on Thursday. The firm issued a buy rating on the stock. Several other research firms have also issued reports on TEVA. UBS Group upped their target price on Teva Pharmaceutical Industries from $8.00 to $11.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, September 20th. Bank of America boosted their price objective on Teva Pharmaceutical Industries from $12.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, September 8th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $10.88. Get Teva Pharmaceutical Industries alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Price Performance TEVA opened at $9.42 on Thursday. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has a 1 year low of $7.09 and a 1 year high of $11.44. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.43. The firms fifty day moving average price is $9.77 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $8.73. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (NYSE:TEVA Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The company reported $0.54 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.52 by $0.02. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries had a negative net margin of 14.87% and a positive return on equity of 27.93%. The company had revenue of $3.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.69 billion. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Teva Pharmaceutical Industries will post 2.16 EPS for the current year. Insider Activity In related news, insider Eric A. Hughes sold 52,742 shares of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.30, for a total value of $437,758.60. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, insider Eric A. Hughes sold 52,742 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $8.30, for a total transaction of $437,758.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Eliyahu Sharon Kalif sold 35,125 shares of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $9.73, for a total transaction of $341,766.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 99,162 shares of the companys stock, valued at $964,846.26. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 89,848 shares of company stock valued at $799,176 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.62% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in Teva Pharmaceutical Industries by 3.7% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 41,648,716 shares of the companys stock valued at $391,081,000 after buying an additional 1,494,814 shares in the last quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd grew its stake in Teva Pharmaceutical Industries by 67.8% during the second quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd now owns 31,614,669 shares of the companys stock valued at $238,058,000 after acquiring an additional 12,779,003 shares in the last quarter. Lingotto Investment Management LLP increased its holdings in Teva Pharmaceutical Industries by 41.7% during the 2nd quarter. Lingotto Investment Management LLP now owns 24,213,261 shares of the companys stock worth $182,326,000 after acquiring an additional 7,121,351 shares during the period. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. increased its holdings in Teva Pharmaceutical Industries by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. now owns 23,646,440 shares of the companys stock worth $178,057,000 after acquiring an additional 299,880 shares during the period. Finally, Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. lifted its stake in Teva Pharmaceutical Industries by 54.1% in the 1st quarter. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. now owns 23,298,179 shares of the companys stock worth $206,189,000 after purchasing an additional 8,179,950 shares in the last quarter. 43.23% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Company Profile (Get Free Report) Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, a pharmaceutical company, develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes generic medicines, specialty medicines, and biopharmaceutical products in North America, Europe, Israel, and internationally. The company offers sterile products, hormones, high-potency drugs, and cytotoxic substances in various dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, injectables, inhalants, liquids, transdermal patches, ointments, and creams. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A prominent U.S. security expert has renewed his calls for a risky yet calibrated and stronger deterrence policy signaling the possibility of preemptive military action to counter North Korea's growing intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) threats. In a recent interview with Yonhap News Agency, Victor Cha, senior vice president for Asia and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), made the case as the North is expected to attempt a third space rocket launch this month amid concerns about its burgeoning military cooperation with Russia. On Washington's stepped-up export controls on China, the scholar said that the restrictions are requiring countries to "pick a side" as America is worried about "what the world will look like" if China dominates sectors related to artificial intelligence and other technological fields. "If we know that North Korea is fueling an ICBM and we have a reason to believe that they will launch it not on a lofted trajectory but on a flattened trajectory in the direction of Hawaii, we should be very clear that we have the right to take out that missile either in the mid-course intercept or on the launch pad," he said. Cha outlined the policy proposal during congressional testimony on Wednesday, describing it as a "declaratory" policy that signals the possibility of preemptive action against the North while reassuring American allies that the United States takes North Korean threats "seriously." "It's a risky thing to do. But right now, there is nothing deterring North Korea from shooting missiles," he said, pointing to inaction by the U.N. Security Council, where the North's traditional partners, China and Russia, wield veto powers. Asked whether his proposal includes a "left-of-launch" strategy using electromagnetic, cyber and other technologies to disrupt and defeat a missile launch at a prelaunch stage, the American academic said, "Whatever you need to do." "It could be anything," he said. "It may not be realistic in the sense that North Korea now has mobile launches with solid fuel. It may be very hard to actually try to take it out before it takes off." In a CSIS report in January, Cha's research team also advocated for a working-level "preliminary" dialogue about what would be infrastructure prerequisites for the possible redeployment of nuclear arms to South Korea in order to send a clear deterrence signal to Pyongyang. "We are not talking about shipping the weapons right away. We are talking about what it would take if we were to do this ... what would be the preliminary, non-decisional working-level assessment of what it would take if we were to consider doing this," he said. Cha's renewed call for such deterrence measures comes as the outlook for reengagement with North Korea remains bleak with the regime showing little interest in dialogue. In addition, the security prospects are muddled by the pursuit of stronger armaments by China and other regional players. "The war in Europe, China's drive for a thousand nuclear warheads, Japan's military buildup, South Korea's military buildup and all the exercising ... This is not an environment in which North Korea is interested in disarming," he said. The North's recent release of Pvt. Travis King, detained for crossing the DMZ, was another sign reflective of the regime's unwillingness to engage in dialogue with the U.S., Cha noted. "They weren't trying to drag it out to get something out of this ... They didn't even do it with the U.S. They did it with the Swedes and the Chinese," he said, referring to the assistance that Sweden and China provided to help bring King out of the North. In the face of North Korea's growing threats and China's increasing assertiveness, South Korea, the U.S. and Japan have been stepping up trilateral security coordination, which culminated at their Camp David summit in August. The historic summit produced a series of landmark agreements, including their "commitment to consult" each other in the event of a common threat. Cha said that the "best-case" scenario for trilateral cooperation would be South Korea and Japan issuing a bilateral security declaration similar to the one between Japan and Australia so as to lock in and promote progress in their tripartite security efforts. "It is not a treaty but a political declaration between the two sides," he said. Regarding an increasingly intricate web of U.S. export controls on China, Cha said that on semiconductors, artificial intelligence and quantum computing, the U.S. is trying to "decouple" despite its "de-risking" mantra. "I think that in return for the U.S. granting waivers (from the restrictions), the Koreans have to commit to maintaining considerable distance between the technology they are working on with the U.S. and what they are willing to provide China," he said. Commenting on the South Korea-U.S. alliance, Cha portrayed the decades-old partnership as one that does not just stand against a common threat but also stands for shared values, supply chains and other principles in a broader global context. "By a global alliance, we mean an alliance institution that does not just benefit the U.S.and Korea, but it is benefiting the world through thins like cooperation on emerging technology, climate change, space exploration and public health," he said. Cha also touted South Korea's transition from a country "on the margins" to one that is now "central." In particular, interest in Korea has surged, driven by the power of Korean cultural products like K-pop, he noted. "To me, the important thing is how do you go from that interest in Korea to creating lifelong friendships with these people," he said. "They often refer to K-pop popularity as being soft power, but that is not. Soft power is not just you are popular, but those people start to think about how to support Korea without you having to coerce them to support Korea," he added. (Yonhap) Following consecutive hits for 2 years, IVE made K-pop fans raise their brows after their latest song, "Off the Record" failed to debut on the MelOn Top 100. Is it a "flop or is there any reason behind this result? IVE Drops 2nd Title Track 'Off the Record' On October 6, the 4th-gen representative girl group IVE revealed its second title track, "Off the Record," following their first song, "Either Way" initially dropped on September 25. Both songs were pre-released ahead of IVE's official comeback on October 13, with its first mini-album, "I'VE MINE." On this day, the third title track, "Baddie" will also be unveiled, along with other b-sidetracks, "Holy Moly," "OTT" and "Payback." ALSO READ: IVE's 'Either Way' MV Similar to NewJeans Past Concepts? DIVEs Defend Girl Group Meanwhile, while the previously released track "Either Way" depicts the lyrics of being unable to escape the gaze of other people amid trying to be the real "me," "Off the Record" attempted to show another "me" with more vivid emotions. The song contains stories of girls who are curious about love on a night when no one falls asleep. This song especially earned high anticipation as it was written by lyricist Seo Ji Eum, the person behind their hits, "ELEVEN" and "LOVE DIVE." Director Lee Hye In also participated in their music video, featuring a stylish screen texture that is reminiscent of a home video. Is IVE's 'Off the Record' a Flop? K-pop Fans Wonder Why Song Failed to Debut on MelOn Top 100 Chart Aside from their unique comeback with triple title tracks, IVE also challenged a 1 p.m. release, which targets global K-pop fans. Along with them, BLACKPINK Jennie and NCT 127 also released their new songs, "You & Me" and "Fact Check," respectively on the same day and time. Despite high anticipation, IVE became a hot topic when it failed to enter the MelOn Top 100 chart the moment it was released. When this news spread, there were malicious commenters who claimed that the song was "bad" and that the comeback was a "flop." "Wow, it's because the song isn't a style that the public wants from IVE." "It's not even a usual pre-release, it's a title track." "Starship isn't really promoting IVE." However, DIVEs (fandom) immediately defended the group and revealed the reason it initially failed to debut in MelOn Top 100, one of the main charts on the music-streaming platform. While it is true that IVE didn't enter the MelOn chart in its first hour, the song would later enter the 2 pm KST chart at No. 100. As of writing, its highest peak was at No. 56. According to fans, the song wasn't able to debut on the chart mainly because of its release time. While K-pop songs are usually released at 5:30 to 6:00 pm KST, it was released at 1 pm to match the time of global fans. But in the end, it also affected their domestic performance since after lunch was the time that most students were in their schools, while office workers couldn't listen to music while at work. "I wouldn't have expected much because it's 1 o'clock on Friday. I think the score will go up quickly because the song is good." "In the first place, 1:00 PM was aimed at the United States, not Korea." "Since its fan firepower mostly in their early teens, it's hard to stream because they are at school. It's hard to lift the top 100 at 1 o'clock. Ive debuted in 2021 and it's not a popular pick that the public listens to thinking that it's a new group, but it's a group where fandom is important." Still, expectation is high if the song will be able to claim its top spot in the Top 10. READ MORE: IVE's 'Either Way' Marks Exciting Start of 'IVE MINE' What's Next for the Group? For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Eunice Dawson. A Virginia company created the lectern that is at the center of scrutiny facing Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. A legislative panel next week will take up a lawmakers request for an audit to review the purchase of the lectern, which was bought in June for $19,029.25 with a state credit card. The Arkansas Republican Party reimbursed the state last month for the wood-paneled and blue lectern, which the state received in August. From my experience, where were at with this particular thing is we need to allow a legislative audit, said Republican Sen. Jimmy Hickey, who requested the audit. Questions about the lectern, its cost, how it was purchased and even whether it existed has dominated political talk in Arkansas in recent weeks. The states largest newspaper, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, ran a front-page photo of the lectern last week after Sanders office allowed the paper to view it. Sanders, who served as press secretary for former President Donald Trump, took office in January. The governor has said she welcomes the audit, but has also dismissed the questions surrounding the lecterns purchase. Sanders office has said the reimbursement came from money she had raised for her inauguration. People want to manufacture a controversy where there isnt one, Sanders told reporters. But this is something the states been reimbursed for, and I think there are some people who are always going to be angry and always looking for something to complain about and thats what theyre picking for right now. The lecterns purchase was first uncovered by Matthew Campbell, an attorney and blogger who has sued State Police for withholding records he had requested about Sanders travel and security. Days after Campbell filed his initial suit, Sanders called a special legislative session and proposed broad exemptions to the states open records law. Tom Mars, an attorney who served as director of the Arkansas State Police under Sanders father, former Gov. Mike Huckabee, has also said he has a client with firsthand knowledge that Sanders office interfered with Campbells open records requests. In a letter he sent to Hickey after the lawmaker requested the audit, Mars said the client wishes to remain anonymous and is willing to give a confidential statement to legislative auditors and allow them to review relevant documents in the clients possession. According to Mars letter, the interference includes the governors office altering an invoice from Beckett Events LLC, the Virginia firm listed as the seller of the lectern. The Arlington-based company did not respond to a request for comment. Alexa Henning, a spokeswoman for Sanders, did not specifically respond to the allegations in Mars letter in a statement that nonetheless dismissed them. This is nothing more than a manufactured controversy by left-wing activists to distract from the bold conservative reforms the governor has signed into law and is effectively implementing in Arkansas, Henning said in a statement. Shillong, October 8: A group of 27 citizens from Meghalaya, who were stranded in the conflict zone of Israel and Palestine, have safely crossed over to Egypt, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on Sunday. In a major escalation on Saturday, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. "As per the latest information and through the efforts of MEA and our Indian mission, our 27 citizens from Meghalaya, who were stuck in the war conflict zone of Israel and Palestine have safely crossed the border into Egypt," Sangma posted on X. Israel-Palestine War: Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu Visits Airforce Control Centre During Air Strike on Gaza. Earlier in the day, Ambassador of Israel to India, Naor Gilon said that India holds a highly significant position in the world, and asserted that India's support to Israel is based on a deep understanding of terrorism rather than ignorance. "Our social media is full of people who are showing their support. And we appreciate it. We appreciate it very strongly. I'll tell you why. Because India, first of all, is a very important country in the world. Secondly, India comes from the position of a country that knows terrorism. So it comes from a point of knowledge and not of ignorance," he said a day after Hamas attacked Israel. Expressing solidarity with Israel over the rocket strikes launched by Hamas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that India's thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. "Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour," PM Modi posted on X (formerly Twitter). Over 400 people lost their lives and still counting after Hamas launched an attack on Israel near the Gaza Strip, Times of Israel reported on Sunday. Among the dead, dozens of soldiers and police were killed in the attack. Additionally, the Israel-based media outlet claimed that over 2,048 wounded in the deadliest attack are being treated in hospitals, including 20 in critical condition and 330 seriously wounded. More than 24 hours after Hamas launched rocket attacks followed by an unprecedented ground assault, firefights between forces and terrorists were ongoing in Kfar Aza, close to the Gaza border. The IDF was attempting to neutralise all terrorists still present, The Times of Israel reported. Israel-Palestine War: Death Toll in Hamas Attack in Israel Rises to 350; Benjamin Netanyahu Holds Security Assessment at IDF Headquarters in Tel Aviv. In a major escalation on Saturday, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. The toll from the rocket attacks and ground assault by Hamas went past 300 on Sunday, with another 1,864 people reported to be injured. Several Israelis were taken as hostages in Gaza, the Times of Israel reported citing officials. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata, Oct 8 (PTI) Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, leading a three-day sit-in outside Raj Bhavan, on Sunday criticised Governor CV Ananda Bose for his alleged pro-BJP conduct and pledged to continue the agitation until he received satisfactory response on clearance of state's dues under MGNREGA. Banerjee also condemned the BJP for allegedly using central agencies to intimidate TMC leaders, referring to the recent searches conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at 12 locations, including the residences of senior West Bengal Minister Firhad Hakim and TMC MLA Madan Mitra, as part of an investigation into alleged irregularities in recruitment processes within civic bodies. Also Read | Punjab: Drone Recovered Near International Border in Amritsar. "We have learnt that the governor has written to the state government questioning the sit-in outside Raj Bhavan. He has called for the removal of the sit-in. My question is where was his concern for democratic norms when BJP leaders used Raj Bhavan for their political activities?" Banerjee said. Bose on Sunday said he will meet those deprived of MGNREGA work and take up their grievances with New Delhi. Also Read | Odisha: Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj to Reopen for Public From October 24. The governor also wrote to Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi inquiring whether permission was granted for the TMC's ongoing sit-in outside Raj Bhavan. Continuing his criticism of the governor, Banerjee noted that his predecessor, Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is now the Vice-President of India, was rewarded for opposing Bengal's interests during his tenure. He emphasised, "You are not the BJP's governor; you are Bengal's governor. On seven occasions in the past, the BJP marched to Raj Bhavan. Did you write any letters to the police then? No. So, why do you want the job card holders, who are deprived, to move away from this spot?" Banerjee expressed bewilderment as to why the governor had not yet met the TMC delegation, which is a precondition for withdrawing the sit-in. He said, "We were not allowed to meet the minister of state for rural development in New Delhi and forcibly removed from Krishi Bhawan. We have a simple demand: the governor, as a representative of the Centre, should come and meet us and provide a satisfactory response regarding when the wages of MGNREGA job card holders will be released." Banerjee said he had heard the governor was returning to Kolkata and expressed hope that the party's delegation would be able to meet him. "We have heard that he is a bit unwell, and we wish him a speedy recovery. We hope to meet him soon,"he added. The sit-in, initiated by Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday, followed a gathering of TMC members and top leadership who marched to Raj Bhavan to protest the alleged withholding of West Bengal's MGNREGA dues by the Centre. In response to the CBI raids at the residences of Hakim and Mitra, Banerjee said such tactics would not yield any results. He emphasised that frequent raids and summons from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and CBI would not deter them, as they are staunch supporters of Mamata Banerjee. Banerjee said, "The more the BJP tries to suppress us, the more resolute we will become." The CBI conducted searches at 12 locations in various parts of the state as part of its investigation into alleged irregularities in recruitment processes within civic bodies. Hakim, who holds key positions in the TMC and the state government, was among the prominent figures targeted in the raids. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, October 8: Air India flights to and from Tel Aviv in Israel will remain suspended till October 14 (Saturday) for the safety of its passengers and crew, the airline spokesperson said Sunday. "Air India will extend all possible support to passengers who have confirmed bookings on any flight during this period," the Air India spokesperson added. Initially, an Air India Flight from New Delhi to Tel Aviv on Saturday and a return flight from Tel Aviv to New Delhi were cancelled in the wake of Hamas attack on Israel. Israel has already declared a state of war in the country after infiltration by Hamas fighters and missile attacks from Gaza. Israel-Palestine War: Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda Condemns Hamas Terror Attacks in Israel. Following the rocket attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip by Hamas, the Indian Embassy in Israel on Saturday issued an advisory for its nationals, requesting them to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols. "In view of the current situation in Israel, all Indian nationals in Israel are requested to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities. Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement and stay close to safety shelters," read the advisory. Israel-Palestine War: At Least 230 Palestinians Killed in Israeli Retaliation Following Hamas Terror Attacks. So far, more than 300 people have been killed on the Israeli side, with the number of injured victims in the Hamas terror attacks reaching 1,864, the Times of Israel reported, citing the country's health ministry. Hamas terrorists are still being sought by Israeli security authorities. Israel launched 'Operation Swords of Iron', striking a number of suspected Hamas hideouts in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's response to the Hamas incursion will "exact a huge price" on the terrorist group. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mhow, October 8: An Army officer undergoing the Young Officers course at the Infantry School at Mhow in Madhya Pradesh has gone missing, police said on Sunday. A missing person's report was registered at Mhow police station in Indore district on Saturday, officiating Mhow police station house officer Deepak Rathore told PTI. As per preliminary investigation, Lt Mohit Gupta has been missing since 6 am on Friday. All officers and personnel of other ranks are supposed to attend the Physical Training (PT) at 6 am, but he was not there, following which his instructors asked his course mates to check if he was ill, the official said. Indian Army to Soon Introduce Gender-Neutral Selection Board For Promotion to Colonel Rank: Report. At around 7.30 am, his room was checked and when he was not found there, the authorities were informed about he being missing. When he was not found anywhere, a complaint was made with the police, Rathore said. The Infantry School authorities have provided the missing officer's mobile number and permanent address to the police. His mobile number was switched off," he said. Lt Gupta's parents and other family members, residing at Srinagar locality in Etah city of Uttar Pradesh, have been informed about he being missing and his call detail record (CDR) has been sought to get information about who all were in touch with him, the official said. Indian Army Soldier Allegedly Shares Sensitive Information With Pakistan's ISI Through Drug Smuggler; Arrested by Punjab Police From Bhopal. On a written complaint submitted by Subedar Jarmal Singh, posted as an instructor at the Young Officers wing of the Infantry School, the Mhow police have registered the case and started an investigation into the matter, the official added. According to sources, Lt Gupta was last spotted in the PT uniform and went missing between 6 am and 7.30 am from his room situated at the Young Officers' accommodation near Walong Dwar on the side of Mall Road in Mhow. He left his motorbike there only and it is presumed that he moved out on foot. There are strict rules for officers and other rank personnel coming to the Infantry School for various in-service courses and they are not allowed to go out of the campus, they said. All amenities and shops run by civilian contractors are situated on the campus so that trainees do not venture out, the sources said. In case of some urgent need to go out, they are supposed to get an out pass signed by an appropriate authority and the Defence Security Corps (DSC) personnel deployed for security at all gates allow them to go out only after seeing their passes, they added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Patna (Bihar) [India], October 8 (ANI): Four people were arrested for an alleged gangrape of a woman in Bihar's Patna, said the police on Sunday. Meanwhile, two more accused are on the run. Also Read | Arvind Kejriwal Inaugurates Construction, Demolition Waste Recycling Plant in Delhis Jahangirpuri (Watch Video). "Yesterday, at around 11 p.m., we got the information about the gangrape of a woman in the Maner area in Patna under the Danapur police station here. Acting upon the information, our teams immediately rescued the woman", said Abhinav Dhiman, Assistant Police Commissioner, Patna. "The victim told us that when she had gone to purchase vegetables on yesterday evening, a man named Saroj came to her and tried to woo her. Later, he made her smell an intoxicating substance due to which, she lost consciousness. Later, she was taken near the Chitnawa dam here in Patna where she was gangraped by the man, along with five others", the ACP added. Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections 2023: BJPs CM Face in State Is Lotus, Says Union Minister Piyush Goyal (Watch Video). Further, the ACP said, "Taking an immediate action, the police arrested four of the accused while two others are on the run". The arrested accused were identified as Golu Kumar, Saroj Kumar, Satyendra Kumar and Sonu Kumar, he added. Meanwhile, a probe is underway to nab the two other accused. Further details are awaited. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kargil (Ladakh) [India], October 8 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Stanzin Lakpa won the 5th Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Election from Cha constituency on Sunday. The workers of the BJP celebrated the victory of party candidate Lakpa in the Council Election. Also Read | LAHDC-Kargil Elections Result 2023: NC, Congress Alliance Crosses Half-Way Mark in Polls; Counting Still Underway. Lakpa thanked the people of his constituency for voting for him and said that he would work harder for the people of his constituency. "The election process was a long process this time and therefore we had to face a tough competition. But the people of my constituency voted for me and I won. I want to thank all the people of my constituency," BJP candidate Stanzin Lakpa said to the reporters. Also Read | Bajrang Dal Takes Out Yatras in Ranchi Ahead of Ram Temples Inauguration in Ayodhya in January 2024. "I had faith that the people were happy with my work in the past five years. Now, I will work even harder for my people," he added. Earlier in the day, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti congratulated the National Conference and Congress for their "victory" in Kargil and said that "people of Ladakh" have spoken. "Heartening to see secular parties like NC and Congress register their victory in Kargil. It's the first election post-2019 and people of Ladakh have spoken," Mufti said in a post on 'X' following the results of some seats in the fifth Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Election. The counting of votes started for LAHDC elections amid high-security arrangements on Sunday. This time, 65 per cent of voters turned up in the Kargil district as per the cumulative figure of 3rd round of voting for the 5th LAHDC elections. Earlier last month, the Ladakh administration announced a new schedule for elections to the fifth LAHDC in the Kargil region, following a directive by the Supreme Court. This notification came after the Supreme Court, while restoring the National Conference's party symbol for the upcoming election, also set aside the Union Territory administration's previous election notification since National Conference candidates had not been able to file nominations. As per the notification, elections to 26 seats of the 30-member LAHDC were held on October 4. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, Oct 8 (PTI) Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress on Sunday said the Maharashtra cabinet should resign based on the "confession" by state health minister Tanaji Sawant on the responsibility regarding the death of patients at two state-run hospitals. The Congress also demanded a white paper on the public health system in the state to identify the cause of deaths at government hospitals in Nanded and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Also Read | Arvind Kejriwal Inaugurates Construction, Demolition Waste Recycling Plant in Delhis Jahangirpuri (Watch Video). "If the health minister feels the entire cabinet is responsible, it should resign. Our state is going backwards because of such dirty politics," Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said on X and tagged a video clip of Tanaji Sawant. The comment of the minister is the height of shamelessness, he alleged. Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections 2023: BJPs CM Face in State Is Lotus, Says Union Minister Piyush Goyal (Watch Video). As many as 31 patients, including infants, died at the Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital in Nanded in 48 hours since September 30, while the death of 18 patients was recorded at the Government Medical College and Hospital at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar between October 2 and 3. Last month, 18 patients died in 24 hours in a public hospital in Thane. Demanding a white paper on the state health system, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Balasaheb Thorat also referred to the remarks purportedly made by Sawant and demanded his resignation. Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad said based on Sawant's "confession", the cabinet should tender resignation. In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Thorat said, "white paper on the public health system and machinery should be published so that people will know the truth". "The health minister says his department is not responsible but the collective responsibility lies with the state cabinet. The minister should resign," Thorat added. The former minister said government hospitals in Maharashtra have done good work in the treatment of poor people. "The same health machinery worked day and night to save patients during the COVID-19 pandemic because the intentions of the previous government were genuine. What has happened in the last year that the health system has failed?" he asked. Thorat further said the government should make state-run hospitals financially viable. "The enquiry committee constituted by the government has made some inferences which are not agreeable and the high court has to intervene," the Congress leader said referring to the Bombay HC taking suo motu cognisance of the deaths at two hospitals in Nanded and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Meanwhile, Gaikwad said shirking the responsibility and passing on the blame among themselves is the characteristic of the state (Shiv Sena-BJP-Ajit Pawar faction) government. "Finally, after lying for over a year, someone managed to tell the truth. Mumbai Congress was seeking the resignations of two ministers, but their own Health Minister is confessing the entire cabinet of ministers is responsible. Congress demands that the whole cabinet should tender the resignation," Gaikwad said in a statement. She stated that if the health minister is not taking any blame on himself, the chief minister (Eknath Shinde) and both deputy chief ministers (Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar) should take the lead and dissolve the cabinet. "Even after over 50 deaths, if the health minister is blaming the entire cabinet, then they should come forward and resign on their own," Gaikwad added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kochi (Kerala) [India], October 8 (ANI): S Somanath, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Saturday said that the country's space agency is facing more than 100 cyber-attacks daily. Somanath, while speaking on the concluding session of the 16th edition of the c0c0n, a two-day international cyber conference in Kerala's Kochi, further said that the possibility of cyber-attacks is much higher in rocket technology which uses ultra-modern software and chip-based hardware. Also Read | Germany Says NGO Sea Rescue Funding Planned Through 2026. "The organisation is equipped with a robust cybersecurity network to face such attacks," he said. Notably, the conference was organised by the Kerala Police and Information Security Research Association here. Also Read | Bihar: Ukrainian Woman Performs 'Pind Daan' of Her Parents and Others Who Killed in Russia-Ukraine War. The ISRO chief further said that apart from the software, ISRO is also going ahead with various tests focusing on the safety of the hardware chips inside the rockets. "Earlier, the way of monitoring one satellite has changed to a way of software monitoring many satellites at a time. This indicates the growth of this sector. During COVID, it was possible to launch from a remote location which shows the triumph of technology," he added. He further said that there are different types of satellites that branch out for navigation, maintenance, etc. "And apart from these, satellites which help the daily life of common people are also present. All these are controlled by different types of software. Cyber security is very important to protect all of these,' Somanath added. He said advanced technology is a boon and a threat at the same time. "We can face the challenges posed by cyber criminals using technology like artificial intelligence with the same technology. There should be research and hard work towards this end," he said. Meanwhile, Kerala Revenue Minister P Rajeev, who inaugurated the concluding session of the conference said that the state is a role model for cyber security governance as the state government is capable of providing adequate security to the cyber arena. "The state government is capable of providing adequate security to the cyber arena. The government is also providing necessary support to this sector by establishing the Digital University in the state. Kerala is a state where the internet is ensured through K-Fone in every house," the minister said. He further said that the c0c0n is a role model for the Indian cyber security sector, which is making the necessary innovations for cyber security. "C0c0n is capable of creating cyber security experts among the next generation," P Rajeev added. Hibi Eden MP presided over the function in which Mayor M Anilkumar was the chief guest. Actor Mamta Mohandas, Intelligence ADGP Manoj Abraham IPS and ISRA president Manu Zacharia also addressed the event. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) North Sikkim (Sikkim) [India], October 8 (ANI): As many as 56 civilians stranded due to the recent flash floods were rescued by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in North Sikkim, the officials said on Sunday. According to the officials, the civilians including 4 women and 52 men have been rescued via the ropeway made by the ITBP rescue team in Chungthang in North Sikkim. Also Read | 7th Pay Commission DA Hike Update: Centre to Announce Dearness Allowance Hike For Employees Before Diwali? Check Details Here. A statement issued by the Army today said that the Indian Army Corps of Signals has ensured the timely restoration of civil cellular communications as part of continued assistance to stranded tourists at Chungthang, Lachung and Lachen, North Sikkim. Most of the stranded tourists have been able to speak to their family back home, it added. Also Read | Civic Recruitment Scam: CBI Raids Underway at Two TMC Leaders's Firhad Hakim and Madan Mitra's Residence in West Bengal. It also shared helpline numbers to contact if any emergency arises. "Following numbers are available for any query - Emergency Operating Center(EOC)- Helpline Number 03592-202461/201145, 03592-284444 (Gangtok), 03595-263734 (Namchi), 03592-234538(Mangan), 03592-291936 (Pakyong), 8016747244 (Soreng), 03595-250888 (Gyalshing) and 7001911393 of Nodal Officer (for tourists) and 8101426284 of Assisant Director. For all Army Personnel - 9906200205 (Nodal Officer, Army), ITBP-03592-231340, SSB- 03592-251015, SDRF- 03592-220545, BRO- 03592-259208 and ARMY- 03592-202228," the statement added. Speaking to ANI earlier today, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Sikkim Tamang asserted that the state and central governments are working together to restore normalcy in the state. "NDRF teams have been sent to rescue people. Power supply in some places has been restored and we are working with BRO and other departments as well," he said. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra today held a meeting with CM Tamang to review the situation amid the flash floods in the state. "Sikkim is facing a huge disaster and there has been a massive loss to road and infrastructure. PM Modi and Union HM Amit Shah have been in constant touch with CM Prem Singh Tamang," MoS Mishra told ANI after meeting with CM Tamang. As per the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) report of October 7 as of 10 am, the death toll was registered at 27 with 141 people still reported missing. It said 2413 people have been rescued, and 1203 houses have been damaged in the flash flood. It further said that about 25,065 people have been disaster-affected so far and 6875 people have been shifted to relief camps. The Sikkim government has set up 22 relief camps. The Lhonak glacier in the Sikkim Himalayas burst on October 3, breaching one side of the lake leading to the rise in the water levels in Teesta and inundating several areas of the state. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said the party's government in Karnataka will not spare the culprits responsible for the blaze in a firecracker shop in which 14 people lost their lives. He said the government will ensure that all possible safety measures are taken, so that such incidents do not occur in the future again. Also Read | Bihar Shocker: Cops Dispose of Remains of Road Accident Victim in Canal in Muzaffarpur, Three Policemen Suspended After Video Goes Viral. Kharge also expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragedy. "Extremely saddened to know about the terrible tragedy in a firecracker factory in Karnataka's Attibele in Anekal taluk. Our deepest condolences to the families of the victims, in this hour of grief," he said in a post on X. Also Read | Attibele Firecracker Blast: Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin Announces Rs 3 Lakh Compensation for Kin of Deceased. "Our thoughts are with the injured who have been provided medical assistance. The state government has announced Rs 5 lakh compensation for each of the families of the victims," he said. "We will not spare the culprits and all possible safety measures would be taken, so that such incidents do not occur in the future," he said. The death toll in the fire incident reached 14 on Sunday following the death of two more people, police sources said. While 12 people were charred to death on the spot at the shop-cum-godown at Attibele in Anekal Taluk on Saturday, two others died while undergoing treatment. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], October 8 (ANI): The Karnataka government has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakhs each to the kin of the deceased in a major fire incident at a firecracker store in Attibele of Anekal town on Saturday. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar visited the site of the incident on Saturday night and got the information from the officials. Also Read | Germany Says NGO Sea Rescue Funding Planned Through 2026. "Officials said that 13 people died in the accident. I spoke to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the phone about the incident. The family of the deceased will be given a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each by the government," Shivakumar said. Karnataka Deputy CM further said that the police are conducting a thorough investigation into the tragedy. They are also checking whether the fire prevention rules were followed or not. Also Read | Bihar: Ukrainian Woman Performs 'Pind Daan' of Her Parents and Others Who Killed in Russia-Ukraine War. "In view of approaching Diwali, the police officials have been instructed to take precautionary measures regarding the observance of fire hazard control rules in firecracker shops and godowns across the state," Shivakumar added. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also condoled the accident and said on X, "I was deeply saddened to hear the news that 12 people died in the fire accident that broke out in a firecracker store near Anekal, Bangalore city district. I am going to visit the accident site tomorrow and inspect it. My condolences to the family of the deceased workers." According to the fire department officials, several fire tenders were rushed to douse the fire at the site. "A fire broke out in a firecracker shop suddenly this afternoon. The shop was built right next to the highway. The firework shop was on fire in no time. The warehouse which was next to the firecracker shop also caught fire. The situation is under control," police said earlier. According to the damage assessment done by the officials, seven two-wheelers, a container lorry, and three other vehicles were gutted in the fire. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru, October 8: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the fire accident that happened at a firecracker store in Attibele of Anekal town, which killed 14 people. The Chief Minister said that there was negligence on the part of the shop owner who is now in police custody. "We don't know what exactly happened, however, we got to know that there was no safety measurement (in the shop). The license was renewed recently. No fire extinguisher was found in the shop. It is a total negligence of the Shop owner. so I am giving the investigation into the incident to CID," Siddaramaiah told reporters after visiting the accident site. He said that some bodies of the deceased have yet to be identified. Bengaluru Fire Video: Massive Blaze Erupts at Cracker Shop in Attibele, Four Injured. "Fourteen people have died (in the incident) and all are from Tamil Nadu, most of them are students. They are working here to earn money for their education," CM Siddaramaiah said. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar also visited the accident site on Sunday and told the reporters that the incident was a grave one. "We are going to come up with a plan of action we have to take within two to three days... We have already announced Rs 5 lakhs for those who died, and hospital expenditures will be taken care of," Shivakumar said. The fire broke out as the workers at the store were unloading firecrackers from a vehicle on Saturday, around 3.30 pm, police said. Bengaluru Fire: 12 Dead After Massive Blaze Erupts at Firecracker Store in Attibele, CM Siddaramaiah Expresses Grief (Watch Video). Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also condoled the loss of lives in the fire on social media platform X, posting, "I was deeply saddened to hear the news that 12 people died in the fire accident that broke out in a firecracker store near Anekal, Bangalore city district. I am going to visit the accident site tomorrow and inspect it. My condolences to the family of the deceased workers." According to the damage assessment done by the officials, seven two-wheelers, a container lorry, and three other vehicles were gutted in the fire. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], October 8 (ANI): Rajasthan will become the second state in the country after Bihar to conduct Caste based Survey after the state government passed an order on Saturday to conduct the survey. In an order issued by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Rajasthan Government, it was said "Keeping in view the backwardness of all sections of the state, with the aim of taking special welfare measures and interpreting various welfare schemes for all sections of the state and improving the standard of living of all sections by providing them social and economic upliftment and support and in compliance with the decision taken by the State Cabinet, a Caste-Based Survey will be conducted." Also Read | Germany Says NGO Sea Rescue Funding Planned Through 2026. This comes after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced that soon his state would undertake a caste-based census, mirroring the recent initiative undertaken by Bihar. "I always say that the 'Right to Social Security' act should be made in this country... If all these laws are made, then who will get benefits and who won't, who is eligible and who is not, all these things will be clear once a survey is conducted... We are going to do this", Gehlot stated. Also Read | Bihar: Ukrainian Woman Performs 'Pind Daan' of Her Parents and Others Who Killed in Russia-Ukraine War. It was mentioned in the order that updated information and data will be collected regarding social, economic and educational levels and the survey will be executed by the Planning (Economic and Statistics) Department. "The department will act as the nodal department for the above work. At the district level, the District Collector will be the nodal officer for survey work and will be in overall charge of it," the order said. The Department will also prepare a questionnaire for the survey work so that complete information about the social, economic and educational level of each person can be obtained. "The information and data obtained from the survey will have to be fed online, for which a separate special software and mobile app will be created by the Information and Technology Department. All the information collected from the survey will be kept safe by the said department," the order further said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], October 8 (ANI): Congress National Spokesperson Ragini Nayak on Sunday said that Sachin Birla, the former MLA of the party who took the BJP's membership and formally joined the ruling party in Madhya Pradesh ahead of the polls would be 'unhappy' after the results of the assembly elections. Ragini Nayak, while speaking to ANI said that there is no reason for the Congress to be upset about Sachin leaving the party just before the crucial polls. Also Read | Mumbai Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh Receives Death Threat From Gangster Goldy Brar; Probe On. "He had almost declared that he would be joining BJP in the year 2021 itself. He pretended to be on Congress' side only to save his MLA membership. If he wants to join with "Nafrat Ki Farman", it's well and good...There is nothing to feel sad about...He would be unhappy once the election results are out," Ragini Nayak said. Notably, Sachin Birla switched to the BJP in October 2021 without resigning from his legislative membership, and the Congress did not expel him. In the 2018 assembly elections, Birla had won the Barwaha seat. Also Read | Meghalaya: Landslide Triggered by Heavy Rains Buries Alive Four of Family in West Jaintia Hills. Sachin Birla, the first-time MLA took the BJP's membership during a function at the party's state office here in the presence of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and MP party unit chief VD Sharma. Madhya Pradesh is one of the five states going to polls at the end of this year. The terms of the legislative assemblies in Telangana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh are set to conclude on various dates in January of the coming year, while the term of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly will end on December 17 this year. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Gangtok (Sikkim) [India], October 8 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Ministry of Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra on Sunday held a high-level meeting with the Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and took stock of the situation following the flash flood in the state. The primary agenda of the meeting was to deliberate on the recovery and restoration efforts in the aftermath of the recent flood crisis, which has affected the state. Also Read | Delhi: Woman, Her Two Kids Found Dead With Injury Marks On Body in Munirka. Both leaders held comprehensive discussions, examining the immediate and long-term strategies to address the current situation. The discussion was focused on the coordination of resources, relief assistance, and support to expedite the rescue and recovery work. Ajay Mishra reaffirmed the commitment of the Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah to collaborate closely with the State Government to ensure swift and effective recovery. Also Read | Uttarakhand, Dry Days, and Home Mini Bars: State Govts New Excise Policy Bars Owners From Opening Home Bar on Prohibited Days. The Chief Minister of Sikkim expressed gratitude towards the Centre for the prompt response and expressed commitment to work in tandem with the Central Government to expedite the recovery and restoration work. As per the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), both leaders reiterated their resolve to work tirelessly to restore normalcy and extend support to those affected by the recent floods. "Mishra also visited disaster-affected areas in Naga in Mangan district. He provided assurance of relief and assistance to the affected citizens, emphasizing that the Prime Minister is continuously monitoring the situation," MHA said in a release. "The Union MoS underscored the urgent need to prioritize the rescue and relief efforts for individuals stranded in isolated areas," it added. Meanwhile, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) continued to conduct search and rescue operations at Chungtham town near the Teesta hydropower project in Mangan district today."One body was recovered from a tunnel. A log bridge has been made across the Teesta River for the movement of the people," the release stated further. Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), one team each at Rangpo in Pakyong district and at Singtam in Gangtok district, are also conducting search and rescue operations. Meanwhile, two more teams of NDRF have reached Chungtham and are carrying out search and rescue operations. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhubaneswar, October 8: Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district will reopen for tourists from October 24, officials said on Sunday. The reserve, which was closed to tourists because of monsoon, will allow tourists from October 24, said STR field director Prakash Chand Gogineni. At least 25-35 vehicles will be allowed inside the park daily. Tourists will be restricted from carrying plastic bags, he said. Tourists can enter STR using two gates Kaliani and Pithabata between 6am and 9am and will have to leave using Barehipani and Jaranda gates by 3pm and Chahala gate by 4 pm. All tourists will have to leave the park latest by 5pm, STR guidelines said. Assam: Training Programme on Rhino DNA Indexing System Held at Kaziranga National Park. If the car of a tourist develops any mechanical snag inside the park, they will have to pay Rs 4,000 and avail vehicles provided by the STR, the guidelines said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Palestine requests Arab League emergency meeting over deadly conflict with Israel Xinhua) 21:05, October 08, 2023 CAIRO, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Palestine requested an Arab League (AL) emergency meeting at the level of foreign ministers to discuss the developments amid the ongoing deadly conflict with Israel, said a Palestinian diplomat in Cairo on Sunday. Mohannad Aklouk, Palestine's permanent representative at the AL, said that his country seeks the urgent meeting to be held as soon as possible. "The meeting aims to discuss ways of political action at the Arab and international levels to stop the Israeli aggression, hold its perpetrators accountable, and provide international protection for the Palestinian people," he added. The requested meeting also seeks to achieve peace and security based on international law, international legitimacy resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative, said the Palestinian diplomat. The request came a day after a massive deadly conflict took place between the Palestinians and the Israelis in the Gaza Strip that left heavy casualties on both sides. On Saturday, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which controls Gaza, showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. The Gaza-based Health Ministry said that at least 313 Palestinians were killed and 1,990 wounded by the Israeli strikes in Gaza, while Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Sunday the death toll in Israel reached 600. AL Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit slammed on Saturday Israel's violent policies against the Palestinians as "a time bomb" that undermines regional stability, calling for an immediate cease-fire between the Israelis and the Palestinians. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Kou Jie) American guitarist Steve Vai, three-time Grammy Award winner, will perform at Ho Chi Minh Citys Nguyen Du Indoor Stadium on October 19 as part of his Inviolate World Tour. Guitarist Steve Vai. Photo from Vais Instagram Vai said he looked forward to performing in Vietnam in the celebration of the 45th anniversary of his debut in the music industry. This will also be the artists first-ever show in Vietnam. According to event organizers, Vai will perform tracks from his 2022 studio album "Inviolate," as well as unreleased tracks from his latest "Vai/Gash." He will also share his experiences in the music industry at a Q&A session with show attendees. Vietnam is the first Southeast Asia stop of Vais "Inviolate World Tout." The artist is set to visit Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia after his HCMC performance. Vai, 63, started his music career in 1978 as a transcriptionist for American musician Frank Zappa. He made his solo debut in 1983 and has sold over 15 million records to date. Throughout his career he has received a total of 15 Grammy Award nominations, and he won three times in 1993, 2002, and 2008. Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) [India], October 8 (ANI): As part of Territorial Army Day Celebrations, 110 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) Madras Regiment organised a mega event "Veer Gatha: An Evening with TA Warriors" at Sri Ramakrishna College of Arts & Science, Peelamedu, Coimbatore. During the event, a total of 13 Veer Naris (war widows), Gallantry Awardees & Battle Casualties of Coimbatore District were felicitated. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: Nagar Panchayat Chairman Sunil Kumar Singh Booked for Issuing Threats to School Principal in Ballia. Various programs showcasing the life of an Army person were organized in the event. Kalaripayattu & Chendamelam Display by Kovai Terriers was the highlight of the evening. Army Recruiting office also set up an exhibition to showcase various options for youth to Join the Armed Forces. Kranthi Kumar Pati, IAS, District Collector, Coimbatore, V Balakrishnan, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore city and M Prathap, IAS, Commissioner Municipal Corporation of Coimbatore were also present. Also Read | Air Force Day 2023: Indian Air Force Must Be One of Best, If Not Best by Time It Completes 100 Years in 2032, Says Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari. Senior officers from the Army, Navy, Air Force & Civil Administration, College Students, NCC Cadets, troops & their families took part in the event. Colonel Dinesh Singh Tanwer, Commanding Officer, 110 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) MADRAS thanked all the people who contributed to making the event a grand success. Around 1,100 persons attended the first-of-its-kind event organized in Coimbatore. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kozhikode, Oct 8 (PTI) Social activist and writer V P Zuhara publicly removed her headscarf on a stage on Sunday in protest against a controversial comment allegedly made by Samastha Kerala Jamyathul Ulama leader Mukkam Umar Faizi recently. Faizi had commented on senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader K Anil Kumar's statement regarding the traditional headscarf worn by Muslim women in Kerala. Also Read | Dalai Lama Not Admitted to Hospital, Say AIIMS Delhi Officials Amid Talks of His Medical Checkup. The Samastha leader had allegedly said women who did not wear hijab were of questionable character. During the inaugural session of the Kudumbashree's "Thirike Schoolil" (Back to school) campaign at Nallalam in the city on Sunday, Zuhara lashed out at Faizi's comment and said to cover the head or not is a woman's choice. Also Read | Delhi: Woman, Her Two Kids Found Dead With Injury Marks On Body in Munirka. "I grew up wearing a headscarf. It is part of my habit and not because I am a Muslim," she told reporters after the incident. During the event, she criticised Faizi's comment and removed the "pallu" of her saree from her head. As Zuhara raised the issue and removed the headscarf, a few members, including some office-bearers of the parent-teacher association (PTA) of the school from the audience, protested after which she left the venue. She later approached the police and filed a complaint, saying the PTA office-bearers hurled abuses at her. The Nallalam Police said a complaint was received and further action will be taken. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi will take part in an urban summit in Australia and present the work done by the Arvind Kejriwal government in the national capital, officials said on Sunday. The 'Asia Pacific Cities Summit' is scheduled to take place in Brisbane from October 11-13. While the theme of the summit is 'Shaping Cities for Our Future', there are three sub-themes: technology, data, development, and people's well-being, according to a statement issued by the mayor's office. Also Read | Indian Air Force Day 2023 Date, History and Significance: Everything To Know About the Day That Celebrates the Formation of the IAF. Oberoi will depart for Brisbane on Monday, it said. She will present the 'model of the Kejriwal governance' to a global audience. This model showcases the work done in Delhi, Punjab, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi under the leadership of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the statement said. Also Read | HPPSC Recruitment 2023: Vacancies Notified for 56 Veterinary Officer Posts, Apply Online at hppsc.hp.gov.in. She will talk about education, health, and cleanliness. The summit will facilitate the exchange of ideas and achievements among mayors, policymakers, business leaders, and more. In the 2019 edition of the Summit, mayors from around the world had represented over 99 million people. Therefore, the agreements and insights from this summit can have a direct impact on people's lives. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jaipur, Oct 8 (PTI) A 45-year-old Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC) constable was found dead here on Sunday morning, police said. Police suspect constable Amar Singh, posted in the RAC fourth battalion, was apparently attacked with a sharp-edged weapon, which led to his death. Also Read | Indian Air Force Day 2023 Date, History and Significance: Everything To Know About the Day That Celebrates the Formation of the IAF. "Multiple injury marks caused by a sharp-edged weapon were found on the victim's body, raising suspicion that he was attacked by someone when he went out of his home in the evening," ACP (Amer) Aditya Poonia said. He said the family members and locals will be questioned after the postmortem, which will be conducted at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital. Also Read | HPPSC Recruitment 2023: Vacancies Notified for 56 Veterinary Officer Posts, Apply Online at hppsc.hp.gov.in. A Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team was called to examine the spot and the CCTV footage of the area is being examined, police said. A case of murder has been registered under section 302 of the Indian penal code, police added. The BJP has targeted the state government over alleged poor law and order situation. "The incident of murder of an RAC constable in the capital Jaipur is a proof that not only the common people, but even the khakis are not safe in the state. Under the anarchy of the Congress government, murder has become a daily affair. Those responsible for law and order are silent and the security of the state was left at the mercy of God," Leader of the Opposition Rajendra Rathore said on X. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Latur, Oct 8 (PTI) The Nationalist Congress Party has called for urgent repairs to be carried out at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Maharashtra's Latur city. NCP workers said they had submitted a memorandum to state medical education minister Hasan Mushrif during his visit to the city on September 18, requesting that the facility near Patel Chowk be repaired. Also Read | Indian Air Force Day 2023 Date, History and Significance: Everything To Know About the Day That Celebrates the Formation of the IAF. According to local NCP leader D Umakant, they recently submitted another memorandum to civic chief Babasaheb Manohare but were told that the hospital now falls under the purview of the state health department. The NCP leader said the hospital was once a vital health facility in the area. Over the years, it became dilapidated and a major portion of it was razed. The remaining part is now being used as a dispensary, he said. Also Read | HPPSC Recruitment 2023: Vacancies Notified for 56 Veterinary Officer Posts, Apply Online at hppsc.hp.gov.in. Umakant said they want the existing portion to be repaired urgently for the benefit of citizens. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tel Aviv [Israel], October 8 (ANI): As Israeli fighter jets continued to batter Hamas targets on the Gaza border area after deadly terror attacks by the terrorist outfit, Israel Police on Sunday confirmed that 30 of its officers, including from the Border Police, have been killed, Israeli news agency Tazpit Press Service (TPS) reported. The Israel Police released the names of the slain personnel on Sunday. Also Read | Earthquake in Afghanistan: Death Toll From Two Strong Quakes That Shook Herat Province Rises to Over 2,000 (See Pics and Video). Meanwhile, the Israeli Defence Force on Sunday named 26 soldiers killed in the fighting since Saturday morning, The Times of Israel reported. IDF spokesman Rear Adm Daniel Hagari told media on Sunday morning that the military was seeking to "stabilize the situation in the Gaza envelope" and that infiltrators at most incident locations had been "neutralized." Also Read | Pakistan Shocker: Hindu Girl Gangraped, Murdered at Qasim Wala Bangla in Cholistan Desert, Three Accused Arrested. Hagari said the forces were still carrying out searches for terrorists in Sderot, Zikim, Re'im, and Sufa. The IDF on Sunday said the wrested control of 29 locations from Hamas infiltrators, he said. "There are hundreds of dead terrorists. There are dozens of terrorists captured," Hagari said. Many in the civil police were caught off guard as Hamas terrorists opened fire randomly in the middle of the streets in Israeli towns, according to reports. Some of them were off duty in the areas under attack and went out in attempts to protect the civilian population, reported TPS. Meanwhile, Israeli security forces made headway early Sunday toward regaining control of the towns and areas held by Hamas terrorists who infiltrated 24 hours earlier, The Times of Israel reported. Till now, more than 300 people have been killed and over 1,800 wounded and dozens kidnapped and taken to the Gaza Strip, added reports. Many civilians were still holed up in their homes, hiding in fear of roving terrorists searching for victims, as troops dealt with some hostage-takers and stormed homes and facilities, shooting the Palestinian gunmen within, The Times of Israel reported. Israeli security forces were still struggling to clear terrorist cells entrenched within devastated communities, it added. Meanwhile, Israel's Security Cabinet, earlier on Sunday, made a series of decisions marking the start of the offensive phase of 'Operation Swords of Iron', ordering the Israel Defense Forces to prepare for the "destruction of the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and [Palestinian] Islamic Jihad." "We are embarking on a long and difficult war that was forced on us by a murderous Hamas attack," Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said at the meeting, according to reports. "We will restore security to the citizens of Israel and we will win," he added. "The first stage is ending at this time with the destruction of the vast majority of the enemy forces that infiltrated our territory. At the same time, wee Outfits From Her Wardrobe to Marvel At Tel Aviv, October 8: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Hamas has started a cruel, evil war and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will use all its strength to destroy Hamas' capabilities. "Hamas forces invaded Israeli territory this morning, on the morning of a holiday and Shabbat, and murdered innocent civilians, children and the elderly. Hamas started a cruel and evil war. We will win this war, but the price is too heavy to bear. This is a very difficult day for all of us," the Israeli PM wrote on 'X' on Sunday. A major upheaval took place in the Middle East on Saturday, when the Hamas terror group launched a "surprise attack", firing a barrage of rockets into southern and central Israel. Israel-Palestine War: Nervous, Scared, in Touch With Embassy, Say Indian Students After Hamas Attacks (Watch Videos). According to the latest developments, 250 people have been killed, at least 1104 people are injured and several Israelis have been held as hostages in Gaza, the Times of Israel reported citing officials. Netanyahu said: "Hamas wants to murder us all. It is an enemy who murders children and mothers in their homes, in their beds. An enemy who kidnaps the elderly, children, girls. Murderers who slap and slaughter our citizens, our children, who all in all went out to spend the holiday." He said that what happened in Israel on Saturday, he will make sure that it does not happen again. "What happened today is not seen in Israel - and I will make sure that it does not happen again. The entire government stands behind this decision," he said. "The IDF will immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamas' capabilities. We will cripple them to the point of destruction and we will take revenge with might for this black day they have brought upon the State of Israel and its citizens," he added. Israel-Palestine War: At Least 300 Israelis Killed, Over 1500 Injured in Hamas Surprise Attack. The IDF on Saturday said: "As families all over Israel are gathering around the dinner table, instead of eating dinner, they are once again forced to run to bomb shelters due to Hamas' incessant rocket fire." At about 6:30 am (local time), a barrage of rocket fire began from Gaza into Israel, hitting several cities including Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Gedera and Ashkelon. This was followed by several Hamas terrorists entering Israel from the Gaza Strip and taking over Israeli towns. Hamas military commander Muhammad Al-Deif called the operation "Al-Aqsa Storm" and said that the assault on Israel was a response to attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and the ongoing siege of Gaza, CNN reported. Netanyahu said: "All the places where Hamas is organized, of this city of evil, all the places where Hamas hides, operates from - we will turn them into cities of ruins." "I say to the residents of Gaza: get out of there now because we will act everywhere and with all the strength. At this time, IDF forces are clearing the last settlements of terrorists. They are going settlement by settlement, house by house and returning control to our hands," he said. Some graphic videos showed bodies strewn in the streets of the southern city of Sderot after the attack by Palestinian militants. Cars were riddled with bullets and lit on fire, according to The Washington Post. In a major development, the Israeli Mayor, and head of the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council, Ofir Liebstein, was also killed in the deadly rocket fire. In response to the deadly attacks, the Israel Defense Forces also declared a 'readiness for war'. Meanwhile, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said anyone who causes terror and death anywhere on the planet must be held accountable. "We in Ukraine have a special feeling about what has happened. Thousands of rockets in the Israeli sky... People killed just on the streets... Civilian cars shot through... Detainees being humiliated..." Zelenskyy wrote on 'X'. He said the attack on Israel was well-planned, and the entire world knows which sponsors of terrorism could have endorsed and enabled its organization. "Israel has the full right to defend itself against terror. As any other state. And it's critical that the whole world responds to terror in a unified and principled manner," he said. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also reacted to the Hamas attack on Israel, saying: "Australia stands with our friend Israel in this time. We condemn the indiscriminate and abhorrent attacks by Hamas on Israel, its cities and civilians. We recognise Israel's right to defend itself." (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], October 8 (ANI): Tanzania's Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, January Yusuf Makamba has said that during Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan's India visit, the two countries will elevate their defence relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. "In this visit, we will elevate our relationships to a comprehensive strategic partnership with four pillars. One is a development corporation. Two, maritime security, three, defence corporation and four, trade investment..." the Tanzanian Foreign Affairs Minister said. Also Read | Israel-Palestine War: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Condemns Hamas Attack, Says Israels Right to Self-Defense is Unquestionable. "In defence, there are many areas and we have been working with the Indian defence sector for a while now in terms of training, and exchange of knowledge. Hardware will be part of the future arrangement. There is a foundation of cooperation and it's part of the four pillars of strategic partnership we want to have with India," he added. The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan will be arriving in New Delhi today for a four-day state visit during which she will participate in bilateral meetings and exchange MoUs with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Saturday. Also Read | DR Congo Bomb Blast: 15 People Killed as Bomb Brought Home by Children Explodes in Kivu Province. President Samia will arrive at 5:15 pm and later will meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at 6:30 pm. Meanwhile, Makamba while speaking on the IIT Campus in Zanzibar, said: "It is very very significant as you know the IIT is a very reputable institution in India. It has produced world-class renowned technology entrepreneurs. The willingness of India to open this...is very important for us." He further said that: "It is a leap of faith for India to do this. We appreciate the significance and symbolic value of this that India is keen on exporting its model of success in creating engineers, technicians and technology entrepreneurs. It is very important for us as it is in line with our development objectives." The minister while speaking on the African Union's inclusion in G20, said this is very good and that India has had a historic role as champion of the global south. "Back in the '60s and even farther back in the '50s, India worked with Africa to struggle for independence and liberation of Southern Africa. India and Africa saw eye to eye in many important liberation and anti-colonialism matters. It was part of our Nine Aligned Movement and India was part of the global south," he said. "What we are happy about is that as India ascends into a position of global influence, it has kept its faith and is loyal to the cause of the global south. India now gets to sit at the big table, G20, and still remember that it's important that countries of the south also have a voice in the big table. So the advocacy of India to include the African Union in the G20 was very well received in Africa, and it's an appreciation of India's important role as a champion of the Global South," he added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington, October 8: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday said there is intense fighting going on in the Gaza area and the focus right now is on helping Israel recover the territory that has been taken by Hamas militant group, noting that the issue of intelligence failure would be probed into a bit later. Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented multifront attack by air, land and sea by the Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning. More than 600 people, including soldiers, have been killed so far and more than 2,000 injured in Israel -- the deadliest day for the country in at least 50 years. In the Gaza Strip, there are more than 300 deaths and about 1,500 wounded in Israel's counterattack, media reports said on Sunday. Israel-Palestine War: Casualties Feared as 12 Nepalese Students Missing After Hamas Attack in Israel, Says FM NP Saud. The challenge for Israel and the challenge for all who support Israel and oppose horrific acts of terrorism is again to take measures that provide for accountability for that's happened and also to do our best to ensure that this doesn't happen again. That is likely to take some time. It's fraught with very difficult decisions for the Israelis to make, Blinken told ABC News in an interview. This is the worst attack on Israel since the Yom Kippur War in 1973, 50 years ago, he told CNN in another interview. I don't want to speculate, get into hypotheticals, this is our 24-hour or so into this. As I said, there remains intense fighting in the Gaza area. And the focus has to be on helping Israel recover the territory that has been taken briefly by Hamas, protecting its citizens and taking whatever measures are necessary to avoid this repeating itself, Blinken said, a day after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel. This is a massive terrorist attack that is gunning down Israeli civilians in their towns, in their homes, and as we've seen so graphically, literally dragging people across the - the border with Gaza, including a Holocaust survivor in a wheelchair, women and children. So, you can imagine the impact this is having throughout Israel. And the world should be revolted at what it's seen, he said. The United States, he said, has immediately engaged its Israeli partners and allies. President Joe Biden was on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a day earlier on Saturday to assure him of full American support. I was on the phone with the Israeli president, the foreign minister. The entire government has been engaged throughout the region and well beyond, both to build support for Israel and to make sure that every country was using whatever means it has, whatever influence it has, to pull Hamas back and also to make sure that we don't see conflict erupt in other areas. The president sent a very clear message that no one should try to take advantage of this elsewhere, he said. When asked about the intelligence failure, Blinken said that there will be time to look at that and to make determinations about what may have been missed. "Right now, the focus has to be on the effort to repel the aggression by the Hamas terrorists to - to push them back and to put Israel in a position where this doesn't happen again, he said. "We have a very close relationship with Israeli intelligence, as well as with the Israeli military, as well as with Israel more broadly. This is something that they and we will be looking at. But the effort right now has to be in dealing with the aggression from Hamas with these attacks, Blinken said. There remains intense fighting around Gaza, he said, adding that the intensity of the fighting is real. About 1,000 Hamas militants have infiltrated Israel. Most of them seem to have either been killed or have gone back into Gaza. But intense fighting remains, said the top US diplomat. Israel-Palestine War: Death Toll in Hamas Attack in Israel Rises to 350; Benjamin Netanyahu Holds Security Assessment at IDF Headquarters in Tel Aviv. Responding to a question, Blinken told CNN that there's a long relationship between Iran and Hamas. In fact, Hamas wouldn't be around in the way that it is without the support that it's received from Iran over the years. In this specific instance, we have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack, but there's certainly a long relationship, he said. It's one of the reasons why we have been resolutely taking action against Iran and its support for terrorists and terrorist proxies and other groups over the last few years of this administration. We've sanctioned more than 400 Iranian individuals and entities, precisely because of their support for things like Hamas, Blinken said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Waterloo (Iowa), Oct 8 (AP) Former President Donald Trump and other GOP contenders tried to lay blame on the Biden administration after Hamas militants launched the deadliest attack on Israel in decades, citing a $6 billion transfer to Iran that administration officials insisted Saturday had yet to be spent. Hamas' surprise early morning attack during a major Jewish holiday Saturday marks a new foreign policy front in a presidential election that has already been unusually dominated by foreign affairs. Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine has divided the Republican field, with some like Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis questioning the U.S.'s continued involvement, while others like former Vice President Mike Pence insist that supporting the Ukrainian military is vital to U.S. national security interests. Also Read | Israel-Palestine War: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Condemns Hamas Attack, Says Israels Right to Self-Defense is Unquestionable. On Saturday, the candidates appeared united, standing with Israel. The Hamas terrorist invasion of Israeli territory and the murder of Israeli soldiers today and the brutal murder of citizens is an act of savagery that must and will be crushed," Trump said at an appearance in Waterloo, Iowa. Also Read | DR Congo Bomb Blast: 15 People Killed as Bomb Brought Home by Children Explodes in Kivu Province. Trump, like others, directly blamed the $6 billion American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks, he said in an earlier statement and argued that, under Biden, the U.S. is perceived as being weak and ineffective on the global stage, opening the door to hostility. They didn't have that level of aggression with me. They didn't have it. This would have never happened with me either, Trump claimed, adding later in Cedar Rapids that Biden had betrayed Israel" with the deal. Biden on Saturday decried the unconscionable assault and pledged to ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself after the attack. Much of the Republican criticism focused on a complex deal announced by the Biden administration in September to release five U.S. citizens detained in Iran. As part of the deal, roughly $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets that were being held in South Korea were transferred to an account in Doha, Qatar. Although Hamas is a Sunni Muslim group, it has a militant wing that has long nurtured close ties with Iran, a source of funding and a Shiite powerhouse. Hamas and Iran are brought together by a shared enmity toward Israel. Administration officials said Saturday that no money in the Doha account so far has been spent. The $6 billion figure is not U.S. taxpayer money, senior Biden administration officials stressed at the time of the deal, but rather payments made by South Korea to Iran to buy oil in recent years. The funds had been stuck in South Korea due to U.S. sanctions. That money is now held in a restricted account in Doha, and is meant to be used for solely humanitarian purposes such as food and medicine for Iranians and handled by what the administration described as vetted non-Iranian vendors. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said his country would spend the money wherever we need it, although the U.S. has said in response that it would exercise rigorous oversight over how the funds are disbursed and that it could freeze the assets again if needed. DeSantis, in a video statement, accused Biden of policies that have gone easy on Iran and have helped to fill their coffers. Israel is now paying the price for those policies. We're going to stand with the State of Israel, they need to root out Hamas and we need to stand up to Iran. And South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott alleged the attack was the Biden $6 billion ransom payment at work. We didn't just invite this aggression, we paid for it, he said in a statement. Adrienne Watson, a spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, said she could not directly address Republican criticism due to federal restrictions. "But I can clarify the facts: Not a single cent from these funds has been spent, and when it is spent, it can only be spent on things like food and medicine for the Iranian people, she said Saturday in a statement. These funds have absolutely nothing to do with the horrific attacks today and this is not the time to spread disinformation. Brian Nelson, the undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence at Treasury, also stressed that these restricted funds cannot go to Iran and that any suggestion to the contrary is false and misleading. Pence also blamed Biden, saying the current administration projects weakness on the world stage and kowtows to the mullahs in Iran. But in an appearance in Iowa, Pence also turned the focus on his GOP rivals who have been advocating more isolationist policies, particularly on Ukraine, calling the attack a testament to the fact that we need new leadership in the White House, but we also need leadership in the Republican Party that understands the stakes, that understands we achieve peace through strength. I call on Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Ron DeSantis," he said, "to abandon the language of appeasement to say that we will stand strong with Israel, we will stand strong with Ukraine, we will stand as the leader of the free world. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) A cat in the midst of being prepared for the funeral at Trungs center in Thu Duc City, HCMC, Sept. 10, 2023. Photo courtesy of Trung On Sept. 22, Hung Huy dialed a pet funeral service in HCMC while cradling his deceased British longhair cat Bim in his arms, tears streaming down his face. The 18-month-old cat had been diagnosed with depression by the vet. On a stormy day the sound of thunder and lightning scared Bim so much that he jumped from the third floor and unfortunately died. After losing his pet, Huy was devastated and wanted it to be cremated so that he could have the ashes to remember it by. "I considered Bim my own child, and so of course I want a proper funeral," the 27-year-old from Hoc Mon District says. About 45 minutes later, a funeral worker was at the scene, condoled with Huy and took Bim away. After a while Huy received photos of Bim cleaned, dried, swaddled in white cloth, and placed on a tray adorned with yellow chrysanthemums and candles. The "funeral" lasted 15 minutes, after which Bim was taken to be cremated. Huy paid VND2 million (US$82) for this service. Six hours later he received an urn containing Bims ashes. He placed it and Bims bowl on a wooden platform hanging in a corner of his room as a memorial. An urn with his cat Bims ashes in Hung Huys home in Hoc Mon District, HCMC, in September 2023. Photo by VnExpress/ Ngoc Ngan The pet funeral service that Huy used opened three years ago, but only became well-known this year. Pet funeral services have become a necessity as more and more Vietnamese get pets and consider them a member of their family. At the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the pet industry saw a boom, growing at the second fastest rate in Southeast Asia, according to market research company iPrice. The boom sparked off a surge in related services as well. How to handle dead pets is also a problem that needs to be addressed in cities, which usually do not have enough land to bury them. Ho Dac Trung, the owner of a pet funeral service in Thu Duc City, says in the past pet owners in HCMC had two ways to get rid of their dead animals: throw them into a landfill or take them to the Binh Hung Hoa Cremation Center in Binh Tan District. But nowadays pet funeral services are becoming their top choice, he says. A quick survey done by VnExpress found around six centers offering the service, with cremation being a common option at prices of VND1-4 million depending on the weight of the dead animal. Trung says demand for the service has increased by 30% since January this year, with customers being usually in the 25-35 age bracket. His center receives 35-40 requests a week. A cat in the midst of being prepared for the funeral at Trungs center in Thu Duc City, HCMC, Sept. 10, 2023. Photo courtesy of Trung The service includes going to the owners house to collect the pets corpse, arranging a funeral (if requested) and cremating it (with the option of collecting the ashes), and the price ranges from VND540,000 to VND2.9 million. Trungs center usually takes in cats and dogs that died of old age or in an accident. They are cleaned with alcohol and dried to prepare for the funeral. The animals paws are dipped in ink to make imprints on paper, and some of their fur and claws are cut off as a memento for their owner. A funeral usually lasts 15-30 minutes. The pets name and the day it died are written on a board. Trung then sets up a camera to record the reading of the owners eulogy if it is provided and wishes for it rest in peace. The owners are usually absent from the funeral, and instead watch the proceedings on videos or photos. Tran Sinh, director of the Pet Service Training Academy in HCMC, quotes a report by the Pet Fair Asia organization that says in 2021 the pet care industry in Southeast Asia was worth nearly US$4 billion. Vietnam accounted for 13% of that number, or $500 million, and its market is growing at 11% a year, he says. The habit of throwing animal corpses into ponds, lakes and other water bodies has an impact on the environment and peoples health, especially if the animal has a transmittable disease, he points out. Pet funerals are not only a solution to this problem, but also show owners compassion. But authorities need to monitor funeral businesses to ensure they follow environmental laws and regulations on disposal of animal corpses. Cremation is considered the most suitable option when it comes to larger pets. In September this year 44-year-old Le Ha living of District 12 was distraught but also confused when her 35kg Rottweiler named Shadow was dying. She says: "He weighed a lot, and there was nowhere in the city to bury him. I could not bring myself to take him to a dump site. Besides, it is against the law." The vet told her to try a funeral service. A jar with Shadows fur, his cremation certificate, and his urn in Le Has home in District 12, HCMC, September 2023. Photo by VnExpress/ Ngoc Ngan Ha called them as soon as Shadow passed away at around 1 a.m. The funeral cost her VND3 million, and she received a jar containing Shadows fur and claw along with his ashes the next day. Occasionally she would scroll through photos and videos of Shadow, and take comfort in the knowledge that he was taken care of until his very last breath on earth. Trung once accepted the funerals of Miu and Luc, two dogs that had died of electrocution in Thu Duc City. Though the family was not wealthy, they chose his services since they believed the dogs had saved their own lives. Huynh Thuy, a 29-year-old living in District 12, says that she paid VND1.5 million for her cat Mits funeral, who was by her side for a year and helped to comfort her. The day Mit died, an employee confirmed a pick-up time on the phone and consoled Thuy by saying that her cat had "finished its mission" and passed away peacefully. "I always want to preserve the happiest memories of Mit, even if Mit is not with me anymore," she says. Jerusalem, Oct 8 (AP) Israeli soldiers are battling Hamas fighters in the streets of southern Israel and launching airstrikes on Gaza, a day after an unprecedented surprise attack by Hamas fighters. In northern Israel a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group raised fears of a broader conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel is at war. Also Read | Israel-Palestine War: Casualties Feared as 12 Nepalese Students Missing After Hamas Attack in Israel, Says FM NP Saud. PALESTINIANS SEEK REFUGE IN UN SCHOOLS Also Read | Israel-Palestine War: Death Toll in Hamas Attack in Israel Rises to 350; Benjamin Netanyahu Holds Security Assessment at IDF Headquarters in Tel Aviv. The UN agency for Palestinian Refugees, UNRWA, said over 20,000 people were sheltering in 44 of its schools around Gaza by Saturday evening. The number (of displaced) is rapidly increasing," said Inas Hamdan, acting public information officer in Gaza. The agency said three of its schools suffered collateral damage from Israeli airstrikes. The agency also said its operations of nine water wells around the Gaza Strip were stopped early Saturday. Operations in three wells resumed Sunday, said Hamdan. The agency's food distribution centres, which provide for over 540,000 of Gaza residents, have been closed since Saturday. In an UNRWA school in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood northwest of Gaza city center, residents described overnight Israeli strikes that hit the school's courtyard causing panic and light injuries among those sheltering there. At another school serving as a shelter in central Gaza city, people were piling blankets and food stuff in the three-story building. New arrivals brought in mattresses, packing their children into small and crowded classrooms. We didn't know where to go, said Umm Mohammad, or mother of Mohammad, a resident of a district on the eastern borders of Gaza. She described waking up in the middle of the night to screams, strikes and calls for evacuation. We arrived at the schools miraculously because there was no transport. MEDIA REPORTS: ISRAELI DEATH TOLL STANDS AT 600 The death toll in Israel following a surprise attack by the militant group Hamas stands at 600, according to several Israeli media outlets. The Kan public broadcaster and Channel 12, as well as the Haaretz and Times of Israel newspapers, reported the toll Sunday. There has been no official confirmation of the number of deaths on the Israeli side since the fighting erupted early Saturday. Palestinian officials say more than 300 people have been killed in Gaza, without differentiating between fighters and civilians. Hamas gunmen used explosives to break through the border fence enclosing Gaza on Saturday, then crossed with motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders and speed boats on the coast. LEADERS OF EGYPT, JORDAN DISCUSS CRISIS The leaders of Israel's neighbours, Egypt and Jordan, discussed the ongoing fighting between Israel and the Palestinians. According to a statement by the Egyptian president, President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi received a phone call from King Abdullah II of Jordan. Both leaders agreed on working to avoid further deterioration of the situation, the statement said. Both Egypt and Jordan are close allies with the US and are the first Arab nations to establish diplomatic ties with Israel. The latest round of violence began with an unprecedented surprise attack in which Hamas militants raced into Israel, killing hundreds of people and taking captives back to Gaza. Israel responded by rushing troops to the border area and launching airstrikes across the blockaded territory. Palestinian officials say more than 300 Gazans have been killed. EXPLOSIONS AND AIRSTRIKES IN RAFAH In the southern Gaza town of Rafah on Sunday, residents heard a loud explosion, apparently from an Israeli airstrike that hit a target close to the borders with Egypt. It was not immediately clear what was targeted. Residents said a house in the area had been evacuated. Israel carried out dozens of airstrikes in Rafah overnight. One of the strikes hit three homes in one of the most crowded refugee camps, Shaboura, killing 19 members of the same family, according to a family member who posted their names on his social media. Surviving family members and neighbours filled al-Farouk mosque, holding funeral prayers as the bodies of those killed wrapped in white shrouds lined the floor. The crowd then marched to the nearby cemetery for burial, some carrying the bodies. Also on Sunday, loudspeakers from mosques and moving cars in Rafah blared with condolences and praise for fighters from Hamas, believed to be natives of Rafah, who were killed during the assault on Israel. THE POPE CALLS FOR THE VIOLENCE TO STOP Pope Francis on Sunday expressed apprehension and pain at what is happening in Israel, where violence is again exploding even faster, causing hundreds of deaths and injuries. Speaking to the faithful in St Peter's Square, the pope offered prayers for the victims and their families and for all those who are experiencing hours of terror and anguish. The pontiff called on the attacks by both sides to stop. Terrorism and war don't bring solutions, only death. War is a defeat. Every war is a defeat." ISLAMIC BLOC CONDEMNS ISRAELI MILITARY AGGRESSION' The world's largest bloc of Muslim countries has condemned what it refers to as Israeli military aggression amid ongoing fighting between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The Saudi-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation said Sunday that it is greatly concerned about the developments on the ground and the dangerous Israeli escalation in the occupied Palestinian territory. The 57-member bloc went on to condemn the Israeli military aggression that led to the fall of hundreds of martyrs and wounded among the Palestinian people. The latest round of violence began with an unprecedented surprise attack in which Hamas militants raced into Israel, killing hundreds of people and taking captives back to Gaza. Israel responded by rushing troops to the border area and launching airstrikes across the blockaded territory. Palestinian officials say more than 300 Gazans have been killed. HEZBOLLAH REPLACE DESTROYED TENT THAT HAD LED TO TENSIONS Lebanon's state-run National News Agency says Hezbollah fighters have set up a tent in a disputed area along the country's tense southern border hours after an Israeli drone destroyed another one in the same place. Hezbollah initially erected the tent over the summer in a disputed area along Lebanon's border with Syria's Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that Lebanon claims is Lebanese territory. That has led to tensions with Israel over the past months and the U.N. has been working to persuade Hezbollah to remove the tent. Earlier Sunday, Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and shells at three Israeli positions in the disputed area of Chebaa Farms and Kfar Chouba hills and Israel's military fired back using armed drones. ROMANIA REPATRIATES HUNDREDS OF CITIZENS AND OTHER FOREIGNERS Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that 346 Romanian citizens and other foreigners were repatriated from Israel overnight on two separate flights. The ministry said Sunday that a mobile consular team was sent to Ben Gurion Airport from the Romanian Embassy in Tel Aviv and Romania's representative office in Ramallah to provide consular assistance. On Saturday, the ministry strongly condemned Hamas' rocket attacks against Israel, including against the civilian population, terrorist infiltrations and hostage-taking. It said Israel has a sovereign right to defend itself. MEDIA REPORTS: EGYPTIAN POLICEMAN OPENS FIRE ON ISRAELI TOURISTS An Egyptian policeman opened fire on Israeli tourists Sunday in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, killing at least two Israelis and one Egyptian, local media reported. Extra News television channel, which has close ties to Egyptian security agencies, quoted an unidentified security official as saying that another person was injured in the attack which took place in the Pompey's Pillar tourist site in Alexandria. The suspected assailant was detained, it reported. Israel's Zaka rescue service reported two people killed in Alexandria. EGYPT INTERVENES OVER ISRAELI HOSTAGES An Egyptian official says Israel has sought help from Cairo to ensure the safety of abducted Israelis, and Egypt's intelligence chief had contacted Hamas and the Islamic Jihad militant group to seek information. According to the official, Palestinian leaders claimed that they don't yet have a full picture of hostages, but said those who were brought to Gaza were taken to secure locations across the territory. It's clear that they have a big number - several dozens, said the official, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to brief media. Egyptian intelligence also spoke with both sides about a potential cease-fire, he added, but Israel was not open to a truce at this stage. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chennai, October 8: In wake of the ongoing clashes between Hamas and Israel, the Tamil Nadu government has stepped up security at Israeli establishments and Jewish settlements. Director General of Police Tamil Nadu Shankar Jiwal told media persons that instructions have been given to concerned officials to enhance security arrangements at a Jewish settlement in the hills near Dindigul and other Israeli establishments in the state. Attibele Firecracker Blast: Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin Announces Rs 3 Lakh Compensation for Kin of Deceased. Israeli tourists visit Vattakanal a settlement close to Kodaikkanal during September to February every year and police will provide more security in this area. The security has already been beefed up in the area in view of the current situation, sources told IANS. Security has also been increased in Israeli business establishments in the state and police are in touch with immigration authorities to ascertain the number of Israeli citizens who have landed in Chennai and other international airports in the state in recent days and track their locations as part of the security arrangements. Israel-Palestine War: More Th.an 400 Palestinian Militants Killed and Dozens Captured, Says Israel Defence Forces. Sources also said that access control measures have been enforced restricting movements to the Israeli business establishments following reports on possible attack on Israelis in other countries. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 08, 2023 06:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Lucknow, October 8: Bareilly has become the first district to grant access to smart classrooms in all government schools. According to the official spokesman, the district boasts a total of 2,546 government schools, including 2,483 basic department schools and 63 government inter colleges, all of which now have access to smart classes. Out of the 15,000 smart schools across Uttar Pradesh, 2,500 are situated within the Bareilly district itself, marking a significant accomplishment for the region, according to Jag Pravesh, IAS, chief development officer of Bareilly. Uttar Pradesh Government Approves Implementation of Aspirational City Scheme in 100 Urban Bodies. Confirming this remarkable achievement, director-general of School Education, Vijay Kiran Anand, commended Bareilly for setting an exemplary standard for all other districts in Uttar Pradesh. He also plans to honour the officials who played a crucial role in this transformative mission. Vijay Kiran Anand disclosed that nearly 60 per cent of these smart classrooms received funding from the government, with 20 per cent being sponsored through Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, and the remaining 20 per cent supported by the Bareilly Development Authority. Uttar Pradesh Township Policy 2023 Approved by Yogi Adityanath Government To Boost Private Investment and Provide State-of-the-Art Township Facilities to People. Sanjay Singh, the Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA), said, Previously, only 700 schools in the district were equipped with smart classes. However, in the past 15 months, we expedited the implementation process and successfully accomplished the task. The introduction of smart classrooms exemplifies the districts commitment to providing students with access to innovative educational tools. These smart classrooms leverage digital technology to elevate the teaching and learning experience, fostering interactive and engaging lessons. Students can now benefit from multimedia content, educational videos, and interactive presentations, empowering them to grasp complex concepts with ease. As part of the Nipun Bharat programme, it is envisioned that each student must acquire basic numeracy and literacy skills. To realise this vision, classroom content is locally developed, ensuring that students derive maximum benefit from it. The primary advantage of smart classrooms is their ability to engage students. The majority of our students come from underprivileged rural backgrounds, and they are eager learners. Smart classes have enhanced their attention spans, and the audio and visual representation of textbook content has significantly improved their comprehension skills, resulting in a higher quality of learning, said the BSA. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 08, 2023 02:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Ballia, October 8: Baansdih Nagar Panchayat Chairman has been booked for allegedly issuing life threats to the principal of a government school, police said here on Sunday. The FIR was registered on Saturday on a complaint of Sheela Singh, the principal of Composite Kanya Primary School, against Sunil Kumar Singh, the Nagar Panchyat Chairman at Bansdih police station. Uttar Pradesh: Bareilly Becomes First District To Grant Access to Smart Classrooms in All Government Schools. On October 4, Sunil Kumar came to the school and sat on her chair, the principal alleged in the FIR, and added that he issued life threats to her and used objectionable language. Bansdih SHO Yogendra Singh said that police has lodged an FIR and are probing the matter. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Sunday informed that the 27 citizens from the state who were stuck in the war conflict zone of Israel and Palestine have safely crossed the border into Egypt. "As per the latest information and through the efforts of MEA and our Indian mission, our 27 citizens from Meghalaya, who were stuck in the war conflict zone of Israel and Palestine have safely crossed the border into Egypt," CM Sangma posted on X. On Saturday, CM Sangma sought the help of the Ministry of External Affairs to rescue 27 people from the state stranded in the war-like situation between Israel and Palestine. Israel-Palestine War: 27 Christians From Meghalaya Stuck in Jerusalem, Says CM Conrad Sangma. 27 Meghalaya Citizens Stuck in Jerusalem Safely Cross Into Egypt As per the latest information and through the efforts of MEA and our Indian mission, our 27 citizens from Meghalaya, who were stuck in the war conflict zone of Israel and Palestine have safely crossed the border into Egypt@DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) October 8, 2023 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) Cairo, October 8: Two Israeli tourists and an Egyptian national have been shot dead in Egypt's Alexandria city by a police officer, the media reported. The attack reportedly took place at the Serapeum of Alexandria, an ancient Roman monument in the centre of the coastal city, The Gurdian reported citing news website Cairo24. Cairo24, a news website with links to the Egyptian intelligence services, said a police officer, working with the security service in the area fired random shots "from his personal weapon" at an Israeli tour group that was visiting the shrine, The Guardian reported. Amarena Shot Dead in Italy: Countrys Beloved Bear Killed by Man as He Opened Fire 'Out Of Fear', Search On for Her Cubs. "The police officer was immediately arrested and legal proceedings will be taken against him," they said. One injured person was shifted to hospital for treatment. The attack marks a further escalation in connection with events in Gaza, including a rare incursion by Palestinian militants into Israeli territories bordering the Gaza Strip and an ongoing exchange of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli military on Israel's northern border. Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty in 1979 and have forged far closer public relations in recent years, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured alongside the Egyptian President, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, in close talks on the sidelines of the UN general assembly in 2017. Pakistan Horror: 9 of Family Shot Dead at Home by Unknown Gunmen in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Egyptian officials, particularly the top intelligence official Abbas Kamel, have also assumed a leading role in mediating talks with Palestinian militant groups in an effort to cool relations in Gaza, despite Egypt closing its border with the Gaza Strip, The Guardian reported. The Egyptian government's decision to increasingly and publicly display their warm relations with their Israeli counterparts has come in tandem with a clampdown on protests and free expression, curtailing protests in support of Palestinian rights that were previously considered an essential outlet for the sentiment on the Egyptian street, The Guardian reported. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 08, 2023 04:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Islamabad, October 8: The Taliban are suspending consular services at two Afghan embassies, London and Vienna, over their lack of transparency and cooperation with authorities in Kabul, a foreign ministry spokesman said Sunday. Most of Afghanistan's embassies and consulates are staffed by people from the former Western-backed administration, with around a dozen under the Taliban administration's full control. Some countries retain an active diplomatic mission in Afghanistan, including Pakistan, Turkiye, Qatar, and China, but the international community remains wary of officially recognising the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan. The suspension of consular services at the two embassies is with immediate effect and until further notice, foreign ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said. Earthquake in Afghanistan: Death Toll From Two Strong Quakes That Shook Herat Province Rises to Over 2,000 (See Pics and Video). The services affected include the issue and extension of passports and visas. When asked if the ministry was looking at the activities of more embassies, Balkhi said yes as it was a normal ministry procedure. The development comes days after the Afghan embassies in Spain and the Netherlands issued statements emphasising their coordination and interaction with Taliban authorities in Kabul. A voice note from the ministry's deputy spokesperson Zia Ahmad Takal described the Netherlands' statement as a positive step for Afghans because all consular services or embassy matters would have a direct connection with Kabul. The salaries and expenses of employees, officials and diplomats will be paid by the Afghan government, said Takal. India said last week that the Afghan Embassy in the capital New Delhi continues to function, despite diplomatic staff saying it was closing due to a lack of diplomatic support in India and the absence of a recognised government in Kabul. Earthquake in Afghanistan: More Than 320 People Killed, Over 600 Injured After Two Quake of Magnitude 6.3 Jolt Herat Province. The Taliban have sent diplomats to at least 14 countries and efforts are underway to take charge of other diplomatic missions abroad, according to remarks made in March this year by their chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. Bethlehems sewer rates are proposed to rise, amid ongoing investments in the citys wastewater treatment plant. Edward Boscola, city director of water and sewer resources, asked the city council on Sept. 27 to approve the 8% sewer rate hike. Council President Michael Colon on Tuesday said the proposal would be reviewed by councils finance committee before coming up for a vote on approval. Its proposed to take effect Jan. 1, 2024. The city last raised sewer rates by 8% for 2020, following a 10% increase in 2017 and 15% increase in 2014. Boscola called these hikes modest rate increases needed to keep pace with rising operating and capital expenses. The sewer fund continues to experience relatively flat revenue growth over time, he told council in a memo. On the other side of the ledger, expenditures continue to increase every year. The same rate increase would apply to Hanover Township, Northampton County, customers. Based on typical residential usage of 14,000 gallons per quarter and a 5/8-inch meter, the rise in the sewer rate from $3.255 to $3.515 per gallon would result in increases in a customers meter charge from $28.71 to $31.02 and quarterly bill from $74.28 to $80.23, for an annual total bill of $320.92 up $23.80 from $297.12. Preliminary budget projections for 2024 show the rate pushing city sewer revenues up from $17.95 million to $19.5 million, with net operating income rising from $950,000 under the 2023 rate to $2.5 million next year. Rate increases are critical to ensure adequate funding of both the annual operating and capital funds, Boscola wrote. Without these rate increases, wed have to rely solely on borrowed money to fund the capital program. However, this will incur a higher debt service, and with flat revenue growth, this condition would lead to an unstable financial position in the long run. The city council in June agreed to nearly $2 million in upgrades to improve working conditions for employees at the citys 144 Shimersville Road wastewater treatment plant. Bethlehem also is pursuing impprovements at the plant to increase its organic design capacity from 39,365 to 50,000 pounds per day of biochemical oxygen demand. The cost of this capital improvement is about $1.4 million and designed to head off an organic overload at the plant over the next decade, a situation that could cause negative environmental impacts such as water quality degradation of the Lehigh River, according to a summary provided by the city. Boscola told the Bethlehem Planning Commission in August the project would entail a chemical storage tank, pumps, piping and controls. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection approval of the upgrades is anticipated to be sought in February, according to a city timeline. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Hellertown Borough Council wants the Pennsylvania Attorney General to review what it called discrepancies in the former police chiefs payroll. Council accepted the resignation of Police Chief Robert Shupp III at an emergency special meeting on Friday. You can watch a video of the meeting on the boroughs Facebook page. Its not clear what discrepancies were discovered, although borough council Vice President Matt Marcincin said they were not caused by clerical errors but were more serious. Israeli soldiers battled Hamas fighters in the streets of southern Israel on Sunday and launched retaliation strikes that leveled buildings in Gaza, while in northern Israel a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group raised fears of a broader conflict. The Israeli government formally declared war Sunday and gave the green light for significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack from the Gaza Strip. The declaration portended greater fighting ahead as the toll from the conflict passed 900 dead, with thousands wounded on both sides. The declaration came more than 24 hours after the unprecedented attack from Gaza, in which Hamas militants, backed by a volley of thousands of rockets, broke through Israels security barrier and rampaged through nearby communities. They took captives back into the coastal Gaza enclave, including women, children and the elderly, who they will likely try to trade for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The high death toll, multiple captives and a slow response to the onslaught pointed to a major intelligence failure and undermined the long-held perception that Israel has eyes and ears everywhere in the small, densely populated territory it has controlled for decades. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country was at war and would exact a heavy price from its enemies. Hamas leaders said they were prepared for further escalation. A major question now was whether Israel will launch a ground assault into Gaza, a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. Netanyahu vowed that Hamas will pay an unprecedented price. But, he warned, This war will take time. It will be difficult. Civilians paid a staggering cost for the violence on both sides. Israeli media, citing rescue service officials, said at least 600 people were killed in Israel, including 44 soldiers, while officials in Gaza said 313 people had died in the territory. An Israeli official said the military had killed 400 militants and captured dozens more. Israeli TV news aired a stream of accounts from the relatives of captive or missing Israelis, who wailed and begged for assistance amid a fog of uncertainty surrounding the fate of their loved ones. In Gaza, residents fled homes near the border to escape Israeli strikes, fleeing deeper inside the territory after warnings in Arabic from the Israeli military. In neighboring Egypt, a policeman shot dead two Israeli tourists and an Egyptian at a tourist site in Alexandria, the Interior Ministry said. Egypt made peace with Israel decades ago, but anti-Israel sentiment runs high in the country, especially during bouts of Israeli-Palestinian violence. The flare-up on Israels northern border also threatened to draw into the battle Hezbollah, a fierce enemy of Israels which is backed by Iran and estimated to have tens of thousands of rockets at its disposal. Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and shells on Sunday at three Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border and Israels military fired back using armed drones. Two children were lightly wounded by broken glass on the Lebanese side, according to the nearby Marjayoun Hospital. Palestinians inspect the rubble of a building after it was struck by an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)AP Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military official, told reporters the situation at the northern border was calm after the exchange. But he said fighting was still underway in the south and that there were still hostage situations there. He said troops had moved into every community near the Gaza frontier, where they planned to evacuate all civilians and scour the area for militants. We will go through every community until we kill every terrorist that is in Israeli territory, he said. In Gaza, every terrorist located in a house, all the commanders in houses, will be hit by Israeli fire. That will continue escalating in the coming hours. Hamas said that overnight it had continued to send forces and equipment into a number of locations inside our occupied territories, referring to Israel. Hamas-linked media reported that the son of Nizar Awadallah, a senior political official, was killed. The Islamic militant group has not reported any senior members being captured, killed or wounded. The surprise attack Saturday was the deadliest on Israel in decades. In an assault of startling breadth, Hamas gunmen used explosives to break through the border fence enclosing Gaza, then crossed with motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders and speed boats on the coast. They rolled into as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip early Saturday morning, including towns and other communities as far as 24 kilometers (15 miles) from the Gaza border, while Hamas launched thousands of rockets at Israeli cities. Israel is waking up this morning to a terrible morning, said Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman. There are a lot of people killed ... children, grandmothers, families, bodies. Israeli media said at least 600 people were killed and 2,000 wounded in Saturdays attack. Hamas fighters took an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive into Gaza, and a line of Israelis with missing relatives snaked outside a police station in central Israel to supply investigators with DNA samples and other means that could help identify their family members. Israel struck 426 targets in Gaza, its military said, flattening residential buildings in giant explosions. Among the 313 killed in Gaza were 20 children, and close to 2,000 people were wounded, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinians, said more than 20,000 Palestinians left Gazas border region to head further inside the territory and take refuge in U.N. schools. In a televised address Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military will use all of its strength to destroy Hamas capabilities. Get out of there now, he told Gaza residents, who have no way to leave the tiny, overcrowded Mediterranean territory. Gazas 2.3 million people have endured a border blockade, enforced to varying degrees by Israel and Egypt, since Hamas militants seized control in 2007. In Gaza, much of the population was thrown into darkness Saturday night as Israel cut off electricity and said it would no longer supply power, fuel or other goods to the territory. Hamas said it had planned for a long fight. We are prepared for all options, including all-out war, the deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, Saleh al-Arouri, told Al-Jazeera TV. Israel has a history of making heavily lopsided exchanges to bring captive Israelis home. The military has confirmed that a substantial number of Israelis were abducted Saturday without giving an exact figure. An Egyptian official said Israel has sought help from Cairo to ensure the safety of the hostages, and that Egypts intelligence chief had contacted Hamas and the smaller but more radical Islamic Jihad group, which also took part in the incursion, to seek information. Egypt has often mediated between the two sides in the past. The official said Palestinian leaders claimed that they dont yet have a full picture of hostages, but said those who were brought into Gaza were taken to secure locations across the territory. Its clear that they have a big number several dozens, said the official, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to brief media. Egypt also spoke with both sides about a potential cease-fire, but the official said Israel was not open to a truce at this stage. The shadowy leader of Hamas military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the assault, named Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, and a series of recent incidents that have brought Israeli-Palestinian tensions to a fever pitch. Over the past year, Israels far-right government has ramped up settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, Israeli settler violence has displaced hundreds of Palestinians there, and tensions have flared around the Al-Aqsa mosque, a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site. President Joe Biden said from the White House that the U.S. stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults, and said Israel has the right to defend itself. A corner of Nha Trang city in Khanh Hoa (Photo: VNA) The event was part of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties and materialise the local investment promotion scheme 2023. Speaking at the event, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc said amid complicated and uncertain developments in the world, Vietnam and Japan continue sharing many strategic interests. He also described Japan as one of the top strategic partners and the three largest foreign investors in Vietnam with over 4,800 projects valued at more than 64 billion USD. Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Nguyen Tan Tuan said Khanh Hoa province will focus its investments on three main pillars, which include high-quality services such as tourism, finance, trade, logistics, education, and urban development; processing and manufacturing, energy, information technology and telecommunications; and large-scale agriculture with the use of advanced and digital technology in tandem with processing and consumption via value chain in order to improve competitiveness and global integration. Cam Ranh Bay, Nha Trang city and Van Phong Bay will be its major growth drivers, he said. The event introduced the development orientation of Khanh Hoa from now until 2030, with a vision to 2045, specific development policies, the approved planning and current operations of the Japanese companies in the province. The provincial authorities hoped that the Japanese investors will show interest in local industrial parks, industrial clusters, sectors and projects in need of investment. They vowed to work more closely with the Japanese firms to boost consumption and cultural exchanges between the two sides. They also committed to continuing administrative reforms, improving business environment, and the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) to provide the best possible conditions for Japanese investors to do business successfully in the future. At the event, a memorandum of understanding on cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Planning and Investments Foreign Investment Agency, the provincial Department of Planning and Investment, the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Ho Chi Minh City (JCCH), which is expected to support investment promotion activities between Khanh Hoa and Japan./. A Hackettstown High School senior was killed early Saturday in a one-vehicle crash, officials said. The crash occurred at 2:25 a.m. on Flocktown Road near Nestlingwood Drive in Washington Township, Morris County, according to township police. The involved vehicle struck a utility pole causing significant damage, police said in a statement. The 17-year-old female driver from Hackettstown was pronounced deceased at the scene. The police report did not name the driver, but she was identified as Isabella Todaro on social media sites seeking to help her family. Isabella was in her senior year at Hackettstown High School, with a bright future ahead of her, said a GoFundMe listing. It said she had a twin brother and described her as a hard worker who enjoyed spending time with friends and family. We will always remember her bright blue eyes and contagious laugh, the listing said. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. The high school will have counselors available Sunday and Monday to support students and staff, Superintendent Debra Grigoletti wrote to the community. Grigoletti said the district was heartbroken to learn that one of our high school students was lost as a result of a car accident. The district joins our community in grief and sorrow over this tragic event, and we offer our heartfelt condolences to the students family. Police said the investigation is ongoing. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust. Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. A suspended sentence was handed down to a woman who was roaring and shouting in a public park in Laois. Ozlet Muwaniri, 36, of 73 Crann Nua, Portarlington admitted being drunk and disorderly at the Peoples Park in Portarlington on September 10 last. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said gardai attended a public order incident on the date in question at 10.40pm. He said the defendant was highly intoxicated and roaring and shouting and slurring her words. Suzanne Dooner BL said the defendant was pleading guilty to the offences. She said her client had drunk too much and was woken by people in the park who were taunting her. She said the woman had gone drinking to celebrate being accepted into a business course in Portlaoise. She said the woman had a lot of difficulty with alcohol but was now doing well and was under the care of two doctors. Judge Andrew Cody noted the woman was a regular in the court last year having amassed 15 convictions under the public order act in 2022. He said she has three convictions this year. He sentenced the woman to three months in prison but suspended the sentence for two years. There wont be any more suspended sentences or probation bonds, Judge Cody warned the woman. A young woman whose mother is from Laois is reported missing after attacks in Israel by Palestinian militants Hamas. The Irish Times has reported that Kim Damti, aged 22, is among those unaccounted for after attacks in southern Israel. Ms Damti, an Irish and Israeli citizen, was at a rave near Gaza when as the attacks begin on Saturday. The Irish Times reports that she was attempting to flee rocket attacks with a friend by car when rockets were being fired on Israel. However, Hamas gunmen opened fire on the partygoers as they fled the scene. Others were captured by Hammas and taken into the Gaza Strip. It's reported that Ms Damtis mother, Jennifer (60), is from Portlaoise. Shes just a brilliant kid. A happy kid trying to have fun. They shot them down like ducks. So many kids were slaughtered there, her mother told The Irish Times. Ms Damti is one of five siblings, all of whom were born in Israel. The family have holidayed in Ireland. Her sister subsequently told RTE that the family had spoken with officials from the Irish Embassy in Israel. Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin added that the Department of Foreign Affairs has been in touch with the family. He recently met with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Government had no definite details, but the Irish Embassy on the ground was aware of it. Bot the Taoiseach and Tanaiste condemned the attack. Following the 'runaway success' of the first book, the family of former Abbeyleix Parish Priest who died in a freak car accident four years ago have issued a second publication in his memory. This new book, also named My Life in Your Hands, contains more sermons of Fr. John Cummins (52) who was fatally injured outside his home in Abbeyleix in January 2019. Sales of the first volume of My Life in Your Hands" far exceeded expectations when issued last autumn and an immediate reprint had to be ordered to meet strong pre-Christmas demand. The new publication is an accompaniment to the initial book. Fr. Johns sermons were carefully filed on his personal computer and discovered by his family after his tragic accident. His sister and two brothers decided to publish them so that people could still share his thoughts and reflections. The first book contained the sermons for Sundays in Year A of the 3-year liturgical calendar. This second volume contains Fr. Johns sermons for Year B and Year C of the church cycle. It also contains reflections for secondary school students, tributes by friends and numerous photographs. In a foreword, Bishop Fintan Monahan of Killaloe described the first book as a 'runaway success and he was glad the wells of wisdom from John are now being tapped into again. He said the sermons are packed full of careful study, hard work, practical down-to-earth experience and prayerful discernment. Bishop Denis Nulty also welcomed the new volume saying it will help priests and people to understand Gods word more deeply. Dermot Luddy, a former Maynooth classmate of Fr. Johns, now a married academic in the USA, recalls that even though John would have been a wonderful priest-professor he had no such ambition. Instead, he preferred parish work - and serving the Lord and his people brought John genuine joy. The late Fr. Cummins was known for his good humour and easy manner as well as his preaching skills. As a young priest, he spent five years in Rome studying for his doctorate in Celtic Spirituality. Fr. John spent most of his priestly ministry in Carlow town where he was chaplain in the then Regional College and Administrator in the Cathedral. A native of Newbridge, he earlier served in Naas. He became PP of Abbeyleix and Ballyroan only 18 months before his death. The homilies of Fr. John are rooted not only in scripture, but also in the everyday issues of contemporary Ireland. They will be useful for personal reflection at any time and will be valued by anyone with an interest in religion and spirituality. My Life in Your Hands" retails at 15 and all proceeds after printing costs will be donated to the diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. It is available in parish offices throughout the diocese and Woodbine Books Kilcullen and Farrell & Nephew, Newbridge. Dominos, Irelands best-loved pizza company, has launched a major new recruitment drive to fill 600 roles across Ireland, as it gears up for the busy festive season with a staggering 700,000 pizzas estimated to be ordered by consumers during this time. There will be about 20 roles available across the Newbridge, Sallins and Maynooth outlets of Domino's. Dominos is calling upon budding delivery drivers, in-store team members and pizza makers to join its winning team to continue to meet the growing demand for its piping hot, delicious pizza. Dominos store operations ensure all team members are trained in customer service and food quality, as well as on the job training for specific roles including learning to be a pizza chef. Becoming part of the Dominos team not only offers flexibility, with plenty of evening and weekend shift work available to fit around busy schedules, but also provides rewards and recognition, promotion opportunities, and a fun and friendly culture to work in. Experience is not essential, as managers provide training for all levels and there are lots of interesting opportunities for those looking for long term career development. With 90% of store managers starting out as a team member, working for Dominos represents a fantastic opportunity for ambitious job seekers to enhance their skills in leadership and organisation. Annelie McCaffrey, Managing Director for ROI said: As we approach a very busy period with the festive peak, we are excited to announce 600 new roles with Dominos across Ireland. With the acceleration of new store openings this year and as we plan for more in 2024, we are proud to be able to offer a range of flexible in-store and contract driver roles, which may be suited to those looking for additional employment opportunities or to fit around study or family life. So, if the idea of being part of our world-class pizza team is up your street, then a role at Dominos could be for you. Dominos believes in opportunities for all. The company is an Age Positive Employer Champion, which means it has been recognised for its commitment to welcoming applicants of all ages. Those interested joining their local Dominos squad or becoming part of the wider Dominos business can find their perfect role on the Dominos recruitment website www.dominos-jobs.com in the Republic of Ireland or www.dominosrecruitment.co.uk in Northern Ireland and check their local store. Main Street Health Announces $315M Financing Round to Expand Into 26 States Includes Investment From Multiple Strategic Health Plan and Provider Partners to Expand Value-Based Care Across Rural America NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Main Street Health, the nation's largest value-based healthcare organization exclusively serving rural America, announced its expansion into 26 states. In conjunction with this announcement, Main Street announced it has raised over $315M in new capital including investment from strategic health plan and provider partners. "The trust that exists between rural providers and their patients is truly unique," said Brad Smith, Chairman and CEO of Main Street Health and former Director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). "Across the country, we have seen that by partnering with local physicians and their teams to deliver high-touch, value-based care, we can improve the overall quality, cost, and experience of healthcare in rural America." Main Street partners with primary care clinics in rural America by placing a Health Navigator in each partner clinic. The Health Navigator assists the clinic's providers with care coordination activities including ensuring patients have preventive screenings, calling patients to remind them to pick up their medications, scheduling patients for primary care visits after they are discharged from the hospital, and assisting patients with social determinant of health needs. Main Street's early outcomes have been very strong and include: 42% improvement in quality Star scores 23% reduction in hospitalizations 9% reduction in medical costs "Main Street has helped transform the type of care we deliver in our clinic," said Dr. Thomas Borgstedte, owner of Family Health Center in La Grange, Texas. "The Health Navigator and the data Main Street provides allow us to coordinate care for our patients in a way that we would never have been able to do otherwise." Main Street currently partners with over 900 clinics across 18 states with plans to expand into an additional eight states in 2024. The average clinic Main Street partners with has 2.5 providers and is located in a town of 3,000 to 5,000 people. "In my 30 years of investing, I have never seen a company successfully scale this quickly with outcomes this strong," said Annie Lamont, lead investor in the round and Managing Partner at Oak HC/FT. "I think this speaks to the opportunity that exists to improve healthcare across rural America as well as the operational experience of the Main Street team." In addition to Oak HC/FT, Main Street's investors in this round include the five largest national Medicare Advantage plans, who collectively serve over 74% of Medicare Advantage members in the country. The round also includes investment from many of Main Street's provider partners including large health systems, regional hospitals, and individual primary care physicians. About Main Street Health Main Street Health is a value-based healthcare company focused exclusively on serving rural America. Main Street partners with local primary care physicians to move their practice into value-based care. The core of Main Street's model is placing a Health Navigator in each clinic that Main Street serves and providing the clinic with the data and opportunities they need to succeed in value-based care. For more information, please visit www.mainstreetruralhealth.com. SOURCE Main Street Health 8 october 2023 at 12:00 News published onand distributed by: French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, at the Assemblee Nationale, in Paris on September 27, 2023. JULIEN MUGUET FOR LE MONDE Two small companies, based in Mennecy (Essonne, northern France) and Lyon, have received a great deal of attention from the French Finance Ministry and the Defense Ministry in recent months. And with good reason: Segault (80 employees) and Velan SAS (280 employees) supply valves for the boiler rooms of Naval Group's nuclear submarines and EDF's (the state-owned electricity company) nuclear power plants. These SMEs are subsidiaries of Canadian company Velan, currently in the process of being acquired by the Texas-based Flowserve Corporation. The Finance Ministry vetoed on Friday, October 6, the takeover of Segault by the American industrial machinery giant. Following the veto, Flowserve announced it would abandon its plans to take over Velan worldwide. Segault was subject to the "foreign investment screening procedures." This is automatic when a non-European industrialist or financier wishes to acquire at least 10% of the voting rights of a listed French company (or 25% of the voting rights of an unlisted company) operating in a strategic sector. The French government deemed that commitments made by the multinational Flowserve were insufficient to eliminate all risks. Tighter controls on foreign investment The affair has taken a political turn, especially on the right and far right. In May, in response to a question from a Rassemblement National (far right) MP, Minister of Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu warned that the French state would oppose "loss of operational control" of the company. Two months earlier, Arnaud Montebourg, former minister of industrial renewal (2012-2014) during Francois Hollande's presidential term, wrote to Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, calling for the SME to remain in the French fold. The government and companies in the defense industrial and technological base know that it's risky to have American suppliers. Washington can demand information from an American company or its foreign subsidiaries without judicial authorization. The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) instrument governs exports of military equipment incorporating components, sub-assemblies, or software of American origin or under American license. In addition, the Department of Energy can impose its own regulations and hinder the export of French nuclear technologies. The takeover is hard to accept when you consider that Velan SAS equips EDF's 56 French reactors and three-quarters of the world's power plants. Le Maire had already opposed the takeover of optronics specialist and armed forces supplier Photonis, by California-based Teledyne, in 2020. This company was eventually acquired by French investment firm HLD. Conversely, in January, the Finance Ministry and Defense Procurement Agency gave the green light to American company Heico's takeover of Exxelia (2,100 employees), but with a "golden share" retaining French oversight rights. Exxelia manufactures electronic components, notably for the Rafale and F-35 aircraft. You have 10% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. A ball of fire and smoke rises after the explosion of a Palestinian high-rise building following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City on October 7, 2023. ADEL HANA / AP The date Hamas chose for its attack on the Jewish state was no coincidence: 50 years almost to the day since the outbreak of the October War, known as the Yom Kippur War in Israel. The unprecedented scale of the Palestinian movement's assault on both civilian and military targets on Saturday, October 7, sought to reshuffle the cards in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in the same way that the offensive launched by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat on October 7, 1973, shook up the Arab-Israeli balance of power. In the collective imagination of Middle Eastern populations, the advance of Hamas commandos through the fortified fence surrounding the Gaza Strip was reminiscent of when Egyptian troops crossed the Bar Lev Line, the rampart built by Israel along the Suez Canal after its conquest of Sinai in 1967. Both were considered impassable, yet both ended up being breached. The 1973 war, which Israel almost lost, is a source of lingering trauma in the Israeli psyche. It triggered a series of chain reactions, from the Camp David Accords to Israel's invasion of Lebanon, which fundamentally reshaped the Middle East. It is obviously far too early to predict the precise consequences of the new conflict, which broke out at the dawn of Simhat Torah, a holiday on the Jewish calendar, just as the October War began on Yom Kippur. The geopolitical landscape of the Middle East in 1973 bears little resemblance to that of today. Evidently, the scale of the Hamas-led attack is unparalleled compared to the operations it has undertaken since 2007, the year it seized power in Gaza and imposed a blockade on the Palestinian sand strip. The Middle East is experiencing a new political and security seismic shift. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Hamas attack on Israel: 'As in 1973, there were plenty of warnings' Setback inflicted on the Jewish state The figures speak for themselves: By mid-afternoon, less than 12 hours after the start of hostilities, the Israeli authorities reported 70 dead and 900 wounded, victims of rocket attacks and infiltrating Hamas fighters. According to the Israeli media, "dozens" of civilians and soldiers were captured and taken to the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian enclave's Health Ministry put the figure at 198 killed and 1,610 wounded by the retaliatory bombardments carried out by the Israeli air force. At the end of the afternoon, the Israeli army announced that fighting was ongoing in 22 different locations in the southern part of the Jewish state. This was no longer a low-intensity conflict, as Israeli-Palestinian violence is usually described. Beyond the unprecedented Israeli human toll, the setback inflicted on Israel is, like in 1973, of unprecedented symbolic brutality. Hamas waged war on Israeli soil with an intensity unseen since the creation of the Jewish state in 1948. In the past, the Islamist movement had managed to infiltrate a few of its men into its neighbor's territory, notably during the operation that led to the capture of French-Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, in 2006. But these incursions have always been very brief and involved only a very limited number of fighters. In this case, it's a full-scale ground operation, with multiple points of penetration and dozens of participants. It is an assault similar to those regularly threatened by the Lebanese Hezbollah in its propaganda against Israel. You have 60% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. A MAN who was smoking heroin pleaded guilty to a burglary in east Limerick. Dawid Sikorski, aged 44, of Blackthorn Drive, Caherdavin admitted to the offence at Cliggin, Doon. Insp Gearoid Thompson, prosecuting, told Kilmallock Court that at 2.30am on June 14, 2023, the defendant entered a garage after breaking a side window. He removed a childs Suzuki scrambler by pushing it out. The property owner woke up and thwarted him, said Insp Thompson. Gardai were alerted and commenced a search for Mr Sikorski. He was arrested in the vicinity some time later. He made full and frank admissions. He has one previous conviction for the possession of drugs, said Insp Thompson. Michael ODonnell, solicitor for the defendant, said his client was smoking heroin. He owed money. He was asked to do this. He was dropped at that location. The idea was that he would drive the bike but there was no petrol in it, said Mr ODonnell. The solicitor told Judge Patricia Harney that Mr Sikorski is a qualified plumber and is back on the right track. He has moved away from the wrong people and is off drugs, said Mr ODonnell. Judge Harney asked for a pre-sanction probation report before adjourning the case until November. EMPOWERING young people to find their creative voices is something that's important to Pete Moles, a local film producer and festival programmer. He's been working with young artists in Limerick for 15 years. But now, he heads the youth film academy Emerging Limerick Filmmakers. ELF was set up in early 2020 with the aim of fostering the growth and independence of young artists. Over the past three years, ELF has proven that when given the space and credibility to do so, young people can create exceptional film. The group has produced multiple award winning short films that have seen success in several international film festivals. With their short film Killer Krush, directed by 16-year-old Izzy Dalton winning best group at the Fresh International Film Festival in April 2023. Amidst the success, ELF is grappling with an issue that faces many artists in Limerick, a lack of funding and arts spaces to operate from. What I want is a real solution: a dedicated youth arts space. The infrastructure doesn't exist, explains Pete Moles. His goal is to have a permanent place for ELF to call a home. Office with a fish tank is my mantra, once we have the resources to maintain a fish tank I'll have achieved what I wanted, the producer joked. ELF has no core finance, it receives grants and funding on a project by project basis, meaning every term is a new battle to keep the ship afloat. It's not an insignificant thing. these kids are performing extremely highly in a competitive space, which to me deserves more recognition and support. While fighting the battle for space and funding, Emerging Limerick Filmmaker's biggest project to date is currently in development. Scenario X is the development of two funded short films that have received funding from a number of Irish sources - from the Arts Council through the Youth Ensemble scheme, with additional funding from Screen Ireland, the Local Arts Office, and the National Youth Film and Animation Network. The two shorts, Mob the Trench and Rat King written by Eoin Harrison and Nina Devine will premiere at this year's Dublin film festival. Pete was proud to add This is the biggest film project done with young people in Ireland. One of our DP's is 15, which is one of my favourite things about the whole project. To prepare the elves as they've come to be known as, the members received personal mentoring from Colm Bairead, director of the Oscar nominated Irish film An Cailin Ciuin. Bairead worked closely with directors Niamh Collins and Roisin Leavy-Sahin. He treated them as young filmmakers, which brought such a sense of credibility. Credibility they deserve, at the heart of this, the scripts they've written for the project are exceptional, outlined Pete. Oscar nominated director Vincent Lambe was also brought in to mentor the young creatives, who was impressed with the scripts presented. It's funny, some people get really surprised with what they're capable of, said Peter. Speaking on the scale of the project, he added: I like to see how far you can push things, that includes our members. Young people are resilient, and when you're making a project that doesn't offer a challenge it's harder to take it seriously. Pete understands the importance of keeping young people engaged with the projects and allowing them to make the creative decisions. Meaningful projects are the way to do it, there's a great sense of ownership there. Investing in it's young members is a primary goal for ELF, operating on the belief that when given freedom and credibility, young people are easily empowered to be creative leaders. I'm not interested in watching films made by young people who don't care about what they're doing. said Pete, confident that the young creatives in Emerging Limerick Filmmakers are making movies for the right reasons. China has been involved in the construction of over 6,000 kilometers of railways, 6,000 kilometers of roads and more than 80 large power facilities in Africa over the past decade, according to official data. Over the past decade, more than 421,000 local jobs were created globally under Belt and Road cooperation. According to a World Bank report, Belt and Road projects could help lift 7.6 million people from extreme poverty and 32 million from moderate poverty worldwide by 2030. BEIJING, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Driving a train that runs 350 kilometers per hour was once unimaginable for Wawan Setiawan, an Indonesian freight train driver with 10 years of experience. But now he is on track to be among the first high-speed train drivers in his country and, more broadly, Southeast Asia. In 2020, when the China-Indonesia joint venture tasked with building the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway began recruiting train drivers, Wawan rushed to apply. "Technology, operation, safety methods -- everything I learn is new and exciting," said Wawan, who has been receiving training from Chinese high-speed train drivers ever since. This aerial photo taken on Sept. 30, 2023 shows a high-speed electrical multiple unit (EMU) train of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway running in Purwakarta, Indonesia. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) "MY LIFE SPED UP" Mu Zhen, Wawan's driving practice mentor, is the Chinese train driver for the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, which links Indonesia's capital with its fourth-largest city. In an operation simulator, Mu told Wawan to ease as the Indonesian driver's right hand tightly gripped the speed control handle. "Tension may lead to misoperation as the handle has high sensitivity," Mu detailed the reason and guided Wawan to try again. "I am excited to mentor Indonesian train drivers and happy to share my skills without reservation. I'm learning Indonesian to overcome language barriers," said Mu. Mu arrived in Indonesia last October and has been preparing for the operation of the railway line. "The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway was built with Chinese standards and technology, so driving the high-speed train here feels the same as in China," said Mu. A Chinese instructor (L) interacts with an Indonesian train driver on a train at a maintenance workshop of the Tegalluar Station in Bandung, Indonesia, Aug. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) A landmark project under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, the 142-kilometer Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway cuts the journey between the two cities from over three hours to roughly 40 minutes. "The development of a high-speed railway will encourage a bigger economy because it will support faster mobility," said Wawan, adding that he hopes the high-speed railway can be extended to Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city and seaport. "I studied hard and did my best to ensure that I could become one of the first high-speed train drivers in Indonesia and Southeast Asia," said Wawan. "If life is a train that runs on a track, then my life just got sped up -- super fast, super exciting and full of hope," he said. "FISH ON THEIR OWN" China has been building rails, ports and other infrastructure with countries under Belt and Road cooperation that have helped boost regional connectivity and create jobs for locals. The Lao section of the China-Laos Railway, launched in December 2021, has created more than 110,000 jobs. Twenty-four-year-old Sida Phengphongsawanh is one of them. Sida became a train inspector at the China-Laos Railway Vientiane Operation Management Center in 2021 after studying electric automation in China for four years and receiving training in Chinese and railway knowledge at the Confucius Institute in Laos. "The mentors here have been so patient since my internship. Because it was the first time we touched real trains, everything was new to us, and they taught us step by step in a patient way," she said. Fifty-eight-year-old Wen Bin, Sida's Chinese mentor, has worked in Laos since October 2011. He said the Chinese personnel would ensure local staff members like Sida could work independently long after their Chinese colleagues left. "We are recruiting new local personnel. Not many speak Chinese, so I hope Sida and her fellow colleagues can take up the responsibility of using their own language to teach the new generation," said Wen. Lao staff members perform at the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province to the Laotian capital Vientiane on April 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) In East Africa, 28-year-old Anketsebrhan Girma had long dreamed of becoming a pioneer modern train driver in her country, Ethiopia. She achieved her dream by persevering through intense competition before joining the Ethiopia-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway Share Company in 2018 after graduating from university, eventually becoming Ethiopia's first female electrified train driver. She is now an assistant train driver for the Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway, which connects the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, to the Red Sea port of Djibouti. Since July, Girma and 27 colleagues have undergone a six-month training program in the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou. They are the second batch of Ethiopian trainees to enroll at the Zhengzhou Railway Vocational and Technical College. The first batch of 34 trainees have entirely commanded the skills of driving, monitoring, checking and maintaining electrified trains after eight months of practical training in 2020 and are now capable of independently driving an electrified train. After returning home, they quickly became the backbone of the Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway. One of the 34 trainees, Dejen Gezu, is now tasked with driving and training young colleagues. "I know everyone currently in China receiving the training, particularly Anketsebirhan Girma, the only female train driver we have," he said. "I dreamed of driving the train independently like Gezu after studying in China," Girma said. Abdi Zenebe, chief executive officer of the Ethiopia-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway Share Company, said that during the construction and operation of the Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway, Chinese experts have trained about 3,000 local professionals on railway techniques. "The philosophy and principles of our Chinese colleges are in line with Chinese values ... The idea is not to give someone fish, but rather how to teach someone how to fish," Zenebe said, referring to an ancient Chinese saying. Ethiopian staff members Yidnekachew (2nd, L) and Taressa (1st, L) prepare before their internship starts in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, June 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Li An) GAME CHANGER China has been involved in the construction of over 6,000 kilometers of railways, 6,000 kilometers of roads and more than 80 large power facilities in Africa over the past decade, according to official data. The 752-kilometer Ethiopia-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway, launched in October 2016, is Africa's first electrified transboundary railway. It has cut transportation time for goods from more than three days to less than 20 hours and reduced costs by at least one-third, substantially facilitating the imports and exports of this landlocked country. "As Ethiopia has no sea or port, it used to take a few days to deliver goods to and from Djibouti by road. The Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway has greatly reduced time and costs. It is like the backbone of our country," said Girma. In neighboring Kenya, the 480-kilometer Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), launched in mid-2017, connects the country's capital city with its eastern port. It has cut travel time by half, from an average of ten hours on the century-old meter-gauge railway to approximately five hours, boosting the movement of people and cargo. A supervisor at the rolling stock department of the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway, Lawrence Pius Murithi, is proud to have a prized career that has eluded most of his peers. "I was lucky to be chosen to join the SGR for the maintenance of passenger trains," said the 32-year-old mechanical engineering graduate, adding that he has sharpened his technical and managerial skills over the last six years since joining the growing ranks of local youth working for the rail. His finances have been improved thanks to a decent monthly salary, enabling him to purchase land in his native village and run a livestock business as a side hustle. "Working for the SGR has improved my living status, and I look forward to furthering my education to be in the company's top management," he said. Chinese instructor Jiang Liping (R) and apprentice Horace Owiti walk past a train carriage on the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway in Nairobi, Kenya, May 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen) In Laos, the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, the 1,035-kilometer China-Laos Railway has helped the country become a transportation hub on the Indo-China Peninsula. The rail links the Lao capital, Vientiane, with the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan, with a design speed of 160 kilometers per hour for the Lao section. "Friends in my hometown told me that travel has become convenient. It used to take 10 hours from my hometown to Vientiane, but now it takes only three hours with the railway," said Sida, the train inspector. One-hundred and fifty-two countries and 32 international organizations have signed cooperation documents with China under the Belt and Road Initiative, proposed in 2013. Over the past decade, more than 421,000 local jobs were created globally under Belt and Road cooperation. According to a World Bank report, Belt and Road projects could help lift 7.6 million people from extreme poverty and 32 million from moderate poverty worldwide by 2030. "The Belt and Road is a great initiative," Sida said, "and I think the China-Laos Railway is just the starting point (in the region). It will connect more countries in the future, allowing us to go abroad more easily." (by Xinhua writers Wu Baoshu, Jiang Li and Chang Tiantong; Lei Mingyu, Ding Jing, Wang Xiunan, Wang Pu in Beijing, Ren Zhuoru, Liu Zhenkun, Dai Qiaochu in Zhengzhou, Sun Lei, Yu Qianliang, Wang Aona in Jakarta, Zhang Jianhua, Zhao Xu, Du Dapeng in Vientiane, Dai He, Liu Wanli, Jin Zheng, Li Zhuoqun, Li Cheng in Nirobi, Wang Ping in Addis Ababa also contributed to the story.) Editor: ZAD LIMERICK gardai have launched an investigation after the discovery of a man's body in a house. The man, aged in his 60s, was found deceased on Saturday morning. A garda spokesperson said gardai in Mayorstone Park are investigating all the circumstances in relation to the discovery of a male body, aged in his 60s, at a residence on Old Cratloe Road, Limerick city on Saturday morning at approximately 8.30am. "The scene is preserved to allow for a forensic and technical examination by the Garda Technical Bureau. "The body of the man has been removed from the scene to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick. A post-mortem examination will be conducted which will determine the course of the investigation," said the garda spokesperson. The Irish Independent is reporting that it is believed the man lay undiscovered inside the property for a considerable period of time. Separately, gardai in Henry Street are investigating all the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a body in Steamboat Quay Car Park, Limerick city in the early hours of Friday morning. IT IS SOME consolation to the Treacy family that their father passed away doing what he loved - feeding his calves with a bucket in his hand. Pat Treacy, aged 90, of Moynoe, Scariff, Co Clare, died suddenly on Monday, September 18. Dearly loved by his wife Bridie and son James, Pat is sadly missed by his loving family, his nephews, nieces, extended family, neighbours and friends. James is a well-known photographer who many will know for his work in the Limerick Greyhound Stadium and numerous tours he has organised to Fatima and the Holy Land for the last decade. The family has been involved in horses and greyhounds since before the 1900s. Pat's father Jimmy Treacy and brother Seamus Treacy owned the Astor Cinema in Scariff. Seamus built the Clare Lakelands Hotel in the late 1970s and ran the Time Out Casino in Parnell Street, Limerick city, up until his sudden death in 1995. James said his father was a senior hurler with Scariff in the early 1960s but missed out on a county medal despite reaching a county final. Pat had a heart operation almost 15 years ago and two hip operations. He kept going until the end, dying on the job suddenly with a bucket in his hand feeding his calves, said James. James, in conjunction with Premier Travel in Cork, is leading a group to the Holy Land on December 19 which includes midnight Mass in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. Prayers will be said for his father in Bethlehem. Despite his son organising many trips abroad, Pat was quite content at home on the family farm. "My father never travelled much except going to Liverpool for my graduation in 2012. I offered him on several occasions free trips to go to the Holy Land and Fatima which I was organising but he wouldn't travel even though it was for free, said James However, Pat often went on pilgrimages to Knock when James was running buses from East Clare to Knock before the pandemic. Pat lived for his family, GAA and farming. He will be sadly missed by his wife Bridie, son James, sister Anna Smith, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and friends. Pat was laid to rest in the old cemetery, Moynoe, Scariff, following funeral Mass in the Church of the Sacred Heart. May he rest in peace. PUPILS in fifth and sixth class at Scoil Fhionain, Kilfinane, Limerick are set to take part in the Say Yes to Languages module. The module, starting this October, is being made available for the third year following its extension by the Department of Education and has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm within Scoil Fhionain. The initiative aims to foster linguistic diversity and cultural awareness among the young minds of primary school children. The eight week programme hopes to immerse students in French language and culture, equipping them with essential communication skills. Through interactive lessons, engaging activities, and immersive experiences, pupils will embark on a journey of linguistic discovery that aims to be both fun and educational. Last year, over 700 Irish schools took part in the module which saw Arabic, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, ISL, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Tamil and Ukrainian taught in schools. Excited about the new opportunities for language learning, Principal Bridgette Cahill commented: We are delighted to be bringing Say Yes to Languages to Scoil Fhionain this year. The eight week module for our two classes will be a great introduction to the new subject Modern Foreign Language which will be introduced over the next number of years as part of the New Primary School Curriculum. Tutors of this module are typically teachers, but can also include wider members of the school community with proficiency in the chosen language, be they school staff or parents. This will be of great benefit to the pupils as they continue through their education, hopefully bringing a love of language with them. Learning a new language not only enhances cognitive abilities but also promotes cultural diversity and opens doors to future academic and professional prospects. adds teacher, David Walsh. Parents and guardians of pupils participating in the programme can look forward to witnessing their children's growth and development as they embark on this linguistic journey. The school encourages active involvement and support from families to make the experience even more enriching. The first anniversary of a blast that killed 10 people at a service station in an Irish village has taken place after a painful year for the Co Donegal community. A ceremony was held at the site of the explosion in Creeslough, where people gathered to remember those they had lost, as a parish priest said the journey of recovery would continue for a long time. Four men, three women and three young people, aged between five and 59, died in the blast on the afternoon of Friday October 7 last year. Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan-Garwe, Catherine ODonnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan, fashion student Jessica Gallagher, Celtic fan Martin McGill, Sydney native James OFlaherty, shop worker Martina Martin, carpenter Hugh Hughie Kelly and 14-year-old Leona Harper were killed in the explosion. A vigil mass at St Michaels Church was also held on Saturday evening to remember those who died and those who were injured, and to thank the first responders to the scene. Andrew Forster, the Church of Ireland bishop in Derry and Raphoe said that great numbers had gathered after a painful year for us all. Its been a year of huge heartache and pain, he said. But its also been a year when weve seen the best in people, how people have supported each other, cared for each other and loved each other through this pain and heartache. I think weve seen the best in the community here in Creeslough and yet, underneath it all, is this immense heartache, this immense sense of loss, this immense sense of tragedy and pain. Fr John Joe Duffy, the parish priest who acted as a spokesperson for the community at the time of the blast, said it was a day of great sadness. Today marks the first anniversary of the Creeslough tragedy, and it is a day of great sadness, of acute sadness, but it is a day of personal reflections, a day of fond memories of loved ones who were lost in the tragedy, he said. The last year has been a difficult journey, as one can imagine. A journey of mourning, a journey of healing, a journey of learning to cope, particularly for those that this tragedy took 10 beautiful souls from, and for those who were also injured in body and all of us who were injured in mind on that day. The journey of recovery will continue for all of us for a long time to come. Unlike most journeys that we set out on in life, in this journey of Creeslough we know neither the length nor the duration of the road ahead, but we know that we will travel it together, each of us together, linked together. He thanked members of the emergency services and those who are praying for Creeslough, and asked those who had sent thousands of cards and letters of support to the community to continue to do so. A year on, no update has been given publicly on what caused the explosion. Irish police previously said the incident was being treated as a tragic accident, with a gas leak considered as one possibility. An Garda Siochana said ahead of the anniversary that its investigation was continuing as expeditiously as possible. It said that over 1,350 lines of inquiry had been actioned and more than 900 statements had been taken. Various Garda agencies are involved in the investigation and are being assisted by the Norwegian company Det Norske Veritas, which specialises in investigating and testing energy systems. Ahead of the anniversary date, the families of those who died requested that the media respect their privacy. Irelands premier Leo Varadkar said: Our thoughts and prayers are with those who lost loved ones and the community in Creeslough today and every day. Seasimid libh. Irelands deputy premier Micheal Martin said he was thinking of the people of Creeslough today, one year on since the terrible tragedy. We remember the 10 lives lost, those injured, their families, and an entire community united in grief, Mr Martin said on X, formerly known as Twitter. ChatGPT found itself at the centre of debate when Lilian Weng expressed her emotional satisfaction with the chatbot. "Never tried therapy before but this is probably it?" the manager at OpenAI posted on the platform, X (formerly Twitter). Critics swiftly responded, voicing concerns over the trivialisation of mental well-being. With burgeoning startups launching AI apps for mental health support, this sector remains mired in debates. Cher Scarlett, an activist and programmer, responded to Weng's post, highlighting the irreplaceable depth of human therapeutic sessions. Research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Arizona State University sheds light on these reactions. This study had over 300 individuals interact with mental health artificial intelligence (AI) tools, with varying prompts regarding the chatbot's nature, as per AFP. Some were told the AI was compassionate, others that it was deceitful, and the rest were given no specifics. Results indicated those primed to believe in a compassionate chatbot viewed it as more trustworthy. Pat Pataranutaporn, one of the report's authors, commented that one's perception largely determines their AI experience. Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights! Click here! Users of the Replika app, marketed for mental health benefits, have reported unsettling interactions, further fanning the flames of concern. Koko, a US nonprofit, also shared findings on an experiment using GPT-3, concluding that AI-driven responses lacked therapeutic depth. AI Chatbots in therapy Chatbots aren't new to the therapeutic scene. The inception of chatbot technology in the 1960s was symbolised by ELIZA, designed to mimic psychotherapy. The MIT and Arizona study incorporated ELIZA and found that, despite its age, users with a positive perspective still deemed it trustworthy. Not all chatbots offer genuine interactions, as per critics, pointing to concerns about the transparency of AI's therapeutic claims. David Shaw from Basel University shared similar sentiments, suggesting a more critical approach when engaging with these chatbots, as per AFP. While it's no shocker that a manager from OpenAI would endorse ChatGPT, it's essential to tread cautiously. As per the MIT and Arizona research, it's crucial to calibrate society's expectations of AI, ensuring a clear line between genuine therapeutic sessions and AI interactions. (With AFP inputs) Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sounak Mukhopadhyay Sounak Mukhopadhyay, who also goes by the name Sounak Mukherjee, has been producing digital news since 2012. He's worked for the International Business Times, The Inquisitr, and Moneycontrol in the past. He's also contributed to Free Press Journal and TheRichest with feature articles. He covers news for a wide range of subjects including business, finance, economy, politics and sports. Before working with digital news publications, he worked as a freelance content writer. Read more from this author Mumbai: In a dispute between the two founders of fintech startup Simpl, the National Company Law Tribunal has ruled in favour of Chaitra Chidanand, dismissing an application by Nityanand Sharma, seeking to refer the disputes before the NCLT to arbitration. A bench led by Justices Kishore Vemulapalli and Prabhat Kumar said the NCLT cannot refer their disputes to arbitration as requested by Sharma. In this matter, Chidanand, who left in 2020 to co-found SALT, filed a petition under sections 241-242 of the Companies Act against Sharma, alleging oppression and mismanagement in the affairs of Get Simple Technologies, the parent of Simpl. Sharmas advocates sought dismissal of the company petition filed by Chidanand claiming it is dressed up, mala fide, oppressive, and vexatious, to evade the arbitration clause. Opposing Sharmas plea, Chidanands counsel Nausher Kohli argued that the essence of Chidanands dispute were allegations of oppression and mismanagement, that can only be adjudicated upon by NCLT and not an arbitral tribunal. Besides, he said, all the parties to the NCLT petition are not parties to the arbitration agreement and, therefore, no reference can be made to arbitration. The tribunal said the crux of Chidanands grievance was non-adherence to the understanding that the shareholding of Get Simpl Technologies Pvt. Ltd will be mirrored in a company that will be incorporated in Delaware, US. After considering the arguments of both sides, the tribunal observed that Chidanands petition appears to raise contractual disputes as opposed to disputes of oppression or mismanagement. However, it also said an arbitrator cannot direct the parties who are not signatories to the arbitration agreement to have shares allotted to Chidanand. Accordingly, the NCLT dismissed Sharmas application for referring disputes to arbitration. Sharma was represented by Amol Jhunjhunwala of Khaitan & Co. Chidanand was represented by Sushmita Gandhi and Sanaya Patel of IndusLaw. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Commerce ministry data showed that India exported smartphones worth $4.67 billion in April-July this fiscal year, of which the United States accounted for one-third of the shipments in value terms. During April-July 2023-24, smartphone exports soared by 99.52% over April-July 2022-23. During the first four months of the current fiscal year 2024, export of the smartphones to the United States jumped multifold to $1.67 billion against $284.6 million a year ago, the commerce ministry data showed. After the Indian government launched the product linked incentives (PLI) scheme and the entry of US-based iPhone maker Apple into domestic manufacturing, India has emerged as a major production hub for mobile phones. The United States was followed by the United Arab Emirates which accounted for $836.36 million, the Netherlands ($379.3 million), the United Kingdom ($336.27 million), Italy ($245.7 million), and the Czech Republic ($230.25 million). In fiscal year 2022-23, the overall India's export of smartphones was at $10.95 billion. Prior to 2022-23, the smartphone exports were non-existent, so the data was not captured. In April-May this fiscal year, India exported $2.43 billion worth of smartphones, driven by a multifold rise in shipments to the United States. The smartphone exports to the United States rose multiple times to $812.49 million during the first two months of this fiscal year as against $92.2 million in April-May 2022-23, the commerce ministry data showed. During April-May 2023-24, smartphone exports soared by 157.82% over April-May 2022-23. For April-May 2023-24, the United States was followed by the UAE ($484.52 million), the Netherlands ($205 million), the United Kingdom ($151.33 million), Italy ($136.57 million), and the Czech Republic ($115.5 million). For manufacturing of electronic goods, India imports monolithic integrated circuits from China, Ireland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. In fiscal year 2022-23, Indias imports of monolithic integrated circuits were at $10.23 billion. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. The Indian auto sector has stepped on the gas pedal in electric vehicle production; however, the scarcity of talent has led to rampant poaching within the sector. Companies are rolling out multi-pronged strategies from hiring expats to enrolling their employees in training programs that focus on electric vehicle manufacturing skills. How bad is the crisis? There are about 2.8 million EVs in India and the market is expected to boom at 94.4% CAGR by 2030. However, the companies are concerned about the scarcity of talent since the pace of production is far higher than the time taken to upskill the workforce. There is a huge shortage of talent in the software, AI, connected, electric, shared and safe (CESS) EV space across the auto industry. It will take a few more years to bridge the gap but until that time there is a war for talent in these specific areas," said Sitaram Kandi, vice president-HR, passenger vehicles and electric vehicles at Tata Motors. According to a report by the Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA) along with EY and IndusLaw done in 2022, the EV business will create more than 10 million direct jobs and 50 million indirect jobs by 2030. What are firms doing to hire lateral talent? Automakers are now hiring from allied sectors like electronic management solutions. While the talent shortage affects all levels, there is notably strong demand for middle management positions within the EV sector. The auto sector overall has seen a high amount of attrition. According to recruiters, candidates in the 10 lakh - 35 lakh salary range are sought after. During a job change in the auto sector, one can expect a 25% salary increase, which can rise to 50% for those with EV-specific experience. Headhunters are witnessing a surge in demand as automakers diversify their EV product lines. Technical talent from South Korea, Japan, the US, and Europe is being recruited, with salaries crossing the one-million-dollar mark, making the Indian EV market an attractive bet for global EV talent. Who is in demand? EV manufacturers require experts who possess a deep understanding of cell chemistry, module architecture, and battery pack design, as these factors play crucial roles in the industry. Engineers with backgrounds in electrochemistry and electrical architecture are in great demand. What are firms doing to upskill talent? Automakers including component manufacturers are creating training modules, research centres, and forming partnerships with universities to reduce their future reliance on external hiring from the market. Mahindra & Mahindra has bolstered its talent acquisition and retention efforts by establishing a motor and battery testing unit and consolidating its MRV (Mahindra Research Valley) and Mahindra SUV Proving Track for EV development under one umbrella. Ather Energy, an electric two-wheeler start-up boasting a nearly 1000-member R&D team, one of the largest in the sector in the country, says the key is to "build talent", instead of "buying it" to combat skill shortages for the long term. Some like Tata Motors aim to train about 50% of their workforce with new-age auto-tech capabilities within five years and the firm has mapped its employees across levels. It has tied up with universities providing an opportunity for individuals working in factories who obtained mechanical engineering degrees several decades ago to acquire EV-related skillsets. How are companies training indirect workforce? Automakers are coming up with apprentice programs for their workforce who can join the company as contract staffers, get trained in software, battery, connected tech, batteries, motors, and high-voltage systems etc and can be moved onto direct employment roles as well. Companies are also expected to adopt gig workers trained in auto design and will work on project basis. An IIT Bombay student on Saturday wrote an email to the administration about some students using the serving utensils of non-vegetarian food for Jain or vegeterian dishes amid the ongoing food fight at the prestigious institution. In an email, the student wrote, On October 5th, at approximately 9.35 am - 9.50 am, I observed a student taking an omelet on his plate from the non-vegetarian counter and then using the same laddle to take items from the Jain/vegeterian counter." I approached the student and politely informed him of the importance of not smearing non-veg item on veg spoon by touching them with non-vegeterian items after taking from the vegeterian counter. However, his response was rather dismissive," the email read. Another student who was present at the time also suggested a simple solution. However, the student in question insisted that he would continue to behave in the same manner in the future," he added. The student further requested the admin to take appropriate and strict action to address the issue. An internet user has posted the screengrab of email on a social media platform Reddit. A few days ago, IIT Bombay also imposed a hefty amount of fine worth 10,000 on one of the students who participated in the silent protest against the vegetarian-only" table at the institute. The institute has also launched an inquiry to identify other protestors. The institute's Mess Council which has earlier said six tables in a common canteen of three hostels will be designated for vegetarian food only", held a virtual meeting on October 1. During the meeting, the Mess Council of Hostel 12, 13, and 14 said, This act was a premeditated attempt to disrupt the peace and harmony within the mess, in defiance of the advice provided by the Associate Dean SA (Students Affairs)" Last month, the mess council sent an email to all its residents informing them about the designated vegetarian-only" tables where only veg food will be taken. In July this year, posters stating vegetarians only are allowed to sit here" were put up on the walls of the canteen of Hostel 12 at IIT Bombay, and a photograph of the same went viral on social media. A section of students had protested against it. The Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC), representing the students, condemned the incident and took action by tearing down the discriminatory posters. Their investigation through RTIs (Right to Information) and emails to the hostel's general secretary, it was revealed that there is no official policy for food segregation at the institute. The need to demarcate separate eating spaces with an idea of purity is to reinforce the superiority of savarnas on campus and deem their eating habits better than those of DBA students," APPSC IIT Bombay said. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. New Delhi: Nearly a month after signing the energy cooperation pact which spoke about power grid interconnectivity, India and Saudi Arabia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for green hydrogen supply chain and power grid interconnection. The MoU was signed on Sunday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia by union minister for power and new & renewable energy RK Singh and the minister of energy, Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud on the sidelines of the MENA Climate Week 2023. This MoU aims to establish a general framework for cooperation between the two countries in the field of electrical interconnection; exchange of electricity during peak times and emergencies; co-development of projects; co-production of green/clean hydrogen and renewable energy; and also establishing secure, reliable and resilient supply chains of materials used in green/clean hydrogen and the renewable energy sector," said a statement from the ministry of power. The MoU comes nearly a month after both countries signed an agreement for cooperation in energy which envisaged cooperation in renewable energy, energy efficiency, grid interconnection, strategic petroleum reserves, energy security among others. Mint first reported on 25 April that India plans to interconnect the national power grids of the two countries through a subsea cable. India has been exploring linking its power grid with those of Saudi Arabia and the UAE through subsea cables from its west coast and with the power grid of Singapore from the east coast. By sharing power resources across regions, countries can reduce the need for costly renewable energy storage solutions and improve the reliability of their power grids. Indias pursuit of grid interconnectivity could also prove critical to its long-term economic and energy security goals. India is pursuing the One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) plan, which aims to connect countries through a global power grid. The statement said that it was decided between the two energy ministers that B2B Business Summits and regular B2B interactions between the two countries would be conducted to establish complete supply and value chains in the above-mentioned areas of energy sector cooperation. Earlier, an Indian delegation led by the power minister participated in the high-level segment of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Climate Week 2023, which is being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from October 8 to 12, 2023. Singh told the global community that India today is one of the worlds most vital voices in the energy landscape and has emerged as a leader in energy transition. India having almost 17% of the world population and being the worlds fifth largest economy, is taking significant steps to reduce emission intensity of its GDP by 45% by the year 2030 and to achieve the goal of Net Zero by the year 2070," he said. He also called upon MENA countries to join the recently launched Global Biofuels Alliance in order to advance international cooperation in sustainable biofuels to realize the full potential of the alliance. He said that the alliance aims to facilitate cooperation in intensifying the development and deployment of sustainable biofuels, to facilitate trade in biofuels and much more, in collaboration with international biofuels organizations. The alliance was launched on 9 September during the G20 Summit in New Delhi. A total of 19 countries and 12 international organizations have so far agreed to join the alliance, including both G20 members and non-member countries. India, Brazil and the US are the founding members of the alliance. 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. Saudi Arabia, a key West Asian oil producer, however, has not joined the alliance. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. A staff member takes out a Chinese-made micro inverter from the batch packaging at the warehouse of Lauxx Energy in Ahrensburg, Germany, May 30, 2023. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) A staff member checks photovoltaic modules at the workshop of Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. in Dongyang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 18, 2023. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Dirk Heil checks the Chinese-made solar-powered equipment installed at his house in Schwarzenbek, Germany, May 30, 2023. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) Dirk Heil installs the Chinese-made solar-powered equipment at his house in Schwarzenbek, Germany, May 30, 2023. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) A container ship of China's COSCO Shipping docks at the Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, May 1, 2023. The Chinese-made solar-powered equipment installed in Dirk's house arrived by sea at the Port of Rotterdam before being transferred to Germany. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) A staff member checks the operation of the equipment at the workshop of Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. in Dongyang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 18, 2023. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Xu Yu) A staff member unwraps the packaging of Chinese-made micro inverters at the warehouse of Lauxx Energy in Ahrensburg, Germany, May 30, 2023. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) This aerial photo taken on April 18, 2023 shows the exterior view of the workshop of Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. in Dongyang City, east China's Zhejiang Province. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Xu Yu) This photo taken on May 30, 2023 shows the Chinese-made solar-powered equipment installed at the house of Dirk Heil in Schwarzenbek, Germany. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) Staff members work at the workshop of Beny New Energy Co., Ltd. in Wenzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 19, 2023. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Jiang Han) Staff members assemble inverter accessories at the workshop of Beny New Energy Co., Ltd. in Wenzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 19, 2023. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Jiang Han) This photo taken on April 18, 2023 shows the interior view of the workshop of Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. in Dongyang City, east China's Zhejiang Province. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Editor: WXL Amid the ongoing India-Canada standoff, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on 7 October during a Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting said that the suspension of visas for Canadians is conditional and not a permanent decision, sources said as reported by India Today . As per the report, the meet was held to discuss Indias G20 Presidency, though the MPs appreciated the presidency, many also raised questions on suspension of visa services for Canadians. Clearing the air, the Union Minister stated that the suspension was not a retaliatory action but rather an effort to protect the safety of the Indian diplomats, sources said as reported by the daily. "Curtailing services is because Indian diplomats are not safe in Canada. It is not a permanent decision but one that is conditional. The suspension of the visa situation may improve if and when the situation becomes better for Indians serving in embassies and consulates in Canada," sources told India Today citing the External Affairs Minister. Further adding, Jaishankar also told the consultative committee members that, We can open tomorrow if our diplomats are provided security," as reported by the daily. India and Canada are currently embroiled in a diplomatic standoff following an allegations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last month that Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India and the killing" of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil on June 18 in British Columbia. India dubbed the assertion as absurd and retaliated with a slew of restrictive measures. Canada has yet to provide any public evidence to support the claim about Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing. "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! Coming back to the report, it also added Jaishankar's opinion for parity in the number of Canadian diplomats in India. He told the members that Canada want complete immunity for their diplomats but are unwilling to give security to Indian diplomats. He further added that they permit billboards threatening Indian diplomats to be put up in the name of freedom of speech. Also read: Indians seeking Canada visa may soon face delays as diplomats are asked to leave They are not willing to provide security, but want full immunity for their diplomats while they continue to interfere in our internal affairs and allow billboards threatening our diplomats to be put up in the name of freedom of speech. They have forced our hand on this," the external affairs minister told the members, sources said quoting Jaishankar as reported by India Today. Recently, media reports stated that Canada has evacuated majority of its diplomats working in India to South Asian countries like Kuala Lumpur or Singapore as deadline to reduce diplomatic staff approaches. the Indian government had given Ottawa reportedly until October 10 deadline to reduce Canadian diplomatic staff in the country to a level on par with the number of Indian diplomats in Canada. (With inputs from agencies) Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Indian Air Force Day 2023: The mighty force protecting India's sky space, Indian Air Force, came into existence as the Royal Indian Air Force, on 8 October, 1932. The day is marked with the organisation of grand parade and celebrations across the nation. On this day, IAF personnel who protect India's skies are honoured for their dedication, bravery and professionalism. Not only this, Indian Air Force showcases its prowess in the sky by conducting grand air shows at different locations of the country. On this day, several programmes are conducted including aerial displays, rallies, parades, and ceremonies. Air show to mark IAF day celebrations in Prayagraj To celebrate the day this year, IAF will conduct its annual Air Force Day parade at Prayagraj on Sunday. Traditionally, the parade used to be held at the Hindon airbase near Delhi till 2021. However, it was taken out of the national capital in 2021. Last year, it was held in Chandigarh. Why is Indian Air Force Day celebrated? The day is celebrated to commemorate the formation of Indian Air Force. It was officially established on 8 October, 1932. In view of its professional efficiency and achievements during World War II, the force was bestowed with the prefix "Royal" in March 1945. So, it became the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF). However, the IAF dropped its "Royal" prefix in 1950 as India became a republic. Theme of Indian Air Force Day 2023 This year, the theme of IAF day is 'IAF - Airpower Beyond Boundaries'. The theme highlights the commitment of the force to excellence, innovation and its role as the guardian of the nation's skies. History of Indian Air Force Day As mentioned earlier, the IAF evolved from the Royal Indian Air Force, which was formed on 8 October 1932. Later, the Indian Air Force was established in 1950. It is still active today. Till now, IAF has fought four conflicts with Pakistan in 1947-1948, 1965, 1971 (Bangladesh War) and 1999 (Kargil War). In 1961, it supported the accession of Goa to the Indian Union. During Indian Armed forces battle against Chinese Army in 1962, Indian Air Force provided critical air support. In 1984, the IAF helped capture the Siachen Glacier. IAF role in defence, development and rescue Other than defending India's air space, Indian Air Force plays a crucial role in the development of country's economy and executing rescue operations in difficult terrains. The toll in the flash flood in Sikkim rose to 30 as four more bodies were found on Saturday, while 62 people who were reported missing earlier were found alive in the state which will be visited by an inter-ministerial team of the central government to assess damage. The number of missing people now is 81 for whom search operations are on in full swing, the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) said in its latest bulletin on Saturday evening. The flash flood triggered by a cloudburst in the early hours of Wednesday affected 41,870 people in four districts of the Himalayan state, with Mangan bearing the brunt of the calamity as a population of around 30,300 were hit by the disaster, it said. The other three affected districts are Gangtok, Pakyang and Namchi. Of the 30 deaths - four were in Mangan, six in Gangtok district, 19 in Pakyong and one in Namchi. The report said that the 19 deceased people in Pakyong included nine army men. Twenty-three soldiers had gone missing on October 3 and one of them was rescued earlier. The Army continues to search for the remaining missing personnel. Special radar, drones and Army Dogs have been employed for the job. Of the 39 army vehicles that had also gone missing that day, 15 were recovered so far from below slush several feet deep, officials said. Union minister Ajay Kumar Mishra said that a team comprising senior officers of five central ministries - agriculture, road transport & highways, water resources, energy and finance - will visit the northeastern state from Sunday to assess the damage caused by the flash flood. "The team will visit Sikkim from tomorrow to take stock of the ground situation, assess the extent of damage and provide assistance wherever necessary," the union minister of state for home affairs told reporters here. Mishra asked the state government officials to prepare short-term and long-term plans to effectively accomplish the task of rebuilding the damaged infrastructure in the shortest possible time. The Centre has approved the release of 44.8 crore as an advance amount from the central share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to Sikkim to provide relief to flash floods-affected people. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Saturday visited the disaster-affected areas in north Sikkim and inspected damaged infrastructures. He also chaired a meeting with Zilla and ward members of Toong Naga Gram Panchayat Unit alongside representatives of GREF, BRO and officials of concerned departments. During the meeting, it was decided to immediately establish a route for transportation to bring in relief materials by road. The chief minister inspected the spot of the Sankalan bridge (Dzongu) that has been washed away. A 55-metre-long Bailey bridge over the Sankalan river will be built soon to restore vehicular movement between Dzongu and Mangane, he said, adding that a zip line has been installed with the help of locals for quick transportation of groceries and other basic amenities towards Dzongu which is completely cut off at present. A zip line is a cable or rope stretched between two points of different heights, down which a person or materials can slide with the help of a suspended harness, pulley or handle. National Highway 10, the lifeline of Sikkim, has been rendered unusable due to damage to the road surface and many bridges across the Teesta River. The opening and widening process of the stretch between Rangpo and Singtam is in progress. Alternate routes to the state capital Gangtok are available via East Sikkim and routes to West and South Sikkim are also available. However, in North Sikkim, roads beyond Mangan are currently cut off. Tamang also visited a relief camp located at ITI Chadey where 32 families of the affected areas have been sheltered. He also handed over financial aid for emergency purposes to the family members. Tamang earlier announced an ex-gratia of 4 lakh for the families of the deceased and an immediate relief of 2,000 each for all those taking shelter in the camps. So far, 2,563 people have been rescued from different areas and 6,875 people have taken shelter in 30 relief camps set up across the state, most of which have been cut off from the rest of the country. The deluge also damaged more than 1,320 houses and washed away 13 bridges in the four districts of the picturesque Himalayan state, said the report. More than 3,000 tourists stranded in Lachen and Lachung in Mangan district of Sikkim after the flash flood hit the area, are safe, officials said on Saturday. The Indian Air Force made multiple attempts to carry out rescue and relief operations by Mi-17 helicopters but was unable to fly from Bagdogra as well as Chaten due to inclement weather. The army along with the local administration has been extending assistance to the stranded tourists and locals by providing food, medical aid and telephone connectivity through satellite terminals. Teams have collected data on all the tourists staying in various hotels and some of them have been accommodated in Army camps, officials said. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. There are about 18,000 Indians living and working in Israel and there has been no untoward incident involving them as Hamas, a Palestinian militant organisation, launched a massive multi-front offensive against the country, sources have been quoted as saying by PTI. Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv has received from the Indian nationals to help them return to India. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza escalated after Hamas fired thousands of missiles at it from Gaza while militants breached the territory through air, land and water and rampaged through the Israeli communities, killing hundreds. Hamas rules the Gaza Strip. Since the Hamas attack, at least 350 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed and more than 1,900 injured in Israel - the deadliest day for the country in at least 50 years. In the Gaza Strip, nearly 300 have died and 1.500 have been injured in Israel's counteroffensive. INDIANS STUCK IN ISRAEL The Indian embassy has received requests from Indian tourists stranded in the country to facilitate their exit. Most tourists are travelling in groups. Apart from the tourists, some businessmen are also said to have got caught up in Israel and are looking to be evacuated. A big chunk of Indians living in Israel work as caregivers but there are also about a thousand students, several IT professionals and diamond traders. Bindu, a doctoral student at Hebrew University, told PTI that she "followed the instructions in letter and spirit throughout the day" on Saturday. She also informed that all Indians are in touch with each other. Vikas Sharma, a postdoctoral fellow at the Givat Ram campus of Hebrew University said that "there is a tense situation in Israel because of the attack, but all the Indian students are safe. Most of the students are staying in dorms and accommodations provided by the institutions. We are in contact with each other as well as the Indian embassy through WhatsApp". Elle Prasad said, They have to be very alert so that they reach the shelter house as soon as possible after the siren wails." An Indian national living in Gaza, when contacted, said that the situation was scary" but she and her family were safe. "There is no internet connection and electricity. The situation is scary but we are fine," she told PTI. The Indian mission in Tel Aviv and the Representative Office of India in Palestine on Saturday issued advisories asking Indian nationals on respective sides to remain vigilant" and directly contact the Office" in case of an emergency. Embassy sources told PTI that they are readily available to all Indian nationals around the clock and have been proactively guiding them. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. A powerful magnitude-6.3 earthquake followed by strong aftershocks has killed about hundreds of people in the western Afghanistan, the country's national disaster authority said as reported by Associated Press . More than 2,000 people have been killed while more than 9,000 have been injured, the Taliban administration said on Sunday, in the deadliest tremors to rock the quake-prone mountainous country in years The United States Geological Survey said the epicentre of the magnitude 6.3 quake was 40 kilometres (25 miles) northwest of the region's largest city Herat. It was later followed by three very strong aftershocks, measuring magnitude 6.3, 5.9 and 5.5 magnitude, as well as lesser shocks. Earlier, the Geological Survey had also said that the eight aftershocks with magnitudes between 4.3 and 6.3 followed. Here are Top Updates you need to know 1. More than 2,000 people were killed in earthquakes in Afghanistan and more than 9,000 injured, the Taliban administration said on Sunday, in the deadliest tremors to rock the quake-prone mountainous country in years 2. The earthquake were among the world's deadliest quakes in a year when tremors in Turkey and Syria killed an estimated 50,000 in February. Janan Sayeeq, spokesman for the Ministry of Disasters, said 2,053 people were killed, 9,240 injured and 1,320 houses damaged or destroyed. 3. Disaster authority spokesperson Mohammad Abdullah Jan said four villages in the Zenda Jan district in Herat province bore the brunt of the quake and aftershocks. Death tolls often rise when information comes in from more remote parts of a country where decades of war have left infrastructure in a shambles, and relief and rescue operations difficult to organise. 4. More than 200 dead had been brought to various hospitals, said a Herat health department official who identified himself as Dr Danish, adding most of them were women and children, as reported by Reuters. India-Canada diplomatic standoff: The University of Toronto has sought to reassure the student community and underscored its commitment to support its wellbeing, while also noting that India's suspension of visa processing will hinder face-to-face connection. Speaking to PTI, Vice-President International, University of Toronto, Professor Joseph Wong said, We know that many members of the University of Toronto community are watching relations between the governments of Canada and India with concern." The situation is evolving rapidly, causing uncertainty and stress, and we do not yet have answers to many of the pressing questions it raises," Prof Joseph said, adding that the varsity is proud to be home to more than 2,400 international students from India. We want to assure all impacted members of our community and in particular international students that you are welcome here and we are deeply committed to supporting your wellbeing," he said. Prof Joseph added that the University is committed to its longstanding partnerships in India that support academic collaborations in a wide range of areas and provide invaluable global learning opportunities for its students. We look forward to continuing and deepening these relationships, aligned with our mutual goal of making a difference locally and globally. In the short term, the suspension of visa processing for travelers from Canada will hinder face-to-face connection, but we will continue to build these relationships through online interactions," he told PTI. He further assured that the university will monitor the impacts of the developing diplomatic tension between India and Canada on the University of Toronto community. Canada has evacuated the majority of its diplomats working in India to South Asian countries like Kuala Lumpur or Singapore as the deadline to reduce diplomatic staff approaches. The Indian government had given Ottawa until the October 10 deadline to reduce Canadian diplomatic staff in the country to a level on par with the number of Indian diplomats in Canada. India has rejected the allegations as "absurd" and "motivated" and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move to Ottawa's expulsion of an Indian official over the case. Trudeau had earlier also said that his country was not looking to escalate the situation with India" and insisted that Ottawa wants to remain on the ground in New Delhi to help Canadians. Canada has yet to provide any public evidence to support the claim about the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The country has said it wants to "work constructively with India" regarding the allegations. (With PTI inputs) Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Amid the escalating war between Israel and Palestine, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel Prime Minister, has vowed to turn all known hideouts of the militant outfit into "rubble". He also urged all Gaza residents to leave stating that they would take all possible steps to destroy Hamas's capabilities. Israel Defence Forces (IDF) are going community by community, house by house, and are "restoring control by clearing the terrorists out of the last communities". Taking to his official handle on social media platform X, Netanyahu posted, "The IDF will immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamas's capabilities. We will destroy them and we will forcefully avenge this dark day that they have forced on the State of Israel and its citizens. As Bialik wrote: 'Revenge for the blood of a little child has yet been devised by Satan'." "All of the places which Hamas is deployed, hiding and operating in, that wicked city, we will turn them into rubble. I say to the residents of Gaza: Leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere," he added. In a major upheaval Hamas terror group launched a "surprise attack" in southern and central Israel. The death toll from the attack on Israel went past 300, local media reports stated. It is expected to mount further. As many as 1,590 people were wounded, many seriously. Several civilians as well as IDF soldiers are believed to have been abducted and brought to Gaza, The Times of Israel reported "At this hour, the IDF is clearing the terrorists out of the last communities. They are going community by community, house by house, and are restoring our control. I embrace and send heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families whose loved ones were murdered today in cold blood and endless brutality," Netanyahu said. On Saturday around 6:30 am (local time), rocket attacks from Gaza hit Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Gedera, and Ashkelon in Israel. Subsequently, Hamas militants entered Israel from Gaza, causing chaos in Israeli towns. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Stock markets in Israel and the Middle-East opened deep in the red, as repercussions of the unexpected assault on Israel by the Palestinian group Hamas on Saturday had a ripple effect, Bloomberg reported. The declining stock values are now setting the stage for a potentially unstable week. Follow our LIVE coverage of the Israel-Palestine war here On Sunday, significant stock indices in the region experienced a decrease, with Israel's main TA-35 stock index leading the way with a substantial 5.2 percent decline, marking its most significant loss in over three years. The Tadawul All Share Index in Riyadh saw a 1.2 percent drop, and stocks in Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain also exhibited weakness. Egypt's EGX30 gauge faced a decline of up to 2 percent. Also Read: Slow Q2 growth for FMCG companies as food prices and rain deficit block demand Background The recent attacks by Hamas represent the most lethal assault on Israel in many years and pose a threat of escalating into a broader conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that his country would initiate an extended military operation against Hamas and expressed confidence in Israel's victory. President Joe Biden assured "rock solid" support from the United States for Israel. This conflict arises during a period of diplomatic sensitivity and a historic division within Israel concerning Netanyahu's coalition with the far-right. Their attempts to reform the nation's judiciary have created internal discord. In the midst of these developments, the Israeli shekel has declined towards a seven-year low in the days leading up to the scheduled reopening of Israel's parliament later this month. Also Read: Petrol, diesel price hike unlikely despite crude oil price surge: Moody's Divisions in Israels politics and security structure will be papered over while the military response in Gaza is ongoing, but they are not going away. That will remain a vulnerability for all Israeli asset prices," Hasnain Malik, a Dubai-based strategist at Tellimer, a provider of research and data on emerging markets to investors, told Bloomberg. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Death toll from the bloodiest war erupted between Israel and Hamas surged to 1,000 after the Jewish nation was hit by one its worst terror attack of the century. After the surprise assault of Palestinian militant group, Isreali PM Benjamin Netanyahu vowed "mighty vengeance for this black day". Living by Netanyahu's words, Israeli forces battered Gaza strip with massive air strikes and attacks. Israeli air strikes hit housing blocks, tunnels, a mosque and homes of Hamas officials in Gaza, killing more than 370 people, including 20 children. As civilians from both the sides continue to suffer because of the war, overall death toll due to war rose to 1,000. Also Read: 'Flight to nowhere': How a 13-hour flight was forced to take mid-air U-turn due to Israel-Hamas conflict Highlighting the gravity of the attack, IDF International Spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht called the attack as their 9/11". Soon after the terror attack on Israel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolence towards Israeli citizens on Saturday. Here are top updates on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Also Read: We are in deep trouble: Indian stuck in Israel after multi-front attack by Hamas | Video 10 updates on Israel-Palestine war -IDF International Spokesperson, Lt Col Richard Hecht called the attack by Palestinian millitants as barberic and compared it with the 9/11 terror attack of the USA. He also said how militants attacked on the ground, in the air & also through the sea," and did not go for military targets. Instead "they went for civilians." -"We are going to respond to this very severely...We are going to do whatever is needed. The style of the attack is barbaric...In a way, this is our 9/11," said Lt Col Richard Hecht. Also Read: Nushrratt Bharuccha reaches Mumbai airport from terror-stricken Israel | Watch video -The Isreali army is sending in reinforcements against Hamas militants who were still on Israeli territory on Sunday, said the Israel. "The enemy is still on the ground" in Israel, military spokesman Daniel Hagari told journalists at a news conference. "We are reinforcing our forces, especially near the Gaza Strip," he said, adding the army had struck 800 Hamas targets in the coastal enclave. -In the wake of further escalation of the war, US President Joe Biden ordered additional support" for Israel. "The President directed additional support for Israel in the face of this unprecedented terrorist assault by Hamas," the White House said in a statement. "President Biden reiterated his unreserved support for the State of Israel," tweeted Israeli PMO on Sunday. Indian students in Canada are facing a major problem that is lack of job opportunities amid India-Canada strained relations in the wake of accusations by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau against India. According to data, India was the top source country of new international students entering the North American nation in the year 2022. A total of 226,450 Indian students arrived in Canada to pursue higher education. Erudera's data also shows that there are a total of 807,750 international students in Canada across all education levels, including higher education. Out of these, 551,405 students received study permits in Canada in 2022. India has the most study permit holders in 2022 in Canada with 226,450 students as per Erudera data. I am not thinking about the India-Canada rift so much. I am more worried and concerned about my future. There is a huge dearth of jobs here, and I dont know whether I will be able to secure work once I complete my studies," said an Indian student, reported PTI. Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights! Click here! Another student who is pursuing a course in health services at an institute in the Greater Toronto area said that he is worried about finding work once he finishes his studies in Toronto though neither he nor his friends encountered any challenges due to the diplomatic tensions between Delhi and Ottawa He added, I know of several Indian students with medical degrees here who have been unable to find decent-paying jobs and are driving cabs and working in stores, and restaurants to pay bills. It is a very challenging situation for us," reported PTI. Our parents have spent a lot to send us to Canada to study We had hoped to find good jobs that sustain us and also enable us to take care of our families in India. We are not able to do that," he said. An Indian student from Haryana said, We had come with the hope that once we complete our education here, we will be able to secure well-paying jobs and help our parents and families back home in India. But there are no jobs; the cost of living, healthcare is back-breaking and we are struggling to make ends meet," reported PTI. There were around 320,000 Indian students with active study permits at the end of December 2022 that is a steep jump of 47% as compared to 2021 figures, according to ICEF Monitor. ICEF is a market intelligence resource for the global education industry. ICEF Monitor stated, Indian students accounted for nearly four out of every ten foreign students in Canada as of the end of 2022." Parents have had to sell properties, land, take massive loans to pay for the higher education of their children in Canada," one student told PTI. India students in Canda expressed their worries and anxiousness over their future career prospects as their families and parents in India endured several hardships to send them for higher studies abroad. (With inputs from PTI) Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Photo taken on Oct. 4, 2023 shows an immersive performance at the scenic area of Liukeng Ancient Village in Le'an County, Fuzhou City, east China's Jiangxi Province. In recent years, Fuzhou City gives full play to the advantages of rural tourism resources, improves the tourism environment of scenic spots, and enricates tourism formats to attract tourists to come. (Zeng Wencai/Guangming Picture) Photo taken on Oct. 4, 2023 shows tourists visiting an alley in the scenic area of Liukeng Ancient Village in Le'an County of Fuzhou City, east China's Jiangxi Province. In recent years, Fuzhou City gives full play to the advantages of rural tourism resources, improves the tourism environment of scenic spots, and enricates tourism formats to attract tourists to come. (Zeng Wencai/Guangming Picture) Photo taken on Oct. 4, 2023 shows tourists enjoy the beautiful scenery of the ancient camphor forest in Niutian Town, Le'an County, Fuzhou City, east China's Jiangxi Province. In recent years, Fuzhou City gives full play to the advantages of rural tourism resources, improves the tourism environment of scenic spots, and enricates tourism formats to attract tourists to come. (Zeng Wencai/Guangming Picture) Editor: ZAD There has been a lot of corruption in West Bengal. The government never answers to Right to Information Act notices there, said BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya while alleging of a corruption scandal linked to Mamata Banerjee's family in the state. Shortly after the raids of the Central Bureau of Investigation at TMC leader Firhad Hakim's place, Kailash Vijayvargiya alleged that significant corruption case is going to be unearthed in West Bengal that will expose Mamata Banerjee's family. A huge case of corruption is going to be unearthed which will expose Mamata Banerjee, who dreams of becoming the PM, and how corrupt her family is," alleged BJP's Vijayvargiya.He also said that the connection of this corruption is with Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek. "There has been a lot of corruption there. They (WB govt) never answer the notices sent under the Right to Information Act. The connection of this corruption is with Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek," Vijayvargiya told ANI on Sunday in Indore. His comments came after CBI carried out search operations at the residence of Kolkata Mayor and Trinamool Congress (TMC) Minister in West Bengal Cabinet Firhad Hakim in connection with alleged irregularities in civi CBI on Sunday carried out search operations at the residence of Kolkata Mayor and Trinamool Congress (TMC) Minister in West Bengal Cabinet Firhad Hakim in connection with alleged irregularities in civic body recruitment. Searches were conducted at around 12 places including Kolkata, Kanchrapara, Barrackpore, Halisahar, Dumdum, North Dum Dum, Krishnanagar, Taki and Kamarhati, officials told ANI. CBI also conducted raids at the residence of certain individuals including public servants in the ongoing minicipal bodies recruitment investigation. About irregularities of civic body recruitment in West Bengal A case has been registered against the director of a private company and some other individuals after the orders of the Calcutta High Court. According to CBI officials, all contracts pertaining to various Municipalities, District Primary School Councils and others for the recruitment of Group C and Group D employees were given to the private company. It was also alleged that said company was entrusted with all the tasks like finalising the question papers, printing and scanning of OMR sheets and preparation of the final merit list. There are accusations that directors of the private firm and other individuals including public servants hatched a conspiracy among themselves, reported ANI. As per the conspiracy,illegal appointments were fixed between unmeritorious candidates and officials at several municipalities in leu of money, said CBI officials, reported ANI. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. WHEN JOHN GOODENOUGH won the Nobel prize in chemistry in 2019 at the age of 97, scientists breathed a sigh of relief. Many had worried that the committee would not get around to honouring his groundbreaking work on lithium-ion batteries from 1980. Goodenough (who died this year) was the oldest winner of the worlds foremost research prize. Usually laureates are closer to 55 when they pick up the phone to hear the welcome Swedish accent. But it can take years between the publication of a laureates career-defining work and recognition from the Nobel committee. At what age are they at the height of their powers? View Full Image Nobel Prize winners The answer has changed over time. Science laureates who received the prize between 1901 and 1950 were, on average, 39 years old when they published their winning paper, according to research published in 1957. But a study of more recent Nobel laureates published in 2019 by Rasmus Bjork of the Technical University of Denmark found that science and economics winners were, on average, 44 at the time of their prizewinning work (see chart 1). Differences between disciplines have lessened. In the first half of the 20th century physicists and chemists were significantly younger when they made their big contributions (at 35 and 38 respectively) than were medical scientists (42). At the time this was attributed to the birth of modern physics at the turn of the centuryspurred by new radiation discoveries, the theory of relativity and quantum mechanicswhich set the scene for younger scientists to make their mark. Now, however, the ages of peak achievement in each field are much closer, though physicists still tend to be slightly younger than average. (They make their main contributions at 42 on average, but the distribution skews younger). Physicists need fewer papers to make a big contribution, which may be why they tend to be relatively young when that happens. They usually win Nobels for one big discovery, whereas economists, for example, get them for theories they develop over several years, which pushes up their average age. Regardless of discipline, future Nobel laureates in science are most productive from late youth to early middle age. Perhaps that is when they find themselves at the sweet intersection of fresh ideas and the means to pursue them. The median age of first-year PhD students in the OECD, a club of mainly rich countries, is 29. Promising young researchers who want to start their own labs often get funding around five years after they graduate. Surprisingly, writers, who depend less on doctoral degrees and grants for lab equipment, also do their best work as they enter middle age. Some Nobel laureates in literature, such as Bob Dylan, were chosen for their contributions over a lifetime. But in cases where the Nobel committee singled out for commendation individual works, the authors average age was 41 (see chart 2). Perhaps people destined to do prizewinning work become happier, and therefore more creative, as they enter their 40s. Society loves the idea of young talent, but it should celebrate middle-aged talent, too. Israels security cabinet voted on Saturday night to officially go to war following a major attack on the country by Palestinian armed group Hamas, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said. The invocation of Article 40 of Israels Basic Law allows the government to take significant military action that may lead, with a level of probability close to certain, to war, Netanyahus office said on Sunday. Under the legislation, the prime minister will be able to make certain decisions regarding the war with just the approval of the security cabinet, it added. Netanyahus office also said the government had asked the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, to activate emergency regulations allowing for detainees to be held in custody for a longer period without being brought before a court. Netanyahu declared that Israel was at war in his first message a few hours after Hamas fired thousands of rockets at Israel and sent its fighters into Jewish settlements near the border with Gaza on Saturday morning. Citizens of Israel, we are at war. And we will win, the prime minister said in his address. The enemy will pay a price like they have never known before, he vowed, referring to Hamas. The history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is complex and long-standing. The conflict can be traced back to the late 19th century, when the Zionist movement began to advocate for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. The conflict escalated in the early 20th century, as Jewish immigration to Palestine increased and tensions with the Arab population grew. The first major Israeli-Palestinian war occurred in 1948, when Israel declared its independence and Arab armies invaded. The war resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, who fled to neighboring Arab countries. The second major Israeli-Palestinian war occurred in 1967, when Israel launched a preemptive strike against Arab armies. The war resulted in Israels capture of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights. Since 1967, there have been a number of smaller wars and clashes between Israel and Palestinians. The conflict has also been marked by terrorism, both by Palestinian groups and by Jewish extremists. In 1993, Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) signed the Oslo Accords, which were intended to lead to a two-state solution to the conflict. However, the Oslo Accords were never fully implemented, and the conflict has continued. In recent years, there have been a number of attempts to revive the peace process, but none have been successful. The conflict remains one of the most intractable in the world. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has had a devastating impact on both Israelis and Palestinians. The conflict has cost tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions of people. It has also had a negative impact on the economies of Israel and the Palestinian territories. The conflict has also had a negative impact on the region as a whole. The conflict has contributed to instability and violence in the Middle East. It has also made it more difficult for the region to cooperate on other issues. Shayne Heffernan BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. There are no Azerbaijani citizens among the injured in Israel, Azerbaijani Embassy in Israel told Trend. "There are no Azerbaijani citizens among the injured or dead in Israel," the embassy said. A combined attack was launched against Israel yesterday morning. From the beginning, a massive bombardment of rockets began from the Gaza Strip, followed by militant infiltration by land, water and air. In response to the massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared a state of preparedness for potential conflict. Additionally, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced the mobilization of reservists on a large scale. Police did not give Black Alabama homeowner time to respond before killing him, attorney says An attorney representing the family of a Black man fatally shot at his home by police in Alabama says officers did not give the man time to respond before they opened fire Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on October 8 that the US is working overtime to verify reports of missing and dead Americans overseas after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack against Israel. If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. A man who put securing adequate car insurance on the long finger has been convicted and fined, a recent court sitting heard. Mateusz Przygonski, 6 Woodvale Drive, Athlone, Co Westmeath, pleaded guilty at a sitting of Longford District Court last week to driving without insurance on January 11 this year at Athlone Road, Creevaghbeg, Ballymahon, Co Longford. The accused was also charged with failing to produce a driving licence at the same address contrary to Section 40 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. In defence, solicitor Frank Gearty said his client was someone who had a previously unblemished record and had since corrected his error in not having the required insurance in place at the time. He comes to court with no previous convictions, he said, saying Mr Przygonski had put the matter of insurance on the long finger. Mr Gearty added: He has rectified the situation and very regretfully he was not insured at the time. The long serving local solicitor also told of how Mr Przygonski was doing his best to earn a decent living in an attempt to better his own life. He is working in Ireland for 15 years and is in a meat factory and contributing in a very meaningful way to society, added Mr Gearty as he continued Mr Przygonski's mitigation to the court. Man on Longford knife possession charge remanded in custody A homeless man has appeared in court charged in connection to an alleged violent incident at an asylum seeker hostel in Longford town. In delivering her verdict, presiding Judge Bernadette Owens handed Mr Przygonski a 350 fine for the no insurance charge. She also issued a 200 fine for a Section 38 charge of having no driving licence. Mr Przygonski was given four months to pay both fines. A Section 69 charge of failing to produce valid insurance within ten days was taken into consideration. A Portuguese man caught with a knife in his pocket in Longford town believed he was doing nothing illegal after it was bought for him by his brother in law. Carlos Da Silva Bernardo (35), 33 Gleann Riada, Strokestown Road, Longford pleaded guilty at last weeks sitting of Longford District Court following an incident at Townspark, Market Square, Longford on April 29, 2023. Sgt Enda Daly, for the State, said gardai stopped the accused at around 5:15pm where he was found with a two inch blade in his pocket. He was arrested soon afterwards and taken to Longford garda station for questioning. Man on Longford knife possession charge remanded in custody A homeless man has appeared in court charged in connection to an alleged violent incident at an asylum seeker hostel in Longford town. Judge Bernadette Owens was also told Mr Da Silva Bernardo was unaware he was, in fact, committing a criminal offence by possessing the knife. In defence, solicitor Brid Mimnagh said the knife in question was a small penknife which his brother-in-law had bought him. He (Mr Da Silva Bernardo) did not believe it was illegal to carry it, she said. Ms Mimnagh was equally at pains to stress her client was not before the courts on a drugs related charge following the search. She added Mr Da Silva Bernardo was currently in employment and was a father of one. Chaotic scenes as man shouts at Longford judge: Go ahead, just get me out of court A man yelled 'go ahead, get me out of court for f***'s sake' after being told he faces trial in connection to an alleged aggravated burglary in Longford town. Ms Mimnagh said in view of her clients previous good character, asked for the court to consider affording the accused a chance to escape a conviction by handing in a sum of cash to the court poor box. Judge Owens agreed to that request and said she would be looking for Mr Da Silva Bernardo to hand over 300. The case was adjourned until December 12 when the accused is expected to return and meet the terms of that order. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Azerbaijan has expresses condolences to Afghanistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote on its page on X, Trend reports. "Deeply saddened by the news on devastating earthquake in Herat, Afghanistan that claimed hundreds of lives. We express our condolences to families of those who lost their lives in this disaster. Our thoughts and prayers are with people of Afghanistan," the ministry wrote. A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Afghanistan, with its epicenter located 42 kilometers northwest of Herat city. The earthquake's depth reached 10 kilometers. Recent reports indicate that over 2,000 individuals have lost their lives. A young Midlands motorist drove without insurance because he needed to get Calpol for his nine-month-old baby, Tullamore District Court was told. Judge Andrew Cody heard that 20-year-old Jake Colleran, of The Green, Clara, had been in court on January 18 this year, committed a motoring offence eight days later for which he was disqualified, but was then driving again on August 25 despite the road ban. Mr Colleran pleaded guilty last week to being the unlicensed and uninsured driver of a vehicle with a bald tyre at Ballycumber Road, Clara on January 26 last. He also admitted driving without a licence and insurance at Clara Bridge, Clara on August 23. Sergeant Justine Reilly said that prior to those offences he already had six convictions, including one for a speeding offence and another for driving unaccompanied as a learner. He had received a suspended six-month sentence and a four-year driving ban. Mr Colleran's solicitor, Donal Farrelly, said the young man had been working as a mechanic but the loss of his licence ended that career. He had driven while disqualified because his child had a viral infection and blisters so he went to the chemist to get Calpol. It was of course a foolish thing to do, said Mr Farrelly. He added that Mr Colleran had the prospect of a painting job in a week's time so he was hoping he would not be given a jail sentence. The solicitor said his client's partner was working because the accused could not. Judge Cody imposed a six-month suspended sentence for the January 26 offences, along with a 10-year ban from driving. For the August 25 offence he imposed a three-month sentence and another 10-year disqualification. I'm not going to keep suspending, said the judge, saying the man had been given that opportunity before. It's not registering. He fixed recognisances for an appeal. Irish TV presenter Angela Scanlon and her professional partner Carlos Gu have topped the BBC Strictly Come Dancing leader board with their Charleston from the film Damn Yankees. The pair performed an upbeat synchronised number to Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdons Whos Got The Pain? sporting the signature bowler hats and yellow ensemble from the most celebrated dance scene in movie history. Judging their movie week performance from the 1958 musical comedy, Anton Du Beke said: Ill tell you this, that was the best number that Ive seen on the whole series. Its everything I love as a dancer, if I want to watch a dance this is exactly how I want it to be performed, it is as clean as a whistle, youve got springs in your shoes, youre all sort of bouncy and I love that. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BBC Strictly (@bbcstrictly) Craig Revel Horwood described the dance as absolutely brilliant, while Motsi Mabuse said it had a perfect level of energy. Judge Shirley Ballas added: I love the trust that you have with each other, its absolutely spectacular and I loved the fact that you can go from the beginning to the end your stamina is incredible. Just looking from the beginning to now, the improvement youve made so congratulations and what an evening to bring it on. After the performance, which scored the couple 35 topping the lead board, Scanlon revealed her parents were in the front row of the audience watching for the first time. It comes a week after their jive saw the couple score 29 out of 40. 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. President Joe Biden pledged rock solid support for Israel on Saturday in the face of what he described as terrorist assaults by Palestinian militant group Hamas, with an announcement on US military assistance expected imminently. High-level discussions between US and Israeli officials on military aid were already underway, a US senior administration official said, with an announcement by Washington possible as early as Sunday. Biden described the assault as a terrible tragedy on a human level and said he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to underline his support. I told him the United States stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults, Biden said in a televised address from the White House. In my administration, support for Israels security is rock solid and unwavering, he said. Well make sure that they have the help their citizens need and they can continue to defend themselves. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reaffirmed Washingtons commitment, saying over the coming days the Department of Defense will work to ensure that Israel has what it needs. As the attacks threatened to trigger a wider conflict, Biden also warned this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage. The world is watching. Biden stressed that Israel which the United States has supplied with billions of dollars of arms has a right to defend itself after Iran-backed Hamas launched air, sea and land strikes. The senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stressed it was too early to say whether Iran was directly involved in Hamas large-scale attack, but that there was no doubt Hamas is funded, equipped and armed by Iran and others. Meanwhile, top US diplomat Antony Blinken spoke with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas whose West Bank-based Fatah movement is a rival to Hamas and called on all leadership in the region to condemn the attack on Israel. Trump weighs in Former president Donald Trump weighed in, blaming Biden, without evidence, for indirectly funding the attacks. These Hamas attacks are a disgrace and Israel has every right to defend itself with overwhelming force, Trump said in a statement. Sadly, American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks, which many reports are saying came from the Biden Administration. Trumps allegations reflected Republican claims that $6 billion released last month to Iran as part of a prisoner exchange deal was used to fund the Hamas attack. White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates said on social media that this is a shameful lie in every respect, at a time when both parties should be totally united in supporting Israels defense. The money can only be used for verifiable purchases of humanitarian needs like food & medicine, Bates added, in a fierce pushback against the claims. There seemed little chance of keeping US partisan politics out of the matter, with the senior administration official saying that the situation in Congress where the lower chamber currently lacks a leader will likely complicate any US action. Peace agreements Israel normalized relations decades ago with neighboring Egypt and Jordan and in 2020 added three more Arab states to the list the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco in what Trump considered his towering foreign policy achievement. The so-called Abraham Accords also included sweeteners from Trump, including a promise to sell jets to the United Arab Emirates. We brought so much peace to the Middle East through the Abraham Accords, only to see Biden whittle it away at a far more rapid pace than anyone thought possible, Trump, who plans to stand against Biden in the 2024 election, said. Before Saturdays assault, Biden had been hoping to transform the Middle East and score a pre-election diplomatic victory by securing recognition of the Jewish state by Saudi Arabia, the guardian of Islams two holiest sites. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said Saturday that this unprecedented and brutal attack by Hamas is not only supported by Iran, it was designed to stop peace efforts between Saudi Arabia and Israel. A peace agreement between those two nations would be a nightmare for Iran and Hamas. It would serve Israel and the world well to respond to this outrage by launching an operation that will destroy the Hamas organization not just contain it, he added. Biden has had recently rocky relations with Netanyahu, publicly criticizing him for overhauling Israels judiciary, a step seen by opponents as undermining democracy. Two Thai nationals have died in the violence between Israeli forces and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, Thailands prime minister said Sunday. The dramatic escalation of the long-running conflict has seen hundreds killed on both sides following Saturdays surprise large-scale attack by Hamas from the Gaza Strip against Israel and Israeli retaliation. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin tweeted Sunday he had received reports from the Thai ambassador in Tel Aviv that two Thai people had died from the violence. He did not share further details, but said Thailands foreign ministry was working to evacuate Thais from the country. Earlier, Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Manet also confirmed the death of a Cambodian student who was in the country when the violence erupted. Thousands of people have already been wounded in the fighting, which continued to rage in the early hours of Sunday morning. Forty climate advocates set out on a 30-day walk from Rizal Park in Manila to Tacloban City, Leyte, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) on Sunday. We dont want another Yolanda to happen. This is why we are pushing to end fossil fuels, and more importantly, demanding reparations from polluter countries. We need resources to fast track our climate action efforts before another disaster strikes, said Gregorio Bituin Jr., a founding member of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) and a member of the contingent. Hundreds more are expected to converge with the march as the contingent makes its way through the country, organizers said. They added that the Climate Walk is being held to raise awareness not only on Yolanda, but on climate change as a whole. Combining walking and biking, the march is expected to go through four major stop-overs: Los Banos in Laguna, Lucena City in Quezon, Naga City in Camarines Sur, and Legazpi in Albay. In every stop-over, walkers will engage with the communities to raise awareness on climate issues. PMCJ coordinators across the country will also participate in these engagements in Lucena, Pagbilao, Atimonan, and Tagkawayan. The Philippines is among the countries that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. In 2013, Super Typhoon Yolanda, known internationally as Haiyan, took about 6,300 lives, and rendered 1,062 missing and 26,688 injured. Yolanda made landfall in Leyte, which suffered the brunt of the storm. Ten years later, the Philippine government, especially the designated agencies on disaster risk reduction and management, have failed to learn from Yolandas wrath, PMCJ said. Storms occur more often and may soon become even more destructive, such as the case of Typhoon Odette in 2022 and Typhoon Rolly in 2020. Meanwhile, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction Mami Mizutori is set to visit the Philippines this October to kick off the 2024 Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR), which will be hosted by Manila. During her visit, Mizutori is set to meet with President Marcos and Cabinet secretaries to discuss the Philippines hosting of the conference and strategies for accelerating disaster risk reduction in the country. The launch of Asia Pacifics largest biennial conference on disaster risk reduction will be held on Oct. 13 and will include representatives from the national and local government, private sector, academe and scientific institutions, civil society, international development partners, and other stakeholder groups. The conference next year is expected to draw over 3,000 high-level international delegates. The APMCDRR serves as the primary regional platform which brings together global leaders to monitor, review and enhance cooperation for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 at the regional level. First of 2 parts Long before the sun rises above the towering trees of the Panamanian rainforest, Elizabeth Mendez, a Guna indigenous woman, wakes up to the sound of her rooster crowing. She lives in a house made of bamboo and thatch, nestled deep in the lush green forests. This is where she and her family have been growing coffee for generations. Elizabeths busy day begins with the distinct aroma of freshly brewed coffee, which for her, signifies much more than a morning kickstart to her day. Coffee has long been an important source of income for many indigenous peoples in Panama. But, in recent years, these communities have struggled to maintain their traditional methods of production. Ive been harvesting coffee since I was a little girl, but sometimes we didnt understand what was going on with the plant: sometimes it looked sick, sometimes it would not yield much, says Elizabeth. The other main challenge weve always faced is where and how to sell the coffee. When we harvest, sometimes we have nowhere to sell it and sometimes we sell it cheap, she adds. With the advent of an innovative project called Support for post-COVID economic recovery for Indigenous coffee producers, this is hopefully a scenario of the past for the coffee farmers in the Ngabe, Guna, Embera and Wounaan Indigenous Peoples communities participating in the project. Experts in ecology The project is an initiative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) with funding from the Japan Special Fund Poverty Reduction Program. It was implemented with the technical assistance of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and with the support of Panamas Ministry of Agricultural Development, as well as coffee company, Cafe Duran. The projects goal was to increase the income of indigenous coffee producers by enhancing the production, processing, quality and sales of coffee from sustainable agroforestry. More than 150 indigenous coffee farmers from four communities completed a season-long, FAO Farmers Field Schools training in sustainable agro-ecological practices that enhance resilience to climate change and improve the quantity and quality of production while being aligned with and building upon indigenous peoples traditional knowledge and cultural practices. FAO News (To be continue next week) BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Azerbaijan's State Oil Company (SOCAR) and Turkmengaz, Turkmenistan's energy concern, have reviewed joint exploration and development of hydrocarbon resources, Trend reports. The issue was discussed at the meeting within the framework of Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov's visit to Turkmenistan, where SOCAR's staff was also present. The talks centered on enhancing collaboration in the energy sector, jointly exploring and developing hydrocarbon resources, and the potential implementation of various projects. Moreover, during his visit to Turkmenistan, Minister Jabbarov and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Batir Amanov assessed the outlook for advancing energy-related relations between the two countries and the feasibility of joint ventures. The sides pointed out that the energy-focused agreements inked between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan constitute a significant step towards expanding cooperation. Back in 2021, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan have agreed on the development of a joint Dostlug (Friendship) offshore oil and gas field. The collaborative exploration of the Dostlug offshore oil and gas field by Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan opens the potential for gas exports to European countries via the Trans-Caspian underwater pipeline. In such a scenario, the pipeline could be linked to the Southern Gas Corridor, connecting Azerbaijan to European Union countries via Georgia and Turkiye. Ever since opening day on Monday, Erion Callos restaurant, 185 Bistro in Worcester, has already seen success and he cannot thank the city enough. Walking into the bustling restaurant on 187 Shrewsbury St. Friday morning, Callo and his cook could be seen busy working away in the kitchen, creating food to satisfy all of his customers, which he said was nothing short of super amazing. When you have other people who give you support [and] come in and talk everyday, it means youre doing great, said Callo. Inside 185 Bistro, which serves breakfast and lunch, people can find an assortment of breakfast options ranging from something savory like their Eggs Benedict, which costs $13, to dishes on the sweeter side, like their $14 banana foster french toast thats smothered with bananas caramelized in brown sugar, butter and banana liquor, topped with real whipped cream. Callo and his wife, Esmeralda Callo who is the co-owner of the bistro, came from Albania to the United States eight years ago to pay for their sons college education. The decision to travel such a distance wasnt hard for the married couple because when youre thinking for the kids, distance is not far, said Erion Callo. Erion Callo began his work as a baker at the former Crown Bakery in Worcester before buying the Twisted Fork at 509 Stafford St. in Cherry Valley (Leicester), which is, as of Oct. 6, up for sale, since Callo found his new location on Shrewsbury Street. When Callo first saw the building was up for grabs, he knew right away he wanted to buy the property. I like this area, Callo said about Worcester. Its something like a dream. There is big support from these people ... I dont know how I can say thank you enough for this amazing support right now. Read more: A $500 tip at this Amherst restaurant restored staff faith in the kindness of others 185 Bistro on 187 Shrewsbury St. in Worcester (Liesel Nygard) The building used to be Macs Diner, a Shrewsbury Street landmark since 1931, according to the Telegram & Gazette, and was sold to Callo last April for $400,00 by Christopher McMahon, the son of Paul McMahon, who owned the diner until his death in 2019, according to the Worcester Business Journal. 185 Bistro is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is looking for cooks and servers with experience as of Oct. 6. People interested in working at 185 Bistro can call the restaurant at (508) 459-1470 or can go to the restaurant and let staff know. A 23-year-old woman has died in a late-night car crash that happened in South Boston on Saturday, Oct. 7, according to Massachusetts State Police. The crash involving a minivan and a flatbed tow truck happened on South Boston Bypass Road, just east of Frontage Road, shortly after 11:30 p.m., police said. Investigators believe that a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica was heading west when, for reasons still under investigation, it crossed over the center line and hit a tow truck that was going the opposite way. The tow truck was carrying another vehicle at the time of the crash, according to police. The 23-year-old woman, who was driving the Chrysler, had to be pulled from her vehicle. She was brought to the hospital with severe injuries where she later died, police said. Her name and hometown were not released. The tow truck driver, a 65-year-old Rowley man, sustained minor injuries and was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital for evaluation. The crash remains under investigation by the State Police-Tunnels Barracks, State Police Detective Unit for Suffolk County, State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, and State Police Crime Scene Services Section. Just off Carew Street in the predominantly Irish Hungry Hill section of Springfield, theres a basement underneath a home on Biella Street where Bill Garvey growing up cut his hand carving wood with his father and where his Lebanese grandfather caught him smoking hashish. He laughed about it, because to him, that was no big deal. Those are some of the memories that resonate with me, said Garvey, who has published poems about his life in an 88-page softcover book, The Basement on Biella. Garvey attended Our Lady of Hope School and then Cathedral High School in Springfield, graduated with a sociology degree from UMass Amherst, then set it all aside to work in the insurance industry in claims, operations and information technology. But during it all, he was also a poet. Ive been writing poetry ever since I can remember, he said. I started writing about the Boston Celtics when I was a kid. Garvey said his teachers liked his work and so did his parents. They all wanted him to keep writing. That was very encouraging as a young kid, he said. As he grew and while he worked, Garvey published his poems in a few magazines and literary journals, but there was never enough time to go at it full-time. Now that Im getting older and retired, Im really focused on it, he said. At the age of 68 and after countless rejections, Garvey is now a published poet. DarkWinter Press in Ontario, Canada has produced the book, which is now available on Amazon.com. Books of poems arent jumping off the shelves, so publishers rejected my manuscripts again and again. When this publisher said yes, thats all I needed to hear. It was a watershed moment that really did it for me, recalled Garvey. Garveys poetic journey began in what he calls a blue-collar town in Massachusetts. Hes talking about Springfield, but he never tells his readers. I consider that to be a blue-collar section of the city. It always felt that way, he said. There is both fondness and despair in the book, vagaries of life he expresses through verse. Theres a lot of familial emotions. My father died at a very young age and that comes up a few times. My brother suffered from mental illness and died young. I write about that too, said Garvey. The poet and his wife have lived in many places, like a condo in the middle of an Illinois cornfield. Garvey didnt like it there. He felt out of place, and someone heard him say that on the phone at work. The next day I was given a dozen ears of corn, cantaloupes and tomatoes. People from their own farms brought me all these products because they wanted me to feel welcome. I was still getting over having recently been fired, finding a new job and these people were just wonderful. It was a very tender moment, so I bring up that in a poem, he said. The pandemic was a terrible time for the world, thats when Garvey and his wife were living in Toronto. They were locked down and could only walk outside and get takeout from local restaurants. He watched how the U.S. was handling COVID and became jealous. Were all waiting for the vaccine to be developed. My family and friends from United States were getting vaccines a lot sooner than us, while Im sitting up there in Toronto. So, I wrote this poem called Waiting on Trudeau, who is Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, son of Pierre. Its a humorous piece, he said. There are so many ways for writers to express themselves, from articles and scripts to fiction and nonfiction books. Garvey has chosen poetry for a simple reason. Im good at it, he said. There is a range of emotions in the book, but basically, its about taking life as it comes. Its a celebration of life. The daughter and son-in-law of a Brandeis University professor were among hundreds killed in a conflict between the Israeli military and the militant Palestinian group Hamas that escalated Saturday. We at Brandeis are deeply saddened to learn that Professor Troen has lost his daughter and son-in-law in the tragic events that are currently taking place in Israel, President Ron Liebowitz said in a statement. Ilan, a Brandeis alumnus, and his family have long been treasured members of the Brandeis community, and we hold Ilan, his wife Carol, and his entire family in our thoughts, Liebowitz continued. We condemn in the strongest way terrorism such as we have seen today perpetrated against innocent civilians and what has amounted to a multi-pronged war launched by Hamas. The conflict started Oct. 7 when Palestinian militants from the territory of Gaza invaded multiple Israeli communities and military bases and fired thousands of rockets at the country. Israel retaliated with massive strikes on Gazan cities, The New York Times reported. The conflict has already claimed the lives of at least 100 Israelis and 198 Palestinians, according to the outlet. Read more: Hamas militant group launches unprecedented operation against Israel with rockets and infiltration Jewish community groups across Massachusetts took time amid Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, to condemn the terrorist attacks on Israel. The attacks also fall on a sacred holiday period for the religion. Here in Boston, we awoke to terrifying scenes in Israel, the organizations, both of which serve Greater Boston, said in a statement. The IDF has confirmed that hostages have been taken to Gaza and that, as of now, over 100 people were killed in a Hamas assault, with another 900 injured. The scale of the destruction is unfathomable. Read More: Operations resume after power outage at Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton The Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts, which is based in Springfield, told MassLive it stands with the Jewish Federations of North America and the Jewish people worldwide in solidarity with the people of Israel. The prayer for the State of Israel we recite in synagogue every week - including this morning - says - Grant peace in the land and happiness to all its residents, the Jewish Federations of North America said in a statement. The Boston University Bridge was closed Sunday afternoon because of a fire that broke out at a homeless encampment on the Cambridge side, according to Massachusetts State Police on X, formerly known as Twitter. The Cambridge Fire Department said on X that the fire in encampment under the BU Bridge started around 12:45 p.m. There were no residents present at the time of the fire and propane tanks were involved in the blaze, the department added. Videos posted to X showed a large pillar of dark smoke billowing from under the bridge. The smoke was seen from atop the Prudential Center in Back Bay. State Troopers, Cambridge firefighters, Cambridge police, Boston police and Boston University police all responded, State Police said. The fire was put out around 2:30 p.m., according to Massachusetts State Police. No injuries were reported and all 10 residents were safe and were being helped by the Red Cross, Cambridge firefighters said. The fire remains under investigation and the bridge has since reopened. Operations resumed at Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton Sunday morning after a power outage the day before, WBZ-TV reported. The hospital was not accepting patients after the power outage was reported on Saturday morning, Oct. 7, according to The Brockton Emergency Management Agency (BEMA) on X, formerly known as Twitter. Current patients and incoming ambulances were directed to other hospitals as crews worked to fix the outage. The emergency room, however, did stay open. I am currently at the Good Samaritan medical center, working with the fire department, DPW and Good Samaritan staff to mitigate power issues due to a flooding situation, BEMA Director Steve Hooke said in a Facebook post shortly after 11:45 a.m. Saturday. Not all of the hospital is affected. Some patients have been moved to other Steward facilities but most remain and are safe, Hooke continued. Also, the hospital has no phone, internet or computer services. A spokesperson for Steward Health Care, which owns and operates Good Samaritan, confirmed the power outage to WCVB-TV in Boston. Our team is working diligently to find the cause. As patient safety is always our number one priority, our patients are receiving uninterrupted care, the spokesperson told the station. Where needed our patients are being transferred to our sister hospitals for care. In an update around 4 p.m. Saturday, Hooke said that power was restored to the hospital. He added that after the electrical equipment is replaced, the hospital should completely reopen within the next 24 hours. The hospital has yet to say what caused the power outage. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. The Azerbaijani Army launched a counter-offensive operation, later called the "Iron Fist", on September 27, 2020 in response to the large-scale provocation of the Armenian armed forces along the frontline, Trend reports. The erupted 44-day Second Karabakh War ended with liberation of Azerbaijans territories from nearly 30-year Armenian occupation. Trend presents the chronicle of the twelvth day of the Second Karabakh war: - the ministry of defense of Azerbaijan reported that the Armenian armed forces have been shelling the villages of Goranboy, Terter, and Aghdam regions since the early morning hours. There were killed and wounded. As a result of rocket attacks by the Armenian army in Ganja, several civilian objects, one car and residential buildings were damaged. - a person who posed as a captured Azerbaijani on social media turned out to be an Armenian - the ministry of defense of Azerbaijan has published video footage of armored vehicles taken as a trophy, which, while fleeing, were thrown in Horadiz by the Armenian military. Later, the defense ministry published another video footage of war trophies captured from the Armenian Armed Forces. - Armenian armed forces fire at Azerbaijans Barda from 'Tochka-U' high-precision tactical missile system. Another rocket fired by the Armenian Armed Forces at Barda hit a restaurant and a school, injuring seven people. Armenias Grad missile launcher which attacked Azerbaijans Barda and Tartar destroyed. - Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense has published another video footage of the destruction of enemy armored vehicles - 10 shells fired by Armenians from Smerch MLRS were found in Goranboy. The Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), in collaboration with the British High Commission in Mauritius, launched the UK-Mauritius Joint Business Council (JBC) on the 3 October 2023. This significant milestone testifies to the strong partnership between the two nations following the signing of the UK-Mauritius Strategic Trade Partnership (STP) in April 2023. The Joint Business Council is a deliverable of the STP, which will bring together public and private sector organisations, to boost trade and investment ties between UK and Mauritius. The event was held at the MCCI in Port-Louis. Historically, Mauritius and the United Kingdom have maintained significant trade relations, which were further solidified with the signing of the Strategic Trade Partnership (STP) on 17 April, 2023. Exports of goods from Mauritius to the UK reached MUR 7 billion in 2022, accounting for 9% of Mauritius total global exports. Conversely, imports from the UK amounted to MUR 4 billion during the same period. The JBC is a cornerstone of the STP, which will focus on six key sectors: Pharmaceuticals, Green Economy/Waste Management, Agri-Tech, Education, Cyber, and Financial and Professional Services. It is set to become a vital private sector platform, facilitating exchanges between Mauritian and British private sector associations, while providing a dedicated forum for regular business exchanges and promotional activities within the priority sectors identified in the STP. The launch event brought together prominent figures from the private sector including Mr. Tim Taylor of Scott and Co, Mr Jocelyn Kwok of AHRIM and representatives from sectors such as ICT, Textile, Pharmaceuticals, Energy, Finance and Seafoods. It emphasised the critical role the MCCI plays in fostering this vital partnership. Representatives from major Mauritian businesses also participated. It was an opportunity for industry leaders to lend their perspectives and commitment to the JBC, demonstrating a collective dedication to advancing trade relations and collaboration between Mauritius and the UK. The event took place in the presence of H.E. Ms. Charlotte Pierre, British High Commissioner to Mauritius, Mr. Andrew Selous, UK Prime Ministers Trade Envoy to Mauritius, and Ms. Deeptee K. Bungaree-Gooheeram, the UK Trade Country Director to Mauritius. UK Officials such as Ola Williams, Director for Energy from the UK Department for Business and Trade (Africa) and business operators like Kara Neale, Commercial Leader from Clarke Energy, and Stuart Wallis, Executive Director from Power Up Off Grid Services also participated in the discussions. In her address, Mrs. Namita Jagarnath Hardowar, President of the MCCI, highlighted the importance of the JBC and its potential impact: The launch of this JBC is not merely symbolic but a concrete step towards strengthening trade and investment and facilitating exchanges between our countries. It represents a visionary approach towards harnessing the potential of our partnership for the betterment of both our nations and, most importantly, our vibrant private sectors. The JBC will serve as a dynamic catalyst, driving growth and innovation in both Mauritius and the UK, facilitating cross-border collaboration, providing businesses with access to new markets and resources. By fostering entrepreneurship and innovation, it will also pave the way for the emergence of successful enterprises. This collaborative platform, aligned with the STPs priorities, promises to usher in a new era of prosperity, particularly in sectors such as financial and professional services, waste management and green economy, education, cyber, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and Agri-Tech. H.E. Ms Charlotte Pierre, British High Commissioner to Mauritius, stated: The STP is a clear demonstration of the UKs commitment to working with critical partners like Mauritius to push new frontiers of innovation and develop opportunities for the industries of the future. I am proud that the Joint Business Council launched today will help deliver on our shared vision to boost trade and cooperation between our two countries, worth MUR 50 billion annually. In just a few months, the STP has delivered tangible results, including providing UK expertise to Mauritius on national infrastructure projects. A delegation from UK Export Finance, the UKs credit export agency, also visited the island to promote opportunities for Mauritius to access up to approximately MUR 161 billion to finance national projects. In July, we were delighted to welcome Hon. Minister Ramano who led a Mauritian delegation to the UK for the inaugural UK-Africa Ministerial Roadshow focussed on real solutions to decarbonise our societies. The private sector is a key partner and we are proud to be working closely together to take this critical partnership even further. The MCCI intends to collaborate with counterparts in the UK, including the Greater Birmingham Chambers and the London Chamber of Commerce, to promote trade and investment. As the JBC takes shape, it will offer businesses from both countries the opportunity to connect, collaborate, and thrive, empowering entrepreneurs and industry leaders to chart new horizons of success. Now in its fifteenth year, the annual Spirit of Entrepreneurship event took place onsite in the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Mayo on Monday last, October 2. What promised to be a really great evening lived up to it. It was an evening hosted by the competent Susan Hayes Culleton (The Positive Economist) who engaged with all speakers and gained some truly valuable and practical takeaways when starting or navigating a business. The Spirit of Entrepreneurship Event at ATU Mayo was established back in 2006. Now running for over 15 years, the ATU Innovation Hubs regularly attract hundreds of people to the event. Invited speakers share their experiences of establishing and running a business, including the many challenges and lessons learned. The Local Enterprise Office in Mayo is a proud partner of this event. One local entrepreneur on the panel was Harry Hughes who was awarded the EY entrepreneur of the year in 2017 and represented Ireland in EYs World Entrepreneur of the Year 2018 in Monaco. He is recognised as a visionary leader who has built a world class business alongside his brothers, Cathal and Owen. Portwest trades in 130 countries, continues to grow at over 20 percent per annum and now employees over 5,000 people worldwide. Other speakers include Noreen Hackett (Advanced Cosmetics), the overall winner of this years National Enterprise Awards; Colm O Brien from Carambola which is a 12m schools meals company employing 200 people; Tracey Sweeney from Tracey Sweeney Fine Art Studio and Nigel O Reilly Goldsmith. Matt Conlon from Cytidel, a cyber security company and Helen Nolan the Co-Founder & CEO of the multi-award-winning Social Enterprise Spraoi agus Sport in Carndonagh, Co Donegal. Maria Staunton, Manager ATU Hub Mayo, says: "It was one of our best events yet with so many insights such as listening to your customers rather than what you want to hear, making decisions on where you want to be in the long term and ensuing to bring in the right people into your organisation which enables adaptability beyond yourself. This event looked at character traits needed to be an entrepreneur and supports available to help you grow your business. John Magee, Head of Enterprise at LEO Mayo, says: LEO mayo was delighted to support this years Spirit event. It is so important for entrepreneurs to learn from the successes and failures of others. There are many challenges and also incredible opportunities for businesses today in an ever-changing world. Resilience, belief and discipline were the themes of the day and there were so many nuggets of wisdom and insight. Im really looking forward to learning from other entrepreneurs experiences at the other upcoming Mayo Ideas Month events. The events continue as part of Mayo Ideas Month for the rest of October so check out www.mayoideasmonth.ie for full details. Pictured above were the speakers at the event, from left: Noreen Hackett, Advanced Cosmetics; Matt Conlon, Citydel; Colm O'Brien, Carambola school meals; Helen Nolan, Spraoi agus Sport; Harry Hughes, CEO Portwest; Tracey Sweeney from Tracey Sweeney Fine Art Studio and Nigel O Reilly, Goldsmith. Pic: Alison Laredo by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, October 8, 2023 Fraudsters who bilk social-media users often lure them with targeted ads on Facebook or Instagram, according to a new Federal Trade Commission report examining social-media scams. Social media gives scammers an edge in several ways, the FTC warned consumers in a report issued Friday. They can easily manufacture a fake persona, or hack into your profile, pretend to be you, and con your friends, the FTC added. Scammers who place ads can even use tools available to advertisers to methodically target you based on personal details, such as your age, interests, or past purchases. That report estimated consumers lost $2.7 billion due to fraud on social media between January 2021 and this June. advertisement advertisement Many of the social-media fraud reports made to the FTC in the first half of this year centered on online commerce and involved purchases that never arrived. Victims of those scams often made the purchase after seeing an ad on Facebook or Instagram, the FTC reports. That type of commerce-related fraud accounted for 44% of reports made to the FTC in the first six months of the year, but only 8% of financial losses -- with a median individual loss of $100. Investment-related social-media scams, typically involving cryptocurrency, accounted for 20% of reports to the FTC and 53% of financial losses -- with a median individual loss of $3000. To draw people in, these scammers promote their own supposed investment success, often trying to lure people to investment websites and apps that turn out to be bogus, the agency wrote. They make promises of huge returns, and even make it look like an 'investment' is growing. Among other recommendations, the FTC suggests people should check their privacy settings and limit visibility of posts and information. Online scams are at the center of an ongoing legal battle involving Meta Platforms, which was sued in 2021 by two consumers who said they were bilked by advertisers on the platform. U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey White in the Northern District of California dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act protects the social-media platform from lawsuits over ads created by outside companies. The consumers appealed to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which is expected to hear arguments on October 17. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, October 8, 2023 Women are moving up the corporate ranks at many well-known companies and brands. Fortune recently released its 2023 edition of the Most Powerful Women in Business, many of whom are at ad and tech companies. This week it holds its Most Powerful Women Summit in Laguna Niguel, California. Representing technology are top executives such as Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer at Alphabet and Google, at No. 8; Safra Catz, CEO at Oracle, at No. 11; Lisa Su, chair and CEO of AMD at No. 12; Amy Hood, executive vice president and CFO of Microsoft at No. 17; Susan Li, CFO of Meta at No. 18; Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X, at No. 58; and Fidji Simo, chairperson and CEO of Instacart at No. 74. Fortune says the list features 67 women with a CEO title. This includes some recent appointments such as Margherita Della Valle, who became the CEO of British telecom Vodafone in April, and Sandy Ran Xu, who took over Chinese ecommerce titan JD.com in May. advertisement advertisement In the first half of 2023, 106 CEOs worldwide left their jobs, and 13% of the replacements were women, up from 2.4% in 2018. The list represents industries from finance, tech, healthcare and telecom, to retail, and energy, among others. Women leaders are meeting the moment, Fortune writes. Margherita Della Valle became CEO of British telecom Vodafone in April. Sandy Ran Xu took the helm of the Chinese ecommerce titan JD.com in May. Vanessa Hudson assumed the CEO role at Australias flagship carrier Qantas in September. All are the first women to hold their respective jobs. Other women are making a major impact early in their careers, like Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer at Alphabet and Google. Porat, No. 8 on the list, is now in charge of the companys portfolio of Other Bets such as self-driving cars and Waymo. Kath McLay, No. 14 on the list, is president and CEO of Walmart International. McLay oversees a business that operates in 18 countries and includes stakes in companies like ecommerce site Flipkart and payments giant PhonePe in India, a market that Walmart is still trying to enter. Others who stand out are 34-year-old Mira Murati, the chief technology officer at OpenAI; Susan Li, Metas CFO at No. 18; and Leena Nair, CEO at Chanel at No. 70. Nair heads the 113-year-old brand. At the time she was a human resources executive who had never run a company or had experience with the world of high fashion. She built her career at the global brand Unilever, and that was enough. For the third consecutive year, Karen S. Lynch, president and CEO of CVS Health, filled the No. 1 spot as the highest-ranking Fortune Global 500 company in the world led by a female chief executive. The Top 10 of the list are: As vehicle inventory and sales rebound to pre-pandemic levels, more buyers are choosing to forego loyalty to a specific brand. Thats according to the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Automotive Brand Loyalty Study. The upside is that all brands have the opportunity to score some new converts. Porsche ranks highest among premium brand car owners for a second consecutive year, with a 56.8% loyalty rate. Mercedes-Benz (50.5%) ranks second. Volvo ranks highest among premium brand SUV owners, with a 56.5% loyalty rate. BMW (56.1%) ranks second. This is the second consecutive year Porsche has received this honor. Customer loyalty is a team effort, says Joe Lawrence, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Porsche Cars North America (PNCA). advertisement advertisement From the assembly lines to our colleagues within our independently owned and operated Porsche Centers across America, we are grateful for their efforts as we provide our customers a world class experience, Lawrence says in a release. Toyota ranks highest among mass market brand car owners for a second consecutive year, with a 60.0% loyalty rate. Honda (55.0%) ranks second. Subaru ranks highest among mass market brand SUV owners with a 61.1% loyalty rate. Toyota (60.5%) ranks second. Ford ranks highest among truck owners for a second consecutive year, with a 64.6% loyalty rate, the highest loyalty rate in the study. Toyota (60.4%) ranks second. During the pandemic, owners were tied to their vehicles for longer than normal due to ongoing supply chain disruptions, and as a result were more likely to experience problems with their vehicles, says Tyson Jominy, vice president of data & analytics at J.D. Power. Now that some of those issues have eased, consumers are looking to get behind the wheel of something different and are no longer remaining as loyal to a brand, Jominy says in a release. However, many of the highest-ranking brands perform similarly year after year. When vehicles deliver an experience that meets owner expectations, such as by offering superb build quality, owners are likely to reward brands with their loyalty. The study, now in its fifth year, uses data from the Power Information Network to calculate whether an owner purchased the same brand after trading in an existing vehicle on a new vehicle. Customer loyalty is based on the percentage of vehicle owners who choose the same brand when trading in or purchasing their next vehicle. Only sales at new-vehicle franchised dealers qualify. The study includes brand loyalty across five segments: premium car; premium SUV; mass market car; mass market SUV; and truck. The 2023 study calculations are based on transaction data from September 2022 through August 2023 and include all model years traded in. Flowers And What They Mean To Us Flowers can be used as infusion for treating digestive disorders or they can be used as poultice for skin ... BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. After local anti-terrorist activities during the inspection of one of the abandoned combat positions in the Karabakh economic region, it was found that a vehicle intended for military medical aid was used by Armenians for the purpose of transportation of military cargo, Trend reports. The vehicle, which was disabled as a result of artillery fire, belonging to Armenian illegal armed formations, was used to store and transport guided missiles of the Kornet anti-tank missile system. The use of civilian vehicles for military purposes is inadmissible and contrary to international humanitarian norms and principles. In order to ensure the provisions of the Trilateral Statement [signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the 2020 second Karabakh war], suppression of large-scale provocations in Azerbaijan's Karabakh economic region, disarmament, and withdrawal of Armenian armed forces formations from the territories of Azerbaijan, localized anti-terrorist activities were carried out in the region. Taking into account the appeal of the representatives of the Armenian population of Karabakh through the Russian peacekeeping contingent [temporarily stationed in Azerbaijan under the trilateral statement], an agreement was reached on September 20, 2023, at 13:00 (GMT+4) to cease anti-terrorist activities of a local nature under the following conditions: the formations of the armed forces of Armenia, Armenian illegal armed formations located in Azerbaijan's Karabakh region, lay down their weapons, leave their combat positions and military posts, and completely disarm; the formations of the armed forces of Armenia leave the territory of Azerbaijan; Armenian illegal armed groups are dissolved. At the invitation of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ramin Mammadov, responsible for contacts with the Armenian residents of Karabakh, met with Sergey Martirosyan and David Melkumyan as representatives of the Armenian residents of Karabakh on September 21, 2023, in Yevlakh. CHELSEA, MI Marsi Parker Darwin lives on a small farm near Chelsea in Washtenaw County with her husband Bill thats filled with ducks and peacocks as well as a very old chicken named Peanut. Peanut and Darwin met more than 21 years ago, when Darwin almost threw an unhatched egg into the pond outside her home until she heard a small chirp. I held it up again closer to my ear and it chirped again, and I couldnt believe my ears, Darwin said. Related: Meet Peanut, the worlds oldest living chicken She helped the brown, speckled chick out of its shell, and little did she know then that it was going to stick by her side for many years. In January, Peanut was crowned as the worlds oldest living chicken by Guinness World Records. She was 20 at that time and turned 21 in May. The average lifespan for a bantam hen is roughly five to 10 years, according to officials at Michigan Allied Poultry Industries. Darwin doesnt know what attributed to Peanuts long life, but her best guess is love, she said. 11 1 / 11 Peanut the oldest living chicken Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. More from the Jackson Citizen Patriot: Whats that? A long-awaited discount store is finally opening in Jackson Applications now being accepted to fill open Jackson City Council seat 5 great places to get a pumpkin in Jackson County Happy birthday! New nonprofit will help kids celebrate their special day with cakes Western High students get creative with trade skills in metalwork project BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. If a peace treaty is signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan, a completely new political situation will emerge in the South Caucasus, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in a joint press statement with Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili in Tbilisi, Trend reports. "Three years ago, as a result of the Second Karabakh War, Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity. Last month, we restored our sovereignty over the entire country. Now we must work hard on the peace treaty to be signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan. If we succeed in this, and I hope we will, then a completely new political situation will emerge in the South Caucasus," President Ilham Aliyev said. Noting that the countries of the South Caucasus could start cooperation in a trilateral format, the head of state emphasized that cooperation in many areas, including transport, energy security, trade, mutual investment, could be very successful. Now the moment has come, and I think it would be a huge mistake if we miss out on this opportunity, President Ilham Aliyev added. MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI Planning for ongoing protection of Mona Lake and its watershed cant move forward without critical citizen input about uses and threats. An updated Watershed Management Plan that includes examination of Little Black Creek is being developed by the Mona Lake Watershed Council and the Muskegon Conservation District (MCD). But to fully develop the plan, input from those who live in the watershed area is needed. The MCD sent out more than 1,000 surveys to property owners over the past several months, and now is issuing an appeal for those surveys to be returned. The original survey return deadline has passed and it has now been extended to Nov. 1. Survey responses will be anonymous, Chelsey Lawton, project manager for the MCD, told MLive/Muskegon Chronicle in an email. The MCD sent 1,029 surveys to randomly selected landowners out of about 19,000 with property within the watershed, Lawton said. Among the survey questions are ones seeking opinions on the lakes water quality and the level of concern about a dozen different pollution sources. The survey also includes questions about landowners septic or sewer systems, their knowledge of them and their upkeep. Part of the new plan relies on data from the surveys, but for the data to be valid, planners are seeking a 40% response rate, Lawton said. As of Friday, Oct. 6, 25% of the surveys had been returned, she said. Related: From sewage flow to 7-foot clarity: The 20-year story of Mona Lakes comeback The Mona Lake Watershed Council (MLWC)has received funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to develop the updated management plan, according to a statement released by the MLWC and the MCD. MCD and the MLWC feel it is critical to gather residents opinions of Mona Lake watershed issues so that we can build our work protecting the watershed, the statement says. Those who live in the watershed district who didnt receive a survey and would like to complete one, can call the MCD at 231-828-5097 or email muskegoncd@macd.org. While Mona Lake itself is located between Muskegon Heights and Norton Shores, its 45,570-acre watershed encompasses portions of Roosevelt Park, Muskegon, and the townships of Casnovia, Egelston, Fruitport, Moorland, Muskegon, Ravenna and Sullivan, as well as a small portion of Newaygo County. It includes 2,400 acres of lakes and ponds and 23 miles of streams, according to the MLWC. About half of it is undeveloped. Work to improve and restore Mona Lake and its watershed has been ongoing for more than 20 years. In 2022, the Muskegon County Resources Commissioner received more than $470,000 through the Great Lakes Restorative Initiative to restore former celery fields that had been wetlands along Black Creek and Mona Lake. Want more Muskegon area news? Bookmark the local Muskegon news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Muskegon daily newsletter. Also on MLive: More than 150 skeletons take over Grand Haven as part of Bones About Town contest Michigan to require schools, day cares filter water for lead New fall festival debuting in Muskegons Lakeside Business District Ottawa Impacts legacy may be long felt. Why that could be a problem. SAGINAW, MI -- A homicide investigation is underway after a 65-year-old man was found dead in a home Saturday night, Michigan State Police said. Troopers were called to a home in the 1300 block of South Michigan Avenue in Saginaw around 11:20 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7. Police were called to the residence by family who reported they had not heard from their uncle. Upon arrival, the body of a 65-year-old man was discovered. Police are investigating the mans death as a homicide but did not provide further details on how the man may have died. Police said there are currently no suspects in custody. No other injuries were reported. Detectives are asking anyone with information about the situation to call the Saginaw Major Case Unit at 989-759-1605 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 800-422-JAIL(5245). Read more on MLive: Just be kind: Davison-area woman turns 100, shares memories and wisdom 14 road closures this week across Michigan 5 great places to release some rage responsibly in mid-Michigan 07.10.2023 LISTEN Economist, Dr. Patrick Asuming, has said that it is too early for the country to say that the economy has turned the corner following the staff-level agreement reached with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on economic policies and reforms to conclude the first review of the countrys three-year program under the Extended Credit Facility. In an interview on Citi FM, Dr. Asuming said that while there have been some signs of economic stabilization, it is important to see sustained improvement before declaring that the corner has been turned. He pointed out that the currency has been relatively stable since the program started, but this is due in part to the suspension of foreign debt servicing. Dr. Asuming also noted that the IMF has praised Ghanas strong fiscal performance under the programme, with the country on track to lower the fiscal primary deficit on a commitment basis by about 4 percentage points of GDP in 2023. But Mr Asuming told Selorm Adonoo in an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on Friday that I will hesitate to say weve turned the corner the way its being put out. Its been clear that there is been some stability but we have to understand that if you take them case by case you will see that we probably need to see some sustained improvement before we can start saying weve turned the corner. The currency which perhaps has seen the strongest stability since the programme startedIts true that since January or February, the currency has been relatively stable If you look at the currency, we have to be mindful that we are not servicing the foreign debts that we are supposed to because of the suspension. So I am not sure that if we move that part away, it will be what it is. citinewsroom 07.10.2023 LISTEN The New Patriotic Party (NPP) branch in Germany has issued a press release to mourn the late former First Lady, Mrs. Theresa Kufuor. The wife of former President John Agyekum Kufuor passed away on Sunday, October 1, at the age of 87. In its release, NPP Germany described Theresa Kufuor as a gift from God and a woman whose heart was made of pure gold. God made a wonderful mother, a mother who never grows old; He made her smile of the sunshine. And He molded her heart of pure gold. In her eyes He placed bright shining stars, In her cheeks fair roses you see; God made a wonderful mother, And He gave that dear mother to Ghana as NPP's and Ghana's Most Celebrated First Lady, the late Mrs. Theresa Kufuor." NPP Germany at this point takes this opportunity to express its heartfelt condolences and grief to the entire family of Former President Kufuor following the passing of Former First Lady Mrs. Theresa Kufuor, parts of the NPP Germany press release said. Below is a copy of the release: NPP GERMANY PRESS RELEASE 06--- 10 --- 2023 It's Sad To See Mrs. Theresa Kufuor Depart From Us---NPP Germany Consoles Prez Kufuor Family Accomplished state men and women hold an honored place in the party and the country they hail from, and like all family losses, it can be difficult to find the right words to describe such natural circumstances. God made a wonderful mother, a mother who never grows old; He made her smile of the sunshine. And He molded her heart of pure gold. In her eyes He placed bright shining stars, In her cheeks fair roses you see; God made a wonderful mother, And He gave that dear mother to Ghana as NPP's and Ghana's Most Celebrated First Lady, the late Mrs. Theresa Kufuor." NPP Germany at this point takes this opportunity to express its heartfelt condolences and grief to the entire family of Former President Kufuor following the passing of Former First Lady Mrs. Theresa Kufuor. Maame Theresa Kufuor was indeed a precious gift from God with so much compassion, beauty, grace, love and patience. No wonder His Excellency President John Agyekum Kufuor was able to deliver the best things, Ghanaians ever needed, during his term from the year 2000 when the NPP won a major national elections for the first time all through the year 2008. President Kufuor had an inexhaustible pillar of flame beside him in the person of Maame Theresa Kufuor. She touched so many hearts with her foundation; Mother and Child Community Development Foundation (MCCDF) in so many ways. Her strength and smile even during dark days made the NPP realise they had an angel. Yes, death is inevitable, but the loss of a loved one, especially such state mother figure can be unfathomably painful. Even at a very old age, we all desired to continue to see our loving mother Theresa Kufuor going stronger and living at 88 but the Almighty Supreme Divine Creator knows best. Dear Mother Theresa Kufuor, death only took you away from us but never conquered you. You lived well, you gave your best to all you do and you thought Ghanaians humility and respect as well as touching mankind and creating impactful influences. NPP GERMANY FOREVER SALUTES YOU MAAME THERESA KUFUOR. YOU WERE ALL GHANAIANS EVER NEEDED AT A VERY OPPORTUNE TIME. GOD GAVE US THE BEST STATE MOTHER EVER BECAUSE YOU TAUGHT US TO NEVER GIVE UP ON OUR DREAMS BUT TO PERSERVERE NO MATTER HOW HARD THE STORMS. PROFILE OF THE LATE MRS. THERESA KUFUOR Mrs. Theresa Kufuor was the wife of John Kufuor, the second President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, and the former First Lady of Ghana from 2001 to 2009. She was a retired nurse and midwife who dedicated her life to the service of humanity and the Catholic Church. Mrs Theresa Kufuor was also the founder of the Mother and Child Community Development Foundation (MCCDF), a non-governmental organisation that supports the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS. In this article, we will explore the biography of Mrs. Theresa Kufuor, her early life, education, career, family, achievements, and legacy. Early Life and Education Mrs. Theresa Kufuor was born on 25 October 1935 in Wenchi, Ghana, and died on October 1st, 2023 at 87 years of age. She was the last born of her parents and the sister of the late J. H. Mensah, a prominent politician and economist. Theresa started her education at the Catholic Convent, OLA, at Keta in the Volta Region of Ghana. She later went to London, where she studied as a Registered General Nurse in the Southern Hospital Group of Nursing, Edinburgh, Scotland. After further study at the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford and Paddington General Hospital, London, she qualified as a State Certified Midwife with a Certificate in Premature Nursing. Career and Family Mrs Theresa Kufuor worked as a nurse and midwife in various hospitals in the United Kingdom and Ghana. She also served as a Nursing Officer at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. In 1962, Theresa Mensah became Mrs Theresa Kufuor when she married John Kufuor, a young lawyer, after they met at a Republic Day Anniversary Dance in London in 1961. They had five children: J. Addo Kufuor, Nana Ama Gyamfi, Saah Kufuor, Agyekum Kufuor, and Owusu Afriyie Kufuor. Theresa Kufuor was a devout Roman Catholic and a supportive wife to her husband, who pursued a successful political career and became the President of Ghana in 2001. First Lady of Ghana As the First Lady of Ghana, Mrs Theresa Kufuor maintained a low profile in the political arena but was actively involved in social and humanitarian causes. She founded the Mother and Child Community Development Foundation (MCCDF) in 2002, a non-governmental organisation that supports the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, as well as the empowerment of women and children in rural communities. She also advocated for the implementation of the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) programme for kindergarten children, as part of the governments educational reforms in 2007. She accompanied her husband on several official visits and engagements, both locally and internationally, and represented Ghana at various forums and events. Mrs Theresa Kufuor was also the First Lady of the African Union from 2007 to 2008, when her husband served as the Chairperson of the continental body. Achievements and Honours Mrs. Theresa Kufuor was recognised and honored for her commitment and contribution to the welfare of humanity and the Catholic Church. In 2007, she was awarded the Papal Award Dame of St Gregory the Great by Pope Benedict XVI, for her dedication to the plight of poor children and their mothers. She also received several other awards and citations from various institutions and organisations, such as the Ghana Registered Midwives Association, the Ghana AIDS Commission, the Ghana Journalists Association, and the Ghana Women of Excellence Awards. She was admired and respected by many as a quiet, elegant, and graceful lady, who embodied the values of humility, compassion, and service. Mrs Theresa Kufuor was reported to have died on 1 October 2023, at the age of 87, after a short illness. Theresa Kufuor left behind a legacy of love, care, and generosity, as well as a foundation that continues to impact the lives of many women and children in Ghana and beyond. Mrs. Theresa Kufuor was a remarkable woman who lived a life of purpose and meaning. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, nurse, midwife, and First Lady, who touched the hearts of many with her kindness and benevolence. She was a role model and an inspiration to many, especially to young girls and women, who aspire to make a difference in the world. Theresa Kufuor was a true Ghanaian patriot, who served her country and her continent with dignity and honor. Maame Theresa Kufuor Nantie Yieee!!! DAMIRIFA DUUEE! DUUE NE AMANEHUNU!! Signed: Nana Osei Boateng NPP Germany Branch 07.10.2023 LISTEN Economist Dr. Patrick Asuming has said it is too early for the managers of Ghana's economy to start talking 'turning the corner' following the recent staff-level agreement reached with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on economic policies and reforms to conclude the first review of Ghana's three-year program under the Extended Credit Facility. Speaking during an interview, Dr. Asuming acknowledged that there have been some positive signs of economic stability in the country. However, he emphasized the importance of observing sustained improvement before concluding that the nation has turned the corner. One of the key areas Dr. Asuming highlighted was the relative stability of the Ghanaian currency since the initiation of the IMF program. He noted that this stability was partly attributed to the suspension of foreign debt servicing, which temporarily pressurised the local currency. Dr. Asuming further pointed out that Ghana had received praise from the IMF for its robust fiscal performance within the program's framework. The country has been making progress in reducing the fiscal primary deficit as per its commitments, aiming to lower it by approximately 4 percentage points of GDP in 2023. Despite these promising indicators, Dr. Asuming remained cautious, stating during an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM that "I will hesitate to say we've turned the corner the way it's being put out." He emphasized the need for a more comprehensive analysis of the situation, suggesting that "we probably need to see some sustained improvement before we can start saying we've turned the corner." Regarding the stability of the currency, Dr. Asuming noted that the suspension of foreign debt servicing has accounted for cedi stability. He noted, "If you look at the currency, we have to be mindful that we are not servicing the foreign debts that we are supposed to because of the suspension. So I am not sure that if we move that part away, it will be what it is." French police officers are expected to avoid expressing themselves in public and are generally not encouraged to question their profession, but a new university course is asking them to do just that. Called Police and Population, the sociology course wants officers to ask some hard questions. I feel that what I do in bringing the police and the population together gives a sense of purpose to my career, says Clotaire Lodjro, a patrol officer who in his time off is a member of a community group gets off-duty officers to work with young people in difficult neighbourhoods. If I didn't have that, I might be wondering whether it was worth continuing in the police. But with this course, I have found my place. He was speaking after his first full day as a sociology student at the Jules Verne University in Amiens, which is offering a year-long diploma for 50 police officers who will come to the campus two days a month for the next nine months to study the relationship between the police and the people they serve. Listen to a version of this story in the Spotlight on France podcast: The course was conceived before the protests and riots at the end of June that followed the fatal police shooting of a young man at a traffic stop in a Paris suburb. That incident has raised ongoing questions about police violence and the relationship between police and the population especially residents of the poor suburbs, or banlieues, of Paris and other big cities. This is always relevant, said Philippe Lutz, director of the national police academy, speaking to the roomful of students about the need to look at the relationship between the police and the population. The police academy trains some 7,000 new police officers each year, but the students at the university are active-duty officers from all over France. Police vs population If we had started this course in 2007, we would have been told, of course you're doing a degree focusing on the police and the population, because there was Clichy-sous-Bois and three weeks of rioting, Lutz said. He was referring to riots in 2005 that were set off by the death of two young men of colour who were electrocuted when they hid from police in an electrical substation. Lutz also referenced anti-police riots in the Lyon suburbs in 1979 in reaction to the arrest of a car thief. The relationship between the police and the population is a subject that is "by definition transversal and that is not linked to any particular event", he said, adding it was "constantly, massively and essentially topical for the national police. Lutz recognised that the French police, as an institution, can be very insular. Students, when they enter the academy, become internal, and think amongst themselves, and exchange amongst themselves, he said. This continues once officers start working. Sometimes it becomes a feeling of the police against the others, and this aspect, our goal [with the course] is not to fight it, but to give elements to open outwards," he said. "This is because police officers even if they are legally always required to take action are also citizens. Questioning the profession Frank talk about these issues is not typical of police officials, and many of the officers who applied for and were accepted into the sociology programme appear to crave just that. People have preconceptions about the police. And in our ranks, too, there are preconceptions about parts of the population, said Lodjro. What is essential is to be able to speak, to dialogue and try to deconstruct the preconceptions on all sides. Anthony Caillet, who works for the judicial police, which investigates crimes for prosecutors, in reference to critiques of France for the excessive use of force by police would like to see the police, as an institution, question itself more. France is coming in for a lot of criticism from its European neighbours and the United Nations, Caillet said. It's just crazy that there is so little reflection within the institution of the police. We must act, to be able to question what we do on a daily basis." The difficulty is that "there is a strong group loyalty in the police force. It's difficult to get away from that. And then there are rules that stop police officers from expressing themselves freely. Caillet is able to be openly critical because he is a union leader, which, he says, shields him from the professional and social consequences of speaking his mind. One of the challenges is to get them to open up their vision of what the police is. They also need to take a break in relation to their daily work, the usual ways of thinking, to face these questions, said Elodie Lemaire, a sociologist, founder of the degree programme who has spent 15 years studying the police. Who serves whom? The 50 students and 200 applicants are a self-selected group out of a police force of 150,000 who are prone to asking questions. Several are part of the police academy, teaching or preparing materials to teach new officers joining the police. Alexandre Coqueli is a teacher at the police academy in Nimes, and previously worked as a detective for 13 years. I hope I will get some tools to change things in my school and in my way of training, he said of the university course. Addressing the relationship between the police and the population is pertinent, he says, as students come into the academy with ideals of serving the public. New recruits, they really want to serve people. They have strong values about police and they want to serve the population, he said. But sometimes, the service that young officers want to offer to the population is not the service that the population wants to get. This is why the police is so often criticised. Coqueli gives a basic example of traffic control, where the driving population is looking for road safety, but drivers resent the police for imposing traffic fines. Intellectual arms One officer, who did not want to be identified, because she worked in the past on sensitive investigations, and now runs a CRS unit, said the issue for her is not so much a division between the police and the population, but how the police are perceived, I am convinced that French people love their police, and the police love the population, she said. And the image of the police today is coloured by media coverage and communication from the police itself on the minority of missteps which makes the population see the police in a negative light. Lemaire says the course is not intended to solve tensions between the police and the population, but she has a mission to get the officers to think critically about their work. She created curriculum to expose the students to all aspects of the sociology of policing, from looking at ideas of deviance, to the relationship to the media. Many of the two dozen professors who will address the students over their 120 hours of coursework have written critically about the police. I think this is a modest contribution to new ways of arming the police. It's adding an intellectual weapon to their arsenal, she said. This seems to me important in imagining what form policing will take in the future." More on this story in the Spotlight on France podcast, episode 100. Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara has removed the prime minister and dissolved his government, the presidency's secretary general Aboudramane Cisse said on Friday. No reason was provided for the unexpected move. Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara dismissed on Friday his prime minister, Patrick Achi, and announced the upcoming formation of a new government, two years before the next presidential elections. Ouattara signed a decree "ending the duties of the prime minister, who is the head of the government, as well as those of the members of the government", according to a statement read by presidential secretary general Abdourahmane Cisse. The head of state expressed "his gratitude to Prime Minister Patrick Achi and all the members of government for their service to the nation over the last years". The decision had been expected in recent days after the president informed members of the government of an upcoming reshuffle during the last cabinet meeting on September 28. Achi was appointed in March 2021 in Cote d'Ivoire after his predecessor, Hamed Bakayoko, died of cancer. He in turn had succeeded Amadou Gon Coulibaly, who died suddenly the year before. Achi resigned in April 2022, before being immediately reappointed to his post in a reshuffle. He comfortably won in local elections last month in his southern region, Me. Winning 60 percent of municipalities and 80 percent of the regions in September elections, the ruling Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace party (RHDP) is favourite for the 2025 elections. Ouattara has not yet announced whether he will run for a fourth term. (AFP) The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel in years on Saturday in a surprise assault that combined gunmen crossing into several Israeli towns with a heavy barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip. Here is reaction to the attack from around the world. GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ "Terrifying news reaches us today from Israel. We are deeply shocked by the rocket fire from Gaza and the escalating violence. Germany condemns these attacks by Hamas and stands by Israel," Scholz said on social media. FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON Macron said on Saturday that he strongly condemned the terrorist attacks against Israel. "I express my full solidarity with the victims, and their families and those close to them," Macron wrote on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. UNITED STATES The United States condemned the attack by "Hamas terrorists" against Israel. "The United States unequivocally condemns the unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians," a White House statement said, adding that National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was in close contact with Israeli officials. "We stand firmly with the government and people of Israel and extend our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks," it added. SAUDI ARABIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY The ministry called for an "immediate cessation of violence" between Israel and the Palestinians, the state news agency reported. "We are following the unprecedented developments between a number of Palestinian factions and Israel occupation forces which has led to a high level of violence on a number of fronts". EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY Egypt warned of "grave consequences" from an escalation in tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, in a statement from the foreign ministry carried by the state news agency. It called for "exercising maximum restraint and avoiding exposing civilians to further danger". BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER JAMES CLEVERLY "The UK unequivocally condemns the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians. The UK will always support Israel's right to defend itself," Foreign Minister James Cleverly said in a social media post. URSULA VON DER LEYEN, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION "I unequivocally condemn the attack carried out by Hamas terrorists against Israel. It is terrorism in its most despicable form. Israel has the right to defend itself against such heinous attacks," she posted on X. EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF JOSEP BORRELL "We follow with anguish the news coming from Israel. We unequivocally condemn the attacks by Hamas. This horrific violence must stop immediately. Terrorism and violence solve nothing," Borrell posted on X. TURKISH PRESIDENT TAYYIP ERDOGAN "We call for restraint from all parties," Erdogan said at a congress for his ruling AK Party in Ankara. "They must refrain from aggressive acts," he said. DUTCH PRIME MINISTER MARK RUTTE "Just spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu about the unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel. I told him that the Netherlands unequivocally condemns this terrorist violence and fully supports Israel's right to defend itself," Rutte said on social media. RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER MIKHAIL BOGDANOV Russia is in contact with Israel, the Palestinians and Arab countries in connection with the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Interfax news agency reported, citing Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov. "It goes without saying that we always call for restraint," he said. HEZBOLLAH The Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, an arch foe of Israel, issued a statement on Saturday saying it was closely following the situation in Gaza and was in "direct contact with the leadership of the Palestinian resistance". Following events involving Gaza militants who fired a barrage of rockets into Israel, the statement added that it was a "decisive response to Israel's continued occupation and a message to those seeking normalisation with Israel". UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY "Ukraine strongly condemns the ongoing terrorist attacks against Israel, including rocket attacks against the civilian population in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv," the ministry said on X. "We express our support for Israel in its right to defend itself and its people." POLISH FOREIGN MINISTER ZBIGNIEW RAU "I strongly condemn Hamas' ongoing attacks on Israel. This baseless aggression and acts of violence, especially against civilians, are unacceptable. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by these terrible events," Rau wrote on X. CZECH PRESIDENT PETR PAVEL "The attack conducted from the Gaza Strip is a deplorable act of terrorism against the State of Israel and the civilian population," Pavel said in a statement "The rocket attacks and the infiltration of Hamas commandos into Israel will block any efforts for a peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict for a long time." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed a trip to the Czech Republic, a long-time Israel ally, following the hostilities, a statement from the Czech presidential office said. AUSTRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ALEXANDER SCHALLENBERG Schallenberg strongly condemned what he called a "cowardly and underhand" attack on Israel by Hamas. "Israel has the right to defend itself against this barbaric terror," he said in a statement. "This attack goes beyond what we have seen in recent years. This is an entirely new dimension." ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE "The Italian government is closely following the brutal attack taking place in Israel. It condemns in the strongest terms the ongoing terror and violence against innocent civilians. Terror will never prevail. We support Israel's right to defend itself," it said in a statement. SWISS DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS "We call for an immediate end to the violence and for the protection of civilians," the department said on X. BELGIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER HADJA LAHBIB "Belgium strongly condemns the massive rocket attacks against Israeli civilians. Violence and terror only perpetuates suffering and hinders the path to dialogue. Our thoughts are with all those affected. We are monitoring the situation closely," she said on X. GREEK FOREIGN MINISTRY "Greece strongly condemns today's launch of heavy rocket attacks from Gaza against Israel. Greece stands with Israel and is deeply concerned by this unacceptable escalation of violence," the ministry posted on X. (Reuters) Kwesi Pratt, the Editor-in-Chief of the Insight newspaper, has strongly criticised the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr. Ernest Addison, for his reaction to the #OccupyBoG protesters who gathered at the bank's premises last Tuesday. The protesters marched to the Bank of Ghana to present a petition to Governor Addison and his deputies, calling for their resignation over allegations of mismanagement that led to a substantial loss of GH60.8 billion. In a reaction to the protest, a publication by Central Banking quoted Dr. Addison for describing them protest as "completely unnecessary." He also described the protesters led by NDC MPs as "hooligans." He emphasised that neither he nor his deputies would step down from their positions. In an interview on Peace FMs Kokrokoo morning show, Kwesi Pratt expressed his disappointment with the choice of words used by the Governor, describing them as unfortunate. Pratt asserted that if the protesters were labelled as hooligans, then Dr. Addison should also be regarded as a "beneficiary of hooliganism." He pointed out that President Akufo-Addo, who appointed the Governor, led political demonstrations in the country under the Rawlings regime notably the 'Kumi Preko' demonstration. According to Mr Pratt, Dr. Addison should have refrained from making such comments, stating that "he didn't talk properly at all." He emphasised that political demonstrations and activism have played a role in shaping the political landscape of Ghana and even contributed to Dr. Addison's appointment as Governor. "That hooliganism partly contributed to you becoming a Governor. Those who have the authority and have appointed you to become a Governor at the Bank of Ghana were actively involved in demonstrations. So, if a demonstration is hooliganism, then you are a beneficiary of hooliganism... I'm ashamed of the Governor and Bank of Ghana," Pratt remarked. As part of activities marking the 60th birthday of Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia on Saturday, he has donated food items, drinks and toiletries to the Kumasi Children's Home. Accompanied by his wife, Samira, the Vice President handed over 100 bags of rice, 20 bgs of sugar, diapers (50 packs), toothbrushes (20 boxes), and toilet rolls (20 packs) to the home. Others are detergents (100 packs), oil (20 boxes), tinned tomatoes (10 boxes), water (150 cartons), assorted drinks (200 cartons) and variety of biscuits. He also gave GHC60,000 to help in running the daily activities of the home and pledged to provide a Coaster bus to facilitate their movement. He promised to serve as its Patron. Everyone needs some form of help, but in my opinion those with the most needs are these children in orphanages, who are here through no fault of theirs. Thats why I chose to spend my birthday with the children in this Home, as I am here in Kumasi on my birthday, Dr Bawumia said. Every year I spend my birthday with the vulnerable in society, so you can be sure that if God gives me life, this is not the last time you will see me or hear from me on my birthday. Madam Mabel Amponsah, the Manageress of the Home, expressed appreciation to the Vice President for the kind gesture on behalf of the about 90 children, some with disability. She said Dr Bawumias decision to spend his birthday with the vulnerable and abandoned children was a clear indication of his love for humanity. As you have shown us love and care on your special day, we pray that your dreams and desires will be met. We ask the Almighty to grant you your hearts desires. We will continue to pray for you, she said. In lieu of his annual birthday lunch with cured lepers at his home in Accra, Dr Bawumia sent bags of rice and other items to the Weija Leprosarium to ensure the lepers celebrated his special day as well. Earlier in the day, Muslim and Christian clerics offered prayers and pronounced blessings on Dr Bawumia, wishing him long life and success in his quest to lead the New Patriotic Party and eventually Ghana. GNA BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan George Deek thanked the people of Azerbaijan for their support, following military actions in Israel, Trend reports. "Thank you to the Azerbaijani people for this heartfelt gesture of friendship. The flood of messages of love, the flowers at our embassys gate, the posts on social media - these give us strength in this dark hour of our history," the ambassador wrote on his page on X. A combined attack was carried out on Israel yesterday. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air. The IDF declared a state of readiness for war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists. Scores of Ghanaians, including ministers of State, chief executives of public and private sector institutions, and journalists have sent best wishes and solidarity messages to Vice President Bawumia on his 60th birthday. Leading the pack with best wishes is Hajia Samira Bawumia, wife of the Vice President. In a social media post, she wrote,Its your 60th birthday, and I cant thank Allah enough for his mercies and the blessings He has bestowed upon you. Thank you for being a loving husband and father even as youre dedicated to the service of our nation. I wish you the very best in the years ahead. Happy birthday, darling. The Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso Boakye, also celebrated Dr Bawumia, describing him as: The best Vice President Ghana has ever had. Dr Mustapha Abdul Hamid, Chief Executive Officer, National Petroleum Authority, also wrote, I wish His Excellency, the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a happy 60th birthday. May your years ahead be filled with wisdom, success, and continued leadership as you embark on the journey towards being the next President of Ghana. Without a shred of doubt, I believe youll be a great President and leader of our dear nation, Ghana. Ghana Broadcasting Corporation wrote, Wishing a very happy 60th birthday to the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. Heres to many more years of wisdom and service. Manasseh Azure Awuni, a journalist, also wrote, May God grant you decades of good health and vitality ahead. As part of activities marking his 60th birthday, Dr Bawumia donated assorted items, including food, drinks and toiletries to the Kumasi Childrens Home. Some clerics from both Muslim and Christian faiths prayed for him and asked for Gods continuous protection over his life and the family. The Vice President was born on October 7, 1963 in Tamale to Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, former Chairman of the Council of State (19922000) and Hajia Mariama Bawumia, both of blessed memory. He was the 12th of his father's 18 children and the second of his mother's five children. His father was a teacher, lawyer and politician and a Mamprugu Royal and Paramount Chief of Kperiga in the Northern Region. Dr Bawumia is married to Samira Ramadan Bawumia, the only daughter of Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, the former PNC National Chairman. Dr Bawumia every year celebrates his birthday with the less privileged and the vulnerable in society such as cured lepers, and street children. The celebrations are marked with donations to childrens wards in some health facilities. GNA Energy experts from ECOWAS Member States are meeting in Cotonou, Benin to consider and validate three major legal texts which will help to strengthen the regulatory framework for the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market. Energy experts from ECOWAS Member States are meeting in Cotonou, Benin to consider and validate three major legal texts which will help to strengthen the regulatory framework for the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market. They are the Directive for the Harmonization of the Criteria for the Granting of Licences and Authorization to Participate in the Regional Electricity Market; the Regulation on the Surveillance of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market; and the Regulation on the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market Levy. While the Directive on the Harmonization of the Criteria for Granting Licenses and Authorization for Participation in the Regional Electricity Market is expected to promote a level-playing field for cross-border electricity trade among ECOWAS Member States, the Regional Electricity Market Supervision Regulation will establish rules and procedures for the supervision of participants in cross-border power trade to promote a favourable regional approach to investment and capacity development. For its part, the Regional Electricity Market Fee Regulation seeks to establish a fee to finance the operation and functioning of the regional power market and ensure its effective supervision and regulation. Participants at the meeting are being treated to presentations on the ECOWAS Regional Green Hydrogen Strategy and Action Plans 2023-2030 and 2031-2050 as well as the commencement of the implementation of the ECOWAS Updated Energy Policy. They will also receive briefings on the state of progress of the studies for the development of a single gas pipeline project for the ECOWAS region, involving the merger of the West Africa Gas Pipeline Extension Project (WAGPEP) and the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project (NMGP). The energy experts are drawn from the Ministries of Energy, the ECOWAS Commission and specialized institutions and agencies including the Directorate of Energy and Mines, the Directorate of Legal Affairs, the West African Power Pool (WAPP), the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) and the West Africa Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA). The opening of the two-day meeting which began on October 5, 2023, was addressed by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitization, Mr. Sediko Douka and the Secretary of State for Energy of Benin, Mr. Edouard Dahome. Mr. Dahome recalled the common approach adopted by ECOWAS towards a well-regulated energy market. He noted that WAPP and ERERA were created to ensure the integration of the national electricity networks into a unified and regulated regional electricity market to ensure in the medium and long-term a regular, reliable supply of electricity at a competitive cost to the populations. In his remarks, Commissioner Douka who was represented by the ECOWAS Resident Representative to Benin, Mr. Amadou Diongue, stated that the legal texts are major prerequisites to ensure the proper functioning of our electricity market on a clear and fair basis for all participants. He observed that the documents which will be reviewed at this meeting were the subject of the active contribution of Member States and national regulatory bodies of the electricity sector throughout their development process, adding that the recommendations made at each stage were integrated to result in these versions which are submitted to you this morning. Recommendations from the energy experts will be presented to the 15th meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Energy on Saturday, October 7, 2023 in Cotonou, Benin. 08.10.2023 LISTEN This article continues the update on the Liberian presidential election scheduled for October 10, 2023. The first update discusses the positions of the major political parties and candidates. As indicated, the CDC (Coalition for Democratic Change), the ruling party, is running on what it has done since 2018 and wants to do in the next six years. The Unity Party (UP) says the CDC has failed and caused massive suffering. Therefore, UP vows to rescue Liberia from the condition. On the other hand, the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) argue that CDC and UP have performed miserably. UP's 12 years of rule have brought negative results, including squandering opportunities and mismanaging public funds. It maintains that CDC has demonstrated incompetency and corruption since taking power six years ago. Hence, CPP sees itself as an alternative to the two parties. CPP comprises ANC (Alternative National Congress) and part of the Liberty Party (LP). A few years ago, CPP collaborated with UP, ANC, LP, and the All Liberian Party (ALP). But UP and ALP broke away. Since the death of its political leader, Charles Brumskine, LP has been divided. One part remains in the collaboration with ANC, and they retain the name CPP. The other joined UP and ALP. But about two months ago, ALP left UP before the campaign started. Since the first update, the following activities have occurred. CAMPAIGNS All the 20 parties have completed about 80% of the campaigning. CDC started with the 17 districts of Montserrado County and is completing campaigning in the Southeast region, including Sinoe, Grand Kru, Maryland, and Grand Geded Counties. It will climax the campaign in Montserrado on October 8. On September 8, the party launched its campaign in Monrovia at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS). Party's supporters jam-packed ATS and surrounding streets. They locked down the city, according to reports. As the National Election Commission (NEC) statistics show, Montserrado, Nimba, and Bong Counties have the highest registered voters for this election. There are 15 counties in Liberia. To succeed in the first round, a presidential candidate must win 50% plus one vote. Other than that, the two candidates with the highest votes will contest in the second round. At the launch, Weah thanked the audience and the Liberian people for their confidence in him to lead the country for the past six years. He continued, "during our first term, we laid the foundations for peace, freedom of expression, macro-economic stability and the restoration of confidence in the national education system. I can guarantee that the years 2024 and beyond will be better for all Liberians". Like the CDC, UP started campaigning in Montserrado County and traveled to other counties. Still, Joseph Boakai, UP's standard bearer, has yet to go to the Southeast. UP expects to get substantive votes from Nimba since Boakai's running mate, Senator Jeremiah Koung, is from the county. However, some analysts view that Liberian People's Party's (LPP) standard bearer, Councilor Tiawon Gongloe, also from Nimba, could get significant votes from Nimba and make the county competitive. They say Gongloe or Weah could take first or second place, and Boakai could take third place in Nimba's votes. On September 17, UP launched its campaign at ATS on a rainy day. But the weather did not stop the partisans from turning out in their numbers. Like the CDC, they filled the stadium. Boakai thanked the attendees and urged them to transport their demonstration through votes on Election Day. He stated that his administration will make accountability and transparency the cornerstones. "Your ideas will shape our policies, and your feedback will hold us accountable together, we will establish a government that fosters and encourages dialogue," he added. Boakai has been absent from campaign activities since sometime in September. He traveled to Ghana and Nigeria for what some observers viewed as medical or financial reasons. The party hierarchy has been tight-lipped on the matter. Before the campaign, family members rushed him to the ELWA Hospital in Monrovia for a mild stroke. He flowed to the US immediately after. Again, the party kept the trip purpose secret. However, some public reports said the trip was for medical treatment, while others said it was for business. In the first update, Boakai's former aide, Henry Costa, reported that Boakai was seriously sick. CPP's Alexander Cummings campaigned in Montserrado and other counties, including Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, Margibe, and Bong. He and his running mate, Charlene Brumskine, have appeared separately on several radio stations. They discussed their message that CPP is the alternative and the fixer. CPP held its launch at the Nancy B. Doe Stadium in Kakata, Margibe County, on September 14 with a huge crowd. Some witnesses considered the gathering the largest political launch outside of Monrovia. Cummings told the crowd that, upon his election, he would fix the country's deplorable roads and improve the health, economy, and educational conditions. On October 1, CPP had a victory rally at ATS. Like the CDC's and UP's launches, it jam-packed the stadium. At the gathering, Cummings expressed gratitude to the audience for coming and said when elected, his government would improve the economic life of the Liberian people by providing decent-paying jobs and other better social services to stop extreme suffering and poverty. Some observers viewed the event as a musical festival and extravaganza as supporters danced and yelled, "Cummings is the man we want." Gongoloe, Samion Freeman, the Movement for Progressive Change political leader, Sara Nyanti, standard bearer of the African Liberation League, and other candidates have debated the issues on public radios. However, the major candidates did not participate in the debates. Nyanti is the only female presidential candidate and said she will champion gender equality and opportunity for all citizens if elected. ENDORSEMENTS Nearly all candidates have received endorsements from civil groups and respectable individuals. The People's Liberation Party, Margibi County chapter, endorsed Alexander Cummings. Also, former Grand Bassa County Senator Gbehzohngar Finldey endorsed him. In the 2017 election, Findley supported Weah. His present endorsement could attract some of Bassa's votes. However, current Grand Bassa senator Nyongblee Karnga Lawrence's support for Boaka could neutralize Findley's backing. Meanwhile, the Muslim community in Lofa and some CPP members in Nimba have endorsed Weah. Though the Moslems are a minority group in Liberia, they are among the wealthiest Liberians. They control the country's gas and trucking industry. Also, Ambassador Jeremiah Slonteh and Senator Emmanuel Nuquay back Weah. In 2017, Slonteh served as Cummings' vice standard bearer. He is from Bong County. In the 2005 presidential election, he ran as Winston Tubman's running mate. The team did impressively well, besides losing to President Sirleaf. Moreover, Nuquay was Boakai's vice standard bearer in 2017. He is from Margibi County, which has 7.49% registered voters. He won the county's senatorial seat in the 2020 election. These two individuals are well known and could help Weah in the election. But also, Boakai has the endorsement of Prince Moye, Sr., current senator of Bong County. PARTIES PLATFORMS Most of the political parties still need to publish their manifestos. To this writer's knowledge, only UP, LPP, and the All Liberia Coalition Party (ALCOP) have made their platforms public. UP's manifesto entails job creation, access to finance, gender equality, and the fight against corruption. LPP, when becoming the ruling party, will, among others, have zero tolerance for corruption, audit all government ministries and agencies, and not interfere in police and court matters. Further, it will reconcile the country. ALCOP has a seven-point platform, including improving health education and instituting human rights, the rule of law, peace, and security. Moreover, it will construct 500-1000 housing units per county yearly, reform national zoning laws, and establish city and town planning, entailing a public transportation system. Some viewers think that ALCOP has the best manifesto because it is time-oriented. In order words, it states when these tasks will be performed and how they will. Lozinee Kamara is ALCOP's standard bearer. The party has existed since 1997 and participated in the election that year with the late Alhaji Kromah as political leader. FAIR AND VIOLENCE FREED ELECTION Early this year, the political parties signed the Farmington River Declaration, which commits them to a free, fair, transparent, and non-violent election in 2023. But since the start of the campaign, there have been several violent instances. As stated earlier, on the first day of the campaign, CDC supporters paraded a casket with Boakai's photo. UP's partisans also attacked a CPP official in Grand Bassa County. According to reports, in a violent confrontation on September 30, UP members killed two CDC partisans at the residence of Thomas Fallah, a CDC representative candidate in Lofa County. One of the victims died when UP members chased him to his house and murdered him. The media and others condemned the violence. Through its Embassy near Monrovia, the US government expressed outrage at the behavior and called on the authorities to bring the violators to book. The US said political differences should be articulated through the ballot box and not by violence. The ECOWA and the UN have voiced similar condemnation. The Liberian National Police has arrested several individuals involved in the incident. Some UP officials said that CDC's members provoked the act. But ever so, did the provocation warrant the chasing into and the killing in the house? Besides the deaths, some politicians have made inflammatory statements that could lead to violence. Yekeh Kolumba, a CPP's representative running for reelection, said he would go to the bush if he lost. Kolumba is a former rebel commander during the Liberian civil war. Another rebel leader, Senator Prince Johnson, has threatened war if the election is fraudulent, stating that there would be an "Arab Spring." Johnson, who is from Nimba and supports Boakai, is running for reelection. On September 25, Boaka said Liberia will end if he does not win or if the election is rigged. The public has condemned these utterances. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has imposed visa restrictions on Liberians or any individuals who attempt to undermine a fair, free, peaceful, and transparent election or influence the outcome of the election. While some media personalities have praised the US position, they have called on other Western nations to follow suit. i The fear of cheating has become an issue. The opposition thinks or believes that NEC will cheat for the ruling party. This concern is the result of the determination for a first-round victory. For example, in speaking before the Liberian Council of Churches, Medina Wesseh, former secretary-general of the Mano River Union, considered the grit of a one-round win as a means to cheat in the election. She added, "Some politicians or political parties who shout first-round victory either plan to cheat or look for a short out." CDC and UP have vowed to win by first ballots. Though she did not mention the party's name, her statement that the "re-appearance of khaki and leather booths should alert us to reduce the "do or die" expectation of a one-round victory." Before her talk, CDC's Secretary-General Jefferson Koigee described his party's desire for a one-round win as a "do or die" determination. Meanwhile, NEC's chairperson, Dividetta Browne, has reacted to the thinking that her agency would cheat, stating that the commission has no history of such. She reminded the public that the opposition won in the 2019 special senatorial election for Montserrado County, defeating CDC's candidate. The opposition cheered the NEC for the election. The opposition defeated the ruling party candidates in the 2020 mid-term national senatorial election. Again, the opposition hailed the agency for a fair election. So, others asked, "Where is this cheating thing coming from?". Some analysts viewed that the opposition senses defeat and cries wolf before losing. Boakai will not campaign to the Southeast. Instead, his vice standard bearer, Jeremiah Koung, has traveled to the area through Ivory Coast. The party stated because of bad road conditions, Boakai decided not to go. However, critics said the decision was unwise, expressing that he should have to personally experience the road situation as a prospective head of state. They indicated that Weah traveling there by road could score a political point. UP will climax its campaign on October 7. The total registered voters in the Southeast are about 11% of the national registered voters of 2,471,617 Liberian citizens . Nimba has 12%, Bong, 8%, and Montserrado, 36%. The ballots and other election materials have arrived in the country. Additionally, international observers were in Liberia about two weeks ago. They have met with the parties, NEC, civil societies, and partners. The following article will discuss who will win. 08.10.2023 LISTEN In a momentous occasion that marks a significant milestone in the history of the Catholic University of Ghana, Professor Daniel Obeng-Ofori has emerged as the most outstanding professor with the highest publication record. His remarkable dedication to research and academic excellence has propelled him to this esteemed position within the institution. Professor Daniel Obeng-Ofori, a distinguished scholar and academician, has devoted his career to advancing knowledge and fostering intellectual growth within the university community. His relentless pursuit of academic excellence, tireless research efforts, and commitment to sharing knowledge have not only earned him recognition within the institution but also brought honor and prestige to the Catholic University of Ghana. With an illustrious career spanning several decades, Professor Obeng-Ofori has consistently demonstrated his passion for research and scholarship. His extensive body of work encompasses a wide range of subjects, from Agricultural science and education to social sciences and the arts. His publications have not only contributed significantly to the academic discourse but have also enriched the educational experience of countless students. The Catholic University of Ghana takes immense pride in Professor Daniel Obeng-Ofori's accomplishments, which serve as an inspiration to the entire academic community. His dedication to the pursuit of knowledge aligns perfectly with the university's mission to provide quality education and foster intellectual growth among its students. Professor Obeng-Ofori's achievement reaffirms the university's commitment to promoting academic excellence and research-driven scholarship. His legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire future generations of scholars and researchers at the Catholic University of Ghana. The university is planning a special event to honor Professor Daniel Obeng-Ofori's exceptional contributions to academia and research. This event will provide an opportunity for students, faculty, and the wider community to celebrate his accomplishments and express their gratitude for his unwavering commitment to knowledge dissemination. About Catholic University of Ghana The Catholic University of Ghana, located in Accra, Ghana, is a leading institution of higher education dedicated to providing quality education, fostering intellectual growth, and promoting values-based learning within the Catholic tradition. Established to provide an excellent education in a spirit of service, the university continues to uphold its mission of producing well-rounded graduates equipped to make a positive impact on society. About Professor Daniel Obeng-Ofori Professor Daniel Obeng-Ofori is a renowned scholar and professor at the Catholic University of Ghana, known for his outstanding contributions to various academic fields and his commitment to research and knowledge dissemination. By Atianashie Miracle A. Email: [email protected] Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has condemned the attacks on United Television (UTV) by some youth suspected to be members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). He stated that the right to free expression and freedom of the media are key pillars of Ghanas democracy and must be fiercely protected. The Ministry condemns in no uncertain terms any unauthorized entry into media organization in protest of media content or interference with media work, the Ofoase Ayirebi lawmaker said in a statement issued on Sunday, October 8. He added The Ministry stands with the Police and the courts in the conduct of their duties. The Ministry wishes to encourage the media especially broadcast media show hosts and panelists to do their utmost to promote national cohesion even as they exercise their fundamental freedoms. Following a complaint from the Despite Media Group and Ministry of Information that certain people had invaded the studios of UTV, the Police said they proceeded to the scene and arrested sixteen persons. The incident occurred during the broadcast of the station's United Showbiz programme on Saturday, October 7. The show was disrupted immediately after it started around 9PM. The arrested persons were captured in a video indicating they had gone for one of the panelists Kwame Asare Obeng (A-Plus). When the show resumed after about an hour break due to the interruption, A-Plus accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of masterminding the attack, a claim the Director of Communications of the NPP, Richard Ahiagbah denied after he visited the studios to respond to the allegation. My checks show that the NPP is not behind this action, he said after condemning the attack. A-Plus also accused a Deputy Communications Director of the NPP, Ernest Owusu-Bempah of instigating the attack. However, Owusu-Bempah in a statement asked him to retract and apologise else he would sue him for defamation. I am hearing that Owusu-Bempah is the one who instigated this, a livid A-Plus said. But Owusu-Bempah's statement said I have become aware of a rather unfortunate incident in the studios of UTV, were a group of young men interrupted this weekend's edition of United Showbiz program. The reason cited for the disruption of the program is unknown to me. Again, I have no knowledge of the situation, neither do I know the characters involved. Surprisingly, a panelist on the show, Kwame Asare Obeng, otherwise known as A-Plus descended into the gutters with all sorts of attacks on my person. Furthermore, A-Plus directly linked me to the incident and repeatedly claimed that I was responsible for the disruption of the program and went ahead to issue a direct threat on my person. He also falsely alleged that I mobilized the group that disrupted the United Showbiz program without providing any lawful justification or evidence, and also indicated that he will mobilize thugs to come and harm me at Ghana Gas. Let me put on record that these accusations and defamatory statements were made without any substantiation or lawful justification. I have made a formal complaint to the police regarding the threat made on my life. On the other hand, I am by this statement demanding a retraction of A-Plus's defamatory words and an unqualified apology. If he should fail or refuse to do that, then I would have no other option than to instruct my lawyers to institute legal action for the damage and injury caused to my integrity. The National Media Commission (NMC) expressed concern over the attack and assured that it is working with the Police to address the situation. A statement dated October 8, 2023 and signed by the Executive Secretary, Mr George Sarpong said, The Commission is concerned about the increasing use of violence as the preferred method for addressing grievances against the media and journalists. Perpetrators of such crimes must realise that violence does not produce better journalism. The NMC pointed out that, the Constitution provides anyone who feels aggrieved by the work of the media the opportunity to seek redress through the complaint settlement mechanism of the National Media Commission. As we approach the electioneering process for Ghana 2024, it is important for political actors and all Ghanaians to learn that the Ghana we envisage would not be built on the path of violent attacks on journalists. The Commission assured that in the next couple of weeks, it will be rolling out a comprehensive programme to reactivate the Coordinated Mechanism for the Safety of Journalists to ensure the media continue to operate without fear. In the meantime, we assure the public of our cooperation with the Ghana Police Service to get to the bottom of this matter, the NMC assured. -3news.com 08.10.2023 LISTEN Ministry of Health has described as misleading, reports that donated antiretroviral drugs have been abandoned at ports since July, supposedly due to the governments failure to waive taxes. The Ministry says these headlines do not accurately reflect the truth. The Ministry of Health has taken note of some media headlines suggesting that donated antiretroviral drugs have been abandoned at ports since July, supposedly due to the governments failure to waive taxes. The Ministry categorically states that these headlines are misleading and do not accurately reflect the truth, a press release issued by the Head of Public Relations, Mr. Isaac Ofei Baah said. The Ministry explained that, Over the years, the Ghana Supply Commission has effectively managed the clearance of antiretroviral drugs and other medical items at the ports on behalf of the Ministry of Health. As has been done in the past, the necessary waivers for the clearance of this batch was issued on time. The Ministry further explained that, It must be noted that the volumes in this batch have been high requiring extra resources. Having brought this to the attention of the Commission, steps have been taken to secure the needed extra funds to ensure clearance by Friday, October 13, 2023. The release clarified that, currently, 4% of HIV/AIDS patients in Ghana rely on these specific medications. Drugs for the remaining 96% are well stippled. Even for this 4%, there are viable alternative medications available in public health facilities. The Ministry therefore requested the public to disregard, these erroneous and misleading headlines. The Ministry remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the health of all citizens and will continue to ensure the availability of essential healthcare resources. It would be recalled that on Friday October 6, 2023, the Minority in Parliament said it finds it unacceptable that containers full of HIV anti-retroviral drugs have been kept at the ports since July this year. According to a statement signed by Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, this has created needless shortage of medication for Persons Living with HIV. The Minority said it will not sit aloof for Government to plunge Ghanaians all into needless danger. It is for this reason that we demand that: The Ministry of Finance as a matter of urgency issue the necessary tax exemption waivers to ensure that immediate clearance of the antiretroviral drugs and other medical equipment and consumables, Implement an automated tax exemption waiver system for medical consumables and equipment to curtail needless delays in clearing such items at the port, Institute reforms at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to ensure that systemic failures that lead to needless delays in the performance of its functions are eradicated, the statement dated October 6, 2023 revealed. Waive taxes on antiretroviral drugs detained at the ports Minority tells government The Minority further stated that it finds it unconscionable and a gross dereliction of duty that government officials in the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance will leave the donated containers of HIV anti-retroviral drugs at the ports. The Minority alleged that government has not shown the needed commitment towards funding Ghana's National HIV and AIDS Programme because it is challenged on several fronts. Key amongst them is funding and lack of commitment by the Akufo-Addo government, in particular, to prioritize the eradication of HIV/AIDS although the First Lady serves as an Ambassador of the Ghana AIDS Commission. Funding for HIV/AIDS programmes in Ghana has largely been shouldered by donor partners with government making contributions in the form of maintenance of the Ghana AIDS Commission and paying counterpart funds in co-financing agreements with donor partners, they stressed. The statement noted that over the years, there have been gaps in funding programmes such as educational campaigns and treatment for HIV/AIDS. These funding gaps have increased due in part to government's lack of commitment to the HIV/AIDS fight as a whole. In 2019, even before COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war, Ghana lost more than $19m from PEPFAR and $2m from the Global Fund due to failure to meet its co-funding obligations. From 2021 to 2023 government had co-financing obligations of $17,138,222 to the Global Fund but paid only US$4,202,698 leaving a balance of approximately $13m. Ghana currently risks losing another $13m by early next year due to its continuous failure to pay its share of counterpart funds to Global Fund, the Minority stated. Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Breast Care International (BCI), says breast cancer is not caused by witchcraft or hereditary genes and urged Ghanaians to seek early diagnosis for early treatment. She said women were dying from breast cancer because of the mythical misconception that it was a spiritual curse, leading many to spiritual doctors and prayer camps where they waste away. She said lack of proper early diagnoses caused delay in detection, leading to the spread of the disease to the lungs, brains, bones, and liver, resulting in death. She was speaking at the walk against breast cancer organised by Breast Care International Ghana on Saturday, October 7, in Accra. The walk was on the theme, Breaking the myth while looking for cure. This year's walk was through the principal streets of Accra to target market women. According to her, breast cancer is the number one killer disease among women and called on the public to stop hiding in their rooms, especially women who waste time and scare resources at prayer camps and unapproved treatment centres. She called for avoidance of some risk factors, including excessive alcohol intake, smoking, lack of exercise, fatty foods and bleaching creams. Dr Addai said smoking among the youth had become rampant and urged government to ban the use of Shisha (Hookah) at pubs and bars to save the youth especially young women. She said every year in Ghana, 4,650 women are diagnosed with breast cancer, out of it, over 2,020 women die which is about 50 per cent, hence, we must treat the disease as a killer disease. She appealed for support from stakeholders to create awareness and education to remove fallacies and reduce the number of people dying from curable diseases. Eze Dr Chukwudi Ihenetu, Paramount King of the Igbo Community in Ghana, urged families to support poor breast cancer patients to access quality healthcare, reiterating the need for early detection. He encouraged the Government to create policies and programmes to facilitate the free-will of women to visit hospitals for treatment. The walk ended with a free health screening which was heavily patronized. GNA 08.10.2023 LISTEN The Police on Saturday evening arrested 16 persons for invading the studios of United Television (UTV). The arrest follows a complaint from the Despite Media Group and the Ministry of Information. According to the Police, the 16 persons were in custody assisting investigations. Meanwhile, the National Media Commission (NMC) in a statement issued by Mr George Sarpong, the Executive Secretary, expressed concerns over the act. It said the increasing use of violence as the preferred method for addressing grievances against the media and journalists must stop. The Commission said perpetrators of such crimes must realise that violence did not produce better Journalism. It said it was for that reason that the Constitution provided anyone who felt aggrieved by the work of the media the opportunity to seek redress through the complaint settlement mechanism of the National Media Commission. It said as Ghana approached elections in 2024, it was important for political actors and all Ghanaians to learn that the Ghana envisaged would not be built on the path of violent attacks on journalists. GNA The Ministry of Information has issued a press release on the incident that happened at United Television (UTV) on Saturday, October 7. Some group of people stormed the premises of the TV station yesterday and entered the studio of popular programme, United Showbiz in search of Kwame A Plus, one of the regular pundits on the programme. Following a complaint from the Despite Media Group and Ministry of Information that certain people had invaded the studios of U-TV, the Police proceeded to the scene and arrested sixteen (16) persons in connection with the incident. In a release from the Information Ministry today, it has condemned the unauthorised entry of the group into the studios of UTV. The Ministry of Information on Saturday, Oct 7th, 2023, made a report to the Ghana Police Service to intervene in an incident at the Studios of UTV, a private TV station in Accra. This followed reports to the Media Monitoring Center of the Ministry that a group of persons had entered UTV's studios, allegedly without authorisation, to express displeasure at the content of a live TV Program. The Ministry condemns in no uncertain terms any unauthorized entry into media organizations, in protest at media content, or interference with media work, parts of the release from the Ministry of Information signed by Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said. According to the Ministry, the right to free expression and the freedom of the media are key pillars of our democracy and must be fiercely protected. Meanwhile, the Ministry has encouraged the media, especially broadcast media show hosts and panelists, to do their utmost to help promote national cohesion even as they exercise their fundamental freedoms. 2024 Independent Presidential Candidate hopeful, Alan Kyerematen has condemned attacks on United Showbizs host and guests in the studios of United Television (UTV) on Saturday. In a statement issued on Sunday, Mr Kyerematen said: I strongly condemn yesterdays attack on members of UTV Ghana's United Showbiz programme, which is a blatant violation of Freedom of the Media and Free speech- two fundamental principles enshrined in our Constitution. He said the incident was a wanton display of arrogance of power and indiscipline, issues that have hindered the countrys progress for far too long. He indicated that the Constitution, particularly Article 162, strongly safeguarded the independence of the media, and vehemently opposed any interference or harassment based on editorial opinions, views, or content. I commend the swift response of our law enforcement agencies in addressing this incident. It is of utmost importance that we protect and uphold the medias independence and hold those responsible for this attack accountable, he added Mr Kyerematen called for the immediate and just prosecution of all individuals involved, adding that Ghanaians must always remember that a free and independent media is the cornerstone of a thriving democracy. It is our collective responsibility to uphold and protect these principles, which are essential to our progress as a people. Read the full statement from Alan Kyerematen I strongly condemn yesterdays attack on members of UTV Ghana's United Showbiz program, which is a blatant violation of Freedom of the Media and Free Speech- two fundamental principles enshrined in our Constitution. This incident was a wanton display of arrogance of power and indiscipline, issues that have hindered our progress as a nation for far too long. Our Constitution, particularly Article 162, strongly safeguards the independence of the media, and vehemently opposes any interference or harassment based on editorial opinions, views, or content. I commend the swift response of our law enforcement agencies in addressing this incident. It is of utmost importance that we protect and uphold the medias independence and hold those responsible for this attack accountable. I call for the immediate and just prosecution of all individuals involved, as we must resoundingly convey that such actions have no place in our democratic society. Let us always remember that a free and independent media is the cornerstone of a thriving democracy. It is our collective responsibility to uphold and protect these principles, which are essential to our progress as a people. Ghana will rise again -citinewsroom BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. As thousands of Israeli citizens, my family and I have to spend hours in shelter, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Israel Mukhtar Mammadov said, Trend reports. "I condemn indiscriminate rocket strikes and terrorist attacks against civilians. I am appalled by numerous abductions of civilians, including women and children, who are abused and mistreated by terrorist abductors," he wrote on his page on X. The diplomat said that like all sovereign states, Israel has right to live in peace and security. A combined attack was carried out on Israel yesterday. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air. The IDF declared a state of readiness for war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists. 08.10.2023 LISTEN There is no fundamental social change by being simply of individual and interpersonal actions. You have to have organizations and institutions that make a fundamental difference -------- Cornel West, philosopher, social activist and political critic State Institutions play a crucial role in shaping the destiny of a nation. They are the backbone of the government, responsible for implementing policies and delivering services to the citizenry. In order for Ghana to achieve sustainable development, it is imperative that these State Institutions are empowered and equipped with the necessary tools to excel in their respective domains. One of the key aspects that must be emphasized is the need for State Institutions to be apolitical in their delivery. Politics should not influence the operation or decision-making process of these institutions. An impartial approach ensures that services are provided based on merit and in the best interest of the public. By removing political interference, State Institutions can focus on achieving their mandates without bias or favoritism. Accountability is another fundamental factor that needs to be ingrained within State Institutions. It is essential for these institutions to be answerable to the citizenry. Citizens have the right to know how resources are being utilized, what actions are being taken, and whether progress is being made. By promoting transparency and establishing mechanisms for oversight, State Institutions can build trust and confidence among the people they serve. A "perfect" governance structure is also vital for the effective functioning of State Institutions. This includes having clear roles and responsibilities, robust systems and processes, as well as competent and qualified personnel. A well-defined governance framework contributes to efficient decision-making, strategic planning, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. By continuously refining their governance structures, State Institutions can foster a culture of excellence and ensure that good practices are embedded at every level. State Institutions should also be the lifeblood of the government agenda. They are responsible for translating policies into action and driving development initiatives. Therefore, it is crucial for these institutions to align their activities with the broader national goals and aspirations. By prioritizing the government's agenda, State Institutions can effectively contribute towards the sustainable development of Ghana. However, there is a need for State Institutions to step up their game or risk suffering the repercussions of poor performance. In order to remain relevant and effective, these institutions must continuously improve their service delivery, enhance their capacities, and keep pace with changing trends and technologies. This requires investing in training and professional development, adopting innovative approaches, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Conclusion In conclusion, empowering State Institutions is vital for Ghana's sustainable development. They must be apolitical, accountable, and equipped with a "perfect" governance structure. These institutions should be the driving force behind government initiatives and must constantly strive for excellence. By doing so, Ghana can harness the full potential of its State Institutions and propel itself towards a brighter and more prosperous future. Ebenezer Asumang [Writer & Author] [email protected] No content published yet at this URL 08.10.2023 LISTEN Former Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen has condemned the actions of suspected hooligans of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who stormed the Studios of UTV on Saturday, October 8. The group of young men after invading the Studio where UTVs United Showbiz Programme is filmed demanded an apology from Kwame A-Plus for tearing apart a letter the NPP had sent to UTV. Following a complaint from the Despite Media Group and Ministry of Information that certain people had invaded the studios of UTV, the Police proceeded to the scene and arrested sixteen (16) persons in connection with the incident. Reacting to videos of the invasion that have since gone viral, former flagbearer aspirant of the NPP, Alan Kyerematen has described it as a blatant violation of Freedom of the Media and Free Speech. In a statement on Facebook, he argued that Ghanas Constitution, particularly Article 162, strongly safeguards the independence of the media, and vehemently opposes any interference or harassment based on editorial opinions, views, or content. While commending the Police for taking immediate action and picking up the alleged NPP thugs, Alan Kyerematen further called for the prosecution of all arrested persons. I commend the swift response of our law enforcement agencies in addressing this incident. It is of utmost importance that we protect and uphold the media's independence and hold those responsible for this attack accountable. I call for the immediate and just prosecution of all individuals involved, as we must resoundingly convey that such actions have no place in our democratic society, Alan Kyerematen stressed. Below is the statement from Alan Kyerematen: The Police leadership, led by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare on Friday paid a courtesy call on the Former President John Agyekum Kufour at his residence at Peduase. The visit was to commiserate with him on the loss of his wife, the Former First Lady, Mrs. Theresa Kufour. The later Former First Lady died at her Peduase Residence on Sunday evening, October 1, 2023, at age 87. The late Mrs Kufuor was a nurse and midwife and served as the First Lady from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2008, under the Administration of her husband, former President Kufuor. A day after the demise of the former First Lady, the Government directed that all flags should fly at half-mast for a week in her honour. Meanwhile, a book of condolence has been opened in the house of the former President. GNA Alera Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Free Report) by 7.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,255 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after purchasing an additional 386 shares during the period. Alera Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in EOG Resources were worth $601,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in EOG. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its position in shares of EOG Resources by 100,317.5% during the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 538,528,863 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $61,629,243,000 after acquiring an additional 537,992,573 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its position in shares of EOG Resources by 2.8% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 36,299,584 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $4,161,014,000 after acquiring an additional 1,005,328 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its position in shares of EOG Resources by 12.4% during the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 26,897,413 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $3,083,250,000 after acquiring an additional 2,977,408 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of EOG Resources by 2.3% during the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 11,814,421 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $1,352,283,000 after acquiring an additional 262,445 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of EOG Resources by 196.1% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 9,859,925 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $1,175,599,000 after acquiring an additional 6,529,464 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.21% of the companys stock. Get EOG Resources alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other EOG Resources news, COO Lloyd W. Helms, Jr. sold 4,551 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.76, for a total value of $595,088.76. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 145,259 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,994,066.84. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.30% of the companys stock. EOG Resources Stock Performance Shares of EOG stock traded up $2.22 during trading on Friday, reaching $120.68. 3,477,860 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,878,652. The company has a market capitalization of $70.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.13, a PEG ratio of 0.37 and a beta of 1.55. The company has a current ratio of 2.39, a quick ratio of 2.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. The firms 50-day moving average is $128.84 and its 200 day moving average is $120.05. EOG Resources, Inc. has a 1 year low of $98.52 and a 1 year high of $150.88. EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The energy exploration company reported $2.49 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.28 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $5.57 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.74 billion. EOG Resources had a net margin of 33.58% and a return on equity of 28.52%. EOG Resourcess revenue was down 24.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.74 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.34 EPS for the current year. EOG Resources Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 17th will be paid a $0.825 dividend. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.73%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, October 16th. EOG Resourcess dividend payout ratio is presently 22.24%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms have recently commented on EOG. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $129.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. Evercore ISI reduced their price objective on shares of EOG Resources from $115.00 to $113.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of EOG Resources from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of EOG Resources from $143.00 to $159.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, August 18th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of EOG Resources in a research report on Thursday. They issued a hold rating for the company. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, EOG Resources has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $150.04. Read Our Latest Stock Report on EOG EOG Resources Profile (Free Report) EOG Resources, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, explores for, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, and natural gas and natural gas liquids. Its principal producing areas are in New Mexico and Texas in the United States; and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The company was formerly known as Enron Oil & Gas Company. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EOG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for EOG Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EOG Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alera Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP Free Report) (TSE:CP) by 42.9% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 11,076 shares of the transportation companys stock after buying an additional 3,323 shares during the quarter. Alera Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City were worth $895,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its position in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 3.4% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 16,828 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,389,000 after purchasing an additional 559 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its position in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 69.1% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 5,539 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $457,000 after purchasing an additional 2,263 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 2.4% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 30,249,662 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $2,496,807,000 after purchasing an additional 695,215 shares during the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. grew its position in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 5.1% in the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 49,524 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $4,087,000 after purchasing an additional 2,417 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its position in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 116.4% in the 1st quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 14,274 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,178,000 after purchasing an additional 7,678 shares during the last quarter. 67.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Canadian Pacific Kansas City alerts: Canadian Pacific Kansas City Price Performance Shares of NYSE CP traded up $0.10 during trading on Friday, reaching $72.85. The company had a trading volume of 1,899,626 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,791,006. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited has a 52 week low of $65.17 and a 52 week high of $85.40. The stock has a market cap of $67.86 billion, a PE ratio of 21.18, a PEG ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.67. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $78.18 and its 200-day moving average price is $78.72. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Increases Dividend Canadian Pacific Kansas City ( NYSE:CP Get Free Report ) (TSE:CP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The transportation company reported $0.62 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.69 by ($0.07). Canadian Pacific Kansas City had a return on equity of 8.92% and a net margin of 41.92%. The company had revenue of $2.36 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.47 billion. Analysts expect that Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be given a dividend of $0.1437 per share. This is a boost from Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys previous quarterly dividend of $0.14. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th. This represents a $0.57 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.79%. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys payout ratio is currently 16.28%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. Credit Suisse Group raised their price target on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $87.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $98.00 to $93.00 and set a positive rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Morgan Stanley started coverage on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. They set an equal weight rating and a $100.00 price objective for the company. CSFB raised their price objective on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $87.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $92.93. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Canadian Pacific Kansas City About Canadian Pacific Kansas City (Free Report) Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates a transcontinental freight railway in Canada and the United States. The company transports bulk commodities, including grain, coal, potash, fertilizers, and sulphur; and merchandise freight, such as energy, chemicals and plastics, metals, minerals and consumer, automotive, and forest products. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alera Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK Free Report) by 5.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,111 shares of the asset managers stock after purchasing an additional 53 shares during the quarter. Alera Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in BlackRock were worth $768,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV grew its stake in shares of BlackRock by 158.3% during the 2nd quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 62 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $43,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares during the period. Janney Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in BlackRock by 7.0% in the 2nd quarter. Janney Capital Management LLC now owns 5,901 shares of the asset managers stock worth $4,079,000 after purchasing an additional 385 shares during the period. Michael S. Ryan Inc. bought a new position in BlackRock in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $347,000. Ballentine Partners LLC boosted its stake in BlackRock by 6.8% in the 2nd quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 2,698 shares of the asset managers stock worth $1,865,000 after purchasing an additional 171 shares during the period. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI boosted its stake in BlackRock by 222.9% in the 2nd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 91,453 shares of the asset managers stock worth $63,375,000 after purchasing an additional 63,134 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.01% of the companys stock. Get BlackRock alerts: Insider Activity In other news, Director Mark Wiedman sold 2,079 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $733.82, for a total transaction of $1,525,611.78. Following the transaction, the director now owns 6,160 shares in the company, valued at $4,520,331.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, Director Mark Wiedman sold 2,079 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $733.82, for a total transaction of $1,525,611.78. Following the transaction, the director now owns 6,160 shares in the company, valued at $4,520,331.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Laurence Fink sold 20,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $742.04, for a total value of $14,989,208.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 464,125 shares in the company, valued at approximately $344,399,315. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.96% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms have weighed in on BLK. Bank of America dropped their price target on BlackRock from $921.00 to $868.00 in a research note on Wednesday. StockNews.com initiated coverage on BlackRock in a report on Thursday. They set a hold rating on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded BlackRock from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and increased their price target for the company from $770.00 to $835.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on BlackRock from $741.00 to $781.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on BlackRock from $820.00 to $720.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $751.92. Read Our Latest Research Report on BlackRock BlackRock Trading Up 1.2 % BLK stock traded up $7.96 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $648.26. The companys stock had a trading volume of 608,267 shares, compared to its average volume of 641,885. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 4.21 and a current ratio of 4.21. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $682.54 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $681.04. BlackRock, Inc. has a 1 year low of $503.12 and a 1 year high of $785.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $96.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.93, a PEG ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.29. BlackRock (NYSE:BLK Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, July 14th. The asset manager reported $9.28 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $8.52 by $0.76. BlackRock had a return on equity of 14.29% and a net margin of 29.90%. The business had revenue of $4.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.47 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $7.36 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was down 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that BlackRock, Inc. will post 35.3 EPS for the current year. BlackRock Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 8th were paid a dividend of $5.00 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 7th. This represents a $20.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.09%. BlackRocks dividend payout ratio is currently 58.41%. About BlackRock (Free Report) BlackRock, Inc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BLK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of CBIZ (NYSE:CBZ Free Report) in a report released on Thursday. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the business services providers stock. Separately, Sidoti cut CBIZ from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $58.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Tuesday, September 5th. Get CBIZ alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on CBIZ CBIZ Stock Performance CBZ stock traded up $1.35 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $53.86. The stock had a trading volume of 257,991 shares, compared to its average volume of 218,464. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.73 and a beta of 0.76. CBIZ has a 52 week low of $42.87 and a 52 week high of $56.96. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $53.92 and a 200 day simple moving average of $52.43. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. CBIZ (NYSE:CBZ Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The business services provider reported $0.55 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.68 by ($0.13). The firm had revenue of $398.50 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $392.37 million. CBIZ had a return on equity of 15.52% and a net margin of 7.67%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.63 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that CBIZ will post 2.4 earnings per share for the current year. Insiders Place Their Bets In other CBIZ news, insider Ware H. Grove sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.55, for a total transaction of $1,091,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 274,524 shares in the company, valued at $14,975,284.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Ware H. Grove sold 20,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.55, for a total value of $1,091,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 274,524 shares in the company, valued at $14,975,284.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Benaree Pratt Wiley sold 7,519 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.01, for a total value of $406,101.19. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 45,252 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,444,060.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 5.40% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of CBIZ A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Arizona State Retirement System increased its stake in shares of CBIZ by 1.5% in the first quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 13,256 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $656,000 after buying an additional 197 shares in the last quarter. Argent Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of CBIZ by 0.4% in the first quarter. Argent Capital Management LLC now owns 55,955 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $2,769,000 after buying an additional 219 shares in the last quarter. Truist Financial Corp increased its position in CBIZ by 2.1% in the first quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 10,559 shares of the business services providers stock worth $523,000 after purchasing an additional 221 shares during the period. Diversified Trust Co increased its position in CBIZ by 2.5% in the first quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 9,352 shares of the business services providers stock worth $463,000 after purchasing an additional 225 shares during the period. Finally, Huntington National Bank increased its position in CBIZ by 8.0% in the second quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 3,247 shares of the business services providers stock worth $173,000 after purchasing an additional 240 shares during the period. 88.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About CBIZ (Get Free Report) CBIZ, Inc provides financial, insurance, and advisory services in the United States and Canada. It operates through three segments: Financial Services, Benefits and Insurance Services, and National Practices. The Financial Services segment offers accounting and tax, financial advisory, valuation, risk and advisory, and government healthcare consulting services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for CBIZ Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CBIZ and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First American Trust FSB grew its position in shares of CMS Energy Co. (NYSE:CMS Free Report) by 1.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 160,517 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 2,969 shares during the quarter. CMS Energy comprises about 1.3% of First American Trust FSBs investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest holding. First American Trust FSB owned about 0.06% of CMS Energy worth $9,431,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in shares of CMS Energy by 4.1% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 19,660,375 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,206,753,000 after acquiring an additional 774,927 shares during the period. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina lifted its holdings in CMS Energy by 0.7% in the first quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 126,600 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $7,771,000 after purchasing an additional 900 shares during the period. Westpac Banking Corp grew its position in CMS Energy by 5.6% in the 1st quarter. Westpac Banking Corp now owns 77,018 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $4,727,000 after buying an additional 4,108 shares in the last quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC grew its position in CMS Energy by 13.8% in the 1st quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 18,441 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,132,000 after buying an additional 2,240 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its position in CMS Energy by 243.8% in the 1st quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 829,081 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $50,889,000 after buying an additional 587,910 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.98% of the companys stock. Get CMS Energy alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages recently issued reports on CMS. Argus decreased their target price on shares of CMS Energy from $75.00 to $62.00 in a research report on Monday, June 26th. Barclays began coverage on shares of CMS Energy in a research report on Wednesday, August 23rd. They issued an equal weight rating and a $58.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on shares of CMS Energy from $71.00 to $64.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, September 6th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of CMS Energy from $58.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, September 21st. Finally, Guggenheim reduced their price objective on shares of CMS Energy from $65.00 to $61.00 in a research report on Friday, July 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $63.09. CMS Energy Trading Up 2.4 % CMS stock traded up $1.23 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $53.04. 4,374,820 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,725,947. The company has a current ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.87. CMS Energy Co. has a 52-week low of $49.87 and a 52-week high of $65.72. The company has a market cap of $15.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.22, a P/E/G ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.38. The stocks fifty day moving average is $56.14 and its 200-day moving average is $58.92. CMS Energy (NYSE:CMS Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.69 by $0.06. CMS Energy had a net margin of 9.07% and a return on equity of 10.38%. The company had revenue of $1.56 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.04 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.53 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 19.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that CMS Energy Co. will post 3.1 earnings per share for the current year. CMS Energy Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 4th were paid a dividend of $0.4875 per share. This represents a $1.95 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.68%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 3rd. CMS Energys dividend payout ratio is presently 78.00%. Insider Buying and Selling at CMS Energy In other news, Director Jon E. Barfield sold 2,345 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.06, for a total value of $131,460.70. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 13,982 shares of the companys stock, valued at $783,830.92. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, SVP Brandon J. Hofmeister sold 1,667 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.27, for a total value of $93,802.09. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 61,765 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,475,516.55. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Jon E. Barfield sold 2,345 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $56.06, for a total transaction of $131,460.70. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 13,982 shares of the companys stock, valued at $783,830.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.40% of the companys stock. About CMS Energy (Free Report) CMS Energy Corporation operates as an energy company primarily in Michigan. The company operates through three segments: Electric Utility; Gas Utility; and Enterprises. The Electric Utility segment is involved in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity. This segment generates electricity through coal, wind, gas, renewable energy, oil, and nuclear sources. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for CMS Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CMS Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Emerson Electric (NYSE:EMR Free Report) in a report published on Thursday. The firm issued a buy rating on the industrial products companys stock. Other analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Emerson Electric from $107.00 to $116.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. KeyCorp initiated coverage on Emerson Electric in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. They set an overweight rating and a $120.00 target price for the company. Barclays initiated coverage on Emerson Electric in a research note on Monday, August 28th. They set an equal weight rating and a $105.00 price target on the stock. Argus upgraded Emerson Electric from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $110.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 28th. Finally, HSBC upgraded Emerson Electric from a hold rating to a buy rating and raised their price target for the company from $79.00 to $100.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 14th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $106.79. Get Emerson Electric alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on EMR Emerson Electric Stock Up 1.5 % Shares of EMR opened at $95.04 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $54.54 billion, a PE ratio of 4.16, a P/E/G ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 1.37. The business has a fifty day moving average of $96.80 and a 200 day moving average of $89.55. Emerson Electric has a 52-week low of $76.08 and a 52-week high of $100.62. The company has a quick ratio of 2.07, a current ratio of 2.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. Emerson Electric (NYSE:EMR Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The industrial products company reported $1.29 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.09 by $0.20. Emerson Electric had a return on equity of 14.27% and a net margin of 80.41%. The business had revenue of $3.95 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.89 billion. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Emerson Electric will post 4.45 EPS for the current year. Emerson Electric Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 11th were paid a dividend of $0.52 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 10th. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.19%. Emerson Electrics payout ratio is 9.09%. Insider Transactions at Emerson Electric In other news, CMO Vidya Ramnath sold 2,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $97.86, for a total transaction of $244,650.00. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer now owns 11,870 shares in the company, valued at $1,161,598.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.33% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Emerson Electric A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of EMR. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Emerson Electric by 2.3% during the first quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,040,964 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $90,710,000 after purchasing an additional 23,535 shares during the period. Bailard Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Emerson Electric by 7.0% during the second quarter. Bailard Inc. now owns 38,231 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,456,000 after purchasing an additional 2,489 shares during the period. DAVENPORT & Co LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Emerson Electric by 2.6% during the second quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 68,809 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $6,220,000 after purchasing an additional 1,751 shares during the period. Trust Co. of Vermont lifted its holdings in shares of Emerson Electric by 4.5% during the first quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 88,517 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $7,713,000 after purchasing an additional 3,786 shares during the period. Finally, AMG National Trust Bank lifted its holdings in shares of Emerson Electric by 8.3% during the first quarter. AMG National Trust Bank now owns 8,907 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $776,000 after purchasing an additional 681 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.02% of the companys stock. About Emerson Electric (Get Free Report) Emerson Electric Co, a technology and engineering company, provides various solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and consumer markets in the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. It operates in six segments: Final Control, Control Systems & Software, Measurement & Analytical, AspenTech, Discrete Automation, and Safety & Productivity. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Emerson Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Emerson Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Starting from October 10, Azerbaijan Airlines resumes flights from Baku to Tel Aviv and back, Trend reports. In case of any changes or updates regarding flights, passengers will be notified accordingly. The airline expresses its gratitude for understanding during the temporary suspension of flights due to the unstable situation in Israel. For more information, passengers are advised to contact the call center of Azerbaijan Airlines at [email protected]. A combined attack was carried out on Israel yesterday. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air. The IDF declared a state of readiness for war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists. First American Trust FSB increased its position in shares of Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK Free Report) by 1.8% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 17,689 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 314 shares during the quarter. First American Trust FSBs holdings in Rockwell Automation were worth $5,828,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in ROK. Neo Ivy Capital Management acquired a new position in Rockwell Automation in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Clear Street Markets LLC acquired a new position in Rockwell Automation in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. First Manhattan Co. increased its stake in Rockwell Automation by 150.0% in the 4th quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 125 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the period. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC increased its stake in Rockwell Automation by 62.9% in the 2nd quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC now owns 101 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the period. Finally, Fortis Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Rockwell Automation in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.84% of the companys stock. Get Rockwell Automation alerts: Rockwell Automation Stock Performance Rockwell Automation stock traded up $4.15 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $290.31. The company had a trading volume of 555,212 shares, compared to its average volume of 771,348. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a 52 week low of $219.55 and a 52 week high of $348.52. The firm has a market cap of $33.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.68, a PEG ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 1.46. The company has a quick ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79. The company has a 50 day moving average of $296.79 and a 200-day moving average of $297.84. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Rockwell Automation ( NYSE:ROK Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The industrial products company reported $3.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.19 by ($0.18). Rockwell Automation had a net margin of 16.51% and a return on equity of 40.33%. The business had revenue of $2.24 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.33 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.66 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 13.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 11.95 EPS for the current fiscal year. ROK has been the topic of several research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Rockwell Automation in a research note on Thursday. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Barclays downgraded shares of Rockwell Automation from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $300.00 to $287.00 in a research report on Wednesday, August 30th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of Rockwell Automation from $340.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Wolfe Research raised shares of Rockwell Automation from an underperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 11th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Rockwell Automation in a research report on Tuesday, June 27th. They issued a hold rating and a $335.00 target price for the company. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Rockwell Automation presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $289.00. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Rockwell Automation Insider Buying and Selling In related news, SVP Tessa M. Myers sold 677 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $301.18, for a total transaction of $203,898.86. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 2,880 shares in the company, valued at approximately $867,398.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Rockwell Automation news, VP Scott Genereux sold 500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $297.62, for a total value of $148,810.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 2,876 shares in the company, valued at approximately $855,955.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Tessa M. Myers sold 677 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $301.18, for a total transaction of $203,898.86. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 2,880 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $867,398.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 1,730 shares of company stock worth $510,477 in the last quarter. 0.64% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Rockwell Automation Profile (Free Report) Rockwell Automation, Inc provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company operates through three segments, Intelligent Devices, Software & Control, and Lifecycle Services. Its solutions include hardware and software products and services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Rockwell Automation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rockwell Automation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First American Trust FSB reduced its position in Invesco Senior Loan ETF (NYSEARCA:BKLN Free Report) by 2.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 29,869 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 662 shares during the period. First American Trust FSBs holdings in Invesco Senior Loan ETF were worth $628,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Grimes & Company Inc. grew its position in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 3,084.2% during the first quarter. Grimes & Company Inc. now owns 7,641,955 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $158,953,000 after acquiring an additional 7,401,962 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC grew its position in Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 142.1% during the 2nd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 1,519,410 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $30,798,000 after purchasing an additional 5,127,335 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC increased its stake in Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 75.0% in the first quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 9,128,184 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $189,866,000 after purchasing an additional 3,912,291 shares during the period. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D raised its holdings in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 296.0% in the first quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 4,950,003 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $102,960,000 after buying an additional 3,700,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MESIROW FINANCIAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Fixed Income purchased a new stake in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF in the first quarter valued at about $73,328,000. Get Invesco Senior Loan ETF alerts: Invesco Senior Loan ETF Stock Performance Shares of NYSEARCA BKLN traded up $0.03 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $20.91. 6,358,563 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,609,635. Invesco Senior Loan ETF has a 1 year low of $20.28 and a 1 year high of $21.27. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $21.04 and a 200 day simple moving average of $20.92. Invesco Senior Loan ETF Company Profile The Invesco Senior Loan ETF (BKLN) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund tracks a market-value-weighted index of senior loans issued by banks to corporations. BKLN was launched on Mar 3, 2011 and is managed by Invesco. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Senior Loan ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Senior Loan ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First American Trust FSB lowered its holdings in VanEck High Yield Muni ETF (BATS:HYD Free Report) by 4.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 11,631 shares of the companys stock after selling 520 shares during the period. First American Trust FSBs holdings in VanEck High Yield Muni ETF were worth $597,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. WealthPLAN Partners LLC bought a new stake in VanEck High Yield Muni ETF during the 1st quarter valued at $26,000. WealthPlan Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of VanEck High Yield Muni ETF during the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. Money Concepts Capital Corp purchased a new stake in VanEck High Yield Muni ETF during the 4th quarter worth about $39,000. Fifth Third Bancorp bought a new position in VanEck High Yield Muni ETF in the 2nd quarter worth about $48,000. Finally, Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC purchased a new position in VanEck High Yield Muni ETF during the 1st quarter valued at about $58,000. Get VanEck High Yield Muni ETF alerts: VanEck High Yield Muni ETF Trading Down 0.5 % Shares of VanEck High Yield Muni ETF stock traded down $0.22 on Friday, reaching $48.21. The stock had a trading volume of 856,383 shares. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $50.09 and its 200 day moving average price is $50.86. VanEck High Yield Muni ETF Increases Dividend VanEck High Yield Muni ETF Profile The company also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 3rd were issued a $0.2012 dividend. This is an increase from VanEck High Yield Muni ETFs previous dividend of $0.17. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, October 2nd. (Free Report) The VanEck High Yield Muni ETF (HYD) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund tracks a market value-weighted index of high-yield, tax-exempt US municipal bonds. HYD was launched on Feb 4, 2009 and is managed by VanEck. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for VanEck High Yield Muni ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for VanEck High Yield Muni ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of ITT (NYSE:ITT Free Report) in a research report released on Thursday morning. The firm issued a strong-buy rating on the conglomerates stock. ITT has been the subject of a number of other reports. Bank of America increased their price objective on ITT from $97.00 to $105.00 in a research report on Friday, July 14th. KeyCorp increased their price objective on ITT from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Citigroup increased their price objective on ITT from $98.00 to $109.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. TD Cowen increased their price objective on ITT from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 29th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on ITT from $106.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, ITT presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $108.43. Get ITT alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on ITT ITT Price Performance Shares of ITT traded up $1.57 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $98.05. The companys stock had a trading volume of 398,546 shares, compared to its average volume of 404,920. ITT has a 12-month low of $64.51 and a 12-month high of $103.96. The stock has a market cap of $8.05 billion, a PE ratio of 19.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.44. The companys 50 day moving average is $98.73 and its 200 day moving average is $90.78. ITT (NYSE:ITT Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 3rd. The conglomerate reported $1.33 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.17 by $0.16. The business had revenue of $833.90 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $795.91 million. ITT had a return on equity of 18.43% and a net margin of 13.48%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 13.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.98 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that ITT will post 5.1 EPS for the current fiscal year. ITT Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 1st were paid a dividend of $0.29 per share. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 31st. ITTs dividend payout ratio is presently 22.61%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, SVP Maurine C. Lembesis sold 4,000 shares of ITT stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $101.44, for a total transaction of $405,760.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 17,146 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,739,290.24. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Trading of ITT Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Virginia Retirement Systems ET AL bought a new position in shares of ITT during the second quarter valued at approximately $2,433,000. Osaic Holdings Inc. boosted its position in shares of ITT by 6.5% during the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 15,692 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $1,464,000 after buying an additional 957 shares during the period. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky boosted its position in shares of ITT by 3.8% during the second quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 37,336 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $3,480,000 after buying an additional 1,361 shares during the period. Imprint Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of ITT during the second quarter worth approximately $3,768,000. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its position in shares of ITT by 1.1% during the second quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 1,721,769 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $160,486,000 after buying an additional 18,112 shares during the period. 90.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. ITT Company Profile (Get Free Report) ITT Inc manufactures and sells engineered critical components and customized technology solutions for the transportation, industrial, and energy markets worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Motion Technologies, Industrial Process, and Connect & Control Technologies. The Motion Technologies segment manufactures brake pads, shims, shock absorbers, and energy absorption components; and sealing technologies primarily for the transportation industry, including passenger cars, trucks, light- and heavy-duty commercial and military vehicles, buses, and trains. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for ITT Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ITT and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Janney Capital Management LLC lessened its holdings in HDFC Bank Limited (NYSE:HDB Free Report) by 3.7% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 107,490 shares of the banks stock after selling 4,136 shares during the quarter. Janney Capital Management LLCs holdings in HDFC Bank were worth $7,492,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of HDFC Bank by 5.3% in the 2nd quarter. Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,808 shares of the banks stock valued at $255,000 after purchasing an additional 190 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL boosted its holdings in shares of HDFC Bank by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 13,948 shares of the banks stock valued at $930,000 after acquiring an additional 198 shares in the last quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of HDFC Bank by 2.9% during the 1st quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 8,070 shares of the banks stock valued at $538,000 after acquiring an additional 228 shares in the last quarter. KB Financial Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of HDFC Bank by 7.6% during the 1st quarter. KB Financial Partners LLC now owns 3,290 shares of the banks stock valued at $202,000 after acquiring an additional 232 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. boosted its holdings in shares of HDFC Bank by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. now owns 11,946 shares of the banks stock valued at $796,000 after acquiring an additional 245 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 17.24% of the companys stock. Get HDFC Bank alerts: HDFC Bank Stock Up 0.0 % Shares of HDB opened at $59.29 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $110.27 billion, a PE ratio of 18.53, a PEG ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 0.78. HDFC Bank Limited has a 12 month low of $55.22 and a 12 month high of $71.76. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $63.06 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $65.94. The company has a current ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 0.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. Analyst Ratings Changes HDFC Bank ( NYSE:HDB Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Monday, July 17th. The bank reported $0.80 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $4.27 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.93 billion. HDFC Bank had a return on equity of 17.31% and a net margin of 22.03%. On average, analysts anticipate that HDFC Bank Limited will post 2.79 EPS for the current year. Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group raised HDFC Bank from a buy rating to a conviction-buy rating in a report on Thursday, September 21st. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on HDFC Bank in a report on Monday, July 17th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on HDFC Bank in a report on Thursday. They set a hold rating on the stock. Get Our Latest Research Report on HDFC Bank HDFC Bank Profile (Free Report) HDFC Bank Limited provides banking and financial services to individuals and businesses in India, Bahrain, Hong Kong, and Dubai. The company operates in three segments: Wholesale Banking, Retail Banking, and Treasury Services. It accepts savings, salary, current, rural, public provident fund, pension, and demat accounts; fixed and recurring deposits; and safe deposit lockers, as well as offshore accounts and deposits, and overdrafts against fixed deposits. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for HDFC Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for HDFC Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of M.D.C. (NYSE:MDC Free Report) in a research note released on Thursday morning. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the construction companys stock. MDC has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Raymond James increased their price objective on shares of M.D.C. from $55.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Seaport Res Ptn restated a neutral rating on shares of M.D.C. in a research note on Wednesday, June 14th. Finally, Wedbush upped their price objective on M.D.C. from $28.00 to $51.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, July 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $46.17. Get M.D.C. alerts: Get Our Latest Report on M.D.C. M.D.C. Stock Down 0.3 % Shares of MDC traded down $0.11 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $39.23. The company had a trading volume of 750,849 shares, compared to its average volume of 531,638. The company has a market capitalization of $2.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.29 and a beta of 1.43. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $45.72 and a 200 day moving average price of $43.62. M.D.C. has a 52 week low of $27.04 and a 52 week high of $51.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 3.71 and a current ratio of 9.07. M.D.C. (NYSE:MDC Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The construction company reported $1.24 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.55. M.D.C. had a return on equity of 12.80% and a net margin of 7.74%. The business had revenue of $1.10 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $939.10 million. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.59 EPS. The companys revenue was down 23.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that M.D.C. will post 4.94 EPS for the current year. M.D.C. Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 23rd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 9th were given a $0.55 dividend. This represents a $2.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.61%. This is a boost from M.D.C.s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 8th. M.D.C.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 40.89%. Insider Transactions at M.D.C. In other news, CFO Robert Nathaniel Martin sold 19,839 shares of M.D.C. stock in a transaction on Friday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.94, for a total transaction of $990,759.66. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 299,962 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,980,102.28. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, Director David E. Blackford sold 2,771 shares of M.D.C. stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.04, for a total transaction of $133,118.84. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 19,734 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $948,021.36. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CFO Robert Nathaniel Martin sold 19,839 shares of M.D.C. stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.94, for a total value of $990,759.66. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 299,962 shares in the company, valued at $14,980,102.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 43,244 shares of company stock worth $2,170,919 in the last 90 days. 23.30% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of MDC. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of M.D.C. during the 4th quarter valued at $263,371,000. Pacer Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in M.D.C. by 160.0% in the 1st quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 1,129,185 shares of the construction companys stock worth $43,891,000 after purchasing an additional 694,962 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in M.D.C. by 54.0% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,361,183 shares of the construction companys stock worth $52,909,000 after purchasing an additional 477,398 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC lifted its holdings in M.D.C. by 259.7% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 593,177 shares of the construction companys stock worth $18,744,000 after purchasing an additional 428,286 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new position in M.D.C. in the 4th quarter worth approximately $13,291,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.08% of the companys stock. M.D.C. Company Profile (Get Free Report) M.DC Holdings, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the homebuilding and financial service businesses. Its homebuilding operations include purchasing finished lots or developing lots for the construction and sale primarily of single-family detached homes to first-time and first-time move-up homebuyers under the Richmond American Homes name. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for M.D.C. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for M.D.C. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Manning & Napier Group LLC lowered its holdings in Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX Free Report) by 1.1% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 462,873 shares of the medical equipment providers stock after selling 5,326 shares during the quarter. Manning & Napier Group LLCs holdings in Boston Scientific were worth $25,037,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Boston Scientific in the first quarter worth about $54,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Boston Scientific in the first quarter worth about $35,000. Prudential PLC bought a new position in Boston Scientific during the first quarter valued at approximately $1,076,000. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its stake in Boston Scientific by 24.0% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 28,793 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $1,275,000 after buying an additional 5,581 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in Boston Scientific during the first quarter valued at approximately $230,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.11% of the companys stock. Get Boston Scientific alerts: Boston Scientific Trading Up 0.9 % BSX traded up $0.44 during trading on Friday, hitting $52.12. 6,319,143 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,161,254. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $52.33 and a 200 day simple moving average of $52.13. The firm has a market cap of $76.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 86.87, a P/E/G ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 0.77. Boston Scientific Co. has a 1 year low of $38.79 and a 1 year high of $55.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 1.29. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Boston Scientific ( NYSE:BSX Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The medical equipment provider reported $0.53 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.49 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $3.60 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.50 billion. Boston Scientific had a return on equity of 15.16% and a net margin of 6.81%. Boston Scientifics quarterly revenue was up 10.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.44 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Boston Scientific Co. will post 1.99 EPS for the current year. A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. Mizuho increased their price target on Boston Scientific from $56.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. Needham & Company LLC reissued a buy rating and set a $61.00 price target on shares of Boston Scientific in a research note on Wednesday, September 20th. Evercore ISI reissued an outperform rating and set a $60.00 price target on shares of Boston Scientific in a research note on Tuesday, September 19th. Raymond James upped their price objective on Boston Scientific from $60.00 to $61.00 in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Finally, Citigroup restated a buy rating and set a $63.00 price objective on shares of Boston Scientific in a research report on Thursday, September 21st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $60.10. Get Our Latest Stock Report on Boston Scientific Insiders Place Their Bets In other Boston Scientific news, SVP Vance R. Brown sold 15,750 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, August 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.52, for a total transaction of $795,690.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 28,578 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,443,760.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Boston Scientific news, EVP Arthur C. Butcher sold 6,600 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.40, for a total transaction of $332,640.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 11,396 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $574,358.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Vance R. Brown sold 15,750 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, August 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.52, for a total value of $795,690.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 28,578 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,443,760.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 217,635 shares of company stock worth $11,566,176 in the last ninety days. 0.71% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Boston Scientific Profile (Free Report) Boston Scientific Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for use in various interventional medical specialties worldwide. 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. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BSX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Boston Scientific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boston Scientific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Manulife Financial (NYSE:MFC Free Report) (TSE:MFC) in a research report report published on Thursday. The firm issued a hold rating on the financial services providers stock. Separately, Barclays boosted their price target on Manulife Financial from $31.00 to $33.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, August 11th. Get Manulife Financial alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on MFC Manulife Financial Stock Up 1.4 % Manulife Financial stock traded up $0.26 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $18.22. 2,152,079 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,027,591. The firm has a market capitalization of $33.22 billion, a PE ratio of 8.55, a PEG ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.10. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $18.70 and its 200 day simple moving average is $18.89. Manulife Financial has a twelve month low of $14.92 and a twelve month high of $20.40. Manulife Financial (NYSE:MFC Get Free Report) (TSE:MFC) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 9th. The financial services provider reported $0.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.60 by $0.02. Manulife Financial had a return on equity of 13.53% and a net margin of 11.87%. The firm had revenue of $9 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.31 billion. Analysts anticipate that Manulife Financial will post 2.44 EPS for the current year. Manulife Financial Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 19th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 23rd were given a dividend of $0.276 per share. This represents a $1.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.06%. This is a positive change from Manulife Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 22nd. Manulife Financials dividend payout ratio is presently 52.11%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Manulife Financial A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of MFC. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in shares of Manulife Financial by 10.1% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 878,359 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $18,753,000 after purchasing an additional 80,450 shares during the period. Raymond James Trust N.A. raised its holdings in shares of Manulife Financial by 7.9% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 27,503 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $587,000 after acquiring an additional 2,013 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers acquired a new stake in shares of Manulife Financial in the 1st quarter worth about $428,000. Moors & Cabot Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Manulife Financial by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 43,078 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $920,000 after acquiring an additional 956 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Manulife Financial by 32.7% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 14,560 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $311,000 after acquiring an additional 3,585 shares during the last quarter. 45.02% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Manulife Financial (Get Free Report) Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in Asia, Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; and Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment offers investment advice and solutions to retirement, retail, and institutional clients through multiple distribution channels, including agents and brokers affiliated with the company, independent securities brokerage firms and financial advisors pension plan consultants, and banks. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Manulife Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Manulife Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Masco (NYSE:MAS Free Report) in a research report report published on Thursday. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the construction companys stock. MAS has been the subject of several other reports. Barclays raised their price target on Masco from $66.00 to $74.00 in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Bank of America raised their price objective on shares of Masco from $57.00 to $59.00 in a research note on Friday, July 28th. TheStreet lowered shares of Masco from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Monday, August 28th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on Masco from $59.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, July 28th. Finally, Loop Capital decreased their target price on Masco from $66.00 to $61.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 29th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Masco presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $62.46. Get Masco alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on Masco Masco Trading Down 0.0 % MAS stock traded down $0.02 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $52.20. 2,058,417 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,632,541. The company has a quick ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 1.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 420.86. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.75, a PEG ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 1.24. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $56.57 and a 200-day simple moving average of $54.51. Masco has a 12-month low of $42.33 and a 12-month high of $63.85. Masco (NYSE:MAS Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The construction company reported $1.19 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.96 by $0.23. Masco had a net margin of 9.73% and a negative return on equity of 403.37%. The company had revenue of $2.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.08 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.14 earnings per share. Mascos revenue was down 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that Masco will post 3.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Masco Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 11th were given a dividend of $0.285 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 10th. This represents a $1.14 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.18%. Mascos dividend payout ratio is presently 32.20%. Insider Transactions at Masco In other news, VP Renee Straber sold 41,200 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.13, for a total value of $2,518,556.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 31,995 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,955,854.35. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, VP Renee Straber sold 41,200 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.13, for a total value of $2,518,556.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 31,995 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,955,854.35. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Keith J. Allman sold 188,040 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.77, for a total transaction of $11,239,150.80. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 200,305 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,972,229.85. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.50% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. DecisionPoint Financial LLC purchased a new position in Masco during the second quarter worth about $29,000. M Holdings Securities Inc. purchased a new position in Masco in the second quarter worth $224,000. Barclays PLC raised its position in Masco by 70.6% in the second quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 553,654 shares of the construction companys stock worth $31,768,000 after acquiring an additional 229,153 shares in the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its position in Masco by 33.0% in the second quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,484 shares of the construction companys stock worth $85,000 after acquiring an additional 368 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rehmann Capital Advisory Group purchased a new position in Masco in the second quarter worth $224,000. 91.67% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Masco (Get Free Report) Masco Corporation designs, manufactures, and distributes home improvement and building products in North America, Europe, and internationally. The company's Plumbing Products segment offers faucets, showerheads, handheld showers, valves, bath hardware and accessories, bathing units, shower bases and enclosures, sinks, toilets, acrylic tubs, shower trays, spas, exercise pools, and fitness systems; brass, copper, and composite plumbing system components; connected water products; thermoplastic solutions, extruded plastic profiles, specialized fabrications, and PEX tubing products; and other non-decorative plumbing products. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Masco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Masco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Methode Electronics (NYSE:MEI Free Report) in a research note released on Thursday morning. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the electronics makers stock. Other equities analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on shares of Methode Electronics from $38.00 to $27.00 in a research note on Friday, September 8th. TheStreet downgraded shares of Methode Electronics from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Thursday, June 22nd. Get Methode Electronics alerts: View Our Latest Report on Methode Electronics Methode Electronics Price Performance Shares of NYSE:MEI traded up $0.22 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $23.47. The companys stock had a trading volume of 451,992 shares, compared to its average volume of 459,112. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $27.93 and its 200 day simple moving average is $35.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 2.31 and a current ratio of 3.15. The company has a market cap of $845.15 million, a P/E ratio of 15.34 and a beta of 1.11. Methode Electronics has a 12-month low of $21.38 and a 12-month high of $51.38. Methode Electronics (NYSE:MEI Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, September 7th. The electronics maker reported $0.06 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.22 by ($0.16). Methode Electronics had a return on equity of 6.16% and a net margin of 4.76%. The company had revenue of $289.70 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $268.28 million. On average, analysts forecast that Methode Electronics will post 0.85 EPS for the current year. Methode Electronics Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 13th will be given a $0.14 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 12th. This represents a $0.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.39%. Methode Electronicss dividend payout ratio is currently 36.60%. Insider Buying and Selling at Methode Electronics In related news, CEO Donald W. Duda purchased 23,245 shares of Methode Electronics stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 21st. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $21.80 per share, with a total value of $506,741.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 23,245 shares of the companys stock, valued at $506,741. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 4.80% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Methode Electronics A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Point72 Asset Management L.P. purchased a new stake in shares of Methode Electronics in the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. Covestor Ltd raised its holdings in shares of Methode Electronics by 38.4% in the 2nd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,327 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 368 shares during the period. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Methode Electronics in the 1st quarter valued at $48,000. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Methode Electronics in the 4th quarter valued at $53,000. Finally, Point72 Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new stake in Methode Electronics during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $99,000. 89.02% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Methode Electronics (Get Free Report) Methode Electronics, Inc designs, engineers, and produces mechatronic products worldwide. It operates through four segments: Automotive, Industrial, Interface, and Medical. The Automotive segment supplies electronic and electro-mechanical devices, and related products to automobile original equipment manufacturers directly or through their tiered suppliers. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Methode Electronics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Methode Electronics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. In Tajikistan's energy sector, JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) is running a project to create an eco-friendly heating and cooling system using heat from the ground, known as a GSHP system, a source at the JICA Tajikistan Office told Trend. This project falls under the technical cooperation category and is part of the Science and Technology Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) Program. This program is supported by the Japanese government and aims to foster collaborative research between Japan and developing countries to address global challenges. The project spans a five-year period from May 2022 to May 2027 and is focused on the cities of Dushanbe and Bokhtar. It has a budget of 300 million Japanese yen ($2.24 million). The purpose of the project is to develop a model of GSHP System optimal for Tajikistan. Activities within the program include analyzing groundwater, modeling groundwater flow and heat transport, creating maps to identify the potential for GSHP systems in Dushanbe, and other. The project also involves selecting two suitable locations for installing GSHP systems and developing high-efficiency GSHP systems. The main beneficiaries of this project are expected to be users of GSHP systems, which will be installed in places like schools, hospitals, and other facilities. In simple terms, a GSHP system is a way to control the temperature inside buildings using the consistent temperature of the ground. During the winter, it takes heat from the ground to warm up buildings, and in the summer, it removes excess heat from the building and transfers it into the ground to keep things cool. This method is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. JICA is an independent agency responsible for coordinating Official Development Assistance (ODA) on behalf of the Japanese government. Its mission is to support the economic and social development of developing countries and promote international cooperation. Over the years, JICA has become one of the world's largest bilateral development organizations. It operates through a network of 96 overseas offices and carries out projects in approximately 139 countries and regions. JICA initially established an office in Tajikistan as a branch of JICA Uzbekistan in 2006 but became an independent JICA office in 2017. In 2022, Japan and Tajikistan celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of ORIX (NYSE:IX Free Report) in a report published on Thursday. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the real estate investment trusts stock. ORIX Price Performance IX stock traded up $1.06 during trading on Thursday, hitting $91.29. The company had a trading volume of 19,786 shares, compared to its average volume of 25,126. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $93.37 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $89.57. The company has a current ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 1.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42. The company has a market cap of $21.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.77, a P/E/G ratio of 0.45 and a beta of 0.86. ORIX has a fifty-two week low of $68.78 and a fifty-two week high of $101.56. Get ORIX alerts: ORIX (NYSE:IX Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, August 4th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.96 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $4.93 billion for the quarter. ORIX had a return on equity of 7.88% and a net margin of 10.18%. Equities research analysts expect that ORIX will post 10.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On ORIX About ORIX Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of IX. OLD Mission Capital LLC bought a new position in ORIX in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Financial Management Professionals Inc. raised its position in ORIX by 744.2% in the 1st quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 439 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 387 shares during the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its position in ORIX by 57.5% in the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 663 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 242 shares during the last quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. raised its position in ORIX by 116.7% in the 1st quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 596 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 321 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CWM LLC raised its position in ORIX by 31.5% in the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 643 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $53,000 after purchasing an additional 154 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 1.73% of the companys stock. (Get Free Report) ORIX Corporation provides diversified financial services in Japan, the United States, Asia, Europe, Australasia, and the Middle East. The company's Corporate Financial Services and Maintenance Leasing segment is involved in the finance and fee; leasing and rental of automobiles, electronic measuring instruments, and ICT-related equipment businesses; and provision of life insurance and environment and energy-related products and services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for ORIX Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ORIX and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Peregrine Capital Management LLC trimmed its holdings in Ares Management Co. (NYSE:ARES Free Report) by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 885,824 shares of the asset managers stock after selling 7,167 shares during the quarter. Ares Management comprises about 2.3% of Peregrine Capital Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 2nd biggest holding. Peregrine Capital Management LLCs holdings in Ares Management were worth $85,349,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Guggenheim Capital LLC lifted its position in Ares Management by 12.8% during the 1st quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 10,987 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $917,000 after acquiring an additional 1,245 shares during the period. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. increased its stake in Ares Management by 5.3% during the 1st quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 3,194 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $267,000 after purchasing an additional 162 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System grew its stake in shares of Ares Management by 3.6% in the first quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 45,376 shares of the asset managers stock worth $3,786,000 after acquiring an additional 1,565 shares during the period. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Ares Management in the first quarter worth approximately $582,000. Finally, Barclays PLC grew its stake in shares of Ares Management by 50.6% in the first quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 204,093 shares of the asset managers stock worth $17,029,000 after acquiring an additional 68,567 shares during the period. 50.03% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Ares Management alerts: Ares Management Price Performance Shares of ARES stock traded up $2.48 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $108.42. The company had a trading volume of 1,950,458 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,053,488. The company has a market capitalization of $33.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 66.52, a P/E/G ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 1.31. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $102.31 and its 200-day moving average price is $93.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 0.97 and a quick ratio of 0.97. Ares Management Co. has a 52-week low of $58.60 and a 52-week high of $109.57. Ares Management Dividend Announcement Ares Management ( NYSE:ARES Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The asset manager reported $0.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.85 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $1.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $725.82 million. Ares Management had a net margin of 8.79% and a return on equity of 17.56%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.74 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Ares Management Co. will post 3.69 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Friday, September 15th were paid a dividend of $0.77 per share. This represents a $3.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.84%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. Ares Managements payout ratio is 188.96%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts have recently commented on ARES shares. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Ares Management from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Ares Management from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 18th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Ares Management from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Ares Management from $117.00 to $126.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Finally, Wolfe Research started coverage on shares of Ares Management in a research report on Wednesday. They set an outperform rating and a $133.00 target price for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Ares Management presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $108.92. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on ARES Insider Buying and Selling at Ares Management In other news, major shareholder Ares Management Llc acquired 179,168 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 22nd. The shares were acquired at an average price of $15.17 per share, for a total transaction of $2,717,978.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 38,284,666 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $580,778,383.22. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, major shareholder Ares Management Llc acquired 179,168 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 22nd. The shares were acquired at an average price of $15.17 per share, for a total transaction of $2,717,978.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 38,284,666 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $580,778,383.22. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider R. Kipp Deveer sold 200,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.13, for a total transaction of $20,026,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 861,311 shares in the company, valued at approximately $86,243,070.43. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have bought 634,122 shares of company stock worth $10,259,785 and have sold 1,313,417 shares worth $132,726,614. Company insiders own 47.34% of the companys stock. Ares Management Company Profile (Free Report) Ares Management Corporation operates as an alternative asset manager in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The company's Tradable Credit Group segment manages various types of investment funds, such as commingled and separately managed accounts for institutional investors, and publicly traded vehicles and sub-advised funds for retail investors in the tradable and non-investment grade corporate credit markets. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ARES? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ares Management Co. (NYSE:ARES Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Ares Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ares Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Simplicity Solutions LLC cut its stake in Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:BSV Free Report) by 20.8% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 376,957 shares of the companys stock after selling 99,037 shares during the period. Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF comprises about 0.8% of Simplicity Solutions LLCs holdings, making the stock its 22nd largest holding. Simplicity Solutions LLC owned about 0.08% of Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF worth $28,487,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF by 1.9% in the first quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 66,200,343 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,063,664,000 after purchasing an additional 1,204,402 shares during the period. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF by 96,253.4% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 23,553,600 shares of the companys stock worth $1,773,115,000 after buying an additional 23,529,155 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF by 65.9% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 14,355,012 shares of the companys stock worth $1,098,015,000 after buying an additional 5,702,356 shares during the last quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC purchased a new stake in Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF during the 1st quarter worth about $1,095,753,000. Finally, Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV lifted its holdings in Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF by 16.3% during the 1st quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 13,399,868 shares of the companys stock worth $1,023,341,000 after buying an additional 1,880,152 shares during the last quarter. Get Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF alerts: Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF Stock Down 0.1 % NYSEARCA BSV traded down $0.10 during trading on Friday, reaching $74.89. 2,063,422 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,758,852. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $75.28 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $75.80. Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF has a 1 year low of $74.03 and a 1 year high of $77.15. Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF Company Profile Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the performance of a market-weighted bond index with a short-term, dollar-weighted average maturity. The Fund employs a passive management or indexing strategy designed to track the performance of the Barclays Capital U.S. 1-5 Year Government/Credit Bond Index (the Index). See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BSV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:BSV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Simplicity Solutions LLC cut its position in Embraer S.A. (NYSE:ERJ Free Report) by 12.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 684,600 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 93,700 shares during the quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC owned about 0.37% of Embraer worth $10,584,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Embraer by 2.4% during the 1st quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 35,392 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $579,000 after purchasing an additional 842 shares during the last quarter. KCS Wealth Advisory lifted its holdings in Embraer by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. KCS Wealth Advisory now owns 63,562 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $983,000 after purchasing an additional 889 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Hawaii lifted its holdings in Embraer by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Hawaii now owns 58,696 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $961,000 after purchasing an additional 963 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates lifted its holdings in Embraer by 5.8% during the 4th quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 19,556 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $214,000 after purchasing an additional 1,072 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC lifted its holdings in Embraer by 10.9% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 14,406 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $126,000 after purchasing an additional 1,413 shares during the last quarter. 34.65% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Embraer alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Citigroup raised their price target on Embraer from $15.75 to $16.50 in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Embraer in a research report on Thursday. They issued a hold rating for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $19.17. Embraer Price Performance Shares of Embraer stock traded up $0.10 during trading on Friday, reaching $12.98. The companys stock had a trading volume of 832,556 shares, compared to its average volume of 968,027. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $14.71 and its 200-day moving average price is $15.06. Embraer S.A. has a 52 week low of $8.52 and a 52 week high of $17.14. The company has a current ratio of 1.52, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95. Embraer (NYSE:ERJ Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 14th. The aerospace company reported $0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.12 by $0.20. The firm had revenue of $1.29 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.16 billion. Embraer had a negative net margin of 1.97% and a positive return on equity of 1.32%. On average, research analysts predict that Embraer S.A. will post 0.73 earnings per share for the current year. Embraer Company Profile (Free Report) Embraer SA designs, develops, manufactures, and sells aircraft and systems in North America, Latin America, the Asia Pacific, Brazil, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through Commercial Aviation; Defense & Security; Executive Aviation; Services & Support; and Other segments. The Commercial Aviation segment designs, develops, manufactures, and sells commercial jets, as well as leases aircraft. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ERJ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Embraer S.A. (NYSE:ERJ Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Embraer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Embraer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima (NYSE:IRS Free Report) in a report released on Thursday. The firm issued a hold rating on the financial services providers stock. IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima Stock Performance IRS traded up $0.22 on Thursday, hitting $6.78. 65,809 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 65,562. The firm has a market cap of $499.08 million, a PE ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 1.17. IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima has a twelve month low of $3.79 and a twelve month high of $8.58. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $6.83 and a two-hundred day moving average of $6.63. The company has a current ratio of 1.65, a quick ratio of 1.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. Get IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima alerts: IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima (NYSE:IRS Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, September 6th. The financial services provider reported $1.49 earnings per share for the quarter. IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima had a net margin of 62.33% and a return on equity of 18.44%. The firm had revenue of $153.55 million for the quarter. Institutional Investors Weigh In On IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima About IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in IRS. Eaton Vance Management bought a new stake in IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima during the first quarter worth approximately $1,155,000. Millennium Management LLC raised its holdings in IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima by 286.0% during the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 72,208 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $260,000 after purchasing an additional 53,501 shares in the last quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. raised its holdings in IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima by 8.4% during the second quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 2,291,575 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $8,250,000 after purchasing an additional 178,129 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its holdings in IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima by 10.7% during the second quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 140,897 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $507,000 after purchasing an additional 13,584 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC bought a new stake in IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima during the third quarter worth approximately $58,000. Institutional investors own 17.56% of the companys stock. (Get Free Report) IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the diversified real estate activities in Argentina. The company is involved in the acquisition, development, and operation of shopping malls, office buildings, and other non-shopping mall properties primarily for rental purposes. See Also Receive News & Ratings for IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Suncor Energy (NYSE:SU Free Report) (TSE:SU) in a research note released on Thursday morning. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the oil and gas producers stock. Several other research analysts have also recently commented on SU. TD Securities cut shares of Suncor Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, September 28th. Desjardins cut shares of Suncor Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $49.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Monday, September 18th. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Suncor Energy from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their target price for the stock from $44.00 to $54.00 in a report on Wednesday, August 23rd. UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of Suncor Energy in a report on Wednesday, July 12th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut shares of Suncor Energy from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, July 13th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $52.50. Get Suncor Energy alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Suncor Energy Suncor Energy Stock Up 0.8 % Suncor Energy stock opened at $32.22 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $41.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.56, a P/E/G ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a quick ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. Suncor Energy has a twelve month low of $27.59 and a twelve month high of $37.23. The companys 50-day moving average price is $33.12 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $31.00. Suncor Energy (NYSE:SU Get Free Report) (TSE:SU) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 14th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.71 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.59 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $8.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.89 billion. Suncor Energy had a net margin of 11.30% and a return on equity of 20.19%. As a group, analysts expect that Suncor Energy will post 3.38 EPS for the current year. Suncor Energy Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 25th. Investors of record on Friday, September 1st were paid a $0.393 dividend. This represents a $1.57 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.88%. This is a boost from Suncor Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 31st. Suncor Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 45.70%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Dfpg Investments LLC boosted its position in Suncor Energy by 3.9% in the second quarter. Dfpg Investments LLC now owns 9,125 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $266,000 after buying an additional 346 shares in the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP boosted its position in Suncor Energy by 32.5% in the first quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,443 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 354 shares in the last quarter. Mitchell & Pahl Private Wealth LLC boosted its position in Suncor Energy by 2.2% in the first quarter. Mitchell & Pahl Private Wealth LLC now owns 16,682 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $518,000 after buying an additional 358 shares in the last quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. boosted its position in Suncor Energy by 0.5% in the second quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. now owns 78,606 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $2,313,000 after buying an additional 362 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. boosted its position in Suncor Energy by 2.7% in the second quarter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. now owns 14,695 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $431,000 after buying an additional 391 shares in the last quarter. 60.25% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Suncor Energy Company Profile (Get Free Report) Suncor Energy Inc operates as an integrated energy company in Canada and internationally. It operates through Oil Sands; Exploration and Production; and Refining and Marketing segments. The Oil Sands segment explores, develops, and produces bitumen, synthetic crude oil, and related products. This segment also engages in syncrude oil sands mining and upgrading operations; and marketing, supply, transportation, and risk management of crude oil, natural gas, power, and byproducts. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Suncor Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Suncor Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Teledyne Technologies (NYSE:TDY Free Report) in a research report sent to investors on Thursday. The firm issued a hold rating on the scientific and technical instruments companys stock. Several other research firms have also issued reports on TDY. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Teledyne Technologies from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their price objective for the company from $423.00 to $495.00 in a research note on Monday, August 14th. BNP Paribas started coverage on Teledyne Technologies in a research report on Thursday. They issued an outperform rating and a $530.00 price target for the company. UBS Group initiated coverage on shares of Teledyne Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. They set a buy rating and a $495.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Needham & Company LLC lowered their target price on shares of Teledyne Technologies from $470.00 to $455.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Teledyne Technologies presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $503.86. Get Teledyne Technologies alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on Teledyne Technologies Teledyne Technologies Trading Up 0.8 % TDY stock opened at $401.42 on Thursday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $404.99 and a 200 day moving average price of $410.10. Teledyne Technologies has a fifty-two week low of $325.00 and a fifty-two week high of $448.71. The firm has a market cap of $18.90 billion, a PE ratio of 24.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.30 and a beta of 1.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a current ratio of 1.62. Teledyne Technologies (NYSE:TDY Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 26th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $4.67 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $4.63 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $1.42 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.41 billion. Teledyne Technologies had a net margin of 13.75% and a return on equity of 10.90%. The businesss revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $4.43 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Teledyne Technologies will post 19.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Transactions at Teledyne Technologies In other news, Director Schack Wesley W. Von sold 376 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $412.30, for a total value of $155,024.80. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 11,967 shares in the company, valued at $4,933,994.10. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other Teledyne Technologies news, CFO Sue Main sold 770 shares of Teledyne Technologies stock in a transaction on Friday, September 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $420.28, for a total transaction of $323,615.60. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 40,113 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,858,691.64. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Schack Wesley W. Von sold 376 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $412.30, for a total value of $155,024.80. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 11,967 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,933,994.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 61,646 shares of company stock worth $25,717,295. 2.14% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Trading of Teledyne Technologies Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in TDY. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Teledyne Technologies during the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,459,000. Fulton Bank N.A. boosted its stake in shares of Teledyne Technologies by 15.5% during the third quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. now owns 925 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $378,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. increased its holdings in Teledyne Technologies by 3,866.7% during the third quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 119 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $49,000 after buying an additional 116 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Teledyne Technologies in the third quarter worth approximately $80,000. Finally, Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its holdings in Teledyne Technologies by 32.2% during the third quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 115 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 28 shares during the period. 87.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Teledyne Technologies Company Profile (Get Free Report) Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries, provides enabling technologies for industrial growth markets in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and internationally. The company's Instrumentation segment offers monitoring and control instruments for marine, environmental, industrial, and other applications, as well as electronic test and measurement equipment; and power and communications connectivity devices for distributed instrumentation systems and sensor networks. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Teledyne Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Teledyne Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC increased its position in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Free Report) by 16.3% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 48,409 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 6,771 shares during the period. Charles Schwab makes up approximately 1.9% of Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLCs holdings, making the stock its 20th biggest position. Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLCs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $2,744,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of SCHW. CVA Family Office LLC lifted its stake in Charles Schwab by 26.8% during the 4th quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 638 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $53,000 after acquiring an additional 135 shares during the period. Regal Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Charles Schwab by 3.6% during the 4th quarter. Regal Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,918 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $326,000 after acquiring an additional 135 shares during the period. Signet Financial Management LLC lifted its stake in Charles Schwab by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Signet Financial Management LLC now owns 49,378 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,111,000 after acquiring an additional 139 shares during the period. Capital Advisors Inc. OK lifted its stake in Charles Schwab by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Capital Advisors Inc. OK now owns 28,547 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,618,000 after acquiring an additional 162 shares during the period. Finally, Investment Advisory Services Inc. TX ADV lifted its stake in Charles Schwab by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Investment Advisory Services Inc. TX ADV now owns 32,642 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,718,000 after acquiring an additional 164 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 81.61% of the companys stock. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Charles Schwab In related news, Director Charles A. Ruffel acquired 833 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 17th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $60.55 per share, with a total value of $50,438.15. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 3,386 shares in the company, valued at approximately $205,022.30. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other Charles Schwab news, Director Charles A. Ruffel bought 833 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 17th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $60.55 per share, with a total value of $50,438.15. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 3,386 shares in the company, valued at approximately $205,022.30. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 3,792 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.31, for a total transaction of $217,319.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 44,725 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,563,189.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 159,599 shares of company stock valued at $10,542,469 in the last three months. 6.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Charles Schwab Stock Performance Charles Schwab stock traded up $0.46 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $51.52. The stock had a trading volume of 11,471,267 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,692,928. The company has a current ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 52-week low of $45.00 and a 52-week high of $86.63. The firms fifty day moving average is $59.04 and its two-hundred day moving average is $56.09. The company has a market capitalization of $91.20 billion, a PE ratio of 15.02, a P/E/G ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 0.93. Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.04. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 33.15% and a return on equity of 27.54%. The business had revenue of $4.66 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.61 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.97 EPS. The companys revenue was down 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts forecast that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.23 EPS for the current year. Charles Schwab Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 11th were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.94%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 10th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.15%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts have issued reports on SCHW shares. JMP Securities restated a market outperform rating and set a $77.00 target price on shares of Charles Schwab in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. Raymond James lowered their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $77.00 to $72.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, September 18th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $64.00 to $66.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Argus increased their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $70.00 to $81.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. Finally, Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $46.00 to $53.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 15th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Charles Schwab currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $72.28. View Our Latest Research Report on Charles Schwab About Charles Schwab (Free Report) The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Charles Schwab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles Schwab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Simplicity Solutions LLC increased its holdings in shares of Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS Free Report) by 13.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 49,293 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 5,785 shares during the quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLCs holdings in Zoetis were worth $8,489,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Aspire Private Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Zoetis in the first quarter valued at approximately $15,019,213,000. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Zoetis by 430.8% in the first quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 138 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares during the period. VitalStone Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Zoetis in the first quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Evermay Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Zoetis by 439.3% in the first quarter. Evermay Wealth Management LLC now owns 151 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 123 shares during the period. Finally, Pacifica Partners Inc. increased its stake in shares of Zoetis by 76.9% in the second quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. now owns 161 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.47% of the companys stock. Get Zoetis alerts: Zoetis Price Performance Zoetis stock traded up $3.58 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $175.58. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,490,631 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,617,248. The company has a quick ratio of 1.97, a current ratio of 3.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42. The stock has a market capitalization of $80.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.89, a P/E/G ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.80. Zoetis Inc. has a twelve month low of $124.15 and a twelve month high of $194.99. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $182.96 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $176.21. Insiders Place Their Bets Zoetis ( NYSE:ZTS Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $1.41 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.31 by $0.10. Zoetis had a net margin of 26.92% and a return on equity of 52.02%. The firm had revenue of $2.18 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.16 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.20 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 3.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that Zoetis Inc. will post 5.42 earnings per share for the current year. In other Zoetis news, EVP Robert J. Polzer sold 1,179 shares of Zoetis stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $189.94, for a total transaction of $223,939.26. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 2,353 shares in the company, valued at approximately $446,928.82. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other Zoetis news, EVP Robert J. Polzer sold 1,179 shares of Zoetis stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $189.94, for a total transaction of $223,939.26. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 2,353 shares in the company, valued at approximately $446,928.82. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Kristin C. Peck sold 13,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $179.97, for a total transaction of $2,339,610.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 56,843 shares in the company, valued at $10,230,034.71. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 25,930 shares of company stock worth $4,691,799. Corporate insiders own 0.12% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages have commented on ZTS. Piper Sandler dropped their price target on shares of Zoetis from $220.00 to $210.00 in a research note on Thursday. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on Zoetis from $204.00 to $213.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. HSBC assumed coverage on Zoetis in a report on Wednesday, September 6th. They set a buy rating and a $230.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com cut Zoetis from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Sunday. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reissued a buy rating and set a $205.00 target price on shares of Zoetis in a report on Tuesday, September 12th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $221.33. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Zoetis Zoetis Profile (Free Report) Zoetis Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, and commercializes animal health medicines, vaccines, and diagnostic products in the United States and internationally. It commercializes products primarily across species, including livestock, such as cattle, swine, poultry, fish, and sheep and others; and companion animals comprising dogs, cats, and horses. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ZTS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Zoetis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Zoetis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. A bus with Israeli tourists was shelled in Alexandria, Egypt, Trend reports. About 7 people were killed and 1 person was injured. The victims are citizens of Israel and Egypt. The policeman who committed the incident has been arrested. A combined attack was launched against Israel yesterday morning. From the beginning, a massive bombardment of rockets began from the Gaza Strip, followed by militant infiltration by land, water and air. In response to the massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared a state of preparedness for potential conflict. Additionally, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced the mobilization of reservists on a large scale. you are here: Harsh Kumar is Correspondent at Moneycontrol based in Delhi. Harsh covers BFSI sector. You can reach him at Harsh.kumar@nw18.com Oct 08, 2023 / 11:05 pm Israel-Gaza conflict Highlights: US President Joe Biden said fresh military aid is on its way to Israel with "more to follow over the coming days," the White House said. Biden and Israeli PM Netanyahu also "discussed ongoing efforts to ensure that no enemies of Israel believe they can or should seek advantage from the current situation," it said in a statement. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. The death toll has increased as a result of an attack from the Gaza Strip on Israel, Israeli army radio said, Trend reports. As a result of terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas militants, 300 Israelis have now been killed. The number of injured throughout the country exceeded a thousand people. This morning, Israel experienced a coordinated assault, commencing with a significant rocket barrage launched from the Gaza Strip. Subsequently, militants infiltrated by land, water, and air. In response to the massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared a state of preparedness for potential conflict. Additionally, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced the mobilization of reservists on a large scale. Saurabh Sharma is a freelance journalist who writes on books and gender. Christin Mathew Philip is an Assistant editor at moneycontrol.com. Based in Bengaluru, he writes on mobility, infrastructure and start-ups. He is a Ramnath Goenka excellence in journalism awardee. You can find him on Twitter here: twitter.com/ChristinMP_ Bindu Gopal Rao is a Bengaluru-based freelance writer and photographer. Views expressed are personal. She's on Instagram @bindugopalrao BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. The Israeli Army hit 10 Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, including the intelligence headquarters and two banks associated with the radical movement, press service of the Israeli Army said, Trend reports. "Some time ago, the Israeli Army struck 10 targets of the Hamas terrorist organization. The targets were located in multi-story buildings used by the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip. The targets included an intelligence headquarters belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization and a military compound used by the Hamas air force. In parallel, the Israeli Army struck two banks belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in order to raise funds for terrorism," the press service said. A combined attack was launched against Israel yesterday morning. From the beginning, a massive bombardment of rockets began from the Gaza Strip, followed by militant infiltration by land, water and air. The Israel Defense Forces declared a state of readiness for war following the massive rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. In addition, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a massive gathering of reservists. Sushmita Srivastav An independent journalist and editor, Sushmita writes on diverse topics, ranging from travel, food, fitness and health, to luxury, culture, and everything in between. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Israel's largest international airport named after David Ben-Gurion, located near Tel Aviv, continues to operate in normal mode, all decisions on canceling flights are made by airlines in private, press service of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, Trend reports. "Israelis abroad wishing to return home can be assured that Ben-Gurion Airport remains open for departures and arrivals. Some foreign airlines have canceled their flights to Israel, so it is recommended to check with the companies themselves," the press service said. The ministry also emphasized that Israeli carriers continue to operate scheduled flights, and the number of flights from various locations around the world is increasing. It is important to note that these are commercial flights, for which it is necessary to purchase tickets independently. A combined attack was launched against Israel yesterday morning. Massive rocket fire began from the Gaza Strip, followed by militant infiltration by land, water and air. The Israel Defense Forces declared a state of readiness for war following the massive rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. In addition, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a massive gathering of reservists. Blas: Mindset stands in the way of help for GMH BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. More than 400 Hamas militants have been neutralized and dozens of terrorists captured in the Gaza Strip, Trend reports. Israeli aviation struck a complex of buildings belonging to the "head of the intelligence unit" of the radical group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. A combined attack was launched against Israel yesterday morning. From the beginning, a massive bombardment of rockets began from the Gaza Strip, followed by militant infiltration by land, water and air. In response to the massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared a state of preparedness for potential conflict. Additionally, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced the mobilization of reservists on a large scale. Four people are wounded in a shooting on a Vienna street, and police reportedly arrest four suspects VIENNA, Austria (AP) Austrian police say four people were wounded Saturday evening in a shooting on a street in the capital, Vienna. The shooting happened in the citys Floridsdorf district, Vienna police said on X, formerly known as Twitter. Police said that four people were shot in the street and that the gunmen fled in cars. The conditions of those injured werent immediately clear. Austrias public broadcaster said police later seized two cars and arrested four suspects, all Bosnian nationals. The news site Kronen said the shooting appeared to be linked to a feud between criminal gangs. Police didnt immediately release any information about a possible motive. Tearful mourners line up at San Francisco City Hall to thank, pay last respects to Dianne Feinstein Dianne Feinstein San Francisco View Photo SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Mourners streamed into San Francisco City Hall on Wednesday to pay their respects to the late U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, honoring her as fearless, smart and the glue who kept the city together after two political assassinations that catapulted her into the mayors office and the national spotlight. She wasnt afraid to do a mans job. She wasnt afraid to be a senator. She wasnt afraid to go after what she wanted, said Lawanda Carter, 48, of San Francisco. And thats encouragement for us women now to have courage. Carter was among the scores of everyday San Franciscans and political leaders alike who brought flowers, bowed their heads or clasped their hands in prayer as they stood before Feinsteins casket, which was draped in an American flag and on display behind velvet ropes. Many said they had never met Feinstein, but wanted to honor an indefatigable public servant who fought to level the playing field for women, members of the LGBTQ community and racial minorities. Feinstein died early Friday in her Washington, D.C., home of natural causes, said Adam Russell, a spokesperson for her office. She was 90. She was San Franciscos first female mayor and one of Californias first two women U.S. senators, a job she first won alongside Barbara Boxer in 1992, dubbed the Year of the Woman. Former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, also of San Francisco, and Mayor London Breed were among the officials who paid their respects. Feinstein spent much of her career in the U.S. Senate but will be known as the forever mayor of San Francisco, a role she inherited in tragedy. She was president of the Board of Supervisors in November 1978 when a former supervisor assassinated Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, the citys first openly gay supervisor, at City Hall. Feinstein, who found Milks body, became acting mayor and won election twice to serve as mayor until 1988. Georgia Otterson, 76, a health care administrator, said Feinstein wasnt as politically liberal as she would have liked, but the late mayor earned her respect with how she kept the heartbroken city together. We were all mourning together, holding candles. If memory serves me, Joan Baez sang, Otterson said of an impromptu march that night from the historically gay Castro District to City Hall. And she held us up. As a centrist Democrat, she was criticized by some more liberal voters, including for her longtime support for the death penalty, and as the country became more polarized, for her collegial relationship with Republicans. But the straight, white woman largely earned the gratitude of a city that celebrates its racial and sexual diversity. She steered San Francisco through the HIV and AIDS crisis, bringing attention to an epidemic ignored by President Ronald Reagan. She also secured federal and private funding to save the citys iconic cable cars from death by deterioration. Feinstein led the city as it played host to the Democratic National Convention in 1984. Another San Francisco tradition Fleet Week was started by Feinstein in 1981, and this years annual celebration of air shows, naval ships and military bands is dedicated to her. Breed recalled looking up to Feinstein when she was a Black kid growing up in public housing and playing the French horn in a middle school band that performed regularly at mayoral events. She was so proud of us and she said so, and she took the time to talk to us, express how amazing we were and to remind us that we were her band, Breed said at a news conference the day after Feinsteins death. Mourners Wednesday expressed their pride in Feinstein. She kept moving on up. I was proud of her, very proud of her, said Dorothy Hudson, 81, a retired federal government employee. She was very kind, very smart. She opened doors up to let people know, You can do it. San Francisco native Cari Donovan placed a bouquet of red and pink lilies and daisies on the floor before the casket. She lingered, crying quietly over a woman she never knew but who was so important to her life. She championed and fought for the rights of so many people, Donovan said. Im so grateful. And I really just wanted her family to know how much she meant to me. The social worker said she talked to her 28-year-old daughter about the battles Feinstein fought so that younger generations of women could dream bigger. She was a lioness. While Feinsteins career sent her to Washington, she remained deeply involved in the affairs of San Francisco, the city where she was born and raised. She often called her successors including Gov. Gavin Newsom to complain about potholes or trash and to offer advice and encouragement. John Konstin Sr., owner of Johns Grill, a favorite downtown tourist destination and watering hole for city politicians, recalled Feinstein ordering potholes filled, trees trimmed and ugly scaffolding brought down before San Francisco hosted the 1984 Democratic convention. She asked, How long has this scaffolding been up? And my dad said Maybe 10 years, and the next day it came down, said Konstin, 59. It was half a block of scaffolding. The restaurant, which is celebrating its 115th anniversary Wednesday, honored Feinstein with flowers beneath a portrait of her that hangs on a wall. Feinsteins body will remained in City Hall through the evening and a memorial service is scheduled Thursday outside the building. Speakers will include Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Feinsteins granddaughter Eileen Mariano. President Joe Biden will deliver remarks by recorded video. Among the first to say goodbye Wednesday were Jose Romero Cooper and Mark Cooper. The married couple waited in line before doors opened to the public. What Im gonna say is: Thank you for everything, for being strong, said Romero Cooper, 61, a scarf of the American flag draped around his neck. He stood before the casket, genuflected and crossed himself, then walked away with tears streaming down his face. ___ This story has been corrected to show that Feinstein died Friday, not Thursday. AP researcher Randy Herschaft in New York contributed to this report. By JANIE HAR Associated Press Kevin McCarthys ouster as House speaker could cost the GOP its best fundraiser heading into 2024 Election 2024 McCarthy Fundraising View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) Kevin McCarthy spent years raising mountains of Republican campaign cash, flying around the country to recruit top candidates in key districts and painstakingly building political relationships as he worked his way toward becoming speaker of the House. Now that hes been ousted from the post after less than nine months, some in the GOP are wondering if anyone can take his place as a fundraising dynamo and party builder. The House isnt scheduled to vote on who could replace McCarthy until at least next week with all legislative work suspended as the chamber navigates a situation never before seen in the nations history. In the meantime, House Republicans have no clear leader heading into next years election as they cling to a razor-thin majority. Nobody can raise money like him, said Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D. And no matter who is the next speaker of the House, none of them can do what Kevin McCarthy did. The National Republican Congressional Committee, the GOPs House campaign arm, postponed its upcoming fall gala in Dallas that McCarthy was supposed to headline. The committee said McCarthy helped it raise more than $40 million during the last election cycle and $20-plus million so far this cycle. The totals were even higher for a McCarthy-aligned super PAC, the Congressional Leadership Fund, which said that it and its associated nonprofits had raised about $645 million under McCarthy. That included about $215 million for the 2020 election, roughly $350 million during last years midterm races and around $80 million so far this cycle. The leadership fund will shift its alignment to follow the new House speaker once one is elected. Paul Ryan replaced fellow Republican John Boehner in 2015. The GOP retained House control the following year when Donald Trump was elected president. Speaker McCarthy has fundamentally altered House elections for Republicans through his recruitment efforts, his unmatched fundraising prowess, and his ability to inspire and generate confidence among donors, Congressional Leadership Fund President Dan Conston said in a statement. While this is an obvious loss for the House, CLF remains laser-focused on our mission of holding radical Democrats accountable, protecting our vulnerable incumbents, and expanding the House Republican majority. As speaker and in his prior years leading the Republicans in the minority, McCarthy was viewed by many as less of a legislator and more of a political tactician who found strong Republican candidates and raised enough money to get them elected and to bolster the national party. McCarthy visiting a district could often be a major draw, juicing fundraiser proceeds, though thats a role any new House speaker can grow into. A bigger test for the next speaker is whether they will be able to raise the same kind of sums as McCarthy for the partys outside groups, which every year pour millions of dollars into advertising in key races, unburdened by contribution limits for individual campaigns. Thats where McCarthy has crushed it, said Cam Savage, a longtime Republican strategist who works on House races. He did the heavy lifting for the Congressional Leadership Fund. During the 2022 midterms, Republicans underperformed national expectations and eked out a House majority so narrow that McCarthy needed an unprecedented 15 rounds of voting to claim the speakership in January. McCarthy had to remain close to Trump, who is now the front-runner in the partys 2024 primary, and balance the interests of moderates and hard-right members alike. He ultimately couldnt. The revolt against him featured eight Republicans teaming with House Democrats to vote McCarthy out of the speakership. Ironically, McCarthy had campaigned for some of those who eventually helped strip him of the post hed worked so long to obtain. A lot of them, I helped get elected, so I probably should have picked somebody else, McCarthy joked at a press conference after being forced out. He may still prove a force in 2024 races. McCarthy has so far suggested that hell continue to bolster the GOP nationally, saying, My goals have not changed, my ability to fight is just in a different form. I intend to make sure that we gain and keep the majority in the next cycle as well, he said. Holding the House already looked tough since the current majority includes 18 GOP members representing districts that Joe Biden won in 2020. Especially critical could be Republican-held districts in McCarthys native California, which Democrats were already targeting and could get even more competitive without the clout that comes with the state having one of its own as speaker. After this weeks chaotic episode, House Republicans have basically upgraded to a Disney fast-pass in their never-ending roller coaster ride to the radical right, said Viet Shelton, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the partys House campaign arm. House members in both parties said that what happens next will depend greatly on whether the former speaker endorses his eventual successor. Thats because aligning the GOPs various fundraising mechanisms to the new speaker will likely go far smoother if McCarthy supports his replacement. Its going to be a challenge, said Marty Obst, who worked for Trumps 2020 campaign and has raised money with McCarthy in the past. The transition is going to be fairly bumpy. But other Republicans arent lamenting his departure. McCarthy noted during his valedictory press conference that he got a text message from a former opponent of one of the eight Republicans who voted against him, Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina. I did text him because he did dump $3 million into that run to defeat me, said Katie Arrington, who lost to Mace in a 2022 primary. He wasted money. Arrington, who was backed by Trump in her challenge to Mace, questioned the notion of the speaker being the House majoritys chief campaigner. Why is Kevin McCarthy running around recruiting people, giving them money, picking winners and losers out of Washington? Arrington asked. That is the problem with Washington the elites think that they know better. ___ Associated Press writers Kevin Freking in Washington and Meg Kinnard and James Pollard in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed to this report. By WILL WEISSERT and BRIAN SLODYSKO Associated Press Smith & Wesson celebrates new headquarters opening in gun-friendly Tennessee View Photo MARYVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson hosted a grand opening of its new Tennessee headquarters Saturday after moving from its longtime home in Massachusetts to a more gun-friendly state. The company built a new 650,000-square feet (60,387-square meters) headquarters in Maryville, Tennessee, as part of a $125 million relocation plan announced in 2021. Tours were offered at the new facility on Saturday. The gunmaker had been located in Springfield, Massachusetts, since the mid-19th century, but company officials have said legislative proposals in that state would prohibit them from manufacturing certain weapons. Massachusetts is known to have some of the countrys strictest gun laws. Smith & Wesson President and CEO Mark Smith spoke at the event Saturday, which drew a large crowd to the new facility, The Daily Times reported. From where I stand, the next 170 years of Smith & Wesson are looking pretty good, Smith said. It is something special here in Tennessee. He cited a welcoming regulatory environment and close collaboration with the Tennessee state government as a crucial piece of the plan to relocate. The company has said the new facility would create hundreds of jobs. Tennessee has moved to loosen gun restrictions in recent years under Republican leadership. In 2021, the state passed a law to allow most adults 21 and older to carry handguns without a permit that requires first clearing a state-level background check and training. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned a meeting with the participation of the country's heads of key security agencies to discuss the situation around the Gaza Strip, Trend reports. The meeting is attended by Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Chief of General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces Herzi Halevi and other high-ranking defense chiefs. A combined attack was launched against Israel yesterday morning. From the beginning, a massive bombardment of rockets began from the Gaza Strip, followed by militant infiltration by land, water and air. In response to the massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared a state of preparedness for potential conflict. Additionally, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced the mobilization of reservists on a large scale. A surge in rail traffic on North Korea-Russia border suggests arms supply to Russia, think tank says A surge in rail traffic on North Korea-Russia border suggests arms supply to Russia, think tank says View Photo SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Recent satellite photos show a sharp increase in rail traffic along the North Korea-Russia border, indicating the North is supplying munitions to Russia, according to a U.S. think tank. Speculation about a possible North Korean plan to refill Russias munition stores drained in its protracted war with Ukraine flared last month, when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un traveled to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin and visit key military sites. Foreign officials suspect Kim is seeking sophisticated Russian weapons technologies in return for the munitions to boost his nuclear program. Given that Kim and Putin discussed some military exchanges and cooperation at their recent summit, the dramatic increase in rail traffic likely indicates North Koreas supply of arms and munitions to Russia, Beyond Parallel, a website run by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said in a report Friday. However, the extensive use of tarps to cover the shipping crates/containers and equipment makes it impossible to conclusively identify what is seen at the Tumangang Rail Facility on the border, it said. The report said satellite images as of Oct. 5 captured a dramatic and unprecedented level of freight railcar traffic at the Tumangang Rail Facility. It said images show approximately 73 railcars while a review of previous satellite images over the past five years shows about 20 railcars at this facility at most. U.S. and South Korean officials have warned that North Korea and Russia would face consequences if they went ahead with the reported weapons transfer deal in violation with U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban all weapons trade involving North Korea. Since last year, the U.S. has accused North Korea of providing ammunition, artillery shells and rockets to Russia, likely much of them copies of Soviet-era munitions. South Korean officials said North Korean weapons provided to Russia had already been used in Ukraine. By HYUNG-JIN KIM Associated Press Lambert here: Long on problem description, Id say a bit short on solutions. To me, the ethical consumers frame seems a little high-minded. By Reynard Loki, a co-founder of the Observatory, where he is the environment and animal rights editor. He is also a writing fellow at the Independent Media Institute, where he serves as the editor and chief correspondent for Earth | Food | Life. He previously served as the environment, food, and animal rights editor at AlterNet and as a reporter for Justmeans/3BL Media covering sustainability and corporate social responsibility. This article was produced by Earth | Food | Life, a project of the Independent Media Institute. Oil palm is one of the worlds most prominent and effective vegetable oils globally, and is contributing 40 percent of global trade volume in vegetable oils, said Beatriz Fernandez, who manages the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)s partnership in the GCRF Trade, Development and the Environment Hub, during a high-level dialogue held on August 30, 2022, in Jakarta and online, to discuss the situation of the sustainable palm oil trade in Indonesia in light of the shocks to the global food system spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Center for International Forestry Research, a nonprofit scientific research organization, the challenges for the sustainable palm oil sector include the need to align policies and development goals with the countrys biodiversity, climate change and sustainable development commitments; coordination of various certification mechanisms; and limited capacity of smallholder farmers to comply with sustainability standards. Palm Oil: Violent Business Another challenge is violence. In May 2020, the village Ijaw-Gbene in southern Nigeria was burnt to the ground, leaving more than 80 people without homes. According to a report by Chief Ajele Sunday, the spokesman of the people of the Okomu Kingdom, witnesses identified the perpetrators as members of the security force employed by the Okomu Oil Palm Plantation supported by soldiers in the Nigerian army. At the time, Ijaw-Gbene was the fourth village in the region to experience such an attack. Joseph Miyani, one of the victims of the attack, said that the companys security forces and government soldiers fired weapons before setting our houses ablaze. He reported that villagers fled into the bush to escape the violence, even jumping into a nearby river to protect themselves. Since that day my life has been miserable I dont know where to start, Miyani said. We are now taking shelter in a church building. Okomu is a subsidiary of Societe Financiere des Caoutchoucs (SOCFIN), an agribusiness corporation that operates palm oil and rubber plantations across 10 Asian and African countries. In Cameroon, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, and Cambodia, local people complain about ruthless methods wherever [SOCFINs] subsidiaries are active, reports Rainforest Rescue, a nonprofit environmental organization based in Hamburg, Germany. Repeatedly, after losing their lands to the company, local communities in Africa and Asia have been subject to violence, intimidation, and distress as a result of the palm oil and rubber exploitation, writes Frederic Mousseau, policy director at the Oakland Institute, a think tank based in Oakland, California, that focuses on social, economic and environmental issues. Though Okomu denied their participation in the attack, violence and destruction are increasingly commonplace throughout the global palm oil industry. In November 2020, the Associated Press (AP) reported on incidents of sexual abuse, rape, human trafficking, child labor, and slavery. Almost every plantation has problems related to labor, said Hotler Parsaoran of the Sawit Watch, an Indonesian nonprofit that has investigated abuses in the palm oil sector. But the conditions of female workers are far worse than men. Driving Deforestation In addition to its role in human rights abuses, the palm oil industry is also a primary driver of deforestation, which not only exacerbates climate change by releasing into the atmosphere carbon that was previously safely stored in trees cut down to make room for plantations, but threatens wildlife and biodiversity. Parsaoran told the AP that ending these abuses is the responsibility of palm oil producers, multinational buyers, governments, and the banks that finance plantations. But there is another powerful group that supports this entire industry: consumers. As Martin Hickman reports for the Independent, unwitting consumers may be contributing to the devastation of the wildlife-rich forests of Indonesia and Malaysia, where orangutans and other species face extinction as their habitat disappears. But WWF, a non-governmental environmental organization based in Switzerland, suggests that removing products with palm oil from our shopping lists isnt necessarily the best course of action for concerned consumers. Avoiding palm oil could have worse effects because it might take support away from companies that are trying hard to improve the situation, the group says. This could encourage companies to use other products that may have even more impact on the environment. Palm oil is by far the most efficient vegetable oil to grow as it takes less land to produce than other vegetable oils. Palm oil can be produced in a responsible manner that respects the environment and the communities where it is commonly grown. The group suggests that consumers should look for the RSPO label to ensure you purchase products made with certified sustainable palm oil. The certification was established by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, which was formed in 2004 to promote the development of sustainable palm oil and is supported by 99 countries. However, the RSPO has been intensely criticized by environmentalists for the very thing it was supposed to prevent: rampant deforestation for palm oil production. Greenwashing Environmental Destruction and Animal Cruelty In July 2020, a study conducted by researchers at Tomsk State University in Russia and the Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research in Austria showed satellite images revealing that palm oil production that received sustainable certification actually caused deforestation in Sumatra and Borneo that has threatened the habitats of several endangered mammals over the past three decades, including elephants, rhinos, tigers, and orangutans. We suggest that the phrase sustainable palm oil must no longer be used to greenwash this tropical products reputation because it cannot certify that the production of palm oil comes from a non-recent degradation of tropical forests and endangered species habitats, the studys authors write. In fact, we discovered that the current certified palm oil demand is almost fully supplied by those bases and concessions that, in less than three decades, replaced some of the most diverse tropical forests of the world and habitats of big mammals threatened by extinction. Rapid and relentless deforestation for industrial-scale agriculture, particularly palm oil and timber plantations, leaves orangutans without food and shelter, exposing them to hunters who kill orangutans and capture their babies to sell as pets, wrote Alan Knight, chief executive of International Animal Rescue, an animal rights nonprofit based in England, in 2018. The apes are also in danger of coming into conflict with local people as they stray into villages and onto farmland in search of food. Fires started on an annual basis as part of land clearance operations in Indonesia are also responsible for the loss of thousands of acres of rainforest and the lives of hundreds if not thousands of orangutans. Ingredient Labels Made from the oil palm plant, palm oil is the worlds most widely traded vegetable oil. It is found in about half of all consumer goods, including common foods like bread, cookies, crackers, doughnuts, peanut butter, and breakfast cereal, as well as everyday household products like soap and laundry detergent. Palm oil is also found in a host of cosmetics and beauty products like lipstick, mascara, body lotion, bubble bath, and anti-wrinkle creams. The list goes on. Making matters worse for ethical consumers is the fact that ingredient lists rarely say palm oil, but rather a specific ingredient or chemical that contains palm oil, like sodium lauryl sulfate, glyceryl stearate, stearic acid, and many others. Boycotting Palm Oil Boycotting palm oil isnt the best tactic for ethical consumers. Not only would it be extremely difficult to avoid it altogether due to its ubiquitousness, but other options, like coconut oil, would also have the potential to destroy those very same environments currently plagued by oil palm plantations. Christopher Wille of the Rainforest Alliance told VICE that palm oil is a bounteous and valuable crop [that is] highly productive compared to other oils, creates jobs and revenues and can be used in an amazing variety of products. He argues that its not the oil palm plant that is the problem, but rather the way its grown. He says that ending deforestation, coupled with consumer pressure for higher sustainable standards and greater industry transparency about sourcing is the answer. The hope is that companies will continue making changes to meet market demand. Some lobby for alternative oils, but all farming has a similar impact. Consumer pressure works. In 2020, the multinational food conglomerate Kelloggs revised its palm oil policy after more than 780,000 concerned consumers signed an online petition. If you care about the implications of palm oil, writes Helen Nianias on VICE, write emails to companies, ask if manufacturers are committed to zero deforestation. Be that guy. We all need to be that guy. Yves here. Despite having limited information about the current state of the Hamas campaign against Israel, Andrew Korybko has a good list of hot takes. Israel was clearly caught by surprise, which raise the question of how the vaunted Mossad failed to see this coming. Snowden argues that bulk surveillance does not work: How could the governments oppressive surveillance miss a sprawling conspiracy involving thousands? The White House admitted in 2013 that despite ten years of operation, mass surveillance had never stopped even a single attack. Looks like that record remains unbroken. pic.twitter.com/5jQzCL3EoQ Edward Snowden (@Snowden) October 7, 2023 But I wonder if Hamas largely avoided electronic communication. This of course was prefigured in the famed 2002 Millennium Challenge war games, where Team Red used motortbikes to convey messages as well as coded communiques in prayer-time messages from mosque loudspeakers. Gaza is all of 25 miles long and 7.5 miles wide at its widest, so its not hard to imagine that messaging via hand delivery would be viable in a lot of cases. Another question related to the failure to catch a buildup via aerial/satellite surveillance. But again, this action presumably used men already in Gaza. so no manpower massing. The area is densely populated, so hiding rockets and small arms might not be hard. The trick would be smuggling the materiel in. Finally, as far as I can tell, Israels neighbors have not cleared their throats, aside from the report that Egypt relayed that Hezbollah would attack if Israels reprisals were too aggressive: #Egypt advised #Israel to regulate its military response to #Gaza to avoid seeing #Hezbollah forced to join the battle. Elijah J. Magnier (@ejmalrai) October 7, 2023 The wee problem is Israel believes in disproportionate responses, and Netanyahu had told Palestinians to leaveto where? To all walk into the Mediterranean and drown? For Israel not to take extreme action would likely go over badly with voters, but the level of response that would be deemed adequately punitive runs the risk of Hezbollah entering the fray. This may be one reason for bordering countries refraining from pronouncements, since the question of Hezbollah opening a front opens up a whole new set of potential actions. The other may be that they are all in intense communication and information-sharing mode and are seeing to what degree a coordinated position is viable. Finally, Korybko points out that the pending Saudi-Israel peace deal is likely kaput. This is a bigger loss for Team Biden than might initially be apparent. The Saudis had offered to increase oil production to help secure the agreement. Needless to say, high oil prices are not conducive to a Biden win in 2024. By Andrew Korybko, a Moscow-based American political analyst who specializes in the global systemic transition to multipolarity in the New Cold War. He has a PhD from MGIMO, which is under the umbrella of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Originally published at his website Everything thats happened thus far has been eye-opening for everyone. Hamas launched an unprecedented sneak attack on Israel over the weekend that completely caught the self-professed Jewish State by surprise after all its security systems unexpectedly failed at the same time. The border wall was breached, some military bases were captured, and dozens of hostages were taken back to Gaza. Israel responded by launching airstrikes inside the strip and preparing a ground operation. Here are the top ten takeaways from everything thats happened thus far in the latest Israeli-Hamas war: - 1. Israels Alleged Invincibility Was Dispelled As An Illusion For starters, nobody is under the illusion any longer that Israel is invincible. Up until this weekends sneak attack, some had continued to cling to the claim that its conventional military-technical capabilities and massive aid from America made it the regional hegemon, but that perception was just shattered. 2. It Was Totally Unprepared For Hamas Hybrid War Tactics Upon the breaching of its border wall, which was the result of a colossal intelligence failure and subsequent collapse of all security systems, Israel proved that it was totally unprepared to counter Hamas Hybrid War tactics of lightning-fast squad assaults and rudimentary drone attacks. 3. Political Infighting Likely Contributed To This Intelligence Failure Had Israels military and intelligence services not gotten involved in the political dispute over Netanyahus planned judicial reforms, which was exacerbated by the Biden Administrations meddling as explained here, then they might have detected Hamas plans in advance and thus been able to foil them. 4. It Also Didnt Help That US Spies Are Distracted With Ukraine Israel must take full responsibility for its intelligence failures, but it also didnt help any that its American allys spies have been distracted with Ukraine. If they werent so focused on that conflict, then they might have kept at least one satellite over Gaza that could have discovered Hamas military buildup. 5. America Is Now In A Dilemma Over Who Gets Finite Military Aid Business Insider drew attention to Americas newfound dilemma over whether to give finite military aid, particularly artillery shells, to Ukraine as planned or redirect these resources to Israel instead. Its decision could have major implications for both conflicts since the choice between them is zero-sum. 6. Saudi Arabia Will Probably Freeze Its Peace Talks With Israel Saudi Arabia is under immense pressure from the international Muslim community to freeze its reported peace talks with Israel after the latters strikes against civilian targets in Gaza. Itll probably comply with these demands, which would then ruin the Biden Administrations plans for a deal before the elections. 7. The IMEC Megaproject Will Likely Be Put On Ice For Some Time Too The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) cant be completed if Saudi Arabia and/or especially Jordan freeze their role in its construction to protest Israels involvement in the latest conflict, though this wont harm Indias trade with any relevant party since its entirely conducted by sea. 8. Russia & Chinas Balanced Statements Surprised Some Observers Many in the Alt-Media Community wrongly thought that Russia and China favored Palestine, hence why those twos balanced statements here and here surprised them. Even fewer knew that President Putin fully supports the IDF as proven by his official statements over the years that were documented here. 9. The Debate Over Whether The Ends Justify The Means Has Re-Opened Hamas killing of IDF-trained settlers-civilians and kidnapping of children, women, and the elderly to swap for prisoners was justified by some Palestinian supporters as a legitimate means for pursuing national liberation while other supporters criticized these tactics for undermining their causes morality. 10. Hezbollah Is The Wild Card In The Latest Israeli-Hamas War Hamas sneak attack against Israel brought to life one of the latters worst nightmares, which might become even worse if Hezbollah decides to commence large-scale hostilities. In that event, Lebanon and possibly also Syria could be dragged into the fray, which could easily become existential for all parties. - Everything thats happened thus far has been eye-opening for everyone. The reputation of Israels security services has been shattered, Hamas has never been better in the eyes of most non-Western observers, and many among the latter finally learned that neither Russia nor China favor Palestine. Should the latest conflict become protracted, let alone expand into a regional one, then theres a real possibility that the US will freeze the Ukrainian Conflict in order to redirect finite military aid to Israel. By Lambert Strether of Corrente. I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow. Theodore Roethke, The Waking Etymologically, the word wake comes from the IndoEuropean weg, to be strong, be lively (according to the American Heritage Dictionary of IndoEuropean Roots, which I have vivid memories of devouring as a teenager, except it seems to have been punblished in 1985, perhaps on another timeline?) Im very pleased that wake and vegetable have the same root, because vegetables are in fact quite lively, especially if viewed in time-lapse photography, as are vedettes and, I suppose, Wicca. Since I previously wrote about sleep in Six Tips for a Good Nights Sleep, I thought this time I would write about waking, the process of becoming lively after being, at least outwardly, inert, although, oddly, there are no tips for waking. Then again, how and where would one read them? Im not going to go into the biological mechanisms of sleep, of which sleep scientists consider waking to be an aspect (a good explainer; another one. The brains[1] Reticular Activating System is said to be an especially important component, interestingly linked to attention, arousal, and identity). Rather, I will focus only on the experience I wont use the word phenomenology, but feel free to think it of waking, the liminal state between sleeping and being awake. Ill conclude with some significant far-fetching. Waking is another of the many important things (consciousness, sex, death, love, etc.) we do not understand, at least in scientific terms. From The Conversation, How does your brain[1] wake up from sleep?: When youre asleep, you can seem completely dead to the world. But when you wake up, in an instant you can be up and at em. How does the brain turn on awareness or consciousness? This question has puzzled scientists for centuries and continues to do so. Scientists do agree that the transition between sleep and waking is almost instantaneous. From the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School: The transition is nearly instantaneous youre awake one moment, asleep the next. This alteration of consciousness involves a swift but complex interaction between various parts of the brain[1]. Its almost as if a switch has been thrown: Transitions between these stable states of wakefulness and sleep occur relatively quickly, often in just seconds . Some researchers have compared the neurological mechanism that controls these rapid transitions to the flip-flop switch in an electrical circuit. In the brain, the mechanism that maintains stability through mutual inhibition is triggered by changes in factors such as the bodys drive for sleep or the circadian alerting signal. (A signal like light passing through closed eyelids to the retina to some subsystem within the brain, triggering arousal.) From Cell, Sleep: Switching Off the Off-Switch: Such a circuitry ensures rapid and complete state transitions : overcoming inhibition on one side leads to more inhibition on the antagonist side, reinforcing the winners activity. A current influential working model of the sleepwake switch is analogous to a flipflop electronic circuit. This is a bistable device that will remain in one state until a trigger causes it to switch to the other state. But which are the triggers of the transition? Multiple regulatory inputs arising from circadian, homeostatic and allostatic systemsneed to be coordinated to decide between sleep and wakefulness. Furthermore, limbic and cognitive variables modulate sleepwake states. Little is known about the wiring of all these synaptic inputs into the sleepwake switch. Do they conform to the flipflop model proposing that sleepwake transitions need synaptic excitation of wake promoting groups, whereas sleep promoting groups are excited for the reverse transition? I was about to say nobody knows anything but in fact we know more than we did. So theres that. The thing is, as you know, because you are not asleep, waking is not necessarily instaneous (and I cant help but wonder whether the scientists are so wedded to their switch metaphor that they cannot conceptualize more subtle transitions. Is turn on in fact the right metaphor? I suppose it all depends on what you mean and I think a phenomologist would approve by what you mean by moment, as in asleep one moment, awake the next. In fact, the moment can be extended, and theres a word for it: Hypnopompia (also known as hypnopompic state) is the state of consciousness leading out of sleep, a term coined by the psychical researcher Frederic Myers. Its mirror is the hypnagogic state at sleep onset; though often conflated, the two states are not identical and have a different phenomenological character. Or as an app developer defines it: The hypnopompic state is that luxurious time between being asleep and being awake. A scientist extends the notion without using the word. From Sleep Medicine Reviews, Waking up is the hardest thing I do all day: Sleep inertia and sleep drunkenness: Sleep inertia refers to the transitional state between sleep and wake, marked by impaired performance, reduced vigilance, and a desire to return to sleep. The intensity and duration of sleep inertia vary based on situational factors, but its effects may last minutes to several hours. Sleep inertia is a normal phenomenon, but one with potentially dangerous ramifications, e.g., in health care workers or military personnel who are woken abruptly in the night and required to make cognitively-taxing decisions. In some disease states, a transitional period akin to markedly pronounced sleep inertia is present and is sometimes referred to as sleep drunkenness. While I accept the occupational hazard focus of the article, I do feel that inertia and drunkenness are both a little bit judgy, and prefer the luxurious paradigm of the hypnopompic extended moment (minutes, not hours). One advantage of the hypnopompic metaphor, as opposed to flipflop, is that one can give an account of what could only be called waking disorders, like morning grogginess and snoozing (inertia and lower conscientiousness; judgy again).[2] which is closely allied to snoozing. From Sleep, Snoozing: an examination of a common method of waking: Hypnopompia brings me to Keatss Ode to a Nightingale, quoted in the title of this post. Quoting Schmoop and Im not going to apologize for this, Schmoop does good close readings couched in excessive informal, indeed breeezy language: Its quite a strange poem, actually. The song of the nightingale affects the speaker like a drug, as if he had drunk an entire bottle of wine. This is no metaphor. He just kind of quietly drifts out of normal reality. Like Alice in Wonderland, hes down the rabbit-hole. Like Keanu Reeves in The Matrix, he has taken the blue pill (or was it the red pill?). As in these other works, Ode to a Nightingale flips our view of what is real and what isnt on its head, so that by the end of the poem the speaker doesnt know whether hes awake or dreaming. Once the nightingales song lulls him into a stupor, he fades into the atmosphere of a night in the forest, where he can hardly see a thing but can only smell the intoxicating plants around him. The poem gets even stranger when he imagines that he has died and the nightingale is singing at his funeral! The interesting thing is that, unlike many later poets (ahem, the Beats) and some of his contemporaries (ahem, Samuel Taylor Coleridge), Keats did not need to take drugs to experience mind-altering visions that result in a total shift of perspective. This poem was written totally au naturel. It explores the way certain experiences a song, a poem, a scene in nature can make you feel like you have left your day-to-day concerns behind. In a word: hypnopompia. Quoting the poem (which is worth reading in full; I kept wating to hate it, and never did): My heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains My sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk, Or emptied some dull opiate to the drains One minute past, and Lethe-wards had sunk: (Lethe, Greek mythology: The river which flows through Hades from which the souls of the dead drank so that they would forget their time on Earth.) In other words, the poet (or whoever is uttering the Ode) is between sleeping and waking, and luxuriating in it (O, for a draught of vintage!) And the poem concludes, as the nightingale moves on and their song (thy plaintive anthem) fades: Forlorn! the very word is like a bell To toll me back from thee to my sole self! Adieu! the fancy cannot cheat so well As she is famd to do, deceiving elf. Adieu! adieu! thy plaintive anthem fades Past the near meadows, over the still stream, Up the hill-side; and now tis buried deep In the next valley-glades: Was it a vision, or a waking dream? Fled is that music:Do I wake or sleep? (I say wake, because a bell would have awakened the Odist[3].) Do I wake or sleep recognizes the liminality of hypnopompia, the quality that waking has of being at the threshold (Latin limen, threshold) of sleeping and waking. Pulling out my trusty OED: Liminality is an important concept in anthropology: The concept of liminality, as developed and introduced into anthropological discourse by Victor Turner in the 1960s and 1970s, derives from the work of Arnold van Gennep, a French ethnologist and folklorist. In Les rites de passage (1909), van Gennep argued that regeneration was the law of life, and that it was accomplished through rites of passage which have three major phases: separation, transition or margin (limen), and incorporation. We might, then if we successfully avoid the Category Error Police (CEP) consider waking as liminal, and the transition through waking from sleep into being awake as a sort of rite of passage, performed daily (dark to light, inert to lively, unaware to not aware, unseeing to seeing, unconcious to conscious, and so forth). I grant a sort of is doing a lot of work, there. Let me now tweak the CEP even more aggressively by presenting the following table, from WikiPedias entry on liminality: Clearly, we live in liminal times! Now, if theres one thing that following Covid as an extremely dedicated layperson has taught me, its to look for the mechanism, whether biological or sociological. And the reason the CEP uniform is writing a ticket out for me right now, is that theres no mechanism to give an account for any of the cells in the table (or the row or column headers). That said, it occured to me that Keats question Do I Wake or Sleep? could be usefully applied to each of us in the populace at large, the citizenry, very much including myself. (After all, the effects of brain worms, so visible in others, could also be produced in me by a brain worm drilling into the back of my neck, where I cant see it, right now.) For example, if theres anything thats obvious to all of us, its that we the citizenry are highly propagandized; there are layers and layers and layers and layers of deeply impacted bullshit (layers that some treat as assets, as resources, and mine, but thats another story). Suppose one is doomscrolling, as one does, and one perceives a class or cultural marker perceived as repellent, and reacts, in reflexive, knee jerk fashion. Then I share my reaction with others. Suppose that one is me. Do I sleep or wake? Surely I am not fully awake; if there were such a thing as lucid waking[4], would I be practicing it? I mean this literally and materially, as a matter of (social) engineering, not metaphorically (and frustratingly I have as yet no ladder of abstraction to help me move from individual through group to society). If indeed as the table above would suggest our entire society exhibits liminality, soon to transition from one state to another, as yet unknown state, how should we as individuals prepare? Should we luxuriate in hypnopompia? Remain asleep? Wake? How?[5] NOTES [1] As a budding animist, I reject the model of consciousness (whatever that is) being located in the brain, preferring to regard it as arising from a circuit completed in and part of the material world (even during sleep). [2] There are also people who can program themselves, through some not-understood mechanism, to wake at set times, or just ahead of their alarm clocks. The various between clock time and waking time might be something to look at, when determing what a moment is. [3] Not an alarm clock, since the personal alarm clock was patented in 1847, and Keats died in 1821. However, church bells also functioned as a type of early alarm clock. [4] Search says yes, but it looks like woo woo to me. [5] And Holy Lord, none of this has anything to do with woke, so please dont go there. Over 95% of public-school students in Maryland are NOT proficient in basic MATH The Maryland State Department of Education released their latest round of test scores for public school students across the state. The Chesapeake Bay State uses the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) to test students in elementary, middle, and high school. This year, the test results were shocking. In more than 200 schools across the state, over 95% of public-school students were NOT proficient in basic math. These schools include roughly 77,000 students. Baltimore City Public Schools have collapsed The Baltimore City Public School District ranked the lowest across the state. A total of 23 Baltimore schools had zero students proficient in math! Another 20 Baltimore City Schools had just one or two students test proficient in math. The progressive state of Maryland has a failing education system, the likes of which are incomprehensible. In February, the list of schools where zero kids could comprehend basic math included the following: Failed elementary schools include: Abbottston, Belmont, Dallas F. Nicholas Sr., Dororthy I. Height, Johnston Square, Park Heights Academy, Steuart Hill Academic Academy, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Failed Middle Schools include: Collington Square, Baltimore International Academy West, Excel Academy, Independence School Local 1, and Joseph C. Briscoe. Failed High schools include: Achievement Academy, Augusta Fells Savage, Baltimore School for the Arts, City Neighbors High, Coppin Academy, Forest Park, New Era Academy, Reach! Partnership, Renaissance Academy, and Vivien T. Thomas. Schools where only one or two students were proficient in math include the following: Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West, Carver Vocational-Technical High, ConneXions: A Community Based Arts School, Dickey Hill Elementary/Middle, Digital Harbor High School, Dr. Bernard Harris, Sr., Elementary, Edmondson-Westside High, Eutaw-Marshburn Elementary, Frederick Elementary, Gwynns Falls Elementary, Lillie May Carroll Jackson School, Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High, National Academy Foundation, Patterson High, Reginald F. Lewis High, Robert W. Coleman Elementary, Sinclair Lane Elementary, Stadium School, Tench Tilghman Elementary/Middle, and Westport Academy. Maryland Department of Education is concealing test scores Investigative journalist Chris Papst from Fox45 News gathered the raw data on student test scores directly from Baltimore City Schools, as part of his investigative effort called Project Baltimore. The raw data was originally posted to the states website, but after it was analyzed and the story broke about zero students being proficient in math, the state took the data down. Weeks later, the data reappeared on the website, with asterisks in place of some of the data. Chris Papst says the state modified the original data set and is keeping the raw data from the public. The raw data allegedly includes redacted test scores, which the district defines as enhanced deidentification. The redacted test scores are replaced with asterisks to conceal low test scores and make the district look good, when it is actually an abysmal failure. Upon further investigation, Project Baltimore learned that the Maryland State Department of Education changed the way it reports state test scores, hiding certain results from the public. Sean Kennedy from the Maryland Public Policy Institute concurred with Chris Papst. He reported back in April: The State Education Department is instituting a cover-up of whats going on in public schools; its outrageous. According to the most recent raw data taken from Baltimores public schools, 1,736 took the test and 1,295 (74.5%) scored at the lowest level (1 out of 4). Even after dumping a historic amount of money into education, most students arent anywhere close to proficiency in basic math and other subjects. I'm irate, said Sean Kennedy. That data is utterly useless. They made it completely useless, and they did it on purpose. Sean Kennedy couldnt believe what the state had done to conceal the failure of the public school system. Instead of coming clean and saying that they failed the students of Baltimore City and students across the state, they're trying to hide it, and now they're piling lies on why they're hiding it, Kennedy told Project Baltimore. The investigation is ongoing. Sources include: Zerohedge.com FoxBaltimore.com Twitter.com FoxBaltimore.com NYPost.com Biden regime now gaslighting the public, claims they never issued vaccine mandates and its only in your imagination It wasnt long ago when federal officials were calling for mask mandates, covid-19 test requirements, vaccine mandates and vaccine passport systems that challenged body autonomy rights and threatened our basic right to travel and assemble. These rogue officials sought to segregate unvaccinated individuals from society and implemented coercive policies that terminated employees from the workplace and removed service members from the military. Today, these federal officials are backtracking on their abusive tactics and coercive rhetoric, denying the fact that they implemented policies that threatened the lives and livelihoods of their fellow Americans. OSHA vaccine mandate and all the associated coercion was struck down by the Supreme Court In early November 2021, Joe Biden announced a vaccine mandate for all U.S. employers with over one hundred employees. This egregious human rights violation was deployed through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Under the rule, all U.S. businesses with one hundred or more employees would be fined if they did not collect the vaccination status of employees and report it to the federal government. Businesses were set to be fined $14,000 for every unvaccinated employee -- effectively forcing these individuals out of the labor force. If an employee was found to be unvaccinated by the current medical dictates of the time, that person was considered a liability and was denied any due process rights. They were then required to take fraudulent covid-19 tests weekly and wear masks all day long, until they complied with the vaccine mandate. Federal officials begin to gaslight the public, denying the reality of their own human rights abuses Now, an even cockier narrative is starting to come out of federal officials who acted maliciously during the rollout of the covid-19 vaccines. Its a narrative of denial, of gaslighting and deceit. The Biden regime is now denying that they ever issued vaccine mandates or forced people to take the ineffective and unsafe vaccines. In a recent Congressional hearing, Douglas L. Parker, the Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA), denied that the administration ever issued a vaccine mandate. When pressed on OSHAs vaccine mandate, he said, Thats categorically untrue. We didnt threaten anyone and we didnt demand that anyone be fired. The bold-faced liar issued a worker vaccine mandate affecting 84 million Americans, and he has the audacity to deny this fact. OSHA's emergency temporary standard (ETA) even included language that would expand the employer mandate to all businesses, regardless of employee count. This entire policy was eventually suspended by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and struck down by the Supreme Court. Throughout history, the courts have unilaterally ruled that OSHAs authority under 655(c) is an extraordinary power that should be limited and delicately exercised. In other words, OSHA cannot flagrantly establish emergency temporary standards, and the agency cannot be used as a political weapon to force people to give up their body autonomy for some concocted, unproven idea of safety. OSHA relies on non-specific symptom reporting and diagnostic test results that are provably fraudulent for sequencing a specific causative agent. Their list of restrictions was completely unnecessary in the workforce and are extraordinarily cumbersome. There are NO instances in American law where the fears of one person and the medical fraud imposed by a government agency supersedes the body autonomy rights of another. Moreover, the federal government failed to prove that exposure to covid-19 is a workplace hazard because there was already copious evidence that natural immunity improves the safety of the working environment. The courts struck down Bidens unlawful vaccine mandates in the workforce -- an incredible victory for human rights and the rule of law. But today, the Biden regime is trying to re-write history on their COVID crimes, gaslighting the public about policies of subjugation and segregation that directly threatened our lives and livelihoods. From OSHA to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and across the spectrum of federal agencies, government officials are lying about what they did from 2020 to 2022, in a desperate attempt to shirk accountability for their actions. Sources include: Zerohedge.com NPR.org Twitter.com Costa Rica declares STATE OF EMERGENCY over thousands of illegal migrants transiting through country heading to America The Central American nation of Costa Rica has declared a state of emergency due to the massive and unprecedented flow of mostly South American migrants transiting through the country on their way north to reach the United States. Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves made the declaration official on Friday, Sept. 29. It allows the government to expedite the direction of more resources towards dealing with migration as well as public security concerns created by the flood of migrants. "Theyre building two new [migrant] camps there now, said investigative journalist Michael Yon, warning that the situation will likely exacerbate the crisis in the U.S.-Mexico border soon. He added that he believes it is unlikely the borders of either Panama or Costa Rica will shut down "when our own government, the U.S. government, is the one behind it down here. And the World Economic Forum, theyre the ones behind it." (Related: WEF takes over former U.S. military bases in Panama as migrants flood through Darien Gap on their way to America.) "And you can see that the NGOs down here, the U.N. and the IOM [International Organization for Migration], which is a part of the U.N., they have their main offices down in Panama City right now next to the Canal overseeing the invasion," he added. Migrants in Costa Rica "behaving badly," starting riots In outlining his plans to declare a state of emergency two days before he signed it, Chaves warned that many migrants in his country were "behaving badly" and "lacking respect for the authorities, causing disturbances." He even warned that some of the migrants were starting riots. "The message is that they're going to return to their country of origin because here, we will not tolerate it," said Chaves. "I have instructed the Ministry of Public Security to take a firm stance with those few people who think that the kindness of Costa Ricans can be confused for weakness." Roy Arias Cruz, a border coordinator with the migrant welfare organization the Jesuit Migrant Service for Costa Rica, noted that previous government policy has been to just let the migrants advance through the country. But this policy has strained due to the massive number of migrants in Costa Rica. "Tension has increased on the border and outbreaks of violence have increased," said Cruz. "The situation has been very delicate and very tense." Migrants enter Costa Rica in the town of Paso Canoas, right at the border with Panama. With a population of around 20,000, Paso Canoas is nowhere near equipped to handle its population ballooning sometimes to more than four times its size. The migrants in Paso Canoas spend most of their time in the town while they await transportation that will take them through the country and to the northern border with Nicaragua. In August, nearly 85,000 migrants entered Costa Rica from Panama, a 55 percent increase from July. This number went down slightly in September to around 60,000. Learn more about the migrant invasion of the United States at InvasionUSA.news. Watch this short update from investigative reporter Michael Yon, reporting from the Panama Canal about the 3,000 to 5,000 migrants crossing Panama and into Costa Rica per day on their way to the United States. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: SANCTUARY OVERLOAD: Texas sends more buses full of ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS to Democrat-controlled sanctuary cities. Right Now with Ann Vandersteel: Massive Houston development known as Colony Ridge to house up to 200K ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS Brighteon.TV. Biden admin orders border agents to cut down barbed wire fences in TX so illegal immigrants can enter from Mexico. El Paso at its "breaking point" as 2,000 illegals enter the city each day. THE REPLACEMENTS: Biden regime to offer nearly half a million jobs to Venezuelan migrants flooding through America's southern border. Sources include: Brighteon.com NCROnline.org Reuters.com HYPOCRITES: Florida Dem running for senator who wants her student loans forgiven OWNS A $3M MANSION Former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell of Florida, a strong proponent of forgiving trillions of dollars worth of student debt as well as her own, owns a $3 million mansion Mucarsel-Powell, who served for one term as the representative for Florida's 26th congressional district, is also running to receive the Democratic Party's nomination to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Rick Scott. Mucarsel-Powell and her husband, Robert Powell bought their home in Pinecrest, Florida in 2009 for $1.15 million. The 4,600-square-foot mansion, which boasts six bedrooms and five bathrooms, is now worth more than $3 million. (Related: Taxpayer money going down the drain: Biden circumvents SC decision, cancels $72M in student debt.) Despite having a lot of money to her name, Mucarsel-Powell still wants help with her student loans. According to her 2021 financial disclosure, she owes anywhere from $15,001 to $50,000 in student loans. In February 2019, Mucarsell-Powell was recorded complaining about how she and her husband who owes up to $100,000 in student debt were still making student loan payments. "I'm still paying my student loans, so is my husband, my sister and close friends," she wrote on Twitter. "We must tackle #StudentDebt and make education affordable." While in the House of Representatives in 2019, Mucarsel-Powell also co-sponsored a bill known as the No Student Loan Interest Act which would have canceled interest on certain federal student loans. "The student debt issue is exactly the same issue we've had with healthcare in this country, a third-payer system where the consumer loses and only the financial institutions profit," she said at the time. Mucarsel-Powell's husband made enough money in two years to pay off both of their student loans Mucarsel-Powell attracted controversy in July 2018 when The Daily Beast reported that her husband Robert Powell made nearly $700,000 in just two years while working for Ukrainian billionaire and oligarch Ilhor Kolomoisky. Kolomoisky allegedly has connections to "billion-dollar criminal schemes and contract killings" that made Powell's work with him "highly suspicious" and drew significant concern from longtime watchers of the relationship between Ukraine and the United States. The Ukrainian government has also accused Kolomoisky of laundering more than $130 million. "When you work for a guy like that, you know what you're dealing with," said Edward Chow, a senior fellow for the think tank the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "There should be no illusion of what you're dealing with, even if the business you have to conduct for him in the United States is completely clean. You know where the wealth came from. There should be no reason not to know because everyone knows." Despite the clear influx of wealth into her family, Mucarsel-Powell is still adamant that she and the rest of the U.S. needs student debt relief. After Republicans made historic gains in Florida during the midterm elections in 2022, Mucarsel-Powell took to Twitter to criticize young Floridians nearly half of whom lean or are registered as Democrats for not fighting hard enough to elect Democrats like her who are in favor of student loan forgiveness. "Students and Gen-Z's, take a look at what happens when you don't participate, engage and vote for representatives that will put you and your future first," she wrote at the time. "Republicans went to court to try and block [student loan] relief, Democrats won't stop fighting for it." Learn more about the Democrats like Mucarsel-Powell running in the 2024 elections at CancelDemocrats.news. Watch this clip from OAN covering President Joe Biden's latest announcement of more student loan forgiveness measures. This video is from the News Clips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: GOP House investigation: Biden crime family raked in $30M more than bank records indicate. SCOTUS BYPASSED: Biden's education department to automatically WIPE OUT $39 billion in student loans, despite Supreme Court ruling against it. DEBT BLOWOUT: US debt has soared $1.2T since debt ceiling suspension and the Treasury expects to add another $1.5T by year's end. Sources include: FreeBeacon.com Politico.com TheDailyBeast.com PewResearch.org Brighteon.com Gays and other love is love LGBTs are creating and spreading drug-resistant diseases like SYPHILIS and CHLAMYDIA It has been nearly a decade since Barack "Bathhouse Barry" Obama legalized homosexual "marriage" in the United States under an erroneous banner of "love is love," and the country is now much sicker and more disease-ridden because of it. According to the latest data, there has been a 74 percent increase in syphilis cases over the past five years, including 2,800 new cases of congenital syphilis in 2021 alone. That same year, 220 infants died from exposure to the LGBT-spread disease, even though these precious babes did nothing to warrant contracting it except that they were somehow exposed to the "love is love" crowd. Chlamydia rates are also off the charts, having reached their highest levels since before the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "pandemic." Remember: between 2020 and now, many STD cases went unnoticed because people were not going in for normal testing due to hospital closures and other lockdown-related health care disruptions. The spread of health-destroying diseases by the LGBT "community" is now so bad that even federal officials are admitting that America has a very serious public health crisis on its hands. This is why Big Brother is currently trying to develop a new "morning after" pill for gay males that they can take immediately after doing the dirty with other disease-ridden males. "U.S. health officials plan to endorse a common antibiotic as a morning-after pill that gay and bisexual men can use to try to avoid some increasingly common sexually transmitted diseases," the Associated Press (AP) reported about the endeavor. (Related: This LGBT perversion factory is being fueled by perverts like Emily Drabinski, the "queer" president of the American Library Foundation [ALF] who openly admits to wanting to fill children's minds with disgusting pornography depicting "gay people doing gay things.") Just say no to "love is love" The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new guidance this week about the plan that is scheduled to be finalized following a 45-day public comment period. The agency made the new proposal after reviewing studies showing that LGBTs who took the antibiotic drug doxycycline within three days of engaging in sexual perversion with other LGBTs were far less likely to contract chlamydia, syphilis, or gonorrhea, compared to their non-drugged counterparts. "More tools are desperately needed," commented Dr. Jonathan Mermin from the CDC about the seriousness of the LGBT disease crisis. The most studied category of LGBT was the G and the B, meaning gay and bisexual males, as well as transgender "women" meaning males in drag who perhaps cut off their male genitalia. Researchers looked specifically at Gs, Bs, and Ts who developed an STD within the past year and are considered to have a high risk of getting infected again. Since doxycycline is an inexpensive and readily available antibiotic that has been in use for more than 40 years, the CDC sees it as a viable remedy to help stop the spread of certain LGBT-related STDs. The most looked-at study was one published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) earlier this year. It found that gay and bisexual males, as well as trans "women," with previous STDs who took the drug were about 90 percent less likely to get chlamydia; 80 percent less likely to get syphilis; and more than 50 percent less likely to get gonorrhea compared to people who did not take the drug after engaging in gross sexual immortality. It is important to note that, like with most other pharmaceuticals, doxycycline comes with potential side effects that include stomach problems and rashes, particularly after sun exposure. There is also some research to suggest that doxycycline is ineffective in heterosexual women, which means if they get exposed to an LGBT-spread STD, they are out of luck. There is nothing "loving" about anything the cult of LGBT is doing to destroy America with rampant perversion. Learn more at Transhumanism.news. Sources for this article include: Revolver.news Newstarget.com Government once again at risk of shutdown following Republican infighting over who will be the next House speaker The government is once again at risk of shutting down after several Republican hardliners voted with Democrats to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his position. Before McCarthy's ouster, House Democrats and Republicans were able to come up with a temporary funding deal before the clock struck midnight on Oct. 1 the beginning of the new fiscal year. This stopgap measure provides Congress with 40 days of funding. (Related: Congress abandons Ukraine aid in temporary funding bill to avert government shutdown.) Congress now has until mid-November to pass the 12 departmental appropriation bills needed to avert a government shutdown. While the Senate may be able to pass its own budget bills, McCarthy's ouster prevents the House from preventing any kind of business until another speaker is elected. The fight for government funding will likely be complicated by a bipartisan Senate push to attach more taxpayer assistance for Ukraine to the next funding measure. Many within the House Republican caucus are likely to oppose such a proposal. Government shutdown could hinge on next speaker Before the House can even take up either the Democrats' or the GOP's funding proposals, a new speaker would have to be elected. House Minority Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts said the House Democratic caucus will once again nominate House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York to fill the vacant speakership. "We're clear who our leadership is: Hakeem Jeffries," said Clark. However, it is unlikely that a Democrat could win enough votes to become House speaker. Among the House Republicans, at least two major candidates have voiced their desire to become the House's next speaker: Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, who represents the more conservative wing of the party, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana, a McCarthy ally who is seen as more of a moderate. Both major contenders will be doing everything they can to lock in the 218 votes required to win the job and will need to do everything they can to win the support of both the moderate and conservative wings of the House Republican caucus. Both Jordan and Scalise have already been seen trying to court more center-leaning members of the GOP in recent days, believing a certain bloc of House Republicans who are among the most vulnerable to losing their seats in 2024 as necessary allies for the speakership. A floor vote for the House is due to happen at least on Oct. 11, but there is no guarantee that the vote will successfully elect a new House speaker. McCarthy was historically elected only after a four-day and 15-ball0t-long floor battle and only after providing major concessions to the more conservative elements within his party. If a similar battle plays out over the upcoming speakership role, it could similarly last for days and slow down House efforts to pass the necessary appropriation bills needed to prevent a government shutdown by November. Learn the latest news coming out of the federal government at BigGovernment.news. Watch this Oct. 4, 2023 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses how House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's ouster is good for the United States. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: House Speaker McCarthy warns of GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN if Biden doesn't agree to protect the border. Top 6 government-run and taxpayer-funded INDUSTRIAL COMPLEXES robbing Americans of their health and wealth. Sen. Rand Paul to hold up any stopgap government budget bill that includes funding for Ukraine. Public NUMBS as government DEBT BOMB explodes to $33T, annual budget DEFICIT approaches $2T. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan wants government budget deal to include ban on federal funding of censorship activities. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com Bloomberg.com NBCNews.com Politico.com Edition.CNN.com Brighteon.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Hamas has opened the war and Israel is going to close it, George Deek, Ambassador of Israel to Azerbaijan, said in an exclusive interview with Trend on October 8. "October 7th will be remembered as the darkest day in Israels recent history. A war was launched by a surprise when Hamas terrorists launched rockets and invaded our towns in the south of Israel, in order to murder, rape, and kidnap our women, our sons and our daughters. There is a video from Gaza where a 4 year-old Israeli boy is being hit and mocked. He looked terrified, he just wanted to go home. Imagine your own four years old son snatched by terrorists. Imagine him begging for your help. While the timing was a surprise, the cruelty wasnt," he said. Deek pointed out that Hamas is a genocidal organization whose leaders openly speak about killing all Jews. "Its written in their charter. They teach their children to hate Jews and rejoice at their death. This culture of hate is the cause of this barbarism. In addition, lets not forget that Hamas isnt working alone. Its funder, backer and sponsor is Iran, a country that is committed to annihilating my country and killing all Israelis. We took note of Khameneis joyful tweets at the sight of the dead bodies of our families. We will remember," added the ambassador. George Deek recalled that in the past his country had rounds of violence with Hamas. "We were hoping that they would be deterred, hoping that they would care more about helping the people in Gaza which they govern more than they would want to kill Jews. We allowed Gazans to come work in Israel, we eased export of Gazas agriculture products to Israel and the West Bank, and we even saved lives of people in Gaza in our hospitals. We were even in the process of helping Gaza to develop its offshore gas field, to ensure a livelihood for the people there. Sadly, Hamas hates us more than they love their people," he said. The Israeli envoy noted that what happened today is unprecedented in Israel and it will not happen again, adding that this time its not a round of violence, its not an operation, its war. He went on to add that the IDF will immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamas's capabilities. "We will destroy them and will forcefully avenge this dark day that they have forced on Israel and its citizens. Hamas took the initiative and opened this war. We are going to close it," said George Deek. Talking about the humanitarian situation in Israel, he noted that the toll of this aggression is staggering, with 600 innocent Israelis tragically losing their lives, over 100 individuals abducted, and approximately 2,000 more bearing the physical and emotional scars of injury. "We have a nation of heroes, of lions. Fathers fought with their sons alone to fend of terrorists in Sderot. Warriors fought alone and killed many terrorists. Thanks to our heroes those numbers are not even higher. Israel, sadly, has a long experience of dealing with casualties of war. We are well prepared, and are able to take care of our injured. Our people live their lives, and we are gearing up towards a long, difficult and determined war, at the end of which we shall be victorious. Nothing less that total victory will be accepted. It is the innocent people of Gaza that I want to echo the words of Prime Minister Netanyahu: leave now, because we will operate forcefully," said the ambassador. George Deek also shared his thoughts about how the international community should react. "The international community should do three things: First, every country should issue a statement immediately that condemns Hamas and supports Israel. Any attempt to equate between Israel and Hamas with statements about both-sides is a moral outrage. This isnt about choosing sides, it is about choosing right from wrong. A true friend of Israel would not hesitate. Second, the international community should clearly support Israels right of self-defense and its right to restore life in the south of Israel not temporarily, but permanently. And third, its time we start believing our enemies. When Hamas says they want to kill Jews, believe them because they literally mean it. When Iran calls for the annihilation of Israel and the West, believe then because they mean it in the literal sense. Once we do that, the world will finally start acting accordingly. The international community should do all these three things. The rest we will do ourselves, because if there is one thing we learned from history, its that in the moment of truth you can only count on yourself," the ambassador concluded. Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn CONFIRMED: Mexican cartels are now INSIDE the U.S. forming gangs and SNIPER NESTS to take out Americans Soon it will all be readily apparent to everyone, but right now most Americans are too busy TikToking and gorging themselves on GMOs, vaccines, and transgenderism to notice that the United States is being taken over by Mexican drug cartels. America's southern border is already a war zone, according to eyes on the ground. And this is the direct result of many decades' worth of open-borders policies that have reached a pinnacle under fake president Joe Biden, who has left the southern border basically wide open for anyone to enter. Since Biden was "inaugurated" in 2021, some five million illegal alien "migrants" have poured through and resettled here. And along with them are cartels like the one that now controls a 170-acre island in the middle of the Rio Grande River that contains sniper nests and is possibly booby-trapped. Federal Border Patrol agents are doing what they can, but in most cases they are being completely overwhelmed by wave after wave of mass migration into the country, which has created a situation where Mexican gangs have slipped in unannounced and now have a foothold in the country. (Related: The same military-grade rocket launchers being sent to Ukraine are also being found in the possession of Mexican drug cartels huh.) America will soon be Mexico and some would argue it already is The aforementioned island, located about 250 miles south of San Antonio, is one such area of the U.S. that is now under the complete control of a Mexican cartel. And this is just one of many no-go zones that is popping up in the former "land of the free." Known as Fronton Island, the area in question hosts the Gulf Cartel and Cartel del Noreste (CDN), both of which are extremely violent. And keep in mind that they are using Fronton Island not to fight each other, but rather as a refuge for themselves whenever they have to flee either the Mexican military or American law enforcement. As you might expect, the area these cartels control is also now a major drug trafficking corridor. The cartels use the thick vegetation in the area to stash their drugs while slowly making their way north into the rest of the country. Once they drop off the goods, they return to Fronton Island with more cash and weapons to add to their reserves. These cartels do not value any human life that gets in their way. Whether it is law enforcement or an innocent civilian, they will shoot to kill whenever necessary to keep their operations going. In 2019 before Biden was even in the White House, four cartel shooters with fully-automatic weapons fired more than 50 rounds from the Mexican side of the Rio Grande at a U.S. Border Patrol boat. This past August, trail cameras captured grainy imagery of three suspected cartel gunmen armed with rifles and dressed in body armor crossing into Fronton from Mexico this just a few months after five alleged Cartel del Noreste members, also donned in armor and tactical gear, were arrested in the very same area. "It's an island of death," commented Jaeson Jones, a retired captain in DPS's intelligence division who for years has fought against the cartels, and knows Fronton quite well. "It's dangerous, man," he added, adding that the cartels are now cashing in on the ever-growing human smuggling business as well. "The federal government is not able to cover all these areas and provide for the safety and security of landowners," further commented Texas DPS Regional Director Victor Escalon. "You have people out here saying, 'Hey man, I'm out feeding my cows and I see three men coming across with backpacks and they're armed. Why do I have to live like that?'" Interested in learning more about the takeover of America by foreign invaders? Visit InvasionUSA.news. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk Newstarget.com The North Face helped anger-prone black mountain climber DESTROY life of white executive with coordinated, anti-white SMEAR campaign report A white-hating, The North Face-sponsored outdoor rock climber with black skin by the name of Manoah Ainuu has made a complete and utter fool of himself and earned himself a nice little lawsuit for basically claiming that a white (of course) executive at outdoor apparel competitor Outdoor Research called him the "N" word and tried to fight him while hanging out at a Bozeman, Mt., bar. After spending time with Outdoor Research's Johnathan Talbot at said bar, Ainuu waited a few hours before posting, around 3:00 a.m., on his Instagram all sorts of allegations that Talbot is a racist. In a series of videos shared to his story feed, Ainuu claimed that Talbot came up and introduced himself, asked questions about "diversity" in outdoor climbing, but that in the end Talbot revealed himself as a "racist." "I hope there are repercussions ... ideally an extermination," one of Ainuu's posts charged note his use of the word extermination, which implies death, as opposed to termination, which would imply a simple firing. Other angry posts from Ainuu claimed that Talbot was "gaslighting" while spreading "toxic masculinity" and "white guilt." "Reshare and tag [Outdoor Research] so this boy has consequences for his actions," Ainuu wrote in yet another post. "Our outdoor microcosm can't have people like this." (Related: For the past several years, LGBT-obsessed The North Face has been running perverse, transgender drag queen-promoting advertisements telling children to "come out!") No excuse for targeting and harassing a white man over the color of his skin Not only did Ainuu ask his followers, whom he admits are "majority white," to call for Talbot's firing, he also threatened them that if they did not heed his demands, he would go after them. "This is your call out," Ainuu wrote. "My flesh really wanted to educate jon. Self-control is draining and exercised too often. Please help me take care of this boy. I can see if you watch and don't share, whether from uncomfortability or apathy." Talbot has since filed a lawsuit, represented by America First Legal, to hold Ainuu accountable for this grotesque behavior, which is only tolerated in American society when blacks or other non-whites engage in it. Had this situation been in reverse, well, you can only imagine the repercussions. Since Ainuu is sponsored by The North Face, there is no reason that people cannot also call for Ainuu's firing and de-sponsorship by The North Face. Perhaps it is time for a few freedom-loving patriots to step up and contact The North Face at: Email: [email protected] Call or text: (888) 863-1968 It is important to note that Dave Burleson, who was the Global Senior Athlete Coordinator for The North Face at the time of the alleged "incident," shared Ainuu's posts making Burleson a racist, too calling for Talbot to be fired and "canceled." "To the racists in the outdoor industry, we will find you and we will remove you," Burleson impotently raged in an "ally" support post on behalf of Ainuu. In a statement to the independent media, Talbot definitively stated that the allegations against him by Ainuu are patently false. Ian Prior, a senior advisor for America First Legal, further commented that the whole thing is just a "smear campaign" against Talbot. "Until that fateful day in Bozeman, Montana, when Johnathan Talbot politely introduced himself to North Face-sponsored athlete Manoah Ainuu, he had a career, a reputation, and the belief that he would keep both," Prior is quoted as saying. "Unfortunately, that single encounter led to the destruction of Talbot's career and reputation, all due to a social media smear campaign launched by Ainuu based on a false and defamatory claim that Talbot had made a racist comment." The latest news about companies like The North Face can be found at Evil.news. Sources for this article include: DailyWire.com Newstarget.com NYC willing to STARVE seniors just to feed ILLEGALS In a bid to address its self-inflicted migrant crisis, New York City (NYC) is willing to starve senior citizens just to feed illegal aliens. Selwyn Duke of the New American magazine expounded on this issue in an Oct. 4 piece. He cited a June 2023 article on Bloomberg, which estimated the cost of the Big Apple housing illegals from April 2022 to July 2024 at a whopping $4.3 billion. To afford this amount, NYC Mayor Eric Adams said the city plans to "trim services such as library hours, meals for senior citizens, re-entry programming for Rikers Island prisoners and free full-day care for three-year-olds." The affected meals for seniors program, Duke noted, falls under the purview of the New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA). According to the city's website, elderly New Yorkers who can still move around can visit older adult centers (OACs) and have a meal courtesy of the OACs' lunch program. "If you are 60 years of age and older and have difficulty preparing meals, you may be able to receive nutritionally balanced home-delivered meals," the DFTA said. "Eligible older adults may choose to receive daily delivery of hot meals or twice-weekly delivery of fresh-frozen meals." Writing for American Thinker, contributor Civis Americanus also that the budget cuts not only extend to food for seniors but also to lodging. Americanus cited a story from the Daily Mail about a former military member kicked out of the nursing home he was in. "A Korean War veteran feared he would be left 'on the curb' after he was ordered out of his Staten Island nursing home to make way for the migrants overwhelming NYC," the Mail reported. "Frank Tammaro, 95, was given six weeks to get out of the Island Shores Senior Residence when it was sold to city authorities [in September]." Adams, NYC Democrats blasted over "sanctuary city" policies Americanus noted that most of the illegal aliens entering the Big Apple "are economic migrants who want to take advantage of the citys generous welfare programs." They also set their Adams, addressing the NYC mayor: "If you didnt have a sanctuary city squandering $300 a night on hotel rooms for migrants, they probably wouldn't flock there." The contributor also remarked that they don't feel sorry for New Yorkers who elected a city council backing a sanctuary city policy. "It's their tax money to squander as they wish, but their irresponsibility is affecting poor senior citizens on fixed incomes and everyone else subjected to deteriorated and dangerous neighborhoods because entire buildings have been turned into hubs of violent crime," Americanus added. "It is not surprising that they want money from the rest of the state, and the federal government which is now $33 trillion in debt and counting." (Related: New York City to spend $4.7 BILLION this fiscal year dealing with illegal immigrants.) Americanus also cited a remark by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), who said: "I hope [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)] and her Democrat colleagues got the message that New Yorkers are fed up with President [Joe] Biden's open border policies that are wreaking havoc in their city." Duke agreed with the American Thinker contributor, noting that "this immigrationist madness reflects an attack on the very concept of nationhood. It's not just the inundation with unassimilable foreigners. Seeing citizens' needs subordinated to those of interlopers would offend any patriot." Visit Migrants.news for more stories about NYC's response to the influx of illegal aliens. Watch Todd Bensman explaining why illegals choose to visit New York City, a self-proclaimed sanctuary city, during his appearance on "Bannon's War Room" below. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: NYC Mayor Eric Adams announces plans to house THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS on an island in the East River. INSANITY: New York State deploys National Guard to help ILLEGALS with PAPERWORK. NYC distributing flyers to discourage illegals from heading to already-strained Big Apple. NYC Mayor Adams blasts Biden admin for burdening Big Apple with ILLEGALS. NYC Mayor Eric Adams warns illegal immigrants will DESTROY the city. Sources include: TheNewAmerican.com NYC.gov AmericanThinker.com Brighteon.com BLUE CITY CHAOS: Portland officials tell residents not to call 911 because system is overloaded Rene Gonzalez, the city commissioner of public safety in Portland, is urging residents not to call 911 unless absolutely necessary because the system is being overwhelmed with calls about overdoses. In a social media post, Gonzalez explained the situation and asked city residents for help during this difficult time to keep the phone lines running for only the most serious of emergencies. "Our 911 system is getting hammered this morning with a multiple person incident multiple overdoses in northwest park blocks," Gonzalez said. "Please do not call 911 except in event of life/death emergency or crime in progress (or chance of apprehending suspect). For non-emergency please use 503-823-3333." In speaking with "On Balance" host Leland Vittert about the situation, Gonzalez said that the 911 system in Portland is completely overloaded and that something must be done to not only keep it going but also to help those in need. "Our 911 systems are overwhelmed right now. So, we've got to confront this crisis head-on ... We need to take a strong stand in Portland." (Related: Portland has lost more than a billion dollars as crime and homelessness send residents fleeing for greener pastures.) COVID "pandemic" caused Oregon's Measure 110's addiction services rollout to stall, which is why this is now happening Back in 2020, Oregon voters passed via referendum Measure 110, a bill that decriminalized the unlawful possession of controlled substances. What this means is that penalties for drug possession were reduced from a felony or misdemeanor to a simple Class E violation, which is punishable with a $100 fine. The goal of the bill was to clear out the jails of non-violent offenders while implementing a new addiction services mechanism throughout the state that would help those addicted to harmful substances find rehabilitation rather than simply be thrown in prison by the Prison Industrial Complex. The problem is that Measure 110 took effect right during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "pandemic," which limited the rollout of the addiction services portion of Measure 110. As a result, jail time is down, but overdose deaths are way up. "But that's what voters were sold on," Gonzalez explained, referring to the addiction services component of the legislation. "That we were decriminalizing addiction, that we would set up substantial, state-level addiction services that just didn't come about. I think that was the surprise." "What was predictable is that Measure 110 would attract certain elements to the city that were looking for that lifestyle, and as a city, we're taking a hard stand increasingly to push back on that now." Were drugs to be decriminalized all across the nation, those seeking that kind of "lifestyle," as Gonzalez puts it, would stay in their own areas and seek help there. Instead, many of them flee from states where drug laws are harsh and head on over to Oregon instead, which is exacerbating the problem. "You know, the combination of Measure 110 and the 9th Circuit law on outdoor camping has really tied the city's hands to address these issues," Gonzalez added. "Frankly, we were probably too tolerant and accepting as a city even without those things on some of these behaviors that really destroy livability for everyone else." "It's going to take multiple steps (to fix). There's no two ways about it, and you need all levels of government working in the same direction. We've been pushing certain forms of judicial reform for the last decade in the state and in our county. We're now paying the piper for that. Some well-intentioned things have had some really negative impacts." America seems to be on the fast-track to hell, both red and blue. Learn more at Collapse.news. Sources for this article include: NewsNationNow.com Newstarget.com Hawaii's Kilauea volcano has shown signs of increased volcanic activity, incurring 320 volcanic earthquakes over the past 24 hours as of Saturday, October 7, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). While a potential eruption is possible sooner or later following Kilauea's last eruption on September 10 last month. Still, volcanologists and seismic authorities in the US are continuing to monitor the volcanic unrest. Kilauea Volcano Activity In a press release, the USGS at 8:58 a.m. HST (local time) on Saturday issued an increased volcanic activity alert under its 'Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Daily Update' webpage, highlighting that while the Kilauea volcano is not erupting, its southern part is showing signs of unrest. Observations on the shield volcano suggests that ground deformation has been recorded in the area, specifically south of the summit caldera. Seismic activity under the Kilauea summit region, which started on Wednesday, October 4, eventually decreased in the early morning of Saturday, recording 320 volcanic earthquakes in the previous day. Meanwhile, it was followed by another 170 earthquakes within the radius of the volcano, according to the US seismic monitoring government agency. Furthermore, the agency's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory explains the earthquakes were recorded at the highest point of Kilauea, which was not erupting as of Friday, October 6. However, local officials issued warnings for "significant hazards" around Kilauea's crater wall, where ground cracks and rockfalls may be triggered by earthquakes, as cited by AccuWeather. Also Read: Fourth Earthquake Swarm From Center of Kilauea Shakes Ground with 50 Tumblers Prompting for Volcano Status of YELLOW/ADVISORY Volcanic Hazards During a volcanic eruption, toxic substances coming from ash plumes and molten lava pose a great risk to health for people and animals living within the nearby proximity of the volcano. While the Kilauea volcano is not erupting now, officials are still on high alert for the potential danger posed by one of Hawaii's most active volcanoes. According to the USGS' hazard analysis on Saturday, volcanic gases like carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide can remain hazardous in its surrounding environment even if Kilauea volcano is not erupting. It warned that residents in the area may occasionally experience odors of the mentioned gases. Kilauea Volcano Eruption As mentioned earlier, the Hawaii volcano erupted in early September, after becoming quiet for almost three months this year. While the Kilauea volcano's eruption was not explosive, it has a track record of causing widespread damage in the past. In 2018, more than 700 homes were destroyed after Kilauea erupted. Hawaii's active shield volcano is in the southeastern coast of the island state. According to scientists, the first documented eruption of Kilauea dates back in 1823, since recordings in modern history started in 1778. Experts believe that Kilauea was once an underwater volcano, but emerged from the sea approximately 100,000 years ago and has been active ever since. Prior to its emergence, the Kilauea volcano remained on the ocean floor around 210,000 to 280,000 years ago. Related Article: Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii Erupts Again, Emits 'Glowing Lava' After Three-Month Pause Sea level rise is one of the manifestations of climate change and global warming, as scientists have warned in recent years. Amid the threat of coastal flooding in different parts of the world, the warming of the planet has led to an unprecedented retreat of sea ice, as well as glaciers and icebergs. This ice melt phenomenon contributes to the rise of water levels, with low-lying coastal communities being at threat the most, including the East Coast of the United States. Earlier this year, experts found that rising sea levels are occurring faster than we have previously thought. Now, a study suggests that tidal flooding caused by rising ocean waters is adding at least 23 minutes of commute time for people in the Coastal US, especially those living in the state of Florida, it was reported on Saturday, October 7. While there has been a recurring general theme on the impact of the current climate crisis, the study focuses on the micro-level scale of its repercussions to communities. Sea Level Rise Affects US Commute In a scientific paper published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, researchers used the city of Miami, Florida, as a case study to determine the daily impact of climate change-induced sea level rise and tidal flooding to commuters of the city. The research team's conclusion is determined by combining data such as tidal gauge, road network, worker location, and elevation with a 'route optimization algorithm.' The said algorithm aims to model how coastal flooding affected the commute times of Miami residents during periods from 2002 to 2004 and 2015 to 2017. In its initial results, the study shows that tidal flooding has increased the annual commute time by 15 minutes on average and even 274 minutes in "most heavily impacted areas." In the coastal US, this extreme natural phenomenon has added an average of at least 23 minutes of commute time for people using public transport over the course of a year. This delay could further be increased by the year 2060 due to sea level rise, with the study's leading author Mathew Hauer saying "it's a delay that is already occurring." Also Read: Recent Sea Level Rise is Truly Unnatural: Study US Coastline Under Threat In its '2022 Sea Level Rise Technical Report', the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) stated that sea level along the US coastline is expected to elevate, on average, by 10 to 12 inches (0.25 to 0.30 meters) in the next 30 years from 2020 to 2050. This figure is even larger than the previous sea level rise measured over the last century from 1920 to 2020, according to the report. While there is a general sea level rise in the waters surrounding the US, the NOAA explains that ocean level rise will vary per region along the US coasts due to changes in both land and ocean height. This means that low-lying areas along the western and eastern coasts of the country may become more vulnerable to coastal flooding or erosion. Related Article: New Links Between Greenhouse Gases and Sea Level Rise Found in the Amundsen Sea, West Antarctica Killer whales, also called orcas, have been considered by scientists lately as the world's top ocean predator, with the title that previously belonged to great white sharks. Based on reported anecdotal and scientific evidence, orcas can hunt, intimidating, and killing the said white sharks with the purpose of eating their livers for needed nutrients. Killer whales also hunt other sea creatures, including fish, squids, seabirds, and other marine mammals or whale species. However, a mysterious behavior by fish-eating orcas, called Southern Resident killer whales, of killing porpoises for no reason, was discovered in previous years. Now in a new study, researchers in the United States and their colleagues revealed they unraveled the mystery as to why Southern Resident orcas harass and kill porpoises without eating them. The findings add to the existing evidence that large marine animals have complex emotional and social intelligence. Apex Predator of the Ocean Being the apex or top predators of the world's oceans, killer whales are found worldwide with an abundant population in the cold waters of Antarctica, Alaska, and Norway. They are also found in tropical and subtropical waters of Earth, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). There are approximately 50,000 orcas worldwide, with around 2,500 of the giant marine mammals living in the eastern part of the North Pacific Ocean. However, the global orca population has declined in recent decades, with some species being endangered, the NOAA Fisheries says. In the US, Southern Resident killer whales are the only endangered orca population in the country, with their population ranging from central California to southeast Alaska, according to the US government agency. Also Read: Killer Whales Live Up to Their Name in Whale-on-Whale Predation Harassment and Killing of Porpoises Despite the declining population of the endangered Southern Resident killer whale (Orcinus orca), the large predators continue their fish-hunting activities, where they prefer to kill adult Chinook salmon. However, killer whales also have time to kill porpoises for reasons not related to consuming them. In the study published in the journal Marine Mammal Science on September 28, researchers have determined that members of different pods of the Southern Resident orca species, labeled as (J, K, L) have been observed harassing and killing porpoises without eating them. The research team analyzed 78 cases of the O. orca species harassing porpoises between 1962 and 2020, with 28 porpoises dying from the incidents. The team asserted that the orca pods could be engaging in such behavior as a form of "social play" or a mistaken hunting practice that emanates from their natural mothering behavior, according to the study. In terms of participation, both male and female Southern Resident orcas participated in the porpoise harassment, with juvenile killer whales being the most active. Based on the findings of the scientific paper, evidence suggests that Southern Resident killer whales also exhibit their playful behavior even while hunting their prey. Regardless, the fact remains that these marine mammal predators can inflict damage or causing death to their small prey even in social play. Related Article: Killer Whales 'Port' and 'Starboard' Return in South Africa, Duo Ate Livers of 17 Sharks in One Day Meteorologists said that Philippe, previously a tropical storm, has been transitioning into more of a winter-style storm. The National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center said that while Philippe has transformed into a post-tropical, the weather disturbance could still bring risks of flash floods over New England. Officials in eastern New England and Atlantic Canada should monitor the progress of the post-tropical cyclone for its possible effects. Further, it will also hit the zone from Maine to New Brunswick and southern Nova Scotia, unleashing flash floods, high winds and coastal flooding as it rolls northwestward toward the region this weekend. Due to Philippe's track and its transition upon nearing North America, powerful winds that can cause property damage and power outages will be near and to the northeast of the center as it moves ashore from late Saturday to early Sunday. Meteorologists said that Philippe's interaction with the jet stream would result in an extended period of November-like weather for much of the Northeast and Atlantic Canada next week. Further, gusty west to northwest winds will add to the chill. This will then follow an extended period of late summerlike conditions much of the week. Moreover, the occurrence of snow is also included in the forecast for parts of Quebec and upstate New York. Read Also: Tropical Storm Philippe's Effects To Be Felt In Bermuda, Complex Weather Patterns Expected Over The Weekend Weather Tracking: What's the Direction? At 1100 AM AST (1500 UTC), the center of Post-Tropical Cyclone Philippe was spotted near latitude 30.7 North, longitude 64.6 West. The post-tropical cyclone is tracking the direction towards the north-northeast near 16 mph (26 km/h). A northward or north-northwestward motion at a faster forward speed was foreseen in the next few days. Meanwhile, in the forecast track, the system will continue passing Bermuda today and will reach the coast of Atlantic Canada or eastern New England over the weekend. Philippe is packing maximum sustained winds that are near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. Meteorologists said that some strengthening is possible over the next day or so. On the other hand, tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205 miles (335 km) to the east of the center while the estimated minimum central pressure is 1003 mb (29.62 inches). Strong winds are possible over portions of Atlantic Canada and eastern New England this weekend while the amount of rainfall will be diminishing across Bermuda today. An additional inch or less of rainfall is possible. Weather experts said that for portions of New York and New England as well as Southeast Canada, rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches, with local maximum amounts of 5 inches, are expected this weekend. Isolated to scattered instances of urban and flash flooding will be possible in these areas. Meanwhile, the large swells will continue to affect Bermuda for the next few days. Swells are also affecting portions of the southeastern US coast and will spread northward along the east coast toAtlantic Canada during the next couple of days. Authorities warned that these conditions are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip currents. Residents are then advised to consult their respective local weather offices for updates on the weather. Related Article: Tropical Storm Philippe Updates: East Maine, Brunswick, Northern New England, US To Receive Heavy Rain this Weekend Related Video: BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. US President Joe Biden ordered additional military aid to Israel, the White House said in a statement, Trend reports. "This morning, the White House National Security Team briefed the President and Vice President on the situation in Israel. The President decided to send additional aid to Israel in connection with the Hamas attacks," the statement says. A combined attack was carried out on Israel yesterday. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air. The IDF declared a state of readiness for war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists. By PTI NEW DELHI: A 30-member official delegation from the UK will start the next round of negotiations for a free trade agreement with the Indian team here from Monday to close remaining issues so that the two countries conclude the talks soon, an official has said. Both countries have recently concluded the 13th round of negotiations. A team led by Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal was in London last week to give an impetus to the talks. The UK team dealing with investment-related matters is already here, and the talks for the proposed bilateral investment treaty (BIT) with finance ministry officials are progressing at a faster pace. "The 30-member team will be here tomorrow, and both sides are attempting to close the remaining issues, such as rules of origin. Everything is at the closure level," the official said. The 'rules of origin' provision prescribes that minimal processing should happen in the FTA country so that the final manufactured product may be referred to as goods originating in that country. Under this provision, a country that has inked an FTA with India cannot dump goods from some third country in the Indian market by just putting a label on it. It has to undertake a prescribed value addition in that product to export to India. Rules of origin norms help contain the dumping of goods. The investment treaty is being negotiated as a separate agreement between India and the UK. These investment treaties help in promoting and protecting investments in each other's country. The main point of contention involved in this pact is about the mechanism for the settlement of disputes. The BITs help in promoting and protecting investments in each other's countries. India has proposed to first utilise all local judicial remedies for settlement of disputes before initiating an international arbitration. To provide duty concessions in the automobile sector, several rounds of consultations have been held with the domestic players in India. According to an expert, UK-based automakers like JLR, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, and Aston Martin cater to the luxury segment, while Indian manufacturers are mostly in the mass segment and are mainly dominated by small and mid-size passenger cars and two-wheelers. The Indian industry is demanding greater access for its skilled professionals from sectors like IT, and healthcare in the UK market, besides market access for several goods at nil customs duties. On the other hand, the UK is seeking a significant cut in import duties on goods such as scotch whiskey, automobiles, lamb meat, chocolates and certain confectionary items. Britain is also looking for more opportunities for UK services in Indian markets in segments like telecommunications, legal and financial services (banking and insurance). Alcoholic beverage industry body Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC) director-general Vinod Giri said that for Scotland Whiskey (bottled), India can consider reducing the import duties to 100 per cent immediately from 150 per cent and then 50 per cent in 10 years. Similarly, for bulk imports, the duties can be cut down to 100 per cent immediately and then 50 per cent in 10 years as the bulk imports are treated as intermediate goods in the domestic market. The Indian alcoholic beverage market is worth USD 52 billion. Replacing France, India became the top buyer of Scotch whisky by volume in 2022, according to the Scotch Whisky Association. The bilateral trade between India and the UK increased to USD 20.36 billion in 2022-23 from USD 17.5 billion in 2021-22. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: A 30-member official delegation from the UK will start the next round of negotiations for a free trade agreement with the Indian team here from Monday to close remaining issues so that the two countries conclude the talks soon, an official has said. Both countries have recently concluded the 13th round of negotiations. A team led by Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal was in London last week to give an impetus to the talks. The UK team dealing with investment-related matters is already here, and the talks for the proposed bilateral investment treaty (BIT) with finance ministry officials are progressing at a faster pace.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "The 30-member team will be here tomorrow, and both sides are attempting to close the remaining issues, such as rules of origin. Everything is at the closure level," the official said. The 'rules of origin' provision prescribes that minimal processing should happen in the FTA country so that the final manufactured product may be referred to as goods originating in that country. Under this provision, a country that has inked an FTA with India cannot dump goods from some third country in the Indian market by just putting a label on it. It has to undertake a prescribed value addition in that product to export to India. Rules of origin norms help contain the dumping of goods. The investment treaty is being negotiated as a separate agreement between India and the UK. These investment treaties help in promoting and protecting investments in each other's country. The main point of contention involved in this pact is about the mechanism for the settlement of disputes. The BITs help in promoting and protecting investments in each other's countries. India has proposed to first utilise all local judicial remedies for settlement of disputes before initiating an international arbitration. To provide duty concessions in the automobile sector, several rounds of consultations have been held with the domestic players in India. According to an expert, UK-based automakers like JLR, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, and Aston Martin cater to the luxury segment, while Indian manufacturers are mostly in the mass segment and are mainly dominated by small and mid-size passenger cars and two-wheelers. The Indian industry is demanding greater access for its skilled professionals from sectors like IT, and healthcare in the UK market, besides market access for several goods at nil customs duties. On the other hand, the UK is seeking a significant cut in import duties on goods such as scotch whiskey, automobiles, lamb meat, chocolates and certain confectionary items. Britain is also looking for more opportunities for UK services in Indian markets in segments like telecommunications, legal and financial services (banking and insurance). Alcoholic beverage industry body Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC) director-general Vinod Giri said that for Scotland Whiskey (bottled), India can consider reducing the import duties to 100 per cent immediately from 150 per cent and then 50 per cent in 10 years. Similarly, for bulk imports, the duties can be cut down to 100 per cent immediately and then 50 per cent in 10 years as the bulk imports are treated as intermediate goods in the domestic market. The Indian alcoholic beverage market is worth USD 52 billion. Replacing France, India became the top buyer of Scotch whisky by volume in 2022, according to the Scotch Whisky Association. The bilateral trade between India and the UK increased to USD 20.36 billion in 2022-23 from USD 17.5 billion in 2021-22. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Rahul R By Express News Service KOLLAM: Kuttivattom, a small hamlet in Panmana village, serves as a shining example of caste resistance. Mahatma Ayyankali, the great social reformer, initiated the work to dig a public well in Kuttivattom. The initiative marked a significant step forward at a time when caste discrimination was deeply rooted in Kerala society. The primary purpose of the well was to provide drinking water to paddy farmers, most of whom belonged to the Harijan community, considered untouchables and prohibited from using public wells used by upper castes. The well was established on an 8-cent plot of land in 1931 by Mahatma Ayyankali. However, the current state of the well tells a tale of neglect. Its ownership and maintenance now fall under the Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham Trust. Many paddy farmers in the vicinity, most of whom were from the Harijan community, used to work in the nearby paddy fields. These farmers lacked access to drinking water during their work in the fields. That was when Ayyankali established the well for public use. While it was initially established to alleviate the hardships of paddy farmers, it was also used widely by the public. However, its current condition is a cause for concern, said Ampiyil Prakash, president of Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangam. In 2016, the Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham Trust was formed with the hope of facilitating easier access to funds for maintenance. The trust had approached the panchayat and the state government several times for funds to maintain the well, but no funds have been sanctioned thus far. The panchayats cannot allocate funds for the maintenance of the well as it falls under the trust. Furthermore, the ward member of Kuttivattom has not presented the proposal before the council. Had it been a public well, the process would have been smoother, but when it involves a trust, there are limitations in securing funds, said Shami M, president of Panmana panchayat. The history of the well dates back to 1931 when Mahatma Ayyankali spearheaded its construction. The well is still being used by the public to draw drinking water. However, the history of the well dates back to 1928, when Ayyankali arrived in Kuttivattom for the first time to form a unit of Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangam. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp KOLLAM: Kuttivattom, a small hamlet in Panmana village, serves as a shining example of caste resistance. Mahatma Ayyankali, the great social reformer, initiated the work to dig a public well in Kuttivattom. The initiative marked a significant step forward at a time when caste discrimination was deeply rooted in Kerala society. The primary purpose of the well was to provide drinking water to paddy farmers, most of whom belonged to the Harijan community, considered untouchables and prohibited from using public wells used by upper castes. The well was established on an 8-cent plot of land in 1931 by Mahatma Ayyankali. However, the current state of the well tells a tale of neglect. Its ownership and maintenance now fall under the Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham Trust.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Many paddy farmers in the vicinity, most of whom were from the Harijan community, used to work in the nearby paddy fields. These farmers lacked access to drinking water during their work in the fields. That was when Ayyankali established the well for public use. While it was initially established to alleviate the hardships of paddy farmers, it was also used widely by the public. However, its current condition is a cause for concern, said Ampiyil Prakash, president of Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangam. In 2016, the Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham Trust was formed with the hope of facilitating easier access to funds for maintenance. The trust had approached the panchayat and the state government several times for funds to maintain the well, but no funds have been sanctioned thus far. The panchayats cannot allocate funds for the maintenance of the well as it falls under the trust. Furthermore, the ward member of Kuttivattom has not presented the proposal before the council. Had it been a public well, the process would have been smoother, but when it involves a trust, there are limitations in securing funds, said Shami M, president of Panmana panchayat. The history of the well dates back to 1931 when Mahatma Ayyankali spearheaded its construction. The well is still being used by the public to draw drinking water. However, the history of the well dates back to 1928, when Ayyankali arrived in Kuttivattom for the first time to form a unit of Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangam. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI BHUBANESWAR: Social activists including Medha Patkar and retired Supreme Court judge Madan B Lokur on Sunday requested the Odisha government to withdraw all cases filed against the residents of Dhinkia village in Jagatsinghpur district for opposing a proposed steel project in their area. Sajjan Jindal's JSW Group has proposed to set up an integrated steel plant on a plot in the village, which was earlier acquired for a steel project by South Korean firm POSCO. Peoples' Commission (PC), a body of social activists led by Justice Lokur, heard the grievances of the villagers who have been opposing the project. After hearing the people, the commission released an interim report with its observations and recommendations to the government. "Residents of Dhinkia panchayat were not in favour of the project because of its negative effects on their livelihood and environment," the PC said. "Due to the project, livelihood, forest rights, employment and cultural rights of the local people have been affected. A lot of people have been beaten up while police cases have been filed against many and two people are still in jail," Lokur told reporters. The activists alleged that nearly 100 cases have been registered against the villagers between 2019 and 2023. In certain FIRs, names of several people were included, they alleged. The PC demanded that all criminal cases allegedly imposed on the villagers should be withdrawn and coercive processes should cease. Citizens have the fundamental right to peacefully oppose displacement besides having the freedom of expression and movement and they cannot be criminalised for exercising these rights, it said. People have been forcibly evicted from the land on which they have forest rights and where they were cultivating betel vines and carrying out other agricultural operations, Patkar alleged. The commission recommended that till the individual, community and cultural rights of the villagers are determined, no steps for eviction or any other coercive action should be taken by the state or any other agency. In June 2005, the state government had signed an MoU with POSCO, a South Korean multinational corporation, to set up a 12 MTPA steel plant in Jagatsinghpur district. However, the steel giant had to abandon its proposed Rs 52,000-crore project due to multiple reasons from delay in environmental clearances to protests by locals. It withdrew from the project in March 2017. Following POSCO's exit, in June 2017, the Odisha government transferred the land to the JSW Utkal Steel Limited (JUSL). JUSL plans to build a 13.2 million tons per annum (MTPA) integrated steel plant that will also comprise a captive power plant of 900-megawatt capacity, and a cement grinding and mixing unit of 10 MTPA. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp BHUBANESWAR: Social activists including Medha Patkar and retired Supreme Court judge Madan B Lokur on Sunday requested the Odisha government to withdraw all cases filed against the residents of Dhinkia village in Jagatsinghpur district for opposing a proposed steel project in their area. Sajjan Jindal's JSW Group has proposed to set up an integrated steel plant on a plot in the village, which was earlier acquired for a steel project by South Korean firm POSCO. Peoples' Commission (PC), a body of social activists led by Justice Lokur, heard the grievances of the villagers who have been opposing the project.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); After hearing the people, the commission released an interim report with its observations and recommendations to the government. "Residents of Dhinkia panchayat were not in favour of the project because of its negative effects on their livelihood and environment," the PC said. "Due to the project, livelihood, forest rights, employment and cultural rights of the local people have been affected. A lot of people have been beaten up while police cases have been filed against many and two people are still in jail," Lokur told reporters. The activists alleged that nearly 100 cases have been registered against the villagers between 2019 and 2023. In certain FIRs, names of several people were included, they alleged. The PC demanded that all criminal cases allegedly imposed on the villagers should be withdrawn and coercive processes should cease. Citizens have the fundamental right to peacefully oppose displacement besides having the freedom of expression and movement and they cannot be criminalised for exercising these rights, it said. People have been forcibly evicted from the land on which they have forest rights and where they were cultivating betel vines and carrying out other agricultural operations, Patkar alleged. The commission recommended that till the individual, community and cultural rights of the villagers are determined, no steps for eviction or any other coercive action should be taken by the state or any other agency. In June 2005, the state government had signed an MoU with POSCO, a South Korean multinational corporation, to set up a 12 MTPA steel plant in Jagatsinghpur district. However, the steel giant had to abandon its proposed Rs 52,000-crore project due to multiple reasons from delay in environmental clearances to protests by locals. It withdrew from the project in March 2017. Following POSCO's exit, in June 2017, the Odisha government transferred the land to the JSW Utkal Steel Limited (JUSL). JUSL plans to build a 13.2 million tons per annum (MTPA) integrated steel plant that will also comprise a captive power plant of 900-megawatt capacity, and a cement grinding and mixing unit of 10 MTPA. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By ANI GUWAHATI: Following Bihar and Rajasthan, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday pushed for a similar caste-based census in Assam so that all backward communities in the state receive "dignity" and "justice". "Yesterday I was at a function organised by a prominent Tai Ahom youth organisation. I demanded a caste census in Assam on the lines of the Bihar and Rajasthan model. We need to ensure that the SC, ST, OBC and minority communities receive dignity and justice," Gogoi said in a post on 'X'. Gogoi also shared a post by the Assam Congress which had a video of him pushing for a caste-based census in the state while giving a public speech at General Field in Assam's Golaghat. "MP @GauravGogoiAsm dangoria delivered an inspiring & invigorating speech at "General Field", Golaghat on the occasion of 7th annual convention of TAIPA central committee," the Assam Congress said in a post on 'X'. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday announced that the state will conduct a caste-based census like in Bihar. Gehlot spoke to the media after a state party meeting in Jaipur on Friday. "Congress leader Rahul Gandhi made the caste census system in the Raipur session of Congress, and we will do it here on the basis of the same. Rajasthan government will also conduct a caste census like Bihar. We will take the concept that there should be participation of the people as per their population. Instructions will be given to conducting caste-based census on the lines of Bihar," CM Gehlot said. The report of the caste-based survey conducted in Bihar was released on October 2 by the Nitish Kumar-led Mahagathbandhan government. The Congress is an ally of the government in Bihar. ALSO READ | Caste census will not divide society: Siddaramaiah Asserting the importance of a Caste-based census, Ashok Gehlot said, "When we talk about social security, it can be implemented only when we know what the situation is caste-wise. There are different castes living in the country who do different jobs, when we know how much population each caste has, then we can make special schemes for them." Earlier in Chhattisgarh, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday asserted if Congress is re-elected to power in the state, a caste census will be conducted in the state, similar to the one carried out in Bihar. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp GUWAHATI: Following Bihar and Rajasthan, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday pushed for a similar caste-based census in Assam so that all backward communities in the state receive "dignity" and "justice". "Yesterday I was at a function organised by a prominent Tai Ahom youth organisation. I demanded a caste census in Assam on the lines of the Bihar and Rajasthan model. We need to ensure that the SC, ST, OBC and minority communities receive dignity and justice," Gogoi said in a post on 'X'. Gogoi also shared a post by the Assam Congress which had a video of him pushing for a caste-based census in the state while giving a public speech at General Field in Assam's Golaghat.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "MP @GauravGogoiAsm dangoria delivered an inspiring & invigorating speech at "General Field", Golaghat on the occasion of 7th annual convention of TAIPA central committee," the Assam Congress said in a post on 'X'. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday announced that the state will conduct a caste-based census like in Bihar. Gehlot spoke to the media after a state party meeting in Jaipur on Friday. "Congress leader Rahul Gandhi made the caste census system in the Raipur session of Congress, and we will do it here on the basis of the same. Rajasthan government will also conduct a caste census like Bihar. We will take the concept that there should be participation of the people as per their population. Instructions will be given to conducting caste-based census on the lines of Bihar," CM Gehlot said. The report of the caste-based survey conducted in Bihar was released on October 2 by the Nitish Kumar-led Mahagathbandhan government. The Congress is an ally of the government in Bihar. ALSO READ | Caste census will not divide society: Siddaramaiah Asserting the importance of a Caste-based census, Ashok Gehlot said, "When we talk about social security, it can be implemented only when we know what the situation is caste-wise. There are different castes living in the country who do different jobs, when we know how much population each caste has, then we can make special schemes for them." Earlier in Chhattisgarh, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday asserted if Congress is re-elected to power in the state, a caste census will be conducted in the state, similar to the one carried out in Bihar. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI NEW DELHI: Tibetan spiritual head the Dalai Lama was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, on Sunday evening, sources said. He is admitted to a private ward of the Cardio-Neuro Centre under Dr Rajiv Narang, Professor of Cardiology, they said. The sources said the Dalai Lama was brought to the medical facility in the evening. Earlier in the day, his personal secretary Chimie Rigzin said in Dharamsala that the Tibetan spiritual leader was on his way to Delhi for a medical checkup. The Dalai Lama was suffering from a persistent cold, Rigzin said, adding that there is nothing to worry and he will be back in Dharamsala in the next two-three days. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: Tibetan spiritual head the Dalai Lama was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, on Sunday evening, sources said. He is admitted to a private ward of the Cardio-Neuro Centre under Dr Rajiv Narang, Professor of Cardiology, they said. The sources said the Dalai Lama was brought to the medical facility in the evening.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Earlier in the day, his personal secretary Chimie Rigzin said in Dharamsala that the Tibetan spiritual leader was on his way to Delhi for a medical checkup. The Dalai Lama was suffering from a persistent cold, Rigzin said, adding that there is nothing to worry and he will be back in Dharamsala in the next two-three days. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI MUMBAI: Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress on Sunday said the Maharashtra cabinet should resign based on the "confession" by state health minister Tanaji Sawant on the responsibility regarding the death of patients at two state-run hospitals. The Congress also demanded a white paper on the public health system in the state to identify the cause of deaths at government hospitals in Nanded and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. "If the health minister feels the entire cabinet is responsible, it should resign. Our state is going backwards because of such dirty politics," Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said on X and tagged a video clip of Tanaji Sawant. The comment of the minister is the height of shamelessness, he alleged. As many as 31 patients, including infants, died at the Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital in Nanded in 48 hours since September 30, while the death of 18 patients was recorded at the Government Medical College and Hospital at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar between October 2 and 3. Last month, 18 patients died in 24 hours in a public hospital in Thane. Demanding a white paper on the state health system, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Balasaheb Thorat also referred to the remarks purportedly made by Sawant and demanded his resignation. Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad said based on Sawant's "confession", the cabinet should tender resignation. In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Thorat said, "white paper on the public health system and machinery should be published so that people will know the truth". "The health minister says his department is not responsible but the collective responsibility lies with the state cabinet. The minister should resign," Thorat added. The former minister said government hospitals in Maharashtra have done good work in the treatment of poor people. "The same health machinery worked day and night to save patients during the COVID-19 pandemic because the intentions of the previous government were genuine. What has happened in the last year that the health system has failed?" he asked. Thorat further said the government should make state-run hospitals financially viable. "The enquiry committee constituted by the government has made some inferences which are not agreeable and the high court has to intervene," the Congress leader said referring to the Bombay HC taking suo motu cognisance of the deaths at two hospitals in Nanded and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Meanwhile, Gaikwad said shirking the responsibility and passing on the blame among themselves is the characteristic of the state (Shiv Sena-BJP-Ajit Pawar faction) government. "Finally, after lying for over a year, someone managed to tell the truth. Mumbai Congress was seeking the resignations of two ministers, but their own Health Minister is confessing the entire cabinet of ministers is responsible. Congress demands that the whole cabinet should tender the resignation," Gaikwad said in a statement. She stated that if the health minister is not taking any blame on himself, the chief minister (Eknath Shinde) and both deputy chief ministers (Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar) should take the lead and dissolve the cabinet. "Even after over 50 deaths, if the health minister is blaming the entire cabinet, then they should come forward and resign on their own," Gaikwad added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp MUMBAI: Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress on Sunday said the Maharashtra cabinet should resign based on the "confession" by state health minister Tanaji Sawant on the responsibility regarding the death of patients at two state-run hospitals. The Congress also demanded a white paper on the public health system in the state to identify the cause of deaths at government hospitals in Nanded and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. "If the health minister feels the entire cabinet is responsible, it should resign. Our state is going backwards because of such dirty politics," Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said on X and tagged a video clip of Tanaji Sawant.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The comment of the minister is the height of shamelessness, he alleged. As many as 31 patients, including infants, died at the Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital in Nanded in 48 hours since September 30, while the death of 18 patients was recorded at the Government Medical College and Hospital at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar between October 2 and 3. Last month, 18 patients died in 24 hours in a public hospital in Thane. Demanding a white paper on the state health system, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Balasaheb Thorat also referred to the remarks purportedly made by Sawant and demanded his resignation. Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad said based on Sawant's "confession", the cabinet should tender resignation. In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Thorat said, "white paper on the public health system and machinery should be published so that people will know the truth". "The health minister says his department is not responsible but the collective responsibility lies with the state cabinet. The minister should resign," Thorat added. The former minister said government hospitals in Maharashtra have done good work in the treatment of poor people. "The same health machinery worked day and night to save patients during the COVID-19 pandemic because the intentions of the previous government were genuine. What has happened in the last year that the health system has failed?" he asked. Thorat further said the government should make state-run hospitals financially viable. "The enquiry committee constituted by the government has made some inferences which are not agreeable and the high court has to intervene," the Congress leader said referring to the Bombay HC taking suo motu cognisance of the deaths at two hospitals in Nanded and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Meanwhile, Gaikwad said shirking the responsibility and passing on the blame among themselves is the characteristic of the state (Shiv Sena-BJP-Ajit Pawar faction) government. "Finally, after lying for over a year, someone managed to tell the truth. Mumbai Congress was seeking the resignations of two ministers, but their own Health Minister is confessing the entire cabinet of ministers is responsible. Congress demands that the whole cabinet should tender the resignation," Gaikwad said in a statement. She stated that if the health minister is not taking any blame on himself, the chief minister (Eknath Shinde) and both deputy chief ministers (Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar) should take the lead and dissolve the cabinet. "Even after over 50 deaths, if the health minister is blaming the entire cabinet, then they should come forward and resign on their own," Gaikwad added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI JERUSALEM: There have been no untoward incidents involving Indians living and working in Israel so far amid escalating tensions in the region, even as the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv received requests from its citizens, including tourists, stranded in the country to facilitate their safe exit. Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented multifront attack -- by air, land, and sea -- by the Hamas militant group, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning. At least 350 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed and more than 1,900 injured in Israel - the deadliest day for the country in at least 50 years. In the Gaza Strip, there are nearly 300 deaths and about 1,500 wounded in Israel's counterattack, media reports said on Sunday. There are about 18,000 Indian nationals living and working in Israel and so far there have been no untoward incidents reported involving them, informed sources told PTI. The Indian embassy has received requests from Indian tourists stranded in the country to facilitate their exit. Most of the tourists are travelling in groups. There are also some businessmen visiting Israel who have gotten caught up in the escalation and are looking to be evacuated. The Indian mission in Tel Aviv and the Representative Office of India in Palestine on Saturday issued advisories asking Indian nationals on respective sides to "remain vigilant" and "directly contact the Office" in case of an emergency. Embassy sources told PTI that they are readily available to all Indian nationals around the clock and have been proactively guiding them. A big chunk of Indians living in Israel work as caregivers but there are also about a thousand students, several IT professionals and diamond traders. Bindu, a doctoral student at Hebrew University, told PTI that she "followed the instructions in letter and spirit throughout the day" on Saturday and felt safe. She said that all Indian students are in touch with each other and are constantly taking stock of the situation. Some other students, when contacted, also said that they see the situation coming under control and "we should not spread panic unnecessarily". Vikas Sharma, a postdoctoral fellow at the Givat Ram campus of Hebrew University said that "there is a tense situation in Israel because of the attack, but all the Indian students are safe. Most of the students are staying in dorms and accommodations provided by the institutions. We are in contact with each other as well as the Indian embassy through WhatsApp." Caregivers in Israel also are inclined towards staying put and focusing on following the instructions of the Home Front through the link shared by the Indian mission. Elle Prasad, who lives in Ashkelon where the maximum number of rockets have fallen, said that "they have to be very alert so that they reach the shelter house as soon as possible after the siren wails". Another caregiver, Vivek, said that the situation was worrisome but they are all okay and in constant touch with the embassy. ALSO READ | 'We are on the job', says MEA on repatriating Indians stranded in Israel An Indian national living in Gaza, when contacted, said that the situation was "scary" but she and her family were safe. "There is no internet connection and electricity. The situation is scary but we are fine," she told PTI. "In view of the current situation in Israel, all Indian nationals in Israel are requested to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities. Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement, and stay close to safety shelters," the Embassy said in its advisory. The advisory gave relevant phone numbers in case of emergency and also provided URLs for Israeli Home Front Command and Preparedness brochures. The advisory was issued in English, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages. On Sunday, Israel continued to carry out attacks on Gaza but some infiltrators holed up in the southern parts of Israel continued to be engaged in firefights with Israeli soldiers. Minor escalation was reported on Israel's northern border with Lebanon during the morning hours but soon seemed to have calmed down. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp JERUSALEM: There have been no untoward incidents involving Indians living and working in Israel so far amid escalating tensions in the region, even as the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv received requests from its citizens, including tourists, stranded in the country to facilitate their safe exit. Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented multifront attack -- by air, land, and sea -- by the Hamas militant group, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning. At least 350 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed and more than 1,900 injured in Israel - the deadliest day for the country in at least 50 years.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In the Gaza Strip, there are nearly 300 deaths and about 1,500 wounded in Israel's counterattack, media reports said on Sunday. There are about 18,000 Indian nationals living and working in Israel and so far there have been no untoward incidents reported involving them, informed sources told PTI. The Indian embassy has received requests from Indian tourists stranded in the country to facilitate their exit. Most of the tourists are travelling in groups. There are also some businessmen visiting Israel who have gotten caught up in the escalation and are looking to be evacuated. The Indian mission in Tel Aviv and the Representative Office of India in Palestine on Saturday issued advisories asking Indian nationals on respective sides to "remain vigilant" and "directly contact the Office" in case of an emergency. Embassy sources told PTI that they are readily available to all Indian nationals around the clock and have been proactively guiding them. A big chunk of Indians living in Israel work as caregivers but there are also about a thousand students, several IT professionals and diamond traders. Bindu, a doctoral student at Hebrew University, told PTI that she "followed the instructions in letter and spirit throughout the day" on Saturday and felt safe. She said that all Indian students are in touch with each other and are constantly taking stock of the situation. Some other students, when contacted, also said that they see the situation coming under control and "we should not spread panic unnecessarily". Vikas Sharma, a postdoctoral fellow at the Givat Ram campus of Hebrew University said that "there is a tense situation in Israel because of the attack, but all the Indian students are safe. Most of the students are staying in dorms and accommodations provided by the institutions. We are in contact with each other as well as the Indian embassy through WhatsApp." Caregivers in Israel also are inclined towards staying put and focusing on following the instructions of the Home Front through the link shared by the Indian mission. Elle Prasad, who lives in Ashkelon where the maximum number of rockets have fallen, said that "they have to be very alert so that they reach the shelter house as soon as possible after the siren wails". Another caregiver, Vivek, said that the situation was worrisome but they are all okay and in constant touch with the embassy. ALSO READ | 'We are on the job', says MEA on repatriating Indians stranded in Israel An Indian national living in Gaza, when contacted, said that the situation was "scary" but she and her family were safe. "There is no internet connection and electricity. The situation is scary but we are fine," she told PTI. "In view of the current situation in Israel, all Indian nationals in Israel are requested to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities. Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement, and stay close to safety shelters," the Embassy said in its advisory. The advisory gave relevant phone numbers in case of emergency and also provided URLs for Israeli Home Front Command and Preparedness brochures. The advisory was issued in English, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages. On Sunday, Israel continued to carry out attacks on Gaza but some infiltrators holed up in the southern parts of Israel continued to be engaged in firefights with Israeli soldiers. Minor escalation was reported on Israel's northern border with Lebanon during the morning hours but soon seemed to have calmed down. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI NEW DELHI: Caste census and poll strategies are set to dominate the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting here on Monday, with Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram set to be announced soon. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the chief ministers of all the Congress-ruled states and the top party brass will deliberate on election preparedness and narratives across the poll-bound states at length, besides holding extensive discussions on the party's firm pitch for a nationwide caste census and its implications. There are concerns within the Congress with respect to the articulation of the party's demand for the caste census, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently accusing the grand old party of attempting to divide Hindus through its push for the Other Backward Classes (OBC). Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi, who is also a regular CWC member, raised concerns recently over Rahul Gandhi's "jitni abaadi, utna haq" (rights proportionate to population) slogan, arguing that it amounts to an endorsement of majoritarianism. Although Singhvi quickly deleted his controversial post on X after the Congress distanced itself from his remarks, concerns remain among a section of the party as to the articulation of the politically-sensitive call for the caste census. Meanwhile, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre has escalated its attacks on the Congress, saying the party has never been in favour of a caste census with late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi opposing the Mandal Commission in Parliament. The Congress has taken a principled stand to push for the caste census in order to counter the BJP's Hindutva agenda. After Bihar released the findings of a caste census in the state, Congress-ruled Rajasthan issued orders on Saturday for holding a similar exercise. In Chhattisgarh too, the Congress has announced that it will conduct a caste census if elected to power again. Congress-ruled Karnataka has already announced the census and is likely to come out with its results later this year. On the agenda at Monday's CWC meet is firming up the party's strategy in the five poll-bound states. The Congress is seeking to retain its governments in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and hoping to wrest power from the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana and Mizo National Front (MNF) in Mizoram. The CWC meet comes at a time when some opposition leaders are facing heat from central agencies and the latest in a series of arrests is of Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Sanjay Singh in the Delhi excise policy case. ALSO READ | One nation one poll plan attacks federal structure: Congress CWC The Congress has condemned Singh's arrest but also pointed to similar action against its leaders in Punjab at the hands of the AAP government there, the latest being the arrest of its farmers' wing head Sukhpal Khaira in a drugs-related case. The meeting of the top decision-making body of the Congress comes just over three weeks after the first meeting of the reconstituted CWC in Hyderabad on September 16 to evolve a strategy for the Assembly polls in the five states and the 2024 Lok Sabha election. The chief ministers of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, besides the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leaders in the five poll-bound states, will attend the CWC meet. The CWC has 39 regular members, 32 permanent invitees and 13 special invitees, including 15 women and several new faces. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: Caste census and poll strategies are set to dominate the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting here on Monday, with Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram set to be announced soon. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the chief ministers of all the Congress-ruled states and the top party brass will deliberate on election preparedness and narratives across the poll-bound states at length, besides holding extensive discussions on the party's firm pitch for a nationwide caste census and its implications. There are concerns within the Congress with respect to the articulation of the party's demand for the caste census, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently accusing the grand old party of attempting to divide Hindus through its push for the Other Backward Classes (OBC).googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi, who is also a regular CWC member, raised concerns recently over Rahul Gandhi's "jitni abaadi, utna haq" (rights proportionate to population) slogan, arguing that it amounts to an endorsement of majoritarianism. Although Singhvi quickly deleted his controversial post on X after the Congress distanced itself from his remarks, concerns remain among a section of the party as to the articulation of the politically-sensitive call for the caste census. Meanwhile, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre has escalated its attacks on the Congress, saying the party has never been in favour of a caste census with late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi opposing the Mandal Commission in Parliament. The Congress has taken a principled stand to push for the caste census in order to counter the BJP's Hindutva agenda. After Bihar released the findings of a caste census in the state, Congress-ruled Rajasthan issued orders on Saturday for holding a similar exercise. In Chhattisgarh too, the Congress has announced that it will conduct a caste census if elected to power again. Congress-ruled Karnataka has already announced the census and is likely to come out with its results later this year. On the agenda at Monday's CWC meet is firming up the party's strategy in the five poll-bound states. The Congress is seeking to retain its governments in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and hoping to wrest power from the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana and Mizo National Front (MNF) in Mizoram. The CWC meet comes at a time when some opposition leaders are facing heat from central agencies and the latest in a series of arrests is of Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Sanjay Singh in the Delhi excise policy case. ALSO READ | One nation one poll plan attacks federal structure: Congress CWC The Congress has condemned Singh's arrest but also pointed to similar action against its leaders in Punjab at the hands of the AAP government there, the latest being the arrest of its farmers' wing head Sukhpal Khaira in a drugs-related case. The meeting of the top decision-making body of the Congress comes just over three weeks after the first meeting of the reconstituted CWC in Hyderabad on September 16 to evolve a strategy for the Assembly polls in the five states and the 2024 Lok Sabha election. The chief ministers of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, besides the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leaders in the five poll-bound states, will attend the CWC meet. The CWC has 39 regular members, 32 permanent invitees and 13 special invitees, including 15 women and several new faces. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI TORONTO: Two trainee pilots from India are among three persons killed when a small plane crashed in Canada's British Columbia province, according to media reports. Abhay Gadru and Yash Ramugade, both 25, from Mumbai, were in the small twin-engine light aircraft - a piper PA-34 Seneca - which crashed on Friday near the local airport in Chilliwack city, about 100 km east of Vancouver. The plane crashed behind a motel near the airport, killing the pilot and everyone on board, Sgt. Pete Healey from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was quoted as saying by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Gadru moved to Canada three years ago to complete pilot training and was expected to graduate in November, his cousin Sdradha Trisal was quoted as saying by the Vancouver Sun newspaper on Saturday. "He was such a pure soul. I can't believe he's gone and I'm just left with memories now," Trisal said. A total of three people were killed in the plane crash. The report said that Gadru's sibling Chirag, who also lives in the British Columbia province, is trying to send back his brother's remains to their parents in India. Meanwhile, CTV News Vancouver, a Canadian news portal, said that the second person among the three killed was Yash Ramugude, who also hailed from Mumbai. While details about Gadru were given, there was not much information about Ramugade in the Canadian media reports. The registration number on the plane's tail indicates the aircraft, which appeared badly damaged, is a Piper PA-34 Seneca owned by SkyQuest Aviation, a flight school based in Langley. It was built in 1972. "We're looking into it but we're not issuing any statements. There is nothing we can say at this time," an employee, who works as an administrator at SkyQuest Aviation, said on condition of anonymity. The reports did not identify the pilot of the small plane. It is still unknown what caused the twin-engined light aircraft to crash, the CBC report said. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said it's sending investigators, it said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp TORONTO: Two trainee pilots from India are among three persons killed when a small plane crashed in Canada's British Columbia province, according to media reports. Abhay Gadru and Yash Ramugade, both 25, from Mumbai, were in the small twin-engine light aircraft - a piper PA-34 Seneca - which crashed on Friday near the local airport in Chilliwack city, about 100 km east of Vancouver. The plane crashed behind a motel near the airport, killing the pilot and everyone on board, Sgt. Pete Healey from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was quoted as saying by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Gadru moved to Canada three years ago to complete pilot training and was expected to graduate in November, his cousin Sdradha Trisal was quoted as saying by the Vancouver Sun newspaper on Saturday. "He was such a pure soul. I can't believe he's gone and I'm just left with memories now," Trisal said. A total of three people were killed in the plane crash. The report said that Gadru's sibling Chirag, who also lives in the British Columbia province, is trying to send back his brother's remains to their parents in India. Meanwhile, CTV News Vancouver, a Canadian news portal, said that the second person among the three killed was Yash Ramugude, who also hailed from Mumbai. While details about Gadru were given, there was not much information about Ramugade in the Canadian media reports. The registration number on the plane's tail indicates the aircraft, which appeared badly damaged, is a Piper PA-34 Seneca owned by SkyQuest Aviation, a flight school based in Langley. It was built in 1972. "We're looking into it but we're not issuing any statements. There is nothing we can say at this time," an employee, who works as an administrator at SkyQuest Aviation, said on condition of anonymity. The reports did not identify the pilot of the small plane. It is still unknown what caused the twin-engined light aircraft to crash, the CBC report said. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said it's sending investigators, it said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Every year on October 7, the president-dictator of the terrorist Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, accepts "generous" gifts from his colleagues and subordinates on the occasion of his birthday. However, the latter's imagination often fails them, which is not surprising, as it is not easy to come up with a present for a war criminal who has robbed the people and can afford almost anything he wants. ADVERTISIMENT Most likely, this is the reason why a dictator often receives clumsy and humiliating surprises. Although it cannot be said for certain that the Russian terrorist is not simply being ridiculed in this way. OBOZREVATEL decided to recall the top 5 gifts to Putin, which made him laugh far beyond the borders of Russia (to see the photos, scroll to the bottom of the page). Goat "Fairy Tale" In 2003, Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov presented the president with a white goat called "Fairy Tale" as a symbol of the lunar calendar. A photo of the dictator sitting next to the animal in the barn went viral, and the gift was dubbed one of the most inappropriate. As expected, the animal was transported to Novo-Ogaryovo, because Putin did not want to live with "Fairy Tale". ADVERTISIMENT Tractor In the midst of the full-scale war in Ukraine, in 2022, Belarusian self-proclaimed president Alexander Lukashenko presented his Russian counterpart with a Belarus hand-assembled tractor. He accompanied his gift with an incoherent tirade that Russia would "feed Europe with bread," which caused a wave of ridicule at the self-confidence of the Russian and Belarusian. Water from the lake In 2012, on Putin's birthday, scientists presented him with "water from the time of the dinosaurs" that was found in an ice lake in Antarctica. Given the principle of the water cycle in nature, the scientists could have just as easily filled the bottle anywhere else. Erotic calendar In 2010, students of the Faculty of Journalism at Lomonosov Moscow State University greeted Putin with their naked bodies. They handed the dictator an erotic calendar with their photos, and he said he liked it. Given that the Russian leader was 58 years old and married at the time, such a gift looked a bit strange. ADVERTISIMENT Pyramid of watermelons and melons Earlier, on the occasion of the bloody dictator's birthday, OBOZREVATEL recalled the most interesting facts from Putin's biography, which he carefully hides from the public. The Polish journalist and lawyer Krystyna Kurchab-Redlich has long been researching the "white spots" in the Russian's life. Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! By Agencies Union Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi on Sunday said the Prime Minister's Office is monitoring the ongoing situation in Israel adding, "we are on the job" to bring back stranded Indian students. Israel has been at "war" with Hamas terrorists since Saturday morning. "Indian government is striving to bring back stranded students of India from Israel. Prime Minister and his office are monitoring the situation and huge efforts are underway to get back our students who are stuck in that country," Lekhi told reporters. "Even in the past, many students including people from Andhra Pradesh were stuck across. So whether it was Operation Ganga or Vande Bharat, we brought everyone back and I am sure the government of India and the Prime Minister's Office is directly in touch with those people and is working and monitoring the situation," added the union minister Lekhi. Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Sunday urged the Indians stranded in Israel, which is at war with the Palestinian group Hamas, to stay safe and to contact the Indian embassy there if they require any assistance. Speaking to reporters in Kochi, Muraleedharan said the Indian embassy has already issued an advisory to Indians there to stay safe. "Indians in Israel can approach the Indian Embassy anytime. The embassy will extend all sorts of assistance to Indians stranded there," he said. ALSO READ | Air India flights to and from Tel Aviv suspended till October 14 Following the rocket attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip by Hamas, the Indian Embassy in Israel on Saturday issued an advisory for its nationals, requesting them to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols. "In view of the current situation in Israel, all Indian nationals in Israel are requested to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities. Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement and stay close to safety shelters," read the advisory. According to the details on the website of the Indian Embassy here, there are about 18,000 Indian citizens in Israel, primarily caregivers employed by Israeli elders, diamond traders, IT professionals and students. Asked about India's stand on the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas outfit, Muraleedharan said the Prime Minister had made it clear and expressed shock over the 'terror attack' on Israel. "We express solidarity with the people of Israel," the Union Minister said. ALSO READ | Netanyahu warns of 'long and difficult war'; hundreds killed on both sides Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said he was "deeply shocked" by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour," he wrote on X. So far, more than 300 people have been killed on the Israeli side, with the number of injured victims in the Hamas terror attacks reaching 1,864, the Times of Israel reported, citing the country's health ministry. Israel on Saturday declared a state of war in the country after infiltration by Hamas and missile attacks from Gaza. Hamas terrorists are still being sought by Israeli security authorities. Israel launched 'Operation Swords of Iron', striking a number of suspected Hamas hideouts in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's response to the Hamas incursion will "exact a huge price" on the terrorist group. (With inputs from ANI and PTI) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Union Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi on Sunday said the Prime Minister's Office is monitoring the ongoing situation in Israel adding, "we are on the job" to bring back stranded Indian students. Israel has been at "war" with Hamas terrorists since Saturday morning. "Indian government is striving to bring back stranded students of India from Israel. Prime Minister and his office are monitoring the situation and huge efforts are underway to get back our students who are stuck in that country," Lekhi told reporters. "Even in the past, many students including people from Andhra Pradesh were stuck across. So whether it was Operation Ganga or Vande Bharat, we brought everyone back and I am sure the government of India and the Prime Minister's Office is directly in touch with those people and is working and monitoring the situation," added the union minister Lekhi.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Sunday urged the Indians stranded in Israel, which is at war with the Palestinian group Hamas, to stay safe and to contact the Indian embassy there if they require any assistance. Speaking to reporters in Kochi, Muraleedharan said the Indian embassy has already issued an advisory to Indians there to stay safe. "Indians in Israel can approach the Indian Embassy anytime. The embassy will extend all sorts of assistance to Indians stranded there," he said. ALSO READ | Air India flights to and from Tel Aviv suspended till October 14 Following the rocket attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip by Hamas, the Indian Embassy in Israel on Saturday issued an advisory for its nationals, requesting them to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols. "In view of the current situation in Israel, all Indian nationals in Israel are requested to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities. Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement and stay close to safety shelters," read the advisory. According to the details on the website of the Indian Embassy here, there are about 18,000 Indian citizens in Israel, primarily caregivers employed by Israeli elders, diamond traders, IT professionals and students. Asked about India's stand on the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas outfit, Muraleedharan said the Prime Minister had made it clear and expressed shock over the 'terror attack' on Israel. "We express solidarity with the people of Israel," the Union Minister said. ALSO READ | Netanyahu warns of 'long and difficult war'; hundreds killed on both sides Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said he was "deeply shocked" by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour," he wrote on X. So far, more than 300 people have been killed on the Israeli side, with the number of injured victims in the Hamas terror attacks reaching 1,864, the Times of Israel reported, citing the country's health ministry. Israel on Saturday declared a state of war in the country after infiltration by Hamas and missile attacks from Gaza. Hamas terrorists are still being sought by Israeli security authorities. Israel launched 'Operation Swords of Iron', striking a number of suspected Hamas hideouts in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's response to the Hamas incursion will "exact a huge price" on the terrorist group. (With inputs from ANI and PTI) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: The State government will move the Supreme Court challenging the Centres decision to approve the fresh Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal that would govern the allocation of river water between Andhra and Telangana, said State Irrigation Minister Ambati Rambabu on Saturday. The State government will file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the apex court in the wake of a gazette being released on the new ToR, he stated. The notification was issued a few hours after Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy wrote a letter to the Prime Minister explaining why the Centres move on Krishna water was detrimental to the State. The new ToR for the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal is illegal. We condemn the Union Cabinets decision. We will fight it out in the Supreme Court to ensure the interest of the State is protected. There will be no compromise, Ambati stated while speaking to reporters in Vijayawada. Questioning the need for fresh ToR at this juncture, Ambati observed that Krishna river waters are already being distributed according to the Bachawat Tribunal. The minister asserted that the State government would not let the farmers injustice and exuded confidence that Andhra Pradesh would win this fight. We are committed to protecting the interests of the State and ensuring our farmers are not at loss. All we are doing is to fight for the rightful share of the Krishna water, he said. Ambati highlighted that long standing disagreements are there among Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over Krishna river waters. As per Bachawat Tribunals 1976 award, he said the erstwhile united Andhra Pradeshs 811 TMC share was apportioned into 512 TMC for the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh and 299 TMC to Telangana. In 2014, the erstwhile AP was bifurcated and the ToR of Brijesh Kumar Tribunal was extended for project wise distribution and finding solution in case there was shortage of water. When this is still in existence, approving a new ToR for the tribunal is unacceptable, the minister said. Term of the Tribunal It may be recalled that the Central government extended the term of Brijesh Kumar Tribunal up to March 31, 2024, as it is hearing the arguments under Section 89 of AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. The term of the Tribunal is likely to be extended further, as fresh ToR was given under Interstate River Water Disputes Act, 1956. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp VIJAYAWADA: The State government will move the Supreme Court challenging the Centres decision to approve the fresh Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal that would govern the allocation of river water between Andhra and Telangana, said State Irrigation Minister Ambati Rambabu on Saturday. The State government will file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the apex court in the wake of a gazette being released on the new ToR, he stated. The notification was issued a few hours after Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy wrote a letter to the Prime Minister explaining why the Centres move on Krishna water was detrimental to the State. The new ToR for the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal is illegal. We condemn the Union Cabinets decision. We will fight it out in the Supreme Court to ensure the interest of the State is protected. There will be no compromise, Ambati stated while speaking to reporters in Vijayawada.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Questioning the need for fresh ToR at this juncture, Ambati observed that Krishna river waters are already being distributed according to the Bachawat Tribunal. The minister asserted that the State government would not let the farmers injustice and exuded confidence that Andhra Pradesh would win this fight. We are committed to protecting the interests of the State and ensuring our farmers are not at loss. All we are doing is to fight for the rightful share of the Krishna water, he said. Ambati highlighted that long standing disagreements are there among Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over Krishna river waters. As per Bachawat Tribunals 1976 award, he said the erstwhile united Andhra Pradeshs 811 TMC share was apportioned into 512 TMC for the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh and 299 TMC to Telangana. In 2014, the erstwhile AP was bifurcated and the ToR of Brijesh Kumar Tribunal was extended for project wise distribution and finding solution in case there was shortage of water. When this is still in existence, approving a new ToR for the tribunal is unacceptable, the minister said. Term of the Tribunal It may be recalled that the Central government extended the term of Brijesh Kumar Tribunal up to March 31, 2024, as it is hearing the arguments under Section 89 of AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. The term of the Tribunal is likely to be extended further, as fresh ToR was given under Interstate River Water Disputes Act, 1956. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Express News Service CHENNAI: The members of the Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI), Chennai chapter, organised a protest against police action on NewsClick stating it was an attack on the freedom of media, outside Chennai Press Club on Saturday. They termed the invoking of the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against journalists an undeclared emergency. Under the section of the UAPA that is connected with raising funds for terrorist acts, the prosecution need not prove the allegations. The punishment for this section is five years in prison to life imprisonment. Since the wordings in the Act are vague, the prosecution can name any act as criminal or terror. Mere possession of a book or material related to any organisation has been considered incriminatory in the past, said Vaishna Roy, editor of Frontline. While the FIR claims that NewsClick took money from the Chinese to publish paid news against the Indian government, no such news has been brought to scrutiny. I stand in solidarity with the Network of Women in Media, India and condemn the fascistic actions of the BJP government in suppressing dissenting voices and journalists. Democracy cannot thrive in a nation that threatens freedom of the press, the very essence of the people's pic.twitter.com/Wtj7spm18K Kanimozhi () (@KanimozhiDMK) October 7, 2023 Chairperson of the Asian College of Journalism Sashi Kumar said even those who were reluctant to compare the situation in the country to the emergency in 1975 are now convinced that the situation is similar. This is an undeclared emergency. If you put free press behind bars, you have no right to call yourself a democracy. Elections dont constitute democracy as many fascists were elected to power, he said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp CHENNAI: The members of the Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI), Chennai chapter, organised a protest against police action on NewsClick stating it was an attack on the freedom of media, outside Chennai Press Club on Saturday. They termed the invoking of the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against journalists an undeclared emergency. Under the section of the UAPA that is connected with raising funds for terrorist acts, the prosecution need not prove the allegations. The punishment for this section is five years in prison to life imprisonment. Since the wordings in the Act are vague, the prosecution can name any act as criminal or terror. Mere possession of a book or material related to any organisation has been considered incriminatory in the past, said Vaishna Roy, editor of Frontline. While the FIR claims that NewsClick took money from the Chinese to publish paid news against the Indian government, no such news has been brought to scrutiny.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); I stand in solidarity with the Network of Women in Media, India and condemn the fascistic actions of the BJP government in suppressing dissenting voices and journalists. Democracy cannot thrive in a nation that threatens freedom of the press, the very essence of the people's pic.twitter.com/Wtj7spm18K Kanimozhi () (@KanimozhiDMK) October 7, 2023 Chairperson of the Asian College of Journalism Sashi Kumar said even those who were reluctant to compare the situation in the country to the emergency in 1975 are now convinced that the situation is similar. This is an undeclared emergency. If you put free press behind bars, you have no right to call yourself a democracy. Elections dont constitute democracy as many fascists were elected to power, he said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By IANS CHENNAI: After five attacks on fishermen from Tamil Nadu's Nagapattinam and Ramanathapuram in a span of one month allegedly by Sri Lankans in mid-sea, protests are on the rise in the coastal areas of the state. R Arumukham, fishermen association leader from Nagapattinam, while speaking to IANS said, We are being regularly attacked by Sri Lankans mid-sea and our costly fishing nets, GPS and catch are being forcibly taken away. Our men are also brutally attacked in mid-sea and we need an immediate solution to this or else we will have to resort to tough measures like highway blockade and not going to the sea. In the latest incident of mid-sea violence, eight fishermen from Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu were attacked by unidentified persons while they were fishing in mid-sea on Friday night. Fishermen from Vellapalam and Arcottuthurai areas of Nagapattinam district, A Manian, M Velmurugan, C Sathiaraj and G Kodilingam were attacked by unidentified persons and robbed of their belongings including costly GPS equipment, fishing nets and catch. The fishermen also suffered injuries in the attack. Tamil Nadu Coastal police sources told IANS that while they were fishing near Kodiyakarai on Friday night, three men suspected to be Sri Lankans and speaking Tamil intercepted their boat boarded it and assaulted them. Manian and Kodilingam sustained injuries in their legs and hands. In another incident on Friday night, fishermen from Vedarayanam were attacked by eight men in two boats. The fishermen - Chinnathambi, S Shivakumar, Palanivel and P Chinnayian - said that they lost their fishing nets and catch in the attack. Tamil Nadu Marine Coastal police have registered a case and conducted an investigation into the attack. Sundarapandyan, a fishermen leader from Vedaranyam while speaking to IANS said, The fishermen are becoming easy meat to Sri Lankans in mid-sea and this cannot be allowed. We will have to take tough measures if both the central and state governments are turning their back on our plight. We are calling a detailed meeting of all the stakeholders in the districts of Nagapattinam and Ramanathapuram and will take a decision soon to put an end to this. Meanwhile Tamil Manila Congress (TMC) leader and former Union Minister, GK Vasan in a statement called upon the Union and state governments to talk to the Sri Lankan government and to put an end to the attacks on Tamil fishermen in mid-sea. He also condemned the indifferent attitude of the Sri Lankan government. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp CHENNAI: After five attacks on fishermen from Tamil Nadu's Nagapattinam and Ramanathapuram in a span of one month allegedly by Sri Lankans in mid-sea, protests are on the rise in the coastal areas of the state. R Arumukham, fishermen association leader from Nagapattinam, while speaking to IANS said, We are being regularly attacked by Sri Lankans mid-sea and our costly fishing nets, GPS and catch are being forcibly taken away. Our men are also brutally attacked in mid-sea and we need an immediate solution to this or else we will have to resort to tough measures like highway blockade and not going to the sea. In the latest incident of mid-sea violence, eight fishermen from Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu were attacked by unidentified persons while they were fishing in mid-sea on Friday night.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Fishermen from Vellapalam and Arcottuthurai areas of Nagapattinam district, A Manian, M Velmurugan, C Sathiaraj and G Kodilingam were attacked by unidentified persons and robbed of their belongings including costly GPS equipment, fishing nets and catch. The fishermen also suffered injuries in the attack. Tamil Nadu Coastal police sources told IANS that while they were fishing near Kodiyakarai on Friday night, three men suspected to be Sri Lankans and speaking Tamil intercepted their boat boarded it and assaulted them. Manian and Kodilingam sustained injuries in their legs and hands. In another incident on Friday night, fishermen from Vedarayanam were attacked by eight men in two boats. The fishermen - Chinnathambi, S Shivakumar, Palanivel and P Chinnayian - said that they lost their fishing nets and catch in the attack. Tamil Nadu Marine Coastal police have registered a case and conducted an investigation into the attack. Sundarapandyan, a fishermen leader from Vedaranyam while speaking to IANS said, The fishermen are becoming easy meat to Sri Lankans in mid-sea and this cannot be allowed. We will have to take tough measures if both the central and state governments are turning their back on our plight. We are calling a detailed meeting of all the stakeholders in the districts of Nagapattinam and Ramanathapuram and will take a decision soon to put an end to this. Meanwhile Tamil Manila Congress (TMC) leader and former Union Minister, GK Vasan in a statement called upon the Union and state governments to talk to the Sri Lankan government and to put an end to the attacks on Tamil fishermen in mid-sea. He also condemned the indifferent attitude of the Sri Lankan government. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Pranab Mondal By KOLKATA: The TMC's sit-in outside Raj Bhavan here for the third consecutive day on Saturday demanding the clearance of the dues to West Bengal under MGNREGA, kept Bengal's political scenario simmering through the day. Union Minister of State for Rural Development of India Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee during the day accused each other of spreading falsehoods on the meeting between the TMC delegates and the central minister in Delhi earlier this week. The TMC has accused her of not meeting Banerjee and the party delegation in Delhi and fleeing through the back door of her office on October 4. Refuting claims, Jyoti in a press conference at the BJPs party office, said, "TMCs allegation is baseless and not true. I gave them time to meet but they kept changing their conditions for the meeting. I waited but they did not meet me. They alleged I fled through the back door of my office which is a blatant lie." Banerjee led the protest along with TMC MPs, MLAs, ministers and MGNREGA job card holders at Jantar Mantar in the national capital on October 2 and 3 to press for the Centres release of funds due to Bengal under the MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). Banerjee alleged that the protesters were dragged out of Jyotis office at the rural development ministry at Krishi Bhawan where they were waiting to meet her. The chief ministers nephew said, We were thrown out of her office like dogs and cats on October 4. She ignored the rights of Bengals poor people. Now she realises what she did. Our rightful demand has forced her to come to Kolkata. MoS Sadhvi Jyoti (Facebook) Banerjee on Thursday had announced to continue the demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan till Governor C V Ananda Bose met a delegation of Bengals ruling party. Bose had left to visit flood-affected areas in north Bengal without meeting the TMC delegation on Thursday. Accusing the TMC-led government of misusing the Centres fund, Jyoti said, Malpractices were detected during the year 19920 and 2021 and we repeatedly asked the state government to take action against the persons responsible for it. But no action was taken against them. On October 4, I told the TMC leaders that meet me and sort out the issues and I will definitely release the funds. But they did not. Jyoti expressed her willingness to engage in talks with the TMC delegation at any time but questioned the sincerity of the West Bengal ruling party on the issue. She offered to meet with them while she was in Kolkata. Banerjee in response suggested that she should come to Raj Bhavan if she wanted to engage in discussions with TMC. "We are open to talks. If she is interested she can come to the Raj Bhavan and we will discuss all the issues. However, we won't go to the BJP party office to meet her," Banerjee said. Meanwhile, a three-member Trinamool Congress delegation met Governor Bose in Darjeeling on Saturday and urged the clearance of the state's outstanding financial dues under the 100 days' work scheme from the Centre. They also requested the governor to meet the protesters who are on an indefinite sit-in near the Raj Bhavan under the leadership of Abhishek Banerjee since Thursday. After the closed-door meeting with the TMC delegation, a Raj Bhavan official announced that Bose would take up the matter of MGNREGA dues with the Centre. (With PTI inputs) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp KOLKATA: The TMC's sit-in outside Raj Bhavan here for the third consecutive day on Saturday demanding the clearance of the dues to West Bengal under MGNREGA, kept Bengal's political scenario simmering through the day. Union Minister of State for Rural Development of India Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee during the day accused each other of spreading falsehoods on the meeting between the TMC delegates and the central minister in Delhi earlier this week. The TMC has accused her of not meeting Banerjee and the party delegation in Delhi and fleeing through the back door of her office on October 4.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Refuting claims, Jyoti in a press conference at the BJPs party office, said, "TMCs allegation is baseless and not true. I gave them time to meet but they kept changing their conditions for the meeting. I waited but they did not meet me. They alleged I fled through the back door of my office which is a blatant lie." Banerjee led the protest along with TMC MPs, MLAs, ministers and MGNREGA job card holders at Jantar Mantar in the national capital on October 2 and 3 to press for the Centres release of funds due to Bengal under the MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). Banerjee alleged that the protesters were dragged out of Jyotis office at the rural development ministry at Krishi Bhawan where they were waiting to meet her. The chief ministers nephew said, We were thrown out of her office like dogs and cats on October 4. She ignored the rights of Bengals poor people. Now she realises what she did. Our rightful demand has forced her to come to Kolkata. MoS Sadhvi Jyoti (Facebook)Banerjee on Thursday had announced to continue the demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan till Governor C V Ananda Bose met a delegation of Bengals ruling party. Bose had left to visit flood-affected areas in north Bengal without meeting the TMC delegation on Thursday. Accusing the TMC-led government of misusing the Centres fund, Jyoti said, Malpractices were detected during the year 19920 and 2021 and we repeatedly asked the state government to take action against the persons responsible for it. But no action was taken against them. On October 4, I told the TMC leaders that meet me and sort out the issues and I will definitely release the funds. But they did not. Jyoti expressed her willingness to engage in talks with the TMC delegation at any time but questioned the sincerity of the West Bengal ruling party on the issue. She offered to meet with them while she was in Kolkata. Banerjee in response suggested that she should come to Raj Bhavan if she wanted to engage in discussions with TMC. "We are open to talks. If she is interested she can come to the Raj Bhavan and we will discuss all the issues. However, we won't go to the BJP party office to meet her," Banerjee said. Meanwhile, a three-member Trinamool Congress delegation met Governor Bose in Darjeeling on Saturday and urged the clearance of the state's outstanding financial dues under the 100 days' work scheme from the Centre. They also requested the governor to meet the protesters who are on an indefinite sit-in near the Raj Bhavan under the leadership of Abhishek Banerjee since Thursday. After the closed-door meeting with the TMC delegation, a Raj Bhavan official announced that Bose would take up the matter of MGNREGA dues with the Centre. (With PTI inputs) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Express News Service By BHOPAL: The ruling BJP as well as the prime opposition Congress are awaiting the end of Pitru Paksha (fortnight dedicated to ancestors) to declare candidates for the coming assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh. While the BJP has so far declared candidates for 79 out of the total 230 seats through three lists, the Congress is yet to name even a single candidate. As per sources in the two main parties, the Pitru Paksha (which isnt considered auspicious) is followed by the Navratra (nine days dedicated to Goddess Durga) which is considered among the most auspicious periods in Hindu religion. Owing to it, the two main players in the polls, are likely to declare their remaining lists in Navratri, which starts on October 15. In Delhi on Saturday, the MP Congress chief Kamal Nath said, The meeting of the partys central election committee (CEC) has been held today. Names of possible candidates for around 140 seats were discussed, but the final decision hasnt been taken. The candidates for those seats will be finalized in the next six to seven days. According to a senior state Congress leader, around 140 names have already been finalized by the partys screening committee and have been sent to the partys central election committee (CEC), but the final names will be made public in Navratri. Around 90-100 of these candidates have already been intimated by the party leadership and have already started working on the ground, the leader, while wishing not to be named, told this newspaper. On the other hand, the ruling BJP which is battling rising anti-incumbency of around 19 years of rule too is likely to come out with multiple lists of the remaining 151 candidates once the Navratri commences. Importantly, the BJP had surprised all poll pundits and the opposition Congress by releasing its first list of 39 candidates on August 17. It was the first time that the ruling party had declared its list of candidates three to four months before the actual polls. The party released its second list of 39 candidates on September 25, which again stunned all political observers, by naming seven sitting MPs, including three union ministers and the partys national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, as candidates mostly from the assembly seats lost in the 2018 elections. On September 26, the party released its third list which named just one candidate. While the party has already named seven sitting MPs as candidates in the assembly polls in its second list, party insiders claim that more sitting MPs and some more current and former union ministers could be named in the upcoming lists. Out of the 29 Lok Sabha members from the state, 28 are BJP MPs. On September 26, the BJP sprung a surprise by coming out with a 39-strong second list of candidates for the assembly polls. The candidates included seven sitting Lok Sabha MPs, including three union ministers and the partys national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya. With this, the ruling party named 78 candidates against the total 230 seats in the state ruled by it for the past 19 years. Earlier on August 17, the BJP had named 39 candidates in its first list for the state where polls are likely in November. Importantly, the party hasnt till now named its longest-serving CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan or any other leader as its CM face in MP and is contesting the polls with PM Modis face at the Centre. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp BHOPAL: The ruling BJP as well as the prime opposition Congress are awaiting the end of Pitru Paksha (fortnight dedicated to ancestors) to declare candidates for the coming assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh. While the BJP has so far declared candidates for 79 out of the total 230 seats through three lists, the Congress is yet to name even a single candidate. As per sources in the two main parties, the Pitru Paksha (which isnt considered auspicious) is followed by the Navratra (nine days dedicated to Goddess Durga) which is considered among the most auspicious periods in Hindu religion. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Owing to it, the two main players in the polls, are likely to declare their remaining lists in Navratri, which starts on October 15. In Delhi on Saturday, the MP Congress chief Kamal Nath said, The meeting of the partys central election committee (CEC) has been held today. Names of possible candidates for around 140 seats were discussed, but the final decision hasnt been taken. The candidates for those seats will be finalized in the next six to seven days. According to a senior state Congress leader, around 140 names have already been finalized by the partys screening committee and have been sent to the partys central election committee (CEC), but the final names will be made public in Navratri. Around 90-100 of these candidates have already been intimated by the party leadership and have already started working on the ground, the leader, while wishing not to be named, told this newspaper. On the other hand, the ruling BJP which is battling rising anti-incumbency of around 19 years of rule too is likely to come out with multiple lists of the remaining 151 candidates once the Navratri commences. Importantly, the BJP had surprised all poll pundits and the opposition Congress by releasing its first list of 39 candidates on August 17. It was the first time that the ruling party had declared its list of candidates three to four months before the actual polls. The party released its second list of 39 candidates on September 25, which again stunned all political observers, by naming seven sitting MPs, including three union ministers and the partys national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, as candidates mostly from the assembly seats lost in the 2018 elections. On September 26, the party released its third list which named just one candidate. While the party has already named seven sitting MPs as candidates in the assembly polls in its second list, party insiders claim that more sitting MPs and some more current and former union ministers could be named in the upcoming lists. Out of the 29 Lok Sabha members from the state, 28 are BJP MPs. On September 26, the BJP sprung a surprise by coming out with a 39-strong second list of candidates for the assembly polls. The candidates included seven sitting Lok Sabha MPs, including three union ministers and the partys national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya. With this, the ruling party named 78 candidates against the total 230 seats in the state ruled by it for the past 19 years. Earlier on August 17, the BJP had named 39 candidates in its first list for the state where polls are likely in November. Importantly, the party hasnt till now named its longest-serving CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan or any other leader as its CM face in MP and is contesting the polls with PM Modis face at the Centre. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Ramashankar By PATNA: Pressing the Centre to hold a Bihar-like caste census across the country, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Saturday said policies for all sections of the society could be formulated properly only when the actual representation in the population is known. Bihar government took the humanitarian work and conducted the caste census. Other states should do it too, Tejaswi said. On October 2, the Bihar government released the findings of the caste census which claimed that over 84 per cent of the population in Bihar comprises backwards including Extremely Backward Castes (EBC), Other Backward Castes (OBCs) and Scheduled Castes (SCs). The report was first-of-its-kind released since Independence. Taking a leaf from Bihar, ruled by JD(U)-led grand alliance, also comprising RJD and Congress, the Rajasthan government by Congress Ashok Gehlot has announced that it will conduct a similar exercise like Bihar if voted back to power. Moreover, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, while addressing an event, had promised the same in the poll-bound Chhattisgarh. Karnataka, which recently brought Congress to the helm, is too mulling over it. Hitting at the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party for criticising caste-based survey and questioning the authenticity of the data, Tejashwi said, If they [BJP] have questions regarding the survey or data, why dont they ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to conduct a survey at the national level. Over BJP president J P Naddas claim that regional parties will soon be finished, Tejaswi asked Do Modi and Nadda, both outsiders, know more about Bihar than us? How centre will survive when regional parties are finished? JD (U) national general secretary Rajiv Ranjan said according to reports, population of Extremely Backward Castes (EBCs) is 46 per cent against 36 in Bihar. State JD (U) president Umesh Kushwaha alleged even leaders like Jitan Ram Manjhi, Upendra Kushwaha and Chirag Paswan are speaking the language of the BJP. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp PATNA: Pressing the Centre to hold a Bihar-like caste census across the country, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Saturday said policies for all sections of the society could be formulated properly only when the actual representation in the population is known. Bihar government took the humanitarian work and conducted the caste census. Other states should do it too, Tejaswi said. On October 2, the Bihar government released the findings of the caste census which claimed that over 84 per cent of the population in Bihar comprises backwards including Extremely Backward Castes (EBC), Other Backward Castes (OBCs) and Scheduled Castes (SCs). The report was first-of-its-kind released since Independence.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Taking a leaf from Bihar, ruled by JD(U)-led grand alliance, also comprising RJD and Congress, the Rajasthan government by Congress Ashok Gehlot has announced that it will conduct a similar exercise like Bihar if voted back to power. Moreover, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, while addressing an event, had promised the same in the poll-bound Chhattisgarh. Karnataka, which recently brought Congress to the helm, is too mulling over it. Hitting at the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party for criticising caste-based survey and questioning the authenticity of the data, Tejashwi said, If they [BJP] have questions regarding the survey or data, why dont they ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to conduct a survey at the national level. Over BJP president J P Naddas claim that regional parties will soon be finished, Tejaswi asked Do Modi and Nadda, both outsiders, know more about Bihar than us? How centre will survive when regional parties are finished? JD (U) national general secretary Rajiv Ranjan said according to reports, population of Extremely Backward Castes (EBCs) is 46 per cent against 36 in Bihar. State JD (U) president Umesh Kushwaha alleged even leaders like Jitan Ram Manjhi, Upendra Kushwaha and Chirag Paswan are speaking the language of the BJP. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: The Union Health Ministry has kept in cold storage its proposal to amend the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act, 1954, which aimed to take stringent action against misleading advertisements, including of Ayush medicines, an RTI reply has revealed. The ministry had proposed amendments to the Act, which prohibits the advertisement for remedies and treatments that allegedly possess magical qualities, on February 3, 2020. The Act applies to advertisements for drugs including Ayurvedic, Siddha, Homeopathy and Unani. The proposed amendments also sought to widen the laws ambit by covering advertisements for 24 more diseases and disorders. These include ads for drugs to enhance sexual performance, improve skin fairness, increase height, and against premature ageing. However, in reply to an RTI filed by Kerala-based ophthalmologist Dr KV Babu, who had asked about the status of the proposed amendments, the ministry said the query had been transferred to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), Indias regulatory body for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and medical devices. The CDSCO, in its October 4 reply, said it has no further info on the draft proposal, which was kept in the public domain for stakeholders comment. In view of the concerns raised at several quarters on implementation and effectiveness of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act, 1954, from time to time, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, proposed to amend the Act to keep pace with changing time and technology. In this regard, a Draft Bill was published by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on February 3, 2020. CDSCO, as such, has no further information, the reply said. It is clear that the proposal has been kept in cold storage, Babu told this paper. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: The Union Health Ministry has kept in cold storage its proposal to amend the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act, 1954, which aimed to take stringent action against misleading advertisements, including of Ayush medicines, an RTI reply has revealed. The ministry had proposed amendments to the Act, which prohibits the advertisement for remedies and treatments that allegedly possess magical qualities, on February 3, 2020. The Act applies to advertisements for drugs including Ayurvedic, Siddha, Homeopathy and Unani. The proposed amendments also sought to widen the laws ambit by covering advertisements for 24 more diseases and disorders. These include ads for drugs to enhance sexual performance, improve skin fairness, increase height, and against premature ageing.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); However, in reply to an RTI filed by Kerala-based ophthalmologist Dr KV Babu, who had asked about the status of the proposed amendments, the ministry said the query had been transferred to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), Indias regulatory body for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and medical devices. The CDSCO, in its October 4 reply, said it has no further info on the draft proposal, which was kept in the public domain for stakeholders comment. In view of the concerns raised at several quarters on implementation and effectiveness of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act, 1954, from time to time, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, proposed to amend the Act to keep pace with changing time and technology. In this regard, a Draft Bill was published by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on February 3, 2020. CDSCO, as such, has no further information, the reply said. It is clear that the proposal has been kept in cold storage, Babu told this paper. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Express News Service By HYDERABAD: Yesteryear Tollywood actor Sarala Kumari is reportedly missing following flash floods in Sikkim, which have claimed over 40 lives, including army personnel. Her daughter, Nabitha, who resides in the United States, has made an earnest appeal to the Telangana government to help locate her missing mother in the flood-ravaged northeastern state. The actor, who lives in Hyderabad, recently went on a trip to Sikkim with her friends. She informed her daughter about the trip beforehand. As per sources, Nabitha is anxious and worried as her mother remains untraceable, with no information available since their last conversation on October 3. Following the flash floods in Sikkim, she attempted to contact hotels and even called the army hotline numbers but found them to be non-functional. Sarala Kumari, who was crowned Miss Andhra Pradesh in 1983 and later entered the film industry, acted in several Telugu films. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp HYDERABAD: Yesteryear Tollywood actor Sarala Kumari is reportedly missing following flash floods in Sikkim, which have claimed over 40 lives, including army personnel. Her daughter, Nabitha, who resides in the United States, has made an earnest appeal to the Telangana government to help locate her missing mother in the flood-ravaged northeastern state. The actor, who lives in Hyderabad, recently went on a trip to Sikkim with her friends. She informed her daughter about the trip beforehand.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); As per sources, Nabitha is anxious and worried as her mother remains untraceable, with no information available since their last conversation on October 3. Following the flash floods in Sikkim, she attempted to contact hotels and even called the army hotline numbers but found them to be non-functional. Sarala Kumari, who was crowned Miss Andhra Pradesh in 1983 and later entered the film industry, acted in several Telugu films. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Rajesh Asnani By JAIPUR: A row has erupted in Rajasthan in the wake of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot objecting to Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhars frequent visits to the state. Dhankhar has been in Rajasthan for two days and visited Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, and Jodhpur, the stronghold of Gehlot, on Saturday. This comes after his earlier visit to Sikar on Friday. Dhankhar has slammed Gehlot arguing that the CM should be sensitive towards people occupying the constitutional posts. Those objecting to his visits to Rajasthan have neither read the Constitution nor have they helped to maintain the dignity of the constitutional offices, Dhankhar has said. Earlier Gehlot criticised Dhankhar on why he was visiting Rajasthan so frequently at a time when state elections are around the corner. During his Sikar visit, the Vice President addressed a large gathering and said: I have come here, I am doing the right work, there is hardly any wrong work. He expressed his surprise at the objections raised about his frequent visits. I dont understand why you keep saying that again and again... I was a little surprised because the person who said it has neither read the Constitution, nor the law, nor kept the dignity of his post. Vice President Dhankhar emphasized that his visits were in line with constitutional procedures and for the welfare of the public. He clarified that visits by the Vice President are not impromptu but well-considered actions. To emphasize his point, he recited a poem. Dhankhar belongs to the powerful Jat community which has a strong influence in about 40 of the 200 seats in Rajasthan. After becoming the Vice President, Dhankhar is frequently visiting the Jat-dominated areas of the state. Analysts believe that through his repeated visits, the BJP is trying to woo the voters of the Jat community. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp JAIPUR: A row has erupted in Rajasthan in the wake of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot objecting to Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhars frequent visits to the state. Dhankhar has been in Rajasthan for two days and visited Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, and Jodhpur, the stronghold of Gehlot, on Saturday. This comes after his earlier visit to Sikar on Friday. Dhankhar has slammed Gehlot arguing that the CM should be sensitive towards people occupying the constitutional posts. Those objecting to his visits to Rajasthan have neither read the Constitution nor have they helped to maintain the dignity of the constitutional offices, Dhankhar has said. Earlier Gehlot criticised Dhankhar on why he was visiting Rajasthan so frequently at a time when state elections are around the corner.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); During his Sikar visit, the Vice President addressed a large gathering and said: I have come here, I am doing the right work, there is hardly any wrong work. He expressed his surprise at the objections raised about his frequent visits. I dont understand why you keep saying that again and again... I was a little surprised because the person who said it has neither read the Constitution, nor the law, nor kept the dignity of his post. Vice President Dhankhar emphasized that his visits were in line with constitutional procedures and for the welfare of the public. He clarified that visits by the Vice President are not impromptu but well-considered actions. To emphasize his point, he recited a poem. Dhankhar belongs to the powerful Jat community which has a strong influence in about 40 of the 200 seats in Rajasthan. After becoming the Vice President, Dhankhar is frequently visiting the Jat-dominated areas of the state. Analysts believe that through his repeated visits, the BJP is trying to woo the voters of the Jat community. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Russian tourists continue to be unceremoniously harassed in Turkey. One of the travelers who flew to Istanbul from the Russian Federation heard from a taxi driver what the foreigner thought of Russians, and in the end he paid twice as much as he should have. ADVERTISIMENT The conscious driver ripped off the Russian and even threatened him with the police if he refused to pay for the service. The shocked traveler silently paid the overcharged amount and ran to complain to his fellow citizens at a tourist forum. The Russian decided to take a taxi, expecting to pay no more than a thousand rubles, but on the way, the fare dramatically doubled when the reckless tourist gave out his place of birth. The taxi driver was not at a loss and forced the passenger to listen to the whole way that the people of Russia are "terrible inhumans." The outraged but silent Russian did not dare to raise his voice until the end of the trip. "When he found out that I came from Russia, he abruptly changed his expression and began to preach about what terrible non-humans we are," the citizen of the country that organized the genocide was furious. ADVERTISIMENT Finally, the driver decided to humiliate the Russian once again. The taxi driver billed him 600 Turkish liras (about 2.2 thousand rubles or 21,72 $), although the meter showed an amount of about 260 Turkish liras (about 940 rubles or 9,41 $). When asked where the difference came from, the Turk replied that there was a different tariff for Russians, and in case of refusal to pay, he threatened to call the police. Earlier, OBOZREVATEL wrote that a Russian tourist entertained Phuket airport employees with his antisocial behavior for 14 days. All the details are in our article. Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! By PTI WASHINGTON: California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a landmark anti-caste discrimination bill recently passed by the state assembly, terming it "unnecessary" and underlining that laws to ban caste-based discrimination already exist in the US state. The governor's move has been welcomed by a large segment of the Indian-American community who were opposing the bill based on the same argument. "In California, we believe everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter who they are, where they come from, who they love, or where they live," Newsom said in a statement on Saturday. "That is why California already prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, colour, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other characteristics, and state law specifies that these civil rights protections shall be liberally construed. Because discrimination based on caste is already prohibited under these existing categories, this bill is unnecessary," he said. For this reason, Newsom asserted that he "cannot sign" the bill, known as 'SB403', which was recently passed by a large majority by both the House of Representatives and Senate of the California State Assembly. California would have been the first US state to formally ban discrimination on the basis of caste if the Governor had signed the bill. The bill was introduced in March by Democratic state Senator Aisha Wahab, the first Muslim and Afghan American elected to the California Legislature. The bill defines "ancestry" for purposes of the Fair Employment and Housing Act, the Unruh Act, and the Education Code to include "caste" and other dimensions of ancestry. The opponents of the bill described it as historic and said that such a move by the Governor has prevented the efforts of many to target the South Asian community and the Hindus in the state. EXPLAINER | What is Indias caste system? Is it contentious in US? Reacting to the development, Castefiles, an educational platform which challenges false caste and race narratives in media, described the move as a historic decision. "Governor Newsom has taken a stance to veto SB403 - an attempt to sully the Civil Rights Act by adding discriminatory notes to it with the highly contentious term 'CASTE'. Newsom has recognised the pain and fight of the South Asian micro minority. Democracy wins today in America - the Vox populi that fought to be heard amidst the deafening roar of fake caste narratives," it said. Samir Kalra, managing director of the Hindu American Foundation, said, "With the stroke of his pen, Governor Newsom has averted a civil rights and constitutional disaster that would have put a target on hundreds of thousands of Californians simply because of their ethnicity or their religious identity, as well as create a slippery slope of facially discriminatory laws." Leading Democrat Ajay Bhutoria, in a statement, expressed his gratitude to Newsom for vetoing the bill and described it as a "momentous development". During a recent engagement at a Democratic National Committee (DNC) event in Chicago, Bhutoria from California and Rakesh Kapur from Boston urged the governor to veto the bill. Vetoing the SB403 Caste Bill was the right course of action, elucidating the detrimental impacts it could have on the community, they told the governor in Chicago last month. "This legislation was undeniably redundant and unnecessary, and I am pleased that our discussions in Chicago bore fruit. The veto of this bill is a testament to the power of constructive dialogue and collaboration," Bhutoria said in a statement. "This is a culmination of the efforts of the entire #HinduAmerican community, and the hundreds of organisations, temples, businesses, and allies that fought against #profiling. We rose above the lies, the insinuations, and the wild accusations - and we prevailed," Coalition of Hindus of North America said. It was an effort that saw hundreds of volunteers turn out in person, dozens of organisations, and thousands of California residents who wrote, called, and texted their lawmakers. Proof that if we unite and take action, nothing is impossible," CoHNA said. ALSO READ | Seattle becomes first US city to ban caste discrimination Khanderao Kand from the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora (FIIDS) thanked Newsom for "this historic and correct" decision. "I reject all and any form of discrimination, however as the governor said California law already covers all discriminations, moreover, this bill would have caused facial and ethnic profiling leading to difficulty for industries, particularly the tech industry to operate," he said. The recently formed Americans for Hindus said the bill was not facially neutral. "It relied on misleading narratives, strawman arguments, and a questionable survey that actively encouraged falsification of data," it said, thanking the governor for vetoing the bill. In a statement, Deelip Mhaske, president of the Foundation for Human Horizon and prominent Ambedkarite, said while the governor ideologically supported the bill, he was against anything that would further divide the Indian-American community or promote negative sentiments towards India. "Consequently, he vetoed the bill, not because he opposed the legislation per se, but due to concerns over divisive groups hijacking the movement," he said. According to Mhaske, after the bill was passed by the California Assembly, several organisations supporting the bill initiated a hunger strike, prompting an investigation into the participants, especially Equality Lab. "Concerns were raised that some groups were using the bill as a means to promote financial interests, as well as fostering divisive anti-India and anti-Hindu sentiments within the Indian community in America," he said, welcoming the decision of the governor to veto the bill. Vaishali V, president of the Ambedkar-Phule Network of American Dalits and Bahujans, congratulated Newsom for seeing through the flaws in the bill and how it would adversely impact people from South Asia, including the marginalised communities. "As California's Governor has rightly pointed out, California's law on civil rights already covers all instances of discrimination. We believe that this bill was brought with the sole intention of stereotyping Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Muslims and other communities from South Asia." "While we welcome the veto, we know that nothing can bring back the life of our leader Milind Makwana who was the voice marginalised and at the forefront of the struggle against SB-403 Nothing can heal the loss and the trauma that this bill has caused to the families of the marginalised communities," Vaishali said. Expressing profound relief and gratitude following the governor's decision to veto bill SB403, Hindu Parents said this significant decision stands as a beacon against prejudice, discrimination, and misinformation about Hinduism and its followers in California. "With this development, our children can look forward to a future where they are not subject to undue stereotyping and profiling based on perceptions. This ensures they can practise their faith peacefully, with pride, and without the looming shadows of colonial-era stereotypes and prejudice," Hindu Parents said. "While we celebrate this victory, we recognise there's more work ahead. The portrayal of Hinduism and Hindu-Americans, especially in educational materials, remains a concern. It is our hope that the state of California will address these systemic biases and stereotypes in our textbooks. True reconciliation can be achieved when education reflects the rich diversity and historical contributions of Hinduism," said the organisation representing Hindu Parents. "Standing against all forms of hatred, bullying, and discrimination is our collective responsibility," it said. Eminent Indian American Yogi Chug said Governor Newsom's veto of SB403 demonstrates the outcome of a protracted and long effort by the Indian-American community to advocate for the limitations of the original bill as authored. "One must applaud the relentless effort of so many community members who diligently made the case for ensuring that no one is singled out or profiled as it iterated through various versions in the California legislature," he said. "The key is to ensure that the Indian-American community continues to remain engaged and recognise that they have the potential to be a responsible and meaningful voice in the American political process. Equally important is to focus on this ongoing political journey with the utmost humility and purpose," Chug said. Equality Lab, which had relentlessly worked for the bill and its passage, said though Governor Newsom has rejected the legislation for now, the caste equity movement still views this as a win. SB403 is the first anti-caste discrimination bill to have made it all the way through the California legislature, it said. "We are very proud of the power and resilience that caste-oppressed people across the state have shown in their advocacy for SB403. While it is heartbreaking to receive the Governor's veto, it is not a reflection of the incredible democratic power that our communities showed. We did the impossible," said Thenmozhi Soundararajan, Executive Director of Equality Labs. Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of SALDEF, said they are deeply disappointed by Governor Newsom's veto of SB 403, which would have banned caste discrimination in California. "This veto is a missed opportunity to protect millions of Californians from a form of discrimination that is deeply rooted in our society. But we won't stop fighting for a more just and equal society and will continue fighting for California to be the first state to ban discrimination based on caste," Gill said. Rasheed Ahmed, Executive Director of Indian American Muslim Council, said the Indian-American Muslims are shocked, disheartened and deeply disappointed to see that Governor Newsom backed down from the chance to uphold the civil rights of all Californians and make history for caste-oppressed people throughout the state by vetoing SB-403. The Sikh Coalition is deeply disappointed to learn that Governor Newsom has chosen to veto SB403, said Harman Singh, Policy and Education Director, Sikh Coalition. "Millions of American Hindus, and people from the Indian subcontinent can take a sigh of relief, that they won't be targeted for hate and prejudice under the garb of 'caste'," said Hindu Action in a statement. "Kudos to the California governor for vetoing the racist bill on caste. It turned an existing law against discrimination and used it to target Hindus specifically. What hypocrisy by those claiming to fight prejudice? Our pushback has finally produced results," said author Rajiv Malhotra. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp WASHINGTON: California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a landmark anti-caste discrimination bill recently passed by the state assembly, terming it "unnecessary" and underlining that laws to ban caste-based discrimination already exist in the US state. The governor's move has been welcomed by a large segment of the Indian-American community who were opposing the bill based on the same argument. "In California, we believe everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter who they are, where they come from, who they love, or where they live," Newsom said in a statement on Saturday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "That is why California already prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, colour, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other characteristics, and state law specifies that these civil rights protections shall be liberally construed. Because discrimination based on caste is already prohibited under these existing categories, this bill is unnecessary," he said. For this reason, Newsom asserted that he "cannot sign" the bill, known as 'SB403', which was recently passed by a large majority by both the House of Representatives and Senate of the California State Assembly. California would have been the first US state to formally ban discrimination on the basis of caste if the Governor had signed the bill. The bill was introduced in March by Democratic state Senator Aisha Wahab, the first Muslim and Afghan American elected to the California Legislature. The bill defines "ancestry" for purposes of the Fair Employment and Housing Act, the Unruh Act, and the Education Code to include "caste" and other dimensions of ancestry. The opponents of the bill described it as historic and said that such a move by the Governor has prevented the efforts of many to target the South Asian community and the Hindus in the state. EXPLAINER | What is Indias caste system? Is it contentious in US? Reacting to the development, Castefiles, an educational platform which challenges false caste and race narratives in media, described the move as a historic decision. "Governor Newsom has taken a stance to veto SB403 - an attempt to sully the Civil Rights Act by adding discriminatory notes to it with the highly contentious term 'CASTE'. Newsom has recognised the pain and fight of the South Asian micro minority. Democracy wins today in America - the Vox populi that fought to be heard amidst the deafening roar of fake caste narratives," it said. Samir Kalra, managing director of the Hindu American Foundation, said, "With the stroke of his pen, Governor Newsom has averted a civil rights and constitutional disaster that would have put a target on hundreds of thousands of Californians simply because of their ethnicity or their religious identity, as well as create a slippery slope of facially discriminatory laws." Leading Democrat Ajay Bhutoria, in a statement, expressed his gratitude to Newsom for vetoing the bill and described it as a "momentous development". During a recent engagement at a Democratic National Committee (DNC) event in Chicago, Bhutoria from California and Rakesh Kapur from Boston urged the governor to veto the bill. Vetoing the SB403 Caste Bill was the right course of action, elucidating the detrimental impacts it could have on the community, they told the governor in Chicago last month. "This legislation was undeniably redundant and unnecessary, and I am pleased that our discussions in Chicago bore fruit. The veto of this bill is a testament to the power of constructive dialogue and collaboration," Bhutoria said in a statement. "This is a culmination of the efforts of the entire #HinduAmerican community, and the hundreds of organisations, temples, businesses, and allies that fought against #profiling. We rose above the lies, the insinuations, and the wild accusations - and we prevailed," Coalition of Hindus of North America said. It was an effort that saw hundreds of volunteers turn out in person, dozens of organisations, and thousands of California residents who wrote, called, and texted their lawmakers. Proof that if we unite and take action, nothing is impossible," CoHNA said. ALSO READ | Seattle becomes first US city to ban caste discrimination Khanderao Kand from the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora (FIIDS) thanked Newsom for "this historic and correct" decision. "I reject all and any form of discrimination, however as the governor said California law already covers all discriminations, moreover, this bill would have caused facial and ethnic profiling leading to difficulty for industries, particularly the tech industry to operate," he said. The recently formed Americans for Hindus said the bill was not facially neutral. "It relied on misleading narratives, strawman arguments, and a questionable survey that actively encouraged falsification of data," it said, thanking the governor for vetoing the bill. In a statement, Deelip Mhaske, president of the Foundation for Human Horizon and prominent Ambedkarite, said while the governor ideologically supported the bill, he was against anything that would further divide the Indian-American community or promote negative sentiments towards India. "Consequently, he vetoed the bill, not because he opposed the legislation per se, but due to concerns over divisive groups hijacking the movement," he said. According to Mhaske, after the bill was passed by the California Assembly, several organisations supporting the bill initiated a hunger strike, prompting an investigation into the participants, especially Equality Lab. "Concerns were raised that some groups were using the bill as a means to promote financial interests, as well as fostering divisive anti-India and anti-Hindu sentiments within the Indian community in America," he said, welcoming the decision of the governor to veto the bill. Vaishali V, president of the Ambedkar-Phule Network of American Dalits and Bahujans, congratulated Newsom for seeing through the flaws in the bill and how it would adversely impact people from South Asia, including the marginalised communities. "As California's Governor has rightly pointed out, California's law on civil rights already covers all instances of discrimination. We believe that this bill was brought with the sole intention of stereotyping Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Muslims and other communities from South Asia." "While we welcome the veto, we know that nothing can bring back the life of our leader Milind Makwana who was the voice marginalised and at the forefront of the struggle against SB-403 Nothing can heal the loss and the trauma that this bill has caused to the families of the marginalised communities," Vaishali said. Expressing profound relief and gratitude following the governor's decision to veto bill SB403, Hindu Parents said this significant decision stands as a beacon against prejudice, discrimination, and misinformation about Hinduism and its followers in California. "With this development, our children can look forward to a future where they are not subject to undue stereotyping and profiling based on perceptions. This ensures they can practise their faith peacefully, with pride, and without the looming shadows of colonial-era stereotypes and prejudice," Hindu Parents said. "While we celebrate this victory, we recognise there's more work ahead. The portrayal of Hinduism and Hindu-Americans, especially in educational materials, remains a concern. It is our hope that the state of California will address these systemic biases and stereotypes in our textbooks. True reconciliation can be achieved when education reflects the rich diversity and historical contributions of Hinduism," said the organisation representing Hindu Parents. "Standing against all forms of hatred, bullying, and discrimination is our collective responsibility," it said. Eminent Indian American Yogi Chug said Governor Newsom's veto of SB403 demonstrates the outcome of a protracted and long effort by the Indian-American community to advocate for the limitations of the original bill as authored. "One must applaud the relentless effort of so many community members who diligently made the case for ensuring that no one is singled out or profiled as it iterated through various versions in the California legislature," he said. "The key is to ensure that the Indian-American community continues to remain engaged and recognise that they have the potential to be a responsible and meaningful voice in the American political process. Equally important is to focus on this ongoing political journey with the utmost humility and purpose," Chug said. Equality Lab, which had relentlessly worked for the bill and its passage, said though Governor Newsom has rejected the legislation for now, the caste equity movement still views this as a win. SB403 is the first anti-caste discrimination bill to have made it all the way through the California legislature, it said. "We are very proud of the power and resilience that caste-oppressed people across the state have shown in their advocacy for SB403. While it is heartbreaking to receive the Governor's veto, it is not a reflection of the incredible democratic power that our communities showed. We did the impossible," said Thenmozhi Soundararajan, Executive Director of Equality Labs. Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of SALDEF, said they are deeply disappointed by Governor Newsom's veto of SB 403, which would have banned caste discrimination in California. "This veto is a missed opportunity to protect millions of Californians from a form of discrimination that is deeply rooted in our society. But we won't stop fighting for a more just and equal society and will continue fighting for California to be the first state to ban discrimination based on caste," Gill said. Rasheed Ahmed, Executive Director of Indian American Muslim Council, said the Indian-American Muslims are shocked, disheartened and deeply disappointed to see that Governor Newsom backed down from the chance to uphold the civil rights of all Californians and make history for caste-oppressed people throughout the state by vetoing SB-403. The Sikh Coalition is deeply disappointed to learn that Governor Newsom has chosen to veto SB403, said Harman Singh, Policy and Education Director, Sikh Coalition. "Millions of American Hindus, and people from the Indian subcontinent can take a sigh of relief, that they won't be targeted for hate and prejudice under the garb of 'caste'," said Hindu Action in a statement. "Kudos to the California governor for vetoing the racist bill on caste. It turned an existing law against discrimination and used it to target Hindus specifically. What hypocrisy by those claiming to fight prejudice? Our pushback has finally produced results," said author Rajiv Malhotra. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By AFP ISLAMABAD: The death toll from strong earthquakes that shook western Afghanistan has risen to over 2,000, a Taliban government spokesman said Sunday. It's one of the deadliest earthquakes to strike the country in two decades. A powerful magnitude-6.3 earthquake followed by strong aftershocks killed dozens of people in western Afghanistan on Saturday, the country's national disaster authority said. But Abdul Wahid Rayan, spokesman at the Ministry of Information and Culture, said the death toll from the earthquake in Herat is higher than originally reported. About six villages have been destroyed, and hundreds of civilians have been buried under the debris, he said while calling for urgent help. The United Nations late Saturday gave a preliminary figure of 320 dead, but later said the figure was still being verified. Local authorities gave an estimate of 100 people killed and 500 injured, according to the same update from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The update said 465 houses had been reported destroyed and a further 135 were damaged. Partners and local authorities anticipate the number of casualties to increase as search and rescue efforts continue amid reports that some people may be trapped under collapsed buildings, the U.N. said. ALSO READ | Afghanistan rescuers work through the night after deadly quake; death toll to 'rise very high' Disaster authority spokesperson Mohammad Abdullah Jan said four villages in the Zenda Jan district in Herat province bore the brunt of the quake and aftershocks. The United States Geological Survey said the quake's epicenter was about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Herat city. It was followed by three very strong aftershocks, measuring magnitude 6.3, 5.9 and 5.5, as well as lesser shocks. At least five strong tremors struck the city around noon, Herat city resident Abdul Shakor Samadi said. All people are out of their homes, Samadi said. Houses, offices and shops are all empty and there are fears of more earthquakes. My family and I were inside our home, I felt the quake. His family began shouting and ran outside, afraid to return indoors. The World Health Organization in Afghanistan said it dispatched 12 ambulance cars to Zenda Jan to evacuate casualties to hospitals. As deaths & casualties from the earthquake continue to be reported, teams are in hospitals assisting treatment of wounded & assessing additional needs, the U.N. agency said on X, formerly known as Twitter. WHO-supported ambulances are transporting those affected, most of them women and children. Telephone connections went down in Herat, making it hard to get details from affected areas. Videos on social media showed hundreds of people in the streets outside their homes and offices in Herat city. Herat province borders Iran. The quake also was felt in the nearby Afghan provinces of Farah and Badghis, according to local media reports. Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban-appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs, expressed his condolences to the dead and injured in Herat and Badghis. The Taliban urged local organizations to reach earthquake-hit areas as soon as possible to help take the injured to hospital, provide shelter for the homeless, and deliver food to survivors. They said security agencies should use all their resources and facilities to rescue people trapped under debris. #Afghanistan has just been hit by a devastating earthquake, second one in two months, killing and injuring hundreds of people. Our thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones and homes across the Western region. pic.twitter.com/zi9gsx2dSC World Food Programme in Afghanistan (@WFP_Afghanistan) October 8, 2023 We ask our wealthy compatriots to give any possible cooperation and help to our afflicted brothers, the Taliban said on X. Japan's ambassador to Afghanistan, Takashi Okada, expressed his condolences saying on the social media platform X, that he was deeply grieved and saddened to learn the news of earthquake in Herat province. In June 2022, a powerful earthquake struck a rugged, mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan, flattening stone and mud-brick homes. The quake killed at least 1,000 people and injured about 1,500. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp ISLAMABAD: The death toll from strong earthquakes that shook western Afghanistan has risen to over 2,000, a Taliban government spokesman said Sunday. It's one of the deadliest earthquakes to strike the country in two decades. A powerful magnitude-6.3 earthquake followed by strong aftershocks killed dozens of people in western Afghanistan on Saturday, the country's national disaster authority said. But Abdul Wahid Rayan, spokesman at the Ministry of Information and Culture, said the death toll from the earthquake in Herat is higher than originally reported. About six villages have been destroyed, and hundreds of civilians have been buried under the debris, he said while calling for urgent help.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The United Nations late Saturday gave a preliminary figure of 320 dead, but later said the figure was still being verified. Local authorities gave an estimate of 100 people killed and 500 injured, according to the same update from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The update said 465 houses had been reported destroyed and a further 135 were damaged. Partners and local authorities anticipate the number of casualties to increase as search and rescue efforts continue amid reports that some people may be trapped under collapsed buildings, the U.N. said. ALSO READ | Afghanistan rescuers work through the night after deadly quake; death toll to 'rise very high' Disaster authority spokesperson Mohammad Abdullah Jan said four villages in the Zenda Jan district in Herat province bore the brunt of the quake and aftershocks. The United States Geological Survey said the quake's epicenter was about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Herat city. It was followed by three very strong aftershocks, measuring magnitude 6.3, 5.9 and 5.5, as well as lesser shocks. At least five strong tremors struck the city around noon, Herat city resident Abdul Shakor Samadi said. All people are out of their homes, Samadi said. Houses, offices and shops are all empty and there are fears of more earthquakes. My family and I were inside our home, I felt the quake. His family began shouting and ran outside, afraid to return indoors. The World Health Organization in Afghanistan said it dispatched 12 ambulance cars to Zenda Jan to evacuate casualties to hospitals. As deaths & casualties from the earthquake continue to be reported, teams are in hospitals assisting treatment of wounded & assessing additional needs, the U.N. agency said on X, formerly known as Twitter. WHO-supported ambulances are transporting those affected, most of them women and children. Telephone connections went down in Herat, making it hard to get details from affected areas. Videos on social media showed hundreds of people in the streets outside their homes and offices in Herat city. Herat province borders Iran. The quake also was felt in the nearby Afghan provinces of Farah and Badghis, according to local media reports. Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban-appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs, expressed his condolences to the dead and injured in Herat and Badghis. The Taliban urged local organizations to reach earthquake-hit areas as soon as possible to help take the injured to hospital, provide shelter for the homeless, and deliver food to survivors. They said security agencies should use all their resources and facilities to rescue people trapped under debris. #Afghanistan has just been hit by a devastating earthquake, second one in two months, killing and injuring hundreds of people. Our thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones and homes across the Western region. pic.twitter.com/zi9gsx2dSC World Food Programme in Afghanistan (@WFP_Afghanistan) October 8, 2023 We ask our wealthy compatriots to give any possible cooperation and help to our afflicted brothers, the Taliban said on X. Japan's ambassador to Afghanistan, Takashi Okada, expressed his condolences saying on the social media platform X, that he was deeply grieved and saddened to learn the news of earthquake in Herat province. In June 2022, a powerful earthquake struck a rugged, mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan, flattening stone and mud-brick homes. The quake killed at least 1,000 people and injured about 1,500. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By ANI TEL AVIV: Israeli fighter jets hit a military facility at the residence of the terrorist group Hamas' intelligence chief in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces said. Sharing an update on the ongoing counter-offensive on social media platform X, the IDF posted, "Fighter jets recently attacked a military infrastructure at the home of the head of the intelligence department of the terrorist organization Hamas." "At this time, the IDF continues its attacks throughout the Gaza Strip," the IDF added in its post. Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to terrorist outfit Hamas, saying that it started a cruel, evil war and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will use all its strength to destroy its capabilities. "Hamas forces invaded Israeli territory this morning, on the morning of a holiday and Shabbat, and murdered innocent civilians, children and the elderly. Hamas started a cruel and evil war. We will win this war, but the price is too heavy to bear. This is a very difficult day for all of us," the Israeli PM posted on 'X' on Sunday. ALSO READ | Israel battles Hamas as Netanyahu warns of 'long and difficult war'; hundreds killed on both sides In a major escalation on Saturday, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. The toll from the rocket attacks and ground assault by Hamas went past 300 on Sunday, with another 1,864 people reported to be injured. Several Israelis were taken as hostages in Gaza, the Times of Israel reported citing officials. Netanyahu said, "Hamas wants to murder us all. It is an enemy who murders children and mothers in their homes, in their beds. An enemy who kidnaps the elderly, children, and girls. Murderers who slap and slaughter our citizens, our children, who all in all went out to spend the holiday." He said after what happened in Israel on Saturday, he will make sure that it does not happen again. "What happened today is not seen in Israel and I will make sure that it does not happen again. The entire government stands behind this decision," he said. "The IDF will immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamas' capabilities. We will cripple them to the point of destruction and we will take revenge with might for this black day they have brought upon the State of Israel and its citizens," he added. "As families all over Israel are gathering around the dinner table, instead of eating dinner, they are once again forced to run to bomb shelters due to Hamas' incessant rocket fire," the IDF stated on Saturday said. A short while ago, IAF fighter jets struck a compound belonging to the head of the intelligence department in the Hamas terrorist organization. The IAF is currently continuing to strike terror targets in the Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/uSHsXGFNzz Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 8, 2023 Around 6.30 am (local time), a barrage of rocket fire began from Gaza into Israel, hitting several cities including Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Gedera and Ashkelon. This was followed by several Hamas terrorists entering Israel from the Gaza Strip and laying a siege to Israeli towns. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp TEL AVIV: Israeli fighter jets hit a military facility at the residence of the terrorist group Hamas' intelligence chief in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces said. Sharing an update on the ongoing counter-offensive on social media platform X, the IDF posted, "Fighter jets recently attacked a military infrastructure at the home of the head of the intelligence department of the terrorist organization Hamas." "At this time, the IDF continues its attacks throughout the Gaza Strip," the IDF added in its post.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to terrorist outfit Hamas, saying that it started a cruel, evil war and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will use all its strength to destroy its capabilities. "Hamas forces invaded Israeli territory this morning, on the morning of a holiday and Shabbat, and murdered innocent civilians, children and the elderly. Hamas started a cruel and evil war. We will win this war, but the price is too heavy to bear. This is a very difficult day for all of us," the Israeli PM posted on 'X' on Sunday. ALSO READ | Israel battles Hamas as Netanyahu warns of 'long and difficult war'; hundreds killed on both sides In a major escalation on Saturday, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. The toll from the rocket attacks and ground assault by Hamas went past 300 on Sunday, with another 1,864 people reported to be injured. Several Israelis were taken as hostages in Gaza, the Times of Israel reported citing officials. Netanyahu said, "Hamas wants to murder us all. It is an enemy who murders children and mothers in their homes, in their beds. An enemy who kidnaps the elderly, children, and girls. Murderers who slap and slaughter our citizens, our children, who all in all went out to spend the holiday." He said after what happened in Israel on Saturday, he will make sure that it does not happen again. "What happened today is not seen in Israel and I will make sure that it does not happen again. The entire government stands behind this decision," he said. "The IDF will immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamas' capabilities. We will cripple them to the point of destruction and we will take revenge with might for this black day they have brought upon the State of Israel and its citizens," he added. "As families all over Israel are gathering around the dinner table, instead of eating dinner, they are once again forced to run to bomb shelters due to Hamas' incessant rocket fire," the IDF stated on Saturday said. A short while ago, IAF fighter jets struck a compound belonging to the head of the intelligence department in the Hamas terrorist organization. The IAF is currently continuing to strike terror targets in the Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/uSHsXGFNzz Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 8, 2023 Around 6.30 am (local time), a barrage of rocket fire began from Gaza into Israel, hitting several cities including Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Gedera and Ashkelon. This was followed by several Hamas terrorists entering Israel from the Gaza Strip and laying a siege to Israeli towns. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By ANI NEW DELHI: Former director of the Israel National Security Council, Helit Barel, hinted at an intelligence lapse, saying that the multi-front terror attack by Hamas caught the country "by surprise." In an interview with ANI over Zoom, she added that the attacks could have been avoided if the intelligence wing of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were at the required "level of readiness." Barel said Israel was currently in a state of war and there was a sequence of challenges and tasks at hand. "It is quite clear that this attack caught us by surprise. There is no way that such terrible consequences would have occurred if Israeli forces intelligence were at the kind of readiness that we know and expect. Currently, we are in a state of war...There is a sequence of challenges and tasks at hand beginning with still getting all the areas down south where there were terrorist infiltrations completely cleared," she told ANI. On the operation carried out by the Israeli defence forces to neutralise terrorists in the region of conflict (near the Gaza border as well as across Israel), she said, "The forces are walking house by house and corner by corner making sure terrorists aren't hiding anywhere. We have the larger task of making sure that all other arenas that Israel faces stay calm including the internal arena...I think it is inevitable that there will be very strong retributions within the Gaza Strip and I think it will be of a magnitude that we certainly have not seen before." ALSO READ | After shocking Hamas assault on Israel, both sides brace for devastating fallout Underlining how civilians across the country were affected by the terror attacks and the retaliatory strikes that followed, Barel said, "We're trying not to get into analysis of exactly how and what went wrong at this time. We don't have all the information and with people in such a bad state and needing stabilizing all over, families from all over the country have been hugely affected by this. We have a number of wounded, dead and hostages." "But I will say I think everybody from the public to anybody in the security establishment is searching for answers about this and certainly we will not rest until we understand what exactly conspired because the security of the citizens of this state has been severely impaired," she told ANI. The 'surprise attack' on Israel by terrorist outfit Hamas was condemned by world leaders. From Nepal and Sri Lanka to the UK and Japan, world leaders expressed solidarity with Israel at a time when the country facing the fallout of the terror attacks, its worst to date, which has already claimed over 300 lives and is likely to witness more casualties. Taking to his official handle on social media platform X, UK PM Rishi Sunak posted, "As the barbarity of today's atrocities becomes clearer, we stand unequivocally with Israel. This attack by Hamas is cowardly and depraved," as he pledged support to his Israel counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu. "We have expressed our full solidarity to Netanyahu and will work with international partners in the next 24 hours to co-ordinate support," he added. Meanwhile, Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida posted on X, "Hamas and other Palestinian militants attacked Israel from Gaza yesterday. Japan strongly condemns the attacks which severely harmed innocent civilians. I express my condolences to the bereaved families and heartfelt sympathies to the injured." ALSO READ | Netanyahu warns of 'long and difficult war'; hundreds killed on both sides Around 6.30 am (local time) on Sunday, a barrage of rocket fire began from Gaza into Israel, hitting several cities including Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Gedera and Ashkelon. It was followed by several Hamas terrorists entering Israel from the Gaza Strip and laying a siege to Israeli towns. Senior Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif declared that the rocket launch was the beginning of "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood", urging Palestinians all over the world to resist Israeli occupation. Hamas would pay a "heavy price for its actions", according to reports. The Israeli forces told citizens living near the Gaza Strip, them to remain inside their houses. The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military arm of Hamas, referred to Saturday's attack on Israel as an effort "in defence of the Al-Aqsa Mosque", a disputed religious site significant to both Muslims and Jews, reports said. In the wake of the deadly attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Hamas, claiming that the terror outfit had begun a terrible war and that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) would use all of its strength to undermine their capacity. "Hamas forces invaded Israeli territory this morning, on the morning of a holiday and Shabbat, and murdered innocent civilians, children and the elderly. Hamas started a cruel and evil war. We will win this war, but the price is too heavy to bear. This is a very difficult day for all of us," the Israeli PM posted on 'X' on Sunday. Netanyahu said, "Hamas wants to murder us all. It is an enemy who murders children and mothers in their homes, in their beds. An enemy who kidnaps the elderly, children, and girls. Murderers who slap and slaughter our citizens, our children, who all in all went out to spend the holiday." Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: Former director of the Israel National Security Council, Helit Barel, hinted at an intelligence lapse, saying that the multi-front terror attack by Hamas caught the country "by surprise." In an interview with ANI over Zoom, she added that the attacks could have been avoided if the intelligence wing of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were at the required "level of readiness." Barel said Israel was currently in a state of war and there was a sequence of challenges and tasks at hand. "It is quite clear that this attack caught us by surprise. There is no way that such terrible consequences would have occurred if Israeli forces intelligence were at the kind of readiness that we know and expect. Currently, we are in a state of war...There is a sequence of challenges and tasks at hand beginning with still getting all the areas down south where there were terrorist infiltrations completely cleared," she told ANI.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); On the operation carried out by the Israeli defence forces to neutralise terrorists in the region of conflict (near the Gaza border as well as across Israel), she said, "The forces are walking house by house and corner by corner making sure terrorists aren't hiding anywhere. We have the larger task of making sure that all other arenas that Israel faces stay calm including the internal arena...I think it is inevitable that there will be very strong retributions within the Gaza Strip and I think it will be of a magnitude that we certainly have not seen before." ALSO READ | After shocking Hamas assault on Israel, both sides brace for devastating fallout Underlining how civilians across the country were affected by the terror attacks and the retaliatory strikes that followed, Barel said, "We're trying not to get into analysis of exactly how and what went wrong at this time. We don't have all the information and with people in such a bad state and needing stabilizing all over, families from all over the country have been hugely affected by this. We have a number of wounded, dead and hostages." "But I will say I think everybody from the public to anybody in the security establishment is searching for answers about this and certainly we will not rest until we understand what exactly conspired because the security of the citizens of this state has been severely impaired," she told ANI. The 'surprise attack' on Israel by terrorist outfit Hamas was condemned by world leaders. From Nepal and Sri Lanka to the UK and Japan, world leaders expressed solidarity with Israel at a time when the country facing the fallout of the terror attacks, its worst to date, which has already claimed over 300 lives and is likely to witness more casualties. Taking to his official handle on social media platform X, UK PM Rishi Sunak posted, "As the barbarity of today's atrocities becomes clearer, we stand unequivocally with Israel. This attack by Hamas is cowardly and depraved," as he pledged support to his Israel counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu. "We have expressed our full solidarity to Netanyahu and will work with international partners in the next 24 hours to co-ordinate support," he added. Meanwhile, Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida posted on X, "Hamas and other Palestinian militants attacked Israel from Gaza yesterday. Japan strongly condemns the attacks which severely harmed innocent civilians. I express my condolences to the bereaved families and heartfelt sympathies to the injured." ALSO READ | Netanyahu warns of 'long and difficult war'; hundreds killed on both sides Around 6.30 am (local time) on Sunday, a barrage of rocket fire began from Gaza into Israel, hitting several cities including Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Gedera and Ashkelon. It was followed by several Hamas terrorists entering Israel from the Gaza Strip and laying a siege to Israeli towns. Senior Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif declared that the rocket launch was the beginning of "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood", urging Palestinians all over the world to resist Israeli occupation. Hamas would pay a "heavy price for its actions", according to reports. The Israeli forces told citizens living near the Gaza Strip, them to remain inside their houses. The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military arm of Hamas, referred to Saturday's attack on Israel as an effort "in defence of the Al-Aqsa Mosque", a disputed religious site significant to both Muslims and Jews, reports said. In the wake of the deadly attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Hamas, claiming that the terror outfit had begun a terrible war and that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) would use all of its strength to undermine their capacity. "Hamas forces invaded Israeli territory this morning, on the morning of a holiday and Shabbat, and murdered innocent civilians, children and the elderly. Hamas started a cruel and evil war. We will win this war, but the price is too heavy to bear. This is a very difficult day for all of us," the Israeli PM posted on 'X' on Sunday. Netanyahu said, "Hamas wants to murder us all. It is an enemy who murders children and mothers in their homes, in their beds. An enemy who kidnaps the elderly, children, and girls. Murderers who slap and slaughter our citizens, our children, who all in all went out to spend the holiday." Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By AFP JERUSALEM: Israeli forces battled holdout Hamas fighters and pounded targets in the Gaza Strip Sunday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of a "long and difficult" war ahead sparked by the Palestinian militant group's massive surprise attack. The Israeli army said tens of thousands of soldiers were deployed to fight militants in southern desert regions near the coastal enclave, to rescue Israeli hostages and then evacuate the entire region within 24 hours. "We'll reach each and every community till we kill every terrorist in Israel," vowed military spokesman Daniel Hagari, a day after hundreds of Hamas fighters crossed into Israel using vehicles, boats and even motorised paragliders. "Our mission for the upcoming 24 hours is to evacuate all residents" from communities around the Gaza Strip, he told journalists amid the fighting that has left hundreds dead on both sides. Israel also came under attack from the north on Sunday when Lebanon's Hezbollah movement launched missiles and artillery shells "in solidarity" with the unprecedented Hamas offensive. Israel was shocked when Gaza's rulers Hamas launched a multi-pronged assault at dawn Saturday with thousands of rockets and ground, air and sea forces, attacking and infiltrating Israeli towns and kibbutz communities. The worst fighting in decades has killed more than 200 Israelis and wounded over 1,000, leaving bodies of civilians strewn on roads, while on the Gaza side at least 313 have died and over 1,700 were reported wounded. An unknown number of Israeli soldiers and civilians were abducted into Gaza as hostages, sparking dismay in Israel and massively complicating its military retaliation campaign. ALSO READ | After shocking Hamas assault on Israel, both sides brace for devastating fallout According to the Israeli news website Ynet, "dozens of Israeli captives, including numerous women, children and elders, are believed to have been taken into the Gaza Strip." Gun battles raged Sunday between Israeli forces and hundreds of Hamas fighters in multiple locations, including at a police station in Sderot where police and special forces "neutralised 10 armed terrorists", police said. "A lot of people have been killed," said another army spokesman, Richard Hecht, after the military released the names of 26 fallen soldiers. "We lost soldiers, lost commanders and lost a lot of civilians. "We are completing efforts to retake full control of Israeli territory from Hamas," he added, reporting that the army had struck 426 Hamas targets including Gaza tunnels, buildings and other infrastructure. 'No respite' Global concern has mounted, with Western capitals condemning the attack by Hamas, which Washington and Brussels consider a terrorist group, while Israel's foes, including Iran and Hezbollah, praised the assault. Netanyahu -- who leads a hard-right government but has received support from political opponents during Israel's national emergency -- has vowed to turn Hamas hideouts "to rubble" and urged Palestinians there to flee as devastating air strikes continued. "We are embarking on a long and difficult war that was forced on us by a murderous Hamas attack," Netanyahu wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "The first stage is ending at this time with the destruction of the vast majority of the enemy forces that infiltrated our territory," he added, pledging no "respite" until victory. US President Joe Biden on Saturday voiced "rock solid and unwavering" support for its key regional ally Israel and warned "against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation." ALSO READ | What world leaders had to say about Israel-Gaza war But early Sunday Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement joined the fray from the north. It said it had fired "large numbers of artillery shells and guided missiles" at positions in contested border areas "in solidarity" with Hamas. "The Islamic resistance (Hezbollah)... attacked three positions of the Zionist enemy in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa farms... with large numbers of artillery shells and guided missiles," it said in a statement. Israel's army massed tanks in the northern region after earlier firing artillery on Lebanon in response to a shot from the area. 'Liberate our land' Hamas has labelled its major attack "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" and called on "resistance fighters in the West Bank" as well as in "Arab and Islamic nations" to join the battle. Its attack came half a century after the outbreak of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, stunning Israel during a Jewish holiday and sparking bitter recriminations inside the country on what was widely seen as an enormous intelligence failure. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh on Saturday predicted "victory" and vowed to press ahead with "the battle to liberate our land and our prisoners languishing in occupation prisons". Hamas said Saturday it had fired 5,000 rockets, while Israel reported some 3,000 incoming projectiles. Several bypassed the Iron Dome missile defence system and smashed into buildings as far as Tel Aviv. Under the cover of the rocket barrage, Hamas fighters smashed the militarised Gaza border fence and crossed into Israel. Israel responded by rushing forces to the embattled south, calling up reservists and hitting Gaza in operation "Swords of Iron", with some observers predicting a possible ground invasion of Gaza. Israeli attacks have reduced several Gaza residential towers to rubble in what Israel said were strikes aimed at Hamas facilities and which had followed warning calls for people inside to evacuate. Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, leading to Israel's crippling blockade of the impoverished enclave of 2.3 million people on the Mediterranean coast. Israel and Hamas have fought several wars since, with the latest large-scale military exchange in May killing 34 Palestinians and one Israeli. The Hamas offensive follows months of rising violence, mostly in the occupied West Bank, and tensions around Gaza's border and at contested holy sites in Jerusalem. Before Saturday, the conflict so far this year had killed at least 247 Palestinians, 32 Israelis and two foreigners, including combatants and civilians, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials. Violence has flared again in the West Bank since Saturday, leaving at least seven Palestinians dead in clashes, according to the health ministry in Ramallah. By Agencies TEL AVIV: Israeli soldiers battled Hamas fighters in the streets of southern Israel on Sunday and launched retaliation strikes that levelled buildings in Gaza, while in northern Israel a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group raised fears of a broader conflict. There was still some fighting underway more than 24 hours after an unprecedented surprise attack from Gaza, in which Hamas militants, backed by a volley of thousands of rockets, broke through Israel's security barrier and rampaged through nearby communities. At least 600 people have reportedly been killed in Israel, a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades, and more than 300 have been killed in Gaza. Among the dead were dozens of soldiers and police. The militants also took captives back into the coastal Gaza enclave, including women, children and the elderly, whom they will likely try to trade for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The high death toll, multiple captives and slow response to the onslaught pointed to a major intelligence failure and undermined the long-held perception that Israel has eyes and ears everywhere in the small, densely populated territory it has controlled for decades. Additionally, the Israel-based media outlet claimed that over 2,048 wounded in the deadliest attack are being treated in hospitals, including 20 in critical condition and 330 seriously wounded. More than 24 hours after Hamas launched rocket attacks followed by an unprecedented ground assault, firefights between forces and terrorists were ongoing in Kfar Aza, close to the Gaza border. The IDF was attempting to neutralise all terrorists still present, The Times of Israel reported. In a major escalation on Saturday, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. The toll from the rocket attacks and ground assault by Hamas went past 300 on Sunday, with another 1,864 people reported to be injured. Several Israelis were taken as hostages in Gaza, The Times of Israel reported citing officials. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country was at war and would exact a heavy price from its enemies. He also issued a stern warning to Hamas, claiming that it had begun a terrible war and that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) would use all of its strength to undermine their capacity. "Hamas forces invaded Israeli territory this morning, on the morning of a holiday and Shabbat, and murdered innocent civilians, children and the elderly. Hamas started a cruel and evil war. We will win this war, but the price is too heavy to bear. This is a very difficult day for all of us," the Israeli PM posted on 'X' on Sunday. ALSO READ | Netanyahu warns of 'long and difficult war'; hundreds killed on both sides Netanyahu added, "Hamas wants to murder us all. It is an enemy who murders children and mothers in their homes, and in their beds. An enemy who kidnaps the elderly, children, and girls. Murderers who slap and slaughter our citizens, our children, who all in all went out to spend the holiday."He said after what happened in Israel on Saturday, he will make sure that it does not happen again. Earlier on Sunday, the IDF said Israeli fighter jets hit a military facility at the residence of the terrorist group Hamas' intelligence chief in Gaza. Sharing an update on the ongoing counter-offensive on social media platform X, the IDF posted a video and wrote, "Fighter jets recently attacked a military infrastructure at the home of the head of the intelligence department of the terrorist organization Hamas." "At this time, the IDF continues its attacks throughout the Gaza Strip," the IDF added in its post. The attack, which began at 6.30 am local time (03:30 GMT) on Saturday involved Hamas fighters, who infiltrated Israel by land, sea, and air. Israel's military launched a series of air raids on Gaza in response to the attacks. Senior Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif declared earlier that the attacks were the beginning of "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood", urging Palestinians all over the world to resist Israeli occupation. Hamas would pay a "heavy price for its actions", the Israeli military told citizens living near the Gaza Strip, ordering them to remain inside their houses. ALSO READ | Fighter jets struck home of Hamas intelligence chief in Gaza: Israel Defense Force Significantly, Al-Qassam Brigades, the military arm of Hamas, referred to Saturday's attack on Israel as an effort "in defence of the Al-Aqsa Mosque", a disputed religious site significant to both Muslims and Jews. The high death toll, multiple captives and slow response to the onslaught pointed to a major intelligence failure and undermined the long-held perception that Israel has eyes and ears everywhere in the small, densely populated territory it has controlled for decades. Israeli TV news aired a stream of accounts from the relatives of captive or missing Israelis, who wailed and begged for assistance amid a fog of uncertainty surrounding the fate of their loved ones. In Gaza, residents fled homes near the border to escape Israeli strikes, fleeing deeper inside the territory after warnings in Arabic from the Israeli military. In neighbouring Egypt, a policeman shot dead two Israeli tourists and an Egyptian at a tourist site in Alexandria, the Interior Ministry said. Egypt made peace with Israel decades ago, but anti-Israel sentiment runs high in the country, especially during bouts of Israeli-Palestinian violence. The flare-up on Israel's northern border also threatened to draw into the battle Hezbollah, a fierce enemy of Israel which is backed by Iran and estimated to have tens of thousands of rockets at its disposal. Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and shells on Sunday at three Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border and Israel's military fired back using armed drones. Two children were lightly wounded by broken glass on the Lebanese side, according to the nearby Marjayoun Hospital. Hamas said that overnight it had continued to send forces and equipment into "a number of locations inside our occupied territories," referring to Israel. Hamas-linked media reported that the son of Nizar Awadallah, a senior political official, was killed. The Islamic militant group has not reported any senior members being captured, killed or wounded. The surprise attack Saturday was the deadliest on Israel in decades. In an assault of startling breadth, Hamas gunmen used explosives to break through the border fence enclosing Gaza, then crossed with motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders and speed boats on the coast. They rolled into as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip early Saturday morning, including towns and other communities as far as 24 kilometres (15 miles) from the Gaza border, while Hamas launched thousands of rockets at Israeli cities. ALSO READ | After shocking Hamas assault on Israel, both sides brace for devastating fallout Hamas fighters took an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive in Gaza, and a line of Israelis with missing relatives snaked outside a police station in central Israel to supply investigators with DNA samples and other means that could help identify their family members. Israel struck 426 targets in Gaza, its military said, flattening residential buildings in giant explosions. Among the 313 killed in Gaza were 20 children, and close to 2,000 people were wounded, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinians, said more than 20,000 Palestinians left Gaza's border region to head further inside the territory and take refuge in UN schools. In a televised address Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military will use all of its strength to destroy Hamas' capabilities. "Get out of there now," he told Gaza residents, who have no way to leave the tiny, overcrowded Mediterranean territory. Gaza's 2.3 million people have endured a border blockade, enforced to varying degrees by Israel and Egypt since Hamas militants seized control in 2007. In Gaza, much of the population was thrown into darkness Saturday night as Israel cut off electricity and said it would no longer supply power, fuel or other goods to the territory. Hamas said it had planned for a long fight. "We are prepared for all options, including all-out war," the deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, Saleh al-Arouri, told Al-Jazeera TV. Israel has a history of making heavily lopsided exchanges to bring captive Israelis home. Over the past year, Israel's far-right government has ramped up settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, Israeli settler violence has displaced hundreds of Palestinians there, and tensions have flared around the Al-Aqsa mosque, a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site. (With inputs from AP and ANI) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp TEL AVIV: Israeli soldiers battled Hamas fighters in the streets of southern Israel on Sunday and launched retaliation strikes that levelled buildings in Gaza, while in northern Israel a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group raised fears of a broader conflict. There was still some fighting underway more than 24 hours after an unprecedented surprise attack from Gaza, in which Hamas militants, backed by a volley of thousands of rockets, broke through Israel's security barrier and rampaged through nearby communities. At least 600 people have reportedly been killed in Israel, a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades, and more than 300 have been killed in Gaza. Among the dead were dozens of soldiers and police.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The militants also took captives back into the coastal Gaza enclave, including women, children and the elderly, whom they will likely try to trade for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The high death toll, multiple captives and slow response to the onslaught pointed to a major intelligence failure and undermined the long-held perception that Israel has eyes and ears everywhere in the small, densely populated territory it has controlled for decades. Additionally, the Israel-based media outlet claimed that over 2,048 wounded in the deadliest attack are being treated in hospitals, including 20 in critical condition and 330 seriously wounded. More than 24 hours after Hamas launched rocket attacks followed by an unprecedented ground assault, firefights between forces and terrorists were ongoing in Kfar Aza, close to the Gaza border. The IDF was attempting to neutralise all terrorists still present, The Times of Israel reported. In a major escalation on Saturday, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. The toll from the rocket attacks and ground assault by Hamas went past 300 on Sunday, with another 1,864 people reported to be injured. Several Israelis were taken as hostages in Gaza, The Times of Israel reported citing officials. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country was at war and would exact a heavy price from its enemies. He also issued a stern warning to Hamas, claiming that it had begun a terrible war and that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) would use all of its strength to undermine their capacity. "Hamas forces invaded Israeli territory this morning, on the morning of a holiday and Shabbat, and murdered innocent civilians, children and the elderly. Hamas started a cruel and evil war. We will win this war, but the price is too heavy to bear. This is a very difficult day for all of us," the Israeli PM posted on 'X' on Sunday. ALSO READ | Netanyahu warns of 'long and difficult war'; hundreds killed on both sides Netanyahu added, "Hamas wants to murder us all. It is an enemy who murders children and mothers in their homes, and in their beds. An enemy who kidnaps the elderly, children, and girls. Murderers who slap and slaughter our citizens, our children, who all in all went out to spend the holiday."He said after what happened in Israel on Saturday, he will make sure that it does not happen again. Earlier on Sunday, the IDF said Israeli fighter jets hit a military facility at the residence of the terrorist group Hamas' intelligence chief in Gaza. Sharing an update on the ongoing counter-offensive on social media platform X, the IDF posted a video and wrote, "Fighter jets recently attacked a military infrastructure at the home of the head of the intelligence department of the terrorist organization Hamas." "At this time, the IDF continues its attacks throughout the Gaza Strip," the IDF added in its post. The attack, which began at 6.30 am local time (03:30 GMT) on Saturday involved Hamas fighters, who infiltrated Israel by land, sea, and air. Israel's military launched a series of air raids on Gaza in response to the attacks. Senior Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif declared earlier that the attacks were the beginning of "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood", urging Palestinians all over the world to resist Israeli occupation. Hamas would pay a "heavy price for its actions", the Israeli military told citizens living near the Gaza Strip, ordering them to remain inside their houses. ALSO READ | Fighter jets struck home of Hamas intelligence chief in Gaza: Israel Defense Force Significantly, Al-Qassam Brigades, the military arm of Hamas, referred to Saturday's attack on Israel as an effort "in defence of the Al-Aqsa Mosque", a disputed religious site significant to both Muslims and Jews. The high death toll, multiple captives and slow response to the onslaught pointed to a major intelligence failure and undermined the long-held perception that Israel has eyes and ears everywhere in the small, densely populated territory it has controlled for decades. Israeli TV news aired a stream of accounts from the relatives of captive or missing Israelis, who wailed and begged for assistance amid a fog of uncertainty surrounding the fate of their loved ones. In Gaza, residents fled homes near the border to escape Israeli strikes, fleeing deeper inside the territory after warnings in Arabic from the Israeli military. In neighbouring Egypt, a policeman shot dead two Israeli tourists and an Egyptian at a tourist site in Alexandria, the Interior Ministry said. Egypt made peace with Israel decades ago, but anti-Israel sentiment runs high in the country, especially during bouts of Israeli-Palestinian violence. The flare-up on Israel's northern border also threatened to draw into the battle Hezbollah, a fierce enemy of Israel which is backed by Iran and estimated to have tens of thousands of rockets at its disposal. Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and shells on Sunday at three Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border and Israel's military fired back using armed drones. Two children were lightly wounded by broken glass on the Lebanese side, according to the nearby Marjayoun Hospital. Hamas said that overnight it had continued to send forces and equipment into "a number of locations inside our occupied territories," referring to Israel. Hamas-linked media reported that the son of Nizar Awadallah, a senior political official, was killed. The Islamic militant group has not reported any senior members being captured, killed or wounded. The surprise attack Saturday was the deadliest on Israel in decades. In an assault of startling breadth, Hamas gunmen used explosives to break through the border fence enclosing Gaza, then crossed with motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders and speed boats on the coast. They rolled into as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip early Saturday morning, including towns and other communities as far as 24 kilometres (15 miles) from the Gaza border, while Hamas launched thousands of rockets at Israeli cities. ALSO READ | After shocking Hamas assault on Israel, both sides brace for devastating fallout Hamas fighters took an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive in Gaza, and a line of Israelis with missing relatives snaked outside a police station in central Israel to supply investigators with DNA samples and other means that could help identify their family members. Israel struck 426 targets in Gaza, its military said, flattening residential buildings in giant explosions. Among the 313 killed in Gaza were 20 children, and close to 2,000 people were wounded, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinians, said more than 20,000 Palestinians left Gaza's border region to head further inside the territory and take refuge in UN schools. In a televised address Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military will use all of its strength to destroy Hamas' capabilities. "Get out of there now," he told Gaza residents, who have no way to leave the tiny, overcrowded Mediterranean territory. Gaza's 2.3 million people have endured a border blockade, enforced to varying degrees by Israel and Egypt since Hamas militants seized control in 2007. In Gaza, much of the population was thrown into darkness Saturday night as Israel cut off electricity and said it would no longer supply power, fuel or other goods to the territory. Hamas said it had planned for a long fight. "We are prepared for all options, including all-out war," the deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, Saleh al-Arouri, told Al-Jazeera TV. Israel has a history of making heavily lopsided exchanges to bring captive Israelis home. Over the past year, Israel's far-right government has ramped up settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, Israeli settler violence has displaced hundreds of Palestinians there, and tensions have flared around the Al-Aqsa mosque, a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site. (With inputs from AP and ANI) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp During an attack on Israel, Hamas terrorists kidnapped and allegedly killed a German citizen. Shani Luk was identified by dreadlocks and a tattoo. You can follow the chronicle of all the events of the war at this link. ADVERTISIMENT Relevant information appeared on Telegram. The footage shows how the militants brutally abuse the German woman (to watch the video, follow the link). Luk is 30 years old. Hamas terrorists mutilated her, stripped her naked, and drove her in an unknown direction in their van. In addition, the militants called her an Israeli soldier. There is no official information on this matter. However, judging by the German citizen's social media, she came to Israel for a festival that coincided with the Sukkot holiday. The event took place near the border with the Gaza Strip. As a reminder, on the morning of October 7, the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War, Israel suffered a massive, multi-layered terrorist attack. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZREVATEL, after massive rocket attacks on Israeli territory, with many killed and wounded civilians, as well as captured and killed Israeli soldiers whose bodies are being abused by Hamas militants, the Israeli Defense Minister said that Israel was declared war. Later, the Israeli Defense Forces provided detailed information about a series of air strikes they conducted on the Gaza Strip over the past few hours. The IDF says it has destroyed Hamas pockets and is moving toward Gaza. Kathmandu, October 7 T he 15th Meeting of the India-Nepal Bilateral Consultative Group on Security Issues (BCGSI) was held at Pokhara in Nepal on October 5. As per the press release from the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, the Indian delegation was led by Anurag Srivastava, Joint Secretary (North), Ministry of External Affairs and the Nepali delegation was led by Bhrigu Dhungana, Joint Secretary (South Asia), Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Nepal government. The delegations comprised officials from respective Ministries of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, Directorates of the Indian Army and the Nepali Army. "The BCGSI discussions covered a wide range of issues relating to mutual security, defence supplies, training and capacity building, joint military exercises, exchanges including through visits, joint expeditions and adventure activities and cooperation in disaster management and information sharing," the release from the Indian Embassy stated. The BCGSI, established in 2003 is an important institutional mechanism between India and Nepal for promoting bilateral defence and security cooperation. India-Nepal holds 15th meeting of Bilateral Consultative Group on security issues Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Washington, Oct 8 T he Governor of the US state of California has vetoed a legislation adding caste to the list of banned grounds for discrimination, saying it is already banned in the state, siding with advocacy groups of Hindu Americans who had mounted a countrywide effort to prevent the enactment of the Bill. California will not become the first US state to ban caste specifically, which had looked possible in the aftermath of Seattle becoming the first American city to prohibit caste. The same people and groups that had made it possible in Washington state, were now determined to make California the first state to do so, triggering perhaps a domino effect into other states. "California already prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, colour, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other characteristics, and state law specifies that these civil rights protections shall be liberally construed," Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said in a statement explaining the veto. "Because discrimination based on caste is already prohibited under these existing categories, this bill is unnecessary." Democratic Sate Senator Aisha Wahab, who had introduced the bill had said at the time, "Caste discrimination against the caste-oppressed Dalits--people formerly referred to as "the untouchables" by members of dominant castes--occurs across industries and may include bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, and even trafficking. Caste-oppressed people have also been rejected from rental housing when their caste identity is discovered. Additionally, the practice of endogamy--the custom of only marrying within one's defined social position--perpetuates caste across generations." Hindu advocacy groups opposed the bill had put forth the same argument: caste is already covered among the prohibited grounds of discrimination and that adding it spefically to that list put a target on the community at large. They had sought to portray it as a manifestation of Hinduphobia being whipped up by opponents of the community. They welcomed the veto as a "victory". "Today, we at the Hindu American Foundation join South Asians across California and the Hindu American community in offering our heartfelt appreciation to California Governor Gavin Newsom for his historically important veto of SB-403," said Samir Kalra of the Hindu American Foundation (HA). "This is a victory for the civil rights of all Californians." "The Bill was not facially neutral. It relied on misleading narratives, strawman arguments, and a questionable survey that actively encouraged falsification of data," said Hindus 4 America, another advocacy group. Hindu advocacy groups and Hindu Americans individually had lobbied and pressured the Governor to reject the Bill, underscoring the community's support for him when he ran for the White House, which he is expected to do at some stage. In fact, he is routinely mentioned among the leading contenders to step in if President Joe Biden had decided to not seek a second term, which he is now. "Newsom will need our support and he knows it," said a leading Hindu American, who has been a prolific fundraiser for the Democrats, to speak freely about the campaign. Hindu Americans -- as some Indian Americans prefer to be called -- are almost four million and overwhelmingly Democratic. They have also been big donors to the Democratic party candidates from local elections to the White House. Their votes and checkbooks cannot be trifled with. California Governor vetoes cast ban bill Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Paris, October 8 F rench President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday held talks with Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He condemned the attack carried out on Israel and affirmed France's support for the country. Macron held talks with Netanyahu and Herzog after a barrage of rockets slammed into southern and central Israel on Saturday morning following Hamas' surprise attack. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Macron stated, "I have spoken to President Herzog and Prime Minister Netanyahu. I condemn the attacks carried out from Gaza on Israel, its soldiers and its people. France stands in solidarity with Israel and the Israelis, committed to their security and their right to defend themselves." In a post shared on X, Israel's Prime Minister's Office stated, "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke earlier today with French President Emmanuel Macron and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Both leaders expressed full support for Israel's right to defend itself." Earlier in the day, Macron condemned the terrorist attacks against Israel. In a post shared on X, Macron stated, "I strongly condemn the current terrorist attacks against Israel. I express my full solidarity with the victims, their families and loved ones." Meanwhile, UK Foreign Secretary called Hamas "terrorists" and asserted that there is no other word to describe the brutality of terrorist attacks targeting civilians. In a post shared on X, Cleverly stated, "Hamas are not "fighters". Hamas are not "militants". Hamas are terrorists. There is no other word to describe the brutality of firing rockets or terrorist attacks targeting civilians." According to the latest developments, more than 100 people have been killed in the Hamas "terror attack" on Israel, according to medical officials, The Times of Israel reported citing Hebrew-language media. According to the Health Ministry, 908 injured people have been taken to hospital for treatment in the ongoing terror attack by Hamas on Israel's southern and central region, The Times of Israel reported. Some 800 people have been injured in the attacks, which have included dozens of Hamas terrorists infiltrating Israel and gunning down soldiers and people. Others were injured in rocket attacks. In a statement posted on X, Israel's Foreign Ministry stated, "At least 100 Israelis murdered and more than 900 wounded in terror attacks by Hamas terrorists." While sharing the post on X, Israel's Foreign Ministry stated, "The fighting in southern Israel is still ongoing. Our security forces are securing areas which are under attack by Hamas terrorists who infiltrated Israeli communities and who have taken civilians captive." Meanwhile, Israel Defense Forces' top spokesman Rear (Adm.) Daniel Hagari has said that Hamas has taken Israelis as hostages to the Gaza Strip, The Times of Israel reported.Speaking to reporters, Hagari said Israeli soldiers have also been killed in the fighting. He did not reveal the number of hostages or soldiers killed. Hagari said there are still 22 locations of ongoing fighting in southern Israel, including hostage situations in Be'eri and Ofakim.He said Israeli troops have reached all towns on the Gaza border and added that the forces are working to scan everyone, according to The Times of Israel report. According to Hagari, four divisions are being deployed to the Gaza border, joining 31 battalions that are already there. Earlier in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that the country's focus is on restoring security and to exact an "immense price from the enemy". While addressing the Security Cabinet meeting in Israel, Netanyahu further called on the citizens to unite for "victory" in the war. "Since this morning, the State of Israel has been at war. Our first objective is to clear out the hostile forces that infiltrated our territory and restore security and quiet to the communities that have been attacked. The second objective, at the same time, is to exact an immense price from the enemy, within the Gaza Strip as well. The third objective is to reinforce other fronts so that nobody should mistakenly join this war," Netanyahu said at the meeting. He added, "We are at war. In war, one needs to be level-headed. I call on all citizens of Israel to unite in order to achieve our highest goal, victory in the war." Macron speaks to Herzog, Netanyahu; affirms France's support for Israel Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Oct 8, New Delhi C ongress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday extended his greetings to the Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel and veterans on the occasion of Indian Air Force Day. Kharge took to microblogging platform X and expressed: "On Indian Air Force Day, we extend our warmest greetings to all our air warriors and their families." He added that the IAF has been at the forefront in protecting our skies with their unequal valor, unparalleled courage and unflinching heroism. "We salute all the IAF personnel and veterans for their contribution to the nation and also their unique role in humanitarian relief." the Congress president said. The Indian Air Force Day is celebrated on October 8 every year to mark the day on which the IAF was established in the country. The British empire in 1932 established the IAF on October 8. This year's theme 'IAF - Airpower Beyond Boundaries' highlights IAF's commitment to excellence, innovation, and its role as the guardian of the nation's skies. Congress President Kharge greets air warriors on Air Force Day Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Canadian PM Trudeau updates his UK counterpart Sunak on situation of Canadian diplomats in India London, October 8 C anadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday updated his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak on the situation relating to Canadian diplomats in India. During the conversation, the UK PM reaffirmed London's position that all countries should respect sovereignty and the rule of law, including the principles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, as per a release issued by the UK PM's office. Sunak hoped to see a de-escalation in the situation and agreed to remain in contact with Prime Minister Trudeau on the next steps, as per the official release. Amid the ongoing diplomatic standoff between India and Canada in light of the latter's allegation of Indian involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Toronto-based media publication, CTV News, claimed in a report that a majority of the Canadian diplomats working in India, outside the national capital, have been moved to either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. The report comes a day after the Indian side sought a reduction of Canada's diplomatic staff in India. In a weekly presser on Thursday, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Arindam Bagchi told reporters, "Given the much higher presence of diplomats or diplomatic presence here...and their continued interference in our internal matters, we have sought parity in our respective diplomatic presence. Discussions are ongoing on the modalities of achieving this". "Given that Canadian diplomatic presence is higher, we would assume that there would be a reduction," he added. Stating that India's focus is on achieving 'parity' in terms of its diplomatic presence, the Ministry of External Affairs called for a reduction in Canadian diplomats in India citing their continued "interference" in India's "internal matters". Amid the diplomatic sabre-rattling between the two countries, New Delhi suspended visa operations to Canada and called for a reduction in Canadian diplomatic staff in India. CTV News, in its report, claimed that Ottawa has until October 10 to trim the number of Canadian diplomats serving in India to a level comparable to that of Indian diplomats serving in Canada. While earlier reports stated that 41 diplomats would have to depart, people the CTV News contacted, said the request is particular to one of parity. Earlier, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged during a debate in Parliament, claimed the Indian government was behind the fatal shooting of Nijjar. Trudeau, during a debate in the Canadian Parliament, claimed that his country's national security officials had reasons to believe that "agents of the Indian government" carried out the killing of the Canadian citizen, who also served as the president of Surrey's Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara. However, India has outrightly rejected the claims, calling it 'absurd' and 'motivated'. Canadian PM Trudeau updates his UK counterpart Sunak on situation of Canadian diplomats in India Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! UK PM Sunak calls for de-escalation of India-Canada row in call with Trudeau London, October 8 U K Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called for de-escalation of the India-Canada row in a call with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau. According to a Downing Street statement, Sunak spoke to Trudeau on Friday evening during which he was updated on the situation relating to Canadian diplomats in India. "He (Rishi Sunak) hoped to see a de-escalation in the situation and agreed to remain in contact with Prime Minister Trudeau on the next steps," read the statement. Sunak also reaffirmed the UK's position that all countries should respect sovereignty and the rule of law, including the principles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Meanwhile, Trudeau updated on the situation relating to Canadian diplomats in India. The diplomatic ties between India and Canada deteriorated after the Canadian government expelled a senior Indian diplomat accusing India of playing a role in the assassination of a Khalistani separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. In the aftermath, India swiftly retaliated by issuing a statement that denied any involvement in the issue and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat. Moreover, amid escalating tensions, India called for parity in the number of Canadian diplomats in India. Responding to reports claiming that India has asked Canada to remove 41 of its 62 diplomats in the country, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that Canadian diplomatic presence is much higher in India and they assume "there would be reduction". "On discussions on parity, given the much higher presence of diplomats or diplomatic presence here and their interference in our internal matters, we have sought parity in our respective diplomatic presence. Discussions are ongoing to achieve this. Given that Canadian diplomatic presence is higher, we would assume that there would be a reduction," said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. UK PM Sunak calls for de-escalation of India-Canada row in call with Trudeau Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and CM Yogi extend greetings to IAF on foundation day New Delhi, October 8 U nion Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday extended greetings to all Indian Air Force personnel on 91st Air Force Foundation Day. Indian Air Force on Sunday morning started the 91st-anniversary celebration with a ceremonial parade at Bamrauli Air Force Station in Prayagraj. Taking to X, Union Home Minister Amit Shah wrote, "Greetings and warm wishes to all Indian Air Force personnel and their families on the occasion of the #91stAnniversary of this amazing force. We are proud of our Airwarriors who play a significant role in keeping India safe. The IAF today is lethal and formidable force, projecting its air power beyond boundaries. Greetings to the Air Force personnel on #IndianAirForceDay." "With its wings of steel and the heart of courage, the Indian Air Force has fervently secured the nation's interests during war and peace. On this auspicious occasion, I commemorate the invaluable service and the sacrifices made by them to protect the sovereignty of the nation," posted Rajnath Singh on X.Taking X, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath posted "Hearty congratulations and best wishes to the brave warriors of the Indian Air Force and their families on 'Indian Air Force Day'! We all are proud of the golden history of bravery, courage and valor that the brave sons of Mother India have created. Jai Hind!" Air Force Day marks the official induction of the Indian Air Force (IAF) into the country's armed forces, which was established on 8 October 1932. Every year, the day is celebrated in the presence of the Indian Air Force chief and senior officers. The Air Force was officially raised as the supporting force of the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom in 1932 and the first operational squadron was created in 1933. Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and CM Yogi extend greetings to IAF on foundation day Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, Oct 8 D efence Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Italy and France from October 9 to 12, said the Ministry of Defence on Sunday. During the first leg of his two-nation visit, Rajnath Singh is scheduled to meet Italian Defence Minister Guido Crisetto in Rome. The ministry said that the relationship between India and Italy was elevated to Strategic Partnership in March during the visit of the Italian Prime Minister to India. During the second and final leg, Singh will conduct the 5thAnnual Defence Dialogue with his counterpart, French Minister of Armed Forces Sebastian Lecornu in Paris. India and France recently celebrated 25 years of Strategic Partnership. Both countries enjoy a deep and wide-ranging bilateral defence relationship, including significant industrial cooperation, the defence ministry official added. In both Rome and Paris, the Defence Minister will also interact with the defence industry CEOs and senior representatives to discuss potential opportunities for industrial cooperation, the MoD official added. Rajnath to visit Italy, France to strengthen defence ties Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Nushrratt to return from Israel and reach Mumbai in afternoon Mumbai, Oct 8 B ollywood actress Nushrratt Bharuccha, who was stranded in Israel amid war, has boarded her flight to India and will be reaching Mumbai at 2.00 p.m. on Sunday. The actresss publicist confirmed: Nushrratt has finally boarded the flight for India and is on her way back home. She will be landing in Mumbai at 2:00 p.m. Nushrrattwas in Israel to participate in Haifi Film Festival. With the help of the Indian Embassy, she is being brought back home. Her publicist has earlier shared: We have finally managed to get in touch with Nushrratt and with the help of the Embassy, she is being safely brought back home. We did not get a direct flight so she is on a connecting flight home. For her safety, more details cannot be shared but as soon as she lands in India, we will inform you. We are relieved and thank God that she is safe and on her way to India. The war between Israel and Hamas has intensified. Hamas is an Islamist organisation with a military wing that came into being in 1987, emerging out of the Muslim Brotherhood, a Sunni Islamist group that was founded in the late 1920s in Egypt. Hamas, meanwhile, controls the Gaza Strip, an enclave that is home to nearly two million Palestinians and is frequently the site of civilian casualties when fighting flares between militants and Israeli forces. Hamas has over the years claimed many attacks on Israel and has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the US, the European Union and Israel. Israel accuses its archenemy Iran of backing Hamas, CNN reported. Nushrratt to return from Israel and reach Mumbai in afternoon Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, October 8 P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lauded the Indian contingent for creating history at the Hangzhou Asian Games by clinching a record 107 medals. PM Modi took to X to congratulate Asian Games medalists for their stunning displays of talent. "What a historic achievement for India at the Asian Games! The entire nation is overjoyed that our incredible athletes have brought home the highest-ever total of 107 medals, the best-ever performance in the last 60 years. The unwavering determination, relentless spirit and hard work of our players have made the nation proud. Their victories have given us moments to remember, inspired us all and have reaffirmed our commitment to excellence," PM Modi wrote. https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1710869871175901427 The Indian delegation wrapped their 19th Asian Games journey with an arbitrary number that will go down in Indian sporting history, finishing the continental meet with the largest-ever medal haul after 20 days of intense, glory-filled competition. Indian contingent truly lived up to "Iss baar 100 paar" goal in style as on Saturday they officially passed the 100 medal mark. The Indian contingent bagged a record 107 medals - 28 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze - in Hangzhou, surpassing their previous best, set at 2018 Jakarta. The 650+ athletes that India dispatched to Hangzhou for the continental meet have finished with the 100-mark was something that felt like a pipe dream for many. PM Modi lauds Indian contingent for remarkable 107 medals at Asian Games closing Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! On Saturday, October 7, Hamas militants launched rocket attacks on Israel. Thousands of rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip. Residents of southern and central cities were ordered to stay near shelters and take care of their own safety. In response, the Israeli army launched the Iron Swords counterterrorism operation. ADVERTISIMENT The world-famous Iron Dome system protects the lives of Israeli civilians. OBOZREVATEL has figured out what makes it unique, how it works, and how it came into service with the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces). {"imgSrc": "https://i.obozrevatel.com/gallery/2021/5/13/iron-dome1.jpg", "imgWidth":2000, "imgHeight":1334, "title": "The moment of launching interceptor missiles from the Iron Dome", "sourceTxt":" ", "alt": "Israeli missile defense system"} "Iron Dome": the beginning It all started when, during the 2006 Lebanon War, Hamas terrorists fired an unprecedented number of rockets at Israel - about 4,000. As a result, dozens of civilians were killed, and a quarter of a million people had to be evacuated from the danger zone. After that, the Israeli Ministry of Defense decided that only a highly effective air defense system could stop enemy attacks. Wasting no time, Israeli experts began developing it in 2007. ADVERTISIMENT Rafael Advanced Defense Systems became the "mother" of the now legendary missile interception system. The work progressed quite quickly, and in 2009 the Iron Dome system was successfully tested. Two years later, in 2011, the first battery was put on combat duty. For the first time, it managed to "hunt down" an enemy missile on April 7 near the city of Ashkelon, EDR wrote. Currently, there are nine rescue batteries on the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip. However, the Israeli authorities, Haaretz writes, have set a goal to increase their number to 15 and are ready to invest $1 billion in this project. After all, the lives of thousands of people depend on it - according to The Jerusalem Post, back in 2012, the Iron Dome managed to intercept up to 90% of militant rocket launches. ADVERTISIMENT {"imgSrc": "https://i.obozrevatel.com/gallery/2021/5/13/iron-dome-21.jpg", "imgWidth":2000, "imgHeight":1333, "title": "Iron Dome is able to detect and shoot down an enemy target in seconds", "sourceTxt":" ", "alt": "Iron Dome's operation"} Anatomy of the "Iron Dome" The essence of this system is that it must respond to short-range missiles and artillery shells (within 4-70 km), neutralizing them in flight. In addition, the system is highly mobile, as its dimensions and design allow for rapid transportation and deployment to virtually any desired location. Another highlight of the system is its ability to simultaneously detect multiple targets and operate equally effectively in different weather conditions or times of day. In addition, the technological development of the Iron Dome is not standing still, and it has been six years since this "hunter" was taught to recognize not only missiles but also unmanned aerial vehicles, as reported by Defence Update. ADVERTISIMENT In general, the three main components of Israel's main defender against deadly missiles are a radar that identifies and tracks enemy targets, a fire control center, and three launchers, each of which is "stuffed" with 20 Tamir interceptor missiles. {"imgSrc": "https://i.obozrevatel.com/gallery/2021/5/13/iron-dom.png", "imgWidth":1076, "imgHeight":744, "title": "The Iron Dome's principle of operation", "sourceTxt": "Rafael Advanced Defense Systems", "alt": "The Iron Dome's principle of operation"} How does it work? First, the system activates a radar that tracks in detail the moment of launch, the type of missile and its flight path. After that, the information it collects is sent to the fire control center, which automatically calculates the likely point of impact. If there is a threat of it hitting a place where people live or a critical infrastructure facility, the last phase of the Iron Dome's action begins: the system fires an interceptor missile that causes the enemy target to explode in midair without falling anywhere. It is noteworthy that all three stages of the system's operation take a maximum of 3-5 seconds. ADVERTISIMENT It is worth noting that the missiles fired by the "dome" to shoot down enemy ammunition also have several "surprises". For example, they are capable of performing radar guidance and destroying militants' missiles remotely, without a direct hit. Who else in the world is protected by the "dome"? Israeli-American cooperation in this area has been ongoing since 2010. However, the United States signed a contract with partners to purchase the first two batteries only in 2019, Defense News noted. The army received the newest weapons in early 2021. According to unofficial sources of information, the Iron Dome has already been allegedly purchased by Singapore. This information was published by Bloomerg back in 2012. ADVERTISIMENT In addition, according to Army Technology, countries such as South Korea, Azerbaijan, India, and even Romania are in line to buy the Israeli "dome." The latter, by the way, wants this system to be produced at its facilities. As reported by OBOZREVATEL, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made his first public statement after the massive attack by the Hamas terrorist group and said that the country was at war. Only verified information on our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Gauhar Khan reacts to escalating Gaza-Israel conflict: 'Since when did oppressor become oppressed' Mumbai, Oct 8 T he Gaza-Israel conflict has escalated after the Gaza-based terror group Hamas launched a surprise offensive against Israel. While earlier, actress Nushrratt Bharuccha was stranded in Israel and is currently on her way back home, actress Gauhar Khan has reacted to the escalating tensions. The actress took to her X, formerly called Twitter on Sunday and shared her stance as she wrote: Since when did the oppressor become the oppressed?? Convenient eyesight of the world!! Blind to years n years of history of oppression (sic). The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which started in the mid-20th century is an ongoing military and political conflict in the Levant. Despite various attempts made to resolve the conflict as part of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, alongside other efforts to resolve the broader Arab-Israeli conflict, it is one of the world's longest continuing conflicts. Meanwhile, Nushrratt is expected to be back in India by afternoon. She was in Israel to participate in Haifi Film Festival. With the help of the Embassy, she is being brought back home via a connecting flight. Her publicist shared: We have finally managed to get in touch with Nushrratt and with the help of the Embassy, she is being safely brought back home. We did not get a direct flight so she is on a connecting flight home. For her further safety, more details cannot be shared but as soon as she lands in India, we will inform you. We are relieved and thank God that she is safe and on her way to India. Gauhar Khan reacts to escalating Gaza-Israel conflict: 'Since when did oppressor become oppressed' Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Bareilly is first district to grant access to smart classes in all schools Lucknow, Oct 8 B areilly has become the first district to grant access to smart classrooms in all government schools. According to the official spokesman, the district boasts a total of 2,546 government schools, including 2,483 basic department schools and 63 government inter colleges, all of which now have access to smart classes. Out of the 15,000 smart schools across Uttar Pradesh, 2,500 are situated within the Bareilly district itself, marking a significant accomplishment for the region, according to Jag Pravesh, IAS, chief development officer of Bareilly. Confirming this remarkable achievement, director-general of School Education, Vijay Kiran Anand, commended Bareilly for setting an exemplary standard for all other districts in Uttar Pradesh. He also plans to honour the officials who played a crucial role in this transformative mission. Vijay Kiran Anand disclosed that nearly 60 per cent of these smart classrooms received funding from the government, with 20 per cent being sponsored through Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, and the remaining 20 per cent supported by the Bareilly Development Authority. Sanjay Singh, the Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA), said, Previously, only 700 schools in the district were equipped with smart classes. However, in the past 15 months, we expedited the implementation process and successfully accomplished the task. The introduction of smart classrooms exemplifies the districts commitment to providing students with access to innovative educational tools. These smart classrooms leverage digital technology to elevate the teaching and learning experience, fostering interactive and engaging lessons. Students can now benefit from multimedia content, educational videos, and interactive presentations, empowering them to grasp complex concepts with ease. As part of the Nipun Bharat programme, it is envisioned that each student must acquire basic numeracy and literacy skills. To realise this vision, classroom content is locally developed, ensuring that students derive maximum benefit from it. The primary advantage of smart classrooms is their ability to engage students. The majority of our students come from underprivileged rural backgrounds, and they are eager learners.Smart classes have enhanced their attention spans, and the audio and visual representation of textbook content has significantly improved their comprehension skills, resulting in a higher quality of learning, said the BSA. Bareilly is first district to grant access to smart classes in all schools Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Lucknow, October 8 I n order to meet the needs of farmers of Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi government under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has devised a strategy to increase the production of food grains and oilseeds under the Rabi campaign for 2023. The state government has set a production target of 448.66 metric tonnes for food grains and oilseed crops, surpassing the 2022-23 production of 427.83 metric tonnes. In addition, the UP government has also decided to send farmers, scientists and officials from other districts on field visits to the progressive farmers of the districts with maximum productivity, as well as for the training of other farmers. Under Rabi Campaign 2023, the government has set the target to cover 134.85 lakh hectares of area and produce 448.66 lakh metric tonnes of food grains and oilseeds. It is worth mentioning here that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has from time to time reiterated his commitment to double the income of farmers and has also undertaken several initiatives in this regard, including incessantly working on raising the output and reducing production costs. Additionally, the government has also emphasised on ensuring the timely sowing of Rabi crops. Detailed crop-wise production targets have been established, including 397.80 lakh metric tonnes for wheat, 6.13 lakh metric tonnes for barley, 9.71 lakh metric tonnes for gram, 8 lakh metric tonnes for peas, 6.69 lakh metric tonnes for lentils, and 19.50 lakh metric tonnes for mustard. In total, the aim is to produce 428.77 lakh metric tonnes of food grains and 19.90 lakh metric tonnes of oilseeds, contributing to the overall target of 448.66 lakh metric tonbes for Rabi 2023. The government has prepared a multi-pronged strategy for Rabi 2023, including making timely arrangements for agricultural investments, adopting cluster-based approach to increase crop productivity, cropping system-centric intervention keeping pulses, oilseeds and nutri-cereals at the centre, raising cropping density, increasing seed replacement and species replacement rates and working towards enhancing efficient use of water for irrigation and nutrition of crops. . There were notable disparities in the area coverage, overall production, and productivity of crucial Rabi crops across several districts. According to the available data of crop-wise production in 2022-23, Shamli recorded the maximum productivity of wheat reaching 48.88 quintals per hectare. Similarly, in Jaunpur, gram recorded highest yield, with an impressive 21.41 quintals per hectare. In the case of lentils, Sultanpur led with a productivity of 20.40 quintals per hectare, while the productivity of mustard in Firozabad was 25.05 quintals per hectare, and Mathura boasted the highest barley yield of 37.30 quintals per hectare. On the basis of these facts, the Yogi government decided that farmers, scientists and officials from other districts should be sent on field visits as well as for training. Yogi govt chalks out strategy to enhance production of Rabi crops Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Ram Charan not doing any Bollywood movies as of now Mumbai, Oct 8 T elugu star Ram Charan is currently in Mumbai to visit the Ayyappa temple as Ayyappa Deeksha. His visit to the City of Dreams however has sparked rumours that he may also work in a possible Bollywood project with superstar director Rajkumar Hirani. However, it has been confirmed that he has not signed any Bollywood project whatsoever. One source revealed that the RRR actor currently has no plans for Bollywood and is busy with other projects. The source said, "There is no news of Ram Charan signing a Bollywood project. He is busy with the work currently on his plate, and he has other priorities as well. A staunch devotee of Lord Ayappan also called Dharmashastra, the actor has been going to several temples in the South as part of showcasing his devotion to the deity who is considered the upholder of truth and dharma. The Ayyappa Deeksha is a sacred vow observed by devotees of Lord Ayyappa. During this period, Ram Charan pledged to follow strict rules and regulations, including wearing only a black kurta and the Ayyappa Mala. It is mandatory for every devotee to observe the fast of 41 days before visiting the Sabarimala temple, the hill abode of Lord Ayyappa, in Kerala, and being a long time devotee, the actor has frequently observed every ritual. During his recent visit to Mumbai, where he was spotted barefoot and paying his respects at the Shree Sidhivinayak Temple to complete his Ayyappa Deeksha , sparked his Bollywood debut speculation which has since been shot down. Currently, the actor is set to star in the upcoming action-political-thriller Telugu movie 'Game-Changer' where he will also be joined by Bollywood actress Kiara Advani. The movie is directed by S. Shankar. Ram Charan not doing any Bollywood movies as of now Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Many people sometimes complain about this mystical experience when they feel like they are not alone in an empty room. It's such an unusual experience that some are even afraid to admit it. ADVERTISIMENT One way or another, scientists became interested in this phenomenon, and they first tried to uncover its mystery in the late 19th century. Modern science has several quite plausible explanations, and they were described by Science Alert. How science made the first attempts to explain this phenomenon The British Society for Psychical Research (SPR), founded in 1882 and still working to explain various paranormal phenomena from a scientific point of view, conducted a large-scale survey at the dawn of its existence. More than 17,000 people in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Europe were asked how often they encountered signs that foretold death. As a result, in 1894, a work entitled "A Census of Hallucinations" was published, which showed that people see such signs too often to be purely accidental. Every 43 respondents reported such experiences. ADVERTISIMENT Even earlier, in 1886, the work "Phantasms of the Living" was published. In it, the society's specialists described 701 cases of telepathy, premonitions, and other unusual phenomena. One of the examples described was the case of a priest from Davenport in Plymouth. He said that when he traveled to New Zealand, he felt the nighttime presence of a certain being who warned him to cancel a boat trip he was to take in the morning. Later, the priest learned that all the participants of that trip drowned. From a modern point of view, these works have low scientific value. However, at least they proved that the phenomenon not only exists but is also quite common and worth further study. What is hypnagogia? Later, the researchers noticed that many of the cases described by SPR resemble hypnagogia, which is a hallucinatory experience that a person can experience on the verge of sleep and waking up. Scientists now associate the feeling of an alien presence with sleep paralysis. According to statistics, about 7 percent of adults experience this eerie condition at least once in their lives. Sleep paralysis occurs due to a disruption of REM sleep. A person wakes up and feels that he or she cannot move. The physiological mechanism that makes us stay still during sleep is still active, while consciousness has already turned on. According to scientists, people feel the presence of something foreign and even malevolent along with the horror of their bodies not obeying them in more than half of such cases. ADVERTISIMENT It is noteworthy that signs of such creatures are also found in the myths of ancient peoples. An example of such a creature is the Portuguese Fradinho da Mao Fourada, who can penetrate people's dreams. Ogun Oru from the fairy tales of the Yoruba people in Nigeria can also be sent by "magic". But why can a sense of presence occur during episodes of sleep paralysis? Researchers J. Allen Cheyne and Todd Girard tried to explain this. In their opinion, such an awakening provokes a feeling of great vulnerability in a person, and the brain fills the gap between the feeling and the presence of a threat. If a person feels like a potential victim, then a predator must be involved in the situation, and our own imagination draws him or her. Another approach to explaining the presence effect was to compare the common features of sleep paralysis episodes with other similar situations. Research over the past 25 years has shown that these sensations are accompanied not only by hypnagogic phenomena but are also observed in Parkinson's disease, psychosis, near-death experiences, and bereavement. Thus, there seems to be no direct connection with sleep. ADVERTISIMENT The mind-body connection Neurological studies and brain stimulation experiments have shown that the effect of presence can be triggered by certain bodily signals. In 2006, neuroscientist Shahar Arzy and his colleagues conducted such an experiment. They managed to create a "shadow figure", a double for a woman whose brain was electrically stimulated at the left temporoparietal junction. This figure seemed to reflect the position of the woman's body, with this connection in the brain combining information about our feelings and bodies. A series of experiments conducted in 2014 also showed that disrupting sensory expectations seems to induce a sense of presence in some healthy people. The researchers made the participants feel as if they were touching their own backs by synchronizing their movements with a robot behind them. ADVERTISIMENT The subjects' brains interpreted this synchronization and concluded that it was their body that created this sensation. And when this synchronization was broken by unbalancing the robot's movements, some people suddenly felt the presence of someone else. Changing sensory expectations of a situation causes a kind of hallucination. The logic described above can be applied to sleep paralysis as well. At such moments, the usual information about the body and its sensations is disrupted, and this can provoke the effect of presence. A person may feel as if someone is near them, although they create all the sensations on their own. Although research on the presence effect has been going on for centuries, scientists are only at the beginning of unraveling this phenomenon. Further research will continue. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, OBOZREVATEL reported that scientists have come closer to understanding the near-death experiences of a person: the conclusions are puzzling. Subscribe to OBOZREVATEL on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest news Download Now The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print. The aggressor country Russia immediately took advantage of the unprecedented military invasion of Israel by Hamas militants. In this way, it seeks to promote several information operations aimed at reducing Western support and attention to Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT This is stated in the report of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Analysts predict that the Kremlin will continue to use these events for its own purposes. As a reminder, Israel is at war for the second day: The IDF managed to rescue a number of hostages, and Netanyahu advised Gaza residents to "flee immediately." You can follow the chronicle of all the events at this link. It is noted that Moscow has intensified several information operations after the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7, accusing the West of "neglecting conflicts in the Middle East to support Ukraine." The Russians also expressed hope that the international community would stop paying attention to Ukraine and focus on the Middle East. For example, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said that the United States and its allies should have "engaged" in the work on the "Palestinian-Israeli settlement" instead of "interfering" in Russia and providing military assistance to Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs even accused the West of allegedly blocking the efforts of the necessary "quartet" of Russia, the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations, which "led to an escalation of violence." In this way, the agency of the terrorist state implicitly blamed the West for the current situation, i.e., the fighting in Israel. A well-known Russian propagandist, Sergei Mardan, has bluntly stated that Russia will only benefit from the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as the world will "turn its attention away from Ukraine for a while" and will again be "extinguishing the eternal flame in the Middle East." ADVERTISIMENT ISW believes that such Kremlin narratives are aimed at Western audiences to drive a wedge into military support for Ukraine. "They seek to demoralize Ukrainian society by claiming that Ukraine will lose international support, and they intend to reassure Russia's domestic audience that international society will ignore Ukraine's military efforts," the analysts explained the Russian goal. As reported by OBOZREVATEL, the terrorist state of Russia may be behind Hamas' attacks on Israel. This opinion was expressed by German political scientist and former head of the Heinrich Boll Foundation in Ukraine Serhiy Sumlennyi. Only verified information on our Telegram Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! New research has shed light on how genetics influences the growth of the placenta, revealing a link to risk of disease in the mother. Scientists from the University of Exeter worked with colleagues in Norway and Denmark to lead a largescale international collaboration which examined placental growth in the greatest detail yet. They caried out the first ever genome-wide association study of the weight of the placenta at birth, generating a number of revelations. Among the findings published in Nature Genetics, the team concluded that faster growth of the placenta can contribute to risk of preeclampsia, and to earlier delivery of the baby. The placenta is an organ which grows in the womb alongside the foetus, which is attached to it by the umbilical cord. The placenta provides oxygen and nutrients to the growing foetus and removes waste as the baby develops. A poorly functioning placenta is associated with pregnancy complications, and later risk of disease in the child. Despite its key role, little is yet known about how the growth of the placenta is regulated. Understanding placental growth is important, as babies with very small or large placentas are at higher risk of complications. Professor Pal Njlstad, of the University of Bergen in Norway, who co-led the paper, said: "The placenta is such an important organ during pregnancy, providing an intricate and vital link between mother and baby. Our study has identified 40 variations in the genetic code linked to how big a placenta can grow, which improves our understanding of this vital organ in humans. Several of these genetic variations also influence the weight of the baby, but some appear to be predominantly concerned with placental growth." The team found that where the genetic code of the foetus meant it was more likely that the placenta would grow bigger, there was a higher risk of pre-eclampsia in the mother. This could be because the placenta grows too fast, which can upset the balance between the baby's demand for resources and how much the mother is able to provide, which can be a factor in pre-eclampsia that occurs later in pregnancy. Professor Rachel Freathy, of the University of Exeter Medical School, who is funded by Wellcome, is a co-lead on the paper. She said: "Pre-eclampsia is a condition that may develop in pregnancy, which causes high blood pressure. Some of the mother's organs, such as the kidneys and liver, stop working properly. Detecting it early is essential to avoid severe health problems for mother and baby, yet how preeclampsia develops isn't fully understood. Our study suggests that faster growth of the placenta contributes to a higher risk of preeclampsia in the mother. It seems specific to placenta growth because we did not find the same risk when we looked at the genetics of baby weight." Faster-growing placenta was also linked to shorter pregnancy. Senior researcher, group leader Bjarke Feenstra, of Copenhagen University Hospital and Statens Serum Institut, Denmark, who also co-led the study, said: "We found that babies with genetic code for a bigger placenta were more likely to be born earlier, which underscores the importance of investigating placental biology in studies of pregnancy duration and the timing of delivery." One key finding from the study related to insulin, which regulates blood sugar. The foetus produces insulin in response to glucose from the mother, which acts as a growth factor. The team found this insulin is also linked to the growth of the placenta, which helps to explain why placentas tend to be large in pregnancies where the mother has high blood glucose due to diabetes. While this is a great first step, the final weight of a placenta can only tell us a limited amount about its function. Further studies are needed to examine the shape and development of placenta over the course of pregnancy. Our work is just the starting point for future research which could help us understand far more about the placenta's role in the growth of the baby and risk of pregnancy complications." Professor Stefan Johansson, co-lead at the University of Bergen The study involved wider collaboration included scientists from Australia, Canada, the US and elsewhere in Europe. In the UK, it was supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research Exeter Biomedical Research Centre. The study is entitled "Genome-wide association study of placental weight identifies distinct and shared genetic influences between placental and fetal growth", and is published in Nature Genetics. They're being hailed as an effective way to lose weight, but diabetes drugs like Ozempic may come with a heightened risk of severe gastrointestinal problems. That's according to new research from the University of British Columbia showing that medications known as GLP-1 agonists-;which includes brands like Wegovy, Ozempic, Rybelsus and Saxenda-;are associated with an increased risk of serious medical conditions including stomach paralysis, pancreatitis and bowel obstruction. While previous studies highlighted some of these risks in patients with diabetes, this is the first large, population-level study to examine adverse gastrointestinal events in non-diabetic patients using the drugs specifically for weight loss. The findings were published today in JAMA. "Given the wide use of these drugs, these adverse events, although rare, must be considered by patients thinking about using them for weight loss," said first author Mohit Sodhi, a graduate of UBC's experimental medicine program and fourth year UBC medical student studying the adverse events of commonly prescribed medications. "The risk calculus will differ depending on whether a patient is using these drugs for diabetes, obesity or just general weight loss. People who are otherwise healthy may be less willing to accept these potentially serious adverse events." GLP-1 agonists were originally developed for managing Type 2 diabetes, but exploded in popularity over the past decade as an off-label weight-loss tool, reaching approximately 40 million prescriptions in the U.S. in 2022. It was only in 2021 that some forms of the medications were approved as a treatment for obesity. However, randomized clinical trials examining the efficacy of the medications for weight loss were not designed to capture rare gastrointestinal events due to their small sample sizes and short follow-up periods. There have been anecdotal reports of some patients using these drugs for weight loss and then presenting with repeated episodes of nausea and vomiting secondary to a condition referred to as gastroparesis. But until now, there hasn't been any data from large epidemiologic studies." Dr. Mahyar Etminan, senior author, epidemiologist and associate professor in the department of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the UBC faculty of medicine To help fill this knowledge gap, UBC researchers examined health insurance claim records for approximately 16 million U.S. patients and looked at people prescribed either semaglutide or liraglutide, two main GLP-1 agonists, between 2006 and 2020. They included patients with a recent history of obesity, and excluded those with diabetes or who had been prescribed another antidiabetic drug. The researchers analyzed the records to see how many patients developed one of four gastrointestinal conditions, and compared that rate to patients using another weight loss drug, bupropion-naltrexone. Compared to bupropion-naltrexone, GLP-1 agonists were associated with a: 9.09 times higher risk of pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, which can cause severe abdominal pain and, in some cases, require hospitalization and surgery. 4.22 times higher risk of bowel obstruction, whereby food is prevented from passing through the small or large intestine, resulting in symptoms like cramping, bloating, nausea and vomiting. Depending on the severity, surgery may be required. 3.67 times higher risk of gastroparesis, or stomach paralysis, which limits the passage of food from the stomach to the small intestine and results in symptoms like vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain. The study also found a higher incidence of biliary disease, a group of conditions affecting the gall bladder, but the difference was not found to be statistically significant. The researchers say that although the events are rare, with millions around the world using the drugs, it could still lead to hundreds of thousands of people experiencing these conditions. "These drugs are becoming increasingly accessible, and it is concerning that, in some cases, people can simply go online and order these kinds of medications when they may not have a full understanding of what could potentially happen. This goes directly against the mantra of informed consent," said Sodhi. In the meantime, the researchers hope that regulatory agencies and drug makers will consider updating the warning labels for their products, which currently don't include the risk of gastroparesis. "This is critical information for patients to know so they can seek timely medical attention and avoid serious consequences," said Sodhi. Researchers have identified a 'guard mechanism' for a protein which attacks microbes in infected cells, opening the possibility of new treatments for Toxoplasma, Chlamydia, Tuberculosis and even cancer. A study, led by the University of Birmingham and published today (5th October) in Science has discovered the lock and key mechanism that controls the attack protein GPB1. GBP1 is activated during inflammation and has the potential to attack membranes within cells and destroy them. The research has revealed how the attack protein is controlled through a process called phosphorylation, a process in which a phosphate group is added to a protein by enzymes called protein kinases. The kinase targeting GBP1 is called PIM1 and can also become activated during inflammation. Phosphorylated GBP1 in turn is bound to a scaffold protein, which keeps uninfected bystander cells safe from uncontrolled GBP1 membrane attack and cell death. The newly discovered mechanism prevents GPB1 from attacking cell membranes indiscriminately, creating a guard mechanism that is sensitive to disruption by the actions of pathogens inside the cells. The new discovery was made by Daniel Fisch, a former PhD student in the Frickel lab working on the study. Dr Daniel Fisch said: "This was a fantastic project to work on for the past six years and involved many research groups from all over the world. None of this would have been possible without help from our colleagues and friends at The Francis Crick Institute in London, EMBL in Grenoble (France), ETH Zurich (Switzerland) and Osaka University (Japan)." Dr Eva Frickel, Senior Wellcome Trust Fellow at the University of Birmingham, who led the study explained: "This discovery is significant for several reasons. Firstly, guard mechanisms such as the one that controls GBP1 were known to exist in plant biology, but less so in mammals. Think of it as a lock and key system. GPB1 wants to go out and attack cellular membranes, but PIM1 is the key meaning GPB1 is locked safely away." "The second reason is that this discovery could have multiple therapeutic applications. Now we know how GBP1 is controlled, we can explore ways to switch this function on and off at will, using it to kill pathogens." Dr Frickel and her team conducted this initial research on Toxoplasma gondii, a single-celled parasite that is common in cats. Whilst Toxoplasma infections in Europe and Western countries are unlikely to cause serious illness, in South American countries it can cause reoccurring eye infections and blindness and is particularly dangerous for pregnant women. The researchers found that Toxoplasma blocks inflammatory signalling within cells, preventing PIM1 from being produced, meaning that the "lock and key" system disappears, liberating GBP1 to attack the parasite. Switching PIM1 'off' with an inhibitor or by manipulating the cell's genome also resulted in GPB1 attacking Toxoplasma and removing the infected cells. This mechanism could also work on other pathogens, such as Chlamydia, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Staphylococcus all major disease-causing pathogens which are increasingly becoming more resistant to antibiotics. By controlling the guard mechanism, we could use the attack protein to eliminate the pathogens in the body. We have already begun looking at this opportunity to see if we are able to replicate what we saw in our Toxoplasma experiments. We are also incredibly excited about how this could be used to kill cancer cells." Dr Eva Frickel, Senior Wellcome Trust Fellow, University of Birmingham PIM1 is a key molecule in the survival of cancer cells, while GPB1 is activated by the inflammatory effect of cancer. The researchers think that by blocking the interaction between PIM1 and GPB1 they could specifically eliminate cancer cells. Dr Frickel said: "The implication for cancer treatment is huge. We think this guard mechanism is active in cancer cells, so the next step is to explore this and see if we can block the guard and selectively eliminate cancer cells. There is an inhibitor on the market which we used to disrupt PIM1 and GPB1 interaction. So, if this works, you could use this drug to unlock GPB1 and attack the cancer cells. There is still a very long way to go, but the discovery of the PIM1 guard mechanism could be a massive first step in finding new ways to treat cancer and increasingly antibiotic-resistant pathogens." When the new SARS-CoV-2 virus began killing thousands of people every week, physicians and scientists around the globe raced to learn why the new pathogen was so deadly. Among many early findings, experts noted that the infection played havoc with blood circulation, both inflaming the linings of blood vessels and making the blood itself more likely to form dangerous clots. Critically ill COVID-19 patients suffered pulmonary embolisms, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), arterial thrombosis, as well as microvascular thrombosis affecting tissues of the lungs, kidneys, and heart. Doctors tried a wide array of existing medications in hopes of controlling the blood system impacts, with mixed results at best. Especially early on, care teams were flying blind. Vital information about the cellular mechanisms affected by the virus remained largely unknown. Frustrating the search for effective treatments, the traditional research approach based on studying data from mouse models was not generating useful answers. Mice simply do not experience infections from this virus the same ways people do. Nor do other rodents. Enter the emerging field of organoid medicine. Lab-grown human tissues demonstrate value In the past two decades, scientists have made impressive strides at coaxing human stem cells to form tiny-but-functional versions of human organs. Cincinnati Children's has been a leader in this field, with groundbreaking developments of tissues that mimic the functions of the intestine, stomach, esophagus and more. Now, an expert at Cincinnati Children's working with a team of colleagues in Japan has applied organoid technology to make a significant discovery in the race to develop effective COVID treatments. Their findings were published online Oct. 5, 2023, in the journal Cell Stem Cell. We developed a human vascular organoid model that accurately mimics the damage caused by SARS-CoV-2. After conducting many proteomic, genetic and other studies, we determined that the severe vascular damage and thrombosis associated with COVID-19 can be mitigated by a long-acting monoclonal antibody that targets the complement amplification cycle regulated by factor D (CFD)." Takanori Takebe, M.D., Ph.D, study's corresponding author Takebe is an expert in organoid medicine who holds dual appointments with Cincinnati Children's and Tokyo Medical and Dental University. He also serves as director for commercial innovation at Cincinnati Children's Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Research and Medicine (CuSTOM). Co-first authors of the study were Eri Kawakami, Ph.D., with the Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, and Norikazu Saiki, Ph.D., at Tokyo Medical and Dental University. Next steps: build on modest initial benefits In addition to the organoid tissue findings, the research team confirmed many of their observations with testing involving macaque monkeys. All of the primate studies were conducted in Japan. The team reports, however, that the particular monoclonal antibody used in the study resulted in only modest reductions in inflammation. Next steps include further testing involving "humanized" animal models to accurately assess the impact of a clinical-grade CFD targeted antibody, Takebe says. About this study This research was partly funded by Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Takebe also holds a patent associated with the technology described in this project. Funding sources also included the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (JP21bm0404045, JP20fk0108280, 20fk0108404, 23gm1610005, 23gm1210012, 19fk0108172, 20fk0108410, 20fk0108538, and 223fa627008, JSPS 18H02800, 19K22416); JST Moonshot R&D grants (JPMJPS2033, JPMJMS2022); a Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation CURE award; the National Institute of Health's New Innovator Award (DP2 DK128799-01); the Falk Transformational Awards Program; and the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI), MEXT, Japan. Research led by Mays Cancer Center at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) has discovered that altering certain molecular interactions could yield new strategies for treating prostate cancer and related diseases. The study focuses on androgen receptors (AR), which are protein molecules that help direct the development of male sexual characteristics, essentially by turning genes on or off as necessary. The researchers determined that an optimum level of androgen receptor "multivalent interactions" likely is required for proper function. Multivalent interactions involve a simultaneous binding of multiple molecules on the same regulatory chromatin sites to control gene expression. (Chromatin refers to a mixture of DNA and proteins that form the chromosomes found in cells.) The scientists also concluded that alterations of these interactions might underlie the cause and development of disease. Our results provide molecular insights for potential therapeutic strategies to treat prostate cancer and other AR-involved diseases by targeting AR multivalent interactions." Zhijie "Jason" Liu, PhD, associate professor and CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research with Mays Cancer Center and the Institute of Biotechnology of the Department of Molecular Medicine at UT Health San Antonio He is lead author of the article titled, "Hormone-induced enhancer assembly requires an optimal level of hormone receptor multivalent interactions," published Sept. 21 in Molecular Cell, a journal of research in molecular biology. Other researchers are from the Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies at UT Health San Antonio; the California Institute of Technology; and the Duke Cancer Institute at Duke University. They observed that androgen receptors form local high-concentration "condensates" membrane-less subunits that carry out specialized cell functions through protein-clustering interactions. These are driven by certain multivalent interactions in response to androgen hormone stimulation. The researchers determined that disturbing those condensates impairs androgen receptor function in the assembly of "enhancers," referring to DNA sequences that activate transcription independently. "Our work using AR as an example provides evidence for the importance of maintaining precise levels of multivalent interactions to achieve beneficial hormone-induced enhancer assembly events," Liu said. "Collectively, our results suggest that disruption of the fine-tuned AR protein multivalent interactions might underlie AR-related human pathologies. "AR multivalent interactions," he concluded, "could be pharmacologically targeted to treat prostate cancer and other AR-involved diseases." On October 2, 2023, BGI Genomics signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Colombian National Cancer Institute (INC or Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia). This collaboration, which aims to foster research and further develop cutting-edge solutions based on genetic sequencing for early diagnosis of cervical and colorectal cancer, reflects a shared dedication to enhancing health outcomes in the region. The MoU was formally inked at INC facilities by Dr. Carolina Wiesner, INC Director, and Mr. Rainer Perez, alternate legal representative of BGI Genomics in Colombia. Mr. Marco Antonio Rincon, Latin America Business Director, BGI Genomics, notes: "BGI Genomics is 100 percent committed to providing cost-effective tools for the prevention and management of Human papillomavirus (HPV) and colorectal cancer to make a meaningful impact on the healthcare of Colombian people." As part of this MoU, BGI Genomics will also train INC personnel. The Colombian National Cancer Institute was created in 1934, and for over seven decades the INC has been committed to the provision of a comprehensive approach to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research of cancer in the Colombian population. Earlier, on September 26, 2023, Mr. Rincon took part as a panelist on behalf of BGI Genomics at the Health and Innovation Event during the 8th China-Colombia Dialogue Conference, held in Bogota, Colombia. This event, organized by the Colombian Chinese Chamber of Investment & Commerce and the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Colombia, provided a platform for thought leaders to discuss critical healthcare issues. Dr. Carolina Gomez, Manager of Bogota Bio and Colombian Health Ministry Advisor, moderated a panel where Mr. Rincon emphasized BGI Genomics' commitment to strengthening local human skills and talent with every local project. He also emphasized that the company seeks to promote access to innovative, precision and cost-effective technologies for the country's health system. A person's immune response to variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, depends on their previous exposure - and differences in the focus of immune responses will help scientists understand how to optimize vaccines in the future to provide broad protection. A new study has found that people differ in how vulnerable they are to different mutations in emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2. This is because the variant of SARS-CoV-2 a person was first exposed to determines how well their immune system responds to different parts of the virus, and how protected they are against other variants. It also means that the same COVID-19 vaccine might work differently for different people, depending on which variants of SARS-CoV-2 they have previously been exposed to and where their immune response has focused. The discovery underlies the importance of continuing surveillance programmes to detect the emergence of new variants, and to understand differences in immunity to SARS-CoV-2 across the population. It will also be important for future vaccination strategies, which must consider both the virus variant a vaccine contains and how immune responses of the population may differ in their response to it. It was a surprise how much of a difference we saw in the focus of immune responses of different people to SARS-CoV-2. Their immune responses appear to target different specific regions of the virus, depending on which variant their body had encountered first." Dr Samuel Wilks at the University of Cambridge's Centre for Pathogen Evolution in the Department of Zoology, first author of the report He added: "Our results mean that if the virus mutates in a specific region, some people's immune system will not recognize the virus as well - so it could make them ill, while others may still have good protection against it." The research, published today in the journal Science, involved a large-scale collaboration across ten research institutes including the University of Cambridge and produced a comprehensive snapshot of early global population immunity to COVID-19. Researchers collected 207 serum samples - extracted from blood samples - from people who had either been infected naturally with one of the many previously circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants, or who had been vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 with different numbers of doses of the Moderna vaccine. They then analysed the immunity these people had developed, and found significant differences between immune responses depending on which variant a person had been infected with first. "These results give us a deep understanding of how we might optimise the design of COVID-19 booster vaccines in the future," said Professor Derek Smith, Director of the University of Cambridge's Centre for Pathogen Evolution in the Department of Zoology, senior author of the report. He added: "We want to know the key virus variants to use in vaccines to best protect people in the future." The research used a technique called 'antigenic cartography' to compare the similarity of different variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This measures how well human antibodies, formed in response to infection with one virus, respond to infection with a variant of that virus. It shows whether the virus has changed enough to escape the human immune response and cause disease. The resulting 'antigenic map' shows the relationship between a wide selection of SARS-CoV-2 variants that have previously circulated. Omicron variants are noticeably different from the others - which helps to explain why many people still succumbed to infection with Omicron despite vaccination or previous infection with a different variant. Immunity to COVID-19 can be acquired by having been infected with SARS-CoV-2 or by vaccination. Vaccines provide immunity without the risk from the disease or its complications. They work by activating the immune system so it will recognise and respond rapidly to exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and prevent it causing illness. But, like other viruses, the SARS-CoV-2 virus keeps mutating to try and escape human immunity. During the first year of the pandemic, the main SARS-CoV-2 virus in circulation was the B.1 variant. Since then, multiple variants emerged that escaped pre-existing immunity, causing reinfections in people who had already had COVID. "The study was an opportunity to really see - from the first exposure to SARS-CoV-2 onwards - what the basis of people's immunity is, and how this differs across the population," said Wilks. This research was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and National Institutes of Health. When women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) plan to become pregnant, many anguish over whether to stop their medications, risking a flareup in their disease, or continue with medication and risk possible harm to the baby. About 50% to 75% will see their disease naturally improve during pregnancy for not-yet-known reasons, while others may see a worsening of their RA. But they have had no way of knowing which would happen to them. Now, Northwestern Medicine scientists have identified, for the first time, genetic markers before pregnancy that could predict who will improve and who will worsen. The study was published this week in Arthritis Research & Therapy. RA is an incurable disease that affects 1% of the adult world population and occurs three times more often among women. It leads to significant disability as a result of inflammation of the joints as well as destruction of cartilage and bone. "When women with RA go through pregnancy, there often is a natural improvement," said lead study investigator Damini Jawaheer, research associate professor of medicine in rheumatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. "They describe it as 'a miracle.' They say 'I have never felt this good with any medication I have taken.' But the cause of this improvement is a complete mystery. "If women with RA can know in advance whether they are likely to see their disease disappear during pregnancy, they know they can go off their drugs. Some RA drugs are toxic and affect the fetus, while others are considered safe. But some women with RA don't want to take any drugs during pregnancy, not even the ones considered safe." Being able to predict who will improve and who will worsen will help women in their pregnancy planning and will also help to focus treatment during pregnancy only to those women who are predicted to worsen, Jawaheer said. Furthermore, women who are predicted to improve and their fetus will not be unnecessarily exposed to medications. Jawaheer and her team found that, before pregnancy, a group of white blood cells called neutrophils were highly expressed among the women who improved during pregnancy, and some genes related to B cells were highly expressed among women who worsened. This field has not been well studied partly because it is difficult to find women for a pregnancy study before they get pregnant, Jawaheer said. She and colleagues were able to conduct the study because they'd previously established a unique pregnancy cohort in Denmark, which enrolled women with RA and healthy women before pregnancy and followed them over time to determine who improved and who worsened during pregnancy. Using blood samples collected from those women before pregnancy, they examined the levels of different genes expressed in the blood. Blood samples were collected before pregnancy from 19 women with RA and 13 healthy women enrolled in the prospective pregnancy cohort. Next, Jawaheer plans to conduct a study in a larger cohort of women to validate these findings. Additionally, her lab is trying to figure out why RA improves during pregnancy. How is nature making an incurable disease go away? If we can understand how pregnancy induces a natural improvement, we can use that as a model to develop a new medication that would be safer and could improve the lives of the women and men living with this terrible disease." Damini Jawaheer, research associate professor of medicine in rheumatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine The name of the paper is "Pre-pregnancy gene expression signatures are associated with subsequent improvement/worsening of rheumatoid arthritis during pregnancy." The other Northwestern author is Matthew Wright. The study was funded by grants R21AR057931 and R01AR073111 from the National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases of the National Institutes of Health and by Gigtforeningen and Juliane Marie Center in Denmark. Can particles as minuscule as viruses be detected accurately within a mere 5 minutes? Osaka Metropolitan University scientists say yes, with their innovative method for ultrafast and ultrasensitive quantitative measurement of biological nanoparticles, opening doors for early diagnosis of a broad range of diseases. Nanoscale extracellular vesicles (EVs) including exosomes, with diameters of 50150 nm, play essential roles in intercellular communication and have garnered attention as biomarkers for various diseases and drug delivery capsules. Consequently, the rapid and sensitive detection of nanoscale EVs from trace samples is of vital importance for early diagnosis of intractable diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease. However, the extraction of nanoscale EVs from cell culture media previously required a complex and time-consuming process involving ultracentrifugation. A research team led by Director Professor Takuya Iida, Deputy Director Associate Professor Shiho Tokonami, and Assistant Director Professor Ikuhiko Nakase, from the Research Institute for Light-induced Acceleration System (RILACS) at Osaka Metropolitan University, has utilized the power of laser light to accelerate the reaction between nanoscale EVs derived from cancer cells and antibody-modified microparticles. The three-dimensional structure of the resulting aggregates was then analyzed using confocal microscopy. As a result, the researchers demonstrated the ability to measure, within 5 minutes, approximately 103104 nanoscale EVs contained in a 500 nL sample. This research achievement provides a method for ultrafast and ultrasensitive quantitative measurement of biological nanoparticles, offering a foundation for innovative analysis of cell-to-cell communication and early diagnosis of various diseases in the future." Professor Takuya Iida Their findings were published in Nanoscale Horizons. There is always a place for chimeras, people with the features of a particular animal, in the myths and legends of various nationalities. That's how we learned about the "existence" of minotaurs, mermaids, harpies, or wendigos. But scientists wouldn't be scientists if they didn't dream of creating their own species, like the sinister Dr. Moreau from H.G. Wells' famous novel. ADVERTISIMENT Thus, it is not surprising that the idea of creating chimeras eventually took on real life. One of those who wanted to realize it was the Soviet scientist Ilya Ivanov, who promised to turn the leaders of the U.S.S.R. into something close to God to gain favor and, of course, funding from the authorities. Big Think tells the story of Ivanov, who, fortunately for humanity, never achieved his goal, although he did receive the necessary funds for his crazy experiments. There are many hybrids of various animals in the world that have long been useful to humanity. In particular, mules are a mix of horses and donkeys. But when naturalists came up with the idea of creating a hybrid of a human and a chimpanzee in the early twentieth century, the media and the public did not remain silent and expressed their rejection of the idea. As a result, the idea was abandoned. However, not all scientists agreed. ADVERTISIMENT The idea of hybrids was brought to the Soviet Union by Ilya Ivanov, who studied biology in Paris and became known for his successful work on artificial insemination, which allowed the Soviets to develop a breed of hardy horses that were very useful in agriculture. However, this did not contribute to the fact that the U.S.S.R. authorities spent large sums of money in the 1920s on a dubious experiment to create hybrids. There used to be a myth that Joseph Stalin, who was then the Secretary-General of the Central Committee of the CPSU, dreamed of his own army of half-man, half-ape superwarriors who would march across Eurasia, but there was no evidence. Ivanov, who claimed that human-ape hybrids would be stronger, smarter, and more resistant to disease than humans or animals, found an approach that allowed him to "sell" the idea instead. ADVERTISIMENT The Soviet government of the time was obsessed not only with communism but also with its hatred of the Church and religion. Therefore, Ivanov said that the success of his research would be a victory for atheistic humanism over religion. He said that this would allow the Soviets to create hybrids and control their evolution, effectively putting the government on a par with God. As a result, the scientist received the equivalent of $10,000 and permission to travel to Africa, where he planned to create hybrids. His plan was simple but had a minor miscalculation. Ivanov intended to travel to French Guinea, take a few monkeys, and pay local women to give birth to children from the animals. But the reality turned out to be a bit more complicated. It turned out that there were West African folklore stories of monkeys capturing and raping women, and these women were subsequently ostracized by society. ADVERTISIMENT Thus, no woman would voluntarily agree to the scientist's experiment. Ivanov's second idea was to anonymously obtain sperm from the men on his team and impregnate the female chimps. However, he did not take into account that chimpanzees are hard to find, hard to catch, and even harder to keep. Nevertheless, 13 chimps were artificially inseminated. Nevertheless, not a single viable pregnancy was achieved. When Ivanov reached the point of despair, realizing that he would have to report something to the Soviets, who were dreaming of overthrowing God, he could think of nothing better than resorting to deception. He decided to impregnate women against their will under the guise of gynecological examinations. Fortunately, the French authorities learned of his intentions and sent Ivanov home. However, he did not stop there. Ivanov sent 20 chimps to Russia, but only four of them survived the journey. ADVERTISIMENT He was unable to find women who would be willing to become pregnant and give birth to the first hybrid (even for money), so he appealed to all women in the USSR to serve science. Surprisingly enough, there was a willing woman. She went down in history as a volunteer named G. She allegedly personally wrote a letter to the professor stating that "my personal life is ruined, I see no point in continuing to exist..." "But when I think that I can serve science, I feel brave enough to turn to you. I beg you not to refuse me... I ask you to accept me for an experiment," the letter to Ivanov read. G. was either not in her right mind or simply did not understand what kind of experiment she was consenting to. Nevertheless, the experiment was carried out, but it ended in nothing. Subsequently, Ivanov continued to obsess over his idea until he was arrested during a purge of scientists in 1930 and exiled to Kazakhstan, where he died two years later. ADVERTISIMENT However, Ivanov's case continues to live on. In 2019, a team of scientists from the United States, China, and Spain managed to create a human-ape embryo that was viable for 20 days. It was soon destroyed. Today, all similar experiments involve a fuse, which means that hybrids, if they are created fully functional, will never be able to give birth to offspring. The very topic of creating hybrids of humans and animals is still as taboo as it was 100 years ago. Earlier, OBOZREVATEL reported that scientists managed to create fully synthetic human embryos for the first time in history. Subscribe to OBOZREVATEL on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest news Major airlines have cancelled dozens of flights to Tel Aviv this weekend after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale attack against Israel. American Airlines, Air France, Lufthansa, Emirates and Ryanair are among those pulling flights to Tel Avivs Ben Gurion airport. However, airport authorities did not stop commercial air links with Israels second international airport at Eilat, a tourist destination on the Red Sea. Israeli flag carrier El Al said Sunday that it was maintaining its Tel Aviv flights for now, though some flights operated by foreign partners had been cancelled. We might cancel flights to places where we dont have a lot of Israelis to help other Israelis in other places, a spokeswoman told AFP. In a statement, El Al added that it was operating in accordance with the instructions of the Israeli security forces, with all flights now departing only from Terminal Three at Ben Gurion airport. Like most other airlines, it said clients could change their tickets without charge. After Saturday saw a list of major carriers cancelling flights Spains AENA airports operator told AFP four of nine flights scheduled to Tel Aviv on Sunday had been cancelled, two from Madrid and two from Barcelona. Another nine flights, from Tel Aviv to airports in Spain, have so far been unaffected, the operator said. Spains Air Europa said it had cancelled its two flights scheduled between Madrid and Tel Aviv, while Iberia Express, the low-cost arm of national carrier Iberia, went ahead with a Madrid-Tel Aviv flight after suspending two on Saturday. Vueling, the Barcelona-based low-cost airline, said given the situation in Israel, flights to/from Tel Aviv are affected and experiencing delays. A spokesman for Germanys Lufthansa on Saturday cited the current security situation to say it was cancelling all flights to and from Tel Aviv up until and including Monday, adding it was monitoring the situation. Brussels Airlines, part of the Lufthansa group, also cancelled its Tel Aviv flights. Air France said it had halted Tel Aviv flights until further notice, and the Air France-KLM groups low-cost carrier Transavia said it was cancelling all flights from Paris and Lyon to Tel Aviv up to and including Monday. Spanish airline Iberia announced that its budget subsidiary Iberia Express was cancelling its Tel Aviv flights. Italys flag-carrier ITA airways cancelled its flight until Sunday morning at the earliest to protect the safety of passengers and crew, while Polish carrier LOT also cancelled its flights from the Polish capital on Saturday. Other airlines suspending flights included Aegean, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Wizz Air and Air Canada. The leading carrier Air India on Saturday restricted flight services from the national capital to Tel Aviv amid the Israeli city came under attack by Hamas militants. Report says the German airline Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and Swiss Air also restricted flight services for the country amid the clash with Palestine. The full-service carrier operates five weekly flights to Tel Aviv. The service is on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. An airline spokesperson said flight AI 139 from the national capital to Tel Aviv on Saturday and the return flight AI 140 have been canceled in the interests and safety of passengers and crew. AI 139 flight was scheduled at 1535 hours (India time), and the return flight from Tel Aviv was at 2210 hours (Israel time) on Saturday. The time difference between Delhi and Tel Aviv is around 0230 hours. According to the Air India spokesperson, passengers are being extended all support as per their requirements. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed solidarity with Israel after Hamas militants launched an attack on the country. Modi condemned it as terrorist attacks in Israel as its leader Benjamin Netanyahu said the country is at war. Falling for the fourth straight week, Indias forex reserves dropped further by $3.794 billion to over 5-month low of $586.908 billion for the week ended September 29, according to the latest RBI data. In the previous reporting week, the overall reserves had declined by $2.335 billion to $590.702 billion as of September 22. It can be noted that in October 2021, the countrys forex kitty had reached an all-time high of $645 billion. The reserves took a hit as the central bank deployed the kitty to defend the rupee amid pressures caused majorly by global developments since last year. For the week ended September 29, the foreign currency assets, a major component of the reserves, decreased by $3.127 billion to $520.236 billion, according to the Weekly Statistical Supplement released by the RBI. Expressed in dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the foreign exchange reserves. Gold reserves were down by $576 million to $43.731 billion, the RBI said. The special drawing rights (SDRs) were down by $74 million to $17.939 billion, the apex bank said. The countrys reserve position with the IMF was also down by $18 million to $5.002 billion in the reporting week, the central bank data showed. The central bank intervenes in the spot and forwards markets to prevent runaway moves in the rupee. Indias forex reserves are sizeable and very comfortable, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said on Friday, while reiterating that the central banks intervention aims to prevent any volatility of the rupees exchange rate. Apart from the central banks intervention, changes in foreign currency assets, expressed in dollar terms, include the effects of appreciation or depreciation of other currencies held in the RBIs reserves. (With Inputs From Agencies) Petrol and diesel prices today, October 8, remained almost the same in the country. In Delhi, petrol price today stood at Rs 96.72 per litre and diesel was at Rs 89.62 per litre. In Mumbai, per-litre petrol was selling at Rs 106.31 per litre on Sunday, while diesel stood at Rs 94.27. In Kolkata, the price of petrol stood at Rs 106.03 per litre, while that of diesel was at Rs 92.76 a litre. In Chennai, petrol was at Rs 102.86 per litre and diesel was at Rs 94.24 per litre. In Bhopal, petrol touched as high as Rs 108.65 per litre and diesel was at Rs 93.90 per litre. In Pune, petrol was selling at Rs 105.84 per litre and diesel was at Rs 92.36. In Patna, petrol was at Rs 107.24 per litre and diesel at Rs 94.04 a litre. The extended deadline to exchange or deposit Rs 2,000 currency notes by a week ended on October 7. Now, the high-value currency notes cannot be accepted by banks. However, you can exchange or deposit the banknotes at the RBIs 19 Issue Offices. Heres all you need to know: The RBI in May this year decided to withdraw Rs 2,000 banknotes from circulation, and fixed September 30 as the last date to deposit or exchange the notes, which was later extended till October 7. However, now, the Rs 2,000 notes can be exchanged or deposited at the RBIs issue offices. The facility for deposit/ exchange of Rs 2000 banknotes at the 19 RBI Issue Offices shall be available till further advice, the central bank has said. After the October 7 deadline, the procedure for deposit and exchange is as under: a) The deposit/ exchange at bank branches has been stopped b) Rs 2000 banknotes can continue to be exchanged by individuals/ entities at the 19 RBI Issue Offices up to a limit of Rs 20,000 at a time. c) Individuals/ entities can tender Rs 2000 banknotes at the 19 RBI issue offices for credit to their bank accounts in India for any amount. d) Individuals/ entities from within the country can also send Rs 2,000 banknotes through India Post, addressed to any of the 19 RBI issue offices for credit to their bank accounts in India. e) Such exchange or credit shall be subject to relevant RBI/ government regulations, submission of valid identity documents and due diligence as deemed fit by the RBI. f) Courts, law enforcement agencies, government departments or any other public authority involved in investigation proceedings or enforcement, may, as and when required, deposit/ exchange Rs 2000 banknotes at any of the 19 RBI Issue offices without any limit. The RBI decided to withdraw the Rs 2,000 denomination banknotes from circulation in pursuance of its Clean Note Policy. Announcing the withdrawal of the high-value currency notes on May 19, 2023, the RBI said it has also been observed that this denomination (Rs 2,000 banknotes) is not commonly used for transactions. Further, the stock of banknotes in other denominations continues to be adequate to meet the currency requirement of the public. Following the withdrawal decision, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das addressing reporters on May 22 said the Rs 2,000 banknotes were introduced primarily to replenish the notes withdrawn following demonetisation in 2016. Rs 2,000 notes have completed their cycle and age, and their withdrawal is part of the currency management operation, he added. On October 7, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a sudden attack on Israel, near the Gaza Strip which has left many Indian students in Israel nervous and scared. The Indian community is in continuous touch with the Indian Embassy as well, Goku Manavalan, an Indian student in Israel told ANI. I am very nervous and scaredThankfully we have shelter and Israeli police forces nearby. So far we are safeWe are in touch with Indian Embassy people, we have a good Indian community around and we are connected The Hamas terrorist attack on Israel was very intense and scary, said another Indian student Vimal Krishnasamy Manivannan Chitra adding that the Indian Embassy is in touch with them and are keeping a check on us It was all very sudden we did not expect it, because there are religious holidays in Israel going on, Aditya Karunanithi Nivedita, another student studying in Israel told the news agency. We got the sirens early in the morning at around 5:30 am. We were in bunkers for around 7-8 hours the sirens went offWe are asked to stay inside our homesWe are in contact with the Indian Embassy and they will update us for the future things Following the attack by the Hamas militants, more than 200 people were killed, and at least 1104 people were injured. Several Israelis have been held as hostages in Gaza. At around 6:30 am (local time), a barrage of rocket fire began from Gaza into Israel, hitting several cities including Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Gedera, and Ashkelon. Hamas military commander Muhammad Al-Deif said that the assault on Israel was a response to attacks on women. He called the operation Al-Aqsa Storm. The Israeli Mayor, and head of the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council, Ofir Liebstein, has been killed in the deadly rocket fire as well. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said We are at war and launched Operation Swords of Iron striking a number of targets in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli air force also launched airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, hitting 17 military compounds and four operational command centres belonging to Hamas. The National Medical Commission (NMC) released the syllabus for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2024. Students have been instructed by the comission to use this updated syllabus to prepare for NEET 2024 and to create study materials. Candidates can check and download the NEET UG 2024 syllabus by visiting the official website of the commission at nmc.org.in. It is notified to all the stakeholders, especially to the aspiring candidates that the Under Graduate Medical Education Board, an autonomous body under the National Medical Commission has finalised the NEET UG 2024 syllabus, read the official notice released by NMC. The official date of the NEET 2024 exam was also declared by NTA recently. On May 5, 2024, the NTA NEET UG examination is scheduled to take place. The online registration dates are yet to be announced. It is the only exam in the country to admit eligible candidates to undergraduate medical programmes, such as MBBS and BDS courses. NEET 2024 will be a pen-and-paper test covering Physics, Chemistry, and Biology curricula from Class 11 and 12 textbooks, administered in 13 languages. To appear for the NEET, candidates must be 17 years old by December 31, 2024. Candidates must be Indian nationals, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas nationals of India (OCIs), PIOs, or Foreign Nationals to appear for the exam. Students who have completed or are about to complete their 10+2 or equivalent exams are eligible to apply for NEET. Candidates must have completed Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English at a recognised board. In the qualifying exam, candidates must obtain at least 50 per cent in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. In addition, the minimum mark criterion for applicants from the SC, ST, and OBC-NCL categories is 40 per cent. Meanwhile, medical colleges that fail to comply with statutory provisions and NMCs regulations can be fined Rs 1 crore per violation. A penalty of Rs 5 lakh can be imposed on the faculty, head of department, dean, director, or doctor submitting false declarations, documents, and records, including patients records. Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel by firing thousands of rockets from Gaza and sending fighters to kill or abduct people killing more than 200 Israelis and wounded 1,000. Though several rockets were intercepted by Israels much-vaunted Iron Dome missile defence system, many others landed in Israeli territories leading to bloodiest escalation in decades. ALSO READ | Israel-Palestine Conflict Explained The Iron Dome system has proved capable against defending rockets fired by the Hamas exploding them within the Gaza Strip, however, its not yet clear how effective the system was in Saturdays attack. What is Israels Iron Dome? The Israeli-designed Iron Dome system is meant to protect populated areas and critical assets by neutralising short-range aerial threats. The defence system can intercept targets in the airspace and performs fast, complex calculations to detect the trajectory, speed and expected target of the rocket. It then uses these calculations to destroy the missiles in the air. The first battery was deployed in March 2011 near the southern city of Beersheva 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the Gaza Strip, and a favourite Hamas target to combat Soviet-designed Grad rockets fired from the Palestinian territory. Israel now has at least 10 such batteries. How Iron Dome Works? The Iron Dome is considered among the most advanced defence systems in the word and it uses radar to identify and destroy incoming threats in the air. The weapon system has been designed to help combat shorter-range rudimentary weapons like the rockets fired from Gaza. Each battery of the Iron Dome has a radar detection and tracking system, a firing control system and three launchers for 20 interceptor missiles. Each battery has a range of between 4-70 kilometres. Moreover, the batteries are mobile so they can be moved to wherever they are required. Why is Iron Dome Significant Iron Dome was developed by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, a state-owned arms company based in the northern city of Haifa. It is also partly funded by the United States, which committed $5 billion to its development costs in 2016. Ever since its introduction in 2011, it has become a mainstay of the Israels defense. It is one of the strategic pillars of the US-Israeli alliance which has been followed by successive Democratic and Republican administrations. In August 2019 the US Army signed a contract to purchase two Iron Dome batteries to enhance its own short-range missile defence capabilities. Israel has other missile defence systems such as the Arrow, to counter ballistic missiles, and Davids Sling, for medium-range rocket or missile attacks. How Hamas Dodged Israels Iron Dome In the latest Hamas attack the Israels air defence system, , equipped with sophisticated sensors, proved no match for the heavy explosives unleashed by Hamas militants as they burst into Israel. Hamas, has for several years now, been trying to find a weakness in the Iron Dome system. The Palestinian militant group have been successful in doing so by firing multiple rockets in a short span, making it difficult for the control system to intercept all targets. In Saturdays attack, over 5,000 rockets were launched in just 20 minutes. As per reports, the Iron Dome anti-rocket defense system intercepted around 90% of Gaza rockets. Hamas is also developing its crude rocket technology and it has increased its range to cover major cities of Israel including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Moreover, a rocket launched by Hamas is much cheaper than the Tamir missile fired to intercept it. Each launch by the Irone Dome costs almost $50,000. The conflict between Israel and Hamas entered its eleventh day on Tuesday as Israel continued its retaliatory air strikes in the Gaza Strip and overnight strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. More than one million people have been displaced inside the densely populated Palestinian territory as Israel prepares for a full-blown ground offensive against Hamas. The war that began October 7 has become the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides, with more than 4,000 dead. Israel declared war on Hamas after the Islamist groups militants broke through the heavily fortified border and shot, stabbed and burned to death more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians. Israel has responded with relentless bombing, killing around 2,750 Palestinians, in the impoverished Gaza Strip. The deadliest clash is one of the many intense fighting between Hamas which controls the Gaza Strip and Israel. Here is a history and timeline of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Creation of Israel The root of the creation of Israel was the Balfour Declaration of 1917, where the United Kingdom which captured Palestine from the Ottomans in World War I, declared its support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict started in the second half of the nineteenth century when the United Nations adopted Resolution 181 in 1947. According to the plan, the territory was divided into Arab and Jewish states by the UK. Israel was created on May 14, 1948, sparking the first Arab-Israeli War. The war ended in 1949 with Israels victory, but 750,000 Palestinians were displaced. The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) was then created in 1964. After the war, Israel also gained some territory which was formerly granted to Palestinian Arabs under the UN resolution. The erstwhile Palestine territory was divided into 3 parts: the State of Israel, the West Bank (of the Jordan River), and the Gaza Strip. Over the years, tensions rose in the region between Israel and Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. Israeli-Arab war In June 1967, Israel attacked Egyptian and Syrian air forces starting the Six-Day War. It managed to capture Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, Old City of Jerusalem, and Golan Heights. Jewish settlement of the occupied territories starts shortly afterwards and continues in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Golan Heights today. Six years later, Egypt and Syria launched a surprise two-front attack on Israel in 1973 to regain their lost territory. The fresh offensive didnt benefit either Israel or Egypt and Syria. Though Israel didnt give up the territorial gains, it returned Sinai to Egypt in 1982. Camp David Accords In 1979, there was a series of cease-fires and peace negotiations during which the representatives from Egypt and Israel signed the Camp David Accords, a peace treaty that ended the three decades of conflict between Egypt and Israel. Though the treaty improved relations between Israel and its neighbours, the question of Palestinian self-determination remained unresolved. In 1982, Israel invaded civil war-wracked Lebanon to attack Palestinian militants after initially sending in its forces in 1978. Israeli-backed Lebanese militias kill hundreds of Palestinians in refugee camps in Beirut. Israeli troops remained in southern Lebanon until 2000. First Intifada In 1987, in what is known as the first intifada, or the Palestinian uprising against Israeli rule, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip rose up against the Israeli government. During the first intifada, which lasted till 1993, Hamas, an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya was launched by Palestinian cleric Sheikh Ahmed Yassin as a part of the Muslim Brotherhood, a transnational Sunni Islamist organisation. In 1993, Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat signed the Oslo Accords with Israel to negotiate an end to the conflict based on a two-state solution. Arafat returned to Palestinian territories in July 1994 after 27 years living in exile to set up the Palestinian Authority. Self-rule is established for the first time in the Gaza Strip. However, Hamas opposed the deal and launched a series of suicide bombings in Israel. Second Intifada In 2000, Palestinians launched the second intifada over Israels control over the West Bank and former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharons visit to the al-Aqsa mosque compound in east Jerusalem, the third holiest site in Islam and also holy to Jews, in September 2000. The second intifada lasted until 2005. Responding to a wave of suicide bombings, Israel in 2002 invaded the West Bank in its largest operation there since the 1967 war. US Revives Peace Process The United States attempted to revive the peace process between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank in 2013. However, the peace talks were disrupted as Fatah, the Palestinian ruling party formed a unity government with rival faction Hamas in 2014. 2014 Conflict In 2014, there was a military confrontation between the Israeli military and Hamas. Israel also launched a new operation against Gaza in an attempt to stop rocket fire and destroy tunnels from the Palestinian territory. Hamas fired nearly three thousand rockets at Israel while the latter retaliated with a major offensive in Gaza. The clash ended in late August 2014 with a ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt. The conflict resulted in the death of 2,251 Palestinians and 73 Israelis. Trump recognises Jerusalem On December 6, 2017, then-US President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a decision that outrages Palestinians and sparked international criticism. Abbas says the US can no longer play its historic role as a mediator of peace talks with the Israelis. 11-day war in 2021 In 2021, the Israeli police raided Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem which sparked an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas killing more than 200 Palestinians and more than 10 Israelis. Recent clashes Aug 2022: At least 44 people, including 15 children, are killed in three days of violence that began when Israeli air strikes hit a senior Islamic Jihad commander. Jan 2023: Militants in Gaza fire two rockets towards Israel after Israeli troops raid a refugee camp and kill seven Palestinian gunmen and two civilians. The rockets set off alarms in Israeli communities near the border but caused no casualties. Israel responds with air strikes on Gaza. Oct 2023: Hamas launches the latest attack on Israel in years from the Gaza Strip, which escalated to become the worst attack in the countrys 75-year history. So far, around 500,000 Israelis have been evacuated and over 4,000 dead, including at least 2,750 Palestinians. The recent violence by Hamas against Israel has once again shifted the worlds eyes back to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hamas who run the impoverished, blockaded Gaza Strip fired thousands of rockets and infiltrated forces into Israel on Saturday. The violence throws a spotlight on disputes between Israel and the Palestinians that dates back to the 1950s. What is the Gaza Strip The Gaza Strip is 140 square miles or 365 square kilometres of land located in the southwest corner of Israel, along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It shares a border with Egypt to the south. It has a population of 2.1 million people and is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. According to reports, Israel has waged four wars on the Palestinian territories since 2008, killing thousands of people. The Gaza strip is only 41 km long and divided in five governorates: North Gaza, Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, Khan Yunis and Rafah. Israel severely restricts the movement of people and goods into and out of Gaza with devastating humanitarian impact, as per Human Rights Watch. What is West Bank? West Bank is another area of land located within the country of Israel, but it is much larger than the Gaza Strip at 5,860 square kilometres. The Palestinian territory is home to around three million Palestinians. It stretches across the eastern border of Israel along the west banks of the Jordan River and most of the Dead Sea, thus how it received its name. Who Rules Gaza Strip and the West Bank? The Gaza Strip and the West Bank are two Palestinian territories that were part of Palestine and captured by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967. There are over 5 million Palestinians living in the two territories. In 1967, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria were involved in a conflict, popularly known as the Six-Day War. Prior to 1967, the Gaza Strip was under Egypts control and the West Bank was under Jordans control. However, after the Six-Day War, both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank were seized by Israel. Since the war, the tension between Israelis and Palestinians living in the territories has been constant, often ending in violence. Israel controls all access into the Gaza Strip and West Bank, Palestinians living there are under military occupation and are subject to Israeli restrictions, often depending on aid for food, water, and supplies. According to Human Rights Watch, Israel has occupied Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem for over 55 years and rely routinely on forcible displacement and excessive force. Gaza and West Banks Conflict with Israel The Palestinian territories have been conflict with Israel ever since its creation on May 14, 1948, sparking the first Arab-Israeli War. In the first war, that ended in 1949 with Israels victory, 750,000 Palestinians were displaced and Israel gained some territory which were under Palestine. The erstwhile Palestine territory was divided into 3 parts: the State of Israel, the West Bank (of the Jordan River), and the Gaza Strip. Then, in June 1967, Israel attacked Egyptian and Syrian air forces starting the Six-Day War and managed to capture Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, Old City of Jerusalem and Golan Heights. Since then, the Palestinian territories of Gaza and West Bank have been in conflict with continuous wars including the First Intifada (1987-1993), Second Intifada (2000-2005), in 2008 and 2012 and so on. Over the past month, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have made progress near the village of Velyka Novosilka in the Donetsk region. Thanks to the hard work of the defenders, the situation in this area of the front (on the border with the Zaporizhzhia region Ed.) has stabilized. ADVERTISIMENT This is the assessment of the events by the intelligence community of the UK Ministry of Defense. The report of October 8 was published on its official page on X (Twitter). In particular, back in June-July 2023, British intelligence reported intense fighting near Velyka Novosilka, which is located west of Vuhledar. However, over the past four weeks, the fighting there has become much less intense. "Over the summer, Ukraine has almost certainly liberated at least 125 square kilometers of territory in this area," the report says. The agency estimates that the offensive actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area have shackled the forces of units of the 36th and 5th Combined Arms Armies of the Eastern Military District of the Russian Federation. In particular, Ukrainian soldiers did not allow the occupiers to strengthen other areas on the front line. They also did not allow the enemy to man up airborne units. ADVERTISIMENT However, against the backdrop of stabilization of the situation near Velyka Novosilka, British intelligence officers point out that Russian troops are still in a defensive position. They hope to protect themselves from possible future Ukrainian offensives. Experts believe it is unlikely that the aggressor will withdraw a significant part of its troops from this area in the Donetsk region within the next month and a half. As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, 68 combat engagements took place on the Ukrainian front on October 7. The defenders repelled 13 enemy attacks in the Kupiansk and six in the Lyman directions. The occupants also conducted more than two dozen unsuccessful attacks near Avdiivka and Marinka, and ten more in the Shakhtarsk direction. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The air and ground offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas has opened a new chapter in the decades-old Israel-Palestine conflict. Hamas on Saturday launched a surprise attack from Gaza into Israel, in one of the most serious escalations in recent years. As per reports, a significant number of Israeli civilians and soldiers are being held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Israel-Palestine Conflict LIVE | Over 600 Killed; Israeli Military Strikes House of Hamas Intel Chief The fighting has killed more than 200 Israelis and wounded over 1,000, leaving bodies of civilians strewn on roads, while on the Gaza side at least 313 have died and over 1,700 were reported wounded. What is Hamas? Hamas, an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya, is an Islamic Resistance Movement founded in 1987 during the First Intifada or Palestinian uprising. ALSO READ | Israel-Palestine Conflict Explained It has run the Gaza Strip since 2007, after a brief civil war with forces loyal to the Fatah movement led by President Mahmoud Abbas, who is based in the West Bank and heads the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The Hamas takeover of Gaza followed its win in Palestinian parliamentary elections in 2006. Since then, Hamas has sworn to the destruction of Israel and fought several wars with Israel since it took power in Gaza in 2007. Who Backs and Who Opposes Hamas? Hamas is backed by Shiite Iran and shares the Islamist ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood, a transnational Islamist organisation founded in Egypt in the 1920s. Hamas is part of a regional alliance comprising Iran, Syria and the Shiite Islamist group Hezbollah in Lebanon, which all broadly oppose US policy in the Middle East and Israel. Iran provides funds to Hamas and also give support for weapons and training. The Palestinian militant organisation is designated as a terrorist organisation by Israel, the United States, the UK, European Union, Canada, Egypt and Japan. While its power base is in Gaza, Hamas also has supporters across the Palestinian territories, and it has leaders spread across the Middle East in countries including Qatar. Who Leads Hamas? Hamas is currently led by Ismail Haniyeh, who was elected head of Hamass Politburo in 2017. Hamas rival Fatah party is led by Mahmud Abbas. Though Hamas is considered, a terror organisation by much of the West, the officials of the Palestinian group visit Turkey and enjoy good relations with Erdogan. What Does Hamas Believe in? Hamas has been involved in several rounds of conflict with Israel in the last two decades, firing rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel. Hamas refuse to recognise the state of Israel and violently opposed the Oslo peace accords negotiated by Israel and the PLO in the mid-1990s. Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat had signed the Oslo accords with Israel in 1993 to negotiate an end to the conflict based on a two-state solution. The militant group also has an armed wing called the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, which earlier sent gunmen and suicide bombers into Israel. Though the group is dedicated to the creation of an independent Palestinian state, but in recent years has indicated its willingness to accept a two-state solution. Why are Israel and Hamas fighting now? There has always been tension between Israel and Hamas. However, Saturdays attack came without a warning. Hamas fired thousands of rockets at Israel as dozens of Hamas fighters breached the border, killing dozens of civilians and taking several Israeli soldiers captive. In the recent fighting that started after Hamas fired rockets at Israel, Lebanons Iran-backed group Hezbollah joined the offensive on Sunday. The militant group said it fired large numbers of artillery shells and guided missiles at Israeli positions in a contested border area. The escalation comes amid fears of a ground invasion of Gaza after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to turn the Palestinian territory into a deserted island following Hamass surprise attack. Earlier on Saturday, Hezbollah praised Hamas for its heroic operation after the group launched an air, sea and land attack on Israel. Hezbollah said its leadership was following the developments and in direct contact with the leadership of the Palestinian resistance at home and abroad. Here is all you need to know about Hezbollah, its origins and why it is in conflict with Israel: What is Hezbollah and Why was it Formed? Hezbollah is a Shiite Muslim political party and militant group based in Lebanon where it enjoys the status of being a state within a state. It was founded in 1982 during the Lebanese Civil War with the help of Iranian-backed groups. It was driven by its opposition to Israel and its resistance to Western influence in the Middle East. It has been designated as a terrorist group by several countries including the United States. Hezbollahs Relations with Hamas Hezbollah and Hamas both emerged during the 1980s and regard themselves as Islamist resistance organizations. Hezbollahs political ideology is closely aligned with the guardianship of the jurist, developed by Irans Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Hamas, on the other hand, is a Sunni organization and is based on the thoughts of the Muslim Brotherhood, which regards Islam as the solution to political and social problems. Despite the differences in views and the Islamic sect, the two groups are long-time allies. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are related in their objective: resistance to the fight against Israel and both organizations have a military wing that functions outside the confines of the group. Hezbollahs Resistance to Israel Hezbollah wields influence in Lebanon and plays a significant role in several Arab countries including Iraq, Syria and Palestinian territories among others. The Lebanon-based group had the objective of liberating southern Lebanon from Israeli occupation, which lasted from 1982 until 2000. The militant group also fought a guerrilla war against Israeli forces occupying parts of Southern Lebanon. In 2006 Hezbollah and Israel fought a 34-day war that left more than 1,200 dead in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 160 in Israel, mostly soldiers. In 2013, Hezbollah officially entered the Syrian civil war in support of President Bashar al-Assad, a decision that didnt go in line with its long-standing claim to be fighting on behalf of the oppressed. The Navi Mumbai police have registered a case against an unidentified person for allegedly repeatedly raping and impregnating a 17-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh, an official said on Sunday. Based on a complaint lodged by the girls brother, the police on Saturday registered a case under section 376 (rape) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he said. The assault came to light when the girl, who was visiting her brother at Kopar Khairane in Navi Mumbai, went to a hospital where it was found that she was 34 weeks pregnant, the official said. As per the complaint, the teenager, a resident of a village in Siddharthnagar of Uttar Pradesh, was allegedly raped by a man several times sometime before April, he said. The Navi Mumbai police have transferred the case to Siddharthnagar police station for further probe, the official said. The Noida police on Sunday said they have arrested four members of a Delhi-based gang allegedly involved in stealing about 150 boxes of protein powder and supplements from a shop here. The gang broke into the shop located in Sector 117 on the night of September 27 and decamped with items worth around Rs 9 lakh, Additional DCP (Noida) Shakti Mohan Avasthy said. Four people have been arrested in connection with the theft. The gang leader, who has been identified as Virendra alias Sunil Kushwaha, runs a shop in Najafgarh area of Delhi where he sales protein powder and supplements, he said. An FIR was lodged under Indian Penal Code sections 457 (tresspassing) and 380 (theft in a building or tent) at Sector 113 police station, police said. The stolen items have been recovered from the accused. Two vehicles, including a Maruti Eeco and a Maruti Alto, and a laptop have also been seized, the additional DCP said. Besides gang leader Virendra, those arrested have been identified as Sultan, Muhammad Aslam, and Mohammad Shakir, he said. A total of 149 boxes of various sizes containing protein supplement and powder have been recovered from the gang, police said. India will support Israel against the terror attack by Hamas, top government sources told CNN-News18. This was a terror attack and very well clarified in Indian PMs statement. India will be all out for Israel in support," sources said. ALSO READ | Israel-Palestine Conflict LIVE Updates HERE Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented multifront attack by air, land and sea by the Hamas militant group, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning. At least 350 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed and more than 1,900 injured in Israel the deadliest day for the country in at least 50 years. In the Gaza Strip, there are nearly 300 deaths and about 1,500 wounded in Israels counterattack, media reports said on Sunday. According to sources, there will be no strength reduction in Indian missions/ consulates. We are watching the developments and will speak to counterparts on this ongoing situation. Peace is the only way forward," sources said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed solidarity with Israel and condemned the terrorist attacks" by Hamas on the country. He also prayed for all those Israelis who lost their lives in a surprise attack by Hamas militants from Gaza. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi said, Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour." INDIANS IN ISRAEL SAFE There are about 18,000 Indian nationals living and working in Israel and so far there have been no untoward incidents reported involving them, informed sources told PTI. There have been no untoward incidents involving Indians living and working in Israel so far amid escalating tensions in the region, even as the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv received requests from its citizens, including tourists, stranded in the country to facilitate their safe exit. ALSO READ | Tense Situation, Very Difficult Day: Accounts of Indians Stuck in Israel Start Coming In, Students Safe The Indian embassy has received requests from Indian tourists stranded in the country to facilitate their exit. Most of the tourists are travelling in groups. There are also some businessmen visiting Israel who have gotten caught up in the escalation and are looking to be evacuated. The Indian mission in Tel Aviv and the Representative Office of India in Palestine on Saturday issued advisories asking Indian nationals on respective sides to remain vigilant" and directly contact the Office" in case of an emergency. A big chunk of Indians living in Israel work as caregivers, but there are also about a thousand students, several IT professionals and diamond traders. ON SUNDAY Israeli soldiers battled Hamas fighters in the streets of Israels south on Sunday and exchanged strikes with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group in the north, while Israels retaliation strikes levelled buildings in Gaza. The prospect of Hezbollah joining the fighting a day after an unprecedented surprise attack from Gaza raised the chances of a broader conflict. Hamas fighters, backed by a volley of thousands of rockets, broke through barricades around Gaza early Saturday to rampage through nearby communities in Israel. They took captives back into the coastal enclave, including women, children and the elderly, while Israels retaliation strikes levelled buildings in Gaza and its prime minister said the country was at war. Israeli media, citing rescue service officials, said at least 300 people were killed, including 26 soldiers. ALSO READ | Hamas Attack on Israel: Role of Iran, Russia & China; Failure of Allies | Intel Agencies Assessment Exclusive At least 250 people were killed in Gaza and civilians paid a staggering cost for the violence on both sides. Israeli TV news aired a stream of accounts from the relatives of captive or missing Israelis, who wailed and begged for assistance amid a fog of uncertainty surrounding the fate of their loved ones. In Gaza, residents fled homes near the border to escape Israeli strikes, fleeing deeper inside the territory after warnings in Arabic from the Israeli military. Israeli Rear Adm Daniel Hagari told reporters that hundreds of terrorists" have been killed and dozens captured. With PTI Inputs The mighty Air Force celebrates the Indian Air Force Day on Sunday. The Indian Air Force came into existence during the British rule in India as the Royal Indian Air Force, on October 8, 1932. On this day, the force carries out grand parades, felicitates IAF personnel, and conducts air shows across the country. This year, the theme of IAF day is IAF Airpower Beyond Boundaries, which highlights the commitment of the force to excellence, innovation and its role as the guardian of the nations skies. IAF Unveils New Ensign at Air Force Day Parade in Prayagraj During this years celebration, the IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari unveiled the new ensign of the force at the annual Air Force Day parade at Prayagraj to better reflect its values, 72 years after a similar exercise was undertaken. #WATCH | Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari unveils the new Indian Air Force ensign during the Air Force Day celebrations at Bamrauli Air Force Station in Prayagraj, UP. pic.twitter.com/O2ao7WIy7R ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2023 The Indian Air Forces move comes over a year after the Navy made changes in its ensign shedding its colonial past. In the new ensign, the Indian Air Force crest will be in the top right corner. First IAF Day Parade To Be Commanded By A Woman Officer This was the first Air Force Day Parade to be commanded by a woman officer, Group Captain Shaliza Dhami. She is also the first woman officer of the IAF to command a combat unit. In another first, the parade had an all-women contingent comprising the newly inducted Agniveer Vayu women, who shall march shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. Successfully Inducted First Batch of Agniveers: IAF Chief We have successfully inducted the first batch of Agniveers and subsequent batches including women Agniveers. In this year, the Indian Air Force carried out eight exercises across the globe with friendly foreign countries and performed exceptionally well. For the first time, our indigenously built light combat aircraft also participated in an overseas exercise The theme for this years Air Force Day is IAF-Airpower Beyond Boundaries. The theme aptly reflects the inherent global reach of airpower, said Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari. Grand Air Show Held In Prayagraj The grand air show to commemorate the Indian Air Force Day witnessed the Garud Commandos at Bamrauli Air Force Station in Prayagraj. #WATCH | Hell March by Garud Commandos of the Indian Air Force during the Air Force Day celebrations at Bamrauli Air Force Station in Prayagraj, UP.(Source: Indian Air Force) pic.twitter.com/RgigPP8oAF ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2023 Last Appearance of MiG-21 Jets at Air Force Day Parade The legendary Russian-origin MiG-21 jets are set to participate for the last time at the annual Air Force Day parade on October 8, with the IAF rolling out the process to phase out the remaining three squadrons of the aircraft. Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhary said on Tuesday that the indigenously-developed Tejas Mark-1A aircraft will replace the MiG-21s from 2025 onwards. At present, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has three MiG-21 squadrons with a total of around 50 aircraft. Over 100 Aircraft Participates in Air Force Day Celebration The Indian Air Force (IAF) set up a mega air show in the Sangam area in Uttar Pradeshs Prayagraj. Group Captain Prajyot on Tuesday announced that 120 fighter jets and transport aircraft including the Rafale fighter jets and helicopters from 10 air bases will take part in the air display on the occasion. Two vintage aircraft Harvard and Tigermoth will operate in the Luv and Kush formations at Sangam. The parade also includes a flight of Garud Commandos of the IAF for the first time. The Garuds have recently completed 20 years of service to the nation. A woman in Madhya Pradeshs Sidhi was allegedly brutalised with an iron rod and then run over by a tractor over a small land dispute. She is currently undergoing treatment in the ICU. According to a Times of India report, the womans family is locked in a property dispute and when the family of the accused attempted to cultivate the disputed farm, the victim tried to stop them and then they tried to mow her down with a tractor. Soon after the incident was reported, the police registered a case on the same night following which five suspects, including prime accused Anil Jaiswal, were arrested. However, the family at first did not say about the brutalisation of the victim but since a woman has some serious injuries, the police are mulling over adding additional charges against the accused after the medical examination. The victims son told TOI that the accused inserted an iron rod into her private parts and when she fell unconscious, they tried to mow her down with their tractor. She was first taken to the district hospital where doctors referred her to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital in Rewa, 70km away, as her condition deteriorated. This comes just weeks after a viral video of an unidentified woman being kicked, dragged and struck with iron rods on the streets of Madhya Pradesh went viral. The incident reportedly happened after shopkeepers asked her to move from there and she refused. MP police were informed about the assault and have registered an FIR. However, the woman could not be located. The Mumbai police have received a complaint from the director of a reputed management institute alleging that vulgar and obscene social media posts about their female staff and some students are being circulated by an Instagram page. The police are now investigating two private pages named mba_memes and aamaadmiparty_mba on Instagram which share memes related to the lives of business management students. According to Hindustan Times, the complainant told the police that some of the posts on the page contained pictures and voice-overs of individuals from the college. It also contains a voice-over in which three people make objectional remarks against the director, the complainant added. The deputy director also alleged that the comments on the concerned posts are full of obscenities. The institute took note of the vulgar posts when some of the students brought it to the directors attention. The complaint further alleged that some of the posts on the other page had names of the students from the organisation and also made comments about their love life. There were also some pictures on this page that showed couples in compromising positions with them labelled with the names of some other students, the complainant said. Based on the screenshots and other details submitted by the college authorities, we have booked an unknown person who runs these two pages under sections 292 (distribution and public display of obscene material) and 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code alongside the relevant section of the Information Technology Act, an officer from the Juhu police station told HT. Meanwhile, an investigation has been launched in the case and the police have started interrogating some students of the institute. A Pakistani national was apprehended after he crossed the International Border and entered Indian territory in the area falling near village Gajni Wala here, a Border Security Force official said on Sunday. The apprehended Pakistani national had crossed over to the Indian territory inadvertently and nothing objectionable was recovered from him, the official said. The BSF personnel approached the Pakistan Rangers and lodged a strong protest in his regard. The apprehended Pakistan national was later handed over to the Pakistan Rangers on humanitarian grounds, said the official. lia Bhatt is making heads turn globally and how! The actress has come a long way in showbiz and has created a niche for herself with all things films, fashion as well as with her philanthropic deeds. Speaking of fashion, the star actress is known for having am experimental wardrobe and a strong sesne of style. For a recent magazine shoot, the actress dished out major fashion goals with a bundle of chic and classy looks. As she shared the photos on her Instagram handle, they instantly went viral. One of the fans took to the comments section and wrote, Certainly, The Epitome of Beauty. Meanwhile, another person wrote, So incredible, amazing pictures! . Alia certainly looked like a vision to behold. She found the right balance between elegance and charm. Have a look at these photos : Meanwhile on the work front, Bhatt recently announced that she has started shooting for her upcoming movie titled Jigra. Earlier this week, the actress took to her Instagram handle and shared a series of pictures from her first day on the sets of Jigra. In one of the photos, Alia is seen staring at her vanity van. Another photo features the actress in her makeup room. Her sister Shaheen Bhatt can also be spotted standing behind her. Along with the pictures, Alia penned down a small note and shared that she is excited for Jigra. & were rolling .. day one of bringing our jigra to life.. stay tuned as we bring to you a piece of our hearts.. fingers and toes crossed for the journey aheaddddddd ..love TEAM JIGRA, she wrote. Alia Bhatt announced Jigra last month. The film is directed by Vasan Bala. Alia is not just playing the lead in the film but is also producing it. Just a few days back, Alia opened up about venturing into production and shared that it is exciting and overwhelming at the same time. I believe stories are everywhere, and stories are everything! I turned producer with Eternal Sunshine to tell some of these stories, ones that evoke emotions and leave an impact. Our first production, Darlings, got so much love that it was exciting and overwhelming at the same time, Alia said as quoted by Film Companion. The 30-year-old actress further talked about Jigra and revealed that the film is a story of courage, passion and determination. Just a little over a year later, we are ready to launch our second production Jigra, a beautiful story of courage, passion and determination. I hope to consistently support compelling narratives that are authentic, and enduringly timeless and work with brilliant creative minds to bring them alive, Alia added. The destruction of the Kerch Bridge must be comprehensive. It is not enough to blow up one pillar. There must be hundreds of them so that the bridge goes underwater for hundreds of meters. ADVERTISIMENT To accomplish this task, long-range missiles are needed, which include not only ATACMS but also missiles for F-16 fighters. This opinion was expressed by military expert and retired colonel Petro Chernyk, in an exclusive interview with OBOZREVATEL "The bridge needs to be underwater. But there is a nuance: it needs to be submerged for several hundred meters. It is very long, making 18 kilometers. Destroying one of the sections does not solve anything, because after a while it will be repaired and it will be operational again," the expert said. According to his estimates, "We need several hundred pillars to make it fall underwater so that they cannot repair it, that is, we need to take the bridge under fire control." Chernyk emphasized that "this issue can be solved only by long-range missiles," as the distance from the current nearest positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces to the bridge is about 250 kilometers. ADVERTISIMENT "Conventionally, it is 250 kilometers from Kerch to Hulyai-Pole. ATACMS has a range of 300 kilometers. ATACMS can handle this task. As well as long-range missiles that can be equipped with F-16, in particular, AGM-158 JASSM," the expert explained. He also noted that missile strikes should be massive, not single, and carried out regularly. "A barge comes to repair the bridge, the it is hit again. Another one comes and it's destroyed again. And so on for several months. Only then will real problems begin in Crimea," he summarized. As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Kyrylo Budanov, hinted at new strikes on the Kerch Bridge. He predicted that Kremlin head Vladimir Putin would be "upset again." Israeli actress Gal Gadot, best known as the actress who plays the role of Wonder Woman, has reacted after Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched an attack on Israel. The actress took to Instagram and shared that she is heartbroken by the recent turn of events. She added that she prays for everyone in pain. Jamie Lee Curtis, Everything Everywhere All At Once star, also expressed her grief over the turn of events. At least 250 Israeli have been murdered and dozens of women children and elders held as hostages in Gaza, by Palestinian military group Hamas. Starting early morning more than 3,000 rockets were fire. Hamas is holding hostages, controlling bases and settlements in Israel. There have been more than 1,500 injured and heavy fighting is still ongoing I hear their voices and they are banging on the door. I am with my two little children. My heart is aching Praying for all of those in pain, Gal wrote as she shared news clippings from the attack in Gaza. The Wonder Woman star followed the post with another post that read: I stand with Israel you should too. The world cannot sit on the fence when these horrific acts of terror are happening! Gal wasnt the only international star to have reacted to the war. Talent manager and writer Guy Oseary wrote, This is horrific.. these murders are being celebrated by the government/regime in Iran. Many women, children and elderly are being taken from their homes and kidnapped. I have always prayed for peace. ALWAYS. I have always spoken up for my Jewish community and have also spoken up for my Arab brothers and sisters. I have no words today. Only heartbreak. Only tears. Sharing a picture was the war, Jamie Lee Curtis wrote, TERROR FROM THE SKIES @samarabuelouf @nytimes. On Satuday, the militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out the unprecedented attack on Israel at daybreak, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land and sea and caught the country off-guard on a major holiday. A senior commander from Hamas has claimed that thousands of rockets were launched from Gaza into Israel. Hrithik Roshan and Saba Azad are one of the most talked about couples in Bollywood. Its been a year that the couple have been dating each other. Today, they were spotted in the city. Both were looking in a pleasant mood as they stepped out in a stylish avatar. To note, Hrithik has recently returned from Italy completing the shoot of Fighter. In the video, shared by Instant Bollywood, we can see Hrithik wearing a blue colour shirt with pants. Saba on the other hand was wearing loose pants with a white top. Both are smiling as they meet someone. Fans dropped heart emojis in the comment section. Recently, Saba opened up about getting hate on social media because of her personal life, and how it took a toll on her. I am a very private person, everyone around me will vouch for it. I barely step out, I love being at home. Hence, it was very daunting in the beginning. It was scary. I wont lie. I felt exposed in a way I never felt before, she told India Today.in. Watch the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Instant Bollywood (@instantbollywood) Talking about the hate she received after she and Hrithik went public with their relationship, Saba said, Its taken me quite sometime to come to a place where I treat everything else as white noise because hatred is palpable. I am not made of stone, it hits you. You feel like sh*t. There are days when you wake up and you wonder what did I do to anyone? What did I do to you? I am living my life, you live yours why are you waiting for my blood? But at some point you realise you are not responsible for how people think and what they are projecting on you are what they are going through. It has nothing to do with you. Once you realise that, peace prevails. On the work front, Hrithik Roshan will be next seen in Fighter with Deepika Padukone. The actors were seen shooting for the film in Italy. Fans are super excited to see them on screen for the first time. Have Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Ruth Prabhu patched up? The Custody stars latest Instagram post has left fans wondering if the exes have reconciled. On Sunday, Naga Chaitanya shared a photo which featured Hash, a French Bulldog that he and Samantha welcomed when they were together. Following the news of their split, Hash has been only spotted in Samanthas Instgram posts, hinting that Samantha is taking car of the dog. However, on Sunday, Chay revealed he is spending time with Hash. In the photo, Hash was seen seated in Chaitanyas lap in his car while he watched the sunset. He shared the photo with the caption, Vibe. While it seems like Samantha and Chaitanya are co-parenting their dogs, the photo opened the floodgate of speculations that Chaitanya and Samantha might have patched up. Fans took to the comments section and asked Chaitanya if he and Samantha have patched up. You patched up (with Samantha)? asked a fan. Patch up added another. Probably Sam left Hash with him before leaving for Austria trip aa?? a third user speculated. Just patchup guyssz for hash do it for him, teased another. Meanwhile, Samantha took to her Instgram handle and revealed she has landed in Dubai. The actress seems to be on a work trip. She took to her social media profile and shared pictures from the same. Samantha revealed she slipped into a gorgeous pink outfit and was ready for her busy day. Samantha and Naga Chaitanya separated in 2021. The actors shared joint statement confirming the news that they are parting ways. Earlier this year, Chaitanya confirmed that the divorce came through last year and they have been legally single for a year now. The exes have not delved into the reason behind their split. Nushrratt Bharuccha was visibly shaken and emotional as she landed in Mumbai from Israel. The Dream Girl actress was stranded in the war-torn country after Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist militant group, attacked Israel on Saturday. The actress was unable to contact her team after Saturday afternoon but reconnected with them on Sunday morning and informed them about her return. Although safe, Nushrratt appeared badly affected by the events unfolded on Saturday. For more info: Mujhe Ghar: Nushrratt Bharuccha Fights Back Tears as She Returns From Israel; Gets Mobbed; Watch Have Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Ruth Prabhu patched up? The Custody stars latest Instagram post has left fans wondering if the exes have reconciled. On Sunday, Naga Chaitanya shared a photo which featured Hash, a French Bulldog that he and Samantha welcomed when they were together. Following the news of their split, Hash has been only spotted in Samanthas Instgram posts, hinting that Samantha is taking car of the dog. However, on Sunday, Chay revealed he is spending time with Hash. For more info: Naga Chaitanya, Samantha Ruth Prabhu PATCH UP? His Latest Post Hints Exes Are In Touch Salman Khan is teasing an exciting news and no, it has nothing to do with Tiger 3. Instead, it seems like it has something to do with a mystery girl. On Sunday, the superstar took to his social media platforms and shared a picture with an unknown girl. Ill always have your back, he captioned the photo. The girl had her back facing the camera while Salman stood by her side. Looks like the big reveal will happen on his birthday, as the duo donned in all white ensembles featured the date 27/12. For more info: Salman Khan Shares Cryptic Post With Mystery Girl, Teases Birthday Gift For Fans: Piece of My Heart Alia Bhatt, who is one of the most popular celebrities, on Sunday, took the internet by storm after she was spotted with her daughter Raha. Well, Rahas face was not visible as requested by the couple but still little munchkin managed to create a lot of buzz among the fans. The video of both mother and daughter twinning in white outfits went viral on social media. Fans were seen dropping heart emojis in the comment section. For more info: Alia Bhatt Spotted Twinning With Daughter Raha In White Outfit, Fans Call Them Cuties; Watch Although Joe Jonas and Sophie Turners families are yet to react to the estranged couples divorce, a source close to Priyanka Chopra has revealed that the actress is maintaining a distance from divorce news. The actress, who is married to Joe Jonas younger brother Nick Jonas, is said to be close to Sophie Turner. The J-sisters (as Priyanka once called them) were often photographed together at Jonas Brothers concerts and games. However, Priyanka has remained silent during Joe and Sophies divorce process and if the source is anything to go by, Priyanka might be tight-lipped about the split. For more info: Priyanka Chopra Close To Sophie Turner But Distances Herself From Her, Joe Jonas Divorce: Report Bollywood actress Nushrratt Bharuccha is stranded in Israel amid the Hamas terror attack. The actress was in Israel for the Haifa International Film Festival. A member of her team has confirmed that they spoke to Dream Girl actress after Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel. They confirmed that she was safe in a basement of a building on Saturday. But they have not been able to connect with her since. Speaking with India Today, Nushrratts team member said, Nushrratt has been unfortunately stranded in Israel. She had flown there to attend the Haifa International Film Festival. The last time that I managed to get in touch with her was around 12.30 pm earlier today, when she was safe in a basement. For safety measures, further details cannot be disclosed. However, since then, we were not able to connect. We are trying to get Nushrratt back safely to India and hope she returns back in the best of health and unharmed, they added. Sources close to Israel Government said she reached the airport safely but because of chaos at airport, she wasnt able to board flight and is waiting for a flight out of Israel. On Saturday, a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel, which combined gunmen breaching security barriers with a barrage of rockets fired from Gaza, was launched at dawn on Saturday during the Jewish high holiday of Simchat Torah. More than 300 have been killed in the Hamas assault. Several heartbreaking photos and videos from Israel have been shared on various social media platforms and the world has extended its support to Israel. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also posted on X, Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour. Israeli actress Gal Gadot also shared her reaction to the shocking turn of events. The actress took to Instagram and shared that she is heartbroken by the recent turn of events. She added that she prays for everyone in pain. Jamie Lee Curtis, Everything Everywhere All At Once star, also expressed her grief over the turn of events. The whole nation is currently enjoying the India vs Australia match which is happening today. Well, even Bollywood celebrities are also not spared. Ranveer Singh was spotted today at the airport in a dapper look but what caught everyones attention was him checking scores. The actor was seen glued to his mobile and watching the match. In the video, shared by Viral Bhayani, Ranveer is seen wearing black colour pants with the same colour jacket. He is looking handsome. Recently, the actor reunited with Mahendra Singh Dhoni during the latters trip to Mumbai. Taking to Instagram, the actor who is sporting his Simmba look was seen hugging MS Dhoni and kissing in the picture together. In the frame, Ranveer was seen sporting the trademark Simmba mustache while the Chennai Super Kings captain flaunted his new look. Sharing the photo, Ranveer called him his big brother and showered him with love. Watch the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Ranveer, the actor is currently busy with the making of Singham 3. The film is headlined by Ajay Devgn and is directed by Rohit Shetty. It has also been reported that Deepika will be seen in the film, playing the role of the first female police officer aka female Singham in the cop universe. He will also be seen in Don 3. Farhan Akhtar revealed that Ranveer Singh is super excited about the movie and added, Im really excited Ranveers on board. Hes so charged and so ready to go. Its a big film, just purely from the point of view of an actor, its a big thing to do, and were really excited to have him on board. His energy is energizing us, so to speak. Farhan dropped a teaser of Don 3 confirming that Ranveer is playing the new Don. The teaser opened in an apartment against a breathtaking skyline of a city, with Ranveer Singhs voiceover going, Sher jo so raha hain woh jagega kab, puchte hai yeh sab. Unse keh do phir jaag utha hoon main, aur phir samne jald aane ko He wears statement shades, smokes a cigarette and wields a revolver in typical Don style, thus announcing his arrival as Don. Trinamool Congress MP Dola Sen singing her favourite song Ladai karo ladai karo (fight it out fight out). All senior leaders out on dharna This is not 2006, when TMC chief and then in state opposition Mamata Banerjee was on a protest against the Tata Singur factory. The year is 2023, TMC is the ruling party in the state and in opposition at the Centre, and leading the protest for due Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) funds from the Centre is TMC national general secretary Abhishek. ALSO READ | TMCs Chalo Delhi for MGNREGA Funds on Oct 2-3: Despite Injury, Mamata Banerjee Expected to Join Leaders Experts say taking a cue from his aunt and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek is now trying to be the peoples leader. On October 2-3, Abhishek, along with other leaders, went to Delhi for the protest and also to meet MoS Rural Development. This was the first time Abhishek started a dharna without Banerjee. On October 4, Abhishek gave a call that they will march to Raj Bhavan. Till then, it wasnt clear that he meant that he would participate in the ongoing sit-in outside Raj Bhavan. Once he did, it became clear that he is following in Banerjees footsteps. The 3rd Day of our Dharna concluded with 2 moral victories.While the Zamindars were forced to leave their ivory towers in Delhi & come to Kolkata, the Governor finally agreed to meet our delegation at the earliest. I am confident BENGAL WILL WIN this battle for its people! pic.twitter.com/of6tqIf85a Abhishek Banerjee (@abhishekaitc) October 7, 2023 THE KEY TAKEAWAYS A TMC dharna without Mamata is a rarity. Abhisheks Delhi movement clearly has a lot of takeaways, given that, in a first, he led the stir. They were unable to meet the minister in Krishi Bhawan, but Abhishek did a social media live and declared that he will not leave till the time the minister meets them. This attitude is totally like Mamata Banerjee, say many. In 2006, when Banerjee wanted to go to Singur, she was stopped by police. She came back to Kolkata and did the dharna. She had also marched inside the Assembly seeking justice, with her MLAs in the opposition creating a ruckus. Old-timers say Banerjees Singur dharna was historic, which showed that she was a streetfighter. While BJP relentlessly attempted to silence us during our peaceful dharna at Rajghat, Bengal's name echoes in every corner & power corridor of Delhi today. This is the impact of people's power & Jono Jowar. Our QUEST FOR JUSTICE is only going to get stronger! pic.twitter.com/PavwExDK7t Abhishek Banerjee (@abhishekaitc) October 2, 2023 POST 2019 Since 2019, Abhishek has started working for the party organization, like Mukul Roy. Till then, he was only concerned with his constituency, Diamond Harbour. He wanted Prashant Kishor to be there. Banerjee fought the 2021 battle with full strength, with Kishors IPac playing an important role and Abhishek becoming the main lieutenant of Banerjee. Post 2021, he was made the National General Secretary of the party and he concentrated on the organisation. The Opposition did question his rise, stating it was based on his ties with Banerjee and not capabilities. Bharatiya Janata Partys Suvendhu Adhikary has often said that Abhishek is a leader who has come up via lift and not by stairs. He is not a peoples leader, but a corporate leader, some from the opposition and even within the party used to say. After 2021, however, it became clear that he had major influence on the partys decisions. #JonoSanjogYatra's Day 35 in Purba Medinipur ends with a grand Adhiveshan!The wave of support gladdens me. From Chandipur to Nandigram, I am set to embark on a 20km long padyatra today. To make it a success, I humbly seek people's blessings!#TrinamooleNaboJowar pic.twitter.com/BFk6ZaPFr8 Abhishek Banerjee (@abhishekaitc) June 1, 2023 STREETFIGHTER MODE ON Abhishek now wants to be known as streetfighter like Banerjee. That explains why before the panchayat elections, he spearheaded the Nabojowar Jatra, through which he travelled for 60 days in different areas of Bengal, staying in tents. In the MGNREGA movement, too, Abhishek is posturing himself as a leader of common man. From Kunal Ghosh to Bobby Hakim to Sudip Banerjee, everybodys speeches now have his name in the slogan, projecting him as Banerjees heir. Kunal Ghosh, General Secretary of TMC, said, He is truly following Mamata Banerjee. He has the same aggression, same streetfighter attitude as Didi. The way he spearheads movements in a cool manner is commendable. One section also says that Banerjee is training him to be like her and giving him space. Political analyst Sambit Pal told News18: Mamata Banerjee is nowhere to be seen in this movement over non-payment of MNREGA and PMAY funds. Abhishek has been quietly pushed in the front. He is acting like an opposition leader, despite his party being in the government in the state. This is also a reminder of Banerjees agitations over land acquisition. I wont call it a change of guard as Abhishek has already been elevated to the position of Mamatas heir apparent. It is more of an image building for Abhishek, who is accused of getting to the top without leading any peoples movement. ALSO READ | Centre Gave WB Rs 54,000 Crore in 9 Yrs, UPA Gave Only Rs 14,900 Crore: Rural Devpt Min Amid TMCs MNREGS Stir Another political analyst Biswanath Chakraborty said: A transition is already in the works. Abhishek solely managed the TMC Panchayat elections. He ensured a landslide victory. Through the Nabojowar Jatra and the MNREGA protest, he is doing what Banerjee did 17 years ago. He is trying to know the pulse of people, which is positive for him. He is restrengthening the leadership successfully. Even people who used to criticise him have accepted him. The BJP, meanwhile, maintains this is an example of parivaarvad. Adhikary said, He has now made the TMC his own company. They are doing this is to transfer the attention from investigation. While the transition may see its share of hiccups, it is clear that history is repeating itself in Bengal. National Conference and Congress alliance on Sunday swept Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Kargil elections, winning 22 out of 26 seats. A triangular contest among the National, Congress and the BJP in most of the 26 seats of LAHDC-Kargil for which the polls were held on October 4. The NC and Congress had announced a pre-poll alliance but fielded 17 and 22 candidates, respectively. The counting took place on Sunday for the first key election in Kargil after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, and the creation of the Ladakh Union territory. The new council is scheduled to be in place before October 11. It recorded a 77.61 per cent polling with 74,026 of the 95,388 voters exercising their right. The existing council headed by the NCs Feroz Ahmad Khan completed its five-year term on October 1. LAHDC Poll Results: Seat-Wise Break-up In the 30-member LAHDC, four members were nominated by the administration while the elections for 26 seats took place on October 4. The NC bagged 12 seats and its ally Congress got 10 seats while the BJP and Independent candidates won 2 seats each after the results were announced for 26 seats. The new council will be in place before October 11. The NC and Congress had announced a pre-poll alliance but fielded 17 and 22 candidates, respectively. Both parties said the arrangement was restricted to areas where there was a tough contest with the BJP. The BJP, which won one seat in the last election and later took its tally to three with the joining of two PDP councillors, had fielded 17 candidates this time. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) tried its luck on four seats while 25 Independents were also in the fray. Electronic voting machines were used for the first time for the council elections which took place at 278 polling stations across the district. Ladakh Council polls are being seen as a litmus test for the BJP after scrapping Article 370. How Leaders Reacted to Poll Results ? Taking to X, Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal said that their party registered a resounding victory in the Ladakh-Kargil Autonomous Hill Council elections after 10 years. He congratulated all the candidates and expressed his confidence that they this will usher a new democratic dawn in Ladakh and Kargil. We have registered a resounding victory in the Ladakh-Kargil Autonomous Hill Council elections after 10 years!Along with our INDIA partner National Conference, we have swept the entire region in its first election after the abrogation of Art. 370. Sh. @RahulGandhi jis K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) October 8, 2023 Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh took a jibe at the media saying the national media will blank it out, but trends coming in show Congress leading convincingly in the elections to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil with an almost complete wipeout of the BJP. In his post on X, Ramesh also said that this is a direct impact of Rahul Gandhi continuing Bharat Jodo Yatra in Ladakh last month. The national media of course will blank it out, but trends coming in show Congress leading convincingly in the elections to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil with an almost complete wipeout of the BJP. This is a direct impact of @RahulGandhi continuing Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) October 8, 2023 Rajya Sabha MP and Senior Congress leader, P Chidambaram took to X and called the LAHDC-Kargil poll results a resounding victory for I.N.D.I.A. and a crushing defeat for the BJP. The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil, result is a resounding victory for I.N.D.I.A. and a crushing defeat for the BJP.The results show that the people have totally repudiated the misguided agenda of the BJP, the revocation of Art. 370 and the creation of Union P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) October 8, 2023 BJP IT Cell In-charge Amit Malviya also took to X and said that BJP won 2 seats in the Kargil polls and that counting is still underway. Taking a jibe at the Congress, Malviya also said, When Rahul Gandhi isnt making a fool of himself, Jairam Ramesh steps in and makes up for him. When Rahul Gandhi isnt making a fool of himself, Jairam Ramesh steps in and makes up for him. The BJP, in 2018, had won just 1 seat. This time it has won 2. Counting is still underway. Congress and JKNC are principal parties. Rahul Gandhis BJY has meant increase in BJPs seat! https://t.co/rUwHKRFvlF Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) October 8, 2023 Congress President from Jammu & Kashmir Vikar Rasool Wani expressed his delight over the Congress Partys victory in Kargil Hill Development Council elections. He gave credits to Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leaders at Kargil for the victory. I am delighted over the Congress Partys victory in Kargil Hill Development Council elections. The credit indeed goes to Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji and Congress leadership in Kargil, who really worked hard to ensure this comfortable victory despite the countless challenges and pic.twitter.com/LIoGKTRgL6 Vikar Rasool Wani (@vikar_rasool) October 8, 2023 CPI(M) Leader M Y Tarigami took to X to share his reaction on the Kargil poll results. He said that the stellar performance of NC- INC in LAHDC-Kargil polls has exposed in no uncertain terms the BJPs false narrative of development following the abrogation of article 370 and split of J&K. The stellar performance of NC- INC in LAHDC-Kargil polls has exposed in no uncertain terms the BJPs false narrative of development following the abrogation of article 370 and split of J&K. 1/2 M Y Tarigami (@tarigami) October 8, 2023 Taking to X, Vice President, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Omar Abdullah said, In celebration of our strong alliance with the Congress party, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference is delighted to announce its victory in the LAHDC Kargil elections. He further said that result sends a message to all forces and parties that have, undemocratically and unconstitutionally, divided the state of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh without the consent of its people. The BJP was dealt a resounding defeat at the hands of the NC-Congress alliance in Kargil today. In celebration of our strong alliance with the Congress party, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference is delighted to announce its victory in the LAHDC Kargil elections. This result Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 8, 2023 Details of Winning Candidates: Microsoft Windows 12 could be on track for release in 2024, chipmaker Intel has hinted. During Citis annual analyst conference, Intel CFO David Zinsner mentioned a new Windows refresh, due to which users may need to upgrade their PCs. As spotted by PC Gamer, in the events transcript, it was revealed that Intel believes that 2024 is going to be a good year for chipsets due to a purported Windows refresh. We still think that the installed base is pretty old and requires a refresh, and we think next year may be the start of that, given the Windows catalyst. So were optimistic about how things will play out beginning in 2024, Intel CFO David Zinsner said. It isnt clear what Intel CFO means by a refresh, especially as there has been no official word from Microsoft about the alleged Windows 12. However, considering Intel is set to release its Meteor Lake chipsets soon, laden with AI-driven features, Microsoft could be quick to capitalize on Intels advances, along with its renewed focus on AI. Microsoft, notably, is gradually doubling down on its AI ambitions with a revamped focus on products like Bing after the Redmond tech giants investment in ChatGPT creator OpenAI. As we start to develop future versions of Windows, well consider other places where AI should naturally play a role in terms of the experience, Yusuf Mehdi, Microsofts consumer marketing chief, was quoted as saying by The Verge. More recently, Microsoft has added a slew of AI-driven features to Windows 11including the AI copilot feature built directly into Windows 11 and the 365 Copilot now integrated into everyday work and productivity applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and others. Singapores Ambassador to India Simon Wong took to his official X handle and shared a spelling mistake done by MCD Delhi in a signage. On a board in one of the Delhi roads, Singapore has been spelt as Singapur. The board is close to the embassy of Vietnam. While sharing the image on X, Simon wrote, It is always good to spell check first. Also Read: UP Students Record Video Boasting About Shooting Teacher in Leg, Arrested He also tagged the New Delhi Municipal Council Official and Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Since being uploaded, the image has gone viral with over 225K views. Here, have a look for yourself: It is always good to spell check first. HC Wong@tweetndmc @MCD_Delhi pic.twitter.com/wv9HDECxDx Singapore in India (@SGinIndia) October 8, 2023 This is nothing. Most of the Punjabi translations of signages in Delhi are outright wrong. Have complained multiple times, but nothing changes, commented an X user. Another person wrote,It is what happens when people translate from Hindi words to English.. Common mistakes in all regional languages. Many people mentioned how most of the Indians pronounce it as Singapur. I would say, before highlighting it here, could have done it right by telling some subordinate, commented another person. Many people were embarrassed as to how this reflects badly on the country. Here are a few responses: National Embarrassment!I know not the one who should talk about spelling mistake. but mine are only on Twitter. But my work is scrutinised by scientist B C D E F G H.. I would be out of a job if I draft regulations and policies with such silly mistakes. https://t.co/LyQEuVMg2h Bhaumik Gowande-Sathaye (@desiCityPlanner) October 8, 2023 NDMC has given the Singapore an India twist in the name Singapur like Rampur. Hope they correct it soon to avoid any further embarrassment. https://t.co/zps8uBDAil Agrim Tyagi (@wild_viper104) October 8, 2023 Just when the post immediately went viral, Delhi MCD made sure that they fix the error. In a recent post, Mr Wong took to X and thanked NDMC for fixing the error. Here, have a look: Also Read: MrBeast Made a Better Game Than Netflixs Squid Game With Rs 8.3 Crore Prize Money What do you think? Exactly one year ago, on October 8, 2022, the first explosion occurred on the Crimean Bridge. As a result, two half-sections of the road part of the structure collapsed, and a railroad track was also damaged. On July 26, 2023, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Malyuk, confirmed that the Kerch Bridge explosion was an SSU operation. ADVERTISIMENT On the anniversary of the incident, the intelligence service told OBOZREVATEL that Russia had suffered the most painful reputational blow. Thus, the opening of the bridge in 2018 was considered one of the greatest achievements of the president of the aggressor country, Vladimir Putin, and after the attack on Ukraine in 2022, the structure was one of the most protected objects of the occupiers. Read more about the first attack on the Kerch Bridge in the article below. How the operation took place At 6 a.m. on October 8, 2022, a truck exploded on the Crimean Bridge, destroying two spans of road surface, and seven fuel tanks caught fire on the railway line, engulfing a freight train. The occupation authorities of the peninsula announced the death of 5 people. On the anniversary of the explosion, the SSU told OBOZREVATEL that in October, the Security Service dealt Russia its most painful reputational blow. ADVERTISIMENT "It is symbolic that it happened just the morning after Putler's birthday, when the bunker grandfather had a hangover headache," the special service said. The SSU said that a year ago, the bridge was blown up by a truck with 21 tons of TNT equivalent explosives, which was disguised in rolls of packing film, and the occupiers managed to "bypass" special jammers. The operation was developed personally by the head of the special service Vasyl Malyuk and several employees. "With this attack, the SSU destroyed the myth of the most protected bridge in the world. And on July 17, 2023, the Security Service again dragged Russia through the mud, successfully attacking the bridge with the help of Sea Kid drones," the Security Service said. ADVERTISIMENT Consequences of the Kerch Bridge blowing up and the occupiers' reaction The Crimean Bridge, which connects Ukrainian Crimea and the Russian Taman Peninsula, is one of the logistics elements of the Russian occupiers and has been used since the beginning of the invasion to supply the Russian Armed Forces that seized territories in southern Ukraine. Its road section has been used for military transportation since 2018, before the railroad was opened. After the explosion, traffic on the bridge was suspended, and on the evening of October 8, the undamaged half was partially reopened to vehicles and buses. On May 5, 2023, the Russian Federation announced that it had fully restored the destroyed part of the Crimean Bridge. ADVERTISIMENT Immediately after the explosion, the occupation authorities of Crimea accused Ukraine of the blast, and Kremlin propagandists called for a tough response to Kyiv. On October 10, Putin called the explosion on the Kerch Bridge a terrorist attack "aimed at destroying the critical civilian infrastructure of the Russian Federation," and "the authors, executors and customers" were "Ukraine's special services." On July 8, 2023, then-Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Anna Malyar said that the attack was carried out by Ukrainian troops, and on July 26, SSU Head Vasyl Malyuk confirmed that his special service was behind the bridge bombing. He later revealed the details of the special operation. ADVERTISIMENT How to completely destroy the Crimean bridge The destruction of Putin's "sacred" bridge must be comprehensive. It has a long length of 18 km, so it is not enough to blow up one pillar - there must be hundreds of them, so that the bridge goes under water for hundreds of meters and the occupiers can no longer repair it, said military expert, retired colonel Petro Chernyk in an exclusive interview with OBOZREVATEL. According to his estimates, the Crimean bridge should be taken under fire control, which can only be done with long-range missiles, since the nearest positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are about 250 km from the bridge. ADVERTISIMENT "For the sake of argument, it's 250 km from Kerch to Gulyai-Pole. ATACMS has a range of 300 km. ATACMS can cope with this task. As well as long-range missiles that can be equipped with F-16s, in particular AGM-158 JASSM," explained Chernyk. The expert added that the missile strikes should be massive and carried out on a regular basis. "A barge comes to repair the bridge - it is destroyed, the next one comes - it is destroyed. And so on for several months. Only then will real problems begin in Crimea," noted the colonel. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZREVATEL: - On the morning of July 17, 2023, a second powerful explosion occurred on the Crimean Bridge. Several large dips in the roadway were created, and three people died. - On August 12, the occupiers again announced an attack near the Crimean Bridge. At least four explosions and shooting were heard there, and the invaders' air defense system was operating. Traffic across the bridge was blocked. - In September, the head of Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, promised to bring the Crimean Bridge case to an end, noting that Russian dictator Putin would be upset. Only verified information on our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchans popularity knows no bounds. He has been entertaining the audience for several years now. His popularity is not only limited to our country but he has fans all across the globe. But who knew that even the Taliban knew Big B? Also, Big B would be well linked in the Afghan country. Dont believe us? Read this to find out. Also Read: UP Students Record Video Boasting About Shooting Teacher in Leg, Arrested Taliban Public Relations Departments parody account took to X handle and praised the actor in its latest post. It also mentioned how only a few people are aware that he is an honorary Afghan citizen. When he visited our magnificent nation in the 1980s, President Najibullah bestowed this distinguished accolade upon him, the post read. The department claimed that the Bollywood actor is well-linked in Afghanistan. Here, have a look: Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian actor and a masculine individual who is well-liked in Afghanistan. Few people are aware that he is an honorary Afghan citizen. When he visited our magnificent nation in the 1980s, President Najibullah bestowed this distinguished accolade upon him. pic.twitter.com/ZTvupuP7lm Taliban Public Relations Department, Commentary (@TalibanPRD__) October 7, 2023 Since being uploaded, the post has gone viral with multiple responses. It has over 640K views. Many people also commented on the post. Many have also mentioned that it is a parody account. Also Read: Loved Coke Studios Khalasi? Now Watch Fresh Spin With Quick Styles Choreography Meanwhile, Big B is usually in the headlines for his tweets and posts. Post number 4548 revealed the superstar floundering slightly for words- you know the feeling when there seems to be nothing left to say? What to say, what to write, Big B wrote in Hindi, and then resorted to some tongue-in-cheek gibberish. Fans wasted no time in making memes out of it. From asking if any of Big Bs grandchildren hacked his account, to plainly inquiring if hes okay, fans had a field day. Its wholesome to see an elderly superstar getting with the times and taking on Twitter- which can be a cesspool for any age group- in his own way, wouldnt you say? Amidst the ongoing war-like situation in Israel triggered by a multi-fronted, unprecedented attack by the militant group Hamas, an Egyptian policeman on Sunday opened fire on Israeli tourists in the city of Alexandria, killing at least two Israelis and one Egyptian, authorities said. Follow Israel-Palestine Conflict Live news here According to an AP report, the Extra News television channel reported that the suspected shooter was detained. Egypts Interior Ministry said that another person was injured in the attack at Pompeys Pillar site in Alexandria. The injured person was identified as an Israeli who sustained minor injuries. The ministry further noted that Israeli authorities were working with the Egyptian government to bring the Israelis home. Meanwhile, according to reports, the Israeli government called upon Egypt to enhance security for its citizens in the country. Visuals of a video of the incident shared on social media showed two people lying motionless on the ground, while one person was seen being helped by a group of men. A woman was heard shouting for an ambulance. More than 300 Israelis have been killed so far in a massive attack launched by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday. Hamas infiltrated Israel via land, sea and air routes. Israeli forces fought hundreds of Hamas terrorists through the night at over 20 Israel locations, including two where hostages were being held by the gunmen, the army said. In response attack by Israel, over 313 Gazans have been killed. ALSO READ: Israel-Palestine Conflict: German Womans Body Paraded Naked By Hamas; Mother Seeks Help The death toll from a series of earthquakes in Afghanistans Herat province rose again Sunday to more than 2,000 as rescuers searched for survivors among the ruins of razed villages. Saturdays magnitude 6.3 quake, was followed by eight strong aftershocks in areas northwest of the provincial capital of Herat. 2,053 martyrs were killed in 13 villages. 1,240 people are injured. 1,320 houses were completely destroyed, Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on social media site X, formerly Twitter. : . . . . . . . Zabihullah (.. ) (@Zabehulah_M33) October 8, 2023 As night fell Saturday in Sarboland village of Zinda Jan district, an AFP reporter saw dozens of homes ruined near the epicentre of the quakes, which shook the area for more than five hours. Men shovelled through piles of crumbled masonry as women and children waited in the open, with gutted homes showing personal belongings flapping in the harsh wind. In the very first shake all the houses collapsed, said 42-year-old Bashir Ahmad. Those who were inside the houses were buried, he said. There are families we have heard no news from. Taliban Deputy government spokesperson Bilal Karimi said Sunday, as the extent of the damage became clear, that unfortunately, the casualties are practically very high. There Was Nothing Left Nek Mohammad told AFP he was at work when the first quake struck at around 11:00 am (local time). We came home and saw that actually there was nothing left. Everything had turned to sand, said the 32-year-old, adding that some 30 bodies had been recovered. So far, we have nothing. No blankets or anything else. We are here left out at night with our martyrs, he said as darkness began to fall. On Saturday, the World Health Organization said the number of casualties is expected to rise as search and rescue operations are ongoing. In Herat city, residents fled their homes and schools, hospitals and offices evacuated when the first quake was felt. There were few reports of casualties in the metropolitan area, however. More than 1,000 people were killed and tens of thousands left homeless in June last year after a 5.9-magnitude quake the deadliest in the country in nearly a quarter of a century struck the impoverished province of Paktika. Afghanistan is already suffering in the grip of a dire humanitarian crisis, with the widespread withdrawal of foreign aid following the Talibans return to power in 2021. Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range, which lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. (With agency inputs) Canada witnessed celebratory rallies late on Saturday (October 7) after the Hamas militant group ruling the Gaza Strip launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing more than 200 people and leaving thousands injured. A video, shared by news aggregator Visegrad 24 and released by Rebel News Canada, showed people on trucks and cars shouting slogans and carrying the Palestine flag. Hamas supporters celebrating on the streets of Canada last night.This type of images can be seen repeated in many cities in Western Europe and North America. pic.twitter.com/vbs64tqTjb Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) October 8, 2023 More such videos and images of celebrations in other countries like Sweden, Germany and Turkey are also doing the rounds on social media. In fact, police in the UK have stepped up vigil and tightened security at Jewish religious places after celebratory incidents were reported in London. Visegrad 24 said such incidents can be seen in many cities in western Europe and North America, while a Twitter user slammed Trudeaus Canada for supporting such horrendous terror attacks. Sharing the video on X, the user, called Dr Eli David, said: Celebrations in Trudeaus Canada in support of the horrendous terror attacks. How is your multiculturalism going? Celebrations in Trudeau's Canada in support of the horrendous terror attacks. How is your multiculturalism going?pic.twitter.com/E1NYFtIRxq Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) October 8, 2023 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has, however, strongly condemned the terrorist attack against Israel. He said: These acts of violence are completely unacceptable. We stand with Israel and fully support its right to defend itself. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this. Civilian life must be protected. Canada strongly condemns the current terrorist attacks against Israel. These acts of violence are completely unacceptable. We stand with Israel and fully support its right to defend itself. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this. Civilian life must be protected. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 7, 2023 The Canadian government, however, is yet to respond to reports of people celebrating the Hamas attack. Trudeau has recently been heavily criticised by India for encouraging pro-Khalistan sentiment in the name of free speech. Diplomatic relations between Canada and India are at an all-time low after Trudeau alleged that agents of the Indian government were possibly involved in the killing of known Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. Visegrad 24 also released videos from celebrations in German capital Berlin and Malmo in Sweden. Hamas supporters gather on the streets of Berlin, Germany to celebrate the attack against Israel, Visegrad 24 said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. BREAKING:Hamas supporters gather on the streets of Berlin, Germany to celebrate the attack against Israel pic.twitter.com/GyOIFyHGS6 Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) October 7, 2023 Germany, infamous for the historical persecution of Jews as well as antisemitism perpetuated by Nazi ideology, has stepped up security arrangements at Israeli and Jewish institutions. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has supported Israels right to defend itself against barbaric attacks and to protect its citizens and to pursue the attackers. Hamas supporters in Malmo, Sweden use fireworks to celebrate yesterdays attack on Israel, it said on X while sharing a video. BREAKING:Hamas supporters in Malmo, Sweden use fireworks to celebrate yesterday's attack on Israel. pic.twitter.com/O19xWuAePE Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) October 8, 2023 Sweden has said there are no excuses for such violent attacks. Another Twitter user shared a purported video of celebrations in Turkeys Istanbul, claiming that the government had arranged the victory rally. Last night in #Istanbul, Turkish government held a victory celebration and rally in which thousands of supporters of #Erdogan attended and celebrated massacre of Israeli civilians by #Hamas. People requested #Turkish Army to send troops to #Israel to help #Hamas terrorists. Just listen to their slogans, the user said. Last night in #Istanbul, Turkish government held a victory celebration and rally in which thousands of supporters of #Erdogan attended and celebrated massacre of Israeli civilians by #Hamas. People requested #Turkish Army to send troops to #Israel to help #Hamas terrorists. Just pic.twitter.com/qPOJS82Zae Babak Taghvaee The Crisis Watch (@BabakTaghvaee1) October 8, 2023 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas to support peace and refrain from harming civilians. There is no good in (attacking) civilians, Erdogan said as all-out war raged around Gaza. We are ready to do everything to reduce the tensions We invite all the actors to support peace. (With agency inputs) Leaders and heads of state from around the world have condemned a wave of Palestinian attacks by land, sea, and air. Israels army said terrorists from the Palestinian group Hamas broke into homes and massacred civilians. The group rampaged through Israeli towns on Saturday, what turned out to be the deadliest day of violence in Israel since the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, hundreds of Gazans were also killed when Israel responded with one of its most devastating days of retaliatory strikes. Hamas launched a cruel and wicked war. We will win this war but the price is too heavy to bear, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, vowing severe retaliation after the surprise attack that has left 300 people dead. How the world reacted: India Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was among the first leaders to express solidarity with Israel, said India stood in solidarity with the country at this difficult hour. Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel, Modi said. United States President Joe Biden said US support for Israel was rock solid and unwavering. The United States stands with Israel, Biden said in a televised statement at the White House, flanked by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. We will not ever fail to have their back. A White House official said talks with Israel on military aid were very much underway. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabias foreign ministry said: The Kingdom calls for an immediate halt to the escalation between the two sides, protection of civilians, and self-control. The Kingdom is reminded of its repeated warnings of the dangers of an explosive situation as a result of the continued occupation and deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights, it added. UN The UNs human rights chief Volker Turk said: I call for an immediate stop to the violence, and appeal to all sides and key countries in the region to de-escalate to avoid further bloodshed. He said he was deeply concerned at reports that Israeli civilians have been taken, hostage. EU EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said: I unequivocally condemn the attack carried out by Hamas terrorists against Israel. It is terrorism in its most despicable form. Israel has the right to defend itself against such heinous attacks, she said. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said this horrific violence must stop immediately. Terrorism and violence solve nothing. The EU expresses its solidarity with Israel in these difficult moments. He added: News of civilians taken as hostages in their homes or to Gaza are appalling. This is against international law. Hostages must be released immediately. Brazil Brazil, which holds the UN Security Council presidency, condemned the attacks on Israel. A statement from its foreign ministry urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint in order to avoid escalating the situation. Shortly after, it said it would call an emergency UN Security Council meeting on the crisis. The Council announced they would meet Sunday. Russia Russias foreign ministry called for an immediate ceasefire. We call on the Palestinian and Israeli sides to immediately cease fire, renounce violence, show the necessary restraint and with the help of the international community establish a negotiation process aimed at establishing a comprehensive, lasting and long-awaited peace, ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country is fending off a Russian invasion, said Israel had an indisputable right to defend itself. Terror is always a crime, not just against one country or specific victims, but against humanity as a whole, he said. Turkey Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Israel and Palestinians to avoid further escalation. We invite all parties to act reasonably and to stay away from impulsive steps that raise tensions, said Erdogan, who strongly supports the Palestinian cause. France France expressed full solidarity with Israel and the victims and underscored its absolute rejection of terrorism and its commitment to Israels security. President Emmanuel Macron said he firmly condemns the attacks. Germany German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Israel has our full solidarity and the right, guaranteed by international law, to defend itself against terrorism. Britain British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was shocked by the attacks. Israel has an absolute right to defend itself, he said. He went further in a post later on X, formerly known as Twitter. As the barbarity of todays atrocities becomes clearer, we stand unequivocally with Israel, he wrote. This attack by Hamas is cowardly and depraved. South Africa South Africas foreign ministry expressed its grave concern over the recent devastating escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The region is in desperate need of a credible peace process that delivers on the calls of a plethora of previous UN resolutions for a two-state solution and a just and comprehensive peace between Israel and Palestine, it added. (With agency inputs) More than 300 Israelis died in a massive attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Saturday, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised strong retaliation for what he described as a cruel and wicked war against Israel. Retaliatory air strikes brought hundreds of deaths on the Palestinian, Gaza officials said, following Hamass massive rocket barrage and ground, air and sea offensive. Israeli forces and hundreds of Hamas terrorists fought through the night in over 20 Israel locations, including at least two where gunmen were holding hostages, the army said. Terrorists rampaged and broke into homes, massacring civilians, the army said, adding that more than 1,000 people in Israel were wounded by gunshots or the more than 3,000 incoming rockets. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening:This morning, on Shabbat and a holiday, Hamas invaded Israeli territory and murdered innocent citizens including children and the elderly. Hamas has started a brutal and evil war. pic.twitter.com/ckPXuXNHk0 Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 7, 2023 Leave Now The death toll from Saturdays events continued to rise by the hour and as of early Sunday morning stood at 300 people, many of them civilians slain in their homes and in the streets, according to The Times of Israel. We are at war, Netanyahu told the country after Hamas had launched its multipronged attack at dawn, half a century after the outbreak of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. In a public address, Netanyahu said, What happened today is unprecedented in Israel and I will see to it that it does not happen again. The Israeli Defence Force will immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamass capabilities. We will destroy them and will forcefully avenge this dark day that they have forced on Israel and its citizens, he said. The Israeli PM warned that all of the places in which Hamas is deployed, hiding and operating, that wicked city, will be turned into rubble. I say to the residents of Gaza: Leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere, he added. Unwavering support President Joe Biden voiced rock solid and unwavering support for the US ally and warned, against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Egypt, a key intermediary between Israel and Hamas about the urgency in achieving an immediate halt to the fighting, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. The Israeli army said its forces were still engaged in live gun battles in a string of Israel locations, in an operation labelled Swords of Iron, as reservists were being called up. There are still 22 locations where we are engaging with terrorists that came into Israel, from the sea, from the land and from the air, said army spokesman Richard Hecht on what he labelled a robust ground invasion. Israeli army launched air strikes into Gaza later in the night while militants fired rockets, according to AFP. Hamas earlier released images of several Israelis taken captive, and another army spokesman, Daniel Hagari, confirmed that there are kidnapped soldiers and civilians. I cant give figures about them at the moment. Its a war crime committed by Hamas and they will pay the price. Hostage Situation Hecht said there was also a severe hostage situation in the Negev desert communities of Beeri and Ofakim east of Gaza. The Islamist group started the multi-pronged attack around 6:30 am (local time) with thousands of rockets aimed as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, some bypassing the Iron Dome defence system and hitting buildings. Hamas breached Gazas security barrier and attacked nearby Israeli towns and military posts, opening fire on residents and passersby. Send help, please! one Israeli woman sheltering with her two-year-old child pleaded as militants outside opened fire and tried to break into their safe room, Israeli media reported. Bodies were strewn on the streets of the Israeli town of Sderot near Gaza and inside cars, the windscreens shattered by hails of bullets. I saw many bodies, of terrorists and civilians, one man told AFP, standing beside covered corpses on a road near Gevim Kibbutz in southern Israel. So many bodies, so many bodies. Air raid sirens wailed across southern and central Israel, as well as in Jerusalem. In Tel Aviv, a gaping hole was ripped into a building, with residents boarding a bus to flee to safety. The attack sparked major disruption at Tel Aviv airport, where many carriers cancelled flights. Schools will remain closed on Sunday, the start of the week in Israel. Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, leading to Israels crippling blockade of the impoverished enclave of 2.3 million people. Gates of hell Israeli army Major General Ghasan Alyan warned Hamas had opened the gates of hell. Israels military said it had warned residents to evacuate before targeting the multi-storey buildings used by Hamas. Israels state-run electricity company cut the power supply to Gaza as army flares lit up the night sky. The escalation follows months of rising violence, mostly in the West Bank, and tensions around Gazas border and at contested holy sites in Jerusalem. Israel and Hamas have since fought several wars. The last major military exchange, in May, killed 34 Palestinians and one Israeli. Western capitals condemned the wave of attacks by Hamas, which Israel, the United States and the European Union consider a terrorist group. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the attack terrorism in its most despicable form. (With agency inputs) Major airlines, including Air India, cancelled dozens of flights to Tel Aviv this weekend after the Palestinian outfit Hamas launched a large-scale attack against Israel. This comes as the death toll from Saturdays assault continued to rise by the hour and as of early Sunday morning stood at 300 people, according to The Times of Israel. In a public address, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised that Israeli defense forces would destroy Hamas and will avenge this dark day that they have forced on Israel and its citizens. Flights Cancelled On the arrivals board at Tel Avivs Ben Gurion airport American Airlines, Air France, Lufthansa, Emirates, Ryanair and Aegean Airlines were among those pulling flights. However, airport authorities did not stop commercial air links with Eilat, Israels second international airport and tourist destination on the Red Sea. Given the current security situation in Tel Aviv, Lufthansa is cancelling all flights to and from Tel Aviv up until and including Monday, a spokesman for the German carrier told AFP. The airline was monitoring the security situation in Israel, he added. Air India cancelled all its flights to and from Tel Aviv in the wake of the situation in Israel. In view of the safety of the passengers and the flight crew, the Indian airline cancelled all its scheduled flights. Brussels Airline, part of the Lufthansa group, also cancelled its Tel Aviv flights. Air France said it had halted Tel Aviv flights until further notice. Commercial measures are in place, allowing customers to postpone or cancel their trip free of charge, an Air France spokesman said. Air France-KLM groups low-cost carrier Transavia announced it was cancelling all flights from Paris and Lyon to Tel Aviv up to and including Monday. Spanish airline Iberia announced that its budget subsidiary Iberia Express was cancelling its Tel Aviv flights. Italys flag-carrier ITA Airways cancelled its flight until Sunday morning at the earliest to protect the safety of passengers and crew. Additionally, Spanish airline Iberia announced that its budget subsidiary Iberia Express was cancelling its Tel Aviv flights. (With agency inputs) Russia, China and Iran have played a major role in the massive attack on Israel by the Palestinian group Hamas on Saturday, according to the assessment by intelligence agencies. The assessment states that while Iran provides open training and political backing to Hamas, Russia is known for its proximity to Hamas, and the Chinese technology was key to the attack. ALSO READ | India Supports Israel: No Strength Reduction in Indian Missions, Say Govt Sources | Exclusive The Islamist group entered Israel by land, sea and air on a major Jewish holiday a Sabbath and the Jewish holiday of Sukkot 50 years and a day after the Yom Kippur War of 1973, which too had taken the country by surprise. Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Saturdays attack began with a barrage of more than 2,000 rockets fired into Israel. Under the cover of the rockets, a large-scale, carefully coordinated, ground operation set out from Gaza and attacked more than 20 Israeli towns and army bases adjacent to the strip. Israeli losses, estimated presently at more than 250 dead and as many as 1,500 wounded, are certain to increase in the coming hours and days. TURKEY PROVIDED EXPLOSIVES TO HAMAS A FEW WEEKS AGO There were reports that Turkey provided explosives to Hamas only a few weeks ago. While Israel intercepted it, no one spoke about it. Moreover, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan even had a hush-hush visit to the United States (US), which wasnt spoken about, according to the assessment by intelligence agencies. ALSO READ | What is Israels Iron Dome and How Hamas Rockets Dodged the Most Advanced Weapon System | EXPLAINED Its a combination of different failures. Global partners, especially Five Eyes, not even once warned Israel of the attack," sources in the agencies said. Some European countries have cooperation with some Arab countries. The UK, Canada, Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain all failed Israel." INTEL FAILURE, BREACH OF BORDERS, CYBER SECURITY BREACH The major question emerging is how Israels allies failed to provide intelligence. Given that Israels intelligence agency Mossad has agents everywhere, accumulation of thousands of rockets is impossible, sources said. Another factor, according to sources, is the breach of borders. A Chinese Trojan was used to fail every system so they could enter from all four ways. There have been repeated cyber security breaches in Israel, with the recent one leaving everyone shocked. THE MOTIVE Hamas strategic calculations in launching the attack are uncertain at this stage. However, the assured severity of Israels retaliation against the group and as a consequence, the civilian population in Gaza makes it likely that considerations beyond just tit-for-tat revenge were at play. Kidnapping Israelis for prisoner swaps with Hamas militants jailed in Israel, for instance, has been among the most highly desired objectives of the groups military operations in the past. In 2011, a single Israel soldier, Gilad Shalit, who had been held captive in Gaza since 2006, was exchanged for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. Among these prisoners was Yahya Sinwar, Hamas current leader in Gaza, who had served 22 years in an Israeli jail. ALSO READ | Israel-Palestine Conflict: German Womans Body Paraded Naked By Hamas; Mother Seeks Help The reports of dozens of Israelis being taken captive in this weekends assault many of them civilians suggest this may have been a central motive behind the attack. An unknown number of hostages held for hours by Hamas militants in two Israeli southern towns were later freed by Israeli special forces. Another broader objective for Hamas may have been to undermine the ongoing negotiations between the US and Saudi Arabia on an agreement to normalise relations between the kingdom and Israel. Thwarting these talks would be a significant boon for Iran, a key backer of Hamas, and its allies. While Tehran has said it supports the attacks by Hamas against Israel, it remains uncertain at this point whether Iran or Hezbollah the militant group in Lebanon that has a growing partnership with Hamas would open additional fronts against Israel in the coming days. With agency inputs Former US President Donald Trump has blamed incumbent Joe Biden for emboldening terrorists in the wake of deadly attacks against Israel that left over 300 dead and 1,590 injured. Addressing a rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Saturday, the GOP frontrunner condemned the attacks and vowed to cut off the money to Palestinian terrorists on day one. The terror invasion of Israeli territory and the murder of Israeli soldiers and citizens is an act of savagery that must be, and will be, crushed and avenged, he was quoted saying by UKs Daily Mail. As president, I will once again stand with Israel and we will cut off the money to Palestinian terrorists on day one, he told the cheering crowds. Trump, who is currently facing dozens of lawsuits ahead of elections next year, told a Republican rally in Waterloo, that Joe Biden had made the US look weak on the world stage. The Israeli attack was made because we are perceived as being weak and ineffective and with a really weak leader, he said. On Saturday, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, striking by land, air and sea. The attacks left more than 300 Israeli dead while hundreds of Palestinians have also been killed in retaliatory strikes in Gaza. Trump went on to claim that Biden indirectly funded the attacks. Sadly, American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks, which many reports are saying came from the Biden Administration, Trump said in a statement, reflecting Republican claims that $6 billion released last month to Iran as part of a prisoner exchange deal was used to fund the Hamas attack. In response, White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates said that this is a shameful lie in every respect, at a time when both parties should be totally united in supporting Israels defense. The money can only be used for verifiable purchases of humanitarian needs like food & medicine, Bates added, in a pushback against the claims. Trumps remarks come as the US President pledged rock solid support for Israel on Saturday in the face of what he described as terrorist assaults by Palestinian militant group Hamas, with an announcement on US military assistance expected imminently. High-level discussions between US and Israeli officials on military aid were already underway, a US senior administration official said, with an announcement by Washington possible as early as Sunday. Biden described the assault as a terrible tragedy on a human level and said he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to underline his support. I told him the United States stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults, Biden said in a televised address from the White House. In my administration, support for Israels security is rock solid and unwavering, he said. Well make sure that they have the help their citizens need and they can continue to defend themselves. Making an appearance on Fox News Saturday, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan said, This is our 9/11. Babies, women, the elderly were dragged outside of their homes, were taken hostage. (With agency inputs) A number of Israeli civilians and soldiers are being held hostage by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, BBC reported on Sunday. This includes children, women, the elderly, and disabled people. According to military spokesman Lt Col Jonathan Conricus, while some hostages are confirmed to be alive, others are presumed dead. The situation is described as unprecedented, with Hamas claiming to have captured a far greater number of Israelis than previously believed. These captives have reportedly been dispersed to various locations across the Gaza Strip. On Saturday, Hamas stormed from the blockaded Gaza Strip into nearby Israeli towns, killing dozens and abducting others in an unprecedented surprise attack during a major Jewish holiday Saturday. The death toll from Saturdays assault continued to rise by the hour and as of early Sunday morning stood at 300 people, according to The Times of Israel. Online videos have surfaced, purportedly showing Israeli hostages in the custody of Hamas terrorists. One of the videos, verified by BBC, depicts a truck driving through crowds in Gaza, allegedly transporting Israeli hostages. Another video, geolocated in the Gaza Strip, shows a barefooted woman with bloodied hands being dragged from the back of a truck, according to media reports. Some of the hostages were reportedly seized from an outdoor gathering in Kibbutz Reim, a suburb near the city of Ofakim in southern Israel. Witnesses claim that attackers on motorcycles opened fire on attendees, with many individuals still missing. Unverified videos on social media seem to depict the kidnapping of a woman from the gathering, as she is held on a motorcycle by two men. Outside the Gaza Strip, Israeli military forces have conducted operations to free Israeli civilians who were held hostage in two locations in southern Israel. In Kibbutz Beeri, hostages were rescued after 18 hours, while in Kibbutz Urim, two Israelis were rescued after being taken hostage by Hamas militants in a house for hours on Saturday. The terrorists were subsequently killed by Israeli forces, with three Israeli soldiers sustaining moderate and light injuries during the rescue operation. In the temporarily occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia region, Russian invaders are terrorizing people using Soviet methods of the 1930s. They are carrying out the so-called nationalization of housing at an "industrial" pace, taking away both the apartments of people who have left the occupation and the property of those who have remained. ADVERTISIMENT Occupants are also being moved in with people, transport and money are being taken away from Ukrainians, and "nationalized" land plots are going to be distributed to Russian invaders. This was stated by the mayor of the temporarily occupied Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov. According to him, during the occupation, Russian occupiers and Kremlin-appointed gauleiters confiscated more than five thousand objects in Melitopol and Melitopol district alone: houses, apartments, businesses, warehouses, etc. This total looting took place in several waves. "It all started back in May 2022, when the enemy began to simply occupy the apartments they needed to accommodate their personnel. After that, they began issuing fake documents allegedly about the "nationalization" of these apartments, houses, as well as enterprises, businesses, warehouses, and various organizations. Then they began to make a total round of all the entrances, apartments and houses. During the rounds, they tried to find out whether the residents who used to live in these apartments had left the temporarily occupied territories or were on the occupied territories. If they received information about leaving, in a few weeks an illegal order from Gauleiter Balytsky appeared stating that this apartment was also "nationalized" and was being transferred to someone unknown," said Fedorov, emphasizing that all these "orders" are absolutely illegitimate. ADVERTISIMENT Over the past month, the invaders have once again been conducting massive rounds of apartment buildings and private homes in order to "donationalize" what they could not take away earlier. In the "best" traditions of the early USSR, they also began to "move in" with the Russian occupiers. "If they need to accommodate their racist military or various kinds of 'touring soldiers' in a house, they can move in with the existing residents. This is mostly observed on the front line, in such settlements as Tokmak and Molochansk, where they use our civilians as human shields. Or they can tell people to leave their homes, where they have lived all their lives, within two hours because they are needed for some military needs. Even if people live in the apartment or house, this is definitely not an obstacle for the enemy to take away their houses or apartments and say that they need it for the army. We have seen such examples many times, unfortunately," noted Fedorov. ADVERTISIMENT According to him, the lion's share of "nationalized" housing is made up of houses and apartments of people who managed to escape the occupation. However, no one in the occupied territories is immune from such a fate. Moreover, just like in the early USSR, Sharikov's modern descendants have taken on the "authority" to determine whether a person owns too many square meters. "The priority is to take away those who have left. But even if people are living and have absolutely all the documents, they can still be evicted, because it is in this area that the military needs to be deployed. They also conduct a re-account, and, for example, if one person lives there and has a three-room apartment, the enemy thinks it's too much. Therefore, they move him to a dormitory, and move some of their gauleiter to the three-room apartment," said Fedorov. ADVERTISIMENT According to the mayor of Melitopol, the invaders do not need the show of checking housing documents to make sure that they cannot confiscate it. This is how the occupiers collect data for their registers and try to establish the number of people who remain under occupation. "But this is definitely not a guarantee that the apartment, house or any property will remain in the ownership of the resident who is forced to stay in the temporary occupation. We must clearly understand one simple thing: no rule, no law works on the territory temporarily occupied by the enemy. They can change their decision at any moment," emphasized Fedorov. In addition to confiscating houses and apartments, the occupiers are literally robbing people at gunpoint, taking their money and cars. They are also "nationalizing" land plots belonging to Ukrainians. According to Fedorov, Moscow is going to distribute them to the "heroes of the SVO" as a reward for their participation in the war. ADVERTISIMENT "The relevant bill has been submitted to the Kremlin State Duma," he explained. Earlier, it became known that the occupiers would use men in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia as human shields for their troops . Last year, the same thing happened in Certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. According to Pavlo Lysyansky, director of the Institute for Strategic Studies and Security, a human rights activist, it is in these regions that the main impact of Russian mobilization will be felt. The men who will be recruited into the occupation army will face the fate of "mobilizeds" from Donetsk and Luhansk regions, who last year "were sent to minefields, to be slaughtered as human shields to save the lives of the military from the occupation units of the armed forces of the Russian Federation." ADVERTISIMENT A surprise attack by Hamas on Israel, which combined gunmen breaching security barriers with a barrage of rockets fired from Gaza, was launched at dawn on Saturday during the Jewish high holiday of Simchat Torah. The attack came 50 years and a day after Egyptian and Syrian forces launched an assault during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur in an effort to retrieve territory Israel had taken during a brief conflict in 1967. According to The Times of Israel, at least 300 people have been killed in the Hamas assault. COVERING ROCKET BARRAGE At about 6.30 a.m. (0430 GMT) Palestinian Islamist group Hamas fired a huge barrage of rockets across southern Israel, with sirens heard as far away as Tel Aviv and Beersheba. Hamas said it had fired 5,000 rockets in a first barrage. Israels military said 2,500 rockets were fired. Smoke billowed over residential Israeli areas and people sheltered behind buildings as sirens sounded overhead. At least one woman was reported killed by the rockets. DAWN INFILTRATION The barrage served as cover for an unprecedented multi-pronged infiltration of terrorists, with the Israeli military saying at 7.40 a.m. (0540 GMT) that Palestinian gunmen had crossed into Israel. Most terrorists crossed through breaches in land security barriers separating Gaza and Israel. But at least one was filmed crossing on a powered parachute while a motorboat was filmed heading to Zikim, an Israeli coastal town and military base. Videos issued by Hamas showed terrorists breaching the security fences, with the dim light and low sun suggesting it was at around the time of the rocket barrage. One video showed at least six motorbikes with terrorists crossing through a hole in a metal security barrier. A photograph released by Hamas showed a bulldozer tearing down a section of security fence. FIGHTING AT ISRAELI MILITARY BASES Israels military said at 10 a.m. that Palestinian terrorists had penetrated at least three military installations around the frontier the Erez border crossing, the Zikim base and the Gaza division headquarters at Reim. It said fighting at Erez and Zikim continued. Hamas videos showed terrorists running towards a burning building near a high concrete wall with a watchtower and terrorists apparently overrunning part of an Israeli military facility and shooting from behind a wall. Several captured Israeli military vehicles were later pictured being driven into Gaza and paraded there. BORDER TOWN RAIDS Terrorists raided the Israeli border town of Sderot and were reported to be in another border community, Beeri, and the town of Ofakim 30km (20 miles) east of Gaza, according to Israeli media citing phone calls from residents. A video verified by Reuters showed several gunmen riding the back of a white pickup truck moving through Sderot. Many residents of southern Israeli towns have fortified areas in their homes that function as bomb shelters and on Saturday they were using them as panic rooms. Israels military ordered residents to shelter inside, saying on the radio we will reach you. By mid morning Israels police chief Yaacov Shabtai said forces were engaging gunmen in 21 locations and at 1.30 p.m. the military said troops were still working to clear communities that had been overrun by gunmen. CASUALTIES A Reuters photographer saw bodies on the streets of Sderot. Israeli news media have reported at least 100 Israelis killed and 800 wounded. Hamas videos and unverified images circulating on social media showed dead civilians, Israeli soldiers and Palestinian terrorists. Israels Foreign Ministry said Hamas gunmen had gone house-to-house killing civilians. TAKING CAPTIVES Israeli media has reported that gunmen have seized hostages in Ofakim. Islamic Jihad said it was holding several Israeli soldiers captive and Hamas social media accounts showed footage of appearing to show captives being taken alive into Gaza. One video showed three young men in vests, shorts and slippers being marched through a security installation with Hebrew writing on the wall. Other videos showed female captives. Another showed terrorists dragging at least two Israeli soldiers from a military vehicle. ISRAELI STRIKES At 9.45 a.m. (local time) blasts were heard in central Gaza and Gaza city and at 10.00 a.m. Israels military spokesperson said the airforce was carrying out strikes in Gaza. Medics in Gaza said dozens of people were killed in the strikes. An Israeli military official on Sunday said that hundreds of terrorists have been killed and dozens captured in fighting with Hamas in Gaza and southern Israel. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that more than 24 hours after the Palestinian outfit launched an assault into Israel, killing hundreds of people, firing thousands of rockets and taking captives back into blockaded Gaza. According to The Associated Press, Israel is battling terrorists in the south and launching airstrikes across Gaza that have leveled buildings. Israeli forces battled holdout Hamas and pounded targets in the Gaza Strip Sunday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of a long and difficult war. The Israeli Defence Forces informed that they have strict 10 Hamas targets since Saturday, among them, Hamas intelligence headquarters and a military compound used by Hamas aerial forces. Since 12 am yesterday, in response to the brutal terrorist offensive against Israel launched by Hamas, the IDF carried out the following operational activities in Gaza: 1/4 Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 8, 2023 The Israeli army said tens of thousands of soldiers were deployed to fight militants in southern desert regions near the coastal enclave, to rescue Israeli hostages and then evacuate the entire region within 24 hours. Well reach each and every community till we kill every terrorist in Israel, vowed military spokesman Daniel Hagari, a day after hundreds of Hamas fighters crossed into Israel using vehicles, boats and even motorised paragliders. Our mission for the upcoming 24 hours is to evacuate all residents from communities around the Gaza Strip, he told journalists amid the fighting that has left hundreds dead on both sides. Israel also came under attack from the north on Sunday when Lebanons Hezbollah movement launched missiles and artillery shells in solidarity with the unprecedented Hamas offensive. Israel was shocked when Gazas rulers Hamas launched a multi-pronged assault at dawn Saturday with thousands of rockets and ground, air and sea forces, attacking and infiltrating Israeli towns and kibbutz communities. The worst fighting in decades has killed more than 300 Israelis and wounded over 1,500, leaving bodies of civilians strewn on roads, while on the Gaza side, hundreds more have died. Israeli media reports said dozens of Israeli captives, including numerous women, children and elders, are believed to have been taken into the Gaza Strip. Gun battles raged Sunday between Israeli forces and hundreds of Hamas fighters in multiple locations, including at a police station in Sderot where police and special forces neutralised 10 armed terrorists, police said. A lot of people have been killed, said another army spokesman, Richard Hecht, after the military released the names of 26 fallen soldiers. We lost soldiers, lost commanders and lost a lot of civilians. We are completing efforts to retake full control of Israeli territory from Hamas, he added, reporting that the army had struck 426 Hamas targets including Gaza tunnels, buildings and other infrastructure. (With agency inputs) Israels security cabinet on Sunday officially declared that the country is at war with Palestine, a day after the Hamas militant group ruling the Gaza Strip launched an unprecedented attack in the southern territories by air, land and sea. Reports say more than 700 Israelis have been killed with thousands wounded. Soldiers and civilians are being held hostage even as militants are going from door to door shooting people or dragging them away. The country, caught off guard by the deadly onslaught, is mulling an emergency unity government setting aside their differences. Israeli soldiers are battling it out with Hamas fighters in the streets of southern Israel, while northern Israel had a brief exchange of fire as the Lebanons Hezbollah entered the fray raising fears of a broader conflict. US President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that military aid is on it way with more to follow over the coming days. The conflicts death toll surged close to 1,000 on both sides with the bloody escalation heightening Middle East tensions. For Israel, it has been one of the worst losses since the 1973 Arab-Israeli war when it came under attack from a coalition led by Egypt and Syria. In Gaza, which was hammered by Israeli air strikes on 800 targets ahead of what many feared may be a looming ground invasion, officials reported at least 370 deaths with thousands more wounded across the war zone. Tens of thousands of Israeli forces were deployed to battle holdout Hamas fighters in the south, where the bodies of civilians were found strewn on roads and in town centres. Here is all you need to know about the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahus office said his security cabinet has officially declared the country at war following the deadly Hamas assault in southern Israel. Earlier in the day, the country came under attack from the north when the Hezbollah launched guided missiles and artillery shells in solidarity with Palestine. There were no casualties. Top Israeli leaders have discussed the possibility of forming an emergency national unity government to deal with the complex situation. Netanyahu and opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz spoke on Saturday (October 7) and discussed the possibility of joining the ruling government because of the emergency created by the Hamas infiltration. A source, most likely a high-ranking party official, said the National Unity party wants to be able to make proper security decisions. The death toll in Israel has risen to more than 700, while over 100 people are being held as prisoners by the militant group, the Israel government said. The governments press office posted the latest figures on its Facebook. The death toll is not a final number, an official said, adding that more than 2,000 people had been wounded including 200 who were in critical condition. The death toll in the Gaza Strip rose to 370, the health ministry in the Palestinian enclave said, as Israel launched air strikes on Hamas targets for the second consecutive day. The Hamas-controlled ministry said 370 civilians were killed and another 2,200 injured in the fighting. US President Joe Biden ordered ships and warplanes to move closer to Israel in a show of support, while sending fresh military aid. The Pentagon said it was sending the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford and its accompanying warships to the eastern Mediterranean, while boosting fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. Biden spoke to Netanyahu and conveyed that additional assistanceis now on its way to Israel with more to follow over the coming days, the White House said. A horrifying account of an 18-year-old Israeli girl being executed in front of her parents and younger siblings has surfaced. The mother of a German-Israeli woman has also appealed for help in finding her, saying she had identified her daughter in a video in the car of Palestinian militants. The video shows an unconscious young woman, half naked and lying face down in the back of a pick-up truck. Armed men are seated around her. One of them pulls her hair, while another beside the vehicle spits on her head. A French national has been killed in Israel while several others are missing. A British man, who was serving in the Israeli army, died in the attack, his family said as another man was reported missing. Two Ukrainian women, who had been living in Israel, were also killed. Thailand has said two of its citizens were killed, while Cambodia reported the death of a Cambodian student. Global concern has mounted, with western capitals condemning the attack by Hamas, which Washington and Brussels consider a terrorist group. Israels foes have praised the assault, including Iran whose President Ebrahim Raisi voiced support when he spoke with Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders. Anti-Israel protests have flared in Iraq, Pakistan and some other majority Muslim countries, while Germany and France were among nations stepping up security around Jewish temples and schools. London police have stepped up vigil across the city after receiving reports of people appearing to celebrate the attack on Israel by the Hamas militant group. Police said they are aware of a number of such incidents and are also tracking such messages and images related to the conflict shared on social media. In the Egyptian city of Alexandria, a police officer opened fire on Israeli tourists Sunday, killing two of them and their Egyptian guide before he was arrested. China said it was deeply concerned by the weekends dramatic escalation of violence between Israel and the Palestinians, urging all sides to show calm. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke to Netanyahu to reiterate Kyivs support to Israel. Pope Francis called for peace in Israel and in Palestine, saying terrorism and war do not lead to a solution. He did not mention the Gaza Strip or the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Hamas has labelled its attack Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and called on resistance fighters in the West Bank and Arab and Islamic nations to join the battle. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh has predicted victory and vowed to press ahead with the battle to liberate our land and our prisoners languishing in occupation prisons. (With agency inputs) Countries around the world have condemned a wave of Palestinian attacks by land, sea and air that Israel says has claimed more than 600 lives. Some countries also called for a de-escalation of the conflict, after Israel launched air strikes and other military operations targeting Gaza that Palestinian authorities say killed more than 370 people. We are at war, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, vowing severe retaliation after Hamass surprise assault. Here is a roundup of the reactions: United States President Joe Biden said US support for Israel was rock solid and unwavering. The United States stands with Israel, Biden said in a televised statement at the White House, flanked by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. We will not ever fail to have their back. A White House official said talks with Israel on military aid were very much under way. Iran A senior adviser to Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed support for the attack, calling it a proud operation. We support this operation, Yahya Rahim Safavi said, quoted by ISNA news agency. Safavi expressed backing for the Palestinian militants until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabias foreign ministry said: The Kingdom calls for an immediate halt to the escalation between the two sides, protection of civilians, and self-control. The Kingdom is reminded of its repeated warnings of the dangers of an explosive situation as a result of the continued occupation and deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights, it added. UN UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged diplomatic efforts in the Middle East in order to prevent wider conflict, saying Saturday that only through negotiation leading to a two-state solution can peace be achieved. The UNs human rights chief Volker Turk demanded an immediate halt to the violence and urged all sides and key countries in the region to de-escalate to avoid further bloodshed. He added he was deeply concerned at reports that Israeli civilians have been taken hostage. EU EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said: I unequivocally condemn the attack carried out by Hamas terrorists against Israel. It is terrorism in its most despicable form. Israel has the right to defend itself against such heinous attacks, she said. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said this horrific violence must stop immediately. Terrorism and violence solve nothing. The EU expresses its solidarity with Israel in these difficult moments. He added: News of civilians taken as hostages in their homes or to Gaza are appalling. This is against international law. Hostages must be released immediately. Brazil Brazil, which holds the UN Security Council presidency, condemned the attacks on Israel. A statement from its foreign ministry urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint in order to avoid escalating the situation. Shortly after, it said it would call an emergency UN Security Council meeting on the crisis. The Council announced they would meet Sunday. China China said it was deeply concerned by the weekends dramatic escalation of violence between Israel and the Palestinians, urging all sides to show calm. China is deeply concerned about the current escalation of tension and violence between Palestine and Israel, Beijings foreign ministry said, adding it calls on all parties concerned to remain calm and exercise restraint, cease fire immediately, protect civilians and prevent further deterioration of the situation. Russia Russias foreign ministry called for an immediate ceasefire. We call on the Palestinian and Israeli sides to immediately cease fire, renounce violence, show the necessary restraint and with the help of the international community establish a negotiation process aimed at establishing a comprehensive, lasting and long-awaited peace, ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country is fending off a Russian invasion, said Israel had an indisputable right to defend itself. He added he had reiterated Kyivs support in a call to Netanyanu. I spoke with Netanyahu to affirm Ukraines solidarity with Israel, which suffers from a brazen large-scale attack, and to express condolences for the multiple victims, Zelensky said, adding that terror is always a crime. Turkey Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Israel and Palestinians to avoid further escalation. We invite all parties to act reasonably and to stay away from impulsive steps that raise tensions, said Erdogan, who strongly supports the Palestinian cause. France France expressed full solidarity with Israel and the victims and underscored its absolute rejection of terrorism and its commitment to Israels security. President Emmanuel Macron said he firmly condemns the attacks. Germany German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Israel has the right to defend itself against barbaric attacks and to protect its citizens and to pursue the attackers. He added he planned talks with leaders from Egypt, the United States, Britain and France and had called Netanyahu to tell him Germany stands firmly and unwaveringly by Israels side. Britain British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that Israel has an absolute right to defend itself. As the barbarity of todays atrocities becomes clearer, we stand unequivocally with Israel. This attack by Hamas is cowardly and depraved, Sunak added in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Italy Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called Netanyahu to whom she reaffirmed Romes full solidarity following the Hamas offensive. The Italian government will work with international partners to coordinate support for Israel, Rome said in a statement. Italy stands by the Israeli people at this difficult time. Japan Japan strongly condemns the cross-border attacks, foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa said. Tokyo also criticised the kidnapping of a number of Israelis, including several civilians, she said in a statement. Meanwhile, we are seriously concerned about the large number of casualties in the Gaza Strip as a result of attacks by the Israel Defence Forces, her statement continued. Japan once again calls on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint to prevent further damage. South Africa South Africas foreign ministry expressed its grave concern over the recent devastating escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The region is in desperate need of a credible peace process that delivers on the calls of a plethora of previous UN resolutions for a two-state solution and a just and comprehensive peace between Israel and Palestine, it added. India Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his country stood in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour. Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel, Modi said. Venezuela Venezuelas government expressed its deep concern over the clashes. In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, it said the fighting was the result of the impossibility of the Palestinian people to find in multilateral international legality a space to assert their historic rights. Yemen In Yemen, Huthi rebels who control the capital Sanaa expressed their support for the heroic jihadist operation. In a statement published on the website of the Huthi-controlled SABA news agency, the Iran-aligned militant group said the attack revealed the weakness, fragility and impotence of Israel. Israel Palestine War 2023: Israels cabinet invoked Article 40 Aleph, officially declaring war for the first time since 1973 as more than 700 Israelis were killed in a massive attack by the Palestinian group Hamas. Hamas infiltrated Israel via the routes of land, sea and air. Israeli forces and hundreds of Hamas terrorists fought through the night in over 20 Israel locations, including two where hostages were being held by the gunmen, the army said. In response attack by Israel, over 313 Gazans have been killed. Meanwhile, India issued an advisory to the Indian nationals stuck in Israel. The Israel-Palestine war that has taken the lives of nearly 500 people in almost 48 hours is a well-thoughtout and coordinated attack that had been in the works for a long time, top intelligence sources have analysed. They say several players are involved in the attack from the Gaza strip on October 7. There is something very suspicious here, how could it be that all the warning systems in all the troops did not function? sources say. This brings focus on the colossal failure of the Israeli intelligence who could not see the unprecedented attack coming from land, air and sea. Dozens of Palestinian gunmen crossed the heavily guarded border between Israel and Gaza Strip while thousands of rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel. Lookouts, radar systems, cameras, warning mechanisms in the fence, nothing worked? Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Mossad, who spends enough money on intelligence gathering from across the world, failed one after the other. Hamas (the militant group that controls Gaza Strip), which cut all wires/ fencing at the border, used water and gliders, was trained with sophisticated weapons in Africa or Europe recently possibly for the war, according to the initial assessment. Major disaster for cyber security While all security equipment were disabled to carry out a sophisticated attack on Israel, the role of China is possibly important to investigate here. Initial reports suggest that Chinese Trojan was used to disable all security warning systems. Recently, several cyberattacks suggest China has joined the coalition against Israel in a big way. How Did 5,000 Rockets Enter Israel? Another important question to look at in the Israel-Palestine war is how the 5,000 rockets were fired into Israel from Gaza without any intelligence-human or signal. While the police took hours to respond and helicopters were not deployed until two hours after the attack. How did Israels Iron Dome, which is an all-weather air defence system, not work? Apparently, the Iron Dome was sabotaged by the Chinese Trojan. After the 50th anniversary of the start of the 1973 Yom Kippur war, the Israeli forces were caught off guard by Syrian and Egyptian tank columns. This time too, the military appears to have been surprised by another attack. The unprecedented Gaza attack on October 7, which has killed more than 500, points to several factors such as the intelligence failure of the Israeli government, the so-called normalisation of Saudi Arabia-Israel ties and the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war. Palestinian militant group Hamas launched thousands of mighty rockets into Israel from Gaza, breached security border at dawn of October 7 during Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. The present Gaza attack is being seen as a watershed in the tumultuous history of Israel and the Arab world post the Six-Day War of June 1967, which broke out with Egypt, Syria and Jordan. Israel defence forces launched pre-emptive air strikes that crippled Egypt and allies, and seized the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip from Egypt, the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan and the Golan Heights from Syria. Although the war ended, but the map of Middle-East changed forever, giving rise to geo-political frictions. There were 11,000 casualties from Egypt, 6,000 from Jordan, and 1,000 for Syria compared to 700 for Israel in the Six-Day War. Relations with Saudi Arabia, UAE Israel foreign minister had said last month that he expects the deal with Saudi Arabia to strike soon. The gaps can be bridged, Israels foreign minister Eli Cohen told Israels Army Radio. I think there is certainly a likelihood that, in the first quarter of 2024, four or five months hence, we will be able to be at a point where the details [of a deal] are finalised, he added as quoted by Al Jazeera. It seems that the US-brokered normalisation of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia and UAE has not gone well with Russia and Iran, which has supported the Palestinians for the Gaza attack. Reports in the international media say Tehran is willing to whip up a conflict to prevent Saudi Arabia from clinching a deal with Israel. Recently, Irans leaders, including Ali Khamenei, have said countries normalising ties with Israel would be taking a big risk. Ukraine-Russia War Israel had given major armoury to Ukraine quietly for the war with Russia as it may not have seen the Gaza attack coming. In fact, reports have suggested that Israel will seek US ammunition to deal with the October 7 Hamas attack. Early this year, Israel had also promised expanding aid to Ukraine and help rebuild the country. Intelligence Failure by Israel Israels intelligence agency Mossad is considered one of the worlds most capable in the world, with an array of human intelligence and other technical means. Allies have been wondering why the Israeli government and the defence forces could not see the Gaza attack coming. News reports point that Palestinians military group Hamas and Hezbollah said the current attack is being seen as a warning to the Muslim community seeking to strike peace with Israel. This comes at a time when Israel was seeking to normalise ties with Saudi Arabia, closer to striking a deal. Israels intelligence agency Mossad is absolutely rattled by the Gaza attack and refused to comment even on condition of anonymity, according to intelligence sources. The State of Israels official handle on X, which is managed by the countrys foreign ministry, said an Israeli child was executed in front of her younger siblings and parents, who are now being held hostage by the Hamas militant group. The post stated that the act was pure evil and the world should know what is happening. This is one of those videos we wish we didnt have to share. An Israeli child is executed in front of her siblings and parents who are currently being held hostage by Hamas. If this isnt pure evil, nothing is. Please help us make sure the world knows what is happening, read the post on X, formerly Twitter. This is one of those videos we wish we didnt have to share.An Israeli child is executed in front of her siblings and parents who are currently being held hostage by Hamas. If this isnt pure evil, nothing is. Please help us make sure the world knows what is happening. pic.twitter.com/soOloHPDFA Israel (@Israel) October 8, 2023 The video of the couple and two children a girl and a boy is being widely shared on social media. The two children can be seen sobbing for their sister, who cannot be seen in the video, while the parents are trying to console them. A person, most likely their captor, shouts: Relax, relax, she went to heaven. Israel-based journalist Hananya Naftali also shared the video on X, saying Hamas militants have taken control of this Israeli familys house. Israeli family is held hostage by Hamas terrorists who took control of their house inside Israel. Just look at their faces. This is a crime against humanity. I demand world leaders to take action, the journalist wrote in his post. From the subtitles in the video, it can be established that the children had an 18-year-old sister, who was purportedly killed in front of them. The girl says: My sister died. Explosions, rampant gunfire, and sirens can be heard in the background as the adults try to protect the children. I wanted her to stay alive, says the boy, sobbing. Is there no chance that she will come back? asks the girl to which her mother replies: No, no. As the four of them huddle closer, the woman says: I cannot afford to lose another life There are numerous reports of Hamas militants taking Israeli civilians hostage in their own homes. Many are phoning media outlets as they hide inside with militants going from door to door and shooting civilians or dragging them away. In the worst fighting in decades, the death toll in Israel has risen to more than 200 with over 1,000 wounded while, on the Gaza side, at least 313 have been killed and over 1,700 reported injured. An unknown number of Israelis have been abducted as hostages, sparking dismay in Israel and massively complicating its military retaliation campaign. According to Israeli news website Ynet, dozens of Israeli captives, including numerous women, children and elders, are believed to have been taken into the Gaza Strip. Two Thai nationals were among those killed, and other Asian nationals, thousands of whom work as farm labourers in the region, were believed to be among the hostages. Gun battles between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters are ongoing in multiple locations, including at a police station in Sderot where special forces neutralised 10 armed terrorists, police said. A lot of people have been killed, said army spokesman Richard Hecht, after the military released the names of 26 fallen soldiers. We lost soldiers, lost commanders and lost a lot of civilians. (With agency inputs) German Chancellor Olaf Scholzs troubled coalition lost support in two state elections Sunday seen as a crucial test halfway through its term, exit polls showed, while the resurgent far right made new gains. All three parties in the coalition Scholzs centre-left SPD, the Greens and the liberal FDP lost ground in southern Bavaria, the countrys biggest state, and western Hesse, according to the exit polls. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has enjoyed a surge in opinion poll ratings in recent times, won more support in both states, said the polls from broadcasters ZDF and ARD. Nearly 14 million people were eligible to vote in the states, almost one in five of Germanys electorate. The polls are seen as a crucial indicator of the populations mood, with immigration and economic woes among key topics. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser of the SPD, who ran as the partys candidate for state premier in Hesse, said the results were a very disappointing performance. The SPD lost several percentage points compared to the last state election in 2018, the exit polls showed. In contrast, the AfD had cause for celebration, with co-leader Alice Weidel declaring the party was on the right track. The elections were a lesson for the (coalition) and a vote for change, she added. Official results will come in later Sunday. The polls came after a torrid two years for Scholzs government, which has had to contend with Russias invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing energy crisis, that plunged Germany into recession. Adding to the problems, the chancellors coalition has been consumed by bitter infighting on issues ranging from climate laws to spending cuts. Not helping the cause of the SPD and its coalition partners, both states are conservative strongholds, with Hesse ruled for 24 years by the main opposition CDU and Bavaria since 1957 by the CSU, headed by Markus Soeder. The CDU maintained its first place in Hesse and extended its lead by several percentage points, according to the exit polls. For the past few years, the party had been governing Hesse in coalition with the Greens, and its state premier Boris Rhein is set to retain his post. Latest far-right win The AfDs gains come after a string of recent local election triumphs, and will ring alarm bells anew about its growing popularity. However it is not expected to enter government in either state up for grabs on Sunday, as its strongholds are in eastern Germany. The AfD is traditionally an anti-immigration party but has also focused on attacking the coalitions climate policies, driven by the Greens, that have been unpopular, with critics saying they could unduly burden households. Immigration has emerged as a central theme for the elections as Germany like elsewhere in Europe faces a surge of new arrivals, reviving memories of a major influx in 2015. The victory of the CSU the sister party of the CDU in Bavaria was widely expected and state premier Soeder is set to retain his post. But with the exit polls showing the partys worst result for decades, it could deal a blow to his ambitions to one day stand as a chancellor candidate. Ahead of the vote, the states governing coalition was rocked by a scandal when Soeders deputy, Hubert Aiwanger, admitted to possessing Nazi pamphlets that were found in the schoolbag he used as a teenager in the late 1980s. Aiwanger, leader of junior coalition partner the Free Voters, managed to hang on to his job. And his party actually increased its share of the vote, according to the exit polls, after he claimed he was the victim of a witch hunt. In contrast, the parties from Scholzs coalition lost support in Bavaria and the FDP looks to have fallen below the threshold to get into the state parliament. Analysts have predicted a poor result for the coalition could worsen tensions in government, particularly between the FDP and the other parties. Israels air defence system, Iron Dome intercepted many rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, significantly avoiding casualties. Videos widely shared on social media showed how the Iron Dome intercepted rockets coming in from Gaza. Follow Israel-Palestine Conflict Live news here Near #Gaza exploding above our heads #Israels Iron Dome missiles intercept Hamas rockets pic.twitter.com/64Xe0NOFDW Nic Robertson (@NicRobertsonCNN) October 8, 2023 Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a multi-fronted attack on Israel via land, sea and air routes at daybreak on Saturday. Over 700 Israelis and 300 Gazans have been reported dead in the offensive so far. Many rockets were intercepted by Israels much-vaunted Iron Dome missile defence system, many others landed in Israeli territories leading to casualties. What is Israels Air Defence System Iron Dome? The Israeli-designed Iron Dome system is aimed at providing safety cover to populated areas and critical assets by neutralising short-range aerial threats. The defence system intercepts targets in the airspace and performs fast, complex calculations to detect the trajectory, speed and expected target of the rocket and uses these calculations to destroy the missiles in the air. The Iron Dome is named among the most advanced defence systems in the world and it uses radar to identify and destroy incoming threats in the air. It has been designed to help combat shorter-range rudimentary weapons like the rockets fired from Gaza. Meanwhile, Israels President, Isaac Herzog, in his address to the nation today, called for the formation of an emergency unity government amidst the military incursion by Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with US President Joe Biden for the second time in two days following the attack by the Palestinian militant group. The US is expected to announce more military aid for Israel later today. The US is also set to deploy Navy vessels and an aircraft carrier close to Israel in a show of support. On the afternoon of October 8, Russian troops fired again in the Kherson region. Beryslav and Kherson came under enemy fire, and in the regional center, the invaders hit a place near a church. ADVERTISIMENT Four people were injured. Details were provided by the Kherson Regional Military Administration. "The enemy shelled Kherson region again. Beryslav came under attack. Here, a 72-year-old man sustained moderate injuries. In Kherson, the hit was near a church. Three people were wounded. These are two women of 82 years old and a 74-year-old resident of Kherson. They have light injuries. They sought medical assistance on their own," said the Kherson Regional Military Administration. Earlier it was reported that on the night of October 8, the occupiers massively shelled residential areas of Kherson. Eleven people were injured, including a 9-month-old girl. ADVERTISIMENT Multi-storey buildings and private homes were hit - some of them not for the first time. The shelling also damaged cars in parking lots and under houses, and in the morning Kherson residents saw shells sticking out of the ground on the city streets. Early in the morning, at about 06:25, the Russian army attacked Kostyantynivka in Donetsk region with an Iskander cruise missile. Russian troops hit a residential building. Four residents were injured in the explosion: A 9-year-old girl, her 44-year-old mother, a 64-year-old woman and her 41-year-old son. The wounded were diagnosed with bruises, shrapnel injuries and concussions. At the time of the attack, the people were in their own private homes, near which a Russian missile hit. Paramedics on the spot provided first aid and took them to the hospital. ADVERTISIMENT In addition, 10 multi-storey residential buildings, 19 private households, a car, a boiler house, a gas pipeline and a power line were damaged. The day before, on October 7, in Zaporizhzhia, the occupiers shelled a peaceful village with cluster munitions: a woman was killed and two more people were injured. Disturbing visuals have emerged from Israel as the country grapples with a war-like situation following an unprecedented, multi-fronted, massive attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas. A video of an Israeli student, who was supposedly partying at a music festival in Israel, being taken hostage by Hamas militants has surfaced on the internet. Follow Israel-Palestine Conflict Live news here The heart-wrenching visuals showed the girl pleading for her life, urging the kidnappers not to kill her. Dont kill me.no, the woman in the video, identified as Noa Argamani was heard saying. Noa was attending a music festival taking place near the Gaza border in Israel when the attack happened. According to reports, Noa is currently being held hostage in Gaza. Noa was partying in the south of Israel in a peace music festival when Hams terrorists kidnapped her and dragged her from Israel into Gaza.Noa is held hostage by Hamas. She could be your daughter, sister, friend.#BringBackOurFamily pic.twitter.com/gi2AStVdTQ Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) October 7, 2023 Another video of a man, woman and two children purportedly held hostage by Hamas militants went viral on social media. The two children were seen sobbing for their sister, who cannot be seen in the video. A person, who appeared to be their captor, shouted, Relax, relax, she went to heaven. Israel-based journalist Hananya Naftali shared the video on X (formerly Twitter), saying Hamas militants have taken control of this Israeli familys house. Israeli family is held hostage by Hamas terrorists who took control of their house inside Israel. Just look at their faces. This is a crime against humanity. I demand world leaders to take action, the journalist wrote in his post. Hamas launched a multi-fronted attack on Israel via land, sea and air routes. Israeli forces fought hundreds of Hamas terrorists through the night at over 20 Israel locations, including two where hostages were being held by the gunmen, the army said. Over 600 Israelis and 300 Gazans have been reported dead so far. Meanwhile, Israels security cabinet voted to invoke Article 40 Aleph, an official declaration of war. Last night, the Security Cabinet approved the war situation and, to this end, the taking of significant military steps, as per Article 40 of Basic Law, an official statement said. THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) is set to impound at least 2 000 vehicles that were imported through the abuse of the civil servants rebate scheme. In a joint operation with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), ZACC through its investigations department has since engaged in Operation No to Abuse of Civil Servants Rebate Scheme. In 2019, the Government introduced the civil servants motor vehicle rebate scheme which is governed by Statutory Instrument 52 of 2019 of Customs and Exercise [General] [Amendment] Regulations, 2019 in which civil servants who had served in the civil service for 10 years and above were allowed to import motor vehicles up to a specific value for each employment grade without paying import duty. In her last interview prior to her new appointment as Zimbabwes Prosecutor-General, former ZACC chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo told The Herald that due processes were being followed in the conviction-based forfeiture of the vehicles. In addition, Justice Matanda-Moyo said ZACC had instituted measures to recover funds, land and immovable properties that were acquired by public entities and local authorities through unprocedural means. She said the entities had already been highlighted in the Auditor Generals report. Working jointly with ZIMRA, ZACC through its investigations department has also engaged in Operation No to Abuse of Civil Servants Rebate Scheme. The operation anticipates conviction-based forfeiture of about 2 000 vehicles which were acquired through the abuse of the civil servants rebate scheme. The Commission, through the Compliance and Systems Review Unit and AFRU has also facilitated administrative recovery measures for public entities and local authorities wherein assets like funds, land and immovable properties were unprocedurally parcelled out. These entities were flagged in the Auditor Generals Report. This process has managed to plug and reverse leakages of revenue back to the public purse, she said. Justice Matanda-Moyo said the anti-graft body was confident of achieving its target of seizing US$1 billion worth of illegally acquired wealth. To this end, she said, ZACC was confident of seizing assets worth US$700 million by the end of the year. ZACC is confident that ill-gotten proceeds of crime of more than US$1 billion are out there and will be recovered. The Commission has made tremendous strides through domestic and regional cooperation. Case files for asset recovery and forfeiture have been referred to the courts through the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Unit (AFRU). ZACC set targets for recoveries and consolidation is ongoing. However, indications from the internal monitoring system are that the commission is on course to achieving over 70 percent target. Statistics and figures will be released at the end of the year, she said. Justice Matanda-Moyo said ZACC had also achieved a 77 percent conviction rate in cases referred to the National Prosecuting Authority, a five percent increase from last years conviction rate of 72 percent. However, she said, the Commission remained hopeful that it would secure more convictions by the end of the year. From the cases referred to the NPA, ZACC has this far achieved a 77 percent conviction rate. This is a five percent improvement from the 72 percent conviction rate recorded in 2022. The Commission remains optimistic of securing more convictions in the last quarter of 2023, said Justice Matanda-Moyo. Herald FUGITIVE suspected killer Peter Dube has been arrested in Mozambique and will be extradited to Zimbabwe after two years on the run. It has since emerged that Dube, who was recently convicted in Ireland of violating immigration laws before being deported to Mozambique after he claimed to be a citizen of that country, had recently assumed another alias Armando Quenete Muchanga. Dube is understood to have fraudulently acquired a passport wherein he claimed to have been born on June 21, 1985. He is wanted by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in connection with two fatal shootings and an attempted murder case in Gweru on April 23, 2021. Currently, Dube is in the custody of Mozambican authorities pending investigations into how he acquired the passport that saw him assuming the new identity. Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the latest development. He was using a passport with the name Armando Quenete Muchanga with date of birth as June 21, 1985. He is currently in custody pending further investigations. He will also undergo due court processes that will allow his extradition back into the country, he said. The Southern African Development Community has a protocol on extradition of suspects among member states. According to Article 2 of the protocol titled Obligation to Extradite, each state party agrees to extradite to the other, in accordance with the provisions of this protocol and their respective domestic law, any person within its jurisdiction who is wanted for prosecution or the imposition or enforcement of a sentence in the Requesting State for an extraditable offence. Last week, Asst Comm Nyathi confirmed that the Zimbabwe Republic Police, through Interpol, were making efforts to have Dube extradited back into the country from Mozambique. On April 23, 2021, Dube, who was a car dealer, approached his second wife, Nyasha Nharingo, and her suspected lover Shelton Chinhango also a car dealer who was seated in a minibus parked outside a flat in Gwerus central business district, where she lived. He then allegedly fatally shot Shelton at close range before turning the gun on his second wifes best friend, Gamuchirai Mudungwe, whom he also shot in the chest. She died instantly. Dube allegedly went on to shoot Nyasha and her sister Nyaradzo, who were later rushed to hospital. After the shootings, he reportedly fled to South Africa, before relocating to Eswatini, where he changed his identity to Xolile Mtsali. From Eswatini, he travelled to Ireland, where he sought asylum. He was then arrested in Ireland on June 14 this year after The Sunday Mail expose on how he and his family changed identities before seeking asylum. Dube was arrested at a refugee facility in Dublin, before being convicted by the Dublin District Court for violating that countrys immigration laws. Sources said during his court appearance, Dube claimed to be a Mozambican and produced his passport as proof of his nationality. He enjoyed the benefit of doubt, as the Zimbabwe authorities took long to prove that Dube was a Zimbabwean, said a source. When the documentation was later delivered to the Irish authorities, it was too late as Dube had already been deported to Mozambique. The warrant of arrest request that was issued by Zimbabwe was then overtaken by events, as there was need to prove that Dube was a Zimbabwean national before he could be repatriated back to Zimbabwe. He then took advantage of the red tape in processing the documents and claimed to be Mozambican, since he also had some identification particulars of that country. After skipping the country in 2021, Dube is understood to have joined a syndicate involved in producing fake identity documents in South Africa and Eswatini. Sunday Mail Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7 can be considered one of the biggest failures of Israeli intelligence since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The attack involved the kind of planning and coordination of military action that intelligence services should have known about. ADVERTISIMENT Bloomberg writes about this. According to an article published on the agency's website, although Jerusalem has long claimed that terrorists were preparing for violence, the timing and scale of the attack allegedly came as a surprise to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel, as well as the United States, which has allocated $3.3 billion for Jerusalem's defense in 2022, will investigate who is responsible, the journalists said. "I am shocked that they (Hamas - Ed.) were able to do this without Israel or the United States noticing. The inability to prepare... The failure to deploy troops along the border, the destruction of the fence along the border, for which they paid millions of shekels," said former US Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk. The Hamas attack comes 50 years after Israel failed to repel a surprise attack by Egypt and Syria during the Jewish Yom Kippur holiday, Bloomberg writes. At the time, a commission to investigate the intelligence failure was set up, with many studies and academic publications devoted to the attack. ADVERTISIMENT "The real problem is probably that the Israelis simply did not believe that Hamas would risk breaking through the border. The lack of sufficient Israeli forces in the area was a serious failure," said Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The failure may also be investigated by the US Congress, given that Israeli and US intelligence agencies should have been expected to detect the preparation of such an attack, the article says. Israel's intelligence services allocating significant resources to monitor Palestinians, including Hamas, through networks of informants and surveillance technologies, were not helpful as well. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZREVATEL: - On October 7, militants of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas launched a massive rocket attack and ground invasion of Israel. In the evening, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) regained control of some border towns. On the morning of October 8, 350 Israelis were reported killed and 1800 wounded, and 750 more people went missing. The Palestinians reported 265 deaths in the Gaza Strip. - On October 8, Israel announced its entry into a long war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured that its first phase ended with the destruction of most terrorists and the rescue of hostages, and advised residents of the Gaza Strip to "flee immediately." ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information on our Telegram Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa says an opposition politician, who is making moves to recall the partys legislators and councilors is not known to them as police are being accused of dragging their feet in dealing with the fraud. Sengezo Tshabangu, a former MDC-T official from Matabeleland North province, last week brew a shocker when he wrote to National Assembly speaker Jacob Mudenda purporting to recall elected representatives from the countrys main opposition party. Tshabangu claimed to be CCCs interim secretary-general and his daring move has been compared with that of MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora, who seized control of the MDC Alliance and went on to purge MPs and councillors that were aligned to Chamisa. The move severely weakened the opposition and allowed Zanu PF to pass legislation that closed the democratic space with ease and Mwonzora was accused of being on the ruling partys payroll. CCC has also accused Tshabangu of being a Zanu PF plant, who worked with the Central Intelligence Organisation-linked Forever Associate Zimbabwe (Faz) to field double candidates for the opposition in the August 23 and 24 harmonised elections. Zanu PF, which came short of a twothirds majority in the National Assembly, cannot pass constitutional amendments with its numbers and speculation is that plans are afoot to whittle down opposition figures through arrests and other unorthodox means. Chamisa, who has been holding feedback meetings around the country after he rejected President Emmerson Mnangagwas controversial election victory as a gigantic fraud, was asked on social media what he was doing concerning the Tshabangu issue. He is not a member (of CCC), he said on (formerly Twitter). We know our members. We have solid records. On Friday, Chamisa said his MPs and councillors could not be recalled by Tshabangu. We wont allow our MPs to be subjected to nonsense, Chamisa said during a consultative meeting held in Bulawayo with his MPs and councillors. Mudenda is yet to make a decision on the recalls, but the Zanu PF politburo members' impartiality was questioned during the Mwonzora era as some of the recalls were reversed by the courts. Binga North legislator Prince Dubeko Sibanda, who is among 15 legislators and 17 councillors that were recalled by Tshabangu, said police said they would do some consultations before they could open a case. I went to the police to file a report, but I did not get an RRB or CR number, Sibanda told The Standard. They said they would get back to me after some consultations. Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube, referred questions to national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi. Nyathi said: They should seek assistance from the Bulawayo Metropolitan provincial officer. I am sure they will be assisted. According to the CCC, Tshabangu is a Zanu PF proxy, being used to force by-elections as the ruling party seeks to win more seats to get a two-thirds majority. CCC has described Tshabangu as a petty criminal. The only person, who can recall anyone in the party is president Nelson Chamisa and his leadership, so any other machination is child's play, party spokesperson, Promise Mkwananzi said. Our people must remain focused on pursuing a fresh election. We dont have that (secretary-general) post in our party. We dont have to do anything on the Tshabangus stunt. He is just a petty criminal. Tshabangu told The Standard that he was targeting criminals around Chamisa. These are internal differences, he claimed. We are trying to correct these imbalances. We are trying to bring the party back to its founding core values. We are removing criminals around the president criminals who were born through an illegitimate process. They are a product of an illegitimate bereka mwana process so we want to remove them. That is why we had to fight to ensure that all the candidates whom the people had chosen were on the ballot. All the candidates that Tshabangu nominated lost in the elections to CCC members. Political analyst Maxwell Saungweme warned CCC against downplaying Tshabangus move to recall its MPs. This exposes the party to manipulation, abuse, and hijack by opportunistic external political structures, Saungweme sid. If there was a system from the beginning, it would not have been easy for Tshabangu to try and recall CCC legislators. As it is, they face a mammoth task to overturn Tshabangus move. The attempt to recall the CCC may look unreasonable, but may affect the party. When Mwonzora started his recalls in 2021, many thought it wouldnt happen, but he succeeded. This is a serious threat to the party and cannot be taken lightly. In terms of section 129(1)(k) of the constitution, legislators and councils can be recalled from Parliament through a letter by a political party to the speaker of Parliament. Institute for Security Studies Southern Africa programme head, Piers Pigou, said CCC was in trouble. This is all about individual interests and crude political agendas and has little to do with the interests of the electorate, Pigou said. This issue is getting way too much attention, but only because CCC slept and walked into this recall madness in the last Parliament. The apparent willing participation of Parliament and the speakers office underscores once again why this office should not be in the hands of a partisan politician such as Jacob Mudenda. Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa said the ruling party had nothing to do with the attempts to recall CCC elected represantatives. We have nothing to do with CCC squabbles, Mutsvangwa said. Their house is burning, and there is so much infighting it has nothing to do with Zanu PF. We are busy governing. The president has already appointed cabinet, and we are preoccupied with growing this economy. We are not looking in the rear view mirror. We are looking in the windshield of the future. There is no other election coming. There is no threat coming from the defeated CCC at all. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission decided and gave a verdict. Standard Amtrak made the lofty goal to double its ridership in under 20 years, and the railroad company is using an infusion of cash ( some $22 billion ) from the 2021 infrastructure bill to help make it happen. The Wall Street Journal reports that improving some of Amtrak's busiest hubs, many of which haven't had upgrades in decades, is key to this plan. "Amtrak is making significant investments to modernize our stations," said EVP Laura Mason, who is overseeing the company's internal infrastructure overhaul. Projects include improving tracks, adding accessibility, and rehauling several giant stations to capitalize on retail their potential. Philly's 30th Street Station, New York's Penn Station, and Chicago's Union Station will all get an influx of funding. Baltimore's 112-year-old Penn Station, which WBALTV-11 reports has not seen significant renovations since 1984, is also getting a refresh. "It's a tremendous opportunity to lure new residents from DC and other locations to live in a neighborhood where they are steps from hopping a train to virtually anywhere," a local Baltimore community leader told the Journal. The station will undergo historic preservation while also adding two platforms sized to accommodate new Acela trains and building out a new modern station building across the tracks that will be connected by a concourse. Amtrak's spending is set to skyrocket: from the $15 million in major stations funding in 2019 to $1.5 billion by 2028; annual capital investment will jump from $785 million in 2019 to over $6.5 billion in 2025. The Journal notes that Amtrak was "cobbled together" when private railroad companies like Pennsylvania Railroad began breaking up in the '60s. The national passenger railroad company absorbed long stretches of underused tracks crisscrossing the country, but also inherited enormous sites like Baltimore's Penn Station, which have potential for development. But against the aggressive timeline to double ridership by 2040 come delays: The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Wednesday that the next-gen Acela train sets that had been set to go into service in 2021 may be further delayed because a newly released performance audit found a number of defects in the nine-car train sets. (Read more Amtrak stories.) He is sometimes called the Frederick Law Olmsted of China, notes NPR . Meaning landscape architect Yu Kongjian is compared to the famous American who put Central Park amid the skyscrapers. As the NPR story explains, the modern movement Yu is spearheading goes well beyond aesthetics. It's summed up in a two-word description: sponge cities, and the idea is to ease flooding that seems to be getting worse by the year in the world's urban areas. "Think more parks and fewer parking lots," is how a piece at Wired sums things up, one that advocates for cities such as New York and Los Angeles to get "spongier" in the very near future. The idea is to move away from concrete and the like and revert to more natural landscapes that can better handle rainfall. "Traditionally, our cities are designed to resist water and remove it very quickly: water is directed by hard surfaces like concrete into drains, which take water into underground pipes that lead from cities into rivers, lakes, or the ocean," explains Usman T. Khan at Macleans in Canada. The problem is that all those "hard surfaces" make it impossible for water to soak into the ground or evaporate. Plus, those underground pipes were built when average rainfall was lighter. Today, "more frequent and serious storms have overloaded this outdated infrastructure." The upshot, then, is that instead of trying to repel water, sponge cities welcome it. China has perhaps been the most aggressive in pushing the concept, thanks largely to Yu, though Reuters notes the limitations. The city of Zhengzhou, for example, has made big investments in such changes, but it was nevertheless devastated by record rainfall in 2021. At Wired, Matt Simon points out that cities can adopt elements of the concept in piecemeal fashion: permeable pavement, more green roofs and green spaces in general, perhaps stormwater fees for neighborhoods that have way more pavement than vegetation. "The city of the future may be spongier in ways that are obviously verdant or more subtle," he notes. (Read more flooding stories.) UPDATE Oct 9, 2023 12:12 PM CDT A series of earthquakes in Afghanistan on Saturday killed nearly 3,000 people, say Taliban officials, with the Guardian reporting that subsequent quakes as strong as 5.9 magnitude hit the area on Monday. "Vans filled with dead bodies are arriving here each minute," said a medic at a hospital in Herat city, the capital of Herat province. The BBC describes it as "a barren landscape dotted with mud brick homes," and quotes the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs as saying "100% of homes are estimated to have been completely destroyed" in the city. The UN says villagers continue to use their shovels and hands to search for the missing. Outside aid only started to reach the area Monday, and the BBC reports pledges of aid from foreign countries have been sparse. Oct 8, 2023 5:45 AM CDT Powerful earthquakes killed at least 2,000 people in western Afghanistan, a Taliban government spokesman said Sunday. It's one of the deadliest earthquakes to strike the country in two decades. The figures couldn't be independently verified, reports the AP. The magnitude-6.3 earthquake was followed by strong aftershocks on Saturday, a spokesperson for the country's national disaster management authority said. The United States Geological Survey said the quake's epicenter was about 25 miles northwest of Herat city. It was followed by three very strong aftershocks, measuring magnitude 6.3, 5.9 and 5.5, as well as lesser shocks. A seventh man accused in the August assassination of an Ecuadorian presidential candidate was killed inside a prison in Ecuador's capital, authorities said Saturday, a day after six others accused of being linked to the crime were slain in a different lockup. The killing of the seven suspects happened just more than a week before Ecuador holds a presidential runoff election, as officials struggle to explain how this was possible, the AP reports. The prison system said in a press release that the man killed was being held at a prison in Quito, Ecuador's capital. It released no details of how it happened and identified him only "Jose M.," without giving his nationality. Six Colombian men charged in the Aug. 9 assassination of Fernando Villavicencio were killed Friday inside a prison in Guayaquil. President Guillermo Lasso called an emergency meeting of his security Cabinet, which decided to move the remaining six suspects in the assassination to a different prison, a government statement said. It didn't identify the prison to which they were sent for security reasons. The government also fired the prisons system director and the police chief of investigations, the presidential communication office reported. The prosecutor's office is expected to announce soon the conclusion of the investigation stage into the killing of Villavicencio, who was shot to death while leaving a political rally. The 59-year-old politician had not been considered among the front-runners for the election's first round on Aug. 20, but his killing in broad daylight was a shocking reminder of the surge in crime gripping Ecuador, per the AP. He had reported being threatened by affiliates of Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel, one of the many international organized crime groups operating in Ecuador. The nation is holding the runoff presidential election Oct. 15 pitting the two top finishers in the August voteleftist Luisa Gonzalez and former lawmaker Daniel Noboa, who is the son of a banana tycoon. (Read more Ecuador stories.) Concerns that Hezbollah will become a full participant on the side of Hamas increased Sunday when its forces exchanged fire Sunday with Israel at the Israeli-Lebanon border. Lebanon's militant group said it hit a radar station and two other sites in the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms area with guided missiles and artillery shells. The Wall Street Journal reports that the targets appeared to be limited to strategic infrastructure. Hezbollah's media outlet said the attack was "in solidarity" with the Hamas attack on Israel, which responded with a drone strike on Hezbollah infrastructure. "We recommend Hezbollah not to come into this," Israeli military spokesman Richard Hecht told reporters. "I don't think they will. If they do, we are ready." Like Hamas, Hezbollah is backed by Iran. And it's clashed with Israel before, per Reuters. On Sunday, a top Hezbollah official expressed support for Hamas' attack at a rally in Beirut, per the Washington Post. "Our hearts are with you. Our minds are with you. Our souls are with you. Our history and guns and our rockets are with you," Hashem Safieddine said. Hezbollahwhich shares Hamas' goal of ending the Israeli state, per the APwould find it tough to appear uninvolved in the current fighting, an analyst said; Beirut has admitted Hamas leaders recently. "When the impact on Israel is as big [as this attack's], it makes less sense to be risk-averse and compartmentalize things," said Mohanad Hage Ali, a fellow with the Carnegie Middle East Center based in Beirut. "I think this attack reshuffles the cards, big time." (Read more Hezbollah stories.) Ron DeSantis wants suspected drug smugglers at the US-Mexico border to be shot dead. Nikki Haley promises to send special forces into Mexico. Vivek Ramaswamy has accused Mexico's leader of treating drug cartels as his "sugar daddy" and says that if he is elected president, "there will be a new daddy in town." Donald Trump, who has long shaped his Republican rhetoric on the border, has often blamed Mexico for problems in the US and promises new uses of military force and covert action if he returns to the White House. Many of the GOP presidential candidates say they would carry out potential acts of war against Mexico in response to the trafficking of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, the AP reports. More than 75,000 people in the US died last year of overdoses of synthetic opioids, a figure more than 20 times higher than a decade ago. The candidates' antagonism toward Mexico is welcomed by some families that have lost loved ones to fentanyl and have argued that the US has not done enough to address the crisis. But analysts and nonpartisan experts warn that military force is not the answer and instead fuels the racism and xenophobia that undermine efforts to stop drug trafficking. "You've got politicking on this side. And then on the Mexican side of the border, you've got a president who is turning a blind eye to what's going on in Mexico and who has completely gutted bilateral collaboration with the United States," said Arturo Sarukhan, Mexico's ambassador to the US from 2007 to 2013. "That's a very combustible mixture." Andrea Thomas' daughter died at age 32 after taking half of a counterfeit pill laced with fentanyl that looked like her prescription pills for abdominal pain. Thomas started the foundation Voices for Awareness in Grand Junction, Colorado, to raise the alarm about fentanyl. Thomas says people she knows are interested in what the candidates are proposing and feel that President Biden's administration has not properly responded to the crisis. In a letter to the presidential candidates, Thomas and an assembly of other groups urge the politicians to do "all that can be done" to stop the manufacturing and smuggling of the drug. "This drug is like no drug we have ever seen before," she said. "We need some strong measures. We have no more time to waste." story continues below DeSantis has promised that people suspected of smuggling drugs across the southern border would end up "stone cold dead." That raises the prospect of border agents being authorized to shoot people before any investigation into whether those people were carrying drugs. US government data undercuts the claim that people seeking asylum and other border crossers are responsible for drug trafficking, per the AP. About 90% of fentanyl seizures were made at official land crossings, not between crossings where people entered illegally. At a hearing in July, James Mandryck of Customs and Border Protection said 73% of fentanyl seizures at the border since the previous October were smuggling attempts carried out by US citizens, with the rest being done by Mexican citizens. (Read more fentanyl stories.) No sooner had President Biden told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that military assistance is on its way to Israel for its war against Hamas than the Pentagon announced a deployment. Biden made the assurance in a phone call on Sunday, the New York Times reports, that included a discussion of the seizure of Israeli civilian hostages. "The president emphasized that there is no justification whatsoever for terrorism," a White House statement said, "and all countries must stand united in the face of such brutal atrocities." Biden promised the flow of aid would continue in the days ahead. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday that the Ford carrier strike group is sailing for the Eastern Mediterranean. The major deployment includes various ships and warplanes, per the AP. The centerpiece is the Gerald R. Ford, the Navy's most advanced aircraft carrier. It carries a crew of about 5,000. Also going is the cruiser USS Normandy and the destroyers Thomas Hudner, Ramage, Carney, and Roosevelt. The Pentagon is bolstering Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the area. The carrier group, which is based in Norfolk, already was in the region on its first deployment; it conducting exercises last week in the Ionian Sea with Italy. "The US maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required," Austin said in a statement. A Hamas spokesman criticized the new US aid, per the Times, as demonstrating the Americans' "active participation in the aggression against our people." Israeli defense officials have asked for specific armaments, per the Washington Post. They include Iron Dome interceptors, small-diameter bombs, and rounds of ammunition for machine guns. Israel also requested greater intelligence-sharing with the US concerning the military situation in southern Lebanon. (Read more US-Israeli relations stories.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region For the first time in 50 years,Israel has invoked Article 40 Aleph. This means an official declaration of war. The military has the right to act at its own discretion, but to report it to the higher authorities. ADVERTISIMENT The decision was voted for by the Israeli military-political cabinet. The last time this clause was used was in 1973, during the Yom Kippur War. It stipulates that "the state will not start a war or take significant military action that could with a high degree of probability lead to war, except in the case of a government decision." Meanwhile, civilians are being evacuated from towns near the border with the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military said. Israeli Defense Forces spokesman Richard Hecht said that within the next 12 hours, Eruzlaim plans to launch a military operation that will put an end to the Gaza enclave. "We have goals for the next 12 hours. To put an end to the Gaza enclave. To take control of the entire enclave and destroy all terrorists on our territory," he said. As reported by OBOZREVATEL: ADVERTISIMENT - On October 7, Hamas launched a massive rocket attack and ground invasion of Israel, killing hundreds of Israelis and injuring more than 2,000. In the evening, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) regained control of some border towns. Palestinians claimed 265 deaths in the Gaza Strip. - October 8 Israel announces its entry into a long war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured that its first stage was ending with the destruction of most terrorists and the rescue of hostages and advised residents of the Gaza Strip to "flee immediately." - In the Gaza Strip, one of the leaders of Hamas, Ayman Younis, was killed in an Israeli air strike. His body was found under the ruins of a house. - Hamas' attack on Israel was called the biggest Israeli intelligence failure in 50 years. According to Bloomberg, the Israeli and American intelligence services should have known about the preparation of a large-scale attack. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information on our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! 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. In the city of Alexandria, Egypt, on October 8, a local police officer opened fire on a bus with tourists from Israel. At least three people were killed. ADVERTISIMENT The event was called a terrorist attack. Al Jazeera wrote about it, citing a source in the Egyptian security service. It is noted that the attack took place near the Pompeii pillar. Some media outlets wrote about the shooting at the bus with Israelis, while others reported that it took place in the cabin where the people were. "A police officer fired his personal weapon and killed two Israeli tourists," they quoted a source as saying. Later, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that two Israelis and their Egyptian guide had been killed. This is the information about the wounded Israeli citizen. He is in moderate condition. According to The Times of Israel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Security Council, the IDF, and the Israeli Embassy in Egypt are working to bring the Israelis home. ADVERTISIMENT Footage from the scene was shared online, showing ambulances and people watching from behind a fence. There was also a video showing the victims of the attack: two people lying motionless on the ground, the place was surrounded by law enforcement officers. At that time, a group of men was helping one person, and a woman was screaming, calling an ambulance. According to media reports, three people have been confirmed dead - two Israeli citizens and one Egyptian citizen. At the same time, some channels reported the deaths of six people and the injuries of several others. ADVERTISIMENT The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was looking into reports that Israeli tourists had been shot at in the city of Alexandria. And the Israeli rescue service confirmed the information about two dead citizens. Israel is in a state of war for the second day: Lebanese Hezbollah has joined Hamas militants in attacking the north of the country, and Israeli army operations continue in eight areas around the Gaza Strip. Read more about the situation here. As reported by OBOZREVATEL, Bloomberg called Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7 one of the biggest failures of Israeli intelligence in the last 50 years. The number of victims of the military attack is now in the hundreds. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! TDT | Sderot The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain yesterday expressed deep concerns over the armed escalations taking place between Palestinian groups and Israeli forces, as according to latest reports the death toll in the Gaza Strip alone rose to 232. In Israel, at least 200 people were reported killed with bodies were seen lying on the streets of the town of Sderot near Gaza. The attack also left thousands more wounded on both sides. In a statement, Bahrains Foreign Affairs Ministry stressed the need for de-escalation among all parties to preserve the lives of people and said it is closely following the developments. The ministry warned that the continuation of violence will impede the efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. Bahrain also called on the international community to take its role in ending the armed conflict and protecting civilians in line with the international humanitarian law. The statement further stressed the importance of supporting the peace process and establishing the Palestinian state according to the two-state solution and other international legitimacy resolutions. Hamas have launched a largescale surprise attack against Israel yesterday, firing thousands of rockets from Gaza and sending fighters to kill or abduct people as Israel retaliated with devastating air strikes. Later in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a statement, said We are at war as Israeli military launched a series of strikes against targets in the coastal enclave. Meanwhile, Hamas has released images of several Israelis taken captive, and Israel army spokesman Daniel Hagari confirmed that "there are kidnapped soldiers and civilians. The attack started at around 6:30 am (0330 GMT) with thousands of rockets aimed as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, some bypassing the Iron Dome defence system and hitting buildings. Al Areen Wildlife Park and Reserve has received SGS's Best Contribution to the Preservation of Wildlife Certification for both plants and animals in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Arabian countries in general. SGS is the world's leading testing, inspection, and certification company, recognized as the global benchmark for sustainability, quality, and integrity. The certification was awarded to Shaikh Mishal Ebrahim AlKhalifa, Acting Director of Al Areen Wildlife Park, by Mr. Roy Skaria, Managing Director at SGS, in an official ceremony held at the park yesterday, as part of World Animal Day celebrations. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The Board of Directors of Al Baraka Islamic Bank has announced the appointment of Dr Adel Abdullah Salem as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the bank, bringing with him a wealth of accumulated banking experience spanning over three decades. The Board of Directors of Al Baraka Islamic Bank, chaired by Sabah Khalil Al Moayyed, expressed their welcome to Dr Adel Abdullah Salem as a seasoned national expert in the world of finance and banking, adding that they are looking forward to his significant contributions in developing the banks operations, elevating its business model, and raising its level of service quality. Al Moayyed affirmed that Dr. Adel Abdullah Salems appointment is in line with the Boards strategic vision for the coming years, aiming to enhance its exceptional banking experience for its customers in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries through the provision of the latest and most technologically advanced banking services for individuals, companies, and wealth management. She emphasised that Dr Adel Abdullah Salems expertise and competence will contribute to solidifying the banks prominent position as one of the leading financial institutions in Islamic banking in the Kingdom, which will positively impact its financial and operational performance in the years to come. Dr. Adel Abdullah Salem possesses extensive experience in business development, banking, and finance, having held numerous leadership positions throughout his long banking career. He joins Al Baraka Islamic Bank after spending several years in the business, financial services, and telecommunications sectors. Prior to joining the bank, he served as the General Manager of Retail Banking at the Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK) and previously held the position of Deputy General Manager - Business Support at Benefit, in addition to several important positions at Batelco (Bahrain Telecommunications Company). Commenting on his appointment, Dr Adel Abdullah Salem said: I look forward to working closely with the executive management team and staff in various departments towards maintaining its leadership in the field of Islamic banking in the Kingdom. It is worth mentioning that Dr Adel Abdullah Salem holds a Ph.D. in Management from Monarch Business School in Switzerland, and a masters degree in business research from the same educational institution. 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 On Sunday, October 8, Israel, which had suffered a massive rocket attack and land invasion by Hamas the day before, announced its entry into a long war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured that the first stage of the war was ending with the destruction of most of the militants and the rescue of hostages, and at the same time advised residents of the Gaza Strip to "flee immediately." ADVERTISIMENT The invasion of a country with one of the strongest armies in the world has already been called by military observers the largest since the Yom Kippur War, which until now was the last time the state of Israel allowed an external military attack on its territory. OBOZREVATEL is following the Palestinian-Israeli conflict online (to see photos and videos, scroll down to the bottom of the news). 08:07 - The IDF website has updated the data with photos of the dead soldiers of the Israeli army. As of this hour, it contains information about 30 soldiers. 08:05 - On Sunday morning, the IDF launched artillery strikes on Lebanon after several mortar shells were fired towards Israeli territory. There were no reports of casualties or damage. 08:00 - The Israeli Defense Forces reported that they struck Hamas' operational infrastructure in the Gaza Strip during the night, which is used to carry out terror from there against Israeli civilians. In particular, the headquarters of the militants' intelligence and a military air base were hit. At the same time, the IDF struck two banks belonging to Hamas, an aircraft manufacturing facility used by the Islamic Jihad air force in Gaza City, as well as a building with offices and warehouses where the terrorist organization stores weapons and military equipment. ADVERTISIMENT 07:50 - IDF releases video of strikes on numerous terrorist cells in the Gaza Strip fence area over the past 24 hours. 07:40 - The Wall Street Journal, citing Egyptian officials, reports that Israel has asked Egypt to facilitate the release of Israelis captured by Hamas militants. At the same time, the exact number of prisoners is unknown. 07:30 - The IDF says that fighting continues in Israel in several settlements near the Gaza Strip. About 100 militants were killed in new attempts to break through into Israel. 07:20 - According to unofficial reports, at least 750 Israelis are missing, the Jerusalem Post reports. 06:55 - The Israeli army press service publishes a video of strikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, located in high-rise buildings. ADVERTISIMENT 06:30 - The Israeli army announces the establishment of a closed military zone in the Gaza Strip. "We emphasize that entry into the closed military zone is prohibited. "We ask citizens to be vigilant and not to enter this area," the military said. 06:20 - Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad said that "Iran supported the Palestinian terrorist group" in its sudden attack on Israel. Tehran is a key supporter of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. 06:00 - Senate Democrats have called for the swift confirmation of US President Joe Biden's nominee Jack Lew as the next ambassador to Israel. Against the backdrop of the war between Israel and Hamas, Republican Ted Cruz (from Texas) said they would try to block Lew's confirmation because of their "objections to the Biden administration's policy towards Israel." ADVERTISIMENT 05:40 - Terrorists of the Palestinian group Hamas have taken dozens of Israeli soldiers and civilians hostage. At the same time, the people who were captured in a canteen in Beersheba have been released. According to The Jerusalem Post, the terrorists who held them were neutralized. IDF: Does Israel really have one of the strongest armies in the world? 05:20 - Israeli military strikes Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. The IDF did not disclose details about the results. 05:05 - Hamas terrorists kidnapped, brutally abused and probably killed German citizen Shani Luk during an attack on Israel. The woman, who had traveled abroad to attend a festival, was recognized by her hairstyle (dreadlocks) and tattoo. ADVERTISIMENT 04:50 - U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and urged him to take steps to resolve the situation. However, he responded by calling the United States "the occupiers of Palestine." Blinken also spoke with Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to condemn the "horrific terrorist attacks on Israel" and reaffirm "Israel's right to self-defense." Hamas: what is this movement and why is it so eager to destroy Israel? 04:25 - Israeli Border Police Commander Amir Cohen praised the IDF for regaining control of the police station in Sderot, which was seized by terrorists on Saturday morning, after an hour-long operation to dislodge them. According to the report, at least 10 militants were killed during the operation. ADVERTISIMENT 03:40 - Israel's Prime Minister says the country is entering a long and difficult war, which was forced by a murderous Hamas attack. According to him, most of the militants who infiltrated Israeli territory have been killed. The government has decided to stop supplying electricity, fuel and goods to the Gaza Strip. "At the same time, we have launched an offensive phase, and it will continue until the goal is achieved," he added. 02:30 - Due to the Hamas attack, Israel has extended a state of emergency to the entire country. This significantly expands the powers of the police. 02:00 - The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they have destroyed Hamas cells and are moving towards Gaza. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZREVATEL, as a result of an unprecedented attack by Hamas militants on Israel on the morning of October 7, 300 Israeli civilians and security forces were killed and more than 1590 were injured. An unknown number of people were kidnapped by terrorists in southern Israel and taken to the Gaza Strip. Only verified information is available on our Telegram Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Some bandits have raided the Unguwan Dankali area in Zaria Local Area of Kaduna State, killing four residents while four others sustained gunshots injuries. The Kaduna State Police Commands Public Relations Officer, Mansur Hassan, who confirmed the incident on Sunday, said during the attack, operatives rescued five kidnapped victims and arrested one suspected kidnapper. He identified the rescued kidnapped victims, comprising four females and an eight-month-old boy, to include: Halima Musa(27 years), (2) Rukaiya Salisu (25 years,), Ummi Sadisu F, (4) Yusuf Musa M 8 months, and Aisha Rabiu F 2 years. Hassan added that the attack occurred on Friday, noting that following a distressed call, the Zaria Area Command, swiftly mobilized operatives to the locations where six persons were found critical injured. The injured, he added, were immediately evacuated to the Muslim Clinic Hospital in the ancient city of Zaria where doctors on duty confirmed four of the victims death, while the remaining victims were still receiving treatment in the facility. The police spokesman quoted the state Commissioner of Police, Musa Yusuf Garba, to have extended his condolences to the families of the deceased The police chief said, the Commissioner of Police Kaduna State Command, CP Musa Yusuf Garba want to commiserate with the families of those that loss their lives during the unfortunate incident of armed bandits attack on the 6th October 2023 at about 2330 hours at Unguwan Dankali, Zaria LGA of Kaduna State. On receipt of the distress call, the Divisional Police Officer Dan magaji Division and the Area Commander Zaria Area Command, mobilized there personnels immediately to the location where 6 persons were found critically injured. They were immediately evacuated to the Muslim Clinic Hospital Zaria where the doctors on duty confirmed four (4) of the victims death, while the remaining victims were immediately admitted to the said Hospital. Thereafter, the joint response teams consisting of the Police, Military and Civilian JTF went in pursuit of the Bandits, due to the superior fire power of the Security forces, the hoodlums were forced to abandon five (5) kidnapped victims. The victims were immediately rescued and conveyed to the above mentioned Hospital. He added, Meanwhile, one of the suspect Mansir Umar M of After Rail Unguwar Dankali was immediately arrested in possession of several military woodland camouflage wears and is strongly suspected to be one of the gunmen who attacked the said community. Preliminary investigation has since commenced and the suspect is cooperating with the Police while concerted effort is being intensified toward the arresting the remaining fleeing bandits. The Commissioner of Police Kaduna Command, CP Musa Yusuf Garba, while commiserating with the family members of the deceased and further Colling on members of the public to volunteer in assisting the Police with any relevant information that will lead to the arresting of the remaining fleeing bandits. Aisha Yesufu, a sociopolitical activist, has reacted to the certificate saga involving President Bola Tinubu. Yesufu said Nigerians should apologise to Mmesoma Ejikeme, who forged her Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) result, if Tinubu is not removed. In a post on X, the co-convener of BringBackOurGirls, BBOG, said Mmesoma should be given her scholarship. The activist questioned the legitimacy of Tinubu being president. According to Yesufu: If Tinubu is not removed, then Nigeria should apologise to Mmesoma and give her scholarship. If we want to be mad as a Nation then lets be proudly mad. Isnt Tinubu fraudulently occupying the office of the President not derogatory to Nigerians or is it the certificate forgery saga that is not derogatory? The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had embarked on an expedition to expose Tinubu of alleged forgery. Atiku had claimed that Tinubu forged the certificate he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. He claimed the president never attended the Chicago State University (CSU). Contrary to his allegation, CSU had insisted that Tinubu was admitted and graduated from the institution. The Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has alleged that the presidency twisted facts to confuse the mind of the public regarding President Bola Tinubus Chicago State University academic records. Recall that the CSU released Tinubus academic record to Atiku after weeks of legal tussle, and the former Vice President on Friday filed the CSU documents as fresh evidence at the Supreme Court. Atiku and Labour Partys presidential candidate, Peter Obi, had filed 86 grounds of appeal at the Supreme Court to nullify the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunals judgment that affirmed Tinubus victory. The former VP in a statement by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, on Sunday, alleged that some media aides to the president have come out openly to push back on the narrative. He alleged further that some media houses have persistently slanted their story to justify a corrupted interpretation of the facts in the disposition. He insisted that Tinubu falsified a document he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission and swore an affidavit under oath to back it up. According to him, On page 26 of the deposition which is publicly available, the Registrar of the Chicago State University, Caleb Westberg, under oath, was asked a simple question that, CSU has determined that it does not have a true and correct copy of the diploma issued to Bola Tinubu is 1979, correct? To which the Registrar responded, Thats correct. Also, on page 27, a similar question was put to Mr. Westberg: So, CSU, after going through every diploma, was unable to find an authentic copy of any diploma that CSU issued to Tinubu in 1979. Is that correct? The CSU Registrar, in his response, said: We did not find any diploma issued by CSU in 1979 to Mr. Tinubu. Atikus aide revealed that when asked whether the CSU is aware of or in possession of the diploma that Tinubu submitted to INEC, Mr. Westberg simply said, Correct, we are not aware of it. A former Senator, Shehu Sani, has thrown his weight behind the call for personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to bear firearms. However, he opined that only those on the federal highways outside the city should be trained and given firearms. Recall that the Federal Road Safety Corps has harped on the need for its personnel to bear firearms in discharging their duties, considering the level of security challenges across the country. The Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu, made this call on Saturday while inaugurating 1,762 corps personnel who just concluded their four-month introductory course at the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kontagora, Niger. Biu, who was represented by Shehu Zaki, a Deputy Corps Marshal, said that the measure would ensure adequate protection for the personnel who were often attacked in the course of duty by some road users or suspected criminals who take advantage of the security challenges in the country. And in reaction, the former Kaduna central district Senator said, I support that Federal Road Safety Corps should bear arms, he wrote on X. But only for those working on the federal highways outside the cities, he added. US President Joe Biden has ordered additional support for Israel after the attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas, the White House said Sunday, without giving further details. The President directed additional support for Israel in the face of this unprecedented terrorist assault by Hamas, the White House said in a statement. The announcement came after a senior administration official had said on Saturday that high-level discussions between US and Israeli officials on military aid were already underway. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed by national security officials on the situation in Israel early Sunday and will continue to receive updates, the White House said. White House officials will also remain in contact with Israelis and counterparts throughout the region, the statement added. Biden gave a statement on Saturday pledging rock solid and unwavering support for Israel, Washingtons key Middle East ally, after the surprise attacks by Hamas which killed more than 600 people on the Israeli side. Palestinian officials have reported at least 370 deaths in Israeli air strikes on Gaza. Leer en Espanol In Fridays long-anticipated state Superior Court decision, a judge ruled that New Jersey has avoided its responsibility to address segregation in its schools but that the problem is not statewide. Superior Court Judge Robert T. Lougy agreed that the state had an attitude of helplessness towards addressing segregation, but he neither dismissed the lawsuit nor called for a trial to begin. Now, education advocates and lawyers who brought the suit are wondering what comes next. We will be consulting with our clients and all relevant stakeholders to determine our next steps, whether appeal, trial, or negotiation, said Lawrence Lustberg, lead attorney for the plaintiffs. A coalition of advocacy groups, led by the Latino Action Network and the NAACP, sued the state in 2018, saying school segregation deprives students of their rights to a thorough and efficient education in a diverse setting. In determining whether various arguments brought by the sides should go to trial, Lougy said in the decision that some of the states positions were strong enough to be ruled on in court, including the view that segregation by poverty should not be part of the suit. His ruling was unusual in not providing clear next steps for the lawsuit. Still, Lustberg noted that the court rejected most of the states defenses and provided a clear path forward for plaintiffs to obtain a remedy for school segregation. The court agreed with us on two essential points, he said. One, New Jerseys schools are deeply segregated by race, and two, the state has a constitutional obligation to address this urgent problem. Possible next steps include appealing the Friday ruling, working towards a settlement, or going to trial, said Michael Stein, another lawyer for the litigants, who included the Latino Coalition, the Urban League of Essex County, the United Methodist Church of Greater New Jersey, and several minors. Advocates called the ruling a win, with the nonprofit Education Law Center issuing a press release under the headline Judge Rejects States Effort to Avoid Responsibility for Racially Segregated Schools. According to figures presented in the case, 75% of the states public school students learn in settings that are disproportionate or nonrepresentative of the states demographics, and a quarter of Black students and 14% of Latino students attend schools that are 99% non-white. Lougy disagreed with the plaintiffs arguments that school attendance patterns are unconstitutional across all districts and regions. The case cited significantly segregated schools in 23 districts in 8 counties: Camden: Camden City, Lawnside Boro, and Woodlynne Boro Essex: East Orange, Irvington, Newark, and Orange Hudson: Guttenberg, North Bergen, Union City, and West New York Mercer: Trenton Middlesex: New Brunswick and Perth Amboy Monmouth: Asbury Park and Red Bank Boro Passaic: Passaic, Paterson, and Prospect Park Boro Union: Elizabeth, Hillside, Plainfield, and Roselle. The judge was not convinced that the states requirement that students attend school where they live is a central factor in segregation. But he agreed with the gist of the plaintiffs arguments, writing, The logic of their complaint is clear: segregation is abhorrent to New Jersey public policy; de facto segregation is prevalent and persistent across the State. Defendants are obligated and empowered to minimize segregation; Defendants have intentionally failed to fulfill their responsibilities ... segregation has not decreased; Defendants are thus liable. Lougy cited previous cases defending all students rights to integrated schools: When white students are withdrawn from a diverse school environment and placed with a group of homogenous students, they lose the educational opportunity to learn to live with and respect people from a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds by attending school with such individuals. Lougy also weighed in on the states refusal to use its power to address the problem. He accepted the litigants argument that state officials intentionally failed to exercise their constitutional obligations and authorities to remedy segregation. According to the states constitution, No person shall be segregated in the but public schools, because of religious principles, race, color, ancestry or national origin. Yet New Jersey public education is among the most segregated in the nation, worse than Alabama or Mississippi, according to a 2017 report by UCLAs Civil Rights Project. Although Gov. Phil Murphys administration has spent five years in court defending the current system, his press office issued the following statement Saturday: Our Administration remains committed to creating equitable and inclusive learning environments that reflect the diversity of our state. We continue to make historic investments in our school systems, including the expansion of pre-K programs in new districts across our state, and to address affordable housing in our communities with recommendations of the Wealth Disparity Task Force, the statement read. As a nation-leading education system, it is essential that every child in New Jersey is provided the opportunity to succeed. The state Attorney Generals Office and state Department of Education had no comment on the case Saturday. Former state Supreme Court Justice Gary Stein, who helped spearhead the legal challenge, expressed impatience with the ruling. The court declined to impose a statewide remedy or, for that matter, any remedy at all, he told NJ Advance Media. My only conclusion today is that the New Jersey judicial system has got to begin to address this serious issue with a much greater sense of urgency, which has been seriously lacking to date. Meanwhile, some of the plaintiffs saw the ruling as good news. The Superior Court of New Jersey made it clear to us yesterday that our fight to hold the State of New Jersey responsible for pervasive statewide segregation in public schools, including charter schools, continues, said Richard T. Smith, president of the NAACP New Jersey State Conference. The good news is that the case will continue, he said. We will remain steadfast in this fight and will not be deterred. Smith quoted Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, saying, Those children who have been denied the right in the past and the present deserve better than to see fences thrown up to deny them that right in the future! The states charter schools were involved in the case, given the plaintiffs concerns that some were too segregated by race while other schools encouraged students to move beyond town boundaries, resulting in further integration. We are pleased that the court has affirmed that public charter schools do not contribute to segregation in New Jerseys public school system, said Harry Lee, CEO of the New Jersey Public Charter School Association, referring to Lougys view that the plaintiffs failed in their argument that charters make segregation worse. Public charter schools are uniquely positioned to be a critical part of the solution to increase the number of integrated school options throughout New Jersey because public charter schools can draw students from a wider geographical area, they have the opportunity to overcome the structural impediment of neighborhood segregation created by municipal boundaries and develop diverse school communities. Lee noted that new charter schools could offer more students the chance to attend intentionally diverse schools now, without the delay of enacting new legislation and establishing new cross-border funding models. David Sciarra, former head of the Education Law Center, said Lougys decision sent the message to state legislators and the governor that school segregation must be addressed. It would be better if the Legislature and governor started working on this today, he said, noting that programs to break down district boundaries could ramp up now, such as creating school choice programs, building new schools to attract diverse students, improving vocational schools that draw students from many districts, and consolidating K-8 and K-6 districts into K-12 districts that would have more opportunities for integration among their schools. There are a lot of steps to take, a lot of different programs, but no one solution, he said. It requires state leadership. NOTE: this post was updated to reflect towns in Hudson County with heavily segregated schools. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Tina Kelley may be reached at tkelley@njadvancemedia.com. A Morris Plains man was killed early Sunday when his car ran off Interstate 295 in Mercer County. Cameron Boyle, 22, was driving northbound in Hamilton Township around 3:45 a.m. when his vehicle ran off the roadway to the right, according to a New Jersey State Police spokesman. The vehicle struck a tree and a concrete bridge support. Boyle died of his injuries, police said. The crash remains under investigation, according to police, and additional details were not disclosed. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. New Jersey law enforcement will boost patrols at synagogues, mosques and other sensitive areas in response to deadly violence that erupted Saturday in Israel, with authorities urging residents to be extra vigilant. State Attorney General Matthew Platkin said he had been in contact with all 21 county prosecutors in the state, and he asked anyone who sees suspicious activity to report it immediately to local police. While there is no credible threat to safety, law enforcement will be increasing patrols in sensitive areas particularly houses of worship for both the Jewish and Islamic faiths and taking other steps out of an abundance of caution, Platkin said in a written statement. The concern came as hundreds were killed in Israel and the Gaza Strip after a surprise attack by Hamas during Simchat Torah, a Jewish holiday. The outbreak was denounced by leaders across New Jersey, home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the United States. I emphatically condemn Hamas horrific acts of violence, kidnapping and terror targeting Israeli families, children and other civilians in towns and cities across the nation of Israel, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., said on social media. I stand with the people of Israel and the families of those who have lost loved ones. It is appalling to see the murders, kidnappings, and rockets raining down on Israeli communities, said U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11th Dist. U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who is the only Jewish member of the states congressional delegation, urged support for Israel. What is certain is that Israel did not seek this war, but it is one that it will finish with resolve and determination, said Gottheimer, D-5th Dist. Israel must crush the terrorists responsible for this war and protect democracy and America must have Israels back. Among those caught up in the events were two Teaneck council members who are in Israel and experienced the attack firsthand, Township Manager Dean Kazinci wrote to residents. Im happy to report they are safe after taking shelter when the bomb sirens were activated, Kazinci said. We pray for their safe return to Teaneck and for all Teaneck residents currently in Israel. In Short Hills, the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ will hold a gathering on Sunday in support of Israel at 8:30 p.m. at Temple Bnai Jeshurun on South Orange Avenue. The renewed Israeli-Palestinian violence fell nearly 50 years to the day of the outbreak of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, a seminal event in the historic conflict. It also came as authorities say New Jersey has already seen a concerning uptick in antisemitic incidents in the state. As we worry about loved ones abroad, we know that members of our Jewish community throughout the country, and here in New Jersey, are worried for their safety as they continue to celebrate the High Holidays, Platkin said in his statement, in which he urged tolerance. As one of the most diverse states in the nation, New Jersey has proven time and time again that our differences make us stronger, and we can thrive in a community where differences are celebrated and not feared, Platkin said. Today, more than ever, we recognize that where there is hate against one, there is hate against everyone. NJ Advance Media staff writers Ted Sherman and S.P. Sullivan and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Riley Yates may be reached at ryates@njadvancemedia.com. Two Ukrainian citizens were killed in a large-scale Hamas attack on Israel. The bodies are currently being repatriated to their homeland. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the Embassy of Ukraine in Israel in a comment to Interfax-Ukraine . At the same time, the embassy does not have information about Ukrainians who were injured or went missing. "The Embassy of Ukraine has received confirmation from the Israeli police about the death of two Ukrainian citizens. Measures are being taken to organize the repatriation of the bodies. There is no information on the presence of Ukrainian citizens among the wounded or missing," the diplomats said. Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine announced the possible death of one Ukrainian citizen, as well as that diplomats managed to find a Ukrainian who disappeared in southern Israel. "Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian diplomats have tracked down 1 citizen who disappeared in the south of the country. We helped 1 family to leave the city of Ashkelon. We have found temporary housing for two families amid canceled flights," wrote Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko a few hours before the information about the two dead Ukrainian citizens appeared. ADVERTISIMENT Currently, an operational headquarters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is working around the clock: during the first day of its work, it processed 80 appeals from citizens. Most of them concerned the location of relatives, ways to leave the combat zones, finding temporary housing, obtaining information about the security situation and the procedure for ensuring their own safety. The Ukrainian Embassy continues to be in constant contact with the Israeli police, rescue services, major hospitals, and the Israeli Institute of Forensic Medicine. "We also keep in touch with Ukrainians who are in the Gaza Strip, and we are developing emergency routes for leaving the enclave in case of such a need," Nikolenko said. He assured that diplomats are ready to provide maximum assistance and protection to Ukrainian citizens and "will not leave anyone to fend for themselves." ADVERTISIMENT The Foreign Ministry also called on Ukrainians who find themselves in "any critical situation" to call the hotlines of the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel (+ 972 546 676 782) and the Ukrainian diplomatic mission in Ramallah (+ 972 59 823 93 99). As a reminder, on October 7, an unprecedented attack by Hamas militants on Israel began. First, thousands of rockets flew to the south and center of the country, and then the terrorists broke through into Israel. They killed civilians and soldiers, and took some people hostage. In response, Israel announced the launch of Operation Iron Swords, and the Israeli Security Council unanimously approved a ground operation in the Gaza Strip. On the afternoon of October 8, Israel officially declared a state of war. According to the data voiced by Israeli journalist Amichai Stein around 2 p.m. on October 8, the total number of Israeli citizens killed since the morning of October 7 has exceeded 600. This is almost twice as many as the total number of Israelis killed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since 2008, according to the UN. ADVERTISIMENT OBOZREVATEL also told you what happened in Israel overnight and whether Hamas managed to stop the attacks and monitors the current situation online. The Coast Guard rescued three people from the water after their boat capsized in Great Bay in Little Egg Harbor Township on Saturday. The operator of the 18-foot vessel contacted the Coast Guard on Saturday afternoon asking for help getting to shore. He reported three on board and that the boat was anchored less than a mile from Great Bay Marina, according to the Coast Guard. Soon after that call, he radioed back to report that the boat was capsizing because of inclement weather. A Coast Guard helicopter already airborne for training was rerouted to the scene and a commercial salvage team from TowBoatUS also responded after hearing the radio call, officials said. The salvage team arrived and reported that the three occupants were in the water and clinging to the hull of the overturned boat. Weather and shallow water prevented the salvage team from assisting, but they remained on hand to monitor and report to the Coast Guard, according to the agency. When the Coast Guard chopper arrived, a rescue swimmer jumped into the bay and worked with the helicopter crew to hoist the three mariners to safety. They were taken to Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City and handed over to EMS personnel. No injuries were reported. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued three people from the water after their boat capsized in Great Bay in Little Egg Harbor Township on Saturday. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. I take respectful exception to Art Fredmans assertion in a recent letter that only term limits can ensure that Americans have representation that can be trusted and who will improve public policy. Dont miss an issue of our Opinion newsletter! Get it delivered each Wednesday right into your inbox by adding your email below and hitting "subscribe." U.S. Sen. Cory Booker was in Israel on Saturday when Hamas launched a surprise attack on the country, leading the New Jersey lawmaker to shelter in place, but Booker departed safely on Sunday, a spokeswoman said. Booker who was staying in Jerusalem when the violence broke out during Simchat Torah, a Jewish holiday later posted a video online Sunday sharing his experience. I emphatically condemn Hamas' horrific acts of violence, kidnapping and terror targeting Israeli families, children and other civilians in towns and cities across the nation of Israel. I stand with the people of Israel and the families of those who have lost loved ones. Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBooker) October 7, 2023 Amazon, which employs more than 50,000 people in New Jersey, implemented a return to office policy earlier this year that prompted thousands of employees across the country to revolt. During a recent company meeting, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy responded with a stern message: Its past the time to disagree and commit. And if you cant disagree and commit, I also understand that, but its probably not going to work out for you at Amazon because we are going back to the office at least three days a week. 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. Even for New Orleans, where protectiveness of the citys past often pushes beyond the zealous and nudges toward fanatical, the old Charity Hospital building on Tulane Avenue holds a very special place in peoples hearts. Aside from its architectural significance, that Art Deco gem built in 1939 and designed by the firm of Weiss, Dreyfous and Seiferth has simply always been there, or at least it has been for nearly everyone alive today. Consequently, Charity Hospital would become hallowed ground, a place of passage where countless souls were brought into the world and just as many were ushered out. Charity was more than an 18-story building made of steel, concrete, glass and granite, Dr. James Ciaravelle Jr. wrote in his book Charitys Children: The Long Days and Nights of the Iron Men, published in 2021. It breathed, it died and it bled. Its heart and soul were its emergency and operating rooms. Its abdomen contained unending wards filled and overfilled with patients from all walks of life, all corners of the state, all shapes, sizes and colors. A smorgasbord of regional cuisines with unique flavors Latin America is home to a diverse array of regional cuisines, from Mexican to Ecuadorian, Peruvian to Argentine. Each has its unique flavors and ingredients, brought about by the fusion of indigenous, European, African and Asian influences that shaped Latin Americas history. Take, for example, the Peruvian lomo saltado, a mouth-watering fusion of Spanish, Chinese, and indigenous flavors with stir-fried beef, vegetables, and potatoes served with rice. Or the savory and spicy Venezuelan and Colombian arepas, which showcases the cuisines pre-Columbian roots with a corn-based bread, filled with a variety of ingredients like cheese, meat, beans and avocado. The Latin American journey to plates in the US Even before becoming part of the United States, certain Latin American culinary traditions had already established themselves in Florida and various western states. Meanwhile, others made their way into the country, starting with the initial wave of migration from countries such as Mexico, Cuba, and Puerto Rico in the mid-20th century. Avocados, quinoa and plantains just a few staples of Latin American cuisines have now become commonplace in many American pantries. According to Statista, the U.S. per capita consumption of fresh avocados amounted to approximately 8.43 pounds in 2021, up from 2.2 pounds in 2000. Quinoa, a flavorful grain from the Andes, has also seen a remarkable rise in popularity due to its health benefits and versatility in recipes. Harvesting avocados in Michoacan, Mexico; January 2019. Gladys Serrano (El Pais) These days, tortillas outsell burger and hot dog buns; sales of tortilla chips trump potato chips; and tacos and burritos have become so ubiquitously American, most people dont even consider them ethnic, wrote journalists Suzette Laboy and J.M. Hirsch. Its just another indicator of the changing demographics in a country that is nearly 20% Hispanic. As the New York Times reported way back in 1992: Ketchup, long the king of American condiments, has been dethroned. Last year, salsa ... took the condiment crown, outselling ketchup by $40 million in retail stores. David Weiss, the president of New York-based Packaged Facts Inc. told the Times back then that the taste for salsa is as mainstream as apple pie these days. Even George Costanza knew this. You know salsa is the number one condiment in America right now, he said on a 1992 episode of Seinfeld. The culinary giants transforming Latin American cuisine Latin American chefs have made a name for themselves in the United States and around the world, using their talent and passion for their regions culinary arts to broaden the American palate. Chef Gaston Acurio has been credited with introducing Americans to the complex flavors of Peru. With his successful chain of La Mar Cebicheria Peruana restaurants in San Francisco, New York, and Miami, Acurio has put Peruvian food on the map. Nelson Milan, a food critic for Eater magazine, says: American palates have evolved so much in recent years thanks to chefs like Gaston Acurio who are introducing us to new flavors, ingredients, and culinary techniques. Food critic Elise Craig wrote in Conde Nast Traveler magazine: Cebiche, cebiche, cebiche. Its what La Mar is known for If you can only handle one, go for the clasico, the catch of the day with leche de tigre, red onion, habanero, corn, and sweet potatoes. Ceviche assortment Enrique Olvera is perhaps the most famous Mexican chef working today. His Pujol restaurant was ranked #1 in Mexico and #9 in the world at the Worlds 50 Best Restaurant Awards. Olvera is a pioneer of a new contemporary Mexican style of food, which uses traditional, local ingredients with unusual flavor combinations. His signature Mole Madre, Mole Nuevo consists of two concentric rings of the traditional Mexican mole, one of which is aged for 2,500 days. Its served alongside a steamy dish of baby corn with chicatana ant mayonnaise. Thats right ants with a pleasantly smoky taste and crunchy texture. Street food Street food, traditionally less refined but bursting with flavor, has been a significant ambassador of Latin American food culture to the United States. These foods were born out of necessity, innovation and creativity, and often represent the heart and soul of Latin American cuisine. From tacos to empanadas, these simple yet delicious foods have won the hearts and palates of many Americans. Tacos from Mexico have certainly taken center stage in the American street food scene. These humble yet flavorful soft tortillas are filled with everything from pork, beef and chicken, to vegan options like beans and grilled vegetables. Garnished with fresh cilantro, onions, and a squeeze of lime, its hard to resist them. National Taco Day, celebrated on October 4 every year, is a concentrated version of the Taco Tuesdays many restaurants offer in a bid to bring in crowds. Similarly, empanadas, baked or fried pastries filled with meat, cheese, or other ingredients, have become a go-to snack or meal for many Americans. Brought by immigrants from various countries like Argentina, Colombia and Chile, each version of this dish brings with it a unique twist whether its the dough, the filling, or the method of cooking. These handheld delights are perfect for on-the-go eating and have found their place in food trucks, local shops, and even in gourmet restaurants across the United States. Traditional cheese empanadas JULIA LAICH Tex-Mex food, a fusion of Mexican and American cuisines, has become a beloved part of the culinary landscape in the United States. Its origins can be traced back to the Tejanos, inhabitants of Texas when it was part of Mexico. Over time, as cultural exchanges occurred between Mexican immigrants and Americans, a new flavor profile emerged that was distinct yet deeply rooted in its Mexican ancestry. Today, Tex-Mex is recognized for its heavy use of shredded cheese, meat (particularly beef and pork), beans, and spices, with dishes like nachos, hard-shell tacos, and chili con carne becoming synonymous with this cuisine. Pupusas, the national dish of El Salvador, have steadily gained popularity in the United States over the past few years. These thick, hand-made corn tortillas stuffed with a variety of fillings such as cheese, pork, or beans, offer an exciting addition to the American culinary scene. Pupusas are traditionally served with a tangy, fermented cabbage slaw called curtido and a thin tomato sauce, providing a flavorful punch with each bite. The unique taste and texture of pupusas have caught the attention of food lovers, and their widespread appeal is evident in the growing number of Salvadoran restaurants and food trucks across the country. In 2005, the city of Los Angeles home to a large Salvadoran community declared a National Pupusa Day, further cementing the popularity of this dish. The future of Latin American cuisine As the appetite for Latin American cuisine continues to grow, so does its influence in U.S. restaurants. From trendy taco stands to upscale eateries, there is an increasing demand for chefs that specialize in Latin American recipes, and more are entering the culinary scene every day. Chefs and food truck cooks are also experimenting with Latin American flavors, using them in unexpected ways, like the Korean tacos popular in many parts of the United States. Korean-style fillings like bulgogi marinated beef and spicy kimchi vegetables fill the traditional Mexican corn tortillas. Latin American cuisine is here to stay and it is only going to get better. From traditional dishes that have been passed down through generations to modern fusion creations, Latin American cuisine is sure to continue delighting and surprising the American palate. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Amazon siren song is fading and business school graduates have stopped lining up at job fairs sponsored the Jeff Bezos company. The rush to work for tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Meta and Apple has dwindled, although recent MBA grads still prefer Amazons job offers over the others. All of the tech giants have undertaken significant staff cuts, dulling the luster of years past. Between 2022 and 2023, technology multinationals cut 200,000 jobs while profits rose. American employees were the most affected by layoffs. In Spain, students and job candidates reacted negatively to the cutbacks. Diego Alvarez, a 27-year-old pursuing a masters degree in digital marketing, says the layoffs influenced his decision not to join Google. He mentioned the companys long selection process and inadequate compensation relative to the long hours. Alvarez finds smaller companies more fulfilling, and says he and many of his classmates feel recognition of achievement is crucial, as well as motivation to undertake projects. Both are easier to find in smaller firms. Business schools report a decline in student interest in big tech companies, along with a decrease in job opportunities in the sector. InfoJobs noted a slight decrease of over 1% in job offers compared to last year. Amazon ramped up hiring during the pandemic due to increased demand, but is now laying off workers and slowing down hiring. Its no longer a top recruiter at business schools, said Patrick Waller, director of IESE Business Schools career development center. Job Market Insights, a platform that analyzes job offer data, confirms that Amazons job offers have decreased by half compared to 2022. The company claims to still be hiring and has opened two new logistics centers in Spain that aim to employ 25,000 employees by 2025. MBA hires by technology companies have dropped from 18% in 2022 to 10% this year. The consulting sector has seen an increase from 33% to 50%, primarily driven by offers from McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, AT Kearney, and Bain for Dubai, which offer competitive and tax-free salaries. Big Four consulting firms lead in job offers, with a 3.6% increase this year, according to InfoJobs. Students at Spains ESADE Business & Law School are increasingly interested in tech consulting jobs and exploring opportunities for greater social impact. Start-ups now offer jobs in sustainability, artificial intelligence and other fields previously exclusive to larger organizations. Technology companies still recruit our students, although the overall percentage of hires has decreased. Layoffs in Spain have been less severe compared to the United States. They mostly let go experienced international staff and retained entry-level employees, said Nacho de Pinedo, CEO of ISDI. He also says jobs in consulting, consumer goods, banking and construction are on the rise. According to De Pinedo, offers are now more diverse with medium-sized companies gaining ground. A new paradigm The paradigm of the new generations has shifted. According to Raul Gonzalez Martin, director of professional development at ESIC, Young people now prioritize companies that value their employees. They want work-life balance, clear objectives, as well as a certain amount of freedom and autonomy in the workplace. Companies should be aware of this if they want to attract candidates. Smaller companies tend to adapt more easily and are more agile. De Pinedo believes young job candidates are seeking companies that offer meaningful projects where their contributions have an impact. Recent graduates are prioritizing socially responsible firms with a positive work environment, remote work options, and flexible time off. Companies are scrambling to respond to the shift in paradigms, dressing up to become more appealing in the eyes of job candidates. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition I have just come back from Conservative Party Conference, which as always provided me with a great opportunity to engage with businesses and charities to discuss issues affecting the people of North Devon. A year on from the launch of the Conservative Friends of the Ocean I was happy to chair their Ocean Question Time panel and question Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Therese Coffey, and hear how much work she is doing to protect our oceans at home and abroad. Closer to home I also spoke on two CEN panels, the first regarding the use of woody biomass. It was good to hear the general consensus that timber should be used in manufacturing and construction rather than burnt for energy generation. Whilst this has been helpful in reducing coal use I will continue speaking to Government about the economics of supporting this form of energy generation over more renewable option. I also joined Farming Minister, Mark Spencer MP, on a panel about regenerative farming and how we can support farmers going green. The farmers on the panel echoed what I have heard from farmers in North Devon about how greener methods lead to healthier bottom lines. I took the opportunity to directly lobby the Minister to help North Devons farmers by supporting them with more slurry infrastructure grants. Animal Welfare campaigners are always one of my favourite stops and it was good to speak with the Campaign for Cats and the Guide Dogs Association. The Guide Dogs Association are calling on the Government to further its consultation on pavement parking. Pavement parking can force blind people, and other vulnerable pedestrians who can no longer use the pavement into the road. The Guide Dog Association want public spaces to be accessible to all, no matter your form of transport. Health was another key theme at conference, I met with a range of charities such as Alzheimers Research UK, the British Heart Foundation, Diabetes UK and many more. North Devons remoteness makes diagnosing and treating a range of illnesses all the more difficult, but a running theme in all my conversations was that the earlier you can be diagnosed the better. So, I would call on everyone with concerns about their health to speak to some one as soon as possible. I spoke at a British Dental Association roundtable where I raised the ongoing issues with dentistry in rural and coastal areas like North Devon. If you would like to sign my petition please visit https://www.change.org/DentistsinNorthDevon or contact my office at selaine.saxby.mp@parliament.uk. I also had a meeting about bringing supplementary dental services to North Devon which I am following up on and hope will solve some issues in the short term. Radiotherapy and access to it have been on my radar for a long time so I took the opportunity to discuss it further with Cancer Research. As one of the most effective tools in the fight against cancer I am keen that everyone in North Devon who needs it has access to it, and I am meeting with Health Minister, Will Quince MP, once I am back in Westminster to discuss what more can be done. I also spoke on two panels with Energy Minister, Andrew Bowie MP, about our energy future and how we need to back projects such as the Celtic Sea. Recent announcements such as speeding up connections to the National Grid have been positive, and it is good to see the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the party taking our green future so seriously. As the Minister said, at times it felt like an energy conference. Unfortunately, there were too many meetings to share but some other highlights included meeting with the Openreach top team about broadband provision in North Devon, the MCS Foundation to discuss new homes and energy generation, and with Google, whose AI programme wrote me a little poem about potholes, which I also raised with the Roads Minister directly whilst in Manchester. The Devon teenagers changing the way young people think and talk about mental health are reflecting on the spark they have made across the UK this World Mental Health Day (10 October). After spearheading a change in mental health in the school curriculum, Spark UK, are today announcing the launch of their 2023 celebrity All-Star Advent Calendar, at Exeter Cathedral. Spark UK are on a mission to change the future of mental health for young people by encouraging them to spark conversations and getting youngsters comfortable with the uncomfortable. Their incredible work has even captured the attention of The Royal Family, who earlier in the year awarded them Coronation Champions for His Majesty The Kings Coronation, BBCs The One Show, where they appeared earlier this year, and a whole host of famous faces who are supporting their online mental health campaign. The team, from Ilfracombe, are now preparing to take over Exeter Cathedral on Friday 1st December for an action packed morning where they will launch their All Star Advent Calendar in a live event, revealing the first celebrity, as CEO, Conor Warren explained: We are so excited to be bringing the launch of the All-Star Advent Calendar to Exeter Cathedral. In partnership with Teachers Rock, the morning will feature school choirs from across the county as well as performances and talks from a host of inspirational people. The event will be livestreamed for free to schools across the country, as well as a live audience of students in the cathedral. After the success of last years All-Star calendar, we are delighted to be announcing that 2023s campaign will be bigger and better. Over the past year we have been overwhelmed with the interest and support we have received. We are passionate about changing the way young people view mental health and we are committed to help spark conversations, remove the taboo that is often associated with talking about personal struggles, thoughts and feelings, and increase education around this topic. Therefore, we are thrilled that so many celebrities are helping us to share their messages through our All-Star Advent Calendar and cant wait to share these famous faces with everyone! From December 1, behind each door of the free online calendar will be some of the UKs favourite celebrities sharing inspiring messages and encouragement, sharing their mental health experiences and gifting positivity in what can sometimes be a difficult time as the countdown to Christmas begins. Previous celebrities have included Dame Judi Dench, Stephen Fry, Fearne Cotton and Emma Thompson, The calendar will be raising funds for mental health charities Beyond and Place2Be. In a joint statement Lousia Rose, CEO of Beyond and Jonny Benjamin MBE, Founder of Beyond, Author, Public Speaker and Filmmaker, said: "Beyond believes that every young person has the right to receive the most effective mental health support at the right time. We are working to make this a reality through our ecosystem of barrier free mental health education; promoting local services and; financially assisting the most vulnerable students to access those provisions. The dedication of Conor and the Spark UK team to improving mental health literacy amongst young people is inspiring and it's been an absolute pleasure to work with them over the last couple of years. To be one of their charity partners for the All-Star Advent campaign is a real privilege and honour." Spark UK are also collaborating with ootiboo on a national AllStar creative competition to help raise awareness for the calendar as well as a chance for individuals and families to have fun and get creative. Angus Cameron, Creative Director at ootiboo, added: At ootiboo, we believe embracing creativity in childhood helps to build the foundations for robust mental health later in life. The process of exploring creativity naturally takes us into mindfulness, helps focus our thoughts and challenges us to learn and keep going. Collaborating with Spark UK on the All-Star Advent has been a wonderful experience; it's a fantastic combination of creativity coupled with practical tips and tricks to help people through what can be a difficult time, and we're honoured to be part of it. Spark UK was formed in 2020 by school friends, Conor Waren, Bridie Downing, Joseph Carter and Tegan Phillips with support from Blue Elephant Childcare. After regularly meeting to rant about poor mental health support in schools, the teenagers decided to do something about it. In their aim to spark conversations in young people around mental health they have created student resources and lessons plans that are being used by over 300 schools across England and have recently become a Community Interest Company and welcomed new members Kaia Bond and Noah Mcnamara. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in Jerusalem, is the place where according to the Gospel the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ took place. Its one of the most important centers of Christianity. Since the 7th century, the family of Saker Nusseibeh has been responsible for guarding the keys to the temple and caring for the structure. But this isnt the only interesting biographical information about Nusseibeh, who was born in Jerusalem in 1961. He also happens to be the CEO of Federated Hermes Limited, which has $670 billion worth of assets under management. Surprisingly, the topic he chose for his doctoral thesis medieval Spain and the coexistence between Christians and Muslims is totally removed from the world of finance. Decorated by Queen Elizabeth II as a Commander of the British Empire (CBE), hes also a great fan of the guitar. I play rock and folk although I love flamenco, he smiles. Question. Why did you choose to do a doctorate in Medieval History? Answer. I specialized in the beginnings of power in Europe; on the kingdoms that gave rise to modern states. My thesis was about the 11th century and, particularly, about what was happening in Zaragoza, within the framework of the growing rivalry between [the kingdoms of] Aragon and Castile. Aragon, at that time, was much more advanced culturally and economically but the race was won by Castile. For a historian, it was interesting to understand why. When I came to study in Spain, I fell in love with the country. Since 1979, Ive come back every year. I think its the best country in the world. [While this interview was conducted in English, Dr. Nusseibeh spoke this last sentence in Spanish.] Q. While crafting your investment strategies, do you ever apply any of the lessons you learned while writing your thesis? A. Of course. [During my historical studies], I learned that cultural differences generate different ways of solving the same problem. This means that you have to understand the cultural differences when doing business. Another lesson I learned is the importance of knowing how to interpret long-term trends. When the Muslims arrived in Spain, they brought new tools with them. But still, back then, few would have predicted that the country would become an agricultural power 200 years later. An investor at the time who had read the trend correctly would have invested in water wells. Investing is about knowing how to read those undercurrents of history. This requires time and discipline. Another thing I learned during my thesis is the importance of politics. During the last 30 years, few people in the market paid much attention to political factors. And, suddenly, the war in Ukraine showed us why geopolitics should matter to investors. Stability is very important for the long-term trends that I mentioned before. A. Queen Elizabeth II decorated you in recognition of your efforts to expand sustainable investment. Do you think that ESG (environmental, social and governance) investing is a passing fad in the financial markets, or a philosophy thats here to stay? A. Its a long-term change that will materialize, because many people are moving in the same direction. China, for example, is now the largest producer of electric cars, because it has no oil. Right now, they use coal, but they know that they have to look for alternative energy sources. On the other hand, the situation in Ukraine with the disruption in the grain supply has made many people realize that water and food are also scarce goods. Its true that, in recent years, for a sector of the market, sustainability has also become a fad. Yet, underneath this trend lies a structural change. And no one can oppose these tectonic movements. Q. Dont you think that theres also a risk of many companies engaging in greenwashing? A. Yes, that risk is real. The fact that many firms appear to be green or ecological means that they know that sustainability is an important objective for society and dont want to go against the general sentiment. But the key for things to change isnt to pretend, but to do. Greenwashing from an investors standpoint is bad in two ways: it doesnt solve the problem, and it prevents them from benefiting from opportunities to grow their money. Q. How do you distinguish between companies that are really committed to sustainability and those that are bluffing? I say this because Bloomberg recently published a survey, which shows that the favorite stock purchased by funds that supposedly invest in companies with ESG criteria is the French luxury giant LVMH... A. That doesnt make much sense. It has more to do with those who make the ESG criteria ratings than with sustainability. [At Federated Hermes], we do the research and analysis internally thats why we put money into the companies that really change things. Its all about identifying disruptive companies and accompanying them on their journey. Its also important to know what sustainability actually means. Theres nothing in the market thats black or white: things always depend on something. Is an energy company always bad? Well, it depends, because many work with gas, which is an energy source that facilitates the green transition. Q. Most fund managers focus on environmental factors. Few focus on social factors and even fewer on corporate governance criteria. Why is that? A. Because its easier. Everyone understands the 1.5C target of the Paris Agreement. Therefore, for many firms, its easier to focus on [environmental factors] to raise capital. Social aspects, however, are more difficult to address, because they require understanding nuances and differences. Human resource management practices in Spain, for instance, arent the same as in the Philippines. As far as the principles of good governance are concerned, for me, theyre vital, because they not only protect investors from bad corporate practices they also protect managers from their own mistakes. Many CEOs fail because they dont have a good governance structure [such a structure] protects them. Q. Do you get involved in the management of the companies that your firm invests in? Do you vote at their board meetings? A. Since 1983, weve had EOS [entrepreneurial operating system], a stewardship service provider that we also sell to third-parties. Our involvement with companies isnt temporary. We dont tell them what to do, were not activists; we ask them how we can work, as partners, to make the company better in the long-term. I dont think its about threatening to vote against [a project], but about making things work for the benefit of everyone. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition All of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's disaster recovery centers will be closed on Monday, in observation of Indigenous People's Day, according to a news release. FEMA's disaster recovery centers are accessible, mobile facilities where people can learn about federal disaster relief available to them. "Specialists from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration are at the centers to help survivors apply for federal disaster assistance, upload documents, learn about ways to make their property more disaster resistant, and get their questions answered in person," the release states. The disaster recovery centers are set to reopen on Tuesday. The deadline to apply for disaster assistance from this summer's flooding in Illinois and Northwest Indiana is Oct. 16, according to the release. Anyone in need of assistance before the facilities reopen is asked to call the disaster assistance hotline at 800-621-3362. CHICAGO Hundreds of raucous auto workers decked out in red hoodies and T-shirts in a show of solidarity waved signs saying, "no deal, no wheels," "end tiers," "COLA and fair pay now" and "on strike." They packed the United Auto Workers Local 551 hall, which often sounded as loud as the United Center. United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain addressed striking workers outside Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant on the city's southeast side. He told workers the union was working to ensure they have a future during the transition to electric vehicles, that they deserved to share in automakers' record profits and that their fight was bigger than just a new contract. "This isn't just UAW's fight. This is everybody's fight," said Fain, who noted the union hall was just a few miles from his home state of Indiana. "It doesn't matter if you're union. It doesn't matter if you're non-union. It doesn't matter. We all go through the same issues. It doesn't matter if you're a teacher. It doesn't matter if you're an airline attendant. It doesn't matter if you're an auto worker. It doesn't matter if you work at Starbucks. It doesn't matter if you work at McDonald's or Walmart. We're all the same. And we're being left behind." The UAW has been on strike against select Ford, GM and Stellantis plants across the country, including the Chicago Assembly Plant, as it seeks a new contract with substantial pay increases, cost of living adjustments, an end to tiers and job security, especially for workers at risk of being displaced by the shift to electric vehicles. Fain touted GM's agreement Friday to include its electric vehicle battery plants in its master agreement with the UAW, to ensure those jobs would be unionized. "For months, they said a just transition with the EV industry was impossible, that workers who make engines and transmissions were going to be left behind in a green economy. We said, 'hell no," Fain said. "They said they didn't have to negotiate over electric vehicle battery plants. When we launched our stand-up strikes, we've outsmarted and out-organized corporate America and won a future for tens of thousands of workers. We're going to keep going until we win social and economic justice at the Big Three and beyond." The unionization of battery plants remains a major sticking point in negotiations between the UAW and Ford. "While Ford remains open to the possibility of working with the UAW on future battery plants in the United States, these are multi-billion-dollar investments and must operate at competitive and sustainable levels," Ford spokesman Dan Barbossa said. "Three of the four battery plants weve announced are part of the BlueOval SK joint venture between Ford and SK On. The workforce for these operations has not been hired. The future employees at these operations can choose to be union represented and enter into the collective bargaining process." Barbossa said the ramp-up in electric vehicle production would not result in any job losses over the life of the four-year contract. "As Ford has made clear, none of our employees, including powertrain employees, will lose their jobs due to our battery plants during this contract period," Barbossa said. "In fact, for the foreseeable future, we will have to hire more workers as some workers retire, in order to keep up with demand for our ICE products." Many local union representatives came out to rally in solidarity with the striking Ford workers, including the 105-year-old Chicago Teachers Union member Beatrice Lumpkin. "It's inspiring to see all the young people carrying on labor's fight," she said. "The younger generation is not going to take this brutal exploitation. The younger generation is not as divided as we were." Many labor union leaders spoke at the strike rally, as did Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who declared that Chicago is a union town and the labor movement is "alive and well." "You all are doing something that is transformational. This fight is about unraveling a system of inequities. This is about unraveling a system of disparities. This is about unraveling a system that wants to pit workers against workers. But we're not going to stand for it," Johnson said. "We are saying as workers, 'enough is enough.' Let's build an economy that works for everyone." UAW Local 551 President Chris Pena said the striking workers were taking a stand to ensure they had a future and would stay on the picket line as long as it takes. "They said the Teamsters were going to disappear in the late 19th century when we invented the internal combustion engine because the Teamsters drew the horse and carriage," he said. "We started mass-producing cars and the Teamsters still grew to be one of the strongest unions in history besides the UAW. Fast forward 100 years and now were transitioning from the internal combustion engine to the EV market. We're going to be at the forefront of the EV market to. Technology is not our enemy. Technology is our friend. What we do is adapt and build what drives America and the U.S. economy and we're going to do it continuously for another 100 years." UAW Region 4 Director Brandon Campbell said the union was working hard to get a record contract over the finish line. "I am tired of the millionaires and billionaires telling us how much they take care of us," he said. "I'm sick of them telling us how greedy we are. Their profits are up through the roof from our labor. Their jets, their mansions and their yachts are all bought with our labor. Labor creates all wealth. CEOs don't create any wealth. You do. Brothers and sisters, we are pulling their weight. We are taking care of them. But now we're standing it up and taking it back. The top rate 30-year employee at Ford Motor Company would have to work 315 years to make what CEO Jim Farley made last year." The union also has been seeking more work-life balance, pursuing a four-day, 32-hour workweek. Fain said unions faced similar hostility and skepticism when they sought 40-hour workweeks and weekends off. "Even working class people deserve a quality of life that doesn't revolve around work," Fain said. "The fight to reclaim our lives is not over. At that time it was totally unthinkable the idea of 8 hours for work, 8 hours for rest and 8 hours for recreation. They were laughed at. They were mocked. They were ridiculed for fighting for such a crazy thing. You know what, we at the UAW today are being ridiculed and mocked for our demands too. The CEOs and the cronies forget about the working class and forget about one thing, 'We've got the power.'" A prison inmate who police named Bulldog. A rescued cat named Coatek. A stolen parrot named Sarah. And an impassioned plea for mercy not for the imprisoned convict but for dozens of adopted cats behind bars. This is all part of the ongoing story of Michael Drogosz, a 40-year-old Northwest Indiana man who currently resides at Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. He had a lengthy criminal record as a young man until it all came to a dramatic climax in early 2010. This is when Drogosz was approached by two Starke County police officers for violating his parole after being released from an Illinois prison. He was staying with a friend in Bass Lake who owned a stockpile of weapons including fully automatic assault rifles with 30-round magazines taped together in pairs, a duffel bag filled with Molotov cocktails (mason jars with accelerant and wicks), and a pipe bomb attached to a propane tank, police say. On that day, all hell broke loose, one officer told me back then. Drogosz fired more than 50 shots at sheriff's police officers, a report states. When one of the officers returned home to his wife that night, all he could do was hug her in tears. I could easily have been killed in that shootout, he told me. I thank God I wasnt. After all, this is prison Drogosz was sought by police in connection with a stolen female macaw, valued at $2,500, from a Naperville, Illinois, pet store. A tip led law enforcement to his whereabouts in Bass Lake, a sleepy Starke County town. The Knox area native has been behind bars since that day, starting in the county jail where he was blamed for starting a fire, forcing inmates to be transferred to other facilities. Drogosz was later transferred to Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, the oldest correctional facility in the state. The prison, built with a pre-Civil War foundation, is a level-four maximum security facility housing inmates with long sentences and offenders convicted of violent crimes. Drogosz fits this description after being sentenced to 30 years each for two counts of attempted murder and 10 years for conspiracy to commit armed robbery. He was sentenced 13 years ago this month, according to court documents. Since being incarcerated, Drogosz has befriended a black cat, which he named Coatek. It means good kitty in Polish, Drogosz wrote in a letter to the NWI Times, which included a photo of him with the cat. (Watch a video and view more photos at the online version of this column.) Drogosz began writing the letter under the guise of Coatek. Hello, I live in a big private room with my human Mike. I spend a lot of time with Mike and follow him everywhere just to make sure he is OK. After all this is prison, Drogosz wrote as the cat. Although it is prison, the Michigan City facility has a policy allowing certain inmates to have feline companionship. Some cats have found their way on the Indiana State Prison grounds and were initially unofficially adopted by the incarcerated individuals living there, said Gregory Dunn, communications director for Indiana Department of Correction. The cats are allowed to stay nearby as long as no problems arise from them being on grounds. The IDOC facility requires these cats to be registered. When it was first instated, no more than 50 cats could be registered in the facility at any one time, and only one cat per incarcerated individual, Dunn said. No further cats will be registered at ISP. The prison calls it Death Row Drogosz mailed his letter in an attempt to ensure Coatek would be able to join him when all inmates get transferred to the new $1.2 billion prison facility in Westville, projected to open in 2027. Groundbreaking took place last week for the most expensive state building project Indiana history. There is no bigger project in the state of Indiana than this one right here, Gov. Eric Holcomb told guests at the ceremony. This is historic. This is turning a corner. For Drogosz and the other cat-loving inmates, this is a blind corner with potential peril for their beloved pets. Coatek and 49 other cats homes here at ISP are in danger, Drogosz wrote in his letter. We all know what happens to animals that dont get adopted; the prison calls it Death Row. Ive conducted a few interviews inside Indiana State Prison with inmates whove contacted me. I requested a similar interview with Drogosz, and possibly his cat, inside the Michigan City facility. IDOC denied my request, citing safety and security concerns. I asked for details of this rejected request. Unfortunately, I cant go into specifics on the safety and security concerns for this interview, Dunn said. Two sources who work inside the facility told me it could be due to staffing shortages. Another possible explanation is last months death of an inmate thats being investigated as a homicide. Everything gets clamped down after an inmate homicide, a former correctional officer told me. Please pray for Coatek I mailed a letter to Drogosz in response to his letter. I have yet to get a reply. But its obvious that he is focused on the welfare of the cats inside the prison. Please pray for Coatek and the rest of these poor animals, he wrote. His typed letter included contact information for IDOC officials, the animal rights organization PETA, and Frieds Cat Shelter in Michigan City, which currently has a six-month wait list for cats in need of a home. (View Drogoszs letter at the online version of this column.) A prison administrator has been making public statements that she will force us to send our cats back to the shelter, Drogosz wrote. Many of the inmates pets are Halloween cats, older cats and even one with a severe disability, the letter states. All we are asking is for the cats that are already here be allowed to live out their remaining days with their current owners. How long would that be? Well, the youngest cat here is 4 years old; cats live approximately 12-15 years and the new prison will be completed in four years, Drogosz wrote. So, at most we need 6 years of accommodations. Drogosz will be behind bars through the relocation period and well beyond, according to IDOC data. His earliest projected release date is 2044, so he will be among the population of long-term inmates who will transfer to the new facility. Drogosz hopes Coatek will join him. Ask why the IDOC is allowing (deputy warden) Dawn Buss to kill the Cat Program instead of opting for the more humane alternative, he wrote in his letter. A dangerous menace to society Its an intriguing plea from a habitual criminal who didnt show such compassion for some humans in his younger years. Hes a dangerous menace to society, said Kip Johnson, a private detective who in 2010 represented a Tempe, Arizona, family that was scared to death of Drogosz. In that state, Drogosz was charged with possession and sale of narcotics, criminal trespass, kidnapping, shoplifting and weapon possession. He also allegedly swindled, intimidated and threatened to kill a 23-year-old developmentally disabled woman whom he met on the internet if she didnt send him money in prison, Johnson said. When Drogosz was released from an Illinois prison in December, 2009, the Arizona family went into hiding until he turned up in Bass Lake and then jailed in early 2010, Johnson said. He simply doesnt care about the law or police, Johnson told me at that time. Conversely, Drogosz obviously cares about the cats inside ISP. Most of the prisoners asked for cats that no one else would adopt. Now they are older even less likely to be adopted, Drogosz wrote. Dunn said all unregistered cats found inside ISP will be removed from the facility. If they are associated with an incarcerated individual there, they have the option to send the cat home. Otherwise the cat will be turned over to Frieds Cat Shelter, Dunn said. Outsiders are generally unaware that prison inmates are allowed to adopt pets. Its not something that IDOC often shares with the public, but I strongly support this program, a former correctional officer told me. Its good for the inmates and good for morale. Only a few IDOC facilities have similar pet adoption programs. There are dog adoption programs at the Correctional Industrial Facility in Pendleton and Madison Correctional Facility, where incarcerated individuals care for and train dogs that are available for adoption, Dunn said. Also, Pendleton Correctional Facility hosts a cat sanctuary in partnership with a local animal rescue. So, what will happen to these 50 or so cats at Indiana State Prison when it closes down? That is something we will determine in the next few years when we begin the transition process after the completion of the new facility, Dunn replied. Drogosz sees the writing on the prison walls. No actual plans have been made for the cats at ISP," he wrote in that letter. His plea creates a dilemma for outsiders: should they care for the welfare of those cats for the emotional cost of caring for those inmates? Unlike the violent offenders who adopted them, these cats dont know theyre imprisoned with possible life sentences behind bars. They know only that theyre being fed, loved and cared for. As Drogosz wrote under the guise of Coatek: Everyone here is nice to me." PHOTOS: Michigan City zoo's beloved tiger dies Uploaded-images Zoo's beloved tiger dies Stars and Stripes, the two tigers at Washington Park Zoo, spend quality time together. Stars died last week after a battle with chronic kidney Uploaded-images Zoo's beloved tiger dies Workers are going though a punch list of items to finish the big-cat habitat at Washington Park Zoo while the animals explore their newly expa Uploaded-images Zoo's beloved tiger dies Stars and Stripes, the two tigers at Washington Park Zoo, spend quality time together. Stars died last week after a battle with chronic kidney Uploaded-images Zoo's beloved tiger dies Stars and Stripes, the two tigers at Washington Park Zoo, spend quality time together. Stars died last week after a battle with chronic kidney Uploaded-images Zoo's beloved tiger dies The big cats at Washington Park Zoo are becoming acclimated to their new habitat. Uploaded-images Zoo's beloved tiger dies The new big-cat habitat at Washington Park Zoo is nearing completion. Director Jamie Huss hopes it will be ready for the zoo's new season, whi Uploaded-images Zoo's beloved tiger dies Stars and Stripes, the two tigers at Washington Park Zoo, spend quality time together. Stars died last week after a battle with chronic kidney Uploaded-images Zoo's beloved tiger dies The new big-cat habitat at Washington Park Zoo is nearing completion. Director Jamie Huss hopes it will be ready for the zoo's new season, whi Uploaded-images Zoo's beloved tiger dies Stars, a tiger at Washington Park Zoo, died last week after a battle with chronic kidney disease. Gallery HTML code Lucy Mary Taylor lost touch with most of her classmates from Coleg Gwent in Newport, Wales, but she kept in close contact with her pal Gabrielle Lopategui. Ms. Lopategui, whom she met in 2010, was the first of her friends to marry, and Ms. Taylor felt honored to be invited to the wedding. But beside the bride, the groom and the brides parents, she would not know anybody there. Ms. Taylor, 30, a fashion blogger, was nervous when she walked into the wedding festivities alone in May 2022. She didnt know whom to strike up a conversation with or how to spend the evening. During the wedding day breakfast, she was seated with women her age who all knew one another. She felt like the odd one out and found it difficult to join the groups conversation. But that didnt faze her. Just before breakfast, she had befriended some kind friends of the brides father, all in their 50s. Ms. Taylor joined their squad for the day: They took selfies, bought one another drinks and even exchanged numbers. (They still talk to this day.) They made me feel so welcome in their little group, Ms. Taylor said. Mayor Eric Adams of New York City arrived by helicopter on Saturday on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, where hundreds of thousands of desperate migrants enter the jungle passageway called the Darien Gap. It was the final stop on a four-day trip meant to send a message: Please do not come to New York. It was an extraordinary tableau. Mr. Adams, wearing an olive-drab outfit and aviator sunglasses suggestive of military gear, was escorted by Colombias ambassador to the United States, the head of the national police and a heavy security detail. In Necocli, as hundreds of migrants looked on, Mr. Adams stood beneath palm trees by the loading dock for a ferry into the jungle and alluded to difficult conditions on the streets of New York. He did not explicitly tell the migrants to stay away from New York: He did not address his remarks directly to them. But he called for efforts to push back on the propaganda that is giving people false hopes and false promises. He has said frequently during the trip that migrants are being wrongly told that they will find comfortable living conditions and easy employment in New York. The visit, culminating a 7,000-mile swing through Mexico, Ecuador and Colombia, was all the more remarkable given the uncertainty that the mayors attempt at deterrence would have any effect at all. Married people dont always wear wedding bands or engagement rings at least not their original ones. The longest stretch of time that Mike Wirs wore his tungsten wedding band was in 2019, on his wedding day and during the weeklong honeymoon afterward. Since then, he has been sticking with the silicone rings that he purchased in bulk on Amazon. I had already let my wife know that I would not be wearing that most of the time because of occupational hazards, Mr. Wirs said of the tungsten band. As a former car mechanic in Deerfield Beach, Fla., he said he had seen colleagues skin burned and peeled because of metal rings, and he even took one co-worker to the hospital when his metal-ring-clad thumb was hanging by a ligament. Wearing metal rings is a big no-no in a hands-on type industry, he added. Felipe Gonzalez said upon losing the 1996 elections in Spain that former presidents are like delicate vases in tiny apartments: theyre said to have value and no one dares to throw them out but, in reality, they only get in the way. Most former heads of state tend to look towards a horizon filled with paid conferences at American universities, or sunny mornings with friends between holes on a green. But this isnt the case when it comes to former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe who, at 71-years-old, lives in a state of anxiety and anguish. Uribe is on track to become the first president in half-a-century of Colombian history to sit in a courtroom as a defendant. Since 2018, the former president has presented all kinds of appeals, in an attempt to avoid trial. He has been accused of witness-tampering and procedural fraud. However, this past Friday, the Superior Court of Bogota denied the request of the Attorney Generals Office, which had insisted for the third time that there isnt enough evidence to prosecute him. Uribes star has faded as Colombia has changed course. When he governed from 2002 until 2010, he was an enormously popular president, who connected with people thanks to a tough security policy against armed groups. Some saw him (and still see him) as a war hero. His influence allowed him to handpick the next two presidents: Juan Manuel Santos (2010-2018) and Ivan Duque (2018-2022). However, he felt betrayed by Santos his former minister of defense who signed a peace agreement with the FARC. And, when it came to Duque, Uribe ultimately distanced himself from his former political ally, when he realized that he didnt have the necessary strength of character to govern effectively. Alvaro Uribe. Biel Alino (EFE) As Uribism began to decline, new sensitivities arose in the country. His nemesis Gustavo Petro came to power last year, with a project for change thats nothing like Uribes. Its a totally different perception of the country. The former president could have faded into the background but that was never his nature. When he was a young congressman, at dawn, he would put his feet in a bucket of cold water to stay awake (and thus be able to work for longer hours). Uribe, simply, knows no other way than confrontation. But, in his struggle he picked a fight with the wrong man: Ivan Cepeda. In 2012, he filed a complaint against the senator before the Supreme Court, accusing Cepeda of allegedly plotting with the use of false witnesses in prisons to incriminate him in acts of paramilitarism. However, after six years, not only did the high court refrain from prosecuting Cepeda it also decided to begin proceedings against Uribe, under the suspicion that he and his lawyers manipulated witnesses to make them retract the accusations made against the former president. Uribe was also accused of using his lawyers to get the witnesses to accuse Cepeda of attempting to slander him. Senator Cepeda ever-meticulous and accustomed to political conflict managed to flip the case around. Today, Uribe is living in a kind of semi-retirement. He enters the public realm infrequently, only addressing his most fervent followers, who listen to him like a prophet. He doesnt give interviews and always replies to this newspaper with the same single-word text message when asked to speak: Prudence. He who is so concerned about his name in history has appeared in the headlines from time to time in relation to the ongoing case, acknowledging that he will have no choice but to face trial. Uribe has done everything possible to prevent this from happening but he has fewer and fewer bullets left in the chamber. He resigned his Senate seat in 2020 to avoid being investigated by the Supreme Court. The case was left in the hands of the Attorney Generals Office, headed by Francisco Barbosa, who has made great efforts to have the file archived. He hasnt succeeded. Last year in a move that caught everyone by surprise Uribe accepted the hand that Petro extended towards him during his first few months in power. They met on three occasions and on at least one of them Uribes legal situation was on the table. At that time, Petro promised to unite the entire society around a common project. For such a national agreement to occur, he needs Uribe, who has a massive following among society at large and especially in the Armed Forces. A form of reconciliation would perhaps come in the form of a presidential pardon although for that to be an option, one must first be convicted. This shadow follows Uribe around in the autumn of his life. The president would undoubtedly have preferred to be a delicate vase. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Why It Matters: The bill reflects divisions in the states South Asian community and its influence as a growing demographic. The bill, known as Senate Bill 403, had driven intense debate and divisions within the growing South Asian community in California recently, especially in Silicon Valley, where South Asians make up a significant share of the work force. Governor Newsoms rejection of the bill is a victory for some Hindu residents and organizations who had argued that the proposal unfairly targeted them because the caste system is most commonly associated with Hinduism. They asserted that caste discrimination in the United States was rare and that existing laws banning discrimination on the basis of ancestry and religion were sufficient. This has been months of concern and stress that weve been carrying about the impact that this would have on the civil rights of all South Asians regardless of background, and were glad the governor saw the problems with it, said Suhag Shukla, executive director of the Hindu American Foundation, one of the organizations leading the opposition. It comes as a blow to proponents of the bill who had argued that an explicit ban on caste discrimination was needed to increase awareness that such bias exists in the United States and to reassure victims who want to come forward. A group of South Asian activists had been on a hunger strike outside of Mr. Newsoms office since early September to urge the governor to sign the bill. In recent years, several universities and companies have added caste to their discrimination policies. Late last month, Fresno officially became the first city in California, and the second in the country after Seattle, to enact such a ban. But Governor Newsom is considering a future run for the White House, and he may not have wanted to get in the middle of longstanding ethnic and religious tensions among some Indian Americans, who are a fast-growing and vital demographic in purple suburbs and swing states. This month, Republican state legislators, who largely opposed the measure, sent Mr. Newsom a letter echoing arguments from the bills opponents. Background: There has been growing awareness in America of caste discrimination. For thousands of years, Dalits have been a historically oppressed group of people relegated below even the lowest rung of the caste hierarchy in South Asia. India officially outlawed caste discrimination more than 70 years ago, but attitudes and social stratification persist. In more than a dozen recent interviews with The New York Times, people of Dalit ancestry described various encounters with caste-based bigotry in the United States, in the form of wage theft, housing discrimination, mistreatment in the workplace and social exclusion. For decades, the South Asian diaspora was composed mainly of upper caste people, in part because they had greater access to the resources necessary to qualify for skilled worker visas. More recently, though, affirmative action policies in India have allowed more people from oppressed communities to attend universities and move abroad. The caste issue burst into the public conversation in 2020 when Californias Civil Rights Department sued Cisco Systems, accusing two of the companys engineers of caste discrimination. Awareness of such discrimination has grown since then, and in March, Aisha Wahab, a California state senator, introduced Senate Bill 403. Senator Wahabs office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Whats Next: Legal battles continue. California lawmakers are not expected to override the veto. But other states and cities could introduce measures banning caste discrimination. State regulators in California have continued to pursue their lawsuit against Cisco, though they dismissed their claims against the engineers. Opponents of the bill are likely to continue arguing against new protections. Last year, two Hindu professors sued California State University, hoping to block its addition of caste to its discrimination policy. Shawn Hubler contributed reporting. In the short term, at least, Mr. Bidens sweeping aspirations will have to take a back seat to managing the clash now consuming Israel and Gaza, one unlikely to be resolved as quickly as the bursts of violence that have periodically erupted over the years. The Hamas strike represented the most extensive invasion of Israeli territory in decades, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could feel compelled to send ground forces into Gaza to exact retribution and rescue hostages. In a brief televised statement on Saturday, Mr. Biden condemned the Hamas attack as unconscionable and called his support for Israels right to defend itself rock solid and unwavering. He warned against escalation by unnamed others, almost certainly meaning Iran. This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage, he said. But as he huddled with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and other advisers at the White House and consulted long distance with Mr. Netanyahu and King Abdullah II of Jordan, Mr. Biden did not indicate publicly how far he thought Israel should go in responding to the attack, nor did he speculate on how it would affect his broader goals for the region. The presidents Republican opponents wasted no time turning the conflict in Israel into an attack line against Mr. Biden. Led by former President Donald J. Trump, Republicans asserted that the administrations recent hostage deal with Iran had enabled Hamass actions. Sadly, American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks, which many reports are saying came from the Biden administration, Mr. Trump said in a statement. In fact, no American taxpayer dollars were involved in the hostage deal. The Biden administration signed off on the release of $6 billion of Iranian oil revenue frozen in South Korea and decreed that it be kept in a bank in Qatar available only for humanitarian purposes. Officials said Saturday that none of that money had been spent. A chocolate manufacturer, R.M. Palmer Company, failed to evacuate a Pennsylvania factory after some employees reported smelling gas before an explosion leveled part of the plant in March, killing seven workers, a federal official said this week. Seven workers will never return home because the R.M. Palmer Co. did not evacuate the facility after being told of a suspected gas leak, Kevin T. Chambers, an area director with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in Pennsylvania, said in a news release on Thursday. Ensuring the safety of a workplace is expected of employers and required by law, he added. The company could have prevented this horrific tragedy by following required safety procedures. In a statement on Friday, the company called his remarks inflammatory, callous and irresponsible. R.M. Palmer stands by its safety program and policies and has already contested the OSHA citations in this matter, the company said. The company disputes each of the citations and contends that the agency had no basis to issue these citations as stated. Hamass attack on Saturday took Israeli intelligence officials by surprise, particularly the methods the militants used to enter and leave Israel, according to a senior defense official familiar with the information collected about the group. The broad attack, mostly successful from Hamass point of view, revealed some significant failures by the Israeli defense establishment. It also may change Israels overall strategic approach to Hamas and the Gaza Strip, said the official, who asked not to be identified when discussing security matters. And that could have a far-reaching effect on the entire Middle East. Until now, Israel has contained Hamas and Gaza with a strategy that hinged on an intelligence network that would warn against Hamass moves, and on the power of the Israeli Army to repel a ground invasion by Hamas. In the Hamas attack on Saturday, these two safeguards failed. Israel is traditionally perceived as the strongest intelligence power in the region, with extensive coverage of the Gaza Strip. And in recent months, Israeli intelligence did repeatedly warn that a military conflict could flare up because Iran and affiliated militias have perceived Israel as weakened by the nations profound divisions over the judicial overhaul being pursued by the ultraright governing coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to four senior defense officials. Fighting continued into the evening on Saturday in one of the broadest invasions of Israeli territory in 50 years, as Palestinian militants from Gaza fired another round of rockets at Israels central heartland, including Tel Aviv, and Israel worked to clear militants from Israeli towns and retaliated with huge strikes on Gazan cities. It followed an enormous and coordinated early-morning assault on southern Israel, as the militants infiltrated 22 Israeli towns and army bases, kidnapped Israeli civilians and soldiers, and fired thousands of rockets toward cities as far away as Jerusalem. Panic and disbelief rippled throughout Israel. Many people huddled inside their homes while hearing sirens, explosions and gunshots outside. Gruesome, graphic images flooded social media and spread throughout the world. By early evening, at least 250 Israelis had been reported dead and more than 1,400 wounded, Israeli officials said, while at least 234 Palestinians were killed and more than 1,600 wounded in either gun battles or airstrikes, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said. More than 1,100 dead after Hamas attack and Israels retaliation Israeli troops were still fighting to expel Palestinian militants from Israeli territory yesterday, a day after a surge of armed militants crossed the Gaza border as part of the broadest invasion of Israel in 50 years. Israel responded to the land, sea and air assault launched by Palestinian militants on Saturday with heavy strikes on Gazan cities. The Israeli military reported fighting in seven border communities and an army base, and tanks were seen crossing farmland in parts of southern Israel, heading south toward Gaza. Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, continued to fire rockets into Israel. The estimated death toll hovered yesterday was more than 1,100. An Israeli defense official said that an early assessment showed that about 600 Israelis were killed on Saturday. The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said that at least 413 Palestinians had been killed since the start of the assault, including 78 children. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of a long and difficult war ahead, saying that Israeli forces were moving into an offensive phase, which will continue with neither limitations nor respite until the objectives are achieved. The Biden administration condemned Hamas and promised military assistance to Israel. Nearly 50 years to the day after the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Israel was again taken by surprise by a sudden attack. Unlike the series of clashes with Palestinian forces in Gaza over the past three years, this appears to be a full-scale conflict mounted by Hamas and its allies, with rocket barrages and incursions into Israel proper, and with Israelis killed and captured. At least 250 Israelis have been killed, officials said, and more than 1,400 injured. The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said at least 313 Palestinians were killed, and 1,990 injured, as Israeli forces launched retaliatory airstrikes and the two sides engaged in pitched battles. The psychological impact on Israelis has been compared to the shock of Sept. 11 in America. So after the Israeli military repels the initial Palestinian attack, the question of what to do next will loom large. There are few good options for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has declared war and is being pressured into a major military response. The fighting between Israel and militants from Gaza could be a blow to the ambitions of Israel and the wider eastern Mediterranean region to become a hub for exporting natural gas to Europe and elsewhere. Those aspirations received a lift when Chevron, the American energy giant, acquired stakes in two large Israeli offshore gas fields when it bought Noble Energy in 2020 for about $4 billion. Noble Energy had led the way in developing Israeli gas. Natural gas fields off the Israeli coast now account for about 70 percent of the countrys electric power generation, reducing the use of polluting coal. The gas has also helped Israel ease what had been a heavy dependence on energy imports. Those facilities have tight security, although one of the Chevron-operated production platforms, called Tamar, is about 15 miles off Ashkelon, a city in southern Israel, and could potentially be vulnerable to attacks originating from Gaza. Its time to take a stand against the tyranny of story. In Hollywood these days, story and storyteller are privileged terms, seemingly interchangeable with films and anyone who makes them a distressing development considering the mediums wild range of possibilities. The story framing used to feel fresh, anchored, however tenuously, to the effort to bridge racial and gender diversity gaps in the industry. Its not just one kind of story, this line of thinking goes, but all colors and stripes of good stories that matter. As I sunk into my first week of screenings at this years New York Film Festival, which runs through Oct. 15, this sentiment didnt feel wrong, per se. Just insufficient. To think of, say, a full-body sensory experience like Jonathan Glazers The Zone of Interest as merely a story about a Nazi family; or Raven Jacksons All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt, which consists of lush memory fragments, as merely a story about a Black womans coming-of-age, would feel dismissive of the filmmakers full intentions. I cant imagine a single director in this years beautifully eclectic lineup who would call themselves a storyteller with a straight face outside of a pitch meeting with investors. One film even satirizes the connection between moviemaking and corporate brand marketing. Im looking at you, Radu Jude (Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World). Chinese tourists jammed popular sites as travel bounced back to pre-pandemic levels during a recent eight-day national holiday, giving a temporary boost to Chinas flagging economy. The government said that tourism revenues reached about 753 billion yuan ($103 billion) during the combined Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday period that ended Friday, a rise of 1.5% over 2019 and 130% compared to last year when pandemic restrictions were still in place. China maintained locked-downs and other restrictions much longer than most other countries, enforcing a zero-COVID policy until last December. But a hoped-for consumer spending boom after the lifting of restrictions hasnt materialized, as many Chinese remain cautious with an unfolding real estate crisis weighing on the economy and youth unemployment topping 20%. That didnt stop tourists from flocking to the Great Wall and the teeming pedestrian-only shopping streets in Shanghai, Beijing and other cities. Few wore protective masks in shoulder-to-shoulder crowds in night markets and other popular destinations. Planes and high-speed trains were heavily booked over the holiday. The tourism ministry said that 826 million domestic trips were made, up 4.1% from 2019 and 71.3% from last year. Domestic tourism benefited somewhat from a slower recovery in international travel as people chose to travel at home. The number of flights to and from China remains below pre-pandemic levels, and reports of overseas crime and scams including a recent mall shooting in Thailand may be deterring some from venturing outside the country. Chinas border authorities processed 11.8 million entries and exits during the recent holiday, a nearly three-fold increase over last year when people entering China still faced mandatory quarantine, but only 85% of the total in 2019, the National Immigration Administration said. Booking agency Trip.com said that outbound travel volume during the holiday was more than eight times higher than in 2022. Popular destinations included Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea, and travel to more distant countries such as Switzerland, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and France grew compared to the last major national holiday in May. Chinas economy has shown signs of a possible emergence from its post-pandemic malaise recently, recording its first expansion in factory activity in six months. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition It was 1 a.m., and Thursday night had become Friday morning when Anthony Dominguez, known around the New York City D.J. scene as hellotones, took the stage at the Market Hotel, a club in a 19th-century building whose windows look directly on the elevated J and M trains passing through Bushwick, Brooklyn. The theme of the evening was experimental Latin sounds, and arriving at his console, Mr. Dominguez unleashed a thunderous bass. Then came the beat, from a metal comb scraping a ridged, hollow tube, known as the guacharaca: chik-chika-chik-chika-chik, repeating over and over. Mr. Dominguez, who was born in New York to Mexican parents, spins remixed cumbias, a riff on the indigenous and Afro-Colombian tropical genre that has inspired countless interpretations across Latin America. His sets are what he calls a party mix bag of chips, and he often digs deep into the past and has recently found a beautiful pocket of Argentinian cumbia. The sign on the wall suggests: Look above you. But really, no prompt is needed. It is impossible not to notice the parade of red, blue, green and yellow figures dancing across the walls, winding around air vents and windows, right up to the ceiling. It is, unmistakably, the work of Keith Haring. Only this art is not in a museum or gallery; its the otherwise unremarkable lobby of Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn. In 1986, when Mr. Haring was already well known, he perched for long hours atop scaffolding at the public hospital, laboring over a three-part mural that starts in the atrium and continues down two long corridors. The Haring mural is just one of the surprises among the 7,452 works of art that have been amassed over nearly a century by New York Citys sprawling public hospital system, which serves more than one million patients every year. It is one of the largest public art collections in the country hiding in plain sight. A ceramic-tile mosaic was created by Helen Frankenthaler for the lobby of North Central Bronx Hospital. A vibrant collage of life on a city block by Romare Bearden welcomes visitors to the chapels of Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan (a similar Bearden mural is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art), while one floor above, there is an Andy Warhol silk-screen of flowers. To the Editor: Re My Fellow Republicans Need to Grow Up, by Bob Inglis (Opinion guest essay, Oct. 3): We are divided not by ideology but by a deep lack of willingness to consider ideas before party alliances. I wasnt paying attention to politics until 2015. But Donald Trump was so outrageous I was shocked into political activism. I speak out often because silence is not an option. The MAGA followers I encounter on internet political sites call me Communist, Marxist, treasonous and fascist. I find their attitudes loathsome. I blame Mr. Trumps constant attacks on anyone who speaks out against him his most virulent and nasty attacks being against Democrats. We have become deeply divided because Mr. Trump models divisive behavior. I fear for our Republic. But, if I am honest, it is Mr. Trump who has taught me something vital. I must be careful of rejecting someone just because they are on the other side. At least I must be able to define our differences and find our similarities. As a result I may expand my point of view to be richer, more inclusive and balanced. And that is what our system of debate and compromise demands. To the Editor: Re Palestinian Militants Stage Attack on Israel (front page, Oct. 8): The Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret, which fell on Oct. 7 this year, will be a day of infamy for Israel. Hamass terrorist invasion of the Jewish state 50 years and a day after the traumatic start of the Yom Kippur War is Israels Pearl Harbor or 9/11 moment. Hundreds of Israelis have been killed and untold numbers kidnapped including women and children abducted at gunpoint and taken to Gaza as hostages and human shields. Hamass unbridled barbarity shocks the conscience of the world. Thank you to President Biden for assuring Israel of Americas full and unwavering support. Stephen A. Silver San Francisco To the Editor: Re Bidens Road to a New Middle East Has Taken a Violent Detour (news analysis, Oct. 8): The latest round of Israel-Gaza violence notwithstanding, it may still be possible to salvage the current U.S.-Saudi-Israeli diplomatic initiative. Israel is capable of exacting terrible revenge on Gaza, but if it does, the resulting bloodshed will engender worldwide condemnation as disproportionate, do little to free Israels captive citizens and so enrage the Arab street as to shut down diplomatic engagement. Two months after wildfires on the western shores of Maui killed 97 people, destroyed the historic town of Lahaina and burned more than 2,100 acres, a state order discouraging travel to the area was lifted on Sunday. But whether local hotels and businesses plan to welcome visitors remains uncertain. Maui, Hawaiis second largest island, remains in the throes of recovery, with West Maui schools still shuttered, hundreds of businesses closed and thousands of people out of work and living in temporary housing at local hotels. The state governments decision to reopen has encountered fierce pushback among some residents, who say the step is rushed, and a petition to delay the reopening has been signed by more than 15,000 people. The mayor of Maui County, Richard Bissen, said tourisms return will be measured, and in late September announced a voluntary, staggered approach to reopening, one that begins with only hotels in the northernmost portion of West Maui welcoming guests. In a statement issued on Thursday, Gov. Josh Green called the phased approach a gentle reopening that will serve both the people and local businesses. The absence of tourism, the islands main economic driver, has threatened a second crisis: Since the fires, Maui has lost more than $13 million per day in visitor spending, according to one analysis by the University of Hawaii. Millions of birds fly over Chicago during the fall migration season, and a number of them die after being confused by bright lights or after trying to fly through a window, but the carpet of bird carcasses outside a convention center on Thursday morning shocked people who have been monitoring birds in the city for decades. At least 961 dead birds were found outside the McCormick Place Lakeside Center, according to the Field Museum, a natural history museum about one mile north of the convention center. Volunteers and scientists at the museum go to the convention center, which overlooks Lake Michigan and has an exterior made mainly of glass, each day during the spring and fall migration seasons to search for birds that have clattered into the building overnight. The building, which has four levels, is not especially tall compared with nearby skyscrapers. Douglas Stotz, a senior conservation ecologist at the museum, said that he was blown away by how many birds were migrating on Wednesday night and early on Thursday, as well as by how many were found dead. When a majority of House Republicans opposed a successful push by right-wing rebels to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week, many warned that a leaderless House would be paralyzed to respond to a domestic or international crisis. Days later, Hamas militants attacked Israel in a brazen assault, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare, We are at war. Now, Republicans are fuming at the rebels in their ranks for rendering Congress impotent and ineffectual at a time when legislation and additional funding could be needed to help one of Americas closest allies. It wasnt my idea to oust the speaker, and I thought it was dangerous, Representative Michael McCaul, Republican of Texas and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said Sunday on CNN. I look at the world and all the threats that are out there. What kind of message are we sending to our adversaries when we cant govern, when were dysfunctional, when we dont even have a Speaker of the House? A senior Biden administration official said just hours after the attacks that the United States did not have intelligence that Iran was directly involved in planning the assault on Israel. But the official, who requested anonymity to discuss diplomatic and military planning, said Iran had long been deeply connected to Hamas, offering it financial support and military equipment. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said on NBCs Meet the Press program on Sunday morning that the Israeli government had asked for some specific additional assistance as the country gears up for what Mr. Netanyahu has warned will be a prolonged conflict. Mr. Austin said the Biden administration would supply the Israeli armed forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions. U.S. officials declined to be more specific about particular weapons systems, but independent analysts said Israel would likely request more interceptors for its Iron Dome missile defense system as well as bombs and missiles for attack planes. American officials said on Sunday that they were also working through plans to evacuate thousands of Americans from Israel if necessary in what is called a noncombatant evacuation. Pentagon officials emphasized that no decisions have been made but that they were working through options, including one that involves putting some Americans on the Navy ships to get them to safety. The United States already provides Israel more than $3 billion in military assistance every year, and Mr. Blinken said that much of the equipment from that funding is already in the pipeline to be sent to Israel. The Pentagon also has positioned stockpiles of arms and ammunition worth about $2 billion at about six sites throughout Israel. The stockpiles provide weapons and ammunition for the Pentagon to use in Middle East conflicts, and the United States has also allowed Israel access to the supplies in emergencies. Humberto Marchand turned on his phone camera and began recording inside the airport in May because he could not believe what he was hearing. The subsequent video was posted on social media and showed an employee of Hertz, the rental car chain, refusing to give Mr. Marchand his prepaid reserved car because he had presented a drivers license issued from Puerto Rico, where he is from. The employee did not realize that this meant he was American and ignored Mr. Marchands pleas as he repeated, It is a valid ID. Eileen Velez Vega, Puerto Ricos secretary of transportation and public works, felt increasingly frustrated as she watched that video in the spring, which reignited concerns over how Puerto Ricans are treated in the United States and the way their colonial past still vexes the island. I was shocked about how much lack of education, lack of knowledge was out there, Ms. Velez Vega said in an interview, noting that people born in Puerto Rico, a commonwealth of the United States, have the same birthright American citizenship as people born in the 50 states. I couldnt believe what was happening. The death toll from two major earthquakes in northwestern Afghanistan rose to at least 813 people on Sunday, according to the local authorities, making the dual shocks one of the deadliest natural disasters to hit the country in decades. The two earthquakes, both 6.3 magnitude, hit Herat Province, along the countrys border with Iran, on Saturday, causing mud-brick homes in several districts to come crashing down and thousands of people in the provinces capital city to rush out of their houses and office buildings as the ground shook beneath them. At least seven tremors followed the initial quakes. Rescuers found more bodies overnight as they dug through slushy debris and ice-cold water in a hunt for survivors after a glacial lake burst through a dam in Indias Himalayan northeast, washing away houses and bridges and forcing thousands to flee. Officials said the hundreds of rescuers recovered six more bodies early Saturday, bringing the death toll to 47. At least 150 people are still missing. The flood began shortly after midnight Wednesday, when the waters of a glacial lake overflowed, cracking open the biggest hydroelectric dam in Sikkim state. The icy waters then cascaded through towns in the valley below, where it killed scores of people and carried some bodies kilometers (miles) away downstream, where they were found in the neighboring state of West Bengal and Bangladesh, police said. Disasters caused by landslides and floods are common in Indias Himalayan region during the June-September monsoon season. Scientists say they are becoming more frequent as global warming contributes to the melting of glaciers there. Police said nearly 4,000 tourists were stranded in two locations, Lachung and Lachen in the northern part of the state, where access was severely restricted as the floods had washed away roads. But the bad weather has made rescue efforts more challenging, with authorities unable to deploy helicopters to assist those stuck in vulnerable areas. Some 3,900 people were currently in 26 relief camps set up by the state, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said on Saturday. Out of the 23 Indian army soldiers who were earlier reported missing, one had been rescued and eight had died, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said, adding that search operations were carrying on. It wasnt clear what triggered the deadly flood in the mountainous Sikkim state, the latest to hit northeast India in a year of unusually heavy monsoon rains. Nearly 50 people died in flash floods and landslides in August in nearby Himachal Pradesh state. In July, record rains killed more than 100 people over two weeks in northern India. Experts pointed to intense rain and a 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck nearby Nepal on Tuesday afternoon as possible contributors. But the disaster also underscores a climate dilemma that pits local environmental activists who say dams in the Himalayas are too dangerous against authorities pursuing a national green energy agenda. The design and placement of the 6-year-old Teesta 3 dam, the largest in Sikkim state, were controversial from the time it was built. A 2019 report compiled by the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority identified Lhonak Lake as highly vulnerable to flooding that could breach dams and cause extensive damage to life and property. Despite risks to dams due to the increasing frequency of extreme weather, the Indian federal government aims to increase Indias hydroelectric dam output by half, to 70,000 megawatts, by 2030. Prakash Chetri, an employee of the Teesta 3 dam operator, was working at the site when he and others were told that water levels were increasing and they should evacuate. Nearly an hour later, we saw a lot of water - the whole dam was filled with water, he said, adding that while he was lucky to escape, 14 others who worked with him were still missing. I was running to save my life ... in those moments, I thought this was the last day of my life, Chetri said. Eleven bridges in the Lachen Valley were washed away by the floodwaters, which also hit pipelines and damaged or destroyed more than 270 houses in four districts, officials said on Friday. Several towns, including Dikchu and Rangpo in the Teesta basin, were flooded, and schools in four districts were ordered shut until Sunday, the states education department said. The floods also hit several army camps, burying vehicles in feet of mud, according to images released by the Indian military. Himalayan glaciers could lose 80% of their volume if global warming isnt controlled, according to a report from the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Hundreds of police officers flooded into a Karachi slum around midnight, surrounding the homes of Afghan migrants and pounding at their doors. Under the harsh glare of floodlights, the police told women to stand to one side of their homes and demanded the men present immigration papers proving they were living in Pakistan legally. Those without documents were lined up in the street, some shaking with fear for what was to come: Detention in a Pakistani prison and deportation to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. The police raid on Friday in Karachi, Pakistans largest city, followed an abrupt decision by the Pakistani authorities last week to deport the more than one million Afghan migrants living illegally in the country. Police entered every house without warning, said Abdul Bashar, an Afghan migrant whose two cousins were among the 51 people who the police said were arrested during the neighborhood sweep. The fear has left us restless, making it difficult for us to sleep peacefully at night. On Tuesday, Pakistans Interior Ministry announced that migrants residing illegally in the country had 28 days to leave voluntarily, and it offered a reward for information leading to their arrests once that deadline passed. German voters handed a victory on Sunday to mainstream conservatives in a state election in Bavaria as well as in the smaller central state of Hesse while punishing the three parties running the country. While all three of the governing parties lost votes, symbolically at least, the far-right Alternative for Germany and another populist party were the evenings clear victors, notching record results in both states when compared with other western states. The results were considered an important midterm report card for the national coalition government of the Social Democratic chancellor, Olaf Scholz, which received some tough grades. They were also seen as a bellwether of the larger political trends building in the country, not least the fracturing of the political landscape as populist and far-right parties make inroads. Heres what happened and what it means. The mainstream is eroding. In Bavaria, the conservative Christian Social Union, which has governed the southern region for nearly seven decades, received its lowest level of support in more than a half-century, garnering just 37 percent of the vote. Beside newly dug graves in a cemetery, villagers had propped cardboard signs on sticks. Taken, one sign said simply of an open grave. Taken, three people from the Mukhovaty family, read another. Days after a Ukrainian village lost a sixth of its population in a missile strike, nearly every resident was grieving lost relatives, houses were suddenly empty, the cemetery had been expanded and the villagers were left grappling with the challenge of burying a large portion of their community at once. The missile struck on Thursday, hitting a wake being held in a cafe in the tiny farming village of Hroza, killing 52 people in one of the deadliest single missile strikes of the war. Ukrainian authorities said that a Russian Iskander ballistic missile had hit the building. At the wake, families were mourning the death of a soldier, but most in attendance were civilians, among them three teachers, 18 residents of one street and nearly all of the members of the family of the soldier, who had died earlier in fighting at the front line. Only a month ago, some Labour Party officials were fretting about the risks of fighting a parliamentary election in Scotland days before the partys annual conference. What if the party underperformed, just before its leader, Keir Starmer, had to make one of the most important speeches of his career? In the end, the opposite happened. Labour exceeded its own expectations, trouncing the Scottish National Party in the district of Rutherglen and Hamilton West, outside Glasgow. It now seems the timing could not have been better. The victory not only promised to energize the gathering in Liverpool, but it also offered a road map for how Britains main opposition party could defeat the Conservatives and regain power after 13 years. Amid rising alarm this summer in Poland and the Baltic States over a possible military attack from the east, the Polish Embassy in Lithuania requested an urgent meeting with the head of Germanys diplomatic mission. Polish embassies in other European countries made similar requests. What the Polish diplomats wanted to talk about, however, was not the risk of an assault from Belarus or the war in Ukraine, but a less pressing matter: a demand that Germany cough up more than a trillion dollars to cover damage done by the Nazis during World War II. The issue of reparations, which was settled decades ago, is a personal fixation of Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the chairman of the Polish governing party, Law and Justice. Last weekend, rallying supporters ahead of a critical general election next Sunday, he told a party convention that it was not only about the money, but also a matter of dignity. Demands that Germany pay Poland $1.3 trillion the exact figure keeps changing first surfaced several years ago, but they have flared with new intensity as Mr. Kaczynski looks for ways to secure his party a third consecutive term. Attacking Germany and its supposed hold on the leader of the opposition has become his main tool for mobilizing voters. The phone echoed in Farid El Hairys home in northern France. It was February 1999. A rural police officer was on the line, asking if he could come down to the gendarmerie for a chat. I asked them why and was it urgent, he says. Its nothing serious, he remembers being told. Come when you can. It wont take long. Then a lanky 17-year-old about to start an apprenticeship in a bakery, Mr. El Hairy set out for the brick station a couple of days later. He grabbed some pains au chocolat and a Coke on the way for breakfast. He would not return home for years. He was charged with the sexual assault and rape of a 15-year-old girl from a neighboring high school, whom he knew only by sight and had never spoken to. The police had no witnesses, no corroborating evidence, just her word against his. Hamas, an armed Palestinian group, launched one of the largest assaults on Israel in decades on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians, taking more than 220 hostages and leading Israel to declare war. The largest of the armed Islamist groups in the Gaza Strip, Hamas governs that Palestinian territory, home to two million people. What is Hamas? Hamas was founded in 1987 by Sheik Ahmed Yassin, who was active in the Muslim Brotherhood, during the first Palestinian uprising against the Israeli military control of the West Bank and Gaza. Hamas has since been responsible for suicide attacks against Israeli civilians, and the kidnapping and killing of Israeli soldiers. The United States is among the countries that have deemed it a terrorist group. But Hamas is also the governing power in the Gaza Strip, and has been since 2007. Unlike the Palestine Liberation Organization, led by Mahmoud Abbas, Hamas does not recognize Israels right to exist as a state and has spoken about driving all Jews from the region. It has advocated an uncompromising position on the creation of a Palestinian state based on Islamic fundamentalism stretching from the Mediterranean east to the Jordan River. WHAT WAS SAID Sadly, American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks, which many reports are saying came from the Biden administration. Former President Donald J. Trump in an Oct. 7 statement This is false. Soon after the Hamas attacks on Israel, former President Donald J. Trump and other Republicans tried to cast blame on President Biden saying that a recent deal brokered to secure the release of five Americans detained in Iran helped to finance the assault. Iran is a longtime backer of Hamas, a Palestinian militant group that has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States. As part of the deal in question, the U.S. facilitated the transfer of $6 billion of Iranian profits from oil sales from banks in South Korea to Qatar so that Iran could use it for food and other humanitarian purposes. But that $6 billion is not U.S. taxpayer money, as Mr. Trump and others, including Vivek Ramaswamy, another of the Republican presidential candidates, falsely stated. Nor is there evidence that the money, which officials have said is subject to Treasury Department oversight, was used to finance the attacks. Israeli troops fought to expel Palestinian militants from Israeli territory for a second day on Sunday, battling in firefights between homes, ducking under rocket fire and striking Gazan cities from the sky in retaliation for the militants assault, which officials described as the worst attack on Israel in decades. By evening on Sunday, the estimated death toll hovered around 1,100 people killed in 36 hours though the number was clouded by the continued fighting and the uncertain fate of many Israelis and Palestinians in embattled areas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Israelis to brace themselves for the days ahead. We are embarking on a long and difficult war that was forced on us by a murderous Hamas attack, he said in a statement, referring to the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip. He added that Israels military had begun the offensive phase, which will continue with neither limitations nor respite until the objectives are achieved. Israeli tanks could be seen crossing farmland in parts of southern Israel, heading south toward Gaza, and the military ordered an evacuation of civilians from 24 villages near the Gaza border, a possible prelude to a ground assault. Israeli warplanes also struck Gazan cities in response for the attack on Saturday, in which militants infiltrated more than 20 Israeli towns and army bases, opening fire on soldiers and civilians and taking some hostage. The Israeli Army confirmed Saturday afternoon what could be seen in footage shared early in the morning: that the unprecedented and surprise operation by armed groups in Gaza has not only caused at least 100 deaths, but dozens of militias who managed to infiltrate Israel (by taking advantage of gaps in the border wall, knocking down openings with excavators or flying over it with paragliders) have also kidnapped civilians and taken soldiers as prisoners of war. Military spokesperson Lt Col Jonathan Conricus said that a significant number had been captured, while the spokesperson for Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, put the number at dozens, adding that the group includes senior officials and soldiers. In propaganda images, not everyone appears to be alive. The militants also still have hostages in the communities of Ofakim and Bari, where elite Israeli forces have been deployed. The footage circulating online shows scenes that until now would have seemed like fiction: four Israeli civilians being taken to Gaza by force; many others on the ground with their hands behind their heads; a young woman being pushed into a vehicle; a confused elderly woman on the Gaza Strip amid the collective enthusiasm. One group can also be seen forcibly removing two soldiers from a military vehicle and another throwing a soldier, apparently dead, to the ground before trampling him next to the car. These are people that the militias could have easily killed, since they took control of several communities in the area and even introduced Israeli armored vehicles into the Gaza Strip. The decision to capture the civilians and soldiers was no accident. To our prisoners, I say, your freedom is looming large. What we have in hand will see you set free, Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri told Al Jazeera, referring to the around 4,500 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, according to the Israeli human rights NGO Btselem. The Islamic Jihad, which also claimed responsibility for several kidnappings, said that all captives in the hands of resistance organizations will be held until all our prisoners are released from jails. Thats according to the groups spokesperson, Dawood Shihab, who said Saturday that Israel have detained Palestinian women and children, so there will be no consideration for whether the captives are adults, women and children. Over the decades, Israel has freed thousands of prisoners in exchange deals. In some cases, these have been the typical prison swaps that take place after a war. For example, prisoners were exchanged after the fighting following the creation of Israel in 1948, the Six Days War in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973. But others have more to do with the awareness that this is Israels weak spot. I think that they wanted to kidnap a few people, to negotiate over them, and not to get into the threat of their collapse of their ending, Israeli political analyst Avi Issajarof told The Times of Israel. But he argued that the scale of Saturdays operation has changed the equation so much that negotiations under or over the table are no longer possible. The kidnapping of soldiers is a particularly sensitive issue in Israel. Military service is mandatory for both men (up to three years) and women and there is a kind of tacit agreement in which the state asks its young people to don a uniform in exchange for the certainty that, if something goes wrong, it will not abandon them to their fate. Or, at the very least, it will do everything possible to ensure that they receive a dignified burial. In 2011, for example, Israel agreed to release more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for a single soldier, Gilad Shalit, who Hamas was holding in Gaza. Two years earlier, it even released 20 Palestinians in exchange for proof that he was still alive. Reclaiming the bodies of fallen soldiers is also important to Israel. This was seen in 2008, when Israel freed five prisoners and returned the bodies of 200 Lebanese people and Palestinians to recover the remains of two soldiers that the Hezbollah militia had captured in an operation that triggered the bloody 33-day war between Israel and Lebanon. It was a bitter pill to swallow for Israel, not due to the number of prisoners it had to release, but because one of those inmates was Samir Kuntar, the mastermind of one of the most brutal attacks on Israel, who had been sentenced to 542 years in prison for three murders. His impressive and triumphant reception in Beirut added salt to the wound. Kuntar was later murdered in 2015. Given the cost of those prisoner exchange deals, if Hamas releases the number of hostages that it presumably holds, it could free all Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. But Saturdays attack has made such an outcome unthinkable: it would be an unacceptable sign of weakness for Israel. And, more importantly, Israel is preparing to embark first on a forceful, prolonged campaign, as the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made clear in a conversation with U.S. President Joe Biden. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Israel, which says Hamas hides in civilian areas for protection, has launched thousands of airstrikes on Gaza, sometimes hundreds in a single day. These have caused widespread civilian casualties, devastated neighborhoods and worsened a humanitarian disaster in the enclave, which has been under a 16-year blockade. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes in search of safety. Israel has repeatedly warned civilians to move from the north to the south of the territory though many Gazans say doing so is not an option and that no part of the enclave is safe. The Palestinian death toll in Gaza is contested. Gazas health ministry, which is run by Hamas, has said that more than 8,000 people have been killed, many of them children. That figure could not be verified independently, and President Biden has said he had no confidence in the Hamas casualty figures. He did not explain the assertion, but on Sunday reiterated support for Israels right to protect itself while underscoring the need to do so in a manner consistent with international humanitarian law that prioritizes the protection of civilians. The United Nations has called for an urgent humanitarian cease-fire to allow aid into Gaza as the humanitarian crisis spirals. While some trucks carrying aid have been allowed to cross from Egypt, officials say far more is needed. What have Palestinians said about the attack? Muhammad Deif, the leader of the military wing of Hamas, said in a recorded message that the group launched its Oct. 7 attack so that the enemy will understand that the time of their rampaging without accountability has ended. The most sweeping invasion of Israeli territory in decades, conducted by a Hamas force that had been widely seen as a ragtag collection of militants, has delivered a psychological shock to Israel so great that its very foundations are being questioned: its army, its intelligence services, its government and its capacity to control the millions of Palestinians in its midst. The war that began with a Hamas assault that has taken as many as 700 Israeli lives is not an existential struggle for the survival of the Israeli state itself, as were the 1948 war triggered by Israels foundation or the 1973 Yom Kippur War. But 75 years, and a half-century, respectively, from those conflicts, the sight of villages once again overrun, hostages seized and desperate civilians being killed by Palestinian militants has awakened a kind of primal dread. Israelis are shaken to the core, said Yuval Shany, a professor of international law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. There is outrage at Hamas, but also at the political and military leadership that allowed this to happen. You would expect a state this strong to prevent such things, yet 75 years from Israels creation the government has failed in its principal responsibility: the protection of the lives of its citizens. As with the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War, disbelief has mingled with anger at a colossal intelligence failure. When the rockets from Gaza started flying over his village in southern Israel at dawn on Saturday, Amir Tibon was not overly alarmed. Mr. Tibon and his neighbors in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, a village that stands a few hundred yards from the Gaza Strip, have become accustomed to frequent rocket fire from militants in Gaza. Bomb shelters are installed in every home, and residents are used to rushing into them every few weeks. But soon after Mr. Tibon, 35, took shelter on Saturday with his wife and two young daughters, he knew something was very different about this attack. The sound of gunfire. Then came a morbid realization. There were terrorists inside the kibbutz, inside our neighborhood and at some point outside our window, Mr. Tibon recalled in a phone interview on Sunday morning. We could hear them talk. We could hear them run. We could hear them shooting their guns at our house, at our windows. The militant attacks across Israel on Saturday made for one of the most violent and deadly days of fighting in the region in decades. Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, launched a series of rocket strikes that hit major cities across Israel, and it sent waves of fighters across the border into southern Israel, where they took over bases and seized hostages. Heres a timeline of what happened on Saturday and into Sunday in Israel and Gaza (times are local): 6:35 a.m. The first sirens warn of incoming rockets in central and southern Israel. This is the start of Hamass firing what will be thousands of rockets at Israel, striking even major cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The United States is working to fulfill several specific requests from Israel for military assistance in the wake of the attack by Hamas on Saturday, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said on NBCs Meet the Press program on Sunday morning. Mr. Blinken said that the Israeli government had asked for some specific additional assistance as the country gears up for what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned will likely be a prolonged conflict. Mr. Blinken declined to provide additional details about specific weapons systems that might be provided to Israel in the near future. White House officials said President Biden told Mr. Netanyahu in a call on Sunday that military assistance is on its way to Israel and more will follow in the days ahead. In the latest call between the two leaders, Mr. Biden discussed the taking of hostages by Hamas terrorists, including entire families, the elderly, and young children, according to a readout of the call by the White House. Offaly national school teacher Julie Ann Carroll is excited to announce the release of her debut children's book, 'Our Super Teacher.' This heartwarming and inspiring book is dedicated to the memory of Julie Ann's dear friend, Aoife Kelly, who introduced her to the world of wellness. Aoife's passing in 2022 served as the catalyst for Julie Ann's passionate mission to equip children with practical skills for emotional and mental health in today's fast-paced world. 'Our Super Teacher' is a beautifully written and illustrated children's book that aims to empower young readers to embrace wellness in their lives. With a delightful blend of storytelling and vibrant visuals. Julie-Ann who hails from Blueball, outside Tullamore, takes young readers on an enchanting journey where they discover the importance of self-care, kindness, and mindfulness. What sets 'Our Super Teacher' apart is the practical support pack included in the book, designed to assist parents and teachers in helping children learn about gratitude, meditation, yoga, affirmations, and mindfulness. This comprehensive pack covers 9 well-being practices that with step-by-step instructions for introducing these practices to children in a fun and engaging way and that ultimately, will help them to practice living life mindfully. Julie Ann's debut book encapsulates her dedication to promoting emotional and mental health awareness among children. By providing practical tools and nurturing emotional intelligence, 'Our Super Teacher' empowers young readers to navigate life's challenges with confidence and compassion, while also offering parents and teachers a valuable resource for cultivating these essential life skills. A natural storyteller and a lover of all things arts & crafts, Julie Ann discovered her love for writing and illustrating during her pregnancy with her youngest child, Luca. Julie-Ann's mission is to inspire and encourage children to become their best selves and live happy, healthy lives. When she is not writing or illustrating Julie-Ann enjoys spending time at home with her husband Mark and her three beautiful children Jack, Mae &; Luca. They live in County Offaly, where Julie-Ann grew up. 'Our Super Teacher'; by Julie Ann Carroll is available for purchase online now exclusively on www.julieanncarroll.ie and ships to Ireland, United Kingdom, USA & Australia Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys has confirmed that welfare rates will increase for pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and working families in Budget 2024. Asked how much rates would rise by, Ms Humphreys said the finer details were yet to be decided. The minister also said she was pushing for lump sum welfare payments, and that she was supportive of the very popular double child benefit as part of the cost-of-living package accompanying the budget. The total cost of Budget 2024 is around 6.4 billion euro, with taxation measures worth 1.1 billion euro of the total. The value of the cost-of-living measures has not been stated, but is expected to be less than last years package, with one-off electricity credits expected to be under the three 200-euro energy credits in Budget 2023. The three coalition leaders are due to meet with Finance Minister Michael McGrath and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe on Sunday afternoon to finalise details. Mr McGrath indicated on Saturday peoples standard of living would improve on the back of Tuesdays budget, and said he hoped the measures would have their desired effect. One of the largest looming issues to be resolved is the overrun in the Department of Health, with Tanaiste Micheal Martin saying that population growth in Ireland over a short space of time had led to an increased demand for health, education and childcare services. Speaking ahead of the budget, Ms Humphreys confirmed that pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and working families will receive an increase in their core weekly rate. Ill be pushing hard to deliver a strong package that supports households with the cost of living and puts money back in peoples pockets, and theres no secret that the groups Im advocating strongly for are older people, are carers, people with disabilities and working families, she told RTEs This Week programme. I am proposing that we have an across-the-board increase in welfare payments and well also have a package of lump sum payments that are targeted at specific areas, but again, its subject to negotiation and I dont have the finer details yet. Asked about reports of a 12-euro-a-week welfare payment increase, she said any rise in the rates was still subject to negotiations. Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, but I do want to assure our pensioners, our carers, our people with disabilities and our working families that they will receive an increase in their core weekly rate. Asked whether there will be a double child benefit payment in Budget 2024, she said: Theres nothing nailed down yet, but we did do a double child benefit payment last year, and I have to say, its got a very positive feedback. There are many mothers and theyre very glad of it, and they were very glad of it last year. It supports working families, and we all know things get tight coming up to Christmas, and I was young working mother myself and I saw that first-hand. So what were trying to do is support working families and give them a helping hand, you know, when they need it, so I certainly am very supportive of that particular measure. She added that she wanted to see the hot school meals programme rolled out beyond Deis schools, or schools in disadvantaged areas, and on to every primary school in the country over the coming years. Asked whether the core child benefit payment should be increased, Ms Humphreys said: Even though the economy has been doing extremely well, theres still a limited pot available and I have to make choices. Asked about mortgage interest relief, she acknowledged that some people had seen their mortgage go up by 500, 600-euro or indeed more. As a government we want to try and help them. It certainly wont go all the way and Minister (for Finance Michael) McGrath has been working on this matter, I think he plans to announce details on Tuesday as well. After Spending Over 40 Days In Jail, YouTuber TTF Vasan Will Be Finally Out Of Prison 'Bigg Boss Tamil' Elimination: Not Bava, This Contestant Evicted From Kamal's Show Chennai oi-Prakash KL For six seasons, the 'Bigg Boss Tamil' had not eliminated the contestant in the first week, allowing them to settle. However, this practice has been broken this time as Kamal Haasan-hosted show has evicted the first contestant. There were seven contestants in the danger zone in the first week. They were: Raveena, Ishu, Pradeep Antony, Jovika, Bava Chellathurai, Yugendran and Ananya Rao. Going by the people's response on social media sites, one among Bava, Yugendran and Ananya were expected to be out of the show. The latest buzz is that Ananya Rao had been eliminated from 'Bigg Boss Tamil 7' house. Ananya S Rao is a notable social media influencer who has gained widespread attention for her participation in Netflix's reality series, 'IRL: In Real Love.'Known for her captivating dance reels and on-screen chemistry with her partners, Ananya boasts a substantial fan following across various social media platforms. However, the netizens were not happy with Ananya's eviction and many wanted Bava to be shown the door. Check out how people reacted to X: Imadh: The eviction in the first week seems really unjust to me. Going to miss your strategic game, #AnanyaRao! Vikram: #BiggBossTamil7 #bava wants to quit but he is in the game whereas #AnanyaRao wants to play but got eliminated This is what happens if ppl vote based on outside image and not consider what happens in the house #BiggBossTamil POOJA: #BiggBossTamil7 I can't believe #AnanyaRao got eliminated just for #Bava to say he wants to get out of the house #BiggBoss7tamil Prabhakar: Anyway unfair start Very unfair, didn't have a chance to prove herself, small boss folks performed better than big boss folks. Nalla player innum vilayadavea aarambikla..paavam #AnanyaRao #Ananya #BiggBossTamil7 #BiggBossTamil Sorry to see you go #Ananya. You seem like a solid girl with strong opinions. Weird that #BiggBossTamil would eliminate anyone this early. Feels like the show lost a potential good player. BiggBossTamil7: Supporting #AnanyaRao to come back to #BiggBossTamil7. #Maya is over reacting. Get rid of that cheapskate #Maya who is character assassinating #PradeepAnthony. Too much @ikamalhaasan. Pls give the idiot a strike and get rid of her! Badhri: If possible @vijaytelevision @ikamalhaasan plz bring back #AnanyaRao #Ananya in place of #Bavachelladurai. Morning only #Bava can go out. #BiggBoss7tamil #biggbosstamil7 mostly youtube interviews soon with bava. Meanwhile, the weekend was dominated by the tussle between Vichitra and Jovika. They had heated arguments over the 'education' topic with most of the inmates siding with Jovika during the conversation. AAP Leader Sarvesh Mishra Denies Receiving Money in Connection with Delhi Excise Policy Case India -Krishna Kripa In a recent development in the Delhi excise policy case, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sarvesh Mishra has vehemently denied media reports claiming his involvement in any monetary transactions related to the case. He has termed these reports as false and warned of initiating legal action against those spreading such misinformation. Mishra's Rebuttal On Saturday, Mishra took to his social media platform X to refute these allegations. In a post written in Hindi, he expressed his dismay at various news channels, newspapers and other media organisations for running misleading news about him confirming receipt of money from an undisclosed source. "I want to clarify that I have never said that. These are completely baseless and malicious allegations and a conspiracy to defame and tarnish my reputation," stated Mishra in his post. A Warning Against False News The AAP spokesperson also made an earnest request to all types of media outlets publishing such false news, asking them to abstain from doing so or else face legal consequences for defamation. Highlighting the principles of honesty, truth, service and fearlessness upheld by their leader Sanjay Singh, Mishra declared that he would not compromise with them under any circumstances. The Enforcement Directorate's Move This rebuttal comes after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned two associates of arrested AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Friday for questioning in connection with a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in implementing the now-scrapped excise policy. The officials confirmed this move but did not disclose further details. Court Proceedings Against Singh Prior to this development, a Delhi court had sent Singh into custody on Thursday without providing specific details about the charges against him or the duration of his detention. This move has stirred up controversy and raised questions about the transparency of the legal proceedings. In conclusion, as this case continues to unfold, it brings with it a wave of uncertainty and apprehension. The allegations against prominent political figures like Sarvesh Mishra and Sanjay Singh have not only put their reputations at stake but also cast a shadow over the credibility of AAP. It is crucial for all parties involved to ensure that truth prevails, maintaining the faith of the public in our democratic processes. Moreover, media outlets must exercise restraint and integrity while reporting such sensitive issues to prevent further misinformation from spreading. Members of the emergency services and locals search for victims under the rubble after a bombardment by Israeli forces on Khan Yunis, in the Gaza Strip, on Sunday. Twenty-four hours after the surprise attack by Hamas, Israel was trying on Sunday to regain control of all its territory. Israeli soldiers are still fighting in eight points against the Palestinian militia members who infiltrated on Saturday from the Gaza Strip a state of fragility comparable only to the Yom Kippur War and have been killing and kidnapping civilians, police officers and soldiers on the street, in their homes, in military bases and even at a music festival. Although Israel has been heavily bombing Gaza since Saturday (413 Palestinians have been killed so far and 2,300 injured), its first objective is to put order at home before launching into a long and difficult war, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defined it after a Security Cabinet meeting. The Israeli government announced Sunday morning that it was cutting off the supply of electricity, fuel and goods to Gaza, and the Israeli Army said that it intends to evacuate all towns near the Gaza Strip. We are embarking on a long and difficult war that was forced on us by a murderous Hamas attack, Netanyahu said on X, formerly Twitter, early Sunday. The first stage is ending at this time by the destruction of the vast majority of the enemy forces that infiltrated our territory. At the same time, we have begun the offensive phase, which will continue with neither limitations nor respite until the objectives are achieved. The governments declaration of a state of war allows for significant military activities and limits meetings. So far, the Israeli army has bombed buildings (including an 11-story tower), the homes of Hamas leaders, a mosque and tunnels. Twenty of the 413 Palestinian victims are children, according to the Gaza Strips Health Ministry. More than 20,000 Gazans have taken refuge in United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) schools. At the same time, Israeli security forces have been regaining control of localities seized by militants, capturing dozens and freeing hostages. In the town of Sderot, for example, they bombed a police station, where 10 armed men were barricaded. A senior Hamas official, Musa Abou Marzuk, said more than a hundred Israelis were being held hostage, including senior military officers. Shortly before, Islamic Jihad also claimed to be holding another 30 Israelis hostage, according to the Israeli press. With the advance of Israels troops, more victims have been discovered, raising the death toll to 700 (around 2,200 have been wounded), according to data from the health services quoted by the local press. This is equivalent to two-thirds of all Israelis killed during the Second Intifada (2000-2005). According to a spokesman for the Zaka emergency services quoted by the daily Yediot Aharonot, 260 of the victims were attending a Supernova rave, a festival next to a kibbutz in the Negev desert, a few miles from Gaza. One of the survivors, Ortal, recounted how 50 gunmen suddenly appeared in vans, as rocket alerts competed with blaring music. Suddenly, out of nowhere, they came in, opening fire in all directions. I grabbed the car keys and we started moving forward to escape the gunfire. In a moment they reached us, shot at our vehicles and we got out [...]. I climbed a tree and they started firing at people. I put my cellphone on silent mode and started crawling through an orange grove. I could hear the whistling of gunshots. I saw wounded friends. Suddenly, a tank approached. I was sure it would rescue me, but the driver said: I cant let you in, I have a dead man in the tank. A lot of people jumped on top of me, she told Israeli TV Channel 12. A video released Saturday shows dozens of participants fleeing in panic. Meanwhile, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamist organization Hamas, claimed that some of its militia members are still fighting against Israeli forces. Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari admitted on Sunday afternoon that there were still armed men in Israel. School classes have been suspended sine die in the country, the streets are half-empty and at the Shaykh Hussein border crossing with Jordan, groups of tourists could be seen cutting short their vacations to leave. Israeli authorities have also extended the state of emergency initially only declared in some areas to the entire country. The most concerning prospect is what is known in Israel as a multi-front war, i.e. that armed groups in the West Bank and, above all, Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia with an arsenal, preparation and manpower far superior to that of the Palestinian groups, will come into action. On Sunday, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the launch of mortar shells against Israel, which responded with bombings. No casualties were reported. After the incident, well below Hezbollahs capacity for action, the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (FINL) reported that it is in contact at all levels with both Lebanese and Israeli authorities to avoid a more serious escalation. On Sunday, while Israeli visitors were touring the Egyptian city of Alexandria, a local opened fire on them and two Israeli citizens and the local Egyptian guide were killed, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. Another tourist was also wounded, but is in a stable condition. Israel has asked its citizens to leave Egypt as soon as possible and to avoid traveling to certain countries in the Middle East. The condemnation of the attack from governments gave way on Sunday to calls for an end to the violence, with Pope Francis and the African Union sending a message for peace. Turkey, for its part, said that it would redouble its diplomatic efforts to calm the situation, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned that an escalation of violence would have incalculable consequences for the region. The European Union, which strongly condemns terrorist violence, has also begun making contact to encourage a cessation of hostilities. The permanent representative of Palestine to the Arab League, Muhannad al-Aklouk, also called for an urgent meeting of the foreign ministers of the member countries. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Bodies of Young Couple Found Hanging in Aravali Forest - Suspicious Circumstances India -Krishna Kripa A tragic discovery was made on Saturday in the Aravali forest area near Sohna, Gurugram, where the bodies of a young couple were found hanging from an electric pole. The circumstances surrounding their deaths are currently under investigation by local authorities and are being regarded as suspicious. Discovery of Bodies The deceased individuals have been identified as Anju, a 22-year-old woman from Java village, and Rohit, a 28-year-old man from Kot village in Nuh district. Police officers on the scene confirmed that both had been missing for three days prior to this grim discovery. A motorcycle was also recovered from the scene which is believed to belong to one or both of them. Investigation Underway The bodies have since been taken into police custody for further examination. As per protocol, an investigation has been initiated to unravel the mystery behind their untimely demise. It is expected that autopsy reports will provide more insight into whether foul play was involved or if it was a case of suicide. Couple Known To Each Other Anju and Rohit were not just romantically involved; they also worked together at a private company. Anju lived with her sister in Nimoth village located within Gurugram district while working there. Both she and Rohit went missing on October 4th according to statements given by family members who lodged her missing report at Nimoth police chowki. Information Received By Sohna Police Sohna Police received information about this horrifying incident on Saturday afternoon when they were informed that two bodies were hanging on an electric pole running through the dense Aravalli forest region. A senior officer reported that upon receiving this information, a team was immediately dispatched to investigate. In conclusion, this tragic event has left the local community in shock and mourning. As police continue their investigation, many questions remain unanswered: Were Anju and Rohit victims of a violent crime or did they take their own lives? If it was suicide, what drove them to such an extreme step? And if it was murder, who could have wanted these young people dead and why? The answers to these questions will hopefully come to light as the investigation progresses. Until then, all we can do is hope for justice for Anju and Rohit. Congress Wins Seats In LAHDC Kargil Poll; Reason Rahul's Bharat Jodo Yatra? India -Krishna Kripa The recent victory of the Congress party in several seats during the elections to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, has been attributed to Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra. This assertion comes from within the party itself, with key figures attributing this success to the influence and impact of Gandhi's nationwide journey. Impact of Bharat Jodo Yatra Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra was a significant political event aimed at unifying India through dialogue and understanding. The campaign saw him traverse various regions across India, engaging with community members and addressing their concerns. According to Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, it is this initiative that played a pivotal role in securing votes for Congress in LAHDC elections. He noted that despite an anticipated lack of coverage by national media outlets, trends showed a convincing lead for Congress. Video: 'Noorie', Rahul Gandhi's Surprise For Mother On World Animal Day Further emphasizing on this point, Ramesh stated that BJP had almost been wiped out entirely in these elections - a clear indication of voters' preference for Congress over its rival party. This shift in political loyalty is being credited largely to Rahul Gandhi's efforts during his Bharat Jodo Yatra last month. Congress Resounding Victory K C Venugopal, another key figure within the party and currently serving as general secretary organisation expressed satisfaction over their performance. He highlighted how after a decade-long wait, they have finally managed to secure resounding victory in Ladakh hill council elections. This win also marks another milestone as it is first election after Article 370 was abrogated from Indian constitution which granted special status to region of Jammu & Kashmir under which Ladakh falls into. Alliance with National Conference Interestingly enough, Congress did not go at it alone. They had formed an alliance with the National Conference, a major political party in Jammu and Kashmir. This strategic partnership played a crucial role in their sweeping victory across the entire region. Reflecting on this, Venugopal stated that Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra last month had instilled faith among people of Ladakh and Kargil. It made them believe that Congress and its partner INDIA genuinely care about issues they face and are committed to addressing their democratic sentiments. Watch: Rahul Gandhi Cleans Utensils As Part Of 'Sewa' At Golden Temple In conclusion, the recent elections for LAHDC have seen Congress emerge victorious after a decade-long wait. The party attributes this success to Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra which has helped reestablish trust among local populace towards Congress. The election results also indicate voters' preference for Congress over BJP, marking a significant shift in political dynamics within the region. As India continues to grapple with various challenges both internally and externally, these electoral outcomes may well be indicative of changing public sentiment towards different political parties. Woman and Her Two Children Found Dead in Delhi Home, Suspected Suicide India -Krishna Kripa The city of New Delhi was shaken on Sunday, October 8th, as the bodies of a woman and her two children were discovered in their home in southwest Delhis Munirka. The deceased have been identified as Varsha Sharma and her two young children aged four and two-and-a-half years. The victims had injuries on their wrists caused by a sharp weapon, leading police to suspect that this could be an instance of murder-suicide. Tragic Discovery According to police reports, the call came in around 10:30 am about a possible suicide at a house located in Munirka village. A team from the Kishangarh police station was dispatched immediately to investigate the scene. Upon arrival, they found themselves forced to break open the doors of the residence. Inside, they made a grim discovery -the bodies of Mrs.Sharma and her two young children with wounds inflicted by what appeared to be a sharp object on their wrists. Prima facie evidence suggested that Mrs.Sharma may have killed her children before taking her own life. A Grieving Husband Mrs.Sharma was married to a constable working with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). Their marriage took place back in 2017. As news broke out about this tragic incident, it is assumed that he has been notified about his familys untimely demise. Ongoing Investigation In light of these events, law enforcement officers continue their investigation into this tragic case. They are currently working under the hypothesis that Mrs.Sharma might have taken drastic measures resulting in this horrific event; however, no conclusion has yet been reached pending further investigations. The sub-divisional magistrate has also been informed for conducting official proceedings related to death inquiries or 'inquest proceedings'. This is a standard procedure in cases of unnatural death, which includes suicide and suspected murder. Legal action will be taken based on the findings from these investigations. The police have assured that every aspect of this case will be thoroughly examined to ensure justice for the victims. A Community in Shock The incident has left the Munirka community in shock, as they grapple with the horrifying event that unfolded within their midst. Neighbours and friends are struggling to come to terms with how such a tragedy could occur in what seemed like an ordinary family. In conclusion, this tragic event underscores the importance of mental health awareness and support mechanisms within communities. It also highlights the need for effective communication channels between individuals who may be dealing with personal crises and professionals who can provide help. As investigations continue into this heart-wrenching incident, it serves as a stark reminder of how despair can lead to devastating consequences if not addressed promptly and appropriately. Fire Breaks Out At Firecracker Shop In Attibele, Bengaluru City District; 12 Killed, Several Injured| Details India oi-Stuti Tripathi A firecracker shop was gutted due to an accidental fire at Attibele in Anekal Taluk of Bangalore City District, 12 of the 20 workers are killed and many others were injured. The incident unfolded on Saturday, 7th October in a firecracker shop owned by Naveen. When the fire broke out, fire brigade personnel swiftly responded to the scene to douse the flames. However, the exact number of casualties in the fire remains unclear at this time. Local authorities, including the police, have been working diligently at the site, urging the public to maintain a safe distance. Additionally, three ambulances have been dispatched to provide medical assistance to those affected by the tragedy. #WATCH | Karnataka: Fire broke out at a firecracker shop in Attibele. Several fire tenders were present at the spot. Further details awaited. pic.twitter.com/HcAzWItPVZ ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2023 As the situation continues to develop, efforts are underway to address the aftermath of this devastating incident. The firework store is still burning for four hours and the fire has not been brought under control. Five or six fire brigade vehicles and tens of personnel are trying to extinguish the fire. It is said that this store, which belonged to Naveen, had a collection of firecrackers worth around five crores. The exact cause of the accident is yet to be known. It is said that 30-40 people were working in the firework shop and some of them escaped from the danger of their lives as they came out from the back door. The police have expressed the suspicion that many people are still trapped in this shop. Also, a stock shop, a lorry, a freight transporter and four two-wheelers were burnt. Firecrackers are still bursting at the scene, and thick fire and smoke is engulfing the area. The injured have been admitted to the hospital. Four ambulances have reached the spot. Shacks In Goa Now Mandated To Serve Fish Curry-Rice Along With Other Cuisines India -Krishna Kripa Goa's sun-kissed beaches, famous for their lively shacks offering a variety of Indian and international cuisines, are set to add another feather in their cap. In an attempt to promote the local cuisine, the state's tourism minister Rohan Khaunte announced on Sunday that all beach shacks will now be required to serve "fish curry-rice", a staple dish of the coastal state. This move is part of Goa's new Shack Policy aimed at showcasing Goan culinary delights to visitors. The decision was made in response to observations that while these popular beachfront joints offered North Indian food among other dishes, traditional Goan cuisine was conspicuously absent from their menus. The government has now decided to mandate the inclusion of local dishes such as fish curry-rice on shack menus. Minister Khaunte emphasised on the importance of projecting Goas rich culinary heritage to tourists visiting this vibrant coastal paradise. Addressing Illegal Hawking Beyond promoting local cuisine, Goas new Shack Policy also aims at addressing illegal hawking and vending activities plaguing its pristine beaches. According to Minister Khaunte, many women involved in unauthorized selling activities often masquerade as employees of these shacks when confronted by officials from the tourism department. To curb this menace, it has been mandated under the new policy that each beach shack must submit a list of its employees. Fish Curry-Rice: A Taste Of Authentic Goan Cuisine Fish curry-rice is not just a dish; it is synonymous with Goan culture and lifestyle - simple yet full-bodied and teeming with flavours. The coconut-based preparation beloved for its tangy-spicy taste serves as an excellent introduction for tourists into authentic Goan cuisine which combines influences from Hindu origins and four centuries of Portuguese colonialism. Conclusion The compulsory inclusion of fish curry-rice and other Goan dishes in the menu of beach shacks is a commendable step by the government towards promoting local culture. This move will not only provide tourists with an authentic taste of Goa's rich culinary heritage but also contribute to preserving and propagating indigenous food traditions. The new Shack Policy, which was recently passed by the cabinet, is an excellent initiative that aims at enhancing tourist experiences while tackling issues like illegal hawking on beaches. It seems poised to transform Goas tourism landscape by merging cultural promotion with regulatory measures. Final Rites of Armyman Mitul Kalita Performed with Military Honours in Assam | Flash Flood Tragedy Final rites of Armyman Mitul Kalita from Assam, who was killed in the Sikkim flash flood, was performed with full military honours at native place in Baksa district on Sunday evening. A tragic loss for Assam as it loses a braveheart in Mitul Kalita of Indian Army. India -Krishna Kripa The northeastern Indian state of Assam is mourning the loss of one of its brave sons, Armyman Mitul Kalita, who tragically lost his life in a flash flood in Sikkim. Final rites for the fallen soldier were carried out with full military honours at his native place in Baksa district on Sunday evening, according to official sources. Tragic Loss for Assam Expressing grief over the untimely demise of Kalita, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to social media platform X earlier that day. "A tragic loss for Assam as it loses a braveheart in Mitul Kalita of Indian Army from Baksa District, in the unfortunate flash flood in Sikkim," he wrote. The Chief Minister also extended his prayers for the departed soul and offered condolences to the bereaved family during this difficult time. "My prayers for the departed soul & condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of grief", said CM Sarma. Kalita's Service and Sacrifice Kalita was serving as a craftsman in the technical department of the Indian Army at Alipurduar when he was sent on departmental orders to Sikkim. The 31-year-old was among 23 soldiers initially reported missing following a sudden flash flood last Wednesday. While rescue operations managed to save one missing personnel, bodies of nine soldiers including that of Kalita have been recovered so far. The news plunged Anandabazar area of Baksa district into deep sorrow as locals mourned their local hero's untimely demise. Tributes Pour In In addition to CM Sarma's tribute, several other dignitaries paid their respects to Kalita. State Cabinet Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass and the superintendent of police were among those who paid their last respects to the soldier. As news of his death spread, tributes began pouring in from various quarters, reflecting Kalita's service and sacrifice for his country. In conclusion, the tragic demise of Armyman Mitul Kalita serves as a grim reminder of the risks our soldiers take every day to keep us safe. The entire state of Assam and indeed India mourns this loss, uniting in grief and gratitude for his service. His sacrifice will not be forgotten; instead it will serve as an inspiration for future generations about the true cost of freedom and security. Israel's Ambassador Alleges 'Iran Support' To Hamas; Asserts On Need Of 'Very Strong Support' From India India oi-Stuti Tripathi Israel's Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, has strongly asserted in a video press conference on Saturday, 7th October, that Iran is actively supporting and arming Hamas, the Palestinian militant group responsible for recent attacks on Israel. Gilon emphasized that those responsible for these acts of terrorism will face severe consequences, and Israel will respond in its own time and manner. Gilon stated during a press conference, "It's clear to us that Iran is involved with it. We know for sure about supplying weapons and training, and I will not exclude the possibility of Iran organizing or assisting in this specific attack. There is an attempt now to escalate tensions along the northern border, where Indian uniformed soldiers are stationed." He also mentioned that Israel would not rule out the possibility of Iran aiding the terror group in the specific attack. He issued a stern warning to Hamas, stating, "The terrorists are going to pay a very big price. We will act at our own pace, in our own choosing, the way we want it" as quoted by ANI. During the press conference, Gilon highlighted that Hamas is using civilian populations as shields and alleged that the group is holding Israeli hostages to portray themselves as victims. He stated, "We know Hamas from the past; the next thing, they will start hiding behind the civilian population. Now they also have Israeli hostages to hide behind and present themselves as victims. This has always been the issue." Addressing the situation in Gaza, Gilon acknowledged the challenge posed by the presence of civilian hostages but expressed confidence in Israel's ability to manage it. He mentioned Israel's defense systems, such as the Iron Dome, and safety protocols that help minimize casualties from missile and rocket attacks. Gilon further explained, "The only issue we have here is the presence of human civilian hostages in Gaza, which will be complicated, of course. But apart from that, I think we are stabilized. Rockets are coming, but we know how to deal with them. We have the Iron Dome and our safe room procedures. By following these protocols, we can usually minimize casualties from missiles and rockets, allowing us to take the necessary actions to prevent such incidents from happening again." Regarding the recent Hamas attack on Israeli civilians, Gilon said that the attackers had killed and abducted numerous individuals, including children and women. He stated, "They (Hamas) murdered, hijacked, children, women, and the elderly. The numbers, which will unfortunately increase, currently stand at over 300 killed, murdered, and some kidnapped. We have not received any information about Indian foreign nationals being involved. There are more than 1800 wounded." Gilon expressed gratitude for the support Israel has received from India, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, acknowledging India's understanding of terrorism and its influential role in the world. He stressed the importance of India's support in allowing Israel to take the necessary measures to counter Hamas. "We will need this very strong support of our Indian friends and India as a very influential country in the world, as a country that knows terrorism and understands the crisis, it will be very important for us to give us the ability to do what we need to do in order to make sure that Hamas will not be able to continue doing atrocities", said Gilon as quoted by ANI. Regarding the conflict's outcome, Gilon expressed confidence in Israel's ultimate victory against Hamas, emphasizing that it is the only option in the face of such threats. He stated, "It's not that it's easy to defeat us, and you know why we will prevail. We will prevail because we have no other option. Throughout history, Jews have suffered persecution and killings in many countries, not in India, of course. Once we established our own country, we faced numerous wars and challenges, but we always prevailed because we had no alternative." The recent conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in a significant loss of life, with over 400 casualties reported, including dozens of soldiers and police officers. Additionally, more than 2,048 people have been wounded, with some in critical condition. The conflict has involved rocket attacks and a ground assault by Hamas, with ongoing confrontations near the Gaza border. Several Israelis have also been taken as hostages in Gaza, according to reports. (With inputs from ANI) What Is The link between Leonardo DiCaprio And This Calicut Man India oi-Sushmita Halder A post-doctoral researcher from Calicut University Dr Sandeep Das is on top of the world as Hollywood actor and environment activist Leonardo DiCaprio posted the picture of the Galaxy Frog on his Instagram handle shot by Das. The actor used the picture to show that climate change has become the main driver of amphibian decline globally. Expressing his excitement over Leo's post, Das said he was very happy that an international celebrity like DiCaprio used the photograph of a threatened frog shot by him at Thekkady in Kerala on his Instagram handle which would help grab the attention to the rising threats and conservation of amphibians. Das further asserted that he was happy as Leo shared the photograph of the Galaxy Frog on his Instagram handle after giving the photo credits to him. According to Das, the second Global Amphibian Assessment (GAA2) reveals the ratio of amphibians worldwide continues to deteriorate with 40.7 per cent (2,873) in 2022 which is a global threat compared with 37.9 per cent (2,681) in 1980 and 39.4 per cent (2,788) in 2004 when the GAA1 was held. To be more precise, climate change had a huge impact on the extinction of the species during 2004-2022, with 119 species (39 per cent) affected compared with six species from 1980-2004. However, according to the study, these threatened species are still found in the Western Ghats along with Caribbean islands, Mesoamerica, the Tropical Andes, the mountains and forests of western Cameroon and eastern Nigeria, Madagascar and Sri Lanka. Das is a postdoctoral fellow at the CU Zoology Department. He is among the 123-member team of scientists from across the world who conducted the landmark Global Amphibian Assessment 2 (GAA2) study that was been published in science journal Nature on Wednesday. Rajasthan Government Orders Caste Survey Ahead of Assembly Polls India -Krishna Kripa The Rajasthan government, led by the Congress party, issued an order on Saturday, October 7th to conduct a caste-based survey in the state. The decision comes just days after Bihar released the findings of its own caste survey and precedes the upcoming assembly polls in Rajasthan slated for later this year. This makes Rajasthan only the second state in India to undertake such a population count. Government's Initiative Towards Social Justice The order was sanctioned by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment following approval from the state cabinet. As per this directive, the Rajasthan government will utilize its own resources to gather data pertaining to social, economic, and educational levels across all citizens within its jurisdiction. By doing so, it aims to gain insights into various socio-economic aspects associated with different castes residing in Rajasthan. Planning Economic and Statistics Department: The Nodal Agency The Department of Planning Economic and Statistics has been designated as the nodal department responsible for overseeing this substantial task. However, while there is clarity regarding which department will spearhead this initiative, no specific timeline has been provided for when this comprehensive population count is expected to be completed. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlots Announcement Rajasthan's Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had earlier informed reporters that an official announcement regarding this matter would soon be made public. His statement came true with issuance of this recent order mandating a statewide caste-based census. Bihars Caste Survey Findings Released on Gandhi Jayanti In related news from Bihar - another Indian state that recently conducted a similar caste-based census - findings were published on October 2nd; coinciding with Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary. The Nitish Kumar-led government revealed that Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) constitute a significant proportion of Bihar's population. In conclusion, the decision by Rajasthan government to conduct a caste survey is an important step towards understanding the socio-economic conditions of various castes in the state. The data collected from this exercise will play a crucial role in shaping future policies and initiatives aimed at social justice and empowerment. It also sets precedence for other states to follow suit in order to gain better insights into their own demographic compositions. However, it remains to be seen how effectively this mammoth task will be executed given that no specific timeline has been provided for its completion. Shahrukh Pathan Granted Bail in Delhi Riots Case India -Krishna Kripa In a recent development, Shahrukh Pathan, who gained significant media attention for brandishing a pistol at a policeman during the northeast Delhi riots in 2020, was granted bail on October 7. However, it is important to note that this does not mean he will be released from jail as he stands accused in another rioting case. Pathan's Involvement and Arrest Shahrukh Pathan was part of an unruly mob that allegedly caused gunshot injuries to one individual near Maujpaur Chowk on February 24, 2020. This incident led to his arrest and subsequent detainment since April 3, 2020. The order regarding his bail plea was pronounced by Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat. The Court's Decision Judge Rawat made his decision based on the overall facts and circumstances surrounding the case. He noted that public witness Rohit Shukla had been examined and all remaining witnesses were police officials. Furthermore, all other co-accused individuals involved in the same case have already been granted bail. Therefore, considering these factors along with Pathans prolonged detention period without trial completion; Judge Rawat approved Shahrukh Pathan's bail application. Bail Conditions The court has laid down specific conditions for granting him bail which involves furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000 along with two sureties of similar amount. It is crucial to mention here that while approving the bail plea of Shahrukh Pathan; Judge Rawat clarified that although he was part of the violent mob causing chaos during those riots; there is no evidence suggesting that he shot victim Rohit Shukla. Prolonged Legal Proceedings This decision comes after months-long legal proceedings, with the case still at the stage of prosecution evidence. The fact that Pathan has been in custody for over a year without trial completion raises questions about judicial delays and their implications on the accused. It also highlights the importance of ensuring a swift and fair trial for all individuals, irrespective of the gravity of accusations leveled against them. In conclusion, while Shahrukh Pathan's bail approval marks a significant turn in this high-profile case, it does not imply his immediate release from jail due to his involvement in another rioting case. This development reiterates the complexity surrounding legal procedures involving cases of public violence and law enforcement officials' role during such incidents. Furthermore, it underscores the need for timely trials to uphold justice and maintain public faith in India's judicial system. For several weeks now, people in Peru have not been wrinkling their faces when they suck on limes, but rather because the price of limes has risen to the point of making them unattainable. Its a sour truth that can be confirmed with a question that is asked every day: how much does a kilo of limes cost in Lima and the provinces? That inquiry has as many searches as the current exchange rate. Perhaps it is the new indicator of how the country is doing. Is it possible to prepare ceviche without lime? Thats an existential question in a land that is deeply proud of its food and alarmed because its signature dish, labeled as the Nations Cultural Heritage since 2004, is under threat. In its purest form, ceviche has five ingredients: raw fish, salt, chili, onion and lime. In its most modern version, ceviches magic resides in the instantaneous maceration of all these ingredients in a quick trip from the bowl to the table. Experts say that without the Peruvian limes acidity level, it is not possible to make ceviche just right, with a balance of freshness, spiciness and notes of citrus. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI), the price of limes increased by 121.7% between June and August. However, the figures soar even higher when one considers that in the first quarter of the year, a kilo of limes cost three soles (8 cents), while in early September it was reported that in Chiclayo, the capital of the coastal region of Lambayeque, the price had skyrocketed to 60 soles ($16.20) per kilo. In Lima, the fruits cost has reached 20 soles ($5.40) per kilo in supermarkets and food markets. Although the price has fallen to an average of 9.50 soles ($2.50) in recent days, the outlook remains uncertain. A clarification is in order: Peruvian limes are not Peruvian. The lime was brought from Southeast Asia during the Spanish conquest to the northern coast of Peru and planted mainly in the Piura region. It was originally called Ceuti lime, a reference to Ceuta, the North African city belonging to Spain that cultivated a variety of this lime; since then, it has been renamed the subtle lime. Indeed, it is customary to say that it has a very subtle flavor. The fruits acidity is rather intense and unique, not to say irreplaceable. Not only is it an essential ingredient for ceviche but also for making a pisco sour, Perus national cocktail, and chicha morada, a typical drink for export. A Peruvian ceviche called 'Ceviche Nikei' in a cafeteria. J Pat Carter (AP) Recognized as South Americas best culinary destination in the latest edition of the World Travel Awards, food is a matter of state in Peru. As such, the countrys highest authorities were obligated to be accountable to the people. A couple of weeks ago, the Minister of Economy, Alex Contreras Miranda, suggested that the population substitute sauteed chicken for ceviche and that ceviche restaurants offer other dishes like rice with seafood or fried squid. In the face of the criticism that followed, Contreras had to apologize: Im taking this opportunity to acknowledge that I was not sufficiently clear and assertive. I did not intend to interfere in families economic decisions. I recognize that a mistake has been made. In fact, the most recent Datum survey showed that his disapproval rating has increased from 59% to 64% since his comments. In spite of everything, the president of Peru, Dina Boluarte supported Contreras. Such was not the case for Nelly Paredes del Castillo, who was the Minister of Agrarian Development and Irrigation until last week. Paredes minimized the crisis, implying that lime is minimally important in the family market basket. It only makes up 2% of everything we Peruvians consume, so lets use substitutes. Lets add a little more salt, vinegar and cider to salads. The market also has Persian lime. It is sweeter, but I think it is time for all Peruvians to do our part, she said. The consequences were sour: on September 6, Jennifer Contreras Alvarez was appointed to take her place. According to the Association of Peruvian Agrarian Producers (Asociacion de Productores Agrarios del Peru), the increase in the price of limes stems from natural hazards: the coastal El Nino phenomenon and cyclone Yaku. The soil was soaked by the rain, severely affecting the lime trees. They were either infested by fungi and mites or bore very small fruit. Piura was the region most affected by these problems; it also accounts for 60% of the countrys citrus production (16,904 hectares under cultivation). In addition, Peru is experiencing a fertilizer crisis that dates back to Pedro Castillos government. Many growers reduced fertilization, leaving plantations in a weak state amid a critical situation like this, says Ruben Carrasco, president of the Lima Chamber of Commerces Crop Protection Association (Protec). Although the lime harvest usually decreases in August, September and October, the matter is complicated by the fact that the harvest of the so-called green gold occurs four years after the planting period, so increasing the cultivation areas will not reverse the situation in the short term; if increased planting is implemented, it will be a more long-term measure. Are Peruvians willing to accept that their ceviche will have a different flavor and perhaps a different fragrance and texture as well? That is the issue. Javier Vargas, the president of the Association of Seafood and Related Restaurants of Peru (Armap), advocates using fewer limes per dish so that the taste remains familiar; that way, costs will not rise, and diners wont stay away from ceviche restaurants. It is better to use two limes per plate instead of four than to raise the price, he says. Markets are offering more suitable options, like the Persian lime that grows in the jungle. It is larger and greener than the subtle lime, but also less acidic and less juicy. Another alternative is the yellow canita lemon, which tends to be sweeter, or the pavita lime, which is dark and has a wrinkled peel; this limes main defect is its short shelf life: it must be consumed in less than a week. There is also the Colombian lime (named for its place of origin), which is as large as it is bitter. The latter citrus fruit is being smuggled into the country. The police recently seized eleven tons of Colombian limes valued at 160,000 soles ($43,243) in the region of Tumbes, which shares a border with Ecuador. Another dangerous aspect of the situation is the fact that people are using organic chemical compounds like acetic acid and citric acid as substitutes. In order to avoid poisoning from tainted ceviches, the National Health Institute (INS) has emphasized the risks of consuming citric acid: it wears down the enamel of teeth and could also irritate the digestive system, causing gastritis. What especially soured the public was that on August 21, when the price of limes was already sky-high, the Presidents office purchased three tons of limes of the best quality for the next 12 months. While the Government Palace has stayed mum about this journalistic scoop, on Friday Julio Velarde, the president of the Central Reserve Bank (BCR), tried to calm people down with a prediction: in December, the lime will cost an average of 6.58 soles ($1.7) per kilo. We might be wrong, he said in his defense. Food is at stake. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Kerala Activist Zuhara Removes Headscarf In Protest Against Controversial Comment By Samastha Leader India -Krishna Kripa In a bold act of defiance, social activist and writer V P Zuhara publicly removed her headscarf on stage during an event in Kozhikode, Kerala. This was done in protest against a controversial comment allegedly made by Samastha Kerala Jamyathul Ulama leader Mukkam Umar Faizi. The incident occurred on Sunday, October 8th during the inaugural session of the Kudumbashree's 'Thirike Schoolil Back to school' campaign at Nallalam in the city. Controversial Comment Sparks Outrage Faizi had recently commented on senior Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-M) leader K Anil Kumar's statement regarding the traditional headscarf worn by Muslim women in Kerala. The religious leader reportedly suggested that women who did not wear hijab were of questionable character. This comment sparked outrage and became a topic of heated discussion among various sections of society. Zuhara Defends Women's Right to Choose Zuhara lashed out at Faizis comment during the event, defending a woman's right to choose whether or not she wants to cover her head. "I grew up wearing a headscarf. It is part of my habit and not because I am a Muslim," she told reporters after the incident. In order to underscore her point, she removed the pallu (loose end) of her saree from her head. Protest Erupts Amidst Audience As Zuhara raised this issue and removed her headscarf publicly, it led to some unrest amongst certain members present at the event including office-bearers from the parent-teacher association (PTA) of the school from where several audience members hailed. They protested against Zuharas act, which led her to leave the venue. Police Complaint Filed Zuhara later approached the police and filed a complaint against the PTA office-bearers. She alleged that they hurled abuses at her following her protest against Faizi's comment and her public removal of the headscarf. In conclusion, Zuharas act has highlighted the ongoing debate about womens rights and freedom of choice within religious practices in India. Her bold stand underscores the need for dialogue on these issues while respecting individual choices and freedoms. It also brings into focus how certain controversial comments can spark widespread reactions from various sections of society. The incident is a reminder that every personal choice should be respected, whether it pertains to religious beliefs or cultural traditions. Tripura Opposition Leader Denies Allegations of Secret Understanding with BJP in Assembly Polls India -Krishna Kripa Following the Assembly elections in Tripura earlier this year, a controversy has emerged surrounding allegations made by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPIM. The party accused Tipra Motha, led by MLA Animesh Debbarma, of having a 'secret understanding' with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, Debbarma vehemently denied these claims on Sunday. Assembly Election Results In the February elections for the 60-member House, BJP won 32 seats while its ally, Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT), secured one seat. On the other hand, CPIM and Congress who fought together managed to win only 11 and 3 seats respectively. Despite contesting in only 42 constituencies as opposed to all sixty seats in contention, Tipra Motha emerged as a significant player winning thirteen seats and becoming the main opposition party. The Allegations These election results prompted veteran CPIM leader Manik Sarkar to accuse Tipra Motha of having a secret understanding with BJP which allegedly helped it win. Responding to these accusations, Debbarma expressed his respect for Sarkar who had served as chief minister for twenty years but dismissed his claims. He went on to liken Sarkar's assertions to an old man behaving like a child and stated that they lost many seats due to CPIM's actions rather than any alleged alliance with BJP. The Impact of Triangular Battle Debbarma also pointed out that not just their party but even BJP suffered losses due to what he termed as 'the triangular battle'. This term likely refers to competition between three major political parties or alliances during elections which can often split votes leading to unexpected outcomes or losses for some parties involved. In conclusion, the aftermath of the Assembly elections in Tripura has led to a political controversy involving allegations of secret alliances and vote splitting. While CPIM leader Manik Sarkar accuses Tipra Motha of having a secret understanding with BJP, Animesh Debbarma denies these claims attributing their loss as well as that of BJP to the 'triangular battle'. This situation underscores the complex nature of Indian politics where alliances can shift quickly and outcomes can be influenced by various factors beyond just party policies or candidate popularity. Governor of West Bengal to Discuss Centre's Stoppage of MGNREGA Funds with Trinamool Congress Leaders West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose will meet Trinamool Congress leaders at the Raj Bhavan to discuss the issue of the Centre stopping MGNREGA funds to the state. The governor has agreed to give an appointment for a meeting at 4pm on Monday. India -Krishna Kripa In a recent development from West Bengal, Governor CV Ananda Bose is set to meet with Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders at the Raj Bhavan on Monday. The primary agenda of this meeting pertains to the Centre's decision to halt the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) funds allocated for the state. This information was disclosed by official sources. Meeting Scheduled Amidst Fund Suspension Controversy According to an official source, Governor Bose has confirmed his availability for a meeting with TMC leaders at 4pm on Monday at Raj Bhavan. This discussion comes in light of the ongoing controversy surrounding the Centre's decision to stop MGNREGA funds for West Bengal, which has sparked concerns and protests among various political factions within the state. Raj Bhavan: A Platform For Open Dialogue Governor Bose, upon returning from Darjeeling on Sunday night, reaffirmed his commitment towards maintaining open dialogue with all political parties. He emphasized that Raj Bhavan is 'Jana Raj Bhavan', symbolizing its openness and accessibility for everyone round-the-clock from 4 am till 11 pm. "Any leader of any party is welcome in Raj Bhavan. I will certainly meet those who want to meet me anytime till 11pm," stated Bose while addressing reporters at the city airport. The Governors Stand On MGNREGA Issue Earlier during the day, before confirming his appointment with TMC leaders, Governor Bose expressed his willingness to engage with those affected due to deprivation of MGNREGA work in West Bengal. He assured that he would take up their grievances directly with New Delhi in an attempt to resolve their issues promptly. Absence Of Confirmation Regarding Meeting With TMC National General Secretary However, amidst these developments, there was no official confirmation about whether Governor Bose would meet TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. The governor had just returned to Kolkata from Darjeeling after assessing the flood situation in north Bengal. In conclusion, this upcoming meeting between Governor CV Ananda Bose and Trinamool Congress leaders represents an important juncture for West Bengal politics. It signifies a critical dialogue concerning the halted MGNREGA funds that could potentially impact countless rural workers across the state. As citizens await further updates on this matter, it is hoped that this discussion will pave the way for a swift and fair resolution to ensure uninterrupted livelihood support for those dependent on MGNREGA work. Actress Nushrratt Bharuccha Returns To India From Conflict-Hit Israel International oi-Prakash KL Bollywood actress Nushrratt Bharuccha, who was stranded in Israel, which has come under a surprise attack from the Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip, has landed in India. In the latest visuals shared by news agency ANI, the actress is seen arriving at the Mumbai airport. Hamas militants on Saturday fired more than 2,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel, according to the Israeli military, while Hamas fighters entered southern Israel by land, sea and air, using paragliders. Hamas says it captured several Israeli soldiers near the border. Over 500 people have been killed so far, as per the country's military. Earlier, her team said that she was on her way to India. "We have finally managed to get in touch with Actress Nushrratt Bharuccha and with the help of the Embassy, she is being safely brought back home. She is safe and on her way to India," Sanchita Trivedi, member of Nushrratt Bharuccha's team, said. According to Nushrratt Bharuccha's team, she had gone to Israel to attend the Haifa International Film Festival. The Indian embassy at Tel Aviv and the Representative Office of India in Palestine has issued advisories asking Indian nationals in respective countries to "remain vigilant" and "directly contact the Office" in case of emergency. "In view of the current situation in Israel, all Indian nationals in Israel are requested to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities. Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement, and stay close to safety shelters," the Embassy said in its advisory. The advisory gave relevant phone numbers in case of emergency and also provided URLs for Israeli Home Front Command and Preparedness brochures. The advisory was issued in English, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages. According to the details on the website of the Indian Embassy here, there are about 18,000 Indian citizens in Israel, primarily caregivers employed by Israeli elders, diamond traders, IT professionals and students. There are approximately 85,000 Jews of Indian origin in Israel too that were part of the main waves of immigration into Israel from India in the fifties and sixties. On the other hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X said, "Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour." As Israel-Palestine War Rages On After Hamas' Attack, Death Toll Crosses 1100, Over 100 Kidnapped International oi-Stuti Tripathi Over 40 hours after Hamas initiated an unprecedented attack from Gaza, Israeli forces continued to engage militants entrenched in various locations. The toll on Israel has been devastating, with reports indicating that over 700 people have lost their lives while over 400 people have been reportedly killed in Gaza. The number of casualties surpassed 1,100 fatalities, with thousands injured on both sides. Israel formally declared a state of war on Sunday in response to an unprecedented Hamas attack. Over 100 people have been abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip, adding to the uncertainty and chaos surrounding the situation. As per a report in the Times Of Israel, Israeli jets launched intense airstrikes on Gaza shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced that the security cabinet had voted to put the country officially at war, granting it the ability to conduct significant military operations. Fighting continued in at least three communities near the Gaza border, which had been overrun by Hamas militants the previous day. Rocket attacks persisted, causing concern for Israeli communities as the nation braced itself for what appeared to be a protracted campaign against the Gaza-based terror group. In a shocking and widespread assault, Hamas gunmen infiltrated as many as 22 locations in southern Israel, including towns and smaller communities up to 15 miles (24 kilometers) from the Gaza border according to the Times of Israel report. They roamed freely for hours, targeting civilians and soldiers as Israel's military struggled to respond. Simultaneously, thousands of rockets were fired into towns in the south and center of the country. Israel-Palestine War Enters Second Day As Civilians Pay Staggering Cost For Violence The scenes of turmoil, suffering, and the protracted inability to regain control of the situation deeply shocked and outraged the nation. Questions arose about intelligence, deployment, and policy failures that led to this national catastrophe, with hundreds of terrorists infiltrating civilian communities in armed convoys. Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer estimated that the death toll was "well north of 600 people," with the possibility of several hundred more casualties. As communities were liberated from Hamas control, shocking scenes of streets, fields, and highways littered with bodies and abandoned vehicles were uncovered. In some cases, Hamas terrorists set buildings on fire to force people out of hiding, then proceeded to shoot or abduct them. Hamas gunmen took an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive in Gaza after overrunning several military bases and communities. Disturbing videos circulated on social media depicting the abuse of these captives. Actress Nushrratt Bharuccha Returns To India From Conflict-Hit Israel The report further adds that the IDF established a situation room to gather accurate information regarding Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, and efforts were made to identify those killed using DNA samples provided by families. The Government Press Office reported that over 100 hostages were being held in Gaza, including children, the elderly, and foreign nationals. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned efforts to confirm reports of Americans being killed or kidnapped in the attacks. Over 500 Killed As Israel-Palestine War Escalates International -Sathish Raman The Indian embassy in Jerusalem and the Representative Office of India in Palestine issued urgent advisories on Saturday, October 7th, appealing to Indian nationals within these regions to maintain vigilance amidst escalating tensions. This warning comes as a full-scale war erupts between Hamas, the ruling militant group of the Gaza Strip, and Israel - a conflict which has already claimed over 500 lives from both sides. Unprecedented Offensive Hamas militants initiated an extensive offensive against southern Israel through land, sea, and air pathways. Utilizing paragliders for aerial assaults while simultaneously launching over 2,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territories. The Israeli military confirmed these reports while Hamas claims to have captured several Israeli soldiers near the border. This sudden onslaught has resulted in significant casualties; with media outlets reporting that approximately 200 individuals have been killed and more than 1,100 injured within Israel. In response to this aggression, Israel launched counterattacks on the Gaza Strip causing nearly equal devastation: about 198 fatalities reported along with around 1,500 wounded individuals. Air India Cancels Flight To Israel's Tel Aviv After Attack By Hamas Air India on Saturday cancelled its flight from the national capital to Tel Aviv amid the Israeli city coming under attack by Hamas terrorists. The full-service carrier operates five weekly flights to Tel Aviv. The service is on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. An airline spokesperson said flight AI 139 from the national capital to Tel Aviv on Saturday and the return flight AI 140 have been cancelled in the interests and safety of passengers and crew. AI 139 flight was scheduled at 1535 hours (India time), and the return flight from Tel Aviv was at 2210 hours (Israel time) on Saturday. The time difference between Delhi and Tel Aviv is around 0230 hours. Advisory for Indian Nationals In light of this volatile situation unfolding in Israel and Palestine regions; all Indian nationals residing therein are being urged by their respective diplomatic missions to be vigilant and comply with safety protocols as advised by local authorities. The advisory statement released by the Embassy implores its citizens to exercise caution; avoid unnecessary movement outside their residences; stay close to designated safety shelters whenever possible; among other precautionary measures. The advisory also provided crucial contact details including emergency phone numbers that can be dialed should any exigencies arise. Additionally URL's were shared where updated information regarding safety measures could be accessed regularly. This recent escalation between Hamas and Israel underlines one of the most violent chapters in their long-standing conflict. The international community, including India, is closely monitoring the situation with growing concern. As diplomatic missions scramble to ensure the safety of their citizens amidst this turmoil; it becomes evident that these conflicts have far-reaching impacts beyond national borders and political disputes. They disrupt lives, instill fear among civilians, and create an environment of uncertainty for expatriates residing in these regions. Israel-Palestine War Enters Second Day As Civilians Pay Staggering Cost For Violence International oi-Prakash KL By Pti Israeli soldiers battled Hamas fighters in the streets of Israel's south on Sunday and exchanged strikes with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group in the north, while Israel's retaliation strikes levelled buildings in Gaza. The prospect of Hezbollah joining the fighting a day after an unprecedented surprise attack from Gaza raised the chances of a broader conflict. Hamas fighters, backed by a volley of thousands of rockets, broke through barricades around Gaza early on Saturday to rampage through nearby communities in Israel. They took captives back into the coastal enclave, including women, children and the elderly, while Israel's retaliation strikes levelled buildings in Gaza and its prime minister said the country was at war. Israeli media, citing rescue service officials, said at least 300 people were killed, including 26 soldiers. At At least 250 people were killed in Gaza and civilians paid a staggering cost for the violence on both sides. Israeli TV news aired a stream of accounts from the relatives of captive or missing Israelis, who wailed and begged for assistance amid a fog of uncertainty surrounding the fate of their loved ones. In Gaza, residents fled homes near the border to escape Israeli strikes, fleeing deeper inside the territory after warnings in Arabic from the Israeli military. Israeli Rear Adm Daniel Hagari told reporters that "hundreds of terrorists" have been killed and dozens captured. Previous conflicts between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers brought widespread destruction in Gaza and days of rocket fire on Israeli towns. The situation is potentially more volatile now, with Israel's far-right government stung by the security breach and Palestinians in despair over a never-ending occupation in the West Bank and suffocating blockade of Gaza. The flare-up on Israel's northern border also threatened to draw into the battle Hezbollah, a fierce enemy of Israel's which is backed by Iran and estimated to have tens of thousands of rockets at its disposal. Hezbollah struck Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border with Syria's Golan Heights, and Israel's military responded with armed drone strikes on Hezbollah targets in a disputed area where the borders of Israel, Lebanon and Syria meet. In an assault of startling breadth, Hamas gunmen used explosives to break through the border fence enclosing Gaza, then crossed with motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders and speed boats on the coast. They rolled into as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip early Saturday morning, including towns and other communities as far as 15 miles (24 km) from the Gaza border, while Hamas launched thousands of rockets at Israeli cities. "Israel is waking up this morning to a terrible morning," said Lt Col Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman. "There are a lot of people killed... children, grandmothers, families, bodies." On Sunday, the Israeli military said its forces were fighting Hamas incursions in eight places. An Israeli military spokesperson said that two hostage situations had been "resolved," but did not say whether all the hostages had been rescued alive. Israel struck 426 targets in Gaza, its military said, flattening residential buildings in giant explosions. That included a 14-story tower that held dozens of apartments as well as Hamas offices in central Gaza City. Israeli forces fired a warning just before. Among the 256 killed in Gaza were 20 children, and close to 1,800 wounded, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinians, said more than 20,000 Palestinians left Gaza's border region to head further inside the territory and take refuge in UN schools. Israeli media said at least 300 people were killed and 1,500 wounded in Saturday's attack, making it the deadliest in Israel in decades. Hamas fighters took an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive into Gaza and a line of Israelis with missing relatives snaked outside a police station in central Israel to supply investigators with DNA samples and other means that could help identify their family members. Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and shells on Sunday at three Israeli positions in the disputed area and Israel's military fired back using armed drones at the Lebanese areas. Israel and Hezbollah are archenemies and have fought several wars in the past, the most recent a 34-day conflict in 2006 that left 1,200 dead in Lebanon and 160 in Israeli. Tensions have been simmering along Israel's northern border for months. In a televised address Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military will use all of its strength to destroy Hamas' capabilities. "All the places that Hamas hides in, operates from, we will turn them into ruins," he added. "Get out of there now," he told Gaza residents, who have no way to leave the tiny, overcrowded Mediterranean territory. Gaza's 2.3 million people have endured a border blockade, enforced to varying degrees by Israel and Egypt, since Hamas militants seized control in 2007. In Gaza, much of the population was thrown into darkness Saturday night as Israel cut off electricity. Netanyahu's office said in a statement that Israel would stop supplying electricity, fuel and goods to Gaza. Before daybreak Sunday, militants fired more rockets from Gaza, hitting a hospital in the Israeli coastal town of Ashkelon, said senior hospital official Tal Bergman. Video provided by Barzilai Medical Center showed a large hole punched into a wall and chunks of debris scattered on the ground of what appeared to be an empty room and a hallway. The military said patients had been evacuated from Barzilai before the strike. School was cancelled across Israel. The shadowy leader of Hamas' military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the assault was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, and a series of recent incidents that have brought Israeli-Palestinian tensions to a fever pitch. Over the past year, Israel's far-right government has ramped up settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, Israeli settler violence has displaced hundreds of Palestinians there, and tensions have flared around the Al-Aqsa mosque, a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site. Deif, who does not appear in public, said in a recorded message that the attack was only the start of what he called "Operation Al-Aqsa Storm," and called on Palestinians from east Jerusalem to northern Israel to join the fight. Asked by reporters how Hamas had managed to catch the army off guard, Lt Col Richard Hecht, an Israeli army spokesman, replied, "That's a good question." The Hamas incursion on Simchat Torah, a normally joyous day when Jews complete the annual cycle of reading the Torah scroll, revived painful memories of the 1973 Mideast war, in which Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, aiming to take back Israeli-occupied territories. The comparison sharpened criticism of Netanyahu and his far-right allies, who had campaigned on more aggressive action against threats from Gaza. Political commentators lambasted the government and military over its failure to anticipate what appeared to be a Hamas attack unprecedented in its level of planning and coordination. The abduction of Israeli civilians and soldiers also raised a particularly thorny issue for Israel, which has a history of making heavily lopsided exchanges to bring captive Israelis home. Israel is holding thousands of Palestinians in its prisons. Hecht confirmed that a "substantial" number of Israelis were abducted Saturday. A major question now was whether Israel will launch a ground assault into Gaza, a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. Netanyahu vowed that Hamas "will pay an unprecedented price." But, he warned, "This war will take time. It will be difficult." Israel's military was bringing four divisions of troops as well as tanks to the Gaza border, joining 31 battalions already in the area, a spokesperson said. Hamas said it had planned for a potentially long fight. "We are prepared for all options, including all-out war," the deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, Saleh al-Arouri, told Al-Jazeera TV. "We are ready to do whatever is necessary for the dignity and freedom of our people." US President Joe Biden said from the White House that he had spoken with Netanyahu to say the United States "stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults. Israel has the right to defend itself and its people, full stop." The attack comes at a time of historic division within Israel over Netanyahu's proposal to overhaul the judiciary. Mass protests over the plan have sent hundreds of thousands of Israeli demonstrators into the streets and prompted hundreds of military reservists to avoid volunteer duty - turmoil that has raised fears over the military's battlefield readiness. Mohammed Deif: Hamas Leader Who Escaped 7 Assassination Attempts - The Cat With Nine Lives International oi-Prakash KL The Hamas militant group on Saturday launched an unprecedented multifront attack by air, land and sea against Israel. Militants from Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, fired more than 3,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel on Saturday morning, while Hamas fighters entered southern Israel by land, sea and air, using paragliders and even capturing several Israeli soldiers near the border, the Israeli military said. In Israel, the toll from the conflict is said to be over 350 casualties, including soldiers, with over 1,900 individuals sustaining injuries. This marks the deadliest day for the country in at least five decades. On the other side of the Gaza Strip, there have been close to 300 reported fatalities and approximately 1,500 individuals wounded due to Israel's counterattack, as reported by the media on Sunday. The attack launched by the Hamas has been called as 'Al-Aqsa Storm' by Mohammed Deif, the shadowy leader of Hamas's military wing. Deif asked the terrorists who infiltrated the settlements surrounding Gaza, "Carry out your attacks on the settlements with all the means and tools at your disposal." He added, "Today everyone who has a rifle should take it out. It's their time, and each of you should go out with your truck, vehicle or ax. Today, a new history has opened, a brighter and more honorable history." Mohammed Deif has garnered global attention after carrying out a surprise attack on Israel. Who is Mohammed Deif? Not much is known about his early life except that he was born in Gaza's Khan Yunis refugee camp in 1965, when the territory was occupied by Egypt. His original name is Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri. He earned Deif name due to his nomadic lifestyle and evading Israreli airstrikes. Deif, in Arabic, means "the guest." He is a protege of Yehya Ayyash, a renowned bomb-maker known as "the engineer", who was reportedly behind some of the deadliest bus bombings in Israel in the 1990s. He was assassinated by Israel in 1996. Thereafter, Deif was then accused of carrying out attacks on Israelis as a a revenge which helped him to rise to prominence. In 2002, he became the leader of Hamas' military wing. Deif has been credited for conceptualizing Hamas's distinctive weaponry, such as the Qassam rocket, and the intricate network of tunnels beneath Gaza. These tunnels serve as Deif's presumed primary location, allowing him to evade the Israeli military while overseeing Hamas operations, operating discreetly out of sight. 7 Assassination Attempts Since 2000, he has survived seven Israeli assassination attempts. Although he had escaped every time, he lost an eye and limbs. 'Cat With Nine Lives' "People thought he would never function again as a leader, as a military planner," BBC quoted a retired Israeli general as saying. "But he recovered as well as he could. If you lose an eye, you lose an eye." His numerous unsuccessful assassination attempts solidified his reputation for exceptional evasion skills, leading his adversaries to dub him "the cat with nine lives." Secret Behind His Succesful Escapes Security experts suggest that his ability to evade Israel's military can, in part, be attributed to his deliberate avoidance of modern communication technology. "If you're not on phones, if you're not on computers, there are ways to make it difficult for modern intelligence services to have a sense of where you are," Mr Levitt said. According to the former Israeli intelligence chief, several factors such as the depth of Hamas's tunnels, outdated intelligence, concerns about collateral damage, and potential munitions malfunctions are additional reasons why certain assassination attempts may not have succeeded. It has to be noted that Israel's attack in 2014 killed his wife Widad, and their infant son. It was believed that he was dead but he was not there in the building at that time. 'The Attack Was Very Tense And Scary', Says Indian Student Amid Israel-Gaza Conflict International oi-Sushmita Halder Amid the dreadful Israel-Gaza conflict, the Indian students residing in Israel expressed their concerns over the tense situation in Israel. Earlier, the Indian embassy in Israel issued advisories for all its citizens to remain vigilant, however, the Indian students are scared for their lives in the midst of the current situation. Gokul Manavalan, an Indian student in Israel while addressing his concern to news agency ANI said, "I am very nervous and scared...Thankfully we have shelter and Israeli police forces nearby. So far, we are safe...We are in touch with Indian embassy people, we have a good Indian community around and we are connected." While another student Vimal Krishnasamy Manivannan Chitra said, "The attack was very tense and scary. The Indian embassy is in touch with us in the group. They are keeping a check on us." "It was all very sudden we did not expect it, because there are religious holidays in Israel going on. We got the sirens early in the morning at around 5:30 AM. We were in bunkers for around 7-8 hours the sirens went off...We are asked to stay inside our homes," Aditya Karunanithi Nivedita, another student shared the moment the attack was launched. Apart from the students, the Indian nationals working in Israel are also in a state of panic with the current situation. Soma Ravi who has been working for over 18 years in Israel informed PTI that she had never seen a situation like this. Within 20 minutes, 5,000 rockets were fired, and they (Hamas militants) killed 22 people while 500 were injured. This is a very difficult situation for the country." An unprecedented attack on Saturday morning killed at least 500 people leaving several injured. Meanwhile, the Indian embassy in Jerusalem and the Representative Office of India in Palestine on Saturday asked the Indians to remain vigilant. The Embassy said in its advisory, "In view of the current situation in Israel, all Indian nationals in Israel are requested to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities. Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement, and stay close to safety shelters." Two people show a Norwegian company Den4Dogs kennel that serves to safely leave dogs outside the supermarket. Anne Karin Andersen Spains new animal protection law, which went into effect last week, prohibits leaving dogs tied up unsupervised at the entrances of supermarkets and stores, a common practice in Spain that now carries a fine of 500 ($530.07). In Norway, which has had similar legislation for two decades, a company has developed a solution for avoiding fines: air-conditioned kennels that are safe and free for users, located next to stores and opened and closed with an app. These kennels already have a presence in five European countries, although Spain is not among them. Meanwhile, in the United States, another company offers similar services, although it charges a fee. Spanish regulations prohibit keeping animals tethered or roaming in public spaces without the face-to-face supervision of their handler, which means that Spaniards can no longer leave their dogs at a stores entrance to go shopping. Leaving an animal tied up for a minute to go in and buy bread is not a problem but leaving it out in the sun for an hour to go to the mall is, because [the animal] can become dehydrated, there may be a risk of abuse or of being attacked by another dog, says Nuria Menendez de Llano, an expert in animal law. Theres a minor sanction for infractions that ranges from 500 ($530.07) to 10,000 ($10,601.50); enforcement of this law depends on city councils and local governments. A store in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, with a place for pets to be tied up outside. OSCAR CORRAL This practice has been banned in Norway since 2004, and a company there offers a solution. We are a small Norwegian company founded by dog lovers. We have worked with dog experts from universities, dog trainers and dog shelters to create a suitable solution for these animals, explains Frode Rogstad, the CEO of Den4Dogs, over the phone. The company has developed an individual kennel that is placed at the entrance of the establishments that request it. Dog kennels at a shopping center in Norway. To use this service, consumers have to download an app. When they arrive at the supermarket, they open the door of the kennel with the app and leave the dog there, where it is secured with an electromagnetic lock. They are air-conditioned, comfortable and secure, Rogstad says. Once pet owners are done shopping, they open the door with the same app and pick up their dog. The kennels are automatically disinfected after each use. This prevents the dog from biting or attacking another dog, as well as pet theft. One hundred kennels installed The company claims that it has already installed a hundred of these kennels in Norway (where there are about 60) and Sweden (about 40). It is mostly supermarkets, shopping malls, restaurants and pharmacies that order them, the founder says. In addition, Dens4Dogs has received orders from Finland, the Netherlands and Slovenia, although there are none from Spain. The kennels are adapted for the Nordic cold, but we also tested them to withstand heat up to 46 degrees C (about 115 degrees F), he says. The service is free for pet owners. On the other hand, businesses that want to install them must pay 800 ($848.12) to do so, plus a monthly maintenance fee of 99 ($104.95). The US brand DogSpot's kennels allow shoppers to safely leave their pets outside the supermarket. Dens4Dogs is not the only company that has taken notice of this new need among pet lovers. DogSpot, a brand that offers comfortable kennels in which people can leave their pets while shopping or eating at a restaurant, has been operating in the U.S. for a few years. The kennels are made of aluminum, and they are air-conditioned and connected to the Internet, so that owners can know how their pets are doing at all times. The service costs users 30 cents a minute. According to the companys data, it has a presence in 17 North American states. With DogSpot, you dont have to leave your dog at home when you go for a walk, and you dont have to resign yourself to leaving it tied up and unattended while you shop. Our kennels are cozy, high-tech enclosures on sidewalks near places that want to be friendly to your pet, but cant allow dogs inside, the company says on its website. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition AIIMS MBBS Exam 2023: Date Announced, Check The Schedule On iimsexams.ac.in New Delhi oi-Sushmita Halder The final exams of MBBS are all set to commence on December 1, 2023, according to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. Interested students can access the complete schedule on AIIMS's official website - iimsexams.ac.in. According to the schedule, the theory exams will be held from 2 PM to 5 PM. The Pediatrics (paper 1) exam is set for December 1, followed by Community Medicine (paper 1) on December 4 and paper 2 on December 5. Subsequently, the Medicine exam (paper 1) is scheduled for December 7, and paper 2 of Medicine (covering Medicine, Dermatology, and Psychiatry) will be held on December 8. The Obstetrics and Gynecology (paper 1) exam is slated for December 11. Paper 1 of Surgery (Surgery, Orthopedics) will take place on December 13, with paper 2 of Surgery (covering Surgery, Ophthalmology, ENT) scheduled for December 14. Practical examinations will take place from December 16 to December 24, 2023. Candidates have to follow the below-mentioned steps to view the date sheet First, visit the official AIIMS website at aiimsexams.ac.in. Then, Click on the AIIMS final MBBS exam 2023 dates link, which is located on the right-hand side of the page. A new PDF file will open, displaying the exam dates. You have to download the page and keep a soft copy for future reference. Notably, candidates will not be allowed to enter the examination hall without their Admit Card and Identity Card. Students can refer to the official AIIMS website for any kind of further assistance. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, October 8, 2023, 20:04 [IST] 2008-2023 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. A former Australian ambassador to Jordan, Egypt and Syria writes that Israel and Palestine must forge their own agreement, but not the long-dead solution proposed by the United Nations. There was horror, anger and indignation in Germany about the Hamas attack against Israel. Berlin has assured Israel of its support, but not all political camps are speaking out. Eurasia Review 23 Oct 2023 By Sameer Patil In the most audacious attack ever faced by Israel, on 7 October 2023, terrorist group Hamas used.. Rumble 28 Oct 2023 The House has nominated Mike Johnson for Speaker of the House. The FBI ignored more than 40 Biden whistleblowers with information.. The Hamas attack on Israel could narrow the chances for the presidents efforts to negotiate a new alignment in the region by normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Apart from its picturesque landscape and lively culture, New Zealand is popular among international students for its world-class education system, with globally recognized universities and colleges. Many are also drawn to the country because of its robust economy and employee-friendly workplace culture. Additionally, New Zealand provides graduates with a post-study work visa that enables them to continue working there for up to three years following graduation. It also gives international students opportunities to work while pursuing their studies, thereby helping them to cover their educational expenses. Due to the country's ongoing need for skilled workers, a variety of job categories in different industries require the services of foreign professionals. Here is a list of five sectors in New Zealand that offer numerous opportunities for job aspirants. 1. Information Technology (IT) New Zealand has a constant requirement for skilled IT professionals due to its growing technology sector. Professionals in software development, data analysis, cybersecurity, and IT project management are in huge demand in the country. The government has also launched various initiatives to attract tech talent, making it an attractive option for job seekers in this field. 2. Healthcare and Nursing Healthcare is an essential sector in New Zealand, and there is a continuous demand for healthcare professionals, particularly nurses and doctors. International nurses often find opportunities in New Zealand due to its aging population and healthcare infrastructure. 3. Construction and Engineering New Zealand's construction and engineering sectors have seen substantial growth in recent years, driven by its infrastructure development and housing projects. This has created a demand for skilled workers, including civil engineers, architects, project managers in construction, and tradespeople. 4. Agriculture and Agribusiness This sector offers a wide range of career prospects in agribusiness, horticulture, dairy farming, and viticulture. 5. Tourism and Hospitality The tourism sector is a significant contributor to New Zealand's economy, despite a slight downfall amid the COVID-19 situation and pandemic-induced lockdown. The industry creates numerous opportunities for students to gain practical experience and secure employment in the field. Many universities and institutions offer lucrative programmes in Tourism and Hospitality. Educational Institutions in New Zealand that offer courses related to these sectors University of Auckland University of Canterbury Massey University University of Waikato Auckland University of Technology Victoria University of Wellington Lincoln University Unitec Institute of Technology ATMC New Zealand Pacific International Hotel Management School (Information Courtesy: Universal Study, Ernakulam. www.universalstudy.net/ 7902411111 or 0484-4063333) Kochi: A 45-member pilgrim group from Kerala was stuck in Israel after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Saturday. In a video message they shared, the pilgrims said they were safe at a hotel in Israel. Some of them expressed concern over staying for long in the war-hit country as Israeli army officials denied permission to travel, Manorama News reported. The group of Malayalis had set out for the pilgrimage from Kochi on October 3. After visiting Jordan and Palestine, they reached Israel and visited holy places there. The war between Hamas and Israel broke out when they were going to Egypt. We were on our way and needed only 70 km more to reach Egypt. But the Israeli army blocked us and denied permission to continue our pilgrimage. At present, we are staying in a five-star hotel. We are safe here, said a man in the group. They also told Manorama News that they have contacted the Indian Embassy seeking help to return. Indian Embassy has informed them that they will be allowed to cross the Israel border with the escort of Israeli military officials. Hamas attacked the southern region of Israel where thousands of Indians are employed. Official sources confirmed that all Indians are safe. The Indian Embassies in Israel and Palestine have assured help to all Indian nationals and appealed to them to remain in safe shelters. At the same time, Indians who were on pilgrimage to Bethlehem and other holy places were unable to return home as most airlines, including Air India, suspended their flights to Israel. Indians are worried about their safe journey back home as Israel has termed the Hamas attack as a war against the country. One of the aspirations of science and technology is to overcome the limitations of human nature. From the stone arrows that turned humans into the most fearsome predator on the planet, despite being a rather puny animal, to agriculture and the invention of the sewer system, knowledge and its practical applications have become our species main strength. Each time a frontier is crossed, a new one appears beyond it that is even more complicated but also more attractive for the same reason. Today, two of those frontiers are space and cancer; one is external and ties us to the planet on which we were born, and the other is internal and a disease that kills us but is also inseparable from all the mechanisms that keep us alive. Sara Garcia, 33, is a reserve on the new team of European Space Agency (ESA) astronauts and a researcher at the National Cancer Research Center (CNIO) in Madrid, Spain. She works on both of these frontiers. Although she recognizes that she jealously guards her privacy and doesnt like to put herself out there and be with people very much, the media attention she has received since she was chosen by the ESA has given her a megaphone that she likes using to disseminate science, to convey the benefits of the space missions research to society and to encourage girls and boys to pursue careers [in science and technology]. As part of her outreach work, she recently participated at the III R&D Forum held by the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk in Madrid, at which several experts spoke about the future of health, sustainability and society. Question. Now you are better known as an astronaut, but what work do you do as a cancer researcher? Answer. In Mariano Barbacids laboratory, where I work, they have been searching for over a decade for therapeutic targets to design drugs or therapies to combat types of cancer that are known to be promoted by a particular mutation, which is the mutation in the KRAS oncogene. After years of research, they have come up with a very important target, because when it is eliminated in mouse models it causes tumor suppression but does not cause toxicity. This target is called RAF1. I joined the research at that point. In order to design drugs, we have to know what this target is like, what its three-dimensional shape is, to see what gaps, what vulnerabilities this protein has, and to design specific drugs for attacking them. That is my project. I managed to isolate the protein and purify it, which was something that had been unsuccessfully attempted for 30 years. We solved the atomic structure at a very high level of resolution, and right now we are in the process of testing candidates to design a drug that achieves this therapeutic effect. Q. How can that work be combined with research in space? A. I believe that the microgravity research done on the International Space Station [ISS] can give us a perspective that is impossible to reproduce on Earth because of gravity. For example, many laboratories involved in cancer research use models called organoids or tumoroids, which are groups of three-dimensional cells that more or less faithfully reproduce what would happen in a tumor inside a human being. On the ISS, where there is no gravity, it happens naturally. You dont have to force three-dimensional versus two-dimensional growth, which is what we researchers usually do in culture plates. Another interesting point is that when cells are affected by the absence of gravity or by the cosmic radiation they experience in space, it can reveal vulnerabilities that we may not have observed on Earth because we dont have those conditions. This may give us clues about signaling pathways or possible treatments to combat the tumorigenic nature of the cells. Sara Garcia, ESA astronaut and researcher at the Spanish National Cancer Research Center in Madrid. Samuel Sanchez Q. What kind of research can only be carried out in space? A. One example is research related to aging. Studies on the ISS, in microgravity, are like studying aging in an accelerated way. You dont have to take tissue samples every few years for many years to see how different tissues are changing. In six months, which is the usual length of [space] missions now, there are many impacts on human physiology that, to a large extent, mimic the pathologies associated with aging and age. One characteristic that has been observed since space missions began is the fairly major degeneration and loss of muscle mass and the degeneration and loss of bone mass. Weve also seen that being subjected to cosmic radiation makes you more prone to changes that would lead to cancer, which is also an age-associated disease, and vision problems, such as cataracts. All of this occurs over a six-month period. Q. Nobel laureate in physics Steven Weinberg, who was very critical of the usefulness of humans in space exploration as compared to robots, famously said: [Humans] radiate heat, theyre very expensive to keep alive and unlike robotic missions, they have a natural desire to come back [to Earth]. Now that almost all professions seem threatened by artificial intelligence and machines, do you think there is a future for humans in space? A. I understand that point, and its perfectly defensible. But I dont believe that human exploration and robotics are mutually exclusive. In fact, the ESA department to which we astronauts and astronaut candidates belong is called human exploration and robotics, because the idea is to combine the two. The robots are laying the groundwork, taking samples and studying the details to prepare for the arrival of humans. Moreover, when we talk about research on aging and analysis of the physiological effects that take place in a human being, for example, the astronauts themselves are the guinea pigs, and what better way to reproduce what happens in a human being than with a human being. And just to take animal models mouse models, plant models, yeast models you need a technician to collect that information. It is true that robots could be used, but today, the creativity, the ability to change an action in progress, to react to an unforeseen event that is not in the protocols, I think, is greater in humans than in machines, and I would like to think that will not change. We still outperform machines. Just look at all the missions to the Moon, with probes and robots to collect regolith samples, which were far exceeded by the astronauts of the Apollo missions, who were able to collect much more. The combination of robots and humans is very interesting for establishing permanent bases on the Moon. The robots could do riskier tasks, such as searching for an area to establish the base and drilling for resources, and then humans could do the other, more difficult jobs for the robots. Q. A very common question for astronauts. The ISS budget is over $3 billion a year. What do you get from it? A. I have learned a lot of things I didnt know, there are countless applications, like the same technology of the cell phone with which you are recording the interview, and many more things. One application that has caught my attention has to do with developing new forms of food for astronauts. It is well known that astronaut food has to be powdered and dehydrated, so that it takes up very little space. They were working with a blue-green algae, called spirulina, and they learned how to grow it under conditions of microgravity and then dehydrate it. This whole system was observed to generate a tremendously nutritious product and gave the necessary amount of nutrients and vitamins that a human being needs in a day. They transferred this super-simple algae cultivation and drying system to the Congo. Now, with one gram of powder of these algae, which are cultivated in tubs and then dried, they have all the nutritional properties and vitamins needed to survive, and it is a tool for fighting world hunger. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition New Delhi: Air India has cancelled its flights to and from Tel Aviv till October 14, and around 14 airline staff have returned from the Israeli city. Israel came under attack by Hamas militants on Saturday and since then, both sides have engaged in fighting in which scores of people have died. An Air India official said that around 14 airline staff, mainly cabin and cockpit crew, have returned to the national capital on an Ethiopian flight from Tel Aviv. "Our flights to and from Tel Aviv will remain suspended till October 14, 2023, for the safety of our passengers and crew," an airline spokesperson said in a statement. The airline will extend all possible support to passengers, who have confirmed bookings on any flight during this period, the spokesperson added. The official quoted earlier also said the airline is closely reviewing the situation and possibilities with respect to passengers. The full-service carrier operates five weekly flights to Tel Aviv from the national capital. The service is on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday also, the carrier cancelled its flights to and from Tel Aviv. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, expressed solidarity with Israel after Hamas militants launched an attack on the country. Modi condemned it as "terrorist attacks" in Israel as its leader Benjamin Netanyahu said the country is at war. The British Museum in London is famous for many of its exhibits. It is also visual evidence of an era when Britain was the most powerful country in the world and the sun never set on its empire. If the 19th century was a time of political dominance (although contested) for the British, it was also a time when British explorers were engaged in adventure, Lord Elgin being one. When he visited the acropolis, he decided to take its famous friezes with him. He stripped what he liked and sold to the British Museum. Thus Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin, brought fame to this old Scottish peerage. The Greeks now have been asking for them back but lacking international clout their requests have been summarily dismissed by Rishi Sunak the right-wing prime minister. "The UK has cared for the Elgin marbles for generations... The collection of the British Museum is protected by law, and we have no plans to change it," he stated. On the other hand, senior Greek ministers confirm there have been secret talks between their government and George Osborne, the museum's chair. Time will tell what happens, except that is not the only bit of loot and plunder in Britain. There are, for example, Benin bronzes also in the British Museum although they say plans are afoot to return them after the government of Nigeria set out ground rules to repatriate them to the Oba of Benin, the rightful owner and a titular head. Let us not forget China, which is fretting about its antiquities, and, yes, you guessed it,,, The British Museum owns the largest collection of Chinese antiquities in the Western world. The collection embraces a wide variety of treasured items like ceramics, jade, bronzes and paintings. Among the latter is a replica of the scroll "Admonitions of the Instructress of the Court Ladies", considered a landmark in Chinese art history. A chorus of calls to return Chinese art has lately mushroomed on its social media. There are a slew of questions on where art belongs or where it should be displayed. Should it be in its home country even if few get to see it? Or should it be among a huge number of items as in the British Museum or the Louvre where you could spend days and not cover all the exhibits. The former is a short walk from the University of London Students Union Building and not a bad way to spend an idle hour I remember. Everything was less busy then. I also remember going to Versailles and being the only person in the private apartments except for the guards. Imagine that now when you have to get a token and wait. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). I'll begin with three epigraphs, just in order to set the stage... Sonny Rollins once told me that he and Coltrane would get together and speak for hours; they were always concerned about what was the relation of the present picture with the Larger picture. That's synecdochic imagination of relation of parts and wholes; the relation of our present situation related to the past, and the way in which pastness operates in the present, such that we can be able to take a stand to authorize a better, more visionary future, that's focused on poor and working people. I want to begin with an epigraph from the great W.E.B DuBois, the greatest public intellectual in the history of the American Empire. He was there at the founding of the United Nations in San Francisco, and on the way back, on June 27th, 1945 he wrote in the Chicago Defender, the leading black newspaper of the day, June 27th, 1945, called "The Winds of Time," he said: "I envision, ...with tears in my eyes, I envision the emerging of a third world war, with the American Empire attempting to suppress Asia and strangle-hold Russia." Why? In part, the legacy of the colonies. The truncated character of the United Nations. He made his way all the way to New York. He told his very good friend, Paul Robeson, that we have got to launch an anti-war movement, but that anti-war movement must be but a moment in an anti-imperialist project, an anti-imperialist vision, an anti-imperialist analysis, an anti-imperialist praxis, in the name of Solidarity, which means it's gonna cut across a whole lot of folk who disagree with each other, but they'll be in the same streets, and go to the same jails. Oh yes, and that's what so deeply, deeply needed: because W.E.B. Dubois and Paul Robeson understood that so much of the history of the species is the history of organized greed and hatred and avarice and resentment and envy, structures of domination, oppression, subjugation and unbelievable exploitation; and all we've ever had as a species are moments of interruption. Moments of eruption. And that's when everyday people straighten their backs up, and any time everyday people straighten their backs up, they're going somewhere, cause the ruling class can't ride your back unless it's bent. That's courage! All the virtues in the world are empty and shallow and hollow unless you have courage, which is the enabling virtue, and if we have any talk about an anti-war movement, any talk about an anti-imperialist vision, analysis and praxis, we have to have people who are in Solidarity, who get beyond their petty differences, and be able to hold hands symbolically, and literally, and fight --but straighten your back up! There's a brother who used to play organ in my church on the chocolate side of Sacramento, Shiloh Baptist Church, named Sylvester, but the world knows him for the genius that it is, his name is Sly Stone; he wrote a song called: Stand! You been sitting much too long There's a permanent crease in your right and wrong. Stand, there's a cross for you to bear Things to go through, if you going anywhere. The second epigraph comes from Martin Luther King, Jr. That's the same Martin Luther King, Jr. that was in that paddy wagon for four and a half hours, when he rode from Atlanta to Reidsville Prison, and Daddy King told me, he said: "When Martin my son got out he couldn't walk a straight line, the German shepherds had disoriented him so he didn't know when he was going to be bitten, he didn't know when he was going to be pushed against the wall, he couldn't walk one line and all he could say was 'Daddy, this is the cross we must bear for the freedom of our people!'" That's the cross that Sly was talking about. There is no serious sacrifice or burden that we have to bear that will not allow us to sustain our Solidarity, to create moments of interruption, here and around the world, in light of the war machine coming out of the U.S. empire. So it's not just a matter of how grand your vision and how splendid it is, it's not just a matter of how subtle and sophisticated your analysis. But if you're not willing to throw down, put your body where your words are... (brother Jim knows, we been to jail so many times...) and what Martin said was, "My own government is the greatest purveyor of violence in the world." When he said it, he'd already signed his death certificate. But he understood that he'd rather be dead than afraid. He'd rather be a corpse than a coward. That's what we're talking about; because the gangsters who run the American empire, they'll do anything to preserve entrenched interests, they'll do anything to procure their profits, they'll do anything in the names of lies and crimes and mendacity and criminality to trivialize the suffering of precious brothers and sisters around the world, but who are disproportionately chocolate. And each life is equal, each life has the same value and significance. Cause I'm still an old-school revolutionary Christian like Martin King. I believe that every human being, every baby, it could be a baby on the West Bank, it could be a baby in Argentina, it could be a baby in... Ukraine. It could be a baby in Moscow. It could be a baby in Puerto Rico, it could be a baby in Guatemala. It could be a baby in... Idaho. (I say that in the name of Ezra Pound, he's from Idaho. Great poet but fascist. Things are complicated in the world.) But the important point is that we have to have that kind of moral consistency and ethical constancy. It could be a precious, precious young Iranian sister, dealing with suppression in Iran. It could be brothers and sisters in Mississippi, that's where the third epigraph comes from. The last speech that Malcom X gave, outside of New York City, February 16, 1965, in Rochester, went back to the city of Frederick Douglass. And oh, you get a chance to, read that powerful speech. And what did he talk about, he talked about war: he implicitly invoked Carl von Clausewitz, philosopher of war, and his text, "On War", published in 1832, the year after he died by his wife. He said, "Nobody wants to talk about war," he said, "I've been in this struggle now for twelve years, ever since I got out of the prison, and I was in it before the prison but I didn't know..." He said, "There's been a war going on against indigenous people for four hundred years, there's been a war going on against black folks in Africa, black folks in Rochester, brown folk in Mexico," and he added --a lot of people don't want to acknowledge this about Malcom, but Malcom said, "I'm for the truth, anybody who says it, I'm for justice, anybody who promotes it, and I'm first and foremost a human being, a Black man and a Muslim." So that's about as humanistic as you can get, with his own deep religious twist. And he said we need to talk honestly, candidly, about the levels of war. Because some of us come from a people who have had to have armor of spiritual and political and tremendous cultural power, in the face of multi-layered wars. I'm a Black man who came from Black people who for four hundred years dealing with white supremacist bombardment, every day mediated with predatory capitalist processes, shot through with male supremacist and homophobic and transphobic practices too, and if you don't get yourself together, you're going to give up real quick, you're going to cave in real fast, you're going to sell out and act as if you're in the vanguard for struggle for something bigger than just your narcissistic ego and agenda. That's what we're talking about. The war of Cop City. You can't separate Mexican brothers and sisters trying to get into California, from from 1846, when the U.S. empire stole half of Mexico. Some of them just coming home, ain't got the memo yet. That was the illegal war, it was the immmoral war, that's still Mexico. Absolutely. Even Ulysses S. Grant writes about it in the memoir: it was the phoniest war, and he was in the war, as a lieutenant, and hadn't even become a General in the Civil War yet. Interesting how some of these folks begin to tell the truth after, like the war criminal Henry Kissenger: "Well, we didn't have anything to do with Chile, you know, it's just well, accidental that they overthrew Allende..." Quit lying! And then in the memoir, "of course the CIA was fundamental, it was fundamental absolutely..." They're going to say the same thing about Julian Assange, oh yes, exposing the vicious crimes of the American empire. Same thing about Snoop! Same thing about Mumia Abu-Jamal! Same thing about H. Rap Brown al-Amin! Same thing about Leonard Peltier! Same thing about folk who told the truth, and sooner or later, truth crushed to Earth will rise again: no lie can live for ever. That's what we're talking about. So part of our challenge is to understand the backdrop. 1492, the beginning of the Europeanization of the world where those small nations between the Ural mountains and the Atlantic Ocean begin to reshape the whole globe in their interest and in their image owing to their imperial power; and the contestation those European empires, leading toward what? The end of the Age of Europe in 1945, with the most indescribable catastrophic consequences! And most visibly in so many ways, within Europe, the inability to come to terms with the present Jewish brothers and sisters, given the unbelievable anti-Jewish hatred that was unleashed, not just by Nazis in Germany, there's a long history of it throughout Europe. Throughout Europe, and Europe ends up a divided, dependent, deferential continent to two empires, the Soviet empire on the one hand, and the U.S. empire on the other. And with now the Americanization of the world, and with the American empire in such unbelievable decline and decay, it's undeniable. Look on the streets. Social housing versus real estate development. Gentrification ain't nothing but land-grab and power-grab, just another cycle of what an imperial project is all about; it's just urban. Look in the hearts and minds and souls of our fellow citizens, wrestling with levels of despair and despondency, with escalating suicides, and escalating drug overdoses, making it difficult even to cultivate the very capacity to love; because love itself is a magnificent interruption in the history of the species, given the history of lust and manipulation and domination, tied to vicious forms of male supremacy, and other such realities. One of the reasons why Black people, one of the reasons why Black folks talk so much about love, when you've been hated like us, love is liberation, love is emancipation, love is subversive, love is revolutionary. You've been bombarded for four hundred years and told you have the wrong lips and hips and noses and hair pigmentation, and told you're less beautiful and less moral and less intelligent, and then you still have to straighten your back, and-- well you can't talk about peace unless you're talking about the presence of justice, and justice is what love looks like in public. It is. Just like cultivating the capacity for intimacy: tenderness is what love feels like in private. You can't have a movement if you don't have tenderness and kindness in your Solidarity, even as you have deep disagreements. And for some of us we just want to make it soulful; I'm not talking about being on or off the beat; no, no, our musicians are the vanguard of our movement. Musicians are the vanguard of the species; and they understand that soul ain't nothing but the sharing of a soothing sweetness against a backdrop of a grim catastrophe. That's what Strange Fruit is all about. Meeropol's Jewish brother's lyric, and the genius of Baltimore City's Billie Holiday, singing about Catastrophe. Not a problem: a Catastrophe. Looking for what: Justice. Tied to: Peace. And one of the saddest things, during the Obama years, one of the reasons why so many of us who were critical of brother Barack understood it was not just about policy: there was a time in which the Black community was the most anti-war community in the history of the American empire, but here come Barack Obama dropping seventy-one bombs every day, twenty-six thousand one hundred and seventeen in one year, in seven countries, walking around with the Nobel Peace Prize. That's a key sweat moment, something, something just ain't right. The lies, the dissonance, the hypocrisy of it all! What has that got to do with Ukraine, Brother West? Everything. Because if we're not talking about an anti-imperial vision and project (as my dear sister and others noticed); if we're not talking about de-militarization tied to de-commodification tied to de-colonization leading to wholesale democratization, so that everyday people's voices can be lifted to shape their destiny, to get the oligarchs and the plutocrats off of their backs, then no matter how strong your anti-war movement is, we will go somewhere else. Because so much of this is precisely about human survival, (as my dear sister Medea said). That's what it's about. The self-destructive tendencies of the human species. We are a wretched species! Oh, that's pessimistic, no, no, no, that's retail pessimism, that's not wholesale pessimism. I'm a blues man. Blues not pessimistic; not optimistic; what is it? Prisoners of hope: cause you have to do something, can't just talk about it, sing your song. Engage in your practice, create your Solidarity, sustain what you're trying to do. That's what we're talking about here: how do we de-militarize to keep track of the precious suffering of Ukrainian brothers and sisters, but understand that NATO expansion was not simply a provocation, but it's part and parcel of an overall pattern of U.S. imperial activity that's been going on for decades and decades and-- Panama's been invaded twenty-two times! Haiti... looks like there's going to be another occupation coming. How do we keep track? Vision, analysis, not be overwhelmed by it, but like Blues folks, look Catastrophe in the face, and not allow it to have the last word. Oh, that's it. That's it. BB king said nobody loves me but my mommy, she might be jivin' too. That's Catastrophic; all the forces of the cosmos and the world against you and the one person you thought in your corner. Now that the whole planet has the Blues, the whole nation has the Blues; if we don't learn something from the best of the Blues people, we lose ev -er -y -thing. The species; life on the planet; the sliver of democracy that's still limping along, given the ways in which poverty and militarism and materialism, the forms of racism and sexism, and homophobia and transphobia and so forth are squeezing out the best of our democracy. And sometimes all you can do is do what our magnificent artists to start this program, is do what? Sing a song. Sing a song. Our precious Hassidic brothers and sisters used to always say, in the face of the morning of Catastrophe, you weep, you're silent, and you... sing a song. And I come from a tradition where the Spirit will not descend without song. So when all of our analysis--and you've heard the data, eight hundred military bases, eighty-five countries, special operations, hundred and sixty-some countries, three thousand, eight hundred and twenty-nine military units in the United States-- China's got one in Djibouti. Djibouti! They're supposed to be so imperialist, ain't attacked nobody for hundreds of years. Now that doesn't mean China doesn't have its repressive elite; I'm with my Muslim brothers and sisters when they're mistrated, the Uigur people; you gotta be morally consistent. But Chinese imperialism pales in the face of the largest empire in the history of the species. Sixty-eighth empire--there have been seventy empires since the empires emerged out of Africa, the United States is Number Sixty-eight and has done the most damage; and treating human beings as if they do not matter. How many precious Iraquis did we invade, occupy, kill, annihilate, and nobody said (not nobody: nobody in the powers-that-be) said a mumbling word! Reminds me of the unbelievable cowardliness of these same politicians, when they can't say a mumbling word when five hundred and fifty-one Palestinian babies are killed in fifty-one days, and all you could talk about is "Israel has a right to defend itself." Please! Where's your morality, where's your spirituality, where's your truth-telling, what happens when it comes to your house? What happens when the catastrophe comes to your neighborhood, and all of a sudden you want to be on the cutting edge of morality? That's, I hope, the raw stuff of this new moment of an anti-war momentum, and possible movement --it takes a lot to create a movement now, you just can't call for it, you gotta build it-- but it has to be a moment with a larger anti-imperialist vision and analysis, so that there could be, possibly, a new world. Thank you all so very much. "Without a public explanation, I would demand an investigation to determine the legality and propriety of the sudden write-off of $7,678,022 in over-allocation debt." - BD3 Candidate Richard S. Ramos (Image by Richard Ramos) Details DMCA Richard S. Ramos is running against incumbent Scott Schmerelson in LAUSD's Board District 3, which covers most of the western San Fernando Valley. As part of my ongoing Candidate Forum series, Ramos was asked five questions about PROP-39 co-locations. For the introduction to this subject along with answers from other candidates, please see the article LAUSD Candidate Forum: PROP-39 Co-Locations. The following are the candidate's responses, printed exactly how he provided them with the exception of some minor formatting edits: Question 1: Do you support the "Creating a Charter Schools Co-Location Policy to Mitigate Impacts Caused by Proposition 39" authored by Board President Jackie Goldberg and Dr. Rocio Rivas? Yes It is crucial to avoid Proposition 39 co-locations on school sites with the District's 100 Priority Schools, BSAP Schools, and Community Schools. Through policy, we can safeguard schools, and school-site shared decision-making can focus on addressing the unique needs of the students. I would advocate expanding the District Magnet office to support the District's 100 Priority Schools, BSAP schools, and Community Schools to expand Magnet Centers specializing in careers like AI, STEAM, STEM, business, etc.; this would better meet our communities' educational needs, including space utilization of any empty classrooms. Question 2: Under The way that PROP-39 is currently implemented, rooms used to provide Special Education Services are considered to be "empty" and must be turned over to a charter school to satisfy its demand for space. As a Board member would you work to end this discriminatory practice? Yes As a special education advocate and LAUSD principal, I am committed to addressing space utilization on LAUSD campuses. The current implementation of PROP-39, which considers rooms used for Special Education Services as "empty" and potentially reallocates these classrooms to charter schools, is a concerning practice that needs reform. I'd advocate ending this practice of classifying rooms used for Special Education Services as "empty". Schools must be able to utilize classrooms for itinerant special education services, including psychological services, adaptive physical education (APE), learning lab interventions, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. These services are mandated under Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and are crucial for the academic and personal development of students with disabilities. Question 3: The text of PROP-39 specifies that charter schools that base their space requests on inflated enrollment must pay an over-allocation fee. Currently, charter schools have a past-due balance of $3,708,006. As a Board Member would you revoke the charter of any school that refused to pay these fees when a bill is presented? YES I support enforcing PROP-39's requirement that charter schools pay over-allocation fees for inflated enrollment reports. I'd prioritize due process to address non-payment issues. The financial impact of inflated student enrollment numbers should be carefully investigated while ensuring transparency and accountability. Question 4: In April of last year $7,678,022 of over-allocation debt was suddenly wiped off of the balance sheet without any explanation to the public. As a Board Member would you demand an investigation to determine whether this write-off was legal and proper? Yes Without a public explanation, I would demand an investigation to determine the legality and propriety of the sudden write-off of $7,678,022 in over-allocation debt. Question 5: The North Valley Military Institute (NVMI) was co-located on the campus of Sun Valley High School / Valley Oaks Center For Enriched Studies (VOCES) when one of its administrators was accused of "abhorrent child sex abuse" against a student. It does not appear that parents of students on the public school campus were ever notified about these accusations. As a Board Member would you terminate the PROP-39 lease agreement for any charter school that put LAUSD students at a district campus in danger? Given California's litigious climate and considering that the case is currently pending, I would wait to evaluate until all aspects of the case have been thoroughly examined and all relevant information is available. Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs, who serves as the Education Chair for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him "a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles." For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own. Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "Rob Kall's writings on the "bottom-up" revolution have real potential to show people that they can hold power accountable and improve justice. A book on this subject could help to repair the economic, legal, social, and political fabric of the United States." Paul Craig Roberts, former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, former editor and columnist for the Wall Street Journal, Business Week and Scripps Howard News Service. Here is what was written locally and the Bay Area from the aftermath of Oregon States 52-40 win over California on Saturday night at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif. SFChronicle.com: As for Cals defensive shortcomings, Wilcox paid tribute to the Oregon State offense to a point. The pace of people moving into Oregon has slowed this year, recent drivers license data suggests, another potentially worrying sign for the states economic outlook. Oregon deaths have outnumbered births since 2020, and that trend is likely to continue since Oregon is the oldest contiguous state west of the Mississippi. So Oregon depends on migrants moving into the state to provide workers to grow the economy. That worked out fine in the years immediately after the Great Recession, when large numbers of people were moving into Oregon and considerably fewer were leaving. But new census data out last month showed the trend reversed in 2022, and that far more people were leaving than moving here. That led to a net loss of 30,000 residents not a huge number in a state with nearly 2 million workers. But over time, if that exodus continues, the size of Oregons workforce will steadily erode and stymie economic growth. The annual census estimates provide the best picture of migration patterns, but the data is always at least several months old. So economists and demographers closely follow the number of drivers licenses people surrender when they move to Oregon from other states, information thats updated every month. Through August, the number of new Oregonians handing over their old, out-of-state drivers licenses is down 15% from the first eight months of 2022. That sounds like a big slowdown, and it is, but the number of people moving to Oregon now is roughly even with the pace of new arrivals in the five years before the pandemic. So the next question is whether migration out of Oregon has slowed down, too. The answer is murky. Not all states track drivers license data the same way Oregon does. Arizona, for example, says it doesnt have any information on people surrendering drivers licenses there. Utah and Nevada didnt respond to inquiries. But our next-door neighbors in Washington, California and Idaho do track those numbers. The rate of people surrendering Oregon drivers licenses in Washington is down 8% so far this year. California says its on a pace for 11% fewer Oregonians moving in than in 2022. And Idaho says the rate of Oregonians moving east is down 10%. Those numbers, all from states among those Oregonians are mostly likely to move to or from, could suggest that migration out of Oregon slowed, too. But these are just snapshots from a handful of states, not enough to say definitively how competing migration patterns have changed. The authoritative numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau are still months away. This is Oregon Insight, The Oregonians weekly look at the numbers behind the states economy. View past installments here. -- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | 503-294-7699 Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe The Israeli government formally declared war Sunday and gave the green light for significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack, as the military tried to crush fighters still in southern towns and intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip. The toll passed 1,100 dead and thousands wounded on both sides. More than 24 hours after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still trying to defeat the last groups of militants holed up in several towns. At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza as Israeli airstrikes pound the territory. The declaration of war portended greater fighting ahead, and a major question was whether Israel would launch a ground assault into Gaza, a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. Meanwhile, in northern Israel, a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group fanned fears that the fighting could expand into a wider regional war. Authorities were still trying to determine how many civilians and soldiers were seized by Hamas fighters during the mayhem and taken back to Gaza. From videos and witnesses, the captives are known to include women, children and the elderly. The leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, Ziad Nakhaleh, said his group, which participated in the attack, is holding more than 30 Israelis, among dozens he said were captive in Gaza. He said they would not be released until all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are freed. Speaking on ABCs This Week, U.S. Secretary of State Andrew Blinken said as many as 1,000 Hamas fighters were involved in the assault a high figure that underscored the extent of planning by the militant group ruling Gaza. The gunmen rampaged for hours, gunning down civilians in towns, along highways and at a techno music festival being held in the desert near Gaza. Israel hit more than 800 targets in Gaza so far, its military said, including airstrikes that leveled much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the enclaves northeast corner. Warplanes fired tons of explosives on 120 targets, Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters, saying Hamas was using the town as a staging ground for attacks. There was no immediate word on casualties, and most of the communitys population of tens of thousands of people likely fled before the bombardment. We will continue to attack in this way, with this force, continuously, on all gathering (places) and routes used by Hamas, Hagari said. Civilians on both sides were already paying a high price. A line of Israelis snaked outside a central Israel police station to supply DNA samples and other means that could help identify missing family members. Israeli TV news aired a stream of accounts from relatives of captive or missing Israelis who wept and begged for assistance and information. In Gaza, the tiny enclave of 2.3 million people sealed off by an Israeli-Egyptian blockade for 16 years since the Hamas takeover, residents feared an intensified onslaught. Israeli strikes flattened a number of residential buildings. Some 74,000 displaced Gazans were staying in 64 shelters, with the number expected to increase. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNWRA, said a school sheltering more than 225 people took a direct hit. It did not say where the fire came from. Several Israeli media outlets, citing rescue service officials, said at least 700 people have been killed in Israel, including 44 soldiers. The Gaza Health Ministry said 413 people, including 78 children and 41 women, were killed in the territory. Some 2,000 people have been wounded on each side. An Israeli official said security forces have killed 400 militants and captured dozens more. The exchange of fire with Hezbollah added to concern that the conflict could spread. Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and shells Sunday at three Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border, and the Israeli military fired back using armed drones. Two children were lightly wounded by broken glass on the Lebanese side, according to the nearby Marjayoun Hospital. The Israeli military said the situation since was calm after the exchange. Iranian-backed Hezbollah is estimated to have tens of thousands of rockets at its disposal. Since its brutal 2006 war with Israel, Hezbollah has stayed on the sidelines amid previous outbreaks of Israeli-Hamas fighting. But if destruction in Gaza escalates, it may feel pressure to intervene. The declaration of war announced by Israels Security Cabinet was largely symbolic, said Yohanan Plesner, the head of the Israel Democracy Institute, a local think tank. But it demonstrates that the government thinks we are entering a more lengthy, intense and significant period of war. Israel has carried out major military campaigns over the past four decades in Lebanon and Gaza that it portrayed as wars, but without a formal declaration. The Security Cabinet also approved significant military steps. The steps were not defined, but the declaration appears to give the military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a wide mandate. Speaking on national television Saturday, Netanyahu vowed that Hamas will pay an unprecedented price. He further warned: This war will take time. It will be difficult. In a statement, his office said the aim will be the destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities to an extent that prevents it from threatening Israelis for many years. Israelis were still reeling from the breadth, ferocity and surprise of the Hamas assault. The groups fighters broke through Israels security fence surrounding the Gaza Strip early Saturday. Using motorcycles and pickup trucks, even paragliders and speedboats on the coast, they moved into nearby Israeli communities as many as 22 locations. The high death toll and slow response to the onslaught pointed to a major intelligence failure and undermined the long-held perception that Israel has eyes and ears everywhere in the small, densely populated territory it has controlled for decades. The Israeli military was evacuating at least five towns close to Gaza and them scouring them for militants. Much of the territorys population was thrown into darkness Saturday night as Israel cut off electricity and said it would no longer supply power, fuel or other goods to the territory. One woman sheltering at an UNWRA school in Gaza Citys Sheikh Radwan neighborhood described a panicked flight from her home in the middle of the night. The Israeli military made announcements on loudspeakers telling people to leave. We didnt know where to go, she said. It was a miracle we arrived at the schools because there was no transport. The presence of hostages in Gaza complicates Israels response. Hamas officials have said they will seek the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners, and Israel has a history of making heavily lopsided exchanges to bring captive Israelis home. The military has confirmed that a substantial number of Israelis were abducted Saturday without giving an exact figure. An Egyptian official said Israel sought help from Cairo to ensure the safety of the hostages, and that Egypts intelligence chief contacted Hamas and the smaller but more radical Islamic Jihad group, which also took part in the incursion, to seek information. Egypt has often mediated between the two sides in the past. The official said Palestinian leaders claimed they dont yet have a full picture of the number of hostages but said they were held in secure locations across Gaza. The official, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to brief media. estimated Hamas held a big number several dozens. Egypt also spoke with both sides about a potential cease-fire, but the official said Israel was not open to a truce at this stage. In Iran, which has long supported Hamas and other militant groups, senior officials have openly praised the incursion. President Ebrahim Raisi spoke by phone with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Islamic Jihad leader Ziad al-Nakhalah, the state-run IRNA news agency reported Sunday. The shadowy leader of Hamas military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the assault, named Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, the Israeli occupation and a series of recent incidents that have brought Israeli-Palestinian tensions to a fever pitch. Over the past year, Israels far-right government has ramped up settlement construction in the occupied West Bank. Israeli settler violence has displaced hundreds of Palestinians there, and tensions have flared around the Al-Aqsa mosque, a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site. ___ By TIA GOLDENBERG and WAFAA SHURAFA Associated Press Goldenberg reported from Tel Aviv. Shurafa reported from Gaza City. Associated Press writers Isabel DeBre, Julia Frankel and Josef Federman in Jerusalem; Issam Adwan in Rafah, Gaza Strip; Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Samy Magdy in Cairo and Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran contributed to this report. Oregon ranks as one of the worst states in the country at addressing residents mental health needs, based on a scale that weighs the share of people who report having a mental illness and their ease of accessing care. Thats primarily because Oregon residents have one of the highest rates of self-reported mental illness, with 27% of adults indicating they have a mental health condition, according to a 2020 federal mental health survey, the most recent available. Only Utah ranked higher. Lois Leveen Leveen is the author of the novels Juliets Nurse and The Secrets of Mary Bowser. I love living in Portland. But Im fed up with having my safety threatened every time I leave my home. No, this isnt another rant about the unhoused, the addicted or the mentally ill. I am deeply concerned about the well-being of those vulnerable, suffering members of our community. But whats threatening me (and them, and you) is the deadly danger that has violently taken 49 lives in our city so far this year: drivers of motor vehicles. We are all at risk. Vehicular violence is the leading cause of unintentional injury and death for people aged 5-24 and second leading cause of unintentional injury and death for those aged 25-84 across the Portland area, as Oregon Metro noted in its Regional Transportation Safety Strategy. Pedestrians and bicyclists are often perceived as those most vulnerable to death or injury at the hands of motorists, leading people to believe they are safest in a motor vehicle. Yet 32 of this years 49 deaths have been motor vehicle drivers or passengers. Americas continued dependency on motor vehicles, especially the prevalence of SUVs and trucks, is a key reason vehicular deaths and injuries are rising here while decreasing in other wealthy countries. Leaders need to govern with the recognition that motor vehicles dont make us safer. Not in terms of crashes nor of public health generally, and certainly not in terms of the climate crisis. (At the site where librarian Jeanie Diaz was killed, it was distressing to see pollution coating the childrens books put out to honor her. Its more distressing to realize how that pollution coats children themselves.) Describing driving-related deaths and injuries as unintentional doesnt mean theyre unpreventable. As a recent Multnomah County public health report documents, all traffic-related fatalities are preventable, through roadway design and policy choices in which fast mobility should not come at the expense of safety. Thats why safety advocates were stunned when, despite the Portland Bureau of Transportations budget crisis, internal emails show Portland City Commissioner Mingus Mapps and PBOT Director Millicent Williams recently planned to expend PBOTs scarce dollars dismantling safety infrastructure that includes a protected bike lane on Southwest Broadway that has significantly reduced vehicular violence, as BikePortland recently reported. We need leaders to focus on safe systems strategies that decrease deaths and injuries. These include low-cost, effective changes that can be quickly implemented to make driving less dangerous. Portland can join other jurisdictions ending a deadly half-century of right-on-red, which increases traffic fatalities and injuries as drivers, focused on traffic coming from the left, accelerate into pedestrians and bicyclists on their right. Portland can comply with Oregons statewide ban on parking within 20 feet of an intersection, to improve drivers field of vision. Portland can paint a stop line at every stop sign, and put stop signs/lines at every intersection crossing neighborhood greenways and other intersections with high pedestrian and bicycle use. Portland can uphold Twenty is Plenty by making the speed limit 20 mph across every street. (Its baffling that the speed limit is 50% higher on the street that intersects the block I live on than it is on my block, and 25% higher on the block parallel to mine. Uniform speed limits would be far easier to obey and enforce.) Portland can monitor stoplights and speed limits by installing additional cameras on more streets than it already has. (Automation expands the capacity for enforcement while eliminating the potential for escalation when armed police make traffic stops. It also keeps future traffic enforcement from becoming subject to changing priorities in the police budget.) This list, although hardly exhaustive, indicates how many ways we must move forward. Yet when I testified at City Council about reducing these violent deaths and injuries, Mayor Ted Wheeler responded by focusing only on the faults of individual drivers, ignoring the many ways government should make driving safer for all of us. If Portland is able to reconfigure streets to increase restaurants revenue with on-street dining spaces, surely we can reconfigure them to ensure public safety. Sign up for our free Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email: In the midst of the Cold War, the Soviet K-129 missile submarine sank on March 8, 1968. It was found at a depth of almost 5,000 meters (3.1 miles), in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, at an undisclosed point between the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Hawaiian Islands. The CIA took advantage of that remote location in international waters, very close to the 180th meridian that marks the international date line, to mount one of the most complex, sophisticated and expensive secret operations of the time, at the height of tensions between the 20th centurys two major superpowers. Many details of that enormous technological challenge have not been declassified and have reawakened the interest of both science fiction readers and underwater robotics researchers, especially after the Titan submersible accident last June. In 1974, the U.S. completed its covert operation and recovered a portion of the submersible and the bodies of six divers who were aboard, all thanks to the construction of a ship with the worlds largest manipulator arm. In his latest novel, Three Miles Down, renowned science fiction author Harry Turtledove takes up the story of the submarine rescue and contrasts the robotics of the 1970s with those of today, according to a recent article published in the journal Science Robotics. Robotics is the only rescue possibility for these situations, reveals Robin R. Murphy, the author of the analysis and a professor at Texas A&M University. In order to recover the lost Soviet submarine, the K-129, the CIA secretly built a ship called the Hughes Glomar Explorer. Ostensibly, it was a commercial mining vessel owned by billionaire Howard Hughes, and in theory, it was designed to extract manganese nodules from the ocean floor. But that was just a cover story. In his novel, Turtledove gives it an additional twist: the recovery of the submarine is a way to cover up the rescue of an alien spacecraft that had collided with the K-129. Both in fiction and in reality, the vessel featured a drilling rig, a giant robotic claw mounted on the end of a five-kilometer-long pipe called a strong-back and a central berthing well to store the submarine once rescued. According to the recent scientific paper, in addition to pushing the boundaries of mechanical construction, the project also pushed the limits of offshore drilling technology. Strong-back is the term used to refer to the tubes connecting the drill to the ship or platform on the surface. The limits were exceeded because of the pipes extraordinary length and because the Hughes Glomar Explorer was moving with the wind and waves as the underwater current moved the pipe, Murphy explains. Murphys analysis shows how the 1974 computer system was key to the missions success for two reasons. First, because the ship had to remain static in the ocean, taking into account changes in the sea state without an accurate satellite positioning system like todays GPS. And second, because it had to be able to locate the position of the grapple (called Clementine) and compensate for the pipelines deformation by currents. Engineers created a complex system of buoys, hydrophones and sonars to measure waves, winds and currents. Todays technological development is much better: you only have to compare your current phone with the prototypes that existed in the early 1970s, explains engineer Ivan Masmitja, of the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM). Todays iPhones have a 3-gigahertz microprocessor, a speed 600 times faster than the computers that controlled the Clementine claw. Underwater control, positioning and location systems have changed a lot. We have autonomous robots piloted by artificial intelligence [that are] capable of navigating and locating objects underwater. ROVs (remotely operated vehicles) can transmit HD and 4K images, which greatly improves exploration, he says. A re-enactment of the operation to rescue the Soviet 'K-129' submarine with the covert 'Hughes Glomar Explorer' vessel. Claus Lunau / Science Source The search operation for the Titan, the Ocean Gate Company submarine that disappeared last June with five tourists aboard en route to see the Titanic, used the French remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Victor 6000, which is capable of studying and exploring the ocean. The ROV is connected by a cable to a ship on the surface (much like an umbilical cord), where pilots have direct access to the instruments and cameras, Masmitja explains. Because of its configuration, it cannot tow heavy weights, like a submersible, but it can attach a cable to the submarine or the device to be lifted. Then, it is hoisted aboard with the ships winch. Masmitja likens the process to when fishing boats haul and lift large nets. While attempting to raise the K-129 to the surface during the rescue operation, a section of the submersible broke off and fell to the ground, as the CIA revealed in a very generic version of the Azorian project report, from which numerous details are redacted. The recent scientific paper asks whether the sinking was because of a failure in the claw toes or the crafts loss of structural integrity at extreme depths, as Clyde Burleson argues in his book on the covert operation. According to Murphy, the latter is what happened to the Titan submersible. Antonio Crucelaegui, the director of the School of Naval Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Madrid in Spain, explains that the compression of the structure is caused by high pressure: On the Titan, it was equivalent to having 10 buildings like the Empire State Building, each weighing 375,000 tons, on top of it. That same weight is what explains the implosion, he points out. Despite marine technologys complexities and dangers, Project Azorian recovered the remains of several Soviet sailors, who were later buried at sea, as revealed by the CIA after the true purpose of the Hughes Glomar Explorer was leaked in the press. In the recent Titan case, in June the U.S. Coast Guard reported the discovery of possible human remains among the remnants of the submersible. Both cases highlight the value of robotics in enabling humans to operate in such extreme environments. According to Robin R. Murphys analysis, marine robotics is the only way to recover a sunken submersible, both in our own reality and in the alternative reality where the real objective is to rescue alien spacecraft from the deep ocean. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Hey Oregon Law Center, (Portlanders experiencing homelessness sue city over camping ban, Oct. 3). Sue over lack of affordable housing, Sue for more low-income housing, more transition housing, more safe shelter beds. Sue about the lack of mental health care, lack of drug treatment facilities and lack of basic health care. Sue about lack of available veterans services or easy access to veterans services. Sue about the cost of TriMet bus tickets or about the lack of bus services in our neighborhoods, making it difficult to get to jobs in a timely manner. Sue about governmental incompetence or inaction, misappropriation of funds intended to house the homeless or encouraging camping through tent giveaways. But please dont sue for the right to camp for days, weeks or months in our neighborhoods, parks and high traffic roadways. Dont sue to live in unsanitary conditions without running water, toilets or access to garbage services. Dont sue for the right of the houseless to risk their lives heating and cooking with open fires, or camping during heatwaves. Nancy Hline, Portland To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. After Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Chris Christie, who was then the Republican governor of New Jersey, praised then-President Barack Obama, a Democrat, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for swift assistance to New Jersey residents devastated by the storm. At the time, Republicans scorned Christie for his bipartisan comments about the president and the government agency. This year, after U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy worked with Democrats to avert a potentially devastating government shutdown, House Republicans were so incensed by these bipartisan efforts they voted to remove McCarthy as their leader, (Kevin McCarthy ousted as House speaker in dramatic vote, Oct. 3). It appears that they value loyalty to the political power of the Republican party more than actions that benefit the American people. Patrick Gannon, Lake Oswego To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdulhamid Al Dbaiba, has underlined the danger of extending the targeting of the Gaza Strip or continuing to target Palestinians in reaction to the military operation launched on Saturday by the armed wing of the Palestinian movement Hamas Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdulhamid al Dbaiba, has stressed the need for the consortium of companies implementing the third ring road project in Tripoli to adhere to the timetable,,said a statement from the government platform "Hakomitna" Last weeks spectacle in which the U.S. House of Representatives ousted its speaker for the first time in 234 years thanks to an alliance between the Democrats and eight far-right Republicans did not only merit the much-used adjective of historic, it also reconfirmed the fracture of the conservative movement in the United States. Even Donald Trump pointed to this problem on his social network Truth Social: Why is it that Republicans are always fighting among themselves, why arent they fighting the Radical Left Democrats who are destroying our country. The drama over the ousting of Kevin McCarthy as House speaker unfolded before a public that was both fed up and resigned to the political class. Trumps question was his only contribution to the debate about Republican infighting. The former U.S. president was busy with more pressing matters in New York, where he appeared in a civil fraud trial. And many analysts in Washington would agree on the answer: the divisions seen these days on Capitol Hill largely stem from Trumps rise in politics, his four years in office, and the months that passed between his defeat in the 2016 election which he still refuses to concede and the attack on the Capitol, a period in which he is facing two indictments. After initially staying silent, Trump who is the front-runner to win the Republican Partys 2024 presidential nomination has once again flipped the script. First, he proposed running as a temporary speaker, until party unity was restored. Then, he threatened to appear next week in Congress, where the circus of electing a new speaker will get underway on Tuesday. And finally, he threw his support behind Jim Jordan, a congressman from Ohio, over the other serious candidate for the speakership, Steve Scalise (Louisiana), who was McCarthys second in command and is undergoing chemotherapy for multiple myeloma. A victory for Jordan would show that Trumpism has well and truly taken over Lincolns party and all but guarantee a legislative paralysis on Capitol Hill, where Democrats control the Senate. Jordan is one of its most radical Republicans in Congress. His former colleague Adam Kinzinger said he belonged to the camp of Christian nationalists where he believes he is truly fighting these dark forces and the Constitution in some cases is an impediment to him being able to fight those forces. Jordan helped found the Freedom Caucus, a group that emerged in 2015 from the conviction that the speaker at the time, John Boehner, was not fighting hard enough in the budget negotiations with the Obama administration. The Freedom Caucus includes six of the eight fractious Republicans who, led by Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, voted on Tuesday to take away their partys legislative power rather than accept the concessions agreed to by McCarthy to avoid a partial government shutdown. The result of those efforts was a stopgap spending bill, which will expire on November 17. Fratricidal twins The six Republicans are all Trump loyalists; they represent the voter base that will support the former president no matter what. The Republicans a party Theodore White famously defined in the 1960s as a party of fratricidal, not fraternal, twins need these voters to win the election. And this voter base is angry, says political scientist Wendy Brown, because they believe they have lost their place in the world due to the advance of minority rights, globalization and rise of institutions. For these voters, the very idea of Washington is offensive. Its considered a swamp that needs to be drained of political corruption and the complacency of traditional Republicanism, as represented by figures such as McCarthy or Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell. Politicians who fall into this category are disparagingly referred to by the acronym RINO Republicans In Name Only. The ouster of McCarthy which Rich Lowry, editor of the magazine National Review, the intellectual organ of the moderate right, consider to be an indication of an even wilder phase of Republican politics to come brings an end to the generation of conservative leaders that emerged in 2007. This group was inspired by Reaganism, and presented themselves as the Young Guns in a book authored by McCarthy, Eric Cantor and Paul Ryan. In the book which borrowed the name of a 1980s western the politicians laid out their vision to transform the Republican Party, which involved recovering ideals such as economic freedom, limited government, the sanctity of life [against abortion] and putting families first. This isnt your grandfathers Republican Party, said publicity material at the time. Young Guns emerged just as the Tea Party a movement that had even less in common with your grandfathers Republican Party was also starting to take off. And it was this populist tide that would bring an end to McCarthy, the head of the Young Guns. After the first attempt to reach Washington via vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin failed, Trump brought many of those ideas to the White House, and they are now deeply embedded in the party. But according to journalist David Corn, who writes for the leftist Mother Jones, one has to go back even further to find the moment when the Republican Party went crazy. In his book American Psychosis, he argues that this Faustian bargain with far-right radicals, bigots, fundamentalists, and kooks is an invisible line that runs from Senator McCarthys witch hunts through the anti-Communist conspiracists of the John Birch Society to Newt Gingrichs 1990s conservative revolution. According to Corn, if there is one thing that unites all of these cases, it is that the party has nurtured its relationship with the far right by recklessly and relentlessly stoking the paranoia, fear, resentments, and grievances of conservative voters. For Corn, the paroxysm of this trend is the attack on the Capitol. Republican Jim Jordan, candidate to succeed Kevin MacCarthy as speaker of the House of Representatives, with reporters on October 4 in Washington. EVELYN HOCKSTEIN (REUTERS) Last Tuesday, after McCarthys was ousted as speaker, plunging Congress into chaos, Tim Burchett (Tennessee), one of the eight Republicans who voted against him, sat on the steps of the main entrance to the Capitol. With a defeated expression, he explained that he had no choice but to vote against McCarthy: My conscience was telling me that he needed to go. Meanwhile, after a display of cohesion uncommon in the Democrat Partys recent history, Maryland Democratic Representative Jaime Raskin said in a statement: With complete unity and exceptional leadership, Democrats are clearly the only party capable of governing in the House, and [Hakeem] Jeffries is clearly the best candidate for speaker and for the stability and progress of the institution. Jeffries is the leader of the Democrat Minority Leader in the House. Last week, he did not miss a single opportunity to describe McCarthys ouster as part of a Republican civil war. For his part, President Joe Biden has called for an end to the poisonous atmosphere in Washington, perhaps relieved to see that the chaos on Capitol Hill was drawing attention away from his disastrous management of the border crisis and criticism over his decision to authorize more border wall construction. It is highly unlikely that Jeffries will be elected House speaker: he would need 218 votes, and the Democrats only have 212. Nor does the prospect of a Republican bloc vote seem clear at this point. On Wednesday, both parties will begin the process of choosing a new speaker. They will vote until a candidate prospects. The last speakership vote took place in January: it required an unprecedented 15 rounds, and the candidate elected only lasted nine months. Until a new speaker is elected, the position of third-highest authority in the country and second in the presidential line of succession will remain vacant. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Photo: (Photo : Mario Tama / Getty Images) The Oklahoma judge decides to give a green light to banning youth gender transition care. In a recent move, an Oklahoma federal judge opted not to prevent a newly instituted law, which criminalizes medical professionals in the state for offering gender-affirming care to young transgender individuals, from taking effect. Judge John Heil III of the U.S. District Court in Tulsa delivered his decision this Thursday, rejecting an appeal for an initial injunction put forward by plaintiffs, encompassing both a healthcare provider and families of transgender minors in Oklahoma. Despite initial delays in the enforcement of this gender transition care ban, which was initiated in May, due to agreements with the state attorney general, the law is now in immediate effect. Youth Gender Transition Care Ban and Its Implications With the recent legal spotlight on Oklahoma, the state's move to implement a ban on gender transition care for minors has become a focal point for many. Originated by the Republican-controlled Legislature of Oklahoma and ratified by Gov. Kevin Stitt earlier this year, the legislation has ignited a firestorm of opinions. Any medical professional found providing gender-affirming care like puberty-blocking drugs or hormones to minors under the age of 18 is at risk of facing felony charges under this ban. The enforcement of this gender transition care ban had been momentarily paused due to an agreement between the state attorney general and the plaintiffs. However, the recent decision by the Oklahoma Judge pushes the bill into immediate effect. Phil Bacharach, a spokesperson for Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, commented, that the attorney general's office remains committed to its duty to defend Senate Bill 613, and with the Oklahoma Judge's ruling, we have secured full enforcement of the law. Stance of Advocates, Their Concerns for Transgender Minors' Rights The Oklahoma judge's decision has not been met without resistance. Representing a coalition of concerned medical providers and families of transgender minors in Oklahoma, the plaintiffs had earnestly sought a preliminary injunction against the ban. The core of their argument revolves around the profound concerns for transgender minors' rights. Various rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, the ACLU of Oklahoma, and the renowned law firm Jenner & Block LLP, have passionately voiced their dissent. Their collective statement highlights the gravity of the situation, stating, this ban, and the Oklahoma Judge's support of it, undermines transgender minors' rights. Withholding necessary medical care that families and medical professionals deem right for these youths will continue to cause undeniable harm. Read Also: Florida Family Peddles Bleach as COVID-19 Miracle Cure Faces Prison Time Growing Debate of Transgender Minors' Rights in Other States Oklahoma isn't isolated in its stance. Around 22 states have formulated laws that curtail or outright ban gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender minors. And just like Oklahoma, a significant number of these states are entangled in lawsuits questioning the legality and ethics of these bans. Arkansas was the first state to introduce such a prohibition, only to have its ban labeled unconstitutional by a federal judge. Despite these legal skirmishes across the nation, the challenge to Oklahoma's gender transition care ban is still in its early stages. The American Civil Liberties Union, among other organizations, has signaled its intent to appeal against the Oklahoma Judge's recent ruling. In a poignant statement, the organization stated that this is a distressing outcome for transgender youth and their families in Oklahoma. They remain steadfast in defending the constitutional rights of transgender minors, not just in Oklahoma but across the entire nation. The decision by the Oklahoma Judge to uphold the gender transition care ban continues to reverberate across state lines, making it evident that the conversation surrounding transgender minors' rights is far from over. As legal battles ensue and advocates rally, the nation watches closely, waiting to see which direction the scales of justice will ultimately tip. Related Article: Mississippi's Serial Wedding Crasher Sandra Lynn Henson Strikes Again: Money Stolen from Newlyweds! Photo: (Photo : Cindy Ord / Getty Images) On a seemingly routine Friday in Staten Island, an MTA bus stabbing incident sent shockwaves through the community. A 13-year-old boy, identified as Syles Ular, met a tragic end. The silver lining amidst the heartbreak was the commendable intervention of a retired NYPD sergeant who was on the scene, ensuring the suspect didn't escape justice. Fateful Afternoon in Staten Island The disturbing episode transpired on the streets of Staten Island, specifically on an MTA bus traveling on Hylan Boulevard near Littlefield Avenue. The 13-year-old boy, Syles Ular, and his assailant, a fellow teenager, were passengers on the bus. Both were students at the nearby IS 7 middle school. Witnesses on the MTA bus reported a tense altercation between the two, culminating in the stabbing of Ular multiple times in the chest. NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell elaborated during a press conference and stated that gang signs were exchanged and a knife was revealed during the dispute. Retired NYPD Sergeant's Valiant Act Following the MTA bus stabbing, the young perpetrator made a run for it, attempting to disappear into the busy streets of Staten Island. He managed to cover a distance of approximately three blocks and discarded the weapon he had used in the crime. It was then that a retired NYPD sergeant, whose identity has not yet been revealed, showcased a hero's mettle. Alerted by a witness who exclaimed, "This person just stabbed somebody," the retired NYPD sergeant pursued and detained the teen. The young suspect's capture can be attributed to the sergeant's swift thinking and his unwavering dedication to protecting his community, even in retirement. Read Also: Arizona School Board Member Heather Rooks Sues District Over Bible Reading Ban: First Amendment Controversy Staten Island and the City Grapple with the Heartbreak Reacting to the MTA bus stabbing, Demetrius Crichlow, Senior Vice President of the NYC Transit Department, expressed profound sorrow. "The tragic loss of a 13-year-old boy's life, especially in such a horrific manner, shakes the very core of our community," he lamented. Crichlow went on to praise the MTA bus driver, who, despite being deeply affected by the traumatic event, managed to inform the authorities promptly. The driver's resilience ensured that emergency services were alerted without delay. Supporting the NYPD in the subsequent investigation, the MTA confirmed that the bus in question was equipped with surveillance cameras. This footage will prove crucial in providing clarity on the exact sequence of events leading up to the tragic MTA bus stabbing. The New York City Schools Chancellor, David Banks, provided a statement emphasizing the gravitas of the situation. Banks noted that the involvement of two young middle school students in such an incident on Staten Island is deeply unsettling. He appealed to communities and families to come together, emphasizing the need to provide safer environments for the city's youth. While Staten Island and the larger NYC community grapple with the sorrow of losing a young life, Syles Ular's tragic death underscores the pressing need for enhanced security measures and community engagement. The heroic actions of the retired NYPD sergeant serve as a beacon of hope, reminding us of the ever-present guardians in our midst. Related Article: Florida Family Peddles Bleach as COVID-19 Miracle Cure Faces Prison Time The funeral services for a dear friend, Bianca Palmieri Lisonbee, were held this morning. Last night, too, along with a mutual friend who happened to be visiting from Orlando for meetings connected with BYUs International Center for Law and Religion Studies (and whom we drove to the airport thereafter), my wife and I attended the viewing for Bianca. It was gratifying to see the large numbers of people who turned out to honor her and, thereby, to honor a life very well lived. We had traveled with Bianca and her husband, David a shared balloon-ride in Cappadocia is especially memorable and they have been generous supporters of the Interpreter Foundation. Moreover, they kindly allowed us to film some of the interviews for our Witnesses film project in their beautiful home, and Bianca was typically present there for the interviews, listening with rapt and intelligent attention. She even appeared once on our Interpreter Radio Show. Its difficult to process the fact that she has now moved on. We will miss her. Some time back, I read Stephen C. Meyer, Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design (New York: HarperOne, 2009). Stephen Meyer earned an undergraduate degree from Whitworth College, in Spokane, Washington, and then worked in Texas for several years as a geophysicist before going on to receive a Ph.D. in the philosophy of science from the University of Cambridge, in England. I share here a few passages from Signature in the Cell: As I explained repeatedly to reporters and cable-news hosts, the theory of intelligent design is not based on a religious text or document, even if it does have implications that support theistic belief . . . . Instead, intelligent design is an evidence-based scientific theory about lifes origins that challenges strictly materialistic views of evolution. Indeed, the theory of intelligent design challenges a specific tenet of contemporary evolutionary theory. According to modern neo-Darwinists such as Oxfords Richard Dawkins, living systems give the appearance of having been designed for a purpose. But, to Dawkins and other contemporary Darwinists, that appearance of design is entirely illusory, because wholly undirected processes such as natural selection and random mutations can produce the intricate design-like structures in living systems. In their view, natural selection can mimic the powers of a designing intelligence without being guided or directed in any way. In contrast, the theory of intelligent design holds that there are tell-tale features of living systems and the universe that are best explained by an intelligent cause that is, by the conscious choice of a rational agent rather than by an undirected process. Either life arose as the result of purely undirected processes, or a guiding intelligence played a role. Advocates of intelligent design argue for the latter option based on evidence from the natural world. The theory does not challenge the idea of evolution defined as change over time or even common ancestry, but it does dispute the Darwinian idea that the cause of all biological change is wholly blind and undirected. Even so, the theory is not based on biblical doctrine. Intelligent design is an inference from scientific evidence, not a deduction from religious authority. (4) Observations of such structures led thinkers as diverse as Plato and Aristotle, Cicero and Maimonides, Boyle and Newton to conclude that behind the exquisite structures of the living world was a designing intelligence. As Newton wrote in his masterpiece The Opticks: How came the Bodies of Animals to be contrived with so much Art, and for what ends were their several parts? Was the Eye contrived without Skill in Opticks, and the Ear without Knowledge of Sounds? . . . And these things being rightly dispatchd, does it not appear from Phaenomena that there is a Being incorporeal, living, intelligent . . . ? (11) And heres a further assemblage of passages: As Crick himself put it thirty-five years after he and Watson discerned the structure of DNA, biologists must constantly keep in mind that what they see was not designed, but rather evolved. . . . Indeed, when Watson and Crick discovered the structure of DNA, they also discovered that DNA stores information using a four-character chemical alphabet. Strings of precisely sequenced chemicals called nucleotide bases store and transmit the assembly instructions the information for building the crucial protein molecules and machines the cell needs to survive. . . . [C]ertain sequences of chemical bases along the spine of the DNA molecule convey precise instructions for building proteins. Like the precisely arranged zeros and ones in a computer program, the chemical bases in DNA convey information in virtue of their specificity. As Richard Dawkins notes, The machine code of the genes is uncannily computer-like. Software developer Bill Gates goes further: DNA is like a computer program but far, far more advanced than any software ever created.(12) Indeed, since Watson and Cricks discovery, scientists have increasingly come to understand the centrality of information to even the simplest living systems. DNA stores the assembly instructions for building the many crucial proteins and protein machines that service and maintain even the most primitive one-celled organisms. It follows that building a living cell in the first place requires assembly instructions stored in DNA or some equivalent molecule. As origin-of-life researcher Bernd Olaf-Kuppers explains, The problem of the origin of life is clearly basically equivalent to the problem of the origin of biological information. (13) When Watson and Crick discovered the structure and information-bearing properties of DNA, they did indeed solve one mystery, namely, the secret of how the cell stores and transmits hereditary information. But they uncovered another mystery that remains with us to this day. This is the DNA enigma the mystery of the origin of the information needed to build the first living organism. (14) This item quite unrelated to Watson and Crick was found directly adjacent to the Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File: Media revelation: Two-parent homes are good for children. Religion questions, anyone? Really. Can you honestly say that you were surprised? Priority Insurance Company Limited has collaborated with Samuel Kwame Boadu and his SamBoad Business Group Limited Team to commence a programme to train its agents nationwide on Digital Marketing & Branding. The programme forms part of Priority Insurance Companys campaign to expose all their agents to the evolving technological tools shaping the insurance sector in Africa, especially Ghana. To this end, a two-day training programme has been organized for the Greater Accra Region Agents by Samuel Kwame Boadu and his SamBoad Team at Priority House, HQ of Priority Insurance Company Limited at which they were taken through Branding, Digital Marketing and leveraging WhatsApp Business to get more clients. Speaking at the training sections on 30th September, 2023 and 7th October, 2023, the General Manager, Operations at Priority Insurance Company Limited, Mr. Felix Akyea-Bekoe, said The commencement of this training is a continuation of series of Digital Marketing and branding training programmes outlined and targeted at not only the Agents but also management and staff. He explained that the objective of the training was to build the knowledge of agents and staff on basic digital marketing and branding to help make marketing and operations easier as the world evolves. Mr. Salifu Abubakar, General Manager, Marketing and Business Development and Mr. Ernest Danquah all entreated the participants to take the training seriously, saying when agents are well educated on digital marketing and branding, they can also encourage others to appreciate the need for digital marketing as a good marketing and client management tool. Mr. Salifu Abubakar Godmar pledged continuous collaboration with Samuel Kwame Boadu in order to provide more sensitization on the need to learn branding and Digital Marketing to help reach more clients with little efforts. In a closing remark on the second day of the training, the General Manager, Finance, Mrs. Wendy Klome, advised the final participants in Greater Accra to take advantage of the training in order to serve as worthy ambassadors for the digitalization of the insurance industry. She explained that training was necessary to build the knowledge of the participants to help them blend well. We had people who started as agents and with perseverance and readiness to learn, they now have brokerage firms and insurance brokerage companies which are now family businesses. These people were not exposed to digital marketing tools at that time but now its easier to even be more than these people and I believe the time is now to be ready to learn and blend well to this evolving world of Technology, Mrs. Wendy Klome added. She commended Mr. Matthew K.A. Aidoo, the Managing Director of Priority Insurance Company Limited for accepting to make this programme happen and lauded management for their interest in the training of agents nationwide. Training Priority Insurance Companys agents on WhatsApp Business, personal branding, and digital marketing was not just about adapting to the digital ageit was about thriving in it. The agents who embrace these strategies are better equipped to connect with clients, build strong personal brands, and implement effective digital marketing campaigns, Samuel Kwame Boadu remarked. By investing in comprehensive training like what Priority Insurance Company is doing, insurance companies can ensure that their agents are well-prepared to succeed in todays dynamic insurance landscape, ultimately leading to increased sales and customer satisfaction, Samuel Kwame Boadu added. 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 Kenyan President William Ruto will be travelling to China later this month to seek a $1bn (820m) loan to pay for stalled road projects, his deputy Rigathi Gachagua has said. Mr Gachagua told local-language Inooro FM radio that many contractors had abandoned projects around the country as they were not getting paid for their work. He said while Kenya was already heavily in debt to China, the president would ask for an extra $1bn while seeking a longer repayment period for the money that is already owed. He said the president would tell the Chinese that we admit we owe you money, can we talk so that you add more time, we pay more slowly, and can you add some little more money to finish building our roads?. Kenya owes China more than $8bn from loans mostly contracted during the former government under President Uhuru Kenyatta for infrastructure projects. The deputy president addressed the issue of extravagance by government officials, saying it was the reason the president had ordered a curb on foreign trips. Earlier this week, the presidency banned public officials from taking non-essential trips abroad to cut spending and has ordered all ministries to cut their budget for the next financial year by 10%. The government has been accused of unnecessary spending amid complaints by many Kenyans over the rising cost of living and tax hikes put in place by the government. 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 As part of activities marking his 60th birthday the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has donated assorted food, drinks, toiletries and other items to the Kumasi Childrens Home. In lieu of his annual birthday lunch with cured lepers at his home in Accra, Dr Bawumia has also sent bags of rice and other items to the inmates of the Weija Leprosarium to help them celebrate his special day. Accompanied by 2nd Lady Samira Bawumia, the Vice President handed over a number of items including rice (100 bags), sugar (20 bags), diapers (50 packs), tooth brushes (20 boxes), toilet rolls (20 packs), detergents (100 packs), oil (20 boxes), tinned tomatoes (10 boxes), water (150 cartons), assorted drinks (200 cartons) and a large variety of biscuits. As well, to mark 60 years of life, Dr Bawumia donated Ghs 60,000 to help in the running of the Home, and pledged to provide a Coaster bus and also serve as Patron. "Everyone needs some form of help, but in my opinion those with the most need are these children in orphanages, who are here through no fault of theirs. That's why I chose to spend my birthday with the children in this Home, as I am here in Kumasi on my birthday," he explained. "Every year I spend my birthday with the vulnerable in society, so you can be sure that if God gives me life, this is not the last time you will see me or hear from me on my birthday," Dr Bawumia pledged. The Managress of the Kumasi Childrens Home, Mabel Amponsah expressed the appreciation of the almost 90 children at the institution, some with disabilities, noting that Dr Bawumia's decision to spend his birthday with vulnerable and abandoned children is a clear indication of his love for humanity. "As you have shown us love and care on your special day, we pray that your dreams and desires will be met. We ask the Almighty to grant you your heart's desires. We will continue to pray for you." Earlier in the day, Muslim and Christian clerics offered prayers and pronounced blessings on Dr Bawumia, wishing him long life and success in his quest to lead the NPP and eventually Ghana. 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 Atik Mohammed says the claims on which the Minority in Parliament is petitioning the Central Bank Governor, Dr. Ernest Addison, to resign are "ridiculous and misplaced". According to him, the accusations by the Minority against the Governor have no logical basis. He explained on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show that the Governor and his deputies, who the Minority says should step down, are not responsible for the cedi devaluation and the many other things leveled against them. The Governor and his deputies are accused of mismanaging the bank and printing money that, to the accusers, have hugely cost Ghana's economy. Dr. Addison is said to be a part of the reasons for the economic woes visited on Ghanaians but Atik, in response, says the Governor has no hand in the country's currency depreciation. He elucidated that the cedi depreciation is due to external factors beyond the control of the Governor, hence asked the petitioners to leave Dr. Addison alone. "No demonstration is unnecessary but the message was ridiculous and misplaced. You are seeking the resignation of a Governor over illogical basis. They are not the reason why our currency is not performing well...Claiming that they printed money is not true," he said. "What even bores me the more is that they say that it is some of these monies that they have given to Cecilia Dapaah to hide under her bed...and that this forms the basis to call for the resignation of the Governor. This is impossible to understand," he took a swipe at the Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson who, during the protest, alleged the bank gave portions of the printed money to the former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah. To Atik, the leaders of the #OccupyBoG demonstration are not seeking the interest of the populace but "the pursuit of self-interest". 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 Odau Manhene and acting Okyehene Benkum Hene, who also serves as the President for the Odau Traditional Area, has thrown his weight behind Mr. Samuel Awuah Dankwa as the ideal candidate to replace Amoako Attah as the Member of Parliament for Atiwa West in the upcoming NPP primaries. According to Daasebre Ofosu Kwabi Ayebiahwe, the Founder of the Awuah Dankwa Education Foundation, Samuel Awuah Dankwa is the ideal choice for constituents in Atiwa West because he has already demonstrated commitment to leadership over the past seven years. "Throughout the past seven years, Samuel Awuah Dankwa has wholeheartedly dedicated himself to serving and empowering the youth in Atiwa West. Considering his unwavering commitment and enthusiasm, it is only fitting to grant him the opportunity to pursue his heartfelt ambition to become the next Member of Parliament for Atiwa West," Daasebre explained. The endorsement came following a remarkable educational talk series organized by the Awuah Dankwa Atiwa West Students Association. The event, aimed at addressing the critical issue of teenage pregnancies in the Atiwa West constituency, garnered significant attention from various stakeholders. After the event, Daasebre Ofosu Kwabi Ayebiahwe, the Chief for Akyem Etwereso, spoke to journalists about the endorsement, emphasizing that while Chiefs are typically not involved in politics, he couldn't remain silent given Samuel Awuah Dankwa's exemplary leadership qualities. Daasebre Ayebiahwe expressed his full support for Awuah Dankwa's candidacy and urged delegates to cast their votes in his favor during the 2024 NPP parliamentary election. The educational talk series at the Kwabeng Presby Church was a success with the Queen Mother for Boma, Nana Dr. Boatemaa Korama, serving as the Guest Speaker. The event also saw the participation of key figures including Atiwa West DCE Seth Asante, representatives from the Police, Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service, clergy members, Muslim leaders, traditional leaders, parents, teachers, students, and dignitaries from various areas. Under the theme "Empowering Teens: Striving for Health, Education, and Stronger Communities Amid Teenage Pregnancies", the program underscored the Awuah Dankwa Atiwa West Students Association's unwavering commitment to enhancing the well-being and prospects of the youth in the area. Students actively engaged with the diverse array of stakeholders, asking questions and seeking solutions to the issues affecting them. At the event, the Queen Mother for Bomaa Nana Dr. Boatemaa Korama illustrated a scenario involving two girls who experienced contrasting life outcomes due to their environments. In this scenario, the first girl was unable to avoid early sexual activity, resulting in an unplanned pregnancy that disrupted her education and led to a challenging life. Conversely, the second girl managed to maintain her well-being, completed her University education, secured a lucrative job with a commendable salary and enjoyed a significantly improved quality of life. The Queen Mother emphasized the importance of reflecting on this story and drawing valuable lessons from it as a means of preventing teenage pregnancies. Moreover, the Ghana Health Service at the event advised teenagers in schools nationwide to promptly seek assistance from the Police if they encounter any instances of teachers or other individuals making romantic advances toward them. According to the Ghana Health Service (GHS), taking this proactive step is among the effective measures to combating and reducing teenage pregnancies in the country. This guidance was emphasized during the Education Talk Series for Junior High Schools in the Atiwa West district and orchestrated by Mr. Samuel Awuah Dankwa, an esteemed educationist and philanthropist. The Ghana Health Service raised concerns about the recent surge in teenage pregnancies. Sandra Brago, a representative speaking on behalf of Richard Bekoe Benedict, the Atiwa West District Health Director, expressed the Health Directorate's delight in Mr. Samuel Awuah Dankwa's initiative to organize an event for teenagers in the area. She highlighted that, based on reports available to the Health Directorate, the current situation is alarming, hence it underscores the pressing need for comprehensive efforts to prevent teenage pregnancies in the Atiwa West district. Source: Michael Akrofi/Peace News 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 Opinion articles written in the style of their author. These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. All opinion articles written by individuals from outside the staff of EL PAIS shall feature, along with the authors name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed Between government and chaos, the Republican Party always chooses chaos. The House of Representatives, a key institution to approving budgets, has been left without a speaker, and its activities have been suspended pending the election of a new one. It is not a minor mishap, but rather an astonishing development in American history, which leaves the superpower without its third-highest authority, after the president, Joe Biden, and the vice president, Kamala Harris. The protagonist of such a feat is the Republican Party, now possessed by the destructive spirit of Donald Trump, the former U.S. president who is convinced that he is above the Constitution, to the point of using such a belief to defend himself before the four judges who have prosecuted him in three criminal cases and one civil suit. Kevin McCarthy who was the speaker of the Lower House up until last week is the third Republican leader to be devoured by the fierce Trumpist extremism, despite his shameful submission to the dictates of the most radical and crackpot members of the conservative party. His unforgivable sin was to reach an agreement with the White House to extend the budget for 45 days in order to avoid a federal shutdown and suspension of payments of the federal administration. But he paid a high price for it, a cost that included his head, as well as the paralysis of the House and the freezing of aid to Ukraine until the difficult vote to choose his successor takes place. More information How the Republican Party broke into pieces If at one point Trumps presidency could be perceived as an episodic accident, the turn that the Republican primaries are taking with the tycoon leading the polls to win the 2024 presidential nomination by a double-digit margin signals that U.S. democracy is in fact suffering from multi-organ failure, incapable of governing at home and of maintaining its position and its interests abroad. If the decision to suspend aid to Ukraine is not reversed, the consequences will be serious and even tragic. Not only for Kyiv and NATO, but also for the superpower, since it will lose whatever authority and reliability it has left. It will give a green light to countries aspiring to rise by force in the new multipolar map, such as China with respect to Taiwan or Azerbaijan with respect to Armenia. But its not just the United States that is sick. So too is liberal democracy, which has been kidnapped by radical minorities that block government action and even institutions, as Levitsky and Ziblatt explain in their new book, The Tyranny of the Minority, which follows their earlier work How Democracies Die. This is not only happening in the United States. Thanks to the systems of balances and controls of counter-majoritarian democracy, which serve to preserve the rights of minorities, now it is minorities disloyal to democracy, in some cases with negligible presence, who have come to impose their tyranny. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition A flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, on Tuesday, October 4, 2023, paid a courtesy call on former President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor, and his family at Peduase to commiserate with them. This follows the death of the former First Lady of the Republic, Theresa Kufuor, spouse of the former President. The astute politician was accompanied by his wife, Genevive Akoto and the leadership of his national campaign team including KEN-WUUD Nuworsu, Co-Campaign Chairman and former Volta Regional Chair of NPP, Alfred Boye, Co-Campaign Chairman, Peter Oteng Darko, National Coordinator for the campaign, and Dr. Prince Amuzu Sokode, Spokesperson for the campaign. In a very solemn mood, the team led by Dr. Akoto, formed a queue and as custom demands, greeted the Kufuor family before being welcomed. He later signed the book of condolence describing the death of the former First Lady as a huge loss for the country which will be felt by many, particularly, women and children whose causes she championed though various initiatives. Prior to his visit, the former Minister of Food and Agriculture, paid a glowing tribute to the former First Lady on his official Face Book wall, noting that she left an indelible example for all Ghanaians by her unwavering support for her husband, H. E. John Agyekum Kufuor during his tenure as President from 2001 to 2009. Madam Theresa Kufuor was a storehouse of knowledge and provided her husband with wise counsel, playing her part in establishing him as arguably, he best President of Ghana. Dr. Akoto, a Cambridge University trained Economist who is a relative of former President Kufuor after performing the necessary customary rites, joined the family to welcome visitors who had gone to the Peduase residence of the former President to console the family. Ghanas longest serving Minister of Food and Agriculture in the 4th Republic, on Monday, October 2, 2023, announced the suspension of his campaign tour to the Ashanti Region following the demise of Theresa Kufuor whose sad event occurred on Sunday, October 1, 2023. At a press conference held in Kumasi, Dr. Akoto said the suspension of his campaign was a sign of respect for the loss of the former First Lady. He had officially scheduled to begin his week-long tour to the Ashanti Region from October 2 6, 2023, by holding strategic meetings with key party members at different locations in the region. This was to scale up efforts in rallying support for his presidential bid. The NPP goes to the polls on November 4, 2023, to select a presidential candidate who will lead the party to the 2024 general elections. Dr. Akoto is number 3 on the ballot paper. He placed 4th in the Super Delegates Conference held on August 26, 2023. Over 200,000 delegates are expected to vote in the National Delegates Conference on November 4, 2023. 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 Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, the presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has promised a six-month amnesty period for corrupt government officials to confidentially return embezzled funds when he assumes the presidency. Mr Agyapong's announcement came during an interview with Bola Ray on Starr FM, where he outlined his plan to tackle the persistent issue of corruption in Ghana. Under Agyapong's proposed policy, government officials who have misappropriated public funds will have a limited window of six months to voluntarily return the ill-gotten gains with no questions asked. This amnesty, he stated, aims to encourage corrupt officials to come forward and make amends for their actions, potentially alleviating the burden of corruption on the nation's finances. However, Mr Agyapong issued a stern warning to those who choose not to take advantage of this amnesty. He stated, "If you don't return it, and we conduct investigations, and you are found to have embezzled the government's funds, the law will deal with you." He underscored his commitment to pursuing accountability and justice for corrupt individuals who refuse to cooperate. Corruption has long been a pervasive issue in Ghana, with successive administrations grappling to curb its prevalence. The proposed amnesty represents a departure from the tradition of leniency often extended to corrupt officials, especially those in influential positions. The NPP flagbearer aspirant emphasized that he would not yield to pressure from religious leaders, politicians, or traditional authorities seeking clemency for corrupt individuals. Mr Agyapong argued that effective governance hinges on discipline, which he identifies as the third component of the Patriotism, Honesty, and Discipline (PHD) principles. He believes that by enforcing strict discipline within the government, Ghana can make significant strides in combating corruption and promoting transparency and accountability. The announcement has stirred both support and controversy in Ghana, with some applauding Agyapong's strong stance on corruption, while others express concerns about the potential misuse of power during investigations. As the country heads towards the presidential election, Agyapong's proposed policy will likely remain a focal point of public discourse, shaping the nation's approach to combating corruption in the years ahead. 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 government has strongly condemned an attack on Ghanas most-watched private station, United Television (UTV) during a live show. A statement released by the information ministry and signed by the minister; Kojo Oppong Nkrumah urged the police to quicken its investigation after about sixteen (16) of the alleged NPP supporters were arrested. The right to free expression and the freedom of the media are key pillars of our democracy and must be fiercely protected. Kojo Oopong Nkruamh said in the statement. The Ministry of Information on Saturday, Oct 7th, 2023, made a report to the Ghana Police Service to intervene in an incident at the Studios of UTV, a private TV station in Accra.This followed reports to the Media Monitoring Center of the Ministry that a group of persons had entered UTVs studios, allegedly without authorisation, to express displeasure at the content of a live TV Program.The police subsequently arrested 16 persons at the premises of UTV, and investigations are currently ongoing.The Ministry condemns in no uncertain terms any unauthorized entry into media organizations, in protest at media content, or interference with media work.The right to free expression and the freedom of the media are key pillars of our democracy and must be fiercely protected.The Ministry stands with the police and the courts in the conduct of their duties.The Ministry wishes to encourage the media, especially broadcast media show hosts and panellists, to do their utmost to help promote national cohesion even as they exercise their fundamental freedoms.Over 20 thugs reportedly from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) have invaded the studios of UTV, looking for A-PlusKwame Obeng Asare, popularly known as A-Plus on the September 30 edition of the programme described as useless a letter from the NPP calling on the management of UTV to reform the show.According to the NPP, the programme has become political.A Plus, in reaction, said the letter was against the independence of the media and went on to rip his copy of the letter saying: "This letter is revolting because we have received calls from people threatening to collapse UTV United Showbiz"The thugs who disrupted the show were heard saying "We're waiting for A-Plus".One of them who spoke to producers of the show, said they want A-Plus to render an apology to the party for tearing up the letter.Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has arrested 16 persons and are currently assisting in investigations."Following a complaint from the Despite Media Group and Ministry of Information that certain people had invaded the studios of U-TV this evening, the Police proceeded to the scene and arrested sixteen (16) persons.They are currently at the Police Station assisting investigations". Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Over 20 thugs reportedly from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) have invaded the studios of UTV, looking for A-Plus Kwame Obeng Asare, popularly known as A-Plus on the September 30 edition of the programme described as useless a letter from the NPP calling on the management of UTV to reform the show. According to the NPP, the programme has become political. A Plus, in reaction, said the letter was against the independence of the media and went on to rip his copy of the letter saying: "This letter is revolting because we have received calls from people threatening to collapse UTV United Showbiz" A-Plus must apologize The thugs who disrupted the show were heard saying "We're waiting for A-Plus". One of them who spoke to producers of the show, said they want A-Plus to render an apology to the party for tearing up the letter. Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has arrested 16 persons and are currently assisting in investigations. "Following a complaint from the Despite Media Group and Ministry of Information that certain people had invaded the studios of U-TV this evening, the Police proceeded to the scene and arrested sixteen (16) persons. They are currently at the Police Station assisting investigations". Details about the intrusion of thugs into the studios of UTV #UnitedShowbiz pic.twitter.com/ZCw32DNm7j UTV Ghana (@utvghana) October 7, 2023 BREAKING: Some thugs from the NPP have invaded the studios of UTV to attack A Plus and other guests ahead of the the #UnitedShowbiz pic.twitter.com/cWYl09KvGi ANYO (@AF3NYO) October 7, 2023 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 Update: Israel declares war, bombards Gaza and battles to dislodge Hamas fighters By Tia Goldenberg and Wafaa Shurafa, The Associated Press TEL AVIV, Israel Israeli soldiers battled Hamas fighters in the streets of southern Israel on Sunday and launched retaliation strikes that leveled buildings in Gaza, while in northern Israel a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group raised fears of a broader conflict. There was still some fighting underway more than 24 hours after an unprecedented surprise attack from Gaza, in which Hamas militants, backed by a volley of thousands of rockets, broke through Israels security barrier and rampaged through nearby communities. They took captives back into the coastal Gaza enclave, including women, children and the elderly, who they will likely try to trade for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Hundreds have been killed on both sides. The high death toll, multiple captives and a slow response to the onslaught pointed to a major intelligence failure and undermined the long-held perception that Israel has eyes and ears everywhere in the small, densely populated territory it has controlled for decades. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country was at war and would exact a heavy price from its enemies. Hamas leaders said they were prepared for further escalation. A major question now was whether Israel will launch a ground assault into Gaza, a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. Netanyahu vowed that Hamas will pay an unprecedented price. But, he warned, This war will take time. It will be difficult. Civilians paid a staggering cost for the violence on both sides. Israeli media, citing rescue service officials, said at least 600 people were killed in Israel, including 44 soldiers, while officials in Gaza said 313 people had died in the territory. An Israeli official said the military had killed 400 militants and captured dozens more. Palestinians inspect the rubble of a building after it was struck by an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)AP Israeli TV news aired a stream of accounts from the relatives of captive or missing Israelis, who wailed and begged for assistance amid a fog of uncertainty surrounding the fate of their loved ones. In Gaza, residents fled homes near the border to escape Israeli strikes, fleeing deeper inside the territory after warnings in Arabic from the Israeli military. In neighboring Egypt, a policeman shot dead two Israeli tourists and an Egyptian at a tourist site in Alexandria, the Interior Ministry said. Egypt made peace with Israel decades ago, but anti-Israel sentiment runs high in the country, especially during bouts of Israeli-Palestinian violence. The flare-up on Israels northern border also threatened to draw into the battle Hezbollah, a fierce enemy of Israels which is backed by Iran and estimated to have tens of thousands of rockets at its disposal. Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and shells on Sunday at three Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border and Israels military fired back using armed drones. Two children were lightly wounded by broken glass on the Lebanese side, according to the nearby Marjayoun Hospital. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military official, told reporters the situation at the northern border was calm after the exchange. But he said fighting was still underway in the south and that there were still hostage situations there. He said troops had moved into every community near the Gaza frontier, where they planned to evacuate all civilians and scour the area for militants. We will go through every community until we kill every terrorist that is in Israeli territory, he said. In Gaza, every terrorist located in a house, all the commanders in houses, will be hit by Israeli fire. That will continue escalating in the coming hours. Hamas said that overnight it had continued to send forces and equipment into a number of locations inside our occupied territories, referring to Israel. Hamas-linked media reported that the son of Nizar Awadallah, a senior political official, was killed. The Islamic militant group has not reported any senior members being captured, killed or wounded. The surprise attack Saturday was the deadliest on Israel in decades. In an assault of startling breadth, Hamas gunmen used explosives to break through the border fence enclosing Gaza, then crossed with motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders and speed boats on the coast. They rolled into as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip early Saturday morning, including towns and other communities as far as 24 kilometers (15 miles) from the Gaza border, while Hamas launched thousands of rockets at Israeli cities. Israel is waking up this morning to a terrible morning, said Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman. There are a lot of people killed ... children, grandmothers, families, bodies. Israeli media said at least 600 people were killed and 2,000 wounded in Saturdays attack. Hamas fighters took an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive into Gaza, and a line of Israelis with missing relatives snaked outside a police station in central Israel to supply investigators with DNA samples and other means that could help identify their family members. Israel struck 426 targets in Gaza, its military said, flattening residential buildings in giant explosions. Among the 313 killed in Gaza were 20 children, and close to 2,000 people were wounded, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinians, said more than 20,000 Palestinians left Gazas border region to head further inside the territory and take refuge in U.N. schools. In a televised address Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military will use all of its strength to destroy Hamas capabilities. Get out of there now, he told Gaza residents, who have no way to leave the tiny, overcrowded Mediterranean territory. Gazas 2.3 million people have endured a border blockade, enforced to varying degrees by Israel and Egypt, since Hamas militants seized control in 2007. In Gaza, much of the population was thrown into darkness Saturday night as Israel cut off electricity and said it would no longer supply power, fuel or other goods to the territory. Hamas said it had planned for a long fight. We are prepared for all options, including all-out war, the deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, Saleh al-Arouri, told Al-Jazeera TV. Israel has a history of making heavily lopsided exchanges to bring captive Israelis home. The military has confirmed that a substantial number of Israelis were abducted Saturday without giving an exact figure. An Egyptian official said Israel has sought help from Cairo to ensure the safety of the hostages, and that Egypts intelligence chief had contacted Hamas and the smaller but more radical Islamic Jihad group, which also took part in the incursion, to seek information. Egypt has often mediated between the two sides in the past. The official said Palestinian leaders claimed that they dont yet have a full picture of hostages, but said those who were brought into Gaza were taken to secure locations across the territory. A Palestinians man sits in the rubble of a building after it was struck by an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)AP Its clear that they have a big number several dozens, said the official, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to brief media. Egypt also spoke with both sides about a potential cease-fire, but the official said Israel was not open to a truce at this stage. The shadowy leader of Hamas military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the assault, named Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, and a series of recent incidents that have brought Israeli-Palestinian tensions to a fever pitch. Over the past year, Israels far-right government has ramped up settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, Israeli settler violence has displaced hundreds of Palestinians there, and tensions have flared around the Al-Aqsa mosque, a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site. President Joe Biden said from the White House that the U.S. stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults, and said Israel has the right to defend itself. Shurafa reported from Gaza City. Associated Press writers Isabel DeBre, Julia Frankel and Josef Federman in Jerusalem; Issam Adwan in Rafah, Gaza Strip; Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report. More: An indicted senators worst nightmare? Pennsylvanias John Fetterman Man was ejected from cars sunroof in fatal Pa. Turnpike crash: police By Tom Avril The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) PHILADELPHIA Every year, Katalin Kariko met with her University of Pennsylvania department chair to update him on her quest to treat disease with messenger RNA fragile, inflammatory genetic molecules that were so difficult to work with that most scientists thought it was a waste of time. Every year, he listened to her passionate description of the science for a few minutes, then chastised her for not contributing to the departments all-important metric: dollars per net square footage of lab space. The bottom line: Penn had rejected Kariko for a tenure-track position years earlier because she failed to secure funds for her research, and she still hadnt managed to come up with any. As the world now knows, Kariko proved her naysayers wrong. She and Penn colleague Drew Weissman won the Nobel Prize in medicine Monday for their research, which paved the way for COVID-19 vaccines that are credited with saving millions of lives. The school has reaped more than $1 billion in royalties from licensing patents it took out on their discoveries. We are bursting with pride, university president Liz Magill said at a news conference with the two scientists. But in an autobiography that comes out Tuesday, Kariko describes years of struggle to get her ideas accepted by Penn colleagues and the broader scientific community. Even after 2005, when she and Weissman published the first of several studies showing how mRNA could be used in a vaccine, she was rebuffed in her attempts to seek a tenured position, she says in Breaking Through: My Life in Science, published by Crown. I was told that I was not of faculty quality, she wrote, describing a conversation with an unidentified administrator at Penns Perelman School of Medicine. Her account illustrates the competitive, constantly churning treadmill of academic science, where success is defined by money and the publication of studies in scientific journals neither of which occurs without the other. Scientists cant conduct their experiments without money for chemicals, lab animals, and other supplies, yet in order to secure that funding, they have to provide the results of experiments. Which requires money. The result is that many successful scientists learn to practice what is called grantsmanship, namely publishing safe, incremental advances to keep the funds coming. Kariko chafed under that system, instead aiming for a high-risk target using mRNA to fight disease that most of her peers thought was unattainable. She did it working in lowly, nontenured positions for more than two decades, finding a home in the labs of a few sympathetic colleagues who could spare the funds. Frustrated, she finally left Penn in 2013 for a German startup called BioNTech, which would one day collaborate with Pfizer to make the first COVID vaccine. Asked whether Kariko should have been granted tenure, the university responded with this statement: Dr. Katalin Kariko and Dr. Drew Weissman are outstanding scientists, whose discoveries helped pave the way for developing the life-saving vaccines deployed in the global fight against COVID-19. The recognition of their important work with the Nobel Prize is deeply deserved. We acknowledge and are grateful for the valuable contributions Dr. Kariko has made to science and to Penn throughout her time with the university. In interviews, two former Penn physicians said her account of repeated rejection was spot-on. David Langer, now the chair of neurosurgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, said it took a pandemic for others both at Penn and beyond to realize Kariko's ideas held merit. Of course, hindsight is 20/20, he said. They shouldve promoted her. A blunt manner in a world dominated by men Former Penn cardiologist Elliot Barnathan, who hired Kariko to work in his lab in 1989, said the buzz at the time was all about gene therapy, which sought to harness the power of RNAs more stable cousin, DNA. RNA, on the other hand, is a temporary copy of DNA that degrades easily, and most academics dismissed Kariko's idea of using it to treat disease. It was completely heretical at the time, he said. Barnathan rejected Kariko at first, too. When she sent in her application for a vacancy in his lab and did not hear back, she called his secretary to ask why. Barnathan believed that he had not found the right person, and planned to readvertise the position, the secretary said. Kariko, who had previously worked at a lab at Temple University and was then working at a hospital in Maryland, was unsatisfied. She asked my secretary if I could please look at it again, he recalled. Barnathan hired Kariko after all, collaborating with her to study RNA in cardiovascular cells. When he left for a job in industry, she found another supporter in Langer, who was then a resident in Penns neurosurgery department. The pair studied mRNA in the brain. In interviews, Barnathan and Langer said Kariko was not naive. She knew full well that her ideas meant nothing without money, whether at Penn or anywhere else. They said that at times, she may have hurt her cause with her blunt-spoken manner. In the book, Kariko acknowledges that she was a tough taskmaster. She described one such instance from when she first met Langer, back when he was a medical student at Penn. He and a classmate bungled one of the steps in preparing a batch of RNA, and Kariko scolded them and threw out their samples. What were you thinking? she said. Its useless, garbage! A modest background Kariko also stood out because of her background. The daughter of a butcher whod completed the equivalent of sixth grade, she grew up in communist Hungary in a modest home with no running water, heated by burning sawdust left over from a nearby toy factory. As a scientist, she often sensed she was an outlier in the clubby world of medicine, whose leaders often were men whose fathers had been physicians before them. In the book, Kariko describes one such episode when she traveled to a stroke center in Buffalo, New York, to perform an mRNA experiment in the brains of rabbits. She told her Buffalo counterpart that the experience reminded her of her fathers profession. No kidding! he said. My father is also a neurosurgeon. And my grandfather, too! She laughed, explaining that her upbringing was very different. Publish or perish For decades, Kariko continued to publish what she considered to be high-quality research, but discovered it was not enough to gain acceptance by academias elite. I was learning that succeeding at a research institution like Penn required skills that had little to do with science, she wrote. You needed to know how to do things in which I have never had any interest (flattering people, schmoozing, being agreeable when you disagree, even when you are 100% certain that you are correct). She also found that for her career to advance, the studies also needed to be cited by others. Even when she started to collaborate with Weissman, the immunologist with whom she would share the Nobel, the work attracted little notice at first. For a long time, their initial 2005 study was cited by others just a few times a year. But the pair were confident that the transient nature of mRNA, long seen by others as a flaw, would be a plus when used in a vaccine. They and others figured out how to deliver the delicate genetic molecules inside human cells by encapsulating them in millions of oily droplets, called lipid nanoparticles. Once there, the mRNA served as a temporary blueprint, enabling the recipients cells to make a useful protein without any permanent changes to the persons genetic makeup. Thats how the COVID vaccines work. The mRNA carries the recipe for a spike-like protein on the surface of the coronavirus, giving the recipient a safe sneak preview of the virus so the immune system can prepare to fight the real thing. On Dec 10, she and Weissman are due in Stockholm to receive the Nobel, the ultimate recognition that they were right. READ MORE: Pennsylvania university No. 1 best in U.S. for business: report Pa. title agent misappropriated $5.6M of his clients funds, lawsuit says The Pennsylvania State Police are continuing to investigate a shooting that happened overnight in Indiana County that left one man dead and eight other people injured. Police said a 22-year-old Pittsburgh man was killed in the shooting at 12:35 a.m. Sunday at the Chevy Chase Community Center, 640 N. 5th Ave. in White Township, Indiana County. The other eight people that were shot included five men and three women between the ages of 18 and 23. Six of the people were from Pennsylvania. One was from Florida. And an 18-year-old man from Chicago is in critical condition. Earlier Sunday morning, Pennsylvania State Police had said six people were shot at the community center. But as of 10 a.m. Sunday, state police said they have confirmed that at least three more people were shot during the incident. Pa. State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said investigators believe more than one shooter was involved but declined to say how many there were, according to an Associated Press story. Dozens of gunshots were fired within the confines of the building, said Bivens, acknowledging later that It may well be that we had a gunfight inside this building. Many fired shell casings and multiple firearms had been recovered, along with other evidence such as clothing and cellphones, he said. There are no suspects in custody and state police urge anyone with information to immediately contact Pennsylvania State Police - Indiana at 724-357-1960 or anonymously contact the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers Toll Free at 800-4PA-TIPS (8477) or online at www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=107. All callers to Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward. Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information that solves this case The community center is about 2 miles from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and is about 177 miles west of Harrisburg. Additional information was added to the post at 3:26 p.m. More: Pa. police captain charged after deceiving woman in car sale: reports By (Ret.) Deputy Chief Wayne P. Harris Evidence. It is, of course, at the heart of what law enforcement and our justice system is all about. Police cannot (or should not) arrest without cause. Courts cannot convict without proof. Apparently, it seems public health officials do not operate at the same standard. Despite evidence that indicates bans on flavored tobacco have not reduced the prevalence of smoking, and regardless of hard proof that prohibition does not stop people from smoking, drinking, or doing drugs the 18th amendment, which banned alcohol, is the only amendment ever to be repealed. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to finalize a rule to ban the sale of menthol cigarettes in September. As a member of the law enforcement community, I hope FDA leaders will rethink this proposed policy. It could actually do more harm and no good. With over 80 percent of Black smokers in Philadelphia utilizing menthol cigarettes, a statistic that is mirrored across the citys suburbs, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the country, this policy can have severe ramifications for the citys already egregious criminal justice problems and disparities. According to a Pennsylvania District Attorneys June Racial Injustice Report, between 2015 and 2022, Black defendants were charged disproportionately more in seven out of the eight most common criminal categories than their white counterparts. Despite Black Philadelphians comprising under 40 percent of the citys population, they make up close to 70% of its police stops and over 60% of its arrests. The FDAs menthol cigarette ban would exacerbate these gaping disparities without providing any clear public health benefit. Several U.S. cities and states have already tried tobacco flavor bans, and they have not experienced good results. A study published in JAMA Pediatrics even suggested a flavor ban in San Francisco actually increased smoking rates among high-schoolers when compared to other school districts throughout the country. When Massachusetts banned all flavored tobacco products in June 2020, smokers simply crossed state lines. From June to November 2020, Massachusetts cigarette excise tax stamp sales declined 24 percent, but sales in nearby Rhode Island and New Hampshire rose 18 and 29.7 percent, respectively. Nonmenthol cigarette sales also went up in Massachusetts. In fact, lawmakers there have already introduced a bill to repeal the menthol ban. A National Bureau of Economic Research paper showed there was no net reduction in overall smoking when Canadian provinces banned menthol cigarettes. The FDA is also ignoring that in 2020, the U.S. surgeon general concluded there is not enough evidence to claim a menthol cigarette ban would encourage people to quit smoking. While the FDAs ban would not result in a reduction of cigarette smoking in the United States, it would do significant harm by heightening the presence of police in communities where law enforcement is trying hard to rebuild trust. According to the FDA, a menthol prohibition would be enforced by the U.S. Department of Health, but they have consistently ignored the resulting illegal markets that occur whenever prohibitions such as these are established. These illicit cigarette markets will bring unnecessary police and community interaction as law enforcement attempts to address the criminal behavior that will result. Gangs in the United States have begun selling illegal cigarettes in our city streets. This is not speculation, and, as we know, these negative interactions can quickly escalate violently. Lets not forget that Eric Garner was allegedly selling a single cigarette when he was killed by a police officer. Tragically, Garners story is not isolated. In California in 2020, a police officer used excessive force on a 14-year-old during a tobacco product investigation. In Maryland, police officers tackled, kicked, and tasered a teenager when enforcing a vaping ban on a boardwalk. A 2021 letter co-signed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Association of Black in Criminal Justice, the National Association of Social Workers, and other groups concluded, A menthol cigarette ban would disproportionately impact communities of color, result in criminalization of the market, and exacerbate mass incarceration. These civil liberties and civil rights groups also noted that it risks creating large underground, illegal markets and that it is a policy disaster waiting to happen, with Black and other communities of color bearing the brunt. The FDA does not need to ban menthol cigarettes to reduce cigarette use. From providing smoking cessation counseling services to people who smoke, to supporting consumer education, to using therapeutic interventions and other methods that have been shown to be effective in reducing tobacco use, there are other policy solutions at its disposal that would prove far more effective. Heres hoping that FDA officials follow the evidence and stop the proposed ban on menthol cigarettes before its too late. Its the only way to protect the integrity, neutrality, and efficacy of Americas criminal justice system and those are things that we cannot afford to throw away so carelessly. Deputy Chief Wayne P. Harris (Ret.) is a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) Executive Board, vice president of the Board of Directors for the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, and a nationally recognized expert on policing in America. KYODO NEWS - Oct 8, 2023 - 23:22 | World, All Over 970 people have died in a large-scale attack originating from the Gaza Strip by Palestinian militant group Hamas and retaliatory strikes it provoked from Israel, local authorities and media reported Sunday. At least 600 people have been killed in Israel since Hamas launched thousands of rockets by surprise early Saturday morning attack, local broadcaster Channel 12 reported, while more than 370 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli air strikes on Gaza, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. In addition to the rocket barrage, Hamas gunmen crossed from Gaza into as many as 22 locations inside Israel, shooting civilians and security forces and taking Israeli hostages as they went, according to The Associated Press. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday his country is "at war" following Hamas' attack, considered the worst on the country in recent history, while his office approved steps to destroy the group's military and governmental capabilities. "We will take mighty vengeance for this black day," Netanyahu said, vowing to continue "without reservation and without respite." Israel launched retaliatory air strikes on targets in Gaza. U.S. President Joe Biden said in a Saturday address that "the United States stands with Israel." Responding to Hamas' attack, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sunday said, "Japan strongly condemns the attack which severely harmed innocent civilians. I express my condolences to the bereaved families and heartfelt sympathies to the injured." Kishida also expressed concern for those killed and wounded in the retaliatory attacks in Gaza. The U.N. Security Council is scheduled to hold a closed-door emergency meeting on the Hamas attack on Sunday. The conflict is likely to become the worst since 2014 -- when around 2,250 people in Gaza and about 70 in Israel were killed in a seven-week war -- if Israel moves into a ground invasion. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) said that because Republicans have no speaker, the House cant pass a bill to help Israel. Crow told MSNBCs Jen Psaki: First off, this breathtaking and horrible attack on Israel by terrorists, we havent seen anything like this. Its unprecedented, its depraved. You know, the images and stories coming out of Israel show you what these terrorists are capable of. And so the United States stands by the people of Israel full stop in the days and weeks ahead, they are our strongest ally in the region and we will stand by them. But it does show the challenge that we face right now. I mean, the world is an unstable place. Theres a lot of conflict going on. We have to continue to stand by Ukraine. We have to make sure were responding to these attacks in Israel, to our partner and to our ally and right now the House of Representatives is, is in recess. Were in recess because the Republicans have been unable to select a speaker where that, that, which means were not getting the briefings. We cant have the debates and we cant actually start the process of putting together aid packages to Ukraine into Israel and to others to respond to these crises. Video of Rep. Crow: Republicans claim to love Israel, but they are so dysfunctional that they cant do the basic things like pass an aid bill when Americans are reportedly being held hostage in the country. Republican chaos is endangering American lives, so for all of the flag-waving that House Republicans are attempting to do today, their inability to govern is jeopardizing lives and national security. Birds in North America will no longer be named after people. The American Ornithological Society announced the move Wednesday. Next year, the organization will begin to rename around 80 species found in the U.S. and Canada. The organizations president says some English bird names have associations with the past that continue to be exclusionary and harmful. Rather than review each bird named after a person individually, all such birds will be renamed. Birds that will be renamed include those currently called Wilsons warbler and Wilsons snipe. Both are named after 19th century naturalist Alexander Wilson. Audubons shearwater, a seabird named for John James Audubon, also will get a new name. Read moreOrnithological society to rename dozens of birds and stop naming them after people By Eriko Noguchi, KYODO NEWS - Oct 8, 2023 - 10:20 | Arts, Feature, All, Japan Japanese atomic bomb survivors are striving for every possible way to convey the harrowing experiences they had in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, knowing that time is running out for them to use their own words. Art is one of the methods they rely on. And they believe messages about what happened in the cities nearly eight decades ago will be carried through even the hands of young artists in the making who were born long after the war was over. Last fall, a group of A-bomb survivors in Fukuoka reached out to Kyushu Sangyo University and asked that art-course students there create painting works to be used when they speak to school children about the devastation caused by the attacks. The university in the southwestern city responded positively to the request from the hibakusha, as the bombing survivors are known, and three female students stepped forward to volunteer. One of them, Nanaka Ikeda, 20, completed a picture based on a description by Isamu Hiraki, 85, who witnessed the explosion of the atomic bomb roughly 4 kilometers from its hypocenter in Nagasaki. Ikeda initially showed Hiraki four rough sketches incorporating the A-bomb and B-29 bomber that delivered it, but none of them satisfied him. With Hiraki describing the explosion as "looking exactly like the sun," Ikeda redid the painting, using a technique to make it appear three-dimensional while showing a powerful burst of bluish-white light over the entire canvas. Ikeda was born in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, an industrial city which had a weapons factory for the Japanese Imperial Army and was the initial target of the second U.S. atomic bombing on Aug. 9, 1945. When she was a child, her grandmother told her about her great-grandfather who died in the war. "I will continue to learn about the war and pass it down to future generations," she said. Wakana Miyasako, 21, depicted the horror experienced by Hiroko Nakagawa, 82, who was exposed to radiation at her home about 1.2 km from the hypocenter in Hiroshima three days earlier than the Nagasaki bombing. Nakagawa fled raging fires with her mother, grandmother and 11-month-old sister. When they tried to cross a river in a wooden raft after a nearby bridge collapsed, the mother fell into the river with her baby in her arms. From the river, her mother held the baby up, pleading for someone to grab her. Nakagawa and her grandmother survived, escaping the approaching fires, but her mother and younger sister, who was pulled onto the raft shortly afterward, died. Miyasako's painting shows an image of a person aboard a raft reaching out to pull the mother and her daughter out of a black river strewn with bodies. The painting captures Nakagawa's desire "to emphasize the tragedy of war and the importance of living life to the fullest." Miyasako admitted the work was "very difficult" due to her lack of experience in drawing scenes of death. In a painting by Maika Sugawara, 20, a woman with a forlorn expression interlaces her fingers in prayer as her children stand near her in the background. It is the moment the mother of Mitsuya Okazaki, 87, shouted, "No more war" two days after the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. That day, Okazaki witnessed a river filled with dead bodies while walking with his mother near the center of the explosion. The three paintings, completed in about eight months, were displayed at an atomic bomb exhibition held by the hibakusha group in August. With such unimaginable memories as their subject matter, the students resolved to pass on the message of peace. The university is planning a second round of the project. Yasuhide Kunimoto, lecturer in the art faculty, said, "Now is really the last chance to listen to the experiences of hibakusha. I want to encourage as many students to participate as possible." Related coverage: Special feature: How an Atomic Bomb Destroyed a Girl's Life FOCUS: Memes win U.S. fans for "Oppenheimer" but raise eyebrows in Japan Japan marks 78th anniv. of WWII end as PM reiterates war opposition The development agreement had drawn criticism because of its density and because it gave Lowe first right of refusal to buy Union Pier Read moreSC ports agency paying $9.9M to part ways with Lowe on Union Pier redevelopment As one South Carolina waterfront labor dispute plots a course toward the pinnacle of the U.S. legal system, the fate of another has been cast adrift. A judge at the Federal Maritime Commission has dismissed a unions price-fixing complaint against a consortium of stevedoring businesses at the Port of Charleston. The decision came down Sept. 29. The case filed in April 2022 pitted the International Longshoremen's Association against Ports America, Ceres Marine Terminals and SSA Marine, which hire ILA members to offload cargo ships. The stevedoring companies have been working together in South Carolina as Charleston Stevedoring Co., or CSC, since May 2020. The ILA complaint also targeted a nearly identical alliance the trio established in Savannah under the name Gateway Terminals. The union said the collaborative arrangements breach the U.S. Shipping Act at the Southeast's two heavyweight ports by creating a "terminal operator that completely controls rates, charges and bargaining opportunities" while also reducing competition and preventing true negotiation" over prices and fees. The ILA sought at least $2 million in damages and an order dismantling the setup. The stevedoring companies dismissed the claims, calling them "a complete fabrication" last year and asking that the case be tossed. "Both South Carolina and Georgia have mandated appropriate separation between Gateway and CSC and have imposed state oversight to ensure that pricing at each port is set independently and competitively," they said in their formal response to the complaint. The alliance operators added that they "have maintained appropriate internal controls in compliance with these state mandates." The case waded into a morass of maritime legalese, but the crux of it boiled down to whether the three companies now technically two after SSA acquired Ceres late last month met the definition of "marine terminal operators" at the rival shipping hubs in Charleston and Savannah. In its two-plus decades, Pure Theater has demonstrated time and again its commitment to new writing. Its current offerings are no exception and particularly meaningful in how closely they hit home, focusing on local talent. In one recent week alone, the company mounted two works powered by original ways with words. Read moreHogan: In back-to-back productions, Pure Theatre lavishes love on local wordsmiths Funds will support more than 60 feeding programs throughout November Read moreDuke Energy kicks off monthlong campaign providing nearly $400,000 to help fight hunger in South Carolina this holiday season She remembers the night her 4-year-old daughter awoke to her muffled screams. She and her husband shared three young girls and nine years of marriage, but that night she knew it was over. For years, he had been emotionally abusive. But that night it escalated. He chased her through their North Charleston mobile home and sexually assaulted her. She called 911, and her husband was arrested. Instead of facing prosecution, he was deported. But it wasn't long before he was back in the United States, back in North Charleston and back to threatening her. The 35-year-old self-employed house cleaner turned to the courts for relief in 2021, but a language barrier and a shortage of court interpreters has kept her waiting more than two years for help. The Post and Courier does not identify victims of sexual assault. The newspaper corroborated her husband's arrest by immigration authorities using jail records. Ive got three children who are afraid of their father because he beat up their mother and they were witness to it," said her attorney, John Duffy. "They cant get permanency, they cant get a custody order. (She) cant get divorced because the clerk of court cant provide the interpreters, which theyre obligated to do." South Carolinas Spanish-speaking population has doubled over the past 20 years. That, paired with a scarcity of language interpreters and growing dissatisfaction among the few available, has fueled a crisis. Attorneys critical of the state's judicial branch, which oversees interpreters, say the end result is justice denied. The judicial branch isn't tracking cases that require interpretation, making it difficult to measure just how many people are impacted. But the North Charleston mother is far from the only South Carolinian who hasn't had her day in court because she is not fluent in English. Charlestons top prosecutor contends that justice was denied for two boys who say they were raped. A circuit judge dismissed charges against the defendant in April after the case languished for years without resolution because the courts could not provide interpretation. The mayor of our city is here to serve and protect, not only in the best of times but in the worst of times. How does this relate to my choice for Charleston mayor? I support Peter Shahid because he has evidenced himself as someone who will serve all the citizens of Charleston, without preju Read moreCommentary: Charleston deserves Peter Shahid for mayor It would have been easy for public officials and cycling advocates to shrug their shoulders and give up on creating a better bicycle-pedestrian link across the Ashley River years ago, after they determined they couldn't convert a traffic lane on the existing U.S. Highway 17 bridge for bike-ped use. Read moreEditorial: Ashley River crossing shows persistence pays off. We need more of it. NORTH CHARLESTON Nine of the 10 mayoral candidates will discuss the city's top issues in a forum hosted by The Post and Courier on Oct. 9 at Lightsey Chapel on Charleston Southern University's campus. All candidates were invited to attend. The candidates who confirmed include Reggie Burgess, former police chief; Russ Coletti, retired military and FedEx operations manager; Stephanie Ganaway-Pasley, retired judge; Rhonda Jameson Jerome, current councilwoman; Curtis Merriweather Jr., businessman; Todd Olds, former city councilman; Teddie Pryor Sr., current county council chair; John Singletary, businessman; and Jesse Williams, Charleston County board of zoning appeals member. Samuel Whatley I declined the invitation to attend. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the forum runs from 6-7 p.m. at 101 State Road in North Charleston. The event is free to the public, but registration is required at postandcourier.com/palmettopoliticsnorthcharleston The forum will be recorded and available to view at postandcourier.com the next day. The candidates will answer a variety of questions on topics impacting the city posed by a panel of Post and Courier journalists. Palmetto Politics LIVE is presented by AARP South Carolina. The Nov. 7 election marks the first after Keith Summey announced his retirement this spring to conclude his nearly 30-year career as mayor. North Charleston's fourth mayor will lead the state's third-largest city during a time of economic growth and rising cost of living. Some of the top issues candidates are campaigning on include affordable housing, crime and public safety, pedestrian accessibility and economic development. Additionally, all 10 city council seats are up for election this fall. This is the first election where the newly drawn city council map based off the 2020 census is at play. The most significant change is the new District 7 near Ladson Road created to accommodate growth in the northern part of the city, according to Julie Johnson, special assistant to Summey. KYODO NEWS - Oct 8, 2023 - 18:50 | All, Japan, World A U.N. forum on public policy issues regarding the internet began in Kyoto on Sunday with focus on artificial intelligence and measures against disinformation. The results of the discussions at the Internet Governance Forum scheduled through Thursday will be utilized for the Hiroshima AI Process, in which the Group of Seven industrialized nations will establish rules on AI-related topics. Digital Minister Taro Kono attended as a panelist for a discussion titled "Understanding 'Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT),'" where he emphasized the need for more nations to join the dialogue. About 6,000 people from government, business and educational facilities are expected to attend the over 300 scheduled talks about cybercrime and the information gap born from differences in internet availability, among other topics. One session will look at measures against fake AI-generated video and audio that may be disseminated on social media. Pumpkin spice in August. Christmas music in October. And now, potential presidential hopefuls five years early. Ro Khanna, a Silicon Valley Democratic congressman, is often seen as eyeing a 2028 presidential run from the party's progressive wing as a successor to U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent. Khanna has been showing up an awful lot in South Carolina this year. In April, he was in Columbia and Orangeburg speaking on HBCU campuses. In July, he was in Columbia and Charleston meeting state lawmakers and attending rallies. In August, he attended a meeting of Black ministers in Charleston. Khanna cant even remember exactly how many times he has been here. Could be three, or four, he said during his August swing. He has visited South Carolina more over the past year than former Vice President Mike Pence, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who are all competing for the Republican nod in five months, not five years. The early attention from a Democratic rising star shows how much the Palmetto States new leadoff spot in the partys primary calendar has juiced its influence though the party could change the order for 2028. Of course, Khanna hasnt said he is mulling a presidential bid. His South Carolina trips are said to be part of a broader initiative to bring the prosperity of his tech-hub district to the rest of the country. Khanna was celebrating a partnership between Columbia-based Benedict College and Google, and one between Zoom and Claflin University in Orangeburg that he helped arrange this spring when he visited the pair of historically Black colleges and universities. Many, including Scott earlier this morning, have referred to the Gazan invasion as Israels 9/11. I respectfully disagree. I think Pearl Harbor is a more apt analogy. Hamass invasion was no mere act of terrorism. It was, rather, an act of war carried out by what is effectively a state. Prime Minister Netanyahu got it right when he said, immediately after the invasion was launched, that Israel was at war. The difference is important. If the invasion was just another in a long series of terrorist outrages, then selective reprisals, as in the past, are the presumptive response. In other words, doing again what hasnt worked beforedestroying a few military installations and taking out a handful of political or military leaders. War is different. A war ends only when one side internalizes the fact that it is beaten and loses the will to continue. When I say one side, I dont mean military or political leaders, who face their own imperatives and may or may not ever choose to give up. I mean the civilian population (acknowledging that in Gaza it is not easy to tell who is a civilian, but that doesnt matter for this purpose). Why did the Allies fire-bomb Dresden? Not to achieve some discrete military objective, but to horrify the German people and convince them that continuing the war would lead only to further catastrophe. Likewise with Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In total war, the situation in which Israel finds itself, destroying the will of the civilian population to resist is the ultimate military objective. So I believe that Israel needs to rethink its horror of civilian casualties. Will the international community howl? Of course. Elements of that community are still howling about Hiroshima and Nagasaki, more than 75 years later. But so what? What has the international community ever done for Israel? Israels objective should be to inspire fear in its enemies, not admiration in the European Union. The fact that Hamas holds something like 100 Israeli prisoners of course makes the situation excruciating for Israels leaders. One hopes that they can be extricated before the ultimate devastation is unleashed on Gaza. But the reality is that Israel does not control the fate of the prisoners. Gaza does. Israel will do its utmost to retrieve them, but in the end it should focus on what it does control: wreaking such destruction that the survivors and their descendants will never again even think of making war on Israel. UPDATE: This morning, Israel declared war on Hamas. Its a start. As William Buckley used to say, herewith a few comments on Hamass 10/7 attack on Israel (with apologies for those that have already achieved the status of cliche): Hamass 10/7 attack is something like Israels 9/11, only worse. Israels death toll has hit more than 400 (and rising). Adjusting for population and measuring by the deaths inflicted so far, Israel has suffered (is suffering) an attack that is something like three times more damaging than 9/11. (UPDATE: The Times of Israel now puts the death toll at more than 600. The toll is several times more damaging than 9/11.) Hamas is a genocidal terrorist organization. It is waging war by atrocity, as it always does. The fire this time should be its last. As I write on 10/8, Hamass attack continues and deaths mount. Israel seems not yet to have concluded the fighting on its own territory. The Israeli intelligence, defense, and political establishments were caught napping. The complete failure of intelligence is comparable to the one that preceded the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago. Speaking of the Yom Kippur war, we can infer that the attack was timed to coincide with its 50th anniversary. Given the planning and preparation that preceded the attack, disruption of Israels possible peace with Saudi Arabia must constitute an added benefit rather than its immediate object. [UPDATE: The timing reported in the October 8 Wall Street Journal story on Irans involvement in the attack suggests that I am wrong about this, but I still think planning for the attack must have been in the works for a long while.] By comparison with the Yom Kippur War, it seems to me that the consequences of this war are more dire and the effects more difficult to contemplate. Last night Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed that Israel would destroy Hamass military and governmental capabilities. What happens next? Hamas has taken numerous hostages and removed them to Gaza. The Israeli embassy to the United States is reporting that 100 soldiers and civilians have been kidnapped. So long as Hamas holds these hostages, it will necessarily constrain Israels freedom of action to achieve its stated objectives, as does Israels meticulous compliance with the laws of war. The IDF is not free to combat savagery with savagery. As Elliott Abrams puts it at NRO: There is no way around the fact that Hamas has new assets and that future negotiations over the captured Israelis will be excruciating. That is one reason a government of national unity is called for to stop opposition parties from politicizing tough decisions by making them partly responsible for Israeli policy in the coming months. Hezbollah aggravates Israels military challenge at present. Their forces and their arsenal exceed those of Hamas and hold Lebanon in thrall. The intelligence and readiness failures underlying Yom Kippur War brought down the government of Prime Minister Golda Meir. The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces the same after a commission of inquiry does its work. Iran is of course behind this war: Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad tells the BBC that Iran gave its support to the Palestinian terror group to launch its surprise multi-front attack on Israel on Saturday. Yet the Biden administration remains in doubt about that. Which raises the question of our own failure of intelligence. Thus spake National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan only a few days ago. This didnt age well. Unfortunately, these people are incapable of shame. Biden National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (last week): "The Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades" pic.twitter.com/59MYUXhmHf RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 7, 2023 Irans Supreme Leader contributed to the proceedings via Twitter/X. God willing, the cancer of the usurper Zionist regime will be eradicated at the hands of the Palestinian people and the Resistance forces throughout the region. #AlAqsaStorm pic.twitter.com/XDyxoTT4gw Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) October 7, 2023 The leader of Hamas is holed up in Qatar you know, the country that oversees the disbursement of the $6 billion we gifted Iran for the five American hostages it was holding. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, Saleh al-Arouri, and other members of the group's leadership feign surprise at tv clips showing the large-scale assault on southern Israel. pic.twitter.com/b04DW9uniM Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) October 7, 2023 NSC spokesman Adrienne Watson has reiterated the Biden line: Not a single cent from these [$6 billion ransom] funds has been spent, and when it is spent, it can only be spent on things like food and medicine for the Iranian people. Fox News Pentagon correspondent Jennifer Griffin repeated this over and over again yesterday. Gabriel Noronha has comprehensively refuted this assertion in an informative thread on Twitter/X. I'm sorry Jen but you are simply unfamiliar with Iranian budgeting practices and how the Iranian regime and Hamas make decisions. 1. Iran normally has to allocate its limited foreign exchange reserves for food/medicine months in advance to facilitate trade flows. Not anymore. https://t.co/w2X0wNNANs Gabriel Noronha (@GLNoronha) October 7, 2023 By the way, Fox News correspondents continue to refer to Hamas terrorists as militants. How lame can you get? Liel Liebovitz steps back to look at the larger picture in the Tablet essay Americas betrayal of Israel. Liebovitz writes: In addition to creating the external circumstances for terror, the Biden administration did everything in its power to derail Israels democratically elected government and prevent it from being able to see an attack like todays coming. That the Israelis let themselves fall for this was stupidity of criminal order. But the invisible hand here was Americas. More: It doesnt matter what words Biden says today. When you champion Iran; when you send it and its proxies money; when you reward Palestinian violence; when you go out of your way to portray Bibi as a dangerous fascist; when you finance and champion his opponents, contributing to further instability and unrest; when you hand over U.S. intelligence keys to Iranian agents; when you have your spokespeople declare it disinformation for people to connect obvious dots; when you do all of this, you know what is going to happen. You mean for it to happen. President Biden slurred out a brief if unqualified statement of American support for Israel yesterday afternoon (White House transcript here). It would be a mistake to take the statement at face value. That statement comes with an expiration date that can be measured in days or weeks. I never paid a single moment of attention to FTX or Sam Bankman-Fraud when they were riding high, partly because I dont understand the whole crypto world, and partly because of my growing and well-founded contempt for the presumptions of Silicon Valley. I cant figure out if Bitcoin and other blockchain-based products are really a potential rival currency to the worlds unstable fiat money system, or merely a high tech version of the South Sea Bubble. Im trying to keep an open mind, but gold still seems like a better backup than Bitcoin. In any case, Michael Lewiss new book about Bankman-Fried and his FTX debacle, Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon, includes this remarkable quotation from the boy genius with the chia-pet hair and smelly wardrobe: I could go on and on about the failings of Shakespeare. . . but I really shouldnt need to: the Bayesian priors are pretty damning. About half the people born since 1600 have been born in the past 100 years, but it gets much worse than that. When Shakespeare wrote almost all Europeans were busy farming, and very few people attended university; few people were even literateprobably as low as ten million people. By contrast there are now upward of half a billion literate people in the Western sphere. What are the odds that the greatest writer would have been born in 1564? The Bayesian priors arent very favorable. The failings of Shakespeare. What are the odds that such a clueless clown could fleece billions of dollars from credulous tech bros? Actually, pretty high, given that this kind of self-assumed genius is typical of our would-be tech overlords (and censors). If I had read a sentence like that before the thing blew up, I would have instantly shorted FTX, knowing the inevitable outcome of the story. Never mind Shakespeares Bayesian priors: I expect SBFs Bayesian posterior will come in for attention after his trial. Lets not forget, by the way, that Bankman-Fried, and his Stanford Law professor parents, are deep leftists, who believed their kind of self-described effective altruism was so much smarter than, say, the Ford Foundation, because people like the Bankman-Frieds are so much smarter and better than the rest of us. The Palestinians who invaded Israel have focused on kidnapping civilians, mostly young women. This was facilitated by the fact that there was a rave for peace going on near Gaza that many young people attended. The Palestinians no doubt knew this, and planned to attack the event. They took a number of young women captive there. This video has been seen millions of times. There is a naked young woman in the back of a truck, murdered (and God knows what else) by the Palestinians. The Arabs in the truck are yelling Allahu Akbar! God is great! Terrific religion theyve got there. WARNING GRAPHIC: Palestinians strip the corpse of an Israeli woman, put it on display and desecrate it while shouting Allah Akbar. Hamas and Israel are now at war. pic.twitter.com/qa1di87ac7 Paul Golding (@GoldingBF) October 7, 2023 What is notable, I think, is the jubilant reaction of the crowd. Note the boy who spits on the womans corpse. The idea that what is happening is a terrorist attack by Hamas is a fiction. Hamas is a political entity that rules Gaza with the support of the overwhelming majority of the Palestinians who live there. It is much like Nazi Germanymost Germans were not members of the party, but the vast majority supported Hitler until it was clear that Germany was losing the war. Same thing here, except that until now, it hasnt been clear that Hamas was losing. Hamas appears to command the loyalty of nearly all of Gazas residents. It turns out that the murdered woman in that video was not an Israeli, but rather a German citizen who attended the music event that the Palestinians attacked. She was advocating for peace. The women that were most prominently kidnapped and raped by Hamas fighters were attendees at a rave/festival devoted to Palestinian/Israeli peace. https://t.co/bR5m2W7AuA Wilfred Reilly (@wil_da_beast630) October 7, 2023 The gentlemenin this case, gentlewomencry peace, peace, but there is no peace. I suppose the German government will issue a strongly worded protest. The Germans are hopeless, but lets hope the Israelis will finally stop coddling the Palestinians. And I am not talking about the leaders of Hamas. Around the world, groups of Muslims turned out to celebrate Hamass successful sneak attack on Israel. More surprisingly, perhaps, the New York chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America also demonstrated in Times Square in favor of the invasion. That would be the chapter to which Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez belongs. At least six members of the House of Representatives are also members of DSA: Tomorrow, October 8, at 1PM. Times Square. In solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to resist 75 years of occupation and apartheid. FREE PALESTINE! https://t.co/1N67nS56GZ NYC-DSA (@nycDSA) October 7, 2023 The pro-invasion rally took place a little while ago. The pro-Hamas demonstrators were countered by a pro-Israel demonstration: The pro-invasion signs most in evidence were supplied by Communist groups: We followed the antics of A.N.S.W.E.R. some years ago, but I havent noticed them being around for a while. Like most Communist groups, they are funded by a handful of rich people. It is hard for normal people to understand how anyone can endorse the horrors that we saw enacted yesterday. But evil, sadly, is not in short supply, even in the halls of Congress. PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-08 12:01:33 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 368 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / October 8, 2023 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. ("Hawaiian Electric" or the "Company") (NYSE:HE) and certain of its officers.Class Definition:This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Hawaiian Electric securities between February 28, 2019 and August 16, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/he Case Details:The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Hawaiian Electric's 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 Company's inadequate safety protocols and procedures placed Maui at a heightened risk of devastating wildfires; and (3) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.What's Next?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/he or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Law Clerk and Client Relations Manager, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 332-239-2660. If you suffered a loss in Hawaiian Electric you have until October 23, 2023 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Contact:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Yael Nathanson332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz and Grossman, LLC An official with Turkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism has said that Turkiye has carried out several measures to attract Chinese tourists and meet their needs. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Movie Title: The Rise of Igbinogun Release Date: 6 October 2023 Runtime: 1 hour 52 minutes Director: Ideh Chukwuma Innocent Producer: Ideh Chukwuma Innocent and Tunde Aina Cast: Akin Lewis, Shaffy Bello, Enyinma Nwigwe, Damilare Kuku, Tina Mba, Ego Nwosu and Blossom Chukwujekwu. Recently, with flicks like Jagun Jagun and Orisa, there has been a rise in the number of epic movies heading to the big screens and on global streaming platforms, like Netflix, and The Rise of Igbinogun is no exception. Although the movie premiered in 2022, it only made its way to Netflix on 6 October. The Rise of Igbinogun tells the story of a warrior who incurs the fury of the kings guards but becomes a legend among the people when she steals from the rich to empower the poor. Beyond a historical or mythical hero/ heroine, which is very common with every epic movie, this movie re-narrated the infamous Robinhood story, with a little tweak, regarding gender and culture. The movie portrays Igbinogun, a fearless young woman who leads a band of thieves on a noble mission to take from the wealthy and give to the poor. She believes it is her destiny to rescue her people from oppressive rule, and her father, Ogbu, played by Enyinna Nwigwe, trains her to be stronger than men her age. Igbinogun lives with her blind old grandmother, Ene, who constantly encourages her to fulfil her destiny. Plots The movie opens with young warriors prepping for a fight. Ogbu is an overprotective father who works very hard to keep to provide for his daughter, Igbinogun, and his blind mother, Ene. Ogbu was once a fearless and undefeated warrior; he was bold and won every battle he encountered. He was a man loved by the people and favoured by the king, but not until he fell in love with a slave maiden. A battle came, a fight for the title of the undefeated champion, Ogbu and Osage; the kings best two warriors were to contest in the war, and their battle would never end, as they fought into days. For the sake of love, the young maiden, who belonged only to the king and the gods, dared to seek the face of her god, Oluku. The gods answered her with a rain, which made Ogbu stronger. As it rains, Ogbu fights recklessly, his powers grow, and his opponent, Osage, becomes weaker and eventually, Ogbu wins the battle. The maiden is now sentenced to death, but blinded by love, Ogbu questions the king, leading to an improper relationship between them. Igbinogun is sentenced to death when their secret is discovered, but Ogbus plea delays her execution until she gives birth. Tragically, Ogbu returns from seeking help to find his daughter and his lover lifeless in the rain. Determined to claim the undefeated title, Igbinogun seeks her fathers blessing and undergoes a ritual of sanctification performed by her blind grandmother before heading to the palace. She defeats all challengers, including the prince, who tragically takes his own life in defeat. What would become the feat of Igbinono, the product of the forbidden love affair between the kings warrior and the strange maiden? Analysis The movie uses authentic props, from ancient sanctification pots to cowries for divination, incantations, and gold to symbolise wealth. The storytelling is skillfully executed, with smooth transitions between flashbacks and the present, keeping viewers engaged through dialogue. The cinematographer, post-production team, colourist, and sound technicians deserve praise for their contributions. The films costume and wardrobe choices are impeccable, reflecting the wealth of the noble and royal class in the story without overdoing it. However, all these could not save the movie from its lacking context. While the screenplay is well-structured and the direction is skilful, some characters lack depth, and certain scenes feel flat, robbing the film of suspense. While watching the movie, you can predict what will happen in the subsequent scenes. The characters, though played by Nollywood stars, could not explore their creative repertoire, leaving them limited in delivering their roles as certain lines of dialogue were uncomfortably overused. The Rise of Igbinogun doesnt seek excessive attention but impresses with its graphics and cultural elements. Even with the producers attempt to cast A-list actors in unconventional roles, the movie was water-downed with too much talk and less action. The fight scenes were bland, and the sequences could have been explored more. The movie could have achieved more if the film had explored the storyline and stars in a synchronized narrative. The movie had a promising storyline but ended with a dull narrative and little or no drama. Verdict The Rise of Igbinogun earned a 5/10. The Rise of Igbinogun is showing on Netflix. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State, Felix Hyat, said the exit of a former governor, Ramalan Yero, and Godfrey Gaiya, a former member of the House of Representatives, will not affect the party. Last week, Mr Yero resigned from the party. The former governor in a letter to his ward in Kaura Zaria, said he was leaving the PDP and returned his membership card to the ward leadership. While reacting to the exit of the two politicians from the party, Mr Hyat told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the party will not be weakened by it. They were mere paperweights. They had no influence. We are not going to miss any of them. None of them has said that the PDP maltreated him. We did not do anything to offend anyone. They came on their own volition. None of them did not get a good share even above their contributions to the party. The former governor became a commissioner for finance without being a member of the PDP. As a sitting governor, he contested and lost the governorship seat in 2015. He contested for the ticket to seek the seat but lost the primaries. As for Gaiya, he got two terms in the House of Representatives and left after losing elections. He came even lower, politically speaking, and sought to be a local government chairman but lost the primaries woefully. I am told that he was promised the then vacant Kaduna State ministerial slot if he defected, but it has been taken now. He may have done another political arithmetic. It is up to him. So, their exit cannot pain anyone. They are not strong politicians with any particular support base. Mr Hyat said the PDP was the leading party in Kaduna having won the three senate seats and 10 out of 16 House of Representatives seats. Also, the party has approached the appeal court to challenge the judgement of the state governorship election tribunal which pronounced the APC as the winner of the 18 March governorship election in the state. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Barring any last-minute change of plan, President Bola Tinubu is set to appoint Olanipekun Olukoyede as the substantive chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a move that is bound to set off controversy over the candidates qualification for the job. Mr Olukoyede, a lawyer, served as secretary of the anti-graft agency for two years during the reign of Ibrahim Magu as acting chair of the commission. He, along with Mr Magu and a number of other officials, was suspended from office by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020 and was never recalled. Before his secretary role, Mr Olukoyede served as Mr Magus chief of staff. President Tinubu has chosen Olanipekun Olukoyede for appointment as substantive chairman of the EFCC, a top presidency source familiar with the development but not permitted to discuss it ahead of the official announcement, told PREMIUM TIMES. Also confirming the development, another source hinted that Mr Olukoyedes appointment, which requires Senate confirmation, would be made public very soon. President Tinubu, in June this year, suspended Abdulrasheed Bawa as EFCC chair, and in his place, appointed Abdulkarim Chukkol, then director of operations, in an acting capacity. Mr Bawas suspension, anchored on weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him followed a conventional pattern of unceremonious removal of past EFCC bosses This newspaper had chronicled how leadership succession at the two-decade-old EFCC had been steeped in controversies concerning allegations of fraud. For four months now, Mr Bawa has been in detention at the State Security Service (SSS) after he honoured the agencys invitation for interrogation regarding yet unknown allegations. There are speculations that Mr Bawa has agreed to officially resign from office. He could not be reached to confirm or debunk this claim. Who is Olanipekun Olukoyede? Mr Olukoyede, who hails from Ekiti State, South-west Nigeria, was born in Ikere-Ekiti on 14 October 1969. He will therefore clock 54 on 14 October. Former President Buhari nominated Mr Olukoyede as Secretary to the EFCC in 2018. Subsequently, the Nigerian Senate confirmed his appointment in November 2018, to replace Emmanuel Aremo, whose five-year tenure ended in July 2018. But Mr Olukoyedes confirmation as EFCC scribe came with controversy, as a senator, Isa Misau accused the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Chukwuka Utazi, of sidelining some members of the Committee in preparing the screening report that cleared Mr Olukoyede for the job. Before arriving the EFCC, he worked as a lawyer at the law firm of former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Mr Olukoyede is a seasoned lawyer with expertise in compliance management, corporate intelligence and fraud management. He is a certified fraud examiner who has led investigations and civil litigation of fraud and financial crimes in International development projects. He equally specialises in anti-corruption research and analysis, corporate and business intelligence gathering and processing. He is a member of the Fraud Advisory Panel (UK), and also a member, of the Federal Government Technical Committee on the repositioning of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit. Controversy: Is Mr Olukoyede qualified to head the EFCC If Mr Olukoyedes nomination sails through, he will be the first Nigerian from the South of the country to lead the anti-corruption agency. From the pioneer chair of the EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu who is now the National Security Adviser (NSA) to President Tinubu, to Farida Waziri, Ibrahim Lamorde, and Abdulrasheed Bawa, all substantive chairpersons of the commission, and even acting chairpersons, hailed from the North. However, there are concerns that Mr Olukoyede, who is being seriously considered for the job and touted to likely break the trend of having northerners as the chair of the commission, may not be qualified for the job. There are statutory requirements for the appointment of EFCC chairperson, which Mr Olukoyede may not meet. Section 2(3) of the EFCC Act, 2005, stipulates that a chairman of the commission must be a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement agency not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police or equivalent; possess not less than 15 years experience. Mr Olukoyede, who has played more administrative roles in EFCC for less than a decade, cannot be said to have attained 15 years of cognate experience, especially when he has never worked in the mainstream law enforcement operations of the commission or any related agency. Mr Tinubu, who has been criticised for his administrations lukewarmness towards the fight against corruption, is set to attract more condemnations if he eventually announces Mr Olukoyede with doubtful background qualification to lead Nigerias flagship anti-corruption agency. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has alerted Nigerians to expect floods in nine states as Cameroon began the release of water from its Lagdo Dam. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the states are: Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Edo, Delta and Bayelsa. Mustapha Ahmed, Director General, NEMA, disclosed this on Saturday in Abuja when he briefed journalists on the release of water from the dam. He said that the nine affected states which had communities along the banks of River Benue may be affected by the water release, which is expected to last till the end of October. Mr Ahmed said that the recent release had led to the displacement of communities and could lead to further destruction of crops and other infrastructure. NEMA has been alerted on sudden increased inundation of riverine communities and farmlands along the banks of River Niger in Adamawa, Taraba and Benue states in the past 48 hours. The sudden situation is attributed to the rapid release of water from Lagdo dam in the Republic of Cameroon and has resulted in the displacement of several inhabitants of the affected communities. Furthermore, crops, lands and valuable infrastructure are at risk of getting washed away by the flood waters. Situation reports from Adamawa State confirmed the upsurge of flood waters along the flood plains of River Benue. The situation is expected to be replicated in downstream states of Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Edo, Delta and Bayelsa as the River Benue joins River Niger and flows to the Atlantic Ocean through the Niger Delta, he said. The director general also cautioned states and local government areas along the River Niger and Benue Basins to immediately activate their emergency response plans to avert potential damage and losses that could arise due to the flooding of communities. Mr Ahmed added that, so far, 159,157 persons had been affected by this years flooding, as 28 persons had lost their lives and 48,168 individuals displaced in 13 states across the country. He, however, added that the agency would continue to provide further updates as it received more situation reports from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) as well as frontline states emergency management agencies. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print China Geo-engineering Corporation (CGC) Nigeria Ltd. has reiterated its commitment to construct four pipeline loops to boost water supply capacity by 480,000 cubic metres per day in Abuja, the Nigerian capital. The organisation made this known in a statement published on the AUs website on Saturday. The statement said the project encompassed 415 kilometres of ductile-iron water distribution pipelines of varying DN1500-200 diameters. It described the organisations Water Supply Division to have had extensive business advantages in engineering projects, internationally competitive, water project construction capabilities and project subcontracting management capabilities. According to the statement, since 2001, CGC built more than 100 water plants in 36 states of Nigeria and boosted production and water supply of 70 million people. The Greater Abuja Water Supply Project, flagged off in May 2021, constructed by Water Supply Division of CGC Nigeria Limited, is a significant infrastructure development in Nigerias capital. This is managed by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and jointly financed by the Export-Import Bank of China. It aims to construct four pipeline loops, thereby enhancing the citys water supply capacity by 480,000 m3/d. The project encompasses 415 kilometres of ductile iron water distribution pipelines of varying diameters DN1500-200. The statement noted that completion of the project would alleviate water scarcity in 50 districts and benefit an estimated 2.5 million residents. It described the project as being more than just a water supply initiative, but also as a comprehensive plan to enhance the quality of life in the FCT to provide safe, reliable and ample water to its inhabitants. The projects social benefits are manifold improving living standards by laying and commissioning water supply pipelines, the project connects the final mile of the water supply system. This expansion increases the citys water supply capacity from 240,000m3/d to 720,000m3/d, effectively addressing the long-standing water shortage in the FCT and enhancing residents quality and health of life. (It will) create employment opportunities; the project directly employs over a thousand indigenous workers during construction, indirectly creating more job opportunities. It stimulates local employment and income growth while nurturing a group of Nigerian local talents and enhancing local personnel skills and quality. (Also) promoting sustainable development; the project allows the existing water plant to operate at its maximum capacity, reducing resource waste, it added. It said the organisation would expand its scope of water users, improve expenditure of the water supply system, form a virtuous cycle, and lay the foundation for long-term stable development of water supply service. It assured the project would help strengthen the FCTs water supply system, provide a crucial foundation for its economic, social, and cultural development, as well as bolster Nigerias international image and soft power. CGC is a Chinese company at the forefront of the construction of roads and bridges, agriculture, mining, water supply, irrigation, drilling, real estate, manufacturing and trade in Nigeria. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerians in the US gathered for the 63rd Independence Day Anniversary carnival on Saturday in New York and observed a minutes silence in tribute to the late Nigerian Afrobeat artiste, Illerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the deceased had been slated to perform at the carnival on his first visit to the US. The Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN), the organisers of the carnival, mourned the death of the artists. The Consul General of Nigeria in New York, Lot Egopija, in his address at the carnival, prayed to God to grant Mohbads soul eternal rest. The envoy welcomed friends and well-wishers of the country who had come to celebrate with Nigerians. He expressed the hope that the carnival would motivate them to visit Nigeria. He said the Consulate General of Nigeria in New York had earlier held its first-ever flag-raising at the Bowling Green Arena as part of activities for the anniversary. Mr Egopija said it was a great honour to see the Nigerian flag hoisted at the financial centre of the world. Today, we are gathered here after a parade that is probably the largest gathering of Nigerians in Diaspora. This event is the initiative of OAN and the Consulate is always delighted to partner with them. As we celebrate Nigerias 63rd Independence Anniversary, we are glad that a number of ethnic nationalities are here to promote their rich and unique cultures in different ways, he said. According to him, there is an array of Nigerian music by several artists and the best of Nigerian cuisine by vendors. At the request of the organisers, the Consulate Spouses have a food exhibition tagged Taste of Nigeria. In his remarks, the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, aligned his remarks with that of the consul general. He thanked Nigerians for coming out to attend the parade and carnival. NAN reports that the event started with a parade which began at 2nd Avenue and East 54th Street, proceeded to East 44th and ended at Dag Hammarskjold Park where the Carnival was held. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has said the Nigerian government would soon reconstitute the governing boards of federal universities as part of plans to reinvigorate them. The president said the new boards would be charged with prioritising the implementation of various visitation panel reports in the universities. Mr Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Zaphaniah Jisalo, spoke on Saturday at the 27th Convocation Ceremony of the University of Abuja. The universities have operated without governing councils since their dissolution was announced in June by the President in a sweeping directive that cuts across all parastatals under the various ministries. The president said: Efforts are ongoing to reconstitute the governing councils of the universities so as to reinvigorate the institutions in line with the renewed hope mandate of my administration. When inaugurated, the councils will be expected to commence immediately, the implementation of the white papers of the various visitation panels in their respective universities. He said the government would not accept mediocre performance or implementation of the white paper. University funding The president also said the government cannot continue to fund the education sector as it has done in the past. He, however, assured the university-based unions that any agreements and memoranda signed between them and the government henceforth would be implemented. He added that the government would do its best to fund education through appropriation and special interventions. He said: The situation has been exacerbated by the harsh realities of recent global and national economic down-turns, complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the time has come for all stakeholders in the education sector, including the students, staff, unions, parents and guardians, the public and private sectors, to coalesce around the consensus that education is the responsibility of all and sundry. Appointments in universities Mr Tinubu also condemned the politics of having individuals indigenous to the communities where the universities are sited to hold principal offices, a situation that has led to disruption in some Nigerian universities in the past. Last year, indigenes of Ile-Ife protested for days after the university council announced the appointment of Adebayo Bamire, a professor, as the universitys vice-chancellor. The protesters insisted that another contestant and an Ife indigene, Rufus Adedoyin, a professor of Physiotherapy, should be appointed instead. By the autonomy status granted through the Universities Miscellaneous Act, there are clear guidelines on the appointment of principal officers of universities. Yet, some universities disregard or abuse the freedom that the unions fought, strenuously for decades to achieve, Mr Tinubu said. Without mincing words, the government has not been impressed by the inelegant deployment of undue politics of exclusion, primordial considerations, etc., in the process of selection and appointment of vice-chancellors and other principal officers as well as the manner of appointing staff into leadership positions, he added. On strike The president acknowledged the legitimacy of industrial actions but noted that incessant strikes in Nigerian public universities have crippled the sector. He said his administration would ensure that the universities are not subjected to unnecessary closures in the future. Indeed, the humongous cost of unending industrial actions on the nations overall well-being is unquantifiable. That is why the government is deeply appreciative of all those who have contributed to the resolution of the last prolonged industrial action in the nations public universities, he said. We also commend the staff unions for their display of patriotism and sacrifice by calling off the strikes. The resolution of the crisis proved eloquently, that no challenge is insurmountable when all are motivated by a shared vision, commitment and unity of purpose. Convocation Speaking earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Abdul-Rasheed NaAllah, a professor, said the university produced 7,034 graduates this year. Out of this number, 6,044 will be graduating with first degrees, 270 with postgraduate diplomas, 613 with Masters, and 107 with doctorate degrees, he said. He said there are 39 first-class students among first-degree graduates. He added that 1,581 graduated with second-class upper division; 3,702 with second-class lower division; 573 with third class, and 149 with pass. It is equally important to note that among the students graduating today are 87 of the first set of the University of Abuja Business School with a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degree, Mr NaAllah said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerias Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, his counterpart at the Ministry of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; the Vice Chancellor of the University of Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom (UK), Iain Gillespie, a professor, is expected on Monday to grace the opening ceremony of the international week at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka. The conference, with the theme; Breaking the Borders of Partnership, will also be attended by the Acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Chris Maiyaki, and his counterpart at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Sonny Echono, among other key stakeholders. In a statement issued on Sunday by the Director, International Relations, Partnerships and Prospects, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Ismail Ibraheem, a professor, noted that the event is aimed at galvanising support for the institutions internationalisation drive and breaking partnership barriers. Reasons for conference According to Mr Ibraheem, many Nigerian tertiary institutions encounter some avoidable challenges in their efforts to collaborate with foreign institutions through exchange programmes and research support. He listed some of these challenges to include passport and visa issuing processes, and procurement of work permits, among others. So the peculiar issues of visa and passport processes, and work permits for foreign scholars would be addressed by the interior minister who supervises Nigerias Immigration Service, Mr Ibraheem said. He further noted that the education minister, Mr Mamman, who will be supported by heads of NUC, TETFUND, among others, will lead discussions on the policy directions of the new administration to assure the foreign institutions of the governments commitment. The conference which was initiated three years ago during the tenure of the universitys immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, will be hosted by the incumbent Vice-Chancellor, Folasade Ogunsola. He said the vice-chancellor of the University of Dundee, Mr Gillespie, will be the keynote speaker and will be assisted by the Academic Lead for Internationalisation at the University of Warwick, Jo Angouri, also a professor, and the President of the 48-member SG group of universities, Arnim Heinemann. Mr Heinemann also doubles as the Executive Director, Internationalisation at the Bayreuth University, Germany, the statement added. About Conference The University of Lagos International Week is an annual academic and policy-driven international convening which provides a forum for cross-fertilisation of ideas between industry and academia. In its third edition, the weeklong programme provides a forum where issues of cross-border relationships, research collaborations, and foreign relations are discussed to enhance the quality of university education in the country. Mr Ibraheem said: It is a forum for institutions from the global north and south as well as within the global south to share thoughts on areas of strengths and weaknesses for possible important collaborations. It also provides a platform to discuss strategies that could assist Nigeria in benefiting from the opportunities of transnational education. He said other expected participants at the forum include members of the diplomatic community, African education policymakers, representatives of Nigerian and international education institutions, leading academicians, members of industry and development partners as well as students. Universities from the Cross Border Partnerships, as well as many African countries will join the University of Lagos and other invited Nigerian universities to discuss challenges and opportunities of transnational education, the statement added. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has welcomed the move by the national leadership of the party to broker peace between Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa. The development may force the state House of Assembly to at least suspend its ongoing move to impeach Mr Aiyedatiwa. Mr Aiyedatiwa faces impeachment for alleged gross misconduct but the exercise is believed to be connected to a rift between him and the governor. The rift opened when the governor fell ill and had to transfer power to Mr Aiyedatiwa for three months as acting governor while Mr Akeredolu flew to Germany to access medical care. Associates of Mr Akeredolu accused Mr Aiyedatiwa of disloyalty to the governor when he held sway as acting governor. After the state House of Assembly asked the chief judge of the state to set up a seven-person panel to investigate the allegations made against the deputy governor, as part of the impeachment process, the APC in Abuja on Friday set up a nine-member to mediate in the conflict between the governor and his deputy. The National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje, inaugurated the committee headed by former Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari, with Abbas Garba as secretary. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the embers of impeachment are being fanned by elements within the APC in Ondo State, who want the deputy governor out before the partys primaries for the 2024 governorship election in the state. Some local leaders of the party have said the intervention of the national leadership was coming a little too late, given that the matter had gone far at the House of Assembly and in the courts. Giving the terms of reference of the reconciliation team on Friday, Mr Ganduje directed the members to engage all contending partner(s) to gather facts and circumstances surrounding the lingering impeachment process of the Ondo State Deputy Governor; to advise the Party on the most amicable ways of handling the lingering issues leading to the impeachment process of Ondo State Deputy Governor and finally, make necessary recommendations to the Party on resolution of issues and any other matter that may come up in the course of the assignment. In his remarks, the chairperson of the committee, Mr Masari, urged the national chairman to restrain the state chapter so as not to undermine the effort of the committee. And I want to appeal to the national chairman, if it is possible, to issue directives to APC in Ondo to stay any further action until we submit our report because if the committee is working and APC in Ondo is doing the same thing we may have an assignment that is dead on arrival, Mr Massari said. But the spokesperson of the party in the state, Alex Kalejaiye, told PREMIUM TIMES that despite the issues, the state chapter will cooperate with the committee to ensure a peaceful resolution. We are open to a peaceful resolution of the crisis, knowing that we are approaching election and we would want to keep the house in one piece, Mr Kalejaiye said. He said since it was an intra-party affair, a peaceful resolution was attainable. The committee has until Friday this week to submit its report. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, declared that with the hitherto abandoned Ajaokuta Steel Complex now nearing completion, the project will have the capacity to employ 500,000 Nigerians once designated as a free trade zone. The president further promised to fully harness the potential of the complex once it is completed, as it would boost Nigerias foreign direct investment and provide an avenue for the creation of the much-needed conducive business environment for all sectors to thrive. President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, made this known at the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital. The governorship poll in the state is slated for 11 November. Addressing a mammoth crowd in Lokoja, Mr Shettima also noted that Mr Tinubu remained committed to completing the constructions of the River Niger, the Kabba-Lokoja and the Abuja-Lokoja roads. He said Mr Tinubu is a man of plenty of ideas who is determined to reposition the nation in its rightful place, especially as it borders on restructuring and stimulating the Nigerian economy. Given Mr Presidents commitment to the development of Kogi State and indeed the entirety of Nigeria, Kogi in particular being a confluence state, cannot afford to have a governor who is hostile to the centre. We must be partners in progress and work hand in hand to develop this great nation, the vice president said. He further hinted about plans by the Tinubu administration to make the Itakpe crop processing project a dream come true, just as he promised jobs and affordable education under the present government. READ ALSO: Reemphasising that the welfare of the citizenry would never be willfully compromised, Mr Shettima called on Kogi citizens to come out en masse on 11 November to vote for the candidate of the APC, Ahmed Ododo, to consolidate the achievements of the APC government in the state. He added that the natural endowments of Kogi State would be harnessed for the development of the state and the nation at large, adding that President Tinubu had further given his nod for the rehabilitation of Obajana-Okene road in Kogi State. Speaking earlier, Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, thanked President Tinubu for accepting to flag off the governorship campaign in his state, disclosing that his administration has achieved a lot, and it is time for consolidation to move the state forward. We have done a lot in the area of security, education and health, among others. We want to consolidate on that. I am, therefore, calling on the people of our dear state to vote for our candidate to move Kogi State forward, he said. The APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, said because Mr Bello has provided good governance to the people of Kogi, the state cannot afford to be left behind by giving power to another party different from the one at the centre. Also, the Chairman of the APC Campaign Council for Kogi State, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, enjoined the people of Kogi State to clean up their voter cards and turn out in numbers to vote for the candidate of the APC in the November governorship election. On his part, Kogi State APC governorship candidate, Ahmed Ododo, pledged to carry the people of the state along if elected, saying he remained committed to the development agenda of Kogi State. We will build on the legacies of my mentor, Governor Yahaya Bello. We will give attention to security, education, agriculture and health. Our women will also be empowered, he said. Other dignitaries at the campaign rally were the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq; Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, and members of the National Working Committee of the APC, among others. The vice presidents engagements in Kogi had started with an audience with traditional rulers and other stakeholders of the state ahead of the governorship election. At the audience with the stakeholders, Mr Shettima also solicited support for the APC candidate in the forthcoming election. Responding on behalf of his colleagues, the President, Kogi State Traditional Council and the Attah of Igala, Mathew Opaluwa, pledged their support for President Tinubu. The royal father commended the state governor for working hard in addressing security challenges in the state. Stanley Nkwocha Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications (Office of the Vice President) 8th October, 2023 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print QUITO, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Another prisoner implicated in the killing of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was found dead Saturday in a Quito prison, bringing the total number of murdered inmates involved in the politician's assassination to seven. The prisoner, identified as Jose M., was killed in El Inca Prison, according to the National Service of Integral Attention to Adults Deprived of Liberty and Adolescent Offenders (SNAI), which said investigations are currently being coordinated with the Attorney General's Office. This follows SNAI's confirmation on Friday of the murder of six Colombian prisoners linked to Villavicencio's death in Guayaquil's Litoral Penitentiary, Ecuador's largest prison. Villavicencio was killed in an armed attack on Aug. 9, after a political rally in Quito for the early presidential elections on Aug. 20. The inmates' death occurred when the result of the preliminary investigation into Villavicencio case is expected to be released soon. As a result, President Guillermo Lasso returned home from New York and suspended an official visit to the Republic of Korea. Early Saturday morning, Lasso led a meeting of the Security Cabinet at the Government Palace in Quito to discuss the crisis in the prison system. The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February election, Atiku Abubakar, has alleged that President Bola Tinubus aides and supporters are telling lies and confusing the public on the certificate forgery allegations against the president. He said since Tuesday when the deposition regarding President Bola Tinubus educational qualifications came to the fore in the United States, there have been several attempts to twist the facts of the matter, which deliberately aim to confuse the mind of the public concerning the matter. Atiku stated this in a statement by his spokesperson, Paul Ibe, on Sunday. PREMIUM TIMES had reported the Chicago State University, in a deposition on Tuesday, said President Tinubu did graduate from the university as he claimed. The university was, however, not categorical when asked if the certificate he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was forged. Atiku has since filed for a leave of the Supreme Court to present what he termed as fresh evidence. The lawyer to the president, Oluwole Afolabi, in an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES, said There is nothing in the record to back up such an allegation. He who alleges must prove. Some media aides to the president have come out openly to push back on the narrative, while some media houses, especially one, have persistently slanted their story to justify a corrupted interpretation of the facts in the disposition. Sadly, however, the truth of the matter remains that Nigerias President, Bola Tinubu falsified a document he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and swore an affidavit under oath to back up his forgery, Atiku said. The former vice president of Nigeria said if Mr Tinubu would not resign honourably to save the nation from embarrassment over the alleged forgery, his supporters should stop lying on the matter. If the President would not do what is honourable by resigning from office and saving the country an imminent embarrassment, at least his supporters should desist from telling shameful lies to confuse the public, the statement said. Tinubus NYSC certificate further validates forgery allegation Atiku The former vice president said the discrepancies in the NYSC certificate of Mr Tinubu further validate the allegation of forgery. Atiku said the Adekunle in the NYSC certificate Mr Tinubu submitted to INEC did not feature on the CSU certificate. Every Nigerian who has undergone the NYSC programme understands that the names on the NYSC are never a creation of the candidate, but the official name that the student was officially known as, from their tertiary institution. Tinubu was allegedly never known as Adekunle at CSU. Thus, the only way to understand how Adekunle was smuggled on his NYSC discharge certificate can only be explained as a forgery, he said. He also urged the supporters of Mr Tinubu to desist from spinning the report on the deposition, stating that the deposition is clear that Mr Tinubu forged the certificate. The truth of the matter remains that Nigerias President, Bola Tinubu, falsified a document he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and swore an affidavit under oath to back up his forgery. President Tinubus supporters and spin doctors will want to force the narrative of, at least, Tinubu graduated from the CSU down our throat, even when the narrative has no foothold in logic. The question remains: How does a candidate graduate from a university that you were never qualified for? he said. The Supreme Court will have the final say on the dispute in the 25 February presidential election. Read the full statement below: PRESS RELEASE Tinubus house of forgeries Since Tuesday last week when the deposition regarding President Bola Tinubus educational qualifications came to the fore in the United States, there have been several attempts to twist the facts of the matter, which deliberately aim to confuse the mind of the public concerning the matter. Some media aides to the president have come out openly to push back on the narrative, while some media houses, especially one, have persistently slanted their story to justify a corrupted interpretation of the facts in the disposition. Sadly, however, the truth of the matter remains that Nigerias President, Bola Tinubu falsified a document he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and swore an affidavit under oath to back up his forgery. On page 26 of the deposition which is publicly available, the Registrar of the Chicago State University, Caleb Westberg under oath, was asked a simple question, CSU has determined that it does not have a true and correct copy of the diploma issued to Bola Tinubu is 1979, correct? To which the Registrar responded, Thats correct. Also, on page 27, a similar question was put to Mr. Westberg: So, CSU, after going through every diploma, was unable to find an authentic copy of any diploma that CSU issued to Tinubu in 1979. Is that correct? The CSU Registrar, in his response, said: We did not find any diploma issued by CSU in 1979 to Mr Tinubu. And coming straight to the specific issue of whether the CSU is aware of or in possession of the diploma that Tinubu submitted to INEC, to which Mr. Westberg simply said, Correct, we are not aware of it. Indeed, anyone who has taken time to do a thorough reading of the deposition will come to the unambiguous conclusion that the footprints of Tinubus odyssey as far as the CSU documents are concerned are filled with profound forgeries and abuse of administrative due process. President Tinubus supporters and spin doctors will want to force the narrative of, at least, Tinubu graduated from the CSU down our throat, even when the narrative has no foothold in logic. The question remains: How does a candidate graduate from a university that you were never qualified for? According to information in the open, President Tinubu applied to the CSU with a pre-qualifying 1970 certificate from Government College Lagos, whereas the school did not come into existence until 1974. Maybe this should make Tinubu the first man ever to have an anticipatory certification from the school four clear years before the founding of the school. Another mystery is that in addition to the non-existing Government College Lagos certificate, Tinubu presented a certificate from another school in the United States that belongs to a female candidate and a Cambridge HSC of 1970 the same year he purportedly graduated from a secondary school in Nigeria. Long before the CSU discovery of last week, Tinubu had had a history of forgery and perjury. In his form CF001 he filed ahead of his governorship election in 1999, Tinubu had claimed albeit fraudulently that he attended St Johns Primary School Aroloya, Government College Ibadan and Chicago University as different from Chicago State University. The late lawyer and human rights icon Gani Fawehinmi would have succeeded in bursting him but for the immunity, he enjoyed as Governor of Lagos State. President Tinubu must be a man of mystery. No wonder his supporters call him Idan (a distorter). It is our contention that at the heart of the forgery scandal against President Tinubu is the question of integrity and morality. If the President would not do what is honourable by resigning from office and saving the country an imminent embarrassment, at least his supporters should desist from telling shameful lies to confuse the public Lastly, while supporters of the President are quick to reference his transcript from the Chicago State University as evidence of his studentship in the school, we are alarmed how his NYSC certificate bears Bola Adekunle Tinubu, even when the CSU said under oath that the middle name of A was never interpreted in any document in his file. Every Nigerian who has undergone the NYSC programme understands that the names on the NYSC are never a creation of the candidate, but the official name that the student was officially known as, from their tertiary institution. Tinubu was allegedly never known as Adekunle at CSU. Thus, the only way to understand how Adekunle was smuggled on his NYSC discharge certificate can only be explained as a forgery. Yet, his media aides will come to the open to make a shameful alternative fact. It is even more shameful that just when this whole scandal continues to unfold, media handlers of President Tinubu have, from nowhere, smuggled the middle name of Adekunle into his Wikipedia account. The word Adekunle in Yoruba is a house filled with royalty. But in this instance, we daresay it is a house filled with forgeries. It is, therefore, becoming very obvious that there is no end point to how President Tinubu and his spin doctors will continue to use one forgery to cover the other. Signed: Paul Ibe Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar Vice President of Nigeria (1999-2007) and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (2023) Abuja 8th October, 2023. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print God will contend with those who contend with you. God is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the Beginning and the End. (Revelation 1:8). Because He is the End, the end of everything will be good, for God is good. (Matthew 19:17). My business has been going through the doldrums. I have tried many fixes without any success. But God said to me: Femi, I will restore double to you. (Zechariah 9:12). He said this three years ago and it has yet to happen. But nothing in heaven and earth can prevent this prophecy from coming to pass. Paul says: I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). I was attacked by armed robbers, but God assured me nothing would happen to me. The robbers shot me in the leg. But God insisted that nothing was wrong with my leg. Paul says: (Epaphroditus) was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him. (Philippians 2:27). Similarly, a bullet broke a bone in my leg, but God healed my leg. Wait for God If you wait prayerfully for God in any adversity, He will definitely show up. Let me put it even more insistently: It is IMPOSSIBLE for God not to show up if you ever wait for Him. If you wait for God, He will come. He will not just come; He will come with a solution. He will come up with an answer. He will come with an exaltation. He will come with a revelation. He will come with redemption. He will come with a healing. He will come with a blessing. It can take one week, one month, one year, five years, or twenty years. It does not matter. Just wait. The hope that is in God does not disappoint. It does not make us ashamed. (Romans 5:5). Jeremiah says: The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. (Lamentation 3:25-26). Final Say The songwriter asks: Who has the final say? The answer is simple: Jehovah has the final say. When we have an argument with someone, we often want to have the last word. But it is really a waste of time because it is God who always has the last word. We never do so. Neither do our situations and circumstances. That is why God is the First and the Last. (Revelation 22:13). Job understood this. He knew the principles of But God. Therefore, in his afflictions, he expressed the confidence that, no matter how long it took, God would have the last word and redeem him: But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and He will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see Him for myself. Yes, I will see Him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought! (Job 19:25-27). Yes, Job went through great adversity. He underwent great affliction. He lost his wealth and his children. But God redeemed him. The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. (Job 42:12-13). Promise of God The promise of God stands sure: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:2-3). You will pass through the waters, but God. You will not drown. You will go through the rivers, but God. They will not overflow you. You will walk through the fire, but God. You will not be burnt. Joseph went through a terrible ordeal, but God rescued him. The patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favour and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house (Acts 7:9-10). Every ordeal of Josephs moved him a step closer to Gods final destination for him as the prime minister of Egypt. When his evil brothers who sold him into slavery discovered that he was now the prime minister of Egypt, they were afraid that he would seek retribution against them. But Joseph recognised the hand of God every step of the way. He said to them: But God. As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones. (Genesis 50:20-21). Battle and war There is a difference between the battle and the war. A child of God may lose a battle, but because of God, we can never lose the war. With a child of God, the devil can only win a battle, he can never win the war. Children of God should know this definitively for a fact. With us, the devil is a loser and will always be a loser. No weapon fashioned against us can prosper. In Christ, we are always triumphant: Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ. (2 Corinthians 2:14). Jesus says: Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:19). But God Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; men and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds of the air were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark. The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days. But God remembered Noah. (Genesis 7:23-24/8:1). God will remember you. He has not forgotten you. He can never forget you. He says: I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me. (Isaiah 49:15-16). Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled. Then he took his brethren with him and pursued him for seven days journey, and he overtook him in the mountains of Gilead. But God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad. (Genesis 31:22-24). God will contend with those who contend with you. Then Israel said to Joseph, Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you. (Genesis 48:21). With every loss, you gain God. David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand. (1 Samuel 23:14). The enemy is looking for you. But he cannot find you because you are hidden in Christ in God. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:25). Some have lands, houses and great wealth. But God is your portion. When they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead. (Acts 13:29-30). The same resurrection power is operating in you to redeem you from every adversity and affliction. CONCLUDED. Faribisala@yahoo.com; www.femiaribisala.com Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print this has become the rule, not the exception. The result is that Nigerias judiciary now suffers a terminal credibility deficit that endangers civilised dispute resolution to the point of making vigilantism highly profitable. The Council of Foreign Relations validates this causality between public mistrust of the police and the judicial system on the one hand and what it calls Nigerias epidemic of lawlessness on the other. In July 2023, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) presided over a meeting of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to appoint his own son as a judge of the Federal High Court. On 4 October, as the father presided over the swearing in of his own son, it fell on the Old Students Association of Ikolaba Grammar School, which the new judge attended for his secondary education, to defend his appointment with the cringe-inducing statement that contrary to claims in some quarters, Ariwoola Jr.s appointment as a judge was not on the influence of his father, who is the CJN. They lacked the standing to say this, of course, because they could not possibly know how he was appointed. In June 2023, the NJC convened to approve the elevation of the President of the Court of Appeals son-in-law. This individual had previously been appointed as a judge of the National Industrial Court of Nigerian (NICN), a mere six years earlier in 2017. In January 2021, the Governor of Plateau State swore in the wife of this same son-in-law, herself the daughter of the same President of the Court of Appeal, as a judge of the High Court of Plateau State. The following year, the wife of the Judge President of the NICN was similarly appointed a judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. Her brother, like her husband, was also a member of the NJC. Meanwhile, at the meeting where it approved the son of the CJN for a judgeship, the NJC also approved for appointment to the Federal High Court, a nephew of the Chief Judge of Ogun State. What is good for the judges is also good for the politicians. So, as the country headed into the 2019 elections, the then ruling party handed the ticket to represent Bauchi North in the Senate to the husband of the President of the Court of Appeal, who plays the primary role in election dispute resolution. On his exit from the Senate four years later, this Senator confessed that instead of using the bedroom to enjoy geriatric connubium, he had converted it into a venue where he habitually encroached on his wifes judicial independence for the benefit of his political co-travellers. Meanwhile, following the retirement of that President of the Court of Appeal, her husband became surplus to requirements and the party promptly re-allocated the ticket in 2023 for his senatorial seat instead to one of the sons of the then CJN. Not to be outdone, another major political party handed a ticket to the House of Representatives to another son of the same CJN. Law professor, Itsejuwa Sagay, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who also chaired the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PACAC) in the administration of Muhammadu Buhari, was on firm grounds when he declaimed over three years ago that sons and daughters of retired and serving judges and justices are being nominated for appointment into sensitive judicial positions at the expense of more qualified candidates without privileged support and backing. In 2022, the Governor of Bayelsa State appointed his wife as a judge of the state High Court. He is just one of many senior politicians around Nigeria who keep their own judges in their bedrooms. These examples are just a tip of an iceberg of what has become a pattern of diversion and capture of high judicial office in Nigeria by a mutually sustaining incest of political and judicial insiders, mostly connected through bloodlines, personal favours, or genital relations. More than 63 years after Independence, this group has conspired to erode judicial independence in Nigeria. Law professor, Itsejuwa Sagay, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who also chaired the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PACAC) in the administration of Muhammadu Buhari, was on firm grounds when he declaimed over three years ago that sons and daughters of retired and serving judges and justices are being nominated for appointment into sensitive judicial positions at the expense of more qualified candidates without privileged support and backing. One response to this trend is the refrain that propinquity or relationship to a judicial or political insider should not bar qualified persons from judicial office. Yomi Aliyu (SAN) even goes further to claim that the judiciary had become a family affair throughout the world, especially common law nations. He could not produce any evidence to back up this unimaginative invention, which is not surprising because there is none. Surely, if judicial temperament and skills were to be hereditary or sexually transmitted, as Mr Aliyu suggests, this tendency in Nigeria should have had some antiquity. But, among Nigerias first eight indigenous CJNs, until after Mohammed Uwais who retired in June 2006, only the first, Adetokunbo Ademola, could count a child of his (Philip Adenekan Ademola) as a judge. Many among their successors since then, used their office at the head of the NJC to prefer their own children to high judicial office, with no care or concern for conflicts of interest. Indeed, a former CJN preferred two of his children to the bench of the High Court and another two into positions in the registry of different courts in the country. The idea that these scions of the well-placed are more qualified for judicial office than others, does not bear scrutiny. To begin with, the only constitutional requirement for judicial appointment in Nigeria is a minimum number of years of enrolment as a lawyer in Nigeria. There are no prescribed skill, character, or integrity thresholds. The judicial managers of the appointment process skew it deliberately to ensure pre-determined outcomes. This will not be the case if their children, spouses and mistresses (with whom they choose to fill many judicial vacancies) were that competitive. In 2020, for instance, the NJC advertised 15 vacancies for the FCT High Court but nominated 34 persons for appointment, with all of the non-advertised nominations going to the children or relatives of judicial insiders. It seemed clear that they were deliberately parsimonious with disclosure of all the vacancies, in order to be able to share those in an exclusive bazaar among judicial insiders. There is no magic bullet out of this mess. But it is essential to return credibility to judicial appointments. That must begin with unbundling the multiplicity of roles in the office of the CJN and making judicial appointments more transparent and less dependent on his or her whim. This is not the only problem. Femi Falana (SAN) complained last year that two years ago, a candidate who scored zero in the NJC interview was made a judge. The qualification of that candidate was their relationship to a judicial insider. This is not an exception. A nephew of another senior judicial figure from southern Nigeria, who similarly failed the written test, was also jumped above other more qualified candidates in a recent round of judicial appointments. The alacrity with which parents and paramours in high judicial or political office in Nigeria suddenly discover these days that the hidden genius of their scions or sleep mates deserve elevation to the highest levels of judicial office, tasks every calculus of probability beyond the realm of plausibility. The only explanation for this pattern is that judicial office is hawked as a transactional token or filial favour, or for genital propinquity. In Nigeria, enabled by politicians in whose favour these offices are procured as inoculation against electoral misadventure, this pattern of abuse of judicial office prospers without credible challenge. Most importantly, this practice of insider dealing in judicial appointments violates the United Nations Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary, as well as Judicial Code of Conduct established by the NJC itself. As a rule under the Basic Principles, any method of judicial selection shall safeguard against judicial appointments for improper motives. That is what happens when the best qualification of a nominee for judicial office is who they are related to or whom they sleep with. Moreover, Rule 8.3 of the Judicial Code of Conduct, contains this explicit prohibition: a Judge who takes advantage of the judicial office for personal gain or for gain by his or her relative or relation abuses power. It is impossible not to see that for a CJN, who sits as chair of the NJC, to prefer his own child to judicial office, violates this stipulation. Yet, this has become the rule, not the exception. The result is that Nigerias judiciary now suffers a terminal credibility deficit that endangers civilised dispute resolution to the point of making vigilantism highly profitable. The Council of Foreign Relations validates this causality between public mistrust of the police and the judicial system on the one hand and what it calls Nigerias epidemic of lawlessness on the other. There is no magic bullet out of this mess. But it is essential to return credibility to judicial appointments. That must begin with unbundling the multiplicity of roles in the office of the CJN and making judicial appointments more transparent and less dependent on his or her whim. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a lawyer, teaches at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and can be reached through chidi.odinkalu@tufts.edu. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Who is the man who today sits atop the presidency of Nigeria? What is his name? Who are his parents? Who are his childhood friends? What was his childhood like? What primary school did he attend? Where did he attend secondary school? Or, the university? Is he a criminal? Is he a serial forger? On account of the above, can we trust him? Can he be trusted with the destinies of over 200 million Nigerians? Can the rest of the world trust him as the embodiment of Nigeria? Last year, I wrote about the history of certificate forgeries and identity theft in Nigeria which is about a century old. In the 1940s, with the colonial government underscoring the essence of certificates, the ingenuity of Nigerians as fabulists, concoctionists and fraudsters assumed frightening notoriety. On the social plane, one such character who the colonialists made an example of his academic fraudulence was a Prince Modupe, known also as Modupe Paris and David Modupe. Modupe lived in America under a number of fantastic disguises. In 1935, he claimed to have graduated from the Jesuit College, Oxford. When some Nigerians did an Atiku Abubakar inquisition into this fabulous claim, Oxford University denied having any name of such variant in its records. In March, 1947, Modupe appeared in San Francisco, claiming that he was His Royal Highness Prince Modupe of Dubrica. Seven months later, in the same San Francisco, he claimed that he was the Crown Prince of Nigeria. His soul mate in confidence trickery was another Nigerian by the name of Prince Peter Eket Inyang Udo, who lived in America and Britain for about 17 years. The colonial government had him in its records for his dubious commercial claims. At the political level, the highest in ranking among politicians of colonial and immediate post-colonial Nigeria who made dubious claims about their academic attainments was a man called Dr. Okechukwu Ikejiani. A strong member of the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) and a major acolyte of Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ikejiani was appointed by the Federal Government, of which Zik was president, as the Pro-Chancellor of the Ibadan University College. A visiting University of Toronto scholar was said to have raised issues with the Doctor of Science (DSc.) degree which Ikejiani flaunted. Ikejiani was later appointed chairman of the Nigerian Railways Corporation, an appointment which immediately erupted in chaos. Calls were made for Ikejianis sack for misrepresentation of his attainment. While he was certified to have earned a medical degree as a doctor from the University of Toronto, Ikejianis claim to a DSc. degree was later found to have been false. So many of such characters have lived and survived under false identities due to the Nigerian misconception that certificates define a man. Many of these rogues have been celebrated as national mascots, and today, it looks as though being a bona fide crook is a passport into and, indeed, one of the criteria of eligibility to Nigerian heroism. This fakery is also fueled by a conspiracy of silence in Nigeria. Many who fake certificates work in critical sectors and their fraud is known by many, without any whistle-blowing, thereby enabling them to inflict their fraud on the people. They then continually harvest victims of their concocted identities in the process. In Austrian, British philosopher, Karl Poppers Open society and its enemies, critical questions on the identities of our leaders appear as the oil that greases the engine of democracy. In the book, Popper made a strong defence of the open society which democracy represents and attacked its enemies who want a close society. Poppers book is regarded as one of the most important books of the 20th century and an uncompromising defense of liberal democracy. In it, he argued that by not asking fundamental questions that help to reinforce free speech and good governance, we are abetting the intellectual origins of totalitarianism. So when Atiku Abubakar, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the last Nigerian presidential election, approached an American court to mandate the Chicago State University (CSU) to release details of Nigerias president, Bola Ahmed Tinubus academic records, he was merely obeying the Popper injunctions and fulfilling the requirements of an open society. You may not like Atiku; he may not represent your ideal activist seeking purity in Nigerias democratic space; you may even conveniently tag him a meddlesome interloper; he may be suffocating under the legal jargon where he is currently subsumed, as someone on a fishing expedition, but the truth is, Abubakars courageous effort in approaching CSU for the truth will invariably lead to the strengthening of the health of Nigerias democracy. And Atiku would not be the first, nor the last. It is forgers and identity thieves who should amend their ways. When Yoruba elders take a deep breath and say, Ogede nbaje, e lo npon, they have taken a peep into their binoculars and sensed tragedy. Ogede nbaje, literally translated, is an impending rot in the banana/plantain that is selfishly interpreted as a fruit at the thick of ripening. In such circumstance, elders have seen otherwise good people attempting to excuse or rationalise evil. They know that the end will not bode well for society. And the kingpins involved are otherwise respected and respectable. Ogede nbaje is an aphorism where a binary view is made of an indisputably straightforward issue. If you see the banana/plantain as ripening when it is in fact rotten, you are in cahoots with the devil to disrupt existence. The wise-saying is an explanation of the calamity that lies ahead when society becomes victim in the hands of those who see the pleasure of today and not the challenge of tomorrow. In 1999, Nigerians were unanimous in seeing a rotten banana/plantain, rather than an inviting fruit. The country had just entered the current Fourth Republic. The Nigerian press was at the vanguard of that fight. It did not call the emerging rotten fruit of the banana/plantain a ripening beauty. The press called it by its real name. At the time, that press was still bursting at its seams with the residue of its activism against military dictatorship. The press seemed to have sworn to prevent impurity from having a place to hibernate in Nigerias hard-earned democratic governance. That press fought against colonial government. So, in a cover story it did in February, 1999, TheNews magazine burst the bubble of Fourth Republics maiden Speaker of Nigerias House of Representatives, Salisu Buhari, a young man who epitomised the energy and verve of youth that was needed to kick-start the Nigerian democratic Turbo engine. In the thick of the fanfare of return to democratic governance, on 16 February, 1999, the magazines investigative journalism revealed that Buhari was an identity thief. Born 3 January, 1970, Buhari swore on oath that he was born in 1963. This he did to escape the provision of section 65(1) of the constitution. That law stipulated that anyone gunning for this office must be 30 years old. On his claim to have been an alumnus of the prestigious University of Toronto in Canada, TheNews put a lie to the claim. Not only didnt Buhari attend Toronto, he never attended any known university. The Speakers claim to have observed the National Youth Service at a Standard Construction Company in Kano was also defoliated and found to be untrue. When confronted with these serial allegations of fraud, Buhari at first fumed, threatening to sue the magazine for libel. However, confronted with irrefutable evidence which showed that his shrew had escaped, with only peels of its tail left in his hands, on 23 July, 1999, Buhari owned up to the binge of forgeries. Weeping profusely, he pleaded, I apologise to you. I apologise to the nation. I apologise to my family and friends for all the distress I have caused them. I was misled in error by a zeal to serve the nation, I hope the nation will forgive me and give me the opportunity to serve again. In tow, the press felled the big elephants of similar identity and certificate forgers in the room. Senate President Evan(s) Enwerem fell, having been alleged to have forged his identity. With the same vigour which completed a cycle of peering searchlights round the tripod of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, then governor of Lagos State, also got caught in the puddle. Tinubu, like Salisu Buhari, had multiple of allegations hanging on his neck, ranging from identity theft, forgeries to perjury. Three of the schools he swore on oath as having attended were found to be outright forgeries. From St. Johns School, Aroloya; Government College, Ibadan to University of Chicago, the press effectively tar-brushed him. About 23 years after the Nigerian press mounted that Olympian height and became a pride of the profession for dismantling houses moulded with dross, its has become the case of the proverbial Ogede nbaje For instance, Bayo Onanuga, Editor-in-Chief of that investigative journalism magazine, TheNews which spearheaded that brilliant Salisu Buhari revelation has today become enmeshed in that systemic rot, feeding even fatter than and becoming indistinguishable from the maggots in the Nigerian political sewers. In a tweet he did last Thursday on the recent inquisition into Tinubus alleged forgeries, Onanuga said that any attempt at drilling into the presidents certificates was an infantile obsession and a display of utter desperation, as well as a calculated attempt to shamelessly whip up public sentiments. The man whose medium reached out to Toronto to authenticate Salisu Buharis certificate said a similar expedition today was a purposeless judicial voyage, and a needless negative exposure of Nigeria and the institution of the presidency in (a) foreign land. Was exposing Buharis forgery a voyage different from todays Tinubus? Salisu Buhari was Nigerias number four when the press unclad him in the market square. By the time he woke up, cloths thrown at his Omoye was unable to save her as she had walked naked into the market square. Ogede nbaje Indeed, the Onanuga banana/plantain is already bringing out maggots. At its prime, a ripe banana lures all with its fair complexioned beauty. It is enticing and exciting. Everyone wishes to have a bite of it. However, the reality is that, at that ripening state, the banana/plantain is at its autumn. It is exhausting its glow and biding its time to enter the next state of disintegration. All of a sudden, that beautiful, inviting and captivating fruit begins to lose its colour and savour. Dark patches appear on its trunk, disfiguring the otherwise beauty that myopia or greed hid from the eyes awhile ago. Tanning, sallow shades take over the fruit. The beautiful coat loses its drape and the tasteful fruit turns into a sour bite. Rottenness takes it over. In forecasting the unfavourable outcome that will ultimately be the lot of the ephemeral beauty of the banana/plantain, Yoruba elders use this allegory of the banana/plantain to warn against equating the luxuriant beauty of today with an enduring pride of tomorrow. That courageous Nigerian press of 1999 which called politicians banana/plantain a rotten fruit is today celebrating the same fruits vanishing beauty. If you do a content analysis of the press reportage of that shameful inquisition into Nigeria in Chicago last week, you would notice that the fruit has turned full throttle in its rot. Apart from courageous reports on the social media that belled the cat, the traditional press was like a cat that tucked its tail behind its bum. It was on sabbatical, either self-imposed or a result of huge financial compromise from serial forgers and identity thieves. The Atiku Abubakar voyage to Chicago in search of the true colour of Nigerias president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has confirmed that Nigeria is in a more serious mess than she may think. When a people arrive at a straightforward road but assume it is an intersection where three footpaths meet, they provoke elders to see calamity ahead. How could anyone have imagined that a day would come when political convenience, ethnicity and willful desire not to rock the boat would make Nigerians moralize forgery? And debate whether underhand cyclostyling of a certificate was forgery or legitimate? Nigeria was on trial last week in the United States of America. No, Bola Ahmed Tinubu was not on trial. Nigeria was the one who presented a simultaneously attended 1970 Cambridge GCE A-Level result and a school certificate from a Government College, Lagos that was non-existent as at the time of graduation. This is because Bola Ahmed Tinubu today embodies Nigeria. As if that was not tragic enough, responses to the deposition in America last week reveal that truth has different colours and texture in Nigeria. Those who showed open disgust and disdain for evil a while ago have suddenly wrapped a shawl of tarpaulin round themselves. Yoruba, whose forefathers and fathers denounced Ikejiani, Salisu Buhari and other serial forgers have suddenly lost their voices. Professors say it does not matter. Scholars say, but the man is churning our great policies! The question to ask is, can our universitys vice chancellors bail Tinubu out by coming out to announce to graduates of their universities who cant find their degree certificates to start using their individual office computers to design and print replacements of the lost diplomas? It will help Tinubu and his spin doctors to silence puritanical critics! The Chicago saga is very lean on law but very robust on morality. What the Supreme Court says about the matter is very minute in representation to the totality of our being as Nigeria and Nigerians. No issue is as important in Nigeria today as the potential incineration of our national integrity that the certificate issue portends. Not even the tumbling Naira, nor the excruciating economy is as important as the Chicago saga. If we do not succeed in convincing ourselves and the rest of the world that we do not have a serial forger in Aso Rock, we are done for. President Tinubu too must help us by personally addressing this thick web of claims of his dubiety. For us in the media, we must be very ashamed of ourselves. The Nigerian press which unearthed Salisu Buhari is almost dead today. Replacing this big media elephant in the room is a young man called David Hundeyin who is now a representation of all we have lost. I can see elders heave a deep sigh and mutter that indeed, Ogede nbaje, e lo npon! Festus Adedayo is an Ibadan-based journalist. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The bottom line of this article is to see the need in our schools for the preparation in relevance, rather than in knowledge. These actions have to be taken by not only the graduates themselves. It must begin with political leaders who set the agenda and programme for tertiary institutions. This change must affect the process of the preparation of teachers. It has to be supported in the offices of the ministries of education. The curricula has to be affected. Tell me what to do and I will get the job done. Friends, employers dont care what degree you have. They care about your attitude. If you have a degree with honours and you cannot get the job done? You are not needed by any employer; you are not needed in any company. Because you have not created relevance for yourself. Almost every company owner or employer is dreaming of a day when an employee will come into his office and tell him these words, tell me what to do and I would get the job done. Only offer your work to those who value it. Otherwise you will feel devalued. Always honor what you do. If this is so then others will see the value in what you do. Always give your best. This will steadily increase your sense of self-worth. Know that people are not only paying for the service they are receiving, they are also paying for your enthusiasm, passion, and joy in what you are doing. So the more you feel passionate about what you are doing the more others will feel it and the greater your opportunity for joyful financial reward. Steve Nobel In our ministry, The Embassy of God worldwide, we probably have over 2,000 employees, still I am waiting for someone to come and tell me these words: tell me what to do and I will get the job done. Lets have a more careful look at that statement. Most graduates think that their diplomas and certificates are enough for them to be employed. As a matter of fact, I used to think like that. If I show up with my first degree certificate, no one can refuse me a job. They will refuse you many times over if you attitude is not right. My thinking was that if I have the degree, I automatically qualify for a job. I thought if I showed up with the degree, I could not be refused. Many people still think that way; that their top grades would secure a high earning position and salary. What a shock such a graduate gets when he is told that he is not needed, even with his high scores and degree qualifications. Why? It is because every employer wants someone who will get the job done; not someone who flaunts a certificate and degrees. Somebody who will be humble enough; and somebody who would be submissive enough to realise that his relevance is in his ability to listen to instructions. You will be as much value to others as you have been to yourself. Marcus Tullius Cicero If we want to eliminate problems, like Greece just experienced in many countries of the world, we have to begin to teach our young men and women what relevance means. We need to teach them how to practically create relevance for themselves wherever they go. Tell me what to do and I would get the job done. That statement talks about the willingness of an applicant to listen. Wow! I will give any amount of money to get somebody to listen. A lot of employers are ready to pay any salary if they could get somebody just to listen to their instructions. To listen to the injunction of the bosses. To do what they are told to do. Not to do what they think they know, but what they are told to do. Tell me what to do and I would get the job done. Expatiating further on this statement, the second part of that sentence says, and I would get the job done. That talks about commitment, which is an attitude of relevance. Every employer is dreaming of an employee who can guarantee results. Now, that is relevance! Our graduates must be taught not just to talk the talk, but to also walk the talk. Even right now as I write, I am still dreaming of staff members in my team, who will get the job done the way it is supposed to be done, without me chasing, cajoling and correcting them two three times in the proces. It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome. William James Industry owners are always too busy for that kind of cajoling. They are usually men of vision. They want to start a new project. They want to run with another vision. They want to go to the next level. Nothing frustrates them like employees who cant guarantee results. Solution To Economic Defaults If we want to eliminate problems, like Greece just experienced in many countries of the world, we have to begin to teach our young men and women what relevance means. We need to teach them how to practically create relevance for themselves wherever they go. Ability is what youre capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. Lou Holtz At times, it is not the quality of education that matters, but the ability to be able to put it to use. To a large extent, attitude could play a big role in this. Attitudinal changes and adjustments in our curricula must touch on every specialisation. The scope of this change must touch every subject and graduate. It is my hope that this article would get into the hands of some interested parties. Men and women who desire positive changes in our world. I pray that by all of us working together, we could all create a better future and destiny for our children. This to me is a little contribution from the kingdom of God to the dire needs of a desperate world. This defines entrepreneur and entrepreneurship the entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it, and exploits it as an opportunity. Peter F. Drucker If all students and graduates are taught in the acts of creating relevance for themselves, the problems of unemployment would be much more easily resolved. Graduates would be able to create Jobs for themselves through the skills of wealth creation. Our young men and women will be coming out of higher institutions knowing that they dont have to look for jobs. Thanks to the entrepreneurial skills they have been taught. Many people have serious academic degrees but cannot find a job, and sadly their degrees are so limited that they cannot even think about how to create a job for themselves. Haki R. Madhubuti Even if some might still need to look for employment, which would be much easier for them to do and more successfully so, they should be taught this principle of tell me what to do and I would get the job done. I think a great entrepreneur is learning every day. An entrepreneur is somebody that doesnt take no for an answer, theyre going to figure something out. They also take responsibility. They dont blame anybody else. And theyre dreamers in one sense but theyre also realistic and they take affordable steps when they can. Damon John The bottom line of this article is to see the need in our schools for the preparation in relevance, rather than in knowledge. These actions have to be taken by not only the graduates themselves. It must begin with political leaders who set the agenda and programme for tertiary institutions. This change must affect the process of the preparation of teachers. It has to be supported in the offices of the ministries of education. The curricula has to be affected. Most of all, there must be a prevailing acknowledgement of the fact that all graduates of higher institutions need relevance-based training, rather than knowledge-based training. It is my hope that this article would get into the hands of some interested parties. Men and women who desire positive changes in our world. I pray that by all of us working together, we could all create a better future and destiny for our children. This to me is a little contribution from the kingdom of God to the dire needs of a desperate world. Sunday Adelaja is a Nigeria born leader, transformation strategist, pastor and innovator. He was based in Kiev Ukraine Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Gombe State University has said it would confer a honorary doctorate on Abdulhadi Usman, a self-taught engineer known for inventing a radio transmitter, a Vespa-engine helicopter and a telephone (handset) as far back as the 1970s. The Vice Chancellor of the university, Aliyu El-Nafaty, stated this at a press conference on Thursday ahead of the institutions combined convocation ceremony scheduled for October10-13, for the award of first and postgraduate degrees and prizes. Mr El-Nafaty, a professor, described Mr Usman as a unique innovator who trained himself to manufacture electronic and electrical appliances addressing the challenges people face in their energy needs. Hadi Usman, recently invented cooking stoves that use water and generating plants that generate energy up to 7.5 kva without the use of any fuel, the vice-chancellor said. Our correspondent reports that Mr Usman, 70, never attended any formal education. He only attended Tsangaya (Koranic) school were he memorised the Holy Quran at the age of 12. Mr Usman is said to have, in 1970, established a radio station in Gombe using equipment he manufactured. He is also said to have used Vespa engine to fabricate a helicopter. Mr El-Nafaty said the university would therefore be awarding him an honorary doctorate degree at the convocation to honour his engineering ingenuity. According to the vice-chancellor, other individuals to be conferred with honorary doctorate degrees at the ceremony are Vice President Kashim Shettima; Idris Mohammed, a renowned professor of Infectious disease; Boss Mustapha, a former secretary to the government of the federation,; Zainab Ahmed, a former minister of finance and Kashim Imam, a former member, Board of Trustees of TETFund and Timothy Shelpidi (late), who was commander of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) in Liberia. Mr El-Nafaty also announced that 116 of the 5,944 graduating students of the university, passed out with First Class honours. He said 28 had distinction from the non-classified degrees (professional), 1,511 got second class upper and 3,326 second class lower while 801 earned third class degrees. Another 162 graduated with pass degrees. He said out of the number, 40 per cent were female, an increase from 30 per cent in the last three years. This is because we minimised the disparity between male and female students. We understand the challenge of Girl-child education in the North East region of the country and that the rapid socio-economic development of a nation is linked to the standard of women and their level of education. Mr Elnafaty said Gombe State University had experienced rapid development and grown in quality and size, adding that we have 40 undergraduate and 68 postgraduate programmes, all of which had full accreditation by the National Universities Commission and other relevant bodies. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Ten people were killed and several others injured when terrorists attacked a convoy of vehicles on Magami Gusau road in Zamfara State on Saturday. Several passengers were also abducted while the terrorists burned three vehicles in the convoy. The attack occurred around 3:00 p.m. at Dogon Tsauni, while a convoy of several vehicles was moving from Magami to the state capital, Gusau. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the wounded vigilante and other passengers have been rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Gusau. The bodies of those killed in the attack have been deposited at the centres mortuary. We took ten corpses into the mortuary yesterday (Saturday). Five of them were vigilantes. The level of injuries suffered by some of the people brought into the hospital is sickening, a nurse at the hospital told PREMIUM TIMES. He asked for anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press. He said some of the wounded had bullet wounds with bruises while others were trampled on in the commotion. A local source from Dansadau who asked not to be named for safety reasons said most of those involved were from his community. The vigilante group members were providing security to the vehicles when the terrorists ambushed them around Dogon Tsauni. They started firing shots thereby forcing the drivers to stop. The vigilantes were in the vehicles too and so far, five of them (vigilante) and five passengers have been confirmed dead but they could be several others because were yet to get to the place to look for more dead bodies, he said. The source said one of the vehicles burnt, a truck, was carrying about 100 bags of soybeans to the state capital. The police spokesperson in the state, Yazeed Abubakar, didnt respond to calls and SMS sent to him by this reporter for more details about the attack. Magami is 53 kilometres from Gusau but due to the security challenges confronting the state, vehicular movements have become minimal. The highway, which also links the state capital with Dansadau, has become notorious for recording terrorist activities. Soldiers and vigilantes usually escort vehicles convoys from the two main towns in the area, Magami and Dansadau, to Gusau and other major towns in the state. READ ALSO: Why terrorists abducted Katsina university students VC Zamfara State and other North-west, especially Sokoto and Katsina, are witnessing an upsurge in terrorist attacks. Twenty-five students of the Federal University of Gusau were abducted about two weeks ago. In Katsina State, five students of Federal University Dutsin Ma were also abducted less than a week ago while terrorists launched a three-day consecutive attack on separate villages in Binji Local Government of Sokoto State. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Lagos governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has issued a one-week quit notice to people who have illegally constructed shops and market stalls on the drainages and unauthorised stores in different parts of the Lagos Island markets. The governor on Sunday during an inspection tour of the flooded areas of Ojo Giwa, Princess, Oroyiyin, Idumagbo and Pelewura areas in Lagos Island gave the order. He said that it is in line with his administrations plan for the regeneration of the whole axis. READ ALSO: Mr Sanwo-Olu, according to his media aide, Jubril Gawat, in a post on X, also instructed the Ministry of Environment to serve the requisite notices and begin demolition of the illegal structures immediately. Mr Governor assured Lagosians that the regeneration of the Lagos Island axis has started already, Mr Gawat wrote. Mr Governor also inspected Bombata Markets, Pelewura markets, King Ado School, which is under reconstruction and others. He gave a one-week notice to Bombata market traders and said the whole axis will be regenerated. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print NEW DELHI, Oct. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Arctech, the world's leading solar tracking and racking solution provider, attended the Renewable Energy India Expo 2023 (REI Expo) in New Delhi. The expo is the largest international renewable energy professional exhibition in South Asia, spanning three days. Arctech India Team Arctech Gave Recognition to Employees Who Finished 7 Years At the exhibition, the solar tracking system SkyLine II, as a star product launched by Arctech was grandly unveiled. SkyLine II is a flagship product with a peculiar edge in the Indian market. The first 1P (one-in-portrait) tracker designed with a synchronous multi-point drive mechanism enables a new possibility of designing the plant using trackers with identical pile configurations, overcoming the uncertainty faced in the early stage of plant design and construction. The synchronous multi-point drive mechanism technology rigidifies the tracker to the point of enabling 0deg wind stow mode, hence reducing the difference of wind pressure and post loads between the exterior and interior of the PV plant. By doing so, Skyline II enables a new possibility of designing the plant using trackers with identical pile configurations, overcoming the uncertainty faced in the early stage of plant design and construction. DEEPLY CULTIVATE THE INDIA MARKET FOR 7 YEARS The company's journey in India began in 2015, and it completed remarkable accomplishments, most notably the successful completion of numerous Giga projects. Notable among these were the awe-inspiring 1.7GW project in 2020 and the monumental 2.8GW project in 2022. According to 2022 India PV Tracker Market Shares from Wood Mackenzie, Arctech firmly ranks among the Top 3 in the India market. "Arctech has been illuminating India for the past seven remarkable years, driven by a vision to harness the power of the sun and provide innovative solutions that contribute to a greener and cleaner India," said Gail Chen, CEO of Arctech India and Jash Energy. "Over the years, we have witnessed the remarkable growth and transformation of the solar energy industry in India, and Arctech has been at the forefront of this revolution. In this year's REI, Arctech once again showcased its advanced solar tracking technology SkyLine II, attracting lots of visitors, clients, and friends. REI also provides us with a good opportunity to engage with clients, friends, partners, and industry players, we expect to see you again next year!" REALIZING LOCALIZED PRODUCTION IN INDIA Arctech's unwavering commitment to localized production in India was showcased through the operational excellence of its joint venture factory, Jash Energy, which, since its inception in August 2022, has boasted an astounding annual capacity of 3GW. Gail also placed particular emphasis on the company's unwavering customer-centric approach, which has been instrumental in driving increased energy generation, facilitating a substantial reduction in carbon emissions, and fostering job creation throughout India. Arctech's cutting-edge solar tracking solutions have played an instrumental role in spearheading the nation's transition towards widespread adoption of clean and sustainable energy. In response to the dynamic changes within policy frameworks, Arctech proactively established a joint venture factory exclusively dedicated to solar trackers within India, aligning seamlessly with the production-linked incentive scheme (PLI). ABOUT ARCTECH Arctech (SSE-STAR: 688408) is a leading manufacturer and supplier of intelligent solar trackers, fixed-tilt structures and BIPV systems for utility-scale and commercial solar PV projects worldwide. As of June 2023, Arctech has supplied over 55GW of tracking and racking systems to nearly 1,500 PV plants in 40 countries, thanks to its extensive marketing networks with offices in China, Japan, India, the U.S., Spain, Australia, UAE, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia and Argentina. Learn more at https://www.arctechsolar.us/ SOURCE Arctech MEDELLIN, Colombia, Oct. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TerraPay, a leading global payments network and Bancolombia, Colombia's largest player of remittances announced the signing of their contract. As part of their collective commitment to enhance financial inclusion, the two companies will enable seamless cross-border transfers, connecting Colombians living away from home with secure, innovative, real-time solutions to send funds to their loved ones in Colombia. TerraPay's reach and agile infrastructure, connecting 100 remittance companies in the world, enabling the flow of payments between 200+ send countries and 120+ receive countries, is set to strengthen the domestic remittance market. At the same time, leveraging TerraPay's innovative payment solutions will enhance Bancolombia's capabilities & reach exponentially, keeping in mind that today it has agreements with 17 remittance companies, with a scope of 125 sending countries. "It is not a minor figure: thanks to these agreements, Bancolombia is positioned as the largest payer of remittances in Colombia. In 2022 alone, of the USD 9,429 million that arrived in the country, the entity paid USD 5,692. This new agreement with TerraPay will multiply these flows, especially with an ally capable of innovating with its solutions and infrastructure," says Cristina Arrastia, Vice President of Business at Bancolombia. However, she adds, "Beyond the growth in the way of receiving money, the greatest impact will be on people, especially those Colombians who have a family member abroad, from whom they receive resources for their sustenance in Colombia. Colombians themselves in other countries will also benefit due to the number of channels they will have available to move money to the country." It is expected that this new alliance between Bancolombia and TerraPay will maximize the entry of money into the country from the United States, England, Spain and other countries in Europe. Also from various nations in Asia and Africa. Paula Andrea Valle, Director - South America, TerraPay said, "The agreement between the two companies is extremely important. Bancolombia currently has the largest share of the remittance market, which for us means reaching this market the right way with the right partner. The arrival of TerraPay in the country represents ease and effectiveness in the flow of resources globally. TerraPay is the only payments network to have 29 licenses and regulatory approvals globally, along with real-time transaction and risk monitoring capabilities, allowing us to ensure 100% compliance." Today, TerraPay powers the frictionless global movement of money in more than 7.5 billion bank accounts, through more than 2.1 billion mobile wallets, while ensuring that over 97% of its transactions are delivered in less than a minute. "The impact of his delivery promise would undoubtedly increase the level of satisfaction of Colombians, especially those who have an account in Bancolombia and need this service," concludes Cristina Arrastia, who recalls that, according to studies developed by Bancolombia, 36% of the resources that arrive from abroad are used in the country to sustain households, while 13% is directed to the payment of obligations, 7% to expenses in health and well-being, 6% to fashion, 5% to food, and 6% to travel and transport. About TerraPay TerraPay simplifies the movement of money everywhere providing a single connection to the most expansive cross-border payments network regulated in 29 global markets and enabling payments to 120+ receive countries, 210+ send countries, 7.5Bn+ bank accounts and 2.1Bn+ mobile wallets. TerraPay is on a mission to connect a borderless financial world, making moving money everywhere instant, reliable, transparent and fully compliant. TerraPay pushes the boundaries for global businesses ranging from banks, fintechs and money-transfer operators to travel businesses, creator economy platforms and e-commerce marketplaces while driving financial inclusion in even the most inaccessible markets. Founded in 2014, TerraPay is headquartered in London, with global offices in Dubai, Miami, Bogota, Dakar, Joburg, Nairobi, Milan, Singapore and is expanding rapidly, having received funding from leading investors, including the IFC (the World Bank), Prime Ventures, Partech Africa and Visa. About Bancolombia Bancolombia is a financial group with 148 years of history, and with presence in Colombia and Central America. It offers its portfolio of financial and non-financial products and services to more than 29 million customers. It provides, among others, commercial and consumer banking services, stock brokerage, financial leasing, factoring, fiduciary services, asset management, private banking and investment banking. It has declared to promote sustainable development to achieve the well-being of all, seeking to impact the communities of the countries in which it operates. Contact Juveria Samrin [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1222771/TerraPay_Logo.jpg SOURCE TerraPay CAIRO/JERUSALEM, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Foreign Ministry confirmed that two Israeli tourists were killed in a shooting attack in Egypt on Sunday. Two Israeli citizens and their local Egyptian guide were killed when they were on a tourist group tour in Egypt's northern province of Alexandria when local security personnel opened fire on them, the ministry said in a statement. Another Israeli sustained moderate injury. The ministry and the Israeli Embassy in Cairo were working to return the deceased and the rest of the group to Israel "as soon as possible," the statement read. According to Egypt's AlQahera News TV channel, two Israeli tourists and an Egyptian were killed in Alexandria on Sunday as random gunfire by an Egyptian policeman hit an Israeli tourist group visiting the city. "The policeman was immediately arrested and legal procedures against him have been initiated, while an injured Egyptian was taken to hospital for treatment," the report quoted a security source as saying. The incident came a day after a massive deadly conflict took place between the Palestinians and the Israelis in the Gaza Strip that left heavy casualties on both sides. On Saturday, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which controls Gaza, showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. According to statistics issued by the Gaza-based Health Ministry, at least 313 Palestinians were killed and 1,990 wounded by the Israeli strikes in Gaza. On the other hand, at least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack that also included infiltrating ground assaults onto southern Israel, data released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. Hamas also held some Israeli civilians and soldiers as hostages, as confirmed by Israeli officials. Engaged in a peace treaty with Israel since 1979, Egypt has for years been a key regional peacemaker in the decades-long Palestinian-Israeli conflict. BEIJING, Oct. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following its opening at the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF), the fourth annual China Publishing Group (CPG) Book Fest took place from June 16th to September 10th. During this three-month period, the event provided access to high-quality digital and print content from China Publishing Group, featuring exclusive discounts. In addition to the primary exhibition and sales event, academic conferences and author presentations were live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube. The CPG Book Fest wrapped up successfully on September 10th. Notably, this year's event marked the first in-person grand opening ceremony since the onset of the pandemic at BIBF, the second greatest book fairs in the world. Representatives from over 2,600 publishers from more than a hundred countries attended the event. CPG Book Fest strategically leveraged the trend of overseas digital marketing. Information about bestsellers was tailored into weekly posts and short videos, distributed across major social media platforms, including TikTok, YouTube, X, and the Meta universe. Throughout the event, over 60 featured pieces of content were created, showcasing both trending literature and newly released books like "Zebra," "Echo," and "Goodbye, Procrastination". Thousands of viewers engaged by leaving comments and feedback in this interactive campaign. Furthermore, the CPG remained committed to multi-platform digital presentation. It featured the "Virtual Art Appreciation" theme event, integrating digital content from renowned publishers such as Rong Bao Zhai, People's Fine Arts Publishing House, and Encyclopedia of China Publishing House. This section provided overseas audiences with art experiences encompassing images, books, and VR exhibitions. For more information: https://bio.site/greatchinesebooks CPG Book Fest is sponsored by China Publishing Group Corporation (CPG) and organized by China National Publications Import and Export (Group) Corporation (CNPIEC). China Publishing Group Corporation (CPG) is Chinas largest and most influential trade and professional publishing group. Internationally, it was the only Chinese publisher ranked among Top 500 Asia Brand. CPG owns 28 overseas publishing houses, chain bookstores and offices with its business extending to over 130 countries and regions. CPG Great Books (www.CPGGreatBooks.com) holds quality e-books from the most reputable Chinese publishers of the China Publishing Group. With thousands of e-books and sub-libraries with special focuses such as Sinology study, the platform serves the East-Asian Study academic community. Special discounts offered by CPG Book Fest attract customers attention. SOURCE China National Publications Import and Export (Group) Co., Ltd. HOLLYWOOD, Fla., Oct. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EKSA, a renowned gaming headset and peripheral brand, is thrilled to announce its participation in GITEX 2023, the world's largest tech event. EKSA will be situated at Booth H12-A30, providing attendees with an exclusive opportunity to experience their cutting-edge gaming audio solutions. Established in 2018 by a group of ardent gamers, EKSA has dedicated itself to enhancing gaming experiences through innovation and unwavering commitment. The brand's core focus has consistently been on crafting top-tier gaming headphones and accessories that redefine immersive acoustics, performance, design, comfort, and packaging, setting industry benchmarks. EKSA's remarkable 7.1 SoundBase technology, a groundbreaking innovation, will be a highlight at GITEX 2023. This technology offers gamers awe-inspiring 7.1 surround sound, enveloping players in an unparalleled gaming environment. Alongside technological advancements, EKSA places a strong emphasis on aesthetics, infusing their products with style and sophistication. "Our mission has always been to provide gamers with the most immersive and exhilarating experiences possible," stated Jack Li, CEO at EKSA. "We understand that every detail matters, from the moment a customer unboxes our product to their final moments of victory." EKSA's relentless pursuit of excellence has driven them towards their vision: to become one of the world's leading esports brands. Their name resonates in the gaming industry, thanks to the steadfast support of gamers worldwide. What sets GITEX 2023 apart is its record-breaking status as the world's largest and most inclusive tech event, gathering the globe's most advanced companies, innovators, and visionaries to elevate business, economy, society, and culture through the power of innovation. EKSA is excited to be an integral part of this remarkable event, contributing to the ongoing conversation about the future of gaming technology. As part of GITEX 2023, EKSA will unveil its latest gaming headphones and accessories, offering attendees a firsthand experience of cutting-edge technology that enhances gameplay and delivers unparalleled audio quality. The event's convergence of tech protagonists, inventors, academia, researchers, and developers presents a unique opportunity for EKSA to showcase its products to a global audience. EKSA's presence at GITEX 2023 underscores the brand's commitment to shaping the future of gaming, aligning with the event's ambition to empower and unite tech communities worldwide. For more information about EKSA and their products, please visit eksa.net. About EKSA EKSA is a gaming headphone and accessories brand founded in 2018 by a group of passionate gamers. The brand is dedicated to enhancing gaming experiences through high-quality products that redefine immersive acoustics, performance, design, comfort, and packaging. EKSA is committed to shaping the future of gaming by bringing the latest technology to gamers and striving to become one of the world's leading esports brands. Contact Information Email: [email protected] URL: https://www.eksa.net/ SOURCE EKSA Inc. 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 Prayagraj, Oct 8 : The Indian Air Force (IAF) will unveil its new ensign at the Air Force Day parade at Bamrauli in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj on Sunday. This will be after 72 years that the IAF will be unveiling its new ensign. The ensign will be first brought in front of the Air Chief by four air warriors fixed on a movable mini-stage and as the Air Chief will unveil the new ensign, two drones will lift a larger version of the ensign from behind the curtain wall which has been put as the background of the parade. The new ensign will then also be hoisted at the flag post, which will be at the tarmac of the airbase where the parade will be held. While the new ensign will be hoisted, the older version will be pulled down, folded with full honour and handed over to the Air Chief. It will later be kept as an exhibit at the Air Force Museum. Thereafter, a team of air warriors and officers of IAF will carry the new ensign at the parade. A Mi-17v5 will fly low, trooping the new Air Force ensign. The present Air Force ensign is blue in colour, containing the National Flag in the first quadrant and a roundel consisting of the colours of the national flag -- saffron, white and green in the centre. This ensign was adopted in 1951. Going back in history, the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) Ensign comprised the Union Jack in the upper left canton and the RIAF roundel (red, white and blue) on the fly side. Post-Independence, the Indian Air Force ensign was created by replacing the Union Jack with the Indian tricolour and the RAF roundels with the IAF tricolour roundel in the lower right canton. "A new lAF ensign has now been created to better reflect the values of the Indian Air Force. This reaffirmation will now be reflected by the inclusion of the Air Force Crest in the top right corner of the Ensign, towards the fly side," said Defence PRO, Group Captain Samir Gangakhedkar. The IAF Crest has the national symbol, the Ashoka lion on the top with the words "Satyamev Jayate" in Devanagari below it. Below the Ashoka lion is a Himalayan eagle with its wings spread, denoting the fighting qualities of the IAF. A ring in light blue colour encircles the Himalayan eagle with the words "Bharatiya Vayu Sena". The motto of the IAF is inscribed below the Himalayan Eagle in golden Devanagari. The IAF motto has been taken from verse 24, Chapter 11 of the Bhagavad Gita and means "Radiant Thou Touchest Heaven" or in other words "Touching the sky with glory". Thick smoke rises above buildings in Gaza City, following several Israeli airstrikes, amid the escalating flare-up of Israeli-Palestinian violence. Photo: Mohammed Talatene/dpa/IANS. Image Source: IANS News Tehran, Oct 8 : Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan have discussed the developments of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the wake of a massive military operation by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) against Israel. In a phone call, the two Foreign Ministers highlighted the necessity for respecting the Palestinian people's rights while evaluating the latest developments in the Arab state, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Saturday. The Iranian Foreign Minister described the Hamas move as "a consequence of Israel's constant crimes against Palestine". On Saturday, several other Iranian officials expressed their support for the Hamas military operation against Israel, Xinhua news agency reported. In a statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website, the Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said the military operation was a "spontaneous move of Palestinians in defence of their inalienable and undeniable rights, as well as their natural reaction to the warmongering and provocative policies of Israel". Yahya Rahim Safavi, top military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, expressed his country's support for the Palestinians' military operation at a conference in the Iranian capital of Tehran. In major Iranian cities such as Tehran and Mashhad, people gathered in the streets on Saturday night to show solidarity with the Palestinian people, according to Iran's official news agency IRNA. Early on Saturday, Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, fired thousands of rockets into Israel, with dozens of its militants simultaneously infiltrating Israeli border towns, prompting Israel to hit back. The ongoing escalating tensions have left hundreds of people from both sides killed. Baghdad, Oct 8 : A Turkish drone strike in northern Iraq killed two militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and wounded three others, the Counter-Terrorism Service of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region said in a statement. They were killed at 7:10 p.m. local time when a Turkish drone attacked a group of PKK militants at a refugee camp for Turkish Kurds near the town of Makhmour, nearly 60 km southeast of the northern city of Mosul, the statement said on Saturday. The Turkish forces frequently carry out ground operations, airstrikes, and artillery bombardments in northern Iraq against the PKK, especially in the Qandil Mountains, the main base of the group, Xinhua news agency reported. The PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US, and the European Union, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for more than three decades. California Governor Gavin Newsom talks to the media near the scene of a shooting in San Jose, California, the United States, May 26, 2021. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua/IANS). Image Source: IANS News Washington, Oct 8 : The Governor of the US state of California has vetoed a legislation adding caste to the list of banned grounds for discrimination, saying it is already banned in the state, siding with advocacy groups of Hindu Americans who had mounted a countrywide effort to prevent the enactment of the Bill. California will not become the first US state to ban caste specifically, which had looked possible in the aftermath of Seattle becoming the first American city to prohibit caste. The same people and groups that had made it possible in Washington state, were now determined to make California the first state to do so, triggering perhaps a domino effect into other states. "California already prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, colour, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other characteristics, and state law specifies that these civil rights protections shall be liberally construed," Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said in a statement explaining the veto. "Because discrimination based on caste is already prohibited under these existing categories, this bill is unnecessary." Democratic Sate Senator Aisha Wahab, who had introduced the bill had said at the time, "Caste discrimination against the caste-oppressed Dalits--people formerly referred to as "the untouchables" by members of dominant castes--occurs across industries and may include bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, and even trafficking. Caste-oppressed people have also been rejected from rental housing when their caste identity is discovered. Additionally, the practice of endogamy--the custom of only marrying within one's defined social position--perpetuates caste across generations." Hindu advocacy groups opposed the bill had put forth the same argument: caste is already covered among the prohibited grounds of discrimination and that adding it spefically to that list put a target on the community at large. They had sought to portray it as a manifestation of Hinduphobia being whipped up by opponents of the community. They welcomed the veto as a "victory". "Today, we at the Hindu American Foundation join South Asians across California and the Hindu American community in offering our heartfelt appreciation to California Governor Gavin Newsom for his historically important veto of SB-403," said Samir Kalra of the Hindu American Foundation (HA). "This is a victory for the civil rights of all Californians." "The Bill was not facially neutral. It relied on misleading narratives, strawman arguments, and a questionable survey that actively encouraged falsification of data," said Hindus 4 America, another advocacy group. Hindu advocacy groups and Hindu Americans individually had lobbied and pressured the Governor to reject the Bill, underscoring the community's support for him when he ran for the White House, which he is expected to do at some stage. In fact, he is routinely mentioned among the leading contenders to step in if President Joe Biden had decided to not seek a second term, which he is now. "Newsom will need our support and he knows it," said a leading Hindu American, who has been a prolific fundraiser for the Democrats, to speak freely about the campaign. Hindu Americans -- as some Indian Americans prefer to be called -- are almost four million and overwhelmingly Democratic. They have also been big donors to the Democratic party candidates from local elections to the White House. Their votes and checkbooks cannot be trifled with. Toronto, Oct 8 : Canada's national weather service had publicly apologised and reissued an advisory, which singled out Diwali fireworks as a reason to prepare for poor air quality last October, a media report said. According to documents accessed by the Canadian Press, Environment Canada went ahead and published the advisory despite warnings by two meteorologists, saying that it could be perceived as "discriminatory". The process of publishing the advisory began after November 2021 Diwali celebrations, when an air quality monitor picked up a small spike in air pollution in parts of the Greater Toronto Area, including Brampton and Mississauga. It moved the air quality index from low risk to moderate risk for about four hours, and the staff traced the increase to local fireworks set off to celebrate the festival of lights. Four days before Diwali in October 2022, discussions began about issuing a warning. While one of the meteorologists suggested getting the Communications department involved before proceeding, another said targeting specific areas could be seen as adiscriminatory". They said any decision to issue a warning must be based on meteorological conditions, not just the fact that Diwali was happening, the National Post newspaper said, citing Canadian Press. Hours after publishing the advisory on the morning of October 24, 2022, complaints poured in accusing the national agency of being racist, stating that similar air quality warnings were not issued for Canada Day fireworks. By the end of the day, Environment Canada's inquiry line had received 60 formal complaints, calling it "racist", "shameful" and "Eurocentric". "I am a Hindu who recognises Diwali as an important religious event and am concerned that this message may cause citizens who do not celebrate Diwali to target Hindus for polluting the air around them," one person wrote. The department had to reissue the advisory without mentioning Diwali and issue a public apology by the end of the day. In addition, it was also decided that going forward, only meteorological conditions would be mentioned in the warnings. In an internal communication about that spike written on October 25, 2022, Environment Canada said meteorological conditions had created "a perfect setup" for the fireworks to cause a spike in air pollution, with "very strong inversion and light winds". Lucknow, Oct 8 : A property dealer here was kidnapped but later released after his abductors realised that they had picked up the wrong person, said police. The incident took place in the Dubagga area on October 4. The police were provided with the registration numbers of the abductors' cars and were able to arrest five of the suspects. The men were booked under IPC 364 (kidnapping) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt). The victim, Adarsh Singh, 29, was sitting in his SUV at Joggers Park on October 4, when he was abducted by a group of men driving two cars, said the police. Chiranjeev Nath Sinha, ADCP- West, said, "The men took Adarsh Singh to Kisan Path in Kakrabad, where one of them trained a pistol to shoot him. However, another abductor stopped him. The two then fought over the fact that they had picked up the wrong man and later let him go." TEHRAN, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan on Saturday discussed the developments of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the wake of a massive military operation by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) against Israel. In a phone call, the two foreign ministers highlighted the necessity for respecting the Palestinian people's rights while evaluating the latest developments in the Arab state, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry. The Iranian foreign minister described the Hamas move as "a consequence of Israel's constant crimes against Palestine." Also on Saturday, several other Iranian officials expressed their support for the Hamas military operation against Israel. In a statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website, the ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said the military operation was a "spontaneous move of Palestinians in defense of their inalienable and undeniable rights, as well as their natural reaction to the warmongering and provocative policies of Israel." Yahya Rahim Safavi, top military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, expressed his country's support for the Palestinians' military operation at a conference in the Iranian capital of Tehran. In major Iranian cities such as Tehran and Mashhad, people gathered in the streets on Saturday night to show solidarity with the Palestinian people, according to Iran's official news agency IRNA. Early on Saturday, Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, fired thousands of rockets into Israel, with dozens of its militants simultaneously infiltrating Israeli border towns, prompting Israel to hit back. The ongoing escalating tensions have left hundreds of people from both sides killed. Kolkata, Oct 8 : The recent initiative by the West Bengal women and child development and social welfare department in association with UNICEF to roll out religious texts from different religions to spread childcare messages has received major accolades from different sections of the society. The initiative, according to experts in the field, is an effective move especially at a time when the latest report of the National Family Health Survey has not painted a rosy picture of the health and education sphere of the children, especially the girl child, in West Bengal. The figures of anemic tendencies among 70 per cent of the girls below the age of 18, high rate of early marriages and early pregnancies do not show the state in good light. In such a situation the decision to come out with booklets quoting religious texts from different faiths like Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism to guide parents and communities in proper childcare is perceived as a unique initiative. The involvement of the state government in this initiative jointly with UNICEF and the Amanat Foundation Trust adds more credibility to the effort. Women & child development department's Dr Sashi Panja has her own logic for success on this count. According to her, since people often have immense faith in the religious texts, this initiative will be helpful in dispelling misconceptions in the minds of people about negative social factors like early marriage and early pregnancy. She is more hopeful considering the success achieved by similar initiatives of UNICEF in other countries like Nigeria. However, while the project is earning accolades from different sections of society, doubts are surfacing on how far the initiative will be successful if there is not enough ground-level infrastructure backup so that the messages of the religious texts are applicable in real life especially in the remote rural pockets. Medical teacher, documentary maker and writer, Dr Trithankar Guha Thakurata feels the basic requirement in fighting social evils like early marriages or early pregnancy is their social and economic upliftment, without which there will not be any practical implementation of suchmessages from religious texts. "The state has to remember that creating the right infrastructure and environment for such social and economic upliftment is its responsibility and the state's duty does not end with facilitating spreading of such messages from religious texts. So while I welcome this initiative of rolling out religious texts from different religions to spread childcare messages, the state government should not stop at that only," said Thakurata. Both Thakurata and civil rights activist Anurag Maitrayee cautioned about the state going overboard with this initiative and that it should prevent any possible conflict between the "administration" and "religious entities." "I am again against totally discarding the idea of rolling out religious texts from different religions to spread childcare messages. The initiative is undoubtedly unique. But the state has to ensure that its administrative initiatives on this count do not get over-influenced by the religious leaders or religious entities. In that case this initiative can turn out to be counter-productive," Maitrayee said. At the same time, both were of the opinion that besides using religious texts the state should also use messages from the fields of science, medicine and sociology to make the system of "awareness creation," more inclusive. Prayagraj : , Oct 8 (IANS) The Allahabad High Court has directed the registrar general (RG) to conduct a detailed inquiry and take appropriate action against those responsible for anomalies in the listing of a case by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). Taking a serious note of this, the court also directed the RG to ensure that the persons found involved are denied access to the computer system to avoid any further mischief. As per the rule, the second bail application is listed for hearing before the same judge, who has earlier rejected it. However, the court took a serious note when the second bail application of one Sajjan Kumar was listed before another bench despite the court's order to list it before this court, which had earlier rejected it. Hearing the bail plea, Justice Samit Kumar directed that the inquiry be concluded within four weeks and its report be submitted on November 7. "The inquiry officer will also probe the role of members of NIC, Allahabad HC, as the inquiry report shows the records had been changed without any judicial or administrative order. Thus, it brings the system in NIC under suspicion too," the court added. This court took serious note of the anomaly, and directed the registrar (listing) of the court to give a report within three days on how the matter was listed before another bench on September 14. "A perusal of the report goes to show that a particular ID has been used for a feeding in the computer, which is not on the basis of any order passed in the matter. Subsequently, it appears that after the previous order (September 26), the said entry has been changed by the user of the same ID. It is really surprising to note that once an entry is made in the computer (system), how it changes after passage of sufficient time. The same appears to be with the nod of the persons concerned of NIC, High Court, Allahabad. The report further states that there have been four other instances from the same ID by which matters have been marked in other courts without any order,' the bench observed. Guwahati, Oct 8 : The survival of the one-horned rhinoceros is threatened by the illegal wildlife trade (IWT), even though their poaching has been drastically reduced in Assam, experts said. In the latest incident of IWT, five persons were arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) of the Assam police after a huge number of rhino horns and other wildlife animal parts were recovered from their possession during a raid in Kaliabor town in Nagaon district on August 23. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau in Assam and a team from the Chirang Forest Department during an operation arrested Nareswar Basumatary along with Biran Narzary and Bahadur Magar, all residents of Jaipur Malibhita region in Chirang district, who were suspected poachers and smugglers. Basumatary was killed by Assam's Special Task Force (STF) during an encounter on the same day after he reportedly tried to escape from custody. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said strict action has been taken against the poaching of rhinos in the state resulting in zero cases last year and this year for the first time. The Chief Minister taking to 'X' said that rhinos are the prized members of the state's abundant fauna. "Rhinos, synonymous with the identity of Assam, are cherished members of the state's rich faunal biodiversity." He also asserted that the state government has been giving utmost importance to stopping the poaching of the one-horned rhinoceros. "The protection of this magnificent animal has been a top priority of the Govt of Assam and in the last few years, we have made consistent efforts in this regard which has resulted in zero poaching cases of rhinos in the state for the first time," the Chief Minister stated. Ivy Farheen Hussain, Project Officer and Wildlife Crime Analyst of conservation organisation "Aaranyak", said that the IWT intricately linked to organized crime, transcends borders involving national and international criminal syndicates. It encompasses arms smuggling, money laundering, cross-border trafficking, and terrorism, all driven by the insatiable demand for rhino horns and body parts in black markets, she pointed out. Dr Jimmy Borah, Senior Manager, Legal and Advocacy Division of Aaranyak made similar observations. Hussain and Borah said that the demand for rhino horns, primarily from traditional medicine markets in Asia, has fuelled poaching across rhino range areas in India. Rhino horns are falsely believed to possess medicinal properties and are often used as status symbols. The poaching of rhinos has transformed into a highly lucrative and illicit industry, leading to the rapid decline of rhino populations. Behind the rhino poaching, organized crime networks operate with alarming sophistication. National and international gangs work in close coordination, leveraging their vast resources to orchestrate elaborate smuggling operations. These criminal enterprises are not limited to wildlife alone, they often branch into arms smuggling, money laundering, and even links to terrorism, further destabilizing regions, the experts said. To effectively deal with this illegal trade and crime, the Assam government has mounted a heroic defence of its rhino population. Over the years, their tireless efforts and innovative strategies have succeeded in minimizing rhino poaching, culminating in an astounding achievement -- zero poaching in 2022. This remarkable turnaround offers hope for the survival of these majestic creatures, Hussain and Borah stated. There are some 4018 Indian rhinos in the wilderness of India and Nepal. A significant portion of this population resides in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR), India's seventh Unesco world heritage site, with 2,613 rhinos, as reported in an estimation conducted in March 2022. Additionally, more than 250 rhinos thrive in Assam's other national parks including Orang, Pobitora, and Manas. In the ongoing battle against rhino poaching, Aaranyak is spearheading an initiative named'Disrupt and End Trade of Endangered and Rare Species'. The initiative serves as an umbrella for needed capacity building, workshops, meetings, collaborations and liaisons with various sectors like the judiciary, enforcement agencies, border security agencies, forest departments and transportation agencies. "The story of India's rhinos is not just one of survival but a beacon of hope for the preservation of our planet's precious biodiversity. Aaranyak had provided vehicles, motorbikes, and other field equipment for use by forest officials in enhancing their efforts to secure the future of the one horned rhinos in Assam," Ivy Farheen Hussain said. Measuring about 1,300 sq. km, KNPTR has one of the highest concentrations of anti-poaching camps compared to similar biodiverse areas in South Asia and Africa. According to officials of the Assam Forest Department's wildlife wing, Kaziranga has a total of 223 anti-poaching camps with one surveillance camp for every 5.82 sq. km. Involving at least three personnel, an anti-poaching camp guards a specific area, with one of them often from a vantage point atop the camp. Many greater one-horned rhinos wallow in water bodies close to these camps. Officials claimed the poaching has been more or less under control in Assam that saw poachers killing 190 rhinos between 2000 and 2021, the highest 27 each in 2013 and 2014. (Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in) sc/ Washington, Oct 8 : Indian-American lawmakers have been divided on military assistance to Ukraine, but are somewhat united in calling upon India to align itself with the US, choosing it over its long and historical ties with Russia. "It's obvious that the United States would stand against Chinese aggression on the Line of Control (Line of Actual Control) far more than Russia or Putin would, and that we really need to press India to not be as dependent on Russian defensively and to be willing to condemn Putin's aggression in Ukraine, just like we would condemn Chinese aggression beyond the Line of Control (Line of Actual Control)," said Ro Khanna, one of the four Indian-American members of the House of Representatives, at a congressional hearing in March 2022, just days after India abstained on a UN vote to condemn Russian invasion of Ukraine. India has since abstained in all Ukraine votes. Ami Bera, another Indian-American lawmaker, was frustrated about India's purchase of Russian oil disregarding the US-led coalition's sanctions. "Even worse, India is now reportedly looking to bypass international sanctions and buy Russian oil at a steeply discounted rate, potentially giving Putin an economic lifeline at a time when the Russian economy is reeling from international sanctions," he has said in a statement. All five Indian-American lawmakers have condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and supported the military assistance to help Ukraine defend itself. But two of them broke with the Joe Biden administration's "as long as it takes" stand. In a joint letter written in October 2022 with other progressive members of the Democratic caucus called upon President Biden to focus more on the diplomatic effort to end the war. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the progressive caucus, led the effort leading up to the letter; Khanna was among the other signatories. Indian-American lawmakers who did not sign were Bera and Raja Krishnamoorthi. The fifth, Shri Thanedar, became a member in 2023. Jayapal withdrew the letter in the storm that followed its release. Khanna defended the letter calling it a "commonsense letter". But he has since dialed down his calls for India to condemn Russia in strong terms or curtail its oil purchases, Krishnamoorthi has been aggressive on Ukraine, using the bully pulpit of the position of the Ranking Member of a committee of the House set up to focus on the US competition with China. "This year, we celebrate with a heavy heart as our friends and allies in Ukraine continue to battle against Russia's vicious, imperialistic invasion," he said in September at an event to celebrate Ukrainian independence day. "I remain committed to standing with Ukraine." Krishnamoorthi has not been critical of India for its stand on Ukraine unlike Khanna and Bera. But he did warn New Delhi to be careful of the weapons it gets from Russia. "We don't want to be in a situation where for some reason, the Russians somehow have given technology that's compromised by the CCP to India or others that could be taken advantage of by the CCP," Krishnamoorthi said in an interview. "I think there's just a very detailed conversation that's probably happening and should happen between our governments with regard to a whole range of technology now thatwe believe that it's critical to our collective security," he added. New Delhi, Oct 8 : In the initial days after the mutiny of the Wagner mercenary group under its late leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in June this year, many experts argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin had been severely, perhaps fatally, weakened. His subsequent actions, however, demonstrated hiscontinuing mastery of the political situation in Russia, writes, Thomas E. Graham, distinguished fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. He purged senior military leaders of suspect loyalty, including General Sergey Surovikin, a close Prigozhin ally who once commanded Russian forces fighting in Ukraine. He compelled most Wagner fighters to join the Ministry of Defence. Prigozhin's death in an airplane crash in August was -- rightly or wrongly -- seen as Putin's retribution, underscoring the stiff price of disloyalty. At the same time, the Kremlin cracked down on military bloggers who had been extremely critical of the conduct of the war, the article said. This should perhaps not be surprising. During the past two decades, Putin has proven to be a skillful and ruthless political operator, exploiting the inherent strengths of his position in the Russian political system, the article said. As president, he sits at the center of a vast web of patronage links that define the ruling elite: senior government officials and special services officers, the military brass, oligarchs and heads of major corporations, regional bosses, and leading academics and media representatives. Abruptly removing him risks collapsing the entire web, threatening the status and livelihood of each member of the Russian elite. Self-preservation thus provides a powerful incentive to remain loyal to Putin. In addition, as president, Putin has broad authority to appoint loyalists to control the levers of power -- the military and special services, key economic and financial institutions, the national media, and major corporations that manage the country's immense natural resources. He also effectively handpicks regional leaders, although they are technically elected by popular vote in carefully orchestrated elections. Those appointments create strong bonds of personal loyalty across Russia, most importantly, at the center of the system in Moscow that undergird Putin's power, it added. In his words, the war in Ukraine is in large part a matter of protecting Russia against the hostile "collective West". Despite significant setbacks in 2022 in and around Kiev, Kharkiv, and Kherson, Russia has appeared to hold its own in 2023, both militarily and economically. The Ukrainian counter-offensive has stalled. The Russian economy is growing, despite Western sanctions. It appears that Western support for Ukraine is beginning to crack. Victory still looks to be within reach for Moscow. In short, the conflict so far has done little to erode Putin's position, the article said. (Sanjeev Sharma can be reached atSanjeev.s@ians.in) Chennai, Oct 8 : The principal opposition party in Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK leaving the NDA and cutting its ties with the BJP has dealt a major blow to the saffron party in the Dravidian state. The BJP, which was trying to boost its fortunes by piggybacking on the popularity of the AIADMK, is now in a tizzy as the chances of a rapprochement are not bright. The BJP's new poster boy in Tamil Nadu and former IPS officer Annamalai's comments and social media postings against Dravidian icons led to the AIADMK and the BJP relationship breaking down. The BJP leader during his 'En Mann Enn Makkal' yatra in Tamil Nadu made disparaging comments against Dravidian icon and the first Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C.N. Annadurai who is credited with the all round development of the state. The BJP leader had earlier made statements against late AIADMK leader and former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa citing corruption during her regime. A senior AIADMK leader who did not want to be named while speaking to IANS said," The BJP leader feels that he can get away even after making insulting remarks against our top leaders including our late leaders, C.N. Annadurai and J. Jayalalithaa. Annamalai has time and again proved that he is an immature politician who gets carried away with small and minor gains." The BJP central leadership has already tried to patch up with the AIADMK with senior BJP leader and Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma acting as a troubleshooter. He had ,according to sources in the AIADMK, held discussions with the party's senior leaders but the Dravidian party was not willing for a rapprochement with the BJP. Interestingly Annamalai has taken a break from his 'En Mann, En Makkal' yatra and is hospitalised. Sources in the BJP told IANS that the central leadership of the party is unhappy with Annamalai and his upsetting the relationship with the AIADMK which would have paid rich dividends to the saffron party in the Dravidian heartland. It is to be noted that even after ten years in power from 2011 to 2021, the AIADMK could secure only a 33.29 percent vote share while the DMK which won the polls secured a 37.7 per cent vote share. While the DMK got 133 seats, the AIADMK won 66 seats. The BJP could garner only a 2.61 percent vote share even after piggybacking on the AIADMK.This clearly shows that the BJP is no match for the AIADMK at the ground level and without a Dravidian political party the saffron party's dream of breaking into the big league in Tamil Nadu politics will remain only a pipe dream. While Annamalai is claiming that the fight on the ground is between the DMK and the BJP, political pundits pooh-poohed the claims. Political analyst and director of Social and Economic Studies in Chennai MJ Sunil told IANS that, "The BJP should have played second fiddle to the AIADMK if they wanted to slowly and steadily develop in Tamil Nadu. The party will come a cropper in the 2024 general elections. There is no hope left for the BJP in the state while the AIADMK has lot of options including support from minority and Dalit groups." Even though the BJP in Tamil Nadu is trying to portray itself as a monolithic unit under Annamalai, many senior leaders are unhappy at the moves of the state party president. A senior BJP leader while speaking to IANS said, " Annamalai thought that he could conquer Tamil Nadu in a few months. The caste and social realities of this state are different and they have to be properly taken into account if we want to make an impact. The AIADMK alliance was a proper ladder for the BJP to develop the party in a few years. Without the support of a popular Dravidian political party, the BJP may not be able to do anything in the state which has its own social and caste combinations." After Karnataka, the hopes of the BJP in Tamil Nadu also seem to be fading and with the AIADMK trying for new political alliances, a patch up seems to be difficult at this juncture with the Dravidian party. Imphal, Oct 8 : The unceasing five-month long ethnic conflict in Manipur, apart from claiming over 180 lives, leaving a trail of destruction and displacing over 70,000 people of various communities, has also exhausted the dreams of a large number of people, especially students studying professional courses. Challenging the heat of the conflict broken out on May 3, many have stood strong to continue to fulfill their dreams. Among them are the violence-affected MBBS students of the newly established state-run Churachandpur Medical College (CMC) located at the district headquarters of Chin-Kuki-Zo-dominated Churachandpur, also one of the strife hotbeds. The strife had forced all CMC students and staff, except for those belonging to Kuki-Zo communities, to flee to Imphal five days after the violence unfolded. With the approval of the National Medical Commission (Undergraduate Medical Education Board), the state government and the CMC management arranged regular classes from three locations -- state-run Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) complex in Imphal East district, State Academy of Training (SAT) at Imphal West's Takyelpat and its original location in Churachandpur. With its intake capacity of 100 MBBS seats, the CMC began its first academic session on November 15 last year. Another 100 students, who were selected for the current year under it, have also started their classes from September 1 at SAT complex, Takyelpat. CMC Director Dr (Professor) S. Iboyaima Singh said after about two months since the conflict broke out, 92 first batch, first year MBBS students of the college resumed their classes from July 19 on the premises of BDS College within JNIMS campus, while six students of the same batch belonging to Chin-Kuki-Zo communities are pursuing their studies at their original campus in Churachandpur with certain arrangements of teachers and other staff. He said that classes for 92 newly selected second batch MBBS students began from September 1 at the SAT Takyel complex, a temporary study centre provided by the state government, while eight Kuki-Zo students of the same batch are in CMC. "Despite the impact of the crisis, the college has been functioning smoothly at all three locations -- JNIMS, SAT Takyel and CMC -- with the help of the government," Singh said, expressing his happiness. CMC's Assistant Professor (Community medicine department) Dr Guddi Laishram said that while the girl students of both batches from outside Manipur and far flung districts of the state are staying at JNIMS hostel, all boy students from the same places are staying on rent and private hostels near JNIMS. The first batch of MBBS students will appear for their pre-university test under Manipur University scheduled to begin on October 9 and the final exam next month. "All is not lost as the government and college management have worked hard enough to resume classes to ensure the academic career of the students is not lost. Now the classes are on smoothly though from three places," the professor added. Despite the hard efforts extended to run the college, its male students coming from outside Manipur and far flung districts of the state are facing big problems in terms of conveyance and accommodation. First batch student, Sagar from Uttar Pradesh, narrating his plights, said, "I'm staying on rent outside JNIMS complex. I'm paying Rs 5,000 per month excluding electricity charge. Being a non-local living on rent is very difficult for me, so I request the government to arrange a hostel for us." A second batch student from Ukhrul district Khayeingam Varu said, "Our classes began from September 1 at Takyel but not to the optimum level because the campus is not ours." "Since we don't have our own hostel, I stay on rent paying Rs 8,000 per month. As the Takyel complex is quite far from my rented place at Sanghakpham. I spend Rs 100 for auto rickshaw fare then walk 500 meters to and fro to attend class," lamented Varu. "During curfew and bandhs, we cannot go to college. This is a big loss of our academic career," he rued. Though classes are going on, practical is necessary but we haven't done any practical for bio chemistry, anatomy and physiology, "so we are quite lacking behind," he continued. About the ongoing conflict he said, "We pray for restoration of peace and normalcy. Everyone is suffering and nobody from each side is benefiting anything from this conflict." Poonam Gothwal, first batch student from Rajasthan, who stays in JNIMS hostel said, "My parents, family members were worried about me during the crisis." "On May 3 and the subsequent days in Churachandpur we heard firing sounds of tear gas shells and guns. Arson also happened close to our hostel. We were saved by God's grace. We have not lost our academic year. Let there be an everlasting peace in Manipur," she said. Amid the woes, CMC had on September 21 observed the 'International Day of Peace 2023' at the auditorium of JNIMS where its first batch students belted out two iconic songs- Michael Jackson's 'Heal the World' and Mantisyahu's 'One Day'. They also held posters reading 'Unite people and create peace', 'Peace today, peace tomorrow, peace will' ,'War is costly, peace is priceless'. (Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in) Karimganj : , Oct 8 (IANS) The everyday life of the 44 families in Gobindapur village at the India-Bangladesh border in Assam's Karimganj district is not normal as the village falls in the no man's land zone between the International Borders of the two countries, separated from the mainland by a barbed wire fence. Work on the 124-km-long barbed wire fencing began in 1994 in the Barak Valley areas of Assam. Although the residents of Gobindapur village have voting rights, they are Indian citizens, yet the villagers have to abide by a lot of regulations. The gates of the fencing are opened in the morning and closed by the Border Security Force (BSF) before dusk. The villagers must return to their homes within this time. Moreover, outsiders cannot enter the village without the proper permission of the authorities. However, the village celebrates Durga Puja with full flavor. Gobindapur village has the history of organising Durga Puja for more than 100 years. The village has a small temple where the puja is organised every year. The preparations have been started at the village to celebrate this year's Durga Puja too. Birendra Namasudra, one of the villagers, told IANS, "We were separated from the Indian mainland due to partition. However, we did not want to leave our ancestral home. There are several rules at the border. According to the policy given by BSF, we have to return to the village before evening. As a result, we do not have the opportunity of pandal hopping during the Durga Puja." The worship of Goddess Durga has been going on in this village for more than 100 years, according to the villagers. They claimed that they have the blessing of Goddess Durga, and that is why they can continue the puja. The economic situation of the villagers is not good. But the whole village is decorated during Durga Puja and Mangal Aarti is also held in the evening. On the nights of Ashtami and Navami, small competitions are held. Prasad is distributed among the villagers for four days. Another villager, Bipul Das, claimed that although the Border Security Forces are somewhat strict, they are the ones who extend their helping hand in organising the puja. "The soldiers of the security forces come forward to help by providing financial donations, the provision of drinking water, the construction of pandals, lighting, and various materials," he added. Karimganj district shares a 92-km-long border with Bangladesh, mostly with Sylhet district of that country. Apart from Gobindapur, there are eight Indian villages located beyond the fencing. The other villages beyond fencing in Karimganj are Lafashail, Jarapata, Latukandi, Kuorbag, Mahisaahan, Tesua, Barmagul, and Deo Tuli. However, no other villages celebrate Durga Puja. Gobindapur village has 44 Indian families; 42 of them are Hindu, and the rest are Muslims. The Muslims of Gobindapur village also join the festivities of the Durga Puja. The entire village spends the four days of Puja with joy. Another villager, Titu Namasusra, said, "During the Covid-19 pandemic, we had to stop the Durga Puja temporarily due to financial distress. We don't seek support from outsiders; it's our own Durga Puja. As the situation improved, we started celebrating the previous year." Washington, Oct 8 : A peace rally was held near the White Mesa uranium mill in the US state of Utah to protest the mill's environmental and health impacts. The rally on Saturday was sponsored by the White Mesa Concerned Community, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and their partners to protect the Ute community, health, water, air, land, culture, and sacred sites from the contamination of nearby White Mesa uranium mill, Xinhua news agency reported. According to White Mesa Concerned Community, "The mill belches acrid smoke from its stacks and dumps toxic and radioactive waste in ponds built atop ancient burial grounds." A protest walk to the uranium mill followed the rally. The White Mesa mill has been processing uranium ore next to the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation in southeast Utah for more than four decades. The mill, the only operating conventional uranium mill in the US, has sparked increasing concerns for its impacts on the environment and public health. Mumbai, Oct 8 : Bollywood actress Nushrratt Bharuccha is on her way back home to India after being stranded in Israel amid conflict. Nushrrattwas in Israel to participate in Haifi Film Festival. With the help of the Embassy, she is being brought back home. However, she will be taking a connecting flight. Her publicist shared: "We have finally managed to get in touch with Nushrratt and with the help of the Embassy, she is being safely brought back home. We did not get a direct flight so she is on a connecting flight home." "For her further safety, more details cannot be shared but as soon as she lands in India, we will inform you. We are relieved and thank God that she is safe and on her way to India." The war between Israel and Hamas has intensified.With the overnight rocket attacks by Hamas, Israel has started attacking Gaza in retaliation. Israel has used bulldozers on Hamas positions. Hamas is an Islamist organisation with a military wing that came into being in 1987, emerging out of the Muslim Brotherhood, a Sunni Islamist group that was founded in the late 1920s in Egypt. Hamas, meanwhile, controls the Gaza Strip, an enclave that is home to nearly two million Palestinians and is frequently the site of civilian casualties when fighting flares between militants and Israeli forces. Hamas has over the years claimed many attacks on Israel and has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the US, the European Union and Israel. Israel accuses its archenemy Iran of backing Hamas, CNN reported. BAGHDAD, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- A Turkish drone strike in northern Iraq on Saturday killed two militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and wounded three others, the Counter-Terrorism Service of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region said in a statement. They were killed at 7:10 p.m. local time (1610 GMT) when a Turkish drone attacked a group of PKK militants at a refugee camp for Turkish Kurds near the town of Makhmour, some 60 km southeast of the northern city of Mosul, the statement said. The Turkish forces frequently carry out ground operations, airstrikes, and artillery bombardments in northern Iraq against the PKK, especially in the Qandil Mountains, the main base of the group. The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for more than three decades. New Delhi, Oct 8 : The Indian Air Force (IAF) is poised to embrace the challenges of the 21st century, with a commitment to modernisation, innovation, and international cooperation, said Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on the 92nd IAF Day. He said, "Let us all stand together in honouring the IAF and express our gratitude to the men and women who soar high to protect our skies and secure our future." As part of the celebrations, the force has organised the Air Force Day Parade at Air Force Station Bamrauli in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj. This will be followed by an air display on the banks of the Triveni Sangam at Prayagraj in the afternoon. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan extended greetings and felicitation to all air warriors, veterans and their families. He said, "IAF will continue to be a symbol of our nation's strength and resolve. May the IAF reach new heights of glory always. This momentous occasion marks nearly a century of unwavering dedication and unparalleled service of the IAF to the nation. As we celebrate this milestone, we also pay homage to the bravehearts who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation. Their courage, valour and dedication continue to inspire generations of Indians. "The IAF has played an important role in all wars fought by the country, undertaken punitive air strikes, extricated the Indian diaspora from conflict zones and provided relief through Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions within and beyond the borders." "The IAF has a rich history of regular and successful engagements in international air exercises with friendly countries. It has adequately demonstrated interoperability with global Air Forces, thereby credibly establishing its capability to operate effectively in our immediate neighbourhood and also in our extended environment," he added. He said that the Indian Air Force has encouraged capability development through indigenous defence production under aAatmanirbhar Bharata. An appreciable effort has been put in towards capacity enhancement of force multipliers in the form of Electronic Warfare, harnessing Space and Cyber capabilities to fight tomorrowas war, Artificial Intelligence-based Decision Tools and systems incorporating the latest technology like Swarm Unmanned Munition Systems, an outcome of successful Mehar Baba Drone competition conceptualised by the IAF. Security tightened in Srinagar on Aug 5 on 2nd anniversary of article 370 abrogation. Image Source: IANS News Srinagar, Oct 8 : Heightened security was in place across the Valley on Sunday ahead of President Draupadi Murmu's visit on October 11. The President will deliver the 20th convocation address of Kashmir University on October 11. This will be her first visit to the Valley after she became the country's President. The President will award meritorious students/scholars of the University from 2020 onwards. Four hundred students/scholars will receive gold medals, PhD and M.Phil degrees at the convocation. After the convocation, the President will attend a light and sound show on the Dal Lake in Srinagar where the Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha is hosting her on dinner in the evening of October 11. As perthe President's security protocol, the campus of Kashmir University is being sanitized days ahead of the VVIP visit. Special intelligence review is being taken of the profile of all those who attend the convocation in whatever capacity their presence is required during the event. Special security personnel in civvies and in uniform will dot the entire over 1500 Kanal campus from Monday onwards and entry into the campus would be highly regulated through electronic and human surveillance. "It has to be a 100 per cent safe and secure environment within and outside the campus and for this purpose drone surveillance, electronic equipment, police, paramilitary and all other necessary hi-tech gadgets and human presence are in place," said a senior security official. Extra security drills and surprise cordon and search operations have been started to keep anti-national elements and miscreants at bay. All vehicles and pedestrians entering Srinagar city are being frisked and additional deployments of mobile bunker vehicles and drop gates have been made in Srinagar and adjacent districts days ahead of the President's visit. "A significant aspectof all our security arrangements is that the common man should be put to least inconvenience while ensuring 100 per cent security to the President," the officials said. Kolkata, Oct 8 : The CBI conducted searches at the residence of West Bengal minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim on Sunday in connection with the agency's ongoing probe in the multi-crore cash-for-municipalities' recruitment case. A second team of the CBI sleuths reached the residence of the maverick Trinamool Congress legislator Madan Mitra in relation to the same probe. Currently while the officers in the two teams of CBI are within the residences of Hakim and Mitra, the outer-ring of their residences have been totally cordoned off by the central armed police forces. No one is allowed to enter the house or come out of it. At Hakimas residence at Chetla in South Kolkata, the central forces personnel did not even allow the ministeras personal bodyguards and advocates to enter the residence. Even the ministeras daughter Priyadarshini Hakim was initially prevented from entering the house but was allowed later. The local supporters of Hakim and Trinamool Congress have started protesting against the raid & search operations at the main road adjacent to the residence of the minister in south Kolkata. Till the time the report was filed there was no reaction from top Trinamool Congress leadership, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or the partyas national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. On Thursday, the sleuths of Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is conducting a parallel probe in the municipalitiesa recruitment case, conducted raid and search operations at 12 locations, including the residence of the state food & supplies minister, Rathin Ghosh. Ghaziabad, Oct 8 : Ghaziabad Police have arrested a 27-year-old man for allegedly molesting and then strangling his seven-year-old niece to death, an official said on Sunday, adding that the accused even tried to flee after snatching the pistol of police personnel. The accused was identified as Imran. According to police, an information was received on Saturday regarding the incident following which an FIR was registered under appropriate sections and the accused was arrested. "In this process, the accused was taken to MMG Hospital for a medical examination. After undergoing the medical examination, while bringing the accused back, he attempted to snatch a pistol from a police officer present with him and fired shots during this attempt," said a senior police official. "In response to this threat, the police resorted to retaliatory firing, and the accused was hit in the leg, causing him to be injured. The injured accused has been sent to the hospital for treatment. Preliminary legal action is underway," the official added. Jaipur, Oct 8 : If sources in political circles are to be believed, the BJP is contemplating fielding Union Minister and Jodhpur MP, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, from the city's Sardarpura seat against Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. This is part of the party's policy of fielding a few popular MPs in Vidhan Sabha polls who, as per the party's strategy, can emerge winners against Congress candidates. Apart from Shekhawat, there is speculation that Diya Kumari will be fielded from Rajsamand against Rajasthan Speaker CP Joshi and Rajya Sabha MP Kirodi Lal Meena will be fielded from Sawai Madhopur, to name a few. The Jodhpur seat may see a clash of the Titans, said sources adding, "The BJP is seriously contemplating fielding Shekhawat who is already in a political tussle with Gehlot since the 2019 Lok Sabha polls." In 2019 Shekhawat had defeated Ashok Gehlot's son Vaibhav Gehlot from the Jodhpur seat. Since then, Shekhawat has been attacking the senior Gehlot saying that the Chief Minister is frustrated by the fact that his son lost to him (Shekhawat) and this is why he keeps making statements against him. Shekhawat was made an accused in the alleged Rs 900-crore Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society scam in April. Shekhawat then filed a defamation suit in a Delhi court against Gehlot after the latter accused the former's family members of being involved in the scam. Shekhawat said neither he nor any of his family members were involved in the scam and the allegations made against him by Gehlot were baseless. "I have already said that I have committed no sin. None of my family members have direct or indirect involvement in the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society scam," he added. The Jal Shakti Minister has also been attacking Gehlot on issues like the paper leak case, appeasement policies and other such matters. So, looking at this ongoing battle between the two veterans, the party is thinking of taking this fight to the hustings in Sardarpura, said sources. In fact, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Jodhpur was seen as an extension of this initiative. Modi returned to Jodhpur after five years, at a time when the Congress was continuously creating a favourable atmosphere through the frequent visits of Ashok Gehlot. Now, the BJP seems to be coming out strong after Modi's visit, because he came at a time when the party's 'Parivartan Yatra' did not create an upbeat atmosphere in the party and on the ground. Modi reached out to the entire Marwar belt through this visit and its impact will be seen on 43 seats there, as the previous election results were largely not in favour of the BJP, especially in Jodhpur and Nagaur. As soon as he reached Jodhpur, Modi met former MLA Devi Singh Bhati, who recently turned to the BJP fold. He also paid respects to erstwhile maharaja Gaj Singh here. All this is being seen as a bid by Modi to create strong bonds with the Rajput society, which will go a long way in case Shekhawat is fielded against Gehlot. Even in his speech, Modi tried to connect with the Rajput community by discussing Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. In a strategic manner, the Vishnoi community, which is continuously rallying against Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Jodhpur, was also addressed. Shekhawat started by welcoming the Prime Minister to "the land of Amrita Devi." Significantly, Amrita Devi is from the Vishnoi community, and Modi was also given the sapling of a Khejri tree to plant, as it is the favourite tree of the Vishnoi community. Modi also reminded the people of the Jodhpur riots and the incidents of Sanchore, Sirohi and Nagaur. By mentioning these incidents, Modi reminded the people of the state about those tense times which no one was talking about till now. Through its welfare schemes and sops the state government had made an attempt to show the people of Rajasthan its soft side, but now, with his visit, Modi has created a positive atmosphere for the BJP in Jodhpur. Now, all are waiting to see if the speculations about a clash of the two Titans, Gehlot and Shekhawat in the elections turn out to be a reality. Jaipur, Oct 8 : As the elections approach, there is curiosity about what position and role former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje will get as she stayed away from the recent Parivartan Yatras and was seen at the gathering only at its start and finish. In fact, in all her recent speeches, she has been talking only of women's struggles, demon Mahishahur, crisis and so on In the last four years and eight months, Raje has been continuously making headlines for missing from party posters, for staying aloof from party programmes and also for drawing huge crowds in her own gatherings. It was also seen that party leaders failed to attract huge gatherings in their Partivartan and Jan Akrosh yatras, however Raje on her own has been able to draw big crowds. Sources say that she is keen to be announced as the CM face for these assembly polls, but the party leaders since the last few months have been insisting that the polls will be contested projecting the party symbol, Lotus. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently announced that the party will contest on the Lotus. Speculation has been rife in political circles about differences between Raje and the party high command which are yet to be sorted out. Despite her frequent visits to Delhi and a visit to the RSS office recently, things do not seem to be working out in her favour. In fact, in her last few gatherings, she has been mentioning factors like struggle, God, and so on. At a function in Alwar recently, she said, "in times of crisis, God helps the devotees at every level. It may be late but it is not dark always," she said, At another event, she said, "Women cannot change society without a struggle. Since time immemorial, women have had to endure not only physical but also mental torture, but there is a limit to tolerance." She said that whenever atrocities and injustice reached their peak, Matrishakti had to come forward. When the Gods were helpless, Mother Goddess herself came in the form of Mahishasurmardani and killed the demon Mahishasura. Women take the form of Chandi to protect their self-respect, she said. Raje thanked PM Narendra Modi for bringing the Nari Vandan Bill and said, "PM Narendra Modi made this possible," adding that "our BJP government gave reservation, so today fifty percent of the district heads, heads and sarpanches in the state are women. For the first time, there were two women MLAs in the state assembly. Today there are 24. After women reservation, there will be 66. There were 22 women MPs in the first Lok Sabha. Today there are 66 which will become 181 after women's reservation," she added. At another function, she said, "Raksha sutra of mother power will give me courage to overcome every difficulty." She was getting Raksha Sutra tied at her official residence by women who had come from all over the state. She said that "the Raksha Sutra is a raw thread, but it is strong and unbreakable. It is a protective shield for me. It has the power of all the women of Rajasthan which will give me the courage to overcome every difficulty. It will continue to inspire me to serve the people of the state. It is said that in the Mahabharata, when Krishna's finger was cut, Draupadi tore her saree and tied it on Krishna's finger. Krishna also protected her from the Kaurvas. I will also serve you with the inspiration of Krishna and will keep fighting for the rights of every Rajasthani." Meanwhile, state party leaders have been saying that she continues to be a senior party worker who holds the position of BJP national vice president . Narayan Pancharia, election committee chief in Rajasthan, said, "Raje is our senior leader. She took our flag forward in Jharkhand recently and she has been fully contributing to the party." Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, "I don't think she is angry; this is part of her nature, she came to the Parivartan Yatra during the start and at its end and did not attend the yatrain between, this is her nature and there is no issue like she is annoyed with the party. Further she is also facing personal issues like her daughter in not keeping well." Jaipur, Oct 8 : When will the first list of candidates come out, this seems to have become a billion dollar question in the Congress, as well as in the BJP camp. While Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had said a few months ago that the party would announce the list of candidates two months before elections, speculation is rife as to when this list will come. Speaking to IANS, Congress state incharge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said, "We are planning on bringing winnable candidates. Our focus is on the youth. Our first list should come out soon after the Model Code of Conduct is announced." There is major speculation in the Congress party that has been hit hard by factionalism due to the feud between Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot. Also, there are reports that around 30 per cent tickets will be cut this time in the wake of the anti-incumbency factor hitting local MLAs. However, Randhawa refuted reports of factionalism and said that the party stands united. "There is no divide and no two camps. Have you seen anyone speaking against another in the last few months," he asked, without taking names of any leader specifically. Meanwhile, he accepted the fact that nepotism was a challenge in the party and the High Command was working to weed out this problem in Rajasthan. However, it's not only the Congress that is contemplating on its list of candidates and their winnability factor, but the saffron party, too, seems to be sailing in the same boat. Recently Union Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President JP Nadda and General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santosh made a surprise visit to Jaipur where they had a meeting with senior party leaders of Rajasthan. Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore, Deputy Leader of Opposition Satish Poonia, Organisation Secretary Chandrashekhar, MP Rajyavardhan Rathore and a few others participated in the meeting. There was a surprise entry by MP Diya Kumari, who went after meeting Amit Shah for ten minutes. There were reports that Shah and the team would meet RSS leaders of the state too, however, this meeting was cancelled without any explanation and held in Delhi later. In the Delhi meeting, Rajasthan BJP leaders were asked to give a list with names of winnable candidates. However, sources said that the names given by the state leaders did not match with the names favoured by the party leadership and hence the release of the list was delayed. BL Santosh came to Jaipur again and discussed the names with senior leaders and hence it is expected that the first list will be released soon after a consensus is built. Meanwhile, the party is also facing testing times as senior leader Vasundhara Raje has been organising her own gatherings and pulling huge crowds. While party insiders say that she is trying to convince the top leadership of her strong candidature for the Chief Minister's job by making a show of strength, Prime Minister Modi has declared that the BJP's symbol 'lotus' will be the face of the party during elections. While it is clear from Modi's directive that no single leader from Rajasthan will be the face in these polls, the party is reluctant to contest elections without a face. However, Narayan Panchariya, the BJP's election committee incharge refuted such claims. "Raje has been a senior member of our family and her contribution to our party is immense. In fact, recently, she was in Jharkhand and was the star of the BJP show there. She was assigned four constituencies in Jharkhand for rallies to mark nine years of the Modi government, and she did her job well," he said. Dwelling on the issue of tickets, he said, "It will come soon. Anytime now." Meanwhile party workers from the Congress and the BJP are eagerly awaiting the list and agree that factionalism is making it tough for the leaders to shortlist winnable candidates. "We expect that the youth and women will be given more chances in this election", leaders of both parties told IANS. Jaipur, Oct 8 : A surprising silence between the Gehlot and Pilot camps seen in the last few months was being discussed in political corridors in Rajasthan. However, recently this lull was broken when Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot took a dig at Sachin Pilot, terming him as the "High Command". This one sentence revealed the existing ongoing fight within the party even as the Assembly polls are nearand exposed the fake narrative set by the party that all is well within its confines in the state. Dismissing the talks, Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, while speaking to IANS on fractions in Congress, had said, "Where are fractions? Have you ever seen anybody from our party speaking against each other." However, the drama of burying the hatchet, at least in public, to project a united front in the upcoming Assembly elections was over when Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot once again took a dig at Sachin Pilot. In a query on Pilot's role in ticket distribution at a programme in Jaipur on Thursday, Gehlot said, "Sachin Pilot is the leader of our party. Now he himself has become the high command. There is no need to tell the high command (what to do). "When the high command itself distributes the tickets, then Pilot will also have a role (in the exercise),"he said, adding, "Being a CWC member is a big thing." As per political experts, "The comment appears to be a jibe at Pilot's membership of the party's highest decision making body." It was like a temporary truce which was being displayed by two Congress camps ever since the high command called a meeting in Delhi a few months ago. Ever since this meeting, neither Pilot group spoke on anything controversial nor Gehlot camp, said the party workers. However, the timing of this comment is also in discussion. Congress leaders said that Gehlot and PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra recently had a tiff over the party's consultant agency 'Design box'. Dotasra had issues with this agency who was portraying only the CM's face in all its posters with no other signs and symbols of Congress party and no other leaders. He reportedly took this issue to Congress high command as well which was equally unhappy over the posters, said sources. Meanwhile Naresh Arora, co-founder, Design Box, in his post on X said, "Sections of the media are cooking up imaginary stories of a meeting between me and the honourable RPCC chief Shri Govind Singh Dotasara. I have the utmost respect for him and for Shri Rahul Gandhi. Vested interests trying to sabotage the Congress campaign before elections will not succeed -- a Congress victory in Rajasthan is a foregone conclusion, he said tagging @RahulGandhi and @GovindDotasra. Meanwhile, party worker Sushi Asopa from the Pilot camp, while speaking to IANS, said, "Sachin Pilot is now CWC member which is the highest decision-making body in Congress. Maybe his camp and he is not so happy with Pilot being the CWC member and so comes this comment. "In fact Gehlot too was given a chance to become high command (by offering a president role of Congress) however he did not accept," said Asopa. He further said, "It's one-man army as of now in Rajasthan and Gehlot is a king so he is playing from the front foot without considering high command it seems; if victory, it will be his gain, and if party loses, it will be his loss," he added. Meanwhile a Gehlot camp worker from CMO said, "This statement should not be blown up unnecessarily as it simply says that Pilot himself is a CWC member. So why should we decide on his tickets as CWC and AICC are decision making bodies in Congress." All eyes are on Pilot to counteract. Whether he comments or keeps doing what he has been doing for the last many months drawing big crowds in his gathering and showing his strength yet being silent. San Francisco, Oct 8 : Chip-maker Intel has teased a "Windows refresh" for 2024, reportedly preparing its Meteor Lake desktop platform for a next generation of Windows likely to be called Windows 12 amid AI push. During the recent Citi's analyst conference, Intel CFO David Zinsner discussed a Windows refresh next year, reports The Verge. "We actually think 2024 is going to be a pretty good year for client, in particular because of the Windows refresh," Zinsner was quoted as saying. "We still think that the install base is pretty old, and does require a refresh. We think next year may be the start of that given the Windows catalyst," he added. The company last month previewed the next generation of Intel Xeon processors, revealing that 5th Gen Intel Xeon processors will bring a combination of performance improvements and faster memory, while using the same amount of power, to the world's data centres when they launch on December 14. This new PC experience arrives with the upcoming Intel Core Ultra processors, code-named Meteor Lake, featuring Intel's first integrated neural processing unit, or NPU, for power-efficient AI acceleration and local inference on the PC. Meteor Lake is Intel's first CPU with different chiplets for each component and the first on its Intel 4 process node. Intel said that artificial intelligence (AI) is giving rise to the 'Siliconomy,' a new era of global expansion driven by the magic of silicon and software where AI PCs will dominate our lives. At the 'Intel Innovation' event, the company unveiled technologies to bring AI everywhere and to make it more accessible across all workloads from client and edge to network and cloud. Palestinians are seen near an Israeli tank, near the fence of the Gaza-Israel border, east of the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Happening now: The Israeli military confirmed that Palestinian militants had launched almost 3,000 rockets against Israel, and dozens of militants had infiltrated southern Israel. Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, claimed to have captured a number of Israeli officers and soldiers, adding that they are being held in "safe places." In response, the Israeli military said it had targeted Hamas sites and headquarters with dozens of warplanes across various regions of the coastal enclave. Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz also said his country would cut off the power supply to the Palestinian enclave in the wake of the Hamas attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in a national address that Israel was "in a state of war" and ordered "a full mobilization of reserves." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held an emergency meeting with key officials, emphasizing the right of the Palestinian people to defend themselves against Israeli forces and settlers. Casualties: Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the death toll among Israelis has crossed 200, marking it as the deadliest attack in Israel in decades. What are they saying: China is deeply concerned over the current escalation of tensions and violence between Palestine and Israel, and calls on relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians and avoid further deterioration of the situation, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Sunday. Sudan on Saturday voiced support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people in response to the developments in the Palestinian territories earlier on the day. In a phone call, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan highlighted the necessity for respecting the Palestinian people's rights while evaluating the latest developments in the Arab state, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry. Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit slammed on Saturday Israel's violent policies against the Palestinians as "a time bomb," calling for an immediate cease-fire in the Palestinian Gaza Strip that is currently witnessing deadly clashes between the two sides. The Iraqi government on Saturday warned that continued escalation between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) would impact negatively on the stability of the region. Government Spokesman Basim al-Awadi said in a statement that Iraq affirms its position towards the Palestinian issue, as it stands by the Palestinian people in achieving "their full legitimate rights." Jordan on Saturday stressed the need to halt the dangerous escalation in the Gaza Strip and its surroundings. Jordan's Foreign Ministry warned in a statement of the serious repercussions of the escalation, especially in light of the Israeli attacks and violations against the Palestinian people, as well as against the Islamic and Christian holy sites in the West Bank and Jerusalem. Timeline: Hamas official criticizes U.S. biased position towards Israel GAZA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday criticized the biased position of the United States towards Israel amid the current escalating tensions in the Gaza Strip. Saleh al-Arouri, deputy chief of Hamas, said in a press statement that "the hypocritical position of the U.S. is known to the world, and we do not count on it." Al-Arouri's remarks came after U.S. President Joe Biden affirmed his country's full support for Israel's right to defend itself in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza rises to 232 GAZA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 232, with 1,697 others injured, according to an update from the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza on Saturday. Hamas fires 150 rockets at Tel Aviv in response to Israeli attack on Palestine Tower GAZA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said in a statement that it fired 150 rockets at Tel Aviv on Saturday in response to the Israeli airstrike on a residential tower in Gaza. Israeli media outlets reported that sirens sounded in Tel Aviv as a result of the rocket attack. The 14-floor Palestine Tower, one of the first residential towers built in Gaza, contains residential apartments and headquarters for local media companies and relief institutions. Israel to cut power supply to Gaza Strip after Hamas attacks: minister JERUSALEM, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Israel Katz announced Saturday that power to the Gaza Strip will be cut off in light of the latest round of fighting between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). "I signed the order instructing the electric company to stop supplying electricity to the Gaza Strip. What was will no longer be," Katz posted on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Captured Israeli officers, soldiers held in "safe places": Hamas armed wing GAZA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), announced on Saturday that the Israeli officers and soldiers it captured earlier in the day are being held in "safe places" in Gaza. In a brief statement, Abu Obida, spokesperson of the armed group, said they have captured "dozens of Israeli officers and soldiers, and they have been secured in safe places and resistance tunnels." Hamas armed wing says fighting ongoing in 25 Israeli sites GAZA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said on Saturday that the fighting with the Israeli army is still continuing in 25 sites in the Israeli cities. In a statement, al-Qassam said that "our fighters were able to cross the enemy's defensive line under intense missile cover and targeting of the enemy's command and control systems." Israel confirms civilians, soldiers held as hostages in Gaza JERUSALEM, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Some Israeli civilians and soldiers have been taken as hostages by the Hamas militant group in Gaza Strip, confirmed Israel Defense Forces spokesman. Daniel Hagari told reporters that some Israeli soldiers have been killed during clashes with Hamas, without revealing the number of hostages and soldiers killed. Over 100 Israelis killed during massive Hamas attack JERUSALEM, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least 100 Israelis were killed during a Hamas rocket and infiltrating attack since Saturday morning, local media reported, citing the Israeli Health Ministry, adding that over 900 were injured, dozens of them critically wounded. At least 198 Palestinians killed in Israeli air strikes: health sources GAZA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least 198 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air strikes and over 1,600 others were wounded, media reports said Saturday quoting health sources. Over 40 Israelis killed during Hamas attack: emergency services JERUSALEM, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Over 40 Israelis have been killed and more than 700 injured in the Islamic Resistance Movement's (Hamas) offensive that began earlier on Saturday, reported Israeli media citing Magen David Adom from emergency services. Israeli officials have not confirmed reports on various media channels that tens of Israeli civilians and soldiers are being held captive by Hamas. Palestinians have right to defend themselves: president Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday that the Palestinian people have the right to defend themselves against the "Israeli violations." During an emergency leadership meeting held in Ramallah, Abbas instructed the concerned Palestinian authorities to provide everything necessary "to strengthen the steadfastness of the Palestinians in the face of crimes committed by the Israeli occupation and settler gangs," Over 22 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza: medical source More than 22 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured by the Israeli strikes attacking Gaza, a Palestinian medical source said on Saturday. "The deaths, as well as injuries, were transferred to local hospitals in the Gaza Strip, while a number of injuries are suffering from critical health conditions," the source said to Xinhua. At least 22 Israelis killed in Hamas surprise offensive on Israel JERUSALEM, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Israeli emergency services confirmed that at least 22 Israelis were killed and hundreds wounded in a surprise offensive carried out by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday. "We are at war," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared in a video released by his office. "We will return fire of a magnitude that the enemy has not known. The enemy will pay an unprecedented price." Hamas releases video of capturing Israelis RAMALLAH, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), released on Saturday a short video showing some militants capturing a number of Israelis from the Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip. In the 37-second short video, members of the Al-Qassam Brigades were shown kidnapping a number of Israelis in civilian clothes inside an army military base, without providing further details. Hamas announces start of new military operation against Israel GAZA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Mohammed al-Deif, a leader from Hamas, announced on Saturday the beginning of a new military operation the "Al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel. Rockets fired from Gaza into Israel: sources Gaza, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- A barrage of rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel on Saturday morning, Palestinian security sources and witnesses told Xinhua. Sirens are sounding in central Israel, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement. Jaipur, Oct 8 : Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has been on a face-off with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot ever since he defeated Vaibhav Gehlot, the CM's son, in the Lok Sabha polls in 2019 from Jodhpur, which has been Gehlot's home turf for the last four decades. The tussle between the Rajasthan CM and Shekhawat is an open secret now. The two leaders have engaged in war of words on many issues, of which the Sanjeevani scam has been a burning one. There are also speculation that the upcoming Assembly polls in Rajasthan might see a Gehlot vs Shekhawat contest. Shekhawat, who has filed a defamation case against Gehlot, had said on Friday that if the CM publicly apologises for his statement, he will consider forgiving him. The case pertains to alleged "misleading statements" made by Gehlot against Shekhawat in connection with the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society scam. Gehlot had said after a budget review meeting at the state secretariat on February 21 that the entire Shekhawat family, including his parents and wife, were involved in the scam. IANS spoke to Shekawhat on several issues, including the state government's PR agency Design Box and many more. Here are excerpts from the interview: IANS: There have been talks that you will be fielded from Sardarpura... A: There is no such discussion on the party platform as of now... In fact, there has been no discussion on any MP contesting from anywhere till date. It is the party's parliamentary board that decides if an MP will contest the elections or continue working for the organisation... It is the party's prerogative, and nobody can decide on his own. However, I am not afraid of being fielded from Sardarpura or from any other seat for that matter. If the party asks me to contestfrom any seat, I will do so. In fact, we have already contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections face-to-face, as Gehlot was the Chief Minister and his son was contesting against me; it was virtually him and his machinery contesting the polls against us. So we have already experienced this fight. IANS: Gehlot has been accusing you in the Sanjeevani scam. Has it dented your image? A: Not even 1 per cent... Itas absolute political vendetta. No one can say that Shekhawat was involved in the scam. In fact, it was Gehlotas son who sold a hotel companyas share to a Mauritius-based manfor Rs 40,000 after buying it for Rs 100. No one can say that I did anything wrong by any stretch of imagination. IANS: Is Vasundhara Raje angry that she was missing from BJPas Parivartan Yatra? A: I donat think she is angry. This is part of her nature. She came to the Parivartan Yatra at its beginning and in the end. She did not go to any other yatras in between. I would say that this is her nature. Also, she has had personal issues, her daughter-in-law is not keeping well, so she is a little disturbed. IANS: There is speculation that the Rajput community is annoyed that Vasundhara is being sidelined? A. Rajput voters are hardcore BJP voters, and it cannot be true that they are annoyed because of one leader. In the last elections, there were some issues due to which a few Rajput voters were silent, but they were spontaneous decisions. At that time, they were angry on many issues, such as I was not made the state BJP President, there was the Anandpal encounter, the Chhatra Singh encounter in Jaisalmer... So these issues triggered anger in the community. See, it is the party which makes a leader and a leader gets popular because of the party. A leadersa height is decided by the party. The Bharatiya Janata Party has a tradition of bringing about change. However, we will keep working together. Itas the top leadership which decides on such issues. I believe Vasundhara Raje is also clear and has no doubt in this context. IANS: Fractions within the party have become a common issue across the state. What would you say? A: Aspirations along with a few gaps are okay in politics. However, we donat have as many differences as the Congress. See, the difference between the Congress and the BJP is that our top leadership has dominance and prominence. In Congress, the high command was challenged and despite this, Gehlot remains the CM. Is it possible in the BJP? No. Our higher leadership has strong prominence and dominance unlike the Congress. IANS: Gehlot has been taking your name as an accused in Sanjeevani scam. Now you have filed a defamation suit against him. Any specific reason? A: See, initially I tolerated the allegations silently. However, when he spoke about my mother who passed away a year back, I decided to file a defamation suit. Gehlot has been in the court seven times. He now has only two options -- either he makes a public apology, or he faces punishment... He has no other way. He recently apologised in court for his 'rampant corruption in judiciary' remark. He will have to apologise in this case too. Mumbai, Oct 8 : Bollywood actress Nushrratt Bharuccha, who was stranded in Israel amid war, has boarded her flight to India and will be reaching Mumbai at 2.00 p.m. on Sunday. The actress's publicist confirmed: "Nushrratt has finally boarded the flight for India and is on her way back home. She will be landing in Mumbai at 2:00 p.m." Nushrrattwas in Israel to participate in Haifi Film Festival. With the help of the Indian Embassy, she is being brought back home. Her publicist has earlier shared: "We have finally managed to get in touch with Nushrratt and with the help of the Embassy, she is being safely brought back home. We did not get a direct flight so she is on a connecting flight home." "For her safety, more details cannot be shared but as soon as she lands in India, we will inform you. We are relieved and thank God that she is safe and on her way to India." The war between Israel and Hamas has intensified. Hamas is an Islamist organisation with a military wing that came into being in 1987, emerging out of the Muslim Brotherhood, a Sunni Islamist group that was founded in the late 1920s in Egypt. Hamas, meanwhile, controls the Gaza Strip, an enclave that is home to nearly two million Palestinians and is frequently the site of civilian casualties when fighting flares between militants and Israeli forces. Hamas has over the years claimed many attacks on Israel and has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the US, the European Union and Israel. Israel accuses its archenemy Iran of backing Hamas, CNN reported. Quito, Oct 8 : Another prisoner implicated in the killing of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was found dead in a Quito prison, taking the total number of murdered inmates involved in the politician's assassination to seven. National Service of Integral Attention to Adults Deprived of Liberty and Adolescent Offenders (SNAI) said the prisoner, identified as Jose M., was killed in El Inca Prison, and investigations are currently being coordinated with the Attorney General's Office. This follows SNAI's confirmation on Friday of the murder of six Colombian prisoners linked to Villavicencio's death in Guayaquil's Litoral Penitentiary, Ecuador's largest prison, Xinhua news agency reported. Villavicencio was killed in an armed attack on August 9, after a political rally in Quito for the early presidential elections on August 20. The inmates' death occurred when the result of the preliminary investigation into Villavicencio case is expected to be released soon. As a result, President Guillermo Lasso returned home from New York and suspended an official visit to the Republic of Korea. Early Saturday morning, Lasso led a meeting of the Security Cabinet at the Government Palace in Quito to discuss the crisis in the prison system. New Delhi: Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari addresses during the announcement of 'Agnipath' recruitment scheme at a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. (Photo: Qamar Sibtain/IANS). Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Oct 8 : Chief of Air Staff V.R. Chaudhari said on Sunday that changes in the character of warfare should be embraced. QuotingGuilio Douhet, the IAF chief said, "We must embrace changes in the character of warfare because in the words ofGuilio Douhet, 'Victory smiles upon those who anticipate the changes in the character of war, not upon those who wait to adapt themselves after the change occurs'." The Indian Air Force (IAF)unveiled their new flag on Sunday aiming to better align with the values of its air warriors during the annual day parade at Air Force Station Bamrauli, in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj. On this occasion Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari said that if India is on the path to become a developed nation by 2047, then IAF must be one of the best, if not the best, by the time we complete 100 years in 2032. "The vision, as laid down in our doctrine, is to be an agile and adaptable air force that provides decisive aerospace power in furtherance of our national interests. In order to make our vision a reality, we must all play our respective parts diligently. We must reform, or become a relic; we must innovate, else become mundane and we must transform, else become irrelevant. "We must invest in cutting edge research, development and acquisition to build technological superiority. Innovation must become a part of our DNA, enabling us to easily adapt to emerging threats and challenges." He said that from multi-domain operations to hybrid warfare, the Air Force needs to recognise that modern warfare transcends traditional boundaries. "We must seamlessly integrate air, space, cyber and ground capabilities to dominate the battle-space. The question we must ask ourselves is, what more can I do. Do not limit yourselves to the needs of today. Think beyond today and you will realise that there is so much more to be done," the air chief said. On the occasion of Air Force Day, he said, "On behalf of all Air Warriors, I would like to pay homage to our braves, who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. We have successfully inducted the first batch of Agniveers and subsequent batches, including women Agniveers, are presently undergoing basic training," he added. The theme for this year's Air Force Day is IAF- Air Power Beyond Boundaries. The theme aptly reflects the inherent global reach of air power and how air power will prove decisive in future conflicts. Air Force operations extend worldwide, providing rapid mobility and global reach. This reach allows a nation to project air power beyond boundaries in the form of rapid deployment, HADR and peacekeeping missions. The IAF chief said, "A word about leadership. Ethical leadership should be the cornerstone of our organisation. We must lead by example and uphold our core values of mission, integrity and excellence in all that we do. My vision is one of strength, adaptability and unwavering commitment to our nation and its people. Together, as a united force, we will successfully face all challenges, secure in the knowledge that our values and dedication will guide us to ever greater heights in the years to come. To quote a verse from the Bhagvad Gita, 'Veerta, Kirti, Dreedhta, Kaushal, udaarta, yudh meinsthirtaaurshaasankarnekikshamta - yeeksainik ka kartavya hain. Ve uske apne swabhav se pravaahit hote hain'." He said, "The world is changing at a rapid pace and we must meet all new challenges coming our way. We must continue to foster a culture of discipline, integrity and remain ever vigilant in the face of emerging threats. Our commitment to the defence of our nation remains steadfast and we will continue to protect our territory, deter potential adversaries and ensure the safety and security of our people. Indian Air Force is not just a military force, it is a symbol of our nation's collective strength and determination," he added. Mumbai, Oct 8 : Actor Rohitashv Gour, who essays the character of Manmohan Tiwari in the superhit television show 'Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai', recollected an incident when he felt the audience love up close during his recent visit to Indore alongside his onscreen wife, Angoori (Shubhangi Atre). During his stay, the actor was pleasantly surprised when a group of female fans, who were attending a Kitty Party at the hotel where he was staying, surrounded him at a hotel, expressing their affection for his character and work in the show. Talking about this memorable moment Rohitashv Gour shared: "I believe that an artist truly achieves success when people begin to identify them by their characters. It brings immense joy to my heart when people refer to me as Tiwari Ji. The love and support we receive from our fans are unmatched, and their actions often touch me profoundly, leaving a lasting impact. Recently, during our trip to Indore, I experienced one of the most memorable moments in my life when I had the pleasure of meeting some real-life Bhabi's who were fans of our show, 'Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai'." He further mentioned: "More than thirty to forty enthusiastic ladies were attending a Kitty Party at the hotel where I was staying. The moment they spotted me, they all warmly addressed me as 'Tiwari Ji kaise hai aap?' When I greeted them with a smile and a friendly hello, all the ladies surrounded me, eager to take selfies. For a moment, I was overwhelmed by such an outpouring of love, but I managed to handle it (laugh)." The ladies also dedicated a song to him which truly touched his heart. "Fans play an integral role in every actor's life, as they have the power to shape our careers. It is because of them that we are who we are today. They express their affection, provide feedback, and share their reviews in various ways. Honestly, these moments are extraordinary and priceless in an actor's life. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to receive such love and appreciation for my work," he added. 'Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai', airs Monday to Friday on &TV. 12 Dwadesh Madhav temples to get makeover in Prayagraj before 2025 Kumbh. Image Source: IANS News Lucknow, Oct 8 : The much-revered 12 'Dwadash' Madhav (Vishnu) temples in Prayagraj will get a facelift ahead of the Maha Kumbh-2025. Instructions in this regard have been issued by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. "The chief minister's vision is to present the Dwadash Madhav circuit as a sacred pilgrimage site before Maha Kumbh-2025. In this 125 km long spiritual circuit, along with promoting pilgrimage, development of essential tourism facilities will also be done," said the official spokesperson. The official added that the facelift would mean development of facilities in and around the temples besides restoration and repair work. It includes construction of grand entrances at the temples along with boundary walls, public toilets, provision of drinking water, shoe racks, interlocking and landscaping, pathways, roads, footpaths, benches, wall paintings, dustbins, passenger sheds, lighting arrangements and parking facilities. The work would take place in a phased manner. In the first phase, the transformation of nine Madhav temples will take place, he said. It is a religious belief that after the creation of Universe, Lord Brahma established the Dwadash Madhav in Prayagraj. It is believed that to get the blessings of Kalpavas and holy dip in Sangam at Prayagraj, circumambulation of these 12 Madhav temples is a must. Madhav temples, including Veni Madhav temple at Daraganj - considered to be the presiding deity of Prayagraj - are located in various areas of the city. In 'Treta yuga', under the leadership of Maharishi Bharadwaj, the circumambulation of the 12 Madhavs was done but in due course of time, the practice took a back seat. The temples were damaged during the Mughal and British rules. Post-Independence, Saint Prabhudutt Brahmachari restarted the circumambulation in the month of Magh in 1961 along with Shankaracharya Niranjan Devtirtha, Dharmasamrat Swami Karpatri Ji Maharaj after searching for the Dwadash Madhav. The practice ceased to exist in 1987. However, in 1991, Swami Harichaitanya Brahmachari of Tikar Mafi Peeth (Jhunsi) again started the practice but the same was discontinued few years later because of ignorance from other religious bodies and administration. In Kumbh 2019, the parikrama was resumed on February 6 with the efforts of general secretary of Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad Mahant Hari Giri, a practice which is continuing till date. Gaza, Oct 8 : Though Israel is no stranger to terrorist attacks, Saturday's assault was unprecedented - not least because of the lack of warning, the media reported. Israel's military on Saturday found itself caught off-guard, despite decades in which the country became a technology powerhouse that boasts one of the world's most impressive armed forces and a premier intelligence agency, CNN reported. The gunmen came from air, sea and land. They shot at civilians, took hostages and forced families to barricade themselves indoors, fearing for their lives. A day that began with air raid sirens blaring out in the early morning had by lunchtime turned into one of the most terrifying attacks Israel has known in the 75 years of its existence. Assailants from Hamas, the Islamist militant group that controls the impoverished and densely populated Gaza Strip, had by nightfall killed hundreds of people and wounded hundreds more. The questions for Israeli authorities are legion. It has been more than 17 years since an Israeli soldier was taken as a prisoner of war in an assault on Israeli territory. And Israel has not seen this kind of infiltration of military bases, towns and kibbutzim since town-by-town fighting in the 1948 war of independence, CNN reported. "The entire system failed. It's not just one component. It's the entire defence architecture that evidently failed to provide the necessary defence for Israeli civilians," said Jonathan Conricus, a former international spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces. "This is a Pearl Harbor-type of moment for Israel, where there was reality up until today, and then there will be reality after today." The IDF has repeatedly dodged questions about whether Saturday's events constitute an intelligence failure. Military spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht told CNN that Israel was focused on the current fight and protecting civilian lives. "We'll talk about what happened intelligence-wise after," Hecht said. Whether by coincidence or design, the attacks came the day after the 50-year anniversary of another unforeseen conflict, when a coalition of Arab states launched a surprise attack against Israel on Yom Kippur, in 1973. Since Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, it has spent billions of dollars securing the border from attacks. That has striking at any weapons fired from inside Gaza into Israel and stopping terrorists from trying to cross the border from air or underground using tunnels. To stop rocket attacks, Israel has used the Iron Dome, an effective rocket defense system developed with help from the US, CNN reported. Israeli officials will almost certainly look at where those systems failed on Saturday. As of Saturday morning, Israel said Hamas had fired 2,200 rockets, though it did not release figures on how many of those were intercepted. Officials have not commented on if the border fence did its job, CNN reported. Kolkata, Oct 8 : Parallel raid and search agitations by the CBI in multiple locations in West Bengal, including the residence of state minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim since Sunday morning, are attempts by BJP to divert attention from the sit-in-agitation of Trinamool Congress in front of the Raj Bhavan, the leadership of the state's ruling party said. While the CBI raids are in connection with the multi-crore cash-for-municipalities- job case in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress' national general secretary and the party Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee is leading a sit-in-demonstration in front of the Governor's House in central Kolkata since Thursday evening. The party alleged negligence on part of the Centre in releasing central dues to the West Bengal government under various centrally- sponsored schemes like MGNREGA. Although the raid and search operations started early Sunday morning at the residences of Firhad Hakim and MLA Madan Mitra, as day passed parallel raid and search operations began in at least ten other locations at Kanchrapara, Halisahar, Barrackpore, Dumdum, North Dum Dum, Taki in North 24 Paragans and Krishnanagar in Nadia district. "The agitation led by Abhishek Banerjee is a hit and hence BJP is under tremendous pressure. The Governor is avoiding coming to Kolkata and helplessly escaping. So to divert attention from the agitation in front of the Governor's House, the BJP has unleashed central agencies again. The agencies are only self- defence for BJP. But Trinamool Congress cannot be suppressed by all such things," said Trinamool Congress state general secretary and spokesman Kunal Ghosh. Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress too has issued an X message claiming that no amount of political vindictiveness will be able to bow down the leadership. "BJP Zamindars, Do you see our resolve? It burns brighter than ever. On this fourth day of Dharna at Raj Bhavan, our patience remains unshaken. Your political vindictiveness will not deter us. We will not yield an inch until people of Bengal get their rightful dues," the X message read. New Delhi: MoS External Affairs V. Muraleedharan participates in the 20th Council of Ministers meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) via video conferencing, in New Delhi on Dec 17, 2020. (Photo: IANS/MEA). Image Source: IANS News Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 8 : Union Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan, on Sunday said that the Indians who are in Israel can contact the Indian embassy for any help. Speaking to media persons here, he appealed to Indians in Israel to stay in safe shelters and to follow the advisory by the Ministry of External Affairs. He said that only those in Israel knows the ground realities and that Indian embassy personnel in Israel are ready to help the Indians in that country. An advisory has been issued in English, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages asking the Indian citizens to exercise extreme caution in that country. Those who need any urgent help are urged to contact the Indian embassy in Israel on +97235226748 or leave a message at cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday declared a new military operation against Israel and fired a barrage of missiles towards the Jewish state from the Gaza Strip for the first time since May last year. In the attack, around 300 Israeli citizens lost their lives while more than 1,000 have been injured.In retaliation, Israeli retaliation killed 230 Palestinians and injured more than 1,500. Agra's Sri Ram Baraat has no parallel, it is spectacular, out of this world, claim organising committee members. Image Source: IANS News Agra, Oct 8 : Agra is all set to welcome north India's most spectacular Sri Ram Baraat, at the newly created Janak Puri, capital of King Janak, father of Sita. This year the Janak Puri celebrations will last a full eight days, instead of three, at the Sanjay Place commercial area, in the heart of the city. From Sunday all roads in the Taj city will lead to the mythological Janak Puri, which will host the Sri Ram Baraat and solemnise the divine wedding to be witnessed by lakhs of local people. The Janak Mahal has been modeled after the Ram temple in Ayodhya, while numerous arched gates and palaces replicate other well-known religious spots in the country. To add to the glitter and dazzle 30 beautifully decorated gates named after Rishis and characters of the Ramayan, have been put up at the entrances. More than 30 Jhankis at different spots in the sprawling complex will showcase different religious themes. "Right now bhajans and Ramayan couplets were being aired through the public address system, enriching the spiritual ambiance of the event," Gajendra Sharma, a key member of the organising committee said. The busy Sanjay Place commercial complex which was developed by shifting the Central Jail during the Emergency at the orders of the late Sanjay Gandhi, has been transformed into a fairyland, with massive gates and colourful lights. Chaturbhuj Tiwari, an office bearer of the Sky Tower Computer market, said: "For the past one week massive repair and maintenance work has been going on in different parts to enable lakhs of people from all over to visit Janak Puri and pay obeisanceto the god Ram and his consort Sita." MPs and MLAs have been descending here and the whole municipal corporation is engaged in beautification of the area, Tiwari added. This year's King Janak is PL Sharma who said the ceremonies had begun Sunday afternoon with the Haldi ki Rasm. On Monday, the processions of Raja Janak and Sri Ganesh will meander through the main bazaars of Agra. On Tuesday, Princess Sita will move in a procession for a visit to the city. The bidai ceremony of Sita ji will be held on October 14. For the benefit of the people, there would be a Bhajan night at the Shoe market mandapam. Later next month, the organising committee will conduct a mass marriage programme for 101 couples at the GIC ground. The Ram Baraat will reach Janakpuri in the wee hours of Wednesday, with full fanfare, dozens of brass bands, orchestras, camels, horses and grand regalia of sorts. The Agra Ram Lila Baraat is the grandest in north India, started way back in 1880. Over a million people from neighbouring districts spend the night in Agra and cinema halls run extra shows for them. The Ram Baraat continues to draw lakhs from the rural hinterland who crowd up the roadside, balconies, and rooftops, as the mile-long wedding procession headed by a dozen brass bands and numerous tableaux showing myriad Hindu gods and goddesses in all their splendour, meanders through the make-believe kingdom of Raja Janak. The Baraat starts from the Ramlila ground near the Agra Fort, projected as the kingdom of Awadh, to theJanak Puri, capital of Raja Janak, father of goddess Sita, covering around 10 kilometres and consuming a whole night. The procession exhibiting mythological characters as well as scenes with social and political messages is the most spectacular show in Agra and involves the whole city. "This year's Janakpuri has broken all records in scale and magnitude." The funds for the Sri Ram Baraat are raised by locals. Corporate houses often make generous contributions. The municipal corporation ensures that the street lights, roads and other facilities used for the baraat are in good shape. People said the original Janak Puri would have faded into insignificance before what has been created by artistes engaged to create palaces, durbars, walkways, and a central plaza. Over the years the focus has shifted to Janak Puri where a mela of sorts is held for several days during which all the rituals connected with the marriage ceremony are performed. Each year the Janak Puri is built in a new locality or a colony which receives generous funds from the Nagar Nigam for the development of roads and streamlinging of civic amenities in the area. The mela attracts lakhs of people who not only participate and watch the proceedings but also indulge in shopping from hundreds of stalls that come up at the site. * The attack marks the most severe conflict between Hamas and Israel since May 2021. * The Egyptian president warned that further violence and escalation might drag the region into "a vicious circle of tension" and undermine regional stability and security. GAZA/JERUSALEM, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. According to statistics issued by the Gaza-based Health Ministry, at least 313 Palestinians were killed and 1,990 wounded by the Israeli strikes in Gaza. A barrage of rockets fired from Gaza into Israel are seen in the sky of the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack that also featured infiltrating ground assaults onto southern Israel, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held an emergency meeting attended by senior officials, who emphasized the right of the Palestinian people to defend themselves against Israeli forces and settlers. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in a national address that Israel was "in a state of war" and ordered a full mobilization of reservists. This photo taken on Oct. 7, 2023 shows a building hit by a rocket in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Gideon Markowicz/JINI via Xinhua) DEADLY CONFLICT Backed by the rockets, dozens of Hamas militants entered Israeli towns on Saturday near the Gaza Strip, killing and kidnapping Israelis in a surprise morning attack. The Hamas rockets hit as far as Jerusalem, where air-raid sirens sounded. A spokesman from the Israel Defense Forces, Daniel Hagari, confirmed that some Israeli civilians and soldiers had been taken as hostages by Hamas. Hamas military commander Mohammad Deif said the attack was in response to Israel's blockade of Gaza, its frequent raids on the West Bank over the past year, its storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound -- a site holy to both Muslims and Jews -- Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians and the expansion of Israeli settlements. He called on other Palestinians to join the fight. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, another armed Palestinian group, declared that its militants had joined Hamas in the attack. Videos and photos released on social media showed masked Palestinian militants roaming in jeeps on the streets of the southern Israeli city of Sderot, where an exchange of fire occurred. Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) A spokesman from the Israeli army said on Saturday that several Palestinian militants entered towns in southern Israel and clashed with the Israeli soldiers. Israeli media reported that Palestinian militants had controlled at least three Jewish settlements near the Gaza Strip. Israeli authorities asked residents in southern Israel not to leave their homes. In response to the attack, the Israeli military carried out dozens of airstrikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, destroying buildings, including a residential tower with about 100 apartments. As the main electricity supplier to the Palestinian enclave, Israel also cut off the power to the territory, plunging it into darkness after nightfall. Residents in Gaza City rushed to the streets to buy daily necessities. In the northeastern part of the Gaza Strip, hundreds of civilians fled their homes with blankets and food out of fear of a military escalation. People get down on the ground to avoid shrapnel damage in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Oct. 7, 2023. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua) UNLIKELY TO END SOON The attack marks the most severe conflict between Hamas and Israel since May 2021, during which the two sides fought for 11 days, resulting in the deaths of at least 256 people in Gaza and 13 in Israel. Analysts believe the current clash is unlikely to end anytime soon as Hamas appears to be well-prepared to wage a protracted conflict. Hours after the massive Hamas offensive, Netanyahu gave a televised address on Saturday night, vowing to "take revenge for this black day." He said the Israel Defense Forces would "immediately use all of its power to destroy Hamas' capabilities," warning of "challenging days still ahead of us." Egypt, a long-time broker of peace between Israel and Palestinian militant groups, discussed with France on Saturday solving the ongoing conflict. In a phone conversation with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi warned that further violence and escalation might drag the region into "a vicious circle of tension" and undermine regional stability and security. Palestinians check destroyed residential buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) NEGATIVE IMPACT ON ISRAELI-ARAB RECONCILIATION The attack came on Simchat Torah, a Jewish holiday that marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and almost coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, which began on Oct. 6, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria. The latest round of conflict followed frequent Israeli raids on the West Bank over the past year, often resulting in Palestinian casualties. Israel said these actions were necessary to apprehend Palestinian militants involved in attacks against Israelis. The military conflict also comes when Israel seeks to normalize its relations with Saudi Arabia. Brokered by the United States, Israel has been in touch with Saudi Arabia over a potential peace deal between the two countries. After meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden on Sept. 20 in New York, Netanyahu said the normalization of ties between his country and Saudi Arabia could be "within reach." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (5th R, front) attends a cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel, Oct. 7, 2023. (GPO/Handout via Xinhua) For Israel, normalizing relations with Arab countries has remained an important strategic goal for years as it seeks to improve the geopolitical environment. So far, six Arab countries have normalized relations with Israel, including Egypt and Jordan, which established diplomatic ties with Israel in the 1970s and 1990s, respectively, as well as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco, which agreed to normalize ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords in 2020. Hamas has repeatedly said that it condemned any progress in normalizing relations between Arab countries and Israel, saying that normalizing relations between Arab countries and Israel in all forms is unacceptable and is bound to harm the Palestinian cause. Ding Long, a professor from the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, said the protracted Palestinian-Israeli conflict will negatively impact the normalization of Israel and Saudi Arabia relations, adding that Saudi Arabia may suspend normalizing relations with Israel in the short term. (Video reporters: Liu Weijian, Zhang Tianlang, Sanaa Kamal, Wang Zhuolun, Chen Junqing, Lyu Yingxu, Lin En; Video editors: Zhang Yucheng, Zhou Yang, Hui Peipei, Cao Ying) Hyderabad, Oct 8 : Telangana's Excise Department has seized over 14,000 liters of illicit distilled (ID) liquor during the last five days as it has stepped up checking on inter-state borders in view of ensuing assembly elections. After the Election Commission of India held a review meeting in Hyderabad on October 5 to review poll preparedness, the Excise Department seized 14,227 liters ID liquor, 1,710 kg jiggery, 94.8 liters liquor, 170 kg ganja and 21 vehicles. The Excise Officials arrested two persons and seized 157.39 kg ganja, a Bolero vehicle and a two-wheeler in Nizamabad on October 6. The Election Commission team during its visit last week directed all state and central enforcement agencies to act very strictly against the use of money power and to dry up the inflow of liquor, cash, freebies and drugs. The Enforcement Wing of the Excise Department is taking special measures to check illegal sale, transport and stockpiling of liquor. As part of this, 29,663 suspects have been found by the Enforcement Wing. Officials said that they are also keeping a vigil on 8,362 history sheeters. The Preventive Detention (PD) Act has also been invoked against 14 people. The officials were holding meetings to closely monitor the inter-state borders. They said if necessary non-bailable warrants will be issued to check illegal flow of liquor. As part of the special measures, the Excise Department has set up 21 checkposts on inter-state borders for 24/7 checking. Eight checkposts have been set up on the border with Andhra Pradesh. An equal number of checkposts are functioning on the Telangana-Maharashtra border. Officials said they were also undertaking round-the-clock checking at four checkposts with Karnataka. One checkpost has come up on the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border. The CCTV cameras installed at inter-state checkposts are connected to the State Command and Control Centre for effective monitoring. A total of 89 checkposts have been set up in coordination with police and other enforcement agencies. The Excise Department has constituted special teams to keep a vigil on borders and on train routes. New Delhi, Oct 8 : One World Many Musics (OWMM) festival, features an exciting musical lineup, right in time for the festive season. Dipesh Varma Collective will perform at the Experimental Theatre on October 13 at 7 p.m. and When Chai Met Toast is scheduled to take the stage at Tata Theatre on October 22 at 7 p.m.. Every year since 2009, the NCPA has not only presented but celebrated varied musical forms with the festival to uphold the dynamic nature of music, an art form that can be traditional, contemporary and both at the same time. The intermingling of cultures, languages and genres has undeniably created space for some of the most spectacular music our country produces - music that is collective yet personal. The distinct ensembles with distinctly diverse members in this year's line-up are all that and more. Dr. Suvarnalata Rao, Head Programming, Indian Music shares, "The NCPA has been a home for the country's most coveted musical and other artistic expressions. While we are proud to preserve and protect the legacy of the country's cultural heritage, we are also constantly dedicated to enable platforms for emerging musical experiences. OWMM is a testimony to the potential of the country's rising talent and a celebration of artists who are committed to musical innovation. We look forward to welcoming concertgoers and music lovers exploring evolving new-age presentations". The first performance is led by Dipesh Varma (percussion & djembe) and the ensemble includes Sridhar Parthasarthy, a senior percussionist (mridangam, kanjira, morsing), along with a younger team comprising Sandeep Mishra (sarangi), Harmeet Singh (tabla), Abhay Nayampally (guitar) and Amit Padhye (harmonium & keyboard). Besides having a mix of artistes trained in North and South Indian music traditions, the ethnic diversity of instruments adds to the appeal of the band. Following Dipesh Varma Collective, the festival will be concluded with When Chai Met Toast.Having met at music circles in Kerala, the quartet -- comprising Ashwin Gopakumar, Achyuth Jaigopal, Palee Francis and Pai Sailesh -- went on to form the pop band, When Chai Met Toast. The band is extremely popular for their simple, soothing, joyful and optimistic approach to emotions, relationships and life in general which compelled the audience to sway to their tunes. Debuting with 'Joy of Little Things' in 2017, followed by hits like 'Believe' and 'When We Feel Young' and others. While its music is primarily in English, some of the songs are also interspersed with Tamil, Malayalam, and Hindi lyrics.Much like its name -- which signifies the coming together of Indian and Western elements -- the band's music is reflective of the union of indie folk and alternative rock with strong pop and electronic influences.Having performed at numerous concerts worldwide, today, the band enjoys a wide following among global audiences. Performance 1: Dipesh Varma Collective When: Friday, October 13 Where: The Experimental Theatre, 7 p.m. Artistes: Dipesh Varma (percussion & djembe), Sridhar Parthasarthy, a senior percussionist (mridangam, kanjira, morsing), Harmeet Singh (tabla), Abhay Nayampally (guitar) and Amit Padhye (harmonium & keyboard) Tickets: Book My Show Performance 2:When Chai Met Toast When: Sunday, October22 Where: Tata Theatre, 7 p.m. Artiste: Ashwin Gopakumar, Achyuth Jaigopal, Palee Francis, Pai Sailesh Tickets: Book My Show (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) New Delhi, Oct 8 : Air India has suspended its to and from Delhi-Tel Aviv till October 14, in response to the ongoing Hamas offensive that erupted on Saturday, resulting in the tragic loss of lives and leaving several people injured. "Our flights to and from Tel Aviv will remain suspended till 14th October, 2023, for the safety of our passengers and crew. Air India will extend all possible support to passengers who have confirmed bookings on any flight during this period," said an Air India spokesperson. Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan, on Sunday said that the Indians who are in Israel can contact the Indian embassy for any help. Speaking to media persons here, he appealed to Indians in Israel to stay in safe shelters and to follow the advisory by the Ministry of External Affairs. He said that only those in Israel knows the ground realities and that Indian embassy personnel in Israel are ready to help the Indians in that country. Fears of a huge ground invasion of Gaza are growing after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to turn the besieged Palestinian enclave into a "deserted island" in response to the worst attack his country has suffered in decades,the media reported. The pledge came after gunmen from Hamas, which governs Gaza, rampaged through Israeli towns and killed at least 250 people on Saturday while retreating with soldier and civilian hostages in the deadliest day of violence for Israel since the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago. The Israeli military responded with devastating retaliatory strikes on Gaza, killing more than 230 Palestinians in the blockaded strip. Israeli forces were still bombing Gaza and fighting with Hamas gunmen in parts of southern Israel in the early hours of Sunday and a spokesman for the military said the situation in the country was not totally under control, Al Jazeera reported. Mumbai, Oct 8 : Telugu star Ram Charan is currently in Mumbai to visit the Ayyappa temple as Ayyappa Deeksha. His visit to the 'City of Dreams' however has sparked rumours that he may also work in a possible Bollywood project with superstar director Rajkumar Hirani. However, it has been confirmed that he has not signed any Bollywood project whatsoever. One source revealed that the 'RRR' actor currently has no plans for Bollywood and is busy with other projects. The source said, "There is no news of Ram Charan signing a Bollywood project. He is busy with the work currently on his plate, and he has other priorities as well." A staunch devotee of Lord Ayappan also called Dharmashastra, the actor has been going to several temples in the South as part of showcasing his devotion to the deity who is considered the upholder of truth and dharma. The Ayyappa Deeksha is a sacred vow observed by devotees of Lord Ayyappa. During this period, Ram Charan pledged to follow strict rules and regulations, including wearing only a black kurta and the Ayyappa Mala. It is mandatory for every devotee to observe the fast of 41 days before visiting the Sabarimala temple, the hill abode of Lord Ayyappa, in Kerala, and being a long time devotee, the actor has frequently observed every ritual. During his recent visit to Mumbai, where he was spotted barefoot and paying his respects at the Shree Sidhivinayak Temple to complete his Ayyappa Deeksha , sparked his Bollywood debut speculation which has since been shot down. Currently, the actor is set to star in the upcoming action-political-thriller Telugu movie 'Game-Changer' where he will also be joined by Bollywood actress Kiara Advani. The movie is directed by S. Shankar. Bhopal, Oct 8 : A woman was run over by a tractor over a land dispute between two parties in Madhya Pradesh's Sidhi district. The incident occurred around 15 km from the district headquarters on Saturday. Two parties (accused side and the victim) have been indulged into a dispute over a portion of land for the last few years. On Saturday, one party (accused) was cultivating and seeing the tractor on that particular field, when the woman reached the spot and objected. The woman continued to raise objections and tried to stop the cultivation, which made the opposite party furious and she was run over by the tractor. The woman fell and came under the cultivator of the tractor which caused serious injuries to her. She was rushed to a nearby hospital and after that she was referred to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital (SGMH) Rewa, around 70 km from Sidhi, where she is undergoing treatment. Later, the woman's family alleged that the accused had inserted an iron rod into her private part, however, the police denied the claim. "The woman got injured as she came under the cultivator of the tractor. A misinformation was spread that an iron rod was inserted into the victim's private part," Superintendent of Police (SP) Sidhi, Mukesh Srivastava told IANS over phone on Sunday. Srivastava further said the five people have been arrested and they have been charged under section 307 (attempt to murder) and other relevant charges. "Five persons have been arrested under section 307 and further investigation is underway," Srivastava added. No projects under Chinas BRI have moved ahead in Nepal, says Nepal foreign minister. Image Source: IANS News Kathmandu, Oct 8 : At least 12 Nepali nationals have gone missing in Israel after Palestinian terrorist group Hamas launched an offensive from the Gaza strip into Israeli territory, Nepal's Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud said on Sunday. It is suspected that some of them might have been killed, he said while delivering a statement in parliament. "In order to find the exact status of the Nepali nationals, we have mobilised all state mechanisms," said Saud. Of the 17 Nepali students in Kibbutz Alumim, two are safe, three others are undergoing treatment in the local hospitals and 12 have gone missing. Some of the 12 Nepali nationals are out of contact and it is suspected that some of them have been killed, he said. In order to ascertain their status, the government has mobilised all of its mechanisms. A high-level mechanism led by foreign minister Saud has been formed in order to ascertain the actual situation of the Nepali nationals, for their evacuation and to assess the situation inside Israel so that it can coordinate with the authorities and take appropriate decisions. A cabinet meeting on Sunday morning took the decision, said Saud while informing the house. " At present, 4,500 Nepalis are working in Israel as caregivers and 265 Nepali students are studying under the learn and earn scheme in Israel. "Of the 265 students, 119 are studying in Agriculture University, 97 in Tribhuvan University and 49 in Sudurpaschim University," said the minister. Of the 49 students of Sudurpaschim University, 17 were studying in Kibbutz Alumim which is close to Gaza area which is devastated by the attacks," said the minister. At least nine Nepalis were reported injured, two of them critically, as Hamas launched an attack inside Israeli territory early Saturday, Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had said on Saturday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kathmandu said in a statement that a farm where 14 Nepalis were working had come under attack in Kibbutz Alumim in southern Israel near the Gaza Strip. Kolkata, Oct 8 : The raid and search operations at the residence of Trinamool Congress legislator Madan Mitra at Bhawanipur in South Kolkata concluded at around 2.30 p.m. after over five hours on Sunday. However, even after over six hours since it started from around 8.30 a.m. the raid and search operations at the residence of Kolkata Municipal Corporation Mayor and West Bengal municipal affairs & urban development Minister Firhad Hakim at Chetla in South Kolkata continued. The raid & search operations are related to the multi- crore municipalities' recruitment irregularities case in the state. Agency insiders said that although the investigating officers secured crucial information about the case by interrogating Mitra, they have seized documents from him. He has been questioned relating to the said irregularities in Kamarhati Municipality in North 24 Parganas district, where Mitra is the Trinamool Congress legislator. Besides the residence of Mitra and Hakim, simultaneous raid and search operations were conducted by the CBI sleuths at ten other locations CBI insiders said that they are not in a position to divulge the documents seized from various places where the raid and search operations are being conducted because of the direction of the court to maintain secrecy in the matter. "We will not be able to divulge details of the documents seized by us. We will have to submit them directly to the court," said a CBI official who is a part of the raiding team at Halisahar. Trinamool Congress leadership has said that the raid and search operationswere attempts by the BJP to divert attention from the ongoing sit-in-agitation of Trinamool Congress in front of the Raj Bhavanover alleged negligence on part of the Centre in releasing central dues to the West Bengal government under various centrally- sponsored schemes like MGNREGA. Meanwhile, the Governor, C.V. Ananda Bose, who is currently in Darjeeling in north Bengal, now has decided to cut-short his tour there and return to Kolkata on Sunday afternoon only. However, it is not yet clear whether he will meet the Trinamool Congress leaders, including the party's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who have been in sit-in agitation in front of Raj Bhavan since Thursday afternoon. Patna, Oct 8 : At least 22 people, including 19 women, died due to drowning in Bihar's nine districts in the last 24 hours, said the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) on Sunday. The majority of the casualties took place on Saturday evening when women went to various ghats to have holy bath on the festival of 'Jitiya', a local festival wherein mothers keeps fast for her children's well-being. According to the government statement, five teenage girls died in Bahiyara village under Chandi police station in Bhojpur district, four women in Jehanabad, three in Patna, three in Rohtas, two in Darbhanga, two in Nawada, and one each in Kaimur, Madhepura, and Aurangabad. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed condolences to the family members of the deceased. He has also announced a relief of Rs 4 lakh each to the family members of the deceased. "In every festival, people go to the river banks in Bihar for the holy bath without realizing the depth of the river. Due to digging of sand at several places, the surface is uneven at the majority of the places. Suppose, you are taking a bath in four-ft water level and when you move a step forward the depth of the surface may be more than 10-ft due to digging of sand. This has often led to the mishaps in Bihar," said Sunil Kumar Singh, an NDRF commandant. "The sand mafias have done rampant digging at several places in the river making the surface uneven. As a result, when water comes in those areas after the monsoon session, people do not know the actual depth of the river," Singh added. "Awareness is the key here to avoid a mishap in Bihar. Unfortunately, the people ignore our suggestions and jump into the river without realizing the depth. Many people make reels and selfies while jumping in the rivers from higher places and often become victims of mishap. This needs to stop and people need to be aware. They should understand the ground reality," Singh said. Washington, Oct 8 : Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's top military adviser said Tehran supported the attacks by Hamas against Israel and would continue to back the Islamist fighters "until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem", the media reported. The remarks by Yahya Rahim Safavi, a former commander of the country's Revolutionary Guards, will only fan suspicion that Tehran played a direct role in supporting its traditional ally, Hamas, in the well-planned attacks, Politico reported. Interventions by Rahim Safavi and other senior Iranian policymakers will also be seen by Iran's long-running regional rival Saudi Arabia as a threatening signal that Tehran is willing to stir up regional conflict to prevent Riyadh from normalising ties with Israel, as the US wants, Politico reported. In recent weeks, Iran's leaders have railed against a US-backed proposed deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia, with Khamenei on October 3 saying countries aiming to normalize relations with Israel would be taking a big risk. "The position of the Islamic Republic is that countries that make the gamble of normalization with Israel will lose. They are betting on a losing horse," Khamenei said. Hezbollah, another militant group linked to Iran, also appeared to link Saturday's violence with the Saudi rapprochement, saying in a statement the attack was a "decisive response to Israel's continued occupation and a message to those seeking normalisation with Israel." The start of the assault, the largest clash since Israel and Hamas fought a 10-day battle in 2021, was announced by Hamas military commander Mohammad Deif. "This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on earth," he said, adding that 5,000 rockets had been fired at Israel, Politico reported. In September, there were meetings in Lebanon between Hamas and Iranian Revolutionaly Guards commanders, according to Jason Brodsky, a non-resident scholar at the Middle East Institute. That provides "some clues as to organization of this assault on Israel today," he said, Politico reported. "I believe that the hand of Iran will be found in elements of this," said Jonathan Schanzer, senior vice president for research at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank, Politico reported. Mumbai, Oct 8 : Bollywood actress Nushrratt Bharuccha, who was earlier stranded in Israel amidst the escalating tension between Israel and Gaza, has landed in Mumbai safely. However, the actress looked distressed as she walked out of the Mumbai airport. She was seen wearing crepe coloured track pants and a sweatshirt. As she walked from the arrivals to her car, she was surrounded by the media, the actress visibly distraught, could barely speak given the commotion. She was almost in tears and repeatedly requested the camera persons to move behind so she could get to her car and go home having been through a testing period of more than 24 hours. Nushrratt was in Israel to participate in Haifi Film Festival. With the help of the Indian Embassy, she was brought back home. She took a connecting flight. The Gaza-Israel conflict has escalated after the Gaza-based terror group Hamas launched a surprise offensive against Israel. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which started in the mid-20th century is an ongoing military and political conflict in the Levant. Despite various attempts made to resolve the conflict as part of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, alongside other efforts to resolve the broader Arab-Israeli conflict, it is one of the world's longest existing conflicts. You Xiaoxiao (L) and her father walk to collect the mud at the Luoyang section of Yellow River, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Wang Jingyi) You Xiaoxiao carves on an inkstone blank at a studio in Xin'an County, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) You Xiaoxiao teaches students to shape the mud at a Chengni inkstone art museum in Xin'an County, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) You Xiaoxiao carves on an inkstone blank at a studio in Xin'an County, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan) You Xiaoxiao (L) and her father check the mud at the Luoyang section of Yellow River, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan) You Xiaoxiao teaches a student to make Chengni inkstone at a Chengni inkstone art museum in Xin'an County, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan) You Xiaoxiao shows a Chengni inkstone at a Chengni inkstone art museum in Xin'an County, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan) You Xiaoxiao views a Chengni inkstone at a Chengni inkstone art museum in Xin'an County, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Li Jianan) You Xiaoxiao kneads the mud in Xin'an County, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) You Xiaoxiao teaches students to make Chengni inkstone at a Chengni inkstone art museum in Xin'an County, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) You Xiaoxiao (R) and her father pose for a photo at the Luoyang section of Yellow River, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) This aerial photo taken on Oct. 7, 2023 shows the Luoyang section of Yellow River, central China's Henan Province. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) You Xiaoxiao shows how to cut the mud at a Chengni inkstone art museum in Xin'an County, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) You Xiaoxiao teaches students to make Chengni inkstone at a Chengni inkstone art museum in Xin'an County, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Wang Jingyi) You Xiaoxiao kneads the mud in Xin'an County, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Wang Jingyi) This aerial photo taken on Oct. 7, 2023 shows You Xiaoxiao and her father collecting the mud at the Luoyang section of Yellow River, central China's Henan Province. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) You Xiaoxiao processes the mud for inkstone making in Xin'an County, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan) You Xiaoxiao filters the mud in Xin'an County, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan) You Xiaoxiao (L) and her father talk at a studio in Xin'an County, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan) You Xiaoxiao teaches students to make Chengni inkstone at a Chengni inkstone art museum in Xin'an County, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Li Jianan) You Xiaoxiao blows the dust off an inkstone blank in Xin'an County, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan) You Min, father of You Xiaoxiao, checks the mud at the Luoyang section of Yellow River, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Wang Jingyi) You Xiaoxiao drafts an inkstone design at a studio in Xin'an County, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) You Xiaoxiao teaches students to make Chengni inkstone at a Chengni inkstone art museum in Xin'an County, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan) You Xiaoxiao teaches students to make Chengni inkstone at a Chengni inkstone art museum in Xin'an County, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Li Jianan) You Xiaoxiao carves on an inkstone blank in Xin'an County, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Li Jianan) You Min, father of You Xiaoxiao, collects the mud at the Luoyang section of Yellow River, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2023. The Yellow River Chengni inkstone, with a history of more than 1,000 years, was listed as a Henan provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Among the "four famous inkstones" in China, only Chengni inkstone is made of fine mud. The raw material of the Chengni inkstone is sediment from the Yellow River. It takes nearly 60 processes, such as mud selection, mud refining, design, blank-making, carving and roasting, to make one inkstone. You Xiaoxiao, a municipal-level inheritor of Yellow River Chengni inkstone in Xin'an County, passed on the family tradition of making inkstones after graduating from college. Speaking of the future, You said that she would bring her understanding into the design as the tradition could only flourish with the passion of the younger generation. (Xinhua/Li Jianan) Chairman and CEO Dassault Aviation arrives in Delhi on Monday to negotiate Indian Navy order for 26 Rafale fighters. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Oct 8 : Eric Trappier Chairman and CEO Dassault Aviation, manufacturer of French Rafale fighter aircraft accompanied by Richard Lavaud, head military aircraft sales, will be here on Monday and Tuesday for senior level meetings. They are likely to meet senior officials in PMO, Defence Ministry, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, Adm R. Hari Kumar and Chief of Navy and Air Force Chief Marshal V.R, Chaudhari. This visit, coming after Prime Minister Modias visit to France in July this year where he was the chief guest for the Bastille Day Parade, assumes significance for the sale of 26 Rafale aircraft for the Indian Navy. During the visit, discussions took place between PM Modi and French President Macron for sale of these aircraft under a G to G agreement IAF had bought 36 aircraft as fly away for Rs 60,000 crore, resulting in per aircraft cost of Rs 1600 crore. However, base cost of aircraft was close to Rs 800 crore, rest being for India's specific enhancements, training, simulators and spares. Indian expectation is that 26 Naval aircraft should not cost more than Rs 20,000 crore or Euro 2.2 Bn. French projected cost is well above 3Bn or Rs 30,000 crore, a premium of 50 per cent, which canat be justified given more than 99 per cent commonality between the air and naval version. Tel Aviv, Oct 8 : Israel Defence Forces on Sunday said more than 400 Palestinian militants (Hamas) have been killed in southern Israel and the Gaza Strip, and dozens more have been captured, local media reported. IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said forces are fighting in (Kibbutz) Kfar Aza and searches are onin a large number of towns, The Times of Israel reported. Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday fired a barrage of missiles towards the Jewishstate from the Gaza Strip. Israel said there are eight "points of engagement" with Hamas militants inside its territory. In a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, it posted, "IDF aircraft struck two operationalsituation rooms, located inside mosques, used by Hamas in Gaza." "We struck 10 Hamas targets, among them, Hamas' intelligence headquarters and a militarycompound used by Hamas' aerial forces. In parallel, we struck an aerial weapons productionsite used by the aerial forces belonging to Islamic Jihad, and a building including units wherethe terrorist organization stores weapons and military equipment," another tweet read. "A short while ago, IAF fighter jets struck a compound belonging to the head of theintelligence department in the Hamas terrorist organization," IDF posted. The IAF is currently continuing to strike terror targets in the Gaza Strip. New Delhi, Oct 8 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said that Ayushman Bharat scheme covers mental wellness under its ambit. Addressing students and faculty members of BHU (IIT) in Varanasi while inaugurating Mental Wellness Week, the Finance Minister said that the Central government has taken initiatives like operating Tele Manas helpline, which provides mental wellness counselling and also recommends patients for treatment with specialists in the field. Post Covid counselling facilities have also been provided for students, to insulate them from all kind of stress, Sitharaman informed. Noting that stress among students comes mainly from maniacal competition and pressure of public opinion, the Finance Minister said that counselling facilities are being provided at even district levels, as the Centre takes mental wellness of students quite seriously. Sitharaman pointed out how the government's focus on Yoga is also part of a holistic approach to address mental wellness. Cairo, Oct 8 : Two Israeli tourists and an Egyptian national have been shot dead in Egypt's Alexandria city by a police officer, the media reported. The attack reportedly took place at the Serapeum of Alexandria, an ancient Roman monument in the centre of the coastal city, The Gurdian reported citing news website Cairo24. Cairo24, a news website with links to the Egyptian intelligence services, said a police officer, working with the security service in the area fired random shots "from his personal weapon" at an Israeli tour group that was visiting the shrine, The Guardian reported. "The police officer was immediately arrested and legal proceedings will be taken against him," they said. One injured person was shifted to hospital for treatment. The attack marks a further escalation in connection with events in Gaza, including a rare incursion by Palestinian militants into Israeli territories bordering the Gaza Strip and an ongoing exchange of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli military on Israel's northern border. Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty in 1979 and have forged far closer public relations in recent years, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured alongside the Egyptian President, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, in close talks on the sidelines of the UN general assembly in 2017. Egyptian officials, particularly the top intelligence official Abbas Kamel, have also assumed a leading role in mediating talks with Palestinian militant groups in an effort to cool relations in Gaza, despite Egypt closing its border with the Gaza Strip, The Guardian reported. The Egyptian government's decision to increasingly and publicly display their warm relations with their Israeli counterparts has come in tandem with a clampdown on protests and free expression, curtailing protests in support of Palestinian rights that were previously considered an essential outlet for the sentiment on the Egyptian street, The Guardian reported. New Delhi, Oct 8 : Pressure to perform well in exams, fear of results, academic stress, and incidents like ragging remain the main cause of student suicides across the country. As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report titled 'Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India', in the year 2021, more than 13,000 students in India lost their lives. This means that on average, over 35 students die by suicide every day. Observing the increasing trend of student suicides, the Ministry of Education has introduced a new initiative called 'Umeed' (Hope). The 'Umeed' draft guidelines emphasise the idea that every child matters. The guidelines highlight that when students struggle with personal and social challenges, they may experience feelings of sadness, dissatisfaction, hopelessness, despair, mood swings, and, in severe cases, thoughts of suicide or self-harm. According to Sujata Kshirsagar, Chairperson of Career Launchers, students often suffer from mental health issues due to the competitive environment in such institutions. In this context, 'Umeed' is a commendable step. Education is not just about textbooks but also about improving the overall well-being of the students. The guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education can work towards creating a safe and more supportive educational environment (education ecosystem). Statistics indicate a continuous increase in student suicides. In 2021, more than 13,000 cases were reported, which is 4.5 per cent higher than the 12,526 deaths recorded in 2020. What is alarming is that out of the reported 10,732 suicides, 864 were due to the fear of failing in exams. Commenting on the situation, Arul Malaviya, Founder of JAMIT, said that India is currently grappling with suicide cases. The main causes are the pressure of academics and unrealistic expectations from parents or teachers. All these factors contribute to feelings of despair and constant sadness among students. These guidelines, by involving teachers, school staff, students, and their families, will actively work towards addressing this challenge. In its 16-page draft, the Ministry of Education has mentioned aspects that can push students towards suicide. The guidelines advise schools to immediately pay attention to students who exhibit signs of pressure and risk factors. They emphasise the need to dispel myths and rumuors surrounding suicide. The Ministry emphasises that suicide prevention is a collective effort that involves schools, parents, and the community. It requires understanding children's feelings, actions, and behaviours. It is essential to ensure that students are not subjected to any form of academic pressure or bullying, be it from family, friends, or anyone else. Monica Malhotra Kandhari, Managing Director of MBD Asoka, said that in recent years, the mental health of our students has been a significant concern. Student suicides are a tragedy for us. It is time to identify this problem. Kandhari said: "We are deeply concerned about the emotional and psychological well-being of young people. 'Umeed' guidelines will promote a compassionate perspective to support students during times of stress and place importance on open and effective communication." Chennai, Oct 8 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin announced a compensation of Rs 3 lakh for the families of the deceased in the Attibele firecracker accident. He also announced a compensation of Rs 50,000 for those injured in the accident. The funds were released from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund. In a Press statement, the Chief Minister's Office said that Stalin has deputed Tamil Nadu health minister, Ma Subramanian and Civil supplies minister, R. Sakkarpani to arrange for medical treatment of the affected persons and those patients who are in need of urgent medical care. It may be noted that 14 people died in the firecracker unit explosion at Attibele on the outskirts of Bengaluru and close to Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border. Tamil Nadu leader of opposition and general secretary of AIADMK, Edappadi K. Palaniswami also condoled the death in the firecracker unit. In a post on social media platform, X, EPS said, "I urge the Tamil Nadu government to take all necessary steps for the speedy recovery of those injured in the fire accident and ensure their home return." The AIADMK general secretary also requested the DMK government to immediately provide the relief amount to the families of the deceased who lost their lives in the firecracker unit explosion. AMMK leader, TTV Dhinakaran, said that there has been an increasing trend in explosions in the firecracker units, and called upon the state government to undertake proper monitoring of these units. Tamil Manila Congress leader and former Union minister,G.K. Vasan, also condoled the deaths, and called upon the government to immediately provide relief to those affected. (290714) Srnagar: Clashed have erupted between pro- gaza protesters and state police. Image Source: IANS News Tel Aviv/Gaza, Oct 8 : Over 600 people have been killed in fighting between the Israeli military and Palestinian militant group Hamas. Of the 600 casualties, 313 people have been killed and 2,000 wounded in the Israeli airstrikesin the Gaza Strip, BBC reported quoting Palestinian officials as saying. In Israel, 300 civilians have also been killed, and dozens of Israelis have been takenhostage, Israelas Embassy in Turkey said, quoting Israelas Ministry of Health. In the biggest escalation in decades, Hamas on Saturday fired a barrage of missiles towardsthe Jewish state from the Gaza Strip. The Hamas infiltrated Israel borders under the cover of missile attacks. They entered Israel by land, sea and air using paragliders, said the Israeli army. "Israel is "still at war" and completing efforts to take full control of Israeli territory andcommunities from Hamas," Israeli officials said. Israel said there are eight "points of engagement" with Hamas militants inside its territory. New Delhi, Oct 8 : Minister of State (Mos) External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi said on Sunday that efforts are on to bring back its students stuck in Israel in the wake of a terrorist attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas. Stating that she received many messages last night about Indians in Israel, she told reporters that the Prime Minister's office is directly supervising the situation. "Indian government is striving to bring back stranded students of India from Israel. Prime Minister and his office are monitoring the situation and huge efforts are underway to get back our students who are stuck in that country," she said. She added that the government has successfully evacuated its nationals abroad in the face of crisis time and again. "Whether it was Operation Ganga or Vande Bharat, we brought everyone back and I am sure the government and the Prime Minister's Office are directly in touch with those people and are working and monitoring the situation," she said. Her comments came after several Indian students in Israel were quoted as saying in media reports that they were scared in the aftermath of the attack. In addition to the Indian students and nationals, 27 people from Meghalaya, who travelled to Jerusalem for pilgrimage, are stuck in Bethlehem. Sharing the information, Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma wrote on X: "27 citizens of Meghalaya who travelled for the Holy Pilgrimage to Jerusalem are stuck in Bethlehem due to the tension between Israel and Palestine". "I am in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure their safe passage back home," Sangma said. Earlier today, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan urged the Indians stranded in Israel to stay safe and contact the Indian embassy in case of assistance. There are approximately 18,000 Indian citizens in Israel, mostly caregivers employed by Israeli elders, diamond traders, IT professionals, and students, according to the Indian Embassy's website. In May 2021, 32-year-old Soumya Santhosh from Kerala, employed as a caregiver in Israel, was killed in Gaza shelling while she was on a video call with her husband. Hamas on Saturday declared a new military operation against Israel and in a 'surprise attack' fired a barrage of missiles towards the Jewish state from the Gaza Strip for the first time since May last year. In the attack, around 300 Israeli citizens lost their lives while more than 1,000 have been injured. In retaliation, Israeli retaliation killed 230 Palestinians and injured more than 1,500. Hamas reportedly fired as many as 5,000 rockets, leading Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu taking a pledge to reduce the group's Gaza hideouts to "rubble". Bhubaneswar, Oct 8 : Three students, out on morning walk, Sunday died in two separate incidents of road mishaps in Angul and Balangir districts of Odisha. The deceased were identified as Rajesh Sundhi and Madhab Kumar Samad, of Pallahra in Angul district and Purusottam Bhoi of Bolangir district. "The deceased friends Rajesh and Madhab used to go for morning walks everyday on the National Highway. However, a speeding vehicle hit them near Muktapur village at 6 am in the morning. The vehicle escaped the spot leaving the duo in a pool of blood," said local sources. Police rushed them to nearby hospital where doctors declared them brought dead. The Pallahara Police have launched a probe into the matter. Similarly, 17-year-old Purusottam along with his four friends was strolling on the Patnagarh-Bolangir state highway when a van coming from the opposite direction hit Purusottam at Gendabanji village early Sunday. The tribal student Purrusottam's tragic death irked the locals who staged a blockade demanding arrest of the absconding driver of the van and compensation for the deceased. The irate villagers removed the blockade after the district administration and local police assured them of stringent action against the erring driver. Chennai, Oct 8 : The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) President and MP, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, has called upon the Tamil Nadu government to table a Right to Services Act bill in the assembly commencing on Monday. In a statement on Sunday, the former Union minister said that it was disappointing that the state government was not coming forward to implement the Right to Service Act even after there were several reports emanating on the bribery among government staff. He said that all essential services including water connection, sewage connection and power connection were available to the public only after bribing officials.The PMK leader said that to curb bribery, e-Seva centres were introduced but new methods of bribery were created. Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss said that the only solution to this was the introduction of Right to Services Act which the PMK has been demanding for the past 10 years. He said, "If the Right to Services Act is enacted, the time limit for services will be fixed and compensation of Rs 10,000 will have to be given to the public if services are not provided on time." The former Union minister added, "The Act is in place in 20 states including neighbouring Karnataka and Kerala. A survey conducted in 2018 revealed that 93 per cent of participants had to bribe to get services and 82 per cent said that services were not good." He called upon the state government to pass the Right to Services Act in the ensuing session of the assembly so that the public is provided timely services by government departments. Staff members measure the size of a giant pumpkin during the giant pumpkin contest at the Woodbridge Fall Fair in Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) A visitor takes photos of large squashes during the giant pumpkin contest at the Woodbridge Fall Fair in Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) People visit the giant pumpkin contest at the Woodbridge Fall Fair in Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) Staff members use a forklift to move a large squash for weighing during the giant pumpkin contest at the Woodbridge Fall Fair in Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) Visitors pose for photos with a giant pumpkin during the giant pumpkin contest at the Woodbridge Fall Fair in Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) Tel Aviv, Oct 8 : World leaders have condemned Palestinian militant group Hamas unprecedented attack on Israel while a few nations supported the offensive citing "oppression" by the Jewish country. Terming the attack "appalling" and "unconscionable", US President Joe Biden said "there is never any justification for terrorism." Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel," adding that the countryas "thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour." UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Japan counterpart Fumio Kishida condemned the Hamas attack and assured unequivocal support to Israel. French President Emmanuel Macron strongly condemned the attack. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged "maximum restraint" as Israeli Defense Forces conducted a counteroffensive and called for "the immediate release of all abducted persons." However, Iraq, Iran, Syria and Saudi Arab "backed" the Hamas attacks on Israel. In support of the Hamas, Iraq's PMO posted on X, "Iraq affirms its firm position, as a people and a government, towards the Palestinian issue, and that it stands by the Palestinian people in achieving their aspirations and obtaining their full legitimate rights, and that injustice and the usurpation of these rights cannot produce sustainable peace." Iranian Foreign Minister Nasser Kanaani "congratulated" the Palestinian people, saying, "Today's operation has opened a new chapter in the resistance and armed action against the occupiers in the occupied territories", CBS news reported. "We will stand by the Palestinian fighters until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem," state-affiliated Iranian Studentsa News Agency said. Over 600 people have been killed in fighting between the Israelimilitary and Palestinian militant group Hamas. Chennai, Oct 8 : In wake of the ongoing clashes between Hamas and Israel, the Tamil Nadu government has stepped up security at Israeli establishments and Jewish settlements. Director General of Police Tamil Nadu Shankar Jiwal told media persons that instructions have been given to concerned officials to enhance security arrangements at a Jewish settlement in the hills near Dindigul and other Israeli establishments in the state. Israeli tourists visit Vattakanal a settlement close to Kodaikkanal during September to February every year and police will provide more security in this area. The security has already been beefed up in the area in view of the current situation, sources told IANS. Security has also been increased in Israeli business establishments in the state and police are in touch with immigration authorities to ascertain the number of Israeli citizens who have landed in Chennai and other international airports in the state in recent days and track their locations as part of the security arrangements. Sources also said that access control measures have been enforced restricting movements to the Israeli business establishments following reports on possible attack on Israelis in other countries. Tel Aviv, Oct 8 : The death toll from the massive assault launched by Hamas on Israeli communities near Gaza and thousands of rockets fired into Israel is over 500, the media reported on Sunday citing estimates provided by officials. Among the dead are over 12 soldiers and police who were killed battling the terrorists, the Times of Israel reported. The Health Ministry also confirms that the number of wounded in hospitals has reached 2,048, including 20 in critical condition and 330 seriously wounded. The military continues to battle gunmen in border communities more than 30 hours after the assault. The military continues to battle gunmen in border communities more than 30 hours after the assault, Times of Israel reported. Two Israeli tourists and an Egyptian national have been shot dead in the Egypt's Alexandria city by a police officer, according to the news website Cairo24, The Guardian reported. The attack reportedly took place at the Serapeum of Alexandria, an ancient Roman monument in the centre of the coastal city. Cairo24, a news website with links to the Egyptian intelligence services, said a police officer working with the security service in the area fired random shots "from his personal weapon" at an Israeli tour group that was visiting the shrine, The Guardian reported. "The police officer was immediately arrested and legal proceedings will be taken against him," they said. One injured person was shifted to hospital for treatment. The attack marks a further escalation in connection with events in Gaza, including a rare incursion by Palestinian militants into Israeli territories bordering the Gaza Strip and an ongoing exchange of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli military on Israel's northern border. Chandigarh, Oct 8 : The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Sunday accused Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of pushing Punjab to the same spot it was at four decades ago on the issue of the SYL canal which subsequently took state into a black era in which it suffered a lot. It asked Mann to be ready for debate outside his home on October 10 instead of waiting till November 1 as SAD leadership will visit his home under leadership of party President Sukhbir Badal. SAD spokesman Arshdeep Singh Kler told the media here it was amusing to note that after reaching state from stage, Mann was again trying to reach stage from state as he has realized that people of the state have understood his betrayal of Punjab because of his decision to hand over state to Delhi leadership, including AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, simply to exploit Punjab exchequer to expand the party in other states at the expense of his state. He said the stand takeb by Mann on the SYL issue in the Supreme Court was a part of record in which Punjab counsel has accepted that government was willing to construct the canal but opposition from Opposition parties and difficulty in re-acquiring the land which has been given back to farmers by SAD government led by Parkash Singh Badal was a big hurdle in the matter. Kler said the apex court order was officially welcomed by the AAP government and its spokesman spoke in favour of survey by the Centre. He said when the AAP government felt that it has been exposed completely now, the Chief Minister was trying to divert attention of people of the state by a tweet challenging Opposition parties. He asked the Chief Minister why to wait for November 1 as SAD leaders under leadership of Sukhbir Badal will be visiting the Chief Ministeras residence where he should be ready for debate on Punjab issues. - Gaza, Oct 8 : Palestinians throughout the West Bank took to the streets on Saturday evening to celebrate Hamas's major coordinated attack on Israel, which caused the death of at least 500 Israelis as well as dozens taken hostage by the Iran-backed terror group, the media reported. Video clips of people, including children, waving Palestinian and Hamas flags, dancing and singing in the streets were shared from major Palestinian cities, including Ramallah, Hebron, Nablus and Jenin, Times of Israel reported. Palestinian press sources indicated on Saturday night that Palestinian Authority security forces had halted a march organized by the terror group Lion's Den in Nablus. Further footage showed a girl handing out sweets in the Kafr Aqab neighborhood of East Jerusalem, located inside the municipal boundaries of Israelas capital but outside the security barrier. Earlier in the day, similar scenes took place in Nablus, with members of the Lionas Den distributing candy in celebration of Hamas' assault, Times of Israel reported. Scenes of celebration were shared on social media from throughout the Middle East. In Lebanon, bikers rode around Beirut waving Hamas flags. In the southern Lebanese city of Sidon, people waving Palestinian flags prevented a UNIFIL convoy from advancing south to the border to fulfill its task of preventing the violence from escalating into Lebanon and northern Israel, according to the Abu Ali Telegram channel, Times of Israel reported. In Iran, hundreds of people rallied in Felestin (Palestine) square in Tehran, while fireworks lit up the night sky. In Azadi Square, another major plaza in the Iranian capital, a monument was lit up with the colors of the Palestinian flag and the words "We take revenge on criminals". A major Baghdad mall was lit up with the colors of the Palestinian flag and the words "Al-Aqsa Deluge", the name given by Hamas to its operation. Rallies in support of Hamas also took place in the Iraqi city of Basra, with people driving in their cars and waving flags of local jihadist groups next to Palestinian flags, Times of Israel reported. Hundreds of demonstrators also gathered in front of the Fatih mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. Social media users were quick to point out that the vast majority of those present were Arab refugees, not locals. Pro-Hamas rallies were also documented in the city of Taizz in southwestern Yemen, a city under the control of Houthi rebels, who are also supported by Iran, Times of Israel reported. Mumbai, Oct 8 : Punjabi legend Gurdas Mann's Canada tour has been cancelled in light of the rising tensions between India and the north American country. He was set to perform in Canada from October 22 to October 31. The cancellation of his tour comes amidst the strained diplomatic relationship between the two nations after the killing of Canadian Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The production house, which is behind the tour, has said the move is the most responsible and necessary course of action for the time being. The production house posted on Facebook announcing the cancellation of Gurdas Mann's tour, "In light of the current diplomatic unrest between the two countries and after careful consideration and assessment of the unpredictable circumstances, it has been determined that the cancellation of the event is the most responsible and necessary course of action for the time being." All tickets would be refunded and new dates would be announced soon India and Canada came to loggerheads after Canada accused India of murdering Nijjar in Canada. India rejected the allegation and sought specific information regarding the allegation which New Delhi claimed Ontario never provided. However, Canada has claimed that it provided details many weeks ago. Tension has flared up to such a level that India suspended its visa services in Canada and Canada started shifting its diplomats from India as India accused them of interfering in internal affairs. Patna, Oct 8 : Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal (RLJD) President Upendra Kushwaha on Sunday said that the party will take out a protest march Raj Bhawan on October 14 and hand over the memorandum to Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar regarding the caste based census. He said that apart from a few castes, the majority of people of various castes are raising objections on how Bihar government can release data without actually going to the doorsteps of the majority of people. "The people especially from the lower castes are suspicious of the census. With this census, an era of confusion has started in Bihar and its effect will be seen in the next 100 years. RLJD rejects the data released by the state government," Kushwaha said. He said that it is the responsibility of the state government to clear the confusion of the common people. "The state government should also release the economic survey report. If the state government wants, we are ready to give our suggestions. The data released by the state government is fake and that RJLD has decided to do take out a protest march on October 14 till Raj Bhawan and hand over the memorandum to the Bihar Governor," Kushwaha said. --IANS ajk/dan Mumbai, Oct 8 : Actress Karishma Tanna, who received a lot of positive response for her work in the streaming series 'Scoop', has bagged the coveted 'Best Lead Actress' award for her work in 'Scoop' at the prestigious Busan Film Festival 2023. She was nominated in two categories at the festival. She also picked the trophy for aBest Seriesa for aScoopa at the Busan Film Festival. The Busan Film Festival, one of Asia's most celebrated cinematic events. On the red carpet of the film fest, the actress exuded elegance and cultural pride by adorning a Saree, symbolising her Indian roots. In response to her win, Karishma Tanna shared her gratitude and enthusiasm, stating: "I am truly humbled and elated by this recognition at the Busan Film Festival. It has been an incredible journey bringing Jagruti Pathak to life in 'Scoop.' This award belongs to the entire team who worked tirelessly to make this project a reality. I am immensely grateful to my fans for their unwavering support, and I hope to continue pushing boundaries and delivering powerful performances in the future." aScoopa, which is available to stream on Netflix, seamlessly weaves the intrigue of Mumbai's crime underbelly with exceptional direction, breathtaking cinematography, and a stellar cast. The show is based on Jigna Vora's biographical memoir aBehind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prisona. It follows the real-life story of Jigna Vora who was accused of the murder of mid-day reporter Jyotirmoy Dey in June 2011. New Delhi, Oct 8 : India and Saudi Arabia on Sunday signed a MoU on electrical interconnections, green and clean Hydrogen and supply chains. The MoU was signed between Power Minister R.K. Singh, who is currently in Riyadh and Saudi Arabian energy minister Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud on the sidelines of the MENA climate week. This MoU aims to establish a general framework for cooperation between the two countries in the field of electrical interconnection, exchange of electricity during peak times and emergencies, co-development of projects, co-production of green and clean hydrogen and renewable energy and also establishing secure, reliable and resilient supply chains of materials used in green and clean hydrogen and the renewable energy sector. It was also decided between the two energy ministers that B2B (business to business) business summits and regular B2B interactions between the two countries will be conducted to establish complete supply and value chains in the above-mentioned areas of energy sector cooperation. Singh is leading a delegation to the MENA climate week, which is being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between October 8-12, 2023. It will discuss climate solutions ahead of COP28 and is being hosted by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Earlier while addressing a session on "Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement (GST) Regional Dialogue: Highlighting enablers and technologies for ambition and just and inclusive transitions" on the first day of the MENA climate week, the power minister said that the event is extremely important in exploring and sharing opportunities to shape the future of energy production, consumption and sustainability on a global scale. "India having almost 17 per cent of the world population and being the world's fifth largest economy, is taking significant steps to reduce emission intensity of its GDP by 45 per cent by the year 2030 and to achieve the goal of Net Zero by the year 2070," he said. Singh further said that green hydrogen is a promising alternative for accelerating India's energy transition. "It brings me great pleasure in informing you that the government of India has launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission for harnessing hydrogen energy and has approved an initial outlay of $2.3 billion for this Mission," he informed the gathering. The minister called upon MENA countries to join the Global Biofuel Alliance, in order to advance international cooperation in sustainable biofuels to realise the full potential of the Alliance. He said that the Alliance aims to facilitate cooperation in intensifying the development and deployment of sustainable biofuels, to facilitate trade in biofuels and much more, in collaboration with international biofuels organisations. Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 8 : A pilgrim group from Kerala was struck in Israel after conflict broke following the attack of Hamas and the counter attack by Israel. The pilgrims, however, said that they were safe and had communicated to their families back home. The 45-member pilgrim group from Kerala had set out on October 3 and after visiting Jordan and Palestine, reached Israel and were visiting holy places in that country. The tour operator told media persons that the whole team was safe and are in hotel rooms and is in touch with the Indian Embassy. --IANS aal/vd This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows a destroyed mosque following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 370, with 2,200 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) People stand by a destroyed mosque following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis on Oct. 8, 2023. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 370, with 2,200 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) People inspect destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah on Oct. 8, 2023. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 370, with 2,200 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) People inspect destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah on Oct. 8, 2023. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 370, with 2,200 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows Israeli soldiers at the southern Israeli town of Ofakim. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 370, with 2,200 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows Israeli soldiers at the southern Israeli town of Ofakim. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 370, with 2,200 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows Israeli soldiers at the southern Israeli town of Ofakim. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 370, with 2,200 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua) Israeli forces demolish a police station where some Hamas militants were holed up in Sderot, southern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 370, with 2,200 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. (JINI via Xinhua) Weapons captured from Hamas militants are placed on the ground in Sderot, southern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 370, with 2,200 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. (JINI via Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows Israeli soldiers at the southern Israeli town of Ofakim. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 370, with 2,200 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua) Israeli forces demolish a police station where some Hamas militants were holed up in Sderot, southern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 370, with 2,200 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. (JINI via Xinhua) Israeli forces demolish a police station where some Hamas militants were holed up in Sderot, southern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 370, with 2,200 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. (JINI via Xinhua) Israeli policemen check weapons captured from Hamas militants in Sderot, southern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 370, with 2,200 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. (JINI via Xinhua) Israeli policemen check weapons captured from Hamas militants in Sderot, southern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 370, with 2,200 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. (JINI via Xinhua) Chennai, Oct 8 : Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Sunday visited sand quarries across Tamil Nadu to measure the sand available at stock yards. The ED officials were assisted by engineers of the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department to provide information regarding the volume of sand being mined. The premium investigation agency is probing allegations that large quantities of sand was excavated from river beds and sold illegally which has caused huge loss to the state exchequer as the illegal sale is bypassing the online mechanism for sale which was legally adopted. The ED is probing money laundering offence in sand mining business after it conducted raids on sand stock yards on September 12. The agency had then during the raid seized incriminating documents and fake receipts pointing at illegal sale of sand. Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu state sand lorry owners association said that there was an acute shortage of river sand in the market as the volume of sand available through online mode has come down drastically. Tamil Nadu Sand Lorry Owners Federation President Sella Rajamani called upon the state government to open all the sand quarries and commence full-fledged sale of sand through online mode. Sources in the industry told IANS that the sand price has increased in the black market and that five units of river sand has increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 45,000 after shortage of river sand. Hamas may have taken up to 100 Israeli hostages into Gaza. Image Source: IANS News Gaza, Oct 8 : Up to 100 Israeli hostages, including women and children, may have been taken into Gaza by Hamas, hugely complicating any Israeli military operation to free them, the media reported. Amid shocking images of terrified Israeli soldiers and civilians a" some bloodied, others hooded and with their hands tied a" being marched away by Hamas militants, the whereabouts and fate of the captives has become one of the most pressing issues for military planners, The Guardian reported. While spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Lt Col Jonathan Conricus has said only that a "significant number" of Israeli civilians and soldiers are being held hostage, that number is believed to be in the dozens, with some Israeli news outlets speculating that up to 100 have been taken hostage. According to reports, while most hostages were taken by Palestinian armed factions, some Palestinian civilians who also entered Israel may have taken captives too. Among those reported as missing is Jake Marlowe a" a British citizen who was attending a music festival in the south of Israel. His family have been unable to reach him since Hamas infiltrators attacked the event, The Guardian reported. Conricus said some hostages were alive while others were presumed dead, in line with the practice of Gazaas militant factions of taking human remains to exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. "These are numbers that were up until now unimaginable," said Conricus. "This will shape the future of this war." Israeli TV news aired a stream of accounts from the relatives of captive or missing Israelis, who begged for assistance amid a fog of uncertainty surrounding the fate of their loved ones. Videos circulating online appear to show Israelis in the hands of Hamas fighters both during their seizure from communities in southern Israel and later in locations in Gaza, with one geolocated video showing a truck being driven through crowds on the Gaza Strip with Israeli hostages, The Guardian reported. Another video circulating appeared to show an Israeli child in the coastal strip, while yet another appeared to show a wounded Israeli soldier in Gaza being beaten by bystanders. Despite the displaying of the hostages on their arrival in Gaza, the working assumption is that they will have been quickly dispersed amid fears they will be used as human shields in the likelihood of an Israeli ground assault. An Egyptian official said Israel had already sought help from Cairo to ensure the safety of the hostages, and that Egyptas intelligence chief had contacted Hamas and the smaller but more radical Islamic Jihad group, which also took part in the incursion, to seek information, The Guardian reported. Patna, Oct 8 : A teenaged boy was shot dead by two friends in Bihar's Nalanda district on Sunday morning over an embarrassing video, police said. The incident took place at Kharpar village under Nalanda police station. Police said that the victim Almas Alam, 18, had made the video of the accused while they were taking a bath in a naked state in a pond and threatened to to upload it on social media. "The two accused came to the house of the victim at Saidpur village and took him away with them to Kharpar village. After reaching there, they shot Almas on the head and tried to flee from the spot. The accused however failed as the local villagers chased them and nabbed them," SDPO, Rajgir range, Pradeep Kumar said. "We have recovered a pistol and 14 live cartridges from their possession. The dead body was sent for the post- mortem examination," he said. New Delhi, Oct 8 : The Supreme Court will examine on Monday the issue of Collegium recommendations for appointment of judges stuck with the Centre. A bench of Justices S.K. Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia will resume hearing on a plea filed by the Advocates Association Bengaluru seeking contempt action against the Union government over delays in notifying names forwarded by the Collegium for appointments. On September 26, the top court had said that it will closely monitor the delay made by the Centre in clearing Collegium recommendations made for appointment and transfer of judges in higher judiciary. The Supreme Court told Attorney General R. Venkataramani that around 70 recommendations made by the SC Collegium are pending with the Union government for clearance. On an assurance given by Venkataramani that he will obtain the government's instructions on the issue, the apex court adjourned the hearing for October 9. "I thought of saying a lot. But since the Attorney (General) is asking only for seven days, I am holding myself. On the next date, I may not be quiet," Justice Kaul, who is also a part of the SC Collegium, had said. In February, the Supreme Court had warned the Centre over the delay saying it may result in both administrative and judicial actions which may not be palatable. "Don't make us take a stand which will be very uncomfortable...", it said. New Delhi, Oct 8 : MoS Home Ajay Kumar Mishra on Sunday held a meeting with Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang to take stock of the situation arising out of the flood crisis which has affected the state. He said that agenda of the meeting was to deliberate on the recovery and restoration efforts in the aftermath of the recent flood crisis. The discussion was focused around the coordination of resources, relief assistance, and support to expedite the rescue and recovery work. Both the leaders reiterated their resolve to work tirelessly to restore normalcy and extend support to those affected by the recent floods. Mishra also visited disaster-affected areas in Naga in Mangan district. He underscored the urgent need to prioritise the rescue and relief efforts for individuals stranded in isolated areas. Meanwhile, the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) continued to conduct search and rescue operations at Chungtham town near Teesta hydro power project in Mangan district today. So far, one body has been recovered from a tunnel. Mishra said that a log bridge has been made across the Teesta River for the movement of the people. Two teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), one team each at Rangpo in Pakyong district and at Singtam in Gangtok disctrict, are also conducting search and rescue operations. Meanwhile, two more teams of NDRF have reached Chungtham and are carrying out search and rescue operations. Why Iran is feeling 'victorious' on its entry in the BRICS. Image Source: IANS News Gaza, Oct 8 : The Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has talked to leader of Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad (PIJ) after the latest developments, state media in Iran reports. Details of Ebrahim Raisi's conversations with the two men were not disclosed, BBC reported. Hamas is backed by Iran, which funds it and provides weapons and training, BBC reported. Up to 100 Israeli hostages, including women and children, may have been taken into Gaza by Hamas, hugely complicating any Israeli military operation to free them, The Guardian reported. Amid shocking images of terrified Israeli soldiers and civilians -- some bloodied, others hooded and with their hands tied -- being marched away by Hamas militants, the whereabouts and fate of the captives has become one of the most pressing issues for military planners. While spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Lt Col Jonathan Conricus has said only that a "significant number" of Israeli civilians and soldiers are being held hostage, that number is believed to be in the dozens, with some Israeli news outlets speculating that up to 100 have been taken hostage. According to reports, while most hostages were taken by Palestinian armed factions, some Palestinian civilians who also entered Israel may have taken captives too. Among those reported as missing is Jake Marlowe -- a British citizen who was attending a music festival in the south of Israel. His family has been unable to reach him since Hamas infiltrators attacked the event, The Guardian reported. Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, International Spokesperson of the Israel Defense Forces, said some hostages were alive while others were presumed dead, in line with the practice of Gaza's militant factions of taking human remains to exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Kathmandu, Oct 8 : At least 10 Nepali nationals have been confirmed dead in Israel during the deadly attacks carried out by Hamas militants, as per Nepali Ambassador to Israel Kanta Rizal said. All those who died in the militant attacks were students who reached there on the "learn and earn" package of the Israeli government, he told Nepali media. However, Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not officially confirmed the tragic deaths of the Nepali citizens in the brutal attack. Rizal told the Nepali media that three other Nepali nationals were injured in the attack. It is said that those killed in the deadly attacks were students who reached there from different universities of Nepal. According to Rizal, the deceased have been identified as Narayan Prasad Neupane, Ganesh Kumar Nepali, Ashish Chaudhary, Dipesh Raj Bista, Aanand Sah, Rajesh Kumar Swarnkar, Rajan Phulara, Padam Thapa, Pravesh Bhandari, and Lokendra Singh Dhami. Bidhan Sejwal and Pravin Dangi from Dagisharan-3, Dang, sustained injuries and are currently being treated at a local hospital. Both of them are in critical condition. She said that efforts are being made to send the bodies of the deceased to Nepal. Earlier on Sunday afternoon, Foreign Minister N.P. Saud told the Parliament that at least 12 Nepali nationals had gone missing after Hamas attacked inside Israel. In order to ascertain their status, the government has mobilised all of its mechanisms. A high-level mechanism led by the minister was set up to ascertain the actual situation of the Nepali nationals and for their evacuation and to assess the situation inside Israel so that it can coordinate with Israeli authorities and take the appropriate decisions. A cabinet meeting on Sunday morning took the decision, Saud told the house. "At present, 4,500 Nepali caregivers are working and 265 Nepali students are studying under the learn and earn scheme. Out of this number, 119 are from Agriculture University, 97 from Tribhuvan University and 49 from Sudurpaschim University," he said. Out of 49 students of Sudurpaschim University, 17 were studying in Kibbutz Alumim which is close to Gaza area. US suspects several Americans either killed or taken hostages in Gaza. Image Source: IANS News Washington, Oct 8 : The US government suspects that "several Americans" may be among those killed or taken hostage in Israel following attacks by Palestinian militants based in Gaza and following Israeli strikes, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said. "We have reports that several Americans may be among the dead," Blinken told NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday, adding he was verifying the reports and also stories that some have been taken hostage. On Saturday, the Palestinian movement Hamas ambushed Israel, firing rockets from Gaza as its fighters crossed over the border. Israel then carried out retaliatory strikes on the Gaza Strip, controlled by Hamas, declaring Israel was now "at war". An Israeli military spokesperson said a "significant number" of Israeli civilians and soldiers were being held hostage in the Gaza Strip, with some presumed dead fuelling speculation that some American citizens might have been either killed or taken as hostages by the Hamas leaders. "Women, children, elderly, disabled" civilians were "dragged into Gaza" in "unprecedented" numbers, IDF spokesperson Jonathan Conricus said on Saturday. Blinken said Sunday the US is "working overtime" to verify reports of missing and dead Americans overseas after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack against Israel. "We have reports that several Americans were killed. We're working overtime to verify that. At the same time, there are reports of missing Americans and there again, we're working to verify those reports," Blinken told CNN. The surprise attack by Gaza militants on Israel on Saturday has left hundreds of Israelis dead, inviting retribution from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a lethal volley of retaliatory Israeli airstrikes. No one has a clue as yet how or when or what a full Israeli response would looke like. An Israeli military spokesperson however indicated that their forcesmay take full control of Gaza for the first time since 2005, even as 20 communities near Gaza were being evacuated. Blinken has stated that additional aid to Israel in in the wake of the hamas attack may be announced as soon as Sunday. "We're looking at specific additional requests that the Israelis have made a" I think you're likely to hear more about that later today," Blinken said. US President Joe Biden's direction is to "ensure" we're providing Israel everything it needs at this moment to deal with the attacks from Hamas. Speaking from the White House Saturday, Biden said his administration's support of Israel's security is "rock solid and unwavering". "When I spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu this morning, I told him the US stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults. Israel has the right to defend itself and its people, full stop," he said. Still, the president and his top aides are contending with a complicated diplomatic situation unlike any previous conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians, the CNN reported. Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida said they had "dozens of captive officers and soldiers," continuing: "They have been secured in safe places and in the resistance tunnels" in the Gaza Strip. The deputy chief of Hamas' political wing, Saleh al-Arouri, told a middle east news outfit that Hamas had "managed to kill and capture many Israeli soldiers", and that the number of Israeli hostages Hamas had captured was enough to release all Palestinian fighters in Israeli custody. The US Embassy in Israel said on Saturday that it was "closely monitoring" the situation and that it was "aware that there have been casualties as a result of these incidents". US citizens were directed to remain vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness as incidents, including mortar and rocket fire, often take place without warning," the Embassy said in a statement, adding that US government personnel were not allowed to travel within seven miles of Gaza. "Any American anywhere who is being detained or held hostage, that is going to be a priority for this government, this administration, and for me," Blinken said. US President Joe Biden said Washington would "offer all appropriate means of support" to Israel after the "horrific and on-going attacks", adding that the US "unequivocally condemned this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza". New Delhi, Oct 8 : A 27-year-old woman and her two children were found dead at their house in south Delhi on Sunday, a police said, adding that the woman's husband is a constable in the Narcotics Control Bureau. According to police, at 10.30 a.m, information regarding suicide by a woman at her house in Munirka village was received at Kishangarh police station following which a police team rushed to the spot. "After reaching the spot, the door of the room situated on the 4th floor of the house was found locked from inside. Door was broken open by the fire department officials," said a senior police official. "On inspection of the said premises, three dead bodies (one woman and two young kids) were found lying on the mattress. The three dead bodies were identified as of Varsha Sharma and her two children aged four and two and half years old," said the official. "There were sharp injuries on the wrists of all the three deceased. The FSL and crime teams inspected the spot. On enquiry, it was known that Varsha got married to Jagender Sharma in 2017. Sharma works as constable in Narcotics Control Bureau," said the official. "The SDM is being informed to conduct the inquest proceedings and legal action is being taken," the official added. Tel Aviv, Oct 8 : Israel has asked Egypt to intervene for the release of the injured, elderly captives held by Hamas in Gaza, media reports said on Sunday. There are an estimated 100 Israelis held in Gaza after being abducted by Hamas terrorists on Saturday, among them women, young children, elderly men and women and members of the military including officers, Ynet reported. The IDF established a command center to gather up-to-date information about people missing and presumed taken to Gaza. Information collected there is to be disseminated to all branches of the military and security services so as to have the most reliable information available as quickly as possible. Some families have already been informed about the fate of their loved ones. Attorney Uri Slonim, who had served as Israel's coordinator for negotiations on MIAs and POWs said that Hamas will conduct a psychological war. "Hamas will speak not only to the Israeli leaders but directly to the families of the captives to generate additional pressure. This issue is going to be long and complex in a way we have never before known," Ynet reported. Agra, Oct 8 : The UP Police can get as bizarre as can be. Head Constable Hari Chand was watching a Ramlila in Agra when the abduction of 'Sita' by 'Ravana' angered him so much that he shouted "Jai Bajrangbali' and jumped in to the stage where he attacked the actor playing the latter role. Taken aback, aRavanaa ran for cover while other constables tried to stop Hari Chand. Hari Chand was overpowered by his colleagues and later suspended and sent to lines. A senior police official said that a departmental inquiry has also been instituted in the matter. Hari Chand later told the organisers that he was a disciple of Lord Hanuman and could not tolerate the "abduction" of 'Sita'. He denied that he was in an inebriated condition when the incident took place. --IANS amita/vd Four arrested for beating man to death in Delhi. Image Source: IANS News Gurugram, Oct 8 : Four cattle smugglers who were absconding since September 30 have been arrested in Haryana's Gurugram district, the police said on Sunday, adding four cows were also rescued. The cows were later taken to Sohna from Bhondsi. According to the police, on September 30, cow vigilantes received information that some persons were allegedly involved in illegal transportation of cattle to slaughterhouses. Their vehicle -- Tata 407 -- was recovered on a tip-off by a group of cow vigilantes but the accused managed to escape the spot. The cows were tied with ropes inside the vehicles when rescued. "We have arrested four accused in connection with the matter and search are on to nab the absconding criminals," said a police officer. They have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including sections of the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015 at Sohna Sadar police station. Kolkata, Oct 8 : West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Sunday said that he is ready to meet the Trinamool Congress delegation and discuss the issue of unpaid central dues to the state government, provided there is an evident improvement in the law & order situation in the state. "I am ready to meet the Trinamool Congress delegation. But there has to be an improvement in the law & order situation in West Bengal first," the Governor said after returning to Kolkata from Darjeeling on Sunday evening. The Governoras convoy from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport to Raj Bhavan had to avoid the regular entrance point - the North Gate - as the Trinamool dais of sit-in-demonstration is there right in front of it. Instead, the convoy entered the Raj Bhavan premises through its South Gate. Earlier, the Governor, while speaking to media persons, said that he had not got any official application from Trinamool for an appointment to discuss the matter. Trinamool national General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who is leading the sit-in-demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan since Thursday afternoon, has claimed that the agitation programme will continue unless the Governor meets the party delegation and discuss the issue of unpaid central dues to the state government. On Sunday afternoon only, the office of the Governor sent a communique to Chief Secretary H.K. Dwivedi on how could the police administration allow ruling party's sit-in-demonstration in front of the Raj Bhavan, breaking prohibitory orders imposed in a 150 metre area radius area of the complex round the year on a 24x7 basis. New Delhi, Oct 8 : Delhi PWD Minister Atishi on Sunday inspected some major roads and intersections in the Janakpuri and Tilak Nagar areas in the national capital. While carrying out the inspection, Atishi took a jibe at the BJP-led Central government, saying: "No matter how many attempts BJP makes to hinder public work using ED and CBI, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will fulfill his promise to make Delhi's roads world-class." "The BJP continues scheming against AAP leaders every single day. No matter how many attempts they make to stop public work using CBI-ED, our work to beautify Delhi will not stop at any cost." Discussing the objective of the PWD under the Kejriwal government, Atishi said: "The Kejriwal government is committed to improving the quality of the city's roads as per world-class standards. It is the responsibility of all PWD engineers to focus on making roads better in their designated zones." The PWD Minister also pulled up officials for neglecting broken sidewalks, and instructed PWD to repair and remove encroachments immediately. She further gave directions to officials to ensure timely pruning of trees, with a special focus on beautifying horticulture in Central Verge. Emphasising zero tolerance for any negligence in the mission to rejuvenate Delhi's roads, Atishi reiterated the need to create quality road infrastructure and integrate innovative civic ideas. Patna, Oct 8 : A woman, who went to buy vegetables, was kidnapped and gang raped by 6 persons in a village in the outskirts of Patna late on Saturday night, police said. SDPO, Shahpur, Abhinav Dhiman said that the victim had called on police help line number 112 at 11 p.m. on Saturday and a police team rescued her and admitted her to a hospital for treatment. "We have registered an FIR under sections including gang rape (376D), kidnapping, criminal conspiracy and other sections of IPC against the accused and managed to arrest four of them. The arrested accused are identified as Saroj Kumar, Golu Kumar, Sonu Kumar, and Satyendra Kumar. The two other accused are on the run," he said. "The victim had gone to a nearby market to buy some vegetables, She was lured by a known person named Saroj Kumar, who made her unconscious with a substance (like chloroform or ether) which she smelt. "The accused then took the victim to a deserted place near Chintawa canal where five of his accomplices were already present. They took turns to rape her one by one and left her at the spot and fled from there. The victim somehow contacted the police help line number and revealed the incident," the police official said. Shillong, Oct 8 : A group of 27 people from Meghalaya, including the hill state's lone Rajya Sabha member Wanweiroy Kharlukhi, were stranded in Israel's Bethlehem as hostilities broke out in the country following the Hamas attack but all have safely crossed the border into Egypt, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said on Sunday. The Chief Minister said that the 27 citizens of the state including Kharlukhi of the ruling National People's Party, as well as his wife and daughter, who had gone to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage, were struck in the war-torn region. "I am in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to ensure their safe return to home," Sangma told the media and added that the state government would leave no stone unturned in its effort to secure their safe passage back home. The Chief Minister in his post on X said: "As per the latest information and through the efforts of MEA and our Indian mission, our 27 citizens from Meghalaya, who were stuck in the war conflict zone of Israel and Palestine have safely crossed the border into Egypt." New Delhi, Oct 8 : External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday called on visiting Tanzanian President Samia Sulihu Hassan. "Honoured to call on President @SuluhuSamia of Tanzania on her State visit to India. Thanked her for her appreciation of PM @narendramodias initiative towards African Unionas permanent membership of the G20," he posted on X after the meeting. "Valued her guidance in expanding our bilateral relationship in so many domains". The Tanzanian President arrived in India on Sunday on the invitation of her counterpart Droupadi Murmu. In India till October 10, she will meet Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the course of her visit. She will also participate in a business and investment forum in New Delhi on October 10. --IANS ans/vd Jerusalem/Gaza, Oct 8 : Israel formally declared war on Hamas on Sunday, setting the stage for a major military operation in Gaza as fighting rages on Israeli soil following Saturday's surprise assault by the Islamist militant group in which more than 600 Israelis were killed, the media reported. The shock terror attack led to the deadliest day in decades for Israel and came after months of surging violence between Palestinians and Israelis, with the long-running conflict now heading into uncharted and dangerous new territory. Questions are also swirling over how the Israeli military and intelligence apparatus appeared to be caught off guard in one of the country's worst security failures, CNN reported. Throughout Saturday and into Sunday, Hamas launched thousands of rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel -- making direct hits on multiple locations inside the country including Tel Aviv -- while armed terror groups entered Israel and infiltrated military bases, towns and farms, shooting at civilians and taking hostages. Hundreds are of Israelis are confirmed dead and the toll could rise further. "We are well north of 600 people who have been killed, there will probably be more hundreds, several hundred more," Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer told CNN. Israel has responded by launching airstrikes on what it said were Hamas targets in Gaza, while its forces clashed on the ground with Hamas fighters in villages, army bases and border crossings. Netanyahu said that the military was "clearing terrorists" out of Israeli communities and "restoring control". Israeli warplanes continued to pound Gaza on Sunday morning with the Israel Defense Forces saying it had struck 426 targets in Gaza, including 10 towers used by Hamas. Israel said that drones were used overnight Saturday to strike "a number of terrorist squads in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip", CNN reported. Palestinian militant group Hamas said the captured Israeli hostages are being held across Gaza and warned against attacks in the area. "Threatening Gaza and its people is a losing game and a broken record," said Abu Obaida, spokesman for the Al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas in a recorded audio message late Saturday. "What happens to the people of the Gaza Strip will happen to them and beware of miscalculation." Earlier, the group claimed to have captured "dozens" of Israelis, including soldiers, and were holding them in "safe places and resistance tunnels", CNN reported. Washington, Oct 8 : US President Joe Biden's 2024 campaign for a 2nd term in the White House faces the danger of losing corporate funding and CEO support owing to his pro-labour rhetoric and stand on the United Auto Workers Strike. Biden's tight alliance with organised labour has unnerved some of his business supporters that they fear he might lose the support of the corporate world and their honchos due to his rhetoric and administrations actions. They want Biden to send out a strong message to the corporate world that he is on their side with policies to promote and grow their businesses. An US media report said Biden's political advisers have directly urged the President to state bluntly that he wants to help business succeed -- a message that seems to be getting lost when he courts working class voters and embraces their cause for better pay and working conditions, NBC reported. A top political ally, requesting anonymity, said Biden needs to reassure them of the US government support and policies that will help the corporate world. In one of his speeches where Biden said in favour of labour: "You deserve what you've earned, and you've earned a hell of a lot more than youare getting paid now", has completely unnerved his supporters. Biden while standing at the picket line with the workers of the UAW in Michigan seemed to extend silent support when the union leader Shawn Fain blasted through a bull horn "CEOs sit in their offices, they sit in meetings, and they make decisions. But we make the product". Much of the criticism Biden faces are triggered mostly by the sudden shift in stance away from businesses because under the previous Donald Trump administration business flourished with tax cuts and deregulatory measures. Most of the tax cuts that Donald Trump signed into law in 2017 ended up benefiting corporations and higher-income individuals, a Congressional Research Service report shows. Business leaders today are ruffled by the presence of Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Lina Khan, a Biden appointee, whom they see along with heads of other regulatory agencies overseeing labour and consumer relations, as impediments to competition and survival in the marketplace, media reports said . "Biden at his core is a blue-collar guy from Scranton. He has never worked in business and he does not have any particular interest in those issues and I don't criticize him for that," said Steven Rattner, a long-time Democratic donor, who headed the auto industry task force in the Barack Obama administration. "Rightly or wrongly, there's a perception that there's a fair amount of hostility toward business, and that makes the business community nervous," he said. The business community has felt ignored by the Biden administration and has nurtured hostility towards Lina Khan, who they see as someone who had rankled top businesses by targeting large companies such as Amazon and Microsoft. And that brings an element of uncertainty in the future corporate entities mergers and their trust in his policies. Though the incumbent president Biden can marshal enough resources to his campaign for presidency in 2024, what is worrying his pro-business supporters is that a general apathy is setting in the corporate world in the potential rematch between Biden and Trump, the businessman. Biden is leading the Democratic party to the left adopting progressive views that concentrated wealth and business power are corrosive to working-class advancement. A political fundraiser reportedly said he heard from senior CEOs saying: "I don't really love Trump. On the other hand, how bad could it be? He gave me a bunch of money and he didn't f--- with me the way Biden is'. That's made it difficult for us to rally business support for Biden as much as we'd like." The White House has however countered the propaganda that Biden is anti-business stating that on the contrary the President has been a boon to the business world by making substantial investments in new roads and bridges, while pursuing renewable energy projects that create new jobs. Some 336,000 new jobs were created in the month of September, a number that almost doubled Wall Street expectations, which demonstrate that Biden's policies, are pro-business and pro-growth and pro economy. New Delhi, Oct 8 : A 36-year-old man was killed while three others, including a four-month-old child, were injured after a DTC bus lost control in East Delhi's fruit market on Sunday, police said. The deceased was identified as Ananad Madhav, a resident of Ghadewara in Uttar Pradesh while the injured were identified as Ali (4 months), Sameer (28), and Asif (27), a resident of Trilokpuri. According to police, a police control room call was received in the Kalyanpuri police station regarding a DTC bus that had hit a few people at a fruit market near Kondli bridge after which a police team was rushed to the spot. "Upon reaching the spot and on inquiry, it was found that a DTC bus hit four persons, two e-rickshaws and one fruit vendor and the bus driver fled from the spot," said a senior police official. "Three persons, including a child, are having minor injuries and one person died on the spot. A manhunt has been initiated to nab the accused," the official added. BEIRUT, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli bombing on the outskirts of Kfarchouba in southern Lebanon on Sunday wounded two Lebanese children, the National News Agency (NNA) reported. NNA noted that the two children were injured from shattered glasses due to the Israeli bombing in the village, and were transferred to Marjeyoun Governmental Hospital. The Israeli bombing was renewed on Sunday in Lebanon's occupied territories in southeast Lebanon after Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based armed group and political party, reerected its tent in the Shebaa Farms, a disputed strip of land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. The Lebanese-Israeli border witnessed heavy exchange of fire early Sunday morning after the firing by Hezbollah of dozens of mortars toward Israel in support of the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation launched by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) a day earlier, prompting the Israeli forces to respond by firing heavy artillery, targeting the outskirts of the villages of Kfarchouba, Shebaa, Halta, and the heights of Jabal al-Wastani, southeast Lebanon. On Sunday, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) urged Lebanon and Israel to "exercise restraint," warning of further escalation on the border. On Oct. 7, Palestinian militants launched almost 3,000 rockets against Israel, and dozens of militants infiltrated southern Israel, igniting the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas group. The incident came amid months of rising tensions along the Israeli-Lebanese border and a day after Hamas, an Islamist Palestinian group that runs the Gaza Strip, launched a massive attack on Israel, killing at least 300 Israelis, according to rescue services. In response, Israel launched airstrikes on Gaza, killing at least 313 Palestinians. Washington, Oct 9 : The US will provide munitions and equipment to Israel and boost American forces in the Middle East in response to the attacks by Palestinian militant group Hamas, the Pentagon said on Sunday. "The US government will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions," US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement. On Saturday US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant to convey his condolences. "Secretary Austin made clear to Minister Gallant his ironclad support for the Israeli Defense Forces and the Israeli people. He reaffirmed that the Department's commitment to Israel's security and its absolute right to defend itself from acts of terrorism is unwavering. Secretary Austin has directed his team to ensure that DoD is closely consulting with all of our Allies and partners who share a commitment to peace and oppose terrorism. Secretary Austin will continue to consult with Minister Gallant in the coming days and weeks to ensure that Israel has the support it needs," the Pentagon said in a statement. Reiterating unequivocal support for Israel, Austin's detailed statement on Sunday went on to say: "My thoughts continue to be with the people of Israel and the many families who have lost loved ones as a result of the abhorrent terrorist attack by Hamas. Today, in response to this Hamas attack on Israel, and following detailed discussions with President Biden, I have directed several steps to strengthen Department of Defense posture in the region to bolster regional deterrence efforts. "I have directed the movement of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Eastern Mediterranean. This includes the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), as well as the Arleigh-Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Carney (DDG 64), and USS Roosevelt (DDG 80). We have also taken steps to augment US Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. The US maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required. "In addition, the US government will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions. The first security assistance will begin moving today and arriving in the coming days. "Strengthening our joint force posture, in addition to the materiel support that we will rapidly provide to Israel, underscores the US ironclad support for the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli people. My team and I will continue to be in close contact with our Israeli counterparts to ensure they have what they need to protect their citizens and defend themselves against these heinous terrorist attacks." New Delhi, Oct 9 : In a fresh provocation, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted on X that he has discussed India "and the importance of upholding -- and respecting -- the rule of law" with Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed, the President of the United Arab Emirates. In a post on Sunday, he said: "On the phone today, His Highness Mohammed Bin Zayed and I spoke about the current situation in Israel. We expressed our deep concern and discussed the need to protect civilian life. We also spoke about India and the importance of upholding -- and respecting -- the rule of law." His comment comes amid a raging diplomatic fracas with India following Canada's allegation that Indian officials are involved in the murder of a Canadian citizen. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, was the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force and one of India's most-wanted terrorists.India has strongly refuted the allegations. Lucknow, Oct 9 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that if Shri Ram Janmabhoomi can be taken back after 500 years, there is no reason why India cannot take back 'Sindhu' - the Sindh province, now in Pakistan. According to a press statement issued by the state government late on Sunday night, the Chief Minister, while addressing the two-day National Sindhi Convention, said: "After 500 years, a grand temple of Lord Ram is being constructed in Ayodhya. Ram Lalla will be seated again in his temple by the Prime Minister in January. If Ram Janmabhoomi can be taken back after 500 years, there is no reason why we cannot take back Sindhu." Yogi Adityanath's remarks drew a resounding applause, the statement said. The Chief Minister also said the Sindhi community needs to tell its present generation about its history and added that the community suffered the most after the partition. He further said that the stubbornness of just one person led to the partition. aWhen the partition of the country took place, lakhs of people were massacred. A large area of India became Pakistan. The Sindhi community suffered the most as it had to leave its motherland. Even today, we have to bear the brunt of the tragedy of partition in the form of terrorism." He said: "If we have to move forward on the path of the welfare of humanity, then the evil tendencies of the society will have to end. Our religious scriptures also give us the same inspiration. Be it respected Jhulelal ji or Lord Shri Krishna, everyone has talked about protecting the good and eliminating the evil for human welfare." "Where there is a country, there is a religion too. And when there is religion, there is a society in which we all exist," he said, adding that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, terrorism is on its last legs in India. The Chief Minister appealed to people to take the pledge of "nation first" to prevent the repeat of a partition-like tragedy. "We should be prepared to give a befitting reply to anyone who plays with the unity and integrity of the nation. The Sindhi community is an integral part of the Sanatana Dharma of India. The community has progressed with its efforts even in tough circumstances. It has set an example of how to reach the top from zero," he said. GAZA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday criticized the biased position of the United States towards Israel amid the current escalating tensions in the Gaza Strip. Saleh al-Arouri, deputy chief of Hamas, said in a press statement that "the hypocritical position of the U.S. is known to the world, and we do not count on it." Al-Arouri's remarks came after U.S. President Joe Biden affirmed his country's full support for Israel's right to defend itself in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In addition, al-Arouri considered "the entry of the Israeli army into Gaza the best scenario for the Palestinian militants to resolve this conflict with the enemy." Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a press statement that "a wide mobilization of reserves has begun ... 31 regular battalions are already in the area around the Gaza Strip and southern Israel." Earlier in the day, Hamas, the ruler of the Gaza Strip, launched a sudden military operation against Israel, firing thousands of rockets at Israeli cities. In addition, dozens of its militants infiltrated Israeli towns adjacent to the coastal enclave and opened fires at Israeli settlers, killing hundreds of them and capturing others. In response, the Israeli army attacked tens of Hamas sites and residential buildings in Gaza, killing hundreds of Palestinians. ABC/Lou Rocco By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 10/08/2023 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. NAIVASHA, Kenya, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The rise in extremist groups and political instability in some of the Horn of Africa countries could undermine the efforts in addressing insecurity, piracy and drug trafficking, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East African bloc, said Sunday. Mohammed Ali Guyo, the IGAD special envoy for the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Somalia, said that the situation had been exacerbated by the recent drought, which displaced thousands. "We have seen a rise in terrorism, piracy, armed robbery and sea kidnappings in the region, and the lack of security cooperation among member States has worsened the situation," Guyo told journalists in the Kenyan lakeside town of Naivasha. He made these remarks after a task force appointed by IGAD to identify challenges and opportunities in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea presented its report to the eight member states. Guyo also highlighted that illicit routes were being used for trafficking drugs, weapons, human beings and contraband. He called for concerted efforts among all member states, as climate change disrupted livelihoods and led to a rise in insecurity as affected communities struggled for food, water and pastures. Moi Lemoshira, the director-general of the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, noted that insecurity in the region had negatively impacted development, and the rise in terrorism and extremist groups affected all member states, hence the need for joint collaboration. "The Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea have enormous potential, but insecurity, political transitions, and instability in some member countries have hindered efforts to reap the benefits of the region," he said. The Kenyan official commended the task force launched to examine the opportunities and challenges of the IGAD region, adding that their report would assist in developing a roadmap. "The full effects of climate change have been felt in the last two years, and this, coupled with instability in some countries, has created a window for insecurity and terrorism," Lemoshira said. Shooting kills 2 men and wounds 3 others in possible targeted attack near Los Angeles Authorities say Two men were killed and three others were wounded when they were shot in a parked car near Los Angeles For the first time, two different spacecrafts will be able to communicate with one another using artificial intelligence and machine learning to decide which way they should maneuver to avoid collision, according to NASA members who spoke at the University of Georgia on Friday. Two trainee pilots from India are among three persons killed when a small plane crashed in Canada's British Columbia province, according to media reports. Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo Abhay Gadru and Yash Ramugade, both 25, from Mumbai, were in the small twin-engine light aircraft -- a piper PA-34 Seneca -- which crashed on Friday near the local airport in Chilliwack city, about 100 km east of Vancouver. The plane crashed behind a motel near the airport, killing the pilot and everyone on board, Sgt. Pete Healey from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was quoted as saying by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Gadru moved to Canada three years ago to complete pilot training and was expected to graduate in November, his cousin Sdradha Trisal was quoted as saying by the Vancouver Sun newspaper on Saturday. "He was such a pure soul. I can't believe he's gone and I'm just left with memories now," Trisal said. A total of three people were killed in the plane crash. The report said that Gadru's sibling Chirag, who also lives in the British Columbia province, is trying to send back his brother's remains to their parents in India. Meanwhile, CTV News Vancouver, a Canadian news portal, said that the second person among the three killed was Yash Ramugude, who also hailed from Mumbai. While details about Gadru were given, there was not much information about Ramugade in the Canadian media reports. The registration number on the plane's tail indicates the aircraft, which appeared badly damaged, is a Piper PA-34 Seneca owned by SkyQuest Aviation, a flight school based in Langley. It was built in 1972. "We're looking into it but we're not issuing any statements. There is nothing we can say at this time," an employee, who works as an administrator at SkyQuest Aviation, said on condition of anonymity. The reports did not identify the pilot of the small plane. It is still unknown what caused the twin-engined light aircraft to crash, the CBC report said. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said it's sending investigators, it said. California Governor Gavin Newsom on Saturday vetoed the anti-caste discrimination bill recently passed by the state assembly, saying that laws to ban caste-based discrimination already exist in the state. IMAGE: California Governor Gavin Newsom. Photograph: David Swanson/Reuters The governor's move has been welcomed by a large segment of the Indian-American community who were opposing the bill based on the same argument. 'In California, we believe everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter who they are, where they come from, who they love, or where they live,' Newsom said in a statement issued Saturday. 'That is why California already prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, colour, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other characteristics, and state law specifies that these civil rights protections shall be liberally construed. Because discrimination based on caste is already prohibited under these existing categories, this bill is unnecessary,' Newsom explained. For this reason, Newsom asserted that he 'cannot sign' the bill which is known as 'SB403', which was passed by a large majority by both the House of Representatives and Senate of the California State Assembly. The bill defines 'ancestry' for purposes of the Fair Employment and Housing Act, the Unruh Act, and the Education Code to include 'caste' and other dimensions of ancestry. The opponents of the bill described it as historic and said that such a move by Governor Newsom has prevented the efforts of many to target the South Asian community and the Hindus in the state. Soon thereafter, Castefiles described it as a historic decision. 'Governor Newsom has taken a stance to veto SB403 -- an attempt to sully the Civil Rights Act by adding discriminatory notes to it with the highly contentious term 'CASTE',' it said. 'Newsom has recognised the pain and fight of the South Asian micro minority. Democracy wins today in America -- the Vox populi that fought to be heard amidst the deafening roar of fake caste narratives,' Castefiles said. "With the stroke of his pen, Governor Newsom has averted a civil rights and constitutional disaster that would have put a target on hundreds of thousands of Californians simply because of their ethnicity or their religious identity, as well as create a slippery slope of facially discriminatory laws," said Samir Kalra, managing director of Hindu American Foundation. Leading Democrat Ajay Bhutoria, in a statement, expressed his gratitude to Governor Newsom for vetoing the bill and described it as a 'momentous development'. During a recent engagement at a Democratic National Committee (DNC) event in Chicago, Bhutoria from California and Rakesh Kapur from Boston urged the governor to veto the bill. Vetoing the SB403 Caste Bill was the right course of action, elucidating the detrimental impacts it could have on the community, they told the governor in Chicago last month. 'This legislation was undeniably redundant and unnecessary, and I am pleased that our discussions in Chicago bore fruit. The veto of this bill is a testament to the power of constructive dialogue and collaboration,' Bhutoria said in a statement. 'This is a culmination of the efforts of the entire #HinduAmerican community, and the hundreds of organisations, temples, businesses, and allies that fought against #profiling. We rose above the lies, the insinuations, and the wild accusations -- and we prevailed,' Coalition of Hindus of North America said. 'It was an effort that saw hundreds of volunteers turn out in person, dozens of organisations, and thousands of California residents who wrote, called, and texted their lawmakers. Proof that if we unite and take action, nothing is impossible,' CoHNA said. Khanderao Kand from the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora (FIIDS) thanked Governor Newsom for 'this historic and correct' decision. "I reject all and any form of discrimination, however as the governor said California law already covers all discriminations, moreover, this bill would have caused facial and ethnic profiling leading to difficulty for industries, particularly the tech industry to operate," he said. The recently formed Americans for Hindus said the bill was not facially neutral. 'It relied on misleading narratives, strawman arguments, and a questionable survey that actively encouraged falsification of data,' it said and thanked the governor for vetoing the bill. In a statement, Deelip Mhaske, president of the Foundation for Human Horizon and prominent Ambedkarite, said while the governor ideologically supported the bill, he was against anything that would further divide the Indian-American community or promote negative sentiments towards India. 'Consequently, he vetoed the bill, not because he opposed the legislation per se, but due to concerns over divisive groups hijacking the movement,' he said. According to Mhaske after the bill was passed by the California Assembly, several organisations supporting the bill initiated a hunger strike, prompting an investigation into the participants, especially Equality Lab. "Concerns were raised that some groups were using the bill as a means to promote financial interests, as well as fostering divisive anti-India and anti-Hindu sentiments within the Indian community in America," he said as he welcomed the decision of the governor to veto the bill. There was no immediate reaction from Equality Lab, Senator Wahab and other organisations who had worked and lobbied for the passage of the bill and making it into a law. Members of Equality Lab had gone on a hunger strike to urge the governor to sign the bill into a law. Hindu Parents of California and a Dalit advocacy group also welcomed the decision, observing that this bill was brought with the sole intention of 'stereotyping the community'. "As California's Governor has rightly pointed out, California's law on civil rights already covers all instances of discrimination. We believe that this bill was brought with the sole intention of stereotyping Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Muslims and other communities from South Asia," said Vaishali V, president of Ambedkar-Phule Network of American Dalits and Bahujans. Congratulating the governor for seeing through the flaws in the bill and how it would adversely impact people from South Asia, including the marginalised communities, Vaishali said the network sees the bill as anti-Dalit and a threat to their cultural existence. "While we welcome the veto, we know that nothing can bring back the life of our leader Milind Makwana who was the voice marginalised and at the forefront of the struggle against SB-403 Nothing can heal the loss and the trauma that this bill has caused to the families of the marginalised communities," Vaishali said. Expressing profound relief and gratitude following Governor Newsome's decision to veto bill SB403, Hindu Parents said this significant decision stands as a beacon against prejudice, discrimination, and misinformation about Hinduism and its followers in California. 'With this development, our children can look forward to a future where they are not subject to undue stereotyping and profiling based on perceptions. This ensures they can practise their faith peacefully, with pride, and without the looming shadows of colonial-era stereotypes and prejudice,' Hindu Parents said. 'While we celebrate this victory, we recognize there's more work ahead. The portrayal of Hinduism and Hindu-Americans, especially in educational materials, remains a concern. It is our hope that the state of California will address these systemic biases and stereotypes in our textbooks. True reconciliation can be achieved when education reflects the rich diversity and historical contributions of Hinduism,' said the organisation representing Hindu Parents. TEHRAN, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Sunday expressed his country's support for the Palestinian nation's "legitimate defense" against Israel. He made the remarks in a message to congratulate the "brilliant victory of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance against Israel," according to a statement published on the website of the Iranian president's office. He added Iran invites the entire world to see the fact that the "accumulation of cruelty and injustice against the oppressed people of Palestine, the continuation of insults to women and prisoners, and desecrations of the Al-Aqsa mosque" are not permanent and will be met with nations' resistance. Raisi also called on Muslim states to "join the Islamic community in supporting the Palestinian nation honestly." Raisi also on Sunday discussed the ongoing developments in Palestine in separate phone calls with Secretary-General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement Ziad al-Nakhalah and Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political bureau of Hamas, according to Iran's official news agency IRNA. On Saturday, Hamas, which controls Gaza, showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. The Gaza-based Health Ministry's latest update on Sunday said the death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 370, with 2,200 others injured, while Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported the death toll in Israel has reached 600. The Congress party will begin its election campaign for the upcoming assembly election in the state from October 16 with "Kaam kiya dil se, Congress fir se" as its slogan. IMAGE: Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra (centre) speaking to media persons in Jaipur as state CM Ashok Gehlot and party's state-in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa (right) look on, October 8, 2023. Photograph: ANI on X Keeping the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project on its priority list, the party will begin from Baran district and cover 13 districts of eastern Rajasthan where the canal is proposed for meeting out drinking and irrigation water for the people. Jhalawar, Baran, Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Tonk, Jaipur, Dausa, Karauli, Alwar, Bharatpur and Dholpur will be part of Congress' poll campaign in eastern Rajasthan. "Today (Sunday) we had a meeting with our leaders of eastern Rajasthan. As the chief minister said that we will start our election campaign from eastern Rajasthan against the BJP's betrayal on the formation of ERCP," Congress state in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa told reporters after a meeting. "This is the misfortune of Rajasthan that despite Shekhawat sahab (Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat) being the minister, the state could not get the project. Before talking about the entire country, they should have looked into their home state," Randhawa said. Randhawa said the party is upbeat about the upcoming assembly elections. He added that under his tenure as the Congress' state in-charge, all party leaders have come together. Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra the party will cover two districts everyday and hold a big public meeting in one of the districts. Before commencement of the campaign, people will be sensitised at block level till October 15. He said that the Congress government has fulfilled 98 per cent of the promises made in its manifesto and the next manifesto will be prepared on the basis of the 'Vision 2030' document. The schemes of the Congress government have had a positive impact on the people, and there is no anti-incumbency, he said. Dotasra said there was factionalism within the Bharatiya Janata Party, and added that the party has no answer to the schemes of the Gehlot government. At the Congress Working Meeting meeting, which is scheduled to be held in Delhi on Monday, state election committee will present the names of potential poll candidates to the screening committee for consideration, Dotasra said. The final list of candidates contesting the polls will only be released when the high command decides on the central election committee meeting. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that the party will go in the polls with slogan "Kaam kiya dil se, Congress fir se." Gehlot also spoke about Maduram Jaipal whose picture was shown in a BJP poster under its campaign 'Nahi Sahega Rajasthan'. The poster, which shows the photo of a farmer and claims that the land of more than 19,000 farmers in Rajasthan was auctioned after they failed to repay their bank loans, has been plastered in several parts of the state. The farmer, Madhuram Jaipal of Jaisalmer, had alleged that his photo was misused by the BJP in the poster. Gehlot said Jaipal has urged that his posters be removed as he was feeling insulted. "This is the face of the BJP. We will show this face. Madhuram is the face," Gehlot said. A police officer opened fire on Israeli tourists in Egypt, claiming the lives of two Israelis and an Egyptian, Al Jazeera reported quoting the local media. IMAGE: Israeli police inspect a car that has a Palestinian licence plate on it, in Sderot, on October 7, 2023. Photograph: Ammar Awad/Reuters "An Egyptian police officer kills two Israeli tourists in the city of Alexandria," Al Jazeera English posted on X. The suspect was reportedly detained. Quoting an unidentified security official, Al Jazeera reported that another person was wounded in the attack, which took place at Pompey's Pillar site in Alexandria. The Egyptian foreign ministry said it was looking into reports that a gunman opened fire on a bus carrying Israeli tourists in the port city of Alexandria, Al Jazeera English posted on X. RT Arabic outlet reported that two Israelis were killed by an Egyptian policeman, while Walla news reported that it received word of one Israeli being killed and another wounded. According to RT Arabic, a security source said that a policeman fired his weapon at the Israeli tourist group in the city's Amoud Al-Sawari area. Further details are awaited. In an unprecedented attack that few Israelis saw coming on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah on Saturday, Hamas fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip. IMAGE: Smoke rises following Israeli strikes in Gaza, October 7, 2023. Photograph: Mohammed Salem/Reuters Even as the toll from the Hamas rocket fire and ground assault mounted, Israel declared that was 'at war' with the militant outfit and launched airstrikes in Gaza, vowing to inflict an 'unprecedented price'. Israel launched 'Operation Swords of Iron', striking a number of suspected Hamas hideouts in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's response to the Hamas incursion will 'exact a huge price' on the militant group. Meanwhile, the toll from the deadly rocket and ground assault by Hamas soared past 300 people, with another 2.000 reported to be injured in Gaza and Israel, The Times of Israel reported. The Palestinian health ministry said 232 people were killed and 1,790 injured in Gaza. According to the Israeli health ministry over 100 people are dead and over 900 others injured. Taking the top brass of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and the country's political establishment by surprise, Gaza's militant Hamas rulers attacked Israel by land, air, and sea. Millions of Israelis in the country's south awoke to the searing sound of incoming rockets and the inevitable thud of impact. Air raid sirens wailed as far north as Tel Aviv. Israel's anti-rocket interceptors thundered in Jerusalem. In an unprecedented escalation, armed Hamas fighters blew up parts of Israel's highly fortified separation fence and strode into Israeli communities along the Gaza frontier, terrorising residents and trading fire with Israeli soldiers. Saturday's attack came 50 years and a day after Egyptian and Syrian forces launched an assault during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur in an effort to retrieve territory Israel had taken during a brief conflict in 1967, reported Al Jazeera. Here's how the Hamas attack unfolded in Israel: Around 6.30 am (03:30 GMT), Hamas fired a barrage of rockets into southern Israel with sirens heard as far away as Tel Aviv and Beersheba. Hamas said it launched 5,000 rockets in an initial barrage. Israel's military said 2,500 rockets were fired, reported Al Jazeera. "We announce the start of Operation Al Aqsa Flood and we announce that the first strike, which targeted enemy positions, airports, and military fortifications, exceeded 5,000 missiles and shells," Mohammed Deif, head of the Al Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said. The rocket attack served as cover for an unprecedented multi-pronged infiltration of fighters with the Israeli military saying at 7.40 am (local time) that Palestinian gunmen had crossed into Israel. Most fighters entered through breaches in security barriers separating Gaza and Israel, Al Jazeera reported. One Hamas soldier was filmed flying over in a powered parachute. A motorboat carrying fighters was seen heading to Zikim, an Israeli coastal town with a military base. A viral video showed at least six motorcycles with fighters crossing through a hole in a metal barrier. At 9.45 am (local time), blasts were heard in Gaza and at 10 am Israel's military spokesperson said the air force was carrying out attacks in Gaza. Israel's military said at 10 am, Palestinian fighters penetrated at least three military installations around the frontier -- the Beit Hanoun border crossing (called Erez by Israel), the Zikim base, and the Gaza division headquarters at Reim. Several captured Israeli military vehicles were later pictured being driven into Gaza and paraded there, reported Al Jazeera. Fighters raided the Israeli town of Sderot, another community Be'eri, and the town of Ofakim, 30km (20 miles) east of Gaza, according to Israeli media. Residents of southern Israel fortified their homes to function as bomb shelters and were using them as panic rooms. Israel's military ordered residents to shelter inside, saying on the radio, "We will reach you." By late evening, Israeli troops were still working to clear communities overrun by Hamas fighters, reported Al Jazeera. Israeli media reported gunmen took hostages in Ofakim while Palestinian Islamic Jihad said it was holding Israeli soldiers. Hamas' social media accounts showed footage purportedly showing captives being taken into Gaza. Another video showed three young men in vests, shorts, and flip-flops being marched through a security installation with Hebrew writing on the wall. Other videos showed female captives and Israeli soldiers being dragged from a military vehicle, reported Al Jazeera. Israeli air attacks continued late Saturday night as did rocket fire into southern Israel. Israeli troops were still fighting Hamas gunmen in 22 locations near the Gaza Strip -- a startling sign of the breadth of the assault. Israel's military said it was still fighting 'hundreds' of Palestinian infiltrators. Israelis had assumed that their intelligence services would be able to alert the army to any major attack or invasion well in advance, but the surprise attack by Hamas showed the colossal failure of Israeli intelligence, according to reports. That Hamas was able to stage such a huge and coordinated attack, which has already killed more Israelis than any single assault since the second Palestinian uprising two decades ago, without triggering Israeli intelligence, has presented a major challenge to Netanyahu's ultranationalist government. There have been no untoward incidents involving Indians living and working in Israel so far amid escalating tensions in the region, even as the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv received requests from its citizens, including tourists, stranded in the country to facilitate their safe exit. IMAGE: A man runs on a road as fire burns after rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, Israel, October 7, 2023. Photograph: Amir Cohen/Reuters Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented multifront attack -- by air, land and sea -- by the Hamas militant group, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning. At least 400 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed and more than 1,900 injured in Israel - the deadliest day for the country in at least 50 years. In the Gaza Strip, there are nearly 300 deaths and about 1,500 wounded in Israel's counterattack, media reports said on Sunday. There are about 18,000 Indian nationals living and working in Israel and so far there have been no untoward incidents reported involving them, informed sources told PTI. The Indian embassy has received requests from Indian tourists stranded in the country to facilitate their exit. Most of the tourists are travelling in groups. There are also some businessmen visiting Israel who have gotten caught up in the escalation and are looking to be evacuated. The Indian mission in Tel Aviv and the Representative Office of India in Palestine on Saturday issued advisories asking Indian nationals on respective sides to 'remain vigilant' and 'directly contact the office' in case of an emergency. Embassy sources told PTI that they are readily available to all Indian nationals around the clock and have been proactively guiding them. A big chunk of Indians living in Israel work as caregivers but there are also about a thousand students, several IT professionals and diamond traders. Bindu, a doctoral student at Hebrew University, told PTI that she "followed the instructions in letter and spirit throughout the day" on Saturday and felt safe. She said that all Indian students are in touch with each other and are constantly taking stock of the situation. Some other students, when contacted, also said that they see the situation coming under control and "we should not spread panic unnecessarily". Vikas Sharma, a postdoctoral fellow at the Givat Ram campus of Hebrew University said that "there is a tense situation in Israel because of the attack, but all the Indian students are safe." "Most of the students are staying in dorms and accommodations provided by the institutions. We are in contact with each other as well as the Indian embassy through WhatsApp." Caregivers in Israel also are inclined towards staying put and focusing on following the instructions of the Home Front through the link shared by the Indian mission. Elle Prasad, who lives in Ashkelon where the maximum number of rockets have fallen, said that "they have to be very alert so that they reach the shelter house as soon as possible after the siren wails". Another caregiver, Vivek, said that the situation was worrisome but they are all okay and in constant touch with the embassy. An Indian national living in Gaza, when contacted, said that the situation was 'scary' but she and her family were safe. "There is no internet connection and electricity. The situation is scary but we are fine," she told PTI. According to this PTI correspondent in Jerusalem, most of the people slept close to the shelter houses in their buildings on Saturday night and followed the instructions given by the security forces. Israeli people are still in shock over the multifront attack and a massive intelligence failure. The road that connects the Old City of Jerusalem to Bethlehem was deserted on Sunday - a scene unthinkable in normal times. Security forces were patrolling the streets and monitoring the situation here. Jerusalem has been calm, and there has been no attack here or any untoward incident reported on Sunday. "In view of the current situation in Israel, all Indian nationals in Israel are requested to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities. Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement, and stay close to safety shelters," the embassy said in its advisory. The advisory gave relevant phone numbers in case of emergency and also provided URLs for Israeli Home Front Command and Preparedness brochures. The advisory was issued in English, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages. On Sunday, Israel continued to carry out attacks on Gaza but some infiltrators holed up in the southern parts of Israel continued to be engaged in firefights with Israeli soldiers. Minor escalation was reported on Israel's northern border with Lebanon during the morning hours but soon seemed to have calmed down. Setting aside their differences, top Israeli leaders have discussed the possibility of forming an emergency national unity government to deal with the complex situation after the unprecedented attack by Hamas militants that has left at least 300 Israelis dead. IMAGE: Israeli security personnel gather near a rifle at the site of a battle following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Sderot, southern Israel October 8, 2023. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz spoke on Saturday and discussed the possibility of joining Netanyahu's government because of the emergency created by Saturday's infiltration and rocket attacks from Gaza, Ha'aretz newspaper reported. The two opposition leaders expressed their willingness, but Lapid demanded far-right leaders and ministers, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, be removed. Gantz agreed to join alongside the two, the report said. Netanyahu reportedly said that he offered the two leaders to join the wide emergency government when they met him for a security briefing, citing past Likud leader Menachem Begin's example of joining the-then Prime Minister Levi Eshkol's government on the eve of the war in 1967. Opposition leader Lapid however refuted those claims saying that it was he who presented the option to form a government following a briefing with Netanyahu. Lapid served as prime minister before Netanyahu returned to power last December. Former defense minister Benny Gantz said that he is considering positively joining a government centred around the security situation. He has also served as the Chief of the Israel defence forces in the past. Lapid reportedly said he had told Prime Minister Netanyahu that "during this emergency, I am willing to set aside all disagreements, form a professional, limited emergency government to manage the difficult, complex, and lengthy campaign we are facing". In a statement, Lapid said Netanyahu was aware that "his radical and non-functional" cabinet couldn't manage a war. "I have no doubt that former Defense Minister Benny Gantz will also join such a government," he reportedly said. An emergency government "would make it clear to our enemies that an overwhelming majority of Israeli citizens stand behind the IDF and the defence bodies," Lapid stressed. Gantz's party, National Unity, on the other hand, have said that they are willing to join an emergency government unconditionally, which can include Ben-Gvir and Smotrich serving as National Security and Finance Minister respectively. A source, who presented himself as a high-ranking party official to The Ha'aretz, said that the National Unity party wants "to be able to make proper security decisions". "If we will have enough meaningful power, Ben-Gvir will become a pawn. We won't break up the government as this will be a gift to Hamas. We will do anything to win this war, and then we will leave the government," he reportedly said. In an operation that started on Saturday, Israel's Security Forces neutralised 10 terrorists and regained control of the Sderot Police Station that was overrun by Hamas terrorists on Saturday, The Times of Israel reported. IMAGE: Israeli police inspect a car that has a Palestinian licence plate on it, in Sderot, on October 7, 2023. Photograph: Ammar Awad/Reuters Amir Cohen, the commander of the Border Police, applauded the Israeli Security Forces for regaining control of the Sderot police station early on Saturday morning and said that, including Border Police anti-terror forces and military troops, they 'acted throughout the last day with great courage and determination'. "We are in a difficult time," says Cohen, "but now we raise our heads and continue to act with determination and... strength against any threat to provide security to the citizens." "Full control was achieved and our forces neutralized about 10 armed terrorists in the station," the police statement added, according to The Times of Israel. Notably, Sderot Police Station is situated on the Israeli border with Gaza. Earlier, some graphic videos showed bodies strewn in the streets of the southern city of Sderot after the attack by Palestinian militants. Cars were riddled with bullets and lit on fire. Keeping in mind the sensitivity of the ongoing situation near the Gaza border, Cohen further advised the residents to stay inside, not go outside, and use phone emergency services if they need assistance. "There are large forces of police, Border Police and IDF and we will continue to provide ongoing security and respond to incidents quickly," The Times of Israel quoted him as saying. At about 6.30 am (local time) on Saturday, a barrage of rocket fire began from Gaza into Israel, hitting several cities including Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Gedera and Ashkelon. This was followed by several Hamas terrorists entering Israel from the Gaza Strip and taking over Israeli towns. Hamas military commander Muhammad Al Deif called the operation 'Al Aqsa Flood' and said that the assault on Israel was a response to attacks on women, the desecration of the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and the ongoing siege of Gaza. The death toll from the Hamas terror group's multi-front attack on Israel has risen to more than 300 now, and is expected to rise further. As many as 1,590 people have been wounded, many seriously. Various civilians as well as (Israel Defense Forces) IDF soldiers are believed to have been abducted and brought into Gaza; Hamas has boasted that the number of hostages is higher than Israel knows, as per The Times of Israel. A caste census and poll strategies are set to dominate the Congress Working Committee meeting in New Delhi on Monday, with Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram set to be announced soon. IMAGE: Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi with party president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leaders Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal and AK Anthony during the extended Congress Working Committee meeting, in Hyderabad, September 17, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the chief ministers of all the Congress-ruled states and the top party brass will deliberate on election preparedness and narratives across the poll-bound states at length, besides holding extensive discussions on the party's firm pitch for a nationwide caste census and its implications. There are concerns within the Congress with respect to the articulation of the party's demand for the caste census, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently accusing the grand old party of attempting to divide Hindus through its push for the Other Backward Classes. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi, who is also a regular CWC member, raised concerns recently over Rahul Gandhi's "jitni abaadi, utna haq" (rights proportionate to population) slogan, arguing that it amounts to an endorsement of majoritarianism. Although Singhvi quickly deleted his controversial post on X after the Congress distanced itself from his remarks, concerns remain among a section of the party as to the articulation of the politically-sensitive call for the caste census. Meanwhile, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre has escalated its attacks on the Congress, saying the party has never been in favour of a caste census with late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi opposing the Mandal Commission in Parliament. The Congress has taken a principled stand to push for the caste census in order to counter the BJP's Hindutva agenda. After Bihar released the findings of a caste census in the state, Congress-ruled Rajasthan issued orders on Saturday for holding a similar exercise. In Chhattisgarh too, the Congress has announced that it will conduct a caste census if elected to power again. Congress-ruled Karnataka has already announced the census and is likely to come out with its results later this year. On the agenda at Monday's CWC meet is firming up the party's strategy in the five poll-bound states. The Congress is seeking to retain its governments in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and hoping to wrest power from the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana and Mizo National Front (MNF) in Mizoram. The CWC meet comes at a time when some opposition leaders are facing heat from central agencies and the latest in a series of arrests is of Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Sanjay Singh in the Delhi excise policy case. The Congress has condemned Singh's arrest but also pointed to similar action against its leaders in Punjab at the hands of the AAP government there, the latest being the arrest of its farmers' wing head Sukhpal Khaira in a drugs-related case. The meeting of the top decision-making body of the Congress comes just over three weeks after the first meeting of the reconstituted CWC in Hyderabad on September 16 to evolve a strategy for the Assembly polls in the five states and the 2024 Lok Sabha election. The chief ministers of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, besides the Congress Legislature Party leaders in the five poll-bound states, will attend the CWC meet. The CWC has 39 regular members, 32 permanent invitees and 13 special invitees, including 15 women and several new faces. India's Territorial Army which has served the nation in times of war and peace, has entered into the 75th year of its existence, and recruited a batch of Mandarin language experts. Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo The batch of five experts will also play a role as interpreters between India and China sides during border personnel meetings, sources said. Besides, the Territorial Army is also engaged in "advanced stages" of discussion and has "identified criteria" for hiring some cyber security experts, they said. "The TA was raised on October 9, 1949, and now we have just entered into our 75th year of existence, and have served the nation in times of war, and in humanitarian and environment protection works through its eventful journey over these decades," a source said. It was raised on the concept of being a 'citizen soldier's army'. Besides augmenting the organisational requirements, the TA also provides an opportunity to able-bodied volunteer citizens of India, especially those who are over age for enrollment in the regular army, to serve the nation in uniform. Keeping pace with changing times, the TA units (currently about 60 units) are also evolving and undertaking various steps to transform to "remain current and responsive to the emerging environment," the sources said. One such step is the recruitment of five "Chinese (Mandarin) language experts this year," the source said. "The process to hire these experts in the first phase began in January and the process was completed a few months ago. The process was rigorous and entailed both a written and oral examination of various candidates who have expertise in Mandarin language," the source added. And, the "best in the country" in this field of language have been hired. The average age of these hired experts is 30 years. They will play a role as interpreters between Indian and Chinese armies during border personnel meetings. But, they can be deployed in jobs other than at BPMs too, another source said. The move comes nearly three years after the eastern Ladakh border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong Lake areas. The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in an over three-year confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks. The two sides hold Border Personnel Meetings at five points -- Daulat Beg Oldie in northern Ladakh, Kibithu in Arunachal Pradesh, Chusul in Ladakh, Bum-La near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh and Nathu-La in Sikkim. Usually, both sides resolve various operational issues at the BPMs. In addition to security-related duties, TA units are actively involved in "perception management" towards winning the hearts and minds of the local populace, including in the Jammu and Kashmir region, the sources said. TA units have also played an important role in providing essential services and establishing rehabilitation campuses in strife-torn Manipur this year, they said. Certain TA units are also deployed in conjunction with Border Roads Organisation and the Ministry of Railways for the protection of under-construction road or rail alignments in remote and sensitive areas. There were six Railway TA units, out of which five have been disbanded and one is currently existing. The decision to disband those units had come from the railways, the sources said. Besides their operational role, the TA has also contributed to the protection and preservation of the environment. The first Ecological Task Force was raised in 1982, to address the severely degraded hills of Mussoorie (Uttarakhand) due to intensive and incessant limestone quarrying and deforestation. Today, the TA has ecological battalions deployed along the length and breadth of the country, they said. Various Ecological Task Forces of the TA deployed across India have jointly planted approximately 9.38 crore saplings in approximately 88,400 hectares of land across the country. The units have constructed 29 new water bodies, besides rejuvenating many existing ones, the sources said. A specialised TA Ecological Battalion, namely Ganga Task Force, is deployed along banks of River Ganga and has been working towards its conservation and rejuvenation in conjunction with the ministry of jal shakti as part of the National Mission for Clean Ganga. The unit personnel have also been employed in Delhi to assist in the ongoing efforts to control pollution in the river Yamuna. On the 'Nari Shakti' front, the TA had commenced commissioning of Women Officers in TA since 2019. In a major development, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had approved an amendment to existing cadre management provisions for women officers of the TA, the sources said. This progressive policy measure is aimed at enhancing the scope of 'Nari Shakti' and also meeting their professional aspirations since women will now serve and train under the same conditions as their male counterparts in a wider range of units and appointments including serving in challenging field conditions and important staff appointments, the sources said. TA is fully integrated with the regular Army, and in apt recognition of nation-building efforts and contributions made during war or conflicts, numerous individuals have been honoured with gallantry as well as distinguished service awards in the TA, they said. More than 400 people have lost their lives and still counting after Hamas launched an attack on Israel near the Gaza Strip, Times of Israel reported on Sunday. IMAGE: A woman reacts at the site where a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip landed in Tel Aviv, Israel on October 7, 2023. Photograph: Itai Ron/Reuters Among the dead, dozens of soldiers and police were killed in the attack. Additionally, the Israel-based media outlet claimed that over 2,048 wounded in the deadliest attack are being treated in hospitals, including 20 in critical condition and 330 seriously wounded. While addressing a briefing on Sunday, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the priorities were to end the fighting in Israeli communities and control breaches in the fence dividing Gaza and Israel, CNN reported. Four people were injured in rocket attacks in and around the city of Sderot on Sunday, according to Israeli emergency services, CNN reported. One of the victims, a 20-year-old man is in critical condition. Various civilians as well as (Israel Defense Forces) IDF soldiers are believed to have been abducted and brought into Gaza; Hamas has boasted that the number of hostages is higher than Israel knows, as per The Times of Israel. In a retaliatory attack, at least 313 Palestinians have been killed so far as the gun battle between Israel defense forces and Hamas intensified on Sunday, The Times of Israel reported. The death toll has been confirmed by the Hamas-run health ministry in the Gaza Strip that said 313 Palestinians have been killed and another 1,990 have been wounded in the Gaza Strip. Most of those were apparently killed in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israel's retaliatory strikes. Both Israel and Hamas claimed that gunfights were ongoing at numerous locations within Israeli territory. IMAGE: A view of a junction shows the aftermath of a mass-infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in the Sderot area, southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Photograph: Ammar Awad/Reuters Meanwhile, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is holding a security assessment at IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv, according to Israel PM's office, The Times of Israel reported. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and other senior security officials are attending the meeting. Earlier in the day, the IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said the searches for Hamas terrorists were being carried out at several besieged towns and that over 400 terrorists have been killed inside Gaza, with dozens more being held captive, according to The Times of Israel report. "As of this hour, there are forces fighting in [Kibbutz] Kfar Aza, there are searches in a large number of towns. There are IDF forces in all towns, there is no town that does not have an IDF force in it," Israel Defense Forces' top spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari was quoted as saying by The Times of Israel. According to Hagari, the IDF's mission objectives are to evacuate all civilians from border communities in Gaza, put an end to fighting there, manage security barrier breaches, and keep attacking terrorist targets in the Strip. More than 24 hours after Hamas launched rocket attacks followed by an unprecedented ground assault, firefights between forces and terrorists were ongoing in Kfar Aza, close to the Gaza border. IMAGE: Israeli police inspect a car that has a Palestinian licence plate on it, in Sderot, on October 7, 2023. Photograph: Ammar Awad/Reuters In a major escalation on Saturday, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. Issuing a stern warning to Hamas on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that it had begun a terrible war and that the Israel defence forces would use all of its strength to undermine its capacity. In a post shared on X, Netanyahu stated, "This morning, on Shabbat and a holiday, Hamas invaded Israeli territory and murdered innocent citizens including children and the elderly. Hamas has started a brutal and evil war. We will be victorious in this war despite an unbearable price. This is a very difficult day for all of us. Hamas wants to murder us all." "This is an enemy that murders children and mothers in their homes, in their beds, an enemy that abducts the elderly, children and young women, that slaughters and massacres our citizens, including children, who simply went out to enjoy the holiday. What happened today is unprecedented in Israel - and I will see to it that it does not happen again. The entire government is behind this decision. The IDF will immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamas's capabilities," he said. He added, "We will destroy them and we will forcefully avenge this dark day that they have forced on the State of Israel and its citizens. As Bialik wrote: 'Revenge for the blood of a little child has yet been devised by Satan'. All of the places which Hamas is deployed, hiding and operating in, that wicked city, we will turn them into rubble. I say to the residents of Gaza: Leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere. At this hour, the IDF is clearing the terrorists out of the last communities. They are going community by community, house by house, and are restoring our control." He offered condolences to the families who lost their loved ones and prayed for those who were injured due to the Hamas attack. He stated that the people of Israel will overcome its enemies. In the post, Netanyahu further stated, "I embrace and send heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families whose loved ones were murdered today in cold blood and endless brutality. We are all praying for the well-being of the wounded and all those who are being held hostage. I say to Hamas: You are responsible for their well-being. Israel will settle accounts with anyone who harms one hair on their heads. I appeal to the residents of the south: We all stand alongside you. We are all proud of your heroism and your fighting. To our beloved IDF soldiers, police officers and security forces personnel, remember that you are the continuation of the heroes of the Jewish people, of Joshua, Judah Maccabee and the heroes of 1948 and of all of Israel's wars. You are now fighting for the home and future of us all. We are all with you. We all love you. We all salute you. To the medical and rescue teams, and the many volunteers who came out in force today in a long list of places, the people of Israel salute you. With your spirit, we will overcome our enemies." Netanyahu stated that he held talks with US President Joe Biden and other world leaders. He thanked French President Emmanuel Macron, UK PM Rishi Sunak and other leaders for their support to Israel. Netanyahu in the statement said, "Today, I spoke with US President Biden and with other world leaders in order to ensure freedom of action for Israel in the continuation of the campaign. I thank President Biden for his strong and clear words." "I thank the President of France, the Prime Minister of Great Britain and many other leaders for their unreserved support for Israel. I now appeal to all citizens of Israel: We stand together in this campaign. This war will take time. It will be difficult. Challenging days are ahead of us. However, I can promise one thing: With the help of G-d, the forces that we all have in common and our faith in the Eternal One of Israel, we will win," he added. JERUSALEM, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Hamas, an Islamist Palestinian group ruling the Gaza Strip, launched a massive surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, which included the firing of thousands of rockets and the infiltration of militants into southern Israel. In response, the Israeli military conducted tens of airstrikes targeting Hamas sites and headquarters in the coastal enclave. The new round of conflict has led to hundreds of people killed on both sides, with thousands injured. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the country "at war," and the military ordered the mass mobilization of reservists. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has shown no sign of abating in recent years, as direct peace talks between the two sides stalled in 2014 following disputes over Israeli settlements and the recognition of a Palestinian state. The Palestinians want to establish an independent state on the territories occupied by Israel in 1967, including the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The following are some fierce confrontations between Israel and the Palestinians in recent years: July-August 2014: Israel launched a massive military offensive in the Gaza Strip, carrying out air strikes on hundreds of Palestinian militant targets. The attack killed more than 2,200 Palestinians, over 70 Israelis and foreigners, and injured tens of thousands in 50 days of bloodshed. May 14, 2018: Massive protests broke out in many Palestinian cities against the United States moving its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Clashes erupted between protesters and the Israeli army, resulting in 58 Palestinians killed and more than 2,800 injured, registering the largest single-day death toll among Palestinians since the 2014 Gaza war. March 2018-December 2019: An anti-Israel mass rally, known as the Great March of Return, began at the fence between Israel and Gaza on March 30, 2018, demanding the return of Palestinian refugees to their lands and an end to the blockade Israel has imposed on the coastal enclave since 2007. Israeli soldiers fired at the demonstrators to keep them back. The weekly protests lasted till the end of 2019. At least 223 Palestinians were killed and about 10,000 injured in the protests, according to B'tselem, an Israeli human rights group. The border violence also triggered fighting between Hamas and Israeli troops. April-May 2021: During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, several clashes erupted between Israel and Palestine as the former restricted Palestinian access to parts of Jerusalem and asked more than a dozen Palestinian families to move out of East Jerusalem. In early May 2021, serious clashes broke out between Palestinians and Israeli forces in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a site holy to both Muslims and Jews. Hamas demanded Israel withdraw its forces from the compound by May 10, 2021. Minutes after the deadline, Hamas unleashed about 150 rockets into Israel from Gaza. In response, Israel carried out air strikes on the enclave. The fighting continued for 11 days, resulting in the deaths of at least 232 people in Gaza and 12 in Israel. August 5-7, 2022: At least 44 Palestinians were killed in Gaza during three days of violence that began on Aug. 5, 2022, with Israeli airstrikes targeting a commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement. Israel claimed that the strikes targeted PIJ sites and operatives. In retaliation, the PIJ launched about 1,100 rockets toward Israel, some reaching as far as five kilometers west of Jerusalem. Israel's Iron Dome anti-rocket system intercepted the rockets, preventing casualties. Jan. 27, 2023: PIJ militants in Gaza launched two rockets at Israel in retaliation for an earlier Israeli raid on the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, where seven Palestinian gunmen and two civilians were killed. The rockets triggered alarms in Israeli communities near Gaza but caused no casualties. Israel later launched airstrikes on Gaza. May 9-13, 2023: On May 9, Israel launched an operation against the PIJ in the Gaza Strip, killing three of the group's top commanders. The offensive occurred less than a week after a rocket attack was launched from the Gaza Strip on southern Israel following the death of a senior PIJ member, who had been on hunger strike for months in an Israeli jail. In response to the Israeli strike, the PIJ fired at least 1,000 rockets, some deep into Israel. The five-day cross-border violence between the two sides claimed at least 33 Palestinian lives while killing an Israeli civilian and a Palestinian worker in Israel, according to the Israeli police. A cease-fire agreement, brokered by Egypt, between Israel and the PIJ, came into effect on May 13 and ended the escalation. June 19, 2023: Israeli forces, supported by a rare use of an attack helicopter, killed six Palestinians and injured at least 90 others in an hours-long gunbattle in Jenin in the northern West Bank, where eight Israeli soldiers were also wounded. July 3-4, 2023: The Israeli military waged a large-scale military operation on the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank on July 3, in an attempt to thwart militants within the camp. According to official figures, 13 Palestinians and an Israeli soldier were killed. Ilham Tohti, an outspoken scholar from China's Turkic Uighur ethnic minority, speaks during an interview at his home in Beijing, in Feb. 4, 2013 file photo Over a fortnight, a Uyghur folklorist missing since 2017 was revealed to be serving a life prison for separatism, while another Uyghur scholar who had vanished into Chinese custody years earlier appeared on shortlists and oddsmakers picks for the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize. The cases of ethnographer Rahile Dawut, whose life conviction in December 2018 was uncovered by a U.S. NGO only last month, and economist Ilham Tohti, put away for life on similar charges in 2014, share key similarities that highlight the personal and family tragedies behind China's relentless assimilation policies in the northwestern Xinjiang region. Both Dawut, who was born in 1966, and the 53-year-old Tohti built their academic careers inside the Chinese system, teaching at prestigious universities and releasing their work through major state publishing houses. The two scholars collaborated with and were respected as authorities by their Chinese and international peers. Uyghur professor Rahile Dawut talks with a man in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in an undated photo. Photo courtesy of Akide Polat/Freemymom.org Dawut created and directed the Xinjiang University 's Minorities Folklore Research Center and wrote dozens of articles in international journals and a number of books on the region and its culture. An economist at the Central University for Nationalities in Beijing, Tohti ran the Uyghur Online website, set up in 2006, which drew attention to the discrimination facing Uyghurs under Beijings rule over Xinjiang and its increasingly restrictive religious and language policies. The families of Dawut and Tohti share the common fate of not having heard anything from their jailed loved once since 2017, the year that Chinas harsh crackdown in Xinjiang went into overdrive, with the establishment of a network of internment camps for Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other Turkic minorities. My first reaction was that I couldnt believe it, I couldnt believe it at all, Dawut's U.S.-based daughter, Akide Polat, told Radio Free Asia last month. None of my mother's work, nor the way she went about it, nor anything in her personal life had anything to do with endangering state security," she said of the charges on which her mother was convicted. No intellectual resistance The Dui Hua Foundation, which revealed Dawuts life sentence, noted estimates of as many as several hundred Uyghur intellectuals who have been detained, arrested, and imprisoned since 2016. RFA Uyghur has documented scores of disappearances and detentions of Uyghur writers, academics, artists and musicians in recent years. What we've seen inside the Uyghur region of China is what is often termed eliticide, said Sean Roberts, a Central Asia expert at The George Washington Universitys Elliott School of International Affairs in Washington, D.C. There's a particular focus on the intellectual elites, many of whom were working at state institutions, have been loyal to the state, did not did not present any sort of real resistance. Their only crime was basically maintaining the idea of a Uyghur nation and identity, he told RFA Uyghur. Akida Polat holds a photo of her mother, imprisoned Uyghur folklore expert Rahile Duwat. Credit: X/@Kuzzat_Altay Roberts said eliticide is often identified as occurring at the beginning of a genocide, where there's an attempt to get rid of the entire political, economic and intellectual elite to ensure that there is no intellectual resistance to the erasure of a people and their identity. In early 2021, after years of cumulative reports on the internment camp system in Xinjiang, the United Nations, the United States, and the legislatures of several European countries, officially branded the treatment of Uyghurs as genocide or crimes against humanity. China has angrily rejected the genocide charges, arguing that the reeducation camps were a necessary tool to fight religious extremism and terrorism, in reaction to sporadic terrorist attacks that Uyghurs say are fueled by years of government oppression. Beijing has also waged an information counterattack, with a global media influence campaign that spreads Chinese state media content to countries in Asia and beyond, invites diplomats and journalists from China-friendly countries on staged tours of Xinjiang and promotes pro-China social media influencers. Awareness-raising on genocide Last month, the pushback saw Chinese diplomats pressuring fellow United Nations member states not to attend a panel on human rights abuses in Xinjiang sponsored by a think tank and two rights groups on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. Tohti, who has been nominated for the Norwegian Nobel Committees Peace Prize since 2020, was listed by the U.S. news outlet Time as one of top three favorites to win the medal this year, following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Tohti was given higher odds on many of Londons famed betting sites of winning the prize than the recipient, jailed Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi. "There are many human rights issues around the world that are equally as important as the suffering that the Uyghurs are going through, but the international status and power of the perpetrators of these human rights abuses arent considered equal, said Jewher Ilham, Tohtis daughter. The Chinese government is known to have a much more powerful political and economic influence than the Iranian government in the western world, she told RFA Uyghur. Jewher Ilham holds a photo of her father, Ilham Tohti, during the Sakharov Prize ceremony at the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, France, Dec. 18, 2019. Credit: AP Photo It is not clear that that China would be moved by a Nobel Prize to release Tohti or moderate policies in Xinjiang, where Communist Party chief Xi Jinping appears to be doubling down on draconian security measures and policies to suppress Uyghur culture. Beijing lashed out at the Nobel Committee and imposed trade sanctions on Norway after the Nobel 2010 went to Chinese dissident writer Liu Xiaobo. With Liu in jail, the Chinese capital Beijing won the right in 2015 to host the Winter Olympics, and Beijing largely shrugged off the global outcry when in 2017, Liu became the first Nobel laureate to die in jail since German journalist and Nazi opponent Carl Von Ossietzky perished in custody in 1938. For Jewher Ilham, the mention of her father as a Nobel contender is still a huge recognition for his work and also an opportunity for awareness-raising on the broader Uyghur genocide problem. I hope more people will learn about Ilham Tohti, and will learn what is happening to hundreds of thousands of Uyghur families, she told RFA Uyghur. Reported by Nuriman Abdureshid and Alim Seytoff for Radio Free Asia Uyghur. Pakistan issued an ultimatum to the estimated 1.7 million undocumented Afghans living in the country: leave or face arrest and forcible expulsion after November 1. One of them is Samina Hafizi, an Afghan writer and former journalist who lives with her mother and five siblings in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. Since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021, hundreds of thousands of Afghans have fled to Pakistan to escape a devastating economic and humanitarian crisis and possible retribution by the militant group. RFE/RL's Radio Azadi asked the 24-year-old Hafizi to keep a diary amid the mass exodus of undocumented Afghan refugees and migrants from the South Asian nation. October 22 It is 6 a.m. I slept poorly. I had nightmares and anxious thoughts. Why did we become refugees? This question haunts me. Nobody dares to leave their homes. Who wants to postpone their dreams? Now that we are refugees, why should we endure such bad days? If we leave, where can we seek refuge? I have not written anything for a year. I suffer from pain -- the pain of homelessness, the pain of being a refugee, and the pain of helplessness. Wherever I go, I hear that Afghans are being expelled from Pakistan -- drivers, shopkeepers, and cooks. WATCH: Afghan refugees in Pakistan, many having traveled for days, crossed into Afghanistan as a November 1 deadline to leave the country took effect. Islamabad has vowed to deport an estimated 1.7 million undocumented Afghans living in Pakistan if they don't leave voluntarily. Yesterday morning, the landlords of our apartment building came and checked everyones documents. They gave a deadline to two families to get valid residency papers or they would be evicted. Members of these families once had good lives in Afghanistan. Some were journalists, while others were soldiers. Their daughters attended schools and universities. They now fret over what will happen to them. While visiting the hospital yesterday, I felt that nothing was the same. Anxiety and fear were written over the faces of every Afghan I met. In Islamabad, police were looking for Afghans at security checkpoints across the city. The Afghans they found were questioned and harassed. While waiting for my turn to see the doctor at the hospital, an Afghan woman with her toddler was breathing heavily. I brought her a glass of water. She thanked me and asked whether I had valid documents. She told me that she fled her oppressive husband in Afghanistan to seek a new life in a third country with the help of the United Nations. But the fear of being forced to return to her cruel husband and the Talibans harsh rule has stressed her deeply. Tens of thousands of Afghan families across Pakistan are seeking a miracle. We dont know where fate will take us. October 25 My sisters phone woke me up early in the morning. When she finished talking, she told me that her Afghan friend was told by her landlord to leave her apartment by the afternoon. My sister was trembling. She said her friend and her family would stay with us until they found another place. Later in the day, I went to a nearby market to buy supplies for our guests. The usually cheerful Afghan vegetable seller I go to was distressed. He told me that if he was deported, he would lose the business that enabled him to earn a living for the past 15 years. Around 5 p.m., my sisters friend and her family arrived. Their voices were hoarse from crying so much. We all cried. I felt like a caged bird unable to fly. They were evicted because only one of the eight family members did not have a Pakistani visa. Her visa application was rejected several times. Cruelty and fear have forced Afghans in Islamabad to stop leaving their houses. It is heartbreaking to see dozens of Afghan families announcing the sale of their household items on Facebook daily. October 28 Im always worried. My mental health has gradually deteriorated during the past two years. In the morning today, Hajira, one of our Pakistani neighbors, visited us. We talked about the customs and traditions in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Suddenly, Hajira blamed us helpless Afghans for some of the problems Pakistanis face these days. She said Afghan refugees are bringing polio to Pakistan because our children are not vaccinated against the disease. And she said the price of everything has increased because of Afghan refugees. When we disputed her claims, she threatened to call the police. Thankfully, the police didnt show up. So far, we havent given anyone an excuse to evict us. But I feel nervous. My generation will tell their children the stories of how our homeland, dreams, and hopes were snatched from us. We were defeated and destroyed just as we were ready to prosper. We were broken into pieces and scattered to all corners of the world. All this has broken our hearts. October 31 If someone cannot talk, write, or cry to lessen their sorrows, what else should they do? Die or break? If someone asked me who are the most unfortunate people in the world, I would say refugees. If someone asked what the worst state of existence is, I would say being a refugee. I hate this word. Recently, I asked fellow Afghans living in Pakistan to share their stories on Facebook. Zuhal, 27, wrote that they left Afghanistan last year because her brother and sister worked as prosecutors for the fallen Afghan government. This prompted the Taliban to harass them and repeatedly raid their house to look for the armored car they had already returned to the government. After constant harassment in Pakistan, most of her family members returned to Afghanistan. But she and her sister remain in Pakistan. A 22-year-old young man told me about his ordeal. He was stopped by the police in Islamabad a few days ago. Even though he had all the proper documents, he was detained for several hours, harassed, and threatened. The ordeal was over when he paid a 10,000 rupee ($35) bribe to the police. Hundreds of refugees like him are forced to pay bribes daily. November 2 We are in a bind. Im overwhelmed by the news of Afghans being arrested or forcibly deported. I'm overwhelmed by the videos and photos showing their desperation, dispossession, and anguish. Those who remain are trying to stay invisible. Everyone wants to avoid the humiliation of being forced back to a country many have not seen or, like us, fled because of the Taliban's draconian governance. We are in limbo. We have no real choices. Our efforts to be relocated to a third country through the UN have gone nowhere. Returning to Taliban rule in Afghanistan is not a choice. My two younger sisters still need to go to university. But the Taliban closed that door for all Afghan women last year. As a female-only household, we left Afghanistan because we feared that we would be forced to marry Taliban fighters. We witnessed such cases in Kabul. We had sold everything before coming to Pakistan. We sold all our household items. Now, if we are forced to go back to Afghanistan, we will be forced to begin from zero again. For now, we will stay in Pakistan until we are arrested or deported. Uncertainty defines our lives. It describes the lives of all Afghans in our situation. Diary entries have been edited for clarity; translated by Abubakar Siddique. TBILISI -- Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said his country is willing to instantly begin peace talks with Armenian leaders here in Georgia if Yerevan agrees to negotiations following Bakus victory last month over ethnic-Armenian separatists in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. We need Georgia's involvement in this situation, Aliyev said following meetings with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili in Tbilisi on October 8. We expect the same from Armenia. And if it agrees, we will start [talks] instantly, with the involvement of the relevant agencies, bilateral, and trilateral meetings here in Georgia," Aliyev added. Gharibashvili stated his readiness to engage Tbilisi in the peace process and said that "we have always held Georgia a neutral, impartial position." We are still committed to our role in establishing this mediation or friendly format. Tbilisi is always ready to take part in this process. All three countries in the South Caucasus should be able to resolve the issues of the region and our further development," Gharibashvili said. Separately, European Council President Charles Michel has said leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to meet in Brussels at the end of October for talks. The remarks come after Aliyev refused to meet with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian for scheduled talks on the sidelines of a European leaders summit in Grenada, Spain, on October 5, saying he wanted close ally Turkey to participate in the sessions and complaining of the presence of France, which he claims is biased in favor of Yerevan. On October 8, Aliyev's office said in a statement "that due to the well-known position of France, Azerbaijan did not participate in the meeting in Granada." Azerbaijans lightning military operation last month succeeded in retaking Nagorno-Karabakh, which had been under ethnic-Armenian separatist control for three decades, leading to a mass exodus to Armenia of more than 100,000 residents, nearly all of the regions population. Most expressed unwillingness to live under Azerbaijani rule. The European Parliament said the situation with Armenians fleeing Nagorno-Karabakh following Azerbaijans retaking of the breakaway region amounts to ethnic cleansing. In a resolution adopted on October 5, the legislature said it strongly condemns threats and violence committed by Azerbaijani troops. Baku has said its military operation was conducted under international law and pledged to respect the rights of ethnic Armenians, but officials in Yerevan and some international figures expressed fears of ethnic cleansing. Authorities in Yerevan have also said they are worried that Azerbaijan is planning a full-scale invasion of Armenia. PRISTINA -- Authorities in Kosovo are still investigating a deadly incident at a monastery in northern Kosovo on September 24 that resulted in the death of a Kosovar police officer and three of the suspected assailants. Officials from Kosovar President Vjosa Osmani to Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla have alleged Serbian involvement -- a charge that Belgrade denies. Another official who has alleged involvement by Serbia and even possibly Russia in the incident is Kosovo Police chief Gazmend Hoxha. On October 4, RFE/RL Balkan Service correspondent Arton Konushevci interviewed Hoxha about what investigators know so far, including possible links between last month's incident and violence against NATO-led KFOR peacekeepers in late May, and the delicate balance between security and normalcy in one of the Balkans' most concerning hot spots. RFE/RL: How do you assess the security situation in Kosovo, specifically in the north of Kosovo? Gazmend Hoxha: Regarding the security situation that currently reigns in the northern part of Kosovo, we can say that the situation is calmer compared to the last days and week. The situation there has started to return to normal. However, the area around the border remains a concern, where it can be seen that the Serbian Army and Serbian security bodies still have a large number of personnel deployed, in addition to artillery and other combat and military equipment. As for the situation inside Kosovo, we are continuing our work. The operation of combing the terrain is continuing. Also, investigations are under way on many tracks to document what happened and to provide the truth for the judicial process. We are also continuing to exchange information with our security partners, both inside and outside of Kosovo. Our police units -- along with those [concerned with] public order and the security of [our] cultural and religious heritage -- are in contact with the Banjska monastery, as well as with the residents of the village of Banjska. We are working to get the situation there back to normality to guarantee the safety of our citizens living in that area. RFE/RL: In terms of the investigations, how far have they progressed in Banjska and what kind of evidence do they involve? Hoxha: We are currently working along several paths. The first is analyzing all the [seized] weaponry. We are analyzing connections inside the criminal terrorist group itself, the planningwhat happened once they entered [Kosovo] and during the confrontation with our special forces and law enforcement officers who were on duty that day. RFE/RL: Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla has said that there are suspicions of possible Russian involvement in Banjska. Do you have any evidence so far that you can share? Hoxha: There are several elements. It is known that operations of this level cannot be carried out without strong logistical and political support from security bodies. But we also have intelligence information -- this has already been made public -- that there was such support in the north of Kosovo. "Z" signs were seen constantly. (The letter "Z" has become a symbol of support in Russia and abroad for Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, including among many Serbs.) The Northern Brigade and Civil Defense [groups] always used such symbols [in their] slogans. (Those two informal Kosovar Serb groups were banned in June and their members were said by Hoxha and other officials to be among the participants in the Banjska incident.) And there was constant support from groups that fight in Ukraine, as well as people who voluntarily went to fight on the side of Russia in Ukraine. There were also people from Serbia. What we can confirm so far is that some of the weapons and equipment that have been confiscated are of Russian manufacture. The four-wheeled motorbikes that were confiscated by the Kosovo Police that day are motorbikes that wereproduced in Russia. It seems that donations were made to the Serbian Army and police from Russia. Also, several other weapons that are in the confiscated arsenal are Russian-produced. Currently, this is the factual evidence that we have, as we are working on other evidence. Because it is not an easy investigation. It is an investigation that takes a lot of time and is multidimensional and also requires support and international cooperation with partners from other security services, not only within Kosovo, but also abroad. RFE/RL: Have these investigations come up with the names of people involved? Hoxha: They can. We even have names, but we cannot make them public right now. RFE/RL: How many are there? Hoxha: The Kosovo Police has managed to identify more than 30 people who were active on the critical day of the 24th [of September]. RFE/RL: The people who were involved, or only from Serbia? Hoxha: No, I'm talking about the criminal group that was here. We can't talk about other people now -- neither numbers nor their identities. RFE/RL: In some of the videos you shared, we saw that the attackers were walking as they escaped. Was there an agreement for them to leave? How did they manage to escape? Hoxha: No, there was no agreement, no communication [regarding] the aim of their release. There were no such attempts either. What happened [is that] we communicated several times asking them to surrender to the Kosovar authorities. They didn't listen and several times repeatedly fired [their weapons]. So, the Kosovo Police made attempts to communicate in order to get them to surrender, but our demands were not accepted and their response was shooting with firearms. It's impossible to monitor everything that moves on the borders of Kosovo, because the terrain is extremely difficult. Next, we cooperated with the supervisor of the Banjska monasteryand we also asked through him to communicate with those who were inside so that they would surrender. However, these types of communication didn't work. Meanwhile, communication about creating a free corridor for someone who killed our colleagues -- we neither had nor could have, because we have principles on which we operate, work, and are established as police. And we don't allow someone who kills a policeman or a citizen of Kosovoto leave the territory without bearing responsibility for the crime they committed. So, how they managed to leave the monastery and the area of Banjska is [impressive] as that terrain is very rough. RFE/RL: In the communication you had with the leaders of the monastery, when you asked them to talk with the attackers, what did they tell you? Why didn't they surrender? Hoxha: [The head of the monastery] said, "I don't have any understanding of their [position], and I'm not sure whether or not there are people inside the monastery." Later, when police approached the monastery, we were confronted with an exchange of fire with armed people. Although one group managed to flee, another group was in the vicinity around the monastery. RFE/RL: How did all this weaponry enter Kosovo? Why aren't borders better observed? Hoxha: Kosovo's borders with Serbia demarcate a boundary of 380 kilometers. It's impossible to monitor everything that moves on the borders of Kosovo, because the terrain is extremely difficult. There are many illegal roads that have been opened and continue to be opened from the territory of Serbia near the border with Kosovo. Even now, what we've seen in the last three days -- we've seen machines, excavators, and heavy vehicles that continue to open roads near the border of Kosovo. Also, through an agreement that KFOR has, the Kosovo Police are not allowed to approach to within 1,000 meters of the border. Then in some places there is the possibility that the moment you get within these 1,000 meters, many other illegal roads branch off -- it's impossible for the Kosovo Police to monitor all those roads. [Weapons] were brought in through an illegal route, which means certain groups were brought in. Then they approached the village of Banjska, in the Banjska Monastery [complex]. This is what happened, in this case. RFE/RL: How would you rate the cooperation with KFOR in Banjska? Did you expect more? Hoxha: I can say that we had extremely good cooperation that day. From the early hours of the morning, once I understood what was happening, I was in contact with the commander of KFOR, as well as with the head of EULEX [the EU's civilian peacekeeping] mission, and we coordinated the actions on the ground. I can say that [it has been] one of the best collaborations we have had during my tenure as [chief] of the police, and even earlier when I was its director of operations. It was an extremely good level of communication and cooperation between us and KFOR. RFE/RL: Explain to us a little more about that day and the communication at the moment when the attackers were asked to surrender. What advice did you receive or how were you understood? Hoxha: We communicated with the commander of KFOR, Major General [Angelo Ristuccia]. And the advice was of the nature that you should be carefulyou should be careful because it can result in great losses for the police and the state of Kosovo. In this aspect, there were tips. Otherwise, we had support from KFOR in terms of background and EULEX also monitored the incident. They were not directly involved in the operation; the operation was carried out by the Kosovo Police. RFE/RL: Are there still security risks? Hoxha: Is there capacity and potential for a threat? There is. This stands. What we are doing [is that] we are working hard to advance communication and cooperation with KFOR, especially around the border with Serbia. We have increased our police presence there, we have increased our capacities, we are working to close some of those illegal roads and prevent criminal groups, such as this one, from bringing people, weapons, or other materials into the territory of Kosovo. KFOR is doing the same thing. We have met, seen each other, and are sharing any information we have. We are sharing information with each other and we are also dividing the duties and responsibilities in order to ensure: first, that the border line is secure, and then, second, that the investigators are doing their job and that if there is any particular group that is associated with these terrorists, we will investigate and bring every one of them to justice. What happened that day was also an attack [against] the citizens of that locality. The residents themselves were at risk. There are two organizations -- the Northern Brigade and Civil Defense -- which the government of Kosovo has declared as terrorist organizations. We have identified many of the people who are part of these groups, and we know who they are. We are working to understand everyone's role in this incident, as well as in previous incidents and incidents that may happen in the future. So, we are working to reduce and minimize the risk that they present to our citizens, because these [organizations] not only pose a threat to the Kosovo Police but also pose a threat to the citizens of that area. [Residents there] have been under pressure, blackmail for a long time, forced to protest and oppose every legal decision of the government and the police. (Many Serbs in the four mostly Serb municipalities of northern Kosovo don't recognize Kosovo's independence declaration in 2008 and thus refuse to recognize Kosovar authority.) We see what pressure they use to force people to come out and achieve their political goals. We've seen that the security system of Serbia uses these people to communicate [and has tried to] blackmail even our young policemen who have recently joined the Kosovo Police, threatening that if they don't leave their jobs, they will get their brothers or sisters dismissed from their jobs and other things. This makes it a parallel security system that they have on the territory of Kosovo, and then they receive their orders from the government of Serbia, from exponents of the secret services, and from the Serbian police, in order to keep the Serb civilian population in that area under pressure. (Serbia provides financial, administrative, and other support for so-called parallel structures in northern Kosovo, which Pristina regards as illegal.) RFE/RL: When we talk about special police units, how many are present in the north of Kosovo? Hoxha: The special police units are there to the extent that they are needed. We currently have had a reduction in the presence of our special units there due to an agreement between the government of Kosovo and the negotiators of the European Union. However, after the attack on September 24, the police presence has increased. In particular, we have border police units, then also in some strategic areas that we think might be targets and might be very important to guarantee security, we have a presence there. But not to the extent that is trumpeted by the government of Serbia. We have a police presence of special units to the extent that we can guarantee the safety of our strategic interests in that area and also the safety of our citizens in that area. However, the presence of our special units even on the day when the attack took place was not as much as was trumpeted. That is, a limited number of our special units were the ones who carried out the operation on September 24, not a very large number. We have professionals who did their job. Likewise, the first police units that joined the operation did a great job. In factthe [regular police] units were the ones that encountered the attack, which killed our colleague, the youngest hero of Kosovo, Afrim Bunjaku. (Kosovar President Osmani posthumously awarded Bunjaku "Hero of the Nation" status on September 25.) Then the border police units, which supervise the border in that area, went and retrieved the body of our deceased colleague and the other wounded colleagues and were constantly hit with unrelenting attacks with heavy weapons [and] explosives. The first attack, against our colleague, in which our hero Afrim Bunjaku was killed, was with explosives: It was an improvised mine and it was set off with detonators from a distance. At the moment our colleague approached the barricade to see what was happening -- whether it was an accident or a barricade -- [the mine] exploded and our colleague was killed and other colleagues were injured. Then [the perpetrators] started shooting from all kinds of weapons at the police -- as you saw in the video that was shown two or three days ago in Mitrovica -- when the minister [Svecla] and I presented it. RFE/RL: When we talk about the weapons that were found, are they similar [to those used] when KFOR members were attacked [amid protests by local Serbs in Zvecan on May 29]? Hoxha: There is a large amount of weapons, which have now been seized, very heavy weaponry. That is, it is a military arsenal, which could do tremendous harm to our country, its citizens, and anyone who would use it. Yes, there is a connection between this weaponry that has now been seized and the bombs that were used in the attack on KFOR on May 29. There is a similarity, because they are the same structures that attacked KFOR on the 29th [of May]. Theyalso left whole vehicles, ammunition depots, and weaponry ready to attack the Kosovo Police and other bodies of our state, as well as the international presence of KFOR and EULEX. RFE/RL: How do you plan to approach the Serb community, given that its members in some areas, such as Banjska, say they are afraid. Hoxha: We can guarantee that the goal of the Kosovo Police is not to threaten, to blackmail, to intimidate our citizens. They are citizens of this country and we have an obligation, and we do this work willingly to serve them and guarantee their safety every day and more. We have already withdrawn some special forces from the village of Banjska, [and] we have replaced them with a rapid reaction unit, which is a reduced unit in terms of the level of readiness, preparation, and equipment. Also, we have sent our law enforcement officers to communicate with both the citizens and the priest of the monastery there, and our goal is to communicate with them as soon as possible. You know that we also had some new [recruiting] competitions only for minorities, in this case more members of the Serb community, to join the Kosovo Police. We managed to [recruit] around 79 members: 49 of them were Serbs and others -- Bosniaks, Ashkali, Roma -- who are assigned to work in the northern part of Kosovo. From the moment we started working and came into office, the pressure started directly from the government of Belgrade and its exponents within Kosovo for [non-ethnic Albanian officers] to leave their work. We are doing our best. We still have a new police job-opening in process, we are still hiring Serb policemen who will serve the community where they are there, because maybe it will be easier, they will be more acceptable, they will find it easier to communicate, because they know the language and all that. We continue to communicate. We will use all local security mechanisms to activate and then communicate with everyone who is there so that the Kosovo Police is acceptable and our role there is well-understood. We don't just intend to work with special forces there, we intend to work with law enforcement. But because of the possibility of an attack like the one on the 24th [of September], we are obliged to have special forces police from time to time to provide support to police officers who may be at risk. But not only police officers, because what happened that day was also an attack [against] the citizens of that locality. The residents themselves were at risk. This transcript has been edited for length and clarity. A woman outside Kyrgyzstans capital, Bishkek, was savagely attacked by her ex-husband in late September, and will be permanently disfigured as a result. Since the attack, many troubling facts have emerged about lenient treatment by Kyrgyz courts of men who commit violent acts against women, and police who dont seem interested in acting on complaints of domestic violence. How is the legal system failing women and girls in Kyrgyzstan, and why does the situation seem so resistant to change? Joining host Bruce Pannier to look at this problem are guests Aksana Ismailbekova, a research fellow at Leibniz-Zentrum-Moderner Orient; Adina Masalbekova, a nonresident EUCAM research fellow at the Centre for European Security Studies; and Leila Seiitbek, chairwoman of the NGO Freedom for Eurasia and a member of the working group advocating for a global Every Woman treaty to end all forms of violence against women and girls. Palestinians inspect destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 8, 2023. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 313, including 20 children, with 1,990 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) GAZA/JERUSALEM, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 313, including 20 children, with 1,990 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. Last night, Israeli warplanes continued their attacks on military and civilian facilities in various locations in the coastal enclave, Palestinian security sources told Xinhua. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. - - - - Dozens of rockets and heavy artillery shells were fired toward Israeli positions on the Shebaa Farms, a disputed strip of land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, early Sunday morning, Lebanese army intelligence sources confirmed to Xinhua. Sounds of massive explosions have been echoing throughout the villages of Al-Arqub and Hasbaya since the early morning, and centers in Ruwaisat Al-Alam and a radar site were subjected to heavy artillery shelling, according to the state-run Lebanese National News Agency. Lebanese army intelligence sources confirmed to Xinhua that "more than 35 missiles and artillery shells targeted Israeli positions along the disputed Shebaa Farms front, and the bombing targeted the radar sites, Al-Alam, Al-Samaqa and Zebdine." - - - - King Abdullah II of Jordan on Saturday called for intensifying international efforts to stop escalation in Gaza and its surroundings and to protect the region from the repercussions of a new cycle of violence. The king made the remarks during a phone call he received late Saturday from U.S. President Joe Biden, where the two sides discussed the deteriorating situation between the Palestinians and the Israelis and a means to end the escalation and protect civilians, according to a statement by the Royal Hashemite Court. He said further escalations could negatively impact the region, stressing the need for self-restraint, protecting civilians and respecting international humanitarian law. - - - - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to retaliate firmly against the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. In a televised address on Saturday evening, the Israeli leader described the day as a grim moment in Israeli history and said his country would "take revenge" and "defeat" the Hamas militants. A Palestinian collects household items from destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 8, 2023. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 313, including 20 children, with 1,990 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians inspect a damaged vehicle following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 8, 2023. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 313, including 20 children, with 1,990 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians inspect destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 8, 2023. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 313, including 20 children, with 1,990 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) A Palestinian inspects destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 8, 2023. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 313, including 20 children, with 1,990 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) A Palestinian inspects destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 8, 2023. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 313, including 20 children, with 1,990 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) A Palestinian inspects destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 8, 2023. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 313, including 20 children, with 1,990 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Pakistan's order for all illegal Afghan migrants to leave the country has left millions -- including long-term residents and holders of valid documents -- living in fear of being forcibly returned to the country they fled. Some 3.7 million Afghans fleeing war, poverty, and political upheaval in their homeland currently reside in Pakistan, according to the United Nations, with Islamabad putting the number as high as 4.4 million. But Pakistani officials say that only about 1.4 million Afghans hold the necessary documentation -- largely Proof of Registration (PoR) cards -- allowing them to remain in Pakistan legally. While Pakistan has insisted that its October 3 order that all unauthorized asylum-seekers must leave voluntarily or be deported by November 1 only affects 1.7 million "illegal migrants," the move by Islamabad has left Afghans, documented or not, worried that they will be forced to leave. Many tell RFE/RL that their possession of official status does not spare Afghans, who make up the vast majority of migrants in Pakistan, from detention by the authorities. "Every night, every day, in every corner of Pakistan, they detain immigrants who have legal documents," Nawid Shahab, an Afghan migrant, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi on October 4. "They detain migrants who have PoR cards, and they detain migrants who are undocumented. There is no difference between them." Others with official status say they are subjected to shakedowns. "Local police fleece money from us because we are Afghan refugees, even though we have our PoR cards," said Bahadar Khan, who has lived in the port city of Karachi for 35 years. And even those with long-established roots in Pakistan express fear that they now face deportation to a "home" country they never lived in. "Im married with two children. I was born here in Pakistan and have never been to Afghanistan in my life," Naseer Ahmad, a resident of Karachi whose family has lived in Pakistan for 45 years, told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal. "But now, after the government decision, I will be forced to leave." Abbas Khan, Pakistan's commissioner of Afghan refugees, dismissed suggestions that Afghans bearing legal documentation would be targeted by this week's order. "Afghans holding PoR cards number around 1.4 million. And police can't arrest someone who has a PoR card," Khan told Radio Mashaal on October 4. However, he suggested that those holding Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC), separate identification documents that had allowed Afghan asylum-seekers to remain in Pakistan, could now be subject to the new order. "Another 800,000 Afghans have Afghan Citizen Cards," he said, explaining that they were given to undocumented Afghans in 2016 in cooperation among the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). "They agreed that those citizens would be gradually returned to Afghanistan. But that did not happen." A Popular Refuge Pakistan has been a popular refuge for Afghans for decades, beginning during the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation. Others fled fighting during the ensuing Afghan civil war and the Taliban's first stint in power from 1996 to 2001. Millions of Afghans returned to their homeland following the U.S.-led invasion that toppled the Taliban from power. But after the Taliban seized power again in 2021 amid the withdrawal of international forces, an estimated 700,000 more Afghans left for Pakistan to escape a devastating economic and humanitarian crisis and possible retribution by the Taliban. The result, Pakistani caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti claimed on October 3, is that 1.7 million Afghans are now in the country "illegally." "Anyone living in the country illegally must go back," he said in announcing the order. "If they do not go... then all the law enforcement agencies in the provinces or federal government will be utilized to deport them." Bugti also said that, after November 1, law enforcement agencies would confiscate the properties and businesses of illegal migrants. He said Afghans will only be allowed to travel to Pakistan using valid passports and visas, which many Afghans have experienced difficulties obtaining under the Taliban. While Bugti said that the crackdown was not aimed specifically at Afghans, it was clear they would be the most affected group of migrants in Pakistan. International law enshrines the right to seek refuge in a foreign country, and rights watchdogs have criticized the move by Pakistan to force asylum-seekers to leave. Zaman Soltani, a South Asia researcher at Amnesty International, told Radio Azadi on October 4 that Islamabad should immediately reverse its decision. "We demand that any forced deportation of migrants and those who seek asylum be halted," Soltani said. "Those who fled Afghanistan are asking for asylum and protection in Pakistan. Most of these asylum seekers are former government employees, activists, journalists, or others who are facing threats, torture, and detention by the Taliban in Afghanistan," Soltani added. The action comes amid increasing tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban, with the Pakistani government claiming that its territory has come under attack by Taliban-allied militants who shelter across the border in Afghanistan. This has led to speculation that Islamabad's order, made by a caretaker government that is expected to rule until elections are held in January, is a response to the attacks. In his interview with Radio Mashaal, Khan suggested that the increased number of illegal Afghan migrants following the Taliban's return to power in Kabul in 2021 has created concerns about their possible role in instability in border regions. "I would not say that they are responsible for the law and order situation," Khan said. "But I can say that when larger number of foreigners live in a country and they don't have legal documents, that creates doubts. And that creates problems even for the genuine refugees." Khan added that "as far as our office is concerned, we have not seen any involvement of any registered Afghan refugees in terrorism." Bugti, the interior minister, did directly reference two deadly attacks that took place last week in southwestern and northwestern Pakistan along the countrys 2,600-kilometer border with Afghanistan as reasons for the government's order for unauthorized Afghans to leave the country. The Taliban has said that Pakistan's plans to push out Afghans was "unacceptable." Afghan refugees are not involved in Pakistans security problems," Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on October 4 on X, formerly known as Twitter. The Afghan Embassy in Islamabad has said that Pakistani counterterrorism police have detained about 1,000 Afghan refugees over the past two weeks. Some 800 were detained in the capital in a single day, the Taliban-led Afghan Refugee Council in Pakistan told Radio Azadi, of which about half who had valid travel or residency documents were subsequently released. Some 200 illegal Afghans were arrested during a roundup in the southwestern Balochistan Province, where one of the two attacks took place last week, according to regional government representative Hamza Shafqat. In a separate announcement in the provincial capital, Quetta, on October 4, caretaker Information Minister Jan Muhammad Achakzai alleged that "of the 24 suicide attacks carried out in Pakistan in 2023, Afghans were in involved in 14 attacks." An elder at the Quetta Muslim Bagh Refugee Camp, Malak Nadar Khan, denied in comments to Radio Mashaal that Afghans were involved in terrorism in Pakistan. "We are peaceful people. We are not involved in terrorism. We request the government to withdraw its decision to forcefully expel Afghan refugees." Written by Michael Scollon based on reporting by Niaz Ali Khan of RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal and Jawid Naimi of RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. Thousands of Afghans continue to flood back into the country from Pakistan as they seek to avoid deportation following a deadline from Islamabad for undocumented migrants to leave, a move the United Nations warned could lead to "severe" human rights violations. As of November 2, officials said more than 165,000 Afghans have fled Pakistan in the month since the government ordered some 1.7 million migrants -- more than 1 million of whom are Afghan nationals who fled following the August 2021 seizure of power in Kabul by Taliban militants -- to leave or face arrest and deportation. The majority have rushed to the border in recent days as the November 1 deadline approached and police began to open dozens of centers to detain arrested Afghans before expelling them. On the other side of the border, Taliban officials have also opened temporary transit camps to assist those returning. More than 100 people were detained in one police operation in the city of Karachi on November 2, while police rounded up 425 Afghans in Quetta, the city closest to the Chaman border crossing. WATCH: Afghan refugees in Pakistan, many having traveled for days, crossed into Afghanistan as a November 1 deadline to leave the country took effect. Islamabad has vowed to deport an estimated 1.7 million undocumented Afghans living in Pakistan if they don't leave voluntarily. Islamabad has said the deportations are to protect its "welfare and security" in Pakistan after a sharp rise in attacks, which the government blames on militants operating from Afghanistan. Afghanistan's Taliban-run administration has dismissed Pakistans accusations against Afghan migrants and has asked all countries hosting Afghan refugees to give them more time to prepare for repatriation. The Afghan Embassy in Islamabad has said the move will further damage relations between the neighboring countries. Pakistan has brushed off calls to reconsider its decision from the UN, rights groups, and Western governments, who have urged it to incorporate into its plan a way to identify and protect Afghans facing the risk of persecution at home from the ruling militants. At the country's busiest border crossing at Torkham in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, officials worked into the early hours of November 1 to clear a line of 28,000 people that stretched for 7 kilometers, AFP reported. Just over 129,000 have fled from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the provincial Interior Ministry said, while a total of 38,100 have crossed through Chaman in Balochistan Province, border officials there told AFP. Authorities on the Afghan side of the border have set up a center several kilometers from a border crossing, as well as camps for families with nowhere to go. WATCH: In Karachi, Afghan men and boys on November 1 were put on buses and taken to a temporary detention center. Pakistan is home to more than 4 million Afghan migrants and refugees, about 1.7 million of them undocumented, Islamabad says, although many have lived in Pakistan for their entire lives. About 600,000 Afghans have crossed into neighboring Pakistan since the Taliban seized power and imposed its harsh interpretation of Islamic law, joining a large number there since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. Some Afghans who have been ordered to leave have never been to Afghanistan and wonder how they can start a new life there. Pakistan's move to remove undocumented foreigners is seen as part of an anti-immigrant crackdown that has been criticized by human rights groups. The Pakistan People's Party, National Democratic Movement, and other politicians and human rights activists appealed for a stop to the forced deportation of undocumented foreigners in the Supreme Court on November 1. On October 31, the chair of the nongovernmental Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Hina Jilani, wrote to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) warning that Islamabad's move to expel Afghans could "trigger a humanitarian crisis." Human Rights Watch slammed Islamabad's deadline, saying it has resulted in significant threats against and abuse of Afghans living in the country. Since returning to power, the hard-line Islamist Taliban has banned women and teenage girls from education in Afghanistan. It has also banned them from employment in most sectors and discouraged them from leaving their homes. With reporting by AFP and Reuters Richard Dannatt is a retired general who commanded the British Army from 2006 to 2009 and became an independent member of the House of Lords, the United Kingdom's upper house of Parliament, in 2011. He writes and speaks on military affairs and leadership issues. In an interview with RFE/RL's Georgian Service, Dannatt says the West's reluctance to arm Ukraine quickly with the lethal weapons it needs has given Russian President Vladimir Putin's invading forces the time it needed to build up defensive lines in conquered areas of Ukraine. That means, according to Dannatt, that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his Western allies should prepare for what is likely to be a protracted conflict with Russia, as Kyiv will struggle to reclaim these fortified areas. He also said it is "legitimate" for Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia, in part to "degrade" its military. RFE/RL: Let's begin with your assessment of the summer phase of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. How decisive has it proven to be? What has been gained, achieved? Richard Dannatt: Well, I think we have to recognize that the Ukrainian Army has worked extremely hard at much expense in terms of casualties over the course of the summer months. But I think we have to put this in the widest possible context going right back to February 2022 when the Russians launched their disgraceful, highly illegal attack on Ukraine. And in the intervening time since 2022, the Ukrainian Army has done extraordinary well to recapture at least half the territory that the Russians illegally seized. With the onset of autumn and the onset of winter and the poorer weather coming, I think the likelihood of there being a decisive move on the battlefield in 2023 looks most unlikely. Of course, many countries have been supporting Ukraine and quite properly -- the United States, the United Kingdom being two, and of course many others -- but I think it's fair to say the West was fairly slow to decide to give Ukraine the necessary weapons that it required to launch this counteroffensive. It took a long time to decide to send tanks, armored infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled artillery, sufficient ammunition, long-range artillery, and drones. Well, that has been done, and indeed, it took quite a long time for Ukrainian forces to be trained in how to use that equipment. And of course, while that was going on, the Russians were not idle. They spent the same period of time preparing very comprehensive defensive positions -- up to three lines of defense in many parts of the 1,000-kilometer front line, which has proved very difficult for the Ukrainian forces to penetrate. Now, there have been areas, at some cost, where Ukrainian forces have managed to penetrate the first line, [and] at places the second line of defense. But the thought and the hope of early summer that Ukrainian forces, equipped with Western tanks and other equipment, would be able to not just break through the Russian lines but break out and get into the Russian rear areas and cause the same kind of panic that we saw in September last year in the north of the country -- that hasn't so far happened. It's not for want of the Ukrainians trying. But I'm afraid it's a reflection of the fact that the Russians have prepared very deep and very comprehensive defensive positions. So, with the onset of autumn and the onset of winter and the poorer weather coming, I think the likelihood of there being a decisive move on the battlefield in 2023 looks most unlikely. So, therefore, I think President Zelenskiy and the Ukrainian military have got to prepare for a much longer conflict that neither of them would have wished, or indeed, their Western allies would have wished. And I think that's where we are now. No criticism at all of the Ukrainian military but simply a reflection of the fact that the Russians prepared proper defensive positions. And they have proved very difficult to penetrate. RFE/RL: General, I also remember your recollections of what it was like to convince politicians what was required for many military campaigns during your tenure. And you describe the experience as constantly beating your head against the wall. Given that, what do you think it must feel like for the Ukrainian military leadership and President Zelenskiy to be constantly telling its Western allies what they need and why they need more of it? Dannatt: Now, I think this has been a very frustrating process for President Zelenskiy and his senior leadership team, both the political leadership and the military leadership. Yes, eventually, the West has given much of what Ukraine has been asking for. But my wider point is the gifting has been slow and valuable time was lost. And during that valuable time being lost to Ukraine, the Russians made good use of that time in preparing these comprehensive defensive positions. Putin has got to get something out of this war, to control at least some proportion of Ukraine's territory in order not to appear to the Russian people that he has been defeated. And we are in the same position now, with discussion about the availability of F-16 [fighter] aircraft or other modern fighter aircraft being made available to Ukraine. It is almost as if the West is trying to control the capability and capacity of Ukraine to really carry out its mission of freeing its sovereign soil from the Russian occupier. It's almost as if the West is pulling the strings and only allowing Ukraine to do what the West is willing to allow it to do. Now, of course, there is a concern over escalation of the war. There is a concern that if the West and NATO [are] seen to provide so much -- and particularly if the war is then carried on to Russian soil -- that it plays into the Russian political agenda of claiming that this is a war in which they are defending themselves against Western aggression, that NATO all along has intended to attack Russia. And, of course, this is completely wrong. Politicians and leaders in the West have to continue saying time and time again that NATO is purely a defensive alliance, it has no offensive aims at all. It is simply there to support Ukraine to recover its sovereign territory, which it's legally entitled to do, and to stand up for self-determination and sovereignty and the rights of countries to run their own territory as agreed by international law. RFE/RL: What do you think of this argument that, if Ukraine attacks Russian territory, that Russian land is somehow sacred and it will result in escalation, and therefore Ukraine should limit itself to conducting military operations on its own soil? Dannatt: I would assume that there is no Ukrainian intention of occupying any Russian soil. But, when you are in a war situationit is perfectly legitimate -- in exactly the same way that Russia is hitting Ukrainian cities, factories, infrastructure, and the like, and have been doing that for months ever since the war began -- [for Ukraine to] strike targets deep into Russia. That is perfectly reasonable in order to degrade the Russian military capability. I mean, that is a facet of modern war. And although you could ascribe this as being a classic limited war -- limited in aims and limited in geography -- it is certainly not limited in means, and there shouldn't be limits imposed on Ukraine to try to prevent [it] attacking targets in Russia. This is legitimate. And, if anything, it's important that the Russian people know that this isn't a war being carried on by other people over there. This is something that affects them as well. RFE/RL: If you had been asked to conduct a similar counteroffensive without appropriate air support, just as Ukraine is being asked to do, would you have done it? Would you have carried out such orders? Dannatt: Well, if the government of my country had required me as head of the armed forces to carry out such an attack, then yes, of course, I would. I think the question is how would one have done that. And I think we have, as I was saying earlier, a strategic miscalculation here that, in the months when the West was agonizing whether it should provide tanks, armored infantry fighting vehicles, and the like to Ukraine, that time was being used by the Russians to prepare very comprehensive defensive positions. The Tavberidze Interviews Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Vazha Tavberidze of RFE/RL's Georgian Service has been interviewing diplomats, military experts, and academics who hold a wide spectrum of opinions about the war's course, causes, and effects. To read all of his interviews, click here. Now, I think this should have probably been realized sooner. Although it was the right thing to do to give Ukraine offensive equipment such as battle tanks, self-propelled artillery, and the like, there should have been a realization that the break-in battle was going to be very bloody, very difficult, and very old fashioned, if you like, and maybe more assistance should have been provided with the equipment needed to break through the Russian defensive lines. And such equipment does exist. And maybe that has not been supplied in sufficient quantity, because there was a strategic miscalculation that underestimated the strength of the Russian defensive position. The related challenge that the Ukrainian Army has had to face is that they've had to change themselves, transform themselves: [from] being an army on the defensive to being an army capable of carrying out an offensive. And that is very difficult to do during a war and while you're in contact. No criticism of Ukrainian soldiers' determination, their willingness to accept casualties. It's just the hard reality of trying to break in and break through solid defensive positions. RFE/RL: According to the latest reports, Ukraine will be getting Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) from the United States, although in small quantities. How big a change should we expect from that on the battlefield? The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) had such an impact on the battleground, should we expect something similar with ATACMS? Dannatt: Well, with every better and longer-range weapon that Ukraine is provided with, the opportunityto have a major operational effect is increased. We've seen it with the U.K. gifting (long-range) Storm Shadow [cruise missiles], for example. There have been some well-documented attacks made using British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. RFE/RL: For example, the recent strike on the Black Sea naval base at Sevastopol [in occupied Crimea]. Dannatt: Indeed. And it's my understanding that it was probably three Storm Shadow missiles that carried out that attack. That is the kind of attack that the provision of ATACMSs will enable -- long-range, precise, very effective. And of course, this gets back to the early part of our conversation about it being perfectly legitimate for Ukraine to strike targets deep into Russia, because Russia has started a war, and it must accept the consequences of the conduct of that war. There is no doubt that Ukraine is paying in Ukrainian blood for the removal of the threat of Russian aggression to Europe more widely And the deep battle, if you like, is a legitimate part of the battle. I don't want to get into military theory here, but if you accept the concept of a deep, close, and rear component to this war, the close battle is the battle that's going on along the front line at the present moment. The deep battle is the [use of weapons such as] Storm Shadow and ATACMS. It's also [about] the propaganda -- the information part of the war in affecting people's attitudes. And then the rear part of this is protecting the morale of the Ukrainian forces, the morale of the Ukrainian people. And you have to put all those deep, close, and rear elements together as part of the overall operation. If you lose any of those elements, there is a danger of losing the war. But to win, you've got to win all three as well. Which is a lengthy explanation, using some military jargon, as to why the use of Storm Shadow and ATACMS and HIMARS is an important and legitimate part of the deep battle, part of the overall battle. RFE/RL: Ukraine's military has reported, as of October 5, that Russia has lost more than 280,000 troops in Ukraine. Let's look at those numbers skeptically as they're coming from Kyiv. But let's assume, for the sake of argument, that Russia has lost half as much. How many more soldiers can Russian President Vladimir Putin afford to lose? Dannatt: Well, I think that's a very good question. I think if you take the fact that he attacked with a force of about 180,000-190,000, it seems very likely that he has lost -- killed or very seriously injured -- at least that number. I mean, that is a horrific casualty bill. Now, of course, Ukraine has also suffered horrific casualties and the Ukrainian military, quite rightly, is not [revealing the extent of] their casualties. But let's assume that they are between a third and a half of the number that Russians have lost, I don't know. It is a very, very high toll. And it's a high toll for both countries, bearing in mind that the Russian population is about three times the size of the Ukrainian population. It means the provision of manpower by both sides is particularly difficult. I think it is less difficult for Ukraine because there is the absolute determination to free their country from an invader. So, Ukraine will always find people who are willing to go and fight, although that can't go on forever and ever. But certainly, if it's [in the] short term, there'll be people willing to go and fight. But in Russia, it's a war that many of the soldiers haven't really got their heart in. The Russian way of using manpower is pretty indiscriminate, with a pretty low regard placed on human life. And that, over time, will I'm sure have a cumulative effect. And it'll become increasingly difficult for Putin to find more men willing or unwillingto go into battle to fight in his war in Ukraine. And I think that is a major area that needs to be worked on, to get as much information through social media channels -- through any channel possible -- into the Russian population's mind at large: that this is an illegal war being conducted by the Kremlin elite, for their own purposes, and it's costing a huge number of young Russian men's lives. That is a message that somehow has got to get out there to the Russian people to change their attitude toward their government and change their attitude toward the war. RFE/RL: But hasn't that been the Russian way for ages now, this complete disregard for human life? Dannatt: Sadly, I completely agree. But that doesn't mean to say that one should give up on the attempt to try to get a better understanding out there among the Russian people. Again, this [raises] the wider question of how secure Putin is in the Kremlin? On the one hand, there may be a growing disapproval of the war itself. But there's also disapproval [from] some people for the way he's waged the war; that's he's not been tough enough, he has not been aggressive enough. So, there are many forces at play. And then, of course, you throw in the much discussed other unknown as to how healthy or not Putin is. There's a lot of uncertainty there. But your basic point is right. This has always been the Russian way. But I think we should not give up on our efforts to try to get the truth into Russian people's minds, because that is much better, much more hopeful, in terms of ending this war in Ukraine's favor. RFE/RL: Let's talk about the military assistance the United Kingdom has provided. I remember when London provided main battle tanks, Challenger 2s, you wrote a very remarkable piece in which you said that we should not be giving 12 tanks, we should be giving 50. Based on this counteroffensive, the expectations it created, and the hard reality, has that ship already sailed? Dannatt: I think in many ways that ship has sailed. And unless there is a breakthrough before winter settles in -- and I would very much still like to see that happen -- I think we have to accept that the war is going into literally a deep freeze over the winter, [and] the Russians will continue to improve their defensive positions. And we may find that the front line solidifies into being a line that is very difficult to shift. Of course, this then opens up the whole question of how this conflict [has] progressed. Received wisdom is always that conflicts like this are resolved by negotiation. Well, as far as this conflict is concerned, the negotiation positions of President Zelenskiy and Putin are irreconcilable. Zelenskiy, quite properly, wants every square kilometer of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea back under Ukrainian control. And Putin has got to get something out of this war, to control at least some proportion of Ukraine's territory in order not to appear to the Russian people that he has been defeated. 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. So, it's very difficult to [know] what the opening positions for a negotiation might be. And this, I think, is a real challenge. But I think it's a challenge that's going to have to be considered over the course of the next few months. I mean, there is also the wider concern that Western support for Ukraine may start to tail off. There is concern, watching to see what will happen in the United States with a presidential election (in 2024). [U.S.] President [Joe] Biden remains very committed to supporting Ukraine. But we don't know if President Biden will remain the U.S. president. A lot of people are concerned that [former U.S. President] Donald Trump might come back. I, frankly, find that improbable, but the wider point is that there is a concern, that time is not on [Ukraine's] side, time is on Russia's side. Western support and enthusiasm to support Ukraine will diminish, and that will increasingly put Putin in a stronger position. So, it is difficult to see an early conclusion to this conflict. It's actually also quite difficult to see a medium- to long-term solution to this conflict. It is conceivable that it could be decided [along the lines of the] Korean Peninsula. That war stopped in 1953 as a result of a cease-fire, but there's no peace agreement, there is just a frozen war on the Korean Peninsula. Could that happen with Ukraine and Russia? Well, I suppose theoretically, it could. But it would be disastrous for Ukraine. I think it'd be disastrous for Europe as well, because at any moment, the Russians could decide to resume their offensive. And then, of course, there's the whole question of who makes good the damage caused in Ukraine by the Russian attack. We will all say, well, Russia must do that, but Russia is not going to do that if Russia is still in a conflict situation and holding part of Ukrainian territory. So, what seemed like a reasonable hope, in the spring and early summer, that there could be a decision in 2023 on the battlefield -- and that seemed to be the best way to solve this war -- that seems unlikely to happen now. And trying to find other ways to resolve the conflict are difficult to imagine. RFE/RL: And finally, I want to paraphrase something you wrote that Ukrainians are fighting on behalf of all of us, spilling blood to buy us time to decide how to respond to the new challenges to European security. How is the West using that time? Dannatt: There is no doubt that Ukraine is paying in Ukrainian blood for the removal of the threat of Russian aggression to Europe more widely. We have been concerned about the threat that Russia posed to the West more generally. Of course, that threat became a real threat in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea and moved into [the eastern Ukrainian] Luhansk and Donetsk provinces. So, it wasn't just a threat, it was actual aggression. But then you have to ask what's been the response by the West? Yes, there has been a response in terms of economic sanctions. There was a modest response between 2014 and 2022 in endeavoring to support Ukraine's military and a much greater response since February 2022. But the wider question is -- assuming by some means or another that Ukraine wins this war and Russian forces withdraw from Ukraine -- has the threat to the security of Western Europe been removed just by that? Or does Russia remain a threat to the security of Western Europe, or the Baltic states and all those countries that border Russia? And that's another unknown. When you've got an unknown like that, that could actually be a major negative factor. Russia could choose that it wants to maintain an aggressive stance toward the West, then the West [would be] wasting the time that Ukraine is buying by not increasing its defense spending, not increasing its military capability, and being in a much better position to deter future Russian aggression. I don't know whether you had a chance to read the book that I published only a couple of weeks ago, (Victory To Defeat: The British Army 1918-40), but it makes the very clear parallel between the situation today and the situation in the 1930s when Hitler was a threat who was not opposed by Britain and France, in particular. Indeed, Britain didn't even have a useful expeditionary force that it could have deployed into Europe. And the argument runs that had we had a reasonable-sized force that we could have deployed alongside the French into Europe in 1935, 1936, 1937, it may well have deterred Hitler from launching what became World War II and indeed that would have prevented the Holocaust and 6 million Jews being murdered. So, possessing yourself a credible set of armed forces that can be a deterrent to future aggression is really, really important. And the question one has to ask now: Is the West using the time that Ukraine is buying wisely or not? This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Tourists head to the airport in Jerusalem on Oct. 8, 2023. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) Jerusalem's Old City is seen on Oct. 8, 2023. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows a cafe in Jerusalem. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) People have breakfast on a street in Jerusalem on Oct. 8, 2023. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) Jerusalem's Old City is seen on Oct. 8, 2023. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) An armed man guards a residential building in Jerusalem on Oct. 8, 2023. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) Members of Israeli police are on duty on a street in Jerusalem on Oct. 8, 2023. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows a safe room in a building in Jerusalem. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) A tram runs on a street in Jerusalem on Oct. 8, 2023. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows people on a street in Jerusalem. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) A woman buys bread at a bakery in Jerusalem on Oct. 8, 2023. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) Jerusalem's Old City is seen on Oct. 8, 2023. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows people on a street in Jerusalem. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) Trams run on a street in Jerusalem on Oct. 8, 2023. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) A man and a cat are seen on a street in Jerusalem on Oct. 8, 2023. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) With the removal last year of dozens of view-blocking eucalyptus trees along the medians of Grand Avenue in Escondidos historic downtown area, a view of Bottle Peak was revealed for the first time in decades. When dozens of 30-year-old eucalyptus trees along Grand Avenue in downtown Escondido were cut down last year, a view to the east was revealed that for decades had gone unseen. Looking east down Grand over the soon-to-be demolished former Palomar Hospital is Bottle Peak, a boulder-pocked mountain covered in coastal sage scrub and chaparral. Its as if the street had been built with the view in mind. Advertisement The removal of the eucalyptus trees, which were non-native, invasive anyway, and were killing the rest of the landscape, has really exposed the beauty of the hillsides, said City Councilwoman Olga Diaz during a recent meeting. You can see Bottle Peak now, she said. You can stand on Grand Avenue and look toward that direction and see the mountains. It is gorgeous. Since Ive lived here, Ive never seen it that way before. Once the trees were gone, it really made it look more picturesque. Bottle Peak has played a big role in Escondidos history beginning in the late 1800s, when gold was thought to lie in the hills, said Francis Ryan, an Escondido historian and author in an interview she gave in 1978. No gold was found. However, a quartz mine did operate from 1897 to about 1914, which included a 67-foot-long tunnel running into the mountainside. In 1904, a wildfire devastated the peak and surrounding area and prompted U.S. Forest Ranger E.D. Bish eight years later to build the countys first fire lookout tower atop a large rock known as The Devils Anvil at the peaks 2,136-foot summit. Even before the fire lookout was placed on the rock, locals were calling the mountain Bottle Peak because it looked like a bottle. The fire tower only added to the impression. A 1967 historical piece in the Escondido Times Advocate said some in the area mistakenly thought the mountain derived its name from a mineral spring bottling operation that once existed in the area. From it, a great expanse of country can be seen as far north as Pala, south beyond San Diego, west to the ocean and east to the mountains back of Warner Hot Springs. From it, in clear weather, the forester in charge is able to keep a close watch for forest fires over a big expanse of territory, according to an article published in 1912 in the San Diego Union. Bish built the tower with his own money and labor, but was later reimbursed by the forestry department. He was then transferred to Hot Springs Mountain near Warner Springs where he built a similar lookout at the top of the countys highest mountain. The Bottle Peak lookout was listed as abandoned in a 1938 National Geodetic Survey data sheet, according to the Forest Fire Lookout Association website, but still stood into the 1950s when the wooden structure was destroyed by another fire. Both the Bottle Peak and Hot Springs Mountain lookouts are gone now, though their foundations still exist. The Bottle Peak property exchanged hands numerous times over the past 100 years, but became a 418-acre County of San Diego open space preserve, not open to the public, in 2013. It is unclear, according to historical records, whether Grand Avenue (it was originally called San Pasqual Road) was built so that a view of the peak would be directly to the east, though most assume so. It should be noted that the same view exists as travellers drive east on E. Valley Parkway. jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones An Israeli child stands near a woman praying in a bomb shelter in the southern Israeli town of Beersheva, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009. Israel demanded international monitors as a key term of any future truce with Gaza Strip militants, as its warplanes bombed the parliament building in Gaza City on Thursday and its ships attacked coastline positions of the territorys Islamic Hamas rulers. (AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehill) Israels crushing aerial assault on Gaza has caused a significant shift in the countrys mood, replacing lingering helplessness and frustration over Hamas rocket attacks with a sense of might and vindication. Leaders who were unpopular only a week ago have suddenly surged in the publics esteem. But that could change quickly if the fighting drags on or Israel starts taking heavy casualties. In downtown Ashkelon, a southern Israeli city that has come under rocket fire, a pair of plumbers hung up a handwritten sign praising the Gaza operations mastermind, Defense Minister Ehud Barak. Advertisement Thats a dramatic change for Barak, a former prime minister whose approval ratings were until recently so dismal that his own election slogans acknowledged he was unpopular. Weve got a great defense minister. Everyone thought he wasnt going to do anything but he tricked them and gave them a blow they wont forget, said Ziv Barda, 28, who works for a car rental company in Ashkelon. Finally someone decided enough is enough. With rockets exploding across Israels south and at least an eighth of the countrys population now within rocket range, Israelis appear to be coming together behind the countrys leadership and the military as jets, helicopters and navy vessels continued to pound Gaza for a sixth straight day. A poll Thursday showed that 52 percent of Israelis want to continue the aerial campaign, while only 20 percent would like to see a cease-fire. Just 19 percent want to see a threatened ground offensive take place, presumably because that would mean casualties in the armys ranks. Four Israelis have been killed by rocket fire since the offensive began Saturday. Gaza officials now say more than 400 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory. In Sderot, a working-class border town that has been bombarded by thousands of Hamas rockets in recent years, residents said they havent been this satisfied in a long time. On Wednesday, they cheered to each sound of distant explosions from Israeli airstrikes. You see people walking with their heads up in the air again. Finally there is some hope, said Itzik Biton, 38, who sells falafel at a fast-food stand. Tammy Hovel, 31, said her children were cramped in shelters and that her bakery was suffering, but she was nonetheless encouraged. Were going to get hit either way, so at least they are doing something, Hovel said. And people elsewhere are starting to understand what weve had to deal with. With national elections approaching on Feb. 10, the Israeli assault on Gaza has boosted support for Baraks Labor Party, the standard-bearer for Israels peace camp, by making it look tough. The poll showed overall support for moderate and centrist parties going up, while support for hard-line and religious parties went down leaving each side with half the seats in parliament if elections were held today. The survey, carried out by the Dialog company, showed jumps in the approval ratings for Israels top three leaders Barak, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. We feel that the government is finally supporting us, Biton said. True, rockets are falling and we are losing money. But well suffer for a month and then well be done with this. The poll appeared Thursday in the daily Haaretz newspaper. It surveyed 472 people and had a margin of error of 4.6 percentage points. But the opposition Likud Party, headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, is still the front-runner, and the governments popularity might be brief. A good mood is to be expected at the beginning of a war, said Tel Aviv University pollster Camil Fuchs, who oversaw the survey. When Israel went to war against Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon in the summer of 2006, the governments initially sky-high approval ratings evaporated when deaths mounted. Some 159 Israelis were killed during the monthlong war. Its very fluid it could change in a day if a missile hits somewhere and we have more casualties, Fuchs said. Along the Gaza border, Israeli bystanders and police officers stopped their vehicles on the side of the road Thursday to watch Israeli helicopters, drones and fighter jets strike targets in Gaza, cheering with each deafening explosion. But the cheers would die out fast if ground forces go in, get bogged down in Gazas densely populated urban areas and start taking casualties, or if rocket fire continues to paralyze life in the south. Israels army declared Thursday that its ground troops are ready to invade. We are spoiled and impatient we like our wars short, said Israeli historian Tom Segev. If fighting goes on too long, or if it ends with an inconclusive cease-fire, Segev said, Israelis will turn on the government as they did after the Lebanon war. The mood will change fast, he said. Matti Friedman reported from Jerusalem. Aron Heller reported from Sderot and Ashkelon, Israel. AMMAN, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- King Abdullah II of Jordan on Saturday called for intensifying international efforts to stop escalation in Gaza and its surroundings and to protect the region from the repercussions of a new cycle of violence. The king made the remarks during a phone call he received late Saturday from U.S. President Joe Biden, where the two sides discussed the deteriorating situation between the Palestinians and the Israelis and a means to end the escalation and protect civilians, according to a statement by the Royal Hashemite Court. He said further escalations could negatively impact the region, stressing the need for self-restraint, protecting civilians and respecting international humanitarian law. King Abdullah emphasized the need for a political solution based on the two-state solution. He said a solution that guarantees the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital based on the 1967 border, is the only way to reach just and comprehensive peace and guarantee everyone's security and stability, the statement added. Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported on Saturday that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) JERUSALEM, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to retaliate firmly against the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. In a televised address on Saturday evening, the Israeli leader described the day as a grim moment in Israeli history and said his country would "take revenge" and "defeat" the Hamas militants. "The Israel Defense Forces will immediately use all of its power in order to destroy Hamas' capabilities," he added. Throughout the day, Netanyahu engaged in extensive consultations as his government weighed the Israeli response. In a surprise attack, almost 3,000 rockets were fired into Israel by Hamas since the early hours of Saturday. Hamas also held some Israeli civilians and soldiers as hostages, as confirmed by Israeli officials. In response, the Israeli military conducted tens of airstrikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip over the day. "This war will take time, it will be difficult, and there are challenging days still ahead of us," he warned Israeli citizens. The ongoing conflict has led to significant casualties on both sides. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the death toll among Israelis has crossed 200, marking it as the deadliest attack in Israel in decades. This photo taken on Oct. 7, 2023 shows cars damaged by a rocket in Tel Aviv, Israel. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported on Saturday that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. (Gideon Markowicz/JINI via Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 7, 2023 shows a car damaged by a rocket in Tel Aviv, Israel. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported on Saturday that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. (Gideon Markowicz/JINI via Xinhua) Israelis donate blood at a hospital in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported on Saturday that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. (Gideon Markowicz/JINI via Xinhua) Helicopters used to transfer the wounded for medical treatment are pictured in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported on Saturday that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua) A helicopter and an ambulance used to transfer the wounded for medical treatment are pictured in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported on Saturday that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua) A wounded person is evacuated by a helicopter for medical treatment in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported on Saturday that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua) A wounded person is evacuated by a helicopter for medical treatment in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported on Saturday that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua) Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported on Saturday that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported on Saturday that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported on Saturday that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians check destroyed residential buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported on Saturday that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported on Saturday that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 7, 2023 shows cars damaged in rocket attacks in Tel Aviv, Israel. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported on Saturday that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. (Gideon Markowicz/JINI via Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 7, 2023 shows a car damaged by a rocket in Tel Aviv, Israel. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported on Saturday that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. (Gideon Markowicz/JINI via Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 7, 2023 shows a building damaged in rocket attacks in Tel Aviv, Israel. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported on Saturday that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. (Gideon Markowicz/JINI via Xinhua) Palestinians check destroyed residential buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported on Saturday that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported on Saturday that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported on Saturday that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported on Saturday that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians check destroyed residential buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported on Saturday that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported on Saturday that at least 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 injured in the enclave due to Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, the rocket and infiltrating attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has killed at least 200 Israelis and left over 1,400 wounded. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. An ordinary day of work turned horrific for workers at a gas station who found a 13-year-old boy fatally stabbed in a MTA bus in Eltingville. A 14-year-old boy has been arrested in the deadly assault that claimed the young life of Syles Ular, 13, of Clifton, on Friday afternoon. He died after being rushed to a hospital from the bus that stopped in front of the Shell gas station on Hylan Boulevard between Groton Street and Littlefield Avenue. A lot of kids, they came inside, said one of the workers who declined to have his name published in the Advance/SILive.com. They were crying. The workers asked the children what happened and the youths said there had been a fight. We thought, its a normal fight, theyre going to leave, the worker said, until the children told the workers that a child had been stabbed. Workers went outside and, referring to Ular, the employee said, We see the guy, hes on the bus, hes lying on the floor of the bus. Workers carried Ular off the bus and laid him down on the sidewalk. Witnesses saw Ulars motionless body lying on the street in front of the bus as emergency responders rushed to the scene. The worker said the violence was unusual in Eltingville. This neighborhood is very good, the worker said. Weve never seen anything like this before. A memorial of flowers and candles is on display Saturday in front of the gas station near where the bus stopped. A memorial of flowers and candles is on display on Hylan Boulevard between Littlefield Avenue and Groton Street in Eltingville where Syles Ular, 13, of Clifton was fatally stabbed on a MTA bus on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. The photo was taken on Saturday, Oct. 7. 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Maura Grunlund) A memorial of flowers and candles is on display on Hylan Boulevard between Littlefield Avenue and Groton Street in Eltingville where Syles Ular, 13, of Clifton was fatally stabbed on a MTA bus on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. The photo was taken on Saturday, Oct. 7. 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Maura Grunlund) A 14-year-old boy has been charged with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with Ulars death, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. The Daily News interviewed a relative who praised Ular and was shocked by his death. He was the sweetest kid, the Daily News quoted Ulars aunt, Ladrina Sheffield, 45, as saying. His life should not have been taken this way. This as just senseless. I cant believe my baby is gone. POLICE DETAIL DEADLY CONFRONTATION The fatal encounter began with a confrontation between at least two males, Ular and the 14-year-old suspect, in what appeared to be a gang-motivated assault on a MTA bus, Chief of Patrol John Chell said at a press briefing held Friday evening at One Police Plaza, Manhattan. As the argument escalated, Chell said that a knife is produced and gang signs were being shown back and forth. We have a male stabbed in the chest. Our perpetrator flees this bus. Chell said the suspect ran about three blocks before witnesses -- a Good Samaritan described as a retired sergeant for the NYPD, an off-duty New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officer, and a third bystander -- apprehended him. Three independent people were on-scene helping, Chell said. The retired sergeant started to follow the male who did the stabbing. At this time, another witness points him out as the one who just stabbed somebody and the sergeant affects the arrest, Chell said. Again, tragic, tragic homicide. We believe this motive is gang-related. Quick response and great response from our community. Officers responded at about 2:23 p.m. to the scene where they saw Ular suffering from multiple stab wounds and transported him to Staten Island University Hospital in Princes Bay where he was pronounced dead, according to the police statement. MAJOR POLICE RESPONSE Dozens of police vehicles and numerous NYPD officers and detectives swarmed the normally quiet, safe neighborhood. Officers from the NYPDs Emergency Service Unit could be seen looking under cars, checking wooded areas, lifting grates to check sewers as they apparently searched for the murder weapon. TRAFFIC RE-ROUTED After the incident, Hylan Boulevard was roped off with crime scene tape in the vicinity of Littlefield Avenue and Groton Street, where the stabbing occurred. Traffic on Hylan from Richmond Avenue to Armstrong Avenue was diverted for multiple hours in both directions due to the investigation, prompting gridlock from one end of the Island to the other. At just about 5 p.m., authorities began allowing traffic to pass on Tottenville-bound Hylan Boulevard. EVERY PARENTS NIGHTMARE Borough President Vito Fossella headed to the scene after hearing about the horrific attack. Every parents worst nightmare is playing out in real time, Fossella said. At this point pray for the kid, thats the most important thing. This is something that has got to hit everybody in the gut in a real significant way, the borough president said. And there is no room for things like that on Staten Island in my opinion. Residents who lived on Littlefield Avenue were shocked in the aftermath of the attack. Nothing like this ever happens over here, one said. MTA SPEAKS ABOUT TRAGEDY Demetrius Crichlow, senior vice president, New York City Transit Department of Subways, was on-scene at the incident of the stabbing, calling it just a tragic, tragic, tragic day. Crichlow described the demise of the 13-year-old boy as a senseless death. The subway boss said the MTA is supporting the NYPD in their investigation, including with footage from surveillance cameras. We had cameras on the bus so we have a good account of what transpired, he said. He praised the actions of the bus operator who had roughly 20 customers on the bus when tragedy struck. The bus driver was amazing, Crichlow said. He talked to the rest of the customers and calmed them down and contacted the control center immediately. Hes broken up right now from what he experienced. Crichlow spoke of the broader impact that the tragedy will have in New York City. This is going to affect so many people beyond the children who were involved here -- employees, customers, communities as a whole. __ OTHER STATEN ISLAND NEWS: >> Sources detail burglary at popular restaurant on Staten Island: Window broken, $3,700 and register stolen >> 2 sought for questioning in connection with wallet theft on S.I.; debit card used at St. George Terminal, NYPD says >> NYPD: Found with 10-inch knife, Staten Island man accused of series of attacks >> NYPD: Pre-dawn raid on Staten Island nets heroin, crack cocaine, oxycodone >> Source: Fireworks sparked Staten Island shooting where man, 41, was injured >> NYPD: Car stop lead to arrests of 2 men in connection with gun seizure on the North Shore of Staten Island Gov. Kathy Hochul had some strong words of condemnation for participants of a rally in support of Palestinians that took place Sunday afternoon in the wake of the violence and political turmoil the region is currently facing. Hochul called the event supporting the Hamas attack on Israel over the weekend abhorrent and morally repugnant, in a Tweet on X Saturday night. The people of Israel are facing violent terrorist attacks and civilian kidnappings. I condemn plans to rally in Times Square tomorrow in support of the perpetrators of these horrific actions. The planned rally is abhorrent and morally repugnant, Hochul wrote in the post. The people of Israel are facing violent terrorist attacks and civilian kidnappings. I condemn plans to rally in Times Square tomorrow in support of the perpetrators of these horrific actions. The planned rally is abhorrent and morally repugnant. Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) October 8, 2023 The rally was backed by the New York City chapter of Democratic Socialists, Politico reported. In solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to resist 75 years of occupation and apartheid, the organization tweeted. The surprise Hamas attack on Saturday morning killed hundreds of Israelis and resulted in an unknown number of kidnappings. Hamas militants, backed by a volley of thousands of rockets, broke through Israels security barrier and rampaged through nearby communities. At least 600 people have reportedly been killed in Israel a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades and more than 300 have been killed in Gaza, according to the Associated Press. Tomorrow, October 8, at 1PM. Times Square. In solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to resist 75 years of occupation and apartheid. FREE PALESTINE! https://t.co/1N67nS56GZ NYC-DSA (@nycDSA) October 7, 2023 RELATED COVERAGE: Recent Staten Island news >> Fifty pounds of fentanyl and 200,000 pills were found in the Bronx: 4 men arrested, officials say >> Thinking about attending graduate school? What you need to know about next round of GRE testing dates. >> Staten Island obituaries for Oct. 8, 2023: World War II veteran dies at 98 >> The Italian-American Women of Staten Island celebrate at Pranza, a traditional luncheon hosted in South Beach | Inside Out TEL AVIV, Israel The Israeli government formally declared war Sunday and gave the green light for significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack, as the military tried to crush fighters still in southern towns and intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip. The toll passed 1,100 dead and thousands wounded on both sides. More than 24 hours after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still trying to defeat the last groups of militants holed up in several towns. At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza as Israeli airstrikes pound the territory. The declaration of war portended greater fighting ahead, and a major question was whether Israel would launch a ground assault into Gaza, a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. Meanwhile, in northern Israel, a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group fanned fears that the fighting could expand into a wider regional war. Police officers evacuate a woman and a child from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The rockets were fired as Hamas announced a new operation against Israel. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)AP Authorities were still trying to determine how many civilians and soldiers were seized by Hamas fighters during the mayhem and taken back to Gaza. From videos and witnesses, the captives are known to include women, children and the elderly. The leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, Ziad Nakhaleh, said his group, which participated in the attack, is holding more than 30 Israelis, among dozens he said were captive in Gaza. He said they would not be released until all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are freed. Speaking on ABCs This Week, U.S. Secretary of State Andrew Blinken said as many as 1,000 Hamas fighters were involved in the assault a high figure that underscored the extent of planning by the militant group ruling Gaza. The gunmen rampaged for hours, gunning down civilians in towns, along highways and at a techno music festival being held in the desert near Gaza. Israel hit more than 800 targets in Gaza so far, its military said, including airstrikes that leveled much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the enclaves northeast corner. A ball of fire and smoke rise from an explosion on a Palestinian apartment tower following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land, and sea and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)AP Warplanes fired tons of explosives on 120 targets, Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters, saying Hamas was using the town as a staging ground for attacks. There was no immediate word on casualties, and most of the communitys population of tens of thousands of people likely fled before the bombardment. We will continue to attack in this way, with this force, continuously, on all gathering (places) and routes used by Hamas, Hagari said. Civilians on both sides were already paying a high price. A line of Israelis snaked outside a central Israel police station to supply DNA samples and other means that could help identify missing family members. Israeli TV news aired a stream of accounts from relatives of captive or missing Israelis who wept and begged for assistance and information. In Gaza, the tiny enclave of 2.3 million people sealed off by an Israeli-Egyptian blockade for 16 years since the Hamas takeover, residents feared an intensified onslaught. Israeli strikes flattened a number of residential buildings. Some 74,000 displaced Gazans were staying in 64 shelters, with the number expected to increase. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNWRA, said a school sheltering more than 225 people took a direct hit. It did not say where the fire came from. Several Israeli media outlets, citing rescue service officials, said at least 700 people have been killed in Israel, including 44 soldiers. The Gaza Health Ministry said 413 people, including 78 children and 41 women, were killed in the territory. Some 2,000 people have been wounded on each side. An Israeli official said security forces have killed 400 militants and captured dozens more. The exchange of fire with Hezbollah added to concern that the conflict could spread. Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and shells Sunday at three Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border, and the Israeli military fired back using armed drones. Two children were lightly wounded by broken glass on the Lebanese side, according to the nearby Marjayoun Hospital. Palestinians celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis southern Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land, and sea and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday. (AP Photo/Hassan Eslaiah)AP The Israeli military said the situation since was calm after the exchange. Iranian-backed Hezbollah is estimated to have tens of thousands of rockets at its disposal. Since its brutal 2006 war with Israel, Hezbollah has stayed on the sidelines amid previous outbreaks of Israeli-Hamas fighting. But if destruction in Gaza escalates, it may feel pressure to intervene. The declaration of war announced by Israels Security Cabinet was largely symbolic, said Yohanan Plesner, the head of the Israel Democracy Institute, a local think tank. But it demonstrates that the government thinks we are entering a more lengthy, intense and significant period of war. Israel has carried out major military campaigns over the past four decades in Lebanon and Gaza that it portrayed as wars, but without a formal declaration. The Security Cabinet also approved significant military steps. The steps were not defined, but the declaration appears to give the military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a wide mandate. Speaking on national television Saturday, Netanyahu vowed that Hamas will pay an unprecedented price. He further warned: This war will take time. It will be difficult. In a statement, his office said the aim will be the destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities to an extent that prevents it from threatening Israelis for many years. Israelis were still reeling from the breadth, ferocity and surprise of the Hamas assault. The groups fighters broke through Israels security fence surrounding the Gaza Strip early Saturday. Using motorcycles and pickup trucks, even paragliders and speedboats on the coast, they moved into nearby Israeli communities as many as 22 locations. Palestinians inspect the rubble of a building after it was struck by an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land, and sea, killing hundreds and taking captives. Palestinian health officials reported scores of deaths from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)AP The high death toll and slow response to the onslaught pointed to a major intelligence failure and undermined the long-held perception that Israel has eyes and ears everywhere in the small, densely populated territory it has controlled for decades. The Israeli military was evacuating at least five towns close to Gaza and them scouring them for militants. Much of the territorys population was thrown into darkness Saturday night as Israel cut off electricity and said it would no longer supply power, fuel or other goods to the territory. One woman sheltering at an UNWRA school in Gaza Citys Sheikh Radwan neighborhood described a panicked flight from her home in the middle of the night. The Israeli military made announcements on loudspeakers telling people to leave. We didnt know where to go, she said. It was a miracle we arrived at the schools because there was no transport. The presence of hostages in Gaza complicates Israels response. Hamas officials have said they will seek the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners, and Israel has a history of making heavily lopsided exchanges to bring captive Israelis home. The military has confirmed that a substantial number of Israelis were abducted Saturday without giving an exact figure. A Palestinian child walks with a bicycle by the rubble of a building after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)AP An Egyptian official said Israel sought help from Cairo to ensure the safety of the hostages, and that Egypts intelligence chief contacted Hamas and the smaller but more radical Islamic Jihad group, which also took part in the incursion, to seek information. Egypt has often mediated between the two sides in the past. The official said Palestinian leaders claimed they dont yet have a full picture of the number of hostages but said they were held in secure locations across Gaza. The official, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to brief media. estimated Hamas held a big number several dozens. Egypt also spoke with both sides about a potential cease-fire, but the official said Israel was not open to a truce at this stage. In Iran, which has long supported Hamas and other militant groups, senior officials have openly praised the incursion. President Ebrahim Raisi spoke by phone with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Islamic Jihad leader Ziad al-Nakhalah, the state-run IRNA news agency reported Sunday. The shadowy leader of Hamas military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the assault, named Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, the Israeli occupation and a series of recent incidents that have brought Israeli-Palestinian tensions to a fever pitch. Over the past year, Israels far-right government has ramped up settlement construction in the occupied West Bank. Israeli settler violence has displaced hundreds of Palestinians there, and tensions have flared around the Al-Aqsa mosque, a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site. BRONX -- One of the largest fentanyl seizures in New York City happened Thursday night in a Bronx apartment, leading to the arrest of four men accused of running the operation. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Southern District of New York, the arrests happened after authorities discovered more than 200,000 fentanyl pills and 50 pounds of the drug in whats been described as a pill mill. DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarantino said the venue had enough lethal fentanyl to dispense well over a million lethal doses. The defendants were identified as 41-year-old Wellington Eustate Espinal; Roberto Jose Vargas-Paulino, 31; Christian Eustate Espinal, 20, and Heriberto Eustate Espinal, 27. Each man faces a minimum jail term of 10 years to a maximum of life behind bars if convicted. Ivan J. Arvelo, Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge, said the lab was inside a residential building, which is dangerously close to where families reside and children play. The thought of the potential damage this stunning amount of fentanyl could have inflicted on New Yorkers is terrifying, said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. Authorities searched the apartment -- which they dubbed the Fentanyl Mill -- and found the four suspects inside. Of the hundreds of thousands of pills discovered, officials said Some of the pills appear to have been manufactured to mimic prescription drugs, and others were pressed into colorful shapes to resemble party drugs such as ecstasy. Additionally, officials found three commercial pill presses and another disassembled pill press; one kilogram press; and various manufacturing and distribution paraphernalia including blenders, dyes, and jars of calcium citrate, that are used in connection with pressing narcotics into pill form and packaging narcotics for further distribution. Numerous law enforcement units, including the New York Police Department and Department of Homeland Security, were given credit in the report. One year ago this month, authorities confiscated about 300,000 pills of rainbow fentanyl in the Bronx in a major drug sting intended to protect the public from the potentially deadly tablets that resemble candy. QUEENS A New York City judge sentenced a Jamaica, Queens man to 25 years in state prison on Friday after Stephen Giraldo, 37, pleaded guilty last month to running over -- and then stabbing -- his estranged wife outside her home while their three young children watched. The incident happened on the morning of Dec. 27, 2022, around 5:20 a.m. The victim, Sophia Giraldo, has been in a coma since the attack, QNS.com reported. According to the office of Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, Giraldo was observed on security video footage in a white Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle outside the residence of his estranged wife, 41-year-old Sophia Giraldo. Inside the vehicle with the defendant were the couples three children, ages 6, 9 and 11. When the defendants wife walked in front of the vehicle, the defendant told the children to keep your seat belt on and drove the SUV directly into his wife, causing severe neurological damage, broken bones in her leg, and a stab wound that punctured her liver. She survived, but has not regained consciousness and has been under medical care since the attack. This is one of the most brutal cases we have prosecuted, Katz said. Please forgive me for this unspeakable, unfathomable, unimaginable hurt I inflicted upon you. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt you in any way, shape or form, Stephen Giraldo said in court, according to the New York Post. I will always love you, you will always have a special place in my heart, and I pray for your recovery. There are 365 days in a year. Surely we can find enough days to honor every individual, group and cause that we think worthy of such an honor. Im thinking about this because Columbus Day is coming up on Monday. I dont mean to trigger anybody. Thats just how Ive grown up referring to the second Monday in October, when we have celebrated the achievements of explorer Christopher Columbus. But the holiday isnt only about Columbus anymore. Its now also about honoring indigenous peoples. In New York, that means the day is now known as Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day. According to the Pew Research Center, 16 states and American Samoa continue to celebrate the second Monday in October solely as Columbus Day. Other states have dropped the celebration of Columbus Day entirely. Other states observe the day solely as Indigenous Peoples Day. I understand and support the desire to honor indigenous peoples. And I understand and support taking a second (and a third and a fourth) look at historical events and personages and evaluating them in more current contexts. We shouldnt be afraid of that. Columbus arrival in the Americas had a profound impact on the people who were already living here. The same is true of other explorers who came to what in grammar school we were taught to call the New World. Those who want to do away with Columbus Day argue that the arrival of Europeans here led to the death and enslavement of many indigenous peoples. New diseases arrived with the explorers that often proved fatal to the populations already living in the Americas. Indigenous cultures and traditions were destroyed. Columbus is no longer worthy of being celebrated. But grafting a holiday honoring indigenous peoples onto Columbus Day, like New York does, isnt the way to go. Thats not about celebrating indigenous peoples. If it were, some lawmaker would have figured out a day where indigenous peoples could be honored all on their own. Dont they deserve that respect? Apparently not, because creating a double-headed holiday looks more like its meant to marginalize Columbus and those Italian-Americans who venerate him. Remember, those Italian-Americans were once unwelcome immigrants in this country as well. Its a point of pride for them to have a federal holiday named after one of their own. Dont they deserve that, given all that they have contributed to this country? You dont have to eliminate the Columbus Day holiday in order to have a frank and open discussion about the consequences, pro and con, of European exploration and, yes, conquest of the Americas. And you dont have to cancel Columbus in order to honor indigenous peoples, even though cancel culture is still very much in vogue these days. Evaluating history is not about erasing history, although that very much remains in vogue these days as well, including the elimination of statues and other monuments to people whose history has come under closer scrutiny in recent years. We can have it both ways. We can honor Columbus. We can honor indigenous peoples. We can look at our history through different lenses. Nothing needs to be erased. Nobody needs to be canceled. STATEN ISLAND STORIES FROM TOM WROBLESKI History-making New York Lottery mystery as winning $12M ticket goes unclaimed on Staten Island in 1992 Beloved former restaurant a sad and nostalgic sight in this Staten Island neighborhood. Have a look inside Seeing fewer lanternflies this year? This Staten Island beekeeper thinks he knows the reason why 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! BEIRUT, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Sunday urged Lebanon and Israel to "exercise restraint" after an exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israel earlier in the morning on the borders in southern Lebanon. "We urge everyone to exercise restraint and take advantage of the liaison and coordination mechanisms undertaken by UNIFIL to reduce the escalation and prevent the rapid deterioration of the security situation," UNIFIL official spokesman Andrea Tenenti said in a statement released by the National News Agency. Tenenti said "we are in contact with the authorities on both sides of the Blue Line, at all levels, to contain the situation and avoid a more dangerous escalation." The UN spokesperson added that "UNIFIL peacekeepers are in their positions, carrying out their tasks and continuing to work, including from shelters for their safety." Lebanese Army Intelligence sources later confirmed to Xinhua that the exchange of artillery and missile shelling between Hezbollah and the Israeli army has stopped. Dozens of mortars were fired on Sunday early morning from southern Lebanon towards Israeli positions on the Shebaa Farms, a disputed strip of land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, in support of the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation launched by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) a day earlier. The Israeli army responded by firing 155 mm heavy artillery, targeting the outskirts of the villages of Kfarchouba, Shebaa, Halta, and the heights of Jabal al-Wastani, southeast Lebanon, causing material damage. On Oct. 7, Palestinian militants launched almost 3,000 rockets against Israel, and dozens of militants infiltrated southern Israel, leading to an escalation between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas group. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported that at least 313 Palestinians were killed and 1,990 wounded by the Israeli strikes in the enclave. Meanwhile, the death toll among Israelis has crossed 300, marking it the deadliest attack in Israel in decades. To Victoria, where the upper house of the state parliament is examining the decision to abandon the 2026 Commonwealth Games in five regional cities. Weve already heard that by March, Premier Jacinta Allan, then the minister for Commonwealth Games delivery, was informed the projected cost had reached $4.5 billion, almost $2 billion above the budgeted cost. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan rejected accusations she misled parliament. Credit: Eamon Gallagher Allan last week rejected accusations she misled parliament before the public accounts and estimates committee on June 13 when she said the government was making tremendous progress to deliver the Games. We know we can do it, she said at the time. Weve heard today that Housing Minister Harriet Shing, then the minister for Commonwealth Games legacy, was also briefed on the cost overruns in the months from April. Allen Garner, former chief executive of the Office of the Commonwealth Games, said he briefed Allan and Shing every few weeks. There were briefings in regard to the increasing cost, parliament heard today. On June 8, Shing told parliament: I am really happy to provide you with information that splits up what has been done, but it is also important to note that the $2.6 billion that is in the 202223 budget is for the entire games. We are in the process of developing the split around where allocation will occur and how, and this is also why community partnerships are so important. It is also why these regional engagement forums have been so important because they are actually shaping what is being delivered. This masthead has asked the government whether Shing stood by her evidence. The minister was focused on the legacy benefits of the Games, with officials requested to advise on options of delivering the games within the budget of $2.6 billion, a government spokeswoman said. AAP Footage has emerged showing a person shooting fireworks out of a ute along a main road in Sydneys south-west as people wave Palestinian flags and honk the horn. The silver ute was travelling slowly northbound along Waterloo Road in Greenacre with one person in the back seat outside the window holding what appears to be a long cylinder device shooting out green and red fireworks into the sky. As the car approaches the Juno Parade intersection, it can be seen slowly overtaking traffic and driving through red lights as the driver honks its horn. Nearby traffic can be seen stopping to let the ute through as passengers wave the Palestinian flag from the windows. As John Genca was forced to hold down his sons legs, with a nurse restraining his arms, the pair had to scream for help. Genca said he was told by the nurse at The Childrens Hospital at Westmead, We are not trained for this we dont know what to do when this happens. Gencas son, Matthew, is autistic and non-verbal. On that day, he was waking from open-heart surgery and had become distressed. A sedative was administered, but that did not allay his fears. John Genca says there is something wrong with the health system when the medical staff ask a parent how to treat a patient. Credit: Edwina Pickles They gave him medication that slowed down his heart, but then I see his eyeballs rolling back into his head, and Im thinking, My son is going to die here, Genca says. Then the head of the intensive care unit asks us What do we do with Matthew at this time; how do we treat him? When you have the head of ICU asking you, a parent, what to do, there is something wrong with the system. The latest Bureau of Health Information quarterly report shows that physical restraint is still being deployed at The Childrens Hospital at Westmead at a higher rate than any other NSW public hospital. Of the 36 acute mental health episodes at the hospital from April to June 2023, physical restraint was used 26 times. Housing activism group YIMBY Melbourne is calling for the development of Melbournes missing middle by enabling six-storey, mixed-use development on all residential land near train and tram stops. The Yes In My Back Yard movement, which launched earlier this year, has released a report calling for changes to Victorias planning and tax systems to enable streetscapes similar to those in Paris across inner urban Melbourne. Jonathan OBrien of YIMBY Melbourne at the Moreland station, where the group is proposing redevelopment. Credit: Eddie Jim YIMBY Melbourne, which has gained traction as a counterpoint to residents who oppose new developments in their local areas, wants to see the six-storey developments within one kilometre of train stations and 500 metres of tram stops. The report estimates this could deliver more than 5 million new dwellings in places where people want to live. Australia is facing international pressure to introduce a promised visa lottery for Pacific workers as island nations deal with climate changes existential threat and legislation to enact the change remains bogged down in parliament. The Albanese government announced the Pacific Engagement Visa in February to bring in 3000 Pacific nationals annually, with the US green card-style measure initially slated to begin in July amid a broader overhaul of Australias migration settings. The effects of climate change in Pacific nations should prompt new migration solutions, Fijian deputy prime minister Biman Prasad says. Credit: Joe Armao But Labor has been forced to negotiate the passage of the bill with the Greens after it became mired in the Senate when the Coalition opposed it. Fijian deputy prime minister and minister for finance Biman Prasad has raised concerns about the legislation becoming stuck in Australias parliament, saying economic ministers in the Pacific forum welcomed the opportunity for greater ties and investment that the visa would bring. London: When Englands prosecution service announced last month that a police officer would be charged with murder after fatally shooting an unarmed black man in London, the news was met with relief by the dead mans family. We welcome this charging decision, which could not have come too soon, the family of the man, Chris Kaba, who was killed in September last year, said in a statement. Now we await the trial of the firearms officer without delay and hope and pray that justice will be served. Armed police officers, two seen here in central London, are rare. Credit: NYT But among the armed police who work for Londons Metropolitan Police Service, known colloquially as the Met, there was consternation. Officers worried that the murder charge signalled a changed attitude toward the use of guns in the course of their duties, the Met police later wrote in a statement. Within days, hundreds of officers had handed in their weapon permits known as blue cards and were refusing to carry their guns in protest. The Met was temporarily forced to request support from the army. Seventy-five years since the establishment of Israel in 1948, the failure to establish a sovereign Palestinian state (and a corpus separatum for Jerusalem) to accommodate, however imperfectly, the aspirations of each side has come home to roost. The two-state approach as envisaged in the UN-proposed political compromise, and subsequently in the Oslo Accords, has been dead for decades. But neither side has had any desire to propose, let alone work to achieve, an alternative. Both have preferred to stare into a void. Hamas militants launch devastating attacks on Israel. Credit: Getty; Bloomberg; Reuters Hamas rocket attacks and assaults on civilian targets by both sides are utterly despicable. But they have changed the paradigm, for both sides. Israelis fear for their future. The risks of accelerated displacement of Palestinians, and the collapse of what little remains of the authority of the Palestinian leadership, are real. Ascribing historical blame for missed opportunities for peace, and debating whether there is moral equivalence between the parties, is a waste of time. Both sides, Arab and Jewish, are victims of that essential failure. Abu Dhabi: If left to business as usual, humanitys love for air travel could see aviation exceed 20 per cent of our total carbon footprint by 2050. Its the reason the industry will need to come up with 300 million tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel annually made from animal fats, oils, household waste and crops to meet demand for passenger journeys forecast to exceed 10 billion by then. They are staggering estimates that underpin the critical target of the worlds biggest airlines to reach net-zero in the next 27 years. Qantas and Virgin Australia have both separately pledged to accelerate Australias sustainable fuel industry. The need for sustainable aviation fuel has never been greater, as airlines work to meet 2050 net-zero target. Credit: Bloomberg The urgent call to achieve net-zero air travel was explored last week by industry executives from the likes of Boeing, Airbus and Air BP at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, which gathered the worlds biggest players in oil and gas under one roof. BEIRUT, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of rockets and heavy artillery shells were fired toward Israeli positions on the Shebaa Farms, a disputed strip of land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, on early Sunday morning, Lebanese army intelligence sources confirmed to Xinhua. Sounds of huge explosions have been echoing throughout the villages of Al-Arqub and Hasbaya since the early morning, and centers in Ruwaisat Al-Alam and a radar site were subjected to heavy artillery shelling, according to the state-run Lebanese National New Agency (NNA). The Israeli military responded with artillery fire toward southern Lebanon, the NNA reported. Residents of Kfar Shouba, a Lebanese village along the border, said they could hear sounds of shelling around them, and estimated several dozen Israeli shells had hit the area, local news outlet L'Orient Today reported. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Sunday that he has ordered the Ford carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel. Americans were reported to be among those killed and missing. The Israeli government formally declared war on Sunday and gave the green light for significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navys newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, and its approximately 5000 sailors and deck of warplanes will be accompanied by cruisers and destroyers in a show of force that is meant to be ready to respond to anything, including possibly interdicting additional weapons from reaching Hamas and conducting surveillance. The conflict spread to northern Israel on Sunday as the Iran-backed, Lebanon-based Hezbollah fired rockets and shells into Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border with Syria and Lebanon. Israels military returned fire with armed drone strikes on Hezbollah targets. A second exchange of fire took place hours later, when Hezbollah targeted the same Israeli-occupied land on Sunday morning and Israel retaliated. In a statement Hezbollah said it carried out the initial strike action in solidarity with the Palestinian people. An F/A-18 E is launched from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford. Credit: AP Gun battles in southern Israel continued through the weekend, while militants held hostages in stand-offs in two towns in a second day of violence triggered by Saturdays early morning Hamas attack. Local media reports described active hostage situations involving children, with families across Israel turning to social media to report loved ones who had gone missing, among them young revellers who had been at a music festival stormed by armed militants. The broad attack by which Hamas militants entered Israel on multiple fronts, including using paragliders, has stunned political commentators in exposing failures by the Israeli establishment that is traditionally considered the strongest intelligence power in the region. The prime ministers warning to Palestinians in Gaza impacts more than 2 million civilians, trapped between Egypt and Israel, at the centre of a 16-year Israeli blockade. All the places that Hamas hides in, operates from, we will turn them into ruins, Netanyahu said. Get out of there now. Warnings were also issued in Arabic to those living in the conflict-plagued zone where Israel has also said it will stop supplying electricity, fuel and goods. Hamas gunmen descended on as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip from sunrise on Saturday morning, waging a highly co-ordinated campaign characterised by direct person-to-person fighting by land, sea and air, while launching thousands of rockets at Israeli cities. Israeli soldiers and civilians have been kidnapped, with harrowing videos spreading online depicting those taken captive in what has quickly become the deadliest attack on Israeli soil in decades. Loading Reports have also emerged of at least two Israelis and one Egyptian being shot and killed by an Egyptian policeman in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria. Thousands have been injured on both sides of the conflict and the death toll is expected to rise. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the Palestinian people had the right to defend themselves against the terror of settlers and occupation troops. In a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Abbas said injustice inflicted on Palestinians was fuelling the conflict. During the call, Abbas said the escalation was linked to the practices of the colonialists and the Israeli occupation forces, and the aggression against Islamic and Christian sanctities, Palestinian news agency WAFA said in a statement. Israel has announced a mass army mobilisation, while tens of thousands of army reservists have been called up. Forces were fighting Hamas incursions in eight places on Sunday, the military said. Since the assault began, it has launched airstrikes flattening residential buildings in giant explosions, including a 14-storey tower that held dozens of apartments as well as Hamas offices in central Gaza City. In the southern Gaza town of Rafah, Israel has carried out dozens of strikes, one of which hit homes in one of the most crowded refugee camps, Shaboura, the Associated Press reported. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said the countrys retaliation would change the reality on the ground in Gaza for the next 50 years. What was before, will be no more. We will operate at full force, he said in a statement. As Israel promised retribution, world leaders rallied to offer their support and condemn the actions of Hamas. US President Joe Biden offered Israel all appropriate means of support on Saturday. In a televised statement on Saturday night, Biden said he had directed his national security team to maintain contact with countries throughout the region including Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and European allies. Loading It comes at a critical time, with the US in the final stages of negotiating a landmark agreement to normalise relations between adversaries Israel and Saudi Arabia, as well as a US-Saudi defence pact. Saudi Arabia has called for an end to the violence, but said the situation had been inflamed by Israel depriving Palestinians of their rights. Iran, which has provided extensive funding and arms support to Hamas, also described Saturdays attack on Israel as an act of self-defence by Palestinians. French President Emmanuel Macron said he strongly condemned the terrorist attacks currently hitting Israel. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are among the leaders who have backed Israels right to defend itself. Jonathan Panikoff, the US governments former deputy national intelligence officer for the Middle East, said the assault could only be described as a security failure. Undermining what was thought to be an aggressive and successful layered approach toward Gaza by Israel, he said. Natan Sachs, the director of the Centre for Middle East Policy and a senior fellow in the Foreign Policy Program at Brookings, said the Israeli intelligence failure was a misstep that would have long-term repercussions. Loading This is truly remarkable, he told CNN. Israelis [will be] demanding answers, both in the military but also ... the political echelon. We dont have answers yet as to why this happened. Clearly there was a misunderstanding or misconception about Hamas priorities, the chance that they would try to do something. It did not take long for the deadly assault on Israel to become another point of contention in the combative domestic politics of the United States, with Republican presidential candidates using the surprise attack by Hamas to go after US President Joe Biden for his foreign policy decisions. Former president Donald Trump and other Republican contenders for the White House in 2024 sought to blame Bidens policies for emboldening militants. Members of Congress, operating without a House speaker, provided assurances that the United States would stand by Israel. And Bidens allies pushed back against what they called the spread of disinformation from the presidents political opponents. Former President Donald Trump has blamed White House foreign policy for the violence in the Middle East. Credit: AP The political jockeying reflects how the Biden administrations foreign policy has become a central point of contention in the presidential campaign. We used to say that politics stop at the waters edge and, especially when it came to Israel, there was a fairly unified front, said Brett Bruen, who served on the National Security Council during the Obama administration. Certain politicians are trying to score political points from what is just a horrible tragedy. PHNOM PENH, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- A Cambodian student was among the dead in fighting between Israeli and Hamas forces, which broke out on Saturday, the Royal Government Spokesperson Unit said in a statement on Sunday. "The Royal Government is deeply saddened to hear the news that one Cambodian student out of some 450 Cambodian citizens present in Israel died after sustaining wounds during the fighting between the Israeli and Hamas forces, which erupted on Oct. 7," the statement said. "The Royal Government would like to express our deepest condolences for the loss of our citizen and extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved family," it added. In a voice message, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet called on all Cambodian citizens there to be extra vigilant. The Cambodian foreign ministry has issued a statement condemning all forms of violence and terrorism. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon La Dame de Fer" was written by Shannon Goss (The Terror, Outlander, Reign) and was directed by Tim Southam. Whether its because of a dirth of new content because of the strikes or simply the massive popularity of Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus), this show is set to be the biggest success of the TWD spinoffs. I think its a combination of Daryls popularity, and the simple fact that this is easily (so far) the best spin off to date and I include Fear the Walking Dead as a spin off too. The writers' room has a lot to do with this - yeah for the strike getting them such a good deal! The fact that most of the writers have worked together on good shows before is definitely paying off. Greg Nicotero on board is a key factor too. Reedus is really excellent in this episode. He gets to show a lot of emotional range, from the opening scene, to the interrogation, to the final shot of the episode. The episode begins with Daryl dreaming about Laurent (Louis Puech Scigliuzzi). Daryl is trapped behind a gate and Laurent is surrounding by walkers. Daryl yells at him to run, but Laurent just closes his eyes and prays and the walkers leave him alone It seems like this is really happening until Daryls eyes fly open and we see that when he fell through the roof in the last episode, he fell into an old pool which helps explain why the roof was rotted. Just as Daryl regains consciousness, hes attacked under water by some pretty slimy looking walkers. Naturally, he fights them off and make it to the surface, but that couldnt have been fun to film. Daryl walks through Paris. Its eerily creepy that this was what it was like during covid he passes an apartment where someone is playing the cello. In another open window he sees a loving couple. Meanwhile, there are walkers also milling about and cars looking for him. At the rooftop, Codron (Romain Levi) interrogates Sonia (Sabine Pakora). She tells him Daryl was just there to help deliver Laurent, who isnt just some kid he has a greater destiny. Genet (Anne Charrier). She says shes heard rumours foolish tales that the weak and credulous believe and the sort of thing that got everyone into the mess theyre in. Sonia tells her that fools follow her. Genet meanwhile takes a crying baby from its mother, and as she looks at it, she tells Codron that this is a disease that must be rooted out. Codron tells her that hell get them both. I was just waiting for her to do something to the baby Daryl bumps into Antoine (Dominique Pinon) who is escaping on his bike with some of his pigeons. He tells Daryl that Genets people are hunting for Laurent because he is their hope. He is about to show Daryl the way to Isabelles (Clemence Poesy) when soldiers show up. Thinking to save him, Daryl makes him abandon the bike to hide, but the soldiers pull over to grab the pigeons for dinner. Antoine tries to save them and they kill him, so Daryl kills them. Antoines last wish is for Daryl to release the pigeons and he sees them fly away before dying. Daryl finds Isabelle at the apartment. She looks shell shocked and throws herself into his arms. She tells him that she searched all night and couldnt find him. Daryl tells her hes smart and hes sure hes fine, but Isabelle points out that he doesnt know Paris. But Daryl like all of us knows where hes gone. Was anyone surprised he was at the Eiffel Tower? Back at the club, Quinn (Adam Nagaitis) is working, while Nadine (Chrystal Boursin) is trying to get his attention. She knows that Isabelle is a threat to her, and her relationship with Quinn. But when Quinn shows a particular interest in the fact that the Pouvoir are hunting Laurent, she begins to see he might be the biggest threat. Daryl apologizes for what he said the previous night in front of Laurent. He feels partially responsible that hes gone. Laurent arrives at the Eiffel Tower and it is really a mess, creaking and groaning in the wind. The base is surrounded by sandbags. Theres no way for Laurent to stand under it because there is a huge swarm of walkers there. And naturally, even though theyve likely been there a very long time, they pick the moment Laurent is there alone to burst out in several spots. Isabelle and Daryl arrive in the nick of time. I adore Daryls new weapon as he keeps swing the mace. Laurent meanwhile hides under a piece of metal until a walker gets down on the ground and tries to go under after him. A strange guy rescues Laurent and puts him in a car. Daryl manages to grab out one guy who ends up eaten but cant get Laurent out and hes carried off to Quinn. Isabelle and Daryl take one of the guys Armand (Genc Jakupi) captive and interrogate him. It turns out that Armand was a Disciple. Isabelle plays to that, suggesting the killing and violence must weigh on him and giving him a chance to repent. She asks him to tell them where the boy is and then he can go. But Armand knows about Izzy from before that shes a thieving slut. Which of course, tells Isabelle that Quinn has Laurent. Quinn and Nadine have given Laurent candy. He tells them it tastes old. Nadine says at least the jokes are funny on the wrapper. Laurent isnt killing himself laughing Quinn asks if he knows who he is. Laurent says he was friends with his mother and aunt and hes his father. Quinn asks how he figured it out, and Laurent just shrugs. Laurent tells Quinn what Isabelle said about his father that he was brave and went off to fight. Quinn admits thats a stretch, but he did save Laurent at the Tower. Laurent points out that he didnt see Quinn there! LOVE it! Easy to be brave when you send others to do your fighting for you. Quinn tells him that hes safe now, and hes going to take care of him. Laurent wants to know about Isabelle and Daryl. Quinn says Isabelle will join them Nadine is NOT happy. And Laurent sees it. Quinn doesnt mention Daryl. Armand taunts Isabelle to tell Daryl the truth about her past. She refuses, and she tells Daryl they arent going to get any help from him. Daryl gets up and goes over and punches Armand really hard twice. Isabelle is startled. Daryl then walks away and tells a story about Jimmy who he knew when he was a kid. Jimmy was really little and got picked on. His dad was a drunk, and one Christmas, Jimmy got a piglet as a present. It followed him like a dog and everything. As hes talking Daryl picks up what looks like an icepick. Daryl relates that one Christmas, Jimmys dad tells him he has to kill the pig for Church dinner as he says this, he stabs Armand several times, leaving him gasping. Daryl continues with the story. Dad says if Jimmy doesnt do it, hell beat his brother. So Jimmy takes the pig and ties it to a tree in the backyard. He wants to make it quick and painless this is also accompanied by Daryls stabbing Armand some more. Daryl goes on. By trying not to hurt the pig, Jimmy made ir worse, prolonging its suffering. Daryl tells him the pig screamed all night and no one ever fucked with Jimmy again! Isabelle tries again to get Armand to tell them what to know. Armand says Quinn is just using Laurent to get what he wants. And Isabelle knows thats her! They know they cant go in the front door. Daryl tells Isabelle she might want to leave while he finishes Armand he is suddenly eager to tell them about the way in. Daryl says that they dont need a map theyll take him with them. Isabelle is convinced that the story was about Daryl, but he assures her that he made it all up! Do we believe him?!?! They meet up with Sylvie (Laika Blanc-Francard), Fallou (Eriq Ebouaney), Emile (Tristan Zanchi) and a couple others from the rooftop. Isabelle tells them that Azlan (Hassam Ghancy) will be waiting with a boat when they come back out of the tunnels. Fallou tells them that they are strongest when working as a unit. They go in as one and come out as one. They move off and Sylvie asks Emile if hes scared he shakes his head and then admits very much. She kisses him before he leaves with the others! Isabelle tells Daryl theres something she wants to tell him, and he tells her to tell him at the river. Daryl has Armand on a rope and pushes him to lead. We get a beautiful shot of Notre Dame pre-fire from the banks of the Seine. Sylvie asks Isabelle if shes ever had romantic feelings for anyone since taking vows. Isabelle says no, and Sylvie asks about Daryl. Isabelle says that was just concern. For him and for Laurent. Sylvie admits that she kissed Emile and it was nice but also confusing. Shes considering staying in Paris to help with the community they are building. Isabelle assures Sylvie shes not disappointed. And adds that Sylvie never got to have a life before Im hoping they dont go the romantic route with Daryl and Isabelle I prefer them as friends Genet is at the club, and Quinn tells her hes brought her there to negotiate for the American. He wants a Monet that she has: Japanese Footbridge. Genet doesnt care impressionism doesnt impress her. Genet assures Codron that Quinn will bring them Daryl, but they still need to find a way to make sure Laurent doesnt leave the city. Nadine tells Quinn he could get a lot more than a painting from Genet. She knows that hes keeping Laurent to get Isabelle back. Nadine complains that she only told him about the kid and the Eiffel tower to get the reward. Shes not happy that shes going to be left babysitting. We gets some beautiful shots of Daryl in the tunnel. Meanwhile, the others, lead by Fallou, approach the front door of the club with Molotov cocktails and open fire. They also have some grenades! Miraculously only Emile ends up getting shot in the leg. Armand pops Daryl in the face and runs ahead. He ends up hurting his leg and Daryl wishes him bon apetit before abandoning him and going on! LOL! Daryl makes it into the door via the back tunnel. Laurent is looking at Nadines necklace. She tells him shes sorry it doesnt look like that anymore. He assures her that the Eiffel Tower will be beautiful again. She tells him that she hopes he gets to go home soon she wants him where hes happiest. He tells her that shes a good person but she doesnt want people to know it. Daryl comes in, and Laurent runs over and asks where Isabelle is. Daryl says hell take him to her. Laurent turns around and Nadine has a gun on the both of them. She tells them both to just go Quinn goes to the front door, sees the devastation of the assault and immediately knows Daryl came in the backway. The two meet on the elevated catwalk over the club and fight. The body doubles in this scene werent terribly convincing, but at least it was a fairly short fight. Daryl wins and is about to cut Quinns throat when he looks up and sees Laurent watching of course, he cant kill Quinn in front of his son, so he knocks him out instead. Daryl tells Laurent, Lets go. Laurent hesitates as he looks at Quinn. Fallou and Emile arrive at the boat. Fallou tells Isabelle that Genet is posting guards at the city limits and there will soon be no way out. Daryl and Laurent arrive soon after, and Isabelle clearly shows how much she loves Laurent. Daryl tells her that the boats her ride and shed better get going. She then starts babbling that they need someone with influence and Quinn will do it for her. Daryl is also confused She tells him she has to stay, and he says hell take care of Quinn. She insists its not about them, and he tells her to get on the fucking boat no way is Daryl ever going to be ok with someone sacrificing themselves! She insists she has to stay, and she also says she knows its not his fight, but Daryl is the only one who can get Laurent to where he needs to be. Daryl sees theres no changing her mind, so he tells her he guesses this is it then. She says she hopes not but that if it is that he gets home. Laurent then wants to know when he will see her again. She tells him she will do everything in her power to get back to him. She tells him to trust her and that hell be safe with Daryl. Laurent says he wont go, and then begs her to come and Sylvie, but Sylvie is also staying. Daryl and Laurent get on the boat with Azlan. If youve ever been to Paris and taken a boat tour on the Seine (and if you were there and didnt do this, what were you thinking?!?), the final shots of the episode will look very familiar. Its a delightful way to use the scenery of Paris. I can only imagine how much the terrific CGI in this scene cost. As the boat travels down the river, past the ruined Eiffel Tower, Isabelle floats into the club and walks up to Quinn. Nadine is clearly not happy to see her. Is the tower also a symbol of Quinn and Isabelles former relationship? The last thing they pass on the river is the smaller statue of liberty that is the sister to the one in New York the French sent that one as a gift remember. Is Daryl the gift that the US sent back? Or is this just a reminder for Daryl of what hes fighting for? This was another tightly packed episode. Its so nice to get back to a series that actually has payoff in each episode and doesnt feel like its just spinning its wheels. I also have to credit the excellent special effects in this series. Lots of great performances in this episode to. I also wanted to pause and reflect a bit on the French used in the series. Are people ok with the subtitles? Do you find it distracting? Personally, I totally ok with it and I think they find a nice balance. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! She added: The thing is, the store has been here for so long, so the fact it has gone is so sad. It was something you could rely on. So far, Iran has been cautious. The spokesman of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, sent his formal congratulations for the action of resistance in the defence of their rights by Hamas. The fear is that Hezbollah will now join in from the northern border with Lebanon in support of their largely Sunni allies of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Almost every city in Israel is known to be in range of Hezbollahs Iranian rockets and missiles. They will be a hard test for Israels Iron Dome anti-missile system, which is one of the most battle-proven of its kind in the world. They talk about the death of Michael Gambon, and how in one play he even performed a line by Nick Curtis. Plus the news that Mean Girls the musical is arriving this side of the Atlantic which is so fetch they pick over the Stage Debut Awards winners, and talk Ulster American which is bringing bona fide movie star Woody Harrelson to the London stage for the first time in almost two decades. Not all the big ideas work. Harry is gifted some clever lines (I always felt like a stranger in my family. Coming out just put a name on that) but his addiction is handled with bluff, broad strokes. Haigh throws in interesting curveballs about the sexuality we inherit from our parents, despite what they teach us, without ever fully grappling with them. Beyond cyphers for queer identity theory, I was never quite sure who Adam and Harry were. As David Baddiel notes in his book of that title, Jews dont count. We are neither a prestigous nor a fashionable cause. Your peers will not applaud you for defending us. Quite the opposite. The Good People (as they by default think of themselves) who predominate in the arts are quick to condemn antisemitism in the abstract. But when it comes down to specific cases involving their political bedfellows, they are just as quick to look away or make excuses for it. To the Good People, those antisemites may be vulgar and embarrassing they will insist on saying the quiet parts out loud but remain fundamentally on the side of right. GAZA/JERUSALEM, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 370, with 2,200 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. Meanwhile, death toll from Hamas' surprise attack on Israel has reached 600, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Sunday. On Saturday night, Israeli warplanes continued their attacks on military and civilian facilities in various locations in the coastal enclave, Palestinian security sources told Xinhua. "Some of the Israeli strikes attacked residential places without any warning, and this is why the number of deaths has risen," Palestinian health ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra told Xinhua. The Israeli military said it had struck 426 targets belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) by Sunday morning, including a compound belonging to the head of the group's intelligence department. About ten residential towers in Gaza were among the civilian facilities the Israeli army completely destroyed. Israel Defense Forces Spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters that "most of the significant battles" in the communities near the Gaza Strip have concluded. Residents in the south were being evacuated to central Israel, he said. The Israeli airstrikes were carried out in response to an earlier rocket attack by Hamas. On Saturday, Palestinian militants showered Israel with thousands of rockets, and dozens of militants infiltrated southern Israel, igniting the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing, announced that it launched at least 150 rockets toward Tel Aviv in Israel on Saturday evening in retaliation for an Israeli air strike that took down a high rise with more than 100 apartments. More than 26 Israeli soldiers were killed in the battles, including the commander of the Nahal Brigade, a prominent infantry unit, according to a military statement. Overnight, the Israeli Security Cabinet convened, deciding that the objective of Israel's counterattack is to destroy the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, another armed Palestinian group that declared its militants had joined Hamas in the attack, according to a statement released by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. "We are embarking on a long and difficult war that was forced on us," Netanyahu said in the statement. Mr Youngs brother, Eliot Young, described him in a statement to the BBC as full of life and the life of the party. He loved his family and friends and was loved by everyone, he said. He loved music and was a talented DJ. The Labour leader said on Sunday that there can be no justification for the operation that has left at least 600 dead, including a British man serving in the Israeli army, and provoked a furious response from Israel that killed more than 300 in Gaza. We are aware that a number of demonstrations and protests are planned. We have spoken to the organisers and we expect these will pass off peacefully. However, we will take a zero tolerance approach to any activity which crosses the lines into criminality. Mr Harris said: This is my second posting to Ukraine. When I left in 2008, I thought Id really like to come back as Ambassador, so this is a dream come true. My family has a great affinity with Ukraine because its where my children grew up. A Foreign Office spokeswoman said they would not comment on individual cases but added: However, we can confirm we are in contact with - and assisting - the families of several individuals in Israel and the OPTs (Occupied Palestinian Territories). Pressed on the decision over the northern leg of HS2 during the week, Mr Sunak insisted that what were doing is going to be better for our country, and that the saved money will be reinvested in every form of transportation, not just heavy rail. and in every part of our country. "I want to thank the hundreds of people who have got in touch. I am trying to answer everyone but the situation is complex. The National Trust own the land, and it is located in Northumberland National Park. London-born Nathanel Young, a 20-year-old Briton serving in the Israeli army, is among those who have been killed since the attack by Hamas on Saturday. Mr Youngs brother, Eliot Young, described him in a statement to the BBC as full of life and the life of the party. He loved his family and friends and was loved by everyone, he said. He added: Hamas wants to murder us all. This is an enemy that murders children and mothers in their homes, in their beds, an enemy that abducts the elderly, children and young women, that slaughters and massacres our citizens, including children, who simply went out to enjoy the holiday. It remained a special dance for Ukrainian Kuzmin whose parents watched from the audience, saying: I was really excited and I was really nervous but it just makes me feel like a kid, at the end of the day Im just a kid from Ukraine who is just living his dream. BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of rockets and heavy artillery shells were fired toward Israeli positions on the Shebaa Farms, a disputed strip of land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, early Sunday morning, Lebanese army intelligence sources confirmed to Xinhua. Sounds of massive explosions have been echoing throughout the villages of Al-Arqub and Hasbaya since the early morning, and centers in Ruwaisat Al-Alam and a radar site were subjected to heavy artillery shelling, according to the state-run Lebanese National News Agency. Lebanese army intelligence sources confirmed to Xinhua that "more than 35 missiles and artillery shells targeted Israeli positions along the disputed Shebaa Farms front, and the bombing targeted the radar sites, Al-Alam, Al-Samaqa, and Zebdine." Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for the mortar and rocket attack in northern Israel and said it is in solidarity with the Palestinians. In response, the Israeli military fired artillery into the Lebanese area from which the attack originated, an army spokesperson said in a statement. Later, a drone attack was launched, targeting tents set up by Hezbollah in the region, according to the spokesperson. "The Israeli 155 mm heavy artillery responded with violent shelling, targeting the outskirts of the villages of Kfarchouba, Shebaa, Halta and the heights of Jabal al-Wastani, southeast Lebanon, causing material damage," the sources said. Residents of Kfar Shouba, a Lebanese village along the border, said they could hear sounds of shelling around them and estimated several dozen Israeli shells had hit the area, local news outlet L'Orient Today reported. On Oct. 7, Palestinian militants launched almost 3,000 rockets against Israel and dozens of militants infiltrated southern Israel, igniting the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas group. The incident came amid months of rising tensions along the Israeli-Lebanese border and a day after Hamas, an Islamist Palestinian group that runs the Gaza Strip, launched the massive attack on Israel, killing at least 300 Israelis, according to rescue services. In response, Israel launched airstrikes on Gaza, killing at least 313 Palestinians. Odudu added: Lets make this the most positive series yet and give all of the housemates the respect that you would wish for if you were a housemate too. Is that a deal? GAZA/JERUSALEM, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 313, including 20 children, with 1,990 others injured, according to an update from the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Sunday. On Saturday night, Israeli warplanes continued their attacks on military and civilian facilities in various locations in the coastal enclave, Palestinian security sources told Xinhua. "Some of the Israeli strikes attacked residential places without any warning, and this is why the number of deaths has risen," Palestinian health ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra told Xinhua. The Israeli military said it had struck 426 targets belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) by Sunday morning, including a compound belonging to the head of the group's intelligence department. About ten residential towers in Gaza were among the civilian facilities the Israeli army completely destroyed. Israel Defense Forces Spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters that "most of the significant battles" in the communities near the Gaza Strip have concluded. Residents in the south were being evacuated to central Israel, he said. The Israeli airstrikes were carried out in response to an earlier rocket attack by Hamas. On Saturday, Palestinian militants showered Israel with thousands of rockets, and dozens of militants infiltrated southern Israel, igniting the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing, announced that it launched at least 150 rockets toward Tel Aviv in Israel on Saturday evening in retaliation for an Israeli air strike that took down a high rise with more than 100 apartments. More than 26 Israeli soldiers were killed in the battles, including the commander of the Nahal Brigade, a prominent infantry unit, according to a military statement. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. Following the moves made by the Crisis Cell, 346 Romanian and foreign citizens were repatriated from Israel, on the night of Saturday to Sunday, with two flights operated by TAROM company - 189 first flight, respectively 157 with the second flight -, measure taken in the context of the deterioration of the security situation in the State of Israel and the Gaza Strip, the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) informs. MAE says that a mobile consular team from the Romanian Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Romanian Representation Office in Ramallah went to Ben Gurion Airport to provide consular assistance to Romanian citizens at the airport, Agerpres reports. "At the same time, representatives of the MAE Crisis Cell have coordinated with the Israeli authorities and the Romanian Patriarchate to manage groups of Romanian citizens and pilgrims at Ben Gurion Airport, in order to ensure their accommodation, until repatriation solutions are identified. MAE uses this opportunity to thank the Israeli authorities for the support provided for the safe repatriation of Romanian citizens," reads a press release of the ministry sent on Sunday. MAE reiterates the recommendation addressed to Romanian citizens who intend to travel to the State of Israel to reschedule their trip and follow the Travel Alerts section on the MFA-https://www.mae.ro/travel-alerts/2938 website.Romanian citizens who are on the territory of this state can address the Romanian Embassy in Tel Aviv and can announce their presence in the region, thus communicating their identification data and their own coordinates to the e-mail address telaviv@mae.ro and to the permanent telephone number of the Romanian Embassy in Tel Aviv: +972 54 5643279, as well as that of the Consulate General in Haifa: +972 543 998 038, to be contacted.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends consulting the Internet pages http://telaviv.mae.ro, https://consular-protection.ec.europa.eu/travel-advice_en and www.mae.ro - section Travel advice and recalls that Romanian citizens traveling abroad have at their disposal the SMS alert service, related to the information campaign "An SMS can save your life!". CARLINVILLE, Ill. The license of a funeral director at a Carlinville funeral home under investigation for its handling of remains has been revoked. Albert Heinz of Heinz Funeral Home/Family Care Cremations had his funeral director and embalmer's license permanently revoked Thursday, according to Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation records. The funeral home is at the center of an investigation by Sangamon County officials for alleged mishandling of human remains, including providing families with ashes for cremations that never happened. Carlinville is about 65 miles northeast of St. Louis Records from the department indicated that Heinz had his funeral license revoked for "vital records non-compliance, professional incompetence or untrustworthiness in funeral practice, taking undue advantage of clients amounting to perpetration of fraud, performing any act or practice that violates funeral regulations, unprofessional conduct and charging for professional services not rendered." Chris Slaby, public information officer for the department, said determining disciplinary action for those who violated regulatory statutes was handled on a case-by-case basis. Complaints made toward the department are kept confidential until action is taken. "When a license is revoked, licensees are prohibited from practice during the revocation," Slaby said. "Licenses that are permanently revoked are ineligible for restoration." Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon began investigating Heinz Funeral Home after being contacted by a hospital who had been holding a body in its morgue for over a month. The family of the deceased told him that they already had what they believed to be their mother's ashes given to them by the home. Upon further investigation, it was discovered no cremation had taken place, Allmon said, and the remains the family possessed belonged to another Sangamon County resident. Allmon's office then discovered other similar situations had happened to families in contact with Heinz Funeral Home, including one instance where it was believed a person was cremated under a different name. Authorities also discovered three bodies in an unrefrigerated setting and "in an advanced state of decomposition" when visiting the funeral home last week, Allmon said. Since then, Allmon said his office had recovered over 40 sets of cremated remains from the funeral home, "some of which were not labeled at all." The office has also fielded hundreds of calls and received dozens of ashes from families who were given the wrong remains, he said. The three unrefrigerated bodies were taken by the coroner's office and able to be identified by Allmon. The investigation had also found that the incidents extended to families outside of Sangamon County. "This investigation involves multiple jurisdictions," Allmon said, "and coroners and law enforcement agencies of several counties are now receiving calls." Those who believe they may have been affected by the actions of the funeral home are encouraged to contact the Macoupin County Coroner's Office at 618-444-7304. Anyone with any information can contact the Carlinville Police Department at 217-854-3221 or info@carlinvillepolice.com. If you or a loved one can no longer live safely at home, assisted living may be the answer. Residents typically live in their own rooms or apartments and get housekeeping services, meals and help with personal care. But facilities can vary enormously, and peoples expectations about assisted living often clash with reality, elder care experts say. Here are some important things to know. 1. Medicare doesnt cover the cost Medicare does not pay for custodial care, which is what assisted living facilities provide, including help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, getting in and out of bed, and using the toilet. Most people pay for assisted living out of pocket if they dont have long-term care insurance, says Amy Goyer, AARPs national family and caregiving expert. Nationwide, the cost of assisted living facilities averaged $4,500 a month in 2021, according to the latest figures from long-term care insurer Genworth. But costs range enormously depending on the area and the services provided, Goyer says. 2. There may not be a medical professional on staff Assisted living is considered residential rather than medical care, says elder care expert Kate Granigan, president-elect of the Aging Life Care Associations board of directors and CEO of LifeCare Advocates in Newton, Massachusetts. Some facilities bring in doctors or other medical professionals to provide routine care, she says. But if there is a medical professional on staff, its often a nurse who can assess peoples needs rather than provide hands-on care. Theyre not there to change bandages and to administer medical assistance, Granigan says. 3. You may need more care than youll get The key word in assisted living is assisted, Goyer says. While facilities can provide help around the clock, they arent designed for people who need one-on-one, constant care. Thats the function of a nursing home. If someone requires medical care in addition to help with daily living, they would need a skilled nursing facility. Residents or their families often expect help on demand, but assisted living facilities arent staffed for that, Goyer explains. They may wait half an hour for someone to help them go to the bathroom, Goyer says. Assisted living facilities typically offer tiers of care, with each tier increasing in price. The first tier may include medication reminders and help getting in and out of the shower, while the next tiers offer increasing levels of hands-on care, she says. Prospective residents or their families need to ask whats included in each tier and what exactly bumps the resident up to the next level of care, Goyer adds. Another important question to ask is whether private caregivers can be brought in if the resident needs more care than the facility provides, Granigan says. Not all facilities allow outside help, which could mean the resident has to move to a nursing home if their needs increase. 4. You can get kicked out Scrutinize the admissions agreement the legal contract that outlines the services, costs and other terms of admission and ask questions about what can trigger an eviction. Assisted living facilities can kick people out if they have behavior problems, need more care than the facility provides or can no longer pay the bill, says Jaclyn Flores, consumer and policy advocate for the nonprofit California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform. Assisted living facilities also can raise rates with sufficient notice, and many have been doing so, Flores says. Theyre increasing rates at an astronomical rate and people find themselves stranded because they cant afford it anymore, she says. Flores recommends prospective residents have a Plan B long before their savings are exhausted. Options might include moving to a less expensive facility or exploring public benefits such as the aid and attendance benefit available to veterans or Medicaid, the federal public health insurance program for people with low income and few assets. 5. Theres no one-stop shop for getting advice AARP has a checklist for evaluating assisted living facilities, and advocacy groups such as CANHR and Consumer Voice can provide additional information. If youre looking for assisted living, youll likely come across online marketplaces, placement agencies and consultants who offer to help. You may get valuable information, but the guidance may not be objective or comprehensive, Goyer says. Facilities pay these sources for referrals, so you may get steered to one that pays a commission rather than the one thats the best fit. For personalized advice, consider a consultation with an aging-life-care professional, also known as a geriatric care manager, who is paid only by your fees. For a cost that often ranges from $100 to $250 an hour, the pro who is typically a nurse or social worker can evaluate the aging persons needs, recommend resources and help find appropriate facilities, Granigan says. Finding the right place can take time, and the pro also can recommend ways to keep the current home safer while you search, she adds. You can get referrals for an aging-life-care professional from the Aging Life Care Association. BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- China has released a trial guideline on the review of science and technology ethics to ensure both high-quality development and high-level security in sci-tech innovation. The guideline was jointly released by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Health Commission and other departments. It was unveiled with the aim of tackling problems such as unclear responsibilities, nonstandard procedures and imperfect mechanisms for ethical reviews in the sci-tech sector. The guideline proposes requirements for the basic procedures, standards and conditions of the reviews, providing an institutional basis for relevant authorities and innovation entities to carry out such reviews. It delineated the major range of such reviews, with focuses on sci-tech activities that may affect people's legal rights or harm animal welfare, as well as those that may pose challenges to life and health, ecological environment, public order, sustainable development and other fields. Ethical reviews of science and technology work should be carried out to boost innovation, prevent risks, and objectively assess and prudently deal with uncertainties and technology application risks in the sector, according to the guideline. HELPING OUT CNB Bank allocated $150,000 to Justine PETERSENS existing programs that impact small business and minority clients in the Greater St. Louis community. Spectrum awarded $15,000 in Digital Education Grants to St. Louis Arc and Wesley House. MEDICAL RESEARCH GRANTS Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine received nearly $8 million from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health to study the root causes of brain cell death in fatal pediatric neurodegenerative diseases. OPENINGS Newbridge Retirement Community, a 75,000-square-foot assisted living and memory care community built by Impact Strategies opened at: 1205 Mount Auburn Road, Cape Girardeau, Missouri. El Molino del Sureste opened a traditional masa mill or molino and daytime lunch counter at: 5005 South Kingshighway, St. Louis. PROJECTS Midas Construction topped out the AC Hotel in Clayton. The $50 million project is on track toward a Spring 2024 completion. Design-build contractor Keystone Construction began construction on a $5 million corporate headquarters for SourceOne Solutions. ST. LOUIS Business schools are often eager to teach about two ends of the spectrum: Massive, Fortune 500 companies and small, fast-growing startups. We are always thinking, said Michael Mazzeo, Whats the next unicorn? Mazzeo, the new dean of Washington Universitys Olin Business School, thinks more attention should be paid to the vast and under-studied middle ground. Small and mid-size firms are often overlooked in academia, but full of rich, teachable lessons, Mazzeo said. And many of those businesses are in a period of transition, as the families who own them make decisions about whether the next generation will take over. Its a philosophy honored in a book Mazzeo wrote with two other business professors. The trio embarked on a series of road trips across the U.S., interviewing owners and managers at small and mid-sized medical, manufacturing, hospitality and retail businesses. They documented their findings in their 2014 book, Roadside MBA: Back Road Lessons for Entrepreneurs, Executives, and Small Business Owners. The group received an Emmy nomination for a series of videos they made promoting the book. The professors found case studies on business expansion in an Arkansan orthodontics chain, hiring practices in a Missouri bowling alley, and product differentiation in a Kentucky womens gym, among many, many others. One of Mazzeos favorite examples to teach came from a visit the group paid with a fire hose manufacturer in Dothan, Alabama. The company used massive looms, which cant be used for any other purpose than making fire hoses (and, allegedly, produce more noise than The Who circa 1969, the book says). The sizeable, up-front investment in the equipment becomes a lesson about sunk costs and barriers to entry. The businesses they visited, Mazzeo said, yielded simple, elucidating examples of important economics concepts. And the stories are unique, which helps students remember the principles behind them. Mazzeo said that in the academic community, some viewed the book as unserious. But he recalled that after it was released, he spoke to one business owner who had unexpectedly inherited a small business from his parents. The man told Mazzeo that he didnt think he could run the business, until he read the book. Nobodys going to say that based on my Econometrica paper, Mazzeo said with a laugh, referring to an academic journal. He officially started in his new role on Sept. 1, after 25 years at Northwestern Universitys Kellogg School of Management, both as a professor and senior associate dean of curriculum and teaching. When the Olin opportunity came along, Mazzeo said, he messaged everyone he knew from Washington University over LinkedIn, and asked them to tell him about the school, and life in St. Louis. Hes eager to dive into the St. Louis community. By the end of his second week at Washington University, hed attended two Cardinals games and two St. Louis City SC games. He brings with him a sense of joy around business. Work gets such a bad rap for being like drudgery and a chore, he said. I think my job is a lot of fun. As an openly gay person in a position of leadership, he hopes to be visible so that other LGBTQ+ people feel more comfortable in the business world, and imagining themselves on similar career paths. For many gay people, hiding is a part of what they feel like they need to do in a professional environment, Mazzeo said. Originally from Poughkeepsie, New York, Mazzeo holds a bachelors degree and a doctorate from Stanford University. At one point during the recent interview at Mazzeos office, the reporter signaled that a tough question was about to be asked. Mazzeo knew exactly what was coming. This is something about the Cardinals youre going to ask me, right? he said. Yes. How will Mazzeo manage his loyalty to the New York Yankees, as he lives and works in Cardinals town? He can keep things separate, he said. Theyre in different leagues. They rarely play each other. Pressed on the issue, he smiled. I think, he said, a little cautiously, loyalty is extremely important. Tony Messenger Metro columnist Follow Tony Messenger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today ST. LOUIS Never get in a headline fight with the Rev. Larry Rice. You will not win. Especially if youre a mayor. Mayor Tishaura O. Jones learned the lesson last week, as Rice elevated homelessness to the front page by encouraging an encampment on City Hall grounds, outside the mayors office. The mayor pulled out the old playbook of being patient, then trying to clear the camp under the cover of darkness, then backing off when activists and cameras showed up, then clearing the camp the next day, and then blaming Rice and the activists. She didnt win. Nobody did. And thats Rices strategy every time. Former Mayor Lyda Krewson learned this lesson. Mayor Francis Slay learned this lesson. So did former Columbia Mayor Darwin Hindman, and former Springfield Mayor Tom Carlson. Im in my third decade of covering Rices antics and his good works, specifically for the homeless population. Ive come to a more nuanced view of the TV evangelist who once ran for governor and has provided shelter for unhoused people across Missouri for longer than Ive lived here. At first, I saw him mostly as a troublesome character. In Columbia, where I worked about 20 years ago, he ran a homeless shelter that was often a dangerous, overcrowded fire trap. People died of drug overdoses and violence. There were constant problems. At one point, I wrote a column about Rice the landlord, as he broke most of the rules he espoused. He had leases that required renters to display his political signs. He evicted poor people from mobile homes he owned in New Bloomfield, under questionable circumstances. More often than not, in Columbia, Springfield and St. Louis, Rice was the guy wearing the black hat when I wrote a column about him. But this is also true: Through his unorthodox playbook, Rice does more than any activist, service provider or politician to elevate the issue of homelessness. On balance, I think he does more good than harm. When he stood in Columbia with Councilwoman Almeta Crayton to demand attention to the citys most vulnerable residents, people paid attention. When he stands with U.S. Rep. Cori Bush or Alderman Rasheen Aldridge in St. Louis, he does the same thing. There are people who believe shelter from Rice saved their lives. There are others who say that after having been in his shelter, theyd rather sleep under the stars, no matter the elements. I believe that for all his failings, Rice truly cares about the fate of unhoused people. I believe most mayors, including Jones, also do. But as a society, we continually fail that population by not investing enough in housing, by not sustaining those investments, and by not finding a way to tackle the issue with a unified front. Thats why Rice is able to outflank mayors and drum up negative headlines for them until the latest camp is cleared and people move on, and the issue moves to the back burner. There is a better way. I have been writing for months about the serious attempt by nonprofit providers of homeless services, as well as key business leaders, to change the process by which those services are delivered in St. Louis. A new group called House Everyone STL won a bid from the providers to take over management of the services as an umbrella organization. That includes serving a role the city government has long served, as the conduit for federal funding. The city has slow-played the move, at times objecting to the change or letting the wheels of bureaucracy grind to a halt. The latest spat with Rice should help the mayor see a great benefit in the move. Rice vs. Mayor is always a losing proposition because Rice has the backdrop of the unhoused population, even if hes using some of them as props. Rice vs. The People Who Actually Shelter Unhoused People is a different fight. The mayor and the business community can be on the winning side of that battle, supporting people doing the heavy lifting in the trenches. The model isnt perfect; no model to battle homelessness is. But its better than the rinse-and-repeat cycle, which has plagued the last three mayors of St. Louis and will continue to do so until we try something different. Eddie Roth, who used to manage homeless services for the city under Slay, once told me, The way to do better than Larry Rice is to do better than Larry Rice. It was good advice, yet to be followed. Photos: St. Louis City Hall homeless tent camp is gone, residents scattered ST. LOUIS A pizza delivery man was robbed of his car, wallet, phone and gaming device late Friday in the Baden neighborhood. The 30-year-old victim told police that he was trying to deliver pizzas shortly before 10 p.m. in the 900 block of Nassau Drive. After nobody came to the door, he tried calling the number on the ticket. Nobody answered. Then, three men approached with guns. They ordered the driver out of his 2022 Honda Accord. He complied. The three men took off in the stolen Honda, and were later seen headed north on Riverview Boulevard from Lillian Avenue, according to a preliminary incident report. St. Louis police said they pursued the vehicle until they lost sight of it entering St. Louis County, near McLaran and Wescott avenues. St. Louis County police later found the vehicle dumped in the nearby 1900 block of Hildred Avenue. Police said the investigation is ongoing. Updated Oct. 10 with victim's name and additional details. FERGUSON A security guard at a QuikTrip gas station was charged with manslaughter after he fatally shot a gunman early Saturday during a shootout that stemmed from an earlier disagreement. Maury Adams, 34, of Florissant, was charged with voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the shooting about 1:30 a.m. Saturday in a QuikTrip at 10768 West Florissant Avenue, Ferguson police said in a news release. The man killed in the shooting was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Police later identified him as Jason Weaver, 39, of the 11000 block of Bellefontaine Road. Adams, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, was treated at a hospital for injuries and released Saturday. He lives in the 1300 block of Lisa Drive. The shooting appeared to stem from "an apparent disagreement" over identification Weaver was required to produce to buy an item at the QuikTrip, police said. Weaver left the store after the disagreement but returned shortly afterward, leading to "an altercation" with Adams, the security guard, police said. Surveillance footage from the gas station captured both Weaver and Adams pulling out guns and firing at one another. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office issued charges against Adams after reviewing the case, Ferguson police said. ST. LOUIS As police officers closed in on the homeless camp at City Hall last week, it felt like the Rev. Larry Rice was everywhere at once. He was praying with campers terrified of losing their homes. He was carping to reporters about the cruelty of Mayor Tishaura O. Jones decision. He was challenging the activists assembled outside the Market Street doors not to yield to the citys aggression. Is everybody ready, he shouted, to get arrested? Rice, the leader of New Life Evangelistic Center and a longtime televangelist, was one of many opposing the clearing of the encampment, which in its final week hosted more than 30 tents and all manner of vices. Perhaps 30 or more activists, advocates and aldermen joined him to protest its closure. But it was hard not to give Rice credit for the show: He worked for weeks to publicize the inhabitants woes. He urged them to protest city laws on homeless shelters. And he and his staff at New Life Evangelistic Center regularly provided food, blankets and the lions share of those multiplying tents. It was just like old times: For decades, Rice has made a practice out of publicly poking mayors in the eye to bring attention to the plight of people living on the streets, with little more than prayers to keep them going. And just a few weeks after some Jones appointees killed a push to reopen Rices downtown shelter, she was being treated to her first run-in with the street preacher. Larry Rice has been a rite of passage for every mayor since Vince Schoemehl, said Richard Callow, the veteran political operative who has either worked for or against them all. To be sure, things have changed since the days of the Schoemehlvilles the original City Hall encampments in the 1980s. The fights with former Mayor Francis G. Slay were especially hard on Rice: He lost his big shelter, on Locust Street. He lost the court appeals. He had to sell his TV channel to help cover legal bills and other costs. But through his work in recent months to publicize and grow the latest City Hall tent village into a spectacle, Rice made clear he has no plans to fade away. I think they thought we would be gone a long time ago, Rice said in an interview. But were still here. They only closed a building. You cant close a church. Trying to get a mayor arrested Lawrence Rice Jr. came to St. Louis in the early 1970s to attend Concordia Seminary in Clayton to complete his training to be a Lutheran minister. But it didnt work out. He recalled a lot of dissension in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod at the time, as fundamentalist and modern philosophies fought over control. And, for perhaps the last time in his life, he walked away from a fight. I didnt want to spend my life fighting preachers, he said. I ended up spending it fighting politicians. He started small, as a street preacher working out of a trailer in Wellston. Then he bought a house in Lafayette Square. And in 1975, he bought the old five-story Young Womens Christian Association building at 1411 Locust. Shortly thereafter, he was making headlines pushing the state to bar utility shutoffs during the winter. Then he turned his attention to officials in St. Louis, where he saw a growing lack of affordable housing and the shutdown of state-run treatment facilities for mental illness building to a crisis on the streets. He challenged then-Mayor Vincent C. Schoemehl to do more for the poor. He wanted the city to open public buildings to those living outside in the winter, hire homeless people for entry-level positions, and open and staff a new emergency shelter. The administration argued that that the city was funding shelters through contributions to private institutions such as the Salvation Army and the Relocation Clearing House. We are the only political entity providing any aid to homeless yet were being singled out for some reason by Reverend Rice, Ed Bushmeyer, Schoemehls press aide, said at the time. But in 1985, Rice championed a lawsuit against the city aimed at forcing it to expand homeless services, and in the middle of the summer, he led the homeless to camp out on the lawn under Schoemehls second-floor window at City Hall. He estimated more than 400 people stayed at least one night over the course of two weeks. The lawsuit was settled later that year, and Schoemehl signed a bill the following summer increasing some services. But even then, Rice was unsatisfied. He continued demanding the city open and run a shelter. In 1987, he even tried to have Schoemehl arrested for refusing the demand, arguing it was required under the bill. When Schoemehl and others denied him the old City Hospital, on the near South Side, for a shelter, selling it instead to a developer, Rice crawled in through a hole made by vandals and tried to set one up anyway. And summer after summer, he revived the Schoemehlville encampment around the same time as the VP Fair celebration, which brought thousands and thousands of people downtown. As St. Louis parties each year, we want people to remember that many, many of their neighbors are still struggling to survive, Rice explained. We want people to see. Hellholes The next mayor to really get an eyeful was Slay, who took office in 2001. Rice briefly terrified the administration in 2003 and 2004, when he made a bid to turn a vacant federal office building downtown into a mega-shelter capable of serving 1,000 people. City Hall ultimately beat back the effort, which would have killed plans to redevelop the old Kiel Opera house. But a few years later, he confronted them with a series of encampments around the city. Hed recently taken a trip to Portland, Oregon, where he'd seen something hes still trying to re-create today: Dignity Village, a city-sanctioned encampment on a patch of land near the airport where people were living in tents and small structures without fear of being cleared. They had rudimentary cooking and sanitary facilities, and access to social services. They elected their own leaders and made their own rules to keep order. He returned to St. Louis determined to press for something similar here. He began demanding the city designate some land for the homeless. The city was giving all kinds of tax breaks to developers, he said. Why not something for those with nothing? And when City Hall refused, and tore down three makeshift encampments along the riverfront, Rice tried leasing his own piece of land on the western edge of the Botanical Heights, at Interstate 44 and Vandeventer Avenue, for an endeavor he dubbed Integrity Village. But officials patience was wearing thin. They called the encampments Rice sponsored hellholes unsanitary, unsafe and unwanted. His philosophy ran directly counter to their strategy of trying to get the homeless immediately into permanent housing. And they saw all of his public outrage as effectively preying on the poor to raise money for his church. They bulldozed Integrity Village within a few days. And they spent the next few years running him out of downtown. Bedbug bites While Rice had been fighting with the city to expand his services, the area around his Locust Street headquarters had changed. Loft-dwellers and developers were reimagining the Washington Avenue corridor. They saw New Life and some of the characters it attracted as an obstacle to progress, citing fighting, drug use, loitering and littering around the center. Rice fought back, blasting his neighbors and city officials who heeded them as gentrifiers who didnt like the homeless or understand their needs. As his losses mounted and the walls closed in, he even ran for mayor as an independent on the slogan The People Have Suffered Enough. But by the spring of 2017, it was over. He had been running his shelter on a hotel license, but city officials had pulled it. New Life, they said, was letting in hundreds more guests than the 32 allowed. The old building was a mess of code and health violations. It was an unsanitary building, said Slay, who on Friday recalled two people showing him bedbug bites they said they picked up at New Life. A judge rejected a last-ditch attempt to save it on March 31, 2017. The next day, after he and his staff packed up some things to move to another building in Overland, he went around to see the homeless around downtown to say his goodbyes. I had to admit, he later wrote, it was one of the hardest and saddest nights of my life. Jones 2021 campaign for mayor offered some hope. She spoke of a new, more humane approach to homelessness, and said she was open to discussing Rice reopening the Locust building as a daytime refuge. After she took office, her aides talked about setting up intentional encampments with security, services and sanitation that sounded like what Rice had admired in Portland. But when Jones encampment proposal made it to the Board of Aldermen in the summer of 2021, they made execution all but impossible. And in July 2023, a city appeals board featuring multiple Jones appointees rejected another of Rices bids to repair and reopen the Locust building as a so-called day center and church. If Rice wanted to reopen a homeless shelter, they said, he needed to follow city rules and get a majority of voters or property owners within 500 feet to sign a petition allowing it. Given Rices many enemies downtown, and the notorious difficulty of getting people to approve a shelter petition anywhere in the city, it was a de facto ban. The camp at City Hall grows A few weeks later, as he and his staff were handing out bus tickets, Rice met a woman named Mary Carder. She was camping out beneath Jones office window to protest the lack of shelter space for people with dogs. He was impressed. He called a press conference on Aug. 18 to amplify Carders cause. Carder blasted the mayor, and passed out fliers urging people to report the city to the U.S. Department of Justice. And when Carder landed an apartment, Rice found others in the camp to continue the protest. Ericka and William Clay couldnt find shelter space that wouldnt require them to separate. Rice held an impassioned press conference Sept. 13 calling out the city for making it difficult to open new facilities. Its direct discrimination, he said. He also blasted broader society for allowing the situation to continue. The new N-word in America today, he said, is homeless. Meanwhile, word got around town that if you wanted to camp out somewhere without being told to move, City Hall was your best bet. Thats what Gino McCoy and Hadah Moore heard from Rices longtime lieutenant, the Rev. Ray Redlich, when they and their three dogs were kicked out of Lacledes Landing after relocating from Arizona. More followed, and Rice handed out tents to those who asked. He steadfastly denied engineering the stream of newcomers, but he said he had an obligation to help them once they arrived. If people ask me for tents, he said, Im going to do what I can to help them. First, he was buying them from Walmart, where he could get a two-person tent for $30. Then as awareness of the encampment grew, he started getting deliveries from donors: 10 tents. Then 20. People were seeing the need, he said. And over the next two weeks, the camp ballooned to at least 35 tents, covering the grass on both sides of the Market Street doors and becoming a symbol of the citys inability to find shelter for all the homeless in need. The growth dovetailed with trouble, however. City officials grew alarmed by calls about fights, drug use, overdoses and other lawlessness. Efforts to get people into shelter or housing seemed futile as those who left were replaced by new arrivals. Rice said he tried to do something about it last Sunday, by requiring people to start signing covenants agreeing not to use drugs, and to keep the area clean. He had plans to bring in portable showers, too. 22 tents coming on Monday But by then, Jones had had enough. The next day, she called in the police to clear the camp. And Rice found himself outside City Hall that night shouting, lamenting and praying. I was trying to engage in as much ministry as possible, he said, because peoples hearts were broken. It looked like his was, too. At one point, he had to sit down at the nearby bus stop to collect himself. Tears in his eyes, he said he couldnt believe that the city would do what it was doing. Then, something else happened. Alderman Rasheen Aldridge, of downtown, told the administration that he and the crowd resisting the clearing werent moving, and he was able to negotiate a temporary reprieve. Still, tents started coming down in the morning, and were all gone by Tuesday evening. Days later, in an interview on Thursday, Rice said he saw a silver lining: The way activists, Aldridge, and Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier, of Tower Grove East, rallied to resist the camp clearing was like nothing hed ever seen. He was happy to see several people, including the Clays, McCoy and Moore, offered spots in the tiny homes northwest of downtown. And he was cheered by a push at the Board of Aldermen for an Unhoused Bill of Rights. It would, among other things, require the city to offer campers appropriate shelter beds before clearing tents, and to establish city-run encampments with security, services and sanitation for people unready or uninterested in shelter. This is what Ive been wanting to see for almost 40 years now, he said. The bills path through the board is unclear. There are questions about whether it would be workable or pass muster with residents. Jones, who campaigned on passing an unhoused bill of rights, has been publicly noncommittal. Rice said shell have to sign it if it gets through the board, though. Meanwhile, hell be on the streets. Weve got 22 tents coming on Monday, he said. Were not done. Photos: St. Louis City Hall homeless tent camp is gone, residents scattered For all the civic hoopla over bounding growth during the 1870s, it was a time of deep trouble in working-class neighborhoods. A Wall Street financial panic threw people out of work and cut wages. On July 16, 1877, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad a line connecting to St. Louis slashed pay a third time in three years. Crews in Martinsburg, W.Va., refused to move trains. Resistance spread. Strikers were shot down in Reading, Pa., and Cumberland, Md. In East St. Louis, railroad workers moved to halt traffic over the Eads on July 22. The next day, their brethren in St. Louis took over Union Depot on 12th (Tucker) and Poplar streets, the citys main station. Workers in many local industries joined in a wildfire of protest, creating the first and probably largest general strike in the United States. The strike controlled the city for four days until it was snuffed by a counterattack by the upper classes. Somehow, nobody died. For three nights, thousands of strikers attended rallies at the open-air Lucas Market at Olive and 12th streets. It was a fitting location for the citys gaping social divisions. St. Louis rich lived in fine homes to the west on Olive, Pine and Chestnut streets, around Lafayette Park and on tony new Vandeventer Place, near North Grand and Delmar boulevards. They dined at Tony Fausts restaurant, at Broadway and Elm Street. The poor shared woeful conditions in neighborhoods north and south of downtown, running west from the river. A squalid tenement called Castle Thunder was at Eighth and Carr streets, one block northwest of todays Dome at America's Center. Nearby were shabby rows called Clabber Alley and Wildcat Chute. In 1877, less than a fifth of St. Louis workforce wore suits and ties. The rest toiled for 36 railroads, 32 breweries, 28 iron foundries, 26 flour mills, 500 clothing manufacturers and other grimy places. Many worked for less than $1 a day. The first recorded strike in St. Louis was by the Benevolent Society of Journeyman Tailors in 1835. Unions grew during the Civil War but were crippled by the financial Panic of 1873. The high tide of the general strike in 1877 was on July 25, when workers marched through downtown singing the Marseillaise, the anthem of the French Revolution. Police hid behind the walls of the Four Courts Building, at 11th and Clark streets. Nervous business leaders gathered volunteers and guns for a militia. On July 27, more than 600 marched upon strike headquarters in Schulers Hall, at Broadway and Biddle Street. A vanguard of police rushed the building, arresting 75 strikers. The rest fled. Federal troops retook the East St. Louis yards the next day. The strike was broken. Eight months later, leading businessmen founded the Veiled Prophet organization. Riding upon floats bought from Mardi Gras in New Orleans, members rolled their first parade on Oct. 8, 1878. It was a blunt assertion of social hierarchy. That years prophet the only one ever revealed by the secret society was Police Commissioner John G. Priest, who had worked to suppress the strike. Slayback brothers help found Veiled Prophet in year after General Strike Charles and Alonzo Slayback were brothers from New Orleans. Charles was a wealthy grain dealer, Alonzo a lawyer who had been a Confederate officer. They were leading organizers in 1878 of the Mysterious Order of the Veiled Prophet, a secret society of successful men in St. Louis. Their first meeting was in the swank Lindell Hotel, at Sixth Street and Washington Avenue. Charles proposed forming the organization to revive the city's flagging Agricultural and Mechanical Fair, an annual event. Alonzo added the sparkle of a mysterious prophet and a parade for the masses. For high society, they held a formal ball. Alonzo's daughter, Susie, was the first "belle of the ball," forerunner of the annual VP queen. Veiled Prophet: Symbol of wealth, power and, to some, racism 1878 Veiled Prophet 1925 Veiled Prophet 1934 - Veiled Prophet 1938 - Veiled Prophet 1947 Veiled Prophet parade 1948 Veiled Prophet 1948 Veiled Prophet 1949 Veiled Prophet 1950 Veiled Prophet 1950 Veiled Prophet 1950 Veiled Prophet 1959 Veiled Prophet 1963 Veiled Prophet 1969 Activists picket the Veiled Prophet Ball 1972 Veiled Prophet 1974 Veiled Prophet 1975 Veiled Prophet 1976 Veiled Prophet 1976 Veiled Prophet 1997 - Veiled Prophet Dec. 24, 1999: Veiled Prophet Ball Fair St. Louis - VP Parade in Forest Park 2016 parade float Watch now: The controversial history of the Veiled Prophet JUNEAU, Alaska Nearly every Alaskan will receive a $1,312 check starting last week, their annual share from the earnings of the states nest-egg oil fund. Some use the money for extras like tropical vacations, but others particularly in high-cost rural Alaska where jobs and housing are limited rely on it for home heating fuel or snow machines that are critical for transportation. But the unique-to-Alaska benefit has become a blessing and a curse in a state that for decades has ridden the boom-bust cycle of oil, and it now competes for funding with services like public education, health care programs and public safety as lawmakers tap into the earnings to help fund the state budget. Squabbling over the oil checks size has resulted in legislative paralysis, and a Senate proposal aimed at resolving the dividend debate this year fizzled with no agreement. As Alaska struggles to attract workers and stem a years-long trend of people moving away, some residents are wondering how the dividend fits into the future of a state with no personal income tax or statewide sales tax. You cannot grow anything without investing in it and were not investing money in education, our university system, child care. Were not investing in the very core services that are going to help grow our state, said Caroline Storm, who heads an education advocacy group and said her stepchildren left Alaska after high school because they didnt see opportunities for themselves. This year, the state Legislature approved a one-time, $175 million funding boost for schools in response to pleas from administrators who said they were being forced to cut programs or increase class sizes. But Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy cut the funding in half. Senate Majority Leader Cathy Giessel, a Republican who is pushing for a new pension program as a way to retain state workers, said she is conflicted about the dividend. I do understand that there are families that have come to rely on this, and that reliance increased as the size of the dividend increased. This is a tough adjustment in those scenarios, she said. At the same time, if we had a more robust economy and job opportunities with livable wages and ... a pension for public employees, folks wouldnt have to be so reliant on a dividend. Residents have received the check known as the Permanent Fund Dividend, or PFD, since 1982, roughly six years after voters in the early days of oil development in Alaska created the nest-egg Permanent Fund to preserve some of the oil wealth for future generations. The fund is enshrined in the state constitution, which stipulates that at least 25% of mineral lease rentals, royalties and other income related to oil and mineral development go into the fund. The funds principal is constitutionally protected but its earnings are spendable. The dividend is not in the constitution. Retailers such as furniture chain La-Z-Boy and Alaska Airlines run sales to coincide with the cash distribution, which begins this week with direct deposits. The average check over the programs 42-year history is about $1,200. Cynthia Erickson, who lives in the interior village of Tanana, about 130 miles west of Fairbanks, said this years $1,312 wont stretch far in the community of about 220 people where goods must be brought in by plane or barge. Gas is $7.79 a gallon and the collapse of salmon fisheries and a poor moose hunting season has meant that locals freezers arent full heading into winter. But the check is better than nothing, said Erickson, who runs the town general store and a bed and breakfast. For many in the region, the money helps pay bills, like fuel or electricity, or buy groceries, she said. As lawmakers weigh the dividends future, Erickson favors something thats reasonable, not too small and not too big. We dont want too big to wipe it out. We want to make it consistent to where itll last longer, and a fair amount. Anything were happy for, anything helps. The battle over the dividend has been years in the making. For years, until 2015, the amount of investment earnings allocated to dividends was based on a rolling average of the funds performance, and the announcement of the yearly amount often was aired on live TV. That year, the dividend was $2,072, the highest to that point. But it dropped by roughly half the following year when then-Gov. Bill Walker, an independent, slashed the amount available for dividends amid persistently low oil prices and large budget deficits. The state Supreme Court upheld his action, saying the dividend program must compete for funds like any other state program. Lawmakers then began dipping into the oil funds earnings to help pay for government services when they couldnt agree on new taxes and were blowing through savings. They capped the amount that could be withdrawn but failed to agree on a new formula for dividing it between dividend checks and government services. The result today is a dividend amount that gets decided from year to year by lawmakers with competing interests, all based on what can garner enough votes to get a budget passed. Last year, an election year, Alaskans each received a dividend and special energy relief check totaling $3,284 more than $13,000 for a family of four. The total cost of $2 billion was more than the $1.3 billion in K-12 support to school districts as Russias invasion of Ukraine sent oil prices soaring, reducing pressure on lawmakers to come up with a fiscal plan. Moderating oil prices and lower revenue projections led to lower dividends this fall but lawmakers promised a bonus check of up to $500 next year if oil prices exceed forecasts. The Senate-advanced proposal this year called for designating 75% of oil fund earnings draws to government and 25% to dividend checks, and bumping that to a 50/50 split if Alaska generated an additional $1.3 billion in new recurring revenue and hit a savings target. Tax options include a sales tax, an income tax or increasing taxes on industries like oil, the states bread-and-butter resource. Crabs are disappearing from the Bering Sea. Scientists are trying to learn why TOLEDO, Ohio When Rhonda Naus got a job inspecting Jeep Wranglers fresh off the assembly line, her paycheck added up to roughly half of what her co-workers were making. But with that came an expectation that her temporary status eventually would become permanent with a big jump in wages. Six years later, shes still doing the same work as her colleagues at Stellantis and still making a lot less. I knew I had to start at the bottom. I didnt think Id be at the bottom forever, said Naus, whos among thousands of striking United Auto Workers nationwide pushing for pay and benefit increases along with an end to multiple tiers of wages for workers across the companies. From office workers to delivery drivers, companies have become increasingly reliant on temporary workers. Automakers have used the lower-paid workers for years to fill in for absent and vacationing full-time employees and to staff up when production increases. Tiers for the Detroit automakers were created starting in 2007 as the UAW tried to help them out of serious financial troubles. Even so, GM and Chrysler ended up in government-funded bankruptcies. Today, union leaders say the Detroit automakers are abusing the system to save money by treating temps like full-time workers one major point of contention in current contract talks that has led to more than 25,000 auto workers going on strike. Temp work has to be temporary work, said UAW President Shawn Fain weeks before the strike began. Were going to end the abuse of temps. The union is also asking for pay raises as part of the contract talks, as well as a 32-hour week with 40 hours of pay, the restoration of traditional defined-benefit pensions for new hires and a return of cost-of-living pay raises, among other benefits. Under contracts negotiated in 2019, temporary workers reach full-time status at GM after 19 months of continuous employment and at Ford after two years. At Stellantis, maker of Jeeps, Rams and Chryslers, they get preferential hiring but no guarantees. In the current negotiations, GM and Stellantis made offers to increase temporary worker starting pay from $16.67 to about $20 per hour. Ford raised its offer to $21 per hour with profit sharing and said it would make temporaries full-time workers after 90 days of continuous service. Once temporary workers become full time, they start on a higher pay scale that eventually would reach the top assembly plant wage of $32 per hour. Of the Detroit Three, Stellantis relies most heavily on temporary employees, who make up about 12% of its UAW workforce, or just over 5,100 employees. GM said its temporary workforce accounts for between 5-10% of its total union members while Ford is at about 3%. Temps also known as supplemental employees account for about one in every five of the 5,800 unionized workers at the Stellantis plant that makes Jeeps. You can be here 10 years and still not be full time. Thats crazy, said Logan Bohn, of Woodhaven, Michigan, who has worked at the plant in Toledo for two years. Starting pay for Stellantis temporary workers is $15.78 per hour less than some fast food restaurants and caps out at $19.28 after four years. Neither Ford nor GM would comment on Fains assertion that the companies are paying poverty wages to temps. A Stellantis spokeswoman noted that the company has said it wants an agreement that fairly rewards our workforce for their contribution to our success, without significantly disadvantaging Stellantis against our nonunion competitors. The UAWs effort to eliminate tier wages was emboldened this summer when UPS agreed to end the system for its drivers in a new contract with the Teamsters. Along the picket lines outside the auto plants, even workers who wouldnt directly benefit from ending the tier-wage system say its a top issue for them. Jennifer Navarre, a full-timer on the Jeep assembly line in Toledo, Ohio, said its an unfair arrangement. We have to fight together, she said. Its not just the wages that are unequal for temporary workers. They have less health care benefits and dont get profit sharing checks or other performance bonuses. They also must deal with unpredictable schedules and can be told to work overtime when others are allowed to go home. Some weeks youre working six or seven days, then a few weeks later, its boom, We dont need you here or We only need you on Monday, Naus said. Workers in Toledo say theres high turnover among temporary workers and that many left when Amazon opened a nearby distribution center and after a solar panel plant expanded its operations. Courtney Torres, who has four children at home, said she lives paycheck to paycheck while working six days a week. I just get health care and hope, she said. The hope, she said, is that the new contract will give her and the others a direct route to full-time employment. I want a career, I want to be some place, I want to be able to take a vacation, take my kids on vacation, she said. Honestly, if they dont give us a clear path, I dont plan on staying. Im struggling to keep up. These industries had the biggest swings in job openings #17. Information #16. Real estate and rental and leasing #15. Manufacturing #14. Mining and logging #13. Professional and business services #12. Retail trade #11. Accommodation and food services #10. State and local education #9. Wholesale trade #8. Construction #7. Health care and social assistance #6. State and local government #5. Educational services #4. Transportation, warehousing, and utilities #3. Finance and insurance #2. Federal government #1. Arts, entertainment, and recreation WASHINGTON Kevin McCarthy spent years raising mountains of Republican campaign cash, flying around the country to recruit top candidates in key districts and painstakingly building political relationships as he worked his way toward becoming speaker of the House. Now that hes been ousted from the post after less than nine months, some in the GOP are wondering if anyone can take his place as a fundraising dynamo and party builder. The House isnt scheduled to vote on who could replace McCarthy until at least next week with all legislative work suspended as the chamber navigates a situation never before seen in the nations history. In the meantime, House Republicans have no clear leader heading into next year's election as they cling to a razor-thin majority. Nobody can raise money like him, said Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D. And no matter who is the next speaker of the House, none of them can do what Kevin McCarthy did. The National Republican Congressional Committee, the GOPs House campaign arm, postponed its upcoming fall gala in Dallas that McCarthy was supposed to headline. The committee said McCarthy helped it raise more than $40 million during the last election cycle and more than $20 million so far this cycle. The totals were even higher for a McCarthy-aligned super PAC, the Congressional Leadership Fund, which said that it and its associated nonprofits had raised about $645 million under McCarthy. That included about $215 million for the 2020 election, roughly $350 million during last years midterm races and around $80 million so far this cycle. The leadership fund will shift its alignment to follow the new House speaker once one is elected. Paul Ryan replaced fellow Republican John Boehner in 2015. The GOP retained House control the following year when Donald Trump was elected president. Speaker McCarthy has fundamentally altered House elections for Republicans through his recruitment efforts, his unmatched fundraising prowess, and his ability to inspire and generate confidence among donors, Congressional Leadership Fund President Dan Conston said in a statement. While this is an obvious loss for the House, CLF remains laser-focused on our mission of holding radical Democrats accountable, protecting our vulnerable incumbents, and expanding the House Republican majority. As speaker and in his prior years leading the Republicans in the minority, McCarthy was viewed by many as less of a legislator and more of a political tactician who found strong Republican candidates and raised enough money to get them elected and to bolster the national party. McCarthy visiting a district could often be a major draw, juicing fundraiser proceeds, though thats a role any new House speaker can grow into. A bigger test for the next speaker is whether they will be able to raise the same kind of sums as McCarthy for the partys outside groups, which every year pour millions of dollars into advertising in key races, unburdened by contribution limits for individual campaigns. Thats where McCarthy has crushed it, said Cam Savage, a longtime Republican strategist who works on House races. He did the heavy lifting for the Congressional Leadership Fund. During the 2022 midterms, Republicans underperformed national expectations and eked out a House majority so narrow that McCarthy needed an unprecedented 15 rounds of voting to claim the speakership in January. McCarthy had to remain close to Trump, who is now the front-runner in the partys 2024 primary, and balance the interests of moderates and hard-right members alike. He ultimately couldn't. The revolt against him featured eight Republicans teaming with House Democrats to vote McCarthy out of the speakership. Ironically, McCarthy had campaigned for some of those who eventually helped strip him of the post hed worked so long to obtain. A lot of them, I helped get elected, so I probably should have picked somebody else, McCarthy joked at a news conference after being forced out. He may still prove a force in 2024 races. McCarthy has so far suggested that hell continue to bolster the GOP nationally, saying, My goals have not changed, my ability to fight is just in a different form. I intend to make sure that we gain and keep the majority in the next cycle as well, he said. Holding the House already looked tough since the current majority includes 18 GOP members representing districts that Joe Biden won in 2020. Especially critical could be Republican-held districts in McCarthys native California, which Democrats were already targeting and could get even more competitive without the clout that comes with the state having one of its own as speaker. After this weeks chaotic episode, House Republicans have basically upgraded to a Disney fast-pass in their never-ending roller coaster ride to the radical right, said Viet Shelton, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the partys House campaign arm. These 8 Republicans stood apart to remove Kevin McCarthy as House speaker Rep. Andy Biggs Rep. Ken Buck Rep. Tim Burchett Rep. Eli Crane Rep. Matt Gaetz Rep. Bob Good Rep. Nancy Mace Rep. Matt Rosendale BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- China is deeply concerned over the current escalation of tensions and violence between Palestine and Israel, and calls on relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians and avoid further deterioration of the situation, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Sunday. The spokesperson made the remarks in response to the fierce conflicts between Israel and Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip that have caused massive casualties on both sides. The spokesperson said the recurrence of the conflict shows once again that the protracted standstill of the peace process cannot last. The fundamental way out of the conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent State of Palestine. The spokesperson said the international community needs to act with greater urgency, step up input into the Palestine question, facilitate the early resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel, and find a way to bring about enduring peace. China will continue to work relentlessly with the international community towards that end, the spokesperson added. SAN MIGUEL DE LOS JAGUEYEZ, Mexico In the middle of a military base outside Mexico City, an army colonel runs what he calls a kindergarten for dogs. Puppies that one day will become rescue dogs, or sniffer dogs for drugs or explosives, get their basic training here, at Mexicos Army and Air Force Canine Production Center. The puppies are born and spend their first four months at the facility, before being sent to military units around the country for more specialized training. Founded in 1998, the center has in the past produced breeds such as German Shepherds and Rottweilers. Now, it exclusively breeds Belgian Malinois about 300 of them a year. Its a very intelligent dog, its a dog with a lot of hardiness, very resistant to diseases, said Col. Alejandro Camacho Ibarra, a veterinarian and the centers director. It is the Mexican militarys only such production facility, and Camacho said it may be the largest in Latin America. The mainly green-and-white, one-story buildings look like any others at the military camp in the State of Mexico, near Mexico City. But the difference here is in the sounds that fill the air: high-pitch barking from dozens of puppies scattered through its maternities and training camps. Precautions here are strict because of a recent canine parvovirus outbreak that sickened some of the puppies. Visitors are disinfected with a spray, and must step into a watery solution to clean shoe soles. Only military personnel can touch the puppies. If you want to get close, you need to wear scrubs, shoe protectors and a mask, but you still cannot hold or pet the animals. The training starts early in life, about a month after birth once the weaning process finishes. And everything is taught as a game. We start playing with the dog, Camacho said. The idea is to draw them to items that trainers call attractors like a ball or a rag and puppies are challenged to catch them. Every time it holds his prey, its rewarded, congratulated, and it learns to go after that prey, after that attractor, Camacho added. Unlike in civilian life, where puppies often get food treats, in the military the only prize for a job well done is a caress and some praise. In one section of the camp, theres a trail with obstacles including rocks, a tunnel, a section of empty plastic bottles to clamber over, a ladder and tires. A soldier beckons the little dogs with a rag they must capture. The brown puppies with black snouts begin running through the trail, jumping over the rocks and crossing the obstacles. One takes the lead and the second struggles to cross over the plastic bottles, but also finishes. Both go to bite the rag the soldier holds. Very, very good, sons! Very good, boys, he repeats while dragging the puppies as they maintain their grasp on the rag for several moments. Camacho explains that the puppies are known by a number until they are 3 months old, when they are given a proper name. Each year, the center gives names according to a single letter of the alphabet. In 2023, that letter is F. Febo, Frodo, Fosil, Forraje and Fido are some of this years names. The basic training ends when the puppies are 4 months old. Then, they move to other military units to become specialists in detection of drugs or explosive, in search and rescue or in protection and security. The current government of Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has relied heavily on the armed forces for various initiatives, from public safety to the building of airports and a tourist train line. And K-9 units have been a key element of some of the militarys activities, like the detection of drugs. Col. Camacho said that some dogs born at the center have been trained to detect fentanyl, a synthetic opioid trafficked by Mexican cartels that has been blamed for about 70,000 overdose deaths per year in the United States. That kind of specialized training happens elsewhere, but the colonel says it builds on his center's basic training by using attractor objects but having them impregnated with the scent of what the dogs need to track, such as a drug. Dogs retire from their military service after eight years, Camacho says. Many of the dogs have become unsung heroes of missions in Mexico and abroad. Occasionally they become publicly known, like a German Shepherd named Proteo that was part of a rescue team sent in February to Turkey after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that killed more than 40,000 people. Proteo died during the search for survivors of the quake. A statue of him now stands at the center. Another dog that made headlines in Mexico and abroad was a yellow Labrador retriever rescue dog named Frida. The Navy dog gained fame in the days following Mexicos Sept. 19, 2017, earthquake that left more than 300 dead in the capital. She retired in 2019 and died in 2022. Col. Camacho said that the dogs have a symbiotic relationship with their handlers during their working life in the military. The dog uses us to survive, but we also use the dog to do a job, he said. So its a coordinated work where we both get a benefit." 25 adorable dog photos for National Puppy Day Dachshund puppy New Zealand tiny puppy Puppies Miniature Schnauzer Boy and puppy Golden retriever puppies Tiny puppy Puppy Bowl Iraq puppy Puppies Five Legged Puppy Puppy ride Guess Labrador retriever French bulldog Labrador puppies Chocolate lab puppy Puppy Golden retriever puppies Coonhound puppy Puppy Puppies Shetland sheepdog Iraq puppy Petula There is a fight, albeit weak one, taking place within the Republican Party between conservatism and populism. That dividing line between the two ideologies may be drawn around our national defense. Recently former Vice President Mike Pence, a candidate for the GOP nomination, gave a speech at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College titled Populism vs. Conservatism: Republicans Time for Choosing. In his speech, Pence asked of his fellow Republicans: In the days to come, will we be the party of conservatism, or will our party follow the siren song of populism unmoored to conservative principles? Pence reminded Republicans of the pillars of American conservatism: limited government, individual liberty, strong national defense, championing traditional values, honoring the Constitution, and maintaining American leadership on the world stage. Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley recently referred to himself to The Washington Examiner as a conservative populist. I guess as a way to have it both ways. While Hawley may be able to combine the two words together to describe himself, his behavior shows he prefers one to the other. Political scientists describe populism as the idea that society is separated into two groups: the people versus the elites. Illiberal populist leaders attempt to stir up resentment and anger within populist movements and direct that animosity towards our institutions. Many of Americas populist elected officials have begun taking their antagonism out on the institution of our military. On Sept. 20, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, used a procedural maneuver to tee up votes on the nominations of Gen. Charles C.Q. Brown Jr. to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This vote came after Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville started blocking high-ranking military confirmations seven months ago as a protest to Defense Department abortion policies. According to the U.S. Department of Defense website and statements made by Sec. of Defense Lloyd Austin, the hold on the 301 general and flag officer nominations risked our national security, military readiness, and caused uncertainty within the force. Once the vote was initiated, the Senate voted overwhelmingly 83-11 in a bipartisan fashion, to confirm Brown. Two of those eleven Nay votes came from Missouris own senators. Hawleys office did not respond to my request for comment on why the senator voted no. Sen. Eric Schmitts office responded by directing me to the senators questioning of Brown during an Armed Services Committee hearing in July which captured the concerns that Senator Schmitt had about his nomination. Schmitts line of questioning surrounded culture war concerns around race-based politics, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) training, and COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Both of Missouris senators also oppose continued funding for Ukraine. Schmitts office did not respond to my request for comment on Ukraine funding. Hawley told reporters that Russia is a problem for us, but China is our number-one foreign policy threat. While foreign policy experts may agree with Hawley on the threat that China plays, a retreat in the U.S. s support of Ukraine would surely signal to China a weakness on our part. If you dont believe me, listen to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnells words from the Senate floor: Helping Ukraine retake its territory means weakening weakening one of Americas biggest strategic adversaries without firing a shot. This type of isolationism and injection of culture war grievances into our non-partisan military is not conservative. There has always been some element of populism in American conservatism, but it was always controlled by the political establishment. That is no longer the case. Pence made the case when he told Republican voters they face a choice which will determine both the fate of our party and the course of our nation. He said, The future of this movement, of this great party, belongs to one or the other not both. That is because the fundamental divide between these two factions is unbridgeable. Many will say that the choice that Pence has laid has already been made. That may be true, but as St. Louis own Yogi Berra said, It aint over til its over. As a traditional conservative, I will continue to fight for those principles and values that I hold dear. And since we are discussing vernacular, my populist critics would call me a RINO (Republican in Name Only). If being RINO means I support our military and support American geopolitical leadership, then I wear that name only proudly. While Republican voters are in the midst of choosing during the run up to the Republican primaries, they should understand the difference between conservatism and populism and what that actually looks like. Populist Republicans like Hawley and Schmitt may want to have both, but their actions with regards to supporting the military and our national security speak louder than words. Lynn Schmidt is a Post-Dispatch columnist and Editorial Board member. lynnschmidtrn@outlook.com. Last weeks drama surrounding the now-dismantled homeless encampment on the north lawn of City Hall was the ultimate case of a metaphorical cliche come to life: An issue that St. Louis leaders have long failed to adequately address was literally laid at their doorstep. In the short term, the showdown spurred Mayor Tishaura Jones administration to action, with the hasty relocation of dozens of homeless people to shelters and the fencing off of the City Hall grounds. It has also further exposed the growing political fault lines between Jones and some of the far-left activists who helped get her elected. One of them, Aldermanic President Megan Green, continues to pursue an ill-advised effort to yank all local control away from neighborhoods when siting homeless shelters an effort that, unfortunately, appears to have been emboldened by last weeks tent-city showdown. What that showdown apparently hasnt done (but should) is prompt a conversation about fundamentally changing the way St. Louis handles its homeless problem. Pushing the unhoused en masse from one location to another, in and out of temporary shelters, clearly isnt addressing the underlying issues. Greens plan wont, either. Instead, St. Louis leaders should be looking to the success stories of some other cities that have actually begun solving the base problems in creative ways, instead of treating the whole topic as an endless cycle of crisis management. The handful of tents that began popping up on the grass and sidewalks outside City Hall building earlier this summer, within sight of Jones office, totaled several dozen by early last week. It brought with it some of the familiar problems associated with homeless encampments: unsanitary conditions, panhandling, open drug use, fighting, frequent calls for police and paramedics. After weeks of inaction, Jones administration finally moved Monday to clear them out though with the strange decision to do it late at night. Protesters resisted, including top aides to Green and other progressives on the Board of Aldermen. So the city backed off. In the light of day Tuesday, more than 30 people still at the encampment were finally moved to shelters and other locations and the tents were removed. Homeless activists allege Jones action was driven by the fact that the Democratic National Committees fall meeting was being conducted in downtown St. Louis later in the week, including Vice President Kamala Harris speech Friday night. Jones staff denies that was her motivation though its arguably a valid one. St. Louis has enough image problems without the national media seizing on the irresistible optics of a homeless tent city on the front stoop of a Democratic City Hall even as national Democrats convene just blocks away. Green and her far-left allies apparently dont agree, having taken the mind-boggling stance that clearing out the encampment was unnecessary. Some of them are arguing that the showdown proves the need to support the pending city legislation that would deprive neighborhoods of any control whatsoever in the siting of homeless shelters in their midst. But this single-minded focus on establishing more shelter beds (in this case, with a plan guaranteed to further fuel the exodus of St. Louis homeowners from the city) fails to consider better strategies that other cities have pursued. Their experiences highlight some things St. Louis could be doing to go beyond merely treating the symptoms of the homeless crisis. Rockford, Illinois, has demonstrated the importance of knowing as much granular detail as possible about the local unhoused population. The city compiled a by-name list of chronically homeless people within its boundaries, with details about their circumstances which of them need mental health services, which have drug issues, which have pets that complicate their search for a home, which have family support networks and which dont. Outreach workers talk with each of them about the specific hurdles to getting housed. By dealing with people as individuals, with individual housing issues, instead of trying to serve a broadly anonymous group generically called the homeless, Rockford has been able to reduce its once-daunting homeless problem to almost functional zero meaning, instances of homelessness are brief, non-recurring and easily handled with existing city resources. Among the data that would be helpful is to know where St. Louis citys unhoused are all from since its clear theyre not all from St. Louis. For years, city officials and homeless advocates have said that St. Louis County and other surrounding communities have, wittingly or not, exported their own homelessness issues into St. Louis city. Its important to understand that homelessness is a regional issue, even if the unhoused themselves end up concentrated in urban centers like St. Louis. Suburban communities must be convinced that this is their fight, too, even if they dont see it on their own streets every day. Its in their interest to work with the city to provide funding and resources for homeless services and housing. A collaborative effort between Bakersfield, California, and surrounding Kern County, for example, has resulted in a dramatic reduction in chronic homelessness in both. Another success story in reducing homelessness Houston, Texas has done it by pursuing what might initially sound like a counterproductive strategy. Its called housing first: Instead of transitioning the homeless from the streets to shelters to, eventually, permanent housing, the city attempts permanent housing immediately, working directly with landlords to get the unhoused housed. To overcome obstacles that arise with people who have had problems with landlords before, local governments like the aforementioned Kern County, California, have used what is called a master lease, in which the government contracts directly with private landlords, then sublets the units to homeless people and covers the liability for any damages. The idea is that the residents will eventually take over their leases themselves. None of this would be cheap, of course. But Jones administration says it has already spent some $20 million in federal funds addressing homelessness in St. Louis a figure that, depending on how the unhoused are counted, could translate into something between $10,000 and more than $20,000 per homeless person in the city. Instead of continuing to throw that kind of money at strategies that clearly arent working, how about looking at other ideas that have? Legislation makes it illegal for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to siphon money away from safety net providers and health care services intended for low-income Californians LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) thanked California Governor Gavin Newsom for signing SB 786, a bill which will make it illegal for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to discriminate against 340B Drug Pricing Program participants. AHF also thanked Senator Anthony Portantino (D-Burbank), who authored and successfully carried the bill. The legislation, which will now protect thousands of organizations serving low-income Californians across the state, cleared the California State Senate with unanimous support in early September. PBMs should not be allowed to steal the savings intended for safety net providers for themselves. SB 786 effectively stops pharmacy benefit managers from being able to pickpocket safety net providers, said Michael Weinstein, founder and president of AHF. Reining in PBM abuse remains a nonpartisan issue which continues to pick up steam nationwide. We thank Senator Portantino for authoring and carrying this bill and Governor Newsom for signing it. AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the worlds largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, provides cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than 1.9 million individuals across 45 countries, including the U.S. and in Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, visit us online at AIDShealth.org, find us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, and subscribe to our AHFter Hours podcast. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231008774838/en/ Ged Kenslea, Senior Director, Communications, AHF +1.323.791.5526 mobile [email protected] Source: AIDS Healthcare Foundation Singapore, Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2023) - BMTC today announces the release of a proprietary bridge technology enabling the integration of the forex trading software MT4 with the leading digital assets trading platform OKX, making crypto trading more accessible to non crypto-native traders. For many years, MT4 software has been a prominent tool in forex trading. Its user-friendly interface and stability made it a preferred choice for numerous traders worldwide. However, with the growth of cryptocurrency trading, certain limitations became evident. Traders using MT4 for cryptocurrency trading sometimes face limited liquidity, marked by wide spreads and a 5-day trading window each week. BMTC's new bridge technology addresses these challenges. It connects MT4 software directly to the OKX exchange, providing traders with improved access to the cryptocurrency market's liquidity conditions. With this integration, traders' funds stay securely in their OKX accounts, allowing them to monitor their fund status and transaction history while utilizing the full range of MT4 software features. This also encompasses the Expert Advisor (EA) function for automated trading, which can enhance trading effectiveness. OKX Global Chief Commercial Officer, Lennix Lai, said: "I believe the bridging technology developed by BMTC, which integrates OKX with the MT4 trading software, is particularly promising given the technical similarities between forex and crypto trading. This innovative approach can serve as a conduit between traditional and crypto trading realms. As a result, it stands to unlock many opportunities for traditional traders eager to explore crypto trading." Alongside its advanced technology, BMTC is set to launch the first BTC/USDT perpetual contract scalping contest on the MT4 platform in Asia. This contest aims to encourage competition among traders, focusing on trading volume and scalping techniques, elements that might differ from traditional forex broker standards. This contest represents a significant step in integrating the established structure of traditional forex trading with the growing domain of cryptocurrency trading. With this initiative, BMTC demonstrates its commitment to bridging the gap between traditional and crypto markets, providing a comprehensive platform for traders to operate within this dynamic trading environment. About BMTC BMTC is the trade name of Bridge Markets, a Crypto Assets Services Provider registered with the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). The company is committed to adhering to the highest standards of compliance and refrains from conducting business with individuals or entities associated with the United States, Russia, Iran, Syria, North Korea, and Cuba. Disclaimer This announcement is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide any investment, tax, or legal advice, nor should it be considered an offer to purchase, sell, or hold digital assets. Digital assets, including stablecoins, involve a high degree of risk, can fluctuate greatly, and can even become worthless. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding digital assets is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. Please consult your legal/tax/investment professional for questions about your specific circumstances. For Media Inquiries Robert Vickery Email: [email protected] Website: https://bmtc.io/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183302 Paid press release content from Reportable. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. Sacramento, October 7, 2023: The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) welcomes California Governor Gavin Newsoms veto of SB403. He called it unnecessary and we agree To view the full announcement, including downloadable images, bios, and more, click here. Click image above to view full announcement. Source: CoHNA Distributed by: Reportable, Inc. NEW DELHI , Oct. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Arctech, the world's leading solar tracking and racking solution provider, attended the Renewable Energy India Expo 2023 (REI Expo) in New Delhi . The expo is the largest international renewable energy professional exhibition in South Asia, spanning three days. At the exhibition, the solar tracking system SkyLine II, as a star product launched by Arctech was grandly unveiled. SkyLine II is a flagship product with a peculiar edge in the Indian market. The first 1P (one-in-portrait) tracker designed with a synchronous multi-point drive mechanism enables a new possibility of designing the plant using trackers with identical pile configurations, overcoming the uncertainty faced in the early stage of plant design and construction. The synchronous multi-point drive mechanism technology rigidifies the tracker to the point of enabling 0deg wind stow mode, hence reducing the difference of wind pressure and post loads between the exterior and interior of the PV plant. By doing so, Skyline II enables a new possibility of designing the plant using trackers with identical pile configurations, overcoming the uncertainty faced in the early stage of plant design and construction. DEEPLY CULTIVATE THE INDIA MARKET FOR 7 YEARS The company's journey in India began in 2015, and it completed remarkable accomplishments, most notably the successful completion of numerous Giga projects. Notable among these were the awe-inspiring 1.7GW project in 2020 and the monumental 2.8GW project in 2022. According to 2022 India PV Tracker Market Shares from Wood Mackenzie , Arctech firmly ranks among the Top 3 in the India market. "Arctech has been illuminating India for the past seven remarkable years, driven by a vision to harness the power of the sun and provide innovative solutions that contribute to a greener and cleaner India ," said Gail Chen , CEO of Arctech India and Jash Energy. "Over the years, we have witnessed the remarkable growth and transformation of the solar energy industry in India , and Arctech has been at the forefront of this revolution. In this year's REI, Arctech once again showcased its advanced solar tracking technology SkyLine II, attracting lots of visitors, clients, and friends. REI also provides us with a good opportunity to engage with clients, friends, partners, and industry players, we expect to see you again next year!" REALIZING LOCALIZED PRODUCTION IN INDIA Arctech's unwavering commitment to localized production in India was showcased through the operational excellence of its joint venture factory, Jash Energy, which, since its inception in August 2022 , has boasted an astounding annual capacity of 3GW. Gail also placed particular emphasis on the company's unwavering customer-centric approach, which has been instrumental in driving increased energy generation, facilitating a substantial reduction in carbon emissions, and fostering job creation throughout India . Arctech's cutting-edge solar tracking solutions have played an instrumental role in spearheading the nation's transition towards widespread adoption of clean and sustainable energy. In response to the dynamic changes within policy frameworks, Arctech proactively established a joint venture factory exclusively dedicated to solar trackers within India , aligning seamlessly with the production-linked incentive scheme (PLI). ABOUT ARCTECH Arctech (SSE-STAR: 688408) is a leading manufacturer and supplier of intelligent solar trackers, fixed-tilt structures and BIPV systems for utility-scale and commercial solar PV projects worldwide. As of June 2023 , Arctech has supplied over 55GW of tracking and racking systems to nearly 1,500 PV plants in 40 countries, thanks to its extensive marketing networks with offices in China , Japan , India , the U.S. , Spain , Australia , UAE , Mexico , Chile , Brazil , Vietnam , Colombia and Argentina . Learn more at https://www.arctechsolar.us/ View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/arctech-showcases-stellar-solar-tracker-products-at-rei-expo-2023-301950167.html SOURCE Arctech MEDELLIN, Colombia , Oct. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TerraPay, a leading global payments network and Bancolombia, Colombia's largest player of remittances announced the signing of their contract. As part of their collective commitment to enhance financial inclusion, the two companies will enable seamless cross-border transfers, connecting Colombians living away from home with secure, innovative, real-time solutions to send funds to their loved ones in Colombia . TerraPay's reach and agile infrastructure, connecting 100 remittance companies in the world, enabling the flow of payments between 200+ send countries and 120+ receive countries, is set to strengthen the domestic remittance market. At the same time, leveraging TerraPay's innovative payment solutions will enhance Bancolombia's capabilities & reach exponentially, keeping in mind that today it has agreements with 17 remittance companies, with a scope of 125 sending countries. "It is not a minor figure: thanks to these agreements, Bancolombia is positioned as the largest payer of remittances in Colombia . In 2022 alone, of the USD 9,429 million that arrived in the country, the entity paid USD 5,692 . This new agreement with TerraPay will multiply these flows, especially with an ally capable of innovating with its solutions and infrastructure," says Cristina Arrastia, Vice President of Business at Bancolombia. However, she adds, "Beyond the growth in the way of receiving money, the greatest impact will be on people, especially those Colombians who have a family member abroad, from whom they receive resources for their sustenance in Colombia . Colombians themselves in other countries will also benefit due to the number of channels they will have available to move money to the country." It is expected that this new alliance between Bancolombia and TerraPay will maximize the entry of money into the country from the United States , England , Spain and other countries in Europe . Also from various nations in Asia and Africa . Paula Andrea Valle , Director - South America , TerraPay said, "The agreement between the two companies is extremely important. Bancolombia currently has the largest share of the remittance market, which for us means reaching this market the right way with the right partner. The arrival of TerraPay in the country represents ease and effectiveness in the flow of resources globally. TerraPay is the only payments network to have 29 licenses and regulatory approvals globally, along with real-time transaction and risk monitoring capabilities, allowing us to ensure 100% compliance." Today, TerraPay powers the frictionless global movement of money in more than 7.5 billion bank accounts, through more than 2.1 billion mobile wallets, while ensuring that over 97% of its transactions are delivered in less than a minute. "The impact of his delivery promise would undoubtedly increase the level of satisfaction of Colombians, especially those who have an account in Bancolombia and need this service," concludes Cristina Arrastia, who recalls that, according to studies developed by Bancolombia, 36% of the resources that arrive from abroad are used in the country to sustain households, while 13% is directed to the payment of obligations, 7% to expenses in health and well-being, 6% to fashion, 5% to food, and 6% to travel and transport. About TerraPay TerraPay simplifies the movement of money everywhere providing a single connection to the most expansive cross-border payments network regulated in 29 global markets and enabling payments to 120+ receive countries, 210+ send countries, 7.5Bn+ bank accounts and 2.1Bn+ mobile wallets. TerraPay is on a mission to connect a borderless financial world, making moving money everywhere instant, reliable, transparent and fully compliant. TerraPay pushes the boundaries for global businesses ranging from banks, fintechs and money-transfer operators to travel businesses, creator economy platforms and e-commerce marketplaces while driving financial inclusion in even the most inaccessible markets. Founded in 2014, TerraPay is headquartered in London , with global offices in Dubai , Miami , Bogota , Dakar , Joburg, Nairobi , Milan , Singapore and is expanding rapidly, having received funding from leading investors, including the IFC (the World Bank), Prime Ventures, Partech Africa and Visa. About Bancolombia Bancolombia is a financial group with 148 years of history, and with presence in Colombia and Central America . It offers its portfolio of financial and non-financial products and services to more than 29 million customers. It provides, among others, commercial and consumer banking services, stock brokerage, financial leasing, factoring, fiduciary services, asset management, private banking and investment banking. It has declared to promote sustainable development to achieve the well-being of all, seeking to impact the communities of the countries in which it operates. Contact Juveria Samrin [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1222771/TerraPay_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bancolombia-and-terrapay-sign-contract-to-strengthen-cross-border-remittances-across-colombia-301950243.html SOURCE TerraPay Israel's largest provider of humanitarian aid prepares for influx of needs as Israel declares war on terrorist group JERUSALEM , Oct. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In the hours following the massive and vicious attacks by Hamas terrorists on southern Israel in the early hours of Saturday morning October 7 , the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) began planning its humanitarian aid response efforts as the IDF carries out Operation Swords of Iron, its retaliatory strikes in the Gaza Strip . More than 2,000 rockets were fired at Israel and hundreds of people were killed during the first day of conflict, with thousands more reported wounded and/or kidnapped. The attacks, which happened by land, air, and sea, took the country by surprise as they came during Shabbat (the Sabbath), and at the end of the Sukkot holidayspecifically, on the observance of Simchat Torahare something the Fellowship has been preparing for by working closely with its partners on the ground, given recent tensions throughout the country with Hamas and Hezbollah. Yael Eckstein , President and CEO of The Fellowship, said, "This is Israel's 9/11. We still don't know everything that is going on or the extent, but we know it is unprecedented. This was a shock to all of us in Israel . It raises disturbing memories of the Yom Kippur War, which started on almost this exact date 50 years ago. "Right now, we are looking at what will happen in the north, as Hezbollah engages with artillery and rocket fire with Israel forces. How much this will escalate could magnify the crisis to an even greater degree." Bishop Paul Francis Lanier , U.S. Board Chairman of the Fellowship, also condemned the attacks, saying, "The Fellowship has watched in horror and outrage at the unconscionable violation of Israeli sovereignty, as Hamas invaded sacred space, murdered innocent lives, assaulted families, and kidnapped Jewish people, all within the shadow of the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur war. As then, Israel will prevail, as this ministry provides 'boots on the ground' of help, healing, and hope." Despite challenges communicating with security officials in the south due to the active fighting, The Fellowship is supporting evacuees from Gaza , as well as local municipalities and first responders in need of simple basic tools like flak jackets and flashlights. The Fellowship has also set up an Emergency Response Center in Ramle, Israel where families who are looking to locate missing loved ones can meet to work with local authorities. Additionally, on Sunday morning, The Fellowship distributed hundreds of hot meals to soldiers along the northern border, via Beit Batia soup kitchen and the fortified vehicle donated by the Fellowship in recent months. The organization expects to begin receiving a large volume of requests for aid in the south in the coming days, and has systems in place to quickly and efficiently respond to those requests. The organization will focus its efforts on assistance for evacuees in southern towns, assisting first responders and local volunteers throughout the region via medical kits and mental health/trauma support, as well as supporting beneficiaries of Fellowship programs. Yael Eckstein added, "In less than 24 hours, our team on the ground conducted immediate assessments of incoming needs, and are already distributing aid. We will look at what we can order (and then distribute) quickly within a week, and what needs we can identify that can be provided in coming months as a result of this war." The organization is also on the front lines in northern Israel , acting swiftly to fulfill any security needs. This includes supplying more bomb shelters, ambulances, and additional food and medicine for bomb shelters, as well as being in touch with Israel's Homefront Command and Ministry of Welfare, the IDF, the FIDF, and local councils across the region. The Fellowship, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2023, is the largest provider of humanitarian aid in Israel and supports needy populations through a variety of projects and initiatives, aimed at strengthening the country's security and civilian homeland defense, immigration, and poverty relief. Among its many security projects, The Fellowship has supported the purchase of fortified vehicles and hundreds of first responder medical kits, helped establish sheltered emergency department in the French Hospital in Nazareth, and helped fortify the NICU and MRI Units at Barzilai Medical Center in the southern city of Ashkelon , which suffered a direct hit in Saturday's attack. About The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews For 40 years, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) has been leading efforts to build bridges between Christians and Jews and provide humanitarian care and lifesaving aid for Israel and the Jewish people. Through the generosity and loyalty each year of its donors, partners, and staff, The Fellowship helps over 1 million people living in poverty, has provided nearly 3,000 bomb shelters for security, and has helped 770,000 make aliyah back to their homeland, Israel . The Fellowship is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, continuing a mission to bless Israel and the Jewish people like our world has never seen. About Yael Eckstein As President and CEO of The Fellowship, Yael Eckstein oversees all programs and serves as the international spokesperson for the organization. With over a decade of nonprofit experience in multiple roles, Yael has the rare distinction of being a woman leading one of the world's largest religious charitable organizations. In addition to her podcast exploring the Jewish roots of the Christian faith, Nourish Your Biblical Roots. Yael also invites thought-leaders, pastors, authors, and other influencers to discuss Israel and Jewish-Christian relations on Conversations with Yael. She is the 2023 recipient of the Jerusalem Post's Humanitarian Award, and in 2020, 2021, and 2023, was named to the publication's list of 50 Most Influential Jews. Born outside of Chicago , Yael is based in Israel with her husband and their four children. Media Contact: Elizabeth Gartman [email protected] +1 312-641-8544 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/international-fellowship-of-christians-and-jews-approves-5m-in-emergency-humanitarian-aid-for-distribution-throughout-israel-following-devastating-hamas-attacks-301950261.html SOURCE International Fellowship of Christians and Jews SHENZHEN, China , Oct. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 27th, 2023 , renowned American investor Jim Rogers , in his capacity as Non-executive Director and Consultant Committee Member of Hong Kong -based Waton Securities International Limited, visited the company's Shenzhen headquarter and attended the Mid- Autumn Festival dinner held by the company in the evening. Mr. Zheng Weining , Founder and Chairman of Canyou Group, and Chairman of the Zheng Weining Charity Foundation, also graciously joined the dinner. During the dinner, he engaged in a thoughtful discussion with Mr. Zhou Kai , Chairman of Waton Securities, and other guests about advancing philanthropic initiatives and exploring potential partnerships. The aim of the discussion was to further philanthropic causes benefiting people with disabilities within China and beyond, and to lend greater support on a global scale. Waton Securities, as a licensed broker in Hong Kong and a world-leading SaaS service provider, has accumulated over 34 years of operating experience since its establishment in 1989. With insights drawn from serving clients through traditional channels, the firm today applies innovative technologies to empower digital transformation. Through its pioneering Broker Cloud (brokerage SaaS service), Waton Securities exports premier software and advisory solutions on a global scale, advancing access to financial services worldwide. Additionally, the company maintains a strategic collaboration with Amazon Web Services to jointly drive continued innovation at the intersection of technology and finance. During the dinner, Mr. Rogers and Mr. Zheng respectively expressed their desire to continue deepening their philanthropic cooperation with Waton Securities and jointly support the company's expanding international operations. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jim-rogers-independent-director-of-waton-securities-international-visited-shenzhen-to-celebrate-mid-autumn-festival-maintain-a-positive-outlook-on-china-301950205.html SOURCE Waton Smoke rises in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on Oct. 8, 2023. Dozens of rockets and heavy artillery shells were fired toward Israeli positions on the Shebaa Farms, a disputed strip of land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, early Sunday morning, Lebanese army intelligence sources confirmed to Xinhua. In response, the Israeli military fired artillery into the Lebanese area from which the attack originated, an army spokesperson said in a statement. Later, a drone attack was launched, targeting tents set up by Hezbollah in the region, according to the spokesperson. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of rockets and heavy artillery shells were fired toward Israeli positions on the Shebaa Farms, a disputed strip of land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, early Sunday morning, Lebanese army intelligence sources confirmed to Xinhua. Sounds of massive explosions have been echoing throughout the villages of Al-Arqub and Hasbaya since the early morning, and centers in Ruwaisat Al-Alam and a radar site were subjected to heavy artillery shelling, according to the state-run Lebanese National News Agency. Lebanese army intelligence sources confirmed to Xinhua that "more than 35 missiles and artillery shells targeted Israeli positions along the disputed Shebaa Farms front, and the bombing targeted the radar sites, Al-Alam, Al-Samaqa and Zebdine." Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for the mortar and rocket attack in northern Israel and said it is in solidarity with the Palestinians. In response, the Israeli military fired artillery into the Lebanese area from which the attack originated, an army spokesperson said in a statement. Later, a drone attack was launched, targeting tents set up by Hezbollah in the region, according to the spokesperson. "The Israeli 155 mm heavy artillery responded with violent shelling, targeting the outskirts of the villages of Kfarchouba, Shebaa, Halta and the heights of Jabal al-Wastani, southeast Lebanon, causing material damage," the sources said. Residents of Kfar Shouba, a Lebanese village along the border, said they could hear sounds of shelling around them and estimated several dozen Israeli shells had hit the area, local news outlet L'Orient Today reported. Later, "after it continued for about an hour and a half early Sunday morning," sources confirmed to Xinhua that "the exchange of artillery and missile shelling between Hezbollah and the Israeli army has stopped completely." The Lebanese army declared a state of maximum alert within its ranks and pushed additional forces towards the Shebaa Farms axis. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has intensified its patrols along the Blue Line separating Lebanon and Israel. On Oct. 7, Palestinian militants launched almost 3,000 rockets against Israel and dozens of militants infiltrated southern Israel, igniting the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas group. The incident came amid months of rising tensions along the Israeli-Lebanese border and a day after Hamas, an Islamist Palestinian group that runs the Gaza Strip, launched the massive attack on Israel, killing at least 300 Israelis, according to rescue services. In response, Israel launched airstrikes on Gaza, killing at least 313 Palestinians. This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows Israeli military vehicles in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon. Dozens of rockets and heavy artillery shells were fired toward Israeli positions on the Shebaa Farms, a disputed strip of land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, early Sunday morning, Lebanese army intelligence sources confirmed to Xinhua. In response, the Israeli military fired artillery into the Lebanese area from which the attack originated, an army spokesperson said in a statement. Later, a drone attack was launched, targeting tents set up by Hezbollah in the region, according to the spokesperson. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) Israeli soldiers mass in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on Oct. 8, 2023. Dozens of rockets and heavy artillery shells were fired toward Israeli positions on the Shebaa Farms, a disputed strip of land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, early Sunday morning, Lebanese army intelligence sources confirmed to Xinhua. In response, the Israeli military fired artillery into the Lebanese area from which the attack originated, an army spokesperson said in a statement. Later, a drone attack was launched, targeting tents set up by Hezbollah in the region, according to the spokesperson. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows Israeli military vehicles in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon. Dozens of rockets and heavy artillery shells were fired toward Israeli positions on the Shebaa Farms, a disputed strip of land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, early Sunday morning, Lebanese army intelligence sources confirmed to Xinhua. In response, the Israeli military fired artillery into the Lebanese area from which the attack originated, an army spokesperson said in a statement. Later, a drone attack was launched, targeting tents set up by Hezbollah in the region, according to the spokesperson. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) Israeli military vehicles ride on a road in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on Oct. 8, 2023. Dozens of rockets and heavy artillery shells were fired toward Israeli positions on the Shebaa Farms, a disputed strip of land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, early Sunday morning, Lebanese army intelligence sources confirmed to Xinhua. In response, the Israeli military fired artillery into the Lebanese area from which the attack originated, an army spokesperson said in a statement. Later, a drone attack was launched, targeting tents set up by Hezbollah in the region, according to the spokesperson. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows Israeli military vehicles in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon. Dozens of rockets and heavy artillery shells were fired toward Israeli positions on the Shebaa Farms, a disputed strip of land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, early Sunday morning, Lebanese army intelligence sources confirmed to Xinhua. In response, the Israeli military fired artillery into the Lebanese area from which the attack originated, an army spokesperson said in a statement. Later, a drone attack was launched, targeting tents set up by Hezbollah in the region, according to the spokesperson. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) Israeli military vehicles ride on a road in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on Oct. 8, 2023. Dozens of rockets and heavy artillery shells were fired toward Israeli positions on the Shebaa Farms, a disputed strip of land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, early Sunday morning, Lebanese army intelligence sources confirmed to Xinhua. In response, the Israeli military fired artillery into the Lebanese area from which the attack originated, an army spokesperson said in a statement. Later, a drone attack was launched, targeting tents set up by Hezbollah in the region, according to the spokesperson. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) Israeli military vehicles ride on a road in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on Oct. 8, 2023. Dozens of rockets and heavy artillery shells were fired toward Israeli positions on the Shebaa Farms, a disputed strip of land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, early Sunday morning, Lebanese army intelligence sources confirmed to Xinhua. In response, the Israeli military fired artillery into the Lebanese area from which the attack originated, an army spokesperson said in a statement. Later, a drone attack was launched, targeting tents set up by Hezbollah in the region, according to the spokesperson. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows an Israeli tank in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon. Dozens of rockets and heavy artillery shells were fired toward Israeli positions on the Shebaa Farms, a disputed strip of land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, early Sunday morning, Lebanese army intelligence sources confirmed to Xinhua. In response, the Israeli military fired artillery into the Lebanese area from which the attack originated, an army spokesperson said in a statement. Later, a drone attack was launched, targeting tents set up by Hezbollah in the region, according to the spokesperson. (Gil Eliyahu/JINI via Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows Israeli tanks in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon. Dozens of rockets and heavy artillery shells were fired toward Israeli positions on the Shebaa Farms, a disputed strip of land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, early Sunday morning, Lebanese army intelligence sources confirmed to Xinhua. In response, the Israeli military fired artillery into the Lebanese area from which the attack originated, an army spokesperson said in a statement. Later, a drone attack was launched, targeting tents set up by Hezbollah in the region, according to the spokesperson. (Gil Eliyahu/JINI via Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows an Israeli tank in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon. Dozens of rockets and heavy artillery shells were fired toward Israeli positions on the Shebaa Farms, a disputed strip of land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, early Sunday morning, Lebanese army intelligence sources confirmed to Xinhua. In response, the Israeli military fired artillery into the Lebanese area from which the attack originated, an army spokesperson said in a statement. Later, a drone attack was launched, targeting tents set up by Hezbollah in the region, according to the spokesperson. (Gil Eliyahu/JINI via Xinhua) ONTARIO, Calif. , Oct. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ontario International Airport (ONT) and Alaska Airlines are leaders in creating a welcoming and accessible travel experience, and on Saturday, the two showcased the inspiring work they're doing on behalf of individuals with disabilities. As part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, ONT and Alaska Airlines co-hosted the Alaska Airlines Disability Flight Experience, featuring the ' X aat K waani' ( Salmon People ) aircraft. Individuals with disabilities were able to experience the excitement of a day of travel, including receiving a boarding pass, going through security, boarding a Boeing 737-800, and taxiing out from the gate before coming right back. ONT also hosted a Disability Awareness Resource Fair inside Terminal 2, where visitors were able to learn about the airport's disability resources, experience first-hand the airport's ONT+ Visitor Pass Program which allows the nontraveling public to enjoy the amenities on the post-security side of the terminal and meet the PAW Squad support dog team. ONT offers numerous accessibility features and support services for travelers with disabilities, including ADA-compliant parking, shuttle services and airport grounds, checkpoint assistance in collaboration with TSA Cares, and partnerships with California Relay Services, ReciteMe and the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program. For more on these programs and services, please visit: https://www.flyontario.com/ada. "Today was a wonderful opportunity for visitors to get a better feel for the airport and to experience the commitment we have across our organization to breaking down barriers to travel and ensuring access for every visitor," said Alan D. Wapner , President of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) Board of Commissioners. "We know that traveling with a disability can be intimidating, and we are proud to have put into place programs and services that ensure that all travelers can have an easy and enjoyable airport experience," said Atif Elkadi , OIAA's chief executive officer. "Alaska Airlines is committed to providing our guests with inclusive travel experiences through our convenient, comfortable and caring service," said Steve Nelson , Alaska Airlines accessibility and diversity program manager. "We are grateful for this partnership with Ontario International Airport to help alleviate the anxiety that can be associated with traveling for passengers with disabilities and their families." About Ontario International Airport Ontario International Airport (ONT) is the fastest growing airport in the United States , according to Global Traveler, a leading publication for frequent fliers. Located in the Inland Empire, ONT is approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California . It is a full-service airport which offers nonstop commercial jet service to nearly two dozen major airports in the U.S. , Mexico , Central America and Taiwan. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com. Follow @flyONT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram About the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) The OIAA was formed in August 2012 by a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino to provide overall direction for the management, operations, development and marketing of ONT for the benefit of the Southern California economy and the residents of the airport's four-county catchment area. OIAA Commissioners are Ontario City Councilmember Alan D. Wapner (President), Retired Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Vice President), Ontario City Councilmember Jim W. Bowman (Secretary), San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Commissioner) and retired business executive Julia Gouw (Commissioner). About Alaska Airlines Alaska Airlines and our regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States , Belize , Canada , Costa Rica and Mexico . We strive to be the most caring airline with award-winning customer service and an industry-leading loyalty program. As a member of the oneworld alliance, and with our additional global partners, our guests can travel to more than 1,000 destinations on more than 25 airlines while earning and redeeming miles on flights to locations around the world. Learn more about Alaska at news.alaskaair.com and follow @alaskaairnews for news and stories. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group. ONT Media Contact: Steve Lambert , (909) 841-7527 [email protected] Alaska Airlines Media Contact: Maria Cid , (916) 600-2022 maria.cid@alaskaair.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/resource-fair-alaska-airlines-flight-experience-highlight-national-disability-employment-awareness-month-activities-at-ontario-international-301950154.html SOURCE Ontario International Airport By Anirban Sen NEW YORK (Reuters) -Birkenstock Holding has secured enough commitments from investors to price its U.S. initial public offering (IPO) at the top of its indicated range and attain a $10 billion valuation, according to people familiar with the matter. The German premium footwear company will make a final decision on pricing its IPO at the top of its $44-to-$49-per-share range on Tuesday, ahead of its shares debuting in New York on Wednesday, the sources said. Birkenstock would end up raising $1.58 billion at the top of the range. The sources cautioned the deliberations are fluid and requested anonymity because the matter is confidential. Birkenstock declined to comment. Birkenstock is the fourth major company to launch a U.S. IPO in the last four weeks following those of chip maker Arm Holdings, grocery deliver app Instacart and marketing automation platform Klaviyo. They priced their IPOs at the top or above their indicated range and saw their shares rally at the debut, only to give up most of the gains in the following days. While shares of Arm and Klaviyo still trade above their IPO price, Instacart's stock is now worth less than its IPO value. This helps explain why Birkenstock is not inclined to raise its IPO price range despite the strong initial investor demand. It is already seeking a valuation that is frothier than some bigger shoe brands. It would be worth about 27 times trailing 12-month earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization at the top of its range, when Nike trades at 21 times. To leave less to chance, Birkenstock launched the roadshow for its IPO last week with some investors lined up. Financiere Agache has indicated an interest in buying $325 million worth of shares while Durable Capital Partners and Norges Bank Investment Management have shown interest in $300 million worth of shares, Birkenstock disclosed in a filing. Growth equity investor Baron Funds placed an order for $500 million worth of shares after the roadshow kicked off, the sources said. Between the cornerstone investors and Baron, roughly $1.13 billion worth of stock is expected to be accounted for, the sources said. Birkenstock was founded in 1774 in the German village of Langen-Bergheim by Johannes Birkenstock and his younger brother Johann Adam Birkenstock, who were both shoemakers. The Birkenstock family ran the business for six generations after its founding. The brand has been seeking to position as a fashionable item worn by models and celebrities. Barbie, played by Margot Robbie, wore a pink pair of Birkenstocks in the final scene of the movie released this summer. L Catterton, the private equity group backed by French billionaire Bernard Arnault and luxury goods empire Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy, acquired a majority stake in Birkenstock in 2021. After the IPO, L Catterton will hold an 82.8% stake in Birkenstock and control a majority of the combined voting power of its outstanding shares. (Reporting by Anirban Sen in New YorkEditing by Chris Reese and Lisa Shumaker) LONDON (Reuters) -A London-born man who was serving in the Israeli army died on Saturday on the Gaza border, his family said, and another British man is missing, Israel's embassy in London said on Sunday. Jewish News said Nathanel Young was one of the many Israeli soldiers who were killed in a multi-pronged attack by Palestinian gunmen. A family statement on Facebook said: "We're heartbroken to share that our little brother Nathanel Young was tragically killed on the Gaza Border yesterday." A second man went missing early on Saturday, the embassy said. His mother, Lisa, told Jewish News that Jake Marlowe, 26, had been providing security at a music festival and she last heard from her son via text message. "He was doing security at this rave and called me at 04:30 to say all these rockets were flying over," she said. "Then, at about 05:30, he texted to say, 'signal very bad, everything OK, will keep you updated I promise you,' and that he loves me." In Saturday's assault, Hamas fighters escaped back to Gaza with dozens of hostages, including both soldiers and civilians. Tzipi Hotovely, the Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom, earlier told Sky News a British citizen was in Gaza. But she did not identify the name of the individual. "I know that Israel is doing everything to make sure all the people being kept hostage at the moment in the hands of Hamas will be released," she said. (Reporting by Andrew MacAskill and Kate Holton, editing by Elizabeth Piper and Ros Russell) Mourners attend the cremation ceremony of Moe Myint, a 31-year-old Burmese victim of the Thailand mall shooting, at a temple in Nonthaburi, Thailand, October 8, 2023. REUTERS/Jorge Silva NONTHABURI, Thailand (Reuters) - Among the hundreds mourning Moe Myint on Sunday was the mother of the Burmese victim of last week's shooting rampage at a Bangkok mall, seeming dazed at the cremation ceremony on the outskirts of the Thai capital. Tears streaking her face, Khin Win was revived with smelling salts as she sat at the Buddhist ceremony. People rubbed her hands for comfort as she bade farewell to her 31-year-old daughter. Moe Myint was one of two killed when a 14-year-old boy went on a shooting spree at the luxury Siam Paragon shopping centre in Bangkok's bustling commercial area on Tuesday. Five were wounded and hundreds of panicked shoppers raced to the exits as the gunshots rang out. The alleged shooter, who police said had suffered a psychological breakdown, was charged with premeditated murder, illegal possession of a firearm and other charges. Khin Win flew in from Myanmar for the Burmese-style cremation in Nonthaburi province north of Bangkok, where her daughter's remains were brought in a procession, led by a saffron-robed monk, into the temple in a white coffin with gold trim. Mourners reached into the casket and touched the green-shrouded body before sandalwood flowers were burned under it and it was placed in the incinerator. The mother stared ahead before clasping her hands to pray. Moe Myint's employer, Aksorn Chantarojvanich, who attended the funeral, said she would provide the family 10,000 baht ($270) a month, matching the remittances Moe Myint had sent home. Thai Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong vowed at the ceremony, "We will ensure fair processes, provide support to the victims, and handle the affairs of the deceased's family with utmost care." The father of the teenage suspect, in a letter released by the government on Friday, said his family would fully cooperate with the authorities. "We offer our deepest apologies to the victims," the father wrote. "My family and I would like to humbly ask for forgiveness and extend our profound apologies." ($1 = 36.8900 baht) (Reporting by Napat Weshasartar and Artorn Pookasook; Writing by Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by William Mallard) ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey's military conducted air strikes in northern Syria on Sunday night and destroyed six Kurdish militant targets, the Turkish Defence Ministry said, adding many militants had been "neutralised" in the attack. In a statement, the ministry said the targets hit included an oil facility used by militants, as well shelters and storage facilities where militants were believed to be. It did not say in which regions of northern Syria the air strikes had taken place. Turkey typically uses the term "neutralised" to mean killed. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) JERUSALEM, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Israel was evacuating residents in communities in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip on Sunday, the second day of battles with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). All civilians in the 24 communities adjacent to the security fence were asked to evacuate their homes immediately, the Israeli military said in a statement, noting the move follows "the operational situational assessment." Hamas, which rules Gaza, launched an unprecedented surprise attack on Israel on Saturday and Hamas militants breached in a massive attack on the communities near the border. On Sunday afternoon, the Israeli security forces still had not gained full control in the south, with some gun battles between Israeli troops and Hamas militants who infiltrated from Gaza continuing. Israel responded with large-scale airstrikes. The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza reported on Sunday that at least 313 Palestinians were killed in the blockaded enclave by the Israeli airstrikes, including 20 children. Meanwhile, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported the death toll among Israelis has reached 600, marking Hamas' deadliest attack on the country. Jewish worshippers pray at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem in August 2021. (Salwan Georges/The Washington Post) An unprecedented early morning attack by Hamas caught the Israeli defense and intelligence establishment off guard Saturday, and triggered reprisal strikes by land and air on the Gaza Strip. Hamas leaders said the surprise attack, which led to Israels deadliest day in at least 75 years, was retribution for recent violence at the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and increased settler attacks. Known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary which encompasses al-Aqsa the site at the center of the tensions is revered in both faiths. Even the slightest perceived change to the status quo has the capacity to provoke violence. Police raided the site in early April in the middle of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, just before the start of the Jewish Passover holiday an overlap Israeli security officials have long warned could lead to further escalation. But the new national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, leader of Israels far-right religious nationalist movement, has pushed for a greater Jewish presence at Temple Mount. Ben Gvir is known for making provocative moves to assert Jewish claims to Palestinian land or religious spaces. In January, he made a tone-setting tour of the ancient religious compound, in the first such visit in years by a top Israeli official. Heres what to know about the site. Muslims gather for Friday prayer in the courtyard of al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem in August 2021. (Salwan Georges/The Washington Post) What is the religious significance of the site? The compound holds religious significance for Muslims, Jews and Christians. Its the holiest site in Judaism. The historical origins of the site are disputed among archaeologists, but in the Jewish tradition, a religious structure known as the First Temple was built on the hill during the reign of King Solomon in the 10th century B.C. The temple, around which the ancient Jewish faith was centered, and the one that followed it were destroyed when invading empires sacked Jerusalem. For Jews, it is the most sacred place in Jewish history and actually symbolizes the clearest contact between modern Israel and ancient Israel, said Amichai Cohen, senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute. In both Jewish and Muslim traditions, its known as the place where Abraham offered to sacrifice his son. Jews, by custom, pray facing Jerusalem, and in particular the Temple Mount. The Western Wall, a retaining wall outside the al-Aqsa compound, has long been venerated as a focal point for Jewish prayer. For Muslims, the Noble Sanctuary is the third-holiest site, after mosques in Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. Al-Aqsa is seen as the place from which the prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven after making a miraculous one-night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem. The mosque was built on the southern part of the plaza in the early 8th century A.D. Across the courtyard is the Dome of the Rock, an ornate Islamic shrine, with a golden dome visible across much of the city. Who is in charge of the compound? Israel captured East Jerusalem from Jordan during the Arab-Israeli war in 1967 and later declared all of Jerusalem to be Israels capital a move not recognized by most of the international community. Since 1967, a religious trust funded and supervised by Jordan has managed the al-Aqsa compound, an arrangement formalized in a 1994 peace treaty between Israel and Jordan. Israel has security authority at the site and maintains a police presence. Non-Muslims are allowed to visit but are barred from praying there. A group of Jewish visitors, accompanied by Israeli police, leave after touring the Temple Mount in August 2021. (Salwan Georges/The Washington Post) Why is it considered a flash point for conflict? The site lies at the heart of the struggle between Israelis and Palestinians for control of Jerusalem. The status of the city has proved a sticking point in efforts to reach a two-state solution to the conflict, and al-Aqsa has become a symbol of the Palestinian quest for self-determination. The mosque is the most important religious site for Muslims in Palestine and it is absolutely central to Palestinian identity, said Khaled Elgindy, a Palestinian affairs expert at the Middle East Institute. Violations of the status quo have been interpreted by many Palestinians as acts of aggression. A visit by Ariel Sharon, then Israels opposition leader, to the site in 2000 helped spark the second intifada, also known as the al-Aqsa Intifada a 4-year Palestinian uprising during which more than 3,000 Palestinians and 1,000 Israelis were killed. In recent years, Israels installation of metal detectors at the compound provoked a violent backlash in 2017. And members of an emboldened Israeli religious nationalist movement have increasingly ventured onto the plaza, often joined and encouraged by Ben Gvir. Jordan issued a formal complaint to Israel in April 2021 about large groups of Jewish visitors violating the status quo. The following month, Ben Gvirs support for settlers in an East Jerusalem neighborhood helped catalyze an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist militant group that rules Gaza. Every time a minister or a Knesset member or a member of an extremist settler group goes up to the al-Aqsa compound, they are eroding the status quo, Elgindy said. Rights groups also say Israeli security forces are quick to storm the site and to fire tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters. Are Jews divided over whether to pray there? A very large majority of religious and more secular Jewish Israelis refrain from going to the Temple Mount, Cohen said. Given how easily inflamed tensions there can become, many feel that Jews should avoid the area so as to not provoke Palestinians and stoke another round of violence. But there are also religious reasons some Jews believe its important to stay off the Temple Mount. Many orthodox leaders say Jews should not walk on the Holy of Holies, part of the site of the historic Jewish temples there. Jews from all over the world visit and pray at the adjoining Western Wall. Why is far-right minister Ben Gvir focused on the site? A provocateur with a penchant for igniting media firestorms, Ben Gvir is a key player in the most right-wing government in Israels history. Palestinian groups and Arab nations called his visit to the site in January an intentional provocation, raising the potential for further unrest. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office has reiterated that he is committed to upholding the status quo. But Ben Gvir, his ally in government, has long advocated for changing the arrangement. Known for his Jewish supremacist views, he has been convicted of inciting racism against Arabs and supporting a terrorist group. Ben Gvir is the politician that has gained most from challenging the existing policy on Temple Mount, Cohen said. Ben Gvir has previously supported activists who threatened to slaughter a lamb in the al-Aqsa Mosque compound during Passover a move that would upend the status quo at the site and which police have warned could spark a regional war. The messianic Returning to the Mount movement has offered tens of thousands of Israeli shekels to anyone who attempts to sacrifice a lamb at the site for Passover. Police have stopped activists from doing so in the past but Ben Gvir now controls the force. Police detained people suspected of intending to slaughter lamb or goats at the site in April. Shira Rubin in Tel Aviv, Louisa Loveluck in Jerusalem, Niha Masih in Seoul and Miriam Berger in Washington contributed to this report. A group of Venezuelan migrants negotiate razor wire in September 2023 as they cross into the United States from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. (Michael Robinson Chavez/The Washington Post) Democratic Mayor Eric Adams of New York City traveled to Mexico in a high-profile move to discourage illegal immigration. Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois has written President Biden a sharply worded letter demanding more help. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors, a nonpartisan group led by a Democrat, unanimously declared the lack of federal resources for asylum seekers a humanitarian crisis. Four months after White House officials spoke in victorious tones about an unexpected plunge in illegal migration, Biden is once again under growing pressure to address a surge in border crossings that shows no sign of slowing down. And the most notable criticism is coming from his own party. That could pose a significant political threat as Biden faces a potential rematch against former president Donald Trump, who rode the immigration issue to the White House in 2016 with promises of a border wall, a ban on Muslim travelers and other harsh measures. With near-record numbers of daily arrivals, shelters overflowing with families and city governments overwhelmed by new residents, one of the most intractable challenges of Bidens presidency is again threatening to upend his legislative agenda. Republicans have become increasingly vocal in challenging the presidents management of the crisis, but what is especially notable and concerning to the White House is the unusually blunt language from Democratic officials. The federal governments lack of intervention and coordination at the border has created an untenable situation for Illinois, Pritzker, a potential future presidential candidate, wrote in his scathing letter to Biden last week. There is no more room in New York, Adams said Thursday while in Mexico City, his first stop on a three-country tour aimed at trying to discourage migrants from crossing into the United States and continuing on to his city. Adams has been particularly vocal in his criticism of the president, but major cities like New York, Chicago, Boston, San Diego and Denver are all struggling to manage the sudden arrival of thousands of migrants and have pleaded for more help, funding and coordination from the federal government. Republicans are hitting Biden even harder. Some are threatening to hold up aid to Ukraine unless it is accompanied by funds to protect the U.S.-Mexico border. Republican presidential candidates are promising, if they are elected, to send troops into Mexico to battle drug cartels. And Republican governors played a key role in the new dynamic by busing thousands of migrants into cities and states run by Democrats. While the renewed criticism is coming at a challenging time for Biden, as he ramps up his reelection campaign, he has faced political crosswinds on immigration from the outset of his presidency, caught between a desire to overturn Trumps hard-line policies and the risk of inviting chaos at the border. Republicans pounced as border crossings rose when he took office, fueled by migrants expectations of a more relaxed policy. Later that year liberals were upset by photos of border agents aggressively pursuing Haitian migrants. Biden reversed himself several times on how much to lift Trumps limit on refugees. He did not immediately lift the Title 42 border policy, a pandemic-era measure that limited immigration, angering some in his own party. White House officials say the president is doing everything possible to deal with an overwhelmingly difficult situation, given Congresss decades-long inability to enact legislative solutions to address a problem that has vexed multiple administrations. In recent weeks, Biden has authorized new work permits for migrants from Venezuela, provided additional money to local governments for migrant shelter and services and stepped up deportations for people who entered the country illegally. Most dramatically, the Biden administration last week said it would bypass environmental and conservation laws to fast-track construction of new barriers along the border a highly symbolic move given Democrats longtime criticism of Trumps proposed border wall. On Friday, Biden again reiterated his contention that his hands were tied because Congress had provided funding for the barriers. I was told that I had no choice, Biden told reporters at the White House. Congress passes legislation to build something, whether its an aircraft carrier or a wall or provide for a tax cut, and I cant say, I dont like it and Im not going to do it. Earlier that same week, asked if he believed a border wall would be effective, Biden said no. There is little evidence the push to enter the United States will abate over the long term. During the past three years, federal agents have made more than 6 million arrests along the southern border, the busiest span in the 100-year history of the U.S. Border Patrol. And the politics of immigration have only become more fraught. Biden campaigned in 2020 pledging to undo many of the strict migration policies enacted by Trump, but has found himself embracing a growing number of those policies in the face of the persistently high border crossings. The latest flash point came in May with the expiration of the pandemic-era Title 42 border policy, which had allowed authorities to quickly expel migrants back to Mexico or their home countries. Since then, the Biden administration has sought to pair new legal opportunities for migrants with harsher penalties for illegal entry. Under new asylum rules, the administration provided thousands of migrants with new pathways to legally enter each month via programs like the CBP One app, while also making it easier to deport people who do not abide by the rules. Bidens aides declared that this multifaceted plan was working in June, when the number of unauthorized entries fell by nearly 70 percent. But the reprieve proved to be short-lived. Now again facing a rapid increase in migration, the Biden administration announced Thursday it would resume deporting Venezuelan migrants back to their country. The decision came less than a month after the administration had extended legal status to nearly 500,000 Venezuelans who were already in the United States. Along the way, Biden himself has rarely addressed these policy shifts publicly, as his actions have managed to upset a wide range of stakeholders, including those traditionally aligned with him on other matters. Democrats including Sen. Alex Padilla (Calif.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) have blasted the administrations decision to move forward with barrier construction. The presidents approach reflects an administration that is scared of the issue, said Vanessa Cardenas, executive director of the pro-immigration group Americas Voice. Not talking about the issue is not a strategy to win, Cardenas said, adding that she approved of some of Bidens recent actions but felt he should be more proactive in laying out his broader vision for voters ahead of next years election. Because in the absence of that answer, the other side is going to take over the debate like theyve been doing. Republican presidential candidates seeking to oust Biden from the White House next year are increasingly leaning into border politics. During the second GOP presidential debate last month, the candidates spent much of the night attacking Bidens immigration policies and presenting themselves as more capable of reducing the flow of migration. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) used his answer to the very first question of the debate, about the United Auto Workers strike, to pivot abruptly to the migration issue. Ill say this, Joe Biden should not be on the picket line, Scott said. He should be on the southern border working to close our southern border because it is unsafe, wide open and insecure. Trump, the leading contender for the Republican nomination, has promised to conduct mass deportations if he regains the White House. He presents his White House tenure as a time of more effective management of the border, despite the pitched legal and political battles that erupted over his policies separating families at the border and blocking travel from several Muslim-majority countries. The Trump campaign last week cited Bidens decision to proceed with additional border barriers as a tacit admission that Trumps own build-the-wall approach to immigration, much pilloried by Democrats, was sound. On social media, Trump called for an apology from Biden, who has criticized his predecessors border crackdown as inhumane and cruel. Recent polls showcase why Republicans see a political benefit in elevating the issue ahead of next years elections. Less than 1 in 4 Americans approve of Bidens handling of the immigration situation at the U.S.-Mexico border, according to a September Washington Post-ABC News poll. Thats down from 28 percent who said they approved in February. A Marquette Law School poll released Wednesday showed voters preferred Trump over Biden on the issue of immigration by a 23-point margin, with only 27 percent choosing the current president. Unusually high disapproval among Democrats is one factor driving the presidents poll numbers on immigration. The White House has been holding calls and meetings with Democratic officials from New York, Illinois and other locations to coordinate and strategize, according to administration officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal efforts. Last weekend, White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, senior adviser Tom Perez and others spoke with Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and other local officials to discuss the challenge and offer federal support. Yet on Monday, Pritzker sent his letter to Biden, using the word untenable four times to describe the humanitarian crisis. The administration has allocated more than $1 billion to help cities deal with the surge of migration, and the president has asked Congress to provide more funding and other legislative fixes to address the problem. Republicans in the House have rebuffed Bidens request and instead accused him of promoting open border policies that have attracted millions of migrants to come to the United States from across the globe. White House officials counter that the far-reaching spending cuts proposed by House Republicans would decimate an already overburdened Department of Homeland Security. The matter could soon come to a head in the midst of turmoil in the House of Representatives, where Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was ousted as speaker last week amid the dissatisfaction of some hard-line conservatives over his approach to spending bills. Some Republicans now say they will block any new funding for the war in Ukraine until legislation boosting border enforcement is passed, linking two seemingly unrelated issues by saying the United States needs to protect its own borders rather than Ukraines. Other Republican lawmakers have threatened to allow the government to shut down next month, when the current stopgap spending measure expires, if Biden does not agree to major changes in border policy. This is a lawless Biden regime, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) said last week on the House floor. They will not enforce border laws. And we can pass them until were blue in the face but until you leverage the budget and the spending, you will not see enforcement by this administration. Nick Miroff and Maria Sacchetti contributed to this report. World War II veteran Ethelyn Szad Bell of Bonham, Texas, received more than 7,200 cards for her 100th birthday on Oct. 4. (Clyde W. Cosper Texas State Veterans Home/Facebook) World War II veteran Ethelyn Szad Bell of Bonham, Texas, asked for cards to celebrate her 100th birthday on Oct. 4. And Texas, and the nation, delivered. Bell, who requested only 100 cards, actually received more than 7,200, according to Dawn Buckingham, the Veterans Land Board Chairwoman and Texas Land Commissioner. It is deeply inspiring to see not only the Bonham community but also people from across our state and nation wholeheartedly embrace their duty to honor our veterans, Buckingham said. Bell began her service in March of 1945 at age 21. After completing the Basic Training Course for Army Nurses, she served with the Army Nurse Corps in the Philippines and Nagoya, Japan, during World War II. During her time in the service, she rose to the rank of 2nd lieutenant and was honorably discharged in July 1946. After her time serving in the U.S. Army, Bell continued giving back to her community by working at the Veterans Administration Hospital in McKinney. A blind date led to meeting her husband and fellow U.S. Army veteran, Charles Bell. Together, they moved to Prosper where they raised a son and daughter. Mrs. Bell worked as a dedicated elementary school nurse in McKinney for many years until she retired at the age of 55. World War II veteran Ethelyn Szad Bell of Bonham, Texas, received more than 7,200 cards for her 100th birthday on Oct. 4. (Clyde W. Cosper Texas State Veterans Home/Facebook) Contributing: Palestine (Texas) Herald-Press and Odessa (Texas) American. Security forces have killed two terrorists in an intelligence based operation in Zerber area of Kech District in Balochistan. According to ISPR, the terrorists were killed in an intense exchange of fire between own troops and terrorists. A large quantity of equipment and explosives was also recovered from them The killed terrorists had been actively involved in multiple terrorist activities against law enforcement agencies. Sanitization of the area is being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists. Security forces of Pakistan are committed to thwart efforts of enemies of peace in the country. NAIROBI, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Sino-African economic and trade cooperation has experienced sustained growth, unleashing benefits to the continent including the growth of local manufacturing, skills transfer and jobs for the youth, said a Kenyan trade lobby executive. Fredrick Mukilya, the chief representative of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry to China, said that Africa could secure a prosperous and inclusive future once it increases the volume of goods exported to the Asian country. Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a membership-based trade support organization. "If you look at how Africa has been trading with China, there is a progressive growth for the last fourteen years because of acceptance of African products within the Chinese community," Mukilya told Xinhua during a recent interview in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. According to Mukilya, Africa's exports of agricultural commodities to China have been increasing 11.4 percent annually. He suggested that for African countries to increase the volume of agricultural commodities exported to China, governments must invest in value addition, and enhance the capacity of producers to meet phytosanitary requirements. African chambers of commerce are keen to advance trade ties with China by setting up offices in the Asian Nation to help understand its dynamic market, Mukilya said. According to Mukilya, early this year, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry set up an office in Changsha, the capital of central China's Hunan Province, with him in charge, to help link up investors and traders from both sides. He will leave for China Wednesday. Kenya has in the last two years exported Hass avocados to China. In June, the first batch of anchovies sourced from the coast region was shipped to the Asian country to coincide with the third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo held in Changsha from June 29 to July 2. Mukilya said that Kenya is well-positioned to increase the export of coffee, tea, flowers, and cashew nuts to the Chinese market, amid growing demand by retail clients. He revealed that during the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, the Kenyan delegation met a Chinese entrepreneur who was keen to undertake bulk coffee import from the East African nation. Lebanons Hezbollah resistance movement says it has fired shells and guided missiles toward Israeli-occupied territories, in the aftermath of a surprise operation by Gaza-based Palestinian fighters against the regime. In a statement released on Sunday, Hezbollah said it had targeted the Radar, Zabdin, and Ruwaysat Al-Alam sites in the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms. The martyr commander Hajj Imad Mughniyeh groups in the Islamic Resistance attacked three Zionist occupation sites, the statement read. [The attacks were carried out] on the path to liberate what remains occupied of our Lebanese land and in solidarity with the victorious Palestinian resistance, the struggling and patient Palestinian people. The Israeli military confirmed that mortar shells were fired from Lebanon towards the north of the occupied lands. It added that its artillery is currently striking the area in Lebanon from where a shooting was carried out. The Israeli army further said that one of its drones struck a Hezbollah post in Shebaa Farms. The attacks came one day after Hamas launched a large-scale operation, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, with a heavy barrage of rockets in response to Israels desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence. At least 300 Israelis have been killed while the death toll stands at 232 among the Palestinians. Hezbollah praised the Hamas offensive, noting that it is a message to the Arab countries that are normalizing relations with the Tel Aviv regime. It also called on Arab and Muslim people around the world to declare their support for Hamas and the Palestinian nation. Armed resistance is the only way to confront the Israeli aggression, Hezbollah said, urging Israel to learn the important lessons taught by the Palestinian resistance. Duncan was caught with cocaine, cannabis, and ecstasy in Swiftwood Apartments, Saggart, on November 26, 2007 and later jailed for eight years over the drugs haul A MAN who is set to be sentenced for assaulting gardai and possessing 8,500 of cocaine in condoms is a gangland thug who has been linked to violent feuds, prison escapes and major drug seizures in the past. John Paul Duncan (39) of Drumcairn Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24, shoved his hand up his behind and tried to shove it in a gardas face before violently assaulting two gardai in the Mater Hospital after being arrested with 8,500 worth of cocaine in condoms on January 31. He is due to be sentenced next week after pleading guilty to the assault and drugs offences. The incident is far from Duncans only brush with the law and we can reveal he had his ankles and knees sledgehammered by his bosses after he was caught with a 2.8m drugs haul in 2007. Duncan was caught with cocaine, cannabis, and ecstasy in Swiftwood Apartments, Saggart, on November 26, 2007 and later jailed for eight years over the drugs haul. Before he was sentenced he was taken to the Dublin mountain by his gang bosses and had his ankles and knees hit with sledgehammer before being left there to find his own way to hospital. He had links to a gang suspected of involvement in the murder of Paul Frank Byrne who was murdered in 2009. Byrne, last seen on July 15, 2009 at Kilmartin Green in Tallaght after getting into a car with two men outside his house. His skeletal remains were found in a remote forest near Blessington, Co Wicklow, a year later and the case has been the focus of a murder investigation since. Gardai arrested a man in connection with the murder earlier this year. He was released without charge while a file is prepared for the DPP. It is understood that the same gang behind Byrnes killing also murdered drug dealer Stephen O'Halloran, who died in a hail of bullets while sitting in a parked car outside his home in January 2009. Stephen O'Halloran David Patchell of Rossfield Crescent, Tallaght, was convicted of the murder in April, 2011. As well as his conviction for the 2007 drugs haul, Duncan has 138 previous convictions in Ireland and 11 in other jurisdiction for offences including drug offences, assault causing harm, theft, and escape from lawful custody. Duncan walked out of Loughan House open prison on February 5, 2015, two days after he had been transferred there from Castlerea Prison. He was later arrested by police in the UK and was extradited back to Ireland in 2017. That incident was not his only escape from custody. Duncan previously staged an escape from Tallaght courthouse as he was being led into a garda van in February 2010. He appeared in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court this week on drugs and assault charges and asked for his sentence to be stayed so he can take up a residential drug treatment placement. Garda Clodagh Doyle told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that gardai were called to Lott's Cafe Bar on Liffey Street Lower on the day in question after a man was seen wrapping up white powder underneath a table. Duncan was arrested and brought to Store Street Garda Station, where he produced six condoms from his trousers, filled with over 122 grams of cocaine. The cocaine had a total street value of just over 8,500, the court heard. A few hours later, Duncan complained of being unwell and said he had swallowed cocaine earlier. Garda Doyle and two colleagues accompanied Duncan to the Mater Hospital at around 7pm, where he became distressed and threw himself, retching, onto the floor. Duncan said he needed the toilet and was brought to a private room containing a commode. Gardai waiting outside heard him roaring and shouting and moving furniture around, and when they entered, Duncan took his hand, which had been inserted in his behind, and tried to put it in a garda's face. Gda Doyle told Olan Callanan BL, prosecuting, that Duncan then became extremely aggressive, leapt up from a chair and headbutted her colleague. The three gardai sought to restrain Duncan, and he went to bite one of their legs, then bit Gda Doyle's hands so hard that he ripped off both her gloves. Medical staff sedated Duncan, but he continued his aggressive behaviour and tried to flee until he fell asleep, continuing again when he awoke. Keith Spencer BL, defending, said Duncan has a well-documented and long-standing drug addiction from the age of 15, progressing from cannabis to benzos, to cocaine and then to smoking crack. Mr Spencer said his client's entire life has been blighted by drugs, and his attempts to set up a construction company fell asunder. Duncan took the stand and agreed that his drug use began when he suffered domestic violence as a child and turned to drugs to block everything out. He told the court he has been drug-free for a couple of months and is now motivated to get clean for his fiancee, his five-year-old son and everybody. I've never been clean since I was 15. You're talking 20 years, he said. Duncan said all his offending had been drug-related and that even in prison, addiction had been a problem. An open jail is riddled with drugs, he said. Mr Spencer said a place had been made available at a rehabilitation centre for a 14-week residential course starting next week, October 17. My client is doing very well in custody and has an opportunity now to address his addiction. He's willing to throw himself into any course that the court orders, said Mr Spencer. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the matter for sentence to next Wednesday, October 11, to obtain urine analysis. The Quilligan case was one of a number of prosecutions taken against individuals who have committed welfare fraud THIS IS the 54-year-old woman who banked welfare cheques made out to her dead mother to help pay for the 72-year-olds funeral expenses. Pictures of Margaret Quilligans bespoke grave were proudly shared by family members on Facebook after her death. But it emerged this week that cheques for the womans blind welfare allowance, mistakenly sent out to the pensioner after her death, had been unlawfully used by her daughter Teresa to help pay the funeral costs. Appearing before Cork District Court on Monday, Teresa Quilligan of Mount St Josephs Close in Cork pleaded guilty to two offences relating to theft by deception. She accepted that she had lodged two cheques for a blind welfare allowance posted by the HSE out to her mother Margaret after her death to her own bank account. The amount involved totalled some 507. Margaret Quilligan 72-year-old Margaret Quilligan died in May of 2016 but the HSE continue to post out her monthly blind benefit cheques for a period of 19 months after she died. The benefits cheques continued to lodged to different bank accounts or cashed throughout this period up until March 2018. Two of the cheques were lodged to Teresa Quilligans bank account. After the court heard Quilligan had brought the full some of 507 lodged to her account to Mondays sitting in reparations, she was handed down a suspended sentence of 8 months in prison. The Quilligan case was one of a number of prosecutions taken against individuals who have committed welfare fraud on Monday. In Co. Louth, a 24-year-old man who collected more than 20,000 in benefits for his deceased granduncle, had his case put back for a probation report. Ryan Thornton, St Laurences Park, Drogheda, pleaded guilty before Drogheda District Court on Monday to 12 related summonses. Evidence was given that he was a carer for his mothers uncle and had paid back 1,900. Gda Denise Clancy testified that the offending occurred over 11 months and that the defendant collected a total of 20,324 he was not entitled to. There were no previous convictions. Mr Thornton admitted six summonses for offences at the post office in West Street, Drogheda, and five at the Boyne Centre post office, and one summons for false accounting, within the State, on 22 April 2020. Barrister Eoghan Fagan said he was a carer for his mothers uncle and had become quite close to the man and lived with him for a year before his death. The grave site Sources confirmed this week that prosecutions for welfare fraud are likely to increase in the coming months and years. According to data recently released by the Department of Social Protection, there are currently more than 470 social welfare fraud cases before the courts and almost 390 further cases are being considered for prosecution. According to the departments annual report for 2022, the Departments fraud team, which includes both department staff and gardai seconded to the department, conducted over 16,500 investigations in 2022. The report said this unit is supported by seconded officers from An Garda Siochana specifically assigned to support complex investigations. It said that during 2022, SIU inspectors completed over 16,500 investigations, out of an annual target of 17,000 for the year. Total savings to end of December amounted to over 62m out of an annual target of 56m, the report said. It said the department provides identity management services to several public service agencies. This facilitates the use of the Personal Public Service (PPS) Number in the delivery of a range of public services, developing online services, and enhancing systems for control of fraud and abuse, the report said. It said a total of 305,889 PPS Numbers were allocated in 2022. It said the departments SAFE registration process authenticates the identity of a person and enables customers access to public services more efficiently and seeks to preserve their privacy. By the end of 2022, as a result of the SAFE registration process, a total of 284 cases of suspected identity fraud have been referred for investigation. Of these, 22 cases were referred in 2022, it said. Quite quickly I found myself in a situation where he was holding a knife to my gut AN Irish-born film maker who was once stabbed five times has reached out to other victims of knife crime to document the affects the deadly scourge has on victims. Aodh Breathnach is still suffering the consequences of being viciously attacked eight years ago by man who was carrying a blade stabbed him five times around the head and body. The young film maker has already had several documentaries screened on British TV, including on paramedics and suicide, and will now focus on his own personal story in the BBC programme Scar: Surviving a stabbing. I was born in Cork and then grew up in south Kerry until I was seven, Aodh tells the Sunday World. When my parents split up I moved over to southwest England. My mums English and my dads Irish. All of my Irish family are still in Kerry, not far from Killarney, so I go back on a regular basis to visit, but sadly Ive lost my accent. Half of my family is still there, Dad, uncles, aunties. So I make it make at least a couple of times a year, more if I can. I get texts from my aunt every St Patricks day telling me to wet the shamrock. Like a lot of people that are part of the Irish diaspora and are overseas. His name means Hugh Walsh in Gaelic. Aodh Breathnach It was an interesting experience me moving over to England and doing school registers with this name, he smiles. He is familiar that Ireland has some knife crime problems, with Limerick even gaining an unfair and unfortunate nickname because of it. I am familiar with the name and knife crime activists here while I was making the film, brought up Limerick and referred to it as Stab City, he reflects. I dont personally know the town myself and I would be quite careful to brand anywhere as being associated with stabbings. For me the one thing Ive learned during the making of this programme is that knife crime is something that nowhere is immune to. Its often something that we feel is specific to certain urban areas or certain marginalised groups, but I think its finding its way into the suburbs and into the sticks, especially in the UK we are seeing it much more in the rural towns. After I moved from Ireland, I grew up in a small town in the south west of England and I know people from that town that have sadly been stabbed and even passed asway from knife crime. Ive gone to feel its not something I would associate with any one place. I think it can affect all of us. Aodh recalls his own terrible experience. I was in my mid-20s, starting out as a film maker and doing part time bar work, he recollects. Somebody I did some freelance video work for didnt pay me. When I saw him on a night out, we exchanged words. I was angry and I didnt hold my tongue. Quite quickly I found myself in a situation where he was holding a knife to my gut. But Aodh did not back down from the menacing situation he found himself in. Out of male pride really I chose not to walk away and I stood my ground, he adds. Looking backwards there were a couple of times I could have left and thats something in the film I take accountability for as well. But sadly, I stood my ground and I found myself stabbed five times. I was really lucky to come away without any life changing injuries. I was stabbed twice in the top of my head, under my eye and in both sides. Then there were just numerous smaller cuts across my head and my body really I think whats really is that it was a small blade. Regardless of the side of the blade it went about a centimetre, maybe two centimetres under my left eye. He was just stabbing frantically When I came out of hospital, I felt really lucky to have my eyesight and that I didnt get stabbed in the jugular or anything like that, so it could have been really different. He tries to tell stories of survivors who are still coming to terms with what happened. What this film is not really about is the details that sort of lead up to the stabbing, he maintains. A lot of the contributors dont talk about their stabbing in the film, but we focus on the impact. The reason for that is I came out and got my stiches out within a few weeks, my staples out of my head and I went back to my normal life but feeling very different. I healed up quickly in a physical sense, but what I noticed was a lasting impact on my mental health That surprised me because I had known friends that had been stabbed in the past growing up and none of them had talked about impact on their mental health. One of his friends, Twizzy, had been stabbed over 20 years ago and opens up to him in the film for the first time about their shared connection. He was stabbed years before me and 20 years later he still feels the ripples of what happened and has some anger, and is still affected by night terrors, he points out. I think thats interesting that two close friends can have a close experience like that and not talk. So, I was really intrigued going into this film to explore whether other people had been affected by stabbings like me, because it flipped my world upside down. While Aodhs perpetrator was never convicted some assailants do face justice. One survivor Kurtis tells of his he was stabbed in the back by as random stranger last year, who got 12 years in jail for the attack. When I met Kurtis I could tell he was still trying to make sense of why someone could hurt him so randomly and care so little for his life and I think thats something I related to and felt as well, he notes. But what I did see in him that was different was that through seeing this perpetrator being convicted he seemed to be free of the sense of anger and fear and injustice that I still carried. He seemed to have a sense of closure that I didnt. One answer is restorative justice, where the survivor can reach out to the perpetrator and try and look for an opening up about what happened between them. I feel if more people who have been stabbed receive therapy there might be less stabbings, because those people would have coping mechanisms and might be less fearful and be less susceptible to retaliation, he stresses. The group made its way to Glasnevin Cemetery to mark hunger strike commemoration. A masked Republican colour party marched through Dublin at the weekend to mark National Hunger Strike Commemoration in Glasnevin cemetery. The parade was organised by Anti Imperialist Action Ireland, a Socialist Republican Organisation that campaigns against Brit, EU and US Imperialism in Ireland. Masked men in berets and dark uniforms were filmed marching along Prospect Road in Glasnevin and then giving speeches in the nearby graveyard. Republican march in Dublin On Saturday, September 30, Revolutionary Socialist Republicans from all four provinces of Ireland marched to Glasnevin Cemetery for the National Hunger Strike Commemoration organised by Anti Imperialist Action Ireland, the group stated. The organization made particular reference to one of the founding fathers of the Irish Volunteers, founded in 1913. Despite torrential rain, scores of Republicans assembled in Phibsborough and led by a section of the Socialist Republican Colour Party, marched to one of Glasnevins Republican plots and the grave of the first Republican hunger strike martyr, Thomas Ashe. Speeches in Glasnevin Cemetery The crowd included veteran Republicans, ex POWs (prisoners of war) a number of former Hunger Strikers and Anti Imperialist youth all committed to the one struggle. Thomas Ashe died in 1917 as he sought prisoner of war status in Mountjoy Prison. Further Republican Socialist commemorations took place on Thursday in North Strand, beneath the bridge at Northbrook Avenue. This was the scene of the shooting of Republican leader, Seamus Costello in 1977, who was blasted with a shotgun as he sat in his car, as part of a feud. Seamus Costello On this day 46 years ago, the great Irish Socialist Republican revolutionary, Volunteer Seamus Costello, was assassinated by counter-revolutionaries. "As founder of the IRSP and INLA, he fought tirelessly for the ideals of a Socialist Republic and the vision of James Connolly, said the Irish Republican Socialist Party, who are planning further events in memory of Mr Costello. The Bray man was allegedly shot dead by a member of the Official IRA, Jim Flynn, who happened to spot Costello by chance. Spot where Costello was killed The Official and Provisional IRA both both denied responsibility and Sinn Fein issued a statement condemning the killing. Members of an opposing INLA faction in Belfast also denied the killing. The INLA eventually deemed Flynn responsible, and he was shot dead in June 1982 in North Strand, very close to the spot where Costello died. At Costellos funeral, former Senator Nora Connolly O'Brien, daughter of Easter Rising leader James Connolly, gave the oration. "Of all the politicians and political people with whom I have had conversations and who called themselves followers of Connolly, he was the only one who truly understood what James Connolly meant when he spoke of his vision of the freedom of the Irish people, she said. The UN International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East was due to take place over two days in the capital from tomorrow A Palestinian man celebrates by a burning Israeli civilian car taken from Kfra Azza kibbutz in Beit Lahiya, Gaza Strip A United Nations(UN) seminar on peace in the Middle East due to be held in Dublin Castle on Monday has been cancelled in wake of the Hamas attack on Israel. The UN International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East was due to take place over two days in the capital from tomorrow. However, following the Hamas attack and Israels declaration of war on the Palestinian organisation based in Gaza, the UN decided to postpone the even. An email sent by the Department of Foreign Affairs to participants said: As you will be aware, on 7 October Hamas launched a major military attack on Israel. Israel has since declared a state of war. On recommendation from the United Nations, the Department of Foreign Affairs has agreed to cancel the International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East 9-10 October, it added. The department apologised for any inconvenience the decision may have caused people travelling to the event. A spokesperson for Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin said the department was due to cos host the even with the UN. This conference is organised annually by the UN and hosted in a different UN Member State capital each year. Given the escalating crisis in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the UN recommended that the event be postponed. DFA accepted that recommendation, he added. Meanwhile, Sinn Fein Chief Whip Padraig Mac Lochlainn TD has written to the Ceann Comhairle and Dail Business Committee request an urgent decision about hostilities in Gaza and Israel. Teachta Mac Lochlainn said: In a statement, Mr Mac Lochlainn said: It is clear that decisive international intervention is needed in Palestine. There must be an urgent end to hostilities in Gaza and Israel. Sinn Fein are calling for decisive international intervention to bring about a lasting and just solution to the Palestinian question. It is appropriate that the Dail would convene at the earliest opportunity to discuss the role that Ireland can play to demonstrate leadership and work with the international community towards securing peace, he added. Labour Party TD Brendan Howlin called on Israel to use restraint when responding to the attacks on its citizens by Hamas. Israel must use restraint in their response or risk plunging the region into a level of violence not seen for decades. Civilians must be protected. Seeking revenge will only deepen the cycle of violence, Mr Howlin said. Neither side will benefit from escalating attacks, and it is civilians who will bear the brunt. It is high time the international community addressed the immoral conditions imposed on the people of Gaza by Israel which is used to justify these latest horrific attacks, he added. The film 'Taking Back Our Beach', which is about the local community response to the 2011 Rena disaster, is opening to packed cinemas on its first weekend, with the bookings for the week ahead also filling up fast. Former mayor Stuart Crosby will be speaking to the audience and answering questions following the film screening on Tuesday night October 10, and Western Bay Wildlife bird expert Paul Cuming will be doing the same on Wednesday night October 11. Around 450 people attended the Bay of Plenty red carpet premiere on Thursday evening, spreading across two cinemas. Following the two screenings, a question and answer session was held with panels made up of interviewees from the film and the filmmakers. For many people interviewed or involved in the making of the film, the premiere was the first time they had seen it. "Went to the premiere tonight with others who were involved in the making of it and was blown away. If you were there at the time 12 years ago bring tissues. That wreck swallowed years of my life (and I make several appearances). It's utterly professional and moving," says Linda Thompson, who was the ICC communications manager during the Rena response. "This is such an amazing documentary. Get along to United Cinemas Bayfair to catch it but be quick its only here for 2 weeks," says Craig Fellows, who experienced the loss of all their family's possessions that were in a container on the Rena. "Put on my glad rags and took myself to the premier of #takingbackourbeach," says Larissa Allen, a local actor and filmmaker. "What an outstanding doco about the power behind community when we work together for good." Michael Seabourne posted: "#takingbackourbeach just saw an amazing kiwi movie about the Rena grounding. Brilliant insight into the impact on the Tauranga community, the bureaucracy and the mobilisation of grassroots community and grace of our tangata whenua." Charity fundraisers An additional element to the film's screenings is the filmmakers making 'Taking Back Our Beach' available for local organisations to run their own fundraiser movie screening and include a guest speaker from amongst the film's interviewees. The Rotary Club of Tauranga Sunrise ran their fundraiser alongside the Thursday night main premiere at an adjacent cinema at United Cinemas Bayfair, with Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Pim de Monchy and mariner Captain Kevin Judkins as guests for their Q&A session. "Having a guest speaker and Q&A just made it all so much more special," says one film-goer. "To have someone there who is in the film who can answer questions is just terrific." Kevin has written a book "120 Days at Astrolabe" which is packed full of photos and daily accounts, with many photos being made available by Kevin for the film. Captain Kevin Judkins, who spent 120 days out at the Rena. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford. At 6.30pm on Tuesday, October 10, PIPS - People, Plants, in Schools, will be hosting a special screening of the film, as a fundraiser, with guest speaker former Tauranga mayor Stuart Crosby for their Q&A session, following the film. Stuart was mayor during the Rena disaster and his insights are unique. Tickets are available here Envirohub and Volunteering Services have joined forces to also hold a fundraiser, at 6.30pm on Wednesday October 11 at United Cinemas Bayfair. "We'll be joined by Paul Cuming of Western Bay Wildlife who has spent many years looking after the birds along our beaches here in the bay," says an Envirohub spokesperson. Paul Cuming with a grey-faced petrel chick. Photo: Supplied. Western Bay Wildlife Trustee Paul Cuming became a "birder" at 15 and at 19 started leading teams around Mauao to study and band grey-faced petrels. Thirty years later the colony remains, due to pest control. Paul also runs the BirdsBOP branch of BirdsNZ. Bird banding, speaking, surveying, and fostering the enjoyment of studying birds are amongst his skill set. He has spent over 1000 hours on the Rena-related penguin work and appears in the film. "We're raising funds for two conservation groups ARRC and Western Bay Wildlife who were instrumental in the care of wildlife before, during, and after the disaster. "Representatives from the charities will be available for a Q&A session at the movie night and funds raised will be shared by the two." The night is also an opportunity to find out more about emergency volunteer opportunies from the Volunteering Services team. Gold Coin raffles are also available on the evening. "It seems fitting to host this movie night to give back to Paul and his organisation who have given so much time to help the wildlife after the Rena disaster," says an Envirohub spokesperson. "We're looking forward to hosting this movie and hope you can join us in a celebration of volunteers and community pulling together in the face of adversity." Tickets to Envirohub/Volunteering Services fundraiser are available here United Cinemas Bayfair is screening the film five times daily during the first week, with additional groups also booking private screenings. Mount Maunganui Intermediate are bringing in 700 students across the next five days and other schools are also planning group bookings for parents and teachers. The cinema has also opened bookings for a second week, providing opportunity for the thousands of volunteers who were involved in the beach clean up in 2011 to come and see the film that showcases the community response. Taking Back our Beach is now screening at cinemas across the Bay of Plenty, including United Cinemas Bayfair, Luxe Cinemas, Whakamax, Katch Katikati, Opotikis De Luxe Theatre, Rotoruas Basement Cinema as well as more than 20 cinemas NZ-wide. For screenings go to www.takingbackourbeach.com People are encouraged to hashtag their social media posts with #takingbackourbeach and share the link with their friends. Tauranga Racecourse has "gone to the dogs" today as pooches and their human pals enjoy Taurangas first Healthy Pets NZ Dogs Day Out. You don't need to be a dog owner to come along with the whole family - dogs included - for a fun-filled day of demos, have-a-gos and a dog-centric market area. The event runs from 9am - 2.30pm, and while anyone can come, dogs must be on a lead and organisers request dog owners please pick up after their dog. Entry is by gold coin donation for humans. while dogs have free entry. Highlights include demonstrations and performances including sheep dog trials, agility displays and conservation dogs in action. Walk the red carpet event where pooches of all shapes and sizes can strut their stuff. Come dressed to impress or use the dress ups provided. Fun competitions that your furry friend can participate in include waggiest tail, look-alikes, best smile, and spottiest dog. The pet-centric market is filled with a variety of vendors offering everything from premium pet food and toys to canine accessories and innovative pet care products. Find that perfect item to pamper your beloved pets and discover new products that can enhance their well-being. There is also a Kids' Corner with a range of educational activities and games, and plenty of food and hot drink stalls. Engage the young ones in a range of educational activities and games designed to teach them about responsible pet ownership, empathy towards animals, and the joy of companionship. Face painting, colouring-in competitions, and interactive sessions will keep them entertained throughout the event. Earlier this morning, the Waikato Sheep Dog Trials demonstration was held followed by a demonstration by the Tauranga & Mt Maunganui Dog Training Club. At 11am, it's time for best look-a-like duo and Best Trickster competitions, and at 11.30am dogs will be walking the red carpet in the PD Insurance Red Carpet Dog Walk competition. A Waikato Sheep Dog Trails demonstration is due to be held again, at 12pm, followed by the Tauranga & Mt Maunganui Dog Training Club demonstration at 12.30pm. At 1pm, DOC Conservation dogs, Scott and Mille will do a demonstration, and at 1.15pm there is the Pawsitivity competition for best human-dog team smiles and obvious enthusiasm. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to spend quality time with your family and beloved pets while gaining valuable knowledge about their health and happiness. The Healthy Pets NZ Dogs Day Out is organised by Healthy Pets NZ which is a registered charity that supports research into improved health and welfare for Kiwi pets. It was established by the Companion Animal Branch of the New Zealand Veterinary Association and is run by a team of volunteer veterinary professionals. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is today expressing grave concern at the escalation of violence in Israel and Gaza, saying there was "no justification" for the Hamas attacks. The New Zealand government is calling for the immediate cessation of violence, with hundreds of people killed in Israel and Gaza after the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched its biggest attack in years. More than 250 people have been killed in Israel, with more than 230 people in Gaza killed in retaliatory strikes. New Zealand condemns unequivocally the terror attacks led by Hamas on Israel. We are appalled by the targeting of civilians, and the taking of hostages which violate fundamental international humanitarian law principles, says Hipkins. New Zealand has designated the military wing of Hamas as a terrorist organisation, and we recognise Israels right to defend itself. We are very concerned that the situation will escalate in the coming days and New Zealand again calls for restraint, the protection of non-combatants, and the upholding of international humanitarian law by all parties. Speaking to media this afternoon, Hipkins says there is "no justification" for these attacks. Hipkins says 87 New Zealanders are registered as being in Israel. One is in Palestinian territory. Earlier, the NZ Jewish Council criticised a statement from the Foreign Minister calling for the immediate end to violence in Gaza and Israel as being "less than unequivocal". Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta says New Zealand is "deeply concerned" about the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Gaza. In a statement, Mahuta says it is essential to protect all civilians, and uphold international humanitarian law. But NZ Jewish Council spokesperson Juliet Moses says the majority of the Jewish community here (in New Zealand) would be disappointed by that statement. She told RNZ that the Jewish community here is "sick with worry". New Zealanders in Israel are advised to remain security conscious; monitor local media and stay informed of developments; register on SafeTravel and, if requiring consular assistance, contact the New Zealand 24/7 Consular Emergency Line on +64 99 20 20 20. One person is reported to be critically injured following a vehicle crash in the Whakatane area. Police are responding to a serious single vehicle crash on Galatea Road, Waiohau reported around 2.30pm. "One person is reported to have critical injuries," says a police spokesperson. "The road is due to be closed for a scene examination and the Serious crash Unit have been notified." Motorists are advised to use alternative routes and avoid the area. At the scene? Phone 0800SUNLIVE or email newsroom@thesun.co.nz CAIRO, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Jordanian King Abdullah II on Sunday discussed efforts to halt the ongoing deadly Palestinian-Israeli escalation over phone talks, said the Egyptian Presidency in a statement. The talks came a day after a massive deadly conflict erupted between the Palestinians and the Israelis in the Gaza Strip that left heavy casualties on both sides. The two leaders "stressed the priority of coordinating regional and international efforts toward ending the escalation and violence, exercising self-restraint, sparing blood and preventing a further exacerbation of the situation," according to the statement. "The two leaders agreed to continue and intensify consultations and coordination between Egypt and Jordan to boost efforts toward achieving calm," said the statement. Cairo and Amman seek to achieve a comprehensive and just settlement for the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution and in a way that ensures regional peace and stability, it added. Egypt and Jordan signed peace treaties with Israel in 1979 and 1994, respectively. Earlier on Sunday, an Egyptian policeman opened fire randomly in the northern city of Alexandria, killing two Israeli tourists and an Egyptian, according to Egypt's AlQahera News TV channel that cited a security source. On Saturday, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which controls Gaza, showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a rare surprise attack that was responded with massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. The Gaza-based Health Ministry's latest update on Sunday said death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 370, with 2,200 others injured, while Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported the death toll in Israel has reached 600. Retail NZ has issued a desperate plea for Government to join forces with retailers to reduce the rapidly escalating retail crime wave after new research unveiled the annual cost to be well over $2.5 billion. The aggression, violence and general crime in our shops is getting worse each day, as increasingly brazen and organised criminals are putting the public and retail employees in imminent danger, says Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young. We can no longer stand by and watch a small section in our society destroy the livelihoods of the families who literally put their lives on the line to build their retail business." Carolyn's organisation has released their Retail Crime Position Statement, which pinpoints the key problems, the impact of retail crime and a series of realistic solutions. The position statement is based on the sobering research by Retail NZ, which shows that 92 per cent of retailers have experienced some form of retail crime in the past 12 months, with increased risk of physical injuries and even death severely impacting the mental health of employees and owners, as well as the ability to attract new staff. Retailers are more often dealing with threatening, violent or just unpleasant customers, trying to steal or damage their property, says Carolyn, who adds that organised crime groups stealing to order, drug addicts and youngsters looking for notoriety on social media are the main drivers behind the spike in retail crime. What makes it worse is that most of them think they can get away with it, treat retail workers like second-class citizens and have no understanding how their actions impact the staff and the business. Carolyn says that retailers identified the social-economic gap as a major factor, along with the lack of police protection, the clogged-up court system and inadequate deterrents for offenders. Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young. Photo: Supplied. There is a role for retailers, Retail NZ and the Government to curb this rising tide of crime and call on the political parties elected to adequately resource police, unclog the court systems and create better deterrents, like the trespass laws used in the UK, says Carolyn. Retail NZ hopes the next Government will also develop more effective mechanisms to respond to younger children committing crimes, creating instant fines for petty offences and specific offences against retail workers. Carolyn says the onus will also be on the retail sector to help themselves and the Government is one of three partners in the battle against crime. She explains how Retail NZ will take the lead in creating better partnerships with the New Zealand Police and other agencies, drive sector-wide solutions like facial recognition and number plate technology, run public awareness campaigns and develop training modules for retailers. And of course retailers themselves are already taking many steps to protect themselves, their customers and their business. Retail NZ encourages retailers to train their staff for emergencies, create stronger links with local police, review all their security systems like cameras and barriers and make sure they provide efficient staff support if an incident occurs. Retailers are fighting for their livelihood, in many cases literally, so we plead with the Government to step up and give them the support to protect the retail sector. If we continue to stand by, the pain and the costs will keep increasing and that cost will flow onto the customers and ultimately the New Zealand economy. Syracuse, N.Y. -- A man was dropped off at a Syracuse hospital with a gunshot wound early Sunday morning, police said. Around 1:19 a.m., A 19-year-old arrived at Upstate University Hospital with a gunshot wound to his hip, according to a news release from Syracuse police Sunday. Police are still working to confirm the location of the shooting, they said. A band of eight Republican chaos agents threw the U.S. House of Representatives into disarray last week when they voted to depose Speaker Kevin McCarthy. What happens next the choice of a new Speaker to lead the slim Republican majority in the House will be the sternest test yet for freshman Rep. Brandon Williams, R-Sennett, who has yet to do much of consequence in his nine months in Washington. BEIRUT, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of rockets and heavy artillery shells were fired toward Israeli positions on the Shebaa Farms, a disputed strip of land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, on early Sunday morning, Lebanese army intelligence sources confirmed to Xinhua. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. Akash_1806 BHPian Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Noida Posts: 64 Thanked: 299 Times The Evolution of India's Car Community: Challenges, Triumphs, and the Road Ahead Hello Everyone, I was not able to find any existing thread about the evolution of car community in India. Here I mention in brief about the history and the challenges faced by the much diverse and varying car culture of India. Would request the mods to merge this post in case a similar thread exists. Introduction The journey of India's car community from the 1950s to the present day is a captivating tale of growth, challenges, and innovation. Cars have transcended mere transportation in India, becoming integral to its societal and economic fabric. In this detailed exploration, we trace the remarkable evolution of the car community, delve into the issues they have faced, and celebrate the ingenious solutions that are shaping the future. The Birth of Indian Automotive Enthusiasm (1950s-1970s): In the early post-independence years, the sight of a car on Indian roads was a rare spectacle. However, it didn't take long for the nation's fascination with automobiles to take root. The indomitable Ambassador and the ever-reliable Fiat graced Indian streets and captured hearts, marking the birth of an automotive love affair that endures. Economic Liberalization and Expansion (1990s-2000s): The 1990s heralded economic liberalization, paving the way for an expanding middle class. International car manufacturers, sensing the potential, flooded the Indian market with diverse options. Car enthusiasts' clubs and events mushroomed across the country, connecting individuals who shared a fervent passion for automobiles. Challenges Faced by the Car Community: As the car community flourished, it encountered several challenges: Pollution and Environmental Concerns: The proliferation of vehicles significantly contributed to air pollution. The urgency for cleaner fuels and eco-friendly initiatives grew palpable. Traffic Congestion: The rapid urbanization that accompanied economic growth brought with it congested roads and agonizingly long commutes. The call for efficient public transport solutions resonated louder than ever. Infrastructure and Safety: Inadequate road infrastructure and lax safety regulations have cast a shadow on the driving experience. The need for upgraded infrastructure and stringent safety standards became paramount. Economic Disparities: The high taxation on luxury cars perpetuated economic disparities. The government recognized the need to make mobility more accessible and affordable for all. Modifications and Legality: In the colorful tapestry of India's car community, one cannot overlook the art of car modifications. Enthusiasts take immense pride in customizing their vehicles, transforming them into unique expressions of personal style and passion. However, this passion for modifications often treads a fine line when it comes to legality. The Fascination with Car Modifications: Car enthusiasts in India have a rich tradition of modifying their vehicles. From souped-up engines to eye-catching paint jobs and intricate interior enhancements, these modifications are a testament to the creativity and dedication of the community. The pursuit of personalization has given rise to a thriving aftermarket industry, fueling both economic growth and the spirit of individuality. Legal Complexities: While the desire to modify cars runs deep, navigating the legal framework can be challenging. India has stringent regulations governing vehicle modifications, primarily aimed at ensuring road safety and emissions control. This often leads to a complex maze of approvals and certifications. Emission Standards: One of the primary concerns of vehicle modifications is their impact on emissions. India has adopted progressively stricter emission standards over the years to combat air pollution. Modifications that result in higher emissions can lead to legal consequences and environmental harm. Safety Regulations: Modifications that compromise a vehicle's structural integrity or safety features can pose significant risks to occupants and other road users. Compliance with safety standards is paramount but often overlooked in the quest for customization. Legal Framework: The Motor Vehicles Act and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules outline the legal framework for vehicle modifications in India. These rules govern everything from engine swaps to body alterations. Complying with these regulations is essential to avoid legal issues. Role of Certification: To ensure that modifications meet safety and environmental standards, certifications from authorized testing agencies are often required. These certifications validate the safety and compliance of modifications. Awareness and Responsible Customization: As the car community in India continues to grow, there is an increasing awareness of the importance of responsible customization. Enthusiasts are educating themselves about the legal aspects and embracing modifications that adhere to safety and environmental standards. Manufacturers and industry associations are also working to provide guidelines and support for legal modifications. Conclusion: Car modifications in India are more than just a hobby; they are a passionate expression of individuality. However, it's crucial for enthusiasts to balance this passion with adherence to legal standards. Responsible customization not only ensures the safety of occupants and other road users but also contributes to environmental conservation. As the car community evolves, a conscientious approach to modifications will be essential to ensure that enthusiasts can continue to celebrate their love for cars within the bounds of the law. Conclusion (continued): The evolution of India's car community mirrors the nation's growth and aspirations. Despite the formidable challenges, innovation is the guiding star for a brighter future. Electric vehicles are becoming mainstream, carpooling is reshaping commutes, and communities are uniting for a common cause. India's car community is on the cusp of a promising era where sustainable mobility coexists harmoniously with its rich automotive heritage. By proactively addressing challenges and embracing forward-thinking solutions, enthusiasts are ensuring that their love for cars remains an integral part of India's dynamic narrative. The road ahead is both challenging and exciting, promising a future where passion for automobiles and responsible mobility unite in perfect harmony. Please feel free to post interesting pictures/facts/stories in this thread highlighting their importance and motto in this evolution. Let this thread be the place where all like minded enthusiasts share thoughts about 'The Indian Car Scene'. Regards Akash Last edited by Akash_1806 : 4th October 2023 at 15:14 . Reason: Minir editing anjan_c2007 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 7,973 Thanked: 18,552 Times View My Garage Singapore is the costliest place in the world to own a car with COE @S$ 106,000 To own a car in Singapore a buyer must bid for a certificate that costs S $106,000 as a post-pandemic recovery has driven up the cost of the city-state's vehicle quota system to all-time highs. The quota, offered through a bidding process, has made it the most expensive city in the world to buy a car, with the COE for a large car more than quadrupling from 2020 prices on Wednesday to a record S$146,002. Including COE, registration fees and taxes, a new standard Toyota Camry hybrid costs S$251,388 in Singapore, compared with S $28,855 in the US. A small, government subsidised flat in Singapore costs about S$125,000. In 2020, when fewer people in Singapore were driving, the price of COEs dropped to about S$30,000; a post-Covid-19 increase in economic activity has led to more car purchases while the total number of vehicles on the road is capped at about 950,000. The number of new COEs available depends on how many older cars are deregistered. The rocketing price puts cars out of reach of most middle-class Singaporeans, putting a dent in what sociologist Tan Ern Ser said was the Singapore Dream of upward social mobility having cash, a condominium and a car. The median annual household salary in Singapore is S$121,188. Singaporeans have been battered by persistent inflation and a slowing economy and some are selling the cars they bought when COE prices were low to make a profit. There is a need to lower ones aspiration from achieving the 'good life' to settling with a 'good enough life', Tan said. Jason Guan, 40, an insurance agent and father of two, said he bought his first car, a Toyota Rush, for S$65,000 in 2008, including the price of the COE. Now Guan lives without a car, focusing on other perks Singapore offers for his family. As a family man, it doesnt affect me much as Singapore still has a good and stable education system. In terms of security, it's still one of the safest countries, he said. (One Singapore Dollar equals 60.76 Indian Rupees and 0.73 US $) The newslinks:- https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67014420 https://www.timeslive.co.za/motoring...-to-own-a-car/ Singapore has a 10-year 'certificate of entitlement' (COE) system, introduced in 1990, to control the number of vehicles in the small country which is home to 5.9-million people and can be driven across in less than an hour.To own a car in Singapore a buyer must bid for a certificate that costs S $106,000 as a post-pandemic recovery has driven up the cost of the city-state's vehicle quota system to all-time highs.The quota, offered through a bidding process, has made it the most expensive city in the world to buy a car, with the COE for a large car more than quadrupling from 2020 prices on Wednesday to a record S$146,002.Including COE, registration fees and taxes, a new standard Toyota Camry hybrid costs S$251,388 in Singapore, compared with S $28,855 in the US. A small, government subsidised flat in Singapore costs about S$125,000.In 2020, when fewer people in Singapore were driving, the price of COEs dropped to about S$30,000; a post-Covid-19 increase in economic activity has led to more car purchases while the total number of vehicles on the road is capped at about 950,000. The number of new COEs available depends on how many older cars are deregistered.The rocketing price puts cars out of reach of most middle-class Singaporeans, putting a dent in what sociologist Tan Ern Ser said was the Singapore Dream of upward social mobility having cash, a condominium and a car.The median annual household salary in Singapore is S$121,188.Singaporeans have been battered by persistent inflation and a slowing economy and some are selling the cars they bought when COE prices were low to make a profit.There is a need to lower ones aspiration from achieving the 'good life' to settling with a 'good enough life', Tan said.Jason Guan, 40, an insurance agent and father of two, said he bought his first car, a Toyota Rush, for S$65,000 in 2008, including the price of the COE.Now Guan lives without a car, focusing on other perks Singapore offers for his family.As a family man, it doesnt affect me much as Singapore still has a good and stable education system. In terms of security, it's still one of the safest countries, he said.(One Singapore Dollar equals 60.76 Indian Rupees and 0.73 US $)The newslinks:- Last edited by anjan_c2007 : 5th October 2023 at 17:24 . VLC media player is a free and open source cross-platform multimedia player that plays most multimedia files as well as discs, devices, and network streaming. It supports many new devices inputs, formats, metadata and improves most of the current ones, preparing for the next-gen codecs. For subtitles you can download VLSub. Why is VLC so popular? VLC Media Player has grown its user base over the years thanks to its simplicity, wide support for a variety of formats, and features which allow all sorts of video manipulation and enhancements. Is VLC compatible with Windows 11? VLC media player is compatible with all versions of Windows, including Windows 11. VLC player is a cross-platform media player, so it's also available for macOS, Linux and Android. What does VLC stand for? VLC stands for VideoLAN Client. VLC media player, as it's now called, began to exist around 1996 as a project from the Ecole Centrale Paris consisting of a client and server designed to stream videos. What video formats does VLC support? VLC offers support for the following video formats: MPEG-1/2, DivX (1/2/3/4/5/6), MPEG-4 ASP, XviD, 3ivX D4, H.261, H.263 / H.263i, H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC, Cinepak, Theora, Dirac / VC-2, MJPEG (A/B), WMV 1/2, WMV 3 / WMV-9 / VC-1, Sorenson 1/3, DV, On2 VP3/VP5/VP6, Indeo Video v3 (IV32), Real Video (1/2/3/4). What audio formats does VLC support? VLC player offers support for the following audio formats: MPEG Layer 1/2, MP3 - MPEG Layer 3, AAC - MPEG-4 part3, Vorbis, AC3 - A/52, E-AC-3, MLP / TrueHD>3, DTS, WMA 1/2, WMA 3, FLAC, ALAC, Speex, Musepack / MPC, ATRAC 3, Wavpack, Mod, TrueAudio, APE, Real Audio, Alaw/law, AMR (3GPP), MIDI, LPCM, ADPCM, QCELP, DV Audio, QDM2/QDMC, MACE. Can VLC play DVDs? VLC can play all kinds of DVDs, including discs with protection. However, the legality of using VLC to play protected DVDs depends on where you are located. What's New VLC 3.0.18 is the nineteenth update of "Vetinari": Major adaptive streaming updates Codec updates Fix seeking for some formats (e.g. oog) Fix playback of numerous files on some older GPU graphics cards Avoid a playlist live loop in case of only very tiny or failed items Many updates of third party libraries Numerous crash fixes Fix some SMB protocol behaviors Fixed multiple security issue Demux: Fix some FLAC VBR files playback regression Fix black screen on poorly edited MP4 files on Android Mediacodec Fix AVI files with flipped RAW video planes Fix duration on short and small Ogg/Opus files Fix some HLS/TS streams with ID3 prefix Fix for GoPro MAX spatial metadata Contribs: Update of fluidlite, fixing some MIDI rendering on Windows Update of zlib to 1.2.13 (CVE-2022-37434) Misc: Fix some rendering issues on Linux with the fullscreen controller Fix some MPRIS inconsistencies that broke some OS widgets on Linux Fixes for Youtube playback Fix some crashes on macOS when switching application Fix password search using the Kwallet backend Fix 5.1/7.1 output on macOS and tvOS Multiple fixes on AAC handling VLC 3.0 Highlights About a month ago, Qualcomm put out a barebones press release just three sentences announcing that they had reached an agreement to continue to selling modems to Apple. This hits pause on the doom narrative running around Qualcomm lately based on the pending loss of their largest customer, representing 20% of revenue. Some background: Apple and Qualcomm do not get along well. Apple avoided using Qualcomm modems from the earliest days of the iPhone. They only switched to Qualcomm in 2019, after settling a multi-billion dollar lawsuit. It is clear Apple would have been perfectly happy spending more billions on legal fees, but was forced to settle when their incumbent modem supplier Intel told them they would not have a 5G modem ready in time for the next iPhone. Editor's Note: Guest author Jonathan Goldberg is the founder of D2D Advisory, a multi-functional consulting firm. Jonathan has developed growth strategies and alliances for companies in the mobile, networking, gaming, and software industries. At the time, there were widespread rumors that Apple viewed the supply arrangement as temporary and planned to build their own modem. Apple then confirmed those rumors when they purchased Intel's modem business in 2019 for almost $1 billion. Qualcomm management went on to warn that they had built their long-term plan around the assumption that they would lose the Apple business starting with the 2024 iPhone. Since then, everyone has been waiting to see what Apple's modem would look like. And waiting. There have been reports of setbacks along the way. We wrote back in a mid-2022 piece titled "Is Apple Failing at Modems?": So it is very possible that Apple just did not have sufficient design experience to build the chip. If we had to guess, maybe they completed a design but found that its power performance did not meet expectations. It is important to remember that Apple has failed at building networking chips before. Ten years ago they acquired a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth team from Texas Instruments, but today Apple is still buying those chips from Broadcom. Put simply, building modems is hard, and very different from building the purely digital processors at which Apple excels. So what does this mean now? For starters, Qualcomm gets some breathing room. As we noted last quarter: Ultimately, Qualcomm's story remains unchanged. They have made some smart strategic bets in areas like RF, automotive and IoT, but these all have long design cycles and it will be several years before they (especially automotive) become material to earnings. At the same time, the loss of Apple looms. So their numbers are a race between the sunset of the Apple business and the ramp of those businesses. This quarter despite all its pitfalls does not change that outlook. It now seems that Qualcomm does not expect Apple to have its own modem until the 2027 iPhone at the earliest. By then, Qualcomm should be showing significant automotive revenue and probably (hopefully?) have a very strong story around the growth of that opportunity. There is also the potential for Apple and Qualcomm to mend fences. In the future, we can write about what we think lies at the heart of the bad blood between the two companies, but at this point we have to think that both companies have to be getting tired of this. Tim Cook strikes us as ultimately pragmatic, we question how wed he really is to an internal modem. And Qualcomm's CEO built his career negotiating some of the biggest companies of the day (i.e. the telecom operators). So maybe there is room for more a amicable relationship. Maybe. A potent and deadly class of synthetic opioids known as Nitazenes has been linked to the tragic deaths of six individuals in Northern Ireland, BBC reports. These street drugs, estimated to be a staggering 500 times more potent than morphine, have emerged as a severe public health crisis, and their rapid proliferation is causing mounting concern among health authorities. The victims, with an average age of just 28, have fallen prey to the extreme potency and addictive nature of Nitazenes, raising alarm bells across the region. The gravity of this crisis has been underscored by Coroner Joe McCrisken, who described Nitazenes as "a serious danger to public health." The Danger of Nitazenes A recent study tells us that people who overdosed on nitazenes typically required two or more doses of the overdose-reversing medication naloxone, whereas those who overdosed on fentanyl usually needed only one dose. Nitazenes, developed 60 years ago as potential painkillers, have never been approved for medical or therapeutic use due to their extraordinary potency and addictive qualities. Recent years have seen Nitazenes implicated in thousands of deaths in the United States. These drugs have been secretly mixed with other substances, including heroin, cocaine, and street pills. Whether injected, inhaled, or swallowed, combining Nitazenes with other substances, particularly alcohol, significantly elevates the risk of overdose and death. The Public Health Agency (PHA) in Northern Ireland has issued warnings about the varying potency levels of these new synthetic opioids, emphasizing that most fatal overdoses result from multiple types of drugs. Read Also: Ketamine-Based Nasal Spray Can Be a Better Option for Patients With Depression, Clinical Trial Finds How the Drug Works Intriguingly, opioids like morphine, heroin, and fentanyl act within the brain's mu-opioid receptors, offering both pain relief and euphoria, albeit with drowsy consequences at high doses, The Conversation explains. Fentanyl exceeds its counterparts, activating these receptors at remarkably lower doses. Nitazenes, on the other hand, surpasses fentanyl's potency, with N-desethyl isotonitazene rendering pain relief nearly tenfold more efficiently than fentanyl and a staggering 1,400 times more effectively than morphine, as demonstrated in a rat study. A Global Crisis The dire situation in Northern Ireland is not isolated. The Guardian reports that similar concerns have arisen in other parts of the United Kingdom, such as Scotland and the Midlands in England, where a sharp rise in drug overdoses and deaths prompted public health warnings earlier this year. Alex Bunting, Group director of therapeutic and wellbeing services at Inspire in Belfast, commented on the six recent deaths, stating that they reinforce that a global synthetic drugs crisis has reached Northern Ireland. Gary McMichael, chief executive of the charity ASCERT, which offers alcohol and drug addiction support services across Northern Ireland, has described Nitazenes as a "game changer" regarding the risk of serious harm, overdose, and death. Addressing this crisis is paramount, with Mr. McMichael emphasizing the need for a comprehensive strategy to prevent further tragedies. Vulnerable individuals, already struggling with substance abuse, are becoming even more exposed due to funding cuts and resource limitations, creating additional stress on support systems. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Beijing Is Pushing to Ban the Use of AI-Generated Medical Prescriptions 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ordered Tesla CEO Elon Musk to testify in court as part of an ongoing investigation into his purchase of social media company Twitter, which has since been renamed "X." The SEC says the tech mogul promised to testify on September 15 but did not, despite the subpoena. Elon Musk unexpectedly informed the SEC staff that he would not be appearing in his scheduled testimony two days before it started. Consequently, the commission filed a request to force Elon Musk to abide by a previously issued subpoena for an inquiry on Thursday in a federal court in San Francisco, according to AP News. In its court document, the SEC noted that Elon Musk's objections, including one to the testimony site's selection of San Francisco, the location of X's headquarters, were untimely and without merit. The Elon Musk investigation focuses on the sequence of events that led to his purchase of the popular social media platform Twitter, finalized in October 2022 following a long legal dispute with Twitter's prior management. He first agreed to buy Twitter in April 2022 but subsequently tried to back out, leading Twitter to sue him to enforce the Elon Musk Twitter acquisition. The SEC started looking into whether any securities laws were broken about Musk's purchases of Twitter stock and his associated claims and SEC filings in April 2022. The SEC stated that its probe covers Musk's 2022 Twitter share buys, statements, filings, and a specific SEC filing's date and information. Read Also: Sam Bankman-Fried Trial: FTX Co-Founder Accuses Alameda Research of 'Taking Customers' Money' Elon Musk Wants 'Punitive Action' Against SEC The commission sued Elon Musk, alleging that his reluctance to testify was unconstitutional and that he failed to present acceptable grounds. Notably, Elon Musk has a history of tense encounters with the SEC, per ARS Technica. He stressed that these regulatory organizations needed a complete overhaul and a committee "to take punitive action against those individuals who have abused their regulatory power for personal and political gain." Musk said he was eager for these modifications to be implemented. The SEC offered to hold the testimony at its Fort Worth, Texas, office, which is closer to Musk's home, to allay his concerns; nonetheless, the Tesla CEO declined to come. According to the SEC, Musk's opposition is impeding and holding up the agency's probe into possible breaches of federal securities laws. Following the SEC's court filing, Elon Musk jokingly posted on X (formerly Twitter): "If there's a big scandal about me, my only request is that it be called Elongate." Elon Musk Biography is Not an Excuse Furthermore, Elon Musk claimed that his non-compliance was due to the recent release of his biography by Walter Isaacson, stating that the book may include important information. However, the SEC rejected this objection, claiming that the tech billionaire cannot use the publication of the Elon Musk biography as an excuse to evade the subpoena's legal requirements. According to the SEC, its team is still investigating Elon Musk's Twitter acquisition and has not determined if anybody violated federal securities laws, CNBC reported. Related Article: X, YouTube, Telegram Ordered by India to Remove Any Child Sexual Abuse Material on Their Platforms 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. OpenAI, the pioneering company behind ChatGPT and other powerful AI models, is looking into developing its own AI chips to alleviate the scarcity of AI hardware. Internal conversations have focused on possible solutions to this problem, including considering the acquisition of an AI chip maker, even though no formal decision has been taken. The tech firm has been examining several possibilities since last year to address the shortage of expensive AI processors, which are essential to its operations, according to sources. These alternatives include developing and producing its own AI chips, enhancing partnerships with well-known chipmakers like Nvidia, and expanding its processors supply outside Nvidia. When it comes to the plan of OpenAI to develop its own chips, the firm has kept mum and declined to make any public statements, according to Reuters. AI Chips are In-Demand Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has underlined the necessity of obtaining more AI chips, citing worries about the dearth of cutting-edge processors that power OpenAI's state-of-the-art software and the prohibitive costs involved with maintaining the requisite hardware infrastructure. ChatGPT and other OpenAI applications are expensive. Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon estimates ChatGPT pays 4 cents for every inquiry. An initial investment of over $48.1 billion in GPUs would be needed to scale up to a small portion of Google's search activity, as well as an ongoing yearly chip cost of roughly $16 billion. The GPU supply chain is under great stress due to the spike in demand for generative AI, which benefits GPU producers like Nvidia. Microsoft, a significant GPU user, has issued a warning about probable service interruptions caused by a serious lack of AI server hardware. In addition, high-performance AI processors from Nvidia apparently won't be ready until 2024. The cost of utilizing these GPUs is high, but they are essential for operating and supplying OpenAI's AI models, which rely on cloud-based clusters of GPUs to manage client workloads. Read Also: SEC Files Motion for Elon Musk's Testimony in Twitter Takeover Investigation In its effort to develop its own AI processors, OpenAI is not acting alone. With Google's Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) and Amazon's sale of custom processors for AI training and inferencing, IT behemoths like Google and Amazon have already entered this market. According to reports, Microsoft and AMD are developing the Athena internal AI processor, which OpenAI is testing. OpenAI can invest heavily in R&D with over $11 billion in venture capital funding and sales approaching $1 billion yearly. The tech company is reportedly contemplating a share sale to increase its secondary-market valuation to $90 billion, according to TechCrunch. Sam Altman Aims to Solve Climate Change Using AI In related news, Sam Altman recently voiced his ideas on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on geoengineering's potential to tackle climate change. i wish the world were studying solar geoengineering more. clearly have misgivings about it, but it's so relatively cheap that i think some country is just going to do it if/when the climate crisis gets bad enough as a temporary patch. would be great to learn more before then. Sam Altman (@sama) October 5, 2023 According to VentureBeat, Altman underlined the need to research solar geoengineering, recognizing its potential as a practical means of reducing climate change. He was optimistic about future scientific breakthroughs, especially in exploration. "The scientific discoveries of the coming few decades will be breathtaking," he tweeted. Related Article: Top 5 Best AI Art Generator Software in 2023 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. ISTANBUL, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday that Turkiye is ready to do its part to stop the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and reduce escalated tension. "Turkiye is ready to do its best to stop the clashes as soon as possible and reduce the tension that has escalated with the recent incidents," Erdogan said at the inauguration ceremony of a Syriac Orthodox Church in Istanbul. He said the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is the root of the problems in the region, and lasting peace is only possible through a final settlement. "We are determined to intensify and continue our diplomatic efforts to restore calm," Erdogan added, urging the conflicting sides to avoid taking steps that would escalate the tension and deepen the problem. Erdogan said the issue must be resolved in accordance with international law so the region can achieve lasting peace and stability. AMMAN, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- King Abdullah II of Jordan and United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Sunday discussed the dangerous military escalation in Gaza and the need for the Palestinians and the Israelis to exercise self-restraint. During a phone call on Sunday, the Jordanian leader highlighted the UAE's important role in containing the situation and stopping the military escalation, particularly at the United Nations Security Council. He also underlined the need to step up joint efforts to de-escalate the tension, according to a statement by the Royal Hashemite Court. In a separate phone call with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday, the Jordanian king stressed Jordan's unwavering position towards the Palestinian cause, underlining the need to find a political solution that guarantees all the just and legitimate rights of the Palestinians. He said that peace and stability could not be reached without a just and comprehensive resolution of the Palestinian issue on the basis of the two-state solution, according to the statement. In a phone call he received from European Council President Charles Michel on Sunday, the Jordanian king said that in the absence of a just solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the situation will continue to deteriorate and the dangerous escalation will continue. The Jordanian king called for stepping up joint efforts to push the two sides towards committing to self-restraint, protecting civilians, and respecting international humanitarian law. According to the study, sperm are proficient in different swimming styles As a result of a violent collision, the Earth's mantle could still contain remnants of the primordial planet YouTube is cracking down on ad blockers and making its subscription more expensive As a result of a violent collision, remnants of the primordial planet could still be found in the Earth's mantle Cologne: Shooting at teenagers 16-year-old is said to have threatened police officers with a knife Teachers' Everyday Life at Berlin's Hotspot School: Schools Must Learn More from Each Other "The story behind it is stronger than the song" Biting attack on child in Bremen: Dog owners to take an exam in the future Rainbow armband in Qatar: "We have been abandoned by the authorities", says Didier Deschamps He came behind Messi and Haaland. Enrique: Mbappe will win the Ballon d'Or many times Tennis in Paris: Zverev out in the round of 13 - 15th bankruptcy in the <>th duel against top players Looking for someone to blame: why Manchester United and Bayern can sack ten Hag and Tuchel The Government will eliminate tomorrow the exemption for the Church in the tax on constructions and works China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology: By 2025, the complete humanoid robot products will reach the international advanced level The court of St. Petersburg ruled to recover $1.5 billion from Europol GAZ in violation of the ban Is the former president and former president of "Tamron" diverting more than 1 million yen for personal use? The UN will create an advisory body on Artificial Intelligence: "We urgently need a framework to deal with the risks" Abu Obeida: The enemy's losses are "much greater" than what is announced, and we will make Gaza the "curse of history" on him Reuters: The United States plans to announce a new tranche for Ukraine in the amount of $425 million The Swedish Prison and Probation Service: Cannot expand at the same rate as the Tido Agreement requires "Fraud, bankruptcy and legalization": the ex-head of one of the largest defense enterprises is on trial in the Moscow region What is the curse of the "eighth decade" that Ehud Barak feared and Abu Obeida waved? Matthew Perry's Estate: His Parents and Five Siblings, the Possible Heirs to His Million-Dollar Fortune Heavyweight enterprises layout the payment market The user experience is similar to that of mainstream payment platforms Nebenzia said that Israel does not have the right to self-defense as an occupying country Habeck stands up to German anti-Semitism from both the right and the left Ehime Ozu Mountain forest fire continues to spread, water to be released from the sky by helicopter Habeck stands up to German anti-Semitism from both the right and the left Equatorial Guinea has offered itself as a platform for the next Russia-Africa summit Communities 2019 - Privacy The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them. KHARTOUM, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Sudan on Saturday voiced support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people in response to the developments in the Palestinian territories earlier on the day. "Sudan renews its support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people in their independent state and calls for commitment to the decisions of the international legitimacy and the protection of innocent civilians," the Sudanese Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "The decline in international concern with the Palestinian issue, including the absence of progress relating to the two-state solution, has led to continued violence and tensions in the region," said the statement. It added that today's incidents confirmed that the absence of a solution to the prolonged conflict in the area would push the region into a new era of instability. The ministry further expressed concern about the developments in Palestine, stressing the need to resolve the Palestinian issue in accordance with decisions of international legitimacy and to enable the Palestinians to establish their independent state. Earlier on Saturday, Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), launched a surprise attack on Israel, which included the firing of thousands of rockets and the infiltration of dozens of militants into the Israeli towns bordering Gaza. In response, Israel launched tens of airstrikes against Hamas sites and residential buildings in Gaza. The fierce confrontation has led to hundreds of deaths on both sides. WASHINGTON Rep. Steve Scalise spent Wednesday afternoon trying to line up the additional support he needs to become speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives after winning just enough votes in a closed-door morning session to become the Republican majoritys pick to oversee the chamber. Swedish artist Annika Nordenskiold has won the worlds first artificial intelligence art award at the Ballarat International Foto Biennale with a life-like image of sisters cuddling an octopus, which she created using computer prompts. Twin Sisters in Love (2023) by Annika Nordenskiold. Credit: Ballarat International Foto Biennale Accepting the $2000 first prize on Sunday from Sweden for the winning image Twin Sisters in Love (2023), Nordenskiold said: I understand the fear of AI and find it somewhat healthy. But I see it more like a colleague I am working with. None of these places, people or creatures exist in the physical realm, said the artist who recently had an exhibition of her work in Stockholm called We dont exist, and is about to publish her third book using text prompts to create photo-like images. Many people say my pictures make them uncomfortable ... When I explain that AI creates them as a kind of collage... many laugh, others are distressed and find them disgusting, she said of the pictures she has created using the AI program Midjourney. Support for the Indigenous Voice continues to slide in Queensland and is now lower than in any other state, as the campaign enters its final days before Saturdays historic national vote. Only 36 per cent of Queenslanders say they will vote Yes for constitutional change, a fall from the weak 39 per cent recorded about a month ago. An exclusive poll by Resolve Political Monitor shows even Brisbanes inner-city residents, a more progressive voting bloc than in the regions, fall on the side of the No camp by four percentage points. After Queensland, Western Australia has the next hardest No vote, with only 39 per cent of respondents saying they will vote for change. Tasmania was the only state with a Yes majority (56 per cent). It was absolutely amazing, everyone was on the dance floor, she said, before admitting it could all be quite stressful. Loading Being underage, all Mias events were alcohol-free, including before and after parties, and their bags were checked at the formal, which she said was extremely well managed by the school. This is not always the case. U-Nome party security owner Naomi Oakley said for some formals, the five-stage process could end with students wiping themselves out. When you are dealing with minors, its a tangled web, she said. Oakley runs A Night Wasted, online training for parents hosting formal events, who sometimes dont know what they are getting themselves into. She said these events could end in serious sexual assaults and children being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Parents are trusting you to do the right thing by their child who is at your home, she said. We are seeing a lot more drug activity. We are getting dealers circling properties in their cars. A waiver regarding alcohol a parent has received. Alcohol permission waivers for parties are also circulating. One parent, who didnt want to be identified, said she refused to sign one when her son went to a party. Lawyer John Melia said parental alcohol waivers would not protect parents from liability and they still needed to comply with responsible service of alcohol guidelines and rules. It would also not prevent students drinking before they arrived at the party. What they like to do is they like to pre-load before they get to a party, he said. Unfortunately if you havent got proper security people ... it can be a nightmare. You as the home owner owe a duty of care to the people coming into your property. If you dont look after them and something goes wrong, you could be sued. Melia said parents could face both criminal and civil action. There are risks. Theyre really serious risks. Theres been incidences where kids have taken drugs. Its just a litany of things that go on with underage parties and drinking. Melia said schools were working with parents to actively stamp out alcohol permission agreements and schools were active in calling parents if teenagers appeared to be drunk at formals. But not all formal events lead to trouble. Shane Hicks, owner of 1800 Limo City, said his school formal clients were the best behaved of his clientele. No one is drunk, theres never any trouble. Hicks said students were mature and dont get the credit they deserve. Hicks said he charged between $400 and $650 an hour for a limousine, which could fit 16 people. Its not just a drop-off at the formal. Hicks will also pick students up, and take them to a private home to get changed and eat before they go to an after-party. Its their night, a big night for kids. Its definitely like a wedding, he said. Hicks deals predominantly with the students from both private and public schools from every corner of Melbourne who he said in many cases saved their own money and booked the limo themselves. If you are going to work at Maccas, you arent going to [not spend your money on a formal] because the economy is in crisis; I dont think the kids care about that, he said. Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals president Colin Axup said schools had clear guidelines on expected behaviours for school formals, including running information sessions on safe partying for students. While a school cant control what happens before or after, they make it clear what the school will deem acceptable, he said. Axup said the school formal for some was pushed as the be all and end all, as the pinnacle of the year, but he believed it was just one of many celebrations in year 12. Every Melbourne council is using a weed killer that a World Health Organisation agency says probably causes cancer, despite residents and the council workers union calling for it to be banned. Three councils Port Phillip, Frankston and Brimbank recently reintroduced glyphosate-based weed killer after phasing it out following community concerns about possible links to some types of cancer. Albert Park resident Michelle Ronan is calling on her local council to reverse its decision to reintroduce glyphosate as a weed killer. Credit: Simon Schluter It comes as a landmark class action lawsuit plays out in the Federal Court in Melbourne involving 800 Australians who claim their diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma is linked to using glyphosate-based weed killer Roundup. Jennifer Marriott, the president of the Municipal and Utilities Workers Union, said it was concerning that councils were using a substance that was banned in many parts of the world. The Palestinian Authoritys representative in Canberra has called on the Albanese government to take an active role brokering peace in the Middle East after the outbreak of war between Hamas and Israel. Izzat Abdulhadis comments followed Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses condemnation of attacks on Israel by militant Palestinian group Hamas at the weekend as abhorrent as he asserted Israels right to defend itself. Palestinian Authority representative Izzat Abdulhadi. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Of course people are worried about escalation, but Israel has a right to defend itself and it will be doing so. This is an attack on Israel by Hamas that has no precedent, Albanese said on Sunday. He did not repeat a call, made by Foreign Minister Penny Wong in a statement on Saturday night, for the exercise of restraint and protection of civilian lives. A narrow majority of NSW voters have confirmed their rejection of the Indigenous Voice despite a late rebound in the states support for the proposal. Backing for the Voice has increased to 48 per cent over the past month across NSW after sinking as low as 44 per cent in August and September. But the move has not been strong enough to drive the state into the Yes camp, with 52 per cent of voters saying they oppose the change. The exclusive findings in the Resolve Political Monitor show the tightening of the NSW contest when the Yes campaign regards the state as vital to victory because it faces large No votes in Queensland and Western Australia. Voters in Sydneys inner suburbs strongly support the Voice, with 59 per cent in favour and 41 per cent against on a yes or no question akin to the referendum, but the mood is starkly different in other parts of the state. Victorians have cut their support for the Indigenous Voice in a move that weakens a small national swing towards the Yes campaign, with 54 per cent of state voters saying they oppose the change. The statewide majority against the Voice has grown from 51 per cent in August and September and now holds a clear lead in the final week of the referendum, dashing early hopes in the Yes campaign about the scale of Victorian support. Fifty two per cent of NSW voters are now against the Voice, as well as 64 per cent of Queenslanders, 61 per cent of West Australians and 56 per cent of South Australian voters. The findings suggest the Voice is on track for defeat on the double majority test that requires a national majority of voters and most states to vote yes, with Tasmania set apart with 56 per cent of its voters in favour of change. Cheyenne, WY (82001) Today A mix of clouds and sun with gusty winds. High 59F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 43F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. CAIRO, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron held phone talks on Saturday during which they discussed regional and international efforts to contain the ongoing deadly Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Gaza Strip. "The call touched on consultation and coordination regarding efforts to stop the current escalation in the Gaza Strip between the Palestinians and Israelis," said the Egyptian presidency in a statement. Sisi and Macron expressed "deep concern" over the dangerous deterioration of the situation, stressing the need for intensified international and regional efforts to stop the ongoing violence. The Egyptian president noted that Egypt has extensively contacted the Israeli and Palestinian sides as well as international and regional parties to contain the current escalation, according to the statement. Sisi also warned that further violence and escalation might drag the region into "a vicious circle of tension" and undermine regional stability and security. Earlier on Saturday, Israeli airstrikes on Gaza killed at least 232 people and injured 1,697, according to the Palestinian enclave's health ministry. The Israeli raids followed an earlier rocket attack by the Hamas militant group that controls Gaza. Israeli medical sources said that the new round of conflict between the two sides left at least 150 Israelis dead. Hamas also held some Israeli civilians and soldiers as hostages, as confirmed by Israeli officials. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Saturday that Israel was "in a state of war" and ordered a full mobilization of reserves. Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held an emergency meeting with senior officials, emphasizing the right of the Palestinian people to defend themselves against Israeli forces and settlers. Engaged in a peace treaty with Israel since 1979, Egypt has for years been a key regional peacemaker in the decades-long Palestinian-Israeli conflict. 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. Amit Shah justifiesneed to replace IPC DEHRADUN, UNION Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday justified the need to replace the IPC, CrPC and the Evidence Act saying any law becomes obsolete after 50 years. There has been no change in the IPC, CrPC or the Evidence Act since 1860. Any law becomes obsolete after 50 years. The scale of crime has changed, and so has the method of committing them but there has been no change in the method of dealing with them, Shah said. Addressing the 49th All India Police Science Congress, he said this has had a crippling effect on the countrys criminal justice system. Speaking of the three new legislations -- the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (to replace IPC), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (to replace CrPC) and Bharatiya Sakshya (to replace the Evidence Act) -- under consideration of a parliamentary panel, he said they will replace the three old codes once passed by the Parliament. It will expedite disposal of cases as they wont get inordinately delayed, Shah added. He said numerous reforms right from the home ministry to the last police station have been conceived for Amrit Kaal and it is the time to implement them on the ground. The All India Police Science Congress covers six subjects, including policing in the 5G era, narcotics, challenges of social media, community policing, internal security, coordination between police and the Central Armed Police Forces, Shah said. The scope of the subjects taken up completely cover the countrys internal security, law and order, and border security, the Union Home Minister said. Drawing a comparison between ten years of the UPA and nine years of the Modi Government, Shah cited the substantial decline in incidents of violence in three hot spots - Jammu and Kashmir, left extremist-affected States and the north-east. Labourer killed, six injured in mishap at under-construction flyover Staff Reporter In a major accident at the under-construction flyover in the city, a labourer was killed while six others were injured, on Saturday. The accident took place when construction of a drain was underway and a portion collapsed, trapping seven labourers inside. The deceased has been identified as Devendra from Damoh. Immediately after the incident, workers present at the site used JCB machines to remove soil and rescued trapped labourers but one labourer had breathed his last. The injured were rushed to a private hospital for treatment amidst chaos. Condition of two labourers is said to be critical. Construction of the flyover is being carried out by NCC company with a cost of Rs 1,120 crore. On Saturday afternoon, construction work of the flyover was in progress near Madan Mahal Police Station. Soil was being excavated to construct a drain under the bridge. The work of reinforcing iron was also underway. In the afternoon, when seven labourers were working inside a big pit, soil collapsed and all the labourers got trapped inside. After the incident, loud screams of labourers created uproar. They immediately started rescue operation using JCB machines. They removed soil and all the trapped laborers were rescued. As per information, the injured labourers are from Jharkhand, Panna, Katni and Jabalpur. As soon as information about the incident was received, Madan Mahal Police along with CSP Ritesh Singh reached the scene. One of the injured labourers informed that the pit was being excavated to build a drain in the afternoon. Work of removing the soil was also going on. Suddenly, soil collapsed and everyone got trapped. Station House Officer, Madan Mahal, Praveen Kumar Dhurve informed that an investigation has been initiated after the accident. Information is being gathered about how the accident took place. Police are also investigating where and due to whose negligence the incident happened. He informed that six injured have been admitted to National Hospital for treatment. All are out of danger. Supervisors responsible for monitoring the work of the flyover are also being questioned, he added. New disability pension rules protect interests of personnel, enhance efficiency, says CDS NEW DELHI, THE new rules for granting disability pensions to Armed Forces personnel were brought out following wide-ranging discussions among the three services and they are aimed at protecting interests of genuine people and ensuring a fitter military, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan said on Friday. The provisions of the revised entitlement rules will be applicable for the Armed Forces personnel who retired after September 21 and there will be no retrospective implementation of the norms, he said. The new rules titled Entitlement Rules (ER) for Casualty Pension and Disability Compensation Awards to Armed Forces Personnel, 2023 was brought out based on the recommendations of a study involving the three services, Armed Forces Medical Services and the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare. The aim of the study was to protect the genuine interests of personnel who acquire disability during service while preventing the exploitation of its liberal provisions from misuse, the Chief of Defence Staff said at a media briefing in presence of Navy Chief R Hari Kumar, Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari and Vice Chief of Army Lt Gen M V Suchindra Kumar. The Chief of Defence Staff said most of the concerns of the ex-servicemen community were addressed by a panel of officers at a meeting on October 3. Palestinians have right to defend themselves against terror, says President Abbas TEL AVIV, PALESTINIAN President Mahmoud Abbas chaired a high-level meeting with some top defence officials on Saturday and said that the Palestinian people have the right to defend themselves against the terror of settlers and occupation troops, the official news agency WAFA quoted him as saying. In the emergency meeting, President Abbas directed officials to provide protection for the Palestinian people and provide all that is necessary to bolster the resilience and steadfastness of the Palestinian people in facing the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation and settler gangs, WAFA reported. As per the WAFA news agency, he also gave directions to provide all that is necessary to bolster the resilience and steadfastness of the Palestinian people in facing the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation and settler gangs. Meanwhile, Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant approved the draft of reserve soldiers in accordance with the Israel Defence Forces requirements. He further announced a special security situation in Israels Homefront, within a 0-80 km radius of the Gaza Strip, The Jerusalem Post reported, adding that this further enabled the IDF to provide civilians with safety instructions at close and relevant sites. The daily reported earlier that after a barrage of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, Hamas fighters infiltrated Israel. Following the attack, red alert warning sirens were activated in Tel Aviv, located around 70 kilometres from the Gaza Strip, as well as, Sde Boker, Arad, and Dimona in the south. Revenue Minister inspects crop damage in Nagpur district Staff Reporter Taking serious cognizance of the crop damages due to heavy rains and various diseases in Nagpur district, Maharashtras Revenue, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil visited Nagpur and talked to the affected people. After completing his scheduled programme in Akola, Vikhe Patil visited the affected areas of Kondhali, Katol, Pawanwadi, Pardsingha in Nagpur district. A large amount of crop has been damaged in Nagpur district due to incessant rains in the month of September. Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Anil Patil, Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde also visited recently. Mainly, soybean crop has been damaged in a big way in the district. During the interaction, farmers informed the Revenue Minister about the losses caused by yellow mosaic virus disease on soybeans. He discussed with the farmers about taking appropriate measures for pest control. On this occasion, Minister ensured that the panchnama of the crop damages in the district was done. He also said that the pending panchnamas, if any, would be completed. Vikhe Patil also inspected the sweet lime crop in the field of Bhagwan Kameria, a farmer from Pawanwadi. On this occasion, he suggested that research should be done on varieties of oranges and sweet lime crops. During his tour, the Minister visited Dhok Mahajan Math at Vadli in Katol taluka and inspected the premises. He paid a visit to Anusaya Mata Temple in Paradsinga and offered prayer. On Sunday, Vikhe Patil will take stock of the damages in the district in Nagpur and will review it with senior officers at Nagpur Collectorate. Victory Of Iranian Women By Hind Elhinnawy PROMINENT Iranian womens rights advocate Narges Mohammadi has won the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her long fight against the oppression of women in Iran. Mohammadi is serving multiple prison sentences in Evin prison in Tehran on charges which include spreading propaganda against the State. She was named by the committee for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all. The award comes as women across Iran and around the world continue to protest the treatment of women in Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of morality police, for allegedly violating the Islamic Republics dress code for women. The committee said: The motto adopted by the demonstrators Woman-LifeFreedom suitably expresses the dedication and work of Narges Mohammadi. That the Woman-Life-Freedom protests have endured so long in the face of Iranian state repression is in itself remarkable. But this year-long protest, the latest wave of decades of battles fought by women against religious authoritarianism in Iran sparked, seems to be turning into an unprecedented shift in the decades of struggle against one of the most repressive regimes in modern history. After the 1979 revolution in Iran, Islamic clerics led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini seized a firm grip on Government. The regime quickly introduced a raft of oppressive laws directed specifically at women. But despite the violence directed at them by the regime, women continued at the forefront of protest against oppression in Iran. Narges Mohamaddi joined the struggle as a student in the early 1990s. After graduating in physics and taking employment as an engineer, she began to agitate for womens rights and write columns in reform-minded newspapers. She was first arrested in 1998 for her criticism of the Iranian Government. By 2003 she was working with the Defenders of Human Rights Centre in Tehran, set up by Shirin Ebadi, who won that years Nobel Peace Prize, the first woman from the Islamic world to receive the award. Mohammadi has been arrested 13 times and convicted on five occasions and sentenced to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes. She was incarcerated in Tehrans most notorious prison in 2022 when the wave of protests, which was to become known as Woman-Life-Freedom, began to gain global recognition. Mohammadi organised solidarity actions with fellow inmates and was punished by the authorities by prohibiting visitors and phone calls. Despite this, she managed to smuggle out an article she wrote for the New York Times, which ran in September 2023 with the headline: The more they lock us up, the stronger we become. Movements led by women have often been effective at forcing democratic change. Examples are abundant through history and continue to force change. In Argentina in recent years, the #NiUnaMenos (Not One Less) movement of women and girls seeking justice for femicide led in 2019 directly to the establishment by the administration of President Alberto Fernandez of a new Ministry of Women, Gender and Diversity. Thanks to the persistence of Argentinian women raising their voices, the country is set to chart a path toward change. Women have been prominent in the rights movement in Chile, both before and after the Pinochet dictatorship. But the current feminist movement there, which is agitating strongly for abortion rights, was strongly influenced by #NiUnaMenos. As a result of their work, legal protections for abortion were included in a new Constitution that was prepared in 2022 to replace the decades-old Constitution established under Pinochet. A plebiscite rejected the constitutional redraft in September 2022, but women continue at the forefront of rights protests as the debate continues. Meanwhile Iranian women continue to march for their rights. One year after the Woman-Life-Freedom movement sprang to life, it remains impossible to predict whether they will succeed in the face of savage repression from the clerical establishment and its conservative supporters. But the regimes sense of invincibility and womens marginalisation from politics has been severely shaken. Even as the security services try to crackdown on protesters, the struggle against the patriarchal regime will continue. Even if the protests do not lead to the collapse of the regime, the voices of women demanding freedom of speech, bodily autonomy and political engagement may have already shifted the social and political landscape in Iran. The Nobel Prize panel has recognised Narges Mohammadi for her work over 30 years of agitating for rights for Iranian women. But it has made it clear that the award is also for the hundreds of thousands of people who, in the preceding year, have demonstrated against the theocratic regimes policies of discrimination and oppression targeting women. Womens voices are now becoming a serious threat to the legitimacy of the Iranian theocracy. Sceptics may say that in the past the regime has always successfully used violence and censorship to silence protest. But this new wave of protests has reverberated around the world, raising the profile of womens struggle on the streets of Iranian cities and encouraging women across the globe to fight for their own rights and freedoms. People pose for photos at the Bonnet Up Car Show held in Windhoek, Namibia, Oct. 7, 2023. Rolling back the clock to a bygone era, classic car enthusiasts in Namibia gathered in the capital, Windhoek, on Saturday to showcase the country's rich automotive heritage at the Bonnet Up Car Show. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua) WINDHOEK, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Rolling back the clock to a bygone era, classic car enthusiasts in Namibia gathered in the capital, Windhoek, on Saturday to showcase the country's rich automotive heritage at the Bonnet Up Car Show. The vintage car collection included brands such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Jeep, Alfa Romeo, Mazda, a 1938 DKW F5, and many others, with the oldest model being a 1934 Chevrolet Coupe, which boasted 45 KW back in its prime. The cars were elegantly lined up in an open parking area for display. Meanwhile, 30 owners and over 100 visitors engaged in lively conversations over glasses of beer. Some vintage cars were also exhibited in the museum of the Old Wheelers Club, the official local antique car group in Namibia, established in 1986 to provide a platform for classic car enthusiasts to connect. Rainer Rusch, the chairman of the club, emphasized the event's significance in highlighting the locals' unusual passion for old cars and their commitment to preserving car models that are unlikely to be manufactured again or restored if not well-maintained. "Namibia boasts a wealth of high-quality old cars that one may rarely find in good condition but are seldom displayed, hence the need to provide a space to showcase them to the rest of the nation." This event, hosted three or more times each year, provided insights into Namibia's rich historical and ever-evolving car market. The exhibitions and vintage collections prominently featured European brands, with notable examples including iconic models like the 1959 Mercedes-Benz W180 and the 1951 Volkswagen Beetle. The latter, known for its rear-mounted engine, was specifically designed to enhance traction in demanding and muddy terrains. Each owner had a unique bond with their cherished "oldie" because, as Uwe Rauhut, a Windhoek resident, put it, "they don't make them like that anymore." Rauhut's fascination with old cars and motorbikes began at the age of 16 when he became skilled in repairing and reselling them using traditional techniques. "These cars, some of them over 100 years old, are unlike anything you can find today. They can sit here for 20 years and still be strong, unlike most modern cars," he said. For the elderly like Rauhut, the event represented more than just a pastime. It was a connection between generations and a testament to the enduring love for classic cars that stands the test of time. "I not only teach the youngsters about proper vehicle maintenance, but I also relive fond memories of these classic vehicles. Old cars are not just a fashion statement; they are a hobby," he added. In the meantime, according to Rusch, the gathering is part of environmental protection efforts, spreading the message of safeguarding nature through shared best practices. "Maintaining an old car reduces the dumping of waste and scrap into the environment. In this way, we contribute to promoting sustainability, a central aspect of the Old Wheelers Club," he explained. "People's interest in classic cars has always been strong in Namibia, with the club's membership growing to over 500 people across the country," Rusch said. "For us, this vibrant community with an interest in classic cars proves that true beauty never fades. It just sometimes needs a tune-up," Rusch added. A man visits the Bonnet Up Car Show held in Windhoek, Namibia, Oct. 7, 2023. Rolling back the clock to a bygone era, classic car enthusiasts in Namibia gathered in the capital, Windhoek, on Saturday to showcase the country's rich automotive heritage at the Bonnet Up Car Show. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua) Sagen MI Canada (OTCMKTS:GMICF Get Free Report) and Ambac Financial Group (NYSE:AMBC Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, risk, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends, earnings and profitability. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Sagen MI Canada and Ambac Financial Group, as provided by MarketBeat. Get Sagen MI Canada alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Sagen MI Canada 0 0 0 0 N/A Ambac Financial Group 0 1 1 0 2.50 Ambac Financial Group has a consensus price target of $18.00, indicating a potential upside of 46.46%. Given Ambac Financial Groups higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Ambac Financial Group is more favorable than Sagen MI Canada. Earnings & Valuation Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Sagen MI Canada N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Ambac Financial Group $505.00 million 1.10 $521.00 million $10.25 1.20 This table compares Sagen MI Canada and Ambac Financial Groups revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Ambac Financial Group has higher revenue and earnings than Sagen MI Canada. Institutional and Insider Ownership 81.7% of Ambac Financial Group shares are held by institutional investors. 3.4% of Ambac Financial Group shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Profitability This table compares Sagen MI Canada and Ambac Financial Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Sagen MI Canada N/A N/A N/A Ambac Financial Group 111.98% 41.52% 6.14% Summary Ambac Financial Group beats Sagen MI Canada on 8 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About Sagen MI Canada (Get Free Report) Sagen MI Canada Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a private residential mortgage insurer in Canada. It provides mortgage default insurance to residential mortgage homebuyers, lenders, brokers, and realtors. The company was formerly known as Genworth MI Canada Inc. and changed its name to Sagen MI Canada Inc. in February 2021. Sagen MI Canada Inc. was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Oakville, Canada. About Ambac Financial Group (Get Free Report) Ambac Financial Group, Inc. operates as a financial services holding company. It operates three businesses: Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance, Insurance Distribution, and Legacy Financial Guarantee (LFG) Insurance. The Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance business provides specialty property and casualty program insurance with a focus commercial and personal liability risks. The Insurance Distribution business includes the specialty property and casualty insurance distribution business, which includes managing general agents and underwriters, insurance wholesalers, brokers, and other distribution businesses. The LFG Insurance business offers financial guarantee insurance policies that provide an unconditional and irrevocable guarantee, which protects the holder of a debt obligation against non-payment when due of the principal and interest on the obligations guaranteed. The company was incorporated in 1991 and is headquartered in New York, New York. Receive News & Ratings for Sagen MI Canada Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sagen MI Canada and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale lifted its holdings in Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK Free Report) by 5.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,002,061 shares of the industrial products companys stock after buying an additional 54,665 shares during the quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale owned about 0.33% of Graphic Packaging worth $23,582,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Private Trust Co. NA raised its holdings in shares of Graphic Packaging by 177.3% in the first quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 1,109 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 709 shares during the last quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Graphic Packaging by 369.6% in the first quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,174 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 924 shares during the last quarter. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Graphic Packaging in the first quarter valued at about $39,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Graphic Packaging during the 1st quarter worth about $43,000. Finally, BOKF NA bought a new stake in Graphic Packaging during the 1st quarter worth about $48,000. 99.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Graphic Packaging alerts: Graphic Packaging Price Performance Graphic Packaging stock opened at $21.20 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.30, a PEG ratio of 0.30 and a beta of 0.96. Graphic Packaging Holding has a 1 year low of $19.57 and a 1 year high of $27.56. The business has a 50-day moving average of $22.40 and a 200-day moving average of $23.99. The company has a current ratio of 1.36, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.06. Graphic Packaging Announces Dividend Graphic Packaging ( NYSE:GPK Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The industrial products company reported $0.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.73 by ($0.07). Graphic Packaging had a net margin of 7.30% and a return on equity of 37.35%. The business had revenue of $2.39 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.49 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.60 earnings per share. Graphic Packagings revenue for the quarter was up 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Graphic Packaging Holding will post 2.84 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 5th. Investors of record on Friday, September 15th were given a $0.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.89%. Graphic Packagings dividend payout ratio is presently 17.54%. Analyst Ratings Changes GPK has been the subject of several recent research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut Graphic Packaging from a buy rating to a hold rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $30.00 to $26.00 in a report on Thursday, June 29th. Bank of America cut Graphic Packaging from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $35.00 to $29.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Graphic Packaging from $28.00 to $26.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. 888 reissued a downgrade rating on shares of Graphic Packaging in a report on Thursday, June 29th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Graphic Packaging in a report on Thursday. They set a buy rating for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $29.44. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on GPK Graphic Packaging Company Profile (Free Report) 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. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Graphic Packaging Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Graphic Packaging and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. High Note Wealth LLC lowered its stake in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report) by 2.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 11,715 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 318 shares during the quarter. High Note Wealth LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $430,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its stake in Pfizer by 98,197.9% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,948,438,709 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $71,468,732,000 after acquiring an additional 1,946,456,532 shares during the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 89,592.7% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 161,143,638 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $8,257,000,000 after purchasing an additional 160,963,976 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Pfizer during the 4th quarter valued at about $3,150,472,000. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 9.8% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 218,931,933 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $8,932,423,000 after purchasing an additional 19,602,359 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 1,034.0% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 12,149,955 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $495,718,000 after purchasing an additional 11,078,514 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.05% of the companys stock. Get Pfizer alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts have recently commented on PFE shares. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on Pfizer from $45.00 to $44.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Pfizer from $42.00 to $40.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $75.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. Barclays dropped their price target on Pfizer from $38.00 to $35.00 in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Pfizer from $39.00 to $36.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $45.88. Pfizer Stock Performance NYSE PFE opened at $33.13 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $187.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a quick ratio of 1.82, a current ratio of 2.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $34.81 and a 200-day moving average price of $37.22. Pfizer Inc. has a twelve month low of $31.77 and a twelve month high of $54.93. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.67 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.57 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $12.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.36 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 28.36% and a net margin of 27.55%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 54.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.04 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.33 EPS for the current fiscal year. Pfizer Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 4th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 10th will be paid a $0.41 dividend. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.95%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 9th. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 43.62%. About Pfizer (Free Report) Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Metso Oyj (OTCMKTS:OUKPY Get Free Report) has earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the eight ratings firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have issued a hold recommendation and five have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. OUKPY has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Bank of America raised shares of Metso Oyj from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 27th. Barclays initiated coverage on Metso Oyj in a research report on Tuesday, September 12th. They issued an overweight rating for the company. Get Metso Oyj alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on OUKPY Metso Oyj Trading Up 3.4 % About Metso Oyj Shares of OUKPY opened at $5.03 on Tuesday. Metso Oyj has a one year low of $3.26 and a one year high of $6.48. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $5.46 and a 200 day moving average price of $5.60. (Get Free Report Metso Oyj provides technologies, end-to-end solutions, and services for aggregates, minerals processing, and metals refining industries in Europe, North and Central America, South America, the Asia Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, and India. The company operates in three segments: Aggregates, Minerals, and Metals. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Metso Oyj Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Metso Oyj and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rogers Communications Inc. (TSE:RCI.B Get Free Report) (NYSE:RCI) has received an average recommendation of Buy from the six ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is C$75.80. A number of research analysts have commented on RCI.B shares. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Rogers Communications from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and set a C$72.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 15th. Desjardins lifted their price objective on shares of Rogers Communications from C$68.00 to C$71.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, National Bankshares lifted their target price on shares of Rogers Communications from C$79.00 to C$80.00 in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Get Rogers Communications alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on RCI.B Rogers Communications Price Performance Rogers Communications Dividend Announcement Shares of TSE:RCI.B opened at C$51.99 on Tuesday. The companys fifty day moving average price is C$54.59 and its 200 day moving average price is C$59.50. Rogers Communications has a 12 month low of C$50.23 and a 12 month high of C$67.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 399.46, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.58. The firm has a market capitalization of C$21.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.51, a P/E/G ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.47. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 3rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 3rd were given a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.85%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 7th. Rogers Communicationss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 67.34%. About Rogers Communications (Get Free Report Rogers Communications Inc operates as a communications and media company in Canada. It operates through three segments: Wireless, Cable, and Media. The Wireless segment offers wireless voice and data communication services to individual consumers, businesses, governments, and other telecommunications service providers; postpaid and prepaid wireless services under the Rogers, Fido, and chatr brands; and wireless devices, services, and applications to consumers and businesses. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Rogers Communications Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rogers Communications and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BISHKEK, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov held a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Saturday. The two discussed current areas of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, as well as Putin's upcoming official visit to Kyrgyzstan and his participation in the Commonwealth of Independent States Summit in Bishkek, said the Kyrgyz president's press service. Japarov emphasized that Kyrgyzstan highly values Putin's personal contribution to strengthening the Kyrgyz-Russian strategic partnership and alliance based on a historical friendship, mutual support and trust, according to the press service. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Berger Paints Nigeria Plc, Mrs Alaba Fagun, has explained the important role of environmental sustainability in the daily activities and operations of businesses and stakeholders. She said environmental sustainability is indispensable for bolstering social productivity. This was disclosed by Fagun during the inaugural edition of the Berger Paints Industry panel initiative, True Colours, in Ikeja, Lagos State. The events primary themes were Breaking Down the Intricacies of Environmental Sustainability and Bridging the Gap Between Rural and Urban Settlements. According to her, It is no secret that our planet faces unprecedented environmental challenges, including climate change, resource depletion, and pollution. To create a sustainable environment in both rural and urban areas, we must comprehend the intricacies that affect them and propose viable solutions. Mrs. Aderonke Adebuju, who is a panelist at the event, and also the Head of Operations at Berger Paints Nigeria Plc, underscored the importance of commencing environmental sustainability efforts at the individual level, whether in ones home, business, or workplace. She disclosed that Berger Paints intentional commitment to sustainability, including maintaining the cleanliness of its surroundings to benefit all living organisms, including plants and animals. Africas Global Bank, United Bank for Africa Plc, has disclosed its purpose of the maiden edition of its expanded Graduate Management Accelerated Programme is to groom future professionals across Africa. According to a statement by the Bank, over 700 graduates were inducted into the UBA Tribe after a rigorous six-month hands-on-work and learning experience. The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigerias accredited programme adopted from the globally recognised Graduate Training Programme, focused on building the capacity of fresh graduates who were trained as professionals for accelerated career growth to leadership and key positions. While speaking on the importance of prioritising human capital development, the Chairman of UBA, Tony Elumelu, commended the robust programme that churned out bright and promising professionals, prepared to take the bank to another level. According to Elumelu, It is important to develop platforms for people to grow. We would love to see our future CEOs from this programme, and I hope that the enthusiasm, excitement, and energy I see and feel in this room today translate into the greatness we anticipate so that these young bright professionals can help take UBA to the next level. UBA is giving opportunities to young Africans, by addressing unemployment on the continent. Employment of these large numbers of young people at this time explains the role our Bank is playing in engineering growth and development across Africa. The Group Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba, also noted that, I have observed, with pride, the dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment shown by all participants of the GMAP programme and delighted. The role of participants is pivotal in providing the much-needed resource required to make the participants of the programme successful as they kick-start their careers. He said, In UBA, we give everyone an equal opportunity to achieve their dreams, irrespective of age, tribe, gender, and background. the transformation of our dear continent, Africa, is very important to our vision. To achieve this mandate, we need believers, doers, and agents of transformation. The president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero has dismissed insinuations that the labour leaders were monetarily induced by the federal government to suspend the recent planned nationwide strike. Ajaero submitted that those spreading such narratives do not understand how labour relations and industrial practice operate. Recall that the organized labour on Monday, suspended the proposed indefinite strike over the removal of petrol subsidy over palliatives to cushion the effect of the policy. Following the suspension, there were allegations that the labour sold out to the government of President Bola Tinubu on the matter. However, speaking in an interview, the NLC president denied such insinuation, arguing that persons saying such risk being sued to court. According to him, those saying such are labour illiterates as there was no need to continue with the strike when the government has made offers and agreements have been signed. He said: Well, you see people use some words because nobody is taking them to court. What is the meaning of sell out? Those critics were not there when we started and they are not the people that have our mandate. What we have are people who have no business, and who are illiterate in terms of labour issues. In every labour issue, there is always a demand. When a demand is met, an agreement is signed. I have never heard where Labour continuing an action after agreements are signed. Mention one critic there that is schooled in either labour or industrial relations practice anywhere in the world. So, when they say sellout, what did you sell out, how much did they buy it, who is the person that bought it? So, these are some of the careless statements that portray some people as illiterates on the subject matter. The Presidency has berated the controversy instigated by Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party in the last presidential election, over the certificate saga of President Bola Tinubu. The former Vice president had accused President Tinubu of forging the certificate of Chicago State University (CSU) submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2023 presidential poll. Atiku Abubakar on Thursday said Nigerias reputation is at stake with the controversy surrounding the Chicago State University certificate submitted to INEC by President Bola Tinubu. The reputation of our country is at stake and that affects Nigerians everywhere and wherever they may be, Atiku said this while briefing journalists in Abuja. Ok Meanwhile, Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to the President, in a chat with Reuben Abati, described the controversy as worthless voyage. Ajayi insisted that it is impossible to forge what you possess, adding that, You only forge what you do not possess. President Bola Tinubu has expressed his condolences to the Ogunbanjo family and the entire Ijebu-Ode community on the passing of their patriarch and elder statesman, Dr. Christopher Oladipo Ogunbanjo, OFR, OON, who made landmark contributions as one of Nigeria's most celebrated corporate lawyers. The President joins the family members, colleagues, friends, and well-wishers of the late legal luminary in mourning the loss of a distinguished figure in Nigeria's legal and business communities, whose multifaceted roles as an industrialist, corporate lawyer and philanthropist had left indelible impressions in these important fields as he empowered and mentored numerous professionals from Nigeria and beyond. As an honoured recipient of several prestigious chieftaincy titles, such as the Olotu of Ijebuland, Larinja of Egbaland, Gbadero of Lagos, Lerinja of Egbaland, Baba Oba of Ijebu Imusin, and Baba Oba of Erunwon Ijebu, the President paid tribute to Pa Ogunbanjo for consistently dedicating himself to championing causes close to his heart, including grassroots community development and advocacy for peaceful co-existence between Nigerians from diverse backgrounds. President Tinubu urges all who are mourning this elder statesman, whose life was characterized by an exceptional commitment to philanthropy and the betterment of the country, to reflect on the extensive contributions he had made to the progress of humanity and to carry forward the ideals he lived for. "Chief Chris Ogunbanjo will be remembered for his extraordinary life of service to his community and the promotion of best business practices as a corporate lawyer of untarnished repute. His contributions to the economic development of Nigeria and commercial law practice in our country will endure," President Tinubu said. The President prays for the peaceful repose of Pa Ogunbanjo's soul and divine comfort to his family and loved ones over this irreparable loss. Chief Ajuri Ngelale Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) October 8, 2023 YANGON, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- A total of 5,648 people were evacuated from their homes after torrential downpours hit Bago Region of southern Myanmar, an official said on Sunday. Director of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement (Bago Region) U Thaung Shwe told Xinhua that as of Sunday noon, the evacuated have been shifted to 17 flood relief camps, with search and rescue operations underway. "The Bago River has exceeded the critical water level since 4 a.m. local time and the rescue operation started at around 6 a.m. local time," Deputy Director of Myanmar Fire Services Department (Bago Region) U Than Tun Oo told Xinhua. Daniel showing signs of recovery but in dire need of operation PHUKET: A 10-year-old boy who was revived after a drowning incident in Phuket earlier this year is in dire need of an operation to alleviate a condition that is hampering his bodys attempt to breathe on its own. accidentsSafetycharityhealth By The Phuket News Sunday 8 October 2023 11:31 AM Young Daniel Andreiev continues to fight for his life, but pneumonia now stands in his way. Photo: Liudmyla Andreieva Young Daniel Andreiev continues to fight for his life, but pneumonia now stands in his way. Photo: Liudmyla Andreieva Young Daniel Andreiev continues to fight for his life, but pneumonia now stands in his way. Photo: Liudmyla Andreieva Young Daniel Andreiev continues to fight for his life, but pneumonia now stands in his way. Photo: Liudmyla Andreieva Young Daniel Andreiev continues to fight for his life, but pneumonia now stands in his way. Photo: Liudmyla Andreieva Young Daniel Andreiev continues to fight for his life, but pneumonia now stands in his way. Photo: Liudmyla Andreieva Young Daniel Andreiev continues to fight for his life, but pneumonia now stands in his way. Photo: Liudmyla Andreieva Young Daniel Andreiev continues to fight for his life, but pneumonia now stands in his way. Photo: Liudmyla Andreieva Daniel Andreiev, an international school student from Rawai, was admitted to Vachira Phuket Hospital in critical condition after nearly drowning in a swimming pool incident on May 2. He was admitted to hospital after suffering cardiac arrest and respiratory failure. Daniel took about 10 minutes to be revived. His diagnosis included severe brain swelling with brain and brainstem dysfunction, acute kidney injury, multiple metabolic disturbance among other medical conditions. Doctors managed to stabilise Daniel, but he remained in a coma and was transferred to Samitivej Hospital in Bangkok on a commercial medevac flight urgently organised and paid for by local donors. Their vital support significantly increased his chances of recovery. Medical tests at Samitivej Hospital and doctors statements encouraged cautious optimism for Daniels mother, local teacher Liudmyla Andreieva. Daniel, his mother and his older sister all live in Phuket. They left Ukraine because of the war. It was in Bangkok that Daniel began to respond to stimuli, move and show other signs of returning to life, reports Novosti Phuketa, the Russian-language sister newspaper to The Phuket News. By July, Daniels condition had improved so much that it became possible to return to Phuket. We will all definitely get him out, help him and do our best. We can handle it, Liudmyla told everyone who supported her sons fight for life. At home in Phuket, Daniel not only increased his motor activity, but also began a real struggle with the artificial respiration device. The brain returning to life insisted that the lungs provide it with oxygen themselves. Liudmyla explained that Daniel has been in a coma since May, but he is not giving up, consistently showing signs of emerging from a coma. The brain is gradually restoring functions, and the bodys attempts to breathe on its own are becoming more active. However, at the end of September Daniel was hospitalised with pneumonia caused by problems with the functioning of the esophagus, requiring urgent surgery. Experts from Europe say that the child has a high chance of returning to life, but for this miracle, Daniels family needs financial help right now to eliminate the cause of pneumonia. Doctors at first attributed Daniels problems with breathing to a fight with the apparatus, but then found that due to lying for a long time, the gastrointestinal tract sometimes released food into the lung area. The problem can be solved with surgery, but that requires money. In her last open appeal, Liudmyla called everyone who supported her family angels who performed a miracle for her son. The mother believes that Daniel will come back to life and become an angel of hope for other families who go through a similar experience. Dani will succeed, he is a very strong and stubborn boy. The gastroenterologist himself admitted in the last conversation that my childs body is incredibly strong. The problem with the esophagus should have appeared two months ago. But he is an athlete! Even now, even with pneumonia, he continues to wake up! says Liudmyla. Through his own efforts and with the support of his angels, Daniel has already come a long way and proved that in any statistics there is room for exception. The Help Daniel support group believes that after five months of struggle, there can no longer be unsolvable problems. It is now critically important to raise funds for surgery to eliminate the cause of pneumonia. It requires several hundred thousand baht, which no one else has, but Danis story shows that many small donations can achieve the impossible. For the same reason, every repost and like on social networks is so dear to us, because the more angels there are behind Daniel, the closer the moment when he opens his eyes, sums up the Help Daniel support group. You can support Daniels fight for life by transferring to Liudmyla Andreevas account in Thailand: Bank Name: Bangkok Bank Account Number: 264-4-690-857 More details about Daniels fight to live are posted on the websites HelpDaniel.ru and HelpDaniel.info. People can contact the support group and offer any other assistance through accounts on Telegram, Facebook and Instagram. In particular, the family now really needs support in reaching out to organisations that could provide systematic financial assistance to help the family through these last steps towards recovery. Drug arrests continue PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police are continuing their campaign against the proliferation of drugs on the streets with the arrests of four men in front of a house in Ratsada. drugs By Eakkapop Thongtub Sunday 8 October 2023 09:00 AM Just some of the drugs seized in the latest arrests. Photo: Phuket Provincial Police The arrests, on Friday (Oct 6), were announced by Phuket Provincial Police Crime yesterday (Oct 7). The arrest team was led by Phuket Provincial Police Crime Suppression Division chief Pol Lt Col Phichit Thongto, joined by other Phuket Provincial Police Crime Suppression Division officers. The arrests were reported as three separate cases, despite all four men initially being placed under arrest in front of a house in Soi 4 of the Hon Sai Thong Community in Ratsada. Reported as Case 1 were the arrests of Chetanipit Map Na Ranong, 40, registered as living in Soi Prayoon, off Yaowarat Rd, in Samkong, and Anurak Toon Phonpratun, 34, registered as living in Moo 3, Ratsada. Following the arrests, officers searched a rented room on third floor of a building on Soi Yaowarat 1. Seized in placing Chetanipit under arrest were 2.84 grammes of crystal meth (ya ice) and 2,357 methamphetamine tablets (ya bah), as well as 16 items of evidence, including a Honda Click 125i and two mobile phones. Chetanipit and Anurak were taken to Phuket City Police Station and charged with joint possession of a Category 1 narcotic with intent to sell and with actually taking the drug. Reported as Case 2 was the arrest of Piyaphan Jett Kasiraksa, 42, registered as living in Moo 7, Ratsada. Following his arrest officers searched a house on Srisuthat Rd, Ratsada. Seized as evidence were 9.57 grams of ya ice, 88 ya bah tablets, one digital weighing scale and one mobile phone, among eight items in total. Piyaphan was taken to Phuket City Police Station and charged with possession of a Category 1 narcotic with intent to sell and with taking the drug. Reported as Case 3 was the arrest of Anan Klom Kasiraksa, 44, registered as living in Moo 7, Ratsada. Anan was found with 10 meth pills in his possession and was also taken to Phuket City Police Station and charged with illegal possession of a Category 1 narcotic and with using the drug. Health officials warn of life-threatening infection during floods PHUKET: The Department of Disease Control (DDC) has issued a warning regarding the potentially lethal leptospirosis infection, which can be contracted through physical contact with contaminated water, such as walking through a flooded area or working in a garden after rain. healthweatherSafety By The Phuket News Sunday 8 October 2023 11:00 AM The Disease Prevention and Control Region 11 Office named Phuket among provinces with the highest number of leptospirosis cases. Image: DPC Region 11 Office The warning was issued by the Disease Prevention and Control Region 11 Office and also distributed by the state news agency NNT. The warning highlights that seven people have already died from leptospirosis from Jan 1 through Sept 23 this year in Ministry of Health Region 11, which includes Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi. While maintaining its warnings for monkey pox infections, the Phuket Provincial Health Office has yet to issue warnings about leptospirosis. According to Dr Kraisorn Tothapthieng, chief of the Disease Prevention and Control Region 11 Office, a total of 583 patients with leptospirosis have been admitted to hospitals within the Region 11 area of authority. Provinces with the highest number of cases were given as Ranong, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Phang Nga, Surat Thani, Chumphon, Phuket, and Krabi. Dr Kraisorn did not reveal any information regarding the specific number of cases or fatalities in separate provinces. He just said that 465 of the patients were men while 118 were women. The two most common age groups were 35-44 years old, followed by 25-34 years old. Leptospirosis is a blood infection caused by the bacteria Leptospira that can infect humans as well as rats, dogs, and other mammals. Rats are known as one of the most common carriers. The bacteria are spread to humans through animal urine or, most commonly, through water or moist soil contaminated with animal urine. The Leptospira can be found in ponds, canals, puddles, sewers, agricultural fields and moist soil. The bacteria can infect the target through ingestion of contaminated food, but most commonly, they enter the body through cuts and abrasions on the skin or through contact with the mucous membrane of the body (mouth, nose, eyes or else). This is why walking through flooded areas without rubber boots or other means of protection can be highly dangerous. Same applies to working with soil without gloves. Within approximately one or two weeks after infection, the patient will begin to have fever, headache, body aches and muscle pain. Later there may be red eyes, jaundice, yellow eyes, little urine output, coughing up blood and eventually death, Dr Kraisorn warned. A person suspecting leptospirosis should urgently contact a medical specialist, Dr Kraisorn stressed. Late admission or self-treatment can lead to a life-threatening development of the disease and death. To protect themselves from leptospirosis, a person should: Avoid wading through mud or water for a long time. If such an action is necessary, wear rubber boots or cover your feet with plastic foot bags. Wash your hands and feet frequently with soap and water. Take a shower to clean the whole body immediately after finishing working or wading in the water. Eat only freshly cooked food. Keep food sealed. Avoid eating food left overnight not in a closed container. Keep your house and surrounding area clean and free of rats. If you have a fever, see a doctor immediately. It will help prevent the life-threatening development of the disease. For additional information, people can call the Department of Disease Controls hotline at 1422. Of note, in 2004, Soi Dog Foundation co-founder Gill Dalley lost both legs because of a severe bacterial infection. Though it has not been revealed which bacteria caused this, Ms Dalley became infected while trying to rescue a dog in a flooded field. More than 200 killed in Hamas assault on Israel, 232 killed in Gaza ISRAEL: Fighting between Israeli forces and the Palestinian militant group Hamas raged Sunday, with hundreds killed on both sides after a surprise attack on Israel prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to warn they were embarking on a long and difficult war. politicsreligionviolencedeath By AFP Sunday 8 October 2023 11:57 AM A plume of smoke rises above buildings in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on Oct 7, 2023. Photo: Mahmud Hams / AFP The conflicts bloodiest escalation in decades saw Hamas carry out a massive rocket barrage and ground, air and sea offensive early Saturday (Oct 7) that Israels army said had killed more than 200 Israelis and wounded 1,000. Gaza officials said intense Israeli air strikes on the coastal enclave had brought the Palestinian death toll to at least 232, with nearly 1,700 wounded. Gun battles raged into Sunday morning (Oct 8) between Israeli forces and hundreds of Hamas fighters in at least 22 Israel locations, including at least two where gunmen were holding hostages, the army said. We are embarking on a long and difficult war that was forced on us by a murderous Hamas attack, Netanyahu said on X, formerly Twitter, early Sunday. The first stage is ending at this time by the destruction of the vast majority of the enemy forces that infiltrated our territory. At the same time, we have begun the offensive phase, which will continue with neither limitations nor respite until the objectives are achieved. We will restore security to the citizens of Israel and we will win. Earlier, the premier warned that all the places in which Hamas is based, in this city of evil, all the places Hamas is hiding in, acting from well turn them into rubble. The fighting which comes half a century after the outbreak of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war prompted Israel to cut off Gazas electricity, fuel and goods supplies, Netanyahu said. As the UN Security Council called an emergency meeting for Sunday, President Joe Biden voiced rock solid and unwavering support for the US ally and warned against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation. SO MANY BODIES US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also spoke to Egypt, a key intermediary between Israel and Hamas about the urgency in achieving an immediate halt to the fighting, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. As night fell, the Israeli army said its forces were still engaged in gun battles in a string of Israel locations, in an operation labelled Swords of Iron, as reservists were being called up. There are still 22 locations where we are engaging with terrorists that came into Israel, from the sea, from the land and from the air, said army spokesman Richard Hecht on what he labelled a robust ground invasion. The Israeli army launched air strikes into Gaza later in the night while militants fired rockets, an AFP journalist reported. Hamas earlier released images of several Israelis taken captive, and another army spokesman, Daniel Hagari, confirmed that soldiers and civilians had been kidnapped. I cant give figures about them at the moment, he said, adding that Hamas would pay the price for the attacks. Hecht said there was also a severe hostage situation in the Negev desert communities of Beeri and Ofakim east of Gaza. The Islamist group started the multi-pronged attack around 6:30 am (0330 GMT) with thousands of rockets aimed as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, some bypassing the Iron Dome defence system and hitting buildings. Hamas fighters travelling in ground vehicles, motorised paragliders and boats breached Gazas security barrier and attacked nearby Israeli towns and military posts, opening fire on residents and passersby. Send help, please! one Israeli woman sheltering with her two-year-old child pleaded as militants outside opened fire and tried to break into their safe room, Israeli media reported. Bodies were strewn on the streets of the Israeli town of Sderot near Gaza and inside cars, the windscreens shattered by a hail of bullets. I saw many bodies, of terrorists and civilians, one man told AFP, standing beside covered corpses on a road near Gevim Kibbutz in southern Israel. So many bodies, so many bodies. AFP journalists witnessed Palestinian armed men gather around a burning Israeli tank, and others driving a seized Israeli military Humvee vehicle back into Gaza, where they were met by cheering crowds. GATES OF HELL Israeli army Major General Ghasan Alyan warned Hamas had opened the gates of hell. An AFP journalist in Gaza saw clouds of dust from the remains of bombed residential towers which Gazas interior ministry said contained 100 apartments. Israels military said it had warned residents to evacuate before targeting the multi-storey buildings used by Hamas. Israels state-run electricity company cut the power supply to Gaza as army flares lit up the night sky. The escalation follows months of rising violence, mostly in the occupied West Bank, and tensions around Gazas border and at contested holy sites in Jerusalem. Before Saturday, at least 247 Palestinians, 32 Israelis and two foreigners had been killed this year, including combatants and civilians, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials. Hamas labelled its attack Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and called on resistance fighters in the West Bank as well as in Arab and Islamic nations to join the battle. Its armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, claimed to have fired more than 5,000 rockets, while Hecht said Israel had counted more than 3,000 incoming rockets. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said the group was on the verge of a great victory. The cycle of intifadas (uprisings) and revolutions in the battle to liberate our land and our prisoners languishing in occupation prisons must be completed, he said. DANGEROUS PRECIPICE Air raid sirens wailed across southern and central Israel, as well as in Jerusalem. In Tel Aviv, a gaping hole was ripped into a building, with residents boarding a bus to flee to safety. The conflict sparked major disruption at Tel Aviv airport, where many carriers cancelled flights. Schools will remain closed on Sunday, the start of the week in Israel. Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, leading to Israels crippling blockade of the impoverished enclave of 2.3 million people. Israel and Hamas have since fought several wars. The last major military exchange, in May, killed 34 Palestinians and one Israeli. In northern Gaza on Saturday, hundreds of people fled their homes, carrying food and blankets, an AFP correspondent said. Violence also erupted across the West Bank, including annexed east Jerusalem, with five Palestinians killed and 120 wounded in clashes with Israeli forces and settlers, Palestinian medical services said. Western capitals condemned the wave of attacks by Hamas, which Israel, the United States and European Union consider a terrorist group. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the attack terrorism in its most despicable form. But Hamas drew support from other foes of Israel, with Irans supreme leader declaring he was proud and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah praising the heroic operation. UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland warned of a dangerous precipice and called on all sides to pull back from the brink. Three more arrests for selling bullets to mall gunman BANGKOK: Three more suspects two men and a woman have been arrested separately in Bangkok and Prachuap Khiri Khan for allegedly selling bullets to a 14-year-old boy who went on a shooting rampage inside Siam Paragon shopping mall earlier this week. murderviolencedisasterscrimepolice By Bangkok Post Sunday 8 October 2023 09:30 AM Police question suspect Suthida Paenghom after her arrest in Bang Saphan Noi district of Prachuap Khiri Khan on Saturday (Oct 7). Photo: Supplied to Wassayos Ngamkham / Bangkok Post Officers arrest Phassornkorn Nikki Thianthanwit at his house in Bangkok and display seized items, including firearms and ammunition on Saturday (Oct 7). Photo: Supplied to Wassayos Ngamkham / Bangkok Post Almost 3,000 rounds of bullets of various types, two firearms and other items are seized from a house of Phassornkorn Nikki Thianthanwit, 27, in Bang Khae district, Bangkok. Photo: Supplied to Wassayos Ngamkham / Bangkok Post The three suspects arrested on Thursday on charges of selling firearms and ammunition to the teen shooting suspect appear at a police news conference. Photo: Supplied to Wassayos Ngamkham / Bangkok Post Pol Lt Gen Thiti Saengsawang, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau and a team of Yan Nawa police investigators arrested one of the suspects at a house on Phetkasem Soi 94 in Bang Khae district on Saturday (Oct 7), reports the Bangkok Post. The suspect, identified as Phassornkorn Nikki Thianthanwit, 27, was wanted on a warrant issued by the Bangkok South Criminal Court on Friday for colluding in the unauthorised sale of ammunition. Authorities seized two firearms a Glock automatic pistol and a Smith & Wesson revolver along with 2,765 rounds of various types of bullets, three mobile phones, empty parcels and packing materials. The two other suspects, Wutthiphong Phetmanee and Suthida Paenghom, were apprehended in Bang Saphan Noi district of Prachuap Khiri Khan. Mr Wutthiphong was arrested behind a house, while Ms Suthida surrendered to police at Bang Saphan Noi station. Both were wanted on warrants issued by the Bangkok South Criminal Court. During questioning, Mr Wutthiphong told police that he was hired to open a Government Saving Bank account with B1,000. Ms Suthida said she had opened a Krungthai Bank account six years ago to receive a child welfare allowance. She said her husband later used her account to receive money transfers from other people. On Thursday, three men were arrested separately in Yala and Bangkok for allegedly selling firearms and ammunition to the young mall shooter. Suwananhong Phramkhanajarn, 45, and his 22-year-old son Akkharawit Jaithong were arrested at a house in the southern border province of Yala. Piyabut Pianpithak, 31, was arrested in Bangkok. BAIL DENIED The Bangkok South Criminal Court on Saturday approved a police request to detain the three for a further 12 days and denied them bail, noting the offences carried a high penalty. Police said the trio were a flight risk. Under the law a suspect can be detained for seven 12-day periods, or 84 days in total, before police have to formally press charges or release them. Suwananhong and his son faced arrest warrants for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and selling firearms and ammunition without permission. Seized from his house were 209 rounds of ammunition for blank guns, 33 metal parts, two bank passbooks, nine magazines and other items. Only Piyabut admitted to having sold a gun and ammunition to the teenager. However, police said they had evidence, including money transfer slips and other items, to prosecute the two other men. The arrests followed a police investigation linking the suspects to the sale of bullets used in the deadly shooting at Siam Paragon, where two women from China and Myanmar were killed and five others were injured. The young gunman was arrested shortly afterward and is now undergoing psychiatric treatment. SUSPECTS FATHER ATTENDS FUNERAL In another development, the father of the teen suspect on Friday night attended the funeral rite for the 31-year woman from Myanmar, known as Monin, who worked in a store at the mall. Arriving at Wat Phasuk Maneechak in Nonthaburi, he apologised to the victims employer and gave financial assistance to the family of the victim. He said tearfully that he was shocked and extremely sad about the events that had occurred. The parents of the boy earlier in the day released a letter to the public, written by his father, expressing their deepest apologies for the tragedy. They said they were cooperating fully with authorities in the justice process. Where has abrogate SoO demand gone ? Read between the lines | The year was 2005 and it was then that the Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact between the Government of India and the Kuki armed groups under the conglomerates of Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United Peoples Front (UPF) came into effect. Jog ones memory a little and it should not be forgotten that the then Congress led Government under Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh came on board the SoO ship only in 2008, rather reluctantly. Fast forward to March of 2023 and the State Government under Chief Minister N Biren abrogated the SoO pact with the Kuki National Army and the Zomi Revolutionary Army. The abrogation came close on the heels of the protest rallies held in the Kuki dominated districts of Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal after the State Government evicted a number of encroachers from Protected Forest. Back then, that is just six months back, the Chief Minister had gone on record to point out that the president of the ZRA, Thanglianpau Guite, is a Myanmarese while the president of the Kuki National Army PS Haokip is a resident of Nagaland. It was not any Tomba, Hongba or Chaoba who said that the president of the ZRA is a foreigner, but the Chief Minister himself and the question here is how seriously has New Delhi taken the public pronouncement of the man chosen to head its Government at Imphal ? At one point of time, that is in the earlier part of the five months old clash between the Kukis and the Meiteis, the demand that the SoO pact with the Kuki groups be abrogated or scrapped filled the air at Imphal and the valley districts, but down the line, this cry has somewhat become muted. It is clear that the agenda of India is bigger than just merely muting the guns against the Kuki armed groups and one has to take the geo-political reality of the day into consideration to understand the bigger ramifications of the SoO pact, but when the different arms of New Delhi start singing in tunes that are not compatible with the overall understanding of the SoO pact, what is Imphal doing to capitalise on the tunes that do not match ? It was only as recent as October 3 that the National Investigation Agency, an important arm of New Delhi, had submitted before a Delhi Court that an accused in the ongoing clash, Seiminlun Gangte, is involved in transnational conspiracy by terrorist outfits based in Myanmar and Bangladesh to wage a war against the Government of India by exploiting the current ethnic unrest in Manipur. NIA has not yet said that Seiminlun Gangte is a member of any of the outfit under the SoO pact, but common sense more than says that no ordinary being would be in a position to involve himself in a transnational conspiracy to wage a war against the country. Chief Minister N Biren has probably picked up from the observation of the NIA in loudly declaring that the ongoing violence in Manipur is a war declared upon the Union of India. The war on the Union of India may be better understood in the backdrop of the fact that on May 3, elements armed with sophisticated weapons were seen marching towards Torbung to the loud cheers of others, underlining the participation of cadres belonging to armed groups. The car bomb which exploded on a bridge near Kwakta on June 21 could not have been the handiwork of any village volunteer, a term used so conveniently by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum and the Committee on Tribal Unity to refer to their gun wielding folks, and one wonders why the State Government has not capitalised on the arrest of the suspect by the NIA and drive the nail harder into the coffin of the SoO pact ? Only the State Government can answer this but these are points which every thinking citizens of the land should raise now. A point which all those who have been mounting pressure on the elected representatives of the State should be raising now. One wonders why the call to abrogate the SoO pact based on the findings so far have not been raised in a coherent manner ? ISLAMABAD, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Two terrorists were killed during an army operation in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, the army has said. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan army, said security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in Zerber area of Kech district of the province on Saturday. During the operation, an intense exchange of fire took place between security forces and terrorists, the ISPR said, adding that two terrorists were killed in retaliatory fire. The killed terrorists were actively involved in multiple terrorist activities against law enforcement agencies, it added. A large quantity of equipment and explosives have also been seized. After the incident, sanitization of the area was carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area, the ISPR said. Pakistani security forces are committed to thwarting efforts of enemies to destabilize the country, the military said. 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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 Trinamul Congresss national general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee today stated that TMC will continue its fight against BJPs landlord-style politics, and the movement will persist until they allocate funds for MGNREGA workers. He remarked, BJP state president Sukanta Majumder today suggested that TMC could meet Union minister of state for rural development Sadhvi Niranjan at BJPs party office. This indicates how BJP is engaging in landlord-style politics. She must meet us at Raj Bhavan or any government office because she is not a minister of BJP, Abhishek said. Abhishek also noted that Majumder demanded that a single phone call from him could prompt the Centre to release Rs2,080crore.This is BJPs landlord-style politics, he said. Trinamul Congress also demanded an apology from Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti as she allegedly avoided TMCs MPs in Delhi for a serious discussion regarding the non-payment of dues to MGNREGA workers in the state. Niranjan Jyoti arrived in Kolkata this morning. Despite spending several hours at the Delhi agriculture office last Tuesday, she has not met the protesting MPs. Trinamul Congress demanded an apology from the central minister for her comments and requested her to join the dharna with Abhishek Banerjee, who is protesting to secure funds for the states legitimate dues. Kunal Ghosh, Trinamul spokesperson, said, Let the central minister come and apologize on the dharna stage of the TMC. Let her seek forgiveness from the people of Bengal, adding, The minister had spoken falsely that day. Advertisement Even after giving time, she did not meet Trinamul representatives. Then, she used police force unjustly, and her party acted unjustly as well. In addition, tell her to return all the outstanding dues owed to Bengal within 100 days. Last Tuesday in Delhi, Niranjan did not meet with the Trinamul delegation led by the national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. Instead, she allegedly left her office through the back door after spending time inside. Niranjan later confronted Trinamul leadership within the Krishi Bhavan and was escort- ed away by the police. Trina-muls allegations are that the central government has stolen the hard-earned wages of Bengals people. The central minister, the Prime Minister and the Gov- ernor, all are scared of Abhishek Banerjee, Kunal said. With Abhishek stationed near the Raj Bhavan, the pressure has intensified on the Raj Bhavan. Abhishek has announced his stay until he meets the Gov- ernor in Kolkata. Like Blue Line, the Kolkata Metro Railway has decided to run services till extended hours in Green Line during the upcoming Durga Puja. The city Metro is to operate services till midnight in the operational stretch of the East-West Corridor to meet the increas- ing demand of Puja revellers during peak festival days. According to Kolkata Metro Railway office, on 21, 22 and 23 October, the days when Saptami, Ashtami and Naba- mi are to be celebrated, the mass carrier would operate 72 services in Green Line from 11.55am to 12am. On the three peak days of the festive period, 36 services each in the up and down lines are to be available at a 20 minutes interval in this corridor, according to Kolkata Metro Railway. On 24 October, on the day of Dashami, the city Metro is to run 48 services, including 24 east-bound and 24 west-bound from 11.55am to 8pm. The Kolkata Metro Railway is to operate normal services from 25 October. As informed by the office of the Kolkata Metro, no Metro services are to be available on the Joka-Taratala stretch of Purple Line from 21 to 24 October. Advertisement In a surprising turn of events, Union minister of state for rural development, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, arrived in the city today and accused the Trinamul Congress-led Bengal government of corruption and playing politics instead of addressing critical issues facing the state. Speaking at a press conference held at BJP office, the Union minister alleged that the state government had failed to take action on sev- eral key matters despite repeated appeals from the central government. Niranjan Jyoti, who arrived in Kolkata this morning for a scheduled meeting with BJP officials, including the Leader of Opposition in Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, and BJP state president Sukanta Majumder, did not mince words as she addressed the media. She claimed that the Bengal government had been neglecting its duties for the past three years, causing significant irregularities in various districts, including Hooghly and East Burdwan. Advertisement She stated, The central government has the authority to withhold funds if irregularities are found, but no action has been taken. Regarding the ongoing dispute between the Trinamul Congress and the BJP, Niranjana Jyoti expressed frustration, saying, The TMC is not interested in dialogue. They prefer theatrics over meaning- ful discussions. She further mentioned that she had waited for over an hour at the Krishi Bhavan in Delhi office for a meeting with Trinamul leaders, but they did not show up. Responding to allegations made by Trinamul MP Mahua Moitra that she used a back- door entrance during a recent visit to the state, Niranjan Jyoti refuted the accusations, stating that she always enters the Krishi Bhavan through Gate 4 and that no backdoor entry had taken place. An IT worker has come for-ward with allegations of rape during a party in Kolkatas New Town, in the wake of which police have arrested at least three persons. According to the survivor, she was subjected to sexual assault after consuming alcohol at the event. The incident took place during a party organised at a highrise in New Town on Friday night that she had attended with acquaintances. According to her account, she was allegedly coerced into consuming alcohol and subsequently experienced harassment, which escalated into an assault. The survivor lodged a complaint at the Techno City police station on Saturday morning, detailing the allegations of harassment and assault. Police have apprehended three individuals believed to be involved in the incident. All three are employed in the information technology sector. Advertisement The Central government has clarified to the states that the goods and services tax (GST) on online gaming companies is not being levied retrospectively since some online games involved in betting were already being charged a 28 per cent GST under the law earlier. Certain states during the GST Council meeting on October 7 are reported to have flagged the issue of retrospectively imposing GST on online gaming companies, according to Maharashtra minister Deepak Vasant Kesarkar. However, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharman said the issue was not on the agenda of the GST Council meeting but raised by some states such as Goa after the meeting was over. Advertisement It was informed to certain members that this is not retrospective and this was the law earlier. These liabilities were already existing because money online games played with bets they were already attracting by way of betting or gambling 28 per cent GST, Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra said in answer to a question at a press conference after the meeting. A number of online gaming companies have been issued show-cause noticing for allegedly evading GST with cumulative amount adding up to whopping Rs 55,000 crore. Many have termed this as retrospective taxation claiming that the notices pertain to the period before the October 1, 2023 implementation date for a new tax treatment for gaming platforms. Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister T.S. Singh Deo also said that the Council discussed the issue of retrospectively taxing online gaming under the indirect tax regime with the dues being demanded from some firms exceeding their turnover. Delhi Finance Minister Atishi also said on Saturday that the proposed 28 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on online gaming firms could jeopardise the entire Indian startup sector, potentially leading to significant job losses and hit foreign investments. The US state of Arkansas has identified its first locally acquired malaria case, the fourth state in the country that has reported locally acquired cases of one of the worlds most dangerous infectious diseases. The Arkansas Department of Health identified the locally acquired malaria case in an Arkansas resident this week. The person resides in Saline County and has not travelled out of the country. This is the only known locally acquired case of malaria in Arkansas, Xinhua news agency reported. Advertisement So far this year, five additional malaria cases have been reported in Arkansas, but all were acquired outside of the country, according to the State Health Department. Multiple other cases of locally acquired malaria contracted in the US have been identified this year. Seven cases of locally acquired malaria were identified in Florida, one case in Texas, and one case in Maryland, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. People with malaria often experience fever, chills, and flu-like illness. Left untreated, they may develop severe complications and die. Most malaria cases diagnosed in the US are imported, usually by persons who have travelled to countries where malaria is endemic. However, locally acquired mosquito-transmitted malaria cases can occur, as Anopheles mosquito vectors exist throughout the US, according to the CDC. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has extended greetings and felicitation to all air warriors, veterans and their families on the 92nd Indian Air Force (IAF) Day on October 08, 2023. This momentous occasion marks nearly a century of unwavering dedication and unparalleled service of the IAF to the nation. As we celebrate this milestone, we also pay homage to the bravehearts who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation. Their courage, valour and dedication continue to inspire generations of Indians. The IAF has played an important role in all wars fought by the country, undertaken punitive air strikes, extricated the Indian diaspora from conflict zones and provided relief through Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions within and beyond the borders. The IAF has a rich history of regular and successful engagements in international air exercises with friendly countries. It has adequately demonstrated interoperability with global Air Forces, thereby credibly establishing its capability to operate effectively in our immediate neighbourhood and also in our extended environment. The Indian Air Force has encouraged capability development through indigenous defence production under Aatmanirbhar Bharat. An appreciable effort has been put in towards capacity enhancement of force multipliers in the form of Electronic Warfare, harnessing Space and Cyber capabilities to fight tomorrows war, Artificial Intelligence-based Decision Tools and systems incorporating the latest technology like Swarm Unmanned Munition Systems, an outcome of successful Mehar Baba Drone competition conceptualised by the IAF. Advertisement The IAF is poised to embrace the challenges of the 21st century, with a commitment to modernisation, innovation, and international cooperation. On this 92nd IAF Day, let us all stand together in honouring the IAF and expressing our gratitude to the men and women who soar high to protect our skies and secure our future. It will continue to be a symbol of our nations strength and resolve. May the IAF reach new heights of glory always. BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- China will do its best to assist in Afghanistan's disaster-relief efforts in light of its needs, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Sunday. It was reported that 6.2-magnitude earthquakes hit Herat province in western Afghanistan on October 7 local time, killing more than 2,000 and injuring nearly 10,000 so far. Noting the devastating earthquakes which hit Herat province in Afghanistan have caused heavy casualties, the spokesperson said that China deeply mourns for the victims and offers its sincere sympathies to the injured and the families who have lost loved ones. "We believe that the people of Afghanistan will overcome the impact of the disaster and rebuild their homes at an early date. We will do our best to assist in Afghanistan's disaster-relief efforts in light of its needs," said the spokesperson. China has so far found no injuries or deaths of Chinese nationals in the quakes, said the spokesperson. Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his best wishes to air warriors and their families on Air Force Day, on Sunday. Best wishes to all air warriors and their families on Air Force Day. India is proud of the valour, commitment, and dedication of the Indian Air Force. Their great service and sacrifice ensure our skies are safe, he wrote on X. President Droupadi Murmu also extended her greetings to all air warriors and their families on the occasion. Our Air Force has been scaling greater heights. The nation is proud to have such a strong, courageous, and dynamic Air Force which is always prepared to face challenges. I salute our inspiring heroes who not only protect the skies but also remain in the forefront for humanitarian assistance, she said. Advertisement Vice-President Jagdep Dhankhar saluted the brave men and women of IAF who soar through the skies, safeguarding the nations sovereignty and security. May the Indian Air Force continue to defend our nation with the same dedication and exemplification of the highest standards of professionalism and courage that has been their hallmark for decades, he said. Chief of defence staff, General Anil Chauhan extended greetings and felicitation to all air warriors, veterans and their families on Air Force Day. This momentous occasion marks nearly a century of unwavering dedication and unparalleled service of the IAF to the nation. As we celebrate this milestone, we also pay homage to the bravehearts who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation. Their courage, valour and dedication continue to inspire generations of Indians, he said. The IAF was established on October 8, 1932, with six Hawker Hart biplanes. IAF was initially known as the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) and was part of the British Royal Air Force. The Royal Indian Air Force played an active role in World War II, supporting British forces in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The IAF has played an important role in all wars fought by the country, undertaken punitive air strikes, extricated the Indian diaspora from conflict zones and provided relief through Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster relief (HADR) missions within and beyond the borders. The IAF has a rich history of regular and successful engagements in international air exercises with friendly countries. It has adequately demonstrated interoperability with global Air Forces, thereby credibly establishing its capability to operate effectively in our immediate neighbourhood and also in our extended environment. The IAF has encouraged capability development through indigenous defence production under Aatmanirbhar Bharat. An appreciable effort has been put in towards capacity enhancement of force multipliers in the form of Electronic Warfare, harnessing Space and Cyber capabilities to fight tomorrows war, Artificial Intelligence-based Decision Tools and systems incorporating the latest technology like Swarm Unmanned Munition Systems, an outcome of successful Mehar Baba Drone competition conceptualized by the IAF. The IAF is poised to embrace the challenges of the 21st century, with a commitment to modernisation, innovation, and international cooperation. Opposition leader in the Kerala Assembly and senior Congress leader VD Satheesan on Sunday dismissed the allegation of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that the job fraud allegations against the state Health Ministers office are a part of the conspiracy and some individuals and the media are behind in it. In a statement here, Satheesan said that if there is a conspiracy in the job fraud allegation against the Health Ministers office, the CPI-M and the LDF are behind in it. The police have already confirmed that job fraud and bribery have taken place. If there is a conspiracy in it, it will be from the CPI-M and the LDF. The one who has been arrested and those who are absconding in the case, are all related to the CPI-M and the LDF, Satheesan said. Advertisement The opposition leader said that some individuals and the media are not behind all this, as the Chief Minister claimed. The opposition leader asked who is Akhil Sajeev, who is the prime accused in the case. Akhil Sajeev, the prime accused in the case, is a former Pathanamttitta district office secretary of the CITU. The accused still maintains good connections with several members of the CPI-M, he said. The police should look deeper into Akhils contacts, if they do so, the truth shall unfold by itself, Satheesan further said. Kerala Chief Minister Pinararyi Vijayan had on Saturday alleged that job fraud allegations against the state Health Ministers office are a part of the conspiracy. Terming the job fraud allegation a political conspiracy to denigrate the Kerala government and rob its successful Nipah control strategy of its sheen, CM Vijayan said that there is a group of people behind this conspiracy. He alleged that an instigator with expertise in planting fake news and a few media organisations orchestrated the scam. In the first significant election after the abrogation of Article 370 by the BJP government and making Ladakh a union territory in 2019, the National Conference (NC) has emerged as the single largest party by winning 11 seats of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, in the ongoing counting of votes on Sunday. The Congress has so far bagged 8 seats and the BJP 2. One seat has gone to an independent. Results of 21 out of the 26 seats have been declared so far. The counting of votes for 5 seats is continuing. Sixteen seats are required to rule the LAHDC-K and the Congress and the NC have jointly touched the magic figure. Advertisement The counting of votes for the fifth LAHDC-Kargil election commenced at 8 am on Sunday morning. The election that took place on 4 October saw a triangular contest between the NC, the Congress, and the BJP in most of the 26 seats. The Congress and NC had contested a couple of seats jointly. The NC was running the earlier LAHDC-K. The Congress has claimed that Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra across Ladakh on bike has resulted in the convincing performance of the party in these elections. Rahul had also addressed a public meeting in Kargil before concluding his yatra in Ladakh last month. NC leader Omar Abdullah also addressed his party rallies before the elections. Several BJP leaders camped in Kargil for the election campaign. The BJP has improved its tally in the Council as it had won only one seat in the previous LAHDC-K. At least 77.61 per cent people voted for the Hill Development Council out of the total 95,388 voters, 74,026 exercised their right of franchise. According to officials, strict security arrangements have been put in place at and around the government Polytechnic College where the counting of the votes is being held. The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council has a total of 30 seats out of which elections were held on 26 seats, while four councillors with voting rights are nominated by the administration. Feroz Ahmad Khan, chairman cum chief executive councillor of the LAHDC-K, has won from Silmoo constituency. BJP candidates have won Cha and Stakchay-Khangral seats. These elections earlier remained in controversy as the Ladakh administration refused to grant the plough symbol to the NC. The elections had to be rescheduled after a snub from the Supreme Court when the administration finally issued a fresh election notification by reserving the plough symbol for the NC. The apex court also imposed a cost of Rs one lakh on the Ladakh administration. Reacting to the trend of election results, PDP chief Mehbooba wrote on X: Heartening to see secular parties like NC & Congress register their victory in Kargil. Its the first election post 2019 & people of Ladakh have spoken. Ghulam Ahmad Mir, a member of the CWC, wrote: Kargil election verdict manifests the impact of Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday arrested a member of the Popular Front of India (PFI), the banned terrorist organization, from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. Sulfi Ibrahim, a native of Tholicode near Vithura in Thiruvananthapuram, was nabbed by the anti-terror agency as a part of the nationwide crackdown on PFI. Sources said Sufi Ibrahim was nabbed by the NIA sleuths while he was trying to flee the country and planning to travel to Kuwait. Prior to his arrest, the NIA team, with the help of Kerala Police, had conducted a raid at Ibrahims residence. However, Ibrahim had managed to flee from the spot and since then he was under the radar of the investigation agencies. Advertisement On September 28, 2022, the Central government banned PFI and associated outfits for five years for unlawful activities. Several PFI leaders were arrested following a nationwide crackdown called Operation Octopus. In july, the NIA attached the Green Valley Academy at Manjery in Keralas Malappuram district, which was allegedly controlled by the banned outfit PFI. According to the NIA, the Green Valley was one of the oldest and largest arms training centres of PFI in Kerala. It was started during the period of National Development Front, a former organisation of PFI, in 1994. The NIA said that the training centre was spread over 10 hectares of land at Manjeri in Malappuram and operated under the cover of Green Valley Academy. Prior to this, the NIA had attached five other PFI training centres in Kerala Malabar House, Periyar Valley, Valluvanad House, Karunya Charitable Trust, and Trivandrum Education and Service Trust (TEST). In August, the NIA conducted raids on several PFI offices due to their involvement in terrorist activities. Six PFI activists from lower ranks were arrested by the agency in cases of Hawala money transactions. On the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project covering potable water problems, the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (RPCC) will launch a campaign titled Kaam Dilse, Congress Sarkar Phir Se (work by heart, bring Congress government again) in the upcoming assembly election, which is due in early December. In a brief interaction earlier with the press outside PCC here, on Sunday, the state chief minister, Ashok Gehlot, said Kaam Dilse, Congress Sarkar Phir Se will be a new slogan of the party in the December assembly polls. Congress is going to take out the ERCP yatra in 13 districts and the journey will start from Baran district on October 16 with the Navratri sthapna, Gehlot said after holding a core group meeting in the Congress war room. Advertisement This yatra will highlight the failures of the Modi government that could not declare the ERCP as a national project despite the PM assured Rajasthan in the 2019 LS polls, Dotasara said. The yatra will visit 13 districts throughout the week and the CM, in-charge Randhawa, and other senior leaders will lead the yatra, he said. During this trip the party workers and leader will cover two districts in a day. We will hold a big meeting in every district in 13 districts, each meeting will be attended by one lakh people. ERCP meetings will be much bigger than PM Modis meetings, he added. The Congress government has fulfilled 98 per cent of the promises of the Congress manifesto. The vision document of Mission 2030 will become a huge basis for the public manifesto in the assembly polls. We will make our manifesto based on the vision document that has been created by public opinion, about 2.5 crores, the RPCC head assured. Expressing the Congress governments commitment to ERCP, he said, the CM has announced to complete ERCP at the expense of the state government. Firstly, a grant of Rs 9,000 crore was announced in the budget and later Rs 5,000 crore more was announced. Gehlot always demanded the prime minister, Narendra Modi, and the BJP by mentioning ERCP in every speech. Now by organizing a yatra on ERCP, Congress is trying to put BJP on the backfoot in the assembly elections. According to the project, if it is declared a national project, 13 districts will get drinking and irrigation water from ERCP. Apart from the construction of dams, canals and drinking water projects will also be built in this project worth more than Rs 40,000crores. Districts with ERCP include Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, Dausa, Jaipur, Ajmer, Tonk, Bundi, Kota, Baran, and Jhalawar. In a world marred by turmoil and conflict, moments of hope and inspiration shine like beacons. Such a moment has just arrived with Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Her story is one of unyielding courage and unwavering commitment to human rights, particularly womens rights, in Iran. This recognition serves not only as a tribute to her remarkable journey but also as a call to action for the global community. Narges Mohammadis life has been defined by her pursuit of justice and equality. From her early days as a local journalist to her pivotal role as vice president of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, she has shown a steadfast dedication to advocating for those whose voices have been silenced by oppression. Her story is not just one of accolades but also of adversity. Despite facing relentless persecution from the Iranian regime, Mohammadis spirit remains unbroken. Her multiple arrests, convictions, and staggering sentences totaling 31 years in prison and 154 lashes exemplify the heavy toll exacted on those who dare to challenge the status quo under authoritarian regimes. Advertisement As she stood behind bars, her resilience only grew stronger. Her Nobel Peace Prize win sends a resounding message to oppressive regimes like the one in Iran that the fight for human rights is a global endeavour that knows no borders. It is a call for solidarity with individuals like Mohammadi, who have sacrificed their freedom for the principles they hold dear. It is a recognition that the struggle for womens rights and human rights is a universal cause and we must all stand together to advance it. Moreover, Mohammadis recognition is a tribute to the countless Iranians who have taken to the streets in unprecedented demonstrations, demanding change and justice. It echoes the voices of those who refuse to be silenced, even in the face of adversity. It is a testament to the power of collective action and the unyielding human spirit. Iran remains a nation with a high number of executions, as highlighted by Amnesty Internationals report. In her statement following the Nobel Committees announcement, Mohammadi stated, The global support and recognition of my human rights advocacy makes me more resolved, more responsible, more passionate, and more hopeful. Her words reflect not just her personal journey but also the collective hope of countless Iranians striving for a better future. The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Mohammadi is a reminder that the world is watching and it cannot remain indifferent to oppression of those who stand up for justice. It is a call to governments, international organisations and individuals to take action. Diplomatic pressure, sanctions and international condemnation are essential tools in the fight against human rights abuses. As the world celebrates this momentous occasion, it is crucial to remember that there are many more courageous individuals who continue to face persecution for their beliefs. Not just in Iran. As the 2024 Lok Sabha elections draw closer, political parties are trying to connect with marginalised communities and earn their support. The topic of a caste census in India has been a subject of debate for long. There are differing opinions on whether it will bring positive or negative consequences. The fact that Bihar has released a caste census recently has ignited a political debate. The Opposition coalition has requested such a census in their Mumbai meeting. According to the survey conducted in Bihar, the OBC community has a larger population than other castes and may require more than the current 27 per cent reservation. Nitish Kumar is emerging as the OBC communitys champion. Conducting a caste census is a contentious issue that involves multiple factors. They include ideology, elections, and social impact that could affect communities. Maharashtra, Odisha, and Jharkhand assemblies have approved a resolution supporting a caste census, while Bengal disagrees. Advertisement The caste system has had a profound impact on India, yet no reliable data has been collected since 1931 to understand its effects on the economy and society fully. There are four primary castes with numerous sub-castes, and some groups are pushing for a census. However, the outcome is uncertain, and it is difficult to deter mine whether it would have positive or negative consequences. Its like winking in the dark. Before 1931, the Decennial Census included data on caste. However, 1941 was skipped due to World War 2. From 1951 to 2011, all of Indias independent censuses contained information on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes but not on other castes. The British colonial period in India saw a census conducted for administrative and demographic purposes without collecting data on caste. After Independence, the Nehru administration was not for a caste based census. In 1980, his daughter, Indira Gandhi, created a slogan to fight caste-based politics. Today, her grandson, Rahul Gandhi, uses the phrase Jitni abaadi, utna haq to discuss caste issues. In 1979, the Mandal Commission was established and gained popularity over time. After a decade, Prime Minister V.P. Singh implemented 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in government jobs, based on its report. In 2001, the Vajpayee government chose not to perform a census based on caste. However, in 2010, the Manmohan Singh government conducted a survey based on economic factors. The 2021 census has been postponed due to the pandemic and has yet to be carried out. In the 2001 census, there was a proposal to include caste as a category, but it was not implemented due to practical challenges and concerns. In 2011, the SECC collected information on social and economic factors, including caste, but the data mainly focused on economic and living conditions. The Modi government released the financial component of the SECC in 2015, but the census for the caste component was not included. Unfortunately, the 2021 decennial population census has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Defining caste is a complex issue. A caste census is deemed discriminatory and opposed by those who seek equal rights and opportunities for all. The BJP is among those who believe that conducting a caste census could hinder the creation of a more united society due to political and logistical challenges. The Constituent Assemblys main objective was to draft a constitution for an independent India during its sessions from December 1946 to November 1949. The framers discussed fundamental principles, government structure, citizens rights, and other crucial aspects of the new republic. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and other notable figures played significant roles in shaping the Constitution. Affirmative action is allowed by the Constitution to address past social injustices. However, there may not have been enough discussion about collecting specific data, such as con- ducting a caste census. The future is unpredictable. There are valid arguments both for and against carrying out a caste census. Ultimately, the decision to con- duct a census largely depends on political factors, public sentiment, and the ruling partys priorities. The governments actions can also be influenced by the publics demands and level of awareness. There should be a more favourable environment to acknowledge the importance of caste census. BJP leaders argue that many leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi and Lohia, recognized that caste discrimination weakens society. By examining global trends, India can learn and improve its policies. The BJP hesitates to back a caste census, though it holds a majority in the Lok Sabha. But caste-based parties advocate for it, creating a dilemma for the BJP to appease them and their supporters. Political parties have gained influence by addressing caste issues. Specific communities seek recogni- tion as Other Backward Classes. Congress, DMK, and JD(U) support a caste census, which Bihar has already con- ducted. Other states may conduct them as well. Google-owned YouTube and encrypted messaging platform Telegram on Saturday responded to the IT Ministrys notice to remove any kind of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or face stringent action, saying they have a zero-tolerance policy on CSAM and related content. A YouTube spokesperson told IANS that no form of content that endangers minors is acceptable to them. We have heavily invested in the technology and teams to fight child sexual abuse and exploitation online and take swift to remove it as quickly as possible, the spokesperson said. Advertisement In Q2 2023, we removed over 94,000 channels and over 2.5 million videos for violations of our child safety policies. We will continue to work with experts inside and outside of YouTube to provide minors and families the best protections possible, the YouTube spokesperson added. According to the Google-owned platform, it has a strong record of successfully fighting child sexual exploitation. YouTube is working with the industry by offering expertise and technology (CSAI Match, YouTubes proprietary technology for combating Child Sexual Abuse Imagery) to smaller partners and NGOs. YouTube also restricts live features, disable comments and limit recommendations of videos containing minors in potentially risky situations or categorised as made for kids. Encrypted messaging platform Telegram said it is always committed to upholding legal and ethical standards on its platform, particularly in this case of addressing issues related to Child Pornography (CP), Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), and Rape and Gang Rape (RGR) content on the Indian internet. In a statement, Telegram said that in response to reports of CP/CSAM/RGR content, it maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any unlawful activities conducted by users on our platform. We take immediate and stringent action as prescribed by the law of the land in response to any such violations. When CP/CSAM/RGR content is reported, we initiate prompt actions to remove the offending material. Our average response time for removal is 10-12 hours, well within the permissible time limit of 24 hours as stipulated by the aforementioned regulations, said the companys spokesperson. Telegram said it also has a specialised team working towards removing all the illegal content that falls under the child abuse category. In compliance with Section 79 of the IT Act, Telegram is committed to complying with Section 79 of the Information Technology Act (IT Act) and any related notices issued by State/Union Territory Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) for the immediate removal of CP/CSAM/RGR content, said the company. The Ministry of Electronics and IT notices were sent to social media intermediaries on Friday, emphasising the importance of prompt and permanent removal or disabling of access to any CSAM on their platforms. The rules under the IT Act lay down strict expectations from social media intermediaries that they should not allow criminal or harmful posts on their platforms. If they do not act swiftly, their safe harbour under section 79 of the IT Act would be withdrawn and consequences under the Indian law will follow, said Union Minister of State for Electronics & IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar. The ministry warned the three social media intermediaries that any delay in complying with the notices will result in the withdrawal of their safe harbour protection under Section 79 of the IT Act, which currently shields them from legal liability. X Corp (formerly Twitter) was yet to respond to the Indian governments notice. At least 10 Nepali students have been killed in the Saturdays Hamas invasion of Israel, an official of the Nepal Embassy in Israel confirmed on Sunday. Earlier, there were reports that some Nepali students have gone missing after Hamas attack in southern Israel. Around 10 Nepali students died in the ongoing situation in Israel, news agency ANI quoted a Nepal Embassy in Israel official as saying. More than 600 Israelis have died since Saturday when Hamas militants launched surprise attack in Israel. According to Israeli government, around 2000 people have been wounded in the attack and 100, including women and children, are being held hostage by Hamas militants. Advertisement Israel has declared a state of war and launched retaliatory strikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed might vengeance for what he called a black day. On Saturday morning, Israelis woke up to loud sirens as Iran-backed Islamist militant outfit Hamas fired some 5000 rockets towards Israel from the Gaza Strip. However, Israels Iron Dom, which is one of the best air-defence systems in the world, detected a majority of them and only a few struck the country. The rocket barrages caught Israel off guard and as they could understand the situation, hundreds of Hamas militants, armed with assault rifles, invaded from different locations. While some entered in SUVs, motocycles and trucks via Gaza border, others took the aerial route and paraglided into Southern Israel. One group used the sea route and entered the city on boats similar to the 26/11 Mumbai attack. Israeli military launched Operation Iron Swords to regain full control of invaded areas and launched retaliatory air strikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. Giving details about Israels counter offensive, IDF said, it carried out several operational activities in Gaza in response to the brutal terrorist offensive against Israel launched by Hamas. At 12:00 am on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, IDF fighter jets struck a concealed launch site and targeted 2 terrorists near it, followed by another air strike on two operational situation rooms located inside mosques, used by Hamas in Gaza. So far, Israel has destroyed dozens of Hamas targets and killed around 400 Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. As Israel plans to finish off Hamas, they have asked civilians in Gaza to flee their homes. The death toll in Israel has mounted to 600 and more than 2000 others have been injured after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched unprecedented rocket barrage and ground assault in southern Israel. In response to the attack, Israel has declared war and launched retaliatory air strikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. As the battle with Palestinian militant group Hamas rages, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has spoken with the leaders of several European countries, including UK PM Rishi Sunak. Netanyahu said that the leaders he spoke with have expressed their full support for Israels right to defend as much as it takes. 10 points on Israel-Palestine war Advertisement Thousands of rocket barrages were fired towards Israel from the Gaza Strip on Saturday and hundreds of Hamas militants infiltrated into Israeli territory from different locations via land, air and sea. The militants attacked military posts and fired at residents and passersby indiscriminately. The government in Israel said that Hamas has 100 Israelis, including soldiers, women and children, are being held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza. The attack was termed black day by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who vowed to exact mighty vengeance and asked residents of Gaza to flee their homes in view of retaliatory strikes from the countrys military. In response to the Palestinian militant attack, Israeli Defence Forces launched massive air strikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. Several buildings housing Hamas offices, militants and weapons were destroyed in air strikes by Israeli Air Force fighter jets. The Palestinian officials in Gaza have said that the Israeli air strikes have killed at least 400 and wounded more than 1700 others. Meanwhile, Netanyahu has spoken with Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Germanys Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the UKs Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and briefed them about the situation. All of them expressed unqualified support for Israels right to defend itself as necessary, he said. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh has called on resistance fighters in the West Bank and other Islamic countries to join the battle. Hamas also said that it will release the number of Israelis captured during Saturdays attack. Iranian President, according to local media reports, has spoken with the top leaders of Hamas. Earlier Saturday, Iran had congratulated Palestinian fighters for carrying out the one of the biggest attack in Israel. Hezbollah, an Iran-backed political and militant outfit in Lebanon, has pledged its support to Hamas fighters. Hezbollah said that it fired a large numbers of artillery shells and guided missiles at Israeli positions in a contested border area in solidarity with Palestinian people. Israel responded with artillery strikes on Hezbollah posts and warned the Iran-backed militant outfit not to involve in the fighting. Israeli Defence Forces, however, said that they have initiated preparedness protocols for the possibility of a war on more than one front. HELSINKI, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The natural gas pipeline connecting Finland and Estonia was temporarily closed Sunday following a suspected leak, the Finnish operator Gasgrid Finland reported. Gasgrid Finland said the state of the Finnish gas network is stable, and the causes of the leak are being investigated. Finland, during this break, relies on the liquid natural gas (LNG) terminal near Helsinki. Olli Sipila, CEO of Gasgrid Finland, did not want to speculate on what could have caused a leak. He told national broadcaster Yle on Sunday that there had been no damage or malfunctions in the pipeline earlier. Currently, the possibility of a leak is a suspicion, he said. The pipeline, inaugurated in 2019, is a two-way transfer facility operated jointly by Finnish Gasgrid and Estonian Elering. The Baltic Connector gives Finland access to continental gas stockpiles via Estonia and connects Estonia to the large LNG port in Inkoo, southern Finland, for feeds to Estonia. The pipeline crosses the approximately 100-km-wide Gulf of Finland. In Finland, natural gas is primarily utilized for industrial purposes, district heating, and electricity generation. According to industry reports, the share of natural gas as an energy source amounts to 5 percent of Finnish energy consumption. Israel-Palestine war updates: Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned residents of Gaza to flee their homes as Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) carry out retaliatory strikes against Palestinian militant group Hamas following Saturdays surprise attack. Netayahu declared war against Hamas after its militants carried out the deadliest attack on Israel in a generation, killing over 300 Israelis and wounding more than 1800. The surprise attack caught Israel off the guard as Hamas fired thousands of rockets from Gaza Strip and hundreds of its militants infiltrated Israeli city of Sderot via land, air and sea. The militants shot at civilians and took several others, including IDF soldiers, hostage. Netanyahu vowed mighty vengeance on Palestinian militants for Saturdays surprise attack as IDF carried out retaliatory air strikes on Gaza. More than 400 Palestinians have been killed so far in Israels counter strikes and the country is prepared to launch an all out attack on Sunday. According to latest updates, Israeli forces were fired upon projectiles from Lebanon early morning today. In response, they destroyed a Hezbollah militant post. Meanwhile, fighting is still on in several areas in Israel along the Gaza border where Hamas militants have been holding dozens of Israelis, including women and children, hostage. Advertisement Below are the Israel-Palestine war live updates 7:15 PM: More than 600 Israelis have been killed since Saturday, according to the press office of the Israeli government. At least 100 people have been kidnapped by Hamas militants and over 2,000 injured are undergoing treatment at various hospitals in the country, the Israeli government press office added. It adds that more than 100 people have been kidnapped, and more than 2,000 injured. 6:35 PM: Hamas, according to BCC news, has said that it will announce the exact number of Israelis it has captured. The Palestinian militant group has also said that it will continue its fight against what it called Israeli aggression. 6:00PM: BREAKING NEWS: The death toll in Israel has crossed 500 and dozens of Israelis have been taken hostage, according to local media reports. 4:10 PM: Israeli Defence Forces have asked Urim, Bari, Nahal Oz, Native Hatara, Zikim are the areas in the south of the country where residents are being asked to leave their homes. Further evacuations will be done according to the assessment of the situation, the military says. 3:40 PM: BREAKING NEWS: Israels Foreign Ministry says two Israeli tourists and their Egyptian guide were shot dead in the Egyptian city of Alexandria. According to the IFM, a police officer allegedly opened fired on a group of Israeli tourists in the city. 03:15 PM: The Israeli Embassy in the UK has confirmed that a British citizen is missing from Israel. He worked as security in the outdoor event near Gaza border which was attacked by Hamas militants. 02:40PM: Meanwhile, as many as 300 Israelis have been killed so far and dozens are still being held captive by Hamas militants, Israels Embassy in Turkey said, quoting Israels Ministry of Health. Close to 2,000 people are being treated in hospitals. 02:15 PM: BREAKING NEWS: Israel Defence Forces says 400 Palestinian militants have been killed so far in southern Israel and the Gaza Strip. As of this hour, there are forces fighting in [Kibbutz] Kfar Aza, there are searches in a large number of towns. There are IDF forces in all towns, there is no town that does not have an IDF force in it, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari was quoted as saying by the Times of Israel. 1:20 PM: The Israeli Air Force struck ten Hamas terrorist organization targets in short while ago. The targets were located in multi-story buildings used by the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip. A short while ago, the IAF struck ten Hamas terrorist organization targets; the targets were located in multi-story buildings used by the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip k6>pic.twitter.com/XiyXrzbSk6 Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 8, 2023 12:45 PM: The Israeli Air Force says that a compound belonging to the head of the intelligence department in the Hamas terrorist organisation has been struck by one of its fighter jets. A short while ago, IAF fighter jets struck a compound belonging to the head of the intelligence department in the Hamas terrorist organization. The IAF is currently continuing to strike terror targets in the Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/uSHsXGFNzz Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 8, 2023 12:10 PM: A rocket fired by Hamas militants hit Barzilai Medical Centerin southern Israel. Fortunately, hours before the strike, Dr. Chezy Levy, the Director of the medical center, and his staff moved patients to safety, IDF said. 11:47 AM: BREAKING: IDF has said that it has struck Hezbollah militants infrastructure in response to their shooting from Lebanon. In response to a Hezbollah shooting from Lebanon into Israel, IDF Artillery struck targets in the area. An IDF UAV also struck Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in the area of Mount Dov. The IDF has taken preparational measures for this type of possibility. We will continue to operate in all regions and at any time necessary to ensure the safety of the Israeli civilians, IDF said. 11:40 AM: Meanwhile, Israel Foreign Ministry has shared a heartbreaking video of an Israeli family being held hostage by Hamas militants. VIDEO: Terrified Israeli family being held hostage by Hamas terrorists after they killed one of the sisters of the little girl.Israel_under_attack?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>#Israel_under_attack https://t.co/3V5rCLtL4c David Saranga (@DavidSaranga) October 8, 2023 11:35 AM: BREAKING: The Israel Defense Forces have said that they have regained control of 22 locations that were invaded by Palestinian militants. However, eight more locations are still being held by Hamas. 11:20 AM: Israel Defense Forces has said that an firing incident took place in the Mount Dov area, a tract of land claimed by Israel, Lebanon and Syria. According to IDF, the projectiles were fired upon from Lebenon side on one of their military posts in the area. Israel has warned Iran-backed Hezbollah a Shia Islamist political, military and social organisation in Lebanon not to get involved in the fighting. 11:09 AM: A few media reports citing Hamas have claimed the militant attack on Israel was back by Iran. On Saturday, Iran had congratulated Hamas for the unprecedented attack. 11:00 AM: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel has entered a long and difficult war after unexpected attack by Hamas militants. He vowed Palestinians militants will pay the price they have not known. 10:55 AM: Israeli Defence Forces have confirmed the hostage situation and said that dozens of Israelis, including women and children, are being held hostage in Gaza. While some militants stayed in Israel, other fled to Gaza along with the hostages. 10: 45 AM: According to local media reports, Israel carried out overnight airstrikes in Gaza. PM Netanyahu has also announced to cut off power supply to the Hamas controlled area. 10:30 AM: Hello and welcome to The Statesman live blog on Israel-Palestine war. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has declared war against Palestinian militant group Hamas following Saturdays unprecedented attack. Israeli Defence Forces carried out overnight strikes in Gaza and destroyed several Hamas locations. The situation in Israel and Gaza remains tense as world leaders stand behind Israel. Stay with us as we bring you all the latest updates on Israels war against Palestinian militants. Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Sunday said that they have destroyed a Hezbollah militant post in Mount Dov in response to a Hezbollah attack from Lebanon into Israel. Asserting that it was prepared for the possibility of a two-front war, Israel warned Hezbollah not to get involved in the fighting between IDF and Hamas militants following Saturdays surprise attack. In response to a Hezbollah attack from Lebanon into Israel, IDF Artillery struck targets in the area. An IDF UAV also struck Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in the area of Mount Dov, Israeli military said in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. The IDF further said that they have taken precautionary measures for the possibility of a two-front war following Hezbollah attack. Advertisement The IDF has taken preparational measures for this type of possibility. We will continue to operate in all regions and at any time necessary to ensure the safety of the Israeli civilians, it said. The firing incident took place Sunday morning in the Mount Dov area, a tract of land claimed by Israel, Lebanon and Syria. Following the incident, Israel has also warned Hezbollah not to get involved in the fighting. Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political and military organisation in Lebanon. Israel and Hezbollah had fought a month-long war in 2006. Like Hamas, the Lebanon based group is also backed by Iran. The latest incident has come in the backdrop of an unprecedented attack on Israel by Palestinian militants. More than 250 Israelis were killed after Hamas militants invaded Israel and fired thousands of rockets. Dozens of Israelis, including women and children, are also being held hostage by the Hamas. In response, Israel declared a war on Hamas and carried out retaliatory air strikes killing nearly 230 Palestinians in Gaza. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed mighty vengeance on Palestinian militants. Hamas terror groups multi-front attack on Israel has risen the death toll to more than 300 and as many as 1,590 people have been wounded, many seriously, according to media reports. Various civilians as well as (Israel Defense Forces) IDF soldiers are believed to have been abducted and brought into Gaza; Hamas has boasted that the number of hostages is higher than Israel knows, as per The Times of Israel. On Saturday at about 6:30 am (local time), a bombardment of rocket began from Gaza into Israel, hitting several cities including Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Gedera and Ashkelon. This was followed by several Hamas terrorists entering Israel from the Gaza Strip and taking over Israeli towns. Advertisement Hamas military commander Muhammad Al-Deif called the operation Al-Aqsa Storm and said that the assault on Israel was an answer to attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and the ongoing siege of Gaza, CNN reported. Meanwhile, the IDF has said that it has killed seven terrorists attempting to enter Israel via the Zikim Beach just north of Gaza. The IDF says it prevented the terrorists from infiltrating into Israeli communities. The military also says that it recently struck three operational sites being used by Hamas in Gaza, as per The Times of Israel. The Israel Defense Forces declares a state of readiness for war. There has been widespread rocket fire into Israeli territory from Gaza, and terrorists have infiltrated Israeli territory through various entry points, the countrys military said, vowing to defend the country. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Hamas made a grave mistake in launching a war against Israel. Hamas has made a grave mistake this morning and launched a war against the State of Israel. IDF troops (Israeli army) are fighting against the enemy at every location, Gallant said in a statement. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country is at war and Hamas will pay an unprecedented price. Citizens of Israel, we are at war. This is not an operation, not an escalation this is war. And we will win. Hamas will pay an unprecedented price, he said in a video message. Israeli Ambassador to India, Naor Gilen on Sunday issued a stern warning to those backing Palestinian militants who attacked Israel, saying their time will come. Speaking to reporters in India, said that their first priority is Hamas and those supporting the Islamic militant group will be dealt with later. We will reserve for ourselves the decision when and how to react. First of all, we are going to react to the perpetratorsFor the time being, Hamas is the issue, and others supporting their time will come if we will find out that they were behind it And this is our DNA. Its not something that we did once, he told reporters. The Israeli Defence Forces are engaged in a fierce gun battle with Hamas militants to regain control of the captured areas in southern Israel near the Gaza Strip border. More than 600 Israelis have been killed and 100 taken hostage by Hamas militants after a surprise attack on Saturday. On day two of the Israel-Palestine war, Israeli Defence Forces launched retaliatory air strikes and struck several Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. Advertisement According to a report citing Hamas leaders, the Palestinian militant attack on Israel was backed by Iran. On Saturday, a spokesperson of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei congratulated Palestinian fighters for launching the biggest attack on Israel in a generation. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, according to local media reports, has spoken with the leader of Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad (PIJ) after Israel launched a counter offensive. However, the details of Raisis conversations with Palestinian militant leaders have not been disclosed. Hamas is backed by Iran and the Islamic nation provides funds, weapons and training to its militants. The Iranian government also funds Hezbollah, a Lebanon based political and militant outfit. Hezbollah militants also fired rockets towards Israel from Lebanon earlier today. Hezballoh, who fought a month-long war with Israel in 2006, has openly announced its support to Hamas militants in their fight against Israeli Defence Forces. In a statement released earlier today, Hezbollah said that its attack was in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Israel responded to Hezbollah attack with artillery strikes and warned the Iran-backed outfit not to get involved in the fighting. Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6) Today Partly cloudy skies this evening. Increasing clouds with periods of showers late. Low 39F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening. Increasing clouds with periods of showers late. Low 39F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Israel declares war and bombards Gaza as fighting rages for second day after Hamas attack The Israeli government formally declared war and gave the green light for significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack from the Gaza Strip THE HAGUE, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- After the UEFA Conference League match between AZ Alkmaar and Legia Warsaw on Thursday evening, two players from the Polish club were arrested on suspicion of assaulting an AZ security guard, with both parties and countries still arguing over the events. In a joint statement, the municipality of Alkmaar, the Dutch police, AZ and the public prosecutor confirmed on Friday that Legia players Josue Pesqueira and Radovan Pankov had been arrested after the match. The pair allegedly assaulted an AZ security guard, who Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf alleged was taken to hospital with a broken elbow and concussion. On Friday afternoon both players were released, but they remain suspects, according to Dutch police. "After the match, two Legia Warsaw players injured AZ staff in the main building of the AZ stadium to such an extent that medical care was required," read a joint statement by the four parties listed above. "The decision of the public prosecution service to arrest the players was not taken lightly and was discussed in advance with the police," the statement continued. "These are suspects of serious criminal offenses, which the public prosecution service, as in every case, will carefully assess." With Josue and Pankov still in custody, Legia returned to Poland on Friday. The club spoke of a "major scandal" during a press conference in Warsaw on Friday afternoon. "The aggression came from that side, I have no words for it," said Legia chairman Dariusz Mioduski. "The behavior of the man who is now likely to testify was so aggressive that we wondered whether he was under the influence of drugs. I don't know of any other case where the staff and team have been attacked by security. This is unimaginable." "On Thursday, we did not have the opportunity to take care of our two players," Mioduski added. "No one told us where they had been taken, I was not allowed to go with them." Dutch police dismissed allegations that the Legia players were victims of riot police action. "This is by no means the case," read a statement. "It was the players who used violence." "The Legia players' bus could not leave the parking place because the outflow of Legia supporters was still in full swing. That is why the players were kept in the stadium for their own safety," said the statement. "A number of players and officials apparently did not agree with this and used violence," the statement continued. "Images are circulating on social media that show the riot police standing around the players' bus. They were there for protection and to get the two suspected players off the bus." Legia chairman Mioduski questioned the Dutch reports of aggression on Legia's part. "In my opinion, the Dutch know that they exaggerated and that is why they write about our aggression," he said. "There was no attack. There could be arguments, there could be emotions, but that's all there is to it. I don't believe what is written in the Dutch media." Prior to the match, fans caused more disturbances. According to Dutch police, Legia fans stormed the entrance gate of the stadium in Alkmaar, causing one riot police officer to lose consciousness. "Supporters who use excessive and unacceptable violence against police and stewards are not welcome in our city," said Alkmaar mayor Anja Schouten. "We are investigating with the parties involved whether and how we can ban visitors with such a risk profile from European competitions." Legia chairman Mioduski shared another version of events. "The attitude of the Alkmaar government was scandalous," he said. "The mayor did not want Poles in the city, people were asked to leave restaurants. This situation is an absolute scandal." Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki also issued his concerns on X (formerly Twitter) about Thursday evening's events. "Worrying messages from Alkmaar," wrote the PM. "I have asked the Polish Foreign Ministry to take urgent diplomatic steps to clarify what exactly happened last night. Polish fans and players must be treated in accordance with the law." Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was confronted by his Polish counterpart about the arrests when both were in Granada, Spain for an EU summit. A Rutte spokesperson told Dutch press agency ANP that Morawiecki had raised the issue with Rutte, who told Morawiecki that the matter is the responsibility of the police, the judiciary and the mayor. The Global South, a hub of global dynamism, is poised to drive most of this centurys global growth. The International Monetary Fund forecasts affirm this shift, with over two-thirds of worldwide growth expected from the Global South. Home to 80 per cent of the worlds population, this region offers a growing labour force and investment opportunities abundant enough to shape the worlds economic landscape. However, these countries face disproportionate climate vulnerability, worsened by post-Covid recovery challenges, rising debt, and food and energy insecurity. Addressing these issues requires global effort and substantial financing, ensuring the Global Souths rise benefits all. Recognising the Global Souths pivotal role, Indias G20 presidency echoes its aspirations, emphasising that development should not force countries to choose between alleviating hunger and protecting the planet. At its core is a human-centric vision balancing economic progress, environmental sustainability, and social well-being, calling for global cooperation and shared responsibility to leave no one behind. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, setting the tone for this presidency, envisioned it to be inclusive, ambitious, action-oriented, and decisive. Today, as we reflect on our journey, we can proudly say that it has lived up to those expectations. From climate diplomacy to economic growth discussions, Indias leadership demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the Global South, fostering consensus among major economies. From the beginning, India advocated for the African Union (AU) to attain G20 permanent membership, bringing 55 African countries into the fold and making G20 representative of 80 per cent of the worlds population. Additionally, we extended an open invitation to countries such as Mauritius, Egypt, and Nigeria, alongside the African Union chair from Comoros and representatives from AUDA-NEPAD. In January, we hosted the first Voice of the Global South Summit, with 125 countries and 18 heads of state, discussing common challenges like energy security, justice, sustainable transition, and the food, fuel, and fertiliser crises. This inclusive approach enriches the forums diversity. India has remained dedicated to driving tangible economic progress in these regions by leveraging digital solutions and innovation. Our focus on digital public infrastructure (DPI) has been a pivotal part of that vision. So far, we have signed MoUs with eight countries to collaborate on integrating and innovating DPI components in their governance, allowing us to share our best practices for a digital revolution. When it comes to climate action, India has stood firm in its commitment to climate justice and equity, calling for substantial support from the Global North. The New Delhi Leaders Declaration (NDLD) seeks an ambitious, transparent, and trackable New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) of climate finance, starting at $100 billion, by 2024. We have also urged developed countries to double their collective allocation of adaptation finance compared with 2019 levels by 2025. This comes on the back of a seismic shift in perspective. For the first time in history, major developed economies have recognised the monumental scale of resources neededprecisely $5.9 trillion by 2030for developed nations to meet their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Moreover, an additional annual $4 trillion is needed to drive the adoption of clean energy technologies. This acknowledgment puts the colossal needs of the Global South in the spotlight. Recognising this need for substantial financing, India has pushed for better, bigger and more effective Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs). Measures like currency exchange guarantees and disaster clauses in debt repayment are helping us rebuild an international development finance system capable of addressing the challenges facing developing countries. Our presidency has been transformative, not only in the climate arena but also in the development sphere. The NDLD presents an action plan for accelerating progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and emphasises the importance of data for development. It also highlights food security and nutrition, especially through the promotion of millets and ancient grains. In a world where faith in multilateralism is fading, the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakamone earth, one family, one futurehas succeeded in ushering in a renaissance for global cooperation. We have laid the foundation for a new era of global cooperation, one that is characterised by inclusivity, ambition, and a commitment to building a sustainable and equitable future for all. It is through the visionary leadership and global standing of Prime Minister Modi that forging consensus on these critical issues was possible. It has been a privilege to serve as his G20 Sherpa. Kant is G20 Sherpa and former CEO, NITI Aayog. Views expressed are personal. Most men like the company of women, but RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui is averse to women who cut their hair and wear lipstick. The former finance minister of Bihar told a rally last week that such women will claim every third seat in Parliament and state legislatures that may get to be reserved for women from 2029. The tut-tut to bob cut and lipstick runs in the political bloodstream of many leaders. Years ago, while debating the predecessor bill to the present Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023, Sharad Yadav of the Janata Dal (U) had said the same thing in much the same words. Blame not the two gents. Their words were crude, but the fear that women from elite classes and families will hijack the quota is genuine and widespread, and has been there since Nancy Astor walked into the House of Commons in 1919 and claimed the first seat by any woman in any Westminster-style Parliament. Ironically, the fear about elitism was aired first by a woman who had been fighting for womens rights. Imaging: Bhaskaran Lady Astor was nominated by the Conservative Party to contest in Plymouth Sutton after her husband, who had been holding the seat, was elevated to the House of Lords following his fathers death. She won the byelection, but the radical suffragist Constance Markievicz mauled her for being "of the upper classes, out of touch". For all you know, it could have been personal jealousy. Markievicz had been elected to the house a few weeks before Astor, but had been refusing to enter the house since her rebel colleagues in Sinn Fein had been boycotting the house. She finally took her seat, but missed her place in history. Anyway, the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023 has been passed, assented to, notified and has become the law of the land of Sita, Sati, Savitri and Sairandhri. Other things remaining equal, a third of our honble MPs and MLAs will be women from 2029 onwards. But would the other things remain equal? Lets see what those are. One, a delimitation commission has to decide which constituencies will be reserved for women. Two, for a delimitation to happen, there has to be a census. The census, that used to take place in the first year of every decade, was not held in 2021 because of the pandemic. Now promised to be held after the 2024 polls, it will take two years to yield a final report. By then we will be into 2026. A delimitation commission then will have to redraw the constituencies and their boundaries based on the headcount of every square mile of India. The last delimitation, which did not create new constituencies, took five years to redraw the limits of the 500-odd constituencies. It might be easy with faster computers this time, but tougher on the terribly shaking political earth of todays India. Why? Unlike the last delimitation, the next one will have to create or cancel constituencies based on the number of people in every square mile. That exercise, of creating seats based on the population of each region, has been frozen till 2026 because whenever it was attempted earlier it was found that it would give more seats to states that have a larger population. Sounds logical, but therein lies the third if. Think of the gross political, economic and social injustice it would entail. The states that have controlled their populations will get fewer seats, and the states that have been letting their people to procreate wildly will get more. Parliamentary balance and political ballast would shift to one region; the ship of the Indian state will tilt dangerously. How do we correct it, captains? prasannan@theweek.in Most of the 14 persons killed in the cracker shop blaze near Bengaluru were poor students who worked during the holidays to support their education. Official sources said six of the deceased were Class XII and undergraduate students. One person has been arrested in connection with the tragedy that happened on Saturday. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said most of those who were killed in the fire tragedy in the cracker godown-cum-shop in the border town of Attibele in Bengaluru urban district were students. According to him, the victims hailed from Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts in neighbouring Tamil Nadu. "Most of those who died were students who worked during the holidays to earn money for their studies. Barring the manager, none was a permanent employee," the chief minister told reporters after inspecting the spot. He also met the bereaved family members and expressed his sorrow. The young boys came from a very poor background who worked on holidays to fund their education and support their families, the sources said. The chief minister said the families which lost their near and dear ones in the fire mishap will be given a compensation of Rs five lakh each. "It's a major tragedy where 14 people have lost their lives. We will get it investigated and initiate action against those at fault. My condolences to the bereaved family members and pray for the departed souls to rest in peace," Siddaramaiah said. The chief minister further said that the government will bear the medical expenses of the three injured undergoing treatment in a hospital. He said a CID inquiry has been ordered into the incident. The National Conference-Congress alliance has pulled off a thumping victorybagging 22 out of the 26 seats in the crucial Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Kargil election. The results of the first-ever local election held in Ladakh after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories have come as a major setback to the BJP which has managed to win only two seats. The National Conference won 12 seats, making it the single largest party, while the Congress 10. Two Independent candidates have also registered victory on one seat. The election recorded a 77.61 per cent polling with 74,026 of the 95,388 voters exercising their right. The new council will take office before October 11, replacing the existing Council led by NCs Feroz Ahmad Khan, which completed its five-year term on October 1. The administration nominates four members with voting rights to the 30-member Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC)-Kargil. The NC and Congress, who formed an alliance against the BJP, had together fielded 39 candidates22 by Congress and 17 by NC. In all 89 candidates were in the fray. The BJP had fielded 17 candidates. The rest are independents and from the Aam Adami Party. Stringent security arrangements had been put in place at and around the Government Polytechnic College in Kargil where the counting of the votes is being held. The NC-Congress alliances win reflects the anger against the BJP in the region. Ladakh comprises the districts of Kargil and Leh. Muslims are a majority in Kargil and Buddhists in Leh. The people of Kargil are opposed to the UT status for Ladakh and are demanding statehood for the region. The residents of Leh initially rejoiced over the granting of UT status to the cold region, but later resented the move after realising that the rights they had enjoyed under Article 370 no longer existed. The leadership of Leh under the banner of Leh Apex Body (LAB) and those of Kargil under Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have joined forces to press for their demand for constitutional safeguards for the region. While the KDA wants statehood for Ladakh, the LAB is seeking a Sixth Schedule-like status for the region. The Centre government through the Home Ministry has held several meetings with the representatives of LAB and KDA and promised to look into their demands. The Narendra Modi government, however, refused to accept the demand for statehood or Sixth Schdeule-like status for the region. (With inputs from Tariq Bhat) Wake up call for BJP: Omar National Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdulla said the BJPs resounding defeat should serve as a wake-up call for the saffron party. "The BJP was dealt a resounding defeat at the hands of the NC-Congress alliance in Kargil today. In celebration of our strong alliance with the Congress party, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference is delighted to announce its victory in the LAHDC-Kargil elections," Abdullah said in a statement. "This result sends a message to all forces and parties that have, undemocratically and unconstitutionally, divided the state of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh without the consent of its people," he further said. Impact of Bharat Jodo Yatra: Congress The Congress party termed the assertive lead of the National Conference-Congress alliance as a direct impact of Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra. "The national media will blank it out, but trends coming in show Congress leading convincingly in the elections to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil with an almost complete wipeout of the BJP," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X. "This is a direct impact of Rahul Gandhi continuing Bharat Jodo Yatra in Ladakh last month," he added. A BJP leader in Telangana has demanded that the public be briefed regularly about the health condition of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. Marri Shashidhar Reddy slammed the veil of secrecy about Raos death, two days after the chief ministers son, K.T. Rama Rao revealed that his father has secondary (bacterial) infection of the lungs. People of Telangana have the right to be properly briefed about CMs health, Reddy said in a letter to Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Saturday. He also noted that Rao has not been seen in public over the past couple of weeks. Whenever a person holding high public office falls sick, the hospital authorities and government officials put out regular health bulletins, the BJP leader said, adding that such a practice is not seen in the chief ministers case. In his letter to the governor, Reddy also claimed that many people have expressed concern over the condition of Rao especially in the wake of rumours that pressure is being exerted on him by his immediate family members to anoint his son as the chief minister. On Friday, Rama Rao, CMs son and BRS working president, said his father was down with viral fever and has got secondary (bacterial) infection of the lungs. "He (CM KCR) also unfortunately had a secondary infection, a bacterial infection. So, it is taking longer than usual. His viral subsided and then the bacterial started. He has some infection in the chest. He should be out in a day or two," Rama Rao had said. At least 2,000 people died and 600 buildings were damaged or destroyed in strong earthquakes that shook western Afghanistan, near the Iranian border, reports quoting a Taliban spokesman revealed. The number of casualties is expected to rise with search and rescue operations being carried out to find people trapped under debris, AP reported, citing a UN statement. The United States Geological Survey revealed that the epicentre of the first quake was about 40 kilometres northwest of Herat city, the cultural capital of Afghanistan. This was followed by three strong aftershocks of 6.3, 5.9 and 5.5 magnitude. Twelve villages in Zinda Jan and Ghoryan districts have been completely destroyed, ANI quoted officials as saying. In June 2022, Afghanistan's Paktika province was rattled by a tremor of 5.9 magnitude, killing more than 1,000 people, injuring about 1,500 and damaging hundreds of houses. BERN, Switzerland, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Bern, the capital of Switzerland, was "overwhelmed" by Chinese elements such as martial arts, traditional Chinese clothing Hanfu, calligraphy, tea art, traditional Chinese musical instruments guzheng and pipa, and Chinese food, as hundreds of people gathered here Saturday afternoon for the cultural event "Meet China." Held at the Federal Square in the old city of Bern, the Chinese Culture Festival is the first of its kind jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in Switzerland, Chinese students, and overseas Chinese in Switzerland since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sino-Swiss cultural exchanges are an important part of the friendly relations between the two countries, said Chinese Ambassador to Switzerland Wang Shihting. Wang said he believes that this cultural event can deepen the Swiss people's connection and love for Chinese culture, and promote cultural exchanges between the two countries. Accompanied by the sound of gongs and drums, the event kicked off with a lion dance performance. Students from the School for Chinese martial arts in Bern performed Tai Chi, Tai Chi Sword, and others. The power and elegance in their moves attracted many people to stop and watch. Wu Yongmei, director of the School for Chinese martial arts in Bern, said that more than 20 students participated in the performance and most of them had practiced martial arts for several years. Wu said that she was "very proud" to be able to promote Chinese martial arts here in a bid to attract local people to understand Chinese martial arts and culture. "Martial arts is not just fighting, but a manifestation of spirit." As part of the event, Swiss Alphorn artist Walti Sigrist blew a 14-meter-long Alpine horn, one of the oldest musical instruments in Switzerland, and played a number of pieces including "Edelweiss." Sigrist's broker, Claude Hubscher, said that the combination of alphorn performance and the Chinese cultural elements is the "best way" to showcase Chinese culture to the Swiss people and enhance exchanges between the two countries. Chen Xue, one of the organizers of the festival, said that this event could help promote Chinese culture overseas. "We hope that by participating in such activities, our next generation can better inherit Chinese culture." Dozens of booths were set up at the square for traditional Chinese medicine consultation, facial makeup painting, Spring Festival couplet writing, Chinese food, tea art, and paper-cutting. Kevin Riedmann from Schaffhausen, Switzerland, said that he "liked very much" this Chinese cultural festival, the first of its kind for him. Lena Demel from Lucerne, Switzerland, painted a Peking Opera mask. She said that she made a special trip to Bern to better understand Chinese culture and was "overwhelmed" by the wide variety of Chinese elements on site. The deadliest war between Israel and Palestine in five decades escalated on Sunday as the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) launched retaliatory attacks, bombarding the Gaza Strip and flattening many Hamas military targets, including 14-storeyed buildings. Gaza, a narrow strip that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians. Over 250 Gazans were killed in the IDF strikes while over 250 Israelis lost their lives as Hamas fighters launched a pre-dawn attack on Saturday with rockets into Southern Israel. Many, including civilians and a significant number of Israeli civilians and soldiers, are being held hostage by Hamas. According to an Israeli military spokesperson, operations were going on in eight areas around Gaza on Sunday, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of "mighty vengeance for this wicked day." In a televised address on Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military will use all of its strength to destroy Hamas capabilities. "All the places that Hamas hides in, operates from, we will turn them into ruins," he added. "Get out of there now," he told Gaza residents, who have no way to leave the tiny, overcrowded Mediterranean territory. Israeli military was also heard relaying warnings in Arabic to communities near the border with Israel to leave their homes for areas deeper inside the tiny enclave. Sources from Palestine said the Israeli mortars targetted two homes in Gaza's Beit Hanoun district, killing 18 people. Of the over 256 killed, 20 were children. Over 1,800 have been wounded. According to Netanyahu's office, his security cabinet had approved steps to destroy the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, another militant group. Plumes of black smoke and orange flashes lit up the sky as Israeli drones flew all over Gaza. Footages also showed bodies being carried to hospitals in Gaza while overcrowded hospitals faced severe medical shortages. As for the hostages taken by Hamas, an Israeli military spokesperson said that two hostage situations had been "resolved" but did not say whether all the hostages had been rescued alive. Amid the IDF raids in Gaza, Hamas continued to rain on Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and a nearby suburb. Throughout the day, Hamas fired more than 3,500 rockets, the Israeli military said. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said the assault was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza. "How many times have we warned you that the Palestinian people have been living in refugee camps for 75 years, and you refuse to recognise the rights of our people?" Haniyeh said, The shadowy leader of Hamas military wing, Mohammed Deif, too claimed the assault was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza. "Enough is enough," Deif, who does not appear in public, said in the recorded message. He said the attack was only the start of what he called "Operation Al-Aqsa Storm" and called on Palestinians from east Jerusalem to northern Israel to join the fight. After Hamas attack, Israel strikes back with the fighter jets targeting Gaza causing destruction along the strip. 'Hundreds of terrorists' had been killed, said an Israeli military officer in the wake of the counterattacks launched by the nation. Efforts are on to neutralise the terrorists, who infilitrated into the nation, after the surprise Hamas attack on Saturday. Over 600 deaths were reported in Israel amid the ongoing fighting with the militants. Meanwhile, two Israeli tourists were shot dead in Eygpt. Reportedly, the attack took place in northern Egyptian city of Alexandria. A police officer working with the security service in the area fired shots from his personal weapon at the Israeli tour group, reported Cairo24, a news website. In another shocking incident, a 25-year-old woman was kidnapped from a peace festival by Hamas fighters. A video of the woman being kidnapped had surfaced on the social media. Screams of "Don't kill me!" was heard in the video. The woman, along with her boyfriend was kidnapped and held hostages, reported New York Post. Israeli territories bordering the Gaza strip is also being affected by the ongoing war between both the nations. Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty in 1979 and have forged far closer public relations in recent years. Egypt was also leading the mediation talks with Palestinian militant groups in an effort to calm situation in Gaza. Egypt had closed its borders with the Gaza avoiding militant infiltration. Meanwhile, residents recall the tale of horror. Police stations are flooded with complaints of missing people. Hamas has claimed that they have taken around 100 Israeli hostages. "We were at a party when we heard missiles and sudden gunshots. A car rammed into my vehicle when I was trying to get away. People with guns and masks were on the streets and I had to literally play dead to save myself," a woman told Reuters. Also, Palestinian authority called for an urgent Arab League meeting of foreign ministers on Sunday. According to WAFA, the Palestinian news agency, Arab League ambassador, Muhannad Al-Aklouk, said the request for the meeting came in light of the brutal and ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, including the escalation of the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by thousands of settlers. Whenever Israel is attacked, Islamists and other racists use Israeli defensive measures as a pretext to stir up hatred against British Jews. Yesterday I spoke with @CST_UK to ensure the government is doing everything necessary for the protection of our Jewish communities. 1/2 Suella Braverman MP (@SuellaBraverman) October 8, 2023 Growing concerns UK home secretary Suella Braverman said that the government is going everything necessary for the protection of the Jewish communities. In the wake of the attack, France has increased its security around synagogues and schools. We have stepped up security at places of worship and at the schools. There is no specific threat at this stage, but we will remain extremely vigilant," said Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne. Around 313 Palestinians have been killed as a result of the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. According to Palestinian health ministry, nearly 2,000 were wounded in the airstrike. Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has said the country is embarking on a long and difficult war after a surprise attack by Palestinian militants. Pope Francis on Sunday expressed concern and deep pain at what is happening in Israel. Speaking to the faithful in St. Peter's Square, the pope offered prayers for the victims and their families and for all those who are experiencing hours of terror and anguish. The pontiff called on the attacks by both sides to stop. Terrorism and war don't bring solutions, only death. War is a defeat. Every war is a defeat." On Saturday, almost 50 years after Israel came under attack on Yom Kippur in 1973, hundreds of Hamas fighters crossed into its southern border of the country. The unexpected land, air and sea caught Tel Aviv off-guard, a major oversight that cost it dearly. Despite Israel striking back hard, launching major retaliatory attacks in the Gaza Strip, the attacks have raised questions as to why one of the most capable intelligence agencies in the world, failed to see it coming. "It looks quite similar to what happened at that time," said retired General Giora Eiland, a former head of Israel's National Security Council. "As we can see it, Israel was completely surprised, by a very well-coordinated attack," he told a briefing with reporters. The attack not only defied Israel's assumption that Hamas wouldn't dare to carry out major attacks in Israel fearing a backlash, but also raised brows on whether the current domestic political turmoil in the country may have played a role in the apparent intelligence failure. "All of Israel is asking itself: Where is the IDF, where are the police, where is the security?" agreed Eli Maron, the former head of the Israeli Navy, alongside him in the studio. "Its a colossal failure; the [defence] establishments have simply failed, with vast consequences." Interestingly, unlike the West Bank, Gaza had been relatively quiet for the last many years, apart from sporadic cross-border clashes mainly involving the smaller Islamic Jihad movement. Hamas wasn't very active and Israel was busy working on normalizing ties with Arab monarchies. Though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government had never shied away from taking an uncompromising stance towards Hamas, it adopted a 'carrot and stick' towards Gaza. Economic incentives were offered for Gazans to work in Israel or the occupied West Bank, but it continued to maintain a tight blockade and the constant threat of airstrikes. "It was a security failure, undermining what was thought to be an aggressive and successful layered approach toward Gaza by Israel," Jonathan Panikoff, the U.S. government's former deputy national intelligence officer on the Middle East, who is now at the Atlantic Council think tank told Reuters. Israeli security analysts believe that the attack was long in planning and was very coordinated and could surprise Israel "tactically and cause devastating damage." Reports quoting US officials also suggest that the Hamas attack came when the deal normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel was close to being clinched. It was also the Hamas sending a not-so-subtle message to the Arab countries that the Palestinians could not be ignored if Israel wanted security and that any Saudi deal would scupper the detente with Iran. As the Israel-Palestine battle escalates, around 1,000 deaths were reported from both sides since the Hamas attack on Saturday. Israel Defence Forces (IDF) launched harsh airstrikes on Gaza claiming lives of around 400 people. While, Israel authorities said that they had confirmed the death of 600 people and are yet to identify several bodies. Around 1,900 people were injured in Israel, while about 1,500 in Gaza during Israel's counterattacks. Meanwhile, Security Cabinet on Sunday officially declared that the country is at war following the deadly attack in southern Israel. With the official declaration, it formally authorises Israel of taking significant military steps. The war that was forced on the State of Israel in a murderous terrorist assault from the Gaza Strip began at 06:00 yesterday, read the statement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier declared the country at war and the military also promised harsh response in Gaza. With several persons gone missing, Israel had opened a missing person command center. More than 20 Israeli communities near Gaza are being evacuated. Also, Poland is sending military planes to evacuate citizens from Israel. Ali Shamkhani, the political adviser to Iran's supreme leader, said in a post on X that the Hamas attack was a decisive, unique and effective operation that was a legitimate defense against the Israeli government. The Palestinian resistance is a mature and independent movement whose power comes from widespread public support, he added. Meanwhile, German Chancellor OIaf Scholz said he spoke with PM Netanyahu and assured him that Israel's security is a cornerstone of German policy. He said he will support Egypt's efforts to mediate and de-escalate situations between Israel-Palestine. Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had condemned the Hamas attack and urged all parties to use restraint. Taking to X, Kishida said that Japan strongly condemns the attacks which severely harmed innocent civilians. South Korea's Foreign Ministry also said it strongly condemns the indiscriminate attacks on Israel from Gaza. United States has extended its full support to Israel. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the focus now is on helping Israel recover the territory that has been taken by Hamas militants. The issue of intelligence failure would be probed later, Bliken added. Indians safe in Israel and Gaza Amid the escalating tensions in the region, Indian nationals in Israel and Gaza are safe, said authorities. According to PTI, there are about 18,000 Indian nationals living and working in Israel and so far there have been no untoward incidents reported involving them. Indian embassy has received several requests from Indian tourists stranded in the country to facilitate their exit. There were also reports that 11 Nepalese students in Israel had gone missing after the attack. According to Foreign Minister N. P. Saud four Nepalese students have been injured and 11 went missing. There were 17 Nepalese students in Kibbutz Alumim in southern Israel, under the learn and earn programme, reported PTI. Air India flights to and from Tel Aviv have been suspended till October 14 amid Israel-Hamas conflict. This comes hours after India's diplomatic missions in Israel and Palestine issued advisories to Indian citizens to be vigilant and contact them in case a full-fledged war breaks out. Air India spokesperson said, "Air India flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel will remain suspended till 14th October, for the safety of our passengers and crew. Air India will extend all possible support to passengers who have confirmed bookings on any flight during this period." After Hamas militants reportedly fired more than 2,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel on Saturday, killing 250 people and injured hundreds. Israel retaliated strongly with 'Operation Iron Swords', deploying its fighter jets to launch airstrikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, killing about 250 people and injuring several hundreds, reports said. India's Tel Aviv embassy asked all Indian citizens in Israel to observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities. Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement, and stay close to safety shelters, read the advisory, which was issued in English, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. It also shared emergency phone numbers and URLs for Israeli Home Front Command and Preparedness brochures. There are about 18,000 Indian citizens in Israel besides 85,000 Jews of Indian origin who migrated to the country in the fifties and sixties. In Palestine's Ramallah, the Representative Office of India in Palestine took to X platform, stating, In light of the prevailing security situation, Indian nationals in Palestine can directly contact the Representative Office of India to address any case of emergency or needed assistance on the 24-hours Emergency Helpline. The mission shared to two emergency contact numbers. Following the attacks on Israel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated, Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour. Meanwhile, reports also said that actor Nushrratt Bharuccha who was stranded in Israel, is "safe" and on her way to India, according to her publicist. She was in Israel to attend the Haifa International Film Festival from September 28 to October 7. Israeli soldiers exchanged fire with the Hezbollah militant group on Sunday after retaliating against Hamas strikes in the country the previous day. Talking about the latest attacks on Israel's northern border, Hezbollah said it was in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance Hezbollah targeted Israeli positions in the disputed Shebaa Farms which has been occupied by Israel since 1967 and claimed by Lebanon as its own along the border with Syria's Israeli-occupied Golan Heights with dozens of rockets and shells. Following this, Israeli military hit Hezbollah targets with armed drone strikes near the borders of Israel, Lebanon and Syria. A UN peacekeeping force deployed along Lebanons southern border has urged everyone to exercise restraint and de-escalate the situation. The cross-border fire comes a day after Palestinian gunmen broke out of the blockaded Gaza Strip and entered Israeli towns in a surprise attack, killing at least 250 Israelis dead and taking several women, children and the elderly captive. Israel also bombarded Gaza in retaliation, killing at least 256 people and destroying several buildings, including a mosque and a 14-storey tower housing Hamas offices. The previous war between Israel and Hezbollah was the 34-day conflict in 2006 when left 1,200 people were killed in Lebanon and 160 in Israel. ANIL MANIBHAI NAIK, 81, the long-serving boss of Larsen & Toubro stepped down as non-executive chairman on October 1. He spent close to six decades at the engineering and construction company, overseeing its growth and expansion to a global giant. In an exclusive interview, Naik talks about his life at L&T, succession and his philanthropic works. Edited excerpts: Q/ You were with L&T since 1965. Is there some emotional sadness about stepping down? A/ Though on paper I have spent around 60 years, in the hours that I have spent15 hours a day, seven days a week, and not taking a leaveI am about 120 years. But in one lifetime, L&T grew 92 per cent; what I inherited was only 8 per cent. In 25 years, I created a new L&T. I am not sad at all. I am a very happy man. My father told me not to take anything from anybody, because that is a liability. But if you give, it is a pleasure. So, at this stage in life, I am in a process of giving. In 60 years, I have collected so much I do not want to go without giving. I feel so happy that we have a very good successor. I was never mentored. I got one weeks notice to take over. I have been mentoring SNS (S.N. Subrahmanyan, his successor) from 2011. And he became CEO in 2017. When I first saw him in 2006, he was only a joint general manager. [He went up] from joint GM to GM to vice president to senior VP to joining the executive board. I sent him abroad for a year while he was a director. I was backing up his portfolio as well. I am not emotional because I have been preparing myself for the past 10 years. My whole life has been L&T and nothing else. My wife says she is a second wife; first wife is L&T. I have slept on the office table many times. Even when my wife was young. I have been devoted to L&T. Q/ Your first employer was willing to pay you better. You also had an interview with Philips. Why did you choose L&T, that too for a lower level job? A/ My ambition was to join L&T. I joined Nestor Boilers because L&T was interviewing only IIT students; one exception was VJTI (Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute in Mumbai). My father had left [Bombay] for the village and I went with him. He told me to go to Vallabh Vidyanagar [in Gujarat] and I went there. So I missed IIT. If I was in Bombay and my father had continued with his job, I would have gone to IIT Bombay. I joined a small company, but that experience was just the right one for me to join L&T. When I made up my mind to move, I applied to 20 companies. I got interview offers from Phillips and L&T. Phillips was more for electrical and electronic engineers. I was a mechanical engineer. L&T would give me much better responsibilities. So I attended the interview and was selected. At Nestor Boilers, I was being paid Rs800, as a workshop in-charge with 400 workers. General manager Gunnar Hansen of L&T thought I was overconfident. Earlier, E.T. Baker (who hired Naik) had offered me Rs760 as assistant engineer. Hansen made it Rs670, junior engineer and unionised category. I accepted the job because my dream was to join L&T and serve the nation. Money didnt matter to me; even today, it doesnt matter to me. I have never checked my salary slip in 60 years. When I became CEO, I got a call from a headhunter in Hong Kong offering me a job at a multinational as Asia manager. I told him I was not looking for a bigger job. I asked him to meet me, as I needed lots of good people. He never came. Q/ You did not take leave for 21 years. A/ As a student, I hardly attended class. Professors used to think that I would fail, but I would finally come out fifth or sixth in the class. When I graduated, I said the student life is over, I was going into business life and that is a completely different story. I enjoyed working so much. People used to ask me when did I relax? I would say when I worked. And then they would ask when would I get tensed? I would say if I had no work. I was given more and more responsibility. That kept me occupied and interested. And I just did not feel like going home. Of course, my wife was there. She suffered a lot. Many nights I slept in office and she used to be worried. She had to sleep in the flat alone. I should have thought about what she was going through, was it really worth it. But, that is past. Basically, you have to enjoy what you are doing. Q/ L&Ts strength was in engineering and construction. Over a period, it expanded into other businessesfrom information technology to financial services. What triggered it? A/ We started financial services in 1994. We were into industrial productsswitchgear, petrol pumps, construction machinery. People who were buying these needed loans. So we had captive customers. It was not doing well, though. We changed the entire structure and the CEO. We also changed the profile of the business and we had 105 per cent increase in profit this year. Next year will be similar. And we have repaid Rs5,000 crore for non-performing assets. So the balance sheet is becoming cleaner. Three years ago, L&T Finance share was hovering around Rs50-Rs55. It has now gone up to Rs130. I would not be surprised if it keeps going up, because from a wholesale finance company, we have become a retail finance company. We had only 20 per cent retail business. Now we have 80 per cent retail and we want to take it to 95 per cent, if possible 100 per cent. So it will be like a bank. That will be a tremendous progress in overall L&T Finance portfolio. When I took over, I wanted to form a five-year strategic plan. I called it Project Bluechip. Later on, as the company did well, we changed the name to Lakshya. After we implemented the strategic plan, I saw that we had 60 per cent attrition rate in our IT captive unit. We wanted to automise the processes of the entire company. We were the first company in the country to buy enterprise resource planning system. People were leaving because we were paying them L&T salary, which was one-fourth of IT industry salary. We formed a company called L&T Infotech, transferred the IT people there and started paying them IT industry salary. That brought down the attrition to 40 per cent. But 40 per cent was still a lot. Then I found that everybody wanted to go abroad, preferably the US. So, I said I would start an IT company to stop the attrition, because it was hurting the rest of the company. In August 2000, I went to the US for the first time and started meeting people whom I personally knew. I got the first [project] because the CEO was close to me. It was only $6 million. One and a half years later we got another one. Slowly I brought back some of the employees. Then I got the 16 smartest people from L&T, oriented them for three weeks and sent them to London, New York and California, and I opened 12 offices. Q/ Defence manufacturing is an area largely dependent on government contracts. How do you see L&Ts future in this? A/ There is so much talk about the Bofors gun. Our Vajra howitzer is much better than Bofors. We made 100 of them and hopefully we will get orders for 100 more. I wanted to do something for the country using L&T as a platform, and defence was absolutely in the countrys interest. In 1950 we started nuclear, in 1975 we started aerospace, and in 1986 we started defence. Now we do about Rs12,000-Rs15,000 crore worth of business every year and are the biggest in the private sector. But the reason we are not able to get and do more is because the government keeps on nominating the public sector, and they dont deliver for 8 to 10 years. The country is suffering. Our urge was always to go into high-tech, and defence was high-tech. Defence work has application in many commercial areas. Q/ When did you zero in on S.N. Subrahmanyan as your successor? A/ SNS knows engineering and construction contract (ECC) inside out, as he came from there. I met him first in 2006. I met him because G.M. Rao (of GMR Group) wanted to build the Delhi airport. And he told SNS, who was doing selling, marketing and business development, that he wanted to see the chairman. I went and I could make out that the project would come to us. After that there was no looking back. When GVK wanted to make the Mumbai airport, they called me along with SNS. Earlier, it took years to get promotions. But I changed that by bringing in meritocracy. At that level you cannot be fooling around with seniority. Two people were a little sad that they were not getting a chance. But, I pumped them up and they have wholeheartedly accepted SNS. Then I gave him additional responsibilities. In 2015, I sent him to the US for a year. As soon as he came back, I made him vice chairman. In 2016, we made him chairman of Hyderabad Metro and chairman of our defence shipyard near Kattupalli. After that, I went to the board saying that I had been watching this man for 10 years and mentoring him. I told the board my choice was SNS. The board agreed. In 2017, he was made CEO. I dont think there are many such competent people in the industry. Q/ How do you see the future of L&T under his leadership? A/ It is [only] a matter of time that we make Rs3 lakh crore [turnover]. Now, we have got one high-speed rail job, which is worth Rs26,000 crore, and we are going to get a large job overseas that no one has ever dreamt of in India. Q/ You have for long batted for reducing imports and making in India. Do you think the environment today is conducive enough for industry and investment? A/ Over time, the government was vociferating that no private sector, only government sector. So we didnt get any job. Pioneering work was done by L&T in the nuclear sector. But the government gave away projects to BHEL. When BHEL failed, they brought L&T back after 10 years. Now again BHEL is lagging behind by five to seven years. Those were the days when I might have gone 30 or 40 times to convince secretaries that if you want to create a nation with power, you have to take everyone with you and make competitive bidding. Q/ What next for you? A/ The L&T Trust, which owns L&T, and L&T, which manages L&T Group, are two different pillars. I am still the chairman of L&T Trust. So, I am just stepping aside. I am also the chairman of the IT and engineering services till next July. I have a timetable. Next year, I will give away both. I will continue as adviser for two years. I am the (honorary) Consul General for Denmark. But, I have said by 2025 March, I am out. Q/ You run charities in health care and education. Will that take up more of your time? A/ My son is in Navsari. My daughter-in-law goes to the school and hospital every Saturday. My sisters daughter looks after education and skilling in the rural parts and health care is looked after by my son. My sisters grandson has shifted from Mumbai to Navsari. So, I have good pillars now. I still sanction money and sign off on payments. Some day, my son will do that or whoever is the most competent will. It could be my daughter-in-law or niece or son. But, that time has not yet come. As a specialist in global security affairs, Rohan Gunaratna believes that international security and intelligence services should shift from counter-terrorism cooperation to collaboration. The key is to build common databases, exchange personnel, conduct joint training and operations. says Gunaratna, who has authored more than 30 books, including Sri Lankas Easter Sunday Massacre: Lessons for the International Community (2023). At a time when India and Canada are at loggerheads over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, leader of the Khalistan Tiger Force, his advice for countries is to resolve their differences behind the scenes, rather than fight. Excerpts: Under Trudeau, immigration has increased to four lakh new residents per year, and Canada plans to welcome five lakh permanent residents each year by 2025. Q/ How has Canada earned the tag of an immigrant country? A/ Canada is the worlds most favoured country for migrants. Immigrants compensate for labour shortage, an ageing population and declining birth rate. They make up more than one-fifth of the Canadian populationmore than 8 million of the 36 million Canadiansand non-permanent residents add almost another million. As per the 2021 census, more than half (4.3 million) had migrated from Asia, with India, the Philippines and China leading the way. About two million migrated from Europe, a million from North and South America and more than eight lakh from Africa (led by Morocco, Nigeria and Algeria). The recent immigrant population of over 1.3 million people shows a trend towards more immigrants of Asian and African descent. The immigration from the Americas, Europe and Oceania is on the decline. Q/ There are concerns over inimical elements from various countries entering Canada over the years. A/ Canada hosts people from around the world, including from conflict regions. The migrants mostly live in ethnic and religious enclaves. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has steadfastly expanded immigration, which has enhanced his popularity and electability. Under Trudeau, immigration has increased to four lakh new residents per year, and Canada plans to welcome five lakh permanent residents each year by 2025. About 40,000 asylum seekers entered Canada through irregular border crossings from the US alone in 2022. Like all governments, Canada is screening all the applicants. However, due to the sheer volume of applicants, a few thousand former terrorists and criminals have infiltrated. The Canadian intelligence and law enforcement agencies need to work in close collaboration with foreign counterparts to prevent acts of terrorism and crime. Q/ What are Sri Lankas concerns over LTTE activities on Canadian soil? A/ The LTTE clandestinely raised funds in Canada and procured weapons from the US, Ukraine and North Korea, which were then used to bomb the Central Bank in Colombo in 1996. The bombing killed 91 people and injured 1,400 people. It is not too late to trace and prosecute the masterminds and fundraisers, but Canada and Sri Lanka should work together on this case to send a clear message that terrorism will not be tolerated. The largest Sri Lankan population outside the island is in Canada. The Sri Lankan Tamil community migrated to Canada in three stages: before, during and after war. Most migrants have become Canadian citizens and they lead respectable lives. A few hundred are supporting the LTTE in an attempt to revive the group. Over the years, the Sri Lankan government is working closely with Canada. Despite some issues, it is vital for Colombo and Ottawa to maintain cordial relations. Q/ The 9/11 terror attack was a wake-up call for the United States. Do you think all countries need to recognise terrorism as a global threat? A/ The 9/11 attack by Al Qaeda on the US soil demonstrated that terrorists can operate across borders and strike their enemies at will. The US mounted operations overseas to find, fix and finish their enemies. After 9/11, the US also created a new architecture to protect its homeland. Otherwise, the US would have suffered gravely. For instance, the department of homeland security spent billions of dollars to create fusion centres and shared intelligence [with other countries]. Unless governments learn and adapt to the new and emerging threats, their countries will continue to suffer. Q/ What is the way forward? A/ With the global reach of threat groups increasing, international security and intelligence services should shift from counter-terrorism cooperation to collaboration. The key is to build common databases, exchange personnel, conduct joint training and operations, and share information, resources, experience and expertise. Rather than fight, they should resolve their differences behind the scenes. New Delhi, Oct 7 (PTI) Air India on Saturday cancelled its flight from the national capital to Tel Aviv amid the Israeli city coming under attack by Hamas militants. The full-service carrier operates five weekly flights to Tel Aviv. The service is on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. An airline spokesperson said flight AI 139 from the national capital to Tel Aviv on Saturday and the return flight AI 140 have been cancelled in the interests and safety of passengers and crew. AI 139 flight was scheduled at 1535 hours (India time), and the return flight from Tel Aviv was at 2210 hours (Israel time) on Saturday. The time difference between Delhi and Tel Aviv is around 0230 hours. According to the Air India spokesperson, passengers are being extended all support as per their requirements. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed solidarity with Israel after Hamas militants launched an attack on the country. Modi condemned it as "terrorist attacks" in Israel as its leader Benjamin Netanyahu said the country is at war. New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) Air India on Sunday said it has cancelled its flights to and from Tel Aviv till October 14. Israel came under attack by Hamas militants on Saturday and since then, both sides are engaged in fighting in which scores of people have died. "Our flights to and from Tel Aviv will remain suspended till 14th October, 2023, for the safety of our passengers and crew," an airline spokesperson said in a statement. The airline will extend all possible support to passengers who have confirmed bookings on any flight during this period, the spokesperson added. The full service carrier operates five weekly flights to Tel Aviv from the national capital. The service is on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday also, the carrier cancelled its flights to and from Tel Aviv. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, expressed solidarity with Israel after Hamas militants launched an attack on the country. Modi condemned it as "terrorist attacks" in Israel as its leader Benjamin Netanyahu said the country is at war. NICOSIA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The 8th Nicosia Book Fest, featuring China as the Country of Honor, concluded on Sunday, with visitors and exhibitors alike deeply impressed. When addressing the opening ceremony, Zhang Jianchun, vice minister of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, underscored the notable strides in China-Cyprus relations. Noting the cultural bonds between the two ancient civilizations, Zhang stressed the importance of cultural exchanges and mutual understanding in the rapidly evolving world. Cypriot Deputy Minister of Culture Vasiliki Kassianidou expressed her pleasure for having China as the country of honor at the fest. She also highlighted the significance of the event's role in promoting literature, knowledge, and love for reading across all age groups in Cyprus. On the sidelines of the book fest, a Comprehensive Collection of Ancient Chinese Paintings exhibition was held. Annita Demetriou, speaker of the Cypriot House of Representatives, said this exhibition showcases China's rich heritage, emphasizing humanity and drawing inspiration from nature. The China-Cyprus Civilization Exchange Forum, which explored the theme of harmonious coexistence between civilizations and between humanity and nature, underscored the necessity of dialogue and cooperation, and participants agreed that literature is identified as a powerful medium to advance ecological civilization and promote mutual understanding between Cyprus and China. Some Chinese publishers have secured agreements and contracts with local publishers during the festival. Kostas Gouliamos, former rector of the European University Cyprus, lauded China's participation as the Country of Honor, describing it as "a great event." Maria, a civil servant, expressed her interest in China Pavilion at the Nicosia Book Fest. "It is the most fantastic place in the whole exhibition, very nice, excellent, and the books are very interesting," Maria said. "In this year's book fest, we collaborate with China and we host Chinese pavilion in the Nicosia book fest, which are opportunities for us and for the visitors of the book fest to familiarize themselves with Chinese literature," said Menelaos Menelaou, president of the Board of Directors of the Promitheas Research Institute, the festival's organizer. Menelaou said that "we use this year's beginning as the starting point to continue to further expand and enrich this cooperation." (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI) Beijing, Oct 8 (PTI) China on Sunday called on Palestine and Israel to immediately end the hostilities, exercise restraint, and remain calm to protect civilians to avoid further deterioration of the situation. China is deeply concerned over the current escalation of tensions and violence between Palestine and Israel, and calls on relevant parties to remain calm, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in response to questions on the fierce conflicts between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip resulting in massive casualties on both sides. Hamas launched a wave of rocket attacks on Saturday, killing over 200 people in Israel in the biggest escalation in decades. Israel has responded with a wave of air strikes on Gaza, killing more than 230 people, according to media reports. The spokesperson said the recurrence of the conflict shows once again that the protracted standstill of the peace process cannot last. The fundamental way out of the conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent State of Palestine. The international community needs to act with greater urgency, step up input into the Palestine question, facilitate the early resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel, and find a way to bring about enduring peace, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted the spokesperson as saying. China will continue to work relentlessly with the international community towards that end, the spokesperson added. China this year has stepped up its diplomacy in the Middle East and brokered a surprise deal between arch-rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran in March to end their hostilities and restore diplomatic ties. The Beijing-brokered detente between Iran and Saudi Arabia came after a bitter rivalry between the two influential Middle Eastern countries which had destabilised several countries in the region including Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Bahrain. Tel Aviv, Oct 8 (AP) Israeli soldiers battled Hamas fighters in the streets of Israel's south on Sunday and exchanged strikes with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group in the north, while Israel's retaliation strikes levelled buildings in Gaza. The prospect of Hezbollah joining the fighting a day after an unprecedented surprise attack from Gaza raised the chances of a broader conflict. Hamas fighters, backed by a volley of thousands of rockets, broke through barricades around Gaza early Saturday to rampage through nearby communities in Israel. They took captives back into the coastal enclave, including women, children and the elderly, while Israel's retaliation strikes levelled buildings in Gaza and its prime minister said the country was at war. Israeli media, citing rescue service officials, said at least 300 people were killed, including 26 soldiers. At least 250 people were killed in Gaza and civilians paid a staggering cost for the violence on both sides. Israeli TV news aired a stream of accounts from the relatives of captive or missing Israelis, who wailed and begged for assistance amid a fog of uncertainty surrounding the fate of their loved ones. In Gaza, residents fled homes near the border to escape Israeli strikes, fleeing deeper inside the territory after warnings in Arabic from the Israeli military. Israeli Rear Adm Daniel Hagari told reporters that hundreds of terrorists have been killed and dozens captured. Previous conflicts between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers brought widespread destruction in Gaza and days of rocket fire on Israeli towns. The situation is potentially more volatile now, with Israel's far-right government stung by the security breach and Palestinians in despair over a never-ending occupation in the West Bank and suffocating blockade of Gaza. The flare-up on Israel's northern border also threatened to draw into the battle Hezbollah, a fierce enemy of Israel's which is backed by Iran and estimated to have tens of thousands of rockets at its disposal. Hezbollah struck Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border with Syria's Golan Heights, and Israel's military responded with armed drone strikes on Hezbollah targets in a disputed area where the borders of Israel, Lebanon and Syria meet. In an assault of startling breadth, Hamas gunmen used explosives to break through the border fence enclosing Gaza, then crossed with motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders and speed boats on the coast. They rolled into as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip early Saturday morning, including towns and other communities as far as 15 miles (24 km) from the Gaza border, while Hamas launched thousands of rockets at Israeli cities. Israel is waking up this morning to a terrible morning, said Lt Col Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman. There are a lot of people killed... children, grandmothers, families, bodies. On Sunday, the Israeli military said its forces were fighting Hamas incursions in eight places. An Israeli military spokesperson said that two hostage situations had been resolved, but did not say whether all the hostages had been rescued alive. Israel struck 426 targets in Gaza, its military said, flattening residential buildings in giant explosions. That included a 14-story tower that held dozens of apartments as well as Hamas offices in central Gaza City. Israeli forces fired a warning just before. Among the 256 killed in Gaza were 20 children, and close to 1,800 wounded, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinians, said more than 20,000 Palestinians left Gaza's border region to head further inside the territory and take refuge in UN schools. Israeli media said at least 300 people were killed and 1,500 wounded in Saturday's attack, making it the deadliest in Israel in decades. Hamas fighters took an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive into Gaza and a line of Israelis with missing relatives snaked outside a police station in central Israel to supply investigators with DNA samples and other means that could help identify their family members. Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and shells on Sunday at three Israeli positions in the disputed area and Israel's military fired back using armed drones at the Lebanese areas. Israel and Hezbollah are archenemies and have fought several wars in the past, the most recent a 34-day conflict in 2006 that left 1,200 dead in Lebanon and 160 in Israeli. Tensions have been simmering along Israel's northern border for months. In a televised address Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military will use all of its strength to destroy Hamas' capabilities. All the places that Hamas hides in, operates from, we will turn them into ruins, he added. Get out of there now, he told Gaza residents, who have no way to leave the tiny, overcrowded Mediterranean territory. Gaza's 2.3 million people have endured a border blockade, enforced to varying degrees by Israel and Egypt, since Hamas militants seized control in 2007. In Gaza, much of the population was thrown into darkness Saturday night as Israel cut off electricity. Netanyahu's office said in a statement that Israel would stop supplying electricity, fuel and goods to Gaza. Before daybreak Sunday, militants fired more rockets from Gaza, hitting a hospital in the Israeli coastal town of Ashkelon, said senior hospital official Tal Bergman. Video provided by Barzilai Medical Center showed a large hole punched into a wall and chunks of debris scattered on the ground of what appeared to be an empty room and a hallway. The military said patients had been evacuated from Barzilai before the strike. School was cancelled across Israel. The shadowy leader of Hamas' military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the assault was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, and a series of recent incidents that have brought Israeli-Palestinian tensions to a fever pitch. Over the past year, Israel's far-right government has ramped up settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, Israeli settler violence has displaced hundreds of Palestinians there, and tensions have flared around the Al-Aqsa mosque, a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site. Deif, who does not appear in public, said in a recorded message that the attack was only the start of what he called Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, and called on Palestinians from east Jerusalem to northern Israel to join the fight. Asked by reporters how Hamas had managed to catch the army off guard, Lt Col Richard Hecht, an Israeli army spokesman, replied, That's a good question. The Hamas incursion on Simchat Torah, a normally joyous day when Jews complete the annual cycle of reading the Torah scroll, revived painful memories of the 1973 Mideast war, in which Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, aiming to take back Israeli-occupied territories. The comparison sharpened criticism of Netanyahu and his far-right allies, who had campaigned on more aggressive action against threats from Gaza. Political commentators lambasted the government and military over its failure to anticipate what appeared to be a Hamas attack unprecedented in its level of planning and coordination. The abduction of Israeli civilians and soldiers also raised a particularly thorny issue for Israel, which has a history of making heavily lopsided exchanges to bring captive Israelis home. Israel is holding thousands of Palestinians in its prisons. Hecht confirmed that a substantial number of Israelis were abducted Saturday. A major question now was whether Israel will launch a ground assault into Gaza, a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. Netanyahu vowed that Hamas will pay an unprecedented price. But, he warned, This war will take time. It will be difficult. Israel's military was bringing four divisions of troops as well as tanks to the Gaza border, joining 31 battalions already in the area, a spokesperson said. Hamas said it had planned for a potentially long fight. We are prepared for all options, including all-out war, the deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, Saleh al-Arouri, told Al-Jazeera TV. We are ready to do whatever is necessary for the dignity and freedom of our people. US President Joe Biden said from the White House that he had spoken with Netanyahu to say the United States stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults. Israel has the right to defend itself and its people, full stop." The attack comes at a time of historic division within Israel over Netanyahu's proposal to overhaul the judiciary. Mass protests over the plan have sent hundreds of thousands of Israeli demonstrators into the streets and prompted hundreds of military reservists to avoid volunteer duty turmoil that has raised fears over the military's battlefield readiness. (AP) SCY SCY Jerusalem, Oct 8 (AP) The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip have carried out an unprecedented, multifront attack on Israel, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Israel was at war and called for a mass mobilization of army reserves. The invasion revived memories of the 1973 war practically 50 years to the day. Follow our live updates. MEDIA REPORTS: EGYPTIAN POLICEMAN OPENS FIRE ON ISRAELI TOURISTS An Egyptian policeman opened fire on Israeli tourists Sunday in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, killing at least two Israelis and one Egyptian, local media reported. Extra News television channel, which has close ties to Egyptian security agencies, quoted an unidentified security official as saying that another person was injured in the attack which took place in the Pompey's Pillar tourist site in Alexandria. The suspected assailant was detained, it reported. Israel's Zaka rescue service reported two people killed in Alexandria. CHINA CALLS FOR THE CREATION OF A PALESTINIAN STATE China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country is deeply concerned over the current escalation of tensions and violence between Palestine and Israel. The recurrence of the conflict shows once again that the protracted standstill of the peace process cannot go on, the statement said. The fundamental way out of the conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent State of Palestine. The Chinese foreign ministry said China would continue to work with the international community to find a way to bring about peace, and urged the community to act with greater urgency and help facilitate early resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel. EGYPT INTERVENES OVER ISRAELI HOSTAGES An Egyptian official says Israel has sought help from Cairo to ensure the safety of abducted Israelis, and Egypt's intelligence chief had contacted Hamas and the Islamic Jihad militant group to seek information. According to the official, Palestinian leaders claimed that they don't yet have a full picture of hostages, but said those who were brought to Gaza were taken to secure locations across the territory. It's clear that they have a big number several dozens, said the official, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to brief media. Egyptian intelligence also spoke with both sides about a potential cease-fire, he added, but Israel was not open to a truce at this stage. By Sam Magdy in Cairo. ISRAELI OFFICIAL SAYS HUNDREDS OF HAMAS MILITANTS HAVE BEEN KILLED An Israeli military official says hundreds of terrorists have been killed and dozens captured in fighting with Hamas militants in Gaza and southern Israel. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari spoke to reporters on Sunday, more than 24 hours after the Palestinian militant group launched an unprecedented assault into Israel, killing hundreds of people, firing thousands of rockets and taking captives back into blockaded Gaza. Israel is battling militants in the south and launching airstrikes across Gaza that have leveled buildings. UN PEACEKEEPERS CALL FOR RESTRAINT AFTER ROCKETS FIRED FROM LEBANON A UN peacekeeping force deployed along Lebanon's southern border called for everyone to exercise restraint and make use of the force's liaison and coordination mechanisms to de-escalate and prevent a fast deterioration of the security situation. It said it had detected several rockets fired from southeast Lebanon toward Israeli-occupied territory, followed by artillery fire from Israel toward Lebanon. The statement came shortly after Hezbollah said it fired at Israeli positions in the disputed Chebaa Farms along the border with Syria's Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The force known as UNIFIL said it is in contact with authorities on both sides of the border at all levels to contain the situation and avoid a more serious escalation. HEZBOLLAH ATTACKS ISRAELI POSITIONS IN GOLAN HEIGHTS Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group fired dozens of rockets and shells on Sunday at three Israeli positions in a disputed area along the country's border with Syria's Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Hezbollah said in a statement that the attack using large numbers of rockets and shells was in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance. It said the Israeli positions were directly hit. Israel's military fired back at the Lebanese areas, but there was no immediate word on casualties. AT LEAST 26 ISRAELI SOLDIERS DIE IN HAMAS ATTACK IN COUNTRY'S SOUTH At least 26 Israeli soldiers have been killed in an attack by the Hamas militant group on the country's south, Israel's military said Sunday. The figure is part of a death toll of more than 250 people in the deadliest attack against Israelis in decades. ISRAELI MILITARY SAYS 2 HOSTAGE SITUATIONS RESOLVED' An Israeli military spokesperson said Sunday morning that two hostage situations had been resolved, but did not say whether all the hostages had been rescued alive. Hamas militants had taken hostages during their surprise attack on Saturday as Israel's military scrambled to muster a response. Gun battles continued well after nightfall, and militants held hostages in standoffs in two towns. Militants occupied a police station in a third town, where Israeli forces struggled until Sunday morning to finally reclaim the building. On Sunday, Israel was fighting Hamas incursions in eight places, the Israeli military said. MILITANTS FIRE MORE ROCKETS FROM GAZA Before daybreak on Sunday, militants fired more rockets from Gaza, hitting a hospital in the Israeli coastal town of Ashkelon. The hospital sustained damage, said senior hospital official Tal Bergman. Video provided by Barzilai Medical Centreshowed a large hole punched into a wall and chunks of debris scattered on the ground of what appeared to be an empty room and a hallway. There was no report of casualties. Israeli airstrikes in Gaza had intensified after nightfall, flattening residential buildings in giant explosions, including a 14-story tower that held dozens of apartments as well as Hamas offices in central Gaza City. Israeli forces fired a warning just before. Around 3 am, a loudspeaker atop a mosque in Gaza City blared a stark warning to residents of nearby apartment buildings: Evacuate immediately. Just minutes later, an Israeli airstrike reduced one nearby five-story building to ashes. After one Israeli strike, a Hamas rocket barrage hit four cities, including Tel Aviv and a nearby suburb. Throughout the day, Hamas fired more than 3,500 rockets, the Israeli military said. 1 CAMBODIAN AND 1 THAI KILLED IN FIGHTING IN ISRAEL A Cambodian student and a Thai national died in the violence in Israel, their governments said on Sunday. Thailand's Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said he also received reports that eight Thais were injured and 11 were kidnapped during the attack by Hamas militants. Thai authorities were working to verify the information with Israeli authorities, he added. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has put the country's air force on standby to evacuate its citizens if needed. Thousands of Thai citizens work in Israel, many of them in the agriculture sector. Cambodia has some 450 students in Israel, a statement from its Foreign Ministry said. NETANYAHU SAYS ISRAEL WILL CUT OFF SUPPLIES TO GAZA Israel will stop supplying electricity, fuel and goods to Gaza, according to a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office Saturday night. Much of Gaza was already thrown into darkness by nightfall after electrical supplies from Israel, which supplies almost all of the territories' power, were cut off earlier in the day. Netanyahu also said the first phase of the counter operation had ended, and that Israel had fought off the majority of Hamas militants. He vowed to continue the offensive without reservation and without respite." The announcement came after a surprise attack by Hamas militants into Israel on Saturday morning. AIRLINES SUSPEND FLIGHTS TO ISRAEL Airlines cancelled more than 80 flights to and from Tel Aviv by Saturday evening roughly 14 per cent of all flights scheduled because of the unprecedented attack in Israel by the militant group Hamas, according to FlightAware. Delta Air Lines and American Airlines cancelled flights Saturday night and Sunday night from New York's JFK Airport to Tel Aviv, although a Delta return flight was able to depart Tel Aviv Saturday night. United Airlines also cancelled a Saturday flight from San Francisco. An earlier United flight turned around over Greenland and returned to San Francisco. German carrier Lufthansa canceled several flights between Frankfurt and Tel Aviv. ISRAELI DEATH TOLL RISES TO AT LEAST 250 Israeli media, citing rescue service officials, said at least 250 people were killed and 1,500 wounded, making Saturday's surprise early morning attack by Hamas the deadliest attack in Israel in decades. At least 232 people in the Gaza Strip have been killed and at least 1,700 wounded in Israeli strikes, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. Hamas fighters took an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive into Gaza, a deeply sensitive issue for Israel, in harrowing scenes posted on social media videos. Among those killed in Israel was Lt. Col. Jonathan Steinberg, a senior officer who commanded the military's Nahal Brigade, a prominent infantry unit. SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER TALKS TO BLINKEN, URGES HALT TO VIOLENCE Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has spoken to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to urge a halt to the violence in and around Gaza. A Saudi Foreign Ministry statement released late Saturday says the two discussed the necessity of working toward an immediate halt to the escalation. Prince Faisal emphasised the kingdom's rejection of the targeting of civilians and the need for all sides to respect international humanitarian law. The Saudis have been in talks with the White House over potentially forging diplomatic relations with Israel. Those efforts have been thrown into question by the unprecedented incursion into Israel launched by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday. NETANYAHU VOWS REVENGE AFTER SURPRISE HAMAS ATTACK Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his stunned nation in a televised address that the war against the militant group Hamas, which launched a surprise incursion into Israel on Saturday, will take time. The latest conflagration erupted when dozens of Hamas fighters broke out of Gaza Strip and into nearby Israeli towns, killing dozens and abducting others in an unprecedented surprise early morning attack during a major Jewish holiday. Netanyahu said the Israeli military will use all of its strength to destroy Hamas' capabilities. He also vowed to extract a heavy price if even a single hair is harmed on the Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity. Israel has maintained a blockade over Gaza since Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007. The bitter enemies have fought four wars since then. (AP) FZH Jerusalem, Oct 8 (AP) Israeli soldiers are battling Hamas fighters in the streets of southern Israel and launching airstrikes on Gaza, a day after an unprecedented surprise attack by Hamas fighters. In northern Israel a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group raised fears of a broader conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel is at war. PALESTINIANS SEEK REFUGE IN UN SCHOOLS The UN agency for Palestinian Refugees, UNRWA, said over 20,000 people were sheltering in 44 of its schools around Gaza by Saturday evening. The number (of displaced) is rapidly increasing," said Inas Hamdan, acting public information officer in Gaza. The agency said three of its schools suffered collateral damage from Israeli airstrikes. The agency also said its operations of nine water wells around the Gaza Strip were stopped early Saturday. Operations in three wells resumed Sunday, said Hamdan. The agency's food distribution centres, which provide for over 540,000 of Gaza residents, have been closed since Saturday. In an UNRWA school in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood northwest of Gaza city center, residents described overnight Israeli strikes that hit the school's courtyard causing panic and light injuries among those sheltering there. At another school serving as a shelter in central Gaza city, people were piling blankets and food stuff in the three-story building. New arrivals brought in mattresses, packing their children into small and crowded classrooms. We didn't know where to go, said Umm Mohammad, or mother of Mohammad, a resident of a district on the eastern borders of Gaza. She described waking up in the middle of the night to screams, strikes and calls for evacuation. We arrived at the schools miraculously because there was no transport. MEDIA REPORTS: ISRAELI DEATH TOLL STANDS AT 600 The death toll in Israel following a surprise attack by the militant group Hamas stands at 600, according to several Israeli media outlets. The Kan public broadcaster and Channel 12, as well as the Haaretz and Times of Israel newspapers, reported the toll Sunday. There has been no official confirmation of the number of deaths on the Israeli side since the fighting erupted early Saturday. Palestinian officials say more than 300 people have been killed in Gaza, without differentiating between fighters and civilians. Hamas gunmen used explosives to break through the border fence enclosing Gaza on Saturday, then crossed with motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders and speed boats on the coast. LEADERS OF EGYPT, JORDAN DISCUSS CRISIS The leaders of Israel's neighbours, Egypt and Jordan, discussed the ongoing fighting between Israel and the Palestinians. According to a statement by the Egyptian president, President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi received a phone call from King Abdullah II of Jordan. Both leaders agreed on working to avoid further deterioration of the situation, the statement said. Both Egypt and Jordan are close allies with the US and are the first Arab nations to establish diplomatic ties with Israel. The latest round of violence began with an unprecedented surprise attack in which Hamas militants raced into Israel, killing hundreds of people and taking captives back to Gaza. Israel responded by rushing troops to the border area and launching airstrikes across the blockaded territory. Palestinian officials say more than 300 Gazans have been killed. EXPLOSIONS AND AIRSTRIKES IN RAFAH In the southern Gaza town of Rafah on Sunday, residents heard a loud explosion, apparently from an Israeli airstrike that hit a target close to the borders with Egypt. It was not immediately clear what was targeted. Residents said a house in the area had been evacuated. Israel carried out dozens of airstrikes in Rafah overnight. One of the strikes hit three homes in one of the most crowded refugee camps, Shaboura, killing 19 members of the same family, according to a family member who posted their names on his social media. Surviving family members and neighbours filled al-Farouk mosque, holding funeral prayers as the bodies of those killed wrapped in white shrouds lined the floor. The crowd then marched to the nearby cemetery for burial, some carrying the bodies. Also on Sunday, loudspeakers from mosques and moving cars in Rafah blared with condolences and praise for fighters from Hamas, believed to be natives of Rafah, who were killed during the assault on Israel. THE POPE CALLS FOR THE VIOLENCE TO STOP Pope Francis on Sunday expressed apprehension and pain at what is happening in Israel, where violence is again exploding even faster, causing hundreds of deaths and injuries. Speaking to the faithful in St Peter's Square, the pope offered prayers for the victims and their families and for all those who are experiencing hours of terror and anguish. The pontiff called on the attacks by both sides to stop. Terrorism and war don't bring solutions, only death. War is a defeat. Every war is a defeat." ISLAMIC BLOC CONDEMNS ISRAELI MILITARY AGGRESSION' The world's largest bloc of Muslim countries has condemned what it refers to as Israeli military aggression amid ongoing fighting between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The Saudi-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation said Sunday that it is greatly concerned about the developments on the ground and the dangerous Israeli escalation in the occupied Palestinian territory. The 57-member bloc went on to condemn the Israeli military aggression that led to the fall of hundreds of martyrs and wounded among the Palestinian people. The latest round of violence began with an unprecedented surprise attack in which Hamas militants raced into Israel, killing hundreds of people and taking captives back to Gaza. Israel responded by rushing troops to the border area and launching airstrikes across the blockaded territory. Palestinian officials say more than 300 Gazans have been killed. HEZBOLLAH REPLACE DESTROYED TENT THAT HAD LED TO TENSIONS Lebanon's state-run National News Agency says Hezbollah fighters have set up a tent in a disputed area along the country's tense southern border hours after an Israeli drone destroyed another one in the same place. Hezbollah initially erected the tent over the summer in a disputed area along Lebanon's border with Syria's Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that Lebanon claims is Lebanese territory. That has led to tensions with Israel over the past months and the U.N. has been working to persuade Hezbollah to remove the tent. Earlier Sunday, Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and shells at three Israeli positions in the disputed area of Chebaa Farms and Kfar Chouba hills and Israel's military fired back using armed drones. ROMANIA REPATRIATES HUNDREDS OF CITIZENS AND OTHER FOREIGNERS Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that 346 Romanian citizens and other foreigners were repatriated from Israel overnight on two separate flights. The ministry said Sunday that a mobile consular team was sent to Ben Gurion Airport from the Romanian Embassy in Tel Aviv and Romania's representative office in Ramallah to provide consular assistance. On Saturday, the ministry strongly condemned Hamas' rocket attacks against Israel, including against the civilian population, terrorist infiltrations and hostage-taking. It said Israel has a sovereign right to defend itself. MEDIA REPORTS: EGYPTIAN POLICEMAN OPENS FIRE ON ISRAELI TOURISTS An Egyptian policeman opened fire on Israeli tourists Sunday in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, killing at least two Israelis and one Egyptian, local media reported. Extra News television channel, which has close ties to Egyptian security agencies, quoted an unidentified security official as saying that another person was injured in the attack which took place in the Pompey's Pillar tourist site in Alexandria. The suspected assailant was detained, it reported. Israel's Zaka rescue service reported two people killed in Alexandria. EGYPT INTERVENES OVER ISRAELI HOSTAGES An Egyptian official says Israel has sought help from Cairo to ensure the safety of abducted Israelis, and Egypt's intelligence chief had contacted Hamas and the Islamic Jihad militant group to seek information. According to the official, Palestinian leaders claimed that they don't yet have a full picture of hostages, but said those who were brought to Gaza were taken to secure locations across the territory. It's clear that they have a big number - several dozens, said the official, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to brief media. Egyptian intelligence also spoke with both sides about a potential cease-fire, he added, but Israel was not open to a truce at this stage. (AP) SCY SCY Washington, Oct 8 (PTI) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday said there is intense fighting going on in the Gaza area and the focus right now is on helping Israel recover the territory that has been taken by Hamas militant group, noting that the issue of intelligence failure would be probed into a bit later. Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented multifront attack by air, land and sea by the Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning. More than 600 people, including soldiers, have been killed so far and more than 2,000 injured in Israel -- the deadliest day for the country in at least 50 years. In the Gaza Strip, there are more than 300 deaths and about 1,500 wounded in Israel's counterattack, media reports said on Sunday. The challenge for Israel and the challenge for all who support Israel and oppose horrific acts of terrorism is again to take measures that provide for accountability for that's happened and also to do our best to ensure that this doesn't happen again. That is likely to take some time. Its fraught with very difficult decisions for the Israelis to make, Blinken told ABC News in an interview. This is the worst attack on Israel since the Yom Kippur War in 1973, 50 years ago, he told CNN in another interview. I don't want to speculate, get into hypotheticals, this is our 24-hour or so into this. As I said, there remains intense fighting in the Gaza area. And the focus has to be on helping Israel recover the territory that has been taken briefly by Hamas, protecting its citizens and taking whatever measures are necessary to avoid this repeating itself, Blinken said, a day after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel. This is a massive terrorist attack that is gunning down Israeli civilians in their towns, in their homes, and as we've seen so graphically, literally dragging people across the - the border with Gaza, including a Holocaust survivor in a wheelchair, women and children. So, you can imagine the impact this is having throughout Israel. And the world should be revolted at what it's seen, he said. The United States, he said, has immediately engaged its Israeli partners and allies. President Joe Biden was on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a day earlier on Saturday to assure him of full American support. I was on the phone with the Israeli president, the foreign minister. The entire government has been engaged throughout the region and well beyond, both to build support for Israel and to make sure that every country was using whatever means it has, whatever influence it has, to pull Hamas back and also to make sure that we don't see conflict erupt in other areas. The president sent a very clear message that no one should try to take advantage of this elsewhere, he said. When asked about the intelligence failure, Blinken said that there will be time to look at that and to make determinations about what may have been missed. "Right now, the focus has to be on the effort to repel the aggression by the Hamas terrorists to - to push them back and to put Israel in a position where this doesn't happen again, he said. "We have a very close relationship with Israeli intelligence, as well as with the Israeli military, as well as with Israel more broadly. This is something that they and we will be looking at. But the effort right now has to be in dealing with the aggression from Hamas with these attacks, Blinken said. There remains intense fighting around Gaza, he said, adding that the intensity of the fighting is real. About 1,000 Hamas militants have infiltrated Israel. Most of them seem to have either been killed or have gone back into Gaza. But intense fighting remains, said the top US diplomat. Responding to a question, Blinken told CNN that theres a long relationship between Iran and Hamas. In fact, Hamas wouldnt be around in the way that it is without the support that its received from Iran over the years. In this specific instance, we have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack, but theres certainly a long relationship, he said. Its one of the reasons why we have been resolutely taking action against Iran and its support for terrorists and terrorist proxies and other groups over the last few years of this administration. Weve sanctioned more than 400 Iranian individuals and entities, precisely because of their support for things like Hamas, Blinken said. Yerevan, Oct 8 (AP) Azerbaijan's president said on Sunday that his country was ready to hold talks with Armenia on a prospective peace treaty after reclaiming the breakaway Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh, noting that Georgia would be a preferable venue for the negotiations. President Ilham Aliyev made the statement on a visit to Georgia after snubbing a planned meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the sidelines of a European summit in Granada, Spain, on Thursday that the EU has tried to broker. A day earlier, Aliyev scathingly criticized France for promising to supply Armenia with weapons, telling President of the European Council Charles Michel in Saturday's phone call that he didn't attend the meeting in Granada because of France's position, the Azerbaijani leader's office said. Aliyev noted that the provision of weapons by France to Armenia was an approach that was not serving peace, but one intended to inflate a new conflict, and if any new conflict occurs in the region, France would be responsible for causing it," according to a readout of the call issued by his office. In a 24-hour campaign that began September 19, Azerbaijan reclaimed control over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh after three decades of separatist rule, forcing the undermanned and outgunned Armenian forces to capitulate. The separatist government agreed to disband itself by the end of the year, but Azerbaijani authorities immediately moved to reassert control of the region and arrested several top former separatist officials. Speaking to reporters after Sunday's talks in Tbilisi with Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Aliyev said he was grateful to Georgia for its mediation efforts, adding that Azerbaijan will be ready to attend the talks to discuss issues related to a peace treaty if Armenia agrees. "Several countries and some international organizations are trying to support the process of normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan," Aliyev said. We welcome any mediation and assistance if it's not one-sided and biased. He emphasized that Georgia, which borders Armenia and Azerbaijan, would be the best host for prospective peace treaty talks. Azerbaijan's blitz offensive has triggered an exodus of over 100,000 people more than 80 per cent of its ethnic Armenian residents. While Azerbaijan has pledged to respect the rights of ethnic Armenians, most of them have rushed to flee the region, fearing reprisals. After six years of separatist fighting ended in 1994 following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Nagorno-Karabakh came under the control of ethnic Armenian forces, backed by Armenia, turning about 1 million of its Azerbaijani residents into refugees. After a six-week war in 2020, Azerbaijan took back parts of the region in the South Caucasus Mountains, along with surrounding territory that Armenian forces had captured earlier. Azerbaijan's presidential office said the country has presented a plan for the reintegration of ethnic Armenians in the region, noting that the equality of rights and freedoms, including security, is guaranteed to everyone regardless of their ethnic, religious or linguistic affiliation. Speaking to Michel on Saturday, Aliyev blamed the Armenians' exodus from the region on separatist authorities that encouraged them to leave. The Azerbaijani leader said that Azerbaijani authorities had provided humanitarian assistance to the Armenian residents of Karabakh and the process of their registration had started. Aliyev also told Michel that eight villages of Azerbaijan were still under Armenian occupation, and stressed the importance of liberating these villages from occupation, according to the Azerbaijani leader's office. (AP) PY PY Aravalli, Oct 8 (PTI) Three persons hailing from Rajasthan were arrested on Sunday in connection with the robbery at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA P C Baradas house in Gujarats Aravalli district, police said. The trio from Dungarpur in Rajasthan bordering Aravalli were arrested for allegedly breaking into Baranda's house at Vankatimba village on the night of September 15, an official said. Two of the accused had allegedly taken the MLAs wife hostage while he was away and decamped with valuables worth Rs 16.3 lakh, he said. One of the arrested accused was employed as a servant at the MLA's house, and had in the past stolen Rs 50,000, the official said, adding that another accused at whose house the plan for robbery was hatched in Rajasthan is absconding. The accused servant had informed the three others about Barandas wife being alone on the night of the robbery, he said. Baranda had taken voluntary retirement as a superintendent of police to contest the election from the Scheduled Tribe-reserved Bhiloda seat on a BJP ticket. A case was registered at Shamlaji police station under sections 450 (house trespass), 342 (wrongful confinement), 394 (robbery), 397 (causing grievous hurt during dacoity) and 506 (2) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, the official said. Two of the accused were apprehended when they were trying to enter Gujarat from the state border near Pandwala village, and the servant was also subsequently nabbed, he said. The police have recovered valuables and a motorcycle used in the crime worth Rs 7.70 lakh, the official added. Kolkata, Oct 8 (PTI) Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, leading a three-day sit-in outside Raj Bhavan, on Sunday criticised Governor CV Ananda Bose for his alleged pro-BJP conduct and pledged to continue the agitation until he received satisfactory response on clearance of state's dues under MGNREGA. Banerjee also condemned the BJP for allegedly using central agencies to intimidate TMC leaders, referring to the recent searches conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at 12 locations, including the residences of senior West Bengal Minister Firhad Hakim and TMC MLA Madan Mitra, as part of an investigation into alleged irregularities in recruitment processes within civic bodies. "We have learnt that the governor has written to the state government questioning the sit-in outside Raj Bhavan. He has called for the removal of the sit-in. My question is where was his concern for democratic norms when BJP leaders used Raj Bhavan for their political activities?" Banerjee said. Bose on Sunday said he will meet those deprived of MGNREGA work and take up their grievances with New Delhi. The governor also wrote to Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi inquiring whether permission was granted for the TMC's ongoing sit-in outside Raj Bhavan. Continuing his criticism of the governor, Banerjee noted that his predecessor, Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is now the Vice-President of India, was rewarded for opposing Bengal's interests during his tenure. He emphasised, "You are not the BJP's governor; you are Bengal's governor. On seven occasions in the past, the BJP marched to Raj Bhavan. Did you write any letters to the police then? No. So, why do you want the job card holders, who are deprived, to move away from this spot?" Banerjee expressed bewilderment as to why the governor had not yet met the TMC delegation, which is a precondition for withdrawing the sit-in. He said, "We were not allowed to meet the minister of state for rural development in New Delhi and forcibly removed from Krishi Bhawan. We have a simple demand: the governor, as a representative of the Centre, should come and meet us and provide a satisfactory response regarding when the wages of MGNREGA job card holders will be released." Banerjee said he had heard the governor was returning to Kolkata and expressed hope that the party's delegation would be able to meet him. "We have heard that he is a bit unwell, and we wish him a speedy recovery. We hope to meet him soon,"he added. The sit-in, initiated by Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday, followed a gathering of TMC members and top leadership who marched to Raj Bhavan to protest the alleged withholding of West Bengal's MGNREGA dues by the Centre. In response to the CBI raids at the residences of Hakim and Mitra, Banerjee said such tactics would not yield any results. He emphasised that frequent raids and summons from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and CBI would not deter them, as they are staunch supporters of Mamata Banerjee. Banerjee said, "The more the BJP tries to suppress us, the more resolute we will become." The CBI conducted searches at 12 locations in various parts of the state as part of its investigation into alleged irregularities in recruitment processes within civic bodies. Hakim, who holds key positions in the TMC and the state government, was among the prominent figures targeted in the raids. New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) Tibetan spiritual head the Dalai Lama was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, on Sunday evening, sources said. He is admitted in a private ward of the Cardio-Neuro Centre under Dr Rajiv Narang, Professor of Cardiology, they said. The sources said the Dalai Lama was brought to the medical facility in the evening. Orville Schell, director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations at Asia Society, Gary Ginstling, president and CEO of the New York Philharmonic, Chen Yi, professor at the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Leon Botstein, president of Bard College and founder of the innovative pre-professional orchestra The Orchestra Now, and Jindong Cai, director of the U.S.-China Music Institute and conductor of the Bard's East/West Ensemble (From L to R), participate in the U.S.-China Music Forum at The Asia Society in New York, the United States, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) by Yuer Lin, Yang Shilong, Kuma Long NEW YORK, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Experts from China and the United States called for enhancing music education cooperation and exchanges between the two nations to energize bilateral ties. The "U.S.-China Music Forum - Confronting Challenges and Looking to the Future" took place at the Lila Acheson Wallace Auditorium at The Asia Society on Saturday afternoon in New York. The panelists said classical music exchanges between the two nations over the past five decades demonstrate the harmonious interplay between art and diplomacy. They noted that, in an ever-changing world, music remains a timeless bridge that connects hearts and minds, fostering understanding and empathy between cultures. Citing the successful cooperation between the Bard College and China's Central Conservatory of Music in the past five years, Jindong Cai, director of the U.S.-China Music Institute and conductor of the Bard's East/West Ensemble, opened the event by demonstrating his hope to strengthen the connections between China and the United States through music. "The West and the East have been communicating through music historically," Cai pointed out, "as the Chinese traditional instrument Pipa was initially from Persia, traveled its way by the Silk Road, and reached Western China in the 4th century AD." Yu Hongmei, professor and director of the Chinese Music Department at the Central Conservatory of Music, shared her perspective on advancing the friendship between China and the United States by employing music-cultural exchange. "Academic exchange is an important way to promote academic development and cultural exchange between the two countries. Its implications are abroad and far-reaching," said Yu. "Civilization is more colorful through communication, and culture is enriched through mutual understanding and learning." Yu concluded her speech by stating her firm belief that "educational and cultural exchange between China and the United States, especially through music, will continue to develop, and it will add a positive energy to bilateral relations." Leon Botstein, president of Bard College and founder of the innovative pre-professional orchestra The Orchestra Now, highlighted the universality of music. "Collaboration and exchange is a long-term game to share what we have in common as human beings, regardless of one's nationality and background." Botstein illustrated that such communication through music could foster bonding among people from different countries, as it encourages people to put down their guards and induces more friendly interactions. Another prominent panel speaker, a distinguished professor at the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Chen Yi, signaled that the harmonious resonance of music can transcend political barriers and pave the way for a brighter future of collaboration, friendship and mutual respect. She noted that "not only the instrumental music but also the power of theater and musical storytelling, all these components will become the new language in which you will be shaped and influenced. I thought that it brought us back to our traditional roots." "I adore classical music, and I do think it is one of the last areas where we can all sort of comfortably enjoy something together," said Orville Schell, director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations at Asia Society, expressing his hope Washington and Beijing "can use it constructively" to help stabilize the bilateral relationship. Gary Ginstling, president and CEO of the New York Philharmonic, spoke of his recent trip to China. "I can't wait to go back with the full orchestra," said Ginstling, referring to his trip to Shanghai with a small group of the orchestra's musicians. The discussion was followed by music performances by pipa virtuoso Liu Xiaojing from the Central Conservatory of Music and Anita Balazs, a cellist of the Bard East/West Ensemble. The U.S.-China Music Forum is a novel addition to the China Now Music Festival, now in its sixth year following its launch in 2018 by the U.S.-China Music Institute and China's Central Conservatory of Music. Themed "The Bridge of Music," this year's festival is expected to conclude on Sunday. Liu Xiaojing, pipa virtuoso from the Central Conservatory of Music, performs during the U.S.-China Music Forum at The Asia Society in New York, the United States, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) Liu Xiaojing, pipa virtuoso from the Central Conservatory of Music, performs during the U.S.-China Music Forum at The Asia Society in New York, the United States, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) Wazwan, the celebrated multi-course meal in Kashmiri cuisine, is making its royal entry here in the national capital courtesy an ongoing food festival serving the choicest of delicacies and exquisite flavours straight from the Valley. Promising an unforgettable dining experience, the 10-day gastronomical sojourn, currently underway at The Novotel, Aerocity, has three Wazas from Kashmir presenting authentic flavours to its visitors. For the unversed, the word 'Wazwan' -- a meal traditionally prepared during formal events like weddings or religious ceremonies -- is taken from two Kashmiri words 'Waz' meaning cook and 'Wan' meaning shop. The specialist cooks who prepare the meal are commonly known as 'Waza'. From the tender Tabak Maaz and aromatic Rogan Josh to the indulgent Gushtaba and the flavorful Kokur Dhaniwal Korma, the "36-dish multi-course meal" offering a plethora of culinary delights from the beautiful region can pose a problem of plenty to even the best of desi gourmands. "I believe that the cuisine of Kashmir is a true masterpiece of flavors, blending aromatic spices with the natural beauty of the region. Each dish tells a story of tradition, culture, and the artistry of cooking. "We at Novotel New Delhi Aerocity are thrilled to bring in flavours of this serene state while collaborating with the three skilled Wazas hailing from the valley of Kashmir to tantalise the taste buds of our dear guests," said chef Sandeep Kalra, director of Culinary at Pullman & Novotel New Delhi Aerocity, in a statement. Though most of the delicacies in Wazwan are non-vegetarian, preparations of lamb meat cooked overnight, the feast also has a reasonable share of vegetarian culinary delights including Muji Gaad, Kashmiri Rajma, Nadru Yakhni, and Haak Saag -- all part of the menu at the festival -- add further layers of depth and authenticity to this one-of-its-kind cuisine. The sinful Phirni (sweet pudding made with rice, milk, nuts, and sugar) or the traditional Kashmiri dessert Shufta (a mixture of various dry fruits and spices coated with sugar syrup) gives a befitting end to the sumptuous meal. The food goes off the table on October 14. Chennai, Oct 8 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and other leaders on Sunday condoled the death of those killed in a fire accident at a cracker shop near Karnataka capital Bengaluru. Most of the 14 deceased persons hail from Dharmapuri, Tirupathur and Kallakurichi districts. In a statement, Stalin expressed anguish over the deaths in the accident at the border town of Attibelle (pronounced Attipalli in Tamil). He said he has deputed his cabinet colleagues R Sakkarapani and Ma Subramanian to oversee the treatment requirements of the injured and coordinate steps for their transfer to Tamil Nadu, as may be the requirement. He announced a compensation of Rs 3 lakh each to the kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh each to the grievously injured and Rs 50,000 to those with simple injuries. Palaniswami, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, expressed grief over the incident. In a post on X, he extended his sympathies with the families of the victims and urged the state government to take all steps for the early return of the injured persons after undergoing treatment. BJP state chief K Annamalai and AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran also voiced concern over the incident. Muzaffarnagar (UP), Oct 8 (PTI) A 55-year-old worker died while his son was injured when the roof of a building under construction caved in on Sunday, police said here. Local Shahapur police station SHO Anand Dev Mishra said Abdul Rehman died on the spot and his son Shahid was undergoing treatment. Police have sent the body for a post-mortem examination and initiated an investigation. This statue memorializing the men who died in the Titanic sinking started out its life at the intersection of E Street and New Hampshire Avenue in Washington, D.C. After a flood damaged the monument, it was in storage for 24 years before being reinstalled in Channel Park. (National Park Service photo) At about 6:30 a.m. on Shabbos/Simchas Torah morning, hundreds of terrorists infiltrated into Israel, took over Israeli border communities, including an IDF base, and nearby towns, and murdered hundreds of Jews and injured thousands. At the same time, Hamas terrorists launched thousands of rockets at Israel, including the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem area, killing several Israelis, seriously injuring others, and causing widespread damage. Terrorists entered dozens of Israeli yishuvim, towns and cities and went door to door firing with automatic weapons, sometimes killing entire families. They also took over 100 hostages, including many women, children, and the elderly. Some of the murdered victims bodies were taken hostage as well. The terrorists captured an IDF base and murdered and took hostage dozens of IDF officers and soldiers and captured tanks and other equipment and brought them into Gaza. In Sderot, terrorists captured the local police station, murdering at least 10 police officers, and opened fire on the streets, murderous numerous civilians. Israeli security forces destroyed the police station overnight to eliminate the terrorists who were holed inside. As of about 8 p.m. on Sunday evening, it was reported that over 700 Israelis had been murdered and 2,500 wounded, including 20 in critical condition and over 300 in serious condition. Sadly, the death toll is expected to rise. Thirty-four Israel Police and Border Police officers and policemen fell in clashes with the terrorists and at least 57 IDF officers and soldiers were killed, many of whom were only 19 or 20 years old. Israels security cabinet unanimously voted on Motzei Shabbos to declare a war, Operation Iron Swords a first since the Yom Kippur War in 1973. As of Sunday morning at 11 a.m., Israeli security forces were still trying to gain control of terrorists in six Israeli communities in the south, including Sderot, Kissufim, Kibbutz Beeri, Kfar Aza and Zikim. Earlier on Sunday morning, security forces recaptured the Sderot police station, which had been in the hands of terrorists since early Shabbos morning. In a neis, about 50 Israeli hostages being held in the dining room of Kibbutz Beeri since Shabbos morning were rescued on Sunday morning by Israeli security forces and the terrorists were eliminated. About an hour later, Yamam officers eliminated the terrorists holding hostages in Ofakim. Three officers were injured during the clashes. The terrifying video below shows Hamas terrorists armed with automatic weapons going from door to door in Kibbutz Beeri looking for Israelis to murder and abduct: VIDEOS BELOW MAY BE DISTURBING VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED On Sunday morning, Hezbollah terrorists fired a number of rockets from Lebanon into the Har Dov area of northern Israel. The IDF responded with artillery fire and a drone strike. About 2,000 young Israelis, including many high school students, who were attending an overnight nature rave at Kibbutz Reim outside Ofakim were caught outside during the incursion and hundreds were gunned down by the terrorists. Terrorists also threw grenades inside the tents where some of the Israelis were sleeping. Some Israelis tried to flee only to be killed after terrorist threw grenades at them or fired into their cars. Others were taken hostage and brought to Gaza. Witnesses saw the terrorists dragging away some of the murdered Israelis bodies. Sadly, the bodies of about 240 of the participants at the rave were found dead later in the day by Israeli security officials. A number of fatalities were tourists from the US and Europe. As of Motzei Shabbos, Israeli security forces were still trying to subdue terrorists who took hostages in 22 locations. In Ofakim on Motzei Shabbos, at least ten terrorists were inside apartments after murdering residents and taking some hostage. Gun battles ensued between Israeli security forces and the terrorists and some of the security forces were killed. At about 11 p.m. on Motzei Shabbos, a number of Israelis were still being held hostage in the dining room at Kibbutz Beeri. One Israeli man from Kibbutz Nir, near the Gaza border, told Channel 12 on Motzei Shabbos that his wife, two small children, and mother-in-law were abducted and taken into the Gaza Strip. An Israeli mother tearfully told Channel 12 that she was on the phone with her 12 and 16-year-old sons as they were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz into Gaza, causing the TV host to begin crying as well. Amid the war in Israel launched by Hamas terrorists, two Israeli tourists were murdered by an Egyptian police officer in the city of Alexandria on Sunday morning. According to local media reports, an Egyptian police officer opened fire toward a bus of Israeli tourists in Alexandria, killing two of them and seriously injuring a number of others. Israels Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that this morning, during a tourist visit by a group of Israelis in Alexandria, Egypt, a local opened fire on them, as a result of which two Israeli citizens and the local Egyptian guide were murdered. In addition, an Israeli was moderately injured. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israeli Embassy in Cairo are working together with the National Security Council, the Prime Ministers Office, and the IDF with the authorities in Egypt in order to return the Israeli citizens to Israel as soon as possible, the statement continued. During the incident, an Israeli woman who was on the bus called her relative in Israel and yelled: Theyre shooting at our bus people were murdered and wounded. According to Egyptian reports, an Egyptian citizen was killed in the shooting and another Egyptian was wounded in the gun battle between the shooter and the security forces. Egyptian police arrested the perpetrator and have launched an investigation into the incident. (YWNs Jerusalem Desk is keeping you updated on Isru Chag in Israel.) NEW YORK, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- A panel of diverse experts from China and the United States called for music education cooperation and exchanges between the two nations at a music forum here on Saturday. The "U.S.-China Music Forum - Confronting Challenges and Looking to the Future" took place at the Lila Acheson Wallace Auditorium at The Asia Society on Saturday afternoon. The panel featured Leon Botstein from Bard College, Chen Yi from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, Gary Ginstling from New York Philharmonic, and Yu Hongmei from Central Conservatory of Music, China. Jindong Cai from the U.S.-China Music Institute, Bard College Conservatory of Music, and Orville Schell from the Center on U.S.-China Relations, Asia Society, moderated the discussion. Panelists underscored music's vital role in building bridges of understanding and collaboration between nations. They emphasized that, in an ever-changing world, music remains a timeless bridge that connects hearts and minds, fostering understanding and empathy between cultures. The discussion was followed by music performances by pipa virtuoso Liu Xiaojing from the Central Conservatory of Music and Anita Balazs, a cellist of the Bard East/West Ensemble. The U.S.-China Music Forum is a novel addition to the China Now Music Festival, jointly launched in 2018 by the U.S.-China Music Institute and the Central Conservatory of Music of China. Themed "The Bridge of Music," this year's festival is expected to conclude on Sunday. Would you talk to your nine-year-old child or grandchild about debt? What about bailiffs, or mortgages? Most of us would shy away from discussing money problems with such young children, but DebtAware, a financial education charity, plans to change that. Today, I've joined a Year Five class at St Mary's Catholic Primary School in Chorley, Lancashire, to see the work the charity is doing first-hand. The sunny classroom, adorned with colourful posters on the importance of reading, is hushed. At the table in front of me, pupils are engrossed in a worksheet on the difference between good and bad debt. In today's economic climate, the need for financial literacy could not be more urgent. Debt has been the morning's topic of conversation and one pupil, Isabelle, ten, tells me eagerly she's saving money to buy her first home. 'When I see something I want I look at how much money I've got and remind myself that I need other things,' she says, keen to show she has taken the lesson on board. Focused: Adele Cooke joins Year Five pupils for their class learning about debt at St Mary's in Chorley The average level of debt in the UK has soared by 19 per cent since 2022, according to personal insolvency provider Creditfix. Nearly six million low-income families have unsecured debt, totalling around 14.2 billion as of May 2023, according to charity the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Almost six in ten of those who say they use credit to pay bills have less than 200 in savings. Since it started visiting schools in January 2013, DebtAware has taught more than 80,000 children money management skills including how to budget and borrow. This year it will deliver lessons to around 100 schools in the North East. The programme is run by the Debt Advice Foundation, a national charity offering free and confidential help to people worried about loans, credit and debt. Around three quarters of 18 to 24-year-olds say that they wish they had been taught more about money in school, according to research released last month by digital payment provider Pay.UK. Back in the classroom, today's lesson is being led by Brian Souter, a DebtAware volunteer. An animated retired teacher with more than 50 years of experience, Brian captivates the students' attention from the moment he walks into the classroom. 'The Debt Advice Foundation helps people who have fallen into debt but our role is prevention instead of cure,' he says. 'Our aim is to give children knowledge, understanding and skills so they will develop a good attitude to money and will be sensible and safe. At this age, children will learn the right skills, but by secondary school it may be harder to make an impression.' Today's session aims to teach a Year Five class the difference between wants and needs. In the coming months, this class will also learn about budgeting, payments, savings and borrowing. 'What is debt?' Mr Souter asks the class in a sing-song voice. 'Debt means borrowing money and having to pay it back,' chant the children in unison as they read from a worksheet. The lesson covers money issues in great detail and it's fascinating to watch the class discuss the importance of good debt. Good debt is money that is borrowed for a reason that has a lasting benefit and paying back the loan is within your means. On another worksheet, the children are given definitions for financial terms including mortgages, credit cards and bailiffs. Under the national curriculum there is no obligation for primary schools to teach their pupils about money. Instead, schools can decide to work with the charity the PSHE Association to develop their own curriculum, which can include lessons on saving and spending and how to get value for money. It's not until pupils reach secondary school age that the Government recommends children are taught about debt. Yet all of the children I speak to are already aware of the dangers of running out of money. Among them is Declan, ten, who proudly shows me his black Fitbit smart watch, which he uses to track his spending. 'Learning about money now means we won't make mistakes when we're older,' he says confidently. 'I'm saving my money now so that I have even more when I grow up.' Year Five teacher Lisa Hesketh believes it's essential to give children the knowledge to be able to manage their own finances. 'These children need to have a knowledge and understanding of money at a young age in order to make them confident later on. They can then ask questions in everyday life and have conversations with family at home.' 'In every module debt is revisited to make children aware that there is good and bad debt,' she says. 'These children need to have a knowledge and understanding of money at a young age in order to make them confident later on. They can then ask questions in everyday life and have conversations with family at home.' For Isabelle, these lessons will help her get one step closer to her dream of owning her own home one day. 'My family and I rented for three years and we lived in three different houses. Now we're getting our own house,' she tells me proudly. 'I have a bank account I put my money into as I want to make sure I invest now so I have enough money for when I'm older so I can get a proper house too.' Maybe we could all do with a lesson or two. ... and here's how you can teach your own children You can start to talk to children as young as three or four about money as soon as they begin to ask questions, suggests Money Helper, a Government-backed money guidance website. At this age, many children can understand that items cost different amounts of money, so try talking to your child or grandchild about how much things cost when you next go to the shops. When shopping together, you could ask them to hand over the cash to help them practise counting out coins and notes. By the age of five or six children begin to understand the concept of saving, so encourage them to put aside some of their pocket money each week for a toy they want. When a child reaches seven or eight, they can recognise the difference between wants and needs. Try asking them to categorise different items such as a laptop, mobile phone or pair of trainers into whether they are a want or a need or both using a Venn diagram suggests Brian Souter of DebtAware. You could also ask them to identify good and bad reasons for borrowing money. When they are thinking of spending their pocket money, you could also ask them to write a shopping list of what they are going to buy and how much it will cost. When your child starts secondary school you can begin to talk to them about how to be responsible with money. Between the ages of nine and 12 children usually begin to understand how to keep a budget and check a receipt or bank statement. At this age children are ready to learn about debt, so discuss why you pay interest when borrowing and ask them what they would do if they couldn't pay it back. A good way to build on existing knowledge is to offer the chance to earn extra cash by doing additional chores around the home. You could also set them a savings goal for things they may want. For more tips and tricks visit moneyhelper.org.uk/en/family-and-care/talk-money. Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below. K.P. writes: I own a second home which was rented out. The tenant moved out and the house sat empty until three months later, when I decided to use it as a weekend home. Since then, gas and electricity has typically cost about 200 a month, but Ovo insists I owe more than 3,700. This appears to cover the three months when the house was empty. I have meter readings and have asked Ovo repeatedly to calculate the true amounts but they have not done so. This is driving me nuts! Tony Hetherington replies: You sent me copies of the bills issued by Ovo, demanding 3,757 in all, which would be a staggering amount for just three months of gas and electricity. Promise: Ovo's claims on service rang hollow But you also sent me the meter readings you received from the solicitors and estate agents who handled the return of the property to you, and those readings should have been the starting point for your own bills. The figures were way out of line with the demands you actually received. When I contacted Ovo, its staff had second thoughts. They got in touch with you and said the tenant had carried out the meter readings while he was living in the house, and had given very low readings for his bills. It was those low readings that Ovo used as your starting point, and which generated a huge bill for you. After juggling some figures, Ovo decided you did not owe 3,757. Instead, Ovo owed you 675, with a further 100 on top to say sorry for everything that had gone wrong. You and I both breathed a sigh of relief. Everything had been sorted out. Except it hadn't. A few days later, Ovo told you it wanted to collect 994 from your bank every month as a direct debit. And then a bill arrived, showing you owed Ovo 2,152. This was not just madness, it was madness on stilts. Ovo blamed its own set-up, saying its billing system was 'live', and 'the more you provide meter readings, the more accurate the recommended direct debit will be'. You should install smart meters, you were told. But for now, the only outcome would be a direct debit at a slightly lower figure of 815, and this could only be reduced further once you had consented to pay the 815. These debits were produced by an automated system. In direct contrast, Ovo admitted it had manually calculated that a more likely figure was, in fact, 252 a month. But it could not override its system. This craziness could not continue, and even Ovo acknowledged this. When I pressed again for answers, it sent you the 675 it had earlier agreed was the credit balance on your account. It sent the extra 100 apology. And it juggled again with its latest demand, deciding you did not owe 2,152. Instead, you owed 25. So we breathed another sigh of relief. Everything was fine. Except it wasn't. Ovo's app suddenly asked you to set up a direct debit, this time for 816 a month. You have now dumped Ovo. There is only so much madness one utility customer can take. But there seems to be no limit to the madness that utility companies in general can inflict on their customers. Upset at email to my late wife C.F. writes: My wife died two years ago. We both banked at Santander, and all monies in her accounts were transferred to me by the bank's bereavement unit. I have now received an email asking my dead wife to attend a branch with proof of her identity. Upset: After losing a family member, there are few things more upsetting than receiving letters and messages sent to them by companies Tony Hetherington replies: After losing a family member, there are few things more upsetting than receiving letters and messages sent to them by companies that have already been informed of their passing. When Santander's email arrived, you contacted the bank but nobody could explain what had gone wrong or even tell you which of your late wife's accounts was involved. You were told someone would get back to you, but you heard nothing more. Santander told me: 'We are very sorry for our error in sending this email. When we are notified of a customer's death, all communications from us to them should be switched off and we are investigating why this did not happen in this instance.' I can tell you that the cause of the problem was that someone tried to log in to your late wife's online account. The account was, of course, already closed. There is no way to tell whether that attempt was deliberate, but the bank wanted to see your wife as a security measure. Santander recognises the distress this caused, and has backed up its apology with 200 which you are donating to charity. We're watching you Essex Police is looking into allegations made by investors in foreign exchange firm CashFX. I warned in 2020 and again in 2021 that CashFX is acting illegally as it is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. The firm is based in Panama but has operated a network of recruiters in Britain, claiming to pay returns of two or three per cent per day. Many investors have complained they have not been paid and cannot withdraw their money. A spokesperson for Essex Police said: 'We are making an assessment of a number of allegations of fraud, and our enquiries continue in order to establish the dynamic of the suggested investments'. Anyone wishing to report a complaint should contact the police through Action Fraud. If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned. Posh sandal maker Birkenstock is set to make its debut on the New York Stock Exchange as soon as next week in what many are predicting will be another blockbuster float to hit the US markets. The purveyor of cork-soled footwear, described by some as the 'world's ugliest shoe,' has become a global mega-brand and this year received a further gust of publicity when it was featured in summer smash hit Barbie. Investors are salivating over the prospect of a listing, with the firm aiming to achieve a market value of up to 7.6 billion, which is bigger than British Airways' owner IAG. Best foot forward: Posh sandal maker Birkenstock is set to make its debut on the New York Stock Exchange But Birkenstock would do well to heed the tale of another famous footwear brand that saw its fortunes turn sour on the public markets. Bootmaker Dr Martens made its London debut in January 2021 with a value of 3.7 billion, but since then a string of profit warnings have caused its share price to crash by more than 60 per cent. Birkenstock should be wary of being wrong-footed by fickle investors. Standards slipping at Aldi? Aldi is known for its metronome-like efficiency. One former employee even described the supermarket chain as 'a logistics firm that just happens to do food retailing'. So standards must be slipping for its UK accounts to be overdue at Companies House. After all, we already know last year's operating profit trebled to 180 million so there shouldn't be anything to worry about, should there? Labour's DJ declines DJ disco role Today marks the start of the Labour Party's annual conference, in what is likely to be its last before the next General Election. While the mass gathering will be dominated by packed meeting halls and gossip from the fringes, Labour's student wing will also be holding a disco. Unfortunately, the students' first choice of DJ, ex-Treasury committee chair and now Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones, has politely declined, saying he is 'the most unqualified person' for the job among Labour MPs. This is despite his initials creating the apt moniker 'DJ DJ'. He did, however, offer to chat about 'fiscal rules or economic growth', in what was perhaps a covert move to kill off the disco entirely. Rumours over next John Lewis boss David Potts, the soon-to-depart chief executive of Morrisons, was the name on everyone's lips last week when Dame Sharon White announced her term as chair of John Lewis Partnership was coming to an end. But might another supermarket retail veteran be in the running? Justin King, who led Sainsbury's for a decade and before that Marks & Spencer Food, seems to have the right CV. King also seems in prime position as he already sits on the M&S board as a non-executive director. So would he be up for the job? 'No comment,' he says. Contributor: Patrick Tooher The boss of one of the City's leading brokers has called on the Government to extend inheritance tax relief to more London-listed stocks to boost investment in the UK. Julian Morse, co-chief executive of Cavendish Financial, said such a move would 'bolster investment into smaller companies which create the majority of jobs in the UK'. It comes as data shows such a policy would knock less than 2 per cent off the sum raised by the Treasury from the levy, dubbed the 'most hated tax' in Britain. Under current rules, only shares in companies listed on the LSE's junior market, AIM, are eligible for inheritance tax relief. But Morse and other City figures said this should be expanded to include companies listed on the main market of the stock exchange up to a certain market value, rather than scrapping the levy entirely. Investment boost: Under current rules, only shares in companies listed on the LSE's junior market, AIM, are eligible for inheritance tax relief He added that any Labour or Conservative government should maintain the relief on AIM and unquoted stocks or risk 'untold damage to those firms which would directly impact job creation and GDP'. The head of another major brokerage firm in the Square Mile said extending inheritance tax relief to the main market would 'absolutely' encourage investment in UK stocks, which over the past few years have struggled with low valuations, leaving them vulnerable to swoops by overseas buyers and private equity sharks. Craig Coben, former head of equity capital markets at Bank of America, said the UK tax system was incentivising people to 'invest in other asset classes, such as residential property, over main market shares'. He added: 'It's worth thinking about ways to redress this bias against equities.' This was echoed by Charles Hall, head of research at investment bank Peel Hunt, who said extending inheritance tax relief would be a 'very realistic' approach that could relieve takeover pressure on small and mid-cap companies. He added: 'It would help revitalise the ecosystem and provide additional demand turbocharging the market.' The comments came as data from investment manager M&G compiled for The Mail on Sunday estimated that extending inheritance tax relief to main market stocks would knock just 1.4 per cent off the 7 billion raked in by Revenue & Customs from the levy each year. 'These are not difficult or expensive changes. It wouldn't require massive Government largesse,' Hall said. An extension of the tax relief, rather than abolishing it as previously mooted by Rishi Sunak's Government, is favoured by some in the City, due to fears that eliminating the levy could trigger a mass selloff in AIM shares. Demands are growing for a cut in VAT at pubs, clubs and restaurants as the hospitality sector reels from the devastating impact of train strikes. Last week's walkouts alone cost the battered industry 360 million, according to the trade body UKHospitality. And the series of stoppages has hit London's economy to the tune of 571 million in the past year, figures from the Centre for Economics and Business Research think-tank show. Now the Labour Party, which is way ahead in the opinion polls, is being urged to give the sector a big tax break by one of its leading business supporters. Sacha Lord, a night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, wants Labour to commit to cutting VAT for the hospitality and tourism sectors. Reeling: Demands are growing for a cut in VAT at pubs, clubs and restaurants The rate was slashed during the Covid lockdowns but went back up to 20 per cent after the economy reopened. 'The 12.5 per cent VAT rate was a lifeline during the pandemic and must be reinstated,' Lord said. He added that this would allow the UK to compete with many European countries where the average rate is lower. 'Ultimately 12.5 per cent of revenue for the Exchequer is better than 20 per cent of nothing, which will increasingly be the result if businesses go under,' he said. Lord, an entrepreneur who runs the Parklife music festival, was speaking as delegates gathered for this week's Labour Party conference in Liverpool. Canadian Western Bank (OTCMKTS:CBWBF Get Free Report) shares passed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $20.17 and traded as low as $20.02. Canadian Western Bank shares last traded at $20.20, with a volume of 1,500 shares. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms have commented on CBWBF. CIBC upped their price objective on shares of Canadian Western Bank from C$26.00 to C$31.00 in a research note on Tuesday, September 5th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded shares of Canadian Western Bank from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, September 4th. Raymond James boosted their target price on shares of Canadian Western Bank from C$30.00 to C$34.00 in a research note on Tuesday, September 5th. National Bank Financial increased their target price on Canadian Western Bank from C$28.00 to C$33.00 in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. Finally, Scotiabank lifted their price target on Canadian Western Bank from C$27.00 to C$32.00 in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. Get Canadian Western Bank alerts: Get Our Latest Report on Canadian Western Bank Canadian Western Bank Price Performance Canadian Western Bank Company Profile The companys 50 day simple moving average is $20.17 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $18.96. (Get Free Report) Canadian Western Bank provides personal and business banking products and services primarily in Western Canada. The company offers current, savings, notice, cash management, US dollar, and chequing accounts, as well as organization, business trust, and trust fund investment accounts. It also offers commercial lending and real estate, and equipment financing and leasing products; agriculture lending products; mortgages; lines of credits; registered retirement savings loans; consolidation, and vehicle loans; and credit cards. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Western Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Western Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mayan Energy Ltd (LON:MYN Get Free Report)s share price passed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 0.14 ($0.00) and traded as low as GBX 0.13 ($0.00). Mayan Energy shares last traded at GBX 0.14 ($0.00), with a volume of 16,096,226 shares changing hands. Mayan Energy Trading Up 16.7 % The company has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 0.14 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 0.14. The company has a market cap of 5.28 million and a P/E ratio of -0.23. About Mayan Energy (Get Free Report) Mayan Energy Limited engages in the development, production, and sale of hydrocarbons and related activities in the United States. The company holds interests in Forest Hills project situated in Wood County, Texas; Stockdale oil fields located in Wilson County, Texas; Zink Ranch and Mathis leases situated in Osage County, Oklahoma; and Shoats Creek field located in Louisiana. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Mayan Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mayan Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fifth Third Bancorp trimmed its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV Free Report) by 5.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 686,975 shares of the companys stock after selling 39,193 shares during the quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp owned about 0.22% of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF worth $33,621,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of EFV. Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 5.8% during the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 41,773 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,100,000 after buying an additional 2,299 shares during the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 12.3% during the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 15,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $754,000 after buying an additional 1,640 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 78.1% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 38,808 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,951,000 after buying an additional 17,015 shares during the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF during the first quarter valued at about $16,807,000. Finally, Prudential Financial Inc. lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 13.9% during the first quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 450,991 shares of the companys stock valued at $22,667,000 after buying an additional 55,103 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Stock Performance EFV stock opened at $48.36 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $16.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.51 and a beta of 0.84. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $49.24 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $49.21. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF has a one year low of $49.15 and a one year high of $59.57. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Company Profile iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Value 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 the MSCI EAFE Value Index. The Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Index include securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia), and the Far East. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Albion Financial Group UT acquired a new position in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF (NYSEARCA:BKLN Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 36,202 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $762,000. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Grimes & Company Inc. raised its stake in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 3,084.2% in the 1st quarter. Grimes & Company Inc. now owns 7,641,955 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $158,953,000 after purchasing an additional 7,401,962 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC raised its stake in Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 142.1% during the second quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 1,519,410 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $30,798,000 after buying an additional 5,127,335 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC lifted its holdings in Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 75.0% during the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 9,128,184 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $189,866,000 after buying an additional 3,912,291 shares during the last quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D lifted its holdings in Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 296.0% during the 1st quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 4,950,003 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $102,960,000 after buying an additional 3,700,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MESIROW FINANCIAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Fixed Income bought a new stake in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $73,328,000. Get Invesco Senior Loan ETF alerts: Invesco Senior Loan ETF Price Performance BKLN stock opened at $20.91 on Friday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $21.04 and its 200 day simple moving average is $20.92. Invesco Senior Loan ETF has a 12-month low of $20.28 and a 12-month high of $21.27. About Invesco Senior Loan ETF The Invesco Senior Loan ETF (BKLN) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund tracks a market-value-weighted index of senior loans issued by banks to corporations. BKLN was launched on Mar 3, 2011 and is managed by Invesco. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Senior Loan ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Senior Loan ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cadinha & Co. LLC acquired a new position in Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HE Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 6,701 shares of the utilities providers stock, valued at approximately $243,000. A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of HE. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Hawaiian Electric Industries by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 12,016,050 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $416,476,000 after acquiring an additional 245,066 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in Hawaiian Electric Industries by 1.4% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 10,350,476 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $397,458,000 after buying an additional 138,229 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its stake in shares of Hawaiian Electric Industries by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,770,062 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $130,670,000 after acquiring an additional 31,995 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP increased its holdings in Hawaiian Electric Industries by 3.0% in the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 2,094,933 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $80,445,000 after acquiring an additional 60,418 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Hawaiian Electric Industries by 1.8% during the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,628,261 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $62,525,000 after purchasing an additional 29,485 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 53.64% of the companys stock. Get Hawaiian Electric Industries alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts have recently commented on HE shares. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Hawaiian Electric Industries in a research report on Thursday. They set a sell rating on the stock. TheStreet downgraded Hawaiian Electric Industries from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 16th. Guggenheim cut their target price on Hawaiian Electric Industries from $32.00 to $18.00 in a research report on Monday, August 14th. Wells Fargo & Company raised Hawaiian Electric Industries from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $25.00 to $8.00 in a report on Thursday, August 17th. Finally, Bank of America reaffirmed an underperform rating and set a $8.50 price objective on shares of Hawaiian Electric Industries in a report on Friday, August 25th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and two have given a hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $17.63. Hawaiian Electric Industries Stock Performance NYSE HE opened at $11.86 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 0.08 and a quick ratio of 0.08. Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. has a 1-year low of $9.06 and a 1-year high of $43.71. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $17.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $30.70. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.30 billion, a PE ratio of 5.67, a P/E/G ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 0.54. Hawaiian Electric Industries (NYSE:HE Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, August 7th. The utilities provider reported $0.50 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.54 by ($0.04). Hawaiian Electric Industries had a net margin of 5.94% and a return on equity of 10.42%. The business had revenue of $895.69 million during the quarter. On average, research analysts predict that Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. will post 1.72 EPS for the current fiscal year. Hawaiian Electric Industries Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 8th. Investors of record on Friday, August 18th were issued a $0.36 dividend. This represents a $1.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 12.14%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 17th. Hawaiian Electric Industriess payout ratio is 68.90%. Hawaiian Electric Industries Company Profile (Free Report) Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the electric utility, banking, and non-regulated renewable/sustainable infrastructure investment businesses in the state of Hawaii. It operates through three segments: Electric Utility, Bank, and Other. The Electric Utility segment engages in the production, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, and Molokai. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Hawaiian Electric Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hawaiian Electric Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bollywood's "Raazi" has received high praise from critics and audiences alike for its compelling story and standout performances. The film, which Meghna Gulzar directed and featured Vicky Kaushal and Alia Bhatt in the lead roles, is an impressive adaptation of Harinder Sikka's novel "Calling Sehmat." The extraordinary bravery and sacrifice of a young Indian woman named Sehmat Khan, who risked everything for her country, are highlighted in this true story, which is set against the backdrop of the 1971 Indo-Pak War. "Raazi" is more than just a masterpiece of cinema; it also serves as an example of how powerful storytelling and adaptation can be. The movie is based on the Harinder Sikka novel "Calling Sehmat," and the directors deserve praise for their work in bringing this compelling story to the big screen. Sikka's book, which is based on actual events, pays homage to the unsung heroes who were instrumental during a crucial juncture in India's history. The central character of "Raazi" is Sehmat Khan, a young Indian woman who is sent to Pakistan to work as an undercover snoop. Sehmat's journey starts when her patriotic Indian father decides to send her to Pakistan to wed a son of a senior military officer there. Her goal is to gather confidential data that will be useful to India in the war of 1971. Sehmat is a complicated character who struggles to balance her love for her country with her responsibilities as a wife and daughter. She must make personal sacrifices, navigate the complexities of espionage, and deal with potentially fatal situations. Her transformation from a helpless young woman to a fearless and determined spy is expertly portrayed in the movie. An important period in Indian history is the Indo-Pak War of 1971. It was the outcome of the Bangladesh Liberation War, in which the inhabitants of East Pakistan (currently Bangladesh) fought for their independence from West Pakistan (currently Pakistan). India supported the Bangladeshi liberation movement, which sparked a full-fledged conflict with Pakistan. In the end, Bangladesh became an independent country as a result of the conflict. The crucial intelligence operations that were essential to India's victory in the war are highlighted by Sehmat Khan's undercover spy work during this time. Many Indian military operations were successful as a result of her bravery and ingenuity. "Raazi"'s lead actors give outstanding performances. Sehmat Khan is portrayed by Alia Bhatt in a subtle yet impactful way. She perfectly conveys the inner turmoil and resiliency of a young woman forced into espionage, which is the essence of Sehmat's character. Vicky Kaushal, who plays Sehmat's husband Iqbal Syed, gives a nuanced performance that deepens the understanding of their complex bond. Rajit Kapur, Shishir Sharma, and Jaideep Ahlawat all give excellent supporting turns in the movie and are crucial to Sehmat's mission. Meghna Gulzar's direction makes sure that every character is vividly rendered and that the viewer empathises with their experiences. The movie "Raazi" explores a number of themes that are especially meaningful to the viewer. National pride is one of the main themes. Sehmat is the epitome of true patriotism because of her unwavering love for her nation and her readiness to make sacrifices for its security. Sehmat struggles with the repercussions of her choices as the movie delves into the moral grey area of espionage. Also emphasised in "Raazi" is the resilience of women under difficult conditions. Sehmat's persona epitomises resiliency, intelligence, and bravery, shattering stereotypes and demonstrating the influence of female protagonists in Indian cinema. The real-life account of a woman who worked as an undercover spie during the 1971 Indo-Pak War served as the inspiration for Sehmat Khan's character. To protect her and her family, she hid her identity for a long time. "Calling Sehmat," a book by Harinder Sikka, is a celebration of her valour and devotion to her nation. The captivating novel "Calling Sehmat" by Harinder Sikka is successfully adapted in the masterpiece film "Raazi." The movie is inspiring and educational in addition to being enjoyable. It pays tribute to the unsung heroes of the Indo-Pak War of 1971, especially Sehmat Khan, whose extraordinary bravery and selflessness are honoured. "Raazi" is a must-see for anyone interested in India's history and the resiliency of its people in the face of adversity. It has excellent performances, an engaging story, and a powerful portrayal of patriotism. This adaptation is a prime example of how compelling narrative can expose real-life heroes and their tales to a larger audience. Producer's Persistence Pays Off: The Sridevi Saga in "Sherni" Vicky Kaushal's Cinematic Tribute to a Revolutionary Hero The URI Surgical Strike: A Cinematic Account of India's Counterterrorism Operation StockNews.com began coverage on shares of BlackRock (NYSE:BLK Free Report) in a research note published on Thursday. The firm issued a hold rating on the asset managers stock. Several other equities research analysts have also weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on BlackRock from $820.00 to $720.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised shares of BlackRock from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $770.00 to $835.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of BlackRock from $750.00 to $815.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of BlackRock from $780.00 to $770.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 3rd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on BlackRock from $780.00 to $785.00 in a report on Monday, July 17th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, BlackRock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $751.92. Get BlackRock alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on BlackRock BlackRock Stock Up 1.2 % Shares of NYSE:BLK opened at $648.26 on Thursday. The companys fifty day moving average is $682.54 and its two-hundred day moving average is $681.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 4.21 and a current ratio of 4.21. BlackRock has a 1-year low of $503.12 and a 1-year high of $785.65. The stock has a market capitalization of $96.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.29. BlackRock (NYSE:BLK Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 14th. The asset manager reported $9.28 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $8.52 by $0.76. BlackRock had a net margin of 29.90% and a return on equity of 14.29%. The firm had revenue of $4.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.47 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $7.36 earnings per share. BlackRocks quarterly revenue was down 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that BlackRock will post 35.3 EPS for the current year. BlackRock Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 22nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 8th were given a $5.00 dividend. This represents a $20.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.09%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 7th. BlackRocks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 58.41%. Insider Activity In related news, Director Mark Wiedman sold 2,079 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $733.82, for a total value of $1,525,611.78. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 6,160 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,520,331.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other BlackRock news, Director Mark Wiedman sold 2,079 shares of BlackRock stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $733.82, for a total value of $1,525,611.78. Following the transaction, the director now owns 6,160 shares in the company, valued at $4,520,331.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Laurence Fink sold 20,200 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $742.04, for a total value of $14,989,208.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 464,125 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $344,399,315. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.96% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On BlackRock A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock in the second quarter worth approximately $25,000. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A purchased a new position in BlackRock during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. West Tower Group LLC acquired a new stake in BlackRock during the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Archer Investment Corp purchased a new stake in shares of BlackRock in the second quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new stake in shares of BlackRock in the second quarter valued at $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.01% of the companys stock. BlackRock Company Profile (Get Free Report) BlackRock, Inc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. WP Advisors LLC raised its stake in Ford Motor (NYSE:F Free Report) by 9.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 17,781 shares of the auto manufacturers stock after purchasing an additional 1,476 shares during the period. WP Advisors LLCs holdings in Ford Motor were worth $269,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Snider Financial Group increased its holdings in shares of Ford Motor by 100,345.2% during the first quarter. Snider Financial Group now owns 219,805,167 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $3,717,000 after acquiring an additional 219,586,336 shares in the last quarter. Newport Trust Co increased its holdings in shares of Ford Motor by 4.1% during the first quarter. Newport Trust Co now owns 153,594,790 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $1,935,294,000 after acquiring an additional 6,048,371 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Ford Motor by 243.2% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 81,406,673 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $1,025,724,000 after acquiring an additional 57,689,209 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Ford Motor by 1.2% during the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 70,775,476 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $889,831,000 after acquiring an additional 863,591 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Ford Motor by 7.5% during the first quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 51,251,409 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $645,768,000 after acquiring an additional 3,592,076 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 52.73% of the companys stock. Get Ford Motor alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and set a $16.00 price objective on shares of Ford Motor in a report on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Ford Motor from $10.00 to $11.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Ford Motor from $13.00 to $14.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Ford Motor in a research report on Thursday. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on shares of Ford Motor from $13.00 to $14.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, July 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Ford Motor currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $14.50. Ford Motor Price Performance NYSE:F opened at $12.00 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $48.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.58. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $12.31 and a 200-day moving average price of $12.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.15, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 1.03. Ford Motor has a 1-year low of $10.90 and a 1-year high of $15.42. Ford Motor (NYSE:F Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The auto manufacturer reported $0.72 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.51 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $44.95 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $43.17 billion. Ford Motor had a net margin of 2.44% and a return on equity of 20.48%. The firms revenue was up 11.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.68 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Ford Motor will post 2.11 EPS for the current year. Ford Motor Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, July 25th were issued a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.00%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, July 24th. Ford Motors payout ratio is 58.82%. About Ford Motor (Free Report) Ford Motor Company develops, delivers, and services a range of Ford trucks, commercial cars and vans, sport utility vehicles, and Lincoln luxury vehicles worldwide. It operates through Ford Blue, Ford Model e, and Ford Pro; Ford Next; and Ford Credit segments. The company sells Ford and Lincoln vehicles, service parts, and accessories through distributors and dealers, as well as through dealerships to commercial fleet customers, daily rental car companies, and governments. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding F? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ford Motor (NYSE:F Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Ford Motor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ford Motor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Channel Wealth LLC reduced its position in Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (BATS:COWZ Free Report) by 5.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 16,509 shares of the companys stock after selling 862 shares during the period. Channel Wealth LLCs holdings in Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF were worth $790,000 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 company. IAG Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF by 176.6% in the first quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 531 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 339 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can bought a new position in shares of Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF during the 1st quarter valued at $30,000. Prostatis Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Allworth Financial LP bought a new stake in Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF in the first quarter worth $36,000. Finally, Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF in the first quarter worth $42,000. Get Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF alerts: Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF Trading Up 0.9 % BATS COWZ opened at $48.33 on Friday. The companys fifty day moving average is $50.33 and its 200-day moving average is $48.12. The company has a market capitalization of $13.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.11 and a beta of 1.09. Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF Increases Dividend Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF Profile The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 27th. Investors of record on Friday, September 22nd were issued a dividend of $0.3003 per share. This is an increase from Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETFs previous dividend of $0.19. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 21st. (Free Report) The Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (COWZ) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Pacer US Cash Cows 100 index. The fund tracks a free cash flow-weighted index of companies selected from the Russell 1000 Index. COWZ was launched on Dec 16, 2016 and is managed by Pacer. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding COWZ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (BATS:COWZ Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Channel Wealth LLC trimmed its position in shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MUC Free Report) by 12.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 87,326 shares of the companys stock after selling 12,988 shares during the quarter. Channel Wealth LLC owned about 0.09% of BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund worth $947,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. CWM LLC purchased a new stake in BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund during the first quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund during the 1st quarter valued at $49,000. Captrust Financial Advisors acquired a new stake in shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund in the 2nd quarter worth $50,000. Tortoise Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund in the 1st quarter worth $77,000. Finally, Nomura Holdings Inc. purchased a new position in BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund during the 1st quarter worth $111,000. 25.47% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund alerts: BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund Trading Down 0.9 % BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund stock opened at $9.41 on Friday. BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund, Inc. has a one year low of $9.36 and a one year high of $11.71. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $10.23 and a two-hundred day moving average of $10.58. BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund Dividend Announcement BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund Company Profile The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Investors of record on Monday, October 16th will be given a $0.0335 dividend. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.27%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 13th. (Free Report) BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund, Inc is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. The fund invests in fixed income markets. It invests primarily in a portfolio of long-term investment-grade municipal obligations, the interest on which is exempt from Federal and California income taxes. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Waycross Partners LLC increased its position in The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK Free Report) by 53.3% in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 11,500 shares of the banks stock after buying an additional 4,000 shares during the quarter. Waycross Partners LLCs holdings in Bank of New York Mellon were worth $512,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Quilter Plc purchased a new stake in Bank of New York Mellon during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $446,850,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its holdings in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 97.1% in the first quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 609 shares of the banks stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Duncker Streett & Co. Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the second quarter valued at $33,000. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc purchased a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the second quarter valued at $35,000. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the first quarter valued at $36,000. 81.29% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Bank of New York Mellon alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms recently weighed in on BK. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Bank of New York Mellon in a report on Thursday. They issued a hold rating for the company. Citigroup cut their target price on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $58.00 to $55.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $43.00 to $44.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Evercore ISI lowered their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $47.00 to $45.00 in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $48.00 to $46.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Bank of New York Mellon currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $52.70. Bank of New York Mellon Trading Up 1.1 % Shares of NYSE:BK opened at $42.15 on Friday. The Bank of New York Mellon Co. has a 12-month low of $36.22 and a 12-month high of $52.26. The company has a market capitalization of $32.83 billion, a PE ratio of 12.29, a PEG ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.09. The business has a 50 day moving average of $44.19 and a two-hundred day moving average of $43.70. The company has a current ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94. Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 18th. The bank reported $1.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.22 by $0.16. The company had revenue of $4.45 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.37 billion. Bank of New York Mellon had a return on equity of 11.88% and a net margin of 10.95%. Bank of New York Mellons revenue for the quarter was up 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.15 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that The Bank of New York Mellon Co. will post 4.8 EPS for the current year. Bank of New York Mellon Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 10th. Investors of record on Friday, July 28th were given a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.99%. This is a boost from Bank of New York Mellons previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 27th. Bank of New York Mellons payout ratio is presently 48.98%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, EVP J Kevin Mccarthy sold 35,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $46.33, for a total transaction of $1,621,550.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 98,102 shares in the company, valued at $4,545,065.66. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Bank of New York Mellon news, EVP J Kevin Mccarthy sold 35,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $46.33, for a total value of $1,621,550.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 98,102 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,545,065.66. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Kurtis R. Kurimsky sold 14,045 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.64, for a total value of $641,013.80. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 23,816 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,086,962.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Bank of New York Mellon Company Profile (Free Report) The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation provides a range of financial products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Securities Services, Market and Wealth Services, Investment and Wealth Management, and other segments. The Securities Services segment offers custody, trust and depositary, accounting, exchange-traded funds, middle-office solutions, transfer agency, services for private equity and real estate funds, foreign exchange, securities lending, liquidity/lending services, and data analytics. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bank of New York Mellon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of New York Mellon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arlington Partners LLC raised its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (BATS:QUAL Free Report) by 1,173.6% in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 3,324 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 3,063 shares during the quarter. Arlington Partners LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF were worth $448,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Stifel Financial Corp raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 29.0% in the 1st quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 1,267,240 shares of the companys stock valued at $157,219,000 after purchasing an additional 284,548 shares in the last quarter. Magnus Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 9.5% in the 2nd quarter. Magnus Financial Group LLC now owns 15,189 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,049,000 after purchasing an additional 1,314 shares in the last quarter. Cypress Wealth Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 55.0% in the 2nd quarter. Cypress Wealth Services LLC now owns 108,849 shares of the companys stock valued at $15,023,000 after purchasing an additional 38,635 shares in the last quarter. Herold Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $306,000. Finally, Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 22.4% in the 2nd quarter. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC now owns 20,717 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,794,000 after purchasing an additional 3,797 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Trading Up 1.4 % Shares of QUAL opened at $133.39 on Friday. iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF has a twelve month low of $71.96 and a twelve month high of $88.63. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $135.97 and its 200-day simple moving average is $131.29. The firm has a market capitalization of $30.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.30 and a beta of 1.03. iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Company Profile The iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality index. The fund tracks an index of US large- and mid-cap stocks, selected and weighted by high ROE, stable earnings growth and low debt\u002Fequity, relative to peers in each sector. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding QUAL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (BATS:QUAL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Grace & White Inc. NY acquired a new position in Nutrien Ltd. (NYSE:NTR Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 54,400 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,212,000. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of NTR. WP Advisors LLC bought a new position in Nutrien in the second quarter worth about $458,000. Forum Financial Management LP grew its holdings in shares of Nutrien by 5.6% during the 2nd quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 4,705 shares of the companys stock worth $278,000 after acquiring an additional 250 shares during the period. Stone Point Wealth LLC raised its position in shares of Nutrien by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter. Stone Point Wealth LLC now owns 19,820 shares of the companys stock worth $1,170,000 after acquiring an additional 535 shares in the last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp lifted its stake in shares of Nutrien by 696.2% in the 2nd quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 4,602 shares of the companys stock valued at $272,000 after purchasing an additional 4,024 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James & Associates boosted its position in shares of Nutrien by 43.5% during the second quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 701,977 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,452,000 after purchasing an additional 212,760 shares in the last quarter. 62.77% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Nutrien alerts: Nutrien Stock Up 0.1 % NTR opened at $58.71 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $29.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.25, a PEG ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 0.92. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $63.01 and a 200-day moving average price of $63.75. Nutrien Ltd. has a twelve month low of $52.23 and a twelve month high of $86.91. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. Nutrien Dividend Announcement Nutrien ( NYSE:NTR Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The company reported $2.53 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.83 by ($0.30). The company had revenue of $11.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.04 billion. Nutrien had a net margin of 11.05% and a return on equity of 16.41%. Nutriens quarterly revenue was down 19.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $5.85 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Nutrien Ltd. will post 5.45 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be given a dividend of $0.53 per share. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.61%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 28th. Nutriens payout ratio is currently 29.78%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages have commented on NTR. Berenberg Bank raised their price objective on Nutrien from $49.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, September 7th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $85.00 price objective on shares of Nutrien in a report on Tuesday, August 8th. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on shares of Nutrien from $70.00 to $73.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, August 7th. Wells Fargo & Company raised Nutrien from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $62.00 to $82.00 in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reiterated an equal weight rating and set a $70.00 price objective on shares of Nutrien in a research note on Tuesday, July 25th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $79.79. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on NTR Nutrien Profile (Free Report) Nutrien Ltd. provides crop inputs and services. The company operates through Retail, Potash, Nitrogen, and Phosphate segments. The Retail segment distributes crop nutrients, crop protection products, seeds, and merchandise products. The Potash segment provides granular and standard potash products. The Nitrogen segment offers ammonia, urea, urea ammonium nitrate, industrial grade ammonium nitrate, and ammonium sulfate. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NTR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Nutrien Ltd. (NYSE:NTR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Nutrien Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nutrien and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Garrison Point Advisors LLC lessened its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Free Report) by 2.7% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 2,693 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after selling 75 shares during the period. Garrison Point Advisors LLCs holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $1,294,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Chelsea Counsel Co. bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. 25 LLC bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 1st quarter valued at $28,000. Freedom Wealth Alliance LLC bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Cascade Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 1st quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, Kalos Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 1st quarter valued at $34,000. Institutional investors own 85.69% of the companys stock. Get UnitedHealth Group alerts: UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance Shares of UnitedHealth Group stock opened at $524.81 on Friday. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a one year low of $445.68 and a one year high of $558.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $486.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.48, a PEG ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 0.64. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $496.76 and a 200 day simple moving average of $490.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.80. UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend UnitedHealth Group ( NYSE:UNH Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, July 14th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.14 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.92 by $0.22. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.72% and a net margin of 6.06%. The business had revenue of $92.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $90.97 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $5.57 EPS. The firms revenue was up 15.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 19th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 11th were issued a dividend of $1.88 per share. This represents a $7.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 8th. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 33.65%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on UNH shares. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and set a $587.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Friday, July 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $527.00 to $532.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, July 17th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $616.00 to $561.00 in a report on Thursday, July 13th. Mizuho cut their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $600.00 to $549.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 11th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $592.00 to $572.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 17th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $575.65. Read Our Latest Research Report on UnitedHealth Group Insiders Place Their Bets In other UnitedHealth Group news, CEO Andrew Witty sold 4,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $506.19, for a total transaction of $2,024,760.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 78,573 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $39,772,866.87. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.35% of the companys stock. UnitedHealth Group Profile (Free Report) UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. It operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for UnitedHealth Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UnitedHealth Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fifth Third Bancorp trimmed its position in shares of American Express (NYSE:AXP) by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 241,295 shares of the payment services companys stock after selling 4,915 shares during the period. Fifth Third Bancorps holdings in American Express were worth $42,034,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. RB Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in American Express by 5.3% during the first quarter. RB Capital Management LLC now owns 3,783 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $707,000 after purchasing an additional 190 shares in the last quarter. Roundview Capital LLC boosted its holdings in American Express by 0.4% during the first quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 27,029 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $5,054,000 after purchasing an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. boosted its holdings in American Express by 5.6% during the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 1,421 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $266,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd boosted its holdings in American Express by 207.1% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 946 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $177,000 after purchasing an additional 638 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Donaldson Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in American Express during the first quarter valued at approximately $397,000. 83.08% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get American Express alerts: American Express Stock Performance Shares of American Express stock opened at $149.32 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $158.66 and a two-hundred day moving average of $162.01. The stock has a market capitalization of $109.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.19, a PEG ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 1.19. American Express has a 52 week low of $130.65 and a 52 week high of $182.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 1.59 and a current ratio of 1.59. American Express Dividend Announcement American Express ( NYSE:AXP Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, July 21st. The payment services company reported $2.89 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.81 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $15.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $15.41 billion. American Express had a net margin of 12.99% and a return on equity of 29.26%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 12.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.57 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that American Express will post 11.13 EPS for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 10th. Investors of record on Friday, October 6th will be given a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.61%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 5th. American Expresss dividend payout ratio is currently 24.42%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Royal Bank of Canada raised American Express from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $197.00 to $200.00 in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. Citigroup reduced their target price on American Express from $148.00 to $143.00 and set a sell rating on the stock in a report on Friday. StockNews.com raised American Express from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, October 2nd. 58.com reissued a reiterates rating on shares of American Express in a report on Friday, June 30th. Finally, 3M reissued a reiterates rating on shares of American Express in a report on Friday, June 30th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $173.44. Read Our Latest Report on AXP About American Express (Free Report) American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides charge and credit payment card products, and travel-related services worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Global Consumer Services Group, Global Commercial Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services. Its products and services include payment and financing products; network services; accounts payable expense management products and services; and travel and lifestyle services. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AXP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for American Express (NYSE:AXP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for American Express Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Express and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Diversified LLC reduced its holdings in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:MUB Free Report) by 25.6% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 3,543 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 1,220 shares during the period. Diversified LLCs holdings in iShares National Muni Bond ETF were worth $378,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in MUB. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF during the 1st quarter valued at about $27,000. Tri Star Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF during the 1st quarter valued at about $29,000. First Manhattan Co. acquired a new stake in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, EPG Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Get iShares National Muni Bond ETF alerts: iShares National Muni Bond ETF Trading Down 0.4 % Shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF stock opened at $101.56 on Friday. iShares National Muni Bond ETF has a twelve month low of $101.11 and a twelve month high of $108.66. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $104.62 and its 200-day simple moving average is $106.10. About iShares National Muni Bond ETF iShares National AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond 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 National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index (the Index). Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MUB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares National Muni Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:MUB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares National Muni Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares National Muni Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kathmandu: In a deeply distressing development, seven Nepali students who were pursuing their education at an Israeli university have sustained injuries and are currently being held captive amidst relentless terrorist attacks by Hamas forces, as confirmed by Nepal's Ambassador to Israel, Kanta Rijal. These students were part of the "Learn and Earn" program initiated by the Israeli government, and they were based in Harzliya. Ambassador Kanta Rijal expressed his grave concern over the situation, stating, "They have been held in captivity by Hamas terrorists along with an additional 10 Nepali students at the agricultural farm in Southern Israel's Alumim." Efforts have been made to inform Israel's foreign ministry and mobilize rescue teams to address this critical issue. The students have been alerted about the situation, but the challenging circumstances in the area have made access difficult. They are currently seeking refuge in their hostel, attempting to shield themselves from the ongoing terrorist attacks. This alarming development has transpired amidst escalating tensions in the region, with reports of casualties on both sides. Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has declared that his country is "at war" against these terrorists and has ordered the mobilization of reserves, emphasizing the determination to emerge victorious. "We are at war, not in an operation or in rounds, but at war. This morning, Hamas terrorists launched a murderous surprise attack against the State of Israel and its citizens. We have been in this since the early morning hours. I convened the heads of the security establishment and ordered, first of all, to clear out the communities that have been infiltrated by terrorists. This currently is being carried out," stated Prime Minister Netanyahu. He continued, "At the same time, I have ordered an extensive mobilization of reserves and that we return fire of a magnitude that the terrorist enemy has not known. The enemy will pay an unprecedented price. In the meantime, I call on the citizens of Israel to strictly adhere to the directives of the IDF and Home Front Command. We are at war against these terrorists, and we will win it." The situation remains highly fluid, and international efforts are underway to address the crisis and ensure the safety and well-being of all those affected by the terrorist attacks. TTP Investments Inc. purchased a new position in Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 40,233 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock, valued at approximately $1,737,000. Uber Technologies accounts for 1.1% of TTP Investments Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest position. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Uber Technologies by 66.5% during the second quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 651 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 260 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates increased its position in Uber Technologies by 8.0% in the second quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 1,591,832 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock worth $68,719,000 after purchasing an additional 118,552 shares during the last quarter. Onyx Bridge Wealth Group LLC bought a new position in Uber Technologies during the second quarter valued at $365,000. United Asset Strategies Inc. bought a new position in Uber Technologies during the second quarter valued at $250,000. Finally, Ameritas Advisory Services LLC increased its position in Uber Technologies by 57.0% during the second quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 17,759 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $762,000 after acquiring an additional 6,446 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.07% of the companys stock. Get Uber Technologies alerts: Uber Technologies Price Performance NYSE UBER opened at $45.78 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $45.73 and a two-hundred day moving average of $40.98. Uber Technologies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $22.94 and a 1-year high of $49.49. Insider Buying and Selling Uber Technologies ( NYSE:UBER Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The ride-sharing company reported $0.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.01) by $0.19. The business had revenue of $9.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.34 billion. Uber Technologies had a negative return on equity of 4.57% and a negative net margin of 1.07%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 14.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted ($1.33) EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Uber Technologies, Inc. will post 0.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In other Uber Technologies news, CFO Nelson Chai sold 100,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.05, for a total value of $4,505,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 291,807 shares in the company, valued at $13,145,905.35. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. 3.84% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets UBER has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Wolfe Research upped their price target on shares of Uber Technologies from $52.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on shares of Uber Technologies from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, July 14th. Mizuho raised their price objective on shares of Uber Technologies from $60.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Tigress Financial initiated coverage on Uber Technologies in a research report on Friday, July 21st. They set a buy rating and a $66.00 target price on the stock. Finally, DA Davidson reiterated a buy rating and set a $62.00 target price on shares of Uber Technologies in a research report on Monday, July 31st. Thirty-one analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $56.00. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Uber Technologies Uber Technologies Company Profile (Free Report) Uber Technologies, Inc develops and operates proprietary technology applications in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia excluding China and Southeast Asia. It operates through three segments: Mobility, Delivery, and Freight. The Mobility segment connects consumers with a range of transportation modalities, such as ridesharing, carsharing, micromobility, rentals, public transit, taxis, and other modalities; and offers riders in a variety of vehicle types, as well as financial partnerships products and advertising services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Uber Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Uber Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Riverbridge Partners LLC cut its position in The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX Free Report) by 5.2% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 41,683 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock after selling 2,289 shares during the quarter. Riverbridge Partners LLCs holdings in TJX Companies were worth $3,534,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Chatham Capital Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of TJX Companies by 1.7% in the second quarter. Chatham Capital Group Inc. now owns 7,627 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $647,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares during the period. Alpha Financial Partners LLC grew its holdings in TJX Companies by 2.5% during the 1st quarter. Alpha Financial Partners LLC now owns 5,337 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $418,000 after buying an additional 129 shares in the last quarter. Tradition Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of TJX Companies by 3.7% during the first quarter. Tradition Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,672 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $288,000 after buying an additional 132 shares during the last quarter. Schear Investment Advisers LLC lifted its holdings in shares of TJX Companies by 1.5% in the second quarter. Schear Investment Advisers LLC now owns 9,205 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $780,000 after buying an additional 139 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Drive Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of TJX Companies by 4.0% during the first quarter. Drive Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,652 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $286,000 after acquiring an additional 140 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.28% of the companys stock. Get TJX Companies alerts: TJX Companies Stock Up 0.8 % Shares of TJX opened at $88.56 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $89.21 and a 200-day moving average price of $83.22. The company has a current ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43. The firm has a market capitalization of $101.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.97, a P/E/G ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 0.89. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $62.25 and a 12-month high of $93.78. TJX Companies Announces Dividend TJX Companies ( NYSE:TJX Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 16th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $0.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.77 by $0.08. TJX Companies had a net margin of 7.77% and a return on equity of 62.61%. The company had revenue of $12.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $12.45 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.69 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 7.7% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 3.71 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 9th will be given a dividend of $0.3325 per share. This represents a $1.33 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.50%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 8th. TJX Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 39.00%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts have issued reports on TJX shares. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of TJX Companies from $95.00 to $101.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, August 15th. Piper Sandler started coverage on TJX Companies in a research report on Thursday, June 29th. They issued an overweight rating and a $110.00 target price on the stock. UBS Group raised their price target on TJX Companies from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, August 17th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on TJX Companies from $93.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, August 17th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of TJX Companies from $104.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, August 17th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $95.42. Read Our Latest Report on TJX Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, CEO Ernie Herrman sold 45,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $89.04, for a total transaction of $4,006,800.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 642,098 shares in the company, valued at $57,172,405.92. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, CEO Ernie Herrman sold 45,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.04, for a total transaction of $4,006,800.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 642,098 shares in the company, valued at $57,172,405.92. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Kenneth Canestrari sold 4,197 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.00, for a total transaction of $377,730.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 115,223 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,370,070. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 114,014 shares of company stock worth $10,291,303. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. TJX Companies Profile (Free Report) The TJX Companies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an off-price apparel and home fashions retailer in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Marmaxx, HomeGoods, TJX Canada, and TJX International. The company sells family apparel, including footwear and accessories; home fashions, such as home basics, furniture, rugs, lighting products, giftware, soft home products, decorative accessories, tabletop, and cookware, as well as expanded pet, kids, and gourmet food departments; jewelry and accessories; and other merchandise. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TJX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for TJX Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TJX Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Waycross Partners LLC decreased its position in shares of Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS Free Report) by 9.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 48,024 shares of the casino operators stock after selling 5,000 shares during the period. Waycross Partners LLCs holdings in Las Vegas Sands were worth $2,785,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Channel Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Las Vegas Sands during the 2nd quarter worth $208,000. Raymond James & Associates grew its holdings in Las Vegas Sands by 2.1% during the 2nd quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 178,013 shares of the casino operators stock worth $10,325,000 after acquiring an additional 3,708 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its holdings in Las Vegas Sands by 138.5% during the 2nd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 1,169,950 shares of the casino operators stock worth $67,857,000 after acquiring an additional 679,483 shares in the last quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Las Vegas Sands during the 2nd quarter worth $692,000. Finally, Silvant Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Las Vegas Sands by 2.6% during the 2nd quarter. Silvant Capital Management LLC now owns 340,907 shares of the casino operators stock worth $19,773,000 after acquiring an additional 8,605 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 39.16% of the companys stock. Get Las Vegas Sands alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts have weighed in on LVS shares. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $70.00 to $69.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, September 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $71.00 to $64.00 in a report on Tuesday, September 26th. Argus decreased their price objective on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $72.00 to $68.00 in a report on Friday, July 21st. Bank of America decreased their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $66.00 to $65.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 20th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Las Vegas Sands in a report on Thursday. They issued a hold rating for the company. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Las Vegas Sands currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $70.12. Las Vegas Sands Price Performance NYSE LVS opened at $45.53 on Friday. Las Vegas Sands Corp. has a 52 week low of $33.38 and a 52 week high of $65.58. The company has a current ratio of 2.76, a quick ratio of 2.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.57. The stock has a market cap of $34.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 650.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.13 and a beta of 1.22. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $51.65 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $56.10. Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 19th. The casino operator reported $0.46 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.44 by $0.02. Las Vegas Sands had a net margin of 0.75% and a return on equity of 5.73%. The firm had revenue of $2.54 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.41 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned ($0.34) EPS. Las Vegas Sandss quarterly revenue was up 143.3% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Las Vegas Sands Corp. will post 1.87 EPS for the current year. Las Vegas Sands Cuts Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 8th were paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.76%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 7th. Las Vegas Sandss dividend payout ratio is currently 1,142.86%. About Las Vegas Sands (Free Report) Las Vegas Sands Corp., together with its subsidiaries, develops, owns, and operates integrated resorts in Macao and Singapore. It owns and operates The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, the Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip, and the Sands Macao in Macao, the People's Republic of China; and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LVS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Las Vegas Sands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Las Vegas Sands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Plancorp LLC lowered its position in shares of Edgewell Personal Care Co (NYSE:EPC Free Report) by 21.1% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 52,260 shares of the companys stock after selling 13,939 shares during the period. Plancorp LLCs holdings in Edgewell Personal Care were worth $2,159,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its position in Edgewell Personal Care by 49.1% during the 2nd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 2,247 shares of the companys stock worth $93,000 after acquiring an additional 740 shares during the last quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas boosted its position in Edgewell Personal Care by 104.1% during the 2nd quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 21,661 shares of the companys stock worth $895,000 after acquiring an additional 11,048 shares during the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System raised its stake in shares of Edgewell Personal Care by 12.1% during the 2nd quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 26,900 shares of the companys stock worth $1,111,000 after purchasing an additional 2,900 shares in the last quarter. Phocas Financial Corp. raised its stake in shares of Edgewell Personal Care by 32.2% during the 2nd quarter. Phocas Financial Corp. now owns 127,345 shares of the companys stock worth $5,261,000 after purchasing an additional 31,020 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Foundry Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Edgewell Personal Care by 30.5% during the 2nd quarter. Foundry Partners LLC now owns 10,305 shares of the companys stock worth $426,000 after purchasing an additional 2,406 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.91% of the companys stock. Get Edgewell Personal Care alerts: Edgewell Personal Care Stock Down 0.2 % EPC opened at $35.53 on Friday. Edgewell Personal Care Co has a 1-year low of $34.69 and a 1-year high of $46.13. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $38.12 and its 200 day simple moving average is $40.57. The company has a current ratio of 1.71, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85. The stock has a market cap of $1.81 billion, a PE ratio of 15.79 and a beta of 0.94. Edgewell Personal Care Dividend Announcement Edgewell Personal Care ( NYSE:EPC Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The company reported $0.98 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.81 by $0.17. Edgewell Personal Care had a return on equity of 9.15% and a net margin of 5.19%. The business had revenue of $650.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $642.45 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.86 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Edgewell Personal Care Co will post 2.49 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 4th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 7th were given a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.69%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, September 6th. Edgewell Personal Cares payout ratio is 26.67%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth EPC has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Edgewell Personal Care in a research note on Thursday. They set a hold rating on the stock. Barclays upped their price objective on Edgewell Personal Care from $36.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Monday, August 7th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Edgewell Personal Care currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $44.29. View Our Latest Analysis on Edgewell Personal Care Edgewell Personal Care Company Profile (Free Report) Edgewell Personal Care Company is a manufacturer and marketer of personal care products in the wet shave, sun and skin care, feminine care and infant care categories. As of September 30, 2016, the Company had a portfolio of over 25 brands. It manages its business in four segments: Wet Shave, Sun and Skin Care, Feminine Care and All Other. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EPC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Edgewell Personal Care Co (NYSE:EPC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Edgewell Personal Care Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Edgewell Personal Care and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ballentine Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 5.4% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 12,352 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 632 shares during the period. Ballentine Partners LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $5,793,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the first quarter valued at $107,000. Roundview Capital LLC increased its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.6% in the first quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 2,056 shares of the companys stock worth $589,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares in the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the first quarter valued at approximately $210,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 9.9% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 53,052 shares of the companys stock worth $15,193,000 after buying an additional 4,774 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Barometer Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 1st quarter valued at $561,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.38% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a buy rating and raised their price target for the stock from $408.00 to $615.00 in a report on Tuesday, August 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $385.00 to $470.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. Citigroup increased their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $360.00 to $525.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 26th. Berenberg Bank upped their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $375.00 to $500.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 20th. Finally, 22nd Century Group restated a maintains rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Tuesday, June 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and twenty have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $537.13. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 591 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $466.62, for a total transaction of $275,772.42. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 101,028,219 shares in the company, valued at approximately $47,141,787,549.78. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, EVP Alonzo Weems sold 1,148 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $590.98, for a total transaction of $678,445.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 7,760 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,586,004.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 591 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, July 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $466.62, for a total value of $275,772.42. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 101,028,219 shares in the company, valued at approximately $47,141,787,549.78. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 693,246 shares of company stock worth $20,948,820,977 over the last quarter. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance LLY opened at $565.22 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $536.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 78.61, a PEG ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 1.13. Eli Lilly and Company has a fifty-two week low of $309.20 and a fifty-two week high of $601.84. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $542.00 and a 200 day moving average of $462.36. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $2.11 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.13. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 65.00% and a net margin of 22.01%. The business had revenue of $8.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.58 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.25 earnings per share. Eli Lilly and Companys revenue was up 28.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 9.83 EPS for the current year. 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. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LLY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report). 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. Violich Capital Management Inc. lessened its holdings in shares of Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN Free Report) by 1.1% during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 35,395 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 390 shares during the period. Accenture comprises approximately 1.8% of Violich Capital Management Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 16th largest holding. Violich Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Accenture were worth $10,922,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Aries Wealth Management increased its position in Accenture by 0.8% in the second quarter. Aries Wealth Management now owns 4,288 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,323,000 after buying an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. Mitchell Sinkler & Starr PA increased its position in Accenture by 0.6% in the second quarter. Mitchell Sinkler & Starr PA now owns 5,172 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,596,000 after buying an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. Cadence Bank increased its position in Accenture by 0.7% in the first quarter. Cadence Bank now owns 4,999 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,686,000 after buying an additional 36 shares during the last quarter. jvl associates llc increased its position in Accenture by 1.0% in the second quarter. jvl associates llc now owns 3,682 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,136,000 after buying an additional 36 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Country Club Bank GFN increased its position in Accenture by 1.1% in the second quarter. Country Club Bank GFN now owns 3,378 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,042,000 after buying an additional 36 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 70.42% of the companys stock. Get Accenture alerts: Insider Activity In other news, CEO Leonardo Framil sold 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $311.52, for a total value of $934,560.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 16,898 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,264,064.96. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Leonardo Framil sold 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $311.52, for a total transaction of $934,560.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 16,898 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,264,064.96. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 7,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $320.60, for a total value of $2,244,200.00. Following the transaction, the general counsel now owns 36,034 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,552,500.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 24,430 shares of company stock valued at $7,735,251. Insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock. Accenture Stock Up 0.8 % Shares of ACN stock opened at $312.19 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $315.13 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $301.76. Accenture plc has a 12-month low of $242.80 and a 12-month high of $330.43. The firm has a market cap of $207.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 1.22. Accenture (NYSE:ACN Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, September 28th. The information technology services provider reported $2.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.65 by $0.06. Accenture had a return on equity of 29.74% and a net margin of 10.72%. The firm had revenue of $15.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.07 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.60 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 3.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts expect that Accenture plc will post 12.11 EPS for the current fiscal year. Accenture declared that its board has authorized a share buyback plan on Thursday, September 28th that authorizes the company to buyback $4.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the information technology services provider to reacquire up to 2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued. Accenture Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 12th will be paid a $1.29 dividend. This represents a $5.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.65%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 11th. This is a positive change from Accentures previous quarterly dividend of $1.12. Accentures payout ratio is 41.60%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on ACN shares. TD Cowen reduced their price target on Accenture from $312.00 to $300.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 29th. StockNews.com cut Accenture from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, September 29th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on Accenture from $332.00 to $322.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 29th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $340.00 price target on shares of Accenture in a research report on Friday, September 29th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price target on Accenture from $340.00 to $390.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, September 11th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Accenture presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $333.24. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Accenture Accenture Company Profile (Free Report) Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, interactive, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management, intelligent automation comprises robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents, and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprises turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ACN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Accenture Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Accenture and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Violich Capital Management Inc. lowered its holdings in shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP Free Report) by 0.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 76,054 shares of the energy producers stock after selling 120 shares during the quarter. ConocoPhillips makes up approximately 1.3% of Violich Capital Management Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 21st biggest position. Violich Capital Management Inc.s holdings in ConocoPhillips were worth $7,880,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in COP. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new stake in shares of ConocoPhillips during the 1st quarter valued at about $31,000. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 4.0% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 25,399 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $2,540,000 after acquiring an additional 968 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 512,126 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $51,213,000 after acquiring an additional 9,313 shares during the period. Zions Bancorporation N.A. grew its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 59.1% during the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 1,810 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $181,000 after acquiring an additional 672 shares during the period. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 21.3% during the 1st quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 14,063 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $1,406,000 after acquiring an additional 2,465 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.36% of the companys stock. Get ConocoPhillips alerts: ConocoPhillips Stock Performance COP stock opened at $115.33 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $118.68 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $108.99. ConocoPhillips has a twelve month low of $91.53 and a twelve month high of $138.49. The firm has a market cap of $138.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.11, a PEG ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.28. ConocoPhillips Announces Dividend ConocoPhillips ( NYSE:COP Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The energy producer reported $1.84 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.94 by ($0.10). ConocoPhillips had a return on equity of 27.27% and a net margin of 18.66%. The business had revenue of $12.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.64 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $3.91 EPS. Analysts predict that ConocoPhillips will post 9.18 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 16th were given a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.77%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, September 27th. ConocoPhillipss payout ratio is 19.65%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth COP has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Bank of America boosted their price objective on ConocoPhillips from $145.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on ConocoPhillips in a research note on Thursday. They set a hold rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $130.00 price target on shares of ConocoPhillips in a research note on Monday, August 14th. Raymond James dropped their price target on ConocoPhillips from $142.00 to $138.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on ConocoPhillips from $134.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, August 4th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, ConocoPhillips presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $135.63. Read Our Latest Research Report on ConocoPhillips Insider Transactions at ConocoPhillips In other news, SVP Andrew D. Lundquist sold 30,800 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.83, for a total transaction of $3,813,964.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 5,937 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $735,178.71. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other ConocoPhillips news, Director Sharmila Mulligan sold 1,849 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.19, for a total value of $231,476.31. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Andrew D. Lundquist sold 30,800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.83, for a total value of $3,813,964.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 5,937 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $735,178.71. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 602,049 shares of company stock valued at $73,591,956. 0.37% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. About ConocoPhillips (Free Report) ConocoPhillips explores for, produces, transports, and markets crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and natural gas liquids in the United States and internationally. The company's portfolio includes unconventional plays in North America; conventional assets in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia; various LNG developments; oil sands assets in Canada; and an inventory of global exploration prospects. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding COP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for ConocoPhillips Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ConocoPhillips and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Plancorp LLC grew its stake in U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB Free Report) by 1.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 46,233 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 672 shares during the period. Plancorp LLCs holdings in U.S. Bancorp were worth $1,528,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. TAP Consulting LLC acquired a new position in shares of U.S. Bancorp during the 1st quarter worth approximately $259,000. MCF Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of U.S. Bancorp by 80.8% during the 1st quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 4,711 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $172,000 after buying an additional 2,105 shares during the period. Venture Visionary Partners LLC raised its stake in U.S. Bancorp by 9.3% in the 1st quarter. Venture Visionary Partners LLC now owns 9,419 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $340,000 after purchasing an additional 800 shares during the last quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board raised its stake in U.S. Bancorp by 8.2% in the 2nd quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board now owns 67,661 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,236,000 after purchasing an additional 5,100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ascent Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in U.S. Bancorp by 50.3% in the 1st quarter. Ascent Wealth Partners LLC now owns 28,603 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $995,000 after purchasing an additional 9,572 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.40% of the companys stock. Get U.S. Bancorp alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms recently commented on USB. Bank of America raised U.S. Bancorp from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $38.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 11th. Barclays reduced their price objective on U.S. Bancorp from $52.00 to $48.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 27th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on U.S. Bancorp from $45.00 to $44.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Oppenheimer dropped their target price on U.S. Bancorp from $67.00 to $62.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, September 26th. Finally, Stephens restated an overweight rating and issued a $47.00 target price on shares of U.S. Bancorp in a report on Monday, July 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $46.43. Insider Activity In other news, CFO Terrance R. Dolan sold 26,000 shares of U.S. Bancorp stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $39.75, for a total value of $1,033,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 166,992 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,637,932. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, insider Timothy A. Welsh sold 13,816 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $39.79, for a total transaction of $549,738.64. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 119,058 shares in the company, valued at $4,737,317.82. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Terrance R. Dolan sold 26,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $39.75, for a total value of $1,033,500.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 166,992 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,637,932. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.24% of the companys stock. U.S. Bancorp Stock Performance NYSE USB opened at $31.86 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $48.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.83, a P/E/G ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $35.99 and a two-hundred day moving average of $34.34. U.S. Bancorp has a 1-year low of $27.27 and a 1-year high of $49.95. U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, July 19th. The financial services provider reported $1.12 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.13 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $7.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.17 billion. U.S. Bancorp had a net margin of 16.59% and a return on equity of 16.53%. The businesss revenue was up 19.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.09 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that U.S. Bancorp will post 4.37 EPS for the current year. U.S. Bancorp Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be paid a $0.48 dividend. This represents a $1.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.03%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 28th. U.S. Bancorps payout ratio is presently 53.19%. U.S. Bancorp Company Profile (Free Report) U.S. Bancorp, a financial services holding company, provides various financial services to individuals, businesses, institutional organizations, governmental entities and other financial institutions in the United States. It operates in Corporate and Commercial Banking, Consumer and Business Banking, Wealth Management and Investment Services, Payment Services, and Treasury and Corporate Support segments. Read More Receive News & Ratings for U.S. Bancorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for U.S. Bancorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Santori & Peters Inc. lowered its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA Free Report) by 0.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 51,519 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 433 shares during the quarter. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF comprises 1.9% of Santori & Peters Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 11th biggest position. Santori & Peters Inc.s holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF were worth $3,735,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. KMG Fiduciary Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 8.5% during the 2nd quarter. KMG Fiduciary Partners LLC now owns 27,656 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,005,000 after purchasing an additional 2,159 shares in the last quarter. Berkeley Capital Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 29.4% during the 1st quarter. Berkeley Capital Partners LLC now owns 5,441 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $389,000 after acquiring an additional 1,236 shares during the period. Graypoint LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 4.4% during the 2nd quarter. Graypoint LLC now owns 19,972 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,448,000 after acquiring an additional 846 shares during the period. D.B. Root & Company LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $281,000. Finally, Prosperity Planning Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 3.1% during the 2nd quarter. Prosperity Planning Inc. now owns 207,627 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $15,053,000 after acquiring an additional 6,271 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.78% of the companys stock. Get iShares MSCI EAFE ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Stock Up 1.1 % Shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF stock opened at $68.52 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $70.67 and a 200-day moving average of $71.85. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF has a 1-year low of $54.61 and a 1-year high of $74.74. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Company Profile iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Funds investment objective is to seek investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of its underlying index, MSCI EAFE Index (the Index). The Index has been developed by MSCI Inc as an equity benchmark for its international stock performance. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Patten Group Inc. raised its stake in Newmont Co. (NYSE:NEM Free Report) by 3.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 37,531 shares of the basic materials companys stock after buying an additional 1,174 shares during the quarter. Patten Group Inc.s holdings in Newmont were worth $1,601,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Compass Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Newmont in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC acquired a new position in Newmont in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Sittner & Nelson LLC increased its stake in Newmont by 177.5% in the 1st quarter. Sittner & Nelson LLC now owns 555 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 355 shares during the period. Caldwell Sutter Capital Inc. acquired a new position in Newmont in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, Quarry LP increased its stake in Newmont by 1,462.5% in the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 625 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 585 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.53% of the companys stock. Get Newmont alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth NEM has been the topic of several analyst reports. Argus dropped their price target on shares of Newmont from $55.00 to $50.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 25th. Barclays upgraded shares of Newmont from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $62.00 to $61.00 in a research note on Friday, July 7th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on shares of Newmont from $44.00 to $38.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and set a $52.00 price target on shares of Newmont in a research note on Wednesday, September 6th. Finally, Raymond James dropped their price target on shares of Newmont from $62.00 to $61.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, September 7th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $56.82. Newmont Stock Up 4.0 % Shares of Newmont stock opened at $37.80 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 2.28 and a quick ratio of 1.87. Newmont Co. has a fifty-two week low of $34.81 and a fifty-two week high of $60.08. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $39.11 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $43.08. Newmont (NYSE:NEM Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The basic materials company reported $0.33 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.39 by ($0.06). Newmont had a negative net margin of 6.77% and a positive return on equity of 5.74%. The company had revenue of $2.68 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.93 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.46 earnings per share. Newmonts revenue for the quarter was down 12.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Newmont Co. will post 2.05 EPS for the current year. Newmont Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 21st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, September 7th were issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.23%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, September 6th. Newmonts payout ratio is -166.66%. Insider Transactions at Newmont In other news, COO Robert D. Atkinson sold 5,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.91, for a total transaction of $219,505.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 76,251 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,043,177.41. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, COO Robert D. Atkinson sold 5,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.91, for a total transaction of $219,505.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 76,251 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,043,177.41. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Thomas Ronald Palmer sold 11,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.47, for a total transaction of $401,170.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 245,039 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,936,572.33. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 44,366 shares of company stock valued at $1,738,008. Company insiders own 0.07% of the companys stock. About Newmont (Free Report) Newmont Corporation engages in the production and exploration of gold. It also explores for copper, silver, zinc, and lead. The company has operations and/or assets in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Peru, Suriname, Argentina, Chile, Australia, and Ghana. As of December 31, 2022, it had proven and probable gold reserves of 96.1 million ounces and land position of 61,500 square kilometers. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Newmont Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Newmont and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. F1 teams will meet with the FIA at 2pm on Sunday at Lusail to discuss whether maximum stint lengths shall be imposed in the Qatar Grand Prix to alleviate safety concerns regarding Pirellis tyres. The manufacturer announced on Saturday morning that following an analysis from Fridays opening day of running that it had discovered micro lacerations in the sidewall of its tyres, a deterioration likely caused by the repeated impact of the rubber with Lusails recently installed raised pyramid-shaped kerbs. On Saturday, revised track limit rules were enforced at two corners to mitigate the issue, while Pirelli is set to communicate to the FIA on Sunday morning the results of its analysis conducted in the wake of yesterdays 19-lap sprint event. Unfortunately, the short race was disrupted by multiple safety car periods, leaving Pirelli with just 9 laps of green-light racing from which to collect data. Read also: Depending on the outcome of this analysis, the FIA could mandate maximum stint lengths for Sundays race, potentially leading to a three-stop event that could have a significant impact on the running order given that not all drivers will start the race on an equal footing in terms of tyre and compound inventory. Those drivers lacking fresh sets may need to run older soft tyres to make a three-stopper work or may even be required to undertake a fourth stop. The FIA has made clear that it will not publicly reveal the results of Pirellis latest analysis until after it has met with the teams on Sunday afternoon. As is the case at every race weekend, we are analysing the sets returned to us at the end of the day, commented Pirelli motorsport boss Mario Isola after Saturdays sprint event. Once this procedure is completed, we will pass on the results of our findings to the FIA and, if necessary, further measures will be put in place for tomorrow nights grand prix. Looking ahead to tomorrow, it is not worth speculating about strategies, given that we must wait for the outcome of our on-going analysis and then see if this has any regulatory effect on how the race will be run. Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter JB Capital LLC grew its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 7.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 829 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 59 shares during the period. JB Capital LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $389,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of LLY. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 533,336.4% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 19,059,681 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,938,609,000 after acquiring an additional 19,056,108 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 4th quarter valued at $3,416,206,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 102,752.2% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,446,026 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,992,374,000 after purchasing an additional 5,440,731 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 44.1% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 12,059,204 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,411,740,000 after purchasing an additional 3,691,436 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 316.9% in the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,434,073 shares of the companys stock valued at $217,569,000 after purchasing an additional 1,850,187 shares during the last quarter. 81.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Eli Lilly and Company Stock Up 4.4 % Shares of LLY opened at $565.22 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $536.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 78.61, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $542.00 and a 200-day simple moving average of $462.36. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52 week low of $309.20 and a 52 week high of $601.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 1.13. Analyst Ratings Changes Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $2.11 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.98 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $8.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.58 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 22.01% and a return on equity of 65.00%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 28.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.25 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 9.83 earnings per share for the current year. Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. HSBC assumed coverage on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Friday, July 14th. They issued a buy rating and a $560.00 price objective for the company. Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $600.00 to $700.00 in a research note on Friday. Berenberg Bank boosted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $375.00 to $500.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $510.00 to $600.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $565.00 to $633.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and twenty have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $537.13. Get Our Latest Analysis on LLY Insider Activity at Eli Lilly and Company In related news, EVP Alonzo Weems sold 1,148 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $590.98, for a total value of $678,445.04. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 7,760 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,586,004.80. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Eli Lilly and Company news, EVP Alonzo Weems sold 1,148 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $590.98, for a total transaction of $678,445.04. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 7,760 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,586,004.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 204,409 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $523.74, for a total transaction of $107,057,169.66. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 100,823,810 shares in the company, valued at $52,805,462,249.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 693,246 shares of company stock valued at $20,948,820,977 over the last quarter. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile (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. Further Reading 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. Plancorp LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report) by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 18,220 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after purchasing an additional 344 shares during the quarter. Plancorp LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $1,986,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 97,996.2% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 2,101,555,797 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $229,111,613,000 after purchasing an additional 2,099,413,455 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley increased its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 14.3% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 38,966,499 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $4,278,132,000 after acquiring an additional 4,886,954 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 2.0% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 31,196,788 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $3,151,497,000 after acquiring an additional 598,164 shares during the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 104,649.4% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 30,247,436 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $3,320,866,000 after purchasing an additional 30,218,560 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP increased its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 40.5% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 20,820,152 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $2,108,249,000 after purchasing an additional 6,003,997 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 73.70% of the companys stock. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Citigroup dropped their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $130.00 to $122.00 in a report on Monday, October 2nd. StockNews.com began coverage on Abbott Laboratories in a report on Thursday. They issued a buy rating for the company. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $120.00 to $112.00 in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Wolfe Research upgraded Abbott Laboratories from an underperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Friday, July 21st. Finally, Mizuho upped their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, July 21st. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Abbott Laboratories currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $120.47. Abbott Laboratories Stock Up 0.7 % Shares of ABT stock opened at $96.88 on Friday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $102.41 and its 200-day simple moving average is $105.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a current ratio of 1.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $168.12 billion, a PE ratio of 33.06, a P/E/G ratio of 4.33 and a beta of 0.69. Abbott Laboratories has a fifty-two week low of $93.25 and a fifty-two week high of $115.83. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 20th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.08 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.05 by $0.03. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 20.50% and a net margin of 12.83%. The business had revenue of $9.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.71 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.43 earnings per share. The companys revenue was down 11.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.4 earnings per share for the current year. Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 13th will be paid a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 12th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.11%. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is 69.62%. Insider Transactions at Abbott Laboratories In other news, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.76, for a total value of $5,688,000.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 6,775,316 shares in the company, valued at $770,759,948.16. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other Abbott Laboratories news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 10,400 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.03, for a total transaction of $1,092,312.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 65,027 shares in the company, valued at $6,829,785.81. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.76, for a total value of $5,688,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 6,775,316 shares in the company, valued at approximately $770,759,948.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Abbott Laboratories Company Profile (Free Report) Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The Established Pharmaceutical Products segment provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Meniere's disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AM Investment Strategies LLC lessened its holdings in General Electric (NYSE:GE Free Report) by 2.3% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 60,841 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 1,463 shares during the period. General Electric comprises about 2.1% of AM Investment Strategies LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 7th largest holding. AM Investment Strategies LLCs holdings in General Electric were worth $6,683,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of GE. Sei Investments Co. boosted its holdings in General Electric by 10.0% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 305,384 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $27,925,000 after buying an additional 27,682 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC acquired a new stake in General Electric in the 1st quarter worth about $1,518,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in General Electric by 2.9% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 11,748 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $1,075,000 after buying an additional 334 shares during the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of General Electric during the 1st quarter worth approximately $388,000. Finally, West Family Investments Inc. acquired a new position in shares of General Electric during the 1st quarter worth approximately $230,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.83% of the companys stock. Get General Electric alerts: Insider Transactions at General Electric In other news, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 112,614 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.20, for a total transaction of $12,973,132.80. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 57,923 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,672,729.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock. General Electric Stock Up 2.5 % Shares of NYSE GE opened at $111.47 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $121.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.22, a PEG ratio of 3.85 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. General Electric has a 52-week low of $48.98 and a 52-week high of $117.96. The businesss 50 day moving average is $112.84 and its two-hundred day moving average is $106.29. General Electric (NYSE:GE Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The conglomerate reported $0.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.46 by $0.22. The company had revenue of $15.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.76 billion. General Electric had a return on equity of 9.30% and a net margin of 13.32%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 18.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.78 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that General Electric will post 2.32 EPS for the current year. General Electric Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 25th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 26th will be given a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 25th. General Electrics dividend payout ratio is currently 3.80%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on General Electric in a report on Wednesday, September 27th. They set a buy rating and a $141.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on General Electric in a report on Thursday. They set a buy rating on the stock. Barclays boosted their target price on General Electric from $125.00 to $131.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, July 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on General Electric from $121.00 to $133.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 25th. Finally, Citigroup upped their price objective on General Electric from $126.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $122.71. Read Our Latest Report on General Electric About General Electric (Free Report) General Electric Company operates as a high-tech industrial company in Europe, China, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa. It offers gas and steam turbines, full balance of plant, upgrade, and service solutions, as well as data-leveraging software for power generation, industrial, government, and other customers. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General Electric (NYSE:GE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for General Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cypress Capital Group increased its stake in shares of Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX Free Report) by 0.9% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 64,323 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after purchasing an additional 545 shares during the quarter. Phillips 66 makes up 0.9% of Cypress Capital Groups holdings, making the stock its 29th largest position. Cypress Capital Groups holdings in Phillips 66 were worth $6,135,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Country Trust Bank lifted its stake in shares of Phillips 66 by 1,315.8% during the 2nd quarter. Country Trust Bank now owns 269 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 250 shares during the last quarter. Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Group raised its stake in Phillips 66 by 504.0% in the first quarter. Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Group now owns 302 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 252 shares during the last quarter. Fiduciary Alliance LLC purchased a new stake in Phillips 66 in the second quarter valued at about $30,000. Worth Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Phillips 66 in the first quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Graves Light Lenhart Wealth Inc. purchased a new stake in Phillips 66 in the first quarter valued at about $47,000. 71.83% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Phillips 66 alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have commented on PSX shares. StockNews.com started coverage on Phillips 66 in a research note on Thursday. They issued a hold rating for the company. Morgan Stanley reiterated an equal weight rating and issued a $125.00 price target on shares of Phillips 66 in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. Bank of America increased their price target on Phillips 66 from $141.00 to $143.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, September 18th. Raymond James cut their price objective on Phillips 66 from $133.00 to $128.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Finally, Argus increased their price objective on Phillips 66 from $125.00 to $134.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, August 14th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $128.27. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Phillips 66 news, Chairman Greg C. Garland sold 169,400 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.44, for a total transaction of $18,877,936.00. Following the transaction, the chairman now owns 662,366 shares in the company, valued at $73,814,067.04. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Phillips 66 news, EVP Timothy D. Roberts sold 12,970 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.41, for a total transaction of $1,613,597.70. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 80,009 shares in the company, valued at $9,953,919.69. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Chairman Greg C. Garland sold 169,400 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $111.44, for a total value of $18,877,936.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now owns 662,366 shares in the company, valued at approximately $73,814,067.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 360,648 shares of company stock worth $41,396,371. 4.57% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Phillips 66 Stock Down 0.3 % Phillips 66 stock opened at $109.19 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $48.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 1.33. Phillips 66 has a 52 week low of $88.64 and a 52 week high of $125.19. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $116.05 and its 200 day moving average price is $104.53. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 1.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $3.87 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.54 by $0.33. The firm had revenue of $35.74 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $32.13 billion. Phillips 66 had a return on equity of 26.25% and a net margin of 6.81%. During the same period last year, the company earned $6.77 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Phillips 66 will post 16.38 earnings per share for the current year. Phillips 66 Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 17th will be given a dividend of $1.05 per share. This represents a $4.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.85%. Phillips 66s dividend payout ratio is currently 18.22%. Phillips 66 Profile (Free Report) 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. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PSX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Phillips 66 Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Phillips 66 and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ballentine Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 26.2% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 40,216 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after buying an additional 8,344 shares during the quarter. Ballentine Partners LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $2,572,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Catalyst Financial Partners LLC raised its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 2.5% during the 1st quarter. Catalyst Financial Partners LLC now owns 6,001 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $416,000 after buying an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. Keystone Wealth Services LLC raised its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. Keystone Wealth Services LLC now owns 7,468 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $518,000 after buying an additional 148 shares in the last quarter. Dillon & Associates Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 3.9% in the first quarter. Dillon & Associates Inc. now owns 3,955 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $245,000 after buying an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. Abbrea Capital LLC grew its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.5% during the first quarter. Abbrea Capital LLC now owns 10,025 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $695,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares during the period. Finally, Westshore Wealth LLC raised its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 4.3% in the first quarter. Westshore Wealth LLC now owns 3,658 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $254,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. 74.98% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.14, for a total transaction of $44,754.48. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 6,584 shares in the company, valued at $402,545.76. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Ann Powell sold 17,986 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.25, for a total transaction of $1,101,642.50. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 27,868 shares in the company, valued at $1,706,915. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.14, for a total transaction of $44,754.48. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 6,584 shares of the companys stock, valued at $402,545.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock. Bristol-Myers Squibb Price Performance Shares of NYSE:BMY opened at $56.66 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08. The company has a market cap of $118.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.07, a P/E/G ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 0.43. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $60.23 and a 200-day simple moving average of $64.15. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 52 week low of $55.83 and a 52 week high of $81.43. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.99 by ($0.24). Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 50.51% and a net margin of 17.62%. The company had revenue of $11.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.81 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.93 earnings per share. Bristol-Myers Squibbs revenue was down 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 7.42 EPS for the current year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 6th will be issued a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 5th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.02%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is 60.64%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have commented on BMY shares. Morgan Stanley restated an underweight rating and set a $59.00 target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. Credit Suisse Group reduced their price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $72.00 to $66.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 12th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and issued a $75.00 price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Friday, September 15th. Barclays decreased their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $62.00 to $60.00 in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. Finally, SVB Leerink reaffirmed a market perform rating on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $69.50. View Our Latest Research Report on BMY About Bristol-Myers Squibb (Free Report) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis, an oral inhibitor for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in NVAF, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for anti-cancer indications; Pomalyst/Imnovid indicated for patients with multiple myeloma; Orencia for adult patients with active RA and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alex Albon believes Williams is in a good place for this evenings Qatar Grand Prix after his surprisingly good performance in Saturdays sprint event. From P17 on the grid, Albon battled his way up to eighth position in the 19-lap event before he was classified P7 following Charles Leclercs track limit penalty and subsequent demotion. The Anglo-Thai racer had qualified poorly for the evening sprint after struggling with grip and with the balance of his FW45. But in the evenings cooler and calmer sprint session, his Williams car became alive, while a medium tyre strategy and a bit of luck also opened the door to a productive result. Read also: A bit of carnage, which always helps, a good strategy and a good pace, actually, Albon said as he summed up his evening. "We took a gamble with set-up, and we made it work. We capitalised on everyones difficulties today and this resulted in a point, which is now two points following Charles penalty, so Im very happy! The wind dropped massively today in the race the first time its done it all weekend and the car became alive. So the grip I had felt equal to all the top cars around me, if not quicker. Albon will start Sundays Qatar Grand Prix from P14 on the grid, just behind the Red Bull of Sergio Perez. The Williams charger feels that he can put a good result on the board, if conditions are similar to Saturday evening. A bit of a surprise and something we actually need to understand a bit why, but it puts us in a good place for tomorrow, he said, commenting on his cars unexpected pace. Were going to be in a good place for tomorrow, as long as the wind is low like it was in the Sprint, which it looks to be. In the wake of the safety concerns regarding Pirellis tyres, the FIA could mandate a three-stop race. Should that be the case, Williams will approach the event with an adequate inventory of tyres. Incredibly, its only Saturday evening and there is a lot more of this Qatar event still to unfold, commented Dave Robson, Williams head of vehicle performance. With some concerns over the tyre behaviour on the kerbs, there may yet be some additional restrictions that we will need to follow tomorrow. We have a good compliment of tyres available to both drivers and we are expecting benign conditions like we enjoyed this evening. Both drivers will be looking to make places and fight for points. Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter An Irish minister has urged a proportionate response from Israel to an outrageous attack by Hamas militants. It comes after a surprise attack against Israel saw gunmen enter villages and thousands of missiles launched into Israel. Irelands premier Leo Varadkar and deputy premier Micheal Martin condemned the unprecedented attack, stating that the violence needed to stop and a peace process needed to take place. Mr Martin said on Saturday that Ireland supported Israels right to defend itself, but said its response needed to be proportionate. Asked whether the response had been proportionate, Mr Martin said that more hard information was needed to make that assessment. Junior minister Thomas Byrne said that the attack from Hamas was absolutely wrong and outrageous. Israel is entitled to defend itself, thats clear. However, it has to be proportionate. They cannot go in and do the same thing, they need to watch what theyre doing as well, he said, speaking on RTEs The Week In Politics. We certainly believe that the ultimate answer to this is what weve been advocating for decades, in Fianna Fail and the Irish government, which is a two-state solution. And weve been working to that, and it is time that I suppose the world gets serious about that. Sinn Fein has written to the Ceann Comhairle, the speaker of the Irish parliaments lower house, and the parliamentary business committee to request that the parliament reconvenes as soon as possible to discuss hostilities in Gaza and Israel. Asked whether Sinn Fein condemns the attack by Hamas, TD Mairead Farrell said of course we condemn any targeting of civilians. Asked about a tweet sent by her parliamentary party colleague Chris Andrews who said the attack was a direct result of years of apartheid in Palestine, as well as Ireland and the EU not holding Israel to account, Ms Farrell said said Ireland and the EU did need to speak out loudly in relation to any breaking of international law. Mr Martin, who is also Irelands minister for Foreign Affairs, said on Saturday evening he now feared for people in Gaza and said it was vital that the voice of moderation comes to the fore. The Tanaiste said that he could see tensions rising during a trip to the region last month, and the scale of Saturdays attack by Hamas was quite shocking and launched without justification. He said it was clearly a breach of international law. Mr Martin also said Irelands support for a two-state solution had not changed, and that it remained the only sensible and rational solution to this issue, but it needed political momentum. My sense is that the hardliners are growing in influence, and thats why I believe the need to have moderate voices in the centre is key. So what we need really is a political peace process to get on track in a serious way, Mr Martin said. [October 08, 2023] The Latest Fashion Source, Original Design Fashion Week & PV Shenzhen Mark a New Chapter for Fashion Tweet SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Organized by GL events Pengcheng (Shenzhen) Exhibition Co. , Ltd., the 27th Shenzhen International Exhibition for Clothing Supply Chain (Fashion Source), the SS2024 Shenzhen Original Design Fashion Week, and the Premiere Vision Shenzhen AW24-25 went out with a bang on 22 September at Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center. In merely three days, the joint events featured over 1,200 excellent exhibitors from across the industrial chain to showcase their flagship products such as yarns, fabrics, notions, knitwears, silks, as well as manufacturing techniques, accessories, and original designs. 43,096 professional visitors flocked to the 80,000 sqm venue, enjoying over 30 fashion shows and 80 activities. More than 500 business matchings connected many professional buyers to the suppliers that could best meet their needs, fostering reliable partnerships. The various activities were all curated to empower the fashion industry. FS Knitting Trends 2024-25AW was demonstrated by early 200 original knitted panels carefully selected by top designers and companies. When exploring this section, visitors could be inspired by seeing and touching the knitting pieces surrounded by trending colors, knitted garments, and installation artworks. For designers, product developers, and buyers who wanted to find fabrics and notions, the "FS U-Library" Selection Space served as a convenient one-stop shop. On the topic of "After the Singularity", the FS Summit for Clothing Supply Chain analyzed the potential opportunities of the clothing industry, together with case studies. Chenliegonghe booth showcased examples of visual merchandising; The Future Designers booth focused on the creations of the students from different schools of design. PV Shenzhen, another co-hosted exhibition, gathered about 50 leading material suppliers that covered fabrics, leathers, yarns, accessories, pattern design, and OEM/ODM. It was mainly divided into five featured sections, including PVSZ China Craftsmanship Area, PVSZ Smart Creation, PVSZ Trend Area, PVSZ Sustainable Focus Area, and PVSZ Sustainable Fashion Talks, a place for visitors to learn about the PV AW24-25 trending colors, materials, and environmental protection. The SS24 Shenzhen Original Design Fashion Week centered around "Seeds Power", over 100 original design brands were presented through nearly 30 fashion shows and showrooms. Visitors could observe the creative cut of these pieces, their unique choice of fabrics, and design concepts from a close distance. From 10 to 12 April 2024, the three events will be held at Bao'an, Shenzhen again. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241460/image_5013730_23029471.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/the-latest-fashion-source-original-design-fashion-week--pv-shenzhen-mark-a-new-chapter-for-fashion-301950278.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A quick update on local police action, crime reporting and more community outreach amid the last quarter of the year. Check TKC news gathering . . . Body of missing Kansas City man discovered in Clay County The body of a missing Kansas City, Missouri man was discovered in rural Clay County on Saturday morning. A homeless man is charged with capital murder and rape in the death of a 5-year-old Kansas girl A homeless man has been charged with murder and rape in the killing of a 5-year-old girl in Topeka, Kansas. Ferguson QuickTrip shooting leaves one dead, security guard injured The Ferguson Police Department is investigating a shooting incident at the QuickTrip in Ferguson. The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. on October 7. Missouri Man Stabbed Twice After Giving Stranger Ride in Act of Kindness: 'My Life Was in Danger' A Missouri man said he was stabbed in the chest twice after another man - later identified by police as 28-year-old Tyler Rizer - asked him for a ride after claiming his car got stuck at a nearby Target Police resolve 34-year-old cold case in assault and death of Kansas woman | CNN A man who authorities say sexually assaulted and killed a 20-year-old woman three decades ago has been identified. First Impact Driver Training The Kansas City Missouri Police Department is hosting 3 sessions of First Impact on October 13th and 14th. This training is FREE and open to ALL. Registration is recommended, but not required. See the flyer with QR code for registration. Details available on the First Impact brochure. Kansas City man recovering after being struck in hit-and-run near Westport A night out to celebrate his partner's birthday turned into a near death experience for 28-year-old Nate Jones. Developing . . . A few things we want to emphasize in this response to dead-tree hype coverage . . . PRIVATE FUNDING FOR THE SOUTH LOOP IS UNSECURED, SO FAR WE'RE JUST TALKING PROMISES FROM CORPORATIONS NOT CONTRACTS!!! This is the same trick that local politicos ran with the animal shelter when MILLIONS in donations were pledged but then never materialized. A quick tidbit . . . $217 Million is the lowest estimate we've seen so far. The bidding started at 350 MILLION BUCKS but has now been downsized in order to gain more traction. Finally . . . KANSAS CITY STAR FORGETS THAT FEDS REJECTED THIS PLAN IN 2023!!! Here's the money line from a friendly administration . . . "In the USDOTs FY 2022 Mega Ratings Report, officials did not issue a recommendation for the grant, pointing to four shortcomings: cost-effectiveness, lack of stable and dependable sources of non-federal funding, capacity to carry out the project, and the necessary data collection and analysis. " One last thing . . . If the Kansas City Star is pushing this project, CLEARLY, it's a disaster waiting to happen. Here's their side of the story and straight up propaganda from a formerly great newspaper that has lost nearly all of its luster and relevance . . . Check-it: "Along with the $68 million in tax dollars secured so far, a robust private financing campaign is underway with a goal of non-governmental donations covering 40% of the project cost." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . In this article, we will look at the 20 most advanced countries in Africa. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can head straight to the 5 Most Advanced Countries in Africa. Africa holds tremendous economic potential with its abundant natural resources, a burgeoning population, and a rise in its middle-class population. These factors being the key drivers for Africas growth potential, set it on the cusp of becoming steadily integrated into the global economy. However, several challenges are hindering the growth such as extreme poverty in the region, its dependence on exports, and negligence of the government. Despite the weight of these persistent challenges on the regions economic growth, Africa is becoming an opportunistic region. According to the World Bank, Africa is forecasted to experience an economic growth of 3.9% by 2050. Africa is home to the worlds largest free trade area and a total of 1.2 billion people. The young and growing population presents countless opportunities for growth in the region. However, to truly harness these opportunities, it is imperative to make strategic investments in education, business innovation, and inclusive and sustainable initiatives in the region. Major Industries in Africa Africa is rich in natural resources and has one of the largest mineral sectors in the world. According to a report by UNCTAD, Africa is home to vast reserves of Cobalt and Manganese. It accounts for almost half of the worlds total reserves with 48% Cobalt and 47.6% Manganese, which have applications in the automotive and energy industries. The mining industry is one of the major industries contributing to Africas economic development. According to a report by Verified Market Research, the mining market in Africa was worth $476.86 billion in 2022. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.60% and reach $799.66 billion by 2030. Exxaro Resources Limited (JSE:EXX) is one of the leading names in the mining industry in Africa. On October 4, Reuters reported that the company is looking for acquisition opportunities in copper-producing African countries. The company is considering partnering with existing miners there to diversify into metals required for clean energy transition. The company hasn't revealed any names yet but the CEO of Exxaro Resources Limited (JSE:EXX), Nombasa Tsengwa said that the company is looking at multiple partnership opportunities simultaneously. Story continues Africa is also making strides in technological advancement. UNCTAD cited Global System for Mobile Association findings in a report which states that there were 618 active technology hubs in Africa as of 2019, up from 442 reported in 2018. Let's discuss another prominent African market, the entertainment and telecommunications industry. According to a report by Mordor Intelligence, the entertainment and telecommunication industry in Africa was valued at $62.98 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR Of 3.91% to reach $78.09 billion by 2028. Some of the top companies in the market include MTN Group Limited (JSE:MTN) and Naspers Limited (JSE:NPN). MTN Group Limited (JSE:MTN) is among the leading companies in the telecommunication market in Africa. On October 4, Reuters reported that the company had improved its network availability by 15% due to the ongoing investment in power backup solutions. The company recently invested around $233 million to improve its network's resilience in case of power outages. MTN Group Limited (JSE:MTN) has installed 20,000 batteries, 5,000 rectifiers, and around 900 diesel generators at various sites across the region. The company has upgraded 5,000 network sites with batteries, rectifiers, generators, and increased security. On October 6, as reported by Business Tech, MTN Group Limited (JSE:MTN) recently attended GovTech 2023 along with the state agencies to help the government accelerate Africa's digital transformation. The goal of this partnership is to deliver 3,000 Mobile Device Management (MDM) licenses to the agencies. The company also recommended SOTI MobiControl, a top-rated MDM solution that can help agencies secure mobile devices, apps, and IoT endpoints. Prosus N.V. (AMS:PRX), a majority-owned company by Naspers Limited (JSE:NPN), a South African multinational internet and multimedia company, launched its generative AI tool called Meet Plus One on September 12. The AI tool will help companies automate their tasks, increase productivity, and work efficiently. The AI tool is easy to use and can be adopted by companies of all sizes. It can easily be integrated with the company's existing tech system. Now that we have discussed some of the top industries and companies in Africa, let's take a look at some of the most advanced countries in Africa. 20 Most Advanced Countries in Africa Nick Fox / Shutterstock.com Methodology: To rank the 20 most advanced countries in Africa, we consulted with the World Intellectual Property Organizations (WIPO) Global Innovation Index 2023. Global Innovation Index ranks countries based on their potential and capacity for innovation. The tracker assesses countries' innovative landscapes, their adoption of technology, and the socio-economic aspect of the development. The index utilizes a data set built on 80 indicators to provide a credible basis for the ranking of countries. Countries with a higher Global Innovation Index are ranked higher on our list. 20 Most Advanced Countries in Africa 20. People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Global Innovation Index (2023) Ranking: 119 The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria is a country in North Africa. It has a GDP of $113.42 billion as of 2022 and a GDP per capita of $13,209. The country's economy is majorly dependent on its oil and gas sector accounting for more than 90% of its exports. It is ranked 20 on our list of the 20 most advanced countries in Africa. For investors looking to increase their exposure to the African market, some stocks to consider include Naspers Limited (JSE:NPN), MTN Group Limited (JSE:MTN), and Exxaro Resources Limited (JSE:EXX). 19. Republic of Zambia Global Innovation Index (2023) Ranking: 118 The Republic of Zambia ranks 19 on our list. The country is located in South Africa. As of 2022, It has a GDP of $29.7 billion. The economy in Zambia is highly dependent on the mining sector. 18. Republic of Zimbabwe Global Innovation Index (2023) Ranking: 117 The Republic of Zimbabwe is located in Southern Africa. The country is home to several minerals including gold, platinum, diamonds, and coal. The country has a GDP of $20.6 billion as of 2022. 17. Togo Global Innovation Index (2023) Ranking: 114 Togo is a country in West Africa with a GDP of $8.1 billion. The country is ranked 17 on our list of the most advanced countries in Africa. The country's economic key driver is the agriculture sector. 16. United Republic of Tanzania Global Innovation Index (2023) Ranking: 113 The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa. The country reported a GDP of $75.7 billion in 2022. Tanzania is an agricultural country. The agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors collectively contribute 27% to its total GDP. It is ranked 16 on our list of most advanced African countries. 15. Cote dIvoire Global Innovation Index (2023) Ranking: 112 Cote dIvoire ranks 19 on our list. The country is located in West Africa. As of 2022, It has a GDP of $70 billion. The country's economy is primarily dependent on its agriculture sector. 14. Nigeria Global Innovation Index (2023) Ranking: 109 Nigeria is a country in West Africa. It has a GDP of $477.3 billion as of 2022. Nigeria ranks 14 on our list due to a relatively high ranking on the Global Innovation Index. The country has a mixed economy with manufacturing, financial, and communication sectors being the key drivers. 13. Republic of Madagascar Global Innovation Index (2023) Ranking: 107 The Republic of Madagascar is a country in East Africa with a GDP of $14.9 billion. It is ranked 13 on our list of the most advanced countries in Africa. The country is primarily an agricultural country with agriculture contributing 25% to its GDP. 12. Republic of Rwanda Global Innovation Index (2023) Ranking: 103 The Republic of Rwanda is ranked 12 on our list due to its relatively high ranking on the global innovation index. The country is located in East Africa and reported a GDP of $13.3 billion in 2022. 11. Republic of Kenya Global Innovation Index (2023) Ranking: 100 The Republic of Kenya ranks 11 on our list. It is located in East Africa and has a GDP of $113.4 billion. Major key drivers of Kenya's economy include agriculture, forestry, mining, manufacturing, energy, and financial services. 10. Republic of Ghana Global Innovation Index (2023) Ranking: 99 The Republic of Ghana is a country in West Africa. As of 2022, it has a GDP of $72.8 billion. It is ranked 10 on our list of most advanced countries in Africa based on its high ranking in the global innovation index. Ghana's major exports are gold, cocoa beans, and crude oil. 9. Namibia Global Innovation Index (2023) Ranking: 96 Namibia is located in Southwest Africa. It is ranked 9 on our list and reported a GDP of $12.6 billion in 2022. The manufacturing sector is one of the primary sectors contributing to its economic growth. 8. Republic of Senegal Global Innovation Index (2023) Ranking: 93 The Republic of Senegal is among the most advanced countries in Africa. It is located in West Africa and reported a GDP of $27.6 billion in 2022. The major key drivers in its economic growth are mining, construction, tourism, fishing, and agriculture sectors. 7. Republic of Cabo Verde Global Innovation Index (2023) Ranking: 91 The Republic of Cabo Verde is located on the west coast of Africa. It has a GDP of $2.3 billion. The country's economy is driven by commerce, trade, transport, and public services. 6. Egypt Global Innovation Index (2023) Ranking: 86 Egypt is a country that links Northeast Africa with the Middle East. It is ranked 6 on our list of the 20 most advanced countries in Africa. The country reported a GDP of $476.7 billion in 2022. Egypt's economy is among the largest economies in Africa. The manufacturing sector is the primary driver of its economy. Some of the prominent African stocks include Naspers Limited (JSE:NPN), MTN Group Limited (JSE:MTN), and Exxaro Resources Limited (JSE:EXX). Click to continue reading and see the 5 Most Advanced Countries in Africa. Suggested articles: Disclosure. None. 20 Most Advanced Countries in Africa is originally published on Insider Monkey. A quick historical reminder for newbies who might not know one of the most important elements of Kansas City metro history . . . Independence, MO native U.S. President Harry Truman was the first world leader to officially recognize Israel as a legitimate Jewish state on May 14, 1948, only eleven minutes after its creation. Truman was friends with a Jewish Kansas City business owner who had a clothing store at 39th and Main streets in Westport. It was their correspondence that helped him decide to declare Israel a state. Eddie Jacobson owned Westport Menswear and asked his friend, the president, to meet the future first leader of Israel. The rest is history . . . In the politics of this cowtown Jewish leaders, some with connections to Israel and some without, have been critical in helping Kansas City achieve international recognition, investment, influence and progress. Put simply . . . Support for Israel is part of Kansas City's culture. And so, horrific attacks and the declaration of war hit home. What we notice from online critics and all manner of interlopers is that they might not go out into the real world much and don't seem to have any real knowledge of how local Jewish leaders and adamant support for Israel is very much ingrained in KC metro municipal discourse. That's the political perspective. Here's the humanitarian angle from a local leader . . . Whats happening right now is really an unspeakable tragedy, Gavriela Geller, the executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Bureau American Jewish Committee, said. Nothing prepared anybody for this; it is shocking that a surprise attack was able to be pulled off considering Israels strong intelligence, military intelligence, and security efforts. Geller said she spent the day making calls overseas, checking on loved ones in Israel, and said theyre hiding in bunkers and giving blood when they can. I think that shows the resilience and the spirit and character of Israel and Israelites, Geller said. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . 'Unspeakable tragedy': Kansas City feels impact of attacks on Israel Gavriela Geller, the executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Bureau American Jewish Committee, said there are no words to describe the devastation and destruction. 'It's a nightmare': Local reactions from Hamas attack on Israel Disturbing, heart wrenching and sickening: Those are the words Kansas Citian Gavriela Geller used when asked to describe her feelings about the Hamas attack on Israel. Further reading . . . Americans May Have Died In Hamas Attack On Israel-As Total Deaths Near 1,000 Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on CNN Sunday morning the government is "working overtime" to verify accounts of missing and dead Americans. What's happening on the 2nd day of war between Israel and Hamas militants Israel says it is at war as its soldiers battle Hamas fighters in the streets of southern Israel and launch airstrikes on Gaza, the day after an unprecedented surprise attack by Hamas fighters. In northern Israel, a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group raised fears of a broader conflict. Biden tells Netanyahu additional military aid "now on its way" to Israel with more to come Israel is preparing for a wide-ranging offensive against Hamas after the militant group's unprecedented attack. Hamas and Israel at war: what we know on day 2 Hundreds are dead after a surprise attack by Hamas, prompting Israel to declare a state of war and launch retaliatory strikes Israelis search for loved ones with posts and pleas on social media Posts have flooded a Facebook group set up for Israelis who might be missing in the aftermath of the attacks. Developing . . . Right now the legacy of high fashion angels inspires another peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . Driving Message Home 'Ride for Peace' calls for change amid violent year in Kansas City "We want them to know and understand that there is some love in the city. There is some unity in the city," Stephen Ames, one of the drivers, said. Caring For Old School As rural residents age, some Kansas and Missouri communities step up to help The number of seniors living in rural America is rising, but resources are decreasing and facilities are closing. So residents of towns like Cuba, Missouri, and Louisburg and Osawatomie, Kansas, are rallying to provide elders with services and support. Gas Leak Kills Beloved Neighbor Man dies after September Blue Springs home explosion Less than a month after a home in Blue Springs exploded that left multiple people with injuries, we're learning a person has died. Kansas Cash Considerations Senator: I'm fed up with the federal budget and you should be too | Commentary Budgeting wouldn't be so chaotic if the president, House and Senate followed the rules. Show-Me Sign Up Time First voter registration deadline for Missouri is next week Voters will head to the polls in about a month on November 7th, 2023, but the deadline for Missouri voters to register for that election is October 11. Building Golden Ghetto Better After several years of debate, developers are breaking ground on East Leawood Village. After years of debate, developers will soon break ground on a swath of Leawood farmland now known as East Leawood Village. Cowtown Cashes In On Diva 'Traylor' romance creates gold rush for Kansas City-area businesses At the first sighting of Taylor Swift at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, customers of Pink Dinosaur Boutique immediately wanted t-shirts to memorialize the moment. Against 'Woke' Angels?!? Victoria's Secret Rebrand Is Unrecognizable And Out Of Touch Instead of different versions of beauty, we are expected to sit through a conglomerate of angsty artists, ill-fitting clothes, and activism. Another White House Confrontation Awaits Hamas attack on Israel thrusts Biden into Mideast crisis and has him fending off GOP criticism President Joe Biden has been thrust into a Middle East crisis that risks expanding into a broader conflict and has left him fending off criticism from GOP presidential rivals that his administration's policies led to this moment. GOP Endorses MAGA Most Republicans want new Speaker to be loyal to Trump Most Republicans in a new poll want the new Speaker of the House to be loyal to former President Trump. A new CBS News/YouGov survey found that 59 percent of all Republicans prefer that the new GOP Speaker be loyal to the former president. Showdown Starts Pentagon to send ships, aircraft closer to Israel in show of force The aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford is deployed nearby in the Mediterranean Sea. Price For Political Vengence Gaetz says 'absolutely' worth it for him to lose seat in Congress for McCarthy ouster Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) assessed on Sunday that it would be "absolutely" worth it for him to lose his seat in Congress for spearheading the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from the top leadership post last week. "Absolutely," Gaetz said when NBC's Kristen Welker asked him on "Meet the Press" Sunday whether the... MAGA Moves Forward 'His Odds Get Better': Trump Trending Ahead Of Biden In Key Battleground States, Nationwide Former President Donald Trump appears to be leading President Joe Biden in crucial battleground state surveys and national polls. Bipartisan Border FAIL Cont'd Biden cannot escape Trump's shadow in border crisis To the anger of his supporters, the US president is ramping up deportation and expanding the wall. Eastern Europe Fight Deploys Soviet Killer Tech Russia is pounding Ukraine with glide bombs. 40 of the massive weapons were dropped on a single Ukrainian region in one night, a military expert said. Russia is fitting Soviet-era bombs with gliding propellers and guidance systems. Some gliding bombs weigh as much as 3,300 pounds, Forbes reported. Vlad Runs Down Clock Putin banks on wavering support for Ukraine, amid a race against time | CNN How does the war in Ukraine end? Earlier this year, former President Donald Trump boasted that if he were re-elected, he'd "have that war settled in one day, 24 hours." Far East Offers Two State Solution Israel expected 'stronger condemnation' of Hamas from China, Beijing embassy official says Israel expected to see a "stronger condemnation" of Hamas from China, a country it views as its friend, Yuval Waks, a senior official at the Israeli embassy in Beijing, said on Sunday. Cash Titans Offer Plebs Bad Ideas How the God Complex of 4 Billionaires Could Destroy Society Author Jonathan Taplin tells The New Abnormal how Peter Thiel, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and Marc Andreessen are providing the tools to let fascism flourish. El Papa Prays For Peace Pope Francis urges end to violence in Israel and Gaza, prays for victims Pope Francis called for an end to attacks and violence in Israel and Gaza on Sunday, saying terrorism and war would not solve any problems, but only bring further suffering and death to innocent people. Historic Local Movie Debuts Cast celebrates Nelly Don Premiere By Ben McCarthy The life of Kansas City fashion icon Nell Donnelly Reed finally arrives on the big screen this Friday. Nelly Don the Musical is the brainchild of local playwright Terrence O'Malley, who is also Reed's great-great nephew. The film was produced exclusively around the Kansas City area last year, including scenes in Martin... Save The Twins Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Insights from the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Insights from the American Cancer Society Upscale Artsy Sneak Peek TRAILBLAZERS: A scrapbook of Kansas City performing artists whose impact is being felt throughout the region and beyond Vanessa Severo The actor, writer, choreographer, and director is the daughter of Brazilian immigrants. She has appeared on all the major stages in Kansas City and on quite a few others around the country. In 2019, she presented the world premiere of her one-woman show, Frida: A Self Portrait at Kansas City Repertory Theatre, and since then has taken it to other cities around the country. South Side Loves Mall Life It's a Block Party at Red Bridge Shopping Center A South Kansas City favorite, The Oscar Polk Allstar Band will play during the festivities from 1:30-3:30pm. Forecast For Now . . . Pleasant day for this Chiefs game, but maybe not for the next Sunday will have high temperatures around 75 degrees; calm weather ahead, but storms threaten the metro Thursday. The Strokes - Why Are Sundays So Depressing is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. This week the ongoing crisis at the border sparked EPIC flip-flopping by Democratic Party leaders and the White House whilst the recycled "Border Wall" solution enjoys new life. However . . . It seems that Mayor Q didn't get the memo. For better or worse Kansas City's mayor continues to offer refuge and resources for the growing number of migrants & refugees who are inundating other big American cities. He mentioned this via social media at the end of the work week but, tragically, local mainstream news has decided to politely ignore this controversial municipal power move . . . Check-it: The Commission will be tasked with setting and monitoring goals to improve immigrant inclusion and provide guidance on City practices to ensure better service delivery, community engagement, and ensure immigrant and refugee voices are heard when creating policy. Appointees will work on strategies and best practices, including providing local government communications in multiple languages and finding ways to better promote government services and resources to immigrants and refugees. Kansas City is proud to be home to more than 150,000 immigrants who play an important role revitalizing, strengthening, and growing our community. As we continue working to make Kansas City more welcoming and inclusive for everyone, I am proud to appoint the Mayors Commission for New Americans, said Mayor Lucas. The Commission will help us improve trust between local government and new Americans, find ways to improve their quality of life, and help us respond to issues they may face when integrating into our Kansas City community. I look forward to the Commissions recommendations, which will lead to long-term, transformational positive change and ensure Kansas City continues to be a safe, welcoming place for all. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Mayor Lucas Appoints Mayor's Commission for New Americans Kansas City, Mo - Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas today announced appointments to the Mayor's Commission for New Americans to advise the City on how to better support the growing community of immigrants and refugees living in Kansas City. Context & further reading . . . The arrival of migrants in big cities is forcing Democrats to change their immigration politics | CNN Politics President Joe Biden says he's been forced to violate a campaign promise by adding some new construction to Donald Trump's border wall. Chicago, New York mayors ask for federal help amid migrant influx Mayors in major cities are struggling with the massive influx of migrants being bussed from the southern border. CBS Chicago reporter Charlie De Mar has more on how the Windy City has been handling the arrival of migrants. New York City mayor wraps up Latin America trip with call for 'right to work' for migrants in US New York City Mayor Eric Adams has capped off a four-day trip to Latin America by calling for a "right to work" for migrants in the United States Hotels canceled Army-Navy game room reservations due to migrant crisis. Now, some are calling for changes to Massachusetts' right-to-shelter law | CNN Nearly two months before the march of Cadets and Midshipmen into Gillette Stadium for the annual Army-Navy game, another battle is brewing in Massachusetts. Department of Homeland Security to send team to Massachusetts to assess migrant situation A team from the Department of Homeland Security is coming to Massachusetts to assess the migrant situation and see what needs to be done. Migrant Crisis Tests New Yorkers Who Thought They Supported Immigration As the city's resources strain under the influx of thousands of migrants, New Yorkers are still resolutely in favor of welcoming newcomers. But for how long? Border walls and deportations: Biden's migrant plans prompt outrage The president decried Trump's migration approach but a series of recent steps, critics say, are barely different from his predecessor Developing . . . Lauren Burnison took her first alcohol-free trip alone. At the time, the Brit was living in South Korea, and part of an expat community that centred boozy nights and shrugged off blackouts. One morning, after a particularly heavy drinking session, Burnison decided she was done. She bought a bike and a tent and set off to cycle the East Coast of Korea for 10 days, completely sober. It was exhilarating! she recalls. I soon realized how much more fulfilling and adventurous travel became when I wasnt nursing a hangover or spending all my money on partying. Many sober backpacking trips later, Burnison found she didnt miss the alcohol, but she did miss the camaraderie. This inspired her to launch We Love Lucid, the U.K.s first alcohol-free travel company, in 2019. She now leads small groups of other sober and sober-curious travellers on active adventures, such as river tubing in Scotland or windsurfing off the coast of Spain. More people are waking up to how much more of an epic time you can have without the booze, says Burnison. While the sober-curious movement predates the pandemic, tour companies specifically targeting travellers who opt not to drink are a newer phenomenon, bolstered by a rising interest in wellness tourism in general. Theres a growing awareness of alcohols health effects, too, with months like Sober October and Dry January taking off. Canadas Guidance on Alcohol and Health the Health Canada-funded report released in early 2023 notes that having even three drinks a week comes with a moderate risk of harms. While some people may scoff at the reports recommendation to consider consuming less alcohol, research suggests that drinking is indeed decreasing. According to Statistics Canada figures released earlier this year, sales of alcohol dropped 1.2 per cent by volume in 2021/2022 the largest decline in over a decade. The rise in consumers abstaining, or reducing their drinking, is reflected in many trends: non-alcoholic beers and zero-proof spirits going mainstream; more bars in general mixing up mocktails much more sophisticated than Shirley Temples; and even cruise companies offering more choice. Carnival Cruise Line, for example, announced this year that its Alchemy Bar would make a full range of boozeless drinks iterations of their most popular cocktails. Now, travellers looking to get away from drinking culture altogether can also choose an entire packaged vacation created for non-drinkers, by non-drinkers. Vancouvers Hooked Alcohol-Free Travel Adventure launched in fall 2021, when travel agent Darci Murray got tired of feeling like a social recluse after giving up alcohol. She recently took a Hooked group sightseeing in Italy, traditionally the land of wine tours. They swapped out vineyard visits for olive oil tastings and Vespa rides. One of her upcoming trips to Mexico includes hands-on food classes and dancing lessons. I call it full-sensory travel, says Murray. Being alcohol-free heightens your awareness drastically. Colours become brighter, food tastes better, touch is more intense making a new experience in an unfamiliar place euphoric. Both Burnison and Murray make the point that their tours are not recovery retreats, and they do visit bars where alcohol is served. We Love Lucid even partners with local beverage makers to offer non-alcoholic bubbly or mocktails. The idea is to have all the fun of a traditional group tour, but without the morning-after headaches. As such, these new non-alcoholic tours are also attracting anyone looking for a break from booze (even if temporary), or those who want to travel with a sober friend. Mixed groups some non-drinkers, and some drinkers who are abstaining for the duration of the trip have been signing up for Sober Safaris, a bespoke tour launched this year by the Australia-based Safari Guru, which runs trips across Africa, including in Namibia, Botswana and Kenya. Typical safaris are synonymous with sundowners and drinks by the fire, explains Suse Lock, journey planner at Safari Guru. Thats fine if youre comfortable around alcohol, but certain people are not. Our sober safaris are aimed at anyone who wants a safe space with like-minded, interesting people. Like-minded is a key element propelling the sober small-group tour trend, where nobody is going to ask you why youre not drinking or treat you any differently. Going on a boozy-themed holiday as an alcohol-free person can be mind-numbingly boring, admits We Love Lucids Burnison. Going on holiday with a bunch of other booze-free people, on the other hand, is a breath of fresh air. Key Insights MA Financial Group's significant insider ownership suggests inherent interests in company's expansion A total of 4 investors have a majority stake in the company with 52% ownership Insiders have been selling lately To get a sense of who is truly in control of MA Financial Group Limited (ASX:MAF), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 32% to be precise, is individual insiders. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk). Despite selling some shares recently, insiders control a good portion of the company's stock. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about MA Financial Group. View our latest analysis for MA Financial Group What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About MA Financial Group? Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. We can see that MA Financial Group does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at MA Financial Group's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. MA Financial Group is not owned by hedge funds. Because actions speak louder than words, we consider it a good sign when insiders own a significant stake in a company. In MA Financial Group's case, its Top Key Executive, Andrew Pridham, is the largest shareholder, holding 22% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 14% and 9.1%, of the shares outstanding, respectively. Furthermore, CEO Julian Biggins is the owner of 4.3% of the company's shares. Story continues On looking further, we found that 52% of the shares are owned by the top 4 shareholders. In other words, these shareholders have a meaningful say in the decisions of the company. While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There is some analyst coverage of the stock, but it could still become more well known, with time. Insider Ownership Of MA Financial Group While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. It seems insiders own a significant proportion of MA Financial Group Limited. Insiders own AU$237m worth of shares in the AU$742m company. We would say this shows alignment with shareholders, but it is worth noting that the company is still quite small; some insiders may have founded the business. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership With a 28% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over MA Financial Group. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run. Private Company Ownership Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 14%, of the company's shares. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company. Public Company Ownership It appears to us that public companies own 14% of MA Financial Group. We can't be certain but it is quite possible this is a strategic stake. The businesses may be similar, or work together. Next Steps: While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. Take risks for example - MA Financial Group has 4 warning signs (and 2 which shouldn't be ignored) we think you should know about. But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has expressed his condolences to the families of all those who died as a result of the terrorist attack by the Hamas group on Israel. Zelensky spoke in an evening video address, Ukrinform reports. "Today, the whole world has seen horrific footage from Israel footage of terrorists abusing women and men, taking even the elderly hostage without mercy... My condolences to all those whose loved ones have been killed! I wish a speedy recovery to everyone wounded," - said Zelensky. The president emphasized that Ukraine's position is clear anywhere on the planet, anyone who brings terror and death must be held accountable. As reported, a massive rocket attack targeted the central and southern regions of Israel Saturday morning. The death toll has exceeded 200, while nearly 1,100 Israelis have been injured, many seriously, according to the latest updates. Hamass senior military commander Mohammad al-Deif announced the start of the operation in a media broadcast, calling on Palestinians around the world to join the fight. He reported that 5,000 missiles had been fired off at Israel. Israel said 2,200 missiles had been launched at the country. Israels Minister of Defense approved the call-up of reserve soldiers in accordance with the IDF needs. The Israeli army announced the start of the counter-terrorist operation "Iron Swords" in response to the Hamas assault. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country is at war. Israel's Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir declared a state of emergency throughout the country. The EU, as well as the U.S., Ukraine, and a number of other countries, have condemned the attacks on Israel. Warsaw demands that Kyiv pull its claim from the World Trade Organization regarding the import of Ukrainian grain rather than "put it on pause." This was stated by the Minister of Agriculture of Poland, Robert Telus, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "We don't know what it means to suspend the consideration of the complaint. We demand the withdrawal of the complaint, as it is groundless and absurd," said Telus. According to him, the government of Ukraine cannot file a complaint against Poland for its intention to help its farmers. "Our appeal to the Ukrainian side is as follows: if we want to improve our relations, they should simply withdraw the complaint instead of talking about some kind of suspension," the minister emphasized. He added that Poland does not have confirmation from the WTO about the suspension of the complaint and asks the Ukrainian side what this means. As reported, Deputy Minister of Economy Taras Kachka said in Brussels on the sidelines of the international forum "Fields of Change: Outlining the Path for Ukrainian Agriculture" that Ukraine has "put on pause" the claim with the WTO against certain EU countries. It also continues consultations with the aim of finding a constructive solution to the "grain" issue, which would correspond to the EU policy in the field of trade, the interests of neighboring countries, and Ukraine itself. In May, the European Commission banned the import of wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower from Ukraine to Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Romania at the insistence of these countries. On June 5, the ban was extended until mid-September. On September 15, the European Commission announced that the EU would not extend temporary restrictions on Ukrainian grain exports to the five countries. After that, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia announced their decision to unilaterally block the import of Ukrainian agricultural products. Last week, Ukraine presented to the participants of the Coordination Platform an action plan for the regulation of grain exports, in particular, by introducing licenses for export operations, in order to avoid further turbulence in the markets of neighboring countries. The meeting, during which the European Commission and EU countries completed the overall evaluation of the action plan presented by Ukraine, took place in the absence of representatives from Poland and Hungary. Switzerland has become a base for a fifth of Russian spies operating in Europe. This is reported by Bloomberg with reference to an intelligence report, Ukrinform saw. About 80 Russian agents are currently operating in Switzerland, a senior official with the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (NDB) told members of the National Council's Foreign Policy Commission. While Swiss cities such as Geneva and Bern have always been the focus of intelligence operatives, the question of Russian diplomats working as spies in Switzerland has now become a hot topic of debate among Swiss politicians. These foreign agents pose a threat to Switzerlands internal and external security, according to Fabian Molina, a member of the National Council with Social Democratic Party, who spoke in an interview with the Swiss media. As noted, Switzerland, known for its neutral stance to international conflicts, has broken with tradition by mirroring most of the EU's sanctions against Russia and some of its affiliates since the outset of Russias full-scale aggression against Ukraine. Last year, the government said it had frozen about 7.5 billion Swiss francs ($8.2 billion) worth of Russian assets. At the same time, these measures do not apply to diplomats as they continue to enjoy immunity. The Federal Council does not impose any sanctions by expelling diplomats, MFAs spokesman said in an interview adding that, when Switzerland does so, this is done for national security reasons and these cases are not reported publicly. The official added that communication channels with Russia must remain open. As reported by Ukrinform, in September the government of North Macedonia decided to expel three more Russian diplomats, which became the third such step since Russia went for a full-blown incursion into Ukraine. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia announced the expulsion of a diplomat who worked at the Russian Embassy in Bratislava. Photo: Werner Sidler / Pixabay ARYZTA (VTX:ARYN) Full Year 2023 Results Key Financial Results Revenue: 2.12b (up 21% from FY 2022). Net income: 64.7m (up from 43.3m loss in FY 2022). Profit margin: 3.0% (up from net loss in FY 2022). The move to profitability was driven by higher revenue. EPS: 0.065 (up from 0.044 loss in FY 2022). All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period ARYZTA Earnings Insights The primary driver behind last 12 months revenue was the ARYZTA Europe segment contributing a total revenue of 1.88b (88% of total revenue). Notably, cost of sales worth 1.73b amounted to 82% of total revenue thereby underscoring the impact on earnings. The largest operating expense was General & Administrative costs, amounting to 158.5m (48% of total expenses). Explore how ARYN's revenue and expenses shape its earnings. Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 4.4% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 3.6% growth forecast for the Food industry in Switzerland. Performance of the Swiss Food industry. The company's shares are up 3.2% from a week ago. Balance Sheet Analysis While it's very important to consider the profit and loss statement, you can also learn a lot about a company by looking at its balance sheet. See our latest analysis on ARYZTA's balance sheet health. 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. MEDELLIN, Colombia, Oct. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TerraPay, a leading global payments network and Bancolombia, Colombia's largest player of remittances announced the signing of their contract. As part of their collective commitment to enhance financial inclusion, the two companies will enable seamless cross-border transfers, connecting Colombians living away from home with secure, innovative, real-time solutions to send funds to their loved ones in Colombia. TerraPay Logo TerraPay's reach and agile infrastructure, connecting 100 remittance companies in the world, enabling the flow of payments between 200+ send countries and 120+ receive countries, is set to strengthen the domestic remittance market. At the same time, leveraging TerraPay's innovative payment solutions will enhance Bancolombia's capabilities & reach exponentially, keeping in mind that today it has agreements with 17 remittance companies, with a scope of 125 sending countries. "It is not a minor figure: thanks to these agreements, Bancolombia is positioned as the largest payer of remittances in Colombia. In 2022 alone, of the USD 9,429 million that arrived in the country, the entity paid USD 5,692. This new agreement with TerraPay will multiply these flows, especially with an ally capable of innovating with its solutions and infrastructure," says Cristina Arrastia, Vice President of Business at Bancolombia. However, she adds, "Beyond the growth in the way of receiving money, the greatest impact will be on people, especially those Colombians who have a family member abroad, from whom they receive resources for their sustenance in Colombia. Colombians themselves in other countries will also benefit due to the number of channels they will have available to move money to the country." It is expected that this new alliance between Bancolombia and TerraPay will maximize the entry of money into the country from the United States, England, Spain and other countries in Europe. Also from various nations in Asia and Africa. Story continues Paula Andrea Valle, Director - South America, TerraPay said, "The agreement between the two companies is extremely important. Bancolombia currently has the largest share of the remittance market, which for us means reaching this market the right way with the right partner. The arrival of TerraPay in the country represents ease and effectiveness in the flow of resources globally. TerraPay is the only payments network to have 29 licenses and regulatory approvals globally, along with real-time transaction and risk monitoring capabilities, allowing us to ensure 100% compliance." Today, TerraPay powers the frictionless global movement of money in more than 7.5 billion bank accounts, through more than 2.1 billion mobile wallets, while ensuring that over 97% of its transactions are delivered in less than a minute. "The impact of his delivery promise would undoubtedly increase the level of satisfaction of Colombians, especially those who have an account in Bancolombia and need this service," concludes Cristina Arrastia, who recalls that, according to studies developed by Bancolombia, 36% of the resources that arrive from abroad are used in the country to sustain households, while 13% is directed to the payment of obligations, 7% to expenses in health and well-being, 6% to fashion, 5% to food, and 6% to travel and transport. About TerraPay TerraPay simplifies the movement of money everywhere providing a single connection to the most expansive cross-border payments network regulated in 29 global markets and enabling payments to 120+ receive countries, 210+ send countries, 7.5Bn+ bank accounts and 2.1Bn+ mobile wallets. TerraPay is on a mission to connect a borderless financial world, making moving money everywhere instant, reliable, transparent and fully compliant. TerraPay pushes the boundaries for global businesses ranging from banks, fintechs and money-transfer operators to travel businesses, creator economy platforms and e-commerce marketplaces while driving financial inclusion in even the most inaccessible markets. Founded in 2014, TerraPay is headquartered in London, with global offices in Dubai, Miami, Bogota, Dakar, Joburg, Nairobi, Milan, Singapore and is expanding rapidly, having received funding from leading investors, including the IFC (the World Bank), Prime Ventures, Partech Africa and Visa. About Bancolombia Bancolombia is a financial group with 148 years of history, and with presence in Colombia and Central America. It offers its portfolio of financial and non-financial products and services to more than 29 million customers. It provides, among others, commercial and consumer banking services, stock brokerage, financial leasing, factoring, fiduciary services, asset management, private banking and investment banking. It has declared to promote sustainable development to achieve the well-being of all, seeking to impact the communities of the countries in which it operates. Contact Juveria Samrin juveria.n@terrapay.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1222771/TerraPay_Logo.jpg Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bancolombia-and-terrapay-sign-contract-to-strengthen-cross-border-remittances-across-colombia-301950243.html SOURCE TerraPay (@ChaudhryMAli88) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Oct, 2023) Foreign citizens residing illegally in Pakistan now have only 23 days to leave the country or face deportation. Foreigners living illegally must leave Pakistan by October 31 or law enforcement agencies will ensure their arrest and deportation. In the recent meeting of the Apex Committee of the National Action Plan, it had been decided to take strict action against the illegal immigrants living in Pakistan and the trade and properties of illegal immigrants. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Oct, 2023) President Dr Arif Alvi on Sunday called upon the international community to play its active role for peaceful resolution of the Israel-Palestine dispute in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions and international law. In a post on X, he said progress towards peace could not materialise without condemnation of usurpation and brutalisation of Palestinian rights and people by Israel. Continuous annexation of land, illegal settlements, disproportionate reactions and killings. The result is no hope and no progress towards peace, the president added. He said time had come to move forward in line with UN resolutions, adding "International community can play a big role today towards world peace." ANKARA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Oct, 2023) China on Sunday said it is "deeply" concerned about the current escalation of "tensions and violence" between Palestinians and Israelis, calling on relevant parties to remain calm and exercise restraint. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, in a statement, urged an immediate end to the hostilities to protect civilians and avoid further deterioration of the situation, local broadcaster CGTN reported. "The recurrence of the conflict shows once again that the protracted standstill of the peace process cannot last, the spokesperson said. The fundamental way out of the conflict, the spokesperson observed, lies in implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent State of Palestine. The international community needs to act with greater urgency, step up input into the Palestine question, facilitate the early resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel, and find a way to bring about enduring peace. Herat, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Oct, 2023) The death toll from a series of earthquakes in western Afghanistan rose sharply again on Sunday to more than 2,000, with nearly 10,000 injured, as rescue workers dug through razed villages for vanishing signs of life. More than 1,300 homes were toppled when Saturday's magnitude 6.3 quake -- followed by eight strong aftershocks -- jolted hard-to-reach areas 30 kilometres (19 miles) northwest of the provincial capital of Herat, according to officials. In rural Zinda Jan district, dozens of households were reduced to jumbles of broken masonry, where makeshift rescue teams dug trenches in the hope of unearthing survivors. "Our people witnessed an unprecedented earthquake," said disaster management ministry spokesman Mullah Janan Sayeq, putting the number of dead at 2,053 and injured at 9,240 across 13 villages. "For the treatment of the victims of the incident we are doing our best," he told reporters in Kabul. "On-site search operations in the affected area are ongoing," he added, warning the fatality figures would likely rise higher still. One further aftershock of magnitude 4.2 hit the same area around 7:00 am (0230 GMT) on Sunday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey. - 'Everything turned to sand' - In Sarboland village of Zinda Jan district, an AFP reporter saw homes ruined near the epicentre of the quakes, which shook the area for more than five hours. Gutted homes showed personal belongings flapping in the harsh wind, as women and children lingered out in the open preparing to spend the night under an open sky. "In the very first shake all the houses collapsed," said 42-year-old Bashir Ahmad. "Those who were inside the houses were buried," he said. "There are families we have heard no news from." Nek Mohammad told AFP he was at work when the first quake struck at around 11:00 am (0630 GMT). "We came home and saw that actually there was nothing left. Everything had turned to sand," said the 32-year-old, adding that around 30 bodies had been recovered. "So far, we have nothing. No blankets or anything else. We are here left out at night with our martyrs," he said. - Casualties set to rise - Most rural homes in Afghanistan are made of sun-fired mud bricks built around wooden support poles, with little in the way of modern steel reinforcement. Multi-generational extended families generally live under the same roof, meaning disasters like Saturday's quake can devastate local communities. In Herat city, residents fled their homes and schools, while hospitals and offices evacuated when the first quake was felt. There were few reports of casualties in the metropolitan area. Afghanistan is already suffering a dire humanitarian crisis, with the widespread withdrawal of foreign aid following the Taliban's return to power in 2021. Herat province -- home to around 1.9 million people on the border with Iran -- has also been hit by a years-long drought that has crippled many hardscrabble agricultural communities. Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range, which lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. More than 1,000 people were killed and tens of thousands left homeless in June last year after a 5.9-magnitude quake struck the impoverished province of Paktika. "The Herat earthquake is worse than the eastern earthquake that happened last year," said disaster agency spokesman Janan. "Not only by the magnitude and depth, but also more areas are affected and destroyed." bur-jts/dhw BEIJING, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Oct, 2023) In a groundbreaking development for Pakistans meat industry, a local meat company named Pakistans Organic Meat has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Pakistani entity to be registered with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC). This achievement not only opens up new avenues for Pakistans meat exports but also solidifies the countrys position in the global meat market, said Ghulam Qadir, Commercial Counsellor at the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing. The company that has achieved this remarkable feat is The Organic Meat Company Ltd, a leading player in Pakistans meat processing and export industry. This achievement comes after years of rigorous quality control measures and compliance with international standards, he told China Economic Net (CEN). He further said that to secure registration on the GACC, Organic Meat Company Ltd underwent rigorous inspections and quality audits. This demonstrates their commitment to maintaining high-quality standards in meat production, processing, and packaging. Registration on the GACC opens the doors to the vast Chinese meat market, which has a growing demand for high-quality meat products. This milestone positions Pakistan as a credible and reliable supplier of meat to China. This achievement has the potential to significantly boost Pakistans meat exports, contributing to the countrys economic growth. It also creates opportunities for job creation within the meat processing industry, he added. He further said that this achievement enhanced the countrys reputation on the global stage. It showcases Pakistans ability to meet the stringent requirements of international markets. Chaudhary Javed Saleem, affiliated with the meat and related products business expressed his delight at this historic achievement. It reflects the huge effort of Pakistans meat processing industry to expand markets and Pakistan is committed to delivering the highest quality meat products to the Chinese market, he added. This achievement sets a precedent for other Pakistani meat companies to follow suit and strive for excellence in quality and compliance with international standards. It also underscores the importance of maintaining high standards in the food industry to tap into lucrative international markets, he mentioned. He further said that it not only signified a major breakthrough for the company but also paved the way for stronger trade relations with China and a brighter future for Pakistans meat exports on the global stage. It is to be noted that The General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) is the regulatory body responsible for setting stringent standards for food imports, including meat products. Being registered on the GACC is a significant accomplishment. APP/asg Frankfurt, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Oct, 2023) Germans vote in two key state polls on Sunday in a test for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's fractious coalition halfway through its term, while the resurgent far right may get another boost. Almost 14 million people are eligible to cast ballots on Sunday in southern Bavaria, the country's biggest state, and western Hesse, with a surge in immigration and economic woes among key topics. With the voter base making up almost one in five of Germany's electorate, and both states qualifying as economic heavyweights among the country's 16 regions, the polls are seen as a crucial indicator of the population's mood. After forming a three-party coalition two years ago, Scholz soon had to contend with Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing energy crisis, which plunged Germany into recession. Adding to its problems, the chancellor's coalition -- comprising his centre-left SPD, the Greens and the pro-business FDP -- has been consumed by bitter infighting on issues ranging from climate laws to spending cuts. "The parties that form the Federal government are in a bad starting position here," Arndt Leininger, a political expert from the Chemnitz University of Technology, told AFP. "In both states, all three parties are currently below their results in the last regional elections." Not helping the cause of the SPD and its coalition partners, both states are conservative strongholds, with Hesse ruled for 24 years by the main opposition CDU and Bavaria since 1957 by the CSU, headed by Markus Soeder. Meanwhile the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is forecast to make gains after a recent surge in poll ratings at the national level and a string of local election triumphs. While the AfD is not expected to enter government in either state -- its strongholds are in eastern Germany -- further progress would ring alarm bells anew about the party's growing popularity. The AfD is traditionally an anti-immigration party but has also focused on attacking the coalition's climate policies, driven by the Greens, which have proven unpopular in some quarters. Critics say they could unduly burden households. (@FahadShabbir) RAMALLAH, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Oct, 2023) The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday requested an emergency ministerial-level meeting of the Arab League over the latest Israeli escalation. In a statement, the ministry said it had directed its permanent delegation to the Arab League to request an emergency meeting of the League Council at the ministerial level. This comes in light of the escalation of the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, it said. Mike Dulak grew up Catholic in Southern California, but by his teen years, he began skipping Mass and driving straight to the shore to play guitar, watch the waves and enjoy "the beauty of the morning on the beach," he recalled. "And it felt more spiritual than any time I set foot in a church." Nothing has changed that view in the ensuing decades. "Most religions are there to control people and get money from them," said Dulak, now 76, of Rocheport, Missouri. He also cited sex abuse scandals, harming "innocent human beings," in Catholic and Southern Baptist churches. "I can't buy into that," he said. As Dulak rejects being part of a religious flock, he has plenty of company. He is a "none" no, not that kind of nun. The kind that checks "none" when pollsters ask "What's your religion?" The decades-long rise of the nones a diverse, hard-to-summarize group is one of the most talked about phenomena in U.S. religion. The nones are reshaping America's religious landscape as we know it. In U.S. religion today, "the most important story without a shadow of a doubt is the unbelievable rise in the share of Americans who are nonreligious," said Ryan Burge, a political science professor at Eastern Illinois University and author of "The Nones," a book on the phenomenon. The nones account for a large portion of Americans, as shown by the 30% of U.S. adults who claim no religious affiliation in a survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Other major surveys say the nones have been steadily increasing for as long as three decades. So who are they? They're the atheists, the agnostics, the "nothing in particular." Many are "spiritual but not religious," and some are neither or both. They span class, gender, age, race and ethnicity. While the nones' diversity splinters them into myriad subgroups, most of them have this in common: They. Really. Don't. Like. Organized. Religion. Nor its leaders. Nor its politics and social stances. That's according to a large majority of nones in the AP-NORC survey. But they're not just a statistic. They're real people with unique relationships to belief and nonbelief, and the meaning of life. They're secular homeschoolers in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, Pittsburghers working to overcome addiction. They're a mandolin maker in a small Missouri River town, a former evangelical disillusioned with that particular strain of American Christianity. They're college students who found their childhood churches unpersuasive or unwelcoming. Church "was not very good for me," said Emma Komoroski, a University of Missouri freshman who left her childhood Catholic religion in her mid-teens. "I'm a lesbian. So that was kind of like, oh, I didn't really fit, and people don't like me." The nones also are people like Alric Jones, who cite bad experiences with organized religion that ranged from the intolerant churches of his hometown to the ministry that kept soliciting money from his devout late wife even after Jones lost his job and income after an injury. "If it was such a Christian organization, and she was unable to send money, they should have come to us and said, 'Is there something we can do to help you?'" said Jones, 71, of central Michigan. "They kept sending us letters saying, 'Why aren't you sending us money?'" Jones does believe in God and in treating others equally. "That's my spirituality if you want to call it that." About 1 in 6 U.S. adults, including Jones and Dulak, is a "nothing in particular." There are as many of them as atheists and agnostics combined (7% each). Many embrace a range of spiritual beliefs from God, prayer and heaven to karma, reincarnation, astrology or energy in crystals. "They are definitely not as turned off to religion as atheists and agnostics are," Burge said. "They practice their own type of spirituality, many of them." Dulak still draws inspiration from nature, and from making mandolins in the workshop next to his home. "It feels spiritually good," Dulak said. "It's not a religion." Burge said the nones are rising as the Christian population declines, particularly the "mainline" or moderate to liberal Protestants. The statistics show the nones are well-represented in every age group, but especially among young adults. About four in 10 of those under 30 are nones nearly as many as say they're Christians. The trend was evident in interviews on the University of Missouri campus. Several students said they didn't identify with a religion. Mia Vogel said she likes "the foundations of a lot of religions just love everybody, accept everybody." But she considers herself more spiritual. "I'm pretty into astrology. I've got my crystals charging up in my window right now," she said. "Honestly, I'll bet half of it is a total placebo. But I just like the idea that things in life can be explained by greater forces." One movement that exemplifies the "spiritual but not religious" ethos is the Twelve Step sobriety program, pioneered by Alcoholics Anonymous and adopted by other recovery groups. Participants turn to a "power greater than ourselves" the God of each person's own understanding but they don't share any creed. "If you look at the religions, they have been wracked by scandals, it doesn't matter the denomination," said the Rev. Jay Geisler, an Episcopal priest who is spiritual adviser at the Pittsburgh Recovery Center, an addiction treatment site. In contrast, "there's actually a spiritual revival in the basement of many of the churches," where recovery groups often meet, he said. "Nobody's fighting in those rooms, they're not saying, 'You're wrong about God,'" Geisler said. The focus is on "how your life is changed." Scholars worry that, as people pull away from congregations and other social groups, they are losing sources of communal support. But nones said in interviews they were happy to leave religion behind, particularly in toxic situations, and find community elsewhere. Marjorie Logman, 75, of Aurora, Illinois, now finds community among other residents in her multigenerational apartment complex, and in her advocacy for nursing home residents. She doesn't miss the evangelical circles she was long active in. "The farther away I get, the freer I feel," she said. Key Insights Beiersdorf's estimated fair value is 118 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Current share price of 123 suggests Beiersdorf is potentially trading close to its fair value The 130 analyst price target for BEI is 10% more than our estimate of fair value How far off is Beiersdorf Aktiengesellschaft (ETR:BEI) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you. Check out our latest analysis for Beiersdorf Is Beiersdorf Fairly Valued? We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) 918.3m 1.01b 1.08b 1.21b 1.28b 1.34b 1.38b 1.42b 1.44b 1.46b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x11 Analyst x9 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ 6.29% Est @ 4.51% Est @ 3.26% Est @ 2.39% Est @ 1.78% Est @ 1.35% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 5.3% 872 908 920 979 988 980 961 934 902 868 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = 9.3b We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 0.4%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 5.3%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = 1.5b (1 + 0.4%) (5.3% 0.4%) = 29b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= 29b ( 1 + 5.3%)10= 17b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is 27b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of 123, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf The Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Beiersdorf as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 5.3%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.998. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Beiersdorf Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Currently debt free. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Personal Products market. Expensive based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Opportunity Annual revenue is forecast to grow faster than the German market. Threat Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the German market. Looking Ahead: Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Beiersdorf, we've compiled three fundamental elements you should explore: Financial Health: Does BEI have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis with six simple checks on key factors like leverage and risk. Future Earnings: How does BEI's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every German stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Saturday a bill passed recently by the state Legislature to ban caste discrimination, saying separate legislation to that effect was not needed because existing laws already prohibited ancestry discrimination. Had Newsom signed the bill, California would have become the first ever U.S. state to explicitly ban caste discrimination. Newsom's veto is a big setback for activists who had been advocating for the legislation. U.S. discrimination laws ban ancestry discrimination though they do not explicitly mention caste. California's legislation targeted the caste system in South Asian and Hindu immigrant communities by adding caste as a protected class to the state's existing anti-discrimination laws. The bill was introduced and authored by Democratic state Senator Aisha Wahab, an Afghan American, in March. An earlier version of it passed the state Senate before undergoing revisions. The revised version, which listed caste under "ancestry" and not as a separate category, was passed by California's state Assembly in late August and by the state Senate in early September with a near unanimous vote. The bill defined caste as "an individuals perceived position in a system of social stratification on the basis of inherited status." Activists opposing caste discrimination said it is no different from other forms of discrimination like racism and hence should be outlawed. Opponents of the bill in California said that since U.S. laws already ban ancestry discrimination, a legislation of this type becomes meaningless and only serves to stigmatize the entire community, mostly Hindus and South Asians, with a broad brush. Prior to Newsom's veto, the movement to fight the caste system in North America had picked up energy in recent months. Earlier this year, Seattle became the first U.S. city to outlaw caste discrimination after a city council vote and Toronto's school board became the first in Canada to recognize that caste discrimination existed in the city's schools. In California itself, last month, Fresno became only the second U.S. city to ban caste discrimination after a unanimous city council vote. The issue is particularly important to Americans of Indian descent and Hindus. As more Indians and South Asians have moved to the U.S., particularly to California and Silicon Valley, some of America's biggest technology companies have also had to confront the issue of caste discrimination. Many U.S. tech firms are also headed by leaders of Indian origin such as Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and IBM CEO Arvind Krishna. The caste system is among the world's oldest forms of rigid social stratification. It dates back thousands of years and allows many privileges to upper castes but represses lower castes. The Dalit community is on the lowest rung of the Hindu caste system; members have been treated as "untouchables." India outlawed caste discrimination over 70 years ago, yet several studies in recent years show that bias persists. One study found people from lower castes were underrepresented in higher-paying jobs. Dalits still face widespread abuse across India, where their attempts at upward social mobility have at times been violently put down. Debate over the caste system in India and abroad is contentious and intertwined with religion. Some people say discrimination is now rare, especially outside India. Indian government policies reserving seats for lower-caste students at top Indian universities have helped many land tech jobs in the West in recent years. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi warned Saturday of a "vicious cycle" of violence after Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel, which responded with devastating airstrikes on Gaza. El-Sissi received a call from French President Emmanuel Macron, Egypt's presidency said, and the two discussed "coordinating efforts to stop the escalation in the Gaza Strip between the Palestinian and Israeli sides." Cairo has historically been a key mediator in conflicts between Israel and the Palestinians. El-Sissi's spokesperson said he "warned against the danger of the situation deteriorating and sliding into more violence, the worsening of humanitarian conditions in Gaza and the region entering into a vicious cycle of tensions that threatens regional stability and security." The foreign ministry had earlier appealed to "both the Palestinian and Israeli sides to exercise the highest degrees of restraint." Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry made a series of calls, including to his counterparts in the United States, Russia, Turkey, Germany, France and Spain, to rally "international actors" to "intervene immediately." He received a call from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the foreign ministry said, to discuss "the international and regional efforts that must be undertaken to contain the situation and put an end to the violence and the loss of life." Shoukry and Russia's Sergei Lavrov stressed "the need for an immediate stop to the escalations" ahead of an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting Sunday, a foreign ministry statement said. Shoukry called on the Security Council to "uphold its responsibility" and "put measures in place to protect Palestinian rights." Months of violence In a call with Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, both men "expressed their deep concern about the progressive and dangerous deterioration of events." Separately, Safadi warned of the "volatility" of the situation, "particularly in light of what cities and areas of the West Bank are witnessing of Israeli attacks and violations against the Palestinian people." The Hamas assault follows months of surging violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with fatalities in the occupied West Bank hitting a scale not seen in years. Jordan and Egypt were the first two regional states to forge peace deals with Israel, before U.S.-backed diplomatic normalizations followed in 2020 with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco. Shoukry also called UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed to discuss "the gravity of the current situation and the need to make every effort to prevent the security situation from getting out of control." The Hamas attack sparked a wave of condemnation, with European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen calling it "terrorism in its most despicable form." In a call with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, Shoukry stressed the "importance of stopping the escalation and all sides exercising restraint." Cairo also called on the international community to "urge Israel to stop the attacks and provocative actions against the Palestinian people and to adhere to the principles of international humanitarian law with regard to the responsibilities of an occupying state." A police officer opened fire on Israeli tourists Sunday in the Egyptian city of Alexandria, killing two Israelis and one Egyptian. A fourth person was wounded in the incident. The police officer who allegedly carried out the attack was apprehended. According to an Egyptian security source cited by Reuters, policeman said he lost control and fired randomly on the tourist group after being provoked. The killings came amid the surprise attack on Israel by Hamas militants. Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty in 1979 but anti-Israel sentiment runs high in Egypt, especially during bouts of Israeli-Palestinian violence. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday inaugurated the first church built with government backing in overwhelmingly Muslim Turkey's 100-year history as a post-Ottoman state. The Mor Ephrem Syriac Orthodox Church's opening marks an important cultural and political moment for both Turkey and its powerful leader. Erdogan drew widespread condemnation during his two-decade rule for converting ancient churches into mosques and making Islamic conservatism into a leading social force. He has always countered that he was simply restoring the rights of pious Muslims in the staunchly secular republic founded by field marshal Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1923. Erdogan laid the first stone for the church's construction for Istanbul's 17,000-strong Assyrian Christians in 2019. "We are seeing big problems today across many parts of the world," Erdogan told the faithful as all-out war raged between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. "But the solidarity shown here today I find it very important," Erdogan said. "We always protect the oppressed against the oppressor. That is our duty." Assyrian Christianity traces its history to communities that lived in the first century AD in a region stretching from southeastern Turkey to Syria and Iraq. Its main church moved from the Turkish city of Mardin to Damascus in 1932. 'Love letter' Some small Turkish churches have been quietly restored and re-opened in the past 100 years. Erdogan said on Sunday that 20 existing churches had been repaired since his Islamic-rooted party came to power in 2002. But the Mor Ephrem "is the first newly built church to open its doors since the founding of the Turkish Republic," Assyrian community leader Sait Susin told AFP by telephone. "We are very happy." Erdogan drew international indignation for converting Istanbul's iconic Hagia Sophia once the world's largest cathedral from a museum into a mosque in 2020. The United Nations cultural body UNESCO expressed "grave concern" at the time. Erdogan brushed the criticism aside and did exactly the same thing to Istanbul's Byzantine-era Chora Church later that same year. Greece called that conversion "yet another provocation against religious persons everywhere". Erdogan came under particularly strong attacks at home for unveiling a new mosque in 2021 on Taksim Square an Istanbul gathering point built around a monument celebrating Ataturk's foundation of the secular Turkish state. The new Istanbul church can accommodate 750 worshippers. Erdogan wavers in his speeches between robustly defending pious Muslims and embracing Turkey's numerous communities. He told supporters on the eve of the first round of May's presidential election that he had written a "love letter" to Turkey. "We have penned a love letter for every individual of our nation, without any distinction of origin or religion," he told the crowd. He ended that day by leading Muslim prayers at the Hagia Sophia mosque. Erdogan edged out his secular rival in a runoff election two weeks later. Germany and France on Saturday moved to reinforce security around Jewish temples, schools and monuments after the surprise attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas against Israel. Germany tightened police protection of Jewish and Israeli institutions, as some supporters of the Palestinians took to the streets of Berlin to celebrate the attack. France focused on Jewish temples and schools in cities across the country, as one Jewish leader expressed concern at the possibility the conflict might be imported there. "In Berlin, police protection has been immediately stepped up," Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told Bild newspaper. "The federal government and the regions are closely coordinating their actions." Germany's authorities were also closely watching "potential supporters of Hamas in the Islamist sphere," she added. Berlin police posted photos on social media showing "people celebrating the attacks on Israel by passing out pastries" on Sonnenallee, the main avenue in city's Neukolln district. Police had in some cases carried out identity checks and filed complaints, they added. The German account of the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network posted photos of the distribution of pastries on the streets of Berlin and a message celebrating "the resistance of the Palestinian people." Martin Hikel, mayor of the Neukoelin district, denounced "a horrible glorification of a terrible war," in comments to Welt television. He called on the government to ban "the disgusting terrorist propaganda of Samidoun." Later Saturday, Berlin's famous Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of reunified Germany, was lit up in the colors of the Israeli flag. "In solidarity with Israel," wrote Chancellor Olaf Scholz on X, formerly Twitter. Israel's ambassador replied on the same platform, thanking him for "this beautiful symbol." In France, security had already been stepped up at synagogues in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Strasbourg because of religious holidays observed since late September. Interior Gerald Darmanin sent an urgent message to prefects running the country's regions asking them to reinforce surveillance even further. "At a time when terrorist attacks from Gaza are hitting Israel, I ask you to immediately step up vigilance, security and protection of Jewish community sites in France," he wrote in a message seen by AFP. He called for a "visible and systematic static presence," and the use of soldiers from France's Operation Sentinelle, a special force deployed across the country since the 2015 terror attacks. The interior ministry will review the security situation at a special meeting Sunday. In the east of France, increased surveillance of Jewish schools and synagogues in the city of Strasbourg was being organized, said Pierre Haas, of the Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF). "We were very shocked and worried by this outburst of violence," he told AFP. Knowing the Israeli army would hit back, he said, "we're not reassured by the possibility of the conflict being imported to France." In the southern port city of Marseille, the north of France and in the Paris region, police sources confirmed that security had been stepped up there, too. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin has declared that the country is at war after the large-scale, surprise attack launched by Hamas out of Gaza. Hundreds have already been killed on both sides according to figures from Israeli medical services and the Gaza authorities, the conflict's bloodiest escalation in years. Gun battles raged into the night, hours after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale attack against Israel Saturday. Hamas had fired thousands of rockets from Gaza and sent fighters to kill and abduct soldiers and civilians. The coordinated attack came as a complete surprise to Israeli intelligence. At least 250 Israelis were killed and more than 1,000 wounded after dozens of Palestinian militants infiltrated Israel from Gaza by land, sea and air. An unknown number of Israeli soldiers and civilians were seized and taken into Gaza, an enormously sensitive issue for Israel. Israel launched airstrikes on Gaza, leveling several buildings in Gaza City. Palestinian health officials said at least 200 Palestinians were killed and more than 1,600 wounded in the Israeli strikes. Israel vows retaliation Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to avenge what he said was a "black day" for Israel, saying the army will strike back at Hamas in Gaza with full force. "The [Israeli Defense Force] is about to use all its force to destroy Hamas's capabilities," Netanyahu said in a brief televised statement. "We'll strike them to the bitter end and avenge with force this black day they brought on Israel and its people." U.S. President Joe Biden voiced "rock solid and unwavering" support for the U.S. ally and warned "against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation." The United Nations Security Council called an emergency meeting for Sunday to discuss the latest violence. Fighting continues As night fell, the Israeli army said its forces were engaged in live gun battles in 22 locations in Israel. "There are still 22 locations where we are engaging with terrorists that came into Israel, from the sea, from the land and from the air," said army spokesperson Richard Hecht on what he labelled a "robust ground invasion." Photo Gallery: In Photos: Hamas Attack on Israel and Retaliation Hamas militants fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip Saturday. Israel said it is now at war with Hamas and launched airstrikes in Gaza. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email to a Friend The coordinated attack began around 6:30 a.m. local time with thousands of rockets aimed as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, some bypassing the Iron Dome defense system and hitting buildings. Hamas fighters, using ground vehicles, motorized paragliders, and boats, breached Gaza's security barrier and attacked nearby Israeli towns and military posts, opening fire on residents and passersby. Linda Gradstein in Jerusalem contributed to this report; some material for this article came from The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a statement expressing concern about the escalating conflict between Palestinians and Israelis. Indonesia is deeply concerned with the escalation of conflict between Palestine and Israel. Indonesia urges the immediate end of violence to avoid further human casualties, said the statement published on X, formerly known as Twitter. Without naming Hamas as the attacker, the ministry said in a separate tweet, The root of the conflict, namely the occupation of the Palestinian territories by Israel, must be resolved, in accordance with the parameters agreed upon by the U.N. With the biggest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia is a loyal supporter of Palestinian statehood based on a constitutional mandate to eradicate colonialism. President Joko Widodo reaffirmed his commitment to the Palestinian territories when Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh visited Jakarta last October 2022. In his statement, Widodo said that three facets of Indonesias support to Palestinians are diplomacy, trade, and humanitarian assistance. Indonesia built a hospital in Beit Lahiya, Gaza Strip, in 2011, from money donated by Indonesians. One local staff member in that hospital was reported killed in an Israeli counterattack in the area on Saturday. MER-C, a medical and humanitarian non-governmental organization, said in a written statement that Abu Romzi, who had worked as MER-Cs local staff in Gaza since 2011, was killed in an airstrike. "We were in Dr. Joserizal Jurnalis' guesthouse when suddenly there was a strong explosion. It turned out that rocket fire from Israeli warplanes fell very close to our location and destroyed MER-C's operational car in front of the guesthouse," said Farid, another local staff in Gaza. He added, "Abu Romzi, a local MER-C staff who was near the ambulance, became a martyr and was rushed to the Indonesian hospital." The attack also damaged volunteer residences in the Indonesian hospital area. MER-C chief Sarbini Abdul Murad, in a statement released on Saturday, said, We condemn the Israeli air strikes in Gaza that targeted hospitals. MER-C urged the Indonesian government to ask the U.N. Security Council to hold an emergency session to address the Israeli bombardments which reportedly killed almost 200 Palestinians. MER-C did not mention any HAMAS attack against Israel. VOA's Indonesian Service contributed to this report. Iran showed signs of close coordination with its Palestinian militant proxies in the weeks before and immediately after Hamas launched Saturdays surprise attacks on Israel from Gaza, observers tell VOA. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian held an extended meeting with the leaders of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a smaller Gaza-based militant group, in Beirut on September 1, according to Irans state-approved agency Tasnim. Both sides laid emphasis on the need for the liberation of Palestine from Israeli occupation, the report said. Iran is a key supplier of military and financial assistance to Palestinian militants in Gaza. More recently, Osama Hamdan Hamas' representative in Lebanon was in Tehran earlier this month for an Islamic Unity Conference. In a report published Oct. 4, Tasnim said he spoke to participants about the need for all Islamist parties to do everything in their power to liberate Al-Quds [Jerusalem], a euphemism for destroying Israel. Hamdan also was seen standing an arms length from Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at the conferences opening ceremony on Oct. 1, in a photo published by state news agency IRNA. The recent meetings indicate significant coordination between Iran and Hamas, said Jason Brodsky, policy director of U.S. advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran, or UANI, in a VOA Persian interview. Four days before Hamas started its assault, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posted a message on the X social media platform, saying the usurper regime, a reference to Israel, is coming to an end. He added: Today, the Palestinian youth and the anti-oppression, anti-occupation movement in Palestine is more energetic, more alive, and more prepared than ever during the past 70 or 80 years. God willing, the movement will achieve its goals. As Saturdays attacks began, online images posted by Hamas were reposted within minutes by Iranian social media channels affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said Israeli analyst Alexander Grinberg of Haifa Universitys Ezri Center for Iran and Gulf States Research in a message to VOA. Grinberg cited as an example a video apparently filmed by Palestinian militants as they transported a captured Israeli in a truck. The video was reposted by a Telegram account bearing the IRGC insignia with more than 400,000 followers. Iranian officials also were quick to praise the Hamas attacks in comments published by state media. The Fars news agency quoted IRGC Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, a military adviser to Khamenei, as saying: We will stand by the Palestinian fighters until the liberation of Palestine and Al-Quds [Jerusalem]. Israeli Major General (Ret.) Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told VOA in a phone call Saturday it is too early to determine what role Iran may have played in the planning and execution of the Hamas assault. That can be known only after an investigation, Amidror said. Part of that investigation will be done parallel to Israels military response, but most of it probably will be after the operation. A senior White House official echoed Amidrors assessment in a call with reporters. Requesting anonymity to discuss diplomatic communications, the official said it was too early to establish the extent of Irans support for the assault. Were going to be looking at that very closely, the official added. Amidror said that if an investigation finds clear evidence of Irans direct involvement in the attacks, there is no question that Israel will make great efforts to show Irans Islamist rulers that there is a price. The fact that the assault was carried out by proxies will not save them, Amidror said. Several analysts interviewed by VOA Persian said Iran has multiple motivations for supporting the timing of the Hamas assault. For the Iranian regime, the Palestine issue has been one of its few sources of legitimacy, said David Romano, a Middle East politics professor at Missouri State University. Especially at a time when the regimes legitimacy is in crisis amongst its own population, the Palestine issue has offered the mullahs in Iran a low-cost means of burnishing their credentials and getting some legitimacy especially amongst their core constituency. Irans Islamist leadership faced the biggest challenge so far to its 44-year rule when nationwide protests calling for regime change erupted last September and continued into this year. Iranian authorities suppressed the protests with a violent crackdown that rights activists said killed hundreds and imprisoned thousands more. Alireza Nourizadeh, a London-based Mideast analyst, said another factor behind Irans support is recent steps by Israel and Saudi Arabia, another rival of Iran, toward normalizing their relations. Riyadh hosted visits by two Israeli ministers in recent weeks, marking the first such public visits by senior Israeli officials to the Gulf state. The U.S. has been encouraging an Israeli-Saudi normalization as an extension of the Abraham Accords, which have seen Israel open full diplomatic relations in recent years with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco. Khamenei was terrified that Saudi Arabia is normalizing relations with Israel, Nourizadeh said. Tehran and Riyadh engaged in their own normalization process earlier this year, re-opening embassies in each others capitals after a seven-year break in ties. UANIs Brodsky pointed to this years political turmoil in Israel as an additional factor. The Islamic republic likely calculates that it can get away with this escalation because of what it perceives as deep internal divisions in Israel over the judicial reform proposals that Netanyahu government has been trying to implement, Brodsky said. That issue, and the regimes desire to torpedo any extension of the Abraham Accords, likely have increased its risk tolerance to push the envelope against Israel, he noted. Kourosh Aladin and other members of VOAs Persian Service contributed to this report. The Israeli army said it was working Sunday to clear out Hamas fighters who remained in the country a day after the militant groups surprise attack on Israel. Hundreds of terrorists have been killed and captured, an Israeli military official said Sunday, following the surprise attack by the Gaza Strip-based Palestinian militant group. The Israel Defense Forces reported fighting at several locations in the south near the Gaza Strip from where Hamas launched its attack Saturday. The locations included the city of Sderot. Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, an IDF spokesman, told CNN there may have been as many as 1,000 Hamas fighters who entered Israel on Saturday. Meanwhile, Israel is seeking help from Egypt to ascertain information about the safety and locations of abducted Israeli citizens, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. Both Hamas and the Israeli military have said Hamas took Israeli soldiers and civilians captive on Saturday, but the exact number is unknown. Israel launched more retaliatory airstrikes in the Gaza Strip Sunday. The IDF said that a Hamas intelligence headquarters, a weapons production plant and two banks were among the targets its forces has hit so far. Hamas kept up its strikes overnight too, firing rockets overnight at several cities, including Tel Aviv. At least 250 Israelis have been killed and more than 1,000 wounded in rocket attacks by Hamas and by fighters who infiltrated Israel from Gaza by land, sea and air. This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing. Click to reveal This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing - Click to reveal A man takes a photo of dead people strewn across a road n the Sderot area, southern Israel, following a mass-infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, Oct. 7, 2023. The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza says at least 256 people have died in the attacks, including 20 children, while 121 children were among the 1,788 people who have been injured. Meanwhile, the Israeli army exchanged fire Sunday with Hezbollah militants on the Lebanese border, opening up the possibility of a broader conflict. Lebanon and Israel are considered enemy states, but a 2006 truce between them has held, for the most part with occasional small rocket attacks from Lebanon which Israel had addressed with retaliatory attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that there may be a long war ahead. Netanyahu said Israels offensive will continue without reservation and without respite. Much of Gaza has been plunged into darkness since the attacks. Israel maintains a blockade around the territory and Netanyahu announced that Israel will cut the electricity, fuel and other goods it supplies to Gaza. Saturdays coordinated attack from Hamas came as a complete surprise to Israeli intelligence. Israel didnt have an inkling of what was going on, Efraim Halevy, the former chief of Mossad, Israels intelligence service, told CNN. We had no warning of any kind and it was a total surprise that the war broke out this morning. He said the attack was the first time the Palestinians had been able to penetrate so deeply into Israel. The militants launched over 3,000 missiles in less than 24 hours, according to Halevy. This is beyond imagination from our point of view, Halvey told CNN. We didnt know they had this quantity of missiles and we certainly didnt expect that they would be as effective as they were today. ... As an operation, it was highly successful, unfortunately. An unknown number of Israeli soldiers and civilians were seized and taken into Gaza, an enormously sensitive issue for Israel. Netanyahu vowed to avenge what he said was a "black day" for Israel, saying the army will strike back at Hamas in Gaza with full force. "The [Israel Defense Force] is about to use all its force to destroy Hamas's capabilities," Netanyahu said in a brief televised statement. "We'll strike them to the bitter end and avenge with force this black day they brought on Israel and its people. U.S. President Joe Biden voiced "rock solid and unwavering" support for the U.S. ally and warned "against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation." Hamas and Israel have fought four wars since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007. The U.N. Security Council called an emergency meeting for Sunday to discuss the latest violence. Linda Gradstein in Jerusalem contributed to this report; some material for this article came from The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. The Israeli government formally declared war Sunday on Hamas militants in Gaza, setting the stage for a massive Israeli military response to the Islamist militant groups surprise attack on the Jewish state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had already said Saturday his country was at war with Hamas as the militants attack raged, but his assessment was rhetorical. The Cabinet decision was an official declaration of war. Ahead of the Cabinet vote, Netanyahu declared that Israel would take mighty vengeance against Hamas, even as Israeli soldiers battled Hamas fighters Sunday in the streets of southern Israel and launched retaliatory airstrikes that leveled buildings in Gaza. But it was not clear what form a new Israeli response would entail. Some Middle East analysts have suggested that Israel could mount a ground attack into Gaza, which would be a significant escalation of the conflict. Whatever the response, Netanyahu warned, This war will take time. It will be difficult. Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian, a key Israel Defense Forces official, said that Hamas had opened the gates of hell with its surprise attack and will bear the responsibility and pay for its deeds." Israel said that at least 600 people have been killed in Israel, including 44 soldiers, and more than 1,500 injured, while officials in Gaza said 313 people had died in the territory, and nearly 2,000 others were wounded. An Israeli official said the military had killed 400 militants and captured dozens more. Watch related video by Linda Gradstein: But Hamas has also seized an untold number of Israelis women, children and the elderly and is holding them for a possible exchange for Hamas prisoners. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNNs State of the Union show that the United States is investigating reports that Americans are among those killed in the fighting. It erupted early Saturday with a barrage of hundreds of missiles launched by Hamas at Israeli targets and a significant Hamas breach of security barriers at the Israel-Gaza border. Blinken called it the worst attack on Israel since the Yom Kippur War in 1973. The top American diplomat said the U.S. stands firmly behind Israel and the first concern of the U.S. is to make sure Israel has what it needs to combat the Hamas fighters. Blinken said the U.S. would announce further military assistance to Israel later Sunday. The White House said President Joe Biden ordered unspecified additional support for Israel after he and Vice President Kamala Harris heard a report on the attack from national security officials. Watch related video by Veronica Balderas Iglesias: One U.S. official, New Jersey Democratic Senator Cory Booker, was in Israel at the time of the Hamas attack but sheltered safely before leaving the country on Sunday. I emphatically condemn Hamas' horrific acts of violence, kidnapping and terror targeting Israeli families, children and other civilians in towns and cities across the nation of Israel, Booker said in a statement. I stand with the people of Israel and the families of those who have lost loved ones. The shock attack signaled a significant Israeli intelligence failure, but Blinken declined to assess blame for the moment. There will be plenty of time to see what anyone missed, once the military conflict is resolved, he said. Efraim Halevy, the former chief of Mossad, Israels intelligence service, told CNN on Saturday that Israel didnt have an inkling of what was going on. We had no warning of any kind, and it was a total surprise that the war broke out this morning, he said, adding that it was the first time the Palestinians had been able to penetrate so deeply into Israel. The militants launched more than 3,000 missiles in less than 24 hours, according to Halevy. This is beyond imagination from our point of view, Halvey said. We didnt know they had this quantity of missiles, and we certainly didnt expect that they would be as effective as they were today. ... As an operation, it was highly successful, unfortunately. Hamas and Israel have fought four wars since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007. The U.N. Security Council called an emergency meeting for Sunday to discuss the latest violence. Israeli TV news aired a stream of interviews with relatives of captive or missing Israelis. Those relatives wailed and begged for assistance amid a fog of uncertainty surrounding the fate of their loved ones. In Gaza, residents fled homes near the border to escape Israeli strikes, fleeing deeper inside the territory after warnings in Arabic from the Israeli military. Many Israelis lined up at health centers to donate blood for their injured compatriots. The Israeli army said it was working Sunday to clear out Hamas fighters who remained in the country a day after the militant groups surprise attack on Israel. Hundreds of terrorists have been killed and captured, an Israeli military official said. The Israel Defense Forces reported fighting at several locations in the south near the Gaza Strip from where Hamas launched its attack Saturday. The locations included the city of Sderot. Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, an IDF spokesperson, told CNN there may have been as many as 1,000 Hamas fighters who entered Israel Saturday. Israel said Sunday it had launched retaliatory airstrikes, in the Gaza Strip, that hit the Hamas intelligence headquarters, a weapons production plant and two banks. Much of Gaza has been plunged into darkness since the attacks. Israel maintains a blockade around the territory and Netanyahu announced that Israel will cut the electricity, fuel and other goods it supplies to Gaza. Hamas kept up its strikes overnight too, firing rockets at several cities, including Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, the Israeli army exchanged fire Sunday with Hezbollah militants on the Lebanese border, opening up the possibility of a broader conflict, although Blinken said fighting there had quieted. Lebanon and Israel are considered enemy states, but a 2006 truce between them has held, for the most part with occasional small rocket attacks from Lebanon which Israel has addressed with retaliatory attacks. Linda Gradstein in Jerusalem contributed to this report; some material for this article came from The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. FALMOUTH Falmouth Fizz joined the ready to drink cocktail market in mid-August and co-founder Jeffrey Maerov likes the performance hes seen so far. The canned cocktail is made with vodka, lime and cherry juices and orange bitters. And if its growth is anything like other canned cocktails on the market, the future looks bright. The ready to drink, or canned cocktail, market has been growing steadily since the pandemic struck. With bars and restaurants closed during portions of the pandemic, canned cocktails provided something other than beer and wine choices. The cans were easy and convenient. They didnt require mixing knowledge or having to buy the array of spirits, beverages, fruit, and other additions necessary to make mixed drinks. Canned cocktails made it easy to imbibe. Year-over-year U.S. sales from Oct. 2020 to Oct. 2021 increased 156% for spirits-based hard seltzers, according to NielsenIQ, a consumer marketing research firm. Hard seltzers saw a 73% growth with ready to drink cocktails following close behind at 61% growth. The global ready to drink cocktails market is projected to reach a value of $2.3 billion by 2030, according to Vantage Market Research. That kind of growth is blindingly strong, like the sun at noon on Old Silver Beach, which is why the guy on the Falmouth Fizz can sports eye protection. They are the kind of sunglasses required for a day at the beach, a hike through the dunes, or a ride on the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Falmouth Fizz cans on a beach The branding was meant to mimic that summertime feeling, Maerov said. Wearing swim trunks and a tuxedo jacket with his shirt unbuttoned and bow tie undone, the man on the can smokes a cigar and holds a Falmouth Fizz. Sand fencing, dune grass and a beach with a chair and sun umbrella lie just behind him. A lighthouse rises on the right. A pale blue sun sets on the horizon. Hes a fun guy, Maerov said, adding the slogan, Good people. Good times. Lets cocktail, is the essence of the brand. We wanted to capture that feeling of being on the Cape in summer, a Shangri-La feeling in a refreshing summertime cocktail. Story continues Who are the owners of Falmouth Fizz? Maerov and his partner, Tim Haarmann, have been in the marketing business for decades. Theyve worked on campaigns for General Motors, Goodyear, Puma and Taco Bell, he said. They wanted to build their own brand. DLAK is what they came up with. The initials stand for Dont Let Anyone Know. Everyone has their go-to spot, Maerov said. You just dont want everyone to know about it. Falmouth Fizz is the first of what the partners plan to be a range of products. Their beverage is selling in markets on the Cape and Islands and in the Boston region, Maerov said. It is carried in Total Wine and More stores in Massachusetts, and Kappys in Falmouth and Hyannis and is distributed through Coastal Craft Distributors, he said. For now, Maerov said he and Haarmann are working to get as many people to try the beverage as possible so they can be ready for Memorial Day of 2024. We wanted the locals to experience it first, to have the real insider knowledge of it before the throngs of tourists, whom we love, experience it, he quipped. A QR code on every can will give consumers another summery experience, a piece of content that will epitomize summer in some way. The current code takes people to an animated short featuring the fun guy. It opens with him boating beneath a traffic packed Bourne Bridge and ends up on a beach where he joins friends around a campfire, a pack of Falmouth Fizz in hand. "We've always loved the feeling of the Cape; once you crossed that bridge your worries are left on the other side," Maerov said. Also launched was Cape Tide Hard Tea Four friends crafted and launched Cape Tide Hard Tea, served in a can, a line of teas in lemon, peach and raspberry that contain vodka, tea and fruit juice with no additives, carbonation or added sugars. "We are projecting to sell approximately 2,000 cases of Cape Tide in 2023. In 2024, we are projecting to sell approximately 8,000 cases," co-founder Peter Nelson wrote in an email. A case contain 24 cans, he said. The memories of and experiences on Cape Cod inspired the drink. The four of us have spent every summer on the Cape for years, co-founder Ben Carbeau said, and we wanted to create something that had that feeling of just hanging out with friends and enjoying the Cape like we do. Denise Coffey writes about business and tourism. Contact her at dcoffey@capecodonline.com. Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Falmouth Fizz gives nod to Cape Cod in ready to drink cocktail Chinas foreign ministry Sunday responded to the surprise attack by Hamas militants on Israel by calling on all sides to exercise restraint, echoing Russias position. China is deeply concerned over the current escalation of tensions and violence between Palestine and Israel. We call on relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians and avoid further deterioration of the situation, said a spokesperson from Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The fundamental way out of the conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent State of Palestine, added the spokesperson. An Israeli embassy official in Beijing Sunday wrote on the social media platform X that Israel expected a stronger condemnation of Hamas by China. When people are being murdered, slaughtered in the streets, this is not the time to call for a two-state solution," Yuval Waks who is a senior official at the Israeli embassy in Beijing told reporters on Sunday. China does not classify Hamas in Gaza as a terrorist group but regards it as a resistance organization. Israel's Embassy to China also urged Beijing to stand with Israel. We also hope that China can provide solidarity and support to Israel at this difficult moment, it wrote on the social media platform X. Economic relations between China and Israel have substantially expanded over three decades since both countries established diplomatic ties in 1992, although political disagreements persist. These include divisions over Palestinian-related issues, China's relations with Israel's adversaries, such as Iran, and Israel's security-related concerns regarding specific technology transfers to China. China has a strong relationship with Israel, but it is based on Israeli willingness to transfer technology, including military technology, to China. The economic ties are robust, but China and Israel have large diplomatic differences. For example, China maintains a close relationship with Iran. China has always supported the Palestinian cause of its own state and therefore politically opposes many of Israel's policies, Dennis Wilder, an assistant professor of Asian studies at Georgetown University, told VOA on Sunday. China has tried to maintain good relations with both Israel and Palestine, so it is unlikely to take sides, according to Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Glaser told VOA Just as in the case of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Beijing will avoid pinning blame, but instead will simply call for ending hostilities. Some critics said Chinas response reflects its self-centered approach to international politics. China wants to be seen as a world power but, as this weak response to clear terrorist actions demonstrates, they consistently fail to act one, said Retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery who is a senior fellow at Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Because Chinese interests are wrapped in the development of their relationships with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, they will not condemn Hamas and express support for Israel unless the Saudis did first, and they did not, Montgomery added. Others are skeptical about the prospect that China can mediate an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. China brokered a Saudi-Iran normalization deal in March. China wants to preserve as much flexibility as possible. It may even hold out some hope [unrealistic though it may be] that it might mediate between the two [Israeli-Palestinian peace deal], as it did with Saudi and Iran, said Aaron David Miller who is a senior fellow at the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Taiwans Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Saturday in a statement it vehemently condemns the terrorist and violent attacks perpetrated by Hamas against Israeli civilians, which has resulted in the loss of innocent lives. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen wrote on X, On behalf of the people and government of Taiwan, I express my deepest condolences to all those who have been injured or lost loved ones in Hamas attack on Israel and Israeli civilians. If stones could talk, sing and tell stories, Yogi Trivedi believes the marble and limestone that adorn the spires, pillars and archways of the stunning Hindu temple in central New Jersey would compose a paean to the divine. The tales these stones tell are those of seva (selfless service) and bhakti (devotion), which form the core of the Swaminarayan sect, a branch of Hinduism, said Trivedi, a scholar of Hinduism at Columbia University. It took a combined total of about 4.7 million hours of work by artisans and volunteers to hand-carve about 600,000 cubic meters of stone. The four varieties of marble from Italy and limestone from Bulgaria traveled first to India and then nearly 13,000 kilometers across the world to New Jersey. They were then fitted together like a giant jigsaw to create what is now touted as the largest Hindu temple outside India to be built in the modern era, standing on a 126-acre tract. It will open to the public Monday. The largest temple complex in the world is the Ankgor Wat, originally constructed in the 12th century in Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia, and dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu by King Suryavarman II. It is now described as a Hindu-Buddhist temple and is one of 1,199 UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Robbinsville temple is one of many built by the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha or BAPS, a worldwide religious and civic organization within the Swaminarayan sect. "Service and devotion are the two basic elements that form the subtle foundation of how a temple so majestic gets built here in central New Jersey," said Trivedi, who studies the Swaminarayan faith tradition and follows it. This temple will be the third Akshardham or "abode of the divine" the organization has built after two others in New Delhi and Gujarat, where BAPS is headquartered. The former is the largest Hindu temple complex in the world. The sect, which will celebrate its 50th year in North America next year, oversees more than 1,200 temples and 3,850 centers around the world. The New Jersey Akshardham, which has been in the works for about 12 years, came under scrutiny and criticism after a 2021 civil lawsuit alleging forced labor, meager wages and grim working conditions. Twelve of the 19 plaintiffs have now retracted their allegations and the lawsuit is on hold pending an investigation "with which BAPS continues to cooperate fully," Trivedi said. The complaint alleges that those exploited were Dalits or members of the former untouchable caste in India. Caste is an ancient system of social hierarchy based on ones birth that is tied to concepts of purity and social status. The case continues to raise questions among activists fighting caste discrimination and those advocating for workers rights, about the blurred lines between uncompensated work and the concept of selfless service, which followers of the faith say constitutes their core belief. Trivedi said these allegations weighed heavily on community members because their faith has always taught them "to see the divine in all and love and serve them as manifestations of the divine." He said Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the sects fifth spiritual successor, who envisioned such a temple campus in the United States, was a progressive guru who cared deeply about social equality. "Caste and class do not divide us," Trivedi said. The temple project brought forth volunteerism and service, which like the sculptors chisel, chip away people's egos and prime them to learn, he said. "In that learning, one becomes a better person within and that is the end goal of seva," Trivedi said. "Its not just to give to the community or build these (ornate structures), but to better oneself." He said the temple would not have been possible without the service of thousands of volunteers many of whom took time off school and work to serve in different capacities. This might be the first Hindu temple where women were involved in the actual temple construction under the artisans supervision, he added. This week, families from across the country have been streaming into the temple campus to get a sneak peek. Devotees bowed to each other and to monks in saffron robes. As the sun set, two men in white robes performed a ceremony in front of the 49-foot-tall statue of the Bhagwan Nilkanth Varni, who later became known as Bhagwan Swaminarayan, the founder of the sect who ushered in a moral and spiritual renaissance in western India. Avani Patel was visiting from Atlanta with her husband and their two children, ages 11 and 15. She knelt inside the temple and marveled at the ornate ceiling, her hands folded in prayer. "Its jaw dropping, mind blowing," she said. Patel said she and her husband, Pritesh, were among the volunteers who gave their time to create the complex, and she is proud to be a part of an organization that would build such a resource to pass on these values to posterity. Trivedi said he does not view the temple "just as a Hindu place of worship." "Its not even just Indian or Indian American," he said, adding that the temple stands for universal values that can be found in every religious text and in the hearts and minds of great thinkers and leaders of every era. "What weve tried to do is express these universal values in a way that relate to all visitors." In the Middle East and North Africa, where religion is often ingrained in daily life's very fabric, rejecting faith can come with consequences. So, many of the "nones," a group that includes agnostics, atheists and "nothing in particular" conceal that part of themselves. Openly declaring disbelief may spur social stigma, ostracism by loved ones or, in some cases especially if coupled with real or perceived public criticism of religion or God unleash threats, or the wrath of authorities. On the Internet, many nones seek community, ideas or pockets of digital defiance even as the cyberworld sometimes proved risky. Blasphemy laws and policies are widespread in the region. There's the Tunisian woman who fasts during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, though not for God. The Iraqi woman who, until recently, wore a hijab. And a man whose Egyptian identity card still identifies him as "Muslim." Such are the ways that some of the religiously unaffiliated, or "nones" people who are agnostics, atheists or nothing in particular negotiate their existence in the Middle East and North Africa, or MENA, where religion is often ingrained in life's very fabric. Aware that rejecting religion can have repercussions, many conceal that part of themselves. Declaring disbelief may spur social stigma, ostracism by loved ones or even unleash the wrath of authorities, especially if going public is coupled with real or perceived attacks on religion or God. "I have a double life all the time," said the 27-year-old Tunisian woman. "It's better than having conflict every day." Many nonbelievers seek community, ideas or pockets of digital defiance on the internet even though online spaces can come with risks. Most of those interviewed by The Associated Press spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions and because some of their families don't know how they religiously identify. "The Middle East is the birthplace of the three heavenly religions and there's no doubt that the region's culture has long been intertwined with religion," said Mustapha Kamel al-Sayyid, a political science professor at Cairo University. "Religion has also been a source of legitimacy for rulers, a source for knowledge and behavioral norms." Many in Arab countries, he said, associate lack of religion with immorality. "To them, you cannot talk about the rights of someone who is a danger to society." Bans on blasphemy appear in different parts of the world. But, according to a Pew Research Center analysis, they have been most common in the MENA region as of 2019. The Tunisian woman said she fasts to avoid being found out by her family. She pretends to sleep to skip gatherings, where relatives may take aim at her suspected disbelief. From an early age, she rejected how Islam was practiced in her home. She said her father would sometimes force her to pray. Resisting traditional interpretations of such things as gender roles, she turned to progressive Muslim readings. She now sees herself as nothing in particular and open to different spiritual paths. "You're socially perceived like you are public enemy," she said. "People hate you without knowing you." Hany Elmihy hoped conditions could change. The 57-year-old Egyptian agnostic and some other nonbelievers saw a window for visibility following the "Arab Spring" uprisings. Elmihy said he founded a Facebook group for Egyptians without religion in 2011, while similar ones formed in other Arab countries. Mass protests demanding political change had just unseated an Egyptian president, highlighting the power of social media for dissent. "It's not the revolution that turned some into atheists or irreligious; the revolution gave them the freedom and courage to speak up," Elmihy said. Elmihy said he was insulted, threatened, and attacked by unknown assailants. Seeking recognition, he tried to change the "Muslim" designation listed on his identity card to state he adheres to no religion. He failed. After the post-revolt euphoria fizzled out, he left Egypt in 2015 and now lives in Norway. "Society scared me the most," Elmihy said. "I felt isolated." He views his earlier advocacy with mixed feelings, but says "it was important to let the society know that the religiously unaffiliated exist." Some took note. Ishak Ibrahim, a researcher with the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, said Egypt's youth ministry announced plans in 2014 to combat atheism in collaboration with religious bodies. Local press also reported on anti-atheism efforts by some Islamic and Christian institutions. "We believe that those who don't belong to religion are committing a sin but it's not our responsibility to hold them accountable," said Abbas Shouman, an official with Al-Azhar, the Cairo-based seat of Sunni Muslim learning. The role of religious authorities, he said "is only to explain, clarify, spread the right education and respond to suspicions." Shouman rejects attacks on religion, saying nonbelievers "have the right to defend their beliefs as they wish but not to go after others' beliefs and affiliations." Atheism is not criminalized in Egypt, Ibrahim said. Last year, Ibrahim's EIPR said an Egyptian court upheld a three-year-prison sentence and a fine against a blogger charged with contempt of religion and misusing social media. The organization, whose lawyer appealed the earlier verdict, has said the man was accused of managing a Facebook page for Egyptian atheists that allegedly criticizes religions. In May, Iran hanged two men convicted of blasphemy, carrying out rare death sentences for the crime. The men were accused of involvement in a Telegram channel called "Critique of Superstition and Religion," according to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. The Mizan news agency of Iran's judiciary described the two as having insulted Prophet Muhammad and promoted atheism. In Saudi Arabia, a court has sentenced a man to 10 years in prison and 2,000 lashes on accusations of expressing atheism online; a media report said in 2016 that religious police found tweets denying the existence of God and ridiculing Quranic verses. For some, like Ahmad, religious disbelief hasn't caused tensions. But the 33-year-old Lebanese, who comes from a Shiite Muslim family and now lives in Qatar, wanted his last name withheld because of the sensitivity of the subject. "We have an unspoken agreement: I don't criticize religion and you don't criticize my lack of religion," he said. He's religiously unaffiliated, and says he cannot believe "in something that I cannot touch or cannot see." The role of sectarian divisions in fueling conflicts in Lebanon is one reason Talar Demirdjian distanced herself from religion. "People either go very into their religion or their sects, or the other side." A Lebanese Armenian of Christian heritage, Demirdjian said about religion, "I don't even think about it enough to tick a label." For one Iraqi woman, questions started when a childhood dream to one day become an imam like her grandfather was quashed because she is a girl. Iraq's turmoil fueled her disbelief. The 24-year-old's generation witnessed the U.S.-led invasion, militancy, sectarian violence, the brutal reign of the Islamic State and increasing clout of militias. She's worn the Islamic headscarf before and, for a while, after she became agnostic. When militants proliferated where she lived, she donned it to stay out of danger; at other times, it was to socially fit in. She removed it around 2020. "I don't tell people that I am agnostic," she said. "It'd be an act of stupidity to do so in such a society." The British government's contentious policy to stem the flow of migrants faces one of its toughest challenges this week as the U.K. Supreme Court weighs whether its lawful to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda. The Conservative government is challenging a Court of Appeal ruling in June that said the policy intended to deter immigrants from risking their lives crossing the English Channel in small boats is unlawful because the East African country is not a safe place to send them. Three days of arguments are scheduled to begin Monday with the government arguing its policy is safe and lawyers for migrants from Vietnam, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Sudan contending it's unlawful and inhumane. The hearing comes as much of Europe and the U.S. struggle with how best to cope with migrants seeking refuge from war, violence, oppression and a warming planet that has brought devastating drought and floods. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to stop the boats as a top priority to curb unauthorized immigration. More than 25,000 people are estimated to have arrived in the U.K. by boat as of Oct. 2, which is down nearly 25% from the 33,000 that had made the crossing at the same time last year. The policy is intended to put a stop to the criminal gangs that ferry migrants across one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes by making Britain an unattractive destination because of the likelihood of being given a one-way ticket to Rwanda. The consequences of the crossing have been deadly. In August, six migrants died and about 50 had to be rescued when their boat capsized after leaving the northern coast of France. In November 2021, 27 people died after their boat sank. The government claims the policy is a fair way to deal with an influx of people who arrive on U.K. shores without authorization and that Rwanda is a safe third country meaning its not where they are seeking asylum from. The U.K. and Rwandan governments reached a deal more than a year ago that would send asylum-seekers to the East African country and allow them to stay there if granted asylum. So far, not a single person has been sent there as the policy has been fought over in the courts. Human rights groups have argued its inhumane to deport people more than 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) to a place they dont want to live. They have also cited Rwandas poor human rights record, including allegations of torture and killings of government opponents. A High Court judge initially upheld the policy, saying it didn't breach Britains obligations under the U.N. Refugee Convention or other international agreements. But that ruling was reversed by a 2-1 decision in the Court of Appeal that found that while it was not unlawful to send asylum-seekers to a safe third country, Rwanda could not be deemed safe. The government argues the Court of Appeal had no right to interfere with the lower court decision and got it wrong by concluding deportees would be endangered in Rwanda and could face the prospect of being sent back to their home country where they could face persecution. The U.K. also says that the court should have respected the government's analysis that determined Rwanda is safe and that its government would abide by the terms of the agreement to protect migrants' rights. Attorneys for the migrants argue that there is a real risk their clients could be tortured, punished, or face inhumane and degrading treatment in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights, and they cite Rwanda's history of abusing refugees for dissent. The second flank of their argument is that the home secretary did not thoroughly investigate how Rwanda determines the status of refugees. One of the claimants asserts that the U.K. must still abide by European Union asylum procedures despite its Brexit split from the EU that became final in 2020. EU policies only allow asylum-seekers to be sent to a safe third country if they have a connection to it. Even if the courts allow the policy to proceed, it's unclear how many people will be flown to Rwanda at a cost estimated to be 169,000 pounds ($206,000) per person. And there's a chance it wouldn't be in place for long. The leader of the opposition Labor Party, Keir Starmer, said Sunday that he would scrap the policy if elected prime minister. Polls show the Labor Party has an advantage in an election that must be called by the end of next year. "I think its the wrong policy, its hugely expensive, Starmer told the BBC. The court is not expected to rule immediately after the hearing. The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) urged Sunday for the creation of humanitarian corridors to allow food supplies into Gaza during Israeli airstrikes on the Palestinian enclave following deadly Hamas attacks. "As the conflict intensifies, civilians, including vulnerable children and families, face mounting challenges in accessing essential food supplies," the Rome-based WFP said. "WFP urges safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to affected areas, calling on all parties to uphold the principles of humanitarian law ... including ensuring access to food." The U.N. agency provides direct food assistance to some 350,000 Palestinians monthly, while also offering aid to nearly 1 million Palestinians in coordination with other humanitarian partners via cash transfers. The WFP said it was ready to quickly supply food stocks to displaced people or those confined to shelters. "While most shops in the affected areas... currently maintain one month of food stocks, this risk being depleted swiftly as people buy up food in fear of a prolonged conflict, it said. Food also can be spoiled by frequent electricity cuts, warns the WFP. Israeli airstrikes Sunday continued to target Gaza after Israel suffered its bloodiest attack in decades when Hamas fighters breached fence lines and poured into southern Israeli towns, killing 700 people and abducting dozens more. The Israeli military said it deployed tens of thousands of soldiers around Gaza, a narrow strip that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians as fear grows of an imminent, large-scale Israeli attack in the region. More than 400 Palestinians have been killed as Israeli airstrikes pound Gaza. The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem issued a travel advisory for U.S. citizens who may wish to travel in Israel, warning that the current situation in Israel is unpredictable. It also said that U.S. citizens in Israel who need assistance should contact the closest embassy or consulate using this crisis intake form. Family members can also submit information on behalf of a U.S. citizen family member. U.S. citizens who wish to leave and can do so safely are advised to check the status of the border crossings or verify flights have not been cancelled before heading to the Ben Gurion Airport. U.S. citizens can find additional information regarding steps to take in case of mortar and rocket fire in the Country Information section and by searching for: Israel, the West Bank and Gaza on the Travel Portal of the U.S. State Department's website. Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer said American citizens are among those taken captive by Hamas, but gave no details about them, nor about Americans who might have been killed. Unfortunately, I cant. We have a lot of dual citizens in Israel. I suspect there are several, but were still trying to sort through all of... all this information after this horrific surprise attack and well make sure to put that information out so that the loved ones of these people who were killed and who are held hostage, they know as quickly as possible, Dermer told CNNs State of the Union, Sunday. Meanwhile an unspecified number of Europeans and Americans in Israel are reportedly dead or captured. Three British men, a French woman and two Ukrainian women are confirmed among the dead while Germany said some of its citizens are among those kidnapped by Hamas. Some information for this report came from Reuters and The Associated Press. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel is at war after Hamas militants from Gaza fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip in a surprise Saturday morning attack, during a major Jewish holiday. Israel launched airstrikes in Gaza killing at least 232 people and wounding 1,700 others, making it the deadliest armed response in years against the Palestinians, according to Israels national rescue service. The response followed Netanyahus pledge to inflict an unprecedented price against Hamas militants, The Associated Press reports. The Israeli prime minister called for a mass mobilization of army reserves. Hamas surprise attack killed at least 250 people, injured 1,500 others, and its militants went door to door abducting Israeli civilians. The unexpected incursion is also reminiscent of the surprise attack by Egyptian and Syrian forces against Israel 50 years ago almost to the day, igniting the 1973 Yom Kippur War that lasted less than three weeks and ended with Israels victory. Why was it called the Yom Kippur War? The latest of the Arab Israeli wars that shaped Arab-Israeli enmity in the region, the Yom Kippur War was ignited on Oct. 6, 1973. On the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur, otherwise called the Day of Atonement, Israel was caught off guard by invading forces from Egypt and Syria. The 19-day war that followed has been considered one of the most traumatic events for the Israeli nation that vowed never to be caught off guard again and ended with Israels victory against the Arab forces and a subsequent armistice on Oct. 25, 1973. The war also put into question Israels intelligence failure to offset the surprise attack, as well as the weak performance of the Israel Defense Forces during the wars first few days and mobilized the Israeli people against the Golda Meir government at the time. Why was Israel once again caught by surprise? During its 50th anniversary, the Hamas attack raises again questions about Israels unpreparedness as it is dealing with domestic political issues once again. The protest movement that has been mobilized against Netanyahus efforts to overhaul the countrys judicial system draws a parallel with Golda Meirs fledgling government in 1973 and Israels government today. Hamas unexpected attack came at a moment of deep division in Israel, as its government pushed through a contentious plan to reduce the power of the countrys courts, sparking a social and political crisis. The move this summer also struck a nerve with the military, prompting many reservists the backbone of Israels army to warn they would not come if called up, to protest the changes to the judicial system. An IDF spokesperson said Saturday he did not know of any reservists refusing to be called up in the face of the latest attacks, CNN reports. What is Hamas argument for attacking Israel? After years in which Palestinians from Gaza often worked in Israel and moved freely in the country, Gaza has more recently come under blockade by both Israel and Egypt, penning more than 2 million people in a territory the size of Washington, D.C. The Islamist group Hamas won Palestinian legislative elections in 2006. The Gaza strip has been ruled by Hamas ever since. The shadowy leader of Hamas military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the assault was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, Israeli raids inside West Bank cities over the past year, violence at Al Aqsa Mosque the disputed Jerusalem holy site sacred to Jews as the Temple Mount increasing attacks by settlers on Palestinians and the growth of settlements. "Enough is enough," Deif, who does not appear in public, said in the recorded message, according to the AP, adding the morning attack was only the start of what he called "Operation Al-Aqsa Storm" and called on Palestinians from east Jerusalem to northern Israel to join the fight. "Today the people are regaining their revolution." The attacks by Hamas follow one of the deadliest periods in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in nearly two decades. The violence has been driven by frequent Israeli military raids in Palestinian towns and cities, which Israel has said are a necessary response to a rising number of attacks by Palestinian militants on Israelis. What was the U.S. reaction to the Hamas attack? President Joe Biden has condemned what he says is the "unconscionable" assault by Hamas militants and his administration is pledging to ensure Israel has "what it needs to defend itself." Biden spoke after the unexpected strike that's drawing worldwide condemnation and anger from Israels allies. At the White House on Saturday, Biden said he told Netanyahu that the United States "stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults. Israel has the right to defend itself and its people, full stop." The president also warned Israelis enemies that "this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage. The world is watching." What is the reaction around the rest of the region? Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that "injustice" toward Palestinians is driving the conflict with Israel to an "explosion," Reuters cited Palestinian news agency WAFA saying Saturday. In a phone call, Abbas also stated the ongoing escalation is down to the "practices of the colonialists and the Israeli occupying forces, and the aggression against Islamic and Christian sanctities," according to WAFA. In an effort to de-escalate the crisis, Egypt is in talks with Saudi Arabia and Jordan trying to defuse the PalestinianIsraeli tensions the Egyptian foreign ministry said Saturday, according to Reuters. Egypt's foreign minister Sameh Shoukry, in phone calls with his Saudi and Jordanian counterparts, underlined the importance of "uniting international and regional efforts" to contain the escalating violence, a statement read. Photo Gallery: In Photos: Hamas Attack on Israel and Retaliation Hamas militants fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip Saturday. Israel said it is now at war with Hamas and launched airstrikes in Gaza. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email to a Friend Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held calls Saturday with his regional counterparts to discuss the conflict between Israel and Palestinians, a foreign ministry source said, as Ankara said it stood ready to help de-escalate the situation, according to Reuters. The source later said Fidan also discussed the situation with Blinken by phone, according to Reuters. Earlier, Turkey's foreign ministry repeated President Recep Tayyip Erdogans call for restraint and strongly condemned the loss of civilian lives. "We emphasize that acts of violence and escalation linked to these, benefit nobody," the ministry said. It also urged citizens in the region to remain in secure, indoor locations. The conflict comes as Turkey, which has backed Palestinians in the past and supported a two-state solution to the conflict, along with Saudi Arabia, works to normalize ties with Israel after years of animosity. Some information for this report was provided by Reuters and The Associated Press. Hundreds are dead and thousands injured as Israel engages for a second day in urban fighting with Hamas militants in the streets of southern Israel, while Lebanon's powerful armed group Hezbollah, in a coordinated attack, exchanged artillery and rocket fire with Israel in the north. This follows Hamass unexpected incursion Saturday into southern Israel from Gaza. Hamas fighters poured through Israeli towns, killing 600 people and abducting dozens more, as violence spirals out of control and threatening a major new Middle East crisis. Hamass multiple captives including women, children and the elderly would be a possible trade off for Palestinians prisoners held by Israel. U.S. citizens are among those taken captive but there are no details about them, nor about Americans who might have been killed, according to the Israeli strategic affairs minister, Ron Dermer, the Associated Press reports. Three British men are dead and other Europeans reportedly are dead or missing after Hamass incursion. What is Hamas? Hamas, a militant movement and one of the two major political parties in the Palestinian territories, took over leadership in the Gaza Strip after its electoral victory in 2006. Since then, Gaza, a 362-square-kilometer strip of land thats home to more than 2 million people, has been under a full Israeli-led land, sea and air blockade that prevents people and goods from freely entering or leaving the territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that his security Cabinet has formally declared his country at war. Netanyahu pledged Saturday to inflict an unprecedented price against Hamas militants, and he called for a mass mobilization of army reserves. Israeli airstrikes battered Gaza Sunday, hitting housing blocks, tunnels, a mosque and homes of Hamas officials in Gaza, killing more than 370 people, including 20 children, as Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed "mighty vengeance for this black day," the Reuters news agency reports. Meanwhile, Israel is dealing with coordinated attacks from the north by militant Hezbollah. The group said Sunday it had launched guided rockets and artillery onto three posts of Shebaa Farms, part of Israels occupied Golan Heights since 1967. The area is a few kilometers away from the Lebanese border. Hezbollah said its attack there signals its solidarity" with the Palestinian people. "Our history, our guns and our rockets are with you," said senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine at an event in the Hezbollah stronghold of Dahieh on Beirut's outskirts, Reuters reports. What is Hezbollah? Lebanon's Hezbollah, a Muslim Shiite militant group backed by Iran, is driven by its opposition to Israel and its resistance to Western influence in the Middle East. Based in Lebanon, its extensive security apparatus, political organization, and social services network fostered its reputation as a state within a state. Hezbollahs targeting of Israeli military positions in the disputed Shebaa Farms area points to the possibility of a major new Middle East war spreading beyond blockaded Gaza. Hamas unexpected incursion is reminiscent of the surprise attack by Egyptian and Syrian forces against Israel 50 years ago almost to the day, igniting the 1973 Yom Kippur War that lasted less than three weeks and ended with Israels victory. Why was it called the Yom Kippur War? The latest of the Arab Israeli wars that shaped Arab-Israeli enmity in the region, the Yom Kippur War was ignited on October 6, 1973. On the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur, otherwise called the Day of Atonement, Israel was caught off guard by invading forces from Egypt and Syria. The 19-day war that followed has been considered one of the most traumatic events for the Israeli nation that pledged never to be caught off guard again and ended with Israels victory against the Arab forces and a subsequent armistice on October 25, 1973. That war also put into question Israels intelligence failure to offset the surprise attack, as well as the weak performance of the Israel Defense Forces during the wars first few days, and it mobilized the Israeli people against the Golda Meir government at the time. Why was Israel once again caught by surprise? During its 50th anniversary, the Hamas attack again raises questions about Israels unpreparedness as it is dealing with domestic political issues once again. The protest movement that has been mobilized against Netanyahus efforts to overhaul the countrys judicial system draws a parallel with Golda Meirs fledgling government in 1973 and Israels government today. Hamass unexpected attack came at a moment of deep division in Israel, as its government pushed through a contentious plan to reduce the power of the countrys courts, sparking a social and political crisis. The move this year also struck a nerve with the military, prompting many reservists the backbone of Israels army to warn they would not come if called up, to protest the changes to the judicial system. An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson said Saturday he did not know of any reservists refusing to be called up in the face of the latest attacks, CNN reports. What is the Hamas argument for attacking Israel? Israels 16-year Gaza blockade is one of Hamass arguments for bringing the conflict with Israel to a head. The shadowy leader of Hamass military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the assault was in response to the blockade, Israeli raids inside West Bank cities over the past year, violence at the Al Aqsa Mosque the disputed Jerusalem holy site sacred to Jews as the Temple Mount increasing attacks by settlers on Palestinians and the growth of settlements. Enough is enough, Deif, who does not appear in public, said in the recorded message, according to the Associated Press. He said the morning attack was only the start of what he called Operation Al-Aqsa Storm and called on Palestinians from east Jerusalem to northern Israel to join the fight. Today the people are regaining their revolution. The attacks by Hamas follow one of the deadliest periods in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in nearly two decades. The violence has been driven by frequent Israeli military raids in Palestinian towns and cities, which Israel has said are a necessary response to a rising number of attacks by Palestinian militants on Israelis. What is the US reaction to the Hamas attack? President Joe Biden has directed additional support for Israel in the face of this unprecedented terrorist assault by Hamas, the White House said. In a statement Sunday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said, My thoughts continue to be with the people of Israel and the many families who have lost loved ones as a result of the abhorrent terrorist attack by Hamas. Austin added he has taken several steps to strengthen the Department of Defenses posture in the region to bolster regional deterrence efforts. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also condemned the attack and stated the unequivocal U.S. support of Israel. In an interview with CNNs State of the Union Sunday, Blinken called the attack the worst since the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago. He made a distinction, however, that the 1973 war was a conventional war fought among counties with conventional armies as opposed to this massive terrorist attack on Israeli civilians. Blinken echoed President Bidens comments that the U.S. will provide Israel with whatever help it needs to deal with the situation. Biden has condemned what he says is the unconscionable assault by Hamas militants and his administration is pledging to ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself. Biden spoke after the unexpected strike that has drawn worldwide condemnation and anger from Israels allies. Biden said at the White House Saturday he told Netanyahu that the United States stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults. Israel has the right to defend itself and its people, full stop." The president also warned Israelis enemies that this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage. The world is watching. What is the reaction around the rest of the region? Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday that Turkey was determined to increase its diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tension and restore calm in the area. He added that a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinian territories was the only way to achieve permanent regional peace. "So long as this problem is not resolved in a fair way, our region will continue to live in longing of peace," Erdogan said in a speech in Istanbul. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told Secretary Blinken Saturday that "injustice" toward Palestinians is driving the conflict with Israel to an "explosion, Reuters cited Palestinian news agency WAFA as saying Saturday. In a phone call, Abbas also stated the ongoing escalation is down to the "practices of the colonialists and the Israeli occupying forces, and the aggression against Islamic and Christian sanctities," according to WAFA. Egypt is also in talks with Saudi Arabia and Jordan to defuse the Palestinian - Israeli tensions, the Egyptian foreign ministry said Saturday, according to Reuters. Egypt's foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry, in phone calls with his Saudi and Jordanian counterparts, underlined the importance of "uniting international and regional efforts" to contain the escalating violence, a statement read. Some information for this report came from Reuters and The Associated Press. In recent years, UNICEF and UNESCO reports have emphasized that female teachers are making a big difference when it comes to educating girls across Africa. VOA visited Lusaka, Zambia, to see the impact they are having there. Kathy Short has this story. Camera and video editing by Richard Kille. The British Defense Ministry said Monday in its daily intelligence report on Russias invasion of Ukraine that the invasion has resulted in international isolation, forcing Russia to redirect its foreign policy efforts and form alliances with previously less desirable partnerships for diplomatic, economic and military support. In the report on X, formerly known as Twitter, the ministry said Russias diplomatic and economic ties with Iran have strengthened since the invasion. Irans military aid to Russia has included hundreds of the one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles that have been a core element of Russias campaign in Ukraine, and these are now being produced under license in Russia. A new warning Sunday that the Kremlin is already and will likely continue to exploit the Hamas attacks on Israel to hype its rhetoric against Western interference in Ukraine, demoralize Ukrainians and reassure Russians that the focus of the West on the Israeli crisis will deflect its attention from the war in Ukraine, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Following Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7, the Kremlin primarily blamed the West for neglecting conflicts in the Middle East in favor of supporting Ukraine, and claimed that the international community will turn its attention to the Middle East crisis and will cease to focus on Ukraine. Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, said that the United States and its allies should be "busy" with work on a "Palestinian-Israeli settlement" and not "interfere" in Russia's affairs and provide military aid to Ukraine,the ISW reports. Prominent Russian propagandist Sergei Mardan and other Russian news bloggers aim to influence their audience and to demoralize Ukrainian listeners by stating that Russia will benefit from the escalation in Israel as the world will take its mind off Ukraine for a while and get busy once again putting out the eternal fire in the Middle East, ISW said. The group added that the Kremlin narrative that Ukraine will lose international support is intended to reassure Russian audiences that the international society will ignore Ukraines war effort. Reacting to the Hamas coordinated attacks against Israel Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reminded the world during his nightly video address to stand firm against terror wherever it emerges. Terror has opened too many fronts against humanity. The war against Ukraine. The war in the Middle East. Terrible destabilization in Africa. Constant attempts to provoke a crisis in the world food market. Being strong in such conditions means standing up to terror. It is not enough to be a great country. It is not enough to be a rich country. It is not enough to have ambitions. To be strong is to help protect people and lives from all forms of terror. And that is exactly what it is. To help, he said. Zelenskyy held an emergency phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Sunday, about the situation in Israel and the actions of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies to repel the attack. He expressed Ukraine's solidarity with Israel and offered condolences over the numerous victims. Russian drones - winter Ukraines air force expects an onslaught of Russian drone attacks this winter, spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said Sunday, as Kyiv braces for a second winter of mass bombardment of its energy infrastructure. Ihnat said that data for September showed the use by Russia of Iranian-designed Shahed kamikaze drones would dwarf last year's figure. "This autumn and winter ... is already a record in terms of the number of Shahed drones. Over 500 (were used) in September," Ihnat said in an interview on national television. He juxtaposed this number with Russia's airstrike campaign on Ukraine last winter, when he said, about 1,000 Shahed drones were used in six months. Attacks on energy facilities last winter damaged a significant part of Ukraines power system and forced most cities to ration electricity and hot water. Despite Ukraine bolstering its air defenses, officials have warned of the risk of another failure this winter of its power grid which is far from rebuilt after the last campaign of bombardment. A 27-year-old woman and her baby were among a dozen people wounded in a Russian attack in Ukraines Kherson region, the regional governor said Saturday. United Nations investigators are in the Ukrainian village of Hroza, where a Russian missile strike this week killed 52 people during a wake for a slain soldier being held at a cafe. The lead investigator said in a statement, My initial conversations with local residents and survivors indicate that virtually all those killed were civilians and that the target itself, a busy village cafe and store, was also clearly civilian. Among the dead were the village leader, a couple who left behind four children and the dead soldiers wife and son. Russia's new silo-based intercontinental ballistic nuclear missile system is nearly combat-ready, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Saturday, after he inspected the manufacture of Sarmat missiles, one of Russias most advanced weapons. "Re-equipping the Strategic Missile Forces with this system, which will become the basis of Russia's ground-based strategic nuclear forces, is a priority in ensuring the country's defense capability," Shoigu was quoted as saying. His comments reflect Russia's escalating nuclear rhetoric in its standoff with the West over the war in Ukraine. Known to NATO military allies by the codename Satan, the Sarmat missiles reportedly have a short initial launch phase, which gives little time for surveillance systems to track their takeoff. On Friday, the Russian parliament speaker, Vyacheslav Volodin, said lawmakers will reevaluate whether to revoke the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, or CTBT, a global nuclear test ban. Volodins statement came after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow could consider rescinding the ratification of the international pact since the United States never ratified it. The 1996 treaty prohibiting any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion anywhere in the world has been signed by 187 nations but not ratified by eight of them, including the United States. The U.S. did not ratify the treaty, but it has observed a moratorium on nuclear weapon test explosions since 1992 that it says it will continue to abide by. "It would be concerning and deeply unfortunate if any state signatory were to reconsider its ratification of the CTBT," Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organization Executive Secretary Robert Floyd said in a statement. There are widespread concerns that Russia could move to resume nuclear tests to try to discourage the West from continuing to offer military support to Ukraine. Some information for this report came from Reuters and The Associated Press. The Israeli army said it was working Sunday to clear out Hamas fighters who remained in the country a day after the militant groups surprise attack on Israel. Hundreds of terrorists have been killed and captured, an Israeli military official said Sunday, following the surprise attack by the Gaza Strip-based Palestinian militant group. The Israel Defense Forces reported fighting at several locations in the south near the Gaza Strip from where Hamas launched its attack Saturday. The locations included the city of Sderot. Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, an IDF spokesman, told CNN there may have been as many as 1,000 Hamas fighters who entered Israel on Saturday. Meanwhile, Israel is seeking help from Egypt to ascertain information about the safety and locations of abducted Israeli citizens, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. Both Hamas and the Israeli military have said Hamas took Israeli soldiers and civilians captive on Saturday, but the exact number is unknown. Israel launched more retaliatory airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Sunday. The IDF said that a Hamas intelligence headquarters, a weapons production plant and two banks were among the targets its forces has hit so far. Hamas kept up its strikes overnight too, firing rockets overnight at several cities, including Tel Aviv. At least 250 Israelis have been killed and more than 1,000 wounded in rocket attacks by Hamas and by fighters who infiltrated Israel from Gaza by land, sea and air. The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza says at least 256 people have died in the attacks, including 20 children, while 121 children were among the 1,788 people who have been injured. Meanwhile, the Israeli army exchanged fire Sunday with Hezbollah militants on the Lebanese border, opening up the possibility of a broader conflict. Lebanon and Israel are considered enemy states, but a 2006 truce between them has held, for the most part with occasional small rocket attacks from Lebanon which Israel had addressed with retaliatory attacks. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israels offensive will continue "without reservation and without respite." Hamas kept up its strikes overnight too, firing rockets overnight at several cities, including Tel Aviv. Much of Gaza has been plunged into darkness since the attacks. Israel maintains a blockade around the territory and Netanyahu announced that Israel will cut the electricity, fuel and other goods it supplies to Gaza. Saturdays coordinated attack from Hamas came as a complete surprise to Israeli intelligence. Israel "didnt have an inkling of what was going on," Efraim Halevy, the former chief of Mossad, Israels intelligence service, told CNN. "We had no warning of any kind and it was a total surprise that the war broke out this morning." He said the attack was the first time the Palestinians had been able to penetrate so deeply into Israel. The militants launched over 3,000 missiles in less than 24 hours, according to Halevy. "This is beyond imagination from our point of view," Halvey told CNN. "We didnt know they had this quantity of missiles and we certainly didnt expect that they would be as effective as they were today. ... As an operation, it was highly successful, unfortunately." At least 250 Israelis were killed and more than 1,000 wounded after dozens of Palestinian militants infiltrated Israel from Gaza by land, sea and air. An unknown number of Israeli soldiers and civilians were seized and taken into Gaza, an enormously sensitive issue for Israel. Palestinian health officials said at least 200 Palestinians were killed and more than 1,600 wounded in Israels retaliatory strikes. Netanyahu vowed to avenge what he said was a "black day" for Israel, saying the army will strike back at Hamas in Gaza with full force. "The [Israeli Defense Force] is about to use all its force to destroy Hamas' capabilities," Netanyahu said in a brief televised statement. "We'll strike them to the bitter end and avenge with force this black day they brought on Israel and its people." U.S. President Joe Biden voiced "rock solid and unwavering" support for the U.S. ally and warned "against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation." Hamas and Israel have fought four wars since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007. The U.N. Security Council called an emergency meeting for Sunday to discuss the latest violence. As night fell Saturday, the Israeli army said its forces were engaged in live gun battles in many locations. "There are still 22 locations where we are engaging with terrorists that came into Israel, from the sea, from the land and from the air," said army spokesperson Richard Hecht on what he labelled a "robust ground invasion." The coordinated attack began around 6:30 a.m. local time with thousands of rockets aimed as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, some slipping past Israels Iron Dome defense system and hitting buildings. Hamas fighters, using ground vehicles, motorized paragliders and boats, breached Gaza's security barrier and attacked nearby Israeli towns and military posts, opening fire on residents and passersby. Linda Gradstein in Jerusalem contributed to this report; some material for this article came from The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. The main entrance to Heywood Hospital in Gardner 11 Heywood Hospital announced Monday that is has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. "Though our health system has stood the test of time, we are not impervious to financial challenges," co-CEO Tom Sullivan said. Heywood Hospital dates to 1907, built with money donated by Martha Heywood, the widow of Gardner furniture manufacturer Henry Heywood. Henry Heywood Memorial Hospital, as it was called for many years, initially had 20 beds. Because the bankruptcy filing is a Chapter 11, the hospital will be able to continue operations while the filing is processed. Milford Regional Medical Center. 9/27 The largest nonprofit health care organization and largest employer in Central Massachusetts could merge with a long-standing independent hospital. UMass Memorial Health and Milford Regional Medical Center signed a nonbinding agreement, called a letter of intent, that will allow the organizations to explore a potential corporate affiliation. The move was approved by the boards at both hospitals, according to a joint news release Sept. 27. The health care landscape was going to make it difficult for Milford Regional to retain its status as an independent community hospital, said the release. Also, lasting impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic and "sustained financial losses" impacted Milford Regional's chances for expansion. Interstate 290 looking westbound in a file photo; Kelley Square is at the bottom of the picture. 290 Worcester residents have lamented the way Interstate 290 has cut off neighborhoods from each other. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the City of Worcester and the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission have applied for a $2 million federal grant to study reestablishing connections across I-290 between the Vernon Hill and the Canal District and Green Island neighborhoods. MassDOT said the federal Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods grant program funds projects that "remove, retrofit or mitigate highways or other transportation facilities that create barriers to community connectivity to improve mobility, access to daily needs and economic development." Story continues An electric vehicle charging station at the Mass Pike westbound rest area in Charlton. $341,000 Guardian Energy Management Solutions of Marlborough will put chargers on the Massachusetts Turnpike that power up electric vehicles, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Guardian signed a $341,000 contract with the state transportation department to supply the chargers, and once the work starts, it should take up to eight weeks for installation. The chargers will go in the same locations as the former EVgo units, a total of six spots: one each at the westbound and eastbound stops in Charlton and Lee, one at the eastbound stop in Natick and another at the westbound stop in Framingham. Galaxy Life Sciences, a Webster developer, is looking to add more building space to The Reactory, a laboratory space on Belmont Street. 246,000 A developer is looking for city approval to more than double the size of its ongoing 95,000-square-foot life sciences project off Belmont Street at The Reactory biomanufacturing park. Galaxy Life Sciences of Webster is looking to bring the total area of its project to 246,000 square feet. It already has received approval for a 95,000-square-foot biomanufacturing development. The project would grow using land acquired in a $4 million, three-parcel deal earlier in the year. If approved, the projects cost would jump from $50 million to $150 million while bringing 250 to 300 jobs, up from the previous estimate of 125 to 150 jobs. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Business Matters: Central Mass. by the Numbers Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images Put some respect on Issa Raes name. On Saturday, Rae took the stage at CultureCon for a 25-minute chat about the work shes been doing to champion and mentor creatives of color. When interviewer Glenda McNeal accidentally called the Insecure creator Ih-suh instead of Ee-suh, she was immediately interrupted by a disapproving audience. Sorry! Issa! Thank you! McNeal said. As the crowds corrections continued getting louder, Rae ducked her head in laughter. McNeal, who was reportedly the first Black woman to join American Expresss executive committee, quickly clarified her own racial background: Calm down, its okay, Im part of the community, honey, its okay, she said with a laugh. This did not appease everyone in the audience, however (in addition to several uh-uhs, someone shouted, And you didnt say her name right!). McNeal, truly a corporate exec, managed to spin the situation as a lesson about how its okay to be vulnerable and not get it right all the time. She then repeated Raes name correctly, and the crowd cheered. Rae has previously spoken about disliking when people say her name wrong specifically in the way that McNeal said it. Thats the one I hate the most, Rae said in a 2016 interview with the Chicago Tribune. Eye-suh I can deal with, but Ih-suh sounds incomplete, like it should be Mel-issa. Like you think my name is incomplete. Seven years later, it looks like not everyone has learned how to correctly pronounce Raes name yet. But judging by the fervor in the video below, were sure the CultureCon crowd will handle that shortly. Audience corrects interviewer who mispronounced Issa Raes name during their discussion at CultureCon. pic.twitter.com/COL7ioyevI Pop Crave (@PopCrave) October 8, 2023 Photo: Getty Images for The New Yorker Gathered in Midtown for the annual New Yorker Festival, the literati agreed on two things: (1) more horny books, and (2) sex scenes in books, like onscreen, are changing. It started Saturday early afternoon when New Yorker staff writer Naomi Fry led a chat with Judy Blume and Curtis Sittenfeld, who had a lot to say about sex scenes, intimacy in fiction, and imagining politicians fucking. The discussion covered all of Blumes greatest hits, including Are You There, God? Its Me, Margaret, the Fudge books, and Forever. Blume, 85, explained the genesis of the latter (often banned) novel. One day, her daughter asked: Couldnt there be a book where two nice kids do it and nobody has to die? Girls were punished for being sexual beings, Blume said. Blume loves writing sex scenes. I used to know that they were good if I turned myself on while I was writing them. now that doesnt happen as much. Sittenfeld was also pro-sex scene, sharing what she termed her unpopular opinion on the subject: I think writing fiction about real political figures in which they have sex is a good ideabut sometimes I dont even agree with myself. (Sittenfeld is the author of the novels Rodham, which fictionalized Hillary Clintons life, and American Wife, about Laura Bush.) You have great sex scenes between those politicians! Blume replied. Its all fiction. It has to be because you werent there. And I love what you imagine! Recently, the sex scene has become fodder for cultural critics. Last year the New Yorker hosted a conversation about the dearth of sex in film. (See also: Vultures erotic thrillers week.) Sex also came up at the conversation between Mary Gaitskill and Emma Cline moderated by Molly Fischer, later that afternoon. Their wide-ranging discussion touched on Gaitskills fascination with hell, the texture of moss, Iceland, and their shared admiration for John Cheevers short stories (The Swimmer loosely inspired the ending of Clines The Guest). Fischer asked them if sex is at the core of how you understand personality. Yeah, Gaitskill said plainly, to a few knots of laughter. For Gaitskill, theres an interesting tension built into sexual expression. Desire is raw and overpowering, but it has to channel itself in a prosocial way and interact with other facets of ones personality. Its potentially very destructive, she said, but also the best thing in the world, really. I dont just mean the act itself but the human connection with something that powerful. Over the years, her students stories once saturated with sex got more cautious. When I first started teaching in the 90s, I was flabbergasted that in mixed-gender classes, people would write the most pornographic things. Like, practically porn, sometimes. And quite violent sometimes. I stopped teaching about a year ago, but in the years leading up, I noticed a change. perhaps there was sexual overkill. But fiction doesnt have to include sex, she said. Depends on the person You can write very strongly about feelings and relationships without being graphic. With just over two months until the nationwide nominating contest kicks off in Iowa, the former president is in a dominant position over his rivals in the state. The biggest surprise in Hamass massive attack on Israel is that it was a surprise. The operation was of unprecedented scale, involving thousands of personnel and pieces of equipment, from hang gliders to bulldozers and rockets. Such an effort demands weeks if not months of preparation, and all of it took place under the nose of an Israeli intelligence service that has a deserved reputation as one of the most effective in the world.How that happened is cause for deep embarrassment in Israels security community and will prompt a painful internal investigation. Israel lost control of military outposts, armored vehicles and settlements, and the conflict is far from over. At least 200 Israeli citizens were killed, 100 were taken hostage and 1,000 injured.Yet Saturdays assault was also an important reminder concerning Hamas. Its a US-designated terrorist group but no band of hotheads. It is a well-resourced organization with a paramilitary armed force that is as calculating as it is ruthless. Thats what kept it in control of Gaza since 2007 despite being under constant threat from Israel, as well as from still more radical Salafist and other Islamist groups within Gaza.Only Hamas knows the details of its strategy for Saturdays attack, but the potential fallout is plain to see. A war in Gaza threatens at a stroke to upend the direction of travel in the Middle East. It puts Israel in the invidious position of having to choose between appearing weak a dangerous strategy in the region and inflicting the kind of mass casualties in the crowded Gaza Strip that will enrage Israels entire Palestinian population, forcing tough decisions on Arab leaders in the Gulf and beyond. Hamas said 232 Palestinians had died in Israels retaliatory strikes, with 1,700 wounded.Israel has had success normalizing relations with parts of the Arab world while supporting the expansion of Jewish settlements on the West Bank and, at best, slow walking prospects for Palestinian statehood. Since 2020, Israel has signed US-brokered recognition agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. Saudi Arabia, home to Mecca, has been considering a deal. Even Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who for years had positioned himself as champion of the Palestinian cause for domestic political gain, met with Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time last month.Saturdays calls from Erdogan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and others for de-escalation came quickly and were doubtless genuine. All of them know the political pressures they will come under to condemn and break ties with Israel if Palestinian casualties mount. That now seems inevitable. Netanyahu said his country was at war, while Major General Ghasan Alyan said Hamas had opened the gates of hell to the Gaza strip, in a clip to camera posted on the Israeli Defense Forces feed on X (formerly Twitter). Alyan went on to say that Hamas will bear responsibility for the consequences, but no matter how true that may be and it is the question of who fired first on Saturday will count for little in the Muslim world. There, popular outrage over Israeli actions in recent months and years, in particular around the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, had been mounting. Alyans words will resonate less than those of Mohammed Deif, a Hamas military commander, who said that Operation Al-Aqsa Flood was launched because enough is enough. Already, the Saudi government statement calling for calm on Saturday sought to position Hamass actions as retaliatory, recalling the kingdoms repeated warnings of the dangers of the explosion of the situation, as a result of the continued occupation, the deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights, and the repetition of systematic provocations against its sanctities.Hamas, which has never acknowledged Israels right to exist, will have predicted and factored all this into its decision to attack. I say this not because I have Deifs cell number, but because I have encountered the groups calculating nature. In 2011, I went to report in Gaza, unwittingly entering from Israel early on the morning that the US killed Osama bin Laden. Later that day, a Hamas official approached to offer a six-man security detail or escort to the border, because they had picked up Salafists who were looking for the American journalist so they could make a video. I had a friend with Fatah intelligence connections check, and they confirmed the Hamas arrests, so I left Gaza. I retell this only because it was clear even from the security official who sat down with me that Hamas had no liking for US journalists, nor any moral issue with hosting an exemplary retaliation for Bin Ladens death. Yet this was May 2011. Hamas was in reconciliation talks with Fatah then, under international scrutiny and the group didnt want the kind of attention a video would draw.Now, they do have a tactical interest in that kind of attention. Events had not been going Hamass way in recent years, and a Saudi-Israeli normalization would have been a major defeat. Hamass aggression will boost its support base, and the appalling videos of Israeli casualties it organized to take on Saturday will help with recruitment. Responding to Hamas while keeping Israeli-Arab normalization on track will be extraordinarily difficult for Netanyahu to pull off, and the more so the longer the fighting continues. Share Comment on this story Comment Add to your saved stories Save Economically, Bangladesh has been a success story for the past decade. Growth has steadily topped 6% and on average, between 2016 and 2021, outpaced countries such as India, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Bangladesh will soon graduate from the ranks of poorer nations, relinquishing various trade and development assistance prerogatives it no longer needs. Politically, the country is not quite as exemplary. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas ruling Awami League has been in power since 2009. While the party notched a landslide victory in 2018 polls, that election was widely condemned as being insufficiently free and fair. Its hard to be optimistic that the countrys upcoming vote, due in a few months, will be much freer. Even so, it is equally hard to see why the US has decided to make Bangladesh a focus of attention in President Joe Bidens otherwise forgotten democracy first foreign-policy agenda. Advertisement In a rather vague statement last month, the US State Department announced that it had taken steps to impose visa restrictions on at least three Bangladeshis, including members of law enforcement, the ruling party, and the political opposition for undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh. The statement suggested other names could soon be added to the list. This sort of open bullying is neither fair nor sensible. True, under the Awami Leagues watch, the police and other state institutions have been increasingly politicized. Last month, the leaders of a well-known human rights group were jailed after publishing a report alleging excessive use of force against a protest in 2013. A new Cyber Security Act gives the police unprecedented powers of search and arrest that could easily be misused. Freedom House describes Bangladesh today as only partly free, ranking the country only slightly above Pakistan and just below Nigeria, Lebanon, and Singapore. Advertisement Nevertheless, the US restrictions arent fair because they make it look like Bangladesh is being singled out. While the State Department has imposed similar curbs on other countries, including Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, its refrained from targeting others, including US partners where the military has openly meddled in elections recently such as Thailand and Pakistan. And the policy isnt sensible because it makes the US look partisan. Bangladeshi politicians already accuse each other of waking up in the morning and going to the US embassy to complain. Sheikh Hasina groused to the BBC earlier this year that the US may not want me in power. Any real attempts to shore up democratic institutions will now be tainted. Perhaps someone in Washington thinks that Bangladesh is of minimal importance compared to democratic backsliders such as India and Turkey. If so, that would be remarkably short-sighted. Advertisement The costs of alienating Bangladesh are remarkably high. This is the worlds eighth-largest country, a Muslim-majority nation that has in recent years fought a bruising internal battle over secularism that, for a change, the fundamentalists might well lose. Share this article Share Its also a swing state in the Indo-Pacific. China has spent time and money to try and win over Bangladesh, including through investments in energy and transport. In 2022, almost 90% of Bangladeshs pipeline of energy projects depended upon Chinese finance, according to the Asian Development Bank. Bangladeshs foreign minister described China as arriving with a basket of money and aggressive and affordable proposals. Friends and allies of the US, from India to France to Japan, have been left trying to make up for Washingtons missteps. In August, Japan announced that Bangladesh was one of only four nations that would receive defense assistance under a new program designed to enhance the security and deterrence capabilities of like-minded countries. Advertisement French President Emmanuel Macron visited Dhaka last month to promise infrastructure, satellites, and more defense co-operation. The Chinese, meanwhile, have happily capitalized on resentment about US pressure, with President Xi Jinping promising Sheikh Hasina in August that he stood ready to oppose external interference on Bangladeshs behalf. Bangladeshi politics have been dominated for decades by a very personal battle between the Awami League and the Bangladesh National Party. But Sheikh Hasina is 76; her principal opponent, former prime minister Khaleda Zia, is 78. Id like to think that democracy in Bangladesh has strong enough roots for the next generation of leaders to craft a new direction for the country. That wont happen, however, if democratic institutions are seen as instruments of US foreign policy. This is the risk that Bidens approach runs, especially if it is inconsistently applied. A more realpolitik view of US interests and those of Bangladesh would suggest taking a subtler, more flexible approach. Advertisement You dont need to support coups or praise a stolen election. At the same time, you need not always insert yourself into what are often very domestic disputes. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Could Backoffice 2.0 Be Indias Third Way?: Andy Mukherjee UK Can Learn From Bangladesh on Climate Crisis: Lara Williams Democracies Versus Autocracies Isnt Even Close: Tobin Harshaw This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Mihir Sharma is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. A senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi, he is author of Restart: The Last Chance for the Indian Economy. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Share Comment on this story Comment Add to your saved stories Save Its a paradox of power markets that the most tradable form of energy is the least-traded. Ask a grid planner the best way to get the kilojoules trapped in a remote coal seam into urban consumers plug sockets, and the answer is straightforward. Its much easier to build a generator at the mine and transport the electricity through a power cable than to cart sooty rocks to a power plant closer to someones home. Those rules are reversed as soon as you cross an international border. About 85% of the worlds oil is consumed in a country other than the one where its produced, and 25% and 20%, respectively, of its gas and coal. The equivalent figure for electricity is just 2.1%. Outside a handful of places the European Union; the US and Canada; Brazil and Paraguay; mainland China and Hong Kong electrical power is almost absent from cross-border commerce. Advertisement Thats why Singapores approval last month of plans to import 2 gigawatts of solar and battery-powered electricity from Indonesia (following a similar 1 gigawatt deal with Cambodia earlier in the year) represents an important breakthrough. The repercussions could stretch beyond energy, too to diplomacy and the state of war and peace in the 21st century. Electricity tends not to be traded much because it grants neighboring powers so much leverage. If you think Vladimir Putin was able to do a lot of damage to the EU by cutting off gas last year, just imagine what he could have done if the continents grids could be shut down with the flick of a switch in Moscow. Only countries with the friendliest of relations are prepared to put themselves at the mercy of foreign capitals in such a way. Singapores unique geographic circumstances as an almost entirely urbanized island give it little alternative to such dependence. Too small for significant renewables or nuclear power, about 95% of its electricity has traditionally come from gas, with the bulk imported via four pipelines from Malaysia and Indonesia. Thats left it at the mercy of the global energy squeeze in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. Prices of long-term pipeline gas and LNG contracts rose 20% and 50% respectively in the year through August 2022, according to the government, with spot LNG purchases up 224%. Advertisement Worse still, the fields feeding the Malaysian and Indonesian pipelines are increasingly being used to supply domestic users. That risks leaving the city-state more dependent on costlier LNG. Such shipments will comprise more than half of the gas mix by the mid-2030s, according to S&P Global Ratings. All of that means rising costs for households. Without the buffer of zero-cost renewables or nuclear, Singapores wholesale electricity price this year has been about 60% higher than the equivalent in the UK. The cost of buying energy in local bills rose by about a quarter in 2022 alone. Even if you incorporate the significant price of transporting it through undersea cables, solar power can now be procured from Indonesia and Malaysia for about half what locals are currently paying. Singapores current plan is to procure a further gigawatt to give it 4 GW of imported renewables by 2035 equivalent to about a third of its current 12 GW generating capacity, or about a sixth of its total electricity needs. Thats a relatively modest target next to proposals in the US and UK to achieve zero-carbon grids by the same date, but its in keeping with Singapores long-standing fears about national security that it is moving slowly at first. Advertisement Politicians shouldnt let this deter them from boldness. Instead they should seek inspiration from one of the unlikelier success stories of cross-border energy cooperation. In the aftermath of World War II, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed a radical plan: To pool access to the coal and iron ore reserves on the lower reaches of the Rhine, which had contributed to three continental wars since 1870. Share this article Share The bet was that instead of fighting each other for the spoils of industrial development, France and Germany would be more prosperous if they exploited them collaboratively. Schumans proposal was the foundation of the European Union, and his insight has been lasting: It wasnt the reinforcement of energy security that brought about peace in Europe, but the decision to put collective interests before short-term national advantage. Singapore has much to learn from that example. Like Schumans birth country Luxembourg, its a small, rich country in an occasionally tense neighborhood. The lesson of its energy dilemma that a world pursuing net-zero needs to build grids that span not just borders, but continents applies from the Americas to Africa, and Europe to Asia. Luxembourg turned the solution to its national security problems into a template that would eventually integrate an entire continent in peaceful commerce and trade. Singapore should do the same with its electricity question. Advertisement More from Bloomberg Opinion: Singapores Power Squeeze Is Tighter Than Its Housing Crunch: Andy Mukherjee Singapores Power Spikes Are the Cost of Clinging to the Past: David Fickling Offshore Wind Faces a Lost Year in the UK: Lara Williams This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. David Fickling is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering energy and commodities. Previously, he worked for Bloomberg News, the Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. China has called for an immediate ceasefire after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country was "at war" following a surprise attack by Hamas militants, in a major escalation of the decades-old conflict between Palestinian fighters and the Israeli military. Beijing was "deeply concerned about the current escalation of tension and violence between Palestine and Israel", the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday. "All parties concerned [are urged] to exercise calm and restraint, to cease fire immediately, to protect the civilian population and to prevent further deterioration of the situation," it 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. Hamas militants fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the blockaded Gaza Strip in an unprecedented surprise attack early on Saturday, gunning down dozens and abducting others. A stunned Israel responded by launching air strikes on Gaza, with Netanyahu vowing to inflict an "unprecedented price". At least 232 Palestinians had been killed in the attacks, according to medical sources in Gaza, while the Israeli death toll had climbed to 300 as of Saturday. In its statement, the Chinese foreign ministry said that the latest round of conflict "fully demonstrates that the long-term stagnation of the peace process is unsustainable". "The fundamental way out of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in the implementation of the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state," it said, referring to a 1993 Israeli-Palestinian deal setting out the path towards a lasting peace in the region. The international community should promote early resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel, the statement added. Story continues "China will continue to make unremitting efforts with the international community to that end." Smoke rises after Israeli forces attacked a high-rise building in Gaza City on Saturday. Photo: dpa alt=Smoke rises after Israeli forces attacked a high-rise building in Gaza City on Saturday. Photo: dpa> In a nighttime address to the nation on Saturday, a major holiday in Israel, Netanyahu said: "What happened today has never been seen before in Israel, and I will make sure it doesn't happen again." "Difficult days are ahead of us, but we will win." The latest escalation of violence between Palestinians and Israel has drawn international attention, with major powers like the United States, Britain and France expressing support for Israel. Russia, meanwhile, called on "Palestinian and Israeli sides to implement an immediate ceasefire, renounce violence, exercise the necessary restraint and establish, with the assistance of the international community, a negotiation process". The escalation of tensions has posed a dilemma for China which, unlike the US and its allies, has maintained good relations with Arabs and Israel in the Middle East. According to Chinese media, at least one Chinese national had been injured near Ashkelon in southern Israel in the latest violence. The Chinese embassy in Tel Aviv has urged citizens in the country to take precautionary measures. China's deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Geng Shuang, earlier said the Palestine issue "should be accorded higher priority" in the international agenda. In a speech on September 27, the transcript of which was published only on Saturday, Geng said "the continued expansion of [Israeli] settlements" was "encroaching on Palestinian land and resources and squeezing the Palestinian population". He also reaffirmed China's position to support the establishment of an independent Palestine state based on 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The border refers to the armistice lines from before the Arab-Israeli Six Day War in June 1967, when Israel captured the Gaza Strip from Egypt and the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan, along with other land. This expanded Israel's territory beyond the borders marked out by a 1949 armistice with its Arab neighbours Jordan, Egypt, Syria and Lebanon. It also brought more than a million Palestinians in the occupied territories under Israeli rule. 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. This story is part of the Sunday Life October 8 edition. Each week, we quiz a prominent person about their style and the inspiration behind it. Ahead, designer Gabriella Pereira. Gabriella Pereira: I love the spectacle of fashion but I try to be blind to trends. Credit: Holly Gibson How would you describe your style? Its simple and comfortable but I also like to feel polished and chic. The antithesis of my style is fussy. Quality craftsmanship and materials are very important to me. Whats the oldest thing in your wardrobe? An 80s Chanel tweed jacket I bought from a vintage store in Paris. Ive never worn it; its outrageous red, blue and white with gold buttons. And the most recent addition? A pair of Alaia jeans with an elastic waist I bought after seeing Lara Worthington wearing them. I spoke to my breast nurse and surgeon about when and how to tell men I didnt have breasts. You get to know them first and then let them know, was the consensus response. On a first date, when he was keen to be intimate before I had a chance to tell him, I realised that this wasnt the way for me. As a result, I decided to let future dates know before meeting up. My biggest fear was being rejected, so to make these conversations easier for me, I would say: I have something really difficult to tell you and whatever you choose is okay with me. Apart from one guy who was quick to tell me that this wouldnt work for him despite his honesty, it still hurt the rest were fine with it and this acceptance made me feel great. My current partner was the fifth person I met and after chatting online for three weeks, I told him. He simply didnt mind at all. He was and still is a very caring and compassionate man. Weve been together now for over three years and its only with him that Ive taken my bra off during intimacy. My chest is barely sensitive. To begin with, I was embarrassed about how I looked. But with my partners support Ive come to be comfortable with being naked in front of him. I dont look in the mirror with dread. To celebrate being discharged from my oncologist, I had some tasteful topless shots done through a charity event for the Jane McGrath Foundation. [In the photographs] my bare chest is covered with flowers. Its a reminder to me of how happy I am to have conquered cancer. Sex just wasnt at all on my mind Richelle Menzies, 62, found that hormone blockers can affect intimacy. Reaching out for support taught them that connection comes in many forms. For Richelle Menzies, it became a struggle to maintain sexual intimacy. I was diagnosed with cancer of my right breast in 2022 after a routine mammogram, but I chose to have a double mastectomy as prevention. To avoid the risk and complications from implants or flap surgery, I decided not to have a reconstruction and instead chose to champion the aesthetic flat-closure option which involves smoothing the tissue that is left and remain completely flat. Just before surgery, my relationship with the person Id been dating for a year became more serious and they were very supportive of my decision not to have a reconstruction. They agreed that it was my body and therefore I needed to do what I felt was best for my health. Fortunately, I was no less attractive to them because I didnt have breasts. Even though I didnt struggle with body image post-surgery, what did contribute to my inability to be intimate were the side effects of the hormone blockers: night sweats, brain fog, memory loss, severe fatigue and, importantly, loss of libido. It became a struggle to maintain sexual intimacy. Sex just wasnt at all on my mind. As a sexologist myself, I still reached out to an occupational therapist, who helped me self-reflect and truly understand what was happening for me. Through that guidance I was able to find ways to express and communicate this with my partner and further work out what we both needed and how to give that to each other. Equally, tapping into support groups online and learning from their lived experiences proved very insightful. Essentially, I realised that I didnt need desire or libido to begin with. Just being emotionally intimate holding hands, skin-on-skin contact, kissing and cuddling created enormous connection for us and it took the pressure off having to be sexually intimate. The desire for intimacy could kick in following a conscious effort to foster a bond with my partner. The goal, ultimately, was to feel connected, and we were able to achieve that. On our wedding night, we werent able to be intimate Alyx Stewart, 53, struggled with intimacy after undergoing a double mastectomy. Closeness with her partner has evolved into a bond of deep connection. Alyx Stewart had to fall in love with her new body image scars and all. Prior to my cancer, my sex life was fun and exciting. That immediately changed in 2005 when, nine weeks prior to my wedding, I was diagnosed with cancer of my right breast. Within a week, I was undergoing a single mastectomy. My right breast was reconstructed a year later when I underwent a second mastectomy and the reconstruction of my left breast. The moment I realised that our sex life had changed forever was on our wedding night. The side effects of early menopause, brought about by chemotherapy and hormone treatments, included loss of libido, and vaginal dryness made intercourse painful. Clearly this was not how we expected our married life to begin. Following breast reconstruction, the loss of nerve sensation in the area and pain I felt when my husband touched my breasts was an issue for me both psychologically and physically, which initially led to no intimacy. Further, in 2009, I decided to have my tubes clipped to avoid pregnancy, as using condoms amplified the dryness and pain. For a while it worked and we could once again be spontaneous. But the issue with dryness was still there, which meant we had to experiment with lubricants. This stop and start eventually took its toll. Together we attended a session about intimacy after breast cancer put on by Counterpart [a woman-centred service of Womens Health Victoria] in Melbourne, which encouraged us to address the issue. We realised that to become sexually confident again we had to first become vulnerable. Because my partners love language is touch, I make sure that we often cuddle on the couch and watch a movie. Loading To heal, Ive also had to fall in love with my new body image scars and all. As the years have gone by, Ive been able to reconcile how I look and gradually have my partner look at and touch my painful parts. I felt anger and guilt for years for not being able to be physically intimate with my partner. Gradually, Ive realised that this is not my fault. Though being physically intimate is still a work in progress for us, we have worked hard on our emotional connection. There was a stage when we feared we might become more like flatmates than soul mates, but connecting more on an emotional level has allowed us to be more physical with each other. Im not ashamed to admit that growing up, I actively pursued friendships with people who had pools. We could have no pre-existing relationship between the months of March and November, but as soon as temperatures topped 25 degrees, the courting process would begin. Luckily, kids with pools are normally well-adjusted (probably something to do with having a pool), so making seasonal friends was easy. It also didnt hurt that I was from a middle-class suburb where owning a pool was an impressive but achievable flex. No one can afford a house, let alone a pool, so for the lucky few, the time has come to open their homes and let the commoners swim. Credit: Marija Ercegovac I may not have had one, but plenty of others did, and with a few well-placed Hey, I heard you have a pool? comments, a summer of swimming was locked away. After spending hours splashing with my new friends, I would return home with red eyes and a full heart, dreaming of the day when I would have a pool to call my own. For context, my coveting of pools spanned the late 1990s and early 2000s, when The Australian Dream hadnt yet become The Australian Delusion. 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 Australia is in the middle of an unprecedented energy revolution, switching from the fossil fuel-powered electricity grid thats been the bedrock of the nations economy for decades to clean energy, through a rush of renewables as wind and solar farms spring up across the country. The shift is being driven by Australias commitment to help tackle climate change by cutting damaging greenhouse emissions. But a fiery political debate has erupted over the future of Australias energy supply in recent months, with federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton demanding the Albanese government remove the nations longstanding ban and deploy what he claims is clean, cheap and reliable nuclear power. The Albanese government is locked into its clean energy commitments and cannot afford delays to pursue nuclear ambitions. Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen is taunting Dutton over what he calls his implausible, expensive and dangerous plans. Are they implausible? What would be the costs? And how does nuclear power work? Advertisement Credit: Artwork Getty Images, Nathan Perri How does nuclear power work? The process, invisible to the naked eye, is called atomic fission. Plant operators fire a neutron into uranium or plutonium material and that collision splits atoms, releasing energy in the form of heat as well as yet more neutrons. A chain reaction kicks off as more of those neutrons fly about striking other atoms. This releases tremendous energy in the form of heat and radiation, which is harnessed to boil water and produce steam. The steam is captured under pressure and used to spin turbines that drive magnetic generators, which produce electricity. Loading Uranium is most commonly used in nuclear power reactors because it is easy to initiate fission and control the process. Only a relatively small amount of uranium, or sometimes plutonium, is needed. A typical large nuclear reactor produces 2530 tonnes of spent fuel per year and the high level of radioactive waste contained in it can remain toxic to humans for tens of thousands of years. This atomic fission also creates zero greenhouse gases, which is a key benefit cited by nuclear energy advocates, but its opponents point to the dangers associated with storing the radioactive waste and the potential for spent fuel from nuclear reactors to be used to make nuclear weapons. Past accidents have undermined public confidence, too. An explosion at a plant near Chernobyl in the former USSR in 1986 saw people die and radioactive contamination blow over Western Europe. A tsunami following an earthquake triggered a meltdown in a coastal nuclear plant in Fukushima in 2011. In the aftermath, German chancellor Angela Merkel reversed a decision to extend the life of several nuclear plants. Nuclear advocates, however, point out the technology is safe and the risk of accidents is declining. The World Nuclear Association says Fukushima and Chernobyl are the only two major accidents in six decades of the industrys commercial operation, spread across 36 countries. Advertisement Meanwhile, although nuclear weapons (which involve an uncontrolled explosion) and nuclear energy (controlled, as above) are not the same thing, the very word nuclear can send tremors through post-war generations who have grown up with the spectre of nuclear weapons and war. Vapor rises from cooling towers at the Saint-Laurent-des-Eaux nuclear power plant in France. Credit: Bloomberg Why is there a ban on nuclear power in Australia? Nuclear power plants have been supplying electricity in many countries around the world, including the US, China, Canada, France and the UK, for decades. India has announced plans to develop them. Australias abundant supplies of coal and gas, and comparatively small electricity demand due to its relatively small population, has meant the country has built its electricity grid around fossil fuels. In Australia, a national ban on nuclear energy was put in place by the Howard government in 1999, after horse-trading with the Australian Democrats over the governments signature green reform, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, which stated that the relevant minister could not approve a nuclear power plant. Seven years later, the Howard government asked Telstra chief executive and trained nuclear physicist Ziggy Switkowski to investigate the merits of nuclear power in Australia. That report delivered a hammer blow to the industry. Switkowski found that nuclear power could compete economically with coal power only if a politically contentious carbon tax was imposed. In 2019, Switkowski also told a parliamentary inquiry there was little prospect for Australia to develop a nuclear energy industry because the window for large gigawatts to go in nuclear generators has now closed for Australia. He said a nuclear industry would take too long to establish and be too costly to build compared to alternative infrastructure. He also said it was unlikely the industry could establish enough support to gain a social licence to operate. Advertisement Given that the investment in a power station, particularly a big one, would begin at $US10 billion and go up from there, and it would take around 15 years to make it work, you cant progress without strong community support and bipartisanship at the federal level, and there is not too much evidence of that, he said. But now the federal Coalition is calling for the nuclear energy ban to be abolished. Wind turbines at Lake George near Canberra. Credit: Getty Images Why has the political debate gone nuclear? Under its commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change, Australia plans to cut greenhouse gases 43 per cent by 2030 to reach net-zero emissions. Under the agreement, it is also expected to set increasingly ambitious targets, with an update due by 2035. Coal generates about two-thirds of electricity in Australia. The electricity grid is a major source of emissions, where the Albanese government is aiming to make its most significant cuts. Its goal is for 82 per cent of energy to be generated by renewables as soon as 2030. The coal industrys economic viability is being smashed by cheaper sources of renewable energy and replacement power is urgently needed, with five of 15 plants due to shut within a decade and more tipped to follow. Nuclear energy proponents argue nuclear should replace coal. Those advocates include the Minerals Council, prominent Nationals including leader David Littleproud and former leader Barnaby Joyce, and some Liberal MPs including Dutton and his climate change and energy spokesman, Ted OBrien. Advertisement As with coal plants, nuclear reactors whirr away around the clock, all day every day, generating whats known as baseload power. Thats one of the key benefits cited in arguments for nuclear energy to replace coal as the emissions-free backbone of the grid. Any peaks in demand say, due to a heatwave or cold snap when many households suddenly switch on their air-conditioners or heaters can be filled by gas plants or batteries, meaning they can supply power to the grid at short notice. Some nuclear advocates argue that nuclear plants could replace coal plants with back-up from batteries powered by wind and solar farms as well as hydro-electricity to build an emissions-free electricity grid. Renewable energy advocates point out that investors are flocking to large-scale wind and solar projects, which are pumping cheaper energy into the grid and outcompeting coal. The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), which manages the electricity grid, says a grid based on renewables will be just as reliable as a system centred on baseload power. Could we get a nuclear industry happening in time? Speed is of the essence, say climate scientists. Global emissions are on track to exceed the goal of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to less than 2 degrees, a level that would avoid the worst damages from climate change. While renewables are available now, and cheaply, it would likely take decades to establish a nuclear energy industry in Australia. Australias former chief scientist, Alan Finkel, said in August it was highly unlikely Australia could open a nuclear power plant before the early 2040s, pointing out the autocratic United Arab Emirates took more than 15 years to complete its first nuclear plant using established technology. Loading What problem is nuclear trying to provide a solution for, asks Ernst & Young climate change and sustainability partner Emma Herd. If its cost of living, its expensive. If there are challenges with social licence for renewables then nuclear has got 10 times more social licence problems. If it is the need to rapidly deploy low-emissions energy technology to replace coal then nuclear takes a long time to get approval for, let alone to build, let alone to get up and operating. If its the need for rapid decarbonisation, again, its too slow. Advertisement Iran, a sworn enemy of Israel, is an important backer of Hamas as well as Hezbollah and has supplied both groups with weapons and intelligence. The conflict will unite Israel behind its government, at least for a while, with the opposition cancelling its planned demonstrations against Netanyahus proposed judicial changes and obeying calls for reservists to muster. It will give Netanyahu full political cover to do what he wants, said Natan Sachs, the director of the Centre for Middle East Policy of the Brookings Institution. Nevertheless, he added, Netanyahu has in the past rejected calls to send thousands of troops into Gaza to try to destroy armed Palestinian groups like Hamas, given the cost and the inevitable question of what happens the day after. But the psychological impact of this for Israel is similar to 9/11, he said. So the calculus about cost could be quite different this time. The question will always be what happens afterward, said Mark Heller, a senior researcher at Israels Institute for National Security Studies. Nearly every year there have been limited Israeli military operations in the occupied territories, but they have not provided any solutions. There is a lot of heavy pressure already for a large-scale incursion, to finish with Hamas, but I dont think it will solve anything in the longer run, Heller said. Young Palestinians chant and celebrate atop a car that was burned after being taken from Israeli territory and brought back to Gaza. Credit: NYT But Carl Bildt, a former Swedish prime minister and foreign minister, said a major Israeli assault on Gaza was almost inevitable, particularly if Israeli soldiers were taken hostage. If Hamas has taken Israeli soldiers as prisoners and taken them to Gaza, a full-scale Israeli operation into Gaza looks highly likely, he said on X, formerly known as Twitter. Another war. The same presumably would hold true for Israeli citizens. Israel and Netanyahu have been wary of sending ground forces into Gaza. Even in 2002, when Ariel Sharon was prime minister and Israeli forces crushed a Palestinian uprising in the West Bank, the government chose to avoid sending significant extra forces into Gaza, where it then had Israeli settlements. Israel unilaterally withdrew its soldiers and citizens from Gaza in 2005, while retaining effective control of large parts of the occupied West Bank. The failure of that withdrawal to secure any sort of lasting peace agreement has left Gaza a kind of orphan, largely cut off from other Palestinians in the West Bank and almost entirely isolated by both Israel and Egypt, which control Gazas borders and its seacoast. Palestinians often call Gaza an open-air prison. Loading After the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the conflict of 2006, an internal struggle between the Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the more radical, Islamist Hamas movement ended with Hamas taking control of the territory in 2007, prompting Israel to try to isolate Gaza even further. Even in an extended conflict of 2008 and 2009, Israeli forces entered Gaza and its population centres but chose not to move too deeply into the territory or to reoccupy it. A ceasefire was brokered by Egypt after three weeks of warfare. Successive Israeli governments insist that after the 2005 withdrawal, it no longer has responsibility for Gaza. But given Israels control over the borders and its overwhelming military advantage, many groups like BTselem, which monitors human rights in the occupied territories, argue that Israel retains significant legal responsibilities and obligations for Gaza under international humanitarian law. While Hamas has not been clear about why it chose to attack now, it may be a response to growing Israeli ties to the Arab world, in particular to Saudi Arabia, which has been negotiating a putative defence treaty with the United States in return for normalising relations with Israel, potentially to the neglect of the Palestinians. That is the view of Amberin Zaman, an analyst for Al-Monitor, a Washington-based news website that covers the Middle East. Israels response to todays attacks will likely be of a scale that will set back US efforts for Saudi-Israeli normalisation, if not torpedo them altogether, she said in a message on X. Palestinians inspect a destroyed building as emergency responders try to contain fires after Israeli jets bombed Gaza City in the Gaza Strip. Credit: NYT Saudi Arabia has not recognised Israel since it was founded in 1948 and until now had signalled that it would not even consider normalising relations until Israel agreed to allow the creation of a Palestinian state. But recently even the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has gone public with affirmations that some sort of deal with Israel seemed plausible. In an interview with Fox News last month, he said that talk of normalisation was for the first time, real. That will now be in question, depending on how long this conflict lasts and with what level of dead and wounded. Mikhail Shvetz surveys the damage to cars gutted by fires set when a rocket from Gaza struck the parking lot of an apartment complex in Ashkelon, Israel. Credit: NYT Loading The ramifications of the war and its aftermath will be far-reaching and take a long time to manifest, Sachs said. There will be commissions of inquiry into the military and intelligence agencies and the political echelon wont escape blame, either. Israel has vowed to exact an unprecedented price for one of the deadliest attacks on the nations home soil in decades, declaring war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas after its surprise invasion by land, sea and air. War erupted in the region on Saturday morning (Saturday evening AEST) after Hamas militants fired thousands of rockets across the border, catching the country and intelligence services unawares with a multi-front sunrise attack unseen in its level of co-ordination. Israeli media have reported at least 250 Israelis had been killed and more than 1000 were injured, while Gazan health officials said 232 people were killed and 1697 wounded during Israels retaliatory air strikes on Gaza City. The death toll on both sides is expected to rise. Israeli troops were still clashing with Hamas fighters in some parts of southern Israel at 9.30am (AEST). In a briefing on social media, an Israeli army spokesperson said the situation was not fully under control. It might seem bad, but the worst that can happen when you buy a stock (without leverage) is that its share price goes to zero. But if you buy shares in a really great company, you can more than double your money. To wit, the ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) share price has flown 228% in the last three years. Most would be happy with that. Also pleasing for shareholders was the 11% gain in the last three months. While this past week has detracted from the company's three-year return, let's look at the recent trends of the underlying business and see if the gains have been in alignment. View our latest analysis for ConocoPhillips In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). ConocoPhillips was able to grow its EPS at 72% per year over three years, sending the share price higher. This EPS growth is higher than the 49% average annual increase in the share price. Therefore, it seems the market has moderated its expectations for growth, somewhat. This cautious sentiment is reflected in its (fairly low) P/E ratio of 10.72. The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). We consider it positive that insiders have made significant purchases in the last year. Even so, future earnings will be far more important to whether current shareholders make money. Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. As it happens, ConocoPhillips' TSR for the last 3 years was 272%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. Story continues A Different Perspective ConocoPhillips shareholders gained a total return of 1.4% during the year. Unfortunately this falls short of the market return. If we look back over five years, the returns are even better, coming in at 13% per year for five years. It may well be that this is a business worth popping on the watching, given the continuing positive reception, over time, from the market. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with ConocoPhillips (at least 1 which is significant) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. ConocoPhillips is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Hundreds of stunned Israelis filed into a central police station on Sunday hoping for word on the fate of loved ones lost in the wake of a mass Palestinian infiltration from the Gaza Strip. Not only was the number of those unaccounted for unknown, but many were believed to have been taken captive into Gaza -including young children - with others hiding in their besieged Israeli villages. The Gaza border region, which is just an hours drive from the police information centre in Airport City, remained sealed off by the military as troops continued street-by-street battles with gunmen, learning with each stage the extent of the carnage. Israeli police officers evacuate a woman and a child from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip on Saturday. Credit: One mother spoke with Reuters after giving her DNA sample and handing over a brush with hair follicles from her son, who was at an outdoor dance party that was stormed by Hamas gunmen. She declined to give her name. The last we heard from him, he was calling from the car, saying he was trying to get away and that they were shooting at him, she said. Im doing whatever I can to find out what happened. Yoni Asher, who was back at his home in central Israel after countless attempts to get assistance from authorities, said his wife was visiting her mother in the community Nir Oz near the border with their two young daughters when Hamas attacked. She told me the terrorists are in the house, he said. Then the call got cut off. Later on he located her mobile phone through her Google account. Its location was Khan Younis, a city in Gaza. He then saw a video that spread on social media of them being taken to Gaza. I surely identified my wife, my two daughters and my mother-in-law on some kind of a cart, and terrorists of Hamas all around them, he said. My little two girls, they are only babies, they are not even five-years-old and three-years-old ... I dont know in what terms they are captive. I dont know what happened to them. Reuters Allentown, PA (18103) Today Turning out mostly clear and cold with diminishing winds; a hard freeze is likely, a killing freeze that will end the growing season.. Tonight Turning out mostly clear and cold with diminishing winds; a hard freeze is likely, a killing freeze that will end the growing season. BEIJING, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said Thursday that 42.2 percent of autumn grains had been reaped across China. With regions like central China's Henan Province hastening harvests amid agreeable weather conditions, this year's autumn harvest is up to speed with that of the same time last year, said the ministry. Over half of the middle-season rice, over 40 percent of corn, and around 40 percent of soybeans have been reaped so far, according to the ministry. China has taken multi-pronged measures to ensure a bumper autumn harvest. The Ministry of Finance allocated 2.4 billion yuan (about 334 million U.S. dollars) worth of subsidies in August for fertilizers, pesticides and other agricultural sprays to improve the yields of autumn grains. China aims to stabilize its annual grain output at over 650 billion kg, according to the country's 2023 government work report. Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Diamond Offshore Drilling fair value estimate is US$21.08 Current share price of US$13.57 suggests Diamond Offshore Drilling is potentially 36% undervalued Analyst price target for DO is US$18.75 which is 11% below our fair value estimate In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (NYSE:DO) by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for Diamond Offshore Drilling The Calculation We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$55.5m US$164.0m US$180.0m US$192.0m US$202.1m US$210.9m US$218.7m US$225.7m US$232.3m US$238.5m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Est @ 6.64% Est @ 5.29% Est @ 4.35% Est @ 3.69% Est @ 3.23% Est @ 2.90% Est @ 2.68% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 11% US$50.2 US$134 US$133 US$129 US$122 US$116 US$108 US$101 US$94.3 US$87.6 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$1.1b The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.2%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 11%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = US$239m (1 + 2.2%) (11% 2.2%) = US$2.9b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$2.9b ( 1 + 11%)10= US$1.1b The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is US$2.1b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of US$13.6, the company appears quite undervalued at a 36% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf Important Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Diamond Offshore Drilling as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 11%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.677. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Diamond Offshore Drilling Strength Net debt to equity ratio below 40%. Weakness No major weaknesses identified for DO. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years. Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the American market. Looking Ahead: Although the valuation of a company is important, it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. Can we work out why the company is trading at a discount to intrinsic value? For Diamond Offshore Drilling, we've put together three essential aspects you should explore: Risks: We feel that you should assess the 1 warning sign for Diamond Offshore Drilling we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Future Earnings: How does DO's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every American stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. ATLANTA (AP) An autopsy has found that the Aug. 10 death of a 62-year-old church deacon who was electrically shocked by an Atlanta police officer was a homicide, although the medical examiner found that heart disease also contributed to his death. Johnny Hollman became unresponsive while being arrested after a minor car crash. The officer shocked Hollman with an electrical stun gun and handcuffed him after Hollman refused to sign a traffic ticket. The city has since changed its policy to let officers write refusal to sign on a traffic ticket instead of arresting someone who won't sign. The policy requires officers to inform drivers that a signature is not an admission of guilt. It just acknowledges receipt of the ticket and court date. The Atlanta City Council last week called on the city to release the video from the incident. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which is examining the officer's actions, has asked the Atlanta Police Department not to release the video until the state agencys investigation is complete. Hollman's death has contributed to discontent with police among some Atlantans that centers on a proposal to build a public safety training center. Medical examiner Dr. Melissa Sims-Stanley said that based on a review of the video and a conversation with a GBI investigator, she concluded that Hollman was unresponsive after he was stunned, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Arnitra Fallins, Hollman' daughter, has said her father was driving home from buying fried chicken and an apple pie when he was involved in a collision with another vehicle. Fallins said Hollman called police to investigate the wreck, but Atlanta police say he grew agitated when police determined Hollman was at fault in the wreck and tried to issue him a citation. When Hollman refused to sign the ticket, the officer tried to arrest him, and the officer and Hollman began to struggle physically, the GBI said. That's when GBI says the officer, Kiran Kimbrough, shocked Hollman. Kimbrough is on administrative leave during the investigation. Lawyers for the Hollman family say it was Kimbrough who started the struggle after Hollman asked for a police sergeant to come to the scene because Hollman disagreed with the officer finding him at fault. You can hear Mr. Hollman begging for him to stop, lawyer Mawuli Davis said. Fallins, who was on the phone with Hollman, said she rushed to the scene when she heard her father yell for help. You know, when you hear something, you can imagine like whats happening, she told WXIA-TV. But to actually, you know, witness it you know the piece from the body cam. Now we get the results back from the autopsy. Again, it confirms what I already knew. Although the video hasnt been released, it has been shown to family members. Lawyers for Hollmans family question how releasing the video could hamper the investigation when GBI has already interviewed witnesses. Israelis huddled in bomb shelters pleading for help as Hamas fighters broke into their houses and shot at anyone they saw. Thousands of Israeli party-goers at a desert rave screamed and ran for their lives as bloodied victims collapsed around them. Family members searching for missing loved ones were shaken to recognize them in haunting social media videos showing Hamas militants taking terrified Israelis hostage. Israel is in shock, the unprecedented scenes of violence and chaos unfolding across the countrys south seared into peoples minds. Even the steely nerved residents of Israeli communities near Gaza described Saturdays assault with fighters entering their communities in pick-up trucks, on boats and by hang-gliders as a nightmare come true. The Israeli government has formally declared war and given the green light for significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack from the Gaza Strip. The declaration on Sunday portended greater fighting ahead as the toll from the conflict passed 1,100 dead and thousands wounded on both sides. More than 24 hours after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still trying to crush the last groups of militant fighters holed up in several towns of southern Israel. At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel. More than 400 have been killed in Gaza. Hamas militants have fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip in an unprecedented surprise early morning attack during a major Jewish holiday. Israel says its now at war with Hamas and launched airstrikes in Gaza, vowing to inflict an unprecedented price. Israel says at least 250 people have been killed and 1,500 wounded, making it the deadliest attack in years. The military confirmed that a number of Israeli soldiers and civilians had been seized and taken into Gaza. At least 232 people in the Gaza Strip have been killed in Israels retaliation and at least 1,700 wounded. L. MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) are investigating a "pickpocket by stealth" incident that occurred at Costco in Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County. According to PSP-Fogelsville, a 74-year-old Bethlehem woman and 40-year-old Zionsville woman had $3,839 worth of items stolen from them on Sept. 8. Among the items stolen were a $50 Vera Bradley bag and $40 in cash, as well as credit cards worth $3,749, police said. The thief then fled the scene and attempted to initiate nine total transactions with the stolen credit cards, police said. Video surveillance was obtained from the scene, but no one has been arrested for the theft. Bucks County coroner Meredith Buck now says three people were killed in two separate car crashes within the county on Saturday, Oct. 7. Nockamixon Township The first crash occurred at 2:10 p.m. on the 9200 block of Old Easton Road in Nockamixon Township. According to Buck, 55-year-old Tjerk Jan Post, of Lansdale, was driving along the road when he was struck by another vehicle and killed. The driver and passenger of that vehicle were taken to St. Luke's in Bethlehem, Buck said. Buck said that police believe Post was not at fault in the crash. An autopsy for Post is pending and will be conducted on Monday or Tuesday, Buck said. Sellersville The second crash occurred around 7 p.m. in the 300 block of Ridge Road in Sellersville. According to Buck, married couple John and Christine Christian, of Spring Mill, were T-boned while pulling out of a restaurant parking lot. Passenger John Christian, 71, was killed in the crash and pronounced dead at the scene, Buck said. Driver Christine Christian, 70, was transported to Grandview Hospital and underwent surgery, but she died from her injuries on Sunday morning, Buck said. An autopsy for John Christian is pending and will be conducted on Monday or Tuesday, Buck said. There is no word on an autopsy for Christine Christian at this time. A Russian missile strike has killed a 10-year-old boy and injured two dozen other people in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kkarkiv. The attack came a day after a strike in the same region killed at least 51 civilians in one of the deadliest attacks in the war in months. Associated Press reporters saw emergency crews pulling the boys body from the rubble of a building after the early morning attack. He was wearing pajamas with a Spiderman design. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described Thursday's attack on the village of Hroza as a demonstrably brutal Russian crime." MANAUS, Brazil (AP) Communities dependent on the Amazon rainforest's waterways are stranded without supply of fuel, food or filtered water. Dozens of river dolphins perished and washed up on shore. And thousands of lifeless fish float on the water's surface. These are just the first grim visions of extreme drought sweeping across Brazils Amazon. The historically low water levels have affected hundreds of thousands of people and wildlife and, with experts predicting the drought could last until early 2024, the problems stand to intensify. Raimundo Silva do Carmo, 67, makes his living as a fisherman, but these days has been struggling to simply find water. Like most rural residents in Brazil's Amazon, do Carmo typically retrieves water untreated from the biome's abundant waterways. On Thursday morning, he was making his fourth trip of the day to fill a plastic bucket from a well dug into the cracked bed of Lake Puraquequara, just east of Amazonas state's capital Manaus. Its dreadful work, even more so when the sun is hot, do Carmo told The Associated Press. We use the water to drink, to bathe, to cook. Without water, there is no life. Joaquim Mendes da Silva, a 73-year-old ship carpenter who has lived by the same lake for 43 years, said this drought is the worst he can recall. Area children stopped going to school a month ago because getting there by river became impossible. Eight Brazilian states recorded the lowest rainfall in the period from July to September in over 40 years, according to CEMADEN, Brazil's disaster warning center. The drought has affected most of the main rivers in the Amazon, the worlds largest basin, which accounts for 20% of the planets fresh water. And as of Friday, 42 of 62 municipalities in Amazonas had declared a state of emergency. Some 250,000 people have been affected by the drought so far, and that number may double by year's end, according to the states civil defense authority. In the Auati-Parana Extractive Reserve, about 450 miles west of Lake Puraquequara, over 300 riverine families are struggling to get food and other supplies. Only small canoes with reduced cargo can manage the trip to the closest city, and picking a route through shallow water has pushed travel time from nine hours to 14. Moreover, canals to the lakes where they fish for pirarucu, the Amazons largest fish and their primary source of income, have dried up, and carrying fish that weigh as much as 200 kilograms (about 440 pounds) along trails would be extremely burdensome. We run the risk of catching fish in the lake, and it arrives spoiled. So there is no way for us to fish, said Edvaldo de Lira, the local association president. Dry spells are part of the Amazons cyclical weather pattern, with lighter rainfall from May to October for most of the rainforest. That already low rainfall is being further reduced this year by two climate phenomena: El Nino the natural warming of surface waters in the Equatorial Pacific region and the warming of northern tropical Atlantic Ocean waters, said Ana Paula Cunha, a CEMADEN researcher. Global warming, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, is the backdrop of these intensified phenomena. Rising temperatures increase the likelihood of extreme weather, although attribution of specific events to climate change is complex and requires in-depth study. Still, as global temperatures continue to rise and the effects of climate change become more severe, the drought and its devastating consequences may be a glimpse into a bleak future, experts say. Average global temperatures soared to a record in September. Crushing heat waves have swept across large swathes of Brazil these past months, though it was winter. In its southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, devastating floods killed dozens. Droughts have become more frequent in the Amazons Madeira River, whose basin extends some 2,000 miles from Bolivia to Brazil, with four of the five lowest river levels recorded in the past four years, said Marcus Suassuna Santos, a researcher with the Geological Survey of Brazil. The Madeira's level at Porto Velho is the lowest since measurements began in 1967. Nearby, Brazils fourth-largest hydroelectric dam, Santo Antonio plant, halted operations this week due to the lack of water. It's the first time that happened since it opened in 2012. Further north, in the Negro River basin, a different pattern has emerged. The Amazons main tributary has had seven of its largest floods in the past 11 years, with the worst in 2021. But the Negro River, too, is headed toward its lowest-ever water levels this year. We are already living a scenario of an altered climate that oscillates between extreme events, either of drought or heavy rains. This has very serious consequences not only for the environment, but also for people and the economy, said Ane Alencar, science director for the Amazon Environmental Research Institute, or IPAM, a nonprofit. I think there is a very high chance that what we are living now, the oscillation, is the new normal, Alencar added. Brazil's government has created a task force to coordinate a response. Ministers of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvas government visited Manaus on Tuesday. Vice President Geraldo Alckmin promised food, drinking water and fuel to isolated communities, and said payments of the Bolsa Familia welfare program would be made in advance. Dredging on stretches of two rivers Solimoes and Madeira is in the works to improve navigability. Heat, along with the falling rivers, is suspected in the deaths of more than 140 dolphins in Lake Tefe, around 300 miles east of Manaus, rocketed into headlines in Brazil and beyond, along with images of vultures picking at their beached carcasses. Excessive heat may have caused organ failure, said Ayan Fleischmann, a hydrologist at the Mamiraua Sustainable Development Institute. Another hypothesis is bacteria, with abnormally warm waters acting as an additional stress factor. It is an unprecedented tragedy. Here in the region, no one had ever seen anything like it, said Fleischmann. It was a shock for everyone. Rainfall is forecast to be below average until the end of the year, according to the National Institute for Space Research. The drought's impact is already rippling beyond the Amazon's waterways, and into the rainforest. Areas of forest along the riverbanks accumulate a thick layer of leaf litter, which makes them particularly susceptible to wildfire, said Flavia Costa, a researcher at the National Institute of Amazonian Research. In Amazonas state, nearly 7,000 fires were reported in September alone, the second-highest figure for the month since satellite monitoring began in 1998. The resulting smoke is choking Manaus' more than 2 million inhabitants who are also experiencing sweltering heat. Last Sunday the city recorded its hottest temperature since regular measurements began in 1910. The increased frequency of extreme weather events heightens the need for coordination between the federal, regional and municipal governments to prepare and create a system of alerts to mitigate impacts. From now on," Alencar said, things will get worse. AP reporters Fabiano Maisonnave contributed from Brasilia, and Eleonore Hughes and Diane Jeantet from Rio de Janeiro. Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Privium Fund Management B.V. acquired a new position in Provident Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 33,276 shares of the savings and loans companys stock, valued at approximately $555,000. Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Federated Hermes Inc. raised its position in Provident Financial Services by 132.8% in the 3rd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 1,867 shares of the savings and loans companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 1,065 shares during the last quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. raised its position in shares of Provident Financial Services by 35.7% during the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 1,785 shares of the savings and loans companys stock valued at $42,000 after acquiring an additional 470 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Middle East FZE bought a new stake in shares of Provident Financial Services during the 4th quarter valued at $43,000. First Manhattan Co. raised its position in shares of Provident Financial Services by 106.8% during the 4th quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 2,130 shares of the savings and loans companys stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 1,100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Provident Financial Services by 183.2% during the 2nd quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 2,829 shares of the savings and loans companys stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 1,830 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 72.31% of the companys stock. Get Provident Financial Services alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In PFS has been the subject of several recent research reports. Piper Sandler upgraded shares of Provident Financial Services from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $20.00 target price for the company in a research report on Tuesday, August 22nd. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Provident Financial Services in a research report on Thursday. They set a sell rating for the company. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Provident Financial Services from $21.00 to $22.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, July 31st. Provident Financial Services Price Performance PFS opened at $15.08 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. Provident Financial Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $14.54 and a 12 month high of $24.58. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $16.47 and a 200 day simple moving average of $17.05. The stock has a market cap of $1.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.82 and a beta of 0.99. Provident Financial Services (NYSE:PFS Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The savings and loans company reported $0.45 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.36 by $0.09. Provident Financial Services had a net margin of 25.76% and a return on equity of 10.36%. The business had revenue of $118.49 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $124.55 million. On average, research analysts expect that Provident Financial Services, Inc. will post 1.81 EPS for the current year. Provident Financial Services Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 25th. Investors of record on Friday, August 11th were given a $0.24 dividend. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.37%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 10th. Provident Financial Servicess dividend payout ratio is currently 43.44%. Insider Activity at Provident Financial Services In related news, EVP Walter Sierotko bought 6,300 shares of Provident Financial Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 13th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $15.66 per share, with a total value of $98,658.00. Following the purchase, the executive vice president now owns 14,100 shares in the company, valued at $220,806. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 4.29% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Provident Financial Services Profile (Free Report) Provident Financial Services, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Provident Bank that provides various banking products and services to individuals, families, and businesses in the United States. Its deposit products include savings, checking, interest-bearing checking, money market deposit, and certificate of deposit accounts, as well as IRA products. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PFS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Provident Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Provident Financial Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Provident Financial Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to investors, even if it currently lacks a track record of revenue and profit. Unfortunately, these high risk investments often have little probability of ever paying off, and many investors pay a price to learn their lesson. Loss making companies can act like a sponge for capital - so investors should be cautious that they're not throwing good money after bad. If this kind of company isn't your style, you like companies that generate revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested in Japan Foods Holding (Catalist:5OI). Even if this company is fairly valued by the market, investors would agree that generating consistent profits will continue to provide Japan Foods Holding with the means to add long-term value to shareholders. View our latest analysis for Japan Foods Holding How Fast Is Japan Foods Holding Growing? The market is a voting machine in the short term, but a weighing machine in the long term, so you'd expect share price to follow earnings per share (EPS) outcomes eventually. So it makes sense that experienced investors pay close attention to company EPS when undertaking investment research. Japan Foods Holding's shareholders have have plenty to be happy about as their annual EPS growth for the last 3 years was 59%. That sort of growth rarely ever lasts long, but it is well worth paying attention to when it happens. It's often helpful to take a look at earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company's growth. The good news is that Japan Foods Holding is growing revenues, and EBIT margins improved by 10.8 percentage points to 4.7%, over the last year. That's great to see, on both counts. You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. For finer detail, click on the image. Story continues Since Japan Foods Holding is no giant, with a market capitalisation of S$71m, you should definitely check its cash and debt before getting too excited about its prospects. Are Japan Foods Holding Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders? Seeing insiders owning a large portion of the shares on issue is often a good sign. Their incentives will be aligned with the investors and there's less of a probability in a sudden sell-off that would impact the share price. So we're pleased to report that Japan Foods Holding insiders own a meaningful share of the business. Indeed, with a collective holding of 80%, company insiders are in control and have plenty of capital behind the venture. 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 S$57m invested in the business, at the current share price. So there's plenty there to keep them focused! Should You Add Japan Foods Holding To Your Watchlist? Japan Foods Holding's earnings have taken off in quite an impressive fashion. That EPS growth certainly is attention grabbing, and the large insider ownership only serves to further stoke our interest. The hope is, of course, that the strong growth marks a fundamental improvement in the business economics. Based on the sum of its parts, we definitely think its worth watching Japan Foods Holding very closely. Still, you should learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with Japan Foods Holding (including 1 which is a bit concerning). The beauty of investing is that you can invest in almost any company you want. But if you prefer to focus on stocks that have demonstrated insider buying, here is a list of companies with insider buying in the last three months. 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. Patten Group Inc. cut its stake in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN Free Report) by 8.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,220 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 215 shares during the period. Patten Group Inc.s holdings in Accenture were worth $685,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of ACN. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Accenture during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,850,765,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in Accenture by 101,214.0% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,040,402 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,078,141,000 after buying an additional 4,036,414 shares during the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp purchased a new position in Accenture during the 1st quarter worth approximately $638,488,000. Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in shares of Accenture by 14.9% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 16,642,841 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $4,440,976,000 after purchasing an additional 2,163,582 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in shares of Accenture by 21.7% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 11,535,663 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $3,297,009,000 after purchasing an additional 2,060,646 shares in the last quarter. 70.42% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Accenture alerts: Accenture Trading Up 0.8 % Shares of ACN stock opened at $312.19 on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $315.13 and its 200-day moving average price is $301.76. The stock has a market cap of $207.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.99, a PEG ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 1.22. Accenture plc has a twelve month low of $242.80 and a twelve month high of $330.43. Accenture ( NYSE:ACN Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, September 28th. The information technology services provider reported $2.71 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.65 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $15.99 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.07 billion. Accenture had a net margin of 10.72% and a return on equity of 29.74%. The companys revenue was up 3.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.60 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Accenture plc will post 12.11 EPS for the current year. Accenture announced that its board has authorized a share buyback program on Thursday, September 28th that permits the company to buyback $4.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the information technology services provider to purchase up to 2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually a sign that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued. Accenture Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 12th will be given a $1.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 11th. This represents a $5.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.65%. This is a boost from Accentures previous quarterly dividend of $1.12. Accentures dividend payout ratio is presently 41.60%. Insider Buying and Selling at Accenture In other Accenture news, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 7,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $320.60, for a total value of $2,244,200.00. Following the transaction, the general counsel now owns 36,034 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,552,500.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Accenture news, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 7,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $320.60, for a total transaction of $2,244,200.00. Following the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 36,034 shares in the company, valued at $11,552,500.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 2,930 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $316.23, for a total transaction of $926,553.90. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 21,982 shares in the company, valued at $6,951,367.86. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 24,430 shares of company stock valued at $7,735,251 over the last 90 days. 0.08% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms have recently weighed in on ACN. StockNews.com lowered shares of Accenture from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, September 29th. Piper Sandler cut their target price on shares of Accenture from $312.00 to $300.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 29th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $340.00 target price on shares of Accenture in a report on Friday, September 29th. Wedbush reissued an outperform rating and issued a $330.00 price target on shares of Accenture in a report on Tuesday, September 26th. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut their price target on shares of Accenture from $332.00 to $322.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 29th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $333.24. Get Our Latest Report on ACN Accenture Profile (Free Report) Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, interactive, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management, intelligent automation comprises robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents, and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprises turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Accenture Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Accenture and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AM Investment Strategies LLC raised its holdings in shares of The Southern Company (NYSE:SO Free Report) by 2.3% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 15,762 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 355 shares during the quarter. AM Investment Strategies LLCs holdings in Southern were worth $1,107,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. MRP Capital Investments LLC purchased a new position in Southern during the 1st quarter valued at about $30,000. Sanctuary Wealth Management L.L.C. purchased a new position in Southern during the 2nd quarter valued at about $34,000. TD Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Southern by 122.0% during the first quarter. TD Capital Management LLC now owns 546 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Cascade Investment Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Southern during the first quarter worth about $42,000. Finally, Dark Forest Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of Southern during the first quarter worth about $43,000. 62.85% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Southern alerts: Southern Trading Up 0.6 % Shares of SO stock opened at $64.97 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $70.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.51 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59. The Southern Company has a fifty-two week low of $58.85 and a fifty-two week high of $75.80. The firms 50 day moving average price is $68.08 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $70.19. Southern Dividend Announcement Southern ( NYSE:SO Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The utilities provider reported $0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $5.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.47 billion. Southern had a net margin of 11.17% and a return on equity of 9.86%. Southerns revenue was down 20.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.07 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that The Southern Company will post 3.6 EPS for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 21st were paid a dividend of $0.70 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 18th. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.31%. Southerns dividend payout ratio is currently 98.94%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have recently commented on SO. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH began coverage on shares of Southern in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. They set a buy rating and a $72.00 price target for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Southern from a buy rating to a conviction-buy rating in a report on Monday, July 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Southern from $78.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, September 6th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Southern from $67.00 to $69.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, September 21st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Southern from $75.00 to $74.00 in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $73.00. Get Our Latest Research Report on Southern Insider Activity In other news, CEO Kimberly S. Greene sold 20,000 shares of Southern stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.62, for a total transaction of $1,452,400.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 98,659 shares in the company, valued at $7,164,616.58. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, CEO Kimberly S. Greene sold 20,000 shares of Southern stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.62, for a total transaction of $1,452,400.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 98,659 shares in the company, valued at $7,164,616.58. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 5,000 shares of Southern stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $69.70, for a total transaction of $348,500.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 126,284 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,801,994.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 41,490 shares of company stock worth $2,934,355 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.28% of the companys stock. About Southern (Free Report) The Southern Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. It operates through three segments: Gas Distribution Operations, Gas Pipeline Investments, and Gas Marketing Services. The company also develops, constructs, acquires, owns, and manages power generation assets, including renewable energy projects and sells electricity in the wholesale market; and distributes natural gas in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee, as well as provides gas marketing services, gas distribution operations, and gas pipeline investments operations. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Southern Company (NYSE:SO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Southern Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southern and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arlington Partners LLC purchased a new stake in JPMorgan BetaBuilders Europe ETF (BATS:BBEU Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 5,529 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $299,000. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Optimum Investment Advisors purchased a new stake in JPMorgan BetaBuilders Europe ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. Bogart Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in JPMorgan BetaBuilders Europe ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. National Bank of Canada FI purchased a new stake in JPMorgan BetaBuilders Europe ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $43,000. Spire Wealth Management raised its position in JPMorgan BetaBuilders Europe ETF by 43.6% in the 1st quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 1,315 shares of the companys stock valued at $70,000 after purchasing an additional 399 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AdvisorNet Financial Inc purchased a new stake in JPMorgan BetaBuilders Europe ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $83,000. Get JPMorgan BetaBuilders Europe ETF alerts: JPMorgan BetaBuilders Europe ETF Stock Performance BBEU stock opened at $50.74 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $52.58 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $53.69. The stock has a market cap of $6.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.98 and a beta of 0.93. About JPMorgan BetaBuilders Europe ETF The JPMorgan BetaBuilders Europe ETF (BBEU) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund tracks a market cap-weighted index of large- and mid-cap stocks in developed European countries. BBEU was launched on Jun 15, 2018 and is managed by JPMorgan Chase. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for JPMorgan BetaBuilders Europe ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JPMorgan BetaBuilders Europe ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cadinha & Co. LLC boosted its holdings in Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT Free Report) by 22.1% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 4,798 shares of the retailers stock after buying an additional 869 shares during the quarter. Cadinha & Co. LLCs holdings in Walmart were worth $754,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Cozad Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Walmart by 17.2% in the second quarter. Cozad Asset Management Inc. now owns 22,662 shares of the retailers stock worth $3,562,000 after acquiring an additional 3,323 shares during the period. Forum Financial Management LP grew its position in Walmart by 2.6% in the 2nd quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 19,723 shares of the retailers stock worth $3,100,000 after purchasing an additional 499 shares during the period. RIA Advisory Group LLC raised its stake in Walmart by 9.0% during the 2nd quarter. RIA Advisory Group LLC now owns 33,049 shares of the retailers stock valued at $5,195,000 after buying an additional 2,723 shares during the last quarter. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in Walmart by 4.8% during the 2nd quarter. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,496 shares of the retailers stock valued at $235,000 after buying an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. Finally, McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Walmart by 6.2% in the 2nd quarter. McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. now owns 6,816 shares of the retailers stock worth $1,071,000 after buying an additional 397 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 33.18% of the companys stock. Get Walmart alerts: Insider Transactions at Walmart In related news, EVP John D. Rainey sold 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $159.48, for a total value of $159,480.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 170,735 shares of the companys stock, valued at $27,228,817.80. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, EVP John D. Rainey sold 1,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $159.48, for a total transaction of $159,480.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 170,735 shares in the company, valued at approximately $27,228,817.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO C Douglas Mcmillon sold 9,708 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $159.58, for a total value of $1,549,202.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,480,924 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $236,325,851.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 31,166 shares of company stock valued at $5,011,557 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 46.51% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth WMT has been the subject of a number of research reports. Credit Suisse Group upped their price objective on Walmart from $170.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, August 11th. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $210.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Walmart from $165.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, August 18th. BNP Paribas assumed coverage on shares of Walmart in a research report on Monday, June 12th. They set an outperform rating and a $186.00 target price for the company. Finally, Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Walmart from $174.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, August 21st. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirty have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $177.22. Read Our Latest Report on Walmart Walmart Stock Performance Shares of NYSE WMT opened at $156.41 on Friday. The firms fifty day moving average is $160.74 and its two-hundred day moving average is $154.94. Walmart Inc. has a 52-week low of $128.07 and a 52-week high of $165.85. The company has a market cap of $420.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.08, a P/E/G ratio of 3.69 and a beta of 0.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 0.26 and a current ratio of 0.83. Walmart (NYSE:WMT Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 17th. The retailer reported $1.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.69 by $0.15. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.47% and a net margin of 2.23%. The firm had revenue of $161.63 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $160.22 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.77 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc. will post 6.44 EPS for the current fiscal year. About Walmart (Free Report) Walmart Inc engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, and other units worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. It operates supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, and discount stores under Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands; membership-only warehouse clubs; ecommerce websites, such as walmart.com, walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, and samsclub.com; and mobile commerce applications. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WMT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Walmart Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Walmart and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Barclays lowered shares of Cellnex Telecom (OTCMKTS:CLLNY Free Report) from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, FlyOnTheWall reports. Cellnex Telecom Stock Up 0.6 % Shares of OTCMKTS:CLLNY opened at $15.64 on Wednesday. Cellnex Telecom has a twelve month low of $13.56 and a twelve month high of $22.00. The stocks 50 day moving average is $18.65 and its 200-day moving average is $19.68. Get Cellnex Telecom alerts: About Cellnex Telecom (Get Free Report) See Also Cellnex Telecom SA engages in the operation of wireless telecommunications and broadcasting infrastructures. Its business activities include rental of sites for telecom operators, broadcast infrastructure activity, and other network services. It operates through the following segments: Telecom Infrastructure Services, Broadcasting Infrastructure and Other Network Services. Receive News & Ratings for Cellnex Telecom Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cellnex Telecom and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eagle Capital Management LLC trimmed its position in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN Free Report) by 0.3% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 19,455 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 49 shares during the period. Accenture comprises about 3.4% of Eagle Capital Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 13th largest position. Eagle Capital Management LLCs holdings in Accenture were worth $6,003,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ACN. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Accenture in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,850,765,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 101,214.0% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,040,402 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,078,141,000 after acquiring an additional 4,036,414 shares during the period. Mackenzie Financial Corp purchased a new position in shares of Accenture during the 1st quarter worth about $638,488,000. Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 14.9% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 16,642,841 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $4,440,976,000 after acquiring an additional 2,163,582 shares during the period. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 21.7% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 11,535,663 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $3,297,009,000 after acquiring an additional 2,060,646 shares during the period. 70.42% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Accenture alerts: Accenture Price Performance Shares of ACN opened at $312.19 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $315.13 and its 200 day moving average price is $301.76. Accenture plc has a 12-month low of $242.80 and a 12-month high of $330.43. The stock has a market capitalization of $207.50 billion, a PE ratio of 28.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 1.22. Accenture Increases Dividend Accenture ( NYSE:ACN Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, September 28th. The information technology services provider reported $2.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.65 by $0.06. Accenture had a net margin of 10.72% and a return on equity of 29.74%. The company had revenue of $15.99 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.07 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.60 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 3.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Accenture plc will post 12.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 12th will be issued a $1.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 11th. This represents a $5.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.65%. This is an increase from Accentures previous quarterly dividend of $1.12. Accentures dividend payout ratio is presently 41.60%. Accenture announced that its board has initiated a stock buyback program on Thursday, September 28th that authorizes the company to buyback $4.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the information technology services provider to buy up to 2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often an indication that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Accenture from $340.00 to $356.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, September 12th. TD Cowen cut their price objective on shares of Accenture from $312.00 to $300.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 29th. Citigroup restated a buy rating and issued a $358.00 price target on shares of Accenture in a report on Monday, September 18th. Robert W. Baird cut their price target on shares of Accenture from $332.00 to $322.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 29th. Finally, Societe Generale raised their price target on shares of Accenture from $314.00 to $373.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, July 7th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $333.24. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Accenture Insider Buying and Selling In related news, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 7,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $320.60, for a total value of $2,244,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now owns 36,034 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,552,500.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Accenture news, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 2,930 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $316.23, for a total value of $926,553.90. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 21,982 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,951,367.86. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 7,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $320.60, for a total transaction of $2,244,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 36,034 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,552,500.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 24,430 shares of company stock valued at $7,735,251 over the last 90 days. 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. About Accenture (Free Report) Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, interactive, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management, intelligent automation comprises robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents, and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprises turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Accenture Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Accenture and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Forum Financial Management LP lifted its holdings in Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC) by 4.5% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 95,712 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 4,163 shares during the quarter. Forum Financial Management LPs holdings in Bank of America were worth $2,746,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Old North State Trust LLC raised its holdings in Bank of America by 1.8% during the first quarter. Old North State Trust LLC now owns 23,584 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $675,000 after purchasing an additional 420 shares during the last quarter. Arkfeld Wealth Strategies L.L.C. raised its holdings in Bank of America by 1.8% during the second quarter. Arkfeld Wealth Strategies L.L.C. now owns 25,847 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $759,000 after purchasing an additional 446 shares during the last quarter. Lavaca Capital LLC raised its holdings in Bank of America by 7.3% during the first quarter. Lavaca Capital LLC now owns 12,216 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $373,000 after purchasing an additional 828 shares during the last quarter. Independence Bank of Kentucky raised its holdings in Bank of America by 14.2% during the second quarter. Independence Bank of Kentucky now owns 16,685 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $479,000 after purchasing an additional 2,075 shares during the last quarter. Finally, ExodusPoint Capital Management LP acquired a new position in Bank of America during the first quarter worth $1,288,000. 68.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Bank of America alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Bank of America In other Bank of America news, insider James P. Demare sold 75,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.53, for a total transaction of $2,364,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 185,108 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,836,455.24. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Dean C. Athanasia sold 77,806 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.48, for a total value of $2,449,332.88. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 353,971 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,143,007.08. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider James P. Demare sold 75,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.53, for a total value of $2,364,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 185,108 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,836,455.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.27% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Bank of America Stock Performance Bank of America stock opened at $26.07 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $28.93 and a 200 day moving average price of $28.89. Bank of America Co. has a 52 week low of $25.47 and a 52 week high of $38.60. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12. The firm has a market capitalization of $207.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.49, a PEG ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 1.36. Bank of America (NYSE:BAC Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.84 by $0.04. Bank of America had a return on equity of 12.01% and a net margin of 19.97%. The firm had revenue of $25.20 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $24.98 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.73 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Bank of America Co. will post 3.4 earnings per share for the current year. Bank of America Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 1st were given a dividend of $0.24 per share. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.68%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 31st. This is an increase from Bank of Americas previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. Bank of Americas payout ratio is 27.59%. Analyst Ratings Changes BAC has been the subject of several research reports. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on Bank of America from $28.00 to $27.50 and set an underweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 15th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on Bank of America from $41.00 to $40.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Oppenheimer cut their price target on Bank of America from $49.00 to $48.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, September 26th. HSBC began coverage on Bank of America in a report on Thursday, September 7th. They issued a buy rating and a $35.00 price target for the company. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on Bank of America in a report on Thursday. They issued a hold rating for the company. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $35.75. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Bank of America Bank of America Company Profile (Free Report) Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. Its Consumer Banking segment offers traditional and money market savings accounts, certificates of deposit and IRAs, noninterest-and interest-bearing checking accounts, and investment accounts and products; and credit and debit cards, residential mortgages, and home equity loans, as well as direct and indirect loans, such as automotive, recreational vehicle, and consumer personal loans. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BAC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bank of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc purchased a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF (NYSEARCA:IMTM Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 20,109 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $668,000. Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF during the 3rd quarter worth $33,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. acquired a new position in iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF during the first quarter worth about $161,000. Segment Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF during the first quarter worth about $202,000. Oxinas Partners Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF in the second quarter valued at about $205,000. Finally, Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $229,000. Get iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF Price Performance NYSEARCA IMTM opened at $31.47 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $32.30 and a 200 day moving average price of $32.69. The company has a market capitalization of $1.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.82 and a beta of 0.78. iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF has a 1-year low of $26.44 and a 1-year high of $33.95. About iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF The iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF (IMTM) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI World ex USA Momentum index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap stocks from developed countries, ex-US. The momentum-selected stocks are weighted by market cap and momentum. IMTM was launched on Jan 13, 2015 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Godsey & Gibb Inc. lifted its stake in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN Free Report) by 90.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 179 shares of the information technology services providers stock after acquiring an additional 85 shares during the quarter. Godsey & Gibb Inc.s holdings in Accenture were worth $55,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new stake in Accenture during the first quarter worth about $28,000. Barrett & Company Inc. acquired a new stake in Accenture during the 1st quarter worth approximately $29,000. Sageworth Trust Co boosted its position in Accenture by 872.7% in the 1st quarter. Sageworth Trust Co now owns 107 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 96 shares during the period. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Accenture during the first quarter worth $32,000. Finally, First Command Financial Services Inc. raised its stake in shares of Accenture by 131.6% in the first quarter. First Command Financial Services Inc. now owns 132 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.42% of the companys stock. Get Accenture alerts: Accenture Trading Up 0.8 % ACN stock opened at $312.19 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $207.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.99, a PEG ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 1.22. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $315.13 and a 200-day simple moving average of $301.76. Accenture plc has a twelve month low of $242.80 and a twelve month high of $330.43. Accenture ( NYSE:ACN Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, September 28th. The information technology services provider reported $2.71 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.65 by $0.06. Accenture had a net margin of 10.72% and a return on equity of 29.74%. The firm had revenue of $15.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.07 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.60 EPS. Accentures quarterly revenue was up 3.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Accenture plc will post 12.11 EPS for the current fiscal year. Accenture announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, September 28th that allows the company to repurchase $4.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the information technology services provider to buy up to 2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically a sign that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued. Accenture Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 12th will be given a dividend of $1.29 per share. This represents a $5.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.65%. This is a boost from Accentures previous quarterly dividend of $1.12. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 11th. Accentures dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 41.60%. Insider Activity In related news, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 7,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $320.60, for a total transaction of $2,244,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 36,034 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,552,500.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Leonardo Framil sold 3,000 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $311.52, for a total transaction of $934,560.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 16,898 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,264,064.96. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 7,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $320.60, for a total transaction of $2,244,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now owns 36,034 shares in the company, valued at $11,552,500.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 24,430 shares of company stock valued at $7,735,251. Company insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several brokerages have weighed in on ACN. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Accenture from $314.00 to $341.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, August 22nd. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on shares of Accenture from $360.00 to $350.00 in a research note on Friday, September 29th. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on shares of Accenture from $312.00 to $300.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, September 29th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on shares of Accenture from $310.00 to $343.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 15th. Finally, TD Cowen cut their price target on Accenture from $312.00 to $300.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 29th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $333.24. View Our Latest Analysis on ACN Accenture Company Profile (Free Report) Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, interactive, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management, intelligent automation comprises robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents, and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprises turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ACN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Accenture Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Accenture and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Grace & White Inc. NY reduced its holdings in Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE:INGR Free Report) by 0.1% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 149,741 shares of the companys stock after selling 200 shares during the period. Ingredion comprises approximately 2.9% of Grace & White Inc. NYs portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest holding. Grace & White Inc. NYs holdings in Ingredion were worth $15,865,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale lifted its holdings in shares of Ingredion by 3.5% in the 2nd quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 266,453 shares of the companys stock worth $27,763,000 after purchasing an additional 9,010 shares during the last quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue lifted its stake in Ingredion by 215.5% in the second quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 28,553 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,024,000 after buying an additional 19,503 shares during the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Ingredion by 534.8% during the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 122,572 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,987,000 after acquiring an additional 103,263 shares during the period. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. bought a new position in shares of Ingredion during the second quarter worth about $2,471,000. Finally, Aspire Private Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of Ingredion by 36.7% in the 2nd quarter. Aspire Private Capital LLC now owns 1,665 shares of the companys stock worth $176,000 after acquiring an additional 447 shares during the period. 84.80% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Ingredion alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other Ingredion news, SVP Larry Fernandes sold 1,921 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.01, for a total value of $211,329.21. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 20,246 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,227,262.46. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, SVP David Eric Seip bought 3,000 shares of Ingredion stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 5th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $98.50 per share, with a total value of $295,500.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the senior vice president now directly owns 18,035 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,776,447.50. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Larry Fernandes sold 1,921 shares of Ingredion stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.01, for a total value of $211,329.21. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 20,246 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,227,262.46. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 4,700 shares of company stock worth $517,297. Corporate insiders own 1.68% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets INGR has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on shares of Ingredion from $125.00 to $117.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. StockNews.com started coverage on Ingredion in a research report on Thursday. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Stephens reiterated an overweight rating and set a $130.00 price target on shares of Ingredion in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. Finally, Oppenheimer assumed coverage on Ingredion in a research note on Thursday, September 28th. They issued an outperform rating and a $120.00 price target for the company. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Ingredion presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $119.33. Check Out Our Latest Report on Ingredion Ingredion Stock Performance Shares of NYSE INGR opened at $94.25 on Friday. Ingredion Incorporated has a 1 year low of $79.68 and a 1 year high of $113.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a current ratio of 1.92. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $101.00 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $104.44. The firm has a market cap of $6.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.00, a PEG ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 0.79. Ingredion (NYSE:INGR Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $2.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.33 by ($0.01). Ingredion had a return on equity of 17.63% and a net margin of 6.99%. The firm had revenue of $2.07 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.20 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.12 earnings per share. Ingredions revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Ingredion Incorporated will post 8.99 EPS for the current fiscal year. Ingredion Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 24th. Investors of record on Monday, October 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.78 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 29th. This is a positive change from Ingredions previous quarterly dividend of $0.71. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.31%. Ingredions dividend payout ratio is currently 36.41%. About Ingredion (Free Report) Ingredion Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells sweeteners, starches, nutrition ingredients, and biomaterial solutions derived from wet milling and processing corn, and other starch-based materials to a range of industries in North America, South America, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding INGR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE:INGR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Ingredion Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ingredion and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TAIWAN, - (NewMediaWire) - October 8, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - Following the success of its inaugural edition, the second Electronics Asia Conference (EAC), a virtual conference and exhibition organized by AspenCore, the publisher of EE Times Asia, EE Times India, and EDN Asia, is set to take place from October 17 to 19, 2023. With the theme "Strengthening Asia's Semiconductor Manufacturing Ecosystem," EAC 2023 aims to highlight the latest technology trends, innovations, and strategic insights within the electronics and semiconductor industry in Asia. The global semiconductor industry reversed its five straight quarters of decline by registering a 3.4% revenue growth in the second quarter of 2023, according to Omdia. Driving the turnaround are the wireless segment, the automotive electronics sector, and artificial intelligence (AI), mainly due to growing demand for generative AI and data processing chips in the server space. According to International Data Corp. (IDC), spending on AIincluding software, services, and hardware for AI-centric systemsin the Asia-Pacific region is expected to reach $78.4 billion in 2027, reflecting a shift toward adopting cutting-edge technologies to transform operations and maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly changing market. Meanwhile, the increasing adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies is fueling the automation and digitalization trends in the industrial space, thereby stimulating demand for Internet of Things (IoT) and embedded systems, as more manufacturers embrace smarter manufacturing. These key trends are among the many developments driving Asia's electronics and semiconductor supply chain. EAC 2023 will put the spotlight on technology innovations that are driving the latest developments and new applications in sectors including IoT, AI/ML, embedded systems, industrial automation, smart manufacturing, the wireless sector, and the electronics and semiconductor supply chain. The event will feature a virtual fairground, an exhibition hall, and a conference space, similar to a live exhibition and conference. Story continues Confirmed companies presenting at the virtual conference include Arm, Applied Materials Inc., Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), Cadence Design Systems Inc., Cambridge GaN Devices, Chip 1 Exchange, GaN Systems Inc., Infineon Technologies AG, Merck Electronics, Molex, Navitas Semiconductor, proteanTecs, NXP Semiconductors, MosChip Technologies Ltd, Mouser Electronics Inc., Silicon Laboratories Inc., SCHURTER Group, STMicroelectronics, Synopsys Inc., Tektronix, and Texas Instruments Inc. For more information and to register, visit https://ve.eetasia.com/eac2023. About AspenCore AspenCore is a unique collection of brands and products that have set the standard in meeting the demands of today's engineers. We reach over 15 million technologists, designers, engineers, and managers. We connect this electronics community to reliable news, authoritative analysis, industry trends, and daily information on new technology. Our brands include EE Times, Electronic Products, EPSNews, ESM China, IoT Times, Power Electronics News, EDN, EEWeb, Electro Schematics, Elektroda.pl, Embedded.com, Planet Analog, and more. For more information, visit https://aspencore.com. Contact Person: Celia Shih Marketing Manager Taiwan/ASEAN Marketing and Circulation Department T: +886 227591366 Ext. 103/222 E: celia.shih@aspencore.com View the original release on www.newmediawire.com JB Capital LLC increased its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 7.7% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 829 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 59 shares during the period. JB Capital LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $389,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in LLY. Albion Financial Group UT grew its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 10.0% in the second quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 1,126 shares of the companys stock valued at $528,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares in the last quarter. Braun Bostich & Associates Inc. bought a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the second quarter valued at $200,000. NatWest Group plc grew its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 1.2% in the second quarter. NatWest Group plc now owns 16,685 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,825,000 after purchasing an additional 193 shares in the last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp grew its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 52.5% in the second quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 366,438 shares of the companys stock valued at $171,852,000 after purchasing an additional 126,074 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc bought a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the second quarter valued at $131,000. 81.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $360.00 to $525.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 26th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $500.00 to $590.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $385.00 to $470.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Thursday. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $490.00 to $580.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and twenty have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Eli Lilly and Company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $537.13. Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance NYSE LLY opened at $565.22 on Friday. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52-week low of $309.20 and a 52-week high of $601.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 1.13. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $542.00 and a 200-day moving average of $462.36. The stock has a market cap of $536.56 billion, a PE ratio of 78.61, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.33. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $2.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.13. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 22.01% and a return on equity of 65.00%. The business had revenue of $8.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.58 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.25 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 28.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 9.83 EPS for the current year. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Eli Lilly and Company news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 591 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $466.62, for a total value of $275,772.42. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 101,028,219 shares in the company, valued at approximately $47,141,787,549.78. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 591 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $466.62, for a total value of $275,772.42. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 101,028,219 shares in the company, valued at approximately $47,141,787,549.78. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 600 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $546.51, for a total transaction of $327,906.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,378 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,939,130.78. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 693,246 shares of company stock worth $20,948,820,977 in the last quarter. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Eli Lilly and Company Profile (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. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LLY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report). 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. Raub Brock Capital Management LP decreased its stake in shares of Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI Free Report) (TSE:CNR) by 0.2% during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 165,771 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 380 shares during the quarter. Canadian National Railway accounts for 3.8% of Raub Brock Capital Management LPs holdings, making the stock its 16th largest position. Raub Brock Capital Management LPs holdings in Canadian National Railway were worth $20,070,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its holdings in shares of Canadian National Railway by 0.9% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 20,375,062 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $2,400,975,000 after purchasing an additional 188,460 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Canadian National Railway by 2.8% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,007,681 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $2,683,831,000 after acquiring an additional 554,280 shares in the last quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec boosted its position in shares of Canadian National Railway by 5.3% during the 1st quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 12,333,700 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,655,948,000 after acquiring an additional 625,000 shares in the last quarter. Jarislowsky Fraser Ltd boosted its position in shares of Canadian National Railway by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. Jarislowsky Fraser Ltd now owns 9,556,511 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,126,080,000 after acquiring an additional 70,386 shares in the last quarter. Finally, 1832 Asset Management L.P. boosted its position in shares of Canadian National Railway by 0.9% during the 1st quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 8,513,991 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,004,396,000 after acquiring an additional 75,087 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 67.60% of the companys stock. Get Canadian National Railway alerts: Canadian National Railway Trading Up 0.5 % Shares of NYSE CNI opened at $107.12 on Friday. Canadian National Railway has a 1-year low of $103.79 and a 1-year high of $129.89. The company has a market cap of $70.01 billion, a PE ratio of 18.34, a P/E/G ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. The company has a 50-day moving average of $112.62 and a two-hundred day moving average of $116.22. Canadian National Railway Increases Dividend Canadian National Railway ( NYSE:CNI Get Free Report ) (TSE:CNR) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The transportation company reported $1.31 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.37 by ($0.06). Canadian National Railway had a return on equity of 24.62% and a net margin of 30.21%. The company had revenue of $3.02 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.13 billion. As a group, equities analysts expect that Canadian National Railway will post 5.46 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 8th were paid a $0.5996 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 7th. This is an increase from Canadian National Railways previous quarterly dividend of $0.58. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.24%. Canadian National Railways payout ratio is currently 39.73%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages have recently weighed in on CNI. Scotiabank decreased their target price on shares of Canadian National Railway from C$172.00 to C$170.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on shares of Canadian National Railway from C$177.00 to C$175.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 26th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Canadian National Railway in a research report on Thursday. They set a hold rating on the stock. Stephens decreased their target price on shares of Canadian National Railway from $124.00 to $122.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 26th. Finally, Susquehanna reduced their price target on shares of Canadian National Railway from $120.00 to $112.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Canadian National Railway has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $145.65. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on CNI Canadian National Railway Company Profile (Free Report) 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. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CNI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI Free Report) (TSE:CNR). Receive News & Ratings for Canadian National Railway Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian National Railway and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Founders Capital Management LLC lessened its stake in The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO Free Report) by 2.3% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 142,776 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,432 shares during the period. Coca-Cola accounts for approximately 1.9% of Founders Capital Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 16th largest position. Founders Capital Management LLCs holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $8,598,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in KO. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in shares of Coca-Cola in the 1st quarter valued at $77,000. Merit Financial Group LLC increased its stake in Coca-Cola by 16.7% in the first quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 12,227 shares of the companys stock valued at $758,000 after purchasing an additional 1,754 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 41.4% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 149,275 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,255,000 after buying an additional 43,680 shares during the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC boosted its stake in shares of Coca-Cola by 385.3% during the first quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 19,032 shares of the companys stock worth $1,180,000 after buying an additional 15,110 shares during the period. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp grew its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 11.9% during the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 2,840,557 shares of the companys stock worth $176,115,000 after buying an additional 301,804 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.96% of the companys stock. Get Coca-Cola alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts have weighed in on KO shares. Barclays increased their price objective on Coca-Cola from $69.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, July 28th. StockNews.com began coverage on Coca-Cola in a report on Thursday. They set a buy rating for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola from $67.00 to $71.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Wedbush raised their target price on shares of Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $69.00 to $70.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Coca-Cola currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $68.33. Coca-Cola Price Performance Shares of NYSE:KO opened at $53.14 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $229.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.12 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 0.95. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $58.93 and its 200-day simple moving average is $60.84. The Coca-Cola Company has a 12 month low of $51.55 and a 12 month high of $64.99. Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The company reported $0.78 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.72 by $0.06. Coca-Cola had a return on equity of 43.06% and a net margin of 23.81%. The company had revenue of $12 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.74 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.70 earnings per share. Coca-Colas quarterly revenue was up 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts forecast that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Coca-Cola Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th were given a dividend of $0.46 per share. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. Coca-Colas payout ratio is currently 75.72%. Insider Buying and Selling at Coca-Cola In other news, SVP Beatriz R. Perez sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.66, for a total transaction of $3,133,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 143,383 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,984,378.78. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other Coca-Cola news, CEO James Quincey sold 92,029 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $58.09, for a total transaction of $5,345,964.61. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 442,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $25,707,497.14. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Beatriz R. Perez sold 50,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.66, for a total transaction of $3,133,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 143,383 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,984,378.78. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 319,393 shares of company stock valued at $19,467,980 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock. About Coca-Cola (Free Report) The Coca-Cola Company, a beverage company, manufactures, markets, and sells various nonalcoholic beverages worldwide. The company provides sparkling soft drinks, sparkling flavors; water, sports, coffee, and tea; juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverages; and other beverages. It also offers beverage concentrates and syrups, as well as fountain syrups to fountain retailers, such as restaurants and convenience stores. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Coca-Cola Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coca-Cola and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. National Bank of Canada FI increased its position in shares of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD Free Report) (TSE:TD) by 4.1% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 32,041,517 shares of the banks stock after purchasing an additional 1,247,749 shares during the quarter. Toronto-Dominion Bank accounts for approximately 3.6% of National Bank of Canada FIs investment portfolio, making the stock its 2nd largest holding. National Bank of Canada FI owned 1.74% of Toronto-Dominion Bank worth $1,985,259,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in Toronto-Dominion Bank in the first quarter valued at approximately $26,000. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 6.3% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 914,064 shares of the banks stock valued at $72,595,000 after acquiring an additional 54,121 shares during the period. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Toronto-Dominion Bank in the first quarter valued at approximately $200,000. Raymond James Trust N.A. lifted its holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 1.7% in the first quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 9,868 shares of the banks stock valued at $784,000 after acquiring an additional 161 shares during the period. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 21.8% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 12,022 shares of the banks stock valued at $955,000 after acquiring an additional 2,154 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 51.52% of the companys stock. Get Toronto-Dominion Bank alerts: Toronto-Dominion Bank Stock Up 0.8 % Toronto-Dominion Bank stock opened at $58.40 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $105.80 billion, a PE ratio of 10.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.97 and a beta of 0.90. The Toronto-Dominion Bank has a 12 month low of $55.43 and a 12 month high of $70.67. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $61.43 and a 200-day simple moving average of $60.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 1.00. Toronto-Dominion Bank Increases Dividend Toronto-Dominion Bank ( NYSE:TD Get Free Report ) (TSE:TD) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 24th. The bank reported $1.48 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.52 by ($0.04). Toronto-Dominion Bank had a return on equity of 15.17% and a net margin of 15.25%. The firm had revenue of $9.51 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9 billion. On average, analysts anticipate that The Toronto-Dominion Bank will post 6.01 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Investors of record on Friday, October 6th will be given a dividend of $0.725 per share. This represents a $2.90 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.97%. This is a boost from Toronto-Dominion Banks previous quarterly dividend of $0.71. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 5th. Toronto-Dominion Banks payout ratio is presently 49.22%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have issued reports on TD. Barclays decreased their price target on Toronto-Dominion Bank from $84.00 to $82.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 25th. Credit Suisse Group cut their price objective on Toronto-Dominion Bank from $93.00 to $92.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 25th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on Toronto-Dominion Bank from $96.00 to $94.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 25th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Toronto-Dominion Bank in a research report on Thursday. They issued a sell rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $97.71. Read Our Latest Report on TD Toronto-Dominion Bank Profile (Free Report) 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. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TTP Investments Inc. trimmed its position in shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE:WAL Free Report) by 38.0% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 32,905 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 20,171 shares during the quarter. Western Alliance Bancorporation accounts for approximately 0.8% of TTP Investments Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest position. TTP Investments Inc.s holdings in Western Alliance Bancorporation were worth $1,200,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of WAL. Harbour Investments Inc. raised its position in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 400.7% in the 1st quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 696 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 557 shares in the last quarter. Ellevest Inc. raised its position in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 3,163.0% in the 1st quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 881 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 854 shares in the last quarter. Motco acquired a new stake in Western Alliance Bancorporation in the 1st quarter valued at about $32,000. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its position in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 63.8% in the 2nd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 932 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 363 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Advisory Services Network LLC raised its position in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 118.2% in the 1st quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 993 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 538 shares in the last quarter. 72.04% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Western Alliance Bancorporation alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades WAL has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. UBS Group increased their price target on Western Alliance Bancorporation from $61.00 to $66.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 20th. Stephens reissued an overweight rating and set a $65.00 target price on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on Western Alliance Bancorporation from $55.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, July 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Western Alliance Bancorporation from $53.00 to $60.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 20th. Finally, Piper Sandler reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $60.00 price target on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation in a research report on Friday, August 25th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $55.00. Western Alliance Bancorporation Stock Down 0.2 % Western Alliance Bancorporation stock opened at $43.60 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.94, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 0.97. Western Alliance Bancorporation has a 1-year low of $7.46 and a 1-year high of $81.17. The company has a market cap of $4.77 billion, a PE ratio of 5.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.42. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $48.39 and its 200 day moving average price is $40.61. Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE:WAL Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 19th. The financial services provider reported $1.96 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.97 by ($0.01). Western Alliance Bancorporation had a net margin of 24.19% and a return on equity of 20.09%. The business had revenue of $669.30 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $657.14 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.39 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 8.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Western Alliance Bancorporation will post 8.12 EPS for the current fiscal year. Western Alliance Bancorporation Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 25th. Investors of record on Friday, August 11th were issued a dividend of $0.36 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 10th. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.30%. Western Alliance Bancorporations dividend payout ratio is presently 17.29%. About Western Alliance Bancorporation (Free Report) Western Alliance Bancorporation operates as the bank holding company for Western Alliance Bank that provides various banking products and related services primarily in Arizona, California, and Nevada. It operates through Commercial and Consumer Related segments. The company offers deposit products, including checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as fixed-rate and fixed maturity certificates of deposit accounts; demand deposits; and treasury management and residential mortgage products and services. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WAL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE:WAL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Western Alliance Bancorporation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Western Alliance Bancorporation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Violich Capital Management Inc. trimmed its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP Free Report) by 3.2% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,041 shares of the railroad operators stock after selling 100 shares during the quarter. Violich Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $622,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 36.2% during the 4th quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 43,969 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $9,105,000 after buying an additional 11,682 shares in the last quarter. Vise Technologies Inc. raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 14.3% during the 1st quarter. Vise Technologies Inc. now owns 4,388 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $883,000 after buying an additional 548 shares in the last quarter. Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 25.6% in the 1st quarter. Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC now owns 5,046 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $1,016,000 after purchasing an additional 1,028 shares in the last quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 1,933,582 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $389,153,000 after purchasing an additional 21,361 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Hawaiian Bank increased its stake in Union Pacific by 6.9% in the 2nd quarter. First Hawaiian Bank now owns 12,535 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $2,565,000 after purchasing an additional 806 shares in the last quarter. 77.36% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Union Pacific alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes UNP has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Credit Suisse Group raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $235.00 to $262.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on Union Pacific from $228.00 to $260.00 in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $171.00 to $168.00 in a report on Thursday, July 6th. Raymond James raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $230.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada set a $282.00 price objective on Union Pacific and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, September 19th. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $232.97. Insider Activity In other news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $222.83, for a total transaction of $222,830.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 99,378 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,144,399.74. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $222.83, for a total transaction of $222,830.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 99,378 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,144,399.74. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 8,700 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $222.43, for a total value of $1,935,141.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 42,061 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,355,628.23. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.28% of the companys stock. Union Pacific Stock Up 0.9 % NYSE:UNP opened at $202.46 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $123.39 billion, a PE ratio of 18.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 1.12. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $217.80 and a 200-day moving average of $207.20. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $183.69 and a 52 week high of $240.48. The company has a current ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.39. Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 26th. The railroad operator reported $2.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.75 by ($0.18). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 55.03% and a net margin of 27.18%. The business had revenue of $5.96 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.93 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 4.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.37 EPS for the current year. Union Pacific Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 31st were given a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 30th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.57%. Union Pacifics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 47.45%. About Union Pacific (Free Report) Union Pacific Corporation, through its subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad Company, operates in the railroad business in the United States. The company offers transportation services for grain and grain products, fertilizers, food and refrigerated products, and coal and renewables to grain processors, animal feeders, ethanol producers, and other agricultural users; petroleum, and liquid petroleum gases; and construction products, industrial chemicals, plastics, forest products, specialized products, metals and ores, soda ash, and sand, as well as finished automobiles, automotive parts, and merchandise in intermodal containers. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Union Pacific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Union Pacific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Urban Edge Properties (NYSE:UE Free Report) in a report published on Thursday. The firm issued a sell rating on the real estate investment trusts stock. Urban Edge Properties Price Performance Urban Edge Properties stock opened at $14.84 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.99, a quick ratio of 1.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $16.19 and a 200-day simple moving average of $15.30. The stock has a market cap of $1.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 98.93 and a beta of 1.58. Urban Edge Properties has a 12-month low of $12.91 and a 12-month high of $17.68. Get Urban Edge Properties alerts: Urban Edge Properties (NYSE:UE Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The real estate investment trust reported $0.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.28 by ($0.19). Urban Edge Properties had a return on equity of 1.60% and a net margin of 4.07%. The business had revenue of $98.77 million for the quarter. Equities analysts expect that Urban Edge Properties will post 1.19 EPS for the current fiscal year. Urban Edge Properties Announces Dividend Institutional Inflows and Outflows The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th were paid a $0.16 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.31%. Urban Edge Propertiess dividend payout ratio is currently 426.67%. Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in shares of Urban Edge Properties by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 21,255,649 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $327,975,000 after purchasing an additional 68,117 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Urban Edge Properties by 1.5% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 18,343,408 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $244,701,000 after acquiring an additional 272,880 shares during the period. FMR LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Urban Edge Properties by 12.3% in the first quarter. FMR LLC now owns 12,398,603 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $186,723,000 after acquiring an additional 1,358,242 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its position in shares of Urban Edge Properties by 1.0% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 7,107,986 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $94,821,000 after acquiring an additional 68,525 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Westwood Holdings Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Urban Edge Properties by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. now owns 4,924,660 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $75,988,000 after acquiring an additional 61,127 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.02% of the companys stock. About Urban Edge Properties (Get Free Report) Urban Edge Properties is a NYSE listed real estate investment trust focused on owning, managing, acquiring, developing, and redeveloping retail real estate in urban communities, primarily in the Washington, DC to Boston corridor. Urban Edge owns 76 properties totaling 17.2 million square feet of gross leasable area. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Urban Edge Properties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Urban Edge Properties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arlington Partners LLC lessened its stake in Xtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF (NYSEARCA:DBJP Free Report) by 15.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 6,000 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,064 shares during the period. Arlington Partners LLC owned 0.13% of Xtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF worth $353,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in DBJP. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its position in Xtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF by 13.2% during the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 417,518 shares of the companys stock worth $20,061,000 after purchasing an additional 48,788 shares during the period. Flow Traders U.S. LLC increased its position in Xtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF by 27.2% during the 4th quarter. Flow Traders U.S. LLC now owns 53,656 shares of the companys stock worth $2,578,000 after purchasing an additional 11,458 shares during the period. Cookson Peirce & Co. Inc. increased its position in Xtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF by 64.4% during the 1st quarter. Cookson Peirce & Co. Inc. now owns 7,930 shares of the companys stock worth $422,000 after purchasing an additional 3,105 shares during the period. Finally, Partners Capital Investment Group LLP increased its position in Xtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF by 66.1% during the 1st quarter. Partners Capital Investment Group LLP now owns 619,719 shares of the companys stock worth $32,973,000 after purchasing an additional 246,526 shares during the period. Get Xtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF alerts: Xtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF Trading Up 0.9 % NYSEARCA DBJP opened at $59.28 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $302.30 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.44 and a beta of 0.62. The businesss 50 day moving average is $59.62 and its two-hundred day moving average is $57.65. Xtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF has a 12-month low of $46.81 and a 12-month high of $62.65. Xtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF Company Profile The Xtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF (DBJP) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund tracks a market-cap-weighted index of Japanese stocks. The fund is hedged against Japanese yen (JPY) currency fluctuations. DBJP was launched on Jun 9, 2011 and is managed by Xtrackers. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Xtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Xtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. 1 killed and 8 wounded in mass shooting at community center party in Pennsylvania, state police say Elon Musk responded early Saturday to the attacks on Israel conducted by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which could lead to repercussions in the Middle East and beyond. Sorry to see whats happening in Israel, Musk posted on X. I hope there can be peace one day. The Tesla CEO met last month in California with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who spoke to the owner of X (formerly Twitter) about antisemitism on the social media platform. Citizens of Israel, we are at war, Netanyahu said Saturday after the widespread attacks. Not an operation, not a round, at war. Musk also posted the reply war in response to a thread outlining the unfolding violence in Israel, which has resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries across the nation. Videos in the thread purportedly showed rockets being fired from the Gaza Strip, a Hamas infiltrator using a motorized hang glider to enter Israel, and fighters shooting randomly into an Israeli neighborhood from a pickup truck. Early last month, Musk threatened to sue the Anti-Defamation Leaguea leading Jewish civil-rights organizationfor at least $4 billion in damages, blaming the nonprofit for an advertising revenue slump on X. He posted on Sept. 4 that the organization has been trying to kill this platform by falsely accusing it & me of being anti-Semitic. He added, To be super clear, Im pro free speech, but against anti-Semitism of any kind. On Sept. 2, Musk posted, The ADL has done a lot of good work in prior decades, but has been overzealous in recent years & hijacked by woke mind virus. The ADL and other civil rights groups have reported on a rise in extremist content on X after Musk took it over last year and set about dramatically revamping it, including by firing much of its staff. The ADL said in a statement: To be clear, any allegation that ADL has somehow orchestrated a boycott of X or caused billions of dollars of losses to the company or is pulling the strings for other advertisers is false. Indeed, we ourselves were advertising on the platform until the anti-ADL attacks began a few weeks ago. We now are preparing to do so again to bring our important message on fighting hate to X and its users. Story continues ADL director Jonathan Greenblatt said that Musk has amplified messaging from white supremacists and neo-Nazis, but he added that he didnt think the billionaire himself is antisemitic. I cant tell you what Elon thinks. Ive talked to him enough times. I dont think hes an antisemite, Greenblatt told the the Masters of Scale podcast in a Sept. 29 episode. Ive said that publicly. But whats undeniable is the people who he is platforming, who hes privileging with his audience are openly hateful, toxic. And I just find that incredibly troubling. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Festivalgoers, children, soldiers: What we know about the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas September 27 marked nine years since the disappearance of 43 rural teaching students (normalistas) from the town of Ayotzinapa in the southern Mexican state of Guerrero. Relatives of missing Ayotzinapa students; signs read "They were taken alive, we want them back alive." [Photo by Thiago Dezan / CIDH / CC BY 2.0 There remains little doubt that the normalistas, who had commandeered three buses in the City of Iguala in order to attend a protest in Mexico City, were killed through the coordinated actions of a local narcotics gang, the Guerreros Unidos, local, state and federal police, and the Mexican military. They were likely killed because the buses had some of the gangs narcotics on them. At the outset, the Mexican Attorney General (PGR) under former Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, Jesus Murillo Karam, and his office, concocted a coverup story to the effect that the students had been killed by the local gang members, their remains burned at a local garbage dump, and then tossed into an adjoining river. This falsification, which, inverting reality, became known as the historical truth, was aimed at hiding the role of the police and security forces involved, and especially that of the Army. The National Defense Ministry (Sedena) maneuvered from the outset to try to buttress the historical truth, and shield the Iguala infantry battalions and their officers, along with Sedena. itself For example, an attempt was made to conjure up a link between the students and organized crime. On September 27, 2015, retired Gen. Humberto Guillermo Aguilar sent an email to then-Secretary of National Defense Salvador Cienfuegos recommending that he hire experts to support the garbage dump hypothesis. The historical truth may not be accepted, but it cannot be changed, Cienfuegos wrote a Sedena document leaked by the Guacamaya hacking group. As further shown by emails from the Army leaked by the Guacamaya group, in May 2017 Sedena drew up an enemies list of actors averse to the official version of the Ayotzinapa case. Human rights organizations, and prominent journalists, academics and legislators figured prominently in that document. Mexicos current president, the pseudo-left populist Andre Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), was included, because he had demanded that the participation of the Army in the crime be investigated, and that the soldiers involved be punished. The militarys attempted coverup did not succeed. The major role in debunking the historical truth was played by the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI), made up of four experts sent by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to investigate the Ayotzinapa case, and the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team. When AMLO took office in late December 2018, he trumpeted that his first order of business was forming a Presidential Commission for Truth and Access to Justice (Covaj), to be led by his Undersecretary of Human Rights, Alejandro Encinas. He claimed it would get to the bottom of this atrocity, come what may. AMLO ordered that all available information be provided to the investigation. Things did not exactly work out that way. The Commission proceeded at a snails pace, prolonging the anguish of the families of the 43, and effectively snubbing them. In 2019, the PGR ordered the creation of the Special Investigation and Litigation Unit for the Ayotzinapa Case (UEILCA), and a special prosecutor was appointed. A select few were then served up to take the rap. On August 19, 2022, Murillo Karam and his right-hand man Tomas Zeron, now a fugitive from justice, were charged and arrested for the crimes of torturing gang witnesses to force them to lie, the forced disappearance of the normalistas, and acting against the administration of justice. At that time warrants were also requested and issued against 20 local military commanders and military personnel from the 27th and 41st infantry battalions in the city of Iguala, including colonels Rafael Hernandez Nieto and Jose Rodriguez; the latter subsequently promoted to the rank of general. Warrants were also issued as to five administrative and judicial officials from the state of Guerrero; 26 police officials from the nearby municipality of Huitzuco; six from Iguala and one from nearby Cocula; plus 11 state police officials from Guerrero and 14 members of the Guerreros Unidos gang. Conspicuously absent from any scrutiny or prosecution were those who sat at the highest levels of the defense ministry, the military chiefs, or in the national intelligence agency. It would beggar belief to conclude that these layers were not fully informed of the true course of events in 2014, and particularly as to the role of the local military units in the murder of the students. At the bare minimum, they covered up, but they retained impunity. At that same time, on August 18, 2022, Alejandro Encinas issued, to considerable fanfare, the report of the Truth Commission. The report conceded that the persecution and disappearance of the Ayotzinapa 43 was a state crime, involving local officials and military units, and that the government of then President Pena Nieto had pursued a deliberate policy of concealment of the crime and obstruction of justice. But the Covaj report failed to address the roles played in the coverup by Sedena, the military brass, and the national intelligence agency, then known as CISEN. At that time the Attorney Generals Office (FGR) also charged Rodriguez Perez with ordering the killing of some of the 43 normalistas. However, the judge assigned to the case at that time declined to issue a warrant against the general on that charge, instead limiting the charge to engaging in organized crime, that is, for collaborating with the Guerrero Unidos gang. Inexplicably, the FGR itself began to dismantle its special unit in August 2022. It then removed the investigative police it had set aside for that unit, canceled most of the warrants, and otherwise interfered with the work of the special prosecutor, Omar Gomez Trejo. In response Gomez Trejo resigned. According to members of the GIEI, the FGR took this action because the special unit would have begun to investigate officials from the FGR itself, who allegedly participated in acts of torture to fabricate the historical truth. The GIEI warned that Trejos resignation put the future of the Ayotzinapa case at risk, and could delay its resolution for at least three to five years. The GIEI further emphasized the loss of critical knowledge with the departure of Trejo, while also fearing that he would be the subject of reprisals, such as an internal affairs investigation for focusing on military personnel. It is now unclear how many of the subjects of the warrants are currently in custody. But in June of this year, 16 warrants were reactivated, including warrants for Hernandez Nieto and Rodriguez Perez. Hernandez Nieto remains in custody. In late July of this year the GIEI ended its investigation and issued a final report. The GIEI had managed to obtain cell tracking data of key figures such as Rodriguez Perez, and recordings of calls of military and other security personnel involved in the disappearance of the normalistas. The GIEI however was unable to determine the locations of the remains of the deceased, since they had been divided into groups and disposed of at different locations by gang members. In its final report, the GIEI emphasized the resistance of the Mexican state, and most of all the Army, but including the Navy and the federal intelligence agency, to providing all documentation and evidence bearing on the Ayotzinapa events. In its reports, the GIEI concluded that the Navy manipulated the scene at the landfill, and that Sedena 'obtained all information through torture' and falsified arrest warrants. Moreover, at least 26 witnesses of the Iguala case have died or been killed. General Cienfuegos, the Secretary of Defense under Pena Nieto, that is, during the time of the Ayotzinapa killings and coverup, had played a key role in this coverup. Early on in the Ayotzinapa investigation Cienfuegos refused to permit the GIEI access to troops that had been on the scene in Iguala, saying he would not permit his soldiers to be treated like criminals. Cienfuegos in a television interview on October 15, 2015 said: We had nothing to do with it. Why do they want to enter the military installations? The Attorney General's Office did its investigation and did not find any minimal indication of our participation in something illegal. These were boldfaced lies. Cienfuegos himself had criminal ties to narcos in Guerrero. In 2005-2007 he commanded the IXth Military Military Region, headquartered in Acapulco, Guerrero. He allegedly protected the Sinaloa Cartel (headed by Chapo Guzman) and the related Beltran-Leyva Cartel (headed by Guzmans cousins), which controlled the Guerrero region at the time. And clear evidence existed that he was being paid to protect and directly facilitate drug shipments by the H-2 cartel, a Beltran-Leyva offshoot. General Cienfuegos was eventually seized at an airport in the U.S. and held and investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency for drug trafficking and money laundering, protecting drug smuggling corridors and alerting cartel bosses to U.S. enforcement actions. In November 2020, AMLO pressured the U.S. to release Cienfuegos, despite strong evidence against him. In 2021, through then Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, AMLO negotiated the return of Cienfuegos. The Trump administration dropped the charges and returned Cienfuegos to Mexico so that, as a joint U.S.-Mexico statement explained, he may be investigated and, if appropriate, charged under Mexican law. Neither occurred. AMLO falsely claimed that Cienfuegos had been expressly exonerated by the FGR, now headed by AMLOs current PGR Alejandro Gertz Manero. Cienfuegos was a free man. A trial had to be avoided at all costs. It could have implicated other military brass still on duty and exposed the extent of corruption in the armed forces. As a candidate for president AMLO had slammed Mexicos armed forces and the mafia of power that he said controlled them. He accused soldiers of human rights abuses in the countrys bloody drug war and at that time publicly chastised Cienfuegos. AMLO claimed only last year that the military's official policy under previous administrations was to kill them all, i.e. extrajudicial executions, while he has since minimized or outright lied about numerous reports of extrajudicial executions, torture and spying against journalists and human rights advocates by the military under his administration. He reneged on his campaign to end the militarys involvement in fighting drug trafficking, while vastly expanding the role of the armed forces in other civilian matters. AMLO created a National Guard, which now has over 100,000 troops, and gave the military responsibility for recruiting, training and funding the new force. The militarized National Guard has in large part replaced the civilian federal police. Its presence is now ubiquitous throughout the country. The president also assigned the military a contract to build a new international airport outside Mexico City, and the military is building part of a multibillion-dollar tourist train on the Caribbean coast. These projects give the armed forces more independent streams of revenue, opportunities for corruption, and even greater autonomy. The military has taken over ports, airports and customs. It troops play the leading role in oppressing migrants passing through Mexico as they seek to reach the United States. Its budget has expanded by double digits during AMLOs presidency. In sum, AMLO increasingly relies on the Mexican military to rule. These moves reveal an increasingly authoritarian course on AMLOs part, and ultimately his reliance on the military to suppress any threat of working class unrest, and maintain oligarchic rule in Mexico. The extent of AMLOs embrace of the military was vividly illustrated in April when he held a press conference with Gen. Luis Cresencio Sandoval Gonzalez, Mexicos current secretary of defense, the supreme commander of the armed forces. As the GIEI was beginning to publicly lay out the basis for its final report on Ayotzinapa, the two belittled its investigation. Cresencio Sandoval warned that it would be reckless to hold the Army responsible for the disappearance of the normalistas. I have an obligation, he insisted, to take care of the prestige of the Army .... The President chimed in, absurdly describing as conjecture the statement by the members of GIEI that the Army could hide information on the case. AMLO insisted that everything the Defense Secretariat has was delivered, a demonstrably risible claim. Lopez Obrador went on to attack the advisers and lawyers of the relatives of the normalistas, saying he did not trust them. He made clear where his sympathies lie. Even more graphically illustrating the integration of the regime of AMLO and his Morena party with Mexicos military and security forces is the peculiar case of Omar Garcia Harfuch, who was the head of the Federal Police in Guerrero state when the normalistas were disappeared. Mexico Citys mayor, Claudia Sheinbaum, who is now the official candidate for Mexican president of AMLOs Morena party in the upcoming 2024 election, appointed Garcia Harfuch in 2019 as head of the Investigative Police of Mexico Citys now defunct Attorney Generals Office, as well as intelligence coordinator of her Security cabinet. With Sheinbaum vacating the mayors office to run for president, Garcia Harfuch is running as Morenas candidate for mayor to replace her. Definitive documentation and cell phone records now place Garcia Harfuch at a critical meeting in Iguala a week after the normalistas were disappeared, where the historical truth was initially concocted. It also appears that the head of the Guerreros Unidos gang had Harfuchs contact information in his phone book. Yet neither AMLO nor Sheinbaum have called Harfuch and his candidacy for Mexico City mayor into the slightest question. With the amendment of the Postal Act, the German federal government is preparing a massive deterioration of workers working conditions. But the protest on Monday organised by the trade union Verdi is not meant to repel these attacks. The union has long been working behind the scenes to push through restructuring in close collaboration with management at Deutsche Post. It already proved this in February when it stalled the strike at the post office and then imposed severe real-wage losses on the workers. Postal workers rally in Berlin on February 6 The Postal Act regulates the framework conditions for postal and parcel services in Germany. It could set minimum standards regarding wages and working conditions for all licensed companies and so put an end to the outrageous exploitative conditions in parcels delivery in particular. For example, lower working hours, higher minimum wages and maximum parcel weights for one-person handling could be set, to which all companies would have to adhere. This would also require the introduction of a licensing requirement for companies in the parcels sector, which so far only exists for letters. But the government is planning the exact opposite of this. It wants to use the move to digitalisation and from letters to parcels to abolish the last regulations and intensify exploitation. There is no draft of the law yet, but in the key points released in January of this year, the Ministry of Economics already stated that the licensing requirement in the letters sector makes market access for letter service providers more difficult. The intention is to establish a uniform digital procedure and reduce unnecessary barriers to market entry. In addition, competition is to be strengthened in the letters sector, and here in particular for small consignments. What this deregulation means can be clearly observed in parcels delivery. Without any regulation, employees of sub- and sub-sub-contractors are exploited to the hilt. Piecework, no minimum wage or sick pay, and personal liability for accidents or parking violations are ubiquitous. Many employees are forced to work overtime and risk ruining their health. These criminal working conditions are now to be extended further. When Verdi complains about these working conditions, it is pure hypocrisy. The works council representatives and union functionaries were involved in the privatisation and deregulation of postal services from the beginning and have earned handsomely from it themselves. There are ten Verdi representatives on the supervisory board of Deutsche Post alone, who collectively receive more than one million euros a year. Verdi is now continuing this policy. It has only called on Deutsche Post workers to demonstrate on Mondayand not those of the other logistics companiesand has also coordinated the protest very closely with management. The unions demands essentially follow the management line. Criticism does not focus on the catastrophic working conditions, but on the threat to the competitive advantages of Deutsche Post. Verdi is against greater transparency in the setting of prices by the postal service and against restrictions for postal subcontractors. Verdis justification is that Deutsche Post secures jobs through collective agreements and is therefore allowed to charge higher prices. In fact, every additional euro earned goes into the pockets of investors. For the past business year, Deutsche Post reported a record profit (EBIT) of 8.4 billion euros. This profit is generated on the backs of the workers. In no other German company is the gap between managers salaries and workers average income as high as at Deutsche Post. Five years ago, Deutsche Post boss Frank Appel earned 232 times as much as an average postal worker, who with an entry-level monthly salary of 2,500 earns just 61 percent of the average salary of full-time employees in Germanyand this with a constantly increasing workload. Verdi itself enforces these exploitative conditions against the workers. In February, when postal workers voted by an 86 percent majority in favour of strike action and against a contract that meant severe cuts in real wages, the union bureaucrats ignored this ballot and put the wage cuts to the vote again with a few cosmetic changes. The result is an almost intolerable situation for postal workers. This wages robbery, and the further deteriorations now coming through the Postal Act, are part of wider attacks on all workers. There have also been settlements in the public sector and in the metal-working industries that are far below the increase in consumer prices. In the auto industry, for example, the move to electric vehicles is being used as a pretext to destroy tens of thousands of jobs. In addition, there are to be the most severe cuts in health, education, and housing in the history of post-war Germany. The budgets in these areas are being slashed to finance the horrendous rearmament spending and the proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. War abroad goes hand in hand with class war at home. Verdi explicitly backed this pro-war course at its congress in September and made clear it fully supports the governments attacks. To stop the amendment of the postal law and to enforce the rights of all logistics workers, the workers at Deutsche Post and all other logistics companies must unite in rank-and-file action committees independent of the unions. Such committees are committed to the grassroots and must take the fight against the inhuman working conditions into their own hands. We call on all logistics workers to join the Postal Action Committee. Send a Whatsapp message to +491633378340 and register below. In the field of logistics, it is clear that the needs of the workers, and also customers, are incompatible with the profit principle of capitalism. While efficient logistics require a comprehensive infrastructure and the greatest possible planning, the postal market is split into countless individual companies that offset the resulting inefficiencies by exploiting workers all the more brutally. More and more deliverers are ringing the same doorbell on the same day and working under increasingly precarious conditions. Rational planning requires the expropriation of the big logistics corporations and their democratic control by the workers. Only when the power of the banks and corporations is broken can the needs of the people take centre stage, and only then can the development of war be stopped, and a catastrophe prevented. The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party) is fighting for this socialist perspective in the European elections. If you are a registered voter in Germany, please sign up to enable us to participate. Palestinians inspect the rubble of a building struck by the Israeli air force in Gaza, Saturday October 7, 2023. [AP Photo/Fatima Shbair] A slave-owner who through cunning and violence shackles a slave in chains, and a slave who through cunning or violence breaks the chainslet not the contemptible eunuchs tell us that they are equals before a court of morality!Leon Trotsky, 1938 On Friday night, Palestinian forces in the Gaza Strip launched a surprise attack, firing a rocket barrage and attacking Israeli forces surrounding the Gaza Strip. As of Saturday night, there were 200 Israelis dead and 1,100 wounded, and 232 Palestinians dead and 1,697 wounded. Initially caught unprepared, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are counterattacking, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to extract an unprecedented price in blood from Gaza. What began Friday night is an uprising of the Palestinian people against the violent and brutally oppressive Israeli occupation. The Netanyahu government has sanctioned the constant theft of Palestinian lands by fascistic Israeli settlers, blockaded the Gaza Strip, targeted members of its ruling Hamas party for assassination and organized provocations against Muslims at Al-Aqsa Mosque. By imposing unbearable conditions on Gaza, it made armed resistance inevitable. The World Socialist Web Site condemns the vicious and obscenely hypocritical statements of President Joe Biden and leaders of the European Union denouncing the Palestinian resistance as terrorism while supporting without any reservations Israels onslaught on Gaza. Pledging rock-solid and unwavering support for Israeli military operations against Gaza, Biden said: The United States unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza, and I made clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu that we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the government and people of Israel. Terrorism is never justified. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock declared: The odious violence of Hamas against civilians in Israel is unprecedented and unjustifiable. This terrorism must stop immediately. Israel has our full solidarity. The hypocrisy of these statements is staggering. As always, the sympathies of the imperialist powers are with the oppressors. Any manifestation of resistance by the oppressed is greeted with frenzied denunciations. The media ignores the fact that the Israeli government is led by a criminal, whose coalition is dominated by fascistic racists and is engaged in efforts to suppress the constitution. In its coverage of the Ukraine war, the media never fails to condemn what it habitually refers to as Russias illegal annexation of Crimea. The United States has repeatedly declared that it will support Ukraines war to regain Crimea as long as it takes. But it never condemns Israels illegal annexation of vast tracts of Palestinian land. The Palestinian population of Gaza and the Hamas government do not have powerful imperialist backers arming them to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars. As the Palestinians take up arms against an occupation by the Israeli military, which receives billions of dollars in US military aid each year, they know they face overwhelming odds. Yet the Palestinian forces are not hailed as heroes, but rather denounced as terrorists by the reactionary politicians and servile media of the NATO countries. In reality, the Israeli state for years has repeatedly targeted and killed hundreds or thousands of civilians in indiscriminate attacks on the densely populated Gaza Strip. On Saturday night, in a bloodcurdling address to the nation, Netanyahu told residents of Gaza to get out now, because we will operate everywhere and with full force. Since his government blockades Gaza and does not let anyone leave, this is a declaration that Netanyahu sees Gazas entire population as a legitimate target. Asserting that Hamas wants to murder us all, Netanyahu pledged to fight them to the bitter end and that cities where Hamas operates would turn into cities of ruin. This barbaric threat to destroy the Gaza Strip testifies to the fascistic character of Netanyahus regime. The end product of the Zionist regimes decades-long shift to the right has been his incorporation of violent far-right groups like the Religious Zionist Party into his government. Its members call for the expulsion of Palestinians from the occupied territories, promote killings of Palestinians such as the 1994 Cave of Patriarchs massacre, demand the destruction of the Al-Aqsa mosque and promote the legacy of American-born fascist Meir Kahane. Netanyahus justification for his war is based on a falsification of the aims of Hamas, which he treats as a genocidal organization. In reality, the statement issued by the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, stresses its opposition not to Jews but to Israeli occupation. Condemning murders of Palestinians by Israeli troops and settlers, long-term imprisonment of Palestinians, theft of Palestinian lands, and provocations at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, it concludes: As the Israeli occupation maintains its siege of the Gaza Strip and continues its crimes against our Palestinian people, while showing utmost disregard for international laws and resolutions amid US and Western support and international silence, we have decided to put an end to all of that. We announce a military operation against the Israeli occupation, which comes in response to the continued Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people and violations at the Al-Aqsa mosque. Hamass ability to secretly prepare such an operation and launch it on October 650 years after the Yom Kippur Warexposes the depth of the crisis of the Israeli state. It is overrun with fascistic elements, has battled a years-long trial of Netanyahu for corruption, and faced mass protests of workers and youth earlier this year as it tried and failed to ram through a constitutional reform to undermine the legal independence of the judiciary. Its attempt to suppress Palestinian opposition through fascistic terror has failed. The Netanyahu government was surprised by the Palestinian uprising in much the same way as Nazi commanders in occupied Poland were surprised by the 1943 uprising of Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto and the 1944 Warsaw Uprising. Blinded by its arrogance and racial hatred, it believed that repression had so broken the back of the Palestinians that resistance would be impossible. Its error now exposed, it is movingalso as in occupied Poland, where the Nazis reacted to uprisings by slaughtering tens and hundreds of thousandstowards a bloodbath. This policy faces mass opposition in the Arab and international working class. Despite the shameless lies of the imperialist powers, there is broad sympathy for the Palestinians among billions of people worldwide. This sympathy and opposition must, however, be politically mobilized. In particular, workers and youth in Israel must separate themselves from and oppose the homicidal policies of the Netanyahu government and support the fight of the Palestinians against oppression and occupation. The corrupt Arab and Middle Eastern bourgeois regimes are complicit in Netanyahus preparations to launch a bloody, imperialist-backed crackdown. Capitalist governments in Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the region are making appeals for de-escalation and restraint, which Netanyahu will ignore. At the same time, they are all seeking for their own military and strategic reasons to develop closer ties with the Israeli regime. The force that can halt Netanyahus onslaught in Israel is the Israeli, Palestinian and international working class, advancing a united struggle to stop the attack on Gaza, bring down the Netanyahu regime and end Israels occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. Key Insights Insiders appear to have a vested interest in Fiducian Group's growth, as seen by their sizeable ownership A total of 5 investors have a majority stake in the company with 51% ownership Recent purchases by insiders Every investor in Fiducian Group Ltd (ASX:FID) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. With 42% stake, individual insiders possess the maximum shares in the company. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). And looking at our data, we can see that insiders have bought shares recently. This might indicate that they expect share prices to rise in the near future. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Fiducian Group. See our latest analysis for Fiducian Group What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Fiducian Group? Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing. As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Fiducian Group. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Fiducian Group's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Fiducian Group. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is the CEO Inderjit Singh with 35% of shares outstanding. With 6.7% and 3.5% of the shares outstanding respectively, London City Equities Limited and Wasatch Advisors LP are the second and third largest shareholders. Story continues To make our study more interesting, we found that the top 5 shareholders control more than half of the company which implies that this group has considerable sway over the company's decision-making. While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. Our information suggests that there isn't any analyst coverage of the stock, so it is probably little known. Insider Ownership Of Fiducian Group The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. Our information suggests that insiders maintain a significant holding in Fiducian Group Ltd. Insiders own AU$75m worth of shares in the AU$179m company. We would say this shows alignment with shareholders, but it is worth noting that the company is still quite small; some insiders may have founded the business. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership With a 39% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Fiducian Group. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Private Company Ownership Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 3.3%, of the company's shares. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company. Next Steps: While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. I always like to check for a history of revenue growth. You can too, by accessing this free chart of historic revenue and earnings in this detailed graph. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Readers hoping to buy Gas Malaysia Berhad (KLSE:GASMSIA) for its dividend will need to make their move shortly, as the stock is about to trade ex-dividend. Typically, the ex-dividend date is one business day before the record date which is the date on which a company determines the shareholders eligible to receive a dividend. It is important to be aware of the ex-dividend date because any trade on the stock needs to have been settled on or before the record date. Meaning, you will need to purchase Gas Malaysia Berhad's shares before the 12th of October to receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 27th of October. The company's next dividend payment will be RM0.057 per share, on the back of last year when the company paid a total of RM0.14 to shareholders. Last year's total dividend payments show that Gas Malaysia Berhad has a trailing yield of 4.7% on the current share price of MYR3.06. If you buy this business for its dividend, you should have an idea of whether Gas Malaysia Berhad's dividend is reliable and sustainable. We need to see whether the dividend is covered by earnings and if it's growing. See our latest analysis for Gas Malaysia Berhad Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned in profit, then the dividend could be unsustainable. It paid out 76% of its earnings as dividends last year, which is not unreasonable, but limits reinvestment in the business and leaves the dividend vulnerable to a business downturn. We'd be concerned if earnings began to decline. That said, even highly profitable companies sometimes might not generate enough cash to pay the dividend, which is why we should always check if the dividend is covered by cash flow. Dividends consumed 70% of the company's free cash flow last year, which is within a normal range for most dividend-paying organisations. It's positive to see that Gas Malaysia Berhad's dividend is covered by both profits and cash flow, since this is generally a sign that the dividend is sustainable, and a lower payout ratio usually suggests a greater margin of safety before the dividend gets cut. Story continues Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? Businesses with strong growth prospects usually make the best dividend payers, because it's easier to grow dividends when earnings per share are improving. If earnings fall far enough, the company could be forced to cut its dividend. For this reason, we're glad to see Gas Malaysia Berhad's earnings per share have risen 19% per annum over the last five years. It paid out more than three-quarters of its earnings in the last year, even though earnings per share are growing rapidly. Higher earnings generally bode well for growing dividends, although with seemingly strong growth prospects we'd wonder why management are not reinvesting more in the business. Many investors will assess a company's dividend performance by evaluating how much the dividend payments have changed over time. In the last 10 years, Gas Malaysia Berhad has lifted its dividend by approximately 3.7% a year on average. Earnings per share have been growing much quicker than dividends, potentially because Gas Malaysia Berhad is keeping back more of its profits to grow the business. Final Takeaway From a dividend perspective, should investors buy or avoid Gas Malaysia Berhad? It's good to see earnings are growing, since all of the best dividend stocks grow their earnings meaningfully over the long run. That's why we're glad to see Gas Malaysia Berhad's earnings per share growing, although as we saw, the company is paying out more than half of its earnings and cashflow - 76% and 70% respectively. To summarise, Gas Malaysia Berhad looks okay on this analysis, although it doesn't appear a stand-out opportunity. While it's tempting to invest in Gas Malaysia Berhad for the dividends alone, you should always be mindful of the risks involved. We've identified 2 warning signs with Gas Malaysia Berhad (at least 1 which shouldn't be ignored), and understanding these should be part of your investment process. A common investing mistake is buying the first interesting stock you see. Here you can find a full 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. LOS ANGELES 21 Savage can now legally travel outside the United States and plans to make his return to performing internationally in his native London. Savage's lawyer, Charles Kuck, told USA TODAY in a statement Friday that the rapper has officially become a permanent U.S. resident and may now go overseas. He cleared a major traveling hurdle after being taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Georgia in 2019. Kuck said the Grammy winner followed "all applicable immigration laws since his initial detention by ICE." "His immigration court proceedings have now been terminated and he is a lawful permanent resident of the United States with the freedom to travel internationally," Kuck said. 21 Savage, seen here performing at Coachella in 2022, has been cleared to travel abroad and plans to perform in London. The announcement was accompanied by a clip reel of the rapper's career and childhood memories set to Skylar Grey's "Coming Home," which teased his return to the United Kingdom with a final slide that reads, "London ... I'm coming home." "It's going to be so great to have you back in the U.K. We've missed you so much," a voiceover says. "We all love you, Sheyaa, and look forward to seeing you soon." A companion news release teases: "This marks a milestone for the superstar as he will soon perform for the first time in London. More information to follow soon." Savage, 30, whose birth name is Sheyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, spent 10 days in a detention center in southern Georgia before his release. He was arrested in a targeted operation over his visa, which expired in 2006. The Atlanta-based rapper said he had no idea what a visa was when his mother brought him to the U.S. at age 7. He said in a 2019 interview with the AP that immigrants like him who lived in America illegally as children should automatically become U.S. citizens. Savage said the visa application process discourages many immigrants who don't have documents because it "hangs over your head forever." Contributing: Jonathan Landrum Jr., The Associated Press, and Kim Willis, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 21 Savage declared permanent U.S. resident, plans London performance The 'Real Housewives of Orange County' alum showed off her new ink on Instagram Saturday Alexis Bellino/Instagram Alexis Bellino gets tattoo in honor of her late mother Alexis Bellino's latest tattoo has made it so her late mother is "always near" her heart. On Saturday, the Real Housewives of Orange County alum, 46, shared to Instagram a few images of her new ink that serves as a touching tribute to her mother, Penelope. "Now mom is always with me and always near my heart. #forever ," Bellino captioned an Instagram carousel, which featured a video of her getting the tattoo from artist Dillon Giarraffa at Dying Breed Studios in California. Included in the carousel are images of Bellino with the tattoo artist, and others specifically showing off her new ink, which sits on her ribcage underneath the side of her breast and reads "Dying is a different way to live." Related: RHOC's Alexis Bellino and Fiance Andy Bohn Have 'Lovingly Chosen to Separate' After 3-Year Engagement Speaking with TMZ, Bellino revealed that the idea stemmed from a message written in her mother's personal journal, which her family discovered days before her death. "Why is death feared," Penelope wrote before she died in August of a rare brain disease, the outlet notes. "Is it any different than going to bed at night and then waking up in the morning? Close your eyes one minute and open them the next to a different reality. We so trust waking up. We trust waking to the same reality. But everything changes ... could dying be a different way to live? Dying is a different way to live." Bellino ended up getting the tattoo of the closing line on Wednesday, and she told the outlet that Giarraffa executed her mom's handwriting well. As Bellino explained, she felt her mom's energy during the process, which lasted about two-and-a-half hours. In August, the RHOC alum paid tribute to her mom with a heartfelt Instagram message, writing that she was "finally free." "You can walk again, cook, dance, hold a glass, talk, hug, laughyou are out of that horrible body that kept you prisoner for the past three years," Bellino penned. "You put up the strongest fight Ive ever seen. My promise to you is that I will make sure the UCLA brain donor program finds out what robbed you of your beautiful life at such a young age, and we will help others so that your torture was not in vain. " Bellino also wrote that Penelope had an "infectious" energy about her, and that she was "still in disbelief" about the loss. "I dont know how I will ever be myself again, and I hope the tears stop. But the last nine days of watching you struggle was almost just as excruciating. You are forever my favorite person and my best friend," she wrote alongside selfies with her mom and other sweet family moments from over the decades. "In your words, 'death is simply another form of living.'" "Ill see you again, and you better show me signs from the other side. I love you to the moon and back, momma. " For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Live Nation Israel announced the cancellation of Mars' Friday show in Tel Aviv following a surprise attack from Hamas Chris Tuite/Imagespace/Shutterstock Bruno Mars performs in Napa, California in May 2018 Bruno Mars' Saturday night show in Tel Aviv has been canceled, Live Nation Israel has announced. Word of the cancellation comes as Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Saturday that the country is at war" following a surprise attack by Hamas militants that led to the deaths of over 200 Israelis and injured hundreds more. "Dear customers, Bruno Mars concert scheduled to take place tonight is canceled," a translated Instagram statement from Live Nation Israel read on Friday. "All ticket purchases to the show will receive an automatic refund to the credit card through which the purchase was made. We strengthen the residents of Israel, IDF fighters and the security forces in these difficult moments." Mars first performed in the country to days earlier and as a video statement from Netanyahu noted a "murderous surprise attack" from the Palestinian militant group amid the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict, per CNN. On Sunday, Mars' Lusail International Circuit performance for Qatars Formula One post-race concert was also called off, as the musician has been replaced by DJ Snake. The venue announced the news on Twitter, citing "circumstances outside of our control." The Silk Sonic frontman is next scheduled to perform in Florida in December. John Esparza via Getty Images Bruno Mars poses for a photo at the 2021 American Music Awards As previously reported, the Israel military says it was attacked on land, sea and air, while approximately 2,200 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip and headed over Israel, CNN reports. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) also shared, per CNN, that Hamas took hostages and prisoners of war," while Lt. Colonel Richard Hecht revealed that soldiers were "fighting on the ground as we speak" over the weekend. Al Jazeera reports that 232 Palestinians have also been killed and 1,600 wounded in a counterattack on the Gaza Strip, citing the health ministry. For decades, Israel and Palestine have been fighting for the right to claim Jerusalem as their capital. Israel governs the city, while Palestinians look to control East Jerusalem, which consists of the West Bank and Gaza, as many reside there after being displaced as a result of Arab-Israeli conflicts that began around Israel's formation. Related: Joe Biden Offers Support to Israel as Prime Minister Says 'We Are at War' After Hamas Attack U.S. President Joe Biden, who spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu, shared a Saturday statement about the "horrific and ongoing attacks in Israel," writing that the U.S. "unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza" and is ready to "offer all appropriate means of support." Terrorism is never justified," Biden wrote. "Israel has a right to defend itself and its people. The United States warns against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation. My Administrations support for Israels security is rock solid and unwavering. President Biden continued: "Jill and I are keeping in our prayers all of the families who have been hurt by this violence, We are heartbroken by the lives that have been tragically cut short and hope for a swift recovery for all those who have been wounded." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Children dress in their Halloween costumes in downtown Holland on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. HOLLAND Fall has arrived in West Michigan. That means apple picking, corn mazes, drinking endless amounts of cider, and all things pumpkin spice and trick-or-treating. Here's a smattering of local fall events to enjoy: Fennvilles Annual Goose Festival: Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 12-15 in downtown Fennville. Celebrate fall with a weekend-long event that includes carnival rides, games, live music, food, drinks and more. Visit fennvillegoosefestival.com for a complete schedule.Slightly Spooky Cemetery Tour: 10-11 a.m. Oct. 14 and 21 at Pilgrim Home Cemetery, 370 E. 16th St. in Holland. Join Holland Museum for these spooky, historical and family-friendly walking tours. Dress appropriate for the weather. Cost is $5 per person and registration is required. Fellinlove Farm's Not So Spooky Trail: 2-5 p.m. Oct. 14 and 21 at Fellinlove Farm, 6364 144th Ave. in Holland. Find the Halloween Unicorn, visit a diverse range of animals and walk the nature trails. Treats and Trails: 2-7 p.m. Oct. 21 at Outdoor Discovery Center, 4214 56th St. in Holland. Bring the entire family for a walk along the trails with wildlife encounters, games, smores and more. Children are encouraged to wear their costumes. Cost is $20 per family. Adults walk the parade route in Douglas on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Haunted Nights at Crisp Country Acres: 7-9 p.m. Oct. 21 at 888 120th Ave. in Holland. Be prepared for scared as you explore the corn maze and ride the spooky wagon in the dark. Donuts and cider available for purchase. Cost is $12 per person. Pride Halloween Party: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 24 at OOTLs Community Center, 451 Columbia Ave. in Holland. Visit for a night of fun for all ages. The party includes music, games, crafts, snacks, a costume contest and more. Critter Barn's Boo at the Barn: 1-8 p.m. Oct. 27 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 28 at 2950 80th Ave. in Zeeland. Come out for decorations, costumes, candy and visits with the animals. Don't miss Critter Barns Spook-tacular Barn Trail. Cost is $8. Quality Car Wash Tunnel of Terror: 7-11 p.m. Oct. 27-28 at 705 Chicago Drive in Holland. This truly horrifying trip is back for another annual rendition. Cost is $20 per vehicle. Hauntings and History Nights at The Felt Estate: 7 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Oct. 27-29, at 6597 138th Ave. in Holland. Rumors abound that Felt Mansion is haunted. For $30 per person, you can hear firsthand accounts and see the mansion, carriage house and grounds in the dark of night. Zombie Bike Ride: 11 a.m. Oct. 28 at Isabels Market and Eatery, 310 Blue Star Highway in Douglas. Zombies of all ages are invited to take the three-mile ride along Lake Michigan and through downtown Douglas. Hot cider, hot chocolate, coffee and donuts served at registration. Cost is $20 per rider. Trick-or-Treating Downtown Holland: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Oct. 28 on Eighth Street. Bust out your costumes and head downtown, as close to 50 businesses and organizations hand out candy this year. Event is held rain or shine. Halloween Fun in Douglas: 12-3 p.m. Oct. 28 at 25 Center St. in Douglas. Starts at Kim Neuens Design and Interior and includes music, a spider web-covered alley, crafts, a giant booger box, a live Zoltar and more. Halloween Festival: Oct. 28 in Saugatuck. Grab the family and head downtown for some trick-or-treating. There will be a costume contest with prizes at Wicks Park and a downtown scavenger hunt. Douglas Halloween Parade for Adults: 10 p.m. Oct. 28 at 86 W. Center St. in Douglas. This parade has quickly turned into one of the biggest events of the year in West Michigan. Join the lineup starting at 9 p.m. Not appropriate for children. Subscribe: Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage Crane Orchards Trunk-or-Treat: 4-6 p.m. Oct. 29 at Crane Orchards U-Pick and Corn Maze, 6054 124th Ave. in Fennville. This annual event is free and for all ages. Downtown Zeeland Trick-or-Treat: 3-5 p.m. Oct. 31 on Main Street in downtown Zeeland. Enjoy including cider and donuts, trick-or-treating at participating businesses and photo stations. Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Check out these spooky lakeshore events in October The 2013 Guillermo del Toro-directed film Pacific Rim is something of a cult classic for fans of the sci-fi genre, many of whom were disappointed when del Toro didnt return to direct the 2o18 sequel Pacific Rim: Uprising. In a new interview with Colliders Steven Weintraub, the director reveals the reason he didnt return for part two came down to a failure to pay a deposit for soundstages in Toronto, Canada. here's @RealGDT revealing the real reason he didn't direct #PacificRim 2 at @Collider's 10th anniversary screening in @IMAX 3D. You won't believe the reason. He also revealed he wanted and had written a role for @DonnieYenCT in the sequel. #GuillermodelToro pic.twitter.com/jNKX9DoHTa Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) October 7, 2023 Del Toro tells Weintraub, They had to give a deposit for the stages at 5 p.m. or we would lose the stages in Toronto for many months. The director reminded the studio to make the payment, but Five oclock came and went and we lost the stages. The studio followed up by suggesting that the film be shot in China. Del Toro was partially receptive to the idea for on-location shooting, but he needed to be in Toronto while he worked on another project, Shape of Water. Weintraub asks the director if the studio wanted the movie shot in China the entire time, something that del Toro says didnt matter to him he was more focused on the phenomenal part he wrote for Donnie Yen. I wanted Donnie Yen. I wanted to have Donnie Yen star in a damn movie, a mainstream movie. The films team scouted locations in China, but plans ultimately didnt work out and Steven S. Knight took over as the movies director. The decision changed many elements of the original script, and del Toro admits that he didnt see the final movie, because thats like watching home movies from your ex-wife. You know? Its terrible if theyre good and worse if theyre bad. You dont want to know. Of differences in his script and Knights, del Toro says, The main character for me in many ways was Mako, Mako Mori. Unfortunately, fans will always be left wondering about what could have been. Watch the interview with Guillermo del Toro in the video above. The post Guillermo del Toro Says He Didnt Direct Pacific Rim 2 Because the Studio Didnt Pay to Reserve Soundstages in Time (Video) appeared first on TheWrap. Michael Chiarello , the acclaimed restaurateur, celebrity chef and former Food Network star, has died. He was 61. Chiarello died at the Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, Calif., where he was being treated after an acute allergic reaction that led to anaphylactic shock. His company, Gruppo Chiarello, announced the news in a statement shared with EW, adding that Chiarello spent his final moments surrounded by family and friends. "We deeply mourn the loss of our beloved patriarch Michael," the Chiarello family said in a statement. "His culinary brilliance, boundless creativity, and unwavering commitment to family were at the core of his being. He brought people together through the joy of shared meals, fostering lasting memories around the table." Chef Michael Chiarello prepares food at Delta Presents Food with Altitude Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images Michael Chiarello They continued, "As we navigate this profound loss, we hold dear the moments we cherished with him, both in his kitchens and in our hearts. His legacy will forever live on in the love he poured into every dish and the passion he instilled in all of us to savor life's flavors." For a decade, Chiarello hosted shows on PBS, Food Network, Fine Living, and The Cooking Channel. He most notably headlined his own TV series, Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello, from 2003 to 2010. He also served as a judge in Bravo's Top Chef franchise, participated in the Next Iron Chef competition, and appeared as a guest chef on the likes of the Today show and The View. Michael Chiarello celebrity chef demonstration at Live In The Vineyard at Bottega Ristorante on November 1, 2012 in Napa, California. Steve Jennings/WireImage Michael Chiarello Born in Red Bluff, California in 1962, Chiarello's passion for the culinary arts began in childhood, as he explored the traditions of his Southern Italian heritage. He graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in1 982, and just three years later, was honored as 1985's Chef of the Year by Food & Wine Magazine. That decade saw Chiarello move back to his home state of California, making his home in the Napa Valley, where he would also open his critically acclaimed restaurant Tra Vigne. While the legendary spot closed in 2015, Chiarello later opened Bottega, Coqueta, and Ottimo with his partners at Gruppo Chiarello. Chiarello faced controversy in 2016 when two former Coqueta employees accused him and other management level employees of creating a "sexually charged, hostile and abusive environment," according to an Eater report. He denied the claims against him, and the lawsuits were settled the following year. Along with his TV career, Chiarello has penned several cookbooks that have garnered recognition from both IACP and the James Beard Foundation. He has also been praised for a culinary philosophy that revolved around sustainability and a culture of shared meals. In lieu of flowers, his family has asked for donations to Meals on Wheels Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. Related content: The TLC star tied the knot with fiance David Woolley on Saturday in Moab, Utah, in front of 330 guests: "Dream come true" Dani Sork Photo Christine Brown and David Woolley tied the knot in Utah. Christine Browns wedding dreams have come true! The Sister Wives star, 51, tied the knot with fiance David Woolley, 59, on Saturday in Moab, Utah, in front of 330 guests. It's a fairytale, Brown tells PEOPLE exclusively. It's everything I never thought I would have. I get to walk down the aisle to David, him just looking at me the way that he does, its a dream come true. Festivities for the couples nuptials began on Friday night, with a scenic dinner cruise down the Colorado River. We just liked the idea of having as much family and friends there as possible, Brown said ahead of the ceremony. We're going to have so much fun. When it came to decor for the outdoor nuptials, wedding planner Danielle Rothweiler incorporated the natural colors of their stunning backdrop including pops of rust, dusty rose, mauve, deep plum, and peachy coral. The view, the scenery, it's unreal, says Woolley. You can't beat it. Dani Sork Photo Christine Brown and David Woolley pose on their wedding day. The happy celebration fulfilled a longtime wish for Brown. Related: Sister Wives' Christine Brown Is Engaged to David Woolley: 'I've Never Been in Love Like This Before' She wants to be able to wear a white dress and walk down the aisle with her dad, Woolley told PEOPLE ahead of the couples wedding. She never got to do on her first marriage. She wants all the bells and whistles. Adds Brown: "Its true, she says. I do want the big white wedding! Browns son Paedon and her father escorted her in a dress from Boda Bridal to the altar where she joined Woolley. The dress featured a plunging neckline, with intricate beading detail. Brown's hair and makeup were done by Eliza Schmidt, and the bridal party's makeup looks were done by Cortney Hall. We're going to have a slew of kids and grandkids walk down the aisle in between the parents, our officiant, David, and me, says Brown. We wanted to make it as family oriented as possible. The bride and groom exchanged vows under a floral arch in front of the Colorado River. After a passionate kiss, they were introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Woolley to cheers from the crowd as "At Last" by Etta James played. Dani Sork Photo Christine Brown and David Woolley celebrate after tying the knot. Following the "short and sweet" ceremony, the couple joined their guests under a tent decked out with "breathtaking" lights and flowers for the reception. The wedding's floral design was overseen by Ali McDermott from Magnolia and Lace. Sparkling apple cider and champagne, along with Moscow mules and mojitos, were served during cocktail hour, followed by a buffet dinner that included roast beef, BBQ chicken, cowboy potatoes, baked beans, and corn on the cob. For dessert, the couple cut into a three-tier naked cake, plus Woolley's Darth Vader-themed grooms cake, his must-have for the big day. For the newlyweds, who first met on a dating website in 2022, falling in love came naturally. Brown jokes she was immediately intrigued by Woolley's "beautiful" profile. Related: Sister Wives' Christine Brown on How Her Fiance Reacted to Janelle Being Part of Her Package Deal (Exclusive) "All the right pictures," she recalls. "It was him with those eyes. I'm like, 'You know what? I want to be looked at with those eyes for the rest of my life.' Him with with his grandkids, and at Disneyland, and then him on a beach. I'm like, 'Yes. Sign me up for all of that!'" Woolley says that he knew right away Brown was special. I'm really very lucky, and very happy that someone let her go, because she's a unicorn, says Woolley. Brown was previously one of four women in polygamous marriage to Kody Brown along with wives Janelle, Meri and Robyn. They split in 2021 after 25 years together. She and Kody are parents to daughters Aspyn, 28, Mykelti, 27, Gwendlyn, 21, Ysabel, 20, Truely, 13, and son Paedon, 25. Wooley, who is a dad of eight, was also previously married before his wife died in 2012. "After my wife passed away, I dated and I just could never find somebody. I knew Christine was the one," he says. "It just feels so right. Adds Brown: David is just home. I feel like wherever we are together, we just create this amazing unity together. We're a solid unit, and whatever goes on around us just doesn't even matter. Being married together just solidifies us together. Related: Who Is Christine Brown's Fiance? All About David Woolley Woolley popped the question to Brown in April. "David treats me like a queen and tells me I'm beautiful every day," Brown told PEOPLE at the time of the proposal. "I've never been in love like this before, and the world seems like a brighter place with him in it." She adds: "I'm so excited for the wonderful adventure we are going to embark on for the rest of our lives." As they celebrate their marriage, both Brown and Woolley are grateful they get to spend their lives with one another. We have so many things in common, says Brown. It's just easy. I found someone who is everything I've been looking for, who is a true partner, and someone who just wants to be with me and loves me for me. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. This comes after CVS employees recently staged walkouts in the Kansas City area Justin Sullivan/Getty An aerial view of a Walgreens store in El Cerrito, California. Some employees at Walgreens and CVS, who are unhappy with recent working conditions are taking action. Employees at both companies told CNN a series of factors following the COVID-19 pandemic have made their jobs increasingly challenging, including low pay, understaffing, high vaccination quotas, aggressive customers and abusive management. Due to this, pharmacists, technicians and support staff at Walgreens are planning a walkout between Oct. 9-11, an anonymous organizer confirmed to CNN. The organizer noted that several employees at 500 Walgreens stores have shown interest in standing in solidarity, though the number of employees walking out could be fewer. They also mentioned that some employees could stage a walkout for one day while others could walk out all three days. Related: U.S. Coast Guard Rescues 12 People from Stranded Cargo Ship After It Hits Rocks in Heavy Seas However, the organizer did not say which pharmacies in which regions could be affected. In a statement to PEOPLE, Walgreens acknowledged the challenges its employees across the country have faced since the pandemic. The last few years have required an unprecedented effort from our team members, and we share their pride in this work while recognizing it has been a very challenging time, said Fraser Engerman, senior director of external relations. We also understand the immense pressures felt across the U.S. in retail pharmacy right now, he added. We are engaged and listening to the concerns raised by some of our team members. We are committed to ensuring that our entire pharmacy team has the support and resources necessary to continue to provide the best care to our patients while taking care of their own wellbeing. Related: Man Killed After Whale Strikes Boat, Capsizes It in Australia: 'Absolute Freak Accident' Engerman said the company is also making significant investments in pharmacist wages and hiring bonuses to attract/retain talent in harder-to-staff locations. The move comes after employees at CVS recently staged two walkouts in the Kansas City area, prompting closures at 22 pharmacies. Following the walkouts, Prem Shah, CVS chief pharmacy officer, sent out an internal memo, obtained by CNN, apologizing to the workers for not addressing their concerns earlier. CVS walkout organizers told the outlet that talks are continuing with Shah, with another meeting planned for next week. 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. Amy Thibault, lead director of external communications for CVS Pharmacy, told CNN in a statement: Were committed to providing access to consistent, safe, high-quality health care to the patients and communities we serve and are working with our pharmacists to directly address any concerns they may have. Were focused on developing a sustainable, scalable action plan that can be put in place in markets where support may be needed so we can continue delivering the high-quality care our patients depend on, Thibault added. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. (Bloomberg) -- Germanys conservative bloc is set to retain control of Hesse and Bavaria, ensuring political continuity in the economically critical states, while Chancellor Olaf Scholzs ruling coalition suffered another stinging defeat. Most Read from Bloomberg The Christian Democratic Union won 35.5% of the vote in Hesse, while its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, took 37% in its state, according to exit polls from public broadcaster ARD. The affiliated parties make up the largest opposition group at the national level. Scholzs Social Democrats and its two governing partners the Greens and the Free Democrats lost support in both states in the latest setback for the ruling parties. Scholzs ruling alliance which took power in late 2021 has been beset by infighting that has damaged its standing among voters. Combined, the three parties lost 10.6 percentage points in Hesse and 4.9 percentage points in Bavaria. When all coalition parties lose in both states, theres a message here for Berlin, said SPD General Secretary Kevin Kuehnert said in interview with ARD. The anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany gained in both Hesse and Bavaria, building support outside the former communist eastern states. The far-right party has tapped into economic uncertainty and concerns about rising illegal immigration and has surged into second place behind the CDU/CSU in national polls on around 20% ahead of all three governing parties. Scholz has dismissed the AfD as a demolition squad that exploits the fears of ordinary citizens but has struggled to convince voters that his government is equipped to manage Germanys transition to a cleaner and more technologically advanced economy. Story continues After distributing billions of euros in aid to soften the impact of the pandemic and the energy crisis, the chancellor has ruled out a stimulus program for the German economy, even as it barely emerged from a winter recession in the second quarter. The run-up to the Bavaria vote was overshadowed by an antisemitism scandal around the CSUs coalition partner, the Free Voters. The regional partys leader Hubert Aiwanger was under fire over links to a flier from the 1980s that threatened traitors to the fatherland with a free flight up the chimney at Auschwitz, the Nazi deathcamp. While acknowledging the fliers existence, Aiwanger said he wasnt the author, and Premier Markus Soeder from the CSU decided there were insufficient grounds to dismiss Aiwanger. Soeders messy handling of the scandal ended up hurting the CSU, which stumbled to its worst result in Bavaria since 1950. The Free Voters gained support and the two parties will likely continue their alliance in Bavaria. --With assistance from Iain Rogers. (Updates with more figures beginning in third paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. If you've ever ordered a plate of pasta in Italy, you might have noticed that you weren't just ordering food; it's a whole experience that comes with its own set of rules that are not to be broken, pain of ridicule, or at least some light teasing. That's because Italians practically invented etiquette, and no set of norms is more important than the one surrounding food. As the New York Times reported, Italy was "etiquette central" back in Renaissance Europe, and apparently the only land on the continent where people used cutlery to consume their meals. Since then, Italy has apparently remained the etiquette police, especially where food is concerned. As such, we would be remiss if we sent you off to Italy without preparing you for what might happen if you get things wrong while ordering pasta at a restaurant. These tips will come in handy not only for enjoying your Italian food more - after all, Italian dining etiquette is in place first and foremost to maximize the pleasure of eating - but also for avoiding side-eye from snooty Italians. In other words, knowing proper etiquette tips will help you blend in with the locals, the most cherished of all travel goals. After all, you can't do as the Romans in Rome if you don't understand what they're doing in the first place. So let's take a look at the main rules you need to remember before you set out on your culinary adventure. Read more: 44 Types Of Pasta And When You Should Be Using Them Don't Cut Your Spaghetti Plate of spaghetti - NatalyaBond/Shutterstock When you're finally served that big, hearty plate of Italian spaghetti you've been craving for months, it may feel tempting to dig in and start cutting away, trying to get the pasta in your mouth as quickly as possible. Careful, though, as cutting spaghetti is a major etiquette faux pas at Italian restaurants. Your meal is supposed to be eaten slowly - the idea is to savor every bite, so the food shouldn't be consumed in a way that makes it easy to just shove it into your mouth. Second, cutting disturbs the harmony of the dish. If spaghetti were meant to taste and feel shorter, it would have been made shorter to begin with. Another notion you should be disabused of immediately is that it's okay to use a spoon to eat your spaghetti. This is categorically false. Again, using a spoon will make it easier to eat your spaghetti more quickly, and that is simply not the point. What you should be doing instead, is taking your fork, sticking it somewhere into the middle of your plate, and twirling it until it's surrounded by tightly packed spaghetti. Only then can you bring it to your mouth gracefully, knowing that you won't be spilling sauce everywhere or slurping unbecomingly. And there is one more thing you should know: Don't expect to eat your spaghetti on a flat plate. It will be served on a soup plate because the rounded edges will help keep the sauce contained as you twirl your fork. Scoop Up Remaining Sauce With Bread Different types of bread - Carlosgaw/Getty Images Another thing the Italians don't appreciate, in addition to a mad rush to eat spaghetti, is too much sauce on a plate. In Italy, if you're at a decent restaurant, you won't find your pasta dishes bathed in sauce. Rather, there will be a tasteful amount, just enough to coat your pasta and give it flavor, but not so much that your noodles will be swimming in it. This isn't soup, after all. Even so, some sauce is likely to rub off on the sides of the plate. You might even have a few small puddles of deliciousness left over after all your pasta is gone. The last thing you want to do in this situation is stick your finger in it and bring it to your mouth. Don't even bother trying to get at it with your fork - those cold, unfeeling tines will make it impossible. And forget about the unthinkable, the senseless act of picking up your plate and licking it directly. What you need here is the "scarpetta." This is Italian for "little shoe," and it refers to a piece of bread which you must diligently break off from the loaf in the common bread basket that has undoubtedly been placed on your table used to scrape up the remaining sauce on your plate. Not only is this the most elegant way to finish off your sauce, it is also the most delicious. Save The Coffee For Later Cup of coffee - Alvarez/Getty Images As Americans, we tend to expect all the coffee all the time. It doesn't matter if it's morning, noon, night, or smack in the middle of a meal. Coffee must be available or one will freak out. Although this may be an exaggeration, it is true that in the U.S., the rules surrounding coffee consumption are fairly relaxed. While saving coffee for after dinner might seem like a familiar notion, no one will look at you funny if you take a few sips before or during your meal. Not so in Italy. If you happen to even order your coffee while still enjoying your plate of pasta, said order will be conveniently forgotten. It will also be outright denied if you're still nursing a glass of wine. Your server might even point out your foible by informing you that they will have to wait until you're ready, which apparently means something different to them than it does to you. In fact, the longer you wait to order your coffee, the better off you'll be, to the point where you might even want to drink it on the way out of the restaurant. Indeed, one place you will not be denied your coffee is at the bar. Many restaurants in Italy prefer that patrons pay the check directly at the till. When you get up to do this, you can order your coffee, receive it in no time, and drink it then and there. Go Easy On The Parmesan Cubes of Parmesan - NataliaZa/Shutterstock No matter which Italian restaurant you go to in Italy, you can be sure to find plenty of Parmesan on hand, whether served up pre-grated, or freshly grated directly onto your plate by a dutiful server. That said, you might want to pass on extra Parmesan when dining in Italy. After all, the cheese has a strong flavor and texture, and too much of it risks taking over the dish. Not only that, but it's important to pay attention to which dishes can and cannot accommodate Parmesan topping, at least according to Italians. Those that can include robust, flavorful sauces like marinara, Bolognese, and variations thereof. Those that cannot involve specialty ingredients like truffles, which have a unique flavor profile that is not to be messed with by adding something as assertive as Parmesan. The boldest ingredient you can add to a truffle dish is butter. Another type of pasta that won't accommodate Parmesan in Italy is a seafood dish, such as spaghetti with clams, or alle vongole, as they say in Italy. Fish is seen as having a delicate flavor that could be overpowered by the Parmesan. Spaghetti with clams, in particular, tends to be fairly dry, as it doesn't have its own sauce. Parmesan on this dish would risk upsetting the balance of oils that make the spaghetti go down smoothly, unduly drying out the texture. Expect The Pasta To Come Before The Meat Rigatoni with meat sauce - Kivoart/Getty Images When you order pasta in a restaurant in America, even if it's an Italian one, it's likely that you will find it in the entree, or main, section of the menu. But in Italy, this category is non-existent, or perhaps hidden is a better word. Because in Italy, even if you're embarking on a casual lunch, you're likely to be offered a meal involving several courses, in which pasta is considered to be the first course, along with rice and other starchy dishes, while meat or fish are typically classified as second courses. Bear in mind that portion sizes in Italy tend to be smaller than those in the U.S. This means that you might just be hungry enough to enjoy an appetizer, first course, and a second course at any given meal. If you want to order off an Italian menu like a pro, it's important to fully familiarize yourself with the etiquette surrounding courses. Although the breadth of an Italian menu doesn't mean that you absolutely must order a dish from each category, if you do choose to go that route, you must expect your pasta to come before the meat and not after. Also, don't forget yourself and fill up on bread you will need that bread for your "scarpetta," while too much starchiness early on might dent your appetite for the "secondo" that is still to come. Don't Complain If Your Pasta Is Al Dente Penne in boiling water - Mehmet Cetin/Shutterstock Pasta "al dente," which means "to the tooth" in Italian, is often held up as the ideal level of doneness for a pasta dish. It means the noodle is soft enough to eat comfortably, but not so soft that you miss out on sinking your teeth into something concrete. In other words, with al dente pasta, you'll need firm use of your teeth. So when you order pasta at a good Italian restaurant in Italy, this is most likely what you're going to get. But if you're not used to "al dente," don't dismiss it outright, and certainly don't complain if that's what you get. It's going to work out for the better because there's a reason pasta is cooked this way. In fact, U.S. News reports that al dente pasta contains a lower glycemic index than mushy, overcooked pasta, which means that you will have to deal with a gentler blood sugar spike when eating pasta cooked the right way. And although al dente may take some getting used to after the first few times trying it, you may actually come to prefer it. The slight chew in the noodles adds texture to your dish so that you're not just eating one single glob of noodles and sauce. Learn About Different Pasta Shapes Pile of fusilli - Jokmedia/Getty Images Pasta dishes on Italian menus can sometimes be hard to see if you don't know what you're looking for. While you might see a tagliatelle alla Bolognese or penne alla vodka and instantly know what's going on, you could equally be at a loss if the menu only contains such pasta shapes as strozzapreti or mafaldine. So let us help you in that regard. Start by browsing our list of 44 types of pastas you should know about. Although Italy boasts more than 300 different types, it's not likely that you will encounter all of those on a single trip, as pasta shapes tend to be highly regional, with some of them only existing within very restricted areas. By contrast, our list contains some of the more common types you might encounter while dining out in Rome, Florence, or other large cities. This exercise might also be an interesting foray into Italian history. For example, the aforementioned strozzapreti is a unique pasta shape whose name refers to a term that literally means "priest strangler." This is no accident. Back when Italy was not a country but a mish-mash of papal states, duchies, and kingdoms, priests would go door-to-door collecting taxes and demanding to be fed as they did. If they weren't, they would confiscate a household's egg supply. This pasta, then, made without eggs, was literally devised in the hopes that its convoluted shape would strangle these thieving priests. Don't Ask For The Pasta To Be Wrapped Up Stack of to-go containers - Twinsterphoto/Getty Images All dishes in Italy whether they're appetizers, first courses, second courses, or desserts are reliably much smaller than your typical dish from Applebee's, or even higher-end restaurants in America. As such, the concept of a doggy bag is pretty much as foreign as a space rock in Italy. Diners are expected to arrive at a restaurant hungry enough to finish off an entire plate of pasta (or whatever they order), and even for a petite person, this shouldn't be too hard. As such, don't expect to be able to take your food home with you (if for some ungodly reason you're not able to finish it). You will likely encounter confused looks and that's if you're lucky. If you're not, you might even be met with some degree of hostility. The dish you're being served in the restaurant is meant to be perfect as is - perfectly cooked in terms of flavor and texture - and taking it home and eating it later, perhaps even reheating it in the microwave (horror of horrors), will change all of that. That said, waste not, want not. No one is going to force-feed you the rest of that pasta, and if you don't want to waste it, don't hesitate to ask for a doggy bag. Who cares what other people think? The only problem you might come up against is the restaurant not having any to-go containers unless it also offers takeout items. Familiarize Yourself With Common Pasta Sauces Bowl of pasta sauce - Aleaimage/Getty Images Ordering from a foreign menu in a foreign language can sometimes be a bit daunting. However, due to the popularity of Italian food in the U.S. where many original Italian terms are used Americans in Italy don't always have too much of a hard time understanding the menu. The exception comes when said menu contains pasta shapes or sauces that aren't so common in America. Or, even if the sauce is common, it might go by a different name depending on which region of Italy you currently find yourself in. So to help you navigate this predicament, we suggest you familiarize yourself with those pasta sauces that are most commonly used in Italy, not America. This means forget about pasta alfredo or mac and cheese, both of which are American creations, and look more toward classic cacio e pepe - a dish of Roman origin involving pecorino cheese and pepper - or pasta puttanesca, a Southern Italian creation made with an anchovy-based tomato sauce and olives. Our handy list of pasta sauce types is a good place to start your research. Even if you can't remember all of them, though, don't worry. When you get to the restaurant just ask your server which is their favorite pasta dish and opt for that one. You might not know what you're ordering, but you know it's going to be good. Read the original article on Tasting Table. Robyn Lawley first posed for the SI Swimsuit Issue in 2015, when she traveled to Wyoming for a photoshoot in the great outdoors with James Macari. Afterward, the Australian model returned to the fold each year through 18. Her travels with the brand took her to Malta, Mexico and New York. Throughout her time in the industry, the 34-year-old has pushed back against labels in favor of size inclusivity in the modeling world. I wish you saw curvy girls in every catalogue and every show, she told The Cut in 2016. Theres never really been plus-size girls in beauty. Weve never seen it. That same year, Ashley Graham landed the cover of the SI Swimsuit Issue as a rookie, and became the publications first plus-size cover model in its history. In addition to her work as a model, Lawley uses her Instagram platform to share tasty vegan recipes, from main courses to snacks to desserts. Shes also the host of her own podcast, Every Body With Robyn Lawley, in which she discusses beauty standards, body shaming and more. While we adore all four of Lawleys SI Swimsuit photoshoots, the photographs captured in Mexico by Ruven Afanador depict a colorful paradise that we constantly wish to return to. Below are a few of our favorite snaps from the feature six years ago. Ruven Afanador/Sports Illustrate Ruven Afanador/Sports Illustrate Ruven Afanador/Sports Illustrate Ruven Afanador/Sports Illustrate Ruven Afanador/Sports Illustrate Ruven Afanador/Sports Illustrate Now through Nov. 1, 100% of SI Swimsuits portion of proceeds from cover prints purchased here will be donated to the Maui Strong Fund, which is helping to support the people and places of Maui affected by the recent wildfires. Shop Now and Make a Difference Whether you are cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving or for a Sunday family feast, you want to make sure its seasoned properly. While some families stuff their birds with dressing, we at Mashed have a better solution that could lead to a more flavorful turkey. Consider stuffing your turkeys with orange. Combining orange and rosemary will give your bird a tanginess and zest that it may otherwise not have. As the turkey cooks, the juices from the orange will marinate through the meat of your turkey. Since its stuffed in the cavity, the orange should permeate to the breast and thighs of your turkey. To give your wings and legs a bit of an extra flavor boost, consider squeezing some orange juice on them as well. Outside of flavor, oranges also play a big role in helping to make sure that your turkey is juicy and moist as well. The added moisture from the orange slices will prevent one of the worst carnal sins when it comes to poultry -- overcooking the bird. It's quite simple. The juices from the oranges create a protective barrier for the internal meat of the bird. So while the outside gets golden crisp, the inside stays juicy. Read more: 12 Little-Known Facts About Salt How To Use Orange Slices With A Turkey turkey that's been sectioned Incorporating oranges into your turkey recipe is fairly simple, but if you need added inspiration, check out our brined and smoked turkey recipe. First off, cut the oranges in half, as well as a head of garlic. Take the orange slices, garlic, and rosemary and stuff them inside of your turkey. From there, you can place the turkey in your oven or smoker to cook. It's important that you don't do this step too long before you cook your turkey. You see, citrus is acidic, and as a result, it can affect the texture of your turkey if left on its own. For that reason, you shouldn't let your turkey marinate in citrus for longer than four hours. In particular, it could cause the turkey breast to become dried out. That being said, you may want to consider letting your turkey sit for a little while because citrus fruits are also a natural tenderizer. So it's important to find the balancing act. Once finished, simply chop up your turkey and discard the orange peels. If you feel inclined, squirt a little bit of orange juice on the finished bird to liven it up a little more. Also, be sure to consider all the ways you can cook a turkey. Read the original article on Mashed. For Belfast-born writer David Ireland, his life is about to imitate his art. A-listers Woody Harrelson, Andy Serkis and Louisa Harland are to star in the forthcoming London production of his play Ulster American. "It's ironic because the play is about a Northern Irish playwright and an English director putting on a play in the West End about Northern Ireland with a big American star in it," Ireland told BBC News NI. "That's the situation we find ourselves in so, yeah, it's interesting." Ireland is a successful and acclaimed writer with award-winning plays, like Cyprus Avenue, and the recent Sky TV series The Lovers among his best known work. But working with stars in the West End marks quite a journey from his east Belfast roots. He grew up in the Ballybeen housing estate in Dundonald in the 1980s and 1990s, and attended Brooklands Primary School. "I was born in Sandy Row so we moved to Ballybeen when I was about seven," he said. "I really liked living in Sandy Row, but when we moved to Ballybeen there was so much green around and trees everywhere, I thought we'd moved to the countryside. "I felt like it was some kind of rural idyll I'd escaped to. "I've got a very sentimental attachment to Ballybeen and Belfast in general." 'Obsessed with Shakespeare' After Brooklands Primary School, having passed the 11 plus test, he went to the Royal Belfast Academical Institution (RBAI). That is where his interest in drama really took off, nurtured by English teachers like the poet Frank Ormsby. "From then, I sort of became obsessed with Shakespeare," he remembered. "I wanted to be a great Shakespearian actor - that was my ambition but it wasn't to be." He left Northern Ireland in the late 1990s to go to drama school in Glasgow, originally with the ambition to be an actor. Since then, he has lived mainly in Glasgow, though did return to Belfast for about five years in his 30s before heading back to the Scottish city. During his time in Belfast, local theatre companies, like Tinderbox, began to perform his work. Coming home Despite living in Glasgow again, the location of many of his plays return to Belfast. "I feel very conflicted about it," he said. "I used to hate it when I was growing up in Belfast and people who didn't live there commented on it. "I used to think: 'What's he know? He doesn't even live here' and I'd hate to be one of those people. "There's something in me that can't stop writing about Northern Ireland. I suppose trying to make sense of growing up there and making sense of my background and my upbringing. "Especially with The Lovers - there was a kind of sentimental yearning for Belfast because I really miss the place. "As soon as I'm back in Belfast I feel like I can breathe again. "I feel like I walk around in Glasgow and London and other places feeling uptight and then once I get to Belfast I just relax a wee bit." His hit plays like Cyprus Avenue and Ulster American combine absurdity, comedy and violence in equal measure. Is that how he sees Northern Ireland? "I think it's probably how I see life," he replied. "Growing up there and growing up with the Troubles in the background and sectarianism in the background it did feel like a such a heightened, absurd place." So when did David Ireland find out about the stellar Ulster American cast? "It had been in the pipeline for a while that there were talks going on, but obviously with actors of that status there's a lot of questions about availability and about dates and so on and when everybody would be available," he said. "I'd heard that was our three actors and I didn't really believe it. "I thought there's some obstacle will come in the way to stop that dream happening but thankfully it's all happened." 'Explaining Ulster loyalism to Americans' Although the play is set to be one of the West End's hottest tickets this winter, Ireland is hoping that some people from Northern Ireland will get to see it. He cites playwrights from a similar working-class background to his, like Graham Reid and Gary Mitchell, as among his inspirations. "I remember going to see those plays at the Lyric [Theatre in Belfast] and thinking 'That person understands, they've come from where I've come from, they understand what my life is like what my background is like', so that kind of stuff is important," he told BBC News NI. The play that charts David Ervine's journey from youth to UVF to Stormont "That is one of the central themes of Ulster American - how do you write about where you come from without upsetting people from there, offending people from there, being truthful about the place? "Maybe telling some hard truths? How do you do that without feeling that you're selling out your culture as well? "One of the starting points of the play when I was writing it was how do you explain Ulster loyalism to an American audience - to an American full stop - and even to an English audience? "Even sometimes Scottish people struggle with it and, in fact, even Northern Irish people struggle to understand our country." The London production of Ulster American at Riverside Studios will run for eight weeks from 4 December 2023. American photographer Deborah Turbevilles work has intrigued and captivated audiences for decades. Her brooding, almost surreal fashion photography landed her a job at Harper Bazaar in the 1970s and has since been celebrated for her evocative, dreamlike imagery. Five decades later, and commemorating the tenth anniversary of her death, her latest book Deborah Turbeville: Photocollage shines a spotlight on the area of work that makes her an iconic artistic powerhouse - her photo collages. Unlike her contemporaries in fashion photography, Turbeville approached her craft with a deliberate sense of playfulness. She used techniques such as xeroxing, cutting, scraping, pinning prints together, and even writing in the margins to create narrative sequences that transcend the confines of single, glossy images. Her work occupies a liminal space between art and commerce, challenging traditional notions of fashion photography. Check out the 50 best photographers ever including icons such as Henri Cartier Bresson, Diane Arbus and Helmut Newton. Deborah Turbeville: Photocollage Deborah Turbeville: Photocollage Deborah Turbeville: Photocollage Deborah Turbeville: Photocollage Deborah Turbeville: Photocollage This collection of 180 images is the result of extensive research from the Deborah Turbeville archive. The carefully curated publication showcases a diverse range of commercial and personal projects, with many previously unpublished images. It features insightful texts contributed by Vince Aletti, Anna Tellgren, and Felix Hoffmann, offering readers a deeper understanding of how Turbeville redefined fashion photography on her own terms. Her work, in contrast to the stereotypes assigned by male photographers, presents a more nuanced and authentic portrayal of femininity rather than the highly sexualized images we are so used to seeing. Born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1934, Deborah Turbeville sadly passed away in 2013 leaving an indelible mark on the world of fashion photography. Her work graced the pages of renowned publications such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Nova, and The New York Times. Nathalie Herschdorfer, Director of Photo Elysee-Museum of Photography in Lausanne, Switzerland, has played a crucial role in the creation of this remarkable book. Known for her books Coming into Fashion, Afterwards: Contemporary Photography Confronting the Past, and Body: The Photography Book, Herschdorfers insightful introduction delves into the professional and personal life of Turbeville, highlighting her successes and celebrating her contribution to photography. Deborah Turbeville: Photocollage Deborah Turbeville: Photocollage is an essential book for any coffee table with modern relevance to those with a passion for fashion photography and the female gaze. It invites readers to explore the artistic innovation and timeless allure of Turbeville's work, cementing her place as a visionary photographer who transcended boundaries and challenged conventions. As we embrace her legacy, we can appreciate her enduring influence on the art of photography and the ever-evolving landscape of fashion. Copies will be available from published Thames & Hudson from October 12 in the UK, and in November in the US, for 55/$75/AU$110. Check out the best film cameras - retro classics that have been a mainstay in the analog world Gary Wang agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in his first meeting with them. He told jurors at Sam Bankman-Fried's trial that he knew what they did at FTX was wrong. "I thought I was likely to be charged and I wanted to get a shorter prison sentence," he testified Friday. Gary Wang and Sam Bankman-Fried had known each other for years. The two met at a math camp in their high school years and later lived together while attending MIT before co-founding FTX, the cryptocurrency exchange. It took only six days after FTX's bankruptcy for Wang to tell federal prosecutors he wanted to cooperate with their criminal investigation into his friend. "I thought I was likely to be charged and I wanted to get a shorter prison sentence," Wang, FTX's chief technology officer at the time of its implosion, testified in Manhattan federal court on Friday in Bankman-Fried's criminal trial. On the witness stand, the 30-year-old Wang detailed his experience working with Bankman-Fried at FTX and explained how deeply its funds were commingled with Alameda Research. FTX collapsed after it was revealed that Alameda a cryptocurrency hedge fund that Bankman-Fried also controlled had taken enormous losses on risky bets with funds from ordinary FTX customers. Prosecutors accused Bankman-Fried of fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy. The cryptocurrency exchange declared bankruptcy on November 10, 2022, and its servers were shut down the next morning. Wang testified that he spent November 11 and 12 dealing with regulators in the Bahamas, where FTX was based, and working with US-based lawyers to identify assets in different accounts that could be restored to customers and any other creditors. Gary Wang. Chelsea Jia Feng/Insider Wang returned to the US from the Bahamas on November 13, meeting with the FBI and prosecutors on November 17. At the very first meeting, he said he would cooperate with the prosecutors' criminal investigation, he testified. He met with investigators more than a dozen times in the past year, he said. In December 2022, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit commodities fraud, and conspiracy to commit securities fraud. One of his co-conspirators, he said on the witness stand Friday, was his FTX co-founder Bankman-Fried. A few days after Wang's plea, Bankman-Fried was extradited from the Bahamas to the US, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. On Friday, Wang said he wanted to cooperate with prosecutors because he knew what he did at FTX was wrong. FTX had lied to customers when it told them their deposits were safe, he said. In reality, those funds were used by Alameda Research. "Customers did not agree for us to use their funds," Wang said. Wang testified that on the same day in the summer of 2019 when Bankman-Fried publically claimed that Alameda Research, a cryptocurrency trading firm, got the same treatment as any other FTX customer, FTX actually rolled out a new coding feature that allowed Alameda an unlimited line of credit of $65 billion. Few other customers had a line of credit with FTX at all, and none of them had unlimited credit. Wang faces a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison. His cooperation agreement doesn't include a guarantee of a lower sentence, which will ultimately be determined by a judge. He said he hoped he'd get a sentence of zero years behind bars. Read the original article on Business Insider The following is an excerpt from author and travel editor Nikki Vargas new book, Call You When I Land, out Nov. 7 via Hanover Square Press. Ive never been to this part of Bogota before. Im somewhere on the outskirts of the city, where the neighborhood streets are dirty and dusty, covered with a layer of beige soot that kicks up each time the wind blows. The sidewalks are empty, the doorways are darkened, and the windows are covered by metal barsall of it giving the sense weve landed in some post-apocalyptic neighborhood. Im sitting in a black SUV with two men: my driver and fixer. Fixers are vital to reporters; theyre on-the-ground contacts who help foreign journalists arrange interviews, gain access, and get the information needed to write a story. My fixer, Jose, is a young and eager journalism student I was referred to back in New York when researching fixers. My driver is Alejandro, my grandmas go-to Uber driver. For the past week, Id been staying with my grandma, Clarita, who is a wild and, at times, outlandish woman living out her golden years with the same energy as a twenty-one-year-old on spring break. When Clarita loves something, she takes it, and so Clarita pulled Alejandro right off Uber, offering him money to be her personal driver. I turn towards Alejandro now, who is looking warily around the sketchy street. Clearly, he got more than he bargained for with todays ride. Jose and I jump out of the car and amble towards a commonplace building with black bars placed over the windows and doors. One knock and the metal door swings open to reveal a stoic-looking security guard wearing all black. Si? he asks with a deep grunt. Before I can respond, my fixer springs into action, explaining in rapid-fire Spanish that were here for a media interview. The guard nods and gestures for us to step inside. A dark hallway leads to a glass-encased conference room in which a young woman sits motionless, waiting beneath fluorescent lights, her eyes staring blankly at the rectangular table in front of her. Florawho opted to go by a pseudonymcant be more than thirty years old. Her face is round, and her hair, which is cut into choppy layers, is streaked with red-and-purple highlights framing her face. She is wearing a dark hoodie with her hands sunken into the pockets, as if shes trying to disappear into the folds. Flora is hardly intimidating enough to warrant such security, but then again, I remind myself just who it is Im speaking to. Flora is an ex-FARC fighter, as in, the guerilla group that killed nearly 260,000 people across Colombia, as in, the guerilla group that may have murdered my great-aunt, Adita. Thanks for talking to me today. Im going to be recording this conversation, I say, gesturing toward my iPhone lying on the table. As Jose begins translating my words, Flora nods nervously, her eyes never leaving the surface of the table, her hands still plunged deep into the pockets of her hoodie. Flora is undergoing a reintegration process, a controversial program that has been put into effect following a historic peace deal signed by President Juan Manuel Santos and the FARC, transforming this once-deadly narco-terrorist organization into a political party with guaranteed seats in the Colombian congress and senate. The peace dealwhich was voted against by the majority of Colombian citizenshas drawn intense criticism for its leniency towards the FARC, creating a fiery debate about what is more paramount: obtaining justice or having peace. At the center of this hot-button issue sit people like Flora, who have spent their entire lives living in the FARC camps hidden inside Colombias jungles. Right away, Im nervous. I think back to my childhood and how the acronym FARC came to represent so much misfortune in my family. I think back to a few days ago when I met with Margarita, one of Aditas surviving daughters. Margarita showed up at my grandmas apartment wearing a white button-down blouse tucked into a pair of slim-fitting blue jeans. Her near-perfect English was heavily accented as she began to tell me about my great aunt, slowly unraveling the knotted threads that had surrounded her murder. Once upon a time, Adita had been a dentist and a painter who lived in the beachside town of Santa Marta with her husband, whose family owned a massive plot of farmland that had been passed down from generation to generation. Back in the day, this farmland had been used for all the usual thingsgrowing crops and raising cattlebut was one day overtaken by FARC guerillas who invaded the property and claimed it as their own. Slowly, the FARC began to sell off pieces of the land to other buyers, using the profits to finance their illicit activities. Aditas husbanda lawyer, at the timetried his best to get his familys farmland back. As he proceeded to navigate a corrupt legal system, an on-paper battle between his family and the invading guerillas was created. As Margarita explains, the FARC took that fight right off the page and sent threats to Aditas husband, shooting him (nonfatally) and scaring him just enough so that he never returned to the farm again. Once he eventually passed away, Adita decided to resume her late husbands work and get the family land back by evicting the FARC from their property. This is where an already complicated story becomes more convoluted. I was talking with my mother, recalled Margarita, sitting on my grandmas cream-colored couch. She told me she was going to try and talk to this man and agree on something soon. This man was apparently a nearby landowner who had allegedly purchased a plot of Aditas land from the FARC illegally and was abhorrent at the prospect of giving it up. This is where the theories begin to swirl. All we know for sure is that one morning, Adita was kidnapped and taken to the Sierra Nevada mountains, where she was killed and found hours later. It was a very big rock that they used, said Margarita flatly, her eyes far away, remembering how shed had to identify her mothers body, noting the trauma to her head. I had finally learned how and why Adita had been killed, but the question of who did it remained unanswered. In the immediate aftermath of her murder, the landowner was never questioned, and to layer in more mystery, Aditas kidnappers turned up dead. These facts just bred more questions. None of it made sense, and perhaps it never would. And, just like thatas has so often been the case in Colombiamy great-aunts death was swept under the rug. Do you blame the FARC? I asked Margarita, wondering if she, too, saw them as the big bad wolf. Some people in Colombia just do what they want. She sighed. The laws are so soft, and there is no punishment. I think of these words now as I sit opposite Flora. Okay, lets begin. I nod toward Jose to signal the start of the interview. Lets start with how you came to join the FARC? Jose snaps into action, translating the question. Many young people decided to enter into the FARC because they didnt have other opportunities, explains Flora, shifting uncomfortably in her chair. Her voice is a near whisper, as though she were a child being reprimanded for bad behavior. As she speaks, Im a little surprised to feel a pang of sympathy. Floras early lifelike that of so many other child recruitshad unfolded within the guerilla group. In Colombias jungles, she had her first period, fell in love, lost her virginity, and even gave birth to her first child (a baby she promptly had to give up due to the FARCs strict rules against soldiers having children). I had come to todays interview expecting a villain, but am instead met with a wide-eyed woman, desperate to reconnect with her now fourteen-year-old daughter. The half hour interview passes quickly, and soon enough, Jose and I are walking back onto the dusty street towards Alejandro and that black SUV. A few days ago, while having dinner in downtown Bogota with some relatives, I learned of the term Locombia, which combines the word loco (crazy) with Colombia, used to describe the chaos of the country. Walking away from my interview, I think of this term now and the stories Ive uncovered during my trip here: a child being inducted into a terrorist organization; a woman being murdered for trying to take back what is rightfully hers. There is just no rhyme or reason to my homeland. In my own writing, I love to have those perfect endings that tie everything together in a way that leaves no stone unturned. But by the time I leave Bogota, theories about Aditas murder unravel. I must learn to live with the unfinished story. Courtesy of Publisher 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. You shouldnt have to book a trip to the spa to give your skin a boost. No, really. Theres a way you can pamper your skin and give it all the love and attention it deserves. How do we know? Well, we have Kenya Moore to thank for her beauty set recommendation. We tracked down the beauty tool set the reality TV star is a major proponent of, and its currently just $12 on Amazon. More from SheKnows Today's Top Deals Your skin will feel fresh and rejuvenated thanks to the BAIMEI Jade Roller & Gua Sha Set. This is great because you can put this in the fridge or the freezer before you use it. This is how you keep that neck tight. You dont need fillers, a facelift, and all that. All you need is a routine and great products, The Real Housewives of Atlanta star said of this beauty set, per E! Online. The jade and face roller really does wonders for your skin. Once cool, the face roller in this set can relieve muscle tension, reduce facial puffiness, and help your skin look fresh. The jade roller, mean while, energizes your skin. The BAIMEI Jade Roller & Gua Sha Set is a real skincare game-changer. Image Courtesy of BAIMEI via Amazon. BAIMEI Jade Roller & Gua Sha Set Price: $19.95 $11.99 Click here to read the full article. Buy On Amazon Were just as obsessed with this skincare set as Moore. But what are shoppers saying about the BAIMEI Jade Roller & Gua Sha Set? Just read on to find out: Is a wonderful gift and my skin looks younger since using! Simple to use. 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One of the buzziest projects to come out of the Cannes Film Festival this year was Killers of the Flower Moon, which sees director Martin Scorsese joining forces with longtime collaborators Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. The movie spotlights the murders of dozens of Osage people in Oklahoma in the 1920s and Leo takes on the role of Ernest Burkhart, the husband of a Native American woman named Mollie Burkhart, who is played by Indigenous actor Lily Gladstone . And to say Lily and Leo have been making a splash as of late is a serious understatement. Im very much in a state of being in the moment right now, Lily told Vanity Fair after the film's May 20 premiere in Cannes. But I feel so grateful. I just feel so grateful. Something tells us Lily's star power is only going to continue to rise upon Killers of the Flower Moon's theatrical release on October 20, so here's what you need to know about the actor so you and all your friends can collectively become their biggest stan. Mike Marsland - Getty Images Lily grew up on the Blackfeet Nation reservation Lily has she/they pronouns and per their Instagram page, Lily is of Siksikaitsitapi and NiMiiPuu heritage. According to an interview the actor had with Vulture, her father is Blackfeet and Nez Perce, while her mother is white. Lily grew up on the reservation of the Blackfeet Nation in Browning, Montana and lived there until she was 11. I lived in the reservations until I was 11, when we moved for lack of economic opportunities, the actor mentioned during a profile with the Guardian. In her conversation with the outlet, the actor also noted that their motheran early childhood education specialistwas the bedrock of our family, while her father was one of the most brilliant men I knowa gentle giant. He has deep spirituality and sharp intelligence. Lionel Hahn - Getty Images As for how they felt growing up in Browning, Lily said during a 2014 interview the reputation of the town depends on who it is you talk to...There are some incredibly ugly things that happen but shouldnt. But you have to look deeper into why things are the way they are. At the foundation of my life, there is community and family. There is poverty, violence, substance abuse, and unemployment everywhere. But there is so much love in that community. What unites people there is a love of family, a love of land. They went to the University of Montana Lily graduated in 2008 from the University of Montana's honors college with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre with an Acting focus and a minor in Native American Studies. While at the university, they performed in Montana Repertory Theatre productions, where their teacher and director Greg Johnson said of them (per Town and Country), There are a lot of talented kids at UM, but shes always been a standout. Shes absolutely a transcendent actress. We were lucky to have her. Lily herself reflected on her experience attending the school and confessed to the Guardian that during her opening semester, her Theatre of the Oppressed instructor told her and the other students none of you is going to be famous. You are here because you want to study theatre. But what the actor took to heart the most was the teacher's advice that followed: Keep yourself interested and invested in the world and you will stay an interesting performer. As soon as you disconnect from the human experience, youll be flat. Their professor then added that if any one of you does become famous, you can call me at four in the morning and laugh at mea truly lol-worthy statement in hindsight! They've been in ~the biz~ for a while Per Vulture, Lily's first role was in Jimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian back in 2013. They went on to star opposite Kristen Stewart alongside *the* Laura Dern in Certain Women in 2016a project that earned the actor a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female. Lily has also had her fair share of screen time in the TV world, with appearances in tons of shows including Room 104, Billions, and Reservation Dogs. Even so, it's their highly-anticipated role in Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moonin which Lily stars opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and plays Mollie Kyle, a real-life Osage womanthat has been getting tons of critical acclaim as of late. It is my absolute honor to share this news that I am barely able to wrap my head around. I am beyond grateful to announce I will be joining the LEGENDARY cast of Martin Scorseses upcoming film, Killers of the Flower Moon, she wrote upon news of their casting. I consider it a true gift and great responsibility to be trusted with Mollie Burkhart, and will hold her preciously with both arms, close to my heart. My most profound thanks to Osage Nation, it is a remarkable gift to be welcomed by you, and to be able to tell this story. Iiksukapi, niksokowaiks. The very best to you, my friends , they added. Shop Now Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI amazon.com $26.44 The filmwhich is based on author David Grann's book of the same namepremiered at Cannes in 2023 and instantly received rave reviews that specifically lauded Lily's performance. Lily has amazing presence and strength, Leo (yes, that Leo) said of his co-star during a convo with the Hollywood Reporter back in May 2023. She spent months studying Mollie Burkhart and her family, working extensively to understand the intricacies of this woman, her relationship with Ernest and her legacy within the Osage community. As a Native actor, in a lot of ways, she became a source of guidance for all of us, Scorsese included, in terms of how we told the story. During a separate chat with British Vogue, Leo commented of how Lily wound up securing her role in Killers of the Flower Moon, noting how there was a truthfulness in [her] eyes that [director Martin Scorsese] saw even over a computer screen. Ive never known [Scorsese to] meet somebody and then immediately afterwards have this gravitational pull and instinct to say, Lets not wait another minute [to cast her], he added. Full! Body! Chills! Luckily for us, Lily isn't slowing down any time soon. This spring, she was in Vancouver shooting Under the Bridge, a new Hulu true crime show that's based on the book of the same name by Rebecca Godfrey. Shop Now Under the Bridge amazon.com $17.88 Riley Keough to star in and executive produce Hulu limited series UNDER THE BRIDGE, based on Rebecca Godfreys book. (https://t.co/iaQ5jItNI6) pic.twitter.com/D6pdFm7UoH Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) December 1, 2022 Per the streamer, the limited series is said to be about the 1997 true story of 14-year-old Reena Virk who went to join friends at a party and never returned home. [Rebecca] Godfrey takes us into the hidden world of the seven teenage girls and a boy accused of the savage murder, revealing startling truths about the unlikely killer. They are passionate about Native Americans and their representation in media Lily chooses their roles thoughtfully to ensure they work in tandem with their efforts to raise awareness about their culture. Case in point? The actor opened up to Vulture about the fact that they were initially hesitant about accepting their role in Killers of the Flower Moon, as the story it tells chronicles a dark and gruesome page in Osage history. After the project underwent a script rewrite, the plot changed from one that focused on a white-savior trope into one that centers the experiences of its Indigenous characters; something Lily could now get behind. Scorsese himself sought out and welcomed input from the Osage community, which, in turn, changed Lily's mind re: taking on the role. It was clear that I wasnt just going to be given space to collaborate. I was expected to bring a lot to the table, Lily said to Vulture before adding, Thats what being equitable isnot just opening the door. Its pulling a seat out next to you at the table. In the past, Lily has also worked with Red Eagle Soaring, a Native American youth theatre program that's based in Seattle. Per Town and Country, the actor said of her efforts that role modeling is part of being a young Native person...Youth recognize someone with vision and a good heart, and I want to teach youth that they are role models for the generation beneath them. And when it comes to repping their culture on the global stage? Lily is all about it. No matter which red carpet they grace, Lily always makes sure to wear Native jewelry and garments that shine a spotlight on the talented designers that created them. I mean, just look at just some of their Cannes film festival looks from this past May: Vittorio Zunino Celotto - Getty Images Gareth Cattermole - Getty Images GET TICKETS TO 'KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON' HERE You Might Also Like To find a multi-bagger stock, what are the underlying trends we should look for in a business? In a perfect world, we'd like to see a company investing more capital into its business and ideally the returns earned from that capital are also increasing. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. However, after briefly looking over the numbers, we don't think Grand Venture Technology (SGX:JLB) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be. Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It? 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. The formula for this calculation on Grand Venture Technology is: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.07 = S$11m (S$193m - S$38m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2023). Thus, Grand Venture Technology has an ROCE of 7.0%. In absolute terms, that's a low return but it's around the Machinery industry average of 6.1%. View our latest analysis for Grand Venture Technology roce In the above chart we have measured Grand Venture Technology'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. What Does the ROCE Trend For Grand Venture Technology Tell Us? When we looked at the ROCE trend at Grand Venture Technology, we didn't gain much confidence. Around five years ago the returns on capital were 17%, but since then they've fallen to 7.0%. On the other hand, the company has been employing more capital without a corresponding improvement in sales in the last year, which could suggest these investments are longer term plays. It may take some time before the company starts to see any change in earnings from these investments. Story continues On a related note, Grand Venture Technology has decreased its current liabilities to 20% of total assets. So we could link some of this to the decrease in ROCE. What's more, this can reduce some aspects of risk to the business because now the company's suppliers or short-term creditors are funding less of its operations. Some would claim this reduces the business' efficiency at generating ROCE since it is now funding more of the operations with its own money. What We Can Learn From Grand Venture Technology's ROCE Bringing it all together, while we're somewhat encouraged by Grand Venture Technology's reinvestment in its own business, we're aware that returns are shrinking. Investors must think there's better things to come because the stock has knocked it out of the park, delivering a 104% gain to shareholders who have held over the last three years. But if the trajectory of these underlying trends continue, we think the likelihood of it being a multi-bagger from here isn't high. One more thing, we've spotted 1 warning sign facing Grand Venture Technology 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. SHANGHAI At the renovated Rockbund retail complex here, Labelhood, the citys fashion retailer and emerging Chinese designer support scheme, is gearing up for its spring 2024 edition, during which it will present 20 shows, a series of talks and exhibitions and pop-up initiatives during Shanghai Fashion Week. Tasha Liu, its founder, said this seasons Labelhood will feature a segment that spotlights emerging menswear labels, a program launched with GQ China more than seven years ago that jump-started careers for menswear labels such as Pronounce, Chen Peng and Staffonly. More from WWD We think people are interested in seeing an updated version of the masculinity narrative again, as exemplified by Chinese summer blockbuster films, explained Liu. To highlight the initiative, Liu invited Chinese designer Xander Zhou to curate the A.I.volution menswear exhibition, and a series of talks hosted by WSJ Magazines Chinese edition. Three menswear designer brands, including recent Central Saint Martins graduate Chen Sifan, Ponder.er and Redemptive, will present their latest runway shows under the program. Labelhoods venue at Rockbund. We only have three brands showing this season because most menswear labels want to follow the global menswear schedule, which is in January and June. But we think its important to put forth this concept of the Chinese menswear designer, added Liu. Despite a softer market reality, Liu remains upbeat that the local menswear market has the potential to produce the next global star. After some market research, we realized that menswear is still in its early stages of development, said Liu. There are not that many menswear-focused multibrand stores. SKP-S and Assemble by Reel, and our store Labelhood Men, are the only few that come to mind. The reality is, fashion boutiques in China want less purely menswear labels because Chinese men are less receptive to trying new things than female shoppers, she concluded. But no matter what kind of conclusions the market will come to today, we want to provide better support for these fledgling menswear designers, added Liu. During the COVID-19 years, Labelhood added the slogan be a COVID entrepreneur to its company mantra. By creating a venture with star label Shushu/Tong, the company expanded its business to retail operations by quickly opening two stores in Shanghai and Hangzhou for the label. Shushu/Tong will debut its first Shenzhen store at the MixC shopping mall this November. For Liu, a harsh business climate does not necessarily mean the high-quality consumer market will disappear. These kinds of customers will want more brand interaction. Thats why I always encourage designers, even in the most tough environments, to not retreat, but to invest smartly to craft a brand image because brand building takes time, said Liu. Apart from Shushu/Tong, Liu believes that labels such as Oude Waag and Swaying have the potential to become the next Chinese label that sits next to international contemporary brands in the countrys shopping malls. How to open 10 stores in China is different from opening one or two stores. Even between markets such as Shanghai and Hangzhou, the market preferences are completely different, explained Liu. We realized that most designer labels represent the identity of the Chinese south, which means they are at a disadvantage in colder markets up north and their supply chain, their familiarity with fabrics and what it means to have a market-friendly product means up north, said Liu. This is what I mean by commercialization. A brand has to have the agility to correct course when they enter new markets. Liu believes that Chinese designer labels need to amplify design and brand values, especially with more global players entering the playing field. Ive always said that a lot of Chinese apparel companies should be seen as retail operations masters because they can sell and sell even though the products are subpar. We need to learn from them in this area, because these are topics that seasoned designer brands will have to confront once they enter the mainstream, added Liu. As for Labelhoods fashion week-long showcase, which the company calls Pioneer Fashion & Arts Festival, Liu is eager to hear what the returning global press has to say about the local talents. I always say that the pandemic prevented us from connecting physically, but Chinese designers have always been international to begin with, said Liu. I would like to see what the international guests think of our overall competitiveness, how we tackle nuanced cultural topics, and if we have a chance in the global market. Best of WWD Click here to read the full article. Love Is Blind contestant Tran Dang is suing the Netflix shows production team, Kinetic Content and Delirium TV, for sexual assault, false imprisonment and negligence. In court documents obtained by TODAY.com, Dang, who participating in the filming of Season Five, alleges she was sexually assaulted by her former fiance and fellow "Love Is Blind" participant Thomas Smith in Mexico on or around May 3, 2022, while the show was being filmed. Dang sued Smith and the producers for assault. Dang also claims in the lawsuit, which was first filed Aug. 16, 2022, that she was falsely imprisoned by Kinetic Content and Delirium TV while filming the series and says producers acted with negligence. Love is Blind season 4. (Monty Brinton / Netflix) Neither Dang nor Smith were listed as participants in the show when the full cast was announced, and they have not appeared in Season Five, which premiered Sept. 22. Dang alleges Smith incessantly groped her, exposed himself in the nude and forcibly and repeatedly made sexual contact without her consent. Smiths attorney, Kip Patterson, said in an email to TODAY.com that Smith denies the allegations and the firm does not comment on ongoing litigation. Dang's lawsuit alleges that the production companies are liable for Smiths actions as they occurred during filming, or at their workplace, and as a contestant, he was an employee. She said in the petition most if not all of the acts were captured on camera by Kinetic Content and Delirium TV because she and Smith were under 24-hour surveillance by the production companies. Kinetic Content and Delirium TV denied that contestants are filmed constantly in a joint statement responding to the lawsuit. "We support and stand with victims of sexual assault, but Ms. Dang's claims against the producers are meritless," the production companies' joint statement reads. "We document the independent choices of adults who volunteer to participate in a social experiment. Their journey is not scripted, nor is it filmed around the clock. We have no knowledge or control over what occurs in private living spaces when not filming, and participants may choose to end their journey at any time." In the lawsuit, Dang said she reported Smiths actions to producers the next morning but alleges they did not take her account seriously. "Delirium TV and Kinetic Content producers made attempts to mask plaintiff's sexual assault by characterizing it as a lack of attraction on part of the plaintiff. When plaintiff insisted an assault took place, defendants Delirium TV and Kinetic Content questioned whether the problem was really one of communication and swept aside her concerns," the petition states. Kinetic Content and Delirium TV said in their statement that Dang "never informed the producers of any alleged wrongdoing of any kind. Nor did she choose to end her participation in the experiment. We take any and all concerns of our participants seriously and prioritize their well-being, the production companies said in the statement. Obviously, we cannot address undisclosed concerns." Instead, Ms. Dang continued in the experiment for weeks after the time her lawyers now claim an incident occurred. We deny and will vigorously defend the allegations against us," their statement read, in closing. Dangs attorney, Benjamin W. Allen, accused the production companies of delaying the ongoing case in a statement. The producers are throwing money at the problem by spending an inordinate amount of money on losing legal positions that do nothing but delay the parties from having their day in court. They lost on three distinct legal issues before the trial court and then filed three separate appeals to multiply the proceedings we have to wade through before finally trying this case," Allen's statement read. We are confident that Ms. Dangs position will be vindicated once we get there and are committed to seeing it through all of the way. We have to hold the show producers accountable. We have an ethical duty to our client to do so, but also feel a moral obligation to the next generation of reality show participants," he continued, in closing. "Love Is Blind" creator Chris Coelen responded to the lawsuit in a statement to People and reiterated that the show does not film 24/7. "We are not filming around the clock. We are not mounting cameras in their personal living spaces. We dont do that. Were like a documentary," he said. "They are alone during periods of times, they are not under surveillance. We do not tell people what to say, what to do, we consistently tell people that this is their journey, this is their life to lead as they choose. Were there to follow it. He also said Dang "did not make any kind of claim of assault of any kind." We would not continue filming with someone who was expressing that an incident of that sort had happened. We have round-the-clock psychologists, a highly trained production team, we have a whole battalion of people whos job it is to make sure that we prioritize our participants well-being. But the participant has to be actively involved in that process," he said in the statement. Coelen also responded to Dang's claims that she was "imprisoned" while filming "Love Is Blind." In the lawsuit, Dang alleges she was isolated in her hotel room when the show wasn't filming. She said in accordance with Kinetic Content and Delirium TV's "sequester parameters" for the cast, she could not leave her hotel room without permission, go into another cast member's room or hang out in the common area of the hotel. She noted that food was provided to them by production but said "on multiple days of filming," they would provide contestants with "several alcoholic beverages," while "providing limited amounts of food." This combination was designed to encourage the participants to engage in striking conversations and actions that would increase viewer ratings," her petition states. However, Coelen says those allegations are absolutely false. "Its not true in any way ... we dont push alcohol," he told People. "Everyone has consistent and regular access to food and water." Coelen also said contestants "come and go" as they choose in his statement to People. Aaliyah Cosby notably chose to leave the pods in Season Five before Uche Okoroha could propose to her. But Dang is not the first Love Is Blind contestant to compare the isolation to "imprisonment." Coelen responded to similar allegations from Season Two's Nick Thompson in a September interview with Variety, calling the comparison "insane." Youre asked to stay in your hotel to protect the integrity of the experiment, Coelen said. We disconnect their phones and internet so they cant get online because people are tempted to look people up. Dang is seeking damages for mental anguish, disfigurement, medical expenses, attorneys fees and more. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Have you ever been shopping and overwhelmed with thirst? Did you find yourself grabbing a cold drink off the shelf, wondering if it would be all right to drink it and pay later? If you have, you are certainly not the only one. Perhaps the bigger question is, is it illegal? The answer is that, technically, in many jurisdictions, it is. However, most stores choose not to prosecute people for it, but people do get arrested for this crime. As it turns out, a lot of people have been arrested for food-related crimes -- not to be confused with crimes against food. While many U.S. states have weird food laws, these arrests have little to do with using margarine instead of butter or portion control restrictions. That doesn't mean none of these stories are any less strange. In fact, people have gone to prison for eating certain foods on video. Check out this list of just some of the people who've been arrested for eating. Read more: The Best All-You-Can-Eat Buffets In Every State Praying Before Eating Pork Lina Mukherjee in TikTok video - TikTok In September 2023, an Indonesian influencer was sentenced to two years in jail for reciting a Muslim prayer prior to trying pork and posting a video of it to her TikTok account. The woman, Lina Lutfiawati, said "bismillah," which means "in the name of God," before taking a bite of crispy pork. The traditional prayer is one Muslims say before starting many tasks, including eating. In this case, Lutfiawati was tasting this meat for the first time while on vacation in Bali. Eating pork is considered haram and thus forbidden in Islam. Unfortunately for Lutfiawati, Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country, has strict blasphemy laws. However, pork isn't uncommon in Bali, which is majority Hindu. Courts found Lutfiawati guilty of "spreading information aimed at inciting hatred against religious individuals and specific groups." On top of her prison sentence, the government fined Lutfiawati Rp250,000,000 ($16,245). Since her sentencing, Lutfiawati's TikTok channel has been flooded with comments both in support and decrying her. For her part, Lutfiawati has expressed remorse and didn't appear to enjoy the pork. Eating Stolen Chips The roof of a Circle K - Jetcityimage/Getty Images In February 2023, Joseph Braswell, a Memphis, Tennessee, man, was arrested for eating two bags of stolen potato chips, although Braswell was not directly responsible for the theft. Allegedly, another man picked up a display of potato chips and absconded with them to his car after getting into an argument with a worker at Circle K convenience store. In the shuffle, some of the bags fell to the ground. Braswell found two of those bags and ate them. When police arrived at the scene shortly after that, they found Braswell there and observed that he still had the remnants of dubiously acquired chips on his face. Police say that the video footage made it clear that Braswell knew about the robbery. Police charged him with theft of merchandise of less than $1,000 -- the chips cost a combined $4.98. Circle K manager Melanie Jackson told WREG that she was less concerned about the loss of $5 worth of merchandise than she was with ongoing shoplifting problems at her store. "People come in here daily on a daily basis stealing, they think that is okay," she said. "Kroger left because they were stealing, the mall left because they were stealing, the Walmart left because they were stealing. So if everybody is gone, what are you going to do when Circle K decides we're fed up?" Let us take this tale as a reminder that shoplifting is not a victimless crime. Swan Lake No More A swan in grass - Turistas/Shutterstock Over Memorial Day weekend in 2023, teens in Upstate New York killed and ate their town's prized swan. The Syracuse suburb of Manlius was once home to Faye, the swan, her partner, and their four baby cygnets. Unfortunately, a group of teens killed and ate Faye (police say the teens believed the swan was "just a very large duck"). Luckily, the baby swans and Faye's partner were found alive and well. Police discovered the truth about what happened to the famous swan after a witness saw two of the cygnets in a store in a nearby town. One of the thieves, a teen, said he wanted to raise them as pets. Faye, unfortunately, ended up on one of the family's plates. Her partner had to be moved to another pond. Swans are monogamous, and scientists were worried he'd miss her too much. Hunting swans is illegal in the state of New York. Sushi Terrorism At Yoshinoya Bowl of sushi ginger - yuto.photographer/Shutterstock In April 2023, Japanese police arrested two people for "sushi terrorism."Shimazu Ryo and Oka Toshihide posted a video of themselves at a Yoshinoya in Osaka, Japan to social media. In the post, Shimazu ate directly from the communal ginger bowl instead of using a separate utensil to serve himself. The video went viral Police arrested him and Oka on charges relating to business obstruction and property misuse. However, Oka's and Shimazu's crime was only one of many in a chain of "sushi terrorism" pranks at sushi restaurants. Earlier the same year, three other people were arrested for using their hands and tongues to eat or grab sushi from communal locations. If convicted, Oka and Shimazu face up to six years in prison and a fine of 800,000 ($5,343). The pair insisted they didn't mean any harm and just wanted to give people a laugh. Who knew bad table manners could get you into that much trouble? Eating A Church's Chicken Frozen chicken nuggets on white background - Aaronamat/Getty Images Earlier this year, a 49-year-old man named Jason Coleman allegedly broke into a Provo, Utah, Church of Latter Day Saints in order to prepare and steal chicken nuggets. Witnesses say they saw Coleman roaming nearby yards before police found him in the church. When police arrived,he was looking through kitchen cabinets. Officers allege they saw Coleman return a bag of frozen chicken nuggets to the fridge. They also say they saw him take "three to four" nuggets out of a microwave and eat them. The arresting document asserts that "Coleman unlawfully entered a church building without a legitimate reason to be there, and because he admitted to taking food that wasn't his from the church building, he has been arrested and booked under the following charge: burglary." Burglary is a third-degree felony, and Coleman was held without bail. We love chicken nuggies as much as the next person, but one wonders if was it worth it. Forgot To Pay At Safeway A 2011 Safeway shopping bag - Francis Dean/Getty Images The saying is forgive and forget, but what about forget and forgive? In 2011, a pregnant mom in Honolulu, Hawaii, ate a chicken salad sandwich at Safeway and left without paying. Nicole Leszczynski said her theft was due to absent-mindedness, and was 30 weeks pregnant at the time. She took the sandwich off the shelf and ate it with the intention of paying for it at the checkout. Though she offered to pay when confronted by security, police were called regardless. She and her husband were arrested, and Child Welfare Services took their daughter for 18 hours. Safeway dropped all charges and said that even though calling the police on shoplifters is company protocol, they never would have done so if they knew the Leszczynskis' child would be taken away. At the time, Safeway said that as a general policy they do not want people to eat or drink food before paying. "However, [they] do understand that emergencies occur where a child or individual needs to consume a product immediately." Zero Tolerance For French Fries Washington DC metro station with train - Kickstand/Getty Images Back in 2000, 12-year-old Ansche Hedgepeth got handcuffed for eating in a Washington, D.C., subway station. At the time, police were cracking down on people eating in the metro. Over a short amount of time, they arrested or cited 35 people, almost all of whom were minors. Hedgepeth, a seventh grader, was searched, handcuffed, booked, and fingerprinted after school for unlawful snacking in public. While the preteen knew she was not supposed to eat at the metro, she didn't believe it would lead to her arrest. "I can't believe there isn't a better way to teach kids a lesson," said Ansche's mother, Tracey Hedgepeth, to ABC News. "The police treated her like a criminal." The transit police initially had no remorse for the arrest, citing its zero-tolerance policy. However, Ansche Hedgepeth's arrest led to a lawsuit, leading the Metro Transit Police to change its no-food policy enforcement policy from arrests to warnings. In her case, Hedgepeth requested her record be expunged because her Fourth Amendment rights were violated. Loitering At Taco Bell View of Taco Bell - M. Suhail/Getty Images In December 2021, a Florida man parked in a parking lot across the street from a Taco Bell and was arrested for loitering. After ordering food from Taco Bell in Baker County, Curtis McLaughlin Jr., moved to a parking lot of a business across the street that was closed. The sheriff's office deputy, ostensibly concerned about a string of burglaries, approached McLaughlin and asked him why he was there. McLaughlin supposedly refused to provide the officer with his information, and the situation escalated when more officers were called in to investigate. The corporal said that McLaughlin eating food was not a reasonable explanation for being in a parking lot and claimed that he wasn't cooperating. Later, the sergeant arrived and told McLaughlin he was loitering and prowling and needed to provide his ID. They then arrested him for loitering and prowling, but these charges were dropped in April 2022. According to the ACLU, in Florida, you only have to identify yourself to Florida law enforcement officers when they stop you on suspicion of a crime or traffic violation. You can choose to remain silent if you don't have these documents. Mukbang With A Bat Bats wings on wood table - Maurizio Photo/Shutterstock In 2022, Thai blogger Phonchanok Srisunaklua violated a few of her country's laws by eating a bat in a YouTube video. She was arrested and faced five years in prison.. In her video, Srisunaklua said the bat -- which she ate in a bowl of soup with a spicy sauce known as Nim Jam -- was "delicious." Some of her 400,000 subscribers were angry with her, saying she was risking another pandemic by eating such wildlife. Pattaraphon Manee-on, head of the wildlife health management group at the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, told Opoyi much the same. "The incident should not happen both in Thailand and around the world," he said. "It is very risky behavior, especially as bats have a lot of pathogens. There is no proof that the hot water temperature will actually kill the germs. Just touching the saliva, blood, and the skin is considered a risk." On top of the potential prison sentence, Srisunaklua could be fined 500,000 ($13,602). Half A Chicken Walmart exterior in Mountain View, California - Sundry Photography/Getty Images In 2022, two people in Largo, Florida, were arrested for eating part of a Walmart rotisserie chicken and then putting it back on the shelf. The two, who have said they were unhoused, have since apologized. Witnesses allegedly saw Cristian Ray Reeves-Putnam and Alexis Ann Marie Castillo eating a rotisserie chicken while shopping. Police said the two then resealed the unfinished chicken and returned it to the shelf. They were caught and charged with petit theft when they tried to leave without paying for everything in their cart. Sadly, this story isn't uncommon. There's a devastating reason food shoplifting is on the rise. Since the beginning of the pandemic, more people have suffered from economic instability and food insecurity. A census from early in the pandemic reported that one in eight Americans did not have enough food. The desperation has led to a rise in food theft. Dine And Dash Guest check bill - Junce/Getty Images Earlier this year, two men in Singapore were arrested after a string of dine and dashes racked up a $2,000 theft. Their scheme was exposed when more than one restaurant posted their "accidentally" unpaid bill. The first restaurant messaged the men on Instagram after tracking down their identities. However, the men did not pay until five days later after several messages were sent back and forth between the restaurant. In the interim, they also played tricks on the restaurant. In one instance, one of the swindlers said he'd pay but never showed up. In another, the same man told the restaurant another diner would pay $100, only for that person's Instagram handle to promptly disappear. A police statement says five restaurants reported the same men for dining and ditching between April 5 and 13. Police say in all instances, the men used either expired bank cards to "pay" or acted like they meant to pay before sneaking out. The two men face a fine and a 10-year prison sentence for "conspiracy to cheat." Eating On The BART BART station and train - Zeiss4me/Getty Images In 2019, Bill Gluckman, a Black man, was detained for eating a breakfast sandwich on a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) platform. He claimed it was racial profiling; police claimed he was cited, not arrested, for violating penal code. It is illegal to eat on the BART platform in California. BART defended the officers' actions, saying they only handcuffed the individual because he wouldn't tell them his name, which they wanted so they could issue a citation. However, officers initially told Gluckman they were detaining him for eating. One officer held onto and refused to let go of Gluckman's backpack despite being asked several times to let go. Many Bay Area residents were unhappy about Gluckman's citation or handcuffing, even holding an eat-in on BART platforms. Some residents agreed that Gluckman was racially profiled. Other residents were annoyed that food was the issue police were focusing on, considering they could instead crack down on passengers defecating on trains. Shoplift At ShopRite ShopRite exterior - Hapabapa/Getty Images In August of 2023, a Zambian man filmed himself eating K23.98 ($1.15) worth of food at a Shoprite before paying for it, and he was arrested. Francis Nundwe's video, in which he eats cookies and a drink, went viral. That wasn't his first rodeo in the social media thieving game. Another TikTok video shows him changing his shoes for new ones right from a store shelf. Nundwe says he knew store surveillance cameras were filming him and that this was all just a stunt. Perhaps Nundwe is unaware of the latest TikTok trend -- vigilantes against shoplifters. A new group of TikTokers are making themselves famous by exposing theft that they don't believe the police are taking care of correctly. In any case, with so many ways to get arrested for eating food, you must stay vigilant. Be careful when you pop that next soda and rip open that next bag of chips. Read the original article on Mashed. If you want to wow pizza people with your sauce, you don't need to fret over expensive ingredients or long simmering recipes ... just make it spicy. There is no "best" type of pizza, but there is something special about the way heat transforms the saucy, cheesy comfort of a slice. While making a pizza spicy usually involves tossing ingredients like jalapenos or hot sauce on top of the pie, creating a spicy sauce elevates the whole thing even further, giving every bite an undercurrent of warmth that will radiate through the whole meal. It's good enough to make you wonder why spicy pizza isn't the default. And while you could go with a standard arrabiata-style recipe with red chili flakes, there's another spicy addition that can really give your sauce some punch: Calabrian chiles. These spicy peppers are already the secret weapons in many pizza makers' arsenals, as their potent smoky spice adds not just heat, but tons of acidic flavor to all different kinds of pizza. They commonly come chopped in a jar with oil, or crushed and ground into a paste, making them easy to spoon out as a topping. You could start there and be perfectly happy, but incorporating Calabrian chiles into your pizza sauce will make for a truly unique experience, infusing the pepper taste and multiplying the complexity of the whole pie. Read more: 26 Types Of Pasta Sauce Explained Calabrian Chiles Will Make Your Pizza Sauce Something Special hanging bunches of Calabrian chiles - RasaBasa/Shutterstock Incorporating Calabrian chiles into your pizza sauce recipe is an easy step that doesn't require any other alterations. The amount of chiles to use will vary based on how spicy you like it, but you can start at 2 chiles for a standard sauce recipe using one 28-ounce can of tomatoes. Dice the chiles, and then add them to the pan to cook for a few minutes alongside your onions and garlic. Follow the rest of your recipe as normal, and you'll get a bright and fruity pizza sauce with an irresistible spicy kick. Your spicy Calabrian chile pizza sauce will work with almost any topping you like, but spicy pizzas have some combinations that are particularly tasty. Fatty, salty meats play off the acid and heat from spicy tomato sauce, and they help balance out the heat. Crumbled Italian sausage or soppressata are two choices that you see often with Calabrian chiles on top of pizza, and they'll be just as good cooked into your sauce. Earthy mushrooms make a nice, meaty, deeply savory pairing that will bring out the best in a spicy sauce. Roasted red peppers and caramelized onions both bring an extra dimension and create a sweet, spicy combo. And of course, you can just go with a classic cheese, because with spicy pizza sauce this flavorful, you don't really need anything else. Read the original article on Tasting Table. Shanghai Fashion Week is gearing up for a full return amid slower economic growth and weakening demand. Around 100 brands will begin to present their spring 2024 collections across four official venues on Sunday, and 13 official trade show partners will welcome buyers from China, France, Vietnam and the U.S. More from WWD Designers and retailers said they are prepared to embrace a tougher market and have been exploring new opportunities to grow amid economic headwinds. Chinas economic data has indicated a gloomy future ahead, with the property sector in particular under immense pressure. In China, around 70 percent of household wealth is tied to housing. A Reuters poll of 76 analysts last month predicted the Chinese economy would grow 5 percent this year, lower than the 5.5 percent forecast in a July survey. Susan Fang RTW Spring 2024 Canadian Chinese designer Susan Fang, known for her romantic layered chiffon dresses, beaded bags and theatrical showmanship, said the brand is shifting more and more online to achieve significant growth with unique and meticulously crafted items with higher price points, such as bridalwear, event attire and statement accessories. She is also selling more to international stockists such as Mytheresa and 10 Corso Como Seoul, where the brand obtains a 98 percent sell-through rate. Conversely, weve noticed a shift toward conservatism in lower price point shops, Fang added. Building strong connections with our existing clientele and attracting like-minded new customers are central to our strategy in these challenging times, she said, adding that she will present her first artwork launch with a contemporary dance and fashion presentation on Tuesday. J E Cai RTW Spring 2024 The London-based Jiaen Cai, a Royal College of Art alum who made his runway debut in London last month, this season will resume selling with Tube Showroom, a brand accelerator that expanded into experiential retail earlier this year. Cai said in order to cut costs, he outsourced some of the product developments in China, while the rest was developed in his studio in London. In his opinion, middle-range-priced independent designer brands are facing the most amount of challenges as Chinas middle class tightens spending. For survival, they tend to develop cheaper products and make the industry competition environment more hostile to young brands. But my plan is to keep developing good-quality items for my Algorithmic Modular System, and not fall into this trap, he added. Inspired by the Taoism classic Tao Te Ching, his concept behind the system is similar to playing with Lego. Each piece of apparel can be disassembled into different components and reattached to create new looks. A preview of Danshan rtw spring 2024 Danxia Liu, cofunder of the mens label Danshan, also believes that its imperative to put design and product development at the forefront of everything we do, regardless of the current economic situation. Even with limited resources, we always strive to come up with new ideas and innovative ways to showcase our designs and connect with our audiences. The London-based brand will return to Shanghai for the first time since the pandemic with a unique and intimate presentation on Tuesday. The collection will be presented in five immersive acts, each featuring different looks and performers. The ability to touch, feel and wear a garment is what truly brings fashion to life. This is why we are excited to return to Shanghai. Collaborating with like-minded individuals allows us to connect in person and build strong relationships. As much as we value digital communication, nothing can replace the power of face-to-face interaction, she added. Alex Po, cofounder of the gender-inclusive label Ponder.er, said the brand adjusts the product range every season according to how the markets react to past collections. Although the economy is tough worldwide, we see increasing interest in unique denim pieces and materials that are comfortable to wear but at the same time allow customers to experiment with their styles. I feel that a lot of customers are still very willing to engage in new concepts and fantasies, we think the new generations are very open-minded in terms of breaking gender boundaries and stereotypes, he noted. For fashion jewelry label Soft Mountains founder Longhong Ziwei, a taste of livestreaming on Xiaohongshu has helped the label explore market potential with a different state of mind. Inspired by the Yi ethnic group, the label offers earrings and necklaces that range from 800 renminbi, or $111, to 1,500 renminbi, or $208. Telling better stories and delivering what the creative and designer would like to express may gain more consumer preference and build a good foundation in the long run. England Cheng, brand consultant Livestreaming is actually a good exercise for brands, especially designer brands. Its a litmus test for the companys service capacity, supply chain, and the ability to adapt to market needs, Ziwei said. To grow a brand under this climate is like playing Super Mario, you have to quickly adapt. Because of livestream exposure, customers are going to multi-brand stores to seek out our products, in turn, a wholesome retail experience can effectively translate to livestream results, Ziwei added. Eric Young, founder and buying director of the Shanghai-based fashion boutique Le Monde de SHC, said he wont increase the budget for this season, but he has been adjusting the brand mix constantly post-COVID-19 to keep the customers excited. We continue to introduce new brands with outstanding design, quality and price, such as Niccolo Pasquelatti, All In, Feben, Jacques Wei, with whom we worked on an exclusive fur capsule, and veteran designer Ian Hyltons latest venture Xiangsheng. From this year, we also started offering bespoke services to our customers with the brands that we work with. Its been a great experiment, and more are becoming regulars, Young said. Will Zhang, founder of SND, a fashion boutique that originated in southwest China and has been expanding nationwide with 14 boutiques in Chongqing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Guiyang, Sanya and more, said he has been buying more conservatively and plans for further physical expansion are halted for now as well. Our current brand portfolio direction is to retain some of the more internationally recognized brands and remove some of the niche ones. Our customers are no longer responding to the exaggerated and pioneering pieces, they are buying more affordable products with simpler designs, he said. Zhang also said that SND has been investing heavily in online channels as Chinese fashion consumers shopping habits have changed immensely over the past three years. Xiaohongshu, Douyin, Taobao and Tmall all come with livestreams, and the choices to shop online are plentiful. Almost all Chinese concept stores are doing it, and many consumers get to know new brands and trends because of this. We have orders coming from everywhere in China via livestreams. Showing whats new with video content on Xiaohongshu and Douyin is also key. They help drive offline traffic, he added. Windowsen rtw spring 2024 In order to compete in livestream selling, Chinese designer brands had to adjust to a relatively lower price point to gain more sales, as observed by brand consultant England Cheng. With the rise of livestreaming, brands are forced to compete mostly on price instead of quality or design. The lower the price, the more traffic and sales you can get. Brands have to lower costs in all aspects in order to reach a lower price point. However, smaller brands have a lower minimum order quantity. They cant run up the quantities by lowering the costs. It is a big challenge, Cheng explained. She believes that the only way to rise above the competition is to focus on brand building. Telling better stories and delivering what the creative and designer would like to express may gain more consumer preference and build a good foundation in the long run. If the consumers are able to understand more the value of brands, fashion, art and culture, that benefits the whole industry. And a more holistic and healthy ecosystem could be formed gradually, she added. Excitement can come from awareness, design, commerciality, etc. Meimei Ding, founder of fashion showroom and brand accelerator DFO Olivia Chen, founder of the Shanghai-based brand and retail strategy firm OKYC Projects, agreed that the perceived brand value plays a pivotal role in determining what a customer is willing to spend, especially when consumers remain price conscious. Its become more crucial than ever for designers to be able to articulate their uniqueness, evaluate the coherence of their branding, products and communication, and establish a genuine connection with their community. Against the backdrop of quiet luxury, consumers are seeking also ingenuity and excitement. Its an environment that presents opportunities for designer brands that are affordable or moderately priced, while premium-priced emerging designer brands may encounter challenges, Chen added. She called this period a phase of self-examination for local designers. For brands with a well-established identity, this may involve a focus on the commercial aspects, such as reorganizing their product range and pricing strategies. On the contrary, for brands that have historically been more volume-driven, in some cases offering a wide range to cater to a broad audience, the process has entailed introspection to define their brands core essence and delineate what it represents and what it doesnt. Irrespective of the approach, its a demanding process to develop long-term strategies to extend the brands growth. But they are making necessary adjustments to position themselves effectively and while it presents its challenges, I believe that in hindsight, this period will be recognized as a significant step forward for Chinese designer brands, she concluded. Models take part the Shuting Qiu show during fall 2023 Shanghai Fashion Week. As brands at different stages continue to reassess their developments in China, it leaves less space for newcomers. Bohan Qiu, founder of BoH Project, a Shanghai and Seoul-based agency with clients including Mugler, Dries Van Noten, Calvin Klein, Amiri, Rui, Yueqi Qi and Windowsen, noticed that fewer new brands are coming out after the pandemic in Shanghai, compared to during COVID-19 when there was a large number of Chinese talents returning home to start their own venture and brand. I could feel that people are slightly more reserved with putting on grandiose shows like back in 2021, but taking a safer approach and focusing more on the clothes itself, he noted. That said, the schedule is busier than during pre-pandemic times. Chinese fashion label Icicle, the owner of Carven, will kickstart the nine-day showcase on Sunday with a runway show at the Xintiandi official venue. It will be followed by a packed calendar featuring buzzy local talents such as Tommy Zhong, WMWM, Staffonly, Yirantian, Haizhen Wang, The World Is Your Oyster, Mark Gong, Oude Waag, Swaying/knit, Ponder.er, Shie Lyu, Shushu/Tong, Xu Zhi, and power players like Edison Chens Clot, Mark Fairwhale, Chau Rising, Comme Moi, Cplus Series, Semir and Balabala, one of Chinas biggest kids clothing brands which launched a collaboration with Kris Van Assche last year. Stella McCartney will make its Shanghai Fashion Week debut to close the showcase on Oct. 16 with a repeat show of the brands spring 2024 womens collection, which was revealed during Paris Fashion Week. A collaboration will be revealed at this time as well. Rui RTW Spring 2024 Bohan revealed that Rui Zhou, who just shown in Paris with a sultry presentation that has gone viral on social media, will build a synchronized yet different experience locally for the Chinese audience and community, while fashion retailer Machine-A will present a Chinese designer showcase in its Shanghai flagship. While the pace is slowing down, Qiu believes that Shanghai remains an attractive spot for local and international players, as his pipeline is filled with major brands looking to do shows or activations in Shanghai later this year and in 2024. Its still a market and city that attracts local and international brands to make noise that will resonate across China. There are also more and more visitors this year coming to Shanghai, from luxury brands to new designers alike. This year it feels like the city is reshuffling itself, finding a new position in the international fashion world, and also searching its way to become more global post-COVID-19, he added. Etudes store in Shenzhen, China, operated by theImmersive. Qius sentiment was echoed by Meimei Ding, founder of fashion showroom and brand accelerator DFO and chief brand officer at theImmersive, a brand development joint venture founded by DFO and New Accolade Group, a subsidiary of the Chinese streetwear label Inxx. DFOs clients include Soulland, Soeur, Christian Wijnants, System, Stine Goya, Fiorucci, Tibi, Joseph, Etudes and GCDS. To be honest, our brands are performing quite fine. All of our key brands have rebounded very nicely this year. I think this is due to the fact that they already have a certain level of awareness, the merchandise is designer [fashion quality] but still wearable, and their supply chain is more stable, so they can resist the current economic situation. Also, we are graced by our stable and strong buyer network, Ding said. She believes that the opportunities lie in how exciting a brand can be for the Chinese market, and if the brand can catch that momentum and build on it. Excitement can come from awareness, design, commerciality, etc. For DFO, after expanding to PR, social media and e-commerce, this year we are starting to move into physical retail by setting up monobrand stores for our brands. For more mature designer brands, we believe this is a key opportunity for them to build their own visibility, Ding added. Shanghai Fashion Weeks main fashion show venue at Xintiandi. Xiaolei Lv, secretary-general of the Shanghai Fashion Week Committee, said they are taking on more partnerships to help local designers reach a wider audience. This season we are welcoming back more international buyers and media, as well as working with the digital wholesale platform Joor to provide better visibility and trade support for designer brands, she said. Meanwhile, based on our experience in Chinas unique online ecosystem over the past three years, we will also further communicate the talents and their new collection directly to the mass market through a series of initiatives, such as livestreamings on Douyin, and the relaunched consumer-facing shopping event Fashion Weekend, added Lv. Best of WWD Click here to read the full article. I love a tropical girls' trip, and these two, side-by-side resorts in Tulum, Mexico, are a perfect destination for your next girls' trip. Courtesy of Cabanas Tulum Beach Hotel & Spa I like a solo adventure, family trip, or romantic getaway with my husband as much as the next person, but theres one drama-free, laugh-filled vacation that will always top of my list: a girls trip. Is there ever a time you feel happier than when youre laughing uncontrollably with the gal pal who just gets you? I recently found the answer to be yes doing exactly that in the barefoot bohemian paradise of Tulum. This trendy beach town on Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula has been all the rage in recent years; truthfully, I expected to find it overhyped when I finally paid a visit, but after jetting off for a long weekend at The Beach Tulum and Cabanas Tulum Beach Hotel & Spa with my best friend, Im smitten. Courtesy of The Beach Located side-by-side on a quiet (a precious rarity) stretch of Tulum Beach in the southern end of the Hotel Zone, these two boutique hotels share amenities including a spa, gym, yoga palapa, pools (one in full sun, one winding beneath tropical trees), and two restaurants, Ziggys Beach Club and Frescos. The main difference is that Cabanas is ever-so-slightly set back from the beach, with sun-drenched rooftop rooms, while The Beach sits closer to the lapping waves of the Caribbean Sea but if you didnt know they were separate hotels, you might never notice. Our trip began in a beachfront room at The Beach and we thought life couldnt get better, but after switching to Cabanas for our next two nights, we were hard-pressed to play favorites. Upon arrival, we ditched our shoes, because permanently sandy feet are part of the Tulum experience and we were whisked away to salsa-making class, where we helped make (OK, taste) five different varieties, including a fire guacamole. Courtesy of Cabanas Tulum Beach Hotel & Spa Courtesy of Cabanas Tulum Beach Hotel & Spa You could stay on property throughout your stay in Tulum and be perfectly happy they also offer classes in ceviche-making, salsa-dancing, tequila-tasting, and even a weekly sound-healing ceremony but we opted to wander and work off the fresh-baked chips and lip-burning spices. The main road running parallel to Tulum Beach isnt walker-friendly (theres a lot more cars than sidewalks), so learn from our mistakes and walk the beach; youll see stunning examples of Tulum-style driftwood architecture housing everything from moonlit cacao ceremonies to open-air massages to thumping beach bars. The hotel has bikes available for guests, but we found the congested street too daunting to pedal. By the time you reach a landmark like Matcha Mama, youll be sweaty and ready for an iced matcha. Hydration in hand, we ambled back to the hotel for a private hatha yoga session in the hotels upstairs palapa. It was 75 minutes of stretchy bliss, the perfect antidote to our early travel day by savasana, we both fell asleep, nestled by gentle breezes, chirping birds, and swaying palms in every direction. Courtesy of The Beach Id hoped to hit a nearby must-eat restaurant, but we ended up with energy for nothing more than a casual feet-in-the-sand dinner at Ziggys. Happily, we couldnt have chosen better for ourselves. We actually returned for round two of the requeson-stuffed short rib tlacoyo and beef barbacoa tacos. The next morning, we arose early for breakfast at health-conscious Frescos the locavore menu here is exactly what youre in the mood to eat in Tulum, with colorful smoothie bowls, savory chilaquiles, and more to fuel up for a half-day Mayan Jungle Expedition with Living Dreams Mexico, arranged for us by the hotel. If youre not sure what to do in Tulum but want to experience a little bit of everything, this tour is it. A local guide brought us to four uncrowded cenotes (we swam in three and zip lined over the largest) in the private Maya community of Tankah, then the adventure wrapped with a lunch of rice, beans, grilled chicken and pork, and refreshing hibiscus tea, all handmade before our eyes. Pay a few pesos extra for dessert: the chocolate-and-cheese marquesita is worth sampling, and theres also fresh-fried churros. While a day of adventure is vital to do Tulum right, so is at least one day of absolute non-adventure. The Beach and Cabanas make that easy: swim through The Beachs maze of a pool, with bridges and palm tree swings providing lots of cute photo-ops, or hop to the Cabanas side for more vitamin D, interrupting your sun-soaked bliss only to order another round of fresh watermelon juice and coconut water. You can also reserve a complimentary slot to complete the hydrotherapy circuit at on-site Naj Naay Spa, where youll alternate between sauna, steam room, hot tub, and cold plunge until your body feels invincible. No matter what you get into on your trip to Tulum, follow our lead and start each day with a session in the treetop palapa yoga is offered every morning at 9 a.m. and guarantees a great day from the get-go followed by a nourishing breakfast and fresh juices to hydrate. Another day, we shelled out $35 (each way) to taxi into Tulum Pueblo for mojitos at Batey Mojito and Guarapo Bar, which are made with freshly crushed sugarcane from a converted VW Beetle, and dinner at Negro Huitlacoxe. The elote dorado and birria quesadilla served in this beautifully lit, pink-walled spot were phenomenal, but overall, our time in the city reminded us how good we had it on the beach. Unlike most vacations, we didnt head home from Tulum feeling drained and depleted we returned sun-kissed, hydrated, and happy, like we had just been on a wellness retreat. Between the soul-food of quality time together, the mental break of time off, and the physical provisions of daily yoga sessions and ever-available healthy food, we might as well have been. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. While ordering a burger at a steakhouse may seem unconventional, it can be a surprisingly rewarding experience. This is because many steakhouses put the same level of dedication into their burger patties as they do their ribeyes and filet mignons. The patties are usually made with high-quality beef that's sometimes hand-ground in-house and always seasoned to perfection. They are then cooked to order, allowing you to choose your desired level of doneness, just like you would with a steak. Aside from premium meat, steakhouse burgers often offer a blend of flavors and textures not normally found at your typical fast food burger joint. Depending on the sophistication of the establishment, the burger ingredients and toppings can vary from the classic lettuce, tomato, and cheese to more artisanal offerings such as caramelized onions, applewood smoked bacon, and house-made sauces. Ready to step out of your steakhouse comfort zone but not sure if the risk will be worth it? Check out our list of steakhouse chain burgers ranked worst to best. Read more: Fast Food Hamburgers Ranked Worst To Best LongHorn Steakhouse: LH Burger LongHorn Steakhouse LH Burger - Facebook While LongHorn Steakhouse's LH Burger is probably superior to what you would normally be served at your local fast food joint, at $14.49 (depending on location) it may not offer the best value for your hard-earned money. Advertised as thick and juicy, the LH Burger comes with a grilled half-pound beef patty topped with applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, onion, tomato, and pickles, all nestled in a toasted potato bun. Patrons can also opt for cheddar, American, or Swiss cheese. While the LH Burger may sound mouthwatering on paper, some patrons have found that the execution can sometimes fall short of expectations. Burger Beast writes, "LongHorn Steakhouse for sometimes, but not for burgers," adding that the burger lacked in the juiciness department and had too much onion. Another reviewer rated the burger at 5.3 out of 10, saying that the patty was suspiciously uniform and may have been pre-frozen. On the other hand, they also said that the burger was both affordable and sizeable, which made it a good option for those wishing to fill their stomachs without spending too much money. Outback Steakhouse: Bloomin' Burger Outback Steakhouse Bloomin' Burger - Facebook The Bloomin' Burger first made its debut as a limited-time-only offer in 2008. For better or worse, the burger seems to have secured a permanent spot on Outback Steakhouse's regular menu. The offering features a half-pound USDA Choice ground beef patty, American cheese, spicy house-made pickles, lettuce, tomato, and the chain's signature Bloom Sauce. The burger also comes with Bloomin' Onion petals, which are deep-fried until golden brown. The Australian-themed restaurant also offers the more basic Outback Burger with lettuce, tomato, onion, spicy house-made pickles, mustard, and a choice of cheese. One reviewer writes that the fast food favorite is a "win-win" since it combines the chain's Bloomin' Onion appetizer with a burger. Another burger enthusiast, however, seems disappointed with the combo, saying, "I decided on the Bloomin Burger seeing as the Bloomin' Onion is one of their signatures, I figure this HAS to be good. It was a decent burger for sure but it looked better than it actually was. Not a whole lot of flavor. Kind of bland for having the Bloomin' Onion and 'spicy' Bloom Sauce." Fleming's Prime Steakhouse: The Prime Burger Fleming's Prime Steakhouse Prime Burger - Facebook Unlike most other steakhouses, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse features an entire menu section dedicated to burgers and sandwiches. While this isn't spelled out, we presume that, just like the restaurant's steaks, its burgers are made with USDA Prime beef, which comes from the top 2% of beef producers in the U.S. The Prime Burger comes with Wisconsin cheddar cheese and peppered bacon. The chain's other meaty burger option is the more elaborate California burger, which is topped with tomato, arugula, bacon, avocado, Wisconsin cheddar cheese, and jalapeno aioli. Finally, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse might be the only steakhouse out there that also offers a vegetarian burger option it's composed of house-made chickpea and roasted eggplant patty, arugula, campari tomatoes, and romesco sauce. When it comes to the restaurant's Prime Burger, the reviews seem mixed. One patron praises the dish, saying, "The brioche bun is delicious, the meat is excellent one of the few places I'd feel comfortable getting a rare or medium rare burger, the cheese, and sweet/spicy bacon, and great lettuce and tomato come together perfectly." Another reviewer, however, doesn't seem as impressed, saying that while the burger patty was very good, the bun it came with was stale. Del Frisco's Grille: Grille Cheeseburger Del Frisco's Grille Grille Cheeseburger - Facebook With only 16 locations around the U.S., Del Frisco's Grille runs on a much smaller scale than some other steakhouse chains whose outlets can number in the hundreds. However, in contrast to many other steakhouses that offer one burger option at best, Del Frisco's Grille's menu features three different burgers. One of these is the Grille Cheeseburger, a sizable burger layered with two USDA Prime beef patties, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, and optional bacon. The dish is topped with the chain's special Sloppy Sauce, which is made with a staggering 30 different ingredients. Another burger option on the menu is the Filet Burger with a ground filet mignon, aged white cheddar, baby arugula, onions, and bacon. For vegetarians, the restaurant offers the Beyond Burger with a plant-based patty, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and pickles. The Grille Cheeseburger has received mixed reviews from burger aficionados. According to I Just Want to Eat, the burger was fantastic, with patties that had a nice char on the outside and were delicious and juicy in the middle. Not everybody agrees, however. One burger enthusiast says that while the burger was good, it didn't wow them, specifying, "Nothing wrong with it, just a good cheeseburger." Another online reviewer says that the burger lacked flavor and came with subpar tomatoes. Smith & Wollensky: Wollensky's Butcher Burger Smith & Wollensky Butcher Burger - Facebook Filled with the rich flavors of applewood-smoked bacon and aged cheddar cheese, and topped with Wollensky's signature steak sauce mayo, Wollensky's Butcher Burger will set you back $21. The chain also offers the Cajun Burger with blue cheese and red onion marmalade. All Smith & Wollensky burgers are made with USDA Prime beef that's sourced from family farms and dry-aged in-house at 36 degrees Fahrenheit for a minimum of 28 days. Standing testament to its popularity, Smith & Wollensky can cure between seven and 12 tons of beef at any one time. The Wollensky's Butcher Burger has received decent reviews from burger enthusiasts. One reviewer calls it "great value," explaining, "The meat in the burger was clearly of high quality and the other components of the burger simply supported the flavor of the meat. Which makes a lot of sense when using high quality beef." While another burger fan praises the beef patty, they are less enthusiastic about the rest of the dish. "Ordered it medium rare [...] and it was definitely cooked perfectly, well flavored, juicy, and didn't bleed everywhere. [...] That being said, the rest of the burger was extremely mediocre. The bacon was laughable for a steakhouse. Two small, curled-up pieces of 'diner-style' bacon. [...] The cheese was White American and severely lacking any taste." Saltgrass Steak House: Brisket Burger Saltgrass Steak House Brisket Burger - Facebook Saltgrass Steak House features three different burgers on its menu. While the chain's cheeseburger and patty melt are definitely worth a mention, it's the brisket burger that stands out from the pack, even if only because of the fact that it used slow braised brisket on top of a traditional patty. The dish is also made with cheddar cheese, onions, pickles, and BBQ sauce. While Saltgrass Steak House serves Certified Angus Beef steaks, it's unclear whether the chain also uses the same type of beef for its burgers. Typically used to make corned beef, brisket comes from the lower breast of a cow. Given the extensive use of these muscles, the cut tends to be relatively tough due to its abundant connective tissue. While this may make it sound unappealing, brisket can be incredibly flavorful if appropriately cooked. The key to making a delicious brisket is slow cooking to break down the connective tissue and tenderize the meat. Although Saltgrass chooses to top its burger patty with brisket, the cut can also be ground up into burger patties. Brisket makes an ideal addition to burgers due to its rich flavor and meat-to-fat ratio of between 80/20 and 70/30. Logan's Roadhouse: The Roadhouse Deluxe Burger Logan's Roadhouse The Roadhouse Deluxe - Facebook Made with half a pound of ground and seasoned USDA Choice steak from Midwestern cattle, Logan's Roadhouse's Roadhouse Deluxe Burger also comes with bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, beer-braised onions, sauteed mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, onions, and pickles. The offering can be turned into a double burger at an extra charge. Logan's Roadhouse also serves the Roadhouse 'Shroom & Swiss burger with melted Swiss cheese, sauteed mushrooms, crispy onions, and parmesan peppercorn sauce. Logan's Roadhouse's Roadhouse Deluxe burger has received praise from consumers, with one happy reviewer saying, "Of all the burgers we have eaten, Logan's has the best. They are handmade patties (at least they appear so), they are thick and juicy, and you can order them to your favorite temp." Another patron calls the Roadhouse Deluxe "a monster burger," adding, "It was nice and juicy, but what I really enjoyed more was that it was filled with red onions and grilled onions. I can see though how a person that doesn't like onions as much as I do might not like it, but in this case, I really enjoyed that." The Palm: Wagyu Burger The Palm Wagyu Burger - Facebook Only available at the bar area of The Palm restaurant chain, the Wagyu Burger is an enticing creation featuring gouda cheese, Italian long hot peppers, fried onion strings, and prosciutto butter. True to its name, the burger's patty is made from Wagyu beef. Wagyu, which is a Japanese breed of cattle, is renowned for abundant marbling that gives it a tender texture and a buttery flavor. The prosciutto butter adds even more richness, while the mild spice of the long hots cuts through the fat and the onion strings provide much-needed crunch. While at around $20, the Wagyu Burger isn't cheap, the purchase is unlikely to leave you feeling underwhelmed. One reviewer says that The Palm Wagyu Burger is "very large," adding, "What definitely balances the price quality ratio is the wonderful flavor of the dish, since the hamburger is really delicious and I totally recommend it." Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse: JR Double Burger Jeff Ruby's JR Double Burger - Facebook Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse serves an extensive selection of USDA Prime and Wagyu beef, as well as seafood, including sushi rolls. The chain's menu also lists one burger although the exact type of burger offered differs at different locations. The JR Double Burger served at the chain's Cincinnati outlet consists of two 4-ounce patties from Avril-Bleh, a deli that has been supplying meat in the area since 1894, as well as American cheese, bacon, lettuce, red onion, and Cajun remoulade. Other locations have their own takes on the humble burger, with ingredients such as bacon jam, white cheddar pimento, herb aioli, caramelized onions, and dill pickles. The JR Double Burger seems to have hit the right spot with fans. One happy reviewer says that the burger is the best in North America, adding that it's "worth every dime." At $22, this is something to consider, which is why another burger lover disagrees, saying, "My favorite steak place of all times but [they're] too $$$$$ for me now." Either way, it's clear that the JR Double Burger has made quite an impression on its customers, eliciting rave reviews from those who don't mind splurging a bit on a burger. Black Angus Steakhouse: Steakhouse Bacon Cheeseburger Black Angus Steakhouse Bacon Cheeseburger - Facebook The Steakhouse Bacon Cheeseburger is one of Black Angus Steakhouse's signature menu items and for a good reason. Featuring a patty made from a half-pound of Certified Angus Beef ground chuck, the burger is layered with applewood-smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and house-made pickles. Last but not least, the final dish comes crowned with deep-fried onion rings. To qualify as Certified Angus Beef the meat must pass the brand's 10 specifications for quality to ensure that it's both juicy and tender. The Steakhouse Bacon Cheeseburger seems to have captured the appetites of burger lovers, with one satisfied reviewer saying that they had never eaten a burger "stacked that high." Driven by the demand for the Steakhouse Bacon Cheeseburger, Black Angus Steakhouse launched its Badass Burgers takeout-only menu collection in 2023. "We start with quality Certified Angus Beef, then add on outrageous toppings like our fried cheese patty or onion rings, for a unique twist on a classic steakhouse staple," explained the chain's Director of Innovation Chef James Little in a press release. Some of Black Angus Steakhouse's Badass Burger offerings include the Rodeo Ripper with cheddar cheese, bacon, onion rings, and pickles and the Lasso with guacamole, cheddar and jack cheese skirt, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and pickles. Peter Luger Steakhouse: Luger-Burger Peter Luger Steakhouse Luger-Burger - Facebook Peter Luger Steakhouse once received a scathing review from Pete Wells of The New York Times. After ordering the burger medium rare, Silverman complained that it arrived at her table as a "weird hybrid" which was perfectly cooked on one side and tough and gray on the other. Despite the zero-star review, the Luger-Burger has a firm fan base who praise it for its high-quality beef patty. The Luger-Burger consists of a half-pound patty with optional cheese and bacon. Made from a blend of freshly ground Prime-grade chuck and dry-aged steak, the patties are broiled at 800 degrees Fahrenheit, just like the chain's steaks. According to Peter Luger's general manager, David Berson, the burger evolved from a chopped steak dish. "Roughly 25 years ago or so, they turned it into a hamburger, put a bun on it, and it's been on the menu ever since," he told the Insider in an interview. Anneta Konstantinides, who reviewed the menu item for the Insider, says that the burger has a homemade quality that makes it one of the best she's ever sampled. "The burger was so juicy that I had to wipe my fingers after every single bite. And the patty was just soft enough truly like butter," she writes. Brian Hoffman from Eat This NY has also expressed his enthusiasm for the Luger-Burger, saying that the perfectly seasoned patty came charred on the outside and succulent and flavorful on the inside. The Capital Grille: The Capital Grille Burger The Capital Grille Burger - Facebook The Capital Grille is a steakhouse that takes its steaks seriously, delivering both high-quality restaurant cuisine and comforting classics in an elegant setting. Whether you're in the mood for an upscale meal like a bone-in dry-aged New York strip or a filet mignon or you have a craving for something a bit less formal, this upscale chain has you covered. When it comes to the Capital Grille Burger, the menu doesn't give much away. It simply states that the dish comes with an 8-ounce patty made with a blend of ground chuck, short rib, and brisket sourced from Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors. While the specific cheese type that tops the patty isn't disclosed on the menu, the chain's corporate executive chef Michael LaDuke provided some insight about the issue in an interview with the Star Tribune, saying, "We felt Havarti achieved the right amount of creamy, dairy notes for the burger, while providing an outstanding texture when melted under our broiler." The Capital Grille Burger has received praise from food reviewers with Dinesarasota calling it both simple and meaty. Sanguinic from the Star Tribune waxes lyrical about the dish, saying, "The beef sings with the same deep, mineral-ey quality that steak lovers expect from their favorite cuts. It has just enough marbled fattiness to keep each bite ultra-juicy, and the covers-the-bun patty is weighty enough to mirror the menu's thickest chop." Read the original article on Mashed. Trader Joes may be well-known for their pumpkin-flavored everything, but that doesnt mean theres not room for other fall flavors to shine. If youre looking for an escape from the seemingly never-ending stream of pumpkin spice sweet treats, look no further. Theres a new apple-forward bakery item at TJs, and superfans are giving it the stamp of approval. Find all the details on the Apple Cinnamon Buns below. Trader Joe's Apple Cinnamon Buns If you typically prefer apple to pumpkin, we think you're going to love these tasty Apple Cinnamon Buns at Trader Joe's. They make the perfect breakfast to pair with your morning coffee (an Apple Crisp Oatmilk bev from Starbucks, perhaps?) on chilly fall mornings. The Trader Joe's website explains that their bakery partner in Denmark "crafts each Bun by twisting sweet, cinnamon-apple-compote-filled dough into a quick knot, topping it with a light, streusel-like crumb, then baking it until its gloriously golden brown. Its enough to make anyone aspire to morning person-hood." We're sold! And it seems others are, too. One fan shared the good news on the Trader Joe's subreddit last month, writing: "Don't sleep on the apple cinnamon buns, folks! Theyre made in Denmark and delicious. I had to be force myself to share the second one and not eat them both myself. Limited edition, too, so I gotta get my fill RIGHT NOW." Another shopper said: "New Apple Cinnamon Buns are AMAZING. 10/10 recommend warmed up for a few seconds." "Its criminal how delicious these are," a commenter confirmed below. "I just got them this morning and Im going back after work for more." Okay, okay, we're definitely convinced that we have to try these. If you want to get your hands on 'em, too, you can get a box of two buns at Trader Joe's for $4.49. But hurry, they're only around for a limited time! You should probably stock up on a few other seasonal favorites while you're at it. READ MORE: 5 Items You Should Never Buy At Trader Joes, According To Superfans It would be impossible to talk about modern culinary icons without mentioning the name "Mario Carbone." Carbone Fine Foods' Spicy Vodka Sauce became available nationwide in September, and since then, the famous sauce from the NYC celeb-magnet restaurant has emerged as the star of countless "Carbone spicy vodka sauce hack" videos on social media. (Jars are available via the Carbone Fine Foods website, and National Vodka Day is coming up on October 4). Chef Carbone visited the gourmet grocery store Citarella on 6th Avenue in Manhattan to share a bit more about his famous Spicy Vodka Sauce -- including the fact that he regularly gets tagged in countless versions of these "hacks" and is annoyed to see that nearly all of them felt inclined to spice up their vodka sauce with cheese. "We don't put cheese in it," said Carbone. "We kind of frown on you at the restaurant when you ask for it, for the record." It's not that the chef has a vendetta against cheese in pasta, it's that he doesn't see cheese as a universally necessary pasta ingredient. "I just don't think you really need it, it's a pretty rich dish by itself," he explains. "When our pasta comes, we immediately ask for cheese before we really even know if it needs it. I kind of yell at my parents about that, then they tell me they raised me and paid for my school, y'know." Read more: 44 Types Of Pasta And When You Should Be Using Them Let The Ingredients Speak For Themselves Carbone Spicy Vodka Sauce - Carbone Fine Foods A closer look at the ingredients behind his vodka sauce illuminates why the chef might get frustrated when home cooks feel the need to add cheese. Carbone vodka sauce is made in small batches from onions, chili peppers sourced from Calabria, and San Marzano tomatoes grown in volcanic ash in Italy. As chef Carbone shared at the Citarella event, he personally went to a field in Italy to pick the San Marzano tomatoes and meet the grower, "which was very emotional for me and the man that owned the field. After a couple of hours, he was crying when I left. A very emotional experience for all of us." Even Chef Carbone's hero Bobby Flay puts cheese in his vodka sauce. In a TikTok, Flay made Carbone's spicy vodka rigatoni at home with girlfriend Christina Perez, narrating "I'm gonna add a little Parmigiano Reggiano. I just can't help myself." But, if you ask Mario Carbone -- if you can help yourself, by all means, you should. Quoth Carbone, "Bobby Flay likes to put cheese in it, I don't know why but he does." At Citarella, the chef shared that when he and his business partner Rich were sharing an apartment in Manhattan's West Village, they tossed around the phrase "WWBD?" as in "What would Bobby do?" But, apparently, the answer to that question is "Bobby would put cheese in his vodka sauce," which by Chef Carbone's standards is a big no-no. Read the original article on Tasting Table. Channel Islands National Park isnt far from Santa Barbara, but this ecologically rich archipelago is anything but familiar. Russ Bishop/Alamy From left: Santa Cruz Island has one of the world's largest sea caves; hiking in Lobo Canyon, on Santa Rosa Island. Walking the trail that led to Lobo Canyon felt like being on a different planet. Arid terrain gave way to steep sandstone cliffs that towered above lush greenery and spiny cacti, an intriguing mishmash of environments. At times I had to be a contortionist, ducking under the low-hanging limbs of island oak trees, scrambling up and over rocks, and walking across a wobbly hardwood plank suspended over a creek. Forcing my way through a thick tangle of reeds was slightly suffocating; I felt I might actually be swallowed up by Santa Rosa island, never to be seen again. But then the canyon opened and the trail rose upward. After a few more minutes, I stood overlooking a white beach and the Pacific Ocean. The beach was entirely free of other visitors and judging by the absence of footprints in the sand had been for some time. This, I thought, is why I came to Channel Islands National Park, a chain of five islands less than 15 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara and Ventura, California. Each of the islands Anacapa, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel has its own unique appeal, and collectively theyre often referred to as the Galapagos of North America, thanks to the 145 endemic species found nowhere else in the world. Despite these natural wonders and the parks proximity to the mainland, only about 320,000 people visited in 2022. Thats fewer than the number of people who went to Yosemite National Park during a single month last summer. Maybe those numbers have something to do with the kind of place it is: unlike parks where you can get out of your car and walk 10 steps to a scenic viewpoint, this one makes you earn your Instagram photos. You can reach the park only by commercial ferry or private boat; once there, you get around on foot. All the food and gear I needed for my six-day stay had to be carried in my overflowing backpack. There are no convenience stores, not even a gift shop; if I had forgotten anything, Id need to do without. Even for those who arent keen to rough it, the wildlife and natural beauty are powerful draws. Theres also an anthropological reason to visit: in 1959, researchers in the park discovered some of the oldest human remains in North America, dating back at least 13,000 years. (They are believed to be ancestors of the present-day Chumash people.) When we think of ancient human history, many of us think of Egypt and the pyramids, Russell Bradley, director of California State Universitys Santa Rosa Island Research Station, later told me. The pyramids were erected about 4,500 years ago, but humans were living and thriving on the Channel Islands for nearly 9,000 years before that. From left: BLUEBARRONPHOTO/SHUTTERSTOCK; ATSUO BABA/ISTOCKPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES From left: A fox native to the Channel Islands is about the size of a house cat; kayaking in Channel Islands National Park, off the coast of California. My October visit coincided with the parks dry season, but in the spring, wildflowers bloom and the land explodes with color. I went to two of the five islands first to Santa Rosa, then to Santa Cruz. Santa Rosa is one of the more rustic islands in the chain and takes approximately three hours to reach by boat from the mainland. Santa Cruz gets three or more ships a day, Dylan Moe, a Santa Rosa ranger told me. But this time of year, we get three a week if were lucky. To reach Water Canyon, and my campsite, I walked a mile and a half across rolling hills and wide-open prairie. Shortly after setting up my tent, I noticed several hunched eucalyptus trees. Id later learn that these trees arent native, but were planted as windbreaks by European settlers; the areas powerful gusts cause them to grow stooped over. I also spotted an island fox, a house-cat-size species that is the parks largest land mammal. The animals diminutive size can be chalked up to the islands rule, park ranger Madeleine Whitman told me. Most of the species on the islands are either much smaller or much larger than their mainland counterparts, she said. For example, the island scrub jay is larger than jays on the mainland, likely because of an abundance of food and the absence of predators. In contrast, foxes are smaller because of resource constraints. That night, I learned how intense the wind could be as it whipped through the canyon, repeatedly extinguishing my camp stove. But when it died down, I was rewarded with an expansive view of the stars being so far from the mainland, Santa Rosa has some of the darkest night skies in the national park system. Flying Dawn Marie A pod of common dolphins near Santa Cruz Island. After three days of exploring Santa Rosa, I moved on to Santa Cruz, the most frequently visited island. During the ferry ride, pods of common dolphins crossed the boats path, leaping and playing in its wake. We also passed hundreds of California sea lions sunning themselves on ocean buoys and rocks. Among Santa Cruzs main attractions are its sea caves it has one of the highest concentrations of them in the world. I joined a group of other visitors and a guide with Channel Islands Adventure Co. to explore more than a dozen of these rock formations by kayak. Some were huge, like the famous Painted Cave, where the volcanic-rock walls transform from black to a kaleidoscope of colors. Others were claustrophobic, with small entrances that led to darker secondary caverns that got exponentially narrower. In some, the only light that has ever shone has been a guides flashlight. One was so tiny it was difficult to even turn around; at one point, I accidentally wedged my paddle between the cavern walls and had to yank it free. I nearly tumbled out of my kayak. The caves were beautiful, intriguing, and, at times, frightening. Navigating them was a fitting end to my adventure on the Channel Islands, a place I found isolating, and inspiring, and unlike any other in America Id seen. How to Visit the Channel Islands Getting There Island Packers Cruises runs daily summer service to Santa Cruz Island and operates on a limited schedule to the other islands. What to Do Channel Islands Adventure Co. offers sea-cave kayaking tours, as well as snorkeling tours. Where to Stay Basic campsites are available on all five islands and must be reserved in advance. Visitors need to bring their own food and water. A version of this story first appeared in the August 2023 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline "Wild Kingdom." For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. The worst result, after buying shares in a company (assuming no leverage), would be if you lose all the money you put in. But when you pick a company that is really flourishing, you can make more than 100%. For example, the Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL) share price has soared 208% in the last three years. How nice for those who held the stock! It's down 4.5% in the last seven days. While the stock has fallen 4.5% this week, it's worth focusing on the longer term and seeing if the stocks historical returns have been driven by the underlying fundamentals. See our latest analysis for Halliburton In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement. During three years of share price growth, Halliburton moved from a loss to profitability. Given the importance of this milestone, it's not overly surprising that the share price has increased strongly. You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). It is of course excellent to see how Halliburton has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. If you are thinking of buying or selling Halliburton stock, you should check out this FREE detailed report on its balance sheet. What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. We note that for Halliburton the TSR over the last 3 years was 219%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. Story continues A Different Perspective It's nice to see that Halliburton shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 29% over the last year. That's including the dividend. Since the one-year TSR is better than the five-year TSR (the latter coming in at 1.4% per year), it would seem that the stock's performance has improved in recent times. Someone with an optimistic perspective could view the recent improvement in TSR as indicating that the business itself is getting better with time. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Halliburton that you should be aware of. But note: Halliburton may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. We spend our whole lives hearing, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" But very seldom do we hear about the regret that can go into spontaneously choosing a lifelong career. It's scary to think about working day in and day out for the rest of your life at the same mundane job, or worse, a job that was never meant for you. So when Reddit user u/Midwestmamax2 posed the question , "Do you have any career regrets?" in r/AskWomenOver30 , I knew the answers would definitely hold some deeper insight: 1. "Im currently working a low-paying job for amazing benefits because my husband agreed to take more on money-wise. He left me on Monday. So now Im wondering if I can stay in the low-paying job and get medical benefits or go get a better paying job. I regret putting myself in this position. I should have stayed at the higher-paying jobs." 2. "I thought I needed to meet 90%+ of the requirements of a job posting to apply. I know now that I should totally go for jobs Im interested in, even if I only meet 50%60% of the requirements." u/joliebetty 3. "I'm a pediatrician. I love kids, I love building relationships with families, and I love learning. The science of medicine never gets boring it's always changing, it's interesting, and there's tons of variety. But knowing what I know now, I wouldn't do it. Simply put, it's really fucking hard to be a doctor. And sure, that seems obvious on its own, but there are so many lies about becoming a doctor that are sold to medical students." "In my experience, one of them was that the painful, isolating, and exhausting sacrifice of training will yield a better life. I don't think that's true. Yes, medical school and residency were peak miserable times of my life, but after training, my work life hasn't exactly been that much easier than training. Even my dream job on paper was incredibly hard. I worked 1012 hours a day, was on call all the time, had hours of charting to do every night, and was underpaid in lieu of how much cash flow I brought into my practice. I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting a soft work life, or at the very least, a work life where the stakes aren't so high all the time and the work does in fact end." u/moxieroxsox Amazon Prime Video / Via giphy.com 4. "I wish I had followed my heart and gone to school for something I actually love, instead of what would give me the potential for a lucrative career. Im in a pretty well-paying job now, but I dont like going to work, and that sucks." u/justalilscared 5. "I regret that we need 'careers.' I have two degrees in art history but ended up being a project manager because it pays better than anything in that field does, at least when starting out. Honestly, if one could actually live in the US on minimum wage and didnt have to worry about health insurance, I would go back to working in a bookstore and spend the rest of my days stocking shelves and talking to people about books." 6. "My career is mostly regrets, lol. I regret going to law school. I regret doing corporate law. I regret even doing more public-interest-oriented law. The only thing I don't regret is eventually striking out on my own. I think if I had the chance to go back in time, I'd have done something in organizational psychology instead probably some kind of strategic consulting." "Basically, everyone I know who went into that line of work confirmed that it is not easy, can get stressful, but is ultimately dynamic and fun. I would have much preferred that type of career (back when I was younger and had the energy) to something as staid and uptight as the practice of law." u/hauteburrrito 7. "I regret staying home to raise kids. I need work to occupy my brain. I feel like I have gotten dumber because I stayed home." 8. "Letting a sense of duty or loyalty determine whether I stay at a job instead of my own wellbeing. There are jobs that I knew right away were negatively impacting my mental health, and I stayed years hoping it would get better or being worried about leaving my coworkers in the lurch. Companies can, have, and will survive without me. Its not my fault if they routinely understaff." "My intuition is usually right; if there are red flags I see in the first few weeks, those are unlikely to significantly change. In the future, I will set a timeline and the types of changes I need to see by then if Im going to choose to stay. If I dont see them, Ill have a plan for next steps to (hopefully) move on to another job." u/joliebetty 9. "I hate my career, but it is perfect for my kids (hours, autonomy, flexibility). I wish I had cross-trained into something I could change to now and be my own boss or WFH more. Im tired of what Im doing. Soul-deep tired." 10. "I wanted to be a doctor when I was in high school, but 17-year-old me wasn't fond of the path to get there. Mainly, I didn't want to be 'stuck' on a 10-year track with no way to get off of it without saddling myself with huge amounts of debt. Do I regret it? Not really. But I did look at becoming a doctor again a few years ago, and I wish I had looked back into it a little bit earlier, maybe in my late 20s. I'm in my mid-30s now, and I feel like the door has closed for me." "I know I could still do it at any time, as I don't doubt my ability to excel in academic environments, but everything else around it, like opportunity cost, the intensity of residency, the inability to choose where I want to end up for both school and residency all those things don't sound appealing anymore when I want stability, community, and to put down roots. I also know that the grass can be greener on the other side, especially in healthcare in the US, where providers are facing burnout like no other. If I were to win the lottery tomorrow, I'd likely give it a shot and only apply to schools in areas I'd want to live in, but without the lottery money, it's not worth it since I already make a tech salary that is as high as some doctors." u/labbitlove 11. "I'm a teacher, and I'm not happy. I wish I hadn't rushed to graduate when I realized that I wanted to major in computer science. I was already in my third year of college, and I didn't want to spend 34 other years at college. I just wanted to graduate on time, and now I look back and regret it. I plan on switching careers." 12. "I fell into my career (recruiting) and completely regret it. There are days I dont mind it and actually like it, but for the most part, I hate it. Its a very unstable career; when the times are good, its great, but when the job market tanks, it gets really bad. I should have done something more creative, technical, or mentally stimulating." u/heymichelley 13. "I went into business for myself and became a boss, and I hated every minute of it. Never again will I be a boss or own a business, especially in this economy." 14. "I hate my career. HATE it. There are a million things I wish I would have done instead, but realistically, I dont think I would have been capable of them at 18. For the most part, I think I made the best choices I could have made given who I was and what I was like back then, so Ive mostly come to terms with my career field at this point. My biggest regret is staying in a toxic job as long as I did." u/blankpaper_ 15. "I wish I hadnt taken my first job out of graduate school. It was abusive as fuck, psychopath management, etc. The job ruined my health in ways that Ill deal with for the rest of my life. I was caught up in competing with peers from school and felt like I needed to stick with this job because it was the only thing I got after graduation. I shouldve had higher standards for myself for how I want to be treated, but also be gentler with how I feel like I need to meet certain benchmarks to be 'successful.'" u/kataracttt Robert E Blackmon / Via giphy.com And finally, this user shared how important it is to check in on yourself and not let the thought of "forever" fool you: 16. "My regret is thinking I need to decide on a 'forever career.' It only makes me feel constantly dissatisfied. Its such a big thing to figure out! Now, I view it as 'what can I do in the short to medium term? What supports my life goals and priorities?' I re-evaluate occasionally: Do I need a change? How big of a change? Can I talk to other people who do other jobs to see what I might be able to work toward? This also ensures that I stay open to new opportunities that I wouldn't have ever thought of. There are so many jobs I didnt know existed when I graduated from university, and I continue to learn about new ones. Who knows where Ill end up!" If you're 30+ and want to share your experience or any advice you have when it comes to career regrets, feel free to share your story in the comments! Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity. WASHINGTON Joe Biden s tight alliance with organized labor has unnerved some of his business supporters, who worry that his rhetoric and administration's actions make it tough to rally corporate leaders and CEOs and win their energetic backing of his 2024 presidential candidacy. Advisers have directly urged Biden to state bluntly that he wants to help business succeed a message that tends to get lost as he courts working-class voters and embraces their cause for better pay and working conditions, said a top political ally who requested anonymity to speak frankly about internal discussions. You deserve what youve earned, and youve earned a hell of a lot more than youre getting paid now," Biden said last month during a first-of-its-kind appearance with striking workers at a picket line in Michigan. Talking through a bullhorn, he stood alongside United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain who, when it was his turn to speak, said that CEOs "sit in their offices, they sit in meetings, and they make decisions. But we make the product." The setting was a natural one for Biden, a product of his hardscrabble beginnings in the Rust Belt city of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and whose career never much intersected with corporate boardrooms. By showcasing his ties to the labor movement, though, Biden is aggravating tensions with business interests whove chafed under his political appointees running regulatory agencies that hold great sway over their industries. The criticism Biden faces may be driven in part by the pendular shift since the Trump administration, when business flourished under tax cuts and deregulatory measures. Most of the tax cuts that Donald Trump signed into law in 2017 wound up benefiting corporations and higher-income individuals, a Congressional Research Service report showed. Today, business leaders point to a Biden appointee, Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Lina Khan , along with heads of agencies that oversee labor and consumer relations as impediments to competition and survival in the marketplace. Biden at his core is a blue-collar guy from Scranton. Hes never worked in business and he doesnt have any particular interest in those issues and I dont criticize him for that, said Steven Rattner, a longtime Democratic donor who headed the auto industry task force in the Obama administration. Rightly or wrongly, theres a perception that theres a fair amount of hostility toward business, and that makes the business community nervous. One Democratic fundraiser, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk freely, said: As a general matter, the business community has felt very much ignored by Biden. In our part of the business community, where we raise money, Lina Khans name both of them are four-letter words." Khan has rankled business by targeting large companies, such as Amazon and Microsoft, and stoking uncertainty about future mergers. 'Working class interests' There is little doubt that Biden will have ample resources to run a general election campaign. What worries some of his pro-business supporters is an apathy setting in among associates about a potential rematch between Biden and Trump. The fundraiser summarized the argument heard from some business executives as "I dont really love Trump. On the other hand, how bad could it be? He gave me a bunch of money and he didnt f--- with me the way Biden is. Thats made it difficult for us to rally business support for Biden as much as wed like. The White House counters that Biden has been a boon to the business world by making substantial investments in new roads and bridges, while pursuing renewable energy projects that create new jobs. In a sign of economic health, 336,000 jobs were created in the month of September, a number that almost doubled Wall Street expectations. Marty Walsh, Biden's former labor secretary, said in an interview that Biden's picket line appearance was "a one-off." "The president went out there to show his support," he said. "No other president has done that. The president also has good relationships with the automakers because of the legislation he passed and the push for electric vehicles and battery charging stations. He's very pro-business in that sense." In a prepared statement, Michael Kikukawa, assistant White House press secretary, said: The Biden-Harris administration has worked with businesses on everything from unsnarling supply chains to removing junk fees, and we applaud businesses that are doing right by the American people, but we wont stop holding powerful special interests accountable when they put profits ahead of people. Perhaps most worrying for Democrats is that neither workers nor business seem enthused about what the president brands as Bidenomics, a program to build the economy from the middle out. An NBC News survey last month showed that only 37% approved of his handling of the economy, compared to 59% who disapproved. Bidens pro-labor positioning reflects a shift in the way both parties view the business world. Once the party of business, the GOP has reinvented itself as a more populist party suspicious of the influence exerted by high-tech and financial interests. Friendly as he was to well-heeled corporate interests, Trump tried to align himself with striking autoworkers in an appearance in Michigan a day after Bidens visit. Compared to the last two Democratic presidents, Biden now leads a party that veered left and adopted the progressive view that concentrated wealth and business power are corrosive to working-class advancement. There is really no question in my mind that Biden is pushing working-class interests and organized labors interests to a greater extent than his recent Democratic predecessors, said Brishen Rogers, a former union organizer and now a Georgetown Law professor specializing in labor law. 'A warning to every CEO' Past presidents were suitors when it came to business interests. One cold morning in February 2011, Barack Obama left the White House and strode across Lafayette Square to give a speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce building, hoping to improve frayed ties to the business community. The symbolism was unmistakable: Reeling from losses in the 2010 midterm elections, Obama was the supplicant. He promised to break down barriers that stand in the way of your success" and pledged to go anywhere, anytime to be a booster for American business, American workers and American products. At a re-election campaign event in Stamford, Connecticut, in 1996, Bill Clinton assembled hundreds of business executives who gave him their endorsement over his Republican challenger, Bob Dole. "I have wondered for years why the Democratic Party should not have at least as much or more support from American business as the other party," Clinton said at the time. Its hard to imagine Biden making similar overtures in the present political climate. Instead, his political appointees are carrying out policies that some business executives see as hindering their success. Two senators who are darlings of the left, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, put forward candidates to lead key regulatory agencies that can set the terms under which employers merge, charge fees and permit union organizing. Theres no question that he has been pulled left by the progressive elements of the party, and that has probably been good politics, to some degree, because it has kept the party together, Rattner said of Biden. But on the other hand, I dont agree with a lot of the anti-business stuff that you sometimes hear from the progressive community. Another veteran of a past Democratic administration who also asked to speak anonymously added of the White House, "There's a general feeling that they sometimes give hip fakes in one direction they'll have CEOs in to talk about artificial intelligence but they are also throwing a lot of elbows through their regulatory agencies." "Theres no question that the administration put into play some very hard-core anti-business advocates in some of these top jobs." Last month, the commission chaired by Khan joined with 17 states in suing Amazon, accusing the online shopping giant of monopolistic practices that blunt competition and push up prices. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, headed by a Biden appointee and Warren ally, Rohit Chopra, has been targeting what it calls "junk fees" that businesses slap on unwitting customers. (A Chamber of Commerce official countered that doing away with "junk fees" amounts to a form of government price control. Eliminating fees for late credit card payments would raise costs for people who pay on time, said Neil Bradley, the chamber's chief policy officer.) At the National Labor Relations Board, Biden installed as general counsel Jennifer Abruzzo, who has taken a more aggressive stance toward protecting union organizing rights. In a major ruling in August, the board made it easier for workers to organize in certain circumstances, allowing them to sign cards to unionize as opposed to holding formal elections. Douglas Farrar, a spokesman for the FTC, said, Under Chair Khan, we have delivered huge wins for American consumers, small business and workers by bringing down fraudsters and stamping out illegal, anti-competitive practices that have raised prices for nearly every American." Taken together, the regulatory agencies are advancing Biden's view that the nation needs to shore up consumer and worker protections that have been eroded. But for business advocates, the rulings amount to a zero-sum proposition with employers on the losing end. Carl Szabo, general counsel at NetChoice, a tech trade association, said that the administration's actions are tantamount to "a warning to every CEO and every leader of every company in the country. And its a warning that should terrify us all. What it is is that no business regardless of how legal, how consumer-friendly and how good for the country is safe." This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Donald Trump blamed President Joe Biden for Hamas attack on Israel on Saturday, claiming the long-simmering Israeli-Palestinian conflict erupted into new violence because Biden is perceived as weak. It was a big attack with a lot of dead people all over the place, Trump told an audience at a Waterloo, Iowa rally. Who would think that? And the only difference, I believe, is the difference between one president and another president. The attack has resulted in more than 100 people dead in Israel and 232 people dead in Gaza, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials on Saturday afternoon. Thousands more are wounded, and Hamas fighters have taken an unknown number of people hostage. At the Iowa rally, Trump claimed a series of geopolitical conflicts would not have happened, had he remained president. They didnt have that level of aggression with me, he said. They didnt have it. This would have never happened with me. You know what wouldnt have happened? Ukraine wouldnt have happened. Taiwan and all this tough talk with Taiwan wouldnt have happened. Its hardly a historical claim. Russian forces have been encroaching on Ukrainian territory in Crimea since at least 2014. Chinas territorial ambitions in Taiwan date back decades, and violent conflicts between Israel and Palestine are even older; the Nakba, which saw some 700,000 Palestinians expelled from the region, happened 75 years ago this May. But Trump went on to claim that the Israeli attack was made because we are perceived as being weak and ineffective and with a really weak leader. Trump also deployed an emerging Republican talking point: that Biden had enabled the attack by unfreezing $6 billion in Iranian funds as part of a prisoner exchange last month. A spokesperson for the State Department previously refuted that theory. Let's be clear: the deal to bring U.S. citizens home from Iran has nothing to do with the horrific attack on Israel, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller wrote in a statement early Saturday. Not a penny has been spent, and when it is, it can only go for humanitarian needs like food and medicine. Anything to the contrary is false. Those funds are currently in Qatar, the State Department said. Other members of the Trump family also made comments about perceived American weakness related to the Hamas attack on Saturday. As we perpetually indoctrinate our children with weakness, feminize our boys, attack masculine men, glorify trans insanity, etc. Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr . tweeted, just understand that one day the savages you see brutally attacking innocent civilians in the streets of Israel will be on your front door & you and your loved ones will have ZERO capability of defending themselves. Thats the future the left is creating for you. Earlier in the day Trump Jr. a video of a corpse in Israel, warning that this savagery will come here. 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. CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa Former President Donald Trump said in a pair of speeches Saturday that international conflicts in Israel and Ukraine "would not have happened" under his watch, touting his administration's presence on the world stage as he rallied support in Iowa. Trump, addressing supporters in Waterloo and Cedar Rapids with 100 days until the Iowa caucuses, declared that Hamas' weekend attack against Israel would not have taken place if he was president, calling it "an act of savagery that must and will be crushed." And he repeated his claim that Vladimir Putin's Russia would not have invaded Ukraine if he was in the White House, recounting a conversation in which he said they were "good friends" but that the U.S. would respond to Russia "real hard." The combination of the two military crises across the world, Trump said, created a tense global environment and, he believes, just one person could resolve it. "We are closer to World War III than we've ever been," he said in Cedar Rapids. "And I'm the only one that will prevent World War III." 2024 Iowa caucuses: Pence says 'America stands with Israel'; Trump says 'it would have never happened with me' Trump outlined his administration's approach to Israeli-Palestinian relations, recounting the passage of the Abraham Accords, a peace proposal between the two mediated by the U.S. His administration also recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights region, the first country to do so (the international community regards it as Syrian territory occupied by Israel). "Everybody said, 'When will you get the Nobel Peace Prize?'" he said. "And today, we have the exact opposite, a major attack on Israel. What a difference a president makes, right?" Trump recounted several conversations he had with foreign leaders as president, acting out negotiations with China, Russia and other nations. "He believed me 10%," Trump said of warnings he gave Putin about Ukraine. "And that's all you needed. Same with President Xi (Jinping) and China." And he mocked President Joe Biden's approach to international affairs, including his remarks on the attack in Israel. "It wasn't Winston Churchill, let me put it that way," Trump said. Trump has made a series of trips to eastern Iowa over the last month, aiming to cement his lead ahead of the first-in-the-nation caucuses as he courts farmers, pushes new immigration proposals and criticizes both his Republican and Democratic challengers alike. The former president remains the Republican frontrunner both in Iowa and nationally as he battles several ongoing court cases He continued to mock his legal battles Saturday, calling the four indictments against him "fake," "phony" and "political." "You know Al Capone?" Trump said. "Has anybody ever heard of Alphonse Capone? He was a seriously vicious gangster. He didn't get indicted four times, only once." He also reiterated his comments stand on abortion, saying you have to have the three exceptions in order to win exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. And he again took credit for installing pro-life justices on the Supreme Court, paving the way for the overturn of Roe. Some people say, Oh, Trump isnt pro-life enough. Other people look and say I don't care what he's saying. That's the guy that got us here to talk in the first place. Linda Tyler, a 76-year-old Waterloo resident and retired teacher, said she plans to caucus for Trump in January. I think I liked mainly that he was personal with the people in the crowd, Tyler said. He brought up issues, like the abortion issue that, you know, is very controversial. And he took time to explain it and his viewpoint. And Michael Hughes, a 73-year-old who lives in the Cedar Rapids area, said he liked a couple of other candidates in the field, like Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, but hears "a lot of false promises," and said he only trusts Trump to fulfill them. "Actions speak louder than words," Hughes said. "At the end of the day, I want to see something done." Galen Bacharier covers politics for the Register. Reach him at gbacharier@registermedia.com or (573) 219-7440, and follow him on Twitter @galenbacharier. Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Trump hits Biden on foreign affairs in Iowa amid attacks in Israel A homeless addict falls asleep standing up in an alley after smoking fentanyl in Los Angeles, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. For too many people strung out on the drug, the sleep that follows a fentanyl hit is permanent. The highly addictive and potentially lethal drug has become a scourge across America and is taking a toll on the growing number of people living on the streets of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Fentanyl has become a leading cause of death in the United States, an issue on the presidential campaign trail and the subject of major diplomatic efforts by the Biden administration. As Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other top administration officials traveled to Mexico this past week, in part to discuss strategies to stop the flow of fentanyl across the border, here are some key facts about a drug that is lowering U.S. life expectancy and playing a role in the nations politics. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times What is fentanyl? Its an incredibly potent synthetic opioid. As a pharmaceutical, its used safely every day for anesthesia in operating rooms throughout the country and as a prescribed painkiller. But like heroin and other opioids, it can be highly addictive. Fentanyl can be made entirely in a laboratory, unlike opioid drugs like heroin, which are derived from poppy plants. Since 2015, fentanyl and other drugs closely related to it have gradually displaced heroin and other opioids in illicit U.S. drug markets, leading to a surge in addiction and overdose deaths. The many types of fentanyls have different strengths and characteristics, but they typically take the form of white powders that can be stamped into pills, mixed with other drugs or sold alone. A gram of fentanyl is around 50 times as powerful as pure heroin. Some fentanyl drugs are even stronger. Carfentanil, a drug associated with clusters of deadly overdoses, is estimated to be 100 times as strong as fentanyl itself, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. How many people are dying from it? Overdose deaths have been increasing in the United States for decades, but the introduction of fentanyls has led to a staggering rise, accounting for a vast majority of overdose deaths in recent years. Because fentanyl is so potent, even experienced drug users can overdose if they make small dosing errors or if one batch of drugs includes a stronger version of the drug than usual. People who typically dont take opioid drugs can also easily overdose. Overdoses among teenagers have doubled over the last decade; many have taken fentanyl pills that they believed contained a different drug, like Xanax, Percocet or oxycodone. Many deadly overdoses also involve more than one drug, including mixtures of fentanyl and xylazine, an animal sedative, or methamphetamine, a stimulant. Some of those cases involve intentional use, but some may result from small amounts of fentanyl that are mixed with other drugs without users knowledge. How does this compare with other causes of death? In terms of mortality, the current fentanyl crisis dwarfs any other drug crisis in American history. In a recent presidential debate, Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, said that fentanyl had killed more Americans than the wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan combined. This is true. Around 77,000 Americans died from overdoses involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl in the 12-month period ending in April 2023, according to provisional estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2022, the most recent year with complete data, this number was around 74,000. Those three wars killed a little over 65,000 Americans combined. For comparison, around 55,000 Americans died in 1972 from car crashes, the year with the most such deaths. Around 49,000 died from guns in 2021 (including suicide), the year with the most such deaths. Fentanyl alone has become a leading cause of U.S. deaths. It was responsible for one-third of deaths among Americans ages 25 to 34 in 2022, according to a New York Times analysis of CDC mortality data. How is this different from the opioid crisis? The fentanyl crisis is in many ways simply the latest wave of an opioid crisis that began with the overprescription of painkillers in the 1990s. Prescription pills gave way to heroin in the 2010s, followed quickly by an influx of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids a few years later. As fentanyl came to dominate the illicit drug market, in many areas replacing heroin entirely, overdose deaths skyrocketed. Public health officials and politicians from both parties had typically used the term opioid epidemic. But many are increasingly mentioning fentanyl specifically, an acknowledgment of its primacy in causing damage. Where is fentanyl coming from? Most of the fentanyl sold in the United States is coming from Mexico, where drug cartels synthesize the drugs from precursor chemicals believed to come from factories in China. Some fentanyls are also shipped directly from China into the United States. Fentanyl in the medical system is made in government-regulated factories, but little of that supply finds its way into illicit drug markets. Because fentanyl is so concentrated, its easier to smuggle than heroin. Drug traffickers can import small parcels of pure drug into the United States, where they are later cut and redistributed to street-level drug dealers. Drugs are also sometimes imported as pills or in other street-ready forms. How is it getting here? Most fentanyl from Mexico is smuggled through Southern border legal ports of entry in cars and cargo trucks and is typically not carried by migrants seeking humanitarian relief in the United States. Customs officials in Laredo, Texas, recently found more than 5,000 pounds of materials used to make fentanyl. What is the government doing about the crisis? Congress passed a law during the Trump administration imposing more regulations on prescription opioids and providing grants to states to help fight the epidemic. The administration also reached agreements with the Chinese government to reduce manufacturing of certain fentanyls, a policy that some researchers think has limited the supply of some of the strongest forms of the drug. The Biden administration has pursued additional policies since taking office. Congress recently passed legislation making it easier for doctors to prescribe buprenorphine, a drug that helps people recover from opioid addiction. The administration has widened federal funding for so-called harm reduction approaches to addiction, such as syringe exchanges and the distribution of drugs that can reverse overdoses. The Homeland Security and Justice departments have also increased enforcement operations aimed at the production and smuggling of fentanyl. The Biden administration recently imposed sanctions on 28 people and organizations, including a China-based network involved in producing and distributing fentanyl precursors. It also placed sanctions on members of the Sinaloa cartel, one of the largest Mexican traffickers of fentanyl to the United States. In September, Mexico extradited a leader of the Sinaloa cartel to the United States. c.2023 The New York Times Company All lanes of traffic on U.S. Highway 98 have reopened after being temporarily shutdown while firefighters battled a wildfire Sunday afternoon. The wildfire at the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Gulf Breeze has been renamed the Jackson Fire and is 65% contained at 44 acres. National Park Service personnel have taken command of the fire. Around 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Santa Rosa County announced the fire was about 70 acres and worked throughout the day to contain it. No homes were threatened during the event. Active wildfire information can be viewed on the Florida Forest Service website at https://ffs.firesponse.com/public/ This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Gulf Breeze smoke from Naval Live Oaks wildfire; U.S. 98 closed Methodist University's Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine received a $1 million donation from Fayetteville businessman Norwood Bryan Jr., a long-time friend and donor to the university, university President Stanley T. Wearden announced last week. Norwood Bryans gift is an act of extraordinary and selfless generosity, Wearden said in a news release. I have great respect for Mr. Bryan as one of Fayettevilles most inspiring success stories and as a genuine servant leader in the community. His $1 million gift to the medical school is a true legacy gift. In February, Wearden and Cape Fear Valley Health CEO Michael Nagowski announced a partnership between the entities to form a medical school. The new school, to be located on the campus of Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville, will provide students with educational and clinical experiences, combining the expertise and resources of both institutions. The name of the medical school was chosen to recognize and honor Cape Fear Valley Healths pledge of "long-term financial support," the news release said. More: Physician assistant complex at Methodist University named for lifelong Fayetteville resident Norwood Bryan Jr. Mr. Bryans generosity gives us an exceptional boost in getting the medical school started, and it also will help the medical school successfully thrive for many years to come, Wearden said, describing Bryan as a community leader and public servant in Fayetteville, the region, and state. I am personally grateful to Mr. Bryan, as is the entire Methodist University community. The key goals of MUs medical education program are to "educate a diverse population of expertly trained medical doctors attentive to the needs of rural and underserved populations, and to become a national leader in interprofessional, team-based medical education," the release said. It expects to have its first class of medical students in 2026. I am glad to support this remarkable project that will bring extraordinary benefits to the Fayetteville area, Bryan said in the release. I encourage others to put their oar in the water at this stage of the campaign. By the mid-1970s, the Yale Law School-educated Bryan recreated the automobile dealership his father started in 1945 and became president of Bryan Pontiac-Cadillac-Honda, leaving behind a four-term public service post as a representative in the North Carolina House of Representatives. "Bryan has served his community in many capacities, including as trustee of the North Carolina Environmental Defense Fund, sponsor for the Museum of the Cape Fear Complex, chairman of the U.S.S. North Carolina Battleship Commission, and he has held numerous offices in the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association including state president," the release said. Methodist University named Bryan as Business Person of the Year in 2002. Cape Fear Valley Health CEO Michael Nagowski (left) and Methodist University President Stanley T. Wearden speak during February's announcement of the proposed medical school. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Norwood Bryan Jr., a generous long-time Methodist University friend and donor, for his $1-million gift towards the creation of our medical school in Fayetteville, said Nagowski. His support aligns perfectly with our mission to provide exceptional healthcare as well as our value of education, which enables us to make a lasting impact on our community's well-being. MU is already a top university in the region for higher education in the health sciences, with state-of-the-art facilities on campus that include a general simulation hospital, human anatomy lab, motion analysis lab, and several other labs and facilities housing Physician Assistant, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Nursing, and other programs. "This is an incredible beginning of our journey to bring a medical school to this community, said Dr. Rakesh Gupta, chair of the MU Board of Trustees. This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Million dollars given to Methodist/Cape Fear valley School of Medicine Years after a federal law paved the way for consumable hemp products to be sold in Iowa, business is still booming at a downtown Des Moines store promoting these products. The shelves at the Despensary on Fourth Street are lined with a colorful array of gummies, lotions, flower and drinks, all available without a prescription to those ages 21 and older. And Chief Operating Officer Sabrina Bergloff says thanks to a growing awareness of their benefits, products are flying off the shelves. But the rising popularity of this store, and many others across the state, has created a growing debate over the use of edible hemp. Legal loopholes in federal and state laws allow for consumable hemp products to be bought and sold in states like Iowa, where recreational pot remains illegal and medical marijuana is strictly regulated. More recently, as the industry has grown nationwide, Iowans have had increasing access to products containing delta-8 and delta-9 THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary psychoactive ingredient that gives people a high. The popularity of these products has boomed in recent years, and they have popped up on gas station shelves and in standalone brick-and-mortar stores across Iowa, despite their murky legal status. While some people use these products recreationally, others have turned to them for relief from their health problems. Retailers and their customers have claimed CBD and THC have helped reduce symptoms of a variety of maladies, including anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, inflammation and chronic pain. Employees talk with customers at the Despensary, 221 4th St., on Friday, September 29, 2023 in Des Moines. What's the legality of products with tetrahydrocannabinol? Consumable hemp products, including those that contain delta-8 and delta-9 THC, are legal under the 2018 Farm Bill, a law that removed hemp from the federal controlled substances list. Delta-8 and delta-9 THC are derived from hemp and have similar psychoactive properties that give individuals a high associated with cannabis use. Delta-8 is typically less potent than delta-9, however. Iowa law dictates THC levels in these products must be 0.3% or less to be legal. But vague language within state and federal law has created loopholes that allow products, including those with high amounts of THC, to be bought legally, even by minors. While some brick-and-mortar retailers such as the Despensary set strict age limits for those younger than 21 years of age, minors still have the opportunity to purchase items online. Bergloff says products with high amounts of THC can be sold legally in Iowa because they still fall under the 0.3% per volume limit. If the volume of the product is high enough, it could contain a sufficient concentration of THC to have an intoxicating effect. State law also regulates which items can be sold, and allows stores to offer gummies, drinks, tablets, lotions, tinctures and other products. However, the law bans products that can be inhaled, such as vape or combustible flower that can be smoked. Still, vague language within federal and state law has left doors open for stores to gain a foothold. Despensary sells hemp flower, but because it does not promote smoking the product, the store's lawyers say it's complying with the law, Bergloff said. Chief Operating Officer Sabrina Bergloff talks with Connor Stobbe at the Despensary, 221 4th St., on Friday, September 29, 2023 in Des Moines. But Iowa's elected officials say these products circumvent the intent of the 2018 federal law. We were promised that industrial hemp couldnt be used to mimic the effects of marijuana," Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said in a statement. "I was skeptical at the time and voiced my concerns. It turns out my skepticism was well-placed. As a result of this policy, anyone, regardless of their age, can purchase hemp-derived THC that is otherwise federally banned in other forms. Its incumbent on those who championed industrial hemp to take action to address these unintended consequences that allow the sale of intoxicating THC." The 2018 Farm Bill was set to expire Sept. 30, and Congress was expected to vote on a new version earlier this year. However, the work to avert the recent government shutdown until mid-November has put those discussions on hold, leaving it unclear when lawmakers would begin debating the bill's next iteration. Do Iowa's laws on medical marijuana, recreational use affect hemp sales? Many say yes. Many have argued Iowa's ban on recreational use and the strict nature of its medical marijuana program have driven Iowans to seek hemp products, including those containing delta-8 and delta-9. "There's quite a high ceiling with these products, and there's very limited regulation," Owen Parker, bureau chief of Iowa's Bureau of Cannabis Regulation, said during a public meeting last month. "In general, especially in states like Iowa where cannabis forms are limited, these products are more popular. There is more demand, considering they are legal." State officials with the Bureau of Cannabis Regulation, a new office established July 1 within the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, did not respond to requests for comment. Some proponents for increased access to cannabis products say the popularity of these hemp-derived products for medicinal use, despite their questionable legality, raises questions about the inaccessibility of Iowa's medical marijuana program. Retailers like Bergloff agree. She said her employees have seen a number of customers arrive at their doors because the state's medical cannabidiol program is inaccessible for them because of transportation issues or other barriers. Bergloff said other customers tell her that they can find the same desired effect in hemp products, but for half the cost. "Our customers get the (medical marijuana) card and shop here," said Bergloff, referring to the license required for Iowans to purchase items under the state's medical cannabidiol program. "Most of our customers have one, but they tell me it's a waste of their money." Bud & Mary's, Iowa's sole manufacturer for the medical cannabidiol program, declined to comment on the prevalence of hemp-derived products in the state. However, its officials agreed that they would like to see an expansion to the state-managed medical marijuana program. "Iowans need better access to affordable, safe, regulated cannabis," Bud & Mary's said in a statement. "Accomplishing this goal means we must provide vaporized flower in licensed dispensaries, which will significantly reduce costs for patients. Bud & Mary's will continue to support and push for changes that improve access." Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, minority leader of the Iowa House of Representatives, said that to safely regulate hemp-derived products, the state needs to open the doors on legalizing marijuana. Employees talk with customers at the Despensary, 221 4th St., on Friday, September 29, 2023 in Des Moines. I think what we see here is a clear need for legalization for adult use for recreation, and also an expansion of our medical cannabis program," said Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights. "Rather than continuing to ask people to find loopholes or to continue to work around different laws, lets just make it clear to Iowans whats legal and whats not regulated to make sure the product theyre using is safe. Trust Iowans to make their own decisions, just like they can with alcohol. Still, Bergloff argued businesses must navigate a restrictive landscape, particularly as a new state entity takes over regulation of consumable hemp under Iowa's government reorganization efforts. That oversight recently resulted in the shutdown of Despensary's sales for a few weeks as the business worked out issues over its state licensing. Despite that interruption, sales have been strong at the Despensary. The store is weeks away from opening a second location on Ingersoll Avenue. "For me, it's quality of life," said Bergloff, who uses the products. "I can go out and go bowling with my son. I'm on a bowling league myself. I can go hiking and jogging and do all of the things I want to, but I also feel good." Michaela Ramm covers health care for the Des Moines Register. She can be reached at mramm@registermedia.com, at (319) 339-7354 or on Twitter at @Michaela_Ramm This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Consumable hemp gaining popularity as weed alternative in Iowa Saturday morning's large-scale surprise attack on Israel by Palestinian militants in Gaza has drawn condemnation of Hamas and support for Israel on both sides of the aisle. About 300 people are dead and thousands wounded, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials, as fighting continued into Saturday evening. At the White House Saturday afternoon, President Joe Biden said the United States will not ever fail to have their back," referring to Israel. On X, Indiana politicians have also largely expressed support for Israel, while one called for a two-state solution that recognizes a Palestinian state. Gov. Eric Holcomb mourns 'friend of Indiana' Gov. Eric Holcomb speaks before a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Bicentennial Unity Plaza on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, in downtown Indianapolis. The plaza is on the north side of Gainbridge Fieldhouse and will be used for events hosted by the Fever and Pacers, concerts and other events. It features art installations and a basketball court that will become an ice skating rink during winter months. Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb referred to the attack as a "cruel reminder that terrorism seeks war, not peace" and said it is all the more "tear jerking" knowing that "the war Hamas planned and sought, is the war they will get." He shared photos of a recent visit that Ofir Liebstein, head of the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council, paid to Indiana in August. Liebstein was one of those killed during the early morning attacks, according to media reports. Holcomb called him "optimistic, positive and friend of Indiana." "Praying for peace, realizing nations must have domestic and foreign policies where our allies must be able to count on our support, they certainly have solidified mine," Holcomb said. Reports this morning of the brutally directed Hamas land, air, and sea invasion into Israel brings the cruel reminder that terrorism seeks war not peace. The over 2,200 rockets launched into civilian neighborhoods, the long list of civilians killed and injured, the hostages taken Governor Eric Holcomb (@GovHolcomb) October 7, 2023 Former Vice President Mike Pence calls out GOP competitors Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks during the NCSL Legislative Summit at the Indiana Convention Center, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023 in Indianapolis. In a statement, former Indiana Gov. and former Vice President Mike Pence called on his competitors in the Republican presidential primary to make clear that America stands with Israel, saying he would do so as president. He also specifically called out former President Donald Trump, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, issuing a strong rebuke of their tendencies toward isolationism, such as supporting a pull-back from Ukraine. How much involvement the U.S. should have in foreign conflict has been the subject of intense disagreement on the debate stage. Appeasement and isolationism, Pence said, are a "weakness." "This is not a territorial dispute in Israel today this is an unprovoked act of war by Hamas and their sponsors in Tehran," he said. "Voices of appeasement like Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Ron DeSantis, I believe have run contrary to the tradition in our party where America is the leader of the free world." U.S. Sen. Todd Young Indiana Republican Sen. Todd Young speaks during a U.S. Senate debate, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, Pool) U.S. Sen. Todd Young of Indiana called the attacks "appalling." "The United States stands with Israel and supports its right to defend itself and confront this violence," the Republican wrote. U.S. Sen. Mike Braun U.S. Sen. Mike Braun speaks Friday, April 14, 2023, during the NRA convention at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, a Republican who is also running for governor of Indiana, said the U.S. "must continue to stand strong with Israel as they respond to these shocking acts of terror from Iran-backed Hamas." U.S. Rep. Jim Banks Congressman Jim Banks, the Republican 3rd Congressional District representative who is running for Senate, tweeted a simple statement: "We stand with Israel in their fight to defend themselves against radical Islamic terrorism." U.S. Rep. Rudy Yakim Congressman Rudy Yakim, a Republican representing Indiana's 2nd Congressional District, called the images coming out of Israel "horrifying." "America stands with Israel as they defend themselves from these barbaric, Iranian-backed, terrorist attacks.," he said. U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz Republican candidate for Indiana's 5th Congressional District Victoria Spartz talks with women at a fundraiser coffee in Carmel, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. She removed her mask when the people at the outdoor fundraiser were socially distanced. "Acts of terrorism and violence by Hamas on Israeli civilians is unacceptable," Victoria Spartz, the Republican representing Indiana's 5th Congressional District tweeted. "The United States stands with the State of Israel and its right to defend itself." U.S. Rep. Greg Pence Greg Pence, U. S. Representative, and brother of Vice President Mike Pence, at a Caucus Day event in West Des Moines, Iowa, Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. Republican congressman Greg Pence, Indiana's 6th Congressional District representative and Mike Pence's older brother called attention to the timing of the attack occurring about a month after the U.S. allowed a transfer of $6 billion of Iran's money back to Iran to facilitate an American-Iranian prisoner swap echoing the sentiments of many Republicans who are essentially claiming the Biden administration bolstered Iran, which backs Hamas. "Today, just 26 days after the Biden admin agreed to send $6 billion dollars to Iran, Israel, our strongest ally in the Middle-East, is under an unprecedented terrorist attack by Iran-backed Hamas," Pence tweeted. "I stand with Israel, condemn these attacks, & I am praying for all those affected." U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon Saturday morning, Congressman Larry Bucshon, the Republican representative from Indiana's 8th Congressional District tweeted that he stands with Israel. "We must condemn this ruthless terror by Hamas and fully support Israels right to defend itself," he wrote. A few hours later, he, too, blamed Biden. "Biden releases $6 billion to Iran and soon after Iranian backed Hamas terrorists attack Israel," he wrote on X. "Biden botches the pullout of Afghanistan and Putin invades Ukraine. This administration's weakness is noticed by our enemies. There are worldwide repercussions of a weak U.S. President." U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin Former Sen. Erin Houchin, a Republican candidate in the 9th District Congresswoman Erin Houchin, a Republican serving the 9th Congressional District, tweeted her support of Israel and a rebuke of Biden. "Israel is now under attack by Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists," she wrote. "I condemn this barbaric attack on our friend and ally. I stand with the people of Israel and am praying for those on the ground. The world is less safe under Joe Bidens weak leadership." U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan UNITED STATES - JULY 26: Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Ind., speaks with Roll Call in his office in the Longworth House Office Building on Monday, July 26, 2021. (Photo by Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via AP Images) Congressman Frank Mrvan, representing Indiana's 1st Congressional District, tweeted on Sunday in support of Israel. "The Hamas terrorist attack on our ally Israel is beyond reprehensible," he wrote. "Innocent lives have been lost and Hamas bears full responsibility. I support our nation's full and unfledged commitment to defend Israel and the Israeli people's right to live peacefully. U.S. Rep. Andre Carson Congressman Andre Carson speaks on Sunday, April 18, on Monument Circle during a vigil for the eight people who were recently killed in an overnight shooting at a Fed Ex Ground Plainfield Operations Center on Indianapolis' southwest side. Congressman Andre Carson, whose 7th Congressional District includes Indianapolis, weighed in Sunday afternoon on X. He said he mourns the loss of innocent Israeli and Palestinian lives and condemns this "latest show of violence," which he said "demonstrates the urgent need for just and lasting peace." He called for a two-state solution. "To achieve this peace, the US must rededicate ourselves and our resources to a real two-state solution, and call for the end of Israel's unfair, two-tiered rule over the Palestinian people," he wrote. "This includes concrete steps to preserve the future of a Palestinian state. True peace can only be based on justice. We urgently need a new approach to ensure safety and justice for all. We must ensure no more innocent lives are lost and reject all forms of hatred towards our fellow members of the human family." Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Israel attack: Indiana politicians condemn Hamas after attack TULSA A local leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints knew it was only a matter of time before his faith group would build a second temple in Oklahoma he just didn't know when or where it would happen. The suspense ended for Michael Bright, 51, and other Oklahoma Latter-day Saints with the recent announcement that Tulsa has been chosen as one 20 sites around the world where new temples will be built. About 90 congregations representing more than 50,000 Latter-day Saints are currently in Oklahoma, according to Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "I was just so grateful, I got so excited," said Bright, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Broken Arrow stake. "I was in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the time and I kept getting texts from people in Oklahoma saying 'Did you know? Did you know?'" More: 2019 OKC temple open house Oklahoma City Temple has open house Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Russell M. Nelson's shared the news about new temple sites at the Latter-day Saints' semiannual general conference gathering on Oct. 1 in Salt Lake City. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints currently has 182 temples dedicated, 59 under construction or renovation and 99 in planning and design a total of 335. Latter-day Saints have meeting houses and chapels for weekly gatherings throughout the state, but the faith group's temples are different because they are considered houses of the Lord. The temples are considered particularly set apart from Latter-day Saints church houses, because they are the site of Latter-day Saints' marriage ceremonies, baptisms and other ceremonies that unite families for eternity. For example, Bright said Latter-day Saints may have civil ceremonies in other locations, but church members believe that only marriages performed in temples are "sealed" or blessed to last for eternity. A baptismal is shown in the Oklahoma City temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints after a major renovation project in 2019. Meanwhile, the first Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple in Oklahoma was built in 2000 at 12030 N Mustang Road in Oklahoma City. It is nestled among residential homes in the Surrey Hills area near Northwest Expressway and Mustang Road. It was closed in 2017 for remodeling and opened again in 2019 for rededication and a community open house. According to Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the first Latter-Day Saint meetinghouse in Oklahoma was constructed in 1892. Along with Tulsa, other U.S. locations where new temples will be built include Colorado Springs, Colorado; Vancouver, Washington; Roanoke, Virginia; Kahului, Hawaii; and Fairbanks, Alaska. New temples sites outside the U.S. include Cancun, Mexico; Osaka, Japan; Cape Coast, Ghana; Savai'i, Samoa; Piura, Peru; and Huancayo, Peru. Others include: Vina del Mar, Chile; Goiania, Brazil; Joao Pessoa, Brazil; Calabar, Nigeria; Luanda, Angola; Laoag, Philippines; Mbuji-Mayi, Democratic Republic of the Congo; and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The Oklahoma City temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is shown in this photo shortly after a major renovation project was completed there in 2019. Why is Tulsa getting a new temple? Bright said there weren't any immediate details about why Tulsa was chosen as a temple site at this time, but he said his own view is that the Tulsa area's thriving Latter-day Saints community could have played a role in the selection process. Bright said there are five Tulsa-area Latter-day Saints stakes (Broken Arrow, Tulsa, Owasso, Gore and Bartlesville), which are geographical areas composed of about 3,000 people who make up congregations called wards. He said his Broken Arrow stake includes five wards in Tulsa, one in Tahlequah and one in Wagoner. "Our population is growing as population growth hits the Tulsa area," Bright said. "And the Saints here have just been very faithful and diligent trying to do their part to be good Christians and representatives of Jesus Christ in all that they do." Freedmen files: Oklahoma Mormons take on historic 'Freedmen Bureau Project' to help blacks trace ancestry Also, Bright said Latter-day Saints leaders recently have indicated that a high priority has been placed on temple expansion throughout the world to give members of the faith group more access to the houses of worship. "To have a temple close by is just a blessing in our lives," he said. The church leader said the exact location of the temple has not yet been announced, and there are currently no architect's renderings or other images to show what the new Tulsa temple might look like. But he said local flavor/cultural is incorporated into most Latter-day Saints temples like the Oklahoma landscape mural featured in the Oklahoma City area temple or the Japanese architecture incorporated into the design of a temple in Japan. The Oklahoma City-area temple also includes stained glass windows featuring images of the Indian blanket, Oklahoma's official state wildflower, and Native American dreamcatchers. 'Really big news' Charlotte Sellers, of Cleveland, Oklahoma, said much the same thing. She said she was surprised and excited to learn about the planned Tulsa temple. "When I heard it announced, I literally almost fell out of my chair," Sellers said. More: Faith groups work to 'record a life' She said Oklahoma Latter-day Saints, including those in the Tulsa-area, had to travel to Salt Lake City, Utah, to visit a temple many years ago. Sellers said a temple eventually was built in Mesa, Arizona, and then another one was constructed in Dallas, and Oklahomans flocked to those sites. Sellers said the construction of the Oklahoma City-area temple meant Oklahoma Latter-day Saints wouldn't have to travel outside the state, and now northeastern Oklahoma church members will have one in their own backyard. "I think the proximity makes it even easier to go to the temple more frequently, and there's a lot of spiritual strength and learning about the Savior in the temple," she said. The Oklahoma resident said the planned new temple will be good for the Tulsa area in general, not just Latter-day Saints. "You know, whenever any people try to increase their devotion to God, it's a good thing and everybody benefits when we have things in mind, like loving our neighbors as ourselves. It's just good for everybody so, I'm just really happy about it," she said. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to build new Tulsa temple Residents spoke en masse Tuesday, Oct. 3, against a proposal to turn 65 acres of agricultural land into a housing development in Holland Township. HOLLAND TWP. Residents spoke en masse Tuesday, Oct. 3, against a proposal to turn 65 acres of agricultural land into a housing development in Holland Township. The land in question comes in two pieces 26.2 acres on 120th Avenue and 39.3 acres on Ransom Street. Developers sought a Zoning Ordinance Map Amendment and Future Land Use Map Amendment, with a rezoning to R-1 Low Density Residential to allow for the construction of single dwelling homes. More: Potential 'keystone' project for Eighth Street held up by parking The idea is they would like to do a standard subdivision here, representatives said. Not trying to get condominiums or any attached product or anything like that, and do larger home sites to better reflect the character of the area. But residents had concerns anyway, calling into question claims that ample infrastructure, both water and sewer, were already in place. They also voiced flooding concerns and questioned whether the surrounding roads were built to handle the influx of traffic the development would bring to the area. What I haven't seen is infrastructure to support expansion, one resident said. If anybody takes a drive down 120th or James Street any time of the day, traffic is horrendous. The road conditions are poor. It doesnt seem that there's infrastructure in place. Commissioners agreed, adding a recent housing study placed an emphasis on maintaining agricultural land. Subscribe: Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage We did hire a firm to study what we needed for the next 20 years, and their recommendation was to maintain agricultural preservation ... follow the density recommendations of the future land use map, utilize mixed use areas to allow creativity in development and then basically focus on R-2 and R-3, said Chair Randy Kortering. In the end, both requests were voted down by the commission. Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland Township residents rail against potential subdivision officials agree Two magnitude 6.3 powerful earthquakes followed by several strong aftershocks in western Afghanistan on Saturday killed more than 2,000 people and injured over 2,000 more, according to Taliban disaster management officials. "2445 people, including women and children, were killed and 2440 people including women and children are wounded" Mullah Janan Saiq a spokesman for the state Ministry for Disaster Management told CBS News. He said the death toll is still on the rise and nearly 10,000 lived in the villages affected by the earthquakes. According to the United States Geological Survey, the epicenters of the quakes were in the Zindajan district, which is located about 40 kilometers west of Herat city, the country's economic and cultural hub in western Afghanistan bordering Iran. The quakes were also felt in neighboring Badghis and Farah provinces. Herat, Afghanistan from above. / Credit: Google Maps "Initial assessment indicates that as many as 100 people have been killed across eight villages in Zindajan district, Herat province," the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement. "Mahal Wadakah is understood to be the worst affected village." "In total, 4,200 people are assessed to have been affected," the UN said. "Four hundred and sixty-five houses are reported to have been destroyed and 135 damaged." The figure could go much higher, the UN and local officials warned. The earthquake happened as Afghanistan is in the worst humanitarian crisis with economic sanctions from the Western countries after the country fell to the Taliban two years ago. Humanitarian organizations were forced to cut aid to millions of people due to funding shortfalls, and, "due to a funding crisis," the World Food Programme was forced to cut 10 million people off life-saving food assistance in Afghanistan this year. In August, the Red Cross ended funding for 25 hospitals in Afghanistan, including Herat Regional Hospital, due to funding shortages. Videos shared on social media show villages once full of mud houses that used to dot the landscape have been reduced to piles of earthy rubbles. The force of the earthquake caused mud walls and ceilings to crumble, trapping women and children under the debris and responders digging layers of collapsed clays, hoping to rescue people still alive. "Fourteen members of my family are trapped under this debris," says one man in a video shared on social media. He stands solitary among chaos and destruction and screams with the unbearable burden of losing the pillar of his existence. "My 5-year-old is under these debris," he said. In another video shared to social media, a man pleaded for help and showed an entire village that was destroyed with no sign of rescue operation. "There are people trapped under these debris" he said, "pick up your shovels and rush." He said the village is near to the city and accessible by road. The rescue operation was underway overnight, as some shoveled and others dug with bare hands to discover and pull out the bodies of their loved ones from under the debris. Shapoor, who uses only one name was shoveling digging with hands since his house was collapsed on Saturday. He rescued several of his family members who are now moved to hospital. His elderly mother and two sisters died, and he is still trying to find his nephews. "At least finding their dead bodies make me a bit comfort" he told CBS News over the phone. Dr. Arif Jalali Herat, the provincial's regional director, said all clinics and hospitals are busy treating wounded people rescued from the collapsed homes. He said, "We have no time to count the deaths or injured patients" as an emergency was declared in the province. Hospitals in Herat province was overwhelmed with wounded patients, and the Ministry of Defense said critical patience were transferred by air to Kabul province. Videos shared from the hospital show patients laying on the hospital's ground. "Following the earthquake in western Afghanistan this morning, MSF has set up five medial tents at the Herat regional hospital to accommodate up to 80 patients," said Doctors without Borders in a statement. Calls for assistance The UN said an estimated 2,100 people, including children and women, have been displaced to Herat city and took shelter in abandoned buildings. Images released by local media show a group of survivors huddling together and spending a restless night in the open. Afghan Red Crescent called on international community and international NGOs to provide immediate assistance to the families affected. Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban de facto government's deputy prime Minister for economic affairs, extended his sympathy for the unfortunate impact of the earthquake and called on relevant authorities for immediate relief efforts. He "directed disaster Management Commission ... to swiftly mobilize and utilize all available resources to assist the affected citizens," said a statement from his office posted on X (formerly Twitter). The provincial governor of Herat province, in a video statement, called on people to rush to help and prepare medicine and food for the displaced people, including women and children. It is the second deadliest earthquake in Afghanistan in less than two years. In June 2022, a 5.9 magnitude strong earthquake struck parts of eastern Afghanistan, killing more than 1,000 people and injuring more than 1,500 others. Students making friends across the American divide Furniture company Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams went bankrupt overnight. Here's how. Rachel Maddow on "Prequel" and fascism in America The Conchos River flows downstream of La Boquilla dam. The river forms in the mountains of Chihuahua and is the largest tributary of the Rio Grande. Editor's note: This story, reported with a grant from The Water Desk at the University of Colorado Boulder, is published in partnership with Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, independent news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. DELICIAS, Mexico By late August, the usual monsoon rains had scarcely materialized in this region of Chihuahua, one of the driest states in Mexico. The reservoir at La Boquilla dam was dipping lower and lower, deepening farmers anxiety about how they would plant their pecan, alfalfa and chile crops next spring. Local officials in this northern Mexican town were stewing for an additional reason. Would administrators in Mexico City opt to share that precious water with the United States to fulfill a bilateral treaty? And if they did, would local farmers rise up again in protest? With the clock ticking toward an inexorable treaty deadline, the U.S. and Mexico are under pressure to find a solution without setting off a local rebellion. And climate change and drought, not to mention provocations from Texas politicians, are complicating the challenge. Jaime Ramirez Carrasco, the municipal president of San Francisco de Conchos, stands under a pecan tree in August 2023. A concrete-lined irrigation channel beside him transports water. Many in Chihuahua state are pleading with the Mexican federal government to find another way to comply with the treaty while saving the reservoir water for local farmers. The government should take a close look at the situation, at why farmers are opposed to them taking the water, said Jaime Ramirez Carrasco, municipal president of the town of San Francisco de Conchos, an hours drive south of Delicias. We cant let life in our region be extinguished just to give life to another region. Meanwhile, others in arid Chihuahua, including environmentalists and scientists, are calling for the state to begin a transition away from water-intensive irrigation agriculture to gird for an even hotter, drier future. Memories of the 2020 upheaval The Rio Conchos, a lifeline flowing from the Tarahumara mountains, cuts a ribbon of green through the brown Chihuahuan Desert here. The Boquilla dam controls the rivers flow and releases water into an expansive canal system surrounding the city of Delicias. During the irrigation season, which runs from March to October, farmers plant thousands of acres of crops. Under a 1944 treaty, however, Mexico must share water from the Rio Conchos and other tributaries of the Rio Grande with the United States in five-year cycles. It has historically relied on runoff from rainfall downstream of La Boquilla to comply with its treaty obligations rather than drawing down reservoir water. The last time the five-year deadline was approaching, in 2020, Chihuahua was suffering from a drought, and Mexico was behind schedule on its water transfers. Alert to the prospect of conflict, the federal government sent in the National Guard to protect dam infrastructure in preparation for sending water to the United States. A water line is visible in Toronto Lake upstream of La Boquilla Dam, in San Francisco de Conchos, Chihuahua. The dam generates hydroelectricity and provides irrigation water. La Boquilla Dam and Lake Toronto photographed with a drone in August 2023. According to Mexico's water agency, the reservoir was at 44% capacity. Tensions mounted in Delicias over the summer months, and in early September, thousands of local farmers and supporters swarmed across the Boquilla dam in protest. They forced out the National Guard, and one demonstrator was killed. The Mexican government still needed to deliver 294,703 acre-feet of water before Oct. 24 of that year but could no longer count on the reservoir. Ramirez was among the protesters. Farmers and local leaders took turns defending La Boquilla and toll booths on the federal highway into San Francisco de Conchos, he recalls. Three years later, Mexico is once again behind schedule on complying with the treaty, leaving farms and cities in Texas deprived of water. The U.S. and Mexico are negotiating a new addition to the treaty known as a minute to ensure reliable water deliveries before the current five-year cycle ends in 2025. Again, farmers and their political allies in Chihuahua argue that the water shouldnt come from reservoirs. Carlos Rubinstein, a water consultant in Austin who formerly served as a Rio Grande watermaster coordinating flows in Texas, is not optimistic about the situation. If Mexico gives us water, the farmers in Mexico are going to feel cheated out of a portion of the water that they could have had, he said. Conversely, if Mexico fails to comply with the treaties, then guess what? Texas farmers are going to feel cheated that the treaty is not being adhered to. Chafing under a 79-year-old treaty High in Mexicos mountainous Sierra Tarahumara region, pine forests capture rainfall and release moisture into the soil, feeding the headwaters of the Conchos. The river flows eastward from the mountains into the Chihuahuan Desert before bending north toward the Rio Grande. More than 700 miles north, the Rio Grande forms in the Rocky Mountains. After winding through New Mexico, the river often runs dry in the forgotten reach between El Paso and Presidio, Texas. Then it is revived at its confluence with the Conchos in Presidio. Downstream from this point, the Conchos provides more than three-quarters of the water in the Rio Grande. Farms in the Rio Grande Valley and Texas border cities like McAllen and Brownsville draw from this segment of the Rio Grande, as do farms and cities in Nuevo Leon, Coahuila and Tamaulipas in Mexico. La Boquilla dam regulates the flow of the Rio Conchos in southern Chihuahua, Mexico. The dam was the focal point of protests in 2020 when farmers opposed water deliveries to the United States. The U.S. and Mexico signed a treaty in 1944 to resolve ongoing disagreements about who could lay claim to water on these binational rivers. The treaty commits the U.S. to sending 1.5 million acre-feet of water annually from the Colorado River to Mexico, and Mexico to sending 1.75 million acre-feet of water from the Mexican tributaries of the Rio Grande to the U.S. every five years. (The treaty also divvies up the supply from the much smaller Tijuana River.) The treaty entitles the U.S. to one-third of the flow that reaches the Rio Grande from the Conchos and five other smaller tributaries in Mexico. This water is stored in two international reservoirs, Amistad and Falcon, downstream of the Conchos on the Rio Grande. When the 2020 deadline drew near and the farmers protest prevented Mexico from releasing water from La Boquilla, Mexican negotiators struck a last-minute deal with the U.S. and transferred water from the international reservoirs instead. Mexicos next five-year bill is due in October 2025. But the country is even further behind on water deliveries in this cycle than it was in 2020. While no penalties for a failure to comply are written into the treaty, diplomatic tensions tend to rise as the date draws near. The math is clear: On average, the U.S. must receive 350,000 acre-feet of water annually over five-year cycles from the six tributaries covered by the agreement. As of Sept. 23, near the end of the third year of the cycle, Mexico had delivered less than 400,000 acre-feet of water to the U.S. Its a deep hole to dig out of: In three years, Mexico has supplied less than a quarter of what it owes, rather than 60 percent. The International and Boundary and Water Commission, or IBWC, oversees the implementation of the treaty. The U.S. section of the IBWC, based in El Paso, works closely with the Mexican section, headquartered in Ciudad Juarez. Sally Spener, a foreign affairs officer for the U.S. section, said the deficit is of concern to Mexican and U.S. officials. It becomes very difficult for Mexico to make up the difference, she said. In the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, Sonia Lambert, general manager for an irrigation district in Cameron County, wishes Mexico would hurry up. Lambert said she was counting on the imported water to distribute to sugarcane, sorghum, corn and cotton farmers in her district. This year, as in so many years since the 1990s, Texas farmers have had to buy water elsewhere or cut back on their acreage. We can never foresee when the next allocation is going to be, Lambert said. All of this is due to Mexico's noncompliance. On Sept. 28, U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn of Texas introduced a resolution calling for Mexico to comply with its treaty obligations and the need to engage in further diplomatic actions to ensure compliance. Representatives of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality have also voiced concern about the deficit in letters to the IBWC. Spener said the bilateral commission is trying to cobble together a treaty addendum that would grow the pie, or expand water supplies in both countries, to help with compliance. The current focus of our effort is to identify tools that we can employ as soon as possible to improve the reliability and predictability of Rio Grande water deliveries to users in both countries, she said. Buoys set on the international boundary between Mexico and the U.S. were placed by the state of Texas on the Rio Grande as a measure to prevent migrants seeking asylum from crossing into Eagle Pass, Texas from Piedras, Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. In this drone photo Eagle Pass, Texas is on the left side of the frame looking east downriver Adding to the tensions, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered in July that a string of giant orange buoys be placed in the Rio Grande as a makeshift wall to deter migrants. The incident outraged Mexican officials and prompted the U.S. Justice Department to sue Abbott and the state of Texas, pointing out that the river was an international waterway. A State Department official testified at a federal court hearing that the incident could jeopardize Mexicos water deliveries to the Rio Grande. The case has not yet gone to trial. Spener said the IBWC would not comment on the buoys because of the ongoing litigation. How agriculture came to bloom in the desert Spanish settlement in the Conchos basin began in the early 1600s in the ancestral homeland of the Conchos (or Yoli) and Jumano peoples. But it wasnt until the advent of irrigation agriculture in the 1930s that the vast desert expanses of Chihuahua attracted significant numbers of settlers. La Boquilla was built from 1910 to 1915 as a hydroelectric dam to provide power for mining infrastructure and industrial development. The Mexican government then recognized its potential for supporting agriculture in the Chihuahuan desert and founded one of its first federal irrigation districts, District 005, below Boquilla in 1932. Huge swaths of desert shrubland were converted into farms irrigated by a spiderweb of canals. La Boquilla Dam in Chihuahua photographed with a drone in August 2023. The dam has a hydroelectric capacity of 25 megawatts and regulates water flow to several irrigation districts. The city of Delicias, with Agriculture Avenue as its main thoroughfare, was founded in 1933 to anchor the district. Today the Delicias region produces more than $860 million in annual agricultural revenue. Pecans and alfalfa are the top two crops, accounting for almost 70 percent of the total. The Delicias region contributes 20 percent of Chihuahuas agricultural output and about half its dairy production, according to the state government. Our feeling toward the Boquilla Dam is one of affection, said Ramirez, the San Francisco de Conchos official. We even call it the crown jewel dam, because its what gave this whole region life. This reliance on abundant irrigation water is a pressing reality for Miguel Jacobo Cueto, who runs his familys alfalfa and pecan farm in Saucillo. When the irrigation season was curtailed one year because of drought, Jacobo, who has a degree in engineering, left town to work in an assembly plant in Ciudad Juarez on the border with Texas. When there isnt water, theres nothing here, he said. A lot of people went to the United States or other places to work that year. Agricultural workers pick jalapeno peppers in San Francisco de Conchos, Chihuahua in August 2023. Many farm workers in the Delicias region are Raramuri from the Sierra Tarahumara. Drought and climate change are making these shortages more frequent. Over the last 50 years, temperature increases in the Rio Grande basin have been about twice the global average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. It expects temperatures throughout the Rio Grande basin to increase by a total of four to 10 degrees Fahrenheit this century. Higher temperatures are already decreasing snowpack and reducing runoff in the rivers headwaters. Similar patterns are seen in the Conchos basin. The Mexico Water Vulnerability Atlas, published in 2015 by the Mexican Institute of Water Technology, projected that annual runoff in the Conchos basin could decline by up to 25 percent by 2050 because of changes in precipitation and higher temperatures. And in a study published last December, scientists found that a prolonged drought could interfere with Mexicos ability to comply with the treaty. We have a new participant in these water and treaty issues, and thats climate change, said Rogelio Ortiz Alvarado, the director of an irrigation district in Delicias.Its changing all of our statistical expectations that we had in the past. Jalapeno peppers are smoked to make chipotle at a farm in San Francisco de Conchos, Chihuahua in August 2023. The treaty states that if Mexico cannot fulfill the deliveries in a period of extraordinary drought, the deficit at the end of a five-year cycle can be made up in the following cycle. The treaty lacks a definition of extraordinary drought, but Mexico has invoked this option in the past and, so far, the United States has not formally disputed it. Another threat to the Conchos is illegal logging in the headwaters in the Sierra Tarahumara. Criminal cartels have infiltrated the region, prompting many Raramuri people to flee their communities. Many Raramuri are now farmhands in the Conchos basin. 'Over my dead body' Irrigation managers and politicians in Chihuahua know that Mexico has to comply with the treaty. But Salvador Alcantar, a Chihuahua congressman and member of the National Action Party (PAN) who was a leader of the 2020 protests, said farmers would be prepared to fight again if Mexico relies on La Boquilla to fulfill the accord. If we lose the water, this region dies, Alcantar said. If the National Guard comes to open the dam, the farmers are going to protest like they did last time, or even more forcefully. Because it just isnt fair. Irrigation managers assert that technical reports prepared by Mexicos irrigation authority after the treaty was adopted in 1944 stipulated that dams in Chihuahua would not be used to meet the quotas. The treaty is unfavorable for Chihuahua, but we arent opposed to it, said Martin Parga Castillo, the general director of the Irrigation Users Association of Chihuahua. We have always complied with it. But the dams in Chihuahua dont have anything to do with it. A main irrigation canal feeds water from the Conchos River for agricultural production in Delicias, Chihuahua in September 2023. The rainfall runoff on which Mexico normally relies to fulfill the treaty collects downstream of La Boquilla, at the Luis L. Leon dam. Mexico opens the floodgates of that dam to release the water, which eventually reaches the international reservoirs, Falcon and Amistad, on the Rio Grande. But depending on rainfall is riskier than ever. Mexican officials at the federal level now say that the other Chihuahua reservoirs must be used for treaty compliance. And unlike their counterparts in the U.S., Mexicos state governments have little say in the process, which adds to the farmers frustration. In Mexico, the National Water Commission oversees water allocations to irrigation districts and allocates water to comply with the 1944 treaty. During the 2020 standoff, the director of the commission defended using water from the Chihuahua reservoirs at a press conference. We share a river, we share the water, said the official, Blanca Jimenez. Its not okay for those upstream or on one side to take the water from those downstream or on the other side. Thats the spirit of the treaty, and how we approach distributing the water. In July, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the founder of the Morena party, declared that Mexico must abide by the treaty. He accused farmers in Chihuahua with ties to other political groups of hoarding water. Chihuahuas governor, Maria Eugenia Campos Galvan of the PAN party, shot back, Over my dead body are they going to come and take the water of Chihuahua. The National Water Commission, known as CONAGUA, did not provide responses to questions for this article. Pleas for a fundamental rethinking Samuel Sandoval Solis, a professor of water resources at the University of California, Davis, maintains that reducing demand must be at the heart of any solution. We are attacking the symptoms, not the problem, he said. And we know what the problem is: We are using way too much water. Sandoval, who has spent years analyzing the administration of the treaty, said that CONAGUA has overallocated water permits to farmers along the Conchos. We have to reduce the water use, and what that means is reduce the acreage, he said. That wont go over well in Delicias, where landowners have invested heavily in their farms and have no plans to let them lie fallow. But elsewhere in Chihuahua, activists and academics are questioning water management practices that keep pecan farms thriving while many neighborhoods and communities have water shortages or no running water at all. Federico Mancera-Valencia, a geographer at the Center for Research and Teaching in Chihuahua, said the intensive irrigation in the Delicias region cannot be sustained in an era of climate change. We need crosscutting public policy for water, he said. Its not going to rain as much. The droughts will be more prolonged. So we need to transition to a new agricultural model. In Chihuahua, the environmental organization Save Our Mountains has long campaigned for more sustainable practices to protect the Rio Conchos and Rio Grande watersheds. The groups spokesperson, Luis Andres Rivera, argues that as water becomes more scarce, basic human needs will have to come first. A tractor fumigates a pecan orchard in Delicias, Chihuahua in August 2023. Rivera recalls rushing outside to fill buckets while living in a Chihuahua city neighborhood where the taps ran only a few hours a day. Someone who lives in those circumstances is never going to empathize with someone who is watering their land with 800 cubic millimeters of water, he said, referring to irrigation agriculture. Sooner or later were going to have to change the agricultural model. Awaiting the outcome There is no shortage of ideas for addressing the water crisis: forest conservation in the headwaters, combating illegal wells, increasing efficiency in irrigation systems. But making progress requires getting two countries that are often at odds to agree. And to avoid a repeat of the 2020 protests, the Mexican federal government will have to win over farmers in Chihuahua to whatever approach it takes. Maria-Elena Giner, the U.S. commissioner for the IBWC, said that negotiations with Mexico are focused on increasing the reliability of water deliveries. Speaking at a North American Development Bank conference in August, she implied that would include opening the reservoirs in Chihuahua to send water to the U.S. While this approach could face opposition, Giner added, the treaty is inviolate. We are working toward changing 80 years of practice, she said. And there may be fights over interpretation of what the treaty says, but it doesn't matter because practice is the law of the land sometimes, right? Jalapeno peppers are spread out on a wooden platform to be smoked for chipotle in San Francisco de Conchos in August 2023. Spener, the foreign affairs official at the commission, said she was optimistic that the two countries would reach an agreement before the 2025 deadline. I hope two years from now, you'll be able to report that we were able to take proactive actions to address the shortfall in deliveries, she said. Still, Rubinstein, the former Rio Grande watermaster, cautions that distrust between the U.S. and Mexico has grown over the years. American negotiators must avoid dictating to Mexico how it should comply with the treaty, he said. You have to remember youre dealing with a sovereign country. Others emphasize that the treaty has endured for nearly 80 years and the U.S. and Mexico have worked out differences in tense circumstances in the past. On the Colorado River, for example, the U.S. and Mexico agreed to reduce water allocations when Lake Mead drops below certain levels. On both sides of the Rio Grande, experts agree that the two countries must work together on strategies as they face the basic reality of less water. Rubinstein remembers when he was a Rio Grande watermaster 20 years ago the U.S. and Mexico were also locked into a conflict over treaty compliance. He found that solutions emerged once they began cooperating. We had gone year after year, butting heads, he said, and it became evident that that wasn't going to get us anywhere. We were able to find a cooperative way, respectful of both the sovereignty of both countries, to utilize all of the waters that are in the basin for the benefit of the users. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Tension in Rio Grande basin as Mexico lags in US water deliveries Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel comes at a time when the country faces historic domestic political division, growing violence in the West Bank and high-stakes negotiations among Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United States. After its members killed 200 Israelis and kidnapped dozens more, Hamas claimed it was taking revenge for a series of recent actions by Israel at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa mosque and in the West Bank. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu s coalition government has been conducting an escalating crackdown against what it says are rising Palestinian terror attacks for more than a year. Former U.S. intelligence and military officers said they believed the timing of the Hamas attack was primarily aimed at disrupting negotiations between Israel and Saudi Arabia as Riyadh appeared on the verge of a historic step to normalize relations with Israel. Image: A man in Ashkelon looks out of a damaged building entryway. (Ammar Awad / Reuters) Iran is seeking to put pressure on their implacable foe Israel with this attack, said retired Navy Adm. James Stavridis, a former commander of NATO. In an interview with NBC News Lester Holt last month, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said, We are against any bilateral relations between our regional countries and the Zionist regime, a reference to Israel. Raisi added, We believe that the Zionist regime is intending to normalize this bilateral relations with the regional countries to create security for itself in the region. In recent weeks, diplomats from the U.S., Israel and Saudi Arabia have told NBC News that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden have all expressed support for an agreement that would result in Saudi Arabia recognizing Israel diplomatically. Diplomats say that if Saudi Arabia agreed to recognize Israel it would lead other Arab states to do so. A series of such agreement would end decades of hostility between Israel and its neighbors dating back to 1948. All three sides, though, have complex conditions for such an agreement. Breaking with past Saudi rulers, bin Salman has signaled that he is willing to recognize Israel, given the vast economic benefits it would provide to Saudi Arabia. Before the Hamas attack, there were reports that Saudi Arabia had told the White House it would agree to increase its oil production to help cement a deal, something the Biden White House has sought for two years. But the Saudis want the U.S. to help them develop a civilian nuclear program, something opposed by hard-right members of Netanyahus coalition and by members of the U.S. Senate, which would have to approve any such deal. Separately, Biden told Netanyahu when they met in New York last month that any agreement would have to include land for the Palestinians so that they could establish a viable state, something Netanyahus settlement extensions in the West Bank would prevent. Last week, a bipartisan group of Senators raised the same concerns in a letter to the White House. Image: Palestinians on a damaged Gaza City street after Israeli airstrikes on Saturday. (Majdi Fathi / NurPhoto via Getty Images) The West Bank, meanwhile, remains the scene of rising attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians. Israeli settlers have violently attacked Palestinians at least 700 times in 2023 the highest number on record, according to the U.N.s humanitarian agency (OCHA). Israels far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir praised the expansion of the settlements, calling for more. Netanyahus far-right government responded with plans to build 5,000 new Israeli settlements. Israeli settlements built on Palestinian land are illegal according to international law, and have been condemned by the U.S. government. As the talks with the Saudis, Israelis and Americans progressed, Palestinian disappointment rose. There is a palpable frustration among the Palestinians at seeing the Saudis and Israelis moving closer, said Stavridis. Netanyahu has also stoked domestic division among Israelis as he has pushed a judicial reform that would weaken Israels Supreme Court, a move that sparked mass protest across the country. The first portion of reform passed in March after The Knesset, the Israeli parliament, enacted a law that protected a prime minister from being removed from power. It stipulated that the prime minister could be ousted only for health or mental health reasons, and only the leader and their office could make that decision. The judicial reform came after Netanyahu forced multiple elections in recent years as the prime minister struggled to remain in power. Critics denounced the court reforms by noting that it would weaken the democratic checks of power within Israel, some even noting that it was tailor-made to keep Netanyahu in leadership after he faced allegations of corruption. A second part of the reforms passed in July would prevent the court from declaring government decisions unreasonable. A poll from Israels Channel 13 that month found 56% of Israelis feared the judicial reform would spark a civil war. The rockets were fired as Hamas announced a new operation against Israel. (Tsafrir Abayov / AP) Starvidis, the former admiral, said that Hamas and its patrons viewed the deep political divisions in Israel as a potential opportunity to strike. There is a sense among Israels adversaries that it has never been more divided, never been weaker, never been more torn apart, he said. Nadav Eyal, as Israeli author and senior columnist with the Yediot Ahronot newspaper, predicted in an interview that the attack would transform the country further. This event was a national trauma. Its like 9/11 but frankly bigger, he said. We have dozens of people who are abducted civilians. Eyal said that, no matter the country's divisions, Israel would respond militarily. This really forces Israel to react with the utmost force, he added. There is a consensus with the Israeli public and the political sphere that this changes everything in the region and for Israelis. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com An Israeli runs to a shelter in Ashkelon on Oct. 7. Credit - Tamir KalifaThe New York Times/Redux The obvious and intended point of reference for the shattering surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7 was the 1973 October War, the devastating invasion that Arab armies launched precisely 50 years earlier, plus a day. It was the last time Israelis awoke to a life-changing assault that its intelligence apparatus had not seen coming, and also the last time they found themselves, officially, in a war. Another analogue might be the Tet Offensive, the 1968 Viet Cong surprise attack that changed the course of the Vietnam War. Like the Hamas assault out of the Gaza Strip, it broke out on the morning of a holiday and seemingly everywhere at once; it demonstrated capacities unforeseen in a guerrilla force; it briefly overwhelmed a far superior military; and it produced images that challenged fundamental assumptions about a conflict that had ground on for years. Eyad BabaAFP/Getty Images In Israel, the challenged assumption is that its conflict with the Palestinians can be managed rather than solved. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu all but disavowed that assumption as he addressed the camera in the Kirya, the Defense Ministry high-rise in downtown Tel Aviv: the coming conflict meant the country was in not an operation. Not a round. At war. And like the October War and the Tet Offensive, the Hamas raid and its fallout are forcing reconsideration worldwide too, as political and military leaders from Washington to Beijing weigh the possible outcomes of the war. The attack stalls, and perhaps kills, a hoped for peace deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia that depended on the presumed acquiescence of occupied Palestinians to the status quo. It calls into question Americas long-standing hope that it would be able to focus attention away from the Middle East, and it resets a competition between global powers in the region. Once again, the world is finding the near future of geopolitics depends heavily on Israel and the Palestinians. Brief, lopsided battles with Gaza militants, usually fought by drone or fighter jet, had become so regular that Israeli officials had come to refer to them, in bemused tones, as a homeowners routine chores: cutting the grass, they would say. Mowing was the most starkly military component of managing the conflict, which has been the overarching approach for decades. The strategy assumes that there is no political solution to Jewish Israelis contest with the Palestinians, both of whom want the same land. The best that can be done is to contain them. On the hills of the West Bank, which 3 million Palestinians share with some 500,000 Jewish settlers, much of that management is outsourced to a formidable internal security apparatus that answers to Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas . Also known as Abu Mazen, Abbas, now 87, wagered that subduing violent resistance (which, conveniently, also meant subduing Hamas, a rival to Abbas Fatah party) would produce negotiations that ended with a Palestinian state. That wager has not paid off. There are no longer Jewish settlers among the 2.2 million Palestinians crowded into the Gaza Strip. They departed, with the Israeli military, in 2005. For most of the time since, the enclave has been ruled by Hamas, or the Islamic Resistance Movement, and sealed off by Israel. As on the West Bank, Israel controls Gazas power supply, telephone systems, and much of its economy, but it has proved harder to manage. Poverty is endemic, and the youthful population has no option to leave. Israeli security has relied heavily on the fences and walls that Hamas guerrillas tunneled under in 2014, and on the morning of Oct. 7 tore down and flew paragliders over. The scenes that ensued are seared into the souls of Israelis who already possess, along with the most powerful military in the region, a deep reservoir of trauma. In the chaotic morning hours of sabbath, everything was overwhelmed: the Israel Defense Force that forms the core of Israeli society, the Iron Dome missile batteries that ordinarily shield the civilian population, and the almost luxurious sense of security that led hundreds of young people to an overnight rave in the desert where the paragliders landed and opened fire. Some of the terrified young revelers ended up among the estimated 100 hostages, young and old, Israelis and foreign citizens, carried into Gaza as hostages. Abduction, including of bodies, is a tried and true tactic of the asymmetrical warfare Israel faces, offering bargaining leverage from hit-and-run operations. Like the deaths of civilians, the kidnappings also guaranteed Israel sympathy, and wide latitude to respond; Netanyahu vowed to turn parts of Gaza to rubble, though how to do that with dozens of Israeli hostages in the line of fire? As darkness fell on Oct. 7, Israeli forces were hauling tanks south and, in Gaza, Palestinians phones buzzed with texts from the IDF, warning them out of buildings that were about to be bombed. In an instant, Israeli society was no longer torn asunder by Netanyahus efforts to sideline the Supreme Court. But the feeling was far from familiar. Some, groping for a reference point, thought not of 1973 or 1968, but 2001. It felt like 9/11. In just moments, a great deal had changed. With reporting by Solcyre Burga Contact us at letters@time.com. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Sunday that he has ordered American military ships, including an aircraft carrier and additional aircraft, to move closer to the eastern Mediterranean in response to Hamas' unprecedented, multi-fronted attack on Israel. At least nine U.S. citizens were among the more than 700 people killed in Israel amid Hamas' assault, a National Security Council spokesperson confirmed Monday.. "Today, in response to this Hamas attack on Israel, and following detailed discussions with President Biden, I have directed several steps to strengthen Department of Defense posture in the region to bolster regional deterrence efforts," Austin said in a news release. The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group includes the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, which is the largest warship in the world, in addition to the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy and four Arleigh-Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney and USS Roosevelt. The USS Gerald R. Ford was in the western Mediterranean when it received orders to deploy. Depending on its precise location, it could have to travel over a thousand miles. Austin also announced steps to augment U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. USAF aircraft are going into bases in the Middle East where they will be available for operations against Iran. The munitions the U.S. will be sending over are being airlifted. Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday "to express support for the people of Israel and to receive updates on Israel's operation to restore security and safety from Hamas' terrorist attack," Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement. Gallant and Austin will "remain in close contact in the days and weeks ahead," Ryder added. The announcement came shortly after the White House confirmed that President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke again Sunday morning. The two leaders discussed Hamas' taking of Israeli hostages, with Mr. Biden assuring Netanyahu that U.S. assistance for the Israel Defense Forces was on its way to Israel, with more to follow over the coming days. American aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is seen from the air anchored in Italy in the Gulf of Trieste on September 18, 2023. / Credit: Andrej Tarfila/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images "The President emphasized that there is no justification whatsoever for terrorism, and all countries must stand united in the face of such brutal atrocities," the White House readout of the call said. "President Biden updated the Prime Minister on the intensive diplomatic engagement undertaken by the United States over the last 24 hours in support of Israel," the readout added. Austin confirmed that the first movement of U.S. security aid to the IDF will begin moving Sunday and arrive in the coming days. "My team and I will continue to be in close contact with our Israeli counterparts to ensure they have what they need to protect their citizens and defend themselves against these heinous terrorist attacks," Austin said. Israeli officials said early Monday that over 700 Israeli civilians and members of the military had been killed since Hamas launched its unprecedented attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip early Saturday morning. Another 2,150 were wounded. The Gaza Ministry of Health said Monday that more than 400 Palestinians had been killed and 2,200 more wounded in Israel's retaliatory strikes on Gaza since Saturday. Many Israelis, both civilians and security forces, have been taken hostage. Israeli ambassador Michael Herzog said on "Face the Nation" on Sunday that he was under the impression there were Americans taken hostage, but he didn't have details. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on "Face the Nation" that the U.S. investigating reports that Americans were among those taken hostage. There is not yet any serious planning for the evacuation of American citizens, U.S. officials said. Eleanor Watson contributed to reporting. Students making friends across the American divide Rachel Maddow on "Prequel" and fascism in America Sly Stone's new memoir PONTOTOC COUNTY, Miss. (WREG) A woman accused of crashing weddings across three states and leaving with the bride and grooms money and gifts was arrested at a ceremony Saturday in Pontotoc County, Mississippi. The Pontotoc County Sheriffs Department hasnt released details about what happened, but did say Sandra Lynn Henson was charged with petit larceny, trespassing, and disturbing the peace. In Mississippi, petit larceny is defined as stealing property worth less than $1,000. North Carolina parents throw wedding for young daughter with cancer The sheriffs department said Henson had been arrested for the same crimes in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama. In March 2021, a Marshall County bride told News 2s sister station, WREG, that Henson had ruined her special day by taking the cards, money, and gifts guests brought with them to her wedding. The Marshall County Sheriffs Department was able to identify Henson after she was caught on camera removing items from the gift tables. In 2019, Alabama authorities said they had tied Henson to thefts at nine weddings in their state. The Florence Police Department said Henson was also captured by surveillance cameras walking around one of the reception venues that had been hit. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Its unclear if Henson was on probation when she was arrested in Pontotoc County. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Santiago Ochoa's reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and community members through the Yakima Valley Community Fund. For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com. The Israeli government has formally declared war and given the green light for significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack from the Gaza Strip As a futuristic technology, quantum computing is attracting more and more interest from individuals who want to understand this emerging field through various means such as quantum simulators and online tools. However, comprehending and digesting the abstract knowledge of quantum technologies can often be challenging. Recently, it was announced by the Anhui Quantum Computing Engineering Research Center that China's first quantum computer VR teaching and learning system has been released. This system enables people to gain in-depth understanding of quantum technologies, comprehend the evolution of quantum bits' states, and personally assemble a quantum computer. Due to the complex nature and high cost of building actual quantum computers, which involve numerous industries and engineering implementation processes, a large number of multidisciplinary professionals are required. The shortage of quantum computing technology professionals has become increasingly apparent, highlighting the urgent need for talent education in this field. "The quantum computer VR teaching and learning system, developed by Origin Quantum Computing Technology (Hefei) Co., Ltd., will contribute to quantum talent education," explained Zhao Xuejiao, Deputy Director of the Anhui Quantum Computing Engineering Research Center. The system provides a complete quantum state evolution process and a highly realistic environment for quantum computing practical training within virtual reality space. In training mode, users can wear VR glasses and control handheld devices to observe the evolution and superposition of quantum bits in the quantum world, as well as personally assemble and configure a superconducting quantum computer. The quantum computer VR teaching and learning system is specifically designed with educational modes to offer enhanced learning experiences for scientific popularization in universities, meet the demands of teaching and practical training, and provide a low-cost, safe, and reliable teaching method for higher education institutions. Additionally, the system caters to the needs of science popularization exhibitions, allowing visitors to quickly experience quantum computing-related devices and understand the principles behind quantum computing. Users can find specific information about the system on the Origin Quantum Computing official website. Source: Hefei Daily Did you know there are some financial metrics that can provide clues of a potential multi-bagger? Typically, we'll want to notice a trend of growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and alongside that, an expanding base 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 on that note, Helix Energy Solutions Group (NYSE:HLX) looks quite promising in regards to its trends of return on capital. Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) Just to clarify if you're unsure, ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Helix Energy Solutions Group: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.025 = US$51m (US$2.4b - US$383m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2023). So, Helix Energy Solutions Group has an ROCE of 2.5%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Energy Services industry average of 13%. See our latest analysis for Helix Energy Solutions Group roce In the above chart we have measured Helix Energy Solutions Group's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report for Helix Energy Solutions Group. So How Is Helix Energy Solutions Group's ROCE Trending? While there are companies with higher returns on capital out there, we still find the trend at Helix Energy Solutions Group promising. More specifically, while the company has kept capital employed relatively flat over the last five years, the ROCE has climbed 54% in that same time. So it's likely that the business is now reaping the full benefits of its past investments, since the capital employed hasn't changed considerably. The company is doing well in that sense, and it's worth investigating what the management team has planned for long term growth prospects. Story continues What We Can Learn From Helix Energy Solutions Group's ROCE In summary, we're delighted to see that Helix Energy Solutions Group has been able to increase efficiencies and earn higher rates of return on the same amount of capital. Considering the stock has delivered 0.2% 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 exploring more about this stock could uncover a good opportunity, if the valuation and other metrics stack up. One more thing, we've spotted 1 warning sign facing Helix Energy Solutions Group 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. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. YORK The first time that Genevieve Tonniges ever stepped foot on Wessels Living History Farm was for Boo at the Farm in October 2005, when she was 5 years old. While leaving the event, pumpkin in hand, she told her mother, I want to go back there. And thats what she did. Tonniges began volunteering for the farm at 8 years old and worked there part-time in high school. This year, after a few years of being away from York for school and work, she has returned to Wessels as director. Boo at the Farm is an annual Halloween event at Wessels Living History Farm in York. This years event, on Saturday, Oct. 7, featured tractor rides, miniature bowling, ring toss, and of course chocolates, Twizzlers, Dum Dums and a large assortment of other Halloween candies. Grand Central Foods donated some of the candy. Thrivent Mutual also donated $250 in order to cover candy purchases. Under Tonniges direction, for the first time this years event also featured a petting zoo organized by Jason Hirschfeld, an advisor for Yorks FFA chapter and a York public schools agriculture teacher. Its awesome to get kids, promote agriculture and educate people about where their food comes from, said Hirschfeld. FFA provided bunnies, hamsters, tortoises, chickens, guinea pigs and a donkey. Student FFA volunteers took care of the animals. The petting zoo was especially popular among the events youngest visitors. Jackson Hetrick, 1, was excited to see the turtles and other animals he wouldnt normally get to see. We have been staring at the turtles for 40 minutes, Alyssa Hetrick, Jacksons mother, said. Alyssa Hetrick remembers going to Wessels when she was younger. As a kid it was much bigger, she said. Saturdays visit was Jackons first trip to Wessels. In addition to the petting zoo, Saturdays event for the first time featured volunteer organists from Concordia University, who provided a spooky soundtrack for anyone touring the farmhouse. The event drew volunteers of all ages from around York and Eastern Nebraska. Eighth graders from the Immanuel Faith School ran the food stand as a fundraiser. The proceeds will help fund an outdoor educational program at Camp Luther. Tonniges estimated that in total 35 volunteers contributed to the event. She says that preparations began in July. Other volunteers at the event included members of the York National Honor Society and members of the Omaha chapter of The 501st Legion, which, according to its website, is an international costuming organization dedicated to celebrating Star Wars through the creation and use of quality costumes. Even Darth Vader could appreciate the charm of a 1920s York farmhouse. In fact, Halloween costumes were by no means unheard of in the 1920s. According to Tonniges, when the farm was in operation, there would have been Halloween costumes, decorations [from] the Sears and Roebuck magazine, and treats like hardened maple syrup, candied apples, things like that. The early 1900s is when Halloween goes from this deeply religious, superstitious thing, to this cute, fun Halloween for kids. For visitors on their way out, pumpkins, which had been picked by the staff, and donated by Midwest Research Inc., were available. You get free pumpkins, free candy, its a free event. And so it takes volunteers, donations and community support to make it happen, Tonniges said. Starting next year, Tonniges says that she plans to have community events like Boo at the Farm about once a month. In the meantime, upcoming events for the rest of 2023 include Adult Boo on October 20, the Pitch Tournament on November 17 and a Christmas celebration as part of the 2023 Nebraska Holiday Passport. The former director of a Sarpy County nonprofit dedicated to helping kids and families in the juvenile justice system was sentenced to six months in prison Thursday after she pleaded guilty to mail fraud and admitted to defrauding the organization over a period of three years. Paula Creps, 52, served as the executive director of Sarpy County Court-Appointed Special Advocates for Children, or CASA, from 2019 to mid-2022. The purpose of the organization is to train and oversee volunteers who serve as advocates for children in juvenile court proceedings, and to help juveniles and their families with needed goods and services. Creps was indicted on five counts of mail fraud last October and pleaded guilty to one of those charges earlier this year. As part of the plea agreement, she admitted to embezzling more than $44,000 of grant money and charitable donations intended for Sarpy CASA for her own benefit. She created fake receipts using templates she found online to present the transactions as legitimate. Creps used these funds for concert tickets, car repairs, utility payments, shoes and a luau in Hawaii, among other things. In federal court Thursday, Creps said she was humiliated and regrets her actions. Her attorney argued that probation would be the appropriate punishment, but prosecutors said a sentence not including prison time would depreciate the seriousness of the egregious crime. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Robert Rossiter agreed with prosecutors. He told Creps that he spent a significant amount of time reviewing her case and, despite her lack of criminal history, he believed a period of incarceration was necessary. This is more serious given who you worked for and, more importantly, who you served, Rossiter said before handing down the six-month sentence. Creps was also ordered to pay $44,884.95 in restitution, which she has already paid in full. According to Creps plea agreement, CASA employees would sometimes buy items for families such as clothing, school supplies, or fees for special events like homecoming or prom. These purchases would be funded by a separate nonprofit, Lift Up Sarpy County, which distributes grant money to a number of organizations in the county. These purchases could be made using a credit card supplied and funded by Lift Up Sarpy County, or with the employees own money. If the employee spent their own money on an expense, they could apply to be reimbursed. Creps was responsible for reviewing and approving credit card payment forms and reimbursements. Creps used the CASA credit card to pay for her own personal expenses and then fraudulently represented that the purchases were made to assist a family. She also used the CASA credit card to buy herself gift cards, which she then spent on a luau and shuttle service in Hawaii. Creps also repeatedly forged receipts claiming that she had used her own money to buy goods and services for families served by the nonprofit and for organizational expenses, when in fact, she spent the money on herself. When investigators searched Creps computer in July 2022, they found altered receipts and template documents that were used to create the phony receipts. The use of counterfeit receipts, which were sent through the mail, constitutes mail fraud. Creps will be allowed to self-surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons in mid-December. She will serve a three-year term of supervised release upon her release from prison. (Bloomberg) -- Gina Rinehart, Australias richest woman, has muscled in on one of the largest battery-metals deals to date, building a near-17% stake in Liontown Resources Ltd. and threatening its A$6.6 billion ($4.2 billion) takeover by US giant Albemarle Corp. Most Read from Bloomberg What the iron ore billionaire has yet to do is explain what she will do with her increasing sway in the lithium miner. The big picture is clear. Rinehart, arguably the most formidable figure in Australian mining, is making her biggest bet on lithium at a time when forecasts point to surging long-term demand for materials tied to the energy transition and to a declining outlook for the steelmaking commodities that built her familys fortune. Other Western Australian tycoons are following a similarly green path, most notably Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. founder Andrew Forrest, who has embraced hydrogen. But what Rineharts gambit means in practice is less clear, even with Albemarle expected to conclude its due diligence on Liontown within days the last major step before a binding offer can be signed. Its left shareholders on all sides with more questions than answers. Investors seem keen to know Rineharts plan, Seth Goldstein, an equity strategist at Morningstar Research Services LLC, said. So far, there has been nothing except buying shares, any alternative proposal for value creation has not yet been presented. Liontown, coveted for its promising Kathleen Valley lithium project, announced in early September that it would support an improved offer from Albemarle, after a months-long pursuit. Rineharts privately-held Hancock Prospecting Pty., which had already been buying stock, followed days later with the announcement that it had built up a share of just over 7%, raising that progressively to perilously close to a blocking minority. Story continues On Friday, it took its holding even further to 16.7%, though the price has again not crossed A$3 per share the bid on the table from Albemarle. Hancock said it was now Liontowns largest shareholder and welcomed the opportunity to participate in the Kathleen Valley project as a shareholder, and have an influence on the companys overall future direction, sticking to the vague language on helping to manage operational ramp-up risks of past statements. It did hint at further increases to 19.9%, just shy of the threshold that would normally trigger a mandatory takeover, yet provided no blueprint and said it did not plan to push for a board seat for now. Fly in the Ointment Even so, every purchase further complicates Albemarles chances of winning a shareholder vote which would require 75% approval and the chances of getting to the vote at all. Pedro Palandrani, director of research at ETF issuer Global X, which holds Liontowns shares via its $2.5 billion Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF, is among the investors who mostly see a significant inconvenience for Albemarle. A problem, given spodumene in Australia is critical for Albemarles ambitions to expand their lithium hydroxide capacity. What is certain is a battle among industry heavyweights. Rinehart, the combative only child of one of Australias iron ore pioneers, has described inheriting a bankrupt estate and the chairmanship of a company in serious difficulties. She built up massive iron ore mines in Western Australia that export about 60 million tons of the steelmaking material a year, and has since expanded her portfolio into copper, gold and coal, along with cattle, dairy and property. Read More: Iron Ore Tycoon Muscles In On Albemarles Lithium Takeover She is not, however, known for her green credentials. A vocal skeptic, she criticized school curriculums in a 2021 speech for teaching the science of human-induced climate change. Still, with a net worth of $18.9 billion, she is a powerful opponent, and one with a track record in mining success, even if lithium operates at a different scale. Howard Klein, a partner at RK Equity who himself holds Albemarle stock, said he saw collaboration as an option, given Albemarle already operates with partners elsewhere. Albemarle, which doesnt have much direct mining expertise, could benefit from a strong Australian partner like Rinehart, he said. Theres also the option that Albemarle chooses to throw in the towel. Rinehart is a potentially troublesome minority shareholder, and not the only fly in the ointment for the US giant, with lithium prices plunging on Chinas sputtering recovery and disappointing short-term demand, after a buying frenzy that sent global prices soaring through last year. Liontown shares closed on Friday at A$2.99 uncomfortably close to Albemarle best and final offer. The risk the deal could be blocked is rising, yet the Liontown share price is still trading very close to the proposed Albermarle offer, said Carrick Ryan, a portfolio manager at Westbeck Capital Management who holds lithium miners but not Liontown. While we dont know if Hancock are going to bid, the deal is looking increasingly more expensive as the sector valuations fall. --With assistance from Georgina McKay and Jason Scott. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. An Air India Flight from New Delhi to Tel Aviv on Saturday and a return flight from Tel Aviv to New Delhi have been cancelled in the wake of a Hamas rocket attack on Israel. According to the airline, the decision was taken considering the interests and safety of the passengers and crew. "An Air India Flight from Delhi to Tel Aviv on 07 October 2023 and the return flight AI140 from Tel Aviv to Delhi has been cancelled in the interests and safety of our guests and crew," a spokesperson of Air India said. Also read: US: Airplane Collides With Shuttle Bus At Chicago Airport, 2 Injured "Passengers are being extended all support, as per their requirements," the airline added. According to the latest updates, at least 40 people have been killed and over 700 people are injured, The Times of Israel reported. According to the Health Ministry, 779 people have been hospitalized. Israel has already declared a state of war in the country after infiltration by Hamas fighters and missile attacks from Gaza. The Israel Defence Forces launched Operation 'Iron Swords' in response to Hamas's surprise attack on Israel, the Times of Israel reported. IDF is striking Hamas targets in Gaza. The Israeli military is fighting Hamas terrorists in different locations in Southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip, including the towns of Kfar Aza, Sderot, Sufa, Nahal Oz, Magen, Be'eri and the Re'im military base, according to The Times of Israel. In the first reaction to the 'surprise attack', PM Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel "is at war", further asserting that they will "win it". "We are at war, not in an operation or in rounds, but at war. This morning, Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack against the State of Israel and its citizens. We have been in this since the early morning hours. I convened the heads of the security establishment and ordered, first of all, to clear out the communities that have been infiltrated by terrorists. This is currently being carried out," Netanyahu said in a video statement. Delhi Police have arrested seven loaders in connection with a series of thefts at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, officials said on Saturday. Police have also recovered a huge stash of gold ornaments, luxury watches, AirPods and foreign currency from the possession of the accused. The officials added that to curb such incidents of thefts in the airlines, officials of the airlines concerned are also being interrogated and chargesheeted. "There has been a focus on the cases of baggage thefts throughout the year, and in order to curtail the thefts, a dedicated team was deployed to solve this case," Devesh Mahla, Deputy Commissioner of Police said. According to officials, a team was constituted with the specific task of locating the thieves. Also read: Air India Cancels Delhi-Tel Aviv Flights After Hamas Attacks Israel "The team minutely scrutinized the CCTV footage and interrogated the whole batch of loaders in that shift. Finally, one of the loaders broke down and accepted stealing the said gold jewellery and selling it to a jeweller," officials said. They further said that on sustained interrogation, the accused further disclosed that he has stolen many more items from baggage of passengers in the past and various staff of different airlines have helped him to do so. Further, six more accused persons were named and interrogated, the police added. During the course of interrogation, it was found that the airlines are not following the periodic guidelines issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, and letters issued by Delhi Police time and again and are working hand in glove with these thieves, the officials said. The recovered items include a pair of golden earrings studded with white pearl, two pairs of golden earrings, a gold chain, a pair of gold tops, a golden small chain, a pair of golden earrings, a golden broken mangalsutra having one pendant, two pieces of a broken golden chain, a golden women's chain, two luxury watches , two AirPods, a pair of sunglasses and currency of five different foreign countries. "An FIR was registered wherein the complainant alleged that on September 16 came to Delhi from Melbourne by Singapore Airlines. Further, she had to take another flight from Delhi to Amritsar. While boarding for Amritsar, her baggage was found to be overweight for which she opened her bags and adjusted the articles. All this time, her assistant for the wheelchair that she had booked, was observing her. When she reached home, she realized that her gold valuables were missing from her purse that she had kept in her check-in baggage," the police said. The police further said that another incident occurred on August 16 this year where one Rajesh Sen, a resident of Goa, travelled from Delhi to Goa via Air Vistara airline flight no. UK-855 who handed over his luggage for check-in at the Air Vistara counter at IGI Airport T3 containing a high-end watch worth Rs 4,68,000. "The watch was stolen from the baggage. It is pertinent to mention that the same ground handling company i.e. Air India SATS was managing the baggage handling with Air Vistara," the police said. As per the officials, the investigation is underway and the officials of Air Vistara and Air India SATS will be charge-sheeted accordingly. In Karnataka, the death toll in Karnataka firecracker shop fire has risen to 14 while some others are said to be injured. The firecracker store was located in Attibele of Anekal town. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed grief over the loss of lives. Karnataka DGP Alok Mohan said that at least 35 people were working there and the shop owners have been arrested. "A tragic incident in Bengaluru has claimed the lives of 14 people. I do not have the detailed information right now. We need to investigate whether the shop had the necessary licenses and safety precautions in place. A thorough investigation will," said the Karnataka CM. Several fire tenders were pressed into service to control the blaze. The cause of fire is yet to be ascertained. Visuals from the site showed massive blaze erupting from the store. A police officer said that the fire broke out in afternoon in the shop built right next to the highway. "The firework shop was on fire in no time. The warehouse which was next to the firecracker shop also caught fire. The situation is under control," police said. According to the damage assessment done by the officials, seven two-wheelers, a container lorry, and three other vehicles were gutted in the fire. (With ANI inputs) New Delhi: Just before the holiday season, government employees are eagerly expecting news of a pay raise. According to a recent rumor, the Central government might propose an increase in the Dearness Allowance (DA) on October 4 to relieve the burden on Central employees and Pensioners. It is anticipated that the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will endorse the move to increase the dearness allowance. If this perspective news materializes, it will be a much-appreciated pre-Navratri gift for central personnel and pensioners. (Also Read: Why Should You Never Bring Your Phone To Toilet? Check The BIG REASON Here) This cabinet decision's timing is considered as being extremely important because the Election Commission could at any time declare the dates for the assembly elections in five states. (Also Read: iPhone 16 New LEAKS: Game-Changing Chipset, And MORE! Upcoming Features Will Leave You Amazed, Check) Since July, central staff and pensioners have been waiting for an increase in the dearness allowance. The administration may increase the dearness allowance from the current 42 percent to 45 percent, as anticipated. The arrears from July to September and the enhanced dearness allowance would be paid in full in October if granted. A timely and much-appreciated gift would be a notification of a DA rise and arrears, given that Navratri begins on October 15 and Dussehra is on October 24. New Delhi: The GST Council announced an amnesty plan on Saturday, allowing taxpayers to appeal demand orders issued by tax inspectors up to March 2023 until January 31, 2024. In accordance with GST rules, an assessee has three months from the tax officer's issuance of an assessment order to file an appeal against it. The deadline can be extended by one more month. In its meeting on Saturday, the 52nd GST Council extended the deadline for GST-registered enterprises to file appeals with an increased pre-deposit of 12.5 percent of the tax demand, up from the current 10 percent. (Also Read: Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale 2023: Check Top Deals On Apple iPhones) After the Council meeting, Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra gave a press conference and stated that the council has suggested granting taxpayers a period of time until January 31, 2024, with an increased pre-deposit, to file appeals for all orders made up until March 31, 2023. (Also Read: Flipkart Big Billion Days Sale 2023: Moto G32's Price SLASHED; Now Get It Under Rs 10,000) The Electronic Cash Ledger should be debited by at least 20 percent, or 2.5 percent of the tax under dispute, of the pre-deposit of 12.5 percent of the tax in dispute. "This will facilitate a large number of taxpayers, who could not file an appeal in the past within the specified time period," a government release stated. The GST Council updated the GST laws to clarify that property that is temporarily attached will be released when a year has passed, which is another effort to facilitate trade. According to the GST statute, tax authorities have the authority to temporarily seize the assets of GST-registered firms, including their bank accounts. Now that the council has made it clear, the validity of such an attachment is for a year. Tel Aviv: Israeli fighter jets hit a military facility at the residence of the terrorist group Hamas' intelligence chief in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces said. Sharing an update on the ongoing counter-offensive on social media platform X, the IDF posted, "Fighter jets recently attacked a military infrastructure at the home of the head of the intelligence department of the terrorist organization Hamas." "At this time, the IDF continues its attacks throughout the Gaza Strip," the IDF added in its post. Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to terrorist outfit Hamas, saying that it started a cruel, evil war and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will use all its strength to destroy its capabilities. "Hamas forces invaded Israeli territory this morning, on the morning of a holiday and Shabbat, and murdered innocent civilians, children and the elderly. Hamas started a cruel and evil war. We will win this war, but the price is too heavy to bear. This is a very difficult day for all of us," the Israeli PM posted on 'X' on Sunday. In a major escalation on Saturday, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. The toll from the rocket attacks and ground assault by Hamas went past 300 on Sunday, with another 1,864 people reported to be injured. Several Israelis were taken as hostages in Gaza, the Times of Israel reported citing officials. Netanyahu said, "Hamas wants to murder us all. It is an enemy who murders children and mothers in their homes, in their beds. An enemy who kidnaps the elderly, children, and girls. Murderers who slap and slaughter our citizens, our children, who all in all went out to spend the holiday." He said after what happened in Israel on Saturday, he will make sure that it does not happen again. "What happened today is not seen in Israel and I will make sure that it does not happen again. The entire government stands behind this decision," he said. "The IDF will immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamas' capabilities. We will cripple them to the point of destruction and we will take revenge with might for this black day they have brought upon the State of Israel and its citizens," he added. "As families all over Israel are gathering around the dinner table, instead of eating dinner, they are once again forced to run to bomb shelters due to Hamas' incessant rocket fire," the IDF stated on Saturday said. Around 6.30 am (local time), a barrage of rocket fire began from Gaza into Israel, hitting several cities including Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Gedera and Ashkelon. This was followed by several Hamas terrorists entering Israel from the Gaza Strip and laying a siege to Israeli towns. The death toll resulting from the multi-front attack by the Hamas terror group on Israel has now surpassed 300, with expectations of further increases. According to reports, medical officials have said that up to 1,600 individuals have been injured, many of them severely. On the other hand, around 250 people includig Hamas terrorits is reported to be killed in Gaza in the counter-attack launched by Israel. It is believed that both civilians and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers were taken captive and brought into Gaza by various Hamas militants. Hamas claims that the number of hostages exceeds the count acknowledged by Israel. On a Saturday at approximately 6:30 am local time, a barrage of rockets was launched from Gaza into Israel, targeting several cities such as Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Gedera, and Ashkelon. Following this, several Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel from the Gaza Strip, gaining control of Israeli towns. The operation was named "Al-Aqsa Storm" by Hamas military commander Muhammad Al-Deif, who stated that it was in response to attacks on women, the desecration of the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, and the ongoing siege of Gaza. Graphic videos depicted bodies scattered in the streets of Sderot, a southern city, after the assault by Palestinian militants. Cars were heavily damaged by bullets and set ablaze, as reported by The Washington Post. In the meantime, the IDF reported that they have eliminated seven terrorists attempting to cross into Israel via Zikim Beach just north of Gaza. The IDF successfully prevented the terrorists from infiltrating Israeli communities and confirmed recent strikes on three operational sites used by Hamas in Gaza, as per The Times of Israel. Additionally, Israeli security forces have conducted a rescue operation, saving an unspecified number of individuals who were held hostage in a residence in the southern town of Ofakim. The terrorists involved in the hostage situation were reportedly neutralized, according to the reports. Israel Defence Forces said that active battles are still underway between them and terrorists inside Gaza and the IDF have not yet been able to re-establish full control over all of its bases and areas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Hamas has started a cruel, evil war and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will use all its strength to destroy Hamas' capabilities. He said that Hamas hideouts will be turned into rubble. Israel has asked Gaza residents to vacate the city as soon as possible. (With agency inputs) Israel has launched an all-out war against Hamas militants operating from Gaza. After launching 'Operation Iron Swords' and deploying its Air Force to demolish Hamas sites, Israel is now preparing for massive ground operations in the Gaza strip. The latest visuals showed several tanks moving towards Gaza. Hamas militants yesterday launched a surprise terror attack in Israel killing over 300 people, injuring around 1600 and taking hostage hundreds of Israelis. The terrorists showed no mercy as they opened fire on women, children and elderly in key Israeli cities. In response, Israel launched a counter-offensive attack in which over 200 Hamas militants and their supporters were killed. "IAF fighter jets attacked earlier today two operational infrastructures that were located in mosques and were used by the terrorist organization Hamas to direct terror against the State of Israel....Over the past hours, seven terrorists were identified in the area of Zikim Beach in Israeli territory. In response, IDF naval soldiers and IAF targeted the terrorists and prevented infiltration into residential areas," said Israel Air Force. The IAF said that its fighter jets struck three operational command centers, used by the Hamas terrorist organization to carry out terrorism against Israel from the Gaza Strip and destroyed them. IDF: *Swords of Iron* *IDF naval forces thwarted dozens of terrorists in the southern maritime area and along the coastline* Earlier this morning, IDF naval forces conducted a naval pursuit and targeted dozens of terrorists after they attempted to infiltrate into Israeli pic.twitter.com/BjljN9K4os The Mossad: Satirical, Yet Awesome (@TheMossadIL) October 7, 2023 Israel has made it clear that this attack is similar to 9/11 attack in the US and it has the right to defend itself. Meanwhile, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said that if the militants harm abducted people, it will pay a heavy price for this. He also urged civilians to vacate Gaza saying that the Israel Defence Force will operate at full force and turn the militant hideouts into rubble. "This morning, on Shabbat and a holiday, Hamas invaded Israeli territory and murdered innocent citizens including children and the elderly. Hamas has started a brutal and evil war. We will be victorious in this war despite an unbearable price. This is a very difficult day for all of us. Hamas wants to murder us all. This is an enemy that murders children and mothers in their homes, in their beds, an enemy that abducts the elderly, children and young women, that slaughters and massacres our citizens, including children, who simply went out to enjoy the holiday," said Netanyahu. RIGHT NOW: Barzilai Medical Centerin southern Israelwas targeted by Hamas rocket fire. Hours before the strike, Dr. Chezy Levy, the Director of the medical center, and his staff moved patients to safety. This is indiscriminate fire against civilians. The IDF will not stand pic.twitter.com/OS0HLo3CQU Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 8, 2023 He termed the attack as unprecedented and vowed to see it does not happen again. "The IDF will immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamas's capabilities. We will destroy them and we will forcefully avenge this dark day that they have forced on the State of Israel and its citizens. As Bialik wrote: 'Revenge for the blood of a little child has yet been devised by Satan'," said Netanyahu. The Israeli PM further said, "All of the places which Hamas is deployed, hiding and operating in, that wicked city, we will turn them into rubble. I say to the residents of Gaza: Leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere. At this hour, the IDF is clearing the terrorists out of the last communities. They are going community by community, house by house, and are restoring our control." This morning, on Shabbat and a holiday, Hamas invaded Israeli territory and murdered innocent citizens including children and the elderly. Hamas has started a brutal and evil war. We will be victorious in this war despite an unbearable price. This is a very difficult day for all Benjamin Netanyahu - (@netanyahu) October 8, 2023 Netanyahu further extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. "We are all praying for the well-being of the wounded and all those who are being held hostage. I say to Hamas: You are responsible for their well-being. Israel will settle accounts with anyone who harms one hair on their heads," he said. He said that this war will take time and will be difficult. "Challenging days are ahead of us. However, I can promise one thing: With the help of G-d, the forces that we all have in common and our faith in the Eternal One of Israel, we will win," said Netanyahu. Israel right now. pic.twitter.com/zEWSwHIPSj Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 7, 2023 Meanwhile, world leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, British PM Rishi Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have extended their support to Israel. On the other hand, Palestinians celebrated the attack on Israel and came out with the country's flag in Iran and some parts of the United Kingdom expressing their joy over the terrorist attack. Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, is one of India's most vibrant and celebrated festivals. It marks the triumph of good over evil and is observed with great enthusiasm and fervor across the country. While Dussehra is celebrated nationwide, some places in India offer truly extraordinary and unique experiences during this festive season. Dussehra is a festival that unites India in its diversity, and these five destinations offer a glimpse into the myriad ways it is celebrated across the country. Whether you prefer the grandeur of Mysuru, the artistic splendor of Kolkata, the spiritual ambiance of Varanasi, the traditional charm of Kullu, or the tribal heritage of Bastar, each destination promises an unforgettable Dussehra experience. Plan your visit to one of these places to witness the best Dussehra celebrations India has to offer. Here are the top five destinations to witness the best Dussehra celebrations in India: Mysuru, Karnataka: Mysuru, known as the cultural capital of Karnataka, hosts one of the grandest Dussehra celebrations in the country. The centerpiece of the festivities is the Mysore Palace, illuminated with thousands of lights, creating a breathtaking spectacle. The ten-day celebration includes a vibrant procession featuring caparisoned elephants, traditional dancers, and musicians. The grandeur and heritage of Mysuru's Dussehra are unmatched, making it a must-visit destination during this festival. Also read: Beauty Benefits Of Okra: Nature's Secret For Radiant Skin And Hair Kolkata, West Bengal: Kolkata's Durga Puja, which coincides with Dussehra, is famous worldwide for its artistic idols and elaborate pandals (temporary structures). The city comes alive with intricately crafted sculptures of goddess Durga, and the streets are adorned with artistic decorations. During the immersion ceremony on Vijayadashami, the energy and enthusiasm of the procession are electrifying. Kolkata's Durga Puja is a unique blend of art, culture, and devotion that is not to be missed. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: Varanasi, the spiritual heart of India, celebrates Dussehra with a deep-rooted religious fervor. The Ramnagar Ram Leela is a famous tradition where the epic Ramayana is enacted by local artists over a month. The grand finale on Dussehra night, featuring the burning of a towering effigy of Ravana, is a mesmerizing spectacle. Devotees throng the ghats of the holy Ganges to witness this dramatic representation of Lord Rama's victory over evil. Kullu, Himachal Pradesh: In the picturesque valley of Kullu, Dussehra is celebrated with a unique and colorful twist. The week-long Kullu Dussehra festival involves a procession of more than 200 deities from the region, carried on elaborately decorated palanquins. The festival also showcases traditional Himachali folk dances, music, and cultural performances. The natural beauty of Kullu adds an enchanting backdrop to this vibrant celebration. Bastar, Chhattisgarh: Bastar, in the tribal heartland of Chhattisgarh, hosts a distinctive and indigenous Dussehra celebration known as "Bastar Dussehra." Here, Dussehra is celebrated not as the victory of Lord Rama but as the culmination of the annual crop harvest. The highlight of this festival is the unique tradition of 'ghatuls,' where young girls dressed as goddesses bless the farmers' tools and grains. Bastar Dussehra provides a glimpse into the rich tribal culture and traditions of the region. (Bloomberg) -- The combined death toll from the Hamas attack on southern Israel has climbed to more than 1,100 as fighting headed into a third day. The US said its moving a six-vessel aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean and is augmenting its fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. Most Read from Bloomberg More than 700 Israelis, most of them civilians, were killed in the attacks which erupted outside the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning. About 400 Palestinians have died in fighting and retaliatory attacks, as the Israeli military regained control over most areas breached by militants. The operation by Hamas which included taking scores of Israeli hostages was an unprecedented incursion that has shaken regional stability and markets. Israel officially declared war and says it wont stop until Hamass military infrastructure is dismantled, a task that seems likely to include a ground invasion and take months. All time stamps Israel. Not All UN Security Council Members Condemned Hamas, US Says (12:35 a.m.) A good number of countries condemned the Hamas attacks during a closed session of the UN Security Council, Ambassador Robert Wood of the US said. Obviously not all. I dont really want to get into that. I think you could probably figure out one of them without me saying anything. Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh of the UAE said the immediate concern is the safe and unconditional return of hostages; broader political discussions aimed at a possible two-state solution can be addressed later. Iran Aided Hamas Attack: WSJ (12:21 a.m.) Iranian security officials helped Hamas plan its attack on Israel in a series of meetings over months, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, the Shiite militant group and political faction in Lebanon. Story continues The Journal said Hamas was given the green light for the attack in Beirut last Monday. US officials have noted Irans longstanding support for Hamas, with money and weapons. But US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday the US hasnt yet seen direct evidence that Iran was behind this particular attack. Dollar Climbs as Traders Seek Safe Havens (11:33 p.m.) The dollar climbed against its major peers in early trading on Monday as currency traders got their first chance to react to a shock attack by Hamas within Israel. The greenback long regarded as a haven in times of trouble rose versus the euro and pound as trading began in Sydney, while riskier currencies including its Australian counterpart slipped. The yen another favored refuge for investors rallied. Palestinian Observer at UN Defiant Ahead of Security Council (10:28 p.m.) Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian observer at the United Nations, took a defiant tone in comments to reporters ahead of a special Security Council session, saying his people had repeatedly warned the Security Council about the consequences of Israeli impunity and international inaction. We know only too well that the messages about Israels right to defend itself will be interpreted by Israel as license to kill, to pursue on the very path that led us here, Mansour said. Islamic Jihad Says 30 Hostages Held (9:25 a.m.) Palestinian Islamic Jihad is holding more than 30 Israeli hostages that will not be freed until all Islamic Jihad prisoners in Israel are also freed, the groups leader, Ziad Al-Nakhala, said in a televised address. Israel Says Every Inch of Gaza Is Part of Hamas War Machine (9:21 p.m.) Israels ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, said every inch of Gaza has become part of Hamas war machine, vowing that his country would obliterate all of the groups terror infrastructure. Despite the violence, Israel is sticking to efforts to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia, he said, charging that suspending that bid would only benefit Iran. There are moderate countries in our region that want to normalize relations and live in peace and coexistence, and definitely Saudi Arabia is part of them, he said, speaking to reporters before a closed-door session of the UN Security Council on the issue. Four US Citizens Believed Dead: AP (8:57 p.m.) At least four American citizens were killed in the attacks on Israel, the Associated Press reported, citing preliminary reports from an unnamed US official. US Sends Warships, Munitions in Show of Force (8:35 p.m.) A six-vessel US naval group including the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier is headed to the eastern Mediterranean to bolster regional deterrence efforts, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement. Additional US equipment and resources, including munitions, will arrive in the coming days, he said. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone for the second time in two days. Biden told Netanyahu during the call that additional military assistance for Israel is now on its way, according to a White House statement. Erdogan: Regional Problems Stem From Palestinian Issue (5:45 p.m.) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his call for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital. The basis of the problems in our region today is the Palestine issue. Unless the issue is resolved, the region will long for peace, Erdogan said in Istanbul on Sunday, It is important to preserve the two-state solution. Israel to Prepare for Evacuations in North (5:30 p.m.) Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant instructed officials to prepare for the evacuation of civilians from communities in the countrys north. The program would be similar to evacuations that have taken place in more than 20 communities adjacent to the Gaza Strip. US Checking Reports Citizens Killed, Taken Hostage (5:30 p.m.) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US is working very actively to verify reports that several Americans are among the dead. At the same time, there are reports of Americans being taken hostage. There too, were working to get the facts and find out if those reports are accurate, he said on CBSs Face the Nation. Netanyahu Says Europeans Support Israels Right to Defend (5:25 p.m.) Netanyahu spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Sunday. All four expressed unreserved support for Israels right to defend itself, Netanyahu said. Iran President Talks To Hamas, Calls For Mideast Support (4:40 p.m.) Irans President Ebrahim Raisi spoke with leaders of the militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad and reviewed the situation underway in the occupied lands, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency said. Muslim governments should support the Palestinian people, Raisi said. The hostile Israelis should know the equations have changed. Iran supports the legitimate defense of the Palestinian people. While Israel has said it suspects Iran is involved, Tehran has not explicitly said it aided the attacks. Blinken has said theres no immediate evidence Iran directed the attack. --With assistance from Arsalan Shahla, Marie Patino, Albertina Torsoli, Victoria Cavaliere, Galit Altstein, Gregory White, Courtney McBride, Natalia Drozdiak, Dana Khraiche, Ethan Bronner, Gwen Ackerman, Fadwa Hodali, Tony Czuczka, Susanne Barton and Selcan Hacaoglu. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. In today's fast-paced world, anxiety has become a common concern affecting millions of individuals globally. The daily stresses and pressures can take a toll on our mental and physical well-being, leading to anxiety-related disorders. Yoga, an ancient practice originating from India, has gained widespread popularity as a holistic approach to alleviate anxiety and promote overall mental and physical wellness. Consistent practice, along with mindful breathing, can lead to a calmer mind and a more balanced and peaceful life. 4 Yoga Asanas to Calm the Mind and Body In this article, we will explore four yoga asanas that can help calm the mind and body, providing relief from anxiety. 1. Child's Pose (Balasana) Child's Pose is a fundamental yoga pose that helps in relaxation and stress reduction. It gently stretches the lower back, hips, thighs, and ankles while promoting a sense of calm and tranquility. To perform this asana, kneel on the mat, sit back on your heels, and extend your arms forward, lowering your chest to the ground. Rest your forehead on the mat, and focus on your breath, allowing tension to melt away. 2. Cat-Cow Pose (Marjarasana) Cat-Cow Pose is a dynamic yoga sequence that helps in releasing tension in the back, neck, and shoulders. It involves alternating between arching and rounding the back, promoting flexibility and relaxation. Begin on your hands and knees, inhaling as you arch your back (cow pose) and exhaling as you round your back (cat pose). This rhythmic movement encourages mindful breathing and calms the nervous system. 3. Corpse Pose (Savasana) Savasana, or Corpse Pose, is a pose of deep relaxation and a vital part of any yoga practice. It involves lying flat on your back, arms and legs extended, and focusing on conscious relaxation. This asana helps in releasing tension from the body and mind, allowing a state of complete relaxation and inner peace. Controlled breathing during Savasana aids in reducing anxiety levels and promoting a sense of serenity. 4. Legs Up the Wall Pose (Viparita Karani) Legs Up the Wall Pose is a restorative yoga asana that helps in reducing anxiety and fatigue. It involves lying on your back with your legs elevated against a wall, promoting blood circulation and calming the nervous system. This pose aids in alleviating stress, insomnia, and anxiety, making it an excellent addition to a relaxation routine. Incorporating these yoga asanas into your daily routine can significantly contribute to managing anxiety and improving your overall mental and physical well-being. Always remember to consult a healthcare professional before starting any new exercise or yoga routine, especially if you have pre-existing medical conditions. (This article is meant for informational purposes only and must not be considered a substitute for advice provided by qualified professionals.) New Delhi: A tragic accident occurred when a bus carrying 32 passengers veered off the road, plunging into a gorge in Nainital, Uttarakhand on Sunday. At least 4 passengers lost their lives in the tragic incident while 18 suffered injuries. With the prompt actions of both state authorities and local residents the injured passengers received rapid transportation to nearby hospitals to receive the necessary medical attention. VIDEO | Four killed, several injured as bus falls into gorge in Nainital, Uttarakhand; rescue operation underway. More details are awaited. pic.twitter.com/NuSThArRW8 October 8, 2023 The bus was on its way to Kaladhungi Road in Nainital when the accident occurred. The Disaster Control Room in Nainital promptly notified the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), leading to the swift deployment of rescue teams to the accident site. The cause of the accident has not been determined yet. "The bus was carrying 30-32 people. They were going to Hisar, Haryana when the accident took place. We have rescued 25 people till now," Nainital SSP Prahlad Narayan Meena told PTI. (Further details awaited) New Delhi: Bollywood actress and 'Pyaar Ka Punchnama' fame Nushrratt Bharuccha, who recently flew to Israel to attend the Haifa International Film Festival, is reportedly stranded in the war-torn country. As per the latest reports, the actress is stuck in Israel and the last contact by her team with her was around 12:30 pm on Saturday. The shocking development comes at a time when Palestine terrorist group on Sunday stormed Israel, killing hundreds of people, abducting several and wounding others, in a surprise attack. Israel declared a 'state of war' on Saturday, in the wake of the ongoing fight with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. As per reports, several Indians are believed to be stuck in Israel including Bollywood actress Nushrratt Bharuccha. One of her team members said that Nushrratt had gone to Israel to participate in the Haifa International Film Festival, and is now stuck and 'non-traceble'. He added that the last time they managed to contact her was around 12.30 p.m. on Saturday, and at that time she was safe in a basement. However, the team did not give much information about her exact location due to security reasons. They further said that since then they have not been able to contact her. "We are trying to bring Nushrratt back to India safely and hope that she will return soon," he said. Another report mentioned that the actress is all set to fly back to her country. A full-scale war broke out between the militant group Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, leaving at least 200 people dead. Apart from this, more than 1000 people were injured. According to the Israeli army, Hamas terrorists fired more than 5,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip and also captured several Israeli soldiers near the border. On the work front, Nushrratt Bharuccha was recently seen in the film 'Akeli', which was released in theatres in August. Directed by Pranay Meshram, the film depicts the story of a girl caught up in war-torn Iraq, struggling to return home amid the chaos. Ironically, the storyline of the film has become a reality in her life as the actress has been stranded in Israel. The 38-year-old will next feature in horror flick titled 'Chhorii 2', which is the sequel to the 2021 released 'Chhorii'. New Delhi: Bollywood actress Nushrratt Bharuccha, who got reportedly stranded in Israel and lost contact with her team, amidst the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian terrorist group, is safe. As per the latest updates, the actress is all set to fly out of the war-torn country and leave for India. A member of her team informed, "We have finally managed to get in touch with Nushrratt and with the help of the Embassy, she is being safely brought back home. We did not get a direct flight so she is on a connecting flight home. For her further safety, more details cannot be shared. We are relieved and thank god that she is safe and on her way to India." Several Indians are believed to be stuck in Israel including Bollywood actress Nushrratt Bharuccha. One of her team members said that Nushrratt had gone to Israel to participate in the Haifa International Film Festival. A full-scale war broke out between the militant group Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, leaving at least 200 people dead. Apart from this, more than 1000 people were injured. According to the Israeli army, Hamas terrorists fired more than 5,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip and also captured several Israeli soldiers near the border. On the film front, Nushrratt Bharuccha was recently seen in the film 'Akeli', which was released in theatres in August. Directed by Pranay Meshram, the film depicts the story of a girl caught up in war-torn Iraq, struggling to return home amid the chaos. Ironically, the storyline of the film has become a reality in her life as the actress has been stranded in Israel. The 38-year-old will next feature in horror flick titled 'Chhorii 2', which is the sequel to the 2021 released 'Chhorii'. New Delhi: Bollywood actress Nushrratt Bharuccha, who got reportedly stranded in Israel and lost contact with her team, amidst the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian terrorist group, has finally landed in Mumbai. She was snapped by the paps as she reached the airport, the actress was visibly shaken. She was mobbed by media as she made an exit from the airport but couldn't talk. The actress was teary-eyed as she got in her car from the airport. Fans are super happy to see her return home from Israel amid the Hamas attack. Nushrratt had gone to Israel to participate in the Haifa International Film Festival. A full-scale war broke out between the militant group Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, leaving at least 200 people dead. Apart from this, more than 1000 people were injured. According to the Israeli army, Hamas terrorists fired more than 5,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip and also captured several Israeli soldiers near the border. On the film front, Nushrratt Bharuccha was recently seen in the film 'Akeli', which was released in theatres in August. Directed by Pranay Meshram, the film depicts the story of a girl caught up in war-torn Iraq, struggling to return home amid the chaos. Ironically, the storyline of the film has become a reality in her life as the actress has been stranded in Israel. The 38-year-old will next feature in horror flick titled 'Chhorii 2', which is the sequel to the 2021 released 'Chhorii'. As the Israeli Defence Force continued to engage with Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, some rockets were fired by Lebanon's Hezbollah group towards Israel. Following this, IDF also retaliated and struck Hezbollah targets and infrastructure inside Lebanon. The IDF said in a statement that has taken preparational measures for this type of possibility and will continue to operate in all regions. "In response to a Hezbollah shooting from Lebanon into Israel, IDF Artillery struck targets in the area. An IDF UAV also struck Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in the area of Mount Dov. The IDF has taken preparational measures for this type of possibility. We will continue to operate in all regions and at any time necessary to ensure the safety of the Israeli civilians," said the IDF. In response to a Hezbollah attack from Lebanon into Israel, IDF Artillery struck targets in the area. An IDF UAV also struck Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in the area of Mount Dov. The IDF has taken preparational measures for this type of possibility. We will continue to Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 8, 2023 Meanwhile, Israel's air force continued launching airstrikes on Gaza, as communicated by Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The strikes targeted 426 locations in Gaza, including 10 towers utilized by Hamas. Additionally, Israeli defence forces carried out evacuations of residents near the Gaza Strip overnight, coinciding with the significant deployment of tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers in the conflicted region. BREAKING: HEZBOLLAH MIGHT BE GETTING INVOLVED IN ISRAEL PALESTINE WAR Lebanese group Hezbollah vows Israels destruction, praised the operation by Hamas inside Israel, according to Arab media. Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah said it served as a warning against pic.twitter.com/5Y51slZV8n Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 7, 2023 At least 232 people were killed in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza while over 300 were killed in Israel and more than 1500 were injured. A short while ago, IAF fighter jets struck a compound belonging to the head of the intelligence department in the Hamas terrorist organization. The IAF is currently continuing to strike terror targets in the Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/uSHsXGFNzz Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 8, 2023 #WATCH | Gaza City: Aftermath of the attack of the Islamist movement Hamas on Israel. (Source: Reuters) pic.twitter.com/1B7G4AtMx7 October 8, 2023 Following a barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, Hamas fighters launched the biggest offensive on Israel in years on Saturday, penetrating areas in the south of the nation. According to Israel's national rescue service, the attack was the bloodiest in years. Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned Hamas it made a "grave mistake" in carrying out the rocket attacks and ground assault. Tel Aviv: In an unprecedented attack that few Israelis saw coming on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah on Saturday, Hamas fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip. Even as the toll from the Hamas rocket fire and ground assault mounted, Israel declared that was "at war" with the militant outfit and launched airstrikes in Gaza, vowing to inflict an "unprecedented price." Israel launched "Operation Swords of Iron," striking a number of suspected Hamas hideouts in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's response to the Hamas incursion will "exact a huge price" on the militant group. Meanwhile, the toll from the deadly rocket and ground assault by Hamas soared past 300 people, with another 2000 reported to be injured in Gaza and Israel, The Times of Israel reported. Israeli Naval Ships have Destroyed a number of Hamas Speedboats which were attempting to cross into Southern Israel by Sea. pic.twitter.com/gyjmzt9TA1 OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 7, 2023 The Palestinian Health Ministry said 232 people were killed and 1,790 injured in Gaza. According to the Israeli Health Ministry over 100 people are dead and over 900 others injured. Taking the top brass of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and the country's political establishment by surprise, Gaza's militant Hamas rulers attacked Israel by land, air, and sea. Millions of Israelis in the country's south awoke to the searing sound of incoming rockets and the inevitable thud of impact. Air raid sirens wailed as far north as Tel Aviv. Israel's anti-rocket interceptors thundered in Jerusalem. In an unprecedented escalation, armed Hamas fighters blew up parts of Israel's highly fortified separation fence and strode into Israeli communities along the Gaza frontier, terrorising residents and trading fire with Israeli soldiers. BREAKING: Known Hezbollah Operative Mohammed Samuil Hyde seen using a paraglider attempting to infiltrate southern Israel during rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/R79CcCgG9p Halo Wars (@HaloWarOfficial) October 7, 2023 Saturday's attack came 50 years and a day after Egyptian and Syrian forces launched an assault during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur in an effort to retrieve territory Israel had taken during a brief conflict in 1967, reported Al Jazeera. Here's how the Hamas attack unfolded in Israel: Around 6.30 am (03:30 GMT), Hamas fired a barrage of rockets into southern Israel with sirens heard as far away as Tel Aviv and Beersheba. Hamas said it launched 5,000 rockets in an initial barrage. Israel's military said 2,500 rockets were fired, reported Al Jazeera. "We announce the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and we announce that the first strike, which targeted enemy positions, airports, and military fortifications, exceeded 5,000 missiles and shells," Mohammed Deif, head of the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said. The rocket attack served as cover for an unprecedented multi-pronged infiltration of fighters with the Israeli military saying at 7:40 am (04:40 GMT) that Palestinian gunmen had crossed into Israel. Most fighters entered through breaches in security barriers separating Gaza and Israel, Al Jazeera reported. One Hamas soldier was filmed flying over in a powered parachute. A motorboat carrying fighters was seen heading to Zikim, an Israeli coastal town with a military base. A viral video showed at least six motorcycles with fighters crossing through a hole in a metal barrier. At 9.45 am (06:45 GMT), blasts were heard in Gaza and at 10 am (07:00 GMT) Israel's military spokesperson said the air force was carrying out attacks in Gaza. Israel's military said at 10 am (07:00 GMT), Palestinian fighters penetrated at least three military installations around the frontier - the Beit Hanoun border crossing (called Erez by Israel), the Zikim base, and the Gaza division headquarters at Reim. Several captured Israeli military vehicles were later pictured being driven into Gaza and paraded there, reported Al Jazeera. Fighters raided the Israeli town of Sderot, another community Be'eri, and the town of Ofakim, 30km (20 miles) east of Gaza, according to Israeli media. Residents of southern Israel fortified their homes to function as bomb shelters and were using them as panic rooms. Israel's military ordered residents to shelter inside, saying on the radio, "We will reach you." By late evening, Israeli troops were still working to clear communities overrun by Hamas fighters, reported Al Jazeera. Israeli media reported gunmen took hostages in Ofakim while Palestinian Islamic Jihad said it was holding Israeli soldiers. Hamas' social media accounts showed footage purportedly showing captives being taken into Gaza. Another video showed three young men in vests, shorts, and flip-flops being marched through a security installation with Hebrew writing on the wall. Other videos showed female captives and Israeli soldiers being dragged from a military vehicle, reported Al Jazeera. Israeli air attacks continued late Saturday night as did rocket fire into southern Israel. Israeli troops were still fighting Hamas gunmen in 22 locations near the Gaza Strip -- a startling sign of the breadth of the assault. Israel's military said it was still fighting "hundreds" of Palestinian infiltrators. Israelis had assumed that their intelligence services would be able to alert the army to any major attack or invasion well in advance, but the surprise attack by Hamas showed the colossal failure of Israeli intelligence, according to reports. That Hamas was able to stage such a huge and coordinated attack, which has already killed more Israelis than any single assault since the second Palestinian uprising two decades ago, without triggering Israeli intelligence, has presented a major challenge to Netanyahu's ultranationalist government. By Steven Scheer JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli stock and bond prices slid and many businesses were closed on Sunday, a day after Hamas gunmen from Gaza killed hundreds of Israelis and abducted an unknown number of others. Key Tel Aviv share indices ended nearly 7% lower, led by a 9% drop in banking shares on turnover of 2.2 billion shekels ($573 million), and government bond prices fell as much as 3% in the market's initial response to the bloodiest attack on Israel in decades. While the foreign exchange market is closed on Sundays, the shekel is already at its weakest level of the year due to a highly contested government plan to overhaul the judiciary. "This round of violence is expected to be more prolonged and severe than previous ones, clearly having a more negative impact on the economy and the fiscal budget," said Jonathan Katz, chief economist at Leader Capital Markets. "The shekel will most likely weaken sharply tomorrow and we see a high probability that at some point the Bank of Israel will sell FX." Gunmen from the Palestinian group Hamas rampaged through Israeli towns on Saturday, killing at least 400 Israelis, before abducting dozens of hostages and returning to Gaza. Israel has retaliated with air strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza. Gaza militants also fired thousands of rockets into Israel, some reaching as far as Tel Aviv, prompting airlines to suspend flights to and from Israel. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he had directed heads of ministry departments to quickly provide the budgets required to help manage the war. The Bank of Israel said it was too soon to assess the economic damage from the conflict but pointed to a 50-day war with Hamas militants in Gaza in 2014 that caused damage of 3.5 billion shekels, or 0.3% of gross domestic product. The central bank has been projecting 3% growth in 2023 and 2024. AIR TRAVEL DISRUPTIONS Delta Air Lines said flights to and from Israel to New York and Atlanta were cancelled through Monday, while United Airlines said "future operations at TLV (airport) will be suspended until conditions allow them to resume." Air India said flights to and from Tel Aviv would be suspended until Oct. 14. Story continues United Airlines' smaller rival Arkia said it was operating rescue flights from Athens to bring back Israelis who had been on vacation. Another rival Israir said it was operating rescue flights from Larnaca in Cyprus but warned it may operate a reduced schedule in the coming days as foreign crew on some of its leased aircraft had asked to leave Israel. Nvidia, the world's largest maker of chips used both for artificial intelligence and for computer graphics, said it had cancelled an AI summit scheduled for Tel Aviv next week, where CEO Jensen Huang was due to speak. Schools were shut and many companies gave workers the day off, and most stores other than supermarkets and pharmacies were closed. Israel's Manufacturers' Association said factories were still operating to limit concerns over any scarcity of food and other essential products. "All companies will continue to operate as much as possible despite the difficult emergency conditions, the rocket barrages and the resulting shortage of workers," said association president Ron Tomer. "Thanks to Israel's production independence ... even in times of emergency, the residents of Israel will lack nothing." Intel Corp, Israel's largest employer and exporter, declined to say whether chip production was affected. "We are closely monitoring the situation in Israel and taking steps to safeguard and support our workers," a spokesman said. Tower Semiconductor said it was operating as usual. ($1 = 3.8388 shekels) (Reporting by Steven ScheerEditing by Bernadette Baum) BEIJING, Oct. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Seong Kon Kim, Vice President and Renewables ENG Team Leader of Samsung C&T CORPORATION (Engineering and Construction Group), paid a visit to JA Solar's Beijing Headquarters on August 28th. During the visit, a significant milestone was achieved as JA Solar and Samsung C&T signed a strategic cooperation agreement, spanning from 2023 to 2025. The contracts were signed by Yang Aiqing, the Rotating President of JA Solar, and Kim, Vice President of Samsung C&T, solidifying the partnership between the two organizations. JA Solar and Samsung C&T Cement Partnership with Signing of New Strategic Cooperation Agreement (PRNewsfoto/JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd.) During the meeting, Kim stated that JA Solar, as a leading enterprise in the photovoltaic (PV) industry, has played an important role in promoting the global green energy transformation process. Previously, JA Solar has supplied high-efficiency modules for Samsung C&T's key PV projects, such as the 88MW PV project in Mangilao of Guam and the Qatar 875MW PV power plant project, which shows that the two parties have yielded fruitful results. Samsung C&T extends heartfelt appreciation to JA Solar for its invaluable support in past collaborations. The company is eager to enhance communication channels, fostering even stronger ties between the two parties. Samsung C&T is committed to exploring additional areas of cooperation, seeking opportunities that promote resource complementarity and mutually beneficial development. Yang warmly welcomed the visit of Samsung C&T. He stated that at present, low-carbon development and green transformation have become a global consensus, and PV, a key driver of growth in the new energy sector, has great potential for development in the future. Since the signing of the global strategic cooperation agreement in 2019, Samsung C&T and JA Solar have achieved remarkable cooperation results, contributing to the early realization of the global carbon neutrality goal. JA Solar is honored to sign a strategic cooperation agreement with Samsung C&T again, and will continue to serve Samsung C&T with reliable and high-efficiency products and services in the future. Building upon the foundation of past cooperation and a strong bond of friendship, JA Solar is excited about the prospect of collaborating with Samsung C&T to drive the successful realization of additional significant PV projects. By working together, both companies aim to make substantial contributions towards the construction of a zero-carbon world. SOURCE JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd. Free help for breast cancer patients is available through St. Mary-Corwin's Dorcy Cancer Center in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The center, 2004 Lake Ave., is set to host free breast prosthetics and bra fittings Oct. 11. Tracey's Boutique of Colorado Springs will provide the fittings during a one-on-one session with a certified breast fitter who can guide clients through the prosthetic process. To reserve a spot, contact Barbara Young, breast care nurse navigator, at 719-557-4301 or email barbarayoung@centura.org. "Changing for the Cure will feature free oil changes to the first 20 breast cancer patients who call Jeremeys Garage between noon and 4 p.m., Oct. 27, at 719-547-2450 to make an appointment for an oil change. Appointments will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a good time to schedule your annual mammogram," either at the Pueblo or Pueblo West cancer centers, said Mary Goldbach, director of oncology services for St. Mary-Corwin. "Early detection saves lives about 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. Latino Chamber to host Small Business Summit Oct. 19 The Latino Chamber of Commerce is set to host 10 Southern Colorado organizations as presenters during the fifth annual Small Business Summit from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Oct. 19, at Pueblo Community College, 900 W. Orman Ave. Small businesses, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and others will have access to resources, information and networking with agencies ranging from Southern Colorado Small Business Development Center to the Pueblo Library to NeighborWorks of Southern Colorado. This event is free and will include breakfast and lunch. Registration is required by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, at Pueblolatinochamber.com. Pueblo District Attorney Jeff Chostner (far right) stands with members of the prosecution team awarded the Colorado Organization for Victims Assistance "Norm Early Criminal Justice Award," for their work on the case involving the death of 15-month-old Aiden Seeley. Pueblo prosecution team wins state award The Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance awarded its outstanding trial team award to members of the 10th Judicial District Attorney's office and Pueblo County Sheriff's Office for their work on the case involving the death of 15-month-old Aiden Seeley. Story continues The Norm Early Criminal Justice Award went to Chief Trial Deputy Kala Beauvais; deputy district attorneys Anne Mayer and David Dingess; Detective Amy Lile of the sheriff's office; Victims Assistant Specialist Yesenia Corral; Paralegal Melissa McDowell; and Sara Martinez, discovery supervisor. "This case represented extraordinary teamwork. My thanks and appreciation to all who worked so diligently for justice in this case," said Jeff Chostner, Pueblo district attorney. Seeley died at the hands of his foster parents Dacey Spinuzzi and Ramondo Jones. Spinuzzi pleaded guilty to accessory to the crime and received a 12-year sentence while Jones was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Pueblo Heritage Museum staffer wins state tourism award Tziavii Rose Stevens, an executive assistant and Native American heritage leader for the Pueblo Heritage Museum, has been awarded Colorados Top Frontline Tourism Worker Award. The award recognizes individuals in each region for outstanding contributions to tourism and hospitality in Colorado. Tziavii has been at the Pueblo Heritage Museum since July 2022. Tziavii always interacts with tourists and residents with respect and hospitality, showing her appreciation for Colorado and directs patrons to other sites in the state, said Meral Jones, museum director. As a Paiute Nation tribe member, she leads our Native American Heritage education programs and presents in schools, making ripples of impact. The Pueblo Heritage Museum is located at 201 West B Street in Pueblo. As a member of Visit Pueblo, the museum's mission is to preserve, celebrate, and illuminate the rich heritage of Pueblo and southeastern Colorado. Youth Entrepreneur Program available to all Pueblo County students The Southern Colorado Small Business Development Center has launched a Young Entrepreneur Program to provide students with the tools and resources they need to explore their business aspirations. The 10-week program is being offered at both South and East high schools, however, educational materials and counseling services are available to any student in Pueblo County with permission from a parent or guardian. "The project will help inspire youth to become the next generation of entrepreneurs by offering entrepreneurial and small business education, product development, prototype development, assistance with funding, business plan development, and one-on-one idea consulting and mentorship," said Brian Estrada, executive director of the small business development center. Estrada is leading the effort with the support of consultants and educational materials. The program is made possible by American Rescue Plan Act youth funding through the City of Pueblo. To learn more, call 719-549-3245. This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Let's talk business: free help for Pueblo breast cancer patients Overseas talent coming to Hong Kong should consider picking up Mandarin as businesses flock to the city and the Greater Bay Area, according to recruitment consultants. Hong Kong has long used English as the main language to conduct business, but in recent times, there has been a notable uptick in the need for employees with Mandarin capabilities, according to Leslie Tang, head of client solutions in Greater China at Randstad, a recruitment agency. "While English is widely spoken in Hong Kong, foreigners need to put in the effort to learn Mandarin as a second or third language to lift communication barriers that may delay growth opportunities and social integration in the long run," said Tang. 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. A lot of talent in Hong Kong is already proficient in the English language, said Tang, noting that some fields like law, consulting and fintech require advanced English language skills. Chief Executive John Lee said dozens of companies have pledged to invest about HK$30 billion in Hong Kong. Photo: Edmond So alt=Chief Executive John Lee said dozens of companies have pledged to invest about HK$30 billion in Hong Kong. Photo: Edmond So> At the same time, a lot of new companies are expanding within the Greater Bay Area, and employees will need to know Mandarin as well, he added. More than 30 foreign and mainland Chinese companies have pledged to invest about HK$30 billion (US$3.83 billion) in Hong Kong, 80 per cent of which are from the mainland. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the companies that had made commitments spanned life sciences, biotech, fintech, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence and data science. "Five years ago, if we tried to recruit people from China to come to Hong Kong or elsewhere, they would all say no," said Jerry Chang, managing director at the recruiting firm Barons & Co. "But today, given the tough economic environment in China, mainlanders are more open to come to work in Hong Kong." Story continues There has been a shift in the mindset of mainland Chinese workers, and the support of the Hong Kong government through various special talent programmes has helped give a boost to hiring, said Chang. Across all schemes, including the Top Talent Pass Scheme and the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, more than 90 per cent of applicants approved were from mainland China, according to government data. About 47,000 mainland Chinese professionals have received work visas across five schemes from January to July, surpassing the 23,000 for the whole of 2018, according to official data. Hong Kong's super-connector role will provide talent with exposure to global opportunities, recruiters say. Photo: Yik Yeung-man alt=Hong Kong's super-connector role will provide talent with exposure to global opportunities, recruiters say. Photo: Yik Yeung-man> Going into 2024, demand for talent in finance, technology and science will continue to be high, according to Karen Ng, the regional head at Deel, a human resources platform. "The talent will be able to take advantage of remote working, while Hong Kong's super-connector role will provide them with exposure to global opportunities," said Ng. "We anticipate that this will become a more popular option for talent to forge their career path internationally from Hong Kong as a base." The rise of the digital asset space has also led to a resurgence in demand for tech-savvy talent. In June, Hong Kong introduced a new regulatory regime for cryptocurrencies in a bid to become a hub for virtual assets. In anticipation of the new regulations, more than 80 companies from mainland China and abroad had earlier expressed interest in setting up Web3 businesses in Hong Kong. "As companies flock to Hong Kong to take advantage of local market prospects, there comes a higher expectation for professionals with the right specialised skills and knowledge to strengthen their companies' capabilities," said Randstad's Tang. Hiring managers are also seeking talent with digital skills, he added. This is part of the global effort to digitalise processes within organisations to improve data analytics and improve efficiency. Industries like construction, supply chain, infrastructure and hospitality will also see a demand for talent, according to Tang. These industries will be driven by post-Covid demand and resumption of infrastructure projects to improve connectivity within the Greater Bay Area. 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. The United Auto Workers Local 551 headquarters in Hegewisch brimmed with red shirts and picket signs Saturday afternoon as hundreds of union members, leaders and allies rallied outside Fords Chicago assembly plant as thousands of autoworkers across the country enter their fourth week of strike. Today is about the fabric of the working class, and the autoworkers are a big piece of that, said UAW President Shawn Fain. We all, the working class, we are the ones who make the world run. Not the billionaire class. But the working class ... weve been left behind. Its not some executive that owns our future. We own the future, working class people from all walks of life. Fains visit took place hot on the heels of 4,600 striking workers walking off the job last week at the century-old Torrence Avenue plant on the citys Southeast Side. Morale was only uplifted by the presence of several local figures such as Mayor Brandon Johnson, Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. and Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates. This fight is about unraveling a system of inequities, Johnson said, highlighting the interconnectedness of labor struggles across industries. This is about unraveling a system of disparities. This is about unraveling a system that wants to pit workers against workers. Were not going to stand for it, are we? Others supporting the strike on Saturday included President of the Association of Flight Attendants Sara Nelson, Chairperson of the Kilusang Mayo Uno of the Philippines Elmer Ka Bong Labog, several Chicago public school teachers and other local members from the Service Employees International Union. Right here, in this room, I see every gender, race, color and creed, Nelson said. We are the working class and we are building up the power ... and we are going to wreck the billionaire economy and build up our own. Spirits ran high after Fain announced a negotiation victory to members on Friday: plans to strike against the General Motors Arlington Assembly plant in Texas had been called off when the automaker agreed to cover EV battery workers under the labor agreement. Story continues The future of this industry were not against a green economy its got to be a just transition for the working class. It cant be a race to the bottom, Fain said at a later news conference, surrounded by picketing members next to Fords SHO Center and Sequencing Centers just northeast of the assembly plant. Cars drove by, honking in support. So it was a huge move yesterday, and now we got to lock it down with the other two companies. Theyre going to follow suit, one way or the other. We can do it the easy way or we can do it the hard way. The union is seeking a new four-year agreement with the Big Three automakers General Motors, Ford and Stellantis for its 146,000 members across the country after the previous contract expired Sept. 15. Since then, the UAW has been striking against the three automakers, or the Big Three, for the first time in its 88-year history. Now 43 facilities in 21 states and 25,000 members are participating in the strike. Since Sept. 30, Ford has laid off hundreds of nonstriking workers across regional facilities in Chicago Heights and in other states like Ohio and Michigan. Were on strike right now because the companies chose not to take care of their workers, Fain said. So shame on them for abusing the strike and using the strike as an excuse to put more people out of work. Some of UAWs demands for the new contract include pay increases, shorter workweeks, and improvements to retiree pensions and health care plans as the Big Three report record profits. Fain said the new agreement is an effort to undo years of sacrifice by autoworkers. We want our members to get everything they deserve, and every bit of economic and social justice we can get delivered. So were going to do everything we have to do and were going to continue this fight, Fain pointed to a kid standing next to him, the son of a longtime Ford employee. That is the beauty of this, is our members and future generations are standing up. Thats what this is about. Marquel, 5, often accompanies his father Matthew Rowe-Ocampo, 31, to union events. Saturday was no different. The Merrillville, Indiana, resident has worked at Fords diversity and inclusion department for 12 years now and is an alternate district representative at UAW Local 551. Im feeling great, Rowe-Ocampo said. Were just ready to see what the company is offering. The reason my son came to support is because he says, My dad deserves more money. And he deserves more toys. We want to be able to pay our bills and everything else, just like the CEOs do. Before him, Rowe-Ocampos father and grandfather also worked at Fords Chicago Assembly Plant. He carries what he learned from them into his work, both at the company and the union. One thing that my family has always taught me, especially working here at Ford, was to speak my mind and if I have personal feelings about something to speak out about it, Rowe-Ocampo said. And the company should respect it, because we respect this company. Its our livelihood. adperez@chicagotribune.com Chicago became the largest U.S. city to independently phase out the subminimum wage for tipped workers on Friday, a step celebrity chef Rick Bayless said the city needed to take for the greater good. Bayless supported the legislation, which passed by vote of 36-10, but not without reservations. He worries it could deepen the pay disparity between well-paid front-of-house workers who will be getting raises and their counterparts in the kitchen, who have always taken home less money because they dont collect tips. And alarm raised by restaurant owners about the impact higher labor costs will have on their bottom lines and on menu prices is not just noise, said Bayless, whose Chicago restaurants include Frontera Grill and Topolobampo. A lot of people look at (the) restaurant world and say, Well just pay them more, Bayless said. But it is a zero sum game. Still, the chef, who implemented a service fee in his full-service Chicago restaurants during summer 2020 and now pays servers at Frontera and Topolobampo at least $25 an hour, said the phaseout is necessary. While servers at high-end downtown restaurants can make a lucrative living off of tips, he said, many waitstaff at smaller neighborhood restaurants are just getting by. We have to ensure that everybody whos waiting tables in all the restaurants, no matter whether theyre high-profile or your local diner, he said, that theyre being taken care of. Under existing law, Chicago bars and restaurants can pay tipped workers, such as servers and bartenders, $9.48 an hour, 60% of the full minimum wage of $15.80. If workers gratuities do not float their hourly wages above the full minimum wage, restaurants are required to make up the difference, although advocates argue that doesnt always happen. Under the new law, the gap between the tipped and full minimum wages will shrink 8% each year until the tipped and full minimum wages reach parity in 2028. Supporters of the legislation say that working for tips keeps restaurant workers wages unpredictable and leaves them vulnerable to customer harassment and racial biases. Opponents, including the Illinois Restaurant Association, say the measure will cause restaurants skating by on already notoriously thin margins to cut staff, raise menu prices and close down. Story continues An earlier version of the proposal would have phased out the subminimum wage over two years instead of five; in a statement, the restaurant association referred to the final deal as a compromise we can accept. One Fair Wage, a nonprofit organization advocating to eliminate the subminimum wage around the country, estimates about 100,000 tipped workers in Chicago will be impacted. The restaurant association estimates there are more than 7,000 food service providers, including bars and restaurants, across the city. The question moving forward will be what impact the new measure has on their bottom lines. I just dont want to be the guinea pig, said Alexis Pavlatos, an attorney who moonlights as a bartender on busy Friday and Saturday nights at Good Night John Boy in the West Loop and Benchmark Chicago in Old Town. Pavlatos said she often makes around $60 an hour, the vast majority of which is made up of tips, and hopes patrons wont tip less as a result of the legislation. If her tips go down significantly, Pavlatos said, she may stop bartending. Im just a little bit nervous, she said. Were talking about a portion of the population that generally works for lower wages in an industry that generally does not provide things like health insurance, paid vacation, sick days, lots of other perks that almost every other industry does provide for their employees, said Will Stahl, a veteran bartender who supported the legislation. Eliminating the subminimum wage, Stahl said, was the ethically correct thing to do. Some restaurant owners, reeling from years of pandemic pain, say its not so simple. The legislation purports to help tipped workers, but its not, because its putting the restaurants they work at at risk, said Michelle Durpetti, managing partner of Gene & Georgetti in River North. Durpetti estimated that paying the full minimum wage could cost the steakhouse upward of $250,000 a year, and said everything is on the table: raising menu prices, implementing a service fee and even closing. This is going to force restaurants to dramatically cut costs or raise prices. Everything is going to have drama to it, she said. Restaurants have been falsely inexpensive for a really long time, said Zoe Schor, chef and owner at Split-Rail in Ukrainian Village, who supports removing the subminimum wage. Diners at Split-Rail pay a 20% service fee that goes to hourly wages for staff, which start at $18 an hour, as well as benefits such as health care for full-time employees. Split-Rail also offers paid vacation time and a 401(k) match for staff whove worked there more than a year. As a very small, very scrappy independent restaurant owner I will say simply if you cant figure out how to pay people a living wage and stay open, then maybe you cant stay open, Schor said. Los Angeles already bans the practice of paying tipped staff less than the regular minimum wage, but does so under California state law. Alaska, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington also require servers to be paid a full minimum wage. Washington, D.C., residents voted to phase out the subminimum wage last year. A legal battle over a phaseout of the subminimum wage is ongoing in Michigan courts. With the eyes of the hospitality industry on Chicago, One Fair Wage is eyeing new targets. President Saru Jayaraman said the organization has spoken with several Cook County commissioners on the issue, and said legislation would be moving in Puerto Rico and nine states, including Illinois, come January. At a news conference Tuesday, Ald. Michael Rodriguez, 22nd, described the Chicago vote as one giant step toward the goal of eliminating the subminimum wage across the U.S. The Illinois Restaurant Association and One Fair Wage cite dueling data about how workers and restaurants have fared in states that have eliminated the subminimum wage. There is a lot of uncertainty, said Michael Lynn, a professor of consumer behavior and marketing at Cornells School of Hotel Administration, who studies tipping. You have to let it play out and see. Lynn said research shows that in states with no subminimum wage for tipped workers, consumers do tip less but not a whole lot less. The impact on diner demand is also not clear-cut, though Lynn said demand in Chicago will likely go down in the short term, before customers adjust to higher prices and demand eventually builds back up. If restaurants raise menu prices 15% in an effort to pay the higher wages now required by law, people who typically tip less than 15% would experience a price hike, Lynn said. Customers who usually tip more than 15% would experience a price drop, although they are the diners who tend to be less sensitive to price in the first place. At the same time, people tend to focus on the biggest most salient price and tend to ignore all the surcharges, unless you start surcharging them to death, which many restaurants have started to do, Lynn said. Demand will go down because diners are going to feel like prices went up, agreed Jean-Pierre Dube, a professor of marketing at the University of Chicagos Booth School of Business. That demand will not necessarily bounce back, he said. Dube speculated diners wouldnt be discouraged from going to restaurants in the first place, but that theyd order fewer dishes and less expensive ones when they do. Michael Roper, owner of Uptown brewpub Hopleaf, estimates that increasing hourly wages to $15.80 per hour will cost the restaurant between $78,000 and $104,000 a year. Fewer than a third of his tipped employees make the subminimum wage as their hourly base rate, he said; the rest make in between the subminimum and general minimum wage. Hopleaf will need to make up that difference by cutting staff and raising prices, he said. You dont want to cut so many people that service suffers, Roper said. But you also, you know, cant afford to have somebody making $15 to $16 an hour who isnt busy. The reality is, he said, we arent as busy as we were a few years ago. In a restaurant association survey of a few hundred Chicago restaurant operators, 80% said they would likely raise menu prices in response to the elimination of the subminimum wage, while two-thirds said theyd reduce staff or consolidate positions. A quarter said they would change their service model to include more quick service or counter service. One Fair Wage and its allies argue that the subminimum wage leaves tipped workers vulnerable to exploitation. A city-commissioned report of tipped workers done by researchers at the University of Illinois and at the University of Chicagos Booth School, which recommends the end of the subminimum wage, found close to 80% of workers had been required to work off the clock in the month prior to the survey, while more than half reported being illegally required to share tips with their managers during the week prior to the survey. Tina Hines works as a bartender and shift lead at Reno, a restaurant and wine bar in Logan Square. Tips at the restaurant are pooled, and Hines hourly wage and share of the tip pool depend upon what role shes filling on a given shift. On a slow day, she might make around $27 an hour. On a busy shift, she can earn closer to $50 an hour. She made about $50,000 last year. Shes grateful management at Reno is transparent with its staff, she said. But she knows plenty of people who have worked for bars or restaurants that arent as transparent about tips, meaning theyre never quite sure if theyre taking home what theyre entitled to. Its for that reason, she said, that she supports the legislation, even though she thinks its possible some people may tip less. The new paradigm will ease some of the sort of opaque, weird, shady stuff that can go on behind managements closed doors in the restaurant industry, she said. On Thursday afternoon in restaurant mecca Fulton Market, many Chicagoans who spoke with the Tribune said they werent familiar with the tip legislation, or were only vaguely aware of it. Emily Patton, a 26-year-old Wicker Park resident, waited to lunch outside Beatrix with her mother, who was visiting from out of town. To me it makes sense to get them up to the same level, said Patton, who said she typically tips 20% at restaurants. Would she tip less if she knew restaurant workers were earning more per hour? I dont think so, Patton said. Just behaviorally, its so set. An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the gap between the tipped and minimum wages was 60%. The gap at time of publication was 40%. SmartAsset: How Are Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) Taxed? Restricted stock units (RSUs) are a form of equity compensation that companies often grant to employees as part of their overall compensation packages. The taxation of RSUs in the United States is subject to specific rules, and the timing and amount of taxes owed can vary based on several factors. Heres what you need to know. A financial advisor can walk you through different RSU requirements, including vesting, taxes and other costs. How Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) Work RSUs are a form of compensation that companies use to incentivize employees. The process begins when a company grants RSUs to an employee. At this stage, the employee does not own the actual shares but rather a right to receive them in the future. RSUs are often subject to a vesting period, which specifies the conditions that must be met for the RSUs to vest or become fully owned by the employee. Vesting conditions can include: Time-based vesting: RSUs vest over a specified period, such as three years. For example, an RSU grant might vest 33% each year over three years. Performance-based vesting: RSUs may vest based on the achievement of specific performance goals, such as hitting revenue targets or increasing the companys stock price. Milestone-based vesting: Vesting may occur upon the completion of certain corporate events, such as an acquisition or IPO. Once the RSUs have vested according to the established conditions, they convert into actual shares of company stock. At this point, the employee becomes a shareholder and has the rights and privileges associated with stock ownership, such as voting rights and the potential for dividend payments. RSUs vs. Stock Options SmartAsset: How Are Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) Taxed? Employees usually face a choice between two types of equity compensation: RSUs and stock options. Here are five common areas in which both types of assets differ: 1. Grant and Ownership: RSUs: RSUs represent a promise from the employer to give employees a specific number of company shares once certain vesting conditions are met. When RSUs vest, employees receive actual shares of company stock and become shareholders. Stock Options: Stock options grant employees the right to purchase a specified number of company shares at a predetermined price, known as the exercise price or strike price. Employees do not own the shares outright; instead, they have the option to buy them at a later date. Story continues 2. Vesting: RSUs: RSUs are often subject to vesting schedules, typically based on time or performance conditions. Once the RSUs vest, employees receive the shares as part of their compensation. Stock options: Stock options may also be subject to vesting, but the vesting typically applies to the right to exercise the options rather than ownership of the shares themselves. Once options vest, employees can choose to exercise them, purchasing the underlying shares at the predetermined price. 3. Taxation: RSUs: RSUs are generally taxed as ordinary income at the time of vesting based on the fair market value of the shares on that date. Employees are responsible for paying income tax (and employment taxes) on the value of the vested RSUs. Any subsequent capital gains from selling the shares are taxed as capital gains. Stock options: Taxation is quite complicated and depends on the type of options granted and timing. Incentive stock options (ISOs) do not tax employees upon exercise, but they may face an alternative minimum tax (AMT). Non-qualified stock options (NQSOs), on the other hand, are taxed as ordinary income when exercised. This is based on the difference between the fair market value of the shares and the exercise price (the spread). 4. Risk and Reward: RSUs: RSUs have no upfront cost (other than taxes) for employees, but they are subject to market risk. If the share value declines after vesting, employees suffer capital losses. Stock options: Stock options give employees the potential for significant gains if the stock price rises above the exercise price. However, employees must pay to exercise the options and may incur a financial loss if the stock price falls below the exercise price. 5. Dilution: RSUs: RSUs can lead to dilution of existing shareholders when they vest and result in the issuance of new shares. Stock options: Stock options do not result in dilution until they are exercised. When options are exercised, new shares are issued. How to Report RSUs on Your Taxes Heres a general guide on how to report RSUs on your taxes: Gather relevant documents: Collect all necessary documents related to your RSUs, including your Form W-2 (if applicable), Form 1099-B and any statements or documents provided by your employer or brokerage. Determine your vesting date: Identify the vesting date or dates when your RSUs became fully owned by you. This is the date when the value of the RSUs is considered taxable income. Calculate your taxable income: Determine the fair market value of the vested RSUs on the vesting date(s). This value is typically reported on your Form W-2 if the RSUs are granted by your employer. If not, you may need to obtain this information from your employer or brokerage. Report on Form 1040: Report the income from your RSUs on your annual federal income tax return, specifically on Form 1040. Use the income reported on your Form W-2 or other relevant tax documents. If the income is not reported on a W-2, report it on the appropriate line for Other Income on your tax return. ( A note for contractors or non-employees: You will see the RSU included in your 1099-NEC income. Report it as you would with any other similar income.) Include state taxes: If your state imposes income taxes, report your RSU income on your state tax return as well. The reporting process may vary depending on your states tax laws. Review withholding and estimated payments: Check your withholding status and the amount of taxes withheld by your employer or brokerage when the RSUs vested. Make sure that the withholding is sufficient to cover the tax liability associated with your RSUs. If not, you may need to make estimated tax payments to avoid penalties. Consider deductions and credits: Explore potential deductions and tax credits that may be available to you. Some deductions or credits may offset the tax liability associated with your RSUs. Note: Taxes can get complicated. So it may be to your benefit to contact a tax professional. Bottom Line SmartAsset: How Are Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) Taxed? RSUs have become a popular form of equity compensation, especially in the technology and startup industries. They offer employees a stake in the companys success and align their interests with the companys performance. However, its essential for employees to understand the terms of their RSU grants, including vesting schedules and taxation, to make informed decisions about their stock compensation. Tax Tips for Employees If you have complex RSU transactions, multiple grants, or are unsure about how to report RSUs on your taxes, consult a financial advisor. Finding a financial advisor doesnt 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 youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Vesting doesnt give an employee unrestricted access to benefits. For example, employees age 59.5 who withdraw from 401(k) plans may owe penalties on those distributions. And they may have to wait several months after an initial public offering to sell even fully vested shares and stock options. Photo credit: iStock.com/opolja, iStock.com/SrdjanPav, iStock.com/Pekic The post How Are Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) Taxed? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset. Pfizer Inc.'s (NYSE:PFE) investors are due to receive a payment of $0.41 per share on 4th of December. This makes the dividend yield 5.0%, which will augment investor returns quite nicely. View our latest analysis for Pfizer Pfizer's Earnings Easily Cover The Distributions While it is great to have a strong dividend yield, we should also consider whether the payment is sustainable. Pfizer was earning enough to cover the previous dividend, but it was paying out quite a large proportion of its free cash flows. By paying out so much of its cash flows, this could indicate that the company has limited opportunities for investment and growth. Over the next year, EPS is forecast to fall by 16.7%. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we believe the payout ratio could be 55%, which we are pretty comfortable with and we think is feasible on an earnings basis. Pfizer Has A Solid Track Record The company has a sustained record of paying dividends with very little fluctuation. The dividend has gone from an annual total of $0.88 in 2013 to the most recent total annual payment of $1.64. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 6.4% a year over that time. The growth of the dividend has been pretty reliable, so we think this can offer investors some nice additional income in their portfolio. Pfizer May Find It Hard To Grow The Dividend Some investors will be chomping at the bit to buy some of the company's stock based on its dividend history. However, Pfizer's EPS was effectively flat over the past five years, which could stop the company from paying more every year. The company has been growing at a pretty soft 0.04% per annum, and is paying out quite a lot of its earnings to shareholders. This isn't necessarily bad, but we wouldn't expect rapid dividend growth in the future. Our Thoughts On Pfizer's Dividend In summary, while it's good to see that the dividend hasn't been cut, we are a bit cautious about Pfizer's payments, as there could be some issues with sustaining them into the future. The company hasn't been paying a very consistent dividend over time, despite only paying out a small portion of earnings. Overall, we don't think this company has the makings of a good income stock. Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. As an example, we've identified 1 warning sign for Pfizer that you should be aware of before investing. Is Pfizer not quite the opportunity you were looking for? Why not check out our selection of top 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. Rishi Sunak was forced to defend his use of private planes in July - Simon Dawson/10 Downing Street Demand for private jets is tailing off among the super-rich as the markets pandemic boom comes to an end. A tightening of belts and increased environmental scrutiny has led to a 6pc annual drop-off in the delivery of private jets, industry figures seen by The Telegraph show. Sales in the private jet market are still forecast to be 13pc ahead of pre-pandemic levels, but there is a growing belief the market may have topped out. In August this year, there were 30 private jets delivered, down from 36 a year earlier. This comes after demand for private jets soared during Covid, as the wealthy spent huge sums of cash to steer clear of crowds across busy airports opting instead for a quicker and cleaner form of travel. However, the rise in popularity of private jets has sparked criticism from environmental campaigners, who have raised concerns over their carbon footprints. Rishi Sunak was forced to defend his use of private planes in July, but he said it was the most efficient use of his time. Earlier this year, Greenpeace found that private jets emitted a total of 5.3 million tonnes of CO2 in the last three years. Heightened scrutiny has led to a clampdown from countries across the EU, as Austria, France and the Netherlands all urged Brussels to curb the impact of private jet travel on the climate. In spring, Amsterdams Schiphol airport announced plans to ban private jets, while France has restricted short-haul flights that could otherwise be taken by train. The use of private jets in Britain has soared by 75pc in recent years, with a flight taking off every six minutes from a UK airport last year, according to research conducted by Dutch environmental consultancy CE Delft. In 2022, there were 90,256 flights from Britain, which was more than any other European country. Three of the most popular destinations were Nice, Paris and Geneva. John Strickland, an aviation expert and former airline executive, said: Companies and individuals are increasingly conscious of their own carbon footprint and are trying to show they are doing something about it. Story continues However, those in defence of the sector point to the fact that global air travel accounts for an estimated 2pc of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions, with private jets making up just 0.04pc. Richard Koe, managing director of private jet consultancy WingX, said: Environmental issues tend to play big in discussion but arent significant in terms of aircraft purchases and utilisation, especially in North America. The biggest threat to the industry is further macro turbulence, particularly financial crises such as the regional banking flare-up earlier this year. 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. The most you can lose on any stock (assuming you don't use leverage) is 100% of your money. But when you pick a company that is really flourishing, you can make more than 100%. For instance the AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER) share price is 119% higher than it was three years ago. That sort of return is as solid as granite. The last week saw the share price soften some 3.0%. In light of the stock dropping 3.0% in the past week, we want to investigate the longer term story, and see if fundamentals have been the driver of the company's positive three-year return. See our latest analysis for AerCap Holdings To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. AerCap Holdings became profitable within the last three years. Given the importance of this milestone, it's not overly surprising that the share price has increased strongly. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). We know that AerCap Holdings has improved its bottom line lately, but is it going to grow revenue? If you're interested, you could check this free report showing consensus revenue forecasts. A Different Perspective It's good to see that AerCap Holdings has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 29% in the last twelve months. That's better than the annualised return of 3% over half a decade, implying that the company is doing better recently. Given the share price momentum remains strong, it might be worth taking a closer look at the stock, lest you miss an opportunity. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with AerCap Holdings , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. Story continues If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 'The Roth absolutely, mathematically kicks the traditional's butt': Why Dave Ramsey touts this one IRA account over the other is it the 'smart move' for your dream retirement? When it comes to saving for retirement, there are all kinds of options to store (and grow) your funds. Just trying to pick one can feel overwhelming when the stakes seem so high. Enter Dave Ramsey, a personal finance pundit who's not one to mince his words or fall back on highfalutin' financial jargon. Jane from Kalamzoo, Michigan recently called into The Ramsey show to get the personality's input on Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) specifically which of the two types is superior for saving. Don't miss Commercial real estate has outperformed the S&P 500 over 25 years. Here's how to diversify your portfolio without the headache of being a landlord Rich young Americans have lost confidence in the stock market and are betting on these 3 assets instead. Get in now for strong long-term tailwinds A natural way to diversify': Janet Yellen now says Americans should expect a decline in the USD as the world's reserve currency 3 ways you can prepare "The Roth absolutely, mathematically kicks the traditional's butt," Ramsey told Jane during the episode. "There's no way that the traditional even comes close. If you're considering putting your hard-earned money in an IRA to save for your golden years, there are a couple important equations to work out. Here's how Ramseys Roth logic works out in practical terms. Crunching the numbers To make his point, Ramsey used a hypothetical scenario where a 25 year old puts $200 a month in a retirement account for 40 years. That adds up to $96,000 in contributions, which in theory could shoot up to $2.5 million in a decent growth stock fund. When the IRS comes knocking, the traditional IRA holder who took deductions upfront will be taxed on the full amount, minus $96K while the Roth holder, who instead paid taxes upfront, owes Uncle Sam nothing. He wondered: If someone who made $130 put $100 after taxes into a Roth IRA, would they be better or worse off than the person who put the full $130 into a traditional? Story continues That's an apples-to-apples comparison, Ramsey noted, "but here's the problem with that: That's not what people do." That is, $100 feels like $100 to the typical wage earner whether it's before or after taxes. For Ramsey, its the psychology that helps the Roth work its financial magic as much as anything else. We cheat you, he quipped. We trick you into saving more. Read more: Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now use $100 to cash in on prime real estate without the headache of being a landlord. Here's how A question of tax brackets Lets say a 25 year old who makes an adjusted gross income of $50,000 annually contributes $6,500 a year to a Roth IRA and increases future contributions to the maximum allowed. Assuming a 7% rate of return, and a tax rate that jumps from 24% to 28% in retirement, the Roth may be worth $176,000 more than a traditional: roughly $1,415,000 versus $1,239,000. Now lets assume that youre worried about whether youll be in a lower tax bracket when you retire. In that instance, the Roths advantages begin to narrow. Flipping the tax rates to 28% pre-retirement and 24% in retirement, youll come out ahead by just $100,000 and at somewhere around 33% pre and 19% post, youd break even. Ramsey agrees that for the traditional IRA to work out over the Roth, you have to be in a dramatically lower tax bracket at retirement. That was the case for Jane, who told him that she belonged to a much higher one during her working years. But now that she's retired, Jane is having her financial adviser gradually transfer the money from her traditional account into a Roth to keep her "in a very low tax bracket" to which Ramsey replied: "That is a smart move." If these numbers still dont add up for you, its never a bad idea to call in a professional financial adviser to help you choose which option is best for your retirement plans. No matter how old you are or what account you choose, Ramseys advice on prepping for retirement can be boiled down to one simple message: Shut your butt up and save. What to read next Worried about the economy? Here are the best shock-proof assets for your portfolio. (Theyre all outside of the stock market.) Rising prices are throwing off Americans' retirement plans here's how to get your savings back on track Jeff Bezos and Oprah Winfrey invest in this asset to keep their wealth safe you may want to do the same in 2023 This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Those following along with Supreme Plc (LON:SUP) will no doubt be intrigued by the recent purchase of shares by Sandeep Chadha, CEO & Director of the company, who spent a stonking UK485k on stock at an average price of UK1.24. While that only increased their holding size by 0.6%, it is still a big swing by our standards. View our latest analysis for Supreme The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Supreme In fact, the recent purchase by Sandeep Chadha was the biggest purchase of Supreme shares made by an insider individual in the last twelve months, according to our records. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being UK1.09). It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price. In the last twelve months Supreme insiders were buying shares, but not selling. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. So if that suits your style you could check each stock one by one or you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Insider Ownership Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Supreme insiders own about UK43m worth of shares. That equates to 34% of the company. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders. Story continues So What Do The Supreme Insider Transactions Indicate? It is good to see the recent insider purchase. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. Insiders likely see value in Supreme shares, given these transactions (along with notable insider ownership of the company). In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Supreme. Case in point: We've spotted 3 warning signs for Supreme 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. FILE PHOTO: The OPEC logo pictured ahead of an informal meeting between members in Algiers (Reuters) - Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates reaffirmed their commitment to "collective and individual voluntary adjustments" to oil production, the Saudi state news agency said on Sunday. The oil ministers of the six countries met on the sidelines of the U.N. MENA climate week event in Riyadh on Sunday. "Furthermore, the ministers reiterated the willingness of the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) countries to take additional measures at any time in their continued efforts to support market stability, building on the strong cohesion of the OPEC plus," Saudi state news agency SPA said. OPEC+ agreed in June to extend voluntary oil cuts first introduced in April until the end of 2024. Additional voluntary cuts by Saudi Arabia and Russia extend to the end of 2023 and are subject to monthly review. Ministers from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies led by Russia, known as OPEC+, on Wednesday made no changes to the group's oil output policy, after Saudi Arabia and Russia said they would keep voluntary supply cuts in place to support the market. (Reporting by Hatem Maher; Editing by Ros Russell) The governments of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran appeared to blame Israel for its escalating conflict with Hamas on Saturday. The Palestinian militant group launched a mass attack on Israeli forces and settlements, killing at least 250 people in Israel and 232 in Gaza early Saturday, according to Israeli local media and the Palestinian government. While leaders in the U.S. and Europe quickly denounced the attack and gave support for Israel, the three Middle Eastern nations criticized the country over its treatment of Palestinians. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is closely following the developments of the unprecedented situation between a number of Palestinian factions and the Israeli occupation forces, which has resulted in a high level of violence on several fronts there, the countrys Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The Kingdom recalls its repeated warnings of the dangers of the explosion of the situation as a result of the continued occupation, and deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights, and the repetition of systematic provocations against its sanctities, the statement continues. The condemnation comes as both the Israeli and Saudi governments have attempted to normalize relations in recent years, at the encouragement of the U.S. A senior Iranian government adviser explicitly endorsed Hamas in the conflict, the most direct support for the militant group from any government official globally. We congratulate the Palestinian fighters, adviser Yahya Rahim Safavi said, according to state media via Reuters. We will stand by the Palestinian fighters until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem. Iran state media showed video of parliament members chanting in support of Hamas on Saturday, saying Death to Israel and Palestine is victorious, Israel will be destroyed. Iran has funded and supplied Hamas for years as part of its decades-long conflict with Israel. Story continues The Qatari Foreign Ministry also blamed Israel for the violence. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs holds Israel alone responsible for the current escalation due to this ongoing violations of the rights of the Palestinian people, the latest of which is the repeated raids on the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque under of the protection of Israeli police, the ministry said in a statement. Violence erupted at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem in April, a holy place for the Muslim faith. In multiple days of fighting, Israeli police raided the mosque and arrested dozens of worshipers. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the conflict a war in a public address early Saturday. The U.S. has vowed to support Israel, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin saying the government will ensure the country has what it needs to defend itself. Updated 4:03 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. FILE PHOTO: Signage is seen outside of a Metro Bank in London By Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro and Amy-Jo Crowley LONDON (Reuters) - British specialist lender Shawbrook made an offer for rival Co-op Bank and is weighing a fresh bid for embattled Metro Bank, people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Sunday. Shawbrook, backed by private equity groups BC Partners and Pollen Street, tabled an indicative bid for Co-op in recent days, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Separately, Shawbrook is considering a potential new bid for London-listed Metro Bank after several failed approaches earlier in the year, the sources said. There is no certainty that a transaction will materialise, they cautioned. Shawbrook, Pollen Street and Co-op Bank declined to comment. BC Partners and Metro Bank could not immediately be reached for comment. Metro Bank has seen its shares tumble after news emerged that it had hired advisers to shore up its balance sheet after failing to gain key capital relief from banking regulators. The bank has been exploring options to raise up to 600 million pounds ($734.28 million) of capital through equity and debt injections and asset sales. Britain's Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) is sounding out buyers over the weekend in hopes of finding a solution for ailing Metro Bank before markets open on Monday morning. For Shawbrook, an acquisition of either Co-op or Metro Bank would give it greater scale as well as access to current deposit accounts, a cheaper source of funding for its loans than savings. Reuters previously reported that Co-op Bank's owners had set an early October deadline for suitors. ($1 = 0.8171 pounds) (Reporting by Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro and Amy-Jo Crowley; additional reporting by Iain Whithers; Editing by Ros Russell) Jack DeWitt had a big idea, but it started small. He was born in 1911. His parents, Dingeman DeWitt and Tryntje Elhardt, emigrated with their families from the Netherlands and settled in Grand Rapids in 1892. After they married, Dingeman worked in a furniture factory. Possibly with the encouragement of Tryntje, who came from a farming family, Dingeman decided to try farming. Even though he knew nothing about it, he rented farmland on both the east and west side of Grand Rapids and sold his fruits and vegetables at the Leonard Street Market. Later, Dingeman changed his mind. In 1918, he and Tryntje and their seven children, including Jack, moved to the village of New Groningen on the west side of Zeeland, so that Dingeman could join Trintje's brother, Jacob Elhardt, at the Riverview Dairy. There, Dingeman became the principal owner. Steve VanderVeen But Dingeman still had farming in his heart. So, in 1921, he sold the Riverview Dairy to Bert Schuiteman and bought an 80-acre fruit farm in Allegan County between Holland and Saugatuck. Jack's brother, Ben, didn't make the move because he fell in love, got married, and moved to Zeeland, where he took a job at Wolverine Hatchery. Meanwhile, Jack and a younger brother, Dick, remained on the farm. Farm life in those days was austere. Cooking was done over a wood-fired stove. Burning coal provided heat for the home; kerosene lamps provided light. A hand-pump brought water from an outdoor well. An outhouse served as the bathroom. A scrub-board was the washing machine. Horses and horse-drawn wagons supplemented the automobile. Rural school life was equally austere. Students from the first to eighth grades attended in the same one-room building. In this setting, Jack took the seventh and eighth grades together. At age 13, Jack attended high school at Hope Preparatory School, a tuition-based school affiliated with Hope College. Because many of the students at that time lived on farms, school days lasted only through the morning, so the students could go home to do chores. Story continues When Jack was 14, his father passed away. That meant Jack stayed home to work on the farm. But in 1929, when he was 18 and thinking he might become a teacher like his sister Mary, he attended Hope College with financial help from a relative. Even with financial help, Jack still worked on the farm and at Van's Oil Company, which operated a gas station on the corner of Eighth Street and Chicago Drive. At Hope, Jack was a member of the Emerson Fraternity, which occupied a house where the Herrick District Library is today. Jack graduated from Hope College in 1932. Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage After graduation, which happened for Jack at the beginning of the Great Depression, Jack leased a service station on the corner of Washington Street and Franklin Avenue in Zeeland, where his brother Dick helped him by pumping gas. But that venture lasted less than a year. During the following summer, Jack worked on the family farm. Then he got a job working with Pete Bos, who owned a portable feed-grinding machine, which Jack hauled from farm to farm. Jack's next job was with Valley City Milling Company, which operated a warehouse along the railroad track in downtown Holland, where Freedom Village is today. There, Jack unloaded grain bags from train cars and sold them to local farmers. Business was slow. Zeeland Baby Chick Center Then, in 1935, Jack and his brother Ben joined Zeelands booming hatchery business by forming the DeWitt Utility Hatchery on East Lincoln Street, just west of the cemetery. In 1936, after completing a four-year tour in the Navy, their brother Dick joined them, contributing his $500 in savings to the business. With their meager profits and Dicks savings the DeWitt brothers moved their operation to the service station building at the corner of Washington and Franklin, which Jack had previously leased. There, the brothers installed a used coal-fired incubator, which they had purchased from Janssen Farms, which was then switching to the more efficient electric models. Jack also left his job at the feed warehouse in Holland, bought a better car, and moved in with Ben. To make money during the off-season, the DeWitts sold electric incubators on commission. Ben would travel throughout Michigan and Indiana, and Jack in Ohio. Ironically, they still couldn't afford to purchase the incubators they were selling on commission. More next week. Steve VanderVeen is a resident of Holland. His book, "The Holland Area's First Entrepreneurs," is coming soon. You may reach him at skvveen@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland History: The childhood and teen years of Jack DeWitt Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad (KLSE:KSENG) stock is about to trade ex-dividend in 3 days. The ex-dividend date is one business day before a company's record date, which is the date on which the company determines which shareholders are entitled to receive a dividend. The ex-dividend date is an important date to be aware of as any purchase of the stock made on or after this date might mean a late settlement that doesn't show on the record date. Meaning, you will need to purchase Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad's shares before the 12th of October to receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 26th of October. The company's next dividend payment will be RM0.05 per share, and in the last 12 months, the company paid a total of RM0.14 per share. Looking at the last 12 months of distributions, Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad has a trailing yield of approximately 3.3% on its current stock price of MYR4.23. Dividends are a major contributor to investment returns for long term holders, but only if the dividend continues to be paid. So we need to investigate whether Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad can afford its dividend, and if the dividend could grow. View our latest analysis for Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad Dividends are usually paid out of company profits, so if a company pays out more than it earned then its dividend is usually at greater risk of being cut. Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad has a low and conservative payout ratio of just 24% of its income after tax. Yet cash flow is typically more important than profit for assessing dividend sustainability, so we should always check if the company generated enough cash to afford its dividend. It paid out 25% of its free cash flow as dividends last year, which is conservatively low. It's positive to see that Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad's dividend is covered by both profits and cash flow, since this is generally a sign that the dividend is sustainable, and a lower payout ratio usually suggests a greater margin of safety before the dividend gets cut. Story continues Click here to see how much of its profit Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad paid out over the last 12 months. Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? Stocks in companies that generate sustainable earnings growth often make the best dividend prospects, as it is easier to lift the dividend when earnings are rising. If earnings decline and the company is forced to cut its dividend, investors could watch the value of their investment go up in smoke. That's why it's comforting to see Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad's earnings have been skyrocketing, up 56% per annum for the past five years. Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad looks like a real growth company, with earnings per share growing at a cracking pace and the company reinvesting most of its profits in the business. Many investors will assess a company's dividend performance by evaluating how much the dividend payments have changed over time. Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad has delivered an average of 3.4% per year annual increase in its dividend, based on the past 10 years of dividend payments. It's good to see both earnings and the dividend have improved - although the former has been rising much quicker than the latter, possibly due to the company reinvesting more of its profits in growth. The Bottom Line Is Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad worth buying for its dividend? It's great that Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad is growing earnings per share while simultaneously paying out a low percentage of both its earnings and cash flow. It's disappointing to see the dividend has been cut at least once in the past, but as things stand now, the low payout ratio suggests a conservative approach to dividends, which we like. There's a lot to like about Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad, and we would prioritise taking a closer look at it. So while Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad looks good from a dividend perspective, it's always worthwhile being up to date with the risks involved in this stock. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for Keck Seng (Malaysia) Berhad you should be aware of. Generally, we wouldn't recommend just buying the first dividend stock you see. Here's a curated list of interesting stocks that are strong dividend payers. 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. For many, the main point of investing is to generate higher returns than the overall market. But the main game is to find enough winners to more than offset the losers At this point some shareholders may be questioning their investment in Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG (ETR:O2D), since the last five years saw the share price fall 52%. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 30% in the last three months. It's worthwhile assessing if the company's economics have been moving in lockstep with these underwhelming shareholder returns, or if there is some disparity between the two. So let's do just that. See our latest analysis for Telefonica Deutschland Holding To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). During five years of share price growth, Telefonica Deutschland Holding moved from a loss to profitability. Most would consider that to be a good thing, so it's counter-intuitive to see the share price declining. Other metrics might give us a better handle on how its value is changing over time. The most recent dividend was actually lower than it was in the past, so that may have sent the share price lower. The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). Telefonica Deutschland Holding is well known by investors, and plenty of clever analysts have tried to predict the future profit levels. Given we have quite a good number of analyst forecasts, it might be well worth checking out this free chart depicting consensus estimates. What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. We note that for Telefonica Deutschland Holding the TSR over the last 5 years was -31%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! Story continues A Different Perspective Telefonica Deutschland Holding shareholders are down 13% for the year (even including dividends), but the market itself is up 18%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 5% per year over five years. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 4 warning signs for Telefonica Deutschland Holding (of which 1 can't be ignored!) you should know about. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies we expect will grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on German exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Pantex, N.J. university partner to bolster talent pipeline Pantex recently welcomed representatives from Thomas Edison State University to sign a memorandum of understanding that could significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses for employees pursuing online degrees from the Trenton, N.J., school. As we achieve new and innovative ways to increase the knowledge and skills of our employees, we commensurately increase our performance at the Pantex Plant, said Pantex Site Manager Colby Yeary. This partnership represents an across-the-board win for our employees, the site and TESU. Thomas Edison State University representative Thomas Phillips (front row, from left) and Pantex Deputy Site Manager Kenny Steward sign a memorandum of understanding that offers Pantex employees deferred tuition and a reduced tuition rate for the schools online programs. Looking on are (back row, from left) Pantex employee Justin Fox, Carlos Alvorado of the National Nuclear Safety Administration Production Office and Pantex employee Shelbi Gray. The agreement signed Aug. 30 at the sites John C. Drummond Center provides employees at both Pantex and its Consolidated Nuclear Security sister site, Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn., with a corporate tuition rate, lets them defer payment for classes at TESU, and in some cases provides academic credit for time spent on the job. Employees can combine this new opportunity with the existing CNS tuition-reimbursement program to significantly lower their out-of-pocket expenses and the time required to obtain a degree or certification. Pantex recruiter Zuleyma Carruba-Rogel said the agreement holds potential to increase Pantex employees skills and upward mobility. The exciting new opportunity was the idea of Justin Fox, a manager at Pantex, as a way to retain and grow one of his promising employees and potentially many more. The hope is that we incentivize people to go back to school, Fox explained. With the corporate tuition rate, deferred tuition costs and flexibility with classes, it overcomes many of the hurdles our staff face in going back to school. That was the premise to help my employees. Interstate Bank announces promotions of Adams, Berg Interstate Bank is proud to announce that Aida Adams has been promoted to Senior Vice President/Commercial Lending and Loan Administration, and Blair Berg has been promoted to Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer. Story continues Aida has continued to perform at a high level since joining the bank four and half years ago. She has generated and properly managed a $50 million loan portfolio. Aida will also be overseeing the centralization of credit. Congratulations on a job well done, said Danny Skarda, Chairman & CEO. Aida Adams Blair Berg Blair has also performed at a high level since joining the bank four years ago. His critical thinking, input, and ability to multi-task are noteworthy. Blair has done an outstanding job and we continue to expect great things, Skarda said. Interstate Bank has been a leader in the banking industry for the last 60-plus years in the Texas Panhandle with locations in Perryton and Amarillo. They offer personal/business bank accounts, personal/commercial loans, savings accounts, ACH cash management, mortgage/real estate loans, and more. For more information on Interstate Bank, visit https://www.isbtexas.bank/. PPHM announces new Director of Education and Visitor Experience CANYON The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum is proud to announce the promotion of Kristin Johnson to the Director of Education and Visitor Experience. In her newest role, Johnson will supervise the visitor services, programs, and education staff for the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. Her tasks include overseeing the strategy and execution of revenue-generating activities while helping to build and lead the overall quality of the daily operations of PPHM and providing outstanding customer service and encouraging repeat visits. Kristin Johnson She has a Bachelor of Arts in history from West Texas A&M University and has worked for PPHM for 7 years this January focusing on the visitor experience. She chose to apply because she have always wanted to work in a museum since her days in elementary school. She says she "loves being able to share my passion with others and wants to help create a memorable experience for visitors." Located on the campus of West Texas A&M University, the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum offers visitors a chance to step into panhandle history with special exhibits, a permanent collection, Pioneer Town, educational tours and special events. For more information about PPHM, visit www.panhandleplains.org . Xcel Energy announces leadership changes MINNEAPOLIS Xcel Energy announced this week several changes to its executive leadership team. Brett Carter, executive vice president, group president of Utilities and chief customer officer, is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities. Current executive vice president, chief legal and compliance officer Amanda Rome has been named to this role, effective immediately. The companys four operating company presidents and customer organization leaders will report to Rome. Ryan Long, vice president and deputy general counsel, will step in as general counsel and oversee the legal and corporate compliance group on an interim basis. Xcel Energy has extraordinary opportunities in the next decade to lead the clean energy transition, and Im excited by the team we have assembled to deliver on our business and customer strategy, said Bob Frenzel, Xcel Energys chairman, president and CEO. Our workers are committed to providing reliable, safe energy service while keeping bills low for customers as we achieve our ambitious clean energy goals. Carter will remain available for Xcel Energys leadership transition through the end of the year. FirstBank Southwest creates 15-member banking advisory council in preparation to evolve into community bank of the future FirstBank Southwest (FBSW) has created a 15-member Banking Advisory Council (BAC) to allow for the bank to learn and understand the future of banking through the eyes of students. This collaborative council is made up of high school seniors at Amarillo ISD, Canyon ISD, Bushland ISD, as well as freshmen and sophomores at Amarillo College. FirstBank Southwest created a 15-member Banking Advisory Council to allow for the bank to learn and understand the future of banking through the eyes of students. Members were chosen during a competitive process of education requirements, essays, and in-person interviews. Its an idea I dreamed up a few years back that has finally come to fruition, stated Andy Marshall, President and CEO at FirstBank Southwest. We want to expose these folks to banking and hopefully create a new generation of bankers from people that might not have otherwise thought of banking as a career choice. We will do everything we can to learn from them as to what their generation wants in a financial services relationship and, in doing so, prepare us to evolve into the community bank of the future. The BAC will interact with leadership within the bank, have networking opportunities, be involved with community service, and be developed professionally. This program is designed to enrich the lives of the students by growing the skills that will make them attractive to future employers and to promote banking as a future career. Council members consist of: Evan Adams, Amarillo College; Leah Aviles, Amarillo College; Savannah Moore, Amarillo College; Romie Rubio, Amarillo College; Abi Hill, Amarillo High School; Pranav Nambiar, Amarillo High School; Kelsey Conner, Bushland High School; Ian Armstrong, Canyon High School; Demario Cordova, Caprock High School; Nevaeh Carey, Palo Duro High School; Ja'Zhana McFall, Palo Duro High School; Enrique Garcia, Palo Duro High School; Lyzeth Nieves, Randall High School; Britten Ratcliff, Tascosa High School; and Allie Kaltefleiter, West Plains High School. The BAC meets once a month from September though May. Students may participate in a maximum of two terms, consecutive or non-consecutive. Each student is required to meet responsibilities while on the council, and in turn, each student will receive $3,000 scholarship to the school of their choice. Get social with FBSW on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter or visit their webpage at www.fbsw.com. Pantex High Explosive Pressing Facility operating at an all-time high For more than 58 years, the Pantex Plant has manufactured high-explosive charges for every weapon in the nations nuclear stockpile. In all those years it had never pressed 1,000 parts in a single year, but Pantex exceeded that number in Fiscal Year 2023 to set a new record for the plant. During the Cold War era, the most parts pressed at Pantex was 152 in a month, and that was utilizing three presses, said Lennon Mings, High Explosives (HE) pressing engineer. Our team was able to accomplish this utilizing only one press. In 2016, Pantex took occupancy of the newly-built High Explosive Pressing Facility (HEPF), a building which allows HE inspection, machining, staging, and HE radiography to take place in a single modern facility. Not surprisingly, the HEPF took a few years to ensure all of the state-of-the-art equipment worked as designed for start-up and safe operations. In late May, a second press was finally repaired, and the HEPF pressing team was able to utilize both presses for the first time in more than 6 months. Due to their improvements and efficiencies, the HEPF team were able to press more parts per day another record set by the team. With the help of many organizations such as Maintenance and Facility Management, weve proven that the facility design and process drives efficiency, improves worker protection, and creates a quality product, Jimmy Ramirez, HE Manufacturing pressing senior manager, said. Meeting our FY 2023 deliverables to our Department of Defense customer in a safe and secure manner is of the highest priority and this achievement paves the way for us to meet these goals now and into the future, said Jason Armstrong, Pantex NNSA Production Office Manager. HEPF has truly exceptional and dedicated people who take pride and ownership of the pressing operations, Jimmy Ramirez said. These changes and the dedicated team at the HEPF are what has allowed us to deliver as promised and will continue to set new record highs for pressing HE parts in the future. Panhandle Grape and Wine Tour set Oct. 21 in Amarillo The Panhandle Grape and Wine Tour, hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service offices in Potter and Randall counties, will be from 1-5 p.m. Oct. 21 and include visits to two vineyards. The event is limited to the first 30 people registered, with a registration deadline of Oct. 18. The fee is $45 per person or $75 per couple, to be paid upon arrival on the event day. Registration is available at https://tx.ag/PanhandleViticultureTour. People interested in learning more about growing grapes in the Panhandle region can attend the Panhandle Grape and Wine Tour on Oct. 21. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Sam Craft) The program will begin at 1:30 p.m., and attendees will meet at the Buffalo Falls Vineyard, 16001 Interstate 27 south of Amarillo. From there, the tour will travel to Bar Z Winery, 19290 Farm-to-Market Road 1541 east of Canyon. Transportation will not be provided. Megan Eikner, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in Potter County, and J. D. Ragland, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in Randall County, said theyve both had inquiries about the potential of growing grapes in the area. People want to know if it is even doable in our part of the world to grow grapes with the weather and temperatures, Ragland said. This is a way for us to show it can be done and for people to see firsthand what all is involved and talk to some experts. Guest speakers will be the owners of Buffalo Falls Vineyard, Charlie and Belinda Rivas, and Bar Z Winery, Monty Dixon; and Daniel Hillin, AgriLife Extension viticulture program specialist for the High Plains and West Texas, Lubbock. For more information, contact Ragland at JD.Ragland@ag.tamu.edu or Eikner at Megan.Eikner@ag.tamu.edu. Physicians Surgical Hospitals ranked among best places to work in healthcare Modern Healthcare has announced rankings for health care organizations recognized as Best Places to Work in Healthcare, with Physicians Surgical Hospitals returning to the list for the 10th year, ranking No. 8 among the top in the country. Bryan Bateman, CEO of Physicians Surgical Hospitals said, Every year, many hospitals across the nation apply to get on the final list of Best Places to Work (hospitals/insurers). Not only did we make the top 75 list, Physicians Surgical Hospitals was ranked NUMBER 8 for the Best Place to Work! I am so proud and in awe of our amazing staff as well as our awesome medical staff for this achievement! Last year, we were number 49th; and this year in the top 10! Congratulations Team PSH!!! Physicians Surgical Hospitals was named one of the Best Places to Work in the nation for the tenth year in a row, coming in at number 8. From left are Bryan Bateman (CEO), Kristee Riley, April Dickens, Jennifer Evans-Gandy. Physicians Surgical Hospitals joins six other entities from Ardent Health Services, the hospitals parent company based in Nashville, Tennessee. Modern Healthcares rankings are based on a confidential employee survey and in-depth questionnaire assessing overall satisfaction, work-life balance, communication, policies and practices, work environment and culture. For more information about Physicians Surgical Hospitals, visit physurg.com. Canyon City Secretary receives regional Public Administrator Award CANYON Canyon City Secretary Gretchen Mercer received the Beelee Goodwin Regional Public Administrator Award at the Panhandle Region Planning Committees recent dinner. She is the fourth person from the City of Canyon to receive this award. Gretchen Mercer sets the example when it comes to public servant leadership, said Canyon City Manager Joe Price. Her career and dedication to the Canyon community is beyond exemplary. Our city organization and community are better because of her notable contributions. City of Canyon City Secretary Gretchen Mercer received the Beelee Goodwin Regional Public Administrator Award at the Panhandle Region Planning Committees dinner. Mercers involvement is local, regional, and statewide. She has served on every position of the Panhandle Chapter Board of the Texas Municipal Clerks Association (TMCA), as well as chairing and volunteering for every committee. She is considered a mentor to city secretaries across Texas, who often look to her for help. Gretchen Mercer is considered a mentor, to say the least, among city secretaries all over the state of Texas; however, I believe the only city secretary in the Panhandle that wouldn't know her name is someone new to the profession, said Kimberly Sloat, City Secretary for the City of Canadian. She is always willing to advise, respond, encourage, or just listen to her fellow municipal clerks. I feel extremely confident in saying that all municipal clerks in our chapter look up to her. I know personally that she puts her heart and soul into the work she does for the City of Canyon." On the state level, Mercer has chaired multiple TMCA committees, was an executive board trustee, and currently sits on the TMCA Executive Board as the treasurer. During her time with TMCA, she has spoken at two election law seminars and will act as a panel moderator at the upcoming Texas Municipal League conference. Mercer, who is a Canyon native and has been at the City of Canyon over 25 years, became City Secretary in 2007. During that time, she has served two city managers, 2 mayors, and 16 city commissioners. She first became a Texas Registered Municipal Clerk in 2013 and has kept up the certification to today. In 2022 she was recognized by TMCA and earned the Municipal Clerks Office Achievement of Excellence Award. This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo area business news and developments for Oct. 6, 2023 China is helping African countries to grow more food products and set up industries to process farm produce as part of efforts to reverse a long-time trade imbalance in its favour. It is also increasing African food imports after more than two decades of mostly buying raw materials from the continent while exporting electronics and textiles, resulting in a trade surplus that saw China accused of promoting the unhealthy imbalance. Last year, Chinese exports to Africa made up nearly 60 per cent of the US$282 billion in two-way trade. But new initiatives to support African agriculture, industrialisation and skills development did not mean a shift away from infrastructure building, long a mainstay of China's engagement in Africa, observers said. 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. Chinese President Xi Jinping recently unveiled plans to build more manufacturing plants in Africa, ramp up food production there and equip thousands of Africans with vocational skills to support the continent's agricultural modernisation. "China will harness its resources ... to support Africa in growing its manufacturing sector and realising industrialisation and economic diversification," Xi said in late August on the sidelines of the Brics summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. He also pledged closer cooperation on quarantine and inspection to help boost Chinese imports of African farm produce. The comments were a continuation of a pledge made by Xi during the 2021 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), when he promised to open up "green lanes" for African agricultural products so that imports could hit US$300 billion by 2024. To that end, Beijing waived tariffs last year on 98 per cent of taxable items from dozens of least-developed countries, most of them in Africa. Story continues In Johannesburg, Xi further promised support for developing Africa's manufacturing industry and creating "Made in Africa" brands, and reiterated his 2021 promise to invest at least US$10 billion in the continent and extend US$10 billion in credit facilities for small and medium-sized enterprises. Days later, the African Export-Import Bank announced it had secured a US$400 million loan facility from China Development Bank for onward lending to SMEs across Africa. Xi's pledges in Johannesburg - made during a meeting with African leaders and ministers on August 24 - came shortly after Beijing's top diplomat in Africa, Wu Peng, said countries there wanted China to shift its focus from building infrastructure to local industrialisation. Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the China-Africa Leaders' Roundtable Dialogue on the last day of the Brics Summit, in Johannesburg on August 24. Photo: EPA-EFE alt=Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the China-Africa Leaders' Roundtable Dialogue on the last day of the Brics Summit, in Johannesburg on August 24. Photo: EPA-EFE> Xi's comments also appeared to reflect a shift from the past decade, when China pumped billions of dollars into Africa through its Belt and Road Initiative, building mega projects such as ports, railways, highways and power dams. However, analysts said the latest pledges did not indicate a turning away from infrastructure, but rather the opening up of parallel investment tracks. "It is about fostering the next phase of using that infrastructure for new export markets and for rural income growth," Lauren Johnston, a China-Africa researcher at the South African Institute of International Affairs in Johannesburg, said. She said China's own development model focused heavily on raising rural incomes since rural areas were mostly home to the poorest of the poor. "So, raising rural incomes helps to alleviate poverty, which then feeds China's global poverty alleviation ambition and helps to realise the [United Nations-led] Sustainable Development Goals too," Johnston said. Given its own rising population, Africa would need even more food over the next decades, Johnston said. Food security mattered more to China as well, she added, because the US-led trade war meant it was no longer confident about relying on the United States and Australia for feed and food. Richard Mulwa, deputy vice-chancellor of Kenya's Egerton University, said Xi's plan would bring vitality to Africa's food systems through joint research, technology transfer and the development of high-yield crops. "The whole plan is good. For long, Africa has lagged behind in innovation, but with cooperation with China in research and development ... [and] on agro-ecological parks, there are so many benefits to be realised," Mulwa told Chinese state news agency Xinhua in a recent interview. Linda Calabrese, research fellow and development economist at the Overseas Development Institute think tank in London, said: "We know that official policy lending [for the belt and road] is slowing down, but we also know that there may be some commercial lending or equity investment in infrastructure. So the focus on infrastructure may become more modest." "Given the nature of the projects, they may be undertaken by various line ministries, or by China's development agency. In that case, they will not tap into the same sources of finance as infrastructure projects, and therefore they will not be competing, just be placed on a parallel track," Calabrese said. Carlos Lopes, professor at the University of Cape Town's Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, said Xi was trying to be responsive to the areas identified by Africa as a priority for engagement with China. "There is a perception that the Belt and Road Initiative is running out of steam and requires a more robust wave of investments if China is going to keep its edge in Africa," Lopes said. In a commentary for The Conversation published in August, Johnston said there had been a shift in China's relationship with Africa - away from a focus on mainly oil and extractive commodities. This was the "Hunan model", named after the central Chinese province leading the push. Johnston highlighted the Hunan model's specific focus on agriculture, heavy industry equipment, and transport - such as electric vehicles and trains - areas where the province is a leader within China and which are growth industries in many African countries. "Many of these [Chinese] companies have a presence in, and long-running strategy for, African markets," she wrote. This comes as China expands its list of food imports from Africa, with dozens of countries recently signing deals allowing the export of farm produce such as chillies, cashews, sesame seeds and spices. South Africa, China's largest trading partner in the continent, had long exported mostly minerals to the Asian country. Last month, it began sending avocados to China - joining Kenya and Tanzania whose fresh avocados gained market access last year and also adding to its existing export list of lemons, grapefruit, oranges and other citruses. Beninese pineapples, Rwandan chilli and beef products from Namibia and Botswana have also gained China market access in recent months. Peng, director general of the Department of African Affairs in the Chinese foreign ministry, confirmed last month that the first 52-tonne shipment of Kenyan anchovy had arrived in China. "More is on the way," Wu said. [The FOCAC] green channel for African agricultural exports to China is bringing tangible benefits to African and Chinese people." 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. Old Dominion Humane Society has partnered with the Spotsylvania Career and Technical Centers veterinary science program to provide students with rescue dogs to hone their skills. While its a spa day for the dogs who are waiting to be adopted, the students will get their experience in the program by bathing, trimming nails and performing exams on the four-legged guests every Thursday. The advantage to the students is that theyll get to practice with dogs with fairly unknown responses to the different skills. This is a necessary component for students entering the veterinary medicine field. It will provide them with the knowledge of learning the positive tools, tips and tricks of the trade. A bonus for the ODHS rescue dogs, it will allow them to have a day out of the facility and a chance to be in a new place. Theyll have an opportunity to experience new smells, stimulation and people, as well as the loving hands who will care for them there. Our rescue dogs will have a mentally stimulating day, plus theyll be able to relax while getting pampered, said Chrissy Blake, ODHS founder. For another bonus, our dogs will return all shiny and clean. Its a great partnership for both the students and our dogs. ODHSs goal is to decrease the number of animals needlessly euthanized by pulling dogs from high-kill shelters and educating the community about animal rescue. Its mission is to provide well-matched, permanent homes for animals in need through rescue, rehabilitation and education. ODHS is located at 3602 Lafayette Blvd. Adoption events are Wednesday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Applications in advance are preferred and take priority over walk-ins. For more information about the dogs available for adoption and adoption applications, as well as upcoming events, volunteering, fostering and donating items, visit olddominionhumanesociety.org. SCOTTSBLUFF The zoo in Scottsbluff, the Riverside Discovery Center, has lost its accreditation, leaving questions about whether the city will continue its monetary support. According to a news release on the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' website, Riverside Discovery Center was one of two zoos that failed to get accreditation. The AZAs independent Accreditation Commission reviewed applications from 30 zoos and aquariums during its recent 2023 annual conference. Riverside Discovery Center has been accredited under the AZA since 1990 and is required to reapply every five years. The process includes on-site inspections that include a team of trained zoo and aquarium professionals to observe day-to-day operations and other aspects of the institution. According to the news release, Riverside Discovery Center officials have 30 days to appeal the decision, which is effective Oct 1. The Star-Herald reached out to Riverside Discovery Center officials, including director Desiree Drane-Davison, board president Andy Hayward and board member Jeff Fielder, who has been serving as a media liaison. The Star-Herald was advised that the board has a scheduled meeting at which a statement will be prepared and released. AZA accreditation is "widely regarded as the 'gold standard' of zoological accreditation." AZA accreditation is a rigorous process for zoos with multiple-day inspections of all parts of a zoo's operations. Accreditation is one of the factors that allows the zoo to participate in the AZA's Species Survival Plan Program, through which some of the zoo's most popular animals were acquired. Officials at Riverside Discovery Center attributed its loss of accreditation to financial woes, saying in a news release that there were no issues regarding safety and well-being of animals in the zoo's care. The zoo's staff plans to work toward accreditation again next year when they are eligible. Riverside Discovery Center Board President Andy Hayward said, "It's pretty much going to be a one- to two-year process; the good thing is a big chunk of the problems revolve around finance." In another news release, the Riverside Discovery Center cited: "The biggest reason for the denial of accreditation were lack of sufficient finances and contingencies, inexperienced staff and recent turnover at the executive director position." Hayward said the zoo is also applying for accreditation under the Zoological Association of America. While they hold members to similar standards, ZAA has some differences in its standards he said, most notably in the handling of elephants and the breeding of big cats such as lions and tigers. Most of the animals held at the zoo are owned by the Riverside Discovery Center, but some are on loan from other owners and the AZA. Riverside Discovery Center officials said in the news release that they are "confident" animals on loan would not be leaving their care. As of Friday morning, zoo officials were uncertain about the future of the lions that were supposed to be delivered from the Omaha zoo this fall. In light of the news about Riverside Discovery Center losing its accreditation, the Star-Herald reached out to the City of Scottsbluff, which provides annual funding to the Riverside Discovery Center. Through an agreement that runs until September 2025, the City of Scottsbluff provides $300,000 in funding annually. The agreement is contingent on the zoo operating "in a good faith effort to manage their accreditation," City Manager Kevin Spencer told the Star-Herald. Spencer said that the city has been advised that the zoo has applied for the AZA's Pathway to Membership Program, a program designed to help organizations seeking accreditation prepare to submit an application. "I think as far as the agreement goes, I think we're in good standing still," he said, because they have applied for that program. According to the AZA's website, the accreditation report is confidential, released only to the zoo. Spencer advised that the city has not received a copy of the report. City staff are still uncertain what will happen because of the denial, but Spencer said he is optimistic about the zoo's future. A clause in the agreement between the city and the zoo outlines causes for termination of the agreement. One of those causes is the revocation of the zoo's accreditation. City Council member Jordan Colwell, who serves as the council's liaison to the Riverside Discovery Center, said he hopes the city can find a way to continue providing aid to the zoo. "It is my hope that we try to help the zoo as much as possible," he said in text messages. "They (Riverside Discovery Center) are doing great work and the zoo is a gem in our community we can't lose." Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo Israel increased airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and sealed it off from food, fuel, and other supplies in retaliation for a bloody incursion by Hamas militants, as the wars death toll rose to nearly 1,600 on both sides. Hamas also escalated on Monday, pledging to kill captured Israelis if attacks targeted civilians without warnings. In the wars third day, Israel was still finding bodies from Hamas stunning weekend attack into southern Israeli towns. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to destroy the militants military and governing capabilities. "Azerbaijan and Iran enjoy multifaceted relations. It spans all economic, commercial, logistic and energy fields," Shahin Mustafayev, Deputy Prime Minister, Co-Chairman of the State Commission for Economic, Trade and Humanitarian Cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Iran, told reporters in Zangilan, Azernews reports. Shahin Mustafayev said that during Iran's Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Co-Chairman of the Commission Mehrdad Bazrpashvisit to Azerbaijan more time will be devoted to improving transport relations between Azerbaijan and Iran. Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister noted that cargo transportation grew by 41 percent in 8 months of this year. "In addition, there was a 47 percent rise in the volume of transit transportation. Also, the volume of transportation through the North-South international transport corridor has increased by 57 percent," he added. Shahin Mustafayev pointed out that President Ilham Aliyev places an emphasis on carrying out restoration work in the areas liberated from occupation and successfully utilizing the potential of the areas: According to him, currently, the highway from Horadiz to Agband is being built and the railway infrastructure is being restored. The region's transit capacity is improving as a result of these actions. At the same time, measures are being taken to facilitate shipping of commodities to and from the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. For this purpose, an agreement was reached with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Mustafayev noted that construction of a railway bridge is also planned in the vicinity. Within a year, the complete infrastructure will be put into place. The discovery of more than 115 decaying bodies at Return to Nature, a Penrose funeral home that provided flame cremations but primarily marketed itself as a green burial business, has inspired questions about a niche of the modern funeral industry whose practices date back to the dawn of grief and ritual. Colorado law requires bodies that havent been cremated or buried within 24 hours of death to be embalmed or refrigerated to prevent decomposition, said Seth Viddal, co-owner and CEO of The Natural Funeral, which operates green funeral homes in Lafayette and Loveland. Families that eschew embalming, and turn to Viddals company for a green burial, have a number of eco-friendly choices for final disposition, from direct interments in biodegradable caskets, shrouds or nothing at all, to decomposition via other natural forces. Refrigeration allows families time to make decisions about natural death care, and, if they so choose, to see their loved one a final time looking as they did in life, said Viddal. He said that between the two funeral homes and an Arvada care center where eco-cremations are carried out, The Natural Funeral has climate controlled morgue space for 14 decedents at a given time. Bodies are kept at 36 degrees above freezing, but cold enough to slow cellular breakdown that sets in minutes after a heartbeat stops. When done properly, and when the rules are followed and refrigeration applied, that decomposition process is paused or slowed to such an effective extent that families can go on to interact ceremonially with their loved ones, Viddal said. And they look like themselves, not altered with cosmetics and filled with chemicals until such time as they are cremated or buried. Between 15% and 20% of the families The Natural Funeral serves opt for eco-friendly burials, he said. Such interments are legal in almost all established Colorado cemeteries, including Pikes Peak National Cemetery (and with the proper permitting, paperwork and given no local ordinances forbid it, on private property). The services accompanying such goodbyes look like any other funeral; the only difference being cost, and what happens under the ground, Vidal said. By far, the most popular services his funeral homes offer are alternative dispositions available due to emerging technologies. Water cremation, offered since 2019, uses a solution of heated water and potassium hydroxide to trigger natural chemical processes that break down organic matter over the course of hours. It's one of the fastest growing segments of business at the Natural Funeral because people connect with a safe and rapid transformation of their loved ones body back into something which can be gifted to the earth and returned to the cycle of life, said Viddal, about a process added to the states legal definition of cremation in 2014. Terramation also known as body composting or natural organic reduction is an even newer technology in which decomposition occurs in a hermetically sealed vessel where the environment is regulated to promote the rapid, safe and effective transition of the body from a body into soil, said Viddal. The option currently is only legally available in seven states, including Colorado, which considers the resulting soil human remains, much like ashes. 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. While flame cremations are the most rapidly declining section, Viddal said they still represent about 20% of his business. Such cremations are not considered green due to the pollution created by the incineration process, but its an option Viddal said he will continue to offer as long as its what families want. We use a third party to perform our flame cremations. That technology is one that pollutes and is not one we want to invest in, but it is the least expensive option, and for some of our clients that is a driving factor, Viddal said. The trade rate for cremation, he said, is only a few hundred dollars per decedent. Which depending on what state and federal authorities discover over the course of what is poised to be a lengthy investigation could lend more disturbing context to an already ghastly story, of loss compounded by wrong. Thats the part that really gets to him, said Viddal: the victimization of the grieving. The violation of the dead. Whether these bodies turn out to have been somehow removed from their intended disposition, which was say a green burial, and improperly stored, or whether they were removed from the cycle of a cremation and improperly stored, the major transgression is they were improperly stored," Viddal said. "This is an undignified treatment of human remains and a horrible mistreatment of the families who now are left wondering if the remains they have actually belong to their loved one. Police made the gruesome discovery Wednesday, while following up on neighbors' complaints of an "abhorrent smell" coming from the Penrose location of a funeral home business founded in 2017 in Colorado Springs, where it maintained offices. Return to Nature's license to practice as a funeral home, at all its locations, has been suspended. No arrests have been made. Gross wrongs were done, but whether charges will be filed remains to be seen. Fremont County Coroner Randy Keller said Friday it will likely take several months for the more-than 115 bodies to be identified through fingerprints, medical and dental records, and DNA testing and families notified. Viddal said he is heartbroken for the families now left in limbo, awaiting answers and closure, as the investigation plays out. As an ethical funeral home operator who genuinely falls in love with the families we serve, I cannot begin to fathom an emergency that could possibly explain , Viddal said. One body, if youre in over your head, you call for help. One person is dead and police are looking for suspects following a shooting in downtown Colorado Springs Saturday night, law enforcement officials said. Police responded to a 9:35 p.m. shots-fired call on the 400 block of East Kiowa Street. When they arrived, they found a deceased person in front of a cottage and a dog restrained behind the house, police told Gazette news partner KKTV. Animal Control officers took custody of the dog. No suspect information was provided. The death is being investigated as a homicide. The next round of political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the State of Qatar was held in Baku on 6 October, this was reported by the Foreign Ministry's Press Service Department, Azernews reports. The political consultations were held by Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev and Qatari State Minister for Foreign Affairs Soltan bin Saad Al-Mureihi. During the consultations the current state and prospects of bilateral cooperation in the spheres of political, economic, energy, humanitarian, inter-parliamentary relations, issues of cooperation within the framework of international organisations, including the UN, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation were discussed. - The issues of the United Movement were discussed. The sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. The State of Qatar was briefed on the post-conflict situation in the region, including the rehabilitation, construction and reintegration works being carried out in the liberated territories. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife reported that a mother black bear had been put down on Wednesday of this week, following an aggressive run-in with two boys in an open-space area of Colorado Springs. Additionally, one of the bear's two cubs did not survive the relocation process. The Parks and Wildlife statement, sent out Friday afternoon, states that the initial call brought Colorado Springs police and Parks and Wildlife officers to a heavily wooded portion of the city, where two boys, ages 12 and 13, had encountered the bear. She had reportedly charged the boys twice, causing one boy to run into a tree branch and suffer minor injuries. The bear, estimated to be 150 pounds, was found, and also acted aggressively toward the officers. She was euthanized by Parks and Wildlife. The cubs were found, partially through the use of a Police Department drone searching for heat signatures. The cubs, each weighing about 50 pounds, were tranquilized and brought back to a CPW facility to be tagged. 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 goal was to capture them and release them in the mountains in more suitable bear habitat. At their age and weight, the cubs were old enough to survive on their own," according to the release. However, one of the cubs never revived from the tranquilizer. The surviving cub was released Friday morning in a remote mountain location. This was an unfortunate situation where a sow had become dangerously aggressive toward people instead of being scared of humans, Tim Kroening, CPW wildlife manager for the Pikes Peak area said in the release. There was no choice but to put it down after it repeatedly charged people." Dan Binning is executive director of the Colorado Propane Gas Association, based in Arvada. Tucker Perkins is the president and CEO of the Propane Education & Research Council, based in Washington, D.C. Ron W. Pritchett holds a B.S. in geological engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and a masters degree in technology management from the University of Denver. He has spent 40 years in the petroleum industry. William S. Donovan is a registered petroleum engineer in Colorado. He holds a B.S. in geology from the University of Wisconsin and an M.S. from the Colorado School of Mines. Ed Coalson, Ph. D., is a graduate of Long Beach State, the University of Wyoming, and the Colorado School of Mines. He has taught geology at the Colorado School of Mines and other universities. He has provided geological and petrophysical consulting for multiple companies. Azerbaijani Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev has met with Managing Director for Eastern Europe and the Caucasus of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Matteo Patrone, Azernews reports, citing AzerTac. During the meeting, the two discussed progress of the broadband internet network expansion project implemented by "Aztelekom" LLC based on the EBRD loan. We discussed the possibilities of cooperation on digitalization in the field of "government cloud", metro and railway transport, Rashad Nabiyev said. Lisa LaBriola is a principal at Husch Blackwell Strategies and was a Senate Democrat staffer for close to a decade. She served as chief of staff to former Senate Minority Leader Lucia Guzman and former Senate President Leroy Garcia. Opinions expressed here are her own and do not reflect the opinions of any other organizations. Sage Naumann is a conservative commentator and strategist. He operates Anthem Communications and was previously the spokesman for the Colorado Senate Republicans. Follow him on Twitter @SageNaumann. Curtis Hill remembers a time before the unavoidable stop-and-go nature of traffic across Colorado Springs and El Paso County when it felt like getting around town was easier and quicker. "Everywhere in Colorado Springs has traffic (now)," he said one recent Friday afternoon at his home near Airport Road and Powers Boulevard, where he's lived since 2014. He should know. He estimates driving about 50 miles a day across the city, including taking his grandchildren to and from schools they attend all over town. By 3 p.m. that Friday, traffic was flowing but beginning to back up along Powers, the intermittent crowding stretching along the corridor up to East Woodmen Road some 9 miles north. Traffic congestion has in recent years become a familiar inconvenience for travelers, residents across El Paso County said. It's a symptom they expect comes with the territory of the county's rapid growth. They worry it could worsen as development continues booming, particularly on Colorado Springs' eastern and northern edges where there is space for more urban and suburban sprawl. "Traffic will get worse. People are going to keep coming," said Hill, who first lived in Colorado Springs from 1986 to 1996 before relocating then returning to the city nine years ago. El Paso County's population has nearly doubled since 1990, data from the Colorado Demography Office show, growing from about 397,000 residents in 1990 to more than 730,000 in 2020. Officials estimate just under 757,000 people currently reside in the county, according to figures included in the 2023 budget. By 2050, more than 1 million people are expected to live in El Paso County. In Colorado Springs, officials anticipate more than 502,000 people will live in the city next year, figures included in a draft 2024 city spending plan show. As growth occurs, many commuters are familiar with increased congestion or reduced safety on thoroughfares like Platte Avenue, Marksheffel Road, South Academy Boulevard, Woodmen Road at Black Forest Road and Powers Boulevard. Officials are actively trying to address current issues, and plan for those coming. Planning for growth A number of regularly updated long- and short-term regional, county and city transportation plans help local planners proactively identify where growth is likely to happen and define ensuing transportation needs, they said. Revisiting those plans every five to seven years, including the city's 20-year transportation plan known as ConnectCOS or the county's 20- to 25-year Major Transportation Corridor Plan, allows planners to reassess and adjust the wider vision for the local transportation network. The city and county use traffic data and public feedback to inform those plans. "... Public input is huge because there's a lot of things out there that we don't see, including traffic congestion, traffic behavior, drivers' behavior, intersection issues (and) condition issues with our roads," county engineer Joshua Palmer said. Developers also play a role in the transportation network, designing early road systems that accommodate the broader grid. "Hopefully we do a good enough job with planning and working with the development community that, as they are developing and improving combined developed areas, they are setting the stage for and are helping us build something that requires less maintenance and less preservation," Palmer said. Colorado Springs traffic engineer Todd Frisbie said evaluating short-term needs helps define 10-year projects that could be funded by the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority's 1-cent sales tax that funds regional road projects. Meanwhile, transportation officials maintain roads and address emergent road-related demands like potholes or aging infrastructure, "necessary and critical" actions to support future smart growth, Palmer said. The overarching goal is always to provide an efficient transportation system, Frisbie added, with "acceptable" levels of delay and a variety of transportation choices for commuters. But sometimes the goal isn't that simple because of timing, funding constraints and land uses. In some cases, development happens quicker than road improvements can occur, which can cause pockets of congestion, Frisbie said. Expanding roads in the more urbanized, built-out areas of Colorado Springs can require tens of millions of dollars and can significantly impact nearby neighborhoods, so the city also focuses on enhancing mass transit and improving walkability in those areas. And building new, bigger roads can initially relieve congestion but can also promote more traffic, he said, a concept known as "induced demand." It suggests more travelers will use more roads if they're available. "... Our transportation planning is intended to make traffic 'better' by way of achieving and maintaining an acceptable level of delay today and into the future when fiscally feasible, and better in the sense of providing transportation choices," Frisbie said. Pain points Platte Avenue corridor. A memorial at East Platte Avenue and North Arcadia Street still standing weeks later honors the memory of Spc. Randy Castro, 22, a Fort Carson soldier who was killed in a car crash on Platte in the early morning hours of Sept. 17. Two other Fort Carson soldiers were injured in the crash, including 23-year-old Cpl. Jermell Johnkin, the driver. Colorado Springs police said Johnkin may have been impaired while driving and speed may have also been a factor. He was arrested for his role in the crash. Marea Janae and Felicia Marshall, who live on Platte near the crash site, said speeding vehicles and crashes are common along this stretch of road. Many vehicles traveling east on Platte hit a somewhat hidden drainage ditch, and combined with speed that can prove "treacherous," they said. "I don't think signs will fix it," Marshall said. "We need a way to slow traffic down." Janae said the drainage ditch "absolutely" must be addressed. "I love living downtown and being able to bike everywhere, but I hate living on Platte Avenue because of that traffic," she said. Platte is one of a limited number of east-west thoroughfares across the city, one that traffic planners have identified as likely to see increased demand for various modes of travel as buildout continues east of Powers Boulevard on the city's east side. 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. The corridor could get a major redesign in the coming years. The city is studying Platte between Interstate 25 and Powers, and a draft report is now available online for public comment through Oct. 13. The document recommends several possible improvements along the thoroughfare based on unique neighborhoods. Residents have pushed back on a controversial proposal that would transform Platte into an eastbound one-way corridor from Wahsatch Avenue to its intersection with Boulder Street. The project webpage states while this idea is listed in the plan as a "potential solution for consideration," it isn't recommended based on public feedback. Possible improvements include shared use paths, east-to-west bicycle network connections along Bijou Street and enhancing existing transit stations and stops as needed. Additionally, the downtown portion of Platte could see fewer travel lanes, with more lanes possibly going in farther east from Academy Boulevard to Powers. Marksheffel Road. Getting into and out of Banning Lewis Ranch, the 24,000-acre (38-square-mile) development on the city's eastern edge, is becoming tougher during the peak afternoon hours, neighbors said. The community east of Marksheffel Road, largely between East Woodmen Road and Dublin Boulevard, is expected to absorb most of the growth in town in the coming decades. But as homes have built out and more businesses have developed nearby, the few ingress and egress points in Banning Lewis Ranch plus limited commercial access points have added extra minutes and frustration to residents' commutes, they said. "I would take a back road just to avoid Marksheffel and get into our neighborhood," resident Kim Benson said. "From 4 to 6 p.m., it's bogged down with traffic and it's hard to get in and out of Banning Lewis." She's lived in the community for two years and says the traffic has gotten worse in that short time. That's an example of timing between developers and the city being off, Frisbie said. "New development gets built but the roads lag behind. The city and its funding can't keep up with development as it happens," he said. Colorado Springs officials anticipate developers will eventually connect Banning Lewis Parkway to Woodmen. This would push a lot of traffic to Woodmen, helping relieve it at Dublin and Marksheffel, Frisbie said. Improvements would also include extending Barnes Road and Stetson Hills Boulevard east. "In a sense it will start to spread it out a little bit more so not one roadway, not one intersection, is taking the brunt of that development," he said. The city aims to enhance safety and reduce congestion along Marksheffel between North Carefree Circle and Dublin by adding an additional lane in each direction and turn lanes at intersections. When complete, Marksheffel Road will be two lanes in each direction with a center median, as well as on-street bike lanes or wide shoulders, improved drainage, and new sidewalks and paths. Work began this summer on the first phase of the multi-year project. South Academy Boulevard. Officials are fixing aging and deteriorating parts of South Academy Boulevard, the first major repairs to the critical transportation corridor that goes through Colorado Springs' southeast side since it opened more than five decades ago in 1969. George Norris was stationed with the Air Force in Colorado Springs from 1979 to 1982 and returned in 1986. From the porch step of his home near South Academy and Airport Road, where he's lived ever since, he recalled when the roadway was known as Highway 83 and when it lost its main highway status to Powers Boulevard. "It used to be called 'Academy Speedway' (by residents), because everybody sped," Norris said. Decades ago, the road used to be "rough" to drive on because of speedy and often dangerous driver behavior. Now, crumbling pavement and other maladies have put a new meaning to the phrase, he said. Crews are addressing crumbling pavement, battered curb and gutter and inefficient drainage on about 18 lane miles along the road from Bijou Street to Jet Wing Drive. When it is finished, this portion of South Academy will have a smoother driving surface for the approximately 50,000 vehicles that traverse it daily, ponding water will be significantly reduced or eliminated, and it will be easier for pedestrians and bicyclists to travel, the project website states. Though construction has tapered off the South Academy lanes directly by his home, Norris said it's about time. "If they're repaving everything, it's necessary," Norris said. Woodmen Road at Black Forest Road. Over the past year and a half, work to widen Black Forest Road to two lanes in each direction from Woodmen Road to Research Parkway has made significant progress, and could wrap up late next year. Various improvements will include new turn lanes at Black Forest and Cowpoke roads to improve traffic flow, two new southbound and northbound bridges over Cottonwood Creek, a 6-foot-wide sidewalk on the east side of Black Forest Road and a 10-foot-wide sidewalk on the west side, along with new 6-foot shoulders that will provide space for cyclists and for vehicles to pull off. Once complete, the improvements could ease slow moving traffic in the area, officials have said. But some residents are worried the timeline is already behind. "... Road planning is ridiculously reactionary in Colorado Springs, with the added caveat that it's five years behind," Reddit user Halloween141 said in a recent post on the social media website where The Gazette solicited public feedback on problematic traffic corridors around the city. The areas of Marksheffel at Woodmen and Black Forest, they said, are "growing so quickly that by the time these areas are 'finished' with road construction, it'll be time to rewiden, repave, and here we go with the headaches again." Powers Boulevard. Stretching 20 miles across eastern El Paso County, Powers Boulevard has become the "best opportunity" to build a circular network of local roads, a loop, following recent explosive growth, leaders have previously said. Long term, the Colorado Department of Transportation envisions Powers as an expressway running from Interstate 25 to the Colorado Springs Airport. A broad state plan includes improving interchanges along the roadway building overpasses because of growth. Last September, state and regional leaders opened a new overpass on Powers at Research Parkway. The state plans to build another at Airport Road, an imperative access point for Peterson Space Force Base's west gate. Construction on that interchange could start late this year or in 2024. Traffic along Powers is typically heavy, said Gladys Meza, who lives off Airport Road. "Around 5 or 6 p.m. it backs up, and it's made worse with (car) accidents," she said. "... I know a lot of people, instead of using Powers, will take Marksheffel to get around." An agreement between Colorado Springs, El Paso County, the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority and the Copper Ridge Metropolitan District could accelerate the completion of extending Powers north from Colorado 83, where it now ends, to Voyager Parkway. It would be the last link in a new loop of major roadways around Colorado Springs. Palmer said officials are also in the early planning stages of connecting Powers to I-25 at El Paso County's southern end, but have no answers yet on where exactly the connection will be or which route it will take. Russian peacekeepers temporarily deployed in the territory of the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan have closed three observation posts over the past 24 hours, Azernews reports, citing the Russian Defense Ministry. The ministry noted that two permanent and one temporary observation posts were closed. According to the data of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan as of October 2, 2,608 small arms, 235 grenade launchers, 60 cannons and howitzers, 31 units of armoured vehicles, etc. were confiscated after the completion of local anti-terrorist measures in the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan. To recall, dismantling of temporary observation posts along the former line of contact between the parties in the Asgaran, Aghdara, and Shusha districts has been completed. Earlier, the head of the press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said that the length of stay of Russian peacekeepers in Garabagh would be determined in contact with Baku based on the situation in the region. The duration of the Russian peacekeepers' stay in Garabagh will be determined in contact with Baku, depending on the situation on the ground, she explained. Recall that the Russian peacekeeping contingent was deployed to areas of Azerbaijani territories in accordance with the tripartite Declaration dated November 10, 2020. WATERLOO Thousands came out on Saturday to see former president and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump as he made a campaign stop at the National Cattle Congress. Its one of a slew of stops Trump has made in the state leading up to the Iowa caucuses in January, including one in Cedar Rapids the same day. Trump used the opportunity to address his supporters. Things are not the same as they were just three years ago when you take a look. They werent ever as good and now they are really, probably maybe the worst weve ever seen in terms of our country, Trump said. You need to get every patriot you know and make sure that theyre registered and get them out to vote and get them to go to their local precinct caucus meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 15. Urging his supporters to vote, he likened the election to "going to war" with "some very evil people." "We are not going to have a country left if we don't win this election," Trump said. "And I used to say that about 2016 -- this is the most important election, and I meant it. This is now the most important election." Trump touched on a variety of topics, speaking about immigration, the economy, the war in Ukraine and the recent terrorist attacks in Israel. He also talked about his legal troubles. "Now the nice part about my indictments is they've driven us up because they realize they're fake and phony," he said. "I'm the only person that ever got indicted whose poll numbers shot up through the roof," he boasted. The rally was organized by the Republicans of Black Hawk County. Committee member April Melton said shes been making calls since May, and found out last Friday that Trump would stop in Waterloo. Its fantastic to see all of my friends and my local community members come out and support a former president and the frontrunner of the 2024 election, Melton said. The majority of those in attendance were local, including Nira Achey from Waterloo. A retiree, Achey worked at Hy-Vee until recently to supplement her income. She said that is one of her main reasons for supporting Trump. Im tired of the economy. Im tired of all the freebies people get, Achey said. Im 78 years old, still working and theres something wrong with this picture. Another local supporter who waited in line to see the former president was Kevin Wolfe. Wolfe said he was always a fan of Trump the celebrity, but only voted for him in 2016 out of opposition to Hillary Clinton. But he became a supporter after seeing him in office. Hes the best president weve ever had, and Im hoping to see him back in office, Wolfe said, or at least someone with the same kind of ideals as him. The event attracted people from outside the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area as well. Friends Nicole Nosbische and Connie Dianda were among them. Nosbische came from Clear Lake. Born with her right side weaker than her left, she said Trumps policies had been beneficial to those with medical disadvantages. This included the 2018 Right to Try Act, which allows terminal patients to try new procedures before they are fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Nosbische also credits Trump with awakening her interest in politics, saying he inspired her to potentially run for office. We need a voice. Thats why I want to run for office -- to inspire people like myself, Nosbische said. Because some dont have a voice or dont know how to vote because they never got taught. Dianda came out from Mason City, where shes running for the school board. Having spent time living in California, she said she was appreciative of the Iowa caucuses being the first in the nation. Hes the greatest president that weve had in the history of the United States, barring Lincoln perhaps, Dianda said. So Im just so happy and proud that hes running again. Dianda also denounced the legal issues Trump has faced in recent months. And its just a crime what theyre doing, she said. Its just election interference is what theyre doing. In addition to being the venue for Trumps rally, the National Cattle Congress was the holding site for nearly 400 undocumented immigrants taken into custody during the Agriprocessors raid in Postville. The 2008 raid, carried out during the George W. Bush Administration, was the largest workplace U.S. immigration raid in U.S. history up to that point. Around 300 of those detained received jail sentences and were deported. Several Agriprocessors managers -- including chief executive officer Sholom Rubashkin also went to prison. Rubashkin received a 27-year sentence after being convicted on 86 counts of financial crimes. Seventy two immigration charges were dropped after his financial fraud convictions. In 2017, Trump commuted Rubashkin's prison sentence after eight years served. RALEIGH Gov. Roy Cooper proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month to bring attention to this national issue. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, nearly three in 10 women and one in 10 men have experienced rape, physical violence and/or stalking by a partner in the U.S. Domestic violence hurts families and communities, said Gov. Cooper. Were going to continue to raise awareness and assist law enforcement and the court system to help survivors get the support and resources they need. Purple is the nationally recognized color of domestic violence, representing courage, peace and dedication to ending violence, which often includes physical, mental, sexual, emotional and/or financial abuse. On Oct. 19, North Carolinians are encouraged to help spread awareness by wearing purple and sharing images across social media using #WearPurpleDay. In recent years there has been an alarming number of domestic violence cases that resulted in homicide, said NC Department of Administration Secretary Pamela B. Cashwell. Domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of race, gender, religion or socioeconomic status. It is crucial that we continue to educate communities to help break the cycle of abuse. According to the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, in 2022 there were at least 47 homicides in North Carolina that were a direct result of domestic violence, including 11 victims whose perpetrators died by suicide. In 2019, Gov. Cooper signed a safe days executive directive to support survivors of domestic violence. The directive permits eligible state employees in cabinet agencies to use earned leave for necessary absences from work due to domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. The NC Department of Administrations Council for Women and Youth Involvement provides funding to 104 domestic violence programs in 97 North Carolina counties. These programs offer shelter, counseling, 24-hour crisis lines, transportation, and court and advocacy services. More than 68,000 adults and children received domestic violence services both remotely and in-person, and more than 104,000 crisis calls and chats were received from individuals seeking domestic violence assistance from those DOA-funded programs during fiscal year 2022-23. For additional resources, including a directory of state-funded domestic violence agencies, visit the NC Council for Women and Youth Involvement website. About NCDOA and the NC Council for Women and Youth Involvement The NC Department of Administration acts as the business manager for North Carolina state government. Under the leadership of Secretary Pamela B. Cashwell, the department oversees government operations and advocacy programs. The departments advocacy programs help to promote and assist diverse segments of the states population that have been traditionally underserved. NCDOAs Council for Women and Youth Involvement division advises the governor, state legislators and state leaders on issues that impact women and youth. Stripped to its barest essence, the war over redistricting in North Carolina isnt so much about maps and demographics as it is about honesty. Or the lack thereof. The basic premise of representative government is that voters get to choose their leaders. Its a simple idea: The person who gets the most votes wins. That candidate presumably earns your support by convincing you that he or she is more qualified, has better ideas and will address your needs and interests more effectively than the other guy. Fair enough? Only if it's a fair game. What we have done to that model is twist it almost beyond recognition. The fatal flaw in the rules is that the political party in power gets to draw the district lines after each census. In recent years this has meant the Republicans. And by faith alone we're asked to trust that they will put the voters interests first. An honor system for politicians, if you will. How's that working out? About as could be expected. The Republicans are (pick your metaphor) stacking the deck, loading the dice, tilting the playing field, or if you prefer, gerrymandering. They herd voters into districts with one objective foremost in their minds: to draw districts that allow them to win the most seats possible, regardless of what the majority of voters may want. Democrats did it too, but, thanks in part to improved technology, the GOP does it better. Hence, a state that is almost evenly split in its partisan leanings has veered so severely to the right when it comes to who gets elected. No self-respecting professional sport would abide by such hackneyed rules. Even so, we use them to elect people who pass laws and declare wars and decide how high or low our taxes will be. So, here we are. The Republican-majority General Assembly is about to redraw district lines for congressional and legislative seats and hardly anyone expects a fair outcome. In fact, the question isn't whether the lines will be unfair, it's how unfair. In fact, to ensure such a result the GOP tucked a provision into the new state budget that absolves them of practically of any responsibility to be open about the redistricting process. They have gone through the ritual of holding public comment sessions but even that was a half-hearted ritual. In 2021 they held 13 such sessions over 10 days. This time there were three over three days, all at 4 p.m., when many North Carolinians were still at work. Of course, this broken process does more than rob people of their voices. It breeds bad government by rewarding extremism and punishing moderation. Hence a new abortion law in this state that most voters oppose and, of course, the ongoing circus in the U.S. House. We had a brief taste of fair maps in 2022 when the state Supreme Court voided the maps drawn by Republicans, calling them unconstitutional beyond a reasonable doubt. Lawmakers redrew the legislative lines and court-appointed experts revised the congressional lines, resulting in maps that were more reflective of voter sentiment. In the 2022 election, the states congressional seats were evenly split. But those maps could be used only once. In the interim, a majority-Democratic Supreme Court became majority-Republican. And the court suddenly reversed itself, saying partisan gerrymandering didnt violate the constitution after all. So Republicans now have a green light to redraw the lines yet again. It's worth pointing out that all of these actions seem very, uh, un-Republican. Republicans profess a love of market-driven solutions ... but not when it comes to voting. Republicans say they believe you should earn your success by working hard for it ... except in political campaigns where, obviously, it's OK if a manipulated map gives you a big head start over an opponent. Republicans oppose affirmative action, saying we should be judged solely on our merits ... but apparently not politicians. We've love to be proven wrong when the new maps are unveiled, possibly as soon as this week. But we won't be. To hear the North Carolina GOP tell it, these have been halcyon days since they took control of the legislature. They cite a strong economy and a fat budget surplus and expanded school vouchers and looser gun laws and fewer regulations and a war on wokeness among their accomplishments. Well, if their record's been that good, why are they so afraid to run on it? In a fair fight? GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip In Gaza, a perfume vendor has found an unusual way to show his defiance of the Israeli blockade of the coastal territory. Rocket-shaped vials line the fragrant shelves of his Hijaz perfume shop in the Al-Saha market of Gaza City. Customers seeking a new fragrance can choose a "KN-103" scent, or perhaps spring for a "Buraq-100" it depends which militant group's rocket they'd like to display in their boudoir. Shopkeeper Hamza Abu Saraya, the owner of the popular perfumery in the besieged Gaza Strip, said he first came up with idea to design perfume bottles shaped like militant rockets during the Israel-Gaza war in 2021 the fourth since the militant group Hamas seized control of the area in 2007. The war involved exchanges of airstrikes and rocket attacks between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in Gaza, leaving over 250 Palestinians dead. Thirteen people were killed in Israel. Militant groups in Gaza including Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired hundreds of rockets at Israel. Israel and the EU consider both Hamas and Islamic Jihad Iranian-backed organizations that oppose Israel's existence terrorist groups. Human rights groups have accused both Israel and the militants of committing war crimes during the fighting. Upon entering the store, clouds of incense give way to rich, floral scents coming from the miniature iron rockets, each labeled with the name of the projectile they represent. Tiny models of the rockets from each group are represented in the shop for roughly $13 each. Within each vial, perfumes imported from outside Gaza have been locally mixed by workers in the strip. Gaza does not have any homegrown perfume brands. For many buyers, the act of purchasing these perfumes is seen as a symbol of supporting Palestinian efforts to oppose the Israeli blockade of Gaza and the occupation of the West Bank. Israel says the blockade is to prevent militants from arming themselves, but the Palestinians say the restrictions on movement in and out of Gaza, which have stifled the local economy, amount to collective punishment. "I love resistance. It's an art piece in my house," said customer Islam Abu Hamdallah. ___ DECATUR Police said a visiting drug dealer from Urbana had all the evidence of his crimes when his vehicle was pulled over in Decatur: a stash of drugs, two weapons, two cellphones, digital scales, and pockets stuffed with cash in small denominations. Lorenzo T. Pettigrew, 26, has yet to enter pleas on charges of being a drug dealer, an armed habitual criminal, armed violence and being a felon in possession of a gun. A sworn affidavit said Pettigrew was arrested the evening of Oct. 2 after his car was stopped on North Brush College Road by members of the police departments Community Action Team, which targets drugs and guns. Officer Clayton Zilz, who signed the affidavit, said Pettigrews vehicle smelled strongly of cannabis and he was carrying 18 ounces of the drug, an amount far too great to be for personal use. Two 9mm loaded handguns with extended magazines were found tucked under the front passenger seat, and Pettigrew was also in possession of a digital scale and a stash of small plastic baggies. Zilz said Pettigrew had more than $800 in cash, mostly in $20, $10 and $5 bills, which the officer said was consistent with income from illegal street-level drug sales. Zilz said the two phones Pettigrew carried were another hallmark of drug dealing: Officer knew from training and experience that drug dealers will often be in possession of two (or more) cell phones as they will utilize one phone for personal use and the other(s) as business phones used to arrange street level drug sales, he added. And through training and experience officers know drug dealers are commonly in possession of firearms in an attempt to deter and protect themselves from being ripped off or robbed. Zilz said Pettigrew has previous convictions for cannabis dealing and robbery, and a judge ruled he was too dangerous to be released when he was arraigned on the new charges Oct. 3. He is due back in Macon County Circuit Court Oct. 25 for a preliminary hearing, when he will enter formal pleas. 2023 mugshots from the Herald & Review Lourash Hirstein Phillip Gehrken Joseph A. Williams Jetrevius O. Jarrett Edwards King-Woods Wilson Derrickson Colby J. Park King battled against his own health from the time of his November 1852 election as Franklin Pierce's vice president, to his oath of office in March 1853. A persistent and violent cough left him emaciated and weak, prompting an early resignation in December 1852 from his Senate seat in the hopes that warmer weather would aid his recovery. He set out for Cuba, and by early February reached Havana, where he remained ill with tuberculosis. It didn't take long for King, then 67, to realize he was too sick to make it back to Washington, D.C. in time to accept the vice presidency. By the time King was to be sworn in, it literally required an Act of Congress for him to enter into office. Advertisement Thus, for the first and so far only time in U.S. history, Congress passed legislation allowing the VP-elect to be sworn in outside of the country. On March 24, 1853, King took his oath of office near Matanzas, Cuba, a seaport town 60 miles (97 kilometers) east of Havana. He was too ailing to stand without help, but he was able to repeat the oath and become America's 13th vice president. Within a month, desperate to return to the United States, King set sail for Alabama and died April 18, 1853, the day after he returned to his Southern estate. He never presided over a session of Congress as vice president though in an odd twist of fate, he had acted as President pro tempore of the Senate in 1850, when Zachary Taylor died and then-VP Millard Fillmore assumed the presidency. Following King's death, the nation went nearly four years without a vice president until March 1857, when John C. Breckenridge filled the position, serving alongside none other than President James Buchanan, King's longtime friend and companion. Now That's Interesting William Rufus DeVane King became a leader in the community that grew up around his Alabama estate. Although the area had gone by several names, King was instrumental in naming the city Selma after his favorite poem "The Songs of Selma," from James Macpherson's "Ossian" epic poem cycle. Cabarrus County Schools is planning to transition Wolf Meadow Elementary School from its balanced academic calendar to the traditional academic calendar that the other elementary schools follow for the 2024-25 school year. This is largely due to high rates of absenteeism amongst Wolf Meadow students. The school is the only one in the district that operates year-round, with students having four nine-week quarters. Chief Academic Officer Sarah Reeves told the school board during Mondays work session that Wolf Meadow had a daily average attendance of about 91.5 percent, significantly lower than the other elementary schools. I think its also really important to note that the daily average attendance was significantly lower on days when Cabarrus County Schools were out of school and Wolf Meadow was in school, Reeves said. The school has also struggled academically. Only 26.5 percent of Wolf Meadow students achieved grade-level proficiency last school year, the lowest rate in the district and a notable decline from the 2021-22 school year, when 36.2 percent of students achieved grade-level proficiency. We firmly believe that the data set specifically around chronic absenteeism and student performance and achievement results have provided the really strong foundational basis to make a data-informed decision to meet the unique needs of this specific situation, Reeves told the board. The current school year began for Wolf Meadow students on July 18, while the rest of the districts students started school on Aug. 10. Wolf Meadow transitioned to the balanced calendar model during the 2016-17 school year. The recommendation to move away from year-round school came about as part of the Fall 2023 review of several Program Choice and CTE pathways, including elementary dual language immersion programs, Cabarrus Virtual Academy for grades 1-5. Since late August, Reeves, Program Choice Coordinator Heather Stowe and their teams have been meeting with elementary school principals and soliciting feedback from staff and parents through surveys to evaluate the programs as they relate to equity and access for all students across the district. So far this school year, 145 students have opted out of Wolf Meadow. Of that total, Reeves said, 53 opt outs were due to hardships, many of which were based on the balanced calendar. In addition to transitioning Wolf Meadow to the traditional calendar, other proposed changes for the upcoming school year include: Moving to a 90-10 kindergarten instructional model for Spanish Dual Language, where students will receive a full instructional day in Spanish with only encore classes being in English. Historically, Reeves said, the district has utilized a 50-50 immersion model. Transitioning Cabarrus Virtual Academy to a 6-12 program. This would impact only 25 students. Begin exploring a premier Mandarin program in the future. Looking into stronger pipeline opportunities for Spanish Dual Language in the middle schools. The Dual Language Programs in Spanish and Mandarin have been particularly successful, according to the data shared with the board. 95 percent of students in DLI programs met or outperformed their school proficiency in math, science and reading while absences were lower for these students. More than 1,300 students are currently enrolled in Spanish and Mandarin DLI programs. Our ultimate goal is to mark sure we share with the community what programmatic offerings are available, what the data is showing, as well as serving and soliciting parent and stakeholder feedback around these programs, Reeves said. The next set of Program Choice options that will be reviewed will be International Baccalaureate schools, STEM schools, middle school Dual Language Immersion programs and the high school academies. Program Choice upcoming events Applications for the 2024-25 school year will open for all choice schools on Oct. 17 and will run until Dec. 15. During this same time period, Program Choice Open Houses will be held at each Program Choice magnet school. Parent notification of placement will occur in the online family dashboard the week of Feb. 1. Parents will have until Feb. 15 to make a decision and accept a seat in their online dashboard. There will be a Futures Fair Day Fieldtrip for eighth grade students on Oct. 10 and 11. A Program Choice Fair at The Cabarrus Arena and Events Center Gold Hall will be held Oct. 16. For more information about Program Choice and the options available for students, visit https://www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us/1512_3. Sunday, Oct. 8 The author of Pearls Kaleidoscope, Reflections of a 95-year-old African American Womans Life will be hold a book signing in Concord. The book signing will be held at 3 p.m.. at The Allen Small Family Life Center at Price Memorial AME Zion Church, 192 Spring St. SW, Concord. Grace Church Concord, a Global Methodist Community, will be having a Consecration Service of its new worship center at 10 a.m. Grace Church Concord is at 28-B Branchview Dr NE, Concord. Monday, Oct. 9 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner. Tuesday, Oct. 10 TOPS #437 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. (weigh-in begins at 9:30 a.m.) at Lakeview Baptist Church, 2532 Lane St., Kannapolis. Visitors are welcome. If you need help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member or friend, you are invited to join us for A Griefshare Support Group at Pitts Baptist Church, 140 Pitts School Road., NW, Concord, weekly on Tuesdays, through Oct. 31, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. For more information, call Linda Bounds at 704-793-8155. Wednesday, Oct. 11 The Sportscenter Weekly Bible Study will be at 1:30 a.m. at the Sportscenter 233 Country Club Dr NE Concord. All are welcome. Centering Prayer Weekly via Zoom meets at 7:30 p.m. For the Zoom link please check the Calvary Lutheran Church Facebook page or website http://www.clconcord.org, or contact the church office at 704-782-6923. Thursday, Oct. 12 Epworth United Methodist Church will have a hot dog sale from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Epworth is located at 1030 Burrage Road NE, Concord . For deliveries call 704-786-5500. Friday, Oct. 13 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner. Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14 The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products. Hot dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union St. S., are offered on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dine in and take out. Call-in orders are welcomed at 704-782-1785. Monday, Oct. 16 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner. Tuesday, Oct. 17 TOPS #437 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. (weigh-in begins at 9:30 a.m.) at Lakeview Baptist Church, 2532 Lane St., Kannapolis. Visitors are welcome. If you need help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member or friend, you are invited to join us for A Griefshare Support Group at Pitts Baptist Church, 140 Pitts School Road., NW, Concord, weekly on Tuesdays, through Oct. 31, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. For more information, call Linda Bounds at 704-793-8155. Wednesday, Oct. 18 The Sportscenter Weekly Bible Study will be at 1:30 a.m. at the Sportscenter 233 Country Club Dr NE Concord. All are welcome. Centering Prayer Weekly via Zoom meets at 7:30 p.m. For the Zoom link please check the Calvary Lutheran Church Facebook page or website http://www.clconcord.org, or contact the church office at 704-782-6923. The Cabarrus Senior Center Photo Club is alive and clicking away. If you like taking photos, come join the members on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 1:30-3 p.m. at the Cabarrus Senior Center, 331 Corban Ave. SE, Concord, and share your photographic creativity. Whether you are a seasoned photographer or strictly amateur, all are welcome. Thursday, Oct. 19 Epworth United Methodist Church will have a hot dog sale from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Epworth is located at 1030 Burrage Road NE, Concord . For deliveries call 704-786-5500. Friday, Oct. 20 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner. Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products. Hot dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union St. S., are offered on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dine in and take out. Call-in orders are welcomed at 704-782-1785. New Gilead Reformed Church will have a BBQ Chicken Dinner fundraiser from 11 a.m. until sold out..Dine in or carryout. The church is located at 2400 Old Salisbury-Concord Road, Concord. A plate includes: half BBQ Chicken, beans, slaw, roll, chips, drink, and dessert for $11. A whole chicken is $9 and a quart of slaw is $5. Monday, Oct. 23 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner. Tuesday, Oct. 24 TOPS #437 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. (weigh-in begins at 9:30 a.m.) at Lakeview Baptist Church, 2532 Lane St., Kannapolis. Visitors are welcome. If you need help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member or friend, you are invited to join us for A Griefshare Support Group at Pitts Baptist Church, 140 Pitts School Road., NW, Concord, weekly on Tuesdays, through Oct. 31, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. For more information, call Linda Bounds at 704-793-8155. Wednesday, Oct. 25 The Sportscenter Weekly Bible Study will be at 1:30 a.m. at the Sportscenter 233 Country Club Dr NE Concord. All are welcome. Centering Prayer Weekly via Zoom meets at 7:30 p.m. For the Zoom link please check the Calvary Lutheran Church Facebook page or website http://www.clconcord.org, or contact the church office at 704-782-6923. Thursday, Oct. 26 Epworth United Methodist Church will have a hot dog sale from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Epworth is located at 1030 Burrage Road NE, Concord . For deliveries call 704-786-5500. Friday, Oct. 27 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner. Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products. Hot dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union St. S., are offered on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dine in and take out. Call-in orders are welcomed at 704-782-1785. Calvary Lutheran Church will host a Trunk or Treat & Cookout. Children may trick-or-treat from 4-5 p.m. Afterward enjoy a hot dog supper and outdoor games until 6 p.m. It is a free event. All are welcome. To enter your vehicle to give out treats please visit: Trunk or Treat Vehicle Signup: Calvary Trunk or Treat Vehicle Signup (signupgenius.com) https://bit.ly/3Qd9xEp Monday, Oct. 30 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner. A Caregiver Support Group via Zoom at 7:30 p.m.. For the Zoom link please check the Calvary Lutheran Church Facebook page or website http://www.clconcord.org, or contact the church office at 704-782-6923. Tuesday, Oct. 31 TOPS #437 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. (weigh-in begins at 9:30 a.m.) at Lakeview Baptist Church, 2532 Lane St., Kannapolis. Visitors are welcome. If you need help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member or friend, you are invited to join us for A Griefshare Support Group at Pitts Baptist Church, 140 Pitts School Road., NW, Concord, weekly on Tuesdays, through Oct. 31, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. For more information, call Linda Bounds at 704-793-8155. Wednesday, Nov. 1 The Sportscenter Weekly Bible Study will be at 1:30 a.m. at the Sportscenter 233 Country Club Dr NE Concord. All are welcome. Centering Prayer Weekly via Zoom meets at 7:30 p.m. For the Zoom link please check the Calvary Lutheran Church Facebook page or website http://www.clconcord.org, or contact the church office at 704-782-6923. Thursday, Nov. 2 Epworth United Methodist Church will have a hot dog sale from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Epworth is located at 1030 Burrage Road NE, Concord . For deliveries call 704-786-5500. Friday, Nov. 3 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products. Hot dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union St. S., are offered on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dine in and take out. Call-in orders are welcomed at 704-782-1785. Got news or events? Does your community group or nonprofit agency have an upcoming event that would be of interest to the public? Email it to mplemmons@independenttribune.com. ARTHUR Peter Bysko has a workshop at home in Springfield, but his tools are all power tools. I have hand tools, he said with a chuckle, but they're just for display. He and his wife, Michele, and her brother, Tony Russell, visited the Harvest to Home festival at the Illinois Amish Heritage Preservation Center between Arthur and Arcola on Saturday because they enjoy the return to a simpler, less technological time. Old Order Amish forbid owning automobiles; tapping electricity from public utility lines; owning televisions, radios or personal computers; attending high school or college; joining the military; and initiating divorce. All Amish groups expect men and women to wear prescribed clothing. Children attend Amish schools through eighth grade only, and most Amish prefer to avoid being photographed. Their faith requires them to be, as the Bible instructs, "in the world but not of the world." Preservation Center staff member Bruce Weiman demonstrated a hand planer on a board and offered the family a chance to try it themselves, but he wasn't surprised when they all declined. Time is money, Weiman said. Imagine doing this for a whole tabletop. Michele Bysko said she's fascinated by how the Amish live without the modern conveniences she depends on, and though she doesn't think she could do that, she has to admit the slower pace and quiet are appealing. The Byskos moved to Illinois to be near their grandson. They came from Connecticut, where conditions are much more congested, and the fields and elbow room in Central Illinois have become home. Historian Troy Kauffman, who acted as announcer for the event, said the variety of activities were not to be missed. They included making apple butter, harvesting corn, sorghum pressing and cooking, shredding cornstalks with machinery powered by horses, buggy rides and free train rides the train was a cleverly disguised tractor. In the barn, where people could meet dogs, horses, rabbits and a pair of budgies up close, an Amish farrier demonstrated shoeing a horse, with a patient horse standing still and offering his front left hoof for the demonstration. In the cornfield, Amish men harvested stalks and bundled them together for collection later while horse-drawn wagons waited to be loaded. Horsepower also ran the machines that chopped up the corn shucks and ground the cobs, and women stirred apple butter in an iron pot over an open fire. Maxxis Woodring of Thompsonville attended with his parents and grandmother, Jane Harper, and took home a piece of rope that he helped make with the assistance of an Amish craftsman on a hand-cranked machine. He said he didn't know what he was going to use it for, but he enjoyed watching the process. We always come, said Harper, of Cave-in-Rock. We really enjoy this. PHOTOS: Taking a look inside the Amish community in Ava Jonathon Fence Jason Mast Feet Mast Tomatoes Reuben Mast Phone Amish Flowers David Mast Mast Laundry Jason Mast Amish Chickens Our favorite images of life in Southern Illinois from 2019 Mast men Our favorite images of life in Southern Illinois from 2019 "There are no Azerbaijani citizens among the dead and wounded in Israel". This was reported by head of the Press Service Department of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Ayhan Hajizadeh. He noted that the Ministry is in constant contact with the Azerbaijani Embassy in Israel, Azernews reports. Aikhan Hajizadeh also emphasised that in the near future Azerbaijani citizens will be called upon to follow the instructions of state institutions. To recall, commander of the Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigade of the armed wing of Hamas, Mohammad al-Daif, announced the beginning of Operation Storm Aqsa against Israel, 5,000 rockets were fired on the territory of the Jewish state. as part of the operation. 100 years ago, Oct. 8, 1923 MATTOON Beginning with the first of October, water bills will be payable monthly, but there is no change in the rate of cost, it is announced in a circular letter of Oct. 1 issued to all water users. The letter is signed by the Central Illinois Public Service Company, stating that on September 1 it had acquired all the property and assets of the Mattoon Clear Water Company. Consumers will notice there is a variation in calculation. Under the old system, the measurement was by gallons, but with the new billing the meterage is by cubic feet...MATTOON George Adams, proprietor of a Broadway confectionery, pleaded guilty to a charge of making use of improper language toward Miss Helen Mobley, 2609 Marshall Avenue, while an employee of his establishment and was fined $5 and costs by Judge Gibler. It was claimed by Miss Mobley that Adams made improper proposals to her during the last two weeks of her employ in his confectionery, and when she told her mother of these conditions, the latter demanded that she resign her position, which she did on Saturday night. 50 years ago, 1973 CHARLESTON A women picket at EIU was struck by a vehicle today and taken to Charleston Community Memorial Hospital. Harriette Smith of 910 N. 12th, Mattoon was struck by a vehicle driven by Lorraine Hughs, food service provider at Pemberton Hall, according to James Woodard, assistant director of the AFSMCE. Woodard said that two other pickets were hit by a vehicle today, Jean Dulka and another unidentified picket were hit by a truck driven by Donald Kluge, dean of housing. Kluge is also alleged to have struck another picket, Sharon Phipps, with a delivery truck last week...MATTOON Two cars were stolen and set on fire over the weekend, the police reported today. A 1968 Oldsmobile was taken from the residence of Clyde Kirk of 1000 S. 6th sometime Saturday night. A 1967 Pontiac, listed as belonging to Young's Used Cars of 600 DeWitt, was stolen at approximately 10:20 p.m. Sunday from a parking space in the 1800 block of Western. Both cars had the keys in them when they were stolen, according to police. The Kirk auto was discovered at approximately 12:28 a.m. Sunday burning on a rural road located west of S. 33rd St. Road one mile from Mattoon. The fire was reported to authorities by George Fleming of Route 1. The 1967 Pontiac was found burning at approximately 1:50 a.m. today in the 800 block of the alley between Wabash and Charleston. 25 years ago, 1998 MATTOON The city is preparing for a fall yard waste disposal program that includes a continued ban on open burning. Mattoon resident Harold Burwell reminded the City Council on Tuesday that the burn ban imposed last year had a one-year trial provision. He asked whether the council had assessed the program after that year. There was no effort by the council to overturn the burning ban outside of a comment by Commissioner Bud Raboin that he would favor some burning, but commissioners outlined plans for yard waste collection. Raboin said the program likely will resemble the one in place at the end of last year, with a dropoff site at the street department and some curbside collection for those willing to use paper bags. Raboin said a new truck that may be in in November could allow the city another vehicle to use in the leaf-collection program. Employees have built a unit for the vac truck so that the arm may be moved around to suck up leaves. Diversify or divest? That is the question facing an increasing number of publicly-traded corporations in the Triad trying to strike the right balance between two competing business mantras. The latest example recently surfaced when Krispy Kreme out of the blue signaled it is considering selling its majority stake in subsidiary Insomnia Cookies, which represents about 14% of its projected fiscal 2023 revenue. The surprising news comes just more than four years after JAB Holdings, Krispy Kremes private-equity parent organization, acquired a majority stake in the cookie company for an undisclosed price. Todays decision enables Krispy Kreme to unlock shareholder value and focus on its core strategy of producing, selling and distributing fresh doughnuts daily, the company said in a statement. With that announcement, Krispy Kreme joined HanesBrands, 22nd Century Group and Wells Fargo & Co. in declaring their intentions to consider strategic options in their efforts to reduce expenses. HanesBrands, for instance, is seeking buyers for its global Champion sportswear apparel line. Champion, along with Hanes, are HanesBrands cornerstone brands. And the New York-based 22nd Century, which has operations in Mocksville, may sell off its very-low-nicotine traditional cigarette assets in what some analysts say could be a precursor to a federal bankruptcy protection filing. **** A McKinsey & Co. Global Survey found that diversifying products or services beyond the core business may gain a corporation initially more public and investment awareness. A clear majority of executives say their companies are pursuing growth in categories outside their core business and report a strong belief that doing so has created company value, according to the McKinsey report. The overarching motivation, according to survey respondents, is two-fold: being able to access new profit pools and strengthening the core business. However, the report determined that over time, companies aspirations to grow through these activities have produced only modest results, and that few companies have the right practices in place to support such growth. According to one area expert, the actual and potential divestiture moves from the Triad corporations has one common theme the search for sustainable growth. Corporate growth leads to more revenue, more revenue leads to bigger profits, bigger profits lead to more industry power and larger corporate profits, said Tony Plath, a retired finance professor at UNC-Charlotte. Plath noted that the divestiture moves are reminiscent of the business philosophy often touted by former General Electric chief executive Jack Welch. According to the Gospel of Jack, when you have underperforming business units, you either fix them, close them or sell them, Plath said. We have some large corporations with an underperforming business who may be taking Welchs advice to heart. **** The financial turbulence currently affecting some Triad corporations was felt decades earlier by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. Reynolds began to diversify from being a lucrative tobacco manufacturer in the 1960s by buying several small companies. It made its first major transaction when it bought Sea-Land Services, a shipping company, in 1969. In 1970, the company set up R.J. Reynolds Industries, a holding company, and bought an oil company. During the 1970s and 1980s, the company acquired several consumer-products companies, including Del Monte, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Heublein, a liquor and wine company. R.J. Reynolds Industries bought Nabisco Brands for $4.9 billion, forming RJR Nabisco in 1985. At the time, Oreo cookies and Ritz crackers were under the same corporate umbrella as the Camel and Winston cigarette brands. Ross Johnson, who became perhaps the most vilified businessman in local history, came to Winston-Salem in 1985 as part of the Nabisco sale. Soon after Johnson took over RJR Nabisco in January 1987, he let loose a wave of management-level firings while substantially increasing the pay of those he deemed as loyal and competent. Johnson foremost angered the local community by labeling Winston-Salem as bucolic while justifying his shocking decision to move RJR Nabiscos headquarters to Atlanta soon after becoming chief executive. In 1989, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. completed its $26.4 billion buyout of RJR Nabisco and moved the company headquarters to New York. The deal saddled the company with tons of debt as it struggled to stay afloat. We got into some areas where we shouldnt have been, Nabisco Holdings chief executive James Kilts said at the time. Eventually, the company completed a full-circle transformation back to being strictly a tobacco manufacturer. **** Grow or die? Thats the question Triad manufacturers are struggling to answer. Diversification can offer advantages for corporations that have successfully built their businesses around one or more brands in a specific category, said Roger Beahm, a marketing professor in the Wake Forest University School of Business. They are often pressed to grow beyond that category, either because the category itself is growing too slowly or because the environment has become too competitive. These businesses look to accelerate their growth by acquiring these new brands, and expanding into other categories where they believe they can leverage their expertise, as well as acquire new ones. Unfortunately, the ability to execute on this vision is usually much more challenging than anticipated. Beahm explained that the acquired company can often benefit from a halo effect following the shadow endorsement of the acquiring brand. Yet, diversification can present significant operational and cultural changes to both the parent and acquired brands, Beahm cautioned. The consumer markets for the products can be very different, he said. Knowing how to distribute and market a brand in one category does not automatically transfer to the other. Beahm said that even though Krispy Kreme benefited from additional revenue from the Insomnia cookie brand, there may have been fewer points of synergy than one had hoped. Thats likely one of the reasons for this change in perspective. ... In the end, it will depend on the parent companys own ability to leverage its strengths, and those of the acquired brand, without costly distractions or dilution of resources. It takes time something many of these companies just dont have. Ive visited Washington, D.C., many times in my life. Shes my favorite city in America. But, for all the times I had been mesmerized by the majestic buildings on Capitol Hill, Id never been inside any of them. Recently, World Relief Triad, our local office of a global Christian humanitarian organization, invited me and several other North Carolina evangelical pastors from Asheville to Wilmington to advocate in Washington for more just immigration policies, including both improvements to border security and compassion for vulnerable immigrants. I was intrigued by the chance to see the inner workings of our federal government but hesitant because Ive grown cynical about politics. I tend to distrust Washingtons ability to get important things done. But behind the marble walls of our government buildings, I found chambers full of energy, careful deliberation and spiritual vitality hundreds of people buzzing around like bees through endless corridors. The staff we met in the offices of North Carolina U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, along with Winston-Salems U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, were thoughtful, hospitable and attentive; the chief counsel for Congressman Budd probably took eight pages of notes. They were conversant in the language of Scripture and even welcomed our prayers at the close of our 30-minute sessions. Shelves were filled with books about faith and character. As we discussed the state of immigration in America throughout the course of the day, I became increasingly convinced of the need for new legislation. The Afghan Adjustment Act would help Afghans who fled persecution and have been resettled here in the Triad to gain a path to citizenship. Many of them have risked their lives to help our troops. Support for refugee resettlement would help persecuted Christians, whose access to the U.S. has declined from 32,248 per year in 2016 to 9,528 per year in 2022, as documented in a new report from Open Doors U.S. and World Relief. The bipartisan Dignity Act would not only allocate $35 billion to increased border security, but also would grant a path to citizenship for immigrants who have come into this country as children. This citizenship can provide protection, for instance, to wives in abusive marriages. Before I left for Washington, I consulted with two friends at church, wondering if it would be wise for me to speak in favor of pro-immigration policies. I assumed, wrongly, that evangelicals tend to be skeptical of such things. The reality is that, according to a 2022 Lifeway research poll, 83% of evangelicals think that legal immigrants are helpful to the U.S. and 71% of evangelicals think its important for Congress to pass new pro-immigration legislation. This shouldnt be surprising. Frequent readers of the Bible know that Israel was commanded to welcome immigrants. Leviticus 19:34 says: The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. Christians have even more reason to embrace immigrants. We believe that the God of Israel took on flesh and resided among us as an alien and a stranger: The Celestial Immigrant, as one of my colleagues in D.C. called him. That was Jesus conception of himself. In Matthew 25.35 he says, I was an immigrant, and you invited me in. My favorite moment of the day was when one of the pastors was giving encouragement to the staff worker for Virginia Foxx. He said: We are all refugees in the Kingdom of God. And we didnt treat the King very well. But, that didnt stop him from inviting us, stingy as we are, to live in his new world forever. One of the last giants of the 1960s and 70s Green Revolution, M.S. Swaminathan, died at his home in Chennai, India, on Sept. 28. He was 98. Swaminathan was to India what Norman Borlaug, the Iowa farm boy turned Nobel Peace Prize winner, was to the rest of the hungry, post-war world: a brilliant, hands-on scientist whose work saved untold millions maybe billions from lives of poverty and starvation. If Borlaug was the way, I wrote in this space after a 2004 visit to Chennai, Swaminathan was the means because he had turned Indias centuries-empty begging bowl into an overflowing breadbasket ... It didnt happen overnight. Swaminathan invited Borlaug to India in 1963 to tour farms. Shortly thereafter, the two collaborated to develop wheat and rice varieties to replace less-hardy, more-vulnerable varieties used by Indian subsistence farmers at the time. By 1974, noted The New York Times in Swaminathans obituary, India was self-sufficient in wheat and rice. By 1982, wheat production had reached almost 40 million metric tons, more than triple the harvest in the early 1960s. (By comparison, U.S. wheat production this year will total about 47 million metric tons). Another important U.S. link was Swaminathan being named the first World Food Prize Laureate in 1987, an award envisioned by Borlaug. The already-famous Indian used the then-$200,000 prize money to establish the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai to assist women and rural development. But its impact was intended to go even deeper, the welcoming Swaminathan explained in our visit almost two decades ago. The foundation hopes to harness science and technology for an environmentally sustainable and socially equitable job-led economic growth of Indias rural areas. People first, technology second, he said, adding First the Green Revolution, then an Ever-Green Revolution. Always the searcher, Swaminathan asked almost as many questions as were asked of him. Many centered on the relatively new genetically modified corn and soybean seeds sweeping American farms at the time. Surprisingly, the renowned geneticist wasnt a big supporter. Like many others especially the Europeans Swaminathan worried about food safety, intellectual property rights, and whether the technology (will) increase the rich-poor divide. His point was short and sharp: Technologies that compound social problems are not needed. That didnt mean all genetically modified technology was bad, he added; it did, however, mean there was a division to maintain. GM seeds that did not make an investment in the livelihoods of the poor, he said, are unwelcome. For example, his foundations researchers had isolated the gene that allows mangrove trees to thrive in salt marshes. That gene was then introduced to rice because he believes salt-tolerant crops will play an increasingly important role as global warming affects developing nations future food supplies. He, like Borlaug, wasnt aiming for sainthood. Indeed, his detractors say his list of sins was far too long to earn him a halo. The biggest, say environmental groups both here and in India, was his encouraging industrial farm practices that relied on expensive and polluting fertilizers and pesticides, and for supporting the development of genetically modified crops, explained The Times obituary. Guilty as charged, I suspect the easy-to-smile scientist might plead for two clearly redemptive reasons. First, Swaminathan came of age amid one of the worst disasters to strike India in the 20th century, noted the Washington Post on Sept. 28, the Bengal famine of 1943, estimated to have killed 3 million people. The youth, who had planned to follow his father into medicine, set aside those plans to study agriculture after witnessing the agony of the famine. So forget the hardened critics, that is proper sainthood material. And second, Swaminathan like Borlaug and every farmer whose ag roots reach back even one generation are swimming in the same vat of 1960s techno-guilt because no one, not even the venerable Borlaug, could know just how much environmental and cultural change accompanied the genius of those magical, life-saving crops. We do know now, however, that the moral challenge we face is to stop blaming Borlaug and Swaminathan for yesterdays sins and start accepting responsibility for ours today. The Diabetes Care Foundation has pledged $2 million to help the Clifton Strengths Institute grow and continue its mission of developing business students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The pledged money will be distributed via an endowment named after Joan Heiser, executive director of the foundation and a 1980 graduate of UNLs College of Business. Tim Hodges, executive director of the Clifton Strengths Institute, said the money will help recruit and retain faculty and staff. In turn, students will benefit from more one-on-one instruction and mentorship as they are developed into business leaders. While the science in researching and treating diabetes is sound, Heiser said the field could use an entrepreneurial vision. Diabetes is a national epidemic, Heiser said. There are so many problems that can be solved through entrepreneurs who have ideas for new ventures. The Clifton Strengths Institute teaches and promotes the entrepreneurial spirit. Hodges said the endowment comes with flexibility to do some exciting things that may not have happened had we not had a gift like this. The endowment, he said, could allow the expansion of existing programs both on an institutional level and a student level. It could also allow the Clifton Strengths Institute to implement new ideas and programs. On one hand, (we can) do more of what were already doing and continue to keep trying to do it better. On the other hand, (we can) have the flexibility to start something new, he said. Its a real privilege to be able to do that. By pledging the $2 million as an endowment, the Diabetes Care Foundation, which is based in Omaha, has ensured the funds will be awarded in perpetuity. We wanted to invest in something that we could support ... that wasnt going to be a one-and-done deal. We want to establish something that will be self-sufficient, that will grow and gain support from others, Heiser said. The future will change for those with diabetes. Established in 2015, the Clifton Strengths Institute, which is based in the College of Business, teaches the students using the late Don Cliftons lessons and philosophies. Clifton earned four degrees from UNL and was a researcher and educational psychology instructor at the university from 1950 to 1969. The Clifton Strengths Institute, Hodges said, teaches and develops students under Cliftons philosophy by emphasizing their strengths rather than their weaknesses. About 1,000 students participate in the program each year. The Diabetes Care Foundations pledge comes as part of the University of Nebraskas Only in Nebraska fundraising campaign. Administered by the University of Nebraska Foundation, the $3 billion campaign is designed to support students, faculty, academic programs and research at NUs campuses plus the University of Nebraska Medical Centers clinical partner Nebraska Medicine. To date, the campaign has raised more than $2 billion from more than 130,000 donors. This is not the first pledge the Diabetes Care Foundation has made to an NU campus. According to a statement from the NU Foundation, the Diabetes Care Foundation pledged $5 million last year to support the launch of a statewide diabetes care and education program led by the University of Nebraska Medical Center and UNMCs clinical partner Nebraska Medicine. Heiser also noted the Diabetes Care Foundation has partnered with Creighton University to help rural Nebraskans with diabetes. 16 famous University of Nebraska-Lincoln alumni Johnny Carson Tyronn Lue Jeff Zeleny Willa Cather Ndamukong Suh Ev Williams Ted Kooser Joel Sartore Mary Pipher Tommy Lee Warren Buffett Aaron Douglas John J. Pershing Alex Gordon Ted Sorensen Louise Pound Omaha police arrested a 29-year-old man Saturday morning after a pursuit involving an ambulance stolen from Council Bluffs. At approximately 7:30 a.m., the Omaha Police Department was notified that Council Bluffs police were in pursuit of a stolen ambulance, according to Lt. Neal Bonacci, an Omaha police spokesman. The ambulance crossed into Omaha and Omaha police took over the pursuit. At times during the pursuit, the ambulance was driving into oncoming traffic lanes, Bonacci said. After several unsuccessful attempts to deploy stop sticks, police were able to use a stop stick to halt the ambulance near North 138th Street and Military Road, according to Bonacci. The Omaha Police Department has identified the four officers who fired at 39-year-old Patrick Wright on Tuesday night, striking him multiple times. Police Sgt. Jacob Chong with nine years of service, Officer Andrew Ramsay with 11 years of service, Officer Kyle Graber with nine years of service and Officer Nicholas Molek with seven years of service, all of OPDs Criminal Investigations Bureau, fired at Wright after stopping the car he was driving near 61st and Jaynes Streets, police said. Wright is expected to survive his injuries, police said Friday. OPDs Officer Involved Investigations Team has interviewed the officers and witnesses in the incident and has conducted a review of the body-worn camera footage, according to a statement released Friday. Police provided the following timeline of the incident based on the investigation: Officers responded to North 21st and Pinkney Streets at 7:20 p.m. Tuesday night for a 911 call that a man had just pointed a firearm at the caller, the release said. The caller described the suspects vehicle as a two-door red Chevrolet SUV and gave the first three letters of the license plate. The caller also stated that the suspect was a Black male about 35 years old and named Patrick Wright. There was another man in the red SUV with Wright, the caller said. The caller also said that he did not know why Wright pointed a black handgun at him and that he feared that Wright would return to harm the caller and his family, according to the release. At 7:33 p.m., officers responding to the area saw a red Chevrolet SUV heading west on Ames Avenue from North 24th Street that matched the description provided by the 911 caller, the release said. Another man also was seen in the passenger seat of the SUV. Officers gave this information over the radio and began surveilling the vehicle with unmarked police vehicles as it drove west on Ames. OPDs helicopter also was requested for aerial assistance. At 7:42 p.m., gang-unit detectives tried to make contact with the two men in the SUV when it pulled over near North 61st and Jaynes Streets, the release said. Two of the three unmarked police vehicles the detectives were driving had their red and blue emergency light activated. Before detectives were able to exit their police vehicles, the driver of the SUV, who was later identified as Patrick Wright, immediately got out of the SUV with what officers described as a black/silver handgun in his right hand and pointed directly toward the officers, the release said. The four officers fired their service firearms at Wright after exiting their vehicles, striking Wright multiple times, the release said. Multiple loud verbal commands were given by officers during the interaction. Officers then moved to Wright with a ballistic shield and provided him with lifesaving medical aid before he was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center by Omaha Fire Department personnel, according to authorities. Wrights injuries were not considered life-threatening as of Friday. A handgun with a loaded magazine and a round chambered was found near Wright when officers approached him, police reported. The Douglas County Attorneys Office has been consulted on the investigation and charges are pending. The passenger of the SUV, 45-year-old Alandus Warren, was arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine and marijuana. "It is a great advantage to a President, and a major source of safety to the country, for him to know that he is not a great man." Calvin Coolidge Donald Trump is not a great man. His rhetoric, which has included denunciations of those who have served in the military (while he dodged the draft five times with a limp excuse about bone spurs) ought to disgust all but those who are in complete denial of the danger he would pose to the Constitution and the country should he be reelected president. Humility is not part of his vocabulary and words mean something, especially when they reflect character. In the latest "indictment" of Trump's virulent rhetoric, his former chief of staff , John Kelly, issued a statement in which he says he witnessed Trump insulting wounded veterans and others. Kelly says Trump called such people who gave their lives, limbs, eyes, or were captured by the enemy "losers and suckers." In a statement to CNN, Kelly said, "What can I say that has not already been said? A person that thinks those who defend their country in uniform, or are shot down or seriously wounded in combat, or spend years being tortured as POWs are all 'suckers' because there is nothing in it for them. A person that doesn't want to be seen in the presence of military amputees because 'it doesn't look good for me.'" Kelly also cites Trump's contempt for Gold Star families and his refusal to visit the graves of American soldiers on a visit to France. On his Truth Social site, Trump posted a sketch someone did of him in the Manhattan courtroom on the opening day of his fraud trail. It featured a rendering of Jesus seated next to him. The implication is clear. Trump is being persecuted as Jesus was persecuted. By any definition, this is blasphemy. What might his devoted evangelical supporters think of that? If they've forgiven, or ignored, everything else he has said and done, why would blasphemy bother them? The list of Trump's incendiary rhetoric is long and growing. Some of his latest suggestions include the execution of former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley, who he eff ectively said was guilty of "treason" for the way the pullout from Afghanistan was handled, apparently forgetting the buck stopped with President Biden, who made that decision after Trump's disastrous bungling "severely constrained" his options. On Tuesday, Trump posted the name, picture and link to a private Instagram account of a law clerk serving presiding Judge Arthur Engoron. In the post Trump referred to the clerk as "Schumer's girlfriend." He subsequently deleted the post, but the email blast and screenshot cannot be unsent. Judge Engoron has now imposed a partial gag order on the recalcitrant Trump. Trump defenders and apologists like to say the reason they support him is that he's a "fighter." But even fighters are constrained by rules, like not hitting below the belt. There are other Republican presidential candidates without his baggage. They have learned to fight, too, but fairly and within the constitutional boundaries and with better deportment. There was a time when grandmothers would threaten to wash a kid's mouth out with soap for using language that was impolite. If that were applied to Trump, a lot of soap would be needed, so much so that the suds might violate New York environmental laws. Trump is drawing all attention to him, which is his intent. He correctly says that with each new indictment, his poll numbers go up. That says a lot about his followers' low requirements for high office. People who excuse his extreme self-possession may live to regret it. So will the country should he return to the White House. Cal Thomas writes for Tribune Content Agency. The Israeli government formally declared war and gave the green light for significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack from the Gaza Strip. The declaration on Sunday portended greater fighting ahead as the toll from the conflict passed 1,100 dead and thousands wounded on both sides. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has made a phone call to President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on October 7, Azernews reports. The head of state congratulated Vladimir Putin on his birthday and wished him new successes in his statehood activities and robust health. Vladimir Putin thanked the President of Azerbaijan for his attention and congratulation. The heads of state underlined successful development of friendly relations between the countries in various fields, and discussed the issues related to the prospects for cooperation BURLINGTON The St. Francis Friary is inviting the public to learn more about the future of the historic religious site. The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, the Chicago-based Catholic group that purchased the 90-year-old complex for $3.5 million is hosting a free open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 21 that will include a tour the property. The nonprofit institute plans to spend nearly $10 million renovating the former residential center for friars, and transforming it into a retreat facility for its members throughout the central United States. Activities are expected to start by the end of 2024. The Rev. Canon Matthew Talarico said the open house will allow visitors to meet members of his organization and to learn about the new Sacred Heart Retreat Center. "All are welcome," the group wrote in its announcement. Located at 2457 Browns Lake Drive, the friary was built in 1931 by a Polish Catholic order of friars who moved from Pulaski, near Green Bay. A friary is similar to a monastery, except that monks generally live a reclusive lifestyle, while friars tend to be more outwardly engaged in a community. The friary grew in popularity as a venue for weddings and other events. But as the friars aged, they found it difficult to maintain the grounds and decided to sell 146-acre property. The friary is on the National Register of Historic Places. The institute completed its purchase of about 100 acres in May, leaving 15 acres for the friars to maintain a place of residence and another parcel retained by private developer Bear Real Estate. The new owners are soliciting donations to help fund their renovation plans. Burlington's St. Francis Friary history, in photos St. Francis Friary St. Francis Friary in Burlington 146-acre complex may be redeveloped 2000 Balloons for Franciscans Running at the friary Running at the friary Grotto at St. Francis Grotto at St. Francis A clown pastor Mass at the friary Katrina evacuees find refuge at St. Francis Friary in Burlington Katrina evacuees find refuge at St. Francis Friary in Burlington Katrina evacuees find refuge at St. Francis Friary in Burlington Katrina evacuees find refuge at St. Francis Friary in Burlington Katrina evacuees find refuge at St. Francis Friary in Burlington Katrina evacuees find refuge at St. Francis Friary in Burlington Katrina evacuees find refuge at St. Francis Friary in Burlington Rev. Jerry Zawada A Franciscan crafter Supporting St. Francis 2002 2011 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 The Azerbaijani Embassy in Israel has issued an appeal on its page on X, following major attack launched on Israel this morning and the state of alert in the country, Azernews reports. The appeal says that the Israel Defense Forces have declared a state of alert. "In this regard, we strongly recommend that Azerbaijani citizens do not travel to Israel, observe security rules, be cautious, and act in accordance with the recommendations of local government agencies," the embassy said. A combined attack was carried out on Israel this morning. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air. It is reported that civilians were killed. The Israel Defense Forces declared a state of readiness for war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel's Defense Minister Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists. Tommar Franklin has been named Kenoshas Hometown Hero for the third quarter of 2023. He was honored during the Oct. 2 Common Council meeting. The Kenosha Hometown Heroes Commission created the program to identify and recognize as Hometown Heroes worthy men and women, who have served or are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces, for their outstanding personal achievements and the positive contributions they make to the Kenosha community. Candidates must be born in, currently reside in, or have previously resided 10 years or more at any time, in the City of Kenosha. Franklin served in the United States Coast Guard from June 20, 2000, until his retirement as Chief Petty Officer on March 1, 2022. He spent a significant portion of his enlistment at the Kenosha Coast Guard Station, keeping the City of Kenosha safe. He also served the people of Milwaukee while enlisted. His military education has included Radiation Detection LVL2 Operator, Leadership & Management Roadshow, TCT Unit, CR/HRA Basic Human Awareness, Sexual Harassment Prevention, Substance Abuse Free Environment Awareness, Rape & Sexual Assault Prevention, Stress Management, and Suicide Prevention training. He was awarded numerous medals, badges, ribbons, and awards including the CG Meritorious Team Commendation with One Gold Star, CG Meritorious Unit Commendation, CG Pistol shot Marksman Ribbon, CG Presidential Unit Citation; CG Rifleman Marksman Ribbon; Commandants Letter of Commendation, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, 9-11 Ribbon, Second CG Good Conduct Award for Period ending 06/06/19, Major Richard I. Bong Award, and the USO Heroes of Wisconsin Award. Franklin was hired by the city as a police officer in 2008. He served as a role model for his coworkers, particularly in terms of community outreach and engagement. In 2019 he was promoted to detective and assigned to the Sensitive Crimes Division, where he provides a voice for the most vulnerable crime victims. Franklin is a member of the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association, the Kenosha Professional Police Association, the Mayors Youth Commission, and volunteers to assist athletes with Special Olympics of Wisconsin. He is a member of the Kenosha Police Departments Community Engagement Team, is strongly involved in community service and engagement, actively working on creating ties in the community and bridging the gap between the police department and the community. He has been a pioneer in training department personnel to practice bias-free policing. In addition, he has spearheaded the initiative to establish a Citizen Academy to the department, which will aid in the development of partnerships between the police and the community. EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR SUNDAY OCTOBER 8, 2023 No Money for Ukraine! No World War III with Russia! Oct. 7, 2023, (EIRNS)The above headline is the message already going into the U.S. Congress from activated Americans, and about to be amplified many times over in the coming hours. It is also the focus of international activity in the works for this week, from capital cities and other locations worldwide, led by networks associated with the International Peace Coalition. It is plain to see that the U.S. Congress is in upheaval, with only a placeholder for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives, and a presidential election process in which the brand name Kennedy candidate, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., is being forced out of the Democratic Party. He is calling for ending the Ukraine combat, and supporting talks to settle the conflict. The most popular Republican, former President Donald Trump, is the target for lock-up by multiple court charges, and under threat of immediate jailing from a judges gag order for simply talking. Trump is calling for ending the Ukraine conflict, and offering to do so. However the reaction to this Washington upheaval, either stateside or anywhere else in the world, cannot be passive wonderment and bystanding. It is the time for action. The right action question was posed yesterday, by informed commentator Col. Douglas Macgregor (ret.). He stated rhetorically, Does Congress listen to the American people? His point was, yes, they can be made to do so. He reminded listeners that during the Obama Administration, his warhawks were stopped from bombing Syria, and likely detonating World War III against Russia, by a surge of fury from citizens into Congress to not dare to go along with this Executive Office madness. Now is the window of opportunity to focus extreme pressure on Congress. Do so, and we even widen the window, to let in the policy discussion on the fundamental matters of reversing the economic/social collapse process. During the Congressional tumult, the order will sound loud and clear to stop the funding for Ukraine warfare, and make way for talks to end the conflict. Congress alone has the Constitutional power to authorize war, and to authorize funds to conduct the war. The warhawks in the Biden Administration are already on the move to continue funds and hardware to Ukraine, to hell with Congress. On Oct. 11 is the next scheduled Ukraine Contact Group meeting, this time in Brussels, for a self-declared group of several dozen nations, to pledge more armaments, led by the U.S., U.K. and NATO. Reuters reported on Oct. 6 that the U.S. military will unveil a weapons package in Brussels of ammunition and ground vehicles, likely to total $200 million. They offer as an excuse that the funding will come from monies left over from a past authorization. However, the same day, a rally is in the works to take place prominently at the U.S. Capitol, to give Congress marching orders to do its duty and represent what the home districts want, or get un-elected. No money for Ukraine, No World War III with Russia. Sending in the same message from district offices around the U.S., and locations around the world will clinch the impact. U.S. Senate candidate from New York Diane Sare issued a video call for action on Oct. 4, which is hitting home with dozens of thousands of viewers. Sare said: We are in a revolutionary moment.... The majority of the American people want the funding to stop.... Get to your Representative. We can tip the balance. We can stop this war by cutting off funding to Ukraine. Azerbaijan Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, Kazakhstans Defense Minister, Colonel General Ruslan Zhaksylykov and other officials watched the next stage of the "Khazri-2023" Joint Tactical Exercises, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry. First, the Defense Ministers were reported about the progress of the exercises. In accordance with the next episodes of the two-stage joint exercises, the marines of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan successfully accomplished all the tasks assigned in the training base in interoperability with other types of troops. In the next episodes of the two-stage joint exercises, the marines and special forces of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan successfully accomplished all tasks in interoperability with other types of troops. In general, Defense Ministers highly evaluated the progress of the exercises and the professionalism of the servicemen. In the end, valuable gifts were presented to a group of distinguished servicemen. It should be noted that the Iranian Naval Forces delegation is participating in the "Khazri-2023" Joint Tactical Exercises as an observer. VOA Learning English presents Americas Presidents. Today we are talking about Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Earlier we told about his rise to power, and his health problems. When he was 39 years old, FDR as he was often called became paralyzed from the waist down. He was never able to walk independently again. But that did not prevent him from becoming one of the countrys most powerful presidents. Presidency: The Great Depression and the New Deal When FDR took office, the United States was in a severe economic depression. Many farmers were not able to sell their crops for profit. Banks across the country had failed. A number of Americans lost their savings and their homes. And more than 25% of the workforce did not have a job. Yet when FDR took office in 1933, he told people, The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. When Americans think of FDR, they often think of that statement. It showed his spirit of hope and confidence for which he became known. Americans also remember FDR for the way he began his presidency. In his first 100 days, he signed more than 70 bills into law. Some led to major changes in the country. They helped calm the countrys banking industry, provided federal aid directly to farmers and the unemployed, and created public works programs. The acts formed the base of what FDR and others called the New Deal. Some New Deal programs including the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Tennessee Valley Authority created government-funded jobs. In addition to providing a paycheck for workers, the programs were meant to improve and care for the countrys natural resources. For example, workers planted trees, made roads, and built dams and power plants. Americans continue to experience the effects of these programs today. FDR is also remembered for the way he communicated with the public. At that time, as many as 90% of Americans owned a radio. So, from time to time, FDR spoke to the public on radio broadcasts that became known as fireside chats. The term created an image of the president sitting comfortably near a fireplace, talking informally with a few close friends. In fact, FDR gave these talks from his office in the White House. But his voice was warm, and he spoke in an easy, conversational way to listeners, whom he called my friends. The combination of FDRs hope, energy, and affectionate concern for everyday Americans made him popular with many voters. He was re-elected easily in 1936. But FDR had critics, too. Some pointed out that many of his programs failed. They cost a lot of money or were simply not effective. Others said that FDRs policy of massive government intervention was not American. It restricted capitalism and the free market. Still others observed that FDRs programs did not help everyone equally. Many New Deal programs aimed to put young, white American men to work. Women, racial minorities, and older Americans were often overlooked. Critics and supporters alike also noted that FDR greatly expanded the power of the presidency. He added a number of full-time positions to the executive branch of government. And he took on the power of Congress to make laws. Even the Supreme Court found that FDR had, in some cases, gone too far. It ruled that some of his actions were illegal. FDR worried that the Supreme Court would block many of his other New Deal programs, too. So he proposed a rule. It would give the president power to appoint six new members to the nine-member court. His appointments would almost certainly make sure that his New Deal programs could continue. Many historians point to FDRs efforts at court-packing as one of the most extreme examples of his attempts to expand presidential power. But Congress did not accept FDRs proposal. Nine justices remained on the Supreme Court. However, those justices went on to approve FDRs actions anyway. They supported programs such as Social Security, which was set up to help older adults, disabled people, and others who needed support; and the Wagner Act, which permitted workers to organize in a trade union. While these efforts and other programs were important parts of FDRs reform efforts, they did not stop the Great Depression. None of the New Deal programs really did. The economy continued to struggle. Presidency: Declaration of war For several years, the president had been warning lawmakers and other Americans about the political forces in Japan, Germany, and Italy. Leaders in those countries supported nationalist movements and had already invaded or taken control of other areas. By 1941, more than 30 countries were involved in the conflict. Many Americans had wanted the U.S. to remain neutral. They regretted becoming involved in World War I. For years, they had taken steps to prevent another major international conflict. Lawmakers had even banned the U.S. government from selling or giving weapons to warring countries. But FDR believed World War II was different. He believed that Germany was the clear aggressor and needed to be stopped. So, in the 1930s, FDR received permission from Congress to provide weapons to the countries opposing Germany. After Germany took control of France, FDR received permission to give direct military aid to Britain. In addition, FDR began preparing the U.S. military for war. On December 7, 1941, Japanese forces bombed American ships at the U.S. Navy base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. More than 2,400 Americans died at Pearl Harbor, and more than 1,700 were wounded. The day after Pearl Harbor was attacked, Congress quickly approved FDRs request to declare war against Japan. Three days later, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States. American lawmakers responded in kind. The U.S., which had remained neutral for many years, was now completely involved in World War II. Presidency: World War II During the war, FDR directed much of his attention to what would happen after the fighting stopped. He wanted to create an international order that would improve peace and cooperation. To that end, he helped organize 26 countries into a group he called the United Nations. FDR also believed that the worlds future security depended, in large part, on cooperation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. He worked hard to create friendly relations with the Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin. Stalin, FDR, and British prime minister Winston Churchill all famously met at the Russian town of Yalta. There, the three men discussed plans to bring World War II to an end. They decided to demand that Germany surrender unconditionally. They also talked about diplomatic relations after the war ended. At the time, many Americans believed the Yalta conference was a success. Soviet officials agreed to enter the war against Japan. In return, U.S. officials said the Soviet government could re-gain control over parts of Northeastern China. Soviet officials also agreed to let countries in Eastern Europe hold free elections, and to share rights to veto U.N. decisions. In the eyes of many Americans, the Yalta agreement showed that the United States and the Soviet Union would be able to cooperate. Legacy FDR did not live to see the effects of the Yalta agreement, or even the end of the conflict. He had been president for 12 years. A few weeks before the Yalta Conference, he had been sworn-in yet again. FDR had already served longer than any U.S. president. All others before him had followed the custom set by the first president, George Washington. They had served no more than two terms. In the winter of 1944, FDR was beginning his fourth term. But people close to him said he did not look well. Doctors also warned Roosevelt that his health was suffering. So, in April, FDR went to a warm water resort in Georgia where he often rested and recovered his strength. There, he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. In other words, his brain began to bleed. World leaders, including Stalin and Churchill, said they were shocked he had died. Many Americans felt the same. They stood alongside train tracks as his body was carried from Georgia to his childhood home in New York. He is buried there, at Hyde Park. In 1962, his wife Eleanor died and was buried next to him. Today, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt are important figures in U.S. history. Many programs from the New Deal are still in effect now. FDR also changed the position of president into an active, powerful leader who legally intervenes in the economy and seems to have a personal relationship with Americans. And Eleanor Roosevelt developed a strong voice of her own. Her humanitarian efforts and work on behalf of civil rights and womens rights have given her a legacy independent from her husband. Both admirers and critics point to the Roosevelts influence as evidence of their strong feelings about the couple. Im Kelly Jean Kelly. Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Quiz- America's Presidents: Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Part 2 Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ________________________________________________________ Words in This Story paralyzed - adj. unable to move or feel all or part of the body comfortably - adv. in a relaxed and easy way executive - n. the executive branch of a government (related to the presidency) in kind - phrase in a way that is equal or very similar to what someone else has done for you resort - n. a place where people go for vacations figures - n. people who have a specified status or who are regarded in a specified way legacy - n. something that happened in the past or that comes from someone in the past And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. On this program, we explore words and expressions in the English language. We give you definitions, examples, and notes on usage. Today, we talk about fitness and exercise. Keeping in shape is a common expression for staying physically fit! What sort of exercise do you enjoy? How do you get in shape? If you are already in shape, how do you stay in shape? I used to walk a lot for work and that kept me in good shape. Five days a week I would walk to the train station, walk to the office and then climb stairs. At lunch, my coworkers and I would take a walk outside. Our office is in a beautiful area of Washington, D.C., surrounded by museums and monuments. So that adds up to a lot of walking! But then, in 2020 like so many others, I started working from home. I became worried that without all that walking, I would quickly get out of shape! So, I made time for more swimming and short walks around my neighborhood. Those two kept me in shape. Using the word shape when talking about fitness and health makes sense. Sometimes, we can describe the human body in terms of size and shape. But we can also use the word shape to talk about our projects, our activities, our actions and behaviors. So, shape up also means to correct bad behavior. For example, a boss might warn an underperforming employee to shape up . The boss may take this expression one step further. She or he might add a threat by saying shape up or ship out. Talking about ships, we also describe things that are clean or running smoothly as shipshape . A ship that is orderly and clean runs more smoothly and is safer. Remember, on a ship, you can be very far away from help. So, keeping things in good order prevents accidents and big problems. So, what happens if a situation or a project was in trouble but is now going well? Well, we can say things are shaping up . If its not going well, we can say the project is in bad shape . Now, lets hear two friends use some of these expressions. A: Hey, hows the project going? B: Its going well. Everything is shipshape now. A: What do you mean now? B: Well, last week we ran into some trouble. An employee wasnt pulling his weight and things werent getting done. A: What did you do? B: I told him, Shape up or ship out . A: Thats pretty harsh! B: Maybe, but he shaped up . Now hes a valuable member of the team. I think he was overworked and dealing with some personal issues. A: We all run into trouble sometimes. Hey, talking about being overworked lets take a break in a bit. I need a walk! B: Sounds good. The project is in good shape. But I have to make sure I stay in good shape too! And thats the end of this Words and Their Stories. We hope you enjoyed learning some shape expressions and verbal phrases. Practice using them the next time you want to talk about getting or staying physically fit. Until next time Im Anna Matteo. Anna Matteo wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. _________________________________________________ Words in This Story fitness n. physical health and strength museum n. a building where interesting or valuable things are collected, shown to the public, or studied monument n. a building, artwork or place dedicated to the memory of a person or event neighborhood n. the people living near one another to pull your weight idiom to do a fair share of work harsh adj. something that is unpleasant or difficult to accept We want to hear from you. Our comment policy is here. American mountaineer Anna Gutu and a Nepalese guide Mingmar Sherpa were confirmed today dead after avalanches struck the slopes of a Tibetan mountain, while two others remained missing, according to Chinese media reports. The avalanches struck Tibets Mount Shishapangma on Saturday afternoon at 7,600 and 8,000 meters in altitude, according to state-owned Xinhua News Agency. Two others, American climber Gina Marie Rzucidlo and a Nepalese mountain guide Tenjen Sherpa went missing, the news agency said. Sherpa was one half of a duo who shattered the record for the fastest climb of the 14 mountains more than 8,000 meters high in July this year. He wanted to become the youngest climber to scale all 14 peaks twice. The avalanches also seriously injured Nepalese mountain guide Karma Geljen Sherpa, who was escorted down the mountain by rescuers and is currently in stable condition. A total of 52 climbers from various countries including the U.S., Britain, Japan, and Italy were attempting to summit the mountain when the avalanches hit, Xinhua said. Climbing activities on Shishapangma have since been suspended due to snow conditions. Shishapangma is the 14th-highest mountain in the world, at over 8,027 meters above sea level. October is a popular time to trek the Himalayas as its after the rainy monsoon season, but experts have cautioned that climate change has increased the risk of avalanches in the region. At least 120 people in the Indian Himalayas were killed by avalanches over the past two years. MDT/AP Related The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) is monitoring the situation in Israel and Palestine and, so far, has not received any inquiries or requests for help, the MGTO has said in a press release. The same office is actively communicating with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in Macau as well as with the local tourism industry to monitor the situation. The long-standing Israel-Palestine conflict escalated yesterday when Palestinian militant groups from the Gaza Strip launched a large-scale armed offensive against Israel, breaking through the GazaIsrael barrier and forcing entry into Gaza border crossings, nearby Israeli cities, adjacent military installations and civilian settlements. In response to these actions, Israel launched airstrikes in Gaza. According to international media sources on site, both military offensives have resulted in about 250 deaths on both sides. Hamas, which governs Gaza, has stated that its offensive is a response to the desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has advised residents of the enclave of Gaza to leave now, adding that Israeli forces will turn all Hamas hideouts into rubble. Macau residents in need of assistance can call the 24-hour tourism hotline at +853 28333000, or contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs global consular protection and service emergency hotline at +86 10 12308, or the Chinese Embassy in Israels consular protection hotline at +972 3 5459520. Robert Gannon acknowledges that he didnt buy the travel insurance for an eight-day Canadian train trip of a lifetime. But then when you spend nearly $14,000 on a trip that has to be canceled at the last minute because your wife needs emergency surgery, its not unreasonable to expect the company that sold you the trip to show a little flexibility, a little mercy. To its credit, and after a little push from SOS, thats what Vancouver-based Rocky Mountaineer finally did. Gannon, his wife and three other couples booked the trip to the northern Rockies including stops in Calgary, Vancouver, and Banff and Jasper national parks more than a year ago. It was scheduled to begin Sept. 28. But three weeks before the trip, Gannon, 65, of the village of Oregon, found out his wife needed immediate surgery to remove a mass from her abdomen. It was not a procedure that could be delayed, Gannon said her surgeon told them. Nor would she recover quickly enough to go on the trip. In an attempt to get at least part of their money back, they had the surgeon send a letter to Rocky Mountaineer explaining the situation, Gannon said. Rocky Mountaineer responded by giving them the option of finding another couple to take their place, but as the deadline for doing so was less than a week away by that point, that was not enough time for some couple to drop everything and come up with $14,000, he said. So I asked if we could use these tickets at a later date and was told promptly that they would not honor that, Gannon said in a Sept. 25 email to SOS. SOS typically does not pursue refunds for readers who have had to cancel trips at the last minute but have not purchased travel insurance, but given the couples particular circumstances, it emailed Rocky Mountaineer on Sept. 26 to see if the company might reconsider. In an unsigned response the next day, the company said our team continues to be in contact with Mr. Gannon in an attempt to find a satisfactory resolution to his concern, and Gannon soon after let SOS know the company had agreed to provide them with a nearly $6,000 credit toward a future trip. We reviewed a note from SOS to look into your case further, which has gone to our management team, Rocky Mountaineer vacation consultant Amber Sisson emailed Gannon on Sept. 27. As this has now been brought to management, they have asked me to reach out and offer you a future travel credit in the amount of $5,753.64 USD, which is the value of the rail (and) credit will be valid 2024. Sisson added that while this was not the full amount of the trip, cancellations within 30 days of a trip subject Rocky Mountaineer to penalties with our suppliers based on the contracts we have, which is why our strict T&Cs around non-refundability T&Cs in this case referring to terms and conditions. Gannon was appreciative of the credit and hes tentatively hoping they can take the train trip next autumn. Send us an SOS Since September 2007, SOS has helped save Wisconsin State Journal readers more than $234,987.29 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 More of your best national park photos from our Destinations Photo Contest Rock of Democracy Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon in Yellowstone National Park Jackson Lake Reflections Mom with triplets Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah Into the Woods at Glacier National Park Rocky Mountain Reflections A perfect Christmas Day Living Free Purple Haze Gateway Arch National Park Glacier National Park Yellowstone Famous South Dakota! Arches National Park in Moab Solitude in Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park Nevada Falls, Yosemite National Park Soaking in the wonders of mother nature For years, Ive wondered when and how UW-Madison would deal with the odious history of its one-time president, the progressive icon with a building named after him on the campus, Charles Van Hise. Van Hise was a eugenicist who wanted to rid the race of defectives so that future humans could have a godlike destiny. Human defectives should no longer be allowed to propagate the race, he wrote in 1910. We should reach at least as high a plane with reference to human beings as with the defective animals. Years after Van Hises views were widely publicized, some at UW-Madison are apparently pondering whether to put up a plaque acknowledging the truth. As Princetons Thomas Leonard, author of Illiberal Reformers, wrote for the Badger Institute in 2016, Van Hise advocated for everything from involuntary sterilization to segregation in asylums or other institutions. The UW-Madison president, according to Leonard, told a group of Philadelphians visiting Madison in 1913 that we know enough about eugenics so that if that knowledge were applied, the defective classes would disappear within a generation. Inspired by the slogan sterilization or racial disaster, Wisconsin passed a forcible sterilization law in 1913, with the support of the University of Wisconsins most influential scholars, among them President Charles Van Hise and Edward A. Ross, Leonard wrote. Ross was an overt racist who, along with Van Hise, also pushed a so-called marriage statute. The laws, according to a history posted on UW-Madisons School of Medicine and Public Health page, authorized involuntary sterilization of inmates of mental and penal institutions, and (required) verification that both parties to a marriage were not epileptic, insane, or idiotic, nor carrying venereal disease syphilis was assumed to be a disease of degeneracy carried by the poor, foreign immigrants, African Americans, and otherwise marginalized people. Wisconsin sterilized around 1,823 wayward, criminal, or defective individuals from 1913 until 1963, 79% of whom were women, according to the same source. Van Hise died in 1918 after a minor surgery, and Van Hise Hall was built shortly after the last Wisconsinites were forcibly sterilized by the state in the late 1960s. Like many of his progressive colleagues, he was against individualism. Van Hise Hall repair work to begin soon; employees relocated at UW-Madison An engineering company found concrete panels on the campus building "pose an immediate threat to public health, welfare and safety." Each should desire only what is right, and right must be defined as that which is best for the future of the race, he wrote in his 1910 essay. In short, the period in which individualism was patriotism in this country has passed by; and the time has come when individualism must become subordinate to responsibility to the many. Referring to the Civil War, he wrote, In the days of 61 to 65, a million men laid aside their personal desires, and surrendered their individualism for the good of the nation. Now, it is demanded that every citizen shall surrender his individualism not for four years, but for life that he shall think not only of himself and his family, but of his neighbors and especially of the unnumbered generations that are to follow. Its unclear what any plaque might say or whether one even will be installed. But The Daily Cardinal reported last February that a university Shared Governance Committee on Disability Access & Inclusion planned to propose placing a plaque in Van Hise Hall. The paper reported that the plaque would need to be approved by both the UW-Madison chancellor and the University of Wisconsin Systems Board of Regents, among others. Questions submitted to university staff and a member of the committee were not answered, so its unclear how far along they are in the process, what the plaque might say or how large it might be though the answer to that last question seems obvious. It should be large enough to tell the whole story of Van Hises abhorrent views and how the renowned progressive leader with utter faith in state government and its experts, but none in ordinary individual citizens, came to have them. The man who spent part of his life trying to eradicate the freedoms, desires and plans of others arrogantly pushed to impose his own expert opinions on the rest of Wisconsin and he apparently was not one to take kindly to dissent. The demand for transformation of the ideals of the individual, who has felt himself free to do with what he has as he pleases, to social responsibility, will be as great a change of heart as has ever been demanded by seer or prophet, Van Hise wrote. Its unclear if Van Hise saw himself as such a seer or prophet though it certainly seemed so. Van Hise promised that the demand will be pressed in upon each man that he shall surrender his individualism as far as is necessary for the good of the race. As part of the cautionary tale of how arrogant experts can hypocritically push for collectivism or communalism as a way of thwarting the rights and freedoms of others even to the extent of trying to literally eradicate them from the earth that quote should be on the big plaque, too. Asialink Finance Corp., one of the top online financing companies in the country, raised P1 billion from Yuanta Saving Bank and Small Business Corp. for relending to small- and medium-scale businesses. SBC, a government entity, provided P600 million, while Yuanta, formerly Tongyang Saving Bank, lent P400 million. Asialink lends about P1.3 billion a month to companies that find it hard to borrow from banks. The small and medium companies are the backbone of economies, big and small. They provide jobs in all corners of our country and help the economy grow. They are a strategic economic and social pillar and therefore should be supported, Asialink chief executive Roberto Jordan said in a statement. Jordan said while big as a sector, the insignificant individual sizes of SMEs prevent them from getting bank loans because of the tight lending policies and restrictions they need to comply with. The big banks are also not designed to lend small amounts and work with hundreds of thousands of such small borrowers. Asialink fills that gap. We have more than 45,000 borrowers and our repayment rate are higher than that of banks. We charge higher than bank rates but we can approve a loan within a day for repeat clients and require fewer documentation. In the end, as their businesses grow, everybody is happy, he said. Jordan said the sector requires hundreds of billions of pesos each year to help these unbanked companies. Asialink will continue to grow with these corporations. The more funds we raise, the more we can lend to them for their businesses to prosper, Jordan said. Australia disclosed plans to become a top bilateral trade partner of the Philippines. Australian Embassy senior trade and investment commissioner Christopher Lim said Australia would work on its bilateral trade engagements with the Philippines to move up the list. Currently, Australia ranked 15 among the Philippines trade partners. We need to work on that, and weve identified three areas that we will be focusing on almost quite immediately, and one of them is the Southeast Asia Business Exchange. Its basically focusing on trade missions between Australia and the Philippines, he said in a press briefing at the Ambassadors residence. The embassy, he said, is preparing for more trade missions to the Philippines starting 2024. Under the Southeast Asia Business Exchange, Lim will go to Australia to personally promote the Philippines which can be a business opportunity for both. Lim said that in terms of investment deals, the embassy is creating an investments deal team to convince Australian companies to invest in the Philippines. It will also serve to facilitate bilateral investments between Australia and the Philippines. The third area of cooperation will be an exchange of young professionals between the two countries. We will be looking at young business people who can and are willing to work in the Philippines and young Filipino professionals to Australia, Lim said. All three areas of cooperation are embedded in the Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, which aims to deepen the countrys economic and trade engagements with the region and the Philippines being part of the region. Australia continues to be the Philippines second biggest source of imported beef and the biggest source of lamb. Among the top exports of Australia to the Philippines are Luke cherries, table grapes, nectarines and peaches; dairy; packaged foods and beverages. The Philippines has also a growing market for Australian healthcare and personal care products. Bilateral trade in 2022 grew by 18 percent to Au$600 billion from Au$508.5 billion 2021. ST Telemedia Global Data Centres Philippines said it is on track to completing the countrys largest data center in Fairview, Quezon City by early 2025. When we announced STT Fairview in May this year, activities already started the night after the groundbreaking. The area has already been leveled out and prepared for construction, Carlo Malana, president and chief executive of STT GDC Philippines, said. Digital is expanding everywhere. And of course, theres a need for data centers to be able to support this digital expansion. With respect to the Fairview build, a couple of months ago, we announced the groundbreaking of the facility and today, were continuing to go on track. And we expect to continue to stay on track for our early 2025 ready-for-service date that we have announced in the past. So looking forward to that, he said. The announcement came on the heels of STT GDC Philippines aggressive expansion plans across its three existing data centers in Makati, Cavite and Quezon City. With a combined capacity expansion of 5.2 MW set for the third quarter this year, the company is poised to surpass the capacity of most single data centers locally. The expansion is a direct response to the high market demand and the ongoing digital transformation sweeping the nation. The company unveiled in May its plans for the STT Fairview data center campus. Touted as the largest, most interconnected, sustainable and carrier-neutral data center campus in the country, STT Fairview is designed to serve at an impressive IT capacity of 124 MW. The initial phase of its operations is slated for early 2025. STT GDC Philippines is a joint venture between Globe Telecom, Ayala Corp. and Singapore-based ST Telemedia Global Data Centres. The Western Azerbaijan Community considers the statement of October 6, 2023, on behalf of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani irrelevant, Azernews reports, citing the Community. The spirit of the statement shows that the OSCE has not yet completely get rid of its obsolete approach that has been consigned to the archives of history. We bring to Bujar Osmani's attention that there is no area called "Stepanakert" in the territory of Azerbaijan. It is ironical that the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office talks to Azerbaijan in the language of "discussions for international presence on the ground should continue". The minister, who is inappropriately praising the "independent international observation mission", seems to have been fallen under the influence of certain anti-Azerbaijani circles. Why had the OSCE, who was saying that "the settlement of disputes by the use of force is unacceptable", not condemned Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijani territories and ethnic cleansing policy for 30 years? We would like to ask Bujar Osmani, who is talking about the responsibility of Azerbaijan to protect the rights and security of the Armenians, how should Armenia not ensure the rights and security of the Azerbaijanis it has deported? We are confident that the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office is well aware of the image of the OSCE in the Azerbaijani society, and in this sense, we call on him to be careful and responsible in his statements", said the Community. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said over the weekend it expects the Philippine energy industry to soar to more than P7.6 trillion by 2040 from P630 billion in 2023. We have around 300 personnel in the commission that are regular or plantilla, augmented by around 200 contractual personnel but all 500 plus five of us commissioners, look after this P630 billion industry, ERC chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta said in a recent forum. The ERC oversees 231 generation companies and 600 power plants equivalent to 28,496.815 megawatts (MW), 141 distribution utilities valued at P160.4 billion, one transmission concessionaire with P357.7 billion in total equity, 123 retail electricity suppliers with 4,118.4 MW capacity, 449 participants of the electricity market, among others. Its mandate is to promote market competition, ensure consumer choice, protect consumer interests, ensure least cost in electricity and penalize abuse of market power. Dimalanta said if the plans of the Department of Energy (DOE) materialized under the clean energy scenario, we are looking at a P7.6 trillion industry by 2040. The amount includes the P5.8 trillion in investments that will come from renewable energy by 2040. So, as they say in the startup world, the blue ocean is the P7.6 trillion opportunity for everyone [in this room but could be more]. This is a bit conservative, but the DOE is still updating these numbers, Dimalanta said. She said this would not only come from investments in offshore wind but all technologies. The DOE set a 35-percent and 50-percent renewable energy share in the power generation mix by 2030 and 2040 under the 2020-2040 clean energy scenario. Undersecretary Rowena Guevara earlier said the DOE was looking at an additional 52,826 MW of RE capacity by 2040. Of the additional new capacity, solar projects are expected to contribute 27,162 MW, gas at 18,859 MW, wind at 16,650 MW, hydro at 6,150 MW, geothermal at 2,500 MW and biomass at 364 MW. Countries around the world have condemned a wave of Palestinian attacks by land, sea and air that Israels army says left more than 200 dead. They accused fighters from the Palestinian militant group Hamas of breaking into homes and massacring civilians. We are at war, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, vowing severe retaliation after the surprise assault. Here is a roundup of the reactions: United States President Joe Biden said US support for Israel was rock solid and unwavering. The United States stands with Israel, Biden said in a televised statement at the White House, flanked by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. We will not ever fail to have their back. A White House official said talks with Israel on military aid were very much underway. Iran A senior adviser to Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed support for the attack, calling it a proud operation. We support this operation, Yahya Rahim Safavi said, quoted by ISNA news agency. Safavi expressed backing for the Palestinian militants until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem. At a parliament session on Saturday, Iranian lawmakers chanted Down with Israel, Down with America and Welcome Palestine, according to a video published by the Tasnim news agency. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabias foreign ministry said: The Kingdom calls for an immediate halt to the escalation between the two sides, protection of civilians, and self-control. The Kingdom is reminded of its repeated warnings of the dangers of an explosive situation as a result of the continued occupation and deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights, it added. UN The UNs human rights chief Volker Turk said: I call for an immediate stop to the violence, and appeal to all sides and key countries in the region to de-escalate to avoid further bloodshed. He said he was deeply concerned at reports that Israeli civilians have been taken hostage. EU EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said: I unequivocally condemn the attack carried out by Hamas terrorists against Israel. It is terrorism in its most despicable form. Israel has the right to defend itself against such heinous attacks, she said. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said this horrific violence must stop immediately. Terrorism and violence solve nothing. The EU expresses its solidarity with Israel in these difficult moments. He added: News of civilians taken as hostages in their homes or to Gaza are appalling. This is against international law. Hostages must be released immediately. Brazil Brazil, which holds the UN Security Council presidency, condemned the attacks on Israel. A statement from its foreign ministry urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint in order to avoid escalating the situation. Shortly after, it said it would call an emergency UN Security Council meeting on the crisis. The Council announced they would meet Sunday. Russia Russias foreign ministry called for an immediate ceasefire. We call on the Palestinian and Israeli sides to immediately cease fire, renounce violence, show the necessary restraint and with the help of the international community establish a negotiation process aimed at establishing a comprehensive, lasting and long-awaited peace, ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country is fending off a Russian invasion, said Israel had an indisputable right to defend itself. Terror is always a crime, not just against one country or specific victims, but against humanity as a whole, he said. Turkey Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Israel and Palestinians to avoid further escalation. We invite all parties to act reasonably and to stay away from impulsive steps that raise tensions, said Erdogan, who strongly supports the Palestinian cause. France France expressed full solidarity with Israel and the victims and underscored its absolute rejection of terrorism and its commitment to Israels security. President Emmanuel Macron said he firmly condemns the attacks. Germany German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Israel has our full solidarity and the right, guaranteed by international law, to defend itself against terrorism. Britain British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was shocked by the attacks. Israel has an absolute right to defend itself, he said. He went further in a post later on X, formerly known as Twitter. As the barbarity of todays atrocities becomes clearer, we stand unequivocally with Israel, he wrote. This attack by Hamas is cowardly and depraved. South Africa South Africas foreign ministry expressed its grave concern over the recent devastating escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The region is in desperate need of a credible peace process that delivers on the calls of a plethora of previous UN resolutions for a two-state solution and a just and comprehensive peace between Israel and Palestine, it added. India Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his country stood in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour. Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel, Modi said. Yemen In Yemen, Huthi rebels who control the capital Sanaa expressed their support for the heroic jihadist operation. In a statement published on the website of the Huthi-controlled SABA news agency, the Iran-aligned militant group said the attack revealed the weakness, fragility and impotence of Israel. It added that this operation is a battle of dignity, pride, and defense. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual will travel to Adelaide, South Australia on October 10 to jointly preside over the 6th Philippines-Australia Ministerial Meeting (PAMM) as the two countries build on their deepening Strategic Partnership. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Manalo and Pascual will fly to Australia upon the invitation of Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong and Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell. The 6th PAMM represents an important opportunity to chart the course of the newly established Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and Australia, building upon the recent meeting between President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Manila last month, the DFA said in a statement. The two secretaries are expected to discuss key areas, such as bilateral trade, investment, and economic relations, security and maritime cooperation, development cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and regional and global issues of mutual interest. The Philippines and Australia share a steadfast commitment to advancing peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, amplifying the significance of this meeting, the statement read. Manalo and Pascual also hold strong confidence that the forthcoming PAMM will contribute to the deepening and broadening of cooperation between the Philippines and Australia across diverse domains, ultimately benefiting both our nations, the DFA statement said. Australian Ambassador Hae Kyong Yu, during a reception hosted for journalists on Friday, Oct. 6, expressed confidence in the growth of the Philippine economy, which she said could drive more investment between Manila and Canberra. According to her, the Philippines economic growth is very strong and the outlook is very strong as well. So my outlook for the Philippines is very positive. And Im optimistic that there is a huge, huge increase that is possible between our bilateral trade and investment, Yu noted. The Hague, the Netherlands, 04.10.23 It is with great honor and pleasure that we announce the recognition bestowed upon Simon N. Groot, the esteemed founder of East-West Seed. Mr. Groot has received the prestigious Order of Sikatuna in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the Republic of the Philippines and his dedicated efforts in fostering, developing, and strengthening relations between various nations and the Philippines. Simon Groot is the first Dutch private citizen to be conferred with this diplomatic decoration. The Order of Sikatuna, one of the Republics most distinguished diplomatic honors, acknowledges Mr. Groots pivotal role in improving the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers in the Philippines and across more than 60 tropical countries. After years of dedicated research and development, starting in the Philippines with business partner Benito Domingo, Groot introduced the first locally developed commercial vegetable hybrids in tropical Asia. Under Groots guidance and together with Domingo, East-West Seed has pioneered a dynamic, smallholder-centric tropical vegetable seed industry, born in the Philippines, that continues to expand globally. This was recognized in 2019 when Groot won the World Food Prize. The same year he obtained an honorary doctorate from University of the Philippines in Los Banos (UPLB). Groot is also one of the founding members of the Philippine Netherlands Business Council (PNBC) and continues to serve in its Advisory Council to this day. Seeing big smiles on the faces of farmers has given me tremendous satisfaction as I can observe from these smiles that what we have done for them is really of value and meaning. Simon N. Groot Groots visionary approach gave rise to East-West Seeds innovative Knowledge Transfer initiative. East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation annually trains more than 100,000 farmers in best agricultural practices for vegetable production, thereby contributing to the growth and sustainability of local communities in Asia and Africa. Furthermore, his work has elevated both rural and urban markets for vegetable crops, making nutritious produce more accessible and affordable for countless families in the Philippines and beyond. For millions of people, Simon N. Groots dedication over the last 40+ years, has broken the cycle of poverty and malnutrition that often plagues farmers who rely on low-quality seeds. Through his leadership, these smallholder farmers have experienced increased yields, improved economic prospects, and better nutrition for their families. Simon N. Groots receipt of the Order of Sikatuna highlights his extraordinary achievements and unwavering commitment to the Republic of the Philippines and its diplomatic relations with foreign states. We applaud Mr. Groot for his exceptional service and dedication to fostering global cooperation. PRESS CONTACT International Christian Breitkreutz, Group Head Communications East-West Seed Mobile: +66 96 857 4826 A Martinsville man has been arrested and charged with murder. Delano Tomaz Ross, 46, of Martinsville, also known as Punkin, has been arrested on charges of first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felon, shooting from a vehicle to endanger persons, shooting into an occupied vehicle, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a violent felon, and reckless handling of a firearm in the death of Antoine Jermaine Preston, 47, a release stated. Although it was not stated when the arrest occurred, the release indicted Ross was arrested on Spring Street in Martinsville without incident and is being held without bond. Martinsville Police Chief Rob Fincher had stated that investigators had developed persons of interest and were actively pursuing leads. On Sept. 30, shortly before midnight, Preston was found in his vehicle after it had gone over a guardrail and down a steep embankment in the 1400 block of Fayette Street. Martinsville Police, Virginia State Police, and the Henry County Sheriffs Office closed the road while Martinsville Fire and EMS saw to the safe removal of Prestons body and his vehicle. The body was transported to the state medical examiners office in Roanoke, where an autopsy was conducted and the cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound. The 911 Communications Center received a call of gunshots in the area at 11:43 p.m. When officers arrived, three people, who were not involved in the incident, directed the officers to the truck that had come to rest upside down. Evidence was found at the scene that convinced police that Prestons truck was the intended target of the gunshots, a release stated. Although an arrest has been made, investigators continue to interview additional witnesses and collect evidence, so the case is still under investigation. If you have information regarding this crime, you are encouraged to contact Sgt. Harley Durham at 276-403-5330, or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 276-63-CRIME. Morocco has, upon King Mohammed VIs instructions, called for an emergency meeting of the Arab Leagues ministerial council to discuss the deterioration of the situation in the Gaza strip. Morocco, which currently chairs the Arab League council, said the consultation and coordination meeting will look into the outbreak of military actions against civilians and will seek the means to halt this dangerous escalation, said the Moroccan Foreign Ministry this Sunday. Intensive consultations are underway for the meeting to be held this week at the headquarters of the League of Arab States in Cairo, the ministry said. The Foreign Ministry had condemned, in a statement released Saturday, the attacks against civilians and called for appeasement and dialogue. Israeli forces killed more than 300 Palestinians within 24 hours following Hamas attack on Israeli settlements where they killed more than 200 and took an unknown number of Israeli settlers as hostages. The Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, revealed in an interview on Thursday October 5 that Africa will soon be given a third seat on the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), so that the continent has a stronger voice within the institution. I have good news for Africa! Were getting ready to have a third representative for sub-Saharan Africa on the Executive Board, she asserted during her visit to Abidjan, wherefrom she flew to Morocco for the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank (WB), which begin on Monday in Marrakech. Discussions are ongoing about how the continent should get along and how this should be done, but what matters is that it means a stronger voice for Africa, she added. Earlier this year, the World Bank also announced the creation of a third seat for African countries on its Board of Directors, a decision which should be validated at the annual meetings. These announcements confirm the trend towards a rebalancing of the weight of developing countries within the Bretton-Woods institutions. At present, since countries are shareholders, their participation is in proportion to their GDP, giving greater power to the United States and the EU. Citing a growth forecast of just over 3% for sub-Saharan Africa in 2023, Mrs Georgieva nevertheless said she expected better prospects in 2024. And while the IMF has continued its exceptional support since the Covid crisis, notably through zero-interest loans, Mrs Georgieva asserted that she was going to Marrakech to ask more of governments and also of the private sector, which is eagerly awaited for its contribution in emerging countries. The virtual workshop on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) that will be hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) on Wednesday, 11 October 2023 will be an opportunity for South African sectors of chemicals, cosmetics, plastics and pharmaceutical to get acquainted with the benefits offered under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The private sector has been informed on the benefits offered under the agreement thanks to the dtics provincial awareness workshops, which provided a platform for information sharing. The workshops were also used to identify South African companies in various provinces, in the targeted sector masterplans and other priority sectors that have the capacity to export to the rest of the continent. More workshops focusing on different sectors are being organized. The workshop seeks to engage the chemicals, cosmetics, plastics, and pharmaceutical sectors, as well as industry agencies, associations and export councils, including their members on the benefits of exporting under the AfCFTA. In addition, the workshop seeks to communicate and engage with the private sector, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as well as women and youth-owned export ready businesses, on the status of the implementation of the AfCFTA, including opportunities for South African companies to participate in preferential trade beyond the Southern African region. Chemicals, cosmetics, plastics and pharmaceutical sectors are important to the South African economy as they play a critical role and are interwoven with the manufacturing sector which creates much needed employment. South Africa is Africas largest market for cosmetics and personal care products. The Registrar of the National Teaching Council, Dr. Christian Addai-Poku, has raised concerns about the significant attrition rate in Ghanas education sector, emphasizing that it poses a considerable threat to the countrys educational landscape. In a recent statement, Dr. Addai-Poku revealed that over 16,000 Ghanaian teachers have applied for positions with the Department of Education in the United Kingdom in the current year alone. By June 13, 2023, approximately 10,000 of these applicants, holding Ghana Teacher Licenses, were granted certification to work in the UK without requiring further assessment by the UK government. Dr. Addai-Poku attributed this trend to the success of the Teacher Professionalism Program initiated five years ago. He noted that Ghanaian teachers have become increasingly attractive in the international job market. Consequently, the UK government eased some restrictions on applications from four African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, for qualified teacher positions in the United Kingdom. Expressing his concern, Dr. Addai-Poku urged stakeholders within Ghanas education system to explore measures to mitigate the current mass migration of teachers to the United Kingdom. He emphasized that this issue is particularly troubling because it predominantly affects science, mathematics, and experienced teachers, making their replacement a challenging endeavor. An African Regions Network for Investment and Development was set up under a memorandum of understanding signed on Friday in Rabat, at the opening of the African Regions Economic Forum. The memorandum was signed by the heads of 13 African regions representing the countries taking part in the forum, namely Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gabon, Guinea Conakry, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, and the Union of the Comoros. The MoU was signed on behalf of the Kingdom by president of the Rabat-Sale-Kenitra Regional Council, Rachid El Abdi. According to the MoU, the African Regions Network for Investment and Development is meant to be a framework for partnership and exchange that will strengthen cooperation between regions, stimulate investment and facilitate the exchange of expertise to help promote development. The network is part of these countries efforts to strengthen South-South partnership mechanisms and intensify social, economic, and cultural ties between African countries and their populations. Chinese-built railways empower locals to "fish on their own" 08:29, October 08, 2023 By Xinhua writers Wu Baoshu, Jiang Li and Chang Tiantong ( Xinhua * China has been involved in the construction of over 6,000 kilometers of railways, 6,000 kilometers of roads and more than 80 large power facilities in Africa over the past decade, according to official data. * Over the past decade, more than 421,000 local jobs were created globally under Belt and Road cooperation. According to a World Bank report, Belt and Road projects could help lift 7.6 million people from extreme poverty and 32 million from moderate poverty worldwide by 2030. BEIJING, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Driving a train that runs 350 kilometers per hour was once unimaginable for Wawan Setiawan, an Indonesian freight train driver with 10 years of experience. But now he is on track to be among the first high-speed train drivers in his country and, more broadly, Southeast Asia. In 2020, when the China-Indonesia joint venture tasked with building the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway began recruiting train drivers, Wawan rushed to apply. "Technology, operation, safety methods -- everything I learn is new and exciting," said Wawan, who has been receiving training from Chinese high-speed train drivers ever since. This aerial photo taken on Sept. 30, 2023 shows a high-speed electrical multiple unit (EMU) train of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway running in Purwakarta, Indonesia. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) "MY LIFE SPED UP" Mu Zhen, Wawan's driving practice mentor, is the Chinese train driver for the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, which links Indonesia's capital with its fourth-largest city. In an operation simulator, Mu told Wawan to ease as the Indonesian driver's right hand tightly gripped the speed control handle. "Tension may lead to misoperation as the handle has high sensitivity," Mu detailed the reason and guided Wawan to try again. "I am excited to mentor Indonesian train drivers and happy to share my skills without reservation. I'm learning Indonesian to overcome language barriers," said Mu. Mu arrived in Indonesia last October and has been preparing for the operation of the railway line. "The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway was built with Chinese standards and technology, so driving the high-speed train here feels the same as in China," said Mu. A Chinese instructor (L) interacts with an Indonesian train driver on a train at a maintenance workshop of the Tegalluar Station in Bandung, Indonesia, Aug. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) A landmark project under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, the 142-kilometer Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway cuts the journey between the two cities from over three hours to roughly 40 minutes. "The development of a high-speed railway will encourage a bigger economy because it will support faster mobility," said Wawan, adding that he hopes the high-speed railway can be extended to Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city and seaport. "I studied hard and did my best to ensure that I could become one of the first high-speed train drivers in Indonesia and Southeast Asia," said Wawan. "If life is a train that runs on a track, then my life just got sped up -- super fast, super exciting and full of hope," he said. "FISH ON THEIR OWN" China has been building rails, ports and other infrastructure with countries under Belt and Road cooperation that have helped boost regional connectivity and create jobs for locals. The Lao section of the China-Laos Railway, launched in December 2021, has created more than 110,000 jobs. Twenty-four-year-old Sida Phengphongsawanh is one of them. Sida became a train inspector at the China-Laos Railway Vientiane Operation Management Center in 2021 after studying electric automation in China for four years and receiving training in Chinese and railway knowledge at the Confucius Institute in Laos. "The mentors here have been so patient since my internship. Because it was the first time we touched real trains, everything was new to us, and they taught us step by step in a patient way," she said. Fifty-eight-year-old Wen Bin, Sida's Chinese mentor, has worked in Laos since October 2011. He said the Chinese personnel would ensure local staff members like Sida could work independently long after their Chinese colleagues left. "We are recruiting new local personnel. Not many speak Chinese, so I hope Sida and her fellow colleagues can take up the responsibility of using their own language to teach the new generation," said Wen. Lao staff members perform at the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province to the Laotian capital Vientiane on April 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) In East Africa, 28-year-old Anketsebrhan Girma had long dreamed of becoming a pioneer modern train driver in her country, Ethiopia. She achieved her dream by persevering through intense competition before joining the Ethiopia-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway Share Company in 2018 after graduating from university, eventually becoming Ethiopia's first female electrified train driver. She is now an assistant train driver for the Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway, which connects the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, to the Red Sea port of Djibouti. Since July, Girma and 27 colleagues have undergone a six-month training program in the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou. They are the second batch of Ethiopian trainees to enroll at the Zhengzhou Railway Vocational and Technical College. The first batch of 34 trainees have entirely commanded the skills of driving, monitoring, checking and maintaining electrified trains after eight months of practical training in 2020 and are now capable of independently driving an electrified train. After returning home, they quickly became the backbone of the Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway. One of the 34 trainees, Dejen Gezu, is now tasked with driving and training young colleagues. "I know everyone currently in China receiving the training, particularly Anketsebirhan Girma, the only female train driver we have," he said. "I dreamed of driving the train independently like Gezu after studying in China," Girma said. Abdi Zenebe, chief executive officer of the Ethiopia-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway Share Company, said that during the construction and operation of the Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway, Chinese experts have trained about 3,000 local professionals on railway techniques. "The philosophy and principles of our Chinese colleges are in line with Chinese values ... The idea is not to give someone fish, but rather how to teach someone how to fish," Zenebe said, referring to an ancient Chinese saying. Ethiopian staff members Yidnekachew (2nd, L) and Taressa (1st, L) prepare before their internship starts in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, June 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Li An) GAME CHANGER China has been involved in the construction of over 6,000 kilometers of railways, 6,000 kilometers of roads and more than 80 large power facilities in Africa over the past decade, according to official data. The 752-kilometer Ethiopia-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway, launched in October 2016, is Africa's first electrified transboundary railway. It has cut transportation time for goods from more than three days to less than 20 hours and reduced costs by at least one-third, substantially facilitating the imports and exports of this landlocked country. "As Ethiopia has no sea or port, it used to take a few days to deliver goods to and from Djibouti by road. The Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway has greatly reduced time and costs. It is like the backbone of our country," said Girma. In neighboring Kenya, the 480-kilometer Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), launched in mid-2017, connects the country's capital city with its eastern port. It has cut travel time by half, from an average of ten hours on the century-old meter-gauge railway to approximately five hours, boosting the movement of people and cargo. A supervisor at the rolling stock department of the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway, Lawrence Pius Murithi, is proud to have a prized career that has eluded most of his peers. "I was lucky to be chosen to join the SGR for the maintenance of passenger trains," said the 32-year-old mechanical engineering graduate, adding that he has sharpened his technical and managerial skills over the last six years since joining the growing ranks of local youth working for the rail. His finances have been improved thanks to a decent monthly salary, enabling him to purchase land in his native village and run a livestock business as a side hustle. "Working for the SGR has improved my living status, and I look forward to furthering my education to be in the company's top management," he said. Chinese instructor Jiang Liping (R) and apprentice Horace Owiti walk past a train carriage on the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway in Nairobi, Kenya, May 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen) In Laos, the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, the 1,035-kilometer China-Laos Railway has helped the country become a transportation hub on the Indo-China Peninsula. The rail links the Lao capital, Vientiane, with the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan, with a design speed of 160 kilometers per hour for the Lao section. "Friends in my hometown told me that travel has become convenient. It used to take 10 hours from my hometown to Vientiane, but now it takes only three hours with the railway," said Sida, the train inspector. One-hundred and fifty-two countries and 32 international organizations have signed cooperation documents with China under the Belt and Road Initiative, proposed in 2013. Over the past decade, more than 421,000 local jobs were created globally under Belt and Road cooperation. According to a World Bank report, Belt and Road projects could help lift 7.6 million people from extreme poverty and 32 million from moderate poverty worldwide by 2030. "The Belt and Road is a great initiative," Sida said, "and I think the China-Laos Railway is just the starting point (in the region). It will connect more countries in the future, allowing us to go abroad more easily." (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev congratulates President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his re-election as chairman of the Justice and Development Party of Turkiye, Azernews reports. Dear Mr. President, My dear Brother, I sincerely congratulate you and all members of the Justice and Development Party, the leading political force of the Republic of Turkiye, on the occasion of the Grand Congress and your unanimous re-election as Chairman of the Party. This is an expression of the national determination, a clear manifestation of the unlimited confidence, trust and support of members of the Justice and Development Party, and a sign of a high appreciation for your contribution to the development and advancement of brotherly Turkiye. The Grand Congress of the Justice and Development Party is a historic event in the public and political life of the Republic of Turkiye. I am sure that the important decisions made at the Congress will make an exceptional contribution to determining the future directions of the party's activities, achieving the new goals set for the well-being of your brotherly people, and implementing the "Turkiye`s Century" vision, which will ensure a new stage of socio-economic development of your country. The Justice and Development Party, of which you are the founder and leader, has served the Turkish state and people with dignity and honor ever since its inception, showing loyalty to its program, stated principles and actions, achieving great success in every field, and helping your country become a global power center and authoritative country in the international world. You have played an invaluable role and made unparalleled contributions to all these achievements. This is why your name is forever engraved in the history of Turkish statehood. We are happy with and proud of Turkiye`s success under your wise and decisive leadership, as well as its growing reputation in the world. I would like to note with great joy that the Azerbaijan-Turkiye brotherhood, unity and strategic alliance are exemplary and are at their highest peak. Our intergovernmental relations built on a solid foundation of mutual trust, support and solidarity are also making an important contribution to regional cooperation, stability and security. I am sure that the relations between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, based on the unwavering resolve of our brotherly nations and the "One nation, two states" principle, will continue to develop and strengthen thanks to our joint efforts. I convey my sincere congratulations to you and every member of the Justice and Development Party again and wish the party further success, peace and prosperity to the brotherly state of Turkiye and its people. Sincerely, Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, 7 October 2023 Kids who have too much stuff going on in their personal lives can't give their full attention to academics, and that can lead to lifelong problems. "A lot of times if there's mental health stuff going on, or there's stuff going on in their home life that's really hard to deal with, it impacts their ability to be successful in academics," explained Curt Tweedy, a licensed clinical social worker at Willard Alternative High School in Missoula. "And a big part of our philosophy is that if we can knock out some of that stuff, whether it's through meeting needs through resources or helping them through mental health challenges, they're going to be able to be more successful with academics. And of course, we all know the research that shows what a high school diploma means for your trajectory in life." That's why Partnership Health Center in Missoula has announced that it's collaborating with Missoula County Public School to expand school-based behavioral health services. Partnership's employees currently work in two schools in Missoula: Lowell Elementary and Willard Alternative High School. Both have relatively high proportions of students who qualify for the free or reduced-cost lunch program, meaning they come from low-income families. Tweedy and community health worker Shanna Henderson both have offices inside Willard, where they support students and families with grief, anxiety, depression and substance abuse. They also help with things like housing issues, financial issues, privacy issues, transportation and all the other things that middle school students and high school students deal with. They both estimate they actively work with about a quarter of the student body, but have interactions with almost all the kids at some point or another. It's been a successful model, according to Amy Krzyzek, program development manager at Partnership, which is a nonprofit, federally-qualified health center. Now they're using a $350,000 federal grant from the Health Resources Services Administration to hire more people and expand services to C.S. Porter Middle School and Franklin Elementary School. By next year, students at the four schools will have access to on-site mental health services, substance use disorder services and support to address health-related social needs like access to food, housing or signing up for health insurance. We are working closely with Missoula County Public Schools to make sure we complement the great work they do to support youth health and wellbeing," Krzyzek said. Expanding our partnership with MCPS is so exciting because we know students need increased access to behavioral health services, and this school-based model brings that access right to them. She explained that by having people based right inside the schools, it removes common barriers to care such as transportation and scheduling while also reducing the amount of student learning time lost during off-site appointments. Tweedy, Henderson and Krzyzek all agreed that the lingering effects of the pandemic and economic circumstances have created a great need for expanded access to mental health and substance use disorder services. They pointed to the fact that Montana has a youth suicide rate that is more than double the national average. According to the Office of Public Instructions 2021 Montana Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 40% of high school students in Missoula County reported feeling sad or hopeless in the past year, which are symptoms consistent with depression. Missoula also has significantly higher rates of youth substance use than the rest of the state of Montana and the nation, with over one-third of high school students using alcohol and one-quarter of students using marijuana. Henderson said she often talks with students about things they don't feel comfortable talking about with their families or guardians. One of the biggest issues she's had to deal with this year is people getting kicked off Medicaid and needing to get re-signed up. Many other kids need help with housing applications. Partnership Health Center staff will also provide assistance for children, adolescents and families to access medical and dental care at Partnership Health Center clinics when helpful. For more information visit online at partnershiphealthcenter.org. SANTA FE, N.M. A group has been impersonating government officials, harassing New York residents at their homes and falsely accusing them of breaking the law, state officials warned. What sounds like a scam aimed at people's pocketbooks is actually part of a shakedown with a much different target: voters. State prosecutors sent a cease-and-desist order to a group called New York Citizens Audit demanding that it halt any "unlawful voter deception" and "intimidation efforts." It's the type of tactic that concerns many state election officials across the country as conservative groups, some with ties to allies of former President Donald Trump and motivated by false claims of widespread fraud in 2020, push to access and sometimes publish state voter registration rolls, which list names, home addresses and in some cases party registration. One goal is to create free online databases for groups and individuals who want to take it upon themselves to try to find potential fraud. The lists could find their way into the hands of malicious actors and individual efforts to inspect the rolls could disenfranchise voters through intimidation or canceled registrations, state election officials and privacy advocates warn. They worry local election offices may be flooded with challenges to voter registration listings as those agencies prepare for the 2024 elections. John Davisson, director of litigation at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, said the concern reflects competing interests over voter data: a need to protect voter rolls from cybersecurity attacks against the desire to make them accessible so elections are transparent. Baseless claims of widespread voter fraud are part of what's driving the efforts to obtain the rolls, leading to lawsuits over whether to hand over the data in several states, including Maine, New Mexico and Pennsylvania. In New York, a warning from the state elections board preceded the cease-and-desist letter from the state attorney general's office. Voters in 13 counties were approached at their homes in an apparently coordinated effort by people impersonating election officials, in some cases wielding phony IDs, the board said. Residents were confronted about their voter registration status and accused of misconduct. In one instance, people wearing identification badges accused a Glens Falls woman of committing a crime by being registered to vote in two counties, Warren County spokesman Don Lehman said. The woman already filed to change her registration and canvassers apparently used out-of-date information, he said. "She was quite shaken by the whole thing," Lehman said. "She did nothing nefarious at all. Either these people don't understand that or understand how the process works, but it seems like they were quite accusatory." State prosecutors found no evidence that any of the those contacted committed voter fraud or any other type of crime, they said in their warning letter. NY Citizens Audit emailed a statement that dismissed as "absurd" concerns that its canvassers might have impersonated an official or harassed anyone. Instead, the group urged election officials to investigate "each of these millions of suspected illegal registrations." "We train our people to do legal canvassing, and if ever verified, voter intimidation would be completely unacceptable and against our policy," NY Citizens Audit Director Kim Hermance said in the statement. Republican Doug Truax of Illinois founded one of the most ambitious groups, the Voter Reference Foundation, after the 2020 presidential election, with a goal of posting online lists from every state. The VoteRef.com database includes information from 32 states and the District of Columbia and is run by Gina Swoboda, a former organizer of Trump's 2020 campaign in Arizona. A federal trial is scheduled to start later this month over the group's fight to access and use New Mexico's voter registration list. The group also sued Pennsylvania, which refused to hand over the information and said publishing it would put every registered voter at greater risk of identity theft or misuse of their information, the state's Office of Open Records said. "We have a crisis of confidence in America when it comes to election results," Truax said in a statement on the Pennsylvania case, "and the answer is more transparency, not less." The head of elections in New Mexico, Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, fears many voters might withdraw from registration lists as personal data is posted online. Her office cites email inquiries about how to cancel voter registrations during a canvassing effort by election activists last year in southern New Mexico. "Voters can and should expect a reasonable amount of privacy," said Toulouse Oliver, a Democrat. The Voter Reference Foundation argues federal law is on its side, citing public disclosure provisions of the National Voter Registration Act that require states to make a "reasonable" effort to keep the registration lists free of people who died or moved away. The foundation also invokes free speech and due-process rights. Nearly every state prohibits the use or transfer of the lists for commercial purposes, while several confine access to political candidates, parties for campaign purposes and some government activities. Voter ID laws are disenfranchising transgender and nonbinary people as anti-trans legislation reaches record levels Voter ID laws are disenfranchising transgender and nonbinary people as anti-trans legislation reaches record levels Voter ID laws make voting difficult for over 11% of Americans There's a lot on the line for trans voters Obstacles to voting are nothing new People are pushing back Updated at 2:34 p.m. Monday Michael Chiarello, who gained fame as a television chef and the founder of fine restaurants in the Napa Valley, died Friday, his restaurant group announced Saturday afternoon. He was 61. Chiarello had been hospitalized for a week at Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa after an acute allergic reaction led to anaphylactic shock, according to a news release from his restaurant group, Gruppo Chiarello. We deeply mourn the loss of our beloved patriarch Michael, the group said in a statement posted at 2:40 p.m. His culinary brilliance, boundless creativity, and unwavering commitment to family were at the core of his being. He brought people together through the joy of shared meals, fostering lasting memories around the table. As we navigate this profound loss, we hold dear the moments we cherished with him, both in his kitchens and in our hearts. His legacy will forever live on in the love he poured into every dish and the passion he instilled in all of us to savor life's flavors. Born in Red Bluff in 1962 and educated at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, Chiarello left his first mark in the Napa Valley with his 1986 opening of St. Helena-based Tra Vigne, which operated until 2015 and became an early institution in what eventually became a flourishing wine country food scene. He later founded Bottega, Ottimo and Coqueta Napa Valley in Yountville, and another Coqueta at the Embarcadero in San Francisco. In a 2006 interview with the St. Helena Star, Chiarello described his cooking style and outlook as the combination of his familys Calabrian heritage in southern Italy with a California upbringing that was at once modest and enthusiastic about food and its making down to the gathering of produce and mushrooms. The kitchen was my family's entertainment center, where we talked about the food we prepared," he said of his childhood in the Central Valley town of Turlock. My father was disabled in his early 40s, and my mother had to work. We never had much money and always had to scrape by. We foraged for our food. The kitchen table was our entertainment. If we had pasta with porcini mushrooms, we'd talk about how we picked them. How wet and rainy it was that day, or how the truck broke down. There was a story to all the food we brought home, and it made everything taste even better. " In a family where hardship was around you every day, the table was my happiness, he told the Star. So when I came in from working on the ranch, I'd go help in the kitchen. The whole family took part. I never really wanted to be anything but a cook." What emerged from his youth was a California-Italian hybrid based on simple techniques, fresh and seasonal ingredients, and an embrace of Italian herbs, spices and olive oil. Chiarello began establishing himself as a young culinary talent shortly after graduating from CIA in 1982. Within three years Food & Wine magazine named him its chef of the year, for his work at the Grand Bay Hotel in Coconut Grove, Florida. (He would also start his first restaurant in Florida, Tobys Bar and Grill in Miami.) A year later, he would find his way to wine country with help from Cindy Pawlcyn, another up-and-coming chef who had started Mustards Grill near Yountville in 1983. I was 24 years old and was blown away by the way she was cooking, Chiarello recalled of Pawlcyn. We had lunch together and she said her partners were opening a restaurant in St. Helena, and it was going to be Italian. So that's how that all started (in June 1986), and Tra Vigne became a cool restaurant. He walked into Mustards and we sat in the bar area and I thought, This guy has got vision and drive, and my business partners should talk to him,' Pawlcyn said Monday. It was a great place for him. He was passionate, he was hardworking, and I think it was the right venue for him at the right time. As Chiarello opened more restaurants in Northern California, he found a far wider audience during a decade-long run of television appearances on PBS, Food Network and other channels. He was a frequent judge on the Bravo shows Top Chef and Top Chef Masters, took part in Food Networks 2011 Next Iron Chef competition, and won an Emmy Award for Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello, which debuted in 2003 on Food Network and was shot on location in Napa. The Napa Valley and the vintners have given life to something that's really beautiful, and it's always been an honor to be a part of it, he said in 2006. I want to share on television, in a respectable way, the passions that have been shared with me. "He was very gregarious and outgoing and charming," Pawlcyn said of Chiarello. "I think he had that going for him that made him attractive to publishers and TV and film people. He had that pizazz that got him out there. Chiarello also ventured into winemaking with the launch of Chiarello Family Vineyards in 1999, and began the NapaStyle kitchenware and home goods label a year later. His books included LiveFire Cookbook," "The Tra Vigne Cookbook," "Michael Chiarellos Bottega," Michael Chiarellos Casual Cooking, Napa Stories and Flavored Vinegars." Later, Chiarello faced allegations of sexual misconduct connected to his San Francisco restaurant. In March 2016, two women working as servers at Coqueta sued the restaurateur for sexual harassment and wage theft. Plaintiffs Katherine Page and Asja Sever alleged misbehavior that included inappropriate touching and lewd comments about women, according to court documents. Chiarello, who denied the allegations, and his restaurant companies settled the suit in November of that year before the case could go to trial in San Francisco Superior Court. In the hours after Chiarellos death, reminiscences, tributes and condolences flowed in from fellow chefs and restaurant industry figures, as well as local industry and political voices including the Napa Valley Vintners and Rep. Mike Thompson. I was shocked to hear about Michaels untimely passing," Cat Cora, the chef, cookbook author and "Around the World in 80 Plates" host who opened the Postino restaurant of Lafayette with Chiarello in 1998, said in a statement Sunday evening. "He was a very talented chef and curator of the culinary arts in the Napa community and beyond. My prayers go out to his family, especially his children. Meanwhile, Napa County Supervisor Belia Ramos recalled how the chef had pitched in during one of the valleys most dangerous times. On the fifth day of the North Bay wildfires in October 2017, Chiarello left Ramos a voicemail asking how he could help then got through to her phone the next day, she recalled Sunday afternoon. Ramos thoughts quickly turned to the California National Guard members who were slated to arrive at Napa County Airport to assist the relief effort. I asked Michael, Would you be able to cook lunch for them? said Ramos. And he said, How about today? (and) For how many people? I said it was for 435 guardsmen, and he said Wow I really should meet you there at the airport. Ramos arrived at the airfield to find Chiarello, who had brought coolers filled with his own smoked pork rigatoni and the same caramels served at Bottega. It was a generosity that I will never forget, she remembered. There were so many people who came to our aid, (but) when you ask if youll feed over 400 people with less than four hours notice and the person doesnt even flinch, youll never forget that. He is survived by his wife, Eileen, and four children. Funeral arrangements for Chiarello will remain private, and in lieu of flowers, his family will request donations to Meals on Wheels, Gruppo Chiarello announced. Associated Press reporter Mark Kennedy contributed to this report. Photos: Auro Napa Valley earns Michelin star Auro restaurant Calistoga Auro restaurant Calistoga Auro California White Duck Auro Kitchen Auro restaurant, Calistoga Executive Chef Rogelio Garcia and Chef de Cuisine Elijah Cortez Auro Napa has six municipalities: American Canyon, Napa City, Yountville, St. Helena, Calistoga and Napa County. Each has their own departments to for their unique issues. Calistoga's public works wont work for American Canyon and Napa City's planning issues are different than Yountville. However, all six have distinct building departments that work off the exact same laws and codes. The codes dont vary, only the interpretation by each individual jurisdiction. The building codes are there to protect peoples health and safety. Theyre not intended to keep a building from totally collapsing in an earthquake or burning to the ground in a fire. Instead, they are designed to extend the time for occupants to escape from disaster. Building codes are also designed to ensure contractors do the right thing during construction, but many things slip through the cracks as we all know. During the pandemic, every city and agency lost staff as employees either refused to return from remote working or discovered they just didnt want to work there anymore. As we all emerged from the pandemic and construction picked up, staff persons were absent to process plans or issue permits, a chronic problem throughout the state and nation. To expedite the process building departments everywhere started using outside permit plan check services. These private companies rarely have any connection with the local community and are paid-by-the-word so to speak, so multiple pages of plan check comments are returned with unnecessary or complicated requests with less thought about health and safety, and more about the billing cycles. While not all outside plan check companies are the same, getting a building permit only became more difficult. Theres no question that electronic submittals and plan checking are the future. All jurisdictions and many of their departments are moving forward with E-filing, although each building department is using a different system. While the codes remain the same, the plan check process is different in each municipality. If I were to submit one set of plans to all six departments, I would get six totally different responses even though theyre working from the same codes. I reached out to each of the six building departments to see if they were allowing electronic submittals and what platform they were using. What I discovered is there are six different E-platforms for collecting and plan checking projects. Its like using six different languages that an architect must learn. Contact each jurisdiction for specifics: American Canyon uses Laserfiche although its not a building department plan-check platform. Jason Williams, Napa City Chief Building Official, stated they have not yet started accepting plans via email but they plan to use Energov in 2024. Applicants will be able to review the status of their projects online. Mike Zimmer, Yountville Building Official, notes they take both electronic and over the counter submittals. They use opengov, a more intuitive, easy to use system. Mike noted that since they dont have a structural engineer on board, like many building departments, projects that require any structural review are sent to outside plan checkers. Philip Henry, St. Helena Chief Building Official, noted the upgrading of their permit software to eTRAKIT is still in progress. In-person paper submittals and PDFs via email are acceptable. Claudia Aceves, Calistoga Building Department, noted they use Citizenserve as an option and still take in-person and email submittals. Napa County uses CitizenAccess for their electronic plan submittals and do accept limited in-person counter submittals, but once youve started with an online submittal, you cant change. The real question is how user-friendly are each of these platforms? Our firm has submitted plans to all six jurisdictions, and none are without some glitches that staff could help fix. However, Napa County Building Department has made it so difficult for anyone without a PhD to make a submittal. Numerous online descriptions are vague and staff is generally not accessible for questions or support. I dont know how a housewife can get a permit to move a non-structural wall or a plumber can submit to change plumbing fixtures. A custom home we submitted to the county required 66 sheets and documents to be specifically book marked" and their titles have to be distinctive as well as all subsequent submittals. When I asked David Morrison, who recently served as Napa County Interim County Executive, why its so difficult to get a building permit, he had some good points. He noted that, California has exceedingly micro-regulated the development process. such as standards for septic systems, what lightbulbs you can use, the types of plants in your yard, even .how to dispose of leftovers and demolition material when youre done. He is correct that Sacramento changes these requirements every day. But that doesnt explain the permitting glitch. While I advocate having one building department for all six jurisdictions, bureaucratic entrenchment will probably never allow that to happen, even though it would save all of the jurisdictions millions of dollars a year. If they arent willing to improve their process, at the very least they should improve their customer service. They should have periodic public outreach meetings for architects, engineers and stakeholders to explain how their processes works and answer questions about their glitches. A few years ago, multiple building departments came together for a very successful meet-up. Since then, theres been no impetus to do it again. What they forget is, the faster the permit process, the faster the fees and taxes can be collected. Rain is likely to return to various cities across the San Francisco Bay Area this week. The best chances for light rain will be Monday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., the National Weather Service said Saturday. Napa, San Francisco and Oakland will have a 50% chance of precipitation in the period, according to the weather service. The highest probability of precipitation will be 65% in Santa Rosa and 55% in San Rafael, forecasters said. Chances will be 40% in Concord and Hayward; 35% in Fremont and Sunnyvale; 30% in Santa Cruz, and 25% in San Jose and Livermore. Photos: Napa Valley Faces and Places, October 7, 2023 Wine writers Johnson and MacNiel to chat at NVC The Napa Valley College, the Napa Valley College Foundation, and the Warren Winiarski Wine Writer Collection at the UC Davis Library will host writer Hugh Johnson, in conversation with writer Karen MacNeil, at the Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center on Monday, Oct. 16, at 5:30 p.m. This ticketed event is free and open to the public. A Conversation Among Friends will feature the two writers discussing wine and innovation in California; the craft of wine writing as a career; and how wine, in Johnsons words, leads you up paths of knowledge and byways of expertise you would never glimpse without it. Wines made from the Napa Valley College Teaching Winery will be served at the event, and a limited number of signed copies of Johnson and MacNeils books will be available for purchase. Were honored to partner with the Napa Valley College Foundation and the UC Davis Library to present Hugh Johnson with Karen MacNeil, said Dr. Torence Powell, Napa Valley College president. This conversation will feature two of the most important voices of the wine world, and we look forward to hosting this exciting conversation on our campus. This event is also presented by Napa Valley Colleges Viticulture and Winery Technology program, one of the largest in the world. The program provides students access to viticulture, winemaking, wine marketing and sales programs that grant certificates and associate of science degrees. This conversation will provide our students and community members an opportunity to hear from two of the worlds leading voices on all things wine, said Jessica Thomason, executive director of the Napa Valley College Foundation. Were especially grateful to Warren Winiarski for his vision to bring this conversation to our students, and for his personal support of the Napa Valley College and Foundation. Johnson is one of the worlds best-selling wine writers, known for his annual Pocket Wine Book and The World Atlas of Wine, first published in 1977 and 1971 respectively. His autobiography, A Life Uncorked, was published in 2006. Among his many accolades, he was named Decanters Man of the Year in 1995, Officer in the French Order Nationale du Merite in 2004 and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2007. MacNeil is the only American to have won every major wine award given in the English language. These include the James Beard award for Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year, the Louis Roederer award for Best Consumer Wine Writing, and the International Wine and Spirits award as the Global Wine Communicator of the Year. In a full-page profile on her, TIME Magazine called MacNeil Americas Missionary of the Vine. She has been named one of the 100 Most Influential People in Wine. Currently in its third edition, MacNeils The Wine Bible is one of the best-selling wine books of all time, with more than 800,000 copies sold. For free tickets and more information about this event, call 707-256-7509 or visit https://app.arts-people.com. Larkmead to celebrate 75th anniversary Larkmead Vineyards, based in Calistoga, will host a 75th anniversary celebration on Saturday, Oct. 14. I am pleased to announce our achievement of 75 years of Solari family ownership of Larkmead Vineyards, said Kate Solari Baker, Larkmead Vineyards president, in a news release. We have been very fortunate that my parents, Larry and Polly Solari, had the vision and foresight to buy Larkmead in 1948. Larkmead Vineyards was a founding member of the Napa Valley Vintners Association. Bruno Larry Solari was a leading executive in the nascent California wine industry, along with his close friends the Martinis, the Mondavis, and the Gallos. The 75th Anniversary Party will be hosted at Larkmead Vineyards, 1100 Larkmead Lane Calistoga, from 2-6 p.m. The day will be commemorated by a California State Senate Resolution authored by Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, which will be on display at the winery. It is a pleasure to recognize Larkmead Vineyards, which is one of Napa's oldest and most distinguished estates, Dodd said in a statement. A special congratulations to the entire Solari family and the memories of Polly and Larry Solari. This is also a moment of appreciation for what Kate and Cam Baker accomplished over the last three decades. For more information, visit larkmead.com. Best of Wine Tourism winners announced The regional Napa Valley delegation for the Great Wine Capitals, which includes Napa County, Napa Valley Vintners and Visit Napa Valley, has announced the winners of the 2024 Best of Wine Tourism Regional Awards. The annual Best of Wine Tourism Awards celebrates innovation and excellence in wine tourism throughout the greatest wine regions in the world. Napa Valley is among 12 regions globally and the only one in North America that is recognized internationally by the Great Wine Capitals Network for offering exceptional experiences in wine tourism, according to a news release. Businesses in Napa Valley were invited to self-nominate during the month of August in one of seven categories. The submissions were then reviewed, and winners were selected by a judging panel. The Great Wine Capitals 2024 Best of Wine Tourism Regional Award winners, by category, are: Accommodations: Four Seasons Resort & Residences Architecture & Landscapes: Antinori Napa Valley Arts & Culture: RD Winery Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences: Trefethen Family Vineyards Sustainable Wine Tourism Experiences: Grgich Hills Estate Wine Tourism Restaurants: Oakville Grocery & Wine Merchant Wine Tourism Services: Napa Valley Vine Trail In addition to being recognized in front of an audience of industry peers, winners from this regional group are now in consideration for the Global Best of Wine Tourism Awards. The Global Best of Wine Tourism Award winners will be announced at the Great Wine Capitals Annual Conference held in Lausanne, Switzerland in later this month. Sequoia Grove expands in Mount Veeder Sequoia Grove Winery has acquired 104 acres of land within the Mount Veeder AVA. Mt. Veeder represents an exceptional area for winemaking in Napa Valley and is the first mountain estate owned by Sequoia Grove, said Rick Bonitati, president of Sequoia Grove Winery, in a news release. Were extremely enthusiastic for how this acquisition helps diversify our estate properties, our grape sourcing, and the wines we will produce. It is especially important for us to invest in cooler climate sites like this one to help pave the long-term success of our winemaking program, opening up a new chapter and unique opportunity to express this compelling hillside terroir. This new property, which sits above the fog line and was originally owned by winemaker Donald Hess, is a distinguished addition from both a viticultural and visual perspective, according to the news release. The vineyard reaches elevations of over 1,700 feet and straddles northeastern slopes of the mountain within the Mayacamas Range, unfolding via a steep road that meanders through a forested area and eventually opens to an expansive vista that spans from the Sonoma Coast to the Golden Gate Bridge. Mount Veeder is the coolest of Napa Valleys Mountain AVAs, enjoying gentle morning sun and cool marine breezes in the evening pulled in from San Pablo Bay, according to the release. This, combined with the unique soils that are remnants of an ancient seabed, result in vines with small berries that are full of concentration and complexity. Since its founding in 1978, Sequoia Grove has become one of the most recognizable and critically renowned family-owned producers of Cabernet Sauvignon in the Napa Valley, according to the news release. The label has become synonymous for its Rutherford estate wines and those sourced from grower partners through the years, crafting elegant wines that express the indelible characteristic from prestigious vineyards and premier AVAs including Atlas Peak, Coombsville, St. Helena, Calistoga, Oak Knoll and Howell Mountain. Mount Veeder produces wines of both power and elegance, said Jesse Fox, winemaker at Sequoia Grove, in the news release. The elevation and highly desired soil profiles produce balanced, structured, and complex wines that have remarkable hillside diversity. This new acquisition is incredibly exciting to me as a winemaker as well as for the future of the winery; it is a privilege to incorporate this site into our vineyard estates. The recent Mount Veeder acquisition adds to Sequoia Groves 2019 acquisition of the State Lane Vineyard in Yountville, bringing their total farmed estate vineyards to 120 acres. For more information, visit sequoiagrove.com. PACE co-rapporteurs to make monitoring visit to Armenia Yerevan hosting international conference on 100th anniversary of Armenian Cinema Armenia legislature vice-speaker: Azerbaijan president not a peacemaker at all Embassy in Baku: Germany supports Azerbaijan-Armenia talks, with European Council Presidents mediation Hakob Arshakyan: There is one original military map but Armenia, Azerbaijan have access to it Noubar Afeyan: Arresting, charging Ruben Vardanyan is psychological pressure on worlds 10 million Armenians Greece sends humanitarian aid for Armenians displaced from Karabakh Armenia National Security Service exposes terrorism preparation Zakharova: Armenia leadership is purposefully destroying allied relations with Russia Azerbaijan announces capture of elderly Armenian man Russia MFA spox accuses some Armenia media of Russophobia and nationalism Maria Zakharova: Moscow stands ready to host Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs meeting in near future Bidens new possible nominee for US Deputy Secretary of State was educated in Soviet Armenia Turkey presidential lawyer joins Hrant Dink murder trial PM: Unit within National Security Service is set up that will ensure security of communications via Armenia EU monitoring mission in Armenia announces full activity by opening headquarters in Yeghegnadzor city Pope Francis says he loves the sea but hasn't been there in almost 50 years Pashinyan: Quite a large flow of forcibly displaced people from Karabakh are applying for Armenia citizenship Leapmotor to become Stellantis' 15th brand Armenia delegate: Russian natural gas being sold to Europe via Azerbaijan pipeline should not prevail over democracy Newspaper: Karabakh MPs holding closed discussions in Armenia US State Department: Any violation of Armenia sovereignty, territorial integrity will bring serious consequences James Webb telescope manages to measure exoplanet temperature Belgium allows owners to be buried alongside their pets Azerbaijan, Pakistan are developing military cooperation Armenia official: Our goal is to get license to operate the nuclear plant until 2036 Economy minister proposes China companies to be engaged in Armenia industrial parks, dry port projects Proposals being submitted to EU delegation regarding support for forcibly displaced Armenians from Karabakh discussed Armenia ombudsperson sends petitions to relevant agencies regarding Karabakh ex-defense minister Levon Mnatsakanyan Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem cancels controversial deal related to Cows' Garden estate Germany FM to visit Armenia, Azerbaijan Vahan Kerobyan, Alkis Vryenios Drakinos discuss projects being implemented by EBRD in Armenia (PHOTOS) Head of EU civilian mission in Armenia briefs President on details about their monitoring Dollar, euro fall in Armenia Armenia Anti-Corruption Committee chief: We have solved March 1, 2008 case Armenia deputy PM, Japan envoy discuss opportunities for development of bilateral trade, economic relations Karabakh parliament speaker imprisoned by Azerbaijan contacts relatives twice from Baku Samkharadze: Georgia wants to become regional leader by contributing to Armenia-Azerbaijan relations normalization Yerevan received, responded to Russia proposals on process of Armenia ratification of Rome Statute, MFA says Border with Azerbaijan is calm, there is no tension, head of EU monitoring mission in Armenia says in Yeghegnadzor Karabakh president negotiated with Azerbaijan special services? EU monitoring mission in Armenia opens headquarters in Yeghegnadzor Holding Snoop Dogg concert in Armenia is vital, PMs office says Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention issues Red Flag Alert for Azerbaijan in Armenia Armenia, Romania MFAs hold political consultations in Bucharest World Bank: Economic activity growth increases, insignificant inflation recorded, exports drop in Armenia Armenia, Iran sign memorandum of understanding on strengthening cooperation, workforce exchange Alexander Spendiaryan 152nd birth anniversary events kicking off in Yerevan Blinken mentions Armenia during US Senate hearing Newspaper: Armenia PM announces cancellation of point 9 of November 2020 trilateral statement Karabakh president receives French, Italian members of European Parliament Russian peacekeepers continue to remain in Nagorno-Karabakh, Russia MoD says Red Cross helps elderly people left in Karabakh to relocate to Armenia (VIDEO) Central Bank chief: Armenia residents deposits increased by about 25% EBRD regional director to Armenia finance minister: We are ready to assist those displaced from Karabakh Armenia labor, social affairs minister attends Armenian-Iranian forum in Tehran European Union increases humanitarian funding to Armenia by about 1.7M Dollar, euro go up in Armenia Armenia PM, Poland envoy address humanitarian situation of forcibly displaced people from Karabakh Ardshinbank has been recognized as the "Best Corporate" and "Best ESG Bank" in Armenia by Euromoney magazine Turkey border bridge renovation, furnishing underway, Armenia official says Armenia official: Enclaves issue will be clarified when peace treaty with Azerbaijan is signed Armenia official: Positive thing about North-South project is that we entered construction phase in some sections 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? Maestro Sergey Smbatyan: Process that could have had only one outcome is resolved 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 The eagerness of Paris to showcase its support of Yerevan could place it in a difficult spot vis-a-vis Ankara, said French researcher Nicolas Monceau of the University of Bordeaux, Al-Monitor reports. Still, addressing the latest French declarations, the expert on Turkey-France relations called for prudence. He said that it is too soon to tell what exactly Colonna's statement means and how it will affect Frances relationship with Turkey. "France has been calling for a long time for solidarity with Armenia and with the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. With recent developments, Paris needs to show that it is truly engaged, not only in declarations but also with actions. Thats the essence of the approval, announced by Colonna, to deliver military material to Armenia. But a lot will depend on the kind of material that will be transferred and how much of it," Monceau noted. "In all likelihood, France will provide Armenia strictly with defensive means; Paris can justify that vis-a-vis Ankara. But if offensive weapons are provided, then its a whole new ballgame. If we are ever in a situation where French weapons are used by Armenia or by Armenians against Azerbaijan, then the leadership in Turkey will be hard pressed to react," he added. Monceau acknowledged that bilateral relations between France and Turkey have been tense for several years already, but he does not think that the current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, including the latest statement by Colonna, will mark a tipping point. "The declarations by Paris and the decision to approve the delivery of military equipment are not targeting Turkey. They constitute a message to Armenia and to the Armenian people that France is not abandoning them. Its also a message to the other EU members and to the countries in the Armenian camp that France is sincere about protecting Armenia. Lastly, it is an internal message of solidarity by the Paris government for the many French nationals of Armenian origin. France is not trying deliberately to provoke Turkey," he said. Paris and Ankara have been at odds over human rights, the Kurdish issue and a series of regional crises such as the wars in Syria and Libya, and the skirmishes between Turkey, Greece and Cyprus. Still, the two countries have come somewhat closer over the war in Ukraine. After his meeting with President Volodymir Zelenskyy last July, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that without a doubt Ukraine deserves to be in NATO a statement much appreciated by Paris. Monceau stressed that Turkey currently finds itself in an especially difficult economic situation. As such, it must re engage with the West and rehabilitate its ties with the EU. Erdogan used harsh words last Sunday, at the opening of the parliament session in Ankara, saying he no longer expects anything from the EU, which has kept us waiting at its door for 40 years." Nevertheless, Monceau noted that Erdogan does not intend to take harsh measures, at least not over Frances solidarity with Armenia. "There is a long list of disagreements between Paris and Ankara, including on human rights, such as the case of [imprisoned human activist] Osman Kavala. Still, if France does not take the military assistance to Armenia too far, then Turkey will probably be able to contain it," he concluded. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili have made press statements in Tbilisi, Azernews reports. The Prime Minister of Georgia made the statement first. Statement by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili - I would like to welcome our dear guest and dear friend, Mr. Ilham Aliyev. Mr. President, I am glad to see you in Georgia. Let me welcome you and your delegation. Thank you for visiting Georgia. I also want to say that we are continuing our tradition of making frequent reciprocal visits. A few months ago, I was on a visit to Gabala. Mr. President, thank you for the very warm hospitality shown to me there. At this time last year, we were hosting you in Georgia. I am very glad that our visiting take place often. Of course, I will come to Azerbaijan on my next visit in a few months. Mr. President and I have had a very productive meeting and discussions. We discussed our current strategic partnership and cooperation. Azerbaijan is a strategic partner of Georgia and a friendly country. Friendly and fraternal relations have existed between our countries for centuries. The traditional friendship between our peoples continues, and Mr. President Ilham Aliyev has made a great contribution to this cause. He has done a lot for the strengthening of this friendship and brotherhood. Of course, we have discussed our cooperation in economic, trade, energy, transport and logistics fields. Azerbaijan is one of Georgias biggest trading partners it is in top five. This year, our trade has increased by 15 percent. We had record indicators last year. In terms of cargo transportation, the volume has also increased significantly. I can confirm that we cooperate in many areas energy, transport, logistics, railway and other fields. We have also discussed the development and prospects of the Middle Corridor project. As you know, we work in coordination with Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan so that the project develops successfully. The railway project is being expanded. Highways, seaports these are all on our agenda. Azerbaijan has started great work together with Georgia. We are also modernizing our railways, and will complete the work by the end of next year. By doing this, we will be able to double the volume of cargo. We will soon start the construction of Anaklia sea port. Its loading capacity will be 100 million tons. At the same time, we will complete the construction of the East-West highway. We are successfully cooperating with Azerbaijan in many areas. We will also celebrate the expansion of the another historic project in a few months. That project will also be completed successfully. Therefore, we have very clear prospects. Our vision for the future is quite clear. I am sure that our partnership and friendship with Azerbaijan will be long-lasting. Of course, we have also discussed security issues both regional and global events. The situation is quite tense at the moment. I once again informed Mr. President that we support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan. We are grateful to Azerbaijan, which, in turn, always supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia. We have also confirmed that we have great hopes that Azerbaijan and Armenia sign a peace agreement. From this point of view, our views on the peace agenda in the South Caucasus fully coincide. We do hope that peace in this region will be sustainable and serve the prosperity of our countries, as well as the people of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. We have always been impartial here in Georgia, and we are ready to contribute to this issue today. We want to be a mediator in this matter and are ready to offer any friendly format. Our future should be peaceful and stable, and all three countries of the South Caucasus should address regional issues themselves. At the same time, I would like to mention that the late President Heydar Aliyev, the father of Mr. President, had made an exceptional contribution to the development of our friendship. He laid its foundation. We have viewed an exhibition dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. President Ilham Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan on this occasion. Dear friend, I welcome you here again. I wish your country peace, development and success. Thank you. x x x Then, the President of Azerbaijan made the statement. Statement by President Ilham Aliyev - Dear Prime Minister, Dear ladies and gentlemen. First of all, dear Prime Minister, I want to thank you for the invitation and hospitality. I am very happy to be visiting this charming corner of the city of Tbilisi, and the conditions created here are also pleasing to the eye. During the conversation with Prime Minister, I mentioned that the entire territory of Georgia is beautiful from the point of view of nature. The greatest beauty and greatest wealth is the people of Georgia. We, as two leaders, are strengthening and consolidating the friendly and brotherly relations between our countries and peoples, and spare no effort to do that. As Prime Minister has mentioned, our traditional meetings serve this purpose so that our countries become closer to each other, so that our peoples become closer friends with each other. For centuries, our peoples have lived in the conditions of good neighborliness and friendship, and this is still the case today. This is important for both our countries, and at the same time, it is a very important condition for the region, including, first of all, the South Caucasus. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the respect shown by the government and people of Georgia for the memory of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev. As mentioned, this year, the 100th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev is celebrated in Azerbaijan and many countries around the world, including Georgia. During the exhibition organized here today, one picture caught my eye. It was a picture of Heydar Aliyev and Eduard Shevardnadze. Their friendship has a long history. During the Soviet period, they were in close contact with each other and also as the leaders of Soviet Georgia and Soviet Azerbaijan, they made every effort to further bring our peoples closer together. These two brilliant personalities were distinguished by their talent, courage and devotion to their people even in the Soviet era. Destiny had it that they began to lead independent Georgia and independent Azerbaijan at about the same time. In the most difficult period for our peoples we remember those bitter and painful days it was thanks to their leadership that both Georgia and Azerbaijan confidently began to step towards independence. It was the result of their activities that independent Georgia and independent Azerbaijan began to develop. We, their successors, are following in their footsteps today. Of course, Georgia and Azerbaijan are much more developed countries now. But the challenges are almost the same, the problems are the same. Peace has not yet been fully established in the South Caucasus, and today, during the conversation with Prime Minister, we touched upon this issue as well. The time has come to establish peace in the South Caucasus. As Prime Minister has mentioned, we have always supported and continue to support each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty. In all international organizations, we support and stand by each other in these and other issues that reflect the interests of our peoples. Territorial integrity of countries is a fundamental principle of international law, and violation of territorial integrity is unacceptable. Azerbaijan's position on this issue is unequivocal. Today, we also touched upon the issue of normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations. Three years ago, as a result of the Second Karabakh War, Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity. Last month, we restored our sovereignty over the entire country. Now we must work hard on the peace treaty to be signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan. If we succeed in that, and I hope we will, then a completely new political situation will emerge in the South Caucasus. South Caucasus countries can start cooperating in a trilateral format. Our cooperation in many fields can be very successful: transport, energy security, trade, mutual investment all these are possible. We were simply deprived of this because a part of Azerbaijan's territories was under occupation for many years and, of course, this situation did not allow us the opportunity to take steps towards normalization. Now the moment is ripe, and I think it would be a huge mistake to miss out on this chance. As you know, several countries and also some international organizations are trying to support the normalization process between Armenia and Azerbaijan today. We welcome that. If it is not lop-sided and biased, of course, we welcome any mediation and assistance. However, in my opinion, taking into account both the historical relations and the geographical factor, the most correct option in this field would certainly be Georgia. I am grateful to Prime Minister, who has also offered possible mediation in this area. I think that we should expect the same approach from Armenia, as a country that is ready for this, and if Armenia agrees, the heads of our relevant authorities can immediately come to Georgia for both bilateral and trilateral meetings. As for our cooperation in other fields, as Prime Minister has already mentioned, we have very ambitious plans in both energy and transport fields. Of course, we already have a lot of achievements. I think it is needless to talk about completed projects, everyone knows that. I simply want to say that our joint energy and transport projects serve the energy and transport security of many countries today. There is also an unequivocal agenda for the deepening of cooperation. We are happy to participate in the creation of new infrastructure projects in Georgia. Today we exchanged views on the construction of Anaklia port. As you know, Azerbaijan has Kulevi port on the Black Sea coast of Georgia, and the expansion of that port will certainly strengthen our cooperation. Of course, increasing the carrying capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway by more than five times and the launch of it in the near future will certainly serve to strengthen the Middle Corridor. Apart from the traditional fields in the energy sector, there is a Green Energy Corridor project that unites us today. Here, too, we Georgia and Azerbaijan, the two brotherly countries are closely cooperating with Europe, and a feasibility study for this project will be ready in the coming months. I am sure that after that we will start concrete work. Major investment is planned, and thus the Green Energy Corridor, an energy cable will be built, strengthening the energy security of both Azerbaijan and our partner countries. In short, the projects implemented by Georgia and Azerbaijan jointly and together with other neighboring countries are of great importance not only for the South Caucasus region, but also for the broader Eurasian continent, and we are ready for that. We have a strong political will and a strong infrastructure that has already been created. The most important factor is the Georgian-Azerbaijani friendship and strategic partnership. I would like to mention another issue at the end of my speech. I come to Georgia often, and every time I come here, I get to know a new part of your country. Every time, I admire the beautiful nature of Georgia and, at the same time, I am very impressed and pleased with the progress observed in Georgia. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Georgia is developing confidently, the public and political stability has been fully established in Georgia. The source of this stability is the support of the citizens of Georgia for their government. This stability and the government's clear vision of the future allows many important projects to be implemented, allows the economy to grow, infrastructure projects to be implemented, and people's well-being to improve year after year. As a friend of Georgia, we are very happy about this. We congratulate you, Prime Minister and all our Georgian brothers, on the achieved successes. I am grateful to you for the hospitality, Prime Minister, and would like to invite you to Azerbaijan. Thank you. The Armenian ambassador-designate to the EU says his country expects Azerbaijan to invade within weeks. Azerbaijan will follow up the capitulation of Nagorno-Karabakh with an attack on Armenia itself, Tigran Balayan says. In an interview with Brussels Signal, Balayan said that Azerbaijani promises to respect international law are hollow. We are now under imminent threat of invasion into Armenia, he said. The central problem was that President Ilham Aliyev has not yet met any concrete repercussions for what the Armenian ambassador-designate said were his expansionist plans. There would be no stopping Azerbaijan if it will not be confronted with very practical steps taken by the so-called collective West. This follows the Azerbaijani attack on Nagorno-Karabakh in mid-September. The region was an enclave of ethnic Armenians within Azerbaijani territory, but was ruled by the Armenia-backed breakaway Republic of Artsakh. Following what Azerbaijan dubbed a counter-terrorist operation, Nagorno-Karabkah capitulated and there followed a mass exodus of the over 100,000 Armenians living there. Now Armenia claims that President Aliyev intends to come for more. Specifically the Zangezur corridor, which separates Azerbaijan proper from its Nakhchivan enclave. While the Azerbaijani Ambassador told Brussels Signal that his country has no designs on Armenias internationally-recognised territory, Balayan believed this was bluff. He cited President Aliyevs previous statements that Azerbaijan would chase the Armenians like dogs. Aliyev is also reported by Reuters to have claimed the Zangezur was historical Azerbaijani land in a recent meeting with Turkeys President Erdogan. Balayan told this website that there were very practical measures the EU could take to confront Azerbaijan and President Aliyev. He suggested the EU must give Aliyev a deadline to withdraw his army from the Armenian border region, and to suspend Azerbaijans visa-free travel agreement with the EU if he failed to comply. He also said that individual sanctions can send a clear message. This follows a a similar resolution made by the European Parliament on October 5th. MEPs called on the EU to suspend its current energy and visa agreements with the EU. 08:59 The death toll from the Hamas terror group's multi-front attack on Israel has risen to more than 300, Hebrew-language media reports say, citing medical officials, as per The Times of Israel. The toll is expected to continue to rise. As many as 1,590 people have been wounded, many seriously. Various civilians as well as (Israel Defense Forces) IDF soldiers are believed to have been abducted and brought into Gaza; Hamas has boasted that the number of hostages is higher than Israel knows, as per The Times of Israel. At about 6.30 am (local time) on Saturday, a barrage of rocket fire began from Gaza into Israel, hitting several cities including Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Gedera and Ashkelon. This was followed by several Hamas terrorists entering Israel from the Gaza Strip and taking over Israeli towns. Hamas military commander Muhammad Al-Deif called the operation 'Al-Aqsa Storm' and said that the assault on Israel was a response to attacks on women, the desecration of the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and the ongoing siege of Gaza, CNN reported. Some graphic videos showed bodies strewn in the streets of the southern city of Sderot after the attack by Palestinian militants. Cars were riddled with bullets and lit on fire, according to The Washington Post. Meanwhile, the IDF has said that it has killed seven terrorists attempting to enter Israel via the Zikim Beach just north of Gaza. The IDF says it prevented the terrorists from infiltrating into Israeli communities. The military also says that it recently struck three operational sites being used by Hamas in Gaza, as per The Times of Israel. The Israeli security forces have also rescued an unspecified number of people who were taken hostage in a home in the southern town of Ofakim. The terrorists were killed, according to reports. A spokesperson for the IDF has said his country hasn't regained full control in the wake of attacks from the militant group Hamas on Saturday. "There are still active battles between Israeli security forces and terrorists inside Gaza. And unfortunately, we have not yet been able to re-establish full control over all of our communities and all of our bases," Lt Col Jonathan Conricus told CNN. "This is the top priority," he added, as per The Hill. Conricus during a live briefing on Sunday said: 'Unprecedented attack requires unprecedented response. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Hamas has started a cruel, evil war and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will use all its strength to destroy Hamas' capabilities.' -- ANI IMAGE: A woman reacts at the site where a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip landed in Tel Aviv, Israel on October 7, 2023. Photograph: Itai Ron/Reuters Stranded in Israel amid the deadly terror attacks by Hamas and the retaliatory air raids by the country's defence forces, actor Nushrratt Bharuccha was in the process of being brought home safely with assistance from the Indian embassy. "We managed to get in touch with Nushrratt and with the help of the Embassy, she is being brought back home safely. We did not get a direct flight so she is on a connecting flight home. For her further safety, more details cannot be shared but as soon as she lands in India, we will inform you. We are relieved and thank god that she is safe and on her way to India," Sanchita Trivedi, Nushrratt's publicist, told ANI. According to reports, the actor was in Israel to participate in the Haifa International Film Festival. Around 6:30 am (local time), on Saturday, a barrage of rocket fire began from Gaza into Israel, hit several cities including Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Gedera and Ashkelon. This was followed by several Hamas terrorists entering Israel from the Gaza Strip and taking over Israeli towns. Hamas military commander Muhammad Al-Deif called the operation "Al-Aqsa Flood" and said that the assault on Israel was a response to attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, and the ongoing siege of Gaza. The death toll from the Hamas terror group's multi-front attack on Israel soared past 300 on Sunday and is expected to rise further. As many as 1,590 people have been wounded, many seriously, according to reports. Nushrratt was recently seen in the film 'Akeli', which released last month. The film is about an Indian woman, who is stranded in war-torn Iraq, and depicts her struggle for survival against all odds. 'Akelli' is helmed by Pranay Meshram, who previously worked as an associate director for various projects. The film is produced by Dashami Studioz' Nitin Vaidya, Ninad Vaidya, and Aparna Padgaonkar along with Vicky Sidana and Shashant Shah. (ANI) Actor Nushrratt Bharuccha has finally returned to Mumbai after being stranded in Israel. She was snapped at the airport. As per the media reports, she had travelled there to participate in the Haifa International Film Festival. But she was stuck there because of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1710947471487357349 Previously, her team had updated that she was being safely brought back home. "We have finally managed to get in touch with Nushrratt and with the help of the Embassy, she is being safely brought back home. We did not get a direct flight so she is on a connecting flight home. For her further safety, more details cannot be shared but as soon as she lands in India, we will inform you. We are relieved and thank god that she is safe and on her way to India, as quoted by Sanchita Trivedi, Nushrratt's publicist. Talking about the conflict, around 6:30 am (local time), on Saturday, a barrage of rocket fire began from Gaza into Israel, hit several cities including Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Gedera and Ashkelon. This was followed by several Hamas terrorists entering Israel from the Gaza Strip and taking over Israeli towns. Hamas military commander Muhammad Al-Deif called the operation "Al-Aqsa Flood" and said that the assault on Israel was a response to attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, and the ongoing siege of Gaza. The death toll from the Hamas terror group's multi-front attack on Israel soared past 300 on Sunday and is expected to rise further. As many as 1,590 people have been wounded, many seriously, according to reports. Coming back to Nushrratt, she was recently seen in the film 'Akeli', which was released last month. The film is about an Indian woman, who is stranded in war-torn Iraq, and depicts her struggle for survival against all odds. 'Akelli' is helmed by Pranay Meshram, who previously worked as an associate director for various projects.The film is produced by Dashami Studioz' Nitin Vaidya, Ninad Vaidya, and Aparna Padgaonkar along with Vicky Sidana and Shashant Shah. (ANI) She took to Instagram to salute the warriors of the Indian Air Force on Sunday. She captioned the post, "They soar through our skies with pride & glory and carry with them an unwavering commitment to ensure our nation's safety & security. This Air Force Day, team #Fighter salutes the Warriors of our glorious Indian Air Force! #JaiHind." https://www.instagram.com/p/CyIwdb5Lclm/?hl=en She posted a video of the poster of 'Air Force Day' written in tri-colour of India, (Orange, White and Green). Earlier, on Independence day that was on August 15, 2023, the makers of 'Fighter' unveiled an intriguing motion poster featuring Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor's first look as Indian Air Force pilots. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cv8644tsVhi/ The clip opens with a runway shot and then Hrithik comes into the frame. The actor looks dapper in his pilot G-suit. Next, Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor are introduced. They were also dressed in pilot uniforms. All three of them are seen holding helmets and wearing sunglasses.Helmed by Siddharth Anand, 'Fighter' also stars Anil Kapoor, Karan Singh Grover and Akshay Oberoi. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on January 25, 2024. 'Fighter' is an aerial action film. The film marks Hrithik's first on-screen collaboration with Deepika. Meanwhile, Deepika will be next seen in the Pan-India action thriller film 'Kalki 2898 AD' opposite Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan. Meanwhile, Hrithik was last seen in a crime thriller film 'Vikram Vedha' alongside Saif Ali Khan and Radhika Apte. Apart from 'Fighter', he will also be seen in the action thriller film 'War 2' alongside Jr NTR and Kiara Advani. (ANI) A combined attack was carried out on Israel this morning, Azernews reports. First, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water and air. There are already casualties among the civilians. According to the evidence in the video, dozens of armed Palestinians are infiltrating Israel from the Gaza. The press service of the Israel Defense Forces confirmed that rocket fire is being conducted on Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip. Alarms sound continuously on Saturday morning in many localities of the country, including the Tel Aviv area and its environs. Residents of the southern and central regions of Israel are advised to stay near shelters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left for Tel Aviv, where he will soon hold an urgent meeting with the leadership of the country's security agencies against the background of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip that began on Saturday morning. This was announced by the office of the head of the Israeli government. "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is aware of the details of the incident and will hold an operational meeting with the security leadership in the coming hours," the statement said. The head of the Government has already left for Tel Aviv, where the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense and security agencies of Israel are located (the residence of the Prime Minister and the main state institutions are located in Jerusalem). According to statement, Israeli army declared a "state of readiness for war" after launching a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip early Saturday morning. "The Israel Defence Forces announces a state of readiness for war," the statement said. "Israeli citizens in the southern and central regions are obliged to remain near shelters, and in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip, inside shelters. The Chief of General Staff is currently assessing the situation and approving plans for the continuation of army operations," the army added. Rajasthan will become the second state in the country after Bihar to conduct Caste based Survey after the state government passed an order on Saturday to conduct the survey. In an order issued by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Rajasthan Government, it was said "Keeping in view the backwardness of all sections of the state, with the aim of taking special welfare measures and interpreting various welfare schemes for all sections of the state and improving the standard of living of all sections by providing them social and economic upliftment and support and in compliance with the decision taken by the State Cabinet, a Caste-Based Survey will be conducted." This comes after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced that soon his state would undertake a caste-based census, mirroring the recent initiative undertaken by Bihar. "I always say that the 'Right to Social Security' act should be made in this country... If all these laws are made, then who will get benefits and who won't, who is eligible and who is not, all these things will be clear once a survey is conducted... We are going to do this", Gehlot stated. It was mentioned in the order that updated information and data will be collected regarding social, economic and educational levels and the survey will be executed by the Planning (Economic and Statistics) Department. "The department will act as the nodal department for the above work. At the district level, the District Collector will be the nodal officer for survey work and will be in overall charge of it," the order said. The Department will also prepare a questionnaire for the survey work so that complete information about the social, economic and educational level of each person can be obtained. "The information and data obtained from the survey will have to be fed online, for which a separate special software and mobile app will be created by the Information and Technology Department. All the information collected from the survey will be kept safe by the said department," the order further said. (ANI) Rajasthan police have constituted a special investigation team to probe the death of two minor girls who died allegedly by suicide after consuming poison on Saturday. According to the police, in a complaint filed by the girl's father, two minor girls were studying and staying in Peepal Khoont in a hostel and alleged that they were harassed by three boys, including a minor. The three accused have been detained by the police. S Parimala, IG Police, Banswara told ANI "We received info in Ghantali police station that two minor girls have consumed poison. The girls who consumed poison were referred to a hospital where they were declared dead. Their relatives reported that these two minor girls were studying in Peepal Khoont and alleged that they were harassed by a minor boy, and two of his friends, who have been detained. A special investigation team has been constituted to probe the incident." BJP's Rajasthan chief and leader of opposition in the state, Rajendra Rathore targeted CM Gehlot's government on the incident and said that the incident is also a question mark on the poor law and order system of the state. "Atrocities against women and daughters are at their peak under the jungle raj of Congress. The incident of suicide by two schoolgirls troubled by teasing in Pipalkhunt of Pratapgarh district is shameful to humanity. This incident is also a question mark on the poor law and order system of the state. This is not the first case under the rule of @ashokgehlot51 ji who has failed as the head of the Home Department," Rajendra Rathore said on X. (ANI) Amid the tussle on SYL (Satluj Yamuna Link) Canal, Shirmoani Akaldi Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has said that his party will protest at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's residence on October 10. Speaking to the media, Sukhbir Singh Badal said, "Akali Dal has a clear stand that Punjab does not have any surplus water. Our case is going on in the Supreme Court, where the Punjab Government has taken the stand that we are ready to make Canal in Punjab but our opponents are protesting. We will 'gherao' the CM residence on October 10. There are elections in Rajasthan and Haryana and to please them, CM Mann is taking this stand." "Bhagwant Mann should be ashamed whom the people of Punjab made the CM with such a majority," he added. Earlier on Saturday, Badal said that his party delegation came to meet Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit to discuss on the SYL Canal and the Aam Aadmi Party indulging in illegal mining in the state. Badal further said that the Akali Dal will not allow the canal to be built even if CM Mann tries with his full power. We will not let even a single drop of water go to another state. Earlier on Wednesday the Supreme Court ordered the Centre to carry out a survey on a portion of land in Punjab meant for the construction of the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal as per a 2002 court decree. The court was hearing a suit filed by Haryana, which is seeking the execution of a top court verdict of January 15, 2002, that directed Punjab to construct the canal. Speaking on this, Badal said, "Whichever survey team the centre will send, we will not allow them to enter Punjab." Notably, the SYL agreement was signed between Punjab and Haryana 42 years ago in the year 1981, but due to non-compliance, the dispute between the two states increased. For effective allocation of water, the SYL canal was to be constructed and the two states were required to construct their portions within their territories. (ANI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is likely to visit the gitted remains of a firecracker store in Attibele of Anekal town here, where a massive fire broke out on Saturday afternoon, claiming 14 lives. The fire broke out as the workers at the store were unloading firecrackers from a vehicle on Saturday, around 3.30 pm, police said. According to the police, the situation is currently under control with the firefighters managing to put out the flames entirely. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire, the police added. The Karnataka government, meanwhile, announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the next-of-kin of the deceased in the incident. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar visited the site of the fire on Saturday night and took a briefing on the incident from officials. "Officials said that 13 people died in the fire. I spoke to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the phone about the incident. The next of kin of the deceased will receive an ex-gratia amount of Rs 5 lakh each from the government," Shivakumar said. The deputy CM added that an investigation was underway to determine the exact cause of the fire. The police are also checking IF the fire prevention rules were followed, the deputy CM said. "With Diwali not too far away, the police have been instructed to adhere to strict observance of fire safety norms in cracker shops and godowns across the state," Shivakumar added. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also condoled the loss of lives in the fire on social media platform X, posting, "I was deeply saddened to hear the news that 12 people died in the fire accident that broke out in a firecracker store near Anekal, Bangalore city district. I am going to visit the accident site tomorrow and inspect it. My condolences to the family of the deceased workers." According to the damage assessment done by the officials, seven two-wheelers, a container lorry, and three other vehicles were gutted in the fire. (ANI) CM Yogi is on a three-day visit to Uttarakhand to attend the meeting of the Central Regional Council. On Saturday evening, CM Yogi attended the Shayan Aarti of Badrinath Dham, had 'darshan', and worshipped as per the rituals. He also participated in the meeting of the Central Regional Council held at Narendra Nagar in Tehri. After that, he visited various areas of Uttarakhand. CM Yogi also went to the Ghastauli post near the China border at an altitude of 13,200 feet, where he met the deployed ITBP personnel, inquired about their well-being, and encouraged them. CM Yogi also attended the 24th meeting of the Central Zonal Council held in Narendra Nagar, Tehri on Saturday. The meeting was chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami was also part of the meeting. Later today, the Chief Minister may also visit the holy Kedarnath temple located in Rudraprayag district. (ANI) Amid the tussle on SYL (Satluj Yamuna Link) Canal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday extended an "open invitation" to the Opposition parties including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shirmoani Akaldi Dal and Congress for a "live debate on all issues" instead of "daily bickering". "It is my open invitation to BJP chief Jakhar ji, Akali Dal's Sukhbir Singh Badal and Congress's Raja Wadding-Pratap Bajwa ji that instead of daily bickering, come once and sit in front of the media and discuss who looted Punjab and how... brother-nephew, brother-in-law, friends-relatives, youth-farmers, businesses-shopkeepers, speeches of Gurus, Canal waters... Let's do a live debate on all issues," CM Mann said in a post in Hindi on X. He further said, "You can bring a paper with you but I will speak by word of mouth. November 1 'Punjab Day' will be a good day, you will also get time for preparation. I am fully prepared because there is no need to memorize things to speak the truth." After the Supreme Court came heavily on the Punjab government for not taking steps for the construction of the canal, the Opposition parties have been protesting against the same demanding immediate action. Shirmoani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday said that his party will protest at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's residence on October 10 while BJP state president Sunil Jhakkar alleged that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) under the leadership of Bhagwant Mann has done a huge deception with Punjab. However, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday said that the bordering state will have to change its attitude according to the directions of the top court. On Wednesday, a bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul CT Ravikumar and Sudhanshu Dhulia, while hearing a matter relating to the Sutlej-Yamuna link (SYL) canal dispute, came down heavily on the Punjab government for not taking steps for the construction of the canal. The court remarked that Punjab has to cooperate in the process. The court directed the Centre to survey the portion of the land allocated to Punjab. The court also directed the Centre to look into the mediation process. The court listed the matter for further hearing in January 2024. The apex court was hearing the SYL canal dispute between Haryana and Punjab. On July 28, 2020, the top court had asked the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana to make an attempt to resolve the issue amicably. The problem stems from the controversial 1981 water-sharing agreement after Haryana was formed out of Punjab in 1966. For effective allocation of water, the SYL canal was to be constructed and the two states were required to construct their portions within their territories. While Haryana constructed its portion of the canal, after the initial phase, Punjab stopped the work, leading to multiple cases. In 2004, the Punjab government had passed a law unilaterally cancelling the SYL agreement and other such pacts, however, in 2016, the apex court had struck down this law. Later, Punjab went ahead and returned the acquired land--on which the canal was to be constructed--to the landowners. (ANI) Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, while addressing the 91st Indian Air Force Day on Sunday, said that if India is on the path to becoming a developed nation by 2047 the Indian Air Force must be one of the best by the time we complete 100 years. "In my first address two years ago, I spoke about my experience with all air warriors, so that the Air Force remains relevant and contemporary. In my last year's address, I spoke about the requirements and transformation, and how hybrid warfare and multi-domain operations highlight the need to redefine, reimagine, and recalibrate ourselves. This year, I would like to focus on making that vision a reality," he said. Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said, "In the past nine decades, Indian Air Forces have constantly evolved and transformed as one of the finest air forces of the world, if India is on the path to becoming a developed nation by 2047, then India Air forces must be one of the best, if not, the best by the time we complete 100 years by 2032, the vision has laid down a doctrine, that is to be an agile and adaptable air force that provides decisive air power in furtherance of national interest, In order to make a vision a reality we must play our part diligently, we must reform or become a relic, we must innovate else become mundane, we must transform else become irrelevant." "The theme for this year is 'Indian Air Force: Air Power Beyond Boundaries'. The theme aptly reflects the inherent global reach of air power and how air power will prove decisive in future conflict. Air force operations extend worldwide, providing rapid mobility and global reach, and this reach allows a nation to project air power beyond boundaries, in the form of rapid deployment, HADR, and peacekeeping missions. We need to understand the nuances of air power, setting to preserve peace if and when necessary to fight and win wars," added the IAF Chief. While addressing the IAF personnel, he urged them to strive for excellence. "First and foremost, I would like to urge you to strive for excellence in everything you do. This is non-negotiable. We must hold ourselves to the highest standards in every facet of our operations, training, maintenance, and administration," he said, adding, "We must strive to be leaders in technology and innovation.We must invest in cutting-edge research, development, and acquisition to build technological superiority. Innovation must become a part of our DNA, enabling us to easily adapt to emerging threats and challenges." "The force structure that we need to develop must be future-ready. Joint planning and integrated application of combat power will be the sine qua non of future wars. Developing unique tactics, carrying out realistic training, and incorporating relevant lessons learned will go a long way," he added. (ANI) Aditya-L1 spacecraft which is carrying out India's first solar mission has performed a trajectory correction manoeuvre (TCM), for about 16 seconds, ISRO said on Sunday, adding it happened on October 6, 2023. ISRO in its X timeline write that the manoeuvre was needed to correct the trajectory evaluated after tracking the Trans-Lagrangean Point 1 Insertion (TL1I) manoeuvre performed on September 19. "TCM ensures that the spacecraft is on its intended path towards the Halo orbit insertion around L1 (its destination). As Aditya-L1 continues to move ahead, the magnetometer will be turned on again within a few days," ISRO wrote on X. In its latest, India's space agency also maintained the spacecraft is healthy and on its way to its destination. So far in its journey, the spacecraft has undergone four earth-bound manoeuvres and a Trans-Lagrangean Point 1 Insertion (TL1I) manoeuvres, all successfully. In the process, the spacecraft successfully escaped the sphere of Earth's influence. Aditya-L1 has also commenced collecting scientific data. The sensors of the STEPS (Supra Thermal and Energetic Particle Spectrometer) instrument have begun measuring supra-thermal and energetic ions and electrons at distances greater than 50,000 km from Earth. This data would help scientists analyze the behaviour of particles surrounding Earth. The figure below displays variations in the energetic particle environment, collected by one of the units. After the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 near the South pole of the moon, the ISRO launched the country's maiden solar mission -- Aditya-L1 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on September 2. It carried seven different payloads to have a detailed study of the sun, four of which will observe the light from the sun and the other three will measure in-situ parameters of the plasma and magnetic fields. Aditya-L1 will be placed in a halo orbit around Lagrangian Point 1 (or L1), which is 1.5 million km away from the Earth in the direction of the sun. It is expected to cover the distance in four months' time.Aditya-L1 will stay approximately 1.5 million km away from Earth, directed towards the Sun, which is about 1 per cent of the Earth-Sun distance. The Sun is a giant sphere of gas and Aditya-L1 would study the outer atmosphere of the Sun. ISRO had said Aditya-L1 will neither land on the sun nor approach the sun any closer. This strategic location will enable Aditya-L1 to continuously observe the sun without being hindered by eclipses or occultation, allowing scientists to study solar activities and their impact on space weather in real time. Also, the spacecraft's data will help identify the sequence of processes that lead to solar eruptive events and contribute to a deeper understanding of space weather drivers. (ANI) Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Sunday thanked the Government of India for providing immediate funds to the state amid the flash flood situation. CM Tamang asserted that the state and central governments are working together to restore normalcy in the state. "We just had a meeting with MoS Home Ajay Kumar regarding the flash flood in the state. PM Modi, Union HM Amit Shah and the entire Central government are standing with the people of Sikkim. NDRF teams have been sent to rescue people," CM Tamang said while speaking to ANI in Gangtok. He further said, "The state government and central government are working together to restore normalcy in the state. Power supply in some places has been restored and we are working with BRO and other departments as well. I want to thank the GoI for providing immediate funds to the Sikkim government." Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra today held a meeting with CM Tamang to discuss the situation amid the flash floods in the state. "Sikkim is facing a huge disaster and there has been a massive loss to road and infrastructure. PM Modi and Union HM Amit Shah have been in constant touch with CM Prem Singh Tamang," MoS Mishra told ANI after meeting with CM Tamang. Mishra added, "We have constituted a team in which people from agriculture, roads, water and energy ministries are included. Officials from ITBP and NDRF are also sent here. Union HM Amit Shah has released funds for SDRF and has promised to provide all possible assistance to NDRF as well." A statement issued by the Army today said that the Indian Army Corps of Signals has ensured timely restoration of civil cellular communications as part of continued assistance to stranded tourists at Chungthang, Lachung and Lachen, North Sikkim. Most of the stranded tourists have been able to speak to their family back home, it added. The statement also shared helpline numbers to contact if any emergency arises. "Following numbers are available for any query - Emergency Operating Center(EOC)- Helpline Number 03592-202461/201145, 03592-284444 (Gangtok), 03595-263734 (Namchi), 03592-234538(Mangan), 03592-291936 (Pakyong), 8016747244 (Soreng), 03595-250888 (Gyalshing) and 7001911393 of Nodal Officer (for tourists) and 8101426284 of Assisant Director. For all Army Personnel - 9906200205 (Nodal Officer, Army), ITBP-03592-231340, SSB- 03592-251015, SDRF- 03592-220545, BRO- 03592-259208 and ARMY- 03592-202228," the statement added. An Inter-Ministerial Central team comprising senior officers of five Ministries of the Centre, namely Agriculture, Road Transport and Highways, Jal Shakti, Energy and Finance will visit the State today to take stock of the ground situation, assess the damages and provide assistance wherever necessary, according to a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The statement earlier said that Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) carried out a rescue operation right from October 3rd night itself and evacuated more than 175 persons, and they are running relief centres within their different camps. 40 persons were stranded in a totally cut-off area, they were rescued through highly dangerous terrain and evacuated through rough rivers through cables and ropes. Further 6 persons were rescued, who were trapped on the other side of the dam tunnel. 68 persons were stranded at Zanak, which is 16,000 feet in height, and everyone was rescued safely and brought to the ITBP camp at Goma. Four stranded families were brought to Lachung BOP of ITBP and they are camping there. As per the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) report of October 7 as of 10 am, the death toll was registered at 27 with 141 people still reported missing. It said 2413 people have been rescued, and 1203 houses have been damaged in the flash flood. It further said that about 25,065 people have been disaster-affected so far and 6875 people have been shifted to relief camps. The Sikkim government has set up 22 relief camps. The Lhonak glacier in the Sikkim Himalayas burst on October 3, breaching one side of the lake leading to the rise in the water levels in Teesta and inundating several areas of the state. (ANI) Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on Sunday said that the India's current geopolitical landscape has provided the IAF an opportunity to reduce dependency on imports by developing indigenous capability. The Air Chief Marshal was addressing the Air Force Day celebration parade at Bamrauli Air Force Station in Prayagraj. "The last one year had brought its fair share of challenges our way. I am happy to note that the IAF has performed exceedingly well and passed every test with flying colours. We have not only circumvented challenges but also turned those challenges into opportunities. The current geopolitical landscape has provided us an opportunity to reduce dependency on imports by developing indigenous capability," IAF Chief Chaudhari said. The Air Chief Marshal also talked about the importance of understanding "evolving air power" in the world. "Air Force operations extend worldwide, providing rapid mobility and global reach. This reach allows a nation to project air power beyond boundaries in the form of rapid deployment, HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief ) and peacekeeping missions. We need to understand the nuances of evolving air power, setting the pace to preserve peace and if and when necessary, to fight and win wars," the IAF Chief said. He said that over the past nine decades, the IAF has constantly evolved and transformed into one of the finest air forces in the world. "But is that enough? If India is on the path to becoming a developed nation by 2047, then IAF must be one of the best, if not the best, by the time we complete 100 years in 2032," Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said. He also said that the IAF must recognise the importance of the space domain and continue developing its space capabilities. "In this complex and dynamic strategic environment, refining our strategy, building robust all-round capabilities and more importantly, developing a flexible mindset to prosecute future wars will prove decisive," Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said. "Indian Air Force is not just a military force, it is a symbol of our nation's collective strength and determination," he added. Indian Air Force on Sunday morning started the 91st-anniversary celebration with a ceremonial parade at Bamrauli Air Force Station in Prayagraj. This will be followed by an Air Display over the Sangam area, in the vicinity of the Ordnance Depot Fort in Prayagraj. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday wished Indian Air Force personnel and their families on Air Force Day which is being celebrated in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj. "Best wishes to all air warriors and their families on Air Force Day. India is proud of the valour, commitment and dedication of the Indian Air Force. Their great service and sacrifice ensure our skies are safe," PM Modi wrote on X. (ANI) NATO and Iranian representatives commented on the armed conflict between Hamas and Israel, this was reported by Israeli media, Azernews reports. Alliance Deputy Secretary General Mircea Joan said: "I am disappointed today with our Israeli friends over the loss of life. I stand in full solidarity with Israel in the face of the horrific attacks." The deputy said he had been to Israel a few weeks ago and that they had discussed a new level of co-operation between NATO and the country. Yahya Rahim Safavi, military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, emphasised Tehran's support for Hamas and thanked it for the operation: "We will stand shoulder to shoulder with the Palestinian fighters for the freedom of Jerusalem." An official notice released by the Government of Bihar said that among 22, five cases were reported from Bhojpur, four people died in Jahanabad, three people in Patna, three in Rohtas, two in Darbhanga, two people in Nawada, one person each in Madhepura, Kaimur and Aurangabad district. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar also expressed grief over the death of people and announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the kin of the deceased. Earlier, two brothers died due to drowning in the Yamuna Khadar area of New Usmanpur in Delhi. Police said that as soon as they received information about the incident, a team immediately reached the spot, and both boys were immediately taken to the JPC Hospital, where the doctor declared them dead. On inquiry, it was found that the twin brothers, aged around 14 years, were residents of Pusta, Gamri village, Delhi. (ANI) "Air India will extend all possible support to passengers who have confirmed bookings on any flight during this period," the Air India spokesperson added. Initially, an Air India Flight from New Delhi to Tel Aviv on Saturday and a return flight from Tel Aviv to New Delhi were cancelled in the wake of Hamas attack on Israel. Israel has already declared a state of war in the country after infiltration by Hamas fighters and missile attacks from Gaza. Following the rocket attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip by Hamas, the Indian Embassy in Israel on Saturday issued an advisory for its nationals, requesting them to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols. "In view of the current situation in Israel, all Indian nationals in Israel are requested to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities. Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement and stay close to safety shelters," read the advisory. So far, more than 300 people have been killed on the Israeli side, with the number of injured victims in the Hamas terror attacks reaching 1,864, the Times of Israel reported, citing the country's health ministry. Hamas terrorists are still being sought by Israeli security authorities. Israel launched 'Operation Swords of Iron', striking a number of suspected Hamas hideouts in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's response to the Hamas incursion will "exact a huge price" on the terrorist group. (ANI) Rajeev Ranjan Singh said "We met the family and stand with the family. BJP is a washing machine as no one is raided who joins BJP." He also talked about the caste census issue for the Lok Sabha election 2024. He said "We will not answer any person in the caste census. We are carrying on the work of development. The biggest agenda of the INDIA bloc is going to be the caste census in Lok Sabha election 2024." Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party leader Dimple Yadav reacting to the arrest of Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh said that the BJP is trying to disturb the country's atmosphere by doing such things. Dimple Yadav also said that this time people will be going to vote to brighten the future of their family and children. "I think the country atmosphere is being disrupted as BJP has understood that their policies have failed. There is unemployment, farmers are in distress, and women are not safe. The public understands this. It's been almost a decade and this time people will vote to improve the future of their family and children," said Dimple Yadav. (ANI) During the event, a total of 13 Veer Naris (war widows), Gallantry Awardees & Battle Casualties of Coimbatore District were felicitated. Various programs showcasing the life of an Army person were organized in the event. Kalaripayattu & Chendamelam Display by Kovai Terriers was the highlight of the evening. Army Recruiting office also set up an exhibition to showcase various options for youth to Join the Armed Forces. Kranthi Kumar Pati, IAS, District Collector, Coimbatore, V Balakrishnan, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore city and M Prathap, IAS, Commissioner Municipal Corporation of Coimbatore were also present. Senior officers from the Army, Navy, Air Force & Civil Administration, College Students, NCC Cadets, troops & their families took part in the event. Colonel Dinesh Singh Tanwer, Commanding Officer, 110 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) MADRAS thanked all the people who contributed to making the event a grand success. Around 1,100 persons attended the first-of-its-kind event organized in Coimbatore. (ANI) As Rajasthan heads towards the State Assembly Elections later this year, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is set to visit the state's capital Jaipur today. The Union Education Minister will be on a one-day visit to the state and also hold the divisional meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party. As elections in Rajasthan gain momentum, the BJP is keeping no stone unturned to taste victory in the state and nor does the opposition. Just a week ago Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid his visit to the poll-bound state. In his state visit to the state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the ruling Rajasthan Congress and said that the people have made up their minds to vote out the Ashok Gehlot regime and bring back the BJP. "The Congress deserves to score a big zero for the way they ran government here. The people of Rajasthan have made up their minds to remove the Gehlot government and bring the BJP back," PM Modi said in Rajasthan. In a war of words between the BJP and Congress, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot alleged that the promises PM Modi makes are never fulfilled. He said, "Campaign for elections have started. So, if the Prime Minister brings a campaign here we don't have a problem with that. It is his right. But the promises that he makes are never fulfilled. The PM's approach is on election mode." Senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot also criticized Prime Minister Modi and said that "PM keeps coming to Rajasthan again and again, but he never speaks on burning issues like the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP). There is a power tussle going on in the BJP, and Congress is moving forward with great coordination today, and in the end, Congress will form the government with a greater majority than has been achieved in years." The Election Commission will announce dates for the Rajasthan State Assembly elections before 10th October, which are likely to be held in the month of November 2023. (ANI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the fire accident that happened at a firecracker store in Attibele of Anekal town, which killed 14 people. The Chief Minister said that there was negligence on the part of the shop owner who is now in police custody. "We don't know what exactly happened, however, we got to know that there was no safety measurement (in the shop). The license was renewed recently. No fire extinguisher was found in the shop. It is a total negligence of the Shop owner. so I am giving the investigation into the incident to CID," Siddaramaiah told reporters after visiting the accident site. He said that some bodies of the deceased have yet to be identified. "Fourteen people have died (in the incident) and all are from Tamil Nadu, most of them are students. They are working here to earn money for their education," CM Siddaramaiah said. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar also visited the accident site on Sunday and told the reporters that the incident was a grave one. "We are going to come up with a plan of action we have to take within two to three days... We have already announced Rs 5 lakhs for those who died, and hospital expenditures will be taken care of," Shivakumar said. The fire broke out as the workers at the store were unloading firecrackers from a vehicle on Saturday, around 3.30 pm, police said. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also condoled the loss of lives in the fire on social media platform X, posting, "I was deeply saddened to hear the news that 12 people died in the fire accident that broke out in a firecracker store near Anekal, Bangalore city district. I am going to visit the accident site tomorrow and inspect it. My condolences to the family of the deceased workers." According to the damage assessment done by the officials, seven two-wheelers, a container lorry, and three other vehicles were gutted in the fire. (ANI) In order to meet the needs of farmers of Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi government under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has devised a strategy to increase the production of food grains and oilseeds under the Rabi campaign for 2023. The state government has set a production target of 448.66 metric tonnes for food grains and oilseed crops, surpassing the 2022-23 production of 427.83 metric tonnes. In addition, the UP government has also decided to send farmers, scientists and officials from other districts on field visits to the progressive farmers of the districts with maximum productivity, as well as for the training of other farmers. Under Rabi Campaign 2023, the government has set the target to cover 134.85 lakh hectares of area and produce 448.66 lakh metric tonnes of food grains and oilseeds. It is worth mentioning here that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has from time to time reiterated his commitment to double the income of farmers and has also undertaken several initiatives in this regard, including incessantly working on raising the output and reducing production costs. Additionally, the government has also emphasised on ensuring the timely sowing of Rabi crops. Detailed crop-wise production targets have been established, including 397.80 lakh metric tonnes for wheat, 6.13 lakh metric tonnes for barley, 9.71 lakh metric tonnes for gram, 8 lakh metric tonnes for peas, 6.69 lakh metric tonnes for lentils, and 19.50 lakh metric tonnes for mustard. In total, the aim is to produce 428.77 lakh metric tonnes of food grains and 19.90 lakh metric tonnes of oilseeds, contributing to the overall target of 448.66 lakh metric tonbes for Rabi 2023. The government has prepared a multi-pronged strategy for Rabi 2023, including making timely arrangements for agricultural investments, adopting cluster-based approach to increase crop productivity, cropping system-centric intervention keeping pulses, oilseeds and nutri-cereals at the centre, raising cropping density, increasing seed replacement and species replacement rates and working towards enhancing efficient use of water for irrigation and nutrition of crops. . There were notable disparities in the area coverage, overall production, and productivity of crucial Rabi crops across several districts. According to the available data of crop-wise production in 2022-23, Shamli recorded the maximum productivity of wheat reaching 48.88 quintals per hectare. Similarly, in Jaunpur, gram recorded highest yield, with an impressive 21.41 quintals per hectare. In the case of lentils, Sultanpur led with a productivity of 20.40 quintals per hectare, while the productivity of mustard in Firozabad was 25.05 quintals per hectare, and Mathura boasted the highest barley yield of 37.30 quintals per hectare. On the basis of these facts, the Yogi government decided that farmers, scientists and officials from other districts should be sent on field visits as well as for training. (ANI) Union Fisheries Minister Parshottam Rupala will inaugurate the 16th Agricultural Science Congress in Kochi on Oct 10, an official statement said on Sunday. The primary aim is to generate a scientific discourse about transforming India's agri-food systems to facilitate its benefits for generations to come. Renowned agricultural economists, scientists, policymakers, academicians, farmers and entrepreneurs are set to converge in the city for four days from Tuesday (Oct 10) to attend the 16th Agricultural Science Congress (ASC), as per the statement. Organised by the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), the Agricultural Science Congress is being held for the first time in Kerala, hosted by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI). The Congress will discuss 10 thematic areas, including all issues related to agriculture and allied areas and sustainability issues on land and water, agricultural production systems, products, agricultural machinery, climate action, economics, renewable or alternative energy, precision farming, alternative farming systems, coastal agriculture, next-generation technologies, etc. Dr Himanshu Pathak, Secretary to the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) will deliver the presidential address. P Prasad, Minister for Agriculture, Kerala; Hibi Eden MP; Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Chairperson of Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority; and K V Shaji, Chairman of NABARD will be the guests of honour. Prof. Panjab Singh, former President of the NAAS will deliver Dr AB Joshi Memorial Lecture. A line-up of renowned experts, including Dr. Madhur Gautam, lead economist of World Bank; Dr. Krishna Ella, CMD of Bharat Biotech; Dr Vijay Paul Sharma, Chairman of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices; Dr Prabhu Pingali, founding director of Tata Cornell Institute; Dr Rishi Sharma from FAO; and Dr Kadambot Siddique will lead various sessions. With a comprehensive agenda, the 16th ASC will feature five plenary lectures by prominent figures in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. The Congress will also host three panel discussions and four symposiums covering an array of topics, including coastal agriculture and livelihood, mainstreaming millets, and youth empowerment and gender equity. A key highlight of the 16th ASC will be the Farmer-Scientist Interface session, facilitating a direct exchange of knowledge and experiences between the farming community and leading researchers. The Congress will witness the convergence of over 1500 delegates from India and abroad. An Agri Expo to be held on the side-line of the event will showcase innovative agricultural technologies of public and private sector research institutes, universities, agro-industries, extension agencies and NGOs. (ANI) Union Minister Kaushal Kishore on Sunday took a swipe at the Bihar Government for releasing the caste survey data, saying that it is a 'sub-caste census'. Talking to ANI, Kaushal Kishore said that the Bihar government is trying to 'fool' the people of the state. "...Whenever there is a census, there is also a calculation of caste and religion...According to the census, reservations have been given to SC, ST, and OBC...What they are calling a caste-based census in Bihar is not a caste-based census but a sub-caste census...Prime Minister Modi has said that we are with the poor community...They are trying to fool people..." the union minister said. Notably, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition bloc INDIA engaged in a war of words after the Bihar caste survey was released by the state government on Monday, revealing that Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) constitute more than 63 per cent of the population of Bihar. With the parties of the INDIA bloc welcoming the report on caste in Bihar, the chorus for nationwide caste-based data has grown. The findings from Bihar, one of the country's politically significant states, have the potential to upend the country's politics, with demands being made for a similar nationwide census. According to the data released on October 2, Scheduled Castes make up 19.65 per cent and the Scheduled Tribes 1.68 per cent of the population of the state. The data also said that the Hindus comprise 81.99 per cent of the population, Muslims 17.7 per cent, Christians 0.05 per cent, Sikhs 0.01 per cent, Buddhists 0.08 per cent and other religions 0.12 per cent. The data said that Yadavs, the OBC group to which Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav belongs, is the largest and accounts for 14.27 per cent of the state's population. Kushwaha and Kurmi's communities form 4.27 per cent and 2.87 per cent of the population, the caste survey said. Bhumihars constitute 2.86 per cent of the population, Brahmins 3.66 per cent, Kurmis 2.87 per cent, and Musahars 3 per cent. The numbers stand in contrast to the quantum of reservations, which is 27 per cent that the OBC population gets in government jobs and admissions to educational institutions. Notably, the total population of Bihar is more than 13 crore. (ANI) In view of the increasing cases of dengue, Uttarakhand Health Secretary Dr R Rajesh Kumar examined the ground reality of health facilities in Chief Minister Puskar Singh Dhami's assembly constituency, an official statement said on Sunday. CM Dhami has represented the Champawat Assembly constituency in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly since 2022. The statement further said that the Health Secretary instructed the health officials not to indulge in any negligence in the treatment of patients. It added that Health Secy today inspected Sub District Hospital Tanakpur, District Hospital Champawat, Primary Health Center Chalthi Champawat, and Sub District Hospital Lohaghat, as per the statement. The official press release added that the Health Secretary has given instructions to make proper arrangements for dengue ward and mosquito nets in the hospital to prevent dengue disease. Health Secretary Rajesh Kumar, who interacted with patients, also took information about various facilities being provided to them from the hospital. Earlier in September, in view of the recent spike in dengue cases in several parts of the country, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a high-level meeting in the national capital and reviewed the dengue situation and preparedness of the public health system for prevention, containment, and the management of the disease, an official statement had said. Health Minister Mandaviya had said that the central government has provided all necessary resources to the states in order to combat the spread of the disease and healthcare workers have also been trained, as per the statement. He also stated that adequate fund is provided by the Centre to the States under the Program Implementation Plan (PIP) for activities including surveillance, case management, laboratory diagnosis, and insecticides, etc., to prevent and control dengue, the statement had read. According to the World Health Organisation, dengue is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus (DENV), transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. (ANI) "We will do everything in our power to stop the blood flowing from the Middle East to Garabagh" Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said this in his address to citizens in front of Ankara's Sports Palace, where he travelled to attend the AKP's fourth extraordinary congress, Azernews reports. Turkish President says official Ankara will continue its strategy of drying up terrorism at its source: "We will resolutely fight terrorism. We will solve problems with our neighbours and all countries in the region through dialogue. We have done all we can to stop the blood flowing from the Middle East to Garabagh and restore stability in the region. We will continue to do this." Erdogan also commented on the current tensions between Israel and Palestine, saying, "We call on all sides to act with restraint and refrain from rash steps that will further exacerbate tensions." The Turkish leader also said that they will make every effort in the municipal elections to be held on 31 March 2024, as they will in the presidential elections. Assam Rifles under Inspector General Assam Rifles (East), recovered 17 cases of Foreign Origin Cigarettes, 88 cases of Beer, 15 cases and 2 bottles of whiskey and 16 cases of wine worth Rs 26.86 Lakh in Champhai district on October 7. The operation was carried out by a combined team of Assam Rifles and Custom Preventive Force Champhai based on specific information in the general area World Bank Road (Zokawthar-Melbuk). "The entire consignment of foreign-origin cigarettes and Liquors worth Rs 26,76,400 (Rupees Twenty-six lakh seventy-six thousand four hundred only) and recovered consignment has been handed over to Custom Preventive Force Champhai for further legal proceedings," a press release stated.The ongoing smuggling of contraband items is a major cause of concern for the state of Mizoram and India. Assam Rifles rightly christened as the 'Sentinels of Northeast' have continued their efforts against illegal smuggling and have also doubled their efforts to nab the kingpins of the smuggling of contraband items in Mizoram. Earlier on October 4 a woman from Myanmar was arrested and heroin worth Rs 1.04 crore was recovered in Champhai here by Assam Rifles. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kailash Vijayvargiya alleged that a significant corruption case is about to be exposed involving Mamata Banerjee's family shortly after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted search operations at the residence of TMC (Trinamool Congress) leader Firhad Hakim in connection with alleged irregularities in civic body recruitment. "There has been a lot of corruption there. They (WB govt) never answer the notices sent under the Right to Information Act. The connection of this corruption is with Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek," Vijayvargiya alleged while speaking to ANI on Sunday in Indore. "A huge case of corruption is going to be unearthed which will expose Mamata Banerjee, who dreams of becoming the PM, and how corrupt her family is," he alleged. CBI on Sunday carried out search operations at the residence of Kolkata Mayor and Trinamool Congress (TMC) Minister in West Bengal Cabinet Firhad Hakim in connection with alleged irregularities in civic body recruitment. Officials said that searches were carried out at around 12 places including Kolkata, Kanchrapara, Barrackpore, Halisahar, Dumdum, North Dum Dum, Krishnanagar, Taki and Kamarhati. The raids were conducted at the premises of certain individuals including public servants in the ongoing municipal bodies recruitment investigation. A case has been registered against the director of a private company and some other individuals following the orders of the Calcutta High Court, CBI officials said. CBI officials alleged that all contracts pertaining to various Municipalities, District Primary School Councils and others for the recruitment of Group C and Group D employees were given to the private company. It was further alleged that the said company was entrusted with all the tasks like setting up of question papers, printing and scanning of OMR sheets and preparation of the final merit list. It was also alleged that the Director of the private company and other individuals including public servants hatched a conspiracy among themselves. In pursuant to that conspiracy, the accused who was responsible for the printing, designing and evaluation of OMR sheets allegedly facilitated the illegal appointments of several unmeritorious candidates in several municipalities in lieu of money, CBI officials said. Further investigation into the case is in progress. (ANI) Former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday said that the state government must take action against the officials who are responsible for the Attibele firecracker shop explosion in Bengaluru outskirts. "Strict action against the officials concerned would avoid such incidents in the future," the BJP leader said while speaking to reporters. He said the rules about the management of crackers were not being followed strictly and the officials concerned have been negligent in this regard. "The Attibele incident had been a big tragedy and more such incidents would happen in case the government fails to open its eyes. As many as 14 persons have lost their lives in this gory incident. The government must distribute the compensation to the families of the deceased persons, and arrange for the treatment of the survivors," Bommai alleged, while adding that a similar incident had happened in Haveri as well. Bommai said storage of such a large quantity of crackers was not permitted under law and this had been the second cracker explosion event in the last one and a half months. "In Haveri, four persons were killed and in Attibele, 14 persons have lost their lives. This clearly shows that the rules were flouted," Bommai alleged. He added that the government must take serious note of both these incidents, order an inquiry, and take action against the guilty officials to prevent such incidents in the coming days. According to officials, seven two-wheelers, a container lorry, and three other vehicles were gutted in the firecracker shop explosion that took place on Saturday afternoon. The incident took place when the workers at the shop were unloading firecrackers from a vehicle. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the fire accident that happened at a firecracker store in Attibele of Anekal town. The CM said that there was negligence on the part of the shop owner who is now in police custody. Deputy CM D K Shivakumar also visited the accident site on Sunday and told the reporters that the incident was a grave one. (ANI) Those who indulge in corruption should be punished, said BJP MP Locket Chatterjee on Sunday amid CBI raids at the residence of Kolkata Mayor and West Bengal Minister Firhad Hakim. Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his earlier speech, had talked about corruption issues in the country and said, "Na khaunga, na khane dunga." (Neither will I indulge in corruption, nor let others do so). Meanwhile, Chatterjee said, "Earlier, when many people were arrested from Hooghly, some evidence was recovered...So CBI has gone for an enquiry to their houses... Those who indulge in corruption should be punished..." Reacting to the Trinamool Congress's (TMC) allegations of misusing the government agencies by the Centre, the BJP MP said, "When thieves commit theft, they call it 'revenge politics'. But the truth must come out. PM Modi gave the slogan, 'Na khaunga, na khane dunga'. The country is running on 'Na khaunga, na khane dunga'". Earlier in the day, CBI conducted searches at the residence of senior West Bengal minister Firhad Hakim in Kolkata in connection with its investigation into the alleged irregularities in recruitments made by the civic bodies in the state. The central agency conducted searches at around 12 places in West Bengal in a case related to alleged irregularities in municipal bodies' recruitment, officials said. The multiple raids carried out by the CBI included Kolkata, Kanchrapara, Barrackpore, Halisahar, Dumdum, North Dum Dum, Krishnanagar, Taki and Kamarhati.The raids were conducted at the premises of certain individuals including public servants in the ongoing municipal bodies recruitment investigation. A case has been registered against the director of a private company and some other individuals following the orders of the Calcutta High Court, CBI officials said.CBI officials alleged that all contracts pertaining to various Municipalities, District Primary School Councils and others for the recruitment of Group C and Group D employees were given to the private company. It was further alleged that the said company was entrusted with all the tasks like setting up of question papers, printing and scanning of OMR sheets and preparation of the final merit list. It was also alleged that the Director of the private company and other individuals including public servants hatched a conspiracy among themselves. In pursuance of that conspiracy, the accused who was responsible for the printing, designing and evaluation of OMR sheets allegedly facilitated the illegal appointments of several unmeritorious candidates in several municipalities in lieu of money, CBI officials said. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said that if Ram Janmabhoomi can be taken back after 500 years, Sindhu (Indus) can also be brought back. A grand temple of Lord Ram is being constructed in Ayodhya and Ramlala will be seated again in his temple in January, next year, he added. Addressing the two-day National Sindhi Convention organized by the Sindhi Council of India at Hotel Holiday Inn, Yogi said that the Sindhi society needs to tell its present generation about its history, pointing out that the Sindhi community suffered the most after partition. He added that the "stubbornness" of just one person led to the partition of the country. He remarked, "When the partition of the country took place, lakhs of people were massacred. A large area of India became Pakistan. The Sindhi community suffered the most as they had to leave their motherland. Even today, we have to bear the brunt of the tragedy of partition in the form of terrorism." CM Yogi said that no civilised society can ever recognise terrorism, extremism or any kind of anarchy. "If we have to move forward on the path of welfare of humanity, then the evil tendencies of the society will have to end. Our religious scriptures also give us the same inspiration. Be it respected Jhulelal ji or Lord Shri Krishna, everyone has talked about protecting the good and eliminating the evil for human welfare", he asserted. CM Yogi remarked further, "When there is country, there is religion too and when there is religion, there is society in which we all exist. Our priority should be accordingly." He said that it is the good fortune of the country that today under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, terrorism is breathing its last in India. Yogi appealed to people to take the pledge of "nation first" to prevent the repeat of a tragedy like the partition of 1947. "We should be prepared to give a befitting reply to anyone who plays with the unity and integrity of the nation", he said. "Sindhi community is an integral part of Sanatan Dharma of India. The Sindhi community has progressed with its efforts even in tough circumstances. Sindhi community has set an example of how to reach the top from zero", Yogi stated. Meanwhile, CM Yogi honoured Padma Bhushan Pankaj Advani with 'Sher-e-Sindh' award. Apart from this, he honoured Indore MP Shankar Lalwani, Lakhani Group Chairman SN Lakhani, well-known name of social work in the country Shriram Chhablani, Tech Mahindra India head Rajesh Chandra Ramani and VIP co-founder Sonakshi Lakhani. (ANI) Union Minister of State for Ministry of Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra on Sunday held a high-level meeting with the Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and took stock of the situation following the flash flood in the state. The primary agenda of the meeting was to deliberate on the recovery and restoration efforts in the aftermath of the recent flood crisis, which has affected the state. Both leaders held comprehensive discussions, examining the immediate and long-term strategies to address the current situation. The discussion was focused on the coordination of resources, relief assistance, and support to expedite the rescue and recovery work. Ajay Mishra reaffirmed the commitment of the Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah to collaborate closely with the State Government to ensure swift and effective recovery. The Chief Minister of Sikkim expressed gratitude towards the Centre for the prompt response and expressed commitment to work in tandem with the Central Government to expedite the recovery and restoration work. As per the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), both leaders reiterated their resolve to work tirelessly to restore normalcy and extend support to those affected by the recent floods. "Mishra also visited disaster-affected areas in Naga in Mangan district. He provided assurance of relief and assistance to the affected citizens, emphasizing that the Prime Minister is continuously monitoring the situation," MHA said in a release. "The Union MoS underscored the urgent need to prioritize the rescue and relief efforts for individuals stranded in isolated areas," it added. Meanwhile, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) continued to conduct search and rescue operations at Chungtham town near the Teesta hydropower project in Mangan district today."One body was recovered from a tunnel. A log bridge has been made across the Teesta River for the movement of the people," the release stated further. Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), one team each at Rangpo in Pakyong district and at Singtam in Gangtok district, are also conducting search and rescue operations. Meanwhile, two more teams of NDRF have reached Chungtham and are carrying out search and rescue operations. (ANI) According to information received from the police, accused police constable Vivek Naik was caught delivering marijuana inside the jail. Mumbai Police said, "Vivek Naik, a police constable of Arthur Road Jail has been arrested for delivering drugs to inmates inside the jail. When the accused was searched in the presence of senior officers, 8 capsules (70 grams of hashish) were recovered from him. The police registered a case against the accused constable under the NDPS Act. Court has sent him to 5-day Police custody." The accused police constable Vivek just like other days reached Arthur Road Jail today to perform his duties, police officials said. "He was searched near the main gate of Arthur Road Jail. It was suspected that he was hiding something. He objected to searching his underwear. When the accused was searched in the presence of senior officers, 8 capsules (70 grams of hashish) were recovered in a plastic bag in the underwear," police further said. According to police officials when the accused Naik was asked about this, he said that a person named Rahul had asked him to deliver these drugs to a person named Rashid who was imprisoned in jail. The police registered a case against the accused constable under the NDPS Act, arrested him and presented him in court. The court has sent him to police custody for 5 days. (ANI) Four Nigerian nationals have been arrested for allegedly duping a woman from New Delhi to the tune of Rs 6 lakh on the pretext of sending her expensive gifts, police said on Sunday. The accused were identified as Elvin Nwachi, Chukwuma Hycent Ugwa, Martin Onyeka, and Cyril Mgbeokwere. The police also seized 3 laptops, 13 mobile phones, two Wi-Fi dongles, and five SIM cards from their possession. The incident came to light when the victim, a resident of Delhi's Malviya Nagar, approached the police and lodged a complaint. "A woman, resident of Delhi's Malviya Nagar, informed us that in April this year, she had received a friend request from an account named Bruno George on Facebook. Later, they started chatting on WhatsApp. A week later, the man told her he had sent a gift for her from the United Kingdom (UK). After some time, the woman received a call from another woman who asked her for Rs 90,000, claiming that the gift was stuck with the customs at Mumbai airport as it comprised of Rs 62 lakh in cash and mobile phones. She threatened the complainant to take legal action against her if she did not transfer the money," the police said. "The complainant then transferred the said amount to the bank account as provided by the accused. Thereafter, they again called the complainant and said that the parcel contained cash in foreign currency so they would transfer the amount after exchanging the money in INR. The accused, thus, kept asking for money on different pretexts, and hence, the complainant had transferred a total of Rs 6,33,000 in their bank accounts," it added. Meanwhile, a case was registered into the matter at the Malviya Nagar police station. A team was formed to enquire into the matter. The team started working on all aspects of the cases. Inputs were developed through technical and manual sources. It was revealed that the funds were flowing from two bank accounts to multiple accounts and then withdrawn from ATMs in different places in Delhi within a few minutes of the transfer. On Saturday, the team got the information about a 'cheating syndicate' being run by Nigerian nationals in Delhi's Mehrauli area. After that, the team conducted a raid in the area and nabbed three of the accused. Also, another accused was apprehended from Delhi's Dwarka, the police said. On interrogation, the accused revealed that they had cheated around 100 people across India and that they created fake profiles on social media in order to dupe people. Further probe is underway into the matter. More details are awaited. (ANI) As per the press release from the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, the Indian delegation was led by Anurag Srivastava, Joint Secretary (North), Ministry of External Affairs and the Nepali delegation was led by Bhrigu Dhungana, Joint Secretary (South Asia), Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Nepal government. The delegations comprised officials from respective Ministries of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, Directorates of the Indian Army and the Nepali Army. "The BCGSI discussions covered a wide range of issues relating to mutual security, defence supplies, training and capacity building, joint military exercises, exchanges including through visits, joint expeditions and adventure activities and cooperation in disaster management and information sharing," the release from the Indian Embassy stated. The BCGSI, established in 2003 is an important institutional mechanism between India and Nepal for promoting bilateral defence and security cooperation. (ANI) Amid the escalating tensions between Israel and Palestine after Hamas launched a rocket attack on Israel, Pakistan on Saturday showed their support to Palestine and called for the "cessation of hostilities". In a press statement released by Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "We call on the international community to come together for cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and for a lasting peace in the Middle East." The official statement further asserted that Pakistan advocates for a viable solution for resolving tensions between Israel and Palestine. The statement read, "Pakistan has consistently advocated for a two-state solution as the key to enduring peace in the Middle East, with a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the Palestinian question anchored in international law and in line with relevant United Nations and OIC resolutions. A viable, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine should be established on the basis of pre-1967 borders, with Al Quds Al-Sharif as its capital." Meanwhile, the Taliban governed Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also came in support of Palestine and claimed Hamas attack as "Israeli trampling" on the rights of Palestinians. In a press statement from Afghanistan's MFA read, "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has carefully monitored the recent events in the Gaza Strip and considers the occurrence of such events to be the result of Israeli Zionists trampling on the rights of the oppressed Palestinian people and repeated insults and disrespect to Muslim holy places, and any type of defense and The resistance of the Palestinian people for freedom." Notably, Qatar also claimed that Israel is responsible for the event and called for international community to take action against Israel, said a press release from Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday. The statement read, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs holds Israel solely responsible for the ongoing escalation due to its ongoing violations of the rights of the Palestinian people, the latest of which was the repeated incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of the Israeli police." The Statement further said, "The Ministry stresses the need for the international community to act urgently to compel Israel to stop its flagrant violations of international law, respect the resolutions of international legitimacy and the historical rights of the Palestinian people, and to prevent these events from being used as a pretext to ignite a new asymmetric war against Palestinian civilians in Gaza." This comes after a barrage of rockets slammed into southern and central Israel after Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Saturday morning. Terror cells from the Gaza group have infiltrated a number of communities in the south of the country, according to Times of Israel. More than 100 people have been killed due to Hamas' attack on Israel, according to medical officials, The Times of Israel reported citing Hebrew-language media cite. The number is seen as certain to increase further. Some 800 people have been injured in the attacks, which have included dozens of Hamas terrorists infiltrating into Israel and gunning down soldiers and people. Others were injured in rocket attacks. According to Israel Health Ministry, 908 injured people have been taken to hospital for treatment in the ongoing terror attack by Hamas on Israel's southern and central region. Israel has already declared a state of war in the country after infiltration by Hamas fighters and missile attacks from Gaza. The Israel Defence Forces launched Operation 'Iron Swords' in response to Hamas's surprise attack on Israel, the Times of Israel reported. IDF is striking Hamas targets in Gaza.In the first reaction to the 'surprise attack', PM Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel "is at war", further asserting that they will "win it". (ANI) "Armenia has been financing, sponsoring separatism or, to put it a bit harsher, terrorism on the territory of Azerbaijan for thirty years," blogger Natalie Aleksanyan wrote on her Facebook page, Azernews reports. "Recognising Azerbaijan's territorial integrity on the basis of the Alma-Ata Declaration, Nikol Pashinyan stated that Garabagh is Azerbaijan and has always been so. It directly follows from this that Armenia has been funding and resourcing the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan for thirty years. In other words, it has sponsored separatism or, to put it a little more harshly, terrorism on the territory of Azerbaijan. This is not my analysis, it is a fact obvious to any person with legal knowledge. And if we add to this the information that Azerbaijan will receive from the "Artsakh bandits" in its prison, Armenia will face very serious proceedings in international courts. The international community is generally pro-Armenian and will try to protect us in this matter, as it has been directly involved in the ongoing games around Garabagh. It is still unclear how the processes will develop, but it is a fact that Armenia's image will be hit hard. How will Pashinyan's government act to deflect the blow from Armenia? Firstly, it is necessary to give a precise legal assessment of what happened from the day Robert Kocharyan illegally seized power in Armenia until now. Things and events should be called by their names. The fact that the perpetrator is an Armenian should not prevent his criminal prosecution. The leaders of the Garabagh clan living in Armenia should be imprisoned. Dashnaktsutyun with its fascist ideology should be banned in Armenia, as it happened during the reign of Ter-Petrosyan. Secondly, all the property of the looters should be nationalised down to the last penny so that Armenia has resources for possible future reparations. Yes, it should be clearly stated that for many years Armenia has been ruled by terrorists who illegally seized power and conducted their terrorist activities both in Armenia itself and abroad, including in Azerbaijan. We must not allow the terrorists nicknamed "Mr President" to once again make us all guilty while they themselves enjoy the loot. We must not be afraid to cleanse our country of filth. Only and only in this case Armenia will soften the blow that awaits it. And if we do everything wisely, there will be no blow at all. We can prevent the catastrophe awaiting us, but if we do not have the strength to do it again, we will indeed become the culprits of what happened and will once again bear full responsibility for the crimes of the bandits of the Garabagh clan," Natalie Aleksanyan wrote. Geneva [Switzerland], October 7 (ANI/WAM): The International Labour Organization (ILO) has welcomed the adoption of a new Global Framework, created to reduce environmental and health risks from chemicals and waste. The Global Framework on Chemicals, which is backed up by a High-Level Declaration and adopted at the UN-organized fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5), held in Bonn, Germany, sets concrete targets and guidelines across the lifecycle of chemicals, including the phasing out of some of the most harmful. Since 2006, the ILO, and its constituents - workers' and employers' organizations as well as governments - have played a part in shaping the Global Framework and have worked to manage the use of hazardous chemicals in the working environment. Twenty-two international labour standards cover the management of these hazards. The Framework's text highlights a Just Transition as a "principle and approach" of the agreement. "A just transition towards an environmentally sustainable economy, with the sound management of chemicals and waste, contributes to the goals of decent work for all, social inclusion, protection of human rights and the eradication of poverty," it states. "This is an important step forward. The widespread use of hazardous chemicals impacts the safety and health of workers, the public and the environment, and threatens the broader goals of decent work and social justice for all," said ILO Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo. "By prioritizing the sound management of chemicals and waste, within the context of a just transition, we can protect workers, green our economy, while supporting decent work opportunities." Every year, hazardous substances kill around 1.1 million workers worldwide, equivalent to approximately 2,900 per day, while toxic chemical exposures accounts for more than tens of millions of working days lost to disability, ill-health or premature death. The economic impact is estimated at 2.1 per cent of annual global GDP. The scope and cost of the impact is expected to rise, given the increasing use of chemical substances and increasing life expectancies. As well as codifying the good management of chemicals and waste, the Framework's 28 targets are intended to strengthen connections with other global development agendas, including climate change, biodiversity, human rights and occupational safety and health. "A safe and healthy working environment is a fundamental principle and right at work; therefore, all workers should be protected," it states. "Workplace measures and policies, including the ratification and implementation of relevant international labour standards, should be integrated in chemical and waste management efforts." (ANI/WAM) Tanzania's Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, January Yusuf Makamba has said that during Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan's India visit, the two countries will elevate their defence relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. "In this visit, we will elevate our relationships to a comprehensive strategic partnership with four pillars. One is a development corporation. Two, maritime security, three, defence corporation and four, trade investment..." the Tanzanian Foreign Affairs Minister said. "In defence, there are many areas and we have been working with the Indian defence sector for a while now in terms of training, and exchange of knowledge. Hardware will be part of the future arrangement. There is a foundation of cooperation and it's part of the four pillars of strategic partnership we want to have with India," he added. The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan will be arriving in New Delhi today for a four-day state visit during which she will participate in bilateral meetings and exchange MoUs with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Saturday. President Samia will arrive at 5:15 pm and later will meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at 6:30 pm. Meanwhile, Makamba while speaking on the IIT Campus in Zanzibar, said: "It is very very significant as you know the IIT is a very reputable institution in India. It has produced world-class renowned technology entrepreneurs. The willingness of India to open this...is very important for us." He further said that: "It is a leap of faith for India to do this. We appreciate the significance and symbolic value of this that India is keen on exporting its model of success in creating engineers, technicians and technology entrepreneurs. It is very important for us as it is in line with our development objectives." The minister while speaking on the African Union's inclusion in G20, said this is very good and that India has had a historic role as champion of the global south. "Back in the '60s and even farther back in the '50s, India worked with Africa to struggle for independence and liberation of Southern Africa. India and Africa saw eye to eye in many important liberation and anti-colonialism matters. It was part of our Nine Aligned Movement and India was part of the global south," he said. "What we are happy about is that as India ascends into a position of global influence, it has kept its faith and is loyal to the cause of the global south. India now gets to sit at the big table, G20, and still remember that it's important that countries of the south also have a voice in the big table. So the advocacy of India to include the African Union in the G20 was very well received in Africa, and it's an appreciation of India's important role as a champion of the Global South," he added. (ANI) California Governor Gavin Newsom on Saturday vetoed the California Caste Bill, SB-403, on the grounds that discrimination based on caste was already prohibited under California law and the bill was therefore unnecessary. Some Indian American groups have called this move a victory for Hindu Americans, adding that protection against caste discrimination isn't necessary in the US and that the bill was discriminating against Indians and Hindus. Gavin Newsom told members of the California State Senate: "I am returning Senate Bill 403 without my signature. This bill would define "ancestry" for purposes of the Fair Employment and Housing Act, the Unruh Act, and the Education Code to include "caste" and other dimensions of ancestry." He said that in California, "we believe everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter who they are, where they come from, who they love, or where they live. That is why California already prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, colour, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other characteristics, and state law specifies that these civil rights protections shall be liberally construed." He further added: "Because discrimination based on caste is already prohibited under these existing categories, this bill is unnecessary." The Hindu American Foundation offered its appreciation to California Governor Gavin Newsom for his "historically important veto of SB-403." HAF Managing Director, Samir Kalra, said: "Today, we at the Hindu American Foundation join South Asians across California and the Hindu American community in offering our heartfelt appreciation to California Governor Gavin Newsom for his historically important veto of SB-403. This is a victory for the civil rights of all Californians." The HAF Managing Director said Governor Newsom has averted a civil rights and constitutional disaster that would have put a target on hundreds of thousands of Californians simply because of their ethnicity or their religious identity, as well as create a slippery slope of facially discriminatory laws. "We thank Governor Newsom for listening to the thousands of voices that contacted his office and seeing that SB-403 was premised on racist rhetoric, a baseless lawsuit, egregious Civil Rights Department misconduct, false claims about the Hindu religion and South Asian community at large, and the self-serving, methodologically flawed, caste survey by Equality Labs," he said. "We thank political leaders of both parties, in all levels of government, who demonstrated moral courage in opposing this racist bill. Whether by passing local resolutions opposing discriminatory legislation, working with HAF to remove facially discriminatory language, outright voting against the bill or vetoing SB-403 -- we will never forget that you defended the Hindu and South Asian communities at a critical moment in California history," he added. (ANI) Abu Dhabi [UAE], October 8 (ANI/WAM): Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, one of the ADNEC Group's venues, won the "Best Venue - Rest of World" for 2023 at the International Conference & Incentive Tourism (C&IT) Awards, strengthening its position as one of the most prominent exhibition centres in the world. This came during a ceremony to announce the winners of the C&IT Awards held in London. Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre tops the list of the largest exhibition and conference centres in the region in terms of the area allocated for internal and external exhibitions, which exceeds 153,000 square metres, and stands out due to its ability to host multiple events, exhibitions, and conferences simultaneously, thanks to its advanced and high-quality infrastructure, modern facilities, equipment and services. It is seen as the only centre in the region capable of organising and hosting internal, external, and water-based events at the same time. The C&IT Awards are considered one of the most prestigious and distinguished international awards in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector, which honours the pioneering achievements and best innovations of institutions and companies in the MICE sector from around the world. The winners are selected by an independent international panel that includes a group of prominent experts and specialists in the sector from all over the world. Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and CEO of ADNEC Group said, "We are proud to have won this prestigious international award, which is a great addition to ADNEC Group's global achievements and awards, as well as strengthening the prestigious position of Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre at the forefront of the most prominent destinations for event and conference organisers in the region. It also reflects the venue's pivotal role in advancing the MICE tourism sector by providing an ideal platform for gathering experts and exchanging experiences, in addition to the advanced infrastructure, modern facilities, and services of the highest levels that it provides to ensure the success and growth of the international conferences and exhibitions that it hosts throughout the year." In 2022, the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre hosted more than 211 exhibitions, including 11 new exhibitions, some of which were held for the first time in Abu Dhabi and the Middle East, in addition to 24 prominent international conferences, including 9 conferences held for the first time in the Middle East. With this award, ADNEC Group's track record of international awards rose to 163 prestigious awards. (ANI/WAM) CEO, Editor-In-Chief of Khalsa Today, Sukhi Chahal, has reacted to eight Sikh youths reportedly arrested under Arms Act in Brampton, saying the radicalization of youth is a matter of concern to the Sikh community. "This kind of activity whenever we hear from the Vancouver side or the Toronto side, it is very sad, concerning and unfortunate. And, especially, this is what we have been talking about for so long that the radicalization of our youth is a matter of concern to the Sikh community," Chahal said on the news of eight Sikh youths reportedly arrested under the Arms Act in Brampton, Canada. The Khalsa Today is a Global Sikh advocacy, think tank and nonprofit media organization in the US. The Khalsa Today CEO said now, the youth, have access to weapons and are becoming part of organized crime. "It is not good for the Sikh community in the long run... This is a very big concern, and I hope the Sikh community and the Punjabi community will speak out on these issues because it is a matter of concern for everybody," he said. Meanwhile, there is a strain in India-Canada relations following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations regarding the Indian government's 'potential role' in the fatal shooting of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, who was a designated terrorist in India, was gunned down outside a Gurdwara, in a parking area in Canada's Surrey, British Columbia on June 18. Trudeau, during a debate in the Canadian Parliament, claimed his country's national security officials had reasons to believe that "agents of the Indian government" carried out the killing of the Canadian citizen, who also served as the president of Surrey's Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara. However, India has outrightly rejected the claims, calling it 'absurd' and 'motivated'. Notably, Canada has yet to provide any public evidence to support the claim about the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The country has said it wants to "work constructively with India" regarding the allegations. (ANI) The Nigerian government has said it is concerned about the hostilities between Israel and Hamas and has called for de-escalation and ceasefire. "The cycle of violence and retaliation that the current escalation has assumed only serves to perpetuate an unending cycle of pain and suffering for the civilian population, that bears the brunt of every conflict," read a release issued by Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A major upheaval took place in the Middle East on Saturday, when the Hamas terror group launched a "surprise attack", firing a barrage of rockets into southern and central Israel. According to the latest developments, 250 people have been killed, at least 1104 people are injured and several Israelis have been held as hostages in Gaza, the Times of Israel reported citing officials. Nigeria has called on both sides to exercise restraint, prioritize the safety of civilians and give room for humanitarian considerations. "We are calling for a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue," the release said. At about 6:30 am (local time), a barrage of rocket fire began from Gaza into Israel, hitting several cities including Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Gedera and Ashkelon. This was followed by several Hamas terrorists entering Israel from the Gaza Strip and taking over Israeli towns. Hamas military commander Muhammad Al-Deif called the operation "Al-Aqsa Storm" and said that the assault on Israel was a response to attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and the ongoing siege of Gaza, CNN reported. The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has also expressed his concern at the outbreak of the current Israeli-Palestinian hostilities. The Chairperson has appealed to both parties to put an end to military hostilities and to return, without conditions, to the negotiating table to implement the principle of two States living side by side, to safeguard the interests of the Palestinian people and the Israeli people, according to an official release. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Hamas has started a cruel, evil war and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will use all its strength to destroy Hamas' capabilities. "Hamas forces invaded Israeli territory this morning, on the morning of a holiday and Shabbat, and murdered innocent civilians, children and the elderly. Hamas started a cruel and evil war. We will win this war, but the price is too heavy to bear. This is a very difficult day for all of us," the Israeli PM wrote on 'X' on Sunday. (ANI) According to a Downing Street statement, Sunak spoke to Trudeau on Friday evening during which he was updated on the situation relating to Canadian diplomats in India. "He (Rishi Sunak) hoped to see a de-escalation in the situation and agreed to remain in contact with Prime Minister Trudeau on the next steps," read the statement. Sunak also reaffirmed the UK's position that all countries should respect sovereignty and the rule of law, including the principles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Meanwhile, Trudeau updated on the situation relating to Canadian diplomats in India. The diplomatic ties between India and Canada deteriorated after the Canadian government expelled a senior Indian diplomat accusing India of playing a role in the assassination of a Khalistani separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. In the aftermath, India swiftly retaliated by issuing a statement that denied any involvement in the issue and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat. Moreover, amid escalating tensions, India called for parity in the number of Canadian diplomats in India. Responding to reports claiming that India has asked Canada to remove 41 of its 62 diplomats in the country, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that Canadian diplomatic presence is much higher in India and they assume "there would be reduction". "On discussions on parity, given the much higher presence of diplomats or diplomatic presence here and their interference in our internal matters, we have sought parity in our respective diplomatic presence. Discussions are ongoing to achieve this. Given that Canadian diplomatic presence is higher, we would assume that there would be a reduction," said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. (ANI) In yet another case of atrocity against minorities in Pakistan, a Hindu girl was allegedly gang-raped and murdered at Qasim Wala Bangla in the Cholistan desert, reported The News International. According to Derawer Police Station spokesman, three accused have been arrested. According to them, the girl's postmortem has been conducted and the report is yet to come. The girl's father said she was kidnapped when she went to relieve herself in the desert at midnight, reported The News. The body was found lying near the Bhutta Canal on Thursday. Forced conversion, rape, and forced marriages of Hindu women in Pakistan have recently become controversial in Pakistan. Attacks on minorities in the country have led to condemnation of policies that are discriminatory to religious minorities in Pakistan. At least 42 cases of atrocities against Hindus were highlighted in the regional news channels in Pakistan in the first two months of 2023. These include incidents of abduction, gang rape, forced conversion and mob lynching among others. As per the report by Voice of Pakistan Minority, there were six cases of abduction, forced conversion and marriage reported in local media in the month of January, while five such cases took place in February. The list further mentions at least nine cases wherein the bodies of Hindu victims were found hanging and at least four cases of murder. Earlier this year, Hindu rights activist Mahesh Vasu, in a report to the Ministry of External Affairs, noted that as many as 96 cases of abduction, forced conversion, marriage and gang rape of women belonging to the minority community took place in Pakistan. (ANI) Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka 'Prachanda' on Saturday condemned the unprecedented attack by Hamas terrorists on Israel while extending his sympathies to the injured Nepalese citizens there. At least 9 Nepalese citizens have been reportedly injured in the attacks while 17 were held captive by Hamas in Israel. "I unequivocally condemn the terrorist attack in Israel this morning. Nine of the Nepalis have been reportedly injured. At this critical hour, I extend my heartfelt sympathies to injured Nepalis and other innocent victims and their families," Nepal PM posted. Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday issued a press statement confirming that nine Nepal nationals have been injured with two in serious condition after the Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel. "We have been informed that a farm, where 14 Nepalis were working, was also under attack. Nine of the Nepalis have been reportedly injured while two of them are in serious condition. Further updates will be made in due course," the Nepal Foreign Ministry stated in the release. Further, the Nepal Foreign Ministry stated that it was in close contact with citizens living in Israel and was facilitating the medical assistance of the injured. "The Embassy of Nepal in Israel is in close communication with the Nepalis living in the areas under attack. The Embassy is also in contact and coordination with the Israeli authorities for the safety, security and rescue of the Nepalis as well as medical treatment of the injured," the release stated further. According to the records of the government, an estimated 4500 Nepal nationals are currently residing in Israel. The Nepal government also requested its citizens to remain cautious and follow the safety measures advised by the authorities. The Nepal Foreign Ministry's statement comes after a barrage of rockets slammed into southern and central Israel after Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Saturday morning. More than 300 people have been killed in the Hamas "terror attack" on Israel, according to The Times of Israel. Earlier in the day, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel "was at war" and he has ordered the mobilisation of reserves to give it back with the magnitude the enemy has not expected, asserting that they will "win it." In a video statement posted on X, Netanyahu stated, "We are at war, not in an operation or in rounds, but at war. This morning, Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack against the State of Israel and its citizens. We have been in this since the early morning hours. I convened the heads of the security establishment and ordered, first of all, to clear out the communities that have been infiltrated by terrorists. This currently is being carried out." (ANI) The toll of injured has risen to 1,864 in Hamas terror attack, The Times of Israel reported citing the Health Ministry updates on the number of Israelis wounded and hospitalized. Currently, 326 of them have been gravely injured, 359 have moderate injuries, and 19 are in critical condition. Additionally, 20 people are being treated for severe stress and 821 people have minor injuries. 223 more persons are being watched over by medical personnel, The Times of Israel reported. Notably, Palestinian terrorists who entered Israel from Gaza early on Saturday morning during an 'unprecedented' incident are still being sought by Israeli security authorities in southern Israel villages. Unknown numbers of terrorists have been captured or killed by security forces and others; some have returned to Gaza with hostages, including women, children, and senior citizens. In an unprecedented attack that few Israelis saw coming on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah on Saturday, Hamas fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip. Israel launched "Operation Swords of Iron," striking a number of suspected Hamas hideouts in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's response to the Hamas incursion will "exact a huge price" on the terrorist group. Meanwhile, the toll from the deadly rocket and ground assault by Hamas soared past 300 people. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 232 people were killed and 1,790 injured in Gaza. According to the Israeli Health Ministry over 100 people are dead and over 900 others injured. Taking the top brass of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and the country's political establishment by surprise, Gaza's militant Hamas rulers attacked Israel by land, air, and sea. Millions of Israelis in the country's south awoke to the searing sound of incoming rockets and the inevitable thud of impact. Air raid sirens wailed as far north as Tel Aviv. Israel's anti-rocket interceptors thundered in Jerusalem. As Israel's political-security cabinet convened late on Saturday to decide how to respond to Hamas' terror attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the security to the citizens of Israel will be "restored" and the nation will win. A statement from the office of Israel's Prime Minister read that the Israeli cabinet also made a "series of operational decisions aimed at bringing about the destruction of the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority". Following the deadly attack, Israel's political-security cabinet also convened late on Saturday to decide how to respond to Hamas' terror attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the security for the citizens of Israel will be "restored" and the nation will win. A statement from the office of Israel's Prime Minister read that the Israeli cabinet also made a "series of operational decisions aimed at bringing about the destruction of the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority." "We are embarking on a long and difficult war. The war was forced upon us by a murderous attack by Hamas," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, adding, "The first phase ends at these hours by the destruction of the majority of the enemy forces that penetrated our territory. At the same time, we started the offensive formation, and it will continue without reservation and without respite until the objectives are achieved." Netanyahu underscored that Israel wants to ensure that Hamas doesn't pose a threat to Israeli citizens or harm them in any way in the future. "The goal is to achieve the destruction of the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in a way that will preclude their ability and willingness to threaten and attack the citizens of Israel for many years," Netanyahu said. "We will restore security to the citizens of Israel and we will win," the Israel PM said. (ANI) Child rapists can now be sentenced to death for their crimes. The law applies particularly to child victims under the age of 12. High courts have already said that imposing death sentences in such cases is a violation of the 8th Amendment. Some believe the law is still a measure to protect children, Azernews reports. In signing the law, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said: "These are truly the worst of the worst. The criminals who commit these crimes are often serial offenders." Maria DeLiberato, executive director of Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, said: "There is no question that crimes against the sexual integrity of children are among the most horrific crimes imaginable." Former US President Donald Trump said on Friday that if elected to the White House next year, he would demand the death penalty for "anyone caught trafficking children across our border". In a campaign video, Trump said that under his leadership, the U.S. has done "more than any administration in history to combat human trafficking and to end modern-day slavery." "When I return to the White House, I will immediately end the 'nightmare' at the border that human traffickers use to exploit vulnerable women and children," Trump said in the video, also promising to wage war on the cartels. The former president, who is seeking another term in the 2024 race, said he would end child trafficking by "returning all trafficked children to their families back home without delay," referring to Executive Order 42, which he introduced while in office and which allows officials to deny migrants admission on the grounds of preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. "I will call on Congress to ensure that anyone caught trafficking children across our border is immediately sentenced to death," Trump added.. Israel's warplanes continued to bombard Gaza on Sunday morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari said, adding that 426 targets were struck in Gaza, including 10 towers used by Hamas. The defence forces of Israel also evacuated Israeli residents around the Gaza Strip overnight, as tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers are operating on the ground around the conflicted region, CNN reported quoting the IDF. The majority of the power grids is out since Saturday, and internet connectivity is still only partially functional. The CNN reporter in Gaza reported that throughout the night, there was constant sound of thundering jets and explosions, adding that there was a strong smell of gunpowder. The IDF released video of a hit on a city building with multiple stories. The strike hit "Hamas military targets located in multi-story buildings in the Gaza Strip. "Attached is footage of a strike on Hamas military targets located in multi-story buildings in the Gaza Strip," Israel Air Force posted on X. https://x.com/IAFsite/status/1710869046126657700?s=20 At least 232 people were killed in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza on Sunday as Israel carried out retaliatory strikes following the Hamas rocket fire and the unprecedented ground assault in the Middle Eastern country, Al Jazeera reported. Following a barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, Hamas fighters launched the biggest offensive on Israel in years on Saturday, penetrating areas in the south of the nation. According to Israel's national rescue service, the attack was the bloodiest in years, with the death toll soaring past 300. Additionally, an undermined number of Israeli citizens and military personnel were apprehended and brought into Gaza. Late on Saturday, both Israel and Hamas claimed that gunfights were ongoing at numerous locations within Israeli territory. The attack, which began at 6.30 am local time (03:30 GMT) on Saturday involved Hamas fighters, who infiltrated Israel by land, sea, and air. Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned Hamas it made a "grave mistake" in carrying out the rocket attacks and ground assault. "Citizens of Israel, we are at war. The enemy will pay an unprecedented price," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video message from military headquarters in Tel Aviv after the attacks broke out. Israel's military launched a series of air raids on Gaza in response to the attacks.Senior Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif declared that the rocket launch was the beginning of "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood", urging Palestinians all over the world to resist Israeli occupation. Hamas would pay a "heavy price for its actions", the Israeli military told citizens living near the Gaza Strip, asking them to remain inside their houses. (ANI) As Israel's political-security cabinet convened late on Saturday to decide how to respond to Hamas' terror attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the security to the citizens of Israel will be "restored" and the nation will win. A statement from the office of Israel's Prime Minister read that the Israeli cabinet also made a "series of operational decisions aimed at bringing about the destruction of the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority". "We are embarking on a long and difficult war. The war was forced upon us by a murderous attack by Hamas," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, adding, "The first phase ends at these hours by the destruction of the majority of the enemy forces that penetrated our territory. At the same time, we started the offensive formation, and it will continue without reservation and without respite until the objectives are achieved." Netanyahu underscored that Israel wants to ensure that Hamas doesn't pose a threat to Israeli citizens or harm them in any way in the future. "The goal is to achieve the destruction of the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in a way that will preclude their ability and willingness to threaten and attack the citizens of Israel for many years," Netanyahu said. "We will restore security to the citizens of Israel and we will win," the Israel PM, said, adding, "Among the decisions made by the cabinet are the stopping of the supply of electricity, fuel and goods." In an unprecedented attack that few Israelis saw coming on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah on Saturday, Hamas fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip. Israel launched "Operation Swords of Iron," striking a number of suspected Hamas hideouts in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's response to the Hamas incursion will "exact a huge price" on the militant group. Meanwhile, the toll from the deadly rocket and ground assault by Hamas soared past 300 people, with another 2000 reported to be injured in Gaza and Israel, The Times of Israel reported. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 232 people were killed and 1,790 injured in Gaza. According to the Israeli Health Ministry over 100 people are dead and over 900 others injured. Taking the top brass of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and the country's political establishment by surprise, Gaza's militant Hamas rulers attacked Israel by land, air, and sea. Millions of Israelis in the country's south awoke to the searing sound of incoming rockets and the inevitable thud of impact. Air raid sirens wailed as far north as Tel Aviv. Israel's anti-rocket interceptors thundered in Jerusalem. In an unprecedented escalation, armed Hamas fighters blew up parts of Israel's highly fortified separation fence and strode into Israeli communities along the Gaza frontier, terrorising residents and trading fire with Israeli soldiers. (ANI) Israeli fighter jets hit a military facility at the residence of the terrorist group Hamas' intelligence chief in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces said. Sharing an update on the ongoing counter-offensive on social media platform X, the IDF posted, "Fighter jets recently attacked a military infrastructure at the home of the head of the intelligence department of the terrorist organization Hamas." "At this time, the IDF continues its attacks throughout the Gaza Strip," the IDF added in its post. https://x.com/idfonline/status/1710900349215686872?s=20 Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to terrorist outfit Hamas, saying that it started a cruel, evil war and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will use all its strength to destroy its capabilities. "Hamas forces invaded Israeli territory this morning, on the morning of a holiday and Shabbat, and murdered innocent civilians, children and the elderly. Hamas started a cruel and evil war. We will win this war, but the price is too heavy to bear. This is a very difficult day for all of us," the Israeli PM posted on 'X' on Sunday. In a major escalation on Saturday, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. The toll from the rocket attacks and ground assault by Hamas went past 300 on Sunday, with another 1,864 people reported to be injured. Several Israelis were taken as hostages in Gaza, the Times of Israel reported citing officials. Netanyahu said, "Hamas wants to murder us all. It is an enemy who murders children and mothers in their homes, in their beds. An enemy who kidnaps the elderly, children, and girls. Murderers who slap and slaughter our citizens, our children, who all in all went out to spend the holiday." He said after what happened in Israel on Saturday, he will make sure that it does not happen again. "What happened today is not seen in Israel and I will make sure that it does not happen again. The entire government stands behind this decision," he said. "The IDF will immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamas' capabilities. We will cripple them to the point of destruction and we will take revenge with might for this black day they have brought upon the State of Israel and its citizens," he added. "As families all over Israel are gathering around the dinner table, instead of eating dinner, they are once again forced to run to bomb shelters due to Hamas' incessant rocket fire," the IDF stated on Saturday said. Around 6.30 am (local time), a barrage of rocket fire began from Gaza into Israel, hitting several cities including Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Gedera and Ashkelon. This was followed by several Hamas terrorists entering Israel from the Gaza Strip and laying a siege to Israeli towns. (ANI) As Israeli fighter jets continued to batter Hamas targets on the Gaza border area after deadly terror attacks by the terrorist outfit, Israel Police on Sunday confirmed that 30 of its officers, including from the Border Police, have been killed, Israeli news agency Tazpit Press Service (TPS) reported. The Israel Police released the names of the slain personnel on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Israeli Defence Force on Sunday named 26 soldiers killed in the fighting since Saturday morning, The Times of Israel reported. IDF spokesman Rear Adm Daniel Hagari told media on Sunday morning that the military was seeking to "stabilize the situation in the Gaza envelope" and that infiltrators at most incident locations had been "neutralized." Hagari said the forces were still carrying out searches for terrorists in Sderot, Zikim, Re'im, and Sufa. The IDF on Sunday said the wrested control of 29 locations from Hamas infiltrators, he said. "There are hundreds of dead terrorists. There are dozens of terrorists captured," Hagari said. Many in the civil police were caught off guard as Hamas terrorists opened fire randomly in the middle of the streets in Israeli towns, according to reports. Some of them were off duty in the areas under attack and went out in attempts to protect the civilian population, reported TPS. Meanwhile, Israeli security forces made headway early Sunday toward regaining control of the towns and areas held by Hamas terrorists who infiltrated 24 hours earlier, The Times of Israel reported. Till now, more than 300 people have been killed and over 1,800 wounded and dozens kidnapped and taken to the Gaza Strip, added reports. Many civilians were still holed up in their homes, hiding in fear of roving terrorists searching for victims, as troops dealt with some hostage-takers and stormed homes and facilities, shooting the Palestinian gunmen within, The Times of Israel reported. Israeli security forces were still struggling to clear terrorist cells entrenched within devastated communities, it added. Meanwhile, Israel's Security Cabinet, earlier on Sunday, made a series of decisions marking the start of the offensive phase of 'Operation Swords of Iron', ordering the Israel Defense Forces to prepare for the "destruction of the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and [Palestinian] Islamic Jihad." "We are embarking on a long and difficult war that was forced on us by a murderous Hamas attack," Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said at the meeting, according to reports. "We will restore security to the citizens of Israel and we will win," he added. "The first stage is ending at this time with the destruction of the vast majority of the enemy forces that infiltrated our territory. At the same time, we have begun the offensive phase, which will continue with neither limitations nor respite until the objectives are achieved," he added. Among the Cabinet's decisions was to halt the supply of electricity, fuel and goods to the Gaza Strip, reported TPS. As Israel readied its response to Saturday's attacks, four divisions of reservists were being deployed to the Gaza border, joining the 35 battalions already deployed to the area, the army said. Meanwhile, all known hostage situations, which saw Israeli civilians held captive by Hamas gunmen in their towns, were resolved overnight, with army and police forces killing terrorists and rescuing their captives after hours-long standoffs in Sderot, Ofakim and Kibbutz Be'eri, reports stated, adding that they declared full control over these places. However, gunfights were continuing in some communities such as Kfar Aza, Re'im and were likely Erez and Zikim as well, reported The Times of Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli Navy said it killed five Palestinian terrorists hiding on Zikim beach on Sunday morning, close to the border with the Gaza Strip. "In the last few hours, Navy control units identified five terrorists, who were hiding in the Zikim area, on Israeli territory," it said in a statement. (ANI) At least 313 Palestinians have been killed so far as the gun battle between Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas intensified on Sunday, The Times of Israel reported. The death toll has been confirmed by the Hamas-run health ministry in the Gaza Strip that said 313 Palestinians have been killed and another 1,990 have been wounded in the Gaza Strip. Most of those were apparently killed in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israel's retaliatory strikes. Earlier, the IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said the searches for Hamas terrorists were underway at several besieged towns and that over 400 terrorists have been killed inside Gaza, with dozens more being held captive, according to The Times of Israel. "As of this hour, there are forces fighting in [Kibbutz] Kfar Aza, there are searches in a large number of towns. There are IDF forces in all towns, there is no town that does not have an IDF force in it," Israel Defense Forces' top spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari was quoted as saying by The Times of Israel. According to Hagari, the IDF's mission objectives are to evacuate all civilians from border communities in Gaza, put an end to fighting there, manage security barrier breaches, and keep attacking terrorist targets in the Strip. More than 24 hours after Hamas launched rocket attacks followed by an unprecedented ground assault, firefights between forces and terrorists were ongoing in Kfar Aza, close to the Gaza border. In a major escalation on Saturday, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. The toll from the rocket attacks and ground assault by Hamas went past 300 on Sunday, with another 1,864 Israeli people reported to be injured. Several Israelis were taken as hostages in Gaza, the Times of Israel reported citing officials. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Hamas, claiming that it had begun a terrible war and that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) would use all of its strength to undermine their capacity. "Hamas forces invaded Israeli territory this morning, on the morning of a holiday and Shabbat, and murdered innocent civilians, children and the elderly. Hamas started a cruel and evil war. We will win this war, but the price is too heavy to bear. This is a very difficult day for all of us," the Israeli PM posted on 'X' on Sunday. Netanyahu added, "Hamas wants to murder us all. It is an enemy who murders children and mothers in their homes, in their beds. An enemy who kidnaps the elderly, children, and girls. Murderers who slap and slaughter our citizens, our children, who all in all went out to spend the holiday." He said after what happened in Israel on Saturday, he will make sure that it does not happen again. Earlier on Sunday, the IDF said Israeli fighter jets hit a military facility at the residence of the terrorist group Hamas' intelligence chief in Gaza. Sharing an update on the ongoing counter-offensive on social media platform X, the IDF posted a video and wrote, "Fighter jets recently attacked a military infrastructure at the home of the head of the intelligence department of the terrorist organization Hamas." "At this time, the IDF continues its attacks throughout the Gaza Strip," the IDF added in its post. The attack, which began at 6.30 am local time (03:30 GMT) on Saturday involved Hamas fighters, who infiltrated Israel by land, sea, and air. Israel's military launched a series of air raids on Gaza in response to the attacks. (ANI) The security cabinet approved the "war situation" and taking the "significant military steps according to the Article 40 of Basic Law: The Government."," Israel Prime Minister's Office announced on X. According to the Israel PM's Office, the war was forced on Israel in a "terrorist assault from the Gaza strip" which started at 6 am (local time) on Saturday. In a post shared on X, Israel PM's Office stated, "Last night, the Security Cabinet approved the war situation and, to this end, the taking of significant military steps, as per Article 40 of Basic Law: The Government." "The war that was forced on the State of Israel in a murderous terrorist assault from the Gaza Strip began at 06:00 yesterday (Saturday, 7 October 2023)," it added. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday said the country was at war. He made the remarks after Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. Meanwhile, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari on Sunday called Hamas attack a "war crime" and asserted that whoever took part "will pay the price." In a video statement posted by Israel Defense Forces on X, Hagari said, "Hamas brutal attack is a war crime. Taking women and children captive violates international law and goes against Islam. Whoever took part will pay the price. The war is difficult and challenging days lie ahead. The IDF is strong and will use every bit of its strength and power." According to latest update, more than 400 people lost their lives after Hamas launched an attack on Israel near the Gaza Strip, The Times of Israel reported. Among the dead, dozens of soldiers and police were killed in the attack. More than 2,048 injured in the deadliest attack are undergoing treatment in hospitals, including 20 in critical condition and 330 seriously wounded. The Israel Defense Forces on Sunday said that schools across the entire country will remain closed in the coming days. In addition, businesses south of Netanya and north of the central Negev can only be opened if there is ready access to bomb shelters, according to the military. Gatherings will be restricted to 10 people outdoors and 50 people indoors in those regions, according to the Home Front Command, The Times of Israel reported. The restrictions will remain valid till Tuesday at 6 pm (local time). While addressing a press conference on Sunday, top IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said the searches for Hamas terrorists were underway at several besieged towns, The Times of Israel reported. "As of this hour, there are forces fighting in [Kibbutz] Kfar Aza, there are searches in a large number of towns. There are IDF forces in all towns, there is no town that does not have an IDF force in it," Israel Defense Forces' top spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari was quoted as saying by The Times of Israel. According to Hagari, the IDF's mission objectives are to evacuate all civilians from border communities in Gaza, put an end to fighting there, manage security barrier breaches, and keep attacking terrorist targets in the Strip. (ANI) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday spoke with the US President Joe Biden who showed his unconditional support to his country. Taking to X, Israel's PMO informed about the conversation saying, "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke today with US President Joe Biden, in continuation of their conversation last night. President Biden reiterated his unreserved support for the State of Israel." Earlier, PM Netanyahu also spoke with other world leaders including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who also supported the Israeli side for defending its country. Israel PMO shared on X, "Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, all of whom expressed unreserved support for Israel's right to defend itself as necessary." As per the Israel PM office, PM Netanyahu appointed Brig.-Gen. (Ret.) Gal Hirsch as coordinator for the captives and the missing and all government ministries will carry out his directives on this issue. On October 7, US President Joe Biden held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and affirmed full support for Israel's right to self-defence, amid the 'surprise attack' by Hamas. Netanyahu also thanked Biden for the "unreserved support" and stressed that a "prolonged campaign" is necessary. "US President Joe Biden called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and emphasized that the US stands alongside Israel and fully supports Israel's right to self-defence," the official handle of Israel PM posted on X (formerly Twitter). It added, "Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked US President Biden for the unreserved support and made it clear that a forceful, prolonged campaign - which Israel will win - is necessary". President Biden also posted on X, condemning the "appalling Hamas terrorist attacks" and expressed his condolences."Today, I spoke with @IsraeliPM about the appalling Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel. I offered our support and reiterated my unwavering commitment to Israel's security. @FLOTUS and I express our heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost loved ones," Biden stated. In a major escalation on Saturday, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. The toll from the rocket attacks and ground assault by Hamas went past 400 on Sunday, with another 1,864 people reported to be injured. Several Israelis were taken as hostages in Gaza, the Times of Israel reported citing officials. In retaliation to the Hamas attack on Israel that claimed the lives of hundreds and left thousands injured, the Israel Air Force has launched a very powerful and lethal air strike in the Gaza Strip with dozens of fighter jets attacking the areas used by Hamas terrorists. (ANI) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Sunday that Hamas has grown stronger with Iran's support in recent years. However, he also mentioned that there is no direct evidence of Iran's involvement in the specific Hamas attack on Israel, ABC news reported on Sunday. In an interview with ABC News, the US Secretary said, "There's a long relationship between Iran and Hamas. In fact, Hamas wouldn't be Hamas without the support that it's gotten over many years from Iran. We haven't yet seen direct evidence that Iran was behind this particular attack is involved, but the - the support over many years is clear." He added, "It's one of the reasons that over the last couple of years, we have been resolutely working against Iran's support for terrorism, for destabilizing actions in other countries. We've sanctioned more than 400 Iranian individuals and entities precisely for the kind of support that they've offered Hamas in the past. And it's something that we remain extremely vigilant about." He also went on to mention the extent of devastation that happened after the Hamas attack on Israel and said that the "massive" terrorist attack is gunning down Israeli civilians. He further said, "This is a massive terrorist attack that is gunning down Israeli civilians in their towns, in their comes, and as we've seen so graphically, literally dragging people across the - the border with Gaza, including a Holocaust survivor in a wheelchair, women and children. So, you can imagine the impact this is having throughout Israel. And the world should be revolted at what it's seen." Additionally, in a separate interview with CNN, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US is working to verify reports of missing and dead Americans after Hamas launched an attack in Israel. "We have reports that several Americans were killed. We're working overtime to verify that. At the same time, there are reports of missing Americans and there again, we're working to verify those reports." Blinken said an announcement on additional aid to Israel in response to the attack could be announced as soon as Sunday. "We're looking at specific additional requests that the Israelis have made - I think you're likely to hear more about that later today," Blinken said. Earlier today, Blinken on Saturday (US local time) discussed Hamas' attack on Israel with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, the UK Foreign Secretary and Qatari Prime Minister. "Spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister @FaisalbinFarhan to discuss today's appalling attacks on Israel. I reiterated Israel's right to self-defence and called for coordinated efforts to achieve an immediate halt to the violent attacks by Hamas terrorists and other militants," Blinken wrote on 'X' on Saturday. In a major escalation on Saturday, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. The toll from the rocket attacks and ground assault by Hamas went past 400 on Sunday, with another 1,864 people reported to be injured. Several Israelis were taken as hostages in Gaza, the Times of Israel reported citing officials. In retaliation to the Hamas attack on Israel that claimed the lives of hundreds and left thousands injured, the Israel Air Force has launched a very powerful and lethal air strike in the Gaza Strip with dozens of fighter jets attacking the areas used by Hamas terrorists. Taking to X, Israel Air Force (IAF) informed about the strikes saying, "Dozens of warplanes are now attacking the Gaza Strip. The Air Force began a short time ago a powerful air strike in the Gaza Strip using dozens of fighter jets. The IDF attacks targets in the areas near the fence in Beit Hanon, which are used by the terrorist organization Hamas to carry out attacks against the State of Israel. The IDF will continue to act against the terrorist organization Hamas."(ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday held a meeting with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan. He thanked her for appreciating Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative for the inclusion of African Union as a permanent member in the G20. In a post shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, Jaishankar stated, "Honoured to call on President @SuluhuSamia of Tanzania on her State visit to India. Thanked her for her appreciation of PM @narendramodi's initiative towards African Union's permanent membership of the G20. Valued her guidance in expanding our bilateral relationship in so many domains." In his opening remarks at the G20 Summit, PM Modi invited the African Union's chairperson Azali Assoumani to take a seat at the table of G20 leaders as a permanent member. Earlier in the day, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan arrived in Delhi on State visit to India. Union Minister of State for Education Annapurna Devi received her in New Delhi. She was welcomed with a traditional folk dance performance at the airport. Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated that it is Samia Suluhu Hassan's first visit to India after assuming office. In a post shared on X, Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated, "Giving a fresh impetus to - ties. President @SuluhuSamia of Tanzania arrives on a State Visit to India. This is her first visit to India since the assumption of the office of President. Warmly welcomed by MoS @EduMinOfIndia @Annapurna4BJP at the airport." Upon her arrival in India, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan stated, "Landed in New Delhi for a state visit, at the invitation of India national leaders. To Tanzanians, India is our extended family, a strategic ally, and one of our largest bilateral trading partners. I am looking forward to a productive visit in expanding trade and investment between India and Tanzania, a foundation for prosperity for the people of our two countries." Samia Suluhu Hassan is on a visit to India at the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu. On Monday, she will meet President Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ministry of External Affairs in a press release stated, "During her stay in New Delhi, President Samia Suluhu Hassan will meet with the President. She will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan and thereafter will hold a detailed bilateral dialogue with Prime Minister. A state banquet will also be hosted by President in the honor of President Samia Suluhu Hassan." On October 10, Tanzanian President will participate in a business and investment forum in New Delhi. She will depart from India on October 11. MEA in the press release stated a Presidential visit from Tanzania is taking place after more than 8 years. According to MEA, Samia Suluhu Hassan's visit will further invigorate and strengthen the "historic and friendly relations" between India and Tanzania. On Saturday, Tanzania's Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation January Yusuf Makamba has said that during Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan's India visit, the two countries will elevate their defence relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. "In this visit, we will elevate our relationships to a comprehensive strategic partnership with four pillars. One is a development corporation. Two, maritime security, three, defence corporation and four, trade investment..." the Tanzanian Foreign Affairs Minister told ANI. "In defence, there are many areas and we have been working with the Indian defence sector for a while now in terms of training, and exchange of knowledge. Hardware will be part of the future arrangement. There is a foundation of cooperation and it's part of the four pillars of strategic partnership we want to have with India," he added. (ANI) On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Heydar Aliyev, founder of the modern independent state of Azerbaijan, outstanding political and state figure, the main moments of the bright, rich and honourable life path of the Great Leader of Azerbaijan are presented, his unique political and state activity - moments of his life given to the people in chronological order, Azernews reports, citing AzerTac. --- 2 August. President Heydar Aliyev took part in the event dedicated to the Day of Azerbaijani Cinema and delivered a speech. 5 August. Aksoy received Erdal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Aksoy Holding Company . 6 August. Iran received delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister of Asia, Oceania and Commonwealth of Independent States Mohsen Aminzadeh. 9 August. It received a Russian delegation. 10-15 August. He visited the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. As part of his visit, he held a meeting at the Supreme Assembly of Nakhchivan. He met with residents of Shahbuz, Sadarak, Sharur and Babek districts. He addressed a meeting dedicated to the establishment of the Nakhchivan branch of ANAS and took part in other events. 19 August. He received a delegation led by Turkish State Minister Rashad Doghrun. He held consultations on proposed changes to the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan. 20 August. He received the Ambassador of the United States of America to Azerbaijan, Ross Wilson. 21 August. He addressed the residents of "Heydar Park" in Nizami district. 23 August. Turkish "Marmara" group received delegation of Strategic and Social Research Foundation. 24 August. He answered journalists' questions while voting on proposed amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan adopted in 1995. 27 August. Received Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Azerbaijan Klaus Grevlich. 28 August. He met with delegation headed by Turkish State Minister for Maritime Affairs. 29 August. He was received by the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine. 30 August. He met with students who entered universities with the highest scores. --- The Great Leader pays special attention to solving the problems faced by Nakhchivan living under blockade, ensuring the security and development of the Autonomous Republic, and periodically visits the homeland where he was born and raised. One such visit took place on 10 August 2002. As it is seen from the chronology, the programe of the six-day visit was rather rich: meeting in the Supreme Assembly of the Autonomous Republic, event devoted to establishment of Nakhchivan branch of ANAS, acquaintance with construction of Vaykhir water reservoir, meetings with residents of Shahbuz, Sadarak, Sharur and Babek districts. Addressing the meeting held in the Supreme Assembly, Heydar Aliyev talked of numerous problems of the Autonomous Republic and works done to solve them. He emphazsed importance of establishing transport and communication ties with the capital Baku, especially population growth. Quote: Up to 400 thousand people live in the Autonomous Republic. Population growth is also good and should increase. I believe that real Nakhchivans should not leave Nakhchivan and go somewhere else. I still say that if there was not such a difficult situation in Azerbaijan at that time and there was no great need for me, I would not have left Nakhchivan. I came to Nakhchivan in 1991 with the aim of living here for the rest of my life." On the eve of his visit to the Autonomous Republic - 7 August, President Heydar Aliyev signed a decree on establishment of the Nakhchivan branch of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan. During his visit, he held a meeting on the establishment of the unit. In his speech at the meeting, he shared his thoughts on upcoming tasks and said the ancient history, culture, science and literature of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, which have been little studied so far, should be thoroughly reinterpreted. and scientific works and popular books should be written about it. Great Leader also emphasised the importance of studying the nature of Nakhchivan and natural monuments of this ancient land and said: "Unfortunately, the unique nature, natural resources, land and natural monuments of Nakhchivan are still not properly studied, perhaps it would be correct to say that they are not studied at all. There is a great need to study these issues that I am putting forward. Because Nakhchivan, as an integral part of Azerbaijan, occupies a very big place in the history of the Azerbaijani people and in the concept of Azerbaijan as a whole". Speaking at the meeting dedicated to the construction of Vaykhir reservoir, President Heydar Aliyev said the reservoir will play an important role in the socio-economic life of the Autonomous Republic, and the issue of Nakhchivan's water supply will be solved to one side. It should be noted that Vaykhir reservoir named after Heydar Aliyev was put into operation on 19 December 2005 in the presence of President Ilham Aliyev. With a total volume of 100 million cubic metres, the reservoir can irrigate 16,830 hectares of land. Thinking about the future of the Motherland and considering science and education as the main means of national revival, the Great Leader managed to allocate annual quotas for our republic in the advanced universities of the former USSR to ensure training of national cadres during the first period of his leadership of Azerbaijan. On his initiative, in 1970-1980, more than 15 thousand Azerbaijani specialists of higher education were trained in various specialities in more than 170 prestigious universities of the former USSR. On 30 August, Heydar Aliyev, who considered development of education as one of the priority tasks in the years of independence, met with students admitted to higher educational institutions with the highest scores in 2002/2003 academic year. Emphazising the advantage of conducting admission to higher education institutions by test method, he said: "Since it has a positive result, we support this method, have created and will create necessary opportunities for its continuation in Azerbaijan. We used to use many methods of admission to higher education institutions to make the admission fair, but only those who have knowledge were admitted to higher education institutions. But unfortunately, the recent measures did not bring the desired results. The test method is much more advanced than theirs." In his speech, the president also touched on the disturbing points and shortcomings associated with education. Quote: I am concerned about general education, that is, the primary education of our young people, the situation in secondary schools, the education that secondary schools provide, and the level of knowledge of the children who graduate from these schools. That's what worries me. It shows the level of knowledge of our people in general. Because individual people who achieve very high results, or students who do scientific work, cannot yet show the general level of knowledge of the people, of the nation. It cannot be an indicator. This indicator is in secondary schools. At the end of his speech, the Great Leader addressed the students invited to the meeting and said: "Young people studying in higher schools of Azerbaijan, you are the future of our country. You will not have a near future, but a distant future. Azerbaijan will live and develop in the future on the shoulders of young people like you. I also wish that Azerbaijan's independence, economic policy realised in Azerbaijan continue, so that Azerbaijan can successfully live as an independent state. Let the welfare and life of our people improve day by day. For this purpose it is necessary to work, sacrifice, and young people like you should prepare for the future. I look at you and all young people, all students with great hopes for the future of Azerbaijan". This tradition, the foundations of which were laid by the National Leader, and the state concern for education successfully continued in the subsequent period. In 2003-2023, thousands of school buildings were built or thoroughly repaired in the country. Presidential scholarship was established by the Decree of President Ilham Aliyev for students admitted to higher education institutions who showed the highest results in entrance examinations. Hundreds of young Azerbaijanis are currently studying abroad within the framework of the "State Programme for 2022-2026 on education of young people in prestigious higher education institutions of foreign countries". Former Diplomat TP Sreenivasan on Sunday expressed that the recent Hamas attack on Israel was unexpected, as the Middle East has seen various changes, with Palestine and Hamas not being in the spotlight. He noted that the attack could be an attempt by Palestinians, particularly Hamas, to revive the Palestine issue, given that they have felt neglected amidst shifting alliances and the growing alliance between the US and Israel. Speaking to ANI, Sreenivasan noted that Israel takes no mercy for any Hamas attack or any Palestinian moves in the region. He called the attack a surprise for Israel as well. His remarks come as Hamas on Saturday launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. "This attack was most unexpected because Palestine and the Hamas etc. were not in focus . Lot of the changes are taking place in the Middle East. Everybody is now trying to cultivate Israel, including Saudi Arabia and Iran. So, this is the situation where the unexpected attack took place. So my own theory is that this is the part of Palestinians that they (Palestine) are being neglected. We have not heard about them for a long time. And they have no great supporters openly," Sreenivasan told ANI. "And the US is becoming stronger and stronger ally of Israel. So this may have prompted them to precipitate a situation that Palestine is back in the limelight. That is a very risky proposition. You know that Israel takes no mercy to any Hamas attack or any Palestinian moves in the region because they are dominating and they like to continue to do that. So, this must have come as a surprise to them also because people actually infiltrated into Israel. They cannot attack from the outside because they have the .... So there is a lack of alertness from the part of Israel. Because this was impossible for them to come into Israel but they managed. That is a great victory for them. In the process, they will sacrifice thousands life because they will be infiltrated. They will finish them off. And they cannot continue to bomb Israel." He said that Palestinians, particularly Hamas is trying to revive the Palestine issue. Speaking about the outcome of the ongoing situation, he said, "As far as the outcome is concerned, we cannot anticipate it because they are hurting the Palestinians a lot regardless of any kind of consideration...electricity has been cut off. So, what would the Israelis do, they would try to eliminate Hamas. That may not be possible but they will do everything possible to see that Hamas do not do this anymore, so that will be their main objectives." Speaking about Indian nationals who are currently in Israel, he said that Israel will take care of them as it shares a "special relationship" with India. He stated, "Israel will take care of them because of our special relationship with Israel and the Prime Minister taken for the first time a position that is on the side of Israel because he said in this kind of crisis. But it's the first time in history that India is saying that we are on the side of Israel and also this the first time we are referring to Hamas as terrorists." He also mentioned that India's support for Israel in this crisis was a significant shift in policy, showing India's opposition to terrorism and its commitment to its partnership with Israel. He further said, "So two reasons why Prime Minister has taken this position I think is supposed to, because our hatred towards terrorism. I mean, we do not want terrorism anywhere. That's why we are in trouble with Canada also so on that account. Secondly, because of our special relations with Israel. I2U2, they are a part of our partnership. So that is to be expected. And therefore, because of that. I do not think Indians will be hurt deliberately, but anybody can be caught in the crossfire. But, this is an effort I think to bring back Palestinians onto the table and may, but they may pay a very high price for it." The I2U2 Group is a grouping of India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. According to latest updates, more than 600 people have been killed in Israel since Hamas launched its surprise attack on Saturday, CNN reported citing Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer."We are well north of 600 people who have been killed. There will probably be more - hundreds, several hundred more," Dermer said. According to officials, more than 2,000 people have been wounded, CNN reported. The Israel's Health Ministry said that 2156 people injured people were undergoing treatment in hospitals, including 20 in critical condition and 338 seriously wounded, The Times of Israel reported. Meanwhile, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari on Sunday called the Hamas attack a "war crime" and asserted that whoever took part "will pay the price." In a video statement posted by Israel Defense Forces on X, Hagari said, "Hamas brutal attack is a war crime. Taking women and children captive violates international law and goes against Islam. Whoever took part will pay the price. The war is difficult and challenging days lie ahead. The IDF is strong and will use every bit of its strength and power." (ANI) As many as 10 Nepali students were confirmed dead in the ongoing terrorist attack by Hamas terror group in Israel, a Nepal Embassy official told ANI late on Sunday evening. Talking over phone, Arjun Ghimire, First Secretary at the Nepali Embassy in Israel in conversation with ANI said, "The Israeli Police has confirmed to us that dead bodies of 10 Nepalis has been confirmed. Some are still out of contact and some are in serious medical condition, so the number might go up. An announcement about it in detail is due from the Foreign Ministry." Meanwhile, Nepal's Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud on Sunday hinted at possible casualties in Hamas attack on Israel. In a post shared on X, he said, "The latest update on attack in Israel's southern region since 6:30 AM (Nepali Time), Oct. 7, 2023, and its repercussions on Nepalis in the affected area are as follows: At present, there are approximately 4,500 Nepali nationals serving as caregivers in Israel. Additionally, 265 Nepali students are participating in Israel's learning and earning program, sponsored by the Israeli government." "Of these students, 119 hail from Agriculture and Forestry University, 97 from Tribhuvan University, and 49 from Far-Western University. Notably, 17 of the 49 students from Sudurpaschim University were studying in Kibbutz Alumim, located in southern Israel. According to the latest update from the Nepali Embassy, Kibbutz Alumim is in close proximity to the Gaza area, where a severe attack was carried out by the Hamas group. Out of the 17 Nepali students studying in that area, 2 have been confirmed safe, while 4 have sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment at a local hospital. Unfortunately, the status of the remaining 11 individuals is uncertain as they are out of contact, raising concerns about potential casualties. Efforts are underway to gather accurate information and assess the situation comprehensively," he added. He stated that Nepal government has reacted promptly to the attack in Israel. Saud said that Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' chaired a meeting during which a coordination mechanism was established. He said that the Nepal government is dedicated to providing essential support, coordination, and facilitation to Nepalis in Israel. In his post on X, Saud stated, "The Government of Nepal has reacted promptly and with great concern to this tragic incident in Israel. This morning, the Honorable Prime Minister chaired a meeting during which a coordination mechanism was established, encompassing all relevant agencies and overseen by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The primary objective of this mechanism is to vigilantly monitor the incident, conduct a thorough evaluation of the situation, ascertain the well-being of Nepalis, make informed decisions regarding rescue efforts, and ensure effective coordination and support." "Extensive coordination and facilitation initiatives are being undertaken in collaboration with the Israeli government to accurately determine the condition of Nepalis in Israel, guarantee their safety, and provide necessary rescue and support. The Government of Nepal is fully dedicated to furnishing essential support, coordination, and facilitation to Nepalis in Israel. Additional updates regarding this matter will be disseminated promptly as soon as they become available," he added. Earlier on Saturday, Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' condemned the unprecedented attack by Hamas terrorists on Israel while extending his sympathies to the injured Nepalese citizens there. In a statement shared on X, Dahal stated, "I unequivocally condemn the terrorist attack in Israel this morning. Nine of the Nepalis have been reportedly injured. At this critical hour, I extend my heartfelt sympathies to injured Nepalis and other innocent victims and their families." Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday issued a press statement confirming thatnine Nepal nationals have been injured with two in serious condition after Hamas attacked Israel. "We have been informed that a farm, where 14 Nepalis were working, was also underattack. Nine of the Nepalis have been reportedly injured while two of them are in seriouscondition. Further updates will be made in due course," the Nepal Foreign Ministrystated in the release. Further, the Nepal Foreign Ministry stated that it was in close contact with citizens livingin Israel and was facilitating the medical assistance of the injured. "The Embassy of Nepal in Israel is in close communication with the Nepalis living in the areas under attack. The Embassy is also in contact and coordination with the Israeli authorities for the safety, security and rescue of the Nepalis as well as medical treatment of the injured," the release stated further. According to the records of the government, an estimated 4500 Nepal nationals are currently residing in Israel. The Nepal government also requested its citizens to remain cautious and follow the safety measures advised by the authorities. The Nepal Foreign Ministry's statement comes after a barrage of rockets slammed intosouthern and central Israel after Hamas launched attack on Saturday morning. According to latest updates, more than 600 people have been killed in Israel since Hamas launched its surprise attack on Saturday, CNN reported citing Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer. "We are well north of 600 people who have been killed. There will probably be more - hundreds, several hundred more," Dermer said. According to officials, more than 2,000 people have been wounded, CNN reported. The Israel's Health Ministry said that 2156 people injured people were undergoing treatment in hospitals, including 20 in critical condition and 338 seriously wounded, The Times of Israel reported. (ANI) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Monday discussed the India-Canada row with the President of UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, stating that it is important to uphold and respect the "rule of law". The Canadian PM held a telephone conversation with the President of UAE and the two also spoke about the current situation in Israel. The two leaders expressed concern about the need to protect civilian life. "On the phone today, His Highness @MohamedBinZayed and I spoke about the current situation in Israel. We expressed our deep concern and discussed the need to protect civilian life," posted Trudeau on X. "We also spoke about India and the importance of upholding - and respecting - the rule of law," his post added. On Sunday, UK PM Rishi Sunak called for de-escalation of the India-Canada row in a call with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau. According to a Downing Street statement, Sunak spoke to Trudeau on Friday evening during which he was updated on the situation relating to Canadian diplomats in India. "He (Rishi Sunak) hoped to see a de-escalation in the situation and agreed to remain in contact with Prime Minister Trudeau on the next steps," read the statement. Sunak also reaffirmed the UK's position that all countries should respect sovereignty and the rule of law, including the principles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Meanwhile, Trudeau updated on the situation relating to Canadian diplomats in India. The diplomatic ties between India and Canada deteriorated after the Canadian government expelled a senior Indian diplomat accusing India of playing a role in the assassination of a Khalistani separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. In the aftermath, India swiftly retaliated by issuing a statement that denied any involvement in the issue and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat. Moreover, amid escalating tensions, India called for parity in the number of Canadian diplomats in India. Responding to reports claiming that India has asked Canada to remove 41 of its 62 diplomats in the country, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi earlier this month said that Canadian diplomatic presence is much higher in India and they assume "there would be reduction". "On discussions on parity, given the much higher presence of diplomats or diplomatic presence here and their interference in our internal matters, we have sought parity in our respective diplomatic presence. Discussions are ongoing to achieve this. Given that Canadian diplomatic presence is higher, we would assume that there would be a reduction," said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. (ANI) Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Major Libby Weiss has called the situation "very dire" and added that the brutality of Hamas was a "horrific tragedy" for Israel. In an interview with ANI, Weiss said that the Israeli military is working "very hard" to secure the border area. She stated that there are some ongoing battles taking place within Israel in communities along the south. Her remarks come as the Hamas terror group on Saturday launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. On Hamas attack against Israel, Major Libby Weiss stated, "This has really been horrific at this stage, 36 hours here in Israel. Yesterday, Hamas invaded Israel and caused really the largest massacre of Israeli civilians in Israel's history. So, the situation is very very very dire. We have more than 300 casualties, thousands of injured people, tens of people who were kidnapped off the streets of Israel and dragged into the Gaza Strip. "And the brutality that we saw of Hamas was truly .... It was really really horrific tragedy for us. And right now, the military is working very hard to secure the border area.There are some ongoing battles taking place within Israel in communities along the south and the IDF is doing really everything possible at this stage to secure the border," she added. She called Hamas a "terror organisation" and added that they have been regularly intending to wipe Israel off the map. She noted that the goal of Hamas is to kill as many Israeli as possible. "Well, we know that Hamas is a terror organisation. They talk very regularly about wanting to wipe Israel off the map, to target Israeli civilians. They have not hidden that this is their intention. And unfortunately, this is something that we have been really speaking about clearly to the world. And I think now there's no question about the brutality of this terror organisation. Their goal is to kill as many Israelis as possible. They are a terror organisation like any other. And this is what we see them doing. It's true horrific terror on the streets," Major Libby Weiss told ANI. Speaking about the current situation in Israel, Weiss said, "Right now there are some ongoing battles that are taking place within Israeli territory. So, right now the first focus is to secure the border. The IDF has also started evacuating communities in the south to really try to distance the civilian population from what is taking place. At the same time, the Air Force is striking Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip." "And really the focus here is to eliminate Hamas's and the Islamic Jihad's capabilities of being able to do this. It's a complex situation and of course, a dynamic one. The focus, though, right now is to secure the border, to strike these Hamas targets and to make sure that they're unable to do this ever again," she added. She warned Hamas that it will pay a "heavy price" for what happened in Israel. She said that the Israeli Defense Forces, the Air Force is striking targets within the Gaza Strip. Asked about any direct message for Hamas, Weiss said, "I don't think there's anything that I necessarily to speak directly, but I think we're sending the military is sending a very clear message here, whichis that there will be a very heavy price that they will pay for what happened here. The IDF, the Air Force is striking targets within the Gaza Strip. We will come out victorious from this, but there will be a very heavy price to pay for what happened here." In response to question about world coming out in support of Israel amid the Hamas attack, Weiss said that the international community witnessed how women, children and elderly people were dragged across the border. She called Hamas "war criminals" and their attack on Israel is "horrific and completely inexcusable." She said, "I think the widespread support that we're seeing is really a result of the horrors that everybody saw yesterday, certainly that we experienced firsthand here in Israel. But, that the world saw when women and children and elderly people are dragged across the border, when young people who are at a music festival are slaughtered brutally, it's really clear that nobody can support that, that it's so painfully clear that Hamas are war criminals, that what they have done here is horrific and completely inexcusable. So I think it really reflects the fact that the world understands that we are talking about a terror organisation looking to terrorise. And that's what we saw." According to latest updates, more than 400 people lost their lives and still counting after Hamas launched an attack on Israel near the Gaza Strip, Times of Israel reported on Sunday. Among the dead, dozens of soldiers and police were killed in the attack. In addition, the Israel-based media outlet claimed that over 2,048 wounded in the deadliest attack are being treated in hospitals, including 20 in critical condition and 330 seriously wounded. (ANI) WHITE TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WTAJ) Pennsylvania State Police are investigating a shooting that killed one person and injured at least eight others early Sunday morning. The shooting happened shortly after 12:30 a.m. at the Chevy Chase Community Center in White Township, about 65 miles east of Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania State Police believe the shooting broke out during a private party at the community center. Troopers from the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) along with local police department and EMS personnel responded to a shooting that took place around 12:35 a.m. on Oct. 8. The shooting happened at the Chevy Chase Community Center along 5th Avenue in White Township, according to PSP. Troopers say one person, a 22-year-old man from Pittsburgh, was killed in the shooting and eight others were injured. An 18-year-old from Chicago is in critical condition. Authorities have released limited information regarding the remaining victims: 18-year-old man from Florida 20-year-old man from Pennsylvania 19-year-old man from Pennsylvania 22-year-old man from Pennsylvania 19-year-old female from Pennsylvania 23-year-old female from Pennsylvania 19-year-old female from Pennsylvania Two of the nine victims were students at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, according to a release from the university. The school, located just over a mile away from the Chevy Chase Community Center, was celebrating homecoming this weekend. We understand that incidents like last nights violence are frightening and may cause continued feelings of fear and worry, the IUPs vice president for student affairs, Thomas Segar, said, before providing information about mental health support and counseling. Waynesburg University, located just over 100 miles from the community center, also announced on Sunday that three of the victims were students. The victims were transported to Indiana Regional Medical Center, UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, UPMC Mercy Hospital and Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center. State police said some of the victims were treated and have been released. Robert Miller, who lives near the community center, said he and his wife heard loud music coming from the building as they were about to go to bed. Then all of a sudden, I heard about 20 gunshots, he told the Tribune-Review. There was people lying on the edge of the sidewalk out there. Its terrifying. His wife, Ellen Ober, said, There were people everywhere crying and screaming. Trooper Cliff Greenfield said investigators were trying to gather as much information as possible from witnesses. Clearly we have not been able to interview everyone who was there, he told the newspaper. People were fleeing the scene it was a chaotic scene. State police are currently investigating and have no suspects in custody. Anyone with information is asked to immediately contact Troop A, Indiana at 724-357-1960. The Chevy Chase Community Center was built in 1971 by a group established in 1969 to fight poverty and help those in need, according to its website. The center says its mission is to cultivate, nurture, and sustain a peaceful and inclusive culture that brings community together with positivity, diversity, inclusion, education, nutrition, and love. Executive director Brandi Ports said on the centers Facebook page that officials are praying for everyone involved and that the center would be closed until further notice. Please be in prayer for those involved, for our community, and for our staff and volunteers, she said. Nearby resident Lillian Clemons told the Tribune-Review that she is a former director of the center and that her brother is among the many people who get meals there. She said she believes the center shouldnt be rented out on what she called crazy weekends such as homecoming. Im about to cry. Its hurtful because everybody struggles to keep this, she said. This was a service for the community. Thats what we need it for, for the people. The Associated Press contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A woman was arrested and 12 dogs were seized from a North Memphis home Saturday. Memphis Police Department Officers responded to an animal cruelty call in the 1400 block of Decatur Street around 1 p.m. They were advised that two dogs in the backyard of the home appeared to be very malnourished. Officers described the dogs appearance as skin and bones. More dogs were found inside the property. There were a total of 12: three adults and nine puppies. All 12 dogs were said to have been in bad condition. The suspect was identified as Melissa Foster, who advised police that she had not given the dogs any medical care at any vet. Foster was taken into custody and Memphis Animal Services confiscated all of the dogs due to their condition. Foster is charged with 12 counts of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals and is being held on a $12,000 bond. She is set to appear in court Oct. 9. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect that the gender of the juvenile suspect has not been disclosed by law enforcement. SAN MARCOS, Calif. A 12-year-old was taken into custody Saturday in connection to a bomb threat that prompted a lockdown at San Marcos High School. According to the San Diego County Sheriffs Department, deputies from the San Marcos Sheriffs Station responded to the school to investigate the threat Friday morning. Sensors to be installed to monitor pungent odor near Tijuana River Valley The campus was searched using bomb sniffing canines, and authorities say nothing suspicious was located after a thorough search of school grounds. After a follow-up investigation, San Marcos Sheriffs Detectives identified a possible juvenile suspect from Los Angeles County. Just after 7 a.m., SDSO says detectives served a search warrant at a home in Los Angeles County. During the search, authorities were able to confirm the phone used to call in the bomb threat was in the bedroom of a 12-year-old at the residence. Alaska Airlines adds new nonstop service from San Diego International Airport According to SDSO, the juvenile was arrested on suspicion of calling in the bomb threat and was later released to the custody of their mother. No further information was released due to the suspect being a juvenile. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. - Maryland State Police are investigating after two men were injured in a shooting at Bowie State University during its Homecoming festivities Saturday night. At approximately 11:45 p.m., officers responded to Henry Circle near the Center for Business and Graduate Studies for a report of a shooting. A shelter-in-place was issued for the school beginning at 11:30 p.m. and was lifted around 3 a.m. They later discovered that two individuals both 19-year-old men had been reported injured in the shooting and taken to the hospital. During a news conference Sunday morning, police said one weapon was recovered at the scene but they do believe there was more than one shooter. Bowie State is Marylands oldest historically Black college and university. The shooting comes just days after a similar incident at Morgan State University another HBCU about 35 miles north of Bowie. Five people were shot and injured at a homecoming event there. Four of them have since been released from the hospital. It's been confirmed that the suspects involved in this incident were not students at Bowie, or Morgan, police say. They are following up on leads. Bowie State University officials say classes will be canceled Monday and counseling services will be available. Col. Jonathan Steinberg, commander of Israel's Nahal Brigade was killed fighting Hamas, the IDF said. Col. Roi Levy, head of the elite Multidimensional unit, known as the "Ghost" unit, was also killed. Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel by land, sea and air on Saturday. An Israeli commander was among dozens of soldiers killed in fighting with Hamas militants, Israel's military said on Sunday. "The Commander of the Nahal Brigade, COL Jonathan Steinberg was killed today during a confrontation with a terrorist," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Steinberg, 42, was killed during an "exchange of fire" near Kerem Shalom in southern Israel on the border with Gaza, an IDF spokesperson told Israel National News. The 933rd Nahal Brigade is one of the IDF's main infantry brigades. The IDF released the names of 44 soldiers killed in the fighting, of which Steinberg was among the most senior. Twenty-one other military officers were named, so far. Steinberg is one of the most senior Israeli officers killed in combat in recent memory, The Times of Israel said. The IDF also said that Col. Roi Levy, the head of the elite Multidimensional unit, also known as the "Ghost" unit, was killed on Saturday, per The Times of Israel. Levy died in fighting in the southern community of Re'im as he battled Hamas fighters, and 10 of them were killed in the exchange, the IDF said. Hamas bombarded Israel with rockets and its fighters conducted a multi-pronged surprise attack from the land, sea, and air on Saturday. Israel declared a "state of war" and began bombarding the Gaza Strip in response. Reported death toll figures are conflicting and constantly rising. Over 500 Israelis are reported to have been killed, the BBC said, citing Israeli media. Palestinian officials say that at least 313 people have been killed in Gaza. Read the original article on Business Insider Bahrain has handed over the Arab Institute for Training and Research in Statistics (AITRS) Board of Trustees Chair to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) had represented Bahrain at the 48th Board of Trustees session of AITRS held in Jeddah from October 4 to 5. During the opening, iGA Deputy Chief Executive for Statistics and Population Registry and Chair of the Board of Trustees 47th session, Duaa Sultan Alharban commended KSA for hosting the event. Joint initiatives She expressed her best wishes for their success in chairing the 48th session and affirmed Bahrain's support for the General Authority for Statistics efforts to advance statistical work and joint initiatives. The meeting delved into the progress report of the 2023 Action Plan, as well as the one for 2024-2025. Discussions also shed light on statistical activities and initiatives in Arab countries, including the scheduling of the 49th session in 2024. KSA will have the honour of presiding over the AITRS Board of Trustees throughout the next year. The Republic of Tunisia will assume the presidency for the subsequent session.--TradeArabia News Service MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee man charged in a 2016 homicide was found guilty at trial Friday, Oct. 6. Eric Bills, 39, was charged with first-degree reckless homicide in the fatal shooting of Jemell McMillan. He's scheduled to be sentenced in November. Police were called to 37th and Concordia on Sept. 29, 2016 and found the 36-year-old McMillan with multiple gunshot wounds. He died at the hospital. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Shooting near 37th and Concordia in Milwaukee According to the FBI, Bills shot McMillan multiple times as a result of an argument over a woman. He drove to McMillan's location, authorities said, got out of his vehicle and shot McMillian in the street multiple times before driving off. McMillian was unarmed, FBI officials said, and an investigation revealed Bills may have been dealing drugs. A warrant was issued for Bills' arrest in October 2016, followed by a federal warrant in August 2017. The FBI later offered a $10,000 reward; officials believed at the time he may have fled Wisconsin. He was ultimately taken into custody in May 2019 after years on the run. A 3-year-old child was seriously injured after being struck by a driver in Cincinnati. Police were called to the 2100 block of Hatmaker Street at approximately 5 p.m. after a child was hit by a vehicle while crossing the street outside of a crosswalk, according to our news partners at WCPO. Police did not say if the child was alone or with an adult. >> One person injured after shooting in Harrison Township The child was taken to a Cincinnati Fire Department station by a pedestrian and was later taken to Cincinnati Childrens Hospital, WCPO reported. Police said the child is listed in stable condition. Impairment and excessive speed were not factor, according to police. Any witnesses to the crash are asked to contact CPDs Traffic Unit at 513-352-2514. CHICAGO - Four Chicago police officers were injured, three critically, in a crash while pursing suspects wanted for a shooting outside a police station in Woodlawn on Saturday. Someone fired shots from a black Jeep about 3:30 p.m., striking a 24-year-old man in his thigh and grazing a 28-year-old womans buttocks, outside the Grand Cross District police station the 7000 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago police said in a statement. The man and woman were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition. A source told the Sun-Times that both of the people wounded were migrants. The source said it wasnt clear if the migrants were the targets of the shooting, or if the shooting was targeting migrants. Migrants outside the police station told FOX 32 News that occupants inside the Jeep drove to the police station and began to randomly shoot at families camped near the sidewalk. They said the Jeep then sped away, but returned to the station where responding officers in a police SUV spotted the vehicle and began a pursuit. The two vehicles collided a short time later in the 5400 block of South State Street. Four police officers had to be extricated from their vehicles, according to police. Fire officials said two officers were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, a third officer was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, and a fourth officer self-transported to a local hospital in an unknown condition. State Rep. Angie Guerrero-Cuellar released a statement Saturday night confirming one of the officers injured in the crash was her husband. "Today my husband was one of the responding Chicago police officers injured in the traffic crash in the 5400 block of S. State St.," Guerrero-Cuellar said in the statement. "We are surrounded by our family and family in blue. I ask that you keep everyone involved in your thoughts and prayers. This is the phone call no family ever wants to receive. Thank you for all the phone calls, text messages, prayers and support." Four other people who were injured in the crash were in fair to good condition, fire officials said, with three transported to Insight Chicago and another taken to Provident Hospital. Four people were taken into custody and two handguns were recovered from the suspect's car, police said. Charges are pending and Area One detectives are still investigating. Those seeking asylum outside the police station told FOX 32 News theyve been at the location more than two months, but after Saturday's incident, they say its unsafe and theyre now desperately trying to relocate into a shelter. Around 1,000 migrants have been staying temporarily at police stations across the city after seeking asylum in the United States. Many have been loaded on to buses in other states, including Texas, and sent to Chicago. The Chicago Sun-Times contributed to this report. A Georgia jury has sentenced a man to 100 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting several children. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The investigation began when FBI agents in Milwaukee, Wis. slipped into a private online messaging group in which members shared images and videos of child sexual abuse, according to court documents and testimony. This led FBI agents to Michael Williams Kersey, 45, of St. Marys, Ga. home, where agents reportedly found hundreds of images detailing the sexual exploitation of at least four children on Kerseys cell phone and computers. Agents also identified Lesley Henry, 47, of St. Marys, and learned she also produced sexually explicit images and sent them to Kersey. TRENDING STORIES: The Southern District of Georgia US Attorneys Office announced Wednesday that Kersey was sentenced to 1,200 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to engage in sexual exploitation of children, three counts of sexual exploitation of children, and possession of child pornography. Henry is serving 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of production of child pornography. A judge has scheduled hearings to determine any restitution Henry and Kersey will be ordered to pay. There is no parole in the federal system. Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or online. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations, killing hundreds and taking captives. Palestinian health officials reported scores of deaths from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair) JERUSALEM (AP) Israel declared war Sunday as it bombarded the Gaza strip with airstrikes in retaliation for a major surprise attack by Hamas. The declaration came a day after an unprecedented incursion by Hamas fighters who blew through a fortified border fence and gunned down civilians and soldiers in Israeli communities along the Gaza frontier during a major Jewish holiday. As many as 1,000 Hamas fighters took part, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. The rampage included an assault on a crowded music festival where authorities had removed about 260 bodies by Sunday. Israel struck back including with airstrikes that flattened a 14-story tower that held Hamas offices. At least 700 people were reported killed in Israel and more than 400 in Gaza. Here are some key takeaways as the fighting continues: WHAT DOES THE WAR DECLARATION MEAN? Israel has previously carried out major military campaigns in Lebanon and Gaza that it portrayed as wars, but without a formal declaration. The declaration gives the green light for Israel to take "significant military steps against Hamas. It came as the military continued efforts to stamp out the last groups of militants in southern Israel following the attack. Israel hit more than 800 targets in Gaza by Sunday, its military said. That included airstrikes that leveled much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the enclaves northeast corner. Hamas had been using the town as a staging ground for attacks, Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters. There was no immediate word on casualties, and most of the communitys population of tens of thousands likely fled before the bombardment. The leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which participated in Saturday's attack, said it was holding more than 30 Israelis among dozens of captives in Gaza. He said they would not be released until all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are freed. WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE FROM THE U.S. AND OTHER NATIONS? Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the Ford carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel. The deployment which also includes a host of ships and warplanes underscores the concern that the United States has in trying to keep the conflict from growing. Preliminary reports indicated at least four U.S. citizens were killed in the attacks, and seven more were missing, a U.S. official said. The U.N. Security Council was holding an emergency meeting about the situation behind closed doors, and Germanys development minister said her country would review its aid for Palestinian areas. In Iran a longtime supporter of Hamas and other militant groups senior officials praised the incursion. President Ebrahim Raisi spoke by phone with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Islamic Jihad leader Ziad al-Nakhalah, the state-run IRNA news agency reported Sunday. Egypt spoke with both sides about a potential cease-fire, but an Egyptian official said Israel was not open to a truce at this stage. A policeman in Egypt opened fire Sunday on Israeli tourists in the city of Alexandria, killing at least two Israelis and one Egyptian, authorities said. The U.S. embassy in Cairo urged Americans in the country to take precautions as the attack could be related to clashes between Israel and Palestinian militants. IS ANYTHING BEING DONE TO PROTECT CIVILIANS? The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said 74,000 people in the Gaza Strip have taken shelter in dozens of its schools following calls from Israel for residents of border areas to evacuate. The number of displaced increased by nearly 50,000 since Saturday, when about 20,000 first moved into U.N.-operated schools. The number is likely to increase amid heavy shelling and airstrikes in different parts of the overpopulated and besieged territory of 2 million people, the UNRWA said Sunday. The agency said one of its schools was directly hit and suffered severe damage, but there were no casualties. Associated Press video from Sunday showed a large crater in the middle of the school, which had sheltered 225 people. Schools and other civilian infrastructure, including those sheltering displaced families, must never come under attack, UNRWA said in a statement. Cease-fires have stopped major fighting in past rounds of conflict but have always proven shaky. Each agreement in the past has offered a period of calm, but the deeper, underlying issues are rarely addressed, setting the stage for the next round of airstrikes and rockets. WHAT PROMPTED THE ATTACK? Hamas officials cited long-simmering sources of tension including the dispute over the sensitive Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is sacred to both Muslims and Jews. Competing claims over the site, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, have spilled into violence before, including a bloody 11-day war between Israel and Hamas in 2021. In recent years, Israeli religious nationalists such as Itamar Ben-Gvir, the national security minister have increased their visits to the compound. Last week, during the Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot, hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jews and Israeli activists visited the site, prompting condemnation from Hamas and accusations that Jews were praying there in violation of the status quo agreement. Hamas also has cited the expansion of Jewish settlements on lands that Palestinians claim for a future state and Ben-Gvirs efforts to toughen restrictions on Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Tensions recently escalated with violent Palestinian protests along the Gaza frontier. In negotiations with Qatar, Egypt and the United Nations, Hamas has pushed for Israeli concessions that could loosen the 17-year blockade on the enclave and help halt a worsening financial crisis that has sharpened public criticism of its rule. Some political analysts have linked Hamas attack to current U.S.-brokered talks on normalization of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia. So far, reports of possible concessions to Palestinians in the negotiations have involved the occupied West Bank, not Gaza. WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING RECENTLY IN A DIVIDED ISRAEL? The eruption of violence comes at a difficult time for Israel, which is facing the biggest protests in its history over Netanyahus proposal to weaken the Supreme Court while he is on trial for corruption. The protest movement accuses Netanyahu of making a power grab. That has bitterly divided society and unleashed turmoil within the military, which undreds of reservists threatening to stop volunteering to report for duty in protest. Reservists are the backbone of the army, and protests within the ranks have raised concerns about cohesion, operational readiness and power of deterrence as it confronts threats on multiple fronts. Netanyahu called up an extensive mobilization of reserve forces Saturday. ____ This story was first published on Oct. 8, 2023. It was updated on Oct. 10, 2023, to correct the name of the U.S. secretary of state. He is Antony Blinken, not Andrew Blinken. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday the $6 billion in Iranian funds expected to be unfrozen in the U.S. prisoner swap with Iran have remained unspent, pushing back against suggestions that the Biden administrations deal may have contributed to Hamass recent attacks on Israel. The facts are these no U.S. taxpayer dollars were involved, Blinken said on CNNs State of the Union. These were Iranian resources that Iran had accumulated from the sale of its oil that were stuck in a bank in South Korea. They have had from day one, under our law, under our sanctions, the right to use these monies for humanitarian purposes. From one account to another in another country to facilitate that use, Blinken continued. As of now, not a single dollar has been spent from that account. Blinkens comments follow Palestinian militant group Hamass onslaught of attacks against Israel on Saturday that left hundreds of people dead and thousands of others wounded. Maintaining there is not yet any evidence showing Iran directed the attacks against Israel, Blinken pointed to the long relationship between the country and Hamas. Theres a long relationship between Iran and Hamas, Blinken said. In fact, Hamas wouldnt be around in the way that it is without the support that its received from Iran over the years. Its one of the reasons why we have been resolutely against Iran and its support for terrorists and terrorist groups over the last few years of this administration, he continued. Last month, the Biden administration agreed to unfreeze $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds in exchange for the freedom of five wrongfully detained American citizens. In doing so, the Biden administration granted clemency to five Iranians and issued a blanket waiver for international banks to allow the transfer of $6 billion of Iranian oil sale proceeds, frozen in South Korea, to a bank in Qatar. The funds were proceeds from Irans oil sales that were frozen by the U.S. when relations between the two countries faltered. U.S. officials said the funds were to be used only for food, medicine and other humanitarian goods, a point Blinken emphasized Sunday. And, again, the account is closely regulated by the U.S. Treasury Department, so it can only be used for things like food, medicine, medical equipment, Blinken said. Thats what this is about. The deal drew criticism, with some Republicans arguing the move would free up resources for Irans military spending and support of terrorism. In a separate interview on NBCs Meet The Press on Sunday, Blinken was pressed on whether Iran used other funds to support the attacks in anticipation of the funds being unfrozen. Iran has, unfortunately, always used and focused its funds on supporting terrorism, on supporting groups like Hamas, Blinken said. And its done that when there have been sanctions. Its done that when there havent been sanctions. And its always prioritized that. And, again, I come back to the proposition that these funds have always been, under the law, available to Iran to use for humanitarian purposes. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. 68 combat clashes between the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Russians took place on the front over the past day. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 8 October Details: 68 combat clashes occurred over the past day. In total, the Russians launched 8 missile attacks and 34 air strikes and carried out 37 attacks from multiple-launch rocket systems both on the positions of Ukrainian troops and on civilian targets in Ukraine. Russian terrorist attacks resulted in civilian casualties. A grain warehouse that is part of the port infrastructure, a boarding house building in a recreational area, high-rise and private residential buildings, and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged. Airstrikes were inflicted upon the settlements of Stepne in Sumy Oblast; Kupiansk, Petropavlivka, Kurylivka and Pishchane in Kharkiv Oblast; Novoliubivka and Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast; Katerynivka, Spirne, Klishchiivka, New-York, Marinka, Novomykhailivka, Antonivka, Vodiane and Volodyne in Donetsk Oblast; Pryiutne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast; and Vylkove in Odesa Oblast. Over 110 cities, towns and villages of Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts were affected by Russian artillery fire. In the area of responsibility of the Pivnich (North) Operational Strategic Group on the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna fronts, the Russian forces maintain military presence in the border areas, conducting sabotage activities to prevent Ukrainian troops from moving to threatened areas, and increasing the density of mine barriers along the state border in Russias Belgorod Oblast. In the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group on the Kupiansk front, the Ukrainian troops repelled 13 Russian attacks in the areas of Synkivka and Ivanivka in Kharkiv Oblast. On the Lyman front, the Armed Forces repelled six Russian attacks near Makiivka, Luhansk Oblast. On the Bakhmut front, the Russians tried to regain lost positions near Andriivka in Donetsk Oblast, but to no avail. In the area of responsibility of the Tavriia Operational Strategic Group on the Avdiivka and Marinka fronts, the Russians carried out over 20 unsuccessful attacks in the areas of Avdiivka, Pervomaiske, Marinka, Krasnohorivka and Novomykhailivka, Donetsk Oblast. On the Shakhtarsk front, Ukrainian soldiers repelled about 10 Russian attacks near Vodiane and Zolota Nyva in Donetsk Oblast. The Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to conduct an offensive operation on the Melitopol front and offensive (assault) operations on the Bakhmut front. Ukrainian defenders have partial success northeast of Andriivka in Donetsk Oblast. Ukrainian soldiers inflict losses on the Russian forces in manpower and equipment, continuing to consolidate their positions and exhaust the Russian units along the entire line of contact. In the area of responsibility of the Odesa Operational Strategic Group on the Kherson front, Ukraines Defence Forces continue to engage in counter-battery warfare, destroying storage points and successfully striking the Russian rear. Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Air Force inflicted eight attacks on clusters of Russian military personnel, weapons and equipment and five more strikes on their anti-aircraft missile systems. In addition, Ukrainian defenders destroyed four UAVs. Ukrainian Rocket Forces and Artillery units targeted an artillery piece, a cluster of Russian military personnel and an electronic warfare station. 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 search is underway for a missing Texas man who authorities say was shot and taken from a Walmart parking lot. On Oct 6., officers with the Round Rock Police Department responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle outside a Walmart on the citys northeast side. Police discovered it belonged to a missing man, 30-year-old Shawn Joseph, the department said in a news release. Police say another man, Royce Loggins, shot Joseph and took him away from the scene on the night of Oct. 5. Investigators soon arrested Loggins, 31, on a charge of aggravated assault, the release said. Despite Loggins arrest, Joseph is still missing and his whereabouts remain unknown, police said. This is an isolated incident, and the suspect was known by the victim, police said. Officials did not say what may have motivated the attack. Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact Round Rock police detective Todd Spradlin at 512-671-2853. Round Rock is roughly 20 miles north of Austin. Husband hears screaming as wifes co-worker kidnaps her outside Texas home, FBI says Mom and child carjacked and kidnapped at knifepoint in parking lot, Wisconsin cops say Woman vanishes after man picks her up, OK officials say. Body found wrapped in carpet Woman hides in ex-boyfriends car with knife then tries to kill him, PA officials say Gloria Steinem , left, and Pat Carbine, two of Ms. magazine's founding editors, look through a copy of the magazine at Ms. offices on Jan. 29, 1980. (Dave Pickoff / Associated Press ) Who would have thought, back when the women's media landscape was dominated by Ladies' Home Journal and Good Housekeeping, that a magazine born of the second great American feminist wave would be around 50 years later? Certainly not the late Harry Reasoner, who, as the anchor for ABC Evening News, personified the white male media establishment. After youve done marriage contracts, role-changing, female identity crisis, what do you do next? Organize foods for Christmas dinner, I expect, proclaimed Reasoner after paging through the first issue of Ms. magazine in 1972. Five years later, his portrait appeared in a full-page New York Times ad celebrating Ms.' fifth anniversary. You couldnt see the egg on his face, but it was there all the same: Ms. Magazine has shown us all through personal writing, humor, political theory and first-class expose journalism that there is literally no subject feminism does not affect or transform, he wrote. Amen, Brother Harry. Read more: Abcarian: Will the opponents of same-sex marriage ever give up? Even the Pope is softening on the issue That ad was reproduced in a compulsively readable and entertaining new compendium, "50 Years of Ms.: The Best of the Pathfinding Magazine That Ignited a Revolution," a 500-page, lavishly illustrated anthology with a hot pink cover, edited by Katherine Spillar, an unsung pillar of contemporary American feminism who is both the magazines executive editor and co-founder and executive director of the Feminist Majority Foundation. The foundation took ownership of Ms. in 2001 when it was flailing financially and in danger of going under. The organization's leadership was dubious, but Ms. co-founder Gloria Steinem was insistent. It finally dawned on Eleanor Smeal and her foundation co-founder, the late Peg Yorkin, that the fate of Ms. was entirely in their hands. Were not gonna let them close Ms. magazine, Smeal recalled thinking during a panel discussion at the Hammer Museum on Thursday celebrating the books publication. It wouldnt look good for the feminist movement! (She was joined onstage by Spillar, civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, feminist legal scholar and writer Michelle Goodwin and feminist writer Carmen Rios.) They had come to celebrate Ms., which has been at the forefront of defining and exploring womens lives in ways that mainstream media did not, or would not. Read more: Abcarian: Don't let Sen. Feinstein's centrist politics obscure her not-so-moderate legacy In August 1976, for example, almost two decades before Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act, Ms. featured a shocking closeup of a woman with a black eye for its cover story, Battered Wives: Help for the Secret Victim Next Door. Whether the topic was date rape, workplace sexual harassment, divorce, female genital mutilation or even the politics of housework, Ms. was usually well ahead of everything else on the newsstands. In its first "preview issue" cover story, Click! The Housewifes Moment of Truth, by Jane OReilly, Ms. introduced the concept of seemingly minor moments that lead to feminist revelations. A friend of mine stood and watched her husband step over a pile of toys on the stairs, wrote OReilly. Why cant you get this stuff put away? he mumbled. Click! You have two hands, she said, turning away. As I leafed through the anniversary book, I expected to be struck by how much things have changed in the past half-century. Instead, I was chilled by how much things have stayed the same. Read more: Abcarian: What does it take to keep regular bodies on Paris runways? In the first issue, for instance, 53 prominent women, including Billie Jean King , Nora Ephron, Judy Collins and Anais Nin, signed a declaration saying We Have Had Abortions. The following year, the Supreme Court affirmed a womans right to choose in its historic Roe vs. Wade decision. Ever since, Ms. has chronicled the fights over abortion rights, helping readers understand that outlawing the procedure is patriarchy in action, aimed at controlling women's bodies in order to deny them autonomy over their very lives. (As the people at Ms. like to say, if youd been reading Ms. you would not have been the least bit surprised by the Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe last year.) A charming 1972 childrens story by the late Lois Gould , about a baby named X whose parents refused to gender it (and yes, Gould used it), presages the current right-wing hysteria over gender identity. Read more: Abcarian: Will Lauren Boebert and other female politicians pay the price for behaving badly? Alan Alda parodied the self-help movement in Testosterone Poisoning, as pointed today as it was in 1975. He offered men a simple test to check for danger signs: When someone tries to pass you on the highway, do you speed up? Would you like to watch a sunset with a friend and feel at one with nature and each other, or would you rather take apart a clock? In 1981, long before the phrase mansplaining made it into the popular lexicon, Ms. published The Politics of Talking, by Barbara Ehrenreich, who wrote about the conversational mismatch between men and women. Men can and will talk, she wrote, if they can set the terms. In October 1985, Marie Shear wrote about The Great Pronoun Debate. Read more: Abcarian: Do what's right for the planet or for your pocketbook? A fast-fashion dilemma And then there are the pieces that provide an infuriating trip down memory lane. Welfare is a Womens Issue, a 1972 piece by Johnnie Tillmon, began, Welfare is like a super-sexist marriage. You trade in a man for the man. He tells you what to buy, what not to buy, where to buy it, and how much things cost. If things rent, for instance really cost more than he says they do, its just too bad. Hes always right. In June 1975, Angela Davis wrote about an incarcerated Black woman, Joan Little, who killed a white prison guard in North Carolina with the ice pick he brought into her cell. She acted in self-defense, she said, after he raped her. He was found shoeless and pantless in her cell, with semen on his thigh. Little, who was charged with first-degree murder, became the subject of a national outcry against sexual violence and was acquitted that August. In September 1976, Lindsy Van Gelder wrote about a lesbian mother, Mary Jo Risher, who lost her court fight to keep custody of her son. Even though she was a good mother, and the boys father had been in legal scrapes and once broke Rishers nose during an argument, the jury foreman said, I felt the heterosexual family would be better for this child. The most recent piece in the anthology was published in spring 2022. The Patriarchs War on Women,'' by Harvard political scientists Zoe Marks and Erica Chenoweth, is about the rise of autocrats around the world and the relationship between authoritarianism and sexism, racism and homophobia. The title may sound like a call to arms from the 1970s, but it is all too depressingly current. Ms. magazine may have lost its ability to shock, but now well into middle age, it has lost none of its relevance. @robinkabcarian 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. Many people from in and outside of Columbus came to the Ohio Statehouse on Sunday to show their support for Issue 1 on the Nov. 7 general election ballot, which, if approved, would enshrine abortion rights in the state Constitution. After years hanging in their closets, friends Carolyn Harding and Mary Kestner both pulled out their wedding dresses Sunday afternoon once more. It was for a vow renewal of sorts. But rather than to their spouses, Harding and Kestner donned their wedding dresses and white sashes saying "I do" in support of Ohio Issue 1, which would enshrine abortion rights in the Ohio Constitution and effectively eliminate many of the GOP bans and restrictions on the procedure. Ohio Issue 1: Everything you need to know about Ohio's abortion issue on the November 7, 2023 ballot A pure white wedding dress, said Harding, of Bexley, was the perfect symbol for a woman's right to choose. "Twenty-seven years later, I'm putting my wedding dress to work for reproductive rights," she said. Mary Kestner and Carolyn Harding wear their wedding dresses to support abortion rights at the Sunday rally in support of Issue 1 in Ohio. Harding and Kestner were among dozens of others who attended the "Bans Off Ohio Day of Action" on Sunday at the Ohio Statehouse. It was one of six rallies held statewide, with other events taking place in Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton and Toledo. The rally marked one month until the Nov. 7 general election and was held just days before early voting begins Wednesday. On Friday, Oct. 6, opponents of Issue 1 participated in the second Ohio March for Life on the west lawn of the Ohio Statehouse. Speakers from a number of local and statewide reproductive rights organizations addressed the crowd during Sunday's rally, encouraging attendees not only to vote "yes" on Ohio Issue 1, but to also tell others about what the amendment is all about. More: Ohio March for Life rallies abortion opponents at Statehouse before Issue 1 vote Lauren Blauvelt, vice president of government affairs and public advocacy for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio and co-chair of Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights, told the crowd that Ohio Issue 1 would protect more than just abortion access. It would also preserve access to fertility treatments, miscarriage care and contraception options. Lauren Blauvelt, co-chair of Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights and vice president of government affairs and public advocacy for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, tells people on Sunday the importance of speaking to friends, family members, and neighbors about supporting Issue 1 on the Nov. 7 ballot to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. "The majority of Ohioans support abortion access," Blauvelt said. "They just need to know this is the election to vote for it." A July USA TODAY Network/Suffolk University poll found about 57.6% of Ohio voters supported the abortion rights proposal; 32.4% opposed it and 10% were undecided, according to the poll of 500 voters, 454 likely voters and 46 registered voters. In the year since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and turned abortion policymaking back to state legislators and judges, voters in six other states sided with abortion access, including neighboring Michigan and Kentucky. Opponents of the abortion-rights amendment said the proposal goes too far and must be defeated. "Pro-life and pro-choice Ohioans agree that Issue 1 is too radical for Ohio. Issue 1 will enshrine late-term abortion up until the moment of birth in our Constitution, strip away parental rights, and eliminate health and safety protections for women. Issue 1 goes further than Roe, and will make Ohio the most extreme abortion regime in the country," according to a statement from Protect Women Ohio, a coalition opposing Issue 1. Several of Sunday's abortion-rights speakers called out Ohio's Republican lawmakers who seek to restrict abortion access, even in cases of rape. "Those in the building behind us think they know better than us," Blauvelt said, pointing to the Ohio Statehouse. After Roe was overturned last summer, a 2019 law banning most abortions in Ohio took effect almost immediately. That law prohibited doctors from performing abortions after embryonic cardiac activity was detected, which is about six weeks gestation. In September 2022, a Hamilton County judge temporarily blocked that law. For now, abortion is currently legal in Ohio through 21 weeks and six days gestation. Sierra Dobbs-Brown, administrative assistant for the Abortion Fund for Ohio, said Ohio Issue 1 would prevent such a law from being put back in place. "We're not operating under the six-week, near-total ban, but it will be back if we don't pass Issue 1," she said. "It's the best thing we can do to protect that access." Some of the people who came to the Ohio Statehouse on Sunday to show their support for Issue 1 in the November general election. If approved, the measure would make abortion rights part of the Ohio Constitution. Other speakers shared their own personal abortion stories. Shakti Rambarran, a board member with the Abortion Fund of Ohio, told attendees the story of her abortion from nearly six years ago. Rambarran said that even with good health insurance, the financial means and a supportive partnership, it still took more than two weeks to get the care she needed. "Every single person deserves dignified access to abortion care," Rambarran said. "Everyone deserves the right to determine if they become a parent, and when they become a parent." That focus on personal choice is what brought Susan Quinn to Sunday's rally. She carried with her a sign reading: "Pro-Faith, Pro-Family, Pro-Choice." "I'm Catholic, and my parish priest told me years ago, 'It's choice that makes faith,'" Quinn, of Athens, said. "Choice is the basis of faith and self-determination." Quinn said she believes abortion is a necessary procedure and part of a good health care system. Personal choice, she said, is core to family planning. "I wouldn't argue against how many children someone could have," she said. "In order to have a family you can support and love and plan for, abortion has to be a choice." Susan Quinn holds her sign in support of Issue 1, the November ballot question that, if approved, would enshrine abortion rights in the Ohio constitution. Sheridan Hendrix is a higher education reporter for The Columbus Dispatch. Sign up for Extra Credit, her education newsletter, here. shendrix@dispatch.com @sheridan120 This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Abortion advocates rally at Statehouse before Ohio Issue 1 vote SIBS, one of the worlds leading companies in modular construction technology company, has been awarded a new contract to deliver an additional 1,300 apartments to a large-scale residential project in Neom, a new city coming up in northwestern Saudi Arabia. SIBS is the sole supplier chosen for this project and this is the second order for SIBS to Neom in less than four months, the company said. The order solidifies SIBS position in Saudi Arabia specifically but also globally as one of the worlds leading industrial producers of apartment buildings, it said. The first order of 2,174 apartments is already in production. An entire region being built from the ground up to include cognitive cities and destinations operating on 100 per cnet renewable energy, Neom is one of the worlds largest urban developments. The latest contract, a design and build one, includes the design, production, logistics, assembly, and finalisation of 1,300 apartments spread across 22 buildings, totalling approximately 100 000 sq m GFA. SIBS will deliver turn-key buildings from a finalised bottom slab upwards. The entire project will be commissioned and delivered by Q4 2024. The buildings consist of one- and two-bedroom high-standard apartments equipped with designed kitchens, exclusive bathrooms, and balconies to each apartment. Solar panels on the roofs and low-energy building materials, together with our modular building system which ensure 90 per cent completion ahead of delivery to the construction site, make the buildings highly energy efficient. The buildings are adapted in detail to comply with Neoms stringent regulations and are designed for future relocation if needed elsewhere as the development of Neom progresses throughout other parts of the region. We are very proud to once again have been awarded a contract of this magnitude and to have received all orders of high-quality apartments of permanent standard that Neom has awarded so far. We have already initiated the production of over 2,000 apartments in Neom, and this new contract demonstrates our capacity to handle extensive and complex deliveries. Its clear that our offering is appreciated in the market, and this is another confirmation that we possess the competence and delivery strengths that few others can match. We look forward to our continued delivery of high-quality houses to Neom, a revolutionary urban development we truly believe in, says Erik Thomaeus, CEO of SIBS. - TradeArabia News Service An air-raid warning was issued in three oblasts of Ukraine because of the threat of ballistic missile attacks. Source: An air-raid warning map; Ukrainian Air Force Details: At 06:19, an air-raid warning was issued in Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk oblasts. The Air Force reported a threat of ballistic missile use. Update: At 06:36, the Air Force gave the all-clear. 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! DALE COUNTY, Ala (WDHN) An Alabama couple is behind bars after deputies say they burned and abused three young children. According to the Dale County Sheriffs Office, investigators and the Department of Human Resources recently received reports of an abuse case involving three children under 12 in Ariton. Lt. Caroline Jackson says during an investigation, they discovered that 27-year-old Ashleigh Ableman and her boyfriend, 53-year-old Howard Anderson, had burned Ablemans three children with a blowtorch several times. Lt. Jackson tells WDHN the burns were severe, and the children had signs of other kinds of abuse. On Oct. 5, DCSO deputies executed a search warrant at a home in Ariton and arrested Ableman and Anderson. They are both charged with one count of torture/wilful abuse of a child. Anderson and Ableman are currently held in the Dale County Jail without bond pending a first appearance. The investigation is still ongoing. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. COFFEE COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) Tennessee may be known for the Bell Witch in Adams, but she isnt the only spirit said to haunt the Volunteer State. Just off Highway 55 in Coffee County lies the grave of an alleged witch, according to local legend. Inside Concord Cemetery, one headstone is the site of reported hauntings and ghostly apparitions. It bears only a nameSadie Baker. According to local historian and podcaster Lyle Russell, the legend of Sadie Baker is one of witchcraft and envy. Haunted Tennessee: Explore more unnatural, unexplained, and downright unsettling legends in Tennessee As legend tells, the Shelton family had the most beautiful and eligible young ladies in Coffee County. The youngest Shelton girl, Olivia, was said to be the most beautiful and kind-hearted of them all. The story says Olivia encountered a mysterious beggar girl about her age one day. She had ragged, dirty clothes and tangled dark hair. The girl did not speak only held out her hand as if asking for money or food. Being the kind soul she was, Olivia took the girl in, cleaning her and giving her clothes to wear. Upon receiving a proper bath, the mystery girl was revealed to be another beautiful girl even more beautiful than the Shelton daughters, legend says. Upon discovery of the girls beauty, all the men in town became infatuated with her even Olivias young sweetheart which angered Olivias mother. The anger only grew when the mystery girls beauty began to affect her other daughters marriage prospects. It also led Olivias mother to take matters into her own hands. Shes a witch, Olivias mother said. It was the only way the girl could have possibly enraptured every man in town. She and the townsfolk conspired to rid themselves of the evil enchantress by burying her alive with stones. LIST: Haunted houses in Middle Tennessee But just before she was to be thrown into the pit and covered, the girl spoke: I am Sadie Baker! It was the only thing she ever said before meeting her untimely end, the story goes. Life returned to normal for the Sheltons and the rest of the town. Olivia and her sweetheart married and had children of their own. But after several years, Olivia is said to have gone mad possibly out of guilt for what happened to Sadie or something inexplicable. She accused her husband of wanting to be with Sadie instead of her, cut off all her hair, and tried to become Sadie. The spot where Sadie is said to be buried was marked by a single headstone engraved with her name. Reports started emerging of ghostly girl sightings by the grave. Some believed it to be Sadie herself, while others said it was Olivia, keeping watch over the grave. Theres some people who believe that Sadies ghost still haunts the ground around her grave, Russell told News 2. Some people think its Olivias ghost that haunts the grave for the guilt that she feels for what happened to Sadie. Its really kind of a strange story. Now, the headstone can routinely be seen with various coins, horseshoes, flowers and other trinkets left for Sadie as gifts. Through the years, people started leaving tributes to the ghost in order to keep her from haunting their homes. But the grave does not actually belong to the alleged witch of Coffee County. Russell said some investigative work into Coffee County property records links the dateless headstone to a woman named Sarah Baker. For some reason, Sarah Baker, who went by Sadie, her grave was chosen for this legend, he said. Its a neat legend, but its not too hard to disprove. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Likely, he said, there were some people who may have disliked Sarah Baker who crafted a tale about her grave as a way of mythologizing their feud with her. Regardless, Russell said the story is really a cautionary tale. This is the kind of thing that can happen when you fall prey to one of the seven deadly sins, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Americans have been captured and are being held hostage by Hamas amid the militant groups attack on Israel that began Saturday, two Israeli ambassadors said, although the number of American hostages remains unconfirmed. Israels U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan said that dozens of Americans are being held in Gaza amid a Hamas attack. I know that there are dozens dozens, OK? of Israelis holding American citizenship who are being held hostage in Gaza, Erdan told Fox News, according to Haaretz. There are many Israelis who have American citizenship, we dont have all the names yet. Were still working to get the names of all the missing people. But dozens are Americans. Israels Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog said on CBSs Face the Nation that Americans are among the hostages but declined to give a number. I understand there are [Americans being held hostage], but I dont have details, he told host Margaret Brennan. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. @AmbHerzog confirms there are Americans among the hostages taken by Hamas, but adds, "I don't have the details," when asked how many Americans are being held hostage. pic.twitter.com/S4Q54qn1hl Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) October 8, 2023 U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday morning that the U.S. is working to verify reports that several Americans have been killed and others have been taken hostage by Hamas. We have reports that several Americans were killed. Were working overtime to verify that. At the same time, there are reports of missing Americans and there again, were working to verify those reports, Blinken said on CNN. Hamas militants entered Israeli homes to capture hostages and attacked an outdoor music festival, leaving dozens dead and taking others to Gaza. Many families of Israeli citizens who attended the festival have reported their loved ones missing and are desperately asking for help from the Israeli government. The death toll in Israel has reached at least 600 people as of Sunday morning, while another 1,800 are reported wounded in the attacks. Gazas Ministry of Health said Sunday that 300 people in Palestine are dead, and 2,200 have been wounded as a result of retaliatory missile attacks launched by Israel, which has declared a state of war. President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a Sunday call that more military aid is now on its way to Israel with more to follow over the coming days, the White House said. The assistance will include expedited delivery of munitions and other weapons Israel has purchased or weapons from the U.S. military purchased using funds Congress has already allocated, an American official said, according to Axios. Congress will definitely have a role (in approving aid to Israel), and without a speaker, this could be a problem, a U.S. official told Axios. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. The American Red Cross of Georgia is urging the importance of fire safety. This fall, volunteers, staff and community partners are working to help teach people how to stay safe from fires and install 1,300 free smoke alarms across the state. Since the beginning of the campaign in 2014, the Red Cross has installed more than 2.5 million free smoke alarms nationwide and made one million households safer across the country. The goal of the campaign is to educate residents on what to do if there is a fire, install smoke alarms as needed, ensure all warning systems are working, and help residents develop an effective plan in case of an emergency. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Red Cross is hosting fire alarm installation and fire safety education opportunities across the state from Oct. 14 Nov. 11. The first event will be held on Oct. 14 in Augusta. The Red Cross said this work is possible thanks to donations from Georgia hospitals. The Red Cross said it responds to more than 60,000 disasters annually. TRENDING STORIES: Last year, the American Red Cross of Georgia responded to at least 2,800 single and multi-family home fires across the state. Additionally, more than 5,300 families were assisted because of those disasters. Every day, seven people die as a result of home fires and often these tragedies occur in homes without working smoke alarms. The Red Cross is encouraging the proper use of smoke alarms to prevent future tragedies like this. Since launching in October 2014, the Home Fire Campaign has saved at least 1,928 lives, including 240 in Georgia, according to a news release. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Americans are among the hostages taken into Gaza by Hamas, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog confirmed Sunday. I understand there, but I dont have details, Herzog said during an interview on CBS Face the Nation. Hamas, the Islamist militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, launched an unprecedented attack on Israel early Saturday morning, killing hundreds and kidnapping others. The massive incursion came a day after Israel marked the 50th anniversary of the surprise invasion on Yom Kippur, up until now the worst surprise attacks Israel has been subject to. The Saturday morning incursion caught Israel and its allies completely by surprise, as Hamas fired a barrage of rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel and dozens of heavily armed gunmen mowed down a barrier along Israels southern border; some also entered by air and sea. Israel began tracking down the invaders and then launching retaliatory air strikes on targets in Gaza shortly after. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday morning that it was likely that Americans were among those killed and kidnapped. We have reports that several Americans were killed; were working overtime to verify that. At the same time, there are reports of missing Americans and, there again, were working to verify those reports, Blinken said during an interview on CNNs State of the Union. The air pollution generated by gas-powered lawn maintenance equipment is truly astonishing. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans burn 800 million gallons of gas every year cutting their lawns, and gas mowers account for up to 5% of the total air pollution in the United States. To put it in more basic terms, one hour of mowing your lawn with a gas-powered mower produces the same amount of air pollution as driving a Toyota Camry 1,100 miles from Los Angeles to Denver, according to CleanTechnica. High levels of carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and nitrogen oxides enter the atmosphere with the use of gas mowers. The EPA also says that Americans spill 17 million gallons of gas every year while refueling their equipment more than was famously spilled by the Exxon Valdez in the Gulf of Alaska. Fortunately, gas mowers are on the way out, and electricity-powered lawn care equipment is on the way in. John Deere recently started working with a battery-powered lawn equipment supplier, and Home Depot recently announced that 85% of the outdoor lawn equipment it sells will be electric by 2028. While some skeptics have raised concerns that electric mowers are less powerful than gas ones, that has not proved to be the case. One longtime public works employee, who was initially doubtful, told the Washington Post that he has since switched to all-electric mowers, blowers, weed whips, and chain saws. It proved me wrong, he said. You aint got to wear ear protection [and] you dont have to worry about coming home smelling like gas. And, of course, there is always the more environmentally friendly option of not keeping a closely trimmed grass lawn in the first place. In response to the statistic about Americans using 800 million gallons of gas on mowing per year, the Redditors of the r/todayilearned subreddit had plenty to say on the topic. There is a revolution going on in my neighborhood. Electric mowers are becoming the norm, wrote one commenter. I dont understand what it is with boomers and their lawns. I hate cutting grass. My parents are just so [nitpicky] about it. It has to be perfect, wrote another. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more, waste less, and help yourself while helping the planet. A screengrab from a social media video published on October 7, 2023 shows Noa Argamani as she is taken hostage by Palestinian militants By Maayan Lubell and Michael Georgy JERUSALEM/DUBAI (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's options for hitting Hamas over its deadly incursion into Israel could be reined in by concern for the many Israelis seized in the raid, as a nation scarred by past hostage crises faces perhaps its worst one yet. In a dramatic assault launched from Gaza on Saturday, the Palestinian group Hamas stormed into Israeli towns, killing more than 600 Israelis and escaping with dozens of hostages, in the deadliest day for Israel since the 1973 war. Netanyahu has vowed "mighty vengeance" but the fate of the Israeli soldiers, elderly people, women and children taken into Gaza - the numbers are still unclear - complicates how Israel delivers on its promise to hit back hard and fast, while sticking to a longstanding principle of leaving no one behind. Israelis are reeling from the assault and from images of fellow citizens being bundled off to Gaza. "There is no chance she will come back," sobbed a young Israeli girl, talking about her sister who was killed in the attack, while she and her parents were held hostage. She was shown in a video posted on the social media platform X by senior Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs official, Ambassador David Saranga. In 2011, Israel swapped hundreds of Palestinian prisoners to win the release of one Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, who was held for five years. That kind of exchange - which even at the time was criticised by some Israelis as too lopsided - looks an impossible bargain when dozens of people may be held this time. More than 300 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's response, as warplanes hit sites across Gaza. It was typical of Israel's immediate retaliation when faced with an escalation. In addition, thousands of troops have been deployed in southern Israel next to Gaza, which Israeli forces withdrew from in 2005. But what happens next is more difficult to determine. HOSTAGE 'INSURANCE POLICY' "The cruel reality is Hamas took hostages as an insurance policy against Israeli retaliatory action, particularly a massive ground attack and to trade for Palestinian prisoners," said Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "Will it constrain how Israel responds? If the numbers are great, how could it not?" he said. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said Israel would act to free the hostages, seriously damage Hamas's "terrorist infrastructure" and ensure no terrorist group in Gaza could harm Israeli citizens again. But there are no easy choices. Trying to rescue all those Hamas said were now held in different locations could jeopardise their lives. Yet, protracted negotiations with Hamas over a prisoner swap would be a huge win for an arch foe of Israel. Netanyahu, who heads one of the most right-wing governments in Israeli history, has invited opposition leaders to join a unity government, seeking to broaden support for any response. For Netanyahu, securing the freedom of hostages comes with painful personal memories. In 1976, his older brother was killed rescuing hostages at Entebbe airport in Uganda, an action the younger Netanyahu said shaped his future life. Lt Col Yonatan "Yoni" Netanyahu led an assault team of 29 commandos who stormed the airport terminal to rescue Israelis and others from an Air France flight that had been diverted to Uganda by Palestinian and German hijackers. In an earlier incident in 1972, Israeli Olympic team members were taken hostage at the athletes' village in Munich by Palestinian gunmen from the Black September group. Within 24 hours, 11 Israelis, five Palestinians and a German policeman were dead after a rescue effort erupted into gunfire. Israel responded by sending agents to kill the men it considered masterminded the attack, in an alleged covert operation that lasted years. Several Palestinians were assassinated in various locations in Europe and the Middle East. NEW SCALE OF CHALLENGE Gaza presents a different scale of challenge. In a long career, Netanyahu has shown little appetite for ground campaigns and Gaza would be a messy place to wage war, with more than 2 million people crammed into a tiny strip of land run by Hamas, which has been in control since a brief war with security forces loyal to West Bank-based Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in 2007. Ariel Sharon, a veteran of the 1973 war and prime minister when Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, called the Israeli withdrawal painful but said keeping hold of such a densely populated area was too difficult. Netanyahu could follow a more familiar strategy of assassinating Hamas leaders with air strikes and bombs. One of the most high-profile operations was the assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, spiritual leader of Hamas, in a helicopter missile strike in 2004. But such strikes have not dislodged Hamas. Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri told Al Jazeera the group now had a large number of Israeli captives - Hamas has not given any numbers so far - saying there were enough to secure the release of all Palestinians prisoners. The Palestinian Prisoners Association puts the number held in Israeli jails at about 5,250. If Israel agreed to releasing all of them, it would be a huge win for Hamas and other militant groups - and for that reason be a politically difficult bargain to make for Netanyahu or any Israeli leader. Yet, Mohanad Hage Ali of the Carnegie Middle East Center said negotiations appeared the only clear way forward. "No matter what kind of pain he inflicts on the Palestinians - in terms of bombing buildings or assassinating its leaders in Gaza - this will not diminish from what Hamas has inflicted on Israel," he said. (Reporting by Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza, Michael Georgy in Dubai; Writing by Michael Georgy and Tom Perry; Editing by Edmund Blair) A view of a junction shows the aftermath of a mass-infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in the Sderot area, southern Israel By Samia Nakhoul, Nidal al-Mughrabi, Matt Spetalnick and Laila Bassam DUBAI/GAZA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When Islamist group Hamas launched a spectacular attack against Israel, it also took aim at efforts to forge new regional security alignments that could threaten Palestinian aspirations for statehood and the ambitions of the group's main backer Iran. Saturday's assault, the biggest incursion into Israel in decades, coincides with U.S.-backed moves to push Saudi Arabia towards normalising ties with Israel in return for a defence deal between Washington and Riyadh, a move that would slam the brakes on the kingdom's recent rapprochement with Tehran. Palestinian officials and a regional source said the gunmen who stormed Israeli towns, killing 250 Israelis and taking hostages, were also delivering a message that the Palestinians could not be ignored if Israel wanted security and that any Saudi deal would scupper the detente with Iran. More than 250 Gazans have been killed in Israel's response. "All the agreements of normalisation that you (Arab states) signed with (Israel) will not end this conflict," Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas which runs Gaza, said on Al Jazeera television. A regional source familiar with the thinking of Iran and that of the Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah added: "This is a message to Saudi Arabia, which is crawling towards Israel, and to the Americans who are supporting normalisation and supporting Israel. There is no security in the whole region as long as Palestinians are left outside of the equation." "What happened is beyond any expectation," the source said. "Today is a turning point in the conflict." The Hamas attack launched from Gaza follows months of rising violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, with stepped-up Israeli raids, Palestinian street attacks and assaults by Jewish settlers on Palestinian villages. Conditions for Palestinians have worsened under the hard-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu . Peacemaking has been stalled for years. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Israel have both indicated they are moving closer to a normalisation deal. But sources previously told Reuters the kingdom's determination to secure a U.S. defence pact meant it would not hold up a normalisation agreement to win substantive concessions for the Palestinians. Laura Blumenfeld, a Middle East analyst at the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies in Washington, said Hamas may have lashed out due to a sense that it was facing irrelevance as efforts advanced toward broader Israeli-Arab relations. "As Hamas watched the Israelis and Saudis move close to an agreement, they decided: no seat at the table? Poison the meal, she said. TIMING THE ASSAULT Osama Hamdan, the leader of Hamas in Lebanon, told Reuters that Saturday's operation should make Arab states realise that accepting Israeli security demands would not bring peace. "For those who want stability and peace in the region, the starting point must be to end the Israeli occupation," he said. "Some (Arab states) unfortunately started imagining that Israel could be the gateway for America to defend their security." Netanyahu promised "mighty vengeance for this black day" after the launch of Saturday's attack, which came almost exactly 50 years since the start of the Yom Kippur War in 1973 when Israel was attacked by Egyptian and Syrian forces and fought for its survival. Mirroring the timing of the 1973 war, Hamas official Ali Baraka said of Saturday's assault: "It was necessary that the leadership of the resistance take a decision at the appropriate time, when the enemy is distracted with its feasts." He said the assault by air, land and sea was "a shock to the enemy and proved the Israeli military intelligence failed to find out about this operation," after Israel, which prides itself on its infiltration and monitoring of militants, was taken by surprise. In the years since 1973, Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel and several other Arab states have also since normalised ties, including some Gulf Arab states next to Saudi Arabia. But the Palestinians have moved no closer to their aspiration of securing a state, which looks as distant a prospect as ever. "While not likely the main driver of the attacks, Hamass actions send a clear reminder to the Saudis that the Palestinian issue should not be treated as just another subtopic in normalisation negotiations," Richard LeBaron, a former U.S. Middle East diplomat now at the Atlantic Council thinktank, wrote. IRAN'S REACH A senior official in U.S. President Joe Biden's administration told reporters it was "really premature to speculate" about the effect the Israeli-Hamas conflict could have on efforts towards Saudi-Israeli normalisation. "I would say for certain Hamas, terrorist groups like Hamas, will not derail any such outcome. But that process has a ways to go," added the official, speaking on conditional of anonymity. Netanyahu has previously said the Palestinians should not be allowed to veto any new Israeli peace deals with Arab states. A regional source familiar with the Saudi-Israeli-U.S. negotiations over normalisation and a defence pact for the kingdom said Israel was committing a mistake by refusing to make concessions to the Palestinians. In its response to Saturday's attacks, Saudi Arabia called for an "immediate cessation of violence" between both sides. Iran, meanwhile, has made no secret of its backing for Hamas, funding and arming the group and another Palestinian militant organisation Islamic Jihad. Tehran called Saturday's attack an act of self-defence by Palestinians. Yahya Rahim Safavi, adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Tehran would stand by the Palestinian fighters "until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem." A Palestinian official, close to Islamist militant groups, said after the Hamas attack began with a huge barrage of rockets fired from Gaza: "Iran has hands, not one hand, in every rocket that is fired into Israel." "It doesn't mean that they ordered (Saturday's) attack but it is not a secret that it is thanks to Iran, (that) Hamas and the Islamic Jihad have been able to upgrade their arsenal," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Iran's backing for Palestinian groups is part of a broader network of militias and armed groups it supports across the Middle East, giving Tehran a powerful presence in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, as well as Gaza. Analysts said Iran already appeared to have sent a signal last week that a Saudi deal would hit Riyadh's detente with Tehran, when Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi group killed four Bahraini soldiers in a cross-border strike near the Saudi-Yemeni border. That attack jeopardised peace talks to end Yemen's eight-year conflict. Dennis Ross, a former Middle East negotiator who is now at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy in Washington, added: "This is all about preventing the U.S.-Saudi-Israel breakthrough." (Reporting by Samia Nakhoul and Parisa Hafezi in Dubai, Nidal El Mughrabi in Gaza, Laila Bassam in Beirut, Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Writing by Samia Nakhoul; Editing by Edmund Blair) Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that the U.S. is "actively working" to verify reports that several Americans may be among the dead in the Israel-Hamas conflict, as well as reports that there could be some U.S. hostages. Hamas fighters on Saturday launched an attack on Israel through the countrys south. The ongoing attack has killed hundreds, and Hamas fighters have taken a number of civilians and soldiers hostage. Does the administration know at this point if U.S. citizens were among the dead or those taken hostage? NBC News' Kristen Welker asked Blinken. Blinken said: So we have reports that several Americans may be among the dead. We are very actively working to verify those reports. Similarly, weve seen reports about hostages, and there, again, were very actively trying to verify them and nail that down. Pressed again about whether some U.S. citizens could have been taken hostage, as well, Blinken replied: Thats correct. Meanwhile, in an interview on CBS' "Face the Nation," the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Michael Herzog, indicated that Americans are among Hamas hostages. I understand there are, but I dont have details, he said, adding, however, that he couldnt provide numbers. Israeli soldiers take position in the southern Israeli town of Ofakim on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. Hamas militants stormed over the border fence Saturday, killing hundreds of Israelis in surrounding communities. The burning car was used by the gunmen and set on fire by the residents. (Ilan Assayag / AP) Asked whether Iran played a role in the attack, Blinken noted its long relationship with Hamas but said the Biden administration doesnt have any evidence it is involved. We dont have anything that shows us that Iran was directly involved in this attack, in planning it or carrying out, but thats something were looking at very carefully, he said. And weve got to see where the facts lead. Welker noted that Hamas attacked amid talks among the U.S., Saudi Arabia and Israel about a potential deal to normalize relations a move Washington may see as a way to counter Iranian aggression in the region. What, if any, role do you think those talks may have played in these attacks, and does this is effectively mean that those talks are now dead? she asked. Blinken didnt rule out the possibility: Its no surprise that those who are opposed to the talks, those who are opposed to Israel normalizing its relations with its neighbors and with countries beyond the region are: Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. And so its entirely possible that one of the motivations for this attack was to try to derail these efforts to advance normalization, something that is very hard, he said. There are a lot of really challenging issues to work through. Were in the process of trying to do that. Republican presidential candidates have blamed the Biden administration for the attacks, with several arguing, without evidence, that the U.S. funded them as a result of a prisoner exchange with Iran, which has a history of funding Hamas. The deal resulted in a waiver that gave Tehran access to $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue that had been blocked by U.S. sanctions, according to a State Department document sent to Congress and obtained by NBC News. Asked to respond to GOP critics who say the deal the Biden administration recently made with Iran funded the attacks, Blinken said he found it very unfortunate that some are playing politics at a time when so many lives have been lost and Israel remains under attack. The facts are that these were these were not U.S. taxpayer dollars; these were Iranian resources that it had accumulated from the sale of its oil that were stuck in a bank in South Korea from day one, he said. Under our law, under our sanctions going back many years, its always had the right to use those funds for humanitarian purposes, for food, for medicine, for medical equipment. Funds were moved from one bank to another where it could more easily do that. Not a single cent has been spent from that account," he added. "When any money is spent from that account, it can only be used for medical supplies, for food, for medicine, and those who are saying otherwise are either misinformed or misinforming, and its wrong either way. Welker asked: What do you say about the argument that money is fungible so Iran may have known this money is coming and use other funds to help fund this attack? Blinken said: Iran has unfortunately always used and focused its funds on supporting terrorism, on supporting groups like Hamas. And its done that when there have been sanctions, its done that when there havent been sanctions, and its always prioritized that. Blinken reiterated that the money the administration released was made available to Iran for humanitarian purposes: The Trump administration set up a very similar mechanism to enable Iran to use these kinds of assets for humanitarian purposes. Weve done the same thing. He also called on both chambers of Congress to clearly show and express their support for Israel on a bipartisan basis in the conflict. And so thats something we want to see, and we hope that that happens quickly, he said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Passenger trips surge during China's "golden week" holiday period Xinhua) 08:30, October 08, 2023 Travelers walk out an exit at Jiaxing Railway Station in Jiaxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 6, 2023. (Photo by Jin Peng/Xinhua) BEIJING, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- A daily average of 57.28 million passenger trips were made during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday that ended on Friday, surging 57.1 percent from the National Day holiday last year. From Sept. 29 to Oct. 6, the number of passenger trips came in at 458 million, the Ministry of Transport said Saturday. Of the total, 141 million trips were made by rail, with the number of daily average trips soaring 158 percent year on year to top 17.64 million. Air trips averaged 2.14 million during the holiday period, skyrocketing 195 percent from a year earlier. Road trips made during the period hit 290 million, while the number of waterway trips amounted to 10.18 million, according to the ministry. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Dubai Municipality (DM) has launched the world's first system for certification and conformity marks in the field of 3D printing in the construction industry. This will serve as a proactive measure to streamline procedures and improve the quality of concrete mixes used in factories licensed and operating in Dubai. The step plays a pivotal role in advancing Dubais leading position as the worlds first city to adopt a conformity marking strategy for 3D printers used for construction and regulate this cutting-edge and sustainable construction technology. Dawoud Al Hajri, Director General of DM, said: The certification and conformity mark system for factories and entities operating in the field of 3D printing for construction has been comprehensively established in alignment with Dubai Municipalitys proactive vision. This system embraces international best practices to provide exceptional services to both individuals and the community, thereby enhancing Dubai's global reputation and aligning with Dubai Municipalitys strategic objectives outlined in Dubai's 2030 Plan. Significant strides Additionally, the system supports Dubais 3D printing strategy, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The strategy aims to utilise technology for the advancement of humanity and position the UAE and Dubai as prominent regional and global hubs for 3D printing technology. The new system is anticipated to make significant strides in the efforts to streamline practices and procedures for 3D printing and enhance the quality of concrete mixes used in licensed factories, Al Hajri added. Engineer Alia Al Harmoodi, CEO of the Environment, Health, and Safety Agency at Dubai Municipality, highlighted that the main focus of the new system includes assessing product and raw material quality, ensuring the efficiency of manufacturing equipment and machinery, defining technical standards of manufacturing operations at every stage of production, and ensuring efficiency of management systems within factories. Integrated guide In line with its efforts, DM included an integrated guide on its website featuring four chapters that cover the key requirements to be met by factories and entities engaged in 3D printing for the construction sector. The guide, which has a flexible and relevant design, sheds light on various methods and technologies of manufacturing concrete used in 3D printers, while also considering different components and specifications of materials used by companies, Al Harmoodi added. Dubai Central Laboratory, with its team of experts, specialists, engineers, and technicians, will supervise the management of the new system in terms of product evaluation, auditing, and lab testing and issuing conformity certificates in accordance with approved technical principles and controls. In recent years, the Laboratory has developed various certification and quality marking systems that have been instrumental in elevating product quality and ensuring consumer protection across Dubai. This includes conformity certification programs for ready-mix concrete factories, precast concrete factories as well as cement and chemical additive factories.-- TradeArabia News Service For those desiring to sell their home quickly, whether due to downsizing, a job transfer, death of a loved one, illness, facing foreclosure, or they just dont want to go through a traditional selling process, there is a very easy way with Archway Homes. This hometown real estate company, owned by husband and wife team Jon and Stacy Bichelmeyer, has more than 20 years of experience buying homes in all conditions and does it quickly without the often painful and stressful selling process. They buy houses as is in any condition: houses needing little to no repair, houses needing everything repaired from leaking roofs to bad foundations, cluttered houses, or those simply in need of cosmetic updating. Archway provides a no-obligation offer within 24 hours, can pay cash and close within three days or on a future date of the sellers choice, and there are no fees or commissions to pay. One of the advantages of working with us is selling as is, said Jon. That means you dont have to do any extensive and expensive renovations to make your home appeal to todays buyers or have it ready to show at a moments notice, wait for the right buyer, wait for it to close, and then pay a real estate agents commission or sellers closing costs. A third-generation real estate investor with roots in the Kansas City community for over 40 years, Jons extensive experience really makes a difference. The ability to sell a house quickly, in lieu of the traditional, lengthy home selling method, to an established and reputable company has been the perfect solution for numerous homeowners all over the Kansas City area, including Kenneth and Johnetta H., who recently sold their home in Edwardsville, Kansas to Archway. Our home needed some work done in order to sell, and we didnt have the time to do it, so we decided to sell as-is. We met with a couple of other companies, but they kept changing the price they would offer us. We had received a flier in the mail from Archway and contacted them. Jon came out, reviewed the house, and came up with an offer. Price never came up again, Kenneth said. He kept in contact with us, the title company was good to work with, and it was a smooth process. It only took about three weeks from start to finish. Jon did exactly what he said he would do. It really was a very pleasant experience and I have nothing but good things to say. Archway has purchased homes in all sorts of situations. Sometimes the properties need extensive repairs. Archway Homes will buy the home and make the needed repairs, relieving the sellers of the hassle and expense. Sellers can even leave the unwanted contents, saving time and expense. We are committed to working with sellers, even in difficult situations, to find a solution for all, Stacy said. They strive to make the difficult process of selling a home as stress-free as possible, especially in these challenging times. We even wrote the book on it. Literally! Home to Home Local Edition Kansas City Metro outlines the steps homeowners can take to sell their home and our experiences helping people do just that, Jon said. Weve seen some great times; we lived through the real estate crash in 2008-2010 and have come through the other side. We plan to keep working with sellers no matter what the market is doing, said Jon. I know people are being cautious and careful, so we are using smart technology and every health precaution to make sure our sellers feel comfortable. Archway Homes features a no-obligation offer process. The first step is to call the office at 913-599-5000 to schedule an appointment. Jon will then walk through the home and can provide an offer price within 24 hours. Archway Homes can pay cash and close in as fast as three days. However, some sellers need the opposite approach, needing a delayed closing several months away. They may need time to find their next home, or they are building a home and need time for it to be completed. Coordinating closing schedules in a traditional sale can be challenging. Archway Homes sets a closing date that will meet the sellers needs. Anyone who wants to sell a home quickly for cash should call Jon Bichelmeyer at 913-599-5000 or email him at jon@archwayhomesinc.com. Or they can visit Archway Homes website at archwaypropertieskc.com to fill out an online form or to get a free copy of our book Home to Home Local Edition Kansas City Metro, Kansas and Missouri, call our office. Archway Homes Location: 15301 W. 87th St. Parkway, Suite B35 in the UMB Bank building Contact: Jon Bichelmeyer at 913-599-5000 or jon@archwayhomes.com Website: archwaypropertieskc.com Border wall gap-filling along the Arizona-Mexico border has continued under President Joe Biden as his administration on Wednesday waived 26 federal laws in South Texas for new border wall construction. The construction in Starr County, Texas, represents a reversal for Biden who earlier promised not to add another foot to former President Donald Trumps controversial border wall. The circumvention of federal laws and environmental restrictions in Texas comes as the administration attempts to manage increased numbers of migrants arriving along the southern border. The wall expansion will be funded by money approved by Congress in 2019. On his first day in office in January 2021, Biden paused construction on the border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and rescinded Trumps 2-year-old national declaration of emergency. FILE - In this Thursday, June 10, 2021, file photo, a pair of migrant families from Brazil pass through a gap in the border wall to reach the United States after crossing from Mexico to Yuma, Ariz., to seek asylum. Border officials got the go-ahead Thursday, July 28, 2022, to fill four remaining gaps in the U.S.-Mexico wall near the southern Arizona community of Yuma for safety reasons. (AP Photo/Eugene Garcia, File) As of January 2021, about 458 miles of barrier have been completed with sites in various stages of construction along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to CBP. In June 2021, the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security canceled all unfinished border barrier projects funded by the Defense Department's 284 counter-narcotics funding, as ordered by Bidens proclamation, and announced that DHS would not undertake any new border barrier construction on the former 284 projects. In December 2021, DHS authorized U.S. Customs and Border Protection to move forward with activities necessary to address life, safety, environmental and remediation requirements related to the Defense Department's 284 border barrier projects. Biden border wall reversal: Biden administration to extend border wall touted by Donald Trump Construction supplies for the border wall sit stacked at Guadalupe Canyon, Arizona, after the Biden administration halted work on the barriers. In September 2022, CBP announced plans to close small gaps along the U.S.-Mexico border wall, completing construction on unfinished gates, drainage areas and associated foundation work as part of the agencys border barrier remediation projects. Gap closure and gate installations in the Border Patrol's Tucson Sector were announced alongside the repair and completion of automated vehicle gates in the Yuma Sector. In Arizona, border wall fencing stretches nearly the length of the Arizona-Mexico border with about 226 miles of bollard fencing erected on federal lands in the state from 2017 to 2021. In southeast Arizona, construction crews blasted through the rugged landscape to make way for the border wall. The Arizona border, which shares over 370 miles with Mexico, has various gaps in the border wall. Large swaths of the border are only separated by vehicle barriers on the Cocopah Indian Tribe and Tohono Oodham Nation lands. Construction plans to close small gaps, install gates and address operational concerns have been underway since December 2021. Border wall gaps to close: Feds OK work to close border wall 'gaps' in Arizona as environmentalists raise concerns Tucson Samaritans check the border wall, including a small gap in the new construction, near Sasabe, Ariz., on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. Opponents that seek to control immigration, such as the Washington-based think tank Center for Immigration Studies, contend the border wall and other barriers are a better way to keep deaths down by keeping migrants out. The permanent closure of gaps in the Arizona-Mexico border wall has raised environmental and humanitarian concerns in the past. Advocates have said the closure of the gaps will hurt their ability to reach people who are in need of essential supplies, including water and heat relief. Three gaps near Sasabe recently have begun to be closed with construction underway, according to Dora Rodriguez, director of the Tucson-based Salvavision, which provides aid to migrants in Sasabe, Sonora. The construction has led to large groups of migrants arriving at Casa de la Esperanza resource center near the Sasabe Port of Entry, Rodriguez said. Dora Rodriguez, center, who was among 13 Salvadorans who survived in 1980 when another 13 people in the group died in the broiling sun near Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, talks with Vicente Lopez, 19, who grew up in Guatemala's Ixil triangle, where government troops in the early 1980s wiped out entire communities suspected of harboring rebels, on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, in Sasabe, Mexico. At the age of 19, she remained in Tucson and eventually became a U.S. citizen. In Yuma, The Biden administration resumed border wall construction on four gaps near the Morelos Dam in January. The gaps were previously the site of former Arizona Gov. Doug Duceys shipping container border barrier. The gaps are now closed with temporary mesh fencing and mechanized bollard vehicle gates, which allow farmers and Border Patrol agents to access the area. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas authorized CBP to close the four gaps in July 2022. The closure was meant to address operational impacts as well as immediate life and safety risks, per DHS. A gap in the border wall at the Morelos Dam on Aug. 10, 2022, in Yuma. Construction to fill border wall gaps near Nogales began in May ahead of the expiration of the Title 42 health restriction. The unfinished portion of the border wall west of Nogales, known as the Mariposa Slab, was a frequent crossing point for migrants to surrender to Border Patrol agents. It is unclear if construction in the area has been completed. CBP and DHS did not respond to requests for comment Friday. Have a news tip or story idea about the border and its communities? Contact the reporter at josecastaneda@arizonarepublic.com or connect with him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @joseicastaneda. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona border wall: What's happening with construction, filling gaps? In a recent development, the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office (JSO) has announced an arrest in a shooting case of 19-year-old Aniyah Womack. The incident occurred in late May and has left a Jacksonville family in mourning. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< The person facing charges in this case is 20-year-old Mariah Clayton, who has been accused of manslaughter. According to detectives, Clayton allegedly shot and killed a young woman on Kendall Town Blvd. The victim has been identified by family members as Womack. Womacks family had been searching for answers for months, with no leads in the case. However, their pursuit of justice took a significant step forward with Claytons arrest. Autumn Redding, a cousin of Womack, expressed relief, saying, We were able to obtain justice for Aniyah Womack. The five months since the tragic incident have been a rollercoaster of emotions for the family, with Autumn Redding describing it as extremely crazy and marked by moments of hope and despair. READ: She was my everything: Family members heartbroken, seeking answers in death of 19-year-old Womacks mother, Andrea Brown, fondly remembered her daughter as a funny and lively young lady who enjoyed creating TikTok videos. Andrea Brown shared moments of nostalgia, saying, I miss her laughs, her smiles, her goofiness. She was like my twin. The breakthrough in the case came after the Mad Dads chapter of Jacksonville received a tip from a community member just a day after the shooting took place. They promptly reported the information to JSO, leading to the arrest of Clayton. A.J. Jordan, representing Mad Dads, expressed satisfaction that the family now has the prospect of justice, stating, Now, we have somebody that is held accountable. Somebody they can look in the face and give impact statements to. While a trial date has yet to be set, the family of Womack has affirmed their commitment to attending the proceedings, seeking closure and justice for their beloved family member. A GoFundMe set up by the family can be located HERE. [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 crime scene investigator survives after being gunned down in broad daylight. The harrowing scene is captured on surveillance video. Who pulled the trigger? See how investigators followed a digital evidence trail to solve the case. The shooting A surveillance image shows Nicky Lenway walking towards the FamilyWise parenting center. Behind her is a person dressed in black, who would shoot her two times. / Credit: Hennepin County District Court On April 20, 2022, Nicole "Nicki" Lenway was shot twice in the arm and neck and left for dead in the parking lot of FamilyWise, a parenting center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Lenway had been on her way to pick up her then 5-year-old son from a supervised visit with his father, Tim Amacher. An armed assailant dressed in all black can be seen running up behind Lenway, just moments before pulling the trigger, shooting her at point-blank range and fleeing from the scene. The shooter escaped in a black Dodge Ram truck. The 911 call An injured Nicki Lenway calls 911. / Credit: Hennepin County District Court Lenway, 33, was no stranger to violence. She worked the night shift as a forensic scientist for the Minneapolis Police Department. She often found herself at crime scenes, but never the victim of one. Right after being shot in the neck, Lenway called 911, but operators couldn't understand her gurgled cries for help. Security footage from FamilyWise shows Lenway moments after the shooting. A Good Samaritan's help Emilie Clancy couldn't believe what she saw and heard from the intersection across the street. Clancy was driving by when she saw a mysterious figure in black run up behind a woman (Lenway) and shoot her at point-blank range. As soon as the light turned green, Clancy sped through the intersection and sped up next to Lenway. Clancy ushered Lenway into the car and took over the 911 call. Clancy applied pressure to Lenway's neck and comforted her as she fought for her life. The race to save one of their own Nicki Lenway had been shot twice. / Credit: Hennepin County District Court Within minutes, first responders arrived. The dramatic scene was captured on police body cameras. Lenway was loaded into the ambulance and soon lost consciousness. She had a perforated lung, severe damage to her vocal cords and a bullet lodged between two of her ribs. Lenway was in critical condition. Investigators at the scene On the ground outside the FamilyWise parenting center, investigators found three discharged bullet casings and blood. / Credit: Hennepin County District Court As doctors worked to save Lenway, her colleagues at the police department got to work. At the crime scene, they found three discharged bullet casings and blood. Investigators headed inside the FamilyWise parenting center where Lenway had been headed to pick up her son. There they met the father of her child her ex boyfriend, Tim Amacher. A solid alibi Police body cameras show Tim Amacher being questioned inside the FamilyWise parenting center where he was visiting with his son at the time of the shooting. / Credit: Hennepin County District Court Officers caught up with Amacher as he was finishing up his visit with their 5-year-old son Callahan. Amacher had been at the center for hours, and he told investigators he had no idea what happened outside to Lenway. One of the detectives at the crime scene asked Amacher what cars he owned. Amacher told him he owned the Jeep he was driving and a Dodge Challenger sedan. Searching for answers This surveillance image shows the shooter running back to the black Dodge Ram truck. / Credit: Hennepin County District Court Despite their efforts, investigators were initially limited. On surveillance video, they could see the shooter drove off in a black Dodge Ram truck. But the truck had no license plate, and police couldn't tell who was driving. The next day, Lenway regained consciousness, and police were able to interview her in the hospital. They asked if she had any idea who would want to kill her. Right away, she told police that she was convinced her ex-boyfriend, Tim Amacher, had something to do with it. In an Interview with "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty, Lenway said, "I just knew it had something to do with Tim. I just knew I didn't know how he was involved, but he was involved." Who is Tim Amacher? Tim Amacher / Credit: Charles Dettloff Amacher was a well- liked local taekwondo instructor, who was known as a good friend and neighbor. For police it didn't make sense that he could have done this, especially since they knew Amacher was inside FamilyWise at the time of the shooting, giving him a seemingly rock-solid alibi. Caught in a lie? / Credit: Hennepin County District Court Remember when investigators asked Amacher what vehicles he had? It turns out Amacher owned a black Dodge Ram truck like the one the shooter drove off in, but at the scene he didn't tell that to investigators. A second round of questioning / Credit: Hennepin County District Court Police called Amacher in for a second interview. They showed him stills of the truck from that surveillance video. Seemingly unruffled, he insisted it wasn't his. Amacher said that his truck, unlike the one in the video, had a license plate and Superman decal stickers near both front doors. Besides, Amacher had an alibi he was inside the FamilyWise center when Nicole Lenway was shot. How could he have shot Lenway and been the driver when his time was accounted for during the shooting? Amacher continued to insist he had nothing to do with the shooting. An unlikely suspect Colleen Larson / Credit: Hennepin County District Court In his interview with police, Amacher told Investigators that the only other person who had access to his truck was Colleen Larson. When Investigators asked Amacher if Larson might have a reason for wanting to shoot Nicole, he insisted that Larson was incapable of violence and quickly dismissed the question. Larson was Amacher's former taekwondo student and she was renting a room from him in his home. When police initially spoke to Larson, she denied being anywhere near the FamilyWise center when Lenway was shot. A series of digital breadcrumbs / Credit: Hennepin County District Court Despite their denial, police didn't believe Larson or Amacher. Investigators turned to FBI special agent Richard Fennern, a technology specialist. When Fennern took a closer look at the case, he discovered that Amacher's Dodge Ram truck had Wi-Fi, like a cellphone. And much like a cellphone, it created a digital trail. Agent Fennern set out to find out everywhere that Amacher and Larson went on the day of the shooting. He followed the digital trail left behind by their cellphones and the truck's Wi-Fi. Using those records, Fennern was able to figure out that at a certain point Larson was driving the black Dodge Ram truck that day and that black Dodge Ram truck was driven to the FamilyWise parenting center. A raid reveals more evidence Bullets recovered from the search of Tim Amacher's home. / Credit: Hennepin County District Court A raid of Tim and Colleen's house yielded more evidence bullet casings matching the ones found at the crime scene. Arresting Colleen Larson Colleen Larson was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree premeditated murder. / Credit: Hennepin County Sherriff's Office On April 28, 2022, Colleen Larson was arrested. She was charged with attempted first-degree premeditated murder. Arresting Tim Amacher Tim Amacher was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree premeditated murder and aiding an accomplice after the fact / Credit: Hennepin County District Court Investigators suspected Larson was not working alone. Fennern suspected that Amacher had deliberately altered his truck's appearance to throw police off their path. Fennern discovered that several hours before the shooting, Amacher had driven the black truck without plates and without the Superman stickers to a drive-thru at a local Kentucky Fried Chicken. Tim Amacher was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree premeditated murder and aiding an accomplice after the fact. A confession from Colleen Larson Colleen Larson being questioned by investigators. / Credit: Hennepin County District Court Police questioned Larson twice. The first time she denied any involvement, but during the second interview, which was recorded, she broke down and confessed. "I took the truck and I drove over there and then I shot her." Even though Larson admitted to pulling the trigger, she said the whole thing was Amacher's idea. Larson told police that after the shooting she got rid of the black clothes she wore to disguise her identity, but Amacher had disposed of the gun. Amacher convicted Tim Amacher was found guilty and sentenced to 18 years in prison. / Credit: Minnesota Dept. of Corrections On Nov. 3, 2022, Amacher's trial began. There were no cameras in the courtroom. After an hour of deliberations, Amacher was found guilty of attempted first-degree premeditated murder and aiding his accomplice, Colleen Larson. Amacher was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Larson pleads guilty Colleen Larson pleaded guilty to the charges against her and was sentenced to 16-and-a-half years in prison. / Credit: Minnesota Dept. of Corrections Four days later, Larson pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting attempted first-degree murder, avoiding a trial. At her sentencing hearing, rather than speak for herself, Larson had her attorney read a statement. In it, she took full responsibility for all that had happened. Larson was sentenced to 16-and-a-half years, for doing what prosecutors believe, was Amacher's bidding. A storybook ending and a new beginning Nicki, Callahan and Donovan / Credit: CBS News Alongside all the destruction, there are small miracles. Nicole Lenway has made a miraculous discovery and married the love of her life, Donovan Ford, a police officer. They are expecting a baby girl together and are overjoyed. As for the child, she shares with Amacher? Donovan told Moriarty, "He's come out amazing. That's a miracle too, just him being able to deal with all the stuff he's been through and still be the kid he is." Furniture company Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams went bankrupt overnight. Here's how. Retired university dean shot, killed on Vermont trail; suspect at large Biden strongly condemns Hamas attack, reaffirms U.S. commitment Israel SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday he remained hopeful a referendum to recognise the country's Indigenous people in the constitution would succeed, even as the measure lags in opinion polls less than a week from the vote. "I'm optimistic," Albanese told the Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC) on Sunday morning, according to a transcript. "Whether it be Shepperton or Sydney or Brisbane, Melbourne, the places I've been, Hobart, Adelaide in the last week, have been extremely positive." Albanese's centre-left Labor government backs the referendum, while the opposition Liberal-National conservatives urge a "No" vote on Oct. 14. Nationally, opponents lead the yes campaign by 53% to 38%, according to an opinion poll last week. If the "Voice to Parliament" referendum is approved, it would constitutionally enshrine Indigenous people and set up an advisory body for their input on policies that affect them. Most Indigenous people favour the change, but some say it is a distraction from achieving practical and positive outcomes and would not fully resolve the issues affecting them. The political opposition says the measure is divisive, would be ineffective and would slow government decision-making. Marginalised by British colonial rulers and not mentioned in Australia's 122-year-old constitution, Indigenous Australians, who make up 3.8% of the population, face discrimination, shorter life expectancy, lower education outcomes and high incarceration rates. As part of final efforts to buoy the yes side, Albanese on Saturday posted a photo to Social media platform X showing him casting his vote in Sydney in Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, where 4.2% of people identify as Indigenous. Last month, thousands rallied in state capitals to support the yes campaign, which sees the measure as necessary to boost outcomes for the nation's Indigenous people. (Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by William Mallard) (Bloomberg) -- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he is optimistic the country will vote in favor of changing the nations constitution to recognize Indigenous people, but will not move to push the issue through legislation if the governments proposal is rejected. Most Read from Bloomberg Campaigning for the referendum has become increasingly divisive in recent weeks. The proposal, known as the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, would include an Indigenous advisory body to Parliament in the constitution. Major polls show Australians will vote No at the Oct. 14 poll, although a rare rise was recorded last week. Im optimistic, Albanese said in an interview with ABC Television Sunday. What I see on the ground, whether its in Wangaratta or whether it be Shepparton or Sydney, or Brisbane, Melbourne, the places Ive been Hobart, Adelaide in the last week have been extremely positive. The feedback is that when people have those conversations, they are willing to vote Yes. Australias Deepest Rifts Leave Indigenous Rights Vote in Peril Early referendum balloting has begun, including in remote Indigenous communities, with local media reporting more than 2 million people have already cast their votes. As the campaign enters its final days, Albanese said he would respect the outcome. If Australians vote No, I dont believe that it would be appropriate to then go and say oh, well youve had your say but were going to legislate anyway. Since the countrys federation in 1901, only eight out of 44 referendums have been successful, the most recently in 1977. Australian PM Casts Early Vote in Indigenous Voice Referendum Deputy Liberal Party leader Sussan Ley described the referendum as a lose-lose situation. Whatever the result is on Saturday, it will be bad, divisive, and unhappy for Australians the next day, Ley told Sky News television. So we do need to bring the country together. Indigenous Australians experience high levels of social and economic disadvantage compared with the non-Indigenous population, including higher rates of imprisonment and unemployment, lower wages and a shorter life expectancy. The Indigenous Voice was originally suggested by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders in 2017. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Australia and Japan committed to working together to improve cooperation on energy and climate goals following a bilateral meeting on the weekend, as Canberra moved to calm fears in Tokyo that stricter emissions targets will impose higher costs for fossil fuel projects. Most Read from Bloomberg Australias Trade Minister Don Farrell , Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Resources Minister Madeleine King met with Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura in Melbourne for the fifth Australia-Japan Ministerial Economic Dialogue on Sunday. Ministers agreed to ensure the stable energy supply and to provide investment certainty in the transition period based on mutual trust, according to a statement released by Australia after the meeting. Senior officials will report back on progress in 2024. Australia recently imposed tougher pollution controls, put a cap on some fuel prices and has considered limiting exports to prioritize domestic demand. Japan and other energy buyers have raised concerns those policies have the potential to disrupt the countrys gas exports. Australia is committed to being a reliable and stable energy supplier to our region, but more particularly to Japan, Farrell said during his opening remarks. We will discuss our common objectives in managing our economic and energy security interests and in developing new opportunities in that energy transition, for which there are very many. Nishimura went into the meeting seeking assurances over the stability of Australias investment environment, the Australian Financial Review reported, citing a written response to questions from the Japanese minister. The Asian country is heavily reliant on Australian gas exports. Australias Labor government has worked to strengthen its policies to tackle climate change, including mandating emissions cuts of 43% from 2005 levels by 2030. In March, the government passed its signature safeguard mechanism legislation, which will enforce Australias largest polluters, including its giant LNG plants, to cut their emissions over time. On Monday, BHP Group Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Mike Henry underscored the need for greater collaboration between the two nations while speaking at a conference in Melbourne hosted by the Australia Japan Business Co-operation Committee. At a minimum there needs to be real clarity and dialog between policymakers in Japan and in Australia, Henry said. So not just high level support for a few things, but practically what are the policy settings required in Australia for Japan - and Japanese industry - to be making ongoing investments in Australia? --With assistance from Ben Westcott and Sybilla Gross. (Updates with comment from BHP CEO in final paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Officials need the publics help to identify human remains discovered in Orange County. The boy, identified only as John Doe, was found in Trabuco Canyon on Dec. 13, 1996, according to the Orange County Sheriffs Department. Authorities responded to reports of human remains found in a wilderness area just east of Trabuco Creek Road. Based on anthropological reports, the boy was around 15-19 years old. He stood between 5 feet 2 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall with a medium build. His teeth were found in poor condition by an odontologists report. Investigators believe the boy went missing sometime around 1995-1996. They believe the remains had been in the area for up to two years when discovered, with environmental factors affecting their condition. In 2020, the O.C. Sheriffs Coroner Division partnered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to generate leads for identification. Human remains found in Thousand Oaks park identified Officials are asking for the publics help to identify found a teen boy who was found dead in Trabuco Canyon in Orange County. (Orange County Sheriffs Department) A computed tomography (CT) scan of his skull was created and submitted to NCMEC, which used reconstruction techniques to develop renderings of what he may have looked like. With those renderings, a sketch was created to reflect the boys potential Latin American descent, officials said. Collaborating with the DNA Doe Project, genetic testing revealed the boy was likely from a remote/rural area in Latin America due to the very low threshold of genetic matches. With the updated renderings, authorities are hoping someone may recognize the boy and be able to identify him. Anyone with information about John Doe can contact the Orange County Coroner Division at 714-647-7400 or email coroner@OCSheriff.gov. Reference case number 96-07901-MU. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Army aviators and ground commanders face challenges of farther distances to travel, enemy systems that can strike aircraft and ground forces and a very crowded airspace. A combination of efforts happening at multiple centers of excellence which are responsible for establishing protocols across specific areas seeks to tackle those problems, though not without some challenges. The commander of the Aviation Center of Excellence, Maj. Gen. Michael McCurry, spoke at the September Maneuver Warfighter Conference at Fort Moore, Georgia and shared some of his observations as well as a future-focused plan. The two-star noted that studies a few years ago, predating the Russia-Ukraine War, showed that Army aircraft staging areas were too close to the fight. All of them could be reached by enemy long-range fires and some by drones. That development alone is a radical departure from how aviators during the height of the Global War on Terror operated. That meant that aviators could no longer park their aircraft within a few dozen kilometers of combat and simply sweep the skies above nearby forward operating bases looking for small groups of enemy fighters. They were only able to get away with that because, until recently, those enemy combatants had no airpower or long-range fires of their own. China, Russia, Iran and North Korea have their own arsenals to strike 100km or more, if needed, and their own air defenses to see U.S. aircraft coming. Its not two Apaches hovering around waiting for a call, McCurry said. In the future, that will affect how ground commanders operate. Air assets will be in high demand and traveling a lot. That means that ground units may need to solve some of their own air problems, said the Maneuver Center of Excellence commander, Maj. Gen. Curtis Buzzard. Buzzard recalled how during GWOT, small arms fire from a tree line harassing three companies of soldiers might have meant that helicopters supporting an armored force elsewhere might be pulled in to respond for such a minor threat. Weve got to get off that so that unit take care of their own problems, he said, using assets they already have in the formation, such as future small drone platforms or loitering munitions. Program Executive Office-Soldier recently took on the Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance, or LASSO program this year. The program will field a man-packable loitering munition for lower-echelon units. With the pending introduction of new platforms, Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft and Future Long Range Assault Aircraft into the formations, Army aviation leaders expect the ability to travel as far as 200 nautical miles each way to transport and support ground troops. At the same time, the airspace they fly is looking more congested. In 2021, Army aviation joined other military services in a joint project with Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency dubbed Air Space Total Awareness for Rapid Tactical Execution, an airspace deconfliction software. Thats because both the proliferation of enemy drones and the growing use of a host of drones at varying altitudes and ranges by friendly forces is creating a crowded arena for pilots. The deconfliction includes not just aircraft and drones but also incorporates missile and artillery fire in contested airspace, according to DARPA materials. Phase 3 testing for the program took place this past summer. Another initiative on the drone front includes the Joint Counter Small Unmanned Aerial Systems University, which is set to reach initial operational capability in October. The counter-drone training program kicked off this year and is already offering operator, planning and installation protection courses at the Fires Center of Excellence in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, said the centers commander, Maj. Gen. Phil Brooks, also at the September conference. At the same time, McCurry said that a working group that included all the centers of excellence reviewed the needs of each of the centers within drone use this past year. Working with the Maneuver Center of Excellence, McCurry said that open architecture systems are crucial to getting after what the Army wants across the formations. We need a system doing [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] today, sustainment tomorrow out to the front lines where you are, McCurry said. Some of that work will be automated, but, McCurry said, not all of it will be, and not for a long time. The two-star said a recent outside study on automating cavalry unit reconnaissance and surveillance work showed that by 2040 such units would still only have less than half of those tasks fully automated. That means a lot of work is left for the human soldiers in those formations as new technology is added. We still require that natural curiosity, intuition and decision making, McCurry said. Spain's right-wing leaders lambasted plans to grant Catalan separatists an amnesty in exchange for supporting a new left-wing government at a Barcelona rally Sunday that drew tens of thousands. King Felipe VI charged Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez this week with forming a new government, for which he needs crucial support from a hardline Catalan separatist party. In exchange, the party has demanded an amnesty for those facing legal action over Catalonia's failed 2017 independence bid which triggered Spain's worst political crisis in decades. The proposal has enraged the right which says amnesty cannot be used as a bargaining chip for Sanchez to remain in power. Huge crowds waving Spanish and Catalan flags flooded Barcelona city centre for the rally called by Societat Civil Catalana (SCC) which is opposed to the northeastern region breaking away from Spain. Spain has been mired in political uncertainty since an inconclusive July election that was won by the right-wing Popular Party but without enough support to form a government, with leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo failing a key September vote to become premier. Now it's Sanchez's turn and his Socialists and their hard-left Sumar allies support the idea of granting the amnesty demanded by JxCat, whose leader Carles Puigdemont led the 2017 secession bid then fled Spain to avoid prosecution and would benefit from the move. The idea is anathema to the right for whom Puigdemont is public enemy number one and also a red line for some within Sanchez's Socialist party. "No amnesty!" and "Send Puigdemont to prison!" shouted the demonstrators, who numbered more than 50,000, Barcelona police said. Organisers gave a figure of 300,000. "This is not an amnesty that seeks reconciliation, it is exclusively aimed at getting into the prime minister's office," said Feijoo, whose bid to become prime minister with the support of the far-right Vox left him isolated within the parliament. "It's unacceptable that politicians should break the law, some to reach the prime minister's office... others to settle their debt with the law," he said, as Vox leader Santiago Abascal, who was also there, blasted it as "an assault on the Constitution". - Sumar to present amnesty document - Sanchez has shown himself to be a tenacious political survivor with a knack for striking deals with rival parties and is confident he will be returned to power, pledging "generosity" in talks with the separatists while admitting they would be "complicated". He began formal talks with Sumar about renewing his mandate this week, with the hard left party's leader Yolanda Diaz, who is also acting labour minister, due to lay out a legal document on the amnesty proposal in Barcelona on Tuesday. "We are aware of Sumar's proposal about the amnesty as well as those of other parties which is good because it's a way of trying to resolve the judicial implications" of the 2017 independence bid, he said during an EU summit in Granada on Friday. The document has already been sent to JxCat, which thanked Sumar for its "willingness to reach an agreement" and pledged to look at it in detail. The party's more moderate separatist rival ERC -- on whom Sanchez is also counting for support -- also received a copy. Sanchez, who has sought to calm separatist tensions since coming to office five years ago, in 2021 pardoned Catalan separatist leaders who were serving long prison terms over the secession bid. Sanchez needs to secure support from at least 176 lawmakers within the 350-seat parliament to win a key vote that must take place before November 27. If he fails, Spain will automatically be forced to hold new elections, most likely in mid-January. At Sunday's rally, 53-year-old lecturer Araceli Rodriguez told AFP she was "absolutely against" an amnesty because it would be akin to whitewashing the 2017 crisis. "What you cannot do is to sell out Spanish democracy on the strength of only seven votes," said Rodriguez, referring to the votes of JxCat's seven lawmakers. "Approving an amnesty is selling out Spanish democracy for the partisan interests of a party that didn't even win the election." rs-hmw/bp In partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), the 11th edition of Young Adipec, held along with Adipec 2023 (October 2-5) in Abu Dhabi, conducted its most immersive and comprehensive programme yet, to inspire and empower them to play a central role in creating a more inclusive and progressive energy future. Held under the patronage of Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and fully supported by ADEK, Young Adipec is part of Adipec 2023 a platform that brings together the worlds future energy leaders, equipping a new generation with the knowledge to pioneer the next phase of energy solutions, while empowering them to work together, break out of their silos and unify around a common cause. Christopher Hudson, President of dmg events, the organiser of Adipec, said: Young people are the future, and with the global energy sector transitioning to secure a more sustainable system, it is absolutely critical that we support their ability to play an active role in the sector. That is why Adipec has such a strong focus on youth, starting with our long-running Young Adipec programme, which this year connected with over 1,000 high school students and 400+ university students, and continuing on to our Future Leaders Programme and Global Youth Council. The 11th edition of Young Adipec presented 1,000+ UAE high school students with an invaluable opportunity to visit some of the most innovative companies and research institutions in todays rapidly evolving energy sector. This year, Young Adipec also introduced its University Programme, which engaged 400+ university students from five universities in Adipecs Innovation Sessions and specialised industry areas focused on decarbonisation, digitalisation, and manufacturing and industrialiation, to demonstrate how they can contribute to the energy sectors ongoing innovation and growth. Hosting a total of 160 hands-on workshops and other interactive experiences, this years Young Adipec was organised into 10 unique zones. These ranged from the well-known favourites of previous events, such as the Engineering Zone and Innovations Zone, to zones that were entirely new for 2023 including the Electric Zone, Energy Transition Zone, Hydrogen Zone and 2023 Careers Zone. Another newcomer this year was the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi Zone, which aimed to demonstrate to young minds the potential of a career in sustainable engineering, firing their curiosity for the subject through games, live quiz competitions and interactive explanatory simulations. At the Young ADIPEC Talks, students listened and learned from the real-life experiences of the next generation of energy leaders like Raifa Al Maamari, a PhD student in Energy Futures at the University of Cambridge, and Alyaziya Alseiari, an application engineer at Weatherford. Young ADIPECs wide range of exploratory experiences and industry showcases for high school students complements ADIPECs other older youth-focused initiatives the Global Youth Council and Future Leaders Programme. The Global Youth Council was introduced this year to give young energy leaders a meaningful voice and a place at the table to drive clean energy transition trends in the UAE and globally. TradeAabia News Service For months, Louisiana oyster farmer Mitch Jurisich, Jr. watched the Mississippi as an invisible surge of Gulf of Mexico salt water crept up the tail end of the river, twisting along levees through bayous and marshes toward New Orleans. Since June, the wedge-shaped layer of dense salt water has been pushing upstream at the bottom of a river so weakened by drought that it cannot keep the ocean water at sea. And that has caused three months of woes in Jurisichs home of Plaquemines Parish. Compromised water plants that draw from the river. Constant trips for bottled water. Shrimp boat docks forced to truck in ice. Salty showers. Health concerns. And worries that it will only further fuel coastal erosion. Its been a nightmare, said Jurisich, 60, who also serves as a parish councilman and operates the Ponderosa Oyster Bar & Grill in the tiny town of Empire, Louisiana. Now, the threat of the saltwater incursion to municipal drinking water in New Orleans has slowed, giving more time to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Louisiana officials efforts to combat it. Those efforts include installing reverse-osmosis filters and running new pipes that can bring fresher water into New Orleans. In Plaquemines, filters and Army Corps barges with millions of gallons of fresh water are reaching water treatment intake sites. Ashara Feloss uses bottled water for cooking at DJ's One Stop, a lunch place in Plaquemines Parish, La., on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. Officials now predict the wedge could reach a New Orleans area drinking water intake by late November, instead of late October, as had been feared -- if it arrives at all. Even then, they said, salt levels there may not reach thresholds that prompt health warnings. But amid uncertainties about longer-term weather, its not clear when the low-water river will see enough of a surge of freshwater to push the saltwater back to sea, which officials have said could take several months. Several more days of rain are now forecast in October. But because the forecast could change again, officials are pushing ahead with stopgap measures to ensure fresh water supply. An oil and gas refinery rises in the background not far from where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is building an underwater sill in the Mississippi River that they hope will keep saltwater from moving farther up the Mississippi River south of New Orleans, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. At her small historic hotel, located a few miles from the citys famed French Quarter, longtime New Orleans resident Liz Creel, 57, has still been stockpiling water and installing her own reverse-osmosis desalinator hoping to reassure guests and keep them from canceling stays. Despite the saltwater slowdown, shes pressing ahead with that strategy given uncertainties. We need to put ourselves in a position where we can roll with whatever comes up the river or through the water pipes, she told USA TODAY on Saturday. Saltwater wedge: Why is it encroaching on freshwater river? Saltwater intrusion occurs because the river bottom between Natchez, Miss., and the Gulf of Mexico is below sea level, according to the Corps of Engineers. Normally, the Mississippi River flow fills the river channel and keeps salt water out. But this year, with extremely low water levels and river flow, denser salt water has been able to slip upriver beneath the less dense freshwater flowing downstream. Experts blame drought in parts of the U.S. for causing critically low water conditions on the Mississippi River in back-to-back years. Last year, about 40 days of critically low water in parts of the Mississippi grounded barges, stalled traffic and blocked river ports at the height of harvest season, causing an estimated $20 billion in losses, according to AccuWeather. Dredge workers hike down a muddy shore, far upstream on the Mississippi, where this fall has brought critically low river levels. Drought in the United States expanded and intensified this summer, fueled by both a lack of precipitation and extreme heat, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System. That included areas of the Midwest that drain into the Ohio and Missouri rivers and help determine the Mississippis water flows. Saltwater has moved up the Mississippi before. The Corps of Engineers built an underwater sill to try to keep seawater from pushing upstream four times before this year: iIn 1988, 1999, 2012 and last year in 2022. But this time the incursion has been expected to last longer than in the past. One reason is that the repeat low- water years on the river have amplified the fallout of drought conditions, said Mark Svoboda, director of the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. There's been less time for the system to recover than in years when droughts were followed by wet, rainy years. Last year we had the same issue. But it came much later and it didn't last as long, said Jurisich, a third-generation fisherman in the area. This is the worst yet. Why is salt water in the Mississippi a problem? In and around the small towns that dot either bank of the Mississippi near the coast, salt level readings at water plants shot up in July. Reconfiguring pipes for a reverse osmosis system at a water facility on the east bank of Plaquemines Parish near Pointe a la Hache, La., on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. Residents in south Plaquemines Parish faced weeks where tap water salt levels were 1,600 parts per million, more than six times higher than when the Environmental Protection Agency says the water starts to taste salty, according to New Orleans Public Radio. Officials have warned the water is unsafe to drink for people with kidney problems, hypertension, infants and pregnant women. And the salt cant be removed through boiling or common water filters. When you're brushing your teeth, you can taste the salt, Jurisich said. Couldn't use the water for cooking. Definitely couldn't use it for drinking. For many residents that has meant repeat trips to fire stations, schools and community centers to pick up bottled water, delivered three times a week by semi-truck. Rev. Sampson Abdulai, left, pastor of St. Thomas Catholic Church, stands in his kitchen next to extra containers of bottle water in Pointe a la Hache, La., on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. Another concern is that saltwater can also corrode pipes and appliances, such as hot water heaters, dishwashers or ice makers. In New Orleans, city officials have cited concerns it could damage the citys thousands of lead drinking water pipes, potentially leaching chemicals into water. Agriculture can also be impacted. Louisiana State Universitys AgCenter said a prolonged incursion could build salt levels in the soil over time, though it would eventually be flushed out by rains. The group recommended that commercial nurseries consider small desalination units, but noted livestock tend to have higher salt tolerances than humans. For the large fishing fleet near the coast, Jurisich said the salt incursion can upset the delicate balance of freshwater, saltwater and brackish water that supports a variety of fish. He said that the longer that salt water intrudes in freshwater areas, the greater the chance it can kill marsh grasses that help keep erosion at bay. I think we're going to see some long-term effects from this that we're not even looking at right now, he said. What is the government doing to combat it? The Corps of Engineers is now delivering barges of fresh water to Plaquemines, including to the Port Sulphur water treatment plant, where it will be used to dilute the water to safe levels to be treated. Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng, right, takes photos of the flexible pipeline being installed that will help supply fresh water to Jefferson Parish as salt water slowly moves up the Mississippi River on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, in Marrero, La. The Corps says it plans to deliver up to 36 million gallons of water each day to impacted facilities if needed, officials said. In addition, Louisiana officials are installing reverse-osmosis filters at water treatment plants including at Pointe a la Hache, upstream from Empire, that officials said would lift the water advisories in some areas. In New Orleans, work is underway on a temporary flexible pipeline to bring millions of gallons of fresh water to Jefferson Parish from an area with lower salinity. On the opposite bank, filters and water barges plan to be used to maintain safe tap water supplies. Emergency officials are still planning locations to distribute bottled water if necessary, even though the threat to the citys water has lessened. High-rise buildings, far left, can be seen in downtown New Orleans, as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers builds a underwater sill that they expect should slow the flow of saltwater up the Mississippi River south of New Orleans, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. We certainly dont want to lose any time or get caught flat-footed if something were to change on us, Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng said at a news conference Friday. So were going to continue. One key reason for the slowdown is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers work elevating the underwater earthen sill it built this summer. Officials had said it could delay the wedge for more than two weeks. Though still under construction, it worked better than expected, said Col. Cullen Jones, the New Orleans District commander. Also helping hobble the saltwaters push to New Orleans were river flows that did not dip as low as predicted in recent weeks. However, they are forecast to drop over the next two months, even with slightly more rain forecast in October Jones said all that pushed back the estimated arrival of saltwater to intakes in Gretna, at New Orleans, to Nov. 26. Areas beyond that might not see significant impact. Salinity in the city may not reach above 250 parts per million, the level that triggers health warnings. The New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board continues to tell residents that for now, water in the city is safe and that residents do not need to change usage. Ron Spooner, interim general sSuperintendent of the water board, said the delay would give more time to prepare for measures it hopefully wont have to use. Were all thankful that its not as dire as we thought it would be, said Louisiana State Health Officer Dr. Joseph Kanter. Whats next? Creel said her city home to 10 generations of her family has been through too many hurricanes and other disasters to get overly worried. She was around in 1988, the last time a saltwater wedge came close to threatening the citys water supplies. This time, some social media posters have jokingly called it the saltpocalypse. Liz Creel and bartender William King at Creel's Park View Historic Hotel in New Orleans. At the 1880s-era Park View Historic Hotel, which she and her husband have owned for 15 years, she has purchased plenty of bottled water and is still working to install a costly desalination machine and ultra violet light filtration to assure guests of water safety. Some people have canceled reservations for later this year, perhaps, she said, knowing the issue has been expected to stick around for several months. That was a worry she said she voiced to a doorman recently at a store picking up extra water. Ms. Liz, youre not panicking, are you? he asked. I'm not panicking, she said. I'm worried because I'm worried about my business. The conditions could still persist until the new year given that the fall months are the region's driest. And it can take 90 days for freshwater to travel from the upper Midwest downriver to southern Louisiana. While New Orleans might see less of an impact than expected, the Corps said in a statement that for now, the saltwater will continue to be a presence in Plaquemines Parish. However long it lasts, Jurisich hopes this falls incursion leads to more lasting solutions at a time when the frequency of extreme weather seems to be increasing. A bike rider passes alongside the pipeline being laid to supply fresh water to Jefferson Parish as salt water slowly moves up the Mississippi River on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, in Marrero, La. He said that should include bolstering the desalination capacity of water treatment plants and closing breaches in the river levee caused by erosion which he argues slows the Mississippis flow and allows saltwater to more easily enter freshwater areas. A Tulane University study this year found that water losses from the main Mississippi River channel from New Orleans to the Gulf have increased by 25% since 2004 due in part to bank failures. Collin Arnold, New Orleans' director of homeland security and emergency preparedness, said local, state and federal officials will explore permanent solutions to mitigate such incursions. That could include new pipelines and desalination plants. I think we all believe that we will face this again at some point, he said. I think there will be a lot of discussion, a lot of science involved and engineering, about how we deal with this in the future. Svoboda said such areas are indeed likely to face increasing instances of saltwater intrusion amid the predicted rise of sea levels. That's going to be a constant battle, especially on drought years when you don't have fresh water flow, he said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Saltwater on Mississippi River: Will wedge reach New Orleans? Fire on the Crimean Bridge Exactly one year ago, Ukraine's SBU Security Service made its first strike on the Crimean Bridge, an event that unfolded on Oct. 8, the day after Russian dictator Vladimir Putins birthday. The explosion dealt a severe blow to the reputation of Russia. Read also: Sink the entire Black Sea Fleet at once Ukrainian Navy on how to protect Crimean Bridge Here's how the SBU executed this special operation: A truck loaded with 21 tons of explosives in TNT equivalent undermined the bridge. The operation was personally devised by the head of the SBU, Vasyl Malyuk, along with several service employees. The explosives were concealed within rolls wrapped in packaging film. The SBU managed to bypass special jammers on the bridge, which obstruct remote detonation. The explosion collapsed two semi-sections of the road part of the bridge and damaged the railway track. With this attack, the SBU shattered the myth of the world's most fortified bridge. Read also: Beleaguered Crimean Bridge shut down again to overnight traffic On Oct. 12, 2022, the Kremlin regime accused Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (HUR), of orchestrating sabotage. The HUR dismissed these allegations as "baseless." On May 5, 2023, Russia claimed to have fully restored the damaged portion of the bridge. On July 8, 2023, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defense, Hanna Malyar, confirmed that the attack on the bridge was carried out by Ukrainian forces. On July 17, 2023, the SBU once again targeted the Crimean Bridge using Sea Baby drones. At that time, the Crimean governor, the Kremlin puppet Sergey Aksyonov, described the incident as an "extraordinary event," and Russian media outlets reported significant damage to at least one span. Later, the Russian Ministry of Transportation alleged damage to the roadway. Read also: Satellite photos show Russian occupiers are sinking ferries to protect Crimean bridge Following these incidents, Russian occupiers further fortified the Crimean Bridge with "special anti-sabotage underwater barriers" supposedly designed to protect the structure from aerial and underwater drones. 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 Biden administration "unequivocally" condemned terrorist organization Hamas on Saturday amid its unprecedented and "appalling" assaults against Israel, with President Biden and senior administration officials stressing that the United States "stands with Israel." Israeli officials said at least 250 people have been killed since Hamas terrorists started firing rockets and slaughtering Israelis near the Gaza Strip, making the conflict one of the deadliest attacks in the country's history. At least 1,500 people have been wounded. ISRAEL'S MILITARY SAYS FORCE IS 'AT WAR' WITH HAMAS AS IDF HITS BACK AT TERROR TARGETS "Today, the people of Israel are under attack, orchestrated by a terrorist organization, Hamas," President Biden said Saturday. "In this moment of tragedy, I want to say to them and to the world and to terrorists everywhere that the United States stands with Israel." President Biden speaks on the terrorist attacks in Israel alongside Secretary of State Antony Blinken from the White House on Oct. 7, 2023. He added: "We will not ever fail to have their back." Biden said his administrations "support for Israels security is rock solid and unwavering." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The president, and senior administration officials, have made "absolutely clear" to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli officials "across the political spectrum and their national security spectrum" that the United States stands "ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the government and people of Israel." ISRAEL STRIKES BACK AFTER TERRORISTS KILL AT LEAST 250 The president spoke to Netanyahu on Saturday and offered "full support to Israel." A senior administration official said Biden and Netanyahu will stay in close contact. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed the situation with the Israeli minister of defense on Saturday as well, and is offering "full" U.S. military support to Israel. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also spoke to Israeli President Herzog and the Israeli foreign minister, as well as his counterparts, including from Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Italy. Biden also spoke with the king of Jordan on Saturday, who he will stay in "regular" contact with. "The United States stands with Israel. The United States unequivocally condemns the appalling assaults against Israel by Hamas terrorists in Gaza," a senior administration official said Saturday evening. "Thats why we have taken action throughout this administration," the official said, adding that sanctions have been imposed on Iran for its support of Hamas and other terrorist organizations. "That is going to continuebelieve me," the official said. "Hamas is a terrorist groupfull stop." LIVE UPDATES: ISRAELI PM BENJAMIN NETANYAHU PROMISES REVENGE AGAINST HAMAS FOR ATTACK "What weve seen today is really an unprecedented assault, particularly these incursions into Israeli cities and literally murdering people, including families in their homes; taking hostages, including, we believe, children out of their homesits just unspeakable," the official continued. The official added: "We will treat Hamas for what they arethey are an international terrorist organization This was an attack by Hamas against the state and the people of Israel." In a video message early Saturday morning, Netanyahu said, "Citizens of Israel, we are at war not in an operation, not in rounds at war." A senior administration official said the United States will continue to provide Israel with support, including intelligence sharing. "Israel has a right to defend itself and its people," the official said, adding that there is "no doubt" that Hamas is "funded, equipped, armed by Iran and others." Original article source: Biden admin 'unequivocally' condemns terror group Hamas, says US 'stands with Israel' The recent surge of migrants crossing the US-Mexico border has put President Joe Biden in a difficult, politically threatening bind. State and local Democratic leaders who should be among his closest allies heading into next year's presidential election are harshly criticising his handling of immigration. His probable 2024 Republican opponent, Donald Trump , is sharpening his attacks on an issue that has been a central part of his political message for almost a decade. And public support for Mr Biden on the situation is souring. While voting is still more than a year away, the growing immigration crisis - whose effects are being felt thousands of miles from the US-Mexico border in part because Republican governors have been sending newly arrived migrants to Democratic-run cities - could be a daunting political drag on Mr Biden's popularity and his re-election hopes. The numbers paint a darkening picture. According to preliminary US Department of Homeland Security figures obtained by BBC partner CBS News, US Border Patrol apprehended approximately 210,000 undocumented migrants entering the US during the month of September. That is the highest mark of the year, and comes close to matching the record peak monthly apprehensions of late 2022. If the Biden administration thought the crisis at the border was easing and the national spotlight was moving to other issues after government policy changes earlier this year, the latest increase should dispel that notion. What's more, the nature of the immigrant surge suggests there may be no end in sight. Roughly a quarter of the border apprehensions last month were citizens of Venezuela, the South American nation that has been struggling through political and economic hardship under the socialist dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro. The Venezuelan exodus has created a hemispheric refugee crisis, with more than seven million fleeing the country - and the consequences are being increasingly felt on US soil. More than 150,000 Venezuelans have headed north toward the US, across the Darian Gap into Central America, in the past two months, according to the government of Panama. "People don't pick up and leave their homes just for the heck of it," Janet Napolitano, head of homeland security during the Obama administration, told the BBC. "They're usually in desperate straits - poverty, joblessness, high crime, violence, lack of civil institutions in their countries of origin." A US border guard observes migrants entering the US On Thursday, the Biden administration announced two new steps to address the dramatic increase - and both have opened the president up to attacks from across the political spectrum. The president issued a series of environmental and planning waivers and released funds to build additional sections of wall along the US-Mexico border. He also revealed that the US would resume direct deportations of Venezuelan citizens - a practice that had been suspended because of tense diplomatic relations between the two nations. These new measures were quickly denounced as too little by immigration hard-liners and too much by left-wing immigration activists. The president's muddled explanations - that he still believes walls don't work and that it was money he was forced by Congress to spend - compounded the situation. The Venezuelan announcement also represents a change in attitude by the administration, after moves last month to allow approximately half a million Venezuelan refugees in the US to apply for work permits and avoid deportation for 18 months. In trying to assuage concerns that he is not doing enough to address the border surge while also keeping his liberal supporters happy, he appears to be satisfying no one - a conundrum that has played itself out repeatedly on border policy throughout the Biden presidency. Immigration has become an intensely polarising issue, due in no small part to Mr Trump's "build the wall" rhetoric and sometimes draconian policies during his presidency. That has greatly curtailed Mr Biden's political flexibility in dealing with the crises. An anti-immigration protest took place in New York last month Where Barack Obama was able to increase deportations and strengthen border security during his presidency without facing damaging blowback from liberal activists, Mr Biden has no such luxury. Every step he takes on immigration is now viewed in the context of the current environment of partisan political trench warfare, with Mr Trump and the Republicans on one side and the Democrats on the other. Meanwhile, recent polling suggests that in that partisan fight, the public is turning on the president. Respondents in a new Marquette University poll of registered voters were asked to choose who was "better" on the issue of immigration and border security, the current president or the man he replaced. Fifty-two percent said they preferred Mr Trump, while only 28% opted for Mr Biden. That is tied with the economy for the largest issue gap between the two candidates and stands in contrast to topics like abortion and climate change, where Mr Biden has solid leads. Those results were mirrored in an NBC News poll, which found 45% of Americans thought Republicans were better at dealing with immigration versus only 27% for Democrats. It represents a marked change from the Trump presidency, when pluralities of the US public preferred the Democrats. The steady drumbeat of disturbing news from the border, as well as the strain on public services felt by the major US cities where the migrants are settling, is making a noticeable mark on public opinion. And if the crisis does not ease before the 2024 general election campaign begins in earnest, the president will be taking on his Republican opponent on unfavourable political terrain. According to Ms Napolitano, solving the immigration crisis will take a concerted effort from the Biden team. "It requires diplomatic outreach," she says. "It requires investment in other countries so that we take away some of the incentive to migrate. And it requires strong border security and effective enforcement of our immigration laws, which need to be amended and reformed." In the end, the criticism Mr Biden receives for his actions on immigration this week will be much less important than whether or not the new policies work. If they don't, and if the Biden administrations other steps to staunch the flow of migrants from Venezuela and elsewhere are also unsuccessful, his path to re-election becomes more perilous. Map of border wall route The Biden administration is working to fulfill Israels request to urgently transfer weapons to Tel Aviv, according to a U.S. official and second person familiar with the talks, a day after Hamas militants launched an unprecedented wave of attacks on southern Israel in a conflict that threatens to erupt into a wider war. Israeli officials have asked the U.S. to transfer specific weapons systems, said the people, who were granted anonymity to speak ahead of any announcement, and Washington is working to make that happen. They did not say what those weapons were, citing operational security. The weapons transfers could be part of a new package of assistance for Israel, which Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN Sunday morning. "We are looking at specific additional requests that the Israelis have made. I think you're likely to hear more about that later today," Blinken told CNN. Any requests for additional aid for Israel will immediately run headlong into the dysfunction enveloping the House, which would need to approve extra funding. As former Speaker Kevin McCarthy noted on Saturday, There is nothing the House can do until they elect a speaker, and I dont know if that happens quickly. Biden on Sunday directed additional support for Israel "in the face of this unprecedented terrorist assault by Hamas," the White House said in a Sunday statement. The president and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed on Sunday morning by their national security team on the situation in Israel, and will continue to receive updates, according to the statement. The president has directed his team to do everything possible to support Israel in the conflict, said the U.S. official. They told us, tell us what you need, you will get it, said the second person familiar with the discussions. One option the White House may be considering is to release a little-known stockpile of American ammunition stored in Israel. The weapons are intended for the U.S. to use in Middle East conflicts, but the U.S. has also allowed Israel to access the ammunition in emergencies. While the U.S. sent some of that ammunition to Ukraine to help it repel Russian invaders, there is still enough left in the stockpile for Israel, the U.S. official said. A Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment on any new announcements. The U.S. official said the administration does not anticipate that any military assistance to Israel will impact its ability to continue to send weapons to Ukraine, as the two countries use different systems. While the U.S. has sent significant amounts of military aid to Ukraine, it has also deliberately made sure it has enough in its own stockpiles to protect itself and its allies if the need arises, the official said. Israel has Iron Dome, whereas Ukraine has NASAMS, Patriot, Hawks, the official added, referring to different air defense systems. Its a bit of a different category. Eugene Daniels contributed to this report. U.S. President Joe Biden plans to ask Congress for the largest amount of aid to Ukraine yet, possibly up to $100 billion, The Telegraph reported on Oct. 7. Biden hopes that a "one-and-done" funding package will allow him to bypass the deadlock with congressional Republicans and free up enough aid for Ukraine to last until the 2024 presidential election. "The 'big package' idea is firmly supported by many throughout the administration," a source familiar with the matter told The Telegraph. "Supporters of Ukraine want this to be a one-and-done big bill, and then not have to deal with it until after the next election," the source said. Congressional arguments over support to Ukraine nearly caused a government shutdown and resulted in the ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The Biden administration is "not making any decisions about whether to do one big package or about how much it would be" until a new speaker is elected, an official told The Telegraph. An official also told The Telegraph that Biden is planning to deliver a speech "to unify America behind why it's so important to support Ukraine and just how much is at stake." Recently polling data showed that while a majority of Americans support continued assistance to Ukraine, support among Republican voters is dropping. Read also: Our readers questions about the war, answered. Vol. 4 Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced another round of President Joe Bidens judicial nominees to a floor vote as the president is moving to name lower court judges on a par with his predecessor. Biden has gained confirmation of 144 federal judges, including his Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. Thats roughly tied with where Trump was by fall of 2019, his third year in office, said Curt Levey, president of the Committee for Justice. Trump finished out his term having appointed more than 230 lower court judges, in addition to three U.S. Supreme Court justices. "There is a good chance that Biden will be edging Trump out on lower court judges," Levey told Fox News Digital. "Trump prioritized circuit court judges over district court judges. Biden is a little behind Trump on the circuit court judges." FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS KEY BIDEN ADMIN ASYLUM RULE AT CORE OF POST-TITLE 42 STRATEGY President Biden is on track to catch up to former President Trump's appointing of lower court judges. Biden made his 38th round of judicial nominations, as the Senate Democratic majority pushes to impact lower courts in the face of Republican appointees holding a 6-3 majority on the Supreme Court. The lower court nominees were a mix of state judges, prosecutors, and public defenders. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP A public defender, Richard Federico, was among the judges that advanced in committee on Sept. 28 despite sparking some controversy at his confirmation hearing. Biden nominated Federico to be a judge on the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. During the hearing, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., questioned Federico about his defense of a Kansas man convicted in a child pornography case in which Federico asked for a 105-month sentence, well below the federal sentencing guidelines range of 210 months to 240 months, or up to 20 years. He ultimately got 13 years. "You have to make moral judgments as a defense attorney, wouldnt you agree?" Hawley asked. Federico answered, "Yes." Federico has been a lawyer for the Federal Public Defender for the District of Kansas since 2017. Before that, Federico was an assistant federal public defender for the District of Oregon from 2015 to 2017. He has also been a Navy Judge Advocate General officer. BIDEN JUDGE WITHDRAWS NOMINATION AFTER DEMOCRATS FAIL TO FIND THE VOTES: 'WAKE-UP CALL' Hawley followed up: "As his attorney, you can do whatever you want. But you are asking here for a lifetime appointment. So, I think its entirely appropriate we ask you about your judgment Do you think the sentence that you recommended does justice to his victims?" Federico first responded, "Senator, I could not agree more about the problem." Hawley kept trying to get him to answer in a more specific, yes, or no, but Federico said, "ultimately its the court that decides." As Hawley kept pressing the nominee, Federico answered, "Senator, again, it wasnt my decision as to his ultimate sentence." Also in the Sept. 28 meeting, the Judiciary advanced the nomination of Joshua Kolar, a federal magistrate judge in Indiana, to the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. But he had bipartisan backing, including from Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind. While several district court judges are pending confirmation, among those who sparked Republican attention was California Superior Court Judge Eumi Leewho Biden nominated to be a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., pressed Lee about her 2010 law review article on gender and prisons. BIDEN'S 'MOST RADICAL' JUDGES COULD 'DELIVER THE LEFT'S POLICY PREFERENCES,' JUDICIAL WATCHDOGS WARN Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., questioned public defender Richard Federico, who was nominated by President Biden, about his defense of a man who was convicted in a child pornography case during a hearing. "In that article, you argued that male prisoners should be allowed to claim they are transgender in order to be assigned to a female prison, didnt you?" Kennedy asked. Lee replied, "That was an article that originated from a symposium, which I just moderated the panel, and then summarized for the symposium edition the different arguments and issues that were raised." Lee was a law professor at the University of California College of Law, San Francisco from 2005 to 2018. "Do you think that a male prisoner convicted in a court of law, final judgment, should be allowed to claim that he is transgender in order to be assigned to a female prison?" Kennedy asked. Lee replied, "The issue of assigned facilities and such, is one that is being actively litigated in California and may come before me." Kennedy shot back, "Now all of a sudden you cant answer. You answered it in your law review article." Kennedy went on to point out that Lee was one of the founders of the Gender and Sexuality Law Journal at Georgetown University. Lee was a 1999 graduate of Georgetown University Law Center. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., questioned California Superior Court Judge Eumi Lee who was nominated by President Biden, about her 2010 law review article on gender and prisons. Past cases or writings are less of a problem than the Biden administrations criteria for selection of judges, said Levey of the Committee for Justice. He said Biden has prioritized diversity and backgrounds in liberal activism over other important qualifications. "Im more concerned about Biden appointing open activists to the bench," Levey said. "Past Democratic presidents appointed typical Democrats to the bench who were lower court judges or law professors. Biden has appointed activists who have worked for the ACLU, the NAACP, the Brennan Center, and other groups." Original article source: Biden on pace to match, even exceed Trump's number of lower court judicial appointments Joe Biden offered strong US support for Israel on Saturday from the White House, after the American ally was hit with a suprise assault on the country from Palestinian militants from Gaza. The United States stands with Israel, Mr Biden said. We will never fail to have their back. Well make sure they have the help their citizens need and they can continue to defend themselves. The president added the attacks were unconscionable and a terrible tragedy on a human level. He also warned regional powers not to exploit the fighting and touch off a broader conflict. This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks seeking advantage, Mr Biden said. The world is watching. The White House said Mr Biden spoke with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday and condemned the appalling Hamas terrorist attacks. I made clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu that we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel, President Biden said in a White House statement on Saturday morning. Terrorism is never justified. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people. In a surprise attack early on Saturday, Hamas militants entered several Israeli towns and military bases, kidnapping civilians and soldiers as hostages. Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif said in a rare public statement that 5,000 rockets had been fired into Israel to begin what it called Operation Al-Aqsa Storm. Fellow US officials joined in their condemnation of the Hamas offensive. We stand in solidarity with the government and people of Israel, and extend our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Saturday. We will remain in close contact with our Israeli partners. The United States supports Israels right to defend itself. World leaders also spoke out against the attack and called for fighting to end. My condolences go out to everyone who lost relatives or close ones in the terrorist attack. We have faith that order will be restored and terrorists will be defeated, Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X. Terror should have no place in the world, because it is always a crime, not just against a specific country or this terrors victims, but against humanity in general and our entire world. The Russian foreign ministry said it was in contact with Israel, Palestine, and Arab nations, and called for a ceasefire. The fighting in Israel and Gaza has killed at least 100 Israelis, according to emergency medical groups, and at least 198 Palestinians, according to the Gazan Health Ministry. US Republican presidential candidates, who could be in a position to deal with the fallout from todays fighting come 2025, also weighed in. Donald Trump condemned the Hamas operation and claimed without evidence the US had helped fund them. These Hamas attacks are a disgrace and Israel has every right to defend itself with overwhelming force, Mr Trump said in a statement. Sadly, American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks, which many reports are saying came from the Biden Administration. We brought so much peace to the Middle East through the Abraham Accords, only to see Biden whittle it away at a far more rapid pace than anyone thought possible. During a campaign stop in Iowa, Florida governor Ron DeSantis said Israel has a duty to respond with overwhelming force. WATCH! Governor Ron DeSantis on terrorist attack on Israel! Today, America stands with Israel against the terrorist attacks! Perpetrated by Hamas. Backed by Iran. And unfortunately funded by this American President.#DeSantis2024 pic.twitter.com/qiDBTk8pNV Chris Nelson (@ReOpenChris) October 7, 2023 Today, America stands with Israel against the terrorist attacks that are being perpetrated by Hamas, who is backed by Iran and unfortunately funded by this American president with what hes done to Iran, Mr DeSantis said. Its a disgrace and we all need to be united to say to Israel that not only do they have a right to defend themselves, they have a duty to respond to these terrorists with overwhelming force. The comments from Mr Trump and the Florida governor are a seeming reference to a decision in August from the Biden administration to issue a waiver allowing $6bn in frozen Iranian oil profits to be released for use in humanitarian purchases, in exchange for the release of five detained Americans in the country. Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed on Saturday to exact a huge price from Hamas in response to the attacks and called up reservists as well as regular armed forces as Israel launched retaliatory strikes in Gaza. The surprise attack marks a major intelligence failure for Israel, which maintains round-the-clock surveillance on the 42km-long Gaza Strip, from which it withdrew forces in 2005. The assault comes almost exactly 50 years to the day since the start of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, and could have widespread impacts on civilian lives in Israel and Palestine, internal politics in Israel, and attempts to negotiate a long-term solution to the violence of the Israel-Palestine conflict. The fighting comes as the US was trying to negotiate a landmark normalisation deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Saudi Arabia issued a statement on Saturday calling for the immediate halt to the escalation between the two sides. The statement added that the kingdom is reminded of its repeated warnings of the danger of an explosive situation as a result of the continued occupation and deprivation of the Palestinian people of their rights. The largest city in coastal Alabama claims police from nearby Biloxi are dropping off homeless people, sometimes after coercing them to go. But Biloxi Mayor Andrew FoFo Gilich denies any wrongdoing, saying Biloxi is working with homeless shelters in Mobile, that no one has been taken against their will and that fewer than 20 people have been transported. A Thursday letter from James Barber, chief of staff to Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, suggests that Biloxi police are violating the civil rights of homeless people by saying they are breaking Biloxis laws but then suggesting police can take them to Mobile. The letter asks Biloxi to stop the transports, and threatens that Mobile will call in federal officials to investigate civil rights violations if Biloxi doesnt stop. Mobile, a city of 200,000 people, is about an hours drive east along the Gulf Coast from Biloxi, a city of 50,000 people noted as a casino destination. Barber wrote that interviews with people brought to Mobile reveal a consistent pattern by Biloxi police officers. Although an actual threat of arrest is never articulated, the clear connotation of the exchange leaves the homeless individual with no alternative but to be transported to Mobile or the possibility they may be arrested, Barber wrote. Barber wrote that one homeless person overheard a Biloxi officer tell a co-worker he had taken more than 50 people to Mobile. Barber enclosed a photograph of a traffic surveillance camera showing a Biloxi police vehicle getting off Interstate 10 in downtown Mobile on Sept. 26. Gilich wrote back on Friday that Mobile officials are misinformed. He said Biloxi has been working with two Mobile shelters since August 2022 that offer homeless persons numerous resources not available in our community. He said only two people have been taken to Mobile from Biloxi in 2023, and fewer than 20 since the program began. He said everyone taken to Mobile signed a consent form. While it is true that some individuals have utilized the serves of the Mobile shelters, the inferences in your letter attributing some wrongdoing by our police department are incorrect, Gilich wrote, inviting Mobile officials to discuss the matter further. In June, the Biloxi City Council rejected a permanent location for a soup kitchen after complaints from residents. Secretary of State Antony Blinken dodged a question on Sunday about whether Israel intelligence failed to prevent the surprise coordinated attacks by Hamas. George, therell be time to look at that and to make determinations about what may have been missed, Blinken told George Stephanopoulos on ABCs This Week. And right now, the focus has to be on the effort to repel the aggression by the Hamas terrorists to push them back and to put Israel in a position where this doesnt happen again. When pushed further on the United States close ties with Israeli intelligence, Blinken reiterated that the countries will continue to look at what may have been missed leading up to the attacks. We have a very close relationship with Israeli intelligence as well as with the Israeli military as well as with Israel more broadly. So yes, of course, this is something that they and we will be looking at. But the the effort right now has to be in dealing with the aggression from from Hamas with these attacks, he said. Blinken also noted that most of the Hamas militants who invaded Israel have been killed, but fighting in Gaza has intensified. In a surprise move, Hamas launched a multi-pronged attack on Israel Saturday with a barrage of missile strikes and entered Israel, holding citizens and military members hostage. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally declared war as a result almost immediately after the attacks. There are at least 500 Israelis dead and more than 300 Palestinians killed so far in Israels retaliatory measures. Later that day, the prime minister vowed to destroy Hamas and avenge those left dead and injured. The situation has been ravaged with complexities as the Hamas has taken dozens of Israelis as hostage with Israel retaliating as a result. The U.S. has reiterated support for Israel in the hours since the attacks. In this moment of tragedy, I want to say to them and to the world, and to terrorists everywhere, that the United States stands with Israel. We will not ever fail to have their back. Well make sure that they have the help their citizens need and they can continue to defend themselves, President Biden said in remarks at the White House Saturday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The UAE and India will cooperate in seven vital areas to achieve sustainable industrial development, besides focusing on facilitating industrial investments, technology transfer and deploying key technologies in industries. The seven key areas are supply chain resilience, renewable energy and energy efficiency, health and life sciences, space systems, AI, Industry 4.0 and advanced technologies, as well as standardisation and metrology. For this, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which will benefit both the countries through joint industrial and technological developments. The MoU was signed in the presence of Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. It was signed by Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Piyush Goyal, Indias Minister of Commerce and Industry. High Level Joint Task Force The MoU signing is in line with the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), aimed at enhancing the country's position as a gateway for trade and logistics. The agreement was signed during the 11th meeting of the UAE-India High Level Joint Task Force on Investments. Dr Al Jaber said: In line with the UAE leaderships vision, we are committed to strengthening bilateral relations to enhance sustainable and economic growth. Given the UAEs strong relationship with India across the economic, technological, and social domains, we are pleased to sign this MoU to further develop the industrial sector in line with advanced technology and sustainability standards. This aligns with the objectives of the national industrial strategy, and Make it in the Emirates initiative, aimed at transforming the UAE into a global hub for advanced industry, especially industries of the future. He added: The MoU encompasses various aspects of cooperation aimed at promoting industrial investments in priority sectors for the national economies of both countries, including advanced industries, energy transition solutions, healthcare, and space. It also aims to develop innovative and technological solutions that support sustainability and climate neutrality efforts. By working closely within these strategic sectors, the UAE and India can accelerate sustainable growth and diversify their economies, promoting industries that are more competitive, efficient, and sustainable. Goyal commented: This MoU opens new doors to develop cooperation efforts and build an institutional framework in the fields of emerging technologies. It will help in promoting and developing bilateral cooperation in sectors such space, healthcare, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and many other vital areas. To build supply chain resilience, the UAE and India will collaborate to identify opportunities to supply raw materials. They will also share best practices on industrial enablement and incentivisation for industrial growth and development, for instance in areas such as energy, land, CAPEX, OPEX, technology and labour. In the energy space, the UAE and India will collaborate in advancing energy storage technologies, Smart Grid and IoT deployment, and R&D in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Similarly, in health and life sciences, the countries will collaborate in the development of pharmaceuticals, the use of biotechnology, and R&D. The UAE and India are also seeking to enhance their respective space industries through closer collaboration in space systems. The MoU will help the countries to collaborate in the commercial development, launch and use of small satellites for communication and Earth observation, as well as space exploration. The countries will also collaborate in the development of licensing of space-related materials, in addition to R&D in the space sector. In the field of AI, the UAE and India will cooperate in the deployment of AI technologies in the space sector, energy, healthcare and supply chains. Both countries will work together to advance capabilities in machine learning and data analytics across priority sectors. Under the MoU, the UAE and India will also collaborate in the deployment of 4IR technologies in industry, real-time data processing, the development of machine-to-machine control systems, the development of autonomous robotics, equipment and vehicles, as well as the deployment of additive manufacturing in key industries. The final area of collaboration is standardisation, metrology, conformity assessment, accreditation, and Halal certification. The countries will exchange information including procedures, guidelines, and lists of regulated products. The countries will also cooperate to harmonise standards with international requirements and work towards the mutual recognition of the conformity assessment results. Under the MoU, cooperation includes industrial and academic collaborations as well as collaborative research and development projects. The countries will also share best practices relating to science and technology policies. Washington Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday morning that the U.S. was working to verify reports that Americans have been killed or taken hostage as Hamas militants launched a large-scale offensive against Israel. "We've got reports that several Americans are among the dead. We're working very actively to verify those reports. At the same time, the reports of Americans being taken hostage there too, we're working to get the facts to find out if those reports are accurate," Blinken told "Face the Nation" on Sunday. Later on Sunday, a National Security Council spokesperson confirmed that several U.S. citizens had been killed. "We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected, and wish those injured a speedy recovery," the spokesperson said, adding, "We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in touch with our Israeli partners, particularly the local authorities." Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement Sunday night that he was told in a briefing the U.S. was aware of four Americans who had been killed, but that the number is expected to rise. Transcript: Secretary of State Antony Blinken on "Face the Nation" Hamas, the Islamist militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, launched an unprecedented attack on Israel early Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border that Israel uses to contain Palestinians in Gaza. Israeli officials confirmed early Monday that over 700 Israeli civilians and members of the military had died. Another 2,150 were reported wounded, and many Israelis, both civilians and security forces, have been taken hostage. More than 300 Palestinians have been killed in retaliatory Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, Palestinian health officials said Sunday. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog told "Face the Nation" that dozens of Israelis and others have been kidnapped by Hamas, including women, children and the elderly. Herzog said he is under the impression that there were Americans taken hostage, but he didn't have details. Transcript: Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog on "Face the Nation" Blinken said the assault is the worst attack on Israel since the Yom Kippur War in 1973, when forces from Egypt and Syria caught Israel off-guard. "But there's a big difference," Blinken said. "That was a conflict between countries, between armies. This is a massive terrorist assault on Israel, with terrorists going into Israeli homes, going into Israeli towns, gunning down civilians in their homes, on the street, grabbing people, men, women, children, and taking them into Gaza." The conflict has raised concerns that it could expand into neighboring countries or provoke direct conflict between Israel and Iran, which funds and provides weapons to Hamas. "We suspect Iranian hands behind the scenes," Herzog said. "As far as we are concerned, this is an Iranian-led coalition and we suspect that Iran is involved." Herzog would not say how Israel plans to respond to Iran. "I'm not going to say what exactly Israel is going to do, but I will just say that whoever strikes Israel, we'll strike back," Herzog said. When asked whether the U.S. has requested that Israel not strike Iran, Blinken indicated that had not been part of the discussion. "The only things we said to Israel are that, 'We're here. We got your back. We want to make sure that you have the support that you need. We want to make sure that you have the assistance that you need,'" he said. "Israel is focused entirely on Gaza and on securing its citizens, a number of whom remain under direct threat right now in Israel proper," he added. "And as I said, trying to do what's necessary to have accountability and to make sure that doesn't happen again. That is Israel's focus." Blinken said he did not view the attack as an attempt to take advantage of the West's focus on Ukraine. "I don't see that," he said. "We'll have to see as we learn more what the motivations were and what they are." He suggested it could have been in response to the U.S. trying to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region. "Now, who's opposed to that? Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran," he said. Sly Stone's new memoir Students making friends across the American divide Rachel Maddow on "Prequel" and fascism in America Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the U.S. is working to verify reports that several Americans were killed and others were taken hostage in Israel over the weekend. We have reports that several Americans were killed. Were working overtime to verify that. At the same time, there are reports of missing Americans and there again, were working to verify those reports, Blinken told Dana Bash on Sundays State of the Union. Secretary of State Blinken says the US is "working overtime" to verify reports of missing and dead Americans after Hamas' terror attack in Israel https://t.co/JMOO89yQLm pic.twitter.com/7LVsP55TJI CNN (@CNN) October 8, 2023 Hamas launched an unprecedented coordinated attack against Israel Saturday, killing hundreds and taking dozens hostage, including women, children and the elderly. The Palestinian military groups surprise assault from the south has Israeli forces fighting to regain control of several areas. Israeli authorities reported that at least 500 people have died and another 2,000 were injured, while the Palestinian Health Ministry said that 232 have died and 1,790 were injured in retaliatory attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office called the attack a murderous terrorist assault from the Gaza Strip and announced his Security Cabinet declared war, which grants formal authorization for significant military steps. Blinken said that President Joe Biden has told him to make sure that were providing Israel everything it needs in this moment to deal with the attacks from Hamas. Secretary of State Antony Blinken: "President Biden's direction was to make sure that we're providing Israel everything it needs in this moment to deal with the attacks from Hamas." pic.twitter.com/aiuLJZSDw5 The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) October 8, 2023 Were looking at specific additional requests that the Israelis have made. I think youre likely to hear more about that later today, he added. Blinken said he spoke to Netanyahu Sunday morning. I told him the United States stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults. Israel has the right to defend itself and its people, full stop, he said. During an appearance on Meet the Press, host Kristen Welker asked Blinken whether there was an intelligence failure by U.S. and Israeli intelligence in not knowing this attack was coming. The Israelis will have plenty of time to look into that, Blinken repsonded. All of us will have time to look into that. The focus now has to be on making sure that Israel has what it needs to deal with this attack and to make sure that its citizens are safe and secure. Thats the entire focus. Welker also asked about whether Blinken believed Iran had a role in planning this attack. Iran and Hamas have a long relationship, the secretary of state said. Hamas wouldnt be Hamas without the support its had for many years from Iran. In this moment, we dont have anything that shows us that Iran was directly involved in this attack, in planning it or in carrying it out. But thats something were looking at very carefully, and weve got to see where the facts lead. Welker also asked Blinken about a recent $6 billion deal between the U.S. and Iran to release five U.S. detainees. Republicans have claimed funds from the deal helped fuel this attack. How do you respond to Republican critics who say that that deal funded the attacks on Israel? she said. Its very unfortunate that some are playing politics at a time when so many lives have been lost and Israel remains under attack, Blinken said. Here are the facts. The facts are that these were not U.S. taxpayer dollars. These were Iranian resources that it had accumulated from the sale of its oil that were stuck in a bank in South Korea Not a single cent has been spent from that account. When any money is spent from that account, it can only be used for medical supplies, for food, for medicine. Those who are saying otherwise are either misinformed or misinforming. When the conversation turned to Congress and political infighting that might delay action from the legislative branch in response to the attack, Welker asked, As you know, theres currently no Speaker of the House Is Congress able to respond? Should Israel ask for more aid from the United States? Back under President Obama, we signed a so-called memorandum of understanding with Israel that provides it with $3.8 billion a year in defense assistance, and much of that is ongoing, Blinken said. As a general proposition, it would be very important to make sure that we have both houses of Congress on a bipartisan basis in a place where they can clearly show and express their support for Israel, especially in this hour of need. And so thats something we want to see, and we hope that that happens quickly. But Rep. Seth Moulton said on MSNBC that Congress is pretty much paralyzed right now by not having a speaker of the House. This is unprecedented in American history, of course, to not have a speaker like this, the Democratic congressman said. Were not sure whether the Republicans can get their act together and even produce a nominee for a vote this week, so it just highlights how important it is to have a functioning government here at home to deal with and respond to these international crises. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that U.S. officials have received reports that several Americans have been killed in Israel as a result of Hamass attacks on the country. In an interview on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday, Blinken said the U.S. is working to verify those reports. Yes, we have reports that several Americans were killed, Blinken told CNNs Dana Bash when asked whether Americans were killed or kidnapped in Israel. Were working overtime to verify that. At the same time, there are reports of missing Americans, and there again, were working to verify those reports, Blinken said. Blinkens comments come after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel in decades Saturday, killing an estimated 500 Israelis, according to reports. Blinken reiterated American support for Israel and described the war as a massive terrorist attack on Israeli civilians, indiscriminate firing of rockets against civilians. President Biden has projected a similar sentiment, saying the United States stands with Israel and supports Israels right to defend itself. The United States unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza, and I made clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu that we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel, Biden said in a statement Saturday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. As the decibels rose from the second-largest crowd in Albertsons Stadium history, Boise State coach Andy Avalos received a strange request. Game officials wanted to know whether the volume in the stadium could be turned down. But those screaming fans in a crowd that was announced at 37,491 were rightfully going nuts. The Broncos rallied from a 20-point first-half deficit to defeat San Jose State 35-27 on Saturday night in Mountain West play. The comeback tied for the second-largest in program history in the FBS era. The stadium was electric, Avalos said. There was one part when the referees came over ... and were asking about the volume within the stadium and how loud the crowd was. Cant do anything about the crowd, but they asked us to turn down the (public address) volume in the stadium. Thats never really happened before. That was pretty cool. After committing three turnovers in the first half including a pair of fumbles by star running back Ashton Jeanty and allowing the Spartans to score on five consecutive drives, it appeared the Broncos (3-3, 2-0 Mountain West) were in for a long night. San Jose State amassed 316 total yards in the first half with the help of 10 explosive plays as quarterback Chevan Cordeiro threw for 255 yards, including completions of 21, 34, 58 and 63 yards. He also had a 21-yard scramble and an 11-yard touchdown run. The Spartans went up 27-7 with 4:56 to play in the second quarter on running back Quali Conleys 6-yard run. At the time, with Cordeiro giving the home team fits, no one could have guessed that San Jose State (1-5, 0-2) would not score again. The games final four touchdowns belonged to Boise State. Im just so happy for the players and the coaches to will themselves back into that. Its not easy to dig down inside, Avalos said. Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen celebrates his rushing touchdown in the second quarter that cut San Jose States lead to 27-14. Redshirt freshman quarterback Maddux Madsen led the Broncos on a 14-play, 70-yard drive before halftime, scoring the touchdown on an 8-yard QB draw with 42 seconds left in the second quarter. Obviously, the score right before the half helped tremendously, Avalos said. ... And to be able to get those stops on defense, when we started to stack up those stops and the offense started pushing the ball downfield, the energy on the sideline just rose. And to feel the guys lead each other, that was the coolest part about it. The Boise State defense couldnt get stops in the first half, but it pitched a shutout over the final 30 minutes. San Jose States six drives in the second half resulted in three punts, two turnovers on downs and an interception by junior cornerback AMarion McCoy. And the Spartans managed no big plays down the field. This is a brotherhood, Boise State linebacker Andrew Simpson said. We just looked at each other and we just decided we werent gonna lose today. While the BSU defense made its stand, the Broncos found their way forward in a two-quarterback system. Madsens first drive of the second half ended in a punt, the only time the rest of the way that standout punter James Ferguson-Reynolds services were required. Jeanty brushed off his first-half troubles with a 68-yard run to start the Broncos second drive of the third quarter, and redshirt sophomore quarterback Taylen Green was in the end zone three plays later on a 1-yard run. Green had a hand in three of the Broncos five scores, also running for an 11-yard TD and finding Riley Smith on a 2-yard touchdown toss for the games final margin. Jeanty kept up a torrid pace this season with 183 all-purpose yards, 167 of which came on the ground. The sophomore surpassed 1,000 all-purpose yards, becoming just the third player in FBS since 1996 to record 1,000 yards from scrimmage in the first six games. He entered Saturdays game averaging the second-most all-purpose yards per game in the country (165.4). He also hurdled a San Jose State defender on fourth-and-1 to keep the Broncos game-clinching drive alive. Thats what we do. Thats Boise State football right there, Jeanty said. That just shows what type of team we are and what mentality we have going in every game. Were gonna run the ball, and when the time comes, our guys are gonna make plays for us. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty hurdles San Jose State safety Tre Jenkins to convert on fourth down in the fourth quarter Saturday at Albertsons Stadium. QBs rush for three TDs The jury will be out for a bit on the success of Boise States two-quarterback system, but Madsen and Green did combine for some rare statistics in Saturdays win. Thanks to Madsens 8-yard rushing TD and Greens pair of scores on the ground, the Broncos scored three rushing touchdowns from the quarterback position for the first time since Jared Zabransky did it on Sept. 21, 2005, against Bowling Green. And the last time two different Boise State quarterbacks ran for a touchdown in the same game was 2010 against Utah State, when Kellen Moore and Mike Coughlin both had 1-yard scores. They both worked off each other very well today, Avalos said. Once we got going and we limited the turnovers ... it was awesome to see. I thought (offensive coordinator) Bush (Hamdan) did a great job of mixing it up. Green made his 16th consecutive start and finished 4-for-8 passing for 75 yards and a touchdown, while adding five carries for 40 yards. Madsen was 9-for-16 passing for 170 yards and a touchdown, plus eight carries for 39 yards and a score. Madsen also threw an interception that set up a San Jose State TD in the first quarter. McAlister has career night Redshirt sophomore receiver Eric McAlister kept the offense afloat in the first half and finished with a career-high 170 receiving yards on five catches. He had 126 yards on four receptions in the first half. His total for the game was the most yards by a Bronco in a conference contest since Thomas Sperbeck had 198 against New Mexico in 2016. McAlisters 83-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter pulled the Broncos within 17-7. It was the longest Boise State touchdown pass since Brett Rypien connected with A.J. Richardson on an 87-yarder against Air Force in 2017. Holani, Schramm out again Three starters and one backup were out for Boise State on Saturday. Redshirt senior running back George Holani remained sidelined for the fifth straight game after sustaining a lower-body injury in the Broncos opener against Washington. Sixth-year senior linebacker DJ Schramm sat out for the second game in a row, and left guard Ben Dooley also was out, his fourth straight missed game. Redshirt junior Tyler Wegis, listed as Ahmed Hassaneins backup at defensive end, is on the inactive list. QUICK HITS The Broncos wore black jerseys, blue pants and blue helmets. ... Team captains DJ Schramm and Riley Smith were joined by right tackle Cade Beresford and edge Demitri Washington as game captains. ... San Jose State won the coin toss and elected to defer. ... Boise State was led onto the field by safety Ty Benefield, carrying the Dan Paul Hammer. ... Defensive end Ahmed Hassanein carried the American flag and wide receiver Shea Whiting the Bleed Blue flag. ... Sophomore James Ferguson-Reynolds had a 71-yard punt in the first quarter, which is the fourth-longest in Boise State history and is tied for the third-longest punt in the nation this season. Display of banned books or censored books at Books Inc independent bookstore in Alameda, Calif., on Oct. 16, 2021. Credit - Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images This first week of October is the American Library Associations Banned Books Week. According to a recently released report by the advocacy group PEN America, which tracks book bans, the past school year saw a record-high 3,362 bans, which restricted access to 1,557 different books. More broadly, a culture of censorship has beset American schools, affecting students, highly qualified teachers, and librarians. The huge spike in school censorship, along with the proliferation of state laws driving it, are alarming signs for our democracy. But another, less remarked-upon threat is the diminishment of literature itself in American schools. Read more: New Report Finds That Book Bans Have Reached Their Highest Levels Yet Today, thanks to state standards and high-stakes examinations, teaching literature has been largely reduced to instilling College and Career Readiness. Because standardized exams test students using short reading passages, teachers are pressured to expose students only to bits and pieces of books, instead of novels or other whole works, a problem recently documented by a team of Stanford and Temple University researchers. Readers are asked to determine or analyze, but not to empathize, reflect, or debate. In a break from the past, we have lost sight of literature as a social good. To appreciate what we are losing and to reaffirm literatures civic value, it is useful to revisit a moment when Americans were similarly concerned about the precariousness of democracyand in response, a visionary educator powerfully articulated the important role that teaching literature could play in sustaining it. In the 1930s as fascism rose to power in Europe and gained in popularity at home, literary and educational theorist Louise Rosenblatt argued that the study of literature can have a very real, and even central, relation to points of growth in the social and cultural life of a democracy. In her view, the classroom should be a laboratory for democracy where students could encounter, inhabit, and try out other points of view. Through the process of testing their ideas in the classroom community, students could further develop empathy and imagination, capacities that Rosenblatt saw as essential traits for citizens to possess and critical to the functioning of a democratic society. Rosenblatt was also reacting to two prevailing approaches in English classrooms that she hoped to counter. First, she opposed instruction that reduced literature to didactic or moralistic messages. Memorizing and reciting poems like Ralph Waldo Emersons Concord Hymn, or reading stories such as Edward Everett Hales "The Man Without a Country," reflected the craving for some easy, reassuring formula, she thought. Being spoon-fed patriotism, Rosenblatt believed, made youth vulnerable to anti-democratic ideologies that promised something easier and better. The educational theorist, like her contemporary, the Progressive philosopher John Dewey, wanted students to learn to think for themselves, and to grapple with the moral and civic ambiguities that literature presented. Read more: The Extreme New Tactic in the Crusade to Ban Books Rosenblatt was pushing back not only against rote learning and the oversimplification of literature in Americas schools, but also against the New Criticism, an approach that was beginning to dominate instruction at the college level. In particular, the New Critics emphasized consensus and continuity over debate, a theory thatunlike Rosenblatts approach to readingignored the reader. Rosenblatts Literature as Exploration, published in 1938 for the Progressive Education Associations Commission on Human Relations, argued for a method of teaching literature that valued equally books and their readers. The book went through five editions, and Rosenblatts ideas shaped generations of teachers. She offered them a way to encourage their students to foster the kinds of relationships with literature that had led many teachers to enter the profession. Her theories eventually found their heyday in the 1980s and 1990s, when reading lists finally started to diversify and more students could see their own life experience represented in the literature they were assigned. By 1995, the year of the latest edition of Literature as Exploration, the threats to democracy in American culture and the literature classroom were fundamentally different than they had been in the 1930s and during the Cold War. But new pressures appeared; now the culture wars were aflame. Rapidly rising censorship attacks led the National Council of Teachers of English to draft and adopt "The Students Right to Read" in 1981, yet the challenges kept coming, fueled by conservative watchdog groups such as Phyllis Schlaflys Eagle Forum and Pat Robertsons National Legal Foundation. Alice Walkers The Color Purple, Maya Angelous I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and much of Judy Blumes opus, which had become common works in the curriculum, came under fire by critics on the right. Read more: A Visit to the Banned-Book Bus With Kimberle Crenshaw The battles over what students read in the 1990s obscured a broader shift in the goals of literature instruction. Gone were Rosenblattian skills best learned in community. A focus on individualized aptitude, as measured by analyzing short passages on standardized tests, became ascendant. This standardization was driven by some of public schools noblest idealsequality and ensuring everyone received a quality education in the same skillscoupled with our national obsession with efficiency and bureaucracy. The empirical skills that exams privileged might be useful for institutions and corporations that depended on efficient workers, but they were less useful for navigating the nuances and challenges of civic life in a democracy. And the approach turned reading into a chore, or what English educator Kelly Gallagher has coined Readicide. Rosenblatt passed away in 2005, at age 100. Her career lasted until the beginning of the standardized testing era, with the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001. Reflecting on this longevity, she concluded, I am aware of how many problems face our society, how many reactionary tendencies affect our education system. She saw that the threat to democracy was always present; the source changed more than the impulse. Contemporary teachers know this well. In summer workshops funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, teachers have come together from around the country, where we teach in varying political environments with different levels of professional autonomy. Across the board, teachers have shared the concern that in this moment of intense anti-democratic threat, literatures value in the curriculum, rather than being bolstered, is being deeply compromised. Reading is losing to rigor, but it is a rigor without core beliefs or commitment to democracy as Rosenblatt understood it. This loss threatens not only our students' development as readers, but also their sense of community, within and beyond the classroom: local, national, global. It is a learning outcome that transcends quantification and that should concern us all. Jonna Perrillo is professor of English at the University of Texas, El Paso, the NCTE Council Historian, and author of Educating the Enemy: Teaching Nazis and Mexicans in the Cold War Borderlands. Andrew Newman, professor and chair of the English department at Stony Brook University, is working on a cultural history of the high school canon. They co-directed the National Endowment for the Humanities 2023 Summer Institute for K-12 Teachers, Making the Good Reader and Citizen: The History of Literature Instruction in American Schools. Made by History takes readers beyond the headlines with articles written and edited by professional historians. Learn more about Made by History at TIME here. Write to Made by History at madebyhistory@time.com. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and his staff departed Israel on Sunday, after Hamass attacks on Israel forced the senator to shelter in place in Jerusalem on Saturday. A spokesperson for Bookers office confirmed in a statement that the New Jersey Democrat departed early from a trip to Israel, where he arrived Friday and had planned to stay through at least Tuesday, when he had a scheduled speaking arrangement. After the massive attack by Hamas against Israel began Saturday morning, however, Booker and his team had to cut the trip short. Senator Booker and accompanying staff were in Jerusalem when Hamas launched their attacks against Israel on Saturday, and sheltered in place for their safety, Bookers spokesperson said. We are grateful that Senator Booker and our colleagues were able to safely depart Israel earlier today. The office said Booker was slated to engage in several days of meetings before his talk Tuesday about regional economic integration. On Friday, October 6, Senator Booker arrived in Israel for several days of planned meetings and site visits ahead of the start of an Abraham Accords-focused N7 summit on regional economic integration in Tel Aviv, at which he was scheduled to speak on Tuesday, the spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement. In an earlier statement Saturday, Bookers office released a statement condemning the attacks. I emphatically condemn Hamas horrific acts of violence, kidnapping and terror targeting Israeli families, children and other civilians in towns and cities across the nation of Israel. I stand with the people of Israel and the families of those who have lost loved ones, Booker said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Marina Wheeler finalised her divorce from the former prime minister in early 2020 - Jay Williams Boris Johnsons ex-wife is set to become Labours new whistleblowing tsar, it emerged this weekend as the party unveiled a planned crackdown on sexual harassment at work. Marina Wheeler KC, one of Britains foremost civil rights lawyers, has been enlisted by the opposition as part of its work to strengthen employment protections. Angela Rayner , Labours deputy leader, confirmed that employers would have a legal duty to take all reasonable steps to prevent workplace harassment In a speech to attendees at the annual party conference in Liverpool, Ms Rayner said: I was pleased to announce today Labour would properly tackle sexual harassment at work. A shocking two-thirds of young women have been sexually harassed at work. This must change. Thats why the next Labour government will amend the Equalities Act to introduce a legal duty for employers to take all reasonable steps to stop sexual harassment before it starts. Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner announces its policies for the workplace - OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images Ms Wheeler has four children with Mr Johnson and separated from the former prime minister after 25 years of marriage, with the couple finalising their divorce in early 2020. Speaking about her decision to join forces with Ms Rayner on the issue, she told the Independent newspaper: [Women in the workplace] too often suffer sexual harassment and assault and they pay a heavy price for speaking out. Knowing this, and to keep their jobs, they suffer in silence. The measures would add to existing provisions in the Equality Act, which makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against staff because of their sex. Harassment, including less favourable treatment of staff members because they have rejected sexual advances, currently falls under this umbrella. One-third sexually harassed Almost one-third of working women suffered some form of sexual harassment either at work or in a work-related environment in the past year, the latest data from the Governments equalities office show. An analysis of the data by Labour estimates that 4.7 million women per year endure sexual harassment at work, of whom 17 per cent choose to move to another job because of their experience. Last month, the City watchdog confirmed it would launch a crackdown on workplace misconduct following allegations of sexual harassment against Crispin Odey. Lawyers for Mr Odey, the hedge fund tycoon, say he strenuously disputes a number of claims of improper behaviour throughout a 25-year period. Elsewhere in her speech, Ms Rayner said women suffering symptoms of the menopause at work will get the support they deserve, while also pledging to empower women in business. She also denied reports the partys flagship New Deal for Working People, which sets out various additional employment policies, would be watered down. Be in no doubt not with Keir and I at the helm, Ms Rayner told delegates. Well ban zero-hour contracts, [end] fire-and-rehire, and give workers basic rights from day one. Well go further and faster in closing the gender pay gap, make work more family friendly, and tackle sexual harassment. And we wont stop there. Well ensure that unions can stand up for their members. We will boost collective bargaining, to improve workers pay, terms and conditions. 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 14-year-old boy has been charged with murder after allegedly stabbing a 13-year-old middle school student to death on a Staten Island bus on Friday. Syles Ular was stabbed multiple times just after 2.30pm as the MTA bus was passing Hyland Boulevard near Littlefield Avenue in Eltingville, the NYPD said in a statement. Officers transported him to Staten Island University Hospital in Princes Bay where he was pronounced dead, police said. Witnesses said another boy had boarded the bus and began arguing with the suspect shortly before the stabbing, according to CBS News. A knife is produced, and gang signs were being shown back and forth, NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell told reporters. Mr Chell said the teenage suspect ran off several blocks from the scene before he was apprehended by several witnesses including a retired NYPD detective who pursued him. He said police believe the killing was gang-related, and called it a tragic, tragic homicide. Both boys attended the nearby Elias Bernstein Intermediate School 7, he said. An official from the New York City Transit Department of Subways told Staten Island Live that the stabbing was captured by bus surveillance cameras. The 14-year-old was arrested on Friday night and charged with murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon, police said. His aunt Ladrina Sheffield told the New York Daily News he was the sweetest kid. His life should not have been taken this way. This is just senseless. I cant believe my baby is gone, Ms Sheffield said. Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (10) reaches on catcher interference by Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy during the eighth inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) ATLANTA (AP) Braves catcher Sean Murphy was called for interference in the eighth inning of the NL Division Series opener against Philadelphia on Saturday night, bringing home the final fun for the Phillies in their 3-0 win. The call was made by plate umpire Brian ONora with J.T. Realmuto batting with the bases loaded and two outs, forcing in Trea Turner . It was hard to see any contact, but Realmuto looked back at O'Nora after he fouled off a pitch from Pierce Johnson and pointed to Murphy. After O'Nora indicated the interference call, Realmuto clapped as he jogged to first. Murphy slung back his head in disappointment but didn't complain. The call was challenged by Atlanta, but it was upheld by a replay review. Some fans at Truist Park threw trash on the field in protest. I didn't feel it, Murphy said, but I heard it. Braves manager Brian Snitker said the quick reaction of Realmuto immediately turning to the ump and Murphy's acceptance of the call indicated that contact was made. Murph didnt say anything, and I dont know that a hitter reacts like that ... things happen too quick for a guy to react like that if it didnt happen," Snitker said. There were 96 catcher interference calls in the majors this year, the highest total since at least 1974. That's up from 74 in 2022 and 64 in 2021, according to Sportradar. Under MLBs catcher interference rule, the batter is awarded first base if any fielder interferes with him during a pitch. It happens most often when a hitter gets a piece of the catchers glove with his bat. When catcher interference is called, the play is allowed to continue in case the outcome is more advantageous for the offensive team than the interference. If the interference call is accepted, the catcher is charged with an error. The hitter is marked down for a plate appearance but not an at-bat, and reaching first doesnt affect the players on-base percentage. One of the biggest factors in the increase is pitch-framing metrics that look favorably on catchers who receive the ball closer to the plate. Murphy, who turned 29 on Wednesday, is highly regarded for his catching skills. He won a Gold Glove in 2021 with Oakland. But this was an especially tough night for the Braves catcher, who slumped badly in the second half of the season after making the All-Star Game for the first time. Murphy went 0 for 3 at the plate, was charged with an error and couldn't prevent the Phillies from stealing five bases a Philadelphia record for the postseason and the most by any team in a playoff game since 2014. Snitker said it wasn't entirely Murphy's fault. Murph made a couple of really good throws," the manager said. Overall, theyre very opportunistic, and they've got a lot of guys with a lot of success in stealing bases, too. Were going to have to do a better job holding the ball and things like that. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb The Supreme Courts latest term has just begun, and it is set to shove one of former President Donald Trumps appointees into the spotlight: Justice Brett Kavanaugh . Since the court achieved its six-vote conservative supermajority in 2020, Kavanaugh has issued concurrences in high-profile decisions that provided guidance or guardrails on the majority opinions that he joined. In each case, Kavanaughs effort to guide future decisions and place himself at the center of the court will be tested in this term. In this term, the court will see several cases in which they will rule on what Kavanaugh meant in three key concurrences, in which he described limits to the courts decisions on three major topics overturning Roe v. Wade, vastly expanding gun rights and affirming Voting Rights Act precedents. Kavanaughs concurrences, in theory, would limit the way these rulings can be applied to future cases. In practice, it remains to be seen if the court will stick to them. A few upcoming cases, in particular, stand out as tests, all along similar lines to those of the last term: The dual abortion medication cases of Danco Laboratories v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine and Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, the gun rights case Rahimi v. U.S. and the Louisiana voting rights case Ardoin v. Robinson will greatly inform what challenges litigants are willing to bring on these issues in the future. And they place Kavanaugh at the center of the courts action now. That is not an unusual spot for Kavanaugh, a Trump appointee, since he barely won Senate confirmation in 2018 after being accused of committing sexual assault in high school. He has denied the allegations. In the years since, he has firmly established himself as the conservative justice most likely to join Chief Justice John Roberts in forging compromises with the courts three liberal justices. His concurrences in two major wins for conservatives and one for liberals now put his attempt at presenting a moderate face to the test. One of Kavanaughs concurrences has already been tested. In June, the court ruled in the case of Allen v. Milligan that Alabama violated the Voting Rights Act by drawing a racially discriminatory congressional map that included only one majority or plurality-Black district when demographics indicated it should have two such districts. While Kavanaugh voted with the majority against Alabama, he also filed a separate concurrence suggesting that the ruling, upholding Section 2 of the Voting Rights Acts limits on racially discriminatory redistricting, should not last forever. Section 2 bans the enactment of election laws and district maps that result in the denial or abridgement of the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color. Kavanaugh wrote, [E]ven if Congress in 1982 could constitutionally authorize race-based redistricting under [Section 2] for some period of time, the authority to conduct race-based redistricting cannot extend indefinitely into the future. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh finds his concurrences in cases involving abortion, voting rights and gun rights at the center of the court's latest term. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh finds his concurrences in cases involving abortion, voting rights and gun rights at the center of the court's latest term. But, he added, Alabama did not raise that temporal argument in this Court, and I therefore would not consider it at this time. This concurrence appeared to signal to future litigants that Kavanaugh was open to curtailing Section 2s limit on racial discrimination. As Slates Mark Joseph Stern and Dahlia Lithwick argue, Kavanaugh was trying to copy the bat-signal style used by Justice Clarence Thomas in his dissents and concurrences as a guide for how future litigants could eventually win conservative outcomes at the court. Thomas bat signals would seed future decisions years, or even decades, later, but todays conservatives have no such patience. So, Alabama Republicans just disobeyed the courts ruling in Allen and drew another congressional map with only one Black opportunity district. They seemed to believe, based on intelligence, that Kavanaugh supported their refusal to follow the decision he joined, according to the Alabama Political Reporter. But they were wrong. When Allen v. Milligan II reached the court, it rejected the states appeal and ordered it to follow a lower court ruling that mandated a court-drawn map including the two Black opportunity districts. A court adopted such a map on Thursday. Alabamas effort to defy the law, in keeping with its traditions of defying court orders to not racially discriminate, may have failed, but similar efforts testing Kavanaughs concurrence may still wind up before the court. We are starting to see arguments from states that are citing the concurrence as a basis for a new defense, Sophia Lin Lakin, director of the American Civil Liberty Unions (ACLU) Voting Rights Project, said. Louisiana Republicans are challenging a nearly identical lower court ruling requiring the state to draw a second Black opportunity district in its congressional maps. Their current case directly cites the temporal argument in Kavanaughs concurrence to argue that Section 2s use of race to judge discriminatory redistricting is no longer constitutional. The case is currently before a panel of judges on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Where Kavanaughs concurrence in Allen gave hope to conservatives he might side with them, his concurrences in the gun rights case of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, and the ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization provide more support to activists on the other side. In Bruen, a majority led by Justice Clarence Thomas ruled that laws restricting gun ownership had to meet a new constitutional test by providing historical analogues from the founding period or from the ratification of the 14th Amendment. This new historical test pegged to a time when muskets were still weapons in active use has been interpreted by conservative lower courts in a sweeping fashion, striking down numerous previously constitutional gun restrictions. One such challenge comes out of Texas, where Zackey Rahimi, a convicted felon and domestic abuser, is challenging his conviction for possessing a firearm while under a domestic abuse protective order. His case argues that the Bruen decision invalidates the law limiting his ability to own a gun. The ultra-conservative judges on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals used Bruen to side with Rahimi: They ruled that the underlying law restricting gun ownership for people under domestic abuse orders was an outlier that our ancestors would never have accepted because the founding generation didnt care about, and therefore, didnt legislate against, domestic abuse against women. This was evidenced by the governments inability to present a historical analogue that the 5th Circuit judges found compelling. Since there were no laws making domestic abuse illegal until 1871, let alone laws disarming abusers, the government presented bans restricting firearm ownership for classes of people, like enslaved people, Native Americans and those who refused to swear an oath of allegiance. These laws disarmed people thought to pose a threat to the security of the state due to their perceived lack of loyalty or societal status, the 5th Circuit decision stated. Protesters march past Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's home on June 8, 2022 in Chevy Chase, Maryland after the court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade leaked. Protesters march past Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's home on June 8, 2022 in Chevy Chase, Maryland after the court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade leaked. The stakes here are potentially immense, said Doug Letter, chief legal officer for the gun control group Brady: United Against Gun Violence. And its going to depend on how broadly or narrowly the court decides to write. In his concurrence, which was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, Kavanaugh suggested that Bruen did not foreclose all opportunities for gun regulation. He did so by restating the language of prior gun rights decisions in District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago that the Second Amendment is neither a regulatory straightjacket nor a regulatory blank check. [N]othing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, or laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms, then-Justice Antonin Scalia wrote in 2008s Heller and Kavanaugh quoted in his concurrence. The concurrence in Bruen obviously indicates that those justices are open to some gun regulation, Sandra Park, an attorney with the ACLUs Womens Rights Project, said. Similarly, Kavanaughs concurrence in Dobbs will be tested if the court takes up arguments in the twin cases of Danco Laboratories v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine and Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, challenging the authorization and mailing of abortion medication. In Dobbs, Kavanaugh joined Justice Samuel Alitos decision that overturned the constitutional right to an abortion established in Roe v. Wade and made it possible for states to ban abortion. In his decision, Alito claimed that the court was returning the issue to the states to do as they pleased. Kavanaugh went further in his concurrence: After todays decision, the nine Members of this Court will no longer decide the basic legality of pre-viability abortion for all 330 million Americans. That issue will be resolved by the people and their representatives in the democratic process in the States or Congress. But anti-abortion activists, seeking to push their advantage, continued to sue in federal court to get the justices to expand abortion bans beyond the states to apply to the whole country. They specifically targeted the Food and Drug Administrations authorization for the use and mailing of the drug mifepristone as an abortifacient. In April, far-right District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ruled that the FDAs authorization for the use of mifepristone overstepped the agencys bounds and its allowance of the drug to be acquired through the mail violated the 1873 anti-vice Comstock Act. His decision put a stay on the further mailing of the drug. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld parts of Kacsmaryks decision and kept his decision to override the FDAs drug authorization in place. An emergency appeal to the Supreme Court resulted in a 7-2 decision temporarily that removed Kacsmaryks stay order, allowing the drug to continue to be used and mailed. In September, Danco Laboratories, the manufacturer of mifepristone, and the Biden administration filed briefs with the Supreme Court asking it to take up the case this term. If it chooses to do so, Kavanaughs concurring opinion that the nine Members of this Court will no longer decide the basic legality of pre-viability abortion for all 330 million Americans will be tested. Here, anti-abortion activists are asking the court to make that decision again and to do so by both overriding the normal FDA drug approval process and resurrecting an outdated 150-year-old anti-vice law. The decisions in all these cases are likely months in the future. But how they turn out will help determine whether some members of the courts conservative supermajority are willing to draw a line in the sand on the hard-right tendencies of the courts ultra-conservatives, like Thomas and Alito, and lower courts like the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. In doing so, it will also test Kavanaughs influence on the court and whether his concurrences hold any weight. Related... The Israeli - Hamas conflict continues to escalate about 24 hours since the start of Hamas' surprise attack - one of the deadliest Israel has faced in more than a generation. More than 230 people have been killed in a wave of air strikes on Gaza by Israel, officials said. Reports said about 250 Israelis has been killed when Palestinian militant group Hamas launched rocket attacks and sent fighters into Israel in the biggest escalation in decades. Dozens of Israelis are believed to have been taken hostage. The Israeli army has asked residents of several areas of the Gaza Strip to flee their homes in preparation for retaliatory strikes against Hamas. PM Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed "mighty vengeance" on Palestinian militants for what he called a "black day", said a BBC report. The violence continued on Saturday evening - with Tel Aviv and other central Israeli cities hit by a new barrage of rockets and Israel saying they are fighting militants in 22 places. Hamas commander Mohammed Deif said the group had "decided to say enough is enough". World leaders have called for urgent end to violence. Meanwhile, reports said Israel had fired into Lebanese territory in response to mortar fire from there. A spokesman from the Israel Defense Forces said the firing happened in the Mount Dov area, a tract of land claimed by Israel, Lebanon and Syria near the intersection of all three nations. Israel has warned Lebanon's militant Hezbollah movement not to get involved in the fighting. Warning: This piece contains distressing footage that may be disturbing to viewers. Just hours after hundreds of bodies were pulled from the wreckage of an Israeli music festival following a massacre carried out by Palestinian militants, survivors are stepping forward to share the horrific story of how the attack unfolded. The Supernova festival, a celebration coinciding with the Jewish holiday Sukkot held in southern Israel, near the countrys border with Gaza, was in full swing Saturday just after dawn when sirens began to sound, festival-goers told the BBC. Rocket strikes soon followed, leading attendees to seek shelter. According to an account shared with The Washington Post, a voice then loudly cut through the grounds as the trance music that had been playing for hours stopped abruptly: Guys, we have red alert, the voice warned. Red alert. Then the gunmen, part of a force organized by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, began to arrive. They turned off the electricity and suddenly out of nowhere they [militants] come inside with gunfire, opening fire in every direction, one survivor, identified only as Ortel, told Israels Channel 12. They fired bursts, and we reached a point where everyone stopped their vehicles and started running. I went into a tree, a bush like this, and they just started spraying people, they continued. I saw masses of wounded people thrown around and Im in a tree and trying to understand whats going on. Another attendee compared the carnage to a horror movie in an interview with Channel 12saying that many of those who survived hid in nearby bushes or fled the festival grounds to neighboring fruit orchards. In one particularly harrowing interview broadcast on the BBC, survivor Gili Yoskovich gave a play-by-play of her experience hiding from the gunmen under a tree in a neighboring field. They were going tree by tree and shooting. I saw people were dying all around. I was very quiet. I didnt cry, I didnt do anything. I was on the one hand breathing, saying: OK, Im going to die. Its OK, just breathe, just close your eyes, because it was shooting everywhere, it was very very close to me. Gili Yoskovich shared her story with our @JacobEilon pic.twitter.com/tM4u21NOCv i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) October 8, 2023 In all, more than 250 bodies have been recovered from the site, according to reports in The Times of Israel. On Sunday, the Hapoel Tel Aviv soccer team confirmed that 43-year-old former star Lior Asulin had been killed at the festival. Other festival-goers were apparently kidnapped and taken across the border into Gazaincluding Shani Louk, a German woman whose naked body was paraded in a pickup truck surrounded by Hamas militants. We recognized her by the tattoos, and she has long dreadlocks, Tom Weintraub Louk, Shanis first cousin, told The Washington Post of seeing footage of her on social media. Louk had been attending the outdoor music festival when militants stormed the area. The family has still not received any news on Shani, but her cousin said they still have some kind of hope. On Sunday, her family told Der Spiegel that her credit card had been used in Gaza. The mother of Shani Louk, the woman whose body was seen on video in the back of a pick-up truck driven by Palestinian terrorists to Gaza, released a statement earlier today. She confirmed she had seen her daughter on the video & asked the public for help with more information pic.twitter.com/LDcPsjGHP8 Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) October 8, 2023 Another Israeli woman, identified as Noa in a tweet shared by the Israel Foreign Ministry, was said to have been taken hostage by Hamas militants while attending the music festival. She was filmed screaming as she was dragged away from the festival by armed militants. Amir Moadi, Noas university roommate, was quoted telling the Daily Mail that her family only learned of her kidnapping when they saw the video online. She had been attending the festival with her boyfriend, Avi, when she was snatched, Moadi said. Now, both of them are missing. I was supposed to go to the desert party but decided at the last minute not to, Moadi told the Daily Mail. We last heard from her around 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. this morning when she texted us all to say that terrorists had opened fire and were chasing everyone but that they were both safe in hiding. We havent heard from them since but then, unfortunately, we saw the disturbing videos of her abduction online. Her parents are in shock and cant even speak, Moadi said. Hamas has since claimed that it took more than 130 hostages from multiple sites in Israelin addition to another 30 or so people being held by the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad. Worried friends and relatives of the missing and captured have taken to social media to plead for their safe return. It is unprecedented in our history that we have so many Israeli nationals in the hands of a terrorist organization, Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, told CNN. The Israeli military could not give an exact number of hostages taken by Hamas gunmen who infiltrated nearly two dozen Israeli towns and military posts in an unexpected attack. But the IDF said it is unfortunately, a significant number. Families of the missing, meanwhile, were left to search for clues concerning their loved ones whereabouts in footage circulating on social media. Hamas taking hostages in one of the border communities near #Gaza. The group is likely bringing them back to Gaza. pic.twitter.com/DOnARUjU9a Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) October 7, 2023 Israeli diplomat Elad Strohmayer shared the story of another family in a gut-wrenching situation on X late Saturday, that of Yuval Cohen, who posted a desperate plea for the return of a mother and her two young daughters. Hamas is holding my sister-in-law Doron and my two little nieces Raz and Aviv. All in all 4 and 2 years old, Cohen wrote. May the whole world see these faces and bring them back home to us. Further videos of abductions by Hamas militants surfaced across the internet, depicting armed men restraining civilians and leading them away in vehicles to unknown locations. One video posted to X and verified by The Washington Post shows men in military garments armed with rifles dragging five people down the streets of Beeri, barefoot and with their hands restrained behind their backs Another video shows a woman covered in cuts and blood with her hands zip-tied behind her back being detained by armed men and forcibly led away in a vehicle. This video, reportedly showing an Israeli woman kidnapped, beaten and taken into Gaza, was filmed from Al Shuja-iyyah St in Gaza at about 10am this morning. Geolocation: 31.503462, 34.466569. https://t.co/OVJLV8ZzQp@Cen4infoRes @GeoConfirmed @bellingcat Verification pic.twitter.com/tBhcB66efu Benjamin Strick (@BenDoBrown) October 7, 2023 An Israeli man, Yoni Asher, told the Wall Street Journal that his wife and their young daughters were missing after visiting their grandmother near the Gaza border. His wife called from a safe room and said that Hamas militants were nearby. Asher later lost contact with his family but managed to track his wifes smartphone to Khan Yunis in Gaza. Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri was quoted telling Al Jazeera on Saturday that all the Israeli hostages taken to the Gaza Strip would likely be freed in exchange for Palestinians serving out sentences in Israeli prisons. Our detainees in [Israeli] prisons, their freedom is looming large. What we have in our hands will release all our prisoners. The longer fighting continues, the higher the number of prisoners will become, he said. 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. LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) -British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday Britain was standing with Israel "unequivocally" following the attacks by Hamas and that London was working to ensure the world speaks in one voice. Israel bombarded Gaza on Sunday after suffering its bloodiest attack in decades, when Hamas fighters rampaged through Israeli towns killing 600 and abducting dozens more, as the spiralling violence threatened a major new Middle East war. "(Sunak) reaffirmed that the UK will stand with Israel unequivocally against these acts of terror. The prime minister offered Prime Minister Netanyahu any support Israel needs," Sunak's Downing Street office said in a statement following a phone call between the two leaders. "The prime minister outlined the diplomatic work the UK is doing to ensure the world speaks with one voice in opposition to these appalling attacks. Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked the prime minister for the UK's support." In a separate broadcast clip, Sunak confirmed that the foreign ministry was in contact with Israeli counterparts over the status of British nationals on the ground, after families said one Briton was killed and another was missing. Sunak urged all sides to show restraint while reiterating Britain's support for Israel. "No one wants to see regional escalation, and both the UK and allies have urged everyone in the region not to use this as an opportunity to incite further violence," Sunak said. "In the meantime, we will continue to provide Israel with every support that it needs as we stand steadfast with Israel, including (supporting) its right to self defence to ensure that these attacks do not happen." (Reporting by Alistair Smout, writing by Elizabeth Piper) Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) said Sunday he plans to support Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) to be the next Speaker of the House. Im supporting Jim Jordan, Donalds said in an interview on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures. I believe, with where we are, its time for a new a new look in House leadership, a new wave of House leadership. Jim Jordan is the person who can do that, Donalds added. Jordan announced his bid for the Speakership after eight Republicans and all Democrats voted last Tuesday to remove former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from the top post. Jordan is running against House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), McCarthys longtime No. 2. Donalds, who voted for Jordan for Speaker in January, praised Jordan for his ability, Donalds claimed, to unite the two factions of the conference: the conservatives as well as the moderates. I think Jim has the ability to bring our entire conference together, to be focused on the conservative principles that everybody in our conference wants to see accomplished. But, also, at the same time, Jim has been chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Hes been on the conservative side of our conference, he said. But hes also had a lot of dealings with the more moderate members in our conference, understanding what their issue sets are in their districts and trying to bring all that together, while at the same time also being one of the chief litigators in holding the Biden administration accountable, he added. The House Republican Conference is expected to meet for a candidate forum Tuesday to determine who Republicans think can reach 218 votes. The vote is expected Wednesday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The recent death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and this weeks ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from the Speakership has deprived California of a wide swath of legislative and political clout, leaving the state looking to up-and-comers in Congress to fill big shoes. The loss of the two, coupled with Rep. Nancy Pelosi s (D-Calif.) own exit from the Speakership late last year, has shaken up the state and put it in an unfamiliar position. It has long relied on top members, especially Feinstein, to bring dollars and projects home; Feinstein served in the Senate from 1992 until her death last month. She set a tremendous standard for what it means for a United States senator to represent California, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) told The Hill. And to serve here in the Senate, I can only pray that I come anywhere close to live up to the standard that she set. It is impossible to overstate the impact shes had on California, Padilla also told reporters Wednesday, adding that Feinstein was the one that we turned to for leadership and for comfort, whether it was in times of conflict or crisis back home. That role now falls to a new crowd on the Democratic side, including Padilla, who is in his first full term, and Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Feinsteins newly minted replacement, as well as a rising group in the House headlined by Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), the No. 3 House Democrat. A number of veterans remain in the mix, including Pelosi as Speaker emerita, with Vice President Harris also leading the charge in the administration. However, filling the hole left behind Feinstein will be difficult. Feinstein was a longtime appropriator and led the charge for the state on a number of items, including wildfires, clean energy and water issues, among more. She was also a national leader on gun violence, womens issues and gay rights, including having authored the Respect for Marriage Act that passed last year. Bill Whalen, who served as a top aide to former California Gov. Pete Wilson (R), noted that Feinstein was the consummate workhorse and the one to seek out if anyone needed something for the state. Most times [Wilson and I] went to Washington, there was time on the calendar to meet with Sen. Feinstein, because you turned to her for California matters, said Whalen, a fellow at the Hoover Institution at the University of Stanford. McCarthy hailed the late senator and specifically noted their joint work on the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, a law passed in 2016 that authorizes a number of federal programs to boost water infrastructure for rivers and harbors. I remember the hours and the nights that we would have to work to try to work through and the challenges, McCarthy said at a press conference shortly after her death. We come from different parties, we have different philosophies, but we put our state first. McCarthy, on top of his GOP leadership work and efforts on water legislation, was also a leading proponent of boosting commercial space competitiveness, a key issue in his Bakersfield-based district. The former Speaker authored the SPACE Act in 2015, which was subsequently signed into law by then-President Obama. McCarthys political work from atop the House GOP conference before he was removed from the Speakership on Tuesday also benefited the state. His work on recruiting and strategy helped Republicans nab or keep a number of seats in the state last cycle to clinch the narrow majority, including on behalf of Reps. Young Kim, Michelle Steel, Mike Garcia and David Valadao, one of his good friends and top allies. A lot of people dont realize that the House majority really ran through California, and that was the product of McCarthy recruiting good candidates, backing and supporting them to make sure they had the resources, said Lanhee Chen, who ran for California controller on the GOP ticket in 2022 and is also a Hoover Institution fellow. Chen added that McCarthy helped put some seats within reach that had no business being competitive. The ex-GOP leader also helms one of the most extensive fundraising operations within the GOP, and questions surround the future of that apparatus and how McCarthy plans to wield it. Some political operatives and analysts still believe he will try to help California-based candidates, though he may not have the clout he once did. Speaking to reporters after announcing he would not seek the top spot again, McCarthy added that he will continue to help candidates, but that he can be more selective now that hes a free agent. Its going to be a massive hit if hes no longer doing this, because a lot of folks depend on him. Theres so many people who gave to Kevin because they trusted him, said one GOP operative involved in House contests. It takes time for that, to build up that trust. Theres going to be a lot of folks who say, I want to give, and I want to help the GOP, but [are House races] the best place to spend my money? the operative added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Saturday that sets the stage for California to work toward universal healthcare, such as a single-payer system that progressive activists have sought for years. The law could help California obtain a waiver that would allocate federal Medicaid and Medicare funds to be used for what could eventually become a single-payer system that would cover every California resident and be financed entirely by state and federal funds. Californias health secretary will have to offer recommendations on crafting the federal waiver by June 1, 2024, under Senate Bill 770. With this signature, California takes a historic step toward universal healthcare, said a statement from the bill's author, Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). The state will now begin answering the complex question of how we can access federal financing to fund a universal healthcare system like single-payer." For decades, Californians have tried and failed and tried again just about 10 times to overhaul the state's healthcare system. But attempts at a sweeping overhaul have been stymied by enormous costs, legal and bureaucratic hurdles and disagreement among groups within the healthcare industry. Read more: California's single-payer healthcare effort is dead. Why it isn't going away Wiener's legislation represents an incremental approach that will kick-start the process of solving one piece of a complicated puzzle, rather than attempting a massive revamp of the healthcare system. Supporters of a single-payer model find fault with the existing healthcare system that leaves many patients paying astronomical co-pays and some haunted by fear of the debt they will accrue from medical procedures. While the bill had support from many healthcare reform advocates, it faced opposition from both ends of the political spectrum. Critics on the left said it doesn't go far enough in moving California toward single-payer healthcare, while critics on the right said it represents an ultimate goal of abolishing private health insurance and increasing taxes. The California Nurses Assn., which has advocated for single-payer healthcare for decades, opposed the measure, contending that the work the bill asks the California Health and Human Services Agency to do has already been done. Carmen Comsti, a lead regulatory policy specialist for the nurses union, said the bill would be an unnecessary waste of state resources. Michael Lighty, president of Healthy California Now, the sponsor of Wiener's bill, countered that the legislation promises a universal system, which could include a single-payer system. "What we made clear is there is no preordained outcome," Lighty said. Cindy Young, a board member of the California Alliance for Retired Americans who supports Wiener's bill, stressed that time is of the essence, particularly for California's aging population. "There are things seniors can't get or it's eating up our pension money to be able to pay for those things," said Young, 68. "Long-term care is an absolute necessity. Whats going to happen to us if we cant take care of ourselves?" The nurses union is urging lawmakers to consider a more ambitious single-payer bill next year. 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. Editor's Note: Caprock Chronicles is edited by Texas Tech University Librarian Emeritus, Jack Becker. He can be reached at jack.becker@ttu.edu. Todays article about the murders of two cattle inspectors is the first of a three-part series by frequent contributor Chuck Lanehart, Lubbock attorney and award-winning Western history writer. The 1923 murders of two prominent Texas lawmen at the Gaines Hotel in Seminole, followed by the killers trials in Lubbock and Abilene, are said to have ended the frontier era of Texas history. According to a young George S. Patton, one victim of the shootings was the most noted gunman here in Texas. He was Dave Allison. Dave Allison was an iconic lawman as the Midland County Sheriff, a Texas Ranger and a Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association inspector. The story begins in Ohio in 1861, with the birth of William Davis Dave Allison. His father, a physician, soon moved the growing family to Houston, then to McKinney, and then to Brownwood, where Dave spent his boyhood years becoming quite familiar with firearms and livestock. With little formal education, 21-year-old Dave arrived in Midland and worked as a cowboy. Even before the oil boom, Midland was known as the richest little town in Texas because of the thriving West Texas cattle industry. In contemporary newspaper accounts, the young man was often described as fearless, and his reputation earned him election as Midland Countys second sheriff in 1888. At age 26, Dave was the youngest sheriff in Texas. The next year, he married pretty 18-year-old Lena Lee Johnston, and with extra income from his cattle business and as Midland County Tax Assessor, the couple prospered. Midland County re-elected Sheriff Dave six times. County records show he was busy making arrests for keeping and exhibiting a gaming table and bank, unlawfully carrying a pistol, aggravated assault, murder, passing as true a forged instrument, disturbing public worship and many arrests for stealing cattle and horses. Meanwhile, he was appointed Special Texas Ranger by the governor, a post he held simultaneously as sheriff. His reputation as a lawman grew. The New Mexico Territory Knolls News described him as one of the very best peace officers the Southwest ever produced. Downtown Midland, Sheriff Dave Allison's domain, circa 1900. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported, "Dave Allison . . . a man of much experience and gun fights, though according to repute, he was inclined to peace. As sheriff and ranger, he . . . found it necessary to engage in many hand-to-hand combats. It is of record that during his 12 years as sheriff of Midland County, he never went after a man he did not get, though as a rule, he took his prisoners alive. Men sought by Sheriff Allison knew his reputation for coolness in emergencies, and he was not an officer to be resisted by men who care to keep their hides." But he was not without fault. As he held office, Sheriff Dave himself was arrested. The 1893 complaint alleged with forces in arms, he and J.H. Brown did then and there unlawfully fight together in a public place. No resolution of the case is known, but the combatants probably paid nominal fines. Perhaps Daves greatest vice was gambling, which got him in hot water more than once and led to his downfall as Midland County Sheriff. During his last term in office, he was arrested and paid a fine for Gaming. And while Dave was suspected of embezzling $10,000 in public funds to pay gambling debts, he was never charged. In 1898, he resigned as Sheriff and relinquished his local law enforcement commission. A drawing depicts the cattle raid on the Texas Border in 1874. In the years to follow, Dave served in many law enforcement capacities, including Texas Ranger, Special Texas Ranger for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, United States Marshal, Roswell New Mexico Chief of Police and Arizona Ranger. The Arizona Ranger job ended in a familiar way. His captain said, I had let him go because he was always getting up to his neck in debt, trying to break every faro bank and Monte game . . . During his Roswell career, Dave was accused of offering and accepting a $500 bribe to suppress evidence of interest to the grand jury in a sheep- poisoning case. He was tried and acquitted by a Chaves County petit jury. Despite such challenges, Dave was known as a fearless lawman, level-headed and deadly with a firearm, but also modest and self-deprecating. Among his adventures, he reportedly killed Three-Finger Jack in a chase following a train robbery in Fairbank, Arizona. He was also credited with capturing the outlaw Owens brothers and Tom Bravo Juan Bowes. He was a bodyguard for a mining magnate during the deadly 1906 mine strikes at Cananea, Mexico. He led the posse that caught and killed Mexican revolutionary-turned-outlaw Pasqual Orozco in 1915. While patrolling the US-Mexico border, Dave made the acquaintance of a young Army lieutenant stationed nearby, George Patton, who wrote in a letter to his wife: Dave Allison kills several Mexicans a month. Daves last job was as a field inspector for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. His aggressive investigations of suspected cattle rustlers Hill Loftisalso known as Tom Rossand Milton Good led to a tragic end. The book, Fearless Dave Allison by Bob Alexander, was a source for this article. In next weeks Caprock Chronicles, the story of Daves investigations of Tom Ross and Milton Good will be examined. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Caprock Chronicles: Murders at the Gaines Hotel: Fearless Dave Allison, part one The 26-year-old murder case involving August Cassano is finally over. Cassano, now 69, pleaded guilty Friday in Richland County Common Pleas Court to aggravated murder and was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison. In 1997, he was serving a life sentence at Mansfield Correctional Institution for aggravated murder when he was assigned a new cellmate, Walter Hardy. August Cassano pleaded guilty Friday afternoon to the 1997 murder of his cellmate Walter Hardy. A few days later, Cassano killed Hardy by stabbing him 75 times with a prison shank. Hardy suffered wounds to his head, neck, back and chest. Cassano was in prison after he and an accomplice shot a bartender through the heart during a 1976 heist in Akron. He was convicted of aggravated murder and robbery. Last year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled that Cassano should get a new trial in the local case. The appeals court said a judge had erred by not granting Cassano's request to be his own counsel, a violation of his constitutional rights. Cassano was scheduled for an Oct. 17 trial before Judge Phil Naumoff before pleading Friday. Flanked by two corrections officers, Cassano entered the courtroom in a wheelchair. In the past couple of hearings, Cassano appeared disengaged. Friday, however, he answered several questions from the judge in a hoarse voice. "What is your plea?" Naumoff asked him. Cassano turned to defense attorney Donald Malarcik and said "guilty, right?" After getting confirmation, he affirmed his guilty plea to the judge. Cassano didn't like his cellmate, so he killed him First Assistant Prosecutor Teri Burnside recounted the incident that brought Cassano back to a county courtroom. "While he was an inmate, the defendant warned the prison guards that he didn't like his cellmate, and he intended to kill him," she said. "He stabbed him numerous times." No one was there on Hardy's behalf. Burnside said his mother has passed away, the prosecutors could not find his brother. Malarcik briefly addressed Naumoff. "The court is aware of Mr. Cassano's mental health issues," the defense attorney said. "I would offer those in mitigation." When asked if he had anything to say, Cassano said, "No, sir." Burnside asked the judge to "do anything and everything you can impose against the defendant in this matter." Previously, Prosecutor Jodie Schumacher took the death penalty off the table in Cassano's case. She said there were several factors in her decision, with projected expenses being a primary concern. Considering time for trial preparation and possible expert witnesses, Schumacher said, "We were looking at $300,000 from the defense side." The prosecutor said another consideration was a recent trend in which jurors have not often recommended the death penalty in such cases. Schumacher said the defense could raise the issue of Cassano having a "serious mental illness" that could also remove the death penalty specification. In an April hearing, defense attorneys asked the judge to remove the death penalty. Malarcik made his argument to Naumoff, calling the death penalty in Ohio "arbitrary, capricious, racist and wrong." "This isn't just my opinion," he said, referring to a report issued by Attorney General Dave Yost. Cassano now has numerous health issues The defense attorney said Cassano is no longer a threat to anyone, pointing out his client lives with heart problems, diabetes and hepatitis. "He cannot walk without a walker or cane," Malarcik said. He added Cassano has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Naumoff told Cassano he was fortunate not to face the death penalty. "It could have been worse," the judge said of the sentence. "Maybe it should have been worse. It's the second life taken, and you attempted to take a third. "I don't know that there's any remorse. You haven't shown any to the court." Naumoff made the local sentence consecutive to Cassano's Akron case. When the hearing was adjourned, Cassano said something that made his defense attorney laugh, prompting a fist-bump between the two before the defendant was wheeled out of the courtroom. mcaudill@gannett.com 419-521-7219 X (formerly Twitter): @MarkCau32059251 This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Cassano pleads guilty to 1997 murder at Mansfield Correctional Firefighters pulled off a weekend rescue of a cat trapped under a car, then did it again when the animal quickly crawled back into trouble. The three Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District crew members at Station 24 near American River College were called into action Saturday when a couple pulled up to the Old Foothill Farms facility and told firefighters that the sounds of a kitten could be heard coming from underneath the vehicle. The rescue was successful but then had to be done again, said Capt. Parker Wilbourn, a Metro Fire spokesman. The scaredy-cat scurried back into the engine compartment. The firemen put the kitten on the ground to give it some water and the kitten immediately crawled back into the undercarriage, he said. The happy ending? After the second rescue, the couple, who were not identified, decided to adopt the kitten, Wilbourn said. This afternoon, the Firehouse 24 crew had a drive up request to remove a stray kitten from the undercarriage of a vehicle. They successfully got it out, but once released, it quickly ran back into the engine compartment again. Fortunately the kitten is safe now, and has found new pic.twitter.com/tDubW19Viq Metro Fire of Sacramento (@metrofirepio) October 7, 2023 LOS ANGELES - Former Los Angeles City Councilmember Gil Cedillo and current Councilmember Kevin De Leon have filed separate lawsuits over the leaked recording that led to a massive shakeup in LA City Hall last year. Both men in their lawsuits alleged invasion of privacy, the Los Angeles Times reported. Cedillo and De Leon filed their lawsuits Friday. Cedillo in his complaint, targets the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, as well as Federation employees Santos Leon and Karla Vasquez, claiming the union was responsible for the recording, in which racist language was used while discussing redistricting plans for the city. Neither Cedillo's nor De Leon's lawsuits appeared to have been processed by the LA County Superior Court, according to the Times. De Leon's lawsuit targets only Leon and Vasquez, not the Federation. Both lawsuits claim that the meeting was "surreptitiously recorded" without their knowledge or consent. Cedillo's complaint specifically also alleges that others on the recording, not Cedillo, "made comments that were perceived as highly offensive by many people," and some of the statements were taken out of context or improperly translated from Spanish slang. The conversation in the recording happened in October 2021, but didn't come to light until Oct. 9, 2022. In the recording Cedillo, De Leon, former City Council President Nury Martinez and former Federation President Ron Herrera, were discussing ways to preserve Latino influence in the midst of City Council district boundary discussions. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: In the recording, Martinez was heard making racially insensitive comments about former Councilmember Mike Bonin's Black son, among other comments. Protests led to Matinez resigning from the presidency, then her council spot shortly after. Herrera also resigned as Federation president. Cedillo had lost his reelection bid before the recording came to light, and despite continued protests, De Leon refused to resign from the Council and recently announced his own reelection campaign. A Los Angeles Police Department investigation to determine who recorded the conversation is ongoing and neither Leon nor Vasquez, who are married according to the Times, has been publicly identified as suspects in the case. When the recording was made, Vasquez was as an executive assistant to then Herrera and Leon was the organization's accountant. Both have since resigned. City News Service contributed to this report. The shocking arrest of a suspected ransom kidnapper in upstate New York has refocused attention on a pair of unsolved slayings in the same immediate area in Saratoga County. Christina White and Jennifer "Moonbeam" Hammond, ages 19 and 18 respectively, vanished two years apart and were later found dumped in rural Greenfield, New York. White's skeletal remains were recovered a year after she vanished near Daketown Road in June 2005, and authorities said she had been stabbed in the gut. Her phone, wallet and a knife she usually carried were missing. Hammond, a Colorado native, was last seen in August 2003 when co-workers dropped her off at the Creek and Pines Trailer Park, off Middleline Road in Ballston Spa, where she was going door to door to sell magazines, according to authorities. NEW YORK POLICE WERE HUNTING CHARLOTTE SENA SUSPECT VEHICLE HOURS BEFORE FINGERPRINTS CAME BACK Christina White, left, was last seen alive in June 2005. Police found her remains a year later and said she had been stabbed to death. Deputies found the partial remains of Jennifer Hammond, right, in October 2009, six years after she was last seen selling magazines in a trailer park along Middleline Road in Ballston Spa, around the corner from where police rescued 9-year-old kidnapping victim Charlotte Sena Monday. She never arrived at the designated pickup spot to meet her boss. Her belongings were found in her hotel, and a purchased bus ticket back to Colorado was never used. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP She remained missing for six years before someone found her skull near Lake Desolation Road. Police have not revealed her cause of death. RECLUSE ACCUSED IN CHARLOTTE SENA ABDUCTION HAD DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARREST The Sena family released a new photo of Charlotte Sena Tuesday on a GoFundMe campaign to support the 9-year-old after New York State Police and federal tactical teams rescued her from a kidnapping suspect's cabinet. Authorities in 2017 told local media they believed the cases may be linked, and both have received renewed attention after the nearby abduction of a 9-year-old girl named Charlotte Sena, which garnered national attention. Booking photo of Craig Ross Jr., Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. Ross is suspected of kidnapping a 9-year-old girl named Charlotte Sena from a state park bicycle trail last weekend. He was being held without bail on a first-degree kidnapping charge. Craig Nelson Ross Jr., the man accused of kidnapping Charlotte off of her bike in the Moreau Lake State Park Sept. 30, has spent decades living in and around such parks. Police rescued the little girl from a camper parked on his mother's property on Barrett Road Monday. "He's alleged to have abducted her, but we also know that the best predictor of present or future behavior is past behavior," said John Kelly, a criminal profiler and the president of STALK Inc. "So, has he ever abducted in the past?" Whoever killed White and Hammond likely knew the area well and may have had a preference for redheads, Kelly said. He noted the proximity of the places where they were last seen and where their remains were found about 10 miles away. Both also had auburn hair. A visual representation of an approximation of suspected Charlotte Sena kidnapper Craig Ross Jr.'s potential route home from Moreau Lake State Park, based on areas where police are asking residents to submit home security video taken the evening of Sept. 30, 2023. The path runs near wooded areas linked to the unsolved slayings of two local cold cases. CLICK HERE FOR MORE TRUE CRIME FROM FOX NEWS "Many killers are interested in certain physical characteristics of their victims, which are usually part of their fantasy," he told Fox News Digital. "Both victims were found in the deep woods of upstate New York in Greenfield." Both victims also vanished near trailer parks in the county, Kelly said. New York State Police at the home of Craig Nelson Ross Jr., at 2133 Barrett Road in Ballston Spa, N.Y., Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. Ross has not been named a suspect in either cold case, but the alleged attempt to demand ransom from Charlotte's family has community members scrutinizing their reclusive longtime neighbor. "At this time, we have no information to indicate that he was or was not involved," Matthew Robinson of the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office told the Albany Times-Union. As a routine step, investigators will look into Ross's possible connection to any outstanding cases in their jurisdiction, he said. The Saratoga County Correctional Facility where Craig Nelson Ross Jr., alleged abductor of Charlotte Sena, is being held without bail Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, in Ballston Spa, N.Y. Still, Kelly said, there's little publicly known evidence of a connection. "He does have a history of violence, but he does not have much of a criminal history," he said. Both cold case victims were in their late teens. Motives for the murders of White and Hammond remain unclear. There was an alleged ransom demand after Charlotte's abduction. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Ross's first documented run-in with the law was a 1999 DWI conviction in the city of Saratoga Springs. That decades-ago arrest led to his capture after police say they found his fingerprints on a ransom note placed in the Sena family mailbox. After that, he was accused of a couple of misdemeanors, aggravated harassment in 2016 and domestic violence in 2017. With the new attention, Kelly said he's hopeful someone will come forward with new tips for investigators. Anyone with information on either the White or Hammond cases is asked to call the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office at 518-885-6761. Original article source: Charlotte Sena kidnapping suspect eyed in 2 cold case murders nearby; profiler addresses potential connection Cyber Energy 2023, a cyber resilience initiative developed in collaboration between the UAE Cyber Security Council (CSC) and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), announced the winners of the first-of-its-kind, hyper-realistic cyber drill competition. The premier cybersecurity event was held during Adipec (October 2-5) in Adnec, Abu Dhabi. Benamarouche Abdelmoumen, Benhur Tekeste, and Ousamma Messabih were recognised for their exceptional vigilance and innovative problem-solving in effectively addressing complex cybersecurity challenges. Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, Yaser Almazrouei, Executive Director, People, Commercial & Corporate Support at Adnoc, and Tayba Al Hashemi, Adipec 2023 Chairperson and CEO of Adnoc Offshore, presented the awards and acknowledged the teams efforts in doing their part to strengthen their industry's cybersecurity landscape. The premier cybersecurity event, held during Adipec (October 2-5), brought together over 200 cyber enthusiasts from the energy sector to compete in a virtual round, followed by a final round that saw the top 10 cybersecurity talents go head-to-head, tackling the most pressing challenges from the energy sector. Cyber Energy 2023 sought to illuminate evolving cybersecurity challenges and elevate cyber resilience in a rapidly transforming energy landscape. The competition was supported by technology partners, CPX and Immersive Labs, who played a significant role in ensuring its success. Cyber Energy 2023 sought to illuminate evolving cybersecurity challenges and elevate cyber resilience in a rapidly transforming energy landscape. The competition was supported by technology partners, CPX and Immersive Labs, who played a significant role in ensuring its success. Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, said: "We stand at a pivotal juncture where the intersection of technology and energy demands unwavering cybersecurity vigilance. Cyber Energy is more than a competition; it's a challenge designed to equip participants with the skills necessary to detect and thwart cyberattacks through innovative drills. Id like to thank the cyber talent who participated in Cyber Energy 2023 for contributing to our shared vision of a secure digital future for all. Mohamed Al Kaabi, Executive Vice President, Group Digital & Cyber Security, Adnoc, stated: "ADNOC's dedication to innovation and sustainability extends to our approach to cybersecurity. As we accelerate the energy transition through cutting-edge technology, we recognise the paramount importance of cybersecurity in safeguarding our operations and the global energy landscape. Initiatives such as the Cyber Energy event are a testament to our commitment to raising awareness on upholding the highest standards of digital security, protecting our assets and ensuring business reliability. It is our collective responsibility to actively contribute to building a more secure and robust digital tomorrow." In addition to Cyber Energy, the CSC and Adnoc hosted a separate Tabletop Crisis Simulation Exercise for senior executives at Adipec. This exercise also addressed real-world cybersecurity threats impacting the industry, and encouraged knowledge sharing between UAE business leaders. TradeArabia News Service CHICAGO - Four people were shot in an Uptown neighborhood attack Saturday afternoon on the North Side. About 12:30 p.m., two people with guns approached the group in the 5000 block of North Winthrop and opened fire, according to Chicago police. A 26-year-old woman hit in the face was taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston along with a 43-year-old man hit in the leg, police said. A 28-year-old woman hit in the shoulder and head was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, as was a 61-year-old woman who was hit in the leg. All were listed in good condition, police said. No one was in custody. In this image taken from video footage run by TVBS, Chinese dissident Chen Siming speaks during an interview at Taoyuan International Airports transit lounge in Taipei on Friday (AP) A Chinese dissident living out of a suitcase at a Taiwan airport has been granted refuge in Canada. I was able to successfully obtain political asylum in Canada, Chen Siming, who has been stuck inside Taoyuan International Airport since 22 September, told The Guardian after arriving in Vancouver on Saturday. Appreciating the efforts by the United Nations refugee agency, Taiwan and Canada, he said: The three parties handled my case quickly in the spirit of humanitarian care. This kindness will be remembered forever, I would like to express my sincere gratitude. Chen is known in his home country for the annual commemorations of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre a taboo subject there and his social media posts about the massacre have previously irked Beijings authorities. Police harassment was not new to him either, and he says he has been detained many times in the past. But in recent years, he has noticed a significant crackdown on dissent. On 21 July this year, Chen packed his clothes. He had decided to run. He first chose Thailand a country considered a friend of China that has in the past turned in other dissidents to Chinese authorities. The activist travelled from Hunan province down to the southern border with Laos a distance of almost 1,400km, his bagful of clothes in tow, arriving there in August. However, he did not feel any sense of ease and feared deportation by Thailands immigration authorities, subsequently flying to Taiwan. The island, unlike Thailand, shares an icy relationship with China and continues to assert its status as a self-governing democracy. There, he pleaded for help, saying his situation was dangerous and urgent. To avoid the political oppression of the Chinese Communist Party, I have now come to Taiwan. I hope to receive political asylum from the US or Canada. I ask friends to call on the Taiwanese government to not send me back to China, he urged at the time. On Sunday, he took to X/Twitter, posting pictures of him from Vancouver. I arrived in Vancouver, Canada on October 5th, he wrote, as he thanked the rights bodies and international entities for their support. This kindness will be unforgettable forever! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart! Thanks! China urged calm Sunday in the wake of Hamas' attack on Israel from Gaza. "We call on relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians and avoid further deterioration of the situation," a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said in a statement. The statement also said that China would work "relentlessly" to attempt to bring peace toward the region. "The recurrence of the conflict shows once again that the protracted standstill of the peace process cannot go on. The fundamental way out of the conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent State of Palestine. The international community needs to act with greater urgency," the spokesperson said. An Israeli diplomat in Beijing said he was disappointed in China's statement. "When people are being murdered, slaughtered in the streets, this is not the time to call for a two-state solution," Yuval Waks told reporters, according to Reuters. Hundreds of people had been reported dead, most of them civilians, and fighting continued Sunday. Three of them came dressed in their Sunday best, wearing suits and sitting among the worshipers. Twelve others were heavily armed and wearing SWAT uniforms similar to those of the Haiti National Police. Their mission: find the pastor and grab him. But the brazen attack, partially captured while a church service in Haiti was being streamed live on Facebook, didnt necessarily go as planned after the armed bandits invaded. The incident occurred at Christ Rendez-vous Church in the Delmas 75, neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. In the video, seven choir members are seen on stage singing when one of them suddenly stops, and looking uncertain, tries to make out the figures moving toward the stage. Then the members start to scatter, placing their microphones down before the screen goes dark. In a post, the churchs pastor, Julio Volcy, then issues a plea for help. Bandits invade the church. I ask for your help to pray for us, he said. In an interview with the Miami Herald, Volcy said one of the alleged assailants was killed by police and a member of his 30-person security team was kidnapped. Several worshipers were also robbed during the invasion, and equipment from the church was stolen. They were looking for me, he said. My security managed to grab me and place me in a secure location. Volcy said he and his team were already sensing trouble when he arrived for his 7 a.m. service on Sunday morning. He noticed an unfamiliar face sitting in the congregation very close to him, dressed in a suit. Volcy, himself, was dressed down. Its only every now and again we dress up and we noticed that this isnt someone who is a regular, he said. During the welcome, Volcy said he went to shake the visitors hand. This is when his security realized the man was armed, and approached him. The visitor then said that in a few minutes a police backup would arrive for a kidnapping operation. Realizing that he was targeted, Volcy said his security agents whisked him away to a secure location on the premises and alerted the rest of the security. Moments later a dozen guys came out of vehicles, they all had large guns, and they were dressed in police uniforms with ski masks, Volcy said. The guy who was sitting next to me, then entered with the [armed gunmen] because he was the one who had to identify who the pastor was. Volcy, who was watching everything on the churchs closed circuit cameras, said when they entered, they made people lie on the ground, they stole telephones and disconnected our computers, televisions so the incident wouldnt be livestreamed. At the moment of the attack, Haiti National Police agents were carrying out another operation nearby where they freed three people and two bandits were allegedly killed. They responded quickly to the church attack and police wounded one of the alleged assailants who later died at the scene. There are preliminary reports that a police officer from the 22nd promotion was also killed. Haiti media have identified him as Marc Elie Azael. A police investigation is ongoing. Volcy, who is a U.S. citizen and active in helping the countrys youth since returning to Haiti 13 years ago, says he doesnt know why he was targeted. He is a well-known figure who is active in the Protestant Federation of Haiti, his church has been visited by diplomats and he has been active in trying to get Haitians to reach a political consensus on the countrys governance. There are people who like this, but there are people who probably dont like this too and probably is the reason why they attempted to kidnap me. But God had other plans, he said. Since 2018, we have a security team in the church thats about 30 people and...they put me in a secure location. Haiti is plagued by soaring gang violence and kidnapping and not even houses of worship are immune. There are several incidents of people being kidnapped while attending church. In 2021, four people, including a pastor and a well-known pianist, were kidnapped and it also played out live on social media. The group, members of the Seventh-day Adventist Gospel Kreyol Ministry Church in Diquini on the outskirts of metropolitan Port-au-Prince, were performing live on Facebook and YouTube in a studio adjacent to their church when a heavily armed man walked up to the stage and abducted them. Haiti is seeing an unprecedented wave in gang violence. More than 2,500 people have died so far this year at the hands of gangs, the United Nations said, and at least 970 Haitians have been kidnapped. Thousands of others have been forced from their homes by gangs who have emptied out entire neighborhoods. Among the latest victims of the violence is a U.S. citizen, Lauren Charles, who was reportedly ambushed by gangs in Port-au-Princes Cul-de-Sac plain and shot on Tuesday. A photo of her passport was circulated on Haitian social media and a family member, contacting the Miami Herald, said they are trying to find the document in order to have her body return to the U.S. The latest wave of violence has also resulted in the forced displacement of over ten thousand people who have sought refuge in spontaneous camps and host families. Last week, the United Nations Security Council approved the deployment of a multinational security mission into Haiti that will be led by the East African nation of Kenya. Clare Balding called for a test for anyone attempting to buy a dog, in a bid to stop people feeding illegal markets. The TV presenter and author of the recent book Isle of Dogs: A Canine Adventure through Britain was speaking at Henley Literary Festival 2023, the annual event held in Henley-upon-Thames, Oxfordshire. The Independent is the exclusive news partner for the festival this year. Addressing the crowd, Balding complained of the lack of regulation surrounding dog ownership and unethical profit-driven breeders who sell the animals without sufficient scrutiny of buyers. I do think we need more regulation we need more understanding of who is owning dogs, she said. And I do very much approve of a basic test. Because theres this ever-growing market that doesnt care, that just wants the money. Thats where legislation has to come in to block that, that channel being so easy. I dont know whether its a case of, if youre selling a dog, you have to have a license or if youre buying a dog, you have to have a license. Im not sure which is the better solution. Balding looked at some of the unethical practices surrounding dog ownership in the new Channel 5 series Live: Lost Dogs with Clare Balding. We have an awful lot of people who dont necessarily know how to deal with dogs that might be frustrated or lacking in stimulation, people who basically dont understand what owning a dog means. They may unfortunately have clicked a button and bought what they thought was a teddy bear, she explained to the Henley audience. And I say that genuinely. If you are clicking a button to buy a dog, you are feeding an illegal market, she added. You are not understanding the responsibility of dog ownership. In the talk, Balding also discussed some of her most famous broadcasting gaffes, including when she asked relay swimmer Matthew Richards about his phenomenal third leg. Elsewhere at Henley this weekend, Little Britain star and childrens author David Walliams revealed that he had recently been locked up by Italian police , and real-life Top Gun fighter pilot Nathan Gray open up about losing his decorated instructor in a tragic 2002 accident . Good Morning Britain star Rob Rinder offered his thoughts on the latest series of Strictly Come Dancing , and Captain Corellis Mandolin author Louis de Bernieres offered his impression of Nicolas Cages experience on the 2002 film adaptation . Tennis coach and thriller novelist Judy Murray, meanwhile, rallied against the elitist image of the tennis system. Henley Literary Festival continues until 8 October. Clay County residents are encouraged to participate as the North Florida Land Trust presents its report on the proposed Clay County Land Conservation Program. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< During the upcoming regularly scheduled Board of County Commissioners (BCC) meeting on Tuesday, October 10th at 4:00 p.m. in Green Cove Springs, the presentation will take place, and commissioners will provide valuable insights and guidance on the next steps for this significant initiative. For those unable to attend the meeting in person, the report can also be accessed on the meeting agenda, conveniently available on the Clay County Government website. All of our meetings are streamed live on Facebook as well. This presentation represents a pivotal step in the ongoing process that commenced earlier this year when residents actively engaged and voiced their opinions at open workshops. It signifies a continued commitment to community engagement and collaboration in shaping the future of land conservation efforts in Clay County. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [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. Police officers will be proactively patrolling places of worship and monitoring any threats against communities impacted by the ongoing violence in Israel, CMPD announced Sunday morning. There arent any credible threats to any locations or people in Charlotte, but CMPD said it is a precautionary measure. COVERAGE OF THE HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL: My heart goes out to everyone who is personally impacted by this ongoing international situation, said Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings. CMPD is committed to ensuring the safety of all citizens within our community, and READ MORE: Ahead of High Holidays, US Jewish leaders stress need for security vigilance as antisemitism surges we will not tolerate any criminal threats or actions against these communities. CMPD said patrols at synagogue and mosques will collaborate on any safety concerns. (WATCH: Jewish students say college isnt doing enough after antisemitic incidents on campus) This article was originally published in Youth Today. To Syrita Steib, the University of New Orleans denied her first application for admission in what seemed like lightning speed. With equal speed, though, the university accepted her second application. The difference? The second time around, Steib didnt disclose her criminal history. Syrita Steib, founder and executive director of Operation Restoration I checked the box, I was denied within 24 hours, said Steib, founder and executive director of Operation Restoration. When I reapplied and didnt check the box. I was accepted within 24 hours. The box she refers to affirmed that shed been incarcerated, serving 10 years for burglary and arson of an auto dealership. With that prison sentence and her 2016 graduation from UNO behind her, Steib, a member of the Louisiana Governors Justice Reinvestment Implementation Oversight Council, launched her organization. Through it, she researched, helped shape and lobbied for legislation resulting in Louisiana becoming the first in a list of what Operation Restoration lists as seven states banning questions about criminal history on admissions applications to public colleges and universities. That question, however, isnt the only barrier to college for formerly incarcerated people. Others include such things as application fees and lack of understanding of college financing such as student loans. There are structural factors and inequalities in criminal justice, such as poverty, that can shut out individuals from getting an education, said Wanda Bertram, spokesperson for the Prison Policy Initiative. Its a really large lift to attend college and work, said Patrick Rodriguez, co-executive director of the Georgia Coalition for Higher Education in Prison. It takes a lot of dedication to get to the point of even being able to apply. It just takes a bit of extra help to get across the application line. Here are some helpful resources and strategies for overcoming some of those hurdles. Get College Application and Admissions Test Fees Waived The College Board provides the how-tos of getting fee waivers for the Common Application accepted by more than 1,000 institutions and what the College Board says are roughly 2,000 colleges and universities that issue those waivers. Fees for SAT and ACT tests measuring academic competency also may be waived by those testing companies. Once applicants get either an application waiver or test waiver from one school or testing center, theyre in a better position to get other waivers because theyve started gathering information about income, whether they receive food stamps or other public assistance and such. Before applying to college, of course, applicants must have a high school diploma or graduate equivalency degree. Relatively recent data from the Prison Policy Initiative estimates that roughly 25% have not. Some of those individuals were incarcerated before age 18 and need help finishing high school by passing the General Educational Development test, in lieu of earning a diploma, and eventually, with college admissions, said Bertram, of the policy initiative. Those individuals also may seek waivers of the GED tests fee waivers and enroll in free tutoring programs, she said. Tap Into Peer-Run and Other Re-entry Organizations For Former Prisoners Dont limit yourself to groups and resources in your state, Bertram said. You can contact an array of groups and individuals across the country for guidance. Wanda Bertram, spokesperson for the Prison Policy Initiative The Formerly Incarcerated Graduates Network is a national organization partnering with From Prison Cells to PhD, Second Chance Educational Alliance and similar organizations. Additionally, as examples, California State Universitys Project Rebound is expressly for formerly incarcerated students on that campus. (Some examples of projects offering accredited college instruction to people who begin their education while still behind bars are Tulane University, which partners with Operation Restoration, and the City University of New York, which runs its Prison-to-College Pipeline program. Also, the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison has a national directory of which carceral institutions have such programs.) Searching online for formerly incarcerated education and the name of a state will yield such programs and ones that, for example, review applicants essays and personal statements, aiming to increase their chances of being admitted to college. Target colleges that dont require disclosure of criminal history and ones that do Those choosing to include their prison experiences and related background in their college essays may target colleges that openly state that they welcome former prisoners or that dont require applicants to disclose their criminal backgrounds. Though New York State, for example, has no law banning disclosure of criminal history on applications to public colleges, applicants to the State University of New Yorks 64 campuses and the City University of New Yorks 25 campuses dont require such disclosure. Patrick Rodriguez, co-executive director of the Georgia Coalition for Higher Education in Prison Nevertheless, it may not be necessary to limit oneself to schools that either openly embrace former prisoners or that dont make them disclose their criminal history. Formerly incarcerated people have been admitted to schools requiring disclosure of their criminal backgrounds. Rodriguez, of the Georgia Coalition for Higher Education in Prison, was one of them. He submitted to Kennesaw State University, his Georgia alma mater, a 14-page essay detailing the dates and circumstances of his crimes and how he had grown beyond those experiences. He sought help in crafting his story. I dont know if I would have gone to school if Bill Taft from Common Good Atlanta werent there, Rodriguez said. It was really nice having somebody hold me accountable and have an honest conversation about what the next steps are in the application process. But New Orleanian Steib took a different approach. When I applied to medical school, I didnt apply to any school that said they consider incarceration in their admissions process, said Steib, now a hospital lab supervisor. I wasted some application fees on schools that did discriminate, but didnt list [that reality] on their site. Apply for scholarships expressly for former prisoners and federal Pell grants Income-based Pell grants, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, are available to the formerly incarcerated and, after being revoked in 1994, this year, were restored to those still behind bars. In addition, several private organizations and colleges themselves give scholarships to formerly incarcerated. They include the NAACP, Prison Education Foundation, The Education Justice Project and the Prison Scholar Fund. Dozens of colleges, including New York University, Rutgers University and Santa Barbara City College in California, offer scholarships for those who were formerly incarcerated. Youth Today is a nonprofit news site for people who care about and work with children and youth. Subscribe to Youth Todays free monthly newsletter. Christopher Columbus was a narcissist. He believed he was personally chosen by God for a mission that no one else could achieve. After 1493, he signed his name xpo ferens the Christbearer. His stated goal was to accumulate enough wealth to recapture Jerusalem. His arrogance led to his downfall, that of millions of Native Americans and eventually fostered his resurrection as the most enduring icon of the Americas. Columbus in chains In 1496, Columbus was the governor of a colony based at Santo Domingo, in what is now the modern Dominican Republic a job he hated. He could not convince the other colonists, especially those with noble titles, to follow his leadership. They were not colonists in the traditional sense of the word. They had gone to the Indies to get rich quick. Because Columbus was unable to temper their lust, the Crown viewed him as an incompetent administrator. The colony was largely a social and economic failure. The wealth that Columbus promised the Spanish monarchs failed to materialize, and he made continuous requests for additional financial support, which the monarchs reluctantly provided. By 1500, conditions in Hispaniola were so dire that the Crown sent Francisco de Bobadilla to investigate. Bobadillas first sight, at the mouth of the Ozama River, was four Spanish mutineers hanging from gallows. Under authority from the king, Bobadilla arrested Columbus and his brothers for malfeasance and sent them to Spain in chains. Columbus waited seven months for an audience at the court. He refused to have his chains removed until the meeting, and even asked in his will to be buried with the chains. Although the Spanish rulers wanted Columbus to disappear, he was allowed one final voyage from 1502 to 1504. He died in 1506, and went virtually unmentioned by historians until he was resurrected as a symbol of the United States. Inventing Columbus In the mid-18th century, scholars brought to light long-forgotten documents about Columbus and the early history of the New World. One of the most important was Bartolome de las Casas three-volume Historia de las Indias. This book was suppressed in Spain because it documented Spains harsh treatment of the native peoples. His depiction of Spanish mistreatment of the Indians provided the foundation for the Black Legend. His account blackened Spanish character by depicting it as repressive, brutal, intolerant and intellectually and artistically backward. Whatever Spains motives, the conquest of the Americas destroyed native cultures and ushered in centuries of African enslavement. Another was the personal journal of Christopher Columbus from his first voyage, published in 1880. The journal captured the attention of Gustavus Fox, Abraham Lincolns assistant secretary of the Navy, who made the first attempt to reconstruct the route of Columbuss first voyage. Renewed scholarly interest in Columbus coincided with political motives to deny Spain any remaining claims in the Americas. Spains American colonies declared independence, one by one, from the beginning of the 19th century. Simon Bolivar, and other Creole revolutionary leaders, embraced a classical philosophy that highlighted their Roman ancestry to a degree that Spanish America was converted to Latin America. The final assault came with the U.S. invasion of Cuba and the six-month Spanish-American War in 1898. Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory, and this year marks the 100th anniversary of the purchase of the U.S. Virgin Islands from Denmark. Columbus likely would have slipped back into obscurity if not for American hubris. The Columbian Exposition In 1889, France put on what reviewers described as the most spectacular Worlds Fair possible. Held on the Champs de Mars in Paris, its crowning achievement was the Eiffel Tower. Looking West From Peristyle, Court of Honor and Grand Basin of the 1893 Worlds Columbian Exposition. The Project Gutenberg EBook of Official Views of The World's Columbian Exposition After Paris, the United States set out to prove to the world it was the equal of Europe by staging its own Worlds Fair. No one has claimed credit for the theme of the Exposition, but the stage was set when American writer and author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Washington Irving, attempted to revive his flagging career by writing the first biography of Christopher Columbus in English, published in 1828. His embellishments created the great hero whose legend the fair celebrated: He was one of those men of strong natural genius, who appear to form themselves; who, from having to contend at their very outset with privations and impediments, acquire an intrepidity in braving and a facility in vanquishing difficulties. The Columbian Exposition and Worlds Fair was timed to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Columbuss arrival in the New World. President Benjamin Harrison presided over opening ceremonies on Oct. 12, 1892. That same day, the Pledge of Allegiance was introduced in American schools. Chicago created the White City a collection of nine palaces designed by Americas greatest architects, conceived and constructed in only 26 months. Outside the White City was the grittier Midway, which is now a common feature of carnivals and fairs. The fair gave visitors their first taste of carbonated soda, Cracker Jacks and Juicy Fruit chewing gum. An enormous 264-foot-tall Ferris wheel transported 36 cars each carrying up to 60 people on a 20-minute ride. More than 28 million tickets were sold during the six months the Columbian Exposition was open. Columbus was the darling of 19th-century mass media. Seventy-one portraits of Columbus, all posthumous, hung in a Grand Gallery. Following Irvings descriptions, Columbus became the embodiment of the American Dream. The son of simple wool weavers and someone who had a great dream challenged the greatest scholars of his day, and boldly went where no man had gone before. Better yet, he was Italian. America could deny that Spain had any part in the discovery of the New World. President Harrison declared a national holiday to coincide with opening of the Columbian Exposition Columbus Day. It was officially recognized by Congress in 1937. In 1992, as the United States prepared for the 500th anniversary of Columbuss arrival in the Americas, the pendulum swung again. The devastating impact of his discovery on native peoples throughout the Americas led protesters to decry Columbus as a terrorist. Columbus the man died more than 500 years ago. Columbus the legend is still being dismantled. His story illustrates the blurred borders between myth and history how an architect of destruction was turned into a national symbol. This is an updated version of an article originally published on Oct. 10, 2016. This article has been updated to correct the name of the president who presided over the Columbian Expositions opening ceremonies. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. If you found it interesting, you could subscribe to our weekly newsletter. It was written by: William Francis Keegan, University of Florida. Read more: William Francis Keegan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, who is running for speaker, is flanked in 2019 by Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), who also seeks the speakership, and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), who was ousted from the post. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) John A. Boehner lasted five years as House speaker before he ran out of patience with his partys hard-line Freedom Caucus. Legislative terrorists, the Ohio Republican called its members after he quit in 2015. They cant tell you what theyre for. They can tell you everything theyre against. Theyre anarchists. They want total chaos. Next came Rep. Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), who lasted three years. The House is broken, he griped on his way out. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) lasted all of nine months. They are not conservatives, he said of the Freedom Caucus after they led the drive to oust him as speaker last week. They dont get to say theyre conservative because theyre angry and theyre chaotic. See a pattern? Ever since the tea party movement of 2010 elected a wave of anti-establishment conservatives, House Republicans have not merely been divided, but downright dysfunctional. Freedom Caucus members arent only more conservative than other Republicans; many see their partys leaders as adversaries. And they dont believe in compromise even when their party holds a narrow majority in only one house of Congress, and must reach deals with the Democratic-led Senate to keep the federal government running. They view the party as [too] willing to bargain with Democrats, said Kevin Kosar, a congressional scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. [They] run on the Republican label, but get into Congress by trashing Republicans. Many GOP voters agree with them. An Economist/YouGov poll from July indicated that most Republicans want members of Congress to stick with principle no matter what rather than compromise to get things done. That sentiment is especially strong in districts with big Republican majorities. Most Democrats surveyed said the opposite: They wanted their representatives to compromise when necessary. McCarthys dilemma was that he was trapped between the hard-liners refusal to compromise and his desire to avoid being blamed for a government shutdown. On Sept. 30, he sponsored a funding bill to keep the government running for 45 days. It passed the House with votes from a slim majority of Republicans and almost every Democrat. Theres no bill that can pass with [only] one party or the other, he noted. But that modest bipartisan compromise triggered a full-scale revolt by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and seven others in the Freedom Caucus. Gaetz demanded a vote on a motion to remove McCarthy as speaker. The eight Freedom Caucus rebels were joined by 208 Democrats, and McCarthy abruptly lost his job. The irony is that McCarthy was right. When one party holds a slim majority in the House and the other holds a slim majority in the Senate, neither can achieve results without bipartisan compromise. Even in the deeply partisan House, where conservative Republicans share little common ground with liberal Democrats, a bipartisan majority wanted to avoid a government shutdown. So why did Democrats vote McCarthy out? There are several explanations. For one, Democrats like many Republicans simply didnt trust the glad-handing Californian. He wasnt a reliable negotiating partner. Weeks after he reached a hard-fought agreement with President Biden over spending levels, he walked away from it. McCarthy regularly wilted in the face of pressure from his party. After a mob loyal to then-President Trump stormed the Capitol in January 2021, he denounced their action. But he voted against certifying Bidens election, and rushed to see Trump at Mar-a-Lago to apologize for his apostasy. The simplest explanation may be that McCarthy never asked the Democrats for help. He knew they would have asked for something in return more seats on committees, perhaps, or changing the rule that allowed Gaetz to seek McCarthys ouster. The speaker knew that for every Democratic vote he gained, he risked losing more Republican votes. But theres also a deeper reason: The House is organized along party lines, and has been for almost 200 years. Almost every member runs for office under a party label, relies on party loyalists for votes and turns to their party for help with campaign funding. Partisan legislation is the norm, and bipartisan initiatives are the exception. House rules often make bipartisan cooperation difficult. Members from two parties are not allowed to sponsor bills jointly; a bill is allowed only one sponsor. A bipartisan task force is trying to ease that rule, but its proposal hasnt gone anywhere. The partisan model is especially stark when it comes to how the House is organized. Every committee chairman comes from the majority. Every speaker in living memory has been elected by the majority party. That paradigm has been around so long, it has acquired almost constitutional status, noted William Galston, a political scholar at the Brookings Institution. The strongest proof of that proposition is that as soon as McCarthy lost his job, other Republicans jumped to replace him within the same one-party structure that had brought him down. House Republicans appear to be hoping that Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), McCarthys second in command, or Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), a Freedom Caucus member endorsed by Trump, can knit the party together more successfully. But theres little reason to expect a different outcome. The next speaker will wrestle with the same unstable majority as his predecessor. There is an alternative, at least in theory: a coalition speaker elected by members of both parties. Galston, a supporter of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, is promoting the idea. This crisis could also be an opportunity ... to break the traditional paradigm, he said. His proposal: Members from both parties should support a Republican speaker who agrees to new, less partisan rules. Moderate Republicans need to say no to any new speaker without rules changes, he said beginning with the rule that allowed Gaetz to depose McCarthy. Moderate Democrats need to take a step forward for the sake of looking like the reasonable party. That option wont come into play if Republicans quickly elect one of their members the old-fashioned way. But if they deadlock, its a useful option, Galston said. And if it doesnt work this time, it might come in handy later. If history is any guide, the next speaker wont hold the job long. Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (Asry), the leading ship and rig repair yard in the Arabian Gulf, has announced the launch of its new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Asry Managing Director, Mazen Matar praised the tireless efforts of the team, who have effectively contributed to the success of the project. The project, which initially began in March of 2021, has successfully implemented the state-of-the-art Infor ERP system - Infor Cloud Suite Industrial Enterprise - into the companys procedures. This enabled digital integration between all departments and divisions within the company, raising productivity and ensuring best practices at the industrial level. System efficiency This step came as part of the companys ongoing efforts to improve system efficiency, digitise operations, and enhance data security by migrating the infrastructure to cloud computing. This ensures optimal use of resources, improves work flexibility, and will ultimately lead to increasing efficiency at the operational and production levels. In addition, this system will minimise costs, increase revenue, and enable effective decision-making that guarantees continuous improvement in performance levels and allow departments to work in a more transparent manner. Mater said: The implementation of this project is part of the companys strategy to achieve sustainability and continue to raise the companys position regionally and globally, by staying on par with current global tech-developments. This project represents a turning point in Asrys history. A pivotal step in Asrys efforts to achieve a more sustainable future ignited by the latest digital cloud system that will facilitate and automate operations. Sahar Ataei, the Deputy CEO and the Head of Asry Digital Transformation Project, remarked: Through the implementation of the ERP system, comprehensive digital modifications have been made to all company procedures and operations, that will hopefully contribute to improving work flexibility and enhance the quality of customer service. Ultimately, this will strengthen Asrys position as a distinguished global edifice that plays a prominent role in growing the national economy and the maritime sector in the region. Asry is one of the pioneers in introducing advanced and secure technology infrastructure in Bahrain and has joined the elite list of international companies that have made the shift towards contemporary digital systems.--TradeArabia News Service Correction: an earlier version of this story misstated the number of years that Native Americans have lived on the continent. The correct number is 16,000. Monday marks a holiday in transition, as more states and cities embrace Indigenous Peoples' Day instead of Columbus Day. "On Indigenous Peoples Day, we honor the sovereignty, resilience, and immense contributions that Native Americans have made to the world; and we recommit to upholding our solemn trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribal Nations, strengthening our Nation-to-Nation ties," President Joe Biden said in the 2022 Proclamation on Indigenous Peoples Day. Despite the proclamation, Columbus Day is still a federal holiday. Pew Research shows the public, paid holiday is still exclusively celebrated as Columbus Day in 16 states. Continuing to celebrate Christopher Columbus implies that we are ignoring the well-documented history of his atrocities, according to Reynaldo Morales, assistant professor at Northwestern University. He is a descendent of the Quechua peoples of Peru, and he teaches on American Indian, indigenous peoples' issues in the media, and covers environmental issues facing indigenous communities around the world. "We know that in terms of Columbus' figure, Indigenous peoples have compared it to Hitler," Morales said. "Even though the story has some gory details, it's very important that we understand how celebrating Columbus Day is insensitive and what kinds of impacts it could have on Native Americans or indigenous communities today." Christopher Columbus' violent history WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT - JULY 05: The headless statue of Christopher Columbus stands outside of Waterburyas city hall on July 05, 2020 in Waterbury, Connecticut. The decapitated statue, which was given to the city in the 1980s by Italian American organization UNICO, was discovered Saturday morning and police are investigating. Demonstrators had called for the statue's removal last week in a protest due to the ongoing debate about the explorer's violence against indigenous people. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Many are taught that lesson early in American schools, but the rhyme leaves out the carnage that Columbus brought when he arrived. Morales said that Columbus and his men brought a "scope of violence reaching the level of genocide that had no precedent in the large American continent before Europeans." Here are some examples of the atrocities Columbus committed, as compiled by Philadelphia Magazine: Columbus cut off the hands of approximately 10,000 natives in Haiti and the Dominican Republic because they failed to provide gold every three months. He punished minor offenses by cutting off noses and ears. Columbus and his crew hunted natives for sport and released them to hunting dogs to be ripped apart. Columbus cut off the legs of native children who tried to run from them. He aided in sex trafficking nine and ten-year-old girls. "We have no reason whatsoever only because we ignore these facts to celebrate the legacy or the figure of such criminal," Morales said. LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 12: Red paint covers a statue of Christopher Columbus in Belgrave Square Gardens on October 12, 2021 in London, England. The defacing of the statue appears to coincide with the Columbus Day holiday, which many countries in the Americas celebrate on October 12. The holiday is observed on second Monday in October in the United States. (Photo by Rob Pinney/Getty Images) Why continuing to celebrate Columbus Day is hurtful In light of the well-documented cruelty against Native Americans, Morales said that to celebrate Columbus Day is to say that the lives lost didn't matter. In fact, he also argued, the ripples of Columbus' actions are still present today. Columbus used the Doctrine of Discovery to assert that the lands could be claimed because they were not already ruled by Christians. Morales said that this meant they began exploiting land and resources that had been managed sustainably by the people there for thousands of years. "We can see these actions in the light of our contemporary laws and reflect on the understanding of the deep roots of inequality across the continent," Morales said. "We can see how they permeated into the notion of, for example, racial and economic privilege, that led to notions of white supremacy, the perpetration or racism now, and the different forms of ethnocentrism." Part of the result is health, economic and disproportionate environmental impact for Native Americans, who have a lower life expectancy than members of other races. Morales said that Native Americans had lived on the continent for 16,000 years, but their mainstream history has been characterized by the colonization that occurred in just the last 500 years. To him, this means there is a lot of hope for Native American communities' futures. NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 30: Members of the The Indigenous People's Day New York City Committee held a Circle of Belonging in Columbus Circle on June 30, 2020 in New York City. The group's long-term goal to remove the statue at Columbus Circle and change Columbus Day to Indigenous People's Day has been reignited by the current protests against racism. (Photo by Byron Smith/Getty Images) The movement to celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day Morales said that celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day means that we take a stand against the violence brought by colonization. "By celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day, we collectively denounce Columbus's crimes as crimes against humanity," Morales said. It is also a celebration of the contributions of Native American communities. "By celebrating indigenous peoples, we highlight that the lives, cultures, languages, and knowledge of indigenous peoples in US and across a large continent that are at the core of our societies," he said. "Finally, we reflect on how indigenous peoples have emerged from the darkest chapters of US history, becoming becoming really one of the most important environmental stewards and leaders in biodiversity conservation." NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 30: A traditional Taino tribe song is performed as members of the The Indigenous People's Day New York City Committee held a Circle of Belonging in Columbus Circle on June 30, 2020 in New York City. The group's long-term goal to remove the statue at Columbus Circle and change Columbus Day to Indigenous People's Day has been reignited by the current protests against racism. (Photo by Byron Smith/Getty Images) Contributing: Nada Hassanein, Clare Mulroy This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Columbus Day offensive? Why change to Indigenous People's Day Leobardo Segura Meza, 27, who suffers from silicosis, an incurable lung disease that has been afflicting workers who cut and polish engineered stone high in silica, is photographed with his son Leo Gael Segura, 4, at his home in Pacoima. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) I renovated my kitchen two years ago, and now I cant help but wonder: Is someone sick or dying because of my design choices? Among the decisions I had to make was which material would replace the cracked and stained yellow tile countertop that was installed in the 1950s. I admired the look of wood, but ultimately chose a sparkly quartz. I am not the only person who has made this choice for a kitchen or bath redo. In recent years, quartz, or engineered stone, has become the most popular material for slick-looking countertops, and the multibillion-dollar industry is only expected to grow. Quartz isn't cheap, but its attractive appearance (the options for color and pattern are seemingly endless) and durability make it worth the extra cost. It's nearly impossible to burn or stain, which is a problem with wood no matter how well you maintain it. Read more: California workers who cut countertops are dying of an incurable disease Those are things I discussed with the experts at the tile and countertop suppliers. At no time did we talk about the hidden costs of the option, specifically that the people mainly young Latinos who cut engineered stone countertops are getting sick and dying from silicosis, a disease I had never even heard of. Or that workplace health officials have known for years about the dangers associated with this line of work and rampant noncompliance with safety measures at work sites, but that it is largely unknown to consumers and even workers themselves. Or that dozens of people in the San Fernando Valley, where the engineered stone industry is concentrated, are currently sick with this incurable respiratory disease, which is caused by breathing in the silica dust released when quartz is cut and has had a local fatality rate as high as 20%. Or that at least 10 workers have died from silicosis between 2019 and 2022, and many others are severely disabled. I only learned these things recently, like many other Times readers, from the story by Emily Alpert Reyes and Cindy Carcamo that put a spotlight on this condition and the industry and sparked a discussion about what can be done to keep workers safe. Assemblymember Luz Rivas (D-North Hollywood) wrote on X that she had already begun working on legislation to be introduced next session. She said later that the story helped rally attention and support by labor advocates. Read more: Engineered stone counter tops are killing workers at high rates. What can consumers do about it? This epidemic of silicosis, as health experts have put it, has been on the radar of state and county health officials for some months after concerns were raised by physicians at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center who were seeing an uptick in cases. The state is working on emergency regulations for those who cut engineered stone, even though regulators acknowledge that it may not be possible to make this job completely safe for workers. CAL/OSHA officials wrote in a May report that "engineered stone may be so hazardous that even properly designed engineering controls and work practices may be unable to prevent RCS [respirable crystalline silica] exposures and silicosis among the workers who cut, shape and polish it." Furthermore, many of the workers who are suffering from silicosis reported that they wore respirators and their workplaces incorporated safety methods, such as using water to keep dust down. Read more: Editorial: Los Angeles is the chrome capital, but chemical behind the shine is too dangerous to keep using If there is no way to keep quartz cutters safe, should engineered stone fabrication be banned? Perhaps. That is one of the options that Los Angeles County health officials will explore in a report requested by Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Holly Mitchell. Rivas said it is an option that she is looking at as well. In many ways, the engineered stone situation resembles the issue of chrome plating, another industry concentrated in Southern California that is all about aesthetics (think spiffed-up cars with shiny chrome grills and rims ) but comes with an extremely toxic byproduct. In that case, the dangerous substance is carcinogenic hexavalent chromium that metal-finishing operations release into the air at levels that are extremely unsafe for the neighboring communities. State air regulators this year finally approved rules that will require the industry to transition to safer compounds beginning in 2024. It's good that lawmakers and regulators have taken notice of this terrible situation, but it does still feel like there's an important element missing consumer education. If I had known that choosing quartz put workers' lives at risk, I would have picked another countertop that doesn't come with a side of guilt. There is really no excuse to allow dangerous working conditions for a product that is used for purely aesthetic reasons when there are safer and equally attractive options. 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. The Local Government Commission approved nearly $2 billion in funding for municipalities in North Carolina during a meeting in early October. The largest project funding request came from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency. They asked for $750 million in revenue bonds to increase affordable housing, and the request was approved. READ MORE: North Carolina Senate acts quickly to seek to override 4 of Gov. Coopers vetoes Three requests totaling $235 million from the City of Charlotte were approved: $235 million in general obligation bonds $100 million in certificate of participation refunding $200 million short-term note for streets and neighborhood improvement projects The LGC also approved $1 million for downtown parking improvements in Avery County and $500,000 in Cleveland County to purchase land in downtown Boiling Springs. (WATCH: Saving South End: City, county leaders debate funding for historic area) (FOX40.COM) A series of scams have infiltrated the Golden State causing the California Department of Justice to provide ways to stay protected. Heres a list of scams circulating California and how to avoid them: California police warn about scam of a dropped $20 bill $20 Bill Scam The $20 bill scam involves a stranger pretending to return a $20 bill that they say a potential victim dropped, according to the Yuba City Police Department. This usually happens after a scammer learns of the victims debit card pin number by watching them at and ATM. Moments later the scammer will get the victim to open their wallet and asking for the money back. During the process the victim gets distracted while the scammer(s) steal the debit card right from under the victims nose without them knowing. Officials advise people to use caution when using a debit card or providing personal information in a public place. Its also recommended to pay close attention while handling financials in the presence of strangers. Crowdfunding: Crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or new idea or business by raising money from a large number of people. The DOJ reported that it is often done through online platforms, such as Kickstarter, Indiegogo, GoFundMe, and YouCaring. Dead womans Facebook account used to scam Swifties Californias DOJ said to learn all you can about the organizer before making a contribution. Use Google and LinkedIn to look up the organizer. Ask questions such as, Does the organizer have the expertise in the area the campaign concerns? Does it look fake? Are the friends real? Are there real-time comments? Be suspicious of pages that were created right before the campaign started. Also search social media such as Facebook for validity. Scams directed at Seniors Scam artists target seniors because they believe they have money to be taken and may be less careful in their dealings with strangers, according to Californias DOJ. While this is not always true, seniors and those who love them should still be on the lookout for scams directed towards older members of our community. One common trick aimed at seniors is the Grandma Im in Jail, scam. In this scenario a senior citizen will get a phone call from someone saying, This is your grandson, Im traveling, and Ive been arrested. Help, I need $500 for bail. Go to Walmart and send the money to the following. The DOJ says not to panic. First ask questions to determine if it really is your grandchild. If they called you Grandma dont say Is this Michael, ask Who is this? Ask him the name of his parents. Check with your son or daughter to find out if your grandchild is even traveling. Ask where the child is being held and confirm the information on the internet. For more information on scams targeted toward seniors visit oag.ca.gov. Charity Scams: Its common for scammers in California to pose as representatives of a charity in hopes that good Samaritans will donate. Before forking over any cash the DOJ suggests that you check the organizations validity. Charities operating and soliciting donations in California are required to register with the Attorney Generals Registry of Charitable Trusts, according to the DOJ. They are also required to file annual financial reports. Confirm that the charity and fundraiser are registered and up-to-date with their financial reporting by searching the Attorney Generals website for their records at oag.ca.gov Job and Business Schemes: Sometimes you need a job, sometimes you want a new job, and sometimes youd like to go into business for yourself. There are lots of legitimate resources out there to help, but theres also a lot of scammers out there looking to take advantage of you, the DOJ reports. To stay protected California DOJ said to remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The state says job seekers should insist on getting the details of any business offer in writing. They should also get independent references and check them out. Another recommendation for people applying for jobs is to check out the business or job placement service with the Better Business Bureau. Search for reviews online by typing the name of the business or promoter into an internet search engine with the words scam, complaints, or reviews. The DOJ also recommends not to let yourself be rushed into a business or job opportunity. They say if the opportunity is legitimate, there should be time for you to think about it and do your homework. For additional information about common scams circulating in California visit oag.ca.gov. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. Dan Bishop The writer is a former state senator. Regarding Dan Bishop backs down from threat to oust speaker, (Oct. 5 Editorial): Because Congressman Dan Bishop surprised fellow members by voting not to end Speaker Kevin McCarthys tenure, I naively expected the N&O Editorial Board to praise him for doing the right thing. I was disappointed when the board instead condemned him for his opposition to the majority of Republicans on past issues while not praising him for having the courage to change his mind. Deciding that party unity, traditions of the Congress, and the GOPs ability to govern were more important than his previous opposition to McCarthy, Bishop joined other Republican members from North Carolina in voting unanimously to retain McCarthy. He should be commended, not criticized, for his vote. Phil Kirk, Raleigh Speaker battle We are being led down the primrose path by the Republican Party. Instead of helping the people succeed, they are arguing about who should be speaker of the House. What a waste of our time and money! Rich McCreery, Cary NC redistricting We do not need new redistricting maps! The only reason this is being done is due to changes in the makeup of the North Carolina Supreme Court. The new majority of Republicans is making changes that are unnecessary and grossly distorting. Our democracy cannot be held hostage to such basely partisan changes. We must preserve the rule of law and stand up and not give in to these shameless shenanigans. Bonnie McCarthy, Chapel Hill Teacher pay Its true that small pay raises in the state budget are a slap in the face to veteran school teachers (Oct. 2). Its also a slap in the faces to N.C. children who deserve to be taught by good teachers paid a fair wage for the difficult, essential work they do. This is more evidence that the Republican state legislature has very little interest in providing a quality education for the children of our state. Their poor funding of public education and egregious use of taxpayer funds to support private schools are obvious indicators. Their efforts helped create a serious teacher shortage in our state. Joe Burton, Raleigh Cover of darkness Republicans in the N.C. General Assembly approved a provision in the budget that will give state legislators the authority to decide that their records are not public. If the legislator unilaterally decides that a record is not public, they can destroy, sell or dispose of the record with no legal penalties. It has been said that democracy dies in darkness. This legislation appears tailor-made to achieve that goal, to kill democracy under cover of darkness. And maybe make some money in the process. Lynn Andrews, Durham A civics test Regarding Teaching civics to students can also help educate their parents, (Oct. 2 Opinion): Reading about the lack of civics knowledge in America, I returned to an old thought of mine: All those running for public office should be required to pass the naturalization test to demonstrate a knowledge of civics and U.S. history. It stands to reason if immigrants must pass such a test, then those wishing to govern must do the same. I have long professed that our twice-impeached past president would not have passed such a test. And come to think of it, maybe we should return to the old literacy test requirement for voters only use the naturalization test for all voters. Jim Nolan, Morehead City Voting matters People are already talking about the 2024 election, with some saying they wont vote mostly because they dont like the choices in the presidential race. But there is always more on the ballot. In Raleigh, the mayoral and city council races have been moved to presidential election years, joining many state, local and judicial races. We can leave blank spaces on our ballots, if desired, but complete the ballot to choose other representatives and bonds. Its not a standardized test. Voting matters. Rane Winslow, Raleigh CHICAGO - A man was arrested in Waukegan Saturday in connection to a robbery on the Far North Side last month. Luke Wood, 38, of Skokie, allegedly robbed a 32-year-old man in the 6400 block of West Touhy Avenue on Aug. 30. Police say the incident happened at 11:41 a.m. and Wood implied that he had a firearm during the robbery. Wood was charged with aggravated robbery and has a warrant for his arrest from out of state. He was scheduled to appear at a detention hearing Saturday. No additional information is available at this time. CHICAGO - A Cook County man is facing charges after forcing a victim to have sex for money. Carlos Cooks, 53, of Elk Grove, was arrested Friday after the Cook County Sheriff's Vice Unit launched an investigating based on a tip of possible trafficking. The Vice Unit began its investigations in January. The unit members found the victim was being advertised online for sexual services. Cooks allegedly would set prices for the victim, arrange the dates, rent the hotel rooms, and control the money made from the sexual acts. Investigators say Cooks also forced the woman to provide sexual acts for money at hotels in Palatine and that he had beaten the victim if she did not provide services, including threatening her with a firearm. He was charged with one count of involuntary servitude, two counts of trafficking in persons, and one count of promoting prostitution. Cooks was scheduled to appear in court Saturday. The victim was referred to the Victim Support Services, a survivor led unit within the Sheriffs Police Department that works with individuals involved in trafficking and domestic violence situations to provide them resources and support they need to move forward with their lives. Washington Sen. Cory Booker safely departed Israel on Sunday after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack against the country, according to his spokesperson. The New Jersey Democrat and his staff were in Jerusalem when Hamas began carrying out its large-scale offensive against Israel "and sheltered in place for their safety," his spokesperson Maya Krishna-Rogers said in a statement Sunday afternoon. "We are grateful that Sen. Booker and our colleagues were able to safely depart Israel earlier today," she said. Booker, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, arrived in Israel on Friday for several days of meetings ahead of a summit on regional economic integration in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, which he was supposed to participate in, his office said. "I emphatically condemn Hamas' horrific acts of violence, kidnapping and terror targeting Israeli families, children and other civilians in towns and cities across the nation of Israel. I stand with the people of Israel and the families of those who have lost loved ones," Booker wrote on social media on Saturday. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing regarding Supreme Court ethics reform on May 2, 2023. / Credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images The attack has left hundreds dead and thousands more injured. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog told "Face the Nation" on Sunday that it is his understanding that Americans have been taken hostage by Hamas militants, but he didn't have details. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. has not yet verified reports that Americans have been killed or taken hostage. "We've got reports that several Americans are among the dead. We're working very actively to verify those reports. At the same time, the reports of Americans being taken hostage there too, we're working to get the facts to find out if those reports are accurate," Blinken told "Face the Nation" on Sunday. Several U.S.-based airlines have said they've temporarily suspended flights to and from the international airport near Tel Aviv in response to the conflict. Sly Stone's new memoir Students making friends across the American divide Rachel Maddow on "Prequel" and fascism in America Days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, global news outlets cast Poland as a humanitarian superpower. Poles opened their homes to hundreds of thousands of refugees, offered transport, handed out hot soup and warm words of welcome. The government, too, sought to position itself as Kyivs champion in the West supplying weapons, pressing allies to send more of theirs, and calling for Ukraines inclusion in NATO and the EU. Eighteen months on, the alliance is mired in acrimony, with Polish officials threatening to halt weapons transfers and block Kyivs possible EU accession as tensions soar over competing agricultural interests and a simmering row over how to remember World War II-era massacres of Poles in modern-day Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities last month sought international arbitration after Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary imposed unilateral bans on domestic imports of Ukrainian grain and other produce, after the EU moved not to extend a pre-agreed embargo. Warsaw appeared to respond by ratcheting up pressure, with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki saying days later that his country would no longer send arms to Kyiv, even as a Ukrainian counteroffensive continued to inch forward in the south and east. A government spokesman, Piotr Mueller, later clarified that Poland would continue to provide ammunition and armament supplies that had been previously agreed. While Ukraine has now paused the arbitration proceedings against its neighbors, with trade officials saying a complex solution to the grain issue is being worked out, the tenor of Polish-Ukrainian relations remains a world away from last years warm camaraderie. Read also: Far-right party may hold keys to next Polish government, sets tone in talks with Ukraine Broken friendship Under rules adopted by Brussels in May, five countries bordering Ukraine were allowed to ban domestic sales of Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds to prevent a glut in their markets and protect local farmers. They still permitted the transit of sealed produce, helping Kyiv keep up its exports as Russia has threatened its usual Black Sea trade routes. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Sep. 12 accused Polands conservative government of weaponizing the grain issue for political gain, as the ruling Law and Justice party strives to secure an unprecedented third term in the Oct. 15 parliamentary election. On the same day that Shmyhal made his comments, his Polish counterpart Morawiecki addressed supporters in the town of Kosow Lacki, surrounded by fields and farmland. He vowed that only Law and Justice could secure a future for Polish agriculture. The following day, Polands Agricultural Minister Robert Telus told a Polish radio station that Warsaw could block Kyivs EU accession unless measures are put in place to restrict Ukrainian grain exports and safeguard Polish farmers. Polish authorities argue that Ukrainian grain does not have to adhere to the blocs strict plant safety standards; some also say the fertility of Ukrainian soil makes the countrys agriculture impossible to compete with. Some Polish opposition politicians publicly called for an extension of the EU grain embargo but said the government should have secured it by diplomatic means, rather than acting unilaterally and stoking anti-Ukrainian feeling. Other government critics accuse trading firms linked to the state or Law and Justice lawmakers of aggravating the crisis, saying they failed to ship Ukrainian grain out of Poland in a timely manner. Polish analysts have for weeks warned that Law and Justice could turn to anti-Ukrainian rhetoric as it tries to hold on to power. Adam Leszczynski, a journalist with the Oko.press news portal who covers domestic politics and Polish-Ukrainian relations, said that the election may be decided by the thinnest of margins. This year, Law and Justice is fending off not just liberal and leftist opposition but also a far-right challenger, Confederation party. The far-right party has for months slammed the government as naive for offering Kyiv military and political backing, seemingly with no strings attached, and urged a strictly transactional approach. The Confederation also seeks to capitalize on some Poles resentment of Warsaws decision to offer Ukrainian refugees a full social security and benefits package. A campaign ad published on the partys website this week accused the Law and Justice government of taking money from Poles and giving it to Ukrainians. Leszczynski said that all Polish parties have spent weeks running intense focus groups whose results inform their electoral messaging. Read also: Duda: Hamas attack diverts worlds attention from Ukraine If the focus groups showed that anti-Ukrainian rhetoric might gain the government (even) 100,000 extra votes, I suspect that they would have no scruples, Leszczynski said. Adam Balcer, a political scientist at the University of Warsaws Centre for Eastern European Studies, agreed that the Polish governments negative messaging about Ukraine is partly explained by Law and Justices desire to stave off competition from the far-right. Balcer also pointed out that few senior Law and Justice figures saw cultivating warm relations with Kyiv as a priority before Russias full-scale invasion. He said that the outpouring of support for Ukraine that followed was chiefly driven by Warsaws desire to counter Moscow and fears of possible Russian aggression against Poland itself in the future. Fear of Russia, the presence of a fundemental Russian threat, remain factors that lead both Polish elites and society to think Ukrainians cant be left to fend for themselves, he said. Spiral of past grievances Since coming to power in 2015, Law and Justice has been accused of weaponizing nationalist and Catholic sentiment to stifle civil society and weaken the rule of law. It has sought to co-opt key parts of the judiciary, refashioned school curricula to emphasize traditional values, and stoked anti-migrant and anti-LGBTQ feeling. Poles historical traumas, too, feature prominently in the governments messaging. This year, Law and Justice have leaned heavily into anti-German rhetoric, playing on older peoples World War II scars and appearing to cast EU institutions as an instrument of Berlins power. A campaign ad aired last month portrays previous Polish governments as having taken instructions from Germany in domestic matters, such as raising the retirement age. The government-controlled state broadcaster, TVP, has routinely alleged without evidence that key opposition figures, such as former European Council President Donald Tusk, would put Berlins interests ahead of Warsaws if elected. A picture of Donald Tusk, the leader of the Civic Platform party (PO), is screened during the so-called Million Hearts March organized by his party in Warsaw, Poland on Oct. 1, 2023. (Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Historys ghosts have also haunted Polands relations with Ukraine, resurfacing before the election. Sparks first flew between Warsaw and Kyiv on July 31, when Marcin Przydacz, top official within the Polish presidents office, told state TV that Ukraine should begin to appreciate Polish support and promised a firm stance on the grain embargo. Warsaw and Kyiv both went on to summon each others diplomatic representatives. On Aug. 2, Polands Deputy Foreign Minister Pawe Jablonski called on Kyiv to show understanding for (Polands) needs and point of view. Jablonski reiterated Warsaws concerns over the grain exports but also brought up a bitter and long-festering dispute over remembering and moving on from the massacres of as many as 100,000 Poles by Ukrainian nationalists during the 1940s in the then-Nazi-occupied Volhynia and eastern Galicia regions. The Polish parliament in July passed a resolution calling the killings genocide, while many Polish and Western historians have described them as ethnic cleansing. These historians argue that the massacres were aimed at preventing a post-World War II Polish state from claiming the two majority-Ukrainian regions. Other minorities, such as Jews and Czechs, were also targeted. The massacres were followed by killings of several thousand Ukrainians by the Polish underground in whats now western Poland, including a March 1944 massacre in the village of Sahryn. Some Ukrainian historians, notably Volodymyr Vyatrovych, have disputed whether the killings of Poles were premeditated or organized although the topic is far less widely discussed in Ukraine than in Poland. On June 19, Jablonski threatened that Poland would not agree to Ukraines EU accession unless the question of genocide in Volhynia is resolved. Lukasz Adamski, deputy director of a think tank set up by the Polish culture ministry to help develop relations with Ukraine and other Eastern European states, said that Kyivs refusal so far to allow the exhumation and burial of the Polish victims has been a key point of contention, regardless of who is in charge in Warsaw. Adamski, of the Warsaw-based Juliusz Mieroszewski Centre for Dialogue, said Polish partisans are responsible for reprisal killings, such as those in Sahryn, but said that the victims have graves in Poland, unlike in Ukraine. Thats what provokes such heated reactions. In mid-July 2018, on the 75 anniversary of the massacres, Polish news outlets ran photos of President Andrzej Duda laying flowers at the edge of a rippling wheat field in Volhynia, where a Polish village used to stand. Read also: Sawomir Sierakowski: Polands destructive grievance politics As of 2023, none of the murdered villagers have been laid to rest. The Polish government has also repeatedly argued that the number of Polish victims was much higher a claim backed by Western historians, although precise estimates vary. Tensions between Kyiv and Warsaw previously spiked under ex-President Petro Poroshenko, whose administration stressed memory politics far more than its predecessors. Streets in Ukraine were named after the countrys nationalist leader Stepan Bandera and his followers, including the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), and nationalist military leader Roman Shukhevych and his Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). The authorities highlighted their fight against Ukraines Soviet occupiers, with Poland and Poles largely outside the narrative. Amid Russias brutal invasion, Banderas approval rating appears to have reached unprecedented highs: A January poll by Rating, a Ukrainian sociological agency, indicated that 74 percent of respondents held positive views of him in April 2022, a striking increase from 22 percent in 2012. But UPA and OUN members, including Shukhevych, have also been implicated in the massacres of Poles, and the two organizations names carry strongly negative connotations in Poland. Adamski said Polands ruling party is keenly aware of competition from the far-right Confederation, which likewise stresses national honor and historical grievances, and said it is a likely reason why the Volhynia issue has resurfaced. He said there were objective problems in Polish-Ukrainian relations, such as the exhumation ban or a lack of understanding among Poles why figures such as Bandera or Shukhevych were increasingly cast in a heroic light in Ukraine. However, these problems would not be highlighted in the same way if not for the electoral campaign, Adamski said. Balcer commented that anti-Ukrainian rhetoric from Law and Justice has often gone hand in hand with the anti-German slogans prominent in the partys campaign messaging. Law and Justices anti-Ukrainian rhetoric has gone hand in hand with its anti-EU and anti-German slogans, he said. In August, one of Polands largest dailies ran an interview with Witold Waszczykowski, a Law and Justice politician and Polands former top diplomat, who alleged that Kyiv had allied itself with Germany over the grain issue. Weeks prior, Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the head of the Law and Justice party, likened the Volhynia and east Galicia massacres to Nazi crimes. Senior Ukrainian officials have addressed the issue of the massacres earlier this year. Ukrainian parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk told the Polish parliament in May that Warsaw and Kyiv will work together towards reconciliation, accepting the truth no matter how ruthless it may be. His words prompted applause from Polish lawmakers. However, President Volodymyr Zelensky hinted during a state visit to Poland in April that this cooperation could only begin after Ukraine has fended off Russias aggression. Adamski argued that Kyiv as well as Warsaw - could well take the first steps well before then. The leader of the right-wing Law and Justice party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski delivers a speech during a campaign convention at the G2A Arena on Oct. 8, 2023, in Rzeszow, Poland. (Photo by Omar Marques/Getty Images) He said that rather than an official apology or reopening debates on how to remember Bandera inevitably fraught in wartime, especially given Kremlin propaganda that paints Ukrainians as violent extreme nationalists Kyiv could simply allow for the exhumation and burial of the victims. He cited an August 2022 poll conducted by the Mieroszewski Centre, in which 59% of Ukrainian respondents backed building cemeteries for the slain Poles, with commemorative plaques explicitly describing them as UPA victims. Fifty-three percent did so on condition that equivalent plaques are installed on the graves of Ukrainians later murdered by the Polish underground a measure Adamski strongly backed. He also predicted that the numbers would have been much higher if the Mieroszewski Centre had asked about building graves alone, without the memorial signs proclaiming the UPA as responsible. I think (the poll) points to the maturity of Ukrainian society. Ukrainians would also like to solve this problem, he said. Adamski said there was a tendency in both Poland and Ukraine to cast the killings of, respectively, Ukrainians and Poles as impersonal tragic events, with both nations unwilling to admit wrongdoing. In eastern Poland, memorial plaques say that the Poles buried there were murdered by UPA members, while Ukrainians (killed by Polish partisans) died tragic deaths, he said. Thats not ethical either, Adamski said. Read also: Peter Tkacenko: Slovakia after election If not friend, certainly not enemy of Ukraine Balcer agreed. Polls in Ukraine show a growing belief that the UPA fought for the countrys independence and played a generally positive role. Of course, I would really like Ukrainians to admit that they also committed crimes, but the problem in Poland is that we dont want to allow any nuance in our own narrative. This is not a story where Poles are solely victims and Ukrainians, solely perpetrators, Balcer said. The Polish government has bemoaned the adoption by Kyiv in 2015 of controversial decommunization laws, one of which outlaws the denial and disrespect of the role in Ukrainian history of a long list of figures, ranging from human rights activists to UPA militants, some of whom Poland accuses of ethnic cleansing. Less than three years later, Poland, too, adopted a fiercely contested Holocaust bill mandating fines or imprisonment for those who alleged that ethnic Poles were complicit in Nazi Germanys crimes. Balcer argued that Warsaw needs to learn to address painful episodes from Polands own history, including individual Poles collaboration with the Nazis during the Holocaust, but also the murders of Ukrainian civilians by Polish partisans in the 1940s, as well as the Polish states often unequal treatment of its Ukrainian inhabitants over the centuries. Journalist Leszczynski said that while he would not point to Poland as an example of how to reckon with history, he hoped that Ukraines integration into the European community would prompt greater readiness to confront its darker turns. Its an incredibly difficult task that we in Poland have only partially worked through, with respect to Polish-Jewish but also Polish-Ukrainian relations. Its a matter of understanding that strong nations face up to their past, including its dark sides, while weak nations resist this, he said. Leszczynski said that while he would like Ukrainian authorities to apologize for the massacres, he didnt think that anyone reasonable in Poland should demand this now, during the war with Russia. Balcer, Adamski, and Leszczynski all said the anti-Ukrainian rhetoric coming from the Law and Justice party is part of the ongoing electoral campaign, adding that military support for Kyiv and a full Ukrainian victory over Russia lie in Polands strategic interests. Leszczynski said he was unsurprised that Law and Justice would risk the relationship with Ukraine to secure a domestic win. (The government) will sacrifice as much as it possibly can, in terms of foreign relations, to win in Poland. Theyve done it repeatedly before, whether it came to relations with Israel or the EU, he said. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Attorneys for a group of plaintiffs this week urged a federal appeals court to block a new Florida law that restricts people from China from owning property in the state, saying the measure mandates egregious national-origin discrimination. A 57-page brief filed at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the law, approved this spring by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-led Legislature, is unconstitutional and violates the federal Fair Housing Act. The plaintiffs went to the Atlanta-based appeals court after U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor in August refused to issue a preliminary injunction against the law (SB 264). It singles out Chinese people for extraordinary restrictions on the ability to buy a home, even though Congress enacted the FHA (Fair Housing Act) to eradicate discriminatory policies in housing, the brief said. Read: Stay or transfer: Park Maitland parents face tough choice after state pulls vouchers In approving the law, DeSantis and the Legislature pointed to a need to curb the influence of the Chinese government and Chinese Communist Party in Florida. The overall law affects people from what Florida calls foreign countries of concern China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria. But the lawsuit focuses on part of the measure that specifically puts restrictions on people from China who are not U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents. That part prevents people domiciled in China from purchasing property in Florida, with some exceptions. Such people each would be allowed to purchase one residential property up to two acres if the property is not within five miles of a military base and they have non-tourist visas. Three of the plaintiffs are in the United States on visas, while one is seeking asylum. Another plaintiff is a real-estate broker, Multi-Choice Realty, that serves a large number of Chinese clients. Read: Schools respond after FDOE suspends scholarships over accusations of Chinese Communist Party ties As he rejected the request for a preliminary injunction, Winsor wrote that U.S. Supreme Court precedents have held that states could deny aliens ownership interests in land within their respective borders absent an arbitrary or unreasonable basis. He also indicated a key is that the law classifies based on where an alien is domiciled. It does not facially discriminate against noncitizens based on race or ancestry. It does not discriminate against noncitizens based on the particular country in which one was born, Winsor wrote, partially quoting a Supreme Court precedent. So contrary to plaintiffs arguments, the challenged law is facially neutral as to race and national origin. It would apply to a person of Chinese descent domiciled in China the same way it would apply to a person not of Chinese descent domiciled in China. And its application would never turn on a persons race. Read: Park Maitland School increases campus security following Communist Party connection allegations But the plaintiffs brief filed this week disputed Winsors conclusions, including about the issue of the law applying to people domiciled in China. The brief said the laws reference to domicile in China is an obvious proxy for national origin; virtually everyone domiciled in China is of Chinese national origin. Yet the district court concluded that SB 264 is neutral as to national origin, ignoring common sense and longstanding precedent that forbids the use of proxies to discriminate against protected classes. If the district courts analysis is allowed to stand, it risks eviscerating the FHAs protections, the brief said. It would allow state and local governments and any property owner to freely discriminate based on national origin, simply by labeling it domicile-based discrimination. Read: Orlando buys more land for affordable housing development The brief also said the law recapitulates the errors and harms of similar state alien land laws from more than a century ago that restricted Asians rights to hold land in America. Their purpose was to discourage and prevent non-desirable Asian immigrants from settling permanently in the United States and its territories, and their prohibitions are part of a long history of racial discrimination against Asian Americans across the United States. Not only does SB 264 harken back to this racist chapter in American history, but it perpetuates odious stereotypes by treating Chinese people as mere instruments of the Chinese government, the brief said. But Winsor, who was appointed to the federal bench by former President Donald Trump, wrote that the plaintiffs had not shown a substantial likelihood that unlawful animus motivated the Legislature in passing the law. Read: Altamonte Springs to use AI to speed up development The most relevant impact-related evidence that plaintiffs offer are legislative committee reports, he wrote. At best, however, these reports evince awareness of the consequences for aliens domiciled in China. Discriminatory purpose requires more than that. And as to race and national origin, the reports do not even show any awareness of consequences for those of Chinese descent or those born in China. As for the statements from the governor or legislators, none evinces racial animus or any intent to discriminate based on race or where someone was born. Nor do they show any intent to discriminate against Chinese citizens because of their Chinese citizenship. Instead, the statements are consistent with motivations independent of any protected traits. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Bahrain's capital Manama will host UNWTO's World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism in 2024, it was announced at the 8th edition of the forum in Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain. Bahrain will be the first time Middle East country to host the prestigious forum. Gastronomy Tourism can play a leading role in promoting responsible agricultural practices as well as help local communities thrive, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said opening the forum in San Sebastian. He said: Gastronomy Tourism can play a leading role in promoting responsible agricultural practices, protecting biodiversity and reducing the environmental footprint. "It can also create new opportunities for communities to thrive and protect their heritage and traditions and become an engine of growth and diversification for destinations supporting our roadmap towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The event was co-organised with Basque Culinary Center (BCC), with a focus on the links between product, gastronomy and tourism. The promotion and preservation of local products, the contribution of tourism to sustainable development, innovation and food waste all took center stage as UNWTO and BCC, also welcomed more than 300 online participants from 50 countries. Joxe Mari Aizega, General Director of Basque Culinary Center, added: "We are at a time to promote transformative dynamics and link gastronomy tourism with rural development. Territory, innovation and creativity are key to successfully moving towards a new scenario in which to promote a model of responsible gastronomy tourism focused on caring for people and the environment. It is essential to promote sustainable practices, harnessing the power of technology as an engine of growth and promoting the professional development of the sector, and to work to maintain the authenticity and diversity of the gastronomic offer." The opening ceremony also featured Rosana Morillo, Secretary of State for Tourism of Spain; Eneko Goia, Mayor of San Sebastian; Azahara Dominguez, Deputy for Mobility, Tourism and Territorial Planning, Provincial Council of Guipuzkoa; and Javier Hurtado, Regional Minister for Tourism, Trade and Consumer Affairs of the Basque Government. On the occasion, world-renowned chefs Martin Berasategui and Pedro Subijana, known for their contributions to Basque cuisine's international recognition, were designated UNWTO Ambassadors for Responsible Tourism. Tourism for Development and Growth The Forum put the spotlight on gastronomy tourism's role in the preservation of local territories and the promotion of sustainable practices. A high-level panel of tourism ministers Bulgaria, Puerto Rico and Zimbabwe focused on policies that strengthen agriculture, gastronomy and tourism. Expert-led discussions also focused on the protection of culinary traditions, the value of geographical indications, advancing the sustainability and resilience of rural areas, enabling producers to thrive in an increasingly interconnected and technology-driven world. With gastronomy tourism one of the pillars of the UNWTO Agenda for Africa Tourism for Inclusive Growth, the Forum also explored the sector's potential as a source of inclusive growth across the region. In a special address, the First Lady of Zimbabwe, Auxillia C Mnangagwa, a committed promoter of African gastronomy, highlighted that "gastronomy tourism globally has become an effective tool of attracting tourists, particularly those who are cognisant of the natural and nutritional value embedded in traditional foods. As nations we should be able to tap into our nutritional traditional cuisines to ensure a healthy living and socio-economic development of our nations. This is in line with our heritage-based philosophy for promoting tourism." Also on the occasion, UNWTO designated Chef Fatmata Binta as Ambassador for Responsible Tourism for her role in promoting African Gastronomy and community development. Chef Binta is a modern-day nomadic chef connected to the Fulani culture, customs, and cuisine of the biggest Nomadic group in West and Central Africa. A Roadmap for Food Waste Reduction Drawing from the recommendations in the Global Roadmap for Food Waste Reduction in Tourism, released by UNWTO in collaboration with UN Environment Programme, the "Circular Solutions for Reducing Food Waste" session showcased diverse initiatives by hotels, restaurants and cruise lines. Solutions ranged from prevention measures, such as mindful procurement and menu design; redistribution of food surplus to vulnerable groups and biomaterial processing; to circular strategies like composting or energy recovery. The discussions also emphasized the significance of education, innovation, and supportive regulations and policies in accelerating change. This year's Forum is organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Basque Culinary Center (BCC), with the support of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism of Spain, Basque Government, and the Provincial Council of Guipuzkoa, the City Council of San Sebastian. - TradeArabia News Service FILE PHOTO: The word "COVID-19" is reflected in a drop on a syringe needle in this illustration By Michael Erman and Ahmed Aboulenein NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Americans have started rolling up their sleeves for the latest version of the COVID-19 vaccine, but weeks into the rollout some say they are still having difficulty finding appointments for themselves and their children. Shot seekers also say they have been surprised by requests for upfront payments of $150 to $200 now that the U.S. government has handed off to private companies including vaccine makers, pharmacies, and insurance plans to handle distribution, administration and payment coverage. Many Americans have been eager to get vaccinated after COVID-19 cases picked up in much of the country in September. Around 4 million people received the updated Pfizer /BioNTech or Moderna shots in September, and 12 million doses were shipped, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The U.S. government has recommended all Americans ages 6 months and older receive one. Kate MacDowell, a self employed 50-year-old who lives in Portland, Oregon, said she had a vaccine appointment canceled by her healthcare provider, Kaiser Permanente, and has been unable to get another for nearly a month. She and her husband canceled a trip overseas in late September in part because they could not find the shots. "It used to be that even if it was scarce you could find somewhere that you could drive to get it," said MacDowell. "You have the federal government or the county health department saying go get your vaccine, and it's just impossible." Kaiser did not comment on MacDowell's experience in Oregon. The multi-state healthcare provider, target of a 3-day strike by 75,000 workers this week, said it does not cover out of network vaccinations except in California, where by law members can get reimbursed for COVID-19 vaccines from non-Kaiser providers including retail pharmacies until Nov. 11. The U.S. government in May ended the COVID public health emergency declaration during which it bought the shots and provided them to all Americans for free. In the current privatized system, health insurance plans by law must cover the shots at no cost. Pharmacies and health providers order the shots upfront from manufacturers and receive their supply from distributors. Pfizer and Moderna say they have shipped the shots as planned. At the beginning of last week, Pfizer said it had shipped and delivered more than 10 million doses of its 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine, including more than 1 million pediatric doses. Moderna has also said it has shipped millions of doses. CVS, the largest U.S. pharmacy chain, said on Thursday it was still experiencing delivery delays from its wholesalers. Walmart said it is offering updated COVID shots in all stores as supply becomes available. Walgreens, a unit of Walgreens Boots Alliance, said all stores now have the supply needed to meet demand in their communities. McKesson, one of the largest U.S. wholesalers, said it has distributed over 3.8 million shots so far. It acknowledged a need to ramp up across the supply chain, saying that may have impacted delivery dates for some customers. "We are working diligently to turn COVID-19 inventory as quickly as it is received and are growing our fulfillment of orders daily," a spokesperson said. Cardinal Health, another major distributor, said it also shipped several million COVID-19 vaccines "with some minor and short-term shipping delays." PHARMACIES PAY UPFRONT TOO After widespread reports of payment refusals early in the campaign, health insurance executives met with government officials on Sept. 27 and said plans are reimbursing vaccines given by in-network providers. "Health insurance providers continue to educate Americans about where and how to get their COVID vaccines within their plans coverage," David Allen, a spokesperson for insurance lobby group AHIP said. Still, some people told Reuters they are being told at pharmacies where they got COVID shots previously that the new ones are not covered by their plan at that location. Independent pharmacists are facing a different issue. Now that the government is no longer footing the bill for their vaccine supply, pharmacy owners need to pay for the shots. "I was hesitant to order as much as I knew I would need right out of the gate because they also had some restrictions on their return policy," said David Kohll of Kohll's Pharmacy, which has six locations in Nebraska. "That made me pull the reins back a little bit." An HHS spokesperson said the department "has engaged closely on these issues, even with the transition to the commercial market." Some people told Reuters their insurer instructed them to pay upfront and seek reimbursement if their pharmacies asked for payment. James Daily, a 43-year-old software developer from Readington, New Jersey, paid close to $600 last month to get shots for himself, his wife and his oldest daughter, and said he's had trouble finding an appointment for his 4-year old daughter. State regulations on vaccine administration for young children vary. Dr. Suzanne Berman, a pediatrician in Crossville, Tennessee, said she was concerned about losing money. "Demand has really slacked off, so I don't want to buy a lot of product that's going to go to waste," she said. "If it expires or goes bad then Ive sunk money without any return on it." Keep up with the latest medical breakthroughs and healthcare trends with our newsletter Reuters Health Rounds. Sign up here. (Reporting by Michael Erman in New York and Ahmed Aboulenein in Washington; Editing by Caroline Humer and Bill Berkrot) A street vendor gets a up close look on October 9, 2003, at the new redesigned $20 notes after they were released into circulation in New York's Times Square district. File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI Oct. 8 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1871, a massive Chicago fire destroyed more than 17,000 buildings, killed more than 300 people and left 100,000 homeless. In 1912, Montenegro declared war against the Ottoman Empire, starting the First Balkan War. "Irreconcilable differences between the great powers...now loom up as the most serious menace in the Balkan situation." In 1918, Sgt. Alvin York of Tennessee became a World War I hero by single-handedly capturing a hill as part of the Meuse-Argonne offensive in France, killing 20 enemy soldiers and capturing 132 others. In 1956, Don Larsen of the New York Yankees pitched the only perfect game in a World Series, beating the Brooklyn Dodgers 2-0 in Game 5. Larsen told United Press he was "so keyed up about the whole thing I almost fell down." Diana Oughton , pictured in her high school years (L) and mug shot after Weather Underground protests in Chicago. On October 8, 1969, the Days of Rage demonstrations, organized by the Weather Underground, kicked off in Chicago. File photos by UPI File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI In 1969, the Days of Rage demonstrations, organized by the Weather Underground, kicked off in Chicago. Diana -- The Making of a Terrorist, is UPI's Pulitzer winning profile of Diana Oughton, a member of the Weather Underground. China's state television shows footage of Kim Jong Il 's state funeral December 29, 2011. On October 8, 1997, Kim officially inherited his father's title of general secretary of the Communist Party. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI In 1982, Cats opened on Broadway, delighting fans from around the world for nearly 18 years before closing on September 10, 2000. File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI Maj. Gen. Thomas Plewes helps unveil the Distinguished Soldiers stamps at the Soldiers Memorial on May 3, 2000. On October 8, 1918, Sgt. Alvin York (bottom L) of Tennessee became a World War I hero by single-handedly capturing a hill as part of the Meuse-Argonne offensive in France, killing 20 enemy soldiers and capturing 132 others. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI In 1991, a U.S. federal judge in Anchorage approved a $1 billion settlement against Exxon for the Valdez oil spill. In 1993, the U.S. Justice Department, in its report on the 51-day siege at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, concluded the cult had caused the fire that destroyed the compound and killed at least 75 people. Kashmir survivors shift to safer places October 15, 2005, after losing their home in the massive earthquake in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, on October 8. File Photo by Ahmad Abbasi/UPI In 1997, three years after the death of longtime North Korean ruler Kim Il Sung, his son, Kim Jong Il, officially inherited his father's title of general secretary of the Communist Party. In 2003, about $19 billion in peach-colored, redesigned $20 bills made their official debut across the United States. In 2004, for the first time the Nobel Peace Prize went to an African woman, Dr. Wangari Maathai, an environmental activist from Kenya. In 2005, tens of thousands of people were killed by a 7.6-magnitude earthquake in Pakistan. Most of the victims were in the Kashmir region, others in India. The death toll in what became known as the Kashmir earthquake was eventually set at about 79,000, with more than 100,000 people injured and the number of displaced estimated in the millions. In 2022, a bomb-laden truck exploded on the Crimean Bridge, killing five people and causing portions of the bridge to collapse into the Kerch Strait. Kyiv admitted to causing the blast, which compromised Russia's ability to supply troops admits invasion of Ukraine. File Photo by Alexander Nemenov/EPA-EFE At least 2,000 people have died from the earthquakes that shook Afghanistan on Saturday, a Taliban spokesperson has confirmed. A powerful magnitude 6.3 earthquake followed by strong aftershocks destroyed about six villages, in what has been described as the deadliest earthquake to strike the country in two decades. Hundreds of civilians have been buried under the debris, said Abdul Wahid Rayan, spokesperson for the ministry of information and culture, while calling for urgent help. Mullah Janan Sayeeq, the spokesperson for the ministry of disaster [management], told reporters that 2,053 people were dead, 9,240 were injured and 1,329 houses were damaged or destroyed. More than 200 dead had been brought to different hospitals, a Herat health department official who identified himself as Dr Danish said. Most of them are women and children, while 510 are injured. These numbers might change. Bodies had been taken to several places military bases, hospitals, Dr Danish said. That is why we cant confirm or reject the number. The United Nations gave a preliminary figure of 320 dead but later said the figure was still being verified. Local authorities gave an estimate of 100 people killed and 500 injured, according to the same update from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The update also said 465 houses had been reported destroyed and a further 135 were damaged. Partners and local authorities anticipate the number of casualties to increase as search and rescue efforts continue amid reports that some people may be trapped under collapsed buildings, the UN said. #Afghanistan has just been hit by a devastating earthquake, second one in two months, killing and injuring hundreds of people. Our thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones and homes across the Western region. pic.twitter.com/zi9gsx2dSC World Food Programme in Afghanistan (@WFP_Afghanistan) October 8, 2023 Disaster authority spokesperson Mohammad Abdullah Jan said that four villages in the Zenda Jan district in Herat province bore the brunt of the quake and aftershocks. The United States Geological Survey said that the quakes epicentre was about 25 miles northwest of the city of Herat. It was followed by three very strong aftershocks, measuring magnitude 6.3, 5.9 and 5.5, as well as lesser shocks. Afghan residents clear debris from a damaged house after an earthquake in Sarbuland village of Zendeh Jan district of Herat province on 7 October (AFP via Getty Images) At least five strong tremors struck the city around noon, Herat city resident Abdul Shakor Samadi said. All people are out of their homes, Mr Samadi said. Houses, offices and shops are all empty and there are fears of more earthquakes. My family and I were inside our home, I felt the quake. His family began shouting and ran outside, afraid to return indoors. The situation was very horrible, I have never experienced such a thing, said student Idrees Arsala. He was the last to safely evacuate his classroom after the earthquakes hit. Nek Mohammad told reporters that his home flattened after the tremor struck. We came home and saw that actually there was nothing left. Everything had turned to sand, said the 32-year-old, adding that some 30 bodies had been recovered. So far, we have nothing. No blankets or anything else. We are here left out at night with our martyrs, he said as darkness began to fall. The World Health Organisation (WHO) in Afghanistan said it dispatched 12 ambulance cars to Zenda Jan to evacuate casualties to hospitals. As deaths and casualties from the earthquake continue to be reported, teams are in hospitals assisting the treatment of wounded and assessing additional needs, the UN agency said on X, formerly known as Twitter. WHO-supported ambulances are transporting those affected, most of them women and children. Telephone connections went down in Herat, making it hard to get details from affected areas. Videos on social media showed hundreds of people in the streets outside their homes and offices in Herat city. People gather on the streets in Herat after the earthquake (AFP via Getty Images) Herat province borders Iran. The quake was also felt in the nearby Afghan provinces of Farah and Badghis, according to local media reports. Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban-appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs, expressed his condolences to the dead and injured in Herat and Badghis. The Taliban urged local organisations to reach earthquake-hit areas as soon as possible to help take the injured to hospital, provide shelter for the homeless, and deliver food to survivors. They said security agencies should use all their resources and facilities to rescue people trapped under debris. We ask our wealthy compatriots to give any possible cooperation and help to our afflicted brothers, the Taliban said on X. Takashi Okada, Japans ambassador to Afghanistan, expressed his condolences saying on the social media platform X, that he was deeply grieved and saddened to learn the news of earthquake in Herat province. In June 2022, a powerful earthquake struck a rugged, mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan, flattening stone and mud-brick homes. The quake killed at least 1,000 people and injured about 1,500. Additional reporting from the agencies The death toll of the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel has risen to more than 300. Source: The Times of Israel Details: Medics stated that at least 1,590 people were injured, many of them suffered injuries of moderate severity. The death toll is expected to continue to rise. Dozens of civilians, as well as Israel Defence Forces soldiers, are believed to have been abducted and taken to Gaza. Hamas has bragged that the number of hostages is higher than that known to Israel. Background: On the morning of 7 October, a large number of missiles was launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel by Hamas militants; fires surged through Israeli cities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a public statement concerning the wave of attacks by Hamas, saying that the country is at war, but they will prevail. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken out in support of Israel following the attack by Hamas terrorists. Earlier, it was known about over 250 killed and 1,450 wounded people in Israel. 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! Marshes spread out along the shore of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta near Antioch. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez / San Francisco Chronicle via Associated Press) California water regulators have released a long-awaited analysis of options for managing flows in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, where fish populations have been declining and the ecosystem has been deteriorating. The delta is the central hub of the states water system, drawing together rivers from a vast watershed and supplying pumps that send water flowing to cities and farms. The draft report from the State Water Resources Control Board's staff lays out alternatives for new water quality standards that will determine how much water may be taken out, and how much should be allowed to flow through the delta. Some of the options would limit users' water withdrawals to maintain certain flows in the delta at one of three potential threshold levels. Another alternative is generating heated debate: It would rely on negotiated agreements, with water agencies pledging to forgo certain amounts of water while also funding projects to improve wetland habitats. Major water suppliers have lined up to support these voluntary agreements, which Gov. Gavin Newsom and his administration have touted as a solution to break away from the traditional conflict-ridden regulatory approach and improve the delta's ecological health. Environmental advocates say they welcome the states analysis after years of delays, but they argue that the voluntary measures would be disastrous for threatened and endangered fish, including salmon, steelhead, green sturgeon and delta smelt. We're just not going to get the water that the salmon need, said Scott Artis, executive director of the Golden State Salmon Assn. We will lose salmon runs and stocks and species if we don't get water in our rivers. Environmental groups and tribes say the voluntary approach would reduce protections, and they want to see the board set flow requirements that would ensure sufficient amounts of water pass through the delta and into San Francisco Bay, and also take other measures to protect the deteriorating aquatic ecosystem. The reports release on Sept. 28 opened a process that will involve hearings, public input and an eventual decision by the State Water Board. The alternatives still could undergo revisions, and the board could decide to combine elements from different options. The update of the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan has been years in the making. The last substantial changes in water quality and flow requirements were adopted in 1995 for much of the watershed. In 2018, the State Water Board released new standards to increase flows in the San Joaquin River. The pending update will set rules for the Sacramento River watershed and the rest of the delta. Read more: California says $2.6-billion pact can protect delta amid drought. Critics disagree The report, which is more than 5,000 pages long, also outlines goals for managing cold-water releases from dams for fish. This is a major milestone. This is a consequential step in the process. But there's a lot of work ahead of us, said Eric Oppenheimer, the boards chief deputy director. The Newsom administration announced the voluntary agreements proposal in March. Water agencies say this approach would dedicate substantial water to the environment. They are pledging about $2.5 billion to support restoration projects on about 27,000 acres of floodplain habitat and hundreds of acres of aquatic habitat, as well as water purchases, a science program and other efforts. Dozens of federally endangered delta smelt in a tank at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach in 2019. (Los Angeles Times) That is absolutely the path forward for our state, both for the ecosystem, its health and well-being in the delta and its watershed, and our water supply, said Dave Eggerton, executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies, which represents about 460 agencies. Managers of water agencies have said that recent declines of fish species in the delta, as well as decreasing reliability of water deliveries, indicate that the traditional regulatory approach hasnt worked and wont be effective as climate change increases strains on water supplies. We simply cannot waste time going down the same old paths at the cost of our water supply reliability, Eggerton said. Were ready to do something better. Read more: EPA to investigate California State Water Board for alleged civil rights violations A coalition of water agencies supported the voluntary measures in a letter to the State Water Board, calling them "Agreements to Support Healthy Rivers and Landscapes" and saying they will improve environmental conditions more quickly and holistically than traditional regulatory requirements, while providing more certainty to communities, farms, and businesses. In the Central Valley, Westlands Water District is one of the major agricultural suppliers supporting the agreements. The district delivers water to producers of almonds, pistachios, tomatoes and other crops. We are not going to have a reliable water supply of any sort if we don't have a healthy, sustainable ecosystem, said Allison Febbo, the districts general manager. And so we need to work together to figure out how to achieve that, with the goal of also maintaining our economy and communities. The sun sets over the San Joaquin River near the town of Isleton. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Environmental and fishing groups have condemned the agencies voluntary proposal as a backroom deal. Studies have repeatedly found that the watersheds ecological health can be restored, provided enough water is allowed to flow through the delta, said Jon Rosenfield, science director of the group San Francisco Baykeeper. There is plenty of water available for both human use and protection of our environment, Rosenfield said. But there is not enough water to do everything that everybody wants to do with the water, like make lots of money exporting almonds to the rest of the world, for instance, or in the urban environment, growing lush green lawns in a semi-desert. The debate over policy options coincides with an ongoing civil rights investigation by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. In August, the EPA accepted a complaint in which tribes and environmental justice groups accuse the State Water Board of discriminatory practices and mismanagement that they say have contributed to the deltas ecological deterioration. Read more: California is moving to outlaw watering some grass that's purely decorative The coalition of tribes and environmental groups including the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Winnemem Wintu Tribe and the groups Little Manila Rising and Restore the Delta argue that out-of-date water quality standards have led to collapsing fish populations and worsening algae blooms. The coalition said in a written statement that the voluntary agreements are illegitimate because they exclude tribes and affected communities, fail to provide adequate flows for fish, and would allow the proliferation of harmful algal blooms that create health concerns. Cintia Cortez, a policy analyst for Restore the Delta, said the agreements are "an exclusionary process for tribes and environmental justice communities." "The communities we represent are being harmed by inadequate management of Bay-Delta flows," Cortez said. While state officials consider new water quality standards for the delta, other related debates focus on big infrastructure projects, including the Newsom administration's controversial proposal to build a tunnel to transport water beneath the delta, and the plan to build Sites Reservoir in a valley north of Sacramento. By setting flow requirements for the Bay-Delta region, the eventual update of the water quality plan is expected to lay out constraints for those projects. This year, populations of chinook salmon were so low that regulators shut down the fishing season along the coast. Environmental advocates have called for more stringent flow requirements to help populations recover. Gary Bobker, program director of the Bay Institute, said that in 2017 the State Water Board detailed a path for setting new standards for the delta based on the best available science. But instead of acting quickly to execute that vision, it delayed for six years years the collapsing estuary could ill afford to accommodate the long drawn-out and ill-designed process by Governor Newsom and water districts to develop voluntary agreements that ignore the science, Bobker said. The State Water Board is holding workshops and hearings on its draft report in October, November and December, and is accepting written comments until Dec. 15. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Several Democrats expressed concern that the United States does not have a sitting ambassador for Israel amid the escalating conflict and attacks. Democratic lawmakers on Saturday aggressively pushed for a quick confirmation of Jacob J. Lew, who was nominated by President Biden last month, after the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel earlier in the day. Senate Foreign Relations Chair Ben Cardin (D-Md.) released a statement expressing hope that other senators will join him in promptly confirming Lew. Right now, it is critical as ever that we have a Senate-confirmed ambassador in Israel, Cardin said in his statement. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) expressed solidarity with Cardin, writing on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Spoke to Chairman @SenatorCardin tonight. We both agree that we need to move Jack Lews nomination to be Ambassador to Israel as the Senates first business when we reconvene. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) also called for Lews confirmation. We need an Ambassador to Israel and a Chief of Naval Operations, he wrote in a post on X. This is a serious situation that requires us to set aside our differences and make sure we have our full complement of leaders in defense and foreign policy. Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) during an interview with MSNBCs Katie Phang also expressed concern over a lack of a sitting Israeli ambassador. I have traveled the world quite a bit in my role as ranking member of the Intelligence Committee and people dont appreciate exactly how bad it is when we dont have an ambassador in a country and thats true everywhere. It is taken as an affront, Himes said. Events like the attacks on Israel and the war in Ukraine show the importance of having an ambassador. Crises like this one remind us of the cost international of political gridlock, political chaos, he said. Lew, who previously served as secretary of the Treasury for former President Obama, was nominated by Biden in early September. Many members of Congress have also pointed to the lack of a sitting House Speaker as posing a challenge to the United States involvement in Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday after the group launched a barrage of rocket strikes and entered the country in a surprise attack. More than 250 Israelis and 232 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting so far, Israeli media and the Palestinian government report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Deputies with the Dougherty County Sheriffs Office are looking for a wanted man who escaped from custody. According to a statement from the sheriffs office, Carlton Bradford Gillis, 36, was taken to the hospital for treatment at around 10:50 a.m. on Saturday. At some point, he was able to overpower the guard and escape on foot. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Gillis is charged with burglary, criminal damage to property, interference with government property, obstruction of a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct, and probation violation. Gillis also has a pending weapons charge in Terrell County, Georgia, where he was previously convicted of aggravated assault. TRENDING STORIES: Authorities in Terrell County have also been notified. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Dougherty County Sheriffs Office at 229-302-3600. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis lashed out at President Biden on Saturday amid a chaotic scene in the Middle East, accusing the U.S. commander in chief of "sleeping on the job" as Israel attempts to defend itself from Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists. DeSantis' comments, offered to reporters during one of his presidential campaign stops in Iowa, came after Hamas terrorists launched thousands of rockets into Israel early on Saturday morning. "I saw the president's comments with respect to the attacks on Israel. He said that he was up at 7:30 in the morning, but, you know, this was happening late, late last night into the early morning. The president needs to be there answering the call when our top ally in the Middle East is under the gun," DeSantis said. "You cant be sleeping on the job. Youve got to get there, youve got to do it, and youve got to engage," he added. "I think that we need to see leadership here. We need a very clear voice, we need strong support for the state of Israel." GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES DECLARE SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL AFTER HAMAS ASSAULT: 'JOE BIDEN FUNDED THESE ATTACKS' The president needs to be there answering the call when our top ally in the Middle East is under the gun," DeSantis told reporters Saturday. In a press briefing Saturday afternoon, Biden condemned the attacks and vowed that "the United States stands with Israel, we will not ever fail to have their back." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "I got up this morning, started this at 7:30, 8:00 [a.m.], my calls," Biden added. The surprise attacks began around 6:30 a.m. in Israel's time zone, Reuters reported which would be 11:30 p.m. Eastern time. It's unclear whether Biden was working before his calls. The White House did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment. DeSantis also blasted the Biden administrations policy as it relates to Iran, saying it "has been to play nice with Iran." He also highlighted a recent move by the Biden administration to release $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds as part of a prisoner swap deal, saying that those exact funds were most likely not used but that the money is "fungible." "Of course they're funding Hamas and Hezbollah in big ways," he added. Iran is a known backer of Hamas and praised the Saturday attacks on Israel. The State Department has previously said that Iran provides some $100 million a year to Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad. DeSantis described the Iran-backed attack on Israel as probably the "worst attack Israel's faced since the Yom Kippur War in 1973." 'SQUAD' DEMOCRAT CALLS FOR END OF ISRAEL'S 'GAZA BLOCKADE' AS HE CONDEMNS HAMAS TERROR ATTACKS "We're standing with them," he said. "It's important that in America that we all acknowledge and support their right to defend themselves These are terrorist attacks." Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for a response to DeSantis' remarks, but did not receive an immediate response. Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists invaded areas of southern Israel as rocket barrages launched from the Gaza Strip struck the area on Saturday, killing at least 200 Israelis and wounding at least 985 others, according to The Associated Press. A senior Hamas military commander, Mohammad Deif, announced the start of the operation in which he called on Palestinians everywhere to attack the Israelis, saying in a broadcast on Hamas media that the group launched thousands of rockets and calling the attack "the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on earth." Reports on the number of rockets have ranged from 2,100 to 5,000 the former reported by the IDF and the latter claimed by Deif in his initial announcement. The IDF claimed to have blocked many of the rockets with the countrys robust missile defense system Iron Dome . A retaliatory strike on Hamas targets has resulted in at least 198 Palestinians killed, according to Gaza health officials. In a video message early Saturday morning, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "Citizens of Israel, we are at war not in an operation, not in rounds at war." Netanyahu's office said he would meet top security officials in the coming hours to address the operation. Fox News' Peter Aitken and Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report. Original article source: DeSantis blasts Biden for 'sleeping on the job,' starting calls hours after Israel terror attacks began Feminist groups long campaigned to reform Mexico's abortion laws, which changed in September this year - SILVANA FLORES/AFP Images of scared and vulnerable Mexican women wading through the Rio Grande and crawling under barbed wire to cross the border into the United States have long been commonplace. But since the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, which introduced a near total ban on abortion in 13 states, desperate American women are now travelling into Mexico in search of reproductive care. It is a situation that Mexican abortion activist Vanesa Jimenez Rubalcav never imagined would happen. I was very surprised, she tells The Telegraph. The United States used to be the reference point [on abortion]. In September, Mexicos Supreme Court decriminalised abortion nationwide, offering legal protection for any woman who seeks an abortion in the country. Before the reversal of Roe vs Wade, I would talk to one or two women from the US a year, Ms Rubalcav says. Now, I speak to at least 20 a week. This embedded content is not available in your region. While there are no clinics in Nueva Leon, Monterrey, where the procedure is only allowed in the cases of rape, incest, or when the mothers life is at risk, there are still ways of helping women to procure the pills that they need, explains Ms Rubalcav. In July, a man from Nebraska asked for her help. He had crossed the border into Mexico from the United States with his pregnant daughter to find a way for her to have a safe abortion. The man was from Monterrey originally, but, in the face of restrictions in Nebraska, he had returned to his hometown in search of help for his child. Ms Rubalcav of Necesito Abortar Spanish for I Need To Abort helped his daughter have a termination. For decades, Mexican activist networks have helped women access abortion-inducing pills. And now, with a patchwork of restrictions across the United States, they are working for women north of the border too. The network mails pills to women who get in touch via social media. Mifepristone, which blocks the pregnancy-sustaining hormone progesterone, and misoprostol are the two drugs commonly used for abortions. Mifepristone is available by prescription in Mexico, while misoprostol, typically used for ulcers, can be bought cheaply over the counter. The most effective method is for the two to be taken together, but misoprostol alone is also often used. Throughout the process, Ms Rubalcav says, we are with them every step of the way. Women in America are our neighbours. All we are doing is sharing our information, our strategies. To let them know that there is an alternative, she adds. This embedded content is not available in your region. In the past year, Luisa Garcia, director of Profem, which operates abortion clinics in four Mexican cities, has seen a hike in the number of American women coming to the clinic. Ms Garcia recalls an American woman arriving at the clinic who was all panicked, she didnt speak any Spanish, and the machine didnt accept her card. Veronica Cruz, the founder of Las Libres, an abortion rights volunteer network, has been helping Mexican women procure the pills needed to have an at-home abortion for more than two decades. We have been helping women in Mexico secure safe at-home abortions without medical supervision for 23 years, she says. The majority of women from the United States contact her from Texas, Florida, Mississippi, Georgia and Oklahoma. When Cruz first started her work, over two decades ago, she says that all the feminist networks in Latin America looked to the United States on abortion. We would say: We want something like Roe v Wade, she says. But now the mood has changed. Now, we say how glad we are that we didnt take after the United States and follow in their footsteps. How glad we are that abortion in Mexico is a collective right, not an individual one. And how glad we are that society fought for this. 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. Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte celebrates in the dugout after scoring on an RBI single by Corbin Carroll during the first inning in Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) LOS ANGELES (AP) Merrill Kelly and Clayton Kershaw had their backs to each other in the outfield while they were long-tossing before Game 1 of the NL Division Series. He kind of gave me a little acknowledgment and I gave it back, Kelly said. Then Arizona went out and clobbered the Los Angeles Dodgers ace in the first inning on the way to an 11-2 victory for Kelly and the Diamondbacks on Saturday night. Gabriel Morenos three-run drive highlighted a six-run first for Arizona, which also got homers from Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas and Tommy Pham. Kelly used the support to beat the Dodgers for the first time. Im watching our guys beat up on one of the best pitchers that weve ever seen in our lives and watching them do it in the first game Ive ever pitched in the playoffs, Kelly said. Making his first career postseason start at age 34, Kelly came in with an 0-11 record and a 5.49 ERA in 16 starts against LA. I felt if I gave those games any attention I was going out there behind the eight-ball before I even stepped on the mound, he said. Kelly limited the NL West champions to three hits in 6 1/3 innings, the last one leading off the third on Miguel Rojas single. He retired 11 in a row during one stretch. We just never really had a chance to get to Kelly, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. He was attacking us and making us put the ball in play and we just couldnt do it. Game 2 of the best-of-five series is Monday night in LA. The loss tied for the fifth-largest postseason defeat in Dodgers' franchise history. They've now lost Game 1 of the NLDS in two of the last three years. Kershaw staggered through the worst start and shortest of his 16-year career. The three-time Cy Young Award winner got tagged for six runs and recorded just one out in the 100th postseason game at Dodger Stadium. Its just embarrassing really, Kershaw said. I just feel like I let everybody down. He walked off the mound with his head down. He sat down in the dugout, removed his cap and buried his face in his hands. I dont think anybody in the baseball world was expecting that, teammate Freddie Freeman said. Kershaw dropped to 13-13 with a 4.49 ERA in the postseason, compared to 210-92 with a 2.48 ERA in the regular season. He gave up a leadoff double to Ketel Marte after the ball went off the glove of center fielder James Outman. Corbin Carroll followed with a RBI single, making it 1-0. Tommy Pham singled to left and Christian Walker doubled off the base of the bullpen gate for a 2-0 lead. Pham finished with four hits. Moreno came up next and belted a three-run shot to left. Kershaw retired Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on a grounder to shortstop, needing 26 pitches to get the first out of the inning. He became the first first starting pitcher in MLB postseason history to allow five hits and five runs before recording an out, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Kershaw then walked Thomas. That set up Evan Longorias RBI double to left-center, extending Arizonas lead to 6-0 and leaving the crowd of 51,653 in stunned silence. Rookie Emmet Sheehan replaced Kershaw and the D-backs promptly tacked on three more runs in the second. Carroll homered to right, Gurriel had a RBI double and Longoria had a sacrifice fly. Thomas added a solo shot in the seventh and Pham went deep in the eighth for an 11-0 lead. Arizona rapped out 13 hits. The only D-back who didnt get on base was Geraldo Perdomo, who went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts. I just think this team was very focused, D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. We talked about what our game plan was going to be, and I watched this group go out and execute it to a T. Kershaw's early exit made it a bullpen game for the Dodgers, who struggled with starting pitching in the regular season. Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May were lost for the year with right elbow injuries. Walker Buehler was ruled out from making an early return after Tommy John surgery, and Julio Urias was placed on paid administrative leave last month because of domestic violence allegations. That left Kershaw as the only starter still standing. But the D-backs ensured he didn't last long. Miguel Castro walked Mookie Betts and Freeman back-to-back in the eighth, and they scored on Will Smith's triple into the right-field corner the Dodgers' first hit since the third inning to trail 11-2. Betts, Freeman, J.D. Martinez and Max Muncy were the first four players in Dodgers history with 100-plus RBIs in the same season. But Betts, Freeman and Martinez were the only ones who got on base, all via walks. Muncy was hitless in four at-bats with a strikeout. Arizona is in the postseason for the first time since 2017, when the D-backs were swept by the Dodgers in three games. Our guys are hungry, Lovullo said. I dont think theyre feeling a ton of pressure. They just went out there and did what they do best, and the way they prep is what showed up for me. The 84-win D-backs were coming off a sweep of the favored Milwaukee Brewers in the Wild Card Series. The Dodgers had been idle since finishing off a 100-win regular season in which they earned their 10th NL West title in 11 years. BIRTHDAY BOYS Betts turned 31 on Saturday, while Arizona's Evan Longoria turned 38. It was the fifth time in postseason history that each team had a player compete on his birthday. The other times were 2016, 2011, 1991 and 1920. HOMER HAPPY The D-backs have homered in 14 consecutive postseason games dating to Game 3 of the 2007 NL Championship Series against Colorado. They're tied with the Dodgers and Houston Astros for the second-longest streak. UP NEXT Right-hander Zac Gallen will start Game 2 for the D-backs on Monday against rookie right-hander Bobby Miller of the Dodgers. Gallen, a 17-game winner, gave up two runs and five hits over six innings against Milwaukee in the NL Wild Card Series. Miller won three of his final five regular-season outings. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb Israeli soldiers look at the remains of a police station following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Sderot By Dan Williams AIRPORT CITY, Israel (Reuters) - Hundreds of stunned Israelis filed into a central police station on Sunday hoping for word on the fate of loved ones lost in the wake of a mass Palestinian infiltration from the Gaza Strip. Though long used to war, Israel was blindsided by the multi-pronged attack by Hamas gunmen in which hundreds were killed. Not only was the number of those unaccounted for unknown, but many were believed to have been taken captive into Gaza -including young children - with others hiding in their besieged Israeli villages. The Gaza border region, which is just an hour's drive from the police information center in Airport City, remained sealed off by the military as troops continued street-by-street battles with gunmen, learning with each stage the extent of the carnage. One mother spoke with Reuters after giving her DNA sample and handing over a brush with hair follicles from her son, who was at an outdoor dance party that was stormed by Hamas gunmen. She declined to give her name. "The last we heard from him, he was calling from the car, saying he was trying to get away and that they were shooting at him," she said. "I'm doing whatever I can to find out what happened." Outside the police center, a man prayed with a rabbi as his fiancee filled in a report for her missing brother. Yoni Asher, who was back at his home in central Israel after countless attempts to get assistance from authorities, said his wife was visiting her mother in the community Nir Oz near the border with their two young daughters when Hamas attacked. "She told me the terrorists are in the house," he said. Then the call got cut off. Later on he located her mobile phone through her Google account. Its location was Khan Younis, a city in Gaza. He then saw a video that spread on social media of them being taken to Gaza. "I surely identified my wife, my two daughters and my mother-in-law on some kind of a cart, and terrorists of Hamas all around them," he said. "My little two girls, they are only babies, they are not even 5-years-old and 3-years-old ... I don't know in what terms they are captive. I don't know what happened to them." (This story has been refiled to fix the spelling of 'fiancee' in paragraph 7) (Additional reporting Miro Maman; Editing by Hugh Lawson) DNA tests promise to detail customers' ancestry but in some cases, what the companies find is far more surprising than expected. In a profile about unexpected DNA results, the BBC reported that an increasing number of ancestry test customers are learning that the people who raised them might not be their biological parents after all. One woman, Kara Rubenstein Deyerin, grew up with a Black father and believed she was half-African-American herself. When she purchased at-home DNA tests for herself and her dad one Christmas to learn more about their cultures of origin, however, she received a shock with her own results: that she was half Ashkenazi Jewish, and had no African ancestry at all. Rubenstein Deyerin's mother, it seems, had had sex with someone other than her father and it led to her birth. "I'd never heard of the term Ashkenazi before. I didn't even think my mum had ever met a Jewish person before," she told BBC with a smile. "Obviously she did once." Though she never met her biological father and his family wanted nothing to do with her, the woman ended up taking his last name, Rubenstein, as part of her own. She began learning more about her Jewish heritage and wearing a Star of David necklace, and traveled to Israel to get in touch with that previously unknown part of her. The woman's discovery raises important questions about race and ethnicity, human-made categories that are subjective and change over time but that nevertheless have massive impacts on our lives. Generally speaking, genetic ancestry companies like 23AndMe and AncestryDNA spend much time acknowledging the complicated nature of race and ethnicity in their marketing materials. A spokesperson for 23AndMe, however, did tell BBC that the company "does not conflate the concepts of ethnicity and genetic ancestry" and has "always understood the importance of distinguishing these concepts clearly." Rubenstein Deyerin started an organization for people who learned they were a different ethnicity than the one they grew up claiming people like Christine Jacobsen, who learned definitively that both of her parents were not Danish when she took her own at-home DNA test. Jacobsen learned through the test that she was 25 percent West African, despite believing for most of her life that she was fully Danish. "Clicking on the email and looking at the results was a validation of a question that I had had for all those 50 years," Jacobsen told the BBC. Along with offering breakdowns of one's genetic background, sites like Ancestry.com and 23AndMe also allow users to get in contact with genetic matches who'd also used their service. Jacobsen contacted her first cousin and learned that her bio-dad was a dancer named Paul Meeres Jr, and ended up writing a memoir about her experience. It's an ethically fraught and complicated debate. Jacobsen does still pass for white another reason why some critics say that at-home DNA tests may complicate or confuse users' experiences with the culturally defined categories of race and ethnicity. Mark Thomas, a professor of evolutionary genetics at Britain's University College London, told BBC that he's not a fan of the way these companies market using the term "ethnicity" because "your biological ancestry is not your ethnicity ethnicity is a socially defined category." "I feel that they are using the word as a euphemism for race," Thomas said. "Race is also socially constructed, but ideas about race traditionally were based more on ancestry. It just feels a bit icky they are not biologically meaningful categories." There's still a lot we all, collectively, must learn about race and ethnicity, both being very fraught and shifting categories, as these identifiers continue to play such massive roles in the way we interact with the world and how they determine how the world interacts with us as a result. More on DNA: Experts Alarmed by Tech That Identifies Human DNA Floating in Air Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw reacts after exiting during the first inning in Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) LOS ANGELES (AP) Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw sat in the dugout with his eyes downcast before putting his head in his hands. He had just crashed out of Game 1 of the NL Division Series, getting tagged for six runs and recording just one out against the Arizona Diamondbacks in an 11-2 loss Saturday night. Its a tough way to start the postseason, a subdued Kershaw said. Obviously, we still have a chance at this thing but that wasnt the way it should have started for me. The three-time Cy Young Award winner had never made a start in which he had pitched less than one inning. Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts had expected Kershaw to throw about 85 pitches. Instead, he was gone after 35. I don't think anybody in the baseball world was expecting that, teammate Freddie Freeman said. Five batters up and five runs scored without an out in the first. Its just embarrassing really, Kershaw said. I just feel like I let everybody down. Kershaw, 35, had two strikes on five of his eight batters while allowing the most runs in any first inning in the franchise's postseason history. It was his shortest outing as a starter in his 16-year career, all spent with the Dodgers. Obviously, I didnt make some great pitches and then sometimes I thought I did make some good ones and they hit them too, he said. Roberts said Kershaw will return to start Game 4 in Phoenix. I'll be ready, Kershaw said. The left-hander has a checkered career when it comes to the playoffs. He is 13-13 with a 4.49 ERA in the postseason, compared to a regular-season record of 210-92 with a 2.48 ERA. Kershaw, who is eligible for free agency after this season, missed six weeks with a shoulder injury that neither he nor the Dodgers have said much about. The team carefully managed his outings, which did not go beyond 5 1/3 innings in eight starts since coming off the injured list on Aug. 10. Theres nothing health-related here, he said afterward. Just bad pitching. Kershaw had a 2.22 ERA over his final five outings in the regular season, so few could have predicted what happened in the NLDS opener a brief performance that left the Dodger Stadium crowd in stunned silence. It was more shocking, Roberts said. Kershaw gave up a leadoff double to Ketel Marte after the ball went off the glove of center fielder James Outman. Corbin Carroll followed with a RBI single, making it 1-0. Tommy Pham singled to left and Christian Walker doubled off the base of the bullpen gate for a 2-0 lead. Gabriel Moreno came up next and belted a three-run shot to left. Usually Clayton does a great job of controlling, managing damage, Roberts said. Kershaw retired Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on a grounder to shortstop, needing 26 pitches to get the first out of the inning. He became the first first starting pitcher in MLB postseason history to allow five hits and five runs before recording an out, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Kershaw then walked Alek Thomas . That set up Evan Longoria's RBI double to left-center, extending Arizona's lead to 6-0. Regardless of anything that happened out there, I have to be better, he said. Thats just not acceptable. Rookie Emmet Sheehan came in and got two quick outs to end the inning, striking out Geraldo Perdomo and retiring Marte on a groundout. Kershaw recorded his 200th career victory April 18 against the New York Mets, becoming just the third pitcher in franchise history to accomplish the feat. He got his 10th All-Star selection, tying Pee Wee Reese for the most by a Dodgers player. On Sept. 10, he notched his 210th career win, overtaking Don Drysdale for second-most in franchise history. He finished the regular season with a 13-5 mark and 2.46 ERA. He had 137 strikeouts in 131 2/3 innings, his most since 2019. Injuries limited Kershaw's outings in 2019, 2020 and 2021. He won his first World Series title during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb The Beyond Parallel project of the US Centre for Strategic and International Studies has observed a sharp upsurge in freight traffic between North Korea and Russia following the two leaders' meeting in September. Source: European Pravda, citing an article by Beyond Parallel Details: A satellite image of a railway facility in the North Korean city of Tumangan, on the border with Russia, dated 5 October 2023, captured an unprecedented number of freight cars with a total of about 73. The activity at Tumangan is much higher than what US analysts from Beyond Parallel have observed at the site over the past five years, even before the coronavirus pandemic. Furthermore, construction of what is likely to be a new storage facility is underway nearby. PHOTO: BEYOND PARALLEL "Given that Kim and Putin discussed some military exchanges and cooperation at their recent summit, the dramatic increase in rail traffic likely indicates North Koreas supply of arms and munitions to Russia," the article stated. Analysts point out that it's impossible to draw precise conclusions because all the cargoes on the satellite image are covered with tarpaulins. However, they recall that Russian railway cars were observed in Tumangan in November 2022, when the United States first announced that the DPRK was supplying weapons to Russian terrorists from the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC). Analysts believe that in exchange for weapons, Kim might receive much-needed energy and food aid, as well as advanced weapons technologies, including those related to intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarines with nuclear ballistic missiles, and military reconnaissance satellites. There are concerns that the potential transfer of Russian technology will increase the threat posed by North Korea's growing arsenal of nuclear weapons and missiles designed to strike the United States, South Korea and Japan. 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! Polish President Andrzej Duda believes the extremist group Hamas' attack on Israel will aid Russia in its war against Ukraine as it draws away attention from the conflict, he said on Polish television. "This certainly helps Russia and Russian aggression against Ukraine, it distracts the world's attention," he said. Hamas launched an attack of unprecedented scale on Israel on Oct. 7, infiltrating Israeli territory on the ground and with ultralight aircraft while bombing Israeli settlements. At the time of this publication, fighting in Gaza was still underway. Politically, Israel has largely refrained from explicitly backing a side in Russia's war on Ukraine, and has thus far not provided any significant military aid to Ukraine. Israel has complex relations with Russia but has long been enemies with Iran, a shared adversary of Ukraine. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued his first public statement after the attack, saying, "Citizens of Israel, we are at war. And we will win." Ukrainian President Volodmyry Zelensky denounced Hamas' offensive, writing on Telegram, "Whoever uses terror is a criminal against the whole world. Whoever sponsors terrorism is a criminal against the whole world." Read also: Zelensky, world leaders condemn Hamas attack on Israel Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. There is no diplomatic conflict between Poland and Ukraine, and talks to resolve the grain trade disputes continue uninterrupted, Polish President Andrzej Duda told Polsat News on Oct. 8. Poland's head of state, however, emphasized that when it comes to relations with Kyiv, Polish interest would always take priority. Duda brought up the tragic incident from last November when a missile killed two people in Poland's Przewodow. According to the president, the projectile was a stray Ukrainian air defense missile. "It was simply an accident that the missile fell on our soil. A sad, terrible accident, but I tell the truth because Poles deserve it," Duda said. Warsaw said on Sept. 28 that according to the Polish investigators, a Ukrainian S-300 missile that was launched to intercept a Russian strike accidentally flew into Polish territory, causing the deadly accident. Read also: Could an election and historys ghosts upend Ukrainian-Polish alliance? Kyiv has denied responsibility for the attack but confirmed that its forces attempted to intercept a Russian projectile near and during the timeframe of the missile strike in Poland. Duda said further during the interview that Warsaw seeks to protect the interests of its own farmers when it comes to trade import disputes with Ukraine. However, he noted that the talks on resolving the issue are ongoing, stressing that there is "no diplomatic conflict" between the two countries. Duda complained that Ukrainian officials do not emphasize enough that despite the ban on domestic sales, Poland continues to transit Ukrainian grain through its territory. The president also pointed out that the contracts of Polish arms companies for Rosomak and Krab vehicles, Piorun man-portable air-defense systems, and Grot assault rifles for Ukraine are currently being implemented. After Poland and several other countries decided to extend their ban on Ukrainian agricultural imports past the EU's deadline on Sept. 15, Kyiv proposed a system of permits to manage grain exports. On Oct. 6, Ukraine decided to suspend its complaint against Poland at the World Trade Organization, saying it wants to find a "constructive solution within the framework of the entire EU." Read also: Far-right party may hold keys to next Polish government, sets tone in talks with Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Parts of Scotland remain at risk of flooding despite the rain easing off. River levels are continuing to rise and the ground is saturated, increasing the risk. All Met Office yellow warnings have now been lifted but a further yellow warning for rain has been issued for parts of western Scotland for Tuesday. Two severe flood warnings were still in place at 06:00 on Monday for parts of Perth and Aviemore. The warning covered the North Inch area of Perth and the Dalfaber area of Aviemore. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said basements and properties in low-lying areas of North Inch were at risk of flooding. The Aviemore warning covers Dalfaber Road, Inverdruie, The Old Bridge Inn, Speyside Leisure Park and the sewage treatment works. ScotRail said it was expecting to run a full service across most of the network on Monday morning including the central belt. But service delivery manager David Simpson said routes from Stirling to Perth and from Perth to Inverness were still affected by floodwater. The Stonehaven to Arbroath route is also awaiting the completion of safety inspections, he added. Apart from the two severe weather warnings, Sepa had more than 30 flood warnings and several flood alerts still in place at 10:00 on Monday. The Craigie area of Perth was flooded after the Craigie burn burst its banks Hours of heavy and persistent rain on Friday and Saturday caused major disruption around the country with some areas continuing to experience problems on Sunday. Work has begun to clear the A83 after seven landslips blocked the vital road to Argyll and the Inner Hebrides on Saturday. About 2,000 tonnes of debris fell on the road. Ten people had to be airlifted from their vehicles on the A83 at the height of the bad weather. The area around the Rest and Be Thankful saw a month's worth of rainfall, about 160mm (6in) fall over 36 hours. Bear Scotland said the catch pits and fences it installed had ensured that only a small amount of debris reached the road itself. Road closures are in place between Inveraray and Tarbet due to landslides both sides of Dunoon junction. The diversion via A819/A85/A82 at A85 Dalmally is open. The Western Ferries route from Gourock to Dunoon is running. The Met Office said Tyndrum, west Perthshire, experienced the most rainfall on Saturday, with 112.6mm (4.4in) falling on the small village. Police said on Saturday there had been no reports of injuries but they were treating the persistent heavy rain in parts of the west of Scotland as a "major incident". In Aberfoyle, a warning was issued by NHS Forth Valley after a lorry overturned, spilling kerosene/diesel into the watercourse. It said kerosene had also leaked into the general floodwater which poses a potential threat to public health. Health protection experts urged people to be extra careful if floodwater had entered their homes as there could be "significant health risks" to certain groups such as pregnant women, children, the elderly and those living with heart and lung conditions. The River Spey burst its banks at the Old Bridge Inn at Aviemore There following trunk roads are closed: The A84 between Kilmahog and Strathyre A92 at Letham A83 between Tarbet and Inveraray A828 between Connel and Ballachulish A85 at Loch Awe ScotRail said disruption was continuing on Sunday with the following routes completely closed: West Highland Line between Glasgow and Oban/Fort William All services between Edinburgh and Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen, and Inverness All services between Glasgow and Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen, and Inverness All services between Kyle of Lochalsh and Inverness ScotRail is advising customers not to travel as no rail replacement travel is available. Some other routes remain affected by speed restrictions as a safety precaution, meaning services may be subject to delay or cancellation. The rail operator said the greatest risk to a normal restart on Monday was on the Highland Main Line and the Perthshire areas where floodwaters remain high. Passengers whose Monday journey runs between Perth and Inverness or Perth and Stirling are urged check before leaving home. This flooded sports field is in Kingussie flooded Dell sports field in Kingussie David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, said: "The weather we have seen over the weekend has been extreme and in some parts of the country we are continuing to see dangerous levels of rainfall and flooding. "We appreciate that weather-related disruption like this can be frustrating, but our first priority has to be the safety of the public and our colleagues. "Our staff across the country, alongside colleagues at Network Rail, are working hard to get services back to normal as quickly and safely as possible, with the priority being getting things back to normal for Monday morning. "Customers are advised that they should check their journey before travelling, and keep an eye on our website, app, or social media feeds for live updates." The River Spey levels were very high in Aviemore Roads in Aviemore were covered in water Ruth Ellis, Sepa's flood duty manager, said: "Today the focus turned to communities across the north, with a particular concern for severe flood impacts to communities along the Spey and Tay rivers. "I want to be clear that communities in these areas should stay alert over the evening as some rivers will continue to rise over the course of the evening. The risk to life remains. "It's been a difficult weekend across Scotland, with severe weather causing widespread travel disruption to road and rail networks and impacts in communities all over Scotland. Across many areas of the country there is still some deep standing water and it's really important people understand the danger. "Hazards can be hidden, so please don't walk or drive into flood water. Remember that not only is flood water likely to be dirty, 30cm of fast flowing water can move an average family sized car, and just 15cm of fast-flowing water could be enough to knock you off your feet. "We'll be continuing to issue further updates across the evening to communities across northern Scotland and our advice remains for people to keep up to date with information from sepa.org.uk and follow guidance from emergency services." Flooding in the Craigie area of Perth Following a meeting of the Scottish government's Resilience Room on Sunday, Home Affairs Secretary Angela Constance said: "The rainfall we have seen over Scotland this weekend has been extreme, causing significant disruption -particularly in the west and north of the country. "These impacts are ongoing, and I want to put on record my thanks to all the staff and volunteers responding across the country. "The flooding risk remains a key concern over the next few hours and days, with extremely high river levels and saturated ground." She added: "Our multi-agency response teams stand ready and prepared to respond to any flooding incidents. Some local councils have also set up rest centres in their areas. "The priority is now to restore normality as far as possible by Monday morning. I would, however, urge anyone planning to travel over the next few days to do so with caution." On Saturday no cross border trains ran and ScotRail cancelled dozens of services and also cut short its scheduled timetable. Flooding has affected numerous areas, including Dumbarton Ian Stewart, Bear Scotland's north west representative, said: "This extreme weather has caused widespread disruption, with Argyll significantly affected. "Our teams are beginning clear-up operations to return full access to residents of Argyll, but conditions are still difficult, and we need to ensure that those on site are safe. As such, it is unlikely the A83 will reopen today. "We are also continuing to work as part of the Argyll and Bute Resilience Partnership to assess road closures and incidents in the area." The A83 has proved to be especially vulnerable to landslips and closures and in recent years calls have grown for a permanent solution to make the road more resilient to bad weather. At almost 100 miles (161km) long, the road connects the Mull of Kintyre and southern Argyll to the shores of Loch Lomond. About 1.3 million vehicles use the route every year. The closures can leave motorists facing long detours while the route is cleared. Transport Scotland is planning to build a mile-long open-sided tunnel on the road, on the mountain pass known as the Rest and Be Thankful. The project is expected to cost up to 470m. Posting on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, the former Argyll MSP Michael Russell said: "The amount and rate of rainfall here in Argyll & Bute in the last 24 hours has been astonishing. "However, that aside it is concerning that slips are on this stretch which is not the area where most of the major problems have previously occurred." Steps under water at the River Dee at Banchory An Argyll and Bute Council spokeswoman said: "We are working with our partner agencies, including Police Scotland, the HSCP (Health and Social Care Partnership) and others, to respond to the impact of this weekend's weather in Argyll and Bute. "We have well established partnership arrangements for supporting vulnerable people and have put them into action. Actions have included for example preparing a rest centre yesterday in Lochgilphead for people potentially stranded because of road closures, although this ultimately was not needed. "There are road closures across the area because of landslips, flooding or other impacts, and advice remains to not travel in Argyll and Bute. "We have road crews out across the area to continue work today to clear debris on the road network where possible and to assess the impact of weather conditions, and the recovery work needed. "Many people in our communities also took action to help and we would like to thank everyone involved for their efforts." An abandoned car under a flooded railway bridge in Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire In the south of the UK, sunshine and highs of about 25C (77F) were forecast by the Met Office for Sunday. Tom Morgan, a Met Office meteorologist, said the contrasting weather was caused by warm weather travelling up from France meeting cold weather coming from the north with the temperature contrast leading to the heavy rain in Scotland. The warm weather in southern parts was expected to last until Tuesday. Saturday's Hamas terror onslaught from their stronghold in Gaza into Israel, murdering hundreds, was a sneak attack, just like the sneak attack by Egypt and Syria on Israel on Yom Kippur exactly 50 years ago. 9/11 was a sneak attack, as was Pearl Harbor and Hitlers surprise invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. The targets, be it Israel or the United States or the Russians, are caught off guard by their enemies, stunned, suffering major psychological damage and loss of human life. But then comes the response and the counteroffensive. Those earlier sneak attacks failed. Hopefully, this one will also. We pray it does. Hamas claims that its fighters are soldiers, but soldiers dont kidnap civilians from their homes to seize them as hostages, as Hamas did in launching raids into Israel in addition to their barrage of thousands of rockets fired at civilian population centers, including Tel Aviv. Both of those are acts of terrorism, which makes perfect sense, as Hamas is a terror group, fittingly on terror lists of the U.S. and European Union. Also on the terror lists is Hezbollah controlling southern Lebanon to Israels north, which is keeping that border quiet for now. The common factor between the Shiite Hezbollah and the Sunni Hamas is the lead sponsor of terror in the region, Iran, which funnels them weapons and joins them in celebrating the atrocities and calling for Israels destruction and the liberation of Jerusalem from the Jews. Hamas has started this new war, or new chapter in an old war, to disrupt the growing movement for a grand U.S.-brokered peace deal between Israel and the richest and most powerful Arab state, Saudi Arabia, following other U.S.-brokered peace deals between Israel and Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco. Hamas cannot succeed and the Arab-Israeli strides for the larger peace must continue. Hamas shows that it can make war, but it refuses to make peace. The same for Hezbollah. On the West Bank, the head of the Palestinian National Authority, Abu Mazen, also refuses to make peace. It has been years since he has sat down for talks with the Israelis. Peace will come for the Palestinians, in Gaza and the West Bank, when they decide to join the negotiating table. Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, leading a jittery right-wing coalition that is wrongly trying to undermine the independence of the Israeli courts, will get a reprieve for his many domestic troubles due to this Hamas war. Even President Biden, who has been very cool to Netanyahu, has rallied to his side, as he emphasized yesterday from the White House, pledging full support. Of course, Donald Trump is blaming the Hamas attack on Biden. Hamas and Iran want Israel to strike back hard, thinking that a massive response will entrap Israel in the Gaza quicksand, sapping her political and military strength. Israel has the might to level Gaza, but Hamas hides among civilians, using them as human shields, which is a war crime. And Hamas now holds captured Israeli soldiers and civilians, complicating everything. Netanyahu and his commanders have a tremendous challenge before them to destroy Hamas military assets while sparing Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Hamas struck first, but their wave of terror will not and cannot prevail. Israel has been hurt hard, but Israel will prevail. ___ In the latest developments of Floridas book-banning boom, much attention has been paid to the hours-long pornothons organized by Moms for Liberty chapters at select School Board meetings across the state. Its comedy gold, to be sure. Ultra-right wingers rattling off lists and counts of naughty words, or reading steamy prose in robotic tones: and were kissing watering tongue springy lips tugging pulling and we lay down and she peels off my shirt chanted one Moms for Liberty member at the Sept. 19 school board meeting, reciting what sounds like a fairly poetic passage in the grim tones of a juror reading a guilty verdict. (Suspiciously, only a few of them provided the titles of the books they claimed were available in public school libraries.) But its the other voices the testimony of sex-abuse victims, memories of high-school friends struggling with issues no teenager should have to face, painful recitals of the fear and isolation felt by members of sexual minorities that really resonate. During Banned Books Week, which wrapped up Saturday, its shameful that the nation is looking to Florida as an example of what might happen if narrow-minded bigotry is allowed to barricade young minds from voices exploring the trauma, racism, sexual pressure and anguish many are facing on a daily basis in real life. The dirty truth Banning is about looking at the face of authors and telling them that their story doesnt matter. That they dont matter, because theyre different. They dont matter because their color might be different, their sexual orientation might be different, they might be gender non-conforming or not identify with gender at all. Their viewpoint on life is different and thats a good thing, said Renee Davis, a Brevard County resident attending the Seminole meeting. Editorial: Dont use Floridas children as pawns in political games Thats the fundamental truth here. While Moms for Liberty clearly mined their naughty bits passages wherever they could find them including some romance novels that probably didnt possess all that much literary merit their real focus has been clear from the start from the lists of books theyre going after. Books like The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison, which explores critical themes such as the Caucasian-focused beauty standard that undermine the confidence of many young women while recounting shattering experiences such as incest and child molestation. Judy Blumes classic Forever, which recounts the heated obsession of teens in their first relationship. Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur, a book of prose and poetry centered around sex and romance. At a Broward County School Board meeting Sept. 20, Moms for Liberty members and others initiated a shadow play of mass deception, pretending they were there to talk about a teacher-union agreement but then delving into steamy prose from these books only to be cut off again and again. This was their goal: To get as much smut on the public record as possible, then claim the martyrdom of the silenced. Ironic, given their blatant and brutal attempts to silence others. Some defend, some cave Voters in Broward and Seminole counties can be proud of the way their board members stood up to the barrage, even though they chose different methods the chairman of the Broward board shut down the steamy prattle as soon as the speakers veered off-course, while Seminole County board members sat impassively as each Moms for Liberty member approached the podium. But there are disturbing signs that these messages are taking hold with one chilling example from Charlotte County in which the school boards general counsel confirmed that books with LGBTQ characters should be stripped from school shelves. These characters and themes cannot exist, said a leaked training document obtained by Florida Freedom to Read and shared with a Florida news site. In Indian River County, where book-banners unleashed another steamy barrage of excerpts in late August, Treasure Coast newspapers reported that upwards of 120 books have been pulled from shelves. Both districts say they are following standards set by the Legislature in the name of parental rights. Thats why it was good for school boards to hear from people who remember growing up and realizing they were different from other students but had nowhere to turn to get a frame of reference for their experiences. I want to let you know you are not dirty. Your story is not dirty. You are powerful. You are loved and you are cared about, one member of the anti-censorship group Womens Voices said at the Seminole School Board meeting. I found solace finding and figuring out that I was not the only one. Floridians can be proud of groups that are stepping forward to protest the attacks on intellectual freedom, particularly the dogged documentation provided by Florida Freedom to Read. That group has focused its firepower on digging out the real evidence, in the form of public record, that proves the agendas behind the salacious chicanery in public forums. Their work is a powerful rebuke against state lawmakers and local officials who are using vulnerable teens for target practice, heedless of the pain their bigotry provokes. Dont believe the hype: Parents have plenty of ways to control the materials their children read in public schools. Its about suppressing any mention of humans that a group of narrow-minded people believe are unworthy of a voice. Its about reviving a culture where LGBTQ people could be arrested just for being who they were. Where sexual abuse, incest and bigotry were shoved into the shadows, along with the immeasurable suffering they caused. Banning books isnt about literature. Its about denial. Repression. Erasure. And every Floridian who believes this is wrong should speak out and say that here, we no longer tolerate that. The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Krys Fluker, Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. Contact us at insight@orlandosentinel.com. This is a locator map for Egypt with its capital, Cairo. (AP Photo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) CAIRO (AP) An Egyptian policeman opened fire Sunday on Israeli tourists in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, killing at least two Israelis and one Egyptian, Israeli and Egyptian authorities said. A statement from Egypt's Interior Ministry said that another person was wounded in the attack at the Pompeys Pillar site in Alexandria. It provided no further details. Israel's Foreign Ministry identified the wounded person as an Israeli who suffered moderate injuries. The ministry said in a statement that Israeli authorities were working with the Egyptian government to bring the Israelis home. Extra News television channel, which has close ties to Egyptian security agencies, reported that the suspected assailant was detained. The dead Egyptian was a tour guide, according to media outlets. Security forces quickly cordoned off the site of the attack. Graphic footage posted on social media showed two people lying motionless on the ground. Another was seen being helped by a group of men. One woman was heard shouting for an ambulance. The attack triggered mixed reactions from social media users. Some lauded the attack in Alexandria while others condemned the killing of civilians visiting Egypt. Writing on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, renowned Egyptian writer and TV host Ibrahim Issa called the attack a terrorist crime, adding that, any attempt to justify it is a crime against humanity and the nation. Amr Magdi, researcher with Human Rights Watch, condemned the attack, saying on X: No justification whatsoever for intentionally targeting Israeli civilians in #Egypt, Gaza or anywhere else. In a message to Americans in Egypt, the U.S. embassy in Cairo urged them to take precautions as the attack could be related to the clashes between Israel and Palestinian militants. Egypt was the first Arab country to make peace with Israel in the 1970s and has long served as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But anti-Israeli sentiment runs high in the country, especially during bouts of violence between Israel and the Palestinians. Cannabis plants are seen in the flowering phase, which can take several weeks, at PharmaCann Inc.'s cultivation and processing facility at Buckeye Lake. The Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer and Spectrum News hosted a forum last week on Issue 2 - the recreational marijuana issue, which will be on the Nov. 7 ballot. You can now watch the forum on this newspaper's website. It will be available to view through Election Day and will air multiple times on Spectrum News 1. The hour-long forum was moderated by Spectrum News anchor Curtis Jackson. Panelists included Issue 2 supporters state Rep. Casey Weinstein, D-Hudson, and Thomas Haren, partner and cannabis practice chair at Frantz Ward LLP, and Issue 2 opponents state Sen. Mark Romanchuk , R-Ontario, and Corinne LaMarca, director of development and national spokesperson for Parents Opposed To Pot. More: What Ohioans need to know about November ballot issue to legalize recreational marijuana The panelists answered questions from readers along with USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau reporters Haley BeMiller and Anna Staver and Spectrum News 1 reporter Samana Sheikh. The network includes The Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and other newspapers around Ohio. Haren said everything people need to know about Issue 2 can be found in the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol. This means people have to be 21 to buy it and 21 to use it. The entire supply chain would be regulated, and it would generate millions of dollars in new tax revenue. Weinstein said this is an issue whose time has come. "When you look at a macro-perspective of the United States now, the majority of Americans are living in decriminalized states; we're surrounded by states that have either fully legalized or have taken significant beyond where Ohio is," Weinstein said. "In fact, we're losing Ohioans on a daily basis to that state up north for access to the market." LaMarca opened with the story of her daughter, who was killed by a driver under the influence of marijuana. "I wish I could tell you what happened to my daughter is a rare event, but it is not," LaMarca said. "I hope you think carefully about this decision. Think about my Jennifer and think about the countless others that are killed on our roads. Think about the risks of making a powerful and addictive drug so widely available to our youth, and now legalization puts its stamp of approval upon it." Panelists debate marijuana's effects on the economy The Drug Enforcement Policy Center at Ohio State University estimates that by the time an adult-use program is up and running, it could generate over $400 million every year in tax revenue to the state, Haren said. The money would go to one of four places: 3% to general administrative costs, 25% to a new substance abuse and addiction fund administered by the state, 36% to a local host community fund and 36% to a new social equity and jobs fund. "That chunk of money (equity fund) would be the largest investment in social equity causes in the state's history," Haren said. Romanchuk said the 10% tax is very low, there would be no economic impact and the way to really help communities is to provide education and support their housing and food needs. National estimates show police departments spend about $3.6 billion dollars a year enforcing marijuana laws, but LaMarca said one can't put a dollar sign on the cost of losing someone. Romanchuk said Issue 2 will actually help the black market grow, which will not benefit law enforcement. "Data is pretty clear; crimes goes up," Romanchuk said. "That's why Ohio law enforcement came out this week against Issue 2." Haren accused the "No" campaign of trying to scare Ohio voters. "Let's look at the data; let's look at what's actually happened in the states that this has already happened," Haren said. "Crime has not increased; it's goes down because you free up law enforcement that now have the ability to investigate more serious crimes." Tracing marijuana's effects on health Some researchers have found marijuana can be beneficial for reducing grade inflammation, but research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates marijuana use can lead to early heart problems, early strokes and marijuana use disorder. LaMarca said Ohio already has medical marijuana but she doesn't believe it has a medical benefit. "Marijuana is a different drug than alcohol; it collects in the brain and when they find it in the body, you can become chronically impaired by marijuana, so you can be impaired a lot," LaMarca said. "It also breaks down the brain barrier in the brain, so when you have a drink and you're using marijuana, it will intensify the effects." Romanchuk followed up that the statute writes that the minimum THC level is 35% and possessing up to 2 ounces of marijuana could make 200 joints. However, Haren said THC percentage is capped at 35% under Issue 2 and it's a minimum not a maximum it's the same cap under the existing medical marijuana program. There are still a slew of people who cannot participate in the medical marijuana program, and Haren said Issue 2 is for people who cannot participate. Marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug at the federal level and Romanchuk believes it needs to stay on that list, but Haren said the rescheduling of marijuana is under review. Marijuana regulations would be similar to those on alcohol Violations for things like smoking in public and dealing to minors are mostly misdemeanors, and Haren said keeping these penalties would align with how alcohol is regulated. A liquor licenseholder may lose their liquor license for selling to minors, and the same thing would happen for marijuana. Though, LaMarca said marijuana is easy to smell in public, whereas holding a drink in public doesn't affect anyone. When it comes to the issue of teen vaping, Romanchuk believes vaping and marijuana use are two different things. "Just to say that since vaping is currently allowed that somehow it's OK for marijuana to be allowed, it doesn't pass the commonsense test, in my opinion," Romanchuk said. Weinstein said tobacco, alcohol and vaping are addictive and damaging to the body and in many cases more addictive than responsible adult marijuana use. After Staver, Sheikh and BeMiller asked questions, panelists answered questions from the forum's live audience and from a pre-forum submission. For those incarcerated with cannabis-related sentences, Weinstein said he has a bipartisan bill that includes expungement. Romanchuk said expungement should be handled in the legislature, and if Issue 2 passes, there will be other pieces of legislation introduced to either change it or repeal it. Weinstein, Haren, LaMarca and Romanchuk finished with their closing statements in support and opposition of Issue 2. Kayla Bennett is a fellow in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism's Statehouse News Bureau. Get more political analysis by listening to the Ohio Politics Explained podcast This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Dispatch, Spectrum News hold forum on recreational marijuana As verified accounts on X, formerly Twitter, continue to spread misinformation on the violent conflict between Hamas and Israel, Elon Musk directed his nearly 160 million X followers to follow accounts known for disseminating lies. For following the war in real-time, @WarMonitors & @sentdefender are good, Musk posted on X Sunday morning. He added, It is also worth following direct sources on the ground. Please add interesting options in replies below. In his own post, CNNs Jake Tapper took a screenshot of Musks post next to a screenshot of a derogatory message from the War Monitor account to a user named Avi Kaner. In the caption, Tapper wrote, Elon Musk lauds this bigot as a good source of information, part Infiniti. A year ago, the War Monitors account thanked Kanye West in a Twitter thread and claimed that the overwhelming majority of people in the media and banks are zi0nists and told another X user in June go worship a jew lil bro. Emerson T. Brooking, a researcher at the Atlantic Council Digital Forensics Research Lab, wrote on X that @sentdefender is an absolutely poisonous account. regularly posting wrong and unverifiable things (sources say). inserting random editorialization and trying to juice its paid subscriber count. Elon Musk lauds this bigot as a good source of information, part Infiniti pic.twitter.com/n318hVaJaW Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 8, 2023 Both accounts shared by Musk spread the false report in May of an explosion at the White House, leading to a brief dip in the stock market before the story was debunked. In August, a hashtag campaign pushed by right-wing ideologues and rife with antisemitic content began to trend on X, and was shown support by owner Musk. As a number of accounts began tweeting #BanTheADL, they called on Musk to remove the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) a civil rights organization focused on combating antisemitism and extremism from the site. Keith Woods, an Irish YouTuber with connections to prominent white supremacists including Richard Spencer and Nick Fuentes, amplified the hashtag in a post that falsely alleged that the ADL is financially blackmailing social media companies into removing free speech on their platform. Musk engaged with Woods, first by liking the post, then by replying that ADL has tried very hard to strangle X/Twitter. One year after Musks takeover of X, the social media platform has dissolved its trust and safety council, reinstated right-wing extremists and peddlers of misinformation previously banned from the platform, censored journalists critical of Musk (they have since been un-suspended), and reportedly saw an increase in hate speech on the site the billionaire threatened to sue the researchers documenting the rise in hateful tweets. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. Elon Musk on Sunday flagged a post from Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that celebrated the attacks by Hamas on Israel and said Khameneis statement made clear that Irans goal is eradicating Israel. Khameneis official position is clear that the eradication of Israel is the actual goal, not just supporting Palestinians, Musk wrote in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. That will not happen, Musk continued. All that actually happens, decade after decade, is a never-ending cycle of violence and vengeance. Stoking the fires of hatred isnt working. Perhaps it is time to consider something else. Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Technology newsletter Musks statement was a response to Khameneis post, which lauded the indiscriminate killing of Israeli concertgoers and included video footage of them fleeing for their lives as gun shots were heard in the background. God willing, the cancer of the usurper Zionist regime will be eradicated at the hands of the Palestinian people and the Resistance forces throughout the region. #AlAqsaStorm, Khamenei posted, along with video footage. ZAKA, an Israeli nongovernmental volunteer recovery organization, confirmed 260 deaths at the music festival. There were also reports of abductions at the concert. The music festival was intended to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. The supreme leaders post had a warning that stated This Post violated the X Rules. However, X has determined that it may be in the publics interest for the Post to remain accessible. Musk, when he took over Twitter, rolled back several rules about speech on the platform, including unblocking some accounts that had been deemed antisemitic by the Anti-Defamation League. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Two Ukrainian citizens have been killed in Israel after extremist organization Hamas launched rocket and ground attacks from the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, the Ukrainian embassy in Israel told news agency Interfax-Ukraine on Oct. 8. Measures are being taken to organize the repatriation of the two people's bodies, the embassy told Interfax. The embassy didn't elaborate on the circumstances of their deaths or their identity. There is still no other information about Ukrainian citizens among the wounded or missing. There is a large Ukrainian community in Israel, estimated by the Foreign Ministry as being around 500,000, most of whom left Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The vast majority of them are Jews from Ukraine, but there are also tens of thousands of ethnic Ukrainians. In addition, some 15,000-40,000 Ukrainian refugees have entered Israel since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. It is unclear what their status is, or how many have stayed in the country. The Foreign Ministry had initially said on Oct. 7 that no Ukrainians were among the victims of the violence after the attack on Israel. The ministry announced it is opening an operational headquarters to help Ukrainians currently in Israel after the attack by Hamas, spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko wrote on Facebook. Hamas launched an attack of unprecedented scale on Israel on Oct. 7, infiltrating Israeli territory on the ground as well as with ultralight aircraft, while also subhecting Israeli settlements to intense rocket bombardment. At the time of this publication, fighting in Israel, as well as in Gaza, was still underway. Over 100 Israeli civilians have been reportedly killed thus far and 740 wounded, and the number is reportedly expected to rise. An unknown number of Israeli soldiers and civilians are also being held hostage. Palestinian authorities in Gaza said that 198 were dead amid the fighting. Politically, Israel has largely refrained from explicitly backing a side in Russia's war on Ukraine, and has thus far not provided any significant military aid to Ukraine. Israel has complex relations with Russia, but has also long been enemies with Iran, a shared adversary of Ukraine. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued his first public statement after the attack, saying, "Citizens of Israel, we are at war. And we will win." Ukrainian President Volodmyry Zelensky denounced Hamas' offensive, writing on Telegram, "Whoever uses terror is a criminal against the whole world. Whoever sponsors terrorism is a criminal against the whole world." Read also: Zelensky holds phone call with Netanyahu on visa-free travel Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. on Thursday signed an affirmative action executive order aimed at increasing the rate at which the tribe hires Cherokee citizens who are participating in Cherokee Nation career and educational programs. (Photo/Cherokee Nation) Guest Opinion. The Cherokee Nation is blessed to include hundreds of thousands of individuals with great talents, potential and goals for their future. Our strength as a tribe is built on supporting each other to achieve these goals. Thats true today, just as it has been true throughout our history as a people. One essential source of support is Cherokee Nations award-winning career training services and education programs. Every dollar we spend in these areas pays off in the future strength and resilience of our tribe. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. We enjoy even greater benefits when participants in our training and education programs bring those skills to jobs at Cherokee Nation. Thats why I recently signed a new executive order to prioritize the hiring of Cherokee Nation citizens coming out of the tribe's career and education programs. Joined by Deputy Chief Bryan Warner and members of the Council of the Cherokee Nation, we are committed to helping every Cherokee citizen reach their full potential. This order establishes a preference within the Cherokee Nation Employment Rights Act for employing participants of our career services and higher education programs. It also requires our Career Services and Education Services departments to develop performance measures and report tangible results. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. The order also directs the tribes Career Services and Education Services departments to increase outreach to citizens experiencing greater barriers to employment, including Cherokee women, ONEFIRE participants escaping domestic violence, veterans, individuals in foster or adoption programs through Indian Child Welfare and members of historically disenfranchised communities, such as citizens of Freedmen descent. Our outreach efforts aim to ensure that opportunities are accessible to all. This, too, is a Cherokee core value: to be inclusive and to make extra efforts to help those who need it most, so that we can all rise together. In 2019, we passed the Career Readiness Act, giving a boost to the tribes Career Services programs. Over the course of the last four years, we have invested over $197 million in a wide variety of job training programs, with almost 3,700 participants in the past year alone. With each participant, we are building a more talented and skilled workforce in northeast Oklahoma, while also creating long-term careers for Cherokees. Additionally, we have increased college scholarships to $2,500 per semester and established a $5 million scholarship endowment for those entering behavioral health professions. As of this fall semester, we have over 6,600 students benefiting from Cherokee Nation college scholarships. As a tribal government, we are determined to provide the tools, opportunities and support necessary for everyone to fulfill their personal dreams and build a bright future. This is just the beginning, as we will continue to strive for progress, inclusivity and prosperity for all Cherokees. Together, I know we can build a future where every Cherokee Nation citizen can thrive and contribute to the legacy of our tribe. Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country was entering a "long and difficult war" imposed by the Hamas attack on 7 October. Source: Netanyahu's statement on the X network Quote: "We are entering a long and difficult war. The war was forced upon us by a deadly attack by Hamas. The first stage ends in these hours with the destruction of most of the enemy's forces that penetrated our territory." Details: Israel's Prime Minister added that the country is launching an offensive that "will continue without reservation and without respite - until the objectives are achieved." "We will restore the security of the citizens of Israel, and we will win," Netanyahu said. Background: On the morning of 7 October, a large number of missiles was launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel by Hamas militants; fires surged through Israeli cities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken out in support of Israel following the attack by Hamas terrorists. Pentagon promised Israel to send everything necessary for self-defence and protection of civilians. Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, called upon the residents of the Gaza Strip to immediately evacuate, and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Israel will change the reality in Gaza for 50 years ahead. 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 Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been condemned for converting ancient churches into mosques (Handout) President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday inaugurated the first church built with government backing in overwhelmingly Muslim Turkey's 100-year history as a post-Ottoman state. The Mor Ephrem Syriac Orthodox Church's opening marks an important cultural and political moment for both Turkey and its powerful leader. Erdogan drew widespread condemnation during his two-decade rule for converting ancient churches into mosques and making Islamic conservatism into a leading social force. He has always countered that he was simply restoring the rights of pious Muslims in the staunchly secular republic founded by field marshal Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1923. Erdogan laid the first stone for the church's construction for Istanbul's 17,000-strong Assyrian Christians in 2019. "We are seeing big problems today across many parts of the world," Erdogan told the faithful as all-out war raged between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. "But the solidarity shown here today -- I find it very important," Erdogan said. "We always protect the oppressed against the oppressor. That is our duty." Assyrian Christianity traces its history to communities that lived in the first century AD in a region stretching from southeastern Turkey to Syria and Iraq. Its main church moved from the Turkish city of Mardin to Damascus in 1932. - 'Love letter' - Some small Turkish churches have been quietly restored and re-opened in the past 100 years. Erdogan said on Sunday that 20 existing churches had been repaired since his Islamic-rooted party came to power in 2002. But the Mor Ephrem "is the first newly built church to open its doors since the founding of the Turkish Republic," Assyrian community leader Sait Susin told AFP by telephone. "We are very happy." Erdogan drew international indignation for converting Istanbul's iconic Hagia Sophia -- once the world's largest cathedral -- from a museum into a mosque in 2020. The United Nations cultural body UNESCO expressed "grave concern" at the time. Erdogan brushed the criticism aside and did exactly the same thing to Istanbul's Byzantine-era Chora Church later that same year. Greece called that conversion "yet another provocation against religious persons everywhere". Erdogan came under particularly strong attacks at home for unveiling a new mosque in 2021 on Taksim Square -- an Istanbul gathering point built around a monument celebrating Ataturk's foundation of the secular Turkish state. The new Istanbul church can accommodate 750 worshippers. Erdogan wavers in his speeches between robustly defending pious Muslims and embracing Turkey's numerous communities. He told supporters on the eve of the first round of May's presidential election that he had written a "love letter" to Turkey. "We have penned a love letter for every individual of our nation, without any distinction of origin or religion," he told the crowd. He ended that day by leading Muslim prayers at the Hagia Sophia mosque. Erdogan edged out his secular rival in a runoff election two weeks later. zak/gw Mark Esper , the former U.S. Secretary of Defense, called the Palestinian surprise attack on Israel an intelligence failure and suggested it will have a lasting ripple effect. I was a surprise, it caught the Israelis completely off guard and you cant say anything but it was an intelligence failure, Esper said during a Saturday interview with Fox News. I think, look, were dealing with a tactical situation on the ground, which is terrible and tragic for both Israeli citizens and the Israeli military, he added But this is going to ripple in multiple ways, being such a failure. Esper questioned if the Israeli people would rally behind Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or if it would cause a collapse of his government. Thats going to be one effect of this that hasnt been discussed so far, Esper said. Netanyahu declared war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday after they launched a barrage of rocket strikes and entered the country in a surprise attack Saturday. Hamas captured multiple Israeli soldiers and civilians in the attack, the Associated Press confirmed. At least 300 Israelis and 232 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting so far, according to Israeli media reports and the Palestinian government. President Joe Biden spoke with Netanyahu Saturday and said the United States will stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel. The Palestinian government stood by its decision to attack, saying it was a result of Israels discrimination against Palestinians in the country. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Smoking at the fair not safe The operators of the State Fair of Texas claim they are doing everything possible to protect the safety of patrons. If thats true, smoking would be prohibited on the fairgrounds, without exception. When I recently contacted the fair operations department, though, I was told that there are no restrictions on outdoor smoking at the fairgrounds. Toxic tobacco smoke kills 65,000 innocent Americans every year. If the State Fair has any real interest in protecting all patrons, it will immediately prohibit all smoking indoors or out. - David Fusco, Arlington Morality should be our highest ideal Lord Acton famously said, Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. We have seen American politicians corrupted by their power. Fortunately, the Constitution provides checks and balances so that one person cannot have absolute power as a dictator. Unfortunately, we have also seen indications that some politicians would love to become de facto dictators in America. When powerful politicians say that you should trust them and their cronies but not multiple agencies given constitutional responsibility to monitor them, realize that such politicians are dictator wannabes, not public servants. Power is less likely to corrupt when we elect candidates with a good history of personal morality. Truly moral people cannot be bought, and they are more likely to make correct decisions about a variety of issues. - Mike Morris, Fort Worth Americans need to broaden views Ive had this radical thought for some time now of dividing America into conservative states with conservative values and liberal states with liberal values. You could just move to the state that aligned with your values. Ive also always believed that we are not really divided by race, gender, nationality or any other outward sign, but rather by our values and beliefs. Im not sure what the answer is, other than a mandatory service program for two years for every young person in the U.S. to experience other people and develop discipline. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that many people describe those in the opposing party as more closed-minded, dishonest, immoral and unintelligent. That sounds to me like opposite perspectives and fear of the other side. - Bill Murray, Keller Biden keeps racking up the wins While a blustery Donald Trump dominates social media, President Joe Biden has quietly brought real change. Despite a quarreling Congress with poor leadership, Biden has secured lower drug prices under Medicare. Employment is at the highest level in decades. His legislation is bringing infrastructure and jobs. As the popularity of these efforts grow, some lawmakers are taking credit when they did not support the legislation. Meanwhile, Republicans focus their microscope on Hunter Biden and try to corral their rowdy gang in the House, while a criminally indicted Trump continues to push lies. Its a real show. - Loveta Eastes, Fort Worth School choice is the fix we need The thought of having to send a child to an underperforming school, full of disruptive students and with bad teachers in an unsafe environment, is a nightmare to caring parents. The simple concept of picking a school that meets your childs needs is paramount. School choice is an equalizer. It would expedite improved performance at all schools. Families could vote with their feet and escape bad schools without moving. Opponents fear the demise of public schools. Poor performers will get smaller, and better performing schools will grow. Over time, better schools will emerge. The privilege of education will be the focus again. It is one of the most important things we can do for any child. It is the greatest equalizer. - Frank M. Wagnon, Southlake Former Americans filed a class action lawsuit to recover fees they paid when renouncing their citizenship. The State Department announced that the fee would be reduced from $2,350 to $450. Now, plaintiffs are asking for the difference back. A group of former Americans filed a class-action lawsuit against the United States to recover $1,900 paid through the process of renouncing their citizenship, arguing that the fee is too costly. The lawsuit comes after the State Department announced that the renunciation fee for people looking to no longer be American which has cost $2,350 since 2014 will now be a relative bargain at $450. Basically, plaintiffs are asking to recover the difference. "Since 2014, the US government has been wrongfully profiting from charging this exorbitant fee and has been unjustly enriched at the expense of the Plaintiffs and those similarly situated," the complaint, obtained by Insider, reads. The plaintiffs describe the fees as "arbitrary, capricious and illegal" because the money is used to " fund governmental functions completely unrelated to renunciation services." They also point out that the process to renounce US citizenship has been free for most of the country's history. The complaint also argues that the State Department's proposal to reduce the fee to $450 is "a direct and proximate result" of a similar lawsuit brought in 2020 by 20 different ex-citizens who also argued that the $2,350 is too costly. The State Department increased its renunciation fee to $2,350 in 2014, arguing it was more costly to process the applications. As a result of the 2020 lawsuit , however, the State Department revisited the fee. In its new proposal, the agency said that processing requests for a Certificate of Loss of Nationality is still "extremely costly," but believed that the change would "alleviate at least the cost burden" for outside nationals looking to renounce their citizenship. Two plaintiffs who spoke with The New York Times said they decided to renounce their citizenship because of the strict financial reporting requirements that come with being a US citizen abroad. Nina Nelson, one of the plaintiffs in the suit, told the Times that renouncing her US citizenship was "painful" but did so because she felt she experienced "permanent stress." Esther Jenke also told the Times that finances played a role in her decision to renounce her citizenship. "My husband and I bought a house. If we sell the house, even though it is our primary residence, because from a US perspective it's foreign property, we would have to pay capital gains tax on it," Jenke told the Times. The State Department and attorneys for the plaintiffs did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider sent outside of regular business hours. Read the original article on Insider The FBI is investigating the case along with US Army Counterintelligence Command (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) A former US Army sergeant has been accused of attempting to email sensitive national defence information to Chinese officials, according to the US Justice Department. Joseph Daniel Schmidt, from Washington State, was arrested on Friday on charges related to allegedly trying to provide China with defence information after he had left the army. The 29-year-old had access to top-secret information, having served from 2015 to 2020 as part of the 109th Military Intelligence Battalion. Prosecuters allege that after Mr Schmidt left the military, he contacted the Chinese consulate in Turkey and Chinese security services, offering information about US defence matters. Prosecutors also allege that in 2020, shortly after he had left the military, Mr Schmidt travelled to Hong Kong where he offered a device to Chinese authorities that would allow them to access US military information. Mr Schmidt was arrested while attempting to fly from Hong Kong to San Francsico on Friday. If found guilty, he faces up to 10 years in prison for each charge and a $250,000 fine. US Army Counterintelligence Command and the FBI are both investigating the case. Individuals entrusted with national defense information have a continuing duty to protect that information beyond their government service and certainly beyond our borders, said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G Olsen. The National Security Division is committed to identifying and holding accountable those who violate that duty. Former Soldier Indicted for Attempting to Pass National Defense Information to Peoples Republic of China Defendant Arrested Upon Arrival in San Francisco on Flight from Hong Konghttps://t.co/aALBMQut5S National Security Division, U.S. Dept of Justice (@DOJNatSec) October 6, 2023 US Attorney Tessa M Gorman for the Western District of Washington added: Members of our military take a sworn oath to defend our country and the Constitution. In that context the alleged actions of this former military member are shocking not only attempting to provide national defense information, but also information that would assist a foreign adversary to gain access to Department of Defense secure computer networks. Mr Schmidt is not the first military figure accused with attempting to leak classified information this year. Over the summer, two members of the US Navy were arrested on suspicion of spying for China. Jinchao Wei, who served on the amphibious vessel the USS Essex in San Diego, allegedly handed over dozens of documents, photos and videos detailing the operation of ships. Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, who served at a US naval base near Los Angeles, is accused of spying for China for nearly two years. In April, Massachusetts Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira was also arrested for allegedly leaking classified US intelligence online. He faces six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defence information. The Hamas militant groups surprise attack against Israel on Saturday has sent shockwaves throughout the international community, and now the conflict is hitting home. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told CNN on Sunday morning that officials were working overtime to confirm if any Americans died because of the attacks, or if any were taken hostage. Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer , confirmed that Americans were among those taken captive but gave no details about them nor Americans who may have been killed. Desperate people dig out dead and injured from quakes that killed over 2,000 in Afghanistan Dermer told CNNs State of the Union that he suspects the number of captive and deceased Americans to rise due to the large population of dual Israeli-American citizens. FILE Israelis inspect the rubble of a building a day after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty, File) FILE People stand outside a mosque destroyed in an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Yousef Masoud, File) FILE Israeli security forces evacuate an injured woman from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Oren Ziv, File) FILE People stand outside a mosque destroyed in an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Yousef Masoud, File) Meanwhile, travelers lucky enough to escape the chaos happening on the other side of the world are beginning to arrive at Los Angeles International Airport, shaken but thankful to be alive. We had to go because of our kids, but my heart is there, said Edn Bendavid, who arrived in L.A. from Tel Aviv on Sunday. All my family, everybody is theremy cousins husband just passed away trying to save other people. Its horrible. At least 600 people have reportedly been killed in Israel, while more than 300 have been killed in Gaza as a result of retaliatory Israeli airstrikes. Click here for live updates on the Israel-Hamas conflict. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. On Saturday evening, a series of explosions occurred in occupied Crimea, and the Russian Defence Ministry claims another downed Ukrainian missile. Source: Suspilne, Ukraine's public broadcaster; Telegram channel Crimean Wind; Russian Defence Ministry Details: As a local resident told Suspilne, two explosions occurred in the city of Yevpatoriia. The Crimean Wind reports explosions in Dzhankoi, Yevpatoriia and Krasnoperekopsk. The Russian Defence Ministry again stated that Kyiv attacked Crimea with a "S-200 anti-aircraft missile modified for ground attack" around 22:00. The missile was reportedly destroyed in the air. Background: After 18:00 on Saturday, the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that its forces intercepted a Ukrainian missile strike on Russian-occupied Crimea. Social media users have reported explosions in the Crimean city of Dzhankoi. 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! After having witnessed the warmest summer on record, many are understandably wondering just how hot it could get? Perhaps there are some clues in Earths past. If were looking for a paleo-analog for the deadly heat we might face if we continue to warm our planet through fossil fuel burning and carbon pollution, the so-called PETM (Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum) of 56 million years ago might do. The average temperature of the planet reached an infernally hot 90Fand large parts of the planet would have been unlivably hot for us, had we existed back then. In an excerpt from his illuminating new book Our Fragile Moment: Lessons from Earths Past to Combat Climate Crisis, Dr. Michael Mann looks to this episode in the distant past to show us what our future may bring. What was the PETM actually like? Of course, we dont have photos or documentary evidence, but a rather striking picture emerges from the fossil record of plants and animals. Mangroves and rainforests reached Arctic latitudes. Hippos, alligators, and palm trees graced Ellesmere Island, off the northwestern coast of Greenland, suggesting lush, balmy conditions near the North Pole. Theres evidence that some tropical ocean regions became so hot that they were abandoned by many organisms. My former Penn State colleague and friend Timothy Bralower is one of the leading experts in the world when it comes to the PETM. He notes that temperatures were a balmy 68F off the coast of Antarctica, where it is close to freezing today, and a scorching 97F off the coast of West Africa, adding, Ive been swimming in Miami in August and it feels like a bathtub at 88F, but 97F is virtually uninhabitable! The Bighorn Basin in Wyoming today is home to the badlands, a dusty northern desert environment of scrub and sagebrush. During the late Paleocene, just prior to the PETM, it was subtropical forest, similar to northern Florida today, with swamps of bald cypress, palm trees, and crocodiles. During the PETM, mean annual temperatures appear to have reached 79F, more similar to southern Florida. The swamps disappeared and rainfall turned more intermittent. It became hotter but also drier. Was the drying part of a widespread trend? Probably not. Fossil pollen evidence suggests that tropical forests flourished and spread at this time. Climate model simulations of the PETM, using elevated CO2 levels consistent with the paleo data, suggest that western North America was likely one of the exceptions to the rule, one of the handful of continental mid-latitude regions that saw drying, primarily during summer, due to high surface pressure and the poleward migration of the jet stream. Many other regionsparticularly in the tropics and subpolar latitudeslikely saw increased precipitation. Warmer air holds more moisture, so when conditions are favorable for rainfallwhich they would have been over much of the planetyou get even more of it. Over a large part of the planet, it would have been both very hot and very humid. Thats a bad combination. The old cliche is that its not the heat, its the humidity, but as anyone who has been to Las Vegas in August will tell you, thats not true. Its both. In fact, the best measure of susceptibility to heat stress combines temperature and humidity into a single variable. It is called the wet bulb temperature. When I was a graduate student at Yale, I was a teaching assistant for the very popular undergraduate course Oceans and Atmospheres taught by my former Ph.D. committee member Ronald Smith. One of my favorite labs was the weather lab, where we would take the students up on the roof of the Kline Geology Laboratory and introduce them to a standard meteorological station, containing various types of weather instruments inside a little white shed elevated a few feet off the ground. Among the more interesting instruments was the sling psychrometer. It consisted of two thermometers attached side by side. One had a cloth wick covering on the bulb, which you saturate with water. Theres also a little rope attached to the instrument that allows you to sling it around in the air, speeding up the evaporation of the wet bulb thermometer, which cools off in response to the heat lost due to evaporation. It eventually reaches some new, lower equilibrium temperature. The difference between the dry bulb (no cloth covering) and wet bulb thermometer readings is a measure of the relative humidity of the atmosphere on that day. And the wet bulb temperature measures the lowest temperature an object which could for example be a human being like you or me can reach through evaporative cooling at the prevailing temperature and humidity. Our core body temperature is typically about 98.6 F. Mine runs somewhat lower, about 97F. That makes me a veritable cold-blooded reptile compared to my wife and daughter, a source of endless battles over the setting of the thermostat. Skin temperature is typically lower by 49F, depending on the level of physical activity, which helps transfer excess heat from the bodys core to the skin and then the surrounding air. Sweating helps keep the core temperature from rising, but it becomes increasingly ineffective as a cooling mechanism the more humid the air. A wet bulb reading of 86F exceeds guidelines for safe physical activity, and a wet bulb temperature of 90F, which feels as hot as a dry temperature of 131 F, is dangerous even without physical activity. Wet bulb temperatures of 95F are comparable to a dry temperature of 160F. At this point, your skin can no longer shed excess heat to the air. Even in the shade you will die in a matter of hours. In most places today the wet bulb temperature never exceeds 86F. The 95F wet bulb survivability limit, however, has now been exceeded at least briefly in some locations in South Asia, the coastal Middle East, and coastal southwest North America. These are regions with close proximity to both very high sea temperatures and extreme summer heat conditions jointly conducive to exceptionally high wet bulb temperatures. In The Ministry for the Future, science fiction writer Kim Stanley Robinson begins his engaging fictional account of our near-term climate crisis future with a heat wave in India where web bulb temperatures remain above 95F for days on end, killing two million people. Life, alas, is beginning now to imitate art. During a historic early-season heat wave in spring 2022, temperatures in Chennai, India, reached 94F with seventy-three percent relative humidity. Thats a wet bulb temperature of 86F. And that was in early May. With as little as 4.5F additional global warming, something we could witness in a matter of decades in the absence of substantial climate action, this limit could be exceeded regularly in parts of South Asia and the Middle East that are home to as many as three billion people. Warming of 18F could eventually be reached if we burn all estimated fossil fuel reserves (or if we burn a fair share of them and we happen to encounter some nasty destabilizing feedbacks). At that level of warming, much of the human population could at least occasionally be subject to this deadly heat limit. A heat wave all year long indeed. Some of my own research involves looking at climate model projections to assess the potential for severe heat exposure in the United States. My collaborators and I recently examined simulations used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to project future changes in heat stress accounting for both heat and humidity. We found that short- to medium-duration episodes of extreme heat stress are likely to increase more than three-fold across densely populated regions of the United States in the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, and desert Southwest by the end of this century in a high carbon emission scenario. Other research Ive conducted suggests that these very same model projections may be underestimating the true heat stress risk, as the models tend to underestimate the wavy summer jet stream conditions that are associated with the most persistent heat extremes. Adverse heat-related health impacts are already being experienced by outdoor workers in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. It is relevant, in this context, to imagine what conditions might have been like during the PETM when the global average temperature was an almost inconceivably hot 90F. Thats 30F warmer than today. Adding insult to injury, it was generally humid as well. What would it be like to suddenly be transported back in time to the PETM? Theres a good chance you could find yourself experiencing a daytime high temperature of 100F and eighty-two percent relative humidity. That combines the heat of a sauna with the humidity of a steam room, a hybrid entity that humans dont build in the real world for good reasonits deadly. Eighty-two percent relative humidity and 100F amount to a wet bulb temperature of 95F. If you found yourself subject to those conditions without access to refrigeration, air conditioning, or a cold pool to dive into, youd soon die from exposure. The conclusion is that Homo sapiensat least in our current form, and without the luxury of modern technologycouldnt have lived during the PETM, except possibly near the poles. Yet, many other mammals appear to have made out fine. There was a die-off of deep ocean biotalikely related to the anoxic conditions induced by deep ocean warming. But we didnt see any mass extinction of mammals. Instead, we saw a combination of migration and evolution. Evolution works if youve got thousands of years to work with, which is a luxury we dont have today, but which PETM life-forms did. The primary adaptation, other than migrating poleward in an effort to escape the heat, was dwarfing. As a rule, the way to cool down is to get smaller. Thats what happened during the PETMin an evolutionary sense. Larger representatives of a given mammal species couldnt get rid of heat very well. They selectively died off and failed to reproduce. The smaller members of their species were more likely to survive and more likely to pass along their genetic traits. And so on. Thats how the process of dwarfing proceeds. We see some dramatic examples during the PETM. Horses, which had only recently appeared on the scene, shrunk by thirty percent in size (and scaled back up seventy-six percent as the PETM came to an end). It would be tempting to conclude that the warming therefore wasnt a big deal. They just adapted, after all. Much as some critics of climate action insist that we will just adapt to the impacts of climate change. But understand that any selective pressure so great as to shrink animals by thirty percent in over as little as 10,000 years, implies substantial mortality of those with maladaptive traits (namely, larger size). Think about that fact the next time you hear a climate contrarian insist we can simply adapt to climate change. It is true that our species can likely survive 9F warming. It is also true that hundreds of millions of our fellow human beings will likely perish from it. As always, there were winners and losers in the PETM. Our primate ancestors were winners. Even though the PETM would have been too hot for us, it did provide a selective advantage to our much smaller progenitors, the first primates. Ocean bottomdwellers, on the other hand, were the losers. While surface forams (single cell organisms that live in the open ocean) in general made out okay, deep-sea benthic forams were devastated by acidification. Perhaps as much as fifty percent of all benthic foram species went extinct. In fact, deep-sea acidification was so extreme that sediment cores are relatively devoid of calcite shells, many of which were literally dissolved. And we think that lesser, but still significant, acidification took place in the upper ocean. Ocean circulation changes, too, might have played an important role in the PETM. A clay mineral known as kaolinite is produced by silicate weathering and carried off in streams and rivers to the ocean. The fact that anomalous levels of kaolinite are found in PETM-dated ocean sediments suggests that the overall increase in rainfall during the PETM likely led to increased continental runoff, delivering large amounts of freshwater to the ocean. As weve seen before, a large input of freshwater to the ocean can disrupt the so-called ocean conveyor belt circulation. A combination of climate model simulations and carbon isotope data from forams shows that not only did this disruption occur, but that it led to the burial of warm, oxygen-depleted waters at the ocean bottom. The acidification, warming, and deoxygenation of the deep ocean would have constituted a triple whammy for deep-sea life. The deep ocean warming, estimated to be as much as 57F, could have destabilized seafloor methane hydrate, constituting a potential trigger for the large methane pulse that is argued to have contributed to the PETM warming. It might have generated other ocean changes as well. Although the extinction event seems to have been confined to the deep ocean, the PETM did cause some notable changes in the upper ocean. There were widespread blooms of dinoflagellates in coastal ocean regions. An ancient form of red tide algae, these blooms were likely favored by what is known as eutrophication: the increased continental runoff would have delivered increased nutrients such as nitrogen into the coastal regions, leading to large outbreaks of dinoflagellates. As with modern red tides, the blooms of dinoflagellates would soon run through their boom-and-bust cycle, dying, decomposing, and consuming ocean oxygen in the process, thereby threatening other sea life including fish populations. As today, warming ocean waters would have exacerbated these dangerous and deadly occurrences. Unlike the current warming, we know that the PETM episode of abrupt warming was natural in origin. Or do we? One study suggested that there were likely two distinct pulses of carbon input into the system. The second was consistent with a massive input of methane released in response to warming. But the carbon source that triggered the initial warming? The study could not pin it down. So, lets have a bit of fun for a minute. And while were doing that, well keep in mind the fact that science often gains insight by ruling out what cannot be true and what cannot have happened. That is the spirit in which we will embrace the Silurian hypothesis. Ill begin by telling a story from my childhood. Growing up as an American in the 1970s, I watched religiously a childrens TV series called Land of the Lost. It was an instant hit when it premiered in the fall of 1974. As an eight-year-old boy obsessed with dinosaurs and time and space travel, I felt that the show was custom made for me. I was hooked. The program featured a family who found themselves trapped in a bizarre subterranean land inhabited by dinosaurs, Ewok-like ape people called Pakuni, and malevolent lizard people called Sleestak. The Sleestak descended from a once peaceful and advanced race of reptilian bipedal humanoids (called Altrusians), but degenerated over time into the primitive, barbaric individuals who inhabited the ruins of their once great civilization. The storyline for the first season was written by science fiction writer David Gerrold who, among other things, wrote the famous The Trouble with Tribbles episode for the original Star Trek series. Gavin Schmidt is a contemporary of mine who is currently director of the NASA GISS climate modeling laboratory, having taken over from former director James Hansen some years ago. When Schmidt was growing up in the 1970s across the pond in the United Kingdom, he, too, was watching science fiction programming, the BBC TV series Doctor Who to be specific. One episode featured lizard people, awakened by nuclear testing after 400 million years of hibernation. These intelligent, bipedal reptilians ruled over the dinosaurs, but were forced to hibernate deep within Earths crust to escape a global catastrophe. They are called the Silurians (since were only having fun here, well overlook the fact that the Silurian period actually predated reptiles by a hundred million years and dinosaurs by nearly two hundred million years). Early 1970s TV and film was full of tales of collapsed ancient lizard civilizations. Why? I have some thoughts. The early to mid-1970s was the apex of environmental dystopianism. It gave us films like Silent Running and Logans Run premised on scenarios of environmentally driven societal collapse. The 1973 film Soylent Green, starring Charlton Heston, was arguably ahead of its time. Premiering decades before widespread awareness of the climate crisis, it was premised on the devastating societal consequences of global warming. The story takes place, coincidentally, in the year 2022. Then theres the 1968 dystopian film Planet of the Apes, which once again starred Charlton Heston, in the role of an astronaut who has found himself stranded on a planet ruled by intelligent, ape-like hominids. Toward the end of the film, he realizes that he had time traveled when he happens upon the archeological remains of his own civilization. It had destroyed itself through nuclear annihilation. The ape-like hominids had evolved to fill the void that was left behind. Perhaps there is something archetypal about the notion of an intelligent civilization gone extinct under enigmatic circumstances. Maybe tales of this sort trigger something deep down in our own primitive lizard brains, some instinctual sense of our tenuousness on this pale blue dot we call home. Possibly such tales resonated with the dystopian environmental ethos of the 1970s, as we began to understand the threat posed to our planetary home by worsening air and water pollution, disappearing forests and habitats, and the nuclear-fueled Cold War that was simmering. Conceivably youre wondering what any of this has to do with the PETM. What if an intelligent pre-human civilization like the Altrusians or Silurians existed tens of millions of years ago on Earth and extinguished themselves through catastrophic planetary warming, courtesy of an energy-greedy, fossil fuelburning spree? Would we know it? This is the very thought experiment that was pursued by my friend and colleague Gavin Schmidt and his coauthor astrobiologist Adam Frank in a 2018 article titled, appropriately, The Silurian Hypothesis. The project was a bit of an accident as novel scientific pursuits, to be perfectly honest, often are. Adam Frank is a deeply inquisitive astrophysicist with a passion for addressing truly big questions, as I learned during a fascinating conversation over coffee on a chilly February day in 2019 while he was visiting the Happy Valley of State College, PA. He is also a leading advocate for the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI), a continuation of the legacy of Carl Sagan, who cofounded the Planetary Society back in 1980 to advocate for the ongoing search for life in the cosmos. Back in 1961, at the very first scientific SETI meeting, the astrophysicist Frank Drake formulated a mathematical expression for the number of communicative civilizations in our galaxy as a product of various terms: the rate at which stars are produced, the number of planets per star, the fraction of those planets that would be habitable for life, the fraction of those on which life actually arises, the fraction of those that produce intelligent civilization, and the fraction of those that develop radio communication. The final factor is the typical lifetime of such civilizations. Carl Sagan was one of the ten scientists present at that meeting. He believed that the last factor was likely to be the limiting one. In other words, the key question, in Sagans mind, was whether or not technological civilizations could avoid self-destruction. It is not unreasonable to speculate that these early musings on Sagans part might well have prepared him for the later role he would play in the 1980s in the debate over the nuclear arms race. In 2017, Adam Frank paid a visit to Schmidt, a climate modeler. He was interested in the related astrobiological question of whether prospective industrial civilizations that arise on other planets might extinguish themselves through fossil fueldriven warming. As Ive learned from numerous conversations and collaborations over the years, Gavin Schmidt is an outside-the-box thinker. Hes also a devils advocate. So, he turned around and asked a stunned Frank a question of his own: How do we know that a past civilization didnt already do this on Earth? And so we come to whats called the Silurian hypothesis: how do we know that the rapid carbon spike behind the PETM warming, for example, wasnt the extinction-causing act of some ancient fossil fuelhungry civilization? What sort of evidence might a subsequent civilization like us hope to find fifty or sixty million years later? Though scientists and novelists alike have speculated about such things for decades, Schmidt and Frank moved the ball down the field quite a bit by examining in detail the sort of geological and archeological evidence that would and would not be left behind by an intelligent, civilization-building species that drove itself to extinction through environmental destruction in the deep geological past. They note, for example, that the typical sorts of evidence we might imaginecontinental-scale graves of human skeletons, collapsed edifices, cars and trucks, foundations of homes, etc.simply wouldnt remain. Geological weathering and erosion along with plate tectonics would have destroyed any artificial structures and objects older than about ten million years. There would be no direct evidence, in the sense of archeological sites or preserved artifacts, of an industrial civilization that only existed for a few centuries, a veritable fleeting geological moment. A very small fraction of living things ever become fossilized. So, if some race of reptiles or early mammals in the late Paleocene developed a civilization that lasted even for 100,000 years, let alone a few centuries, it would be easy to miss in the fossil record. What evidence might we expect to find? We might see sharp coincident spikes in oxygen and carbon isotopes in preserved sediments, indicative of a rapid rise in greenhouse gases and temperatures. But thats precisely the sort of evidence we see with the PETM! We might also expect to see a spike in nitrogen isotope ratios, indicative of the large-scale use of fertilizers, and increased anoxic zones in oceans, due to eutrophication, ocean acidification, and extinction of calcareous biota preserved in sediments. We could detect anomalous levels of lead, chromium, antimony, rhenium, and other mined metals in sediments. Interestingly, we do see these sorts of changes in the PETM and during other past episodes of rapid climate and environmental change due, for example, to increased erosion and continental runoff. To be clear, Schmidt and Frank arent actually suggesting that sentient lizards caused a warming spike fifty-six million years ago. Turns out, there is a perfectly good (and alas, far more mundane) explanation for what happened. Occams razor, in the end, prevails. The authors concede that the hypothesis is almost certainly wrong. I asked Schmidt for the most compelling piece of counterevidence offered by his critics. His answer was: Our experience with deep mining. These are metallic deposits that date back sometimes billions of years, and as far as I know, there is no evidence that they have been tapped previously. Yet the hypothesis isnt obviously wrong, either. It demands consideration and close examination. Schmidt and Frank were merely posing the question of how future beings including perhaps denizens of our planet millions of years hence would know if a civilization like ours extinguished itself through environmental degradation and, specifically, a fossil fueldriven abrupt warming event. The Silurian hypothesis was motivated by a deeper question that scientists like Adam Frank, David Grinspoon, Carl Sagan, and even the great physicist Enrico Fermi have long pondered: Is there other life out there? If so, why havent we heard from it? Some have speculated that intelligent civilizations, perhaps, tend to sow the seeds of their own destruction through environmental ruination and warfare. And its certainly worth asking: Is that our inclination? And if so, can we defy that impulse? Excerpted from the book Our Fragile Moment: Lessons from Earths Past to Combat Climate Crisis by Michael Mann. Copyright 2023 by Michael Mann. Reprinted with permission. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. Statement: When I came into office, the auto industry was on its knees, gasping its last breaths. Trump administration tariffs and taxes saved the American auto industry from extinction." Donald Trump As United Auto Workers strike against the leading U.S. automakers, former President Donald Trump took credit for saving the industry. "When I came into office, the auto industry was on its knees, gasping its last breaths after eight long years of Obama and Biden," Trump told nonunion autoworkers Sept. 27 at Drake Enterprises outside Detroit. "It is no exaggeration to state the Trump presidency and the deftly used and applied Trump tariffs and taxes saved the American auto industry from extinction time and time again." But the reality is the opposite: Trump neither inherited a nearly dead auto industry nor revived it. Experts say the Bush and Obama administrations helped boost the industry while Trump administration actions hurt it. Bush and Obama administrations actions In 2008, during the Great Recession, the auto industry was in dire shape. Layoffs were soaring at plants and parts suppliers. Gasoline prices were up. Buying power was down. General Motors was nearly out of cash to pay its bills, and Chrysler was close behind. Interventions by the outgoing George W. Bush and newly elected Barack Obama administrations pulled the industry back from the brink. Under Obama, GM and Chrysler underwent taxpayer-financed bankruptcy reorganizations. Both companies emerged healthily from the recession, adding jobs and production capacity. "At its basic level, the car companies got a well-financed restructuring, and the financier was the government," Mike Ramsey, an automotive analyst and senior research director at consulting company Gartner told Business Insider in 2018. "The companies were essentially given a clean balance sheet and reset to a point that made them viable." Manufacturing output of vehicles and parts rose along with employment in Michigans auto sector during the Obama administration. The Center for Automotive Research examined major investments in the industry and found that from 2013 to 2016, $47.3 billion in work was announced. By comparison, during the Trump years, 2017 to 2020, $38 billion was announced. Trump cites trade deals and tariffs that, taken together, did not yield net industry gains In his Michigan speech, Trump cited several trade policies that he claimed helped the industry. An expert points to one Trump tariff that led to a small increase in U.S. auto parts production. But most Trump policies hurt the industry or had no significant impact. Tariffs on Chinese imports: Trump imposed tariffs up to 25% on Chinas auto production in 2018. Although Trumps tariffs aimed to punish China, U.S. companies got many parts from other countries, said Katheryn N. Russ, chair of the University of California, Davis economics department. The U.S. International Trade Commission found that these tariffs led to a 3% increase in U.S. domestic gross output in auto parts production. But China retaliated, raising tariffs on U.S. exports. That led to a significant reduction in U.S. auto exports to China, said Brad Setser, a U.S. trade official during the Biden administration. In response to the tariffs, Tesla bought a subsidiary in China and its Shanghai production began exporting to the EU while U.S. exports of electric vehicles to China and Europe fell sharply. Trumps campaign told PolitiFact that without his tariffs on China, the U.S. might have seen the soaring number of car imports from China that the EU experienced. Renegotiated Korea Free Trade Agreement: As part of Trumps renegotiation of this deal, he extended until 2041 a 25% U.S. tariff on imports of small pickups. But James Rubenstein, a Miami (Ohio) University geography professor known for his auto industry research, said the tariff is largely symbolic because "Hyundai/Kia, which is responsible for most vehicle production in Korea, does not produce a pickup truck." Stopped Trans-Pacific Partnership: In his first month in office, Trump ordered the U.S. to withdraw from this free trade deal with 11 Asian-Pacific countries. Obama had negotiated it, but it was never implemented. No one knows what the deal's impact on the auto industry would have been. Replaced NAFTA with USMCA: Trump replaced the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The deal took effect in July 2020 and aimed to encourage auto manufacturers to get parts from Canada, Mexico and the U.S. It required that 75% of an automobiles components be manufactured in those countries to qualify for zero tariffs. NAFTA had required that 62.5% be manufactured in those three countries. Gary Hufbauer, an economist and trade expert at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a Washington think tank, said that although the USMCA changes tightened production rules, they made little difference in the U.S. auto industry. Thats partly because auto manufacturers seem to prefer the alternative option of paying the 2.5% Most Favored Nation tariff on imported parts or assembled automobiles from Canada and Mexico, which is often cheaper and simpler than adhering to the rules-of-origin requirements. Trump steel tariffs hurt auto industry One of Trumps tariff actions hampered the U.S. auto industry, sparking the loss of thousands of jobs. In March 2018, he imposed a 25% tariff on steel imports and a 10% tariff on imported aluminum, with exemptions for Canada and Mexico. The move was intended to punish China. The Federal Reserve Board of Governors found that by mid-2019, increased input costs related to the steel and aluminum tariffs were associated with 0.6% fewer jobs in the manufacturing sector. Based on those figures, Russ and Harvard University economics doctoral student Lydia Cox found that equated to about 75,000 fewer jobs in manufacturing. That figure did not include additional losses experienced by U.S. exporters that faced tariffs levied by other countries in retaliation. "It is hard to find a plausible explanation for how levying a tax on a key input for the auto industry would have been beneficial to the auto industry," Russ said. Kristin Dziczek, vice president of industry, labor and economics at the Center for Automotive Research, told Reuters in October 2020 that the tariffs hurt the industry. GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler, now part of Stellantis, all have closed plants in Michigan since 2018, the year the tariffs were imposed. GM and Ford paid $1 billion each in increased steel costs in 2018. We found accumulating evidence that Trumps tariff strategy backfired. A December 2020 summary from the Congressional Research Service, Congress nonpartisan policy arm, said most studies "suggest a negative overall effect on U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) as a result of the tariffs" and that most studies found U.S. consumers and companies "bore nearly the entire increased costs associated with the tariffs." Our ruling Trump said that when he took office, "the auto industry was on its knees, gasping its last breaths" and that his administration's "tariffs and taxes saved the American auto industry from extinction." Trump is wrong on both counts. Actions by the Bush and Obama administrations helped revive the auto industry. Most of Trumps trade deals and tariffs hurt the industry or had no significant impact. His tariffs on steel and aluminum hurt significantly. We rate this statement False. PolitiFact senior correspondent Jon Greenberg contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Fact-check: Trumps repeated falsehood that he saved U.S. auto industry It is the biggest deal in the oil industry for a decade. It will consolidate production. And it will put renewed pressure on the rest of the industry, not least the two British giants Shell and BP. With its acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources for almost $60bn (50bn), ExxonMobil will cement its grip in the oil industry. But if the US has been able to create a $60bn company out of the shale oil and gas boom, of which Pioneer was one of the leaders, why couldnt Britain? There is no reason why the UK should not have developed a whole series of shale giants like Pioneer and we still could, if we only developed the political will to exploit our own energy resources. The deal may or may not get finalised, but if it does it will help to consolidate ExxonMobils grip on the oil market. It emerged on Friday that it is in talks to acquire Pioneer, a $50bn business, and if a deal goes through it is likely to have to pay a significant premium, sending the final price up to $60bn, or possibly even higher. It would be Exxons biggest corporate move since the merger with Mobil that created the company in 1999. And perhaps more significantly, it would consolidate its presence in the sprawling Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico, where Pioneer is one of the strongest players. For Exxon, it may well prove a smart move. For all the investment in green energy, oil is still above $80 a barrel, and the price has been strong all year. As much as they are hated, fossil fuels are going to be a vital part of the energy mix for many years to come, and there will be plenty of money to be made from extracting oil and gas and delivering it around the world. ExxonMobil was already the largest Western oil company, and if it can drive this acquisition through, it is likely to remain so for many years to come. Viewed from this side of the Atlantic, however, the interesting question is surely this. Why dont we have any companies of the size of Pioneer? Founded by Scott Sheffield in 1997, Pioneer is the company that drove the development of the fracking industry in the US. Along the way, it made the country self-sufficient in energy for the first time in a generation, with surpluses to help out Europe when the Russian gas was turned off, and created vast wealth for the country. A $60bn price tag is a testament to the value of the industry. The contrast with the UK is painful. The amount of shale oil and gas in the UK is open to debate. After all, it is hard to know for sure until you start drilling. The British Geological Survey put the reserves at 150bn cubic meters. According to a study by Warwick Business School, it could be enough to meet up to 22pc of the UKs annual energy consumption up to 2050. There are a range of different figures. And yet whichever estimate you take, one point is clear. It is a lot. The problem is that we have refused to develop it. A bizarre coalition of local protest groups, the same kind of people that stop houses being built, or roads constructed, have joined forces with the kind of extreme environmentalists who object to any kind of fossil fuels being extracted, together with a handful of conspiracy theorists, to bully ministers into banning the UK industry. This embedded content is not available in your region. It is hard to understand why. Companies such as Pioneer have been developing the technology for a quarter of a century now, and funnily enough Texas does not seem to have been convulsed by earthquakes (and neither has Alberta, the centre of the Canadian shale gas industry). Neither has there been a huge rise in the number of deformed babies, another favorite scare story of the anti-fracking brigade. Instead, huge new companies such as Pioneer have been created, and ones that are solid and stable enough to be acquired by the giants of the industry. It is a scandal of epic proportions that the UK has squandered the opportunity to create the same kind of shale businesses in this country. In reality, we should have started this industry seriously when the first licences were handed out fifteen years ago. By now, we would have major players in the business, with proven expertise, and a record of consistent production. It would be BP or Shell buying a UK fracking giant for billions, instead of an American company buying another American company to consolidate its lead in the industry. Along the way, we would have created a huge number of jobs, lots of tax revenues, and vastly improved our balance of payments, while securing our own energy supplies, and making sure we were protected from prices dictated by Russia or Saudi Arabia. It was a huge industrial opportunity to turn down simply on a few scare stories about earth tremors that have proved to have no basis elsewhere. If fracking were as dangerous as its opponents argue, Exxon Mobil would not be buying Pioneer. We could still start if we wanted to. The resources are there, and the technology is well established. With this latest acquisition, if it goes through, the industry is maturing, and the oil majors are starting to move in. If we lifted the ban now, we could have the first energy coming on stream in a year, and a major industry within five years. We could be using that time, and some of the tax revenues it would generate, to build more wind and nuclear power, creating supplies that would be secure for generations to come. In reality, ExxonMobils massive deal for Pioneer has reminded us how valuable the shale oil industry is, and how much wealth it creates. And it is a painful reminder of just what a terrible mistake the British government made when it turned its back on what should have been one of the major industrial successes of this decade. 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. An outdoor music festival near the Gaza-Israel border turned into a battlefield as militants opened fire on hundreds of attendees. Around 260 bodies were found at the site, according to Israeli rescue service Zaka. And now, families are begging for help to find their missing loved ones. We didnt even have any place to hide because we were at [an] open space, Tal Gibly, who survived the attack, told CNN. The attack, timed to the 50th anniversary of the onset of the Yom Kippur War, was one of multiple locations targeted on Saturday morning in areas throughout Israel, with Gaza militants firing thousands of rockets into the country as well as engaging in a ground attack. Social media feeds were flooded with videos of multiple people killed and others being kidnapped as attendees attempted to flee. Relatives of those missing have said they felt abandoned by the government and that they have received little to no help. JUST IN: At least 260 bodies have been found at the site of an Israeli music festival following Saturday's attack by Hamas, a rescue organization says https://t.co/zZituCgRw6 pic.twitter.com/XuFXQvlKYS CNN (@CNN) October 8, 2023 Ora Kuperstein, who is searching for her nephew, 21-year-old Bar, told Israeli Channel 12 news that his parents have not received any information from authorities. Bar was working at the festival when he was kidnapped and taken to Gaza. Nobody has told us anything. Nobody is helping us. Its chaos, she said. His parents know nothing. He got there on Friday evening. From the videos weve seen he was next to the guards, who were the first to get shot. She added, He had no weapon, they took him with other young people. Parents lined up at the missing persons center that was set up near Ben Gurion Airport on Saturday evening, where the remains of those killed were taken for identification. Relatives also searched for missing family members at hospitals. Ricarda Louk the mother of Shani Louk, a 30-year-old German tattoo artist whose body was seen on video being paraded through the streets in the back of a pick-up truck asked for help finding her daughter in a video published by German newspaper Bild. This morning my daughter, Shani Nicole Louk, a German citizen, was kidnapped with a group of tourists in southern Israel by Palestinian Hamas, said Ricarda. We were sent a video in which I could clearly see our daughter unconscious in the car with the Palestinians and them driving around the Gaza Strip. I ask you to send us any help or any news. Thank you very much. BREAKING: The woman whose body was seen on video in the back of a pick-up truck driven by Palestinian terrorists to Gaza has been identified. 30-year-old Shani Louk was a German citizen visiting Israel to attend the music festival for peace held near the Gaza border fence. pic.twitter.com/sPIc8FRs8K Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) October 7, 2023 In a separate, unverified video that went viral Saturday, Hamas militants appeared to kidnap a young couple identified as Noa Argamani and Avinatan Or, per CNN. In the clip, Argamani is driven away on the back of a motorcycle as Or walks with his hands behind his back. Its very difficult when you see someone that is so close to you and you know so much being treated like this, Amir Moadi, a roommate of Argamani, told CNN. Many family members received text messages from loved ones who attended the event before they went missing. Hersh Golberg-Polin, a 23-year-old student, texted his mother and father I love you, Im sorry on Saturday. Born in Berkeley, California, Hersh and his family moved to Jerusalem when he was seven years old. His father, Jonathan Polin, told the Jerusalem Post: We just want him home and safe. We love you. Come home to us. Parents seek American-Israeli Hersh Golberg-Polin, missing since the Hamas attack at a northern Negev nature party on Saturday, October 7. More details: https://t.co/lqNyT6cMT5 pic.twitter.com/aTlupWjurK The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) October 8, 2023 A man, who told Channel 12 his name was Nissim, said that the last message he received from his brother who was at the festival was, Nissim, help us. They shot us. I am bleeding. Where is the government? Why is nobody helping us find them? he shouted. According to the most recent numbers, Israeli officials confirmed to CBS News that at 600 Israeli civilians and members of the military have died and 1,800 wounded since rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel by Hamas militants. We are at war not in an operation, not in rounds at war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday. I am initiating an extensive mobilization of the reserves to fight back on a scale and intensity that the enemy has so far not experienced. The enemy will pay an unprecedented price. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. The father and three sons from Florida who created a fake church to peddle Clorox bleach as a Miracle Mineral Solution for ailments and promoted it to treat COVID-19 are protesting their prison sentence in court after representing themselves in trial. On Friday, Mark Grenon, the father in the group, told U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga that he was the real victim and that his sentencing was a kidnapping and the U.S. government should pay him $5.76 million in compensation. Grenon received five years in prison, a $5,000 fine and has been ordered to pay $1,948 in victim restitution. One of his sons, Joseph Grenon, will also receive five years in prison and must pay victim restitution but has not been fined. You cannot go out and create a fake church and violate the law, Prosecutor John Shipley said in his closing argument. Read it at The Miami Hera Read more at The Daily Beast. As people throughout Israel seek information about their loved ones whereabouts in the war thats engulfed the country, one American family is pleading for help. Hersh Golberg-Polins family last heard from him on Saturday after he attended a music festival in the Negev desert region. The family was in the country, and Golberg-Polinwho had just celebrated his 23rd birthday this past weekleft them Friday night for the rave. Hamas launched its assault on the country on Saturday, barraging the festival itself with bullets and kidnapping partygoers. It was the last time his family heard from him, his dad Jonathon Polin told the Jerusalem Post, when they received two ominous texts from him: I love you and Im sorry. We just want him home and safe, his father told the paper. This is Hersh Golberg-Polin, a 23-year-old American-Israeli who was at the desert music festival attacked by Hamas. His parents are anxiously searching for him. On Saturday morning they received 2 short messages from their son saying: I love you and Im sorry. They haven't pic.twitter.com/5OAZSU0ULD Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) October 8, 2023 Footage from the festival site has included scores of bodies and volunteers say over 250 are dead, though few have been identified. Secretary of State Antony Blinken appeared on various Sunday news broadcasts, where he confirmed the U.S. was aware of reports of Americans either kidnapped or killed. We have reports that several Americans were killed. Were working overtime to verify that, Blinken said on CNNs State of the Union. At the same time, there are reports of missing Americans and there again, were working to verify those reports. Ron Dermer, Israels Minister for Strategic Affairs, also confirmed hearing some reports, but he couldnt provide more details. Unfortunately I cant, Dermer said on State of the Union. We have a lot of dual citizens in Israel. I suspect there are several, but were still trying to sort through all of all this information after this horrific surprise attack and well make sure to put that information out so that the loved ones of these people who were killed and who are held hostage, they know as quickly as possible. Golberg-Polins grandmother told The Daily Beast that the family was relying on all resources possible, but she was not aware if they had been contacted by the U.S. government. They have a lot of friends with connections and theyre doing whatever they can, Leah Polin said. 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 Bombardier Global 8000 is poised to become the world's new fastest private jet come 2025. For now, the two speediest purpose-built private planes in service rocket at over 700 mph. Manufacturers are battling to build faster business jets as the demand for private aviation booms. The fastest commercial airliner still in service today is the 50-year-old Boeing 747, which can reach speeds of up to Mach 0.92, or 706 mph at sea level. Meanwhile, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is the world's fastest twin-engine widebody jet and can journey at Mach 0.90, or 690 mph. Some of the fastest aircraft in the sky, however, are purpose-built private jets. And, they're getting even faster as manufacturers battle to attract deep-pocket customers who prefer the privacy and convenience of private flying over commercial airlines. Here are some of the fastest private jets in the world with one actually exceeding Mach 1 during a test flight. Dassault Falcon 7X/8X: Mach 0.90 (690 mph) A Dassault Falcon 8X. Dominique Boutin\TASS via Getty Images The tri-engine Dassault Falcon 8X is the successor to the Falcon 7X with a longer range, better engines, and new avionics. Both can reach up to Mach 0.90, or about 690 mph at sea level. Pop sensation Taylor Swift famously owns a Dassault 7X, which has followed her along her colossal Eras Tour this year. Bombardier Global 7500: Mach 0.925 (710 mph) The Bombardier Global 7500 demonstration aircraft that exceeded the speed of sound in May 2021. Bombardier The $75 million Bombardier Global 7500 is currently the world's largest and longest-ranged purpose-built private jet, trekking more than 8,880 miles nonstop. It's one of the speediest, too. According to the Canadian manufacturer, the plane can fly at Mach 0.925, which translates to about 710 mph. A Global 7500 test plane, which was modified with the systems of its upcoming Global 8000 successor, even exceeded the speed of sound in May 2021. It reached Mach 1.015 (about 779 mph), according to Bombardier. Gulfstream G500/G600/G650/G650ER/G800: Mach 0.925 (710 mph) A Gulfstream G650ER. Mike Fuchslocher/Shutterstock.com Like the competing Global 7500, most of Gulfstream's lineup of multi-million dollar private jets including the G500, G600, G650ER, and G800 variants can reach Mach 0.925. The G800 is slated to enter the market in 2024. The G280 and G400 siblings have a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.85 and 0.90, respectively making the latter also one of the world's fastest private jets. Dassault Falcon 10X: Mach 0.925 (710 mph) Dassault Aviation's new Falcon 10X private jet is scheduled to debut in 2025. Dassault Aviation - Droits Reserves A competitor to both Bombardier and Gulfstream, the French-made Dassault Falcon 10X twin-engine plane also can reach speeds up to Mach 0.925. But, it is still under development and is not expected to hit the market until 2025. Gulfstream G700: Mach 0.935 (717 mph) A Gulfstream G700. Gulfstream Gulfstream recently increased the speed of its flagship G700 plane to 0.935 Mach from 0.925 Mach, making it the company's fastest business plane. G700 launch customer Qatar Airways Executive the airline's private charter arm dedicated to flying its most elite customers unveiled its first Q700 business jet at the Paris Air Show in June. Cessna Citation X+: Mach 0.935 (717 mph) The Cessna Citation X+ used to be the only private jet in service flying up to Mach 0.935. Textron Aviation With the G700's recent speed increase, it now matches that of the Cessna Citation X+ the American-built aircraft that previously held the title of the world's fastest private jet in service. The Citation X+ is the upgraded version of the original Citation X, which entered the market in 1996. The "rocket in the sky" has been owned by the ultra-rich. Only 29 Citation X+s were delivered between 2014 and 2018 when production of the type ceased completely, FlightGlobal reported. Bombardier Global 8000: Mach 0.94 (721 mph) Private charter company NetJets will be the launch customer of the Global 8000. Bombardier The upcoming $78 million Bombardier Global 8000 private jet is poised to become the world's new fastest civil aircraft since the Concord when it enters service in 2025, boasting a top speed of Mach 0.94, or 721 mph. Aside from going to the edge of space on Virgin Galactic's Mach 3 commercial craft, the near-supersonic Global 8000 private jet is about the closest travelers can get to breaking the sound barrier on a passenger plane. Read the original article on Business Insider Death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza rises to 232 Xinhua) 08:31, October 08, 2023 Smoke rises during an Israeli airstrike targeting a residential tower in Gaza City, on Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) GAZA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 232, with 1,697 others injured, according to an update from the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza on Saturday. The airstrikes were carried out in response to an earlier rocket attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). The Israeli military confirmed that Palestinian militants had launched almost 3,000 rockets against Israel, and dozens of militants had infiltrated southern Israel. Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, claimed to have captured a number of Israeli officers and soldiers, adding that they are being held in "safe places." This photo taken on Oct. 7, 2023 shows a building hit by a rocket in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Gideon Markowicz/JINI via Xinhua) In response, the Israeli military said it had targeted Hamas sites and headquarters with dozens of warplanes across various regions of the coastal enclave. Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz also said his country would cut off the power supply to the Palestinian enclave in the wake of the Hamas attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in a national address that Israel was "in a state of war" and ordered "a full mobilization of reserves." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held an emergency meeting with key officials, emphasizing the right of the Palestinian people to defend themselves against Israeli forces and settlers. Palestinians climb up an Israeli military vehicle in Gaza City, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) A woman was killed and several others were seriously injured in a crash on Floridas Turnpike in Osceola County early Sunday morning. 7:30 p.m. Update: The Florida Highway Patrol said a Hyundai Elantra and a Nissan Pathfinder were traveling northbound on the Florida Turnpike around 4:45 a.m in Kenansville. Troopers said the Hyundai was behind the Nissan and going above the speed limit, and since they did not see the Nissan, they rear-ended the other car. According to a news release, because of the impact, the Hyundai rotated to the right and hit the Nissan. Then, the Hyundai overturned and struck the median guardrail. The 21-year-old Hyundai passenger died at the scene, while the 21-year-old driver and two other passengers, both in their 20s, were taken to Osceola Regional with serious injuries. FHP said the 37-year-old Nissan driver and four passengers were not taken to the hospital, but a 111-year-old woman was taken to Osceola Regional with minor injuries. Previous story: According to the Florida Highway Patrol, it happened in the northbound lanes at mile marker 202 in Kenansville, south of Canoe Creek Road. READ: 2 dead, 1 injured after Lake County crash, FHP says Troopers were dispatched to the area just after 5 a.m. According to FHP, the crash involved two vehicles, a 2023 Hyundai Elantra and a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. A passenger in the Elantra, identified only as a 21-year-old woman, was pronounced dead at the scene, troopers said. The driver and two other passengers were taken to Osceola Regional Medical Center with injuries described as serious. According to FHP, a passenger in the Pathfinder was also hospitalized with serious injuries but the driver and four other passengers were able to remain at the scene. All northbound lanes of the turnpike were shut down while FHP conducted their investigation into the sequence of events leading up to the crash. READ: 1 person killed in skydiving accident in Titusville As of 9 a.m., the roadway remained closed. Drivers are being urged to seek an alternate route through the area. This story is developing. Please stay with WFTV as more information comes into our newsroom. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Hamas fighters are holding as many as 150 people hostage in locations across Gaza following their raids on southern Israel Saturday, Israels ambassador to the United Nations said Monday. Their presence is complicating Israels response to the militant groups deadly attack, however Ambassador Gilad Erdan told CNN Monday that the governments priority is destroying Hamas to restore security for all Israeli citizens. Of course, we want to see all of our boys, girls, grandmothers, everyone who was abducted we want to see them back home, but right now, our focus is looking at our national strategy is to obliterate Hamas terrorist capabilities, he said. In a chilling development earlier Monday, Abu Obaida, the spokesperson of Hamas Al-Qassam Brigades, said Hamas would start executing civilian hostages if Israel targets people in Gaza without warning. Little evidence has emerged as to the condition of the hostages, some of whom have been identified by their families as they desperately seek answers. Heres what we know so far about those being held. Music festival Hundreds of attendees at the Nova music festival ran across the plains of the Negev Desert near Urim, a community close to the Gaza Strip, trying to escape Hamas gunmen pursuing them in vehicles in a terrifying chase. Some were killed and others were seized by armed captors, social media videos showed. Shani Louk in a post from her Instagram. - From Instagram Details of hostages from the attack are beginning to emerge as family members recognize relatives in the clips circulating online. In one video that went viral, an Israeli woman and her boyfriend identified as Noa Argamani and Avinatan Or were shown being kidnapped. In it, Argamani was hoisted onto the back of a motorcycle and driven away as Or was apprehended and made to walk with his hands behind his back. CNN could not independently verify the video. Its very difficult when you see someone that is so close to you and you know so much being treated like this, Amir Moadi, a roommate of Noa Argamani, told CNN, adding that he knew about five or six people who had been at the festival and have since gone missing. Noa Argamani, an Israeli woman, who was kidnapped by Hamas militants with her boyfriend. - Handout In another video authenticated by CNN, an unconscious woman who was at the festival could be seen being displayed by armed militants in Gaza as onlookers shouted Allahu Akbar. CNN later confirmed the identity of the woman as German-Israeli national Shani Louk. Ricarda Louk, Shanis mother, told CNN that she last spoke to her daughter after hearing rockets and alarms sounding in southern Israel, calling to see if shed made it to a secure location. Shani told her mother she was at the festival with few places to hide. She was going to her car and they had military people standing by the cars and were shooting so people couldnt reach their cars, even to go away. And thats when they took her, Ricarda told CNN, adding that she hopes to see her daughter again, but the situation is bleak. It looks very bad, but I still have hope. I hope that they dont take bodies for negotiations. I hope that shes still alive somewhere. We dont have anything else to hope for, so I try to believe, she said. Israeli border communities Hamas fighters took hostages in the border community Beeri, and the town of Ofakim, 20 miles east of Gaza, IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari said on Saturday, adding that the two locations were the main focal points of the unfolding crisis. In a televised address, he said that there were special forces with senior commanders in the two communities, and fighting was ongoing in 22 locations. One video, geolocated by CNN to Beeri, appears to show Hamas militants taking multiple Israelis captive. Residents in Beeri and another community on Israels border with Gaza, Nir Oz, told the countrys Channel 12 television station that assailants were going door to door, trying to break into their homes. Channel 12 also reported that infiltrators had taken hostages in Netiv HaAsara. Israeli authorities did not immediately confirm any details about those reports. One Israeli mother told CNN she had been on the phone with her children, ages 16 and 12, who were home alone when they heard gunshots outside and people trying to enter. Then, over the phone, she heard the door break down. I heard terrorists speaking in Arabic to my teenagers. And the youngest saying to them Im too young to go, the mother said. And the phone went off, the line went off. That was the last time I heard from them. CNN is not identifying the mother and her children for safety reasons. Another Israeli father told CNN he suspects his wife and young daughters may have been abducted while visiting Nir Oz. He said he recognized his wife in a viral video that shows a group of people being loaded on the back of a truck flanked by Hamas militants, while chants of Allahu Akbar ring out. I dont even know what the situation is regarding the hostages, and the situation is not looking good, Yoni Asher said, adding that he tracked his wifes phone and learned that it was located in Gaza. In another video, geolocated by CNN to Gazas Shejaiya neighborhood, a barefoot woman is pulled from the trunk of a Jeep by a gunman and then forced into the backseat of the car. Her face is bleeding, and her wrists appear to be cable-tied behind her back. The Jeep also appears to have an IDF license plate, suggesting it may have been stolen and brought into Gaza. Soldiers Al Qassam Brigades claimed to capture dozens of Israeli soldiers on Saturday. We bring good news to our (Palestinian) prisoners and our people that the al Qassam Brigades have dozens of captured (Israeli) officers and soldiers in their hands, the groups spokesman Abu Obaida said in a post on Telegram. They have been secured in safe places and resistance tunnels. Video geolocated and authenticated by CNN shows at least one Israeli soldier being taken prisoner. The video, posted to Hamas official social media accounts, shows militants yank two clearly terrified and stunned soldiers out of a disabled tank. Its unclear from the video how the tank was disabled, but Hamas has used drones to drop bombs onto Israeli tanks before. One of the soldiers is then seen in a short snippet of video being kicked on the ground by the militants. In the next clip, the soldier is seen lying motionless on the ground. The second soldier is seen being led away by Hamas militants. A third soldier his face very bloody is seen lying on the ground motionless near the tank track. CNN does not know the current whereabouts or status of the three soldiers. A second video, taken afterward, shows a number of different armed men around the tank. The three soldiers are nowhere to be seen. The armed men are then seen pulling a fourth Israeli soldier from the tank. The soldier is motionless as hes dragged down the side of the tank and onto the ground. The armed men are seen stomping on his body. On Monday, the sister of an Israeli soldier told CNNs Christiane Amanpour the soldier called her and their parents to say goodbye before she was kidnapped by militants. The last call my sister made was on the 7th of October, Saturday, 6:30 a.m., Alexandra Ariev said about her sister Karina. She called me, then my parents. She basically called to say goodbye, that she loved us. Karina Ariev is believed to have been captured by Hamas militants. - Family photo Karina Ariev, a 19-year-old corporal, was stationed at the Nahal Oz base at the border with Gaza. On Saturday, family members identified the soldiers bloodied face in a Telegram video, where men can be heard shouting this is nothing, we are just starting. After the family reported the video to Israeli authorities, Alexandra Ariev said they eventually confirmed Karina had been abducted. Alexandra believes her sister is a hostage in Gaza, because the family didnt get any match with the DNA from the corpses found on the base, she told Amanpour. Im devastated inside, and my parents are crying all day long, she said from Jerusalem. Foreign nationals The attack has impacted families around the world, with a growing list of foreign nationals kidnapped. US President Joe Biden said in a statement Monday that it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held hostage by Hamas, and that his administration is working with Israeli officials on every aspect of the hostage crisis. He noted that there are American citizens whose whereabouts remain unaccounted for. Two Mexican nationals, three Brazilians, a Nepali student and a British citizen are also among those missing. Two Mexican nationals, a woman and a man, have presumably been taken hostage by Hamas, Mexicos Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena said on Sunday. The Brazilians and 26-year-old British citizen Jake Marlowe were all at the Nova music festival near the Gaza border which was attacked on Saturday. Marlowe, who was working there as a security guard, has been missing since Saturday morning, his mother told the Israeli Embassy in the UK. A source at the German Foreign Ministry told CNN late Sunday that it has to assume there are German citizens amongst those kidnapped by Hamas. As far as we know, they are all people who have Israeli citizenship in addition to German citizenship, the source said, but would not comment on individual cases. Eleven Thai nationals have been taken hostage, a spokesperson for Thailands Foreign Ministry said on Monday. Israel has long been a major destination for Thai migrants, most of whom work agricultural jobs. There are approximately 30,000 Thai workers in Israel, according to the Foreign Ministry, and over a thousand have requested help to be evacuated. CNNs Gianluca Mezzofiore, Ibrahim Dahman, Niamh Kennedy, Sharif Paget, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Eyad Kourdi, Francesca Giuliani Hoffman, Claudia Rebaza, Elis Barreto, Lucas Mendes, Mia Alberti, Sophie Jeong, Kocha Olarn, Maddie Araujo, Ana Bickford, Hannah Holland and Manveena Suri contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com There are about 80 Russian spies in Switzerland, which is about one-fifth of the total number of Russian agents in Europe. Source: Neue Zurcher Zeitung, citing the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service, as reported by European Pravda Details: European states have been actively countering the Russian intelligence network, expelling employees of Russian embassies since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, Switzerland did not resort to such a step due to the long tradition of neutrality. The estimates of the intelligence service, shared with members of parliament in September, indicate that there are currently about 80 Russian agents in the country. A representative of the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs in an interview with NZZ emphasised that the country's government "does not impose any sanctions in the form of expelling diplomats", adding that communication channels with Russia should be preserved. Quote: "When Switzerland expels diplomats, it does so for internal security reasons, and these cases are not reported publicly," the source added. Such Swiss cities as Geneva and Bern have always attracted the attention of intelligence because of the location of international organisations and companies there, the problem of Russian espionage has become a hot topic of debate among Swiss politicians. "These foreign agents threaten Switzerland's internal and external security," Fabian Molina, a member of the Swiss National Assembly (the lower house of parliament), said in an interview with NZZ. Background: Last year, Swiss intelligence also indicated that Russian espionage was "flourishing" in the country after waves of expulsions of Russian diplomats from European countries. It also claimed that, if necessary, measures to prevent Russian agents from entering Switzerlands territory will be taken. A year later, Swiss intelligence stated that the threat to Switzerland from Russian spies only increased. 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 first cold front of Central Floridas fall season has arrived, bringing much cooler and drier air with it. WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS Many of us woke up to temperatures in the 60s Sunday morning with some areas remaining in the lower 70s, but morning temperatures will continue to fall. Ocala started the morning in the mid-50s, a full 15-degrees cooler than they were Saturday morning. READ: Death toll from strong earthquakes that shook western Afghanistan rises to over 2,000 The cold front will continue to move south through the area, spreading the cool temperatures and low humidity throughout all of Central Florida. Most of the area is forecast to remain in the 70s throughout the day Sunday, though Orlando is one of the few communities expected to still reach highs in the lower-80s. Oct 8 | Do you feel that? It's relative humidity below 60%! The Fall season's first cold front has worked its way south of Melbourne, cooling things off north of the boundary this morning. Highs will be in the upper 70s to low 80s, feeling comfortable thanks to the drier air. pic.twitter.com/eMzz3P0Yd7 NWS Melbourne (@NWSMelbourne) October 8, 2023 Overnight skies will be partly to mostly-cloudy as temperatures continue to fall. The coolest temperatures from the cold front will arrive Sunday night into Monday morning with lows in Orlando forecast to drop as low as 63-degrees and much of the rest of the area starting the week in the 50s. READ: Powerball jackpot up to $1.55 billion as lottery losing streak continues More typical humidity and storms are forecast to return by the middle of next week. As for the Tropics, there are currently no named storms in the Atlantic, but a system off the cost of Africa poses a chance to become what would be Tropical Storm Sean later in the week. Most models indicate it will stay out to sea. Follow our Severe Weather team on Twitter for live updates: Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Five stakes races totaled a collective payout of more than $3 million as part of a greater 11-race card for the second day of Fall Stars Weekend, the opening weekend of the Keenelands Fall Meet. Three of those five stakes races awarded automatic entry to the Breeders Cup, which will take place Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita. Saturdays races took place on a fast dirt track and firm turf in mostly sunny weather. Heres how the stakes races of Fall Stars Saturday played out. Arzak rallies in Woodford In the 27th running of the Grade 2, $350,000 Woodford Presented by FanDuel, Arzak came from behind to take the first stakes race of the day with a final time of 1:01.65. Arzak, trained by Mike Trombetta and ridden by Joel Rosario, surged from as far back as sixth place in the 5-1/2 furlong turf race for horses 3 years old and up. It looked like (they were going very fast up front), Rosario said. (Arzak) also has a little speed. On the backside I was farther back than I wanted to be, but it looked like they were really putting a good pace in front of him so I just stayed there and then kicked him on to finish. It was very easy for him (after he kicked into high gear coming down the stretch). Yuugiri wins in photo finish Yuugiri, trained by Rodolphe Brisset and ridden by Flavien Prat, staved off a strong challenge from millionaire and eventual runner-up Wicked Halo to win in 1:10.43 in a photo finish in the Grade 2, $350,000 Thoroughbred Club of America. In addition to Wicked Halo, Yuugiri defeated five fillies and mares at least 3 years old. Take a closer look at the photo finish between YUUGIRI (inside) and Wicked Halo (outside) in the Thoroughbred Club of America (G2)! pic.twitter.com/VVVPsPfYqE Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) October 7, 2023 She was really game today, Prat said. When Wicked Halo went by us and took the lead, it felt like (Yuugiri) wasnt done yet and was just getting going. So I just kept pedaling and she was very game and brave. With this victory in the 6-furlong race, Yuugiri has qualified for the Grade 1, $1 million PNC Bank Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. She also delivered Brisset his first stakes win at Keeneland, and hes confident in his horses grit as the million-dollar race approaches. Weve been in the game long enough, Brisset said. We know how to act ourselves I mean, theres a little pressure but well take care of her first, make a plan and see what happens. Its a big one for sure and we may be coming. Yuugiri, front, edges Wicked Halo in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday. Gina Romantica best of Brown trio Gina Romantica, trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, beat out two other Brown-trained horses in Whitebeam and In Italian to take the Grade 1, $750,000 First Lady Presented by UK HealthCare, a stakes race ran at 1 mile on turf for fillies and mares at least 3 years old. Gina Romantica finished with a time of 1:33.70. She broke good, Gaffalione said. She traveled so great throughout. I didnt have to take too much of a hold. She was very comfortable where she was. Coming into the stretch, once I found room toward the outside, she really exploded finished her job really well. Locked prevails in Derby prep race Locked, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Jose Ortiz, bested seven other 2-year-olds over 1 1/16 miles in a time of 1:45.06 in the Grade 1, $600,000 Claiborne Breeders Futurity. Pletcher also had a winning horse in Candied, Fridays victor in the 72nd running of the Darley Alcibiades. (Locked is) a colt that we always felt like the further, the better. Pletcher said. He kind of got a little bit of two-turn experience in that sort-of two-turn mile race at Saratoga (his maiden win Sept. 1), which is always a difficult race. But I thought he was super-impressive at Saratoga, and hes just been a colt thats done everything right since Day 1. Locked has automatically qualified for the Grade 1, $2 million FanDuel Breeders Cup Juvenile after this victory, which featured a head-to-head battle with runner-up The Wine Steward. You like to think it moves them forward. He was hung out very wide on both turns. He didnt have a real easy trip, but hes talented enough to overcome it. Up to the Mark triumphs in Coolmore Turf Mile Up to the Mark, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Jose Ortiz, completed the Grade 1, $1 million Coolmore Turf Mile in striking fashion, barely edging out Master of The Seas with a final time of 1:34.18. Up to the Mark also defeated last years Coolmore Turf Mile champion, Annapolis, in the race for horses 3 years old and up. I was next to (Master of The Seas) almost the entire race, Ortiz said. James (Doyle on Master of The Seas) had a good opening at the three-eighths pole and he went to the rail, so I decided to follow him as long as I could, until the eighth pole. When I put (Up to the Mark) outside, he gave me a great run. It was a nice trip. Up to the Marks victory guaranteed entry to the Grade 1, $2 million FanDuel Breeders Cup Mile, and it also secured Pletcher his third Coomore Turf Mile win. His previous victors are Host in 2005 and Annapolis in the 2022 Fall Meet. This is also Pletchers third victory of the 2023 Fall Meet. Up to the Mark joins Candied, winner of the Darley Alcibiades, and Locked, winner of the 110th running of the Claiborne Breeders Futurity. Four-year-old Up to the Mark was purchased at Keeneland. He has now won three consecutive Grade 1 starts. Up to the Mark now has an overall record of 11-6-0-2 and total earnings of $1,831,050 with Saturdays $589,000 prize. Hoist the Gold, Buchu, Candied claim stakes wins on opening day of Keenelands Fall Meet Keeneland Fall Meet: Record purses, new wagering, tickets and dining options Were hiring banners hang above grocery stories in nearly every community in Florida. Help wanted signs are taped to storefronts and posted on hundreds of online job boards. Floridas unemployment rate is nearing a record low, even as the state population grows. Get used to it, said Ron Hetrick, who lives in St. Johns County, south of Jacksonville. Hes a senior labor economist at labor market analytics firm Lightcast. This is Floridas new normal, and the results will translate into competitive wages, longer waits for professional and domestic services, and higher costs of living for everyone. Florida is unlike many other states because of its fast growth, aging population and dependence on migrants for both skilled and unskilled labor, Hetrick said. But a beefed-up state law that attempts to crack down on undocumented labor is exacerbating the deep hole in the work force that may take years to close. What makes Florida unique is that people are moving from all over the country, but the unemployment rate is not going up its going down or holding a low level, Hetrick said. READ MORE: Want a job that pays up to $28 an hour? Amazon is hiring in Florida. Heres how to apply According to the Florida Chamber of Commerce, which is updating its 2021 Workforce Needs Study, 73% of job creators surveyed in Florida reported challenges in recruiting qualified candidates, and more than 58% reported they anticipate a need for training and up-skilling current employees. Hardest hit are industries such as construction, restaurants, hotels, roofing, landscaping and agriculture, which traditionally have relied on both legal and illegal migrant workers. They have hit a new hurdle with Gov. Ron DeSantis recent crackdown on undocumented workers in Florida. At DeSantis urging, legislators passed a package of immigration related measures this year that attempt to keep undocumented immigrants from coming into the state and make it more difficult for those living here to stay. Ron Hetrick is senior labor economist at Lightcast, a labor market analytics firm. Dependence on migrant labor Greg Batista, founder and owner of G. Batista Engineering & Construction, has seen the effect of the new laws first hand. He specializes in condo development in Miami-Dade and Broward counties and employs about 50 people. The immediate impact is that weve got four or five ongoing construction jobs at this moment and fewer people to do the jobs, he said. The job that you told the owner was going to take five months is now going to take 10 months. He attributed much of the problem to the exodus of construction workers from Florida. Theyre just picking up and leaving to a state where theyre more friendly towards migrants, where they dont have to be looking over their shoulder every 10 seconds and saying, Look, Im going have to go to be deported, going to go to jail, or Im going to be fined, he said. Greg Batista is founder and owner of G. Batista Engineering & Construction in Davie. According to a 2021 analysis of U.S. Census data by the policy research and polling firm KFF, undocumented workers in Florida made up 11% of the states workforce, including 37% of all agriculture workers, 23% of construction workers, 14% of service workers, and 14% of transportation workers. In Miami-Dade County, the number of all immigrants, legal and undocumented, are even higher: 65% of the countys employed labor force are immigrants, according to the countys Office of cq New Americans. According to a survey of 25 Florida construction companies in 2023 by The Associated General Contractor of America and Autodesk, nearly all the surveyed companies were having difficulty filling some or all craft and salaried positions. Eighty percent of companies reported having to increase base pay rates, 65% reported delays due to shortage of workers, and 68% said they expected to add new employees over the next 12 months. Jeff Lozama, CEO of Miami-based glazing contractor CMS Group, said his staff is made up of immigrants and, without them, the construction industry in Florida could not continue at its current pace. They often take on jobs that are physically demanding and require skills in jobs that most Americans are not willing to take on, he told an audience during the Miami Opportunity Summit in August. Lozama recounted his companys experiences at a recent job fair in Liberty Square, a predominantly Black community with a small immigrant population. We had a poor showing. It was really horrible. No one showed up, he said. They also participated in a similar job fair in North Miami, home to a large Haitian population. There were busloads of immigrants that showed up, Lozama said. ... It just tells you how important that immigrant population is. Many professions in Florida are heavily dependent on legal immigrants, such as nurses coming to Florida from the Philippines. The states agricultural industry depends on H2-A workers, a federal visa program that farmers use to bring temporary workers that harvest crops. People arent fully aware of just how dependent our labor force growth is on immigration, Hetrick said. A lot of our homes, a lot of our foods that were eating are because of immigration right now. Enforcement crackdown Floridas strengthened immigration laws increase the penalties for anyone who transports an undocumented migrant into the state, require hospitals that accept Medicaid to ask patients about their immigration status and require employers with 25 or more workers to check whether new hires are allowed to work in the country by using the federal E-verify program. There is little evidence that the laws have produced many arrests, but they have had a chilling effect on available workers. Farmers are scrambling to find workers for the fall and winter harvest season. Restaurants, hotels and construction industries are also straining. Rep. Rick Roth, a Belle Glade vegetable farmer and one of the Republican legislators who supported the laws strengthening immigration enforcement, said many Florida farmers are relying on a loophole in the law that allows seasonal workers who were employed last season to come back without having their immigration status checked. The good news is, were hearing pretty much from the industry that if you had a seasonal workforce back in April and May and you told them to come back in November, thats not going to be a problem, he said. Theyll come back and well get to treat them as returning workforce. Theyre not new employees who would have to go through E-verify. Roth acknowledged, however, that the law has added to a labor shortage years in the making. Absolutely, its having an impact, he said. The difficulty is measuring the problem. Floridas unemployment rate is 2.6%, well below the national rate of 3.8% Floridas retiree dilemma As Florida has grown, so has its labor force just not fast enough to meet the demand. In 2008, before the Great Recession, the states unemployment rate was 2.4% and the labor force was about 9 million people. In 2023, the unemployment rate is 2.6% and there are 11 million people in the workforce. By comparison, the national unemployment rate is 3.8% According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, there were 552,000 job openings in Florida in July, the last month with data. The dilemma now facing Florida, Hetrick said, is whether to continue to encourage population growth when that growth is not producing workers to match the demand, or tamp down expansion to allow the labor force to catch up and costs to stabilize. Remote workers are coming to the Sunshine State bringing jobs with them, new residents quickly find something once they arrive, or retirees are coming with demands for services but arent working while theyre here, he explained. The reality is, to get somebody to fill your job, youre gonna have to unseat them from an existing job, he said. Retirees entering Florida used to be a good thing, but its not anymore, he said. Because you cannot have people who put demand on an economy but who dont contribute to the supply of an economy. Former Gov. Rick Scott used his Lets Get to Work mantra to activate Baby Boomers and get elected in Florida. But, now job creation absent a steady stream of new workers is the worst thing you could possibly do, Hetrick said, because your existing employers are dying and they need workers. Legal immigration slowdown Part of the pressure of the influx of migrants on the U.S.-Mexico border is happening because consulates shut down and stopped processing visas during the pandemic, Hetrick said. He tells governors and other elected officials with whom he consults across the country, that instead of focusing so much attention on talking about what we should not be doing, lets focus on what we should be doing: Creating faster visa processing, getting companies involved in sponsorships and expanding the federal temporary worker programs of H2-A and H2-B. You would see a lot more people pursuing the legal route if they knew something would happen in two or three months, rather than two or three years, he said. Getting creative Batista, the Davie construction and engineering company owner, said the market has forced him to get creative. In August, he went on a recruiting mission to a large engineering conference in Puerto Rico, an American territory, where he hoped to recruit U.S. citizens and avoid immigration paperwork. He was prepared to pay to relocate structural engineers to have them move to Florida to help fill the need for people to certify inspections to meet Floridas new condominium safety laws, he said. But, he discovered, Puerto Rico continues to rebuild after Hurricane Maria, everyone is looking for structural engineers and none of the prospective candidates wanted to move to South Florida. I thought the trip to Puerto Rico was going to be more fruitful and it hasnt been, Batista said. I dont know what else to do. If people arent there, they arent there. Mary Ellen Klas can be reached at meklas@miamiherald.com and @MaryEllenKlas Foreign Relations Committee Chair Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) on Saturday proposed legislation that intends to support Israel with the tools it needs to defend itself. As President Biden said earlier today, the United States stands shoulder to shoulder with Israel in support of its right to defend itself against terrorism and do what is necessary in the coming days and weeks to protect its people, Cardin said in his statement. The United States government and Congress must assist Israel, Cardin said. I intend to move forward legislation at the first opportunity that will focus on providing Israel what it needs to defend itself. That includes replenishment of missile defense for Iron Dome that ensures such interceptors are always available, Cardins statement said. The Iron Dome is Israels air missile defense system that can defend against short-range rockets, intercepting them in the air above. It must be reloaded each time and can be costly, especially given the amount of missiles being launched by Palestines militant group, Hamas. Cardin wants to include supplemental funding for Israels defense as it navigates the immediate aftermath of this terrorist attack in his planned legislation, he said. Its critical that the U.S. reinforce its relationship with Israel by confirming an ambassador to the country, he added. I hope my colleagues will join me in promptly confirming Secretary Jacob J. Lew as the new U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Cardins statement said. Netanyahu declared war against Hamas on Saturday after they launched a barrage of rocket strikes and entered the country in a surprise attack. Soldiers and civilians have been captured, the Associated Press confirmed. Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, pledging all appropriate means of U.S. support for the government and people of Israel. At least 250 Israelis and 232 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting so far, according to Israeli media reports and the Palestinian government. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Retired Adm. James Stavridis, former NATO supreme allied commander for Europe, said the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy is a great day for Russian President Vladimir Putin , adding that he hasnt seen this level of disarray between Washington, D.C., and the rest of the world in his lifetime. I feel as though were kind of disconnected here at home. We have extreme parties on both sides that dont want to cooperate, dont want to come to any sort of agreement, Stavridis said. Stavridis joined John Catsimatidis on his show The Cats Roundtable on WABC 770 AM to weigh in on the debacle in the House after they ousted McCarthy in a historic vote last week. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) was made temporary speaker following the vote, but the House GOP is still split about who they would like to see as a permanent replacement. The debacle in the House of Representatives, throwing out a speaker for the first time in American history, its just a terrible thing, Stavridis said. He expressed concern over what message the ousting is sending to Putin ahead of an election year. A great day for Vladimir Putin when he watches the U.S. Congress rip itself apart and find itself unusable to have a speaker in place. What does Putin decide to do? He will double-down on trying to undermine U.S. elections, Stavridis said. He added that he thinks Putin will worsen and enhance the divisions between Democrats and Republicans both in the public and in Congress. There are several urgent calls for members to reconvene in Washington, D.C., as the conflict between Israel and Palestine escalates. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. 26 Feb 1998: Jim Poole #19 of the San Francisco Giants poses for a portrait during Spring Training at the Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Arizona. Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule Jr. /Allsport ATLANTA - Former pitcher with the San Francisco Giants Jim Poole has died, according to the team. Poole was 57. ESPN reported he died Friday in the Atlanta area from complications from ALS, a brain condition also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. He was diagnosed with the disease two years ago. The pitcher played with the Giants for at least three seasons, including in 1997 in that year's division-winning campaign. In addition to his work with the Giants, he spent time with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1990 after making it to the majors, according to ESPN. The #SFGiants are saddened to learn of the passing of former Giants pitcher Jim Poole. Poole spent parts of three seasons in the orange and black, including the 97 division-winning campaign. We extend our deepest condolences to the Poole family. pic.twitter.com/5YGkMkuv91 SFGiants (@SFGiants) October 7, 2023 He retired in 2000 and worked "tirelessly to raise awareness for [ALS]," according to an announcement made by his alma mater Georgia Tech. He is survived by his wife, three kids, and two grandkids. SEATTLE A former U.S. Army soldier has been charged with attempting to provide classified defense information to the Chinese security services during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic including some listed in a Microsoft Word document titled Important Information to Share with Chinese Government. Authorities on Friday arrested former Sgt. Joseph Daniel Schmidt, 29, at San Francisco International Airport as he arrived from Hong Kong, where he had been living since March 2020, the Justice Department said. A federal grand jury in Seattle returned an indictment Wednesday charging him with retention and attempted delivery of national defense information. A public defender assigned to represented Schmidt at a brief appearance at U.S. District Court in San Francisco on Friday pending his transfer to Washington state did not immediately return an email seeking comment. U.S. District Court records in Seattle did not list an attorney representing Schmidt on the charges, and neither the U.S. attorneys office nor the federal public defenders office had information about whether he had a lawyer, representatives said. An FBI declaration filed in the case quoted Schmidt as telling his sister in an email that he left the U.S. because he disagreed with unspecified aspects of American policy. I dont talk about it often, but I learned some really terrible things about the American government while I was working in the Army, and I no longer feel safe living in America or like I want to support the American government, he was quoted as writing. Schmidt spent five years in active duty in the Army, where he was primarily assigned to the 109th Military Intelligence Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, according to a declaration filed in U.S. District Court by FBI Special Agent Brandon Tower. He eventually became a team leader on a human intelligence squad, and he had access to secret and top secret defense information, Tower wrote. Schmidt left active duty in January 2020 and traveled the next month to Istanbul, where he sent an email to the Chinese consulate trying to set up a meeting, Tower wrote. I am a United States citizen looking to move to China, the email said, according to the declaration. I also am trying to share information I learned during my career as an interrogator with the Chinese government. I have a current top secret clearance, and would like to talk to someone from the Government to share this information with you if that is possible. ... I would like to go over the details with you in person if possible, as I am concerned with discussing this over email. It was the first of several attempts to share information with the Peoples Republic of China, Tower wrote. Two days later, he drafted a Word document titled Important Information to Share with Chinese Government that included classified information related to national defense; investigators recovered it from his Apple iCloud account, the declaration said. After returning to the U.S. from Turkey in March 2020, he left a few days later for Hong Kong, where he had been living ever since, the declaration said. Over the next few months, Tower wrote, Schmidt emailed two state-owned enterprises in China, including a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Limited that has produced intelligence-gathering software tools. He offered to provide an encryption key he had retained for accessing the Armys classified information network and related databases, known as the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network, or SIPR, Tower wrote, and he suggested it could be reverse-engineered to help China access the network. It is a very rare card to find outside of the intelligence community, and if used properly, it can improve Chinas ability to access the SIPR network, the declaration quoted him as writing. The declaration did not describe any response from the state-owned enterprises or Chinas security services. Meanwhile, Schmidt was trying to obtain legal immigration status in Hong Kong after overstaying a visitor visa, an effort that may have been hindered by the pandemic, Tower wrote. Members of our military take a sworn oath to defend our country and the Constitution, Seattle U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman said in a news release Friday. The alleged actions of this former military member are shocking not only attempting to provide national defense information, but also information that would assist a foreign adversary to gain access to Department of Defense secure computer networks. The charges carry up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. After flash flooding devastated Fort Lauderdale in the spring, city officials decided to accelerate work on critical infrastructure aimed at mitigating the risk of such a disaster in the future. The Florida citys infrastructure currently handles 3 inches of rainfall within 24 hours. On April 12, however, 26 inches of rain fell in one day and caused flash flooding across the city. "It was like a nightmare," one Fort Lauderdale resident told FOX Weather multimedia journalist Brandy Campbell. "I can see the water going up and up above my knees, and I was like, Okay, what should I do?" Flooding lingers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Thursday, April 13, 2023. DRONE VIDEO CAPTURES DRAMATIC BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF HISTORIC FORT LAUDERDALE FLOODING Many other residents had their neighborhoods flooded, drivers became stranded, and the citys major airport shut down for nearly two days. With a plan titled "Fortify Lauderdale," officials hope to tackle the flooding problem on multiple fronts. Some issues include stormwater needs, sewage, freshwater investment and traffic. "Everything that has to do with the infrastructure of the city, because for so many years we have neglected our infrastructure," said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean J. Trantalis. In addition to making the city more resilient against flooding, Trantalis said the Fortify Lauderdale plan will also make the city more resilient to the impacts of climate change. The plan will cost up to $500 million in stormwater infrastructure in over 17 neighborhoods over the next decade. HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER Another investment of $200 million is currently underway. It is addressing tidal flooding and stormwater runoff in eight neighborhoods across Fort Lauderdale. Original article source: Fort Lauderdale unveils $500M plan aimed at protecting Florida city from flash flooding Russia Famous American political scientist and philosopher Francis Fukuyama explained to NV why the collapse of the Russian Federation is not to be feared and how its weakening can benefit Russians. Read also: Republican resistance to aid for Ukraine targets Biden, claims national security expert The prospect of uncontrolled proliferation of Russian nuclear and conventional weapons in the event of the collapse of the Russian Federation frightens many in the West. But such fear is misplaced, says Francis Fukuyama, a political scientist and director of the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law at Stanford University. "I can imagine scenarios in which Russia disintegrates," he says. "I don't think it's going to happen in the short term. You have to be prepared for it, but you don't have to be afraid of it." The world should be prepared for different configurations of the Russian state in the future. At the same time, he believes that the only way to "push events in one direction or another" is to support Ukraine. Read also: Veteran explains war in Israel impact on Ukraines international support The Ukrainians have already managed to exhaust Russia. And its further weakening could lead to greater freedom for people living under Russian rule, Fukuyama stresses. 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 Fulton County Board of Commissioners is fighting youth homelessness. It approved spending $1 million to fund new programs this week. The funds will go to 16 organizations that serve young people in Fulton County in a variety of ways. The partners receiving the YHP 2023 funding have demonstrated their dedication and commitment to combating what we all know to be a serious issue among our youth, said Chief Operating Officer Health, Human Services and Public Works Dr. Pamela Roshell. It is vital that Fulton County and its partners work together to provide solutions on how best to serve the unique and special needs of youth experiencing homelessness. I am confident that the funding provided will assist with supporting programs and services that meet the needs of those impacted. The 16 non-profits to receive the Fulton County Youth Homelessness Program (YHP) 2023 Funding Awards are as follows: Aniz, Inc. - HAYA Project (Healing Atlantas Young Adults) City of Refuge, Incorporated - City of Refuge Comprehensive Youth Homelessness Program Covenant House Georgia, Inc. - Supportive Solutions for Youth Experiencing Homelessness Facts to Thrive Inc - Doing Our Responsibility to House Adolescence (DORTHA) Favor House, Inc. - Favor For Youth Feeding GA Families Incorporated - End Youth Homelessness Generation Infocus Foundation - GIF - Holistic Transitional Housing Program for Youth Georgia Center for Youth Excellence - Safe House II Project Georgia Parent Support Network, Inc. - GPSNs Street Outreach Program for Homeless Youth Positive Transition Services, Inc. - Stepping Stones Initiative Poverty 2 Prosperity PS Inc - AND STILL, I RISE YHP SafeHouse Outreach - 2023 Safehouse Outreach Youth Homelessness Services SKIP Georgia Chapter, Inc (Save Kids of Incarcerated Parents) - SKIP GA Bridges to Stability: Empowering & Educating Homeless Youth for Change Stand Up for Kids Atlanta - StandUp for Kids Atlanta - Homeless Youth Programs U Hope CDC, Inc. - U Hope Youth Emergency Program Youth Empowerment Success Services - Youth Empowerment Success Services Inc. (YESS) Youth Homeless Rental Assistance Program [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) declined to reveal support for either of the two contenders for Speaker on Sundays episode of NBCs Meet the Press. Gaetz, who led the effort to boot former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) last week, did not reveal whether he would support Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) or House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) for the upcoming Speakership election expected this week. I want to hear both of their specific plans on spending and on single-subject appropriations bills, he told host Kristen Welker, who then asked the Florida Republican whether he would support whichever man got the most support from the GOP conference. Yes, if either of those men get the most support in the conference, Im eager to vote for them on the floor, he responded. Eight Republicans joined with all the Democrats last week to take away McCarthys gavel. McCarthy has said that he will not seek the Speakership again but would run for reelection for his congressional seat. Gaetz spoke highly of both contenders Sunday, saying that the House has two great men running for Speaker. He suggested that the position will be upgraded with the new Speaker. And by the way, if we have a Speaker Jim Jordan or a Speaker Steve Scalise at the end of the coming week, there wont be a single Republican, sans maybe Kevin McCarthy, who doesnt believe that we have upgraded the position, Gaetz said. This is about ensuring long-term stability financially for our country from a leadership standpoint. And with either Steve Scalise or Jim Jordan, we will undeniably have an upgrade, and Im looking forward to it, he added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. People inspect the ruins of a building destroyed in Israeli strikes in Gaza City on October 8, 2023 (Mahmud HAMS) The Gaza Strip is an impoverished Palestinian enclave that has been under Israeli blockade since 2007. It is ruled by Hamas (the Arabic acronym for Islamic Resistance Movement), now at war with Israel for the fifth time in 15 years. Here is what you need to know about Gaza: - 5,000 years of history - In 1998, archaeologists discovered the remains of a large fortified Canaanite town, Tell es-Sakan, near Gaza City that was occupied continuously from 3200 to 2000 BC. They hailed the site as being of major interest, marking the shift from agricultural to urban society. Pottery was found that could be linked to Narmer, Egypt's first king, indicating Gaza's close ties with its giant neighbour to the east 1,000 years before the pyramids were built. - Cramped Mediterranean strip - One of the most densely populated places on the planet, Gaza is home to over two million people living on a 362-square-kilometre (140 square miles) strip of land. It is bordered by Israel in the east and north, Egypt in the south, with the Mediterranean Sea to the west. After the 1948-1949 Arab-Israeli war that surrounded the creation of Israel, Gaza was placed under Egyptian administration. Israel occupied Gaza during the 1967 Six-Day War and it was only fully returned to Palestinians in 2005, when Israel withdrew its last soldiers and thousands of settlers. - Shut-in - In 2006, Israel imposed an air, land and sea blockade on Gaza following the capture by Hamas of an Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, who was held prisoner for five years. In 2007, Israel tightened the blockade after Hamas -- which Israel, the United States and others classify as a terrorist group -- took control of Gaza from the secular Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas. The only entrance to Gaza not controlled by Israel is Rafah on the Egyptian border. - Crushing poverty - The Gaza Strip has virtually no industry and suffers from a chronic lack of water, fuel and electricity. Around half of the population is unemployed, according to the World Bank, and more than two-thirds are reliant on development aid. - Fifth war since 2008 - This is the fifth war between Palestinian militants in Gaza and Israel following Israel's withdrawal from the territory in 2005. The four previous wars in 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2021 were marked by devastating Israeli air strikes on the enclave and barrages of rockets raining down on Israel from the other direction. The deadliest by far was the seven-week conflict in July-August 2014, which killed 2,251 Palestinians and 74 Israelis, including 68 soldiers. Israel had flattened parts of Gaza with the stated goal of stopping Palestinian rocket fire and destroying infiltration tunnels. cb/srk/hkb Ukrainian forces repelled Russian attacks in the Kupiansk, Bakhmut, Lyman, Avdiivka, and Marinka directions over the course of Oct. 8, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported. According to the report, 33 skirmishes with Russian forces were recorded during the day. Russia also reportedly launched six air strikes and 20 strikes from multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS), causing casualties both among military personnel and the civilian population. In the Lyman direction, Russian forces carried out four unsuccessful attacks in the area of the Makiivka village. The military reported on Oct. 5 that Russia is intensifying its attacks in the Lyman-Kupiansk direction of the front line in Kharkiv and Luhansk oblasts, with a particular focus on Makiivka. On Oct. 7, Ukrainian forces recorded 774 Russian strikes on the Kupiansk-Lyman direction, Eastern Force Grouping spokesperson Illia Yevlash said. The spokesperson also noted that Russia is deploying its reserves north of Bakhmut in an attempt to deter Ukraine's advancing counteroffensive in Donetsk Oblast. Read also: Overcoming setbacks, NATO-trained brigade breaches Surovikin line in Zaporizhzhia Oblast Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. ATLANTA - From members of the Jewish community in Georgia to high-ranking members of the Israeli consulate, FOX 5 spoke to many who said there are simply no words that can describe the horror of Hamas' attack on Israel. They said they are now gearing up to help the country for war. "To use the word horrified or horrific, it minimizes what we feel," said Alan Wolk, the Board Vice President of the Jewish National Fund. "This is 9/11 and Pearl Harbor all over again in Israel." Tensions between Israel and Palestine reached a breaking point Saturday with a brutal terrorist attack that left hundreds of Israeli civilians dead and thousands more injured. "We have confirmed at this point over 250 civilians whove been murdered, we have many more injured," said Israel Consul General Anat Sulthan-Dadon. "We have Israelis who have been taken captive and abducted." The Israeli military said the Hamas terrorist organization launched about 2,200 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel as armed groups infiltrated the country by land, sea and air in paragliders. "It has been a very, very difficult day," said Sulthan-Dadon. "One of the most difficult in Israels history and it is still not over." The attack comes just months after the country celebrated 75 years of independence. "Palestinian leadership, Palestinian terror groups, there is still a refusal to recognize our right to exist," said Sulthan-Dadon. With Israels prime minister now declaring war, U.S. based organizations like the Jewish National Fund are trying to find ways to support Israel. Wolk said the group is also funding resiliency centers where Israeli civilians can receive treatment for PTSD. "What JNF is doing is organizing to support with temporary housing, to help evacuating communities, providing activities for school children since schools are going to be shut throughout the entire region, and maybe throughout Israel," said Wolk. The group is collecting donations to help fund those centers to work overtime. Governor Kemp, Senators Ossoff and Warnock and Georgia's representatives have issued statements in response to the attack, condemning acts of terrorism. The Israeli consul general said he is grateful to know that they have the support of U.S. leaders in the midst of this escalating conflict. GAZA STRIP, GAZA - OCTOBER 08: Smoke and flames rise after Israeli forces airstrikes as clashes continue between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups at various locations of Gaza on October 08, 2023 in Gaza Strip, Gaza. (Photo by Ali Jadallah/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Georgia leaders took to social media Saturday to express their concern and loyalty to Israel following a surprise attack by the militant group Hamas. Hamas fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip during a major Jewish holiday Saturday morning, according to the Associated Press. Almost 250 Israelis have died, at least 1,700 were reported wounded as of 5:46 p.m. EDT. In a televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the country was at war with Hamas, and vowed to "take revenge for this black day." Georgia politicians, like Gov. Brian Kemp , quickly recognized Israel as an ally. "The federal government must be swift and unequivocal: America stands with Israel and her people," he said on the social platform X, formerly known as Twitter. This is an egregious act of war upon one of our nations greatest allies. The federal government must be swift and unequivocal: America stands with Israel and her people! https://t.co/4cmOlcga3m Brian Kemp (@BrianKempGA) October 7, 2023 Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock released separate statements condemning the militant group: "I condemn in the strongest terms Hamas indiscriminate and murderous assault on our Israeli allies. This evening I spoke with Israeli Consul General Anat Sultan-Dadon to convey Georgians support for Israel and the Israeli people, and our outrage and grief at the murder of Israeli civilians. "I expect to be briefed by senior U.S. national security officials within the hour on the latest developments and efforts to support our allies and protect Americans in the region." Im deeply saddened and alarmed by this mornings news out of Israel. We must condemn terrorism in all its forms. Praying for the victims of this disturbing violence and that peace may prevail. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (@SenatorWarnock) October 7, 2023 State representatives also weighed in on the conflict. Many of them followed suit, declaring solidarity: I condemn these unprovoked and heinous attacks launched by Hamas terrorists against our strongest ally in the Middle East. America will always stand with Israel. https://t.co/2aDCZMRmaA Congressman Drew Ferguson (@RepDrewFerguson) October 7, 2023 The United States must stand with Israel! https://t.co/f7B6EC7JAs Buddy Carter (@RepBuddyCarter) October 7, 2023 Our greatest ally in the Middle East, Israel, is under attack by Iran-backed Hamas terrorists. I strongly condemn these horrific, senseless, and unprovoked acts of terror against innocent Israelis. America stands with Israel. Rep. Andrew Clyde (@Rep_Clyde) October 7, 2023 I fully support Israel taking whatever steps necessary to defend their sovereignty and people. Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) October 7, 2023 The unprovoked attack on Israel by Iran-backed Hamas must be strongly condemned by the United States and other nations. I fully support Israels right to defend itself against those that seek her destruction. Those carrying out these attacks, as well as those that provide aid and Rep. Barry Loudermilk (@RepLoudermilk) October 7, 2023 I condemn Hamas abhorrent terrorist attacks on Israel the United States' strongest ally in the Middle East. Israel has every right to defend itself from this act of pure evil and I will continue to stand in solidarity with and pray for the Israeli people. Rick W. Allen (@RepRickAllen) October 7, 2023 Rep. Hank Johnson and Rep. Tyler Harper offered their thoughts and prayers: "My prayers are towards a quick end to the violence unleashed by Hamas against the State of Israel, and my thoughts and prayers are with the innocent people of Israel and Gaza, and for their families and friends here and elsewhere who are concerned and fearful for their safety. Violence and war do not bring peace. Only dialogue can do so. For too long, the world has ignored the issue of a Palestinian homeland. Until this issue is resolved and justice allowed to reign, peace will continue to elude the world." Praying for the people of Israel amid these horrific Hamas terrorist attacks. We must send a clear unequivocal message in our response that we stand firmly with our nations number one ally Tyler Harper (@TylerHarperGA) October 7, 2023 Other representatives said they were mourning the lives lost: Im devastated by the unfolding violence in #Israel and extend my deepest condolences to the families of those killed in this heinous attack on Israeli civilians. I remain committed to Israels fundamental right to defend itself. Congresswoman Nikema Williams (@RepNikema) October 7, 2023 I strongly condemn the unprovoked terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel, who has every right to defend herself from the violence being perpetrated against her. We mourn the lives violently cut short today. As we stand with Israel and its citizens, may we pray for peace. Rep. Lucy McBath (@RepLucyMcBath) October 7, 2023 I condemn the violent terrorist attacks committed by Hamas against Israel. We mourn the lives lost and continue to pray for the hostages and the citizens of Israel. Israel has the right to defend itself and the United States stands shoulder to shoulder with them. Rep. David Scott (@repdavidscott) October 7, 2023 Much of our country awoke this morning to the news of the horrific terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel. I mourn with the people of Israel confronting this tragic loss of life. https://t.co/9vsbCHhHYJ Sanford Bishop, Jr. (@SanfordBishop) October 7, 2023 Rep. Rich McCormick, Rep. Austin Scott and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene made impassioned posts. Greene vowed "America will not allow" Israel to be wiped out in the conflict: We stand with our great friend and ally Israel as they declare war against Islamic terrorists. Over 1,000 Iran backed Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, slaughtering Israeli citizens, right at the end of Sukkot, the feast of tabernacles. Make no mistake this is Islams holy war Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) October 7, 2023 This barbaric attack on Israeli citizens is unconscionable. I stand with the people of Israel. They have a right to defend themselves against these brutal attacks from Hamas terrorists. Rep. Austin Scott (@AustinScottGA08) October 7, 2023 We wake this morning to the tragic news of Hamas extremists slaughtering innocent civilians, including children, in coordinated attacks. I condemn this evil and stand in support of our valued ally, Israel. They have every right to protect themselves and we must stand with them. https://t.co/XIqUT6Ksh7 Congressman Rich McCormick, MBA MD (@RepMcCormick) October 7, 2023 President Joe Biden delivered remarks on the unprecedented attack, confirming he told the prime minister the U.S. would be offering support to Israel: Let there be no mistake: the United States stands with the State of Israel. pic.twitter.com/lRbPLflhzc Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 7, 2023 This story was reported from Atlanta. The Associated Press contributed to this report. BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany debated on Sunday whether it should stop aid to Palestinians following the biggest attack on Israel in years by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, with the government saying it was reviewing the way it spent development funds in the region. Development Minister Svenja Schulze of the ruling centre-left Social Democrats said the government had always been careful to check that the money was only used for peaceful ends. "But these attacks on Israel mark a terrible fracture," she said. "We will now review our entire engagement for the Palestinian territories." Germany would discuss with Israel how development projects in the region could best be served, and coordinate with international partners, said the minister. Some German lawmakers, from the opposition conservatives in particular, called for an end to the aid. "All of Europe, all 27 states, must now say: we need a new start and we will no longer finance terrorists," said Armin Laschet, chancellor candidate for the conservatives at the last federal election, calling for an end to EU cooperation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is based in the West Bank. But pushback came from the opposition Left party and the Greens, junior partner in the federal coalition. Hamas, and not all Palestinians, were responsible for the attack, said Gregor Gysi, a prominent member of the Left party. The commissioner for humanitarian assistance Luise Amtsberg in the Greens-run foreign ministry said that the government did not finance the Palestinian Authority but rather people who were suffering. "In 2023 the foreign ministry distributed 72 million euros of humanitarian aid in the Palestinian territories through international organisations and the United Nations," she said. "These funds above all gave suffering people in the Palestinian territories access to food provisions and health care." (Reporting by Markus Wacket; Writing by Sarah Marsh; Editing by Ros Russell and Bernadette Baum) The German states of Bavaria and Hesse vote in regional elections on Sunday, in what is widely being seen as a test-case for Germanys shifting political landscape. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is set to make gains in both states, although most other major parties have ruled out collaboration with it. While Sundays elections are not expected to yield drastic outcomes, they will indicate the extent of the AfDs grip on the regions. They could also send a clear message to the federal government as dissatisfaction mounts over key issues including inflation, immigration and climate policy. One major question is whether a lack of support for Scholzs ruling traffic light coalition an allusion to the colors of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Greens it is comprised of in Bavaria and Hesse will boost support for conservative opposition, or whether the far-right will instead mop up votes from a disenfranchised electorate. In Hesse home to Frankfurt, Germanys financial hub dissatisfaction with Germanys federal government threatens to deliver a blow to Scholzs coalition. The regional election will not directly affect federal politics, although a lack of support for Scholzs SPD-led government in Hesse could be a worrying signal ahead of the countrys next federal election. German flags are carried at an AfD election campaign event. - Martin Schutt/dpa/picture alliance/Getty Images Bavaria, Germanys largest state and a conservative Catholic region known for its Oktoberfest beer halls, bratwurst and lederhosen, has been facing the same issues seen throughout the country: migration, rising energy costs, and an ailing economy. Meanwhile, Bavarias economy minister has recently been embroiled in an antisemitism scandal that sent shockwaves through Germany and prompted calls for his resignation. Since 1949, Bavaria has been dominated by one party the conservative Christian Social Union (CSU), sister party to the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The Minister-President of Bavaria, Markus Soder, is hoping to hold onto his current governing coalition of the CSU and the right-wing Free Voters (FW) in Sundays crunch election. The current landscape has the potential to change, however, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) projected to reach a new record share of the vote. It comes at a time when the CDU has found itself at a crossroads after being in power for much of Germanys post-war era. Known as the countrys traditional conservatives, the party under former Chancellor Angela Merkel adopted a welcoming stance towards refugees and came to see immigration as an integral part of Germanys future. However, the partys more liberal policies have drawn criticism from some who accuse the party of no longer representing Germanys middle ground, with some voters giving that as their reason for pivoting away from the party towards the AfD. The AfD ran in Bavaria for the first time in the last state elections in 2018, when it came in fourth with 10% of the vote. The result was widely viewed as a humiliation for the CSU, which lost its absolute majority, and allowed the AfD to muscle into Bavarias state government. A woman rides a bicycle past election posters in Frankfurt. - Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images Prior to 2018, the CSU had only fallen short of an absolute majority in Bavarias state assembly once since 1954, when it missed the mark by just two seats in 2008. In previous years,the partys vote share has typically been close to 50% in Bavaria. Now, the AfD is on track to eclipse its success in 2018, with recent polls putting the party at around 15% of the vote. The AfD has already made advances in Germanys former eastern communist states, with a poll conducted by INSA (Institute for New Social Answers) in September finding that it had eclipsed the CDU in the eastern state of Saxony for the first time. Backlash against the far-right party has been palpable in the days leading up to the election, however, with tens of thousands taking to the streets of Bavarian capital Munich on Wednesday to protest against it. Charlotte Knoblauch, a Holocaust survivor and former president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, told the crowds of demonstrators; It must be clear to everyone: What starts to slide today can bury our democracy under itself tomorrow. Talking to CNN ahead of Sundays vote, Katrin-Ebner Steiner, AfDs co-leader in Bavaria, spoke with disdain about Germanys other parties and called for the country to be turned upside down in key policy areas. Steiners anti-migrant stance was clear as she accused her rivals of putting the country in an extremely difficult position by allowing uncontrolled mass migration, which she described as an invasion. She continued: The borders are open and unprotected, the number of illegal border crossings is at a record high In Bavaria, we want not only an upper limit, but also regulated and legally compliant repatriation. Steiner lashed out at the right-wing FW, slamming it for supporting all the wrong decisions of the CSU in the last five years. She accused the rival party and its leader, Hubert Aiwanger, of copying the AfDs programs and election speeches. The FW has also made gains in the polls in the lead-up to Sundays election despite being embroiled in an antisemitism scandal with recent data putting the party at around 16% of the vote, second only to the CSU at 36.5%. Antisemitism row Bavarias FW, a relatively new party established in 1998, has been in coalition with the CSU since the last state election in 2018, with the two sharing socially conservative and economically liberal values. The party, which started out as a grassroots movement, has grown in popularity to become a major player on Bavarias political scene. However, it remains little-known outside of the southern state. The party found itself at the center of an antisemitism row in the lead-up to Sundays election. Leader Hubert Aiwanger, who also serves as Bavarias economy minister, was accused of far-right sympathies following a report first published in Germanys Suddeutesche Zeitung newspaper that alleged he had distributed leaflets mocking victims of the Holocaust in his school days. Aiwanger insists it has failed to diminish support for his party. Speaking to CNN, Aiwanger said: The Suddeutsche Zeitung wanted to damage me in my election campaign but probably achieved the opposite. Many people say it is indecent what they have tried to do here, bringing up stories from childhood and youth to damage a sitting minister and therefore many say they now vote for me all the more. Hubert Aiwanger, leader of the Free Voters, stands in a beer tent at the Mainburg "Gallimarkt." - Sven Hoppe/dpa/picture alliance/Getty Images Aiwanger claimed that if it wasnt for his party, there would already be a strong AfD in Bavarias state government, as FW is able to catch voters who feel disenchanted with the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the CSU or the FDP. We are not a protest party; we prevent citizens from becoming protest voters because we recognize and solve their problems on the ground, he claimed. Bavarian Premier Soder chose not to dismiss Aiwanger following the allegations, amid calls from across Germanys political spectrum for the economy ministers resignation. Explaining Soders decision, Thomas Kreuzer, chairman of the CSU group in the Bavarian parliament, told CNN: During the time Aiwanger has worked with us politically, we have never been able to establish that he has pursued extremist or antisemitic tendencies. Under such conditions, it would be completely disproportionate to dismiss a minister for whom many things cannot be proven and are therefore not certain, and in any case happened 35 years ago, when Aiwanger was still a school student. That position was slammed by members of Chancellor Scholzs ruling SPD coalition, including Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, who accused the Bavarian leader of damaging Germanys reputation abroad. Battling against their right-wing rivals in Bavaria are the environmental Greens. Center-left parties are typically less popular in the conservative state. This year, however, the Greens are polling on a similar level to the FW and AfD at 15%. Even if successful in the election, the Greens would struggle to find other parties that are willing to work with them. Kreuzer ruled out a coalition with the Greens ahead of Sundays vote. We have very little in common with the Greens on a political level, so a coalition would not be promising to make policies successful, Kreuzer told CNN. And by the way, we dont want a traffic light government. We want to be independent of the traffic light in Bavaria. Elections in Hesse will be watched with interest by the rest of the country, particularly because Interior Minister Faeser is running for governor on behalf of the SPD despite simultaneously serving as the countrys top security official. Faeser explained her decision to German newspaper Der Spiegel earlier this year, saying: Im the first woman to head the Interior Ministry, and I would like to be the first female governor of Hesse. Her prospects for achieving this remain unclear. Hesse, which was formerly a stronghold for the SPD, is currently governed by the CDU in coalition with the Greens. CNNs Inke Kappeler contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com GM has the most workers on strike of all the Detroit 3. The company narrowly avoided a fourth shutdown Friday. GM has lost more than 31K units of production, compared to Ford's 19K, and Stellantis's 17K. The ongoing United Auto Workers strike is taking a multi-million dollar toll on all three Detroit-based automakers, but General Motors might be hit the hardest so far. UAW members have been on strike for more than three weeks against Ford, GM, and Jeep-maker Stellantis , demanding hefty wage increases, an end to the tiered wage system, and more job security in the EV age, among other key issues. The UAW, led by President Shawn Fain, is taking a new approach as the union strikes all three companies at once for the first time. He has announced three targeted work stoppages since the strike began September 15, and GM is the only company that has been targeted all three times. Ford and Stellantis, meanwhile, have only been hit twice each. GM narrowly avoided a fourth strike Friday with an offer that delayed Fain's weekly update for members. The union president added no new strike targets, despite being prepared to shut down production at GM's highly profitable SUV factory in Arlington, Texas. In the face of this threat, Fain said, the UAW nabbed a win on union representation for future battery plants. "Today under the threat of a major financial hit, (GM) leapfrogged the pack in terms of a just transition" to EVs, Fain told members on a Friday livestream. The UAW demands "would ultimately be a torpedo to the future business models " for the Detroit automakers, especially related to electrification, Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives said in a recent note. That's a threat particularly to CEO Mary Barra's company, which is pouring a whopping $35 billion into future tech, including EVs, in the coming years. The company has also been slow to release a full stable of truly affordable EVs. GM recently reversed a plan to discontinue the Bolt EV and EUV, long the company's only affordable electric option. Meanwhile, rival Tesla has been lowering prices on its most popular models all year in an attempt to gobble up EV market share. This is also the second time in four years that GM has experienced a strike . The current work stoppage has cost GM upwards of $200 million already, and it could go on for much longer. "Obviously, higher labor costs could have an impact on margins but until we have a ratified agreement, we don't know what it will be," GM spokesman Jim Cain wrote in an email to Insider. "Don't discount our ability to find offsets." Cain also pointed to the pressure a stronger UAW contract can have on the broader industry pushing up average wages and benefits for everyone which can change the equation on competitiveness. Comparisons Ford, which has the most UAW-represented employees of all the Detroit Three, has already taken a number of hits this year. The company's stock dropped after it announced significant price cuts to its F-150 Lightning (an effort to stay cost-competitive with rival EV products), and its loss from EVs this year is estimated to widen from $3 billion to $4.5 billion. Ford has even pulled back on its plans to electrify, recently stressing a greater focus on hybrid EVs . The Blue Oval will most certainly be impacted by the strike, but with 88 days' supply available for the Ford brand and 124 for Lincoln as of the end of September for dealers to sell ( per Cox Automotive ) it has some padding to absorb the blow. Meanwhile, some of Ford's has so far led on wage offers to UAW leadership, setting a potentially painful pattern for its two crosstown rivals. It's smart for the UAW to target Ford for bargaining wins, while making an example of GM on the picket line, said Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions. "GM is a large, faceless corporation while Ford is smaller and family-owned," Fiorani said. "They're more likely to negotiate because there's a person behind the name." Stellantis, whose power in the US market has waned as non-domestic automakers gain market share, is seemingly less concerned about the labor stoppage. It has been the slowest in terms of UAW negotiations , dragging its feet on major proposals. It's also been the least aggressive of the three in its US electrification targets . Stellantis brands had the most days' supply of the Detroit 3, with Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, and Dodge at 103, 108, 127, and 142 days of inventory, respectively, as of last month, according to Cox. (For context, the national average in September was 60 days.) Some analysts suggest it might actually behoove Stellantis to have to use up some of that supply. Stellantis also put some of its plants under critical status to up production in preparation of extended union talks. GM's fate in the wings Meanwhile, GM is the worst off in terms of inventory, with Buick, GMC, Chevrolet, and Cadillac at 82, 63, 57, and 46 days-worth on dealer lots, respectively, says Cox. GM wasn't shoring up inventory ahead of the labor shortage; in fact, it limited it to maintain a supply-and-demand imbalance that raked in record profits during the pandemic. GM has lost more than 31,000 vehicles of production since the start of the strike, according to a Deutsche Bank estimate on Friday, compared with Ford's 19,000 and Stellantis' 17,000. And of the three automakers, GM also has the most striking workers and has temporarily laid off the most workers due to the strike. "In totality, it does seem like they're faring a bit worse," Edmunds executive director of insights Jessica Caldwell told Insider. But, "For once it's really hard to see how things will shake out ultimately," she added, "because the industry is fundamentally changing." Read the original article on Business Insider Universal's Halloween Horror Nights is my favorite theme-park event, but it used to terrify me. I've overcome my fears about the haunted houses and jump scares and enjoy the event. Seth Gillihan, a clinical psychologist, said going year after year is a form of "exposure therapy." I'm a theme-park journalist who's been covering happenings everywhere from California's Disneyland to Missouri's Silver Dollar City for over a decade, but for several years there was one event that was a hard "no" for me: Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando. Halloween Horror Nights takes place at Universal Studios parks in Florida, California, Japan, and Singapore each year and is beloved by fans of all things spooky across the globe. At my closest Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando, Florida, there are 10 terrifying haunted houses and five scare zones, where actors roam the streets providing plenty of jump scares. I remember seven years ago when I moved from Maryland to Florida and first heard about Halloween Horror Nights displays of tickets for the event at my local Publix gave me nightmares. But now, it's hands-down my favorite theme-park event of the year. The first time I visited Halloween Horror Nights was a scream-filled blur From right: The author and her husband at Halloween Horror Nights. Courtesy of the author The first time I visited the park for this iconic event in September 2019, I remember posing for a photo with a scary clown from the film "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" and being afraid to even approach the character despite knowing he was literally an actor in a suit. I timidly walked up to the clown and took a photo far away from him, terrified look on my face and heart racing. While I made it through several haunted houses and scare zones that night, my photo with Slim the Clown was the only image I snapped the entire night. I went through each house in a panic, screaming with my face buried in my husband's back. I don't remember much about it, but I remember being proud that I faced my fear. It turned out I was putting myself through exposure therapy without knowing it The author at Halloween Horror Nights. Courtesy of the author Now that it's become my favorite theme-park event of the year, I'm convinced that I trained myself out of being scared by being brave enough to go that first time. Seth Gillihan, a licensed psychologist and the author of "Retrain Your Brain: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks" who specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy, agrees, and said that this was the beginning of my Halloween Horror Nights exposure therapy. "If you do something that's scary, but not actually dangerous, and you do it over and over, eventually it stops being so scary," he said. "You do it gradually and progressively. We want to break down what you're afraid of doing into little steps." As I continued attending Halloween Horror Nights, I felt braver each year The author at Halloween Horror Nights. Courtesy of the author A few years and a few Halloween Horror Nights later, I found myself face-to-face with another clown, Jack, a terrifying original Universal character who has, in many ways, become a face of the event. During a photo opportunity with Jack, I had trouble determining if he was a mannequin or a character who would jump scare me, but I posed for the photo like a pro, only feeling mildly terrified he was a mannequin, for the record. That year, I made it through all 10 haunted houses and, while I still screamed into my husband's back the entire time, I felt myself taking more time to appreciate the horror-film-quality scenes inside each house. Because Universal is all about the movies, each haunted house feels like you're on a film set, and it's impossible for even a scaredy cat to ignore that level of artistry and storytelling. Today, I look forward to attending Halloween Horror Nights, jump scares and all Gillihan said the key to conquering something like the fear of Halloween Horror Nights is consistency, so going back year after year was the right move. "Just doing a one-off thing, it's brave, but it's not really therapy," he said. "The real change comes with the repetition, when your brain really learns that the fear that you have is not necessary and it can turn off that fear response." I've attended for the past five years including in 2020, when Universal only put up a few haunted houses and had the actors behind plexiglass due to the pandemic. Each year has become more exciting for me and less scary. I'm still afraid in the sense that a good jump scare makes me scream or grab my husband for safety, but I know now that it's all just fun. I've taught my brain to reinterpret how I feel about Halloween Horror Nights From right: The author and her son. Courtesy of the author Today, the event is something I look forward to all year long. In fact, I've become so obsessed with it that I spend time before I go watching the horror movies the haunted houses are based on and listening to podcasts about the history of the Halloween Horror Nights there are lots of them, believe it or not so I fully understand what's going on in each haunted house. In the great words of Aerosmith, "I don't want to miss a thing" where this event is concerned. Gillihan said it's likely that by going so often, I've learned that Halloween Horror Nights is not actually dangerous, and that feeling a rush of adrenaline is something I can enjoy because I do not actually have anything to fear. "You might still feel the fear, but you've reinterpreted what fear means," Gillihan said of my newfound love for the event. "Some people enjoy the sensation of being scared when they know that the fear is something that's not actually dangerous. They come to tolerate and even seek that feeling of fear because it's no longer seen as danger, it's seen as something your body does or a response your brain has." Basically, I've conquered my fear of fear. When I went to Halloween Horror Nights' opening weekend this year, I felt like it was way less scary. I still enjoyed screaming over jump scares and chaotic scenes, but I knew that I was in control. In fact, I enjoyed it so much I went back again three weeks later and still felt the exact same way. It's an absolute adrenaline rush to feel afraid inside haunted houses and walk through scare zones. I walked out of the gates at the end of the night with a huge smile on my face and a night filled with fun-but-scary memories under my belt. Read the original article on Insider Rep. Tom Cole told The Atlantic that hardliners might "very easily" cost the GOP its House majority. "I think these guys materially hurt our chances to hold the majority," he told the magazine. Cole strongly vouched for McCarthy shortly before he was ousted as speaker in a 216-210 vote. Shortly before Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California was ousted as Speaker of the House last Tuesday, one of his most prominent allies stepped forward to vouch for his character. Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, a veteran GOP lawmaker who chairs the House Rules Committee, touted McCarthy's leadership in the lower chamber as he rejected calls by conservative hardliners to oust their speaker, who had only been in the role since January. "The overwhelming majority of my party supports the speaker that we elected. We're proud of the leadership he's shown," Cole said at the time. "There is a second group, small group," he continued. "Honestly, they are willing to plunge this body into chaos and this country into uncertainty for reasons that only they really understand." Later that day, the House voted 216-210 to remove McCarthy from the speakership, with eight Republicans joining 208 Democrats in backing a motion to vacate the chair. It was an act that continues to frustrate Cole, who recently told The Atlantic that conservative hardliners "just took out our best player" as the party looks to defend its slim 221-212 House majority headed into a presidential election year. And Cole told the magazine that McCarthy's ouster could "very easily" threaten the very House majority that the GOP fought so hard to win last year after losing it following the 2018 midterms. "We put sharp knives in the hands of children, and they used them," Cole said of the hardliners in their successful push to remove McCarthy. "I think these guys materially hurt our chances to hold the majority," he continued. "That's just the reality." Cole, a former chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, told The Atlantic that the former speaker convinced many strong candidates to jump into competitive races in 2020 and 2022. "This is going to cost us candidates," Cole told the magazine, again criticizing the votes of the eight breakaway GOP lawmakers. "They just messed up the House," he continued. "They had no exit plan, no alternative strategy, no alternative candidate." While some have suggested Cole as a consensus candidate who could unite the House GOP conference, the congressman told the magazine that the chance of him becoming speaker was "very low, and if I have anything to say about it, zero." Currently, the leading candidates to succeed McCarthy as speaker are Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. Read the original article on Business Insider Hunger striker Thenmozhi Soundararajan, center, and others rally in Sacramento last month for a bill to ban caste discrimination. SB 403 passed the Legislature, but Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed it Saturday. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday vetoed a bill highly watched by the South Asian community that would have banned discrimination on the basis of caste a system of social hierarchy that dictates a persons standing from the time they're born. Newsom called the bill "unnecessary" in his veto message, saying existing laws already prohibit such discrimination. If passed, Senate Bill 403 would have made California the first state in the nation to explicitly acknowledge caste in its civil rights code. Seattle and Fresno have passed such bans in recent months, reflecting growing awareness among officials as South Asian tech workers and university students in California have become more vocal about the biases they've faced. Advocates for the bill included Dalits, caste-oppressed people of South Asian descent, as well as members of the Oaxacan and Indigenous communities who say they have been discriminated against by a similar system. The Ravidassia community, which follows a 14th century Indian guru who preached caste equality and has Dalit roots, also spoke out for the bill. Read more: In Fresno, Sikhs and Oaxacans unite to pass caste discrimination ban Some Hindu Americans a number of which have ties to right-wing Hindu nationalist groups in India had pushed back against the bill, saying it singled them out as potential perpetrators of discrimination. California Republican Sens. Brian Jones of Santee and Shannon Grove of Bakersfield sent a letter this week to Newsom urging him to veto the bill, saying it would "jeopardize our state's innovative edge." "We hope to move forward without hatred or malice to bring together our community which SB-403 so unnecessarily divided," Hindu American Foundation Executive Director Suhag Shukla said in a statement after Newsom's veto. Advocates for the bill had been on a hunger strike in front of the Capitol Annex building for more than a month, holding rallies where hundreds gathered in support. Civil rights is not divisive, said hunger striker Thenmozhi Soundararajan, executive director of the national Dalit civil rights organization Equality Labs and a member of the California Coalition for Caste Equity, before Newsom's veto. Discrimination is divisive. Soundararajan, who is Dalit, said caste-oppressed people have been mobilizing for years to fight violence and discrimination against their communities, and their organizing won't end with the governor's veto. "While it is heartbreaking to receive the Governors veto, it is not a reflection of the incredible democratic power that our communities showed," Soundararajan said in a written statement. "We did the impossible. This is the first state bill caste-oppressed people organized and built amazing power and awareness on this issue." Even though India banned discrimination based on caste decades ago, bias based on the system lingers today, even among the diaspora, advocates have said. In a major lawsuit, California regulators sued Cisco Systems in 2020, saying two dominant-caste managers discriminated against a Dalit engineer. The officials have since dropped their case against the managers, but the suit against the company is ongoing. The California State University system in 2022 added caste to its anti-discrimination policy after hearing from those in the Dalit community, including Prem Pariyar, then a student at Cal State East Bay in Hayward. He had spoken about segregated housing, exploitation by dominant-caste co-workers at his restaurant job and about how a classmate from India blocked his efforts to organize a campus conference on Dalit rights. "Its people from my district who are suffering, state Sen. Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), who wrote the bill, said in an interview in February when she announced the legislation. Read more: Even in the U.S. he couldn't escape the label 'untouchable' Ancestry has been included in the list of characteristics such as race, gender, disability, age and religion protected from harassment or discrimination in employment and housing, from businesses and in public education. SB 403 would have included caste in the state laws' definition of ancestry. Some have argued such bill is necessary to explicitly clarify that the state bans caste discrimination. Some Hindu groups in California had aggressively pushed back against the bill, calling it "Hinduphobic" and saying people associate caste with Hinduism. The right to practice my religion of fundamental constitutional rights is mine, said Geeta Sikand, an associate clinical professor of medicine at UC Irvine. She is also director of communications for Americans4Hindus, a political action committee that supports what it says are Pro-Hindu candidates. Calling me a caste oppressor is outrageous and vicious, Sikand said. Those groups had packed City Council meetings in the Bay Area and the Legislature's committee hearings in Sacramento urging lawmakers to oppose the bill. But the bill's backers and South Asia experts had said that public discourse about the bill was flooded with misinformation. Wahab and Dalit rights activists who backed the bill said they faced harassment and threats of rape and death for their anti-caste advocacy. Read more: Hindu nationalism in India ratchets up tensions among immigrants in the U.S. Dheepa Sundaram, an assistant professor of religious studies at the University of Denver, said groups such as Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America with ties to India have been very active in opposing the bill. Right-wing Hindu nationalist groups in India have been bolstered under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Those groups were able to mobilize the community through social media posts and op-eds with their argument that Hindu Americans were being attacked, Sundaram said. 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. Russian troops launched several attacks on Kherson Oblast and the regional capital overnight on Oct. 8, injuring 11 people, including a baby, local governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. The attack hit civilian infrastructure, damaging residential buildings, household facilities, cars, and gas pipelines. Seven people were injured in Kherson, while a family of four was wounded in a settlement in the Stanislav territorial community, according to the Kherson Oblast Prosecutors Office. Among those injured in the regional capital is a 27-year-old woman and her 9-month-old daughter, Prokudin said. The attack also injured a 33-year-old Red Cross medic, the governor added. "Kherson Oblast has survived another horrible night," Prokudin wrote on Telegram. According to the governor, Russian troops launched a total of 59 attacks on the oblast over the past day, using mortars, artillery, Grad missile launchers, tanks, aircrafts, and drones. Partially occupied Kherson Oblast suffers regular Russian attacks as the invading troops continue to hold the left-bank side of the Dnipro River in the region. On Oct. 5, a Russian strike against Beryslav in Kherson Oblast damaged a hospital and injured two medical workers. Read also: Every family affected: Devastated village copes with aftermath of Russian strike on funeral Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on Sunday characterized the U.S. as being in a serious weakened position given a vacancy in the Speakership while Israel formally declared war following an unprecedented coordinated attack by Hamas the day before. Fox Newss Maria Bartiromo asked Greene on Sunday Morning Futures whether the Speakership election will be expedited in the wake of the deadly attacks launched by Palestinian militants on Israel. Yes, absolutely, Greene said. Were in a serious weakened position. Republicans that control the majority in the House of Representatives I want to remind everyone that we barely control the majority of the House and thats only one-third of the federal government. What happened last week, I completely disagree with it, was eight Republicans joining with all the Democrats in the House and basically throwing the gavel on the floor and saying its now up for grabs [for] anyone that wants it. This is not a serious thing to do when you control the House of Representatives, she added. House Republicans are in search for a new leader since former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was booted from the top spot last week. McCarthy has said that he will not seek the Speakership again, while two lawmakers Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) announced they will pursue the job. Greene would not reveal which candidate she would endorse before getting answers on certain legislation, including one that would ban gender-affirming surgeries for children. She also wants to see about ending aid to Ukraine amid its fight against Russias invasion. I want to hear our Speaker candidates answer these questions. And thats the right thing for me to do. I demand answers. I represent my district, and whoever wants to be Speaker needs to be able to answer how theyll handle those particular issues, she said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. FORT WORTH, Texas - A groundbreaking was held Saturday for the new home being built for Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth. It took place on her 97th birthday. "Housing has always been something I wanted to see everybody have. Ive lived in shotgun houses. Ive lived in houses where the roof leaked," Lee said. Whats inspiring about the home is that Lee is coming back to live on the lot after her family was driven out by rioters. On June 19, 1939, white rioters gathered to harass, vandalize, and burn down her familys home when she was only 12 years old. "I know our parents sent us to friends several blocks away because the police had said if my dad - who came home with a gun - busted a cap, they would let the mob have us," she recalled. Lee said her parents left under the cover of night. "When those people knew there was nobody there, they went in and started pulling out the furniture, burning it. They did despicable things," Lee said. Lee said shes grateful for how the community has changed. "Its gratifying to know that I dont have to worry about when I get in this house that somebodys going to tear it down. That the people in the neighborhood are going to be friends," she said. "The fact that perhaps this is a turning point. You know? Perhaps those 500 people that were here learned something. Perhaps theyre old like I am or even gone on." Lee is one of Trinity Habitat for Humanitys founding board members. "I saw Habitats sign in a yard on a very prominent street, they were doing rehab to the house. So I went up and asked them. I wanted to know if I could join the board," she said. Decades later, Habitat happened to purchase the very lot where Lees home was burned down. "Opal called me up and said, Gage, I see you guys own my lot at 940 E Annie, and I was like, We do? recalled Gage Yager, with the Trinity Habitat for Humanity. After discussing with her family, Lee decided to move back to the neighborhood. "God has a plan. His plan is always better than our plan. Certainly, better than my plan. Yeah, something was in the air with us happening to buy this lot," Yager said. Lee believes racism can be addressed by changing one mind at a time. "Their minds can be changed, I believe that. Because Ive changed a few," she said. The home, funded by Citizens Concerned with Human Dignity, is set to take six months to build. "I plan to live to see it, so there," Lee said. CHICAGO - A young woman was killed, and a man was wounded when a group opened fire on them in Grand Grossing Saturday morning. Police say the two victims were in the 1500 block of East 74th Street at about 10:45 a.m. when a group of unknown offenders opened fire in their direction. A 24-year-old man suffered a graze wound and refused medical treatment. A 23-year-old woman was shot as well. The two victims self-transported to Jackson Park Hospital. The woman was pronounced dead at the hospital. No arrests have been reported. GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley is the latest Republican to criticize former President Trumps comments on Gen. Mark Milley . I just think its irresponsible. I mean, you dont need to say things like that, she told Kristen Welker on NBCs Meet the Press. I think that any man or woman that has served our country deserves the highest respect. My husband is a combat veteran. He is deployed right now. They sacrifice a lot. Their families sacrifice a lot. And we should honor them every chance that we get. Haleys remarks echo other criticism of the former presidents swipes at Milley last month, where he suggested the top military official deserved the death penalty over calls he made to China at the end of Trumps term. GOP presidential candidates Chris Christie and former Vice President Mike Pence have also pushed back on Trumps comments. This is an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH! Trumps post read. A war between China and the United States could have been the result of this treasonous act. To be continued!!! Milley said following the attacks that he will take appropriate measures to ensure he and his family are safe in response to Trumps comments. Ive got adequate safety precautions, the military leader said in response to a question about his concern about his safety from CBSs Norah ODonnell. Milley and the former president repeatedly clashed during Trumps time in the White House. During his retirement speech last month, Milley proclaimed that the U.S. military does not swear an oath to a wannabe dictator, a dig at Trump, who hit back at him shortly after. Slow moving and thinking Mark Milley should never have made those calls to Chinas Military Leadership, Trump said on Truth Social. Does this moron, together with WOKE FOOL Mark Yesper (Esper!), who said yes to everything, have any idea how dangerous a situation he put our Country in? Look at his words STUPID & VERY DANGEROUS! For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Saturday's unexpected attack on Israel by the Palestinian group Hamas could be one of the biggest failures of Israeli intelligence since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Source: Bloomberg Details: The attack included dozens of infiltration operations on land and sea, as well as rocket attacks. It is a complicated assault that should involve the kind of planning and coordination that intelligence services should have noticed. Although Israeli officials have been saying for months that Palestinian militants were preparing for an attack, the timing and scale of the attack appear to have taken Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by surprise. Israel and its ally the United States, which allocated US$3.3 billion to Israel for defence spending in 2022, will be examining who bears the most responsibility and how it happened. "Its shocking to me that they were able to do it without Israel or the United States picking up on it," said Martin Indyk, a former US ambassador to Israel and a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. "Failure to prepare. Failure to have troops along the border, failure of the fence along the border that they paid millions of shekels for." Bloomberg noted that the attack came 50 years after Israel failed to prevent an unexpected attack by Egypt and Syria during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). Back then, the intelligence failure led to the creation of a commission to find out what went wrong and has been the subject of numerous studies. Israeli officials said it was too early to say what went wrong and rejected any comparison with 1973. "The real problem here is likely that the Israelis simply did not believe that Hamas would risk a cross-border infiltration," said Aaron David Miller, senior fellow at the Carnegie endowment for international peace and a former state department Middle East negotiator. "The lack of sufficient Israeli forces in that area was a grievous failure." A staff member of the US Congress who wished to remain anonymous said that Congress should ask tough questions, given that Israeli and US intelligence agencies should have detected an attack of this scale. The failure is all the more striking given that Israeli security services devote significant resources to monitoring Palestinian society, including Hamas, through informants and surveillance technology. 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 News Lebanons Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia fired dozens of rockets and shells into Israeli positions on Sunday, sparking fears of a wider, and coordinated, war engulfing the Middle East. Hezbollahs military command said its operations were in support of the Palestinian militant group, Hamas, which launched an unprecedented surprise attack into southern Israel on Saturday, which has claimed the lives of some 700 Israelis as of Sunday. The Israel Defense Forces have begun retaliatory strikes against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and also struck back against Hezbollah positions in south Lebanon. Our history, our guns and our rockets are with you, a senior Hezbollah official, Hashem Safieddine, said at a rally for Hamas in east Beirut on Sunday. Hezbollah said in a statement that its firing of a large cache of shells and rockets was to show its solidarity with the Palestinian resistance. Jays view Hamass attack and deep incursion into Israeli towns in the south is being called Israels 9/11. And Israeli and U.S. officials are increasingly concerned that the conflict Hamas started risks expanding into a broader regional war, which could bring in Iran and its other proxies. This is especially the case as Israel is signaling it will launch a ground invasion into the Gaza Strip in the coming days and weeks to target Hamas fighters and reclaim kidnapped Israelis an operation that could cause thousands of Palestinian deaths. Iran and its elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has spent decades arming and funding Hezbollah and Palestinian and Syrian militias in a maneuver that could effectively encircle Israel. This strategy has been remarkably successful, and Israel faces today the possibility of facing a three- or four-front war with Tehrans regional allies. These include Hamas from the Gaza Strip; Hezbollah from south Lebanon and Syrias border with Israel; and Palestinian militants, such as Islamic Jihad, operating out of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Concerns about this broader conflict are tied into the perceived motivations behind Hamass weekend attack. The Palestinian militant group and Iran have both voiced growing concern about accelerating negotiations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, backed by the U.S., to normalize diplomatic relations between the historic foes. Such an agreement would radically alter the power dynamic of the Middle East, and align Israel, the U.S. and most Arab states against Iran and its proxies. American and Israeli officials said Hamass attack may have been specifically focused on derailing this diplomatic track by dragging Israel into war with the Palestinians. Israeli and American officials said this weekend that theyre vetting past intelligence to see if Iran may have been operationally involved in planning the Saturday attack. Irans leadership has praised Hamass operation and staged rallies in Tehran in support of it. Hamas leaders have met Iranian leaders in recent weeks, both in Lebanon and Tehran, for meetings in which the surprise attack could have been planned. A Hamas leader last week in Tehran specifically cited the threat posed by Israeli-Saudi normalization and the need for the Iranian axis to oppose it. Iranian state media quoted Hamas politburo member Osama Hamdan as saying: Normalization of relations with the Zionist regime is an injustice to all Palestinians. We must stand and resist such a plan. Even if Iran didnt help plan the attack, current and former Israeli officials said theyre worried Tehrans allies will come to Hamass defense as the ground war into the Gaza Strip gains momentum. I would give a very high probability to the expansion of this war to other fronts, said former Israeli ambassador to Washington Michael Oren on the podcast Sunday. The View From The White House Senior Biden administration officials said this weekend that theyre closely tracking Tehrans contacts with Hamas and Hezbollah and whether Iran essentially ordered the attack or was instrumental to its preparations. Its too early to say whether the state of Iran was directly involved or planning, supporting, said a senior administration official on Saturday. Were going to be looking at that very closely. That said, theres no doubt Hamas [is] funded, equipped, armed by Iran and others. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reached out to most of the Middle Easts leaders over the weekend to try and guard against any countries trying to instigate more unrest in the Palestinian territories. Leaders of Qatar and Turkey who give sanctuary to some Hamas leaders have squarely blamed Israel for this weekends terror and the potential for more bloodshed. I was on the phone yesterday to make sure that, first of all, people had heard very clearly what the president said about others in other places not taking advantage of the situation so that we dont have a broadening of this conflict to other places, Blinken told Face the Nation on Sunday. Room for Disagreement Iran watchers are divided over whether Tehrans Islamist leaders want to see the war in Gaza spread at this stage. Hezbollah is estimated to have 150,000 rockets in south Lebanon that are trained on Israel. This arsenal is seen as a valuable deterrent against Israel striking Iran directly, specifically to degrade its growing nuclear infrastructure. Hezbollahs entrance into the conflict now would likely significantly reduce this arsenal and might prompt Israeli attacks on Iran proper. If Hezbollah does engage, though, the threat to Israel will be substantially larger than anything Hamas maintains. If the northern front opens, and Hezbollah unleashes its significant arsenal, including advanced weaponry, Israel will be facing a whole new dilemma, said Enia Krivine of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Notable Iran has been expanding over the past decade its regional alliances, known as the Axis or Resistance , to include Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Houthi army in Yemen and Iraqi and Syrian Shiite militias. Theres a debate over how much autonomy these forces have from Tehran. Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps was intimately involved in planning the Hamas attack, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday, citing senior Hamas and Hezbollah officials. German police broke up pro-Hamas celebrations in Berlin on Saturday night as the countrys anti-Semitism commissioner warned of attacks on Jewish sites. Police made multiple arrests in the district of Neukoelln after officers tried to disperse around 40 people who were celebrating on the boulevard of Sonnenallee in the evening. Officers reported chants of banned slogans such as from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. Sonnenallee is a hub for Berlins Palestinian community, one of the largest outside of the Middle East. Two police officers were injured in the clashes. Demonstrations in solidarity with Israel were planned at Berlins Brandenburg Gate on Sunday, onto which was projected the flag of Israel on Saturday night. Earlier on Saturday, the Palestinian NGO Samidoun handed out Middle Eastern baklava sweets to celebrate the attack, posting on social media long live the resistance of the Palestinian people. The Brandeberg Gate was lit up with the Israeli flag with a solidarity demonstration planned for Sunday - Fabian Sommer/dpa via AP Samidoun, which is banned in Israel, is a front organisation for the militant Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The scenes were condemned by Germanys first-ever senior politician from a Muslim background. Rejoicing over terror, murder, and desecration of corpses is humanly and socially unacceptable wrote agriculture minister Cem Ozdemir on Twitter, while criticizing Germanys Islamic institutions for their threatening silence in the face of terror, murder and kidnapping. Felix Klein, Germanys national anti-Semitism commissioner, condemned the celebrations as a disgusting glorification of violence against Jews while calling for increased security at Jewish sites. If Israel is attacked by the anti-Semitic terrorist organization Hamas, the danger for Jews in Germany also increases, he said. Officers lead another demonstrator away from Sonnenallee, a hub for Berlins Palestinian community - Michael Kuenne In France, security at synagogues has already been increased, with the president of the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions telling the media: We are vigilant, there is always the risk of the copycat attacks. The attacks in Israel on Saturday, which killed over 600 Israelis and wounded 1,200 more, are the most dramatic escalation in decades, with prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring the country to be at war. At least two German citizens have reportedly been taken to Gaza as hostages. Israeli strikes in Gaza have so far killed 300 Palestinians. 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. Residents of Tel Aviv during a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip, October 7, 2023 The Palestinian militant group Hamas kidnapped more than 100 individuals, including civilians and Israeli military personnel, during an attack on Oct. 7, the Israeli Embassy in the United States reported on X (Twitter). The attack resulted in the tragic loss of over 300 Israeli lives, with at least 1,800 sustaining injuries. Whats happening in Israel? Hamas launched a massive rocket barrage at Israel from the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, firing approximately 5,000 rockets. Additionally, hundreds of armed Hamas militants breached the southern border of Israel. Read also: Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel photos and videos Hamas officially announced the start of a new large-scale operation against Israel. During the attack, Hamas managed to seize control of seven communities in southern Israel and took dozens of Israeli soldiers and civilians as hostages. Tragically, at least 300 people lost their lives in Israel as a result of this attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country is at war and added, we will prevail. The Israeli government initiated Operation Iron Swords. In the evening, the Israeli military regained control of the populated areas in the south that Hamas had captured. Israel has also conducted airstrikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. Read also: Zelenskyy condemns Hamas attack on Israel, says country has right to defend itself Netanyahu proclaimed that Israel has embarked on a long and difficult war and pledged to utilize the full strength of the Israel Defense Forces to eliminate the capabilities of Hamas. 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 Iranian officials denied on Sunday that they had anything to do with this weekends unprecedented attack on Israeli soil by Palestinian militants, though the countrys mission to the United Nations released a statement supporting the barrage and the Hamas fighters who carried it out. We emphatically stand in unflinching support of Palestine; however, we are not involved in Palestine's response, as it is taken solely by Palestine itself, it said. The resolute measures taken by Palestine constitute a wholly legitimate defense against seven decades of oppressive occupation and heinous crimes committed by the illegitimate Zionist regime. Earlier in the day senior leaders with Hamas and Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group backed by Iran, told The Wall Street Journal that officers from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran helped plan the incursion during a series of meetings in Beirut. IRGC officials even gave the ultimate green light for the assault last Monday, the newspaper reported. U.S. intelligence officials have said that they cannot corroborate accounts of Iranian involvement. Read it at The Wall Street Journal Read more at The Daily Beast. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) says it hit rocket launchers, a terrorist cell and Hamas headquarters in Gaza. Source: The Times of Israel Details: The Israeli Defence Forces have provided details of a series of airstrikes it carried out in the Gaza Strip over the past few hours. The IDF reports that a drone struck a rocket launcher and killed two terrorists standing next to it. In other drone strikes, a terrorist group attempting to infiltrate Israel through Zikim Beach was destroyed, and another group was destroyed while attempting to infiltrate from central Gaza, the IDF said. The IDF also noted that its strikes in Gaza hit rocket launchers, a terrorist group and Hamas headquarters. Fighter jets struck a Hamas operational headquarters used by the terrorist group to launch rocket attacks and a headquarters belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the IDF said. Videos posted by the IDF show several recent strikes in the Gaza Strip. IDF says it struck a rocket launcher in the Gaza Strip and two terrorists standing next to it. In other drone strikes, a terror cell was hit while attempting to infiltrate into Israel via the Zikim beach, and another cell was hit while trying to infiltrate from central Gaza. pic.twitter.com/4h0Ky8TAXB Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 7, 2023 Background: On the morning of 7 October, a large number of missiles was launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel by Hamas militants; fires surged through Israeli cities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken out in support of Israel following the attack by Hamas terrorists. Pentagon promised Israel to send everything necessary for self-defence and protection of civilians. 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! Israeli security forces patrol outside the destroyed police station that was controlled by Hamas militants in the southern city of Sderot, close to the Gaza border, on Sunday (EPA/Atef Safadi) The killing of at least 700 Israelis in the carnage of the attack by Hamas is the most lethal day in the countrys many conflicts, exceeding by far the 317 killed on 7 October 1973, the first 24 hours of the Yom Kippur war, which had also started with the enemy achieving a total surprise attack to great effect. Unlike that conflict, when multiple assaults came from Arab states led by Egypt and Syria, what happened this weekend is not an existential threat to the Jewish state. Hamas, along with other militias which may join in the fight, like Hezbollah in Lebanon, are nowhere near being a military match for Israel. A reported request by the Taliban in Afghanistan to Iran to let its fighters transit to fight Israel is not going to change that balance, we can safely assume, if passage is granted. But Benjamin Netanyahus government faces the severest security crisis in decades with the potential prospect of combat on two fronts, Lebanon and Gaza, as well as escalation in the West Bank where militant Palestinian groups such as the Jenin Brigade and Lions Den have already been involved in a rising number of armed clashes with Israeli security forces. Images from the extraordinary Hamas assault, of fighters flying in on gliders to kill and kidnap, civilians getting shot in streets, abductions at a music festival and hostages being paraded in Gaza, have been a seismic shock to the system in Israel. The colossal failure of the countrys much-vaunted intelligence system, which allowed Hamas to seemingly plan and arm itself for this operation for months, has been astonishing. Along with humint (human intelligence) from agents on the ground, communications in Gaza are monitored, as are the movements of people and vehicles at the border, with the most advanced sensors. Israel carries out regular air strikes on the territory to ensure, it says, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, another militant group, do not build up stockpiles of weaponry such as missiles. A decapitation campaign targeted killing of senior militant figures supposedly denudes command and control. What went so wrong will be examined by boards of inquiries in the future and will almost certainly lead to resignations and sackings in the security hierarchy. The scale of the failure was summed up by Efraim Halevy, the former head of Mossad, who acknowledged: This attack was beyond imagination. We didnt know they had this quantity of missiles, and we certainly didnt expect they would be so effective as they were. What happens now? The Israeli government has formally declared that it is at war. Netanyahu has pledged mighty violence, threatened to reduce Gaza to rubble and told its inhabitants to leave immediately, although it is unclear where they are meant to go. There are now predictions that a full-scale land offensive, to go with the massive air strikes already taking place, will be launched into Gaza by Israel. But how effective will this be, and what is the end purpose? Palestinian firemen extinguish a fire that was raging in a residential building destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Sunday (AFP/Getty) I covered the 2014 Gaza war, far deadlier than any of the Gaza conflicts previously or since, inside Gaza. Ground forces were sent in by Israel along with Merkava tanks. It was a brutal affair. More than 2,205 Palestinians were killed, including 1,483 civilians, according to the UN, and 71 Israelis, 66 of them soldiers, in 50 days of fighting. I recall speaking to Israeli Defence Force (IDF) officers afterwards about the efficacy of using infantry and armour in densely populated urban areas. Several expressed deep reservations and said that targeted, forensic Special Forces operations would have been much more preferable. What makes a full ground assault even more problematic this time is the presence of so many hostages in Gaza. There is always the danger of them getting injured or killed if caught up in combat. Special Forces operations to rescue them are possible, albeit a challenging task as they are likely to be held in differing locations including, possibly, hospitals. Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu may adopt a more nuanced and tactical approach (AP) The tense political and social climate in Israel, with emotions understandably running high, will help shape the nature and extent of the military mission. The 2014 offensive was in the end limited on the advice of the military and intelligence services who warned of mounting civilian losses amid forces being bogged down in months of attritional combat. Netanyahu, who was the prime minister then as well, overrode the demands of hardliners in his cabinet, including Avigdor Lieberman, the foreign secretary, to reoccupy Gaza reversing the pullout of 2005. The current coalition government is far more right wing and there is likely to be a greater push for all-out war, goes the argument. But Netanyahu has, in the past, shown a disinclination for such open-ended military gambits and, with the backing of the security hierarchy, who are alarmed by far-right ministers like Itamar Ben-Gvir, a more nuanced and tactical approach may emerge. Armed action is not the only course of punitive action available to Israel at present. The energy minister, Israel Katz, announced at the weekend that he had ordered cutting off electricity to Gaza. This could be followed by the blocking of fuel and water supplies. These measures will not by themselves prevent the bloodshed ahead, too much has happened for that to be the case. In the gathering darkness, the most realistic hope is that the conflict unfolding does not totally get out of control. FILE PHOTO: Exxon Mobil's Spring, Texas, campus where the bulk of the oil company's new trading will take place in Spring, Texas By Gary McWilliams HOUSTON (Reuters) -The head of Exxon Mobil's shale oil and gas business, a unit involved in merger talks with rival Pioneer Natural Resources, was arrested at a Texas hotel last week on a sexual assault charge, police said. David Scott, an Exxon senior vice president who oversees all its shale oil and gas production business, was arrested early Thursday morning at a La Quinta Inn & Suites hotel in Magnolia, Texas, the Montgomery Sheriff's Office said. Efforts to reach Scott were unsuccessful. It was not immediately clear if he had legal representation. "We are aware of the allegations and cannot comment on a personal matter; however, we can say that this individual will not continue work responsibilities as the investigation proceeds," said spokesperson Emily Mir said. "All ExxonMobil employees, officers and directors are accountable for observing the highest standards of integrity and code of conduct in support of the companys business and otherwise," she added. Scott, 49, was arrested in his room at the budget hotel near Exxon's Spring, Texas, headquarters. One of the two women he was in the room with left and called police from the lobby, a worker who saw a security video told Reuters. Rooms at the hotel cost about $120 a night. Reuters and others on Thursday reported that Exxon was in advanced talks to acquire Pioneer in a deal that could value the shale producer at about $60 billion. An agreement could be disclosed in coming days, Reuters said, citing three people familiar with the matter. Scott's LinkedIn profile shows he has been with Exxon for more than 26 year and has been involved in some of its most important oil and gas projects. Originally from Australia, he started with Exxon in Melbourne as an engineer, moving to jobs in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi, where he was president of its United Arab Emirates affiliate. He became head of Exxon's Permian Basin operations in 2020 and was promoted to senior vice president earlier this year in charge of all its shale oil and gas. As a senior vice president, he would not necessarily be involved in merger talks, a person familiar with the matter said. Scott faces a second-degree felony assault charge and was held on a $30,000 bond, according to jail records. Convictions on such felonies in Texas carry a minimum of two years and up to 20 years in jail. (Reporting by Gary McWilliams; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) Wayne Price, of the Tlingit Nation, stands next to a healing canoe he carved at the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau, Alaska, on Aug. 27, 2023. Price talked about how he overcame his own addiction through carving. JUNEAU, Alaska In the sanctity of a tribal sweat lodge, master wood carver Wayne Price felt his creator utter a directive to use his talents to help men and women battle addiction. "In that sweat lodge, I said: What can I do, Im just a carver? The creator said he wanted me to create a healing dugout (a canoe) and a healing totem," said Price, who uses a small "adze" cutting tool similar to an ax to whittle off wood chips to fashion his renowned art pieces. Price, a member of the Tlingit tribe pronounced clink-it had sculpted many dugouts and totems, but wondered: How do you make a healing one? "The creator told me each chip that comes off that project represents a life we've lost to alcohol or drugs in indigenous country," Price said. "Of all the chips that came off that project, it wouldn't be enough." More: Targeting 'The Last Frontier': Mexican cartels send drugs into Alaska, upping death toll With an influx of drugs surging north from Mexico, overdose death rates were the highest in 2019 and 2020 among Alaska Natives and American Indians compared to other racial and ethnic groups, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC report, "Drug Overdose Prevention in Tribal Communities," pointed to health inequities, including limited access to addiction treatment, and stressed how culture can help heal. Price, raised in the coastal town of Haines, had struggled with alcoholism for years. He said when he listened to his creator and walked out of the sweat lodge about two decades ago, the cravings ceased. His focus turned to his new commitment to design a healing totem and dugout canoe. The mission would take him years, but he was resolute. "It was a new idea," Price said. "It wasn't even considered. All the entities that support me now, told me 'no' back then." Fast forward to today and Price is a Northwest Coast Arts professor at the University of Alaska Southeast's Juneau campus, where he teaches a new generation how to convey their own messages in their work. Price's art can be seen throughout Southeast Alaska, or Aani, the ancestral home of both the Tlingit and Haida people, according to the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. The Central Council, based in Juneau, is a tribal government representing more than 36,000 members worldwide. Throngs of visitors will soon see Price's latest carving, a tribal clan house post, south of downtown Juneau when they ride the Goldbelt Tram. The near-vertical climb carts passengers above the Gastineau Channel about 1,800 feet higher than the Eiffel Tower and Empire State Building. Price's 10-foot cedar post, traditionally placed in pairs at the entrance of a tribal clan gathering place, features a Tlingit warrior holding a paddle and standing on Mount Roberts. Price erected his first healing totem pole in 2006 in Sitka, a popular cruise ship stop on Baronof Island, a five-hour ferry ride southwest of Juneau. The sculpture stands on a lawn in front of the community health services building of Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center. During a fall 2006 celebration, about 140 supporters used 4-by-4 boards to haul the 4,000-pound totem from Price's workshop to its resting place, with 400 teaming to hoist the pole using ropes. Over the years, many men and women have stood at its base and reflected on their own need for recovery, with some later telling Price they were inspired to seek help. A plaque at the base of the totem offers a guide to understanding the carvings and embarking on self reflection, reading in part: "Mother Earth is at the base to connect us, sustain us and teach us all as we choose the path of healing and the sacred ground of wellness." A medicine woman kneels barefoot on the earth, holding a cedar basket of medicinal plants. "She is our grandmothers, aunties and mothers who reach out to embrace us with tradition, culture, medicine and love. She is always there to give us strength." A multicultural dance group "Yees Ku Oo" made up of several Alaska Native Nations posed for a group photo following their performance across from the Sealaska Heritage Institute in Juneau, Alaska, on Aug. 27, 2023. There is a shaman with a wolf spirit helper at his feet to guide the shaman as he enters the darkness and brings people out onto paths of recovery and wellness. The sculpture is topped with a raven, which holds the moon in his mouth, "drawing our people away from addiction towards the light of recovery." Rosita Worl, president of Sealaska Heritage Institute in downtown Juneau, has led ongoing efforts to restore Alaska Native culture throughout the schools and community. Worl, also a Tlingit member, was taken from her family at age 6 and spent three years in a Christian boarding school, where she said they tried to "beat my nativeness out of me," during colonization. "Not only was our culture suppressed, but now we have this sickness that is destroying people and their lives," she said, referring to addiction. "Generational trauma has an impact on us," she said. "We definitely know that culture heals." Rosita Worl is president of the Sealaska Heritage Institute in Juneau, Alaska. The art in the background represents the four major clans of Alaska Natives. Aug. 25, 2023. Incorporating culture in addiction treatment is a national trend across Alaska and the nation. Alaska is working to revive native culture in other ways, too. Programs are helping youths learn tribal languages as well as connecting to customs, including fishing, hunting, berry picking, dancing and storytelling. During one project still underway, 10 artists from the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribes completed totems on display along the Juneau waterfront. Another 20 are planned, including one from Price. On another mission, Price taught carving to 18 young adults through an alcohol-free and drug-free camp in 2009. The campers were dropped off on Egg Island, surrounded by the Yukon River, a few miles off the shores of Whitehorse, the capital of northwest Canada's Yukon territory. "The only way off was to carve a 30-foot dugout canoe," Price said. The youths spent more than two months whittling down a six-and-a-half-ton red cedar log into a 30-foot canoe. "It's the land of the midnight sun, so chips were flying all the way to midnight, and it was still daylight," Price said. "I saw how much it changed their lives." Price completed a healing dugout, an intricate 28-foot red and black canoe, currently on display at the college's Juneau campus, where Price teaches students of all backgrounds. Kevin Jones, a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, said he was in a dark place due to addiction when he signed up for Price's art classes six years ago. Jones, a stained-glass artist and painter, became Price's apprentice, also using art to heal. "Wayne made it very clear I could use the elements of Northwest Coast design to tell my own story," said Jones, whose paternal great-grandparents were victims of the infamous Trail of Tears. "We were removed from our ancestral lands and a lot of our stories are gone." Price guided Jones to carve a native paddle and to go on a journey on a dugout that braved ocean waves. "There was a natural progression of the addiction losing its power," Jones said. "I realized that just like the art, my life has value." This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Alaska Natives tradition to battle influx of drugs, addiction Its often said that Donald Trump has a cultlike following. But thats far too benign. Star Wars has a cultlike following. Taylor Swift has her cult of Swifties. A political organization that has no platform other than loyalty to the leader is not a cult, its an autocratic movement. The tragicomic chaos in the House in the last week is the natural result of a political party that has lived under Trumps thumb. It should end any pretense that the current Republican Party is a serious governing party. As Hannah Arendt wrote in The Origins of Totalitarianism: Total loyalty is possible only when fidelity is emptied of all concrete content, from which changes of mind might naturally arise. The totalitarian movements, each in its own way, have done their utmost to get rid of the party programs which specified concrete content and which they inherited from earlier, nontotalitarian stages of development. Read more: Opinion: Trump is running despite the 14th Amendment. He's not the first insurrectionist to do so It seems like another time in another galaxy, but not that long ago there actually was some ideological diversity within the Republican Party. In 1966, Time ran a cover story highlighting the winners of the 1966 midterm elections as a Republican Resurgence, after the Goldwater defeat of 1964. Times editors selected six Republicans as being emblematic of this rebirth: California Gov. Ronald Reagan, Michigan Gov. George Romney, Illinois Sen. Charles Percy, Oregon Sen. Mark Hatfield, Massachusetts Sen. Edward Brooke and New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller. The six governors and senators had differences of opinion on almost all major issues. Hatfield, deeply influenced by his service in World War II, never voted for a bill to authorize U.S. military engagement. He was one of only two Republican senators who voted against the 1991 Gulf War. Read more: Goldberg: It's too late, GOP also-rans. Nothing will stop Trump, except maybe the law With Sen. George McGovern, Hatfield co-sponsored 1971 legislation calling for a complete withdrawal from Vietnam. Reagan, on the other hand, was consistently supportive of the Vietnam War and campaigned against the creation of Medicaid. In the 1990s and early 2000s, the Republican governors who were pro-choice governed states with a larger collective population than the Republican antiabortion governors. Bill Weld of Massachusetts, Pennsylvanias Tom Ridge, Arnold Schwarzenegger in California and New Yorks George Pataki all were proudly pro-choice. Today, there are no Republican governors who support abortion rights, and many are actively working to criminalize abortions in their states. The Republican Party three decades ago was overwhelmingly a white-dominated party, but it allowed for at least some dissent and disagreement. While it is difficult to attribute any deliberate or methodical plan to Donald Trump, whose mind operates like an old-fashioned pinball machine on tilt, his basic antidemocratic, strongman instincts have crushed dissent in the Republican Party, empowering the underlying authoritarian impulses within the party. A once-center-right political party with core ideological principles is now marching toward the formation of an autocratic state. Read more: Op-Ed: Democracy's survival depends on fighting demagogues. The GOP is embracing them Its possible that Trump will not be the Republican nominee in 2024, but his success in molding the party to his image ensures that anyone who wins will continue down an authoritarian path. When Ron DeSantis ran for governor of Florida in 2018, he aired a commercial showing his toddler daughter building a border wall with toy blocks, followed by a shot of him holding his infant son and reading from a book, Then Mr. Trump said, Youre fired. His wife also appeared in the ad, saying, People say Ron is all Trump, but he is so much more. Whats unfolding in the Republican Party is an inevitable step in the cycle of authoritarian movements. What once was deemed sufficiently pure is judged to be inadequate and in need of purging. The Night of the Long Knives, the murder of Leon Trotsky, the Red Guards, the Khmer Rouge each was the result of a radical movement further purifying its core membership and ideology, and something very similar is taking place among todays Republicans. Read more: Column: Is there any way to shift the bizarre Republican conviction that only Trump will save them? When Trump emerged in 2015, he was initially rejected by Republican voters. In May 2015, Donald Trump polled at 3% among Republicans and Republican-leaning independent voters. While its not unusual for a new and still-unknown candidate to start with a low number, Trump had almost a 100% name recognition among potential voters. Republicans knew who he was; they just didnt like him. A May 2015 Washington PostABC News poll found that just over 20% of Republicans viewed Trump favorably. By early December 2015 and after his attack on John McCains war record, his mocking of a disabled reporter and his calling for a Muslim ban Trump had surged to his largest lead during the Republican primary, opening up a 35%-to-16% margin over Ted Cruz. Jeb Bush, who led the field in early polling, was by then at the same 3% level of support that Trump had in May. The media coverage of Trumps rise evidenced an unwillingness to grasp Trumps appeal. Donald Trump Leads Florida Polls, Despite Call for Muslim Travel Ban was the headline in the New Times BrowardPalm Beach. Trump Poll Surge Continues Despite Backlash Over Muslim Ban, trumpeted the Dec. 10, 2015, broadcast of Voice of America News. This was like reporting that Jim Beam sold a lot of bourbon even though it contained alcohol. Trump was rising with Republican voters because of his racism and religious bigotry. There was no backlash with the majority of Republican primary voters. The exact opposite was occurring. Trumps hate was creating a surge of appeal. Donald Trump understood the true nature of the Republican Party better than the partys leaders. This suggestion is completely and totally inconsistent with American values, then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said as he denounced Trumps proposed Muslim ban. I do not think it is reflective of our principles, not just as a party but as a country, then-House Speaker Paul Ryan said of the ban. But it was his call for a Muslim ban that helped Trump clinch the 2016 nomination. McConnell and Ryan and the establishment donor class of the Republican Party would never admit publicly that the xenophobia and racism that appealed to Trump voters were far more motivating to Republican voters than the small-government, low-taxes, constitutionally conservative socalled values they insisted were the true core of the party. But their commitment to their deeply held beliefs was so weak that they now supported a man who bragged he was the king of debt, refused to release his tax returns to show he even paid taxes and whose Muslim ban was a religious test that was anathema to constitutional principles. They didnt care about anything but remaining in power, and they thought they could use Trump while controlling him. There is a childlike need for many Republicans in what was once the establishment to believe that the Trump years were some aberration, that the party was hijacked by Donald Trump. The problem with this is that the passengers on the hijacked plane do not cheer for the terrorist. But in the Republican Party, the hijacker is the most popular person on the plane. Trump and Trumpism dominate the Republican Party because he represents what the Republican Party wants to be. There is no normal for the party to return to. It is an autocratic movement, not a traditional American political party. To believe this movement cannot win and end democracy as we know it would be as dangerously naive as thinking that the Donald Trump who announced his candidacy in 2015 with 3% of support within the party could never be elected president. None of us can choose history, but history can choose us. The fate of the American experiment is in our hands. America or Trump? The next 13 months will decide our future. Stuart Stevens is an advisor to the Lincoln Project, a political consultant and the author of several books. This article is an adapted excerpt from his latest book, The Conspiracy to End America: Five Ways My Old Party Is Driving Our Democracy to Autocracy, which will be published Oct. 10. 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. Global leaders have been watching tension in the Middle East escalate after Palestinian militant group Hamas unleashed an attack near the Gaza strip on Saturday, launching rockets in the air and sending fighters to attack on land. At least 600 people have died as a result of the attack, according to Israeli authorities, with both soldiers and civilians reportedly taken hostage by Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that his country is at war, and told global leaders that a "long, difficult" campaign against Hamas will take place. The Israel Defense Forces will act immediately to destroy Hamas capabilities, said Netanyahu on Sunday. We will cripple them mercilessly and avenge this black day they have brought upon Israel and its citizens. Below, find out what the world leaders have said about the attack on Israel. U.S. President Joe Biden U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the attack, referring to it as an appalling assault against Israel. In a statement uploaded to the official White House website, he said: "Terrorism is never justified. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people. The United States warns against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation. My Administrations support for Israels security is rock solid and unwavering." The U.S. has continuously spoken about the countrys commitment to Israels security, and has been strong allies with Israel for decades. Hamas was designated as a terrorist group by the U.S in 1997. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: "Canada strongly condemns the current terrorist attacks against Israel. These acts of violence are completely unacceptable. We stand with Israel and fully support its right to defend itself. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this. Civilian life must be protected." UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak posted on X: "As the barbarity of todays atrocities becomes clearer, we stand unequivocally with Israel. This attack by Hamas is cowardly and depraved. We have expressed our full solidarity to [Israeli Prime Minister] Netanyahu and will work with international partners in the next 24 hours to co-ordinate support." He later returned to X to share a video statement about his solidarity. The scenes we have seen in Israel over the last 36 hours are truly horrifying. I spoke to Prime Minister @netanyahu earlier today to assure him of the UKs steadfast support as Israel defends itself against these attacks. Terrorism will not prevail. pic.twitter.com/5EGoqiZM8b Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 8, 2023 UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly supported the idea that Israel has the right to defend itself and that the UK will always support that endeavor. Iranian Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani Irans foreign ministry said that the Hamas group acted in self defense when it attacked Israel, and vocalized their support for the group. This operation ... is the spontaneous movement of resistance groups and Palestine's oppressed people in defense of their inalienable rights and their natural reaction to the Zionists' warmongering and provocative policies, Iranian spokesperson Nasser Kanaani is quoted as saying, according to Reuters. Kanaani reportedly added that Israels supporters are responsible for the violence and killing against Palestinians and asked Islamic countries to support them. Irans role in the most recent attack is unclear, but the Biden administration has claimed that Tehran has provided funding and weapons to the Hamas group, per the Wall Street Journal. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Saudi Arabias Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it is closely following the situation between Palestinian and Israeli forces, and called for an immediate halt to the escalation between the two sides." Saudi Arabia also called for the international community to try and create a two-state solution to build peace in the area. #Statement | The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is closely following the developments of the unprecedented situation between a number of Palestinian factions and the Israeli occupation forces, which has resulted in a high level of violence on several fronts there. pic.twitter.com/KEFsNB5ZVb Foreign Ministry (@KSAmofaEN) October 7, 2023 German Chancellor Olaf Scholz The Chancellor of Germany called news of the attacks horrifying and said he was deeply shocked by the violence. Germany condemns these attacks by Hamas and stands by Israel, he said on X on Saturday morning. On Sunday, Scholz announced that he was increasing the security of Israeli and Jewish temples, schools and monuments in the country and spoke out against reported German celebrations of the attack. French President Emmanuel Macron The President of France similarly denounced the attacks, and shared Frances support of the Israeli people and their security on Saturday. "I have spoken to President Herzog and Prime Minister Netanyahu. I condemn the attacks carried out from Gaza on Israel, its soldiers and its people," he said. "France stands in solidarity with Israel and the Israelis, committed to their security and their right to defend themselves." I have spoken to President Herzog and Prime Minister Netanyahu. I condemn the attacks carried out from Gaza on Israel, its soldiers and its people. France stands in solidarity with Israel and the Israelis, committed to their security and their right to defend themselves. Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) October 7, 2023 Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs Officials from Qatar have expressed deep concern over the conflict. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs holds Israel alone responsible for the current escalation due to its ongoing violence of the rights of the Palestinian people, the latest of which is the repeated raids on the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli police, they wrote in a public statement. State officials urged the international community to ask Israel to stop its blatant violation of international law. Statement | Qatar Expresses Concern over the Developments in Gaza Strip and Calls for De-escalation#MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/QtoyaFDnRw Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) October 7, 2023 Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky In a statement posted on X, Zelensky wrote: "Today, the entire world saw horrifying videos from Israel. Terrorists humiliate women and men, detain even the elderly, and show no mercy. In the face of such a terrorist strike, everyone who values life must stand in solidarity." Today, the entire world saw horrifying videos from Israel. Terrorists humiliate women and men, detain even the elderly, and show no mercy. In the face of such a terrorist strike, everyone who values life must stand in solidarity. We in Ukraine have a special feeling about pic.twitter.com/AnBgVO2X0J Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) October 7, 2023 Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida strongly condemned the attacks on Israel. In a statement posted to X, he wrote: "Hamas and other Palestinian militants attacked Israel from Gaza yesterday. Japan strongly condemns the attacks which severely harmed innocent civilians. I express my condolences to the bereaved families and heartfelt sympathies to the injured." Hamas and other Palestinian militants attacked Israel from Gaza yesterday. Japan strongly condemns the attacks which severely harmed innocent civilians. I express my condolences to the bereaved families and heartfelt sympathies to the injured. (@kishida230) October 8, 2023 Contact us at letters@time.com. German Chancellor Scholz comments on the situation in the Middle East, in Berlin BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's opposition conservatives were on track to win state elections in Hesse and Bavaria on Sunday, according to exit polls by state broadcaster ARD, highlighting discontent with the Chancellor Olaf Scholz 's centre-left federal government. In Hesse, the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) looked set to take 35.5% of the vote compared to 16% for Scholz's Social Democrats, dealing a personal blow to Interior Minister Nancy Faeser who ran as the SPD's lead candidate in the state. In Bavaria, CDU's sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU) looked set to take 37% of the vote - its worst result since 1950 albeit likely enough to continue its coalition with the populist Free Voters on 14%. The SPD, which is traditionally weak in Bavaria, trailed with 8.5% of the vote. The two junior partners in Scholz's coalition, the Greens and the Free Democrats (FDP), did worse than in the 2018 elections in the two states - with the FDP on track to fall out of the parliament in Bavaria. Meanwhile the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) made gains, rising to 16% in Hesse and 15% in Bavaria compared to 13.1% and 11.6% respectively in 2018. (Reporting by Sarah Marsh and Thomas Escritt) Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and militant group, said it had fired rockets and mortars at Israel "in solidarity" with the Palestinians, and the Israeli Defence Forces responded with artillery and UAVs. Source: The Times of Israel Details: Hezbollah says it fired "dozens of rockets and missiles" at three Israeli positions in the disputed Mount Dov area in solidarity with Hamas' attack on Israel. Footage shows mortars fired from Lebanon landing in the Mount Dov area pic.twitter.com/qoVK9aEw3X Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 8, 2023 The Israel Defence Forces said they responded with artillery strikes and a drone strike on "Hezbollah infrastructure" in the area. Zionist artillery shelling on Lebanese territories in Kfarshuba Hills and Mariye village, south Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/6R32TnF6zQ Angelo Giuliano (@Angelo4justice3) October 8, 2023 Neither side reported any casualties as a result of these attacks. The Times of Israel quoted sources as saying that the Israeli army attacked the tent. Background: On the morning of 7 October, a large number of missiles was launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel by Hamas militants; fires surged through Israeli cities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken out in support of Israel following the attack by Hamas terrorists. Pentagon promised Israel to send everything necessary for self-defence and protection of civilians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called upon the residents of the Gaza Strip to immediately evacuate, and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Israel would change the reality in Gaza for 50 years ahead. 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! Lebanons armed group Hezbollah and Israel exchanged fire Sunday one day after Palestinian militants launched a deadly surprise attack in Israel leaving hundreds dead and thousands injured. Hezbollah said Sunday that it fired off guided rockets and artillery in the Shebaa Farms to show they stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, Reuters reported. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Sunday that IDF struck targets in the area after Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group, fired rockets into Israel. The IDF also said that one of its drones struck Hezbollahs infrastructure in the Mount Dov area, according to its post on X, the platform previously known as Twitter. The IDF has taken preparational measures for this type of possibility. We will continue to operate in all regions and at any time necessary to ensure the safety of the Israeli civilians, the IDF said. There were no immediate reports of casualties, according to Reuters. In a surprise move, Palestine militant group Hamas launched a multipronged attack on Israel on Saturday with a barrage of missile strikes and entered Israel, holding citizens and military members hostage, which led Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare war on the group. There are at least 250 Israelis dead and more than 300 Palestinians killed so far in Israels retaliatory measures. Later that day, the prime minister vowed to destroy Hamas and avenge those left dead and injured. What happened today is unprecedented in Israel, and I will see to it that it does not happen again, Netanyahu said in Hebrew in a televised address. The entire government is behind this decision. The IDF will immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamass capabilities. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group struck Israeli positions on the Lebanon border on Sunday. The Lebanese militant group said the attack was a show of solidarity with the "Palestinian resistance." At least 500 people have so far been killed in Israel and 232 in Gaza since Hamas launched its surprise attack. Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group has joined the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and shells on Sunday at three Israeli positions in a disputed area along the country's border with Syria's Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which Israel annexed in 1981. Hezbollah said in a statement that the attack using "large numbers of rockets and shells" was in solidarity with the "Palestinian resistance." Israel's military fired back at the Lebanese areas, but there was no immediate word on casualties. The Israeli army said it shelled the areas where the fire came from on the Lebanese side of the border. Strikes from Hezbollah came a day after Hamas a Palestinian political and military organization that has controlled Gaza since 2007 launched a series of unprecedented attacks by land, sea, and air on southern Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a "state of war" as a result. Netanyahu said Gaza and Hamas would pay an "unprecedented price" for its attacks. Israeli officials said that at least 500 people had been killed in Israel since the attacks began. The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least 232 people had been killed in Gaza so far during Israel's retaliation. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Read the original article on Business Insider MUNCIE, Ind. Readers of this column know that I am deeply concerned about the rapid decline in college attendance in Indiana. This is the deepest economic problem Indiana now faces, and it risks defining the states economy for much of the 21st century. After all, the children whom we invest in today will have a 50-year work life. So, todays high school students will still be working in large numbers in 2070. Michael Hicks Over the past few years, in this column, and in technical studies, Ive offered considerable evidence about the risks for Indiana. Ive reported the fact that the U.S. has not created a net new job for anyone who has not been to college for 30 years. Ive noted that during this time the college wage premium actually grew, confirming that there remain fewer college grads than labor markets can absorb. Ive explained that nearly all the economic growth in the U.S. is clustered in a few hundred counties with very high shares of college grads. These facts are just the highlight of a large assembly of evidence that we should be better educating young Hoosiers. I write this in a puzzling environment where a surprising number of policymakers from local school boards to the legislature dismiss the importance of higher education. They are dangerously mistaken. It is worth noting that I am not especially concerned about the survival of individual institutions of higher education. Im not writing this to boost Ball States enrollment. No one at the university has ever asked me to write a column on this issue, or indeed any issue. Colleges should be competing for students on price, quality and offerings. Public universities should also worry about serving other interests in research and expanded opportunity for citizens. Private schools have no such obligation. Im also not especially worried about individual students who choose not to attend college. For most of us, happiness and satisfaction in life are not tied to completing higher education. No matter how much education we pursue, most of us keep on learning and growing long after we leave school. Ive never seen a tombstone with a college degree on it. They do memorialize faith, marriages, children and military service. Most kids who decide not to further their education will be fine. This is an extraordinarily rich nation, and even adults whose incomes remain stagnant over the next 50 years will be among the most prosperous people to have ever lived. Still, lack of post-secondary education will drag down earnings, increase the probability of cyclical joblessness and heighten risk of job losses from automation. There are many other negative outcomes from skipping college, which Ill save for another column. The real concern I have is that places with a low share of adults whove gone to college will stagnate. Theyll experience more economic inequality and continue to fall behind those places who educate more of their population. One way to really get the gist of the importance of education is to consider the past 50 years of technology in the workplace. In 1973, robots were scant, desktop computers still a distant vision, and calculators were slide rules. There were no cell phones, digital devices, no algorithms for advertising. No industry or occupation is untouched by the giant steps in technology that weve experienced over the past half century. The 50 years before that were equally fantastic, as were the 50 before that, and the 50 before that. We are in the midst of a 2-3 century explosion of technological advances. There is no evidence of a slowdown. On the contrary, all the world is rushing to educate their young people. In the second half of this century China, India, South Africa, Brazil, Nigeria and Iran will have made enormous educational gains. We will see more genius unleashed on the globe in the coming decades than in any time in history. We should expect the next half century to offer as much job morphing technological wonder as any in the past. Now, ask yourself about the skills a high school graduate had before 1973, and how adequate they are to the modern workplace. One need not do a skill inventory to appreciate thatjust ask some of us who were in school in 1973 how well we program our VCR. That many of us still have a VCR should tell you all you need to know. The efforts to streamline schooling to get students into work earlier appears wholly uninformed by the reality of the 21st century, the 20th century or the 19th century. Moreover, the push toward vocational education and away from college is deeply cynical. I hear a lot of elected leaders suggesting college is not important, and that there are plenty of available jobs without additional schooling. But, none of those folks are living out that reality in their own lives. When it comes to pushing students into vocational track, the loudest voices across the state have elite academic credentials themselves. I havent heard a single one of them ask their children to give up college to drive a truck, work in a canning factory or run a CNC machine. Again, there is nothing wrong with these occupations, but it is almost as if the folks promoting a vocational pathway have something other than the best interest of other peoples children in mind. The next time you hear someone running for office talking about how many jobs there are in the warehouses, trades or manufacturing, ask what their children did after high school. Of course, you know the answer, but ask them anyway. At best, this is sloppy thinking. It is already causing long term damage to the Hoosier economy. Back in 2010, Indiana spent a modest 0.67 percent of state GDP on higher education. At the time, our share of students going to college was rising towards the peak of 65.8 percent. Both money and attendance has dropped substantially in the ensuing years. By Fiscal Year 2021, the state government spent 0.52 percent of GDP on higher education. That is a cut of almost $600 million per year. Over the same time period, Mississippi raised their spending from 2.3 percent to 3.0 percent of GDP, and increase of $786 million per year. Folks, that is why Indiana now sends 52.9 percent of high school graduates to college, while Mississippi sends 81 percent. Today, Mississippi is a poorer, less well-educated state than Indiana. But, by my calculations that will change in a little over a decade. On the bright side, at that point, our Mississippi strategy will finally be aspirational. Michael J. Hicks, PhD, is the director of the Center for Business and Economic Research and the George and Frances Ball distinguished professor of economics in the Miller College of Business at Ball State University. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Hicks: Indiana falling behind Mississippi Correction: A previous version of this article misspelled the last name of University of Tasmania researcher Rick Stuart-Smith. The article has been corrected. - - - Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. OFF THE COAST OF CORSICA - Nicolas Tomasi has never laid eyes on it. He has worked these waters for years without seeing one but has heard the tales from old-timers - of a patient predator, hiding under the sand off this French island's shores, waiting for the right moment to strike. The angel shark does not want to be found. But it can hide no longer. On a hot August afternoon, Tomasi lowered a long, plastic tube attached to a weight over the edge of a dinghy and into the indigo water. With the push of a few buttons, an electric pump began sucking up a small portion of the Mediterranean Sea - and with it, the ocean's secrets. The thin stream of siphoned water looked ordinary, but floating in it were microscopic particles laden with DNA from dozens of ocean animals. If an angel shark was below, this device could detect it. Today, said Tomasi, a project manager with the Natural Marine Park of Cap Corse and Agriate, we can find rare sea life "sans avoir a plonger." Without having to dive. This is environmental DNA, or eDNA, a revolutionary technology that is helping scientists detect the treasure trove of genetic information animals leave in their wake and understand the breadth of life on Earth like never before. Before, biologists had to drag nets through the sea or run electric currents through the water to incapacitate and count animals. Now, they can tally biodiversity simply by sampling water, soil or even air for the DNA animals shed in their environments daily. Around the world from the Arctic to the Amazon, eDNA is rewriting the way biologists do conservation, allowing them to spot invasive pests entering ecosystems before anyone has seen them and to follow animals' migration fueled by climate change without deploying an army of people to track them. But the most promising place for deploying eDNA may be Earth's oceans, where many species remain unknown and many threats, such as warmer waters and ocean acidification, are mounting. In the case of France's elusive angel shark, eDNA helped scientists rediscover an animal many thought to be lost for good, and gave ocean managers key information about where it lives so that they can protect it. "They are always surprised that from a sample of water, you can detect the species," said Stephanie Manel, a professor at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes who was showing Tomasi how to collect DNA. "But this is DNA," she said. "DNA is there. So it's not magic." Her ambitions extend beyond the angel shark. Her goal is nothing short of "a map of the biodiversity in the Mediterranean." - - - Fallen angel It used to be easy to find an angel shark. A 19th century zoologist in the British Isles wrote it "haunts our coasts in abundance." Once widespread from Scandinavia to the Western Sahara, it was so plentiful in Europe's seas that the crystal-blue water off Nice in the French Riviera is named Baie des Anges, or the Bay of Angels. With a flattened body and eyes on top of its head, the common angel shark, or squatina squatina, lies on the bottom of the ocean, burying its body in the sand. For hours it waits in shallow waters until - whoosh! - it pops its head up, opens its jaws and sucks an unsuspecting fish into its mouth. For as long as humans have known about the shark, they have exploited them. The Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder lauded its rough skin for its ability to polish ivory and wood. But it was the advent of modern fishing that really did the carnivorous fish in. That lie-and-wait strategy for ambushing prey also made it easy for fishermen to scoop it up in trawls scraping the sandy sea bottom, even when trying to catch other fish. Slow to grow and reproduce, the fish's population plummeted and the Mediterranean lost a key predator. Today, the common angel shark is no longer common, with the International Union for Conservation of Nature listing the species as critically endangered. By 2015, its last stronghold appeared to be the Canary Islands off northwestern Africa. The shark had disappeared everywhere else. Or so scientists thought. But locals in Corsica knew better. "I've seen the bite," Sebastien Leccia said. As a teenager, he remembered a man showing him a scar on his arm. "We knew," said Leccia, now an official with the Office of the Environment of Corsica. "But it wasn't studied." Until in 2019, a fisherman shared pictures of the odd, flat fish caught off the northeastern coast with biologists. Some were juveniles, suggesting a hidden shark nursery. Another series of photos from a diver further confirmed Corsica's angel sharks were no myth. But those fleeting images only painted a partial picture. Where else around Corsica did the angel shark swim? Did these sharks stay put, or mingle around the Mediterranean? In 2020, during covid lockdowns, the sharks started "to come back to the shore," said David Mouillot, a University of Montpellier professor collaborating with Manel. Had the decline in beach and boat activity during the pandemic made angel sharks less shy? "We don't know whether it's covid, climate" or something else, he said. For the past several years, Manel and Mouillot's team have been siphoning water along the Corsican coast to find its genetic finprint and map its whereabouts. In late August, a 56-foot trimaran named the Victoria IV cut a course along the island's northwestern shoreline to continue the search. After dropping the tube into the blue water on that hot August afternoon, the eDNA team waited as a pump whooshed water through a fist-sized amber capsule. Inside, an accordion-shaped filter collected tiny DNA-laden particles. After half an hour running the pump, Tomasi snapped on rubber gloves and poured a bottle of clear solution into the amber capsule, preserving the genetic material so it could be sent to a lab onshore. There, the snippets of DNA would be multiplied using a polymerase chain reaction, or PCR - a technique also used for detecting covid in humans - and then compared to DNA from a database to see what species were swimming below. The plunging cost of analyzing DNA over the past decade opened the door for this work. So far, the team has used eDNA to find at least seven spots along the Corsican coast where angel sharks were still patrolling, according to a paper the team published in May. But more may be lurking undetected. "Because it is endangered, the DNA is rare," Manel said. - - - 'A young science' Manel first got interested in eDNA after geneticists found invasive frogs in French wetlands. Much of the first eDNA work, in fact, was done in freshwater ecosystems, where DNA lingers in abundance. More recently, scientists have refined ways of extracting strands of genetic material from saltwater, soil and air. Depending on conditions, DNA can last for days in the ocean after an animal has shed it. "When we started nobody believed it would work," Mouillot said of their marine eDNA work as the boat chugged along Corsica's rocky coast lined with modern steel wind turbines and medieval stone towers once used to watch for pirates. "Everyone thought we are crazy. It's a waste of money." In the Mediterranean, the team was on the lookout for another invader: the rabbitfish. The rabbitfish doesn't look much like a rabbit. But it shares with its land counterpart one crucial and devastating trait: It reproduces like crazy, overwhelming ecosystems. The fish has infiltrated the eastern Mediterranean through the Suez Canal, one of some 3,500 harmful invasive species costing society more than $423 billion a year. It hasn't been spotted near Corsica. But it's only a matter of time, scientists say. "It's inevitable at some point," said Rick Stuart-Smith, a marine biologist from the University of Tasmania in Australia who joined Manel and Mouillot on the Victoria IV. But biologists are doing more than just tracking endangered and invasive species. Today they use eDNA to diagnose infections in insects and reconstruct entire food webs by combing through feces. "We got to the point where we could detect one or two molecules," said Colin Simpfendorfer, a shark scientist at James Cook University in Australia conducting his own eDNA work. "That's how powerful those sorts of techniques can become." "What eDNA can deliver for conservation is massive," he said. "It is revolutionizing a lot of the work that we do." Yet the field is still new, and going through growing pains. DNA is the blueprint for life, made up of four bases - adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine - strung together in an order distinctive to every type of organism. To match DNA collected from the environment to a specific species, researchers must check samples against a reference database. Yet the databases available right now are incomplete and disjointed. To confirm that particular sequence of A's, T's, G's and C's came from angel sharks, for instance, Manel and Mouillot's team had to test their method on angel shark tissue provided by fishers in Corsica and by an aquarium in Spain. There is also a lack of standardization for filtration methods as well as a lack of communication with other scientific disciplines, said Louis Bernatchez, editor in chief of the scientific journal Environmental DNA. Many of the scientists sampling tissue from animals and sequencing DNA don't focus on the parts of the genome that eDNA methods are good at detecting. "It's still a young science," said Bernatchez, a professor at Laval University in Canada. "It just keeps improving." Then there are the privacy concerns. Wild animals aren't the only ones shedding DNA everywhere. Humans do, too. Spikes in the viral genetic signatures in sewer water, for instance, are allowing health officials to predict covid outbreaks. In a paper this year, University of Florida biologist David Duffy and colleagues showed sleuths can recover medical and family information from genetic traces left in the environment by humans, suggesting one day police departments and insurance companies may be able to spot genetic disorders and surveil populations using eDNA. "Essentially what we have shown is that humans are not really very different," Duffy said. "The same technologies that can allow us to recover a tiger's DNA from the environment actually can recover human DNA as well." - - - Going deep And eDNA still can't capture some vital information. It can't say much yet about the quantity or body size of fish - though researchers are working on linking the amount of DNA they find in the water to the abundance of a species. And there are other fish that don't shed a lot of DNA to begin with, making eDNA detection difficult. Some fish "don't piss a lot," Stuart-Smith said. "They don't have soft skin or mucus." Finding some creatures requires taking a plunge. Stuart-Smith bobbed his head up and down and side to side, letting out big puffs of glistening air bubbles from his scuba gear. In one hand he held a pencil and in the other, a piece of special waterproof paper. Swimming along a 50-meter tape measure laid along the seafloor, he counted every rainbow wrasse, painted comber and other vibrant fish he could spot. His colleague Graham Edgar passed him going the opposite direction, snapping pictures of the seafloor. Once Stuart-Smith got to the end of the tape measure, he spun around to swim the line again - this time gently brushing away seagrass with his hand and plunging headfirst into crevices to get a better look at the life on this stretch of rocky seafloor near the small island of Giraglia at the northern tip of Corsica. In one of the cracks he spotted a cardinal fish, a neon-orange animal that looks like a living piece of gummy candy. "Nothing out of the ordinary," Stuart-Smith, who is also co-founder of the Reef Life Survey, said back aboard the Victoria IV. This is a tried-and-true method for surveying sea life. For the past 16 years, the Reef Life Survey has trained professional scientists and amateur divers alike to conduct underwater surveys the same standardized way. Their catalogues, which include not only the species but also the abundance and body sizes of different reef fish at thousands of sites around the world, has provided marine managers with crucial baseline data. This old-school approach can complement eDNA analysis. Visual surveys, for instance, aren't very good at spotting sea creatures swimming in deep waters or hiding under rocks. And other fish simply flee at the first sight of divers. "The first thing to recognize when you're surveying marine life is that no method is perfect," said Edgar, also a University of Tasmania marine biologist. Back on the deck, the pair enter data into their laptops. No angel sharks. No fish, in fact, bigger than 6 inches. In other areas off the coast of Corsica where Stuart-Smith went diving, fish were also small and skittish, a sign of overfishing even in areas that are supposed to be protected. Both eDNA and visual surveys can let government agencies know if fishing restrictions are working, or being ignored by poachers. "They were all very shy," he said. "If it's meant to be no entry, the fish are telling me no." - - - One last look As the Victoria IV clipped up a stretch of dry coastline, Mouillot drew in a breath of ocean air. "I'm very excited to swim," he said. "Do you smell the angel shark?" Sure, eDNA is the shiny new technology. But there is nothing quite like seeing a shark face to face. Snapping on flippers and swim caps, Moullot and Manel plunged into the water near a smattering of beachgoers enjoying the last days of summer. This sandy cove is near one of the spots the eDNA team had detected the shark in two years ago. To find an angel shark, look for its silhouette. Often, the only thing to see is its outline in the sand. "You don't see the angel shark," said Jose A. Sanabria-Fernandez, another reef diver looking for the shark. "You see the shape of the angel shark." The pair swam at a brisk pace along the coast, overhead strokes and eyes down, scanning for the outline of the shark under the sand. After several minutes of searching, Mouillot stopped. "Many beautiful fish," he said, bobbing in the water. "But no angel shark." The eDNA samples collected on the trip may reveal the sharks once they are analyzed in the coming weeks. But he and Manel care about more than just the angel shark. Their latest survey involves an eDNA method called metabarcoding that can detect not just one species, but whole groups of animals. "People need to be aware that you need to protect species," Manel said. "The angel shark is maybe an emblematic species." The pair want not just to measure biodiversity but bolster it, by someday moving some of Corsica's sharks to the French mainland coast and giving Nice's Baie des Anges its angels back. Mouillot acknowledged the political and legal hurdles. "It's a very controversial idea," he said. "It would be the greatest challenge of the end of my career," he added, "because it means that we can reverse the decline of biodiversity." Related Content Haley is rising in New Hampshire. But toppling Trump is a tall order. American Jews feel solidarity about Israel - for the moment School shooting hoaxes have terrorized kids across U.S. Who's behind it? The second annual Historic Hoskins Community Parade and Festival filled west Charlotte with food and fun on Saturday. Local food and business vendors took to Eva B. Barber Park on Gossett Avenue to join in on the fun. READ MORE Too unreal: Chinese water buffalo captured after roaming east Charlotte neighborhood The events organizers said the festival is a way for the Hoskins neighborhood to celebrate and commemorate the communitys history. A parade kicked off the event and was followed by a festival with food, prize giveaways, and games. Local musicians and dance teams performed for the community. More than 300 people attended last year. (WATCH: Mecklenburg County investment will preserve 32 homes as affordable housing) What do pencils and poodles have in common? Or hoops and hobbles? They're skirts, of course. For designer Christian Siriano , the skirt is a transformative piece of clothing. The options are endless: mini, midi, maxi, assymetric, straight or frothy. "The skirt is about being free, having more movement, not being kind of trapped inside something, which I think a pant does," Siriano said. "A skirt is more freeing." Designer Christian Siriano talks skirts with Faith Salie. / Credit: CBS News That feeling is sewn into the definition of the word skirt, a piece of clothing meant to dangle from the waist and move around the body with few restrictions. Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell, the author of "Skirts: Fashioning Modern Femininity in the Twentieth Century" (St. Martin's Press), describes the garment as a canvas for beautiful textiles. / Credit: St. Martin's Press She said as unfettered as they might appear skirts are tied to some meaningful history: "They tell us a lot about our culture and our values, and how we treat and think of women themselves." While skirts have certainly hemmed women into traditional notions of femininity, they've also dramatically demonstrated the power of the wearer. "Textiles were extremely expensive before the Industrial Revolution," Chrisman-Campbell said. "So, the bigger the skirt, the more fabric you needed, the more wealth you were displaying." Early 20th century skirts gradually became shorter and narrower, especially during World War II when material was rationed. But in 1947 designer Christian Dior repudiated that starkness with an ultra-feminine silhouette called "the new look." While the 1950s poodle skirt was an evolution of that voluminous look, Chrisman-Campbell sets the story straight about its popularity: "The term 'poodle skirt' comes from poodle fabric, which was a sort of hairy, stiff but lightweight fabric. It was only later, after the skirt came into being, that designers started decorating them with poodles." / Credit: Sharland/Getty Images And while we're myth-busting, you may be surprised to learn about the origins of the miniskirt: "No one thought it was sexy to begin with," Chrisman-Campbell said. "When it was introduced in 1964, it was something that looked like you could buy it in the children's department. It had ruffles or it had bows or polka dots. It made women look like little girls playing dress-up." Salie asked, "So, the miniskirt was created for young women who didn't want to look 'grown-up'?" "That's right. The miniskirt addressed that gap in the market: Dressing women who were young but did not want to look like their mothers." Changing hemlines. / Credit: CBS News/Getty Images For many women, though, the choice to wear a skirt wasn't theirs to make. It was only in the late 1970s that women were allowed to wear pants in many schools, restaurants and workplaces. And it was only this year that the U.S. Marine Corps ended its last skirt mandate for women. While the skirt has become a ubiquitous female symbol, men across the world have traditionally shown some leg. Chrisman-Campbell said, "Skirts are an extremely masculine garment in many cultures. We think of it as something feminine in the West. But the Scottish kilt, for example, is a garment associated with tough warrior Highlanders." And let's not forget Tonga's tupenu, famously flaunted during the Olympics opening ceremony. Pita Nikolas Aufatofua of Tonga carries the flag during the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games, at Maracana Stadium, August 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. / Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images As for American men brave enough to flirt with their hemlines? Christian Siriano said his most famous skirt moment was designing a skirt for actor Billy Porter: "He just loved the idea that he could wear something that was, like, still somewhat classic [that] every other woman would be wearing. So why couldn't he wear that?" Billy Porter wearing a custom design by Christian Siriano, of a tailored tuxedo jacket atop a full-skirted strapless velvet gown, at the 2019 Academy Awards. / Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images And so, the skirt comes full circle. While it once stitched women into traditional roles, it now offers men something to step into, to shatter stereotypes. "There are no rules," Siriano advised. "You wear what you want to wear." For more info: "Skirts: Fashioning Modern Femininity in the Twentieth Century" by Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell (St. Martin's Press), in Hardcover, eBook and Audio formats, available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.orgkimberlychrismancampbell.comChristian Siriano Story produced by Julie Kracov. Editor: Chas Cardin. See also: Christian Siriano's perfect fitPassage: Miniskirt pioneer Mary QuantFashion industry disruptor Aurora JamesFashion designer Ralph RucciBrunello Cucinelli: Fashion and philosophyFashion icon Ralph Lauren on a lifetime of styleStella McCartney: Fashion with a conscience Furniture company Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams went bankrupt overnight. Here's how. Sen. Tim Scott says border security along with Ukraine aid needs to be included in funding package Secretary of State Antony on "Face the Nation" | full interview The American Red Cross of North Florida is gearing up for this years holiday season with the launch of its annual Holiday for Heroes initiative. With a longstanding tradition, Holiday for Heroes offers residents throughout North Florida a unique opportunity to express their care and appreciation for military heroes. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Holiday for Heroes invites the community to write heartfelt messages and contribute items for holiday care packages, destined for active-duty military personnel deployed around the globe and local veterans residing in hospitals or nursing homes. These thoughtful notes and donated items are generously provided by residents and lovingly placed inside handcrafted holiday stockings crafted by dedicated volunteers. Working in collaboration with partners, the Red Cross will assemble and deliver these stockings, brimming with expressions of gratitude and donated items, to military members and veterans who find themselves away from their families during the holiday season. Christian Smith, CEO of the American Red Cross of North Florida, expressed the organizations commitment to serving the military community, saying, The Red Cross commits to serving the military community at every step -- from the time a service member takes the oath to navigate life as a veteran. Working with our service members and veterans day-to-day, I understand how much they sacrifice for our country and how much community support means to them, especially over the holidays. Heres How You Can Get Involved: Purchase items for care packages from your preferred online retailer and have them shipped directly to the Red Cross collection site at 751 Riverside Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32204. Visit the Holiday for Heroes online registry at www.redcross.org/holiday4heroes to purchase items. During checkout, please select the auto-populated American Red Cross option as your shipping address. To arrange a drop-off of collected items at your nearest Red Cross office, please contact the Service to Armed Forces at 904-999-3547 to coordinate. Join the Red Cross in supporting the daily work with military members in the Armed Forces by becoming a volunteer at redcross.org/volunteer. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross is dedicated to sheltering, feeding, and providing emotional support to disaster victims, supplying approximately 40 percent of the nations blood, imparting life-saving skills, offering international humanitarian aid, and supporting military members and their families. As a not-for-profit organization, the Red Cross relies on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to carry out its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/NorthFlorida or connect with us on social media @RedCrossNorthFL. [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. 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. The US secretary of State warned on Sunday that the Biden administration has received reports indicating that several Americans may be among the missing or dead in Israel as the conflict between Hamas and the Israeli government has begun anew. Antony Blinken said on NBCs Meet the Press that the US government was working to verify those reports, and pledged that the Biden administration would make the release of any Americans held by Hamas a top priority. We are very actively working to verify those reports, he said. Reports from Israel indicate that a number of civilians were killed and others taken hostage when militants aligned with Hamas struck military bases, police stations and other targets over the weekend. Videos and eyewitness accounts report that, in one of several similar instances, militants opened fire at a music festival and took some hostages during the attack. Seperately, on ABC News, Mr Blinken argued that Israel should put in place measures to ensure that such an attack cannot be repeated. Many have already questioned how Hamas militants were able to infiltrate Israeli territory so deeply despite the far greater resources of Israels defence force. The death toll from the renewed conflict has already climbed into the hundreds on both sides as Israel and its western allies vow a massive response to the attacks that appeared to catch the nation completely by surprise. Human rights groups are warning that Israels counterattack runs the risk of killing more civilians in Gaza, where many have no place to escape the carnage. Mr Blinken also referenced reports that indicated a Holocaust survivor may be among the Israeli citizens taken by Hamas militants over the weekend. No country should live in fear of terrorists coming into peoples homes, gunning them down in the street, dragging them across the border and making hostages of them, Sec. Blinken says after Israel attacked. That is intolerable for any democracy. https://t.co/7gofCunU85 pic.twitter.com/HIdvXlSbKp This Week (@ThisWeekABC) October 8, 2023 "Men and women and children dragged across the border into Gaza, including a Holocaust survivor in a wheelchair. People gunned down in the streets, civilians, said Mr Blinken on Sunday, callin the Hamas attack something that revolts the entire world. NEW: @SecBlinken says "several Americans" may be among the dead and hostages in Israel. "We've seen reports about hostages. We're very actively trying to verify them. ... Any American anywhere who is being detained ... is going to be a priority." pic.twitter.com/aNTZQsUeyt Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) October 8, 2023 The situation across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories remains fluid and tense as hostilities continue in and around the Gaza Strip. The exact number of hostages taken by militants remains unknown, while reports of deaths and injuries have continued to pour in. Complicating the situation is the complete dissolution of any sense of reality on Elon Musks Twitter/X, where old videos of past Israel-Hamas conflict and outright misinformation has intermixed seamlessly with news reporting and actual journalism. Over the weekend, a doctored White House press release was circulated falsely claiming that Joe Biden had unilaterally approved billions of dollars in new security assistance to Israels military. Travelers wait at the departures hall at Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. Scores of flights in Hong Kong were canceled Sunday as Tropical Storm Koinu neared the southern Chinese city after leaving at least one dead and over 300 injured in Taiwan. (AP Photo/Emily Wang) HONG KONG (AP) Scores of flights in Hong Kong were canceled Sunday as Tropical Storm Koinu neared the southern Chinese city after leaving one dead and over 300 injured in Taiwan. Koinu was expected to skirt about 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Hong Kong on Sunday night, dumping heavy showers, the Hong Kong Observatory said. The storm is forecast to move across the coastal waters of neighboring Guangdong province on Sunday and Monday. Koinu was packing maximum winds of 90 kph (55 mph) and gusts of up to 122 kph (76 mph), according to the observatory. Hong Kong on Sunday raised its No. 8 storm signal, effectively shutting the city down with shops and schools closing and reducing frequencies of public transport. Scores of flights to and from Hong Kong were canceled and the main Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge closed temporarily, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Koinu had earlier battered Taiwan with heavy winds and strong rain but later the typhoon had weakened into a tropical storm on its way to southern China. It comes a month after southern China and Hong Kong were lashed by Typhoon Saola, which triggered Hong Kongs highest storm signal on a scale of 11. A week later, Guangdong province and Hong Kong were hit with the heaviest torrential rains in almost 140 years. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) and his family were forced to shelter in a hotel in Israel over the weekend while visiting family amid a barrage of rocket attacks launched by Hamas. Goldman along with his wife and three kids were in Israel for a family Bar Mitzvah when Hamas launched an unexpected barrage of attacks from land, sea and air, Goldmans spokesperson said in a statement Sunday. Goldmans family sheltered in a stairwell inside of a hotel until early Sunday morning, when they departed for New York, according to his office. Noting Goldman is grateful for the assistance of the State Department and Israeli authorities, his office said the New York Democrat hopes all Americans can come together to support Israels right to defend herself from terrorism and war crimes. Hamas launched the largest attack on Israel in decades early Saturday, sending forces into multiple Israeli towns, along with a bombardment of rocket fire in a surprise offensive. The death toll has surpassed 1,100, with thousands more Israelis and Palestinians wounded. Early Sunday, Goldman called for the replenishment and expansion of the Iron Dome, Israels air missile defense system that can defend against short-range rockets and intercept them in the air above the state. I hope Republicans can get their House in order so we can pass emergency legislation to assist Israel in defending herself, Goldman wrote in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, in reference to the upcoming race to replace former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was ousted from the top spot in a historic vote last week. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and his staff were also in Israel during the attacks, prompting the senator to shelter in place in Jerusalem on Saturday. A spokesperson for Bookers office said the New Jersey Democrat departed Israel on Sunday, cutting his trip short in the wake of the violence. Booker arrived in the country last Friday and had plans to stay through at least Tuesday, when he had a scheduled talk about regional economic integration, his spokesperson said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Bloomberg) -- House Republicans predicted Sunday they will have a new speaker in place by mid-week after closed-door debates intended to avoid the messy 15-round process that led to the election of now-deposed Speaker Kevin McCarthy in January. Most Read from Bloomberg The speaker election took on new urgency this weekend after Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing at least 600 people and prompting calls for more US assistance. Without a speaker, the House cannot conduct legislative business even with bipartisan support for Israel in the chamber. Its unclear what aid might need congressional approval. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that there was a tremendous amount of assistance already in the pipeline under an Obama-era agreement that provides Israel with $3.8 billion a year in defense aid. But he said Israel has also asked for specific additional help. As a general proposition, it would be very important to make sure that we have both houses of Congress, on a bipartisan basis, in a place where they can clearly show and express their support for Israel, especially in this hour of need, Blinken said on NBCs Meet the Press. And so thats something we want to see, and we hope that that happens quickly. The contenders for House speaker were reduced to two on Saturday, after Oklahoma Representative Kevin Hern said he wouldnt join the contest, saying a three-way race would only drag out the process. House Republicans must unify and do it fast, he said in a letter to colleagues. That leaves Jim Jordan of Ohio and Steve Scalise of Louisiana as the only declared contenders. Jordan is the House Judicary Committee Chairman who has the support of former President Donald Trump, while Scalise is a top McCarthy lieutenant and House majority leader. Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina, one of eight Republicans who joined with Democrats to oust McCarthy last week, said Sunday on the X social media site that she would support Jordan, calling him true to his word and a workhorse. Representative Ken Buck of Colorado, another of the eight, didnt commit to a favorite. But he said the process should play out behind closed doors to tamp down the chaos of an open fight on the House floor. Its better to play out in private where the cameras arent on and we dont have people trying to get attention over certain issues than it is going out on the floor and having a series of debates, Buck said on ABCs This Week. For those folks that think we are projecting a chaotic image, it makes a lot more sense to do this behind closed doors and get it finished before we go to the floor, he said. Representative Matt Gaetz, the instigator of the effort to remove McCarthy, said hed listen to both Jordan and Scalise before deciding whom to support in the conference but then would vote for whoever his fellow Republicans rallied around when the nomination goes to the full House. Gaetz rejected McCarthys assertion Saturday that a speakerless House of Representatives raises a doubt around the world about American leadership. I dont think that other countries think about Kevin McCarthys speakership quite as much as Kevin McCarthy does, Gaetz said. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. A husband and ex-wife were indicted this week for allegedly stealing around $2 million from Seattle investors, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman on Thursday. Fifty-eight-year-old Paul Waln from Dallas, Texas, and 54-year-old Tamara Waln, from Toledo Ohio, were former real estate professionals. They used to live in Bellevue and Kirkland and operated a real estate investment fund. The indictment says between August 2009 and December 2013, Waln asked for investments in a real estate fund called Halcyon. Waln told people their money would go toward buying and renovating an apartment building in West Seattle and then be used for other real estate projects. There were 22 people, mostly Seattle residents, who invested in the $2.25 million in the fund. Waln told investors they were required to leave their money in the investment pool for ten years and after that, Waln would return the investment principal and earnings. He estimated that would amount to a 20% annual return and Waln was entitled to receive a 1% fee for managing the investment fund. The indictment says in 2013, Waln married King, who was also a real estate agent and they jointly managed the investment fund. But between February 2014 and December 2018, they allegedly started using the money for personal expenses. The pair secretly transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time from the fund to their management company and then transferred the money to Kings personal accounts. In some instances, they wrote secret memos characterizing these transfers as loans, but the money was never repaid. Investors were never told about the loans, said the news release. In 2019, Waln and King were required to distribute the money to the investors but by the end of 2018, they allegedly had used it all on themselves. In December 2018, Waln allegedly sent the investors a letter that said the funds general contractor had cancer, which was a lie. Waln said this would cause a two-to-three-year delay before he could give them their money. In Oct. 2019, King told the investors that all the money was gone, and the investment had failed. All the remaining investors lost their entire investments, said the news release. Waln and King were charged with conspiracy, eight counts of wire fraud, and two counts of money laundering. Conspiracy is punishable by up to five years in prison. Wire fraud and money laundering are punishable by up to twenty years in prison, said the news release. The case is being investigated by the FBI. Waln and King are scheduled to appear on the indictment on Oct. 12. The soldier who goes by the alias Artist is a drama and film actor. Previously, he played in theatres in Kyiv and Lviv, and can be seen in the films Ex and Cyborgs. The National Guard said that despite his creative profession, the actor is currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a combat medic. The Artist's career began after the Revolution of Dignity, as the film industry in Ukraine was "totally Russian" until 2014. In Lviv, he played at the Lesia Ukrainka Theatre, the Mariia Zankovetska Theatre and the Young Spectators Theatre. In Kyiv, he worked at the Suziria Theatre. The combat medic who goes by the alias Artist. All photos: National Guard of Ukraine Artist admitted that he is most attracted to critical art and intellectual theatre, but the war affected his career development. "I joined the army in 2015, under general mobilisation. Before that, I had already done my military service in the Armed Forces. At that time, I already had a clear feeling that I was liable for military service and that everyone would undertake it," he says. The same year, he was trained as a combat medic at the 1st Medical Training Company in the Desna training centre. After his demobilisation in 2016, it was difficult to return to civilian life, says Artist, as the war was hardly felt in most Ukrainian cities. The soldier compares that time with his current feelings. When asked why he chose tactical medicine, Artist replied that he considers life to be the greatest value "It's deja vu. People are trying to keep their consciousness intact. We must finally accept that this is our new reality," he says. Using the experience he gained during his first combat experience, Artist is now saving the lives of his comrades-in-arms on the Bakhmut front. He admits that the scope of work is now greater than during his service until 24 February 2022. "In addition to the usual bullet and shrapnel wounds, we have also received injuries from drone strikes. Now, it is not so easy to save guys. You can't drive a car safely, so sometimes you have to carry folks for kilometres. In addition, if there is one wounded soldier, at least four soldiers will follow him, which potentially means four more wounded," he adds. Artist noted that combat actions affect mental health, and he wants to remain an emotional person. "From the very beginning, no one was prepared for the volume of challenges we are facing," he says "I'd like to cry, we shouldn't hide it, we are all living people, we feel everything. We are bitter when we lose a brother-in-arms. Who are we going to pretend to? In front of our brothers-in-arms? I swear a lot, that's how I cope with stress," he added. Background: Earlier, Ukrainska Pravda.Zhyttia (Life) recollected the story of a soldier who made it out of a burning tank. 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! Smoke rises over the village of Halta in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel, on October 8, 2023 The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Lebanese Islamist Iranian-backed armed group Hezbollah exchanged artillery and rocket fire on the morning of Oct. 8, following the deadliest attack on Israel in years by Palestinian Hamas militant group, the IDF reported on Twitter. At 7:25 am, Israeli time, Israel fired artillery at the area in Lebanon from which the cross-border fire was launched. Read also: Ukraine grapples with another complex large-scale Russian drone attack overnight At 8:21 am, the IDF reported a drone attack on Hezbollahs infrastructure near Mount Dov, located in the northwestern part of the Golan Heights overlooking southern Lebanon and northern Israel. Hezbollah fired artillery at IDF targets in northern Israel early on Oct. 8 "in solidarity" with the Palestinian people. Israel announced a state of war alert on Oct. 7 after the Iranian-backed Palestinian armed group Hamas launched a massive rocket barrage at Israel from the Gaza Strip, firing around 5,000 rockets and infiltrating Israeli territory from the southern border in a major escalation of the long running conflict between the two sides. Read also: Ukraine condemns terror attacks by Hamas, establishes task force for Ukrainians in Israel Hamas military commander Muhammad Al-Deif claimed responsibility for the rocket attack and called for a general uprising against Israel. Dubbing the operation Al-Aqsa Storm he said that the group had targeted the enemy positions, airports and military positions and that the assault on Israel was a response to attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and the ongoing siege of Gaza. The militants managed to seize seven communities in southern Israel and took dozens of Israeli military personnel and civilians as hostages. At least 300 people have been killed in Israel as a result of the attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that his country is at war with Hamas in his first video address since the Palestinian group launched the attack. We are at war not in an operation, not in rounds at war, [] The enemy will pay a price like they have never known before, Netanyahu said. Read also: Hamas kidnaps over 100 Israelis Israeli Embassy in the US The Israeli military response, dubbed Operation 'Iron Swords, is intended to regain control of the Hamas-infiltrated towns in the south and to carry out airstrikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu, has said the country is embarking on a long and difficult war and vowed to use the IDFs "might" to destroy Hamas capabilities. 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 Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has reiterated his calls for federal support as communities in his state, and others across the U.S., struggle to manage the influx of migrants arriving on buses from the southern border. After writing a letter to President Joe Biden last week that laid out a list of requests and recommendations for how Biden's administration should address the asylum crisis, Pritzker said that "we need help from the White House" in an appearance on " Face the Nation " Sunday. Sanctuary cities in a number of Democratic states over the last year have had to grapple with a record surge in asylum seekers being bussed in from southern states like Texas and Florida. At the same time, the Biden administration faces the broader challenge of addressing a historic increase in border crossings. The influx of asylum seekers has put significant strain on Chicago and New York City, which have borne the brunt of the crisis. Pritzker told "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan that he hopes the White House will assemble one office and a specific department head that Illinois leaders can coordinate with as they work to meet the needs of asylum seekers in their state. "Because, look, we're providing shelter as best we can and providing for the needs of these folks arriving in Chicago. And as I say, we're a welcoming state and we understand the humanitarian crisis that we're addressing," Pritzker said. "But we can't address this all by ourselves, and we need help from the White House." The governor asked for more communication with the Biden administration "so that we can understand who's arriving, and when they're arriving, and whether they have relatives already in the United States who might be able to help care for them." Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on "On top of the 15,000 that have arrived in Chicago and Illinois over the last 13 months, we are now seeing busloads [of] more migrants at increasingly higher rates being sent specifically to Chicago each day," Pritzker wrote in his letter to Mr. Biden, adding, "Most critically, the federal government's lack of intervention and coordination at the border has created an untenable situation for Illinois." Pritzker said he felt as though the administration "heard" him. "We were very clear in our communication with the White House that what we need is logistical support, that is help deciding where these folks are to go, because they can't all go to Chicago and New York, and D.C.," he said. "They need to go in places where there's even more help to offer. We, of course, are a welcoming state and have been caring for the people who've arrived. But we can't bear the burden only ourselves." The governor said the asylum crisis "needs to be a federal, national problem that gets handled at the national level," and suggested the Biden administration coordinate with politicians in border communities in Texas to regulate how and where people are dispersed in the country after crossing the border. New York City Mayor Eric Adams traveled to Mexico and Central America last week to meet with lawmakers and try to address the asylum crisis. Adams' trip also intended to deliver a message to migrants that New York City has reached capacity, and asylum seekers are being misinformed about the availability of jobs and shelter in New York, which have run out, CBS New York reported. Adams said on "Face the Nation" Sunday that more than 3,700 asylum seekers arrived in New York City in the last week of September alone. New York City Mayor Eric Adams on "That's an increase. We were getting 600 a week, which was unsustainable. And now we're up to ... getting anywhere from eight- almost 800 a week," he told Brennan. "These numbers are not sustainable. And it's not sustainable in Chicago when people are living in police precincts, Los Angeles, Houston, Washington. This is just not right, what is taking place." The mayor recently asked a court to temporarily pause New York City's right to shelter mandate, arguing that the city does not have enough resources to handle the number of migrants arriving there. The move came under some scrutiny as critics questioned how lifting the mandate could contribute to New York City's homelessness problem, which is already severe. "Our legal team is not asking for a suspension. We want clarification," Adams said on "Face the Nation." "This is a humanitarian crisis that we are facing," he continued. "This is not what the architects of right to shelter thought about when you were dealing with those New Yorkers who needed shelter. We can't have a rule that one can come from anywhere on the globe and come to New York City and remain in New York City as long as they want and taxpayers must pick up the cause. ... It is unfair to the migrant seekers and asylum seekers. And it's also unfair to ... New Yorkers." Students making friends across the American divide Furniture company Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams went bankrupt overnight. Here's how. Rachel Maddow on "Prequel" and fascism in America Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Sunday the White House has heard his calls to put together a singular office to manage asylum-seekers. They heard me, you know, there are so many departments that are responsible for helping to care for these asylum-seekers, as well as managing them as they cross the border, I hope that they will put one office together, Pritzker said during an interview on CBS Face the Nation. He had sent a letter to President Joe Biden with that request, while also pleading for more federal funding to help the thousands of asylum-seekers who have arrived in Chicago. Chicago is one of a handful of Democratic strongholds struggling to keep up with the flow of migrants arriving after crossing the border. More and more, leaders in those cities and states are finding themselves at odds with the Biden administration as the flood of asylum-seekers threatens to overwhelm their shelter systems. "Governors and mayors from border states have shipped people to our state like cargo in a dehumanizing attempt to score political points. The people of Illinois are kind and generous. We believe in the fundamental right of every human, especially those facing persecution, to find refuge and live with dignity in this great country of ours," Pritzker wrote in the letter addressed to Biden on Oct. 2. "But as the numbers being transported to Chicago are accelerating, the humanitarian crisis is overwhelming our ability to provide aid to the refugee population." In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams has publicly feuded with Biden over the migrant crisis in his city, and leaders in Massachusetts have recently become more forceful in demanding action from the White House. On Sunday, Pritzker reupped his request for additional support. We're a welcoming state, and we understand the humanitarian crisis that we're addressing. But we can't address this all by ourselves, and we need help from the White House, he said. Chicago is set to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention, and while Pritzker said he is confident the city will have a better handle on its migrant situation, it will require help from the federal government, he said. An Indiana County community is rattled after one person was killed and at least eight others were hurt in a shooting during a private party at a community center early Sunday morning. PHOTOS: Pennsylvania State Police investigate mass shooting in Indiana County I heard this bloodcurdling scream and someone, was hollering hes been shot, hes been shot, said neighbor Mae Nance. Nance lives near the Chevy Chase Community Center in White Township, where a mass shooting injured eight people between the ages of 18 and 23 and killed a 22-year-old Pittsburgh man. Around 100-150 college-aged students were inside the community center for a party when someone opened fire. No one has been taken into custody. RELATED COVERAGE >> Indiana County mass shooting: 1 killed, at least 8 hurt during party at community center Nance told Channel 11 she saw people running for their lives. Our reporting team saw shoes on the ground, a broken porch railing at a side entrance and other items strewn around the scene. They were screaming and hollering and running through the yard. And police were running all over the place with the ambulance and stuff, Nance said. I didnt know what happened. Trooper Cliff Greenfield said it was a chaotic situation, even though police were able to respond to the area quickly because of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) homecoming activities. Because we had so many troopers and local police officers, as well, on duty at the time for our IUP homecoming detail this weekend, we had a very quick response time. Our troopers were there approximately in one minute and were able to render aid to several of the victims right away, Greenfield said. IUP officials say two students were injured, but the party was not a university-sponsored event. Some community members were stunned that such an act of violence would happen inside the community center. When I was a kid, we used to go in there and do our homework like after school. So, Ive been affiliated with that building [for] many many years. So its just a peaceful place. I dont understand how something like that can happen in there, said community member Trevor Johnson. The community center will be closed until further notice. State Police urge anyone who was at the party or who may have information about the shooting to call them at 724-357-1960 immediately. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Man dead after crash on Route 22 in Murrysville Man dies after crashing vehicle while drag racing at Keystone Raceway Keanu Reeves stops by Pittsburgh coffee shop VIDEO: Jewish community in Pittsburgh stands in solidarity with Israelis following deadly terrorist attack DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Indigenous Peoples' Day, which falls on the second Monday of October as a counter-celebration to Columbus Day, commemorates Native American history, culture and resilience. Indigenous Peoples' Day celebrates the invaluable contributions and resilience of Indigenous People and recognizes our inherent sovereignty, said Indigenous Peoples Initiative Chairman Dylan Baca in a press release. When was Indigenous Peoples' Day established? The holiday has gained momentum in recent decades and is recognized alongside Columbus Day. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed the first presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples Day, a commemoration-turned-holiday that began in 1977. In 1990, South Dakota became what is believed to be the first state to officially acknowledge Columbus Day as something different, though it was dubbed Native American Day then, New York Times Melina Delkic and Anna Betts report. Columbus Day was first established as a state holiday in Colorado more than 100 years ago and was first observed as a federal holiday in 1937, according to NPR. Naki Karaga cheers on his teammates in a fast-paced stickball game during a celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, at the First Americans Museum. Keyen Singer dances in traditional attire during a ceremony at the ERB Memorial Union building on University of Oregon campus to mark Indigenous Peoples' Day. A child runs to see an exhibit during an Indigenous Peoples Day celebration Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, at the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City. Is the stock market open Columbus Day? We have answers about the holiday Is Indigenous Peoples Day a federal holiday? Did the US change Columbus Day to Indigenous People Day? No, it is not yet a federal holiday, but some lawmakers are working on legislation to change that, New York Times reported. Columbus Day is still a federal holiday, and while some argue it celebrates Italian American heritage, others say it glorifies an exploration that led to the genocide of native peoples and that Christopher Columbus isnt an appropriate person to celebrate. An eagle feather is worn by a traditional dancer during Indigenous Peoples' Day on Monday, Oct. 10, 2022 at Riverfront Park in Salem, Ore. According to Pew Research Center, Columbus Day seems to be fading as a widely observed holiday. Lawmakers from the House and Senate this year reintroduced a bill that would establish Indigenous Peoples Day as a federal holiday on the second Monday of October, replacing Columbus Day. U.S. Representative Norma Torres (CA-35) first introduced legislation to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day in 2019, according to a statement from the lawmakers, though many schools, businesses, cities and states have observed the holiday for years. The bill has 56 co-sponsors in the House, several co-sponsors in the Senate, and support from the Cherokee and Navajo nations, according to the lawmakers statement. Establishing Indigenous Peoples Day as a federal holiday is an opportunity to acknowledge the painful legacy of colonization that continues to be felt to this day and celebrate the countless contributions of Indigenous communities to our country, said U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) in a statement. Which US states and territories still recognize Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples day? Based on a Pew Research Center review of state statutes, human resources websites and other sources, only 16 states and the territory of American Samoa still observe the second Monday in October as an official public holiday exclusively called Columbus Day, meaning those government offices are closed and state workers, except those in essential positions, have a paid day off. Four other states including Nebraska and Rhode Island and the U.S. Virgin Islands recognize the day as both Columbus Day and something else. Four states, two territories and Washington, D.C. observe the day as an official public holiday but use a different name, according to Pew. Some tribal groups in Oklahoma celebrate Native American Day in lieu of Columbus Day, with some groups naming the day in honor of their individual tribes. Indigenous Peoples Day has officially been embraced by several states via proclamation, including by Arizona, California, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin, plus Washington, D.C. And states that officially celebrate it include Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota and Vermont. Around 200 cities even Columbus, Ohio, have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day, including Seattle, Los Angeles, Boston, Denver, Phoenix and San Francisco. Contributing: Clare Mulroy, Scott Gleeson This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What does Indigenous Peoples Day mean and is it a federal holiday? Woman, Life, Freedom, the slogan adopted by Iranians to protest the unjust death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, is, according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, the most suitable way to describe the work of the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Narges Mohammadi. Mohammadi is the second Iranian woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, exactly 20 years after Shirin Ebadi was awarded the prize for her work to promote democracy and initiate legal reform under Islamic law in 2003. Mohammadi is the fourth Nobel Peace Prize laureate to be chosen while still incarcerated, joining the ranks of Aung San Suu Kyi and Ales Bialiatski. According to the Nobel committee, Mohammadi has been arrested no less than 13 times. She has been convicted five times, sentenced to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes. While she has been released on and off over the past four years, her work on behalf of women and her outspoken advocacy against the death penalty have made her a repeated target of the Islamist regime in Iran. To this day, she remains behind bars in Irans most notorious prison for political detainees, Evin, which is located in the hills of northern Tehran. I have been studying womens rights, human rights and gender and sexual politics in Iran for more than two decades. I have had the opportunity to meet and work with Shirin Ebadi and dozens of womens rights activists in Iran throughout my time conducting fieldwork on Irans sexual revolution. I have witnessed the bravery of Iranian women as they boldly agitated for change. Womens activism in Iran is not just a recent phenomenon they have been at the forefront of calls for change in Iran for more than a century. Activism after the Iranian revolution Mohammadi began finding her activist roots as a student in the late 1980s and early 1990s at Imam Khomeini International University, where she wrote articles decrying the repression women in Iran faced. Following the revolution in 1979, the Islamist regime that took power under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued mandatory veiling decrees and imposed harsh limitations on travel, child custody, inheritance and divorce, as it ushered in an era of harsh repression for women. Mohammadi was born in Zanjan, Iran, but grew up just outside of Tehran in the suburb of Karaj. After graduating from high school, she moved to Qazvin, northwest of Tehran to attend university, where she studied physics and engineering. Upon her arrival, she quickly became an activist, co-founding a group called Tashakkol Daaneshjooei Roshangaraan translated as Illuminating Student Group where she wrote articles calling for accountability from the regime. Her writings led to her arrest twice during her time as a college student. This marked the beginning of a decades-long passion for promoting human rights in Iran that landed her in jail repeatedly. In 2002, Mohammadi, along with the Ebadi, founded the Defenders of Human Rights Center, whose mandate is to defend the rights of women, political prisoners and ethnic minorities in Iran. When she was awarded the Sakharov Prize in 2018, for defence of human rights and freedom of thought, Mohammadi called for ending the death penalty and injustices against women. She protested against the imprisonment and torture of political and civil rights activists, and she said she will not be silent in the face of human rights violations. In 2007, when Shirin Ebadi established the National Peace Council for peaceful resistance to the death penalty, harsh family laws and poor treatment of prisoners, Mohammadi was elected president of the 83-member body. Echoing the call for change Mohammadi follows a long line of women who have been at the forefront of calls for change in Iran, dating back to the era of the Persian Empire. In 1906, a Constitutional Revolution referred to as the Mashrouteh Revolution took place. This was a movement that pressed for codification of laws and rights to protect the people of Iran when the country was under the threat of colonialism. Women were at the forefront to call for equal rights for all Iranians including and especially equal rights for all genders. Since the Iranian Revolution of 1979, womens activism has gotten louder and more bold. Thousands of protesters have spent the last four decades calling for accountability, equality and human rights under the Islamic Republic. In 2009, women were central to the Green Movement that called for democracy and election transparency. The Green Movement was an expression of outrage at the alleged fraudulent re-election of conservative hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. And while men and women marched alongside one another, it was women who led the way. Neda Aga Soltan, a 26-year-old student protester who was shot while standing peacefully in support of the protests on the streets of Tehran by a member of Irans paramilitary forces, quickly became the face of the protests. In 2022, women of all ages and religious, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds joined the protests when 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in custody. Amini had traveled to Tehran from Kurdistan Province for a holiday with her brother. But as soon as she stepped off the train, Amini was arrested by the morality police. The protests, following her death in custody, came to be known the world over for their defining chant of Zan, Zendigi, Azadi Women, Life, Freedom. Schoolgirls as young as 12 were standing up in public during these protests demanding accountability from the Islamist regime. Iranian protesters call for justice for Mahsa Amini during a protest organized in Londons Trafalgar Square. Steve Taylor/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images These protests were not an isolated incident of bravery. Rather, they were the result of decades of resistance movements led by women tired of facing oppression and inequality. Sowing the seeds of dissent The recognition by the Nobel committee of Mohammadis work puts the global spotlight on the fight for womens rights in the Middle East. Mohammadis family, the Oslo-based award committee, and her colleagues at the Defenders of Human Rights Center have all articulated the significance of the prize, not just for Mohammadi, but for all Iranian women who continue to bravely resist the oppression of the Iranian regime. In 2022, the World Economic Forum ranked Iran among the worst five countries in the world for womens economic opportunities and participation, health, educational attainment and political power. It is unclear, though, whether Mohammadi knows about her win. She shared a message from prison on Oct. 4 through her family when she was told that she was under consideration as a finalist. She said that she will continue to strive for democracy, freedom, and equality and vowed to remain in Iran to continue her activism. Standing alongside the brave mothers of Iran, I will continue to fight against the relentless discrimination, tyranny, and gender-based oppression by the oppressive religious government until the liberation of women, she said. It is highly unlikely that Iranian women will give up the fight even under threat of tear gas, arrest and years of detention or brutality. This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation has a variety of fascinating free newsletters. It was written by: Pardis Mahdavi, University of La Verne. Read more: Pardis Mahdavi does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. President Ebrahim Raisi says Iran supports the Palestinian right to self-defence a day after Hamas militants launched a deadly assault on Israel (Ed JONES) President Ebrahim Raisi said on Sunday that Iran supports the Palestinians' right to self-defence and warned Israel must be held accountable for endangering the region, a day after Hamas attacked Israel. Palestinian militants from the Iran-backed Islamist group Hamas, which controls the Gaza strip, penetrated Israel at dawn on Saturday under the cover of a massive rocket barrage. Almost 1,000 people have been killed in the conflict so far, with Israel reporting more than 600 lives lost and Gaza's health ministry putting its toll at 370 dead. "Iran supports the legitimate defence of the Palestinian nation," Raisi said, quoted by state television. "The Zionist regime (Israel) and its supporters are responsible for endangering the security of nations in the region, and they must be held accountable in this matter." He urged Muslim governments to "support the Palestinian nation" while praising "resistance" efforts by Hamas and Islamic Jihad as well as in countries including Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. Raisi had spoken earlier with leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, official media said. State news agency IRNA said he had "discussed the developments in Palestine" in separate phone calls with Islamic Jihad secretary general Ziyad al-Nakhalah and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh. - Pro-Palestinian gatherings - The Islamic republic hosted talks with leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in June. At the time, Raisi said Israel was seeking to normalise ties with more Arab and Muslim countries "to discourage young Palestinians from (seeking to) liberate the occupied territories", according to the presidency. On Saturday, hundreds of people gathered in major cities of Iran, including in Tehran's Palestine Square, carrying the Palestinian flag. They also held pictures of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, who was assassinated in a US drone attack in Baghdad in 2020 after overseeing the Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations for more than a decade. Billboards celebrating the offensive Hamas has dubbed "Al-Aqsa Flood" were installed in the capital, including one declaring: "The great liberation operation has begun". Crowds in some cities set off fireworks and torched Israeli flags. Others marched in Palestinian colours while motorists honked their horns in jubilation, as seen in video footage from IRNA. Iran does not recognise Israel and has made support for the Palestinian cause a centrepiece of its foreign policy since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The bitter rivals have engaged in a shadow war for years, with Iran accusing Israel of a series of sabotage attacks and assassinations targeting its nuclear programme. The United States and Israel have previously accused Iran of using drones and missiles to attack US forces and Israel-linked ships in the Gulf. ap-rkh/mz/dv TEL AVIV, Israel The Israeli government formally declared war Sunday and gave the green light for significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack, as the military tried to crush fighters still in southern towns and intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip. The toll passed 1,100 dead and thousands wounded on both sides. More than 24 hours after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still battling with militants holed up in several locations Monday morning. At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza. Israel said it brought in special forces to try to wrest control of four sites from Hamas fighters, including two kibbutzim that militants entered earlier in their attacks. The declaration of war portended greater fighting ahead, and a major question was whether Israel would launch a ground assault into Gaza, a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. Meanwhile, Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group claimed to have taken captive more than 130 people from inside Israel and brought them into Gaza, saying they would be traded for the release of thousands of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The announcement, though unconfirmed, was the first sign of the scope of abductions. The captives are known to include soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities. The Israeli military said only that the number of captives is significant. As many as 1,000 Hamas fighters were involved in Saturday mornings assault, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, speaking on ABCs This Week. The high figure underscored the extent of planning by the militant group ruling Gaza, which has said it launched the attack in response to mounting Palestinian suffering under Israels occupation and blockade of Gaza. The gunmen rampaged for hours, gunning down civilians and snatching people in towns, along highways and at a techno music festival attended by thousands in the desert. The rescue service Zaka said it removed about 260 bodies from the festival, and that number was expected to rise. It was not clear how many of those bodies were already included in Israels overall toll. In response, Israel hit more than 800 targets in Gaza so far, its military said, including airstrikes that leveled much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the enclaves northeast corner. Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters Hamas was using the town as a staging ground for attacks. There was no immediate word on casualties, and most of the communitys population of tens of thousands likely fled beforehand. We will continue to attack in this way, with this force, continuously, on all gathering (places) and routes used by Hamas, Hagari said. Civilians on both sides were already paying a high price. The Israeli military was evacuating at least five towns close to Gaza. A line of people snaked outside a central Israel police station to supply DNA samples and other means that could help identify missing family members. Mayyan Zin, a divorced mother of two, said she learned that her two daughters had been abducted when a relative sent her photos from a Telegram group showing them sitting on mattresses in captivity. She then found online videos of a chilling scene in her ex-husbands home in the town of Nahal Oz: Gunmen who had broken in speak to him, his leg bleeding, in the living room near the two terrified, weeping daughters, Dafna, 15, and Ella, 8. Another video showed the father being taken across the border into Gaza. Just bring my daughters home and to their family. All the people, Zin said. In Gaza, a tiny enclave of 2.3 million people sealed off by an Israeli-Egyptian blockade for 16 years since the Hamas takeover, residents feared further escalation. Israeli strikes flattened some residential buildings. Nasser Abu Quta said 19 members of his family including his wife were killed when an airstrike hit their home, where they were huddling on the ground floor in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. There were no militants in his building, he insisted. This is a safe house, with children and women, the 57-year-old Abu Quta said by telephone. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the strike. Some 74,000 displaced Gazans were staying in 64 shelters. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said a school sheltering more than 225 people took a direct hit. It did not say where the fire came from. Several Israeli media outlets, citing rescue service officials, said at least 700 people have been killed in Israel, including 44 soldiers. The Gaza Health Ministry said 413 people, including 78 children and 41 women, were killed in the territory. Some 2,000 people have been wounded on each side. An Israeli official said security forces have killed 400 militants and captured dozens more. Elsewhere, six Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers Sunday around the West Bank. In northern Israel, a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group fanned fears that the fighting could expand into a wider regional war. Hezbollah fired rockets and shells Sunday at Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border, and Israel fired back using armed drones. The Israeli military said the situation was calm after the exchange. The declaration of war on Hamas announced by Israels Security Cabinet was largely symbolic, said Yohanan Plesner, the head of the Israel Democracy Institute, a think tank, but it demonstrates that the government thinks we are entering a more lengthy, intense and significant period of war. Israel has carried out major military campaigns over the past four decades in Lebanon and Gaza that it portrayed as wars, but without a formal declaration. The Security Cabinet also approved significant military steps. The steps were not defined, but the declaration appears to give the military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a wide mandate. In a statement, Netanyahus office said the aim will be the destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities to an extent that prevents it from threatening Israelis for many years. Israelis were still reeling from the breadth, ferocity and surprise of the Hamas assault. The groups fighters broke through Israels security fence surrounding the Gaza Strip early Saturday. Using motorcycles and pickup trucks, even paragliders and speedboats on the coast, they moved into nearby Israeli communities as many as 22 locations. The high death toll and slow response to the onslaught pointed to a major intelligence failure and undermined the long-held perception that Israel has eyes and ears everywhere in the small, densely populated territory it has controlled for decades. The presence of hostages in Gaza complicates Israels response. Israel has a history of making heavily lopsided exchanges to bring captive Israelis home. An Egyptian official said Israel sought help from Cairo to ensure the safety of the hostages. Egypt also spoke with both sides about a potential cease-fire, but Israel was not open to a truce at this stage, according to the official, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to brief media. The shadowy leader of Hamas military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the assault, named Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, the Israeli occupation and a series of recent incidents that have brought Israeli-Palestinian tensions to a fever pitch. Israels Security Cabinet voted overnight to officially declare the country at war, the Prime Ministers Office has reported. Source: Times of Israel, with reference to a statement by the Prime Ministers Office Details: The government said it could now take "significant military steps". The Security Cabinet decision was made in accordance with Article 40 of Basic Law: The Government, which states that the country cannot go to war without a government decision. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced that schools across the country will remain closed in the coming days. The restrictions will be in effect until 18:00 on Tuesday, 10 October, but are likely to be extended if fighting continues. Businesses south of Netanya and north of the central Negev can only be opened if they have access to bomb shelters, Israels military said. The IDF Home Front Command also restricted gatherings of up to 10 people outdoors and up to 50 people indoors in those areas. Background: Latest official figures show that the death toll from Hamas attacks on Israeli settlements near Gaza has exceeded 600. 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 day after the world was rocked by imagery and video pouring out of Israel showing a highly coordinated, multi-domain, surprise assault by Hamas which left hundreds dead and scores of hostages, the region sits on edge. What is sure to be a massive ground operation into Gaza to eliminate Hamas as a functioning entity is being prepared and just how long it could last is anyone's guess. At the same time, there are major fears that this conflict could spill out into a much wider one, with Hezbollah, and its massive Iranian-supplied arsenal, being of great worry. With all that being said, let's get caught up on major developments. Israel has declared a state of war, the first time since 1973 this has occurred. https://twitter.com/ELINTNews/status/1710983556997030018?s=20 https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1710982812004704556?s=20 After Hamas fighters made their way across the Gaza border, the hostages they took include non-Israelis, which brings a multi-national facet to this conflict. Other foreign nationals were likely killed, as well. The U.S. has now made it clear that American citizens are included in those that were captured. https://twitter.com/AmberSmithUSA/status/1711026472897347803?s=20 We also know that a German national, Shani Louk, was captured , taken back to Gaza, paraded around, stripped, and shown unconscious and beaten in the back of pickup truck. She was one of a large number of victims that were attending a music festival not far from the Gaza border when Hamas raiders descended on them. https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1710820667686285406?s=20 https://twitter.com/HenMazzig/status/1710719164099318078?s=20 https://twitter.com/RealLifeFootage/status/1711021399136239817?s=20 https://twitter.com/BBCWorld/status/1711018226816061610?s=20 ABC News is reporting that the number killed at the festival is now over 260. https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1711109307700232416?s=20 International hostages in Gaza means that foreign assistance will be offered to Israel to help recover them, but the situation just underlines how tough doing so is going to be. Such a large number of hostages, which is said to be in the hundreds, being held in a dense and very hostile urban center that is about to become a full-on war zone drastically complicates already very complicated hostage rescue operations. The Pentagon has directed USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean. It was decided to do so as a contingency in case Americans need to be evacuated, but also as a deterrence signal to the region. It brings a vast array of military capabilities right to the doorstep of this conflict. The Secretary of Defense also made it clear that the U.S. is sending munitions to Israel for what is clearly going to be a sustained operation. https://twitter.com/laraseligman/status/1711069527998345557?s=20 https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1711083799822705014?s=20 https://twitter.com/IntelCrab/status/1711125742048641514?s=20 When it comes to possible expansion of the current crisis, nowhere is being watched closer than Southern Lebanon where Hezbollah poses a huge threat. The Iranian backed militant group is sitting on a absolutely massive arsenal made up of increasingly capable weaponry suicide drones, long-range rockets, and cruise missiles as well as tens of thousands of artillery rockets. Its capabilities have metastasized to the point that if they were to fully activate, the damage they could do to Israeli population centers is of grave concern. Israel has the most advanced and deeply-layered integrated air defense system (IADS) on the planet , but it would be deeply overwhelmed if Hezbollah were to unleash in full force. https://twitter.com/Aviation_Intel/status/1710839886016860473?s=20 https://twitter.com/Aviation_Intel/status/1710843137416212587?s=20 The Iranian aspect of Hezbollah would also point to the possible expansion of the conflict far beyond Israel and Southern Lebanon. Iran is already viewed as a critical facilitator and backer of the massive attack carried out by Hamas, with the elements of the group stating as much directly. https://twitter.com/AsaadHannaa/status/1710996552502641068?s=20 https://twitter.com/ragipsoylu/status/1711120795743723865?s=20 So far, Hezbollah has said it would enter the fight if Israel enters Gaza in force, yet yesterday, a single attack on an Israeli outpost did occur and Hezbollah claimed responsibility for it. Short-range artillery was fired from a school that targeted a mountaintop Israeli installation along the border with Labanon. Whether this was a rogue actor that was operating outside of Hezbollah's chain of command and the group just claimed it after the fact or if this was part of preparation for a much larger operation is not clear. The Israeli radar and listening installation would be a top target prior to a larger offensive, especially one that includes the firing of long-range missiles and drones, but it may have just been a target of opportunity for whoever fired at it. https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1710912706088165767?s=20 https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1710881390395281721?s=20 https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1710744365893566969?s=20 There are also fears of a major influx of foreign fighters into the region who will attempt to bolster Hamas and other aligned groups' war against Israel. The video below shows a unit of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Force pledging to fight for Palestine. https://twitter.com/omartvsd/status/1710978530513731718?s=20 How Hamas was able to execute a multi-pronged attack on such a scale without Israeli intelligence knowing about it remains a huge question that nobody seems to have an answer to. Gaza is one of the most highly surveilled pieces of land on the planet. Beyond the infiltration into Israeli territory, setting up and firing thousands of rockets within hours takes movement of materiel and broad coordination, none of which appeared to have been seen or at least elevated to an actionable level by Mossad. https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1710822439347773824?s=20 https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/1710793828054016461?s=20 IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari punched-home the claim that Hamas is now using a playbook similar to that of ISIS: https://twitter.com/IAFsite/status/1711069959000924274?s=20 https://twitter.com/IAFsite/status/1711069968408731976?s=20 The use of commercially available drones turned into bomblet droppers in the attack on Israel is just another reminder of how this is the new reality of warfare, one that no military is prepared to confront. https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1710613076498587760?s=20 https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1710623679497875505?s=20 Hamas has had suicide drone capability for some time , but the video below shows them being launched from concealed 'dugout' positions during the mass attack: https://twitter.com/mahmouedgamal44/status/1710915590427201890?s=20 Airstrikes have continued in Gaza. We will likely see this ramp up dramatically in the coming hours and days as new target sets are generated in preparation and then in support of a ground operation. https://twitter.com/IAFsite/status/1711102411706626386?s=20 https://twitter.com/IntelCrab/status/1711086999606571287?s=20 https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1711045265103155352?s=20 https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1711040768087891980?s=20 https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1710850297843597417?s=20 https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1711077716777226545?s=20 https://twitter.com/IAFsite/status/1710979309207212117?s=20 https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/1710957961051336794?s=20 Israel has published videos claiming to show Hamas foot soldiers on the Gaza border being struck by AH-64 Apache helicopters: https://twitter.com/JoeTruzman/status/1710873731969830979?s=20 The Israeli operation is called Swords of Iron and the IAF says it has hit 150 targets with dozens of fighter aircraft in the "Shuja'iyya." The official statement on the operation reads: "Shuja'iyya is used as a "terror nest" for the Hamas terrorist organization. Many attacks against Israel originated in it, including during the recent invasion. In parallel, terror infrastructure in the residence of Farah Hamed, a senior operative belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization, was targeted. The site was located adjacent to a mosque and three schools, which demonstrates that the Hamas terrorist organization takes advantage of holy sites and civilians to advance terror operations." Targeted operations against Hamas military leadership are also ongoing. The deputy commander of Hamas's naval force was snatched by Israeli naval special operations forces. Intelligence extraction and rapid exploitation from key individuals would be of the top priority at this time. https://twitter.com/UKikaski/status/1711110590800826438?s=20 https://twitter.com/manniefabian/status/1711106300531110130?s=20 Iron Dome remains highly active intercepting continuing barrages of Hamas artillery rockets: https://twitter.com/IntelCrab/status/1711122856271090040?s=20 https://twitter.com/AuroraIntel/status/1711122694672974101?s=20 https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1711124067426635782?s=20 The situation in Jerusalem also remains very tense: https://twitter.com/officejjsmart/status/1711120367534621052?s=20 We are also getting additional video of the battles that have taken place against Israeli security forces and Hamas gunmen that had taken up barricaded positions inside Israel. https://twitter.com/manniefabian/status/1710987088600977563?s=20 In various places around the globe, demonstrations in support of both Israel and Hamas have occurred. In New York City, the two sides faced off in Times Square: https://twitter.com/TheInsiderPaper/status/1711075873741312021?s=20 We will continue to update this post as more information comes available. Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com From the window of his familys apartment, Aweke Zena surveys damage from a rocket from Gaza that struck a parking lot in Ashkelon, Israel, Oct. 7, 2023. (Tamir Kalifa/The New York Times) TEL AVIV, Israel Hamas attack Saturday took Israeli intelligence officials by surprise, particularly the methods the militants used to enter and leave Israel, according to a senior defense official familiar with the information collected about the group. The broad attack, mostly successful from Hamas point of view, revealed some significant failures by the Israeli defense establishment. It also may change Israels overall strategic approach to Hamas and the Gaza Strip, said the official, who asked not to be identified when discussing security matters. And that could have a far-reaching effect on the entire Middle East. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Until now, Israel has contained Hamas and Gaza with a strategy that hinged on an intelligence network that would warn against Hamas moves, and on the power of the Israeli army to repel a ground invasion by Hamas. In the Hamas attack Saturday, these two safeguards failed. Israel is traditionally perceived as the strongest intelligence power in the region, with extensive coverage of the Gaza Strip. And in recent months, Israeli intelligence did repeatedly warn that a military conflict could flare up because Iran and affiliated militias have perceived Israel as weakened by the nations profound divisions over the judicial overhaul being pursued by the ultra-right governing coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to four senior defense officials. Still, while Israeli intelligence collected some indications that Hamas was planning a major operation, they were far from forming a clear picture, one of the officials added. Israel, the official said, did not pick up on the elaborate preparations that were most likely needed for the 250 Hamas militants tasked to lead the assault, and target military bases, cities and kibbutzim. U.S. officials, too, said that both Israel and the United States had known a Hamas attack at some point was possible, or even likely. But they said there was no specific tactical warning of the strikes Saturday, no sign that would have allowed Israel to take specific measures. Many questioned why Israel and the United States were blindsided. Mick Mulroy, a former CIA officer and senior Pentagon official, said the complexity of the attack by Hamas indicated that it would have required much preparation. There were likely indications of the buildup of munitions and the preparation of the assault force, and there was cyber activity in Israel prior to the assault, Mulroy said. Since the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005, Hamas has transformed from a militant organization to the leader of a territory with many characteristics of a state. The group has started rounds of fighting with Israel every few years, which usually have not lasted more than a week. These attacks include firing rockets on Israeli cities and trying to kidnap or kill Israelis. But nothing has been as extensive as the Saturday attack. For its part, Israel in past years has responded with its enormous firepower, usually from aircraft, against targets in Gaza and has tried to assassinate the organizations senior officials. But it has launched very limited ground maneuvers. The Israeli strategy has been to contain the fighting against militants in the Gaza Strip, as long as Israels fatalities were not too high, which might oblige it to engage in an all-out ground invasion. Four successive Israeli prime ministers decided that the price of invading and occupying the Gaza Strip to crush Hamas rule would be too high, in the lives of Israeli soldiers and Palestinians, and that the toll of governing millions of residents there would be too costly. Israel continued to act this way even though it knew that both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have received funding, training, weapons and advanced combat and intelligence gear from Iran, three officials said, and that the militant groups were becoming stronger. The surprise attack on Israel came almost 50 years to the day to the start of the Yom Kippur War, which began with a surprise attack by Syrian tank columns and Egyptian brigades. That made it even more surprising that Israel was not more on guard. The defense official said this was most likely not a coincidence but a careful choice by Hamas to pick a date perceived as a national trauma. The intelligence surprise, as well as Hamas ability to cross the border and cause heavy losses, is strikingly reminiscent of the 1973 war. Israel has invested enormous resources in getting intelligence about Hamas, gathering significant information about most of its initiatives and targeting many of its leaders. But Saturday was not the first time that Hamas has managed to surprise Israeli intelligence. In June 2006 when a Hamas squad entered Israel, attacked a group of soldiers, killed two and kidnapped the soldier Gilad Shalit, Israeli intelligence did not know about the attack, or where Shalit was being held for more than five years. Israel eventually paid the highest price it had ever paid to secure a prisoner of war. That deal brought intense controversy within Israel, which could flare again with reports that dozens of Israeli soldiers and civilians had been captured. The Israeli Defense Forces, even though they were aware of the possibility of a ground invasion by Hamas to seize military bases and civilians along the border, were slow to reach the scenes of violence. Many residents were forced to defend themselves. The videos Hamas took during the operation and which were immediately distributed on social media presented the Israeli defense establishment as weak, surprised and humiliated. Israel is now likely to respond with force, and possibly with a ground invasion of Gaza, in the belief that Hamas did not leave it any choice, a senior defense official said. One key question, which will determine how the crisis unfolds, is whether Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, stays on the sidelines or if it activates its fighters to attack Israel. If Hezbollah becomes directly involved the fighting it is likely to become some of the most intense in the region in years. c.2023 The New York Times Company A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces said his country hasnt regained full control in the wake of attacks from militant group Hamas Saturday. There are still active battles between Israeli security forces and terrorists inside Gaza, Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus told CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer. And unfortunately, we have not yet been able to re-establish full control over all of our communities and all of our bases. This is the top priority, he added. Hamas attack involved its militants infiltrating Israeli towns and the launching of missiles into Israel. Fighting in the region has resulted in the deaths of at least 250 people in Israel and 232 in Gaza, according to Israeli local media and the Palestinian government. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the attack murderous in a televised address Saturday. We are at war not in an operation or at rounds, but in a war, Netanyahu said. The enemy will pay an unprecedented priceWe are at war and we will win it. President Joe Biden released a statement Saturday condemning the attacks. The United States unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza, and I made clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu that we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel, Biden said in a statement. Bidens Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, also made comments expressing solidarity with Israel in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. We unequivocally condemn the appalling attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israel, Blinken said on X. We stand in solidarity with the government and people of Israel and extend our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Samia Nakhoul and Jonathan Saul (Reuters) - A careful campaign of deception ensured Israel was caught off guard when the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched its devastating attack, enabling a force using bulldozers, hang gliders and motorbikes to take on the Middle East's most powerful army. Saturday's assault, the worst breach in Israel's defences since Arab armies waged war in 1973, followed two years of subterfuge by Hamas that involved keeping its military plans under wraps and convincing Israel it did not want a fight. While Israel was led to believe it was containing a war-weary Hamas by providing economic incentives to Gazan workers, the group's fighters were being trained and drilled, often in plain sight, a source close to Hamas said. This source provided many of the details for the account of the attack and its buildup that has been pieced together by Reuters. Three sources within Israel's security establishment, who like others asked not to be identified, also contributed to this account. "Hamas gave Israel the impression that it was not ready for a fight," said the source close to Hamas, describing plans for the most startling assault since the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago when Egypt and Syria surprised Israel and made it fight for its survival. "Hamas used an unprecedented intelligence tactic to mislead Israel over the last months, by giving a public impression that it was not willing to go into a fight or confrontation with Israel while preparing for this massive operation," the source said. Israel concedes it was caught off guard by an attack timed to coincide with the Jewish Sabbath and a religious holiday. Hamas fighters stormed into Israeli towns, killing 700 Israelis and abducting dozens. Israel has killed more than 400 Palestinians in its retaliation on Gaza since then. "This is our 9/11," said Major Nir Dinar, spokesperson for the Israeli Defence Forces. "They got us." "They surprised us and they came fast from many spots - both from the air and the ground and the sea." Osama Hamdan, the Hamas representative in Lebanon, told Reuters the attack showed Palestinians had the will to achieve their goals "regardless of Israel's military power and capabilities." 'THEY RAN RIOT' In one of the most striking elements of their preparations, Hamas constructed a mock Israeli settlement in Gaza where they practiced a military landing and trained to storm it, the source close to Hamas said, adding they even made videos of the manoeuvres. "Israel surely saw them but they were convinced that Hamas wasn't keen on getting into a confrontation," the source said. Meanwhile, Hamas sought to convince Israel it cared more about ensuring that workers in Gaza, a narrow strip of land with more than two million residents, had access to jobs across the border and had no interest in starting a new war. "Hamas was able to build a whole image that it was not ready for a military adventure against Israel," the source said. Since a 2021 war with Hamas, Israel has sought to provide a basic level of economic stability in Gaza by offering incentives including thousands of permits so Gazans can work in Israel or the West Bank, where salaries in construction, agriculture or service jobs can be 10 times the level of pay in Gaza. "We believed that the fact that they were coming in to work and bringing money into Gaza would create a certain level of calm. We were wrong," another Israeli army spokesperson said. An Israeli security source acknowledged Israel's security services were duped by Hamas. "They caused us to think they wanted money," the source said. "And all the time they were involved in exercises/drills until they ran riot." As part of its subterfuge in the past two years, Hamas refrained from military operations against Israel, even as another Gaza-based Islamist armed group known as Islamic Jihad launched a series of its own assaults or rocket attacks. NO INKLING The restraint shown by Hamas drew public criticism from some supporters, again aimed at building an impression that Hamas had economic concerns not a new war on its mind, the source said. In the West Bank, controlled by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah group, there were those who mocked Hamas for going quiet. In one Fatah statement published in June 2022, the group accused Hamas leaders of fleeing to Arab capitals to live in "luxurious hotels and villas" leaving their people to poverty in Gaza. A second Israeli security source said there was a period when Israel believed the movement's leader in Gaza, Yahya Al-Sinwar, was preoccupied with managing Gaza "rather than killing Jews". At the same time, Israel turned its focus away from Hamas as it pushed for a deal to normalise relations with Saudi Arabia, he added. Israel has long prided itself on its ability to infiltrate and monitor Islamist groups. As a consequence, the source close to Hamas said, a crucial part of the plan was to avoid leaks. Many Hamas leaders were unaware of the plans and, while training, the 1,000 fighters deployed in the assault had no inkling of the exact purpose of the exercises, the source added. When the day came, the operation was divided into four parts, the Hamas source said, describing the various elements. The first move was a barrage of 3,000 rockets fired from Gaza that coincided with incursions by fighters who flew hang gliders, or motorised paragliders, over the border, the source said. Israel has previously said 2,500 rockets were fired at first. Once the fighters on hang-gliders were on the ground, they secured the terrain so an elite commando unit could storm the fortified electronic and cement wall built by Israel to prevent infiltration. The fighters used explosives to breach the barriers and then sped across on motorbikes. Bulldozers widened the gaps and more fighters entered in four-wheel drives, scenes that witnesses described. 'HUGE FAILURE' A commando unit attacked the Israeli army's southern Gaza headquarters and jammed its communications, preventing personnel from calling commanders or each other, the source said. The final part involved moving hostages to Gaza, mostly achieved early in the attack, the source close to Hamas said. In one well-publicised hostage taking, fighters abducted party-goers fleeing a rave near the kibbutz of Re'im near Gaza. Social media footage showed dozens of people running through fields and on a road as gunshots were heard. "How could this party happen this close (to Gaza)?" the Israeli security source said. The Israeli security source said Israeli troops were below full strength in the south near Gaza because some had been redeployed to the West Bank to protect Israeli settlers following a surge of violence between them and Palestinian militants. "They (Hamas) exploited that," the source said. Dennis Ross, a former Middle East negotiator who is now at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said Israel had been distracted by violence in the West Bank, leading to a "thin, under-prepared presence in the south." "Hamas probably succeeded beyond their expectation. Now they will have to deal with an Israel determined to decimate them," he said. Retired General Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told reporters on Sunday the assault represented "a huge failure of the intelligence system and the military apparatus in the south." Amidror, chairman of the National Security Council from April 2011-November 2013 and now senior fellow with the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, said some of Israel's allies had been saying that Hamas had acquired "more responsibility". "We stupidly began to believe that it was true," he said. "So, we made a mistake. We are not going to make this mistake again and we will destroy Hamas, slowly but surely." (Reporting by Samia Nakhoul in Dubai and Jonathan Saul in London; Additional reporting by Ali Sawafta in the West Bank and Matt Spetalnick in Washington, Writing by William Maclean; Editing by Edmund Blair) BEIJING (Reuters) - Israel expected to see a "stronger condemnation" of Hamas from China, a country it views as its friend, Yuval Waks, a senior official at the Israeli embassy in Beijing, said on Sunday. "When people are being murdered, slaughtered in the streets, this is not the time to call for a two-state solution," Waks told reporters. China's foreign ministry earlier on Sunday urged the relevant parties to remain calm and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians, adding that "the fundamental way out of the conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent State of Palestine." (Reporting by Yew Lun Tian; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) The Israeli government on Sunday formally declared war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Hamas controls the blockaded territory of Gaza, which is home to roughly 2 million people. Israeli officials say their goal is to wipe out the group and take full control of the enclave. The Israeli government has formally declared war on Hamas, hours after the country's military began bombarding the Gaza Strip with a stated goal of eliminating the militant group and seizing full control of the Palestinian territory. US officials, meanwhile, said they expect Israel to launch a full-scale ground invasion in the next 24 to 48 hours. The vote to formally declare war came over night and was announced Sunday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose office said there would now be "significant military activities," The Times of Israel reported. More than 600 Israelis were killed over the weekend in a shocking cross-border raid by militants based in Gaza, which is home to roughly 2 million people. Videos show elderly women slaughtered as they waited at a bus stop in southern Israel, as well as the lifeless bodies of people attending a music festival near the border. About 100 people, including women and children, are also believed to have been abducted and taken back to the Palestinian territory. Even before the formal declaration of war, Israel was taking action against alleged Hamas targets in Gaza, where it is urging civilians to avoid areas occupied by the militant group, which has controlled the territory since 2006, the last time residents of the territory voted in an election. But civilians say it is impossible to reach safety in the densely-populated enclave, where Israel accuses of Hamas of deliberately placing weapons and militants near civilians. On Saturday, an Israeli airstrike leveled a 14-story apartment building in Gaza City. More than 300 Palestinians have died in the fighting thus far, according to local health authorities. In a statement on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces said it was bombarding targets in Gaza with one goal in mind: "To control the entire enclave and kill all the terrorists in our territory," Lt. Col. Richard Hech told reporters, per CNN. Israel had previously occupied the Gaza Strip, but in 2005 then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon oversaw a strategic withdrawal from the territory and the dismantling of the last Jewish settlements there. The strip has been largely blockaded ever since. The last major war between Israel and Hamas occurred in 2014, leaving 2,200 Gaza residents dead. Read the original article on Business Insider President Joe Biden and his aides have long tried to bring some calm to the Middle East, in large part so that the United States could focus more intensely on the greater long-term challenge: China. That strategy is now in danger due to this weekends stunning attack on Israel by the Palestinian militants of Hamas. As Israel retaliates, the possibility of a wider regional war looms, demanding more of Bidens attention. Hundreds of people have died. Biden and his team will inevitably have less bandwidth to focus on Beijing. And thats as the Biden administrations attention already is stretched due to Russias war in Ukraine. Its a frustrating dynamic for a White House that had notched what it believed were major, often unsung successes in the Middle East. (And hardly a novel one: Many presidents trying to focus their efforts elsewhere have been vexed by the Middle East.) That included freezing the war in Yemen and making headway on pre-existing efforts to help Israel build diplomatic, economic and other ties with once-hostile Arab states; even the Palestinians had gotten involved. The Biden team described the strategy as promoting regional integration, but the conflict threatens an unraveling. Still, its early days, so there are many more questions than answers. Here are some that national security professionals in Washington and beyond are pondering: How big will this get? Whats now a fight between Israel and Hamas has the potential to turn into a wider war, convulsing a region that hosts many rivalries and many U.S. troops. Hamas may long for its Iranian backers and sympathetic Arab governments to come to its direct aid. Other armed groups, including Lebanon-based Hezbollah, could provide manpower or seize the moment to spur violence elsewhere. There were reports Sunday that Hezbollah had fired mortar shells at Israeli positions. The fighting could also spread beyond the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and to the West Bank. There, tensions between Palestinians and Israelis have risen as Israel has built more settlements on land claimed by Palestinians. But each government or group also has incentives to avoid the fray, including not wanting to endanger ties with Washington or spill blood and treasure on a war with no clear endgame. American officials are scrambling to contain the fighting. Biden on Saturday warned against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation. His aides, meanwhile, are burning up the phones. Anyone who has influence one way or the other has been spoken with, said a U.S. official familiar with the issue who, like others, was granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue. Israel warned other hostile actors not to get involved. The expansion of the arena of combat against Israel will be met with a particularly harsh response, including determined and lethal actions by Israel, an Israeli official said. Is Iran to blame? Some hawks in Washington and beyond have been quick to label Tehran as the true culprit behind the Hamas attack. Iran, after all, has long financially and militarily aided Hamas. A Hamas spokesperson reportedly said Iran supported the weekend attack, and Iranian officials have cheered it. A Wall Street Journal report Sunday, citing senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, said Iranian security officials had helped plan the attack. But groups like Hamas do retain a certain level of independence from Tehran, and U.S. officials have yet to cast blame on Iran. At this moment, we dont have anything that shows us that Iran was directly involved in this attack, in planning it or in carrying it out, but thats something were looking at very carefully, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday morning on NBCs Meet the Press. This doesnt mean that Iran will walk away without repercussions. The United States could, for instance, impose new sanctions on Tehran on account of its general support for Hamas. Will the Saudi-Israel dance end? The Hamas attack threatens a U.S.-backed peace initiative that would see Saudi Arabia normalize diplomatic relations with Israel in exchange for U.S. security guarantees and other favors. But its too soon to say the plan is derailed, though it will be delayed. As Hamas attacked, Saudi Arabia and other Arab states issued statements more sympathetic to the Palestinians than Israel. But such immediate responses do not eclipse other factors the Saudis, Israel and the United States consider in crafting a grand peace deal. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is not as fixated on the Palestinian crisis as past Saudi leaders. Like Israel, he sees Iran a major Hamas backer as a threat to his country. Saudi Arabia and Israel already informally cooperate on Iran; making their ties official strengthens the anti-Tehran bulwark. Israel already has struck diplomatic normalization deals with Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco. It has many incentives including economic to strike such a deal with Saudi Arabia, home to the holiest sites of Islam. For the United States, anything that brings more calm to the Middle East is welcome for reasons that affect policies ranging from counterterrorism to energy. Another major factor is a desire by Washington to offset growing Chinese influence in the Middle East. China is not just showing up. They are showing up with massive, massive offers to these countries, a senior Biden administration official told POLITICO last week, before the Hamas attack. The official declined to detail the shape of the grand bargain, including what security guarantees the U.S. would offer the Saudis. The official also said Palestinians had been participating. They want to be a part of this process, and we would not do it without them, the official said. That is a major change from their policy, which has been they will never engage in any process that has to do with an Arab state normalizing relations with Israel absent a Palestinian state. The official didnt specify which Palestinians, but the reference was likely to people affiliated with the Palestinian Authority. That body, which governs in the West Bank, is a weak rival to Hamas and an ongoing agitator against Israel. But its fate may be affected by the new fighting. After all, noted one former senior State Department official, there is the question of who rules Gaza when this is done. How did Israel not see this coming? Theres no quick answer to the glaring question of how such a sophisticated, multipronged Hamas attack could happen without Israels vast intelligence apparatus or that of the U.S.seeing it ahead of time. There will be some kind of national commission of inquiry as to the intelligence failures that occurred, Jonathan Schanzer of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies predicted. Schanzer said the conventional thinking in Israel is that Hamas has always been a tactical threat serious, but not one that could end the viability of Israel. But maybe Israel didnt fully appreciate that Hamas, with help from Iran, had evolved into a more strategic threat, Schanzer said. Israel fought with Hamas in 2021, taking out numerous targets of the militant group in Gaza over 11 days that left at least 260 Palestinians and a dozen Israelis dead. Is it possible it ended that fight too quickly before it had done enough damage to Hamas capabilities? The United States at the time made a concerted effort to convince Israel to limit the operations length. Still, Israel also had reached a point of diminishing returns when it came to the number of targets it could hit, Schanzer said. This round of fighting could last much longer than 11 days, not least because Israel may stage a ground incursion and because Hamas is holding numerous hostages. Will this affect Ukraine? The United States already is ramping up its provision of military equipment, munitions and other resources to Israel. Its also deploying ships and aircraft near Israel in a show of support. The moves come amid a partisan fight over whether Washington should keep providing military and economic aid to Ukraine as it battles Russias invasion. Republicans who have expressed growing misgivings about ongoing support for Ukraine quickly spoke in favor of aiding Israel. (The latter is a top cause for evangelical Christians who make up a notable chunk of the GOP base.) For now, U.S. officials insist that aiding Israel on the military front wont affect the aid to Ukraine. Different systems are involved in many cases. Ukrainians may be disappointed in how America treats them versus Israel, a country whose military might they hope to echo. It doesnt help that Israel has not offered Ukraine as much support as it could, chilling their relations. Israel has refused to send the Iron Dome, an air defense system, to Ukraine to help protect its civilians and military positions from Russian attacks. What about Chinas role? Earlier this year, Chinese officials said theyd be willing to make a run at peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians. This followed a successful Chinese role in the restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. But Chinas reaction to the latest violence may temporarily sour Israelis on Beijings advances. In a statement Sunday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Israel and Palestine it used that term instead of Hamas or Palestinians should remain calm, exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians and avoid further deterioration of the situation. It went on to call for a two-state solution. For Israelis, this is infuriating. The latest attacks are arguably the worst violence theyve experienced in 50 years. They come from a heavily armed outfit that took control of a territory after Israel had dismantled settlements there in the hopes of paving the way for long-term peace. Israelis feel they have every right to strike back against Hamas. Yuval Waks, a senior official at the Israeli embassy in Beijing, expressed disappointment in Chinas statement. When people are being murdered, slaughtered in the streets, this is not the time to call for a two-state solution, Waks told reporters, according to Reuters. That said, China is an increasingly important player in the region, and one Israel or Saudi Arabia or Iran is unlikely to shun any time soon. David Cohen and Lara Seligman contributed to this report. TechCrunch Several groups of hacktivists have targeted Israeli websites with floods of malicious traffic following a surprise land, sea and air attack launched against Israel by militant group Hamas on Saturday, which prompted Israel to declare war and retaliate. Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post reported Monday that since Saturday morning its website was down due to a series of cyberattacks initiated against us. The Jerusalem Post is currently experiencing downtime due to a series of cyberattacks initiated against us since yesterday morning. A mosque lies in ruins Sunday following an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip. (Yousef Masoud / Associated Press) With at least 700 people reported dead in Hamas terrorist and rocket attacks, and more than 400 Gazans reported killed in Israeli counterattacks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Sunday of a protracted conflict as Israel reacts to the bloodiest attack on its own soil in 50 years. Israel pressed its bombing campaign on Gaza on Sunday, firing a relentless barrage on the coastal strip and formally declaring war as Gaza's Hamas rulers said their fighters continued to battle Israeli forces inside Israel. Israeli citizens were reeling from the unprecedented scale of the mayhem, in which militants slaughtered more than 200 youths at a musical festival and kidnapped elderly people and entire families. The violence shattered the relative comfort that many Israelis have enjoyed for years. The Biden administration and other Western powers struggled to find a resolution that would stanch the bloodshed, amid concerns of the possibility of a wider regional conflagration after Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militant group and political party, said in a statement Sunday that it had launched artillery and guided rockets on three posts on the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms in southern Lebanon "in solidarity" with the Palestinian people. The attacks were intended to "liberate what remains of our occupied land," Hezbollah said, adding that an Israeli drone destroyed a Hezbollah tent in the area. Israeli forces said in a statement on the messaging app Telegram that their retaliatory bombing campaign had hit 10 Hamas targets in multistory buildings in Gaza, including the group's intelligence headquarters and a military compound, as well as a weapons production site and an arms storage area belonging to the Islamic Jihad militant group. Fire and smoke rise above Gaza City after an Israeli airstrike. (Fatima Shbair / Associated Press) Israel said it brought in special forces to try to wrest control of four sites from Hamas fighters, including two kibbutzim that militants entered earlier in their attacks. The fighting came on the second day of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, which launched a stunning cross-border incursion Saturday that caught Israel off guard and had its forces scrambling to beat back attackers on multiple fronts. As many as 1,000 Hamas fighters were involved in the assault, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said on ABCs This Week a high figure that underscored the extent of planning by the militant group. Netanyahu grimly told his compatriots that their country was "at war" and on Sunday, Israel's Security Cabinet issued a formal declaration. Read more: News Analysis: Sudden war in Israel and Gaza upends region's diplomatic, political calculations Israeli media cited the country's rescue services as saying that at least 700 Israelis had been killed, including 44 soldiers, along with some 2,000 wounded. Health officials in Gaza said Sunday that 413 people in the enclave had died, with 2,000 others wounded. More than 100 Israelis had been kidnapped and were being held in Gaza, according to the Israeli Government Press Office, which as yet has not given an exact figure. The situation will greatly complicate Israel's strategy during and after the fighting. Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group on Sunday claimed to have taken captive more than 130 people from inside Israel and brought them into Gaza, saying they would be traded for the release of thousands of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Abu Ubaida, military spokesman for the Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, taunted Netanyahu in a statement Sunday, saying Israeli forces "fell like grasshoppers by the hundreds." "Threatening Gaza and its resistance and its people is a losing game and a broken record," Ubaida said. Israeli police Sunday retrieve weapons used by militants outside a police station that was overrun by Hamas gunmen the day before in Sderot, Israel. (Ohad Zwigenberg / Associated Press) In Lebanon, United Nations peacekeeping forces in the south, known as UNIFIL, said that they remained in position and were in contact with both Israel and Hezbollah "to contain the situation and avoid a more serious escalation." "We urge everyone to exercise restraint and make use of UNIFILs liaison and coordination mechanisms to de-escalate to prevent a fast deterioration of the security situation," the group said. The Lebanese army said Sunday that it had deployed near the border with Israel, was running patrols and was "closely coordinating" with U.N. forces. Read more: Photos: Israel bombards Gaza after Hamas attack, prepares for major offensive Hamas gunmen rampaged for hours Saturday, gunning down civilians and snatching people in towns, along highways and at a techno music festival attended by thousands in the desert near Gaza. The rescue service Zaka said it removed about 260 bodies from the festival, and the toll was expected to rise. It was not clear how many were already included in Israels overall toll. In central Israel, a line of Israelis snaked outside a police station to supply DNA samples and other means that could help identify missing family members. Mayyan Zin, a divorced mother of two, said she learned that her two daughters had been abducted when a relative sent her photos from a Telegram group showing them sitting on mattresses in captivity. She then found online videos of a chilling scene in her ex-husbands home in the town of Nahal Oz: Gunmen who had broken in speak to him, his leg bleeding, in the living room near the two terrified, weeping daughters, Dafna, 15, and Ella, 8. Another video showed the father being taken across the border into Gaza. In Gaza, whose electricity supply has now been cut off by Israel, Mohammad Essi said he escaped with his family from a residential tower near the Islamic National Bank, one of the buildings targeted in Israel's response early Sunday morning. Read more: Shock and stepped-up security in Southern California as Israel-Gaza battle rages "The army called my neighbor and said we have to leave our homes," said Essi, 31. Soon afterward, a powerful strike hit the bank building, destroying many buildings nearby. "People were running out into the streets to escape," he said. By late morning, bulldozers and onlookers were working to clear the rubble. "No one was killed, but the area is shattered," Essi said. Groups of residents, fearing an Israeli land invasion, were leaving areas close to the northern borders of the Gaza Strip and heading toward Gaza City. Gaza residents reported receiving messages on their cellphones Sunday telling them to leave their homes and head to "known shelters." The message added to fears of a forthcoming land incursion. Some 123,000 displaced Gazans were staying in 64 shelters, with the number expected to increase. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said a school sheltering more than 225 people took a direct hit. It did not say where the fire came from. People inspect the rubble of a building hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. (Fatima Shbair / Associated Press) The scale and tactics of Saturday's incursion from Gaza, which saw Hamas fighters pour across the border by land, sea and air after a sustained rocket barrage, dumbfounded the Israeli government. Questions were immediately raised as to how the Israeli security establishment, with its vaunted network of informants and intelligence-gathering operations in the Palestinian territories, could have failed to detect plans of such a sophisticated attack on so many fronts. U.S. officials said senior Hamas and Hezbollah officials traveled in recent weeks to Iran for meetings with top Iranian leaders, suggesting they conspired to launch attacks on Israel, although the timing was unclear. The lapse was particularly embarrassing for Netanyahu, who has styled himself as a strong, security-minded leader and who has moved further right with tough-talking rhetoric against Palestinians to appease his ultranationalist governing partners. Israels longest-serving prime minister had also been working toward normalizing ties with Saudi Arabia after signing accords with other Arab states, such as Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. His vow to obliterate Hamas in Gaza, which will have the unavoidable effect of further immiserating the lives of the 2 million people crammed into the Mediterranean enclave, will complicate those diplomatic moves. A building in Tel Aviv was damaged by militant rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. (Oded Balilty / Associated Press) All the places that Hamas hides in, operates in, we will turn them into ruins, Netanyahu said Saturday. He warned Gazas residents to get out of there now, in advance of Israels retaliation, even though they, in effect, have no way to do so, since the territory has been under blockade by Israel and Egypt for years. The Security Cabinet's declaration of war was largely symbolic, said Yohanan Plesner, the head of the Israel Democracy Institute, a local think tank. But it demonstrates that the government thinks we are entering a more lengthy, intense and significant period of war. Israel has carried out major military campaigns over the last four decades in Lebanon and Gaza that it portrayed as wars, but without a formal declaration. The Security Cabinet also approved undefined significant military steps. Israel hit more than 800 targets in Gaza so far, its military said, including airstrikes that leveled much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the enclave's northeast corner. Warplanes fired tons of explosives on 120 targets in the town, Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters, saying Hamas was using it as a staging ground for attacks. There was no immediate word on casualties, and most of the community's population of tens of thousands of people likely fled before the bombardment. We will continue to attack in this way, with this force, continuously, on all gathering [places] and routes" used by Hamas, Hagari said. President Biden has condemned Hamas' assault, declaring that "the United States stands with Israel. We will not ever fail to have her back." British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also pledged "full solidarity" with Israel. This is the second time that Israel and Hamas have engaged in full-scale hostilities in 2 years. The last war their fourth lasted nearly two weeks in May 2021 before the two sides agreed to an internationally brokered cease-fire. But rather than dissipating, the animating forces of that conflict have persisted, with tensions at a constant simmer. Many Palestinians lambaste Israel for its tightened control over sites in Jerusalem that are holy to Muslims and Christians as well as to Jews, and have denounced the far-right governments determination to build more Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which they see as colonization and ethnic cleansing and which most of the international community considers illegal. Constant military raids in the West Bank, which Israel says are necessary to thwart or punish deadly attacks on settlers and other Israelis, have resulted in the deaths of dozens of Palestinians. Although Israel says most of those killed have been militants, bystanders have also been among the casualties. Last month, Save the Children said Israeli forces had killed at least 38 children since the beginning of 2023 until September, making it the deadliest year since records began; at least six Israeli children were also killed in the same time period, the group said. On Sunday, six Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers around the West Bank. The sophisticated assault on Israel, when many residents were celebrating a normally joyous holiday, revived painful memories of the coordinated surprise attack by Egypt and Syria half a century ago, in 1973, when Israelis were observing Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. That conflict lasted for 20 days. Bulos reported from Amman, Chu from London and Wilkinson from Washington. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) Israeli soldiers battled Hamas fighters in the streets of southern Israel on Sunday and launched retaliation strikes that leveled buildings in Gaza, while in northern Israel a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group raised fears of a broader conflict. There was still some fighting underway more than 24 hours after an unprecedented surprise attack from Gaza, in which Hamas militants, backed by a volley of thousands of rockets, broke through Israels security barrier and rampaged through nearby communities. At least 600 people have reportedly been killed in Israel a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades and more than 300 have been killed in Gaza. The militants also took captives back into the coastal Gaza enclave, including women, children and the elderly, whom they will likely try to trade for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The high death toll, multiple captives and slow response to the onslaught pointed to a major intelligence failure and undermined the long-held perception that Israel has eyes and ears everywhere in the small, densely populated territory it has controlled for decades. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country was at war and would exact a heavy price from its enemies. His Security Cabinet officially declared the country at war in an announcement on Sunday, saying the decision formally authorizes the taking of significant military steps, without elaborating. Hamas leaders have said they are prepared for any further escalation. A major question now was whether Israel will launch a ground assault into Gaza, a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. Netanyahu vowed that Hamas will pay an unprecedented price. But, he warned, This war will take time. It will be difficult. Civilians paid a staggering cost for the violence on both sides. Several Israeli media outlets, citing rescue service officials, said at least 600 people were killed in Israel, including 44 soldiers, while officials in Gaza said 313 people had died in the territory. Some 2,000 people have been wounded on each side. An Israeli official said security forces have killed 400 militants and captured dozens more. Israeli TV news aired a stream of accounts from the relatives of captive or missing Israelis, who wailed and begged for assistance amid a fog of uncertainty surrounding the fate of their loved ones. In Gaza, residents fled homes near the border to escape Israeli strikes, fleeing deeper inside the territory after warnings in Arabic from the Israeli military. In neighboring Egypt, a policeman shot dead two Israeli tourists and an Egyptian at a tourist site in Alexandria, the Interior Ministry said. Egypt made peace with Israel decades ago, but anti-Israel sentiment runs high in the country, especially during bouts of Israeli-Palestinian violence. The flare-up on Israels northern border also threatened to draw into the battle Hezbollah, a fierce enemy of Israel which is backed by Iran and estimated to have tens of thousands of rockets at its disposal. Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and shells on Sunday at three Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border and Israels military fired back using armed drones. Two children were lightly wounded by broken glass on the Lebanese side, according to the nearby Marjayoun Hospital. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military official, told reporters the situation at the northern border was calm after the exchange. But he said fighting was still underway in the south and that there were still hostage situations there. He said troops had moved into every community near the Gaza frontier, where they planned to evacuate all civilians and scour the area for militants. We will go through every community until we kill every terrorist that is in Israeli territory, he said. In Gaza, every terrorist located in a house, all the commanders in houses, will be hit by Israeli fire. That will continue escalating in the coming hours. Hamas said that overnight it had continued to send forces and equipment into a number of locations inside our occupied territories, referring to Israel. Hamas-linked media reported that the son of Nizar Awadallah, a senior political official, was killed. The Islamic militant group has not reported any senior members being captured, killed or wounded. The surprise attack Saturday was the deadliest on Israel in decades. In an assault of startling breadth, Hamas gunmen used explosives to break through the border fence enclosing Gaza, then crossed with motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders and speed boats on the coast. They rolled into as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip early Saturday morning, including towns and other communities as far as 15 miles from the Gaza border, while Hamas launched thousands of rockets at Israeli cities. Israel is waking up this morning to a terrible morning, said Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman. There are a lot of people killed children, grandmothers, families, bodies. Israeli media said at least 600 people were killed and 2,000 wounded in Saturdays attack. Hamas fighters took an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive into Gaza, and a line of Israelis with missing relatives snaked outside a police station in central Israel to supply investigators with DNA samples and other means that could help identify their family members. Israel struck 426 targets in Gaza, its military said, flattening residential buildings in giant explosions. Among the 313 killed in Gaza were 20 children, and close to 2,000 people were wounded, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinians, said more than 20,000 Palestinians left Gazas border region to head further inside the territory and take refuge in U.N. schools. In a televised address Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military will use all of its strength to destroy Hamas capabilities. Get out of there now, he told Gaza residents, who have no way to leave the tiny, overcrowded Mediterranean territory. Gazas 2.3 million people have endured a border blockade, enforced to varying degrees by Israel and Egypt, since Hamas militants seized control in 2007. In Gaza, much of the population was thrown into darkness Saturday night as Israel cut off electricity and said it would no longer supply power, fuel or other goods to the territory. Hamas said it had planned for a long fight. We are prepared for all options, including all-out war, the deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, Saleh al-Arouri, told Al-Jazeera TV. Israel has a history of making heavily lopsided exchanges to bring captive Israelis home. The military has confirmed that a substantial number of Israelis were abducted Saturday without giving an exact figure. An Egyptian official said Israel has sought help from Cairo to ensure the safety of the hostages, and that Egypts intelligence chief had contacted Hamas and the smaller but more radical Islamic Jihad group, which also took part in the incursion, to seek information. Egypt has often mediated between the two sides in the past. The official said Palestinian leaders claimed that they dont yet have a full picture of hostages, but said those who were brought into Gaza were taken to secure locations across the territory. Its clear that they have a big number several dozens, said the official, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to brief media. Egypt also spoke with both sides about a potential cease-fire, but the official said Israel was not open to a truce at this stage. In Iran, which has long supported Hamas and other militant groups, senior officials have openly praised the incursion. President Ebrahim Raisi spoke by phone with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Islamic Jihad leader Ziad al-Nakhalah, the state-run IRNA news agency reported Sunday. The shadowy leader of Hamas military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the assault, named Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, and a series of recent incidents that have brought Israeli-Palestinian tensions to a fever pitch. Over the past year, Israels far-right government has ramped up settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, Israeli settler violence has displaced hundreds of Palestinians there, and tensions have flared around the Al-Aqsa mosque, a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site. President Joe Biden said from the White House that the U.S. stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults, and said Israel has the right to defend itself. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com. Smoke rises from Halta village as seen from Ibl al-Saqi village in southern Lebanon Smoke rises from Halta village as seen from Ibl al-Saqi village in southern Lebanon BEIRUT (Reuters) -Israel and Lebanon's powerful armed group Hezbollah exchanged artillery and rocket fire on Sunday following the deadliest attack in years by Palestinian gunmen on Israel. On Saturday, a multi-pronged attack by Palestinian gunmen on Israeli towns left around 500 Israelis dead, with more than 300 Palestinians killed in Israel's retaliatory bombardment. The scale of the attack prompted fears that a wider conflict could break out between Israel and other factions opposed to it in the region, including Lebanon's Hezbollah, an armed party backed by Iran that has previously clashed with Israel. Hezbollah on Sunday said it had launched guided rockets and artillery onto three posts in the Shebaa Farms "in solidarity" with the Palestinian people. "Our history, our guns and our rockets are with you," said senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine at an event in the Hezbollah stronghold of Dahieh on Beirut's outskirts in solidarity with the Palestinian fighters. The Lebanese army said shells and rockets had been launched from southern Lebanon onto "occupied Lebanese territory," without saying who was responsible, and that returning Israeli fire had left several people wounded. The statement, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, said army units had deployed along the southern border. Israel has held the Shebaa Farms, a 15-square-mile (39-square-km) patch of land, since 1967. Both Syria and Lebanon claim the Shebaa Farms are Lebanese. The Israeli military was on high alert throughout Sunday and said it fired artillery into an area of Lebanon where cross-border fire was launched. The Channel 12 television station said the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) fired a Patriot missile over northern Israel. The IDF said it had identified a target described as "not a hostile aircraft" approaching Israeli territory "and launched an interceptor toward it". FEARS OF 'CONFLAGRATION' Israel's military also said one of its drones struck a Hezbollah post in the area of Har Dov, an area in Shebaa, then fired a warning shot toward a number of "suspects" in the area. A Lebanese security source told Reuters that a tent set up by Hezbollah in the Shebaa Farms had been hit and that Hezbollah fighters had erected a new one. Other exchanges of fire took place throughout the day, with two Lebanese security sources saying rockets fired from Lebanon again hit Israeli positions in the Shebaa Farms and that Israel responded with artillery fire on the village of Kfar Shouba. The United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, said it had "detected several rockets fired from southeast Lebanon toward Israeli-occupied territory" as well as artillery fire from Israel into Lebanon in response. "We are in contact with authorities on both sides of the Blue Line, at all levels, to contain the situation and avoid a more serious escalation," spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said. The Blue Line is the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, marking the point to which Israeli forces withdrew when they left south Lebanon in 2000. On Saturday, UNIFIL said it had enhanced its presence in southern Lebanon following developments in Israel and Gaza, including its operations to counter rocket launches. The U.N.'s special coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka said on X she was "deeply concerned" by the exchange of fire and urged parties to "shield Lebanon and its people from further conflagration". (Reporting by Laila Bassam, Aziz Taher, Karamallah Daher and Maya Gebeily in Lebanon, and Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem; Editing by William Mallard and Barbara Lewis) Israels Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan speaks at U.N. Security Council meeting on Middle East in New York By Michelle Nichols NEW YORK (Reuters) -Israel's ambassador to the United Nations on Sunday accused Palestinian Islamist group Hamas of war crimes, vowing that it was time to "obliterate Hamas terror infrastructure," as the U.N. Security Council met to discuss the conflict. In a dramatic assault launched from the Palestinian enclave of Gaza on Saturday, Hamas militants stormed into Israeli towns, killing more than 600 people and escaping with dozens of hostages, in the deadliest day for Israel since the 1973 war. "These are war crimes, blatant documented war crimes," said Israeli U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan ahead of the closed-door meeting of the 15-member Security Council meeting. "The era of reasoning with these savages is over," he told reporters. "Now is the time to obliterate Hamas terror infrastructure, to completely erase it, so that such horrors are never committed again." Israel pounded Gaza on Sunday, killing hundreds of people in retaliation. Erdan appealed for the international community to fully support Israel and condemn the actions of Hamas. Home to some 2 million people, the Gaza Strip has been run by Hamas since 2007. Its economy has long been choked by a blockade imposed by Israel with Egypt's help. "Israel keeps saying: The blockade and repeated assaults on Gaza are to destroy Hamas military capabilities and ensure security. ... Its blockade and assaults accomplished neither," Palestinian U.N. Ambassador Riyad Mansour told reporters ahead of the Security Council meeting. "When Israel now tries to justify yet another assault by the same faulty premise, no one should say or do anything to encourage it down this path," he said. The council met for about 90 minutes and heard a briefing from U.N. Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland. Diplomats said it was unlikely the Security Council would issue a statement, which are agreed to by consensus. Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood told reporters that it was not a priority for Washington at the moment. "What's important now is the international community show its solidarity with Israel. We have Israel's back fully," Wood told reporters after the meeting. "The condemnation of Hamas needs to continue until they end this violent terrorist activity against the Israeli people." United Arab Emirates U.N. Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh said the council also discussed the applicability of international humanitarian law and the protection of the civilians. "The point about proportionate response was also discussed, but clearly, right now, the focus for Israel is its own security needs and the fact that it has hostages being held in the Gaza Strip that should be released," she told reporters. The assault by Hamas coincides with U.S.-backed moves to push Saudi Arabia toward normalizing ties with Israel in return for a defence deal between Washington and Riyadh. "We don't see any reason that should be off the table," said Erdan. "We still want it to happen. We'll do everything that we can to live in co-existence with all of our neighbors." (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by Lisa Shumaker, Diane Craft and Mark Porter) People gather as Palestinian civil defense crews try to extinguish fire in a house that was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Sunday Oct. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Yousef Masoud) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) The evacuation warning came shortly after dark. The Israeli military fired the shot just a short distance from Nasser Abu Qutas home in the southern Gaza Strip, a precautionary measure meant to allow people to evacuate before airstrikes. Abu Quta, 57, thought he and his extended family would be safe some hundred meters (yards) away from the house that was alerted to the pending strike. He huddled with his relatives on the ground floor of his four-story building, bracing for an impact in the area. But the house of Abu Qutas neighbor was never hit. In an instant, an explosion ripped through his own home, wiping out 19 members of his family, including his wife and cousins, he said. The airstrike also killed five of his neighbors who were standing outside in the jam-packed refugee camp, a jumble of buildings and alleyways. The airstrike in Rafah, a southern town on the border with Egypt, came as Israeli forces intensified their bombardment of targets in the Gaza Strip following a big, multi-front attack by Hamas militants Saturday that had killed over 700 people in Israel by Sunday night. Hamas also took dozens of Israelis hostage and fired thousands of rockets toward Israeli population centers, although most were intercepted by the country's Iron Dome defense system. So far, the waves of airstrikes had killed over 400 Palestinians, including dozens of women and children, health officials reported Sunday. There appeared to be several similar deadly airstrikes on crowded residential buildings. The Israeli military said late Saturday that it had struck various Hamas offices and command centers in multi-story buildings. But Abu Quta doesn't understand why Israel struck his house. There were no militants in his building, he insisted, and his family was not warned. They would not have stayed in their house if they were, added his relative, Khalid. This is a safe house, with children and women, Abu Quta, still shell-shocked, said as he recalled the tragedy in fragments of detail. Dust overwhelmed the house. There were screams, he said. There were no walls. It was all open. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the strike on Abu Qutas home. The army says that it conducts precision strikes aimed at militant commanders or operation sites and that it does not target civilians. It also points to its adversaries practice of embedding militants in civilian areas throughout the impoverished coastal enclave of 2.3 million people, which is under a under a severe land, air and sea blockade by Israel and Egypt. But human rights groups have previously said that Israels pattern of deadly attacks on residential homes display a disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians and argued they may amount to war crimes. In past wars and rounds of fighting between Israel and Hamas militants, individual Israeli airstrikes have killed great numbers of civilians for instance, 22 members of the same family in a single strike in a bloody 2021 war. Abu Quta was gripped by grief Sunday as he prepared for the rush of burials with his two dozen other surviving relatives, including wounded children and grandchildren. Many corpses pulled out from under the rubble were charred and mangled, he said. While he managed to identify the bodies of 14 family members, at least four children's bodies remained in the morgue, unrecognizable. One body was missing. Maybe well put them tomorrow in a single grave, he said. May they rest in peace. Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog on Sunday said that the time to investigate Israels potential security failures in the wake of a surprise attack by Hamas in southern Israel and elsewhere Saturday would occur at a later time. It was a surprise attack, Herzog said in an interview on CBS Newss Face the Nation. There was definitely an element of surprise, but I think well have enough time to investigate that once we conclude that war in victory. Herzogs comments come after Hamas launched what has been described as the largest attack on Israel in decades. Hundreds of Israelis died as Hamas attacked from different fronts. Officials have raised questions about why Israel was not prepared for the attack, with some pointing to potential significant security failures. Herzog cautioned not to focus on the failures immediately. They prepared a surprise attack. They breached the border fence, they came with paragliders and through the sea, he said. There will be sufficient time after the war to investigate what exactly happened. Right now, we are at war. And we have to fight that war and win it. We were attacked by a terror organization funded by Iran, and thats where we are right now. Herzog also stressed the gravity of the attack. Israel is at war. Yesterday we were attacked by a terror organization. They infiltrated Israeli territory and killed hundreds of Israelis, at least 600 were butchered yesterday, including whole families, elderly, women, children. Babies were taken out of the mothers lap and murdered. This is war and we have to fight that war and win it. We have to destroy [Hamass] war machine, he said. The Biden administration has pledged support to Israel but has not yet gone into details about what sort of support that entails. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. An Israeli commander is among the 500 people killed, the countrys military has confirmed. Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Steinberg was killed in an encounter with a terrorist, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said. It was allowed to be published that the commander of the Nahal Brigade, the late Lt Col Jonathan Steinberg, was killed today in an encounter with a terrorist near Kerem Shalom, a spokesman said. The 42-year-old, who was the commander of the Nahal Brigade, was on his way to an exchange of fire being conducted by his troops at the time he was killed, the statement continued. The IDF shares in the familys grief and will continue to accompany it, the IDF say. The Commander of the Nahal Brigade, COL Jonathan Steinberg was killed today during a confrontation with a terrorist. COL Steinberg, 42 years old from Kibbutz Shomria. The IDF sends its heartfelt condolences to his family and will continue to support them in this difficult pic.twitter.com/zHyNjzg8My Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 7, 2023 He is among the 500 people killed in Saturdays fighting so far. Local media have reported that 300 Israelis have died in the surprise attacks by Hamas on Saturday morning, citing health officials. Palestinian officials say at least 232 Palestinians have been killed and 1,700 have been injured by Israeli air strikes in Gaza carried out in retaliation. Israels health ministry added that the number injured in the Hamas attacks has risen from 1,452 to 1,590. (AP) The assault began early on Saturday, when Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip stormed into southern Israel by land, air, and sea, appearing to catch the famed Israeli security apparatus by suprise. Thousands of rockets from Gaza have been fired into civilian areas in Israel. In response, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is at war. Our enemy will pay a price the type of which it has never known, he said. We are in a war and we will win it. Hamas claims it has captured dozens of Israelis, including soldiers. Israels military has also acknowledged hostages were taken. After nightfall, airstrikes intensified, flattening several residential buildings in giant explosions, including a 14-story tower that held dozens of apartments as well as Hamas offices in central Gaza City. The UN peacekeeping force has been deployed along the Lebanon-Israel border to maintain stability and help avoid escalation as the US, UK and Ukraine are among the states supporting Israel. Firefighters work to put out a fire in an open field, following a mass-infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip in southern Israel (REUTERS) Speaking at a live address today, US President Joe Biden said: In the face of these terrorist assaults, Israel has the right to defend itself and his people, full stop. He added: Theres never justification for terrorist attacks and my administrations support for Israels security is rock solid and unwavering. Irans foreign ministry says attacks by its ally Hamas on Israel on Saturday were an act of self-defence by Palestinians, and called on Muslim countries to support their rights. The death toll currently stands at 532 and is expected to rise as fighting continues through the night. Photo: Facebook/Ben Mizrachi UPDATE: 11 a.m. A Vancouver man appears to be missing in Israel. Following Saturday's attacks by Hamas, Vancouver's King David High School posted on Facebook that a former student who is in Israel is missing. "Please say extra prayers for King David alumnus, Ben Mizrachi, Class of 2018, who was attending an event in the South [of Israel] and is missing," King David High School posted Saturday. "Please keep Ben and his family in your prayers. Thank you for not reaching out to the family at this time to respect their privacy." More than 1,400 Canadians are registered as living in Israel, along with 492 Canadians in the Palestinian territories. ORIGINAL: 10:40 a.m. Some Canadians say they are stuck in Israel in the midst of deadly fighting as airlines cancel their flights out and reaching the Canadian Embassy on a holiday weekend proves difficult. Hamas militants out of Gaza fired thousands of rockets and sent out dozens of fighters to wage war on Israel on Saturday, with the attack and counteroffensive killing hundreds on both sides. Toronto residents Marie and Kendall Fullerton, who were vacationing in the country when the fighting broke out, say their scheduled flight out was cancelled and they've been spending the day trying to book another to no avail. The couple say they're anxious to leave the region amid fears of escalating violence but have been unable to get information or support from the Embassy in Tel Aviv because it's closed for the Thanksgiving weekend. Robbie Segall, a 22-year-old in Israel for an internship, says he currently feels safe in the West Bank settlement of Efrat, but is frustrated with the lack of care or assistance from the Canadian government. Global Affairs Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment but has advised the more than 1,400 registered Canadians in Israel and 492 in the Palestinian territories to limit their movements and shelter in place until it's safe to leave. The Canadian Press By Maayan Lubell and Nidal al-Mughrabi JERUSALEM/GAZA (Reuters) -Israel pounded the Palestinian enclave of Gaza on Sunday, killing hundreds of people in retaliation for one of the bloodiest attacks in its history when Islamist group Hamas killed 700 Israelis and abducted dozens more. Hamas fighters' rampage through Israeli towns on Saturday was the deadliest such incursion since Egypt and Syria's attacks in the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago and has threatened to ignite another conflagration in the long-running conflict. In response, Israeli air strikes hit housing blocks, tunnels, a mosque and homes of Hamas officials in Gaza, killing more than 400 people, including 20 children, in keeping with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's vow of "mighty vengeance". "The price the Gaza Strip will pay will be a very heavy one that will change reality for generations," said Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in the town of Ofakim, which suffered casualties and had hostages taken. Beyond blockaded Gaza, Israeli forces and Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militia exchanged artillery and rocket fire, while in Egypt, two Israeli tourists were shot dead along with a guide. Appeals for restraint came from around the world, though Western nations largely stood by Israel while Iran, Hezbollah and protesters in various Middle Eastern nations lauded Hamas. In southern Israel on Sunday, Hamas gunmen were still fighting Israeli security forces more than 24 hours after their surprise, multi-pronged assault of rocket barrages and bands of gunmen who overran army bases and invaded border towns. "My two little girls, they're only babies. They're not even five years old and three years old," said Yoni Asher who recounted seeing video of Palestinian gunmen seizing his wife and two small daughters after she took them to visit her mother. Uri David told a news conference he spent 30 minutes on the phone with his two daughters, Tair and Odaya, during an attack until they no longer responded to him and that he did not know their fate. "I heard shooting, shouting in Arabic, I told them to lie on the ground and hold hands," he said, breaking down in tears. CAPTIVES Israel's military, which faces awkward questions for not thwarting the attack, said it had regained control of most infiltration points along security barriers, killed hundreds of attackers and taken dozens more prisoner. The military said it had deployed tens of thousands of soldiers around Gaza, a narrow strip of land that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, and was starting to evacuate Israelis around the frontier. "This is my fifth war. The war should stop. I don't want to keep feeling this," said Qassab al-Attar, a Palestinian wheelchair user in Gaza whose brothers carried him to shelter. Israel has not released an official toll but its media said at least 700 people were killed, children among them. Military spokesperson Daniel Hagari called it "the worst massacre of innocent civilians in Israel's history." Several Americans were killed by Hamas attackers, a White House National Security Council spokesperson confirmed, saying the U.S. would continue to monitor the situation closely. The shocking flare-up may undermine U.S.-backed moves towards normalising relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia - a security realignment that could threaten Palestinian hopes of self determination and hem in Hamas' main backer, Iran. Tehran's other main regional ally, Lebanon's Hezbollah, fought a war with Israel in 2006 and said its "guns and rockets" stand with Hamas. With debris from the attacks still strewn around southern towns and border communities on Sunday, Israelis were reeling from the sight of bloodied bodies in streets, cars and even their homes. About 30 missing Israelis attending a dance party that was attacked by gunmen emerged from hiding on Sunday, Israeli media reported, putting the death toll at the outdoor gathering at 260. Palestinian fighters took dozens of hostages to Gaza, including soldiers and civilians, children and the elderly. A second Palestinian militant group, Islamic Jihad, said it was holding more than 30 of the captives. The capture of so many Israelis, some pulled through security checkpoints or driven bleeding into Gaza, is another conundrum for Netanyahu after past episodes when hostages were exchanged for many Palestinian prisoners. Among the hostages were believed to be a Mexican man and woman. "The cruel reality is Hamas took hostages as an insurance policy against Israeli retaliatory action, particularly a massive ground attack and to trade for Palestinian prisoners," said Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. UNABATED VIOLENCE U.S. President Joe Biden spoke to Netanyahu for the second straight day, saying in a post on the social media platform X that he expressed "my full support for the people of Israel in the face of an unprecedented and appalling assault by Hamas terrorists." U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he had ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the eastern Mediterranean as a show of support to Israel and would also begin providing fresh munitions to Washington's closest Middle Easy ally. In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem condemned the U.S. announcement as an actual participation in the aggression against our people" and said the group would not be intimidated. Several international air carriers - United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Air France - said they had suspended flights serving Tel Aviv and were waiting for conditions to improve before resuming service. Hamas fired more rocket salvoes into Israel on Sunday. Israeli air strikes on Gaza destroyed Hamas' offices and training camps, but also houses and other buildings. The Palestinian health ministry said 413 Palestinians, including 78 children, were killed and 2,300 people wounded since Saturday. "As an occupying power, Israel has no right or justification to target the defenceless civilian population in Gaza or elsewhere in Palestine," the Palestinian foreign ministry said, denouncing a "barbarous campaign of death and destruction". The U.N. said at least 70,000 Palestinians in Gaza are seeking shelter in schools it runs. It appealed for the creation of humanitarian corridors to bring food into Gaza. In Khan Younis in southern Gaza, people searched through the remains of a mosque early on Sunday. "We ended the night prayers and suddenly the mosque was bombed. They terrorised the children, the elderly and women," said resident Ramez Hneideq. The escalation follows surging violence between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where a Palestinian authority exercises limited self-rule, opposed by Hamas that wants Israel destroyed. Conditions in the West Bank have worsened under Netanyahu's hard-right government, with more Israeli raids and assaults by Jewish settlers on Palestinian villages, and the Palestinian Authority called for an emergency Arab League meeting. Peacemaking has been stalled for years, with Israeli politics distracted this year by internal wrangling over Netanyahu's plans to overhaul the judiciary. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said the assault would spread to the West Bank and Jerusalem. Gazans have lived under an Israeli-led blockade for 16 years, since Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007. "How many times have we warned you that the Palestinian people have been living in refugee camps for 75 years, and you refuse to recognise the rights of our people?" said Haniyeh. The United States led Western denunciations of Hamas' attack, with Biden issuing a blunt warning to Iran and others on : "This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks." Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi telephoned the Hamas chief to congratulate him for the "victory". For a nation with a vaunted secret service that boasts of infiltration and monitoring of militants, the attacks appeared to be a shocking intelligence failure for Israel. The main Tel Aviv Stock Exchange indexes fell 6% on Sunday and investors expected the violence to prompt a move into gold and other safe-haven assets. (Reporting by Maayan Lubell and Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza and Ammar Anwar in Sderot; Additional reporting by Henriette Chacar, Emily Rose and Dan Williams in Jerusalem, Ali Sawafta in Ramallah and Steven Scheer in Modiin, and Washington bureau; Writing by James Mackenzie, Angus McDowall, Andrew Cawthorne and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Alex Richardson, Ros Russell, Bernadette Baum , Diane Craft and Andrea Ricci) Tel Aviv - Israelis were searching Sunday for loved ones either taken hostage or missing after Hamas' brutal attack on the country a day earlier. At a makeshift center in Tel Aviv, dozens of people gathered to try to get any information they could and deposit DNA samples to aid in the search. Families sat on seats inside a nondescript lobby or waited outside, where volunteers handed out snacks and beverages in the heat. Sisters Inbal Albini, 55, and Noam Peri, 40, were among those at the center, looking for any trace of their father, Chaim Peri, 79, and Albini's half brother, British-born Daniel Darlington, 35. They asked that their names be shared to help with the search. "Terrorists broke into the house and looked for people and then they took him," Peri told CBS News. She said her mother was also in the house and witnessed her father being taken away. People take refuge in a shelter as sirens are heard on October 7, 2023, in Tel Aviv, Israel. / Credit: AMIR LEVY / Getty Images Ablini said her half brother, Darlington, was in Israel visiting a friend. She said he grew up in the U.K. and has Israeli citizenship through his mother. "I spoke to him in the morning, around eight or nine in the morning, and since then, nothing," Albini told CBS News. "He was staying at a friend's house. The friend told him not to go out, to lock all the doors and windows and stay there. And that's the last time that they talked. The friend was not at home." Israel's Government Press Office on Sunday said over 100 people had been taken hostage by Hamas. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad late Sunday said the group is holding more than 30 Israeli hostages in Gaza. "They will not go back to their homes until all our prisoners are liberated from the enemy's prisons," Ziad Nakhalah, the group's leader, said. U.S. nationals were among those missing, including 23-year-old Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who lives with his family in Jerusalem but was born in California. He was among dozens of people attending a late-night rave in the desert of southern Israel, not far from the Gaza border, when Hamas militants stormed the site. His father Jonathan Polin told CBS News on Sunday that Hersh sent his parents two short messages on Saturday morning, as the attack began. The first one just said "I love you," and the second only: "Im sorry." Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, is among the missing. He lives with his family in Jerusalem but was born in California. / Credit: Courtesy of the Goldberg-Polin family "He was released from the [Israeli] army at the end of April. Loves traveling and music and festivals," the father said. "He's now working as a medic and a waiter to save money for his big trip to India in December." Maj. Gen. (res.) Israel Ziv, the former head of the Operations Directorate in the IDF and former commander of the Gaza Division wouldn't clarify the numbers of Israeli nationals missing or suspected to be held by Hamas. "It's big numbers," Ziv said at a press briefing. "Very high numbers." When asked how Israel would protect the Israeli hostages in Gaza in any counterattack on the densely-packed Palestinian territory, Ziv said the army would have to strike a balance. Members of the Israeli security forces walk along a debris-strewn street in Tel Aviv, after it was hit by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. / Credit: JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images "It is a problem, of course, but we'll have to do both: On the one hand, dealing with the hostages and doing the maximum to rescue and release them," Ziv said. "On the other hand, it's not an option to let Hamas go free. Israel has to do everything to destroy completely Hamas. We saw who they are - taking as hostages children, old women - so how can we make peace?" Ziv said the taking of hostages has changed the equation for Israel. "If it was just the attack, you may call it a military act. But what they have done with the hostages, knowing that our value for human life is different to what they see, this is something that brought us to the point of no return, even if we don't have the answer. So we have to do what we have to do." CBS News' Emmet Lyons in London contributed to this report. Sly Stone's new memoir Students making friends across the American divide Rachel Maddow on "Prequel" and fascism in America Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had embarked "on a long and difficult war that was forced on us by a murderous Hamas attack" in a statement on Sunday. The surprise operation launched by land, air and sea by Hamas early Saturday on the holiday of Simchat Torah is being called "unprecedented," the broadest attack in 50 years, prompting Israeli airstrikes on Gaza in return. The Prime Minister's statement claimed "the destruction of the vast majority of the enemy forces that infiltrated our territory" and said Israeli forces "have begun the offensive phase, which will continue with neither limitations nor respite until the objectives are achieved." Officials on both sides reported more casualties by Sunday afternoon, with at least 250 Israelis and 370 Palestinians reportedly killed, according to the New York Times, and thousands wounded. Secretary of State Antony Blinken appeared on CNN's "State of the Union" this morning, saying the U.S. was attempting to verify reports that Americans are among the casualties of the attacks. We have reports that several Americans were killed, Blinken said. "We're working overtime to confirm that." Yesterday, President Joe Biden made a formal statement on the conflict, stating, "The United States stands with Israel." Pro-Palestinian demonstrators chant slogans outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. Supporters of Israel and backers of the Palestinian cause rallied in many American cities Sunday over the conflict that has killed hundreds and wounded thousands in the Middle East. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy) NEW YORK (AP) Supporters of Israel and backers of the Palestinian cause held competing rallies in several American cities Sunday over the conflict that has killed hundreds and wounded thousands in the Middle East. In New York City, a skirmish broke out between opposing demonstrators near the United Nations compound after a large group of Palestinian supporters rallied in Times Square. Palestinian Americans protested outside the Israeli consulates in Atlanta and Chicago. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led a Jewish community gathering to support Israel at a synagogue in San Francisco. The demonstrations and involvement of American political leaders show the far-reaching ramifications of a conflict that has already prompted the U.S. to order naval forces deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean, ready to assist Israel. Here's what reaction around the country has looked like: NEW YORK In New York City, police ringed the United Nations compound as scores of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered a block away, chanting and waving flags. Metal barricades kept them on sidewalks as officers worked to separate them from an opposing group across the street, some waving Israeli flags. As some pro-Palestinian demonstrators were leaving, men yelling and carrying Israeli flags crossed the barricades. A short skirmish broke out in the crowd, with one man ripping away an Israeli flag and throwing it to the sidewalk, where people stomped on it. Police quickly separated the two sides. We want to show the world that when Palestine rises up in resistance, the diaspora rises with it, Munir Atalla, of the Palestinian Youth Movement, said before the scuffle. In Times Square, social media earlier showed Palestinian supporters rallied, with police barricades separating the crowd from a pro-Israel group. The pro-Palestinians eventually marched away chanting free, free Palestine, long live Palestine and From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free as tourists and onlookers snapped photos. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, condemned the planned pro-Palestinian rally in a statement on Saturday night, calling it abhorrent and morally repugnant. Other political leaders in New York have issued similar statements. ATLANTA In Atlanta, more than 75 people demonstrated at the Israeli consulate Sunday afternoon, chanting slogans in support of Hamas and calling for an end to U.S. aid to Israel. We're here because we think everyone in the United States is funding Israeli apartheid," said Natalie Villasana, a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation. She said U.S. military aid would be better spent on problems in the United States, although demonstrators also argued that Hamas' actions were justified by Israeli actions. Talia Segal, a student at nearby Georgia Tech, came as a counter-protester, carrying an Israeli flag fringed with the rainbow of the LGBTQ+ pride movement. Terrorism is never justified. Their target was Israeli civilians, said Segal, who is Jewish and said she fears for her family in Israel. CHICAGO In Chicago, Priscilla Reed was among hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators who rallied outside the Israeli consulate. Many waved Palestinian flags or wore keffiyeh, the black and white checkered scarfs that have come to symbolize Palestinian solidarity. Their chants, in both English and Arabic, included, Netanyahu you will see, Palestine will be free! Reed, a retired teacher, said the attacks by Hamas were in response to Israel's "systemic daily violence against Palestinians. ___ Bleiberg reported from Dallas. Associated Press journalists Anthony Izaguirre and Bobby Caina Calvan in New York, Jeff Amy and Alex Sanz in Atlanta, and Sophia Tareen in Chicago contributed to this report. A man and a dog run to a bomb shelter as rockets from Gaza are launched towards Israel in Ashkelon A man and a dog run to a bomb shelter as rockets from Gaza are launched towards Israel in Ashkelon By Dan Williams and Emily Rose TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Arik Nani went to a dance party in southern Israel to celebrate his 26th birthday on Friday night but ended up fleeing a massacre as missiles roared overhead and Hamas gunmen shot down people as they tried to escape. Thousands of young people attended the Nature Party, near Kibbutz Re'im close to Gaza, which became one of the first targets of Palestinian gunmen who crossed into Israel early on Saturday in the biggest attack on the country in decades. "I heard shots from every direction, they were firing at us from both sides," he told Reuters. "Everyone was running and didn't know what to do. It was total chaos." As rocket fire exploded around, panicked party goers tried to escape in any way they could. "At one stage me and a friend got into a car with people we didn't know and we just jumped into a car with lots of people and started to drive," said 23 year-old Zohar Maariv. After the car came under fire, they fled on foot and hid for hours until they were rescued. But her boyfriend Matan, who had worked at the party, was still missing. At least 700 Israelis were killed and dozens more were abducted into Gaza in scenes that have left a profound shock on a country which had long prided itself on its ultra efficient military and security services. At the Nature Party alone, Israeli media said emergency services collected 260 bodies. "Only this morning did I understand the scale of what happened, that what had happened was not only at the party, it's the whole south is on fire," Maariv said. After hours of running, Nani and his friend finally reached shelter where he heard horrifying stories from others who had escaped. "People speaking about murder they saw in front of their eyes, someone who saw an entire kidnapped family and a small girl who was murdered," he said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed an unprecedented response to the assault and Israeli jets have bombarded Gaza continuously, killing more than 400 Palestinians. For Nani, the feeling of those who had not been able to escape remained. "There were lots of terrible things along the way, people I wanted to help but couldn't. People who were left behind, people who needed something," he said. "WE STARTED TEXTING" Noa Argamani and her boyfriend Avinatan Or were also at the party but did not make it home. They are now identified among dozens of Israelis apparently held captive in Gaza after video circulated showing Noa being carried away on the back of a motorcycle, pleading and reaching out towards her boyfriend being marched alongside on foot. As warning sirens sounded across southern and central Israel when the missiles started flying in the early hours of Saturday, people started trying to contact friends and relatives. "We started texting everyone," Amit Parpara, a friend, told Reuters. Other friends at the party managed to escape in their cars, he said but at first it was impossible to get in touch with Noa or Avinatan until he received a text himself. "She texted me her live location and a message that says 'I hope someone can come save us,'" he said. He said he had seen photos of the pair hiding in a hole, waiting for rescue. Yaakov Argamani, Noa's father, told Channel 12 television that he had seen the footage of his daughter being driven away on the motorbike and confirmed her identity. "She was so terrified. I always protected her and in this moment I couldn't." (Additional reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Writing by James Mackenzie; editing by Diane Craft) Israeli tanks drive on a road following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, near Sderot By Tuvan Gumrukcu ANKARA (Reuters) - Israel's Ambassador to Turkey, Irit Lillian , said on Sunday it was too early to talk about mediation offers between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas, adding the attacks showed that Hamas should not have any presence in Turkey or elsewhere. On Saturday, Hamas launched an attack against Israel, for which Israel vowed "mighty vengeance" in response. Hundreds of Palestinians and Israelis have been killed, in what Israel has said is a war. In an online briefing with journalists after Turkey said it was in contact with all parties and stood ready to de-escalate, Lillian said Israel's priority was its response to the attack. "Mediation comes at a different point of time. Right now, we are unfortunately counting the dead, we are trying to heal the wounded, we don't even know what is the number of the citizens abducted," she said. "We want to see all the abducted people coming home and we want quiet and calmness coming back to Israel and the region," she added. "After that, we can talk about mediation and who are going to be the players in this mediation." The conflict comes as Turkey, which has backed Palestinians in the past, hosted members of Hamas, and supported a two-state solution to the conflict, works to repair ties with Israel after years of animosity. Ankara does not consider Hamas a terrorist organisation. HAMAS PRESENCE IN TURKEY Asked about the presence of Hamas members in Turkey, Lillian said a senior member of the Islamist group, Saleh al-Arouri, was sometimes seen at events in Turkey, and added he should be tried for crimes against humanity. "I think it just strengthens our point that Hamas should not have an office or any kind of activity, neither in Turkey nor anywhere else in the world," she said. "There is no place for terrorists to direct or command acts from any country in the world." The Turkish foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the presence of Hamas officials in Turkey. On Sunday, Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus, while repeating Ankara's earlier call for restraint, said Palestinians had long suffered from injustices, namely on Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque which he labelled a "red line". Lillian said Israel had expected more empathy from Turkey, a country that has suffered from militant attacks for decades, but added "good constructive" dialogue between the countries in "the day after" would shed light on the fate of the rapprochement. "I think it's a little bit hard to say," Lillian said, when asked if ties would be affected, adding that some comments from Ankara were "surprising". "I think the relations of Israel and Turkey which started a process of warm-up should not be affected by yesterday's attack and by the ongoing war against terrorism," she added. She also said the Israeli embassy was in touch with Turkish authorities regarding threats, and calls for demonstrations and violence. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Toby Chopra) By Emily Rose JERUSALEM (Reuters) - As Israel reeled from a deadly attack by Hamas militants who broke through barriers around Gaza and roamed at will, killing scores of civilians in Israeli towns, defence chiefs faced growing questions over how the disaster could have happened. A day after the 50th anniversary of the start of the 1973 Yom Kippur war, when Israeli forces were caught off guard by Syrian and Egyptian tank columns, the military appeared once again to have been surprised by a sudden attack. "It looks quite similar to what happened at that time," said retired General Giora Eiland, a former head of Israel's National Security Council. "As we can see it, Israel was completely surprised, by a very well coordinated attack," he told a briefing with reporters. An army spokesman said there would be discussions on the intelligence preparation "down the road" but for the moment the focus was on fighting. "We'll talk about that when we need to talk about it," he told a briefing with reporters. Israel has always regarded Hamas as its sworn enemy, but since inflicting heavy damage on Gaza in a 10-day war in 2021, Israel had adopted a mix of carrot and stick to maintain stability in the blockaded enclave. It offered economic incentives including thousands of work permits allowing Gazans to work in Israel or the occupied West Bank, while maintaining a tight blockade and the constant threat of air strikes. For the past 18 months as violence has raged across the West Bank, Gaza had been relatively quiet, apart from sporadic cross border clashes mainly involving the smaller Islamic Jihad movement with Hamas remaining largely on the sidelines. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government has always made great play of its security credentials and taken an uncompromising stance towards the Palestinian militant factions including Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007. "INTELLIGENCE FAILURE" However when the time came, Israel's security apparatus appeared to break down as a force of Hamas gunmen estimated in the hundreds by the military broke through security fences and scattered into towns. "This was an intelligence failure; it could not be otherwise," said Jonathan Panikoff, the U.S. government's former deputy national intelligence officer on the Middle East, who is now at the Atlantic Council think tank. "It was a security failure, undermining what was thought to be an aggressive and successful layered approach toward Gaza by Israel," he said. For Israelis, images of dead bodies lying in the streets or groups of civilians being driven or marched into captivity in Gaza came as a profound shock. More than 250 Israelis were killed and over 1,500 wounded, an unprecedented number of Israeli victims in a single day. The military suffered significant losses and Palestinian militant groups said they had captured dozens of soldiers. The gunmen also seized security posts including a police station in the southern town of Sderot and overran the Erez crossing, a high security facility that channels people entering and leaving Gaza through a tight series of controls. On Saturday, Hamas media circulated footage showing fighters ranging through abandoned offices and running past the high concrete walls of the site. "They've been planning this for a long time," said former Israeli National Security Advisor Eyal Hulata. "Obviously this is a very coordinated attack, and unfortunately they were able to surprise us tactically and cause devastating damage." (Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Writing by James Mackenzie; Editing by Chris Reese) Specialists of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) indicate that the Kremlin will use the Hamas attack on Israel to promote narratives about the reduction of US and Western support and attention to Ukraine. Source: the ISW Details: Analysts note that the Kremlin has already used and will likely continue to use Hamas attacks on Israel to promote information operations aimed at reducing US and Western support and attention to Ukraine. The Kremlin stepped up several information operations after the Hamas attacks in Israel on 7 October, primarily accusing the West of neglecting conflicts in the Middle East in favour of supporting Ukraine. Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, said that the United States and its allies should be "busy" with work on a "Palestinian-Israeli settlement" and not "interfere" in Russia's affairs and provide military aid to Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry accused the West of blocking the efforts of the necessary "quartet" of Russia, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations, which led to the escalation of violence, placing responsibility for the current hostilities on the West. Russian propagandist Sergey Mardan said that Russia would benefit from the escalation, as the world "will turn its attention away from Ukraine for a while and will once again focus on putting out the eternal fire in the Middle East." Experts say these Kremlin narratives are aimed at Western audiences to drive a wedge into military support for Ukraine, attempt to demoralise Ukrainian society by claiming Ukraine will lose international support, and are intended to reassure Russian domestic audiences that the international community will ignore the war effort of Ukraine. The report also notes that several key sources in the Russian news space shifted the focus of their daily coverage to the situation in Israel on 7 October, which could affect the information environment surrounding the war in Ukraine in the coming days or weeks. Many of the Russian military bloggers focused mainly on the Hamas attacks in Israel on 7 October, and some contributed to the Kremlin's information operations, claiming that the West's attention had shifted from Ukraine to Israel. Such attention to Israel even prompted one Russian "military officer" to urge others not to "forget" about the war in Ukraine. "The ISW cannot forecast at this time how the source environment will change as the Hamas attacks in Israel unfold," experts added. ISW Key Takeaways for 7 October: The Kremlin is already using, and will likely continue to use, Hamas attacks in Israel to promote information operations aimed at reducing US and Western support and attention to Ukraine. Several key sources in the Russian news space shifted the focus of their daily coverage to the situation in Israel on 7 October, which may affect the information environment surrounding the war in Ukraine in the coming days or weeks. Ukrainian troops continued offensive operations near Bakhmut and in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast on 7 October and reportedly advanced on both fronts. On the night of 6-7 October, Russian troops launched a series of missile strikes on the rear areas of Ukraine and the port infrastructure. The Russian government approved a law temporarily limiting the number of border crossing points through which Ukrainian citizens can enter Russia from third countries, primarily Belarus and the Baltic states, likely in response to ongoing concerns about the security of Russian border regions and possible Ukrainian infiltration attempts. Belarusian officials are using international partnerships to try to legitimise Belarus' role in the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children. Alexandr Khodakovsky, the commander of the Russian "Vostok" battalion, said that Russian "patriotic" communities remain vulnerable to division due to the inability of the Russian authorities to consolidate society, especially after the 24 June mutiny of the Wagnerites. Russia's Defence Ministry announced the production of the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on 7 October, backing Russian President Vladimir Putin's claims of a successful missile test on 5 October as part of an ongoing information operation to scare the public into nuclear war. Russian troops conducted offensive operations along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, along the Avdiivka-Donetsk line, in the west of Donetsk Oblast, in the border zone between the western part of Donetsk Oblast and the eastern part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, as well as in the west of Zaporizhzhia Oblast and, reportedly advanced in some areas on 7 October. As the report writes, Ukrainian partisans killed the United Russia party official in occupied Kherson 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! The Kremlin aims to exploit Hamas' attack on Israel to divert Western support and attention away from Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported in its daily assessment on Oct. 7. Following Hamas' large-scale attacks on Israeli territory on Oct. 7, Russian voices amplified messages blaming Western countries for neglecting conflicts in the Middle East in favor of supporting Ukraine. In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev claimed that the U.S. and Western allies should have been focused on Palestinian-Israeli settlement rather than providing Ukraine with military aid. As part of these information operations, pro-Russian military bloggers have also largely focused on the Hamas attacks in Israel, actively promoting Kremlin narratives. According to ISW, Russian narratives surrounding the Hamas attacks are aimed at influencing Western audiences. Their objectives include driving a wedge in military support for Ukraine and attempting to demoralize Ukrainian society by claiming Ukraine will lose support from Western allies. Earlier this week, Russia launched its single deadliest attack against Ukrainian civilians this year, killing 52 people and earning international condemnation. Read also: Every family affected: Devastated village copes with aftermath of Russian strike on funeral Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Servers and restaurant employees from OBriens Riverwalk Cafe bring out food and drinks to customers, Sept. 20, 2023, in Chicago. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Chicago became the largest U.S. city to independently phase out the subminimum wage for tipped workers on Friday, a step celebrity chef Rick Bayless said the city needed to take for the greater good. Bayless supported the legislation, which passed by vote of 36-10, but not without reservations. Advertisement He worries it could deepen the pay disparity between well-paid front-of-house workers who will be getting raises and their counterparts in the kitchen, who have always taken home less money because they dont collect tips. And alarm raised by restaurant owners about the impact higher labor costs will have on their bottom lines and on menu prices is not just noise, said Bayless, whose Chicago restaurants include Frontera Grill and Topolobampo. A lot of people look at (the) restaurant world and say, Well just pay them more, Bayless said. But it is a zero sum game. Advertisement Still, the chef, who implemented a service fee in his full-service Chicago restaurants during summer 2020 and now pays servers at Frontera and Topolobampo at least $25 an hour, said the phaseout is necessary. While servers at high-end downtown restaurants can make a lucrative living off of tips, he said, many waitstaff at smaller neighborhood restaurants are just getting by. We have to ensure that everybody whos waiting tables in all the restaurants, no matter whether theyre high-profile or your local diner, he said, that theyre being taken care of. Under existing law, Chicago bars and restaurants can pay tipped workers, such as servers and bartenders, $9.48 an hour, 60% of the full minimum wage of $15.80. If workers gratuities do not float their hourly wages above the full minimum wage, restaurants are required to make up the difference, although advocates argue that doesnt always happen. Under the new law, the gap between the tipped and full minimum wages will shrink 8% each year until the tipped and full minimum wages reach parity in 2028. Supporters of the legislation say that working for tips keeps restaurant workers wages unpredictable and leaves them vulnerable to customer harassment and racial biases. Opponents, including the Illinois Restaurant Association, say the measure will cause restaurants skating by on already notoriously thin margins to cut staff, raise menu prices and close down. An earlier version of the proposal would have phased out the subminimum wage over two years instead of five; in a statement, the restaurant association referred to the final deal as a compromise we can accept. One Fair Wage, a nonprofit organization advocating to eliminate the subminimum wage around the country, estimates about 100,000 tipped workers in Chicago will be impacted. The restaurant association estimates there are more than 7,000 food service providers, including bars and restaurants, across the city. The question moving forward will be what impact the new measure has on their bottom lines. Alexis Pavlatos works a shift at Good Night John Boy, 905 W. Randolph St., Sept. 22, 2023, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) I just dont want to be the guinea pig, said Alexis Pavlatos, an attorney who moonlights as a bartender on busy Friday and Saturday nights at Good Night John Boy in the West Loop and Benchmark Chicago in Old Town. Pavlatos said she often makes around $60 an hour, the vast majority of which is made up of tips, and hopes patrons wont tip less as a result of the legislation. If her tips go down significantly, Pavlatos said, she may stop bartending. Im just a little bit nervous, she said. Advertisement Were talking about a portion of the population that generally works for lower wages in an industry that generally does not provide things like health insurance, paid vacation, sick days, lots of other perks that almost every other industry does provide for their employees, said Will Stahl, a veteran bartender who supported the legislation. Eliminating the subminimum wage, Stahl said, was the ethically correct thing to do. Some restaurant owners, reeling from years of pandemic pain, say its not so simple. The legislation purports to help tipped workers, but its not, because its putting the restaurants they work at at risk, said Michelle Durpetti, managing partner of Gene & Georgetti in River North. Durpetti estimated that paying the full minimum wage could cost the steakhouse upward of $250,000 a year, and said everything is on the table: raising menu prices, implementing a service fee and even closing. This is going to force restaurants to dramatically cut costs or raise prices. Everything is going to have drama to it, she said. Restaurants have been falsely inexpensive for a really long time, said Zoe Schor, chef and owner at Split-Rail in Ukrainian Village, who supports removing the subminimum wage. Diners at Split-Rail pay a 20% service fee that goes to hourly wages for staff, which start at $18 an hour, as well as benefits such as health care for full-time employees. Split-Rail also offers paid vacation time and a 401(k) match for staff whove worked there more than a year. Advertisement As a very small, very scrappy independent restaurant owner I will say simply if you cant figure out how to pay people a living wage and stay open, then maybe you cant stay open, Schor said. Los Angeles already bans the practice of paying tipped staff less than the regular minimum wage, but does so under California state law. Alaska, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington also require servers to be paid a full minimum wage. Washington, D.C., residents voted to phase out the subminimum wage last year. A legal battle over a phaseout of the subminimum wage is ongoing in Michigan courts. With the eyes of the hospitality industry on Chicago, One Fair Wage is eyeing new targets. President Saru Jayaraman said the organization has spoken with several Cook County commissioners on the issue, and said legislation would be moving in Puerto Rico and nine states, including Illinois, come January. At a news conference Tuesday, Ald. Michael Rodriguez, 22nd, described the Chicago vote as one giant step toward the goal of eliminating the subminimum wage across the U.S. The Illinois Restaurant Association and One Fair Wage cite dueling data about how workers and restaurants have fared in states that have eliminated the subminimum wage. There is a lot of uncertainty, said Michael Lynn, a professor of consumer behavior and marketing at Cornells School of Hotel Administration, who studies tipping. You have to let it play out and see. Lynn said research shows that in states with no subminimum wage for tipped workers, consumers do tip less but not a whole lot less. Advertisement The impact on diner demand is also not clear-cut, though Lynn said demand in Chicago will likely go down in the short term, before customers adjust to higher prices and demand eventually builds back up. If restaurants raise menu prices 15% in an effort to pay the higher wages now required by law, people who typically tip less than 15% would experience a price hike, Lynn said. Customers who usually tip more than 15% would experience a price drop, although they are the diners who tend to be less sensitive to price in the first place. At the same time, people tend to focus on the biggest most salient price and tend to ignore all the surcharges, unless you start surcharging them to death, which many restaurants have started to do, Lynn said. Demand will go down because diners are going to feel like prices went up, agreed Jean-Pierre Dube, a professor of marketing at the University of Chicagos Booth School of Business. That demand will not necessarily bounce back, he said. Dube speculated diners wouldnt be discouraged from going to restaurants in the first place, but that theyd order fewer dishes and less expensive ones when they do. Michael Roper, owner of Uptown brewpub Hopleaf, estimates that increasing hourly wages to $15.80 per hour will cost the restaurant between $78,000 and $104,000 a year. Fewer than a third of his tipped employees make the subminimum wage as their hourly base rate, he said; the rest make in between the subminimum and general minimum wage. Advertisement Joe Gaugler runs food to customers during his shift at Hopleaf in Uptown on Oct. 4, 2023. (Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune) Hopleaf will need to make up that difference by cutting staff and raising prices, he said. You dont want to cut so many people that service suffers, Roper said. But you also, you know, cant afford to have somebody making $15 to $16 an hour who isnt busy. The reality is, he said, we arent as busy as we were a few years ago. In a restaurant association survey of a few hundred Chicago restaurant operators, 80% said they would likely raise menu prices in response to the elimination of the subminimum wage, while two-thirds said theyd reduce staff or consolidate positions. A quarter said they would change their service model to include more quick service or counter service. One Fair Wage and its allies argue that the subminimum wage leaves tipped workers vulnerable to exploitation. A city-commissioned report of tipped workers done by researchers at the University of Illinois and at the University of Chicagos Booth School, which recommends the end of the subminimum wage, found close to 80% of workers had been required to work off the clock in the month prior to the survey, while more than half reported being illegally required to share tips with their managers during the week prior to the survey. Advertisement Tina Hines works as a bartender and shift lead at Reno, a restaurant and wine bar in Logan Square. Tips at the restaurant are pooled, and Hines hourly wage and share of the tip pool depend upon what role shes filling on a given shift. On a slow day, she might make around $27 an hour. On a busy shift, she can earn closer to $50 an hour. She made about $50,000 last year. Shes grateful management at Reno is transparent with its staff, she said. But she knows plenty of people who have worked for bars or restaurants that arent as transparent about tips, meaning theyre never quite sure if theyre taking home what theyre entitled to. Its for that reason, she said, that she supports the legislation, even though she thinks its possible some people may tip less. The new paradigm will ease some of the sort of opaque, weird, shady stuff that can go on behind managements closed doors in the restaurant industry, she said. On Thursday afternoon in restaurant mecca Fulton Market, many Chicagoans who spoke with the Tribune said they werent familiar with the tip legislation, or were only vaguely aware of it. Emily Patton, a 26-year-old Wicker Park resident, waited to lunch outside Beatrix with her mother, who was visiting from out of town. To me it makes sense to get them up to the same level, said Patton, who said she typically tips 20% at restaurants. Advertisement Would she tip less if she knew restaurant workers were earning more per hour? I dont think so, Patton said. Just behaviorally, its so set. An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the gap between the tipped and minimum wages was 60%. The gap at time of publication was 40%. Jamie Lee Curtis took to social media to support Israel following Saturday's unprecedented attack by the Hamas militant group. (Photo by Mark Von Holden/Variety via Getty Images) (Variety via Getty Images) Jamie Lee Curtis is facing a bit of heat after she posted a photo from Gaza following Saturday's incursion by the Hamas militant group and Israel's counterstrike. The Oscar-winning actress took to Instagram on Saturday to share a photo of several children looking to the sky, captioning the post "terror from the skies" with an Israel flag emoji. The photo was originally taken by Gaza-based photojournalist Samar Abu Elouf, who described the scene in her own post saying, "Palestinian families seek refuge with their children from the northern Gaza Strip." Social media users were quick to call out Curtis since hours prior to sharing that photo, she posted an Israel flag, joining other celebrities in condemning Hamas' attack on the country. "Just to clarify, this picture is from Gaza. The children looking up at the rockets are Palestinian," someone wrote on Instagram. "That's Arabic in the back there, look at the store signs. If that was in Israel, it would be Hebrew," someone else shared. "In fact, this is a picture from Gaza! The children are Palestinian children from Gaza and they are under Israeli terror and heavy airstrike!" one person added. "Well, they look like Palestinian kids afraid of the Israeli bombings, so yes, terror from the skies," another penned. "Girl, wtf is the message here? You have a photo of Palestinian children taken by a Gaza-based Muslim photojournalist with an Israeli flag in the incredibly manipulative caption," an Instagram user said. Users on X, formerly known as Twitter, also called out the "Everything Everywhere All at Once" star for her post. jamie lee curtis posting a pic from gaza and thinking its from israel is kinda funny ngl pic.twitter.com/6yqpLOpGJZ sarah hagi (@KindaHagi) October 8, 2023 Yes @jamieleecurtis, this is truly barbaric. Its a picture of Palestinians in Gaza being bombed from the sky by Israel. Nice propaganda that you refuse to delete even after being called out. pic.twitter.com/rYXgvfD2nx Remi Kanazi (@Remroum) October 8, 2023 Jamie Lee Curtis reposting a picture of Palestinian children in Gaza and captioning it with the Israeli flag is some serious shameless lying When you support Israel, you need to lie in order to make your case pic.twitter.com/9sCl2gHIpv Renaissance Tour withdrawal | (@ComradeX02) October 8, 2023 Jamie Lee Curtis posted the picture to get sympathy for Israel when its literally Palestinian kids you cant make this up pic.twitter.com/3VztjOSQgu welp. (@YSLONIKA) October 8, 2023 Yeah and I find it hard to believe she didnt see the caption. She knew what she doing pic.twitter.com/KXGlT9m80j Renaissance Tour withdrawal | (@ComradeX02) October 8, 2023 Since Saturday, the Israeli government formally declared war and gave the green light for "significant military steps" to counter Hamas' surprise attack. The toll from the conflict has surpassed 900 deaths and thousands wounded on both sides. At least 600 people have reportedly been killed in Israel, and 300 people have died in Gaza. Celebrities including Amy Schumer, Gal Gadot and Nina Dobrev have shown solidarity for Israel following Hamas' incursion. Politicians worldwide have also condemned Hamas' attacks, including United States President Joe Biden who offered "all appropriate means of support" for Israel. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, along with other politicians across Canada, expressed their support for Israel amid the conflict, leaving many people divided over Canada's stance and Trudeau's statement. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Sunday would not answer a question on whether he thought Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is fit to be the next Speaker following the historic ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) Well, its not my job at this moment to weigh into the politics that have taken place in the House Republican Conference, Jeffries said in an interview on CNNs State of the Union when asked whether he thought Jordan would be fit to be Speaker. Other than to make clear that its time for the GOP to end the Republican Civil War, in order for us to be able to come together in an enlightened and bipartisan way to get things done for everyday Americans, he continued. In the interview, Jeffries, the top Democrat in the House, made clear his caucus stood ready, willing and able to find bipartisan paths forward to tackle problems. His comments also follow an historic vote last Tuesday, when McCarthy was ousted from his position. Eight Republicans joined with all Democrats to vote to remove him. The House recessed for the remainder of the week and will return Tuesday for a conference meeting to figure out who will emerge as the top candidate for the speakership. The position is currently vacant and Jordan, who is a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus has entered the race along with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), McCarthys longtime number two. We have said from the very beginning of this Congress, as House Democrats, we are willing to find common ground with our Republican colleagues in a bipartisan way, whenever and wherever possible, and weve repeatedly demonstrated our willingness to do it, Jeffries said, pointing to Democrats votes to avoid a government default on the nations debt and to support a continuing resolution to avoid a shutdown. So were ready, willing and able to continue to find that bipartisan path forward, under the current moment that were in, or as we move forward, if the Republicans are able to elect a speaker, Jeffries said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh is standing in solidarity with the people of Israel following Saturday mornings Hamas terrorist attack against innocent civilians and soldiers. Jeff Finkelstein is the CEO and President of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh on Technology Drive. He said the Jewish community has a relationship with Israelis that has no bounds, especially in times of tragedy. In Israel, theres this feeling of connection to the people who have been killed and their families, and the people who have been injured, but we here in America and in Pittsburgh feel that as well, Finkelstein said. Finkelstein visits Israel often and was last there with a group in April working with his nonprofit. The attack there left him stunned. Ive been peeled to the television all day long, trying to know whats going on, he said. The assault happened on a Jewish holiday - a day meant for celebration. Instead, hundreds of people have been killed in both Israel and Gaza. Hundreds more have been hurt. It keeps repeating itself, these kinds of things happening, but never in my memory something like whats going on today, Finkelstein said. Finkelstein now worries about his family members, friends and colleagues in the country whove been hiding out in bomb shelters and safe rooms in their homes as air raid sirens and explosions go off in the distance. Theyre trying to lead their lives and now they cant, Finkelstein said. Hes been able to communicate with loved ones through an app and says many young adults whove just finished serving in the Army have been called back for duty. The people who serve, serve with incredible honor and bravery, he said. Theyre there to protect their country and residents of country. Now, Finkelstein said its their responsibility to step up and help. He and his staff are raising money for relief efforts to support Israelis with whatever they might need, including mental health services. The community, meantime, is praying and holding out hope for the ongoing violence to finally end. Im always hopeful, Finkelstein said. You have to have hope. If you would like to help the victims of the tragedy, click here. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: We are at war: Hamas kills at least 200 in attack on Israel Man accused of stabbing passenger on PRT bus after altercation arrested Keanu Reeves stops by Pittsburgh coffee shop VIDEO: EPA grants petition against U.S. Steels Clairton Coke Works plant DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who is vying to become the next Speaker, says he is feeling very good about securing enough conservative votes to attain the top leadership post. Weve got amazing feedback and incredible feedback from our colleagues across the country across the spectrum in the Republican conference, we got conservatives to whats termed the more moderate numbers, he told host Maria Bartiromo on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures. We got three committee chairmen for me. I feel very good about that support. And again, I think it boils down to those fundamental questions: Who can unite our conference, who can bring us together so that we can lead for the American people and then who can go tell the country why what were doing here, the things were working on, the things that matter to them and how it matters to them and how it impacts them and their family, he continued. Thats what were supposed to do in politics. House Republicans this week are planning to choose a new leader since former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was booted from the top spot Tuesday afternoon. McCarthy has said that he will not seek the Speakership again, while two lawmakers Jordan and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) announced they will pursue the job. Jordan, who leads the House Judiciary Committee, has been one of the most vocal supporters of pursuing an impeachment inquiry into President Biden. He has also secured the endorsement of former President Trump who was also floated by a number of Republicans as a potential nominee for the Speakership. Theres already that working together amongst the three key committees: the Ways and Means committees, the Oversight Committee and Judiciary committee and of course the speaker and the speaker staff in the House counsel, Jordan said. So that will continue. Thats part of our constitutional duty. Maria, were supposed to provide oversight of the federal agencies. And weve been doing that weve been doing it aggressively. Weve been doing it in a way thats consistent with the Constitution. Republicans are slated to meet this week to hear from potential contenders for the Speakership,. Several Republicans on Sunday were mum about whether they would throw their support behind Jordan or Scalise. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. After charges against her sons initially accused murderer months after his death were dropped, a local mother is struggling with both heartbreak and frustration. On Friday afternoon, Mecklenburg County prosecutors dismissed a first-degree murder charge for a person who was initially charged in a New Years Day shooting that left one man dead. Channel 9 brought you the story of Raymond Ntungwen, a poet and musician, the victim of that shooting. His mother, Pamela Ntugwen got word just this week that prosecutors were dismissing the charges against the individual initially charged in this case. I feel really frustrated because I need justice for my son, Pamela Ntugwen said. Court documents show that the initially charged person told law enforcement he shot and killed Ntugwen in self-defense. He went on to explain that they were both arguing over a bag of marijuana, the argument turned physical, and the two struggled over a gun. ALSO READ: Im not going away: Woman still hopeful as sons killing remains unsolved 1 year later Prosecutors say there was no video or witnesses. According to the filing, the state does not have any independent evidence to determine who began the physical fight, and because of that the state cannot meet its burden of convincing a unanimous jury of 12 that the defendant was not acting in self-defense. I asked the DA, you took 10 months and I was on the bench 10 months waiting for something and after 10 months you tell me oh there was no camera, no witnesses, you could have told me that in two days or one week at the most, you did not need 10 months, Pamela Ntugwen. Due to stress from the case, Pamela Ntugwen relocated from Pineville to Minnesota. She told Channel 9s veteran crime reporter Glenn Counts, that she could not live in a place where her sons blood was crying out from the ground. If man fails to give justice, Im trusting God and Im praying that he will give divine justice his own way. (WATCH BELOW: Argument between 2 Wendys employees leads to deadly shooting, CMPD says) A drop in CBD oil production in Kansas appears to be causing a huge reduction in the number of farmers growing hemp. When the state launched its program to oversee the newly legalized crop in 2019, more than 200 farmers signed up. This year, only 41 secured licenses from the state to grow it. Before the drop in demand, most Kansas hemp was used to make CBD oil, a product used for health purposes and as an additive for food. But industrial hemp experts say there is still a growing market for other hemp products like fiber for clothing and grain for animal feed. Theres been a reduction in the number of growers and the number of acres on the CBD side, said Sarah Stephens, CEO of Midwest Hemp Technologies in Augusta. But theres been an increase in the number of growers and number of acres on the fiber and grain side. Hemp is related to cannabis, but hemp varieties have very low levels of the psychoactive compound THC. The U.S. government legalized growing hemp in 2018, effectively making cannabidiol, or CBD, legal in all 50 states. The following year, Kansas began regulating the crop and a rush of farmers registered to grow it. Supporters of hemp hyped it as a promising crop because of the popularity of CBD oil, especially in states that have not legalized medical or recreational marijuana use. But the demand for CBD appears to have dropped off, and with it the need for hemp plants to produce it. The Kansas Department of Agriculture reported 90% of hemp produced in Kansas between 2019 and 2020 was used for CBD oil production. This year, thats dropped to less than 5%. Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kelsey Olson said the first few years of hemp production in Kansas were propelled by a strong CBD market. But since that time, more states have legalized the use of recreational marijuana, including neighboring Missouri. Now only a handful of states like Kansas completely prohibit the use of marijuana. Legalized products made from marijuana may be more enticing than CBD to some customers. The landscape has changed over the last few years across the country, Olson said, I think that may have shifted some of the use. But the farmers and processors who have stuck with the crop contend that there is still value in other hemp markets. The plants fiber can be used for everything from clothing to biodegradable plastic alternatives. Melissa Nelson is the co-owner of South Bend Industrial Hemp, a processing facility in Great Bend. She said her business ignored the CBD fad and focused on processing hemp for fiber. The biggest market she sees now is using hemp stalks for stronger animal bedding than the standard straw bedding. That decision appears to have paid off. Despite the drop in hemp farmers statewide, Nelson said her business continues to grow. More farmers, Nelson said, are growing for fiber and grain production instead of cannabinoids. Stephens said there are also hemp markets that Kansas farmers are not yet capitalizing on. For instance, Stephens said health food stores sell hemp grain food products. But not enough U.S. farmers are producing the grain needed for those products, so they are mostly imported from Canada. To counteract that, Stephens said shes part of a group of Kansans hemp producers working to educate farmers on the unlocked potential of the fiber and grain markets. If successful, Stephens said Kansas could become a major producer of the crop. We have the right landmasses, Stephens said, the right farmer know-how, the right seasons and temperatures to lead in this industry. This story was originally published by the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their connection to public policy. Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) said Sunday that some Republicans floating to elect former President Trump as Speaker of the House wont come to fruition. Buck told ABCs George Stephanopoulos that some GOP members push to nominate the former president as Speaker is not going to happen in the wake of former Speaker Kevin McCarthys (R-Calif.) ousting from the top leadership post last week. No, it shouldnt happen, Buck said. You know, we have a lot of talent inside the House. Well settle this inside the House Republican Conference, and we will elect someone that will have the unity and the backing of the full conference. When asked if he would support Trump for president, Buck said he would support the GOP nominee. When asked if he would support the former president if he is convicted, Buck reiterated that he would not support a convicted felon. Trump has continued to lead other GOP presidential candidates by double-digit points for much of this year with no indication so far that he wont clinch the nomination next year while also battling a myriad of legal troubles in the form of four criminal indictments. House Republicans have been in disarray since McCarthy was ousted from the top spot Tuesday afternoon. McCarthy has said that he will not seek the Speakership again, while two lawmakers Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) announced they will pursue the job. A handful of lawmakers initially put forward Trump as their nomination for the Speakership last week. Trump had even suggested he would temporarily step in as Speaker if necessary. However, Trump has now endorsed Jordan for the Speakership. Buck said that he will not endorse a candidate before agreeing on spending limits. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The crowd applauded the moment Kevin de Leon walked up. Abuelas pulled him in for a warm embrace. Entire families, standing in line at the recent El Sereno food giveaway, asked for selfies with him. In this place, no one called him racist, or a disgrace, or sinverguenza someone without shame for ignoring calls to step down in the wake of a scandal that drew nationwide condemnation. Instead, the Los Angeles City Council member beamed as he made his way down a line of more than a hundred people, shaking hands and greeting them in Spanish and Cantonese. City Councilmember Kevin de Leon, left, greets people in line for a food distribution outside his Eagle Rock office last month. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) One woman declared him el mero mero the top dog. Another, 71-year-old Guadalupe Castaneda, yelled from her spot in line: Well help you campaign!" For nearly a year, the 56-year-old De Leon has clawed his way back from political purgatory, unveiling new street signs, showing up at awards dinners and chatting with constituents at his food giveaways. Although he lost all of his committee assignments, he is back on the council floor, casting votes and occasionally giving speeches. And despite weeks of protests outside his Eagle Rock home, a physical fight with an activist and a call by President Biden to step down, he is doing what many thought would be an impossible task: waging an uphill battle for reelection. But in recent days, there have been questions about the depths of his remorse and limits to the city's willingness to forgive. Michael Williams, left, and Melina Abdullah, co-founder of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles, protest the presence of City Councilmember Kevin de Leon at a council meeting in January. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Some council members wont stand next to him, as if worried his very presence might sully them. Labor leaders who once supported him have turned their backs. Friendships have ended. Allies are now outright foes. De Leon, who has served in both houses of the state Legislature, became a political pariah in October 2022 when he was heard participating in a secretly recorded conversation that featured racist and derogatory remarks targeting Black people, the citys Oaxacan residents and a number of elected officials. At no point did De Leon rebut those remarks, or put a stop to the conversation. Instead, he took part in several of the most incendiary exchanges, including one in which then-Council President Nury Martinez accused Mike Bonin, a white council member who is gay, of using his young Black son as an accessory akin to a designer handbag. De Leon, in an interview at his Eagle Rock office, told The Times he should have "shut that meeting down," putting a halt to the invective, or steering it toward other topics. He described some of his remarks on the audio as "inartful," saying they should have been phrased differently. He said he has asked hundreds of people for forgiveness over the past year, reaching out to elected officials, neighborhood organizers and religious leaders, including members of the Black clergy. He said repeatedly that he has owned his mistakes. When you make a mistake, you have to eat shit," he said. And thats what Ive been doing. De Leon struck a far more defiant tone in a recent lawsuit targeting two people who worked in the building where the audio was secretly recorded. That filing, which can be viewed on the courts website but has not been fully processed by the Superior Court system, said De Leon "never made any comment that was even remotely offensive. The legal filing also blasts the news media over its coverage of the scandal, saying outlets were more concerned with clickbait than facts. "His critics continue to engage in guilt by association for comments that were not his, the document said. With the election five months away, De Leon is betting that voters will give him another chance. He hopes they will recognize his work creating parkland, adding homeless beds, advocating for new tenant protections and distributing food to the citys neediest. Protesters gathered at City Hall in November 2022 to demand the cancellation of council meetings unless Councilmember Kevin de Leon resigned. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) De Leon's critics are pushing back, saying he hasnt taken the necessary steps to warrant forgiveness. The way for him to atone, many of them say, is to abandon his campaign and step down from his office. "I think he is trying to reinvent himself," said state Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles), who is running for council and looking to oust De Leon. "And in many ways, it feels like he is gaslighting the entire district and the entire city, by thinking that we've all forgotten what was said in those leaked audio recordings." Jasmyne Cannick, a political consultant and longtime critic of De Leon, was equally skeptical. "I dont think this mistake is unforgivable, Cannick said last month. I just think he hasnt done the work yet to be forgiven. :: In October 2021, De Leon, Martinez and Councilmember Gil Cedillo walked into the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor headquarters to speak with Ron Herrera, then head of the organization. They were there for the kind of meeting that, under normal circumstances, few would have known about. What they didn't know was that someone was secretly recording it. (The LAPD has opened an investigation into the source of the audio.) The recording captured an hourlong conversation among De Leon and the other three. They were there to discuss the citys contentious redistricting process and how to push back against a citizens commission proposal for redrawing the maps of each of the councils 15 districts. But the conversation veered into more disturbing subject matter. The clandestine recording was a ticking time bomb. It exploded when its contents were posted on Reddit. Read more: Racist remarks in leaked audio of L.A. council members spark outrage, disgust On the audio, Martinez used a profanity to describe Dist. Atty. George Gascon and said he's "with the Blacks." At another point, she referred to Oaxacans as "little short dark people." De Leon took aim at the state's white politicians, warning his Latino colleagues that they will "cut you in a heartbeat." Much of the animus was trained on Bonin. On the audio, Martinez said twice that Bonin "thinks he's Black." She complained about the behavior of Bonin's Black son at a parade, saying the child deserved a "beatdown." At one point, Martinez used the word changuito little monkey to describe the young boy. When Bonin heard what was on the recording, he said he felt a rush of emotions: anger, frustration, disgust. In an interview with The Times, Bonin stressed that De Leon was not a bystander to the recorded conversation but an active participant who twice reminded Martinez that his son is Black. Councilmember Mike Bonin sits in his chair at the council's Oct. 11, 2022, meeting, the first held after The Times reported on a secretly recorded conversation that included disparaging remarks about Bonin's son. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Kevin is the one who brought my son into the conversation, Bonin said. It galls me that that gets forgotten, because hes rewriting the history of what happened on those tapes. The contents of the recording instantly reframed the public's perception of De Leon, who had impressed many progressive Democrats for his advocacy on immigrant rights, his embrace of measures to combat climate change and his long-shot 2018 campaign against U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who had been derided as too moderate. Protesters flooded into the council chamber, bringing meetings to a halt. Politicians, community leaders and many others called for everyone involved in the recorded meeting to resign. Herrera was the first to step down, then Martinez. By the time the audio leak happened, Cedillo had already lost his reelection bid. Instead of stepping aside, he simply disappeared from public view. De Leon, the last one standing, took a sharply different approach. He made the media rounds, sitting down with talk radio host Tavis Smiley, using his show to apologize and ask the Black community for forgiveness. Councilmember Kevin de Leon talks to Councilmember Nury Martinez in 2022, before the leak of the audio recording that derailed Martinez's political career. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) His remarks did little to stem the outrage. For 18 days, activists camped out near the councilmans home, wearing shirts with the message 25 Black People Yelling. That was their response to De Leons claim on the audio that L.A.s Black community, despite being much smaller in numbers than the Latino population, has outsized political power. Twenty-five Black residents shout like theyre 250, De Leon had said. When theres 100 of us it sounds like its 10 of us. De Leon went so far on the audio as to compare Black political clout to the man behind the curtain in "The Wizard of Oz," who projects a booming voice but is revealed to be a soft-spoken figure. Melina Abdullah, co-founder of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles, said she found those remarks to be among the most troubling. "We decided that we were going to show him what 25 Black people yelling sounded like," said Abdullah, who estimated that on one night, the crowd near De Leon's home reached 700. When the encampment dispersed, activists set up a tip line to track De Leons whereabouts. That led to protests at a private club and a restaurant, Abdullah said. When the councilmans office began announcing constituent events, activists made sure to be there. In December, protesters chased after De Leon and his staff at a holiday toy giveaway in Lincoln Heights. De Leon and activist Jason Reedy wound up in a physical altercation, with each man accusing the other of committing assault. Neither was charged. Activist Jason Reedy speaks out in December, on the day Councilmember Kevin de Leon returned to the council chamber after a two-month absence. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) Weeks later, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez delivered a fiery speech telling De Leon: Youre not welcome in these chambers." Im not OK with your presence on the floor today, she said, and I want Angelenos to know that I will be throwing my full support behind recall efforts. :: Those first few months, De Leon said in his interview with The Times, were "profoundly lonely." He talked about the men and women camped outside his house. He said his staff faced death threats. He called it excruciatingly painful to learn people "would actually believe that I would try to diminish their well-being or their power in our community." Asked if he considered resigning, De Leon said the thought did cross his mind. Instead, he stepped away from council meetings for two months, talking to constituents and focusing on the district. In many ways, what I learned was that there's a lot of folks in Los Angeles who have huge, forgiving hearts, he said. Read more: L.A. on the Record: Effort to recall Councilmember Kevin de Leon fails In March, the De Leon recall drive fizzled out. By summer, only a handful of protesters were showing up to council meetings to demand his ouster. Still, some community leaders remain convinced he should have left. Michael Sweeney, president of the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council and a self-described white liberal, said his organization stands behind a letter it sent calling on De Leon to resign. The groups members also asked for their logo not to appear near De Leon's name. A protest sign placed near Councilmember Kevin de Leon's home in October 2022. Protesters camped out in the neighborhood for many days. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) Sweeney said he's heard from community members who remain skeptical about how contrite the council member has been. I cant know whether hes truly sorry or not. Nor can any of us," Sweeney said. "But at the end of the day, its completely fair for people in the community to question whether the ways in which he has expressed, or not expressed, contrition or atonement, whether that makes him ... an effective representative." Despite those sentiments, De Leon showed he has retained a reservoir of support. Two weeks after launching his reelection campaign, he announced he had raised $118,000, with each donor spending no more than $900. De Leon plans to run on what he says is a lengthy list of accomplishments: tens of millions of dollars for park improvements; state grants to install bike lanes, streetlights and hundreds of new trees; construction of "tiny home" villages that serve as temporary housing for the district's homeless residents. Councilmember Kevin de Leon, center, greets people in line as hundreds attend a food distribution event. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) On top of that are the weekly food giveaways. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, De Leon's office has distributed 30,000 boxes of food, many with stickers displaying his name and information about trash pickup, graffiti removal and pothole repairs. De Leons name is also on the blue tote bags that are handed out, sometimes four at a time, and on the truck that delivers the groceries. At these events, residents say over and over again that De Leon deserves another chance, that he is a good person who made a mistake. On a recent Thursday in Lincoln Heights, De Leon loaded a box with potatoes, ginger and bottles of Peets coffee into a small grocery cart pulled by Terry Harper, a neighborhood resident. Harper, who is Black, said she was initially angry when she heard about the recording. As time passed, she concluded that he was really remorseful. Councilmember Kevin de Leon at his Eagle Rock office. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) He was fighting for his job. I like that, the 60-year-old said. She paused and added: But he shouldnt do that again. Harper said she plans to vote for De Leon in March. :: On L.A.s Eastside, the audio had repercussions not just for De Leon's district but for the political establishment that governs it. Before the scandal, De Leon routinely held events with state and federal lawmakers who represented neighborhoods in his district state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, U.S. Rep. Jimmy Gomez, Assemblymembers Miguel Santiago and Carrillo. They all called for his resignation. Santiago, one of the earliest supporters of De Leon's unsuccessful 2022 run for Los Angeles mayor, said he telephoned him the day after the leak to inform De Leon he was publicly calling on him to step down. (De Leon disputed that, saying Santiago never told him he planned to call for his resignation.) The conversation was brief, Santiago said, and didn't end well. "He was a friend before," said the state lawmaker, who is also running to unseat De Leon in the March election. "We're absolutely not friends now." Carrillo made her own call to De Leon last year, seeking to know "exactly what happened" during the recorded conversation. She said she never heard back. Durazo, who had a longer and deeper relationship with the council member, also joined the chorus calling for his resignation. In a recent interview, she said De Leon should have finished his term and stayed out of the race. We need to give a fresh start to a new person, and just be able to move on," Durazo said. "This community deserves that." :: Councilmember Kevin de Leon, standing in the council chamber last month, said he will seek another four-year term. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) By refusing to step down, De Leon forced his colleagues to continually reassess their strategies for interacting with him. Should they stay in the room when he enters? Even his toughest critics on the council quickly realized that if they walked out, they would lose the ability to pass new renter protections and homelessness initiatives. Then the next question: Should they put their signatures on De Leons written proposals? That was eventually resolved as well, with more than half of his 14 colleagues deciding they would. By mid-September, dozens of De Leon motions had passed with little fanfare. Then there was yet another dilemma: Should they avoid appearing with him in photographs, even when he was promoting a worthy cause? Hernandez, among De Leons most outspoken critics, answered that question in May, posing with him and other politicians at the unveiling of a crosswalk honoring the late Gloria Molina, the longtime county supervisor. Months later, she told The Times she found those situations difficult to navigate, and made sure to stand as far from De Leon as possible. Hernandez said she doesnt want to appear next to someone who caused all this harm and really has not been accountable. Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez took the same approach last month while standing in front of the cameras at El Grito, a Mexican Independence Day celebration held outside City Hall. When his name was called, he made sure his colleague, Councilmember Imelda Padilla, stood between him and De Leon. Soto-Martinez, in an interview, said he decided to attend the event even though he knew that meant appearing publicly with De Leon. It was the first [El Grito] since I was in office, and I did not want to spoil that for the larger Latino community, he said. However, I did not want to be next to Kevin. Over the last year, council members repeatedly pointed out they had no legal authority to remove De Leon. Although they censured him, they acknowledged that such a move is largely symbolic. Abdullah, with Black Lives Matter-L.A., criticized council members for allowing De Leon to conduct business. If the council won't hold him accountable, she said, activists will take that step during the upcoming campaign. "Were going to make sure that we turn up the heat, not just on Kevin de Leon, but on anybody who decides to be in his orbit," Abdullah said. :: Five days after launching his reelection campaign, De Leon gathered with a group of Black attorneys to celebrate civil rights pioneer Willis O. Tyler, a lawyer who fought racially restrictive covenants in the early 20th century. After a brief countdown, the group unveiled a sign in De Leons district dedicating the intersection of 2nd and Spring streets as Willis O. Tyler Square. De Leon, the lone politician at the event, spoke about staying committed to the values of justice, equality and unity. Even when we fall off track from our values and principles as a society, or even as individuals, heroes like Willis O. Tyler help redirect us, help center us, help put us back on the track to adhering to the values that make us stronger as a society and better individuals," he said. As De Leon spoke, someone yelled "bullshitter" from a passing car. Attorney David Welch, whose law firm helped organize the event, said he didnt speak to De Leon for about six months after the audio surfaced. Welch, who is Black and lives in De Leons district, said he has seen the councilman work hard since then to regain the trust of the Black community and all of his constituents. Knowing the council member, and knowing the work hes promoted and where his heart is, it gave me an opportunity to forgive, he said. Others in attendance were more conflicted. Cannick the political consultant, working on behalf of Welchs firm had helped plan the event with De Leons office. She said many other people, including judges, attorneys and elected officials, wanted to attend but did not because of De Leons presence. That day, Cannick wore Louis Vuitton shoes and carried a Louis Vuitton purse, both purchased from a discount resale store her subtle nod to the remarks in the recording about accessories and Bonins son. She kept her distance, stepping several feet back when De Leon approached. Cannick wanted to avoid being in any photos with him. Black people aren't pleased with that man over there, she said. Councilman Kevin de Leon at his office in Eagle Rock last month. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) Hours later, Cannick struck a softer tone. In a post on Medium, she said someone who has been an arrogant, racist jerk still has the potential to be forgiven but only if the offender makes amends and acknowledges wrongdoing. De Leon has a long way to go before that happens with me, she wrote. Yet in her post, Cannick thanked him for holding the event, calling it a start. Loyola Marymount University political science professor Fernando Guerra, who signed on to a letter in October 2022 calling for De Leon's resignation, said he nevertheless believes the council member has a path to forgiveness with voters and a shot at winning next year. But if he makes his campaign about remorse and forgiveness, "he's going to lose," Guerra said. Guerra said it makes "perfect sense" that De Leon, who is looking to protect not just his job but his legacy, would launch a campaign for another term. Had he resigned, it would have always been his epitaph, that he was in this scandal and he had to resign," Guerra said. "Here he can say, 'Hey, I never gave up.'" 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. McCarthy s inaction Kevin McCarthy goes down in infamy as the first deposed House speaker. He earned it | Opinion, (fresnobee.com, Oct. 4) Recently, 150 members of the Sunrise Movement occupied Kevin McCarthys office. This coincided with a battle over the federal budget, and ended when McCarthy reached across the aisle for Democratic support. These two events provide McCarthy a vision of his possible climate futures: either he abides by the will of the American people, or protects oil interests and finds his life disrupted. This is not a threat. Rather, its a dose of reality. Inaction threatens the lives and livelihoods of all Americans. Given that statistics say most Americans want action on climate change, this inaction is also fundamentally undemocratic. McCarthy could choose to work with the climate organizations whove reached out to him. Hell have to take action on climate if he wants to have a peaceful future in politics. C.J. Wilson Fresno Different perspective Giant sequoias burned because of humans. Of course we should try to help | Opinion, (fresnobee.com, Sept. 29) In the words of a biologist who carried out this research himself, Dr. Chad Hanson: Given the universally acknowledged massive failure of sequoia reproduction over the past century due to suppression of mixed-intensity wildfires that sequoias need to effectively regenerate, I would go so far as to say that the super-abundant natural sequoia regeneration that we are seeing currently in the high-intensity fire patch within the wilderness area in Redwood Mountain Grove in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks is the greatest sequoia reproduction that any human beings have personally witnessed since the late 1800s. Mixed-intensity fires are natural, including high-intensity fire patches small and large, and giant sequoias have evolved over tens of millions of years to depend on such fires. But the park is saying they intend to use chainsaws and dynamite to create clear cuts in this wilderness area so they can fly in squadrons of helicopters to drop off tens of thousands of nursery-grown seedlings and equipment. This must not go forward. Emily S. Brandt Fresno Opinion Meaningless lawsuit Climate change forces Americans to reconsider profit, greed, power and truth | Opinion, (fresnobee.com, Sept. 22) Andrew Fiala opinion piece regarding greed, power and truth in relation to climate change completely overlooks the fact that the lawsuits against the five oil companies will have no impact on climate change. Not only that, the suits are meant to fill the coffers of our large and expensive state government (greed), make our leaders seem effective (power) and ultimately distract us from their financial mismanagement and day-to-day failures. This effort seems a lot like the states tobacco lawsuit settled in 1998, which resulted in no benefit to anyone besides the handful of attorneys who became multimillionaires. Alan Kelton Clovis Trump is a criminal Donald Trumps lawyers seek to halt civil fraud trial and block ruling disrupting real estate empire, (fresnobee.com, Sept. 6) A New York judge just found Donald Trump liable for fraud for inflating his net worth by over $2 billion and canceled the Trump Organizations business certification. Will this recent charge against him be enough to discourage his followers? I seriously doubt it. He was impeached twice during his presidency. He has four indictments pending with a total of 91 charges. When he did not like the result of the election, he encouraged his followers to attack the building of his own government, thus making it clear he did not believe in democracy. The only thing he has on his mind is to retaliate against anybody who opposes him. It is incredible that some people still support and even worship him. Do we really want a criminal to represent this country? Trump should not even be allowed to run for president. We need someone with higher moral values, who follows and obeys laws and puts this country first. We all need to show a little more respect for this country. We can do better. Ryoichi Morita Coarsegold Homophobic action Clovis Unified board needs to publicly address its policies for LGBTQ students | Opinion, (fresnobee.com, Oct. 1) Clovis Unified decided to completely reject any outside organizations to be held within their schools facilities rather than allow one LGBTQ+ group to hold a one-hour session of reading to elementary children. The decision displays child-like behavior from the school board members. The board is excluding the LGBTQ+ community and displaying a closed mindset. If the district had allowed the group to use their facility, it would not have been a big deal. Closing access to everyone and revealing the boards homophobia and transphobia just because one group wanted to read to children is a shame. Mila Eng Fresno Unprofitable process Can Valley farmers use water wisely & re-purpose land when needed? Thats the question | Opinion, (fresnobee.com, Sept. 24) Turning flood-damaged land into solar farms could be a very unprofitable way for farmers to repurpose their unproductive land. Anticipating the increasing demand for a stronger energy grid, there has been an oversupply of renewable energy projects, making it an incredibly long and unprofitable process to start a solar farm. On July 27, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Acting Chairman Willie Phillips stated that there were more than 2,000 gigawatts of renewable energy projects waiting to be connected to the power grid. It would take years for these existing projects to get permitted and attached to the power grid. If completed, it would double the supply of renewable energy accessible to the power grid. To build a solar farm would require years of permitting, and by the time the solar panels are connected to the grid, the cost of electricity would have gone through a correction making them unprofitable in future years. Kenny Bekedam, Fresno Vote them out McCarthy rejects Senate spending bill while scrambling for a House plan that averts a shutdown, (fresnobee.com, Sept. 28) Its about time we put a stop to the total dysfunction of Congress. We, the voters, voters have the power to do something about it. How? Vote out the 45 members of the Republican Freedom Caucas holding us hostage. These folks are stonewalling anything proposed by either party that might avoid a shutdown of the government. True, we are unable to do anything in California to vote out any of these members since none are from California. I am asking Rep. Tom McClintock: Are you supporting efforts to avoid a shutdown or are you supporting the obstructionist Freedom Caucus? Carole Moore Fresno The Carolina Panthers received some mixed news Sunday morning. Donte Jackson, one of the teams top cornerbacks who was listed as questionable coming into the day, is inactive for Carolinas contest against the Detroit Lions. He sustained a shoulder injury in the first half of the Panthers Week 4 contest against Minnesota and didnt return for the second. DShawn Jamison is expected to start in Jacksons injured stead, alongside corners Troy Hill and CJ Henderson. Jacksons absence piles onto an otherwise banged up Panthers secondary. Starting safety Xavier Woods will miss a second consecutive week with a hamstring injury, and No. 1 corner Jaycee Horn is still out after sustaining a long-term injury Week 1. Also on the Panthers inactive list: RB Raheem Blackshear, LB Deion Jones, T David Sharpe and Woods. The Jackson news is hedged a bit by the fact that Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroits Pro Bowl caliber target, was listed as inactive on Sunday with an abdomen injury. This certainly will impact the Lions Top 10 passing offense. A key Lions running back, Jahmyr Gibbs , is also inactive. He is one of the Lions formidable two-headed backfield which is the source of the teams fast-paced, play-action centered offense. Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu, who showed up on the injury report earlier this week with an ailing hip, is good to go. Its also worth noting that offensive lineman Austin Corbett and tight end Stephen Sullivan returned to practice this week for the Panthers but will not play. Full Carolina Panthers inactive list vs. Lions RB Raheem Blackshear S Xavier Woods CB Donte Jackson LB Deion Jones T David Sharpe Full Detroit Lions inactive list vs. Panthers DB Brian Branch RB Jahmyr Gibbs DL Brodric Martin TE James Mitchell DL Levi Onwuzurike WR Amon-Ra St. Brown Solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies to enter German households Xinhua) 08:37, October 08, 2023 A staff member takes out a Chinese-made micro inverter from the batch packaging at the warehouse of Lauxx Energy in Ahrensburg, Germany, May 30, 2023. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) A staff member checks photovoltaic modules at the workshop of Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. in Dongyang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 18, 2023. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Dirk Heil checks the Chinese-made solar-powered equipment installed at his house in Schwarzenbek, Germany, May 30, 2023. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) Dirk Heil installs the Chinese-made solar-powered equipment at his house in Schwarzenbek, Germany, May 30, 2023. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) A container ship of China's COSCO Shipping docks at the Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, May 1, 2023. The Chinese-made solar-powered equipment installed in Dirk's house arrived by sea at the Port of Rotterdam before being transferred to Germany. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) A staff member checks the operation of the equipment at the workshop of Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. in Dongyang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 18, 2023. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Xu Yu) A staff member unwraps the packaging of Chinese-made micro inverters at the warehouse of Lauxx Energy in Ahrensburg, Germany, May 30, 2023. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) This aerial photo taken on April 18, 2023 shows the exterior view of the workshop of Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. in Dongyang City, east China's Zhejiang Province. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Xu Yu) This photo taken on May 30, 2023 shows the Chinese-made solar-powered equipment installed at the house of Dirk Heil in Schwarzenbek, Germany. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) Staff members work at the workshop of Beny New Energy Co., Ltd. in Wenzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 19, 2023. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Jiang Han) Staff members assemble inverter accessories at the workshop of Beny New Energy Co., Ltd. in Wenzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 19, 2023. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Jiang Han) This photo taken on April 18, 2023 shows the interior view of the workshop of Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. in Dongyang City, east China's Zhejiang Province. Dirk Heil, a resident living in the small town of Schwarzenbek in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, has been using solar-powered equipment made by Chinese companies in recent months. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, these high-quality and fair-priced products from China have entered German households by sea or by taking China-Europe freight trains. Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd. and Beny New Energy Co., Ltd., two Chinese companies that produce solar-related equipment, have ramped up their production to meet the growing demands of domestic and international markets. Many of their products have entered the German market. As electricity price rises in Europe, using solar-powered equipment helps reduce the cost of electricity. Dirk said that the equipment is easy to install and can help him save electricity bills. "This is the first time I have had solar power in my house and I am delighted with it." (Xinhua/Xu Yu) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Former President Donald Trump arrives to speak during the 2023 Conservative Political Action Coalition Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, on March 4, 2023. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP Getty) Have you heard about Donald Trumps latest remarks about immigrants? No. Im waiting to hear it in the original German. Advertisement Thats actually a revival of a joke that was making the rounds after my conservative friend and former fellow McLaughlin Group panelist Pat Buchanan announced his own ultimately unsuccessful campaign for the 1992 Republican presidential nomination. Never let mere facts get in the way of a good punchline, comedians have been known to say. Advertisement Now we have former President Donald Trump stepping up to demonstrate how facts dont need to impede a presidential campaign, judging by his recent fact-free assault on one of his favorite targets, immigrants, including asylum-seekers. Buchanan couldnt win the partys nomination in those days with his platform, which called for a big fence along the Mexican border in much the same ways Trump campaigned for a coast-to-coast wall. Buchanan was only ahead of his time, he and I agreed after Trumps victory, although Buchanan was a lot more delighted than I was. Now, we can see how much in a video interview with Trump by the National Pulse, a right-leaning website. Later reposted by liberal MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan, the interview reveals that Trump has refreshed his position with new unverified facts. Nobody has any idea where these people are coming from, and we know they come from prisons, Trump said. We know they come from mental institutions and insane asylums. We know theyre terrorists. Nobody has ever seen anything like were witnessing right now. In fact, its hard to see anything like this because neither Trump nor anybody else had found confirmation. On at least three occasions over the last two months, Trump also has claimed that the leaders of South American countries, which he would not name, are deliberately emptying their insane asylums and mental institutions to send the patients to the United States as migrants. Thats a great story, if anyone can find any truth to it. And to think this comes from a man who was born and raised in New York City, the biggest multiracial and multicultural gumbo in the history of this land of immigrants. Id like to give Trump the benefit of the doubt by saying he doesnt get out much, but we know thats not true. Maybe he just isnt paying attention. Or maybe he has spent too much time figuring out how to turn Americans against each other, for his own political benefit. [ Stephen Asma: Donald Trump appeals to our prehistoric, tribalistic selves ] Even more disturbing is how Trumps rhetoric has plainly drifted over into the tragically crazy fringe that comes straight out of the mania of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. Advertisement Yes, also new in this campaign, Trumps attack invokes a theme from Hitlers autobiographical manifesto Mein Kampf, in which the Nazi Party leader railed about what he called the impurity of immigrants, Jews and interracial couples. Clarence Page Columns As it happens Sign up to receive Clarence Pages columns by email as soon as they're published. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > It is a very sad thing for our country, Trump said. Its poisoning the blood of our country. Its so bad, and people are coming in with disease. People are coming in with every possible thing that you could have. Well, Jonathan Greenblatt, the chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League, fortunately has a firmer grip on reality. He put out a timely statement that calls Trumps comments racist and xenophobic, which to me was sadly and painfully obvious. Insinuating that immigrants are poisoning the blood of our country echoes nativist talking points and has the potential to cause real danger and violence, Greenblatt said in a statement. We have seen this kind of toxic rhetoric inspire real-world violence before in places like Pittsburgh and El Paso. It should have no place in our politics, period. Agreed. A few people wonder why I, an African American, care about an assault against Jews, Latin American immigrants or any other group to which I was not born into. Thats easy. As my own elders preached to me long ago, dont just stand by when you see another group of people attacked by bigotry. After all, when the bigots finish oppressing that group of people, yours will probably be next. Advertisement cpage@chicagotribune.com Twitter @cptime My family left South Korea when I was 5 for Asuncion, Paraguay, and that's where I first attended school. Just as I was feeling somewhat comfortable speaking Spanish, the language changed again in fourth grade to English when we moved to Los Angeles. Read more: Op-Ed: For my Korean-Black family, the aftermath of the L.A. riots cut deep Los Angeles has been the only place Ive ever called home in my adult life. The city taught me how to survive alone, invisible, nameless. It made me go deep within myself, to speak to blank pages because it was too vast outside for anybody to hear me. I found my voice as a poet, but I never quite shook that lonely immigrant kid that I had been. I kept people at arms length. Coming back to L.A. this summer from Pittsburgh, where I have been living for the last few years, and teaching young writers helped me heal those scars by doing what we dont do enough in this city: building community. Read more: Op-Ed: Heartbreak hurts, in part because our cells 'listen for loneliness' Growing up in Koreatown in the 1980s, I learned not to expect friends to stay around. It was a transitional space, where immigrants landed until they could afford to buy a house in the suburbs. I learned to not allow new people to get too close. The city felt like it was getting bigger and bigger, the sprawl spreading as far out as the freeways would let it. School was a struggle. Id become afraid to speak because I thought nobody would understand my broken English-Korean-Spanish. I was also convinced, as I imagine many immigrant kids were, that if anybody found out I didnt understand things, my family would be deported or imprisoned. In the 80s, as police helicopters often hovered above our neighborhood while the crack epidemic peaked and the Bloods-Crips conflict was in full force, the only thing I was sure of was that I had to hide. Read more: Op-Ed: How four gangs in Watts brokered a historic peace treaty L.A.s roughness created more divisions. My sixth-grade teacher ridiculed me for not knowing how to speak English or Korean. In junior high, I almost caused a brawl between some gangs, the Korean Killers, who wanted to kill me for not speaking Korean well, and the MansField Gangster Crips, who were the only kids who accepted me. In high school, I attempted suicide. Later, when I moved to New York for graduate school, everyone in L.A. was worried that I didnt have what it would take to make it there. But New York was the easiest place Id ever resided. My wife, Judy, whom I met there, used to say how even on the roughest days, there was this sense that the momentum and energy of the city would carry you through. For better or worse, there would be people around you constantly moving. Los Angeles is different. You can live and die alone. We often talk about how isolated one can be in L.A. in your home, in your car, in your own pocket too long of a drive away from anybody you know. In my childhood, when even Koreatown was barren of pedestrians, the neighborhood would be pierced with gunshots, only to return to silence within seconds. I walked block after block without a person in sight, alone in a vastness Id never known before Id moved to the U.S., and it made me believe that any footstep near me was danger. Read more: Opinion: How Rosh Hashana encourages us to fight the loneliness epidemic In L.A., unlike New York City, you had to generate all the energy on your own. Through my poetry, I found a space where I could express myself. It made me feel less afraid to speak, and thanks to a teacher who told me to just write like I speak, I focused on distilling my feelings and experiences to the point where my small vocabulary was still enough to let out what was previously trapped inside me. This summer, I taught poetry at California State Summer School for the Arts, a monthlong arts camp for teenagers. Old anxieties started building. When I saw other teachers and their pages of planning and curriculum, I was right back in that place from my childhood clueless at school and once again having to pretend I knew what I was doing. I encountered so many young people there, the little weirdos as they coined themselves, seeking a like-minded tribe. I saw other kids still isolated and struggling. But I wanted so badly for the teens to be supportive of one another. Of course, I was really talking to myself, to that younger version of me, wanting that version of me to experience a different childhood. I decided to have each student give a positive comment to the person who read before them, and leave out criticism and editing suggestions. I told them it was more important to create a safe and joyful space for all of them to write, unlike typical writing workshops where people burn one another's work, and maybe only one or two people come out with a great poem. The students jumped in. Inspired by our study of the poets Franny Choi and Danez Smith, they formed their own poetry group, the 309 Collective. And they vowed to support one another through high school and college, and even onward as they publish their first books. They promised to help other young writers feel less alone, less lost. In them, I saw the childhood and community I never had. There were a few moments when I grieved for my teen self, but that dissipated as they showed me beautiful glimpses of what life could be for them. L.A. is my home, always will be. But the city never stops reminding you that you are making a life in the middle of the desert. It has been beautiful and brutal. Without a proper chosen family surrounding you, you can find yourself walking endlessly alone through unforgiving dunes. Chiwan Choi is the author of my name is wolf and founder of Writ Large Projects. 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. The developing conflict in Israel is shining light on the Houses lack of a formal Speaker and posing a unique challenge for lawmakers as they try to determine if acting Speaker Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) can participate in intelligence briefings. The U.S.s role in the aftermath of Saturdays surprise attack by Hamas against Israel is complicated by the lack of a permanent House leader. McHenry has limited abilities in his role as Speaker pro tempore, which he took on following last weeks historic vote ousting former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), but House Republicans could vote to amend House rules and give McHenry more power. Members of Congress are working to determine if McHenry will be included in the Gang of Eight briefings with other heads of both chambers and parties. A source familiar with the matter told CNN that the White House would need to confirm whether McHenry would receive clearance to be part of the discussion. The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment. The House Intelligence Committee is in discussions about scheduling a classified briefing for next week on the Israel attacks, CNN reported. The attacks on Israel bring into focus the state of flux the House is in after a week of back-and-forth conversations about who would ultimately be the next speaker. Some Republicans are calling on their party to speed up negotiations and return to Washington, D.C., to vote on a new speaker immediately. Without a speaker in place, the House cannot pass emergency aid for Israel, or take other similar measures. In light of todays attacks, we should be called back to DC & vote on a Speaker ASAP, Rep. Brandon Williams (R-N.Y.) posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Weve all had a chance to discern between the two candidates. The nation & the world needs Americas Congress to be functioning. Every hour brings more risk. I met with a Taiwan representative yesterdaythey are anxious about our weakness. Its time to step up folks & get back to leading, Williams added. Freshman Congressman Michael Lawler (R-N.Y.) criticized McCarthys removal online. He called for the House to reinstate McCarthy immediately. Removing @SpeakerMcCarthy from office, mid-term, was idiotic, he posted on X. Doing so as Israel faces an all out attack is dangerous. Uncertainty and chaos in the U.S. breeds vulnerability around the world. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday after the group launched a barrage of rocket strikes and entered the country in a surprise attack. At least 250 Israelis and 232 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting so far, according to Israeli media reports and the Palestinian government. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Many events these days begin with land acknowledgments: earnest statements acknowledging that activities are taking place, or institutions, businesses and even homes are built, on land previously owned by Indigenous peoples. And many organizations now call on employees to incorporate such statements not only at events but in email signatures, videos, syllabuses and so on. Organizations provide resources to facilitate these efforts, including pronunciation guides and video examples. Some land acknowledgments are carefully constructed in partnership with the dispossessed. The Burke Museum at the University of Washington in Seattle describes this process: Tribal elders and leaders are the experts and knowledge-bearers who generously shared their perspectives and guidance with the Burke. Through this consultation, we co-created the Burkes land acknowledgement. That acknowledgment reads: We stand on the lands of the Coast Salish peoples, whose ancestors have resided here since Time Immemorial. Many Indigenous peoples thrive in this placealive and strong. Land acknowledgments have been used to start conversations regarding how non-Indigenous people can support Indigenous sovereignty and advocate for land repatriation. Yet the historical and anthropological facts demonstrate that many contemporary land acknowledgments unintentionally communicate false ideas about the history of dispossession and the current realities of American Indians and Alaska Natives. And those ideas can have detrimental consequences for Indigenous peoples and nations. This is why, in a move that surprised many non-Indigenous anthropologists to whom land acknowledgments seemed a public good, the Association of Indigenous Anthropologists requested that the American Anthropological Association officially pause land acknowledgments and the related practice of the welcoming ritual, in which Indigenous persons open conferences with prayers or blessings. The pause will enable a task force to recommend improvements after examining these practices and the history of the fields relationship with American Indians and Alaska Natives more broadly. We are three anthropologists directly involved in the request Valerie Lambert of the Choctaw Nation and president of the Association of Indigenous Anthropologists; Michael Lambert of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and member of the Association of Indigenous Anthropologists; and EJ Sobo, an American Anthropological Association board member charged with representing interests such as those of the Association of Indigenous Anthropologists. Wed like to further illuminate this Indigenous position, not from the associations perspective but from our perspective as scholars. What was once yours is now ours No data exists to demonstrate that land acknowledgments lead to measurable, concrete change. Instead, they often serve as little more than feel-good public gestures signaling ideological conformity to what historians Amna Khalid and Jeffrey Aaron Snyder have called in the context of higher educations diversity, equity and inclusion efforts a naive, left-wing, paint-by-numbers approach to social justice. Take, for instance, the evocation in many acknowledgments of a time when Indigenous peoples acted as stewards or custodians of the land now occupied. This and related references for example, to ancestral homelands relegate Indigenous peoples to a mythic past and fails to acknowledge that they owned the land. Even if unintentionally, such assertions tacitly affirm the putative right of non-Indigenous people to now claim title. This is also implied in what goes unsaid: After acknowledging that an institution sits on anothers land, there is no follow-up. Plans are almost never articulated to give the land back. The implication is: What was once yours is now ours. Additionally, in most cases these statements fail to acknowledge the violent trauma of land being stolen from Indigenous people the death, dispossession and displacement of countless individuals and much collective suffering. The afterlives of these traumas are deeply felt and experienced in Indigenous communities. But because non-Indigenous people are generally unaware of this trauma, land acknowledgments are often heard by Indigenous peoples as the denial of that trauma. This perspective is reinforced by a tendency to cast Indigenous peoples as part of prehistory, suggesting that the trauma of dispossession, if it happened at all, did not happen to real or wholly human people. Further, land acknowledgments can undermine Indigenous sovereignty in ways that are both insidious and often incomprehensible to non-Indigenous people. For example, non-Indigenous people tend to seek local Indigenous affirmation of their acknowledgment performance, such as by arranging for a conference blessing or Welcome to Country ritual. Such rites often feature the voices of people who, in Indigenous Studies scholar Kim TallBears words, play at being Indian that is, those who have no legitimate claim to an Indigenous identity or sovereign nation status but represent themselves as such. Actor Iron Eyes Cody, left, with President Jimmy Carter in 1978, built a decadeslong career on pretending to be Cherokee. He was of Italian descent. AP Photo/Peter Bregg Sovereignty and alienation Appropriation of American Indian and Alaska Native identity by individuals who are not members of sovereign tribes, referred to as pretendians by actual American Indians and Alaska Natives, is endemic. Actor Iron Eyes Cody, for instance, built a decadeslong career on it despite his Italian heritage. Demographic data suggests that pretendians outnumber real American Indian and Alaska Natives by a ratio of at least 4 to 1. In some cases, pretendians persist in their claims in the face of clear documentation to the contrary. When non-Indigenous people allow pretendians authority regarding land acknowledgments and blessing ceremonies, it irreparably harms sovereign Indigenous nations and their citizens. The most threatening message communicated by these acts is that American Indian identity is a racial or ethnic identity that anyone can claim through self-identification. This is not true. American Indian identity is a political identity based on citizenship in an Indigenous nation whose sovereignty has been acknowledged by the U.S. government. Sovereign Indigenous nations, and only these nations have the authority to determine who is and is not a citizen, and hence who is and is not an American Indian or Alaska Native. Anything less would undermine the entire body of Indian Law, undoing tribal sovereignty. As Rebecca Nagle of the Cherokee Nation explains in This Land, American Indians and Alaska Natives would effectively cease to exist. And so, particularly when they perpetuate misunderstandings of Indigenous identities, land acknowledgments done wrong are heard by Indigenous peoples as the final blow: a definitive apocalyptic vision of a world in which Indigenous sovereignty and land rights will not be recognized and will be claimed never to have really existed. Respect and restoration Land acknowledgments are not harmful, we believe, if they are done in a way that is respectful of the Indigenous nations who claim the land, accurately tell the story of how the land passed from Indigenous to non-Indigenous control, and chart a path forward for redressing the harm inflicted through the process of land dispossession. What many Indigenous persons want from a land acknowledgment is, first, a clear statement that the land needs to be restored to the Indigenous nation or nations that previously had sovereignty over the land. This is not unrealistic: There are many creative ways to take restorative measures and even to give land back, such as by returning U.S. national parks to the appropriate tribes. Following from this, land acknowledgments must reveal a sincere commitment to respecting and enhancing Indigenous sovereignty. If an acknowledgment is discomforting and triggers uncomfortable conversations versus self-congratulation, it is likely on the right track. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. Like this article? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. It was written by: Elisa J. Sobo, San Diego State University; Michael Lambert, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Valerie Lambert, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Read more: The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. The largest Hindu temple in the U.S. opens its doors Sunday in New Jersey. Built in the small township of Robbinsville, the 183-acre BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, named for its founding Hindu spiritual organization, rivals major Hindu temples on the subcontinent. I wake up every morning and scratch my eyes thinking, Am I still in central New Jersey? said Yogi Trivedi, a temple volunteer and a scholar of religion at Columbia University. Its like being transported to another world, specifically to India. The temple will be officially inaugurated on Oct. 8, and on the 18th, it will be accessible to the general public. For Indian Americans and Hindu Americans, this represents a massive milestone, Trivedi said. An aerial view of BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham. (BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham) This is the American Dream, he said. The sacred geography of India and beyond is here in this one place and you can experience, witness and admire it all here in New Jersey. I anticipate, as a scholar of religion, that this will become a popular place of pilgrimage for Hindus from across the world. Construction controversy Built by 12,500 volunteers from all over the world, the Akshardham has been in the works since 2011. But it made headlines a decade later, when a group of immigrant laborers sued global organization Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, known as BAPS, which has temples around the world. The lawsuit alleged shocking conditions, including forced labor, grueling work hours, inhospitable living conditions and caste discrimination. For these long and difficult hours of work, the workers were paid an astonishing $450 per month, and even less when Defendants took illegal deductions, the initial complaint said. Their hourly pay rate came to approximately $1.20 per hour. A view of the temple's north plaza. (BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham) But a spokesperson for BAPS said theres a distinction between employment and religious volunteer service, known as seva. The artisans who helped to build our mandir came to the U.S. as volunteers, not as employees, spokesperson Ronak Patel said in a statement. ...We took care of the artisans needs in the U.S., including travel, lodging, food, medical care, and internet and prepaid phone cards so they could stay in touch with their families in India. BAPS India also supported the artisans families in India so they did not suffer financial hardship as a result of the artisans seva in the U.S. The temple's ceiling. (BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham) Many of the manual laborers involved in the temples construction came to New Jersey from India on religious visas and were Dalits, meaning they fell into historically marginalized groups in South Asias caste system. The lawsuit alleges temple leadership enforced that caste hierarchy at work. But the lawsuit has now been put on hold, with 12 of the original 21 plaintiffs moving to dismiss their claims, and BAPS Akshardham spokespeople assure that the temple will be a place for people of all creeds and castes to gather in community. An interior view (BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham) Along the temple walls are carvings of historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln, said Trivedi. When you come to the mandir, you will see people of all genders ... all castes and social backgrounds living, eating, praying, loving and serving together, he said. Activists say the allegations still raise questions about the line between religious service and work exploitation, which Dalit communities are especially vulnerable to. Workers inside the BAPS Akshardham. (BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham) As a caste-privileged Hindu, civil rights activist Sunita Viswanath says this fact weighs heavily for her. A place of worship, a temple, is such an important space, especially for an immigrant community whos making home in a new country, said Viswanath, a co-founder of the civil rights group Hindus for Human Rights. I would want anybody who goes to the temple to really ask themselves, really do some soul searching, about going to a temple where there are such serious allegations of labor and human rights violations. Toeing the line between modern Jersey and ancient India Placing 2 million cubic feet of stone in Robbinsville Township was no small feat, Trivedi said, and the temple itself is a cultural mixture, with materials sourced from all over the world and nods to American history throughout. Seven feet marble carvings inside the temple. (BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham) There were some concerns from local residents, including about the height of the temple, but BAPS worked with community members and officials to make accommodations, Trivedi said. What came of it was this new hybrid community, he said. To withstand cold New Jersey winters, the outside of the temple was built with non-traditional Bulgarian limestone, Trivedi said. The inside features stone sourced from all over the world, including Greece, Italy and India, and a traditional Indian stepwell contains waters from 300 bodies in India and all 50 U.S. states. Women also occupied key roles in running the project, he said, which is something rarely seen in temple construction. The temple's stepping well. (BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham) Now people who visit here from the American community will realize that the brown family two houses away from them is not all that different, he said. Trivedi says he sees the design as reminiscent of the community that will form in the temple a mix of cultures with something for all people. That kind of inclusivity is not just talked about, its actually seen on the walls, he said. For more from NBC Asian America, sign up for our weekly newsletter. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Violence disguised as love was the reality for a Las Vegas woman, and she shared her story with 8 News Now to show how she went from a victim to a survivor. The person that was supposed to love me the most was the person that was hurting me, the woman stated. It was like the honeymoon stages of any relationship. Super loving and clingy. Four months into her relationship, her boyfriend went from loving and clingy to angry and violent. The first time he put his hands on me I was pregnant so I wasnt sure what I should do, she said. Like many others would do in her situation, she stayed, believing things would change. It went on for seven years, and one day, she landed in the hospital. He beat me so bad. I was in the ICU for 14 days. My lungs had collapsed, both my eyes were black, I had lesions head to toe from being whipped with a hair straighter cord, she said. It took almost losing her life to finally reach out for help. That help came in the form of S.A.F.E. House, a shelter that provides housing, education, and legal for those experiencing domestic violence. They also have a discreet location in town only known to staff and the people they help. I just remembered they kept saying hello, are you there? That made the biggest difference for me, the woman said. It really is staggering sometimes how many calls we get each day from victims of domestic violence, Beth Flory, executive director of S.A.F.E. house, said. We are somber because there are so many people that didnt make it. But this survivor did make it, and she tells anyone who may be going through the same thing to call the crisis helpline, take whatever opportunity they have by themselves, and think a few steps ahead. For Nevadas statistics on womens safety, view the Womens Research Institute of Nevadas research article. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Lawmakers are vowing to get their constituents out of Israel in the wake of the attacks launched by the militant group Hamas. In a surprise move, Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel on Saturday, which has now left at least 600 dead in Israel and another 300 dead in Gaza. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) said Sunday that he is in touch with constituents who are currently in Israel amid the attacks. Well, we have been in touch with dozens of constituents who are in Israel currently. Obviously, for their safety and security, Im not going to get too specific. But we are working with them, as well as the consulate, to try and get them out as quickly as possible, he said on CNNs State of the Union. Given the situation on the ground, we want to make sure that all of our residents here in the 17th District get home as quickly as possible, he added. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) also said that he has been notified by 53 of his own constituents on Sunday, saying that they are panicked and trying to find their way to get back to America. If anybody if you havent been to Israel, in southern Israel by the Gaza border, by Gaza City, yes, it is really easy for them to come across that border. Thats what we saw. We need to provide every assistance possible to Israel to get Americans back, Donalds said on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures. And, listen, let me be very clear with Hamas. Touch an Americans head and see what happens to you. Thats my position. That needs to be the position of the president of the United States right now. We need to get those people back and support Israel in every way possible to see that happen, he added. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that U.S. officials have received reports that several Americans have been killed in Israel and that they are working to verify the reports. Its also been reported that Hamas has taken people in Israel, including women and children, as hostages. Yes, we have reports that several Americans were killed, Blinken told CNNs Dana Bash when asked whether Americans were killed or kidnapped in Israel. Were working overtime to verify that. At the same time, there are reports of missing Americans, and there again, were working to verify those reports, he said. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) was also in Jerusalem on Saturday as Hamas launched their first round of attacks. His office confirmed Sunday that the senator had safely departed Israel after needing to shelter in place with his staff. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Both Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) were in Israel over the weekend while extremist group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack at the countrys border with Gaza. Both congressmen have since left the country, according to their offices. Goldman was in Israel for a Bar Mitzvah with his wife and three of his children, his spokesperson, Simone Kanter, said. Congressman Goldman and his family sheltered from Hamas rocket fire in their hotels interior stairwell until early Sunday morning, when they were able to safely depart for New York, Kanter said in a statement. Booker arrived in Israel on Friday, according to his office, ahead of a summit on the Abraham Accords at which he was scheduled to speak Tuesday. Senator Booker and accompanying staff were in Jerusalem when Hamas launched their attacks against Israel on Saturday, and sheltered in place for their safety, spokesperson Maya Krishna-Rogers said in a statement. We are grateful that Senator Booker and our colleagues were able to safely depart Israel earlier today. The Saturday morning assault blindsided Israeli forces, leaving hundreds dead, wounded and kidnapped, including many civilians. Both congressmen took to social media to condemn Hamas actions and offer their support for Israel in the hours and days after the attack. At a minimum, Congress must replenish and expand the Iron Dome as soon as possible, Goldman posted on X, formerly Twitter, early Sunday morning, referring to Israel's defense system against rockets. I hope Republicans can get their House in order so we can pass emergency legislation to assist Israel in defending herself. I emphatically condemn Hamas' horrific acts of violence, kidnapping and terror targeting Israeli families, children and other civilians in towns and cities across the nation of Israel, Booker wrote. I stand with the people of Israel and the families of those who have lost loved ones. Booker later expounded further on X: "My team and I are now safe, but like many we are shaken, angered, and heartbroken by the hundreds killed, the thousands injured, those taken hostage, and all who are directly affected by these sickening terrorist attacks." Palestinians celebrate on top of a stolen Israeli military jeep in the streets of Gaza on Saturday - HAITHAM IMAD/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Left-wing student groups at British universities have been accused of glorifying the Hamas attack on Israel, despite Suella Bravermans warning that support for the banned terrorist group would be punished. Palestine societies at the University of Warwick, University College London and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) have expressed praise on social media after the attack, which has left more than 600 dead and 100 taken hostage. Screenshots of posts on their respective Instagram accounts have described the scenes as a heroic fight by the martyrs against fascist and criminal settlers. This is despite the Home Secretary saying that she expects the police to use the full force of the law against anyone displaying support for Hamas following the bloody scenes on Saturday. The Union of Jewish Students (UJS) has demanded that university and students union chiefs take harsh action against this despicable celebration of violence. The Justice for Palestine society at UCL appeared to endorse a quote from Ismail Haniyeh , the Hamas political chief - Fazil Abd Erahim/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images At University College London, the Justice for Palestine society appeared to endorse a quote from Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas political chief, on Instagram. They posted the quote on their account, which said: Our brave and hard-working Palestinian people, those freeing the world, the Palestinian resistance, in these historical moments are engaged in a heroic fight for Al-Aqsa Mosque, our sacred sites, and our prisoners. Over the last few days, thousands of fascist and criminal settlers desecrated the shrine of the Prophet [Muhammad] and performed their prayers there to impose sovereignty over the area. If the world will be silent, we will not be silent about this aggression. At SOAS, the student Palestine Society wrote on Instagram: The Palestinian people have the right to resist occupation by any means necessary. The University of Warwick for Palestine society claimed the attack was Gazas resistance against a 75-year-old military colonial occupation, adding: We stand in solidarity with Gaza, the martyrs, and the resistance to this vile occupation. And a Palestinian group at Queen Mary, University of London, likened Israel to trespassers, writing on Instagram: You cannot be safe as a trespasser. You only have the right to give back the persons home. It has sparked outrage from Jewish campus leaders, who now fear for the safety of Jewish students. Guy Dabby-Joory, head of campaigns at the UJS, told The Telegraph: Thousands of Jewish students across the country have spent the past two days checking up on their family and friends in Israel, and bracing themselves for a wave of antisemitism on British campuses. Meanwhile, their fellow students leading these societies have glorified and celebrated the murder and kidnap of hundreds of innocent men, women and children by a terrorist group proscribed in the UK. We urge the universities and students unions where these societies are registered to take harsh action against this despicable celebration of violence. Meanwhile, Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, lit City Hall in the colours of the Israeli flag on Sunday, after he came under fire on social media for not following New York, Miami, Prague, Berlin and other cities in doing so. The Empire State Building in New York was lit in the colours of the Israeli flag on Saturday - Roy Rochlin/Getty Images) It comes as the Metropolitan Police has vowed to take a zero tolerance approach to criminal displays of support for the attacks on Israel. Scotland Yard said patrols in sensitive areas of London had been increased over the weekend and warned anyone found breaking the law would be arrested. The comments came after a series of incidents in which people appeared to be celebrating the attacks and showing public support for Hamas, including waving flags and honking horns on the streets of the capital. A number of demonstrations are planned in the coming days, including Vigil for Israel at 5pm on Monday outside Downing Street, and a Stop The War protest outside the Israeli Embassy at 6pm. Andy Valentine, the Mets deputy assistant commissioner, said: We will take a zero tolerance approach to any activity which crosses the lines into criminality. Hamas was proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK Government in 2021, which means anyone can be prosecuted for wearing clothing or carrying articles in public such as flags which arouse reasonable suspicion that they support the group. Anyone found guilty faces up to 10 years in jail. The universities have been contacted for comment. 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. The Facts Know More Do you remember when you first came across the story of Patrice Lumumba ? Sometime in college. I wrote my thesis on leaders who died in office (which almost describes Lumumba he was killed after being ousted as prime minister). What made you want to write a book about him? In 2014, I had the chance to visit Congo for a magazine article I was writing. That got me reading about the countrys history. The more I learned, the more I realized there was this incredibly rich and tragic story about the countrys traumatic birth as an independent nation. Immediately after independence, the country was plunged into chaos. It was front-page news in the West in 1960 and 1961, only to be forgotten later. And at the center of it was this fascinating character: Patrice Lumumba. He was brilliant, mercurial, frustrating, and inspiring. And he had a dramatic rise and terrible fall. You write that the Cold War only really became a global undertaking in the Congo, can you elaborate? Before the crisis in the Congo, the Cold Wars hotspots were confined to places near one or both of the superpowers: Iran, Berlin, Korea, Hungary, and so on. But in Congo, the United States and the Soviet Union were facing off in a country that was far away from both of them. Of course, it turned out that the Soviets were far less interested in the country than the Americans were. After all your research, what was one anecdote that still shocks you about Congos early post-colonial era? The private racism of U.S. officials really stood out. At one White House meeting about Congo, a top official told President Dwight Eisenhower that many Africans still belonged in the trees, to which Ike responded in apparent agreement. Clare Timberlake, the U.S. ambassador to Congo, joked in one letter that Lumumba was a cannibal. In another document he declared that the Congolese were not a civilized people, and in yet another called them children. What is the clearest link you see to the troubles of DR Congo today to that fateful American intervention in 1960? The most important effect of U.S. meddling was to install Joseph Mobutu later Mobutu Sese Seko as the countrys leader. His September 1960 coup was supported and arranged by the CIA, which then went on to have a long relationship with him. So many of the DRCs current troubles can be traced back to the devastation caused by Mobutus long, terrible rule. Getty Images/Bettmann How did spending time in Congo reset your approach in writing this book? Traveling to Congo was invaluable for the research. It helped me vividly describe the places where the story took place. It allowed me to interview people who had met Lumumba or, more often, the children of people who knew him well. In Kisangani (Stanleyville in Lumumbas time), I was able to see the post office where Lumumba worked and the house where he lived. Outside Lubumbashi (formerly Elisabethville), I was able to meet with a man who, as a teenager, witnessed Lumumbas murder while on a hunting trip. How is Lumumba remembered in DR Congo today? Hes really passed into the realm of myth at this point. Many Congolese have a great fondness for him as a national hero, although there are those who view him quite negatively. In my book, I seek to scrape away all the mythmaking and recover the man himself. Lumumba was a complicated person who defied easy categorization. What advice do you have for young writers trying to write a historical work like this, especially if part of the story is set in places without strong formal recordkeeping? I think there was a decent amount of recordkeeping going on by Lumumbas government; its just that the documents disappeared in the chaos. Whatever the reason, the relative lack of Congolese records was a challenge. Part of the solution was to remain constantly alert to potential bias in a document for example, taking with a large grain of salt a CIA cable purporting to divine Lumumbas motivations. But another part was to look beyond archival records. Fortunately, there were lots of memoirs, interviews, and oral histories from the Congolese side, so I relied heavily on these. The result, I hope, is a book that, as much as possible, tells the story through the eyes and in the words of Lumumba himself. Courtesy of Penguin Random House Education is once again going to be the topic at the Texas Capitol. At Gov. Greg Abbotts behest, the Legislature will convene in a special session Monday to debate school vouchers. A voucher measure or a so-called education savings program passed in the Senate during the regular session, but stalled in the House at the protest of Democrats and rural Republican lawmakers. Opponents say vouchers take valuable funds from public schools and dont help the kids who really need it. Advocates say parents have a right to choose which public or private school their child attends, and should receive a specific allotment a taxpayer-funded subsidy to fund the choice. They argue the money should follow the child and that doing so will boost any school thats already thriving and, contrary to popular belief, wont cripple public schools. Many Texans already have the choice of public magnet schools or charter schools. Voucher programs take that a step further and allow public money to be funneled to private schools. We believe this is a step worth exploring on a small scale and with extreme caution. Some studies have actually shown academic declines in students who participated in voucher programs, while in some states, large portions of voucher money has gone to wealthy families with students already in private schools. Abbott has pushed for vouchers: In a recent teleconference with religious leaders, he asked them to tell like-minded voters from the pulpit to contact lawmakers in their districts and ask for educational freedom. In April, he advocated for vouchers during a stop at Nolan Catholic High School in Fort Worth. His tactics dont appear to support what a test of vouchers should be all about: Providing another option for disadvantaged families whose homes are zoned for perennially low-performing public schools. Expansive voucher programs have passed in a number of states Arizona, Florida, and North Carolina and its obvious Abbott wants to add vouchers to his list of legacy-making policies, in addition to last sessions property tax cuts. Given the recent debacle between Paxton, Lt. Gov Dan Patrick, and House Speaker Dade Phelan a tragic trio to be sure the legislature must focus on the reason its there and not turn vouchers into a fight between the two chambers. We understand the logic behind the case for vouchers, but evidence does not support more than a small-scale test. Weve said for years that the Fort Worth school district must improve its focus on academics. State tests show kids struggle to read and do math at grade level in the Fort Worth district and others that serve Fort Worth families. Enrollment in the Fort Worth district is in a steady decline. According to work by Star-Telegram education reporter Silas Allen, an analysis of STAAR test results shows Fort Worth public school kids reading scores have dipped in the last year. All of this points to an education system in need of serious change, in Fort Worth and across the state. But the size and diversity of Texas warrant an incremental approach to vouchers. Plus, Texas already has a vibrant program of school choice in magnet schools and charter schools, which are growing. Last year, Fort Worth charter schools reported more gains on the STAAR test from 2021 than public schools did. The Public Charter Schools Association boasts that in 2022, 78% of public charter school graduates were college, career or military read compared to the statewide average of 66%. A pilot voucher program in Texas could target under-served populations in an urban area. That could help answer some questions: Does the program compete with charter schools or help them? Does it detract from public school enrollment and funds or does the competition force public schools to get better? Politically, this could be a win for many: Rural lawmakers could relax, Republicans in favor could stand behind it, and Abbott could take the win and add a piece of legacy legislation to his final term. In the end, what matters most is that children in Fort Worth and beyond have access to an educational program that prepares them for a successful life. If, after careful testing, vouchers provide to contribute to that, great. If not, lets figure out what does. Local elected officials on Saturday, including Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. J.B. Pritzker publicly denounced news of a surprise air and land attack on Israel by Hamas militants that is believed to have left hundreds dead in Israel and the Gaza Strip. According to The Associated Press, Hamas gunmen rolled into as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip, where they roamed for hours, gunning down civilians and soldiers as Israels military scrambled to muster a response. Gunbattles continued well after nightfall, and militants held hostages in standoffs in two towns. Advertisement The Israeli rescue service Zaka said at least 200 people were killed and 1,100 wounded, making it the deadliest attack in Israel in decades. At least 232 people in the Gaza Strip have been killed and at least 1,700 wounded in Israeli strikes, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. Hamas fighters took an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive into Gaza, a deeply sensitive issue for Israel. The deadly attacks against civilians today are alarming and truly heartbreaking, Johnson said in a statement. Members of the Israeli and Palestinian Diasporas in Chicago and around the world deserve to know that their families and loved ones can live in a communities comforted with peace and with dignity, something that has not often been a reality in the region. Advertisement This horrific cycle of violence and trauma must end. Its time for a just and lasting peace that recognizes the humanity of our Israeli and Palestinian siblings, and the right to prosperity for future generations. In his own statement, the governor condemned the horrifying attacks on Israel by Hamas and extend my support for those whose families and loved ones have been killed and injured in this terrorist attack today, according to a statement posted on social media. In Illinois and across America, the people of Israel are in our prayers. The attack comes at a time of historic division within Israel over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus proposal to overhaul the judiciary. Mass protests over the plan have sent hundreds of thousands of Israeli demonstrators into the streets and prompted hundreds of military reservists to avoid volunteer duty turmoil that has raised fears over the militarys battlefield readiness and raised concerns about its deterrence over its enemies. [ DON'T MISS: Hamas surprise attack out of Gaza stuns Israel and leaves hundreds dead in fighting, retaliation ] The early morning attack led Jewish members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Illinois General Assembly to each make statements showing solidarity with Israelis. We support Israels right to defend itselfto protect its people and communitiesand will do all we can to ensure Israel has the ability and capacity to restore and maintain its security and the safety of all its citizens, said a statement from 24 members of the House, including Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Evanston. The 15-member General Assembly Legislative Jewish Caucus also expressed shock and sadness at the conflict. The totality of the loss of life is not yet clear, but we unequivocally condemn this deprivation of innocent life. We pray for peace on this Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, knowing there are thousands of Israeli brothers and sister who are being deprived of their peace right now, the statement read. Thank you to all our friends in the Midwest for your strong support. It means so much to us. The situation in Israel is still unfolding. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and the communities in the south of Israel. pic.twitter.com/s8nHv1RO4J Yinam Cohen (@YinamCohen) October 7, 2023 On the site formerly known as Twitter, Yinam Cohen, consul general of Israel to the Midwest didnt address the crisis directly, but did thank supporters. The situation in Israel is still unfolding. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and the communities in the south of Israel. Lessons in Chemistry was practically born to become a TV series. Before Bonnie Garmus scientific foodie romance novel even hit shelves, Apple TV+ locked down a deal with star Brie Larson to recreate the brilliant novel in a mini-series. Everyone involved had the right idea: After the book debuted in March 2022, it hit the NYT Bestsellers list, skyrocketed in popularity on BookTok, and was later named Barnes & Nobles 2022 Book of the Year. Apple TV+ For series creator Lee Eisenberg and director Sarah Adina Smithwho worked alongside Garmus, a co-executive producer, to adapt the showthese accomplishments should have given them even more confidence in their adaptation. The pair had signed onto a project not knowing how popular the book might become, and, luckily, it turned out to be a massive hit. But with a huge, passionate fanbase, bringing the world of Lessons in Chemistry to life became a daunting task. Id never adapted anything before, so I was going in a little bit, uh, blissfully ignorant, Eisenberg tells The Daily Beasts Obsessed over Zoom. The pressure of working on something that is so belovedalso by me and my familyit wasnt a casual thing. You didnt want to let down your wife, Smith corrects him. Lets be honest. Yeah, it really comes down to my wife, Eisenberg says with a laugh. My wife read it first, just so were clear. She said, You need to call Apple. I listened to my wife, and here we are! Apple TV+ Indeed, listening to women is the best thing one can do, both in the real world and in the universe of Lessons in Chemistry. Set in the 1950s and 60s, the series follows chemist Elizabeth Zott (Larson) as she falls in love with her brilliant coworker, Calvin Evans (Lewis Pullman), hosts her very own science-themed cooking show called Supper at Six, and pushes against the evil (usually white male) forces of the world. Devout fans of the novel should know upfront: The series is just as clever, touching, and delicious as Garmus novel. Below, Smith and Eisenberg chat about why Larson was the perfect collaborator on Lessons in Chemistry, creating the delectable set of Supper at Six, and whether or not a second season is on the horizon. (Warning: Slight spoilers for the plot of Lessons in Chemistry below.) This show came together so fastI was still finishing the book when the first look dropped. Was that a goal, to turn it around quickly? Lee Eisenberg: The development of [this project] was happening in concert with the book becoming what it eventually became. I had read the book and just fell in love with it for all of the reasons that everyone else in the world has fallen in love with it. I put in an incoming call to Apple, which Ive never done before! Usually, material comes to me and Sarah, and people say, Hey, would you consider working on the show? With this one, I was like, Hello! I would like to be on your show! Please! If theres anything I can do! Sarah Adina Smith: I do think it worked to the shows benefit that we were beholden to Bries very busy schedule. That probably helped catalyze it and get it going faster than it might have [otherwise]. What was the hardest part about the adaptation process? Eisenberg: There was definitely a pressure that so many people felt such a connection to the material and to Elizabeth as a character. I wanted to honor that and not blow it. I didnt want to do anything that would feel less than the book in any way. There was such a high bar from the book that it was really scary. The book just touches on so many different things and theres so many twists and turns. I wanted to leave myself the opportunity to truly adapt it, but also honor it, so that the fans of the book didnt feel like, What did you do with my dear beloved book? Smith: I feel like, when you read a book, it exists in your imagination. Oftentimes, you dont read it all in one sitting. Its over a period of time. Theres pacing and your mind has time to digest it, it has time to evolve and grow in your mind. One thing I was aware of was wanting to shoot the show with a rhythm and pace that allowed for some negative space as well. Normally, in TV and film, you gotta keep it moving. But I wanted to shoot it simply with not too many cuts, in a way that could allow the audience to put themselves into it. Eisenberg: By shooting the first two episodes as a block, [Smith] really established a look and a tone for the subsequent six episodes. The pace of the dialogue and the way that Sarah shot it, we were able to live in the scenes really well. The show always felt like there was movement. There was an initial fear when we first got into it, like, how do you make two people in a lab shaking beakers and making sure that a clear one turns into a foggy substance compelling for an audience? Apple TV+ Then theres Supper at Six, which was just marvelous to watch. Did you reference any specific cooking shows while creating that show-within-a-show? Smith: We had a lot of fun with 1950s cuisine. American 1950s cuisine is not known to be super great and delicious. Something we talked about a lot is in World War II, women were oftentimes supporting their families and getting out of the home and then, all of a sudden, the men come back from war and [the women] are pushed back into the kitchen. A lot of 1950s cuisine was designed as a way to give women convenience and to give them back some of that freedom that they had lost. What I think is really interesting is Elizabeth is a little bit ahead of her time, she sort of has modern, more fresh and delicious twists on 1950s cuisine. Shes still very respectful of the idea that women need to find a way to feed their families on a budget, keep them healthy, and have a life of their own. Speaking of Elizabeth, lets talk about Brie. How did she contribute as an executive producer? Eisenberg: Brie is not an executive producer in name only. Brie was very much our partner in this. She was involved in pre-production, walking sets and talking about the color palette for Supper at Six. She was instrumental in the evolution of Elizabeths wardrobe throughout the show. Courtney McBroom, our food stylist, is one of Bries best friends, so they worked together on those dishes. Brie did it all. She really wore so many hatsto the point where I would say to her, I dont think you need to be in the pre-call for the main titles. Weve got this one. You should act for today. How Brie Larsons Captain Marvel Made Angry White Men Lose Their Damn Minds Smith: Just to give you one little anecdotal example, there was one scene where she was wearing these really uncomfortable shoes from the 1950s, and I needed her to run down some stairs and through a crowd of people and it was taking us several takes to coordinate. Around take four or five, I noticed blood coming through her white 50s socks in the back. I was like, Okay, medic! Stop. We need to get a bandage here. And she was like, No, just roll it again. Weve got it this time. Im fine. Thats just Brie for you. She has a rigorous commitment to joy and to process. She would hold card games with the other cast members in between set ups. A lot of readers love the chemistry between Elizabeth and Calvin, but I was really touched by her relationship with Mad (Alice Halsey), their daughter. How did Brie and Alice connect on set? Eisenberg: [Brie] really developed an amazing relationship with Alice. There was no affect to it. They just would sit around and speak French to one another. Alices family would come around, and they all developed a real [bond]. They went dancing together on the weekend. It was not a professional thing where they say Hi in the mornings, and then in the afternoons they say Goodbye! They really made it feel like a family. In the show, Elizabeth Zott becomes this somewhat maligned feminist celebrity, which Brie Larson has a bit of a history with, thanks to the misogynistic trolls who hated Captain Marvel. Did you ever make that connection when writing Elizabeth? Smith: I think it kind of went unspoken. I dont know if we were directly trying to tell that particular story about [Bries] life, but its in the zeitgeist, and theres some subtext in terms of perhaps why she was drawn to this character and one of the things she may have wanted to explore. I certainly dont want to speak for her about that, but its interesting that you point it out. Apple TV+ The show is dealing with gender politics in the 1950s and 60s that somehow still feel relevant today. Why do you think that is? Eisenberg: From the beginning, we never set out to make a show that was political with a capital P. Everything was in service of the character. We talked about all of those things, but really, we want characters to go on a journey. Those experiences inform that journey. An example of that is in Episode 1, when Calvin and Elizabeth are walking down the hall and he says, Why would anyone make a judgment on someones talent based on something as non-determinative as gender? She stops him and she says, Calvin. How many female scientists can you name aside from Marie Curie? He just stops, and she goes, There you go. As much as society has evolved and there has been tremendous progress from the 1950s to today, theres so much more that needs to happen. In these moments, hopefully, the audience stops in their tracks and says, Oh, right. Its a story of white male privilege without stopping to do an entire episode that feels like an after school special about privilege. Elizabeth, our heroine, shes faced with obstacle after obstacle throughout the city. We watch her come to discover her white female privilege. This series really runs the gamut of the book, but do you see a Season 2 on the horizon? Eisenberg: Brie has done quite well for herself living in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so if there ever was an opportunity to create the LICCU, the Lessons in Chemistry Cinematic Universe, [wed do it]! [Laughs] We do not have any ideas as of yet, and we feel that the story was complete. But if it made sense to continue telling Elizabeth and Mad and Harriets stories going forward, I think we would all jump at the opportunity. 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. On Nov, 7 we will vote on Issue 1 for the state of Ohio. It is yet another attempt by abortion activists to promote the slaughter of innocent unborn human beings under the guise of "reproductive freedom." Manipulation of language is a key component of their agenda to obfuscate the reality of what abortion really is, the death of a helpless human being. Also, any attempt to hinder the performance of an abortion whether it be through parental consent, informed access to information concerning risks and complications, or access to ultrasounds to show the viability of the baby would be forbidden. A society that declares war on its own children is a society in serious moral decay. We cannot allow this devaluation of human life to continue, for if you devalue even one human life, you devalue all. Vote no on Issue 1. Maureen Collins, Mansfield This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mansfield resident opposes Ohio Issue 1 Liberal New York Congressman Ritchie Torres slammed the media for "sanitizing" Hamas terrorists who are brutally attacking Israel and killed at least 700 Israelis. "If you murder, wound, rape, and abduct civilians and children, as Hamas has done, you are not a militant. You are a terrorist. The media should stop sanitizing terrorists as militants," Torres tweeted Saturday. The Israeli government officially declared war on Sunday, the first time the nation has made such a declaration since the Yom Kippur War of 1973, after terrorist organization Hamas launched a surprise attack on the nation, launching rockets from the Gaza Strip. At least 1,100 people have died since the war began on Saturday, according to officials, including 700 people in Israel and at least another 260 people at a music festival in southern Israel. At least 400 were killed in Gaza after the Israeli military hit more than 800 targets in the Gaza Strip. IRAN-LINKED TERRORISTS, GUERRILLAS SURROUND ISRAEL: HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THEM "Hamass surprise terrorist attack by air, land, and sea is Israels 9/11. Losing 600 Israelis is the equivalent of losing about 20,000 Americans," Torres tweeted Sunday morning before officials said fatalities swelled to at least 700 people. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP BIDEN BLASTED FOR APPEASING IRAN AHEAD OF DEVASTATING ATTACK ON ISRAEL: END THE ONE-SIDED CONCESSIONS "Hamas is a terrorist organization, just like the Taliban and Al-Qaeda are terrorist organizations. Back in 2001, no one in the mainstream media described the attackers on 9/11 as militants," Torres added. CORY BOOKER, STAFF SAFE AFTER SHELTERING IN PLACE IN JERUSALEM WHEN HAMAS ATTACKED ISRAEL: SPOKESPERSON Rep. Ritchie Torres has repeatedly spoken out about his support of Israel and called himself "the embodiment of a pro-Israel progressive" in 2019. Mainstream news outlets have called Hamas terrorists "militants" within their reporting, despite the U.S. Department of State designating the Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist group a foreign terrorist organization in 1997, according to the agency's website. Torres was elected as a New York congressman in 2020 and secured his re-election last year. He has repeatedly spoken out about his support of Israel, and called himself "the embodiment of a pro-Israel progressive" back in 2019. The New York Democrat also slammed the NYC Democratic Socialists of America for planning an "All Out for Palestine" rally in Times Square on Sunday. US CITIES RAMPING UP PROTECTIONS FOR JEWISH COMMUNITIES, HOUSES OF WORSHIP AFTER HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL "In solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to resist 75 years of occupation and apartheid," the socialist group posted to their X account ahead of the planned rally. "The DSA refers to '75 years of occupation,'" Torres shot back in a response tweet. "For the DSA, the occupation is Israel itself. Ending the occupation means ending Israelthe home of the worlds largest Jewish population." "DSA has been so normalized within New York politics that it will pay no price at all for its genocidal celebration of Israels destruction in the wake of Israels deadliest terrorist attack. A sign of how far my beloved New York has fallen," he continued. Hamas has reportedly taken a large amount of hostages amid the attacks, including women and children, while U.S. officials are working to confirm if American citizens have been taken hostage. Original article source: Liberal NY Dem puts media on notice about Hamas terrorists Nearly every weekday morning, hundreds of New Yorkers from across Manhattan and Brooklyn make their way to the 16th floor of the Municipal Building near City Hall to deal with low level summonses issued by the NYPD. They face a more elaborate security system than is typical in higher-level courts, having to march through one set of metal detectors on the ground floor, which is controlled by the city, and a second set on the 16th floor, which is controlled by the state court system. They then are required to check in with a clerk before what is often an hours-long wait for their cases to be called. Over the past year, business in this little-observed backwater of the criminal justice system has accelerated as a result of the Adams administrations low-level enforcement campaign targeting so-called quality of life crimes a strategy that has caused tensions in some neighborhoods. On many days, lawyers and court workers say, the docket in the 16th floor courtroom bulges with 500 to 700 names of people swept up in the NYPD campaign, largely on charges like disorderly conduct, trespassing, possession of an open container, or smoking marijuana in a park or in a parked car. Occasionally, theres a littering case. The charge of riding a bicycle on a sidewalk sometimes a moped or e-bike are also common. The NYPD has also been writing summonses for unlicensed food vending for people officers claim are selling marijuana. The language in the summons is green vegetative substance for consumption, says lawyer Gideon Oliver, who regularly defends people in summons court. Figures supplied by the Office of Court Administration show 38,387 people appeared for criminal court summonses citywide in 2022 through the month of August, versus 70,618 in the same period of 2023 an 84% increase. In Manhattan, the increase jumped by 109% from 6,167 in the first eight months of 2022 versus 12,921 in the same period of 2023. In Brooklyn, there was an 112% increase, from 12,347 in the first eight months of 2022 to 26,140 in the first eight months of 2023. The racial disparity is stark. On a recent day when 550 people were on the docket, the vast majority were Black or Hispanic, with a tiny handful of white folks dotting the gallery. Overall, the court figures show, 58% of people who got summonses in 2023 were Black or Hispanic, while just 6% were white and 4% were Asian. Race was not listed in 21% of cases. Thats out of line with US Census figures from 2022, which show whites make up 40% of the citys population, Blacks make up 23% and Hispanics make up 29%. Its like the Giuliani era all over again, Oliver said. Back then, it used to be you show up in summons court, and there was a line out the door. Before Adams, there was a significant dip. Now on many days, once again, its lines out the door. Each case is conducted in perfunctory fashion, with hearings taking less than two minutes. Many cases result in fines of $25 to $50 and a guilty plea to a non-criminal city code violation. Many other cases end up in adjournment in contemplation of dismissal, or ACD. Under an ACD, if a person is not arrested again in six months, their case is dismissed and sealed. That was the outcome for a 17-year-old boy recently charged with disorderly conduct in Brooklyn for asking cops, Why are you arresting my mom? Also getting an ACD was a woman in her twenties charged in Brooklyn with possessing an open container of alcohol and disorderly conduct. She took the ACD because, her lawyer said, she didnt want to miss another day of work. Quite often, the minor charges are dismissed because the police officers fail to fill out the tickets properly. Were not asking Rhodes Scholars to write these, cracked Judge Pamela Goldsmith, an Adams appointee. To a man charged with getting stoned in a car, Goldsmith admonished, I know it [marijuana] is legal, but you cant smoke marijuana in a car. She tells another defendant, Dont smoke anything in the park. City rules bar smoking in public parks. The summons campaign is key to the NYPDs crime-fighting strategy under Mayor Adams in a way that recalls the broken windows campaign of ex-Mayor Rudolph Giulianis terms that in the 1990s was credited with bringing a steep drop in violence. The Police Department also says the campaign responds to city residents legitimate concerns. For the more than 400,000 times citywide residents have called 311 to report quality of life complaints so far this year, including public urination, littering, alcohol consumption, park violations and unreasonable noise, and for all those who suffer in silence, these are serious issues, the department said in a statement. Quality of life complaints, which are often a precursor to violence, remain a real concern to residents in all city neighborhoods. Civil rights lawyer MK Kaishian disputes the NYPDs position that the summons campaign has value in improving public safety. Police know that charging a victim of their abuse with a crime is an effective way to discredit that person to the legal system and the public, Kaishian said. Certain civil rights claims are also eliminated when a person takes a plea, even to non-criminal violations, regardless of the illegitimacy of the original police conduct. Its an incredibly coercive process that is being rubber-stamped by the judiciary and the City of New York. Daniel Pelli, a defense lawyer who handles cases in summons court, says theres a balance that has to be struck. If a guy is drinking a beer quietly on his stoop, not causing trouble, is it fair to charge him? Sometimes, the police do take advantage of these statutes in a way thats not clearly helpful to quality-of-life issues. Pelli said. On the other hand, quality of life in the city is an issue. I dont want a lot of drinking on the street with loud noise and carrying on. So I think there should be a more targeted application of the statutes. Sometimes, they are applied in an inefficient and unfair way. In the end justice is served in the courtroom and thats what its about. Kaishian and Oliver say despite the small fines and inconveniences, there are more serious consequences, like time lost from work or childcare from repeated court appearances. A lot of people think these are just tickets, and some people can eat the fine and plead to the violation, Oliver said. But each visit means a half day at least out of work. If you want to fight the charge, it involves coming back to court multiple times. He noted a guilty plea to a summons can lead to someone being ousted from public housing, for example. There are consequences on jobs, housing, people with immigration issues, he said. Its a high cost for something thats not really effective as an enforcement tool. Hope springs eternal when it comes to Britains languishing stock market, where the benchmark FTSE 100 share index remains marooned at not much higher than where it was at the turn of the century and the number of new issues has slowed to a virtual standstill. Despite this dismal showing, Julia Hoggett, chief executive of the London Stock Exchange, insists that the corner has been turned. I think it always takes time for facts, narrative and indeed perception to all catch up with one another, she told Bloomberg last week. There is a great deal of reason to be hugely optimistic. Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England, is also bullish in his case not specifically about the stock market, which is a relatively small part of finance these days, but prospects more widely for the City as a financial centre. The impact of Brexit had been smaller than some of the dire predictions made before the referendum, he said in an interview with Prospect magazine. Ive always said, not everything about EU regulation was best suited to our national circumstances, he said. We do have opportunities and I support what the Government is doing to think through how to make best use of them. Is all this just wishful thinking, or are we indeed on the cusp of a new golden era for London as a financial centre? As is generally the case with such questions, the answer lies at neither extreme. Assuming the tax regime remains reasonably accommodative, and we can tame our offence at high levels of pay, London should be able to more than hold its own given its past incumbency; yet sadly, global forces conspire against its rebirth as the centre of the financial universe. This was not always the case. Rewind to the turn of the century and the City as a global financial centre was on a roll. America had shot itself in the foot with Sarbanes Oxley, an oppressive corporate governance code that acted as a powerful deterrent to international capital. Europes hitherto fragmented financial markets were meanwhile fast consolidating into a single centre: London. For a time, there was not a single complex financial transaction in Europe and beyond that didnt in some way pass through London. New Labours light touch regulatory regime completed the picture of an open for business paradise capable of attracting capital and listings from all over the world quite a lot of it distinctly dodgy, it ought to be added. Yet there was a Wild West buzz about the place that was in other respects uplifting and infectious. Seemingly everyone wanted to be in London, and for a brief moment, the City could legitimately claim to be the most important financial centre in the world, a position it hadnt occupied since the glory days of empire. Then came the financial crisis, followed by a veritable pose of European regulators determined to crack down on the Citys seemingly lawless Ango-Saxon speculators. It has essentially been in relative decline ever since. Strangely, moreover, we have grown more like Europe in our anti-free market political mindset since leaving the EU, not less so. That scarcely helps things either. It is perfectly true that finance has survived Brexit much better than might have been expected, with relatively few jobs transferred to rival European centres. But nor so far has Brexit proved the opportunity some had hoped for. Brexit freedoms have not been used widely to bolster competitiveness. This embedded content is not available in your region. The Citys interests were almost wholly ignored during the withdrawal negotiations, which given that financial services are arguably Britains most important industry, generating more than 100bn a year in tax revenues, was a source of amazement both to European negotiators, and indeed to City practitioners. In prioritising sovereignty over market access, the Government threw the City under the bus. The degree of ill feeling in Brussels over Brexit is still such that regulatory equivalence, which would give the City access to specific parts of European finance, has been limited to even fewer cases than those enjoyed by the United States, Canada and Japan. The biggest of these exceptions clearing of over the counter, euro denominated swaps is also poised to expire the year after next. Some of the smaller European financial centres Dublin, Luxembourg and Amsterdam in particular have done well out of post-Brexit financial fragmentation. Yet the biggest beneficiary is not Europe at all, but the US, which is increasingly unchallenged as the go-to place for international finance. As I say, stock markets are a comparatively small part of finance as a whole, yet the London Stock Exchanges growing failure to attract new share listings is powerfully symbolic of a wider malaise. Its not just the higher pay and valuations that persuade the likes of Arm Holdings, the Cambridge based semiconductor design company, to list in the US rather than London. Rather, it is the sheer weight of available liquidity, which in turn offers a significantly lower cost of capital. Consider the following. Nearly 70pc of the industrialised worlds total, listed market capitalisation is accounted for by the US. The next five biggest markets Japan, Germany, France, the UK and Canada are just 19pc combined. All five of these economies have major pools of savings, yet collectively they invest an estimated $5 trillion (4.1 trillion) more in US assets than they do in their own countries. We all know the shameful story of British pension fund divestment from UK equities, now down to just 4pc of total assets. This embedded content is not available in your region. Yet this astonishing lack of loyalty to the home economy applies not just to the faceless world of institutionally managed money. Retail investors too have shown scant attachment. Of the two largest mainly retail investment funds in Britain Terry Smiths Fundsmith and Baillie Giffords Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust not a single UK listed company appears in their top 20 holdings. Just as disturbing, much of the money sucked out of the UK and European economies by major US multinationals such as Apple, Microsoft and Amazon ends up invested in US markets via share buybacks, compounding the process of impoverishment on the one hand and enrichment on the other. Globalisation of finance is killing the City just as effectively as it once powered it. Against these forces, government attempts via the Edinburgh and Mansion House reforms to take advantage of Brexit freedoms to improve competitiveness are just spitting against the wind. Oppressive regulatory requirements hardly help the Citys cause, but they are not the main problem. Who knows? Perhaps Americas fiscal incontinence, now threatening to spill over into a fully blown financial crisis, could yet mortally wound the leviathan of its capital markets and open up fresh opportunities for the City. But you wouldnt bet on it. Londons future is regrettably much more likely to be as a mere subsidiary to Wall Street than a credible rival to it. 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. By Marine Strauss BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Luxembourg's legislative election results on Sunday left the liberal-led coalition without a majority, making it likely the country's long-dominant centre-right party will gain influence. Opinion polls indicated that the centre-right Christian Social Peoples Party (CSV) - which was led for 19 years by EU chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker - was on course to be the largest party and would end Xavier Bettel s 10 years as prime minister of a three-party coalition and only the second non-CSV leader for Luxembourg since World War Two. The Greens, previously the third party in government, took a hit and lost four seats, ending the governing liberal-led coalition's majority. Meanwhile, the far-right party ADR made significant wins, becoming the country's fourth party before the Greens. The CSV's result was unchanged with 21 seats, according to a projection by the government's elections website after more than 95% of the votes were counted. Bettels Democratic Partys and his allies, the Socialist Workers Party (LSAP), both gained one seat and remained among the leading parties. With 21 seats, the CSV, led by former finance minister Luc Frieden, needs to find a coalition partner to reach the majority of 31 seats in the 60-seat chamber, either with Bettel's Democratic Party or the LSAP. Bettel said his party was ready to work in the new government, according to local media. The foreign policy of the European Unions wealthiest but second-smallest state is unlikely to change despite legislative results. Successive governments have defended a 40-year-old economic model based on financial services and low corporate taxation. Financial services is the largest sector the Grand Duchys economy, which was once dominated by steel. (Reporting by Marine Strauss, Editing by Aurora Ellis) The new AxEMU custom glove design will enable astronauts to work with specialized tools to accomplish exploration needs and expand scientific opportunities. Axiom Space Prada and Axiom Space are collaborating to create NASA's new spacesuits for its 2025 lunar mission. Prada engineers will develop design features and adapt materials to the harsh climate around the moon. NASA revealed in 1974 that spacesuits are costly and that it spent $15 to $20 million on them at the time. Italian luxury fashion house Prada is collaborating with commercial space company Axiom Space to design NASA's new spacesuits for its Artemis III mission in 2025 so astronauts can fly in style, Prada and Axiom Space announced Wednesday. The Artemis III mission will be the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 in December 1972, and it will see a woman land on the moon for the first time. "We are thrilled to partner with Prada on the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit," Axiom Space's CEO Michael Suffredini said in its press release. "Prada's technical expertise with raw materials, manufacturing techniques, and innovative design concepts will bring advanced technologies instrumental in ensuring not only the comfort of astronauts on the lunar surface, but also the much-needed human factors considerations absent from legacy spacesuits." The new AxEMU suits have specialized tools and design elements that will give astronauts greater capabilities for space exploration and scientific research, while protecting them against the harsh environment so they can live and work on and around the moon. Shown here is the current white cover layer of the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit prototype. Axiom Space NASA revealed in 1974 that its spacesuits are extremely expensive and cost between $15 million and $22 million, according to previous Insider reporting . NASA hired Axiom Space in June 2022 to build its latest spacesuits after revealing it had spent $420 million since 2017 trying to develop its own suits. A prototype of the AxEMU's in dark gray and orange was revealed in March but the final version will be white. Read the original article on Business Insider Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) announced Sunday that she intends to support Rep. Jim Jordans (R-Ohio) bid for Speaker, following her vote last Tuesday to remove former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his post. I will tell you today, I am going to be supporting Jim Jordan for Speaker for a number of reasons, Mace said in an interview on CBSs Face the Nation, pointing to his values, his work ethic, his ability to just run circles around everyone with regards to policy and pushing forward. Im really looking forward to rolling up our sleeves this week, no matter how this shakes out, and working hard for the American people, she continued, because weve got to stand up for the people. Weve got to put the American people first and move this country forward and do it in a positive way. And I think hes going to bring that to the table. Mace voted with seven of her Republican colleagues and all House Democrats to remove McCarthy from the Speakership, leaving the position vacant. She has said McCarthy made promises to her, especially in support of womens issues, that she claims he did not keep as Speaker. Jordan, a founding member of the hard-line House Freedom Caucus, announced his bid for the Speakership along with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), McCarthys longtime No. 2 whos long waited in the wings to take his shot at the top position. House Republicans are expected to meet for a candidate forum Tuesday to try and find consensus on a candidate that can get the majority of votes. A full House vote to fill the position is expected Wednesday. Jordan has long been a close ally of former President Trump and has frequently repeated Trumps false rhetoric raising concerns about a so-called stolen 2020 election and raising false claims of voter fraud. Asked about Jordans positioning on the issue, Mace pointed to the fact that she voted in 2021 to certify the 2020 election a position that less than half of the House Republican Conference took on the night following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Theres going to be all sorts of issues that we agree on and disagree on, Mace said. In terms of January 6, the Electoral College etc. I was one of the most vocal members of our party that day and the days and weeks beyond that. I got primaried because of my vote to certify, because I spoke out. We have to look forward and unite and come together regardless of what has happened in the past. We have to be forward-thinking and look to the future to bring the party together. Bring the people together and let the American people know that we care, and were going to work and fight hard for them, she continued. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. People living in cities in Mali under siege by al-Qaeda-linked militants have told the BBC they are facing shortages of food, fuel and medicine, and rapidly rising prices. The blockades have come as fighting intensifies between the army, who are backed by Russian Wagner mercenaries, and both Islamist groups and ethnic Tuareg separatist fighters. For nearly two months, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) has been trying to completely cut off the historic northern city of Timbuktu, preventing supplies from getting in. "Dozens of trucks loaded with food and goods used to arrive daily in the city, but now, after the siege, nothing comes," said Omar Sidi Muhammad, who lives in the city and works as a journalist. Most of the supplies used to come to Timbuktu from Mauritania and Algeria. "The price of food that was arriving from neighbouring countries doubled," Muhammad said, adding that basic staples like sugar, flour, oil and baby formula had all been affected. "There is a scarcity of fuel and its price has risen by 80%." Prices of basic goods such as cooking oil have soared since the blockade began on Timbuktu The city has also been hit by rocket attacks launched by the militants. "People are afraid but started to get very afraid, terrified, after the latest developments," he added. "Because of the danger, thousands of people had to leave." The UN estimates that 33,000 people have fled. Timbuktu was occupied by Tuareg rebels following an uprising by separatists in 2012, but they were quickly pushed side by al-Qaeda-linked Islamic groups who imposed a strict form of Sharia, or Islamic law, on the city - forcing women to wear full-face veils, banning music and amputating the limbs of criminals. One couple was stoned to death for adultery. So many people fear a repeat if JNIM does succeed in taking the city. After a year of Islamist rule, Malian government forces, backed by French troops, re-took the city. But those French forces have left the country since the army seized power in 2021, and the UN's peacekeeping mission is also pulling out. Gao, the largest city in northern Mali, some 320 km (200 miles) east of Timbuktu, is also being blockaded by JNIM. The militant group tightened its control over the past week, with a local resident, who didn't want to be identified, telling the BBC that a lack of fuel was crippling the city's electricity supply. Pictures sent to the BBC show the normally busy streets of Gao empty Homes are now only getting power for one hour a day. "People are afraid because of the war," the man said. "They are not happy with the rise of the food prices," he said, adding that costs had doubled. "Quite a lot of families have left the city." The city's economy is normally centred around trade with neighbouring Niger and Algeria but the JNIM's actions have caused many merchants to leave the city and left the streets deserted. 'Ready for battle' The blockade of the two cities has come as competing forces in Mali rush to fill the power vacuum caused by the departure of international troops. The UN announced the end to its mission last June and said its forces would gradually leave the country by December, after Mali's military junta refused to extend their remit. This led to both government troops and Tuareg separatist groups vowing to occupy the force's bases which lie in the north of the country, an area which has been under Tuareg control since a 2015 peace deal. Fighting began in August over control of a UN site in the town of Ber and has intensified since then. JNIM has also taken advantage of the chaos to launch its own attacks on government forces. Tuareg groups say they have attacked five government military bases and said in social media posts last month that they aim to take control of the whole of northern Mali, where they want to establish an independent state, called Azawad. At the same time, the military government has vowed to re-take control of the entire country, and on Monday sent a large military convoy towards Kidal, a northern town which is the main Tuareg stronghold. "We consider security throughout the country to be an absolute priority," Col Malick Diaw, a senior figure in the junta, told the interim legislative assembly earlier this month. "We are working together with [the army] to reconquer our lands, which have long been occupied by hordes of barbarians with no faith, law or religion, whose sole aim is to cause suffering and death to innocent people who only aspire to live in peace." Mohamed Mouloude Ramadan, a spokesman for the coalition of Tuareg groups called the CMA, told the BBC: "We will stop them, we've been getting ready for this for a long time." "We're getting more fighters ready for the battle." Regional crisis The conflict is threatening to spread outside Mali and across Africa's Sahel region, as both the government and Tuareg rebels have called for international support. Tuareg groups in Libya, Algeria and Niger have voiced their solidarity for Mali's separatists, with one Nigerien rebel leader calling on fighters "to join them on the front line". A map showing key cities in Mali and neighbouring countries Ben Bella, a leader of the Tuareg CMA alliance, told the BBC: "These statements will be followed by the arrival of fighters from Niger, Algeria and Libya to support us in the battle." "This solidarity will confront Russian expansion in the region through the coup governments in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso." Three weeks ago, Mali's junta signed a mutual defence pact with Burkina Faso and Niger, each vowing to help each other against armed rebellions or external aggression, following a threat by other West African countries to use force to restore civilian rule in Niger. All three countries are under military rule, following coups within the past three years. These have led to French military forces, which were providing security assistance against the Islamist insurgency raging in the three neighbours, pulling out of Mali and Burkina Faso, with preparations to leave Niger underway. Mali has since turned to Russia's Wagner mercenary group for military help, and there have been rumours that Niger and Burkina Faso may follow. Dr Alex Vines, director of the Africa programme at the Chatham House think tank, said that with Niger, and especially Burkina Faso, having their own internal security problems, they are unlikely to be able to assist Mali's armed forces. "What this alliance is unable to do is to provide military solidary to each other," he said. He added that Wagner mercenary forces did not appear to be able to fill the gap left by French forces and that "the Russians have been struggling and the Russians are very overstretched, given their commitments elsewhere particularly with the conflict in Ukraine". Dr Vines warned that failing to deal with the crisis in northern Mali "makes the junta in Bamako vulnerable" and there might be another coup "if the military junta fail to respond to the security challenges they are now facing". Additional reporting by Peter Ball Authorities are investigating the circumstances behind a 77-year-old mans death at a Park City motorcycle track on Friday. Park City police officers responded at 4:24 p.m. to an accident call at the Jeeps Motorcycle Club at 605 E 101st St. North, Park City police Sgt. Aaron Miller said in a news release. Family of the man said he had been riding a motorcycle on the course alone. They got concerned when he did not come back after a while and went looking for him, Miller said. Police searched the track and found the man lying on the ground not breathing. The fire department and Emergency Medical Services were called, and they pronounced the man dead at the scene, according to the news release. It is uncertain if the gentleman had a medical issue or if it was just an accident, police said. The Sedgwick County Coroners Office will conduct an autopsy to determine cause of death. A Facebook page for the motorcycle track said the man was a longtime motorcycle enthusiast. The family has given their blessing for these activities to continue, as their loved one would not want it any other way, a post on the page read. The United Auto Workers Local 551 headquarters in Hegewisch brimmed with red shirts and picket signs Saturday afternoon as hundreds of union members, leaders and allies rallied outside Fords Chicago assembly plant as thousands of autoworkers across the country enter their fourth week of strike. Today is about the fabric of the working class, and the autoworkers are a big piece of that, said UAW President Shawn Fain. We all, the working class, we are the ones who make the world run. Not the billionaire class. But the working class ... weve been left behind. Its not some executive that owns our future. We own the future, working class people from all walks of life. Advertisement Fains visit took place hot on the heels of 4,600 striking workers walking off the job last week at the century-old Torrence Avenue plant on the citys Southeast Side. Morale was only uplifted by the presence of several local figures such as Mayor Brandon Johnson, Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. and Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates. Striking workers and supporters attend a rally at UAW Local 551, 13550 S. Torrence Ave., Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) This fight is about unraveling a system of inequities, Johnson said, highlighting the interconnectedness of labor struggles across industries. This is about unraveling a system of disparities. This is about unraveling a system that wants to pit workers against workers. Were not going to stand for it, are we? Advertisement Others supporting the strike on Saturday included President of the Association of Flight Attendants Sara Nelson, Chairperson of the Kilusang Mayo Uno of the Philippines Elmer Ka Bong Labog, several Chicago public school teachers and other local members from the Service Employees International Union. Right here, in this room, I see every gender, race, color and creed, Nelson said. We are the working class and we are building up the power ... and we are going to wreck the billionaire economy and build up our own. Spirits ran high after Fain announced a negotiation victory to members on Friday: plans to strike against the General Motors Arlington Assembly plant in Texas had been called off when the automaker agreed to cover EV battery workers under the labor agreement. The future of this industry were not against a green economy its got to be a just transition for the working class. It cant be a race to the bottom, Fain said at a later news conference, surrounded by picketing members next to Fords SHO Center and Sequencing Centers just northeast of the assembly plant. Cars drove by, honking in support. So it was a huge move yesterday, and now we got to lock it down with the other two companies. Theyre going to follow suit, one way or the other. We can do it the easy way or we can do it the hard way. The union is seeking a new four-year agreement with the Big Three automakers General Motors, Ford and Stellantis for its 146,000 members across the country after the previous contract expired Sept. 15. Since then, the UAW has been striking against the three automakers, or the Big Three, for the first time in its 88-year history. Now 43 facilities in 21 states and 25,000 members are participating in the strike. Since Sept. 30, Ford has laid off hundreds of nonstriking workers across regional facilities in Chicago Heights and in other states like Ohio and Michigan. [ Ford workers walk out as UAW expands strike to Chicago Assembly Plant: Its our time ] Were on strike right now because the companies chose not to take care of their workers, Fain said. So shame on them for abusing the strike and using the strike as an excuse to put more people out of work. Advertisement 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 > Some of UAWs demands for the new contract include pay increases, shorter workweeks, and improvements to retiree pensions and health care plans as the Big Three report record profits. Fain said the new agreement is an effort to undo years of sacrifice by autoworkers. We want our members to get everything they deserve, and every bit of economic and social justice we can get delivered. So were going to do everything we have to do and were going to continue this fight, Fain pointed to a kid standing next to him, the son of a longtime Ford employee. That is the beauty of this, is our members and future generations are standing up. Thats what this is about. Marquel, 5, often accompanies his father Matthew Rowe-Ocampo, 31, to union events. Saturday was no different. The Merrillville, Indiana, resident has worked at Fords diversity and inclusion department for 12 years now and is an alternate district representative at UAW Local 551. Im feeling great, Rowe-Ocampo said. Were just ready to see what the company is offering. The reason my son came to support is because he says, My dad deserves more money. And he deserves more toys. We want to be able to pay our bills and everything else, just like the CEOs do. Before him, Rowe-Ocampos father and grandfather also worked at Fords Chicago Assembly Plant. He carries what he learned from them into his work, both at the company and the union. One thing that my family has always taught me, especially working here at Ford, was to speak my mind and if I have personal feelings about something to speak out about it, Rowe-Ocampo said. And the company should respect it, because we respect this company. Its our livelihood. Advertisement adperez@chicagotribune.com Authorities released more information regarding a man accused of attempting to run over Georgia deputies during a chase. On Saturday, authorities confirmed that 51-year-old Alan Paul Heinze is facing charges after a crime spree in north Georgia that ultimately landed him in the hospital. Habersham County sheriff officials said on Saturday at 11:04 a.m., crews received reports of a vehicle fire on Sutton Road in Demorest. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] When crews arrived, they found a truck on fire at a detached shop. After determining the fire was started by an explosive device, deputies secured the scene and moved all personnel off the property. Authorities said the suspect, determined to be Heinze, fled the scene in a box truck. Eventually, authorities said White County deputies tried to pull Heinze over on Hwy. 115 when they saw him driving the truck at a high speed and had furniture falling out of the back. Heinze sped off and crashed into one patrol car but was able to keep going. While on Helen Highway, authorities say Heinze tried running over a deputy. Thats when deputies fired at him and shot him in the arm. TRENDING STORIES: Despite being shot, Heinze kept speeding away from deputies and Cleveland police. Authorities were eventually able to crash the truck in the parking lot of Jack P. Nix Elementary School in Cleveland. Heinze was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center for his injuries. He faces several charges, including aggravated assault on a police officer. Theyre actually going to be taking the charges of arson in the second degree for the burning of the truck, which actually inevitably entailed where the suspect ended up coming up here in a box truck, caused the damage to the truck after doing all his nefarious crimes here, Habersham County Sheriffs Investigator George Cason said in regards to Heinzes charges in Habersham County. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] No deputies were injured. Its unclear if the box truck and its contents belonged to Heinze. The GBI is investigating the officer-involved shooting. The State Fire Marshals Office has been called to investigate the explosive device Heinze is accused of setting off. IN OTHER NEWS: WASHINGTON - A 27-year-old Virginia man was arrested in Florida after stabbing his mother and then fleeing the state on Friday. Around 1:00 p.m. Friday, officers responded to an apartment on Cardinal Forest Lane in Lorton for a stabbing. Police found a female victim suffering stab wounds to the upper body, and she was taken to the hospital. Police say that the victim was stabbed by her son, Jorge Andres Esquivel Rivera, 27, who then took off in a car and fled the area. Friday night, troopers with Florida Highway Patrol found Rivera and took him into custody. He'll be extradited back to Fairfax County. Detectives are investigating a stabbing believed to be domestic-related in the 9200 block of Cardinal Forest Ln in Lorton. An adult woman was taken to the hospital w/ injuries considered to be life-threatening. Suspect believed to have fled in a vehicle. More details to follow. pic.twitter.com/fzWEyvJxuE Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) October 6, 2023 The victim remains hospitalized. One man was arrested after authorities said he committed a series of crimes before crashing in a school parking lot, news outlets report. It started the morning of Saturday, Oct. 7, in Cleveland, Georgia, when the Habersham County Sheriffs Office said the 53-year-old man broke into a shop and stole several items, according to WAGA. The sheriffs office said the man loaded up the stolen items into a box truck. Officials told WSB-TV that before the man left, he used explosives to set a pickup truck on fire at the shop. Deputies responded to the fire and secured the area, according to WSB-TV. Around 11 a.m., White County sheriffs deputies spotted the box truck on a highway with the back door open and furniture falling out, according to a news release from the White County Sheriffs Office. Deputies tried to stop the truck, but it fled, the sheriffs office said. Officials say while deputies were chasing the man, he rammed into a cruiser and at one point tried to run over a deputy. Deputies fired their weapons at the offender, hitting him in the arm, but the offender continued to flee, the White County Sheriffs Office said. Eventually, deputies were able to wreck the truck in an elementary school parking lot. The driver, identified as Alan Paul Heinze, was taken to a hospital and faces several charges, including aggravated assault on a peace officer, officials said. Officials say no deputies were injured. Georgia State Patrol and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are investigating, officials said. Cleveland, Georgia, is about 80 miles northeast of Atlanta. Driver fleeing police crashes into vehicle, killing teen and 2 adults, Indiana cops say Men accused of bank jugging while out on bail crash during police chase, Texas cops say 60-year-old dies in crash while street racing against 26-year-old, Illinois cops say MEMPHIS, Tenn. A man was killed in a shooting at a Cordova shopping center early Sunday morning, according to Memphis Police. Officers responded to the shooting at a shopping plaza on North Germantown Parkway just after 2 a.m. According to MPD, the shooting took place at Xperience Kitchen & Cocktails, formerly known as Mugshots Bar & Lounge. A man was located at the scene suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to Regional One where he was pronounced dead, police say. The owner of the business says that despite reports, the shooting did not happen in his establishment. He says it happened in the parking lot right after they closed. The owner also said that to his knowledge, the victim may have been targeted. 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. A man who did not want to be identified said that the shooting stemmed from an altercation inside the lounge. That young man probably came out the club and he was ambushed, said the man. The tragic news doesnt come as a shock to people who live in the area. These young men out here getting these switches to these guns, and theyre out of control. Police cant solve the problem because crime is still happening, said a man who wanted to remain anonymous. Police have not reported any additional injuries or given a motive for the shooting. At this time, no reported arrests have been made. If you have any information about this incident, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. A man who was trying to row across the Pacific Ocean in a handmade boat was rescued after capsizing Tom Robinson and his boat, Maiwar. Tom Robinson/Instagram Tom Robinson, 24, wanted to be the youngest person to row across the Pacific Ocean, the BBC reported. Robinson began his journey in Peru last July. He hoped to reach Australia by December. On Thursday, during the last leg of his trip, Robinson's ship capsized 100 miles off the coast of Vanuatu. Tom Robinson, 24, attempted to become the youngest person to row across the Pacific Ocean, but his dream was unfortunately deferred. On Thursday, during the last leg of his 15-month journey across the globe, the BBC reported that Robinson was rescued by a cruise ship after his boat capsized. According to Robinson's website, his distress beacon was triggered on Thursday, alerting his dad that something was wrong. The update on his site says the incident was caused by an "unexpectedly large wave" that crashed through the ship's main hatch and flooded the cabin. On early Friday morning, a P&O cruise ship, the Pacific Explorer, came to pick up Robinson, who was waiting, naked, atop his vessel. Robinson was found 100 miles off the coast of Vanuatu, a country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, his website says. According to the BBC, he was treated for sunburn and dehydration but is otherwise healthy. Robinson did not respond to a request for comment made outside regular working hours. Robinson left Vanuatu on Monday and aimed to arrive in Cairns, Australia, by December. It was the final portion of a voyage that lasted 15 months Robinson started his journey in July 2022 when he departed Peru. The 24-year-old told ABC Australia that the final stretch between Vanuatu and Australia would be the "make-or-break leg." "Our sincere thanks go to the Australian, New Caledonian and Vanuatuan authorities who all had important roles to play in his rescue; and to the captain and crew of Pacific Explorer who literally went out of their way to pick up Tom," a post on Robinson's website reads. According to his website, Robinson began building his ship in 2021, the first step toward his dream since age 14: to become the youngest person to row across the Pacific Ocean. The boat, Maiwar, used solar power to power the lights but didn't have luxuries like autopilot or music. Earlier this year, an Australian sailor and his dog survived two months in the Pacific Ocean before being rescued by a tuna trawler. Tim Shaddock and his dog, Bella, were sailing from Mexico to French Polynesia a route similar to Robinson's when they got caught in a storm that left them stranded. The pair drank rainwater and ate raw fish to survive, Australian outlet 9News reported. Shaddock wanted to keep traveling even after being stranded at sea and decided to give Bella up for adoption. One of the crewmembers who saved them, Genaro Rosales, adopted the dog. Read the original article on Insider A list of rules for those staying at the safe parking site on Kansas Avenue that SLO County created for unhoused residents living in their vehicles. Residents must check in at the site between 5 and 9 p.m. (Laura Dickinson/ldickinson@thetribunenews.com) Twice in my life I have been unhoused. During my undergraduate and graduate years at the University of Southern California, while on a full-ride academic scholarship, I couch surfed which, I recently discovered, means I was homeless. Just like many Cal Poly students I now work with, I was financially independent of my parents, and my academic scholarship covered my tuition but not my living expenses. I worked during the school year and then worked two jobs during summers, but it was never enough for my living expenses, even in the 80s. Shortly after I moved to North Carolina and got a job, I had to leave my violent ex-husband. A colleague referred me to a United Methodist Pastor who offered a ministers cabin as a housing option. It was temporary shelter, and my daughter and I lived there for several month so I could save enough to find a rental. It was a stop on my path a Safe Parking spot until I could access permanent housing. Opinion Right now, when I take my daily walks in my Flora Street neighborhood, I feel as if Im a character in a 50s movie, waving hello to neighbors, spotting the quail families and the occasional rattlesnake. It is challenging for me to walk by Safe Parking sites and reflect on my own wealth, privilege and the sheer luck Ive had in life. Maybe thats the real fear of this program and the source of the misinformation about the program being circulated by some people: That its easier to not see our racism, classism and our sheer luck and, instead, just repeat myths that surround homelessness. Its much easier to vilify those who have less than me and blame city staff and elected officials for the homelessness problem and their government solutions. Accepting and addressing the pain and suffering of others while embracing the unpredictability and uncertainty of our own lives, especially after a global pandemic, is difficult. It might surprise many San Luis Obispo residents to really see the faces of the individuals and families that use Safe Parking sites; they skew older and look like our neighbors. The reality is that a monthly subsidy of $300 would have kept many housed. According to a 2023 UC San Francisco comprehensive housing study, losing income is the number one reason people end up homeless in California. In the six months prior to becoming homeless, Californians surveyed in the study were making a median income of just $960 a month. The median rent for a two-bedroom apartment in California is nearly three times that, according to Zillow. And though survey participants listed myriad reasons why they lost their homes, more people cited a loss of, or reduction in, income than anything else. Until we provide affordable housing commensurate with minimum wages, strong tenant protections and universal access to counsel, we must use programs like the Safe Parking Program to address this crisis. I want to ensure Safe Parking is a tool we use here in San Luis Obispo, and I will work to ensure it happens. I hope you will, too. We are all responsible to one another for our very lives, and we must take care of each other as a result, said Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg. I live three blocks from the Nazarene Church Safe Parking site and Im so glad that we can welcome people into our neighborhood. When I was unhoused and in a difficult spot, it was the kindness of a pastor and neighbors who didnt know me that changed my and my daughters lives. Dona Hare Price is a local Jewish activist with Bend the Arc and a Facilitator of Dismantling Racism From the Inside Out. PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. Under a scorching sky at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, two young recruits grapple awkwardly in hand-to-hand combat inside an Octagon training structure. Circling them, the drill instructor barks orders, Hit her! Punch her! DO something! Outside the ring, a mix of male and female Marine hopefuls are helping each other put on protective headgear, preparing for their turn at combat. They are assigned to one of the mixed-gender recruit companies as the Marine Corps moves gradually and at times reluctantly to more integrated training at boot camp. Its been a bit hit-and-miss. While companies of men and women train together at the ring, on the obstacle course or at the range, the line of recruits outside the swimming pool presents a sharp contrast. There the companies are broken up into their smaller platoons that remain separated by gender. So as they line up, there is a small group of women standing rod-straight at the front with groups of men in formation behind them. Its a stark visual reminder that Corps leaders still fervently believe there must be a degree of segregation as they mold young people into tomorrows force of what they promote as the Few, the Proud, the Marines. Marines to deactivate historically female recruit training battalion This summer nearly eight years after the defense secretary at the time, Ash Carter, ordered all combat jobs open to women the Marine Corps formally deactivated the 4th Marine Recruit Training Battalion at Parris Island. Since 1949, all female recruits have gone through boot camp at the South Carolina base; the 4th Battalion was created in 1986 as the womens unit. The Marines have inched grudgingly toward integration. Marine leaders flatly opposed allowing women in combat jobs, but Carter dismissed their arguments. Many Corps officers stridently defended the training separation, insisting that women could grow more confident quickly if they were not directly competing with their often larger or stronger male counterparts. Under pressure from Congress, the Marines over the past four years gradually made the 4th Battalion coed, then disbanded it in June. The remaining recruit battalions include a mix of gender-integrated and all-male companies. Now, Marine leaders say, boot camp is integrated. But from watching the training for several days, its not that clear-cut. Inside the pool, men and women struggle side by side, jumping off a platform and swimming to the other end. Some wear their fatigues inside out, identifying them as Marines who are just learning to swim and flailing the length of the pool in a mix of dog paddle and haphazard overhand stroke. Instructors are also a mix of men and women, and they line the sides ready to toss a float or jump in if needed. But outside, a group of recruits moving through the woods and then dropping to crawl across a stretch of blistering hot sand are all men trying to get through the final tests to become a Marine. A second group on a different part of the course also includes no women. Members of a platoon of female U.S. Marine Corps recruits gear up before training in hand-to-hand combat at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Thursday, June 29, 2023, in Parris Island, S.C. (Stephen B. Morton/AP) Brig. Gen. Walker Field, who heads the recruit depot, is insistent that keeping the platoons segregated by gender is key to the way the Corps makes Marines by taking individuals, breaking them down and building them back up as team members. We have established a tried-and-true manner by which we train Marines that proves effective in transforming young Americans, he said in a recent interview at Parris Island. We break down their individuality and grow them as a team. Were adamant about that outcome. Having the platoon model is absolutely part of that. He added that by 2024, training at Marine Recruit Depot San Diego on the West Coast will also be fully integrated. Female recruits will then be split evenly between the two locations. Field said keeping the platoons all one gender allows unit leaders to provide guidance and instruction tailored for each group when they are together in their barracks in the evenings. Being the same gender at the platoon level allows us to optimize the training schedule every single day and every hour of the day, he said. Some measure of all-male companies would be necessary no matter what because there just are not enough female recruits to go around. Of all the military services, the Corps has the smallest percentage of woman, hovering between 8% and 9%. Lt. Col. Aixa Dones and other female officers are also strong advocates of the continued segregation. As someone who came through this battalion as a recruit and has worked here as a young company grade officer, I would advocate that theres goodness to there being all-female platoons, said Dones, who served as the last commander of the 4th Battalion before its shutdown this year. Speaking in the former battalions offices, now largely empty, she said she remembers being a young recruit, and I cant imagine it having gone any other way. Noting that 17- and 18-year-olds are not too mature, she said they can easily get distracted by liking and feelings and emotions. She and others say keeping the men and women in separate platoons helps them stay focused and that changing to full integration could present problems. Out near the firing range, Sgt. Maria Torres, a drill instructor, is working on firearm basics with her all-female platoon. The company-level integration, she said, is necessary and a good start. But expanding it to the platoon level might have consequences, so wed have to start small. But many disagree. They say the separate platoons only reinforce the stigma that the women are not considered equal and should be treated differently. Erin Kirk, a former Marine sergeant who went through the more segregated training in 2010, remembers the ridicule and the cat calls from male recruits who looked down on the women in the 4th Battalion. The split, she said, divided them into male Marines and female Marines, and that shaped the mens view of the women and made it more difficult for them to work together as they moved along. It made you feel like you werent part of the team. It made it difficult to be seen as a real Marine, said Kirk, who served for five years. Now we have the opportunity to have equity and inclusion and not be seen as an other. Another female Marine officer who is still on active duty and has served for more than 15 years said her first surprise as a new recruit was when she was issued her uniform and realized it was not the same as the one her male recruiter had worn. Her uniform did not have the same collar and the hat was different. And when she got to Parris Island, the first class I got was how to do my hair. Were training to be the most lethal force and the first thing you learn is how to do my hair. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid any repercussions because she is still in the Corps. Asked about those complaints, Dones disagreed that the segregation presented problems for the women. Our female platoons have been outperforming our male teams, and we have had more female company honor graduates than we have had male, she said. Young female recruits, who usually come from high schools where there is little separation, acknowledge the differences but voice no complaints. Nicole Momura, 22, said she chose the Marines because she thought it was the hardest military branch, and this recruit was looking for something bigger than herself. She shrugged off the platoon segregation, noting that were all going to be working together in the fleet. Nubia Delatorre, 19, said she is proud to be a member of the second female platoon in Bravo Company, but admits the men and women do not interact very much. Were not allowed to talk to the males, she said. Taking a quick pause from her workout inside the gym, where she was recovering from a stress fracture of her hip, Delatorre said she believes they all get the same training. She said she joined the Marine Corps because I wanted to prove to myself that I could do something hard. U.S. Marine Corps martial arts instructor Sgt. Micah Shull, center, trains two female recruits during a hand-to-hand combat drill during a portion of training known as the Crucible at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Thursday, June 29, 2023, in Parris Island, S.C. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton) PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. (AP) Under a scorching sky at Marine Base Parris Island, two young recruits grapple awkwardly in hand-to-hand combat inside an Octagon training structure. Circling them, the drill instructor barks orders, Hit her! Punch her! DO something! Outside the ring, a mix of male and female Marine hopefuls are helping each other put on protective headgear, preparing for their turn at combat. They are assigned to one of the mixed-gender recruit companies as the Marine Corps moves gradually and at times reluctantly to more integrated training at boot camp. It's been a bit hit-and-miss. While companies of men and women train together at the ring, on the obstacle course or at the range, the line of recruits outside the swimming pool presents a sharp contrast. There the companies are broken up into their smaller platoons that remain separated by gender. So as they line up, there is a small group of women standing rod-straight at the front with groups of men in formation behind them. It's a stark visual reminder that Corps leaders still fervently believe there must be a degree of segregation as they mold young people into tomorrow's force of what they promote as the Few, the Proud, the Marines. This summer nearly eight years after the defense secretary at the time, Ash Carter, ordered all combat jobs open to women the Marine Corps formally deactivated the 4th Marine Recruit Training Battalion at Parris Island. Since 1949, all female recruits have gone through boot camp at the South Carolina base; the 4th Battalion was created in 1986 as the women's unit. The Marines have inched grudgingly toward integration. Marine leaders flatly opposed allowing women in combat jobs, but Carter dismissed their arguments. Many Corps officers stridently defended the training separation, insisting that women could grow more confident quickly if they were not directly competing with their often larger or stronger male counterparts. Under pressure from Congress, the Marines over the past four years gradually made the 4th Battalion coed, then disbanded it in June. The remaining recruit battalions include a mix of gender-integrated and all-male companies. Now, Marine leaders say, boot camp is integrated. But from watching the training for several days, it's not that clear-cut. Inside the pool, men and women struggle side by side, jumping off a platform and swimming to the other end. Some wear their fatigues inside out, identifying them as Marines who are just learning to swim and flailing the length of the pool in a mix of dog paddle and haphazard overhand stroke. Instructors are also a mix of men and women, and they line the sides ready to toss a float or jump in if needed. But outside, a group of recruits moving through the woods and then dropping to crawl across a stretch of blistering hot sand are all men trying to get through the final tests to become a Marine. A second group on a different part of the course also includes no women. Brig. Gen. Walker Field, who heads the recruit depot, is insistent that keeping the platoons segregated by gender is key to the way the Corps makes Marines by taking individuals, breaking them down and building them back up as team members. We have established a tried-and-true manner by which we train Marines that proves effective in transforming young Americans, he said in a recent interview at Parris Island. We break down their individuality and grow them as a team. Were adamant about that outcome. Having the platoon model is absolutely part of that. He added that by 2024, training at Marine Recruit Depot San Diego on the West Coast will also be fully integrated. Female recruits will then be split evenly between the two locations. Field said keeping the platoons all one gender allows unit leaders to provide guidance and instruction tailored for each group when they are together in their barracks in the evenings. Being the same gender at the platoon level allows us to optimize the training schedule every single day and every hour of the day, he said. Some measure of all-male companies would be necessary no matter what because there just are not enough female recruits to go around. Of all the military services, the Corps has the smallest percentage of woman, hovering between 8% and 9%. Lt. Col. Aixa Dones and other female officers are also strong advocates of the continued segregation. As someone who came through this battalion as a recruit and has worked here as a young company grade officer, I would advocate that theres goodness to there being all-female platoons, said Dones, who served as the last commander of the 4th Battalion before its shutdown this year. Speaking in the former battalion's offices, now largely empty, she said she remembers being a young recruit, and I cant imagine it having gone any other way. Noting that 17- and 18-year-olds are not too mature, she said they can easily get distracted by liking and feelings and emotions. She and others say keeping the men and women in separate platoons helps them stay focused and that changing to full integration could present problems. Out near the firing range, Sgt. Maria Torres, a drill instructor, is working on firearm basics with her all-female platoon. The company-level integration, she said, is necessary and a good start. But expanding it to the platoon level might have consequences, so wed have to start small. But many disagree. They say the separate platoons only reinforce the stigma that the women are not considered equal and should be treated differently. Erin Kirk, a former Marine sergeant who went through the more segregated training in 2010, remembers the ridicule and the cat calls from male recruits who looked down on the women in the 4th Battalion. The split, she said, divided them into male Marines and female Marines, and that shaped the mens view of the women and made it more difficult for them to work together as they moved along. It made you feel like you werent part of the team. It made it difficult to be seen as a real Marine, said Kirk, who served for five years. Now we have the opportunity to have equity and inclusion and not be seen as an other.'" Another female Marine officer who is still on active duty and has served for more than 15 years said her first surprise as a new recruit was when she was issued her uniform and realized it was not the same as the one her male recruiter had worn. Her uniform did not have the same collar and the hat was different. And when she got to Parris Island, the first class I got was how to do my hair. Were training to be the most lethal force and the first thing you learn is how to do my hair. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid any repercussions because she is still in the Corps. Asked about those complaints, Dones disagreed that the segregation presented problems for the women. Our female platoons have been outperforming our male teams, and we have had more female company honor graduates than we have had male, she said. Young female recruits, who usually come from high schools where there is little separation, acknowledge the differences but voice no complaints. Nicole Momura, 22, said she chose the Marines because she thought it was the hardest military branch, and this recruit was looking for something bigger than herself. She shrugged off the platoon segregation, noting that we're all going to be working together in the fleet. Nubia Delatorre, 19, said she is proud to be a member of the second female platoon in Bravo Company, but admits the men and women do not interact very much. Were not allowed to talk to the males, she said. Taking a quick pause from her workout inside the gym, where she was recovering from a stress fracture of her hip, Delatorre said she believes they all get the same training. She said she joined the Marine Corps because I wanted to prove to myself that I could do something hard. BROCKTON In the second operation of its kind this year, police targeted criminal activity and drug trafficking in Brockton, resulting in mass arrests. The multi-agency sweep dubbed Operation Fall Cleanup by those involved, as it was intended to target quality-of-life issues in Brockton." Earlier this month, Erica-Kilcoyne Rubinski, 45, of East Bridgewater, who spends her days taking care of her aging grandmother, became a grandmother herself joining the ranks of the few people who can say they have five generations of family alive at the same time. Expect a knock on the door. More than seven out of 10 Brockton residents have MassHealth. East Side native Bryan Winston and his team have knocked on doors since April to warn Brocktonians that they might lose that health coverage. In case you missed it, here are five stories of the top stories from the past week throughout the Brockton area. Five generations of love passed down in this East Bridgewater, Brockton family Earlier this month, Erica-Kilcoyne Rubinski, 45, who spends her days taking care of her aging grandmother, became a grandmother herself joining the ranks of the few people who can say they have five generations of family alive at the same time. On Sept. 14, Rubinski, of East Bridgewater, watched her eldest daughter, Kayley Gibson, 27, of Worcester, become a mother for the first time. Five generations of love: Five generations of love passed down in this East Bridgewater, Brockton family Four out of the five-generations. From left to right: Kayley Gibson (27); Erica-Kilcoyne Rubinski (45); Sandra Albrecht (72); and Cynthia Clark (97). Brockton, State Police arrest 33 in Operation Fall Cleanup sweep In the second "zero tolerance" operation of its kind this year, state and city law enforcement agencies from numerous divisions worked together to target criminal activity in the city of Brockton on Monday. It resulted in 33 arrests and eight criminal summonses, according to a Massachusetts State Police. The multi-agency sweep dubbed Operation Fall Cleanup by those involved, as it was intended to target quality-of-life issues in Brockton" was conducted by the Brockton Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, Massachusetts Environmental Police and the Plymouth County Sheriffs Department. Operation Fall Cleanup sweep: Brockton, State Police arrest 33 in Operation Fall Cleanup sweep State and city police agencies from multiple divisions participated in 'Operation Fall Cleanup' on Monday. 'Hometown hero': 48-year-old Middleboro Police lieutenant loses battle with cancer Lt. Angelo AJ Lapanna III, a 22-year veteran of the Middleboro Police Department and beloved father of three, lost a two-year battle with head and neck cancer, the department announced. He was 48. The announcement, posted on Facebook garnered hundreds of comments from the community, many of whom are calling Lapanna Middleboros hero. What can you say when you lose your hometown hero. Very few people in life leave a lasting legacy of heroism, commented Jason S. Craig. We lost one of the good ones today. 'We lost one of the good ones': 'Hometown hero': 48-year-old Middleboro Police lieutenant loses battle with cancer Lieutenant Angelo AJ Lapanna III., a 22-year veteran officer of the Middleboro Police Department, dies at 48. West Bridgewater town administrator threatened over recent hiring. Here is what we know In mid-September Town Administrator David Gagne received a letter threatening to extort him over a recent town hiring he and the West Bridgewater Board of Selectmen approved. Gagne said that the West Bridgewater Police and other departments are conducting "a multi-pronged investigation" into the threat. W.B. Town Administrator threatened:: West Bridgewater Town Administrator threatened over recent hiring. Here is what we know. Town administrator David Gagne, shown in this file photo, gave his state of West Bridgewater address this week. Expect a knock on your door: MassHealth renewal on the line for 7 of 10 Brocktonians More than seven out of 10 Brockton residents have MassHealth. East Side native Bryan Winston and his team have knocked on doors since April to warn Brocktonians that they might lose that health coverage .During COVID, MassHealth stopped checking eligibility each year. But MassHealth is reviewing the rolls this year. Door-knockers want people to know they need to update their contact information, watch for a blue envelope in the mail and respond to any questions from MassHealth. MassHealth renewal on the line: Expect a knock on your door: MassHealth renewal on the line for 7 of 10 Brocktonians MassHealth Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor Elizabeth Denniston speaks at a news conference and briefing at the Brockton Public Library on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, to discuss the MassHealth redeterminations process and detail ongoing efforts in Brockton to ensure MassHealth members know what they need to do to stay covered. Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at kbossa@enterprisenews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today. This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton-area top 5 stories: Mass arrests in Brockton; 5 generations NEW YORK The blacked-out windows of a Bronx apartment werent enough to hide the lethal fentanyl mill operating inside. Four accused drug dealers were busted and charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics and narcotics distribution after one of the largest fentanyl seizures in New York history, with more than 50 pounds of the drug including 200,000 suspected fentanyl pills recovered inside the residence, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said. The thought of the potential damage this stunning amount of fentanyl could have inflicted on New Yorkers is terrifying, said Williams on Friday after the takedown of the operation with enough fentanyl to create 1 million lethal doses of the drug. According to authorities, the windows of the first-floor apartment in a residential neighborhood were covered with black trash bags and dark-colored fabric to hide the illicit operation and the defendants used a surveillance system in the basement to monitor activities on the streets above. Some of the pills were already packaged for distribution to other drug dealers, court papers said. And in some instances, the pills were made to resemble prescription drugs or party drugs such as ecstasy, officials said. The defendants, all residents of the city, were identified as Wellington Espinal, 41, Roberto Vargas-Paulino, 31, Christian Espinal, 20, and Heriberto Espinal, 27, with each facing a minimum jail term of 10 years to a maximum of life behind bars if convicted. The conspirators ran the operation dangerously close to where families residents and children innocently play, said Office of Homeland Security Special Agent Ivan Arvelo. In recent months, we have witnessed a devastating pattern, with multiple instances of deadly activities occurring mere feet away from places we entrust our childrens safety. According to Mayor Eric Adams office, fentanyl is now the most common drug involved in New York drug overdose deaths. A Manhattan federal court complaint said the bust followed an investigation launched last month at the two-story home in a residential section of the Bronx where the dealers used industrial-scale pill presses to create hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills. This is one of the largest fentanyl pill mills we have seen in New York City, said Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Frank Tarantino. Fentanyl pills are being manufactured in these clandestine pill mills right here, in our neighborhoods, and unleashed into our communities. Last week, authorities arrested an accused drug trafficker rolling a suitcase packed with 13 kilos of fentanyl aboard a city subway train, inside a subway station and through the streets of the Bronx. Defendant Juan Gabriel Herrara Vargas, 42, was nabbed with a second suitcase filled with 50,000 glassine containers of the drug only blocks away from the daycare center where a 1-year-old boy died after his Sept. 15 exposure to the drug. People pass by Blum Restaurant and Bar along the 300 block of West Erie Street on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Eight people were shot during an exchange of gunfire early morning Sunday in River North, according to Chicago police. Police said a group of people got into a physical altercation outside at about 2:38 a.m. in the 300 block of West Erie Street. After a local alderman called on police to close a nearby bar to improve safety in the neighborhood, police issued a summary closure Monday. Advertisement Four people are hospitalized in critical condition. A 43-year-old woman was shot in the abdomen and transported to Stroger Hospital, police said. A 32-year-old man sustained gunshot wounds throughout his body and was also transported to Stroger, police said. An adult man, who was shot in the head, and another adult man, who was shot in the abdomen, were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to police. Advertisement Three of the victims are listed in good condition. A 27-year-old woman sustained a gunshot wound to the foot and a 25-year-old man was shot in the groin, police said. They were transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Police said a 23-year-old woman who was shot in the foot was taken to Stroger Hospital. A 27-year-old man sustained gunshot wounds throughout his body and was transported to Northwestern Hospital in stable condition, according to police. No suspects are in custody, and police said they are investigating the shooting. Ald. Brendan Reilly, 42nd, called on police to issue a summary closure order to Blum Restaurant & Bar, a business near where the group was fighting. He called it a bad establishment and the source of chronic neighborhood complaints. Police said they issued the order on Monday. 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 > Police issue a summary closure when they determine that the continued operation of an establishment presents a danger to the public. Signs stating the closure are posted on the doors outside of Blum nightclub along the 300 block of West Erie Street on Oct. 9, 2023. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) About two years ago when the location was known as Clutch Bar and Restaurant, a bouncer was shot and seriously injured after not allowing a man to enter the bar. These late hour nightclubs are a blight on River North, with many catering to gangbangers, drug dealers and gun-toting patrons, Reilly said. Many of the gun crimes being committed downtown overnight are related to fights originating at these late hour clubs, yet these operators are allowed to remain open. Reilly said his office has worded to facilitate a sale of the building, which would have Blum shut-down and evicted. He said the property is under contract to be sold next month, adding that the summary closure order would ensure the business doesnt reopen before the sale. Advertisement The Commissioner of Business Affairs and his bureaucrats need to do their jobs, stop catering to these bad actors and start revoking liquor licenses, Reilly said. It should not require a mass shooting to result in the closure of a problem nightclub. Representatives from Blum couldnt immediately be reached for comment. rjohnson@chicagotribune.com Matt Gaetz says he isnt worried about challenges from within his own party after successfully leading the ousting of Kevin McCarthy from his speakership role last week. The Republican congressman and longtime close ally of Donald Trump was on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday after he successfully led seven other Republicans in voting to kick Mr McCarthy out of his job on Tuesday. Doing so made Mr McCarthy one of the shortest-serving House speakers in history and paralysed the lower chamber of Congress until a new speaker can be elected. It also cemented Mr McCarthys reputation as one of the weakest speakers in memory, given that he was unable to convince a single Democrat to vote in favour of saving him; despite outreach from moderates, the Democratic caucus felt insulted by the former speakers efforts to falsely blame their party for a government shutdown that had only been averted when their party voted to help Mr McCarthy pass a funding resolution which the majority of his own caucus opposed. Mr Gaetz told NBCs Kristin Welker on Sunday that removing Mr McCarthty, in his mind, was absolutely worth being ousted from his seat through expulsion or a primary challenge. Both have been openly threatened by other members of his caucus, allies of Mr McCarthy, in the past week. They want to expel me from Congress? Thats crazy, he told Welker. Mr Gaetz, responding to a question from The Independent, said in a press scrum after Mr McCarthys firing that he would require any GOP candidate who wanted his vote for speaker to commit to an aggressive timeline for putting a series of hardline conservative budget measures to the floor. Its a tough spot for any Republican leader to be in, given that the US government is once again approaching a shutdown deadline ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) responds to reports of Republican colleagues seeking to kick him out of Congress.@kwelkernbc: If you lose your job, will it be worth it?@RepMattGaetz: Absolutely. pic.twitter.com/QKtps0oX1l Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) October 8, 2023 The people who want budgets are actually agents of regular order, he contended to NBC on Sunday. He also went on to say on Twitter that he would drop his demand for the motion to vacate threshold to remain lowered were the House to pass a slate of anti-corruption legislation introduced by Rep Ro Khanna, a progressive Democrat. The lowered motion to vacate threshold, set by Mr McCarthy in January as a concession to hardliners including Mr Gaetz, spelled his doom last week as it allowed the House to oust the Speaker with the support of only a handful of the majority partys members. Though threats of a primary challenge may be very real, Mr Gaetz likely has little to fear given the hard-right bent of his Florida district and the unpopularity of the Republican House leadership team in such districts. He may face a greater threat in the form of a motion to expel him, which reports indicate Republicans may opt for should an Ethics Committee probe into Mr Gaetz provide an excuse to do so. A male nanny was convicted of 34 felonies this week and could face life imprisonment for molesting 16 boys between the ages of 2 and 12, showing pornography to a 17th and creating his own child pornography, per the Orange County District Attorney. An investigation into Matthew Antonio Zakrzewski, 34, was launched in May 2019 when a family in Laguna Beach, California, told police he had molested their 8-year-old son, per charging documents. Many more victims abused between 2014 and 2019 were identified through video evidence and tips from the public in the resulting investigation. "It was actually sickening to me and the rest of the detectives we put all of our focus into this investigation," Laguna Beach Police Sergeant Jim Cota told KTLA after the initial arrest. In total, Zakrzewski faces 690 years to life in prison, plus an additional eight years, per the press release. His bail was set at $1 million, according to charging documents reviewed by Fox News Digital. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER ACCUSED OF RAPING STUDENT IMPLIES SHE'S PREGNANT WITH CHILD: REPORT Matthew Antonio Zakrzewski, 34, was convicted of 34 felonies for molesting 16 young boys, often filming the encounters, and showing pornography to a 17th. Zakrzewski was a "mastermind at preying upon these families, not just grooming the children but grooming the parents," Deputy District Attorney Juliet Oliver told jurors in closing arguments reviewed by the Los Angeles Times. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP He was one of the founding members of "Sitter Buddy," a website where Orange County parents can connect with prospective caregivers. On his profile, Zakrzewski characterized himself as a "manny" who offered mentorships, big brother relationships and overnight and vacation babysitting. He also specified that he was skilled with children with special needs and behavioral problems. "At a very early age, I discovered what a joy it was to work with children and be a positive impact in their lives through the Buddy Program at my middle school," read his profile, which has since been taken down from the site. "Now, Im a career manny and my 6+ years childcare experience spans from ages 3 months to 14, including special needs I think the reason I connect easily with kids is because I am not just there to supervise, I participate." HOMELESS KANSAS MAN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY RAPING, KILLING 5-YEAR-OLD GIRL The "manny" is pictured shirtless and smiling among a group of young boys in a pool on the profile. The initial victim's mother told the LA Times that there were "lots of reviews saying [Zakrzewski] was a wonderful caregiver" and that "there just looked like a lot of joy." Ultimately, Zakrzewski was convicted for 34 felony charges on Tuesday: lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under 14, two counts of oral copulation of a child under 10, one count of possession of child pornography, one count of using a minor for sex acts, two counts of distributing pornography to a minor for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct and one count of attempted lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under 14. Matthew Antonio Zakrzewski is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 17 at Central Justice Center in Santa Ana, California, and could face life imprisonment. Many victims were molested multiple times, per the complaint. "These parents were led to believe that they could trust this man with the most precious thing in their entire world their children," Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer wrote in a press release from August 2019, before the total number of victims had come forward. "Instead, he preyed on these innocent boys and violated that trust in a vile and sadistic way." In a press release issued this week, Spitzer wrote that Zakrzewski's young victims "were forced to endure unimaginable terror as a result of the ultimate betrayal by a babysitter." OKLAHOMA MOTHER PLEADS GUILTY TO ALLOWING 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER TO GIVE BIRTH TO 24-YEAR-OLD's BABY "These parents thought they were hiring a trusted caregiver for their children while they went on family vacations, date nights, and for other childcare needs; instead they were unknowingly letting a monster walk into their homes and prey upon their innocent children in the vilest way," he continued. In some cases, Oliver told jurors, victims "really loved the defendant" and underwent abuse "not even knowing it was wrong." The Laguna Beach Police Department launched their investigation into Matthew Antonio Zakrzewski after the parents of an 8-year-old came forward, telling them the babysitter had molested their son. Video evidence and tips from the public revealed 16 more victims, police said. In one case, a 7-year-old victim devolved into tears when he was shown Zakrzewski's photo, and it became clear "the person he [thought] was his friend, his buddy, his mentor]" wouldn't be babysitting him anymore, Oliver said in court. The babysitter dedicated himself to "years of grooming and normalizing and perfecting the art of exploiting these children sexually" and "hunted every child" as though he "had a how-to book on it." "He fooled everyone," she said on Monday. "He fooled every parent. He fooled every child. And he fooled every victim." Zakrzewski, prosecutors said, recorded his crimes obsessively and kept an enormous cache of photos and videos he'd taken "like a treasure, like some sort of medal." Zakrzewski's attorney could not be reached for comment. A sentencing hearing for him is scheduled for Nov. 17, per online court records. Original article source: 'Matthew the Manny' molested 16 boys in 'ultimate betrayal by a babysitter': DA House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) on Sunday stressed the importance of electing a Speaker in order to replenish funding for Israel and to demonstrate unified support in the wake of Hamass attacks on the country. We have to get a Speaker elected this week, so we can get things on the floor like replenishing the Iron Dome, get a resolution that Ranking Member [ Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.)] and I have been working on, a bipartisan resolution condemning Hamas for what they have done to Israel, McCaul said in an interview on CNNs State of the Union. We want to get that on the floor by unanimous consent. Whether or not we have a Speaker in place, because I think we cannot wait. We have to get that message out as soon as possible. McCaul added. McCauls comments come after hundreds of Israelis were killed by Hamas in an attack Saturday morning that some officials are describing as among the worst since the Yom Kippur War in 1973. His comments also follow an historic House vote last Tuesday, when it voted 216-210 to remove former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), leaving a vacancy at the third-highest position in the United States government. Eight Republicans voted with all Democrats against McCarthy. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) have emerged as the top candidates in the race, but neither, as of Sunday afternoon, appear to have the votes to win the majority. House Republicans are expected to meet Tuesday for a candidate forum to narrow down the field to one candidate that could win the majority of the votes in the closely divided chamber. McCaul also warned about the message that having a vacancy in the Speakership has to U.S. enemies. Asked whether Congress can pass more congressional aid to Israel without a Speaker, McCaul said, Well its not ideal. It wasnt my idea to oust the Speaker. I thought it was dangerous. I look at the world and all the threats that are out there. And what kind of message are we sending to our adversaries when we cant govern? While were dysfunctional? When we dont even have a Speaker of the House? McCaul continued. I mean, how does Chairman [Xi Jinping] in China look at that when he says democracy doesnt work? How does the Ayatollah [in Iran] look at this, knowing that we cannot function properly? And I think it sends a terrible message. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Switzerland is increasingly becoming a base for Russia's secret services, with about 80 Russian spies in the country, according to an investigation by Swiss newspaper Neue Zurcher Zeitung. Experts quoted by the paper said entire networks of agents could be managed and given instructions from Switzerland, while the Kremlin's intelligence services can monitor the Russian diaspora and explore ways to circumvent Western sanctions. Switzerland's Foreign Policy Commission recently approved a proposal that calls for the consistent expulsion of spies, but the motion's chances in parliament are uncertain. The country has regularly been criticized for using its neutral stance to avoid helping Ukraine against Russia, which proves problematic as Switzerland has a right to veto the export of weapons it produces to Ukraine. A considerable majority of the Swiss National Council, Switzerland's lower house of parliament, voted against a proposal to amend the rules regarding re-exporting Swiss-made weapons to Ukraine, the Swiss legislature reported on Sept. 27. The Swiss parliament previously voted against a similar proposal, and Switzerland has also blocked the transfer of Swiss-made Leopard 1 tanks currently in Italy to Ukraine. Following Switzerland's long-term neutrality policy, the country's law does not currently allow the delivery of Swiss weapons to combat zones, even when supplied by an intermediary country. Switzerland is not in the EU, which means the country is not obliged to comply with sanctions against Russian spies or expel them. However, Switzerland expanded its sanctions against Russia in line with the EUs 11th package of sanctions, the Swiss government announced on June 28. In cooperation with the latest round of sanctions, Switzerland will freeze the assets of the newly-listed Russian individuals and organizations and ban them from entering or crossing through the country. Switzerland broke from its tradition of political neutrality to join in sanctions against Russia after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Read also: Belarus Weekly: Swiss court acquits Belarusian death squad member Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. As the violence between Israel and Hamas rages on, groups and experts familiar with the Israeli governments decadeslong apartheid against Palestinians stress that it is inaccurate for officials and media to call the attacks unprovoked. The Israeli military battled Palestinian fighters for a third day on Monday after Hamas broke through Israels security barrier with the help of thousands of rockets and attacked nearby settlements. At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel, and dozens of Israelis are being held hostage in Gaza. Israeli soldiers have now launched powerful retaliatory strikes in the Gaza Strip, where the Hamas militant movement governs over 2 million Palestinian civilians. The U.S. and European Union have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization due to its armed resistance against Israels occupation, and the White House said Monday that at least nine Americans are among the dead. Currently, about 500 Palestinians have been killed and over 2,200 injured from Israeli airstrikes, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. More than 120,000 Palestinians have been displaced in Gaza as a result of Israels bombardment. The attack has resulted in strongly worded support for Israel from many Western nations, including the U.S., which along with the media are describing the violence as unprovoked and unprecedented. But experts on the regions history, as well as groups supporting Palestinian liberation, say that description is false. IfNotNow, a progressive American Jewish group that opposes Israeli apartheid, said that while we watch the unfolding horrors with heartbreak and dread for our loved ones Israelis and Palestinians alike the attack by Palestinian fighters was a result of decades of oppression. We cannot and will not say todays actions by Palestinian militants are unprovoked, the group said in a statement on Saturday. Every day under Israels system of apartheid is a provocation. The strangling siege on Gaza is a provocation. Settlers terrorizing entire Palestinian villages, soldiers raiding and demolishing Palestinian homes, murdering Palestinians in the streets, Israeli ministers calling for genocide and expulsion. These are the provocations of the most extreme right wing government in Israels history and an emboldened fascist movement escalating this crisis across the land. Palestinians inspect the rubble of a building after it was struck by an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, on Sunday. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land and sea, killing hundreds and taking captives. Palestinian health officials reported scores of deaths from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. Palestinians inspect the rubble of a building after it was struck by an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, on Sunday. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land and sea, killing hundreds and taking captives. Palestinian health officials reported scores of deaths from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. Israel has swiftly responded to the attacks by Hamas, launching airstrikes and destroying civilian infrastructure, according to an Al Jazeera reporter on the ground in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to turn the Palestinian enclave into a deserted island, escalating fears of a ground invasion of Gaza. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reportedly said in a cabinet meeting that its time to be cruel, even if it means also killing the Israeli hostages in Gaza. Palestinians are no stranger to Israeli violence. The Arab-Israeli war of 1948 resulted in what is known as the Nakba, which refers to the mass murder of Palestinians and permanent displacement from their land. Since then, multiple human rights groups have released reports on why Israels efforts to remove Palestinian families from their land, jail Palestinian dissidents and kill civilians including children amount to apartheid. This war did not start this morning. It has been going on for decades, Nathan Thrall, a writer and expert on Israel-Palestine, posted on X, formerly Twitter. Todays bloodshed is the tip of an iceberg: an iceberg of state violence and ethnic subjugation. Blood will continue to be spilled so long as we ignore the root causes. Israel has long had the financial and weapons support of the U.S. to create a military system that far exceeds its Palestinian neighbors. IfNotNow and the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations have called on the U.S. to reflect on its role in funding yearslong violence against Palestinians despite publicly supporting a two-state solution. We absolutely condemn the killing of innocent civilians and mourn the loss of Palestinian and Israeli life, with numbers rising by the minute. Their blood is on the hands of the Israeli government, the US government which funds and excuses their recklessness, and every international leader who continues to turn a blind eye to decades of Palestinian oppression, endangering both Palestinians and Israelis, IfNotNow said. Anyone who minimizes or ignores this context will only continue to be surprised as more blood is shed, the group continued. We call on our communities to reconsider the knee-jerk militarism that has led us into this unfolding catastrophe. There is no path to a future of safety and freedom for all Israelis and Palestinians without accountability for this fascist government and an end to the ongoing, untenable status quo of Israels apartheid system. Related... The media has described relations between Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and US General Mark Milley , Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which has developed into a friendly one during their work together. Source: Washington Post Details: Shortly after the start of Russias invasion, Zaluzhnyi discussed his country's struggle for survival with Milley. And, as Zaluzhnyi said, Ukraine had only a few operational aircraft and urgently needed help from the West. At the end of the conversation, Zaluzhnyi said that he "felt like I was talking to myself". He completely stopped communicating with Milley for a week. Quote from Zaluzhnyi: "Frankly speaking, due to my youth and stupidity, I admit that it was my mistake. It was actually a disaster." More details: The Washington Post notes that this began a "crucial and complicated relationship" between the two military commanders, who eventually became personally close. Zaluzhnyi, who had been in Ukraine's top position for less than a year at the time of Russias full-scale invasion, said he came to rely on Milley for strategy and to get the weapons he believed Ukrainian troops needed. Quote from the Washington Post: "But the relationship, like the larger wartime ties between Washington and Kyiv, remained charged. While US officials vowed to continue supplying arms and intelligence to keep Russia at bay, they sometimes chafed at Ukraines demands for more, and faster, deliveries. And while the Ukrainians were grateful for US aid, they bristled at requests that they limit strikes on Russian territory." More details: The Washington Post says that for 19 months, Zaluzhnyi and Milley spent hours discussing developments on the battlefield in regular phone calls. Milley's resignation on 30 September marked the end of working relations that Zaluzhnyi called "critical to Ukraine's battlefield successes". It is also noted that Milley's regular jabs at Zaluzhnyi's age became an inside joke, a sign of the comfort the Ukrainian general began to feel around Milley. Milley brushed off the differences in their views, as the journalists say. "He is a human being," he recollected in a recent interview with The Post. "His country has been invaded by hundreds of thousands of Russian troops. His back is up against the wall. The level of pressure is intense. The fact that somebody gets a little angry and mad, absolutely normal. And I understood that. Im 5,000 miles away." Quote from the Washington Post: "The generals, of course, have an interest in masking disagreements between them, or their governments. Still, the dealings between Milley and Zaluzhnyi echoed the sometimes chummy and sometimes strained ties between top military officials at consequential moments. They would speak through an interpreter on a secure line, generally with each call structured in the same way. Zaluzhnyi gave Milley his assessment of what was happening on the battlefield. Milley answered with U.S. intelligence on the same. Then, they would shift to resources: What did Ukraine need for the next 30, 60, or 90 days? How could Washington help? There were still disputes. I always argue with him, Zaluzhny said but those disagreements were buffered by mutual respect. In one conversation shortly before Putins invasion, Milley deviated from the professional to the personal. He asked Zaluzhnyi where his family would be while Zaluzhnyi commanded Ukraines forces against what officials feared would be a massive attack? Zaluzhnyi replied that his wife, Olena, and children would remain in Kyiv. One of his two daughters, trained in medicine, would be treating the wounded; the other would be serving in the military. We will fight and die in Kyiv, if necessary, Zaluzhnyi told him. That's when I said, Wow, Milley said. These guys are serious guys. And he's just representative of the Ukrainian people in my mind. And he's totally committed to defending his country." More details: The journalists also recollected the first personal meeting between Zaluzhnyi and Milley on the Polish-Ukrainian border earlier this year. They spent several hours studying maps depicting the battlefield and discussing Zaluzhnyi's counteroffensive plans. The meeting was professional and productive, but a few months later Zaluzhnyi regretted that it was so formal. Quote from Zaluzhnyi: "I realize now that hes not going to be here anytime soon. That man deserved that I should have done something differently. We could have met as good friends. After the official part, we could have just had a normal conversation." More details: Zaluzhnyi said he hoped for a more informal meeting later. He said that Milley had invited him to visit him after the war and offered to help the Ukrainian general get an honorary degree from the US Military Academy. Zaluzhnyi promised Milley that the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine would install a bust of him on its territory as a token of gratitude. 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 Menasha police officer shot and killed a man during a domestic abuse response at the man's home Saturday, according to a news release from the state Department of Justice. Officers from the Menasha and the Fox Crossing Police Departments responded to a domestic dispute report on the 1100 block of Geneva Road in Menasha at 3:08 p.m. According to the release, when police arrived they encountered a male subject armed with bladed weapons. One Menasha officer discharged a firearm during the incident and struck the male subject. The release did not detail the events leading up to the man being shot First aid was rendered but the man died at the scene. His identity has not been released. Both the Menasha and Fox Crossing police officers were equipped with body cameras. The involved officer from the Menasha Police Department has been placed on administrative leave, per department policy. The state Division of Criminal Investigation is leading an investigation assisted by the Wisconsin State Patrol, Winnebago County Sheriffs Office, Neenah Police Department, and a DCI Crime Response Specialist. All involved law enforcement are fully cooperating with DCI during this investigation. DCI will review all evidence and determine the facts of this incident and will turn over investigative reports to the Winnebago County District Attorney when the investigation concludes. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Menasha PD officer shoots and kills man while responding to dispute Microsoft is closing in on a deal to buy Activision Blizzard. Activision President Rob Kostich said he thinks the deal will make "Call of Duty" better. "This deal is good for the industry," Kostich told Games Beat. Activision Blizzard's president thinks that Microsoft could make the "Call of Duty" franchise even better. Microsoft is closing in on a deal to buy Activision Blizzard by October 13, pending a final sign-off from UK regulators, The Verge reported. The deal will see Microsoft acquire the gaming giant responsible for popular titles like "Call of Duty," "Overwatch," and "World of Warcraft" for $68.7 billion, the report says. The UK Competition and Markets Authority previously blocked Microsoft's attempts to buy Activision Blizzard, causing Microsoft to reorganize the deal. As part of that restructured deal, Microsoft would no longer purchase Activision's cloud gaming rights , which would instead be sold to Ubisoft, the developer behind the "Assassin's Creed" series. This would mean that Microsoft could not exclusively offer Activision Blizzard's games on the Microsoft-owned Xbox Cloud Gaming service. If the deal goes through, Activision President Rob Kostich thinks "Call of Duty" will benefit from being able to use Microsoft's wealth of development resources. "Being able to tap into Microsoft's technology and suite of tools would benefit our teams to create even greater, more immersive experiences for our players," Kostich told Games Beat. "Ultimately, it's about bringing our development team's creative visions to life in this hyper-competitive environment." Kostich told the outlet that he thinks the merger is an "extraordinary opportunity" for the company but added that "we still need to allow the regulatory process to run its course." "As we've said previously, this deal is good for the industry and will bring more games to more players," Kostich told Games Beat. Microsoft declined to comment when reached by Insider on Sunday. Activision Blizzard did not immediately return a request for comment from Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's troubled coalition lost support in two state elections Sunday seen as a crucial test halfway through its term, exit polls showed, while the resurgent far right made new gains. All three parties in the coalition -- Scholz's centre-left SPD, the Greens and the liberal FDP -- lost ground in southern Bavaria, the country's biggest state, and western Hesse, according to the exit polls. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has enjoyed a surge in opinion poll ratings in recent times, won more support in both states, said the polls from broadcasters ZDF and ARD. Nearly 14 million people were eligible to vote in the states, almost one in five of Germany's electorate. The polls are seen as a crucial indicator of the population's mood, with immigration and economic woes among key topics. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser of the SPD, who ran as the party's candidate for state premier in Hesse, said the results were a "very disappointing performance". The SPD lost several percentage points compared to the last state election in 2018, the exit polls showed. In contrast, the AfD had cause for celebration, with co-leader Alice Weidel declaring the party was "on the right track". The elections were a "lesson for the (coalition) and a vote for change," she added. Official results will come in later Sunday. The polls came after a torrid two years for Scholz's government, which has had to contend with Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing energy crisis, that plunged Germany into recession. Adding to the problems, the chancellor's coalition has been consumed by bitter infighting on issues ranging from climate laws to spending cuts. Not helping the cause of the SPD and its coalition partners, both states are conservative strongholds, with Hesse ruled for 24 years by the main opposition CDU and Bavaria since 1957 by the CSU, headed by Markus Soeder. The CDU maintained its first place in Hesse and extended its lead by several percentage points, according to the exit polls. For the past few years, the party had been governing Hesse in coalition with the Greens, and its state premier Boris Rhein is set to retain his post. - Latest far-right win - The AfD's gains come after a string of recent local election triumphs, and will ring alarm bells anew about its growing popularity. However it is not expected to enter government in either state up for grabs on Sunday, as its strongholds are in eastern Germany. The AfD is traditionally an anti-immigration party but has also focused on attacking the coalition's climate policies, driven by the Greens, that have been unpopular, with critics saying they could unduly burden households. Immigration has emerged as a central theme for the elections as Germany -- like elsewhere in Europe -- faces a surge of new arrivals, reviving memories of a major influx in 2015. The victory of the CSU -- the sister party of the CDU -- in Bavaria was widely expected and state premier Soeder is set to retain his post. But with the exit polls showing the party's worst result for decades, it could deal a blow to his ambitions to one day stand as a chancellor candidate. Ahead of the vote, the state's governing coalition was rocked by a scandal when Soeder's deputy, Hubert Aiwanger, admitted to possessing Nazi pamphlets that were found in the schoolbag he used as a teenager in the late 1980s. Aiwanger, leader of junior coalition partner the Free Voters, managed to hang on to his job. And his party actually increased its share of the vote, according to the exit polls, after he claimed he was the victim of a "witch hunt". In contrast, the parties from Scholz's coalition lost support in Bavaria and the FDP looks to have fallen below the threshold to get into the state parliament. Analysts have predicted a poor result for the coalition could worsen tensions in government, particularly between the FDP and the other parties. sr/pvh More than 600 are dead and thousands more injured as gun battles rage on between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters a day after the militant group launched a brutal surprise attack targeting civilians across southern Israel, which prompted a declaration of war and retaliatory strikes. Heres expert analysis on the conflict and what could happen next. Analysts agree that Hamas' attack is unlike anything Israel has faced in decades and marked a major intelligence failure for Israeli forces who were unable to prevent it. Israel was caught "completely by surprise," Amos Harel writes in Haaretz. It also doesn't help that Israel is also dealing with an internal political crisis, largely surrounding the judicial reforms proposed by Netanyahu's right-wing government, Harel argues. The attack was also a conceptual failure on the part of Israeli authorities who had assumed Hamas would refrain from a wide-scale invasion, The Economist reported. One of the biggest dilemmas Israel faces is how it weakens the influence of Hamas on the Gaza Strip without taking on more responsibility for the territory. Tel Aviv would also want to prevent large-scale devastation and angering international partners. Daniel Byman and Alexander Palmer from the Center for Strategic and International Studies argue that such a task will be immensely difficult, as Israel lacks a credible political partner among Palestinians who can administer the Gaza Strip. Raining down fire on the Palestinian enclave with little response from Hamas would also erode international support and prove diplomatically disruptive for Israel, which currently has the backing of the U.S. and is attempting to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia. Riyadh has so far blamed Israel for the current violence. Hamas is convinced that by holding dozens of Israeli hostages, it could inevitably force the government to release Palestinian prisoners, Anshel Pfeffer from Haaretz writes on X. Sadly Netanyahus government is incapable of strategic thought, Pfeffer notes, adding that the prime minister has tried to ignore Gaza over his many years in office, despite previously paying a high price for the return of Israeli citizens or the remains of soldiers in what the New York Times describes as "lopsided prisoner exchange deals." In 2006, Gaza militants held the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit for five years before he was exchanged for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners many of whom were convicted terrorists. The attacks were a reminder to the world that the Israel-Palestine conflict hasn't been resolved, and that for Palestinians, their situation is getting substantially worse under the right-wing Israeli government," The Atlantic Council's Richard LeBaron said. The situation in Gaza has been largely ignored by Washington in recent years, Jonathan Guyer argued in Vox, as Israel has further antagonized Palestinians in the occupied areas. "The dread Israelis are feeling right now, myself included, is a sliver of what Palestinians have been feeling on a daily basis," Haggai Matar wrote in the left-leaning Israeli publication +972 Magazine. Intensifying fighting in Israels northern border has drawn in attacks from Lebanons Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed proxy said to stand in solidarity with Palestinians. Hezbollah reportedly has thousands of rockets in reserve and fired dozens of shells at three Israeli positions in disputed territory Sunday morning. According to Critical Threats, a project from the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute, Iran could potentially exploit Israeli distraction to move advanced military systems into Lebanon and Syria. This could allow Tehran to make significant advances in its nuclear program. David Wood from the Crisis Group told The New Arab that Hezbollah could be waiting to see the severity of Israelis response in Gaza before pursuing its next steps. We havent crossed the point of no return, he said. U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., looks at the remains of a bridge destroyed in fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in Irpin, Ukraine, on July 23, 2022. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) Overshadowed by the shameful swirl of Republican chaos in Congress is the fact that Americans are slowly losing their grip not only on their own democratic government but also on critical U.S. funding to help Ukraine defend its fledgling democracy from ruthless Russian aggression. Illinois U.S. Rep. Mike Quigleys commendable lone Democratic vote against the bipartisan deal to keep the government open last weekend a deal that cut funding for Ukraine, for now reminded Americans, and our allies the world over, that there are real U.S. national security interests at risk. They are being squandered recklessly by extremists on the right who are fighting leadership and shutdown battles in Washington while Ukrainians fight and die for American ideals. Advertisement The dysfunction they have unleashed is dangerous and will make it harder for President Joe Biden to keep NATO unified, arm Ukraine with weapons it needs to survive and stop Russian President Vladimir Putins murderous war crimes and expansionist threats to Europes security. The party of Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan is now the cult of dishonest Donald Trump and his endless legal dramas, as well as his destructive disciples, such as Florida U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, who would rather paralyze the government than do the peoples business. Advertisement A majority of Republicans and Democrats in Congress support continued funding for desperately needed weapons and aid to Ukraine, but no funding or any other legislation can be moved to the House floor now that extremist GOP members have left the chamber leaderless, at least temporarily. Biden called allies and spoke with leaders of NATO and the European Union on last week, assuring them U.S. support for Ukraine remains strong and the alliance must not waver 19 months into the war. However, worrisome cracks are looming in that support in the U.S. and Europe. One of those is the election in Slovakia of pro-Russian leader Robert Fico, a former prime minister who could well form a new government pledging to block Ukraine membership in NATO and urging an unwise negotiated settlement to the war in Ukraine. As the U.S. moves into a presidential campaign year, Putin is waiting for the West to weaken in its support for Ukraine. Hes got time, and some of the declared Republican presidential candidates would favor a peace deal in which Ukraine would cede some territory to Russia. [ Daniel DePetris: As the war in Ukraine grinds on, Europe will prove more crucial ] Thats unacceptable. Ukraine is fighting for democracy and its survival. Ceding territory would just encourage Putin to set his sights on the next county to invade. If Biden is to hold the coalition together at home and abroad, he must take more forceful measures to explain how U.S. support will help Ukraine win and what the endgame is. Biden did promise to give a major speech on funding for Ukraine soon. Good. Its overdue. He needs to make the case more strongly and clearly to the American public before more wavering sets in. The president has done an exemplary job so far keeping NATO unified and underscoring the threats Putins aggression poses to NATO and Europe. Supporting brave Ukrainians fighting the Wests battles has helped degrade the Russian army, stand up for democracy and the sanctity of borders, keep American soldiers out of the conflict and underscore the cost of invading neighbors. Ukraine is doing NATOs job. Quigley, co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, drew his own line in the sand by voting against the stopgap bill to fund the government after Ukraine funding was stripped out of the bill. Yes, it was a safe vote since he was the only Democrat to do so, but it still sent a clear message. This bill is a victory for Putin and Putin-sympathizers everywhere, he said in a statement. We now have 45 days to correct this grave mistake. Advertisement He is absolutely right. The threatened government shutdown sent all the wrong signals. It ostensibly was about demands to cut spending, as the GOP extremists claimed. But the way the chaos caucus voted Tuesday to bring down House Speaker Kevin McCarthy suggested it was more about a nihilistic contempt for government itself among MAGA House members and a vindictive civil war among Republicans. 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 > Reagan stood up to the Soviet Union and was willing to spend what it took to defend democracy. Former President Trump encouraged his minions to shut down the government to defund criminal prosecutions against him. Not exactly a profile in courage. Trumps antidemocratic handiwork was everywhere, but the GOP members following him off the cliff did this to themselves. Their demands were not achievable, given that Democrats control the White House and Senate and would never agree to them. So, they failed in the job they were sent to Congress to do: Run the government. Equally dangerous, they have become a threat to U.S. foreign policy. McCarthys downfall was almost Shakespearean, as well. The seeds of it were sown in his unwise promises to Gaetz and other MAGA Republicans to get the speakers job in January promises he knew he couldnt get through a Democrat-controlled Senate. Yet he caved to the bidding of extreme hard-line members, 70 of whom tried to cut off funding to Ukraine this summer. And McCarthys failure to let Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speak to the full House on his recent trip was shameless and craven. No statesman, clearly. To be sure, Democrats helped McCarthy by voting for a continuing resolution that kept the government running for 45 days. Crisis averted, for now. But without continued funding, Zelenskyy says Ukraine will lose the war. America cant let that happen. Democrats were correct to line up against McCarthy on the vote to oust him. They have learned he cant be trusted to do the right thing. America needs strategic patience now to stay the course in Ukraine, not division, disarray and deceit. Advertisement Storer H. Rowley, a former national editor and foreign correspondent for the Chicago Tribune, teaches journalism and communication at Northwestern University. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. There is increasing concern in national security circles about the status of the House of Representatives, bereft of a Speaker, during an international crisis. It has been made clear to Fox that events in the Middle East are not an attack on the U.S., but "on an ally." However, one source noted that these circumstances can devolve quickly. It was underscored to Fox that if nothing else, the Middle East violence highlights the importance of having an operational House of Representatives and a Speaker. "The Middle East might speed up the election of a Speaker," said one House Republican who asked to remain nameless. "This points to why it was a bad idea to kick out (former House Speaker) Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)." The late British Prime Minister Harold MacMillan famously declared that "events" were the most important factor in governance. US NAVY MOVING WARSHIPS, AIRCRAFT CLOSER TO ISRAEL AMID HAMAS WAR Here we have had an "event" in the Middle East. This potentially influences the thinking of House Republicans as the vacant Speakership starts to approach a week. Those who may have been willing to slow-roll the selection of a Speaker may quickly get religion. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Fox is told if push came to shove, "(CIA) Director (Bill) Burns and (Director of National Intelligence) Avril (Haines) would probably go ahead and brief (House Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick) McHenry (R-N.C.) because its the right thing to do." CIA and State Department officials briefed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) while he was at the U.S. consulate in Shanghai. Schumer is now in China on a long-planned official trip. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) received a briefing and is now trying to arrange a briefing for all House members. October 8, 2023. Israeli air attacks on Gaza continue. Flames and smoke rose from the area as a result of the attack on the Gaza. At the very least, this is a terrible optics problem for Republicans. Democrats are carrying out their duties of governing while Republicans fight among themselves after they bounced their own Speaker from the job. A source noted to Fox that McHenry would certainly receive a briefing if there was a direct threat to the United States or the U.S. needed to be involved militarily. "Say if this went to DEFCON 2," said a source. US LAWMAKER EVACUATES ISRAEL AFTER HAMAS LAUNCHES BARRAGE OF ROCKETS IN SURPRISE ATTACK "DEFCON 1" is the highest "defense condition" security posture the U.S. has. However, the House is paralyzed right now without a Speaker. McCarthy, reiterated this problem, during an appearance on Fox Saturday afternoon. "There is nothing the House can do until they elect a Speaker. And I dont know if that happens quickly," said McCarthy. The California Republican knocked down suggestions on Friday that he would resign from Congress. There are now rumblings that perhaps McCarthy could rise from the political ashes like a phoenix and return to the Speakers suite. Police officers check suspects at a check point, searching for Hamas militants from Gaza strip on October 8, 2023, in Ashdod, Israel. On Saturday, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched the largest surprise attack from Gaza in a generation, sending thousands of missiles and an unknown number of fighters by land, who shot and kidnapped Israelis in communities near the Gaza border. The attack prompted retaliatory strikes on Gaza and a declaration of war by the Israeli prime minister. "Dont be surprised if you see calls just like that for Kevin to re-emerge," said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.) on Fox before the Middle East crisis. After all, a supermajority of all House Republicans support McCarthy. Many think the junta of eight Republicans who voted to banish McCarthy did so with little cause and were far from justified in doing so. Thus, McCarthy might be the most-electable figure in the House considering global circumstances. But for now, the House cannot function. This would be a far worse scenario if American adversaries like Russia, China, North Korea or Iran were to do something to the U.S. now. But heres the problem for McHenry. The House created the concept of "Speaker Pro Tempore" as part of "continuity of government" concerns following 9/11. The House did not anticipate installing a Speaker Pro Tempore over a political dispute which resulted in the removal of the sitting Speaker. DOZENS OF US LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS STRANDED IN WAR-WORN ISRAEL Scholars argue that McHenry cannot do anything to run the House except gavel in, gavel out and preside over the election of a new Speaker. However, there is some parliamentary evidence that the House did advance a minor resolution in 1814 after House Speaker Henry Clay briefly stepped aside. While the intelligence community may be willing to include McHenry in national security matters now, there is concern among House institutionalists about every action McHenry may take right now. The House operates off a series of precedents: Hinds, Deschlers and Cannons. These books dictate future maneuvers of the House predicated on how the House operated in the past. Any action McHenry takes as Speaker Pro Tempore establishes a new precedent, dictating the authority of potential future Speakers Pro Tempores. As it was put to Fox, if McHenry is aggressive in wielding power, that will give the next Speaker Pro Tempore wider latitude. One source said that if McHenry goes too far, that establishes a precedent which may cause some in Congress to ask why they even bother to elect a Speaker and may just start "appointing a Speaker Pro Tempore by 2055." Representative Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. In other words, if McHenry takes an intelligence briefing on the Middle East, future Speakers Pro Tempore may do that. If he tries to advance a bill on the floor, future Speakers Pro Tempore may do that, too. "This is mission creep for a Speaker Pro Tempore," said one knowledgeable House parliamentary source. "A crisis could completely change the role for the future." But consider this. The House decision to create a "Speaker Pro Tempore" after 9/11 was so there was a functioning institution amid a crisis. Surely leaders thought that the Speaker Pro Tempore could take action to respond to critical events. Granted, there isnt a vacancy in the Speakership because the Speaker was killed in a 9/11-style terrorism attack. But the imprimatur is that the House wanted the body to be functional. And right now, the body is not. So Fox is told this is why McHenry may be reluctant to take any action on any subject until the House elects a bona fide Speaker. He is handcuffed. But each move by McHenry could widen the authority for the role. Fox is told thats why McHenry appears to be mindful and judicious in the use of any perceived powers he may have now. "There are guardrails," said one source. "But because this is unprecedented, they dont have to be followed." On Friday afternoon, it looked as though it may take days to elect a Speaker. But, as Harold MacMillan postulated, "events" sometimes alter the course of governing. House Republicans are scheduled to meet for a closed door House GOP Conference meeting late Monday. On Tuesday, House GOPers will conduct their "candidate forum" where those running for the Speakership make their pitches to rank-and-file Members. Then, the Republican Conference will convene again behind closed doors on Wednesday for a "secret ballot" to tap their nominee for Speaker. This is NOT the Speaker election. The FULL HOUSE must elect the Speaker. And the number needed to prevail on the floor is much higher than the number needed to win in the conference. On one hand, this is why it could take House Republicans a while to sort out the Speakership. Republicans dont plan to have a vote on the floor for Speaker until a candidate has the votes lined up. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Republicans believe it is a terrible look to have repeated, failed, floor vote after floor vote for Speaker, ala January for McCarthy. Republicans believe failed vote after failed vote could underscore chaos on their side of the aisle. So they want to get this nailed down offstage quickly. So, it could take some time. But on the other hand, we have had an intervening event. And Harold MacMillan might suggest that the Middle East war suddenly accelerated the process of electing a new House Speaker. Original article source: How the Middle East crisis could expedite the election of a House Speaker Security is being increased around Charlottes synagogues and mosques as violence escalates between Israel and Hamas fighters in the Middle East, according to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police. The move is precautionary and no credible threats to any location or person locally have been found, CMPD said in an Oct. 8 news release. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has been monitoring the ongoing violent conflict in and around the nation of Israel in coordination with our partners at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security and the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation, CMPD said. In response, CMPD has designated specific patrols at all synagogues and mosques in our jurisdiction, effective immediately. Further, CMPD will be making contact with personnel at these locations to proactively collaborate on any safety concerns. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country is at war after a surprise attack from Gaza, in which Hamas militants, backed by a volley of thousands of rockets, broke through Israels security barrier, according to the Associated Press. At least 600 people have reportedly been killed in Israel a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades and more than 300 have been killed in Gaza, AP reports. Israeli soldiers battled Hamas fighters in the streets of southern Israel on Sunday (Oct. 8) ... while in northern Israel a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group raised fears of a broader conflict. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings issued a statement Sunday about the growing conflict. My heart goes out to everyone who is personally impacted by this ongoing international situation, Jennings said. CMPD is committed to ensuring the safety of all citizens within our community, and we will not tolerate any criminal threats or actions against these communities. 1 dead, 1 critically hurt by shots in Charlottes Park Crossing community, CMPD says Child reports being abused by staffer while staying at Camp Thunderbird, YMCA says WARSAW (Reuters) - The current violence between Hamas and Israel works in Russia's favour as it distracts international attention from Moscow's aggression in Ukraine and may result in new migration pressures on Europe, Poland's president Andrzej Duda said on Sunday. Poland, a staunch supporter of Kyiv since Russia launched its invasion in early 2022, has sheltered more than a million Ukrainian refugees. But it has flatly rejected any European Union mechanisms which would require it to take in a share of the irregular migrants entering the bloc from other directions. "It certainly benefits Russia and Russian aggression against Ukraine. It distracts the world's attention... But above all, I am afraid that it will unfortunately cause further migration pressure on Europe," Duda said in an interview with private broadcaster Polsat News. "We will likely have another wave of migrants from the Middle East, which will hit Europe... Our security, protection of Poland's borders of course, also the borders of the European Union and the Schengen zone, becomes even more important." Since mid-2021, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia have seen an increase in the number of mainly Middle Eastern and African migrants trying to enter illegally from Belarus, which they accuse of facilitating such crossings, a claim Minsk rejects. (Reporting by Karol Badohal; Editing by Hugh Lawson) MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee teen is charged with hit-and-run and other crimes after a January fatal crash on the city's north side. Prosecutors said 17-year-old Octavion Jackson was driving a stolen car and didn't have a valid driver's license at the time. Octavion Jackson A criminal complaint states the car was reported stolen Jan. 28 from the area of 35th and North. Two days later, on Jan. 30, the stolen car was found abandoned at the fatal crash scene near 27th and Vliet. A 65-year-old man died, and a 26-year-old man was hurt. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News The stolen car had front-end damage, and a red taxi with heavy damage to its passenger side was nearby pushed off the road, through a fence and into the snow. The complaint states the 65-year-old was ejected from the taxi as a result of the stolen car hitting it "at a high rate of speed." The 26-year-old, who was the taxi driver, was trapped inside and later taken to a hospital. Surveillance video of the crash showed two people get out of the stolen car and run away. The complaint states neither person checked on the victims before running off. Milwaukee fatal crash at 27th and Vliet The complaint states police tried to pull over the stolen car for speeding near 27th and Meinecke just before the crash. The driver ran a red light and hit the taxi. The stolen car's airbag control module found the car was driving 80 mph seconds before impact. Authorities collected DNA evidence from the driver's side airbag. That DNA evidence was sent to the Wisconsin State Crime Lab. The complaint states "there was a mixture of four different people on that airbag," one of whom was Jackson. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android. Police interviewed Jackson after getting that report, and the complaint states he admitted he had been driving the stolen car. He did not mention police trying to pull him over, but said he was "blowing the horn" to get people out of the way because the brakes didn't work. He also admitted he ran off after the crash. Court filings indicated the teen has never been issued a driver's license. Jackson made his initial court appearance Saturday, Oct. 7 and had cash bond set at $30,0000, court records show. As one of the largest invasions in 50 years unfolded on the streets, sea and skies over Israel, misinformation about the assault proliferated on social media. In one instance, a widely circulated video of an Israeli airstrike was said to show a retaliation to Saturday's surprise attack by Palestinian group Hamas, which has left hundreds dead. BREAKING: Israeli Air Force is striking terror targets in Gaza, read the caption of the video, which was shared on Facebook and social media platform X. But the video was from airstrikes that happened in May, Reuters reported. In another, numerous users on X and TikTok shared a video that showed two jets being towed by ground. Some users claimed it showed Israeli Defense forces evacuating air bases near Gaza. One user said it showed Hamas forces towing Israeli jets. That video, however, was published last month, appearing on YouTube on Sept. 19, according to Reuters. The reposted version of the video had been viewed hundreds of thousands of times by Saturday afternoon. Many of the misleadingly labeled videos were shared by verified users on X, who are eligible for monetization of their content. Meanwhile, both fighting parties turned to social media and tech platforms to engage in information warfare. In dozens of posts on X, TikTok and Instagram, Israels official social media accounts blasted Hamas and repeatedly stated, We are at war. In one video posted to Instagram and X, Israel compared Hamas to ISIS. Same ideology, different names, text placed over a video of an alleged kidnapping said. Many social media companies, including the less tightly moderated X, have banned Hamas-affiliated accounts and politicians. The group instead has turned primarily to the messaging platform Telegram to distribute its content and saw colossal follower growth on Saturday. In the channel, Hamas posted polished promotional videos as well as on-the-ground footage from Saturday's violence. Others have since reposted the videos to other social media platforms. Among the footage circulating Saturday were videos of Israeli civilian hostages taken into Gaza. Others purport to show Hamas opening fire at Israeli attendees of a music festival. The images and videos that Hamas has released of innocent civilians are objectively horrifying. And while they may have released these videos in hopes of rallying other Palestinians to launch attacks, it's more likely to draw the international community to Israels side, said Jonathan Lord, senior fellow and director of the Middle East Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, a think tank in Washington. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com PHOENIX - The mother of the man accused of shooting and injuring a Phoenix Police officer has been sentenced to prison for illegally providing a firearm to her son, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Erika Williams, 52, was sentenced to 10 months followed by three years of supervised release. She is the mother of Essa Williams, who allegedly shot Officer Tyler Moldovan in December 2021. According to a news release, Erika Williams bought a gun from a Phoenix pawn shop on Sept. 3, 2020, for her son five months after he was released from jail on several felony convictions. "Ms. Williams swore that she was the actual purchaser of the firearm while knowing she was purchasing the firearm on behalf of Essa Williams," the U.S. Attorney's Office wrote in the news release. Authorities say they obtained a search warrant, showing a text conversation between Erika and her son regarding the purchase of the gun. "Essa Williams asked his mother via text message which firearm was purchased, what other options were available, and whether his mothers background check went through," authorities said. "Ms. Williams provided Essa Williams details about who assisted in the purchase, and confirmed the purchase was complete." Phoenix Police Officer Tyler Moldovan and Essa Williams Erika Williams pleaded guilty last May to making false statements during the purchase of a firearm. The gun that she bought for her son was not the weapon used in the shooting of Moldovan. Moldovan was shot eight times while police were investigating reports of vehicles driving erratically near 19th Avenue and Camelback Road. While officers searched a nearby apartment complex for one of the vehicles, police say Essa Williams pulled out a gun and shot Moldovan. Williams was arrested at the scene. His trial in the shooting of Moldovan is pending. Moldovan was initially given little chance to live. He spent about a month on life support before being moved to a rehabilitation center. Moldovan finally returned home in June 2022. More than 250 bodies have been found at a music festival in southern Israel that was attacked by Hamas terrorists on Saturday. Source: The Times of Israel Details: A representative of ZAKA, a volunteer group that searches for human remains after terrorist attacks and other disasters, told the media that they have collected more than 250 bodies from the site of a music festival in the south of Israel, which was attacked by Hamas terrorists. Many of the parents of the young people who attended the rave outside Kibbutz Reim have been desperately searching for news of their missing children since Saturday. At the same time, the Embassy of Nepal in Israel confirmed that 10 of its citizens were killed by the Hamas attack on Israel. At the same time, the authorities of the southern city of Sderot suspect that terrorists entered the city and urged the residents not to leave their homes. Meanwhile, the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry said 413 Palestinians had been killed and another 2,300 injured in Gaza since Saturday in retaliatory strikes by Israel. The Israel Defence Forces said it had killed at least 400 Palestinian terrorists, both in Israel and in strikes in Gaza. Background: The number of people killed in the Hamas attack on Israel has exceeded 700, and more than 2,100 were injured as of the evening of Sunday, 8 October. 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! Dozens of Israeli civilians have been taken hostage by Hamas militants as part of the groups surprise attack from Gaza that began on Saturday. Families described the horror of losing contact with loved ones or learning of their fate by watching abductions captured on video and later shared on social media. A man named Yoni Asher told CNN after losing touch with his wife Doron and the couples two daughters, he later saw them on video being loaded into a cart by militants. By tracking their phones, he realised they had been taken to Gaza. Later on when I saw the video there was no doubt, said. My wife and my two little daughters were on this cart. I know for sure they are taken. Mr Asher said his wife also had German citizenship and pleaded with officials in that country to assist in her rescue. Please help us, he said. We are begging for your help for you if you can do something. Elad Strohmayer of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs also brought attention to the case. The family of Doron and her two daughters, Raz and Aviv, saw how they were kidnapped into Gaza by Hamas terrorists. Their family asked to share this so everyone will know the truth. There are many more Israelis who were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists. Israel is under a heinous pic.twitter.com/iaiBcGK2DT Elad Strohmayer (@EladStr) October 7, 2023 The family of Doron and her two daughters, Raz and Aviv, saw how they were kidnapped into Gaza by Hamas terrorists, he wrote on X. Their family asked to share this so everyone will know the truth. There are many more Israelis who were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists. Israel is under a heinous terror attack. Another family, whose account was reported by The Times of Israel , posted on social media that student Noa Argamani was one of those abducted. She was seen on widely circulated footage being taken away on the back of a motorcyle screaming for help. The abduction took place near a desert rave event Argamani had attended. I was supposed to go to the desert party but decided at the last minute not to, her roommate, Amir Moadi, said, The Daily Mail reports. We last heard from her around 10am or 11am this morning when she texted us all to say that terrorists had opened fire and were chasing everyone but that they were both safe in hiding. We havent heard from them since but then, unfortunately, we saw the disturbing videos of her abduction online, Moadi added. One of her on the back of a bike with terrorists. Another Israeli woman, Emma Segev, told The Jewish Chronicle about her fears that her family had joined the ranks of the abducted, after they were in a Kibbutz infiltrated by Hamas. They told us that Hamas were outside their door and they could hear Arabic and gunshots, but now things have gone silent, she said. I stopped breathing hours ago. Last thing we heard their house is on fire. Lt Colonel Jonathan Conricus of the Israeli Defense Forces told CNN on Saturday that Hamas is believed to have dozens of hostages in Gaza, but that the chaos of the war made finding an exact figure challenging. This is an extremely foggy situation, he said. Hamas has also said it has captured dozens of hostages as part of the Palestinian militant organisations suprise attack. We bring good news to our (Palestinian) prisoners and our people that the al Qassam Brigades have dozens of captured (Israeli) officers and soldiers in their hands, Abu Obaida, a spokesperson for Hamass armed wing, said in a post on Telegram, CNN reports. As thousands of people danced at a music festival in an Israeli desert area in the early hours of Saturday, Hamas militants from Gaza descended upon the revelry. Videos show young Israelis dancing to trance music under a giant Buddha statue and prayer flags around dawn right around when festivalgoer Eliav Klein said he saw rockets launched from Gaza, startling everyone. A total of 260 people were killed at the event, according to a spokesperson for ZAKA, an Israeli nongovernmental rescue and recovery organization. hamas attack Israel Palestinian conflict (Obtained by NBC News) Klein said, There was a traffic jam of cars trying to escape. Then gunshots rang out. Amid the chaos, Klein and hundreds of young people began to run on the dry brown earth, out of breath and clutching bags, desperate to reach safety. The Supernova festival, held in the Negev region, had been planned for weeks. Everyone just started running in all directions. Nobody knew where to go, Klein said. He said he believed festivalgoers totaled in the thousands. My friend had to jump off a cliff that was 25 feet high as he was running away from terrorists to save his life, he added, saying another friend witnessed victims on their knees at gunpoint. Some people appeared to have been abducted, leaving loved ones unsure of their fates. American and British festivalgoers were also in the crowd, according to Israeli officials and the accounts of family members in the media. The Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, told NBC News a few Americans were at the festival. Noa Argamani, 25, was there with her boyfriend, Avinatan Or. The two appear to have been abducted by Hamas soldiers. She is seen in a video pleading for mercy as shes taken hostage. In the same video, her boyfriend is restrained by another group of militants, helplessly looking at Argamani as she is dragged away. Music festivals are common in Israel, drawing young people from around the country, as well as travelers from abroad. The pressures of Israeli life, including the constant tensions with Gaza and the West Bank and the mandatory military service, have marked the collective character of young Israelis since the founding of the state in 1948. The festivals often reflect the influence of destinations like India and Nepal, where many young Israelis visit after their military service. Blowing off steam and dancing all night with friends is a cultural right of passage in Israel, a tragic foil to the brutal hostage-taking and murder that took place Saturday. Klein said he took his friend who was injured from jumping off the cliff to a nearby hospital that was overwhelmed with casualties. As the trauma set in, Klein said, he was still distraught knowing that some of his fellow festivalgoers didnt make it out. He said hes still trying to find friends who are missing. Shoam Gueta said he ran away from the barrage with a group of 20 people and hid in the bushes for nearly six hours as the onslaught unfolded around them. He used his mandatory military training experience to stay camouflaged and urged everyone in the group to remain silent and not to run away even when militants came within several feet. He saw Israelis gunned down as they tried to take cover and watched as a woman was cut with a knife. One friend hid in a portable toilet. "We saw terrorists killing people, burning cars, shouting everywhere," Gueta said. "If you just say something, if you make any noise, youll be murdered." Quietly, he said, Gueta called his mother to reassure he was safe despite the surrounding carnage. Gili Yoskovich, another attendee, told the BBC that he saw militants coming from several different directions and didnt know where to go. He described getting shot at as he was driving until he left the car and began to run. I saw the place with many pomelo trees and I was lying on the floor, so it was the second hiding [place] that I found, and they were just all around me, he said. They were going tree by tree and shooting pha, pha, pha everywhere from two sides. And I saw many people, like, people were dying, like, all around. Jake Marlowe, 26, a British man who was working as part of a security team, is among those believed to be missing, friends and family members said. His mother told The Jewish Chronicle that she hasnt heard from her son since early Saturday, when he texted her to say that he had a bad signal and that he loves her. Daniel Aboudy, a friend of Marlowes, told Sky News that his former friends and classmates in London, where he spent most of his life, are rallying around the family as officials work to confirm what became of potential hostages. We are all just trying to show an immense amount of love and support and hope that he will return to us, Aboudy said. We miss you, Jakey. Jonathan Polin said Hersh Goldberg-Polin, his 23-year-old son, was at the festival and had been missing for 36 hours. The last messages he sent his family read I love you and Im sorry. Polin has filed a police report and submitted DNA samples. supervova israel music fesitival victim missing (Courtesy Jonathan Polin) The terrible irony in his case, and in the case of many of the others who were there, was they made it through their mandatory military service, Polin said. They served their country. They did what they were asked to do for the country, and they were simply enjoying a holiday in nature, listening to music, and terror ensued. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com In a few short years, some of us will be able to look up at the sky and see a flaming dot roar toward the Earth and crash into the ocean. In that dot will be 30 years of international scientific cooperation between nations that are more often at each others throats than in each others labs. As the dot gets closer, well see the burning fragments of the International Space Station modules and maybe even some other countries modules that we bring down with us. Congress has authorized ISS operations into 2030, though budget fears still hover over some in the field. NASAs latest public relations sprint, however, is geared toward finding commercial contractors that can tug the U.S. modules back to earth for a splashdown. And those which can privatize such low-orbit destinations, demoting NASAs role from that of public creator to private customer. The ISS is designed for international interdependence, though. Yanking a 1998-era chunk of US space tech out of an intricately grafted hive of engineering without destroying the whole thing may not even be possible. And so far, NASA has not announced any planned impact on partner nation modules. Meanwhile, the race toward space station commercialization is tightening up. Massive corporations like Northrop Grumman, Blue Orbit, SpaceX and others are competing for a publicly funded foothold in a surging private sector. The State Department estimates that the global space economy is worth $348 billion, accounting for more than 200,000 US jobs across sectors from manufacturing to telecoms and earth observation. The satellite industry alone is worth about 79% of that total economy. NASA is now asking U.S. companies for input on its upcoming rules for commercial space stations in low-earth orbit destinations available to NASA once the ISS is retired with an industry briefing scheduled for Oct. 12. This RFI is a significant next step in transitioning low Earth orbit operations to the private sector, allowing NASA to be one of many customers for services said NASAs commercial spaceflight director, Phil McAlister, in an Oct. 2 release. NASA did not immediately return Salons request for comment. Amid the ups and downs of the U.S. commercial space station frenzy, Chinese and Russian government space efforts have also been shifting gears. Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes. China announced Thursday that it would expand its Tiangong space station into six modules, aiming to provide an ISS alternative by 2030. The expansion marks a reversal of the countrys prior plans for Tiangong, also known as the Chinese Space Station (CSS), which was launched in 2019. The same year, the United Nations confirmed that institutions from Germany, Switzerland, India, Russia and others would be participating in experiments on the CSS. Chinas scientists have been banned from the ISS since 2011, when the U.S. Defense Dept budget bill barred NASA from using any funds to collaborate at all with Chinese scientists unless specifically authorized by Congress. The news came on the heels of a delay announced by the Russian government, whose financing issues have slowed the countrys development of a new low-orbit space station. On Oct. 2, Russian space agency Roscosmos said the delays have prompted a search for international partners. After nearly 23 years of continuous human occupation, the politically messy divorce and destruction of what was once the hopeful icon of international scientific pursuit begs the question: What hope is left for international cooperation in space when we cant even get our astronauts in the same vessel? And, more precisely, what is the U.S. push toward low-orbit privatization signaling about our future pursuits in space? Expanding the military-industrial-space complex In a May release, the Office of Space Affairs touted 24 signatories to the international accords launched in 2020, aimed at enhancing international scientific cooperation in the run up to NASAs 2024 moon-return mission. The Artemis Accords stand at the center of our civil space diplomatic efforts. Grounded in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, the Accords are a multilateral, non-binding declaration of principles to guide safe and transparent civil space exploration and promote peaceful cooperation in space exploration and scientific endeavors, said Jennifer Littlejohn, an acting assistant bureau secretary. The same month, the State Dept. released its first-ever Strategic Framework for Space Diplomacy, a blueprint for navigating increasingly choppy international relations in space exploration. Citing the 2023 Threat Assessment report from the Director of National Intelligence, the Space Affairs framework threads a narrow needle between the interests of U.S. political and military wrangling and the interests of actually doing space science. The OSA positions Russian and Chinese space initiatives not as potential avenues for increased research collaboration but as competitors who are organizing, training, and equipping their forces to undermine U.S. and allied security in space. Chinas space activities are designed to advance its global standing and strengthen its attempts to erode U.S. influence across military, technological, economic and diplomatic spheres, the intelligence report said, adding that China is likely to achieve world-class status in most of its space efforts by 2030. Counterspace operations will be integral to potential Peoples Liberation Army military campaigns, and China has counterspace weapons capabilities intended to target U.S. and allied satellites. Chinas commercial space sector is growing quickly and is on pace to become a major global competitor by 2030. The OSA and State Dept. did not immediately return Salons requests for comment. Russian space efforts are likewise bracketed by terrestrial threat concerns in the intelligence report. Russias cyberattack against commercial satellite communications networks in February 2022 illustrates the increasing interdependencies across space sectors as well as between the space and cyber domains, it reads. As far as the OSA framework is concerned, the friction created between pro-public government work and private space contracting is also feeding another tense conflict the tug-of-war between the internationally collaborative space science aimed at collective uplift of humanity, and a weapons-hungry space science aimed to see who can extend a depressing global arms race most quickly into the stars. Distinct civil and military space policies and programs do not exist in all nations. New, emerging space partners balance space relationships with us and our strategic competitors. Some governments may not recognize the vulnerabilities of increased intermingling with competitors space industries, the OSA writes. Technology transfer concerns and corresponding regulation mean an inherent necessary tension exists between our dual missions of protecting national security and promoting the U.S. space industry and the benefits of space for all. The passage reads as a less than subtle elbowing of other countries who may engage in international science operations with Russian and Chinese space programs and industries, though theres no such pointed language aimed at private companies. Future cooperation with strategic competitors will depend on these countries adherence to international standards both in space and here on Earth. Increasing commercial leadership and participation mean we cannot rely solely on government-to-government diplomacy, the report says. Recent Defense Dept. contracts may illuminate what an increase in commercial leadership and participation may mean to the U.S. On Oct. 4, the U.S. Space Force awarded long-time ISS support contractor Booz Allen Hamilton $14.4 billion to upgrade our country's missile warning and tracking tech, and a seven-year contract for $630 million to build out the Space Forces surveillance operation. This contract will leverage Booz Allens capabilities and mission expertise in digital engineering, mission integration, agile software development, cybersecurity, change management, AI, and machine learning (ML) to help the Space Force achieve its vision for a Digital Service. It also demonstrates the criticality of the space domain in delivering key decision-making information to warfighters and intelligence agencies to protect the nation, the company said in a Wednesday release. If NASA only has the resources to explore Mars and return to the moon by sacrificing a shared public space for peaceful scientific collaboration, then the agency is indeed strapped for cash. But a cursory glance at the DODs budget makes it clear: Weve got the money for protecting public scientific assets we just dont have the government for it. A Little Free Library is ready for readers on South Cullerton Street in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood on Oct. 6, 2023. (Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune) Chicagos City Council has a new menace to stamp out: Little Free Libraries, those small wooden bookcases outside some homes that invite passersby to take a book and leave a good read behind. Whats that? You say there are bigger problems right now for the city to worry about? Perhaps youve not considered the dangers of too much free reading, especially on the part of young people. If books are allowed to sit, unregulated and unpermitted, on the citys precious parkways, who knows what chaos might ensue. Advertisement We jest, but an ordinance proposed by Ald. Ray Lopez, 15th, merits the most withering sarcasm, especially in an era when the far right is banning books as an absurd reflex. Lopez apparently sees books as a problem too: He wants to require the Little Free Libraries to be subject to permits (an oxymoron), as if they were huge bouncy castles blocking the street. Worse, according to reporting by Block Club Chicago, Lopez also wants them to be run only by authorized nonprofit groups. A Chicago homeowner who wants to build a Little Free Library would be breaking the law. Advertisement These bookcases have been popping up all throughout the city completely unregulated, Lopez told the local news outlet. Oh, the horror! Unregulated bookcases! What next? Neighbors talking to each other without approval? 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 > This nonsense passed through committee Tuesday and is headed for a full City Council vote. Down, lets hope. Little Free Libraries shouldnt need permits, unless someone is selling coffee out of one. They should be encouraged. They promote reading, education and community interaction. The city allows residents to plant and accessorize the city-owned parkways. People who choose to feature books should not be penalized. Nor should one young man whose work weve noticed, a creative Chicagoan who offers a unique take on a Little Free Library. At Spencers Garage, a kid can take a toy car or leave one behind for someone else. We smile every time we walk by. Leave Spencers Garage alone, Ald. Lopez. Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook. Advertisement Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. In a recent incident, the Nassau County Sheriffs Office (NCSO) successfully stopped suspected burglars thanks to the vigilant watchfulness of the community. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< On Wednesday evening, NCSO responded to a property check request on Palm Circle in Fernandina Beach after a neighbor reported a suspicious vehicle at another neighbors residence. Upon arrival, NCSO deputies observed two individuals, later identified as Jason Douglas and Christopher Parker, carrying various items from a house. Upon seeing the deputies, the suspects hastily dropped their loot and fled towards the nearby marsh. NCSO reportedly deployed their airboat and drone unit to locate Parker and Douglas, eventually discovering a pair of abandoned shoes floating in the water. Subsequently, it was determined that the suspects had successfully traversed the marsh and cut through multiple backyards to evade capture. Fortunately, a vigilant witness spotted the fugitives as they entered a gold pickup truck on Lina Road and promptly reported their whereabouts to the NCSO dispatch center. Deputies located the driver of the pickup truck at the Circle K Gas Station on Old Nassauville Road. The driver cooperated with law enforcement and revealed the location of Douglas and Parker, leading to their apprehension. Both individuals were arrested on charges of armed burglary. The Nassau County Sheriffs Office expressed its gratitude to the community for its assistance and efforts in aiding the arrest of these individuals, ensuring that they are held accountable for their actions. [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. WASHINGTON In addition to articles already covered by Native News Online, here is a roundup of other news released from Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country recently. Rep. Mary Peltola Annuonces Plans to Return to Washington, D.C. On Friday, Rep. Mary Peltola, the first Alaska Native to serve in the U.S. Congress, announced her plans to return to the nations capital. She has been spending time with family following the passing of her husband, Eugene Buzzy Peltola on September 12, 2023. The past few weeks have been some of the most difficult in my life, Peltola said in a press release. I am so thankful for the space that Alaskans have given me to celebrate Buzzys life with my family, and for all those who celebrated it with us. The kindness and generosity that you have shown represents Alaska at its best." Peltola referenced the difficult time in Washington in recent weeks with the threat of a federal shutdown and in House of Representatives with the ouster of Speaker Kevin McCarthy last Tuesday. "It has also been a difficult time for our country. In recent weeks, we have watched partisan politicians make unserious attempts at solving serious problems. We barely avoided a shutdown that would have hit Alaskas military families, seniors, and children hard. And now, those same politicians are playing a partisan game of musical chairs for the Speakership while another shutdown looms only a few weeks away," Peltola said. "That's why I know it's time for me to return to D.C., to bring back that Alaskan perspective that the House needs. I will continue to mourn Buzzy, but I am ready to get to work, as I know that he would want. FCC Announces Tribal Webinar on Low Power FM New Station Construction Permits The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)s Media Bureau and the Office of Native Affairs and Policy are hosting an informational webinar on the upcoming application filing window for new Low Power FM (LPFM) radio stations. The webinar will take place on Thursday, October 12, 2023, from 2pm-3:30pm ET. The webinar will provide an overview of the LPFM application filing requirements and comparative selection process, and explain how you can apply. The LPFM filing window provides Tribes, among others, the opportunity to apply for a new LPFM station that can cover a localized service area in need of radio service. The FCC will accept LPFM applications for the entire FM band (channels 201-300) during the filing window, which opens on November 1, 2023, and closes on November 8, 2023. Applicants must file their applications electronically through the FCC Media Bureaus Licensing and Management System. Official registration is not required for this event, but recommended. To register, please send an email to Tribal.Events@fcc.gov with October 12th Webinar in the subject line. Registrants will receive a Zoom link that will allow them to enter the webinar. In advance of this event, questions can be submitted by sending an email to Tribal.Events@fcc.gov. Visit the event webpage here. Veterans Affairs Tribal Advisory Committee Seeking Nominations from Indian Country The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking nominations to fill vacancies on its Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC) to represent the California and Nashville Indian Health Service IHS Areas. The VA established the VA TAC in 2021 to act as an advisory body to offer guidance and recommendations to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on ways the Department can improve programs and services to better serve American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) veterans. The VA TAC is comprised of 15 members, 12 representing IHS areas, 1 representing urban Indian organizations, 1 member at-large, and 1 member representing Native Hawaiian Organizations. Members on the TAC serve a term of 2 years. While potential nominees don't have to be a veteran, the VA seeks nominees with experience in military service and nominees who's current work impacts AI/AN veterans. About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. " Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net As a single mother, it was hard for Adriana Yoguez to have time off from her job. So when she took the day off to mail a request in September 2022 for an amended birth certificate, changing her childs name to Alexander, she wanted to do it all right, in one go. She went to the courthouse, got the name change order approved, had it notarized, got a certified check and mailed everything out to North Carolinas Office of Vital Records. By October, the certified check had been cashed. But she would not hear anything from Vital Records for months, despite calling the office continuously, she said. Vital Records is tasked with recording and amending North Carolina vital events, including births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. Thousands of North Carolinians are waiting, at times for months or over a year, to get birth certificates issued or amended. As of mid-August, there were 4,222 unfulfilled requests involving paper birth certificates. Those backlogged records dont include birth records for new babies, which are digitized; there was no backlog for digitized certificates. There were also 11,638 birth certificate amendment requests pending. These include amendments for adoptions and more, according to data shared with The News & Observer by the states Department of Health and Human Services, where Vital Records is housed. DHHS told The N&O that a lot of these delays are due to workforce challenges, as well as technological issues. But delays, exacerbated during the pandemic, have fallen dramatically over the past year, according to data provided by DHHS. And they may ease up further because of funding in this years budget to address shortfalls, the agency said. Effects of delays on transgender people Delays in receiving a paper copy of a birth certificate or amending a birth certificate make it hard to get a Social Security card or passport, and can affect filing taxes and more. For Yoguez and her son, the wait of more than a year delayed getting her son an updated passport with the correct name for a trip to Colombia last summer. It also has delayed her sons getting a learners permit to drive, as he wants it with the new name, she said. Her son, she said, has had a lot of anxiety due to the delays. His old name, she said, doesnt match his gender identity. To avoid bureaucratic red tape and be able to travel to Colombia, Yoguez renewed her sons expired passport with his old name. She said shell wait for the birth certificate before taking further action. Navigating this system is really a challenge for people who are not experts. And even for those of us who do this work all the time, its really challenging, said Milan Pham, a Durham LGBTQ+, adoption and family lawyer at Nicholson Pham, Attorneys at Law, PLLC. For transgender people, North Carolina no longer requires proof of a gender-affirming surgery to change the gender on their birth certificates. That process is now easier because of a court decision last year. To get a name change, people have to get an order through the courts, which requires showing an original birth certificate. Pham said for North Carolinians who are looking for gender marker changes on their birth record or to reflect name changes on their birth records, there are intolerable delays that could be dangerous. These delays signify a functional denial of your gender for the period that you dont have proof of your gender on your birth record, your accurate gender on your birth record, she said. Delays also impact families with adopted members Dana Davis Sikons husband adopted her 28-year-old son Gavin in February 2022 in Virginia. But her son was born in North Carolina, meaning that to obtain an amended birth certificate, he had to go through North Carolinas vital records office. This amendment took 13 months, Sikon said. Sikon said that due to her son not receiving his birth certificate he was unable to change information on his bank accounts, drivers license and Social Security card, and the delay also affected his wedding plans, as he did not want to get married under his former last name. Her other son, Noah, also adopted by her husband, was born in Virginia. He was able to go to the Virginia vital records office and the motor vehicle department all in one day. Within a week he had received his amended birth certificate, his new drivers license, and was able to fill out the paperwork for the new Social Security card, Sikon said. Sikon said she has life-threatening health conditions and her sons decided they wanted to have the same last name as her and her husband. Me dying, they wanted all of us to have the same name, she said. Dana Sikon and her husband Richard Sikon Pham said her clients have run into up to a yearlong wait for Vital Records to issue a birth certificate that shows that their adoption has been processed. She said delays for adoption changes used to be approximately a month, then it became three months and then it became longer. Pham said delays started taking up to six months or more some time during the pandemic. Other attorneys who spoke with the N&O also said that delays were exacerbated during the pandemic. These delays can affect all kinds of things, Pham said, including childrens school enrollment. Adoptions, in North Carolina, are formalized by the courts issuing a final adoption decree. This court order is what determines parentage, not the birth certificate, Pham said. But birth certificates, popularly, are understood as that which proves parentage, she said. Many people run into the failure of the general public to understand what constitutes legal parentage. Unless you want to haul your attorney around in your pocket to prove to school administrators that youre a legal parent and that an adoption decree is better than a birth certificate in proving parentage, youre still just dealing with the general public, Pham said. People believe what it is they believe and they expect what it is they expect, and so it just adds an additional layer of difficulty for people who establish their families in certain kinds of ways, she said. Cause of delays DHHS says these delays are largely because of workforce issues. It also says digitizing millions of birth certificates will help alleviate delays. The agency said in August that the vacancy rate at Vital Records is at 40% which translates to nearly one of every two positions being unfilled. Since January 2022, Vital Records had been able to reduce wait times for several records, largely due to using one-time unspent funds carried forward from the past year, according to DHHS. Now Vital Records has received $8 million in one-time money from the state budget to digitize vital records, which would help reduce delays further, DHHS said. State lawmakers agreed on a budget last month, weeks late, and Gov. Roy Cooper allowed it to become law this week. By the start of next year, DHHS also said the state is on track to move birth records into the N.C. Database Application for Vital Events (NCDAVE), which currently hosts death records. The current system is the North Carolina Vital Records Application System (VRAS), which has digitized birth records from 1971 forward. Birth records before that are largely not digitized. For requests involving paper records, someone must first determine the location of the record, walk to one of our three vaults, identify the book containing the needed record, unscrew a large binder that contains hundreds of records, carefully remove and handle the document, re-screw the binder closed, and repeat this until the request is fulfilled, said DHHS. Being reliant on paper, not digital, records creates inefficiencies, worsens our processing times and adds to our backlog. It also requires an onsite workforce that has been increasingly more difficult to recruit and retain, DHHS said. The agency said these workforce issues affect Vital Records ability to provide walk-in services, which were canceled in April 2020 and never resumed, and its ability to offer more appointment slots for the public. Yoguez and Sikon both struggled for months to reach anyone on the phone. Both left negative Google reviews, with Yoguez only hearing back from Vital Records after her negative review, she said. To address issues with calls by the public not being picked up, Vital Records has changed to a new phone system which tracks dropped calls, DHHS said. If a record is not digitized, then to make an amendment, the physical record needs to be pulled. People can also request certain birth records through county offices. And while amendments to birth certificates are handled by the state, there is a lot of back and forth between counties and the vital records office to make sure any amendments are reflected on both ends, and that necessary proof for changes has been provided. Having the records not digitized makes this back and forth more lengthy, said Susan Lockridge, Gaston County register of deeds. DHHS estimates the $8 million should be enough to digitize all birth records prior to 1971 but that an additional appropriation would be needed to digitize other records, such as marriage and divorce records. How long are delays? Delays vary by procedure. According to DHHS, between January 2022 and August 2023: Processing time for requests for digitized certificates went from one year to 30 days. The processing time for requests for nondigitized, or paper, certificates went from 13 months to 4.5 months. Processing time for requests for general birth amendments, which are amendments that do not include requests for court-ordered name changes, paternities, and legitimations involving the children of unmarried parents, went from two years to three months. Processing time for requests for in-state adoptions went from 2.5 years to three months. Processing time for out-of-state adoptions was greater than three months in August. DHHS did not provide a more exact number after a follow-up request. The total number of digitized (5.6 million) and nondigitized (5.5 million) birth records in August were nearly the same. What is the backlog? As of mid-August, heres how many birth certificate requests were awaiting processing. Nondigitized certificates: 4,222 Digitized certificates: No backlog For amendment requests: Birth amendments: 250 Adoption requests, in-state: 820 Adoption requests, out of state: 400 Adoption requests, foreign-born adoptions: 23 Legitimations: 95 Paternities: 6,500 Court orders: 3,550 Nearly two weeks after two neglected husky puppies were tossed over a Michigan animal shelters fence, the pair has found a new home, officials say. The puppies, which have been named Reign and Ryder, arrived at the Jackson County Animal Shelter in Jackson on Sept. 26, under circumstances that outraged many in the community. In surveillance video shared by the shelter, a truck can be seen driving up to a fence at the facility. A person gets out holding two puppies, walks up to the fence, lifts the dogs over and drops them onto the other side, then gets back in the truck and leaves, video shows. Reign and Ryder were both severely emaciated and suffering from neglect, according to the shelter. With help from the community, authorities quickly found the person seen dropping them over the fence, the shelter said. The owners were located and identified and did admit that these were their puppies that they abandoned at the shelter, Lydia Sattler, the Jackson County Animal Shelter Director, told WILX. I can also tell you that there were eight puppies as a result of the litter that this family had, and these are just two of them. The huskies were about 6 months old, weighing 8 and 11 pounds, officials told the outlet. At that age, they should be between 25-30 pounds, the station reported. As Reign and Ryder recovered, the pups gained weight and grew more active and playful everyday, the shelter said. On Oct. 6, the shelter announced that they would be moving into a new home and were being adopted together. From suffering from neglect, malnutrition and parasites then being thrown over a fencethese 2 survivors are now ready to live their best life in a loving home! officials said in a post. No charges were brought against the owners of the puppies, USA Today reported. Sattler told the outlet that if things had been done properly, there wouldnt be any reason for authorities to get involved. If they would have just come to the door, we would have just taken the puppies in, she said. We also have a gate that always remains unlocked; that would have been better than throwing the puppies over the fence. Adorable spotted kitten sold in parking lot leads to Texas couples arrest, feds say Cop accused of pepper spraying, repeatedly shocking dog with Taser, OK officials say Pack of dogs dumped in woods now up for adoption, Florida cops say. Owner charged Dog left to drown in flood is named for officer who saved him and hes up for adoption After a decade of green initiatives and generous government incentives, solar panel sales are booming. Over 50,700 units were mounted on UK rooftops between January and March, double the figure in the same three months last year, as homeowners scramble to save money in the face of soaring energy bills. But as solar panels have flown off the shelves, the industry has developed a dark underbelly in which scammers and cowboy installers take eco-friendly households for a ride. The Financial Ombudsman Service received more complaints mentioning solar panels in 2022 than in the previous eight years combined, Telegraph analysis reveals. Complaint numbers have sky-rocketed from a low of 15 in 2018, to a record high of 853 last year. Many of the complaints involve customers being promised bumper returns on their green investment by rogue traders who convince them to take out large loans to cover the upfront cost. Craig Mackinlay MP, chairman of the Net Zero Scrutiny Group, says the figures show that Britains solar industry has become a new Wild West. He adds: The websites we visit are littered with adverts, deals and freebies on the back of the dash to solar panels. But some of the offers are too good to be true. This new Wild West has attracted the usual cowboys into a potentially lucrative market. The unwary and vulnerable are being exploited. More than 1.3m UK homes 4.1pc now have solar panels installed, according to standards organisation MCS. A series of grants, loans and tax breaks over the last decade have encouraged uptake. The Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme, launched in 2010, allowed solar panel owners to sell electricity they generate back to their energy supplier. FIT was replaced by the Smart Export Guarantee in January 2020. While domestic solar panel systems of 3.5kW cost around 7,000, a typical household selling energy back to the grid can save roughly 620 a year, according to the Energy Saving Trust. In 2013, the Governments Green Deal provided households with loans to pay for eco-friendly home improvements such as new boilers, insulation and solar panels. The scheme was scrapped two years later due to low uptake, leaving thousands of households lumbered with high-interest loans. From April 2022, energy-efficient equipment such as solar panels, insulation and heat pumps have attracted zero VAT, instead of 5pc, and will continue to do so until 2027. However, homeowners making the most of the Governments solar panel drive have increasingly fallen victim to conmen. Citizens Advice has warned of a surge in solar panel fraud, particularly upselling scams in which cold-callers convince customers to upgrade technology they already have to meet fabricated legal standards. A small minority of cowboy builders carry out shoddy installations which lead to costly repairs down the line. Some firms ask for big cash payments up front for solar panels that never arrive. In April, renewable energy firm Daylight Energy went bust, owing customers over 1m in deposits, all of which was unsecured. While some customers have managed to recoup their money, many have not. Brian Thompson, a painter and decorator from Gateshead, lost 2,400 after a salesman from PV Solar UK promised him that after an initial outlay the profits from solar panels would boost his retirement pot. I told him I was due for retirement, he says. Theres no way I want to put a rope around my neck and borrow money. But the salesman promised that the 90-a-month outlay to pay for the panels would be offset by 120-a-month of savings. Brian Thompson was mis-sold on the potential savings he could make through installing solar panels - Lorne Campbell/Guzelian Convinced by the pitch, Mr Thompson took out a 7,000 loan from his bank that meant repayments of over 10,000 over 10 years. The firm, which went bust in 2017, installed solar panels on Mr Thompsons end-of-terraced house as promised. But the reality was that the loan repayments far outstripped the money he was making from the panels. Mr Thompson commissioned an independent survey which showed that it would take more than 20 years to pay off the loan by selling electricity back to his supplier, National Grid. It was a pack of lies, he says. I was mis-sold. When I realised, I was gutted. Mr Thompsons bank eventually wrote off the loan, but only after he had spent 2,400 on solicitors fees. He had to use equity release on his home to cover the cost. It affected my pension plans, he says. Mr Thompsons solar panels make him between 260 and 300 a year. But the saga has made him regret his purchase. I wouldnt recommend solar panels to anybody, he says. Tony Walch had a similar experience after having solar panels installed by MyPlanet, which went bust in 2017. He was told that installing the system would generate 35,000 of income over 20 years, and took out a 15,000 loan to pay for the installation. It sounded legit, he says. They told me Id be getting 1,500 to 2,000 a year back. After six months, it became clear he had been conned. I was absolutely fuming when I realised. We were getting nearer 700 to 1,000. The output was half what they said. And we had to pay 130 a month in repayments. They oversold it. To make matters worse, shoddy installation caused Mr Walchs panels to overheat after the inverter broke down. He was told by the salesman that the panels were covered by an insurance-backed guarantee approved by the Government, but when he phoned the insurance company, he found it had gone into liquidation. He took the company to court to get back the money he had borrowed. As the firm had gone bust, the court ordered his bank to write off the loan. But the repair work and lost FIT payments ended up costing him 2,526. Tony Walch found that the solar panels he installed on his home only generated half the returns he was initially promised - PAUL COOPER Mr Walch says he would avoid getting solar panels again if he had the chance. Its a lot of aggravation and hoo-ha. We still have companies coming round offering to service our panels and sell you batteries. I say Im not interested. Once bitten, twice shy. The Federation of Master Builders (FMB), a trade body, has urged households tempted by cheap deals to be cautious. Brian Berry, the FMBs chief executive, said: With homeowners looking to bring down bills ahead of the winter, cowboy builders are looking to take advantage of the situation by offering dodgy installation of green measures to homes, like solar panels. But with little jeopardy for cowboy builders, they will keep on plying their trade and fooling unsuspecting members of the public. The FMB has long called for builders to be licensed, so customers have a way of protecting themselves against poor practice. My advice to homeowners is to get a few quotes, look at previous work and be wary of a builder that can start straight away. Wendy Martin, director of National Trading Standards, a consumer protection body, said: Now more than ever, homeowners are looking at ways to install green energy products like solar panels and heat pumps in their homes but these are often mis-sold or retrofitted by criminals looking to exploit the good intentions of honest homeowners who want to reduce their carbon emissions. We need a joined-up approach working with regulators and other enforcement bodies that improves standards in the market and prevents criminality. A government spokesman said: The UK has one of the strongest consumer protection regimes in the world. However, we recognise just how infuriating this must be for the victims and are committed to ensuring people are protected from rogue traders. Local authorities have the power to investigate poor trading practices and enforce standards for building work like this. Breaches of these standards can lead to enforcement notices, prosecution and unlimited fines. 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. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the country on Saturday after declaring war against Palestine militant group Hamas earlier in the day. In his speech, Netanyahu vowed to destroy Hamas and forcefully avenge the attacks that have left more than 250 Israeli citizens dead and thousands injured. The group launched a surprise attack with a barrage of missile strikes and entered Israel, holding citizens and military members hostage. What happened today is unprecedented in Israel and I will see to it that it does not happen again, Netanyahu said in Hebrew. The entire government is behind this decision. The IDF will immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamass capabilities. Netanyahu condemned the attacks and murders, saying Israeli citizens were enjoying Shabbat and a holiday when the attacks occurred. This is an enemy that murders children and mothers in their homes, in their beds, an enemy that abducts the elderly, children and young women, that slaughters and massacres our citizens, including children, who simply went out to enjoy the holiday, he said of Hamas. Netanyahu also sent a warning message to residents of Gaza, saying, leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere. He added that Israeli forces will find all of the places Hamas members are hiding and turn them to rubble. Netanyahu praised the work of the police and military, who have been going community by community and house by house to expel any members of Hamas and restore control of the country. The Prime Minister said he spoke with President Biden and thanked him for his support after Biden pledged all appropriate means of support for the country. To all citizens of Israel, we stand together in this campaign. This war will take time. It will be difficult. Challenging days are ahead of us, Netanyahu said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The area around Thacker Pass, in the Nevada desert, is believed to contain the largest lithium deposits in the US In the high Nevadan desert near the Oregon border lies an enormous deposit of lithium, a metal that is essential in the production of electric car batteries. President Joe Biden wants to get it out of the ground. But its exploration is dividing communities which are usually on the same side of political arguments. Environmentalists and native people cannot agree on whether a new rush for this "white gold" should be supported or fiercely opposed. "The entire environmental community is split on this thing," says Glen Miller, who used to be on the board of local environmental charity Great Basin Resource Watch, which is opposed to mining. In March, the diggers moved into a stunningly beautiful area called Thacker Pass, 4,000ft (1,219m) above sea level. It was formed by an ancient volcano and has sagebrush valleys ringed by desolate mountain tops. After years of legal battles, Lithium Americas had finally won its bid to mine the area. The location of the Thacker Pass Project highlighted on a map Mr Biden has said explicitly that he wants the US to be the world leader in electric cars - and wants the lithium that is key to making them to be mined in the US. Last year he said that America had to import "close to 100%" of its lithium from countries like Australia, Chile and China. But some environmentalists say mining more lithium is the wrong approach. Split opinions "Mining operations are in fact very damaging to the environment. And we've got to be very careful how we permit these things," says John Hadder, director of Great Basin Resource Watch. "We can reduce demand for minerals by just changing habits. One thing I'm really concerned about is that we're losing an opportunity to do other things to address climate change," he says. The mine has created fractures within Mr Hadder's group. Mr Miller resigned from its board last year after coming out in support of the mine. "I just think that climate change is so important, and lithium is so important for electrifying the transportation industry," he says. Mr Miller is a former academic at the University of Nevada. Some of his research has been partly funded by Lithium Americas, but he denies that has anything to do with his stance on the mine. "[Some] environmentalists will say we should drive less, we should not use anything that requires us to pull these metals up. Nobody's going to do that," he says. James Clayton (l) speaks to Tim Crowley Tim Crowley, vice-president of government affairs at Lithium Americas, says he considers himself an environmentalist. He has been a mining advocate for the last two decades in Nevada - and has been in many a scrap with environmentalists who oppose mining projects. And the division is not exclusive to environmentalists. BBC iPlayer BBC Click: Going electric Lara Lewington visits Bentley to discover how it is making the shift to electric, and James Clayton visits a community divided by Lithium mining. Watch on BBC iPlayer now (UK only) BBC iPlayer 'It should be a historical site' Sentinel Rock is nicknamed Nipple Rock by some locals because of its unusual formation. Every year a group called The People of the Red Mountain come here to remember their ancestors - who they say were murdered at Thacker Pass. The Shoshone-Bannock and Paiute tribes believe this area is on the site of an atrocity in 1865. "The US Cavalry chased the people into this area right here where the mine is being dug up at the moment. And they were massacred by the US Cavalry," says Ka'ila Farrell-Smith, a member of The People of the Red Mountain. "It's a tragedy, it should be a historical site unfortunately, the corporations didn't hear that," she says. Tribe members gather by Sentinel Rock in Thacker Pass The objection is that although the land is owned by the Bureau of Land Management, the tribes say it has been stolen from local people and that local members should get to decide how it is used. Lithium Americas argues there is not evidence the massacre happened on the site - and has won in court. Mr Crowley also points out that some local native Americans are already working on the mine and support the project - something Ka'ila accepts too. This is an incredibly remote area - well-paid jobs are a rare thing. But the history of colonialism for people like Ka'ila is still raw. Ka'ila Farrell-Smith at Sentinel Rock She believes the Thacker Pass mine is a textbook example of "green colonialism" - the notion that once again native people are being ignored, this time in the name of preventing climate change. "These aren't the people flying all around the world in jets. It's unfair," she says. 'There has to be more' The mine itself is still in its infancy. Lithium will not be produced here until at least 2026 - and will go to General Motors. The worry that the People of the Red Mountain have now is that this mine is just the beginning. There is a lot of lithium here, and there are several companies hoping to mine it. Mr Crowley is pretty open about Lithium Americas' ambitions for the area. "There has to be more [lithium] in the United States if it's going to be self-sufficient. There has to be more, there has to be more development," he says. If he is right, the whole area, of stunning natural beauty, could be tarnished by lithium mines - and all in the name of saving the planet. U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, right, and Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alicia Barcena during a meeting on security at the National Palace in Mexico City on Oct. 5, 2023. (Marco Ugarte / Associated Press) The Biden administration has been dedicating a significant amount of time to its prickly ally and neighbor to the south, Mexico. High-level meetings have taken place in both countries over the last two weeks, with the two sides speaking of their determination to cooperate on vexing issues including migration and cross-border smuggling of fentanyl and weapons. But even as Americas top diplomat, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, extolled what he judged to be the countries closest cooperation in decades, Mexicos president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, was excoriating the U.S. for its foreign policy. Late last month, as Mexico's Foreign Secretary Alicia Barcena met with Blinken in Washington ahead of his arrival in Mexico City last week for more talks, Lopez Obrador condemned the U.S. for spending billions of dollars on the war in Ukraine, saying it dwarfs what is allocated to address poverty in Latin America, a root cause of migration. The Mexican president went on to urge the Biden administration to stop harassing free and independent countries with economic embargoes and sanctions, a reference to Venezuela and Cuba, whose autocratic governments President Biden refused to invite to last years Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles. Mexico, with friendly ties to Caracas and Havana, criticized that decision, and Lopez Obrador boycotted the hemispheric gathering. Lopez Obradors rhetoric is part of a well-worn playbook. Even if the timing might seem inopportune, he often takes a nationalistic, anti-American stance, particularly during election season. Mexico holds presidential elections next year, and while Lopez Obrador is barred from seeking reelection, he intends to promote his handpicked successor. Read more: U.S. presses for cooperation from Mexico on fentanyl, but results are mixed U.S. officials have become accustomed to Lopez Obradors verbal barrages often delivered in his near-daily, hours-long news conferences that are broadcast live on Mexican television and radio and have taken pains to avoid criticizing him or his public statements. By most accounts, the Mexican president takes a very different and friendlier tone in private more business-like and less ideological. Meanwhile, U.S. officials have emphasized their attempts to work with a broader group of Mexican governmental counterparts. One of the hallmarks of our cooperation with the government of Mexico is the ability for all agencies and all of those at all levels to roll up our sleeves and get work done, a senior U.S. administration official said, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity. On Thursday, as he wrapped up meetings in Mexico City, Blinken and other U.S. officials said they were confident Lopez Obrador was a reliable ally in the fight against fentanyl, drug trafficking and illegal immigration. We have a very strong partner, and today we actually strengthened that partnership even more, Blinken said at a news conference in the ornate National Palace. He said he had no doubt that Mexico was committed to working collaboratively with the United States. And its not simply a commitment of words, as important as that is," Blinken said. "Its a commitment in deeds. Still, when the man at the top sets the tone, it can make getting that work done a little complicated. Lopez Obrador for months refused to acknowledge the magnitude of the fentanyl crisis or Mexicos role in it. Mexico is primarily a transshipment point, where traffickers use precursor chemicals from China to supply the synthetic opiate to the United States, where it is a leading cause of death for thousands of American adults ages 18 to 49, according to U.S. statistics. During Thursdays news conference, as a slate of senior U.S. officials looked on, Mexican officials contradicted each other on whether fentanyl is produced in Mexico or merely transshipped through the country. The Drug Enforcement Administration says it is produced in Mexico in clandestine labs, though some Mexican officials refute that assertion. It is very hard to factor in cooperation when the [Mexican] president sees the U.S. as a liability or potential threat, said Lila Abed, deputy director of the Mexico Institute at the Wilson Center, a think tank in Washington, who recently gave a closed-door briefing to members of Congress on U.S.-Mexico ties. She was alluding to the history of Washington intervention in Latin America and especially in Mexico, which has remained close to the surface in Mexican political consciousness. The U.S. is going to have a hard time establishing faith in security cooperation, she added. A product of 1970s Mexicos leftist, anti-imperialism movement, Lopez Obrador has a fiercely nationalistic belief in Mexican sovereignty that is influenced by a remembrance of past invasions, including from the U.S. But much of his public rhetoric is aimed at his political base to rally support among large labor unions, workers and voters. Within himself, there is ambivalence toward the U.S.; it pulls him in two directions, said Tony Payan, director of the Center for the United States and Mexico at Rice University. He doesnt like the dependence on the U.S. But Lopez Obrador also knows theres only so much he can do about it. The two countries are tightly intertwined economically, politically and culturally. Mexico is now the largest trade partner to the U.S., surpassing China last year. Mexico is also heavily dependent on tourism and on remittances from its nationals who work in the U.S. And so it is in the interest of both governments to keep cordial relations and strategic agreements afloat, Payan said. Yet the depth of Lopez Obradors commitment remains to be seen, he added. The Mexican presidents strategy is to shirk and drag his feet there are a lot of yeses without really doing too much, Payan said. The relationship is hobbling along," he said. "It is not smooth, but it is not broken. It is not working, but it is not kaput. But Mexican and U.S. officials insisted on praising the relationship on immigration and the fentanyl fight. Barcena, who joined the news conference with Blinken on Thursday at the National Palace, defended Lopez Obrador, saying he gave "very precise instructions" for "supporting and collaborating in everything that has to do with the production, trafficking, consumption of fentanyl." Blinken also gave an upbeat assessment as he wrapped up the talks, which also included Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas and Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland. More than ever before in my 30 years of being engaged in foreign policy, the United States and Mexico are working together as partners in common purpose, Blinken said. But the scale and scope of the challenges that we face is also unprecedented. And I think today we reflected on both of those facts the unprecedented partnership, but also the unprecedented challenges. Faced with surges in both fentanyl smuggling and the number of migrants attempting to enter the U.S., Blinken said the officials agreed on a series of steps including better monitoring and tracing of the chemical precursors that arrive from Asia, more dismantling of clandestine drug labs and sharing resources to treat addiction. On immigration, the most dramatic development was an announcement that the U.S., Mexico, Colombia and Panama had agreed to begin deporting Venezuelans to their home country, a reversal after hundreds of thousands from that nation have fled to neighboring countries and the U.S. While the officials were meeting in Mexico City, it was revealed that the Biden administration resumed construction of a portion of the southern border wall between the U.S. and Mexico, another reversal in practice. Officials said the administration was legally obliged to spend money appropriated for the project during the Trump administration. It was sour news for the Mexican government. "On my side, Im telling you that, of course, we are not in favor of anything of the sort," Barcena said in a rare point of open dispute with the Americans. "We believe in bridges, not in walls." Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Palestinians celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis on Saturday. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the border by air, land and sea, catching the country off-guard on a major holiday. (Hassan Eslaiah / Associated Press) Its hands largely tied, the Biden administration is weighing options for next steps in working with its longtime ally Israel, but aware that the traditional formulae for restoring calm in the volatile Middle East region no longer apply. Never has Israel suffered this number of casualties 700 dead at latest count in such a short period of time as in Saturday's surprise cross-border attack on civilians and military targets from the Gaza Strip by Hamas militants. It is a unique moment when Israeli casualties exceed those among the Palestinians incurred in numerous fights throughout the decades. At least four U.S. citizens were among the dead, U.S. officials said. Like the United States, world leaders Sunday urged restraint. But Israel will not be able politically or psychologically to back down yet. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed mighty revenge, and Israel is also confronted with the deadly dilemma of rescuing more than 100 hostages including some Americans seized by Hamas militants whose multi-front offensive against Israel launched on Saturday stunned the country and the world. This also leaves the United States in an awkward position. What can the United States do about this is, simply put, not much at this stage, said Martin Indyk, a former Middle East envoy and U.S. ambassador to Israel. I think President Bidens instinct is to put his arm around Netanyahu, reassure him of American support, and try to encourage some restraint, although thats likely to fall on deaf ears at this point. Read more: Photos: Israel continues to bombard Gaza after Hamas attack In addition to speaking with Netanyahu, Biden and his top diplomat, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, have held dozens of urgent telephone consultations in the last 24 hours with an array of Arab leaders, including those of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as well as with the West Bank-based Palestinian leadership, which is distinct from the Hamas militants who brutally attacked or kidnapped scores of civilians in Israel. Right now the entire focus is on supporting Israel, making sure that it has what it needs to deal with this attack from Hamas, to make sure that it has control over its own territory, and that it takes the necessary steps so that theres accountability, and to try to ensure, to the best of its ability, that this doesnt happen again, Blinken said on NBCs "Meet the Press." Challenged about what appears to have been a massive Israeli intelligence failure that did not anticipate the offensive, Blinken said Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by the U.S., European Union and Israel, was not involved in any of the talks over the conflict that have gone on in recent months. This may have left some of its planning undetected. The Gaza Strip, with 2 million residents, is essentially sealed off by Israeli armed forces on its northern, eastern and seaside borders, and by Egypt to the south. Surveillance in the extraordinarily densely populated area the size of a major U.S. city is considered among the most intense in the Middle East. Read more: Gov. Newsom vetoes bill banning caste discrimination in the workplace, housing and beyond However, experts say, Israel has been distracted for most of the year. Violence has spread in the other Palestinian territory, the West Bank, with Palestinian militant groups springing up and repeated cases of Jewish settlers rampaging bloodily through Palestinian villages. Netanyahus right-wing government the most extreme in Israeli history has expanded Jewish settlements in the West Bank, which most of the world considers illegal, and all but destroyed Palestinian, and U.S., hopes for an independent state. At the same time, some of Netanyahu's more controversial policy moves, such as gutting the Israeli judiciary, have triggered massive protests across the country. Demonstrators have included members of the tough, loyal military, and in some cases, reservists have said they would not report to duty out of protest. There has been "the sense that this was a dysfunctional government of the far right that placed greater emphasis on protecting settlers in the West Bank than it did on protecting kibbutzniks on the border with Gaza," Indyk, speaking in a teleconference sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations, said. Kibbutzim, farms and villages in Israel that border Gaza were the principal targets of Hamas attackers and scenes of most lives lost. Israel's next steps could include a massive assault on Gaza and possibly a full-on invasion, 18 years after Israel withdrew from the desolate, impoverished zone. Already Israeli air strikes have leveled a number of Gaza high-rise residential buildings. But the presence of civilian hostages that Hamas has hidden away in Gaza will complicate how Israel proceeds. Most analysts agree that Iran has played a major background role in this conflagration. U.S. officials said they could not say for certain that Tehran had direct participation but it certainly has financed, trained and encouraged Hamas. "There is no doubt that Hamas has been funded, equipped and armed by Iran," a senior administration official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity said. "Hamas would not exist without Iran's support over the years and decades." In Washington, Biden's Republican opponents are seeking to blame his recent dealings with Iran, which secured the release of five U.S. citizens from Iranian jails while unfreezing $6 billion in Iranian oil revenues, for emboldening the Islamic Republic and leading to the attack on Israel. Administration officials say that equation is absurd. "Let's be clear: The deal to bring U.S. citizens home from Iran has nothing to do with the horrific attack on Israel," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. "Not a penny has been spent, and when it is, it can only go for humanitarian needs like food and medicine. Anything to the contrary is false." Iran's lurking in the background, nevertheless, threatens to expand the conflict beyond Israel and Gaza. Already, a brief skirmish took place overnight between northern Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants based in Lebanon. The two parties waged a war in 2006 that led to a temporary Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon. Iran also hopes to scuttle U.S.-backed efforts to open relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a highly prized development that would recast Middle East dynamics. "Hamas wants to prevent a broader peace in the region," former U.S. envoy for the Middle East, Dennis Ross, said on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter. "Israel will respond in an unprecedented way to what has been their 9/11. Hamas knew that, but cares little about the consequences for Gazans." Administration officials are also concerned about the current paralysis of the U.S. House of Representatives, without a speaker following the ouster of Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), which could complicate authorizing additional aid for Israel. The U.S. is also without an ambassador in Israel, with Biden's nomination of former Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew awaiting confirmation in a Senate where Republicans have slow-walked hundreds of Biden appointments. The Pentagon on Sunday, meanwhile, announced it was moving craft, including an aircraft carrier and guided-missile cruiser, into the Mediterranean to "bolster regional deterrence efforts." The U.S. will also provide Israel with additional equipment including munitions and other materiel that will "begin moving today and arriving in the coming days," the Pentagon said. Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed the nation's first law banning four "toxic" chemical food additives found in popular drinks, baked goods, candy and snacks. One of the substances, red dye No. 3, is used to color some candies, including pink and purple Peeps. (Haven Daley / Associated Press) California became the first state in the nation to prohibit four food additives found in popular cereal, soda, candy and drinks after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a ban on them Saturday. The California Food Safety Act will ban the manufacture, sale or distribution of brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben and red dye No. 3 potentially affecting 12,000 products that use those substances, according to the Environmental Working Group. The legislation was popularly known as the "Skittles ban" because an earlier version also targeted titanium dioxide, used as a coloring agent in candies including Skittles, Starburst and Sour Patch Kids, according to the Environmental Working Group. But the measure, Assembly Bill 418, was amended in September to remove mention of the substance. Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills), who authored AB 418, hailed the move as a "huge step in our effort to protect children and families in California from dangerous and toxic chemicals in our food supply." Gabriel said the bill won't ban any foods or products but will require food companies to make "minor modifications" to their recipes and switch to safer ingredients. The use of the chemicals has already been banned in the European Union's 27 nations as well as many other countries due to scientific research linking them to cancer, reproductive issues, and behavioral and developmental problems in children, Gabriel said. Read more: So long, red dye No. 3? Why lawmakers want to cancel a chemical found in your Skittles and strawberry Yoohoo But the National Confectioners Assn. blasted Newsom's decision to sign the bill, saying it will undermine consumer confidence and create confusion around food safety. In a statement, the association said the law "replaces a uniform national food safety system with a patchwork of inconsistent state requirements created by legislative fiat that will increase food costs." Theyre making decisions based on soundbites rather than science," the statement said. "We should be relying on the scientific rigor of the FDA in terms of evaluating the safety of food ingredients and additives. Many major brands and manufacturers including Coke, Pepsi, Gatorade and Panera have voluntarily stopped using the additives because of concerns about their affect on human health. Brominated vegetable oil was previously used in Mountain Dew, but Pepsi Co. has since stopped using it in the beverage. It is still used, however, in generic soda brands such as Walmarts Great Value-branded Mountain Lightning. Propylparaben and potassium bromate are commonly found in baked goods. Red dye No. 3 is used by Just Born Quality Confections to color pink and purple marshmallow Peeps candy, according to Consumer Reports. What were really trying to get them to do is to change their recipes, Gabriel told The Times in March. All of these are nonessential ingredients. Read more: Skittles 'unfit for human consumption,' California lawsuit claims The law will take effect Jan. 1, 2027, and impose fines of up to $10,000 for violations. This is a milestone in food safety, and California is once again leading the nation, said Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group, which co-sponsored the bill along with Consumer Reports. The law could affect food across the country, Cook said, because the size of California's economy might prompt manufacturers to produce just one version of their product rather than separate ones for the state and the rest of the nation. A similar bill, which would ban the same four chemicals plus titanium dioxide, is making its way through committee in the New York Legislature. The chemicals banned by the new state law haven't been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration for 30 to 50 years, if ever, consumer advocates said. But the FDA told The Times in May that it monitors and authorizes the use of food ingredients to ensure they are safe. All the substances in California Bill 418 have been evaluated by the FDA, the agency said in a statement. When we identify new data and information that indicates the use of an ingredient is unsafe, we take steps to protect public health which can include revoking authorizations or approvals for certain uses, working with industry on voluntary market phase-out agreements and recalls, issuing alerts and informing consumers. Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger also endorsed the bill as "common sense" in his daily Pump Club Newsletter. 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. Mourners construct an impromptu memorial on Oct. 6, 2023, at the site of a Russian missile attack in the village of Hroza, near Kharkiv, Ukraine. (David Guttenfelder/The New York Times) Im 66 years old. During my life, the United States has sent our military to fight and die in many countries. Ukraine has been emphatic that it will fight its own fight, but it needs the weapons and supplies to do so. Its position is unique in that regard. Russian President Vladimir Putin is counting on the Wests support to falter. There is a reason that the first country Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited outside of Ukraine after the war began was the U.S. The U.S. leads the West. If the U.S. turns its back on Ukraine and Putins conquest is allowed to succeed, the results will be catastrophic. Advertisement There will be genocide in Ukraine and no means to prevent that from occurring. The Baltic states will be next on Putins list, which will inevitably lead to NATO being drawn directly into the conflict. China is watching closely and will feel emboldened to move on Taiwan. All of this will eventually cost American blood. I send money to help feed refugees from this war, and I have no problem paying for weapons and materials that will help Ukrainians defend their country. I expect members of Congress to show some political courage and provide support for Ukraine. Advertisement Thats 40 million people who need our help. There is nothing great about turning our backs on them. Phil Sullivan, South Bend, Indiana Lets avert a repeat of history Regarding About Aid for Ukraine (Oct. 4), an excerpt of an editorial by the New York Daily News Editorial Board: In his 1905 book The Life of Reason, the Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana, stressing the need to learn the lessons from the past if the world is to make progress, wrote, Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. On Sept. 30, 1938, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and the Allies surrendered the Sudetenland (now Czech Republic) to Germany because Adolf Hitler gave his pledge that there would be no war. On Sept. 1, 1939, Hitlers Germany invaded Poland. In 1948, speaking to the British House of Commons, British leader Winston Churchill paraphrased Santayana: Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. On Feb. 20, 2014, Russia occupied Crimea. What did the West the members of NATO do in response? A slap on Russias wrist of a few sanctions? Advertisement Was Putin satisfied with Crimea? On Feb. 24, 2022, Putins Russia invaded Ukraine. U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan and the Republicans need to be reminded of this lesson from history before they say no to aiding Ukraine. David Thiessen, Woodstock US doesnt have endless funds Our government is spending money, from a seemingly bottomless pit of taxpayer dollars, on financing the Ukraine war, as well as on the immigration crisis our government has created. At what point does that pit run out of money? What is the governments endgame here? Mike Rice, Chicago Advertisement Climate change affects us all The op-ed by Susan Atkinson (Climate change denial may be party deal-breaker for young conservatives, Sept. 29) is so important because it clearly shows why climate change must not be mischaracterized as a culture war issue. This is imperative not only for politicians but for media outlets as well, where polling is too often presented as a stand-in for facts. Special interests that oppose government action on climate change are eager to paint it as a partisan issue for their own short-term benefit. That must not be tolerated. Like it or not, emissions from fossil fuel burning are the chief cause of a steady buildup of heat in our atmosphere and oceans, a buildup that we now know can no longer be tolerated. Given the benefits that cheap energy has bestowed on our modern society, its an uncomfortable reality, but one we must face. Thoughtful young conservatives know this. Misleading the public by appealing to tribal loyalties is not only misguided but also downright immoral. The U.S. Treasury recently reported that damage from climate-fueled events from 2018 to 2022 cost us more than $617 billion. Wildfires in the West, extreme heat in the Southwest and Southern Plains, and increased flooding in the Southeast and coastal areas are already costing us billions in damages to infrastructure, labor and health. Instead of fueling partisanship, conservative institutions should focus on supporting solutions that align with their values. I was glad Atkinson mentioned the carbon fee and dividend concept, which does just that. By levying a fee on carbon-rich fuels as soon as they come out of the ground and then dispensing the proceeds equally to American taxpayers, this policy removes the need for government agencies to pick winners or losers; instead, it leaves those complex decisions up to the experts that populate private sector companies. Instead of risking taxpayer dollars on costly projects vulnerable to political manipulation and partisan attacks, it incentivizes private investors to risk theirs. Instead of dictating what kinds of products consumers can buy, it incentivizes sellers to offer products that minimize their exposure to carbon costs. And, above all, the household dividends ensure that the cost burden falls on the heaviest polluters, not the general public and certainly not low- and middle-income Americans who consume far less than the wealthy. Advertisement Young conservatives are on the right path by demanding honest, honorable climate solutions from their elected officials. Rick Knight, Brookfield Our nation needs a carbon tax Regarding Susan Atkinsons op-ed: Climate change is not just an issue for young conservative Republicans. The heating climate is affecting all of us regardless of our party, our state or our country. The smoke from forest fires hundreds of miles away in Canada or Montana coats everyones lungs and weakens our health. Only by working together can we implement the many ways that already exist to reverse this slow death. One big way that can involve all of us is to charge fossil fuel producers for the pollution their products send into our air and give the money to each one of us in equal shares to spend as we see fit. The consuming public is a big player in the free market. Id love to see a tax that offsets increased costs to most of us consumers and makes the polluters pay. Wouldnt you? Advertisement Mary Hansen, Northbrook Seek market-based solutions 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 > Susan Atkinsons op-ed highlights an important issue: Many policies promoted by the Republican Party currently echo Donald Trumps short-term transactional view of the world. Young voters do not have the luxury of taking a short-term view and need long-term solutions. They will be dealing with climate change long after Trump is gone. Market-based solutions such as a carbon fee and dividend program, along with a carbon border adjustment mechanism, are exactly what a conservative voter should find appealing as opposed to more subsidies and regulation. Climate change denial might garner votes today from older voters, but it bodes poorly for the long-term prospects for both the Republican Party and the world. Jonathan Berman, Elmhurst Join the conversation in our Letters to the Editor Facebook group. Advertisement Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. The deadly Hamas-led incursion into Israel should serve as a warning sign for America, GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley said Sunday, comparing Americas southern border with Mexico to Israels border with Gaza. We don't need to wait for another 9/11. You also look at the fact that, Kristen, America is incredibly distracted and incredibly divided and when America's distracted the world is less safe. And look at what happened to Israel. They waited for them to be distracted and that's when your enemies move in. America needs to wake up, Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told NBCs Kristen Welker during an interview on Meet the Press. The attack on Israel from early Saturday morning caught Israeli defenses off guard, in what some experts are describing as a catastrophic intelligence failure in an area where fighting is not uncommon. On Sunday, Haley tied Iran to the attacks on Israel and suggested Iran might also look to attack the United States across what she called an open border. I have been terribly worried about the fact that Iran has said the easiest way to get into America is through the southern border. We have an open border. People are coming through; they're not being vetted, Haley said. Israel is the front line of defense for the Iranian regime and terrorists that want to hurt us and want to hurt our friends and we need to be honest with the American people about that, she added later. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley pushed back Sunday after Secretary of State Antony Blinken insisted that the Biden administration does not have any evidence of Iran's direct involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Candidates running for the GOP's 2024 nomination on Saturday pointed fingers at the Biden administration for Hamas deadly attack against Israel. Several have insinuated, without evidence, that the attack is funded by the administrations prisoner exchange with Iran. The administration informed Congress last month that it had issued a waiver to give Tehran access to $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue that U.S. sanctions had blocked, according to a State Department document sent to Congress and obtained by NBC News. Notably, Haley, who was the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in the Trump administration, did not join most of her Republican rivals in explicitly blaming the Biden administration for Hamas' attack Saturday. She did, however, directly criticize it in an interview Sunday on NBC News Meet the Press. Do you think it was irresponsible of your rivals to level that allegation without any evidence or proof? NBC News' Kristen Welker asked. Haley said: I actually think it was irresponsible for Secretary Blinken to say that the $6 billion doesnt weigh in here. I mean, lets be honest with the American people and understand that Hamas knows and Iran knows theyre moving money around as we speak, because they know 6 billion is going to be released. Thats the reality. Haley then claimed that when she was the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. she went to the International Atomic Energy Agency and heard that funds the Obama administration had authorized for Iran were sent to militant groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. They go and spread terrorism every time they get $1, she said. It doesnt go to the Iranian people. It does go to terrorist attacks, and Secretary Blinken, its just wrong to imply that this money is not being moved around as we speak. In a separate interview earlier on "Meet the Press," Blinken was asked whether Iran played a role in Hamas attack, which came amid talks among the U.S., Saudi Arabia and Israel about a potential landmark agreement to normalize relations. We dont have anything that shows us that Iran was directly involved in this attack, in planning it or carrying out, but thats something were looking at very carefully, he said. And weve got to see where the facts lead. However, Blinken did not reject the notion that the talks surrounding a potential deal to normalize relationships could have played a role: Its no surprise that those who are opposed to the talks, those who are opposed to Israel normalizing its relations with its neighbors and with countries beyond the region, are: Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. Reached for comment about Haleys remarks, the State Department pointed NBC News to Blinken's earlier remarks on "Meet the Press." Haley also warned that the U.S. should view Hamas' attack as a "wake-up" call, arguing that Iran could enter the U.S. through the southern border. She said: We have an open border. People are coming through. Theyre not being vetted. We dont need to wait for another 9/11. You also look at the fact that, Kristen, America is incredibly distracted and incredibly divided, and when Americas distracted, the world is less safe, she added. And look at what happened to Israel. They waited for them to be distracted, and thats when your enemies move in. America needs to wake up. The Biden administration has rejected Republicans argument that U.S. taxpayers are funding the $6 billion in oil revenue that Iran regained access to recently. All of the money held in restricted accounts in Doha as part of the arrangement to secure the release of 5 Americans in September remains in Doha. Not a penny has been spent, Treasury Undersecretary Brian Nelson tweeted. These restricted funds cannot go to Iran it can only be used for future humanitarian-related purposes. Any suggestion to the contrary is false and misleading. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson also said none of the money has been spent thus far. I cant comment on 2024 because of the Hatch Act. But I can clarify the facts: Not a single cent from these funds has been spent, and when it is spent, it can only be spent on things like food and medicine for the Iranian people, Watson wrote on X, formerly Twitter. These funds have absolutely nothing to do with the horrific attacks today and this is not the time to spread. (The Hatch Act limits executive branch employees political activities.) A senior administration official said: The ability to use these funds in Qatar will be tied directly to payment for bona fide humanitarian items food, agricultural commodities, medicine and medical devices only requests vetted and approved by Qatari banks and their European correspondents, who are themselves committed to sanctions compliance. No funds go into Iran ever. These funds will be used solely to provide essential humanitarian support to the Iranian people, with payment to vetted third-party vendors. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Russians shelled Kherson at night Dozens of people were injured, including a nine-month-old infant, in Russias massive, repeated shelling of Kherson and its suburbs on the right bank of the Dnipro River early on Oct. 8, Kherson Oblast Military Administration head, Oleksandr Prokudin, reported on Telegram. Russian forces repeatedly shelled Kherson neighborhoods throughout the night, injuring eleven city residents, including a 27-year-old woman and her nine-month-old daughter, who were hospitalized in stable condition. A Red Cross medic was also hospitalized with injuries and a concussion. Six people between the ages of 54 and 87 were hospitalized due to stress. Two others received first aid at the scene. Several buildings, numerous vehicles, and gas distribution networks were damaged in the attack. Read also: Documenting Russia's deadliest strikes against Ukrainian civilians Some shells did not detonate and had to be defused by emergency services. The village of Stanislav in the western part of Kherson Oblast was hit by Russian Grad rockets. The extent of the damage is still being assessed. 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 a case that could have momentous consequences for the states 674 school districts, a Superior Court judge has ruled that the state of New Jersey has systematically failed to address the problem of racial segregation that exists in its public schools. Judge Robert Lougy in Mercer County agreed with the plaintiff, the Latino Action Network, that the state has a duty to correct "de facto" segregation in schools meaning segregation that is not the result of official policy but his ruling issued Friday night stopped short of issuing orders or proposing a remedy. The ruling does not declare a clear winner in the case, meaning the next step is for the case to go to trial or into settlement decisions. The pretrial decision was based on facts, data and expert opinions presented by both parties. At the core of the lawsuit is the argument that chronic segregation in New Jersey schools is caused by the states residency laws, which, plaintiffs said, feed the staggering inequities between New Jerseys wealthy and poor districts by assigning schools based on a students ZIP code. Story continues below photo gallery. The plaintiffs noted that nearly 60% of Latino students in New Jersey attend schools with more than 80% non-white students, and that 66% of Black students attend schools where more than 75% of students are non-white. Path forward on a remedy The Latino Action Network welcomed the much-anticipated ruling in the case, which it brought against the state in 2018, joined by some children and parents from Paterson, Newark, Elizabeth, Hoboken and other urban districts, as well as the NAACP, the Latino Coalition, the United Methodist Church of Greater New Jersey, the Urban League of Essex County and two Jersey Shore school districts. The court agreed with us on two essential points, said attorney Lawrence Lustberg, who represented the Latino Action Network. One, New Jerseys schools are deeply segregated by race, and two, the state has a constitutional obligation to address this urgent problem. Lustberg said the court rejected most of the states defenses and provides a clear path forward for plaintiffs to obtain a remedy on their core legal claims that the state has violated the rights of students to equal protection, attend desegregated schools, and receive a thorough and efficient education under the states constitution. More: Will New Jersey desegregate its schools? Ruling in 2018 lawsuit expected More: Paterson's schools are decaying and are hurting kids and staff. How can they be helped? A spokesperson for the state Attorney General's Office, which argued the case on behalf of the Department of Education, said it was still reviewing the case and did not provide further comment. The court emphasized the unprecedented scope of the case. In the almost seventy years since the United States Supreme Court decided Brown v. Board of Education [a 1954 case that began the process of ending segregation in schools], no court at any level has concluded that an entire states educational system is unconstitutionally segregated, Lougy wrote, noting that these claims were logical and historic, given New Jerseys progressive track record on segregation. The lawsuit asked for the following: A ruling declaring that New Jerseys segregation of Black and Latino students is unlawful and that assigning students to public schools based on their municipality is unlawful because it causes segregation. A ruling that it is unlawful to require charter schools to prioritize enrolling students who live in-district. Enjoin or stop the practice of assigning students to public schools based on where they reside. Order the state Legislature and Education Department to adopt a replacement assignment methodology with a plan in three months. Pay attorneys' costs as permitted by law. Yet another generation 'being deprived' In his ruling, Lougy said the plaintiffs "fail to prove that the States entire educational system is unconstitutionally segregated" and that the data filed by the plaintiffs "does not demonstrate statewide unconstitutionality, across all districts, across all regions." However, he did not throw the case out, as requested by the state, saying the plaintiffs "have demonstrated marked and persistent racial imbalance in numerous school districts across the state that defendants actions, policies, programs, and inaction have failed to remedy." Segregation is abhorrent to New Jersey public policy; de facto segregation is prevalent and persistent across the State, Lougy wrote in his decision. New Jersey is obligated and empowered to minimize segregation, but it has intentionally failed in its responsibility to grant public school students the protection of state laws. Lustberg said the plaintiffs were evaluating all options, including a motion to appeal. If the case goes to trial or appeal, it could take several more years before the matter could be finally decided, he said. This is, in fact, the tragedy of this case: while we litigate, yet another generation of New Jerseys children are being deprived of their constitutional right to be educated in an integrated setting," said attorney Lawrence Lustberg, at left. This is, in fact, the tragedy of this case: While we litigate, yet another generation of New Jerseys children are being deprived of their constitutional right to be educated in an integrated setting," Lustberg said. "It is alarming that the state defends this status quo instead of trying to address the problem head on. The ruling mostly granted that racial segregation exists, but it did not grant the plaintiffs charge that the state had failed in its responsibility to address socioeconomic segregation, which refers to unequal treatment of students resulting from living in a high-poverty district compared with wealthier ones. Lustberg said his clients will consider appealing this ruling. The courts, he pointed out, denied the motion not on grounds that the plaintiffs had failed to prove that socioeconomic segregation exists, but on grounds that it is not a constitutional violation. The state had an attitude of helplessness and acted as if de facto segregation were inevitable, the ruling said. In its argument, the state tried to show that the number of white students enrolled in schools was decreasing and will continue to decrease. However, this was not a good enough reason not to address the high concentration of Black and Latino students in some school districts, Lougy ruled. The state argued that the Latino Action Network and the other plaintiffs could not prove that any constitutional violation had occurred and said "any disproportionality in a small number of school districts cannot and does not establish a statewide constitutional violation." Both parties relied on experts who conducted research and presented statistical evidence to support their claims. The plaintiffs argued that New Jersey has some of the most segregated schools in the nation and that the challenges of finding a remedy to the situation should not discourage the courts from finding the state liable for failing to fix the problem. The court ruled in favor of an intervening party, representing the state's public charter school association. The lawsuit brought by the Latino Action Network said charter schools, which mostly operate in districts with high concentrations of Latino and Black students, were contributing to segregation. The ruling denied this charge, saying that while charters contributed to segregation, they did not make it worse. "We are pleased that the court has affirmed that public charter schools do not contribute to segregation in New Jerseys public school system," the New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association said in a statement, noting that it worked to break "barriers" like race, culture, ZIP code and language. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ has failed to address persistent segregation in schools, judge rules Guided missiles and artillery shells from Lebanon pounded targets in Israel Sunday morning as war in the Middle East threatened to spin out of control. The militant group Hezbollahwhich is also a powerful political party in Lebanonclaimed responsibility for the attacks on a disputed territory in the north of Israel hours after President Biden had warned them not to get involved. Fighting continued in eight pockets in the south of the country on Sunday where the Israeli security forces were struggling to end the worst incursion into the country in 50 years. More than 600 people are dead on both sides with thousands more injured after an invasion launched by fighters from Hamas and Islamic Jihad who blew up border fences and poured into Israel on Saturday on motorbikes, boats and motorized paragliders after launching thousands of rocket and drone attacks. The invaders gunned down hundreds of Israeli soldiers, civilians and even revellers at a peace festival before snatching dozens of hostages and taking them back to Gaza. Hamas has reportedly claimed that more than 150 hostages were seized but that number is not confirmed. What is known is that whole families, women and children were among those being held on Sunday as terrified relatives begged and cried for their release in heart-wrenching social media posts and television interviews. The Day Israel Changed Forever Israels initial military response was slowwith reduced numbers on shift for a major Jewish holidaybut by Saturday night and into Sunday morning Gaza was being pounded by revenge strikes which have killed more than 300. Sunday morning brought more attacks on Israel with Hezbollah firing dozens of missiles at Israeli military outposts in Shebaa Farms, a disputed region captured by Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967. Hezbollahs attack signified their support for the Hamas uprising and raised fears that the militant group, which is backed by Iran, may return to full hostilities against Israel. The Lebanon war between the two forces in 2006 killed more than 1,000 Lebanese people and 165 Israelis. Biden had specifically called on groups such as Hezbollah to stay out of the conflict during an address on Saturday night. Let me say this as clearly as I can: This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks, he said. Hezbollahs response came early Sunday. The Israel Defense Force (IDF) responded to the Hezbollah attacks with armed drone strikes that hit targets in another disputed region near the borders of Israel, Lebanon and Syria. Israeli military insiders told The Daily Beast earlier this year that co-ordination between Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah was growing and risked spilling over into a war on Israeli soil. Israel is on the brink and facing the abyss, said Assaf Orion, a Brigadier-General in the IDF reserves, in May. Sources warned that Israels treatment of Muslims and their holy sites was sparking increased low-level attacks which were being co-ordinated between the militant groups and other Iranian proxies to an unprecedented extent. New Anti-Israel Axis Pushes Netanyahu to Brink of War In April, rockets were launched from Lebanon in response to the brutal invasion of Jerusalems Al Aqsa Mosque. Israeli security forces stormed into the mosquewhich is considered the third most holy site in Islamand beat worshippers. Hamas called Saturdays assault on Israel Operation Al Aqsa Storm. The Israeli authorities and security forces are under huge pressure for allowing hundreds of fighters to march in from Gaza on Saturday largely unopposed. Israeli critics have asked why Benjamin Netanyahus hard-right coalition was unaware that Hamas was preparing the most significant co-ordinated attack on Israel for decades. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli army spokesman, was pressed on how the IDF could have been caught so catastrophically off guard, he repied: That's a good question. 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. Oil and gas operators were put on notice that state regulators in New Mexico planned to redouble efforts to enforce air pollution restrictions, using a combination of satellite, air and on-the-ground monitoring this month. The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) said Thursday it found only 50 percent of oil and gas facilities in the state complied with the agencys air quality regulations between July 2022 and July 2023, after new rules were enacted last year. These called for more stringent leak detection and monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by oil and gas facilities throughout New Mexico, chemicals that form cancer-causing ground-level ozone also known as smog. More: Can smaller tremors protect New Mexico from oil and gas earthquakes in Permian Basin? The rules were designed to curb New Mexicos ozone pollution, and avoid a federal designation being considered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to list the entire Permian Basin in southeast New Mexico and West Texas in violation of national air standards. Several counties in New Mexico showed ozone levels near or higher than the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS), NMED reported Thursday, potentially triggering federal action to restrict future oil and gas production. The NAAQS set a limit 70 parts per billion (ppb) limit on ozone, and Eddy County in the Permian Basin region had an average concentration of 78 ppb in 2020, and 77 ppb in 2021 and 2022. More: Permian Basin oil production dips although projections show growth in coming years Neighboring Lea County was at 68 ppb in 2020 and 66 ppb in 2021 and 2022. San Juan and Sandoval Counties in the San Juan Basin both had concentrations ranging from 68 and 70 ppb during those three years. Those rural oilfield counties rivaled the air pollution of New Mexicos denser, urban areas with Bernalillo Count ranging from 71 to 73 ppb between 2020 and 2022, records show, and Dona Ana County ranging from 78 to 81 ppb during that same time frame. More: New Mexicans call for end of oil and gas during United Nations climate summit But operators continued to flout state and federal guidelines, said NMED Cabinet Secretary James Kenney, necessitating stronger action from the State to seek out and punish violators. Thats why NMED recently issued large fines to several oil and gas companies that operate throughout the state in both of its fossil fuel regions. This included the states biggest-ever air pollution fine, about $42.3 million levied against operator Ameredev II in July for violations at multiple facilities in Lea County. More: How 'green' is New Mexico really? Do recent oil and gas reforms go far enough? Despite record fines levied and collected against the oil and natural gas industry many operators are not taking compliance with federal and state air quality rules and permits seriously," Kenney said in a statement. New Mexico Environment Secretary James Kenney said surveillance testing used by supermarkets is a proactive approach to fighting COVID-19 in New Mexico. Starting in October, NMED planned to increase its collection of air monitoring data from the Permian Basin and in the northwest San Juan Basin where air quality also drew concerns amid heavy natural gas production. Violators could be referred to the EPA and U.S. Department of Justice, Kenney said, for further enforcement actions potentially leading to fines and revocation of permits extraction companies need to operate. More: Oil drilling could be blocked from southeast New Mexico cave system. Here's how to object. New Mexicos Environmental Crimes Task Force could also be called on to address any believed criminal activity associated with air pollution from oil and gas, read an NMED news release. Companies can perform self-audits and report any known violations to the State, but NMED Compliance and Enforcement Director Bruce Baizel said thats not enough to ensure the industry truly follows the law. Given the poor compliance rates and rising ozone levels, there are far too few company audits and self-disclosures occurring within the oil and natural gas industry in New Mexico, he said. More: $1.2 billion in Permian Basin oil and gas assets sold to Vital Energy as region leads US Oil and gas industry supporter Power the Future questioned the tighter state regulations as likely raising the industrys operational costs, and thus the price of energy for New Mexico and American consumers. The groups Santa Fe-based spokesperson Larry Behrens contended gas prices paid at the pump were more than 50 percent higher than before Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham took office in 2019, bringing with her increased environmental priorities. Its clear Gov. Lujan Grishams Environment Department is more concerned with getting money than getting things right, Behrens said. More: Dallas-based LM Energy shifts focus to Permian Basin natural gas amid regional growth He pointed to record-setting revenue drawn to the States coffers by the oil and gas industry this year, after New Mexicos Legislative Finance Committee reported in September that the states General Fund rose to $11.6 billion in Fiscal Year 2023. The LFC project the General Fund would rise to $12.6 billion in FY 2024, and $13.1 billion in FY 2025, attributing the growth largely to booming oil and gas production. New Mexicos energy industry already provides billions to Santa Fe but its clear the Lujan Grisham administration has an insatiable appetite for more money, Behrens said. Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: State reports half New Mexico oil drillers violate air quality rules Editors Note: Frida Ghitis, a former CNN producer and correspondent, is a world affairs columnist. She is a weekly opinion contributor to CNN, a contributing columnist to The Washington Post and a columnist for World Politics Review. The views expressed in this commentary are her own. View more opinion on CNN. Millions of Israelis were jolted awake on Saturday by the sounds of explosions and blaring emergency sirens. The Palestinian group Hamas had launched an unprecedented assault on the country hours after the 50th anniversary of what Israelis call the Yom Kippur War and Arab countries call the October 6 War. Frida Ghitis - CNN It promptly became clear that the highly organized attack by land, air and sea would turn into a terrorist rampage. Iran-backed Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza strip since 2006, tightening its grip in 2007 when it expelled its Palestinian rivals Fatah in brief internal war, launched thousands of rockets as its operatives infiltrated Israeli territory using motorcycles, trucks, paragliders, and speedboats. Inside Israel, they went after soldiers and civilians, even posting videos on social media, as the world saw evidence of how they targeted, hunted down, and brutalized Israelis of all ages. Many were kidnapped and taken to Gaza and dragged through the streets. Theres much that Israel has done wrong. But nothing justifies what Hamas has just perpetrated. As many knowledgeable people have pointed out, what Hamas has done is clearly an act of terrorism, no matter what your definition. Few Israelis miss the irony that Gaza, the territory from which it withdrew in 2005, is the launchpad for such deadly attacks. Israel and Egypt, Gazas neighbors, have imposed a blockade of the territory. But there is no occupation of Gaza, which is now in the hands of Hamas, a terrorist group spun off from the Muslim Brotherhood, with a charter committing it to the destruction of Israel. On Saturday, Israelis huddled in fear as news spread that heavily armed Hamas gunmen were roaming the south of the country, indiscriminately killing men and women and kidnapping adults and children, taking many of them to Gaza. CNN and others authenticated many of the videos. In one, geolocated by CNN to a Gaza neighborhood, gunmen open the trunk of a car and pull out a terrified woman barefoot, with her wrists cable-tied behind her back and move her into the backseat. In another video, geolocated by CNN to southern Israel, near Gaza, Hamas militants are seen taking Israelis captive. Social media has become a horror show of terror and viciousness, with images of dead bodies and frightened women and children, some of them already in captivity. Israels Channel 12 spoke to Israelis in communities where they said Hamas militants were trying to break into their homes. In the report, a man in a southern Israel kibbutz, an agricultural community, said his wife and children disappeared, and he tracked her phone to Khan Younis, in Gaza. There was no answer to his calls, and he said he feared his wife and children had become hostages. In the border town of Sderot, a frequent target of Hamas rockets over the years, an Associated Press photographer captured the bodies of at least six people, who were killed while standing under one of the reinforced bus shelters. By Saturday evening, with rockets injuring civilians as far north as Tel Aviv, Israeli media reported at least 300 dead and more than 1,400 wounded, with an unknown number taken hostage and prisoners of war. Its one of the deadliest days in Israels history, and a security failure reminiscent of both 9/11 and Israels 1973 calamity. As Israel sought to stop Hamas attacks, and launched retaliatory air strikes on targets in Gaza, the casualties started to mount among Palestinians, as well. At least 232 Palestinians have been killed and a further 1,697 have been wounded, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Israeli airstrikes also targeted Hamas offices in Gaza City. After warning it was going to fire, as it usually does, Israel flattened a 14-story building. As always, Palestinian civilians will pay a steep and tragic price. Hamas leaders say theyre ready for the worst-case scenario, fully aware of what they deliberately unleashed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the obvious when he told Israelis the country was at war. When this ends, Netanyahu and top Israeli security officials will have to reckon with the stunning failure of intelligence and basic defensive preparations. This disaster is occurring at a time of deep political fractures in Israel. The time will come for recriminations and the political consequences for this failure will be severe. But the priority is elsewhere now. Benny Gantz, a retired general and one of the opposition leaders, declared, in what he said was a message to Iran, The entire people of Israel are unitedThere is no coalition and opposition now. For now, Israel is dealing with the immediate threat. And soon, Israel will undoubtedly face withering condemnation, as it always does. So far, Israel has received solid support from many quarters. President Joe Biden spoke to Netanyahu, offering US support and assistance. Israel, Biden said, has a right to defend itself, reiterating that Americas support for Israels security is rock solid and unwavering. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unequivocally condemned the attack as terrorism in its most despicable form. French President Emmanuel Macron said I strongly condemn the current terrorist attacks, offering his solidarity. German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz said his country stands by Israel. The Dutch Prime Minister issued a statement saying he unequivocally condemns this terrorist violence and fully supports Israels right to defend itself. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed shock, vowing solidarity with Israel. Brazils foreign minister, calling for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council, expressed its solidarity with the Israeli people, saying theres no excuse for violence, especially against civilians. Ukraine declared its support for Israel in its right to defend itself and its people. Support for Israel, however, was hardly unanimous. Both Iran, the principal sponsor of Hamas, and Hezbollah, another Iran-linked terrorist organization committed to Israels destruction, praised Hamas. And Qatar, while calling for de-escalation and maximum restraint, said it holds Israel solely responsible for the ongoing escalation due to its ongoing violations of the rights of the Palestinian people. Saudi Arabia, which has been negotiating a potential diplomatic deal with Israel, also called for restraint and an immediate halt to the escalation between the two sides, but also appeared to blame Israel, although less directly than Qatar, citing the kingdoms repeated warnings of the dangers of the explosion of the situation The United Arab Emirates, the crown jewel of the Abraham Accords, called for maximum restraint and an immediate ceasefire. Social media, of course, was full of anti-Israel activists, already gearing up for what comes next. As sure as night follows day, Israel will retaliate, and millions around the world will blame Israel and the Jews ignoring what happened this bloody Saturday. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is extraordinarily complicated. But theres no denying that what happened on Saturday was an act of terrorism, one that deserves clear, unequivocal condemnation For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Fifty years ago, almost to the day in 1973, Egyptian and Syrian forces invaded Israel in a surprise attack on the holiest day of the Jewish year, Yom Kippur. Not only were many Israelis unprepared because they were in synagogue or otherwise marking the solemn fast day, but Israeli intelligence agencies had failed to take seriously the threat of an attack by Egypt, Israels largest neighbor and foe. The prevailing concept (known in Hebrew as the konceptzia) was that Arab armies would not undertake a war that they were not certain to win. This turned out to be a colossal mistake, as Egyptian and Syrian forces overwhelmed Israeli defenses for three days, inflicting heavy losses on the army and leading many to believe that Israels end had come. Read more: Israel and Hamas continue to battle, with at least 1,100 dead and warnings of a long war And now in 2023, a major enemy of Israel, Hamas, launched a stunning attack on a day marked by the convergence of the Jewish sabbath and the holiday of Simchat Torah (one of the most celebratory days in the Jewish calendar). Unlike in 1973, this attack was directed against civilians, as well as the military, and the results have been devastating. The death toll from the massacre is rising by the hour. Thousands of rockets were unleashed against Israel, reaching from the south of the country to the metropolitan center of Tel Aviv. More shockingly, Hamas militants easily overran Israeli defenses, invading military bases and 22 communities near the Gaza border; they went door to door looking for Jews to murder or kidnap back to the Gaza Strip. Every Israeli Jew and many Jews in the diaspora know someone who was harmed; at least three relatives of friends of mine were murdered, and three more kidnapped. While the timing and element of surprise hark back to 1973, the scope, sophistication and brutality of the Hamas assault were unprecedented. Israeli leaders have made amply clear that there will be a massive response, one that will be different from previous Gaza operations by orders of magnitude. Read more: News Analysis: Sudden war in Israel and Gaza upends region's diplomatic, political calculations Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised mighty vengeance for this black day. Given that prior Israeli military operations in Gaza have led, as did Operation Protective Edge in 2014, to thousands of deaths of Gazans and billions of dollars of property destruction, it is terrifying to imagine how many Palestinian lives will be lost and what, of Gaza, will remain intact. The impending military operation cannot mask the monumental failure of Israeli intelligence, perhaps greater in scale than 1973. It seems beyond belief, given Israels huge investment in human and electronic intelligence assets, that an attack of this size could not be readily detected, even weeks before being launched. As in 1973, this failure has torn off the veneer of Israeli invincibility. In the wake of the Yom Kippur War, the new awareness of Israeli vulnerability led to a major strategic recalibration, a shattering of the old paradigm of unavoidable hostility. Israel came to believe that achieving peace with its major enemy, Egypt, was a viable and necessary path forward. Egypt, for its part, had regained a measure of credibility following the 1967 War and now could consider talks with Israel. By 1978, the two countries entered into negotiations that yielded a peace treaty. Read more: Shock and stepped-up security in Southern California as Israel-Gaza battle rages Now, in the wake of the Hamas attack on Saturday, the newly exposed Israeli vulnerability could lead to its own strategic recalibration. The Palestinians do not pose a serious threat to the existence of Israel, but they can inflict grave damage on the Israeli body and psyche. They are not going to disappear. Nor are they going to surrender their claims to self-determination. And they are not going to give up the fight against Israels dehumanizing occupation of 56 years. One way forward is the path of vengeance declared by Benjamin Netanyahu. It will lead to further devastation and the rising up of a new generation of Palestinians intent on retribution, which will only retrigger the cycle of violence that has engulfed this region for a century. Vengeance will only lead to more vengeance. Sadly, it is the likeliest course. Another path forward, which requires bold and courageous leadership, is again breaking with the old paradigm of eternal enmity. It would entail recognition by Israel that it cannot batter Palestinians into submission, who deserve and must receive full rights as individuals and as a national collective. Bringing an end to the stranglehold of the occupation may be the best chance to break the cycle of violence. Today, it is very hard to imagine such a step in this moment of grief and rage. But one makes peace with ones enemies, not ones friends. And as far-fetched as it may seem, it was precisely this kind of rethinking that was perhaps the most important legacy of the Yom Kippur War. David N. Myers teaches Jewish history at UCLA, where he serves as director of the Luskin Center for History and Policy and the Initiative to Study Hate. 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. More than 115 decaying bodies were discovered at a "green" funeral home in southern Colorado, officials said Friday. The gruesome finding has led to investigations at both the state and federal levels. The bodies were found at the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, Colorado, after law enforcement was dispatched to the site following complaints of a foul smell emanating from the property. Investigators searched the funeral home and "determined that human remains were improperly stored inside the building," according to a press release from the Fremont County Sheriff's Office. Investigators didn't provide specific details about what was found at the funeral home. However, officials described the scene as "horrific," and Fremont County coroner Randy Keller said in a press conference that it would be a "very lengthy process." Keller added that the bodies were so decomposed that they'll need to be identified via DNA, which could take months. The owner of the funeral home, Jon Hallford, has since had his mortuary license suspended and is under investigation by the FBI and Colorado state authorities. The suspension notice from the Colorado Office of Funeral Home and Crematory Registration alleged that Hallford "attempted to conceal the improper storage of human remains" at the funeral home. The notice added that Hallford spoke to regulators and "acknowledged that he has a 'problem' at the property," and revealed that the building's registration as a funeral facility had expired last November. He additionally claimed that he "practiced taxidermy" at the site. No charges have been filed. The facility was part of a growing trend of environmentally friendly or "green" funeral homes. Its website describes this as "a return to the traditional way of burial," adding that it did not use embalming fluids or metal caskets. Bodies are buried in a "biodegradable casket, basket, shroud or even nothing at all," the website added. Over 100 Ukrainian citizens have asked Ukraines Embassy in Israel for help. The whereabouts of five Ukrainians in southern Israel have been confirmed. Source: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an evening address Quote: "The Ukrainian Embassy and the Israeli police are working together in every way possible to find out what is happening to Ukrainians who found themselves in the areas of hostilities and shelling. Unfortunately, the deaths of two Ukrainian citizens have been confirmed. My condolences to their families and friends. The Embassy of Ukraine in Israel, all our diplomats in this region, and the intelligence service are working around the clock to help all [Ukrainians] who need help. The Embassy has received more than 100 appeals from our citizens. The whereabouts of five [Ukrainians] in southern Israel have been confirmed. I once again ask all Ukrainian citizens in Israel: please be careful and follow the instructions of the local security forces." Details: Zelenskyy stressed that it is crucial that the world responds to the events in Israel "in the most principled way possible". "[N]ext week we will work together with our partners to ensure the unity of the world in the fight against terror. Various international events have already been planned. As always, the Ukrainian position will be in favor of unity and joint action," Zelenskyy concluded. 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! West Aurora School District expects to receive a payout of at least $350,000 as part of a national mass-action lawsuit against electronic cigarette manufacturer Juul and investor Altria Enterprises. (Ted Shaffrey/AP) West Aurora School District 129 expects to receive a payout of at least $350,000 as part of a national mass-action lawsuit against electronic cigarette manufacturer Juul and investor Altria Enterprises, district officials said. The West Aurora School Board recently approved a settlement agreement for two payouts - the first for approximately $271,000 and the second for an additional $80,000, according to West Aurora Assistant Superintendent of Operations Angie Smith. Advertisement The district expects to receive at least $350,000 through the settlement, Smith said. We were told to expect the first portion sometime this year. We are not sure how long the second payout will take, she said. Advertisement Part of the issue is that all participating school districts around the country have to sign off and approve the agreement, Smith said. Since this is a nationwide settlement, that could take a while, she said. She said West Aurora officials believe that the total the district will receive will likely increase somewhat as, per legal counsel, there were some set asides and contingencies built in that, if not used, will increase everyones payout. The agreement reads in part, Altria has concluded that resolving the claims settled under the terms of this settlement agreement is desirable to reduce the time, risk and expense of defending multiple claims and multiple-party litigations across multiple jurisdictions... The West Aurora School Board decided in 2020 to join the lawsuit as a way to fight back against student vaping based on the health repercussions of the activity. The lawsuit alleged the companys marketing campaign targeted young people. The use of e-cigarettes among youth has become a vaping crisis with public schools on the front line of fighting this epidemic, district officials have said. In addition, student vaping had reached a level that was monopolizing faculty time, officials said. We spend an awful lot of time chasing things early to dissipate things that have not been beneficial to the world, Smith told the West Aurora School Board prior to its decision to join the nationwide mass-action lawsuit. Advertisement The district has proposed to use the funds for programs supporting student safety and student-related issues, district officials have said. Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News. Official figures show that the death toll from Hamas large-scale attacks on Israeli settlements near Gaza has exceeded 600. Source: The Times of Israel with reference to the Ministry of Health Details: It is specified that among the killed are dozens of soldiers and police officers killed in action. The Ministry of Health also confirms that the number of wounded in hospitals has reached 2,048, including 20 in critical condition and 330 with injuries of moderate severity. The Times of Israel writes that the Israeli military continues to fight Palestinian militants in border settlements more than 30 hours after the assault. Background: Two Ukrainian women were killed in Israel, and measures are being taken to organise the repatriation of the bodies. 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. Sen. Tim Scott needed to show he could be aggressive and assertive. Scotts reputation as the nice person, a happy warrior with an optimistic message, has given him one of the best, if not the highest, net favorable ratings in early voting states heading into Republican presidential nominating contests. But despite being seen as widely liked, Scott has continued to poll in the single digits in Iowa and New Hampshire and even trails in a distant third place in Republican polls in his home state of South Carolina. So when he took the stage for the second GOP candidate debate late last month after a largely forgettable debate performance a month prior Scott changed his tone, showing he, too, could throw punches at the competition, balancing fiery moments and with an optimistic attitude. And this time around, Scott received better reviews. He seemed much more aggressive, said Robert Cahaly, the chief pollster for the Trafalgar Group. With the clock ticking to close the gap in the polls, the man who some believe is too nice to make it to the White House is showing signs of a more aggressive style, hoping to move closer to the GOP front-runner, former President Donald Trump the brashest candidate of them all. The question is whether Scott will be able to parlay his likability into support on enough ballots to come away with the Republican nomination. Scotts high favorable ratings South Carolinas junior senator has the highest net favorable rating among Republican candidates in early primary states, which his campaign has said shows he has the highest potential out of anyone in race. More than anything else, ballots are a lagging indicator that trails a candidates image and favorability, Scott campaign manager Jennifer DeCasper wrote in a memo to donors Sept. 20. How favorably a candidate is viewed shows you their ceiling and floor. What you see from these numbers is that more than anyone else in the field we have the most room to grow. Scott is polling in low single digits nationally. The nomination, however, isnt determined through a national primary, but through individual contests in individual states and Scott is doing better in early states where candidates have been heavily campaigning. In Iowa, his RealClearPolitics polling average is 6.8%. In New Hampshire, his polling average is 4.8%. Scott is doing better in his home state of South Carolina, where his polling average is 11%. On the campaign trail, Scott touts his personal roots of growing up in a single-parent household and pulling himself up by his own bootstraps, a positive personal story that conveys anyone can make it in America and that tends to resonate with conservative voters. He keeps an optimistic attitude and in the first presidential debate stayed out of the food fight that broke out while other Republican hopefuls took shots at one another. But it was that approach that led to him drifting into the background. Scott is fighting for support in a party that nominated a famously brash Trump in 2016 and 2020. In 2008, it was John McCains scrappy combativeness that helped him to the Republican nomination. Miles Coleman, associate editor of Sabatos Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said Republicans may have the mentality of liking Scott and his happy warrior persona, but they are looking for someone who will throw a punch or could own the libs. Republicans really like this idea of someone who is a fighter, whos going to go stick it to the Democrats for them, Coleman said. Trump, hes not afraid to name check people who he doesnt like. Hes not afraid to be unorthodox with his policy stances. During the Sept. 27 debate, Scott showed he could pick a fight and that hes willing to interject himself into conversations and talk over fellow candidates even when he wasnt called on by moderators. He was involved in several spats with Vivek Ramaswamy and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley , who appointed Scott to the Senate in 2012. Scott generally maintained his optimistic tone while also challenging Ramaswamy for saying all the other candidates are bought and paid for. When Scott spoke about money for the Ukraine war and degrading the Russian military, Ramaswamy tried to interrupt. How about waiting for your turn to talk? Scott said to Ramaswamy. Scott took on Haley after she said he was part of the problem in Congress for not passing a budget on time. Scott, South Carolinas junior senator, shot back at Haley for calling for an increase to the states gas tax. (Haley had supported increasing the gas tax if it went along with an income tax cut.) Scott criticized Haley for the $52,000 curtains, purchased under the Obama administration, that hung in her condo in New York when she was ambassador to the United Nations. Did you send them back? Scott said. Did you send them back? Youre the one who works in Congress, Haley retorted. What do voters think of Scotts style? S.C. state Rep. Brandon Newton, R-Lancaster, who serves as the chief S.C. House majority whip, is backing Scotts campaign. I think its safe to say there is no one that does not like Sen. Scott. I havent sensed any acrimony or displeasure, thats for sure, Newton said. (Scott) has a way of putting our principles and values in an optimistic point of view, Newton added. I think it adds something that is missing in politics, is that we dont speak of optimism anymore. I think hes a happy warrior whos able to take what we believe and sell it in a way that makes you hopeful for the future. Ahead of the last debate, voters who werent supporting Scotts candidacy at least found him likable. Many voters do like his personal story of coming from a single-parent household, starting his own business and working his way up to the U.S. Senate. I think hes a good guy. (He) certainly came from humble beginnings. Its the great American story, but I think its too soon for him, said Fran Gunkel, of Summerville, who said she is supporting Trumps candidacy because of the former presidents toughness. But asked if she thought Scott possessed that toughness characteristic, Gunkel had an unsure expression on her face. Its OK to say hes optimistic and whatever. Im not sure hes as tough as nails as he needs to be, Gunkel said. Donna Martin, of Anderson, shared similar concerns. He is very nice. I dont think he has the chutzpah, Martin said in an August interview. Martin, however, watched the second debate and had a better review. He knew what he wanted to say, I liked what he said, I agreed with what he said, and he was forceful, Martin said. He spoke up for himself, which is good. Funeral of a Palestinian who was killed in an Israeli settlers' attack, near Nablus Funeral of a Palestinian who was killed in an Israeli settlers' attack, near Nablus By Raneen Sawafta HUWARA, West Bank (Reuters) -A Jewish settler killed a 19-year-old Palestinian during a settler attack on the occupied West Bank town of Huwara on Friday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. Residents said a group of settlers had erected a tent in Huwara, held prayers and later marched through the town. Some of them were carrying arms and began vandalising shops and cars, they said. One of the settlers shot university student Labib Dumaidi, who later died of his wounds in hospital, the residents said. The Israeli military, offering a different account, said its forces fired at a Palestinian who had hurled a brick at an Israeli vehicle during clashes between dozens of settlers and townspeople. It said the suspect was struck by gunfire but did not elaborate on his identity. A military spokesperson said the military was unaware of any settler having fired a weapon during the confrontations. Violence again erupted later on Friday when hundreds of people attended Dumaidi's funeral under the watch of Israeli soldiers. The Palestinian Red Crescent said at least 51 Palestinians were wounded in clashes with the military during the funeral, mostly from tear gas and rubber-tipped bullets and three from live fire. In testimony Israeli human rights group Yesh Din collected from Dumaidi's family, relatives said he had been shot in the chest while standing on the roof of their home trying to ward off settlers who were hurling rocks at the house and vandalising the family's car. 'HEINOUS CRIME' The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned Dumaidi's killing as a "heinous crime" and called for international intervention to stop armed settler militias. In a statement, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, said he was "outraged by the continued incitement, provocations, and lack of accountability" for settler violence. Residents said Israeli soldiers had turned a blind eye to the settler attacks at the time of Dumaidi's shooting. "It's clear that the settler militias are protected by the occupation's soldiers," said Thaer Qawareeq, an employee at a supermarket damaged by the settlers, as his colleagues cleaned the pavement of glass shards. "This is the third time settlers shatter the supermarket's glass exterior." Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also holds some West Bank powers, said that Israel must take firmer action against Palestinian militants "to save lives and reinstate security." He spoke on a visit to a site in Huwara where, on Thursday, a suspected Palestinian gunman shot at a car carrying three members of an Israeli family who were unharmed. Israeli security forces tracked the suspect down and killed him. Smotrich added that he was committed to further developing Jewish settlements, which most countries deem as illegal. The West Bank, among the territories where Palestinians seek statehood, has experienced a surge of violence in recent months amid expanding Jewish settlements and an almost decade-old impasse in U.S.-sponsored peacemaking. In the first eight months of 2023, an average of three settler-related incidents occurred per day, the highest daily average of settler-related incidents affecting Palestinians since the United Nations started recording this data in 2006. Huwara is surrounded by settlements that cut off Palestinians from each other and from their land. Located on the main road connecting the northern city of Nablus to Ramallah and Jerusalem, the town has become the scene of repeated settler assaults on Palestinians, military restrictions and shooting attacks on Israelis. (Additional reporting by Ali Sawafta, Nidal al-Mughrabi, Maayan Lubell and Henriette Chacar; Editing by Cynthia Osterman, Gareth Jones and Rod Nickel) Demonstrators in New York waved Palestinian flags during the peaceful march from Times Square to near both the Israeli consulate and the United Nations headquarters, where the Security Council was to convene over the weekend's violence (Bryan R. Smith) Some thousand demonstrators on Sunday gathered in Manhattan in solidarity with Palestinians as pro-Israel marchers counter-protested following a bloody escalation in the Middle East conflict. The rallies followed Saturday's surge in violence that's killed hundreds and wounded thousands in the region, after militant group Hamas launched a deadly assault on Israel which responded by hammering blockaded Palestinian Gaza with heavy air strikes. Demonstrators in New York waved Palestinian flags during the peaceful march from Times Square to near both the Israeli consulate and the United Nations headquarters, where the Security Council was to convene over the weekend's violence. "We are here in solidarity with the Palestinian people who are fighting 75 years of Israeli settler colonialism, settler violence and 16 years of military blockade of Gaza," said Munir Atalla, a 30-year-old member of the Palestinian Youth Movement group, which was among the demonstration's organizers. "What we saw yesterday was the people of Gaza breaking out of their open-air prison," he continued. "It's impossible to view the events of this week, without first understanding the context that the Israeli regime is founded on violence... it's founded on the erasure and annihilation of Palestinians." - Counter-demonstration - The rally was among others backing the Palestinian cause in American cities including Washington and Chicago. The demonstrations came as the United States quickly affirmed its support for Israel, with US President Joe Biden ordering US ships and warplanes closer to its ally and sending fresh military aid. "Not another nickel, not another dime, no more money for Israel's crimes," protestors in New York chanted. Sarah Barqawi, 38, told AFP she came to Sunday's rally "because my family is currently under siege in Gaza and are just waiting to know if they will be alive or dead, without any electricity, without any support, without any supplies." "They are merely trying to defend their right to existence." On Saturday evening the New York branches of organizations including Jewish Voice for Peace and If Not Now marched to the Brooklyn home of Chuck Schumer , the Senate's majority leader, to call "for an end to all US military funding to Israel." Schumer was among the chorus of US political leaders over the weekend to reiterate support for Israel and its "unwavering right to defend itself." At a separate Manhattan protest on Sunday, a couple hundred people waving Israeli flags decried "vicious Hamas," among them Ofer Jacobawitz, who said, "We need to demonstrate for public opinion." "We just want everyone to know that we're supporting Israel and whatever it does now to in order to defend itself and prevent this from ever happening again." New York's Governor Kathy Hochul -- who lambasted Manhattan's Palestinian solidarity rally as "abhorrent and morally repugnant" -- meanwhile ordered landmarks in the state including the World Trade Center and Niagara Falls to be illuminated in blue and white. "New York is proud to be home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel," she said. As he marched on Sunday at the Palestinian solidarity rally, Morgan Bassichis, 40, told AFP that "as a Jewish person who believes that everyone, with no exception, should be free, I am firmly in support of the Palestinian freedom movement, and I believe that all violence in the region is a result of the root cause of Israeli apartheid." "It's our job as people in the US to get our government" to stop financing Israel, he said. mdo/caw Pavel now stands to inherit not only his fathers power, but the entirety of his fortune - east2west news A 1.25 million clifftop lair with two swimming pools and a helipad. A luxury superyacht worth 4.35 million. Three private jets. A priceless collection of vintage cars. And a family fortune estimated at an eye-watering 16.4 billion. It might sound like the setting of a James Bond film, where a mysterious villain has built a sprawling empire on corrupt and nefarious means. This is, in fact, not far from the truth: all these assets belong to Yevgeny Prigozhin, the late Russian oligarch and founder of the mercenary army Wagner, which is accused of heinous war crimes in Ukraine, Syria and the Central African Republic. Prigozhin, 62, died in a mysterious plane crash in August just months after he instigated a failed coup against the Russian military in June. His only son, Pavel, 25, now stands to inherit not only his fathers power, but the entirety of his fortune. According to reports in the Russian media, Pavel publicly accepted the terms of his fathers will a copy of which is believed to be circulating online earlier this month. But though much was reported about Prigozhin Sr, known as Putins chef because one of his many companies provided catering services to the Kremlin, state hospitals and schools for contracts worth 2.5 billion over the past 10 years, surprisingly little is known about his heir. According to Vera Tolz-Zilitinkevic, professor of Russian Studies at the University of Manchester, the secrecy shrouding the Prigozhin family is deliberate. Putin himself and people who are or were very close to him surround their families with secrecy for protection purposes, she says. So who is the man left holding the reins of his fathers brutal empire and what could this change of personnel mean for Russia and the West? Pavel was born in June 1998, the middle child to Yevgeny and Lyubov, a pharmacist and business woman who owns a network of boutiques, spas and hotels around St Petersburg. His sisters, Polina, 31, and Veronika, 18, are equestrians, using their fathers vast fortune to buy, train and ride horses in international competitions. There is scant record of Pavels childhood or teenage years, other than the bizarre existence of a Russian childrens book, supposedly authored by Pavel, Polina and their father some 20 years ago. Entitled Indraguzik, a made-up name, the 90-page tome tells the story of a tiny boy and girl who live with their family inside a chandelier and, according to the preface, is based on bedtime tales Yevgeny used to tell his young children. Last December, the young militias social media post reportedly gave away the whereabouts of his unit leading to a bomb attack by Ukrainian forces that killed 18 of his comrades Social media posts on Polinas now-private Instagram account suggest a pampered, travel-loving playboy: in one picture, he is seen aboard a private jet apparently licking the soles of his pristine white trainers as a dare. He first came to public attention in 2016 aged 18 when an investigation by Russias Anti-Corruption Foundation published a photograph of him posing naked on the deck of his familys opulent superyacht, the 37-metre-long St Vitamin. Mercifully, he was pictured from behind. The image was at odds with that of the upstanding, patriotic young man who appeared on his fathers social media: according to Yevgeny, Pavel fought with the Wagner group in Syria (a Wagner presence in the country has been recorded between 2015 and 2021) and was awarded the organisations Black Cross for outstanding military service. Indeed, says Serge Poliakoff, an expert in Russian influence and propaganda at the University of Passau in Germany, Prigozhin Sr spent much of the past few years trying to restore Pavels reputation. After the start of Russias war against Ukraine, Prigozhins official channels tried to repair his public image by saying that he and other Prigozhin descendants had an unfancy lifestyle, he says. One such method was publishing a photograph purportedly showing Pavel in a military camp in Karelia, up by the Russian border with Finland, slumming it by eating instant noodles. But even his father couldnt magic away the furore allegedly surrounding Pavel in December last year, after the young militias social media post reportedly gave away the whereabouts of his unit leading to a bomb attack by Ukrainian forces that killed 18 of his comrades. Off the battlefield, Pavels assets and those of his father before him are multiple and, perhaps intentionally, difficult to catalogue. Yevgeny Prigozhin speaking in Ukraine earlier this year - Prigozhin Press Service As well as the yacht, jets and rare car collection, there are at least three separate residences: the 10-acre high-security estate overlooking the Black Sea, a lavish Italian villa worth 3 million, and an 85 million St Petersburg mansion which, in a recent raid, was found to house weapons, a stuffed alligator, wads of cash and a wardrobe full of wigs. Though all of Prigozhin Srs children have some role in the familys complex network of businesses, which range from management consultancy to catering, it is Pavel who has been positioned as the chief successor. Pavel has been a businessman since he was 20, with stakes in construction and development, thanks to his father, explains Anna Arutunyan, global fellow at the Wilson Centre, a Washington think tank, and author of Hybrid Warriors: Proxies, Freelancers and Moscows Struggle for Ukraine. This is pretty typical Russian businessmen tend to bring their family in, handing over assets to keep them safe and in the family. Pavels business influence extends across oil and gas, luxury real estate, art, hotels and catering making him, according to state media reports, one of the richest men in St Petersburg. But life has not been so easy of late: while previously Western sanctions focused on Pavels father, as of March this year they have applied to his offspring, too making trade and international travel almost impossible for him. The restrictions have hit both Pavel and his wife, Ekaterina Inkina, the daughter of a banking mogul and restaurateur, hard. The pair enjoy the finer things in life: a video shared online shows them enjoying a boating holiday on a lake. Another more controversial film, published on Russian messaging service Telegram earlier this year, appears to show Pavel and his younger sister Veronika singing a song by a campfire, in which they call themselves elite while others mime begging for coins and scrubbing floors. But Poliakoff warns against believing everything disseminated about the family online: a recent Telegram account, purporting to belong to Pavel himself, was revealed last week to be a fake. There is no doubt that, at 25, Pavel Prigozhin is extremely young to find himself at the helm of the family firm; especially one charged with doing the dirty work of the Russian military. Reports say that he is currently in negotiations with the Kremlin to return Wagner fighters to the front in Ukraine. His age, says Arutunyan, could be his downfall. It is more likely that the Kremlin will try to strike a deal with him to keep him out of the mercenary business, she predicts. There is certainly no reason to expect that Prigozhin Jr is poised to play anywhere near the same role as his father at home or internationally. Poliakoff agrees, adding that he is pessimistic about the future of Prigozhins empire with or without Pavel. So will he step into the shoes left by the sudden demise of his father? Or ditch this sinking ship and resume his well-honed playboy lifestyle? Only time will tell. 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. Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! This celebration of Latine heritage started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson. Thus, when I was a young Latino in school and college, we had only one week to celebrate the many contributions the Latine community made to this country. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded this commemoration to cover a 30-day period starting on Sept. 15 and ending on Oct. 15, yet even today in many instances, our culture and contributions to this country remain hidden, absent from history books and the media. For instance, although some people think of us as immigrants and recent arrivals, when the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth, those of the Latine heritage had already been in this country for over 120 years. Even longer if you consider some of our Indigenous heritage. Members of Latine heritage lived in the 13 colonies and were military leaders from Spain and Latin America who fought in the Revolutionary War. Today many of Latine heritage continue to fight in defense of this country that they call home. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Latine residents make up close to 19% of the U.S. population, making it the second-largest racial or ethnic group. In Worcester, the Latine population is even larger, making up almost 24% of the citys population. The Latine community continues to help fuel our economy and enrich our nation as athletes, artists, doctors, educators, entertainers, entrepreneurs, scientists, public servants and much more. While we are all familiar with celebrities who are Latine such as Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jennifer Lopez, we might not realize that Raquel Welch (Jo-Raquel Tejada), Linda Ronstadt and Martin Sheen are Latine. Some of you might have heard of former state Sen. Sonia Rosa Chang-Diaz, but did you know her father, Franklin Chang-Diaz, was a scientist and astronaut who earned a doctorate in physics from MIT? The many contributions to this country by the Latine community often remain hidden, and Hispanic Heritage Month helps bring them to light, along with a celebration of our culture and heritage. Understanding the Latine community is also a complex enterprise. We are often an amalgam of cultures, nationalities and races. We can identify as white, Black, brown, Asian, Indigenous or mixed. Our food, music, cultural practices, religion and politics can be quite different. Even the term "Hispanic: is problematic a term created by the Nixon administration for the census and imposed on us. We often identify with our country of origin but also with terms such as Latino, Latinx or Latine, which can be more gender-inclusive. At Quinsigamond Community College, our student population mirrors that of our community, with over 22% of our students identifying as Latine. Some have been part of this community for generations, while others are more recent arrivals. They often wonder if they belong in college or if they will be welcomed by our community, but I assure you they do belong in college, and we will continue to do everything in our power to assure their success. As the fastest-growing population in our nation and our community, Latines hold the key to our future. They are our future health care providers, first responders, teachers, business leaders, artists and entrepreneurs. This year at QCC we are culminating the month-long celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month with a communitywide event featuring award-winning journalist speaker Mariana Atencio . Atencio is not only a Peabody Award-winning journalist and bestselling author but also an entrepreneur and inspiring storyteller. Her TEDx talk on authenticity "What makes YOU special?" went viral, with over 23 million views, and has been translated into 13 languages. Atencio was also featured in the HBO series "Habla Now" as one of the leaders defining the Latinx experience in the U.S. In the last decade Atencio worked at Univision and NBC News as an anchor and reporter and has since founded GoLike, a media company named among the 100 most powerful Latina businesses in the U.S. For those interested in true crime, her latest project is an investigative podcast about two women who go missing on a trail, which tackles femicide in Latin America. Following Atencios talk there will be an engaging and thought-provoking panel discussion by area Latine leaders, including the program director for health equity and storytelling research at UMass Chan Medical School, German Chiriboga; the chief of staff and assistant commissioner of academic policy and student success at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, Elena Quiroz-Livanis; and the director of the Mauricio Gaston Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy at UMass Boston, Lorna Rivera. I hope everyone considers attending this powerful event designed to inspire, educate and motivate. It is only by learning about others lived experiences that our society can attain a more equitable tomorrow. Let us collectively not only celebrate Hispanic heritage this month but also work to make our community more welcoming and inclusive for all. Luis G. Pedraja is president of Quinsigamond Community College. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Luis Pedraja column on celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month Mike Pence led the charge for the foreign interventionist wing of the 2024 Republican primary against their isolationist rivals this weekend as new hostilities erupted between Israel and the Hamas militants of the occupied Gaza Strip. It was a banner weekend for that wing of the GOP, whose members among the 2024 primary field spent their hours one-upping each other with rhetoric endorsing an unmitigated Israeli response against the Palestinian militant group that launched attacks across the country. Mr Pence made his remarks in Iowa, where he is battling for a surprise victory (or at least a decent-enough showing) in the first-in-the-nation caucuses. Calling out Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy and Ron DeSantis by name, he accused them of supporting Americas retreat from a global military, diplomatic and economic footprint he argued was previously responsible for tamping down on unrest around the world. His rebuke, he said, was directed at voices of appeasement like Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy and Ron DeSantis that I believe have run contrary to the tradition in our party that America is the leader of the free world. This is ... what happens when you have leaders in the Republican Party signaling retreat on the world stage, charged the former vice president. A response was issued by Donald Trump Jr , who tweeted: Youre the embodiment of the kind of weakness that led to this. You should have paid attention when you were groveling at the feet of the master. Trump brought peace because the world knew F around and find out! Well never return to the failed approach of you and your uniparty fools. Youre the embodiment of the kind of weakness that led to this. You should have paid attention when you were groveling at the feet of the master. Trump brought peace because the world knew F around and find out! Well never return to the failed approach of you and your uniparty https://t.co/vJGD3LMP3f Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) October 8, 2023 Mr Pence also faulted President Joe Biden for supposedly continuing that retreat, as others in the hawkish wing have done, and blamed the incumbent president for not projecting the strength that would supposedly have warned Vladimir Putin off of ordering the invasion of Ukraine. Those sentiments were repeated by other figures representing the establishment politics wing of the Republican Party, namely Tim Scott and Nikki Haley. The former accused Mr Biden of being complicit in the Hamas attacks on Israeli police, military and civilian targets over the weekend. Bidens weakness invited the attack. Bidens negotiation funded the attack. Biden admin wanted Israel to stand down after the attack. At this point, Biden is complicit. Tim Scott (@votetimscott) October 8, 2023 Such rhetoric used to be frowned upon in Washington. In the modern Republican Party, accusing ones political rivals of being in bed with terrorists is no longer a rarity, but a feature of the typical GOP politician. The Biden administration and its allies have taken notice. Chris Murphy, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, rebuked Republican senator Rick Scott after a similar posting, writing: For too many Republicans, their hatred of Democrats is their only organizing prism. Even on a day like today all they can do is attack. Senator Scotts social media is mostly attacks on Biden instead of support for Israel. There are times for politics. There are times for unity. For too many Republicans, their hatred of Democrats is their only organizing prism. Even on a day like today all they can do is attack. Senator Scotts social media is mostly attacks on Biden instead of support for Israel. There are times for politics. There are times for unity. https://t.co/LzwzhlHGxA Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) October 8, 2023 Ms Haley drew her own accusations of bloodthirst from the left after she tweeted at Israels Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to finish them referring to Hamas militants. The Palestinian militant group is accused of deliberately killing hundreds of civilians over the weekend and taking others hostage; both actions are considered war crimes under international law. The scope and scale of Israels response has drawn similar accusations from supporters of the end of Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. This is not just an attack on Israelthis was an attack on America. Finish them, @Netanyahu. They should have hell to pay for what they have just done. pic.twitter.com/0KKDwvOITS Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) October 8, 2023 Donald Trump, meanwhile, focused his criticism on Joe Biden over the weekend a sign that he continues to view the Republican primary as largely decided. THE HORRIBLE ATTACK ON ISRAEL, MUCH LIKE THE ATTACK ON UKRAINE, WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED IF I WERE PRESIDENT - ZERO CHANCE! wrote Mr Trump in a Sunday-morning Truth Social post. Former Vice President Mike Pence (R), a 2024 presidential candidate, on Sunday criticized President Biden for his strategic positioning on Iran and suggested the administrations policies have set the conditions for the Hamas attacks in Israel on Saturday. In an interview on CNNs State of the Union, Pence pointed to the recent U.S.-Iran hostage exchange, which will unfreeze $6 billion of Iranian funds in foreign accounts which had been blocked because of sanctions. The Biden administration has said that Iran has pledged to only use the funds for humanitarian purposes, but Iranian leaders have said they would decide what was best for their people. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday said those funds remain unspent in a frozen account in the weeks after the prisoner exchange was conducted. President Joe Bidens kowtowing for the last two and a half years to the mullahs in Iran, lifting sanctions, begging them to get back in the Iran nuclear deal, and then paying $6 billion in a ransom for hostages, I think, set the conditions for this unprecedented terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel, Pence said. But the Biden administration has maintained unwavering support for Israel in the wake of an attack by Hamas on Saturday that took Israel by surprise. The prisoner exchange freed Americans who had been jailed in Iran under harsh conditions for years. Still, Pence laid heavy criticism on the White House. Theres no question in my mind that Iran is behind, has subsidized, has approved and in the last day has even applauded this extraordinary terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel, he said. U.S. officials said Sunday they could not yet determine if Iran was behind the attack. Pence also criticized the foreign policy positions of some of his fellow GOP presidential candidates, including former President Trump, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. But I also believe this is what happens when we have leading voices like Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy and Ron DeSantis signaling retreat from Americas role as leader of the free world. Look, what happened in Ukraine was an unprovoked invasion by Russia. What happened this weekend was an unprovoked invasion by Hamas into Israel, Pence continued in the interview. And I really believe now more than ever, both the debate within the Republican Party and the debate within America is whether or not were going to once again stand without apology as the leader of the free world, as the arsenal of democracy, he continued. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Pentagon is sending ships and aircraft closer to Israel, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Sunday in a major show of force a day after Hamas militants launched attacks across southern Israel. Austin directed the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Normandy, and four destroyers to move to the Eastern Mediterranean, according to a press release Sunday. In addition to the Navy assets, Austin has has also taken steps to augment U.S. Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16 and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region, he said in the press release. The moves were in response to the Hamas attacks on Israel and followed detailed discussions with President Joe Biden, Austin said, and intended to strengthen Department of Defense posture in the region to bolster regional deterrence efforts. In addition, the DOD will also be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions, Austin said. POLITICO first reported that the Biden administration was working to transfer weapons to Israel. The first of those arms will begin moving Sunday and arriving in the coming days, Austin said. Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a Sunday morning call that additional assistance for the Israeli Defense Forces is now on its way to Israel, with more expected to follow in the coming days, according to a White House readout of the call. The President again expressed deep sympathy for all those missing, wounded, and killed, and pledged his full support for the Government and people of Israel in the face of an unprecedented and appalling assault by Hamas terrorists, according to the readout released by the White House. People mocked me online for being attacked by a shark, so I started a support group for survivors like me A portrait of Dave Pearson on the beach. Dave Pearson survived a shark attack and went on to found Bite Club to support other survivors.Courtesy of Dave Pearson Dave Pearson survived a shark attack, but faced vitriol online for it afterwards. His isolation led him to found a support group for shark attack survivors, called Bite Club. The group now connects members across the world, helping them feel less alone. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Dave Pearson, who survived a shark attack in March 2011 off the coast of New South Wales, Australia, and founded the survivor group Bite Club. It has been edited for length and clarity. I had actually purchased a new surfboard the evening before I got bit, and was looking forward to testing it out. So me and a few mates headed out to the beach and had a normal afternoon surf, as we do. I'd only been out in the water for about five minutes, and I was on my stomach paddling back out after my third wave. I was looking over my left side at my mates when all of a sudden, the whole afternoon changed and a shark came up from just off to my right-hand side. Its nose hit my head and its bottom jaw hit my board. It flipped out of the water with my surfboard and my right arm stuck in its mouth. The surfboard that Dave was riding when he was attacked by a bull shark. Dave Pearson We tumbled to the ocean floor, but it left me alone pretty quick, and I was able to get back down on my board. When I looked down at my arm I saw my forearm muscle hanging off. Blood squirted out around me in about a 6-foot radius; the water was going red quite quickly around me. My mates pulled me in after I got knocked around and pulled underwater by a couple of waves. They tied a tourniquet around my arm that saved my life while we waited an hour and a half for the paramedics to arrive. It was all my mates, you know, that did the heroic thing. It's amazing how people will just step up and do the extraordinary thing when they need to without realizing what they're actually doing. People from Dave's local surf club arrived to help with first aid, assisting the early efforts his friends made to stymie the bleeding. Dave Pearson People wanted to attack me for getting attacked When I was helicoptered into John Hunter Hospital at Newcastle, the whole airstrip was lit up, and the pilot told me that there were about 20 news crews waiting for me. It was because the week prior, there had been another shark attack near Newcastle and that girl was still in the hospital. So there was a media frenzy on it, and right from the start, I got a lot of unwanted publicity. Later, when I was recuperating, I got on my laptop. I started reading the comments on the news stories about my attack and found I was copping a flogging. There were comments like, "who does this idiot think he is surfing at night?" And, "you know, I bet he wants to go out and kill all the sharks now." So I thought I had a chance to set the record straight and tried replying. I said, "'Hey guys, this is Dave. I'm lying in hospital at the moment. No, I wasn't surfing at night. It was 5:30 in the afternoon. And no, I don't want to kill sharks. You know, I'm quite happy to leave them alone if they're leaving me alone." But the comments came flooding back with people insisting that I was reckless and wanted to go out and kill all sharks. It was funny, these people just wanted to attack me for getting attacked. As you might imagine, I wasn't in a great emotional state at the time. I remember slamming my computer down after typing the last message, because it was actually unbelievable. I was shaking, I was physically shaking, and in tears. And that was it. I remember saying to my partner, "You know, yesterday I was a pretty good guy. But today, I got attacked by a shark, and now I'm the worst person in the world." Dave and his dog Mojo, who was with him the afternoon of the attack. He returned to surfing after his attack. Dave Pearson When you realize you're not alone, it's easier to deal with I take full responsibility for what happens to me in the ocean. I made the decision to go swimming and surfing. Even so, you know, I had a pretty tough time as you would have guessed after the shark attack. It can be really lonely. I went to therapy, and tried to look around for support groups, but didn't find any. I ended up talking to the girl who had been attacked a week before me. The similarities in our stories were unbelievable we both had injuries to our left arm and to the right side of our face. I was attacked by a bull shark and she was attacked by a white shark, but they were both similar sizes. But more importantly, there were similarities in the way we were feeling about it, and that was strangely comforting to both of us. We kept in touch quite a bit afterward. After that, whenever I was interviewed for a news story, I asked them to pass on my information to any other shark attack survivors they were talking to. I wanted to know what was in my future. I wanted to know how long my pain was going to last. Dave calls this tattoo a badge of honor. Dave Pearson And so I started driving all over the place to try and meet up with people that they sent my way. I'd also started phoning hospitals after hearing about an attack on the news, and offering up my information in case the people needed someone to talk to. Every time I met someone, we'd just sit down and chat and it was like we knew each other already. We knew each other's feelings, and we managed to make each other feel better just by hanging around and chatting. The more of us who got together, the better we all made each other feel. When you realize you're not alone in something, it's a lot easier to deal with. I thought, "Wow, there's something in this." But my search for a support group turned up nothing. So that's when we started Bite Club. Bite club members now meet up for things like a cruise around Sydney Harbor. Keeping folks connected in person is one of their goals. Dave Pearson Bite Club is a group that supports shark bite victims getting healthy Since then, I've had hundreds of conversations with people who've had a shark attack. There are some amazing stories that I've heard from people, things that just blow your mind. We organize lots of stuff online because we're spread all over the globe. I don't think there's a country in the world that isn't represented in our group. We also do in-person events. One that sticks out was possible because of funding from a local public affairs program. We got a group of survivors together to go dive in an aquarium with gray nurse sharks. We had some people who hadn't been back in the water since their attack facing their fear in a controlled environment. It was cathartic for a lot of us; it was really good. Bite Club flew survivors from South Australia & Far North Queensland to support the one of their members returning to the ocean. David Pearson That's the basic recipe of what we try to do. We're a group of people who've come together from traumatic events, who are supporting each other getting healthy and becoming productive. I certainly missed those days prior to my attack. But I don't think I'd change anything anyway, because I've become a different person because of it. And I've met so many inspirational people since, it's just like, now my bucket is full. The people I've met and the stories I've been told restore my faith in humanity, in a way. Read the original article on Business Insider Left to right, Dr. Daniel Rusyniak, secretary of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration; Golden Hoosier award recipient Phil Griffith; and Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch at the Indiana Statehouse. - Original Credit: MAAC (Handout/HANDOUT) Lots of folks know Fireman Phil, which isnt a surprise, given the extent of his career in emergency services in Valparaiso and Porter County. Phil Griffith, the founding director of Porter County Emergency Management Agency, retired chief of the Valparaiso Fire Department and dedicated volunteer at a training campus for first responders, was honored earlier this month as a Golden Hoosier by Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch. Advertisement The award was established to acknowledge and recognize outstanding seniors for their lifetime of service to their communities. The award is the highest honor bestowed on a senior in Indiana. Griffith and nine other recipients received their awards during a presentation at the Indiana Statehouse. Griffith is a retired chief of the Valparaiso Fire Department and the Porter County Emergency Management Agency, and has been a first responder his entire career. Advertisement He knows no retirement, as he volunteers every day at the MAAC Foundation First Responder Training Campus in Valparaiso and is known as their Chief Volunteer Officer, giving tours, and greeting everyone at the door who is there for training or workshops. He also continues to teach CPR and other fire safety classes on a volunteer basis. He is a gem, said Celina Weatherwax, president of the Multi Agency Academic Cooperative, or MAAC. The rapport that he has with the first responder community is unexplainable. He was very deserving of this award. Lance Bella, director of the Porter County Emergency Management Agency, adds another nickname to Griffiths list. We call him the Godfather, said Bella. He was the first director here, and even though he is retired, he continues to be invaluable to us. Griffith served in the U.S. Navy and was a firefighter for 30 years for the city of Valparaiso, three years as fire chief at U.S. Steel, and then became the inaugural director of the Porter County EMA. He also worked as an EMT for Porter Hospital for 15 years and as a reserve deputy sheriff for 13 years. He continues to volunteer for the Collings Foundation, Hoosier Burn Camp, Illinois Burn Camp, Red Cross and the American Heart Association. His nickname Fireman Phil came about in 1976 from a Valparaiso student when he started the fire safety and CPR program in the schools, which he taught for 24 years. Generations of Valpo students still know him by this name. If I had to pick something I enjoyed the most, it would be working the schools, said Griffith, reflecting back on his career. As far as this award, I didnt even know I was nominated, said Griffith, who later learned he was nominated by Stewart McMillan, fire chief and founder of the MAAC. It was a complete shock to me. Advertisement I dont do these things to get awards, I do it because I love it, said Griffith. He and his wife, Linda, have four children and eight grandchildren. You can often find Griffith in his garage with grandson, Andrew, restoring their 1964 Thunderbird or spiffing up the antique fire truck. I am one of the few people who have never worked, said Griffith. I have just had adventures. Deena Lawley-Dixon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. If its true that you can judge a society by how it treats its weakest members, then one shortcut to judging societies would be looking at their child welfare systems. A recent article in The New Yorker by Margaret Talbot gives readers a chilling view into Austrias foster care system in the post-war years. The story revolves around a woman, Evy Mages, who recalls growing up in a foster home in the 1960s after her mother abandons her. When the foster mother tired of her, Evy spent several months at what was called a child observation station, but was in actuality a psychiatric facility run by a sadistic psychologist at the University of Innsbruck named Maria Nowak-Vogl. Nowak-Vogl and her underlings tried experimental drugs on the children whom they viewed as degenerates: At night, (Evy) had to sleep with a blanket pulled tight under her armpits, her arms ramrod straight by her sides, to insure that her hands couldnt wander. She was terrified of wetting the bed, because whenever she did the white coats would awaken her, even from deep sleep, and march her to the bathroom for an ice-cold shower; she would then have to stand in a corner for the rest of the night. Shed be shivering and it would be dark, except for the murky green light from a fish tank, which she was forbidden to look at. Nowak-Vogl, Talbot argues, was heavily influenced by Nazi ideology. Rather than ridding Nazism from the country after the war, Austrians allowed it to fester. If anything, Nazi psychiatrists, including those who sanctioned the murder of children, found themselves in a privileged position after the war because many leaders in medical fields were Jews who had fled or been killed. It is hardly surprising that an ideology that was left to fester in Austria for decades made its way into the child welfare system and remained there for years even after the country wanted to move on. Children like Evy have no voice. They dont have anyone to speak on their behalf. And while professionals in other fields might face scrutiny from political or academic leaders, child welfare tends to go under the radar. Discerning the ideology guiding child welfare in the U.S. is more difficult because we are a big country and the pendulum swings back and forth. The commonly held understanding is that during the crack epidemic, the U.S. took too many kids away from their homes because of their parents drug use. The warnings about so-called crack babies were overblown, according to this narrative, and we needlessly broke up (disproportionately Black) families, perhaps causing them more trauma than the epidemic itself. Related A cover story in The Atlantic should cast some doubt on this narrative. In I Never Called Her Momma, Jenisha Watts describes growing up with Trina, her drug-addicted mother in Kentucky. Watts and her four younger siblings were regularly left alone and without food. Each child had a different father but none of them were present. Watts home was regularly visited by police who found evidence of drug use as well as guns in the home. I knew other people who used drugs, but what happened at our apartment was different. On any given day, folks would be in the bathroom or a bedroom getting high. In return, the dealers gave Trina free drugs. Our door was always opening and shutting, strangers entering and leaving. At one point when she was in third grade, a man in the house asked Jenisha: Do you want me to make you feel good? Watts says, I knew that wasnt something a grown man should say to a child. It seems that all the adults around her father, grandmother, neighbors, friends and authorities knew that something was going terribly wrong in her home. And nothing was done. After years of this, the state finally removed Jenishas siblings into foster care for a brief stint and she went to live with her aunt. They all spent time with Watts grandmother and then went back again to their mother, who began using drugs again, dropped her kids off with a neighbor, and then never returned to pick them up. Watts article is not about the child welfare system per se. And she doesnt have much to say about the decisions made by officials and her relatives about who should care for her. But it seems that all the adults around her father, grandmother, neighbors, friends and authorities knew that something was going terribly wrong in her home. And nothing was done. Was it incompetence or laziness, or was it a reflection of how our nation has come to view vulnerable children? More and more, it seems that removing children from their families is seen as the worst outcome, worse than leaving them in abusive or neglectful homes. Children belong with their families is the refrain from political leaders and advocates. Our liberalized attitudes toward drug use that using drugs is a decision adults can make without any collateral damage is also evident in the way we deal with these kids. Unless they are being beaten, it seems, authorities think they will be fine. Jenisha mentions early in the article that her mother never hit her. But neglecting her and her siblings, and letting strangers have access to them (something it seems both her mother and grandmother may have been guilty of), is also a form of maltreatment. Sometimes the terrible decisions made in child welfare systems take decades to unpack. Maybe we should pay more attention when theyre actually being made. Naomi Schaefer Riley is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a Deseret News contributor and the author of No Way to Treat a Child: How the Foster Care System, Family Courts, and Racial Activists Are Wrecking Young Lives, among other books. WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland will send military planes to evacuate its citizens from Israel, Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Sunday, a day after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel. "We are sending air force transport planes to carry out the evacuation of Poles currently staying in Israel. Soldiers from our special forces will ensure loading protection and safety on board," Duda wrote on X social media platform. Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said Poland was sending two C-130 Hercules planes to evacuate some 200 Poles from Ben Gurion Airport. It would add more planes if necessary or liaise with Greece to ferry Polish citizens to the Mediterranean country before bringing them home on Casa transport planes. "We are in talks on establishing an evacuation bridge... with Greece," Blaszczak said at a press conference. "We can expect these planes to take off any moment, arrive at their destination and pick up Polish tourists waiting at the airport," he added. Polish state-owned airline LOT cancelled flights to Ben Gurion. (Reporting by Karol Badohal; Editing by Toby Chopra) Andrzej Duda , President of the Republic of Poland, believes that the Hamas militants attack on Israel will fuel Russias full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine because it will take the worlds attention away from Ukraine. Source: PAP, citing Andrzej Duda on Polsat News Details: When asked whether the Hamas attacks on Israel will cause the world to "take its eyes off Ukraine", Duda answered in the affirmative. "There is no doubt it benefits Russia and Russias aggression against Ukraine because its taking the worlds attention away [from it]," the Polish president said, noting that Warsaw has to consider the events in Israel from the perspective of its own interests. Duda also predicted that the European Union might experience a new wave of immigration. "The issues that Prime Minister [Mateusz] Morawiecki discussed in Granada and I discussed during a meeting in Porto are growing even more relevant: our security and the protection of Polish, EU and Shengen borders are growing ever more important," Duda believes. Background: On the morning of 7 October, Hamas militants launched a large-scale attack on Israel by firing several thousands of missiles from the Gaza Strip into Israel and breaching the Israeli border across several sites. Hamas militants took several Israeli citizens hostage and claimed they took control of an Israeli military base. This is the largest escalation of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the past 50 years. The Israeli Defence Forces launched Operation Iron Swords, a counterterrorist military operation, and attacked infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. According to the latest reports, over 600 people were killed in the Hamas attacks. 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! TechCrunch There's been a bit of FUD around the decision to use a form of AI to resurrect John Lennon's voice in what Paul McCartney called "the last Beatles record." What they've done is far from the sketchy AI imitations of artists we see cluttering Soundcloud today, and has much more in common with a more prosaic application of machine learning: noise reduction. As the members of the band recall in a sweet short film about the making of the song, "Now And Then" was originally a piano demo Lennon made shortly before he was killed in 1980. The father of Polly Klaas, now known as the first missing girl on the internet when she disappeared from a sleepover in 1993, says California Gov. Gavin Newsom is "a pig" for his 2019 decision to halt the death penalty in his state. Richard Allen Davis, who is locked up at San Quentin State Prison, was sentenced to death for kidnapping Polly, who was 12 at the time, from a sleepover at knifepoint and then strangling her. "Newsom is a pig," Marc Klaas, who runs a nonprofit to prevent crimes against children called Klaas Kids, told Fox News Digital. "In 2019, he declared a death penalty moratorium in California. He told me, among other things, that he didnt want to be the governor who executes an innocent person." Under Newsom's moratorium, no one in California can be executed while he is in the governor's office. Klaas said Newsom's order displays "advocacy for the worst and most dangerous people in our society." THE CHILD ABDUCTION AND MURDER THAT CHANGED AMERICAN JUSTICE Newsom's office directed Fox News Digital to comments the governor made when he issued the moratorium in March 2019, when 737 people were on death row in California. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP THE SLUMBER PARTY NIGHTMARE: THE KIDNAPPING & MURDER OF POLLY KLAAS "The intentional killing of another person is wrong and, as governor, I will not oversee the execution of any individual," Newsom said in a statement at the time. "Our death penalty system has been, by all measures, a failure. "It has discriminated against defendants who are mentally ill, black and brown or cant afford expensive legal representation. It has provided no public safety benefit or value as a deterrent. It has wasted billions of taxpayer dollars. Most of all, the death penalty is absolute. Its irreversible and irreparable in the event of human error." Polly Klaas was kidnapped at knifepoint from a sleepover and strangled to death in 1993. A press release from Newsom's office noted that California is one of four states that have issued moratoria on the death penalty, including Pennsylvania, Colorado and Oregon. Since 1978, California has spent $5 billon on the death penalty system and executed a total of 13 people, according to the release. FATHER OF MURDER VICTIM SLAMS CA GOV. NEWSOM FOR GIVING CRIMINALS REPRIEVE Polly Klaas' disappearance, which made headlines across the country in newspapers and on television, also became known as the first high-profile missing persons case to circulate the internet in 1993, when computers were just taking off. Marc Klaas said the growth of the internet and social media has "changed the way that the public and law enforcement approach missing kids." Polly Klaas' disappearance, which made headlines across the country in newspapers and on television, also became known as the first high-profile missing persons case to circulate the internet in 1993, when computers were just beginning to take off. "For example, when we distributed Pollys missing flyer, we acquired a mailing list, spent $15,000 on stamps, printed thousands of flyers, put them in envelopes and took them to the post office," he said. "The flyers began arriving about a week after we started the process. Now, you can create a missing child [Facebook] page, fill it with pictures and videos, link articles, television reports, testimonials and law enforcement contact information. This process costs nothing and can be regularly updated." SUSPECT IN CHARLOTTE SENA ABDUCTION HAS VIOLENT PAST Klaas mentioned Gabby Petito's disappearance in 2021 as an example of how the internet can be useful in spreading information about a missing persons case. He added later that the case of Charlotte Sena, a 9-year-old girl who recently disappeared from a camping trip in upstate New York before she was found safe days later, "was a great combination of law enforcement response and a bit of luck." CLICK HERE FOR MORE TRUE CRIME FROM FOX NEWS "Because of law enforcement's quick and professional response, they were quickly able to identify and arrest the suspect through fingerprint technology," he said. "The public also immediately picked up on this case as it spread like wildfire through traditional and social media. "I believe, based on nothing more than my experience, that this was probably a crime of opportunity in that he was laying in wait but did not have a specific target. It also looks like this was probably a kidnapping for ransom, which is rare with these kinds of crimes." Marc Klaas, Polly's father, said the growth of the internet and social media has "changed the way that the public and law enforcement approach missing kids." There is a dark side, however, to the rapid expansion of the internet involving children, he said. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "On the other side of that coin, the proliferation of child porn has emboldened a new generation of pedophiles to use the internet to access and victimize children," Klaas explained. "They anonymously infiltrate chat rooms, gaming sites and other online destinations that can leave children vulnerable." Original article source: Polly Klaas' father calls Gov. Newsom 'a pig' for death penalty moratorium The Last Ribbit Frogs, toads, salamanders, and thousands of other amphibians are under increasing threat of extinction, with populations in alarming decline amidst climate change and environmental destruction. Such were the findings of a new study, published in the journal Nature, which reports that 41 percent of amphibian species worldwide or nearly 2,900 are "globally threatened," meaning that they are either vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. That's a three percent uptick since 1980, a climb that isn't likely to slow down. The researchers analyzed data from one of the most comprehensive surveys of amphibian health to date, the Global Amphibian Assessment, encompassing more than 8,000 species. The survey reaffirms scientists' conclusion that amphibians are the most threatened class of vertebrates in the world. "To survive in the face of this rapidly changing climate here on Earth, amphibians must adapt to these changes or move elsewhere," study lead author Kelsey Neam at the environmental group Re:wild told NBC News. "In many of these cases, changes are happening too quickly for them to adapt, and habitat fragmentation is creating barriers that make moving around extremely challenging," she added. Dual Threat Amphibians' trademark permeable skin may let them breathe on land or sea, but it also leaves them vulnerable to dehydration in the face of higher temperatures, as well as the absorption of pollutants. Furthermore, their dependency on both aquatic and terrestrial environments means they're doubly hard-hit by habitat loss and disruptions, "such as storms and floods and droughts," and climate shifts like "changes in moisture, changes in temperatures, sea level rise, fires," Neam explained at a press conference, as quoted by NBC. Climate change is only one culprit, although it is undoubtedly exacerbating some of the others. The biggest threat remains agriculture, which is estimated to affect over three quarters of all impacted species, the study found, and is the biggest driver of habitat destruction. Another big amphibian annihilator is a rapidly spreading skin disease called chytridiomycosis that interferes with breathing and hydration. Frogs are especially hard hit, and climate change is only making its effects worse. "Modern climate change really works synergistically with diseases and in ways that it stresses frogs and makes them more vulnerable to these pathogens," explained co-author of the Nature study Patricia Burrowes, a biologist at the University of Puerto Rico, to NBC. Things have gotten so dire that frog experts are now becoming nostalgic about the "good ol days," as Adam Leache, a biologist at the University of Washington, told the news outlet. "Its reminiscing about better times when species were around, and now theyre not here anymore," he said. More on the environment: Scientists Find Microplastics in Cave Sealed Off From All Humans Pope Francis has published the follow-up to his 2015 encyclical letter that called for more affirmative action regarding global heating. His latest message takes a swipe at big industry for irresponsible practices and world governments for a lack of intervention on irreversible environmental damage. Our responses have not been adequate, while the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point, he said in his latest climate statement, via CNN. Despite all attempts to deny, conceal, gloss over or relativize the issue, the signs of climate change are here and increasingly evident. No one can ignore the fact that in recent years we have witnessed extreme weather phenomena, frequent periods of unusual heat, drought and other cries of protest, the Pope continued. Pointedly, Pope Francis compared the emissions of individuals in the United States in comparison to residents of China, saying the former emit twice as much as the latter and criticizing the irresponsible lifestyle connected with the Western model. Meanwhile, the Pope also called out big business for prioritizing short-term profits over long-term safety, and railed against members of the Roman Catholic Church who dismiss the impact or even existence of global heating. In his 2015 address, Pope Francis wrote that the Earth is beginning to look like an immense pile of filth, and when announcing the upcoming release of a new papal letter on his climate concerns in August 2023, he said a terrible world war was being waged on the environment. Hopefully the Popes Laudate Deum (Praise God) message will have a similar impact to his last one. Delivered before the 2015 Paris climate conference, Reuters reported former United States Secretary of State John Kerry said the Popes letter had a profound impact on the event, where goals to limit global heating were set. The Paris Agreement called for efforts to limit global heating to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial levels to avoid increased droughts, heatwaves, and flooding. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet. VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis called for an end to attacks and violence in Israel and Gaza on Sunday, saying terrorism and war would not solve any problems, but only bring further suffering and death to innocent people. "I follow with apprehension and sorrow what is happening in Israel," the pope said in his weekly address to faithful in St. Peter's Square. "I express my solidarity with the relatives of the victims, and I pray for all those who are experiencing hours of terror and anguish," he said. On Saturday, a multi-pronged attack by Palestinian gunmen on Israeli towns left at least 250 Israelis dead, with more than 300 Palestinians killed in Israel's retaliatory bombardment. "Let the attacks and weapons cease, please, because it must be understood that terrorism and war bring no solutions, but only to the death and suffering of many innocent lives. War is a defeat, every war is a defeat. Let us pray for peace in Israel and Palestine," the pope said. (Reporting by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Toby Chopra) How does the war in Ukraine end? Earlier this year, former President Donald Trump boasted that if he were re-elected, hed have that war settled in one day, 24 hours. Russian President Vladimir Putin is making a slightly less ambitious forecast: If things go his way, the war can be over in a week. In remarks Thursday at the annual meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club, a Kremlin-friendly confab on global issues, Putin predicted that Ukraine would collapse if the West turns off the taps of military aid and economic assistance. By and large, the Ukrainian economy cannot exist without external support, he said. Once you stop this, everything will be over in a week. Finished. The same applies to the defense system: Imagine that supplies will stop tomorrow you will only have a week to live when the ammunition runs out. These remarks were perhaps Putins most clear articulation to date his strategy in Ukraine: He is counting on the Western alliance that backs Ukraine to fracture, the longer the gruesome war of attrition grinds on. And developments in recent days, to the alarm of Ukraines supporters, suggest that Putins plan may be gaining some traction. Take the recent headlines from Washington. Last week, President Joe Biden signed into law a stopgap bill to avert a government shutdown, but funding for Ukraine was a casualty of the brinksmanship on Capitol Hill. The measure signed into law may keep the US government open only through November 17, but it includes no additional funding for Ukraine. The Biden administration emphasizes that that the American publics support for Ukraine remains strong. But the lack of funding in the bill for Ukraine sets the clock ticking for Kyiv, and has the White House scrambling for workarounds. Throughout the war, the US has been a steady lifeline for Ukraine, committing a total of around $113 billion to it, including direct military assistance, budget infusions and humanitarian assistance. But the ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has thrown the short-term prospects for a new assistance package into serious doubt: Without a permanent speaker, legislative business in the House is effectively on hold. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky walks down the White House colonnade to the Oval Office with President Joe Biden during a visit to the White House in Washington, DC, on September 21. - Kevin Lamarque/Pool/Reuters The administration does have some options. The Pentagon Comptroller the Department of Defenses chief financial officer has noted that there is the option to replenish Ukraines dwindling military supplies through what is known as Presidential Drawdown Authority. But to the drama in Congress add: resistance among far-right Republican legislators raises serious questions about the US sustaining aid longer term for Ukraine, particularly during a major counteroffensive. And then there is the race for the Republican presidential nomination, which likely also plays into Putins calculus. The Kremlin is no doubt mindful of the fact that several GOP aspirants are vocal skeptics when it comes to aiding Ukraine. Trump, no friend to Ukraine, is leading the pack. The United States, its worth remembering, is not the only country shouldering the financial burden of supporting Ukraine. European Union members provide around 39% of direct military assistance to Ukraine. Putin is clearly counting on Ukraine fatigue in Europe. Earlier this week, a party headed by Robert Fico, a populist, pro-Kremlin figure, came out on top in parliamentary elections in Slovakia, an EU and NATO member. Fico has called on the Slovak government to stop arming Ukraine, and his bogus rhetoric blaming Ukrainian Nazis and fascists for provoking Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine must no doubt be music to Putins ears. Putins advisors also appear to be reading the defense trade press. In his remarks this week, the Kremlin leader noted that the US industrial base is struggling to ramp up demand for ammunition for Ukraine, which has been locked in an artillery slogging match with Russia. The United States produces 14 thousand 155-mm shells, and Ukrainian troops expend up to five thousand per day, and there they produce 14 [thousand] per month, he claimed at the Valdai conference. Do you understand what were talking about? Yes, they are trying to increase production - up to 75,000 by the end of next year, but we still have to wait until the end of next year. Putins notecards may have been slightly off US monthly production is currently at 28,000 shells. But the Russian president was not mischaracterizing the fact that the US and its European allies are locked in a desperate race against Russias industrial base. Ukrainian serviceman at frontline positions south of Bakhmut on September 22. - Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images In a discussion this past week at the Warsaw Security Forum, Royal Netherlands Navy Adm. Rob Bauer, chair of the NATO Military Committee warned that the bottom of the barrel is now visible when it comes to ammunition production for Ukraine. Putin, then, appears to be counting on both dysfunction in Washington and stress within the transatlantic alliance for his strategy of attrition to work. That strategy, to some degree, also depends on winning a battle of perception. If Ukraine is seen as a losing cause, Kremlin logic argues, then its patrons will pull the plug. But what about the actual situation on the ground in Ukraine, as winter draws near and a much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive makes only incremental gains? Is the situation as dire as Putin might suggest? Putin casts that fight in existential terms, arguing this week that nothing less than a twilight struggle is underway to establish a new world order congenial to authoritarian states and implying that Russia is in this for the long haul. The Ukrainian crisis is not a territorial conflict, I want to emphasize this, he said at the Valdai forum. Russia is the largest country in the world, with the largest territory. We have no interests in terms of conquering any additional territories. We still have to explore and develop Siberia, Eastern Siberia and the Far East. This is not a territorial conflict or even the establishment of a regional geopolitical balance. The question is much broader and more fundamental: we are talking about the principles on which the new world order will be based. Leave aside for a moment that Putin has, at other times, brazenly framed the invasion of Ukraine as project of imperial restoration. In his remarks at Valdai, he clearly implied that Russia intends to outlast the West over Ukraine. But not everyone, and especially not Ukrainians, believe its a waiting game. Tymofiy Mylovanov, the president of the Kyiv School of Economics, responded to Putins Valdai remarks with a reminder that Ukrainians would still fight for survival regardless of Moscows goal of hiving off support for his country. Paraphrasing Putin, Mylovanov said that the Kremlin believes that Ukraine will have one week left to LIVE once Western supplies are over. LIVE as in EXIST, not defend or resist. What defending or resisting comes is down not just to action on Capitol Hill. Putins credibility has been dented in recent months by the Wagner mutiny, as well as the Russian governments ability to muster motivated, well-trained troops after a sustained hammering on the battlefield. If Putin is counting on a long war to blunt Western will to support Ukraine, he is also taking a gamble on the longevity of his system of rule and perhaps underestimating the resolve of Ukrainians, whom he sees as merely a puppet of Washington and Brussels. And that is where the dark headlines for Ukraine have the unsurprising result of hardening Ukrainian resolve. Whether the deadly strike on the village of Hroza or Fridays attack on Kharkiv, Ukraines will to fight, regardless of US and Western support, appears unwavering. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Imagining what could have happened if the creator dared to dream bigger is fandoms driving ethos. Whether or not the people behind the scenes expected to have the most passionate bloc of their audience fixate on a queer romance that may or may not have been intentional is irrelevant. When queerness is still on the periphery of society, its unsurprising that the relationships fans obsess over and seek to actualize are predominantly queer. Our Flag Means Death, whose second season is now airing on Max, doesnt require its fans to dream of the queer possibilities. Instead, its that rare breed of work that raises the romantic subtexttypically buried under bromatic jokes or subtle ambiguityto undeniable text from the very beginning. And when fandoms and creative teams are both on the same page of the same unabashedly queer love story, as is the case for Our Flag, the experience is nothing short of sublime. Queer media, particularly TV, has entered something of a golden age since the aughts. There are the early mainstream pioneers like The L Word and Will and Grace; the wholesome coming-of-age romcoms like Heartstopper and Love, Victor; and the adaptations taking beloved stories one big step further, like Interview with the Vampire, Good Omens, and Hannibal. There are gritty, inspired-by-real-life dramas like Orange is the New Black and Pose, murderous thrillers like Killing Eve and Orphan Black, raunchy comedies like What We Do in the Shadows and Sex Education, and many more stories featuring queer leads with fully fleshed-out storylines. Our Flag Means Death Charts a Course for an Incredible Season 2 But even among these big names, this silly gay pirate show stands out by taking what these shows do best and fulfilling a particular need few have met before. The reasons are myriad: It refuses to use queer subtext as a prop or ransom for audience loyalty. It eschews the will-they-wont-they dance that positions love as an end rather than a beginning. It defies the trope that you must renounce your past in order to move on. It scoffs at the notion of a ceiling for complex queer characters and relationships in a single show. And it demonstrates that depicting the experiences of queer people (and, just as importantly, people of color) dont always have to center brutality and traumathat healing can come from making acceptance the norm and bigotry the butt of ridicule, and that being kind doesnt necessitate being passive. Max As a show that didnt explicitly market itself as LGBTQ, one of Our Flags most striking aspects is how it subverts the way this genre typically approaches romance. You could argue that the love story begins when Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) is recognized as the pirate he wants to bewhile three-quarters of the way deadby none other than the dread Blackbeard (Taika Waititi). Or you could say it begins when Blackbeard, a.k.a Ed Teach, is seen, for the first time, as someone who deserves softness and finery by the epitome of softness and finery himself. Or when Stede comforts Ed as he curls up in a bathtub reliving his worst memories. Or when Stede picks roasted snake out of Eds beard. Or when Ed gives himself up to the British to save Stedes life. Or when You get my drift. Theres an entire seasons worth of scenes that make up the foundations of a fandom: moments of intimacy and connection that gesture toward the possibility of something more. These are the planks and rigs of a ship sturdy enough to outpace the fleet of fanworks chasing such moments down until feelings are admitted, consummated, and set sailing off into the sunset. In hindsight, Our Flag was undoubtedly heading in this direction. But it wasn't until the most incontrovertible on-screen gesture of romance happeneda kissthat fans heaved a sigh of relief. Because fandom, for all its capacity to will alternative universes into being, is inherently bound to the media from which it springs, and many have only ever cast queer love as bait. But with Our Flag, most fans arent at all concerned about what direction the story will take. And the key difference is that they trust the creators wholeheartedly. How Our Flag Means Death Became the Funniest Show on TV For many queer fans, its a novel experience to interface with a creative team that is not only aware of exactly who the audience is and what they care about, but also proudly and vocally celebrates them. In interviews, producer and lead actor Taika Waititi has stated that he collects fan art on his phone. Vico Ortiz (who plays the nonbinary pirate Jim Jimenez) has shared that fan art encouraged them to get gender-affirming top surgery. Creator and showrunner David Jenkins once remarked that fan discussions are so spot-on, it was as if they had been in the writers room. And several queer actors on the show have expressed that the fandom has made them feel even more connected to the LGBTQ+ community. Max Our Flag is one of the rare cases where fans and creators share the same vision for a given work. There are no calls for the figurative death of the overly originalist author, nor strict separation of the "canon" of the original work from the "fanon" interpretations of the audience. There is no need for fans to dig for subtext, because what theyve been searching for has been on board with them all alongnot as a blink-and-miss-it pantomime or a nothing-left-to-lose Hail Mary, but a queer love story that was intentionally, thoughtfully crafted from the beginning. Our Flag presents fans with a vibrant world where everything is mostly beautiful and almost nothing hurtsat least, not yet. Fans can surmise the shape of the second act and the close of the third, even if they dont know exactly how theyll get there. But with full confidence in the creators, fans have the opportunity to stretch their imagination beyond tallying evidence and righting wrongsand it makes for a fandom experience less a eulogy at a funeral of another buried gay, more a toast at the most extravagant and absurd cruise-ship wedding to ever grace the seven seas. We are all on the same page of the same story, and the experiences of everyone involved is so much richer for it. Or, as Stede would say, treasure is the real treasure. Rhys Darby: Flight of the Conchords Should Avoid the Reboot Trap Fandom, like being a pirate, is in many respects a very queer enterprise. It centers on abandoning the rules so you can survive; grabbing every scrap of home you can find and making it your own; sharing the spoils with the people who see and accept you for who you are and who you want to be. Or, in the words of the shows pseudo-antagonist, Izzy Hands (Con ONeill), it's about belonging to somethinga something that, I believe, could be enough to help you fall back in love with life and the world. Max I think often of the scene that first drew me into Our Flag: Stede asks his former wife, Mary (Claudia ODoherty), what it feels like to be in love. Looking back at it now, I realize her response describes what the experience of being a part of a community a show like Our Flag creates can feel like. Because love, she tells him, is as easy as breathing. Its understanding each others idiosyncrasies and seeing the charm in them. Its exposing each other to new things and laughing a lot. Its passing the time so well together. To every queer fan out there: I hope you find that, too. I hope you can name it without fear. And I hope you will be embraced for that revelation, and all the wonder and joy it brings. 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. Bern, the capital of Switzerland, was "overwhelmed" by Chinese elements such as martial arts, traditional Chinese clothing Hanfu, calligraphy, tea art, traditional Chinese musical instruments guzheng and pipa, and Chinese food, as hundreds of people gathered here Saturday afternoon for the cultural event "Meet China." Held at the Federal Square in the old city of Bern, the Chinese Culture Festival is the first of its kind jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in Switzerland, Chinese students, and overseas Chinese in Switzerland since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sino-Swiss cultural exchanges are an important part of the friendly relations between the two countries, said Chinese Ambassador to Switzerland Wang Shihting. Wang said he believes that this cultural event can deepen the Swiss people's connection and love for Chinese culture, and promote cultural exchanges between the two countries. Accompanied by the sound of gongs and drums, the event kicked off with a lion dance performance. Students from the School for Chinese martial arts in Bern performed Tai Chi, Tai Chi Sword, and others. The power and elegance in their moves attracted many people to stop and watch. Wu Yongmei, director of the School for Chinese martial arts in Bern, said that more than 20 students participated in the performance and most of them had practiced martial arts for several years. Wu said that she was "very proud" to be able to promote Chinese martial arts here in a bid to attract local people to understand Chinese martial arts and culture. "Martial arts is not just fighting, but a manifestation of spirit." As part of the event, Swiss Alphorn artist Walti Sigrist blew a 14-meter-long Alpine horn, one of the oldest musical instruments in Switzerland, and played a number of pieces including "Edelweiss." Sigrist's broker, Claude Hubscher, said that the combination of alphorn performance and the Chinese cultural elements is the "best way" to showcase Chinese culture to the Swiss people and enhance exchanges between the two countries. Chen Xue, one of the organizers of the festival, said that this event could help promote Chinese culture overseas. "We hope that by participating in such activities, our next generation can better inherit Chinese culture." Dozens of booths were set up at the square for traditional Chinese medicine consultation, facial makeup painting, Spring Festival couplet writing, Chinese food, tea art, and paper-cutting. Kevin Riedmann from Schaffhausen, Switzerland, said that he "liked very much" this Chinese cultural festival, the first of its kind for him. Lena Demel from Lucerne, Switzerland, painted a Peking Opera mask. She said that she made a special trip to Bern to better understand Chinese culture and was "overwhelmed" by the wide variety of Chinese elements on site. Welcome back to The Interchange, where we take a look at the hottest fintech news of the previous week. If you want to receive The Interchange directly in your inbox every Sunday, head here to sign up! After a bit of a quiet period, things in the world of fintech picked up in a big way this past week. We wrote about some notable fundraises, how PayPal was hit with an antitrust lawsuit, how Bolt is trying to move on after an SEC probe, and much more. Rainforest takes on the bigger players Its not every day that were pitched companies that feel like they are taking on bigger players in a really meaningful way. This past week, I wrote about Rainforest, an Atlanta-based startup that is taking on incumbents such as Fiserv and FIS, as well as trying to take market share from other fintechs such as Stripe with its offering. Rainforest works with software companies to help them embed financial services and payments into their platforms. In an interview with TechCrunch, CEO and co-founder Joshua Silver respectfully disagreed with a16z general partner Angela Strange about her 2019 statement that every company would become a fintech. In his view, most software companies dont actually want to be fintechs and deal with all the regulatory and compliance issues that go with that. They really just want to be able to accept payments and generate more revenue from being able to do so. Accel led the companys $8.5 million seed round, which included participation from Infinity Ventures, BoxGroup, The Fintech Fund, Tech Square Ventures, and Ardent Venture Partners. Its always cool to see startups outside the coasts growing, and Silvers confidence that what Rainforest is building will make it a formidable player in the space feels like it has merit. Founded in 2022, the startup has seen impressive growth in a short period of time, securing client commitments representing more than $500 million in processing, with much of the volume guaranteed. Silver believes the company's exclusive focus on software companies only gives it an edge. None of the modern processors were built specifically for software platforms. Most of them were built directly for merchants, and theyve all had to retrofit their platforms even to accommodate basic payment processing and reporting functions for software companies, he told TechCrunch. As such, the startup is capturing volume as software platforms migrate from legacy processors such as Fiserv and FIS. As that happens, it competes against companies like Stripe (and its Connect product) to embed financial services and payments. Nik Milanovic of The Fintech Fund posted on X that he believes that one of the biggest stories of the next decade will be about Stripe, which looks invincible from the outside, losing market share to nimble competitors. He added: I think Rainforest is going to be a big part of that story. Meanwhile, Infinity Ventures' Jeremy Jonker and former PayPal exec said he's been in payments for 13 years and has "never before seen anything like Rainforest." He told me via email that "Joshuas background as a software platform founder and then as a payments consultant is a big part of the secret sauce. Hes lived the pain of payments himself, and you cant underestimate the power of being in your clients shoes. He knew that taking on risk and compliance burdens, and offering features like data portability, would be hugely attractive to platforms. We also like that its not just him who has a wealth of payments experience its the entire team hes recruited to the company. Many are longtime payments and SaaS vets who knew there was so much potential for a better provider, and now theyve built it themselves." Listen to TC+ editor Alex Wilhelm and I talk more about how theres plenty of market share to go around in Fridays episode of the Equity podcast below. Mary Ann Image Credits: Joshua Silver (middle) and investors / Rainforest PayPal is being sued for alleged Draconian payment policies On October 5, Mary Ann broke the news that PayPal has been hit with a class action lawsuit by consumers represented by law firm Hagens Berman alleging that the fintech giants anti-steering rules stifle competition against lower-cost payment platforms such as Stripe and Shopify. Specifically, according to an investigation conducted by the firms consumer rights attorneys, PayPal has subjected consumers to excess charges when purchasing from online merchants that accept PayPal or Venmo. Someone commented on social media that they didnt see the problem with what PayPal is doing and questioned whether or not Visa and Mastercard do the same thing. So I went back to the attorneys who filed the lawsuit, who noted that the anti-steering rules are not the first of their kind. They said: Visa and MasterCard once imposed similar anti-steering rules on merchants accepting their cards but, after the Justice Department sued the networks for antitrust violations, they agreed in 2010 to eliminate their anti-steering rules as part of the settlement. With payments transitioning into the digital realm, PayPal has simply ripped a page right from the Visa and MasterCard [sic] playbook. Meanwhile, Patrick McGahan, a partner at Scott+Scott who focuses on antitrust litigation, had an interesting take that actually involves both of those card giants. He told TechCrunch that the case illustrates that the tensions between merchants and the payment system providers are not over, and that litigation regarding this key cost faced by merchants is likely to continue for some time. He added: Platform companies that operate as gatekeepers in their market, such as PayPal, will continue to be the subject of antitrust litigation as a result of the significant fees they charge. PayPals fees are, however, driven by the costs imposed upon them by the dominant card schemes, Visa, Mastercard and American Express. So, we can expect PayPal will respond to this suit by arguing that it is as much of a price taker as the merchants themselves, and that the terms imposed upon it by the card schemes drive some of its anti-steering rules. PayPal did not respond to requests for comment. Mary Ann PayPal logo can be seen at its office in San Jose, California (Photo by Yichuan Cao/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Bolt CEO gets frank about SEC probe Bolt Financial CEO Maju Kuruvilla told me in an interview that the one-click checkout company is putting a recent U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission probe behind it and is moving on. It obviously is a very, very involved process, but we're really happy to put that behind us, Kuruvilla told TechCrunch. We look forward to focusing on the momentum for the business and how we can help the retailers, especially the big retailers who are looking to us to innovate for them, because this is a tough year for retailers. You might remember that Bolt, which provides checkout technology to merchants, and its co-founder Ryan Breslow, were subpoenaed last year by the SEC to investigate whether the company violated any securities laws during fundraising in 2021 when Bolt was seeking its $355 million Series E round that valued the company at $11 billion. The investigation took about 15 months, but news of that probe didnt go public until July of 2023. Shortly thereafter on August 23, the SEC said, in a letter viewed by TechCrunch, it was not recommending an enforcement action for the company. Kuruvilla spoke with me about how, exactly, the company can put something like this behind it, what it told customers and whats next. Read more. Christine Bolt CEO Maju Kuruvilla Weekly News Banking-as-a-service startup Synapse confirmed Friday that it laid off 86 people, or about 40% of the company. The San Franciscobased company, which operates a platform enabling banks and fintech companies to easily develop financial services, has been open about past layoffs. In June, CEO Sankaet Pathak wrote in a blog post that the company had let go of 18% of its workforce as the current macroeconomic conditions had begun to impact its clients and platforms, affecting its anticipated growth. More here. Visa plans to invest $100 million in companies developing generative AI technologies and applications that will impact the future of commerce and payments, Mary Ann reports. Visa Ventures head David Roff told TechCrunch that the fintech giant has a lot of flexibility with regards to how many investments it would make out of the new fund, and average check size. More here. As reported by Manish Singh, Indian unicorn fintech Slice is merging with North East Small Finance Bank after receiving the approval from the central bank, in an extremely rare feat that has eluded many tech giants, top financial startups and tycoons for decades. Slice which earlier offered credit cardlike cards and at peak issued over 400,000 cards in a month, more than any other fintech or bank said the merger with the Guwahati-headquartered bank will allow the combined entity to better serve their shared mission and reach more consumers who currently lack access to basic banking services. More here. CRED grew its operating revenue by a staggering 255% to $168.1 million in the financial year ending March as the fintech startup, which garners an unusually high level of attention, finds rising adoption of its lending and commerce offerings among Indias affluent individuals. The Bengaluru-headquartered startup had a total income of about $50 million in the financial year ending March last year and $11.4 million in the prior year. More here from Manish Singh. Brex co-CEO and co-founder Henrique Dubugras chose the very picturesque island Fernando de Noronha in northeastern Brazil to be the location of four days of festivities around his marriage to software engineer Laura Fiuza, Brazilian publication Globo reported last week. Some 400 guests are reportedly attending the wedding, which led to the closing of the Forte dos Remedios one of the island's main tourist attractions for more than a week, according to Globo. Parabens, Henrique and Laura! Several fintech startups recently made LinkedIns top startups of 2023 list, including Ramp, No. 1; Synctera, No. 11; Esusu, No. 13; Sardine, No. 16; and Tapcheck, No. 48. CB Insights also released its Fintech 100 list, made up of the most promising 100 fintech startups of 2023. Other items we are paying attention to: The great Zelle pool scam The Public platform offers everyday investors a slice of Shrek catalog with quarterly payouts Stockpile and Green Dot partner on debit cards for minors Amex pilots biometrics in online checkout Pie Insurance appoints Audra Foglietta as chief financial officer Monzo picks Cash App vet Conor Walsh for US CEO Folsom-based EV Life launches electric car loan to lower monthly payments CLEAR launches reusable KYC solution Funding and M&A As seen in TechCrunch Open banking led to a fintech boom as Brite raises $60M, account-to-account payment grows Recapitalization, $60M Series D support growth of e-commerce financier Clearco Stitch raises $25M Series A extension led by Ribbit Capital, increasing the rounds total to $46M Resy and Eater co-founder raises $24M for Blackbird, a restaurant loyalty platform Sparx wants to do for enterprise what Truebill did for consumer recurring bills Ten Key Labs wants to simplify managing equity for startups Seen elsewhere Logistics company Loop raises $35M to modernize the supply chain (Also, check out TechCrunchs previous story on Loop.) Shift4 acquires SpotOn unit for $100M (TechCrunch previously covered SpotOn here.) Reserv raises $20M for AI-driven insurtech software Vyzer raises $6.3M seed round for AI-powered wealth management platform Kafene adds another $12.6M to its Series B round (TechCrunch previously covered Kafene here.) Fintech firm Revio boosts community bank growth with $2.5M funding SkyWatch acquires Droneinsurance.com AP Automation Fintech Stampli announces $61M round led by Blackstone Over the weekend, Sept. 23 and 24, some 189 individual patients received over $86,000 in free dental, vision and medical care during Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinic held at Jefferson County High School. This was the second time Emory University student volunteers have served as the community host group to bring such a clinic to Georgia. In 2021 RAM served 219 patients and provided over $120,000 of similar free healthcare services including 88 made-to-order pairs of glasses. The main reason we chose Louisville is because a lot of rural communities in Georgia have limited access to health care, said Shivani Lam, the current Co-President of Emory RAM, a group of college students who travel to volunteer at RAM clinics throughout the United States several times a year. A lot of the rural counties have healthcare provider ratios lower than the statewide average and a lot of our rural hospitals are at high risk of closure. We wanted to put our clinic in one of those communities where there was a great need. Host groups like Lams coordinate with RAM to organize clinics like this, raiding funds and recruiting volunteer medical professionals from the surrounding area to provide free dental, vision and medical care for anyone who shows up without even asking for identification. Students and faculty from the Georgia College of Dentistry in Augusta provided free extractions, fillings, oral exams and cleanings at the RAM clinic held in Jefferson County. A lot of the individuals who come to clinics like this are underinsured or uninsured, so dental and vision exams arent really covered by their insurance, Lam said. We have a lot of patients who have gone over 10 years or maybe never have had a dental or vision exam. Because of stats like that, we really wanted to revisit Louisville. Brad Hutchins, the RAM Clinic Coordinator for the Jefferson County clinic, said that 176 volunteers supported the event. Around 60 of the volunteers came from Emory. At this one we made glasses for patients. We provided extractions, fillings and cleanings and offered medical exams. Dental is usually the most requested, but at this particular clinic, there was just as much need for medical as there was for dental, Hutchins said. Typically the medical services we provide aligns with what you would see at urgent care. We also had womens health and offered pap smears. Many of the optometrists and physicians present were from Emory University. Both facutly and students from the Dental College of Georgia in Augusta provided those services. We also had volunteers who came down from their own private practices to support the clinic and we really appreciate them as well, Lam said. This was the second RAM clinic held in Jefferson County in the last two years. Together they have provided over $206,000 of free dental, vision and medical services to 408 area residents. Leigh Davis, Jefferson County Department of Public Healths Nurse Manager, set up a resource booth at the event to hand out free Covid tests and let attendees know what services they could get at the county health department. When they did this before we ended up with some hypertension referrals for people who didnt have health insurance, Davis said. We were there letting people know that services dont have to stop here, you can go to the health department and continue some things. Through the county health department women who are over 40, do not have health insurance and income qualify can receive free mammograms and pap smears through their Breast and Cervical Cancer Program. Davis said that she was impressed with the scale and thoroughness of the RAM clinic set up at Jefferson County High School. They had interpreters there who also served as, like, chaperones, who not interpreted for patients at registration but also directed them as to the next steps and where they were supposed to go, Davis said. It was massive and they had people volunteering from all over. Most of the people Davis and her representatives talked to were from Jefferson, Burke and Washington counties, but there was one family who had driven down from Savannah. These clinics are such a joy because it is so beautiful to see healthcare providers and volunteers from different cities and backgrounds come together and provide these communities with the resources they need, Lam said. We definitely want to continue holding clinics in rural Georgia. Were not sure whether we will have it in Louisville again, but were going to try to increase the frequency of them because there is such a great need and we want to help out as much as possible. Emory RAM, a student-led volunteer organization, served at the community host site raising funds and recruiting medical professionals to provide services and provide general support volunteers. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: RAM clinic provides $86,000 in free medical care in Louisville area An explorer who focuses on location and preserving old-growth trees has encountered what is one of the oldest old-growth trees ever documented in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Last summer, TJ Watt was bushwhacking through a remote forest in Flores Island, part of Clayoquot Sound, in the territory of the Ahousaht First Nation off the west coast of Vancouver Island, when he came upon a magnificent site. A massive red cedar appeared, whose trunk seemed to grow wider the farther up it went. It was incredible to stand before it, he told The Washington Post. Id describe it as a freak of nature because it actually gets wider as it gets taller. As I looked up at it, I felt a sense of awe and wonder. Ive found thousands and thousands of trees, and Ive shot hundreds of thousands of photos of old-growth forests, he added. But Ive never seen a tree as impressive as this one. After happening upon the tree, he consulted with members of the Ahousaht, who have lived in the territory for thousands of years. As part of the nations plans to protect over 80 per cent of their Clayoquot Sound lands as Ahousaht Cultural and Natural Areas, the Ahousaht will protect the giant tree Mr Watt experienced. The western red cedar measures 151 feet tall and 17 feet wide, and is thought to be over 1,000 years old. Its exact location is being kept secret to protect its sensitive habitat from overuse. People would have seen this tree for hundreds of years my people would have interacted with it for as long as its been here, Tyson Atleo, a representative of the nation, told the Post. Today we covet these large trees because there are so few of them left. Old-growth forests are key reserves of biodiversity and resilience in the face of the climate crisis. In 2020, the government of British Columbia embarked on what it promised would be a paradigm-shifting new approach to managing these vital forests. The following year, it consulted with 204 First Nations on whether they supported deferring logging of these forests for the next two years while officials formulated "a new approach to sustainable forest management that prioritizes ecosystem health and community resiliency." Critics argue the effort to preserve the forests hasnt been adequately funded and implemented thus far. Outlets like Mongabay have documented clear-cutting on Vancouver Island forests slated for protection. According to analysis of public data, logging of these forests actually increased between 2020 and 2021 by around 13 per cent, CBC reports. "These are the most resilient forests we have left with a fighting chance to withstand climate change like drought, fire and flooding," Sierra Clubs Jens Wieting told the outlet. "If we continue to nibble away at the last old-growth we will be left defenceless." When Nahnatchka Khan initiated a video call with Kiernan Shipka to discuss the lead role in her new slasher comedy Totally Killer, she assumed the actress wouldnt remember her. Khan had directed Shipka in an early episode of Dont Trust the B- in Apartment 23, one of a few sitcoms she has created, but Shipka was all of 11 years old at the time. Turns out she didnt need any reminding. Khan gently mentioned their history, and Shipka immediately started ticking off specific memories about the pairs collaboration. That Khan thought she might be forgotten speaks to her unassuming nature. Despite a writing resume that includes Malcolm in the Middle, American Dad!, Fresh Off the Boat (which she created), Young Rock (which she also created), and the popular Netflix romantic comedy Always Be My Maybe (which she directed), Khan has never hogged the spotlight, content to let her scripts do the talking. Thats rare in comedy, where big personalities tend to get ahead. Then again, Khan, who grew up in a small, relaxed Hawaiian town, is a rare breed herself: an Iranian American lesbian who has thrived in Hollywood, seemingly without fail, for the better part of three decades. With Shipka on strike alongside the rest of the Screen Actors Guild, Khan is the sole promotional face of Totally Killer, which closed out Fantastic Fest in Austin last week and made its debut on Prime Video this week. Usually she can take a back seat to the A-listers in her casts, people like Ali Wong , Randall Park , Constance Wu , Dwayne Johnson, and Krysten Ritter. Not this time. In an age when many showrunners are household names, its Khans moment to shine. Totally Killer came to Khan through the prolific horror producer Jason Blum, who requested a meeting with her after Always Be My Maybe came out in 2019. She brought in her friend Jen DAngelo, an alumna of Young Rock and Workaholics, to help punch up an existing script Blum gave Khan about a small town as haunted by the so-called Sweet Sixteen Killer as Haddonfield is by Michael Myers. The assassin only struck once, murdering three 16-year-old girls more than three decades ago, but locals live in fear of more bloodshed. Every Halloween, trick-or-treaters wearing copycat masks stalk the streets. Photo by Amazon Studios The movie, naturally, is about the killers present-day return. Combining classic slasher tropes with Back to the Future-esque time travel, Totally Killer stars Shipka as Jamie, a hip 17-year-old who returns home on Halloween night to find her mother (Julie Bowen) slaughtered. With the help of her best friend (To All the Boys Ive Loved Befores Kelcey Mawema) and a little science fiction, she returns to 1987, which might let Jamie prevent Mr. Sweet Sixteens original rampage, saving her momand herselffrom doom. You dont feel the gearshift of the comedy and the horror in the movie, Khan told The Daily Beasts Obsessed over lunch in Austin on the afternoon of Totally Killers Fantastic Fest premiere. I want comedy to be grounded, but there are all these elements at play where anything can happen. When the time travel is introduced, I didnt want the joke to be the 80s. Were not suddenly in a Duran Duran video. Khans graduate school, as she calls it, was the animated kids comedy Pepper Ann, her first job out of college. There, she learned two vital skills: how to make a half-hour show and how to talk to production executives. For the latter, her trick was to never finish a sentence. Someone would hand her a schedule, for example. Shed have no idea what any of it meant. I would start to ask a question, interrupt myself, and just never finish it: Why did you? Oh, you know what, I see what you did there, Khan says. That way, she could seem like she knew what she was talking about without having to appropriate the industry jargon she didnt yet understand. Ed Araquel/Netflix Complementing a chill Hawaiian childhood that Khan spent watching Laverne & Shirley and other big-city sitcoms, Pepper Anns sensibilities seeped into her. She got to write a quirky young protagonist with a strong will and a robust fantasy life, qualities that came in handy when she was developing what became her first series at the helm, Dont Trust the B--. Fox first bought the pilot script in 2009, only to nix it before it went into production. Khan found a savior in Paul Lee, a new ABC executive who wanted what she calls women-behaving-badly shows. (Fun fact: Khan initially wrote the James Van Der Beek rolea self-obsessed celebrity hell-bent on reviving his careerfor Lance Bass.) Dont Trust the B- was a modest success during its two-season run. It was Khans next show, Fresh Off the Boat, that elevated her to the upper leagues of broadcast comedy showrunners, occupied by the likes of Robert Carlock (30 Rock), Michael Schur (Parks & Recreation), and Kenya Barris (Black-ish). Fresh Off the Boat also led her to Randall Park, whom Khan cast opposite Wu as the agreeable patriarch of a Taiwanese American family who own a kitschy Orlando steakhouse. (He has a supporting part in Totally Killer.) Park introduced her to Wong, and Khan hired her as a writer on the show. Wong and Park then recruited Khan to direct Always Be My Maybe, her first film. Around that same time, she paired up with Johnson to develop Young Rock, an NBC sitcom based on the superstar actors young life. Kiernan Shipka Saves Totally Killer From Being Dead on Arrival When asked to reflect on the nonstop success Khan has experienced, she chalks it up to the relationships she has built. Khan knows what its like to submit a script to a superior who barely acknowledges it, and she never wants the writers in her employ to feel overlooked. Shes quick to credit not her own comedic talents but the people around herand, of course, to luck and timing, the twin accelerators of any successful Hollywood career. To prepare for the horror elements of Totally Killer, Khans wifeJulia Bicknell, a writer on Yellowjackets and The Haunting of Bly Manorencouraged her to watch The Conjuring and other hits of the genre. In Khans typical way, she finds scary movies relaxing, largely because theyre so removed from what she normally writes. (Totally Killer is, admittedly, more funny than spooky.) Despite the films sizable budget, visual effects and a lot of night shoots, Khan remained unflappable on the Vancouver set, where early sunrises posed lighting issues if things ran behind schedule. One night, torrential rain left her crew in hysterics. I was just like, Its gonna be fine. Were going to get it. If we have to redo the audio, we have to redo the audio, she recalls. We cant control the rain. We can either stand here and panic or we can go over and start rolling. Its just refusing to not get it done. And we got it done. On the call sheet one day, it said, Beware of bugs, mud, and snow. But unless its part of the scene, you would never know. Photo by Amazon Studios Maybe thats the key to Khans success: a level head. The odds have been stacked against her since the day she set foot in Los Angeles, and yet here she is, humble and steadfast. Im an optimist at heart, she says. You always feel like youre struggling to put forward the projects that you care about, but you just keep grinding and hope that other people respond. Keep obsessing! Sign up for the Daily Beasts Obsessed newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 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. One of the opponents of providing aid to Ukraine is Congressman Matt Getz Evelyn Farkas , a former U.S. defense official and current executive director of the U.S.-based think tank, the McCain Institute, discussed the reluctance of Republican congress members Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene in supporting Ukraine, in an interview with NV on Oct. 6. "I don't think it has anything to do with anything strategic or any well thought out logical argument about Ukraine, the war in Ukraine, or Ukraine's role in the world, Farkas said. Read also: Ukraine has good relations with candidates vying for House Speaker post, Ukraines envoy says I think it's an effort on their part to target President Biden." Farkas claimed that Ukraine's success in the war with Russia has been largely due to the foreign policy of US. .President Joe Biden . "So the fact that his foreign policy has been successful so far may be the reason why they don't want to support aid to Ukraine, she speculated. Read also: Zelenskyy after meeting with Biden says US will stand with Ukraine as long as needed But I'm speculating here because I don't really know why. I think it also has to do with the fact that they see bipartisan support for this decision and they don't like that bipartisan unity. They seem to prefer to block anything that is a bipartisan decision. So maybe they're more interested in weakening the government, in not having a strong, unified economic policy in the United States." Farkas noted that if the United States does not help Ukraine, there is a high risk that it will be forced to send American troops to fight in defense of NATO countries. "Nobody wants that, Farkas concluded. Obviously, these members of Congress do not fully understand the context in which they are acting. If they did, I can't imagine them acting in this way. Read also: EU cannot replace US aid to Ukraine Borrell On Sept. 30, the then-U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy removed $6 billion in support to Ukraine from a temporary funding bill intended to avoid a U.S. government shutdown. McCarthy justified the move by claiming that this was an issue that should be considered separately, at a later time. 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 Vermont State Police are asking the public, businesses and hunters near a state university campus to review their surveillance systems after a retired dean and professor who was married to best-selling author Ron Powers was found shot to death on a rail trail this week. Police said Friday night an autopsy showed that Honoree Fleming, 77, of Castleton, died from a gunshot wound to the head on Thursday afternoon. She was found on the Delaware & Hudson Rail Trail about a mile (1.61 kilometers) south of the Castleton campus of Vermont State University, which was closed. The campus will reopen Monday morning, providing a supportive environment for those who wish to come together, Vermont State University spokesperson Sylvia Plumb said in an email Saturday. Monday events such as an admissions open house were canceled. Regular class schedules were expected to resume Tuesday. A witness reported a possible suspect was northbound on the trail walking towards the campus after gunshots were heard, police said. The witness described a 5-foot-10-inch (1.78-meter) white male with short, dark-colored hair, last seen wearing a dark gray T-shirt and carrying a black backpack. State police said he is considered to be armed and dangerous and asked anyone who might have seen him to call them. Maj. Dan Trudeau, head of the state police criminal division, said in a news conference Friday afternoon that some security camera footage from the area was reviewed, which hasnt been much of a help at this rate, he said. Were still canvassing the area and trying to reach people at their homes. It is early hunting season, Trudeau said. Theres hunters who may have game cameras in the woods. He asked if they could check them. Fleming was a beloved retired dean of education and researcher with countless papers published, the university said in a statement Friday. She also was the wife of Powers, who co-wrote the book Flags of Our Fathers, about the men involved in the famous flag-raising during the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima. A Pulitzer Prize winner in 1973 for criticism as a television-radio columnist, he also wrote a biography of Mark Twain and collaborated with the late U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy on the politicians memoir, True Compass. More recently, Powers wrote No One Cares About Crazy People: The Chaos and Heartbreak of Mental Health in America, about his sons battles with schizophrenia. Fleming died days before what would have been the couples 45th wedding anniversary. Her husband said she was walking on her favorite trail. There is an area-wide dragnet out for her killer, Powers posted online Friday. Police believe that it was random, but all possibilities remain open. He added, Those of you who knew her know that she was beautifully named. I have never known a more sterling heart and soul than hers. She has taken far more than half my own heart and soul with her. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW While so much of the media focused on attention-grabbing headlines, I want to share with you my perspective on how the government funding debate played out last week. First, House Republicans passed the appropriation bills for the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of State. Specifically, in the Homeland Security bill, I successfully added my amendment to block the Biden Administrations proposed $600 fee on farmers and small businesses here in the 4th District and across America. With these bills, combined with previously passed VA funding, the House has now passed roughly 70% of federal government funding through the annual appropriations process. With our nation over $33 trillion in debt, we need to reduce spending in the short term, through the appropriations process, as well as in the medium and long term. With that in mind, last Thursday I introduced the Fiscal Commission Act of 2023. This bipartisan bill would create a debt commission comprised of 16 individuals including a total of 12 members from the House and Senate as well as four individuals from the private sector. The goal of this bipartisan group would be to propose a set of policies designed to balance the budget as well as improve the solvency for all programs that have a federal trust fund. Additionally, my legislation requires the House and Senate to have a vote on this proposal without amendments after the 2024 election and before the 118th Congress adjourns. When I introduced the bill, it was co-sponsored by 7 Republicans and 7 Democrats. It has been clear for some time that the House was going to need more time to finish the appropriations process. Congress has not successfully completed this process since 1997, more than 25 years ago. With the end of the fiscal year on Saturday at midnight, it became clear that a short-term funding bill would be necessary so the House could continue to move forward on appropriations. Republicans put up for a vote a 30-day stopgap measure that protected funding for defense, the VA, and homeland security while enacting a near 30% spending reduction for discretionary programs over that one-month period. Additionally, this measure inserted H.R. 2 the Secure the Border Act. H.R. 2 was sent to the Senate in May and is the strongest border security legislation to pass the House in the modern era. H.R. 2 restores border integrity by hiring new border patrol agents, ending catch and release, strengthening the fight against human and drug traffickers, and addressing the immigration adjudication backlog as well as restarting construction on physical barriers. Importantly, this short-term funding measure also included my Fiscal Commission Act of 2023 as an amendment. While I supported this conservative stopgap, sadly, it fell short of a simple majority due to every democrat voting against this measure and 21 Republicans joining them. While some believe a shutdown would somehow produce a more conservative outcome, I do not share this view based on experience from previous shutdowns in 2013 and 2018. As the clock continued to wind down, the decision was then made to put a 45-day funding bill on the House floor. To give our conference time to continue to reduce spending through the appropriations process and avoid a government shutdown, I supported this temporary measure. Going forward, the House will continue to focus on passing the rest of the appropriation bills. This stands in stark contrast to the Senate which has yet to pass a single appropriations bill. House Republicans are working to change how Washington operates. No one said it would be easy, but making positive change is often difficult and takes time. I hope this helps shed light on how the last week in Washington went. If you have questions or comments, I encourage you to reach out at Huizenga.House.Gov or by phone to either my office in Holland at 616-251-6741 or my office in Portage at 269-569-8595. Bill Huizenga is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Michigan's Fourth District. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: My Take: Reviewing the government funding debate In Conroe, a suburb of Houston, architecture company Modu and climate-focused engineering company Transsolar have teamed up to create an innovative building design that keeps itself cool without air conditioning. The 14,000-square-foot building, which was recently completed and will be home to stores and medical spaces in the near future, features concrete walls with deep grooves that move heat away from the building by providing more surface area for the building, according to Fast Company. Tests showed that the ridged pattern kept the wall 18 degrees cooler than a comparable traditional flat wall in the same location. The walls also use a dirt-repelling white paint that reflects sunlight to further enhance their cooling capabilities. Finding ways to keep buildings and their occupants cool is a vital practice as the planet continues to dangerously overheat. Though air conditioning offers tempting and often crucial short-term comforts, it does more harm than good in the long run, as AC units are designed to pump hot air from indoors to outdoors, thus increasing the external temperature, according to Euronews. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory reports that the energy used to run air conditioners creates almost 2 billion tons of carbon pollution annually worldwide, which is more than the global airline industry emits. We are trying to find solutions for the social dependency on air conditioning, Rachely Rotem, the cofounder of Modu, told Fast Company. In a way, the wall is working a bit like a very large radiator, Modu founding director Phu Hoang told the outlet. We always have passive energy design strategies that we incorporate with the overall idea of reducing energy use. The effectiveness of the innovative wall designs has already been noted. In Texas right now, were in triple-digit heat, said the buildings owner, Anh Gip. I havent run the air conditioning at all. But when I walk inside the building, it feels cooler. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet. For months, Republicans have been reveling in Robert F Kennedy Jrs presidential bid. Running in the Democratic primary against Joe Biden , the hope has been that Kennedy could weaken the president ahead of a presumed Biden-Trump match-up in 2024. But with Kennedy expected to announce that he will ditch the Democratic party and run as an independent, some commentators are suggesting that conservatives schadenfreude could come back to haunt them. Related: Third party candidates will help Trump win | Robert Reich Thats because of the curious case of Kennedys political appeal. It turns out that the son of Robert F Kennedy and nephew of John F Kennedy, Democratic giants who maintain widespread admiration in the party, is actually more popular among Republicans including some of the most influential rightwing voices in the US. Kennedy, Steve Bannon said on his War Room podcast in April, would be an excellent choice for Trumps running mate. Charlie Kirk, founder of the rightwing Turning Point USA, has praised Kennedy. So has Michael Flynn, Trumps former national security advisor and QAnon enthusiast. The noted rightwing crank Alex Jones added his endorsement on his InfoWars show. I dont agree with Robert F Kennedy Jr on some topics, but hes a man of integrity that fights fluoride and poison shots and fentanyl and everything else. Hes a good man, said Jones, who last year was ordered to pay nearly $1bn to relatives of the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting victims, after he falsely claimed the shooting was a hoax. The support for Kennedy from fluoridated-water-lowers-IQ-and-or-causes-cancer Republicans makes sense. Kennedy, 69, is a man who never met a conspiracy theory he didnt like. In the last few months alone, the former environmental lawyer has said that wifi causes leaky brain, and linked antidepressants to school shootings. In June Kennedy said chemicals in water are making kids transgender and and declared that US support for Ukraine to be a setup by the neocons and the CIA. He also has longstanding, and wrong, beliefs about apparently any and all vaccines. Kennedy first announced he was considering a run for the Democratic nomination in March, in a speech that, true to form, was banned from YouTube for violating the platforms medical misinformation policies. In April, he announced his candidacy for real, in a video that has not yet been removed from YouTube, and soon some polls showed that up to 20% of Democratic primary voters would pledge for Kennedy. With RFK Jr, there will be people who will lose some sleep on both sides Steffen Schmidt If, as expected, Kennedy is to run as an independent, those numbers would suggest he could strip votes from Biden. Not so, said Steffen Schmidt, professor emeritus in the department of political science at Iowa State University. Kennedy is an IED we dont know [when] hes going to blow and on whom, Schmidt said. Schmidt said there may have been early sentimental appeal for Kennedy among Democrats, given his familys history. Bidens age a recent poll showed a majority of Democrats believe the president is too old to be effective for four more years might have also been a factor in liberals considering a different candidate. And then they began to hear the menu of things, his conspiracy theories and all that, and they began to see him on Fox News and all kinds of other conservative media, and the honeymoon was over, Schmidt said. That slew of appearances on conservative media, and at rightwing events Kennedy has previously appeared at a show hosted by ReAwaken America, described by PBS as a petri dish for Christian nationalism have made him popular among Republican voters, many of whom are still in thrall to Donald Trump , another noted conspiracy theorist. A FiveThirtyEight review of eight polls on Kennedys popularity in both parties found that he was actually better liked among Republicans than Democrats, which Schmidt attributed to his conspiratorial beliefs. (Kennedy has also said that 5G towers could control our behavior and suggested HIV is not the cause of Aids. He has been accused of racism and antisemitism over claims partly withdrawn that Covid-19 was ethnically targeted at Caucasians and Black people, while sparing Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people, while in July the Congressional Integrity Project, a political watchdog, released a report that details Kennedys meetings with and promotion of racists, antisemites and extremist conspiracy theorists. He has conspiracy theories, including his anti-vaccine position, which is very popular among conservative Republicans, Schmidt said. Theres a pretty formidable list of things that would appeal to a more fringy group on the Republican side. Kennedy is already attracting Republican donors: in July Axios reported that a small but growing number of donors had given heavily to the presidential campaigns of both Kennedy when he was still running as a Democrat and Republican candidates. Republicans put a lot of effort and money into getting visibility because they thought that was going to hurt Joe Biden and now it looks more like its going to backfire on them. Im not a gambling man. But if I had to put $1,000 on the table in Las Vegas, I would put it on Republicans losing some votes in some states to him and not the Democrats, Schmidt said. Although with RFK Jr, there will be people who will lose some sleep on both sides. Biden supporters and staffers, as well as some of the Trump campaign people will be worried as to whats going to happen. For all the talk of Kennedys potential effect, there is near universal agreement that, as an independent, he will not win the presidential election. Independent candidates typically will carve away support from one of the major parties, said Emmitt Y Riley III, associate professor of political science and Africana studies at DePauw University and president of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists. But the problem is most voters in the US will claim that they are independents, when in actuality theyre more partisan than people who identify with political parties. And people like the label independent, but their politics isnt independent at all. There is some precedent for independent and third-party candidates having an effect in presidential elections, including Ross Perot, who won 19% of the popular vote in the 1992 race between George HW Bush and Bill Clinton. In 2000, George W Bush beat Al Gore by 537 votes in Florida, which clinched Bush the presidency. Ralph Nader, running on the Green party ticket, won 97,421 votes in the state, and Democrats including Joe Biden blamed him for Gores loss. Ralph Nader is not going to be welcome anywhere near the corridors [of Congress]. Nader cost us the election, Biden told the Guardian at the time. Related: RFK Jr draws quite a crowd what does it mean for 2024? Similarly, a CNN analysis of Trumps 2016 win found that Jill Stein, the Green party presidential candidate and Gary Johnson representing the Libertarian party, did well enough in several states arguably to help elect Donald Trump. The financial might of the Democratic and Republican parties, however, means independents or third party candidates will always face an uphill battle. The electoral college system, in which a successful candidate must win the vote in numerous states, is another obstacle. And while exposure hasnt been a problem for Kennedy, at least among rightwing media, he will face difficulties making it into the presidential debates, which are watched by millions. Kennedy could also face an Icarus moment, should he be seen as drawing too much support from either of the main parties. If he wants to run, run. Fine, a source close to the Trump campaign told the Daily Beast after rumors of Kennedys independent effort began to circulate. But if he chooses to run as an independent, then hes our opponent. Not everyone agrees that Kennedys campaign will be most damaging to Trump, however. Riley said that given the lack of enthusiasm for Biden at large his public approval rating has been below 50% for more than two years and continuing concerns over the economy, plus the enthusiasm of Trumps base, Democrats should be more worried. Im not convinced that he will threaten Trump. I think the core supporters who support Donald Trump are typically rich white conservatives, and conservatives who have negative racial attitudes. And as a result, the way in which hes been able to prime support among these particular voters, I think Trump has a solid core of voters who will support him. I dont think any of the voters who are voting for Trump are swing voters, or voters that are on the fence. On Kennedys side, so far is a demonstrated ability to bring in lots of money, including $5m given to an affiliated Super Pac by a Trump donor. Hes not young, but hes younger than Biden and Trump, in an election where age may become a factor. While Kennedy and his novel beliefs are mostly a benign fascination at the moment, the consequences of him forging a strong independent run could be serious. I think if Trump wins the election, were gonna see the nation move more towards authoritarianism, Riley said. Were going to see more erosion of our democratic norms, I think were going to be in trouble. America can no longer sell itself as a republic, or even as a democratic form of government with a president who disrespects our democratic institutions. I think that this is one of the most consequential inventions of our time. Intl community urges Japan to be responsible as country starts 2nd round of dumping Global Times) 08:44, October 08, 2023 Japan's dangerous move. Illustration: Liu Rui/GT Japan's irresponsible decision to dump nuclear-contaminated water has again triggered international anger as it kicked off a second round with the Chinese Embassy in Japan expressing strong opposition to the country's unilateral move, which is passing on the risk of radioactive contamination to the world. The dumping of nuclear-contaminated wastewater into the sea concerns the marine environment and human health. It is by no means a private matter of Japan, nor can it be decided by Japan alone, a spokesperson of the embassy remarked on Friday. "We once again urge the Japanese government to face up to the opposition and serious concerns in Japan and from the international community, fully consult and conduct substantive communication with neighboring countries, and establish a long-term and effective international monitoring mechanism with the participation of neighboring countries and other stakeholders and handle the nuclear-contaminated water in a responsible manner," the spokesperson said. The second round of dumping started on Thursday, and 7,800 metric tons of contaminated water will be released into the ocean over 17 days, according to media reports. Citizen groups worldwide, including those in Japan, South Korea and China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, have taken to the streets in recent days to urge the Japanese government to stop its toxic dumping. The South Korean government on Thursday brought the issue of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water to the 18th International Marine Organization meeting held in London. Claiming Japan's dumping "meets international standards," Seoul called on efforts to ensure safe dumping while highlighting the need for transparent data sharing. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will send a task force to Japan in late October for a review of the dumping. However, IAEA only has access to information provided by TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company), which has been found guilty of lying repeatedly since the 2011 tsunami caused the nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima plant. Also, two South Korean media outlets in July have alleged that the Japanese government sent IAEA at least 1 million euros ($1.06 million) as a political payment to greenlight its dumping proposal. Some observers therefore have become skeptical of whether IAEA can give a comprehensive review given its access to selected information. Japan's dumping has dealt a blow to its fishery industry as well as overall reputation of Japanese products. China's seafood imports from Japan in August dived 67.6 percent from a year earlier to 149.02 million yuan ($20.44 million), after a fall of 28.5 percent in July, per data from Chinese customs released in September. The data for September has not yet been released, but imports are expected to decline further as a sweeping ban on Japan's seafood was imposed on August 24, when Japan started the dumping. Japan's seafood exports to South Korea also plunged in August, according to media reports. The just ended Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays gave a strong boost to China's catering industry, but customers remain careful when choosing where to eat. The Global Times learned from several restaurants serving Japanese cuisine that they were frequently asked about the origin of their ingredients, while some placed noticeable signboards stating that none of their food was sourced from Japan. "Even if our seafood is imported from northern Europe and South America, some customers may opt not to come due to an instinctive distrust," an employee at a Japanese restaurant in Beijing's Sanlitun area told the Global Times. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) You are here: Arts A series of cultural activities were held Saturday at Getty Center in Los Angeles to celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day. Getty Center shared traditional and contemporary indigenous perspectives and narratives through music, performances, workshops, food, plants, and more. Visitors experienced Southern California's Native American cultures through the full-day events. Since 2021, the event has pivoted from a celebration of explorer and colonizer Christopher Columbus to one focused on the native people whose lives and culture were forever changed by colonialism. This year's Indigenous Peoples' Day falls on Oct. 9, the second Monday in October. (NEXSTAR) You can probably name some of the richest people in the country: Elon Musk , Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffett. But do you know the wealthiest person in Nevada? Unless you have a few billion dollars lying around, it likely isnt you. Every year, Forbes releases a list of the 400 wealthiest people in the U.S. This includes those who have garnered their wealth through investments, software, sports, retail, real estate, family ties, and food. The 2023 list includes some notable firsts. Michael Jordan, for instance, is the first professional athlete to land on the Forbes 400. His off-the-court income, namely from his deals with Nike and the sale of his stake in the Charlotte Hornets, propelled him onto this years list. Another newcomer is Josh Kushner, the son of real estate developer Charles Kushner and brother of Jared Kushner. The latter Kushners father-in-law, former President Donald Trump, failed to make the Forbes 400 this year. Another name to fall off the list this year was Sam Bankman-Fried, who is currently facing federal charges. Robin Williams daughter denounces AI recreations of him To make the list this year, billionaires needed at least $2.9 billion. As a whole, the Forbes 400 hold $4.5 trillion in wealth. Eight Nevadans earned a spot in the top 400, led by Miriam Adelson and family and their estimated $32.8 billion. Miriam Adelson is the widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson , who found Las Vegas Sands. The corporation owned the Venetian and the Sands Expo and Convention Center, until it sold off the assets last year. FILE Founder, Chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Sheldon Adelson and his wife Miriam Ochsorn attend a press conference with U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the East Room of the White House on January 28, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Other Nevadans on the Forbes 400 are: David Duffield, who founded PeopleSoft and Workday (estimated $13.7 billion net worth) Nancy Walton Laurie, who inherited a portion of the Walmart empire (estimated $9.3 billion) Jay Chaudhry, CEO of cybersecurity company Zscaler (estimated $9.2 billion net worth) Eren Ozmen, chairwoman of Sierra Nevada Corporation, an aerospace and defense company (estimated $3.4 billion net worth) Fatih Ozmen, CEO and co-owner of Sierra Nevada Corporation (estimated $3.3 billion net worth) Andrew Cherng, cofounder of fast food giant Panda Express (estimated $3.1 billion net worth) Peggy Cherng, cofounder of fast food giant Panda Express (estimated $3.1 billion net worth) But the person at the top of the list comes from outside Nevada. Elon Musk, now a Texas resident, earned the top spot with an estimated net worth of $251 billion thanks to his companies Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter). Below is a list of the richest people in each state, as well as their net worth, according to Forbes. As it did last year, California had the most residents on the list with 87 an increase of seven residents over 2022. The states without a representative were Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia. You can view the full list on Forbes website here. This was the publications 42st edition of the Forbes 400. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Following a spell of early October warmth that tied and challenged records across parts of the Northwest, residents in the western U.S. will face another pattern shift into the upcoming week as damp, cooler conditions push into the West Coast. AccuWeather meteorologists explain that temperatures this week will be noticeably lower than previous days. "After a brief warm stretch this past weekend in cities across the western U.S., temperatures will fall well below the historical average as a storm moves into the Northwest," stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Haley Taylor. A cold front brought rain to coastal locations first thing Monday and will continue to march that rain eastward into Tuesday night. The arrival of the front will also mark the return of a brisk, Arctic air mass and rounds of stormy weather. Temperatures in cities like Seattle and Portland this week are expected to drop between 10-25 degrees Fahrenheit from values observed late last week and over the weekend. Cooler conditions are set to expand farther inland across the West into midweek. By midweek, daytime temperatures in Seattle are forecast to only reach into the upper 50s F by the afternoon hours. In contrast, over the weekend, Emerald City observed temperatures climbing nearly to the 80-degree mark. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts with Premium+ Conditions in western Oregon will trend toward typical mid-October weather with rounds of rain and temperatures ranging into the 60s F. Locations such as Eugene, Oregon, will observe high temperatures from the middle to upper 60s throughout this week, a stark difference from temperatures in the 80s recorded over the weekend. Cooler conditions will even reach into parts of Southern California this week. Forecasters say that this week's stormy weather will not be a passing occasion. The pattern setting up through mid- to late October can usher in rounds of storms moving into the Northwest, with typical autumn-like temperatures expected to last for the foreseeable future. Taylor added that the first round of rain to fall across the Northwest early this week may even prove beneficial, especially for areas still under drought conditions. However, burn scars in the Cascades will need to be monitored for any flash flooding potential. Through Tuesday night, rainfall amounts across western Washington, Oregon and Northwest California will generally be under 1 inch. However, some locations along the Oregon Coastal Range can potentially collect up to 1.00-1.50 inches of rain. Early this week, conditions will trend cool enough across the higher terrain to allow for periods of rain to transition to snow showers. However, pass level conditions in Oregon and Washington may not make the cut in terms of being cold enough for snowflakes. "Despite the cooler air moving into the region through Tuesday night, snow levels aren't expected to fall any lower than 6,000 feet, and most major passes in the Cascades can expect mainly rain," stated Taylor. However, by midweek, another energetic feature will slam into the Northwest and bring additional rainfall to parts of Washington, Oregon and Northern California before trudging into the northern Rocky Mountains. Forecasters say that the midweek storm can bring the risk of localized thunder and flash flooding across the region. Chances for snow will return to the higher elevations of the Cascades and Rocky Mountains as this secondary storm moves into the region by midweek. Peaks across Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado will face the best potential for snowflakes, even accumulating at the highest levels. 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. Russian forces shelled six communities along the Sumy Oblast border on Oct. 7, the local military administration reported. The attacks caused at least 54 explosions throughout the day. The Russian military launched 10 attacks, striking the border settlements of Znob-Novhorodske, Seredyna-Buda, Khotin, Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, and Putyvl. No casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure were reported. Shelling is a daily occurrence for the communities near Sumy Oblast's northeastern border with Russia. On Oct. 6, an explosive device killed a 14-year-old in Okhtyrka. Read also: Every family affected: Devastated village copes with aftermath of Russian strike on funeral Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russia is deploying reserve forces north of Bakhmut in an attempt to deter Ukraine's advancing counteroffensive in Donetsk Oblast, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in eastern Ukraine said on Oct. 7. "Right now, intense combat operations are ongoing," said Illia Yevlash, head of press services for Ukraine's forces on the eastern front, as reported by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. "The enemy continues to deploy counter-assault units in this direction to prevent us from advancing in our offensive. They are employing all available forces and reserves because they understand that losing this flank could have quite diverse consequences for them." Yevlash further emphasized that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are attempting to thwart any Russian advance by inflicting "maximum damage" on Russian troops in the vicinity of Bakhmut. In recent weeks, Ukraine's military has continued to advance around the front-line city of Bakhmut, inflicting losses on Russian forces and deterring attacks. On Sept. 19, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported evidence of "severe degradation" of Russian forces in the Bakhmut sector, pointing to Moscow's need to deploy reserves. Read also: Bakhmut-bound infantry assault troops: We are holding on, ready for any scenario Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A teddy bear and flowers are displayed on the fragment of a wall in the village of Groze where over 50 people were killed by a missle strike (Genya SAVILOV) Russia, which was ousted from the UN Human Rights Council after its forces invaded Ukraine, will attempt a return to the body on Tuesday -- an uncertain move that will provide a gauge of its international support. The UN General Assembly will vote that day to elect 15 new members to the Geneva-based UN body, for terms running from 2024 to 2026. The council's 47 members are allocated by region, and each large regional group usually pre-selects its own candidates, which the General Assembly then generally approves. But this year two groups have more candidates than available seats: Latin America (candidates from Brazil, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Peru will contest three seats), and Eastern Europe (Albania, Bulgaria and Russia will vie for two seats). Moscow's candidacy has drawn skepticism, and the vote will come just days after a Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian village of Groza killed more than 50 people in a scene of carnage. "We hope UN members will firmly reject (Russia's) preposterous candidacy," a State Department spokesperson told AFP on condition of anonymity. "Members of Russia's forces have committed violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine," the spokesperson added. Mariana Katzarova, a top UN expert, recently said repression inside Russia had intensified since its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, reaching levels "unprecedented in recent history." To be elected to the rights council, a country needs 97 votes of the UN's 193 member countries. In April 2022, 93 countries voted to suspend Russia from the council, while 24 opposed that move. That majority vote against Russia was less lopsided than other resolutions defending the territorial integrity of Ukraine, with around 140 countries approving. But the situation with the rights council is more complex, as some countries also seen as rights offenders fear they may face the same fate. - Secret vote - The vote Tuesday will be by secret ballot -- perhaps shining a clearer light on a fragmented world in which several developing countries have grown weary of the West's persistent focus on Ukraine. "I think Western diplomats in New York are rather worried Russia could sneak back into the Human Rights Council" in what would be "a public relations disaster for the UN on a massive scale," said Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group. "Russia has always argued that many UN members sympathize with it in private but won't support it in public for fear of antagonizing Western powers," he added. "Moscow will hope that this supposed silent majority supports it in this secret vote." Vassily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the UN, pushed back, saying: "There are no beacons of democracy or rogue states, as is sometimes being portrayed. No member state can claim to be immune from human rights violations." Louis Charbonneau of the NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) conceded that no member of the council "has an unblemished rights record," but added that "every UN member nation should recognize that the council has membership standards for which Russia and China show despicable disregard." His group has called on member countries to also refrain from voting for Beijing, citing its violations of the rights of China's Uyghur minority. China, however, risks little in the vote: It is one of four countries in the Asian regional group vying for four open seats. HRW is also calling for countries to oppose Cuba's candidacy, while another NGO, the International Service for Human Rights, opposes not just the Russian and Chinese candidacies but also that of Burundi. Other candidates on Tuesday are Ivory Coast, Malawi, Ghana, Kuwait, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands and France. abd-sct/bbk/md Russian forces stepped up artillery strikes on Sumy Oblast on Oct. 8, targeting three border communities, local authorities reported on Telegram. Sumy is located about 50 kilometers from the Russian border and has been the target of near-daily shelling and other aerial bombardments since its liberation by Ukraine in April 2022. Regional officials recorded 34 explosions from five attacks conducted by artillery, grenade launchers, explosives, and unguided missiles. The communities of Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka and Esman were targeted. There was no information on casualties or damages in the region at the time of the publication. Earlier in the day, Russia troops attacked Antonivka, on Kherson's outskirts. A 50-year-old man was killed, the Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russia deploys reserves north of Bakhmut, launches over 700 strikes in Kupiansk-Lyman direction Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Russian military is trying to prevent the Defence Forces from advancing north of Bakhmut. Source: Illia Yevlash, head of the press service of the Eastern Group of Forces, on the air of the national joint 24/7 newscast, quoted by Radio Svoboda Quote: "Now intense fighting continues there (in the area of Bakhmut ed.). The enemy continues to use counteroffensive units on this front to prevent us from developing our offensive, from entering the operational space, and from liberating this flank. They use all their available forces and reserves because they understand that the loss of this flank can still have quite different consequences for them". Details: As Yevlash said, the Defence Forces are "now trying to inflict maximum damage on the enemy 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! Russian party official killed in Ukrainian car bomb attack in occupied Kherson A Russian party official was killed Saturday in a Ukrainian car bomb attack in occupied Kherson. Vladimir Malov, executive secretary of the ruling United Russia party, died in the attack. The acting governor of occupied Kherson, Vladimir Saldo , called the incident a "terrorist attack." An official with Putin's ruling United Russia party was killed Saturday in a car bombing orchestrated by Ukrainians, according to Russian politicians. Vladimir Malov, executive secretary of the pro-Putin political party, died in the bombing, Reuters reported Vladimir Saldo, the acting governor of the Russia-occupied Kherson Oblast, said in a Telegram post declaring the incident a "terrorist attack." It is unclear if Malov was specifically targeted in the incident. Representatives for Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, and the Government of the Russian Federation did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider. The car bombing appears to have been orchestrated by Ukraine, though Kyiv officials have not confirmed any details of the attack, which comes just days after a Russian missile strike blew apart a Ukrainian grocery store and cafe in one of the deadliest attacks so far this year. Russian troops have also been accused of using car bombings to target rebel-held regions of Eastern Ukraine, as well as turning tanks into car bombs to use in kamikaze attacks against Ukrainian troops on the battlefield. As the war churns into its 20th month, Russia has sustained heavy casualties among its military officers and top commanders, including recently in attacks on the Black Sea fleet headquarters. Read the original article on Business Insider The National Guard of Ukraine (NGU) has detained a Russian proxy at a checkpoint in Kherson Oblast; the man was in contact with the Russians. Source: Southern Operational and Territorial Unit of the NGU Details: A man with no identification documents was detained at the checkpoint during an inspection. His mobile phone contained photos of the sites of Russian artillery hits, which he had sent to mobile phone numbers registered in the Russian Federation. The detainee was handed over to the relevant law enforcement agencies to establish his identity and all the circumstances. 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 Russian attack on the village of Kindyika in Kherson Oblast injured an 11-year-old girl on Oct. 8, Kherson Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Three elderly women were already wounded in a shelling on the same village earlier that day. Russian shelling has wounded 16 people, including a 9-month-old baby, in Kherson Oblast since the start of the day, Prokudin said. Partially occupied Kherson Oblast suffers regular Russian attacks as the invading troops continue to hold the region's left-bank side of the Dnipro River. On Oct. 5, a Russian strike against Beryslav in Kherson Oblast damaged a hospital and injured two medical workers. Read also: Stranded civilians brave shelling, return to Ukraines front-line towns Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The cute, cuddly "auspicious rabbit" figure as the first mascot for the "Happy Chinese New Year" celebrations, a brand program of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, has arguably been an international star. The mascot travelled overseas to various countries, endearing itself to politicians and celebrities, and leaping into countless hearts worldwide. Following the rabbit's phenomenal success, the ministry launched the 2024 "Happy Chinese New Year" mascot for the Year of the Dragon global celebrations on Saturday in Beijing. Dubbed "JiXiang Long", literally lucky dragon, the mascot features a gesture of welcome and a smiley face with flame-shaped eyebrows, auspicious cloud ears, and a gold ingot-shaped nose. Its body is covered by flame patterns and dominated by yellow and red, two iconic hues of the holy animal portrayed in traditional Chinese arts and crafts. Gao Zheng, director-general of the ministry's Bureau of International Exchanges and Cooperation, unveiled the mascot alongside award-winning composer, conductor, and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Tan Dun. "Dragon is the only animal that does not actually exist in the 12 Chinese zodiac animals. The divine animal is an inseparable part of the Chinese civilization and is an important spiritual symbol of the Chinese people, embodying our hope for and pursuit of peace, joy, and good luck," said Lin Cunzhen, professor and associate dean of the School of Design at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, the lead designer of the mascot. Lin, who also designed the official emblems of the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, said to come up with a design that fuses the holiness and solemnity of the divine creature and the festivity and adorableness required for a mascot, she and her team pooled the wisdom of archaeologists, art historians, contemporary artists, and designers. They also interviewed people of various age groups to learn about the preferences of a dragon mascot. Aside from being widely featured in the 2024 "Happy Chinese New Year" celebrations at home and abroad, "JiXiang Long" will be developed into a host of cultural creative products, ranging from stationery to souvenir statues. A Russian Oct. 8 strike against Antonivka, on Kherson's outskirts, killed a 50-year-old man, the Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported. The man suffered shrapnel wounds to his torso and died while being rushed to the hospital, Roman Mrochko, the head of the Kherson City Military Administration, said. The officials did not provide further information on the time and circumstances of his death. The southern city of Kherson is a regular target of Russian strikes following its liberation in Ukraine's counteroffensive last fall. Russian overnight attacks against Kherson Oblast injured 11 people, including a 27-year-old woman and her 9-month-old daughter, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said earlier on Oct. 8. Another child, an 11-year-old girl, was injured later during the day in a Russian attack on the village of Kindiika, the governor reported. Read also: Every family affected: Devastated village copes with aftermath of Russian strike on funeral Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian invaders are committing crimes against the civilian population in the occupied territories of Ukraine, including threats and robberies. Source: Ukraines National Resistance Center Quote: "According to information from the Ukrainian underground, a number of actions against the civilian population took place in the temporarily occupied territories of Kherson oblast, which were committed by the Russian occupation forces and contain signs of violation of International Humanitarian Law, as well as war crimes." Details: The National Resistance Center also reported that a series of robberies of civilians took place in various settlements of the temporarily occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, during which representatives of the occupation regime threatened people with violence using physical force and firearms. The resistance notes that Ukrainian underground resistance movement representatives, found out while communicating with those who suffered from it, that as a result of the criminal acts, three cars, one motorcycle, other equipment and valuable property, as well as cash totalling US$1,500 were taken from the local citizens. 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! Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that his country is at war after Hamas fired thousands of rockets across the border from Gaza on Saturday. At least 40 Israelis have been killed and hundreds have been hospitalised, local media reported, as emerging reports from Gaza state multiple are dead and wounded in Israeli strikes on the besieged strip. The surprise offensive has seen Hamas gunmen cross the border in attacks by land, sea and air, as warning sirens sounded across southern and central parts of Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and reports emerged of civilians and soldiers being taken hostage. In a rare public statement, Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif urged all Palestinians to confront Israel, adding: Weve decided to say enough is enough. This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on earth. At least 40 Israelis have been killed in Hamas strikes on Israel (AFP via Getty Images) As the international community watches on in horror, here we take a look at the UKs current travel advice for Israel: Travel advice to Israel The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to: Gaza The Shebaa Farms and Ghajjar Within 500m of the border with Lebanon (the Blue Line) east of Metula, including the northern edge of the town and within 500m of the border with Syria (the Alpha Line). The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to: Areas north of and including Jenin city, Burqin and Arranah in the north of the West Bank. This includes Jenin refugee camp and all areas north of this until the Jalamah checkpoint for access to Israel The city of Nablus, Josephs Tomb, and the Balata and New Askar refugee camps near Nablus and the village of Huwara, south of Nablus. Map showing the FCDOs current travel advisory (Foreign, Commonweath and Development Office) Where is the conflict happening right now? Have flights been cancelled? Flights have continued to operate at Tel Aviv airport, the main gateway to the nation. But many airlines are diverting or cancelling flights. Wizz Air has so far diverted four flights that were en route to Israel when the attacks began. Airbus jets from Catania, Cluj, Debrecen and Warsaw all diverted to Larnaca, the main airport on the island of Cyprus. A Wizz Air flight from Rome to Tel Aviv turned around and flew back to its starting point as did an Anadulojet service from Istanbul. Palestinian militants celebrate by an Israeli tank at the border fence of the Gaza Strip on Saturday (AP) Two Lufthansa flights from Frankfurt and one from Munich have been grounded, as have departures on Brussels Airlines from the Belgian capital and SunExpress from Antalya. From the UK, Virgin Atlantics overnight flight from London Heathrow arrived at Tel Aviv at 5am as normal. British Airways has a flight from Heathrow this afternoon, which is still shown as departing normally. The Independent has asked BA if it will be going ahead and whether passengers booked to or from Tel Aviv will be given the option to change without penalty. Saturday is a very quiet day at Ben Gurion international airport, serving Tel Aviv, due to observation of the Jewish Sabbath (Shabbat). It runs from shortly before sunset on Friday to nightfall on Saturday. No aircraft from El Al, the Israeli national airline, are in the air. Police on Sunday released a photograph of a vehicle involved in a possible attempted child abduction in Salem. The vehicle, a blue Honda Pilot believed to be between a 2016-2022 model, with roof racks and running boards, approached three children who were walking home from the Witchcraft Heights Elementary School around 2:44 p.m. on Friday afternoon, police said. As the children were at the corner of Carrollton and Belleview streets, the Honda approached the children, and the occupants rolled down the windows. The male driver allegedly said to the children, Get in the car because your Mom said so, police said, adding that children described the male driver and a female passenger to be of Asian descent. All three children walked away from the vehicle, which then left the area, taking a left turn onto Belleview. Anyone who witnessed this incident or have any information is urged to call the Salem Police Criminal Investigation Division at 978-745-9700, Salem Police Dispatch at 978-744-1212. The public may also call the anonymous tip line at 978-619-5627. 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 Touted by Gov. Ron DeSantis as one of the strictest immigration crackdowns in the nation, stronger criminal penalties for transporting undocumented migrants into Florida have resulted in the arrests of only three people by state law enforcement officials in three months. All involved the same Florida Highway Patrol troopers. DeSantis, working with the Republican-led Legislature in Tallahassee, hailed his package of reforms as the most ambitious anti-illegal immigration laws in the country when he signed them in May. As the governor has campaigned for president, the crackdown on transporting migrants is among his proudest achievements on the campaign trail, promising at an event on the Texas border in June: if you bring people into the state illegally, you get stiff penalties now in the state of Florida. But so far, the Florida agency that enforces the law on highways across county lines has reported a handful of arrests in only one region of the state the Central Florida counties of Sumter and Hernando, according to a Miami Herald/Times analysis of Florida Highway Patrol Records arrest records through Sept. 22. Why is that area of the state the only region where there have been arrests under the new law? Why have there been so few arrests? The Florida Highway Patrol would not answer. FHP does not comment on investigative tactics or active investigations, said Molly Best, a spokesperson for the agency. The governors spokesperson, Jeremy Redfern, would not answer the questions either, but wrote, Youve based your story and questioning on a false premise. He challenged the line of questioning in a thread on X, and suggested that FHP is just one of many agencies in Florida that can make arrests for human smuggling, but did not produce any statistics demonstrating other arrests, or the impact of the new law. The law took effect on July 1. It modified and expanded an existing human-smuggling statute to make it a third-degree felony to knowingly and willfully transport into this state an individual whom the person knows, or reasonably should know, has entered the United States in violation of law and has not been inspected by the Federal Government.... The drivers arrested under the law, and their passengers, were undocumented migrants from Mexico and other Latin American countries. They said that they were living in or traveling to Florida to work, according to the arrest reports and interviews with the Mexican consul in Orlando. The drivers were stopped for traffic infractions such as speeding, window tints darker than legally allowed, and expired tags, the reports said. They told authorities they knew the cars passengers had illegally entered the United States. The driver could now spend years in prison. This is a photo of the traffic stop in Hernando County that resulted in the arrest of Raquel Lopez Aguilar, a Mexican national, on charges of transporting undocumented immigrants into Florida. Civil and immigration rights groups sued the state over the transportation law and asked a federal judge to block its enforcement, saying that it inflicts extreme harm to service providers, seasonal workers and families who travel back and forth across state lines. The judge has not yet ruled on whether he will put the law on hold while litigation is ongoing. The measure has also sparked tensions with Mexico, whose president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has accused DeSantis of being anti-immigrant and called on people to vote against him. Lopez Obrador and his government are following the cases and providing legal assistance to two of the men arrested, both of whom are Mexican nationals, said Juan Sabines , the Mexican consul in Orlando. READ MORE: Floridas arrest of undocumented van driver escalates Mexicos tensions with DeSantis It worries us because both took place on the same highway, with the same police officers, for the same reasons the tinted windows, Sabines told the Herald. He noted that immigration and deportation proceedings in the U.S. are civil, not criminal matters, unless someone is coming back after being deported. Being a migrant is not a crime, he said. The state is criminalizing migrants for being migrants, for their human condition. The consuls office said it was not aware of any other arrests in Florida besides the three that FHP reported. Redfern said the governor will do everything within his authority to put public safety ahead of rhetoric from other government officials. He also criticized Sabines position. There are real implications to the heinous, criminal act of human smuggling, Redfern said. We have zero patience for special interests, including the Mexican Consulate, wishing to see Florida back down from harsher criminal penalties. Florida legislators who voted for the law have said that it aims to keep undocumented immigrants from coming into the state. Its part of a wider package of immigration-related measures that also require hospitals that accept Medicaid to ask patients about their immigration status and require employers with 25 or more workers to check whether new hires are allowed to work in the country. State Rep. Rick Roth, a Belle Glade vegetable farmer and one of the Republican lawmakers who supported expanding the human smuggling law, said he was not aware of the arrest of any migrants as a result of the new law. There was no extra money put in for law enforcement, he said. The first traffic stop The first person to be arrested under the new human-smuggling law was David Jimenez Cumplido, 21, from the Mexican state of Puebla. He came to the U.S. a year ago to join his father in New Mexico and is from the valley city of Tehuacan, where his mother still lives, Sabines said. He has a boys face, said Sabines, who visited him at Sumter County Jail on Tuesday. Sabines said Jimenez has spent the last two months in custody praying and reading the Bible. Jimenez was working as a roofer and plumber in New Mexico but came to Florida for the first time for a job in Orlando, Sabines said. He was traveling through Sumter County on Aug. 7 when Florida Highway Patrol Trooper D.P Lewis stopped him because of an illegal side window tint and an expired tag, according to the arrest report. FHP Troopers Wesley R. Kelly and Eric Schaub, as well as Sgt. Joshua .J. Malloy, assisted on the scene. The two passengers were brothers who came from Mexico six months ago, the arrest report said. Jimenez said that they had met on a Facebook job-seeking group and were to return to New Mexico after completing the work. Then the police stopped them. Jimenez admitted to having illegally entered the United States and knew that the passengers had also illegally entered, the report said. He told the officer that the car belonged to his boss, but later said he was not sure who the owner was. The report noted that police examined the car after a police dog received an alert and that there was evidence of tampering in the interior. There were no work clothes, work boots, tools, it said. However, after a thorough search, no contraband or bulk currency was discovered. Jimenez is facing two felony charges of human smuggling and two misdemeanor counts of driving without a license and without a motor vehicle registration, according to court records. He pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial in March 2024. Sabines, the Mexican consul, emphasized that the human smuggling statute specifically criminalizes bringing undocumented migrants into the state. He said that Jimenez had only driven in Florida. Two more arrests A day after Jimenezs arrest, Kelly pulled over a white van in neighboring Hernando County for speeding. The two other troopers who had been involved in Jimenezs arrest also responded, along with an investigator who was fluent in Spanish. The driver, Eldin Ariel Trejo, 37, gave the officers his Honduran passport and told them that he and the passengers had come from Atlanta to St. Petersburg to work. The passengers were migrants from Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Mexico. Trejo has a suspended Georgia drivers license and active arrest warrants in the neighboring state, according to the police report, and he had been deported twice previously. Police downloaded the contents of his cellphone. The state charged him with three counts of felony human smuggling, another felony for using a communication device to facilitate a crime and a misdemeanor for driving with a revoked license. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and is awaiting trial at the Hernando County Jail. Two weeks after the first two arrests, Kelly stopped Raquel Lopez Aguilar, 41, a roofer and father of two from the Mexican state of Chiapas. The white vans window tints were darker than the legal limit, according to the arrest report. He was on his way back to Tampa. Sabines said Lopez works to support his wife and children in Mexico. Lopez had been deported previously, according to the police report. There were several adults and a child in the vehicle with him when he was stopped, all identified as Mexican nationals. Lopez is being detained at the Hernando County Jail. Florida authorities charged him with four counts of felony human smuggling and one misdemeanor for driving without a license. He pleaded not guilty, and has a court hearing later this month. The Mexican consuls office has reached out to DeSantis office to discuss the law and its impact on Floridas immigrant communities. But so far, Sabines said, there has been no response what he describes as a stark departure from the Mexican governments relationship with previous governors, including Republican Rick Scott, now a U.S. senator. Sabines said he is planning a Tallahassee trip to discuss the law with legislators. In Mexico, American consuls are always received by governors and the authorities, said Sabines, who said he is willing to have a dialogue with DeSantis about the law and immigrants contributions to the state. Roth, the Belle Glade farmer and legislator, said he could not say whether the law will have an impact on seasonal migrant workers returning to Florida for harvest season this winter. Its intended to deter people from out of the country from just coming to Florida to begin with, he said. Its having the intended impact. But, he added, its also too early to tell what impact the transportation crackdown will have on the workers coming back to Florida from other states to pick winter vegetables. I think well know more in another month. SAN DIEGO Mayor Todd Gloria and the citys Jewish leaders took to social media on Saturday to mourn the death of Ofir Liebstein, the mayor of San Diegos sister city in Israel, during the Hamas attack. Liebstein led the regional council of Sharar Hanegev, a city of roughly than 9,000 that borders the northeastern corner of the Gaza Strip. According to reports, he was killed in a shootout with militants Saturday morning. This morning I learned of the death of Mayor Ofir Liebstein, Gloria wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. He led Sharar Hanegev in southern Israel and was killed defending his community. San Diego is a sister city of Sharar Hanegev and there are deep connections between our two cities. In succeeding posts, Gloria shared about Liebsteins last visit to San Diego in 2021 and the mayors visit to Sharar Hanegev, along with photos of the two officials. Hamas attacked Israel and Netanyahu says his country is at war. Follow live updates Ofir was a friend and the news of his death is absolutely heartbreaking. I offer San Diegos deepest condolences to his family and the people of the community he loved so much and served so well, the mayor continued. Shar'ar Hanegev Mayor Ofir Liebstein and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria pose in this undated picture. (Courtesy of Todd Gloria posted to X) My condolences extend to all of the innocent civilians killed in the terrorist attacks by Hamas, he added. San Diego stands with Israel. Leaders of Jewish advocacy groups in San Diego echoed the sorrow expressed by Gloria in subsequent posts on social media. ADL San Diego mourns the loss of Ofir Liebstein, Mayor of San Diegos sister city Shaar Hanegev Regional Council, Fabienne Perlov, regional director of ADL San Diego said in a statement posted to X. The entire San Diego community mourns the loss of our sister city colleague and send our collective condolences to his family and the families of the victims in the Hamas attack against Israel. We wish for a speedy recovery to those wounded, pray for peace and stand with Israel, Perlov continued. Heidi Gantwerk, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Diego, added in a statement on Facebook, Ofir was a dear friend to San Diego and to me personally. We are shocked and saddened to learn of his death. Our hearts go out to his family and to the entire community of Shaar HaNegev. The Jewish Federation of San Diego nutured the relationship with Shaar HaNegev for over two decades, and had provided more than $13 million in funding to the city. In the wake of Liebsteins death, the deputy head of the council for the city, Yossi Keren, will be assuming his place. The councils administration and the councils emergency team will continue responding to the event, the Jewish Federation continued in their statement. The federation will also be collecting donations for our friends in Israel and Shaar Hanegev through their website. 5 things to know about the Hamas militant groups unprecedented attack on Israel The attack on Israel was launched by militants with the group Hamas a Palestinian Suni-Islamic fundamentalist group founded in 1987 that contests Israels claimed land early Saturday morning. The group fired thousands of rockets into Israeli towns from the Gaza Strip, a 140 square mile territory that is one of two where Palestinians reside, and also sent in ground forces. At least 300 Israelis have been killed and over a thousand were wounded in the attack, according to Israel officials as of 8:24 p.m. Saturday. Many of the injured are reportedly in critical condition. Hamas has also claimed to have captured dozens of Israelis, including soldiers. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel is at war with Hamas in a televised address, adding that they will take mighty vengeance for this black day. Israel then launched retaliatory strikes on Gaza, killing more than 230 Palestinians and wounding more than 1,600, according to the Palestinian health ministry. In a second address, Netanyahu called on civilians in the territory more than half of whom live refugee camps to leave now, adding that the Israeli military would turn all Hamas hiding places into rubble. This call has worried Palestinian advocates, as the Gaza is one of the most densely populated regions in the world and has long been held under a military blockade by the Israeli government that makes movement difficult. The Hamas attack came on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, in which Israel was attacked by a coalition of Arab states. President Joe Biden issued a statement of support for Israel, condemning the attack and pledging to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people. The United States warns against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation. My Administrations support for Israels security is rock solid and unwavering, he added. 4 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in fresh West Bank violence. Clashes erupt in flashpoint town A slew of federal, state and local officials have also come out in support for Israel. What we are witnessing is nothing short of horrific, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a post on X. There is simply no justification for this. I stand with Israel and its people in denouncing this horrific act of terrorism. We must demand an end to this violence now. As a person of Jewish descent, the attacks on Israel have been hard for me, my family, and my community, San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer said in a statement. In my conversations with family and friends, I have found it difficult to express exactly how I am feeling, but it is safe to say that shock, sadness and anger are all emotions that have washed over me today. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. School choice advocates have had a successful year for their movement and will be working to end on a high note as Texas begins a special session Monday dedicated to implementing a universal education savings account (ESA) policy. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) called the legislative extra innings after Texas failed to pass an ESA measure earlier this year as more than a dozen states implemented or are preparing to implement new school choice policies. ESAs have become the new North Star for school choice advocates. The accounts provide money to families to spend on alternatives to public school, such as private institutions or homeschooling. On Thursday, Abbott signed a proclamation for the session, calling for state lawmakers to give ESAs to every child in Texas. Anita Scott, policy director for Texas Homeschool Coalition, said her group is feeling positive about this special session because Governor Abbott has been on a parental empowerment campaign since January, February visiting schools all across Texas to advocate for parents to have the right to decide where their children attend. Although it comes in a Republican-dominated state, Abbotts goal will not be easy to accomplish. Earlier this year, the Texas Senate approved a bill that would give ESAs to all public school students, but the legislation dwindled in the House to 800,000 students before it died completely as lawmakers failed to act before a deadline. The holdups including rural Republicans who have concerns that school choice could take away money from their schools. Bob Popinski, senior director of policy for Raise Your Hand Texas, says the state already has a great public school choice [program] that holds our schools accountable under our assessments and that Texans dont want to abandon them through a voucher program. The program includes the Public Education Grants, which allow students in low-performing schools to transfer to other public institutions in the state. Scott says her group does not see the fears of rural Republicans as something to be dismissed. The same way in Texas when charter schools became a new reality outside of public schools there was a concern that charter schools would sort of decrease the student population and public schools. And its actually created a healthy competition that raises the standards and raises the rigor, so were inviting our rural Republican friends to remember that reality and inviting them to be ready to expand even more opportunities. The track record this year stands strong for advocates as Arkansas, North Carolina, Iowa, Utah and Florida created universal ESAs, while other states implemented other school choice policies. But others foresee the session ending in some sort of compromise, especially due to the levels of funding involved in such a large state. The appropriation is 500 million. So it looks like it will probably be a limited program, and we prefer that it be an ESA prioritizing low-income kids and children with disabilities. So thats what realistically it looks like it will be, and were very happy with that outcome, said Laura Colangelo, executive director of Texas Private School Association. Along with school choice, the legislative session will also look at immigration policy and the border wall, areas where Republicans are more likely to stand united. President Bidens administration this week announced it would allow further parts of the border wall to be constructed and would resume deportations to Venezuela. The issue could provide more leverage for negotiations to get rural GOP legislators on board with school choice. Its possible that those can be combined into some sort of compromise where you could get maybe rural Republicans to say, Well, were not totally on board with school choice, but we will vote for that to maybe get something we want on the border, said Neal McCluskey, director for the Center for Educational Freedom at the CATO Institute. Meanwhile, school choice opponents have been working hard to ensure no ESA measures are passed. Troy Reynolds, founder of Texans for Public Education, was set to hold a protest on the issue Saturday. Were going to walk to the governors mansion afterwards, and since the theme is Boot Vouchers 2023, we have asked people to bring boots, old boots, that theyre willing to part ways with, and we are going to leave those on the governors doorstep, Reynolds said. He said he has confidence the legislature wont pass a school choice bill, saying the money is simply not there. It is such a ridiculous demand that they very obviously dont have the money to support. I think it appears to me hes giving up on it and killing his own bill, Reynolds said. School-choice supporters say that, regardless of what happens in Texas, their movement has had a great year. You dont need Texas to see clearly that this year has been a major victory for school choice, because I think its now nine states have universal ESAs or others school choice programs, McCluskey said. Most of those were passed this year, so this might be more like the icing on the cake than the cake itself. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Seattle Aquarium is asking the public to slay the bay with them during a marine-themed drag show at the Seattle Aquarium on Queer Community Day. The event is scheduled for October 15. The aquarium asks that you bring cash tips to support local drag artists. You can get your tickets on the Seattle Aquarium website. Prepare to slay the bay at Reef Royalty, a marine-themed drag show at the Seattle Aquarium for our Queer Community Day! Please bring cash tips to support talented local drag artists. Get your tickets now for October 15: https://t.co/U3jlUr4EYm pic.twitter.com/rNdwdUiR1R Seattle Aquarium (@SeattleAquarium) October 6, 2023 Many Americans, including myself, are disappointed in the federal governments budget process and frustrated with short-term funding fixes, known as a Continuing Resolution. There is a solution to stop this madness and laws that would prevent potential shutdowns. We dont need to form more committees, and we dont need new legislation to solve our nations current debt crisis. The White House and Congress just need to follow the existing laws and execute our constitutional duties. The Budget Act of 1974 provides that guidance and specifically mandates a budget to be submitted by the president by the first Monday of February. Unfortunately, this year, President Joe Biden sent his over a month late, with no legal consequences. Like many presidents before him, the White House budget deadline has hardly been followed, and this seems to be the rule and not the exception. And its not just the White House that has ignored this law. Congress has not fully followed the intent of the Budget Act since 1997. The Budget Act sets a target date of April 15 for the Senate and the House to adopt a budget resolution a target that has only been met by Congress four times since 1985, most recently in 2004. Repeatedly, our government has not been following the rules and has had no accountability or consequence for the wasted taxpayer dollars. A budget resolution is now seldom even considered and instead is skirted around in Washington, D.C., with some legal maneuvering. By skipping this important step, we enable this broken budgeting and empower the D.C. insiders. After the budget resolution is passed, over the next two months, the 12 sub-committees on the Appropriations Committees in both the Senate and the House dive into the spending requests and separate the wheat from the chaff. The Appropriations Committee has budgeting authority and puts together 12 spending bills, setting levels for funding of government agencies and programs. Next, the bills go through an amendment process at the full committee level. In a perfect world, the House would then lead by placing the 12 appropriations bills, like 12 buckets of funding, on the floor one at a time for a vigorous amendment process in the light of day. It is here where America would see the poison pills and wasted spending on live TV. The public would also get to watch the votes taken and expose those who choose to bow to special interest groups, earmarks, and bridges to nowhere. As these are approved one by one on the House side, they can then move over to the Senate. Again, one at a time, the Senate would consider each bill and once more face a full debate with a vigorous amendment process with an up or down vote on each amendment, with the goal being that the pork spending will be exposed and discarded. This is where the tough votes occur, the tough decisions, with sunlight as a disinfectant. The final proposals should be cleared by June 30, giving us three months to spare before a new fiscal year starts on October 1. This road map would provide certainty and better, more efficient execution of the national budget and taxpayer dollars. This should be the expectation for Congress. Leadership, especially the White House, must be held accountable and demand the process be followed and the deadlines be met. In short, we need to execute a relatively simple budgeting timeline, plan, and deliver. Just as our nations small businesses, churches, schools, and beyond do when they manage their books and review their spending levels to ensure they are in the black. Its also important to remind everyone that only one-third of the federal budget is impacted by this budgeting process, while two-thirds of the budget is mandatory spending that stays at set levels regardless of whether Washington D.C. does its job or whether our government is shut down. Social Security, Medicare, and Veteran Benefits are rightfully protected, and those spending levels continue even during a government shutdown. As a final thought, by not following the Budget Act of 1974 and ignoring its importance as Washington has done for decades - the full power of the purse, a right vested in the whole of Congress by the Constitution, is placed into the hands of half a dozen lawmakers. It also enables special interest groups and lobbyists to secretly cram all sorts of ill-advised, wasteful spending on the backs of hard-working Americans. Make no mistake about it: going back to this regular order will be painful, but for the sake of future generations, its worth the fight. Roger Marshall represents Kansas in the U.S. Senate. By Douglas Gillison, Joanna Plucinska and Sophie Yu (Reuters) -Major international air carriers suspended or scaled back flights to or from Tel Aviv, while Russia banned night flights to Israel, after a surprise attack by Hamas militants over the weekend and a threat of escalating conflict raised safety concerns. About 50% of scheduled Tel Aviv flights did not operate on Sunday and a third were cancelled on Monday as of Monday evening in Israel, according to Flightradar24, a flight tracking website. U.S. air carriers United Airlines and American Airlines suspended direct flights to Israel after the Federal Aviation Administration urged airlines to exercise caution. Delta Air Lines said on Monday it would cancel flights to and from Israel until the end of the month. Many European airlines have also cancelled flights. Israel's national carrier El Al was the exception - adding more flights to bring reservists back from around the world to assist in the country's biggest mobilization in history. Fighters from Islamist group Hamas killed at least 900 people and abducted dozens of hostages in Saturday's attacks, the deadliest such incursion in decades, prompting Israel to retaliate by pounding the Palestinian enclave of Gaza. Israel's tourism sector, driven by beach- and party-goers in Tel Aviv and historical tours to sites like Jerusalem, is set to take a major hit as flight cancellations pile up. Tourism makes up 3.6% of total employment, according to OECD data. U.S. cruise operators Royal Caribbean and Carnival said they had "adjusted" their itineraries in the Israel area. "So far clients haven't been cancelling, but they are being more precautious about travelling. We've been getting a lot of inquiries about safety," said Matt Berna, Americas President of Intrepid Travel, a group tour and travel company. Regulators including the FAA, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and Israel's aviation authority urged airlines to use caution in the region's airspace, but stopped short of suspending flights. Russia, though, restricted flights from going to Israel before 0900 GMT due to what it called an "unstable political and military situation" and advised airlines to monitor risks during daylight. Israel's civil aviation authority asked airlines to "review current security and threat information" and changed some air traffic routes. It noted that delays were expected and advised airlines to carry extra fuel. U.S. airlines normally run direct services from major cities including New York, Chicago, Washington and Miami. Among the three U.S. carriers, United has the biggest exposure. In the quarter through December, Israel accounted for 1.9% of its planned global capacity, according to a Reuters analysis of Cirium data. American Airlines has the lowest exposure, with Israel accounting for 0.4% of its global capacity in the same period. U.S. airline stocks fell Monday, with Delta closing down 4.6%, American down 4% and United off 4.9%. AIRLINE RESPONSES In Europe, Air France, Portugal's TAP and Finland's Finnair suspended direct flights. Norwegian Air cancelled its flights from Copenhagen and Stockholm to Tel Aviv this week and Ryanair cancelled flights through to Wednesday. Britain's easyJet halted flights to Tel Aviv on Sunday and Monday, and said it would adjust the timings of flights over the next few days. Hungarian budget carrier Wizz Air cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice. "Wizz Air is the most affected group with its operations accounting for some 9.4% of Israel's total October capacity and ... representing some 2.3% of the carrier's total schedules," Irish brokerage Goodbody said. Lufthansa, also among the airlines most exposed to Israel according to Goodbody, cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv through Monday. Virgin Atlantic said it would continue to run some flights but that customers could rebook or request a refund until Oct. 15. Shares in British airlines fell on Monday as the conflict led oil prices higher, with fuel one of the biggest costs for carriers. British Airways-owner IAG, Wizz Air and easyJet all closed down around 6%. Hainan Airlines, the only Chinese airline to fly between China and Israel, and other airlines flying from Hong Kong and South Korea cancelled flights to Tel Aviv. Hainan said it would continue flights linking Beijing and the southern tech hub of Shenzhen with Tel Aviv. EgyptAir flights between Cairo and Tel Aviv have been suspended indefinitely. (Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Rosalba O'Brien) A high-speed train runs on the second Shanghai-Nanjing intercity high-speed railway on Sept 28, the first operating day of the railway. [Photo/China Daily] While many people in China took more than a week off from work to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day, State-owned builders continued working through the holiday to complete key projects on schedule, reflecting the nation's drive to accelerate infrastructure construction and sustain the economic momentum, a priority amid headwinds. Major State-owned enterprises, including China State Construction Engineering Corp and China Railway Construction Corp, reported progress on projects nationwide during the holiday, including some projects key to national development, which prioritizes transportation, utilities and other development goals. According to China State Railway Group Co Ltd, the national railway operator, the second Shanghai-Nanjing intercity high-speed railway started operating on Sept 28 one day before the eight-day holiday began. The railway operator said the rail route came online just in time to facilitate trips between the two major cities in the Yangtze River Delta region. The new line will have trains running between Shanghai and Nanjing, Jiangsu province, journeying 279 kilometers at up to 350 kilometers per hour and stopping in eight cities along the way, the company said. Also, according to recent project reports by China Railway 24th Bureau Group Corp (CR24), a CRCC unit that has been engaged in many major infrastructure projects in Zhejiang province, its teams working on Wenzhou North Railway Station linked by the Hangzhou-Wenzhou High-speed Railway, Jinkeqiao Avenue in Shaoxing, Xinchenghe area renovation project in Ningbo's Cixi and Jinhua-Jiande High-speed Railway all continued to progress during the holiday, with special shifts and building plans arranged during the period so that as many employees as possible could enjoy the holiday. Construction of the sixth bid of Wenzhou North Railway Station, which was renovated from the previous Yongjia Station, progressed steadily as employees ramped up preparations for laying rails during the National Day holiday. On the Xin'an River railway bridge on the Jinhua-Jiande High-speed Railway, more than 80 employees stayed at the construction site during the holiday, working in shifts to ensure the project remained on a steady track, CR24 said. On a nine-year compulsory education project in Cixi, which is a key local livelihood project and part of the Xinchenghe area renovation project, as construction of major buildings nears the scheduled completion date of Oct 8, all team crews held their positions during the holiday to ensure construction quality and progress, CR24 said. China Construction Second Engineering Bureau Co Ltd, a CSCEC unit, said in a report that its builders renovating a community established in the 1990s in Beijing continued their work during the holiday to ensure uninterrupted progress, aiming at an earlier completion date so the residents can resettle as soon as possible. Infrastructure investment has been a key driver of China's economic growth this year, as the government has pumped in 1.83 trillion yuan ($254.2 billion) into transportation projects to spur the economy in the first half, a year-on-year increase of 9.1 percent, according to the Ministry of Transport. Given a relatively weak performance in trade and real estate, the economy needs the infrastructure sector to be a strong driving force, especially in lifting employment, which will see more support from the sector, said Long Chaocan, an investment consultant with China Galaxy Securities Co Ltd. "As the nation is still weighed down by many factors, stronger efforts to boost domestic demand are needed. Therefore, entering the latter half of the year, infrastructure investment will remain a key pillar shoring up the economy as such projects can boost domestic demand and market confidence. Measures such as expanding fiscal spending and effective investment, and more support for the real estate sector will also help," Long added. SAN FRANCISCO - The San Francisco Fire Department rescued a man and a dog who were found approximately 100 feet down a steep cliff Saturday morning near Fort Funston, SFFD posted on X, formerly Twitter. Neither the human nor dog were injured, SF fire said, and video of the incident posted to the Citizen app shows SF fire personnel rappelling down a steep sloping cliff to rescue the pair. View SF fire's posts regarding the incident below: UPDATE BOTH DOG AND HUMAN ADULT ARE NOT INJURED- ROPE RESCUE IS BEING SET UP TO RESCUE THEM BOTH- AVOID AREA https://t.co/8e3ucaC8wa pic.twitter.com/LehwnrgSnp SAN FRANCISCO FIRE DEPARTMENT MEDIA (@SFFDPIO) October 7, 2023 A company commanders best tool for surviving the crucible of a combat training center may be a shovel. Commanders headed for their time in the box at any of the major training centers across the Army from the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, to the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Germany to the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Johnson, Louisiana will need to do a lot of home station preparation and get their soldiers digging. Thats one of a slew of tips that some current observer controllers/trainers at the centers shared at the recent Maneuver Warfighter Conference on Fort Moore, Georgia, during a session aimed at company commanders heading to the centers. Capt. Joseph White and 1st Sgt. Brandon Robinson, both cadre with the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, said the most significant struggle at their location isnt related to technology but rather discipline and standards. Are your soldiers doing the right thing when youre not there? White said. That means putting out security at every halt, digging proper fighting positions, building range cards or putting up camouflage netting every time a vehicle parks. Maj. Thomas Green and 1st Sgt. Jose Rodriguez, Joint Readiness Training Center cadre, told attendees that while theyll be on the move much more than in past rotations or overseas deployments, planning for simple things makes a huge difference. Have a plan to store, transport, issue and recover equipment, charge batteries, and evacuate personnel, Green shared during a presentation. But high-tech thinking is also valuable. The opposition force at these centers has its own drones and ways to find communication devices. The Armys Cyber School commandant, Brig. Gen. Brian Vile, said in a separate panel that his electronic warfare soldiers can identify printers, improperly grounded generators and cellphones, then target those signals near instantaneously. In one snapshot of an area at the the National Training Center, cadre showed the activity of 729 wireless devices, 617 of which were mobile phone devices categorized by cell service carrier. U.S. soldiers from the Field Artillery Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment as well as British soldiers respond to a chemical attack during the exercise Saber Junction at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center near Hohenfels, Germany, on Sept. 14, 2023. (1st Sgt. Michel Sauret/Army) Capt. Aaron Waller, National Training Center cadre, said a concerning excuse he hears from commanders is that they dont have time to plan their movements, so they resort to movement to contact basically pushing out soldiers until they make contact with the enemy as a crude sort of reconnaissance. Movement to contact is a last resort, Waller said. Its what we do after weve exhausted every other means. To combine age-old tactics with newer tech, Waller and other trainers advised to use drones early and often. Proper employment of [small unmanned aerial systems] can place you at an advantage over the enemy, Waller said. Beyond a hasty recon, drone use also helps captains and other junior commanders answer priority intelligence requirements from their headquarters, he added. But drone use doesnt happen on the fly. Waller and others exhorted commanders to incorporate the devices into home station training so soldiers are prepared when they arrive at the training center. The same goes for maintenance practices, logistics loading, and tactical and administrative movements. But thats not the entire story because training at the centers has become more rigorous. Administrative movements rolling a convoy of vehicles from one training spot to the next, much like a unit would do on civilian roads near their home station doesnt happen anymore at the centers. Admin moves are now tactical. Commanders who dont put out security and plan their convoy operations will suffer the consequences a strike from the opposition force. Meanwhile, commanders are getting dinged for ineffectively planning their fires missions. Waller and other cadre admonished commanders to coordinate with their intelligence cells and tie every sensor in their inventory to a shooter. Deliberate fires planning, especially ahead of the rotation, will save rounds downrange, the argument goes. Waller said commanders must practice organic fires missions ahead of their arrival at a training center, especially with mortars and drones. Those are often the quickest and cheapest ways to react to contact or to conduct a hasty fire mission. The bigger-ticket items, such as Javelin missiles, should be spared for higher-value targets and distributed with a plan in mind, Waller said. Its a deliberate synchronization of your assets when you need it. Otherwise, as Waller has seen, a unit will fire most if not all its rockets from one shooter, and then end up empty when the counterattack arrives. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment play the role of opposition forces while rolling through a training village in Stryker vehicles during Saber Junction at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center near Hohenfels, Germany, on Sept. 13, 2023. (1st Sgt. Michel Sauret/Army) And perhaps the least alluring, but possibly the most important, is maintenance. Waller said the most successful commanders at the National Training Center spend a lot of time with their vehicles and know whats available. The best predictor of what maintenance is going to look like on Training Day 10 is how maintenance looks on Day 1, Waller said. Although Ozempic is currently fashionable as a cosmetic weight loss drug, especially among the rich and famous, its intended use is to help individuals with diabetes or who struggle with severe obesity. Yet coverage of this drug is often filled with stories about dangerous long-term side effects like constant nausea and abdominal pain. The overwhelming majority of patients who use the drug do not report those symptoms, but their menacing nature is such that the risk is never far from a patient's mind. These fears were recently reinforced by a study published in the scientific journal JAMA. It found that non-diabetic patients who use drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss are at a higher risk of three rare, but severe, stomach conditions. One of those disorders, stomach paralysis, is not listed on the warning label for the drug. The drugs also put patients at an increased risk of inflammatory diseases like pancreatitis and certain types of bowel obstruction. For people with diabetes, Ozempic (generically known as semaglutide) increases the levels of a hormone called incretin so that a diabetic person's pancreas produces more insulin. The drug also reduces the amount of glucose produced by the liver. For people with serious weight problems, Ozempic activates GLP-1 receptors in the brain because another important hormone, known as glucagon-like peptide-1, is released when your body is full. By mimicking GLP-1, Ozempic makes the brain feel full faster, and as a bonus slows digestion by forcing food to take longer to leave the body. This is what makes Ozempic such a popular cosmetic weight loss drug, along with other related drugs, such as Trulicity and Victoza.The key is that the dosages must be titrated carefully and with careful medical supervision, as each patient's individual bodily makeup will heavily influence how they react to the drug. "We know that nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation are very common issues with these medications," Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an associate professor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, told Salon. "But I do think it's important to work with people that know how to prescribe these and know how to titrate these medications accordingly. One of the things that if you look at the package insert for these medications, it tells you to titrate these medications after one month of use, but I find that titrating these according to the individual is really important." This means that if a patient reacts badly to a dose of 0.50, Stanford might keep them on 0.25 for six months before titrating them to the higher dose. "Now that's not what the package insert tells you to do, but if that's what my patient needs to get their body acclimated to the dose so that they no longer have symptoms, that's what their body needs and not what the next person's body needs," Stanford explained. In short, Stanford argued, what matters most is how a person uses their semaglutide, not just the drug itself. Dr. Bubu A. Banini is a digestive diseases physician and assistant professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine. She acknowledged that Ozempic does not cause adverse side effects for a majority of patients, there is going to be a smaller group whom the odds dictate are going to react badly to it. "While the majority of patients who use Ozempic do not have any adverse side effects, a minority may experience adverse side effects most of which are gastrointestinal such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation," Banini told Salon by email. "Ozempic may increase the risk of pancreatitis. The FDA updated the side effect profile of Ozempic in late September 2023 to include ileus, a temporarily paralysis of the intestinal muscles. However, it is impossible to provide a frequency for this side effect as of now, or reliably establish this symptoms as a consequence of the drug." Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes. The underlying problem is that, because Ozempic is a relatively new drug, there needs to be more ongoing research on it so doctors can accurately assess its safety. "These drugs are still relatively new in clinical use, hence additional data needs to be accrued," Banini explained. "I would urge patients to report adverse side effects experienced while using the drug to Novo Nordisk Inc (the manufacturers) or to the FDA. This will help us better determine the side effect profiles." "At Novo Nordisk, patient safety is a top priority. We work closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to continuously monitor the safety profile of our medicines," a media representative at Novo Nordisk explained. "We are taking multiple steps to ensure responsible use of our semaglutide medicines which are detailed in this website. Full prescribing information for Ozempic is available here." Dr. Dan Azagury, the section chief for bariatric and minimally invasive surgery and the medical director for the lifestyle and weight management clinic at Stanford University, elaborated on Banini's point about Ozempic being a relatively new drug. "I think the challenge that we face right now is that there's a lot of buzz and it's going to be like that for a little while," Azagury told Salon. "The reason is, as you put millions and millions of people on a drug, there will be very rare side effects that are going out here." At the same time, given that these drugs have been around for roughly a decade, "if there was going to be this explosion of side effects that nobody had studied, that nobody had found in the studies run by the companies, we'd probably know by now," Azagury said. The bigger problem, he noted, is that there have been some cases of severe reactions reported by patients. "Even if you have a risk of 1 in 100,000 we're going to hear about 30, 60 cases of that happening, and 1 in a 100,000 risk of having a problem with the drug is still pretty uncommon." At the end of the day, the key to successfully using Ozempic is to only take it when prescribed by a reputable doctor, and to do so while making other necessary lifestyle changes in order to improve one's health. "Generally, I recommend combining Ozempic with lifestyle changes including avoiding high sugar foods, limiting calories and unhealthy fats and engaging in moderate intensity exercise," Banini explained. "Avoid Ozempic if you have a personal of family history of Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2. Please note that Ozempic is not approved for use in weight loss, so check with your physician if you do not have diabetes mellitus 2 but are interested in taking anti-obesity medications." Editors note: This article was first published in the Arkansas Advocate. An expansion at a Central Arkansas gun ammunition factory is projected to bring more than 600 new jobs over the next five years, according to a Friday announcement. New Hampshire-based firearms company Sig Sauer plans a $150 million expansion of its Elite Performance Ammunition manufacturing facility in Jacksonville to help fulfill its contract with the U.S. Department of Defense. We are incredibly excited about expanding our ammunition operations here in Jacksonville and building upon years of success in Arkansas, said Ron Cohen, President and CEO, Sig Sauer, Inc. This opportunity has proven itself essential to the growth and sustainment of our ammunition business, and further enforces our commitment to the Arkansas community and workforce. The gun company first brought its ammo plant to Jacksonville in 2016 with 50 jobs. Since, it has expanded and now employs roughly 350 people. The expansion announced by the company and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Friday includes a new 250,000-square-foot building to house parts of its manufacturing processes and 625 projected new jobs. Here in Arkansas, we love welcoming business expansions almost as much as we love defending the Second Amendment, Sanders said in a statement. SIG SAUERs expansion to their facility in Jacksonville does both, creating jobs and reaffirming Arkansans right to keep and bear arms. Im proud this company chose Arkansas to plant its roots Sig Sauer manufactures ammunition and ammunition components for the Defense Department, global defense and law enforcement and consumers in addition to pistol night sights at the Jacksonville facility. The expansion includes investment in component hybrid case manufacturing, primer manufacturing and load/pack operations to support multiple DOD contracts. I am excited for what this expansion will bring to Jacksonville and the region of central Arkansas, said Jacksonville Mayor Jeff Elmore. Their footprint in Jacksonville and impact on our city and state is something that we are extremely grateful for. We look forward to many more successful years of SIG SAUER in Jacksonville and the State of Arkansas. Hunter Field is a veteran Arkansas journalist whose reporting on the state has carried him from military air strips in northwest Arkansas to soybean fields in the Arkansas delta. An Ohio grand jury has formally indicted a man for chasing down and assaulting a special-needs toddler. The man was caught on school surveillance footage knocking the child down and faces more than one year in prison for what officials call child abuse. Video of school employee picking up autistic 3-year-old from the floor. (Photo: Facebook video) Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck Jr. identified Darrick Y. Sorrells, 56, as the paraprofessional who is seen on the video chasing 3-year-old Braylen Tootle down the Rosa Parks Early Childhood Learning Center hallway on Aug. 21. Trending Today: When Sorrels catches the child, he is seen knocking him in the head before making him fall, scooping him up, and carrying him upside down by his ankle to the classroom in the Dayton, Ohio, school. Another worker sees part of the incident and takes the child from the man. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE. The childs parents, Robert Tootle and Taneshia Lindsay say they were not immediately told about the severity of the incident. They were informed only about an altercation the day Braylen went home from school but a video given to them later by child services gave them a full and accurate view of what happened. What made matters worse for the family is that the offender was not immediately terminated from the school, a school young Braylen still attends. They shouldnt have sent him home pending investigation, Lindsay said. He should have left that school in handcuffs. The DOE eventually suspended Sorrells but never fired him. The employee involved in the incident was placed on administrative leave that day. He ultimately resigned in lieu of termination. The District has reported this incident to the Ohio Department of Education. Jurors of his peers indicted Sorrells on one count of assault, a fourth-degree felony, and two counts of endangering children, a misdemeanor. Heck was outraged at Sorrells behavior. The video of this incident is simply outrageous, the official said, No child should ever be subjected to such cruelty, and it is made worse by the fact the offender is a school employee. This child, his parents, and our community should expect and deserve better from our school employees. The prosecution also revealed that there were two videos of the incident. David Lawrence, DPS interim superintendent, says that the district is responding by exploring how it can ensure that employees are not only qualified to work with children but have been properly trained. Fitness for duty will be measured in terms of job qualification, training, and social-emotional health and well-being, Lawrence said, according to the Dayton Daily News. As a reminder, the safety of all students is our utmost priority, and we would like to thank families for their support as we work to ensure a safe school environment for all learners. Sorrells is expected to surrender to face the charges on Oct. 19. A New York City police officer was charged with assault after he was called to an apartment to help calm an emotionally disturbed child and repeatedly punched a man multiple times after being asked to wear a face mask inside the residence. Officer Christian Zapata was just indicted with third-degree assault after he struck a 43-year-old man more than a dozen times in his face last year. NYPD officer Christian Zapata hits Black man 13 times. (Photos: Body camera video screenshots) The most incriminating part of it all was that the entire encounter was caught on body camera footage. Trending Today: The incident took place on Dec. 7, 2022, when police were called to provide aid to an immunocompromised teenager in crisis at a Harlem apartment. When the cops arrived at the apartment, the victim, whom the New York Daily News identified as Jerome Collins, asked them to put on face masks, but the officers refused. Department police at the time noted that officers were mandated to wear face masks when working indoors. Zapata told Collins that he was interfering with their response and threatened to arrest him. At that point, another officer accompanying Zapata restrained and started to escort Collins out of the apartment and down the hallway. Collins swats the officers hand away but still complies with the escort. Thats when Zapata begins punching Collins about 13 times in just nine seconds. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE. Other officers at the scene had to pull Zapata off Collins to stop the beating. Afterward, Zapata is seen on body camera video apologizing to Collins son. Im sorry, young man, sorry you had to see that, Zapata said. Even though Zapata apologized to the boy, Collins told ABC 7 News that the beating impacts how he talks with his son about the police. What can I tell my son that watched his father get beat? And I try to tell him, Police are good. How can I tell him police are good if he seen his daddy get beat? Collins was initially arrested but then released. The district attorneys office decided to charge Zapata and treat Collins as a witness. Christian Zapata is charged with repeatedly punching a victim who posed no immediate danger or physical threat, Manhattan District Attorney Bragg said in a statement. We will continue to impartially investigate instances where members of law enforcement use unnecessary force, because doing so is essential for enhancing public safety and confidence in the criminal justice system. Zapata was immediately suspended after the altercation and demoted from sergeant to officer in August, authorities said. He was also suspended without pay. He wrote a letter to the police commissioner claiming that he perceived Collins who he identifies as a defendant escalating the encounter with police before assaulting him. My actions in this incident should speak loud and clear that I perceived a hostile threat after the defendant aggressively put his hands on a police officer, the letter said, according to court records. I perceived the defendant fighting with my fellow officer and I responded accordingly. I will never stand by and watch a fellow officer get hurt and I stand on that principle. Zapata pleaded not guilty to the assault charge and is out of jail pending a trial. Hes due back in court on Jan. 18. Pursuant to his training, Sgt. Zapata physically engaged with Collins, striking him until he complied with the instructions of the officers, Zapatas lawyer told PIX 11 News. We are confident that he will be cleared of these meritless accusations. Not only does Zapata face local prosecution, but Collins also filed a lawsuit against him and his colleagues in Manhattan Supreme Court. Collins attorney, Neil Wollerstein, said he was pleased that Zapata is being held accountable, but he only faces a misdemeanor, which he calls a slap on the wrist. If the DAs office really wants to make an impact and change the culture of misconduct at the NYPD, they should have charged Zapata and the other officers with multiple felonies that were committed as seen on body camera, Wollerstein said. A string of special election and ballot measure victories is giving Democrats hope heading into 2024 as the party grapples with concerns over President Bidens low approval ratings. The party has clinched significant wins in races across the country over the past year, including with an abortion-related measure in Ohio and a New Hampshire state House race in a district former President Trump won by a slim margin in 2020. These off-year elections, which often go under the radar but are seen as bellwethers for the current political environment, have renewed optimism within the partys ranks as Biden looks set for a rematch against Trump. I think its a reflection of the fact that Democrats have been delivering for the American people and quite frankly, theres not a constituency in this country who has not benefited from the Democratic way of life when it comes to our priorities, our legislative agenda, up and down the ballot, said Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright. These elections are a true reflection of that and at the end of the day, voters, in particular Black voters, demonstrate their trust when they cast their vote at the ballot box. As Democrats brace for a probable rematch between Biden and Trump, worries have grown over Bidens approval numbers and his age. The presidents current approval rating is 41 percent, according to the RealClearPolitics average, while in a recent Monmouth University poll, Biden trails the former president by 1 point among registered voters. His allies have mostly defended the administration, pointing to everything from Bidens decision to withdraw from Afghanistan to the resilient economy, though unease over the president still lingers among many in the party. Yet Democrats are hopeful the recent special election victories are a positive sign for their prospects going into the 2024 presidential election, especially with abortion still a huge factor on the ballot. What that shows you is that, first off, the issue of like abortion isnt going away, said Abhi Rohman, the communications director for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. Thats been kind of the centerpiece to all of this. And then secondly, what it shows you is that Democrats have way more strength really across the country than people think. Theres a lot of people who were worried about the top of the ticket and President Biden and his approval numbers, of how the country views him, but Democrats who are running a center-left platform, under the Biden brand, theyre winning all over the country. That strength has been on full display in the most recent elections that took place in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. In New Hampshire, Democrat Hal Rafter flipped the GOP seat in the southern part of the state with a 12 percent victory, a significant shift considering Trumps slim victory there in 2020. In Pennsylvania, Lindsay Powell secured the one-seat Democratic majority in the Pennsylvania House by beating the local Republican Party chairwoman Erin Autenreith. And in Tennessee, community activist Aftyn Behn captured a state House seat in East Nashville, replacing longtime Democratic Rep. Bill Beck, who passed away earlier this year. I will say it adds weight to the fact that we are making the right arguments that are resonating with very broad swathes of the American people, said Democratic strategist Jon Reinish. I think it certainly bodes well for the battle for the House, I think for certain Senate races, governors races, state, legislative, etc. I think this also reflects the Biden teams thinking also is that this is a very good mobilizing message that creates a lot of urgency with a lot of different people as you head into a presidential race. The issue of abortion, which is a lightning rod on both sides of the aisle, has propelled Democrats in special election races and in statewide ballot issues. In early August, an off-year ballot measure turned into an electoral brawl over abortion. Ohio voters rejected the Republican-controlled state Legislatures attempt to make it harder to amend the state constitution ahead of a separate ballot measure in November that, if passed, will enshrine abortion rights in the state. Still, Republicans are cautioning not to read too much into the recent results. GOP strategist Doug Heye pointed to the 2010 midterms, in which Republicans picked up a historic 63 seats in the House to win back the majority. Republicans were also able to secure six more Senate seats. Id caution Democrats, its not always a straight line, Heye said. And yes, while youd rather win a state legislative seat in New Hampshire than lose it, it doesnt directly translate into what next Novembers going to be. Those races often have very local issues that dont play out necessarily in kind of the national space. And weve seen cycles before, where I think this was 2010, where Republicans took a lot of special elections on the chin, lost them, but ultimately had a very, very good year. But Democrats feel buoyed by the surprisingly strong showing for the party during last years midterms, which came on the heels of a significant victory in Kansas over an abortion-related ballot measure. In August 2022, Kansans voted to reject a GOP-backed ballot measure that would have given the state Legislature the right to ban abortion. The election was one of the first indications of voter anger over the Supreme Courts decision to scrap Roe v. Wade and is now generally seen as a harbinger for the Republicans poor performance in the midterms several months later. A lot of people they see the national polling and they think that that bodes poorly for Democrats, but again, the biggest indicator of how things are gonna go are basically how elections have done in the past and the past few years, Rahman said. Democrats have won basically everything important. Theres no arguing that national polling doesnt look promising for the incumbent president. In a recent NBC News poll, three-quarters of voters expressed concern about Bidens mental fitness and age. Additionally, fewer than 4 in 10 voters approve his handling of the economy. Yet even as fears over Bidens unpopularity dog the party, Democrats are touting their record in this years special elections. The DLCC noted in a recent analysis from its campaign arm that the partys candidates are overperforming in state legislative special elections this year by an average of over 7 points. I think that voters across the board take very seriously the issue of functioning democracy, Reinish said. And as the Republican Party becomes more and more restrictive, more and more paranoid, more and more radicalized, more and more authoritarian really in their impulses, I think that turns off a lot of voters that they need to get and makes voters that normally would not be available to Democrats available to them. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. "Squad" House Democrats known for criticizing the state of Israel faced massive backlash from conservatives online over their milquetoast statements following Hamas' deadly surprise attack on Israel. Several members of the informal progressive caucus published statements on Saturday condemning the violence and calling for the conflict to de-escalate. Of the "Squad" members, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., has been silent on the attack on Israel. SQUAD DEMOCRAT CALLS FOR END OF ISRAEL'S GAZA BLOCKADE AS HE CONDEMNS HAMAS TERROR ATTACKS Several members of the informal progressive caucus, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , published statements on Saturday, with several calling for the conflict to de-escalate. Fox News Digital reached out to Tlaib's office for comment on the deadly surprise terrorist attack on Israel but did not receive a response. Meanwhile, "Squad" queen Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., called for a "ceasefire and de-escalation" after the surprise terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "Today is devastating for all those seeking a lasting peace and respect for human rights in Israel and Palestine. I condemn Hamas attack in the strongest possible terms," the New York Democrat said in a statement. "No child and family should ever endure this kind of violence and fear, and this violence will not solve the ongoing oppression and occupation in the region," Ocasio-Cortez continued. "An immediate ceasefire and de-escalation is urgently needed to save lives," she added. Ocasio-Cortez's statement drew criticism from South Carolina GOP Rep. Nancy Mace, who referred to her Democrat colleague as a "Hamas apologist." "Hamas apologist asking for 'ceasefire' after one side launches a massive terrorist attack. Nice try," Mace wrote. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. who has a history of controversial statements about Israel condemned "the horrific acts we are seeing unfold today in Israel against children, women, the elderly, and the unarmed people who are being slaughtered and taken hostage by Hamas." "Such senseless violence will only repeat the back and forth cycle we've seen, which we cannot allow to continue," Omar said. "We need to call for deescalation and ceasefire," she continued. "I will keep advocating for peace and justice throughout the Middle East." "FOX & Friends Weekend" co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy criticized Omar in a response to her statement, saying the congresswoman "will never acknowledge that there was peace in the Middle East [and] Europe when Trump was in office." Conservative commentator John Hasson also blasted Omar over her tweet. "Notice how she only condemns the acts against 'children, women, the elderly, and the unarmed.'" Hasson wrote. "Shes implying that attacking/killing IDF forces is fine." In 2021, Omar landed in hot water with senior members of her own party as well as her opponents when she compared America and Israel to murderous terrorist groups Hamas and the Taliban, saying the two democracies have committed "unthinkable atrocities." "We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban," Omar wrote at the time. "I asked [Secretary of State Antony Blinken] where people are supposed to go for justice." Additionally, during a 2021 cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, Omar said the fighting stopping wasnt enough and that the U.S. was "underwriting crimes against humanity" through support for Israel and that there needed to be "accountability for every war crime committed." Amid the 2021 conflict, Omar also accused Israel of engaging in "terrorism" through their airstrikes that tragically killed civilians in the Gaza Strip. In 2019, during her first term in office, Omar came under fire for a since-deleted tweet from 2012, where she wrote "Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel." "Israeli air strikes killing civilians in Gaza is an act of terrorism. Palestinians deserve protection. Unlike Israel, missile defense programs, such as Iron Dome, dont exist to protect Palestinian civilians. Its unconscionable to not condemn these attacks on the week of Eid," Omar wrote on social media at the time. In 2019, during her first term in office, Omar came under fire for a since-deleted tweet from 2012, where she wrote "Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel." Omar said the "unfortunate words were the only words" she could "think about expressing at that moment" while referring to the Israeli armed forces 2012 operation against Hamas in Gaza. She also defended the comments while speaking to comedian Trevor Noah on "The Daily Show." Omar, who previously expressed regret over that tweet, responded by saying she had to "take a deep breath" and "understand where people were coming from and what point they were trying to make." Massachusetts Democrat Rep. Ayanna Pressley said these "devastating attacks on Israelis are deeply alarming and my heart breaks for the victims [and] their loved ones." "We need an immediate ceasefire & de-escalation. It is long past time to stop this cycle of violence [and] trauma, and work toward a just [and] lasting peace in the region," Pressley wrote. Conservative commentator known online as Comfortably Smug criticized the "Squad" in a response to Pressley's post. "The squad telling Israel to stand down after it was attacked and hundreds of its citizens were massacred," he wrote. "Incredible." New York Democrat Rep. Jamaal Bowman took to social media Saturday to call for an end to the Gaza blockade and condemned the Iranian-backed Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. "I strongly condemn the horrific attacks by Hamas and am saddened by the loss of precious lives, especially on the holy day of Simchat Torah," Bowman said in a statement , which was shared to social media. "We need a way to end this deadly violence that is killing and traumatizing generations of Israelis and Palestinians alike including the blockade of Gaza," he added. "I have been to the Gaza border and know that Israelis and Palestinians are constantly living in fear. We must work harder to ensure peace in the region." As new developments are made, Bowman, who made headlines recently after he pulled a fire alarm in Congress amid a vote to keep the government open, said he and his team will be monitoring the situation closely, "especially since several of our Westchester service members are in the area of attacks." Conservative radio host Jason Rantz tweeted that "Bowman cant merely condemn terrorism." "He has to include his ignorant criticism of Israel," Rantz said. Bowman has been criticized for his position toward Israel, and was one of nine progressives who voted against a resolution affirming Israel was not a racist or apartheid state earlier this year. Rep. Cori Bush said in a statement that she is "heartbroken by the ongoing violence in Palestine and Israel, and I mourn the over 250 Israeli and 230 Palestinian lives that have been lost today, and the thousands injured, following attacks by Hamas militants on Israeli border towns and Israeli military bombardment of Gaza." The Missouri Democrat said she strongly condemns attacks on civilians and called for an "immediate ceasefire and de-escalation to prevent further loss of life." "Our immediate focus must be saving lives, but our ultimate focus must be on a just and lasting peace that ensures safety for everyone in the region," the progressive congresswoman wrote. "Violations of human rights do not justify more violations of human rights, and a military response will only exacerbate the suffering of Palestinians and Israelis alike." Bush concluded by calling for an end to the "U.S. support for Israeli military occupation and apartheid." "As part of achieving a just and lasting peace, we must do our part to stop this violence and trauma by ending US government support for Israeli military occupation and apartheid," she wrote. "I am continuing to closely monitor the situation, and my Office is ready to support residents of the First District with family members and loved ones in the region." Defense attorney Marina Medvin said Bush mourns the death of the "Palestinian terrorists and equates that to the brutalities and butcherings the Palestinians committed of Jewish civilians." "Palestinian terrorists murdered children and their parents in their homes, kidnapped women and children and a bunch of young girls from a music festival, and this is the same, she says, as Israel killing the terrorists," Medvin added. In July, Bush and Tlaib boycotted Israeli President Isaac Herzog's joint address to Congress. The pair of congresswomen said in a statement at the time, "Bestowing President Herzog with the rare honor of a joint address to Congress while the Israeli apartheid government continues to enable and directly support racism and brutal settler attacks is a slap in the face to victims, survivors, and their loved ones." In recent weeks there have been protests in Gaza backed by Hamas against economic blockade of the region, which leaders described as aggressive. "If there's to be an explosion, let it be against the party that created these conditions, which is the (Israeli) occupation," senior Hamas official Bassem Naim said earlier this wee, Reuters reported . Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists invaded areas of southern Israel as rocket barrages launched from the Gaza Strip struck the area on Saturday, killing over 200 Israelis. A senior Hamas military commander, Mohammad Deif, announced the start of the operation in which he called on Palestinians everywhere to attack the Israelis, saying in a broadcast on Hamas media that the group launched 5,000 rockets. He called the attack "the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on earth." Israeli media reported that at least 300 people have been killed in the wide-ranging assault, while Gaza health officials say that at least 200 Palestinians have died in Israeli air strikes made in response to the Hamas attack. The death toll is continuing to rise as Hamas militants and Israeli fighters continue fighting near Gaza. The number of wounded people has risen to at least 1,590. Fox News Digital's Kyle Morris contributed reporting. Original article source: 'Squad' Dems face backlash calling for 'ceasefire' after Israel attacks: 'Cant merely condemn terrorism' Lawmakers in St. Louis, Missouri, are debating a bill that would exempt homeless individuals from laws against public urination and defecation, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. The bill was introduced Friday by Aldermanic President Megan Green and Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier of Tower Grove East, who argue that exceptions are needed given the low number of public restrooms in the city. After every sporting event, after Mardi Gras, we see (other) people engaging in public urination, Green said at a news conference. But ... enforcing those laws against that segment of the population is not the same as the enforcement we see against our unhoused population. Read it at St. Louis Post-Dispatch Read more at The Daily Beast. A visitor experiences domestic brain-computer interface system at the booth of Beijing Tiantan Hospital during the 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) at Shougang Park in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese scientists have newly proposed a strategy for brain-inspired neural circuit evolution, shedding light on developing spiking neural networks with better biological plausibility and efficiency, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). This study proposes an idea for the research of general brain-inspired cognitive intelligence, said Zeng Yi, a researcher with the Institute of Automation under the CAS and leader of the study team. Different neural circuits in the brain are involved in the development of different cognitive functions, and the adaptive synergy of the circuits promotes human perception, learning, and decision-making. It is of value to explore the dynamic characteristics of biological neural circuits from a computational perspective and apply them to enhance the capabilities of artificial intelligence systems. By applying the evolved neural circuits, the researchers construct spiking neural networks for image classification and reinforcement learning tasks. Using the brain-inspired Neural circuit Evolution strategy (NeuEvo) with rich neural circuit types, the evolved spiking neural network greatly enhances capability on perception and reinforcement learning tasks, according to the study. Combined with on-policy and off-policy deep reinforcement learning algorithms, NeuEvo achieves comparable performance with artificial neural networks, as shown in the study. The study was recently published in the U.S. journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). (Bloomberg) -- Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer has a mountain to climb to guide the UK opposition to victory in the next general election, facing double the challenge that confronted Tony Blair ahead of the 1997 landslide. Most Read from Bloomberg Starmer heads into Labours annual conference in Liverpool on Sunday buoyed by a storming win in a Scottish special election last week and sitting on a polling lead over the governing Conservatives thats hovered around 20 points for months. But the electoral math he inherited from his left-wing predecessor Jeremy Corbyn is stark. In 2019, Corbyn led the party to its worst defeat since 1935, winning just 203 of the 650 House of Commons seats. That leaves Starmer needing another 123 constituencies to secure an outright majority. By comparison, Blair required 59 in 1997. It shouldnt be understated the task that is required for Labour to overturn some of these Conservative majorities, Jack Peacock, a researcher at the polling company Survation said in an interview. This would be a historic moment. To achieve a majority, Starmer would have to increase his partys vote share by over 10 percentage points compared to 2019, according to UK political think tank Labour Together. Thats not been achieved by any party since before the Labour party was founded over a century ago. Its already a feat that in just over three years, Starmer has restored his party to a level where theyre genuine contenders to win the national vote that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak must call by January 2025. After the 2019 vote, electoral experts lined up to point out that no UK party had ever rebounded from a defeat of that magnitude to win the following election. But Starmer purged the parliamentary Labour Party of left-wingers including Corbyn and Diane Abbott, and tore up the partys 2019 manifesto commitments in a tilt to the center ground. Aided by Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves, a former Bank of England economist, he also burnished ties with business. To be sure, hes been helped by the implosion of both the Tories, who last year ousted two prime ministers, and the Scottish National Party, which is embroiled in a police investigation into its finances. Indeed Scotland could hold the keys to No. 10 for Starmer. As recently as 2010, Labour won 41 of its 59 seats. But a surge of nationalist sentiment carried the SNP to victory in all but three Scottish seats five years later, with Labour sinking to a solitary win a result it replicated in 2019. The general election will be the first since Nicola Sturgeon, one the UKs most popular politicians, stepped down as SNP leader and head of Scotlands semi-autonomous government in March. Polling suggests SNP support remains high. Its entirely possible that when we wake up after the next general election, one of the reasons Labour doesnt get a majority was because the SNP vote there was more resilient that expected, said Keiran Pedley, Director of UK Politics at Ipsos. But Labour won Rutherglen and Hamilton West on a 20.4 percentage-point swing from the SNP in Thursdays by-election, a result that also saw the Tory share of the vote hammered. Starmer hailed it as seismic, and given the size of the shift, Labour may be able to dream of taking even more than the 16 seats strategists were targeting. If this kind of swing were to be replicated across Scotland as a whole, youll be talking about the Labour Party quite clearly being the dominant party, John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, told the BBC last week. But Labour dont just have to win in Scotland. They need to recover a swathe of Red Wall seats in their northern heartlands that were lost to the Tories in 2019, while also making inroads further south, where the Conservatives traditionally dominate. Labours got to try and win seats in the blue wall and in the south of England with very different appeals to the ones that it will need to defeat SNP MPs in Scotland, said Survations Peacock. So-called Multilevel Regression and Post-stratification modeling by Survation last month suggested Labour would storm to victory, taking 426 seats on current polling. The technique came to prominence in 2017, when MRP polling correctly predicted Theresa May would lose her majority an outcome other surveys failed to predict. But Peacock said polling is only a snapshot of the current mood and cant be used as a guide for what may happen in a years time. Despite strong voter support heading into its annual conference YouGov gives Labour a 21-point lead in its most recent survey party members will also be wary of its history of under-performing at the ballot box. While the 1992 defeat is the clearest example of that, more recently in 2015 the Tories secured an unexpected outright majority, when polling suggested Labour would run them closer. Even in their landslide 1997 win, Labour was polling around 50% in the months leading up to the vote, but ended up with 43% of votes. Thats about the same share the party needs to win the next election, but theres less room for under-performance. In 1997, Blair ended up gaining 146 seats in a huge landslide. If Starmer gains that many, hell have a slim majority of just over 20, making it tough to get big legislative changes through the Commons. And if he falls short of a majority, the countrys traditional third party, the Liberal Democrats who are also eyeing gains from the Tories may be a very important factor in holding the balance of power, according to Pedley at Ipsos. For punters its becoming a bit of a two-horse race, and its not between Labour and the Conservatives, said Sam Rosbottom, a spokesman for the bookmaker Betfair. Its between Labour and a no overall majority, which would obviously mean a hung parliament. --With assistance from Stuart Biggs. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. California is enacting landmark policies to increase the transparency of dirty energy companies that do business in the state. SB 253 and SB 261 were passed by the legislature in mid-September as part of the states Climate Accountability Package. The former will require any company with greater than $1 billion in annual revenue to publicly disclose its direct, indirect, and supply chain greenhouse gas emissions via a verified auditor. SB 261 will require companies generating more than $500 million annually to prepare biennial reports disclosing climate-related financial risk and show how they have attempted to reduce that risk. This bill will impact nearly 10,000 businesses in the state, reported the Covington Inside Energy & Environment blog, based on California Senate analysis. Entities who do not complete this mandatory reporting will be subjected to up to $50,000 in fines, adding some regulatory teeth to the policy. SB 261, otherwise known as the Climate-Related Financial Risk Act, draws a connection between increased instances of natural disasters in the state and the companies contributing to the issue. The law notes that failure of economic actors to adequately plan for and adapt to climate-related risks to their businesses and to the economy will result in significant harm to both the states economy and its vulnerable populations. These reports will be required to be disclosed on the companies websites, which increases the amount of information consumers have about the companies and their climate commitments. The Senate Floor Analysis noted that the purpose of this bill is to increase public transparency to improve decision making on where to invest private and public dollars. In turn, this legislation will also prevent private corporations from hiding behind sustainability claims and instead require them to substantiate their commitment with data and numbers. SB 261 is the first government-mandated climate-risk disclosure document law in the country, according to Inside Energy & Environment. Two initiatives at the federal level, the Security and Exchange Commissions proposed climate disclosure rule and federal requirement for government contractors and suppliers to disclose their pollution production, are still pending but would further increase the amount of information publicly available about dirty energy and its impact. Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. (Bloomberg) -- The fallout from Saturdays surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian group Hamas reverberated through Middle East markets, sending stocks sliding and setting the tone for whats likely to be a volatile week. Most Read from Bloomberg Major equities gauges in the region fell Sunday, led by a 6.4% drop on Israels benchmark TA-35 stock index, its biggest loss in more than three years. The Tadawul All Share Index in Riyadh fell 1.6% while stocks in Qatar and Kuwait also weakened. The EGX30 gauge in Cairo slumped 2.6% after an Egyptian policeman opened fire on a group of Israeli tourists, killing two of them, in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria. The Hamas assaults mark the deadliest attack on Israel in decades and threaten to escalate into a broader conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that his country would launch a prolonged military campaign against the militant group and expressed confidence Israel would win. President Joe Biden pledged rock solid US support for Israel. The conflict comes at a time of diplomatic sensitivity and also a moment of historic division within Israel over Netanyahus coalition with Israels far-right and their efforts to overhaul the nations judiciary. The Israeli shekel has slumped toward a seven-year low in recent days, ahead of the scheduled reopening of Israels parliament later this month. Divisions in Israels politics and security structure will be papered over while the military response in Gaza is ongoing, but they are not going away, said Hasnain Malik, a Dubai-based strategist at Tellimer, a provider of research and data on emerging markets to investors. That will remain a vulnerability for all Israeli asset prices. The war in Gaza will have a greater effect on Israeli markets than previous military operations, says Ori Greenfeld, the chief strategist at Psagot Investment House. Should the fighting spread, Israels economy will likely be hurt by a drop in private consumption and in private and public investments, he said. If Israel needs to make decisions that are not necessarily aligned with the international community, there could also be a drop in international investments and in Israels trade relation with different countries, Greenfeld said. This might also affect the shekel which we expect to see weaken. Hamass incursions struck Israel at a fragile moment. Netanyahus efforts to weaken the judiciary have sparked mass protests and unnerved foreign investors. The shekel is already one of the biggest losers this year among a basket of 31 major currencies tracked by Bloomberg. Netanyahus plans for greater regional integration with Arab and Muslim neighbors now also face a severe test. Israel is in negotiations with the US and Saudi Arabia on a complex three-way deal in which Washington would offer security guarantees to Riyadh. The Saudis, for their part, would normalize relations with Israel. Israel has also been talking with Turkey and others about gas exports to Europe along with corridors for trade from Asia. Regional risk goes up for a while, said Tellimers Malik. The fighting has left hundreds dead on both sides. Palestine suspended trading on its stock exchange on Sunday, citing security conditions in the Palestinian territories, and will reopen on Monday. --With assistance from Srinivasan Sivabalan. (Updates prices, detail of shooting attack in Egypt in second paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The Ely family holds hands in a circle during a family reunion on the land they inherited. Courtesy of Gaining Ground - The Fight for Black Land Documentary In 2012, the Ely family was sued as a way of forcing them to sell their shares of family land in Alabama. In the past century, an estimated 90% of farmland owned by Black Americans has been lost or stolen. The Elys successfully fought the lawsuit this year, and are using the land to honor their family's legacy. Michael Robinson didn't realize his family owned a sizable chunk of land until a complete stranger sued them nearly 12 years ago. In 2012, a man named James E. Deshler II sued members of Robinson's family to force them to sell their shares of their land in Barlow Bend, Alabama. Robinson's late grandfather, Joe Ely, had purchased the farmland in 1941, and his family members inherited the property when he died. Under Alabama law, anyone owning an interest in a plot of land could sue the other landowners to force a sale. Several months prior, Deshler had purchased 1/15 of Ely's land from two of Robinson's cousins, giving him the legal right to try to obtain the rest of the land. The 127 acres of farmland didn't just have monetary worth estimated at $212,000 but sentimental value, too. The property had long been a gathering place for family reunions and cookouts. "I could not believe that someone we didn't know now owned a portion of our family's land," Robinson told Insider. Deshler and his attorney J. Glen Padgett did not respond to Insider's request for comment. Michael Robinson's grandparents. Joe Ely bought 127 acres of land in Alabama in 1941. Courtesy of Michael Robinson A history of land loss In the decades following the end of slavery in the United States, Black Americans amassed millions of acres of farmland, peaking at between 16 million and 19 million acres around 1910, according to the Census of Agriculture. "Unfortunately now we've seen a kind of trend away from a connection to that land," Thomas Mitchell, a law professor focusing on property issues at Boston College, said in the documentary "Gaining Ground," which explores the legacy and struggles of Black farmers. "The way that enslavement is taught in our schools has African Americans really ashamed of that legacy of land." But today, Black Americans own just 2 million acres of land the result of a century of land theft by largely white farmers and landowners. Heirs' property disputes, referring to issues over land transferred to multiple family members by inheritance, usually without a will, are a common problem for southern Black farmers. They're also a common practice that white farmers historically have abused to take land from Black farmers and their descendants. By Mitchell's conservative estimate, the land that Black Americans have lost since the early 20th century amounts to about $326 billion. And that's just farmland. Black Americans have also been targets of urban land dispossession, like in the case of Bruce's Beach, a California property that was owned by a Black couple, Charles and Willa Bruce. In 1924, the Manhattan Beach Board of Trustees seized the property via eminent domain. It wasn't until 2022 that it was officially returned to the Bruce family. "We're talking about trillions of dollars of generational wealth that have been washed away," Mitchell said in "Gaining Ground." Anthony Bruce, descendant of Charles and Willa Bruce, holds up the property deed to Bruce's Beach on July 20, 2022. Christina House/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Immediate hurdles It fell on Robinson, a corporate and nonprofit advisor, to help spearhead the family's efforts to fight the lawsuit. But there were immediate hurdles, like the fact that there were more than 40 siblings, cousins, aunts, and other relatives who were heirs to Joe Ely's land. Robinson and his cousin, Deborah Ely, formed what he described as a "land retention committee," to unite all members of the family. It also meant the lawsuit made its way through the court system much slower than usual. If a family member died during the process, the land immediately went to their children, and the court would have to notify the children all over again. "It was like herding cats for a while," Robinson told Insider. "But in the end, the lawsuit ended up being a galvanizing call for us." Michael Robinson and his cousin Deborah Ely in the documentary "Gaining Ground." Courtesy of Gaining Ground - The Fight for Black Land Documentary The land was of sentimental value to the Elys, but the lawsuit signaled there was some financial value, too, and Robinson discovered it had recreational value because of its proximity to the Alabama River. "I didn't want three or four generations from now for some member of the family to say, 'Didn't we have over 100 acres of land?'" Robinson said. "I didn't want someone to say, 'That generation didn't fight to keep the land in the family.' So we adopted this motto of: Not on our watch." Reclaiming their land After nine years in the courts, the judge dismissed the case in the Ely's favor in 2019. This past August, they were also able to reclaim Deshler's 1/15 interest of the property. The victory was all the more meaningful given the broader history of Black Americans' disenfranchisement and land loss: During the process, Robinson learned that a fifth of his family's land was a former plantation. "To me, it had even more meaning that people were enslaved on that land, and now we owned it, and we had the opportunity to change the narrative, the legacy, and the history on that land," he said. The Elys' land in Alabama. Courtesy of Gaining Ground - The Fight for Black Land Documentary Since his family defeated the lawsuit, Robinson put the land in an LLC named in honor of his grandparents as a way to pay homage to their legacy. While they still plan to continue using the land as a gathering place, the Ely family is also eyeing business opportunities to make the most of the land and allow it to become a resource for them. "Reclaiming the land is about reclaiming our birthright," Robinson said. "I never met my grandfather he died in 1959 before I was even born. But it was so important for me to honor his legacy and the intent when he purchased that land. He could only dream or imagine where we are as people of color today. And I wanted to take the blood, sweat, and tears that went into that land and not let that die." Correction: October 17, 2023 An earlier version of this story misstated the number of years the Ely family's court case lasted. It lasted nine years and was dismissed in 2019. Read the original article on Insider Eric, left, and Greg Levesque, founders of Utah-based tech startup Strider Technologies, pose for a portrait at their office in South Jordan on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News Twin brothers Eric and Greg Levesque dont like to make too much of their identical genetic makeups or any mythic kinship that may have propelled their decision to launch a business together. And indeed, their career paths appeared to be on pointedly divergent courses ahead of the birth of Strider Technologies. The company, founded in 2019 by the Levesques and data guru Mike Brown, is a high-tech strategic intelligence firm that is innovating information gathering and analysis to help public and private clients identify threats from state actors seeking inside tracks on talent and technology. Before the convergence that would lead to Strider, Greg Levesque, who earned an undergraduate degree in economics from Utah State University and a masters in security studies from Georgetown University, was working in Washington, D.C., as a consultant and adviser on economic statecraft issues. His work included aiding U.S. and European governments and Fortune 500 companies in identifying, assessing and responding to the risks of nation-state sponsored commercial activity. Pre-Strider, Eric Levesque also spent his undergraduate days at USU, earning an economics degree before going on to BYU, were he completed the MBA program. His career path would take him into international finance where he made stops at Standard & Poors and Russell Investments on his way to work as an investor on behalf of the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Oman. Related The brothers Levesque also carried language skills into their careers, first developed ahead of, and during, missionary service for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Strider CEO Greg speaks fluent Mandarin and Chief Operating Officer Eric is a fluent Russian speaker. During the time Greg Levesque was working in D.C., spending a lot of time tackling China-related issues in industry, and Eric Levesque was working for the Omani wealth fund, the brothers were seeing overlaps in some of the challenges arising in their respective areas of expertise. For years we would continue this conversation about things that we were seeing at the nation-state level, how they were getting more engaged in industry, Greg Levesque said. Eric was actually dealing with it firsthand in Oman. And I can vividly remember this call where we were discussing this. And coincidentally, I was working on some projects with the U.S. government that actually had a Middle East angle. And we were looking at what China and Russia were doing in the region. Greg, left, and Eric Levesque, founders of Utah-based tech startup Strider Technologies, discuss their company in their office in South Jordan on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News The mechanics of the overlapping issues track back to nation-state actors looking for, and acting on, pathways to obtain insight on cutting-edge technologies being developed in the private sector and public institutions, and building complex systems and strategies to access troves of sensitive, and valuable, information. That was really a moment of clarity for us, Greg Levesque said. We realized that, hey, theres a convergence happening. This is not a one-off issue. This is happening all over, around the globe. And the capability to address this in a meaningful way for industry did not yet exist. What the Levesques recognized, from a holistic viewpoint informed by their professional duties, was that intellectual property theft, talent poaching, supply chain disruption and other actions were happening via foreign government coordination with commercial actors. While those circumstances were not novel, the Levesques noted they were occurring at a higher rate then ever before. Intellectual property, or IP, theft is by no means a sidebar issue in the broader U.S. economic realm. According to data tracked by the Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property, IP loss or misuse costs the U.S. between $225 billion and $600 billion every year. And, the fiscal impacts play out very broadly as IP-intensive companies generate over one-third of the total U.S. gross domestic product and the Commerce Department reports more than 1 in 4 U.S. workers, over 40 million, are employed by these companies. Striders cloud-based software platform was developed to aid its clients, which include private sector companies, government agencies and research/academic institutions, in identifying what types of new technology are being most targeted by outside organizations, who among their talent resources could be most sought-after and other more subtle markers of malfeasance. Brown explained that the Strider platform was built to ingest and assess massive amounts of open-source data in multiple languages. The information it gathers is publicly available to anyone who takes the time to find it, but Brown noted that knowing where to look and how to process the information is key. Striders target data is in continual building mode, adding millions of documents every day, and able to identify and track financial information, the content of technical and academic publications, public postings, personnel movement and much, much more. Were giving companies a 360 degree view of whats happening, Brown, Striders chief technology officer, said. Its identifying risk and the sources of that risk. A Strider assessment of joint research projects coming out of the Canadian university system found multiple links that showed cutting-edge advancements were making their way back to the Chinese defense sector. According to research Strider provided to The Globe and Mail, researchers at 50 Canadian universities had conducted and published joint scientific papers from 2005 to 2022 with scientists connected to Chinas military. Strider found that in the past five years, academics at 10 of Canadas leading universities published more than 240 joint papers on topics that included quantum cryptography, photonics and space science with Chinese military scientists at the National University of Defense Technology, per The Globe and Mail report. Other Strider reports identified how the Peoples Republic of China was systematically recruiting leading scientists from the Los Alamos National Laboratory to advance its military programs and another showed that over the past 20 years, more than 30,000 individuals have left top European technology companies, including premier semiconductor firms, and moved to PRC-headquartered companies. PRC economic statecraft actors leverage government-backed talent programs, overseas alumni associations, and industry events to encourage overseas experts to relocate, the report reads. The report also uncovered strategies aiming to obtain new technology through business investment. Striders global investment data shows that over the past 20 years, more than 200 instances of PRC organizations, including several state-owned enterprises, investing in European semiconductor companies, the report reads. Strider has raised over $57 million in four venture funding rounds and operates three offices including locations in South Jordan, Tysons Corner, Virginia, and London. Veteran entrepreneur-turned-venture capital investor Mike Janke saw Striders potential early on and his firm, Maryland-based DataTribe, led a $2 million Seed Fund round back in 2019. In a Deseret News interview, Janke lauded Striders fast ascension and said the company has gone on to become a standout among DataTribes portfolio of investments. They just took off, Janke said. In the first two years, I believe they had 23 of the Fortune 50 businesses as customers. That just doesnt happen. There has been extensive news coverage of the spotted lanternfly, an invasive species found throughout the United States. Recent statistics regarding the insects population and the defense tactics employed to stop its movement show that eradication efforts are making a tangible difference. In Pennsylvania, one of the states hardest hit by the pest, statistics show that the population is dwindling. At its height in 2019, 150,000 insects were reported in the state. In 2021, this number declined to 61,000. New Jersey has also reported a decline in reported sightings. However, scientists are mixed about the data, with some claiming that the frequent movement of the bug skews the data. The primary control tool used to limit the fly populations involves encouraging people to squash or stomp the bugs wherever they see them. While some states have found success in insecticides, this seemingly unconventional control strategy can stomp out females of the species, which can lay 30 to 60 eggs in a single catch. These eggs can also survive hard frosts, making the populations even harder to control. Matthew Travis, the spotted lanternfly national policy manager for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), encourages folks to be wary of the egg masses and the mature bugs. Thats 50 insects that could be wiped out simply by taking a credit card out of your wallet, scraping that egg mass off, and squashing it, he explained in an interview with the Guardian. Although the bug is harmless to humans, it does a lot of damage to crops and vegetation. The insects primary food source is the tree of heaven, another invasive species, but it has also been known to feed on other important food crops and trees like walnuts, maples, and fruit trees. The spotted lanternfly is also problematic because it quickly traveled across a dozen U.S. states by hitchhiking on trains, cars, and planes. Experts are hopeful that the increased attention to the pest and the community stake in stomping out the invasive pest will make a difference. Every little bit helps; it is a prolific pest and were probably their biggest natural enemies. Its pretty important that people do their part, said Cecilia Sequeira, a spokesperson for the USDA. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. A day after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel, supporters of Israel and the Palestinians held opposing rallies Sunday afternoon in Fort Lauderdale at which several protesters were attacked. The assault from the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian exclave on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, killed at least 700 people in Israel, according to the Associated Press. Israels retaliation killed more than 400 in Gaza, where Hamas took over governance in 2007. At a protest in Fort Lauderdale, Reut Tsizer, 36, said she hasnt been sleeping well. She cant stop thinking about her older brother and his family, who live in Israel. They are under attack, she said. They cant go outside. I dont have any more tears. Tsizer, who held a sign that said Israel forever and Hamas no more, was one of about 300 people, who gathered on East Sunrise Boulevard and North Victoria Park Road. Many of the protesters waved Israel flags and signs with slogans such as America stands with Israel and We will win. The crowd, singing the American and Israeli national anthems, took over the right lane of Sunrise Boulevard, with a few protesters also standing at the median, until Fort Lauderdale police arrived. Israelis and American Jews come together to express their support for Israel and condemn Hamas aggression against Israel during the protest on October 8, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale. Mali Miller, a 63-year-old Fort Lauderdale resident also at the protest, told the Miami Herald she has been distraught all day. She couldnt even teach Hebrew like she usually does on Sunday because of how worried she is about her family back in Israel. All they want is to wipe us off the map, Miller said. Dara Cohen of Aventura express her support for Israel and condemn Hamas aggression against Israel during the protest on October 8, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale. Caroline Chatuel, 57, showed up to support Israel in a T-shirt that said Israel in my heart. One of her family members, she said, was killed and another was severely injured during the attacks. I see terrorists slaughtering civilians, she said. This is terrorism. This is not a war. Osnat Shati of Hollywood and Leeza and Ashley Farreel of Weston (in the background) express their support for Israel and condemn Hamas aggression against Israel during the protest on October 8, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale. We are peaceful people, Chatuel said. We are not looking for a fight. Chaos as pro-Palestinian protesters attacked Muna Shihad, 38, was one of about 50 people who turned up in support of the Palestinians. Shihad, who is visiting family in South Florida, said shes concerned about recent events in the Palestinian territories. They are killing kids and building houses on top of their ashes, she said. They dont have a voice. Nobody is listening. We just want human rights. Damian Rodriguez, one of just a few Palestinian supporters that showed up, shows thumb up on October 8, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale. The Miami Herald was recording when a group of pro-Israel protesters beat up someone rallying for the Palestinians. Several other pro-Palestinian protesters say they were also attacked on Sunday. Heres what happened. One of the people I had interviewed earlier partially blocked me from recording using an Israeli flag. 3/ pic.twitter.com/zB4NvzdrRM Omar Rodriguez Ortiz (@Omar_fromPR) October 8, 2023 The video shows a man and two women waving Palestinian flags when a group of pro-Israel protesters rush over. One of the pro-Israel protesters shouts, F--- you, son of a b----. A man then yanked the male protesters Palestinian flag. He tried to defend himself but was quickly overpowered as he was punched by several of the men rallying for Israel. Another protester, holding a large Israeli flag, tried to cover the Heralds camera to obstruct the view of the incident. Police, equipped with riot helmets and shields, arrived at the scene as about 100 pro-Israel protesters marched toward the pro-Palestinian group. Fort Lauderdale police confirmed on Sunday that one person was arrested for causing a disturbance. On Monday, police identified the suspect as Zion Hefetz, 64, of Hollywood. He was charged with disorderly conduct before he was released with a notice to appear in court. Didier Ortiz, the man who was attacked, told the Herald he showed up to exercise his First Amendment rights and support the Palestinians when about 50 people headed toward him. He said 10 of those pro-Israel marchers hit him on the back of the head and even spit on his face. Ortiz said he and a handful of pro-Palestinian protesters sought shelter at a nearby strip mall. The 31-year-old said he plans to press charges. It was quite something else, but again, its nothing compared to what the Palestinian people are going through, he said. The United States and European Union have designated Hamas a terrorist organization. The tension between Palestinians and Israelis has increased in recent years as Israeli settlers push further into Palestinian areas. Hours before the Fort Lauderdale protests, the Israeli government formally declared war, authorizing its countrys military to take additional steps to retaliate against Hamas in Gaza. A woman, who identified herself as Valentina, told the Herald she was pushed by several men while rallying in solidarity with Palestinians. She said a woman threw water at her and a man spit at her, but she was able to dodge them. A pro-Israel supporter verbally attacks a person with different views on the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians on October 8, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale. Aldair Labrada, too, said he was attacked by the pro-Israel group while showing support for Palestinians. He said several men tried to punch him and grabbed him by his T-shirt, which had holes near the collar. Someone, he said, also pepper sprayed him and smashed his cellphone. We saw from far away that they started attacking them, so me and my friend ... ran towards them to try to push everyone back and then it escalated, Labrada said. (Bloomberg) -- Switzerland has become home to one-fifth of the Russian spies operating in Europe as other countries expel diplomats, NZZ newspaper reported, citing an intelligence report. Most Read from Bloomberg European governments have kicked out hundreds of Russian diplomats alleged to be working as spies since Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Yet Switzerland is now home to some 80 Russian agents, a senior official with the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (NDB) told members of the National Councils Foreign Policy Commission in September, NZZ reported. While Swiss cities such as Geneva and Bern have always attracted intelligence activities, the issue of Russian diplomats operating as spies in Switzerland has now become a more heightened topic of debate among Swiss politicians. These foreign agents represent a threat to the internal and external security of Switzerland, National Councilor and member of the Social Democratic Party Fabian Molina, told NZZ. Asset Freeze Long known for its stance of neutrality, Switzerland has broken with tradition by mirroring most European Union sanctions against Russia and some related individuals since the beginning of the war. It said last year it had frozen about 7.5 billion Swiss francs ($8.2 billion) worth of Russian assets. That crackdown hasnt extended to diplomats, who continue to enjoy immunity. The Federal Council does not impose any sanctions in the form of expelling diplomats, a spokesperson for the Swiss Foreign Affairs Department told NZZ, adding that communication channels with Russia must be maintained. When Switzerland expels diplomats, it does so for reasons of internal security and these cases are not communicated publicly, the spokesperson told the newspaper. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. TAUNTON Taunton's own Old Colony History Museum is featured on an episode of the Rhode Island public television show "Treasures Inside the Museum." WSBE-TV spokesman Faythann Fallon said the episode describes how the Old Colony History Museum chronicles the long history of southeastern Massachusetts, including a military collection, paintings and textiles. Old Colony History Museum Executive Director Katie MacDonald said descriptions of the museums objects were highlighted by herself, museum President William Hanna, Curator of Collections Bronson Michaud and Renee Walker-Tuttle. The episode on the Old Colony History Museum premieres on Sunday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. and will be rebroadcast Friday, Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 14 at noon. It will also be available to view on the Rhode Island PBS website as of Sunday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.. Old Colony History Museum Show highlights Old Colony History Museums military room MacDonald said the "Treasures Inside the Museum" episode focuses mainly on the museums military room, which is undergoing renovations. We are obviously excited, she said, adding that the episode was filmed in March. MacDonald said the military room highlights how Southeastern Massachusetts was impacted by the Revolutionary War and all of the wars that the U.S. has participated in. They came in at a great time, she said of the "Treasures Inside the Museum" taping. We talked about a number of things related to military history. Travel back to Taunton's past Taunton love story transports readers back to Camp Myles Standish in the 1940s A military history room at the Old Colony Museum in Taunton is featured on the Rhode Island PBS TV show "Treasures Inside The Museum." The story of Taunton resident David Cobb, who served in the Continental Army as a major general during the Revolutionary War and suffered the loss of an arm when he got hit by a British cannonball, was detailed. Its a great local story, she said, adding that the museum has a preserved portrait of him that will be installed in the military room. Museum officials also discussed how Taunton resident and World War II Army veteran Henry F. McKenney was stationed in a war crimes courtroom at Nuremberg, Germany. MacDonald said the renovations inside the military room are nearing completion, and it should open in November or December. Old Colony History Museum Director Katie MacDonald during a tour of the Old Colony History Museum in Taunton on Monday, March 14, 2022. Was it really hers? Elizabeth Pole's Bible sold to controversial minister for $24K Treasures Inside the Museum offers 'backstage look at amazing places' Rhode Island PBS President David W. Piccerelli said the "Treasures Inside the Museum" program is beginning its fourth broadcast season and the show offers viewers a backstage look at amazing places not far from their own homes. We are excited to see what season four uncovers and to shine a light on the local organizations preserving these histories, he said in a written statement. Upcoming episodes feature: Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London, Connecticut; East Greenwich Veteran Firemans Museum in Warwick, Rhode Island; The Providence Art Club; Watch Hill Lighthouse Museum, in Westerly, Rhode Island; The John Brown house museum, in Providence; St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center in Woonsocket, Rhode Island; Wayside Inn Museum, in Sudbury, Massachusetts; Nathaniel Green Homestead in Coventry, Rhode Island; Paine House Museum, in Coventry, Rhode Island; and the Attleboro Industrial Museum. Meet Jean Luc Barkard Did you know Old Colony History Museum has a staff dog? How to watch New episodes of "Treasures Inside the Museum" air Sundays at 7 p.m., and the shows are re-broadcast Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at noon. Viewers can also watch "Treasures Inside the Museum" on WSBEs website at https://watch.ripbs.org/video/old-colony-museumclouds-hill-house-museum-oqmnik. The episode on the Old Colony History Museum will premiere Sunday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. and be available to watch on the website at that same time. This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Taunton's Old Colony History Museum featured on RI PBS show Ted Cruz says historic southern border crisis will only get worse until there is a new president Sen. Ted Cruz , R-Texas, says he believes the only way for the ongoing migrant crisis to be fixed will be via a new president in the White House who can reverse the "lawless" approach of the Biden administration. "I believe the only way to solve this crisis is through a new president who's actually willing to follow the law," Cruz told Fox News Digital in an interview. Cruz spoke as the ongoing crisis at the southern border, now into its third year, has hit record highs. Sources told Fox News there were over 260,000 migrant encounters in September -- marking an all-time record. Republicans have blamed the Biden administration for the ongoing crisis, arguing that the rollback of Trump-era policies fueled the crisis. Cruz cited three moves by the Biden administration in 2021 for causing the crisis: The ending of border wall construction; the broader use of "catch-and-release"; and the ending of the Remain-in-Mexico policy, in which migrants were held in Mexico for their asylum hearings. MAYORKAS CITES IMMEDIATE NEED' TO WAIVE REGULATIONS, BUILD BORDER WALL IN TEXAS AS IMMIGRATION SURGES He pointed to the consequences for his home state of Texas. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Sept. 20, 2023: Migrants mostly from Venezuela move into Eagle Pass, Texas. "South Texas is in an absolute state of crisis. The jails are overflowing, the hospitals are overflowing, the schools are overflowing. And throughout Texas, we're seeing the very real human consequences of Joe Biden and the Democrats' open borders," he said. He also noted criticism the administration has received from Democratic officials, including in New York City -- where officials have declared themselves overwhelmed at the more than 110,000 migrants they have seen come into the city. Cruz said those numbers are eclipsed by the numbers border communities are seeing. He noted one day in which Eagle Pass, Texas -- which has a population of around 28,000 people -- saw 4,000 migrant encounters. "That is 14% of the entire population of the city coming in a single day. The comparable number to New York City would be 1,260,000 illegal immigrants crossing into New York City in a single day. If 110,000 is a crisis, what do you think over a million would be?" he asked. "That is happening throughout our southern border." The administration has repeatedly denied that its policies are to blame for the ongoing crisis. Officials have said they are dealing with a Hemisphere-wide challenge and that its policies of expanding lawful migration pathways, targeting root causes and reinstating "consequences" for illegal entry are working. It has also touted an increased number of returns since the ending of Title 42, claiming more have been returned than in the same period in 2019. Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, speaks during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. Russia is likely to face "a persistent and significant insurgency" after President Vladimir Putin misjudged how his war against Ukraine would unfold the top U.S. spy chief said today. Photographer: Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images The administration has also called on Republicans to provide more funding to the southern border as requested by the administration, while also passing comprehensive immigration reform legislation to fix what it says is a "broken" system. Republicans have introduced, and passed in the House, their own border security and asylum overhaul. Cruz introduced the Senate version of that legislation, and says that Congress should pass it "immediately." He also says the crisis could be solved if instead of releasing migrants into the interior, the administration deports them instead. But he says he does not believe that will happen, arguing that the Biden administration has been more radical than even the Obama administration. "[Former President Barack] Obama generally followed the law on immigration, which meant the Obama administration deported millions of people. If you remember, the left wing got very angry with him and called him the deporter in chief," he said. "What Joe Biden is doing has never happened in the history of our nation. He's simply ignoring the law, is defying the law brazenly," he said. "And as long as you have a president, as long as you have a chief executive who ignores the law, it doesn't matter what laws are on the books. If you have a president that is willing to defy the law and you have a corrupt corporate media that is willing to cover for his illegal conduct, as long as this lawless administration remains in power, this crisis will continue, and I believe it will continue to get worse." Original article source: Ted Cruz says historic southern border crisis will only get worse until there is a new president You are here: China A daily average of 57.28 million passenger trips were made during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday that ended on Friday, surging 57.1 percent from the National Day holiday last year. From Sept. 29 to Oct. 6, the number of passenger trips came in at 458 million, the Ministry of Transport said Saturday. Of the total, 141 million trips were made by rail, with the number of daily average trips soaring 158 percent year on year to top 17.64 million. Air trips averaged 2.14 million during the holiday period, skyrocketing 195 percent from a year earlier. Road trips made during the period hit 290 million, while the number of waterway trips amounted to 10.18 million, according to the ministry. A grieving mother in Tennessee wants to warn other families after she says her 7-year-old daughter died while popping birthday balloons last weekend. "I want people to know, so they can be aware," Channa Kelly told WVLT-TV of the suffocation dangers balloons pose in children. Kelly said she left Alexandra Hope, 7, in their living room briefly while the girl was popping her birthday balloons last Sunday, but when she returned, she found the girl facedown with one of the popped mylar balloons over her head. "Thats what took my baby, it was her birthday balloon. Its hard to comprehend," she told the station. 3RD CHILD DIES IN NORTH CAROLINA FOLLOWING A HOUSE FIRE THAT ERUPTED OVER THE WEEKEND Channa Kelly says her daughter Alexandra Hope died after putting a popped mylar birthday balloon over her head. "She was wonderful, so vivacious, independent, she loved crafts, swimming oh, she was little fish," Kelly told the station of Alexandra at her funeral Saturday. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Channa Kelly called her daughter "vivacious" and "independent." Police in Clinton, Tennessee, said theyre investigating her death, WVLT reported. Fox News Digital has reached out to police. NEW JERSEY 6-YEAR-OLD SUFFOCATED BY SEAT BELT WHILE BUS MONITOR STARED AT PHONE FOR 14 MINUTES, POLICE SAY Balloons are the leading cause of suffocation deaths in children of all kids' products, the U.S. Consumer Protection Safety warns. Children can also choke on uninflated balloons or balloon pieces of after its popped. Balloons are the leading cause of suffocation deaths in children of all kids' products, the U.S. Consumer Protection Safety warns. "Because of the danger of suffocation, the CPSC recommends that parents and guardians do not allow children under the age of eight to play with uninflated balloons without supervision," the agency says. "The CPSC does not believe that a completely inflated balloon presents a hazard to young children. If the balloon breaks, however, CPSC recommends that parents immediately collect the pieces of the broken balloon and dispose of them out of the reach of young children." Original article source: Tennessee mom warns of danger after she says her daughter, 7, died while playing with popped birthday balloons Unionist supporters protest against amnesty of separatist leaders and activists in Barcelona Unionist supporters protest against amnesty of separatist leaders and activists in Barcelona By Graham Keeley BARCELONA (Reuters) - Waving Spanish and Catalan flags, tens of thousands of people marched through Barcelona on Sunday to protest against a potential amnesty deal which Spain's Socialists must strike over Catalonia's 2017 separatist bid if they want to form a government. The protest, organised by the anti-separatist organisation Societat Civil Catalana, took place five days after Spain's acting Socialist prime minister was nominated to seek backing of other political parties for a new mandate. Pedro Sanchez needs the support of Catalan separatist parties Junts and Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya, which want the unpopular amnesty in exchange for votes in parliament. Alberto Nunez Feijoo, leader of the opposition conservative People's Party, and Santiago Abascal , leader of the far-right Vox party, attended the march which police said attracted 50,000 protesters. "An amnesty would undermine the judiciary. An amnesty would put the government above democracy and the rule of law," said Javier Tapia, 55, a chemicals worker. Holding a sign which said "Spain for Sale", Isabel Martinez said: "We cannot allow an amnesty because not all Catalans believe that these (separatists) should be pardoned. They want to live in conflict forever but we want to live in peace." AMNESTY WOULD BENEFIT HUNDREDS Sanchez has defended his conciliatory policy with Catalonia, including a 2021 pardon to nine jailed leaders, and said the 2017 crisis "brought nothing good". "This is not an amnesty that seeks reconciliation. The only thing it seeks is to make (Sanchez) the president of the government," Feijoo told the rally on Sunday. The amnesty could potentially cover more than 1,400 people involved in the independence bid that came to a head in 2017, pro-separatist Catalan group Omnium estimates. These are a mix of people in jail and facing charges. That would be the largest in Spain since the 1977 blanket amnesty for crimes committed during the Francisco Franco dictatorship, and the first amnesty law approved in the European Union since 1991, according to Spain's CSIC research council. Around 70% of respondents - 59% of them Socialist supporters said they were against the idea of an amnesty in a poll in mid-September. If no candidate for prime minister secures a majority by Nov. 27, a repeat election has to be called. (Reporting by Graham Keeley, Joan Faus, Horaci Garcia, Guillermo Martinez; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne) The author of this story is anonymous for their safety. Gaza CityThousands of Gazans from border areas fled their homes and their strawberry, carrot and cabbage farms to seek shelter Sunday as they feared a devastating Israeli ground incursion would be launched at any time. Huge attacks from Hamas will lead to a huge response from Israel, Salma Ahmed, 31, told The Daily Beast. I hope the international community can do something, I am praying for Allah to end this. Ahmed and her six children left their home in the Al-Attarah area of northern Gaza after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Gazans to run if they wanted to avoid Israels military response to a brutal attack by Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants this weekend. Hundreds of Israeli civilians were slaughtered and whole families, women and old people were taken hostage and dragged back to Gaza during the biggest co-ordinated attack on Israeli soil for 50 years. Ahmed fears the response from the Israel Defense Force, which was humiliated by Saturdays sneak attack, will be more powerful than anything the Palestinian people have faced in more than a decade. Now Missiles From Lebanon Threaten to Blow Up Wider Israel War Both sides have to make efforts to end this because we are tired of the long wars. I think this will be more aggressive than the 2014 and 2021 wars, she said. The family fears their strawberry, carrot and cabbage crops will be destroyed by the time it is safe for them to return. Reprisal bombings and drone attacks against Gaza began on Saturday night with strikes against 426 targets including banks, commercial and residential buildings, including a 14-story tower that held Hamas offices as well as dozens of apartments. Netanyahu vowed to take revenge for this black day in a Saturday night address. All the places that Hamas hides in, operates from, we will turn them into rubble, he added. Get out of there now, he said. On Sunday, the Israeli Cabinet officially declared war. It wasnt until May Mohammeds husband, a strawberry farmer, received a text message direct to his phone from the Israeli army that they decided to flee. Mohammed, 50, who has nine children, showed the message to The Daily Beast on her small Nokia cell phone. To the residents of the Gaza Strip, for your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and seek refuge in shelters. We cant be blamed for those who have been warned, it read. The difficulty for Palestinian families is finding somewhere to go. There are no shelters we can escape to other than the UNRWA [United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees] schools, she said. I came here with my children and my married daughter with her two children, and we couldn't even bring any materials, not even blankets. She was still wearing the prayer clothes she was in when they decided to flee to the school where they should be safe from missile strikes. The road through the only crossing between Gaza and Israel at Erez was obliterated in an Israeli airstrike yesterday after Hamas gunmen attacked soldiers and broke through the checkpoint. In any case, it is virtually impossible for the average Palestinian to obtain the correct permits to escape through the checkpoint. The Rafa checkpoint between Gaza and Egypt re-opened Sunday but you need paperwork approved by the de facto Palestinian government and the Egyptian authorities to get through, which would be extremely difficult in the current crisis. While the two mothers The Daily Beast spoke to were more concerned about protecting their families one man, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was pleased with the Hamas attacks. This is like a victory. It was like a dream, we didnt expect that one day we would go through the border into Israel, he said. The 53-year-old unemployed man who lives in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, said: This will make Israel weaker in negotiations, including releasing prisoners and lifting the siege of the Gaza Strip. Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City, Gaza on October 08, 2023. Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Abu Obaida, a spokesperson for al Qassam, Hamas military brigades, sent a statement on Sunday suggesting that further attacks would continue. He announced, the replacement of many brigade members that infiltrated inside the separation fence with new brigades. Since dawn on Sunday morning, the Israeli army started to escalate its attacks on Gaza. In an unusual step, they targeted the houses of Hamass political leadershipnot just members of the military wing. There were no reports of politicians being hurt but many of their relatives are believed to have died. The night too was heavy with shelling. Three residential towers: Al-Watan commercial, Falstine tower, and AlKlouk towers were hit. The damage to buildings in Gaza City left huge quantities of rubble in the main streets. The majority of houses in Gaza have had their internet switched off since the first hours of the attack. Electricity supplies decreased to only four hours per day across the Gaza Strip and the water supply in the central zone was disrupted by the decision to cut off supplies from the Israeli side. The death toll in Gaza is already over 300 according to the ministry of health who said 12 members of one familythe Shbats who live in Beit Hanounhad been killed in the strikes. Many families lost multiple members from the Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip last night, including two families living in the same building, who lost nine children (and 16 people in total) on a strike on their house near the border of Khan Younis. 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. A new deal between Tesla and Hilton will make electric vehicle charging far more accessible for visitors to the popular hotel chain. Some 2,000 Hilton locations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico will welcome Teslas Universal Wall Connector charging points, with 20,000 chargers delivered in total. Its not only a boost for Tesla drivers experiencing range anxiety, but it will also ease the minds of all electric vehicle drivers, as an adapter will allow any EV to fill up its battery. It will also benefit Hilton, with the company noting that internet searches for EV charging availability will be crucial for the hotel brand to entice more customers. Hilton has said such a search jumped from the fourth to the second-biggest factor in encouraging clients to stay at one of the brands locations. The Verge cited data from the EV charging locator app PlugShare that revealed only one Hilton hotel in the United States currently has on-site electric charging. The deal with Tesla will bring at least six to every location, with the project set to launch at the start of 2024. Through this expanded agreement with Tesla, we are significantly changing the landscape of universal EV chargers in North America in an incredibly short amount of time, Hilton chief brand officer Matt Schuyler said in a statement. Its a move thats already proving popular with potential customers, it seems. Nice. Love this, said one Instagram comment on Hiltons announcement video. Saving the planet one step at a time! added another. A study funded by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago and conducted by the Associated PressNORC Center polled 5,408 adults in the United States between January 31 and February 15, 2023, and found that 50% of respondents said a lack of charging infrastructure was a major reason not to buy an electric vehicle, while 27% still said it was a minor reason. A hotel stay would likely be on the agenda for people traveling on long journeys across the country. Having a charging station at your accommodation provides an efficient solution to make that trip with fewer stops. If those long journeys can be made while producing zero planet-harming tailpipe pollution, then thats even better. Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. Some people have called out potential fit and finish issues with a Tesla Cybertruck prototype. Auto expert Sandy Munro said it's misleading to judge a vehicle's fit and finish off a prototype. Over the past few months, Tesla enthusiasts have shared photos of the EV in the wild. Prospective Tesla Cybertruck buyers shouldn't worry about some of the panel gaps and smears that have showed up in recent sightings of the electric pickup, auto expert Sandy Munro says. After all, he said, the sightings of the apparent Cybertruck prototype are just that sightings of a prototype, or a work-in-progress. "With prototypes, they're not as fussy about panel gaps and things like that so you can't really throw rocks at that," Munro told Insider. "Everything that I see tells me that this is not quite ready for primetime, but it looks as good as anybody else would have," he said. The EV is "barely pre-production," he contends and he said he expects the truck will look much more polished once it goes out for delivery. Elon Musk has said he thinks the Cybertruck will be Tesla's "best product ever." Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP via Getty Images Still, he acknowledged quality control has been an issue with Tesla in the past. The Cybertruck is easily one of the most-anticipated vehicles of recent time. Electrek reported in September that the EV has a reservation list of more than 1.8 million prospective buyers Munro included. The auto expert said he put down the $100 deposit to be included on the reservation list shortly after Musk announced the vehicle. He said he plans to do a breakdown of the vehicle on his YouTube channel. Despite the hype, the vehicle has its fair share of naysayers Over the past few months, several Tesla enthusiasts have taken to social media with photos of apparent Cybertruck prototypes in the wild many of them appearing to be undergoing testing. And people have already begun picking apart the Cybertruck images, criticizing anything from the seemingly small size of the vehicle's frunk to the Cybertruck's ginormous windshield wiper. Last month, Dave Tapley, who has the the YouTube channel MuddyRuttz, shared a video of a Cybertruck that was apparently undergoing off-road testing in Northern California. He said in the video that he spotted the EV while he was at a park in California and chatted with the Tesla workers who were testing the Cybertruck. The video spawned a TikTok criticizing the EV that generated more than a half million views, as well as hundreds of comments from users picking apart flaws they said they spotted in the EV from door panels with varying gaps to smudges and scratches on the stainless steel doors. Some social media users also pointed out the "RC" labeling on the side of the Cybertruck a label that stands for release candidate and speculated that the label meant the car was in its final stages before it would be released. In other words, the vehicle was as good or nearly as good as it was going to get. But Munro, who specializes in automotive manufacturing and worked as a manufacturing engineer at Ford for a decade, said the label only indicates the software inside the car is near its final version and has nothing to do with the vehicle's exterior. What's more, Munro said it would be unfair to judge the quality of a vehicle off a prototype that was undergoing physical testing as that process is less about the aesthetics of the vehicle and more focused on putting it through its paces. "That vehicle has probably gone through some fairly rigorous testing," Munro said, referencing Tapley's video. "My guess is the smudge marks that you see may be doors that because they'd bashed them up they probably got some new doors but they didn't go through the polishing process." Sandy Munro said the smudges along the doors were likely because the doors had been replaced during testing and hadn't gone through the full polishing process. Courtesy of MuddyRuttzz on YouTube While some auto experts previously told Insider's Tim Levin and Nora Naughton that the vehicle might always look a little busted due to its flat stainless steel panels, Munro said the stainless steel body could make it easier to keep the vehicle from looking scratched or faded and would be ideal for more rugged activities. "The thing about stainless steel is it hangs around a while," he said. "Now if I want to polish that car, I can make it so that it shines like the sun for a while. I can buff the daylights out of it without having to worry about a new paint job. If I get a scratch, I can get that scratch out no question." It's unclear when Tesla will begin delivering the Cybertruck. Elon Musk has said the vehicle will be released by the end of the year, but the CEO has a history of shifting his timelines. A Tesla spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment, but Musk said on X, formerly Twitter, in August that he had driven a Cybertruck production candidate at Tesla's gigafactory in Texas. In June, he wrote on X that the EV will be Tesla's "best product ever imo." Read the original article on Business Insider Loved ones and neighbors gathered for a vigil to remember a beloved Tacoma store owner who was shot and killed during a robbery. Tacoma police said the robbery happened at the Little Store, on South Ainsworth Avenue in Tacoma, last Tuesday afternoon, a place that many residents considered as the neighborhoods glue. The store owner, Charlie, was shot and killed. Tacoma police said they later arrested two suspects in a separate robbery on Pacific Avenue. A 16-year-old and 18-year-old Angel Mendez were arrested. Police said they believe Mendez was also involved in the robbery and shooting that left the Little Store owner dead. Its terrifying for something to happen two houses down from your house where someone was murdered, said Zachary Ruyle, a neighbor. Loved ones and the community will be gathering at The Little Store on S. Ainsworth Avenue in Tacoma tonight to remember the store owner Charlie, who was shot and killed. Dozens of flowers & candles are laid out in front of the business. More on @KIRO7Seattle at 5, 6 and 7. pic.twitter.com/bYTBGCtiNy Louie Tran (@louie_tran) October 7, 2023 Ruyle told KIRO 7 News he has lived in the area for his entire life. He said he heard the gunshots last Tuesday. I was downstairs with my kiddo. All of a sudden, you hear three loud pops, he shared. When Ruyle learned about Charlies death, he said it affected many neighbors in the community as they would often shop at the store and talk with Charlie on a frequent basis. Any time we go in, he was very cordial. Ruyle added, It sucks. It just sucks that such a nice guy isnt there anymore. One neighbor told KIRO 7 News off-camera that many neighbors had become friends through shopping at the store. The store wasnt just known for its products, neighbors said, but also because of the store owners kindness. Thank you for being a good guy. Thank you for treating my kids with kindness, said Ruyle. There was just kindness and now that thats gone, it feels hollow. It leaves a big hole where there used to be something kind, is just gone. The vigil began Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Little Store. Loved ones have created a GoFundMe to help support the family during this difficult time. If youd like to help, please click here. Whenever Gina, a fifth grader at a suburban public school on the East Coast, did her math homework, she never had to worry about whether she could get help from her mom. I help her a lot with homework, Ginas mother, a married, mid-level manager for a health care company, explained to us during an interview for a study we did about how teachers view students who complete their homework versus those who do not. I try to maybe re-explain things, like, things she might not understand, Ginas mom continued. Like, if shes struggling, I try to teach her a different way. I understand that Gina is a very visual child but also needs to hear things, too. I know that when Im reading it, and Im writing it, and Im saying it to her, she comprehends it better. One of us is a sociologist who looks at how schools favor middle-class families. The other is a math education professor who examines how math teachers perceive their students based on their work. We were curious about how teachers reward students who complete their homework and penalize and criticize those who dont and whether there was any link between those things and family income. By analyzing student report cards and interviewing teachers, students and parents, we found that teachers gave good grades for homework effort and other rewards to students from middle-class families like Gina, who happen to have college-educated parents who take an active role in helping their children complete their homework. But when it comes to students such as Jesse, who attends the same school as Gina and is the child of a poor, single mother of two, we found that teachers had a more bleak outlook. The names Jesse and Gina are pseudonyms to protect the childrens identities. Jesse cant count on his mom to help with his homework because she struggled in school herself. I had many difficulties in school, Jesses mom told us for the same study. I had behavior issues, attention-deficit. And so after seventh grade, they sent me to an alternative high school, which I thought was the worst thing in the world. We literally did, like, first and second grade work. So my education was horrible. Jesses mother admitted she still cant figure out division to this day. [My son will] ask me a question, and Ill go look at it and its like algebra, in fifth grade. And Im like: Whats this? Jesses mom said. So its really hard. Sometimes you just feel stupid. Because hes in fifth grade. And Im like, I should be able to help my son with his homework in fifth grade. Unlike Ginas parents, who are married and own their own home in a middle-class neighborhood, Jesses mom isnt married and rents a place in a mobile home community. She had Jesse when she was a teenager and was raising Jesse and his brother mostly on her own, though with some help from her parents. Her son is eligible for free lunch. An issue of equity As a matter of fairness, we think teachers should take these kinds of economic and social disparities into account in how they teach and grade students. But what we found in the schools we observed is that they usually dont, and instead they seemed to accept inequality as destiny. Consider, for instance, what a fourth grade teacher one of 22 teachers we interviewed and observed during the study told us about students and homework. I feel like theres a pocket here a lower income pocket, one teacher said. And that trickles down to less support at home, homework not being done, stuff not being returned and signed. It should be almost 50-50 between home and school. If they dont have the support at home, theres only so far I can take them. If theyre not going to go home and do their homework, theres just not much I can do. While educators recognize the different levels of resources that students have at home, they continue to assign homework that is too difficult for students to complete independently, and reward students who complete the homework anyway. Middle-class students often enjoy many advantages that other students dont when it comes to getting help at home with their homework. Kentaroo Tryman via Getty Images Consider, for example, how one seventh grade teacher described his approach to homework: I post the answers to the homework for every course online. The kids do the homework, and theyre supposed to check it and figure out if they need extra help. The kids who do that, there is an amazing correlation between that and positive grades. The kids who dont do that are bombing. "I need to drill that to parents that they need to check homework with their student, get it checked to see if its right or wrong and then ask me questions. I dont want to use class time to go over homework. The problem is that the benefits of homework are not uniformly distributed. Rather, research shows that students from high-income families make bigger achievement gains through homework than students from low-income families. This relationship has been found in both U.S. and Dutch schools, and it suggests that homework may contribute to disparities in students performance in school. Tougher struggles On top of uneven academic benefits, research also reveals that making sense of the math homework assigned in U.S schools is often more difficult for parents who have limited educational attainment, parents who feel anxious over mathematical content. It is also difficult for parents who learned math using different approaches than those currently taught in the U.S.. Meanwhile, students from more-privileged families are disproportionately more likely to have a parent or a tutor available after school to help with homework, as well as parents who encourage them to seek help from their teachers if they have questions. And they are also more likely to have parents who feel entitled to intervene at school on their behalf. False ideas about merit In the schools we observed, teachers interpreted homework inequalities through what social scientists call the myth of meritocracy. The myth suggests that all students in the U.S. have the same opportunities to succeed in school and that any differences in students outcomes are the result of different levels of effort. Teachers in our study said things that are in line with this belief. For instance, one third grade teacher told us: Were dealing with some really struggling kids. There are parents that Ive never even met. They dont come to conferences. Theres been no communication whatsoever. Ill write notes home or emails; they never respond. There are kids who never do their homework, and clearly the parents are OK with that. "When you dont have that support from home, what can you do? They cant study by themselves. So if they dont have parents that are going to help them out with that, then thats tough on them, and it shows. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation is trustworthy news from experts. Try our free newsletters. It was written by: Jessica Calarco, Indiana University and Ilana Horn, Vanderbilt University. Read more: Jessica Calarco has received funding from the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, through Grant R305C050041-05 to the University of Pennsylvania and from the Networks, Complex Systems & Health Project Development Team within the ICTSI NIH/NCRR Grant Number UL1TR001108. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Council on Contemporary Families. Ilana Horn currently receives funding from the National Science Foundation. In the past, her work has been funded by the Spencer Foundation, the Carnegie Foundation, the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Mindset Scholars Network, and the American Educational Research Association. Increased rail traffic at the North Korean-Russian border likely backs reports of arms transfers between the two countries, the U.S.-based think tank Beyond Parallel said on Oct. 6. Satellite imagery of North Korea's Tumangang Rail Facility at Russia's border captured on Oct. 5 revealed an unprecedented number of freight railcars, totaling up to 73, as well as a large number of shipping containers and equipment, the report said. Since this footage coincided with media reports on the same day on North Korean artillery deliveries to Russia, the analysts alleged that shipments may contain ammunition or weapons. However, the content of the cargo cannot be safely established because the boxcars were covered, the think tank noted. Read also: CBS: North Korea supplying Russia with weaponry North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Russia's Amur Oblast in September, reportedly to discuss Moscow's support for Pyongyang's space and missile technology programs. According to Washington, the talks also addressed North Korean military aid to bolster Russia's war against Ukraine. Beyond Parallel noted that the number of boxcars at the Tumangang Rail Facility began to steadily increase five days after the summit of the two leaders. The think tank also added that the construction of a new warehouse facility near the Tumangang facility and other activities suggest North Korea's intent to expand the capacity of this border crossing. Read also: Carl Bildt: The axis of outcasts Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. At least four Americans have been killed following the attacks by Hamas on Israel with many more believed to be missing, according to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer . The Democratic Senate leader said in a statement on Sunday that he had been informed about the fatalies in an unclassified briefing by Acting Deputy Secretary of State Toria Nuland and Acting Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Sasha Baker on Sunday. In the briefing, attended by Senate leaders and some members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Mr Schumer said they were warned the death toll will climb higher as the violence enters a third day on Monday. Unfortunately, we know there are Americans who were killed. The Administration told us that they know of four thus far, but, sadly, we know the toll will rise, he said. Mr Schumer condemned the attacks on Israwl saying that he expressed my outrage at what happened. The viciousness and brutality of this unprecedented attack from Hamas targeting innocent civilians children, families, seniors is overwhelming and heart wrenching, he said. I asked the representatives of our Defense Department if they are giving Israel everything they need, and I was heartened that they said yes and that they are surging support. I asked them if they have denied any requests that Israel has made, and they said no. I urged them to ensure Israel has everything it needs to protect itself, and reiterated that the Senate stands ready to deliver on additional needs. He added that he has told senators that he is planning to hold a classified briefing that they can receive in their states as soon as possible so we can get additional details that could not be disclosed on this call. The Administration said they are keeping a careful eye on Iran and keeping all pressure on them and their proxies to ensure the situation does not expand. I will continue to stay in close contact with Biden Administration national security officials as well as senior members of the Israeli government and monitor this situation on an ongoing basis. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned earlier on Sunday that Americans could be among the dead and said the government was making it a major priority to verify that information and rescue any US hostages. We are very actively working to verify those reports, he told NBCs Meet the Press. Israel has also confirmed that Americans are among the scores of hostages taken by Hamas during the fighting. We have a lot of dual citizens in Israel, Ron Dermer, Israeli minister for strategic affairs, told CNNs State of the Union. I suspect there are several, but were still trying to sort through all of all this information after this horrific surprise attack and well make sure to put that information out so that the loved ones of these people who were killed and who are held hostage, they know as quickly as possible. The Independent has contacted the State Department for comment. Citizens of Ireland, Germany, and the UK have also been reported missing or kidnapped in the conflict. Numerous civilians have already been impacted by the two-day conflict. At least 700 people in Israel have been killed and more than 400 people have been killed in Palestine, as well thousands more people who have been injured. Nearly 74,000 people inside of Gaza have been displaced by the fighting, and Israeli forces struck a school being used as a United Nations shelter for displaced people, according to the UN. Civilians must be protected at all times, including during fighting, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency said in a statement on Sunday. UNRWA supports calls to reach an immediate ceasefire and a halt to the violence everywhere. The Israeli rescue service Zaka says its paramedics removed more than 260 bodies from a music festival that came under attack by Hamas militants. The total figure of bodies found is expected to be higher, as other paramedic teams were also working in the area and Zaka added that the bodies havent all been collected yet. Thurston County is using a new tool to help judges and other judicial officers decide whether to impose bail or other conditions on people accused of crimes. The tool, known as the Public Safety Assessment, uses data to estimate the likelihood that someone will appear in court, be arrested again or be arrested again for a violent crime if they are released, according to county documents. The county began using the tool on Monday, Oct. 2. Its one part of a larger effort to improve its pretrial process, the time period when someone is accused of crime and still presumed innocent. The implementation of the tool also comes after some judges have been facing increased scrutiny for their bail decisions. The new PSA will be included in a pretrial report that judicial officers consider when deciding conditions of release, said Pretrial Services Director Carrie Hennen. Her staff is tasked with scoring people and including those scores on each report. Pretrial provides information now, Hennen said. We provide background (and) we provide criminal history. What the PSA does is really organize it in this evidence-based way that has been shown to be predictive of outcomes. These pretrial reports previously included recommendations for conditions of release, but Hennen said her staff would no longer be doing that. Judge Mary Sue Wilson, who presides over Thurston County Superior Court, said the PSA will provide judges and other judicial officers with consistent, evidence-based information. The tool will be a piece of information that helps us think about an individual, Wilson said. Ultimately, the judge still follows the law and makes the decision with the law, but this is a piece of information that we dont presently have. The PSA has been pushed by Advancing Pretrial Policy and Research (APPR), an initiative that uses data to improve the pretrial process in communities across the nation. The county partnered with APPR in 2019 to pursue its own improvements. How does the PSA work? The PSA will be completed on adults who have been booked into the county jail and are coming before the court for pretrial release conditions, according to county documents. Hennen said her staff will consider nine factors that will be used to calculate three outcome scores: Failure to Appear (FTA), New Criminal Arrest (NCA) and New Criminal Violent Arrest (NCVA). What was the defendants age at the time of the arrest or administering the PSA? Is any current charge considered violent? If at least one current charge is considered violent, is the defendant 20 or younger? Did the defendant have at least one other pending charge at the time of the alleged offense? Does the defendant have any prior misdemeanor convictions? Does the defendant have any prior felony convictions? Does the defendant have any prior convictions? How many prior violent convictions does the defendant have? How many failures to appear does the defendant have in the past two years? Does the defendant have any prior failures to appear that are older than 2 years? Does the defendant have any prior sentence to incarceration? The three scores that are generated are then evaluated against data for adults booked into the Thurston County jail in 2017 and 2018. This data shows judges what percentage of people with similar scores succeeded in the pretrial process. The Public Safety Assesment estimates the liklihood of whether someone will appear in court, be arrested again or be arrested again for a violent crime. Thurston County began using the tool on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, with validated data for adults booked into the county jail in 2017 and 2018. Based on a release conditions matrix, pretrial staff will then assign a release level to the defendant that ranges from 1-4. Prosecuting Attorney Jon Tunheim said his office considers its bail recommendations on a case-by-case basis with an emphasis on public safety concerns. When it comes to the PSA, he said he sees it as just one piece of information that a judge may consider rather than a deciding factor. We never want to get to the point where were making decisions about whether somebody gets released or not based on some mathematical score in a risk tool, Tunheim said. Superior Court Judge Christine Schaller said those who are accused should always get a score thats appropriate for their circumstances. Judicial officers must still follow the law and weigh other factors, she said, such as the allegations, arguments from the prosecuting attorney and defense attorney and input from any alleged victims who are willing to address the court. I dont think its simple to just say, if you have this score, this is what will happen, Schaller said. It will never be like that. A judicial officer may still impose bail if they see no less restrictive conditions that can protect against specific concerns, Wilson said. Those concerns include whether a person is likely to commit a violent crime, interfere with witnesses or the administration of justice, or fail to appear at scheduled court hearings. Why use the PSA? In a Monday news release, the county said the PSA helps improve transparency and the consistency of pretrial decisions. The PSA has helped other jurisdictions achieve higher rates of release and lower their use of financial conditions, with no negative impact on crime or court appearance rates, the release says. Patrick OConnor, Director of Public Defense for Thurston County, said the PSA is informed by nationally and locally validated empirical research. Contrary to what some may think, he said bail does not improve pretrial outcomes. This notion that money bail will result in somebody having some skin in the criminal justice game to not miss court or break the law is a fallacy, OConnor said. Advancing Pretrial Policy and Research came to the same conclusion in its review of several studies. Financial conditions often result in pretrial release for those who can afford bail and detention for those who cannot afford it, according to APPR. Meanwhile those who are detained may face many negative consequences. For example, APPR found people who are detained often lose their housing, job and family support. Additionally, they are more likely to be pressured into a plea deal, receive a guilty verdict, face harsher sentences and be arrested again. Whats next? The county intends to evaluate the PSA by reviewing local data and pretrial outcomes in the months and years to come. This effort is made possible by the countys participation in the APPR initiative. As part of that initiative, the county became one of six counties selected as Research Action Sites. Hennen said this designation comes with technical assistance to implement and evaluate improvements. The PSA is a key improvement, but its not the sole focus of this multi-year initiative. OConnor said the countys vision is to enhance public safety while also maximizing court appearances and pre-trial release however it can. Prior to this project, we didnt collect any data on this critical piece of the criminal justice system, OConnor said. We werent in a position to collect data on pretrial successes or failures or rates or all the things were collecting now. Schaller said shes excited to have access to data on the pretrial system in Thurston County and the potential for further improvements. Anecdotal stories about one case thats not indicative of our system, Schaller said. I am really excited about the prospect of being able to look at what the numbers show because we cant make decisions within our system based upon necessarily what happens in one situation. (Photo: Darren Thompson for Native News Online) Opinion. On Monday we celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day in the United States. Well, some of us do. Across the United States, tribal, federal, states, and local governments will be closed. They are closed because Monday is a federal holiday. Of course, the federal holiday does not celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. Instead, the federal holiday celebrates Christopher Columbus , ignoring the actual history of the man. [Editor's Note: This opinion was first published on October 9, 2022. It is republished today to commemorate Indigenous Peoples' Day with minor edits.] Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Growing up, I was not taught Columbus really was a lost sailor who was heading in a whole different direction than the western hemisphere. I was also not taught Columbus actually never set foot on the land that is now known as the United States. Nor was I taught of the atrocities that Columbus and his men perpetrated on the innocent Indigenous peoples in the western hemisphere: the raping of Indigenous women, the thievery of goods, and ultimately of the land. No, what I was taught was a constructed false narrative that began in elementary school about how Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 and that he discovered America. From early childhood as a young Potawatomi boy, I began to view history from a different lens than my non-Native students. Native Americans reject the notion you can discover land where inhabitants already live. So, Columbus Day was a federal holiday that I felt uneasy about as it approached each October. Even as a child, I felt sick for the portrayal of Columbus as a hero, knowing our countrys constructed history was a hoax. As an adult, I learned our Indigenous ancestors paid a premium price because of Columbus. Author Jack D. Forbes writes the following in Columbus and Other Cannibals: I will argue that we can compare the commemoration of Columbus with the doings of the neo-Nazis organizations in Europe and the Americas, groups which commemorate the great dates of Hitlers regime. The difference is that the neo-Nazis are a minority and their commemorations usually do not receive much attention. The followers of Columbus, on the other hand, occupy seats of power throughout much of the Americas. Their holidays are national ones, often imposed on their respective societies. To Native Americans, Columbus is not considered a hero to be placed on a pedestal; rather, he is considered a dishonored villain. Indigenous people believe that a man who set in motion the mass genocide of this lands first people should not be honored or glorified. For this reason, Native Americans have worked to change the celebration of Columbus Day to instead be called Indigenous Peoples Day. In recent years, in cities and states around the country, Indigenous Peoples Day has gained recognition. Now, it is time for the federal government to say goodbye to Columbus and fully embrace Indigenous Peoples Day. Two years ago, in his first year in office, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day. He was the first U.S. president to do so. Last Friday, Biden declared Monday, October 9, 2023 as Indigenous Peoples Day. The proclamation reads in part: "On Indigenous Peoples' Day, we honor the perseverance and courage of Indigenous peoples, show our gratitude for the myriad contributions they have made to our world, and renew our commitment to respect Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. The story of America's Indigenous peoples is a story of their resilience and survival; of their persistent commitment to their right to self-governance; and of their determination to preserve cultures, identities, and ways of life. Long before European explorers sailed to this continent, Native American and Alaska Native Nations made this land their home, some for thousands of years before the United States was founded. They built many Nations that created powerful, prosperous, and diverse cultures, and they developed knowledge and practices that still benefit us today.Keeping Columbus Day as a federal holiday allows the constructed hoax of Columbus discovering America to be perpetuated from one generation of Americans to the next. That needs to change." But today, even as people around this country celebrate the lost sailor, Im not going to let it ruin my day. Instead, Im going to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day with a smile because of the survival skills of our ancestors and the fact that we, the Indigenous peoples of this land, still remain. 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 As a physician, one of my greatest concerns is seeing patients compromise their well-being due to financial constraints. The Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan Annual Election Period (AEP) runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 and is a crucial time for the more than 1.1 million individuals in South Carolina who rely on Medicare for their health insurance. You need to start thinking about selecting a plan that aligns with your budget and adequately covers your health- care needs. Here are key things to consider when choosing a plan: Consult your physician about long-term health risks. Prepare a list of your current medications to compare costs while choosing plans. Confirm that your chosen health-care providers are in-network to avoid extra costs. Evaluate your eligibility for additional benefits offered, such as dental and vision care, fitness programs, and allowances for healthy foods and utilities. Look at the costs and ratings of each plan to find the highest quality care at the lowest cost. The Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov can help you compare plans and benefits and get an estimated cost for each plan. For more information, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) 24 hours a day, seven days a week (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048). Dr. Lily Pham The writer is Humana's regional vice president of health services for South Carolina. This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Here's how seniors can get information on Medicare plans, options Pure Michigan probably means many different things to many different people. As for me and my family, our favorite Pure Michigan activities are outside. They also occur in the summer and fall seasons. Spring can be nice, depending on the weather. My guess is that no two lists would be alike. Many lists would also include activities that people enjoyed as children with their families and have extended to their children and/or grandkids. Of course, Tulip Time has got to be on my list. Whats not to like? I get to actually wear my silly Dutch cap. The one with the wooden tulip and wooden shoe pins with my name burned into them. We get to ride our bikes to see Dutch brothers and sisters riding their bikes whilst playing musical instruments. The parades are also fantastic. Another must-do activity is trips on bikes along the tulip lanes to see all the exquisite colors the tulips come in. Todd Leva Spring also brings me fresh Michigan asparagus. No other asparagus could ever compare, especially if we get it at the farmers market. Once the asparagus has come and gone we cross the bridge and head for Gold Barn blueberries. Like asparagus, nothing compares to fresh blueberries right off the bush. If I were to look at the scale upon returning home, I would undoubtedly see a corresponding increase in weight. Its a wonder they turn a profit on the days I pick (eat)! Apple season. Fennville, here we come. Cranes Orchards. I had the Crane boys as students in Fennville. Some of the other employees have FPS ties. My wife loves her Honeycrisp apples almost as much as I love my Blue Ray blueberries. We can only eat one free apple, however. They are so big. We finish our sojourn with an amazing sloppy joe at the restaurant. This past weekend, we had perhaps the ultimate Pure Michigan experience. After my trip to Herrick to pick up a couple of books on my e-bike, I headed to the farmers market for two monster tomatoes and four ears of amazing corn. The books were small so all fit into the backpack. Barely. The bike lanes are amazing! Sights and sounds on a bike surely beat an automobile. Especially a gas auto! After lunch, we decided Lake Mac was a callin. We hooked our little kayak trailer onto my wifes EV and headed to Van Bragt park to put in. We had to paddle by the site of the former James DeYoung power plant. Neither of us missed it at all. Next stop, after an arduous paddle against the wind, was Windmill Island. We noticed the water was way down. One can now walk all the way under the bridge without getting wet feet. Being a beautiful day we decided eating out was in order. Outside, that is. In our very own backyard. Whenever we have high winds we pick up downed branches. Some can be relatively large. We then burn those in our exceedingly clean-burning Solo stove. What good is a fire without Koegels Viennas, so we roasted a few of those. Carbon neutral, right, and we are not moving firewood and assorted invasive bugs. Does anyone see the point I am trying to make? We did/do most of this without burning any fossil fuels. Our two cars are both EVs. During the summer they are mostly powered by El Sol the sun, using our solar panels. My e-bike requires no petrol. Our kayaks dont, either. Indeed, if we truly want to preserve a Pure Michigan for our offspring we need to wean ourselves off of this OPEC-sourced poison. It is totally doable. It is way more satisfying. And it is the best gift we could ever give to those who follow. Todd Leva is a local mental health therapist. Contact him attoddleva.tahomacounseling@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Todd Leva: How to keep things Pure Michigan all year long With Kevin McCarthy out as speaker, House Rules Chair Tom Cole says Republicans are free to step back from the deep appropriations cuts dictated by McCarthys backroom deal with the far right last June. This agreement was faulty from the beginning. Its changed over time, and now in a sense, it doesnt exist at all because McCarthy isnt the speaker anymore, Cole said in an interview. So were not really bound by this agreement now. That will be an interesting thing the new speaker will have to hash out. Coles comments are striking because of his stature in the House, seen again last week when as Rules chair, he managed the historic debate in opposition to those wanting to oust McCarthy. The Oklahoma Republican is also vice chair of the funding panel, the second-highest-ranking appropriations post. The fact that he should speak out so directly now could embolden GOP centrists to do the same in the party fight now over who will be the next speaker. When McCarthy struck the spending deal in June, he was under assault from conservatives angered by the less severe spending caps he had accepted as part of a bipartisan bill negotiated last spring with the White House to avert default. The sudden about-face stunned many in both parties, and unlike the spending caps in the debt ceiling bill, the new spending targets were never really tested by a full vote in the House. Some details of the deal remain murky even to Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee, and the panel has struggled since to comply and still find support for its bills on the floor. Just four of the 12 have passed thus far, and these are the easiest. When totaled together, government spending for these accounts would go up not down from current appropriations for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. The tougher work covering non-defense programs lies ahead, and Cole points to the collapse last month of the annual agriculture appropriations bill. The measure is typically popular but went down 237-191 on Sept. 28, when 27 Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the funding plan. Look at the members who brought down the farm bill and they are some of our very best members, said Cole, who had a front-row seat as a member of the Appropriations. They felt like they had been misled, were very disappointed and they voted accordingly. This had to do with the confusion around this very poorly written agreement that has never been public. In the race to elect a new speaker, the dynamics are very different from McCarthys own election last January. Back then, GOP centrists were largely forgotten, and all the focus was on McCarthys tortured efforts to win over the last holdouts on the right. The dynamics now are different, in that the leading candidates are more to the right than McCarthy and will need centrists to prevail. Whoever becomes the next speaker, they will need Coles help in coping with the next spending crisis when government funding is slated to expire out Nov. 17. As the House struggles, the Senate Appropriations Committee has taken a different path, writing its 2024 bills in accordance with the caps set in the debt ceiling agreement. (Senate appropriators have even poured nearly $14 billion in emergency spending onto their own funding bills, in a move Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) has derided as a gimmick to go above the debt limit deal.) As a result, the two chambers are tens of billions of dollars apart. Moreover, House rules make it harder for Democrats or GOP moderates to close this gap by adding back money during floor debate. When in power since 2011, the House GOP has ruled out of order any spending amendment that adds to the net cost of an appropriations bill as reported to the floor. Unless waived, that rule makes it very difficult to alter the current crop of spending bills as written under the McCarthy deal. A more direct route would be for the House Appropriations to reassert control and try to alter its bills to move closer to the caps in the debt ceiling deal. Addicted to power Dianne Feinstein and Strom Thurmond were two of the longest serving U.S. senators in history and served constituents well. But I suspect their love of power would not let them retire, and toward the end their staff made our national decisions. Power is intoxicating. Once you have it, most never want to let it go. I know. I served on the Charlotte City Council in the early 2000s and probably would have served for decades had the citizens not helped me with my power addiction. This addiction hits all levels of government, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg is not immune. Weve had many who served for decades. The pity is we have so many potentially wonderful leaders wholl never get the opportunity to serve because incumbency is so powerful. John Tabor, Mount Holly Power corrupts In his Sept. 26 Opinion piece Brooks Fuller said North Carolinas Republican legislative majority and a handful of Democrats decided the states public records law shouldnt apply to them. Removing public access to the workings of the legislators who control our lives is a terrible step towards destroying our system of democracy. The truth of the old statement is shown yet again power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Stephen Pordes, Charlotte Brooke Weiss Regarding Ardrey Kell lockdown raises tensions between CMS, activist, (Oct. 5): What Charlotte school board member Jennifer De La Jara was trying to get Brooke Weiss to understand is that there are consequences to our actions. Weiss is chair of the local chapter of Moms for Liberty, a group that advocates for banning books from school libraries a practice diametrically opposed to the concept of education. Weiss cannot claim to be just another worried mom a face in the crowd when she has become the face of a group that bullies others. Martha Catt, Charlotte Coopers veto Gov. Roy Coopers veto of Senate Bill 678 struck a blow for radical anti-nuclear groups at the expense of reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The bill would have allowed utilities to use nuclear power to meet their carbon-free energy goals. Nuclear power is by far North Carolinas largest source of clean energy, and it generates electricity when the sun isnt shining and the wind isnt blowing. Apparently, the governors goal isnt clean, reliable energy its politically correct energy. Cooper also thumbs his nose at the Biden administration and respected environmental groups that recognize the need for an all of the above approach to reducing carbon emissions. Steven P. Nesbit, Charlotte A Greek tragedy Oct. 3 had the elements of a Greek tragedy. Making a deal with the Freedom Caucus in January to get their votes was Speaker Kevin McCarthys undoing. Then he relied on House Democrats to avoid a shutdown, thereby handing the dagger to Rep. Matt Gaetz. Now, Congress cant operate without a permanent speaker and the House adjourned for a week. This only shows that the House majority is not worried about a looming government shutdown in November or reckless spending or securing the border. They only care about appeasing their far-right base. Joseph Salerno, Charlotte Federal budget To tighten the federal budget, members of Congress should cut all earmarks that have nothing to do with the operation the government the ones attached to bills to assist in their reelection. Maybe government employees should go on strike like the UAW and writers and actors. A day or two of no perks at the Capitol might get the point across. Bill Lane, Polkville Impeachment Jim Jordan and others on the House Judiciary Committee are holding an inquiry into impeaching President Biden based on the idea that where theres smoke, theres fire. Yet, these same people ignore the raging inferno that is the evidence against Donald Trump in 91 felony charges in four criminal cases. I can only assume the impeachment inquiry is strictly a political stunt, or they believe Trump is above the law. Either way, shame on them. Dianne Mason, Matthews The News Former Trump national security adviser Robert OBrien said Sunday that the U.S. should send FBI and U.S. special operators to Israel to assist with rescuing Hamass Israeli hostages, and that the U.S. military should be dispatched to recover any Americans. Its not putting the U.S. in the war, but we do have to be prepared to rescue Americans who are taken hostage by terrorist organizations, OBrien, who remains a key foreign policy adviser to Donald Trump and other Republicans, told Semafor in an interview on Sunday. We need to get our special operators and our law enforcement on the ground immediately to save these Americans. Reacting to reports that U.S. citizens may be among those taken by Hamas, OBrien said: I would hope that the guys out of Dam Neck and Fort Bragg would be wheels up already on their way to Israel to help rescue our American hostages. OBrien, who also served as U.S. special envoy for hostage affairs under the Trump administration, said that the Biden administration should threaten to use military force to secure the release of any Americans. We ought to tell the Iranians and Hamas, if the American hostages arent released in 12 hours, theyre not just going to be dealing with the Israelis, theyre going to be dealing with us, he said. OBrien said that all options should be on the table, including military force if they dont release the Americans immediately. The Biden administration is investigating reports of American citizens being among those taken from Israel in the Hamas attack over the weekend. We have reports that several Americans may be among the dead, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on NBC News Sunday morning. We are very actively working to verify those reports. Similarly, we have seen reports about hostages and there again, we are very actively trying to verify them and nail that down. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog said on CBS News Sunday morning that it is his understanding that Americans are among the hostages but that he didnt have specific details on the number. Tal Naim, a spokeswoman for Israels embassy in the U.S., said only that other foreign citizens were among those taken hostage and that Israeli police and military are still working to determine the number and identities of those missing. Its still the fog of war, she told Semafor on Sunday. Know More The U.S. government is weighing how to respond to the attack by the militant group Hamas in Israel over the weekend that left hundreds dead and thousands injured. Israel formally declared war, paving the way for the country to escalate its military campaign against Hamas. The Pentagon announced Sunday that it would move a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier and other military vessels and aircraft closer to Israel. During a call with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Sunday morning, President Joe Biden said that the U.S. was sending more assistance for the Israeli Defense Forces, according to a White House readout. NBC News is also reporting that the U.S. is laying plans for a possible non-combatant evacuation of Americans from Israel. OBrien told Semafor that the U.S. should give Israel every weapons system, all of the technology they need to discover every tunnel, to destroy every tunnel in Gaza, to rescue the hostages and destroy Hamas. Whatever the Israelis ask for, we should double it and get it to them yesterday, he said. Notable Hamas believes that by holding dozens of Israeli hostages, it could help force the government to release Palestinian prisoners, Anshel Pfeffer from Haaretz writes on X. One of the biggest dilemmas facing Israel is how to weaken Hamas influence on the Gaza Strip, Daniel Byman and Alexander Palmer from the Center for Strategic and International Studies write in Foreign Affairs. Republicans in Washington face new pressure to elect a U.S. House speaker after Israel declared war, Joey Roulette and David Morgan report for Reuters. The chants of angry marchers rang out in downtown Topeka on Saturday evening, demanding action from elected officials and government authorities after the killing of 5-year-old Zoey Felix. "Justice for Zoey." "Zoey mattered." "Say her name Zoey." "Lock the parents up." About 200 marchers took to the sidewalks of Kansas Avenue and 10th Avenue, chanting while walking from Evergy Plaza to the south steps of the Kansas Statehouse. Topeka police blocked off traffic. A woman sits with a sign in support of Zoey Felix before participating in Saturday's march from Evergy Plaza to the Kansas Statehouse. March 4 Zoey organizer Jenner Cochran thanked Zoey's neighbors, who wore matching yellow shirts to the rally. "That's when I decided I needed to do something, when I heard them talk," Cochran said. "A 5-year-old little girl was never given a fair chance, and was failed time after time by a broken system," he said. "Zoey Felix didn't deserve what happened to her, and neither did any of the other children who were victims of this system." DCF faces mounting criticism, but agency legally can't share what it knows Police and prosecutors say Zoey was raped and killed Oct. 2 by a homeless man she knew. Neighbors say Zoey was also homeless, having been kicked out of her own home by her mom a couple weeks earlier, around the same time utilities were shut off at the house in southeast Topeka, and around the same time as a police welfare check. She wasn't enrolled in school this year. Neighbors and police say they made reports to the Kansas Department for Children and Families, and Topeka Public Schools may have, too. Topeka City Councilwoman Christina Valdivia-Alcala, middle left, and her husband Rep. John Alcala, middle right, stand in the crowd Saturday at the Kansas Statehouse. But it remains unknown what, if anything, DCF did with those reports. Some are assuming DCF did nothing or at least not nearly enough. "There should be no immunity for people who sat in their offices and made calls and dismissed all the reports that came in for Zoey," said Claudia Richardson, who helped organize the event and created a Change.org petition. "Immunity from consequences for the rape and death of a 5-year-old child should never exist." Rep. John Alcala, D-Topeka, expressed frustration with the lack of public information from DCF. "I don't know what goes on in DCF," Alcala said. "I've inquired about this. I've got the same answers the media has got. They cannot tell me nothing." While police have already made an arrest and prosecutors have filed charges in Zoey's death, DCF secretary Laura Howard is barred by state law from publicly discussing DCF's involvement in the case until after the agency conducts its own investigation. Howard previously tried to get the law changed to allow certain details in child death cases to be released sooner, but the Legislature didn't pass her bill. "Laura Howard, while I understand there are laws that prevent you from speaking, where is your compassion?" Richardson asked. As Richardson continued to criticize DCF, some in the crowd chanted, "Fire her." "It's not working, you're not working," Richardson said of DCF and Howard. "Somebody needs to come out of DCF, who drops the ball continuously," Alcala said. "I'd say that with the history that DCF has, I think the governor needs to look at the director of that department." Alcala told The Capital-Journal that he wasn't calling on the governor to ask for Howard's resignation, but he declined to clarify what he meant. Protesters want more criminal charges, including for Zoey Felix's parents Protestors at the Kansas Statehouse demanded accountability after Mickel Cherry was charged with child rape and capital murder in the death of Zoey Felix, 5. Prosecutors have already charged Mickel Cherry with child rape and capital murder a charge that could carry the death penalty. But protesters want more accountability, including demanding charges against the parents with chants of "lock the parents up." "District Attorney Michael Kagay, we as the city of Topeka are waiting for you to do your job," Richardson said. "We demand you bring forth charges to the parents." Zoey's mom previously faced criminal charges for an aggravated battery and DUI case in which Zoey appeared to be the victim. She got a plea deal. Her prison sentence was suspended and she instead got probation. It remains unclear whether she was ordered to have no contact with her daughter and what steps authorities took to ensure that happened. "Prosecute caseworkers, judges and anyone else who took part in failing Zoey," Richardson said. Organizer calls for special legislative session Participants march in support of Zoey Felix on Saturday in downtown Topeka as they urged better laws to protect children. Cochran called for a special session. "I'm asking Laura Kelly , (Senate President) Ty Masterson and (House Speaker) Dan Hawkins to get their butts back here to Topeka and do something," he said. "Do your job. Save our children. You should not be scared to go down the trail in your community. You should not be scared to walk down Kansas Avenue." He wants lawmakers to address the child welfare system, emergency foster care homes, sentencing for child sex offenders and homelessness. "I've been told that legislating on this subject is not an easy matter, but that doesn't mean they can sit back and do nothing," he said. While Kansas' Jessica's Law increases punishment for child sex offenders who assault minors under 14 years old, Cochran wants a stiffer penalty for those who attack even younger children. "What about the 5-year-old, what about the baby?" he said. "These people need to go away for the rest of their lives." "We've all seen it," Cochran said of homelessness. "What started out as one tent here or there has turned into many tents everywhere. There comes a time when we've got to put politics aside and agree that the best thing for our community is for these people to be rehabilitated and get clean, or they need to be relocated." Topeka City Councilwoman Christina Valdivia-Alcala said she isn't anti-homeless and supports wraparound services. She said discussion about the unsheltered crisis have been ongoing for three and a half years. "This is a crisis of immense proportion," she said. "This is a public health and safety crisis." Rallygoers angered at silence and inaction of elected officials Richardson said there is "deafening silence" from elected officials. "We don't want to hear how sad you are," she said. "We want to see how sad you are we want to see it through action." Alcala urged them to pressure their representatives: "Don't let your elected officials off the hook." He and Valdivia-Alcala appeared to be the only two elected officials in attendance. Topeka City Council member Christina Valdivia-Alcala speaks to the crowd Saturday at the Kansas Statehouse. Rallygoers expressed frustration with the lack of attendance by more elected officials. They directed most of their ire at the governor. "Laura Kelly, your silence is shameful," Richardson said. "Your residence is 8.6 miles or a 12-minute drive from where the call to 911 was placed. Not a single word." Several rallygoers asked where the governor was Saturday. "She should be here," Richardson said. "She won't say anything publicly." "Laura Kelly, I'm here speaking out in front of a community who is disgusted by your silence and the murder of Zoey Why is our elected official hiding?" Richardson said. "Gov. Kelly, I would encourage you to ask yourself if this was the same action you would take if this was your child. "I was up all of last night asking myself, how could we stay silent on the rape and murder of a 5-year-old baby? How do you do it? Do the children of Kansas mean nothing to you?" What she wanted from the governor was "you show up and you say this is horrible, we're going to get to the bottom of it." Jason Alatidd is a statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka protesters demand justice for Zoey Felix after child's killing The toxic storms also have a negative effect on farming and soil fertility (Nasim ISAMOV) The air was dry and warm and the skies over Dushanbe were grey without a hint of sun during another recent toxic sand storm that enveloped the capital of Tajikistan. Storms like this, which experts say are being caused by climate change, are becoming increasingly frequent across Central Asia, harming its inhabitants. The imposing mountains around Dushanbe were barely visible through the haze and hulks of apartment blocks under construction stood like ghostly apparitions. Tajikistan was ranked one of the top 10 most polluted countries in the world in the 2022 IQAir air quality index. "I can't stop coughing. I'm fed up with this dust choking me," Munira Khushkadamova, a teacher, said during a visit to the Sofia clinic in Dushanbe. For the last two years, the 43-year-old has been suffering from respiratory failure -- a diagnosis given to her from her doctor Faical Sakhray. "In the last few years I have been getting more and more patients with cardiovascular diseases," he told AFP, blaming fine particles from the storms. "The biggest ones enter the organism and stay in the upper respiratory tract but the finer ones go into the lower respiratory tract, then the lungs, the heart and other organs," he said. - High exposure - The United Nations estimates that 80 percent of the Tajik population is exposed to the highest concentrations of fine particles, known as PM2.5. Sakhray said people should drink plenty of water and wear a mask for protection. But the number of people wearing a mask in the streets of Dushanbe is minimal. Despite having "difficulty breathing and headaches", Nigora Yusupova said she would not wear a mask because it "makes breathing harder". These types of storms used to be rare but they now start in spring and continue into the autumn in large parts of Central Asia. "In the 1990s, there were two or three sand and dust storms per year in Tajikistan. Now there can be up to 35," said Zebuniso Muminzoda, head of the Tajik branch of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia. "Because of climate change, longer dry seasons lead to sand and dust storms by drying out the ground and stronger winds then pick up this dry soil," she said. The storms often start out in the dried-out stretches of the Aral Sea in Uzbekistan but also in the Kazakh steppes and in neighbouring Afghanistan. Muminzoda pointed to a "human factor", saying forestry, bad irrigation and year-round livestock farming were all contributing to "degrading the soil". It is a vicious circle for a poor, mainly rural country like Tajikistan, where the toxic storms also have a negative effect on farming and soil fertility. The sand and dust also falls on the region's many glaciers -- a crucial source of water in the region and "speeds up their melting," Muminzoda said. While there are often tensions between Central Asian countries, they are attempting common efforts to tackle environmental questions like water management and nuclear waste disposal. But the storm threat in Tajikistan is still under-estimated "as natural catastrophe", according to the Regional Environmental Centre, which operates in all five countries in the region. bk-dt/jbr/pvh Traffic violence is preventable SLO Tribune letter writers on bike lanes and climate change, (sanluisobispo.com, Sept. 18) Five years ago, my primary mode of transportation was driving or walking. These days, I often favor taking a bike (even though Im not a cyclist) instead of getting in the car. In regards to the citys goal of getting bikes off of dangerous, high-speed streets, it is fine to have certain high-use car roads as long as protected lanes or alternate routes on quieter, residential streets are provided. Then, everyones needs can be met. As more people choose alternative forms of transportation, the use of cars decreases, as does the need for parking. I know several families around San Luis Obispo that have gone down to one car, opting for cargo bikes to shuttle kids to school and downtown events. Traffic violence is not inevitable, it is preventable with city planning, and its the responsibility of every driver to avoid crashes. This is an adjustment phase. We are all learning and doing our best, and Im excited to see how this positively impacts us in the coming years. Rose Levinson-Woertz San Luis Obispo Helping our neighbors Homeless SLO residents say property goes missing after camp cleanups. Whats happening? (sanluisobispo.com, Oct. 2) Over the past 15 years, Ive come to realize that reducing homelessness is not about lawsuits, notices, receipts, storage or public land. Its about humanity and treating our unhoused brothers and sisters as we wish to be treated. Its about giving a hand up to those who have nothing and helping people get ahead instead of making them start all over. Its about ensuring that everyone has a roof over their head in this pristine area we get to call home making sure they are dry in the rain instead of taking their blankets away. Its about making sure they have enough food and water and a place to use the toilet and shower. Its not about money or land, we have plenty of that. Its about the will of the people. Its about honoring our elderly, and not turning a blind eye to the man with a wheelchair sleeping in the dirt. Its about doing the right thing. Its about helping those who no one else could and moving forward with housing projects. Hopes Village tried for 11 years to help our unhoused folks get into a tiny house village. Lets get someone to open a sanctioned encampment where people can be safe if and until housing is built. Its the least we can do. Becky Jorgeson, M.A. San Luis Obispo Opinion Closed until safe Oceano Dunes: Off-roading can continue, SLO judge rules, (sanluisobispo.com, July 20) In 2019, the California Coastal Commission deemed the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area operations harmful to public health and the environment, instructing state parks to halt them by Jan. 1, 2024. Offroaders sued the CCC, and Judge Tana Coates sided with them; now, the CCC is appealing, and Oceano is held in limbo for at least another two years. For over 40 years, our county leaders have buried their heads in the sand. Yet they have the authority, as pointed out by Coates, to enforce the CCCs decision by revising our Local Coastal Plan. Instead, they await court decisions. Meanwhile, offroaders sue right and left and demand apologies, while poisoning Mesa residents and destroying our beach and dunes. A data conflict ensued between Air Pollution Control District and Scripps Study scientists. If the Oceano Recreation Area were a private business posing a health risk, the county would have intervened. I request that it be closed until its confirmed safe. Lucia Casalinuovo Oceano Feinsteins legacy Stop talking about Sen. Dianne Feinsteins tarnished legacy, (sanluisobispo.com, Sept. 29) Dianne Feinstein was a moderate in her own way. She had a beautiful political career, from being mayor of San Francisco to a California senator. Because of her, there are many women now in the Senate, including some of whom she mentored, such as Susan Collins, Patty Murray and Vice President Kamala Harris. John Huerta Merced Essential healthcare workers What are highest paid CA state job openings in SLO County? (sanluisobispo.com, July 11, 2022) On Oct. 6, Physician Assistants/Associates all over the country will celebrate PA day and then PA week, continuing until Oct. 12. This day commemorates the birthday of the founder of the first PA program in the U.S., Eugene Stead. Currently over 200,000 PAs practice in the U.S. There are currently two training programs on our coast in Santa Maria and Monterey which train PAs to provide healthcare where it is needed most and to our most vulnerable patients. You will find PAs in the emergency room, clinics, hospitals, operating rooms, prisons, offices and schools. They provide care in all medical and surgical specialties, doing about 80-90% of what physicians do. They are an integral part of the healthcare team. As our national doctor shortage grows, PAs will have an increasingly important role to play in the future of healthcare. I am proud to represent both PAs and nurse practitioners on the central coast as the president of the only combined organization in our state. We are committed to work together to provide high quality healthcare to those living in our local communities. Sharon Girard President, Central Coast NP/PA Association The following is a transcript of an interview with former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates that aired on "Face the Nation" on Oct. 8, 2023. MARGARET BRENNAN: And we're now joined by former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates . Good to have you here. FORMER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ROBERT GATES: Thank you, Margaret. MARGARET BRENNAN: You know, you have argued again that the United States confronts graver threats to security than it has in decades and perhaps ever. Political leaders don't seem to be charting a course in your estimation. Do you see anyone on the horizon who is promising a vision? SEC. GATES: In all honesty, I don't think so at least among those who are- who are running for president at this point. I mean, what- I haven't heard anyone articulating their vision of what America's role in the world ought to be, and where we ought to engage, how to engage, how to bring along the American people, not to mention the Congress. MARGARET BRENNAN: Last time we spoke, though, you did say while you'd had policy differences with President Biden in the past, you liked how he was handling Ukraine. Now we're in this position where the White House, the Pentagon, the Secretary of State have warned they are running out of funding for that fight. And yet it is unclear how and when Congress can provide it. How do you see this getting resolved? SEC. GATES: Well, my hope is that once the House has a new Speaker, and they turn in the Congress turns to the longer term appropriations process that some kind of compromise will be worked out that includes significant funds for-for Ukraine, but we've sent a terrible signal to to other countries, and not to mention Ukraine itself, but to our allies about whether- whether our commitment can be sustained. And believe me, Vladimir Putin , and I would say Xi Jinping of China, are paying very close attention, can the United States sustain and fulfill its commitments? And the one thing that may happen is that I've heard from a few senators, is that they may go for one more really big packet, rather than having to come back every few weeks for another package. And that may be another way through this impasse that we have right now. MARGARET BRENNAN: Mr. Secretary, you know, besides Ukraine funding, the United States, Congress hasn't even passed into law, a defense bill. And in fact, the Pentagon warned Congress last week, the US had to slow down the replenishment of our own forces to hedge against an uncertain funding future. There are also hundreds of military promotions being held up. Why can't former officials like yourself prod Republican leaders to move on things like this? SEC. GATES: I- I don't know what it would take to- to prod them to act. The fact is that the Congress has not passed an appropriations bill for the Defense Department before the beginning of the fiscal year since 2010. This is not a new problem. And, and, of course, the hold on senior promotions is really without precedent. And I think it was actually going to take a long time from which to recover, you've got a lot of displacement of families and kids wanting to go to school and sign up and their new schools and so on, it's very disruptive. And I don't understand why there hasn't been greater pressure brought to bear to put this problem behind us. This is a policy and a political issue that's at stake. These military officers really don't have any say in it, and no role. And so I just think that this is a terribly mistaken approach. MARGARET BRENNAN: And yet there doesn't seem to be that sense of urgency that you have. Why- Why isn't that being translated? SEC. GATES: I honestly don't know the answer to that question, Margaret. The- as I wrote in an article last week, the peril is real. Xi Jinping and- and Vladimir Putin are watching all of this paralysis in Washington. It feeds their narrative, that we are past our prime, that we can't get organized, that our system of government is broken, and- and that we are in decline, because we can't deal with these problems here at home. And- and, you know, it's it's it's both parties, frankly, in terms of how we reach these impasses and-and I just, I don't know what would light a fire under-under these politicians, to make them come to their senses about the urgency of the problems we face and the need to do something about it now, not a year from now or two years from now they're they're proceeding as though this were 1956 or something that- that nothing urgent was going on around the world. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, it occurs to me that that November 17 funding deadline, where the government will possibly have to shut down again, happens to coincide with a potential visit by Xi Jinping of China to U.S. soil. America's chief adversary would be meeting with President Biden in the midst of our Congress being in shutdown. Can- can you give us a sense of what signal that sends to America's adversaries? SEC. GATES: I think Xi Jinping's first question, probably unspoken, is so how- how's it going President Biden? Because it sends the signal, again, as I was just saying that under- that underpins their view that we are in decline. We can't get anything done. We're paralyzed. MARGARET BRENNAN: But I mean, you've said again, and again, in the years that we've spoken to you that you think polarization is the biggest threat to our country and our democracy. So, you know, within the Republican Party right now, there's this civil war, as you say, the parties also aren't working in a bipartisan way. How do we break through this at a moment that you're describing as incredibly dangerous? SEC. GATES: It starts with leadership, both leadership in the Congress and leadership in the White House. President Biden says the right things about wanting to do bipartisan deals about reaching out to the other side and so on. But then there are actions taken that exacerbate the problem. And- and I would say the leaders of both parties in both houses of Congress bear a lot of responsibility for this. And I mean, the whole point of leadership is to be able to move things along. And I realize the destructive nature of the obstructionism and- on the Republican side in- in the House. But this is a matter for the leadership to resolve and- and how- how can you elect the Speaker who- who can't- who can't lead? This is- this is a huge problem, not just for the Republicans and for the House of Representatives, but for the country. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, there are two declared candidates, Jim Jordan, who has said he doesn't necessarily support aid to Ukraine, and Steve Scalise, who as a congressman has voted for it. So, I mean, is this choice really going to come down to that kind of framing here? Is there a way around it? SEC. GATES: I have- how they- how they resolve this, this race to- to become Speaker, I think, is a mystery at this point, probably to them as well, in terms of how they get to a majority. I think a lot of things will be said in the course of that debate that people may have to walk back after the decision is made. And that's part of the problem. People say things in these campaigns, and then they're held to account to them. That's one of the things that undermined, I think, Speaker McCarthy. But I think you know how they resolve this, and in what position can the House make a decision on anything given- given the divisions in the Republican- on the Republican side in particular. MARGARET BRENNAN: And Ukraine needs the aid as soon as possible. What we are hearing is they have critical shortages of artillery, ammunition and air defense missiles. We know around the world, other countries are running through their available stockpiles as well. So when you hear the argument that allies can make up the difference for a short period of time, is that a legitimate argument here? I mean, how do you understand the actual need? SEC. GATES: I think that there is an immediate need. And I think that allies and other countries can probably make up some of those shortages for a brief period of time, though what's most important to Ukraine, right along with the artillery shells and ammunition and missiles and so on, is- is the confidence that the support of the democracies in the West, led by the United States, will be there for them, as the President has said, for as long as it takes. Now, we don't- there is a real risk of a long term stalemate in this conflict, at which point pressures will grow on every side in Europe, as well as here for some kind of a negotiated deal. But for the next number of months, what the Ukrainians need as much as the ammunition is the confidence that- that our support will remain steadfast. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, while there's one story in the House, there are a number of Republicans in the Senate who are very supportive of- of Ukraine. And yet there is this criticism that President Biden hasn't made the argument easy to them necessarily to sell at home. If President Biden is to make this major policy speech that he says he's going to make, what's the selling argument here? What does he need to persuade people? SEC. GATES: The fundamental lesson is the importance of America continuing to accept its global leadership responsibilities. The cost of those response- of exercising those responsibilities is dramatically less than if we were to enter into a war. That leadership has led to 75 years of great power peace. That's the first time in centuries that has happened. That's our military, the institution- the international institutions we helped design, our own system for that matter. And so what is really critical is the message that- that it's in America's long term interest, that is our vital interest, to exercise that leadership, because all these things internationally are connected. I mean, as I've written is it's naive to believe that Putin's success in Ukraine would not embolden Xi Jinping to act against Taiwan. Those who say we ought not be paying attention to Ukraine, but ought to be paying attention to Taiwan don't understand that they are connected, and- and that these leaders, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, are- are working together. And if we don't understand that interconnectedness, and how these events abroad affect our interests, then we're in real trouble. And that's the message that our leaders have not made. And frankly, it's not just one speech in the Oval Office- from the Oval Office. That's important, obviously. But as Franklin Roosevelt said, the most important responsibility of a leader is to educate and it's the role of the of not just the President, but leaders in Congress to help American people understand why this engagement is- is inexpensive in the long term in terms of protecting our interests, and a lot less expensive than a war with either Russia or China. MARGARET BRENNAN: And lastly, Mr. Secretary, we overuse the word "unprecedented." But we haven't seen this play out in the U.S. Congress before. How do you understand the moment that we are in right now? SEC. GATES: I think it's a very dangerous moment because the whole world is watching this. It's not just like this is an in house struggle that- that doesn't matter. The question is, from the- for the rest of the world, what role is the United States going to play in the rest- in the rest of the world? And both our friends and our adversaries are looking for the answer to that question. And the longer this paralysis goes on, this- the longer this stalemate, and inability to resolve big issues in the Congress goes on, the more our adversaries are encouraged, and the more our allies and friends are discouraged, and will begin to hedge against the possible loss of American leadership. MARGARET BRENNAN: Mr. Secretary, always good to have your perspective. Thank you for joining us. SEC. GATES: Thank you, Margaret. Furniture company Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams went bankrupt overnight. Here's how. Rachel Maddow on "Prequel" and fascism in America Sen. Tim Scott says border security along with Ukraine aid needs to be included in funding package The following is a transcript of an interview with Secretary of State Antony Blinken that aired on "Face the Nation" on Oct. 8, 2023. MARGARET BRENNAN: We now go to Secretary of State Antony Blinken , who joins us from the State Department here in Washington. Good to have you with us. Mr. Secretary, I know you have been working SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN: Thanks Margaret. MARGARET BRENNAN: Straight through on this. Can you answer the question yet of whether the Hamas assault is over? Are there more attacks to come? SECRETARY BLINKEN: The assault isn't over. there continued to be- to be very active fighting around Gaza. At the same time, we've seen more quiet in other parts of Israel, but there is intense fighting going on. But to put this in perspective, this is the worst attack on Israel since the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago, 1973. But there's a big difference. That was a conflict between countries, between armies. This is a massive terrorist assault on Israel, with terrorists going into Israeli homes going into Israeli towns gunning down civilians in their homes, on the streets, grabbing people, men, women, children, and taking them into Gaza. a Holocaust survivor in a wheelchair, women and children all being dragged into- into Gaza, you can imagine what this is what this is doing in Israel to Israelis, and it should be something that revolts the entire world. MARGARET BRENNAN: And what about Americans? There are a lot throughout the region, how many Americans are among the hostages, and among the dead? SECRETARY BLINKEN: So, Margaret, we've got reports that several Americans are among the dead, we're working very actively to verify those reports. At the same time, the reports of Americans being taken hostage there, too. We're working to get the facts and to find out if those reports are accurate. MARGARET BRENNAN: So you don't know if there are hostages or not. SECRETARY BLINKEN: We can't confirm- we can't confirm that in this moment. But we're very actively working to see if we can confirm the reports that we've had. MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay. Israel's Prime Minister is promising a sustained campaign, do you have a sense of how he defines the end goal? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Margaret, these are- these are early days. And President Biden was on the phone immediately with Prime Minister Netanyahu yesterday to offer our full support to offer our assistance. And we've been on the phones across the region and around the world, to make sure that Israel has the support it needs. And also to make sure that countries are using the influence they have to get Hamas to back off, to back down and also to try to make sure that conflict doesn't erupt elsewhere. And the President was very clear and very stark in his warning to others not to take advantage of the situation. Look, these are, these are early days, Israel has to first and foremost ensure the security of its people in Israel. And then it's determined to take steps to try to make sure that this doesn't happen again. And there are a lot of hard decisions that it has to make in the, in the days ahead. But the main thing is to make sure that to the best of its ability, it puts in place the measures so that this doesn't happen again. MARGARET BRENNAN: But you know why I'm asking you because this conflict could broaden out into surrounding countries beyond Lebanon. Has the United States asked Israel not to strike Iran? SECRETARY BLINKEN: We- the only things we've said to Israel are that we're here, we've got your back, we want to make sure that you have the support that you need, we want to make sure that you have the assistance that you need. At the same time I was on the phone yesterday, and many others were on the phones yesterday with counterparts from Egypt, from Saudi Arabia, from Jordan, from Qatar, from the United Arab Emirates, from Turkey, Lebanon, and many European countries as well, to make sure that first of all people have heard very clearly what the President said about others and other places not taking advantage of the situation. And to use the influence that they have with different groups to make sure that- that they don't do that precisely so that we don't have a broadening of this conflict to- to other places, Lebanon and the- Israel's northern border. The West Bank, I spoke to President Abbas as well and Palestinian security forces. Right now we're doing their job in trying to make sure that things keep-keep calm, or Iran taking trying to use this in other places. So we've been very clear about that. And we're also using every tool that we have at our disposal, and our diplomacy, to make sure that others are doing the same thing. MARGARET BRENNAN: But the door is open for Israel to expand this, to take the fight to potentially sponsors of Hamas, like Iran? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Israel is focused entirely on Gaza, and on securing its citizens, a number of whom remain under direct threat right now in Israel-proper. And as I said, trying to do what's necessary to have accountability. And to make sure that this doesn't happen again. That is Israel's focus. MARGARET BRENNAN: Is there a sense that this was an attempt to take advantage of the West's focus on Ukraine? SECRETARY BLINKEN: No, I don't see- I don't see that. I think, look, we don't we'll have to see As we learn more what the- what the motivations were and what they are. But here's one thing that's, it's clear, we've been actively working on trying to help Israel and Saudi Arabia normalize their relations, as well as Israel broadening its relationships with many other countries in the region, and beyond very hard work, and not clear that we could get there. But if we could, it would really change the prospects of the entire region far into the future. Now, who's opposed to that? Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran. So I think that speaks volumes. And there really two paths before the region, there's the path of greater integration, greater stability, including critically making sure that Israelis and Palestinians resolve their differences. Or there's the path of terror that Hamas is engaged on, that has not improved the lives of a single person. On the contrary, it's destroyed lives, including Palestinian lives. MARGARET BRENNAN: But let me press you on that because you're suggesting this may have been a strategic choice. But then I look at conditions having been deteriorating for Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza for a while now, the right wing coalition in Israel. In fact, the CIA director, Bill Burns has publicly warned of his concern and US intelligence concern about the risk of instability in this region. Jordan's King has been warning about the risk of extremism. Did the Netanyahu government underestimate that risk? Why were they so vulnerable? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, first, let's be absolutely clear that there is no equivalence between the differences that exist between Israelis and Palestinians, and the actions of the Israeli government in that regard. And these absolutely heinous acts of terrorism that we've seen, directed at Israeli men, women and children, none. Now, we have been concerned about the risks of of instability for- for many, many months between Israelis and Palestinians, it's exactly why we've been working so hard in Aqabah, in Sharm El-Sheikh, to bring them together, to get both sides to commit not to take steps that would actually increase the risks of instability or conflict. And we were working hard on that and making progress on that. It's also why we've said from day one that even as we're working toward normalization, between Israel and Saudi Arabia, that can't be a substitute for resolving the differences between Israelis and Palestinians. We think the best way to resolve it remains a two-state solution, and one that assures that Palestinians and Israelis, alike, know equal measures of democracy of opportunity, of dignity in their lives. That's why we've been very focused on- on that track as well. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yep. But that has not been a priority between the parties themselves, but- as you know. Gaza, and I'm explaining this to our audience, because I know you know how concentrated the population is within such a small area and every time we have a conflict like this, it raises the question of what the humanitarian impact will be. If this is a prolonged attack, what kind of humanitarian crisis are you expecting here and impact on civilians? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well we've seen this, unfortunately, repeat itself. Although, the magnitude, the scale of what Hamas did here is something we haven't seen before. But in- in prior instances, those who have suffered along with the victims of terrorism are civilians, including in Gaza, and whatever Israel does, in Gaza. As always, we look to it to do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties, something of course, that Hamas doesn't do on the contrary. Not only does it not seek to avoid them, it deliberately targets civilians. It's gunning down Israelis in the streets in their homes, and as I said, dragging them across the border in Gaza. So there's absolutely no- no comparison. But we look to Israel as always, to apply the highest standards when it comes to avoiding civilian casualties and anything it may do in Gaza. MARGARET BRENNAN: Before I let you go, I want to ask you about something that matters a lot to Americans at home in terms of the migrant crisis. You announced Venezuela has agreed to accept back deported migrants who cross unlawfully into the United States. When will that begin? And how big of an impact will it have? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, it's one of the many steps that we've taken to make sure that migration, to the best of our ability, is safe, humane, and orderly. And we've been working on this intensively going back to the beginning of the administration, but in particular since the- the Summit of the Americas where we got countries throughout our hemisphere to take on greater shared responsibility for the challenge of managing migration, historic proportions. We have not seen this kind of migration around the world, or in our own hemisphere ever before: 100 billion people on the move around the world, more than 20 million in our own hemisphere. So countries are doing a variety of things, including taking back their own citizens who are didn't have the right to come into the United States. We've done that with a number of countries, Venezuela is one of them. We're also setting up- and we've already established these offices in different countries where people can go to determine whether they have the legal right to come to the United States to get a labor visa, to be reunited with their family. But they can do that in their own countries without coming to the border. So through these steps, and many, many others, we're working to stem the flow of people to the border, make sure that we have more legal pathways for people to come here, lawfully., and at the same time, make sure that we have a safe, orderly, and humane migration process. MARGARET BRENNAN: But when do those flights start? The deportation flights? SECRETARY BLINKEN: So, I can't give you a precise date. But that will be happening, I think, very, very soon. And at the same time, we're doing that with a number of other countries in the region. We're also looking at countries to strengthen their own asylum processes to support them so that people can if they're- if they're leaving their countries of origin, can go and stay in these other countries in the hemisphere. There's another thing that's important here, Kristen, which is that, excuse me, Margaret, which is that, you know, ultimately, we have to make sure that conditions in these countries are such that people have the opportunity to stay at home, or to look out for themselves, to look out for their families. And that goes to the kinds of investments that we've also been making; that takes time to take hold. In the meantime, we're taking all of these steps to make sure that, again, the flow to our border is something that's controllable, and that people find other ways to determine whether they can come to the United States lawfully then coming to the border. MARGARET BRENNAN: Mr. Secretary, thank you for your time this morning. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks Margaret, good to be with you. MARGARET BRENNAN: Face the Nation will be back in one minute, stay with us. Furniture company Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams went bankrupt overnight. Here's how. Rachel Maddow on "Prequel" and fascism in America Sen. Tim Scott says border security along with Ukraine aid needs to be included in funding package MOUND, Minn. (FOX 9) - The treasurer of a metro lacrosse association is facing charges, accused of stealing thousands of dollars. On Monday, authorities filed a theft charge against George Getsch of Mound, Minnesota. Getsch is a former treasurer of the Westonka Lacrosse Association (WLA). WLA is a youth lacrosse association through Westonka Public Schools. According to the charges, Getsch is accused of stealing funds from WLA over the course of six months, amounting to around $43,000. Minnetrista Police received a report from a former president of the lacrosse association stating that he was receiving emails from WLAs bank, Wells Fargo, that the account had been overdrawn. Prior to leaving the association, the former president said he believed there was approximately $55,000 in the account, according to court documents. The former president stated that while he was looking through the missing funds, he observed that several checks had been written out by Getsch. He then confirmed with the current president that there was no legitimate reason the account had overdrawn. Police say multiple checks were cashed out of WLAs account and deposited in Getschs personal bank account. Officers say there were also two credit card purchases from the account and a Venmo account verification that was set up with WLA account information. Officers compared Getschs personal bank account and WLAs account records and learned that starting in Dec. 2022, all checks that were made out from the WLA account to Getsch were also signed and endorsed by Getsch. Most of the checks were deposited via mobile deposit in Getschs account. Officers compared the signatures of Getschs signature on file when he opened his personal bank account and when he was added to the WLA account in March 2022, and they found the signatures to be very similar. Both of these signatures were also extremely similar to the signatures on all the checks that were endorsed and deposited from WLAs account into Getschs account. WLA is a nonprofit corporation that is run by parents and makes money through player sign-ups, public donations, and fundraisers. By the time the movers get here tomorrow, Im tasked with getting rid of the clothes I no longer need like things with sequins. But I think Ill keep the red-sequined gown with the thigh-high slit because you just never know when a red sequin moment will arise. The new home is just 1,224 square feet from wall to wall but its all mine. Thats what I wrote in this space in November 2006. I had just moved from my two-story, spacious 2,300-square-foot home in Lakewood, and was making myself at home in my new slimmed-down condo in DuPont. When I settled into this condo in November 2006, I had moved 22 times in 25 years and confidently believed that Id done it for the last time Well, its happened again. Exactly 18 years later, my 23rd move is underway, and my new apartment is a scant 714 square feet. It calls for downsizing skills I never wanted to discover. After 18 years in this perfect condo, its hard to choose what to leave behind. Last Saturday night I had a Downsizing Everything but Friends party and all attendees were required to take away some item that seemed to be calling to them. From paintings to Fisher Price toys to Pyrex mixing bowls, everyone found something and it cheers me to think theyll happily go on in their new home. Luckily, all of the memories can come with me, like the one of the young soldiers living in the upstairs condo when I moved in. Bound for deployment, they seemed bent on producing their own version of From Here to Eternity. Night after night. After Night. Finally, I made up my mind, no matter how hard it might be, that Id have to speak up. I caught up to the young lieutenant in the parking lot. You see, I said, choosing my words carefully, my bedroom is right below yours and I can hear EVERYTHING. Everything? he asked. I nodded mutely. Youve lived a very full life, he said respectfully. Then he brightened. Did it seem to you that it went on for a long time? he asked hopefully. I nodded gravely. A very long time, I said. I do have a lot of natural energy, he said happily, walking away with a bit of a swagger creeping into his step. That spring the soldiers went overseas and sold their condo to a family with two toddlers. The 23rd move is underway. This time Im entering assisted living, needing a little extra help to deal with Parkinsons disease. I never expected to need this service, but more than 818,800 Americans currently reside in assisted living communities, accounting for 88% of all senior residential care communities, according to Angela Stewart, vice president of clinical services with Touchmark, a Beaverton, Oregon-based senior living company. During the years of my husbands military service, we learned to move with smooth efficiency. This time, I havent been moving very fast. I seem to need to turn over each treasure and decide whether it goes or stays. Mostly, perplexed, I put everything down without deciding at all. Ive had a lot of trouble working out how Ill cram everything I need into that 700 square feet. My oldest son who spent his Coast Guard years on an icebreaker and learned how to manage in very small spaces, went to the new apartment and carefully measured where my furniture can go, placing yellow post-its to mark their places, while my daughter-in-law made quick decisions about outsize mixing bowls and cookware that cant go along for the ride. There are so many items that simply cant be discarded and yet, theres no reason to keep them. Like the Bible that was the very first purchase of our married life 70 years ago. We were stationed at Castle Air Force Base in Merced, California. I bought the eternal keepsake from a traveling Bible salesman, who called my husbands commanding officer at work to see if we could charge the $8 it would take. The cover is falling off, but I cant seem to throw it away. Family and friends are the priceless treasures. My older daughter, a nurse, whose Super Power is organization showed me how to triage my possessions (Discard, Donate or Keep). My grandson will take the porch swing my father (his great grandpa) made. His mom will take my Grandmas ornate kerosene lamp. When I walked into my living room this afternoon and the couch and dining room table were gone, and the room was filled with packing boxes, it was OK. It isnt my house anymore. New adventures on the way. Time to move on. Where to find Dorothy in October Catch Dorothys podcast, Swimming Upstream Radio Show, at https://swimmingupstreamradioshow.com. Contact Dorothy by phone at 800-548-9264 or via email at Dorothy@swimmingupstreamradioshow.com. People take in the scenery of Legg Lake at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area in South El Monte. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) For millions of Los Angeles-area motorists, the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area flashes by in an instant a tattered oasis of wetlands, sycamore and oak that punctuates the monotonous sprawl of industrial parks, cinder-block sound walls and residential cul-de-sacs along the 60 Freeway and Rosemead Boulevard. But to Andrew Salas, chairman of the Gabrieleno-Kizh tribe, this area still echoes with the voices of his ancestors, who called it Shevaanga. What Beverly Hills is to Los Angeles, Shevaanga was to the true first people of the Los Angeles Basin, Salas said. Few area residents would ever guess that another culture thrived here for thousands of years amid a landscape of oak and walnut woodlands riven with waterways teeming with steelhead trout and prowled by wolves and grizzly bears. But now, Shevaanga is among hundreds of sites drawing new attention in the Mapping Los Angeles Landscape History project. The effort seeks to illustrate major settlements and the roads that connected them a 2,500-mile network of paths that stretched across the Los Angles Basin and beyond and were used used to transport acorns, walnuts, pine nuts, elderberries, tar for waterproofing plank ships, shells worked into beads, and salt minerals used to preserve fish. Andrew Salas, chairman of the Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians-Kizh, holds a grinding stone he found at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area. (Louis Sahagun / Los Angeles Times) The project is the result of an unlikely partnership of three tribes Chumash, Tataviam, and Kizh-Gabrieleno as well as geographers, historians, biologists, and computer scientists from USC, UCLA and Cal State's Northridge, Los Angeles and Long Beach campuses. Undergraduate students from Accelcraft Institute of Geoinformatics and Telangana University, in India, also helped to extract the elevations of over 15 million individual points located on historical topographic maps. Our goal is to help people better understand the whole of history in Los Angeles backyard, said Phil Ethington, professor of history, political science, and spatial sciences at USC. Indeed, one of the villages, Yaangna, occupied an area that now hosts Union Station, in downtown Los Angeles. We show how Los Angeles is rooted in an ancient metropolis of trading centers and seafaring communities governed by royal families and surrounded by forests and grasslands carefully managed to magnify the abundance of natural resources, he said. The three-year project, funded by the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation, investigated six villages that once flourished here. The effort relied on oral histories of local tribes, remote sensing equipment aboard satellites, U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps, century-old aerial photographs, historical archives, museum collections and law centers. We had to dig deep for evidence of the great society buried under our modern empire of terraced and graded slopes, rivers sheathed in concrete, industrial development, freeways and sprawl, said Travis Longcore, a professor at UCLAs Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. Read more: The largest dam removal in history stirs hopes of restoring California tribes way of life We believe this project will serve as a vital resource for regional and local planning efforts involving sustainability, restoring habitat with native vegetation, and adapting to climate change, he said. The result is a unique collection of highly detailed three-dimensional digital maps charting prehistoric human interactions with the natural environment at Humaliwo (now Malibu), Siutcanga (Encino), Achoicomenga (San Fernando), Yaangna (Los Angeles), Shevaanga (Whittier Narrows), and Povuuunga (Long Beach). Project maps also compare Indigenous roads and pathways with contemporary highways, and depict the distribution of plants and trees important to Indigenous food systems and bird populations over the centuries. One map reveals the locations of streams, wetlands, vernal pools and tidal flats that were buried or drastically altered to accommodate urban development. When Europeans arrived, however, they took over tribal lands as well as the roadways and other significant contributions of the Indigenous founders of the region. Ventura Boulevard, the 101 Freeway through the San Fernando Valley, and the 110 Freeway between Los Angeles and Long Beach were built on ancient roadways, the researchers said. For Matt Vestuto, chairman of the Barbareno/Ventureno Band of Mission Indians, the mapping project offers hope for a long overdue reappraisal of Native American history, one that, as he put it, doesnt start out depicting our people as California mission slaves. Walking across the site of a prehistoric seaport at Malibu Lagoon that connected mainland tribes with the Channel Islands, Vestuto smiled recently and said, Our lifeways and economies were flexible and stable for centuries. Almost overnight, we were disenfranchised from the landscape but our people are still here, he said. Now, the challenge is to restore the environment, and rebuild our nations. Salas, 55, has also helped to fight for the memory of his ancestors. He and fellow tribe members regard the Whittier Narrows settlement area with reverence. In 2010, tribal members led by Salas and his father, spiritual leader Ernest Perez Salas Teutimez, now deceased, helped defeat a plan to build a 14,000-square-foot San Gabriel River Discovery Center and a parking lot for law-enforcement vehicles in the area. During a blessing ceremony held in a glade of sycamores at the time, Salas father said, This is our last frontier close to home. We want to keep it just the way it is so that we never forget the lessons hidden under every leaf and rock. 2010 photo of Ernest Perez Salas Teutimez, the late spiritual leader of the Gabrielino Band of Mission Indians, during an action against the development of the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) On a recent morning, Salas brushed dirt away from a palm-sized rock grinding tool that he found protruding from a sandbank. Its a granite mano, he said, used to grind grain and seeds. As Salas was telling the story of the mano, Matthew Teutimez, a tribal biologist, was taking stock of nearby native vegetation that supported Indigenous populations for centuries: elderberries, mudwort, jimson weed, spearmint, walnut trees, grape vines, and sage. Theyre remnants of a time when the lives of our ancestors were entwined with the areas rich biodiversity and sacred places such as hilltops and caves, where they talked to the creator, Teutimez, 47, said. Matt Teutimiz, left, a tribal biologist for Gabrieleno tribes, and Andrew Salas, chairman of the Gabrielino Band of Mission Indians-Kizh, follow the pathways of their ancient ancestors at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area. (Louis Sahagun / Los Angeles Times) A turning point came in 1769, with the arrival of Spains first colonizing expedition. A commander under Spanish military officer Gaspar de Portola recounted the initially peaceful support and guidance offered by Indigenous peoples. The natives came to nearly every place where our men camped presented us fish, hare, nuts, pine nuts, acorns, and other seeds prepared after their fashion, he wrote. It was never necessary for us to use our weapons for any purpose other than to obtain some game, which was generally bears. An aerial view of the Rio Hondo wash and Whittier Narrows Golf Course in the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) This initial amity was very short-lived: The prosperous and generous Native American tribes of Southern California were conquered by Spanish settlers, then enslaved by imperious theologians to launch a mission-building campaign that stretched from San Diego to San Francisco. After the missions, the tribes came to be known as Gabrielenos, a name that conjures up the start of an era of terror and massacres for Native Americans who had existed here since time immemorial. The California Gold Rush of 1849 inspired a flood of immigrants and federal support for local Indian-killing campaigns. Californias Native American population plunged from 150,000 to 30,000 in the mid-1800s, according to Benjamin Madley, a UCLA historian and author of "American Genocide: The United States and the California Indian Catastrophe, 1846-1873." Less than a century later, Southern California was mushrooming into a metropolis amid showers of welders sparks, clanking jackhammers, lumbering earthmovers, and flashy new cultural and commercial landmarks rearing skyward. Read more: Desperate to rid Catalina of invasive deer, officials propose bold helicopter hunt The Native Californian population has rebounded to about 150,000, many of whom belong to the state's 110 federally recognized tribes. Those groups are able to determine their own destiny, and in many cases, that destiny has involved lucrative gambling palaces. The Gabrieleno tribes, however, are among roughly two dozen unrecognized and landless tribes in California that have initiated petitions for federal recognition by the Department of Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs. The stakes are high. A federally recognized tribe has sovereignty, does not pay taxes and is exempt from following state or county legal ordinances. It is entitled to full service from local law enforcement authorities and fire departments, hospitals, and road and flood control systems. It is also eligible for federal assistance from legal programs created to help reclaim lands lost over the decades through tax sales, fraud and violence, and with healthcare, education and protection of sacred sites. Read more: SoCal cities desperately need more shade. Is it time to finally ditch palm trees? Few of those petitions are likely to succeed, experts say, because they usually cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, require extensive documentation and research by anthropologists, historians and tribal members and can take a decade or more. But for Salas and Teutimez, Whittier Narrows remains a potent symbol, geographically and politically, of historic injustice and an ideal place for a rebirth of the Gabrieleno Nation. We filed our application for federal recognition in 2010, Salas said. I truly believe that its going to happen in my lifetime. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Former President Trump has inserted himself into a split House GOP conference as he wades into the debate over who should be the next Speaker, a move that carries risks for the front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination. Trump endorsed Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) for Speaker late Thursday following the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). Its a move that, if successful, would elevate one of the former presidents staunchest allies to the top job in the House and cement Trump as a kingmaker in the GOP. Trump is also toying with the idea of going to the House on Tuesday to speak to the GOP conference, an effort that could put pressure on lawmakers to back his choice for the next Speaker. Its not clear that Trump is pleased his preference for Jordan was leaked out to the media. Jordan faces stiff competition for the role from Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), and Trumps influence could take a hit if the GOP conference does not rally behind his preferred candidate. If he publicly backed someone and they dont get it, that looks bad on him, said Sarah Matthews, a former Capitol Hill staffer and former press aide in the Trump White House. Multiple sources suggested Trumps team may have been frustrated when Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, late Thursday that the former president intended to back Jordan. Nehls previously had floated Trump as a prospective Speaker candidate himself. The Nehls post about Jordan put an end to that speculation, and it prompted Trump to publicly back Jordan while the Ohio Republicans path to the gavel is still far from solidified. One former Trump official downplayed any fallout from the Nehls post, saying it was not a big deal. But there is still a slight risk that Trumps endorsement of Jordan will backfire if the conference does not rally behind the Ohio Republican. Its unclear if Trumps backing helps Jordan with Republicans who won districts that President Biden carried in 2020, and it is unlikely to clear the field for Jordan ahead of next weeks candidate forum. The Democratic National Committee, which wants to tie the House GOP to Trump, argued the former presidents role in the Speaker debate was a sign he not only owns the House GOP circus, but remains its proud ringleader. Jordans primary competition for Speaker within the House GOP appears to be Scalise, another Trump ally who has been climbing the ranks of party leadership in recent years and has his own bloc of support within the conference. I dont think its going to completely flip this in Jim Jordans favor. I have to imagine Team Trump is not thrilled he had to come out and that his thinking was leaked, Matthews said. It will help Jim Jordan, but I still think its going to be really tight and going to be really tough. Jordan was a staunch Trump ally throughout the Trump presidency. He was a fervent defender of Trumps during his two impeachments, and Trump awarded the Ohio Republican the Presidential Medal of Freedom in January 2021. Since Trump left office, Jordan has been a loyal attack dog against the Biden administration, echoing the former presidents allegations that investigations into his conduct are politically motivated. I do think Trump backing him is helpful to Jim Jordans odds, just because hes the GOP front-runner right now for the nomination, so in effect hes the leader of our party, Matthews said. And I think that would be helpful to someone trying to appeal to those hard-right members who voted to oust McCarthy. If successful, it would be another major win for Trump, who is already viewed as the most influential individual in the party and is by far the front-runner for the GOP nomination in 2024, based on polling. Trump has already racked up dozens of endorsements from House GOP lawmakers, significantly more than his next nearest rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). Should Jordan win the gavel, it would put a Trump ally in charge of the House at a time when Republicans are pursuing an impeachment inquiry into Biden and debating government funding for the Justice Department, Ukraine aid and other priorities Trump has an interest in. Multiple sources downplayed the idea Trump was ever seriously considering serving as Speaker, in part because he was unlikely to ever secure the votes needed to win the gavel. But his play was a textbook example of the former president sucking up all the oxygen during a news cycle and putting himself at the center of attention. It would aggrandize him. It would give him another title. He could preen around there like the peacock he is and act like a big shot. He wouldnt do anything, Chris Christie, one of Trumps 2024 rivals, said Thursday on CNN about the prospect of a Trump Speakership. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former President Trump said Sunday that Hamass attacks on Israel and the Russia-Ukraine war would never have happened if he were president. THE HORRIBLE ATTACK ON ISRAEL, MUCH LIKE THE ATTACK ON UKRAINE, WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED IF I WERE PRESIDENT ZERO CHANCE! Trump wrote Sunday in a Truth Social post. Trumps comments come one day after Hamas, the militant and political group that rules Gaza, launched the largest attack on Israel in decades early Saturday. Forces invaded multiple Israeli towns by land, sea and air and launched a barrage of rocket fire in some parts of the country. More than 1,100 people on both sides have died in the violence, while thousands of others were left injured. Hamas forces also captured multiple Israeli soldiers and civilians, according to The Associated Press (AP). Trump has lauded his own record helping Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his time in the White House, pointing to policy actions like support of Israels claim to Golan Heights as well as his administrations recognition of Jerusalem as the countrys capital and relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. The moving of the embassy was seen as a risk to the tensions in the region that went against years of U.S. policy to avoid establishing an embassy in the contested city, according to The Washington Post. On the day the U.S. Embassy opened in Jerusalem in May of 2018, dozens of Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers during mass protests at the boundary fence with Gaza. The Trump administration later blamed Hamas for the deaths, which marked the deadliest day there since a war between Hamas and Israel in 2014. Trump and Netanyahu shared a generally positive relationship during Trumps time in the White House, though tensions flared up towards the end of his administration in 2020. In the months that followed the 2020 election, Trump reportedly blasted the Israeli leader, accusing him of disloyalty for his congratulatory message to President Biden. And late last year, Netanyahu railed against Trumps dinner with white supremacist Nick Fuentes and Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, calling it wrong and misplaced. While speaking at an event in Waterloo, Iowa, on Saturday, Trump spoke on Hamass attacks, claiming they are the result of the U.S. being seen as weak and ineffective. The Israeli attack was made because we are perceived as being weak and ineffective and with a really weak leader, Trump said in an apparent swipe at President Biden. Biden was quick to offer his unwavering support to Israel in the hours following the attacks, telling Netanyahu the U.S. is prepared to offer all appropriate means of support to Israel. On Sunday, Biden informed Netanyahu that additional assistance was on its way to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), which is expected to arrive in the coming days. Trumps latest comments on the Russia-Ukraine war do not come as much of a surprise, as the former president has repeatedly claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin would have never gone into Ukraine if Trump were president. Pointing to his seemingly positive relationship with Putin, Trump in August said he was the apple of his [Putins] eye. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former President Donald Trump ate up alleged support from Hannibal Lecter in a terrifying slip-up at an Iowa rally. The former president criticized open border policies on Saturday and claimed people were coming to America from insane asylums before bringing up The Silence of the Lambs. Hannibal Lecter, how great an actor was he? said Trump in a mix-up between the fictional characters name and Anthony Hopkins, the actor who played the cannibal in the 1991 film. You know why I like him? Because he said on television on one of the I love Donald Trump. So I love him. I love him. I love him. He said that a long time ago and once he said that, he was in my camp, I was in his camp. I dont care if he was the worst actor, Id say he was great to me. Trump on Hannibal Lecter: You know why I like him? Because he said on television I love Donald Trump so I love him pic.twitter.com/1jYyXKFkjI Acyn (@Acyn) October 7, 2023 Hopkins has not publicly supported Trump and neither have other actors who have portrayed Hannibal Lecter including Mads Mikkelsen and Brian Cox, the latter of whom called Trump such a fucking asshole and so full of shit. Hopkins, who was born in Wales and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2000, told The Guardian that he doesnt care for Trump and explained that he doesnt vote because he doesnt trust anyone. Weve never got it right, human beings. We are all a mess, and were very early in our evolution, the actor said in 2018. Related... We are called upon to do unto others as we would have them do unto ourselves. This sacred principle demands we treat others with basic decency and dont exploit our fellow man. Its a saying unfamiliar to our pharmaceutical companies. Big Pharma exploits ordinary Americans just to achieve maximum profit. Thats now how its supposed to be. North Carolinians especially know the hardship of medical care right now. The big drug makers hiked prices on their products at the beginning of this year, even though more Americans are feeling the pinch of tough economic times. A majority of North Carolinians are worried about skyrocketing drug prices, with nearly a third of state residents foregoing a prescription, cutting pills in half, or skipping a dose of medicine. While ordinary people suffer, Big Pharma reaps record profits. COVID vaccines brought in $90 billion in profits for the industry. Pfizers 2022 revenues were the highest in the drug giants history. Pharma giants such as ANI and Valeo have reported record quarterly earnings this year. Theyre getting richer, while hard-working North Carolinians can barely afford their prescriptions. Thats not right. It would be one thing if these companies made massive profits through good, old-fashioned entrepreneurship and ingenuity. America has always been the land that rewards those who work hard to deliver a great product. But honest business isnt how theyre raking in billions. Many of these companies corner the market and fix prices to enrich their bottom line. There may be no greater offender in this category than the major drug distributors. Just three companies (AmerisourceBergen, McKesson Corp and Cardinal Health) control 85 percent of the market. The giants have a reputation for price-fixing. Earlier this year, McKesson was forced to fork over $141 million as part of a settlement over claims it benefitted from a price rigging scheme. AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health have both had to settle claims over allegations of price-fixing and other behavior to manipulate the market. Theyre not alone. Twenty-six drug companies are being sued by North Carolina and nearly every other state over alleged price fixing. These are business practices that violate basic morals. Theres nothing wrong with companies making money the right way. But market monopolies and price-rigging schemes violate the basic teachings our country was founded on. These practices are made worse in that they come at the expense of our sick and needy. People require these drugs to survive, and greedy pharma companies take advantage of that pain to make a bigger buck. Its downright sinful. Like any bad actor caught doing wrong, Big Pharma tries to shift blame onto others. The industry wants to place more restrictions on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which are third-party groups that negotiate for lower drug prices with the drug giants on behalf of consumers. Its no mystery why Big Pharma wants to restrict PBMsthey hurt Big Pharmas bottom line.The real answer to the drug price crisis is to empower the free market to take down Big Pharmas dominance. If the giants no longer had a stranglehold over the marketplace, businesses with proper morals and a commitment to solid business practices would succeed. North Carolinians are tired of having no choice and paying outrageous prices for the drugs they need. Our lawmakers should listen to their concerns and do whats right. The drug giants need to be reined in and learn the Golden Rule. Weve had enough of their immorality. Chris Williams, a former pharmacy technician, is a Gaston County conservative activist. This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: My Turn: Big Pharma puts profits above basic decency By Sonia Rolley and Justin Makangara KINSHASA (Reuters) - Twenty-four candidates, including Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, have officially declared they will compete for the presidency in the December election, the electoral commission said on Sunday - the deadline for submissions to the race. Old rivals, first-time contenders, and previously sidelined presidential hopefuls are among those running against Tshisekedi, creating a crowded field that some believe could split the opposition vote and increase his chances of securing a second term. Democratic Republic of Congo's CENI election commission shared the profiles of the 24 candidates for the Dec. 20 poll on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. The constitutional court will officially confirm the final list in the coming weeks. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In the meantime, tricky talks are underway between some of the contestants about uniting behind a common opposition figure, said Tresor Kibangula, political analyst at the Ebuteli Research Institute. "It will be difficult to reach a consensus on a single candidacy as some candidates are playing for their political survival", he said on Sunday. With less than three months to go before the presidential and legislative vote, international allies including the United States and human rights groups have accused the authorities of cracking down on dissent and freedom of expression. The presidency has denied the allegations. The transparency of the electoral process itself has also come under fire from Congo's powerful Catholic and Protestant churches, which traditionally help monitor elections with thousands of observers. The European Union has been invited to send an observer mission also. The bloc is considering the request and discussions are ongoing, an EU spokesperson said on Thursday, cautioning that the Congolese authorities would need to fulfil specific conditions for such a deployment. All of the opposition candidates have expressed concern about the risk of electoral fraud including Nobel prize-winning gynecologist Denis Mukwege, who is running for the first time, and Martin Fayulu, who came second to Tshisekedi in the 2018 election - a result he contested in court. The CENI has said preparations for the vote are on track and disputed allegations of irregularities with the electoral roll - an issue that provoked violent anti-government protests in May. The commission's handling of the electoral roll dispute and "the shrinking of the political space, sets the stage for the contestation of the results, and even possible electoral violence," said the analyst Kibangula. More political unrest would further destabilise the mineral-rich nation that is already struggling to contain a myriad of armed groups and a rebellion in eastern regions. (Editing by Alessandra Prentice; editing by Diane Craft) File photo showing a tourist boat in the Mediterranean Sea off the Egyptian city of Alexandria (21 September 2023) Two Israeli tourists and their Egyptian guide have been shot dead in the Egyptian city of Alexandria, the Israeli foreign ministry says. Another Israeli was wounded in the attack on Sunday morning, which the ministry said a "local" carried out. There was no immediate confirmation from Egyptian authorities. But the private Extra News TV channel reported that a policeman had opened fire on a group visiting an ancient Roman site known as Pompey's Pillar. The assailant fired "at random" using his personal weapon, it cited a security source as saying, adding that he was detained at the scene. Footage of the aftermath of the attack posted on social media showed at least two people apparently dead on the ground at an archaeological site. The Israeli foreign ministry said it was working with Egyptian authorities in order to return the Israeli citizens to Israel as soon as possible. The shooting happened a day after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel, sending hundreds of gunmen across the frontier from Gaza and launching thousands of rockets. At least 350 people are reported to have been killed in Israel, while another 313 people in Gaza have been killed in retaliatory Israeli air strikes. Egypt was the first Arab country to make peace with Israel in 1979, but Israeli policies towards the Palestinians make it unpopular with many Egyptians. In June, an Egyptian police conscript killed three Israeli soldiers near the two countries' border. Egypt said he exchanged fire with the soldiers while chasing drug smugglers, but Israel said it was a terrorist attack. Egyptian police at the site where a policeman killed two Israeli tourists and their local guide in Alexandria (-) An Egyptian policeman shot dead two Israeli tourists and their Egyptian guide Sunday, local media and Israeli authorities said, as war raged for a second day between Israel and Palestinian militants. Israel's National Security Council later said its citizens should consider not travelling abroad particularly in the Middle East "on the backdrop of the attack in Egypt." It said visitors already in Egypt should leave "as soon as possible." The policeman fired "at random" at an Israeli tour group visiting Alexandria using "his personal weapon", the state-affiliated private television Extra News said, quoting a security source. A fourth person was wounded and the policeman was "immediately arrested", it added. The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the deaths in a statement. "This morning during a visit of Israeli tourists in Alexandria, Egypt, a local opened fire at them, murdering two Israeli citizens and their Egyptian guide," it said. "In addition, there is a wounded Israeli in moderate condition." Israel's National Security Council added "there is a fear of a rise in motivation of terror groups and lone assailants" who could carry out attacks on Israelis abroad. Cairo had not immediately commented on the attack against the tourists. The deaths came as fighting raged after Palestinian militants on Saturday launched a multi-pronged attack on Israel, which has declared war on the Hamas movement and launched air strikes on Gaza. Egypt was the first Arab country to forge a peace deal with Israel in 1979, and has long served as an intermediary between Israel and the Palestinians. Israeli tourists regularly visit Egypt but, despite the diplomatic relations, Israel remains largely unpopular among Egyptians. In June, three Israeli soldiers were killed in a firefight at the border with Egypt by a member of the Egyptian security forces who crossed the boundary "in pursuit of drug traffickers", according to the Egyptian army. On Saturday, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warned of a "vicious cycle of tensions threatening regional stability and security". burs-srk/it A shot car in the city of Sderot in southern Israel, October 7, 2023 Two Ukrainian citizens, who had been living in Israel for an extended period, have tragically lost their lives, Oleh Nikolenko, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, confirmed to NV on Oct. 8. Israeli police confirmed the deaths to the Ukrainian Embassy. The bodies are in the process of being repatriated, the embassy told Interfax-Ukraine. Read also: Zelenskyy condemns Hamas attack on Israel, says country has right to defend itself As of 17:00 EET on Oct. 8, the embassy has no information regarding about other injured or missing Ukrainian citizens. Earlier, Ukraines Foreign Ministry announced that they were verifying information about the possible death of a Ukrainian citizen in Israel and were also searching for two other Ukrainian citizens. In the afternoon of Oct. 8, diplomats reported that they had located one of the missing Ukrainians in southern Israel. Read also: Israel declares war, calls up reserves, after Hamas pummels state with rockets At least 500 people have lost their lives as a result of a massive attack by the Iranian-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7, followed by continued shelling of the country. The death toll continues to rise. Additionally, more than 750 people are reported as missing. Whats happening in Israel? Hamas launched a massive rocket barrage at Israel from the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, firing approximately 5,000 rockets. Additionally, hundreds of armed Hamas militants breached Israels southern border, as part of an official large-scale operation against Israel. Read also: Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel photos and videos During the attack, Hamas managed to seize control of seven communities in southern Israel and took dozens of Israeli soldiers and civilians as hostages. Tragically, at least 300 people in Israel were killed in the attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country is at war and added, we will prevail. The Israeli government initiated Operation Iron Swords as their military response to the incursion, regaining control of seized settlements by the evening of Oct. 7. Israel has also conducted airstrikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. Read also: Hamas kidnaps over 100 Israelis Israeli Embassy in the US Netanyahu proclaimed that Israel has embarked on a long and difficult war and pledged to utilize the full strength of the Israeli Defense Forces to eliminate the capabilities of Hamas. 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 Two Ukrainian citizens died in Israel. Measures are being taken to organise the repatriation of the bodies of the dead, the Embassy of Ukraine in Israel reported. Source: Interfax Ukraine, citing the Embassy of Ukraine in Israel Quote: "The Embassy of Ukraine received confirmation from the Israeli police regarding the death of two Ukrainian citizens. Measures are being taken to organise the repatriation of their bodies. There is currently no information on the presence of Ukrainian citizens among the wounded or missing." Update: Nikolenko clarified that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has confirmed information about two Ukrainian citizens killed in Israel. Both women had been living in Israel for some time. Consuls are keeping in touch with the relatives of the killed women. Background: On the morning of 7 October, a large number of missiles was launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel by Hamas militants; fires surged through Israeli cities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken out in support of Israel following the attack by Hamas terrorists. 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 woman and a child struggle with strong winds in Hong Kong on October 8, 2023 as typhoon Koinu skirted by (Peter PARKS) Typhoon Koinu tracked towards China's resort island of Hainan on Sunday night after skirting Hong Kong, bringing heavy rains and powerful gusts while prompting the closure of transport services and schools in the financial hub. Koinu comes just a month after Hong Kong was lashed by Typhoon Saola, which triggered its highest "T10" storm alert. A week after that, the city experienced its highest rainfall in nearly 140 years, flooding subway stations and malls, and causing landslides. Typhoon Koinu was at the third-highest alert in Hong Kong's warning system for most of the day. It was upgraded to "T9" for more than four hours -- when the typhoon was closest to the city -- before the observatory dropped it back down to "T8" at 11:50 pm local time (1550 GMT). "In the past couple of hours, Koinu tracked westwards steadily. The associated hurricane force winds are gradually departing from the seas south of Hong Kong," said the observatory, issuing a map that showed Koinu's path headed directly for China's island province of Hainan. It was about 70 kilometres (43 miles) south-southwest of Hong Kong around midnight and was forecast to edge closer to the western part of the Pearl River Estuary. Despite the storm downgrade to "T8" -- which will be in place until 11 am Monday -- the observatory warned the public "precautions should not yet be relaxed", and said the gales generated by Koinu were expected to persist. The "T8" warning level is triggered when a storm's maximum sustained wind speed reaches 117 kilometres (72 miles) per hour. Koinu's were observed at 145 kilometres (90 miles) per hour. - Flights cancelled - Around 90 flights were cancelled Sunday and 130 others delayed throughout the day due to the storm, according to Hong Kong's Airport Authority. Daycare centres, cargo terminals, ferries and buses suspended operations Sunday, while schools -- also closed -- will remain shuttered Monday. Hong Kong's government received reports of more than 20 people wounded during the typhoon Sunday, as well as more than a dozen incidents of fallen trees due to strong winds. In China's Guangdong province -- where Koinu is expected to sweep past en route to Hainan -- the cities of Zhuhai and Jiangmen issued a Level III emergency response, according to Xinhua news agency Sunday. That meant more than 35,500 fishing boats had to return to port, while dozens of coastal scenic areas were temporarily closed. Before moving to Hong Kong, Koinu had grazed nearby Taiwan, bringing torrential rain and record-breaking winds to its outlying Orchid Island. The storm left at least one dead, and knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of homes. Southern China is frequently hit during summer and autumn months by typhoons that form in the warm oceans east of the Philippines and then travel west. But climate change has made tropical storms more unpredictable while increasing their intensity -- bringing more rain and stronger gusts that lead to flash floods and coastal damage, experts say. su/dhc/bfm TAMPA, Fla. - The U.S.S. Jack H. Lucas was officially commissioned into active service for the United States Navy at a ceremony attended by thousands at the Port of Tampa on Saturday. The 511-foot-long ship is the Navy's newest and most technologically advanced guided missile destroyer. Its namesake, Private First Class Jack H. Lucas, served in the U.S. Marines during World War II, earning the Medal of Honor for his heroism at Iwo Jima. RELATED: USS Jack H. Lucas arrives in Port Tampa Bay for commissioning ceremony "He enlisted in the Marine Corp at only the age of 14 and by the time he was 17, he was at Iwo Jima and dove on two grenades and pulled them under himself to save the lives of the Koreans right by him," said Lt. Dan McCormack, with the U.S. Navy. The ship's motto, indestructible, boldly describes Lucas' spirit, the strength of her riveting steel and her crew of more than 300 sailors, who spent the week in Tampa guiding locals through tours. "Being able to take guests on to show them this ship and all the hard work the sailors have done to get us to this point has really been phenomenal"," said McCormack. READ: 'The walking miracle': 13-year-old nearly recovered after being shot in the head three months ago in Sarasota The city of Tampa welcomed the ship after getting approved to host the historic ceremony. She will now set sail for the naval base in San Diego and enter a training cycle before getting assigned for deployment. At least four Americans are among those killed in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) confirmed Sunday night. In a statement, the New York senator said he had been briefed by senior national security and State Department officials, saying: unfortunately, we know there are Americans who were killedand that the Biden administration is aware of at least four deaths so far. Sadly, we know the toll will rise, Schumer added. The Administration said they are keeping a careful eye on Iran and keeping all pressure on them and their proxies to ensure the situation does not expand, Schumer said. Senators will hold a classified briefing as soon as possible, he continued. Schumer's confirmation came just hours after a spokesperson for The National Security Council confirmed to MSNBC that several Americans had died during the weekend attacks. I was briefed this evening by senior national security and State Department officials in the Biden administration. The viciousness and brutality of this unprecedented attack from Hamas targeting innocent civilianschildren, families, seniorsis overwhelming and heart wrenching. pic.twitter.com/0EabhhIYZy Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) October 9, 2023 A statement citing a spokesperson for The National Security Council and read on air by MSNBC reporter Allie Raffa verified earlier reports from Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who said on CNNs State of the Union Sunday: Several Americans were killed. Were working overtime to verify that. The latest National Security Council statement extended the administrations deepest condolences to the victims and the families of all those affected and wish those injured a speedy recovery. The statement added: We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in touch with our Israeli partners particularly the local authorities. BREAKING: Several American citizens have been killed in the Hamas attack on Israel, National Security Council confirms. pic.twitter.com/8aZiGC3tm7 MSNBC (@MSNBC) October 8, 2023 The State Department is prepared to provide consular assistance for American citizens in Israel, it said, while issuing new travel advisories in response to the attacks. The updated advisories list Gaza as a Do Not Travel area and Israel and West Bank as Exercise Increased Caution zones. A National Security Council spokesperson also confirmed the deaths to The New York Times on condition of anonymity. The number of dead or injured has not been confirmed but the State Department is aware of at least three Americans that have been killed in the ongoing Israel attacks, according to an internal government memo reported on by CNN Sunday. The violence in Israel and Gaza has left hundreds dead and thousands injured since Saturday, according to The New York Times, when Hamas terrorists launched attacks by air, land, and sea on Israeli cities and took scores of soldiers and citizens hostage. Israel responded with bomb strikes along the Gaza Strip, and its security cabinet declared a state of war on Sunday. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. was working overtime to verify reports of kidnapped or killed Americans in Israel or the Gaza Strip. Luis Barron/Eyepix Group via Getty Blinken described the conflict as the worst attack on Israel since the Yom Kippur war in 1973 and said he has been in constant communication with the Israeli government since the strikes began. We have been on the phones throughout our government over the last 24 hours, engaging everyone in the region and well beyond, both to make sure that there is support for Israel and that every country is using every effort to pull Hamas back and to prevent this from escalating, Blinken said. The secretary chose not to discuss the intelligence failures that led to the surprise assault on Israel, telling ABCs This Week that there will be time to hold a postmortem. But the immediate focus needed to be on repelling Hamas militants, he saiddespite the close relationship between U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies, both of which appeared not to foresee the ambush. The intensity of the fighting is real, Blinken told George Stephanopoulos. And we had about 1,000 Hamas militants who infiltrated Israel, most of them seem to have either been killed or have gone back into into Gaza. But as I said, intensifying remains. So thats the focus and the focus is also on taking steps to make sure to the best of their ability for Israel, that this doesnt repeat itself. More than 413 Palestinians and up to 700 Israelis are thought to have been killed in the Hamas attack so far. Other foreigners reportedly killed during the attacks include a woman from France, two nationals from Thailand, a man from Britain killed Saturday on the Gaza border and two from Ukraine. 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. Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations, killing hundreds and taking captives. Palestinian health officials reported scores of deaths from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. | Fatima Shbair, Associated Press The Biden administration is investigating reports that some Americans were killed Saturday during the Hamas attack on Israel and that other Americans are being held hostage, according to United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He said on Meet the Press that U.S. officials are very actively trying to verify those reports and establish the facts of whats happened on the ground. Any American anywhere being who is detained or held hostage that is going to be a priority for this government, for this administration, Blinken said. In the hours since Blinkens appearance on Meet the Press, key committees in the U.S. House of Representatives have been briefed on the situation in Israel and told that four Americans have died so far, according to CNN. The death toll is expected to rise, CNN reported. Related The fighting in Israel began Saturday with bombings and an insurgence into Israeli communities. Hamas militants, backed by a volley of thousands of rockets, broke through Israels security barrier and rampaged through nearby communities, according to The Associated Press. Israels government mobilized a counterattack soon after the bombings started and has since declared war. We are embarking on a long and difficult war that was forced on us by a murderous Hamas attack, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement shared on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday. He later added, We have begun the offensive phase, which will continue with neither limitations nor respite until the objectives are achieved. According to reports from the Israeli media and from Palestinian leaders, more than 1,100 people have died so far around 700 in Israel and more than 400 in the Gaza Strip, The Associated Press reported. President Joe Biden has said that his administration stands with Israel. The United States stands with Israel. We will not ever fail to have their back. We will make sure they have the help their citizens need and they can continue to defend themselves, he said on Saturday. After consulting with Biden, officials at the U.S. Department of Defense moved ships and planes closer to Israel and provided other resources directly to Israel. Strengthening our joint force posture, in addition to the materiel support that we will rapidly provide to Israel, underscores the United States ironclad support for the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli people, said Defense secretary Lloyd J. Austin III in a statement released Sunday. As the Biden administration investigates reports of Americans being killed or held captive in Israel, U.S. airlines are changing flight plans in hopes of keeping travelers safe. Since Saturday, United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines have suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv due to fighting in the area, according to CBS News. But this decision has left some Americans stranded, including 53 members of a Baptist church in Florida who traveled to Israel last week. The group is now desperately trying to escape the area and looking for alternative travel plans after they were rebooked on a Thursday flight out of Tel Aviv, according to The Detroit News, which reported that two of the 53 travelers are the parents of Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone. In its statement on travel restrictions, Delta said its working with the U.S. government to help Americans currently in Israel safely return home. Delta will work with the U.S. government as needed to assist with the repatriation of U.S. citizens who want to return home, the statement said, per CBS News. The U.S. military is moving an aircraft carrier strike group and military aircraft closer to Israel as a show of support, and it will also begin supplying Israel with munitions and other military supplies immediately, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. Austin said Sunday afternoon that he had directed the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to go to the eastern Mediterranean. The group includes the carrier, a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser, and four Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers. We have also taken steps to augment U.S. Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region, he said. In addition, the United States government will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions. The first security assistance will begin moving today and arriving in the coming days." war ship ford CVN 78 battleship (Ridge Leoni / U.S. Navy via AP file) Strengthening our joint force posture, in addition to the materiel support that we will rapidly provide to Israel, underscores the United States ironclad support for the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli people, Austin said. My team and I will continue to be in close contact with our Israeli counterparts to ensure they have what they need to protect their citizens and defend themselves against these heinous terrorist attacks. U.S. Central Command said later Sunday afternoon that it had begun moving the strike group. USCENTCOM stands firmly with our Israeli and regional partners to address the risks of any party seeking to expand the conflict, said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, the commander of Central Command. Two U.S. officials familiar with the planning said the assets, specifically the ships, will not be in place for several days. The U.S. is also working through plans for a possible noncombatant evacuation helping Americans get out of Israel, the officials said. Nothing has been decided or ordered, but officials are working through options, including one that would involve putting some Americans on the Navy ships to get them to safety. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The contrails of rockets launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel are seen from Sderot, southern Israel (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates on Sunday described attacks carried out by Palestinian Islamist faction Hamas against Israeli towns as a "serious and grave escalation." The UAE foreign ministry in a statement also said it was "appalled" by reports Israeli civilians were taken as hostages from their homes. "Civilians on both sides must always have full protection under international humanitarian law and must never be a target of conflict," the ministry added. The UAE became the first Gulf country to normalise relations with Israel in 2020, breaking with decades of Arab policy toward the Palestinian cause. (Reporting by Hatem Maher; Editing by Mark Porter) The Defence Intelligence of the United Kingdom assesses that over the past month, the situation in the area of the village of Velyka Novosilka, Donetsk Oblast, has generally stabilised at the front. Source: UK Defence Intelligence review dated 8 October, as reported by European Pravda Details: If back in June-July, the UK intelligence reported intense hostilities in the Velyka Novosilka section of the front line, which is west of the city of Vuhledar, over the past four weeks the fighting there has been "much less intense." Quote: "Over the summer, Ukraine almost certainly liberated at least 125 square kilometres of territory on this axis," the agency estimates. The intelligence review indicates that the 36th and 5th Combined Arms Armies of the Russian Eastern Military District have been constrained by Ukrainian operations in this area, preventing them from strengthening other areas. Additionally, it has attracted a number of Russian airborne units. "While this axis has stabilised, Russian forces likely remain in a defensive posture to guard against possible future Ukrainian offensive operations," the review says. The review also notes that it is unlikely that Russian forces will leave this axis in the upcoming six weeks in significant numbers. Last month, UK Defence Intelligence reported that Russian forces are stepping up their defence of the strategically important city of Tokmak in Zaporizhzhia 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! (Bloomberg) -- Keir Starmer branded Hamass attack on Israel appalling, a condemnation that highlighted how the Labour leader has changed the partys stance on a key foreign policy debate since replacing Jeremy Corbyn . Most Read from Bloomberg The Palestinian militant groups unprecedented incursion into southern Israel threatened to overshadow Starmers efforts to rally the Labour faithful Sunday as the partys annual conference got underway in Liverpool. Still, the episode underlined the contrast with Corbyn, who passed up a chance to condemn the attack in a social media post emphasizing the impact of Israels occupation. This is an appalling attack on Israel, a terrorist attack, for which there is no justification, Starmer told the BBC, adding that the violence must be called out across the world. The perpetrators of this have deliberately pushed back the prospect of peace agreements. Starmer is seeking to show that the Labour Party has returned to a more traditional foreign policy stance since the era of Corbyn, who had a long history of sharing platforms with supporters of both Hamas and Hezbollah before he became leader. The former chief prosecutor ejected Corbyn from Labours parliamentary party for failing to accept the results of a report into antisemitism in the opposition during his stewardship from 2015-20. Israel Latest: Fighting Extends to Second Day, Stocks Plunge The flare-up in violence in the Middle East was nonetheless expected to make it even harder for Starmer to use the conference to sell voters on his vision to improve Britains economy and restore public services. While Labour is well ahead of the ruling Conservative Party in public opinion polls, many voters say theyre still unsure what to think of Starmer. The incident in Israel could distract from the whole conference, one member of Starmers shadow cabinet said, noting that the party could at best hope to get the second slot in news rundowns. While it was disappointing for Starmer, it would have been worse if Corbyn was still leader, the person said. For his own part, Corbyn called for an immediate ceasefire and an urgent de-escalation to the fighting in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday. But he faced criticism for failing to condemn Hamas. Asked to do so by ITV on Sunday, he referred back to his social media post and said: obviously, all attacks are wrong. While currently not a Labour MP, Corbyn remains a party member and he and his allies could cause a headache for Starmer at Labours high-profile annual conference in Liverpool, northwest England this week. Highlighting Labours awkward relationship with Israel, pro-Palestinian campaigners greeted delegates at the entrance to the partys convention venue, waving the Palestinian flag and brandishing placards saying End Apartheid. Corbyn, who has been criticized for sharing platforms with a range of extremists over the years, is expected to speak at the left-wing World Transformed festival in Liverpool in the coming days. The UK previously distinguished between Hamass military and political wings, only proscribing the former. But in November 2021, the government banned it in its entirety, saying Hamas is a complex but single terrorist organization. (Updates with further comment from Corbyn in seventh paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. FILE - The Supreme Court entrance is photographed in London, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. The British government's contentious policy to stem the flow of migrants faces one of its toughest challenges this week as the U.K. Supreme Court weighs whether its lawful to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda starting on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File) LONDON (AP) The British government's contentious policy to stem the flow of migrants faces one of its toughest challenges this week as the U.K. Supreme Court weighs whether its lawful to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda. The Conservative government is challenging a Court of Appeal ruling in June that said the policy intended to deter immigrants from risking their lives crossing the English Channel in small boats is unlawful because the East African country is not a safe place to send them. Three days of arguments are scheduled to begin Monday with the government arguing its policy is safe and lawyers for migrants from Vietnam, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Sudan contending it's unlawful and inhumane. The hearing comes as much of Europe and the U.S. struggle with how best to cope with migrants seeking refuge from war, violence, oppression and a warming planet that has brought devastating drought and floods. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to stop the boats as a top priority to curb unauthorized immigration. More than 25,000 people are estimated to have arrived in the U.K. by boat as of Oct. 2, which is down nearly 25% from the 33,000 that had made the crossing at the same time last year. The policy is intended to put a stop to the criminal gangs that ferry migrants across one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes by making Britain an unattractive destination because of the likelihood of being given a one-way ticket to Rwanda. Consequences of the crossing have been deadly. In August, six migrants died and about 50 had to be rescued when their boat capsized after leaving the northern coast of France. In November 2021, 27 people died after their boat sank. The government claims the policy is a fair way to deal with an influx of people who arrive on U.K. shores without authorization and that Rwanda is a safe third country meaning its not where they are seeking asylum from. The U.K. and Rwandan governments reached a deal more than a year ago that would send asylum-seekers to the East African country and allow them to stay there if granted asylum. So far, not a single person has been sent there as the policy has been fought over in the courts. Human rights groups have argued its inhumane to deport people more than 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) to a place they dont want to live. They have also cited Rwandas poor human rights record, including allegations of torture and killings of government opponents. A High Court judge initially upheld the policy, saying it didn't breach Britains obligations under the U.N. Refugee Convention or other international agreements. But that ruling was reversed by a 2-1 decision in the Court of Appeal that found that while it was not unlawful to send asylum-seekers to a safe third country, Rwanda could not be deemed safe. The government argues the Court of Appeal had no right to interfere with the lower court decision and got it wrong by concluding deportees would be endangered in Rwanda and could face the prospect of being sent back to their home country where they could face persecution. The U.K. also says that the court should have respected the government's analysis that determined Rwanda is safe and and that its government would abide by the terms of the agreement to protect migrants' rights. Attorneys for the migrants argue that there is a real risk their clients could be tortured, punished, or face inhumane and degrading treatment in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights and they cite Rwanda's history of abusing refugees for dissent. The second flank of their argument is that the home secretary did not thoroughly investigate how Rwanda determines the status of refugees. One of the claimants asserts that the U.K. must still abide by European Union asylum procedures despite its Brexit split from the EU that became final in 2020. EU policies only allow asylum-seekers to be sent to a safe third country if they have a connection to it. Even if the courts allow the policy to proceed, it's unclear how many people will be flown to Rwanda at a cost estimated to be 169,000 pounds ($206,000) per person. And there's a chance it wouldn't be in place for long. The leader of the opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer, said Sunday that he would scrap the policy if elected prime minister. Polls show Labour has an advantage in an election that must be called by the end of next year. "I think its the wrong policy, its hugely expensive, Starmer told the BBC. The court is not expected to rule immediately after the hearing. ___ Follow APs coverage of global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migration The Ukrainian government will provide housing for 2,400 veterans and their families in 2023, Veterans' Affairs Minister Yuliia Laputina said on Oct. 8, as reported by Ukrinform. "One of the main needs that veterans have now is housing. This year, 2,400 families will be provided with housing. This is important because these people have been waiting in line since the ministry was founded," Laputina said. The minister said that families would receive a government subsidy to purchase housing. According to Ukrinform, the ministry disbursed a total of 5.5 billion UAH in subsidies for veterans' housing in 2023. Laputina said that next year's budget would include additional funding to cover veterans' housing needs. In August, the Ukrainian government simplified the process for obtaining combat veteran status. At the time, former Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that around a million Ukrainians had become combat veterans since the Russian invasion of Donbas in 2014. Read also: Overcoming setbacks, NATO-trained brigade breaches Surovikin line in Zaporizhzhia Oblast Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Palestinians take control of an Israeli tank after crossing the border fence with Israel from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vocalized support for Israel over Palestine on Saturday, raising concerns about the West's "hypocrisy" in its response to the two conflicts. Soon after, Columbian President Gustavo Petro , among others online, urged the United Nations in a statement to immediately call for two peace conferences on Ukraine and Palestine -- referring back to remarks he made to the U.N. on September 19. In his U.N. speech, Petro had said that the peace conferences are necessary -- not because there are no other conflicts in the world -- but because the varied response to them shows "hypocrisy of political practice." Petro on Saturday also hit out at European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for "encouraging a vengeful response" by Israel in a statement on Twitter. He then shared videos of the Israeli military dropping missiles on Palestinians. The Israeli Defense Forces declared the country at war and launched large-scale military operations against Hamas militants Saturday after thousands of rockets struck in Israeli territory. Petro's response was one of many by world leaders and global citizens who criticized the characterization of the new conflict as being caused by Palestinian aggression. Newspaper op-eds and online blogs have noted such alleged hypocrisy throughout the Ukraine war with various intents. Some have said the hypocrisy has shown the need for increased support of Palestine while others have said it shows why support for Ukraine should be ended. Many people around the globe believe Israel has long conducted violence against Palestine -- which is, as they put it, simply resisting illegal occupation. In fact, data provided by the United Nations shows that Israel forces killed 227 Palestinians so far this year while just 29 Israelis had been slain by Palestinian attackers before Saturday's Hamas offensive. "That this honorable achievement of the Palestinian people proves again that the only way to achieve the legitimate rights of the Palestinians is to resist in all its forms and defy the crippled Zionist occupation authorities that increased its oppressive actions against its fellow Palestinian people," Syria's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Syria condemned Israel for its "brutal occupation practices" and said that Israel's response "proves the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on their land" while condemning what are largely considered illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands. "The Palestinian resistance and its heroes deserve all the support from all Arab countries and from the fighters for freedom, progress and independence all over the world," the Syrian Foreign Ministry said. Yemen's Foreign Ministry in a statement also called for an "end to the provocations of the Israeli occupation forces and their repeated attacks on the Palestinian people and their sanctuaries." Russia and Turkey expressed their concerns over the violence and called for a two-state solution to the conflict, particularly the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the internationally recognized 1967 borders with a capital in East Jerusalem that co-exists with Israel in peace and security. "We regard the current large-scale escalation as another extremely dangerous manifestation of a vicious circle of violence resulting from chronic failure to comply with the corresponding resolutions of the U.N. and its Security Council and the blocking by the West of the work of the Middle East Quartet of international mediators made up of Russia, the United States, the EU and the UN," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement. The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah also praised Hamas for its surprise attack on Israel, which occurred as Israel was seeking to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia after establishing diplomacy with the UAE two years ago. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia called the situation "unprecedented" with a "high level of violence on several fronts there." "The Kingdom renews the call of the international community to assume its responsibilities and activate a credible peace process that leads to the two-state solution to achieve security and peace in the region and protect civilians," said Saudi Arabia. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a leading United Arab Emirates academic, called the Hamas militants "heroes" on social media, and human rights activist Hossam Baghat wrote, "You cannot support freedom fighters in Ukraine as they resist Russian occupation but not in Palestine." "His Majesty King Abdullah II received a call today from U.S. President Joe Biden on the deteriorating situation between the Palestinians and the Israelis, means to end escalation and protect civilians," the Embassy of the Kingdom of Jordan said in a statement. "His Majesty urges international efforts to restore political horizon for peace on the basis of the two-state solution." Meanwhile, Western leaders - who have long supported Ukraine -- supported Israel and said the nation had the right to defend itself under international law after its military launched retaliatory strikes in the Gaza Strip that killed at least 198 and left thousands more wounded. Key developments on Oct.7-8: Military: Russia deploys 'all available' reserves north of Bakhmut, launches more than 700 strikes on the Kupiansk-Lyman axis in one day Children injured in Russian attacks on Donetsk, Kherson oblasts Air Force says Russia may launch a record number of drone attacks in fall, upcoming winter Duda says Hamas' attack on Israel diverts world's attention from Russia's war in Ukraine Russia deploys "all available" forces and reserves north of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast, in an attempt to deter Ukraine's advancing counteroffensive there, Eastern Force Grouping spokesperson Illia Yevlash said on Oct. 7. Fighting is ongoing near Bakhmut, with Ukrainian forces trying to thwart any Russian advance by inflicting "maximum damage" on Russian troops near the front-line city, according to Yevlash. "The enemy continues to deploy counter-assault units in this direction to prevent us from advancing in our offensive," Yevlash said on Ukrainian television. "They are employing all available forces and reserves because they understand that losing this flank could have quite diverse consequences for them." Ukraine's military has slowly advanced south of Bakhmut while not being able to move forward north of the city. Russia has also intensified its attacks on the Kupiansk-Lyman's direction of the front line in Kharkiv and Luhansk oblasts. In just one day, Ukrainian forces have recorded 774 Russian strikes in that direction. The number of strikes is in "record figures," Yevlash said on Oct. 7. According to him, Russian troops "used everything available" to attack Ukrainian positions, including attack drones, mortars, tank artillery, rockets, and small arms. Yevlash said Russian troops are trying to break through Ukrainian defenses at Synkivka, a front line village located eight kilometers northeast of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast. This is a key target due to its logistically-important railway, according to him. Russia has been concentrating its forces around Kupiansk since mid-July, trying to regain positions lost during the Ukrainian surprise counteroffensive last autumn. Read also: Every family affected: Devastated village copes with aftermath of Russian strike on funeral Russian attacks on Donetsk, Kherson oblasts injure children Three children were injured by Russian attacks on Donetsk and Kherson oblasts on Oct. 8. A nine-month-old infant was wounded in the Russian overnight shelling of Kherson, local governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. A total of 11 people were injured, including the child's 27-year-old mother, Prokudin said. The attack hit civilian infrastructure in the regional capital and the oblast, damaging residential buildings, household facilities, cars, and gas pipelines, according to the governor. Later in the day, Prokudin reported that Russian troops attacked the village of Kindyika in Kherson Oblast, injuring an 11-year-old girl. At around 5 p.m., Prokudin reported that the girl was in a coma with numerous injuries. "(She suffered) explosive and craniocerebral injuries, cerebral contusion, open fracture of the left humerus, and multiple shrapnel wounds of the chest and neck," he wrote on Telegram. Another nine-year-old girl was injured in a Russian missile attack on the city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast. Russian troops hit the city with an Iskander cruise missile on the morning of Oct. 8, damaging 19 residences, 10 multistoried buildings, a boiler house, a gas pipeline, a power line, and a car, acting governor Ihor Moroz reported. According to the Prosecutor General's Office, Russia's full-scale war has killed 506 Ukrainian children since Feb. 24 last year. Over 1,130 children have been injured as of Oct. 8. However, the actual numbers regarding child casualties may be much higher since they do not fully account for territories still under Russian occupation, recently liberated by Ukrainian forces, or experiencing heavy fighting. Read also: Abducting the future: How Ukrainian parents fight to rescue their children from Russia Air Force says Russia may launch a record number of drone attacks in fall, winter On Oct. 8, the Air Force's spokesperson Yuri Ihnat said Russia will likely launch a record number of Shahed kamikaze drones against Ukraine in the coming fall and winter months. According to Ihnat, Russian troops launched over 500 Shahed drones against Ukraine in September alone. "In the six months of the previous heating season, Russia launched over 1,000 Shaheds against Ukraine. We already had half of that number in just one month," Ihnat said on Ukrainian television. Russian forces attempted to cripple Ukraine's energy network with massive strikes from October to February, leading to frequent blackouts and a lack of heating across the country. President Volodymyr Zelensky has also already warned that Russia will likely escalate its attacks against Ukraine's energy infrastructure in the coming months to destroy the country's power grid. "They cannot understand that Ukraine will not be conquered. But (Russian troops) will try to launch more attacks and have more attempts to bypass our defenses," Zelensky said on Oct. 6. Read also: With winter approaching, is Ukraines energy system ready for renewed Russian attacks? Duda says Hamas attack on Israel 'diverts world's attention' from Russia's war in Ukraine Polish President Andrzej Duda believes the extremist group Hamas' attack on Israel will help Russia in its war against Ukraine as it draws away attention from the war. "This certainly helps Russia and Russian aggression against Ukraine. It distracts the world's attention," Duda said on Polish television on Oct. 8. Hamas launched an attack of unprecedented scale on Israel on Oct. 7, infiltrating Israeli territory on the ground and with ultralight aircraft while bombing Israeli settlements. Two Ukrainian citizens have been reportedly killed in Israel. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) also reported that the Kremlin aims to exploit Hamas' attack on Israel to divert Western support and attention away from Ukraine. Following Hamas' large-scale attacks on Israeli territory, Russian voices amplified messages blaming Western countries for neglecting conflicts in the Middle East in favor of supporting Ukraine. In a statement posted on social media X, formerly known as Twitter, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev claimed that the U.S. and Western allies should have focused on "Palestinian-Israeli settlement" rather than providing Ukraine with military aid. "These Kremlin narratives target Western audiences to drive a wedge in military support for Ukraine, seek to demoralize Ukrainian society by claiming Ukraine will lose international support, and intend to reassure Russian domestic audiences that the international society will ignore Ukraine's war effort," ISW said. Zelensky and other world leaders have already condemned Hamas' offensive. "Whoever uses terror is a criminal against the whole world. Whoever sponsors terrorism is a criminal against the whole world," Zelensky wrote on Telegram. Read also: Zelensky, foreign leaders call Netanyahu over war, back Israels right of self-defense Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian diplomats have found a Ukrainian citizen who went missing in Israel's south. Source: Oleh Nikolenko, Ukraines Foreign Ministry Spokesman, on Facebook Details: It was clarified that the diplomats also helped one family to leave the city of Ashkelon and found temporary accommodation for two families amid cancelled flights. The operational headquarters processed a total of 80 enquiries from citizens over the 24 hours. Nikolenko said the applications concerned the location of relatives, ways to leave the combat zones, finding temporary accommodation, information on the security situation and the procedure for ensuring their own safety. The Ukrainian MFA is looking into the possible death of the Ukrainian woman; no reports have been submitted about other cases. The Ukrainian Embassy is in contact with the Israeli police, rescue services, major hospitals, and the Israeli Institute of Forensic Medicine. 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 video of an supposed beating of mobilised people in one of Ternopil's shopping malls was posted online, prompting Serhii Nadal, Mayor of Ternopil, to address the management of Ternopil military enlistment office. Source: social media; Nadal on Telegram Details: A video showing mobilised people being beaten in the Ternopil military enlistment office has been posted on social media. There is currently no confirmation or denial of this information. However, the mayor of Ternopil immediately addressed the management of the Ternopil military enlistment office as he had information that their employees "could use force against mobilised people". Quote from Nadal: "There is information that your 'individual' employees could have used force against our mobilised people. I insist and emphasise that 'individual' employees of the military enlistment office should treat the mobilised residents of Ternopil in a correct manner. I appeal to the citizens of Ternopil: if you know of any cases of improper or cruel treatment during mobilisation, please immediately report them to the military prosecutor's office and the police. During the war, every man has to come to the military enlistment office and update his data. However, this requires a correct, proper attitude, in accordance with the requirements of the law!" pic.twitter.com/lMJ8wwo8SA Andrey Serebrianskyi (@Luganskiy_Twi) October 8, 2023 Updated: Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's Human Rights Commissioner, said he had seen "video footage of conscripts being beaten" online, and his office was launching an investigation. Background: Yesterday, on 7 October, a video appeared showing military enlistment office workers in Ternopil forcing men into a minibus, and an internal investigation was ordered at the regional military enlistment office. 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 hit on a Russian tank 25 Russian tanks were destroyed in just four days by the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade's anti-tank unit, operating near Lyman, the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported on Facebook on Oct. 8. That is likely more than Russia can produce in one or even two months. Read also: Ukrainian Armed Forces continue operations on the Melitopol and Bakhmut fronts, 60+ engagements in last day "The Russians have concentrated too many tanks in this area. It happened that the brigades anti-tank unit destroyed almost a tank battalion in its area of responsibility in a few days," the Defense Express expert Ivan Kyrychevsky said on Radio NV, clarifying that the Russians have increased the number of armored units in the Kupyansk and Lyman sectors to 1,000. Read also: Ukraines military reveals occupants objectives in the Lyman-Kupyansk section of front "We must be prepared for the fact that the Kupyansk-Lyman sectors will soon have impressive figures on the number of tanks destroyed in certain periods of time. But at the same time it will be necessary to bear in mind that the Russians have concentrated there perhaps half (if not more) of the total potential. [...] Unfortunately, it will obviously be more intense," Kyrychevsky added. 68 combat engagements on various fronts took place in the past 24 hours. Russian forces attempted unsuccessfully to advance in the east, while Ukrainian Armed Forces continue their offensive operations on the Melitopol and Bakhmut sectors, the Ukrainian General Staff reported on Facebook on Oct. 8. 13 enemy attacks were repelled in the areas of Synkivka and Ivanivka settlements in the Kupyansk sector in Kharkiv Oblast, and six in the Lyman sector in Luhansk Oblast. 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 military, Donetsk Oblast, September 26, 2023 Russian forces attempted unsuccessfully to advance in the east, while the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue their offensive operations on the Melitopol and Bakhmut sectors, as 68 combat engagements on various front sectors took place in the past 24 hours. The Ukrainian General Staff summarized the 592nd day of full-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine on Facebook on Oct. 8. Kupyansk sector 13 enemy attacks repelled in the areas of Synkivka and Ivanivka settlements in Kharkiv Oblast. Lyman sector the Ukrainian Armed Forces thwarted six enemy attacks in the vicinity of the town of Makiyivka in Luhansk Oblast. Bakhmut sector the enemy unsuccessfully attempted to regain lost ground near Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast. Avdiivka and Maryinka sector the enemy launched more than 20 unsuccessful attacks in the areas of Avdiivka, Pervomaiske, Maryinka, Krasnohorivka, and Novomykhailivka in Donetsk Oblast. Shakhtarsk sector 10 enemy attacks were repelled in the areas of Vodyane and Zolota Niva in Donetsk Oblast. Melitopol sector the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue their offensive operation and conduct offensive (assault) actions in the Bakhmut sector. Partial successes have been achieved northeast of Andriivka in Donetsk Oblast. The Ukrainian forces are inflicting personnel and equipment losses on the Russian forces, consolidating the newly taken positions on the front lines and exhausting the enemy. Kherson sector Ukrainian defense forces continue to conduct counter-battery operations, destroying depots and successfully targeting the enemy's rear positions. Read also: Western generals and military analysts praise Ukrainian Armed Forces: 7 Quotes for Day of Defenders The Russians continue their terror tactics, shelling densely populated civilian areas. The enemy carried out eight missile strikes, 34 air raids, 37 rocket attacks, and artillery shelling, resulting in casualties and injuries among civilians, as well as damage to residential buildings and civilian infrastructure. Ukrainian Air Forces carried out eight strikes on enemy personnel, weaponry, and military equipment, and five on enemy air defense systems over the past 24 hours. Four enemy UAVs were intercepted. Ukrainian missile forces struck an artillery system, enemy personnel, and an electronic warfare station. 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 Diplomats have found a Ukrainian citizen who had previously gone missing in the south of Israel, Foreign Ministry's spokesman Oleg Nikolenko reported on Oct. 8. He did not provide further details on the found person, but his statement implied the person was fine. On Oct. 7, following an attack by the Palestinian armed group Hamas on Israel, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukrainian authorities were veryfying a report about the possible death of one Ukrainian citizen in Israel, and the search for two other citizens was underway. The report about the possible death of a Ukrainian citizen in Israel is still being verified, Nikolenko said. In his latest update, Nikolenko said that diplomats have also helped one Ukrainian family leave Ashkelon, a coastal city in the southern part of Israel, as well as found temporary homes for two more families. According to Nikolenko, the Foreign Ministry has processed 80 appeals from Ukrainian citizens on the whereabouts of their relatives, evacuation routes, temporary housing, security, and more. "The Ukrainian embassy is in constant contact with the Israeli police, rescuers, hospitals, and the Institute of Forensic Medicine of Israel," Nikolenko wrote. "We also keep in touch with Ukrainians who are in the Gaza Strip and develop routes for emergency exit from the enclave, in case of such a need." The Palestinian armed group Hamas launched an attack of unprecedented scale on Israel on Oct. 7, using missiles and soldiers who infiltrated into Israeli territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his nation to be "at war" following the attack. The number of people killed in the Oct. 7 attack against Israel has surpassed 300 and is expected to keep rising, according to the Times of Israel. Read also: ISW: Russia exploiting Hamas attack on Israel to divert support from Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Rocket launch from Gaza towards Israel, October 7, 2023 Ukrainian diplomats have successfully located a missing Ukrainian citizen in southern Israel, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko reported on Oct. 8. Efforts are ongoing to obtain official confirmation of the possible death of one Ukrainian citizen, said Nikolenko, adding that there is no information about other affected Ukrainians at this time. Read also: Ukraine condemns terror attacks by Hamas, establishes task force for Ukrainians in Israel He stated that the Ministry had facilitated the departure of one family from the city of Ashkelon, and arranged temporary accommodations for two other families due to flight cancellations. In total, Ukraines diplomatic operational headquarters in Israel have processed a total of 80 requests from Ukrainian citizens. These requests include locating relatives, securing exit strategies from conflict areas, finding temporary housing, obtaining updates on the security situation, and ensuring personal safety. Nikolenko highlighted that the Ukrainian embassy maintains constant communication with the Israeli authorities, including the police, rescue services, major hospitals, and the Institute of Forensic Medicine. They are also in contact with Ukrainians residing in the Gaza Strip and are actively developing emergency exit plans should the need arise. Read also: Veteran explains war in Israel impact on Ukraines international support Previously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had announced that Ukraine was in the process of verifying information regarding the potential death of a Ukrainian citizen in Israel. He also confirmed that the search for two more Ukrainian citizens is ongoing. Whats happening in Israel? Read also: Israel declares war, calls up reserves, after Hamas pummels state with rockets The Iranian-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a massive rocket barrage at Israel from the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, firing approximately 5,000 rockets. Additionally, hundreds of armed Hamas militants breached Israels southern border, as part of an official announced large-scale operation against Israel. During the attack, Hamas managed to seize control of seven communities in southern Israel and took dozens of Israeli soldiers and civilians as hostages. Tragically, at least 300 people in Israel were killed in the attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country is at war and added, we will prevail. The Israeli government has initiated Operation Iron Swords as their military response to the incursion, regaining control of seized settlements by the evening of Oct. 7. Israel has also conducted airstrikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. Read also: Hamas kidnaps over 100 Israelis Israeli Embassy in the US Netanyahu proclaimed that Israel has embarked on a long and difficult war and pledged to utilize the full strength of the Israeli Defense Forces to eliminate the capabilities of Hamas. 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 UN Security Council is holding a closed-door emergency meeting on the situation in the Middle East on Oct. 8, the UN announced on its website. Hamas launched an attack of unprecedented scale on Israel on Oct. 7, infiltrating Israeli territory on the ground and with ultralight aircraft while bombing Israeli settlements. Lebanon's armed group Hezbollah also reportedly involved itself in the hostilities on Oct. 8 by exchanging rocket and artillery fire with the Israeli military. At the time of this publication, fighting in Israel and in Gaza was still underway. Israel's Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan appealed to the Security Council to condemn the "ruthless terror" conducted by Hamas. "Hamas' war crimes must be unequivocally condemned. This unimaginable atrocity must be condemned. Israel must be given steadfast support to defend ourselves," Erdan told reporters ahead of the Security Council meeting in New York. "What we are witnessing are war crimes, blatant, barbaric war crimes," the official stressed. "Slaughtering civilians, using hostages, taking babies from their mothers. There are no words to describe such savagery." Western permanent members of the UN Security Council, the U.K., the U.S., and France, have already denounced Hamas' aggression and voiced their support for Israel. U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken pledged that Tel Aviv would receive fresh military aid as early as Oct. 8. The Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, voiced concerns over a "sharp escalation" of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and called on both sides to "implement an immediate ceasefire" and "exercise restraint." Similarly, China asked both parties "to remain calm, exercise restraint, and immediately end the hostilities." "The fundamental way out of the conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent State of Palestine. The international community needs to act with greater urgency," the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. Read also: Zelensky, foreign leaders call Netanyahu over war, back Israels right of self-defense The number of dead due to the Hamas' attack on Israeli communities near Gaza exceeded 600 people, according to Israel's Government Press Office. The Ministry of Health also confirms that the number of wounded in hospitals has reached 2,048, including 20 in critical condition and 330 seriously injured. At least 100 Israeli soldiers and civilians are also being held hostage. Palestinian authorities in Gaza said that 198 were dead amid the fighting. Read also: Embassy: 2 Ukrainians killed in Israel attacks Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The United States wants to redeploy US Navy ships and aircraft closer to Israel. Source: NBC News, with reference to "two US officials familiar with the planning" Quote from NBC News: "The US plans to move Navy ships and aircraft closer to Israel as a show of support, as it weighs plans to evacuate American civilians, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the planning." Details: NBC News reported that this includes "thousands of US military service members, the USS Gerald R Ford carrier strike group (carrier, cruiser, destroyers and aircraft), and additional USAF F35s, F15s, F16s, and A10s", all of which are expected to be redeployed to the region. The US will also supply Israel with more munitions and equipment. According to the NBC News sources, the redeployment might start immediately, but it will take several days for "all the assets" to be in place. This includes thousands of US military service members, the USS Gerald R Ford carrier strike group (carrier, cruiser, destroyers and aircraft), and additional USAF F35s, F15s, F16s, and A10s all to the region. The US will also supply Israel with more munitions and equipment. https://t.co/4KoEVHWjZL Courtney Kube (@ckubeNBC) October 8, 2023 The US is also working through plans for a possible non-combatant evacuation to help Americans get out of Israel. "Nothing has been decided or ordered, but officials are working through options, including one that involves putting some Americans on the Navy ships to get them to safety," NBC News reported. Background: On 8 October, the White House said that US President Joe Biden had ordered "additional support" to Israel "in the face of this unprecedented terrorist assault by Hamas". The White House statement did not disclose any additional information regarding this additional support. The number of people killed in the Hamas attack on Israel exceeded 700, and more than 2,100 were injured as of the evening of Sunday, 8 October. 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! Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday a U.S. carrier strike group has moved closer to Israel in response to the onslaught of attacks from Palestinian militant group Hamas that have killed hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians, including reports that some of those who died were U.S. citizens. The Ford carrier strike group will be moved closer to the Eastern Mediterranean to bolster regional deterrence efforts, in the wake of Palestinian militant group Hamass multifaceted attacks on Israel, Austin said. The Ford carrier strike group includes the USS Gerald R. Ford, the U.S. Navys most advanced aircraft carrier, along with multiple missile cruisers and missile destroyers. Austin said the Department of Defense is also taking steps to bolster the U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft squadrons in the region, with the U.S. maintaining other ready forces around the globe to reinforce those in the Eastern Mediterranean as needed. Strengthening our joint force posture, in addition to the material support that we will rapidly provide to Israel, underscores the United Statess ironclad support for the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli people, Austin said. Hamas launched the largest attack on Israel in decades early Saturday, sending forces into multiple Israeli towns by land, sea and air, along with a barrage of rocket strikes in a surprise offensive. More than 1,000 people were killed, and thousands of others were injured. The White House said Sunday that President Biden spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, informing him additional assistance was on its way to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Biden said more assistance would also be arriving in the coming days. Austin echoed that promise Sunday, emphasizing the U.S. government plans to rapidly provide IDF forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions. Biden was quick to offer his unwavering support to Israel in the hours following the attacks, telling Netanyahu the U.S. is prepared to offer all appropriate means of support to Israel. The country officially declared war and has escalated retaliatory attacks against Palestinians. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. As criticism begins to mount over whether Israeli intelligence was unprepared for the recent attacks by Palestinian militants, U.S. officials refused Sunday to label it as an intelligence failure. Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented, multipronged attack on Israel on Saturday, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare war on the group. Numerous critics and pundits have called the attacks which have now left at least 600 dead in Israel and another 300 dead in Gaza an intelligence failure. Secretary of State Antony Blinken sidestepped questions on the Sunday morning news shows about whether the conflict was a result of an intelligence failure. Instead, the U.S.s top diplomat reiterated that the U.S. and Israel will look into what they may have missed to prevent another surprise attack. NBCs Kristen Welker pressed Blinken on Meet the Press on whether it was an intelligence failure. Blinken said that the violence in the region was an attack that I dont think anyone saw coming, but fell short of calling it a failure. We will have plenty we will have plenty of time to the Israelis will have plenty of time to look into that. All of us will have time to look into that. The focus now has to be on making sure that Israel has what it needs to deal with this attack and to make sure that its citizens are safe and secure. Thats the entire focus, Blinken said. Deputy national security adviser Jon Finer also dodged answering whether it was a failure, again reiterating that there will be time in the future to look into it. My response is we are laser-focused and President Biden, who has a 50-year record of solidarity, support and resolve for Israel, is focused on making sure that they have everything that they need to respond to this appalling attack everything they need militarily, all the diplomatic support and all of the intelligence support, Finer told Shannon Bream on Fox News Sunday. There will be a time and place to look back on exactly how this happened, who knew what when, but that moment is not now when were still in the throes of the attack as your reporting just showed this is still ongoing, he added. Michael Herzog, Israeli ambassador to the U.S., also emphasized that it was a surprise attack, but noted that there will be enough time to investigate potential security failures after the conclusion of the war. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. FILE - The USS Gerald R. Ford, one of the world's largest aircraft carriers, arrives in Halifax on Oct. 28, 2022. The Pentagon has ordered the Ford carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, two U.S. officials said Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. The USS Gerald R. Ford and its approximately 5,000 sailors and deck of warplanes will be accompanied by cruisers and destroyers in a show of force that is meant to be ready to respond to anything, from possibly interdicting additional weapons from reaching Hamas and conducting surveillance. (Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press via AP, File) WASHINGTON (AP) Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday he has ordered the Ford carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel after the attack by Hamas that has left more than 1,000 dead on both sides. Americans were reported to be among those killed and missing. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, and its approximately 5,000 sailors and deck of warplanes will be accompanied by cruisers and destroyers in a show of force that is meant to be ready to respond to anything, from possibly interdicting additional weapons from reaching Hamas and conducting surveillance. The large deployment reflects a U.S. desire to deter any regional expansion of the conflict. But the Israeli government formally declared war Sunday and gave the green light for significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas. Preliminary reports indicate that at least four American citizens were killed in the attacks and an additional seven were missing and unaccounted for, according to a U.S. official. The numbers were in flux and could change as a fuller accounting is compiled, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss initial reports received by the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. Most, if not all, of those reported dead or missing are dual U.S.-Israeli citizens, the official said. Along with the Ford the U.S. is sending the cruiser USS Normandy and destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt, and the U.S. is augmenting Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. The U.S. maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required, Austin said in a statement. In addition, the Biden administration will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions. The first security assistance will begin moving today and arriving in the coming days, Austin said. The Norfolk, Virginia-based carrier strike group already was in the Mediterranean. Last week it was conducting naval exercises with Italy in the Ionian Sea. The carrier is in its first full deployment. Senior officials from the Pentagon and State Department briefed senators Sunday night, and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said they were assured that the United States was giving Israel everything they need. I asked the representatives of our Defense Department if they are giving Israel everything they need, and I was heartened that they said yes and that they are surging support, the New York Democrat said in a statement after the unclassified briefing. I asked them if they have denied any requests that Israel has made, and they said no. I urged them to ensure Israel has everything it needs to protect itself, and reiterated that the Senate stands ready to deliver on additional needs, he said. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a telephone call Sunday, discussed the taking of hostages by Hamas terrorists, including entire families, the elderly, and young children, according to a White House statement describing their conversation. Biden stressed that all countries must stand united in the face of such brutal atrocities. The president updated Netanyahu on U.S. diplomatic efforts and said additional assistance for Israeli forces was on the way, with more to come in the days ahead, the White House said. They also discussed ways to ensure that no enemies of Israel believe they can or should seek advantage from the current situation. As part of the U.S. effort to deter further escalation, Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates on Sunday. In each call, he encouraged each country's continued engagement and highlighted the United States unwavering focus on halting the attacks by Hamas and securing the release of all hostages, department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in separate statements on the three calls. In the U.S. House, leaders of the Foreign Affairs Committee were preparing a bipartisan resolution that says it stands with Israel and condemns Hamas brutal war. The resolution is expected to be among the first items considered for voting once the House elects a new speaker. Now is the time to show the world the United States firmly stands with our friend and ally Israel in our condemnation of this heinous attack by Iran-backed terrorists, said the committee chairman, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas. House business is currently at a standstill after the historic ouster of Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. Majority Republicans plan to kick off the selection process, in private, at a Tuesday evening forum where candidates can address their colleagues. The real contest could come as soon as Wednesday when the House next convenes. ___ AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee and AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report. The US is moving one of its carrier strike groups to the coastal waters of Israel. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford to the Eastern Mediterranean. Austin said the US will also provide Israel more "equipment and resources, including munitions." The US is deploying an aircraft carrier and other vessels capable of firing guided missiles off the coast of Israel, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Sunday, as part of a show of strength in the wake of a shock attack by Hamas that killed more than 600 people. "I have directed the movement of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Eastern Mediterranean," Austin said in a statement, adding that the United States was also taking steps to build up its squadron of fighter jets in the region. "In addition, the United States government will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions," Austin said. The first such assistance will arrive in the country in the coming days, he said. Israel, the top recipient of US military aid, began heavily bombarding alleged Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip on Saturday after the Palestinian militant group launched a raid in southern Israel and killed hundreds of people, mostly civilians. According to Gaza health authorities, more than 300 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory so far in retaliatory strikes. On Sunday, the Israeli government formally declared war on Hamas with a stated goal of seizing power over the entire Gaza Strip, which is home to roughly 2 million people. As Insider reported Saturday, an extended war could further increase demand for the same NATO-standard artillery shells used by Ukraine. The US has a stockpile of that ammunition in Israel. The redirecting of US firepower to the eastern Mediterranean includes the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, which is the Navy's most advanced carrier, the guided missile cruiser USS Normandy, and the guided missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the military has "taken steps to augment" F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons that are already in the area. The US "maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this posture if required," CENTCOM said in a statement. An IDF spokesperson said on Sunday that Israel is working closely with CENTCOM, and top military leadership is in close communication. "Strengthening our joint force posture, in addition to the material support that we will rapidly provide to Israel, underscores the United States' ironclad support for the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli people," Austin said on Sunday. "My team and I will continue to be in close contact with our Israeli counterparts to ensure they have what they need to protect their citizens and defend themselves against these heinous terrorist attacks." Read the original article on Business Insider The U.S. is sending an aircraft carrier group to the Eastern Mediterranean in response to Hamas' attack on Israel, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Oct. 8. "Today, in response to this Hamas attack on Israel, and following detailed discussions with President (Joe) Biden, I have directed several steps to strengthen Department of Defense posture in the region to bolster regional deterrence efforts," Austin said. "I have directed the movement of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Eastern Mediterranean." Apart from the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, the group includes a missile cruiser and four missile destroyers, the official said. According to Austin, Washington also took steps to reinforce F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support Us The U.S. pledged to provide its close ally Israel with military aid, including ammunition. The defense secretary said that the first batch of security assistance will begin moving on Oct. 8 and arrive in the "coming days." Hamas launched an attack of unprecedented scale on Israel on Oct. 7, infiltrating Israeli territory on the ground and with ultralight aircraft while bombing Israeli settlements. At the time of this publication, fighting in Israel and in Gaza was still underway. U.S. President Joe Biden vowed "rock solid and unwavering" support for Israel's security. However, the media reported that Biden's administration is worried that the recent political turmoil in the House of Representatives, including the vacant Speaker seat, could hamper the approval of aid. The U.S.-based think tank Institute for the Study of War said on Oct. 7 that Russia will likely seek to exploit Hamas' attack on Israel to divert Western support and attention away from Ukraine. Pro-Russian propaganda sources may try to drive a wedge in military support for Ukraine and attempt to demoralize Ukrainian society by claiming Ukraine will lose support from Western allies, the ISW analysts suggested. Read also: ISW: Russia exploiting Hamas attack on Israel to divert support from Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Clad in a pink T-shirt that reads "A girl and a gun," firearms instructor Charneta Samms shows a group of women how to get a proper grip on a pistol. Around them, shots ring out and casings pile on the floor at a shooting range near the eastern US city of Baltimore, where more and more of the visitors are women. "Unfortunately, the world's getting a little bit crazy," said Samms, 49, who runs the local branch of A Girl & A Gun, a women-only gun club. "And so I think it's important for women to be able to defend themselves," she told AFP. Like Samms and her trainees, a growing number of women are choosing to own guns, taking an increasingly prominent role in the popular American pursuit. The change is happening amid rising social and political turmoil in the United States following the Covid-19 pandemic. One of the women attending Samms' training course on a recent evening is Kenya Watkins, a high school geometry teacher from Baltimore, a city whose notoriously high crime rate inspired the legendary TV series "The Wire." Watkins, 49, says it was the fear for her safety and the safety of her daughter, who was 24 at the time, that prompted her to start firearms training. "I didn't want her to be anybody's victim, being a young African-American woman living alone in Baltimore city," she told AFP. - Like Swiss cheese - For decades, the typical gun owner in the United States was a rural white man with conservative political views. But that is changing as more women purchase guns and learn how to use them. Over the past 10 years, the share of gun owners among American women more than doubled, from 12 to 25 percent, while the share of men who own firearms rose only slightly from 37 to 40 percent, according to Pew Research Center. And the surge in firearms sales in 2020 -- when the country was grappling with the uncertainty of Covid-19 and soaring crime in many US cities -- was particularly notable among women: they made up almost half of new gun owners, according to a research paper published last year in the journal the Annals of Internal Medicine. Nurse Adrian Williams said she came to train with Samms because she is only five feet (152 centimeters) tall and wants to be able to defend herself if attacked. Now, with a handgun in her hand, she feels more confident. "It's amazing. And it's empowering," said Williams, 45. "The pistol is the equalizer. That is what is going to give me a chance to save my life or my loved ones." Marcia Threatt, a sign language interpreter in her late fifties, acknowledges that some of her friends were surprised by her hobby. "It's like, 'Oh, I couldn't believe that you would be that type of person'," said Threatt. "I don't look like the demographic, you know, of the typical person." Watkins, the Baltimore geometry teacher, has since moved to a safer neighborhood. But she keeps coming to train with A Girl & A Gun, firing round after round into a shooting target and riddling it with holes like Swiss cheese. Russ Leith, a 68-year-old retiree who works as a safety officer at the range three times a week, says he is glad to see more women come here. They are "easier to work with than men, they want to learn," said Leith, wearing noise-canceling headphones. "Guys can be more macho about it." ube/seb/md/acb US President Joe Biden has said that the United States "stands with Israel" and promised Israelis help to defend themselves. Source: Biden, quoted by the White House website Quote: "Today, the people of Israel are under attack, orchestrated by a terrorist organization, Hamas. In this moment of tragedy, I want to say to them and to the world and to terrorists everywhere that the United States stands with Israel. Well make sure they have the help their citizens need and they can continue to defend themselves." "When I spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu this morning, I told him the United States stands with the people of Israel in the face of this terrorist assaults. Israel has the right to defend itself and its people. Full stop." Details: Biden also said that he had instructed his team to remain in constant contact with leaders across the region, including Egypt, Turkiye, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman, the UAE, as well as with European partners and the Palestinian Authority. Previously: Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of Defence, stated that the Pentagon would provide Israel with everything necessary for self-defence and protection of civilians from Hamas terrorist attacks. Background: On the morning of 7 October, a large number of missiles was launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel by Hamas militants; fires surged through Israeli cities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken out in support of Israel following the attack by Hamas terrorists. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called upon the residents of the Gaza Strip to immediately evacuate, and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Israel would change the reality in Gaza for 50 years ahead. 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!